Since being returned into England, partly by your patrimony, partly by your matrimony, an ancient and fair estate hath accrued unto you. Yet it hath not grown (as St. Basil fancieth roses in Paradise before Adam's fall) without thorns and prickles. Many molestations attended it, through which you have waded in a good measure; having had trials, indeed, wherein, on what side soever the verdict went, you gained patience and experience. Indeed, there is an experience the mistress of fools, which they learn by their losses; and those caused by their own carelessness or wilfulness in managing their affairs. But also there is one, the master-piece of wise men to attain, wherein they observe the events of all things, after their utmost endeavours have submitted the success to Divine Providence. Yours is of the last and best kind, whereby you are become a skilful master of defence, knowing all the advantageous postures and guards in our laws, not thereby to vex others, but save yourself from vexation. Thus having borne the yoke in your youth, you may the better afford ease and repose to your reduced age; and having studied many men in arms, more in gowns, you now may solace yourself, and entertain the time, with perusing of books; amongst which, I humbly request, this may have the favour of your Honour's eye, to whom on a double motive it is dedicated. First. Because containing the Life of that prince who, for his piety, may be exemplary to all persons of quality. Secondly. Because it was he who conferred the highest still-remaining honour on your family, advancing it (formerly very ancient amongst the barons) to the degree and dignity of viscounts: wherein that it may long flourish in plenty and happiness, is the daily prayer of Your Honour's most obliged servant, THE CHURCH HISTORY OF BRITAIN. BOOK VII. SECTION I. THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 1. The hopeful Beginning of King Edward. A. D. 1546, 7. 1 Edward VI. KING Henry VIII. though dying excommunicate in the church of Rome, Jan. 28th, had, notwithstanding, his obsequies solemnly performed at Paris in France, by the command of Francis, the French king, presuming so much on his own power, and the pope's patience; otherwise such courtesy to his friend might have cost him a curse to himself. Then began king Edward his son to reign, scarce ten years old, full of as much worth as the model of his age could hold. No pen passeth by him without praising him, though none praising him to his full deserts. Yea, Sanders himself-having the stench of his railing tongue over-scented with the fragrant ointment of this prince's memory, though jeering him for his want of age, which was God's pleasure and not king Edward's fault, and mocking him for his religion, the other's highest honour-alloweth him in other respects large commendations. 2. Peace and Prosperity to the Protestants in England. No sooner was he come to the crown, but a peaceable dew re. freshed God's inheritance in England, formerly parched with persecution; and this good angel struck off the fetters from many Peters in prison, "preserving those who were appointed to die." Only Thomas Dobbie, Fellow of St. John's in Cambridge, committed to the Compter in Bread-street, and condemned for speaking against the mass, died of a natural death, in respect of any public punishment by law inflicted on him. But whether or no any private imGODWIN in Edvardo VI. page 158. His pression of violence hastened his end, God alone knoweth. speedy death prevented the pardon, which the Lord Protector intended to send him ;* Divine Providence so ordering it, that he should touch, not enter-see, not taste-behold, not reap-benefit on earth of this Reformation. Other confessors which had fled beyond sea, as John Hooper, Miles Coverdale,+ &c. returned with joy into their country and all protestants, which formerly for fear had dissembled their religion, now publicly professed the same. Of these, archbishop Cranmer was the chiefest; who, though willingly he had done no ill-and privately many good offices-for the protestants, yet his cowardly compliance hitherto with popery, against his conscience, cannot be excused; serving the times present in his practice, and waiting on a future alteration in his hopes and desires. 3. Commissioners sent into several Counties with Instructions to reform. Edward Seymour, the king's uncle, lately made Lord Protector, and Duke of Somerset, Jan. 28th, ordered all in church and state. He, by the king's power, or, if you please, the king, in his Protection, took speedy order for reformation of religion. And being loath that the people of the land should live so long in error and ignorance, till a parliament should be solemnly summoned, (which for some reasons of state could not so quickly be called,) in the meantime, by his own regal power and authority, and the advice of his wise and honourable council, chose commissioners, and sent them with Instructions into several parts of the kingdom, for the rooting out of superstition; the substance whereof (thirty-six in number) we have here presented. 4. The King's Injunctions. 1. That all ecclesiastical persons observe the laws for the abolishing the pretended and usurped power of the bishop of Rome, and confirmation of the king's authority and supremacy. 2. That once a quarter, at least, they sincerely declare the word of God, dissuading their people from superstitious fancies of pilgrimages, praying to images, &c. exhorting them to the works of faith, mercy, and charity. 3. That images abused with pilgrimages, and offerings thereunto, be forthwith taken down and destroyed; and that no more wax candles or tapers be burned before any image; but only two lights upon the high altar before the sacrament shall remain still, to signify that Christ is the very light of the world. Fox's "Acts and Monuments," vol. ii. page 655. Anglicano, lib. ii, page 230. † SANDERS De Schismate 4. That every holy-day, when they have no sermon, the Paternoster, Credo, and Ten Commandments shall be plainly recited in the pulpit to the parishioners. 5. That parents and masters bestow their children and servants either to learning, or some honest occupation. 6. That such who in cases expressed in the statute are absent from their benefices, leave learned and expert curates. 7. That within three months after this visitation, the Bible of the larger volume in English, and within twelve months Erasmus's Paraphrase on the Gospels, be provided, and conveniently placed in the church for people to read therein. 8. That no ecclesiastical persons haunt alehouses or taverns, or any place of unlawful gaming. 9. That they examine such who come to confession to them in Lent, whether they can recite their Creed, Pater-noster and Ten Commandments in English, before they receive the blessed sacrament of the altar, or else they ought not to presume to come to God's board. 10. That none be admitted to preach, except sufficiently licensed. 11. That if they have heretofore extolled pilgrimages, reliques, worshipping of images, &c. they now openly recant and reprove the same as a common error, groundless in Scripture. 12. That they detect and present such who are letters [hinderers] of the word of God in English, and fautors of the bishop of Rome's pretended power. 13. That a register-book be carefully kept in every parish for weddings, christenings, and burials. 14. That all ecclesiastical persons not resident upon their benefices, and able to dispend yearly twenty pounds and above, shall, in the presence of the churchwardens, or some other honest men, distribute the fortieth part of their revenues amongst the poor of the parish. 15. That every ecclesiastical person shall give competent exhibition to so many scholars in one of the universities as he hath hundred pounds a-year in church-promotions. 16. That the fifth part of their benefices be bestowed on their mansion-houses or chancels, till they be fully repaired. 17. That he readeth these Injunctions once a-quarter. 18. That none bound to pay tithes detain them by colour of duty omitted by their curates, and so redouble one wrong with another. 19. That no person henceforth shall alter any fasting-day that is commanded, or manner of common prayer or divine service, (otherwise than specified in these Injunctions,) until otherwise ordered by the king's authority. VOL. II. X 20. That every ecclesiastical person under the degree of bachelor of divinity, shall, within three months after this visitation, provide of his own the New Testament in Latin and English, with Erasmus's Paraphrase thereon; and that bishops by themselves and their officers shall examine them how much they have profited in the study of holy Scripture. 21. That in the time of high mass he that sayeth or singeth a Psalm, shall read the Epistle and Gospel in English, and one chapter in the New Testament, at Matins, and another at Evensong; and that when nine lessons are to be read in the church, three of them shall be omitted with responds; and at Even-song the responds, with all the memories. 22. That to prevent in sick persons the damnable vice of despair, they shall learn, and have always in readiness, such comfortable places and sentences of Scripture, as do set forth the mercy, benefits, and goodness of God Almighty, towards all penitent and believing persons. 23. To avoid all contention and strife which heretofore have risen amongst the king's subjects, by challenging of places in procession, no procession hereafter shall be used about the church, or churchyard; but immediately before high mass the Litany shall be distinctly said or sung in English, none departing the church without just cause, and all ringing of bells (save one) utterly forborne. 24. That the holy-day, at the first beginning, godly instituted and ordained, be wholly given to God, in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and public prayers, in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment, in reconciling themselves to their neighbours, receiving the communion, visiting the sick, &c. Only it shall be lawful for them in time of harvest to labour upon holy and festival days, and save that thing which God hath sent; and that scrupulosity to abstain from working upon those days doth grievously offend God. 25. That no curate admit to the communion such who are in rancour and malice with their neighbour, till such controversies be reconciled. 26. That every dean, archdeacon, &c. being a priest, preach by himself personally twice a-year at least. 27. That they instruct their people, not obstinately to violate the ceremonies of the church by the king commanded to be observed, and not as yet abrogated; and, on the other side, that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them doth the same to the great peril of his soul's health. 28. That they take away and destroy all shrines, covering of shrines, tables, candlesticks, trindills, or rolls of wax, pictures, |