A discourse of natural bathes, and mineral waters wherein, the original of fountains in general is declared, the nature and difference of minerals with examples of particular bathes, the generation of minerals in the earth, from whence both the actual heat of bathes, and their virtues proceed, by what means mineral waters are to be discover'd, and lastly, of the nature and uses of bathes, but especially of our bathes at Bathe, in Someerset-shire / by Edw. Jorden, Doctor in Physick.

CHAP. III. (Book 3)

Of the Church of Saint Peter and Paul.

An account of the Church of St. Peter and Paul, in Bathe, from the first foundation to the time it was finished. A Latin Poem on the same Subject, written to Bishop Mountague, with the Answer of the Bishop.

THE Church of St. Peter and Paul, com∣monly called the Abbey Church, as now it is, is a neat, and curious Fabrick; of which, that I may give some account, from its Original, ma∣ny Periods, and great alterations it hath under∣gone, as far forth as my Observation, Informa∣tion, and what Records I have seen will reach. The first Church I find mentioned since the Temple of Minerva, (which some place here) was that built by Off a King of Mercia, and bro∣ther to Oswald (of which before) in the year after Christ 775. which was afterwards destroyed by the Danes, and in the year 1010, re-edified by Elphegus, who being a man of great Parentage, and Prior of Glastonbury, left that place, and be∣took himself to Bathe, where living a very strict and exemplary life, even to admiration, he was chosen Abbot, and in the year 984 Bishop of Winchester, and A. 1006 promoted to the Arch∣Bishoprick of Canterbury, in which time he new built this Church, four years after his coming to that See. * 1.1 But the Fabrick he erected stood not long; for 77 years after, or A.D. 1087. both

it, and almost the whole City, was consumed by fire, by Robert Mowbray, Nephew to the Bi∣shop of Constance, in the first year of William Rufus.

The next year following, viz. A.D. 1088. appeared John de Villula, a French-man, born at Tours, and sometime Practitioner in Physick, or to speak more plain, an Empirick (such as now almost every place doth abound withall, we having just cause to renew the Complaint made by Hypocrates in his time, that there are now adays, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. * 1.2 * 1.3 Many, by a sort of people, their own Creatures, much admir'd, but what Artists they are is easi∣ly to be said) for the Historian brands him with this Character, that he was usu, non literis, medi∣cus probatus, a man practised more by rote, then any great cunning, and if he chanced at any time to do any good, it was more to be attribu∣ted to the strength of Nature, and his good hap, then to any Art in the man, or accountable Vir∣tues in his Medicines. * 1.4 This man however, al∣though not for his reach in Physick, was to be commended in this that he had a good liking to the Abbey, and though a poor Physitian, was a rich man, and a great Benefactor to the Church, which he building from the ground, and augmen∣ting the Revenues from a small mater to a con∣siderable proportion, may seem to deserve the name of the first Author, and Founder of it. He lived not to see it finish'd, being prevented by death, which happened the 29th. of December, 1122, and was buried at Bathe, in the Church he built.

This John was Bishop of Wells, but upon some dislike † 1.5 removed his Episcopal Chair to Bathe, and was known by the title of Bishop of Bathe, renouncing that of Wells, and bought this City of William Rufus, (or, as some say, H. 2.) for 500 Marks, which continued in the Bishops hands till the 4th. year of Rich. 1. about A.D. 1192. at which time Saverick, first Arch-Deacon of Northampton, afterwards Bishop of Bathe and Wells, a German, and Kinsman to the Emperour, in order to the more speedy effecting his design of being Bishop, to the performance of which, among other things, as Conditions of the Kings Release, (being taken Prisoner by Leopold Arch∣Duke of Austria) the Emperour had engaged him) returned the Possession of the City to King Richard the first.

In the year 1137 July 29, 15 years after the death of John de Villula, the Church he lately built was consumed by fire, and re-edified by Robert, a Monk of Lewes, born in Normandy, but by Parentage a Flemming, then Bishop of that See. * 1.6 He not only made good what the fire had destroyed, but carried on the work to a grea∣ter perfection. In the troubles between Maud the l••mpress, and King Stephen, he suffered a long and a close restraint at Bathe, from the King, and after his enlargement, endeavoured an Ac∣commodation between the two Churches of Bath and Wells, which had differed many years about the Episcopal See, and at last, with consent of both parties, made this agreement, that the Bi∣shops hereafter should be called Bishops of Bathe and Wells; That each of them should by Com∣mission

appoint Electors, the See being void, by whose voices the Bishop should be chosen; And that he should be installed with both of these Churches. The second of which Articles was not long observed, for A.D. 1244. in the 29th year of Hen. 3. The Monks of Bathe, refusing to joyn with the Chapter of Wells, chose of them∣selves one † 1.7 Roger for Bishop, which occasion∣ed a long Suit in Law between the two Chur∣ches, composed afterwards by the Bishop, who died not long after, and was buried at Bathe. The Condition of which Compos;ition was this; That they of Wells must be satisfied for the pre∣sent, and they of Bathe promise performance of the Agreement made by Robert, for the future, which was done accordingly.

This Structure erected by Robert, continued till the time of Henry the 7th; when Oliver King, the 23d Bishop after the Union of Bathe and Wells, pulling down the old Church built by Robert, not John de Villula (which was burnt, as Mr. Cambden affirms) began the foun∣dation of a fair and sumptuous Building, but left it, by reason of his death, whatever the lately mentioned Historian relates, very imperfect. * 1.8 For besides the Cost bestowed on it by Cardinal Ha∣drian de Castallo, chosen Bishop A.D, 1505. which I think, was not great; William Bird, the last Prior of the Abbey, undertook it, and partly of himself, and partly by the help of others, al∣most brought it to perfection, when in a short time after the dissolution of Religious Houses ensuing in the time of Henry the eighth, it was again demollish'd. In memory of this Prior

Bird, there is in the Chappel, on the South side of the Quire, at the East end, a Coat of Armes in Stone, a Cheveron between three Falcons, their Wings and Members-displai'd; on a Chief, a Rose between two pretious Stones, and for a Crest a Miter and Crozier. And in the out-side of the Chappel Wall, Southward, a W. and a Bird.

Neither are there wanting memorials of the Name of the foresaid Oliver. For in the Front of the Church, on both sides, on a Pillar, are placed two Elephants about an Olive Tree, and an Inscription engraven in Stone under it, in al∣lusion to the parable of Jotham, * 1.9 of which this is part,

Trees going to chuse their King Said, be to us the Oliver King

(Which in the late times caused some to su∣spect it for a Prophesie) with a Miter over all. This Oliver King was Doctor of Laws, of Kings Colledge in Cambridge, Principal Secretary to three Monarchs of this Land, Edward the 4th, Edward the 5th, and Henry the 7th. Register of the Knights of the Garter, Bishop of Exe∣ter, and thence translated hither, Novemb. 6. 1495. died Jan. 34. 1503. and is thought to lie buried at Windsor, where he was sometime Canon.

The Death of Bishop King obstructed this Structure (as a Reverend Doctor is pleased to quibble) so that it stood a long time neglected, which gave occasion to one to write on the Church Wall with a Char-coal. * 1.10

O Church I wail thy woful plight Whom King, nor Card'nal, Clark, nor Knight Have yet restor'd to antient right.

Alluding herein to Bishop King, who began it, and his four Successors in 35 years, viz. Car∣dinal Hadrian mentioned before, who sat Bi∣shop 12 years, and was afterwards deprived of this, and all other promotions, for conspiring with some other Cardinals, the Death of Pope Leo the 10th. Cardinal Wolsey, who held the Bi∣shoprick in Commandam four years, and was then translated to Durham. Bishop Clark, who sate 19 years, and died in the end of the year 1540, being poysoned, as was supposed, in Germany, when he went Ambassadour to the Duke of Cleve, to give a reason of the Kings Divorce from the Lady Anne of Cleve, his Sister; and Bi∣shop Knight. These four contributing nothing considerable to the finishing thereof. Also one Cassadore, a popishly affected person, wrote a Prophesie of this Church, to be seen in Fullers Worthies, with what he thinks is the meaning of it. * 1.11

Upon the dissolution of the Abbey, the Church was uncovered, the Lead taken away, and the Walls much ruin'd, and so continued for some time. But since its last demolition, in the Reign of King Henry the 8th, it hath thrice been attempted to be re-edified; First in the time of Queen Elizabeth, by a General Collection, by which the Work was not much advanc'd. The Second, in the beginning of the Reign of King James,

A. D. 1604. in whose time it met with many Benefactors; the principal whereof to this se∣cond work was Thomas Bellot Esquire, Steward of the House, and one of the Executors of the Right Honourable, William Lord Barkley, some∣time Lord Treasurer of England, who made some entrance on this Work in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and last of all, about the middle of King James's Reign it was finish'd and brought to perfection, as by the Munificence of Noble men, Knights, Gentlemen, and others, whose Names are on Record, so especially by the libe∣ral hand of Dr. James Mountague, sometime Bi∣shop of this Diocese, who at one time gave 1000 pounds toward its Reparation, and lies buried in the body of the Church, deceased July 20.1618.

It appears also from the Memorials of the Church, that before the first of these three last at∣tempts to repair it, there was little of the Church standing, save the bare Walls, and those too, in many places, much impaired, which being then, as it was, decayed in the hands of Edmund Cole∣thurst Esquire, was by him bestowed on the Ci∣ty, though uncovered, and much ruin'd, as it had long stood after the dissolution; and therefore he bears the name of the principal Benefactor to the first work.

The particulars of the Reparations, with the Names, and Sums of the Benefactors from the time of Queen Elizabeth downwards (which are not for me here distinctly to mention) are Re∣corded in a Book kept for that purpose in the Library belonging to the Church, begun by Bi∣shop Lake, and augmented by some others, but

yet stands in need of the helping hands of more Benefactors.

And although I have said so much concerning this Church already, yet I shall crave leave to add as a Conclusion to this Matter a Poem, which ac∣cidentally came to my hands by the means of Mr. John Parker, Citizen of Bathe, a lover of Anti∣quity, and my good Friend (to whom I acknow∣ledge my self engag'd for the assistance he afford∣ed me in my search after the Antiquities of the the City) found in the Study among other Pa∣pers, of that learned Knight, Sir John Harring∣ton, whether made by himself, as some imagine (who well might do it, having a great genius to Poetry, and called by Dr. Fuller, one of the most ingenious Poets of our Nation) or some other, I know not; written, and as it seems, spoken to Bishop Mountague, at his first coming to Bathe, and Sight of the Church; which I should have translated, but that the Substance of it, as much as is necessary to be known for History, is con∣tained in the foregoing account. However, to preserve it from perishing, and to gratifie the lover of Antiquity, (to whom I chuse rather to incur the censure of being Prodigal, then any way Nice, in with-holding any thing I think may deserve their acceptance) I shall insert it here, in Latin, as I found it. The Title thus,

Conditionis Variae ECCLESIAE SANCTI PETRI & PAULI Bathoniensis, A PRIMIS FUNDAMENTIS, Actis an.775. AD ANNUM DECURRENTEM, 1609. Historico-Poetica 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 De{que} Faelicissima ejusdem Ecclesiae restauratione VATICINIUM.

Ad Reverendissimum in Christo Patrem, Ja∣cob. providentia divina, dignissimum Ecclesiae Bathoniensis & Wellensis Episcopum, Bathoniam primo faeliciter invisentem, & visitantem.

MActe, bonis avibus; recidivi limino Tem∣pli (In Christo reverende Pater) gratissimus in∣tras.

Macte, sed haud pigeat prius aequa mente parum∣per Pristina delubri perpendere fata miselli. Temporis elapsi studio monumenta revolvens * 2.1 Attento, invenies hujus fundamina Templi, Prima Off am, priscum regem, jecisse; secunda * 2.2 Ephegum, regni primatem; Tertia tandem * 2.3 (Cum duo Danorum rabies, ignis{que} priora Vastasset) sumptu posuit majore Johannes * 2.4 De Villa, natu Gallus, non infimus artis * 2.5 Professor medicae, Wellensi ingratior aedi; Qui, postquam variis viguisset Episcopus an∣nis, Sedem Thermopolin Cathedralem transtulit il∣linc. Urbe hac, quingentis Marcis, a Rege coempta, Pulchrius antiquis fanum construxit: at ipsum AEvo combussit pariter Jovis ira sequenti. Structorem celebris misit Normannia Quartum, Officio Monachum, Roberlum nomine, molem * 2.6 Subversum toties qui restauravit; & inter Presbyteros, litem, de Sedis honore, diremit, Exornans titulis utram{que} aequalibus orbem. Tandem post seriem numerosam, munificam{que}, Infignis praesul pietate, vicesimus at{que} Tertius, hunc sequitur; qui faustum nominis omen, Expressit factis, Oliver King dictus, Olivam * 2.7 Et Regem vere referebat, ad instar olivam Pacis erat populo, simul ubertatis & author. At magis hoc retulit regalis munere Regem, Quippe opus incultum Rodberti sustulit, at{que} Illius, extemplo vice, fundamenta locavit, Ista; dedit solidis speciosa pleromata muris.

Tecta superstruxit sublimibus alta Columnis, Areolas soleis tongas substravit & amplas, Omnia ad hanc pulchram structuras caetera for∣mam, Et fundis, dubio procul, instructurus opimus, Morte immortales subito est arreptus ad arces. Tantae molis erat tam clarum condere Tem∣plum! Ne tamen his tantis perfectio debita caeptis Deforet, huic operi Colophonem attexuir, al∣mus Abbatiae Rector Gulielmus Birdus, At eheu! Sanctis stare diu fatis (proh fata!) negatum est. Horrida de innocuis fertur sententia famis; Abbatiae pereunt, fpoliantur Templa, rapinis Tecta patent, reditus, fundi, Sacraria; quid non? (Unde nefas tantum Zeli fautoribus?) una Iste, vel in Cunis, insons discerpitur infans. Impete diripitur violento haec fabrica; prae∣stant Saxa, vitrum, plumbum, Campanae, ac omnia praeter Hoc miserum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tantae at quae Causa ruinae? Num pietatis amor an amor sceleratus habendi? Hic amor exitio est Templis, Templi{que} mini∣stris, Hic amor extinxit clarissima lumina regni. Nec sinit hic Amor haec extincta resumere lu∣cem, Nemo bonum Templi, Templi bona quis{que} re∣quirit. Hinc haec Cimmeriis, per tot, tam turpiter, an∣nos,

Maxima lux urbis, latuit suppressa tenebris, Sed pater omnibonus, cui provida cura Suarum est, Hanc piceam nuper, caelesti campade, noctem Dispulit e multis Sanctorum cordibus, unde Accendere suo nostrum de lumine lumen. Sic tamen, ut quivis magis hinc sibi luceat ipsi, Ut tanto ad praesens reliquos veneremur ho∣nore, Vivida quos totum celebravit fama per orbem, Nobile Bellotti sidus, sic emicat, omnes Inter nutritios Templorum jure colendos, Plena velut stellis praefulget Luna minutis. Singula quae cernis pulchrae ornamenta Capellae, Area, porta, solum, Subsellia, Rostra, fenestrae, Bellottum unanimi Compellant ore parentem. Bellottum sonitu reboat Campana canoro, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sonant Bellottum, Balnea, vici, Compita, Bellotti jactant ad sidera noman, Quod Christi est cultor simul excultor{que} sacro∣rum.

VATICINIUM.

DEsine plura: sat est veterom, peragenda peractis Succedant; meliora bonis, majora minutis. Auspiciis huc misse sacris (Sanctissime Praesull) Sensibus hoec imis superum Consulta repone, Quae tibi fatidico dispandit carmine Vates, Laeta ruinoso proclamans omnia Templo. Quo decet, haenc specta, vultu, sine nube, se∣reno, Faecundam laudum segetem sine fine Tuarum.

Molliter ossa Cubant Offae, ac Elphegl, Oliveri Rodberti, ac Birdi, merito celebrentur honore; Debita Bellotto reddatur palma benigno. Pet-pius extento Bellottus floreat aevo. Non equidem invideo, laetormage, gratulor illi. Quod si tam celebrem mereatur guttula laudem, Praemia quae referet largos qui funditat imbres? Tantum at honorisico cedes, Bellotte, Jacobi, Effuso tenuis quantum imbris guttula cedit. Bellotti guttis rorata Capella virescit, Imbribus assiduis Divi madefacta Jacobi Integra quam laetos diffundent Templa racemos. Nec tamen haec aqueo vitis cupit imbre rigari: Aureolo hanc Danaem saturabis, Jupiter, imbre, Hinc quae spreta diu languenti Ecclesia morbo Intabuit; vitam, Te Te medicante resumit, Ut redit infuso flaccescens vena Lyaeo, Hujus sint alii fautores, sydera, fani; Cynthia Bellottus; solus Tu 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Apollo. Haec Tu vivifico reparabis membra Calore; Haec Tu magnifico decorabis Tecta nitore. Aspice surgenti laetentur ut omnia Templo. Grandaevum videor mihi prospectare Jacobum, Aspectus virtute Tui, torpore solutum, At{que} reornato scandentem climate Caelos. Ut renovat vires, ut concipit aethera mente; Insuper alatos, ultro{que} citro{que} meantes Coelicolas video, bona climacteribus illis Nuncia portantes superis: ac gaudia divum Inde renarrantes terris de Praesule tanto; Te{que} cohortantes (propria sat sponte citatum) Euge! opus hoc mirae pietatis perfice Praesul. Te nempe ad decus hoc peperit natura, replevit Dotibus eximii sDeus, ars perfecta polivit,

In gremio reforet ter magni gratia Regis: Ditavitque bonis tanta ad molimina natis. Huc opulenta Tibi sua fundit viscera tellus, Huc Tua Te virtus, sorte ancillante, propellit. Euge l opus hoc mira pietatis perfice Praesul•• Aggredere aeternos, servit Tibi tempus, honores His petitur Caelum Scalis, hac itur ad astra. Nec mora, fervet opus, structor, lapicida, peritus Gypsator, sculptor, fustor, vitrarius: omnes Artifices instant ardentes. Moenia surgunt, Dissita quae fuerant loca concamerantur Erismis, Extima plumboso velantur tegmine, pulchris Intima Caelantur laquearibus: omnia miris Sunt decorata modis: respondent omnia vatis. Nec deerunt mystae, Celebrent qui sacra, fre∣quentes. Sed numerosa brevi totam quae Compleat aedem. Pompa Sacerdotum, Psalmodorum{que} Decano Producente Chorum, Cantabit grata Jehovae Cantia, tantorum fonti, authori{que} bonorum. Haec mihi praesagit meus non ignara futuri. Corpore (quis neget hoc?) specioso haec templa Jacobus Donavit praesul (pia nam decreta bonorum AEquivalent factis) animam Rex ipse Jacobus (Hoc quo{que} quis dubitat?) tribuet. Deus alme Jacobi, Decretis benedic factis{que} utrius{que} Jacobi: O fortunatam nimium, bona si tua noris, Thermopolin, tali fruenis quae praesule, Rege l Funde Deo summas ex imo pectore grates, Et cola, perpetuo pietatis honore, Jacobos. Quo pede Caepisti, Praesul dignissime, pergas.

Episcopi Responsio.

CUpivi dilu has ruinas, & haec rudera videre, & contemplari, has vero ruinas, & haecru∣dera videre, & contemplari jam dolet. Ingre∣diar tamen, sed hoc animo, ut nunquam hoc more sim reingressurus, priusquam isthaec melius tecta videro.

The Bishops Answer.

I Have long desired to see and contemplate these ruines and rubbish, and now it grieves me to behold them. However, I will enter, but with this intent, never to re-enter, till I see them better cover'd.

Notes

• * 1.1

  775 1010
• * 1.2

  1088
• * 1.3

  L. de leg.
• * 1.4

  Gul. Mal asb.
• † 1.5

  The Char∣ters of William Rufus and H. 1. for translating his See to Bathe, and the manner there∣of, may be seen in Mr. Dugdales Monast. Augl. pp. 185, 186.
• * 1.6

  1137
• † 1.7

  He was con∣firmed Bishop •• by King Hen. 3. his Patent, ad instantiam De∣mini Papae, de gratia Regis Speciali, salve jure Regis, & Ecclefiae Wel∣lensis. P. 28. H. 3. m. 6. intus.
• * 1.8

  Br. P. 234:
• * 1.9

  Judges 9.
• * 1.10

  D.F.
• * 1.11

  So••••ers. p. 19.
• * 2.1

  Historia.
• * 2.2

  775.
• * 2.3

  1010.
• * 2.4

  1088.
• * 2.5

  Agyrta.
• * 2.6

  1137.
• * 2.7

  1495.