TOGETHER WITH AN APPENDIX OF ORIGINAL PAPERS OF STATE, RECORDS, AND LETTERS BY JOHN STRYPE, M.A.

A NEW EDITION VOLUME 5 (FORMERLY VOLUME 3 PART 1) THE PREFACE.

Good Reader, IHAVE little to say by way of preface, upon the appearance of this third volume of the Annals, but only that I have herein continued them for several years further, moved by the same good end and purpose I wrote the former; namely, (for the service of the present generation, as well as for posterity,) to communicate some more light to the last wonderful age, when queen Elizabeth ruled these kingdoms, and to the settlement and continuance of our excellent reformed religion, and the amazing concurrence of God’s blessing therewith, in spite of all worldly opposition, however formidable and malicious; and also to let the world know, that I have digested and compiled this volume carefully (as I have done the former) out of my large store of collections made from authentic original papers, and that, I protest, with the same diligence, fidelity, and exactness.

And here, on this account, I think myself bound, and do take this occasion, to vindicate my credit and reputation, in respect of my truth, faithfulness, and ability in what I have formerly writ and published; having been not long ago very rudely dealt with by one Daniel Williams, presbyter of the church of England, in his English translation of a French book, entitled, A defence of the validity of the English ordination: writ in French by father Francis Courayer, canon regular and librarian of St. Genevieve at Paris.

Which translated book was printed at Paris anno 1725. When (page 50) I am thus by the translator accused and exposed: “Mr. Strype, in his Life of Cranmer, without any hesitation placeth the consecration of Barlow in the year 1585. in the same place observing, that the record of it was not inserted into the register any more than the consecration of Edward Fox for the bishopric of Hereford. What led this author into this mistake is, that having placed Fox, bishop of Hereford, consecrated on the 26th of September, 1535. and being about to make known that the instrument of it had not been inserted in the register any more than that of Barlow’s, he had forgot to set down the consecration of the latter, but mentions both together, as though they had so happened.”

Now I will take leave to set down my very words in that place of the book of Memorials of Archbishop Cranmer, concerning these two bishops.

Whereby the reader may the better judge of my forgetfulness, and running into an error without any hesitation; two gross faults I am charged with.

Sept. the 15th was the act of confirmation and election of Edward Fox, elect of Hereford, and of William Barlow, prior of the priory of canons regular of Bisham, of the order of St. Augustin Sarum, for the bishopric of St. Asaph.” [And no date set.] “The consecration of these two are not inserted in the register.”

Hence it is plain I write there concerning the confirmation of those two bishops, and not of their consecration. Whose consecrations, as I expressly subjoin, were omitted in the register, so that the error must be charged upon the censurer himself, in his so careless misreading consecration for confirmation.

And for the better satisfaction of myself and others, I had recourse to my transcripts from that register, where it is thus entered, next after Shaxton’s consecration, Apr. 11. 1585.) “Edward Fox, elected and confirmed for Hereford, Sept. 15, 1535. And next stands the confirmation and election of William Barlow, prior of the priory of canons regular, &c.” the date here omitted. And so I left it without date in the book; and the date of the day there set was intended only for the former bishop’s confirmation; though elsewhere in the register, the archbishop’s certificatory of Barlow’s confirmation was Feb. 22. And so, in short, I leave the case between me and my critic to the judgment of candid readers.

But this is not all; but I must add with what words an annotator, in his notes at the bottom of the page, exposeth me, and my readers too, concerning those Memorials of Archbishop Cranmer, and whatsoever else I have writ: “It is a misfortune that must attend ordinary readers in their perusal of the several laborious tracts published by Mr. Strype, to be led into errors: few writers having committed more mistakes than he hath done; which weak or malicious adversaries may one time or other make ill uses of. The writings will not always fall in the hands of such candid, judicious readers, as our author hath; and therefore it would be an act of great charity, or rather justice to the public, and reputation to himself, to review what he hath already written: for I have ocular demonstration, that his very numerous escapes would make a complete volume. Would he take leave of the world with his retractations, how beneficent, how praiseworthy an attempt would that be! I cannot promise him large collections on this subject. Here is a complication of mistakes detected by our dispassionate author, D.W.”

I shall not reflect upon these lines; yet cannot but observe what credit is to be given to his or his friend’s ocular demonstration, by those gross mistakes above. This person hath prescribed me a task indeed: to look over all the works that I have published, and to examine them again from the records, and original MSS. and authentic papers, whence I have collected and digested them. That truly would effectually put a stop to the publishing this, or any more of these Annals of our church, or any other, important affairs incident in queen Elizabeth’s reign. And then perhaps he and his party would obtain their ends; that I should no further disturb them and their principles.

But, in short, I must tell him, and certify all others, that it would be but a great deal of labour lost, and time spent in vain; since what I have entered in my copies, and prepared writings for the press, were always reviewed by me, and carefully compared with the records and originals by me transcribed. And moreover I have ever been very careful and punctual in all my collections thence: whereof I have many volumes (now bound up) taken by my own pen, and with mine own eyes, and made use of no other transcribers or amanuenses; unless what some learned friends abroad, and in the universities, had communicated to me.

And I may add, that I dare say I have, for many long years together, conversed with historical MSS. (falling within the saeculum reformatum,) whether records, registers, instruments, letters of statesmen, as well as other private letters of the court and nobility, together with very many ancient printed books of those times, (having met with some special advantages that way,)more than many men alive have done. And when afterwards I was purposed, for the public good, to digest and publish some of these pains of mine,.I ever made it my resolution to be just, faithful, and impartial in what I should deliver and recommend unto the world from thence.

And truly I may well bear the discouragement and calumnies of one, or a few unknown, prejudiced persons, considering the approbation and encouragement I have had for many years of so many otherwise learned and able persons, of the clergy as well as laity, of this kingdom, as also that of Ireland, (of better rank than “ordinary readers, led by “me’ into errors,”) and of their good acceptance of what I have written, as also their earnest desires of my continuance and proceeding therein.

And that I may not make this a mere boast, I am compelled, in respect of my reputation, so much injured, to give a few testimonials from some of them, of me and my writings, that I may leave some better character behind me.

The reverend Mr. Nicolas Battely, deceased, (who set forth a second edition of Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury, with large additions,) had imparted unto me several choice transcripts out of the records of that church of Canterbury, while I was writing archbishop Cranmer’s Memorials. And the book being printed, and one of them presented to him, I desired him that he would take the pains to read it over with care, and to observe impartially, without favour or affection, what errors or faults he should discover therein, (as he was a man well known to be very studious and learned in such antiquities,) and I should take it kindly at his hands.

Accordingly he favoured me with a letter, dated from Beaksborn, near Canterbury, in the year 1694, (the same year the book came forth;) wherein were these words: “That I having desired him to read my book with some strict scrutiny, he had accordingly sent me some animadversions upon some passages in it; which, as he added, were no objections against any clause of my history, but only some observations to the story, and some small cavils, hardly worth taking notice of.”

The reverend Mr.T.B., S.Th.B., another of my correspondents, (well known for his learning, and great searches and knowledge in the history of this church and kingdom,) divers years ago, viz. an. 1707, (upon some occasion, in a private letter to me,) had these words: “I have not read any books with more pleasure than I have done yours; nor met with any thing that beareth more lively impressions of sincerity and truth: and it is that maketh me so officious in serving you.” I hope that reverend person will excuse me in thus openly using his name, declaring his good opinion of me, (especially upon this occasion,) for the preserving my good name to posterity, and reputation of what I have writ.

And when the book of the Life and Acts of Archbishop Parker, by me compiled, was propounded to be printed by subscription, anno 1709, I had the testimonial of several bishops, eminent as for their piety, so for their learning and knowledge of the history of this church, as followeth: “Dec.7,1709. Whereas the learned Mr. Strype hath formerly, with much faithfulness and skill, written the Life of Archbishop Cranmer, and other eminent persons, and containing in them many original papers, relating as well to the ecclesiastical as civil affairs of this realm; wherein the rights and supremacy of the crown are maintained, the objections of papists confuted, and the piety, justice, and wisdom of the first reformers defended: and whereas he is now writing the Life of Archbishop Parker, in which he hath further justified the reformation of the church of England, and given light, in a number of particulars, to the history of it, which will be of true advantage to the protestant cause and interest: we do therefore earnestly recommend his useful and judicious labour to the learned, as being truly worthy of their favour and encouragement. Signed, H. London, W. Lincoln, or. Ely, C.

Norwich, E. Gloucester, T.Chickester.” And I thank God, my reputation remains fair still: as appears by that favourable character lately given me by the present archbishops and bishops, upon my late publishing of the two former volumes of the Annals; set to the book by the printer, though contrary to my will, lest I might seem to affect vainglory.

But now to draw to a conclusion, as to my present undertaking. As the former volumes reached to near half of queen Elizabeth’s reign, and have been received with general approbation, as an useful work, so I now offer the continuation of the history in a third volume, carried on in the same method, and supported with the same helps and instructions of original papers of state, records, and various other choice MSS. as the others were.

And therefore I doubt not but it will find the same acceptance; especially since there will be found in this volume divers curious historical remarks of affairs happening within this period of years: and particularly two grand emergences; viz. transactions with Mary queen of Scots, and chiefly the last proceedings with her; which will give greater and truer light into that unhappy event: and the other, the intended invasion of this land by the king of Spain’s invincible armada, vainly so called; discovering many passages thereof, not found in our printed histories. Also, in the relation (contained in this book) of the state of the reformed religion in this kingdom, are shewn many singular matters of note, and the wonderful success it had, notwithstanding the great opposition it met with from popish powers abroad, as well as zealots and the new reformers at home.

To conclude. As in my Ecclesiastical Memorials many ample accounts were given of the affairs and events of this church, and the state of religion under three princes, king Henry, king Edward, and queen Mary, successively, digested in three volumes; so I have endeavoured to continue them in three other volumes under Annals, commencing at the reign of the next succeeding princess, the glorious queen Elizabeth. And for some commendation of the usefulness of those Memorials and these Annals, I cannot but repeat what the late most reverend and pious Dr. Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, said, when I presented my first volume of Annals to him; viz. “That Josephus Scaliger, that great scholar, told some of his learned friends, that he liked Baronius better than Bellarmine; quoniam historia est: whereby matters of religion might better be judged of than by controversial writings, as those of Bellarmine were.”