This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
By a statute 15 R. 2. c. 6. because di∣vers damages, and diseases oftentimes had happened, and daylie did happen, to the parochians of divers places, by the appropriation of benefices, of the same places, it was agreed and assented, that in everie licence, from thence foorth to be made in the Chancerie of appropriati∣on
of any parish church, it should be ex∣preslie conteined & comprised, that the diocesan of the place, vpon the appro∣priation of such churches, should or∣deine according to the value of such Churches, a convenient summe of mo∣ney, to bee paid and distributed yerelie of the fruites, and profits of the same churches, by those that shall haue the same churches in proper vse, & by their successors, to the poore parochiās of the same churches, in aide of their living, & sustentation for ever; and also that the Vicar be well and sufficientlie endowed. By which statute, it appeareth, that every impropriatiō, ought to be made by licēce out of the Chancerie, that it ought to be made, to the vse of ecclesiasticall persons onlie, & not to the vse of temporall per∣sons, or patrones. Now then, all such pa∣rish churches, as without licence of the King, in his Chancerie, haue bin appro∣pried, to any ecclesiasticall person; and againe all such parish churches, as by li∣cence of the King in his Chancerie, haue bene appropried, to the vse of laye per∣sons, they are not to be accompted, mens lawfull possessions, & heritages. Besides
this, as many impropriations, as where∣vpon the Diocesan of the place, hath not ordeined, according to the value of such churches, a convenient summe of money, to be paid, & distributed yearlie of the frutes of the same churches, &c. to the poore Parochians of the same churches, in aide of their living and su∣stentation for euer; yea & every church also appropried, as wherevnto a perpe∣tuall Vicare is not ordeined, canonically to be instituted, & inducted in the same, and which is not convenably endowed, to doe divine service, and to enforme the people, and to keepe hospitalitie there, all and everie such church, & churches (I say) otherwise then thus appropried, by the law of the Realme (as it seemeth) are not mens lawfull possessions and in∣heritances: For by a statute of Kinge Henry the fourth, everie church, after the 15. year of King Richard the second, * 1.1 appropried by licence of the King, a∣gainst the form of the said statute, of R. 2. if the same were not dulie reformed, after the effect of the same statute, with∣in a certeyne time appointed, then the same appropriation and licence thereof
made, presentlie (the parish Church of Hadenham, onlie excepted) was adiud∣ged to be voyd, and vtterly repealed, and adnulled for euer. And therefore I leaue it to the inquisition of our Soveraigne Lord the King, whether the impropria∣tiō of the parish church of B••lgraue in the Countie of Leycester, wherevnto two Chapples are annexed, and other Churches appropried to the Bishop of Leycester, since the statutes of Richard the seconde, and Henry the fourth, bee the lawfull or vnlawfull possession and heritage of the same Bishop, yea or no. And if it be lawfullie appropried and so a lawfull possession, and heritage, then I leaue it againe to the inquisition of the King, what summe of money, out of the fontes of the same church ought yearlie to be distributed, to the poore Parochiās; what the endowment, of a Vicare cano∣nicallie to be instituted, and inducted, in the same church, should be: what house is appointed for the same Vicar to keepe his hospitalitie in, and whether any Vicare, for the space of these many yeres passed, hath bin Canonicallie instituted, and inducted in the same church, to pos∣sesse
that endowment, to inhabite that same house, and enforme that people. For if by the appropriation it selfe, or by the abuse thereof, the poore Parochians, haue bin defrauded of their yearelie di∣stribution, or if no Vicares haue bene Canonicallie instituted and inducted in the same, or if being inducted, they haue their indowments so small, or so cove∣touslie kept backe from them, as that they can not sufficientlie mainteine thē selues, much lesse keepe hospitalitie: thē (as the Admonitor cōfesseth,) there must needes be a lamentable abuse of impro∣priations; and that therefore it is great∣lie to be wished, that by some good sta∣tute, it might be remedied.
And as those churches which are vn∣lawfully appropried, are not the lawfull possession and heritage, of the proprieta∣ries, so on the other side we a••••irme, that those impropriations, which were made & reformed, according to the statutes of Ri. 2. & He. 4. may well stand, as mens lawfull possessions and heritages, even with those things, which are required to be planted & brought into the Church, whatsoever the Admonitor hath written
to the contrarie. For wee doe not holde that maintenance, must onlie and neces∣sarilie be provided for everie Minister, by the payment of tythes, oblations and other ecclesiasticall profites, belonging to churches appropried, or disappropri∣ed. For there being no direct proofe, to be made out of the law of God, that Mi∣nisters of the Gospell, must onelie liue vpon tythes; the King and Parleament, may well and competentlie inough, ap∣point covenable endowments for everie Minister, without disapproprying of any church appropried. And therefore litle cause had the Admonitor, to insinuate the ruine of impropriations, vpon the bringing in, the discipline of our Savior Christ, because the same may bee well planted, and yet to other not vnplanted. But what neede we to argue against his insinuation, considering he him selfe, before he came to the end of this page, by his owne disclayme, contradicted his insinuation. For if the forme of finding Ministers by tythes, must with the canon law (as he saith) be abolished, and if there must be some other order for this devised, because this may seeme papisticall and
Antichristian, what should anie man feare the taking away of those lawes, whereby impropriations do stand? For if such as heretofore haue spoken or writ∣ten against them, because (as he insinua∣teth) the forme of finding Ministers by tythes, seemed to be vnlawfullie taken a∣way, and as he would also insinuate by their iudgement, ought againe to be re∣stored, and not to stande any longer as mens lawfull possessions and heritages. How (I saye) doth it followe that they which desire impropriations, to bee re∣stored to their pristinate state, should withall require, to haue the findinge of Ministers by tythes, to bee abolished? It seemeth therefore, that the Admonitor, so he might be talking, passed but a ••itle what he talked. For what a double talke is heere? or to what purpose was this talke? Was it because some men do thinke, that the Ministers, ought not to receyue tythes, for their reliefe, & paynes in the Ministerie? Why then, let all men knowe, that we disclayme such some mens opinions. For wee accompt all things, perteyning to this lyfe, directlie, or by consequence, not commaunded,
nor prohibited, by the holy and sacred Scriptures, to be things indifferent, and that therefore we may vse them, or not vse them, as the commoditie, or incom∣moditie of the Church shall require. And therfore as we doe not affirme, that the maintenance of the Ministers, must onelie, and necessarilie bee levied out of tythes, oblations, and such like, so also we do not denie, but that the tenth part of the increase of all our goodes, by the authoritie of the King, & his lawes, may be allotted for their possession and h••ri∣tage: especiallie in our coūtrey, the same manner of payment beeing so auncient, and so agreeable to the maners, vsages, and disposition of our State and people, Nay since the payment of tythes, for ser∣vice accōplished in the spiritual Sanctu∣arie, is correspōdent in the nature there∣of, to the equitie of the Lawe of Moyses, for the Levites attendance about the earthlie Tabernacle; and since also wee be bound by the cōmaundement of the Apostle, to make him that teacheth vs in the word, to bee partaker of all our goodes, I see not (so Iewish and popish ceremonie, and superstition be avoyded)
but that this duetie, may as christianlie be performed, by the payment of the trenth part of the increase of our corne, hay, wooll, lambe, &c. as by the eight, twelfeth, twentieth, or any other part of our money, and coyne. By payment al∣so of which tythes, the Ministers at eve∣rie season, with everie kinde of necessa∣rie provisiō towards hospitalitie, might thoroughlie be furnished, which manie times they shall want, by reason of mens backwardnes, when collections of mo∣ney are to be made. But to speake no more of this matter of tythes, we will re∣turne to the obiection made against the Apostolicall government, drawen from taking away impropriations. And here∣in we wil not handle, whether the lawes whereby impropriations do stande, as mens lawfull possession, and heritage must (as he saieth) bee taken away: but whether impropriations, now devided from the Ministerie, and dispersed into many severall mens handes, and imploy∣ed to many vses in the common weale, may not in tract of time by some whole some lawe, be reduced, eyther wholie, or in part, to be the only lawful possessions
and inheritances for the Ministers of the Gospell, yea and that without any preiudice or damage vnto Prince, or people.
It is evident in the eyes of all, thatthe Churches now appropried, do stand & remaine, as the lawfull possessions & in∣heritances, either of the King, or of the Nobles, or of the Knightes, Esquyres, Gentlemen, and other temporall per∣sons: or of Archbb. Bb. Archdeacons, Deanes, Prebendaries, and other ecclesi∣asticall persons, or of the Vniversities, of the Colledges in the Vniversities, of col∣legiate and Cathedrall Churches, of Scholes, Hospitalls, Fraternities, and o∣ther bodies Politicke, and Corporate. Wherefore to the end our meaning may the better be vnderstood, and that wee may proceed orderlie, we think it good, to examine first, by how many severall wayes, some of these impropriations may be wholy and thoroughly reduced: secondlie, by how many several meanes, other some in part, may be brought to the vse of the Ministerie. To reduce som of them whollie may bee done by resti∣tution, * 1.2 commutation, redemption, and
contribution. And first that I preiudice not the Lords spirituall, and Church∣men of their auncient priviledges, from being placed in the first ranck, reason is, that (they teaching the people, not to possesse other mens goodes wrongfully) we speake first of restitution to be made by them. In declaration whereof, wee thinke it not fitt, in this place to shew, to * 1.3 what end the state of the Cleargie was first founded into a state of prelacie, by the King, Earles, Barons, & other great men (because the same cometh after∣ward to be handled more at large) but it shall suffice at this present, for the pur∣pose whereof we now intreate, to lett the Reverend Bb. vnderstand, that the small Parochiall churches, were founded, and endowed, with glebe Landes tythes; and other fruites by the Lordes of Manors, * 1.4 to the end that the Lords tenantes with∣in the same manors, should be informed of the lawe of God, and that Hospitali∣ties might be kept, and the poore of the same Parishes be relieved. And besides the reverend Bishoppes, we hope, will graunt, that the great Cathedrall, and Collegiat Churches, were not founded
by the Kings progenitors, Nobles, and great men of the Realme, to the ende, that those great Churches (as great hawkes pray vpō litle fowles) with their great steeples, should care and devoure the litle steeples; or that with their great Quiers, they should overthrow, & iustle downe the small pulpittes. And there∣fore we most humblie pray ayde frō the King, for the casting of new clappes to be erected in the little pulpittes, that be would be pleased, to graunt restit••••o∣nes in integrum, to all the litle churches, and that all impropriations, of all Paro∣chiall churches and benefices, nowe by spoliation, parcell of the revenues, of Archbb. Bishoppes, Deanes, Archdea∣cons, Prebendaries, and other ecclesia∣sticall persons, restantes within those great churches, may be whollie restored to their auncient, and originall vse, ac∣cording to the mindes and intentes of the first Donours, and Patrones of the same Parochiall and little Churches. For if (as Maister Bilson saith) it be true, that the Lords of Villadges, having ere∣cted churches, and allotted out portions for divine service, eyther by Gods or
mans lawe, by their later graunts could not haue their former rights, vnto their patronages overthrowen; and if the al∣lowance given at the first, to the Mini∣sters of ech Parish, by the Lorde of the soyle, were matter inough, in the iudge∣ment of Christes Church, to establish the right of patrones, that they alone should present Clerckes, because they alone provided for them, if (I say) this be true, then haue the Ministers of those Villadges, and of that soyle, iust cause to require, at the Dioc••sans handes, a r••sti∣tution of such allowances, as were first given and provided for them, by the pa∣trones: Especiallie the Diocesans by their own act nowe enioyning, and con∣verting the same allowances, to their owne vse. If it be answered, that this can not well and convenientlie bee brought to passe, because the same impropriati∣ons, by the Archbishops, Bishops and o∣ther Ecclesiasticall persons, for divers summes of money, are now lawfully de∣mised to farme, for many yeares yet to come: herevnto we answere, that these leases should hinder nothing at all, the restitution of the right and interest in
reversion, or remainder of those impro∣priations. Onlie (if the impropriations haue bene made according to the lawes of the Realm, & the leases dulie graun∣ted) these leases for a time, may hinder the incumbent Ministers, from the pre∣sent possession of the Tythes, Fruits and glebe Land belonging to the same im∣propriations. And yet may not the in∣cumbent Ministers, bee hindered in the meane while, from receyving the re••tes reserved vpon such Leases, and which by the same Leases are nowe payable to the Archbishops, Bishops and other ecclesia∣asticall persons. Neither after the deter∣mination of the same Leases, should the incumbent Ministers, bee any more let∣ted, to enioy & receyve, the whole pro∣fits in right of their churches, then other Ministers bee now letted to enioy theirs. If any shall say, that manie of these im∣propriations, are annexed, & appropri∣ed, as Prebendes for the provision, of some of the Prebendaries, of the same greate churches, and that the same Pre∣bendaries, in the right of their prebēds, be the lawfull Rectors of the churches appropried, and haue cura•• animaru••
in the same parishes; then wee must in∣stantlie againe pray the King, that those Prebendaries, by some wholesome lawe may be constreyned, to reside, and to in∣cumbe vpon their saide prebendes, and parochiall churches, and that by conti∣nuall preaching of wholsome doctrine, they may endevoure to cure the soules of the people, over whō, by the order of those great churches, they be set, & over whom they haue taken charge. And withall that they may no more be suffe∣red, to lye and to liue idlelie in their Cloysters, in their caves, and in their dennes, sometimes at Worcester, some∣times at Hereforde, sometimes at Glou∣cester, sometimes at Salisburie, some∣times at Westminster, sometimes at Soutwell, sometimes at Windsore, some∣times at Paules, sometimes at Oxforde, and sometimes at Cambridge. When in the meane while both seldome, and very slenderlie, they feede other sheepe, whose fleeces they take in, and about London, Winchester, Tewkesburie, Rea∣ding, and other places of the Countrey. Besides we pray that these prebendes, af∣ter the determinatiō of leases now in be∣ing,
may never any more be let to farm, so that the frutes thereof may serve for those Prebendaries, or other succeeding Ministers, to make Hospitalities, Almes, and other workes of charitie. If it be al∣leadged that the King now hauing first frutes, Tenthes and Subsidies, out of the impropriatiōs of those great churches, as being all comprised, vnder a grosse summe of the Tenthes payable for the whole revenues of the same churches, should loose the first frutes, Tentes and subsidies, of the same impropriations, if hereafter they become, either donative, or presentative; to this the aunswere is readilie made, viz. that Tenthes, first frutes, and Subsidies, might as well bee paide then, as now. And that the Kinge might then aswell haue right to the do∣nation of the benefice disappropried, as the Bishop now hath the gift of the pre∣bend appropried.
In the next ranck cometh commuta∣tion to be spoken of. Wherein, because the impropriations of Parochiall chur∣ches apperteyning now to the King, No∣bles, Commons, Colledges, Scholes, Bodies politicke, &c. were at the firste
appropried one lie by the discretion of the Diocesans, Predecessors, to the reve∣rend Bishoppes that now are, vnto Ab∣bottes, Prioures, Nunnes, Friars, &c. and because the Successours of those Dioce∣sans be bound in the same band of ini∣quitie with their predecessors, vnles by all good meanes they labor that things may be brought to their first, and pristi∣nate state, it seemeth equall, & iust, that this commutation, should likewise pro∣ceede and be drawen frō the Diocesans, and great Churches before specified. The reasons whereof may bee such as follow.
The Landes and possessions given by the Kings progenitors, the Earles, Ba∣rons, & other great men of the Realme, to Bishoprickes, were not giuen (as Mai∣ster Bilson affirmeth) to vnburden the people of the support, and chardges of * 1.5 their Bb. but they were given, (as the law of our lande teacheth vs) first to en∣forme the people in the lawe of God, in those churches; Secondlie, to keepe Ho∣spitalities, almes, & other workes of cha∣ritie; And thirdlie, for the soules of the founders, their heyres, and of all christi∣an.
Now then, if some of these condi∣cions be such as for the impietie thereof ought not to be performed, and if other some also, being good and godly, be not performed, and so the thinges are to re∣turne to their first nature, as in the same statute is alleaged; then is it reason, that the Kinge and Nobles, who are the iust inheritors and successours, to those who were firsT Donoures, and Founders of those Churches, should haue as free a disposition, and donation of those lands and possessions now, as his, and their progenitors and auncestours ever had. And seeing it is manifest, that the lands & possessions of Archbishops, Bishops, Deanes and Chapters, doe not, for the most part, nowe a dayes serue for those good vses, for the which they were first granted, namelie to enforme the people in the law of God, to keepe Hospitali∣ties, Almes, and other workes of cha∣ritie, but partlie for the vse of chaun∣ting, and singing in the Quyers; & part∣lie to vayne, idle, superfluous, and pom∣pous vses, the King, can not do a better, and more charitable deede, then to con∣vert parcell of the same landes and pos∣sessions
(thus by defect of the condici∣ons not performed, returning to their first nature) to and for the necessarie & perpetuall provision of learned, able, & preaching Ministers, to bee planted in Parochiall churches, nowe destitute of sufficient Pastoures, for want of suffici∣ent maintenance, naye sit hence Archbi∣shoprickes, Bishoprickes, & other Pre∣lacies, by the verie expresse letter of the statute, are said to be founded to super∣sticious vses: viz. for the soules of the founders, their heyres, and of all christi∣an, the same reason whiche led Kinge Henrie the eight, his Nobles, and Par∣leamentes, to dissolve Abbayes and Mo∣nasteries, & the same reason also, which moved King Edward the sixt, with his Nobles, & Parleament, to dissolve Col∣ledges, free Chappels and Chauntries, the same reason, may be a sufficient rea∣son, to perswade our Soveraigne Lord King IAMES that now is, with his No∣bles and Parleament, to dissolve Arch∣bishoprickes, Bishoprikes, Deanries, &c First to the end these Prelacies and Dig∣nities may never in anie succeding ages, serve to anie such superstitious vses, as
wherevnto they were at the first erected. Secondlie, that the King having them al in his owne hands, and free disposition, may be the onlie Foundor and Donour of so many new Bishoprickes as might please him to erect, & endowe with such liberall, and covenable endowmentes, as might serve for learned Evangelicall Bishoppes to enforme the people in the holy Evangill of Christ, to keepe hospi∣talities, almes, and to doe other workes of charitie, rather then to be expended, as now for a great parte they are, vpon the keeping of great horses, coroches, and troupes of serving idlers. The com∣mutation then whereof we speake, and which wee most humblie commend, to the consideration of the King, is, viz: That parcell of the temporall Landes & possessions of Archbb and Bishoppes, togither with all the landes and possessi∣ons, serving to the mainrenance of idle Ministers, and idle Songsters, in Cathe∣drall and Collegiat churches (the Colle∣giat churches of Eaton and Winchester, and the Cathedrall and Collegiat chur∣ches in Oxford & Cambridge excepted) by an equal and reasonable proportion.
may bee made, with such impropria∣tions, as belong to the King, the No∣bles, Commons, Colledges, Hospitals, Scholes, &c. Provided as before hath bin said, that there may be a liberall and couvenable endowment, for the learned Bishops or Pastors, to be continued and placed in all the chief and principall townes & cities of the Realm. And that the impropriations of Parochiall chur∣ches may for ever, be livings for the Mi∣nisters of the same churches. And there∣fore in the iust defence of the innocen∣cie of all such as require a godlie and re∣ligious reformation, wee say, that they ought not, to haue ben traduced before the Kinge, as robbers and ransackers of the church. And that some of the plot∣ters for the Prelacie, more honestlie might haue imployed both their Latine and their labour, then latelie they did. When by drawing letters (as they pre∣tended) congratulatorie to the King, on∣lie in the name of preaching Ministers, they procured notwithstanding igno∣rant, & vnpreaching Ministers, to ioyne in the action, and to affix their handes and names. That such letters haue bene
made and signed, is sufficientlie to bee proved, but whether they haue ben pre∣sented to the Kinges handes, is not yet knowne. Onely if they shall hereafter come, then may they be known by these wordes: Nos Concionatores, &c. ab omni domestica capacitate eorum, qui pretextu religionis, ecclesiae insidiantur. My Lord the King is wise, according to the wise∣dome * 1.6 of an Angell of God, to vnder∣stand all things whereof he is informed.
The third meanes to reduce impropri∣ations, vnto the possession of the Mini∣sterie * 1.7 is by way of publicke redemption or purchase. For the accomplishment whereof it is necessarie, that not onelie a common treasure be provided, but also that the price of impropriations, by a publicke consent be valued, at a reason∣able rate to make, which rate will bee a matter of small weight, whether they be valued, to be bought and sould, at their old and auncient, or at their new & im∣proved rentes. To provide a common treasure, though to some it may seeme a matter intricate, and troublesome, yet seeing the same possiblie, and conveni∣enlie may be done, there is no cause, that
men should feint, before they fight, or be at an end, before they beginne. It is written that the cause when Kinge So∣lomon * 1.8 raised the tribute, to wit, was to build the house of the Lorde, his owne house and Millo, and the wall of Ierusa∣lem. After that wicked Athaliah and * 1.9 her children, had broken vp the hous•• of God, & had bestowed all the things, that were dedicate for the house of the Lorde, vpon Baalim, King Ioash com∣manded the Priestes and Levites, to goe vnto the Cities of Iudah, and to gather of al Israell money to repayre the house of God, from yeare to yeare, and they made a chest, and made Proclamation to bring the tax of Moses, & the Princes reioyced, and brought in, and cast into the chest. And when there was much silver, they emptied the chest, and caryed it, to his place againe, and thus day by day, they gathered silver in abundance. If thē towards the building of an earth∣lie house, the Princes & people of Iudah and Israell, willinglie with ioy of their heartes, from yeare to yeare, and from day to day, threwe silver in abundance into the chest, how much more were it
praise worthy, if Christian people, did encourage them selves, to pay a small tribute towards the provision of a com∣petent maintenance, for their spirituall Pastours, by whose labours, as livelie stones, they might be buylded vp into a spirituall temple in the Lord? That ma∣nie and great taxes and tributes of late yeares haue bene made for many vses, and to many purposes, there is no man ignorant thereof. And therfore though there bee litle reason, that the people standing, alreadie burdened, with great charge, should be again recharged, espe∣ciallie when without any extraordina∣rie burden, there is an ordinarie meanes (if the same were accordingly bestowed) by the people yeelded, to relieve the Mi∣nisters in all places, with a decent and comelie portion; yet notwithstanding, to be eased, from those publicke pay∣ments, and annuall greevances, imposed by the ecclesiasticall Courtes, vpon the people, it is not to be doubted, but the Parishioners in al places would willing∣lie pay, any reasonable taxe or tribute, to be demanded of them for this pur∣pose.
An other meanes to rayse this publike treasure, may be a dissolution of all free * 1.10 Chapples, and Chapples of ease in the Countrey, together with an vnion of two or moe churches into one, especial∣lie in Cities and great Townes. For as in these Cities and Townes, the poorest, & meanest livings be provided, so general∣lie for the most part, are they fitted, with the poorest and meanest Curates, as by most lamētable experience is to be seene, in all the Episcopall cities of the Realm, excepting London. Nay the chiefe and Metropolitane citie of Canterburie is not to bee excepted. For in that Citie there being about 12. or 13. Parish churches, there hath not bene ordinarilie of late yeares aboue 3. or 4. able Preachers, pla∣ced in the same Churches.
The Chapples to be dissol∣ved, and the Churches to be consolida∣ted by two, and two into one, & one, can be no fewer in number then one thou∣sand at the least. All which if they might be solde, the money to bee raysed vpon their sale, could be no lesse then twentie thousand poundes, if they were soulde onlie for twentie pounds a peece. But if
they be well worth, double or treble so much, then would the treasure also bee doubled or trebled. This dissolution of Chapples, and vnion of Churches, is no new devise, nor strange innovation: But hath ben heretofore thought vpon, and in some parte confirmed alreadie by our Kinges in their Parleaments. Touching the dissolution of Chapples, the most * 1.11 reverēd Father Thomas Crammer, Arch∣bishop of Camterburie, with the residue of the Kings Commissioners, appointed for the reformation of Ecclesiasticall lawes alloweth of the same. And for the vnion of Churches, there was an acte made 27. H. 8. so they exceeded not the value of six pounds. And by a statute * 1.12 r. Ed. 6. it was lawfull for the Mayor & Recorder of the Citie of Yorke, and the Ordinarie or his Deputie, & six Iustices * 1.13 of the peace in the same Citie, to vnite and knit together, so many of the poore Parishes of the same Citie and suburbes of the same, as to thē should be thought convenient, to be a living for one honest incumbent. And it was lawfull for the said Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, to pull downe the Churches, which they
should think superflous in the said citie, and suburbes of the same, and to bestow the same, towardes the reparation and enlargement of other Churches, of the Bridges in the Citie, and to the reliefe of the poore people. The considerations which moved the King and Parleament, * 1.14 to ordeyne this act, were these, viz. The former incompetēcie of honest livings, the former necessitie of taking verie vn∣learned and ignorant Curates not able to do any part of their duties; the former replenishing of the Citie, with blinde guides and Pastors; the former keeping of the people, aswell in ignorance of their duties to God, as also towardes the King, and common weale; and lastlie the former danger of the soules of the Citi∣zens. If then in these dayes it might please the King to applie, like playsters, to the like sorcs, to provide remedies, for the like mischieves, and for the like dis∣eases, to minister like medicins, it would come to passe no doubt, in few yeares, that the lame & the blind, & the broken, with a number of vnhallowed and vn∣cleane beastes, should be swept, and cast foorth of all the Parochiall churches,
within Canterburie, Winchest, Chiche∣ster, Lichfield, Oxford, and other great Cities of the Realme. For these Chap∣ples, and smaler churches, being the ve∣rie * 1.15 Seminaries, of all hyrelinges, and idoll Sheapheards, a benefice can no sooner become voyd, but the poore, and hungrie Chapleynes, wearie of their thynne dyet, and long leaping after a beane, presentlie trudge to the patrone, offering, or accepting any condicions to be presented by him. And not onelie should the Church by this meanes, bee rid of these vermine, but also the lear∣ned & preaching Minister, without fur∣ther aide or cōtribution, in those places, might haue more liberall maintenance, then erst they haue had. For then should they be no more constreyned, to deduct out of their livings, by reason of Chap∣ples yet standing, and as it were annex∣ed to their Parish churches, some 10. lb. some 20. lb. some 30. lb. by the yeare, for the wages of these hyrelings. Besides this, a singuler and apparant benefite, * 1.16 could not but redound to the common weale, by the dissolution of these Chap∣ples, when as many, long, tedious, and
changeable, & vncharitable sutes, here∣tofore had & commenced, should here∣after bee extinguished, between the Pa∣rochians of the mother Churches and the inhabitants of Hamblets, for & con∣cerning the repayre, and reedifying of the said Churches, and Chapples, & for other rights, and duties chalenged to belong from one vnto the other.
A third meanes to leavie a treasure, * 1.17 for the redemption of impropriations, may be a sequestration of the fruites of the Churches of non Residentes, and commendames, with the fruites of the Churches of the pluralistes, and perinde valeres, from the which the same pluri∣sied persons are to depart; the said seque∣stration no longer to endure, then some able Ministers may be provided & pla∣ced in the same Churches.
A fourth meane to rayse this treasure, if it please the King, and that the church have found favour in his sight, may bee the money due vnto the King vpō such penall lawes, as for the benefite of the commō weale, are necessarilie to be put in execution, & especially vpon the law of provision and premunire, not pardo∣ued
by the Queene. And albeit happelie the King, vpon a most worthie and chri∣stian zeale, be well pleased hereafter not to vrge vpon the popish recusantes, the paymēt of their forfeytures, for absence from divine service, yet because they be able, and do daylie contribute to semi∣naries abroad, and be favourers, and a∣bettours of popish Priestes and Iesuites, lurking at home, the most treasonable & daungerous enemies, that can be to the Kings Person and State, in cōsideration heereof (I say) if it may please the King, it seemeth not vnreasonable, (the lawe standing still in force, and vnrepealed) that the popish recusants be vrged to the payment of such summes of money, as are alreadie forfeyted; the same by the commaundement, and free gift of the King to be imployed vpon the redemp∣tion of such impropriatiōs, as are with∣in the parishes of their abodes. To the end that learned, and preaching Mini∣sters, being placed in the same, they, their wyves, children, servaunts, tenants, and dependantes, by the powerful prea∣ching of the worde, might be converted vnto the Gospell.
It followeth now in order, that wee speak of contributiō, the fourth meanes * 1.18 whereby some impropriations may bee reduced whollie to the vse of the Mini∣sterie. Wherein there can not any cer∣teyne rule, or direction bee prescribed: because it must proceed onlie frō those, whose heartes God shall touch, stirre vp, & encourage, willinglie to bring a free offering, vnto the Lord, for the building vp of his spirituall house. For of everie one (saith the Lorde) whose heart offe∣reth * 1.19 it freelie, yee shall take an offeringe for me. And everie one whose heart en∣couraged him, and whose Spirite made him willing, and men, and women, as manie as were free-hearted, came and * 1.20 brought, taches, and earings, and ringes, and bracelettes, all were iewells of gold, and blewe silke, and purple, & skarlett, and fine linnen, and goates hayre, and Rammes skinnes, and Badgees skinnes, and silver, and brasse, & Shittim wood, and Onix stones, and Spice, and Oyle: Everie man, and woman, (I saye) whose heartes moved them willinglie to bring for all the worke, which the Lorde had * 1.21 commaunded, brought a free offering.
yea and the people brought too much, and more thē ynough, for the vse of the worke of the Lord. King Salomon, ha∣ving * 1.22 all the Elders, the heads, the chiefe Fathers, and all the men of Israell, & the Priestes, and Levites, to bring vppe the Arck, and Tabernacle of the Lord, offe∣red Beeves, and sheepe which could not be numbred for multitude. Yea and af∣ter these offeringes were made, and after the Kinge had prayed, that their heart might bee perfect with the Lord their God, to walke in his statutes, & to keepe his commaundementes, as at that day; the King agayne offered a sacrifice of two and twentie thousande beeves, one hundred and twentie thousande sheepe, and so was the house dedicated. After the returne of the people out of captiui∣tie, certeyne of the chiefe Fathers, when they came to the house of the Lorde, which was in Ierusalem, they gave after their abilitie, vnto the treasure of the worke, even one and three score thou∣sand drammes of golde, and five thou∣sande pieces of silver, and an hundred priestes garmentes: they gave money al∣so, * 1.23 to the Masons, and to the workmen,
and meate, and drinke, and oyle. Yea at the exhortatiō of Nehemiah, the Priests, the great men, the people, and the wo∣men, * 1.24 that they might bee no more a re∣proch, sett their mindes to the building of the Walls, and at their owne charges, builded some, one gate, some another; some one doore, some another; som one tower, some another: some one portion of the Wall, some an other. Wherefore, seeing we haue not an Ester, to succeed our Deborah, but a Salomon rather, to succeede a David; yea such a Salomon, as whose heart the Lord hath filled with an excellent spirite of wisedome, of vn∣derstanding, and of knowledge, to finde out, and to dissolve hard & curious pa∣rables, & hath put in his heart, to teach and to guide others; we rest perswaded in our hearts, that the King for his part, treading in the steppes of the godlie Kings, Princes, & Governours of Iudah, will goe in, and out, before his people, as they did before theirs. And that he will rather not eate of the bread, nor drinke of the wine, of the governoures * 1.25 that were before him, then that he will not remitt the provisions the seasements
the fynes, the impositions, & the amer∣ciamentes, that have bene exacted. Yea also that he will feede from his owne ta∣ble, an hundred and fiftie Prophetes, & prepare for them oxen, and sheepe, and birdes, and wine in all abundance, be∣cause they are come vnto him, from a∣mōg the prelatistes that were about thē, because their bondage hath bene grie∣vous vnto them. Yea further also, we are * 1.26 perswaded, that he will shake out of his Lapp everie servāt of his, that shall beare rule over his people. And thus much of the meanes whereby some impropriati∣ons, may wholie be reduced to the vse of the Ministerie. It followeth to shewe by what meanes other some impropria∣tions, may be converted in part, to the maintenance of Ministers to be planted in Parochiall Churches, now destitute of able Pastoures, in case the sayde im∣propriations by none of the former meanes, can be reduced whollie to their first and auncient institution. Wherein these two things come principally to be considered.
First, whether it were not convenient, * 1.27 by some wholesome lawe, to haue it or∣deyned,
that the Heades, Governours, Rulers, and Maisters of the Vniversities, Colledges, Cities, Townes, Hospitalls, free Scholes, and other bodies politicke and Corporate, should not from hence∣forth demise or sett to farme their, or a∣nie of their impropriations, or anie of the glebe Lande, tythes, or other fruites belonging to the same, vntill such time as all leases heretofore made, bee fullie ended, or otherwise determined.
Secondlie, whether it were not con∣venient, to have it enacted, by the same lawe, that all and everie impropried Church & Churches, with their glebes, tythes, and other fruites, after the deter∣mination of the Leases now in being, should be demised and sett to farme, on∣lie to the incōbent Ministers of the same Churches, for terme of their naturall lyves, if so long they did continue rese∣ant, and faithfullie preach in the same Churches, the doctrine of the Gospell, according to the articles of Religion, concerning Faith and Sacramentes, by publick authoritie, now established in the Church of England. And because by likelihood the Vicares will not bee
able to pay fynes or incomes vnto the Colledges, Hospitalls, and other places; and because also it seemeth reasonable, that the Colledges, Hospitalles, & other places, by some other meanes, should be recompenced, we leave it agayne to bee considered, whether it were not conve∣nient that the Vicars, in consideration of non payment of fynes, should yeelde in money, corne, or other provision, to the double, or treble value, of the ani∣cient and vnimproved rentes. For m••n experienced in these affaires of this life, know, that the profites arising out of churches appropried, vnto the farmours thereof, are commonlie sixe, eight, or tenne tymes more worth by iust estima∣tion, thē are the old rentes, payable vn∣to Colledges, Hospitalles, & other like places. And thus we see howe together with the bringing in of these thinges, which are required to be planted in the Church, imp••opriations may stande, as mens lawfull possessions, and heritages, or otherwise how without damage or hurt to the King, or Realme, they may be converted to the vse and provision of the Ministers, what soever hath bene in∣sinuated
by the Admonitor to the con∣trarie. And yet do I not in anie of these things, or of any other thing, first or last spoken, or to bee spoken, desire mine owne advyse and iudgement so to be re∣spected, as though I should arrogate vn∣to my selfe more knowledge then all o∣thers, which labour in the cause of re∣formation: but onelie I submitte these my private meditations with their rea∣sons, to the censures of all wise, godlie, and learned men. Hūblie praying them so to bestir their own wits, and so to be∣stowe their own cunning, and learning, that a better & more easier way, by their ingenuousnes, may be found out, & pro∣cured to take place. And in the meane season, that these motions tendered to their vewes, may not altogether bee ne∣glected but duly weyed, and considered. Especiallie for that I haue not tendered any other thing to be performed, by any of these meanes, vnto any other, then such as whervnto I my self, to my power, yea and beyond my power, as far as in me lyeth, shall bee readie to yeelde.
And howsoever the Bishoppes & other great Clergie Maisters, with their statelie
favourites, may pretēd some part of this devyse, to be an hinderance of learning, and other some parte, not to be for the Kings profite; yet to the first we answere brieflie, that learninge is not so much furthered, by a few great rewardes, pro∣vided for a few great learned men, as it is by many good rewardes, appointed for many good learned men, as hereafter more at large, in a more convenient place is declared. Touching the Kinges profite, we affirme, that it is not onelie most profitable, but also most honora∣ble for the King, to haue a multitude of loyall, vertuous, and godlie subiectes. And that such manner of subiectes, can by no meanes better be procured, then by a continuall preaching Ministerie of the worde, to bee planted in everie pa∣rish, of the Kings Realmes. And because no man better, knoweth the reciprocall dueties, betweene a Christian King, and christian Counsellers, we leave the dis∣cerning of the spirites of these profite preachers, to the triall and iudgement of our most Christian King; whom if he shall finde, either by flatterie, to fawne vpon the Kings profite, or by labouring
to keepe the King in a good opinion of thinges amisse, we most hūblie beseech the King, to accept them, and rewarde them for such, as could wishe in their heartes, the King should rather be im∣poverished by having many bad, & vn∣profitable subiectes, then that them sel∣ues would not be enriched, by enioying manie good and profitable impropria∣ons. As for the Lawes whereby Patro∣nages do stande, as mens lawfull posses∣sions, and inheritances, which (as the Admonitor saith) must also be taken a∣way, how the same lawes may still en∣dure, or by consent of Patrones, be alte∣red, without their damage (if God per∣mit) when we come to speake, of the ele∣ction of Ministers, wherein, the refor∣mers are charged with the hurling, and thrusting out of patrones, shal be decla∣red.
4 H. 4. c. 12
Impropria∣tions may bee reduced to the mini∣stery by fo∣wer meanes.
Porochiall Churches to what vse they were founded.
This may bee proved by 15. R. 2. and 4. H. 4. c. 2. and is confessed by M. Bilson in his perpet. gouerment Pag. 365. 366.
Perpetu. po∣wer. Pag. 367.
2 Sā. 14. 24
Publick re∣demption of impropria∣tions.
1 K. 9. 15.
2. Cron. 24
The disso∣lution of Chappels may bee a good meane to rayse a tribute.
Dissolution of Chappels noe newe devise.
Titu. de ec∣cles. gard. fol. 54.
Lawfull for the Maior of Yorke, &c. to vnite Churches in the Citie of Yorke.
What rea∣sons moved K. Ed 6. to vnite chur∣ches in York may moue King Iames to vnite Churches in Canterbu∣rie, &c.
Chapples, the semina∣ries of hy∣relings.
By y• disso∣lution of Chappels many suites in law shold be avoyded.
Sequestra∣tion of the fruits of the Churches of pluralists may further the treasure for the re∣demption of impropria∣tions.
By what cō∣tributiō im∣propriati∣ons may be brought to the vse of ye ministerie.
Exod. 25. 2
Exod. 35.
Exod. 36. 5.
2. King. 8.
E•••• 2. 2, 68 &c.
Nehe. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
Nehe. 5.
2 Chro. 11.
How impro∣priatiō, may be in parte, reduced to the Mini∣stery.