THE RIGHT HON. LEICESTER DEVEREUX, VISCOUNT HEREFORD,

MY LORD,

LORD FERRARS OF CHARTLEY, &c.

GREAT was the difference betwixt the breeding of Adonijah and Solomon, though sons to the same father. The former tasted not of reproof, much less of correction; it being never said unto him, "Why hast thou done so?" 1 Kings i. 6.

Solomon had his education on severer principles. He was his parents' darling, not their fondling, Prov. iv. 3. It was after sounded in his ears, "What, my son ? and what, the son of my womb?" Prov. xxxi. 2.

Our English gentry too often embrace the first course in breeding their children, whereby they become old men before they are wise men, because their fathers made them gentlemen before they were men; making them too soon to know the great means they are born to, and too long to be ignorant of any good quality whereby to acquire a maintenance, in case their estates (as all things are uncertain) should fail or forsake them. Hence it is, they are as unable to endure any hardship, as David to march in Saul's armour, (for he had never proved it, 1 Sam. xvii. 39,) utterly unacquainted therewith.

But your discreet parents, though kind, were not cockering unto you, whom they sent very young into the Low Countries, where in some sort you earned what you ate in no less honourable than dangerous employment. This hath settled the sinews of your soul, and compacted the joints thereof; which in too many hang loose, as rather tacked than knit together.

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,

THOMAS FULLER.

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, had, notwithstanding, his obsequies solemnly performed at Paris in France, Jan. 28th, 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 refreshed 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 Canıbridge, 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 im

• GODWIN in Edvardo VI. p. 158.

pression of violence hastened his end, God alone knoweth. His 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 who had fled beyond sea, as John Hooper, Miles Coverdale, † &c., returned with joy into their country: and all protestants, who 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 mean time, 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.

(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 redoub [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, (other