Ecclesia restaurata, or, The history of the reformation of the Church of England containing the beginning, progress, and successes of it, the counsels by which it was conducted, the rules of piety and prudence upon which it was founded, the several steps by which it was promoted or retarded in the change of times, from the first preparations to it by King Henry the Eight untill the legal settling and establishment of it under Queen Elizabeth : together with the intermixture of such civil actions and affairs of state, as either were co-incident with it or related to it / by Peter Heylyn.

Anno Reg. Mar. 4. A. D. 1556, 1557.

IT is now time that we set sail again for England, which we left flaming with the fire of Persecutions, and the whole body of the State not a little inflamed with a spirit of treason and sedition; the last ill spirit well allayed by the execution of the chief Conspirators, the other fire not quenched by the blood of the Martyrs, which rather served as oyle to nourish, than as water to extinguish the outragiousness of it. But the Queen hoped to salve the matter on her part by some works of piety, as the restoring of such Church Lands as were in the Crown, for the endowment of some new Convents of Moncks and Friers. But first she thought it necessary to communicate her purpose unto some of the Council, and therefore calling to her the Lord Treasurer Paulet, Inglefield Master of the Wards, Rochester Comptrouler of her Houshold, and Master Secretary Peter, who seemed to be most concerned in it, by their several places, she is said to have spoken to them in these following words:

Y••u are here o•• Our Counsel, and We have willed you to be be ca••led to Us, to the intent you might hear of me my conscience, and the resol••tion of my mind, concern∣ing the Lanas and Possessions, as well of Monasteries, as of other Churches whatso∣ever, being now presently in my possession. First I do consider that the said Lands were taken away from the Churches aforesaid, in time of Schism, and that by unlaw∣ful means, such as are contrary both to the Law of God and of the Church; For the which cause my conscience doth not suffer me to detain them. And therefore I here expresly refuse either to claim or retain the said Lands for mine, but with all my heart freely and willingly without all paction or condition, here and before God, I do surrender and relinquish the said lan••s and possessions, or inheritances whatsoever, and do renounce the same with this mind and purpose, that order and disposition thereof may be taken, as shall seem best liking to our most holy Lord the Pope, or else his Le∣gate, the Lord Cardinal, to the honour of God, and wealth of this our Realm. And albeit you may ob••ect to me again, that con••idering the State of my Kingdom, the dig∣nity thereof, and my Crown Imperial, cannot be honourably maintained and furnish∣ed without the possessions aforesaid; yet notwithstanding (and so she had affirmed before, when she was bent upon the restitution of the Tenths and first Fruits) I set more by the salvation of my soul, than by ten such Kingdomes; and therefore the said poss••ssi••ns I utterly refuse here to hold, after that sort and title, and give most hearty thanks to Alm••gh••y God, which hath given me an husband likewise minded, with no lesse good affection in this behalf, than I am my self. Wherefore I charge and command that my Chancellor (with whom I have conferred my mind in this matter bef••re) and you four to morrow do resort together to the most Reverend Lord Legate, and do signifie to him the premises in my Name; and give your attendance upon him, for the more full declaration of the State of my Kingdom, and of the aforesaid possessions accordingly, as you your selves do understand the matter, and can inform him in the same.

Upon this opening of her mind, the Lords perceived it would be to no pur∣pose to perswade the contrary, and therefore thought it requisite to direct some course wherein she might satisfie her desires to her own great honour, and yet not alienate too much at once of the publick Patrimony. The Abby of Westminster had been founded in a Convent of Benedictines, or black Monks, by King Edward the Confessor; valued at the suppression by King Henry the 8th. at the yearly sum of 3977. pounds, in good old rents, Anno 1539. At what time having taken to himself the best and greatest part of the Lands thereof, he founded with the rest a Collegiat Church, consisting of a Dean and secular Canons; Benson the last Abbot, being made the first Dean of this new erection. To B••nson succeeded Dr Cox, and to him was substituted Dr Weston, in the first of this Queen. And being preferred unto the place by her special favour, 'twas conceived to be no hard matter to perswade him to make a surrendry of his Church into the hands of the Queen, that so it might return to its former nature, and be erected into a Convent of Benedictines, without any charge unto the Crown. And this they thought would be the easier brought to pass, because by the preferment of Dr Owen Ogl••thorp to the See of Carlisle, the Dean••y of Windsor would be void, which was considered as a suffi∣cient compensation, if bestowed on Weston, for his surrendry of the other. But they found a greater difficulty in it than was first imagin'd, Weston appearing very backward in conforming to the Queens desires, partly out of a dislike which he had of the project (he being one that never liked the profession of Monkery) and partly out of an affection which he had to the place seated so opportunely for the Court, and all publick businesses. But at the last he yielded to that opportunity which he was not able to resist, and thereby gained so much displeasure from the Cardinal Legate, that before the end of the next year, Anno 1557. he was outed of his Deanry of Windsor, and all his other Ec∣clesiastical promotions, upon an information of his being taken in the act of adultery, which otherwise perhaps might have been pardoned or connived at in

him, as in many others. But willing or unwilling he had first surrender'd the Church of Westminster, which the Queen stocked with a new Convent of Ben••dictines, consisting of an Abbot and fourteen Monks, which with their offi∣cers, were as many as the Lands then left unto it could well maintain. And for the first Abbot, she made choice of Dr John Fecknam, a learned, grave, and mo∣derate man, whom she had formerly made Dean of St Paul's, in the place of Dr William May, and now made choice of Dr Henry Cole, Arch-Deacon of Ely, and Prolocutor of the Convocation, Anno 1555. to succeed him in it.

It was upon the 21 of November, that the new Abbot and his Monks entred on the possession of their ancient Convent, which they held not fully out three years, when it was once again dissolved by Act of Parliament, of which more hereafter. Which fate befel the rest of her foundations also, two of which cost her little more than this at Westminster. A Convent of Observants (being a reformed Order of Franciscan Friers) had been founded by King Henry the 7th. neer the Mannor of Greenwich, and was the first which felt the fury of King Henry the 8th. by reason of some open opposition made by some of the Friers in favour of Queen Katherine, the mother of the Queen now reigning. Which moved her in a pious gratitude, to re-edifie that ruined house, and to restore as many as could be found of that Order, to their old habitations; making up their Corporation with some new Observants, to a competent number. She ga∣thered together also a new Convent of Dominicans, or black Friers, for whom she provided an house in Smithfield, in the City of London, ••itting the same with all conveniences both for divine Offices, and other necessary uses. And having done this, she was at no more charges with either of them; for both the Observants and Dominicans being begging Fryers, might be resembled not unfitly to a swarm of Bees, which being provided of an hive, are left to make their combs, and raise themselves a livelyhood by their natural indu∣stry.

But so she went not off in her other foundations, which were to be provi∣ded of some proportionable endowment out of the revenues of the Crown, towards their support. A•• Sion nere Brentford, in the Country of Middlesex, there had been anciently a house of religious women, Nuns of the Order of St Bridget, dissolv'd as were all teh rest, by King Henry the 8th. Most of the old ones dead, and the younger maried. Yet out of such of the old Nuns as remained alive, and the addition of some others, who were willing to embrace that course of life, a competent number was made up for a new Plantation; but seated as before at Sion, which the Queen repaired, and laid unto it a suffi∣cient estate in Lands for their future maintenance. Which house being after∣wards dissolved also by Queen Elizabeth, came first to the possession of Sir Thomas Perrot, who gave it to his wife, the Lady Dorothy, one of the daughters of Walter Divereux, Earl of Essex; by whom, being after married to Henry Lord Percy, Earl of Northumberland, it was left for a retiring house to that No∣ble Family, who do still enjoy it. At Sheen on the other side of the water, there had been anciently another religious house, not far from a mansion of the Kings, to which they much resorted till the building of Richmond. This house she stock'd with a new Convent of Carthusians (corruptly called the Charter-ho••se-Moncks) which she endowed with a revenue great enough to maintain that Or∣der, which profest more abstemiousness in diet, and sparingness of expence in all other things, than any others which embraced a Monastical life. And the next year having closed up the West end of the Quire or Chancel of the Church of St Johns neer Smithfield (which was all the Protector Sommerset had left standing of it) she restored the same to the Hospitalry of Knights of St John, to whom it formerly belonged, assigning a liberal endowment to it for their more honourable subsistence. Over whom she placed Sir Thomas Tresha•••• for the first Lord Prior, a Gentleman of an ancient Family, and one that had deserv'd exceeding well of her, in defence of her claim against Queen Jane, who on the 30th. of November, 1557. received the Order of the Crosse at Westminster,

and took possession of his place; which having scarce warmed, he was taken from it by the stroke of death, and left it by the Queen to be disposed of to Sir R••chard Shellie, the last great Master of that Order in the Realm of Eng∣land.

But this expiring with the rest, within two years after, there remained no∣thing of all Queen Mary's foundations, but her new Ho••pital in the Savoy. An Hospital had formerly been founded in tha•• House by her Grandfather King Henry the seventh, for the relief of such pilgrims, as either went on their Devotions to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury, or any other emi∣nent Shrine or Saint in those parts of the Kingdom. On a suggestion made to King Edward the sixth, that it served onely for a recepracle of vagrant per∣sons, it was surrendred to him in the last year of his Reign by the Master and Brethren of the same; out of the Lands whereof he assigned the yearly Rent of seven hundred Marks for the maintenance of his new working house of Bridewel, which he had given for ever to the Lord Mayor and City of London, as hath been signified before in the life of that King, (together with all the beds, bedding, and other furniture, which were found in this Hospital.) And though this Grant bare date on the 26 of June, in the last year of his Reign, Anno 1553. yet the Lord Mayor and Aldermen entred not on the possession of it till the month of February now last past, Anno 1555. But having took possession of it, and so much of the Lands of this Hospital being setled on it, the Hospital in the Savoy could not be restored to its first condition, but by a new Endowment, from such other Lands belonging to Religious Houses which were remaining in the Crown. But the Queen was so resolved upon it, that she might add some works of Charity unto those of Piety, or else in honour of her Grandfather, whose foundation she restored at Greenwich also, the Hospital was again refounded on the third of November, and a convenient yearly Rent allotted to the Master and Brethren for the entertainment of the Poor, according to the tenour and effect of the first Institution. Which Prince-like Act so wrought upon the Maids of Honor, and other Ladies of the Court, that for the better attaining of the Queens good grace, they furnished the same at their own costs with new beds, bedding, and other necessary fur∣niture, in a very ample manner. In which condition it continueth to this very day, the Mastership of the Hospital being looked on as a good preferment for any well deserving man about the Court; but for the most part given to some of their Majesties Chaplains for the encouragement of learning, and the re∣ward of their service.

How far the Queens example, seconded by the Ladies about the Court, countenanced by the King, and earnestly insisted on by the Pope then being, might have prevailed on the Nobility and Gentry for doing the like, either in restoring their Church Lands, or assigning some part of them to the like Foun∣dations, it is hard to say; most probable it is, that if the Queen had lived some few years longer, either for love to her, or for fear of gaining the Kings dis∣pleasure, (who was now grown too great to be disputed with, if the point were questioned) or otherwise out of an unwillingnesse to incur the Popes curse, and the Churches censures, there might have been very much done that way, though not all at once. For so it was, that Philip having past over to Calais in the month of September, Anno 1555. And the next day departing to the Emperors Court, which was then at Brussels, where he found his father in a resolution of resigning to him all his Dominions and Estates, except the Em∣pire, (or the bare title rather of it) which was to be surrendred to his brother Ferdinand; not that he had not a design to settle the Imperial Dignity on his Successors in the Realm of Spain, for the better attaining of the Universal Monarchy, which he was said to have aspired to, over all the West, but that he had been crossed in it by Maxi••ilian the eldest son of his brother Ferdinand, who succeeded to his father in it, and left the same hereditary in a manner to the Princes of the House of Austria of the German Rate. For Charls grown

weary of the world, broken, with warrs, and desirous to apply himself to ••i∣vine meditations, resolved to discharge himself of all civil employments, and spend the remainder of his life in the Monastery of St. Justus, situate among the Mountains of Extremadura, a Province of the Realm of Castile. In pursuance whereof, having called before him the principal of the Nobility and great men of his several Kingdoms and Estates, he made a Resignation of all his hereditary Dominions to King Philip his son, on the 25th. of October, Anno 1555. having then scarce attained to the 55 year of his life, to the great admiration of all the world. After which act, he found himself so abandoned by all his followers, that sitting up la••e at night in conference with Seldiu•• his brothers Embassador, he had not a servant within call to light the Gentleman down stairs. Which being observed by the Emperor, he took the candle into his hands, and would needs in his own person perform that offi••e; and ha∣ving brought him to the top of the stairs, he said unto him, Remember Seldius, that thou hast known the Emperour Charls, whom thou hast seen in the he••d of so many Armies, reduced to such a low estate, as to perform the office of an ordinary servant to his Brothers Minister. Such was the greatness to which Philip had attained at the present time, when the Queen was most intent on these new foundations.

As for the Pope, he had published a Bull in print at the same time also, in which he threatned Excommunication to all manner of persons without ex∣ception, as kept any Church Lands unto themselves; as also to all Princes, No∣blemen, and Magistrates, as did not forthwith put the same in execution: Which though it did not much edifie at the present in the Realm of England, yet it found more obedience and conformity in that of Ireland, in which a Parliament being called toward the end of this year, (that is to say, in the month of June, Anno 1557.) there past a Statute for repealing all Acts, Ar∣ticles, and Provisions made against the See Apostolick, since the 20th. year of King Henry the 8th. and for abolishing of several Eccelesiastical possessions conveyed to the Laity, as also for the extinguishment of First-fruits and Twentieth parts, (no more than the yearly payment of the twentieth part having been laid by Act of Parliament on the Irish Clergy) in the first and last clause whereof, as they followed the example of the Realm of England, so possibly they might have given a dangerous example to it in the other point, if by the Queens death following shortly after, as well K. Philip as the Pope had not lost all their power & influence on the English Nation; by means whereof, there was no farther progresse in the restitution of the Abbey-Lands, no more re-edifying of the old Religious Houses, and no intention for the founding of any new. Such as most cordially were affected to the interest of the Pope of Rome, and otherwise were very perfect at their Ave Maria, might love their Pater n••ster well, but their Penny better.

Thus have we seen how zealously the Queen proceeded in her way, towards the re-establishing of the Papal greatness. Let us next look on the proceedings of the Cardinal Legat, not as a Legat a latere from the Pope of Rome, but as Legatus natus, a Metropolitan, or Archbishop of the Church of England. As Cardinal-Legat he had been never forward in the shedding of blood, declaring many ways his aversnesse from that severity, which he saw divers of the Eng∣lish Bishops, but especially the Butcher of London, were so bent upon. And when he came to act as Metropolitan, he was very sparing in that kind, as far as his own person was concerned therein; though not to be excused from suf∣fering the under Officers of his Diocess to be too prodigal of the blood of their Christian brethren. He had been formerly suspected for a favourer of the Lu∣theran Doctrins, when he lived at Rome, and acted for the Pope as one of his Legats in the Council of ••rent. Gardiner and Bonner, and the rest of the sons of Thunder, who called for nothing less than fire, (though not from heaven) were willing to give out, that he brought the same affections into England al∣so; and therefore somewhat must be done to keep up his authority and repu∣tation,

both at home and abroad. To which end, he inserteth some particulars amongst the printed Articles of his Visitation, to witnesse for him to the world, that he had as great a care for suppressing the growth of Heresie, as any Prelate in the Kingdom, who would be thought more zealous because more tyrannical; of which sort are the 14, 15, and 17th. Articles which concerned the Clergy, that is to say, Whether any of them do teach or preach erronious do∣ctrine, contrary to the Catholick faith, and the Unity of the Church; and whether any of them do say the divine Service, or d•• minister the Sacraments in the English tongue, contrary to the usual order of the Church? Of which sort also were the first of those touching the Laity, viz. Whether any manner of persons, of what estate, degree, or condition soever they be, do hold, maintain, and affirm any Here∣sies, Errors, and erronious Opinions, contrary to the Laws Ecclesiastical, and the unity of the Catholick Church? Which general Article was after branched into such particulars, as concerned the Carnal presence of Christ in the Sacrament, the reverent esteem thereof, the despising of any of the Sacramentals, and the decrying of Auricular Confession by the word or practice. And somewhat also of this sort was the 17th. Article, by which it was enquired, Whether any of the Priests or Clergy, that having been married under the pre••ence of Lawful Matri∣mony, and since reconciled, do privily resort to their pretended wives, or that the said women do privily resort to them. Nothing material or considerable in all the rest, but what hath been in use and practice by all the Archbishops, Bi∣shops, and other Ecclesiastical Judges in the Church of England, since the first and best times of Queen Elizabe••h; all of them seeming to have took their pattern from this reverend Prelate,'s and to have precedented themselves by the Articles of his Visitation. In two points onely he appeared to be some∣what singular, and therefore found no followers in the times succeeding; the first whereof was, The Registring of the names of the Godfathers and God∣mothers, as well as of the child Baptized; which why it should be laid aside I can see no reason, the Rubrick of the Church allowing none to perform that office, before they have received the holy Communion. The second was, an Enquiry, whether the Parsons, Vicars, and Curats were diligent in teaching the Midwifes how to Christen children in time of necessity, according to the Canons of the Church; which seemed sufficiently necessary to be put in pra∣ctice, as long as Baptism was permitted to Midwives or any other persons not in holy Orders.

But though he seemed more favou••able than any of the rest of the Bishops, towards those which were living, he was content to exercise the utmost of his power upon those that were dead; nor was he without hope, that by the pu∣nishment and disgrace of those which were not sensible of ei••her, he might be thought to manifest his greatest zeal towards the maintenance of the Doctrins of the Church of Rome, as if he had inflicted the like censures on them when they were alive. This prompts him to a Visitation of the University of Cam∣bridge, partly to rectifie the Statutes of it, which in many points were thought to stand in need of a Reformation; but principally to exercise some more than ordinary rigour on the dead bodies of Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius: Of these, the first, having been the publick Reader in Divinity in the time of King Edward, was solemnly interred in the Church of St. Maries; the other having been Hebrew-Reader at the same time also, was buried in the Church of St. Michael. In order to this Visitation, he Delegates one Ormanete an Italian, honored with the title of the Popes Da••ary, Doctor Cuthbert Scot, then new∣ly consecrated Bishop of Chester, Doctor Watson Mr. of St. John's College, and Lord Elect of Lincoln, and Doctor Christopherson, Master of Trinity Col∣ledge, and Dean of Norwich, Lord Elect of Chichester, and Doctor Henry Cole Provost of Eaton College, and Dean of St. Pauls. With these were joyned as Commissioners Doctor Andrew Pern, Master of Peterhouse, and Vice-chancellor, some Doctors of Divinity, Sir James D••er then the Recorder of the Town, and certain others, in the name of the King and Queen, It must be

some great business doubtlesse, that must require so many hands, and exercise the wits of so many persons, Bishops, Deans, Doctors in Divinity, Canonists, common Lawyers, Knights, and Gentlemen. But what the business was, and how little it required such preparations, we are next to see.

The Cardinals Commissioners came to Cambridge on the 9th. of January, where they found the rest ready to receive them, and the next day they inter∣dicted the two Churches above mentioned, for daring to entertain the dead bodies of such desperate Hereticks. I pretermit the eloquent speech made by Stoaks the University-Orator, the Answer thereunto by S••ot, then Bishop of Chester, the Latine Sermon preached by Peacock against Sects and Hereticks, together with the Solemn Mass, with which this weighty businesse was to take beginning. Which preparations being past over, a Petition is presented to the Cardinals Delegates in the name of the Vice-chancellor, and Heads of the University, for taking up the bodies of the said Martin Bucer and Panlus Fa∣glus, to the end that some legal proceedings might be had against them, to the terrour of others, in regard of those many dangerous and heretical Doctrines by them formerly taught. The Petition being granted, and the dead bodies condemned to be taken out of their graves, a publick Citation is set up at St. Mary's Church, the Market-place, and the common Schools, requiring the said Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius, or any other in their names, or in their behalf, to appear before the Lords Commissioners on Monday the 18th. of that Month, to answer to such Articles as then and there should be objected against them. But the dead bones not being able to come unless they were carried, and no body daring to appear as their Proctor or Advocate, they might have been taken pro confessis, but that the Court was willing to proceed by Witnesses; and to that end they took the Depositions of several persons, touching the Doctrine taught by the said two Hereticks; and then upon ma∣ture deliberation they condemned them of Heresie, ordered them to be taken out of their graves, degraded from all holy Orders, and delivered to the secular Magistrate. Of all this, an account is given to the Cardinal-Legat, who is de∣sired to take some course that the ordinary Writ (de comburendo Haeretic••) for the burning of Hereticks, might be taken out, and sent unto the Mayor of Cambridge, without which, nothing could be done, in order to the execution of the rest of the Sentence. The Writ accordingly comes down, and Saturday the sixth day of February is appointed for the burning of the two dead bodies; which being taken out of their graves, and laid in their coffins on mens shoul∣ders, are carried to the market•• place with a guard of men, well arme•• and weaponed, for fear of making an escape; chained unto several posts, as if still a∣live, the wood and fire put to them, and their bodies burned, together with as many of their Books as could be gotten, which were cast into the same flames also.

And because one University should not mock the other, the like cruelty was also exercised upon the dead body of Peter Martyr's wi••e at Oxford, a god∣ly, grave, and sober matron while she lived, and to the poor people there ex∣ceeding charitable. It was supposed, that Oxon stood as much in need of a Vi∣sitation as Cambrige did. A Commission is therefore granted by the Cardinal-Legat to Doctor James Brooks Bishop of Glocester, Ormanete the Popes Datary, Cole and Wright Doctors of the Civil Law, &c. to rectifie such things as they foundamiss in that University, or in any College of the same. It was given them also in charge amongst other things, that they should take the body of this good woman out of her grave, into which she had been laid Anno 1552. and to consume the same with fire, not doubting but she was of the same Religion which her husband had professed before. But when the Commissio∣ners came to execute that part of their business, they could find no witnesse to depose any thing for certain touching her Religion, such as were brought before them agreeing generally in this answer, That they did not understand her Language, and therefore could not tell of what Religion she was. It was

therefore signified to the Cardinal, that for want of legal evidence against her, they could not lawfully proceed in burning her body, as they had done the bodies of Bucer and Fagius, against whom there was evidence enough to be found in their writings, be••ides that which was given in from the mouthe•• of Witnesses. The Cardinal thereupon gives order to Doctor Marshal Dean of Christ-Church, to take up her body (which had been buried near to that of St. Frideswide) and to lay it out of Christian burial; who very readily obeyed, took up the bones of that vertuous woman; and most prophanely buried them in a common dunghil. But long they lay not in that place, for Queen Elizabeth comming to the Crown within two years after; gave order, that this body should be decently interred, as became the quality of her person, and the reverence due unto her husband; as also that Bucer & ••agius should in the other University be publickly restor'd to their former honors. In obedience unto whose commands, the body of the one is taken out of the dunghil, and laid into the grave of St. Frideswide, their bones so intermingled with one another, that there could be no fear of offering the like inhumanity to them for the time to come. And that the like honour might be done to Bucer and ••agius, a solemn commemoration of them was held at Cambridge, the Sermon preached by Mr. James Pilkington, who not long after was preferred to the See of Durham; the Panegyrick made by Ackworth Orator of that University, who spared no part of a good Orator, in setting forth their due praises, and deserved commendations.

But we must now look back again on the Reign of Queen Mary, in which we find little more to do than the magnificent reception of Osep Napea, Em∣bassador from the great Duke of Muscovy, upon this occasion: The English Merchants at the sollicitation of Sebastian Cabot, had furnished out some ships for the discovery of a North-East passage towards the rich Countries of Ca∣thai and China; in which they made so good a progress, that they attained as far as the Port of St. Nicholas, one of the principal Port-towns of the Empire of Russia, and laid the first foundation of a wealthy Trade with that mighty Empire. For their encouragement therein, the Privileges of the Easterlings, commonly called the Merchants of the Stilyard, (who before had managed all the Trade of the North East parts) were seized on by King Edward the 6th. and the way thereby laid open to the Merchant-Adventurers, to encrease their shipping with their wealth. For the continuance of which Trade betwixt the Nations, the Emperor John Basiliwits sends his Ambassador above named, imbarked in one of the English ships, under the conduct and government of Richard Chancellor, the most expert Pilot of that age. But so it hapned, that the rest of the ships being scattered by a strong tempest on the coast of Norway, the ship which carried the Ambassador was wreckt upon the coast of Scotland▪ the lading for the most part lost, amounting to twenty thousand pounds and upwards, besides many rich presents sent from the Russian Emperor to the King and Queen. The Ambassador with much ado was preserv'd from drowning, but the Pilot lost, who by labouring to preserve the life of the other, neglect∣ed the best opportunity to save his own. The news wherof being brought to the Merchants of London, (who by this time were grown into a Company of 140.) they procured Letters from the King to the Regent of Scotland; for the courteous entertainment of the said Ambassador, and the restoring of such goods as had escaped the wreck: and having furnished him with mony and all other necessaries, caused him to be conducted towards the Court.

Taking his leave of Scotland on the 14th. of February, he is brought by easie journeys within twelve miles of London, honorably entertained in all places as he past along, and there received by four-score of the Russian Merchants in their chains of gold, Furnished with Gold, Velvet, Silk, and all other things, he is by the whole Company of the Russian Merchants magnificently brought into London on the last of that month; met on the way by the Lord Viscount Montacute, attended with a gallant train of three hundred Horse, at the Queens command, and received at Smithfield-bars by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen

in their scarlet Robes. Conducted to his lodgings in F••••-Church street, he was there presented in the Queens na••e, with a piece of clo••th of Tissue, two pieces of cloth of gold, one whereof was raised with Crimson Velvet, with ma∣ny other pieces of the like rich making, which very thankfully he received. Abiding at his lodging till the Kings coming back from Flander••, which was not till the 21 of March, he was brought upon out Lady day by water to the Court at Westminster; received at his landing by six Lords, he was by them brought into a chamber, where he found the Lords Chancellor, Treasurer, Privy Seal, Admiral, Bishop of Ely, and other Counsellors. Who having exchanged salu∣tations with him attended him to the King and Queen, sitting under a rich Ca∣nopy or cloath of State in the great Hall there. Having presented his Letters of Credence, exprest himself unto their Majesties in a short Oration, which was interpreted to them both in English and Spanish, and presented them with two timber of Sables, which with much diligence had been recovered out of the wreck, he was by them remitted to his lodging with the like solemnity. At∣tended shortly after by the Bishop of Ely, and Mr Secretary Peter; who after much Communication, and several Treaties, setled at last a friendly enter∣course and commerce betwixt the Nations; the Articles whereof engrossed in parchment, were afterwards presented to him, ra••ified and confirmed by the Great Seal of England. On the 23d. of April he was brought again into the Court, where having seen the Pomps and Orders of St George's Feast, the Ser∣vice of the Royal Chapel, and the magnificent Procession of the Knights of the Garter, he takes his leave of the King and Queen, is re-conveyed unto his lodging, and on the 3d. of May embarks for Russi••, accompanied with four good ships well frought with Merchandise most proper for the trade of that Country to which they were bound. The costly presents sent by him from the King and Queen to the Russian Emperour, and those bestowed upon him∣self, I leave to be reported by him at his coming home, and the relation of John Stow in his Annals of England, fol. 630▪ Nor had I dwelt so long upon these particulars, but to set forth the ancient splendor and magnificence of the State of England, from which we have so miserably departed in these latter times.

Worse entertainment found an agent from the French King at his coming hither, because he came on a worse errand. Stafford an English Gentleman of a Noble Family, having engaged himself in some of the former enterprises a∣gainst this Queen, and finding no good fortune in them, retired with divers others to the Court of France; from whence they endeavoured many times, to create some dangers to this Realm, by scattering and dispersing divers scanda∣lous Pamphlets, and seditious papers, tending to the apparent defamation of the King and Queen. And having got some credit by these practices amongst the Ministers of that King▪ he undertakes to seize upon some Fortress or Port Town of England, and put the same into the hands of the French. In prosecution of which plot, accompanied with some English Rebels, and divers French Adventu∣rers intermingled with them, he seizeth on the strong Castle of Scurborough, in the Co••nty of York. From thence he published •• most traiterous and seditious Manifest, in which he trayterously affirmed the Queen, neither to be the Right∣ful Queen of this Realm, nor to be worthy of the Title, affirming that the King had brought into this Realm the number of twelve thousand Spaniards, who had possess'd themselves of twelve of the best Holds in all the Kingdome; upbraiding the Queen with her misgovernment, and taking to himself the Ti∣tle of Protector of the Realm, of England. But the Queen being secretly ad∣vertised of the whole design, by the diligence of Dr Nicholas Wotton, Dean of Canterbury, who was then Ambassador in that Court, Order was taken with the Earl of Westmorland, and other Noble men of those parts, to watch the Coasts, and have a care unto the safety of those Northern Provinces, By whom he was so closely watch'd, and so well attended, that having put himself into that Castle on the 24th, he was pulled out of it again on the last of April;

from thence brought prisoner unto London, condemned of Treason, executed on the Tower Hill, May 28. and on the morrow after three of his accomplices were hanged at Tyburn, cut down and quartered.

But as it was an ill wind which blowes no body good, so this French Treason, so destructive to the chief conspiratours, redounded to the great benefit and ad∣vantage of Philip. He had for three years borne the Title of King of England, without reaping any profit and commodity by it. But being now engaged in war with King Henry the 3d. though in pursute rather of his fathers quarrels, than any new ones of his own, he takes this opportunity to move the Queen to declare her self against the French, & to assist him in his war against that King, for the good of her Kingdoms. It was not possible for the Queen to separate her interest from that of her husband, without hazarding some great unkindness, if not a manifest breach between them. She therefore yields to his desire, and by her Proclamation of the 7th. of June, chargeth that King in having an hand not only in the secret practices of the Duke of Northumberland, but also in the open rebellion of W••at, and his confederates. She also laid unto his charge, that Dudley Ashton, and some other male contents of England, were entertained in the house of his Ambassadors, where they cotrived many treasons and con∣spira••ies against her and her Kingdom; that flying into France, they were not only entertained in the Court of that King, but relieved with pensions. Fi∣nally, that he had aided and encouraged Stafford with shipping, men, mony, and munition, to invade her Realm, thereby if it were possible, to dispossess her of her Crown. She therefore gives notice to her subjects, that they should forbear all traffick and commerce with the Realm of France: from which she had received so many injuries, as could admit no reparation but by open war. And that she might not seem to threaten what she never intended, she causeth an army to be raised consisting of one thousand horse, four thousand foot, and two thousand pioners, which she puts under the command of the Earl of Pem∣brook, and so dispatcheth them for Flanders, to which they came about the mid∣dle of July. King Philip had gone before on the 6th. of that month, and all things here were followed with such care and diligence, that the army staid not long behind; but what they did, falls not within the compass of this present year.

All which remains to be remembred in this present year, relates unto such changes and alterations, as were made amongst the Governors of the Church, and the Peers of the Realm. It hath been signified before, that White of Lincoln had prevailed by his friends in Court, to be translated unto Winchester, as the place of his Nativity and Education. To whom succeeded Dr Thomas Watson, Master of St John's College in Cambridge, and Dean of Durham, elected to the See of Lincoln, before Christmass last, and acting by that name, and in that capaci∣ty, against the dead body of Martin Bucer. To Day of Chichester, who deceased on the 2d. of Aug. in the beginning of his year, succeeded Dr John Christopherson, a right learned man, Mr of Trinity College in Cambridge, and Dean of Norwich, elected about the same time when the other was, and acting as he did against Bucer and Fagius, as also did Dr Cuthbert Scot, who at that time was actually invested in the See of Chester, upon the death of Dr ••oats, the preceding Bi∣shop. And finally, in the place of Aldrick Bishop of Carlisle, who died on the 5th. of March, 1555. Dr Owen Oglethorp, President of Magdalen College in Oxon, and Dean of Windsor, receives Consecration to that See, in that first part of this year; but the particular day and time thereof I have no where found. Within the compass of this year (that is to say the 4th. year of the Reign of this Queen) died two other Bishops, Salcot or Capon Bishop of Salisbury, and Chambers the first Bishop of Peterborough; to the first of which there was no successor actually consecrated or confirmed, for the reasons to be shewed anon in the Reign of this Queen. But to the other, succeeded Dr David Pool, Dr of both laws, Dean of the Arches, Chancellor to the Bishop of Lichfield, and Arch-Deacon of Derby, elected before the end of this year, but not conse∣crated

till the 15th of August, in the beginning of the next.

Some alterations hapned also amongst the Peers of the Realm, in the cre∣ation of one, and the destruction of another. A Rebellion had been raised in the Nor••h upon the first suppression of Religious Houses, Anno 1536. in which Sir •• homas Percy second so•• to Henry the fifth Earl of Northumberland of that name and family, was thought to be a principal stickler, and for the same was publickly arraigned, condemned, and executed. By Eleanar his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Sir G••iscard Har••••o••tle, he was the father of Tho••as and Henry, who hitherto had suffered under his Attaindure: But now it pleased Queen Mary to reflect on their Fathers sufferings, and the cause thereof, which moved her not onely to restore them to their blood and ho∣nors, but also to so much of the Lands of the Percies as were remaining in the Crown. In pursuance whereof, she advanced Thomas the elder brother, on the last of April, to the Style, Title, and Degree of Earl of No••thumberland, the remainder to his brother Henry, in case the said Thomas should depart this life without Issue male. By vertue of which Entail, the said Henry afterwards succeeded him in his Lands and Honors, notwithstanding that he was attain∣ted, condemned, and executed for high Treason in the time of Queen Eli∣zabeth, Anno 1572.

Not many weeks before the restitution of which noble Family, that of the Lord Sturton was in no small danger of a final destruction, a Family first ad∣vanced to the state of a Baron in the person of Sir John Sturton, created Lord Sturton in the 26th. of King Henry the 6th. and now upon the point of ex∣piring in the person of Charls Lord Sturton, condemned and executed with four of his servants on the 6th. of March, for the murder of one Argal and his son, with whom he had been long at variance. It was his first hope that the murther might not be discovered, and for that cause had buried the dead bo∣dies fifteen foot under ground; his second, that by reason of his zeal to the Popish Religion it might be no hard matter to procure a pardon. But the Murder was too foul to be capable of any such favour, so that he was not one∣ly adjudged to die, but condemned to be hanged. It is reported of Marcus Antonius, that having vanquished Artanasdes King of Armenia, he led him bound in chains to Rome; but for his greater honor, and to distinguish him from the rest of the prisoners, in chains of gold: And such an honour was vouchsafed to this noble Murderer, in not being hanged as his servants and accomplices were, in a halter of hemp but in one of silk. And with this fact the Family might have expired, if the Queen, having satisfied Justice by his exe∣cution, had not consulted with her mercy for the restoring of his next Heir both in blood and honor.

Notes

• An. Reg. Mar. 4. 1556.
• An. Reg. Mar. 4. 1556/7.
• 1557.
• An. Reg. Mar. 5. 1557.
• A••••anasdem Arm••niae Re∣gem, fraude de∣ceptum, Catenis, sed ne quid ho∣nori d••••ss••t, au∣raeis vicit Anto••ius.
• Vell. Paterc.