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478 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, ral, to execute it : having by mandate, dated April 27, in-

hibited the Archdeacon Harpsfield to visit, rendering him

Anno 155S. the reason, because he intended to visit himself. He began

Visits his w ith his cathedral church, summoning the members thereof

to appear on the 18th of May ; the Archbishop's citation

for this appearance being dated April 27.
The names of the dean and prebendaries at this visitation

were, (according as they are set down in the register,)

Egregius Vir D. Nic. Wot- John Mills.
ton, decanus. Ric. Fawcet.
Reverendus pater D. Ric. Tho. Wood.

Thornedon, Dov. epus. Hugh Turnbul.

vice-decanus. Ro. Collins.
Arthur Sentleger. Joh. Warren.
Rich. Parkhurst. W. Darrel.
Hugh Glazier. Ralph Jackson.
The six preachers were,

Robert Series. Thomas Burnel.

Robert Hill. Ni. Morton.
Richard Turnbul. Robert Willanton.
May 28, (the visitation being, as it seems, adjourned to

that day,) Bishop Thornden said the mass of the Holy

Ghost in the choir of the cathedral church, having on his

pontificals and mitre. Then Wood, the canon, preached

upon this apt text, Vade et vide, si cuncta sint prospera

inter pecora, et renuntia mihi : Go and see if all be well

with tliejlocks, and bring" me word again.

And dio- The Cardinal also prepared articles for his diocese, to be

inquired of in this his visitation, both for the clergy and the

laity ; and they were these.

291 For the priests.
Reg. Card. Whether they observe the divine offices in the churches
Pole. •
For the m ^ le ^ ttm g hours, days, and times. Item, Inquiry to be

priests. made concerning the life and manners of the rectors, vicars,

and curates. Also, whether they diligently, reverently, and

duly minister the sacraments and sacramentals. Also, whe-

ther any parishioner depart this life without them, by the

fault of their negligence or absence. Item, Whether they

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 479

frequent taverns, or other places whence infamy or scandal CHAP,

may arise. Also, whether they teach midwives the manner _____

of baptizing in cases of necessity, according to the canons, Anno 1556.

and expound to them what the canons mean in such cases.

Also, they shall expound the laws, which declare what and

what kind of things ought to be done, when it happens a

woman to die in childbed ; who ought not to be buried be-

fore the birth be cut off. And the counsel is, that when it

happens thus, the woman's mouth be kept open ; otherwise,

it seems, prohibitum esse spem anirnantis. Also, whether

they have not kept a book, wherein are writ the names and

surnames of the parishioners that are reconciled. Also,

whether there be any clerks, which formerly were naughtily

joined with women, which as yet are not reconciled : who

they are, declaring their names and their surnames, and the

places of their habitations. Also, whether the Ten Com-

mandments and Articles of Faith are recited to the people

and youth by the pastors. Also, whether the priests exhi-

bit letters of their orders, and those that are beneficed, their

titles of their benefices ; and if they obtain more benefices,

their patents obtained. Also, whether the sacred canons be

in all things observed in matters belonging to divine wor-

ship, and to the living well, godly, happily, and christianly.

Also, whether the name of St. Thomas the martyr, and

our Lord the Pope, formerly abolished, erased, and blotted

out, be restored to their ancient volumes and places : and

if they are not, that they may be done. Also, whether the

whole clergy and people in the churches in divine service,

devoutly pray for the happy state of the King and Queen,

with commemoration of the former judgments. Whether

they said the divine service in the Latin tongue. Whether

they went with their crowns and beards shaven. Whe-

ther they used unlawful games, as cards and dice. Whether

they kept residency and hospitality, &c.

For the laymen.

Imprimis, Whether they believe the articles of the Chris- For the

tian faith, and, as far as human frailty suffereth, keep the laity *

commandments of God, and bewailing their faults, open

480 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, declare them to the priest. Whether they maintain any

' heresy or error contrary to the laws ecclesiastical. Whether

Anno 1556. they refuse to do reverence to the sacrament of the altar,

and affirm that there is not the real, substantial body of

Christ present therein. Whether they absented from church.

Concerning- fornicators, blasphemers, common swearers, per-

2Q2 jured, simoniacs. Whether they had a rood in their churches

of decent stature, with Mary and John, and the image of

the patron of the church. Concerning necromancers. Con-

cerning such as marry within the degrees of affinity. Whe-

ther in the time of Easter they were not confessed, nor re-

ceived the body of Christ. Whether they kept any secret

conventicles or lectures. Whether schools be well kept, and

the schoolmasters be Catholic men, and diligent in teaching.

Whether any depraved the authority of the Bishop of

Rome. Whether taverns and alehouses be kept open upon

Sundays and holydays; or whether any profaned those

days, and the like.

Eastbridge The ancient hospital of Eastbridge, or Kingsbridge, in

Iited' tal Vl * Canterbury, seems now to have been visited. It was founded

by Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, and called,

The Hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr of Eastbridge. An

hundred and thirty or forty years after, it fell into that de-

cay, or was so much abused, that John Stratford, another

archbishop of Canterbury, made a novel ordination thereof,

and a new charter : constituting certain laws, and a form of

government for it, to supply the former, which were lost.

Antiq. The charter is set down by Sumner. The said hospital being,

Cant. p. j t seemSj g 0n e into disorder again, (besides what notice the

intervening archbishops had taken of it,) Archbishop Pole

took cognisance of its state, and appointed for it these orders

among others : " That they should be bound to receive

" wayfaring or hurt people, and to have eight beds for

" men, and four for women, to remain there for one night,

" or more, if they were not able to depart. The master of

" the hospitals was charged with the burials : and was to

" have twenty loads of wood yearly allowed, and 26 shil-

" lings a year for drink." This from the diligent and

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 481

learned antiquarian Mr. Sumner, who had Eastbridge book, CHAP,

being an old book of that hospital. XXXVH.

The matters of the whole visitation were contained in Anno 1.556.
two paper books: one wherein the acts of visitation were Books taken
• ii 1 ii* p -i -i i l ' ns v ' s '"
writ ; and the other, what things were found and detected, tation.
This last mentioned, when the visitation was over, was deli-

vered to Harpsfeld and Collins, by the commandment of

Pole, with a commission to reform and correct them.
Other commissions for visitation, besides that to Dr. Pole, other com-

did the Cardinal now give forth : as one, bearing date May miss,ons -

20, to Nicolas Harpsfeld, LL. D. and Robert Collins, LL. B.

to visit the deanery of Charing, Sutton, and Limme. An-

other, bearing date June 1, to John Nowel, [or Newal,]

Th. B. to visit the deanery of Bocking. And another of

the same date to Thomas Packard, LL. B. to visit the

deanery of South Mailing, Pagham, and Terring. These

were peculiars to the Archbishop : but, besides these com-

missions, he issued out others for other dioceses. A com-

mission, dated April 15, was given forth to Edmund Stuard,

LL.D. dean of the church of Winton ; and Thomas Stympe,

LL.D. to visit the diocese of Winton, being now void by

the death of Bishop Gardiner. A commission, April 18, to

William Binsley, LL. B. canon of the church of Peterbo-

rough, to visit the said church, upon the death of Cham-

bers, late bishop thereof. A commission, dated September

23, to John Pope, LL. B. upon the removal of John White, 293

bishop of Lincoln, from thence to Winchester. And lastly,

a commission, dated October 18, to William Geffrey, LL. D.

and some others, to be officials for the diocese of Sarum :

void by the death of Capon, late bishop thereof. These

were visiting commissions.
There were yet other commissions proceeding from Pole

the archbishop. One for making Robert Collins, LL. B.

and canon of Canterbury, his commissary general for Ca-

lais and the parts adjacent, dated September 2. And, Fe-

bruary 27, a commission was signed to Richard Thorneden,

bishop of Dover, ad chrismandum pueros injronte quorum-

cunque subditorum, utriusque sexus nostrarum chntatis^ et
VOL. III. 1 \

482 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, diocestos. &c. Nee non altaria fixa et portatilia. sive via-

xxxvn. ,. 7 . ,. * M /%. ' . ..

ttca, calices, campanas, vestimenta, et tana ecclesimhea or-
Anno ) 556. namenta, queecunque benedicend. &c. A commission for
Dr. Mowse. admission of William Mowse, LL. D. for advocate of the
court of Canterbury. Therein he is commended for his
knowledge of letters, probity of manners, honesty of life,
and many other gifts of virtue ; but not, I dare say, for his
constancy, turning with all winds.
Lincoindio- It is well, if the people of the diocese of Lincoln escaped
cpsc visittn] ¦
' a double visitation this year. For as there was a commis-

sion for it upon the translation of Bishop White, as was said

above; so about Easter, before he parted with them, he

visited his diocese z*oundly by authority and commission

from the Cardinal : when the King's and Queen's commis-

sioners for heresy were also abroad in the diocese, as I find

mentioned in the MS. of this visitation.
When this visitation was finished, a large particular

thereof was sent to the Cardinal. I will extract a few of

the presentments; whereby may be understood in what

state the nation stood as to their morals and religion, and as

to their inclinations to the gospel.

Present- One Waller was informed against for dealing with those

i in
Lincoindio- ^at used magical arts; having consulted with one Atkin-

cese. son? f Yardwel in Lincolnshire, and one Tossel, of Bal-

One pre- tisham in Cambridgeshire, who were wizards. He con-

deaiing fessed, that one of them told him that he should be near

with wi- hanging the next assizes at Northampton : the other told

him that he should escape, but much ado, and with great

difficulty. And while this cause was depending at this visi-

tation, Waller was indeed convicted at Northampton assizes

of sacrilege, and had hanged for it, but that he made an

escape.

A priest di- One Nix, of Caisho, a priest, was presented, who, having

vorced. been married and divorced, consorted with his wife after

divorce. For which penance was enjoined him, both at

Caisho and Bedford ; and petitioning to be restored to his

ministering, he was admitted.
Some were presented for not receiving the sacrament at

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 483

Easter; and being cited to appear at the visitation, fled CHAP.
YYYVIT
beyond seas: as, namely, Anthony Meres, esq. and one.

Mrs. Grantham, who was fled to the Duchess of Suffolk Anno1556 *

beyond the seas. The Lady Anne, wife of Sir Henry

Grey, having stood excommunicate a year, they intended

now to take up by a capias.
Thomas More, being cited before the visitor at Leicester, One Tho-

did say, " This is my faith, that in the sacrament of the ™ u a r s n t!° re

" altar is not the body of Christ, no more than if I myself

" should give one a piece of bread, and say, Take, eat, this

" is my body, meaning mine own body within my doublet. 11 294

Against this man they pronounced sentence, and got the

writ from the King and Queen De hceretico comburendo.

And so he was burnt in Leicester in the month of June.

See more of this man's condemnation in Fox's Martyrology. P. 1768.
Thomas Armstrong, esquire, and his wife, convicted of

heresies, recanted, and did their penances, bearing fagots in

the cathedral of Lincoln, in a procession on a Wednesday

in Easter-week, and the next Sunday in the church of Gran-

tham.
One in Bedford, in mockery of the rasure of priests, did °" e shaves

shave the crown of a child under two years old. The f a cn iid.

mayor sent to the Bishop of Lincoln, being in his visita-

tion, to know what was to be done to that person who did

this thing. And he was ordered public penance in the

market at Bedford.

One Hulcock, curate of All-Saints in Huntington, ad- One gives
.... . . . . the sacra-
mmistered the sacrament to several persons without auncu- men t with-

lar confession, using only a general confession in the Enff-' )Utaur ' (;H "

' ° J ° _ . ° lar confes-
lish tongue, such as was accustomed in the time of thesion.

schism. He was cast into gaol : then enjoined public pe-

nance ; and that being performed, he was discharged from

ministering any more in the diocese of Lincoln ; and so he

departed.
Sir Oswald Butler, late rector of Woodsall, still lived A pries*
...... _ T .... . . lives with
with his wire. He was never ordained pnest, yet minis- nis wife ,

tered all the sacraments in the late schism. He did his

penance.
1 i 2

484 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

xxxvn ^ ne Troughton w as presented, and convicted to have

said, " The bells of the Church be the Devil's trumpets"

Anno 1 556. ant j a g a i n> « The evil Church did ever persecute the good

apdnat the " Church, as they do now." For which words he was en-

belis. joined public recantation.

Several eat Several in Huntington, for eating; flesh in Lent without
flesh in ,. . . ° _
Lent. a dispensation, were cast into prison, and enjoined to carry
fagots two several days.
One sports One Burneby, of Brampton, when the vicar of the church
on Palm on Palm Sunday opened the doors of the church with the
Sunday. sta ff f t h e cross, said in sport, " What a sport have we
" towards? Will our vicar run at the quintine with God
"Almighty?" He submitted himself, and was enjoined
public penance.
a vicar The vicar of Spaldwick was presented for carrying in his
child in his arms his child, which he had in wedlock in the time of the
arms. schism, to the scandal of others. He was enjoined to carry
it no more, and to make a recantation in the church.

Some that Three of St. Ives, who had fled because of religion, now

' appearing, submitted themselves, and recanted the heresies

which they held : and being absolved from their excommu-

nication, were put into prison, and afterwards carried fagots.

a vicar The vicar of Steukley gave the sacrament to some not

drives the
sacrament confessed, and to some that desired auricular confession he

to some not denied it. He was cast into prison, and made a recantation

confessed. , r • • •
before his parishioners.

Churches It was enjoined to the parishioners of St. Neots, to re-

nished with build all the altars that were before the schism in the

alt T] a ft d cnurcn ; and " tnat tnev should set up a rood-loft with the

images : and this to be done by a parish rate.
Enjoined to the parish of Brampton to re-edify a rood-

loft and four stone crosses within that parish.

295 The churchwardens of Dunstable presented, that their

beionVin" town was populous, and that there was neither rector nor

10 the car- vicar perpetual among them ; and that he that was hired

ing curates cou ^ n °t preach : and that the rectory was in the disposal

or repara- f the Cardinal. This the visitor signified to the Cardinal.
tions. lii •
The churchwardens of Harlington presented the chancel

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 485

of the church to be very ruinous, and that the rectory per- CHAP,

tained to the Cardinal. xxxvn.

The chancel of Salford church likewise in great need of Anno 1 556.

repair ; the rectory belonging to the Cardinal.

Several vicarages, the rectories whereof belonged to the

Cardinal, were so small, that they remained void for some

years; as Litlington, Dunton, Bedford Pauli, Newport

Panel.
The chancels of Potton and Ey worth, Dorney, Risley,

and Wutton, ruinous ; the churches belonging to the Car-

dinal : so these matters were referred to him. I suppose

these churches abovesaid in Bedfordshire, with their endow-

ments, were given by the Queen to the Cardinal for the

maintenance of his dignity.
The chancel and rectory of Ampthil almost down to the The chancel

ground. The rector thereof appeared, and said, " That the ^f Ampth^J

" tithes of the greater part of the parish, and the best land

" thereof, were taken away from the rector ; namely, the

" tithes of those lands which were inclosed into King

" Henry's parks ; as they were from the other rectors and

f vicars of the neighbour parishes ; and that hereby they

" were so impoverished, that the curates could scarcely live

" upon them." This was again thought fit to be referred

to the Cardinal.

Many vicarages void, and that for some years, because of Vicarages

the smallness of the livelihood.

The hospital of St. Leonard's in Bedford, and an hos- Hospitals

pita! in the parish of Todington, presented. The former of presen e

the yearly value of 16/. 6s. 8d. and the latter of 8/. 3s. 4d.

These were violated, and the fruits thereof occupied by

laymen for a great while, in the time of the schism.
Newport Paynel in Buckinghamshire was presented for More

having no vicar, because the stipend was so small. The £ " d rc J^

chancels of Bradwel, Olney, Irnegho, Swanbury, in the chancels

same county, ruinous : all belonging to the Cardinal. beion^in"

Prestwold, Kirby-Bellers, JLodington, Ulvestone, in Lei- t0 tne Car *

cestershire, if I mistake not, had neither vicars nor rectors ;

and of the Cardinal's patronage.
i i 3

486 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP. In Lincolnshire were one and fifty rectories appropriate,

[ ' belonging to the Cardinal, whereof the chancels and man-

Anno i556. s ion-houses were ruinous. And four and twenty more be-

longing to the Bishop of Lincoln, the chancels and mansion-

houses whereof wanted reparations : and four and twenty

more rectories, belonging to other persons in the same con-

dition. So that there were a matter of an hundred chancels

and rectors"' houses, besides vicarages and their chancels, in

Lincolnshire, now in ruinous cases.

Some marry One Otby married Jane Missenden, a nun. She was se-

parated and divorced by the Bishop, a mensa et a thoro,

from his bed and his board. Two others of Gainsborough

married two other nuns; and these were divorced also by

the Bishop.

296 Two at Boston ate flesh, against the law of the Catholic

Some eat Church, and were put to penance of carrying a quarter of
Lent. lamb about the market of Boston, barelegged and bare-
headed.
Fornication A man and a woman of Lincoln were presented for forni-
presented. cation ^he Bishop set her this punishment, that the said

woman should ride through the city and market in a cart,

and be rung out with basins.
Injunctions Many other presentments and detections there were, too

long to be here inserted. The whole sum of them, together

with the Bishop of Lincoln's injunctions to the Dean and

Chapter of Lincoln, and certain articles of inquiry to be

Numb. Li. administered this visitation, are cast into the Catalogue,

which will have this benefit, that whoso peruseth them may

see what extraordinary diligence was used to suppress the

religion that had spread in these parts : how roundly they

exercised discipline, even upon persons of the best rank and

quality : how grateful to the clergy the liberty of marriage

was, which was granted in the last reign ; appearing hence,

that so many married priests were every where met with in

this visitation, and how loath they were, even after their

forced divorces, to relinquish their wives : also in what mi-

serable state the Church was, and in what deplorable igno-

rance the poor people lay, while such abundance of parish

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 487

churches were wholly void of ministers, and so many chan- CHAP.
XXXVII
eels and houses for them ready to drop down ; and not a '_ ' m
few of these churches whose emoluments accrued to the Amm 155( »-

Cardinal, and were under his patronage ; a thing that re-

flected surely not a little blame upon him : how extraordi-

nary rife adulteries and fornications were, so many men and

women doing penance therefore, and other matters, may

here be observed, not unworthy the observation of such as

would take cognisance of these times.
The Archbishop and Cardinal, April 28, sent to Bonner, Pope Paul's

bishop of London, to give notice through the province of a „. ist ' Car "

bull of Pope Paul, dated the 11th of March, in the first Po1 -

year of his pontif. exhorting all Christians to pray for peace

between Christian princes, and granting all penitents, that

confessed their sins and took the sacrament, the full remis-

sion of them.

CHAP. XXXVIII. 297

Occurrences in the State in the months of April, May,

June, and July, briefly noted. A conspiracy. Scotch

matters.
W HAT occurred in the beginning of this fourth year of

the Queen, we may learn by this diary following.

A plot being now in hand, and several concerned in it

seized and taken into custody, the rest were scattered, and

fled. Therefore, April 4, a proclamation was made through April.

London against certain gentlemen as traitors, that were fled ma t ion a .

over the sea. The first was Harry Dudley, and these per- gainst cer-