Cornelius Burges

was descended from the Burgesses of Batcomb in Somersetshire, but whether born there, I cannot justly say it. In the year 1611 he made his first entry into this University, but in what Coll. or Hall he took up his quarters is uncertain: Sure I am, that about the first foundation of Wadham Coll. he translated himself thereunto, and as a member thereof took the degree of Bach. of Arts. Afterwards retiring to Linc. Coll, he proceeded in the same faculty, took holy orders, and had some cure bestowed upon him, which I take to be the rectory of S. Magnus Church in London or the Vicaridge of Watford in Hartfordshire, or both: which two he afterwards held with his Lecture at S. Pauls. In the beginning of the raign of K. Ch. 1. he became one of his Chaplains in ordinary, and in 1627 took both the degrees in Divinity as a compounder; at which time undertaking to answer the Doctors in the Divinity ((*))((*)) Pet. Heylyn in his letter Combate—Lond. 1659. p. 82. Act, shew’d himself so sorry a Disputant and so sufficiently ignorant in the terms of Logick, that instead of saying negatur major and negatur minor, he could say nothing else but negatur id. Whereupon Prideaux the Regius Professor said to him openly with a merry jear, tu potes bene praedicare, sed non potes bene disputare, that he might probably be a good Preacher, tho he had shewed himself a silly Disputant. At that time and several years after, he shew’d himself a zealous man for the Church of England, and it could never be thought in the least by those that knew him that he would have swerved from it. But having not that preferment confer’d upon him which he expected, tho he was a pluralist, and looked ((a))((a)) Sober sadness: or, historical observations upon the proceedings, &c. Oxon. 1643. p. 32. upon by the High Commission as one guilty of adultery, and a vexer of two Parishes with continual suits of Law, wherein he could find little or no remedy, he became ((b))((b)) See Canterb. Doome p. 173. a scandalous and schismatical Lecturer, using many expressions in his Sermons that moved People to sedition. For which also being questioned, he became incensed against the Bishops, and afterwards very busie to pick holes in the coats of his Brethren, and rake up the very ashes of the dead to discover their corruptions. In 1635 he preached a Lat. Sermon to the London Ministers in S. Alphage Church near Sion Coll. wherein he pressed all to diligence in preaching, and spoke of the connivance of Bishops at the growth of Arminianisme and Popery; for which being summoned into the High Commission Court and put to charge, made him afterwards implacable against them. Upon the approach of the troublesome times in 1640, he, with Steph. Marshall, Edm. Calamy, Calybute Downing, &c. did first whisper in their Conventicles, then openly preach that for the cause of religion it was lawful for the Subjects to take up Arms against their lawful Soveraign. Which doctrine being also followed by the rest of the Elders, the People of London did violently rush into rebellion, and were found pliable by the faction in Parliament to raise tumults, make out-cries for justice, call for innocent blood, subscribe and prefer petitions against the holy Liturgy and the Hierarchy, and to strike at root and branch, especially if our Author Burges did but hold up his finger ((c))((c)) Letter from Mer. Civic. to Mer, Rustic. printed 1643. p. 9. to his Mirmidons, or Capt. (afterwards Colonel) John Venn sent his summons by his Wife, to assemble the zealots of the City. In the beginning of the Long Parliament he was appointed by the Lords one of the Sub-committee to settle Religion: who meeting in Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster, our Author Burges became speaker for his party the Presbyterians. In which office he made a vehement invective against Deans and Chapters and the unprofitableness of such Corporations, and did aggravate to debauchedness the lives of singing men, and they not only useless but hurtful by their vitious conversation. At the same time also being looked upon as a doughty Champion for the holy cause and a zealous Covenantier, ’twas usual with him and the said Venn to lead up the tumults of the City to the Parliament doors to see that the godly party (for so their faction was call’d) in the House might not be out-voted, and then turning back and beholding the rabble, would say These are my band-dogs, I can set them on, and I can take them off again, &c. by which means above four parts in five of the Lords, and two parts in three of the Commons were frighted out of the house, to leave the Faction absolute Masters thereof. These things also he did when the most noble Earl of Strafford was tried for his life. So that being the Ring-leader of the rout, and the only scandal to his profession in all London, was thought fit by the blessed Parliament, (as by the faction it was called) to be one of those Godly Divines that were to hold forth before them, to be one of the Sub-committee for the advancement of moneys to carry on the War against the King, and to be with John White the Centurist, Assessors to the Ass. of Divines. But before that time Essex the General finding him a zealous instrument to carry on the cause, made him his Chaplain to that Regiment of Horse, which was next under him. In Dec. 1643 the Londoners sent Will. Gibbes and John Fowke Aldermen, and others of the common Council to the House of Commons to desire that the Cath. Church of S. Paul might be set open again, and that there might be a Lecture every Sunday night (as was formerly used) after the afternoons Sermon, and another on the week day, and that Dr. Corn. Burges might be the man, (who having been several times put to his compurgators in that consistory, was the ablest and fittest for that Sunday-nights Lecture) desiring their honors to allow the Doctor a pension of 400 l. per an. out of the revenues of the Cathedral, for his encouragement in that service. Which being a poor pittance, (God wot) they not only confirmed that pension, but gave him the Deans house thereof for his habitation; both setled soon after by Act of Parliament. The first motion of this did proceed from the Militia of London, among whom the Doctor used to ride with his case of pistols, was called Colonel, and shew’d himself very officious to assist plundering at the Globe Tavern in Holbourne. Afterwards growing very rich, he purchased several Lands, as the mannour of Wells belonging to the Bishop thereof, and the habitation of the Dean there, which he mostly plucked down and rebuilt. And being so done he wrot a book to shew that there was no sacriledge or sin to alien or purchase the Lands of Bishops and Chapters: which being taken into the hands of many curious readers, had the licentiousness of a second impression, an. 1659. But upon the Kings restauration he lost all, having about an year before been offer’d twelve thousand and odd pounds for his House and Lands at, and near, Wells; whereupon retiring to Watford in Hartfordshire before mentioned, lived obscurely there, and died in a mean condition, as I shall anon tell you. He hath written and published these matters following.

A chain of Graces drawn out at length for reformation of Manners. Lond. 1622. in tw.

New discovery of personal Tithes: or, the tenth part of mens clear gains proved due both in conscience, and by the laws of this Kingdom. Lond. 1625. oct.

The fire of the Sanctuary newly discovered: or, a compleat Tract of Zeal. Lond. 1625. in oct. Which book, upon its Authors grand defect, was answer’d by Anon. in a Pamphlet intit. A whip, &c. printed 1643. Whereupon an old puritannical Poet named Francis Quarles (the sometimes Darling of our plebeian judgments) who seemed to have a great respect for our Author, came out with a Reply intit. The Whipper whip’d, &c. printed 1644, wherein, in the first page he stiles Dr. Burges a man of singular parts, &c.

Baptismal Regeneration of elect Infants, professed by the Church of England, according to Scriptures, the primitive Church, the present reformed Churches, and many particular Divines apart. Oxon 1629. qu.

Vindication of the Reasons against Bishops Votes in Parliament. Lond. 1641. qu. Whether he was Author of the Reasons I know not.

Several sermons, as (1) Sermon at a publick Fast before the House of Commons, 17 Nov. 1640, on Jer. 50.5. Lond. 1641. qu. (2) Sermon before the H. of Com. 5 Nov. 1641. on Psal. 76.10. Lond. 1641. qu. Wherein are many things of, and against, the Papists and Jesuits. (3) Serm. before the H. of Com. 30 March 1642, on Jer. 4.14. Lond. 1642. qu. (4) Vanity and mischief of the thoughts of an heart unwashed, Serm. before the H. of Com. on their day of humiliation 30 of Apr. 1645. on Jer. 4.14. (as before) Lond. 1645. qu. (5) Necessity of agreement with God, Fast-serm. before the H. of Lords 29 Oct. 1645, on Amos 3.3. Lond. 1645. qu. besides others which I have not yet seen, as Serm. on 2 Chron. 15.2, another on Ezra 10.2.3, a third called Prudent silence, preached 12 Jan. 1648: whether the same with that against the destroying of Kings, preached about the same time, I cannot tell: and lastly another on Amos 5.13. printed 1660. in octavo.

Sion Coll. what it is and doth. A vindication of that Society against two Pamphlets, &c. Lond. 1648. qu.

His case as Lecturer in Pauls.—This is a little Pamphlet. By the way the Reader is now to know, that it hath been confidently affirmed that our Author before he was engaged in buying Bishops Lands, did concur with Dr. Joh. Hacket (in his Answer to Dr. Hacket’s Speech in 1641.) that the alienating of any thing setled by divine right upon the Church, is sacriledge. This he confessed he did, but he was put upon it suddenly by the H. of Commons in May 1641, and had no time given him but one hour. However afterwards he was so zealous in that point, that he, before he had purchased such, was a forward Preacher for it; and after he had made purchases, he wrot and published a book intit.

No sacrileege nor sin to aliene or purchase the Lands of Bishops or others, whose offices are abolished. Lond. 1659. 2 edit. Also

A Case concerning the lawfulness of buying Bishops Lands.—This last I have not yet seen, nor another paper reported to be his, wherein the Kings Majesty is attempted by the offer of five hundred thousand pounds, to make good by an Act of Parliament the purchases of Bishops, Deans, and Chapters Lands for 99 years. Printed 1660. See more in Joh. Gauden among these Writers, an. 1662. num. 206.

Apologie for purchases of Lands late of Bishops, Deans and Chapters.—This is a sheet in fol. and therein is shewed a great deal of reading; but whether it was all pen’d by Burges, tho no doubt but he had a hand in it, I know not.

Reasons shewing the necessity of Reformation of the publick (1) Doctrine (2) Worship, &c. Lond. 1660. qu. Which, tho in the title it is said, that divers Ministers of sundry Counties in England wrot, yet Mr. Baxter ((*))((*)) In Dr. Jo. Hinkley’s Fascic. literarum. Lond. 1680. oct. pag. 34. saith that our Author Burges pen’d, them. They were answer’d by Dr. Joh. Pearson and Dr. Hen. Savage; the former of which was replied upon by our Author Burges in a Postscript to a piece of his which I have not yet seen: Answer’d or rejoyn’d by the said Pearson in a little thing intit. Answer to Dr. Burges his word by way of Postscript, in vindication of No necessity, &c.

Antidote against Antisobrius.—Printed about 1660.

Some of the differences and alterations in the present Common-prayer book, from the book established by the Act in the fifth and sixth of Ed. 6. and first of Q. Eliz.—Printed in one sh. in qu. 1660.

The book of Common-Prayer, &c. compared with the old Editions, and all the Alterations noted down. Lond. 1663. oct. I shall make mention of this work more anon, and in the mean time tell you that after the Kings Restauration, our Author Burges being deprived of all the Church-lands that he had purchased at very easie rates, and of his pension from S. Pauls Cathedral, notwithstanding he tugged hard to keep some, he retired to his house at Watford before mention’d, where exercising himself much in penitence, and in observing the duties of the Church, was at length reduced to such poverty, that he was forced to sell all or most part of his Library to buy bread. But that was not all; for about that time he was so much troubled with a cancer in his neck and cheek, that all he could get, could not in the least cure it, or satisfie that hunger which it caused. Insomuch that being brought very low in body and purse, he sent to Sir Rich. Browne (who was elected Lord Mayor of Lond. in 1660.) for relief, and in his letter told him that he was brought to great want and poverty, and that he was eaten up with a cancer in his neck and cheek—I am (saith ((†))((†)) See in Is. Basire in his Sacriledge arraigned. Lond. 1668. sec. Edit. in the Preface. he) reduced to want a piece of bread, as this bearer my son may better inform you; but Sir mistake me not, I do not beg, I only acquaint you with my condition, and do you what is fit, &c. To which Sir Richard made return, and told the Doctor, that Tho he was the prime cause and motive of his Rebellion against the late King by his preaching and violent persuasions, yet if he would preach a Recantation sermon in S. Pauls Cathedral, he would take care that he should never want so long as he lived. But the reply made to it being this, that he was not then in a capacity to do it, Sir Richard rewarded him with 3 l. only. Afterwards dying obscurely and in want, was obscurely buried in the middle of the body of the Church at Watford before mentioned,1665. on the ninth day of June in sixteen hundred sixty and five. About three weeks before his death, he sent certain Common-prayer books to the publick Library at Oxon, and in a spare leaf before the title of one of them, he wrot this note following with his own hand, dated at Watford 16 May 1665. “I Cornelius Burges being an. 1627 by my dear and much honoured mother the renowned University of Oxford, made Doctor in Divinity, am much grieved that I am able to do nothing worthy of her, yet I humbly offer that I have, viz. the first book of the ((a))((a)) It should be 2 Ed. 6. Dom. 1649. first of Edw. 6, as also the second book of Common-prayer 5 and 6 of Ed. 6. wherein this hath several Alterations, upon the censure of Bucer, extant in his book Scripta Anglicana. I also add a third book of Common-prayer renewed and established in 1 Elizab. which book is very hard to be had that was then printed: I could never see any other of that edition. I also add a fourth book of Common-prayer in ((b))((b)) ’Tis in oct. H. 138. Th. in bib. Bod. pr. at Lond. 1663. 12o, wherein I have noted ((c))((c)) The book is interleaved, and therein, as in the Margin, he hath noted many things with his own hand. all the differences between that book established by this great Parliament an. 1663, and the former book established before. All these I most humbly and thankfully give to my said honorable mother of Oxford, (I being ready to dye) beseeching her to account of these four small mites, as our Lord and blessed Saviour did of the poor Widows two mites, that by casting in that, cast in all she had.” —Cornelius Burges. The Common-prayer book wherein this note was written, was printed in fol. at Lond. 1549, in the month of May. At the bottom of the title of which, is this written by Dr. Burges. This is one of the very first books of Common Prayer in the beginning of Edw. 6. which book at the Request of Archb. Cranmar, was reviewed and censured by Martin Bucer, and then reformed accordingly in the 5 of Ed. 6. which latter is the book still in force by the statute of 1 Eliz. and this (meaning the Common-Prayer-book printed 1549) is repealed.