The History of the Worthies of England

The Native Commodities.

NO County hath cause to complain with the Grecian Widdowes, that they are neglected in the daily Ministration. God hath not given all Commodities to one, to elate it with pride, and none to others to deject them with pensiveness; but there is some kind of equality betwixt the Profits of Counties to continue commerce' and balance trading in some proportion.

We have therefore in this work taken especial notice of the several commodities which every Shire doth produce. And indeed God himself enjoineth us to observe the variety of the Earths productions, in this kind. For speaking of the land of Havilah, (where saith he) there is Gold, and the gold of that land is good, there is Bdellium, and the Onix-stone. See here how the holy spirit points at those places where God hath scattered such treasure, and the best thereof in all kinds, that man (if so disposed) may know where to gather them up.

I confess England cannot boast of Gold, and precious Stones, with the land of Havilah, yet affordeth it other things, both above and beneath ground, more needful for man's being. Indeed some shires, Joseph▪like, have a better coloured coat then others; and some with Benjamin have a more bountiful mess of meat belonging unto them. Yet every County hath a Childs portion, as if God in some sort observed Gavel-kind, in the distribution of his favors, O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wondrous works which he doth for the Children of men.

Know Reader, when a Commodity is general to all England, then to avoid Repetition, it is entered in that County where there was the first, or else the most and best of that kind. And we have so contrived it, that generally; Three Commodities are treated of in every County.

The Manufactures.

Some heathen have causelessly complained of nature as a step-mother to man-kind, because other creatures come into the world clothed with Feathers, furs, or fleeces &c. or armed with paws, claws, beaks, tusks, horns, hoofs, whilst man is exposed naked into the world. I say a causles charge, because providence having given men Hands, and Reason to use them, (two blessings denied to other creatures,) all Clothing and fencing is eminently and transcendently bestowed upon him.

It is very remarkable to see the Manufactures in England, not knowing whether more to admire the Rarity or Variety thereof. Undoubtedly the wealth of a Nation consisteth in driving a native commodity through the most hands to the highest artificial perfection, whereof we have taken especial cognizance in the respective counties, yet so as (though briefly naming) not largely handling that Manufacture whereon we have formerly insisted.

It must not be forgotten that there be some things which cannot properly be termed Natural commodities, because of their quality altered and disguised by men's industry, and yet they attain not the reputation of Manufactures. As salt, being water boiled, malt, barley dried, Cider, Apples pressed; seeing therefore they have a mixed nature they are promiscuosly placed as suiteth best with my own conveniency.

Medicinal Waters.

The God of Nature hath not discovered himself so variously wonderful in anything as in the waters of Fountains, Rivers, &c. England hath as large a share herein as any Country, and her springs wonderful on several accounts.

• 1. Colour, Black, Red, Yellow, &c.
• 2. Taste, Sweet, bitter, salt, acide, corroding, astringing, &c.
• 3. Odor, stinking of Sulphur, like the scouring of a gun very fowl.
• 4. Sound, beating sometimes like a March, sometimes like a Retreat on several occasions.
• 5. Heat, Luke-warm, and gradually hot even to scalding.
• 6. Weight, considerably heavier or lighter in proportion to other watters.
• 7. Motion, though many miles from the sea, sympathizing therewith ebing and flowing accordingly.
• 8. Effects, some being surgeons to heal sores, others Physicians to cure diseases.

The last is proper for our pen, being the Largess of heaven to poor people who cannot go to the price of a costly cure. Of these more have been discovered by casualty than industry, to evidence that therein we are not so much beholden to man's pains as God's providence. Many Springs formerly sovereign have since lost their virtue, yet so that other springs have found it, so that their sanative qualities may seem not taken away but removed. And as there are many mean men of great ability yet depressed in obscurity, so no doubt there are in our Land Aquae incognitae of concealed worth and virtue, in effect no whit inferior to those which in fame are far above them.

However the gift which nature holdeth forth may be doubled in the goodness thereof, if the hand of Art do but help to receive it, and the patients be prepared with Physic in the using of such water, otherwise fons vitae, may be fons mortis, if diet, due time, and quantity be not observed.

Some will say that our English waters must needs be raw, because so far from the fire, whilst those are better boiled, which lying more south are nearer the sun. But experience avow's the contrary, that England affordeth most sanative waters for English bodies, if men were as judicious in taking, as Nature is bountiful in tendering them.

As for the Proprietaries of such (or rather of the ground surrounding such) Medicinal waters, as I would not have them detrimented in the least degree by the conflux of people unto them: so it is injurious in my judgment for them to set them to sale and make gain of God's free gift therein. I confess water was commonly sold in the land of Canaan proved by that passage in the Prophet, H •… everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money &c. Yea so churlish were the Edomites to the Israelites that they would not give, that is afford them water for money. But it is considerable, Well-w ater in those hot Countries, was acquired with vast pains and expense, it being dearer to sink a well then build an house, besides many frustrations in that kind before their indeavous found full effect, which made it the more equal for the owners, by such sales to make profit, or rather to make up their reparations. But no such cost being expended in the case in hand, it may be accounted a kind of Simony, in such as sell ease and help to poor people, though they may lawfully buy it, as passive and necessitated thereunto.

The Wonders.

Of these England affordeth many, which by several authors are variously reckoned up. One reckoneth four as most remarkable, another accounted six, a third bringeth then up to thirteen, which since some have increased. Indeed if so many men, had all agreed in one Number, that had been a Wonder indeed.

But under this Title we compre hend all rarityes, which are out of the ordinary Road of nature, the illustration whereof may minister unto us matter of profitable discourse. Of these wonders, some were transient, lasting only for a time, (like extraordinary Ambassadors employed on some great affair, ) others Liegers and Permanent, the most proper for our Pen to observe. And to prevent vacuity in some Counties (that this Topicke of wonders might be invested with some matter) some Artificial Rarities are (but very sparingly) inserted, such as transcend the standard of ordinary performance, But thse are cast in as over weight, the former being only our proper subject.

Our great design herein is that men may pay the Tribute of their admiration, where the same is due, to God himself, who, as David observeth only doth great wonders. Only, exclusively of men and Angels. Doth, that is really solidly and substantially, Jugglers do show not do, whose pretty works are not Praestationes, but Praestigiae. Great Wonders, called in Scripture MAGNALIA, and if the Latin alloweth the word, we could grant the Devil his Parvalia doing of petty feats, greatened into wonders by his cunning, and our credulity.

Well let our admiration be given to God, seeing Deliberate Wondering (when the soul is not suddenly surprised) being raised up to an height is part of adoration, and cannot be given to any creature without some sacrile •… ge. Such wondering consists of Reverence and ig norance, which best becometh even the wisest of men, in their searches after God his ways. As for that unkind wondering, which melts not man's heart like wax into the praising of God, but clay like hardeneth it unto stupefaction, Behold you despisers and wonder and perish, God keep all good men from being guilty thereof.

A secondary end I have herein to show that England falls not short of foreign Countries in wonderful sights the same in kind though not in degree. Italy hath her Grotta dela Sibilla, we in Summerset-shire our Wockley Hole. Spain her Anas, we our Mole, &c. Bnt wonders like prophets are not without honor save in their own Country, where constancy (or at least Commonnesse of Converse ) with them abateth their respect and reputation.

The Buildings.

Next we take notice of the signal structures which each County doth afford. Indeed the Italians do account all English to be Gothish Buildings, only vast, (and greatness, must have something of coarsnes therein) however abating for their advantage above us in Materialls, Marble, Pophery &c. their palaces may admire the art in some English fabrics, and in our Churches especially.

Elisha beholding Hasael, wept by way of prophecy foreseeing that (amongst other many mischiefs) he would set fire on the strong Cities (and by consequence on the Fair Houses ) in Israel. But well may we weep when looking back on our late Civil war, remembering how many beautiful Buildings were ruined thereby, though indeed we have Cause to be thankful to God that so many are left standing in the Land.

But what said our Savior to his Disciples, when transported with wonder at the goodly stones in the Temple, are these the things you look upon? such transitory buildings are unworthy of a Christians admiration. And let it be our care that when the fairest and firmest Fabrics fall to the ground, yea when our earthly house be dissolved, we may have an house not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens.

Local Proverbs.

A PROVERB is much matter decocted into few words. Hear what a learned Critick saith of them; Argutae hae brevesque loquendi formulae, quamvis e trivio petitae et plebi frequentatae suas habent Veneres, et genium cujusque gentis penes quam celebrantur, atque acumen ostendunt.

Some will have a Proverb so called from Verbum a word and Pro (as in Proavus ) signifying Before, being a speech which time out of mind hath had peaceable possession in the mouths of many people. Others deduce it from Verbum a word, and pro for Vice (as in Propraeses) instead of, because it is not to be taken in the literal sense, one thing being put for another.

Six esentials are required to the completing of a perfect Proverb, Namely that it be.

• 1. Short.
• 2. Playn.
• 3. Common.
• 4. Figurative.
• 5. Antient.
• 6. True.

Otherwise it is no Proverb but a.

• 1. Oration.
• 2. Riddle.
• 3. Secret.
• 4. Sentence.
• 5. Upstart.
• 6. Libel.

I have only insisted on such local Proverbs in their respective Counties, wherein some proper Place or Person, is mentioned, such as suggest unto us some Historical •… int and the interpretation thereof afford some considerable information, and conduce to the illustration of those Counties wherein they are used.

Herein I have neglected such narrow and restrictive Proverbs as never travelled beyond the smoke of the chimneys of that town wherein they were made, and though perchance significant in themselves, are unknown to the neibouring Counties, so far they are from acquiring a National reception. Besides. I have declined all such which are Frivolous, Scurrilous, Scandalous, confining ourselves only to such whose expounding may contribute to the understanding of those shires wherein they are in fashion.

The Medicinal Herbs.

Some maintain this Position, That every Country cures the diseases, which it causes, and bringeth remedies, for all the maladies bred therein. An opinion which grant not true, yet may have much of Truth therein, seeing every Country, and England especially affordeth excellent Plants were it not partly for men's laziness, that they will not seek them, partly for their ignorance that they know not when they have found them, and partly for their pride and peevishness, because when found, they disdain to use and apply them. Indeed quod charum, charum, what is fetched far, and bought dear, that only is esteemed; otherwise were many English plants as rare as they are useful we would hug in our hands, what we now trample under our feet.

For proof hereof let not the Reader grudge to peruse these words of a grand Herbalist, speaking of Virga Aurea, or Golden-rod, growing plentifully, but discovered lately in Middlesex.

We may also observe that many base and barren heaths and hills, which afford the least food for beasts, yield the best Physic for man, One may also take notice that such places that are nearest to London, Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, or where some eminent Herbalist hath his habitation, afford us the greater variety of medicinal herbs. Not that more have grown but more are known there abouts, where the native plants are not better, but more happy in their vicinitie to such discoverers. And now to be always within the reach if not the touch of mine own calling we may observe in Scripture that God's Spirit directs men to the gathering of such Simples of his own planting. Is there no * balm in Gilead? True in a literal sense, as well as mystically of our Savior.

Now the reason why I have been so sparing in this Topic, and so seldom insist thereon, is because these Herbs grow equally for goodness and plenty, in all Counties, so that no one Shire can without manifest usurpation entitle it) self thereunto. Besides they are so Common, and Numerous, they would justle out matter of more concernment. However we have noted it where the Herb is rare and very useful, and in our following Book (though here the Method be transposed) have placed Medicinal Herbs, next Medicinal waters, conceiving that order most Natural.

Saints.

This word accepts of several interpretations, or rather they are injuriously obtruded upon it.

• 1. Saints of Fiction, who never were in rerum natura, as St. Christopher &c.
• 2. Saints of Faction, wherewith our age doth fwarme, alleging two arguments for their Saintship. First, that they so call themselves; Sec •… ndly, that those of their own party call them so. Neither of these belong to our cognizance.
• 3. Saints of Superstition, reputed so by the Court of Rome.
• 4. Saints indeed, parrallel to St. Paul's Widows indeed, and both deserve to be honored.

It is confessed, in this our Book we drive a great trade in the third Sort, and I cannot therefore but sadly bemoan that the Lives of these Saints are so darkened with popish Illustrations, and farced with Fauxeties to their Dishonor, and the Detriment of Church History. For as honest men, casually cast into the Company of Cozeners, are themselves suspected to be Cheats, by those who are Strangers unto them, So the very true Actions of these Saints found in mixture with so many Forgeries, have a suspicion of falsehood cast upon them.

Inquiring into the causes of this grand abuse, I find them reducible to five heads.

• 1. First, Want of honest hearts, in the Biographists of these Saints, which betrayed their Pens to such abominable untruths.
• 2. Secondly, Want of able heads, to distinguish Rumours from Reports, Reports from Records, not choosing but gathering, or rather not gathering, but scraping what could come to their hands.
• 3. Thirdly, Want of true matter, to furnish out those lives in any proportion. As Cooks are sometimes fain to lard lean meat, not for fashion but necessity, as which otherwise would hardly be eatable for the dryness thereof; So these having little of these Saints more then their names, and dates of their Deaths (and though sometimes not certain) do plump up their emptiness with such fictious additions.
• 4. Fourthly, hope of gain, so bringing in more Custom of Pilgrims to the shrines of their Saints.
• 5. Lastly, for the same reason for which Herod persecuted St. Peter, (for I count such Lyes a persecuting of the Saints memories) merely because they saw it pleased the people.

By these and other causes it is come to pass, that the Observation of Vives is most true, Quae de Sanctis Scripta sunt, praeter pauca quaedam, multis foedata sunt Commentis, dum qui scribit affectui suo indulget: & non quae egit Divus, sed quae illum egisse vellet, exponit; What are written of the Saints, some few things excepted, are defiled with many fictions, whilst the Writer indulgeth his own affection, and declareth not what the Saint did do, but what he desired that he should have done. To this let me couple the just complaint of that honest Dominican Melchior Cano. Dolenter hoc dico, multo severius a Laertio vitas Philosophorum scriptas, quam à Christianis vitas Sanctorum, longeque incorruptius & integrius Suetonium res Caesarum exposuisse, quam exposuerint Catholici, non res dico Imperatorum, sed Martyrum, Virginum & Confessorum; I speak it to my grief (saith he) that the Lives of the Philosophers are more gravely written by Laertius, than Saints are by Christians, and that Suetonius hath recorded the Actions of the Caesar's with more Truth and Integrity, than Catholic •… have the Lives, I say not of Princes, but even of Martyrs, Virgins, and Confessors.

To return to our English Saints. As our Catalogue beginneth with Alban, it endeth with Thomas Bishop of Hereford, who died Anno Domini 1282. the last Englishman canonized by the Pope. For, though Anselm was canonized after him (in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh) he was no English, but a Frenchman, who died more then an hundred years before him. Since which time, no English, and few Foreigners have attained that honor, which the Pope is very sparing to confer. First because sensible, that multitude of Saints abateth veneration. Secondly, the Calendar, is filled (not to say pestered) with them, justling one another for Room, many holding the same day in copartnership of Festivity. Thirdly, the charge of Canonization is great, few so charitable as to buy it, the Pope too covetous to give it to the memories of the deceased. Lastly, Protestants daily grow more prying into the Popes proceedings, and the [suspected] perfections of such persons, who are to be Sainted; which hath made his Holynesse the more cautious, to canonize none whilst their memories are on the Must, immediately after their Deaths, before the same is fined in the Cask, with some competent continuance of time, after their decease.

Noble Martyrs.

St. Ambrose in his Te Deum doth justify the Epithet, and by Martyrs all know such only are imported, who have lost their lives for the Testimony of a fundamental Truth.

However we find the word by one of the purest Writers in the primitive times, attributed to such who were then alive.

See here how he bemartyreth such who as yet did survive, but in so servile a condition (condemned to the mines) that they were almost hopeless, without miracle to be released. Yet dare we not presume on this precedent of St. Cyprian (children must not do what their Fathers may) to use the word so extensively, but by Martyrs understand persons (not in the deepest durance and distress) but actually slain for the Testimony of Jesus Christ; which by an Ingenious pen is thus, not ill expressed.

Now such Martyrs as our Land hath produced, are reducible to three different Ranks.

• 1. Britons, suffering under Dioclesian, the persecuting Roman Emperor, as Alban, Amphibalus, &c.
• 2. Saxons, massacred by the Pagan Danes, as King Edmund, Ebba, &c.
• 3. English, murdered by the cruelty of Papists, since the Year 1400. as William Sawtree, John Badby, &c.

In the two former of these we are prevented, and they anticipated from us, by the Popes canonizing them under the Title of Saints. The third and last only remain proper for our pen, martyred by the Romish Prelates for above an hundred and fifty years together.

I confess I have formerly met with some men, who would not allow them for Martyrs, who suffered in the Reign of Queen Mary, making them little better then Felons de se, willfully drawing their blood on themselves. Most of these I hope are since convinced in their judgment, and have learned more charity in the School of affliction, who by their own Losses have learned better to value the Lives of others, and now will willingly allow Martyrship to those, from whom they wholly withheld, (or grudgingly gave) it before.

We have reckoned up these Martyrs according to the places of their Nativity, where we could find them, which is my first choice, in Conformity to the rest of this work. But in case this cannot be done my second choice is, (for know Reader tis no refuge ) to rank them according to the place of their death, which is their true birth-place in the Language of Antiquity. Hear how a right Antient Author expresseth himself to this purpose, Apte consuetudinem tenet Ecclesia, ut solennes beatorum Martyrum vel Confessorum Christi Dies, quibus ex hoc mundo ad regionem migraverunt Vivorum, nuncupentur Natales, & eorum Solennia non funebria, tanquam morientium, sed, (utpote in vera vita nascentium ) Natalitia vocitentur. Now if the day of their Death be justly entitled their Birth-day, the place of their Death may be called their Birth-place by the same Analogy of Reason and Language.

We have given in a List of Martyrs names in their respective Countyes, but not their Total Number, only in •… isting on such who were most remarkable, remiting the Reader for the rest, to the voluminous pains of Mr. Fox, who hath written All, (and if malicious Papists be believed more then All ) of this Subject.

Worthy Confessors.

All good Christians are concluded within the Compase of Confessors in the Large acception thereof. With the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation: But here we restrain this Title to such, who have adventured fair and far for Martyrdom, and at last, not declined it by their own Cowardize, but escaped it by Divine Providence. Confessor is a Name none can wear whom it cost Nothing, It must be purchased for the Maintenance of the Faith, with the Loss of their Native Land, Liberty, Livelyhood, Limbs, anything under Life itself.

Yet in this confined sense of Confessors, we may say with Leah, at the birth of Gad behold a Troop cometh, Too many to be known, written, read, remembered, We are forced therefore to reconfine the Word to such, who were Candidates and Probationers, for Martyrdom in proxima potentia. There was not a stride, but, (to use David's expression) but a step betwixt them and Death, their Wedding Clothes were made (but not put on) for their marriage to the Fire. In a Word they were soft Wax, ready chafed and prepared, but the Signature of a violent Death was not stamped upon them.

Manifold is the use of our observing these Confessors. First to show that God alone hath Parramount power of Life and Death. Preserving those who by men are appointed to Dye. One whose Son lay very Sick, was told by the Physician, Your Son Sir, is a dead man, To whom the Father (not disheartened thereat ) returned, I had rather a Physician should call him so an hundred times, than a Judge on the Bench, should do it once, whose Pronouncing him for a Dead man, makes him to be one. But though both a Physician in Nature, and a Judge in Law, give men for Gon, The one passing the Censure, the other Sentence of Death upon them, GOD, to whom belongeth the Issues from Death, may Preserve them long in the Land of the Living. Hereof these Confessors are Eminent Instances, and may God therefore have the Glory of their so strange Deliverances.

Secondly it serveth to comfort God's servants in their greatest distress. Let hand join in hand; let Tyrants piece the Lions cruelty with the Fox his craft; let them face their plots with power, and line then with policy all shall take no effect. God's servants (if he seeth it for his glory and their good) shall either be mercifully preserved from, or mightily protected in dangers, whereof these Confessors are a Cloud of Witnesses.

We have an English Proverb, Threatned Folks live long, but let me add, I know a Threatned Man who did never die at all, namely the Prophet Elijab, Threatned by cruel and crafty Jezebel, The God's do so to me and more also, if I make not thy Life like one of their Lives by tomorrow at this time, Yet did he never taste of Mortallity, being conveyed by a fiery ( heriot into Heaven. Now although our ensuing History presenteth not any miraculously preserved from Death, yet affordetb it Plenty of strange preservations of Persons to extreme Old age, though they wear the Marks of many, and mighty men's Menacies, who plotted and practiced their Destruction.

We have pursued the same course in Confessors, which we embraced in Martyrs, viz. We have ranked them according to their Nativities, where we could certainly observe them, to make them herein Uniforme with the rest of our Book. But where this could not be attained, we have entered them in those Counties, where they had the longest or sharpest 〈◊〉 . And this we humbly conceive proper enough, seeing their Confessor-ship in a strict sense did bare true date, from place of their greatest Persecution.

Popes.

I Meet with a mess of English Natives advanced to that Honor. Pope John-Joan is wholly omitted, partly because we need not charge that See with suspicious and doubtful crimes, whose notorious faults are too apparent; partly because this He-She, though allowed of English extraction, is generally believed born at Ments in Germany.

Wonder not that so few of our Countrymen gained the Triple-Crown. For first, great our distance from Rome, who being an Island or little World by ourselves, had our Archbishop of Canterbury, which formerly was accounted Alterius orbis Papa. Secondly, 〈◊〉 •… talians of late have engrossed the Papacy to themselves, and much good may their Monopolie do them, seeing our English may more safely repose themselves in some other seat, then the Papal Chair, more fatal, (it is to be feared) to such as sit therein, than ever Eli's proved unto him.

Yea, I assure you, four Popes was a very fair proportion for England; For having perused the voluminous book of Pantaleon, De Viris illustribus Germaniae; I find but six Popes Dutchmen by their Nativity, viz. Stephen the Eighth, Gregory the Fifth, Silvester the Second, Leo the Ninth, Victor the Second, and Adrian the Sixth. Seeing therefore Germany in the Latitude thereof, a Continent five times bigger than England, measured by the aforesaid Pantaleon with advantage, I say, seeing Germany, the Emperor whereof is, or ought to be Patron to the Pope, produced but Six of that Order, England's four acquit themselves in a very good appearance.

I need not observe that our English word Pope, came from the Latin Papa, signifying a Father, a Title anciently given to other Bishops, but afterwards fixed on the See of Rome. One would have him called Papa by abbreviation, quasi PAter PAtriarcharum, flitting only the two first syllables. A pretty conceit, which I dare no more avouch than his Fancy, who affirmed the former syllable in Papa to be short in verse, for the Pope personal, who indeed are short-lived; whilst the same syllable is long, the word being taken for the succession of Popes, who have lasted above a thousand years.

Cardinals.

A word of their Names, Numbers, Degrees, Dignities, Titles and Habit. Cardinals are not so called, because the Hinges on which the Church of Rome doth move; but from Cardo, which signifieth the end of a Tenon put into a Mortais being accordingly fixed and fastened to their respective Churches. Anciently Cardinalis imported no more than an Ecclesiastical Person, beneficed and inducted into a cure of Souls; and all Bishops generally made Cardinals as well as the Pope of Rome.

In proof whereof, there were anciently Founded in the Church of Saint Paul's, two Cardinals chosen by the Dean and Chapter out of the twelve petty Canons, whose Office it was to take notice of the absence and neglect of all in the Choir, to give the Eucharist to the Minister of that Church and their servants, as well in health as in sickness, to hear Confessions, appoint penance, and to commit the dead to convenient sepulture. And two of them lie buried in the Church of Saint Faiths with these Epitaphs.

Many other Churches besides Saint Paul's retained this custom of Cardinal making.

Viz. Ravenna, Aquileia, Milan, Pisa, Beneventana in Italy, and Compostella in Spain.

But in process of time Cardinal became appropriated to such as officiated in Rome, and they are reckoned up variously by Authors, Fifty one, fifty three, fifty eight, sixty I believe their number arbitrary to ben creased or diminished, ad libitum Domini Papae. They are divided into three ranks.

The former of these have Chaires allowed them, and may sit down in presence of his Holynesse, and these are seven in number, whose Sees are in the Vicinage of Rome, and some Englishmen have had the honor to be dignified by them.

Bishop of 1 Hostia,

Bishop of 2 Porto, R. Kilwardby.

Bishop of 3 Sabine,

Bishop of 4 Alba, Nic. Breakspeare.

Bishop of 5 Preneste, Bernar. 〈◊〉 . Simon 〈◊〉 .

Bishop of 6 Rufine.

7 Bishop of Tusculane.

Cardinal Priests succceed, generally accounted twenty eight, divided into four Septenaries, whose Titles are here presented with such Englishmen, who attained to be honored with such Churches in Rome.

Observe I pray you this Catalogue of Titles (taken out of Sir Henry Spelman his Glossary) is imperfect, St. Pastor, being omitted therein, whereof Boso was at last made Cardinal. For these Cardinals were not so mor •… aised to their Churches, but that they might be removed, especially if advanced a Story higher (from Cardinal Deacons to Priests, from Priests to Bishops ) and sometimes though remaining on the same flour, they were removed (to make room for others) to some other Title. Many more Englishmen we had created Cardinals, whose certain Titles are unknown. But let us proceed to the Cardinal Deacons 16. in number,

• 1. St. Mary in Dompusinica.
• 2. St. Lucy.
• 3. St. Mary the new.
• 4. St. Cosmus and St. Damian
• 5. St. Gregory.
• 6. St. Mary in the Greek School.
• 7. St. Mary in the Porch.
• 8. St. Nicholas by the Prison.
• 9. St. Angelus.
• 10. St. Eustachius.
• 11. St. Mary in the water.
• 12. St. Mary in the broad way.
• 13. St. Agathe.
• 14. St. Lucia on thto p of Sabine.
• 15. St. Quintin.
• 16. St. The last lost by the Scribe, in Curia.

I only find one Englishman Boso by Name made Cardinal Deacon, of St. Cosmus and St. Damian, but it was not long before he was advanced to be a Cardinal Bishop.

The habit of Cardinals is all Scarlet, whereof Theodore Beza tartly enough, thus expresseth himself.

They wore also a red Hat of a peculiar fashion to themselves, and rid abroad on horsback on scarlet Foot-clothes, and Pope Paul the Second, made it penal for any beneath their Order in Rome, to use the same. Yea to such a height of pride did they aspire, that we read this Note in the Roman Pontifical, Notandum, quod Caesar antequam coronetur simplici diademate sedet post primum Episcopum Cardinalem, & si quis Rex adest, sedet tunc post primum omnium Presbyterum Cardinalem. Indeed making their own Canons, and being their own Heralds to Marshal their own precedency, they had been much to blame if not carving a good portion of Honor to themselves, whilst devout Princes, abused by bad Instructors and their own erroneous Consciences, gave to the Clergy what they were pleased to demand.

None might elect the Pope, save such as were Cardi. yea none out of that Order were eligible into the Papacy, as in England, one must first be a Sergeant before he be a Judge. Cardinal Deacons were, in equal capacity of being Popes with Cardinal Priests, and oftentimes, were preferred before them as they could strenthen their faction, which carried all in these (and I could wish in no other) Elections.

WILLIAM ALLEN, who died Anno 1594, was the last Englishman advanced to this Honor, so that our Country hath not had a Cardin •… l these sixty years, which from the former six hundred years, was never without one or two of that Order. This may seem a wonder, our Nation being as meriting as any for the Romish Cause, and having as good Heads as any, why should they not wear as gay Hats as others? nor will the reasons assigned for the contrary give satisfaction, viz.

• 1. That the Pope commonly makes Cardinals to gratify Foreign Kings, whilst our English Sovereigns have ever since been of a different Religion from his Holiness.
• 2. That our English Catholics living beyond Seas in the nature of Exiles, and under persecution (as they call it,) so high an honor is inconsistent with their suffering condition.
• 3. That our Englishmen want preferment and Estates, to maintain the distance of so great a dignity.

There are at the present two English Natives in France of noble extraction and Romish persuasion, much voiced in common discourse for their probability to such preferment; but on what grounds I do not know, and list not to inquire.

Surely the matter is not great, seeing that dignity hath been observed to be rather fatal then fortunate to the English, and attended with some sad and sudden casualties.

• 1. Cardinal Mackelsfield was four months buried before his Cap was brought him.
• 2. Cardinal Sertor died in Italy in the Juncture of Time, Inter Pileum datum & susceptum.
• 3. Cardinal Fisher, when his Cap was come to Calis, had his head struck off at Tower-Hill.
• 4. Cardinal Somercot was poisoned in the very Conclave to prevent his selection to the Popedom.
• 5. Cardinal Evosham was sent the same way on the same occasion.
• 6. Cardinal Bambridge was poisoned at Rome, by one of his servants being an Italian.

If such their success, I suppose it far easier for Englishmen to have their caps (though courser and cheaper) made of our own Country-wool, which will be more warm, and may prove more healthful for the wearers thereof. I have done with this Subject, when I have observed that there is a Cardinal, Bishop of Sabine, a place near Rome; and a Cardinal Priest of Saint Sabine a Church dedicated to her Memory in the same City; the not heeding whereof I suspect hath bred much confusion in our English Writers. The best is, our Englishmen, when they write of Places in Italy cannot commit greater and grosser mistakes, then what Italians have done, when they have wrote of Towns and Places in England; Though perchance such is their pride, that they will say it is our duty to be exact in Italy, and their courtesy to take any notice of England.

Let not the Reader wonder if Cardinals inserted in others, are omitted in our Catalogue, viz. Ulricus, Ancherus, Theobaldus, Bernardus de Anguiscello, &c. Seeing I am unsatisfied in some of them, whether they were Cardinals; in others, whether they were Englishmen, Forreign Countries laying more probable claim unto them. Nor will it quit the cost of a Contest, nothing more then their names being left in History withouta ny other observeables.

Prelates before the Reformation.

Next succeed such eminent Clergy-men who attained to the honor of being ArchBishops and Bishops in England, and were famous in their generations.

Objection. These Popes, Cardinals and Prelates, were superstitious persons and Limbs of Antichrist, whose names are better lost then kept. Yea, it mattered not much, if some good Josiah served their bones as those of the idolatrous Priests of Jeroboam, even burn them to ashes, that so their bodies and memories might perish together.

Answer. I am afraid our age affords those, who if they were to manage that Act, would together with their bones, sans difference (notwithstanding the distinguishing Epitaph ) burn the bodies of the young and old Prophet, I mean utterly extirpate the Ministerial Function. But I answer, it must be confessed they were deeply died with the Errors and Vices of the Age they lived in, yet so that some of them were for their Devotion exemplary to posterity; and the very worst of them, though yielding nothing fit for our Imitation, may afford what is well worth our Observation.

And here be it remembered, that the same Epithet in several places accepts sundry Interpretations. He is called A GOOD MAN in common Discourse, who is not Dignified with Gentilitie; A GOOD MAN upon the Exchange, who hath a responsable Estate; A GOOD MAN in a Camp, who is a tall Man of his Arms; A GOOD MAN in the Church, who is Pious and Devout in his Conversation. Thus whatsoever is fixed therein in other Relations, that Person is A GOOD MAN in History, whose Character affords such Matter as may please the Palate of an Ingenious Reader, and I humbly crave the Honor to be his Taster in this Behalf.

Now of Bishops before the Conquest, the most were merely nuda Nomina, Naked Names. As for such appearing Clothed with remarkable History, most of them move in an higher Sphere of Saints, and so are anticipated. Since the Conquest; for the first seven Kings, many Prelates were Foreigners, generally French, and so Aliens from our Subject. It will therefore be seasonable to begin their Catalogue about the time of King Henry the Third, deducing it unto the Popish Bishops, who were deprived in the first of Queen Elizabeth.

Lord Chancellors.

The name is taken from CANCELLI, which signifies a kind of wooden Network, which admitteth the eyes of people to behold, but forbids their feet to press on Persons of Quality, sequestered to sit quietly by themselves for public employment. Hence Chancells have their denomination, which by such a fence were formerly divided from the body of the Church; and so the Lord Chancellor had a Seat several to himself, free from popular intrusion.

I find another Notation of this Office, some deducing his name à Cancellando, from Cancelling things amiss, and rectifying them by the Rules of Equity and a good Conscience, and this relateth to no meaner Author then Johannes Sarisburiensis.

He is the highest Officer of the Land, whose principal employment is to mitigate the rigor of the Common Law with Conscientious qualifications. For as the Prophet complaineth that the Magistrates in Israel had turned JUD •… MENT into WORMWOOD, the like would daily come to pass in England, where High Justice would be High injustice, if the bitterness thereof were not sometimes seasonably sweetened with a mixture of Equity.

He also keepeth the Great Seal of the Land, the affixing whereof preferreth what formerly was but a Piece of written Parchment, to be a Patent or Charter. For though it be true what Solomon says Where the word of a King is, there is power; yet that word doth not act effectually, until it be produced under the public Seal.

Some difference there is between learned Authors, about the antiquity of this Office, when it first began in Eng •… and.

Polydore Virgil, who though an Italian, could (when he would) see well into English Antiquities, makes the Office to begin at the Conqueror. And B. Godwin accounteth them sufficiently ridiculous, who make Swithin Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England under K. Athelwolfe.

Several persons are alleged Chancellors to our English Kings before the Conquest, and King Æthelred appointed the Abbot of Eli, ut in Regis Curia Cancellarii ageret dignitatem.

The Controverfie may easily be compremized by this distinction; Chancellor before the Conquest, imported an Office of credit in the Kings Court (not of Judicature, but) of Residence, much in the nature of a Secretary. Thus lately he was called the Chancellor (understand not of the Diocese, but) of the Cathedral-Church, whose place was to pen the Letters belonging thereunto. Whereas the notion of the Kings Chancellor since the Conquest, is enlarged and advanced to signify the supreme Judge of the Land.

The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, is in effect the same with the Lord Chancellor of England: save that some will have the Lord Chancellors place ad Terminum Vitae, and the Lord Keepers ad placitum Regis. Sure it is, that because Nicholas Heath late Arch-Bishop of York, and Chancellor of England, was still alive, though outed of his Office, Sir Nicholas Bacon was made Lord Keeper, and in his time the power of the Keeper was made equal with the authority of the Chancellor by Act of Parliament.

We have begun our Catalogue of Chancellors at Sir Thomas More, before whose time that place was generally discharged by Clergy men, entered in our Book under the Title of Eminent Prelates. If any demand, why such Clergy-men, who have been Lord Chancellors, are not rather ranked under the Title of Statesmen, than under the Topic of Prelates? Let such know, that seeing Episcopacy is challenged to be jure Divino, and the Chancellors place confessed to be of Human Institution, I conceive them most properly placed and to their best advantage.

If any ask, why the Lord Chancellors who meddle so much in matters of Law, are not rather digested under the Title of Lawyers then under that of Statesmen? Let such know, it is done, because some Chancellors were never Lawyers ex professo, studying the Laws of the Land, for their intended Function, taking them only in order to their own private accomplishment. Whereof Sir Christopher Hatton was an eminent instance. As we begin our Catalogue with Sir Thomas More, we close it with Sir Thomas Coventry, it being hard to •… ay, whether the Former were more Witty and Facetious, or the Later more Wise and Judicious.

Lord Treasurers.

Kings without Treasure will not be suitably obeyed, and Treasure without a Treasurer will not be safely preserved. Hence it was that the Crowns and Scepters of Kings were made of gold, not only because it is the most pure and precious of metals, but to show, that wealth doth effectually evidence and maintain the strength and state of Majesty. We may therefore observe, not only in profane but holy writ; not only in Old, but New Testnment, signal notice taken of those who were over the Treasury, in which great place of Trust, the Eunuch served Candace Queen of Ethiopia.

The Office of Lord Treasurers was ever beheld as a Place of great charge and profit. One well skilled in the Perquisits thereof, being demanded, what he conceived the yearly value of the place was worth? made this Return, That it might be worth some thousands of pounds to him (who after death) would go instantly to Heaven, twice as much to him, who would go to Purgatory, and a Nemo Scit to him who would adventure to go to a worse place. But the plain truth is, He that is a Bad Husband for himself, will never be a good one for his Sovereign, and therefore no wonder if they have advanced fair Estates to themselves, whose Office was so Advantagious, and they so judicious and prudent persons, without any prejudice to their Master, and (for ought I know) Injury to his Subjects.

We have begun our Catalogue at William Lord Powlett Marquess of Winchester. For although before him, here and there Lay-Lord's were Intrusted with that Office, Yet generally they were Bishops, and so anticipated under our Topic of Eminent Prelates, and blame me not if in this particular, I have made the Luster of the Lord's Spiritual, to Eclipse the Lord's Temporal, drowning their Civil Office in their Ecclesiastical Employment. We close our Catalogue of Lord Treasurers, with Francis Lord Cottington.

Secretaries of State.

There were but two of these at once in the Kings time, whereof the one was styled the Principal Secretary, the other the Secretary of Estate. Some have said that the first in the Senioritie of Admition, was accounted the Principal, but the Exceptions in this kind, being as many as the Regularities (the Younger being often brought over the head of the elder to be Principal ) Their chiefnesse was Penes Regis Arbitrium. Nor was the one confined to Forreign Negotiations, the other to domestic business, (as some have believed) but promiscuously ordered all affairs, though the Genius of some Secretaries did incline them most to foreign Transactions. Their Power was on the matter alike, and Petitioners might make their Applications indifferently to either, though most addressed themselves to him, in whom they had the greatest Interest. Their Salaries were some Two hundred pounds a piece, and five hundred pounds a piece more for Intelligence and Secret Service.

Before the Reformation Clergy-men (who almost were all things) were generally Secretaries of Estate, as Oliver King, Secretary to Edward 4. Edward 5. and Henry the 7. and those came under our Pen in the Notion of Eminent Prelates. We therefore begin our Catalogue of Secretaries from Sir Thomas Cromwell, in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, because from him until our Time a continued Series of Laymen ha •… e discharged that Office.

We •… onclude our Secretaries of State with Sir John Cook, who perceiving his aged body not so fit for such Active times, resigned his Place about the beginning of the Long Parliament, though surviving some years after in a private condition. We will for the more safety follow the Pattern of so wise a States-man, and where he gave over his Office, we will give over writing of those Officers, for fear we tread too near on the Toes of the Times, and touch too much on our Modern distempers.

Amiralls or Admiralls.

Much difference there is about the Original of this word, whilst most probable their Opinion who make it of Eastern Extraction, borrowed by the Christians from the Saracens. These derive it from Amir, in Arabic a Prince, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Belonging to the Sea, in the Greek Language, such mixture being precedented in other words. Besides, seeing the Sultans Dominions in the Time of the Holy War, extended from Sinus Arabius, to the North Eastern part of the Midland-Sea, where a barbarous kind of Greek was spoken by many, Amirall (thus compounded) was significatively comprehensive of his Jurisdiction, Admiral is but a Depraving of Amirall in vulgar mouths. However it will never be beaten out of the Heads of the Common sort, that seeing the Sea is Scene of Wonders, something of Wonderment hath incorporated itself in this Word, and that it hath a Glimps, Cast, or Eye of Admiration therein.

Our English Kings following the Precedent of the Politick Romans, who very seldom entrusted places of great importance (especially during life) in a single person, as also that they might gratify more and trust less, divided the Over-sight of sea-matters betwixt a Triumvirate of Amiralls, and (like wary Merchants ) ventured the charge in several bottoms for the more Safety.

I find that Richard Fitz-alin Earl of Arundell, was by King Richard the second, made the first Amirall of all England, yet so, that if Three Co-Admiralls were restored as formerly, his Charter expired. John Vere Earl of Oxford, was, the first of Hen. the seventh, Amirall of England, and kept it until the day of his Death. Afterwards Men were chequered, at the pleasure of our Princes, and took their turns in that Office. For this cause I can make no certain Catalogue of them, who can take with my most fixed Eye, no steady aim at them (the same persons being often alternately In, and Out of the Place ) whilst Officers protermino vitae, may be with some certainty recounted.

Yet have we sometimes inserted some Memorable Amiralls under the Ti •… le of Statesmen; and Vice-Amiralls under the Topic of Seamen, because the former had no great knowledge in Navigation, (I say great) it being improper, they should be seamasters who in no degree were seamen ) and were employed rather for their Trust, then skill, to see others do their Duty, whilst the latter were always persons well experienced in Maritine affairs.

Lord-Deputies of IRELAND.

Ever since King Henry the second conquered Ireland, few of our English Princes went thither in person, and none continued any long time there, save King John, and King Richard the second, neither of them over-fortunate. But that Land was governed by a Substitute, commissioned from our Kings, with the same power though sometimes under several names.

Thus these three Titles are in sense Synonima, to signify the same power and place. Some erroneously term them Presidents of Ireland, a Title belonging to the particular Governors of Mounster and Connagh.

It is true of Ireland what was once said of * Edom, their Deputies were Kings. No Vice-roy in Christendom ( Naples itself not excepted) is observed in more state. He chooseth Sheriffs, and generally all Officers, save Bishops and Judges, and these also, though not made by his commanding, are usually by his commending to the King. He conferreth Knighthood, hath power of life and death, signified, by the Sword carried commonly before him, by a person of Honor. His attendance and House-keeping is magnificent, partly to set a Copy of State to the barbarous Irish, by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs running after their native Lord's; and the solemnity of a regulated retinue; partly to make in that Rebellious Nation, a reverential impression of Majesty, that by the Shadow they may admire the Substance, and proportionably collect the State of the King himself, who therein is represented. Our English Kings were content with the Title of Lord's of Ireland, until King Henry the Eighth, who, partly to show his own power to assume what style he pleased, without leave or liberty from the Pope (whose Supremity he had suppressed in his Dominions) partly the more to awe the Irish, wrote himself King thereof, Anno Dom. 1541. from which Year we date our Catalogue of Lord Deputies, as then, and not before, Vice-Royes indeed.

Indeed it was no more then needs, for King Henry the Eighth to assume that Title, seeing, quod efficit tale magis est tale, and the Commission whereby King Henry the Second made William-Fitz-Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland, hath this direction; Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Regibus; Comitibus, Baronibus, et omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia, salutem.

Now, though by the post-poning of these Kings to Arch-bishops and Bishops, it plainly appears that they were no Canonical Kings, (as I may say) I mean solemnly invested with the Emblems of sovereignty, [the King of Connagh, the King of Thomond ] yet were they more then Kings, even Tyrants in the exercise of their Dominions, so that, King Henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself King Paramount above them all.

Seamen.

Surely Divine Providence did not make the vast body of the Sea, for no other use, than for Fishes to disport themselves therein, or, (as some do conceit) only for to quench and qualify the drought and heat of the Sun with the moisture thereof, but it was for higher intendmens. Chiefly, That by sailing thereon, there may be the continuing of Commerce, the communicating of Learning and Religion (the Last from Palestine the Staple thereof) and the more speedy and convenient portage of Burthens, seeing, a laden Ship doth fly in comparison of the creeping of an empty Waggon.

Now to speak what Envy cannot deny, Our Englishmen, either for Fights, or Discoveries, whether for tame Ships, Merchants Men, or Wild Ships, Men of War carry away the Garland, from all Nations in the Christian World.

Learned Keckerman, who being a German by birth, was unbiased in his judgment, and living in Dantz, (a Port of great trading, whither Seamen repaired from all parts) and writing a Book De re nautica, may be presumed skillful therein, alloweth the English the best Seamen, and next to them the Hollanders. And if the later dare deny the truth hereof, let them remember the late Peace they purchased of the English, and thank God, that they met with so conscientious Chapmen, who set no higher price thereon.

Yea, Let the Dutch know, that they are the Scholars to the English, in some of their Discoveries: For I find the four first Circumnavigators of the World thus qualified for their Nativities,

• 1. Magellanus, a Spaniard.
• 2. Sr. Francis Drake, an Englishman.
• 3. Sr. Thomas Candish, an Englishman.
• 4. Oliver Noort, an Hollander.

But be it known, That the last of these had an Englishman, Captain Mellis by name, Pilot to conduct him.

Yet let not my commending of our English Seamen be misinterpreted, as if I did not refer all success to the goodness of God, the grand Admiral of the World. The praising of Instruments (by way of subordination ) is no more detrimental to the honor of the Principal, than the praising of the edge of the Axe is a disparagement to the strength of the Arm which useth it. God I confess by his Providence ordereth all by Land and by sea; yea, he may be said to be the first Shipwright; for I behold the Ark, as a Bird, wholly hatched▪ but utterly unfledg, without any feathers of Masts and Tackling, it could only float, and not sail, yet so, that therein was left pattern enough for human Ingenuity to improve it to Naval perfection.

Yea, God himself hath in Scripture taken signal notice of the dextrous in this nature, on which account we find the Tyrians, or Men of Hiram, praised, for that they had knowledge of the sea, when sent with the servants of Solomon to Ophir.

We begin our Catalogue of Seamen in the Raign of King Edward the 3d. before which time there were many good seamen in England, but few good English-seamen, our King using Mariners of the Hanse Towns. But it is no good huswifery to hire Chairwomen to do that, which may as well and better be done by her own servants. In the time of Edward the third, England grew famous for Sea-fights with the French, and increased in credit, especially since the Navy Royal was erected by Q. Elizabeth.

Some conceive it would be a great advancement to the perfecting of English Navigation, if allowance were given, to read a Lecture in London concerning that Subject, in imitation of the late Emperor CHARLES the fifth, who wisely considering the rawness of his Seamen, and the manifold shipwrecks which they sustained in passing and repassing between Spain and the West▪Indies, established, not only a Pilot Major, for the examination of such as were to take charge of Ships in that voyage, but also founded a Lecture for the Art of Navigation, which to this day is read in the Contraction House at Sivil: the Readers of which Lecture, have not only carefully taught and instructed the Spanish Mariners by word of mouth, but have also published sundry exact and worthy Treatises, concerning Marine causes, for the direction and encouragement of Posterity.

Here it were to be wished, That more care were taken for, and encouragement given to the breeding of Fishermen; whom I may call the spawn, or young Frie of seamen; yea such as hope that Mariners will hold up, if Fishermen be destroyed, may as rationally expect plenty of honey and wax, though only old stocks of Bees were kept without either Casts or Swarmes.

Nor can Fishermen be kept up, except the public eating of Fish at set times be countenanced, yea enjoined by the State. Some suspect, as if there were a Pope in the belly of every Fish, and some bones of superstition in them, which would choke a conscientious person, especially if fasting days be observed. But know that such Customs grew from a treble root, of Popery, Piety, and Policy; and though the first of these be plucked up, the other must be watered, and maintained; and Statesmen may be mortified and wise without being superstitious: Otherwise the not keeping of Fasting-days will make us keep Fasting-Days, I mean, The not forbearing of Flesh, for the feeding on Fish, for the good of the STATE, will in process of time prove the ruin of Fishermen, they of Seamen, both of Englishmen.

We are sadly sensible of the truth hereof in part, (God forbid, in whole ) by the decay of so many Towns on our North-east Sea, Hartlepool, Whitebay, Bridlington, Scarborough, Wells, Cromer, Lestof •… , Alborough, Orford, and generally all from New castle to Harewitch, which formerly set out yearly (as I am informed) Two Hundred Ships, and upwards, inployed in the Fisherie, but chiefly for the taking of Ling, that Noble Fish, corrival in his Joule with the surloin of Beef, at the Tables of Gentlemen.

These Fishermen, set forth formerly, with all their male Family, sea-men, sea-youths, I had almost said, sea-children too, (seeing some learned the Language of lar-board, and star-board, with Bread, and Butter, ) Graduates in Navigation, and indeed the Fishery did breed, the natural and best elemented seamen.

But since our late Civil Wars not three ships are employed yearly for that purpose •… , Fishermen preferring rather to let their Vesse •… lie, and rot in their Havens, than to undergo much pain and peril; for, that would not at their return quit cost in any proportion.

So that it is suspicious, That in process of time we shall lose, (the Masters being few and aged) the Mystery of Ling-catching, and perchance the Art of taking and handling some other kind of sound and good Fish▪ no Nation (without flattery to ourselves be it spoken) using more care and skill in ordering of that Commodity.

Yea, which is a greater mischief, it is to be feared, that the seminary of sea-men will decay. For (under correction be it spoken) it is not the long voyages to the EastIndies &c. which do make, but mar sea-men▪ they are not the Womb, but rather the Grave of good Mariners, it is the Fishery which hath been the Nursery of them, though now much disheartened, because their Fish turn to no account, they are brought to so bad Markets. Nor is there any hope of redressing this, but by keeping up Fasting-Days, which our Ancestors so solemnly observed. I say, Our Ancestors, who were not so weak in making, as we are willful in breaking them, and who consulting the situation of this Island, with the conveniencies appendant thereunto, suited their Laws and accommodated their Customs to the best benefit thereof.

Nor was it without good cause why Wednesdays and Fridays were by them appointed for Fish-days: I confess some Foreigners render this Reason, (and father it upon Clemens Alexandrinus ) that, Because those days were dedicated by the Heathen, the one to Mercury the God of cheating, the other to Venus the Goddess of lust, therefore the Christians should macerate themselves on that day with Fasting, in sorrowful remembrance of their Pronity to the vices aforenamed: But waving such fancies our English Fish, or Fasting-Days are founded on a more serious consideration.

For our English Fishermen, in Kent, Sussex, Hants •… re, &c. set forth on Monday, and catch their Fish, which on Tuesday they send up to London, where on Wednesday it is sold and eaten. Such therefore, who lately have propounded to antidate Fish-eating, and to remove it from Wednesday to Tuesday, must thereby occasion the encroaching on the Lord's-Day, to furnish the Markets with that Commodity. Again, such Fishermen as returned on Tuesday, set forth afresh on Wednesday, to take Fish, which on Thursday they send up to London, to supply the remainder of the Week; It being observable, that so great is the goodness of God to our Nation, that there is not one week in the year wherein some wholesome Fish, caught on our own Coast, is not in the prime Season thereof.

As for Staple or Salt-Fish, there are those that are acquainted in the Criticismes thereof, and have exactly stated, and cast up the proportions, who will maintain, that it will do the deed, and set up the Fishery as high as ever it was, if everyone in England able to dispend a Hundred Pounds per annum, were enjoined to lay out Twenty Shillings a Year, in staple-fish, a Summ so inconsiderable in the Particulars, that it will hurt none, and so considerble in the total, it will help all of our Nation. If any censure this for a tedious Digression, let it be imputed to my Zeal for the good of the Common-wealth.

Writers on Physic.

The P •… ecept in the Apocrypha hath a Canonical Truth therein, Honor the Physician for necessity sake; and although King Asa justly received little benefit by them, because of his preposterous addressing himself to them, before he went to God: and the. Woman in the Gospel (troubled with the Issue ) reaped less ease by their Endeavors; because God reserved her a Subject for his own Miraculous Cure; yet in all Ages Millions have been cured by their Practice.

The Ancient Bri •… tans, who went without Clothes, may well be presumed to live without Physic; Yet, seeing very Beasts know what is good for themselves (the Dear, the Cretan Dictamum, and Toad, his Antidote of plantaine ) sure they had some experimental Receipts used amongst them, and left the rest to Nature, and Temperance to cure: The Saxons had those they termed Leaches, or Blood-letters, but were little skilled in methodical practice. Under the Normans, they began in England, (and would we had ferch'd Physicians only, and not Diseases from France. ) Yet three hundred years since it was no distinct Profession by itself, but practiced by men in Orders, witness Nicholas de Fernham, the chief English Physician and Bishop of Durham, Hugh of Evesham, a Physician and Cardinal, Grisant, a Physician and Pope. Yea, the word Physician, appears not in our Statutes, till the days of King Henry the eight, who incorporated their College at London, since which time they have multiplied and flourished in our Nation, but never more, and more learned then in our age, wherein that Art, and especially the Anatomical part thereof is much improved, our Civil Wars perchance occasioning the latter.

We begin our Catalogue at Richardus Anglicus our first Physician, flourishing Anno 1230. and continue to Doctor Harvey, whom I may term Gulielmus Anglicus, such honor he hath done England by his worthy Writings. Thus wishing them all happy success in their Practice, I desire a custom in France, and other foreign parts, naturalized in England, where a Physician is liable to Excommunication, if visiting a Patient thrice before he acquainteth a Priest of his sickness, that so the Medicine for soul and body, may go hand in hand together.

Chimistry.

Chimistry is an ingenious Profession, as which by Art will force somewhat of worth and eminence from the dullest substance, yea the obduras'st, and hardest hearted body, cannot but shed forth a tear of precious liquor, when urged thereunto with its entreaties.

They may be termed Parcel-physicians, every day producing rare experiments, for the curing of many diseas es. bu

I must confess there occurs t few, (and of those few, fewer Modern ones) through the whole series of our Book: Yet may we be said to have extracted the spirits (I mean such as were eminent therein) of this Profession, being confident the judicious Reader, will value one Jem, before many Barly Corns, and one Drop of a true extract, before many Bottles of worthless water.

Chirurgery.

Necessary and ancient their Profession, ever since man's body was subject to enmity and casualty. For, that promise, A bone of him shall not be broken, is peculiar to Christ. As for the other, To keep them in all their ways, that they dash not their foot against a stone, though it be extended to all Christians, yet it admitteth (as other temporal promises) of many exceptions according to God's will and pleasure.

It seemeth by the Parable of the good Samaritan, who bound up the Passengers wounds, pouring in Oil and Wine, that in that age, ordinary persons had a general insight in Chirurgery, for their own and others use. And it is reported to the just praise of the Scotch Nobility, that anciently they all were very dextrous thereat, particularly it is written of James the fourth King of Scotland, Quod vulnera scientissime tractaret, He was most scilful at the handling of wounds. But we speak of Chirurgery, as it is a particular Mystery, Professed by such as make a Vocation thereof. Of whom we have inserted some (eminent for their Writings or otherwise) amongst Physicians, and that (as we hope) without any offense, seeing the healing of diseases and wounds were anciently one Calling, (as still great the Sympathy betwixt them, many diseases causing wounds, as Ulcers, as wounds occasioning diseases, as fevers, ) till in process of time they were separated, and Surgeons only consigned to the Manual Operation. Thus wishing unto them, the three Requisits for their practice, an Eagles Eye, a Ladies Hand, ond a Lions Heart, I leave them, and proceed.

Of Writers on Philology and Divinity.

Doctor Collens Kings Professor in Cambridge, and that Oracle of Eloquence once founded his Speech (made to entertain Strangers at the Commencement) on the words of Saint Paul, Salute Philologus and Olympas. Under the former, he comprised all persons persent, eminent in Human Learning, under the later, all skillful in Heavenly Divinity.

Indeed Philology properly is Terse and Polite Learning, melior literatura, (married long since by Martianus Capella to Mercury ) being that Florid skill, containing only the Roses of learning, without the prickles thereof, in which narrow sense thorny Philosophy is discharged as no part of Philology. But we take it in the larger notion, as inclusive of all human liberal Studies, and preposed to Divinity, as the Porch to the Palace.

Having passed the Porch of Philology, we proceed to the Palace of Divinity. The Writers in this Faculty, we distinguish into two sorts. First, Positive Divines, such I mean, whose works are either Comments on, or else expositions of some portion of Sacred Writ. Secondly, School-men, who have made it their business to Weave find Threads of nicer Distinctions.

Writers on History.

This is either Ecclesiastical or Civil. Of both these, England presenteth many, but generally Moncks before the Reformation, who too much indulging to Holy Fraud, have farced their Books with many feigned miracles, to the prejudice of truth. However, herein foreign Historians have been as guitly as English-men of the same Age, witness the complaint of Mariana the Jesuit, which one may justly wonder how it passed the Index Expurgatorius. Quis enim negare possit Fastos Ecclesiasticos, aliquando adulatione Temporum, aut potius incuria hominum, multis maculis contaminatos, libris aliis, quibus preces Ecclesiasticae ritusque sacrorum continentur, multas fuisse inspersas confusasque fabulas & commenta: Addam nonnunquam in Templis reliquias dabias, prophana Corpora pro sanctorum (qui cum Christo in coelo regnant) exuviis sacris fuisse proposita. Est enim miserum negare non posse, quid sit turpe confiteri; at nescio quo pacto fictis saepe fabulis, & prae posteris mendaciorum nugis, populus magis quam veritate ac synceritate capitur, ea est mentis nostrae inanitas, has sordes, ubi semel irrepserunt in Ecclesiam sacrorum ritus libros Ecclesiasticos, nobis fortassis dormientibus, attrectare nemo audet, mutive nemo, ne impietatis suspicionem commoreat, scilicet, & Religioni adversarius esse videatur.

Nor hath our Land been altogether barren of Historians since the Reformation, having yielded some of as tall parts, and large performances, as any Nation in Christendom.

Besides these, we have adventured to add such as have been eminent in Poetry, which may not unfitly be termed the binding of Proselytes good behavior, tying it to the strict observation of time and measure.

Amongst these, some are additioned with the Title of Laureat, though I must confess, I could never find the root whence their Bays did grow in England, as to any solemn institution thereof in our Nation. Indeed, I read of Petrarch, (the pre-coetanean of our Chaucer ) that he was crowned with a Laurel, in the Capitol, by the Senate of Rome, Anno 1341. as also that Frederic the third Emperor of Germany, gave the Laurel to Conradus Celtes, and since the Count Palatines of the Empire claim the privilege, solemnly to invest Poets with the Bays.

The branches hereof, in all ages have been accounted honorable, in so much that King James in some sort, wav'd his crown (in the two and twenty-shilling-pieces ) to wear the Laurel in his new twenty-shilling-pieces. On the same token, that a wag passed this jest thereon, That Poets being always poor, Bays were rather the emblem of wit then wealth, since King James no sooner began to wear them, but presently he fell two shillings in the pound in public valuation.

As for our English Poets, some have assumed that style unto themselves, as John Kay in his Dedication of The Seige of Rhodes to King Edward the fourth, subscribing himself his humble Poet Laureat. Others have in complement given the title to such persons as were eminent in that Faculty, and nothing more usual then to see their pictures before their Books, and Statues on their Tombs, ornamented accordingly. However, all this is done by civil courtesy, or common custom, no ceremonious creation in Court or University. I write not this, as if I grudged to Poets a whole grove of Laurel, much less a sprig to incircle their heads, but because I would not have any specious untruth imposed on the Readers belief.

Yet want there not those, who do confidently aver that there is always a Laureat Poet in England, and but one at a time, the Laurel importing Conquest and Sovereignty, and so by consequence soleness in that faculty; and that there hath been a constant succession of them at Court, who beside their salary from the King, were yearly to have a tun of win, as very essential to the heightening of fancy. This last I conceive founded, on what we find given to Geffery Chaucer,

But Chaucer, besides his poetical accomplishments, did the King service both in war and peace, as Soldier and Ambassador, in reward whereof, this and many other boons were bestowed upon him.

Musicians.

Music is nothing else, but wild sounds civilised into Time and Tune. Such the extensiveness thereof, that it stoopeth as low as brute beasts, yet mounteth as high as Angels. For Horses will do more for a whistle then for a whip, and by hearing their bells gingel away their weariness.

The Angels in Heaven employ themselves in Music, and one ingeniously expresseth it to this effect

And although we know not the Notes of their Music, we know what their Ditty is, namely Hallalu-jah.

Such as cavil at Music, because Juball, a descendant from wicked Cain, was the first founder thereof, may as well be content to lie out of doors, and refuse all cover to shelter them, because Jaball, of the same extraction, being his own brother, first invented to dwell in Tents.

I confess there is a company of pretenders to Music, who are commonly called Crowders, and that justly too, because they Crowd into the company of Gentlemen both unsent for, and unwelcome; but these are no more a disgrace to the true professors of that faculty, then Monkies are a disparagement to man-kind.

Now right ancient is the use of Music in England, especially if it be true what I read in a worthy Father, and I know not which more to admire, either that so memorable a passage should escape Master Camdens, or that it should fall under my observation. Clemens Alexand. Strom. lib. 6. pag. 632.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .

They say, even those which compose histories, that in the Island of Britanny, there is a certain Cave, lying under a Mountain, in the top thereof gaping. The wind therefore falling into the Cave, and dashing into the bosom of a hollow place, there is heard a tinkling of Cymbals, beating in Tune and Time.

Where this musical place should be in Britain, I could never find; yet have been informed, that Doctor Miles Smith, Bishop of Hereford, found something tending that way (by the help of an active fancy) in Herefordshire. But waving this natural, the antiquity of artificial Music in this Island, is proved by the practice of the Bards, thereby communicating Religion, Learning and Civility, to the Britons.

Right glad I am, that when Music was lately shut out of our Churches, (on what default of hers I dare not to inquire) it hath since been harboured and welcomed in the Halls, Parlors and Chambers, of the primest persons of this Nation. Sure I am, it could not enter into my Head, to surm se that Music would have been so much discouraged by such who turned our Kingdom into a Commonwealth, seeing they prided themselves in the arms thereof, an impaled Harp being Moity of the same. When it was Ask'd what made a good Musician, one Answered a good voice, another that it was skill, but he said the truth, who said, it was encouragement. It was therefore my constant wish, that seeing most of our▪ Musicians were men of maturity, and arrived at their full age and skill, before these distracted times began, and seeing what the Historian wrote in another sense, is true here in our acception and application thereof, Res est unius seculi populus virorum; I say, I did constantly wish, that there might have been some semenary of youth set up, to be bred in the faculty of Music, to supply succession, when this Set of Masters in that Science had served their generation.

Yet although I missed of what I did then desire, yet thanks be to God, I have lived to see Music come into request, (since our Nation came into right Tune ) and begin to flourish in our Churches and elsewhere, so that now no fear but we shall have a new generation skillful in that Science, to succeed such, whose age shall call upon them to pay their debt to nature.

If any who dislike Music in Churches, object it useless (if not hurtful) in Divine Services, let them hear what both a learned and able Divine alledgeth in defense thereof.

In recounting up of Musicians, I have only insisted on such who made it there profession, and either have written books of that faculty, and have attained to such an eminence therein, as is generally acknowledged. Otherwise the work would be endless to recount all up who took it as a quality of accomplishment, amongst whom King Henry the eighth must be accounted, who (as Erasmus testifies to his knowledge) did not only sing his part sure, but also compose services for his Chapel, of four, five, and six parts, though as good a Professor as he was, he was a great destroyer of Music in this Land; surely, not intentionly, but accidentally, when he suppressed so many Quires at the Desolution.

Romish Exile Writers.

After the Writers before the Reformation, succeed those Romish banished Writers since the same, all living since the reign of Q▪ Mary which might have been distanced from the former with a black line interposed, as beheld under a far different (yea worse) qualification. For the superstitions of the former were the more pardonable, as living in a dark age, which are less excusable in these since the light of the Gospel.

I confess the word Exile carries much of commiseration therein, and with chatably minded men bespeaks pity to the persons, until the cause of their banishment be well considered. For some in the first of Queen Elizabeth willfully left the Land, and so in effect banished themselves, others having their lives forfeited by the Laws, had their deaths mercifully commuted by ou •… Magistrates into banishment.

Objection. These men might have been lost without loss, and been omitted in your book as no limb, but a wen, yea an ulcer thereof.

Answer. Grant them never so bad, being digested into a Classis by themselves, their mixture cannot be infectious to others. Secondly, Abate their errors, and otherwise many of them were well meriting of the Commonwealth of learning. Lastly, The passages of their lives conduce very much to the clearing of Ecclesiastcal History.

In noting of their nativties, I have wholly observed the instructions of Pitse •… s, where I knock off with his death, my light ending with his life in that subject, since which time I have neither list to inquire, nor conveniency to attain, of these Romish fugitives beyond the seas.

A just Complaint of the numerosity of needless Books.

Solomon was sensible of this vanity, even in his time, when pronouncing of Book there is no end. The Heathen Poet took notice thereof,

All this was before the invention of Printing, when books came but single into the public, which since that Mistery is made common, come swimning into the world like shoals of Fishes, and one edition spawneth another. This made learned Erasmus for company sake to jeer himself, that he might the more freely jeer others, Multi mei similes hoc morbo laborant, ut cum scribere nesciant, tamen a scribendo temporare non possunt. Many men like myself, are sick of this decease, that when they know not how to write, yet cannot forbear from writing.

A worthy English Barronet in his book (incomparable on that subject) hath clearly and truly stated this point.

Here I expect, that the judicious Reader will excuse me, if I take no notice of many Modern Phamphliteers, seeing unlearned Scriblers, are not ranked with learned Writers; yea, it was, though tartly, truly said, to the Author of such a book,

Indeed the Press, at first a Virgin, then a chaste Wife, is since turned Common, as to prostitute herself to all Scurrilous Pamphlets. When the Author of an idle and impersect book, endeth with a caetera dessiderantur, one altered it non dessider antur, sed desunt. Indeed they were not (though wanting) wanted, the world having no need of them, many books being like King Joram, who lived not being desired, yea, the Press begineth to be an oppression of the Land, such the burden of needless books therein.

Some will say, the charge may most justly be brought against yourself, who have loaded the Land with more books, then any of your Age. To this I confess my fault, and promise amendment, that God willing hereafter I will never Print book in the English tongue, but what shall tend directly to Divinity.

CHURCHES.

SUch Centurions who have erected us Synagogues, places for God's public Worship, seem to me to have given good testimony of their Love to our nation. Bitter was the Brave which railing Rabsheca sent to holy Hezekiah proffering him 2000 Horses on Condition that the other were but able to find Riders for them. But it grieves me to see the Superstition of the former insult over the religion of this present age, bragging that she left us ten thousand Churches and Chapels more or less ready built, if we can find but repairers to keep them up: It is in my opinion both dishonorable to God, and scandalous to all good men to see such houses daily decay: But there is a generation of people who to prevent the verifying of the old proverb, Pater noster built Churches, and our Father plucks them down; endeavor to pluck down both Churches and Our Father together, neglecting, yea despising the use both of the one and the other. Be it here remembered, that it is not only equal but just, that such as have been Founders of Churches or Grand Benefactors unto them, should have due Respect in preserving their Monuments from Violation or Incroachment of others. I urge this the rather, because abuses have been frequent in this kind, even to those that have deserved best. I cannot with patience remember the Story of Henry Keble Lord Major of London 1511. who, besides other Benefactions in his Life time, rebuilded Alder-Mary-Church run to very Ruines, and bequeathed at his Death a thousand pounds for the finishing thereof. Yet within sixty years after, his Bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Vaute wherein they were buried, his Monument plucked down for some Wealthy Person of the present times, to be buried therein, I could not but on this Occasion rub up my old Poetry;

I could wish this was the last Barbarism in this kind, and am sorry that upon small Inquiry, I could insist on later Instances.

Free-Schools and Colleges.

I place Schools before Colleges, because they are introductory thereunto, intended for the b •… eeding of Children and Youth, as the other for youth and men. And seeing much of Truth is contained in our English Proverb, It is as good to be unborn as unbred, such may in some sort seem their Second-Parents, who have provided for their Education.

These Schools are of two kinds. First, those wherein only a Salary is given to the School-master to teach Children gratis, and these I confess are good. Secondly, such wherein a select number of Scholars have competent maintenance allowed towards their Living in the University, and these all will acknowledge are better. Some do suspect a surfeit in our Land of the multitude of Schools, because the Nursery is bigger then the Orchard, the one breeding more Plants then the other can maintain Trees, and the Land not affording sufficient preferment for them, Learning is forced to stoop to mean Courses to make a Livelihood. But I conceive that Store in this kind is no sore▪ and if we must not do evil that good may come thereof, we must not forbear doing that which is good, for fear of accidental Evils which may arise from the same.

Bridges.

Builders of Bridges (which are high-ways over water) and makers of Caused-ways, or Causways (which are Bridges over dirt) though last in order, are not least in benefit to the Commmon-wealth. Such conveniences save the lives of many, ease the labor of moe painful travellers, and may be said in some sort to lengthen the day, and shorten the way to men in their journeys; yea, Bridges make and keep this our Island a Continent to itself. How great the care of the ancient Romans to repair them, for the safety of passengers, appears by the origination of Pontifex, having the inspection over bridges, by his primitive institution.

Indeed the word bridge appears not in all Scripture, whereof this the reason; the rivers of Palestine were either so shallow, that they were passable by foords, as of Jabbok, Arnon and Jordan, before it grew navigable; or else so deep, that they were ferried over, as Jordan, when near his fall into the Dead Sea: but most of ours in England are of a middle size; so deep, that they cannot be foorded; so narrow, that they need not to be ferried over. Hence come our so eminent bridges, in so much that such structures are accounted amongst our English Excellencies.

However Palestine was subject with England to the same inconveniences of bad highwaies, and there •… ore in the List of Charitable Actours reckoned up by the Prophet, he is accounted as a principal, The restorer of paths to dwell in; for indeed some ways may be said not-habitable, being so •… eep and dirty that they cut off all intercourse, the End general of all men's dwelling together.

I will conclude this Topic of Bridges with this memo •… able accident. Mawd Q▪ to King Henry the first being to pass the River Ley about Stratford, near the falling of the said River into the Thames, was almost drowned in riding over it. But this proved the bad cause of a good effect; For hereupon she built the Beautiful Bridge there, for the benefit of Travelers: and the Village probably from a fair Arch or Bow therein, received (as some conceive) the addition of Stratford Bow. Far be it from me to wish the least ill to any who willingly would not have their fingers to ache, or an hair of their heads lessned. Yet this I could desire, that some Covetous churls who otherwise will not be melted into works of charity, may in their passing over Waters be put into Peril without Peril. Understand me, might be en •… angered to fright but not •… urt, that others might fare the better for their fears; Such Misers being minded thereby to make or repair Bridges for public Safety and convenience.

Alms-houses.

Because we live in an age, wherein men begin to be out of charity with charity itself; and there be many covetous (not to say sacrilegious ) people, whose Fingers itch to be Nimming the patrimony of the poor; we will here present the Cavils of this against the charity of former ages herein.

Cavil. 1. Show us the foundation of such Structures in Scripture, either in the Old or New Testament. As for the place with five porches, wherein the impotent poor lay, near the Pool of Bethesda, it was of another Nature. Alsmhouses therefore not being Jure Divino may lawfully be abolished.

Answer. The Constitution of the Jewish was far different from our English Commonwealth, wherein everyone originally was a Freeholder of some proportion of land, which, though aliened, reverted to the Owner at the year of Jubilee. There needs not an express or particular precept for all our actions, that general one, He that hath pity upon the Poor lenaeth unto the Lord, is bottom broad enough to build more Almshouses on, than all ages will afford. Besides this precept, we have the practice of the primitive Christians in the time of the Apostles, parting with the propriety of all their estate, and well then may we appropriate a part of ours, for the relief of the Poor.

Cavil. 2. The builders of them for the most part, have been people formerly guilty of oppression, who, having lived like Wolves, turn Lambs on their deathbeds, and part with their Fleece to people in want. Having ground the faces of the poor, they give the Toll thereof to build an Alms-house, though too little to hold half the beggars which they have made.