Mawrice Chawney

, Chamney, Chancy, or Channy, so many ways I find him written, was from his juvenile years a Carthustan Monk in the house of that order near London, (now called by some the Charter-house, and by others Suttons Hospital) the Brethren of which place, as of others in England, did commonly study in an antient place of Literature near to London Coll. alias Burnells Inn within this University, and no doubt there is but that this M. Chawney did receive instruction in Theological matters therein, or at least in some other house of learning in Oxon. But so it was, that at the dissolution of religious houses by K. Hen. 8. he, with his brethren (18 in number) being committed to custody for denying the Kings Supremacy over the Ch. of England, did at length with much difficulty escape out of prison, and so consequently death, which all the rest suffered at several times, before the Year 1539. At length settling himself at Bruges in Flanders became Prior of some of his English Brethren (of the same order) there: And from him do our English Carthusians beyond the Sea at Neoport in Flanders derive their succession in the said house near London, to this day, having always been by them esteemed a most devout and pious Person. He hath written a book entit.

Historia aliquot nostri saeculi Martyrum cum pia, tum lectu jucunda nunquam antehaec typis excusa. Printed (at Mentz in Bavaria as it seems) an. 1550 in qu. and dedicated by Vitus à Dulken Prior of the Carthusians of St. Michael near to Mentz. and William à Sittatis Procurator of the said house, to Theodore Loher à Stratis Prior of the Carthusians house of St. Marie the Virgin in Buxia near to Memmingen in Schawben a Province of Germany. This book contains (1) The Epitaph of Sir Tho. More, written by himself in Latin, fixed over his grave in Chelsey Church near to London. (2) The captivity and martyrdom of John Fisher B. of Rochester. (3) The capt. and mart. of the said Sir Th. More, sometimes L. Chanc. of England. (4) The martyrdome of Reynold Brigitt a pious Divine, and of other. (5) The passion of 18 Carthusians of London, beginning with the life and passion of John Houghton the Prior of them all, contained in 14 Chapters, &c. This passion and martyrdom of the said Carthusians was by the care of our Author represented (n)(n) Theod. Petreius in Biblioth. Carthusiana, edit. Col. 1609. p. 245, 246. in figures; and being afterwards engraven on copper, were printed at Colon. Ub. about 1608. He also reviewed, corrected, and put some additions to a book entit. Vita Carthusiana, written by Peter Sutor Prior of the Carthusians at Paris, an. 1522. Which being so done, he wrot the Epistle dedicatory before it; all printed together at Lovaine, 1572. in oct. Our Author Chancaeus (as he writes himself in that book) was then living in his Cell at Bruges before-mention’d, with several English Carthusians under his government. I have seen a MS. written by our Author Chancaeus, bearing this title,

The divine clowde of unknowing—The beginning of which is, Goostly frende in God, I pray the and besece the that thou wilt have a besy beholding to the course and manntr of thy calling, &c. It containeth 75 Chapters, and with i is bound his Epistle of private counsel, the beginning of which is, Goostly frende in God, as touching thy inward occupation, &c. And at the end of the book is this written. Liber domus Salvatoris beatissimae virginis Mariae juxta London Ordinis Carthusiani, per M. Chawncy, quem exaravit secundum Willmum Exm [•] use. The said Exmeuse or ex Mewe, who had been bred in Christs Coll. in Cambridge did enter himself a Carthusian of the said house near London in the 28 year of his age, being then sufficiently versed in the Gr. and Lat. tongues. Afterwards he was made Vicar, and thence removed to be Procurator thereof: And being one of the number that denied the Kings Supremacy, suffered death by hanging, drawing and quartering, 19. June 1535. As for our Author Chancy he submitted to fate on the 12. July in Fifteen hundred eighty and one, 1581 according to the accompt followed in Flanders. Whereupon his body was buried, as I suppose, in the Chappel belonging to the Carthusians at Bruges before-mention’d He hath left behind him a most celebrated name for his rare piety, which is preserved among those of his profession at Bruges, Neôport in Flanders, and at other places. Neither is it denyed by any knowing and moderate Protestants but that his name is worthy to be kept in everlasting remembrance.