Bibliothecae Colfanae catalogus. Catalogue of the library in the free grammar-school at Lewisham founded by the Rev. Abraham Colfe in the year 1652 / By William Henry Black.

  • Colfe Grammar School (Lewisham, London, England). Library.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bibliothecae Colfanae catalogus. Catalogue of the library in the free grammar-school at Lewisham founded by the Rev. Abraham Colfe in the year 1652 / By William Henry Black. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/256
    troubled about it.1 Accordingly yelr Honors made # sent orders to S. Law.., ... . field then Lord chief Baron & to Baron Brom* 1 In a Petition “ To ye right Hon. ye Earle of Somerset L. high Chamberlaine,” and another to the Archbishop of Canterbury, from the inhabitants of Lewisham, craving their favor against the presenting of a petition to the Privy Council, it is said,—“we were inforced to goe aboue an 100^ of vs, ye 19 of December, with petition to ye K. Matie for his mercifull fauour.” The draught of each is still extant in Colfe’s hand-writing, who to the latter subjoined a personal apology for his own misrepresented conduct in these affairs. “ Further, in particular your humble suppliant Abraham Coif minister of Lewsham sheweth to your grace, that whereas Rob. Raynes, Innocent Laniere, 8c Henry Newport, in a late peti¬ tion to his Majesty haue abused your said suppliant Abraha Coif, saying y* he out of his seditious sp. stirred vp ye people tumultuously to clamour ye K8 Matie, w^out any iust ground or colour: 8c further Innocent Lanier hath vsed sundry other defamations 8c slanderous speaches : also that he hath publikely spoken against ye ^ceedings of his Maiesties court here, as though he had called publike meetings in the church to make ye people curse yem. That it would please your grace to relieue your said suppliant against yese impudent slan¬ ders ; 8c he shalbe bound euer to pray as he doth euery day vppon his knees to Almighty god for your graces safety 8c fauour wth god 8c men.” Beside those memorials, he drew up a defence of his own character, at the request of his parishioners, of the draught of which a complete fac-simile is here inserted. It is read thus. — “ We ye inhabitants of ye parish of Lewsham in Kent, whose names are vnder-written, hearing of the sundry defamations and vncha- ritable speaches giuen out [lately] in a petition to ve kings malesty, against Abraham Colfe vicar of our parish, [8c preacher of gods word among vs,] 8c being desired by him to testify our knowledg of his behauiour among vs, doe solemnely protest before god 8c witnes yis [before god] for a truth vnto all those whom it may concerne ; that the said Abraham Colfe bailing liued as a curate 8c vicar these x yeares among vs, hath not to our knowledg demeaned himself otherwise then becometh the minister of gods word ; for he hath bene very painfull in his calling, duly preaching once (8c for ye great part of the sumer twice euery sabath among vs) liberall to ye poore, giuen to hospitality 6f other good workes in his life peaceable, not hauing had any one suit or controuersy in law all this time against any of vs : no way sauouring of a factious or sedicious spirit, neither in publik or priuate speaches or actions; but continually dehorting vs [in yis] during yetime of our distressed suit about our comon [of Westwood to a peace¬ able cariage,] both from reuiling yem in speaches y‘ haue sought to get away ye meanes of our liuing, 8c from 4pfourming any outward act yl might be either offensiue to his maiesty or p’iudiciall to yft lawes of ye realme. In witnes wherof we haue willing Sc freely subscribed our names.” Another paper, subscribed “ My answer to Bendens accusation 27 June 1615,” contains the following interesting particulars;—“ Vpon the 5l of February last we signified by petition vnto the right Hon. ye Lords of the Coun-
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3