Survey of London (1633): Chelsea College

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Not farre from Westminster, by the River, there is
erected a goodly Building, not yet finished, for Students in Di
vinity, commonly knowne by the name of Chelsey Colledge,
whereof I thought fit to make mention, because I finde
an Act of Parliament made in the seventh yeere of King Iames,
in the behalfe of the same Colledge, as also a Declaration pub
lished by Authority in the yeere 1616. containing the Reasons
that moved his Majesty and the State to erect the same which
here followeth.
WHereas his Majesty, of his
most Royall and zealous
care for the defence of
true Religion now e
stablished within this
Realme of England,
The cause
of the e
rection of
the Col
ledge
there.
and for the refuting
or Errors and Heresies repugnant unto
the same, hath been graciously pleased,
by his Letters Patents under the great
Seale of England, to found a Colledge
at Chelsey
, neere London, and therein to
place certaine learned Divines, and to
incorporate the same by the name of
the Provost and Fellowes of the Col
ledge of King Iames in Chelsey
,
The name
of that
corpora
tion.
neere
London, of the foundation of the same
Iames King of England, and hath of his
most gracious bounty and goodnesse,
not onely endowed the same with cer
taine Lands, Priviledges, and Immu
nities, but hath asso for their further
maintenance and sustentation, given
unto them a capacity and ability to re
ceive and take from his Majesty, or any
of his loving Subjects,
The abili
ty thereof
to receive
Lands.
any Lands, Te
nements, Hereditaments, Gifts, Be
nefits, and Profits whatsoever, not ex
ceeding in the whole the yeerely value
of three thousand pounds, as in and by
the said Letters Patents doth more at
large appeare. And whereas also it is
manifest and evident, that the bring
ing in of fresh streames of running wa
ter into the City of London, is very con
venient, necessary, and profitable, as
well for the private use of such as shall
rent the same, as a helpe for cleansing
the said City in the time of sicknesse,
and preserving the same against all so
daine adventures of fire: It is therefore
enacted, &c. that it shall and may be
lawfull to the said Provost and Fel
lowes, their Successors, Deputies, and
Assignes, at all and every such place
and places in the open Fields or Mar
shes lying betweene the Bridge called
Lock-Bridge, in or neere the Parish or
Hackney
, in the County of Middlesex,
and the Bridge called Bow-Bridge , at
Stratfort-Bow in the Parish of Stepney,
in the said County,
The Pro
vest, &c.
may dig a
trench
out of the
River Lee.
(As by the said
Provost and Fellowes, their Successors,
Deputies or Assignes, by and with the
consent and allowance of the occupiers
and owners of the soile in the said place
or places, and in default of such assent
and allowance, by such composition
first to be made with the said occupiers
and owners of the said soile, as by the
Commissioners, by vertue of this Act
(Yy)
to


to be in this behalfe appointed, shall be
thought fit and convenient) to dig
or cut from and out of the maine River
of Lee
, on that side or banke of the
same River which is next unto the City
of London,
Of what quantity.
a ditch or trench not excee
ding in breadth ten foot, or to scoure,
cleanse, or enlarge unto the breadth
aforesaid, any old ditch or trench there
already made: and the same ditch or
trench either old or new, so to be made
or to be cleansed, to convey by and tho
row the said Fields and Marshes, in
all places convenient, in such sort as the
same may againe bee returned, and
made to open it selfe into the maine
River, within some such convenient
distance from the mouth thereof, as to
the said Commissioners shall (for the
intents and purposes hereafter expres
sed) be thought fit: Vpon which ditch
or trench, or places neere adjoyning
thereunto, it shall and may be lawfull
to the said Provost and Fellowes, their
Successors, Deputies, or Assignes, to
erect or cause to bee erected, certaine
Engines,
They may
erect en
gines, &c.
Waterworkes, or Water
wheeles, as also houses or couerings re
quisite for the same, where by the as
sent of the said Commissioners, the
same shall be agreed upon, to be no let
or hinderance to the ordinary passage
of Barges, Boats, or other such Vessels
upon the said River of Lee, and by and
through the sayd ditch or trench, to
carry and convey so much of the water
of the said maine River, as by the said
Provost and Fellowes, their Succes
sors, Deputies, or Assignes, shall bee
thought requisite and necessary to bee
used for the working or motion of the
said Engines or Waterwheeles, and
shall also by the said Commissioners be
thought to be no prejudice or hinde
rance to the ordinary passage of Bar
ges, Boats, or such other Vessels upon
the same River. And that it shall and
may bee lawfull to and for the said Pro
vost and Fellowes, their Successors,
Deputies, and Assignes (in all places
apt and conuenient, within a conveni
ent distance of the said Engines or Wa
terworkes) to dig for the taking and
further opening of Springs of fresh wa
ter there found,
They may
open
Springs,
&c.
or to bee found on the
West side of the said River next unto
the City of London, and the water of
the said Springs to carry and convey
by and through certaine little Gutters
or Trenches, or Pots or Pipes under
the ground, into one Pit, Pond, or head
of convenient largenesse, to bee made
by the said Provost and Fellowes, their
Successors, Deputies, or Assignes, in
some places apt for the same. And that
it shall and may bee lawfull to and for
the said Provost and Fellowes, their
Successors, Deputies, and Assignes,
having by Art and sleight of Engines
and Waterworkes, or by any other
meanes or devise raised the water of
the said Springs, and so much of the
water there running in the said Ditch
or Trench as shall be thought necessa
ry, to such height, and into such place,
Pond, Head, or recept, (as to them
shall seeme in that behalfe requisite) to
convey and carry the same in close
Pipes under the ground from the said
Waterworkes,
They may
convey
Pipes
under
ground.
and the said other pla
ces of receipt, unto the City of London
and the Suburbes thereof, for the per
petuall maintenance and sustentation
of the said Provost and Fellowes, and
their successors by the rent to be made
of the said waters conveyed as afore
said. And that for the convenience of
the said water, it shall and may be law
full to and for the said Provost and Fel
lowes, their Successors, Deputies and
Assignes, (in all places convenient be
tweene the said Waterworkes and the
said City of London) to digge,
They may
dig and
open
ground
to make
conduit
heads.
cut, and
open the ground, to such depth and
breadth as shall be convenient for the
laying in of the said Pipes or Pots, tho
row which the said water shall passe,
and for making little Conduit heads
for vents unto the same, for the better
passage of the said waters, and the
samThis text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)e1 ground so opened for the pur
pose aforesaid, (after the said Pipes
or Pots are layed in and placed) the said
Provost and Fellowes, their Successors,
Deputies and Assignes, shall with
Turfe, Earth, Gravell, and other ma
terials, againe fill up and cover. And
be it, &c. that it shall and may be law
full to and for the said Provost and Fel
lowes, their Successors, Deputies, and
Assignes, from time to time, and at all
times convenient, with their men,
horses,


horses, carts, or other carriages, to have
free entry and passage, by, over, and
through any ground or land, in places,
and at times meet and convenient, for
the doing and performing of any thing
requisite,
They may
have free
passage to
make, and
after to
preserve
the things
made.
for the making of the said se
verall passages of waters, or for the do
ing of any other act or thing concer
ning the same, authorized by this Act,
as also for the continuall preservation
and reparation of the said workes, as
often as need shall require. And be it,
&c. that the Lord Chancellour, or
Lord Keeper of the great Seale of Eng
land
for the time beingThis text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR),2 This text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)b3y Commissi
on under the great Seale of England, at
the request and charges of the said Pro
vost and Fellowes, their Successors,
Substitutes and Deputies, or upon the
complaint or petition of any person or
persons whom it may concerne, shall
nominate, appoint, and authorize by
Commission or Commissions, under
the great Seale of England, seven dis
creet and sufficient persons, whereof
two shall bee Iustices of Peace of the
County of Middlesex, and two of the
City of London, and three others at
the choyce and appointment of the said
Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper,
every of the said persons having Lands
and Tenements, of the cleere yeerely
value of xl. li. at the least, which said
seven persons, or any foure, or more
of them,
What re
compence
the ow
ners of the
ground
shall have.
shall have power to order and
set downe what rate or rates, summe
or summes of money shall be payed by
the said Provost and Fellowes, as well
for satisfaction and recompence of
damages, in making the fore-recited
workes, or any thing belonging to the
same, as also for any manner of dama
ges to be sustained, in the mending or
reparation thereof, from time to time,
or any other costs or charges sustained
by reason of the same, to the Lords,
owners, and occupiers of the ground
and soile, or to others interessed in the
said River or Waters, for which, com
position is to be made by the intent of
this Act, if the parties cannot of them
selves agree, and in what manner the
same shall bee paid.
How they
may reco
ver it.
And that for the
recovery of such money, as shall bee so
ordered and set downe by the said
Commissioners, or any foure, or more
of them, the party or parties to whom
the same money shall be due and pay
able, by the true intent of the said Or
der, shall or may recover the same, to
gether with the reasonable costs and
dammages for the forbearance thereof,
against the said Provost and Fellowes,
by action of Debt, Bill, or Plaint, in
any his Majesties Courts at Westmin
ster
, wherein no Essoine or Protection
shall be allowed.
What
grounds
may not
be diThis text has been supplied. Reason: Smudging dating from the original print process. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)gg4ed
Provided alwayes,
and it is further enacted, &c. that the
said water shall not bee conveyed tho
row the House, Garden, or Orchard
of any person or persons, or thorow any
part thereof, or thorow any Corne
fields, while the Corne is growing or
standing in the same, without the con
sent first had of the owners and occu
piers of the said Houses, Gardens, Or
chards, and Corne-fields. Anno 7.
Iac. cap. 9.
(Yy2)
A

A briefe Declaration of the reasons that moved his
MAIESTIE and the STATE to erect a Colledge of Di
vines, and other Learned men, at CHELSEY, together with
the Copy of his Majesties Letters in favouring the same; and
an addition of some Motives forcible to excite good Christians
zeale to a voluntary and liberall contribution.
VNderstanding by experi
ence, that want of in
formation hath much
hindred mens devotion
in contributing toward
the erection and dotation of Chelsey
Colledge
, we have thought it very fit,
together with his Majesties Letters,
seconded by my Lord Archbishop of
Canterbury, to declare the reasons that
caused this worke to bee undertaken,
and to adde such Motives, as wee have
supposed may be most effectuall to give
satisfaction to his Majesties desire, and
perfection to this honourable designe.
First it was considered, that the
Popes Agents travelled Sea and Land,
wrote bookes in favour of their faction,
devised lies and slanders, to bring Re
ligion and the Professors thereof into
hatred, and not sparing any standing
in their way, by falshood and trechery
oppugned Kings and Princes, that
could not endure the Popes tyrannicall
government. And for this end, men
of ready wits, good speech, long expe
rience, and competent learning, have
beene maintained in Colledges, furni
shed with Bookes, holpen with Coun
sell and directions, bound with Lawes
and Oathes, to uphold the Papall Hie
rarchie and Heresie, and which mo
veth much, encouraged with great
promises and large rewards.
Whereunto albeit private men pi
ously affected have from time to time
opposed themselves, yet because they
wanted encouragement to undertake
so great a labour, counsell of their An
cients to direct them, Bookes and Li
braries to instruct them, formes of pro
ceeding to keepe them in compasse,
and rewards to maintaine them, those
excepted that are due for Ecclesiasti
call cures, it was further advised, that
to make a sufficient defence for the
truth of Religion, and honour of the
State, and a strong and continuall op
position against the continued lies,
slanders, errors, heresies, sects, idola
tries, and blasphemies of our Adversa
ries, it was necessary to unite our for
ces, and to appoint speciall men, that
without other distraction might at
tend the cause of Religion and the
State, being furnished with Directi
ons, InstrucThis text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)tio5ns, Counsell, Bookes,
Presses, competent maintenance, and
other necessaries.
This then was the reason why this
Colledge by his Majesty and the State
was first designed, and a corporation
granted with large privileges, viz. That
a select number of Divines and others
should bee gathered together into one
body, and united with one forme of
Lawes, and there maintained, who be
ing furnished with Bookes, and dire
cted by men of experience and action,
might alwaies bee ready to maintaine
our


our Christian faith, to answer the Ad
versaries Calumniations as well against
Religion as the State, to defend the
Majesty of Kings and Princes, against
the vsurpation of Popes, the liberty of
Christians, against the yoke of Super
stition, to supply the defect of teaching
where Appropriations have devoured
the Ministery, by teaching and confe
rence to convince the obstinate Papists
and Atheist, and by all lawfull meanes
to maintaine truth, and discover fals
hood.
This is the Colledge commended
by his Majesty, and This text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)i6ntended by the
State, and easily to bee perfected if it
please all true Christians to further it
with their helpe and favour, according
to some proportion of their means. His
Majesties Letters directed to my Lord
of Canterbury, follow in these words:
Right trusty and well-beloved Coun
cellour, we greet you well.
WHereas the enemies of the
Gospell have ever beene for
ward to write, and publish
bookes for confirming of erronious doctrine,
and impugning the truth, and now of late
seeme more carefull then before to send
daily into our Realmes such their writings,
whereby our loving Subjects, though other
wise well disposed might be seduced, unlesse
some remedy thereof should bee provided.
We by the advise of our Councell, have late
ly granted a corporation, and given our
allowance for erecting a
Colledge at Chel
sey
, for learned Divines to be imployed to
write as occasion shall require for maintai
ning the Religion professed in our King
domes, and confuting the impugners there
of. Whereupon
Doctor Sutcliffe designed
Provost of the said Colledge, hath now hum
bly signified unto us, that vpon divers pro
mises of helpe and assistance towards the
erecting and endowing the said Colledge, he
hath at his owne charge begunne, and well
proceeded in the building, as doth suffici
ently appeare by a good part thereof already
set up in the place appointed for the same.
We therefore being willing to favour and
further so religious a worke, will and re
quire you to write your Letters to the Bi
shops of your Province, signifying unto
them in our Name, that our pleasure is,
they deale with the Clergie, and other of
their Diocesse, to give their charitable be
nevolence for the perfecting of this good work
so well begunne. And for the better perfor
mance of our desire, wee have given order
to the said Provost and his Associates to at
tend you and others unto whom it may ap
pertaine, and to certifie us from time to
time of their proceding.
Thetford the
5. of May 1616.
These Letters my Lord Archbishop of
Canterbury sendeth abroad to the Bi
shops of his Province, and secondeth
them in these termes:
NOw because it is so pious and reli
gious a worke, conducing both to
Gods glory, and the saving of ma
ny a soule within this Kingdome, I cannot
but wish that all devout and well affected
persons should by your selfe and the Prea
chers in your Diocesse, as well publikely as
otherwise, be excited to contribute in some
measure to so holy an intendment now well
begunne. And although these and the like
motions have beene frequent in these latter
times, yet let not those whom God hath
blessed with any wealth bee weary of well
doing, that it may not be said that the ido
latrous and superstitious Papists bee more
forward to advance their falshoods, then
we are to maintaine Gods Truth. Whatso
ever is collected, I pray you Lordship may
be carefully brought unto me; partly that
it passe not thorow any defrauding hand,
and partly that his Majesty may bee ac
quainted what is done in this behalfe.
Your Lordships very loving
Brother G. Canterb.7
The like Letters are written to my
Lord Chancellour, and my Lord
Maior of London.
By these Letters it may appeare,
that this Colledge is not an idle pro
ject of any private man, but a pious
worke projected by the King & State,
and that all that professe Religion, and
desire the continuance and advance
ment thereof, yea, all that honour his
Majesty, and wish the prosperity of the
State, and desire the increase of lear
ning, have interest therein, and I hope
shall receive contentment, and good
satisfaction by the same.
Being


Being then a worke of piety for the
maintenance of true Religion, who can
be accounted truly pious and religious,
and yet yeeld no helpe to advance it?
being a project to maintaine the ho
nour of the State, what good Subject
will not contribute to set forward this
project? but to touch onely the point
of Gods honour, let us remember the
words of the Wise man, Prov. 3. Ho
nour the Lord with thy substance
. Let us
also consider what the Lord himselfe
saith, 1 Sam. 2. Them that honour me, I
will honour; and they that despise mee,
shall be despised
. Now who can say, hee
honoureth God that suffereth him by
idolatry, superstition, and blasphemy to
be dishonoured, and will give nothing
to suppresse Baals Priests, and is con
tent that the Pope be worshipped like
the Idoll Bell? can Gods honour stand
with the superstition, heresie, idola
try, and blasphemy of Papists, prophan
nesse of Atheists, fanaticall doctrine
of Schismatickes, and idle Novelists?
It is not sufficient for true Christians
to professe true Religion, but they must
with zeale maintaine it, and with heart
abhorre, and with hand suppresse ido
latry and superstition, Who will rise up
with me against the wicked
, saith the Pro
phet, Psal. 94. And Psal. 139. he saith,
Hee hated those that hated the Lord with
an unfained hatred
. The Law Deut. 13.
is direct against such as intice us to
serve other gods, our eye may not pity
them, nor may we shew mercy unto
them, no although they bee our bro
thers, or our wives that lie in our bo
some.
An odious thing also it is, either to
suffer truth to bee suppressed, or lies to
be received. Saint Augustine in Epist.
ad Casulanum
, saith, It is a fault to hide
truth, as well as to tell lies; Vterque reus
est, & qui veritatem occultat, & qui
mendacium dicit. Chrysostome Homil. 25.
in Math.
doth charge him to be a Tray
tor unto Truth, that dare not boldly
utter it or defend it; Non ille solum est
proditor veritatis qui veritatem transgre
diens pro veritate mendacium loquitur,
sed etiam qui non liberè veritatem pronun
tiat quam pronuntiare tenetur, aut non
liberè veritatem defendit quam liberè de
fendere convenit.
Some suppose that Christianity and
Popery may stand together, and them
selves as Newters stand betweene both,
or as Mediators would reconcile both.
But can Christ bee reconciled to Anti-christ?
there is no concord betwixt
Christ and Belial, saith the Apostle,
2 Cor. 6. Elias told us there is no halt
ing betweene two Religions: no man
that honoureth any Creature can say
he truly honoureth God, for God gi
veth not his honour to Creatures, Asa
1 King. 15. was a good King, yet it is
imputed to him that hee tooke not
downe the high places. The Bishop of
the Church of Pergamus, Apocal. 2. is
reproved for suffering them that taught
the doctrine of Balaam; and the Bi
shop of Thyatira, for permitting Iesabel
to teach and deceive the people; and
shall the Church of England any longer
suffer the Romish Balamites, and the
false Priests of Baal maintained by the
Romish Iesabel and her Consorts to se
duce Gods people? The false Priests of
Bel used all art and cunning practices to
deceive, and now will not suffer any
Religion but that of their god Bel, the
Pope; and shall not true Christians use
equall diligence to maintaine truth, and
suppresse Popery, and all other idola
trous and false Religion? Ingemui fate
or
(saith Hierome) minus nobis inesse vo
luntatis ad propugnandam veritatem,
quam inest illis cupiditatis ad inculcandum
mendacium
: I sighed (saith he) seeing
lesse desire in us to defend truth, then
in our adversaries to maintaine lies.
This Colledge then being erected
for maintenance of truth and Gods true
service, and a resolute opposition a
gainst errors and false worship of God,
it cannot but pleThis text has been supplied. Reason: Dirt on the page, tearing, etc. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)as8e God and content
godly men. The same will also bee a
meanes to increase learning, and to sup
ply the defects of places haunted with
the spirits of Antichrist, the Iesuits,
and Masse-priests, and therefore can
not chuse but be well approved of all,
that either desire a learned Ministery,
or love learning. Finally, seeing the
Church hath received no greater dis
honour by any, then by unsufficient and
unlearned Churchmen, I hope this may
bee a meanes to recover some part of
their lost honour.
Where


Wherefore, whether we regard the
service of God, or the honour we owe
to our King, or the love wee beare to
our Country and the State, let us not
shew our selves sparing or backward
in yeelding our ayd to set forward a
worke so religious and profitable for
the Church, so honourable for the
State, so necessary in regard of the ma
lice of our adversaries, and the defects
and discouragement of our owne for
ces. Other collections have beene ei
ther for private persons or strangers, or
places remote, or matters concerning
some particular occasions. This con
cerneth a generall good, and toucheth
every man both in conscience and ho
nour. Heretofore wee have endevou
red to maintaine Religion, and favour
others abroad, let us not therefore neg
lect our selves, and our owne honour,
profit, and necessary service at home.
Neither let any man thinke it strange,
that a worke of such greatnesse should
be advanced by this weake meanes, or
that a project so necessary should pro
ceed so slowly. Almighty God, albeit
all-sufficient, yet would have his owne
Tabernable built by the voluntary offe
rings of his people. Speake, saith God
to Moyses, Exod. 25. to the children of
Israel, that they receive an offering for me
of every man whose heart giveth it freely
.
And Exod. 36. it followeth, and they
brought still unto Moyses free gifts every
morning, and they ceased not untill they
were stayed from offering
. King Solomon
likewise was greatly holpen in the buil
ding of the Temple by the contributi
on of his Subjects, as appeareth by the
words of Scriptures, 1 King. 9. 19. fur
ther, by voluntary offerings and contri
butions, the Temple was repaired by
Ioash, 2 King. 12. and by Iosiah, 2 Chron.
34. and this hath beene the use and
practice of ancient times in building,
and endowing most famous Churches,
Colledges, Schooles, and other Monu
ments of Religion and Learning, both
in our owne and other Countries. Our
Adversaries by this course have had
meanes to build many Monasteries and
Colledges, and Schooles for Jesuites
and Friers, as it were propugnacles of
Superstition, Heresie, Idolatry, and
AntichrisThis text has been supplied. Reason: Smudging dating from the original print process. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)t9s tyranny, to uphold and
make good their owne corruptions in
Religion, and usurpations upon the
Magistrates government, and every
Christian mans liberty. And this have
they done not onely in Europe, but also
in the Indies, and not one in every King
dome, but in the same State divers, and
almost in every great City one. And
shall not this flourishing Kingdome
build and endow one Colledge for the
maintenance of Gods true service, and
the honour of the whole State? It were
a dishonour to our Nation, and the
whole Church and State to thinke
contrary.
The worke we confesse hath hither
to proceeded slowly: And no marvell,
seeing great workes are not easily at
chieved. Noes Arke, Gods Tabernacle
and Temple, and famous Schooles and
Colledges, albeit founded by Kings
and great men, were long in build
ing, and doe we wonder that this Col
lege is not yet finished? further it plea
sed God to deprive us of Prince Henry
our principall hope, and the chiefe
Author of this designe. Lastly, who
knoweth whether God hath appoin
ted these weake meanes to set forward
a great worke, that his power in our
weaknes might have the whole glory?
Let us therefore, good Country
men and Christians, hearken willingly
to his Majesties motion, and readily
follow his example. Let it appeare by
our bounty how zealous wee are to
maintaine his everlasting Truth, and
root out error and idolatry. Let us by
effects declare how studious we are to
doe good workes, and to advance our
Countries honour. They that have
much may give of their abundance: the
rest according to the measure of their
meanes. God as well accThis text has been supplied. Reason: The ink has faded, obscuring the text. Evidence: The text has been supplied based on evidence internal to this text (context, etc.). (MR)e10pteth the
Widowes mite, and poore mans good
will, as the rich mans treasure.
If wee honour God with our sub
stance, he will honour us and encrease
our substance. If we build a house for
the maintenance of his truth, that it
may continue to our posterity, God
will uphold our houses, restore to us,
and double it to our posterity. Abra
ham
by offering his sonne, was made a
father of many sonnes, yea of Nations.
And Salomon that shewed his Royall
magni


magnificence in building God a Tem
ple, in honour and riches passed all o
ther Kings. How then can wee excuse
our selves, if wee deny God a small of
fring, that daily offereth to us many
graces, and giveth us all the good
things we possesse. Our soules and bo
dies are a sacrifice due to him: and
therefore no Christian may deny to
him an offring out of his wordly goods,
if Gods service require it.
As for those that draw backe in this
service, and refuse to concurre in pro
moting Gods honour, let them marke
the words of our Saviour, Matth. 12.
He that is not with me is against me. And
the curse of the Angell upon the people
of Meros, Iudg. 5. Curse ye Meros, saith
the Angell, for they came not up to helpe
the Lord
.
But we hope we shall not need ma
ny words to move them, that already
are so well perswaded, nor to perswade
men, that in Religion and devotion are
so forward. It is the duty of good
Christians to advance Gods honour,
and represse Superstition, Heresie, I
dolatry, Blasphemy. It is the office of
good subjects to defend the honour of
the State, against the sycophancies of
English Fugitives, and the secret pra
ctices of forraine enemies their adhe
rents. The adversaries using all their
skill, and joyning their forces against
Religion and the State, it behoveth us
likewise to unite our forces, and to
joyne in consultation how to resist
them. This common businesse requi
reth common helpe, the practices
of the Adversaries provoke us to use
speed, the quality of the worke being
for defence of Religion and the State,
will move any whose heart is not har
dened, cheerefully to give. Whoso
ever shall willingly give, shall receive
of God a full reward in this life, and
when they dye, their workes shall fol
low them, and then whatsoever they
have given to God on earth, they shall
assuredly finde in Heaven.
Wherefore recommending the Col
ledge of Chelsey
to every religious
Christians devout thoughts, we cease
further to presse them. Only for satis
faction of those that desire to know
why this Colledge is erected at Chelsey,
and not in one of the Vniversities, this
we thought fit to adde, that this place
was thought most fit to receive directi
ons from our Superious, to consult
with men of best experience, to ob
taine intelligence from forraigne parts,
to print Bookes, and to disperse them;
And lastly, to obtaine the favour of the
State and City. Further hereby, as all
emulation may bee avoyded, so the
helpe of both Vniversities may as well
be had by entercourse of our Agents,
as if the Colledge stood in either of the
Vniversities. Thus all things now
stand. God blesse the proceeding of
this worke, and give honour to his
owne name, and a happy issue to this
holy designe. Amen.
GOVER

Notes

  1. Torn page: missing letter obvious from context. (MR)
  2. Torn page: missing punctuation mark obvious from context. (MR)
  3. Torn page: missing letter obvious from context. (MR)
  4. Ink smudged: missing letters obvious from context. (MR)
  5. Torn page: missing letters obvious from context. (MR)
  6. Torn page: missing letter obvious from context. (MR)
  7. I.e., George Abbot. (MR)
  8. Torn page: missing letters obvious from context. (MR)
  9. Ink smudged: missing letter obvious from context. (MR)
  10. Faded ink: missing letter obvious from context. (MR)