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THE
LIFE AND ACTS
OF
/
MATTHEW PARKER,
THE FIRST ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, IN THE
REIGN OF aUEEN ELIZABETH.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING
Various Transcripts of Records, Letters, Instruments, and other Papers, for
the asserting or illustrating the foregoing History.
IN FOUR BOOKS.
BY JOHN STRYPE, M. A.
VOL. 1.
AT
OXFORD,
THE CLARENDON PRESS,
MDCCCXXI.
TO HIS GRACE
THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,
THOMAS,
BY THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,
PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND, AND METROPOLITAN ;
AND
ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL.
May it please your Grace,
i\.S I did, divers years ago, present Memorials of
Cranmer, the first Protestant Archbishop of Canter-
bury, to your immediate predecessor in the said see;
so I am ambitious to dedicate this Life of Parker,
the second Protestant Archbishop, unto your Grace :
both of them equal, as in the great work they un-
dertook, of reforming corrupt religion, and restoring
the ancient Church of England ; so in their suffer-
ings, and all the effects of rage from evil men, for
their most beneficial pains and service therein :
whereof we, the succeeding generations in this
happy island, have reaped the blessed fruits in our
deliverance from the foreign Romish yoke, and for
the holy primitive religion and worship established
among us.
And, my Lord, this history of Archbishop Parker
is your due, not only as divine Providence hath
a 2
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
placed you, his worthy successor, in his chair, and
laid upon you the same weighty office in this
Church of England that he once bore ; but also in
respect of a more private relation your Grace stand-
eth in to him, (which endears his memory to you,)
viz. that you were bred up in his native city, and
sent to his college, and was his scholar there, (as I
have heard your Lordship call yourself,) and en-
joyed a part of his noble benefactions for the en-
couragement of learning. For which reasons, but
chiefly for the public benefit, your Grace hath been
an approver and encourager of me in my under-
taking of this work. A work so long wanted, and
so much desired by learned men ; especially such
as have a veneration for the ancient, both civil and
ecclesiastical, history of this realm, and the consti-
tution of this Reformed Church : of both which
Archbishop Parker did so singularly merit.
As for the latter, viz. the Reformation, all the
parts of it went through his hand. The methods
that were used in this great and blessed undertak-
ing, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign,
were chiefly the effect of his deep deliberation and
counsel. And this work was justly laid upon him,
out of the high esteem the Lord Keeper Bacon
and Secretary Cecil (both very wise, able, and the
Queen's chief Statesmen) had of his learning, wis-
dom, moderation, and piety ; and likewise for his
thorough knowledge of ecclesiastical affairs in ge-
neral, and particularly his understanding of the
state of this Church, when the reforming of it was
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
V
first enterprised under King Henry VIII. and of all
the steps that were taken in it afterwards.
And for this cause, my Lord, such as have been
willing to look into Queen Elizabeth's Reformation,
and to satisfy themselves about it, at the first hand,
(and not implicitly to depend upon later historio-
graphers of these matters,) and to understand aright
the particulars how it began and was carried on in
the former part of her reign, have desired so much
to see an account of the life and acts of this chief
manager thereof. Whereof, I hope, your Grace, as
well as other learned and pious men, will not be dis-
appointed in the perusing of these commentaries.
Especially, since what is here related may be
credited ; being the effect of a great many years'
pains and collections, not only out of great plenty
of authentic records and MSS. of those times, but
of the Archbishop's own letters to others, and of
other eminent men to him : which is the best sup-
ply and storehouse for the writing a true history.
This was the cause that the great Daniel Heinsius
approved much of publishing epistolary conferences,
written between persons of public rank or office in
the State, for the preserving of the real knowledge
of things past, and for the drawing thence exact
and just accounts of former transactions. " I have
" always been of that opinion, (saith he in a letter
" to a friend,) that nothing more instructs posterity,
" than the reading of familiar discourses, in letters
" between intimate friends, especially men of great
" figure and place, as is usual : since in such corre-
a 3
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
" spondences things are sincerely related, without
" colour or deceit^."
So that, I think, my Lord, nothing is wanting to
the credit of this history, but the assurance of my
fidelity in the use I have made both of the letters
and the other originals. Which I here protest to
your Grace, and all the world, I have done without
favour or affection, and with an awful regard to truth
and sincerity. I will not presume to detain your
Grace any longer, after I have recommended myself
and my studies unto your Grace's good acceptance ;
and so take my leave in all due observance, being,
If it please your Grace,
Your Grace's most humble servant,
JOHN STRYPE.
» Nihil esse quod posteritatera magis instruat, quani familiaris sermo, qualis
est epistolaris, si k maximis praesertim viiis, ad interioris notae, ut solet fieri,
ainicos (apud quos nec fuco nee fallaciis est locus) liberfe instituatur. Dan.
Heins. Nobiliss. Cornelio Vatider Mile,
THE
PREFACE.
I HAVE some things to advertise the reader ; partly con-
cerning this work, and partly concerning myself.
The Wise Man (Prov. x. 7.) saith, that the memory of the
righteous is blessed ; or, attended with praises, (according
to the vulgar,) as a part of the reward of his virtues, after
he is gone hence. This history is intended to contribute to
this good end, viz. to revive and do right to the sacred
memory of a righteous man : who was pious, and a confes-
sor for pure religion ; learned, and a great fautor and pro-
moter of good learning ; and also an illustrious member of
this Church of England ; being both a chief instrument in
its reformation, and a primary defender and patron of its
constitution. And as honour to his name may be perpe-
tuated by these memorials of him, so considerable ad-
vantage and benefit likewise may arise thence unto us that
read them. For the various passages and emergencies of
this great and good Prelate"'s life will administer plentiful
matter for our own behaviour, and imitation of his piety,
prudence, liberality, resolution, patience, unmoveable con-
stancy in a good cause, adherence to, and zealous defence
of, the Church of England, as reformed and legally esta-
blished. Hence also we shall be instructed in much of our
ecclesiastic and academic history ; which is necessarily and
largely interwoven in these writings of his life, and runs
along with each year of it.
For though the chief matters herein related respect the
Archbishop only, and his painful discharge of his peculiar
function and office ; yet in the course of the history fall in
many transactions about religion and the Church's affairs :
as, how true religion was first brought in and settled :
a 4
VIU
THE PREFACE.
what was done afterwards in ecclesiastical commissions,
synods, and convocations, and visitations both of dioceses
and houses of learning: what methods and labours were
used for the preserving of peace and concord among Chris-
tians, and uniformity and unanimity in the service of God,
both against those that favoured the old superstitions, and
the supremacy of the Roman Bishop in the Britannic do-
minions, and likewise against a strong faction of the Pro-
testant denomination ; which laboured vehemently, not only
to cast out the Liturgy of our Church, but to overthrow
the ancient government of it by episcopacy ; and to set up
a different new discipline and regiment in the room there-
of : and finally, what the Queen''s and Court's influences
were in these matters. Here also are shewn the Bishops
that were placed in the sees, and that succeeded from time
to time, with their characters. And withal, notice is takea
of many other learned and eminent ecclesiastics, that in
those times made a figure in their places and vocations.
Various and remarkable matters are also here declared,
that fell out in the Universities, and of controversies that
happened there in divers colleges, with respect either to re-
ligion or learning.
That which I am next to do is, to reconcile (as far as I
may) a reputation to this history. For which purpose I
must mention the advantages I have had for the enabling
me to write it, and the unbiassed integrity I have used
therein.
As to the former, I have seen and perused numberless
papers of those times, not only in my own custody, but re-
maining in the best archives of the nation, and in reposi-
tories of charters, letters, instruments, and other curious
monuments, belonging to divers honourable and reverend
men, some alive and some deceased; whose names, in due
respect and gratitude, I have mentioned in the margin of
the book, where I have had occasion to cite their MSS. Be-
sides registers of Archbishops, Bishops, cathedral churches,
tlie University, &c. All these I have conversed in for many
THE PREFACE.
years, and taken collections from, and not seldom whole
transcripts, thence, as might serve for my purpose.
And that I have been just and faithful in the use I have
made of these records, and made them my constant, steady
guide in all I have writ, I do first solemnly declare and
avow, that so I have done : and that, as I have been an
unwearied searcher after, so a sincere lover of truth. And
in this, as well as my other writings, I have no other
end to serve, but to leave a true history of our reformed
excellent Church to posterity. I cannot better utter my
mind in this regard, than in the words of a late learned
writer ; " As I never found in myself any great inclination Dr. Hody's
" to be led away blindfold by any party ; so on the con- hiTHist!°of
" trary, a very great one to search diligently after truth ; ^"S- Coun-
" and having once found it, never to betray it by adding,
" concealing, or false colouring."
But further, besides my protestation, the truth of which
I ofPer may appear, in that I have affected, through the
course of the history, to digest into it the very words, sen-
tences, and periods, as they stand in the originals. The ri-
gorous care I have had to faithfulness and impai'tiality hath
inclined me to present my narrations after that manner;
however the expressions may sometimes sound odd and ob-
solete to the ears of the present age; and I am sensible I
may be censured therefore for my language. But that of
Modrevius (sometime a learned nobleman of Poland) speaks
my mind ; " That in speaking, truth ought altogether to be
" more regarded than an artificial style
The original papers also in the Appendix, (to the num-
ber of CVI.) produced at length and verbatim, will be an-
other witness for me. And as I have recorded them for the
vindication of my history, so also for further service;
namely, as memorials and transcriptions that will find ac-
ceptance with the more ingenious and inquisitive sort of
men: since hereby satisfaction may be gathered concern-
' Omnino magis Veritas in dicendo qukm arfificium, spectan<lum. Frir. .Vo-
i/rer. df Evclrs.
X
THE PREFACE.
ing many persons and things, either not known at alJ be-
fore, or dark, doubtful, or mistaken. And perhaps there-
fore the re\'iving of these old writings out of obscurity, and
the restoring them as it were out of rubbish, and making
them obvious to every eye, may deser\-e some thanks to
him that hath taken the pains. It was this that made Fla-
cius Illyricus's Catalogue of the Witnesses of Truth de-
servedly of such esteem, " that in that work he inserted
" very many histories, both weighty and profitable, and
" also whole discourses sometimes, Avhich neither in printed
" books, nor easily any where else could be found, than in
" his book ; having been by him searched out, and met
" Avith in hidden and dusty holes and corners
I must add here, that besides the said large collections in
the Appendix, there be digested in the body of the history
a great number of other original papers, or the contents of
them ; and especially letters ; some fi-om persons of the
highest rank both in Church and State : as the Queen her-
self, and her Privy Counsellors, chief Statesmen, viz. Cecil,
when Secretary of State, and when Lord Treasurer, Lord
Keeper Bacon, the Earl of Leicester, Sir Francis Knollys,
Sir Anthony Denny, Sir Anthony Cook, Sii* John Ma-
son, &c. Archbishops and Bishops, as (besides our Arch-
bishop) Cranmer, Latymer, Thirlby, Boner, Gardiner,
Goodrick, Ridley, Cox, Grindal, Scory, Coverdale, San-
dys, Guest, Pilkington, Parkhurst, Loftus Aixhbishop of
Aj'magh, &c. Of other learned and reverend men, as Box-
al. Pern, Whittingham, Fox, &c. Besides letters of fo-
reigners, as Calvin, Beza, BuUinger, Gualter, Peter Mar-
tyr, Flacius Illyricus, &c.
And that credit may be given to my extracts from the
said MSS. I do solemnly assure the reader, that I have
taken them with all just and exact care, even to the very
letter for the most part ; and therein have always made use
Illud igitur solum dico, multas gravissimas atque utilissimas historias, et
etiam Integra scripta hie inserta esse, quse nusquam alioqui iu impressis libris
reperiantur, nec facile aliunde, quam ex hoc ipso scripto, reperiri queant.
Prcefat. ad Catal. Test.
1
THE PREFACE.
xi
of mine own eyes and hands ; except in some few ; which
the reverend Mr. Lun, Rector of Elseworth in Cambridge-
shire, Mr. Thomas Harrison, B. U. Fellow of Sydney Sus-
sex college, and Mr. Thomas Baker, B. D. Fellow of St.
John's college in Cambridge, learned and exact transcrib-
ers, have favourably transcribed and sent me. Except also
the MSS. in Ireland, sometimes belonging to the learned Sir
James Ware, Knight ; printed in two books, called The
Hunting of the Romish Fox, and. Foxes and Firebrands.
And for the credit of the transcripts therein inserted, a very
reverend and worthy Dean in Ireland wrote thus to me;
" That he did not forget to speak to Mr. Ware, the editor Dr. The-
" of those books. Who assured him, that his grandfather,
" Sir James Ware, had his collections among the writings of cion-
" of those eminent persons, Sir Henry Sydney, Knight,
" sometime Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Sir William Cecil,
" Knight, Sir Robert Cotton, Knight, Sic." And the same
reverend person added, " that he had the same account,
" many years since, from Dr. Jones, Bishop of Meath, de-
" ceased, a man of great learning, and a nephew of Primate
" Usher's, [in whose possession the MSS. originally were.]
" And that those printed collections from them were ge-
" nerally well esteemed among them in Ireland."
I must make a particular remark on one storehouse of
MSS. especially, that I have used, for instructing me in the
writing of this history ; and that is Archbishop Parkei-'s
own most valuable treasure, kept in his own college of Cor-
pus Christi. Who, as he was one of the greatest antiquari-
ans of his time, so was a great collector of ancient and mo-
dern writings, and took especial care of the safe preserv-
mg of them for all succeeding times; as foreseeing un-
doubtedly what use might be made of them by posterity :
that by having recourse to such originals and precedents,
the true knowledge of things might the better appear. For
as he was a man of unaffected simplicity and truth, so he
endeavoured by all means to promote it. And here I can-
not but blame Brian Twine, who for the empty glory of
gaining the University of Oxford the preference to that of
xii
THE PREFACE.
Cambridge for antiquity, makes unhandsome reflections
upon that venerable antiquarian ; as though he were either
unskilful or unfaithful, or both, in his British Antiquities,
and in his edition of Matthew Paris, Matthew Westminster,
Thomas Walsingham, &c. insinuating, that he sometimes
Apoi. lib. mistook, and sometimes falsified his authors. As where he
111. p. 260. j.]^g^j.ggj^|^ Y\\m to relate a false piece of history concerning
a synod called at London by Thomas Arundel, Archbi-
shop of Canterbury, and about a complaint made there
by the scholars of Oxford. Where, after the recitation of
the history as set down by our Archbishop, he undertakes
the refutation of it ; setting these big words in the margin ;
Refutatio relationis Matthcei Cantuar. And in another
place he thus diminishes the credit of the Archbishop's
history, Si Hits standum sit Mstoriis, quas Matthmis Par-
Tcer Cant. Arckiephcopus edidit. And elsewhere in the
margin appears Lapsus Mattheei Cantuar. As it is not a
place here to examine Twine's assertions, so upon his sole
credit one would not be ready to suspect our Archbishop's
skill or faithfulness in antiquities ; who was so thoroughly
studied in them ; and whose truth and conscience none
could accuse.
The abovesaid declaration of my impartiality and truth
will, I hope, shield me against the censure of some parties,
who, by reason of prepossession, may not like some things
they read here, not so agreeable to their espoused prin-
ciples and inclinations. For I am only an historian, and
relate passages and events, and matters of fact, as I find
them, without any design of favouring or exposing any
side. And to such I speak in the words of Sir George
Archbishop Paul, who wrote the life of another Archbishop. " The
Whitgift. a discreet reader will see, that [what I wi-itel is out of in-
Pref. to his ' L J
Life. " structions, records, and authors ; and not out of mine
" own disposition ; who desire as well herein, as in other
" my courses, rather to imitate the Archbishop in his mild
" and moderate carriage, than wilfully to be offensive or
" displeasing to any."
It may be said, I am short and imperfect in some of my
THE PREFACE.
xm
relations, and leave the reader unsatisfied in the conclu-
sions and events of several things. It is true ; but this is
unavoidable sometimes, when after my searches no more
occurs. And yet often what is omitted in one place of the
book is reserved on purpose to be related in another. And
not seldom, what is briefly told here, may be supplied from
some other history which hath before been published by
me : and therefore purposely but only hinted, or more suc-
cinctly handled in this ; that I may not repeat what is else-
where to be found: as, either in the Memorials of Arch-
bishop Cranmer, or the Annals of the Reformation imder
Queen Elizabeth, or in the Life of Archbishop Grindal.
To which I must join the Life of Aylmer, Bishop of Lon-
don, an active Bishop, as those times required. And there-
fore for whom our Archbishop Parker had a great esteem,
and more than once recommended him to the Queen for a
bishopric. Thus, where mention is made of the Archbi-
shop's care to have the Puritan book De Disciplina well
answered ; that matter is more fully considered in the said
Bishop Aylmer's Life. And where some things are spoken
of T. Cartwright, the first broacher of Puritanism, if any
require more of his history, and the troubles he fell into
afterwards, he may read it there. And such further ac- Addition,
counts may be there found of Campion, the Jesuit ; who igP-^^'-^o
but touched in this history. Much of the Puritan story
and events are shewn in the said Life, which will amphfy
much what is said of them under this Archbishop. Divers
things are read in this history concerning the Clergy of
London; and how they were all summoned before the
ecclesiastical commission at Lambeth. But we must apply
elsewhere, if we ai'e minded to see what the said London
Clergy's behaviour was after the Archbishop's decease.
And this we shall find in Aylmer's discharge of his episco-
pal function in the said city ; and what concerns he had
with them in his visitation. Again, much is spoken here
of our Archbishop's actings in the ecclesiastical commission.
The proceedings and judgments of this commission after-
wards, the said Life of Aylmer will shew, while he was one
xiv
THE PREFACE
of the chief there, and sat with Parkers next successor, viz.
Archbishop Whitgift. In short, these histories of the af-
fairs of our Chui'ch, and the hves of some of the chief
Prelates of it, set forth of late by me, will mutually illus-
trate and supply one another. And it must be noted, that
in the said Annals and GrindaFs Life will be found much
more of our Archbishop's story, omitted here to avoid re-
petition. To the reading therefore of them I refer the
reader.
There were three great Metropolitans that presided in
the province of Canterbury during Queen Elizabeth's reign.
The Lives of the two former, viz. Parker and Grindal, by
God's permission and assistance, I have wrote, and now
published to the world. Dr. Whitgift was the third, equal
to both his predecessors in right godly and episcopal quali-
fications and endowments. And so much business occur-
ring in his government, and such difficulties in preserving
the Church in its primary constitution, happening ; and so
great wisdom, diligence, steadiness, courage, (and yet gen-
tleness intei'mixed,) accompanying all his orders and ac-
tions ; that it is pity but that (besides those brief notices
that Sir George Paul hath appositely given of him) a just
account of his life and acts also might be writ by some able
pen. Whereby not only a due honour might accrue to that
Archbishop's memory also, but that the present and future
age might become better acquainted with the chief affairs
of this Church of England for the last twenty years of that
long and happy reign.
But to draw to a conclusion : what the observing reader
sees in this and my other historical volumes, may justly
reconcile a high respect and esteem both to the Church of
England and its hierarchy of Archbishops and Bishops.
The godly Prelates had the toil and trouble of the spiritual
government, accompanied with continual discouragement,
slander, and detraction. But maugre all envy and oppo-
sition, by their vigilancy, and patience, and learning, our
reformed Church was happily settled and maintained. And
we enjoy the blessed fruits of their labours, viz. deliver-
THE PREFACE.
XV
ance from gross superstition, opportunities of Christian
knowledge, tlie freedom of the Gospel, and singular means
of grace and salvation.
And all these spiritual advantages are conferred upon us
in the communion of this Church of England. The bless-
ings of which Church I choose to express in the words of
one of the most eminent and learned Bishops of those
times, in a sermon preached at the Queen's chapel; " For Cooper, Bi-
" the truth of doctrine according to the word of God; for^iJ^\°^^
" the right administration of the sacraments; for the true*"- 1^^^-
" worship of God in our prayers, laid down in the Book of
" Service ; (since the Apostles' age unto this present age
*' of the restoring of the Gospel;) there was never Church
" upon the face of the earth so nigh the sincerity of God's
" truth, as the Church of England is at this day." And
when Martin Marprelate, taking notice of this passage in
his sermon, had called him fiattering hypocrite for these
words; he took occasion, in a book afterwards written
by him, to say, " that he would justify what he had said Admonit.
" to be true upon the danger, not of his living only, but of p^opig
" his life also, against any man that would withstand it. England.
" And that he did think, that not any learned man that
" favoured the Gospel, though he misliked some things and
" persons now, would reprove it." Though the foresaid
foul-mouthed libeller for this called that venerable and •
godly Prelate desperate Dick, and, shameless, impudent,
wainscot-faced Bishop : which rude words he meekly bore.
To which I will subjoin the judgment of another later
very learned, wise, and good Bishop in our times, now de-
ceased ; expressing thus his sense of the Reformation and
this Church : " There was no reformation in the world,
" that was more orderly begun, more regularly pursued,
" and more stedfastly maintained, than ours. It is a
" Church, which was watered with the blood of the Re-
'* formers, and hath for this hundred years [he might
" have added many more] been still upheld by the un-
" wearied endeavours of those that were in place among
" us. Again, it is a constitution that we have had good
xvi
THE PREFACE.
" experience of, and have seen how it hath kept its ground,
" and bid such constant defiance to the Church of Rome,
" that they have not been able to run it down with all their
" prowess c," [I may add, nor policy.] And a further am-
ple experience of this, to the lasting honour and reputation
of this Church, we had some years after this sermon was
preached ; viz. in the trying reign of King James II.
" And further, as to the opinion and esteem this consti-
" tution hath always had abroad among impartial persons
" and learned Protestants, it is looked upon as the top of
" the Reformation; and to which in difficult cases others
" have made their appeals. It hath been honoured by our
" friends, feared by our enemies, and contemned by none
" but ourselves at home."
' Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor, October anno 1679, by Dr. Wil-
liams, after Bishop of Chichester.
CHAPTERS AND CONTENTS.
BOOK 1.
JL HE INTRODUCTION : containing the author's purpose.
P. 1.
CHAP. I.
The Archbishop's nativity, stock, education. His removal to Ann. 1604,
the University of Cambridge ; entrance into holy Orders. *"^*
Studies divinity closely. Embraceth the Gospel. Many now
profess it in Cambridge. P. 3.
CHAP. II.
Preaches. His first preferments. Made Queen Anne's Chaplain, Ann. 1533
and Dean of Stoke college : some account thereof. Preaches i^^s.
before the King. P. 13.
CHAP. III.
Dean Parker a great preacher. A peculiar grace granted him by Ann. 1536,
the University. Bishop Latymer's letter to him. Made the
King's Chaplain. Accused for his sermons, in divers articles
preferred to the Lord Chancellor against him. His answer
thereto. A Popish Friar undermines his doctrine. Lord Crom-
wel sends to him to preach at Paul's Cross. P. 19.
CHAP. IV.
Parker created Doctor in Divinity. His good statutes for Stoke Ann. 1538.
college; the Duke of Norfolk sends to him for them. His
preferments. Elected Master of Bene't college ; by the King's
letters recommendatory. His good service to that house. The
Bishop of Ely's letter to him, to preach the supremacy. Bi-
shop Boner's letter to him, to procure preachers for Paul's
Cross. Benefices conferred on him. P. 25.
VOL. r. b
XVIU
CHAPTERS
CHAP. V.
Dr. Parker Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge. His account to the
Chancellor (Bishop Gardiner) of an interlude, that gave him
offence. The Chancellor's letter hereupon, reprimanding some.
His order about pronouncing Greek. Orders to the Vice-
Chancellor, from the Chancellor and Privy Council, touching
these players. The Vice-Chancellor's regulations of certain
matters in the University. P. 35.
CHAP. VI.
Ann. 1547. Stoke college by his meatis preserved from dissolution under
King Henry VIII. But dissolved under King Edward VI.
Hath a pension for it. Parker marries. Hath a son. Vice-
Chancellor again. The Archbishop and Bishop of West-
minster summon him to preach at Court. Two discoui^ses of
his writing. Preaches to Ket, and the rebels in Norfolk.
His danger thereby. P. 41.
CHAP. VII.
Ann. 1550. Pavker in a commission against Anabaptists. Preaches at
— 1558. , ° ^
St. Paul's Cross ; and at Court ; and at the funeral of Martin
Bucer, at St Mary's in Cambridge. Bishop Ridley writes to
him to preach again at the Cross. A third son borji to him.
Made Dean of Lincoln. Tremellius. His friends : his repu-
tation in the University. His writings. His condition under
Queen Mary; being deprived of all. P. 54.
CHAP. VIII.
Ann. 1558. Dr. Parker considered upon Queen Elizabeth's access to the
crown. Commissions from the Dean and Chapter of Can-
terbury. Dr. Parker's care now for religion. Nominated to
the archbishopric. His reluctancy to accept thereof. Mes-
sages to him from Court: with his answers. Petitions the
Queen by a letter. Dr. Parker Lord Elect of Canterbury.
P. 69.
CHAP. IX.
Ann. 1559. Wherein the Archbishop Elect was now employed. The Secre-
tary consults with him for the new Bishops. His advice for
reformation in Cambridge. He informs the Lord Keeper of
some present dangerous doctrines. Commissions from the
AND CONTENTS.
XIX
Dean and Chapter dining this interval. Assisteth at the
French King's obsequies. His endeavours about the ex-
changes of Bishops' lands. A fraud in the Church of Dubhn,
signified to the Elect, from the Archbishop there. His free
advice to the Queen concerning the cmcifix in her chapel.
P. 80.
CHAP. X.
The Archbishop Elect employed. In commission upon Ministers
deprived. Divers Romish Bishops and Divines in the Arch-
bishop's custody : Bishop Tonstal ; Bishop Thirlby ; Dr. Boxal ;
Dr. Tresham ; and Dr. Richard Smith, of Oxford. Some ac-
counts of them. An addition to his coat of arms, given him
by Garter. The patent thereof. P. 93,
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
The Archbishop's election, confirmation, and consecration. The Ann. 1560.
rites used. The Nag's Head fable j and confutation thereof.
The Act of Parliament, 8vo. Eliz. confirming the consecra-
tion. His enthronization : and temporalities restored. His
oath. P. 101.
CHAP. II.
Consecrations and ordinations of Bishops and Ministers by the
Archbishop, or his order. His care for the vacant churches.
Lent. The Popish Bishops write to the Archbishop : his ex-
cellent answer. And so doth Calvin write to him about the
union of Protestants. A metropolitical visitation. His letter
to the Bishops of his province. The Bishop of Ely gives him
a certificate of his diocese. Visits the dioceses of Canterbury
and Rochester. Makes statutes for two hospitals in Can-
terbury. P. 125.
CHAP. III.
Divers dioceses visited. Some difference between the Archbishop
and Bishop Sandys. The Archbishop makes statutes for
Christ's Church, Oxon. Statutes for St. Peter's Westminster.
Lands of the see of Canterbury exchanged. Regulates his
b 2
XX
CHAPTERS
courts, and other matters in his church. Moves the Queen to
marry. The Archbishop in ecclesiastical commission ; makes a
reformation of clivers matters in tlie Church. Alteration of
the Lessons in the Calendar. Book of Homilies. Bucer and
Fagius restored. The Queen dines at Lambeth. P. 151.
CHAP. IV.
The Archbishop takes care of the vacant sees : especially those
of the north. His Admonition concerning Matrimony, set
forth. An order concerning preaching. A message from the
Protestants in Germany. Cosins, Master of Katharine hall,
Cambridge, resigns to the visitors. The Popish Bishops in
prison : the Council sends to the Archbishop concerning
them. The Archbishop writes in behalf of some of the Dutch
Church, London, in the inquisition in Flanders. Appoints a
special form of prayer for the season. Forbids the ordination
of mechanics. P. 171.
CHAP. V.
Ann. 1561. The Archbishop with his Assessus. A Declaration to be read
by Ministers. Orders for preserving uniformity among Min-
isters. The Archbishop's interpretation of the injunctions.
The Clergy taxed for reparation of St. Paul's church burnt.
This fire gives occasion to a Popish libel : answered by the
Bishop of Durham. The Archbishop's certificate concerning
the Clergy. The Certificate of the London Clergy. Bishop
of Hereford's certificate and letter. P. 181.
CHAP. VL
An address of the Archbishop, and other Bishops, to the Queen,
against images. She is oSended with a Common Prayer Book
with cuts. Articles concerning the Clergy agreed upon in
the ecclesiastical commission. An apology of the Church of
England, now preparing, by the advice of the Aichbishop.
The honourable re-burial of Peter Martyr's wife. P. 191.
CHAP. VIL
The Archbishop's doings in his diocese. Restores Eastbridge
hospital. Certifies the schools and hospitals in his diocese.
Continues his metropolitical visitation. Eton college visited
by the Archbishop, and others. A new Provost there. Mag-
AND CONTENTS.
xxi
(lalen college visited. A complaint against the Bisliop of
Chester; committed to him. Reminds the Privy Council for
a Synod. P. 202.
CHAP. VIII.
The Queen in her ])rogress displeased with the Clergy. An
order against women's living in cathedrals and colleges. The
Secretary's letter to the Archbishop ; and the Bishop of Ely's
to him hereupon. The Queen declares to the Archbishop her
ofl'eiice at Bishops' and Priests' marriages. The Archbishop's
thoughts of it. P. 212,
CHAP. IX.
The Archbishop brings one Rice to subscribe the supremacy.
Flacius Illyricus to the Archbishop, concerning collecting ec-
clesiastical monuments. Application of the Archbishop of
Armagh to him. A case of marriage decided by Bishop Jewel.
The Archbishop favours Dr. Hnmfrey for President of Mag-
dalen college, Oxon. John Fox congratulates him that pre-
ferment. P. 218.
CHAP. X.
The Archbishop certifies to the Privy Council the schools and Aan. 1569.
hospitals in his diocese. P. 224.
CHAP. XI.
Commissions from the Archbishop for visitation of All Souls
college and Merton, in Oxford. The University of Cam-
bridge apply to the Archbishop concerning their Chancel-
lor. The Archbishop's sentence against the Earl of Hert-
ford's marriage. P. 228.
CHAP. XII.
A Synod. His doings therein. His character of the Bishops.
Oath of the supremacy. The Archbishop's advice to the
Bishops for the moderate ad.ministering of it. His letter to
the Secretary about it. Dr. Ackworth, a learned Civilian,
entertained by the Archbishop. The Archbishop's reparation
of his palace; and hospitality. P. 236.
CHAP. XIII.
The Council's letter to the Archbishop for St. Paul's. The Arch- Ann. 1563.
bishop goes down to his diocese. Book of Homilies j both
parts. Letter to him from the Council ; requiring an exact
b 3
xxii
CHAPTERS
account of his diocese. His certificate thereof. His metro-
political visitation continues. The ignorance of the Curates.
P. 252.
CHAP. XIV.
The Archbishop at Canterbury. His pious motion. An Office
of Prayer and Fasting appointed for the plague and other
judgments. The Archbishop's concern in drawing it up. The
state of the church of Durham. Whittingham Dean there;
his letter concerning it. An Office of Thanksgiving. P. 259.
CHAP. XV.
Some of the Archbishop's doings in his diocese. Hears of some
writings of Archbishop Cranmer. Searches after them. Re-
covers them. Visits Sandwich. Furthers the freeschool there.
The good behaviour of the strangers settled there. P. 269.
CHAP. XVI.
Bishop Thirleby and Dr. Boxal with the Archbishop at Bekes-
born. Queen Mary's Bishops and Divines favourably dealt
with. Archbishop Hethe, Bishop Bourne. John Bale, the
antiquarian. Prebendary of Canterbury, dies. P. 277.
CHAP. XVII.
The Archbishop judges in a cause of contract of marriage. Fears
of a French invasion in Kent. The Archbishop's service,
and his letters to Court, on this emergence. The evil con-
dition of the nation at this time. The Archbishop's judgment
of commendams for St. Asaph and small bishoprics. His
care about the bishopric of Landaff, now void. P. 286.
CHAP. XVIII.
Coverdale made Minister of the parish of St. Magnus, London.
A message to the two Archbishops from the Assembly of Di-
vines in Edinburgh, Musculus's Common Places translated,
and dedicated to the Archbishop. The Admonition prefaced
thereto (as it seems) by him. P. 295.
CHAP. XIX.
Ann. 1564. The Archbishop labours an uniformity among the Ministers ;
in habits and other ceremonies appointed. Dr. Turner, Dean
AND CONTENTS.
xxiii
of Wells, refractory to them. Varieties used in the service of
the Church. Information of this to the Archbishop out of the
country. The Queen's letters to the Archbishop, for enjoin-
ing the habits. The Bishop of Durham's letter occasioned
hereby : and the Archbishop's to the Bishop of London.
What the Bishops did hereupon ; and the Puritans. Dean
Whittingham's letter to the Earl of Leicester : and Kingsmil
to the Archbishop. P. 300.
CHAP. XX.
The Archbishop and some other Bishops compose the Book of
Advertisements. Why so called. The difficulty the book met
with at the Council Board. The Archbishop in some heat
about it. The Dean of St. Paul's chidden at Court. P. 313.
CHAP. XXI.
The Archbishop's proceedings for uniformity. Jlxcites the Bi-
shop of London. P. 320.
CHAP. XXII.
Sampson and Humfrey of Oxford, summoned before the Arch-
bishop and Ecclesiastical Commission. Their supplicatory
letter to the said Commissioners for forbearance : and to the
Earl of Leicester. The Archbishop consults with the Secre-
tary about displacing them. They are put uj) notwithstanding
to preach at St. Paul's Cross. P. 322.
CHAP. XXIII.
Queries put by the Archbishop in favour of the apparel 5 with
the answers of Sampson and Humfrey. Replies to those
answers. Arguments against the apparel. Answers to them.
Arguments against imposing things indifferent : with the Bi-
shop of Rochester's answers. The controversy, as handled
by Bucer and Alasco. The Archbishop and Bishops debate
this matter among themselves. The Dean of St. Paul's paci-
fication. The form of Humfrey and Sampson's subscriptions.
P. 329.
CHAP. XXIV.
The Archbishop repairs his chancels, and his palace at Canter-
bury. Assists at the Emperor's funerals. The Archbishop's
son at Peter house in Cambridge. Dr. Perne's judgment in a
b 4
XXIV
CHAPTERS
dissertation giving offence, his account thereof to the Arch-
bishop. P. 345.
CHAP. XXV.
The act for making Wednesday a fish day. The Archbishop
dispenseth with Winchester college, and with the University,
for that day; and with John Fox, for Lent. Bishop Jewel's
Latin Apology. The Archbishop's letter to the Lady Bacon,
that had translated it into English. The Archbishop's tract
printed at the end. Learned women about this time. Dor-
man's Proof against Jewel's Challenge : and Nowel's Reproof.
Many other Papists write against Jewel. P. 352.
CHAP. XXVL
The state of the Church in the north parts. And particularly of
Rachdale, Whally, and Blackburn, in Lancashire, belonging
to the Archbishop. At Rachdale he founds a freeschool. The
state of the Church at Canterbury. The certificate thereof
sent to the Archbishop. The Bishops of London and Peter-
borough commence Doctors. P. 361.
BOOK III.
CHAP. L
Ann. 1565. Proceedings with Sampson and Humfrey. Sampson deprived,
and confined. The Archbishop's kindness to him in letters
wrote in his behalf. His grave advice to him. Other recu-
sants silenced. Among the rest, Withers of Bury. His letter
to the Archbishop of compliance. Some are winked at.
P. 367.
CHAP. IL
The Archbishop's orders about licences for preaching, and for
Curates. Repairs to Canterbury. Great feasting in his hall.
He is godfather with the Queen. Publishes a Dietary.
P. 376.
CHAP. IIL
The Archbishop moves the Chancellor of Cambridge for regu-
lation of University licences. Withers preaches there for re-
AND CONTENTS.
XXV
formation of glass windows. Several Heads of the University
write to the Chancellor against pressing conformity there.
Dr. Hutton and Dr. Beaumont, by occasion hereof, misre-
presented. The Chancellor interposeth his authority : and
sends them new statutes, framed chiefly by the Archbishop.
Disorders in St. John's and other colleges. His advice to
the Chancellor hereupon. Fanatici Superpelliciani in Cam-
bridge, complained of to him. P. 381.
CHAP. IV.
The Archbishop's care of the University. Withers apologizes
for himself to the Archbishop. His compliance j afterwards
travels beyond seas. A controversy between Dr. Caius, Mas-
ter of Caius college, and some of the Fellows, referred to the
Archbishop. He is accused to the Archbishop of irreligion
and Popery. The Archbishop's displeasure at him. P. 394.
CHAP. V.
The Archbishop's care in providing Lent preachers before the
Queen. Deliberates about appointing Dean Nowel to be one ;
with whom the Queen had been displeased. Reviseth the
combination of those preachers. His concern for filling two
vacant Welsh bishoprics. Appointeth a visitation for Ban-
gor. Recommends Herle, Master of Manchester college, for
that see. The usefulness of that college. His judgment of
certain saltworks in Kent. P. 401.
CHAP. VI.
The Geneva Bible comes forth. The Archbishop's judgment
thereof. The editions of that Bible. A new translation of
the Bible set forward by the Archbishop. The Bishops em-
ployed therein. Over which the Archbishop hath the chief
inspection. The said Bishops' letters and advices. P. 409.
CHAP. VII.
The Archbishop conversant about ancient books. Correspond-
eth with Bishop Davies, Mr. Salisbury, and Bishop Scory,
about British antiquities. A MS. in strange and unknown
characters. P. 4 1 7.
xxvi
CHAPTERS
CHAP. VIII.
The Archbishop's proceedings about the habits : chiefly with the
London Ministers. Lever's letter to the Earl of Leicester
and Secretary Cecil, against ejecting preachers. The Arch-
bishop endeavours to have his boolc for apparel allowed by
authority. Tender of proceeding to deprivation. The Queen's
proclamation for conformity. The Archbishop's care about
the Spital Preachers. How to proceed with the London
~ Ministers, P. 420.
CHAP. IX.
Ann. 1566. The Archbishop in commission. His proceedings with the
London Clergy. The book of Advertisements revived, and
published. Dr. Humfrey's letter to the Secretary thereupon.
P. 428.
CHAP. X.
Some are sequestered and silenced. Crowley, Minister of Crip-
plegate, one of them. The stir made by him in his church.
Sent for and censured by the Archbishop, Some account of
Crowley. The Archbishop clamoured against. His protesta-
tion and resolution. P. 433.
CHAP. XL
Endeavour to concern the Parliament in these contests. Books
published for and against conformity. The Privy Council's
order against seditious books. The Archbishop to Dr. Had-
don about these matters. Some Ministers under restraint.
John Fox, in this juncture, writes to the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners. P. 439.
CHAP. XIL
Continuation of the history of the London Ministers suspended.
Supply of the vacant churches. The Archbishop vindicates"
himself. His earnest letter for more countenance from the
Court. Becon's Postills printed for the help of Curates.
P. 447,
CHAP. XIIL
The judgment of Bishop Cox, in a letter to the Archbishop ;
and of Bishop Grindal, of these controversies. The Bishops*
arguments with the Dissenters, Their practices, A letter to
the Bishops from the Church of Scotland, The deprived Min-
AND CONTENTS.
xxvii
isters remitted their first-fruits, A Dominican pretends him-
self a Puritan. Examined by the Archbishop. P. 455.
CHAP. XIV.
The Archbishop makes inquiry into the Clergy of his province.
Appoints public prayers against the Turk. Robinson con-
secrated Bishop of Bangor. His sermon. The Archbishop
receives information where Cranmer's and Ridley's Disputa-
tions at Oxford were. Desires of Grafton a sight of certain
ancient authors used in his Chronicle. This historian's con-
dition. The Archbishop informed of the misbehaviour of
one Day, Curate of Maidstone, who had preached at the
burning of certain Protestants there. The Earl of Oxford
holds by Knight's service of the Archbishop. P. 461.
CHAP. XV.
A Saxon Homily, with two Epistles of Elfric, set forth by the Ann. 1567.
Archbishop ; and a learned Preface. The Great Bible printed.
The Convocation adjourned to Lambeth. A SuflFragan of
Nottingham. P. 472.
CHAP. XVI.
Many separate, and withdraw communion. They use the Eng-
lish Geneva book. Some are taken at a private meeting in
London. The Council's orders concerning them. The learn-
eder sort will not separate. Beza's advice to wear the habits.
Papists declaim against the English Liturgy. The imposture
of a Friar, befoi'e mentioned, that pretended himself a Puritan
Minister. Brought before the Council. Examined there by
the Archbishop. P. 478.
CHAP. XVII.
The Archbishop visits Norwich diocese. His commissions, and
Articles of Inquiry. The disorders there. The Archbishop's
endeavours to rectify them. Blames the Bishop of Norwich.
The Archbishop will not dispense with an order for three
Priests in Merton college. A conspiracy in that college,
against the Archbishop, dispersed. He founds scholarships
in Norwich ; and sermons anniversary. His ordinances for
them. P. 489.
CHAP. XVIII.
The Archbishop's kindness to Petrus Bizarrus. Curwin con-
firmed Bishop of Oxford, Some account of him. The Bishop
xxviii
CHAPTERS
of Bangor sends the Archbishop the state of his diocese ; and
his pursuit of British antiquities there. The Bishop of Peter-
borough informs the Archbishop of abuses done to his Clergy.
The Bishop of Carlisle moves the Archbishop to prevent the
danger of the alienation of a benefice from the Church. AU-
mer of Lincoln writes to the Archbishop concerning ancient
books there. Dr. Caius sends the Archbishop his book of the
antiquity of Cambridge. Contest in Cambridge about the
descent into hell. The Clergy makes vraste. The Secretaiy
informs the Archbishop of both. The Queen and Lord
Keeper offended with the Archbishop. His constancy not-
withstanding. His advice of dangers from Spain j and of in-
formers against the Clergy. P. 507.
CHAP. XIX.
Ann. 1568. The Archbishop's care for preserving hospitality at Canterbury.
Attempteth to make the river there navigable. Consecrates
a Suffragan of Dover. Orders to the Archbishop to inquire
into the religion and condition of all strangers. The Arch-
bishop, by letters of the Privy Council, hath the care of re-
cords and monuments. The Bishop of Sarum sends up a Sax-
on book to the Archbishop. Sir John Southworth, a Lanca-
shire gentleman, sent by the Council to be examined by the
Archbishop. Committed afterwards to the Bishop of London.
The Archbishop repairs Bekesbourn chancel. P. 519.
CHAP. XX.
Corpus Christi college, Oxon, visited by the Bishop of Winton :
and more effectually by commission from the Queen. The
Archbishop of Canterbury's privilege to visit Oxford. The
Commissioners ecclesiastical appoint a visitation of Corpus
Christi in Cambridge. The University refuse their visitation
on account of their privileges. The Commissioners call the
College up to Lambeth, The Archbishop satisfieth the Chan-
cellor of Cambridge of their doings. Papists banished the
Court. Some in the diocese of Gloucester officiate without
Orders. The Archbishop pacifieth differences in Corpus Christi
college, Cambridge. The Queen's appointment of Latin
prayers disobeyed in most colleges. The Archbishop's ad-
vice to the Chancellor hereupon. Procures new statutes for
Corpus Christi college. Gives the advowson of Abb church.
AND CONTENTS.
xxix
London, to that college. His advice for a Bishop of Chiches-
ter. Appoints Lent preachers for the Queen. Tremellius and
Corranus apply to him. His brother Mayor of Norwich.
P. 528.
CHAP. XXI.
The Archbishop sets out a new edition of the Great Bible ; and
of a smaller for families. The Clergy find arms. Their taxa- Ann. 1569.
tion put into a method by the Archbishop. Makes a rate of
arms for his own diocese. His own taxation of himself.
P. 540.
CHAP. XXII.
Sherborn house in disorder. Lever's application to the Arch-
bishop for redress thereof. Persons nominated for vacant
bishoprics. Consulted with about them. His judgment of
iElmer ; Bishop Grindal ; and Curteis. Stands up for his
Courts. His excellent letter to the Secretary about dispen-
sations. Favours Binniman the printer. P. 545.
CHAP. XXIII.
An edition of Matthew Paris now preparing by the Archbishop.
Censured about it; and vindicated. His labour to prevent
incestuous marriages. His table of marriage. P. 552.
CHAP. XXIV.
Letters from the Council to the Archbishop, to take account of
his diocese. Visits by commission. Visitation of the arch-
deaconry, certified to the Archbishop, A debate between the
Dean and Canons ; referred to the Archbishop, Eastbridge
hospital visited. The Archbishop makes new statutes for it.
P. 557.
CHAP. XXV.
Papists in the Temples ; brought before the Archbishop. In-
terrogatories for some of them. The Council writes to the
Benchers. John fiasco dies. Some account of him. Matthew
and John Parker have offices conferred on them by their fa-
ther. By the means of the Archbishop, the Master of Bene't
college resigns. Founds certain scholarships and fellowships
in this his college. Makes ordinances for them. Provides
them chambers and books. Gives a great gilt basin and ewer
to the city of Norwich. P. 567.
LIFE AND ACTS
OK
IMATTHEW,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
THE INTRODUCTION;
CONTAINING THE AUTHOR'S PURPOSE.
My purpose in this undertaking is, according as matters The Au-
have occurred to me, to display the Reformation of this ^^^J^^
Church of England, and the transactions accompanying it,
as they began and were carried on, next under God and
Queen Elizabeth, by the influence, wisdom, and conduct of
Archbishop Parker : but with a more especial eye unto his
life, actions, manners, and conversation, in his high and holy
function.
He succeeded the next but one to the ever memorable Cranmer
Archbishop Cranmer; Reginald Pole, Cardinal, being the *^^,fdiate
intervening Archbishop, who immediately followed the said predecessors
to Parker.
Cranmer in this transcendent charge and honour, and was
the great instrument made use of for the reconciling and
subjecting of this Church and kingdom to the Papacy; and
lived but sixteen hours after his royal mistress Queen Mary ;
she dying in the morning, and he at night. Of him de-
signing to say something elsewhere, I shall refrain my pen
from any discourse concerning him in this place ; it being
my intent to treat only of such of our Archbishops as were
reformed.
vol.. I. B
2 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
Nominated Queen Elizabeth being at her first access to the Crown to
Queen to nominate a fit person for the metropohtical see of Canterbury,
succeed. now void, it was resolved, that he that should fill this chaii' in
this critical time should be a person that might govern the
province with great prudence and moderation, and (Popery
being abandoned) might promote the true religion by per-
suasion and gentleness, rather than by other sharp and rigor-
ous methods. Therefore, in that plentiful choice of learned
and godly men of sound rehgion, that then beyond expecta-
tion appeared, after long and serious deliberation with her
counsellors, she pitched upon Matthew Parker, Doctor
in Divinity, as the best qualified in all respects for that office :
and whom she knew from her childhood ; having been chap-
lain to Queen Ann Bolen, her mother. King Henry VIII.
her father, and King Edward VI. her brother, successively.
The distri- My accounts which I have to make of this most reverend
the work! Father, and of divers ecclesiastical affairs that fell out during
2 his Primacy, I shall digest under four distinct portions of
time : the first whereof shall be from his youth to his con-
secration ; and the fifteen years and some months following,
(that is, from his consecration to his death,) being distri-
buted into three equal portions, shall complete the three
other parts. In the writing of which, I humbly implore
the aid and conduct of the Spirit of truth and peace.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 3
BOOK I.
CHAP. I.
The Archbishop's nativity, stock, education ; remove to
Cambridge ; his entrance into holy Orders. Studies di-
vinity closely. Embraces the Gospel. Many now pro-
Jess it ill Cambridge.
We begin with his birth, parentage, and education ; mat- CH AP.
ters, which though the least of those that are Avorthy to be ^'
set down and observed concerning our Archbishop, of whom Anno 1504.
we have so great things to say, yet do not use to be unac-
ceptable to hear, nor ought to be omitted by one that un-
dertakes to be a biographer.
He was born in the parish of St. Saviour's, in the ancient Parker
city of Norwich, (that gives nomination to a Bishop,) the*""^""
6th day of August, in the 19th year of King Henry VII.
and in the year of our Lord 1504 ; which was the year of
the splendid enthronization of his predecessor VVarham ; and
the very year also wherein the great light of the Helvetian
churches, Henry Bullinger, came into the world. So that
he was fifteen years younger than his glorious predecessor
Cranmer the martyr, and four years elder than his immedi-
ate predecessor Pole, the Cardinal. He had his education in
the parish of St. Clement's, near Fibrig, in the same city.
His father was William Parker, an honest and free citizen His father,
of Norwich aforesaid, and by trade a calendrer of stuffs; if ^rker"
we may believe what a peevish man, and enemy of the
Archbishop, notes in the margin of the English translation
of the life of the seventieth Archbishop of Canterbury.
Which William, being aged forty-eight years, died in the year
1516, when Matthew his son was but twelve years of age ;
leaving issue surviving, (besides Matthew his eldest son,)
Botolph, Thomas, and Margaret. William was the son and
heir of John, and John of Nicolas Parker, a man of note His great
B 2 grandfather Nicolas Parker.
4
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK in his time, being principal Registrary of the Archbishop
_______ of Canterbury, and keeper of the registers belonging to his
Anno 1504. gQ^j-j Canterbury. The authentic letters whereof still
remain (and I have seen them) in the register of Christ's
Regist. church, Canterbury, entitled, LitercB de Officio Registrarii
Curice Cant, concessce magistro Nic. ParTcero, publico au-
thoritate apostolica et imperiali Notario, et Curiai nostra:
Cant. Clerico jurato. By virtue whereof, this Nicolas Par-
ker, being, as is here specified, by apostolical and imperial
authority Public Notary, and sworn Clerk of the court of
Canterbury, was constituted Public Registrary of the said
court, and keeper of the registry, and of all acts, muniments,
and registers, belonging to the same office. This place was
conferred upon him by John Stafford, Archbishop of Canter-
bury, January 26, 1450. for of that date are the foresaid
letters: wherein the Archbishop bestowed this commenda-
tion upon the said Nicolas ; " The honesty of your beha-
" viour, and your other gifts of integrity and virtue, where-
" with we know you to be furnished, do deservedly induce
" lis to have a particular favour for you^." In this office
3 be continued three and thirty years, and more, viz. to the
year 1483, when, by an instrument in the same register ex-
tant, dated Febr. ult. he is said to be senio cmifractus, ac
diversis passionibus ac injirmitatibus detentus ; that is,
" broken with age, and hindei-ed from bu.siness by many
" maladies and infirmities."''' Which was the cause that Tho-
mas Bourchier, then Archbishop, joined with him Richard
Spencer, Public Notary, as his assistant. This Parker's house
was in Ivy-lane, in the parish of St. Faith's, London ; and
there he was alive in June 1484, as appears by an instru-
ment of that date, wherein he is mentioned.
His family. The family of the Parkers was of ancient standing in the
city of Norwich, and allied to other creditable citizens there.
One Margaret Parker, who, I suppose, might be the Arch-
bishop's grandmother, had a legacy bequeathed her by one
a Honestas niomiii, ca'teraque piobitatis et virtutiim dona, quibus te novi-
inus insignituiii, lueiiti) nos indiuuiit, ut iiersiiiiaiu tiiaiii favoie benevolo pio-
seqiiaiiiur.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 5
Thomas Aylmer, of Norwich, grocer, in his last will, dated CHAP.
August 13, 1500, therein styling her his aunt Margaret Par- ^"
ker. Which makes it probable, that John Aylmer, being a Anno 1504.
Norfolk man, and perhaps of Norwich, (sometime the learn-
ed and painful Bishop of London, and before that, tutor to
one of the learnedest and best women of that age, viz. the
Lady Jane Grey,) was related to our Parker. One of this
name, and I strongly conjecture of this family, (not unlikely
to be brother to William,) namely, Thomas Parker, I find Tiio. Parker
living in Colchester, a weaver by trade, and a known man,
as the earnest professors of the Gospel were called in those
dark times. For about the year 1525 (Tonstal being Bishop
of London) a strict inquisition was held, in those parts of
Essex especially, by the Bishop and his officers, chiefly for
the detecting and punishing of these known men. This
Thomas was then discovered by one that had used great con-
versation with him; informing, " that he had in divers Acta luqui-
, II- - I • •! • sit int.Foxii
" places, and at divers times, spoken against piJgnmages, jviss.
" pardons, and other articles ; and that they were not pro-
" fitable, and should not be used : and affirming, that
" we should worship God only, and no saints; and that
" the Sacrament of the Altar was but an host, and not the
" body of Christ: that pilgrimages to Walsingham, Ips-
\vich, and all other pilgrimages, were nought; and that
" those saints so repaired unto were but idols." For which
words and doctrines he was afterwards fain to abjure. And
yet it seems after his abjuration he could not let go his for-
mer opinions: for about the year 1531 I find John Mully
the Apparitor certified, " that he had used his diligence per-
" sonally to cite Thomas Parker of Colchester, suspected
" and detected of heretical pravity, (so the words of the
" Acts run,) and, as it is said, abjured; and that he had
" sought for him at his house, but could not take him, for
" that he fled." (And it was time for him so to do : for,
for his relapse after abjuration, he was to expect nothing
but burning.) Upon which the Apparitor took his oath.
And at this time Dr. Jeffery Wharton, the Bishop of Lon-
don's Vicar General, gave Margery Parker of Colchester,
B 3
6
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK wife, as It seems, to the said Thomas, her oath to make true
answer vinto articles to be ministered to her.
Anno 1504. iq return to our ^Villiam again, father to the Arch-
quaiitj ; bishop. He Uved in very good reputation and plenty, and
was a gentleman, bearing for his coat of arms in a field
gules, three keys erected. To which shield, in honour of the
Archbishop, a chevron was added afterwards, charged with
and chil- three resplendent estoilles. This man, besides our Matthew,
who was his third son, but the eldest surviving, had a fourth
named Botolph Parker, who also was in Orders, and a fifth
named Thomas, who afterwards obtained the chief place,
magistracy, and honour of his city, and was Mayor of Nor-
wich, when his brother Matthew had acquired the chief dig-
nity and held the highest place of eminency in the Church.
He with Alice his wife lie buried in the churchyard of St.
Clement''s ; over whose bodies was erected a tomb, which
Matthew his son, when Archbishop, appointed yearly
to the clerk of the parish to take care of, and defend from
being misused.
The Arch- His father dying, as was said, while this his son Matthew
mothe/and'^'^s young, left him to the care of his mother, as his prede-
her family, cessor Archbishop Cranmer was left to his by his father, dy-
ing also while he was young. His mother was Alice, of the
Monins. worshipful house of the Monins, or Monings, of Suffolk,
which also spread into Norfolk. There are now, or lately
were, some of that name and blood in Kent, being a stock of
long duration and credit in that county. An ancient gentle-
Nic. Battiy. "i^'^ of which family, lately living in Kent, told a reverend
friend of mine, now deceased, that he had heard his father
4 often say with much complacency, " Good Archbishop
" Parker lay in the belly of a Monins :" and that he had
seen in a parchment roll belonging to their house, that Mo-
nins was married to Parker. There is a private seat in the
parish of Bekesburn, formerly an house of Archbishop Par-
ker's, and his son's after him, where is a glass window Avith
the coat of arms of Parker and Monins impaled baron and
femme, being the Archbishop's father and mother. William
Monins of Norfolk, of whom our Archbishop was descended,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 7
was several times knight of the shire for the county of Nor- CHAP,
folk : which shews his family on his mother's side to have .
been ancient, and of good rank and quality. Anno 1504.
Of this ancient family of the Monins of Kent, let me add The family
but this further, as I have learned of one who hath deserved ,
nins.
well of this work. Of it were three branches. The first Nic. Battiy.
lived in Waldershire, a village in East Kent. Of that family
was Sir William- Monings. And of this house all the heirs
male are extinct ; the last of them leaving four daughters,
coheiresses ; the eldest of which is, or lately was, the wife
of Sir John Knatchbul in Kent, and knight of the shire for
that county. The second branch of the family lived in Lyd-
den, a small village near Waldershire. The third family
seemed to have been transplanted into Suffolk or Norfolk,
\\'hence the Archbishop"'s mother was derived. For in her
coat of arms, impaled with that of his father, was the mul-
let, the ordinary distinction of a third house.
This gentlewoman his mother lived thirty-seven years His mother
after the death of her husband, namely, to the year 1553, I^aYn^to
(lying in the month of September, being aged three years Baker,
above eighty ; and had the satisfaction to see her son Mat-
thew advanced to great preferment and honour in the Uni-
versity, Court, and Church ; and the happiness likewise to
die just before the time when he was stripped of all : to see
his prosperity, but not his adversity. But being young,
within three or four years after her husband Mr. Parker's
deatli, she married again to one Mr. Baker of Nor\vich,
gentleman: by whom she had John Baker; who afterwards John Baker,
lived at Cambridge, and was one of the witnesses for our Arch-l^^j/^^^'^-^P'"
bishop at his consecration, and whom he made his treasurer, ther.
and to whom by his last will he remitted a bond of two hun-
dred pounds, and constituted him one of his executors.
W e could perhaps more perfectly have set forth these Roll of the
things relating to his parentage, had we that roll and pedi- p^j^°^J*
ii;ree of the Archbishop's, which is found mentioned in a note-
book of John Parker, Esq. his son ; where be these words,
written with his hand, " My father's birth, and divers pro-
" ceedings of his, under seal ;" and, " A roll of my father's
B 4
8
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " birth and pedigree." These he mentioned as being in his
custody : and probably were both written by the Archbi-
Numb. I.
Matthew
Parker's
education
Anno 1504. shop himself, as willing to leave some memorials of himself
to his posterity. The former of these is safely lodged in
Parker''s MS. library in Bene"'! college: and of this I have
made use occasionally. The other MS. viz. the roll of his
birth and pedigree, I am afraid is utterly lost. However,
to make some amends for it, I have procured somewhat of
the Archbishop's family, and the descent from him, fovmd
by an inquisition of Kent, made by the Office of Heralds in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; when the coat of arms of
John Parker, Esq. son and heir of the Archbishop, was given
in and entered into their books : an exemplification whereof
was in much favour and readiness communicated to me by
Sir Henry St. George, then Clarencieux, now Garter, King
at Arms: which may be seen in the Appendix.
Nothing was wanting to the forming of Matthew's tender
years ; as though he were to be nurtured up on purpose to
fill some eminent places in the Church or State: for he had
several masters for his education in several faculties. His
first masters for reading- were one Benis, Rector of St. Cle-
ment's in Norwich, and one Pope, a Priest. For xoriting he
was instructed by one Prior, Clerk of St. Benedict's. For
singing. Love, a Priest, and Manthorp, Clerk of St. Ste-
phen's, were his masters: of both whose harshness he felt
so much, that he could never forget it. But he had amends
in W. Neve, his schoolmaster for grammar learning, a man
of a more gentle and mild disposition ; who was provided to
teach him at home.
5 And being by him sufficiently fitted for the University,
Anno 15-20. thither he was transplanted in the year 1520, a year remark-
Sent to for the theatrum imamnis crucifixi, i. e. a rood-loft, then
Cambndge. o j ^
first magnificently built in St. Mary's church in Cambridge,
and partly gilt: which stood to the fourth year of Queen
Elizabeth, when, by the means of this sometime young scho-
lar, being now Archbishop of Canterbury, it was for the most
part demolished. In this year, I say, about the beginning
of the month of September, in Sturbridge fair-time, being
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 9
then entered into his seventeenth year, and so of more matu- CHAP,
rity to set about manly studies, he was removed to Cam-
bridge, and admitted into the college of Corpus Christi and Anno 1520.
the Blessed Virgin, now commonly called Bene't college : to
which house are appropriated peculiar encouragements for
such young men as shall be sent thither from the city of
Norwich. There he was at first maintained wholly at his
mother's charge. His lodging was in St. Mary Hostlc, st. Mary
situate within the parish of Great St. Mary's. The title and ^""^^"^
government of which hostle, though at that distance, belong-
ed to Bene't college, till he afterwards purchased it of the
Master and Fellows, as we shall hear hereafter. Through
this hostle was a fair way afterwards made to the public
schools at the Archbishop's charge, and named Universitv-
street, but now commonly called The Regent Walk.
It hath been observed as no small honour and happiness Which re-
to the University, that Parker, Bacon, and Cecil, were all u*^fro"a
contemporary here : who afterwards at the same time also him.
were all advanced to the highest places and dignities in the
kingdom ; the one to be Archbishop of Canterbury and
Primate of all England ; the other to be a Privy Counsellor
and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal ; the third to be Secre-
tary of State and Privy Counsellor also, and High Chan-
cellor of the said University, and not long after Lord High
Treasurer of England : " who, as they all at the same time
" studied at Cambridge, and flourished in their studies there ;
" so after, at one time were the chiefest statesmen under
" Queen Elizabeth. Grave, wise, and sound in their admin-
" istrations, and studied to their utmost to be furtherers of
" good learning*." But to return to our student.
He had the misfortune to be placed under a tutor, one
Cooper, of small learning. Yet six months after his admit-
tance, viz. March the 20th, he behaved himself so well, that Made Sdio-
he was chosen a Scholar of the house, called a Bible Clerk ; {fj ^'"^
tiouse.
» Qui ut eodein tempore Cantabrigis omnes studuerunt studiisque florueruiit
maxime ; ita In admiiiistranda rep. sub clementiss. nostra principe Elizabeth,
eodem tempore omnes graviter, sane ct sapientcr praesunt, omnibusque modis
prodesse niusis student. De .Jntirj. Ca/ilub. p. 173.
10
THE LIFE
OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
I.
Anno 1523
Regist.
Cantab.
Bradford,
Ridley.
Baclielor
of Arts.
Anno 1527
Master of
Arts, and
Fellow.
Invited to
the Cardi-
nal's coIleg(
at Oxford.
Antiq.
Cantab,
p. 202.
6
and setting close to his studies, he employed himself in read-
ing and digesting logic and philosophy, till the year 1523,
when he determined, and took his degree of Bachelor of
Arts.
And at the same time two others, that after proved also
very eminent for religion, even to the shedding of their
bloods for it, commenced the same degree, viz. Bradford and
Ridley, both of Pembroke hall. And so also did one Scot,
who seems to be he that was afterwards Bishop of Chester,
but a zealot on the contrary side.
The year following, our Parker was made Subdeacon un-
der the titles of Barnwell and the chapel in Norwich Fields.
Anno 1527, in April, he was made Deacon, in June Priest,
and in September created Master of Arts, and chose Fellow
of the college, being now aged about twenty-four. And
minding to inform himself thoroughly in the matters of
religion then controverted, he plied the reading over the
volumes of the Fathers of the Church, and ecclesiastical
writers, becoming an hard student in the sacred science of
theology : and that with so great a vehemency of mind, that
in a short space he arrived to very considerable knowledge
therein, and acquaintance with the truly ancient state and
doctrines of the Church.
Such notice had been by this time taken of him, that he
was one of those in this University that should have gone to
Christ's and St. Frideswide''s college in Oxford, newly found-
ed by Cardinal Wolsey: for after this house was built, care
was taken to furnish it with men of the best parts and learn-
ing, to study and read there, and to adorn that magnificent
foundation. For which purpose, many scholars of ripe wits
and abilities in Cambridge were invited thither, with pro-
mise of great encouragement and reward. And this business
was committed to Robert Shirton, Master of Pembroke hall.
Some went, and some refused. Those that went were, Rich-
ard Cox, afterwards Bishop of Ely ; John Frier, a learned
physician ; Henry Sumner, John Clark, excellent divines ;
William Betts, Nicolas Herman, Richard Taverner, Flor.
Dominick, John Drumm, John Akars, John Frith, and some
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 11
others. But Cranmer, afterward Archbishop of Canterbury, CHAP.
John Skip, afterward Bishop of Hereford, Walter Haddon,
PubUc Professor of the Civil Law, and our Parker, all then Anno 1533.
of great reputation for their wit, learning, authority, or ex-
perience, (though these were invited also,) by the persua-
sion of their friends, went not. Our student therefore stayed
where he was, diligently following his studies.
So that within five or six years, having read over the Fa-
thers and Councils, being now about nine and twenty years
of age, he thought fit to go forth out of his more private
retirements, and render himself useful to the world, by
preaching the word of God unto the people. And the first Becomes a
Sunday in Advent, in the year 1533, he preached his fii"st
sermon to the University, being the same year wherein his
predecessor Cranmer was made Archbishop. The places
where he preached his first sermons, were first at Grant-
chester, within a mile or two of Cambridge, which belonged
to Bene't college ; next at Beech, then at St. Benet's, then
at Madingly, after that at Barton. So that he preached,
and that with good applause, first in the neighbourhood
about Cambridge, and in the town, and then afterwards
further off, and sometimes in towns and auditories of the
greatest eminency and note. And being soon observed for
his solid and profitable dispensing of God^s word, a thing
very rare in those days, Cranmer, Archbishop of Canter-
bury, granted him a licence to preach throughout his pro- Licensed by
vince, and King Henry VIII. a patent for the same: it be- ^'^'^ ^
ing needful at this time to license and encourage such with Cranmer.
pubhc countenance and authority, as could and would unde-
ceive the people in the gross and stupid superstitions that
then so much prevailed, and in the excessive encroachments
of Popes upon the imperial power of the Kings of this land ;
exalting themselves over them in their own dominions, and
commanding the purses of the people, when they pleased.
So that our Archbishop was an ancient lover of the Gos- imbibed the
pel, and embraced the profession of it in his younger years ^^^l^^
at Cambridge, when Bilney and Stafford and Arthur were young,
there. Besides which most pious and learned men, there
12
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK were divers others about the same time, and surviving them
' in the same cause ; as Friar Barnes, and Latymer ; by whose
Anno 1633. means reHgion and learning (for they went together) did then
begin to flourish exceedingly in that University. And of
these in Bene't college were Mr. Fooke and Mr. Sonde :
from whom our Parker, being a scholar of the same college,
may be presumed to have first tasted of the truth. And
Bilney. such was the great veneration he had for the said Bilney,
that he travelled to Norwich on purpose to see his martyr-
Parker's dom. And out of the honour he had for his memory, and
testimony •> '
of him. for the vindicating him from the report that Sir Thomas
Moore had given out, that he recanted before his death,
and read a scroll of paper at the stake to that effect ; the
said Parker, when Archbishop, having before been a diligent
eye and ear witness, gave a large and distinct account of all
particulars relating to him, from his condemnation to his
death : asserting also, that he had no such scroll or bill in
his hand, neither did read any such recantation. This rela-
tion of the Archbishop, Mr. Fox hath preserved in his Mar-
tyrology.
The dawn- For Parker's lot was to fall into the University in those
GospeHn ^^y^j when learning and religion began to dawn there ; when
Cambridge, divers godly men resorted together for conference sake; who
also oftentimes flocked together in open sight, both in the
schools, and at sermons in St. Mary's and at St. Augustine's,
where Dr. Barnes was Prior, and at other disputations. Of
which sort were several ; and of these colleges especially :
viz. King's college, Queen's college, St. John's, Peter house,
Pembroke hall, Gonwell hall, and Bene't college. Their
meetinffs to confer and discourse together for edification in
Christian knowledge, were chiefly at an house called The
White Horse ; which was therefore afterwards nicknamed
Germany by their enemies. This house was chose, because
they of King's college. Queen's college, and St. John's, might
come in with the more privacy at the back door. The names
Early pro- of some of these early professors, beside those above-men-
fessorsofit.^.^^^^^ wcre Mr. Cambridge, Mr. Field, Mr. Colman, Mr.
7 Coverdale, BB. D. of the Augustine's, and Mr. Parnel,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 13
Barnes's scholar ; Dr. Farman and Dr. Heins, of Queen's ; C H A P-
1
Dr. Thistel, or Thixtel, of Pembroke, and Thomas Allen
Fellow there, who was present at Bilney's burning. Here^""°
also were Dr. William Turner, Dr. Nicolas Ridley, Dr.
Crome, of Christ's college, I think, Dr. Warner, an old ac-
quaintance of Bilney's at Cambridge, and was with him also
at his burning, being then Parson at Winterton, whom Bil-
ney chose to be with him, to comfort him in his extremes ;
Rodolph Bradford of King's, Dr. Smith of Trinity hall ;
Simon Smith, Shaxton, Skip, and Segar Nicolson, of Gon-
vil hall ; together with those before mentioned of Bene't
college. To which I may add Dr. Edmunds, Master of
Peter house, who kept a wife privately, and had a son,
if I mistake not much, who was afterwards Mayor of Cam-
bridge, and (somewhat ungratefully) proved a great sider
with the Town against the University.
CHAP. II.
Preaches. His first preferments. Made Queen Anne''s
Chaplain, and Dean of Stoke college. Some account
of it. Preaches before the King.
But to return to our Divine. He was commonly ap- Preaches
pointed to preach in the solemn time of Lent in the most court,
public auditories : an office, for which the best-learned preach-
ers were sought out. On this occasion he preached often be-
fore King Henry VIII. King Edward VI. and Queen Eliza-
beth. Nevertheless he was a man of modest manners ; and
though his learning and abilities were so well known, that
he was often solicited to take public places, and to go abroad
into the world, and make himself more known, yet he was
unwilling to be brought thereunto, affecting an University
and close life. His first public sermon was preached at Preaches a
Balsham, before the Bishop of Ely in his visitation annoy'"''"';'""
1534. And when without his seeking, being about thirty-
14
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O^O K one or thirty-two years of age, he was sent for up to Court
, ' into the service of Queen Anne, he earnestly decHned it. It
Anno 1534. ^vas in the year 1533 or 1534, that Mr. Belts her Chaplain
Queen died, who was one of those selected Cambridge men, that
Anne's Cardinal Wolsey placed in his new-founded college at Ox-
Acts and ^^^'^ ' whom Fox gave this character, that " he was a
iMon.p.94i. " good man and zealous, and so remained." He, with divers
other learned students there, being favourers of the Gos-
pel, and readers of the Scriptures, were put into a doleful
dungeon in that college for that reason, and endured much
hardship, to that degree that many of them died. After
some time Wolsey ordered they should be delivered thence.
But Betts not long after escaped, and went back to Cam-
bridge; and afterwards became Chaplain to Queen Anne
Bolen, and was in great favour with her. In whose room.
In whose being dead, Parker was sent for to succeed. For John Skyp,
room Par- , i z-v r r- i -n- p tt
ker sue- Almoner to that Queen, (afterwards Bishop oi Hererord,)
ceeds. from Hampton Court writ two letters to him to Cambridge
to come up ; and the second, the week before Easter, more
earnest, upon his declining the summons of the former : for
that (as he wrote him plainly) the Queen was minded upon
Betts^s death to make him her Chaplain : bidding him
bring with him a long gown, and that should be enough.
Parker's fa- Mr. Parker soon came in great favour with his mistress
«"e Queen Quecu, liking him for his learning, and for his prudent
and godly behaviour. Insomuch that not long before her
death, he being with her, she gave him a particular charge
to take care of her daughter Elizabeth, (afterwards the glo-
rious Queen of England,) that she might not want his pious
and wise counsel, with some other private instructions con-
cerning her.
cheke And as a token of the interest he had with her, I find
Parker to Cheke, the learned man of St. John's college in Cambridge,
(afterwards tutor to Prince Edward,) writ a letter to Par-
vour of the ^ ... .
Queen. ker then at Court, desiring him to acquaint the Queen, that
8 there was a very hopeful scholar chosen Fellow of their col-
lege, but so poor that he could not pay some dues required
before he entered into that society : and so earnestly en-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 15
treated him to obtain some liberality for him at her hand. CHAP.
For it was well known in the University how extraordinary .
munificent she was towards poor scholars that were studious ^"^"o
and virtuous, and how liberal in her exhibitions towards
them. She only required some good character from Dr.
Skip, or Parker, or some other of her Chaplains, of any scho-
lar that expected or sued for her bounty.
After he had spent about eight months or more in her is Bachelor
service, having now commenced Bachelor in Divinity, July an(f made^'
14, the college of Stoke by Clare, in Suffolk, fell void, Viy Dean of
the death of Robert Sherton, the last Dean thereof. This, j^gg
the Queen having the right of presentation, preferred her
Chaplain Parker to, November 4, being now thirty-two years
of age, under the title of Dean of the college of St. John
Baptist de Stoke, in the diocese of Norwich : into which
he was inducted November 13, 1534, (or, according to a
MS. 1535,) and in the 27th of King Henry VIII. This MS. inC.
happened to him to his great satisfaction ; not so much be-
cause of the value thereof, (which was but indifferent, being
but 43Z. 6s. 8d. per annum,) as because it was a pleasant
solitary retirement for him, when he pleased to withdraw
himself from the Court or the University, from which it
was within twenty miles distant. This college, his friend
Dr. Walter Haddon used to call Parker''s Tusculanum :
and in a letter to him from Cambridge about the latter end
of King Henry's reign, the plague being then in the Uni-
versity, the said Haddon wanting a retirement, writ his de-
sire to be admitted into some corner of that pleasant col-
lege ; adding, " how that place seemed in a manner to be
" made on purpose for scholars, both to learn themselves,
" and to teach others ; and that its situation was such, that
" above all others it best suited for honest and ingenuous
" pleasures =1."
This college was in former times a priory of Benedictines, This college
but by Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, (by whose an- pH^r"'^ *
cestors it had been founded,) it was changed into a collegiate
» Solus is locus ad delectationes honestas et ingenuas aptissimus, et ad do-
cenduiu et discenduni poene factus esse videtur. I/it. MSS. C. C. C. C.
16 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK church, for a Dean and six secular Canons, eight Vicars,
^' two greater Clerks, and five Cliorists : which change was
Anno 1634. ratified by Papal authority of John XXIII. and Martin V.
Barneslay being the first Dean, in the year 1422 made sta-
tutes for the government of it ; which are preserved in the
Vol. 111. p. Monasticon AnMicanum. It was valued at 324/. 4*. \d.
165, &c. * .
Bekensaw, This deanery seems to have been appropriated for the
Dean of Chaplains of Queens. For King Henry's former Queen,
Katherine, procured it to Bekensaw, Professor of Divinity,
her Chaplain and Almoner in the year 1517. But to this
he had a large accumulation of other preferments, as was
customary in those days : for he was Ti-easurer of the
church of Lincoln, Canon of Windsor, Subcentor of the
church of Wells, Vicar of Croxton, Rector of Bradwell,
(that in Essex, I suppose,) Rector of Chagforth in Devon-
shire, Master of Queen's college Cambridge, and Fellow of
St. Michael college there ; as I find them set down by Par-
in Bibiioth, ker, in a certain MS. shewing the names, titles, and dignl-
c. c. c. c. ^jj ^j^g Deans of Stoke, from the first foundation to
his own time.
Parker While Mr. Parker was Dean, he laboured to reform the
schoof in superstitions here used. And for this purpose, within his
' f^st""*^^^ college, even at his first coming, he founded a grammar-
school for children, to be instructed in good learning, and
in the principles of Christian religion ; and constituted a
yearly stipend for a schoolmaster. And here youth were
taught not only grammar, but brought up in all other studies
of humanity. Thither soon flocked in great plenty the chil-
dren as well of gentlemen as other poor men : and those of
the poorer sort had their schooling ^ra/i*. The scholars here
were taught also to sing, and to play upon the organs, and
other instrumental music, with other exercises, according to
their ages and capacities : and there were sundry teachers
attending accordingly.
His other In one of his papers relating to this college, he made this
tioiis here, memorandum concerning his building of this school, and
other his works, for the advancing of the college, viz.
Erejcit et (cdificav'it, &c. i. e. " He erected and built a gram-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 17
" mar-school, in the north part of the college near the gate, CHAP.
" and adorned the old house called the Celerer's Hall, for
" a hall for the Dean, Prebendaries, and Vicars. He paved Anno 1535.
*' it, and decked it with hangings." 9
And to purge the college the more from abuses and super- Makes new
stitions, and to make it serviceable to the realm, he caused jt' Bibiioth.
new statutes to be made for it, constituting; Queen Anne^ t^ *^ -^-
founder. o.
The first whereof was, That the Dean and Canons preach I.
continually, every one of them by themselves, or their law-
ful deputy ; especially once in the year, in every such town
and parish where the college have an annual rent or pension.
Item, That the money that remains after the whole 11.
charges and expenses of the college, be employed in this
manner : A reasonable stipend to be made, by the appoint-
ment of the Dean and Chapter, for some one that is learned
and able, to read a lecture of Scripture four days a week at
the least in the college. And the Canons Resident and
Vicars shall be bound to be present. The lecture to be
read by one of them, or by some chosen out of Cambridge
or Oxford ; and his commons allowed him among the Vicars
of the said college.
Item, That the reader endeavour himself unfeignedly m.
to open, and plainly to entreat his lecture the first half hour
in the vulgar tongue, for the capacity of those that be not
learned ; and then the next half hour in the Latin tongue,
without curious or superfluous discourses, or invections.
Item, That there be one that is able and learned suffi- IV.
ciently, to teach grammar in the said college to the youth
of the country about the college. And he to be allowed for
his stipend yearly ten pounds.
Item, To be found in the college henceforth a more v.
number of queristers, to the number of eight or ten, or more ;
as may be borne conveniently of the stock, to have sufficient
meat, drink, broth, and learning. Of which said queristers,
after their breasts be changed, we will ihe most apt of wit
and capacity be helpen with exhibition of forty shiUings,
four marks, or three pounds apiece, to be students in some
VOL. I. c
18
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK college in Cambridge. The exhibition to be enjoyed but
^' six years.
Anno 1536. These statutes Dean Parker procured to be translated
into Latin by the elegant pen of John Cheke. We may
safely conclude, that these new statutes added unto the an-
cient ones (which were noted to be very good) made this reli-
gious foundation of considerable use and benefit, both to
the neighbourhood and those of the college too. And
withal, the Dean seemed hereby to have an eye to the secur-
ing of his college in these times, when religious houses were
in such a tottering posture, being in the greater likehhood
of escaping the threatening ruin, as now put under the pe-
culiar patronage of the King's favourite and royal consort
Queen Anne, the new founder.
Some law As he by other ways and means endeavoured the good of
pTrk^er'to'''^ this his college, and to promote the credit and usefulness of
Bacon con- it, SO he was not wanting to preserve its wealth and reve-
coiiege^*'"* nues. Once there happening some contest with the tenants,
and among the rest with one Mr. Colt of Clare, a gentle-
man, as it seems, of worship, the Dean sent Pory, one of
the Prebendai-ies, I suppose, and his man, to Mr. Nicolas
Bacon, a great lawyer, and his good acquaintance and colle-
gian, (afterwards Lord Keeper,) with his questions for the
said lawyer to resolve, together with the evidences. One
case seemed to have been, the detaining of a gift, which Colt,
an executor, upon some pretence refused to make good.
And another was about a debt, owing to the college by the
last Dean deceased ; whether they might require it of the
tenant, the said Dean having let it to him by himself with-
out the Chapter, or else should require it of that Dean's
executors. Bacon retiu-ned Dean Parker a letter, giving his
opinion at large in the foregoing cases. And beside his
own, he had the judgments of two Judges, whereof the one
was the Lord Chief Justice, whom Bacon had consulted for
the sake of his friend the Dean. And, in conclusion, he ad-
vised him not to attempt the law : telling him, that though
in common law they had no remedy in this case, yet before
the Lord Chancellor they might have remedy in conscience.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 19
But then, by way of postscript, lest Mr. Dean should (as pro- CHAP,
bably he might sometimes have argued about that point with
his friend Mr. Bacon) charge the defectivene.ss of the com-A^"no 'sss.
mon law, " he prayed him however to speak well of the
" law, till he next met with him, though it appeared by his
" letter, that conscience and the law stood sub-contrary in
Jigura : adding, that the reason of that required a quire
" of paper at the least. And this he left therefore for a
" further leisure." But he that is minded to see this letter
of this learned Counsellor to Parker, may have it in the
AT " Numb. II.
Appendix.
And as the Queen had given Parker this college of Stoke, Parker fa-
so the King already took notice of him. And as a token of
the favour he had at Court, I will set down one thing, how
small soever it be, which I find remaining among his papers,
namely, a warrant from the King himself in the year 1535,
to the Keeper of the forest of Waybridg, for a doe of the
season for Mr. Parker, Chaplain to Queen Anne. Perhaps Preaches at
this was a reward for a sermon which he preached before the
King this year the third Sunday in Lent. But before this
he was brought up this year also, to preach a sermon before
the Lady Elizabeth at Hunsdon.
CHAP. III.
Dean Parker a great preacher. A peculiar grace grant-
ed him by the University. Bishop Latimer'' s letter to
him. Made the King's Chaplain. Accused for his ser-
mons in divers articles preferred to the Lord Chan-
cellor against him. His answers thereto. A Popish
Friar undermines his doctrine. Lord Crumwel sends
to him, to preach at PauTs Cross.
According to the tenor of the new statutes, the Dean Anno 153s.
gave a good example to his college, and preached often and preaches
excellently well, upon all opportunities, both here at Stoke,
c 2
20
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and at his other residence at Cambridge, and the parts ad-
joining to either. And it may be mentioned here as the
Anno 1636. University's great respect to him, and value for his preach-
ing, that a grace passed this year for granting the Dean, that,
by reason of a pain in his head, he might preach to the peo-
ple coopcrto capite, i. e. with his head covered, notwithstand-
Rev. T. Ba- ing the statute ; as a learned Fellow of St. John's college
in Cambridge hath observed to me out of the University
register, together with one or two graces more of the like
nature. But though the reverend man was not wanting to
put forth his talent of preaching God's word in and about
Cambridge, yet he cared not to be known further ; affect-
ing thus to lie hid, and to shew his light no further than
within these bounds. Whereupon good Latymer, Bishop
of Worcester, knowing him and his merits very well, excited
Bishop La- him by a letter to shew himself to the world. Parker's ac-
tymer's ad- . -it it • i
vice to him. quamtance with Latymer commenced, 1 suppose, in the
University : and so it continued afterwards. And Laty-
mer's conversation and events were so well known to him,
that long after Dr. William Turner, in a letter to Fox, ad-
vised him, that if he wanted further notices concerning
Latymer, he might but repair to the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, (that then was our Parker,) to whom he joined Dr.
Lancelot Ridley, and they would sufficiently instruct him.
But Latymer's letter to Parker at this time was to this
tenor :
Bishop La- <■<• Mine own good Master Parker, salutem ; and as I
Parker. " have devised nothing, nor yet will, till I have spoke with
c ^'"'c^c! " King's Grace, or have passed through the next ParUa-
voi. intit. " ment : and thus what I shall alter or change, &c." Which
cip'uni^&c ^'ords of his relate, I suppose, to the amending some of the
superstitious statutes of the University, which Parker might
have put him upon : a matter which the Bishop thought not
safe to meddle at all in, till he had spoken with the King
to know his mind, and had seen how the next Parliament
stood affected. And then he adds in the conclusion of his
letter, " And do as Master Latymer shall move you to do.
" Ostende te mtmdo. DelHcscere diutius nol'ito. Opcrare
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 21
*' bonum, dum tempus habes. Veniet nox, quuni nemo poterit CHAP.
" operari. Notum est quid potesyjac, non minus velis quam '
« potes. Vale. " Tuus of Worcester, A"""
" H. Latymerr ^ ^
And much lonofer he could not lie hid. For when he had Made the
lost his beloved lady and mistress, Queen Anne, the King chaplain,
soon after, viz. March 1, 1537, knowing the worth of the
man, called him to the Court, took him into his own service,
and made him one of his Chaplains,
About the time of the rebellion that fell out this year, our Accused for
Dean happened to preach on Easter holyday at Clare, near chire!'"'* *
Stoke, a very populous town, and replenished at that time
with soldiers for the King ; where he took occasion to preacli
against the superstitions used on the Resurrection-day, and
many other superstitions, and against the abusive worship of
relics : and withal excited the people to a willing payment of
their taxes, to defray the King's charges of war. But soon
after, his Popish enemies, namely, Mr. George Colt, and some
other inhabitants of the town of Clare, picked out what in-
vidious matter they could from this and other innocent ser-
mons, preached by Parker, and drew all up into articles
against him : which they delivered to the Lord Audley, Lord
Chancellor. These articles, with the answer under Par-
ker's own hand, were as follow :
I. The manner as they used the Resurrection, rcith Articles
, • • 7 . , . , aiiainsthim,
ceremonies appertaining', was but a pageant, or an tnter-^^^^ hisan-
lude. Then follows the answer made bv Parker : swers. Bibi.
c . c. c. c.
Upon Easter Monday, I had this text of St. Poule to my Misceiian.
theam : Si consurrexistis cum Chi-isto, qua sursum sunt ^'
sopite, Sfc. At what time I moved them to consider, spi-
ritually, what was meant by their procession on Easter
morning, when they followed the quere about church with
Christus resurgens. I said, that it was an open protesta-
tion of their faith, to believe that Christ died for their sins,
and rose again for their justification. And that the cere-
mony of such following in their procession, was to declare
and testifie openly to the world, that they would henceforth
follow Christ in their conversation ; that as Christ onys died,
c 3
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and died no moi-e, so would they cease and die to sin, no
' more to live therein : and as he rose from death to life, that
Anno 1537. go would they rise to a new life. And without this medita-
tion and purpose, their processions, ^vith the solemnities
thereof, was to them but a vain pageant, whereof they had
no profit.
II. That cross that Christ died on, zcas no holier than
the crosses which the thieves died on.
Resp. Upon Relic Sunday, I declared unto them what
were the true reliques which we should worship, and moved
them not to put their trust and affiance in the holiness and
vertue of mens bonys and cotys, [i. e. bones and coats,]
whereof we have no certainty, whether they were the re-
liques of saints or no. And I said, that be it in case they
were so, as we have been made believe; as if we had in-
deed some pieces of Christ's cross ; yet to forget the mystery
of Chrisfs cross, and fall to the worshipping of the tree of
his cross, was a superstitious worship, and reproved of Am-
De obitu brose. Which saith thus : Invenit Helena tituhim, ree;em
Thfodosii. . . . ' »
adoravit, non lignum utique. Nam hie Gentilis est error et
vanitas impiorum, si [reon] adorent ilium, qui pependit in
ligno, scriptusque in titulo.
Alii, qui sanctiores se ostendere volunt, partem fimbria
aut capillorum alUgant et suspendunt. O! impietas, ma-
jorem sanctitatem in suis vestimentis ostendere volentes
quam in carne Christi, ut qui corpus ejus manducans sana-
tus non fucr'it, fimbria ejus sanctitatem salvent, ut despe-
rans de misericordia Dei, confidat in vestimentis, <§-c.
III, The King, with the money that he gathered of his
Commons, bought peace with other realms.
Resp. In the insurrection time, I considered the resort of
soldiers, and of divers others, to the town of Clare, being
one of the most people in that quarter of Suffolk. And
thereupon I thought it then most expedient to go thither to
courage their hearts with God's word, to serve their Prince,
notwithstanding such traitors as were then risen. And in
my sermon I inveighed against sedition, and declared the
authority of a Prince, and what conmiodities every realm
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 23
enjoyed by such authority, instituted by God. And among C H A ;
others, I entreated of peace, what a benefit it was, by the .
means whereof we had the quiet fruits of our hfe, goods, and ^""^ '^37.
lands : and thereby moved them with good and ready wills
to pay their taxes, which was to be levied to some supporta-
tion of such charges as our peace was bought with : and 1 2
said thus : " Think you that our Prince can maintain and
" defend us in so long continual peace against foreign realms,
" without charges and expenses And what is this little
" which is required of you, compared to the rest of your
" goods, which ye do peaceably enjoy, or compared to the
" charges that your Prince is at for your protection and de-
" fence, &c.
What success this answer of Parker found to the dis-TUe Lord
charging him of this accusation, we may gather from these ^tl'sfied'*"^
words following, ^vl•itten by the same hand that the forego- therewith,
ing were, namely, that of our Matthew Parker : " These
" articles objected, were thus answered by M. P. and sent
" to the Lord Chancellor : which heard, he blamed the pro-
" meters, and sent word, that / should go on, and fear not
" such enemies.'" So well did our Dean come off in this
cause, by giving this true and fair account of his own ser-
mons, and stripping them of the slanderous representations
made of them : and instead of reproof gained encourage-
ment from the Court in his labours.
Upon this countenance, the Dean went on in his doc- a Prior
trine, exciting the people every where to obedience to the ^^^^.^
King, and informing them out of the word of God about mines Par-
many abuses of religion. So that the knowledge of God ^^^^g "^""^
was happily sown in these quarters by Mr. Parker's means.
But this so nettled Nix, the Bishop of Norwich, and the
Popish party thereabouts, that to unravel and disappoint
these good beginnings, Dr. Stokes, Prior of the Augustins
in Norwich, and one of those that were sent to Bilney, a lit-
tle before his execution, to discourse with him in prison, this
man, I say, is sent now to Clare, (the aforesaid town near
Stoke,) pretending to settle there, and to preach out of good-
will, and so he told Parker : but indeed, as Parker easily
c 4
384 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK smelt it out, it was to supplant his doctrine, and to reduce
" the people to the old superstitions, and to keep them in their
Anno 1537. blindness and Popery. Whereupon our Divine, soon after
Parker Stokes's coming, wrote him a letter, dated from Stoke, tell-
writes to ing him boldly and plainly, " that if he came to decoy the
" truth, which he had preached, or to make invectives, to
" the decay of the King's authority and lawful ordinances ;
" and to sow schism and confusion among the people, he
" must and would, according to his duty, give information
" above against him. But that if it were his sincere inten-
" tion to declare the truth, and edify the King's subjects,
" he would promise to join hands with him, and therein their
" friendship should consist." But the letter being so well
Number I II. and piously penned, is transferred into the Appendix.
He is ira- But Friar Stokes, it seems, took little warning by this
prisoned for sober and sound admonition of Mr. Parker's, but followed
Popish .
preaching, his first purpose of perverting the people by his preaching
against the King's proceedings ; and so in the end was laid
up in prison, for a complaint made against him to the Lord
Crumwel by the King's visitors, who had received some
informations against him at Clare. Whereupon they left
some precepts with him concerning his preaching, Avhich he
observed not. Out of prison he sent a letter to the Lord
Crumwel, the King's Vicar General, vindicating himself to
have preached up the King's authority against the Bishop
of Rome ; whom, he said, he did detest and abhor, with all
his Papistical factions. That whereas he was accused to
have preached against the Dean of Stoke, he said, he com-
mended him in his sermon by name, for declaring of certain
rites. And whereas some informed, that he preached sedi- i
tiously, he referred himself to all the audience, and four ^
persons would testify, that he preached the word of God sin-
cerely. He acknowledged indeed, that he had been much
addicted to the old ceremonies ; but he intended, by God's
grece, to reform himself. And at last he desired that the
King would permit him to change his habit. But his letter
Numb. IV. may be read in the Appendix.
About this time, if not before, our Parker was sent for up
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
25
by the Lord Crumwel to take a turn at Paul's Cross, by a CHAP.
... 111.
letter from the said Lord, appointing him to preach a ser-
mon there, " for the honest report (as the letter runs) of^°""i537.
" his learning in holy letters, and incorrupt j udgment in the
summons
" same. And havrng; assigned him his particular day, he Parker to
..".^ . .,, • preach at
added, " preparing in the mean time with such pure sincere- Paul's
" ness, truly to open the word of God at the said day, as I
" may therefore take occasion to think the report made of
" you to be true meaning, in respect of his favour to the •
Gospel.
CHAP. IV. 13
Parker created Doctor of Divinity. Parker''s good statutes
Jbr Stoke college : the Duke of Norfolk sends to him foyr
them. His preferments. Elected Master of Bene't col-
lege, by the King's letters recommendatory. His good
services to that house. The Bishop of Ely'' s letter to him,
to preach the supremacy. Bislwp Boner''s letter to him,
to procure preachers for PauPs Cross. Benefices con-
foerred on him.
In the year 1538, July 1, Parker was created Doctor in Anno 1.538.
Divinity : and the next year he was sent for into Prince Ed- „
, _ •' _ tiecomes
ward's Court, to give him a sermon : and the next, viz. Dr. in Di-
1.540, he preached before the Lady Elizabeth at Hatfield. Anno 1540
The good statutes mentioned before, which this our Dean
of Stoke college had framed for it, added to the original
ones, made this a very good and useful foundation. And
the fame of it was so great, that about the year 1540, the old The Duke
most noble and illustrious Duke of Norfolk sent a letter to fJunds'^a"'
our Dean, that he would send him the original foundation of college by
that his college of secular priests, being founded, as he heard, of stoke
of an honest sort ; and that he would but detain it, till he J;""!.^^/ „
had caused it to be written out, or had taken some notes out c. c. Kpist.
of it. Because the monastery of Thetford, being now the ''"""P"
King's, upon the Act for Dissolution of Religious Houses,
26
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK having been founded by a Duke of Norfolk, the King had
granted it back to this Duke, to turn it into a college of secu-
Anno 1540. lar priests ; and so he should have occasion to furnish it with
good statutes. Here his father and other his ancestors lay,
and here he intended himself also to be buried, as he wrote
the Dean.
Anno 1541. Jn October 1541 he was installed in the second prebend
bend^o^*^*' church of Ely, by the collation of his gracious master
Ely- • King Henry.
Thus Dr. Parker continued discharging his duty, some-
times in his colleges, sometimes in his attendances at Court,
and not seldom in the pulpit, having no cure of souls as yet.
Anno 1542. till the year 1542, when he was presented to the rectory of
to *the**rec. -^^^^"^ Essex ; SO Conveniently situated both for Cambridge
tory of and Stoke, in respect of the easy distance from either, that
Ashen, might the more frequently be upon his living, and take
the better care of his flock.
Anno 1544. December the 4th, 1544, by the King's letters commen-
ter of Bene't datory to the college, dated November 3, he was, in the
college. room of the last Master of Bene't, named Sowde, or Sowode,
made Head of the said house, and was the fourteenth Mas-
ter from the first foundation, to the great honour as well as
benefit of it. In the said letter, the King styled him his be-
loved Chaplain, and declared to the Fellows of the house,
E Collect, a that it was for the zeal and love he bore to the advance-
T. Baker
Soc.D. Joh. " ment of good letters, that he desired to see th^m furnished
C*c* C^cf " ^^^^ such a governor, as in all points might seem worthy
" of that room. And that therefore he commended the said
" Dr. Parker unto them, both for his approved learning,
" wisdom, and honesty, as for his singular grace and indus-
" try, in bi'inging up youth in virtue and learning. And
" that he was so apt for the exercise of the said place, that
" he thought hard to find his like in all respects. And that
" therefore his trust was, that at the contemplation of him,
" they would with one assent elect him for their Head, whom
" he judged worthy for that office ; and finally, that he
" doubted not they would have cause to think themselves
furnished with such a Master, as appertained." But the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 27
whole letter of the King may be found in the Appendix. CHAP.
Upon the foresaid letters he was elected immediately, and
received by the Fellows with all the greatest alacrity and ^""o 1544.
readiness possible, as knowing well his merits. And to this ^•
his college he was ever after an extraordinary friend and
benefactor : and even when he was Archbishop, took as
much care of it as though the members thereof were his own
children.
As soon as Parker became Master of the college, he began \ 4
to think of doing good service to it. So he with the Fel-
lows had a serious meeting together, to consult for the good
of it. And on the 15th of December, he and the rest of
the Fellows made certain acts concerning BiUingJbrd hutch, Makes acts
which were entered down and subscribed accordingly by ford^iutcif,'
him and the Fellows. They began thus : Quoniam ratio
dictat, ^c. i. e. in English, " Since reason dictates, and ho-
" nesty persuades, that what any one hath received from
" ancestors, he deliver again in as good measure to posterity ;
" and whereas it is commanded by the sentences of the wise,
" in matter of giving and receiving, that he that hath given
" a benefit should forget that he gave it, but he that receiveth
" ought always to remember it : moved with these reasons,
" we, Matthew Parker, Master of the college of Corpus
" Christi and St. Mary in Cambridge, and the Fellows of
" the same, treating sci'iously among ourselves of the affairs
" of our college, by unanimous consent have thought fit, that
" some deeds of our ancestors should be called to mind, that
" those things may be for the time to come more diligently
" observed by us and our successors, which our ancestors
" have ordained for our profit ; we have therefore caused to
" be ratified and established certain statutes which follow, for
*' us and our successors, &c."
The particulars of which statutes were, That whereas
Ric. Billingford S. Th. P. formerly Master of the college,
had left a chest in the college, in which he would have 20Z.
to be kept for the aid of the college ; and that his appoint-
ment, how he would have the same sum be kept and dispos-
ed, was wanting ; they by conjecture of the will of the said
28
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
Aaao 1544.
B O^O K Richard, thought convenient to make this order : that every
. year after the accounts of the college were despatched, there
should be chosen keepers of the said chest or hutch ; to
whom two keys should be dehvered. And that the said
sum should by them be left whole and entire to the follow-
ing custodes, or keepers. And that so suitable a distribu-
tion be made of it among the Fellows, that all might be
partakers, as much as might be, of the same aid.
It was furthermore appointed, that if any debtor to the
foresaid chest should depart from the college before he had
given some suitable pledge of his goods to the keepers of
that year, and found some convenient sureties for the restor-
ing of what was taken out and borrowed thence, then that
they or either of them might distrain on his goods for pawn :
and the keepers to be answerable to the coUege.
It was appointed, that in the laying out and calling in of
money, and in renewing the register, that form of counsel be
always observed that was described by them in a certain new
book by them made for that purpose.
That whosoever should hereafter borrow money out of the
said chest, presently upon the opening of the chest, say with
Gratefully the keepers that verse, Adoramus te Christe, and the Pater-
ber him, Tioster, with some other pious and gi-ateful remembrance of
the worshipful name of Richard BilUngford, the founder of
that chest.
And Eliza- That whereas the Lady Elizabeth, sometime Duchess of
bethDuch- Norfolk, had been munificent to their college out of her
folk. goods, and those of her sister Eleonore Butler, as appeared
more largely in some of their orders ; that the memory there-
of might be also preserved gratefully, it was ordered, that
whensoever any Fellow or Bible-Clerk was to be admitted,
presently after his admission, the foresaid ordinance be read,
and a copy thereof to be always left vAxh him who last should
be admitted into the fellowship of their house.
Care to be That whereas Peter Nobis, S. Th. P. formerly Master of
taken of (he College, among other his charitable gifts to the college,
by Nobis, gave a great number of books, as appeared more fully in the
register ; of which books many were chained, but others scat-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 29
tered about in the library without any safe keeping, not C H^A P.
without danger of losing : therefore they appointed, that the '.
keepers of the said Billingford hutch should diligently over-'^"""
see that library, to be kept safe and clean : and that if by
chance any chains of the books were broke, or any other
damage happened there, it should be made good at the cost of
the college. And the said keepers were to take care that none
should carry home any of those books that were chained.
That whatever goods belonged to the college should be 1 5
inscribed into inventories : wherein should be most exactly
written the qualities and quantities of all the moveables:
the copy whereof to be kept in the common chest : and
from three years to three years to be overseen and renewed
by the Master and Fellows.
That the yearly Steward answer for the things committed
to his trust : and that the butcher and other servants, in
their admission, swear to keep safely and without fraud, all
things which should be delivered to them.
These orders were signed by Matt. Parker the Master,
and John Pory, Tho. Cob, Edmund Flaunce, Ri. Lusher,
Ri. Maddi, Andrew Peerson, Fellows. So carefully, dis-
creetly, and so much to the good estate of the college, did
Dr. Parker begin his government.
Likewise in the first year of his Mastership, he reformed The further
the accounts of the college ; wherein was such confusion,
that the society could not come to know the true state of it, did the coi-
by reason of their want of knowledge of the things relating Jj'g^pundat.
to it. Add, that the particular receipts and expenses were
wont to be committed to writing only in their books, whose
office it was to give in their accounts. Whence this incon-
venience fell out, that when any such, or any bursar of the
college died, or by chance was called away elsewhere, often-
times the college was at a loss to know the state of their ac-
counts ; and so sustained damage thereby, when there was
nothing left to direct them for arrears of rent, or other debts
due- For the remedying of this, he devised a way advan-
tageous to the college, whereby the accounts of the house
should be fully and completely rendered : as might be seen
30
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O^o K in a form (perhaps yet extant) which he first wrote with his
own hand, with the engrossing of the same in parchment to
Anno 1544. made every year. So that by comparing the rentals, the
particular receipts and expenses, with the arrearages of the
whole year, might clearly appear to every eye. He also
writ out with his own pen all the rentals of the college, and
expressed the nature of the rents of the farms, and the times
of payment. All which he signed by the letters of the alpha-
bet set to them. He also recovered divers rents (before de-
nied) in Cambridge, in Landbeacli (where he was parson),
in Ovir, and Histon. And for the better preserving the re-
membrance of the foundation and history of his college, and
the Masters thereof, he appointed a l)ook to be made, and
compiled out of divers writings and monuments of the col-
lege. Which is still preserved in the college ; and was some
years ago favourably lent me to peruse, by the reverend
Dr. Spencer, late Dean of Ely, then Master of that college ;
out of which I have collected divers things already, and
more that shall be hereafter written ; it is entitled, Historia
Histoiiola. de Fundatione et Statu Collegii Corporis Christi ; or, His-
toriola: and reacheth to the year 1569- A good pattern
for those of that foundation to continue the history of their
ancient college. And great pity it is, that there are not
such histories composed of all the rest of the colleges in that
University of Cambridge, and in that of Oxford too. And
it seems to lie as a great blot upon University-men, and
to be charged on them as a piece of sloth and ingrati-
tude, that persons, who by the favour of their founders en-
joy so much learned ease and leisure, should bestow none of
their spare hours in preserving the antiquities of their col-
leges, and in framing some brief history of their foundations,
benefactors, heads, and learned men, and the accidents of
remark that have befallen their respective houses.
A pi.itform But to proceed in our relation of the good deserts of this
le^e-rents Master towards his college. When King Henry VIII. com-
byhmior- niissioncd him, about the year 1544 or 1545, being then
Vice-Chancellor, together with Dr. Redman and Dr. May,
that they should diligently make a view of the state and con-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 31
dition of the University, and all the particular colleges, and CHAP,
were ordered to see it accurately written down ; at that time '
he caused to be committed to writing briefly, the whole state Anno 1544.
of the rents of the college, and the order of the same.
In King Edward's reign, he put the college book of sta- Compiles n
tutes iti that form wherein it appeared long after, under statutes
Queen Elizabeth, being drawn for the most part out of the
old statutes ; using herein the help of William May afore-
said, a pious and learned civilian, and at that time one of the
said King's visitors for the University. And for the greater 16
confirmation and authority of the said statutes, Dr. May, and
the others joint commissioners with him, (whereof Dr. Par-
ker himself was one,) subscribed their hands thereunto.
While he was Master of the college, one that farmed the Easeth the
rectory of Grantchester did endeavour to defraud the col- °f *
payment to
lege, by putting upon it the burden of a rent of six and the Cmwn.
twenty shillings and eight pence, for a portion of the monas-
tery of St. Neot's, (now payable to the King by reason of
the dissolution thereof,) which by right the farmer ought to
have paid, because he farmed of the college all the tithes of
that portion of St. Neot's, besides the rectory of Grantches-
ter. But the Master finding at last the cheat, made the
farmer, as right and justice was, to pay the rent, and eased
the college of the charge of it for the future. Many other
good services he did for his college, while he was Arch-
bishop, and at his death was a great benefactor to it, as we
shall see in due place.
Near about this time (as I conjecture) the King, being re- The Bishop
solved to maintain his supremacy against the Pope, (who was °^pj.^p^"^'
now stirring up the neighbouring potentates against him,) ker to
gave command to his Bishops, as they had lately themselves thrKing^s
signed a declaration against the Pope's pretensions, that they supremacy,
should enjoin all the Clergy in their respective dioceses, to
preach up the supreme power of the King in his own domin-
ions ; and that all incumbents of livings, on Sundays and
holydays, should make conscience to preach the word of God
sincerely to the people, and declare their just renunciation
of that pretended jurisdiction of the Roman Bishop in this
32 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK kingdom ; that the people might be truly informed in this
matter : and that sermons should be made to the same pur-
Anno 1544. pose in the Universities. Accordingly, Goodrich, Bishop of
Ely, sent a letter to Dr. Parker, to take this order for his
college ; and particularly, that he and his Fellows, having a
parish church in Cambridge, (perhaps St. Benet"'s by the
college,) should observe the same order there. For thus did
the said Bishop write to him from Somersham, June 27 :
EpistJiiust. u Mr. Doctor,
Viror. in C. ' _
c. C. c. " In my most harty wise I commend me unto you. These
" be to signify unto you, that I have received the King's
" most honourable letters, commanding me to charge all
" Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, and other ecclesiastical per-
" sons, abiding within the precinct of my diocese, to preach
" every Sunday and solemn feast the very sincere and true
" word of God ; and to set forth his title, dignity, and stile
" of Supreme Head ; as the truth thereof may be thorowly
" shewn, and appear to his people and subjects : and to de-
" clare also unto the same his just renunciation of the Bishop
" of Rome's usurped authority, and all other foreign poten-
" tates.
" I therefore do charge you, on the King's behalf, as you
" wol aunswere unto his Hyghness for the same, not only to
" preach in proper person, but also to commaund the Fel-
" lows of your house to do the same, in order, every Sun-
" day and solemne feast, in your parish church in Cam-
" bridge ; so that the parishoners thereof may have, every
" of the said festival days, the word of God, and the other
" things abovementioned, either by you or by any of your
" Fellows, shewed unto them. Thus the Lord keep you.
" From Somershome, the 27th of June.
" Thomas Eley."
Bishop Bo- ^}\e University was now grown very backward in some-
nerwritesto i-i-p • i -i
Dr. Parker thing, which in former time was more commonly practised ;
for Preach- ^ ^j^^^^ ^ -^^ Sending up their most florid and learned
ers to sup- ' or
ply Paul's men to preach at Paul's Cross. But now few cared for that
Cross.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 33
office, upon what account I know not; whether it were oc- CHAP.
casioned by tlie great decay of the University, which upon
the late spoihng of the Church and rehgious houses declin- i^'*'*-
ed much, or because they bore little affection to Boner
the Bishop, or by reason of the danger that might incur, if
they should, in those public sermons, chance to say any thing
that might give exception in those ticklish times. But here- 1 'j
by the Bishop seemed to be under some straits in procur-
ing Preachers for the Cross. Whereupon he addressed a
letter to Dr. Parker, in the month of October, without date
of year ; but I suppose, it being of a public concern, was
while he was Vice-Chancellor ; viz. anno 1543, or 1544 : in
which letter he complained of the scarcity of Cambridge
men to supply that audience, and wondered thereat ; and in-
cited him very earnestly to move the learned Preachers to
spend their pains at the Cross sometimes, as heretofore they
used, both for God's honour and the advancement of the
Gospel : for about this time politic Boner gave out himself
for a favourer of the Gospel, and got his preferment by that
means. The Bishop's letter ran to this tenor ;
" Right Worshipful,
In my very harty manner I commend me unto you : The Bi-
111 1 o TT • shop's let-
*' and where, contrary to the accustomed usage of your Uni-ter. MS. C.
" versity, there of late hath not been many here at Paul's ^j^.^^ ^•
" Cross to preach the word of God, to the edifying of the Princip. &e.
" King's subjects, and the honour of the said University,
*' beside the exercise of themselves, and demonstration of
" their learning ; whereof I greatly marvel, and suppose the
" same rather to proceed for that they have not been spe-
" cially incited thereunto; either else for that their zeal is not
" now as heretofore it hath been, to the commendation of
** the University : I thought it good for the honest love
*< particularly I bear to you for your good qualities, besides
" the love I bear to you for your brother's sake, and also
" for the very harty affection I beaa- to your University, to
" write unto you hereby, that ye will exhort such as ye
" know apt and meet for that purpose ; being both of good
vol., I, n
84
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " learning, virtue, and good discretion, both in your name
^' " and also in mine, and especially for God's honour and the
Anno 1544." advancement of his Gospel, to take the ^ains to come and
" preach here, as heretofore hath been accustomed. And in
" their so doing, they shall do both honour to the Univer-
" sity and themselves, and also unto me thankful pleasure,
" to be recompensed unto the best and utmost of my power.
" I promise you, I take it strangely that they have not
" heretofore more often come. And if they object the fault
" unto me not desiring them, I now provoke them by you
" and these my letters, to do the thing which many ways is
" honourable. And thus ye will very effectually set these
" things forth with the Heads of your University, making
" my very harty, and most harty commendations unto them
" all ; and certifying me of your gentleness and their to-
" wardness herein, with the conformity of others, I very
" hartily desire you. Thus committing you to God, as well
" to fare as mine own self. London, the 9th of October,
" by the running hand of,
" Al-hartily your own,
" Edmond London."
Presented Having now held the rectory of Ashen not full two years,
Lam' resigned it on the 30th of April : and the next day took
the rectory of Birlingham St. Andrew's, in his own country of
Norfolk, being presented thereunto May 1.
Chosen January 25 he was first chosen to the office of Vice-Chan-
So^ cellor of the University. '
Anno 1 545. September the 22d, in the year 1545, he obtained the
Rector of ^'^^^ory of Landbeacli in Cambridgeshire ; a living whereof
Landbeach. the college was patron ; the manor of which place being also
in the college, he made a terrier of all the lands therein with
his own hand, described in various distinct tables or plats,
for the use and benefit of the said college : that in no times
after, any part or portion thereof might be lost from the
lordship. He did also recover divers rents in the said pa^
rish of Landbeach, formerly denied : taking all occasions to
render himself useful.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 35
To this living of Landbeach he was presented by John c H A P.
Pory, Clerk, one of the Fellows of Bene"'t college ; and John ^"
Mere, Gent, one of the University Beadles, if I mistake not ; Anno 1545.
the college granting them the advowson for that turn ; and
he was admitted Rector there by the Bishop of Ely, Decem- pJif „ '
ber 1, in which church of Ely he had now some time been
Prebendary.
CHAP. V.
Dr. Parlier Vlcc-Chancellor of Cambridge. His account
to the Chancellor (^Bishop Gardiner) of an interlude, that
gave him offence. The Chancellor'' s letter hereupon, re-
primanding some. His order about pronouncing Greek:
Orders to the Vice-Chancellor from the Chancellor and
Privy Council, touching these players. His regulations
of certain viatters in the University.
In this year 1 545, Dr. Parker continuing Vice-Chancellor The ciinn-
of Cambridge, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Wincliester, J^^'p^^.^^"''*
being their Chancellor, a matter fell out there, which gave Vice-t han-
the said Chancellor great disgust, and made a great dust for cernin';; an
some time in that University ; and likewise created the '^''"^'^^
Vice-Chancellor no small trouble to execute the orders sent
him down from his Chancellor. The cause was this. An
interlude was played at Christ's college publicly, (but, as
was suggested, against the mind of the Master and Presi-
dent,) wherein the Popish manner of Lent-fasting and the
ceremonies were exposed. Somebody soon carried the tale
unto the Chancellor ; and he made a heavy do about it.
He would have come down himself, as he said, if his occa-
sions had permitted him, to examine into the matter. But
he required Parker, his Vice-Chancellor, to assemble the
Masters and Heads of colleges, with the Doctors of the Uni-
versity ; and declaring this matter, he should require them
to assist in the trial of the truth concerning the said tragedy ;
that what order was established in the Church, might not by
any be presumed to be contradicted, nor that to be reprov-
ed which bv the King's Majestv was allowed. He added,
D a"
86
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " that it was a lamentable case, that such as by the King's
" privilege and supportation be there preserved in quiet to
Anno 1545. " learn all virtue, should presumptuously mock and scorn
" the directions of their Prince in matters of religion. That
" their obedience should be example to all others in public.
" That if learning now should be an instrument to stir up
" dissension, and trouble the common quietness, their opin-
" ion should be confirmed, Avhich not many years past
" laboured to prove in books printed in English, that the
" Universities be the corruption of the realm."" He added,
" that Oxford lived quietly with fewer privileges, and that
" there were that would that Cambridge had as few as they."
Thericcount All this Stir did the Bishop make upon this business;
c haiicdMor jealous of any attempt upon the old superstitions. But in
gives of it. obedience to the commands aforesaid, the Vice-Chancellor
falls upon the business ; and in fine, makes no great matter
of it. For (as he related it, after examination, to the Bishop)
he found, that it was not against the mind of the Master
and President, as was given out. The President told the
Vice-Chancellor, that it cost the college nigh twenty nobles,
allowed by the Master and company. That there were in-
deed in the plav some slanderous cavillations and suspicious
senses ; but the Master and Seniors took care, that all such
fipeeches should be wholly omitted in the acting of the play,
whereby offence miglit justly have risen. That he had not
spoke with any that was present, that shewed himself griev-
ed, albeit it was thought the time and labour might have
been spent to a better purpose. And this was all the pru-
dent Vice-Chancellor made of it; for which some bigots
would have made a flame in the University, by aggravating
it before one who was apt soon to be heated.
19 But the business ended not so ; nor wovild the Vice-Chan-
Furtheror- cellor's accoimt sei've the Chancellor's turn ; but, in a second
'''1°"* messaije, he commanded him to examine what the words
this aflair. ^ ' ...
were indeed that were spoken. In obedience to his com-
mands, the Vice-Chancellor and Heads agreed, that every
President should assemble their companies, to know what
tliev heard, and wherewith thev were offended. So all the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 37
colleoes forthwith underwent examination. And at the next CHAP.
? . . V.
meeting all the Heads gave in this answer; That none of
their companies had declared to them, that they were of- ^""'''^^"
fended with any thing that they remembered to be then ^jo'^^^jigje.
spoken ; and that very many indeed, whether of pvn-pose "po"-
or by chance, were absent. And for a further trial, what
was uttered in the interlude, Parker sent to the Bishop a
book of the said tragedy ; and all therein noted and can-
celled that was unspoken, the rest being then uttered :
which had been delivered him by the Master and all the
Fellows of the college : and conventing all the Fellows of
that house, he found but two that were offended. Of which
one was Scot, the same, I suppose, that was afterwards under Scot of
Queen Mary made Bishop of Chester. And this Scot was
he that was the informer, and had told all this tale to the
Chancellor. And hereupon the rest of the society were
grieved with him. The case between him and the rest, the
Vice-Chancellor and some others had the hearing of : M hich
was thus in short ; When the Master and Fellows were
consulting about playing this tragedy, Scot, being against
it, cried out, that it was poison thrown abroad. Whereunto
Crane, a Fellow, and one that acted, replied, that they in-
tended nothing, but to rebuke the Pope's usurped power.
But Scot said, that vmder that pretence they would destroy
all godliness ; and some other words he spake in his heat,
that reflected upon the government. The conclusion was,
that the Vice-Chancellor caused them all to be bound with
sureties, till they should hear from his Lordship, and know
his pleasure. And of all this the Vice-Chancellor gave the
Chancellor to understand, and together sent him the play
itself, as was said before.
The answer that this produced from the Chancellor was
as followeth :
" Master Vice-Chancellor,
« After my harty commendation, I perceive by your The Chan-
" letter, which I have received with the book of the tra- "iior-s kt-
' ter to I'iii-
" gedy, that ye have assembled the sage of the University, ker, Vke-
D 3
38
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
1.
Aimi) I f)4o.
Cliiinc.'llor,
concerninif
the former
matter.
M^S. C. C.
C. C. MU-
cel. Cantab.
20
to know, by their inquisition severally in their houses,
what was uttered that might and ought to offend godly
ears in the playing of the same. Wherein, as appear by
your letters, report was made unto you, that no man is
offended ; and yet, perusing the book of the tragedy,
which ye sent me, I find much matter, not stricken out,
all which by the parties' own confession was uttered very
nought. And on the other part some
things
not well
omitted, where allowing and rejecting should proceed of
judgment, and that to be taken for truth which was ut-
tered, and that for untruth, which they note as untrue,
to be omitted and left unspoken. So that this book de-
clareth the parties to be double offenders, both in denying
that is true, and also approving that is false, as in some
part by their notes doth appear. And in that tragedy,
untruth is so maliciously weaved with truth, as making
the Bishop of Rome, with certain his abuses, the founda-
tion of the matter, the author''s reproach whereof is true ;
so many abominable and detestable lies be added and min-
gled with the other truth, as no Christian ear should pa-
tiently hear, and cannot, in the process of the matter,
without a marvellous alteration, other than now was used,
be dissevered asunder. By means whereof, where all other
proof faileth, there the book maketh an undoubted proof
of their lewdness to me here : and that which so many of
the University being present heard, and offended them
not, do deny. But it is now worn out, and they be no
longer offended, the same is by exhibition of the book so
notified unto me, and so grieveth me, being absent, as
how soon soever I forget the offence upon their reconci-
liation, I shall hardly of a great while forget the matter.
And if often and notoinous faults, which the offenders in
pomp and triumph so utter, as they would have men
know them and mark them, shall from henceforth without
all reformation be neglected and forgotten, or so by si-
lence hidden as they shall not appear to be corrected,
there is small hope of conservation of good order, and a
marvellous boldness given to offenders, the means of re-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 39
" formation thus taken away. Wise men have noted truly, CHAP.
" that it is caput audac'ia; impunitatis spes. Which must ^' .
" needs grow where open faults be thus neglected and pre-A""" i545.
" termitted. Wherein they be chiefly to be blamed, that
" forbear to make report of that they have heard, when
" they be required.
" I would not be over-curious, unless the crime were
" notable, to bring to light his fault, that himself hath used
" means to hide from the world. But if the offender be so
" destitute of all fear and shame, as these players were, why
" should any man forbear, when they walk in the street
" naked, to point them with his finger, and say. There
" I hear many things to be \nery far out of order, both
" openly in the University, and severally in the colleges,
" whereof I am sorry : and among other, in contempt of
me, the determination of the pronunciation of certain
" Greek letters, agreed unto by the authority of the whole His decree
" University, to be violate and broken without any correc- n*)[i,n'|.^ng^of
" tion thereof. The matter is low, and the contempt so Greek neg-
" much the more. I was chosen Chancellor to be so ho-
" noured (although without my deserts) of them ; and I
" have given no cause to be despised. I. will do that I can
" for the maintenance of virtue and good order there, and
" challenge again of duty to be regarded after the propor-
" tion, not of my quality, but mine office : requiring you,
" Master Vice-Chancellor, to commimicate these my letters
" with the Masters, Presidents, and Doctors; and on my
*' behalf to desire them gravely to consider of what moment
" the good order of youth is, and to withstand the lewd
" [attempts] of such as have neither shame, nor fear of pu-
" nishment and correction. The lesson of obedience would
" be well taught and practised, and I will be more diligent
" to know how men profit in it than I have been.
" I have shewed the whole Coimcil the words spoken by
" Mr. Scot ; from whom ye shall shortly receive answer in
" that matter. And as touching those that were chief play-
" ers in the tragedy, I hear very ill matter ; and I pray
D 4
40 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
EOOK "you call them unto you, and know whether they will
, " acknowledge and confess then- fault or no ; and to signify
Anno 1645. « the same to me. And so fare ye well.
" Your loving friend,
" Stephen Winton."
Jt London, the 12 Mai/.
The Coun- So that to make the more of this business, besides these
to the Vice- ^is own animadversions, he brought it before the Privy
Chancellor. Couucil. And in fine, the Lords of the Council thus far
concerned themselves by the Bishop''s instigation in it, that
May the 16th they wrote, by a secretary of his, to the
Vice-Chancellor. The sum of which was, " That he should
" call the parties befoi-e him, and admonish them to endea-
" vour to employ their Avits and studies in knowledge of
" that is good, true, and Avholesome; and that nothing
" might be meddled withal that might offend the law and
" quiet of the realm. That those that were the Heads and
" Governors should have such special cure and care, as if
" any misorder were among the youth, they return it from
" time to time, and do that might be for their discharge in
" that behalf. And discharging Mr. Scot, that had been
" noted for the speaking certain words, they exhorted him
" to do for the refoiTnation of those that had misused them-
" selves in the playing of the tragedy, as to liis and their
" wisdoms should be thought requisite." And no further
did the Council think fit to espouse the Chancellor's mighty
quarrel. And with what moderation and prudence our Dr.
Parker put an end to this business, we may conjecture.
Things set I have but one thing more to add concerning our Doctor
down by the jjj j^jg office of Vice-ChanccUor. And that I o-ather from
V ice-Chan- ... .
ceiior to be what was Writ with his own hand on the back-side of the
reformed^ ^ Chancellor's letter aforesaid. Which, I suppose, were mi-
nutes of matters that he intended to reform, and give his
orders about ; viz.
" Raiment, gowns, beards, crowns, [which two last were
" to be kept shaven, and not allowed to grow,] habits,
" lawyers, .and Masters of Art.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 41
" Sitting at divinity disputations and at sermons, &c. CHAP.
" Coming to congregations and common dirges. King's ^'
" dirges. .Anno 1545.
" Matriculation to be had by the Presidents.
" Pronunciation of the Greek tongue. [About which was
" great controversy about this time.]
" Revelation of secrecies."
CHAP. VI.
Stoke college by Ms means preserved from dissolution
under King Henry VIII. But dissolved under King
Edward. Hath a pension for it. Parker marries.
Hath a son. Vice-Chancellor again. The Archbishop
and Bishop of Westminster summon him to preach at
Court. Two discourses of his writing. Preaches to
Ket, and the rebels in Norfolk. His danger thereby.
In this same year, being the 37th of the King, all colleges. Labours the
chantries, hospitals, &c. were granted by Parliament to {'j'jj *^g,Ygg|
him. This act struck full at Stoke college, which caused stoke
the Dean to bestir himself, if it were possible to prevent act.'"* *
the dissolution of a place which he had laid out so much of
his pains about, to make it useful for the service of the
King, the Church, and commonwealth. And he applied Applies to
himself particularly unto eood Queen Katherine and her ^^""^5 "
^ . tlierine s
Council, (she being patroness, as it seems,) to try, if by his Council,
arguments to them he might prevail to stop this ruin im-
pending over so good a foundation. He shewed them, how
he had improved the college above the first institution :
how he had formerly refused to comply with certain, who
would have persuaded him to surrender the college, with
promise of considerable advantage to accrue to himself by
pension and otherwise. But now the continuance thereof
being in such danger, as it was out of his ability to prevent,
he laid the consideration thereof before them, who in other
matters consulted for the Queen's honour and commodity.
He urged to them, " how small a matter of profit it would
4a
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " bring to the King, viz. but 300/. and chiefly consisting in
" spiritual rents. That the house was so sitviate, that the
Anno 1.545. " Queen's tenants were round about it: whence they did
*' use to receive alms and hospitality, and had good instruc-
" tions from the Dean and Prebends there out of God's
" word preached to them : and that the Queens tenants'
" children had their education there gi-at'is. Then he also
*' laid before them, how convenient the house was for the
" entertainment of the Queen's officers and servants, as often
" as they should have occasion to come down among her
" tenants, (a part of her revenue lying thereabouts,) as in
" former times, upon surveys, her Council had been re-
" ceived there sometimes eight days together, with resort
" of the most part of her farmers thither at the same time."
These things the Dean recommended to them, to acquaint
the Queen with, that she might accordingly inform the
King; and that by her suit unto him, he might grant a
continuation of this said college.
And to the And as he wrote this to the Queen's Council, so he like-
wise made suit to the Queen's Grace herself, with his de-
claration of these things aforesaid. But the whole letter,
whereof these are the short contents, may be found in the
Numb. VI. Appendix. And lastly, he made use of the interest of Sir
2^ Anthonv Denny, a learned and worthv Knight, and one of
. J ^ ' . the Privy Chamber to the King : who made his application
And to Sir _ t> rr
Ant. Den- to the KinsT in the said behalf ; shewing the King withal
the great merits of the Dean himself, and of his honest
and virtuous using of that college.
The college All these together moved the King to suffer the college
yet. yet to stand : but it was but for a little while longer, that
is, during his life, as we shall see bv and by.
Anno 1547. The college of Stoke then remained until the first year
Bat soon of King Edward VI. In which year it was suppressed,
solved. and the members were dispersed, by virtue of an act of the
Parliament, that began to sit November 4, 1547. By which
act (as there had been such an act before under King
Henrv) all colleges, free chapels, chantries, hospitals, fra-
ternities, guilds, were given to the King, to convert the be-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 43
nefits of them, with the colleges and chapels themselves, to CHAP,
his use; and the right and title thereof to the King, to ^'
commence at Easter next following. Now the Dean again Anno 1547.
tried what he could do to rescue his college, by soliciting
the Commissioners to respite the ruin of so useful a founda-
tion. But when he saw there was no remedy, he bethought
himself to part with it upon as good terms as he could. So
he applied himself to his friend Sir Anthony Denny, to use
his interest with the Commissioners, for the settling a good
pension upon him for his loss of his college. Who therefore
wrote thus to them :
" Besides most harty commendations ; for that heretofore Sir Anth.
" I have been a suitor to the King, our late sovereign Lord [^,^^.""1^^°
" deceased, on the behalf of Mr. Parker, Dean of Stoke, missioners
" whose honest and virtuous using of that college much Dean of
" also moved the same late King, in such wise as his Ma- ^toke.
" jesty clearly resolved to permit the same to remain undis-
" solved ; 1 am much at this present stirred to require you cell. O.
" to be favourable towards him. And albeit I mean not to
" have the said college to endure in his former plight, know-
" ing that of necessity it must now ensue the course of
" others, being in like state ; yet that it might seem good
" unto you to consider the man''s worthiness above the com-
" mon sort : and that as he in all points hath shewed him-
" self not like to the rest, so likewise to be esteemed, and ac-
" cordingly rewarded to his deserts ; that is, in having an
" honest and convenient pension. Which although perad-
" venture it shall seem the greater, yet may the King's Ma-
" jesty be soon thereof discharged by redemption of some
" other spiritual promotion, and the man nevertheless wor-
" thily advanced. Thus much I have thought good to
" write in his commendation and favour, whose worthiness
" I much esteem and tender. Trusting thereby, both for
" his deserts sake, and this my simple contemplation, ye
" will the rather have respect towards him. as the cause
" and person require ; and my thankfulness for the same
44
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " may deservedly ensue. Fare ye right hartily well : from
^' " my house at Chesthunt, the last of February 1547.
Auno 1547. " Your own assured,
" Ant. Denny."
And no question Sir Anthony Denny's request, (being of
the Privy Chamber to the present King, as he was also to
his father,) especially considering the great deserts of the
man, so much insisted on by him, had a favoui-able answer ;
A pension and that a good pension was settled on the Dean, until the
hlm'.^'' ^^^^ pension was redeemed, according to Denny \s phrase,
with the dignitv of the deanery of Lincoln, afterwards con-
ferred on him, though that was not till some years after.
And April 1. he resigned his deanery.
The Com- When the college therefore was now to be dissolved, Ni-
fo'/dissolu- t^holas Bacon, the great lawyer, (afterwards Lord Keeper of
tion of col- the Great Seal,) Christopher Peyton, and Ambrose Gilbert,
Ices send i •/
to°Parker. these being some of the Commissioners appointed by the
King, together with Sir Roger Townsend and Sir Arthur
Hopton, for the surveying of colleges, and doing divers
things in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk ; the three
former sent the Dean a letter to bring in, against such a
day, a perfect rental of the lands, tenements, possessions,
and hereditaments appertaining to his college ; and a certain
inventory of all the ornaments, plate, jewels, goods, debts,
cattals, due unto the said college : which accordingly he
did. This was exactly the method observed under King
Henry VIIL when monasteries were dissolved.
23 This college at length fell into the hands of Sir John
The college cheke ; who with Walter Movl purchased it, together with
devolves to ' , • , • i ^ c- t
Sir John all the tenements and messuages in the parish oi St. Law-
Cheke. rence Pountney, London, belonging to the college of Cor-
book of pus Christi, near that church. But herein Sir John made
Sales. Qf tj^g friendship, counsel, and direction of Dr. Parker,
ror'lUiist. the Dean. Which kindness so affected him, that he pro-
c'c'^c^^c ^^^^^ ^^"^ pension should be first settled; as appears
by Cheke's letter to him, wherein he mentions the kindness
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 45
and friendship he received from him ; and that when the c H A P.
Commission was come forth, " you and yours,'" said he, "
" shall be the first to whom pensions shall be appointed ; Anno 1547*
" and for yoin* part, I trust, so rewarded, that no pensioner
" better;'
Thus, until the first year of King Edward, did Parker The pension
hold this college against some that often sought it. And
he had a pension for it of forty pounds per annum allowed
him, paid out of the Exchequer. And thus was this house,
and all the good uses Parker made it serviceable to, (in
great pity,) put to an end. And when he could not save
the college any longer, he saved at least the remembrance
of it, by conveying away thence a small square of glass,
painted with the coat of arms of the founder, the Lord
Mortimer, being three lilies, which he set up in his lodge
at Bene't college, and remains there unto this time ; which
was shewn me, when I was there in the year 1690, by the
reverend Dr. Spencer, then Master. It bespake Parker's Dr.Spencer.
good affection to that religious foundation, over which he had
presided, and which he had made so useful to the country.
Thus did the superstition of such foundations draw this,
though so well purged, and made so useful, into the same ca-
lamity with the rest ; nor would the private covetousness of
those times be persuaded to spare so public a good.
1 meet with one of the scholars bred in the school of this A scholar
college of Stoke ; whom the Dean removed thence to his col- coifege^
lege in Cambridge ; and afterwards took care of him there for school
divers years. He was afterwards preferred at the Court in
the Signet Office. Who, when his patron was preferred to
be Archbishop of Canterbury, came not long after to con-
gratulate him at Lambeth, and to offer him his service, and
to acknowledge his former great favours. But for his delay
in the mean time, he made his apology, and did his duty
by letter. His name was Thomas Bowsly. In which letter
he acknowledged to the Archbishop, " how he bred him a
" scholar, first at his school of Stoke, then sent him to
" Bene't college, and placed him in the room of a Bible
" Clerk ; permitted him, for his better conveniences in
m THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " learning, to have a key to the library; took him some-
^' " times abroad with him to Norwich, [his native city,] to
Anno 1547. " Ely, [where he had a prebend,] and other places, besides
" manifold other benefits." Such countenance, favour, and
furtherance did he use to afford his scholars that were stu-
dious and ino-enious. " He excused himself, that he had
" not before now offered himself to his Grace, and acknow-
*' ledged his former favours ; that the reason was a fit of
" sickness, that brought him to a consumption : and after-
" ward, being recovered of that, he served in the office of
" the Queen's Signet, which required such continual at-
" tendance, by reason of the absence of his master, that he
*' could not have convenient time to acknowledge his bound-
" en duty to his Grace. But that he had been often at his
*' Grace's house, to have done it at Lambeth."" And this
was the return of one of the Dean's grateful scholars to his
obliging master : and no doubt many other such there were,
that owed their education, and their after-preferments, both
in Church and State, unto him and this his school.
Tithes of Some little part of the endowments of this college, after
Melford, ^ ... v •
formerivbe- many years, became appropriated agam to a religious use.
longinj; to -por Sir William Cordel, Master of the Rolls under Queen
this college. . . _ _ _
Elizabeth, by his will founded an hospital in Long Melford
in Suffolk, for a Warden and twelve brethren ; a part of
the endowment whereof was a parcel of tithes in Melford,
formerly pertaining to Stoke college.
Dr. Parker June 24, in this year 1547, Dr. Parker, in the forty-
Hariestone. third of his age, entered into the state of marriage, and took
to wife Margaret, aged twenty-eight years: she was the
daughter of Robert Harlestone, of Matsal in the county of
Simon Har- Norfolk, gentleman ; and sister of Simon Harlestone, who
lestone her . ii i • o «• ii
brother. lived sometime at Mendlesham in Suffolk ; a man eminent
both for his piety and sufferings, being an earnest professor
24 of religion in Queen Mary's days, and in Orders. He was
a great dissuader of the people against Popish superstitions;
and such was his authority and influence upon them, that
they mightily built upon his doctrine. Which was the very
information that was given to Bishop Boner against him,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 47
by one Ty, a Priest, and Commissary to that Bishop in the CHAP,
parts about Dedham in Essex ; whither, in the year 1556, ^
this Harlestone was fled, and abode some time, upon a severe Anno 1547.
inquisition made by some officers of the Bishop of Norwich
in the town of INIendlesham, where were a great many zea- Mendies-
lous professors of the Gospel : which inquisition was occa-
sioned by the information chiefly of Sir John Bradish, the
parish priest; who caused many in that place to recant,
and do against their consciences. A great persecution was
raised against this town ; a chief instrument wherein was
Sir John Tyrrel, of Gippinghall, a Justice of Peace, and
a great Romish zealot. There was one Adam Foster of
this town, who for his religion was sent by this man to the
Bishop of Norwich, and there condemned and burnt. In
tliis persecution many were taken up, and forced to abjure;
and many were scattered, and fled away from their habita-
tions, whither they could. Then did this good man, with
his wife Katherine and five children, convey themselves
away from Mendlesham. One of whose sons, named Sa-
muel, was afterwards a student in Cambridge ; to whom
the Ai'chbishop, his uncle, gave a legacy of books. The
said Simon was also another time in great danger of falling
into the liands of the Bishop's officers, by the intention of
one Robert Blomefield, constable of Little Stanfield in Suf-
folk, to inform against him, had not God about that very
time cut him off by death.
The family of the Harlestones seems to have been an- The family
ciently placed in those parts. There is a town in Suffolk, f*^*'^^'
•/ r 1 ' lestones.
upon the borders of Norfolk, called by this name, famous
for a rising intended to have been made in the year 15T0,
by certain gentlemen of Norfolk at a fair there, for the de- Camd.
liverance of their beloved Duke of Norfolk, then in P^son ^','*g^|.'^j^
upon the Queen of Scots' cause ; by the sound of a trumpet 1675.
to gather the multitude together, upon pretence of driving
the Netherlanders out of England. The same family seems
likewise to have been of good quality and wealth, there
having been an ancient hostle in Cambridge built by onG Cains An-
fiq.
48
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of that name, and called Harlestone's Hostle, situate in
" Harlestone-lane, on the east of St. Clement"'s church.
Anno 1547. There were of the Harlestones also in Essex. Sir Cle-
^ones'of ^^^^ Harlestone, living not far from Cogshal, was present
Essex. with the Abbot of Cogshal, when he opened an old urn
found by a ploughman not far from the said town. In which
urn were small bones found wrapped up in silk : which the
Abbot supposed to be some saint's relics, and laid them up
in his vestry. There was an ancient family at South Oc-
kingdon of the Bruins, and of great repute, a coheiress of
Cam. Bri- which a Harlestone married. And from her and her sister
were descended many great families besides the Harle-
stones, as the Tyrils, the Berniers, the Hevininghams, and
especially Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, as we are
taught by Camden.
H^'^ftone Margaret Harlestone, our Di\nne affected her for
his wife, her virtues, being a person accomplished in all good endow-
ments both of body and mind, and towards him of great
tenderness and observance. He loved her seven years be-
fore he married her, with a conjugal love and faithfulness,
being dear to one another ; but they abstained from wed-
lock by mutual agreement, for the avoiding danger, King
Henry having made it felony for persons in Orders to
marry. In the mean time she wanted not for importunate
suitors ; but would never yield herself to any, but faithfully
kept her promise to her first lover, and chose rather to re-
main single than to violate it. But when that King died,
and under the reign of King Edward VI. matrimony being
allowed to Priests, the time and laws permitting, they en-
Her qua- tered the sacred bonds of marriage. She proved an excel-
wife, as well as an excellent woman, very obedient, in-
dulgent, and observant of her husband ; and her behaviour
such, as it became much taken notice of : and Bishop Rid-
ley is reported to have asked if Mrs. Parker had a sister ;
as though he should have been willing to have married, if
he could have found her fellow. And in a certain letter
which that Bishop wrote to our Doctor, in the conclusion,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 49
he sent his commendations to Mrs. Parker; "whom al- CHAP.
" though I do not know," as he wrote, " yet, for the fame
" of her virtues, in God I do love." And Dr. Sandys, (soon'^""" 1547.
after Bishop of London,) in a letter to Dr. Parker 1559,"^^
calls her, for her gravity, chastity, discretion, and piety,
Parker's Abbess. While Parker was in a private capacity,
she shewed her discretion in her good housewifery and fru-
gality ; and yet for her husband's credit, she had all things
handsome about her. But when he was advanced to the
high place of Archbishop of Canterbury, she ordered her
housekeeping so nobly and splendidly, (her family also
being enlarged,) that all things answered that venerable
dignity. And her domestic affairs she managed so dis-
creetly, and yet so exactly to the mind of her husband, that
is, creditably and honourably, (for he had a generous spirit
in him,) that he was taken off from caring for these more
private concerns, and the more wholly gave up himself to
the affairs of the Church and commonwealth.
By her. May 5th the next year, he had a son, named Hath a son.
John. Which name I guess he had given him by Sir John
Cheke, Dr. Parker's learned friend.
Febr. 7, Dr. Parker was chosen Vice-Chancellor the se- Anno 1548.
cond time, there being but two years past (in both which Vice-Chan-
Dr. Madew served that honourable office) since he was" '"'''S'""-
Vice-Chancellor before. And this election Walter Haddon
signified to Mr. Cheke, then at Court, as part of his Uni-
versity news : giving this character of him, (whereby we
may infer of what high account he then was among the
best,) Cujus tu gravitatem, consilium, liter as nosti, nos
etiam experimur : adding these words, Catonem aut Quin-
tum Fabium in illo renatum putes. That is, " How grave,
" how prudent, how learned he was, Cheke had formerly
" known, [when he lived in the University with him,] and
" they who still were there very well knew : and that one
" would think that Cato or Quintus Fabius lived again in
" him."
In Lent, Archbishop Cranmer writ to him to preach be- Archbishop
fore the King; advising him, that it was the Lord Pro- .
^ " sends to him
VOL. I. E
50 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK lector's order for him so to do on a certain Sunday in the
Lent season by him appointed : " having good opinion," as
Anno 1548. Archbishop added, "of your learned knowledge and
■It Court': " godly zeal in the advancement of God's word." This
letter of the Archbishop's was seconded by another from
Thirlby, Bishop of Westminster, for the same purpose, to
this tenor :
And the Bi- " After my right harty commendation to you : where my
Westnfin- " ^ord of Canterbury his Grace hath appointed you to
ster. " preach before the King's Majesty the third Sunday of
c '^c Epist " ^^"^ Lent, and hath written vmto you for the same pur-
Princ. " pose, and yet hath received no answer from you again ;
" theis shall be to desyre you both to prepare your self to
" accomplish his request ; and also to advertize his Grace,
" by your letters, of your determination herein. Thus I
" bid you hartily farewel. From Westminster this fourth
" day of March 1548.
" Your assured frende,
" Thomas Westmon."
According to these summons our Doctor discharged this
office the third Sunday in Lent, preaching before the King
at Westminster out of the Gospel for the day. And then
probably, being the second year of the King, he was ad-
mitted one of the King's Chaplains, if it were not done
before.
Two learned Among Parker's MSS. preserved in his college at Cam-
niaT r*^* bridge, I have met with two pretty large discourses of his.
Dr. Parker, The former, De Conjiig'io Sacerdotum ; i.e. "Concerning the
" maiTiage of Priests:" under this question. An liceat Sa-
cris initiatus contraherc matrimonium ,• that is, " Whether
" it be lawful for such as are entered into holy Orders to
" marry." The title of the latter discourse is, N'oii debere
res Ecclesiastlcas, ad publicum sacri ministcrii usum dest'i-
natas, ad altos usus, aut ad privatas hoviinum commodl-
- tates transferri. Et proinde, non posse bona cum consci-
entia Episcnpum alupicm dcsignatum aut dcsrgnandum y
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 51
hitjusmodi alienationibus consentire. That is, "That the CHAP.
" possessions of the Churcli, which arc appointed for the
" puhUc use of the sacred ministry, ought not to be trans- Anno i548.
" ferred to other uses, or to the private commodities of any
" men. And moreover, that none, appointed or to be ap-
" pointed a Bishop, may with a good conscience consent to
" sucli aUenations.'''' There is a large and learned exercita-
tion of Parker's own hand-writing upon this argument, whicli
I have cast into the Appendix. But these discourses under Numb. vil.
his own hand I do conjecture he made before the Convoca-
tion, in the year 1548. In which the question of Priests'
marriage, I am sure, was at large disputed and allowed of.
Which is the reason I place these discourses liere.
In the next year, viz. 1549, was a royal visitation of the Anno 1549.
University : and on Tuesday, May the 21st, the Visitors 2b
came to Corpus Christi college, where it seems (all things ^^^J^^ Vf '
being kept in such good order) " they soon made an end," Cambridge,
as it is set down in the college MSS. "and supped there, mss. C. c.
" Di". Parker, then Master of the college, and supplying ^j^'jj^'p'^^'*"
" the room of the Vice-Chancellor in liis absence, for the
" most part of the visitation."
About the time of the breaking out of Ket's dangerous re- Parker
bellion, in the parts in and about Norwich, Dr. Parker hap- {'0^''^^ ^e-
pened to be retired from Cambridge to his friends and rela- Ij^'s-
tions there ; where the great service he did at that time de-
serveth to be mentioned. For he was one of those Divines Alex. Ne-
that used now to go up into the pulpits of the city churches, J/jije^^
exhorting the citizens (many of whom were actually in this
insurrection, and many more too much disposed thereunto)
to leave off their wicked attempts, and to return to peace
and quietness, and their obedience to their Sovereign. And
that was not all the service he and they did, but a-nlghts
would, with the rest of the townsmen, be upon watch armed.
Parker was one of the chief of their Preachers, who was
much esteemed for his prudence, fatherly integrity, and
gravity : and, out of compassion to his country, that he saw
now lying under all the miseries that fury and violence
E 2
52
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK could bring it into, he did shew himself both stout and
honest, in a free reproof of their courses. And one day,
Aniio 164.9. with his brother Thomas and some friends, did adventure
himself into Ket''s mad camp, resolving to bestow his good
counsel upon them, and to try to reclaim them from their
evil course: but, observing the camp then everywhere
drowned in drunkenness and luxury, and all in the confu-
sions and disturbances of excess, he thought not convenient
to talk soberly to such a mad rout, and so went back into
the city. But the next day in the morning, not having any
rest in his own mind till he had discharged his conscience,
and spoken his mind ; and supposing now the heat of wine
and madness were somev/hat abated, he went again to the
camp with his said brother : and now he found them in
quite another posture than they were in the day before;
for they were now all at their prayers under the oaJc of re-
formation, (as they called the tree under which Ket and
his party exercised their justice,) and one Thomas Conyers,
Vicar of St. Martin's in Norwich, (whom they had made
their Chaplain,) was saying the Litany among them. Dr.
Parker judging this a very fair opportunity, ascended the
oak, and there preached a sermon to them of prudence,
sobriety, and moderation. He distributed his discourse into
three parts chiefly :
'i iie sum of I. He admonished them to temperance and sobriety, and
■IS strmon. provisions they had brought into their camp, being
God's gifts, they would not consume and spend in luxury
and ungodliness : secretly hereby reproving their yester-
day's excesses.
IL Next, That they should not pursue their private
emnities, nor lift up themselves in anger, or study of re-
venge, nor imbrue their hands in civil blood, nor restrain
in custody and bonds those that they had taken as ene-
mies, nor cruelly deprive them of their lives. Which things
they were notoriously guilty of.
III. And lastly. That, consulting for the common profit,
thev would desist from their purpose ; and that they should
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 53
not withdraw their faith from the King's heralds and mes- CHAP.
• • VI
sengers, but give the King's Majesty his honour even in '
his tender age. Anno 1049.
While he preached these things to them, he was very His great
earnest ; and all heard him with much attention and good ''''"S*^'-
will, the Doctor being a most charming preacher, till one
of the most wicked and loosest sort of them said, " How
" long shall we bear this hii-eling teacher, who, being hired
" by the gentlemen, is come hither with a tongue, that is
" sold for money, and tied up for a reward. But, for all
" his prating, let us bridle their intolerable power, and bring
" them under our law." Upon this a tumult was made, and
the Preacher was threatened. One was for bringing him 27
down, as he said, with arrows and javelins. And presently
there was heard a clattering of weapons under him; so
that he looked for present death. Yet those that were next^
him under the tree were quiet, and none of them made the
least stir or murmur against him, but rather defended him.
But, in this juncture, Conyers, with some others, on pur-
pose to divert the mischief, fell to singing the Te Deum ;
whereat the rabble was composed into some quiet ; which
gave opportunity to the Preacher to convey himself away.
But, before he was got into the city, some of the gang over-
took him, and began to question with him about his licence
to preach. He might have told them he was sufficiently
licensed, both by King Henry VIII, and the Archbishop
of Canterbury ; but he, knowing how vain and dangerous it
was to talk to such a pack, hastened away slightly, and left
his brother, who was then in his company, to hold them in
discourse. And so our Doctor got free from them for that
time.
But the next day, in St. Clement's church, where many How he
of the rebels were present, he made an exposition out of one j',|"i^"rses
of the Lessons ; where he spake against these wicked hurly-
burlies. Coming out of the church, some of these fellows,
who were put into great displeasure by what he had said,
followed him : and knowing that he had three or four good
geldings, charged him that they might be ready in ^he af-
E 3 "
54 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK ternoon to serve the King ; that is to say, to serve them-
' selves with them. But, to prevent this, he cunningly bade
Anno 1549. his groom pull off the shoes of some of his horses, and pare
their hoofs to the quick ; and to rub others of them with
nerve oil, as though they had been lamed with travel, and
so to have them to pasture. The rebels afterwards coming
for his horses, and seeing in what a case they were, forbore
meddling any further with them. But the Doctor, appre-
hending his danger here, resolved to go back to Cambridge :
and so soon after, walking two miles on foot, as though he
took a walk in the fields, met his horses at the place ap-
pointed, where he mounted, and got safe to his journey's
end.
CHAP. VII.
Dr. Parker in commission against Anabaptists. Preaches
at St. PauVs Cross ; and at Court ; and at St. Mary's
in Cambridge, at the fwicral of Bucer. Bishop Ridley
•writes to him to preach again at the Cross. A third
son born to him. Tremcllius. Made Dean of Lincoln.
His friends: reputation in the University. His writ-
ings. His condition under Queen Mary ; being de-
jjrived of all.
Anno 1550. w E are come to the year 1550; in which, Octob. 1, the
Dr. Parker Arclibisliop resigned his living; of Birlinaham, after he had
resigns Bir- i i i • ■ i " .
lingham. now held it SIX years and upwards : not caring, as it seems,
any longer to be a pluralist ; or thinking he could not fre-
qviently enough inspect that cure, being at such a distance.
Parker in a Many now there were in the kingdom, who, though they
commis- ^vere not Papists, vet differed from the doctrine and usage
sion against ... . .
Anabap- of religion now establislied. They would not baptize theu*
children ; held as the Arians in the doctrine of the God-
head, and as Pelagius in the doctrine of free-Avill and pre-
destination : all these came under the denomination of Ana-
baptists. Many also there were that administered the Sa-
il
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 55
craments in other manner than was prescribed by the Book CHAP,
of Common Prayer, lately set forth by public authority. ,
P'or the prevention of the spreading of these people, a com- Anno 1550.
mission was issued out in the month of January to one
and thirty persons, empowering them to correct and punish
these men. Of whicli number was the Archbishop, and
four other Bishops, and divers other Protestants and learn-
ed men of the Court ; and of the King's Chaplains, Red-
man, Latymer, Coverdale, Eyre, and among the rest our
Dr. Parker.
Archbishop Cranmer wrote to him a letter to preach, 28
March the 16th, at PauPs Cross; praying him " purely and c'rlnmer
" sincerely to set forth God's word there, and to exhort his
J to Paul's
*' audience to due obedience to the King's Highness' laws Cross ;
" and statutes."
And again, he had a command to preach before the King And to the
four days after. For thus the same Archbishop wrote to him : pleach be-
fore the
" I commend me hertily unto you ; and wheras the ^'^^jj q
" Kings Majesty, by th'advise of his most honourable C. c.
" Counsall, hath appointed you to preach one sermon be-
" fore his Highnes person at the Court, upon Sonday tlie
" XXth of March next coming, being the Vlth Sonday in
" Lent, and hath commanded me to signify unto you his
" grace and pleasure in this behalf ; thes therefore shalbe
" to requyre you to put your self in a redyness in the mean
" time to satisfy the day and place to you appoynted, ac-
" cording to the King's Majesties expectation, and not to
" fayle in any wise. Thus hertily fare ye wel. From my
" mannour at Lambeth, the Xllth of February 1550.
" Your loving frend,
" T. Cant."
" To my loving frend
" Mr. Doctor Parker."
February 28, Parker lost his great friend Dr. Martin Bucer dies.
Bucer, the King's Professor of Divinity in Cambridge.
He, widi Dr^ Sandys, Master of Katherine hall, Grindal "^^^^^It'
E 4 with him.
56
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and Bradford, Fellows of Pembroke hall, held a more par-
^' ticular converse and acquaintance with that great learned
Anno 1550. foreign Divine. And with these men Bucer held some
communication concerning his writing that book De Regno
Chr'isti, dedicated to King Edward ; as Sampson, a man
of note, then in Pembroke hall in that University, con-
jectured. But that they had an high esteem for the book,
after it was written, was certain, by certain private talk
that Parker and the rest had among themselves: which
Sampson was privy to, as he once signified in a letter to
the Lord Burghlev. And in the controversy that reverend
Professor had with Yong, in a public disputation at Cam-
bridge, begetting great heats and parties, (insomuch that
he was fain to appeal to Bishop Ridley, and sent up his
disputation in writing to him,) our Doctor, together Avith
Dr. Sandys, adhered firmly to him. Which he signified in
a letter he \vTote to Grindal, then with the foresaid Bi-
shop ; viz. Fidelissime agere Chi isti et meam causam D.
Parkerum et D. Sandes. The friendship between Bucer
and our Parker grew so intimate afterwards, that a httle
before his death he constituted him, and Dr. Haddon, Pro-
fessor of the Civil Law, the executors of his last Avill and
testament ; as appeared by the codicil to his will, wherein
are these words, Testamentarios appello hie eximios Domi-
7WS Doctores, Parkerum et Haddonum. A transcript of
which codicil Parker sent to Strasburgh to Ulrich Chehus,
and Conrad Hubert, the tutors and guardians to his chil-
dren.
Preached And, as the last respects they could pay to this their
sermon'^at highly honoured friend deceased, both Haddon and Parker
St. Mary's, were tlie orators at his funeral at St. Mary's. The former,
being University Orator, pronounced, very mo^•ing, a Latin
speech, in his commendation, before that solemn assembly
of the town and University that attended his funerals. And
then, the corpse being interred, Parker ascended the pulpit,
and preached a sermon in English, in such a strain of melt-
ing oratory, as was to the admiration of the auditory : tak-
ing his text out of the Book of Wisdom, chap. iv. beginning
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 57
at ver. 7. But though the righteous be prevented with death, CHAP.
yet shall he be in rest. For honourable age is not that
which standeth in length of' time, nor that is measured 5^ Anno 1551.
number of years. But zvisdom is the gray hairs unto men,
and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was
beloved of him : so that living among sinners, he was trans-
lated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wicked-
ness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his
soul, &c. and so on to ver. 19. The sermon was afterwards
printed ; and some years after translated into Latin ; and
is still to be seen in the volume of Bucer's Scripta AngU-
cana. In his discourse, " having mentioned the happiness
" of the deceased person, and of all saints departed, and
" relating the rewards of a well spent life ; he forbad his
" auditors to lament the death of so holy a man. Because
" it fell out well for him, who, having finished a most pain-
" ful life, and passed through abundance of troubles, was 29
" gotten now out of the waves to the port ; out of the rout
" and sink of men, into eternal peace, and the company of
" the blessed. Then he proceeded to relate the punish-
" ments which God inflicts upon impious and disobedient
" men for their wickednesses : and then giving his hearers
" a view of their own slackness and neglect in the enter-
" tainment of such a saving messenger as Bucer was ; from
" whose most dissolute manners he was snatched away for
" the heavier punishment of the succeeding times : this, he
" said, was a most just cause of sorrow and weeping. And
" that if they should suffer it to slip away, and turned not,
" both in their minds and senses, to mourning and tears,
" and sighs and groans, God would not endure their har-
" dened hearts : but as he had made them to shake by the
" great fall of Bucer, so he would afterwards chastise them
" with heavier punishments. He added, that God had
" placed him among them as the chief master workman ;
" who omitted no day, no hour, in bringing somewhat
" which seemed fit for the building of God's house. But
" they of Cambridge, part of them, complying with the
" times, were drawn to join in the same work, but hardly
58 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " moved a hand to reach one stone : and part overborne
^' " with envy, bhndness, and the old dregs of superstition,
Anno 1651." raised tumults, and prepared strength to undermine the
" foundation, and to throw down the walls and roof of tlie
" building. Therefore God could bear no longer the dis-
" sembled industry of the one part, and the infinite hatred
" of the other. And thus he applied this, as a punishment
" of their wickedness, if they persisted ; but as a medicine of
See Nic. " their error, if they returned and were sorry." This topic
to*sfrV 1*^1"'^^^' copiously and accurately handle, moving
chcke upon his auditory to congratulation in regard of Bucer^s happi-
dcathV ness, and to lamentation and tears in regard of their own
misery. And so he descended largely into the praises of
the excellent virtues and incomparable learning of the de-
ceased.
Bishop Rid- Our Doctor''s abilities for preaching being so well known,
wL'^to* Ridley, the Bishop of London, sent to him, July 22, to
Paul's preach again at St. PauFs Cross : which he declined, and
earnestly desired to be excused. AVherefore the good Bi-
shop, being minded that none but learned and discreet
preachers should officiate there, July 25. wrote a very pa-
thetic letter to him to give a sermon there, and would take
no denial: and the rather, because several came up unfit
for such an audience : some wanted learning, and some
judgment, and some a good conversation, and some dis-
cretion. All which accomplishments the Bishop judged to
meet in him. Whose letter therefore was as follows :
Cross.
Bishop Rid- " Mr. Doctor, I wish you grace and peace. Sir, I pray
c'^c 'c"c " -^^^ refuse not to take a day at the Cross. I may have,
Epist. Prin- " if I would call without any choice, enow : but in some,
"P" " alas ! I desire more learning, in some a better judgment,
" in some more virtue and godly conversation, and in some
" more soberness and discretion. And he, in whom all
" these do meet, shall not do well to refuse, in my judg-
" ment, to serve God in that place. Of which number,
" because I take you to be, therefore (leaving at this time
" to charge you with answering for the contrary to the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 59
" King and his Council) I must charge you to take a day, CHAP.
" as ye will answer for the contrary to Almighty God at
" your own peril. If the day be thought not commodious '^"n" '^^i
" for you, I shall appoint another for it. But if I should
" discharge you for that place for the time hereafter, in
" good faith, my conscience should accuse me, and tell me,
" that I should rather go about to satisfy your request,
" (whom the truth is, as your kindness hath bound me,
" I would be glad to gratify,) than to set forth God's cause.
" Thus fare you well. From my house at London. And
" I pray you commend me to Mrs. Parker, whom although
" I do not know, yet, for the fame of her virtue in God, I
" do love. 25 of July.
" Yours in Christ,
" Nic. London."
The first of September this year was born to our Doctor A third son
a third son, named Matthew, after his oAvn name; having *°
had also a son of the same name the last year, born Au-
gust 27, and died in January ensuing. This Matthew the
Archbishop lived to see matched with Frances, the virtuous
daughter of another Bishop, viz. Barlow of Chichester. But
Matthew died before his father, in the year 1574.
This was the son, I suppose, for whom the Doctor chose 30
Immanuel Tremellius the foreigner (and then the Hebrew Tremeiiius
Professor in the University) to stand godfather, to give the hUgodfl-
greater countenance to his learning and piety. For the*'"^"^'
Doctor was so well pleased with this man, tliat there was
maintained a great famiharity between them ; as there
seemed to be between their wives also. In July the next
year, I meet with a letter wrote by Tremellius from London
to Parker; wherein salutations are sent from his wife to
Mrs. Parker, and she sends a kiss to the little infant also.
This Lent Dr. Parker preached before King Edward
two several Wednesdays, if not three, Harly, his fellow
chaplain, supplying by course the other days.
A great controversy happened about this time between Anno is^s,
John Madew, D. D. plaintiff, and Rowland Swinburn, de- ^^'^'^^
60
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK fendant, about the Mastership, I suppose, of Clare hall,
.whereof Swinburn had got possession. For which they
Anno 1 55!2- appealed at length to the King and Council. Swinburn
the i)iisiness a Papist, or that way affected, whatsoever his pretences
between g^^^} compliances now were : Madew, a great promoter of
Madew and , „ , it i i i i
Swinburn. the Gospel, a good preacher and disputant, and had been
one of the King''s Commissioners in the royal visitation,
1547, and of good service in the University. Upon the
appeal aforesaid, the King and Council issued out a com-
mission, dated April 8, directed to Dr. Parker, Walter
Haddon, LL. D. Master of Trinity hall, and the King's
Professor of the Civil Law, Tho. Lever, S. Th. B. Master
of St. John's college, and Ralpli Hensworth, [Aynsworth,]
Master of Peter house, or to two or three of them, to de-
termine, or to certify the matter in a certain competition
between them. The issue was, that Madew obtained the
Mastership, and Swinburn was laid aside. Yet the next
year, upon the change of the government, Madew was
thrown out, and Swinburn came into the Mastership again.
Had a pre- A presentation from the King was granted to our Doctor
deanery"* this year to the canonry and prebend of Corringham, in the
given him. church of Lincoln. His patent bore date at Westminster,
June 21. And now the King sent his letters to the Presi-
dent and Chapter to admit and choose him to the deanery
also. For John Taylor, Dean of the said church, being
advanced to be Bishop of this see, June 8. Dr. Parker was
nominated to succeed him in the deanery. And J uly 9. he
was installed into liis prebend ; and the 30th elected Dean ;
and October 7. installed into the said deanery of Lincoln in
his own person.
Dear to Bi- It was said before how King Henry gave him a prebend
rick" ^^^^ church of Ely. By which means probably he came
to be the better known unto the Bishop of that see. Dr.
Goodrick, Lord Cliancellor in the latter part of King Ed-
ward's reign. To this Bishop our Parker was dear, and in
the number of his friends : yet, according to the temper of
the man towards his friends, when he came to be advanced,
he was not forward to shew such kindness to this his friend
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 61
as he expected, and sometimes .sued for at his hands, and CHAP,
used too much sourness and passion towards him. Which
character Parker afterwards, when Archbishop, gave of this Anno 1552.
Bishop in one of his letters. " More and Audley," said he, Parker's ob-
" for wit, eloquence, and law ; Goderick for his sincerity „pon i,ini_
" towards justice. But they all had their faults. The third Mss. G. P.
" a dissembler in friendship ; who used to entertain his ill-
" willers very courteously, and his very friends very imperi-
" ously ; thinking thereby to have the rule of both ; where-
" by he lost both. For while his ill-will ers spread, how
" he would shake up liis acquaintance, they gathered there-
" by the nature of his friendship towards his old friends,
" and therefore joyed not much of his glorious entertain-
" ment ; and his friends indeed joyed less in him for such
" his discouragement that they felt at his hands. Expertns
" loqiior.'"''
Tremellius had borrowed of Dr. Parker some ancient Tremeiiius
curious copy in MS. of the Bible, (in the original Hebrew, his*'
I suppose,) and now in July returned it from London toi^'i''*'-
him to Cambridge, by the hands of Brian Wade, the in-
cumbent of Sauston.
In this King's reign also he was nominated to two things; Nominated
to a bishopric, and to be Master of Trinity college in Cam-
bridge : which he either declined, or others stepped in be-
fore him. But I rather incline to believe the former ; at
least concerning the bishopric.
Dr. Parker was known to the King, the Lord Crumwel, 3 1
the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Goodric, Lord"''
Chancellor, Ridley Bishop of London, to Sir William
Cecil the Secretary, Sir John Cheke, the King's tutor,
and Mr. Nicolas Bacon, a profound lawyer, and many
others of the best rank and name for virtue and religion :
and all that knew him valued him. Cheke he styled, " His
" entire good friend and patron Cecil he called, " Of a
" long time my special good friend and master;" and to
Bacon his countryman, he used these words in one of his
letters, " In confidence of your good old heart to me."
In the University, whereof he was one of the venerable "'the uIiV
versity.
62 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
to OK Heads, he carried it with great gracefulness, and as much
serviccableness ; assisting very much in the promoting of
Auno 1552. Igarning, and in detecting and bringing men off from the
Popisli superstitions. And such an high opinion liad the
learned and best men there concerning him, that, in the
second year of King Edward''s reign, they chose him Vice-
Chancellor, though he had borne the same office but two
years before : which office he bore with a very becoming-
grace. Roger Ascham, being Secretary to Morison, King
Ed\\'ard^s Ambassador to Germany, wrote a letter from
Lovain to a friend of his of St. John's college; where,
speaking of his meeting the Vice-Chancellor of that Uni-
versity in the streets, attended with his Beadles, saith,
" That he was more like in apparel and port to our
" Priest of Horningshie, than to the comeliness of Master
" Doctor Parker and his Beadles."
His writ- Among his miscellaneous volumes in MS. I meet with
Ecfwanrs''^^ large tract in one, entitled, Dcfcns'io Reformationis Ec-
roigii. clcsicc Angl'icance. ; which, whether writ by himself or Bucer,
Misceii. D. J cannot say : but I suppose the latter. There be also in
tlie said volume rules for the French and Dutch churches,
drawn out by Dr. Parker's own hand: which perhaps
might be his own doing, set on work by some of the Bi-
shops, or by the Convocation in this King's reign, to serve
as a model for the churches of the foreigners fled over hi-
ther. But, whatever the design thereof was, I will not
Num. tlilnl^^ much to transfer it into the Appendix, being his
writing.
Anno 1 553. our Doctor passcd through this reign, not without great
t?on under i'<-'putation and esteem of all good men in country. Court,
Queen and University ; having made himself beloved for his great
serviccableness and true zeal for God and his pure wor-
ship ; so, upon the arrival of Queen Mary, being of another
religion, he endured much, and \vas stripped of all capacity
of doing good to the Church and to the nation any more ;
and, having made such a figure in the former reign, was
glad to conceal himself the more in this. And though he
was sought for, yet, by shifting from place to place, (but
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 63
keeping himself within the kingdom,) he escaped those CHAP,
bloody times: and God reserved him to better days, for
further service of the Church and his country. He was '^"'"^
despoiled under that Queen of all his preferments and bene-
fices; and then retired into Norfolk among his friends,
with his wife and family. And even then he had sufficient
for his maintenance, by God's gracious care of him, as he
after told the Lord Keeper Bacon, who had been acquainted
with him from his youth. " Your Lordship knew with what Letter to
" patrimony I began the world, and yet have hitherto lived ^'^"^ l^a*^""-
" well enough. Yea, when all my livings were taken away
" from me, yet God, I thank him, ministered to me suffi-
" ciently above the capacity of my understanding or fore-
" seeing."
For in the second year of Queen Mary, he Avas thrown Deprived,
out of all, for being married: and so were all the rest Qf
the married Clergy, and turned out into the wide world to
shift for themselves and their families. Although the mar-
riage of Priests (as well as others) were allowed by the word
of God, and also by the laws, made in two Parhaments
under King Edward : yet the Papists, with whom nothing
gentle and moderate is wont to take place, and who equal
their own decrees with the sacred Scripture, or prefer them
above it, discharged them all without difference thenceforth
from their offices and benefices.
Then Dr. Parker " lurked (to use the words of the col- His private
" lege MS.) secretly in those years within the house of one
" of his friends, leading a poor life, without any men's aid
" or succour : and yet so well contented with his lot, that
in that pleasant I'cst, and leisure for his studies, he would
" never, in respect of himself, have desired any other kind
" of life, the extreme fear of danger only excepted : and
" therein he lived, as all other good men then did. His
" wife he would not be divorced from, or put her away, all 32
" this evil time, (as he might, if he would, in those days,
" which so rigorously required it,) being a woman very
" cliaste, and of a very virtuous behaviour, and behuv-
istorial,
64
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " ing herself with all due reverence toward her hus-
^' " band d."
Anno 1553. Thus was he thrown out of all his places and benefices,
without receiving any single benefit, recompence, or annual
stipend. Which calamity was common with him to all the
Clergy almost in the whole realm, for the cause of religion,
The reason and withal because they had married wives. Which never-
of ii'is pTe- theless, in two Parliaments, was allowed under King Ed-
ferments, ward, and permitted by the eternal word of God. Supra
quod (saith the abovesaid MS.) mortalem honiinem sapere
et sumvice est dementice, et intolerahiUs superbiai. " And
" for frail man to be wise above that, is the highest mad-
" ness, and an arrogance not to be suffered."
A fall re- One time in this reign narrow search was made for him to
fligh^t' him, which he having some notice of, fled in the night
in great peril, and got a fall from his horse so dangerously,
that he never recovered it. Which made him complain to
the Lord Bacon, when he was nominated for Archbishop
of Canterbury, that he was in body so hurt and decayed,
that his painful infirmity would not suffer it; namely, to
accept of that preferment.
But how he was spoiled of all his places and preferments,
and in what contentment and quiet of mind he lived in this
bare and naked condition, I shall represent out of the Doc-
tor's own MS. being a parchment scroll of his own writing,
which Dr. Tenison, then the right reverend Bishop of Lin-
coln, (now the most reverend Father in Christ, Lord Arch-
bishop of Canterbury,) procured and gave into the hands
of Dr. Stanley, then Master of Bene't college, to be repo-
sited in the library there among the rest of Archbishop
Parker's MSS. I do only translate thence what he wrote
in Latin.
Resigns the " December , 1553, I resigned the Mastership of Cor-
Mastership " pus Christi college to Laurence Moptyde, whom, in a
" kind of necessity, I chose for my successor.
" April 2, 1554, I was deprived of my prebend in the
Focmina integerriiua morigerafiue, et suuni virum rcverens.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 65
" church of Ely ; and deprived also of my rectory of Land- CHAP.
" beach. To be presented to which church I procured
" Wilham Whalley, a Canon of Lincoln; whom I chose Anno 1554.
" my successor ; and he was instituted September 30." [To {;'i'7rectory^
the pi-ebend succeeded Dr. Yong, a compiler. Of both and prebend
these preferments Dr. Parker was said, in the register of"^^'^'
Ely, to be canonically deprived; that is, no doubt, for
being married. For these are the words of the said re-
gister, as they were friendly communicated to me by the
Reverend Mr. Tho. Baker, Fellow of St. John's in Cam-
bridge, who transcribed them : Anno 1554, Apr. 12. Mr.
Johannes Voting; S. T. P. admissus fuit ad prebendam il-
lam in eccles. Eliensi per canojiicam deprivatimiem Rev.
viri MatthcBi Parker, vacantem, quam idem Matihceus nu-
per obtinuit ad proesentationem Marice Regince.
Anno 1554), Septemh. ult. Dominus Wilhelmus WJmlley
admissus fuit ad ecclesiam parocli. de Landbeache, 8j-c. va-
cantem per canonicam deprivationem Rev. MatthcBi Par-
ker, S. T. P. ultimi incumbent. But now to go on with
the Archbishop's relation.]
" May 21, I was spoiled of my deanery of Lincoln : and And of his
*' so I was the same day of my prebend of Coringham inprebpnd of''
*' the same church. To which Mr. George Pierpoynt was Lincoln.
presented by force of the advowson of the same, not
" granted by Tayler, Bishop of Lincoln. The deanery was
" conferred upon Francis Malet by Queen Mary.
" After my deprivation I lived so joyful before God in His pious
'** my conscience, and so neither ashamed nor dejected, that up'^o^*occa^
•** the most sweet leisure for study, to which the good pro- s'on where-
" vidence of God recalled me, created me much greater
" and more solid pleasures, than that former busy and dan-
gerous kind of living ever pleased me. What will here-
" after happen to me, I know not ; but to God, who takes
" care of all, and who will one day reveal the hidden things
" of men's hearts, I commend myself wholly, and my godly
" and most chaste wife, with my two most dear little sons.
" And I beseech the same most great and good God, that
we may so for the time to come with unshaken minds bear
VOL. I. F
66
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
1.
Anno 15o4.
33
Anno 1556.
Continues
well con-
tented.
Another
son born
to him.
Anno 1557
Contented
and cheer-
ful still.
Books by
him made
during this
time.
" the reproach of Christ, tliat we may always remember,
" that we have here no abiding city, but may seek one to
" come, by the grace and mercy of my Lord Jesus Christ.
" To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all
" honour and empire. Amen. 26. Octob. A. D. 1554."
And in this cheerful and contented condition he still con-
tinued, how obscurely and dangerously soever he passed these
Marian days. For, in the year 1556, this was another of
his meditations: " Hitherto I have lived before God so
" glad, being contented with my lot, that I have neither en-
" vied my superiors, nor despised my inferiors; directing
" all my endeavours to this, that I may serve God in a
" pure conscience, and that my better may not despise me,
" nor my underling be afraid of me, 14. Octob. An. Dom.
" 1556."
This year, in the month of September, he had a fourth
son born, named Joseph. Calling him so perhaps for the
same reason tliat Jacob so called his son of that name, be-
cause God had added another son to those several others
born to him before : as also, to parallel his present condi-
tion to that of Joseph, who suffered much for preserving a
good conscience: which nevertheless God in time amply
rewarded with great honour and prosperity ; as it also hap-
pened to this our pious confessor. But this his son Joseph
died within the year.
Again, on his birthday the next year, his mind was still
in the same constancy and good frame; which he thus
described : " And still this 6. August, An. Dom. 1557, 1 per-
" sist in the same constancy, upholden by the grace and
" goodness of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By
" whose inspiration I have finished the Book of Psalms
" turned into vulgar verse ; and I have wrote a Defence
" of the Marriage of Priests against Thomas Martin's book,
" wrote February An. Dom. 1552." Whereby we see in what
studies he spent some of his leisure. What became of his
Psalms I know not ; but his book of Priests' Marriage he
printed soon after he came to be Archbishop, yet conceal-
ing his name : taking his occasion of writing from another
I
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 67
imperfect tract of a learned man [Ponet, late Bishop of CHAP.
Winton] deceased in exile, concerning the same subject.
And once more we read under his hand his faith and Anno 1557.
perseverance in the sentence following;, which seems to have
been his contemplation after his fall from his horse in his science still,
flight, whereby his body was sore hurt and endangered:
" And yet I am joyful, contented with my lot, trusting in
" the testimony of my conscience in the Lord, and relying
" upon his living word, expecting the redemption of my
" body through Christ my Saviour."
This parchment roll (whence I have extracted what is
written above) being our Archbishop's own private journal
of events happening to himself, and his pious meditations
thereupon, will, I dare say, be acceptable to many that
esteem his memory : and therefore I have transcribed it
faithfully, to preserve it in the Appendix. Numb. ix.
And as in this dark and dismal time he silently, but with His obser-
tears, observed the fearful persecution of many honest pious [iJg'^JI^gj
men, and the overthrow of the Gospel ; so he likewise took under
notice of the hand of God, how remarkably it was now^i"rj"
stretched out against Mary the Queen and the realm in
judgment. Which take from his own pen in the Preface to
the aforesaid book, which he wrote in this doleful reign,
though he published it under Queen Elizabeth. " He re-
" commended it deeply to be considered, with what plagues
*' Almighty God revenged the contempt of his holy insti-
" tution in the foresaid [Queen Mary's] reign, too much
" apparent, and in too much fresh remembrance to be de-
*' nied. The discourse thereof, as it were worthy, if any
" indifferent learned man should take in hand to set out in
" story, with the circumstances thereof, would rise to a
*' huge volume ; to the wonder of the godly and wise heads
" of other countries, to see what we felt in these days here
" in the realm. But it is not like that the notability thereof
" will be forgotten to be transmitted to our posterity here-
*' after in writing. Surely the brief remembrance of things
chaunced may appear lamentable to be considered. As,
*' what immoderate rains and tempests raged in one year ?
F 2
68 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " What intolerable heats and droughts in another year?
*' " What penury and scarceness of corn and victuals, wliat
Anno 1557. « hunger and famine thereof followed? What sickness,
34 « what agues, what strange mortalities reigned and raged,
" wherewith the eldest and gravest personages of all de-
" grees and conditions were in great numbers wasted and
" consumed ? What misfortunes commonly fell to women
" with child in their delivery ? What fires happened far
" above the wont of other years of princes' reigns ? In
" many places wasting whole villages, towns, and churches.
" Again, what cruelty was then executed by firing old men
" and women, young men and maids, without choice, whe-
" ther the women were with chUd, or free from children ?
" What proscriptions and banishments of learned men out
" of the realm ? And such as tarried within the realm, how
" they drove into corners, spoiled and impoverished ? And
" such as could be gotten, shamed openly by vile penances
" and shameful recantations ? And furthermore, what rapes
" and villanies committed, above the common practised dis-
" order, by strangers and foreigners ? What impunities soon
" purchased to that unchaste generation, to recourse again
" to their old trade of lewd living, after they had con-
" founded the Priests'' chaste matrimonies, so established
" and authorized by the high laws of the realm ? Then at
*' the last, what dishonour and loss the realm suffered by
" losing that notable borderer Calais, aforetime so valiantly
" won and gotten by King Edward III. Add to these
" unfortunate days, of resuming the great adversary of all
" Christian realms, the Pope of Rome again, and relin-
" quishing the supremacy, politicly and chargeably main-
" tained and defended in good and sure possession, to the
" comfort of the whole realm, and to the terror of all our
" foreign enemies : I say, consider all these particularities,
" as they might deserve to be set out at length, what English
" heart could forbear tears, and not inwardly sigh and la-
" ment the misery ? Which heavy infelicities the English
" children, yet unborn, shall weep at and wail to consider
" the same. If these be not severe tokens and proofs of
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 69
" God's heavy displeasure towards England, for so vilely CHAP.
" despising his word, his light, his religion, his sacraments,
" his institutions, what can be shews of his wrath and in- Anno 1557.
" dignation ?"
Queen Elizabeth coming to the crown, our good Doctor
issued out, as did many more learned and con«cientious
men, from his lurking hole with his wife and two children.
CHAP. VIII.
Dr. Parker considered upon Queen ElizahetK's access to the
crown. Commissions from the Dean and Chapter of
Canterbury. Dr. Parker''s care now for rdigimi. No-
minated to the archbislwpric. His rcluctancy to accept
thereof. Messages to him from Court : with his answers.
Petitions the Queen by a letter. Dr. Parker Lord Elect
of Canterbury.
And now we have brought our Divine to the fifty-fourth Anno isss.
year of his age : when, as there happened in the nation a p "
great and happy change in the civil and ecclesiastical affairs, circum-
so there fell out as great and unthought an one in relation
to him ; namely, from being a poor, obscure, absconding,
persecuted Clergyman, to be advanced to the very top of
ecclesiastical honour and trust in the English Church ;
though altogether without his seeking, and with much re-
luctancy : the height of all his desire being to be restored
to his former preferments : or if not so, yet he could gladly
have contented himself to have lived and died Master of his
old beloved college, and to have foregone the rest.
But as yet the see of Canterbury was void since theCommis-
17th of November, on which day, or early the day after, visit from
the last Archbishop, Cardinal Pole, expired. In this va- J'^^'^J^^'j^'^J^'J,^
cancy Dr. Nicolas Wotton, Dean of the church, (according
to ancient privilege and custom,) issued out divers com-
missions for visitations: which, with other visitations, viz. 35
F 3
70
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK that of the Queen and of the Diocesan, that followed so
.close, oppressed and impoverished the Clergy. There were
Anno 1558. Commissions, both dated December 1, 1558. The one
ca?.'ct Cap. Laurence Huse, LL. D. Dean of Shoram and Croyden,
Cant. to visit the churchos and chapels within the said deaneries.
The other to John Nowel, [or Newal,] S. Th. B. Hector
of the church of Hadley, and Dean of Bocking, (who suc-
ceeded Dr. Rowland Taylor, the holy martyr,) to visit that
deanery. Another commission was dated February 16, 1558,
to Thomas Packard, LL. D. Dean of South Mailing, Pag-
ham, and Terring, to visit those deaneries.
Dr. Parker Thus destitute of the comfort of a pastor, that see re-
t^^setUe.'" mained for near a twelvemonth, namely, until our Doctor
ment of re- entered on that weighty office. In which interval never-
theless he lay not by useless. But his abilities and parts
being well known, he was appointed one of those who, in
the very beginning of the Queen''s reign, were selected to
contrive the book of prayers and religious worship to be
publicly used instead of the superstitious Mass-book ; that
it might be ready against the meeting of the next Parlia-
ment, to be presented unto them to be allowed and con-
firmed. These persons sat close this winter at Sir Tho.
Smith's house about this business. But Dr. Parker was
detained in the country the most part of this season by a
qviartan ague, (a disease very rife and mortal about this
time,) and so was absent. Yet, upon a summons from
the Court, he came up in the month of January, and was
in London in February. But the relics of that distemper
still hung about him ; so that before February was expired
he was fain to go home again. But though he could not
assist in this work in person, yet was he not idle in his re-
tirement, but contributed his counsel and judgment in writ-
ing for setting the matters of the Church in good accom-
modation, as »ve shall hear by and by.
Dr Parker -^"^ while he was here in town, he was chosen to preach
preaches this first Lent before the Queen. Which he did on Friday
Queen. 10th of February, being the first week in Lent; Dr.
Cox, (sometime Dean of Westminster and Christ Church,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 71
Oxon.) preaching the Wednesday before, being Ash- CHAP.
Wednesday ; and Bishop Skory the Sunday following ;
and cha-
racter.
and Mr. Whitehead the Wednesday ensuing: all eminent ^""0 isss.
reformed Divines in King Edward the Sixth''s days.
In these beginnings and dispositions toward a reform a- Parker con-
tion, the Church wanted a pious, grave, wise, and suitable for^Arch-
Metropolitan : which therefore was necessary in the first bisiiop.
place to provide. The Queen left the ordering of Church
matters, for the most part, to the two brothers-in-law, Se-
cretary Cecil, and Sir Nicolas Bacon, before mentioned.
Who, in serious debate between themselves, concluded on
Dr. Parker, as the fittest man to be preferred to the arch-
bishopric; after Dr. Wotton, the Dean of Canterbury,
Whitehead, and some other, are said by some to have been
under their consideration.
For their purpose and full intent was to provide such a His fitness
person for Archbishop, who might govern his province with
that discretion and moderation, as might abolish Popery,
and promote the Gospel ; yet not by methods of severity
or sharp contention, but by persuasion rather than force.
There was now before them a greater choice of learned and
godly men, than any age ever before produced in this land.
The lot in these two wise counsellors'' judgments fell upon
the foresaid Doctor, who had in him an admirable mixture
of gravity and honesty, learning and prudence, gentleness
and obliging behaviour.
Therefore, December the 9th, Bacon, Lord Keeper, Sent for to
summoned the reverend man, then (as it seems) at Cam- ^'^"^p "j.^**
bridge, to come up to him at Burgeny house in Paternoster
Row, London, for matters touching himself ; which (as he
wrote to him) he trusted would turn to his good ; or that
if he, the Lord Keeper, were gone out of town, then he
should repair to the Secretary. But our modest learned man
suspecting by those words some public high honour in the
Church designed him, endeavoured earnestly to put it by ;
choosing much rather in his own mind to be employed in
some more private capacity.
For the good Divine pleaded at large his excuse, by his ^"5*1**^^
F 4 dines it.
72 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK answer wrote from Cambridge, where he was with some
' relations. He pleaded a quartan ague, that then afflicted
\nno isJis. iijjjj^ and so distempered the state of his health, that with-
out apparent danger he could not as yet commit himself
to the adventure of the air. And prayed Bacon to sig-
nify as much to such as sent for him. And then, more
than suspecting what burden was intended him, he sued
36 to him, " in confidence, as he said, of his good old heart
" to him, to decline this intended dignity in the Church
" from him. He said, he should be inwardly heavy and
" sorry, that his favourable affection should procure him
" any thing above the reach of his ability, whereby he
" should but dishonest himself, and disappoint the expec-
" tation of such as might think that in him which was not.
" But especially that he might clog and cumber his con-
" science to God-ward, before whom he looked every day
" to appear to make his answer, which he thought and
" trusted was not far off. Notwithstanding, that though
" he would most fain wear out the rest of his life in private
" state ; yet concerning that small talent credited unto him,
" he would not so unthankfuUy unto God ensue his quiet,
" that he could not be content to bestow it, so it were there
" Avhither his heart and conscience afore that time, and
" daily yet did incline him ; namely, to be further enabled,
" by the revenue of some prebend, without charge of cure
" or of government, to occupy himself to dispense God's
" word among the simple strayed sheep of God's fold in
" poor destitute parishes and cures ; more meet, he said,
" for his decayed voice and small quality, than in theatrical
" and great audience. Which walk he wished and would,
" to be near those quarters, [viz. Norfolk,] where they
" both [Parker and Bacon] were bom, that he might have
Desires an " opportunity to wait other while on him at Redgrave. — If
University a might vet be bolder with him, to disclose his desire,
life above n 1 •
all I " of all places in England he would wish to bestow most
" his time in the University. The state whereof, he said,
" was miserable at that present, as he had intelligence from
" time to time thereof. And if in any respect he could do
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 73
" service, as a weak member of the commonwealth, he C H A P.
" thought he might do it with them, having long acquaint-.
" ance, and some experience in the doings thereof. And Anno isss.
" to tell Bacon his heart, he had rather have such a thing f^^f^
" as Bene't college, and a living of twenty nobles a yeai' at there.
" the most, than to dwell in the deanery of Lincoln, which
" was two hundred at the least. And so he prayed him
" to insinuate these things to Mr. Secretary. And at the
" reverence of God he entreated him, either to help that
" he be quite forgotten, or else so appointed, that he were
" not entangled now of new with the concourse of the
" world, in any respect of pubUc state of living."
Again, December 20, he wrote again to the Lord Keeper, Writes
in answer (as it seems) to a second summons of that Lord ; the Lo^rd
importing, that he would wait upon him either at Burgany, Keeper,
or at New Market in his retvirn down into Suffolk. And
that Lord being at that time afflicted with a quartan ague,
(which about this time cut off a great many people,) he
prayed God to restore his strength, that he might be the
sooner restored to the commonwealth, which, in that appa-
rent danger of worthy persons, he feared felt God's hand
in this his visitation. And added his advice, that he should
not stir much abroad in that distemperance of the air, so
contrarious to the state of men's bodies, once pierced with
that insolent quartan, (as he called it,) as experience shewed.
And he thovight the spring-time in natural respects must be
expected, though Almighty God, he said, was bound to no
time.
Thus hitherto had Dr. Parker delayed coming up, choos-
ing rather (if he might) to stay till the Lord Keeper went
down, that he might have opportunity to deal the more
effectually with him, to help him to avoid the great burden
that he feared was to be laid upon him.
In the mean while another letter, dated the 30th of De- a letter
cember, comes to him from Court; which was more per- ceciT,'
cmptory. Wherein the Secretary wrote to him in the s">»>i'on
Queen's name, that she was minded presently to use his court;
service in certain matters of importance ; and therefore that
74 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK he [the Secretary] was commanded so to signify to him:
to the end, that he should forthwith, upon the sight hereof,
Anno 1558. put himself in order to make his undelayed repair unto
London : and then he would declare unto him the Queen's
further pleasure. But our Doctor made use again of his
indisposition and want of health, to retard his coming so
speedily.
And an- Jt was but four or five days after, viz, January the 4th,
the Lord that the Lord Keeper sends again to him, mentioning the
Keeper. Secretary's letter, and requiring him to come up immedi-
ately, if his health would suffer, for certain weighty matters
touching the Queen's service : adding, that he had been
willed to hasten his coming up.
37 At these last summons the reverend man comes up, and
Appointed Understands more perfectly that the archbishopric was in-
Archbishop. tenfjg^ f^^ him : and therefore that he should accordingly
prepare himself. Which message held him in such careful-
ness all the time of his being at London, with the recurring
of a dull distemperance in his head by the dregs of his quar-
tan, and some other displeasant cogitations of the state of
the time, that made him take so little joy of his being at
Returns London, as he never had less in his life ; and glad he was
back again, when his back was turned thereunto, as his own words were.
And hoping yet he had half got himself off from this honour,
in an excellent letter to Bacon, dated the beginning of March,
at his return home, gave his advice what sort of man the
Queen should make choice of for this place : and the rather,
because the office being bestowed well, they might care the
Describes a less for the residue. " He prayed God then to grant that
fit man for a chanced neither on an arrogant man, nor a faint-hearted
this see. o '
Parker to " man, nor on a covetous man. The first, he said, should
Hist.^ef! ° " both sit in his own light, and should discourage his fel-
voi. ii. Col- it lows to ioin with him in unity of doctrine, which must be
lect. p. 357.
" their whole strength. For if any heart-burnings be amongst
" them, if private quarrels stirred abroad be brought home,
" and so should shiver them asunder, it might chance to have
" that success, which he feared in the conclusion would
" follow. The second should be too weak to commune with
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 75
" the adversaries, who would be the stouter upon his pusil- CHAP.
" lanimity. The third man not worth his bread, profitable
"for no estate in a Christian commonwealth, to serve it Anno 1558.
" rightly."
Then again as to himself, as conscious of his own abili-
111 111 1 -1 1 endure im-
ties, he thus bespake both Bacon and Cecil : " that except prisonmcnt
" they moderated and restrained their over-much pfood-wilP**'"^"^
c> to accept
" in the former respect towards him, he feared in the end he any bisiiop-
" should dislike them both ; and that their benevolences
" should, by occasion of his obstinate untowardness, jeopard
" him into prison. Yet he had rather, he said, suffer it
" in a good conscience, than to be intruded into such a room
" and vocation, wherein he should not be able to answer the
" charffe to God nor the world : and wherein he should not
" serve the Queen's honour, nor live to the honour of the
" realm. And in fine, he said, by God's favour, and their
" good helps, he never intended to be of that order, [of epi-
" scopacy,] better or worse, higher or lower." So far was
he from affecting the archbishopric, that he resolved against
being the meanest Bishop. He shewed likewise his own po-
verty, " that he was worth thirty pounds when he came up
" to London, and then wasted a good part. And what would
" that do to furnish his houseliold ? He gave an instance in
" Hopton, the last Bishop of Norwich, lately deceased, that
" upon his departure was so in debt, that the creditors seized
" his goods to answer his debts to them ; and then straight-
" way came the Queen's officers and discharged them all ;
" [sweeping all from the creditors, to satisfy his debts to the
" Queen.] So that for all his spare hospitality, he was not
" able to pay half he owed." Then Parker shewed Bacon
another of his imperfections, as he called them, namely, his
painful bodily infirmity, taken by a fall from his horse in his
flight once, under Queen Mary in the night time, from such
as sought for him : whereby he was so dangerously hurt,
that he should never recover it : and in his late journey to
London it was increased, to his greater pain. " So that he
" was fain, he said, sometimes to be idle, when he would
" be occupied, and to keep his bed, when his heart was not
76 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O^O K " sick. And, in a word, he prayed his Honour not to think
, " that he sought hereby his o^vn private gain, or his idle
Anno 1558. « ease; for his heart would right fain serve his Sovereign
" Lady in more respects than that of his allegiance ; and bid-
" ding them to put him where they would else; [excepting
" the place of a Bishop ;] and if, as far as his power of
" knowledge and of health of body would extend, he did not
" apply himself to discharge his duty ; let we," said he, " be
" thrust out like a thief?''
jiTdgment Bacou, it scems, had given him some hint, as though one
of prophe- reason of his declining to accept this preferment, was his fear
of sad times, conceived from some prophecies, that then went
about, of Nostredame and others. Whereat he wrote thus
in answer : "I pray you think not, that the prognostication
" of Mr. Michael Nostredame reigneth in my head. I esteem
" that fantastical hodge-podge not so well as I credit Luci-
" an's book De veris Narrationibus : nor yet all other vain
38 " prophecies of Sands, more than I regard Sir Tho. Moor's
" book of Fortune''s Answers upon the Chance of Three
" Dice casting. I would I saw no more cause to fear the
" Hkelihood of God's wrath deserved for dissolute life, to
" faU upon the realm, by the evidence of the true word, and
" by God's old practices."
TheBi- Indeed well might our Doctor shrink at the undertaking
wimnVness of such a Weighty province, at this particular juncture espe-
charge cially, when the greatest prudence, courage, conduct, learn-
ing, and experience, would be required to assist in that re-
formation that was now to be set on foot, and caiTied on :
the national Church being at this time generally corrupted
in doctrine, discipline, and manners; and the correction
thereof requiring so much skill and audacity. Besides, he
was conscious to himself of an excess of natural bashful-
ness, and want of experience for government, his spirits
having been much depressed under the hard reign of Queen
Mary. Of which he complained, not long after his accepta-
tion of the archbishopric, in a secret letter to the Secre-
His mean tary, a gi'cat instrument of his promotion : " that it grieved
him, that he was not able to answer his friendly report of
conceit of
liiiuself.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 77
" him before time, [meaning when he recommended him to CHAP.
" the Queen,] whereby, to his much grief of heart, he pass-
" ed forth his hfe in heaviness, having been thus intruded, Anno i558
" notwithstanding his i-eluctation by oft letters to his friends,
" to be in such room : which, he said, he could not sustain
" agreeably to the honour of the realm, if he should be too
" far tried. And that with passing those hard years of Ma-
" ry''s reign in obscurity without all conference, or such man-
" ner of study, as now might do him service, and what with
" his natural vitiosity of over-much shamefacedness, he was so
" abashed in himself, that he could not raise up his heart and
" stomach to utter in talk with others, which with his pen
" he could express indifferently, without great difficulty :
" which made him [in an over-much misconceit of himself]
" request of the Secretary to decline from him such opportu-
" nities, wherein he might work a lack to his promoters, and
" a shame to himself," as he modestly expressed it.
But whatever his low esteem of his own abilities were,
others were well satisfied concerning his great endowments :
nor did the Queen make an ill choice ; but as great things
were expected from him, so he failed not in that expectation :
which he shall be convinced of, that diligently observeth in
what state the English Church stood at Parker's first entrance
upon the government of it, and what advances it made un-
der him.
Dr. Parker now seemed to lie still for a month or six Summoned
weeks, till May 17, when the Lord Keeper writ again to him, ^^qu^*"
" That by a resolution made that day in the Queen's pre- Letter to
" sence, he perceived that his friends would hardly deliver Hist^Ref!
" him of the charge written in former letters : and so he J'"'^
" thought to make him privy thereunto, and to advise him ^'^ '
" to commit to the judgment of his friends his ability or dis-
" ability, to serve where and when he should be called :
" that if he knew a man in whom the description made in
" the beginning of his letter might more justly be deferred
" than to himself, he would prefer him before Parker ; but
" knowing none so meet indeed, he took it, he said, to be
" his duty to prefer him before all others : and the rather,
78
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " because otherwise he should not follow the advice Parker
' " had given him : and added, that it was like ere long
Anno 1558. u j^g ^Quld receive letters subscribed by him and others
" jointly meaning the Council. And accordingly, two
days after, that is. May 19, a short letter was sent him,
" that for certain causes the Queen's Majesty intended to
" use his service ; and her pleasure was, that he should re-
" pair up with such speed as conveniently he might." This
was signed by the Lord Keeper, and the Secretary, from
the Court. But Parker, such was his extraordinary unwil-
lingness to be a Bishop, gave no answer, nor took his jour-
ney for some days after the aforesaid letter came to him : so
that May 28, they both writ to him again, that it was the
Queen's pleasure that he should repair up with aU speed pos-
sible ; leaving him not to his convenient speed, as they had
done in the former letter.
Coming up now to the Court, no other endeavours suc-
ceeding to divert this place, so much dreaded by him, his
39 last application was unto the Queen herself ; addressing an
excellent letter to her, upon his being nominated by her to
the archbishopric, and disabling himself: which letter,
though already published, yet containing such a character
of the wisdom, goodness, humility, and self-diffidence of this
venerable man, I will here present the reader with the sub-
stance of it.
Petitions He addressed to her by way of suit ; which, as he said,
to\e^ex-° " extreme necessity compelled him to make ; both in respect
ciised. Col- « of j^is constrained conscience to God, and in regard of his
lect. of Rec. . .
in the Hist. " duty which he owed to her noble estate. That calling to
Ref. vol. II. ii examination his great unworthiness of so high a function,
" and his disability he might allege in particular, but for
" molesting her most weighty affairs ; he was bold to ap-
" proach by writing to her Honour, to discharge him of that
" so high and chargeable an office : which required a man
" of much more wit, learning, virtue, and experience, than
" he saw and perfectly knew could be performed by him
" worthily ; to occupy it to God's pleasure, and to her
" Grace's honour, and to the wealth of her loving subjects.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 79
" He urged to her many other imperfections in him : as, CHAP.
" temporal abilities for furnishing thereof, as was seemly to
" the honour of the realm ; as also infirmity of body, which Anno 1558.
" would not suffer him to attend on so difficult a cure, to
" the discharge thereof in any reasonable expectation.
" And where, besides his duty of allegiance to her
" princely dignity, he was otherwise for the great bene-
" fits which he sometimes received at her Grace''s ho-
" nourable mother's benevolence, (whose soul he doubted
" not but was in blessed felicity with God,) most singularly
" obhged above many other, to be her most faithful beads-
" man, both in thanking God for that fatherly protection
" hitherto over her noble person ; and furthermore, to pray
" for the continuance of her fortunate reign ; so he was right
" sorry, and lamented within himself, that he was so basely
qualified inwardly in knowledge, and outwardly in extern
" sufficiencies, to do her Grace any meet service, as he could
" wish could be acceptable to her Grace's expectation : as-
" suring her noble estate, that in any other smaller vocation
" under the degree of such chargeable offices, and more
" agreeable to his infirmity, if it should so seem to her high
" wisdom and merciful liberality, he should endeavour him-
" self to attend thereon : referring yet himself wholly to her
" Grace's pleasure, rather than by just allegation of his un-
" worthiness, the loyal duty of his faithful heart should be
" any ways suspected by her reverend Majesty. Subscrib-
" ing himself,
" Her Grace's poor subject,
" Matthew Parker."
But nothing would do, and Dr. Parker must be the man Fixed for
pitched upon, for his admirable qualities and rare accom-
phshments, to fill the see of Canterbury. And in his cares
and preparations for this high office, we leave him for a while,
six months passing away before his consecration. Yet in the
mean time not unemployed in the service of religion and the
Church, as we shall see by what follows.
80
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
1.
CHAP. IX.
Wherein he was now employed. The Secretary consults
with him for the new Bishops. His advice for reforma-
tion in Cambridge. He informs the Lord Keeper of some
present dangerous doctrine. Coinmissions from the Dean
and Chapter during this interval. Assisteth at the French
King's obscqicies. His endeavour about the exchanges of
Bisluyps'' lands. A fraud in the church of Dublin, signi-
Jied to him from the Archbishop there. His free advice
to the Queen concerning the crucifx in her chapel.
Anno 1559. FoR one thing wherein he was consulted by the Secretary,
40 (in this interval, as it seems,) was about filling of the sees,
Dr. Parker's j ^}|at method it was customary, and mieht be conve-
airections ...... .
for the nient in this critical juncture to proceed, many difficulties ap-
bishopncs. pgj^j^.jjjg. now there being no Archbishop at all, and hard-
ly four Bishops remaining ; and whether the Popish Ordinal
should be used, or that of King Edward VI. which was abo-
lished under Queen Mary, &c. But Dr. Parker being one
of the best skilled in ecclesiastical rites and usages, Cecil de-
sired to be assisted with his advice and judgment ; for whom
the said Doctor di'ew up this paper of instructions, for en-
trance into the bishoprics, which I met with in the Paper
House.
Copy of this I. Suit is to be made for the Queen's letters patents, called
Tent'hit^her Signifcavcrunt, to the Archbishop of the province, for the
Cecil's confirmation of the elect, and for his consecration.
PaperOffice. When the archiepiscopal see is vacant, then after elec-
tion, like letters patents for the confirmation of the elect, ai*e
to be directed to any other ^Archbishop within the King's
dominions. If aU be vacant, to ''four Bishops ; then they to
be appointed by the Queen's letters patents, declaring her
" There is no Archl)ishop, nor four Bishops now to be had ; wherefore qiia-
rendum, S(c. [Cecil's hand.]
•> Anno 25. Henry VIII. that order is set out at large; so that the restitu-
tion of the temporalties is done after the consecration, as it seems to me by
the said Act. [Dr. Parker's hand.]
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 81
Grace's assent royal, with request for the consecration and CHAP,
pall.
III. The fealty for the temporalties of the see is to be Anno 1558.
made to her Majesty : the oath also to be given : the ordi-
nary fees to be paid to her Majesty ''s officers.
IV. The consecration is to be done on such a Sunday as
the consecrator, with the assent of the consecrated, shall ac-
cord : and in such place as shall be thought most requisite.
V. The order of King Edward''s Book is to be observed : This book
for that there is none other especially made in this last ses- iis","^ ify"'^
sions of Parliament. Parliament.
And the new Bishops that were to be made, were to sign hand.
obligations, binding themselves in several articles, for pre-
serving the revenues and good estate of the bishoprics, and
for preventing the mischiefs and ill turns that had been
done to them by the late incumbents: and this also seems
to have been by the direction and counsel of Parker. The
articles of these obligations were :
I. That they make no leases in any manner in gross for Obligations
p p 1 J n for Bishops
years, or lee-iarm ; nor any lease 01 the demesne 01 anyj^jig,,
manor, above one and twenty years : wherein the accustom-
ed rent is reserved.
Nor that they make any lease of any land, used by the
Bishop for his household ; nor of any of his parks, with the
herbage, to endure after the time of the .
Nor that they make sale or gift of great timber, nor take
any thing thereof, but for repairs of their houses, tenements,
farms, and parks.
Nor that they charge the bishopric with any annuity, 41
longer than they shall continue Bishop there.
Nor that they make any grants of office, longer than for
their hfe times ; except it be for offices that have had conti-
nuance, and have been ordinary.
Item, That they grant none advowsons of any parsonage
or prebend, before the same shall be void.
And that order be taken with the Dean and Chapter, that
they confirm no grants made contrary to the said articles. ,
VOL. I. (;
82 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Another thinj; wherein our Divine a little before this time
I •
concerned himself, and shewed his care for the public wel-
Anno 1558. fare, was concerning the University of Cambridge. He was
^1:6*000^" "^^^ February returned from London, Avhither he was
ceraing sent for, to come to the Court. And his family being at
PaperOffice' Cambridge, hither he came, di-iven (as he told the Secretary
in his letter) to this place by divers necessities, as not able by
otherwhere dwelhng to maintain a double charge : for that
his purse, after his late persecutions, was but low. The
University was now in ill case, being in danger to have its
revenues embezzled by the Popish Heads of the colleges :
who, upon the passing of the act for the Queen^s supremacy,
in the Parliament now sitting, concluded upon relinquishing
their places ; but before they departed, to make their advan-
tages by spoiling the revenues : and the better to cover that,
to get such to succeed them who might wink at their doings.
Of this, secret notice was brought to Dr. Parker : who, to
prevent this mischief to learning as much as he could, by a
letter dated the 1st of March, acquainted the Secretary with
this affair : and the rather now upon his acceptation of the
Chancellorship, the highest office there, for the stay of the
University : telling him, that he heard divers colleges were
«iuch disordered, as well in regard of their possessions, as in
other respects, not so maintained as they were left to them of
late : and that they were awhile in fear, by a \isitation, to
be answerable : but that now they had gotten intelligence of
no visitation to be purposed. He shewed the Secretary fur-
ther, that upon passing of the Primacy, [i. e. the bill of Su-
premacy,] they gathered the sequel, [that is, that they the
present Masters were like to be turned out, if they refused to
take the oath,] whereupon some of them were about to re-
sign to their friends chosen for their purpose, peradventure
To Cecil to slide away with a gain. And in the conclusion, to hint a
Chancdior prevent this, he imparted to the Secretary what was
done when Queen Mary first came to reign : which was, tliat
she gave out authority to Bishop Gardiner, Chancellor of that
University, [as Cecil now was,] who forthwith sent his Chap-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 83
lain Watson with instructions to every college ; and as then CHAP,
he [Dr. Parker] could gather, to report to him [the Chan-
cellor] in what state every college stood. And further perad-Anno isss.
venture, upon cause to have the Masters and others assured
de coram sistendo, et intei-im bene gerendo, until a further
order. And that the said Chancellor, Sir William Cecil,
might the better know the precedent, Parker sent him the
copies of these letters ; and added, he should be loth that in
his first entry to his office, colleges should sustain hurt by
any slight, he [Cecil] not understanding the likelihood. The
rest of the matter he committed to his prudent oversiglit.
And finally, h-j prayed God to grant so good luck of his elec-
tion, that the University might joy to be raised and restored
none otherwise than his zeal thereunto had been long per-
ceived : ut amputetur malcvolis omnis occasio improhitatis et
querulat'ionis. And he informed him further, that if he
should intend any thing of this nature. Dr. Cole had both
countei-panes of the whole statutes of every college, so found
at the last visitation.
Queen Mary's and the Chancellor Bishop Gardiner's let-
ters, for visiting the University, follow.
" Mary the Quene. Right Reverend Father in God, Queen
« Right Trusty, and Right Well-beloved ; we grete you f;'h J, Jeiior^
" well. And where among divers other inconveniences and of Cam-
" disorders, brought in and set forth in that our University, enjoining'
" one of the greatest and chief occasions of many of the said ^^'^
. . . . tutes.
" misorders, is, that without sufficient authority, only upon
" the sensual minds and rash determinations of a few men, 42
" the ancient statutes, foundations, and ordinances of the
" whole University, the colleges, and other places of stu-
" dents, have been much altered, broken, and almost utterly
" subverted : whereby not only the last wills of many good
" men have been broken, and many wise, polite, and godly
" ordinances, confirmed by Parliaments, and by sundry our
" progenitors, fondly and vmreverently contemned, but the
" conscience of many honest men, which by their oaths were
" bound to the observation of the said statutes and founda-
" tions, have been much encumbered ; and youth loosely and
G 2
84
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " insolently brought up, to the great discredit of the Uni-
^- " versity ; and no small hindrance of the coimnonwealth of
Anno 1558." all our realm :
" We therefore, knowing it our bounden duty to Al-
" mighty God, to whose own goodness we acknowledge our-
" selves called and placed in the royal estate of this realm,
" to ti-avel by all the ways we may, that his glory and holy
" will being truly declared to all our subjects, he may of all
" sorts, in their several vocations, be reverently feared, serv-
" ed, and obeyed ; have thought good that for a beginning,
" to wish that the examples hereof may first begin in our
" Universities, where young men, and all sorts of students,
" joining godly conversation with their studies in learning,
" may after, as well by their doings as by their preachings,
" instruct and confirm the rest of our subjects, both in the
" knowledge and fear of Almighty God, in their due obe-
" dience towards us, our laws, and all other their superiors,
" and in their charitable demeanours towards all men. And
" because we know where order is not kept, all things go to
" confusion, we have therefore thought good to will and re-
" quire you our Chancellor, and all other the Heads and
" Governors of the colleges, and other houses, that both
" yourselves, for your own parts, do exercise your offices,
" and live, and cause all scholars, students, servants, min-
" isters, and others Uving under you, of what sort, state, or
" condition soever they be, to live and frame themselves,
" their studies, conversations, and manner of living, in such
" form and order, as by the ancient statutes, foundations,
" and ordinances of that our University, and of the colleges
" and other houses, is to you severally appointed. Which
" statutes and foundations we will to be inviolably kept and
" observed, according to the ancient foundations and ordi-
" nances of the founders, and grants of our progenitors.
" And therefore do eftsones require and charge you our
" Chancellor, whom we do authorize by these presents for
" that purpose, to see the same well and truly observed,
" as you will answer for the contrary ; notwithstanding in-
" junctions or new ordinances made, set forth, or delivered
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 85
" by any Visitors or other, sithence the death of our Father CHAP.
'* of most worthy memory, King Henry the Eighth, (whom
" God assoyl,) or any other new device to the contrary here- Anuo lass.
** of Geven under our signet at our manor of Richmond,
*' the 20th of August, in the first year of our reign.
The Chancellor's letter to the University, in pursuance ciianceiior
of the Queen's, (which Dr. Parker sent with the former,) i^iter to the
was to this tenor : University.
" Doctissimis viris, Vice-Cancellario et Senatui Cantu-
" brigiensi.
" Quam multas causae sint (viri Doctissimi) quae animum
" meum, ut ad vos hoc potissimum tempore accederem,
" permoverent, totidem fere occurrunt impedimenta, quae
" corpus [quominus] vobis adsit, justissime prohibent. In-
" terim autem, dum occasionem capto commodiorem, qua
" vos ipse inviserem ; hunc Sacellanum meum, vobis non
" omnino ignotum, et mihi notissimum, cujus fidem perspe-
" ctam, et exploratam habeo, mandare volui, eidemque de-
" mandare, ut meo nomine referat quae vos ex me cuperem
" intelligere. Cui ut credatis, oro : et bene valete. Lon-
" dini cx aedibus meis, octavo calend. Septembr. 1553.
" Vester Cancellarius Steph. Winton.
" Cancell."
And it may not be unworthy to observe of our Divine fur- 43
ther, that being in Town in January, as was before said, heA""o 's^''-
• 1 ■ e c ■ 1 1 / 1 • 1 ■ Dangerous
took notice with grief of certain books, (and now in his re- doctrines
cess complained to the Lord Keeper Bacon thereof,) thatp^!'^"^*
went then about London, being printed and spread abroad, noted by
and their authors Ministers of good estimation. The doctrine ^^''^^''^
of one was, that a lady woman cannot be by God a governor
in a Christian realm. [Knox, and Christopher Goodman,
had published tracts to this purpose.] And in another was
matter set out to prove, that it is lawful for every private
subject to kill his Sovereign, Jerro, veneno, qKOCunque modo,
if he think him to be a tyrant in his conscience ; yea, and
worthy to have his reward for his attempt. At which, said
G 3
86
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Parker, exhorrui cum ista legerem. Adding, " if such prin-
' " ciples be spread into men's heads, as now they be framed.
Anno 1559. « and referred to the judgment of the subject to discuss
thc^Lord " tyranny, and to discern whether his prince, his
Bacon. " landlord, his master, is a tyrant, by his own fancy and
" collection supposed ; what Lord of the Council shall ride
" quietly minded in the streets among desperate beasts?
" what Minister shall be sure in his bed-chamber ?" This
reverend and wise Divine well saw the devilish tendency of
these doctrines : and it grieved him the more, that they wiere
set forth by such as were Ministers of the Gospel : and that
their pens and labours should be diverted from opposing and
confuting Anabaptists, Arians, Libertines, Free-will men ;
" against whom he thought Ministers should have needed
" only to have fought, for unity of doctrine : (for as for
" Romish adversaries, their mouths, he said, might be stop-
" ped with their own books and confessions :) but he never
" dreamed that Ministers should be compelled to impugn
" Ministers." The adversaries, as he added, would have good
sport to prognosticate the likelihood. More of these books,
and the authors of them, and the recantation that one of them
made afterwards, by means of this our Doctor, may be read
Chap. ix. in the Annals of the Reformation under Queen Elizabeth.
Parker one Dr. Parker, who we heard a little before had such a con-
of the visit- j^Q^^ ^j^g University of Cambridge, was in the sum-
ors of Cam- ^ J o '
bridge. mcr following appointed one of the Queen's visitors there ;
having had long experience in the affairs of it. The visit-
ors consisted of two learned Knights, Sir William Cecil, and
Sir Anthony Cook; two Doctors of Divinity, our Parker, and
William Bill ; two Doctors of the Civil Law, William May,
and Walter Haddon ; one Doctor of Physic, Dr. AVendy ;
two Professors of Divinity, (as they are styled,) Robert Horn,
and James Pilkington : all persons of great integrity and
learning, and that had formerly been members of the said
University. The citation of the heads and members of all
E Coiiec- the colleges, halls, and hostles, before them, to undergo the
tan. Hog. visitation, bore date at Westminster the 21st day of June,
dale, Ar- _
mig. 1 Elizabeth. Therein the day of appearance appointed was
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 87
the 7th day of September ensuing : and the place, the church C H A P.
or chapel of King's college. The visitors are styled in the .
said citation, the Queen's General Commissioners to visit ^ ^^9.
that University. The transactions, and how matters were
now managed, I do not find : as what detecta were found,
what regulations, what corrections, what deprivations, what
restitutions were now made. Fuller saith something con- Hist, of
cerning the two last : but he must be read warily, making p^'i'g
two errors in one line concerning the change in Clare hall ;
viz. that Swinburn was put out master there, and Madew
put in : whereas both the one and the other died under Queen
Mary. But this undoubtedly was the chief business of the
visitors, to purge the University, by swearing the heads, and
chief members and officers, to the supremacy, and by depriv-
ing the refusers. Dr. Parker (though nominated) had hardly
any hand in this visitation, being about the very time of it
at London, attending the solemnization of the funerals of
the French King, and his own weighty affairs, being by this
time elect.
I find little done by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury commis-
this year, (who had now all the jurisdiction of the Arch- ^J^""^*^"""™
bishop, while the see remained vacant,) except it were grant- and Cbap-
ing several commissions: as to Nicolas Harpsfeld, LL. D. ^*°*
" ' ' terbury.
Official of the Court of Arches, to admit Richard Mitche to Regist. De-
be Advocate of the Court of Arches. This commission bare
date the day of April 1559- Another to the same, to
admit Thomas Yale, LL. D. Advocate of the Court of Can-
terbury, dated the day of April 1559- Another to
William Mowse, LL. D. Vicar General, admitting him to Br. Mowse.
take cognizanee of causes in the Court of Audience, dated
the 30th of May. Another to the .same, and of the same date,
constituting him Official of the Court of Canterbury. And
yet another commission to him, the said Mowse, dated June
13, to constitute him Dean of the Arches. This Dr. Mowse
was a man that always light upon his legs, and would be
sure to hold in in all revolutions : being first preferred by
Archbishop Cranmer in King Edward's reign, and com-
plying with all changes afterwards. Yet he was a good sclio-
V. 4
88
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK lar, and a good benefactor to Trinity hall in Cambridge,
whereof he was Master.
Anno 1559. It was but two months after the giving forth these com-
^^''^f.' , missions, that our Divine became Elect of Canterbury. When
Archbishop ' ...
elect, assists the first thing I find him employed about, was assisting, in
quie'rof''^^' the beginning of September, at the funeral solemnities of
Henry, the Henry II. of France, celebrated in St. Paul's church, toge-
King. ther with the Elects of Chichester and Hereford, appareled
in their surplices and Doctors' hoods; having the Dirige
said in English.
Labours to But it was a greater matter at which he assisted the next
changes month, or thereabouts, or indeed was the chief agent; which
with the shewed his zeal and his care for learning and religion, and
Queen , welfare of the Church, over which he was to be consti-
tuted. The late Parliament had made an act to enable the
Queen upon the vacation of any bishopric, (and there were
now many vacant,) to convert the temporal revenues, or part
thereof, vinto herself, settling in exchange church-lands in
lieu thereof ; such as impropriations, formerly belonging to
monasteries dissolved, and tenths : taking into her own hands
good old lordships and manors for them. The inequality of
which exchanges was, that to these impropriations were often-
times considerable charges annexed, by necessary repara-
tions of houses and chancels, and yearly pensions payable
out of them : and tenths would often fall short and be un-
paid by reason of the poverty or inability, or death of the
poor Curates and Ministers. Nor could the Bishops have
any good title to them ; it being doubtful whether they
could be alienated from the Crown, having been by act of
Parliament given to it. The Archbishop elect therefore
joining with him the four other elects, viz. of London, Ely,
Chichester, and Hereford, consulted seriously what was to
be done in this case : and resolved for this purpose to make
an humble supplication to the Queen, to make her sensible
of the evil that might hereby accrue to the revenues of her
Bishops ; and to stay her, if possible, from making the bene-
fit she might of the said act, to offer her a yearly pension
for favouring them in this request ; which was a thousand
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 89
marks for the province of Canterbury, in consideration of her ^ P.
great and manifold cliarges daily sustained ; offering more
over to declare at large to her in writing, if she would per--^""° '^^^*
mit it, the great inconveniences that were like to ensue the
execution of this act, upon many good grounds and reasons.
But if this might not be obtained, then they sued and And for her
prayed, that she would grant these reasonable favours fol- ver"tiiings
low^ng, viz. that the vicarages of these impropriations that
were to be exchanged and conveyed from the Queen to the
Bishops, might be made competent livings and subsistences :
that chancels and mansion-houses decayed might be consider-
ed : that yearly pensions might be reprized out of the par-
sonages : that the manors being withdrawn from them, they
might not be charged with setting forth men to war, as the
Bishops had done before such alienation : that equivalent
recompence should be made for the perquisites of courts
and wood-sales, and such other casual profits arising from
the manors exchanged with the Qvieen : that parks and woods
might be valued : that corn-heaps, fish and fowl, with car-
riages and other commodities, might remain to the Bishops
for hospitality : that parsonages appendant to the manors
exchanged, might be referred to the Bishop's see : that the
Bishops of the new erected sees might have the bestowing of
the prebends of those churches, as in others was used, to
maintain learned men and preachers : that if any of the ex-
changed tenths or rectories were evicted from them by law,
recompence might be made them : that they might have re-
medy by law to recover tenths denied or delayed : that no
rents be returned for spiritual possessions : that bishoprics
might be discharged of arrearages of subsidies and tenths,
and other incumbrances past in the days of their predeces-
sors : to be discharged of subsidies the first year of their pay- 45
ing their fruits : that the Queen would continue the new
erected sees: (which it seems some were looking with a greedy
eye upon :) that the befiefice of Cliff might be annexed to
the see of Rochester : and that the benefice lately annexed
to the see of Chester might not be dismembered : that they
might receive the half year's rent last past at Michaelmas,
90 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK in consideration of their charge in necessary furniture of their
houses, and discharge of fees paid before and at the resti-
Anno i559.tution of their temporahties : that their first-fruits might be
abated and distributed into more years, for the better main-
tenance of hospitaUty : and without the grant of this they
should not dare to enter into their functions, which she had
nominated them to, being too importable for them. But this
Numb. X. whole address is preserved in the Appendix.
But however hinnble and reasonable these requests were,
which the Archbishop elect and his brethren then made in
their own and the Church's behalf, the Queen, pressed by
some greedy courtiers and other back-friends to religion,
was not over favourable in granting.
The Arch- ^^s not long after this, that a letter came from Hugh
bishop re- . " ^
ceives a let- Corwm, Archbishop of Dublin, to our Archbishop, upon a
ter from yerv remarkable occasion, and in very good season for the
Dublin con- ' o
cerning a setting forward the taking away of images out of the churches,
crud'fi"^ that were now replenished with them ; and the Queen some-
what indifferent and unresolved about it. The case was this.
At the coming of the Earl of Sussex into Ireland, (who
was lately sent over by the Queen her Lieutenant there,) the
Litany was sung in English at Christ's church in Dublin.
Cecil's i\ie- This gave great offence to some of the Popish zealots, reck-
Hunt'. Kom. oning aright, that the use of the Mass was in danger of be-
Fox. p.35. ing laid aside in that cathedral. Something therefore was
to be done, now or never, to keep up the reputation of the
old superstition ; and a miracle was to be shown in the said
church the next Sunday, when the Loi'd Lieutenant, the
Archbishop, and the rest of the Privy Council were there
at service. There was in that cathedral an image of Christ
in marble standing with a reed in his hand, and the crown of
thorns on his head. And while service was saying before this
great assembly, blood was seen to run through the crevices
of the crown of thorns, trickling down the face of the cruci-
fix. The people did not perceive it at first ; therefore some
who were in the fraud, cried out to one another, and bade
them see, how our Saviour's image sweat blood ! Whereat
several of the common people fell down with their beads in
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 91
their hands, and prayed to the image. Vast numbers flocked CHAP,
to the sight. And one present (who indeed was the contriv-
er, and formerly belonged to the priory of this cathedral) Anno 1559.
told the people the cause, viz. That he could not choose but
sxoeat blood, whilst heresy was then come into the Church.
The confusion hereupon was so great, that the assembly
brake up ; but the people still fell upon their knees, thump-
ing their breasts : and particularly one of the Aldermen and
Mayor of the city, whose name was Sedgrave, and who had
been at the English service, drew forth his beads, and prayed
with the rest before the image. The Lord Sussex and
those of the Privy Council hasted out of the choir, fearing
some harm.
But the Archbishop of Dublin being displeased, caused aTiie cheat
form to be brought out of the choir, and bade the sexton of ''^'O''^"'^*'-
the church to stand thereon, and to search and wash the
image, and see if it would bleed afresh. The man soon per-
ceived the cheat, observing a sponge within the hollow of the
image's head. This sponge one Leigh (sometime a monk of
this cathedral) had soaked in a bowl of blood : and early on
Sunday morning, watching his opportunity, placed the said
sponge, so swoln and heavy with blood, over the image's
hea(i within the crown : and so by little and little the blood
soaked through upon the face. The sponge was presently
brought down, and shewed to these worshippers ; who began
to be ashamed : and some of them cursed Father Leigh, (who
was soon discovered,) and three or four others that had been
the contrivers with him.
The Archbishop the next Sunday preached in the same
church before the Lord Lieutenant and the Council, upon
2 Thess. ii. 11. God shall send the7n strong delusions, that
they should believe a lie : exposing the cheats, who openly
stood there, with Father Leigh, upon a table before the pul-
pit, with their hands and legs tied, and the crime written on
their breasts. This punishment they suffered three Sun-
days ; were imprisoned for some time ; and then banished 46
the realm. This converted above an hundred persons pre-
sent, who swore they would never hear Mass more.
92
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK And further, upon the 10th September 1559, the Arch-
^' bishop caused this image to be taken down, ahhough he
Anno 1559. himself had caused it to be set up at his coming to that see,
after it had been pulled down once before by George Brown,
the former Archbishop in King Edward\s time.
YD ^'bl''*'^ The contents of all this did Archbishop Corwen write in
writes to ^ letter to Archbishop Parker : who was glad thereof ; by
bish^i^*^**' ^'^^^^"^ '^hat the Clergy were debating at this present, whe-
about it. ther images should stand in the churches, or no ; the Queen
herself being indifferent in the matter, and rather inclinable
to them. But this letter which the Archbishop shewed her,
wrought on her to consent for the throwing of images out of
the chvn-ches ; together with many texts of Scripture, which
our Archbishop and other Divines had laid before her, for
the demolishing of them.
He adviseth Another of his applications to the Queen about this time
the Queen ^
to remove must not also be forgotten. The Queen had been prevailed
mit of her*^ with, that images, and lights, and crucifixes, should be enjoin-
chapei. ed to be taken away, to prevent that gross idolatrv and super-
stition that the common people had been brought into by
means thereof. But she retained nevertheless in her own
private closet a crucifix and hglited tapers in divine service.
This being so contrary to her own injunctions, and savouring
so much of superstition, and that example being so danger-
ous, the Archbishop elect had the assurance and the honesty
to advise her Majesty not to permit tliese things any longer
in her presence : which he did with that gravity and freedom
Sir Francis becoming his office, that Sir Francis KnoUys sent him a let-
him here" tcr, October 13, 1559, " wishing him prosperity in all godli-
upon. MSS. « ness ; namely, in his good enterprize against the enormities
' ' ' ' " yet in the Queen''s closet retained. Although, said he,
" Avith the Queen's express commandment these toys were
" laid aside till now a late." But though Parker did thus
discharge his duty, she, I doubt, continued these furni-
tures of her oratory : which gave such an offence to another of
her Bishops, that he could very hardly be induced to minister
there before her : as may be read more largely in the His-
chaji. xiii. tory of the Reformation under that Queen.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 93
CHAP. X.
The Archbishop elect emplcryed. In commission upon Min-
isters deprived. Divers Popish Bishops and Divines
in the Archbishop's custody. Bishop Tunstal ; Bishop
Thirleby ; Dr. Boxal ; Dr. Tresham ; and Dr. Richard
Smith ; some accounts of them. An addition to tlie Arch-
bishop''s coat of arms ; given him by Garter. The p«-
tent thereof.
Parker, Archbishop elect, remained now in London, or A""'''^^^-
rather at Lambeth, there being great need of him both at jjjjjiop elect
Court and elsewhere, with the i-est of the Bishops elect and at Lambeth,
other Divines, to consult with, concerning matters of the
Reformation that was now at hand.
Among other weighty matters the Archbishop was now Dr. Tumei
employed in, one was in doing justice to such as had been je^nery.
wrongfully deprived and thrown out of their places in the
Churcli under Queen Mary- One of these occurs, namely,
William Turner, Doctor of Physic, and a zealous Divine,
who under King Edward VI. had been Dean of Wells, but
outed in the next reign, and became an exile. He was now
restored to his deanery by the judgment of the Archbishop
and some others, joined in commission with him. But after
his restitution in the year 1560, John Goodman, the last
Dean, had procured a commission to certain special persons,
named and chosen by himself, and (as it was thought) very
partial, to convent the said Dr. Turner, and to remove again 47
him from the said deanery. Whereupon he made supplica-
tion to the Queen to inhibit the said commission to proceed
against him. Nevertheless, that justice might be indifferently
ministered to both parties, she willed and commanded the
Lord Keeper, by her letters, to call both parties before him,
and to direct a commission in her name, as he was accus-
tomed to do upon appeals, to such Indifferent persons as he
should think fit, or as they both should accord upon : and in
the mean season to take order, that Dr. Tin ner might remain
94 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O^O K in quiet possession : and so lie did to his death ; Avhich wa
, in the year 1568, being buried in Crutched Friars church,
Aimo 1669. London: where he hath a monument yet remaining.
Bisbop^ Now were committed unto tlie Archbishop's custody di-
with him "^61"^ Popish Bishops, as Cuthbert Tonstal, Bishop of Dur-
tbere; liam, having been deprived in July ; who died in the Arch-
bishop''s house at Lambeth in November following, being
eighty-five years of age. But before his death, by the Arch-
bishop's means, he Avas brought off from Papistical fancies.
And he declared it his judgment, that the Pope's too far dis-
tended power ought to be restrained within his own diocese
Matthaeus. of Rome. Letters to which purpose he had long before writ-
ten to Cardinal Pole. Unto which mind he now returned
again, after his compliance with the Pope under Queen
Mary. And not above fourteen days before his death, while
he lived with the Archbishop, he testified to him and others,
those letters to Pole to be his ; one of which is extant in Fox's
Monuments, writ about 1534, and others of them be in MS.
in the Cotton Library. Tonstal also allowed of the mar-
riage of Priests, as permitted by the word of God. To all
which I may add his judgment in point of justification,
which was according to the doctrine of the Reformed : as ap-
pears by a book that he wrote and published ann. 1555, in
quarto. Contra Blasphematores Johanms Redmanni de Jus-
tificat'ione. Which learned Divine, Dr. Redman, did on his
death-bed declare freely his judgment for justification by
faith. For which, it seems, several Papists had railed against
liim after his death ; and occasioned this learned Bishop, even
imder Queen Mary, to take his part in the said book : whicli
is, or was, among our Archbishop's books, by him given
to the public library of Cambridge. Of this man Erasmus
speaking, gave this character of him in his younger years,
before he was Bishop : " That he was a man of a most
" unblameable life, exactly skilled in both kinds of learning,
" and not unversed in any good disciplines."
Besides Tonstal, (whom the Archbishop caused to be de-
8 Is homo est vitze inculpatissimae, utriusque literatiirsE ad unguera doctus,
nec uUius honestue discipliiiiE rudis. Erasm. Ep. xvi. lil). 15.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 95
cently buried under a fair stone, with an inscription in brass, ^ ^j^^*
in the parish church of Lambeth,) he entertained Thirlby,
first Bishop of Westminster, late Bishop of Ely ; and Boxal, ^"jj^p'^i^^p
D. D. of New college, Oxon. and late Dean of Peterborough Tiuriby,
and Windsor ; a man, who though he were so great with
Queen Mary, yet had the good principle to abstain from the
cruel blood-shedding of the Protestants, giving neither his
hand nor his consent thereunto. Thomas Tresham, Vice- And Dr.
Chancellor of Oxford, was also sent to be with the Arch-
bishop in custody. But he giving sureties, that he would
neither by word nor deed attempt any thing against religion
in the behalf of the Papacy, was set at liberty. To his cus-
tody also was committed Dr. Richard Smith, once Public And Dr.
Professor of Divinity in Oxford, a very fickle man, of whom '
some things have been spoken in Archbishop Cranmer"'s Me-
morials. Being with Archbishop Parker this year, he con- Book ii.
vinced him of many errors that he had divulged in a furious
book by him writ against the marriage of Priests: insomuch
that Smith now pretended to some detestation of it ; and de-
clared openly this his detestation of his book at Oxford, in
the same schools in which he once read divinity : and he
acknowledged there, that it was writ by him out of a vain
ostentation of his wit and parts. And that if any doubted of
those doctrines which he recanted, he desired such to come to
him, and he was ready to satisfy them with very good reasons.
Of this Smith I have something more to add : namely, wim was
that at the visitation at Oxford, (the Queen"'s visitors being, f):",'/'(')^„„
among many others, the Lord Williams of Thame, Dr. '7 ti>e vi-
Richard Cox, Elect of Ely, Sir John Mason, and Dr. Wal-
ter Wright, Archdeacon of Oxford,) he did, it seems, refuse
the oath of supremacy, required of him. Upon which he was
sent up to the Council, and the Council remitted him to the 48
Archbishop, and the Bishop of London, to whom they writ
their letters to deal with Smith, to take the oath to the
Queen; and the Archbishop was successful therein, and
persuaded him to take it, and to make a subscription with
his hand to the same purpose. Concerning which, the Arch- The Arch-
bishop writ a letter to the Council, together with Smith's
96
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O^O K subscription inserted ; signifying, " that he and the Bishop
" of London had spent some time with Dr. Smith in con-
Anno 1559. « fej.gnce; and what partly by our allegations, and he
concerniug' " "^^re pressly weighing the form of the oath of the Queen's
his con- " supremacy by the exposition inserted in the injunctions,
MSS.*c.'c. " is contented to take it, as he saith, with a full persuaded
c. c. Ep. (( conscience : and saith further, that if he had so understood
Princ. &c.
" it afore, as he seeth cause at this present, he would never
" have departed from Oxford. And now to some declara-
" tion of his conformity, I offered him to consider the form
" of a subscription, which we devised to be used in the order
" of visitation : whereunto lie hath, as your Lordships will
" see, subscribed gladly." And .so desiring to know their
Lordships' further pleasure concerning him, &c. The issue
was, that they took bonds of him, and had others bound for
him, and then let him go to Oxford, to be ordered by the
visitors there ; that is, to take his oath, and make his recanta-
tion. But Smith obtained so much favour, by his crafty
dealing, at the hands of the good Arclibishop, that he wrote
a letter to the visitors, which Smith was to be the bearer of,
that they would deal favourably with him, and expose him
not too publicly. Smith having told the Archbishop, that
he might thereby be so discredited as not to be able to do
that service in the University that otherwise he might and
would. Therefore the Archbishop signified in his letter to
And to the Sir John Mason and Dr. Wright, the visitors, " that the
Oxford in " Quceu's Counsellors willed him to take sufficient bonds of
his favour, tt gmith to repair to their presence, to declare before
" them his subscription to the articles of the Queen's supre-
" macy, for the order of service received, and for the author-
" ity and lawfulness of the injunctions, to be confessed also
" before them. Now forasmuch as the said Dr. Smith fear-
" ed, that if ye should summojure order him, and produce
" him too much openly, he should too suddenly discredit
" himself for any good doing, as he promised to do to his
" utmost power, as may be used with prudence. And there-
" fore he offereth himself to me [as the Archbishop pro-
" ceeded] that he will gladly travel at your commandment.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
97
" to reduce any wilful or stubborn person, bona fide, to the CHAP.
" like conformity. Whereupon this shall be to pray you, '
" upon the trust I have in his sincerity, that ye use him the ^^"o \ hb9.
" more indifferently, as may stand with your commission.
" Your assured loving friend,
" ]\Iat. Elect Cant."
This letter, thus kindly writ for him by the Archbishop,
Smith, upon some crotchet or other, took not with him
when he returned to Oxford, either not liking some passage
in it, or thinking to shift well enough without it : and so he
left it behind him.
Now after this job was over with him at Oxford, he used How Smith
his wits to get clear his sureties that were bound for him ; "d the Arch'-
which he also compassed by his craft and lying, and herein bishop, and
111 » 1 1 • 1 • -r< 1 • discliarged
over-reaclied the unwary Archbishop agam. lor this pur- his sureties,
pose he addressed a letter to the Archbishop, thanking him
for his charitable entreating him, when he was with him;C.C.
and then went on to tell him this formal story : " that the
" wife of one of his sureties named Roger Smith, his cousin,
" did so sore trouble her husband, because he was bound for
" him in such a great bond, that she would not continue
" in house with him, except he were discharged : and that
" were pity," added Smith, " for that they had many goodly
" witty children : and that she had in her keeping a cap-
" case of his [Dr. Smith's] with gold in it and money, which
" she would not deliver to him until her husband M-ere out
" of that obligation : and that he had no money but that to
" pay his debts ; and so should be constrained to sell his
" books, bedding, and apparel, and to give up the studying
" divinity, to teach children ; which would be not only his
" undoing, but some hindrance to his setting forth of God's
" word, and the truth of it. That his tarrying there in 49
" Oxon was very chargeful, as he had no living : and there-
<' fore that, except his Lordship would grant his petition, he
" must depart straight away. That his other surety was his
" own sister's son ; to whom he gave thirty pounds to set up
" his craft ; which he did so dearly love, that he would not
vor,. r. H
98
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " undo him in no case ; as he said he should, if he should
' " depart out of the realm : because the obligation would
Anno 1559." be broken thereby.
" And so he desired that his Grace would let only him and
" his said nephew stand boimd ; and that he would never
" break that bond, if death should follow thereof. Dcum
" testem invoco in animam meam, si mentior.'''' And much
more lie writes to the Archbishop to this purpose. And yet,
as it is written by the Archbishop's Secretary in the midst of
the letter, " not\vithstanding this earnest promise and bond,
" yet this good Father fled into Paris ; such was his faith.""
And over- I cannot here omit another piece of Smith's fraud, to con-
him again ceal his purposc of flying, and to make the harmless Arch-
on another bishop believe his sincerity : which was thus compassed ; in
a letter which he wrote to the Archbishop, he prayed him,
that he would order his Chaplain Mr. Perse [Peerson I sup-
pose] to OTite out a few of the best authorities and reasons,
which his Honour had gathered to prove the marriages of
Priests to be lawful : that he might use them, when he should
either speak or write for the defence thereof. Both which,
he said, he minded to do, as soon as he could conveniently.
But we have said enough, and too much of this man, con-
temptible and infamous for his shifting falsehood and in-
constancy. He was afterwards preferred in the college of
Doway, and made Dean of St. Peter's there, and died in the
year 1563.
The King The time of the Archbishop elect's consecration drawing
gives an ad- near, as a mark of greater honour, and that his seal for
dition to bis offices and courts mioht be ready, Sir Gilbert De-
the Arch-
bishop's thick. Principal King of Arms, called Garter, added to his
paternal coat on chevron argent, the three estoils, gules.
Confirmed by Garter's patents, an authentic copy still re-
maining in the Heralds' Office, bearing date November ^.S,
1559- Therein he gave the Archbishop his testimony, " to
Praeclara " be a gentleman of a good family, bearing arms ; and that
famiiia « be was a person that merited in all places to be admitted
ortus. . . ...
" and received into tlie number and society of illustrious
" persons. And that for his laudable merits, excellent en-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 99
" dowments of mind, and great dexterity in managing affairs, CHAP.
" he [the said Garter] had given him that addition to his
"arms." But behold the patent, favourably communicat-"^'^"'' '^59.
ed to me by Sir Henry St. George, then Clarencieux, now
Garter :
Omnibus Christi Jidelibus Aa^The patent.
preesentes literas inspccturis,^'^^\^\'
visuris, vel audituris, Gilbertus
Dethick, alias Garter, miles.
Principalis Rex Armorum An-
^ g-licorum, salutcm, cum debita ct
humili commcndatione. ^quitas
vult, et ratio postulat, quod ho-
mines virtuosi, laudcd}ilis dispo-
sitionis, et vita honorabiUs, sicut
per eorum mcrita honorati et re-
munerati in suis jjersonis cxist-
entes in liac vita mortali tarn
brcvi et transitoria, et i/n quoU-
het loco honoris pres. catcris exaltati, demonstrando slgna et
exempla virtutis, honoris ac etiam humanitatis, ea intcntionc
lit per eorum exempla alii magis conentur eorum vitam in
bonis operibus et Juctis clarissimis exercere ; et idco ego
prttdictus Rex Armorum ut supra, nan solum ex dividgata
J'ama, verum etiam ex meo, OEterorumquc nobilium Jide dig-
norum testimonio, sum veraciter instructus et hifoi-matus,
quod Reverend, in Christo Pater Dom. Matthjevs Parker,
Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis, est praclara familia ortus, 50
gerens arma vel insignia, ac diu in virtute claruit, ac veri et
Christiani Prasidis ojficio functus est, ac in dies fungitur ;
adeo ut mereatur, et dignus sit in omnibus locis honoris ad-
mitti, numcrari et recipi in numerum et consortium aliorum
veterum et illustrium virorum. Qiiapropter cum mecum
ipse perpendere laudabilia ipsius merita, et egrcgias ipsius
animi dotes, magnumque in rebus gerendis dextcritatem,
aliquod in eum affectionis sigmim, virtutis testimonium ex-
hibere volui. Igitur additione in ipsius arma ; quibus ante-
cessor es sui ab antiquo tempore utebantur, in hunc ut sequi-
tnr modum decoravi, vi~. Sur unge chevron d'argent trois
H 2
100 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW, &c.
BOOK estoilles, geules, ut latins in scuto hie depicto apparet ; ha-
^' bendum et gaudendum preed'icta ai-ma una cum additamento
Anno \i>f>9-pr (Edict, clicti Reverend. Patri Matthao Parker Archiepi-
scopo, ut supra, et ut ipse in his ornatus sit ad ejus hono-
rem in perpetuiivi.
In cujus rei testimonium sigillum meum ad arma pra-
sentibns apposui, ac manu mea propria subscripsi. Dat.
Londini, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo guinqua-
gesimo nono, Die vera xxviii mensis Novembr. ac anno
regni Elizabeths Dei gratia Anglia, Francia et Hibernia
Regince, Fidei Dejensoris, ^c. secundo.
Verses ex- And here I may subjoin an ingenious copy of verses made
the°e*arms*. those times ; being a poetical, but apt signification of the
keys and the stars in our Archbishop''s coat of arms afore-
said, with the motto.
So God it would, that he in shield should bear
The keys, his sign of ancient gentle race.
By God's decree, by whom appointed were
The heavenly keys of skill, and eke of grace.
Thereby to shew, O England, plain to thee,
The treasures great which thou art blest to see.
So God it would, that he whose prudent sight
Disclosed is, by using well the keys.
Should jointly bear the stars of heavenly light.
In word to teach, in life to shine always.
For stars give light, and beautify the sky ;
So learning shines with life accordingly.
So God it would, that men of worthy fame.
By noble acts, by wit and learning tried,
Should honour have, deserving so the same ;
That in their arms, their name should still abide.
Yet they, the world, both reason, will and lust,
With man himself, at length must turn to dust.
END OF BOOK I.
51
THE
LIFE AND ACTS
OF
MATTHEW,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
BOOK II.
CHAP. 1.
The Archbishop's election, corifirmaticyn, and consecration.
The rites used. The Nag's Head Jable : and can^
Jidation thereof. The Act of Parliament, Sth Eliz. con-
frming the consecration. His enthronization : and tem-
poralties restored. His oath.
Now I shall proceed to the investing of Dr. Parker with Anno 1559.
his spiritual honour and charge in the metropolitical church '^''f ArcU-
1 . , . /. 1 1 • bishop's
of Canterbury: for this, being one of the great and primary election,
acts of the Reformation, in the constituting of an orthodox
and able Metropolitan, will require some more particular
and careful relation; since it was the ground on which stood
the validity of the rest of the consecrations and ordinations
of the succeeding Bishops and Clergy of this church ; and
likewise since this very matter hath been, with so much i-idi-
cule, malice, and falsehood, represented by divers later Po-
pish writers ; as though the consecration of this Archbishop,
and other his fellow Bishops, were performed at a tavern or
H S
103 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK inn in Cheapside, London, as we shall mention more parti-
cularly hereafter.
Anno 1559. Several previous things were done in order to the instat-
ing our Divine in his high office. First, the said church hav-
ing been now without a Pastor and Archbishop from the
death of Cardinal Pole the last Archbishop, (who died in
the night succeeding the day of Queen Mary's death,) the
Repstr. Dean, Dr. Nicolas Wotton, and the Chapter, had by their
letters certified the Queen of the same, and humbly besought
her to license them to elect a fit person to fill the said see.
52 To which petition and request the Queen condescended;
sending to them her letters patents (commonly called conge
d^elirc) dated at Westminster the 18th day of July, in the
first year of her reign, granting them licence to go to elec-
tion, without naming any person in the said letters, but only
requiring them to elect such a person for their Archbishop
and Pastor, " who should be devout to God, and useful and
" faithful both to her and to her realm."
The tenor of Avhich letters of licence being short, I will
here exemplify.
The letters Elizabctha Dci gratia Anglia, Sfc. dilectis nobis in
of con*'*5
d'eiirer Christo, Dccano et Capitulo ccdesia metropolittca: Cantuar.
salutem. Ex parte vestrd nobis est humiliter siipplicatumy
ut cum ecclesia predicta per mortem naturalem revercndis-
simi in Christo Patris et Domini, Domini Reginaldi Pole
Cardinalis, ultimi Archiepiscopi ejusdem,jam vacat, et Pas-
toris sit solatia destituta, alium vobis eligend. in Archie-
piscopum et Pastorem, Ucentiam nostram fundatriam vobis
cxmcedere dignaremur ; Nos precibus vestris in liac parte
favorabiliter inclinatcE, Ucentiam illam vobis duximus con-
ccdend. Rogantes quod talem vobis cligatis in Archiepisco-
pum et Pastorem, qui Deo devotus, nobisque et regno nostra
utilis et Jidells existat : in cujus rei testimonium, ^c.
\ Chapter Then in consequence hereupon, the Dean and Chapter
iiereupon. ^.^^^ days after, that is, on the 22d of July, being capitu-
larly met in the chapter-house, and making a full Chapter,
took notice of the Queen's said letters patents, and did in
obedience agree upon, and appoint the first day of August
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
103
then next following, to meet again, and proceed to the said CHAP,
election. In the mean time Nicolas Sympson, Clerk, by an
instrument made by the Dean and Chapter now met, was Anno 1.559.
appointed their Mandatary, to cite all the Canons and Pre-
bendaries, that had any right to vote in the election, to ap-
pear at the Chapter the said first day of August, by affixing
citatory letters of schedules in their respective stalls, accord-
ing to the custom of former times, and the statutes and laud-
able practice of that church.
The day assigned being come, there appeared personally The Dean
with the Dean these Canons, John Mills, Arthur Sentleger, ter'eiectl'
William Darrel, and John Butler. The rest were absent,
viz. Hugh Turnbul, Richai'd Fawcet, Ralph Jackson, Rob.
Collins, John Knight, Tho. Wood, Nic. Harpsfield : all
which were thrice preconized with a loud voice at the
chapter-door. But after having been long expected, and
not coming, they were for their absence pi-onounced contu-
macious by the Chapter, and decreed to incur the pain of
contumacy. Then the Dean and Chapter nominated John In-
cent for their Public Notary, and John Armerar, Clerk, and
Gilbert Hyde, Gent, to be witnesses of their said business of
election, and what should be done therein by them : and so
they went to the election. And considering, what anciently
by the right and custom of the said church was to be observ-
ed, agreed unanimously, none gainsaying, that of the three
ways of election the Dean had propounded to them, they
would proceed by the w ay and form of compromise : and By compro-
did own, and all assume and choose that way and manner
of electing. And then fixing upon Nic. Wotton, LL. D.
their Dean for their Compromissary ; and under certain laws
and conditions, expressed in the process of the said election,
promised him, that they would accept him for their and
their church's Archbishop, whom he, under the same laws
and conditions, should think fit to be chosen and provided:
so that he should name him before he departed out of the
chapter-house. Then he, taking upon him this compromis-
sion, after mature deliberation, directed his vote upon the
venerable and eminent Matthew Parker, D. D. and chose the Dr. Mat.
104
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK same for Archbishop, according to the power and compro-
mission granted him in that behalf : reading pubUcly a sche-
Anno 1559. dule to that purpose; viz.
The sche- " That the election being consented to, to proceed by way
tion read*'^" " Compromise, and that the full and free power, authority,
" and special mandate, was yielded and granted to him by
" the Chapter, to choose an able and fit person for their Arch-
" bishop, according to the tenor of the said compromise ;
" and that he taking the burden of the said compromise
" upon him, directing his votes towards the said Master
53 " Matthew Parker, a man provident and discreet, com-
*' mended for his knowledge of letters, and for his life and
" manners ; a free man, and begotten of lawful matrimony,
" of lawful age, and in priestly Orders, and both in spiri-
" tuals and temporals very circumspect, knowing, willing
" and able to protect and defend the rights and liberties of
the said church ; for himself, and in place and name of
" the whole Chapter, did choose in common the said Master
" Mattliew Parker, on account of his aforesaid merits, for
" Archbishop and Pastor of the said cathedral and metro-
political church of Christ in Canterbury, and did provide
" him to the same, by virtue of that writing."
And then all and singular the Canons and Prebendaries
present accepted and approyed the said election so made and
pronounced by the Dean, and declared the same ratified and
accepted by them with all cheerfulness.
The Elect The election beinji over, the Dean and Chapter went out
declared. ° ' . . ^
of the chaptei'-house ; and entermg the choir, the hymn Te
Deum was sung solemnly in English by the ministers of
the choir. Which being ended, Mr. Darrel, who was ap-
pointed by the Chapter for that purpose, did publicly declare
and denounce the said election and person elected, before the
Clergy and people then and there assembled in a convenient
multitude.
liecorded. All these acts of the election were exactly and particularly
entered and recorded by John Incent with his own hand,
(who was Public Notary of the diocese of Canterbury, by the
supreme royal authority,) in these words : Et ego Johannes
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 105
Inceiit, &c. i. e. " That he, John Incent, Public Notary, as CHAP.
" abovesaid, being assvuned and deputed in this present bu-
" siness of the election, for scribe of the acts, did witness and Anno 1559.
" subscribe all the whole public decree or process of the elec-
" tion, written with his own hand, and made and reduced
" into that public and authentic form, [as it stands in the
" register,] and subscribed with the addition of his name
" and surname, and signed with his own accustomed sign,
" with the appension of the common seal of the Dean and
" Chapter ; in faith and testimony of all and singular the
" premises ; being thereunto especially asked and required."
In which express terms he concluded these acts.
Two days after, the said Dean and Chapter by their let- P'o^y for
ters, named and constituted William Darrel, M. A. one ofter.
the Canons mentioned before ; Anthony Huse, Esq. ; John
Clarke, and John Incent, Public Notaries, their Proctors, to
act and perform all things for them in this present business.
Which letters bore date the 3d of August.
These matters thus far despatched, next follows the con- The Elect
sent of Dr. Parker to this election ; which was done after this >
manner. On the 6th day of August, in a certain lower room
within the manor of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lam-
beth, and in the presence of a Notary Public, and witnesses,
Mr. Darrel, one of the Canons of Canterbury, and Anthony
Huse, Esq. exhibited a certain proxy under the connnon
seal of the Chapter to the said Darrel and Huse, and like-
wise to John Incent, Notary Public ; wherein they were made
party to the said Dean and Chapter. These presented to the
said Master Matthew Parker, there personally present, the
process of the election of him made and celebrated, under
the original forms of the same : and instantly prayed and
required him, that he would please to consent to the said
election.
To which the said Elect made this answer: " That al-
" though he judged himself unworthy of so great trust, yet
" that he might not seem to resist the Divine will, nor to
" disobey her Majesty's good pleasure, who had thought fit
" to recommend him, though unworthy, to the said Dean and
106 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
B O O K « Chapter, he did consent to this election." And yielded his
consent and assent to the same, in a writing by him read, in
Anno 1659. the tenor wliich follows.
By a sche- In nomine Domini, Amen, &c. i. e. " In the name of
read.''^ ' " God, Amen. I, Matthew Parker, Professor of Divinity,
" being in priestly Orders, and of lawful age, and begotten
" in lawful matrimony, rightly and lawfully nominated and
" elected Archbishop and Pastor of the cathedral and metro-
" political church of Christ in Canterbury, being instantly
" pressed and required to consent to this election of me and
" my person, made and celebrated in this behalf, on the part,
" and by the part of the venerable men, the Dean and Chap-
" ter of the said cathedral and metropolitical church ; rely-
54 " ing upon the clemency of Almighty God the Father, the
" Son, and the Holy Ghost, do consent ; and to the same,
" being once and again asked and required, I do yield my
" consent and assent in this writing."
^ And an instrument or instruments were made of all and
singular the premises, at the desire of the said Elect, and
the foresaid Darrel and Huse ; and before these witnesses,
being specially required also thereunto ; viz. Richard Ta-
verner, Esq. John Baker, Gent. Ralph Jackson, and Andrew
Pierson, Clerks.
The Queen The next work was the confirmation of the election. The
the eiec-" Dean and Chapter on the day of the election had certified
tion. Queen of the whole process of it ; and withal, earnestly
prayed and besought her Majesty to give her consent and
assent to their election, and to cause it to be confirmed ; and
to command, that (the great and good God, the Giver of all
good things, favouring and assisting) the said elected, being-
confirmed, might preside over them profitably ; and that
they, under him and his good government, might exercise
their [spiritual] warfare to God in the same church.
Her letters Now in pursuance of the Dean and Chaptei-'s request, for
firmation. the confirmation of the Archbishop elect, first the Queen is-
sued out her letters patents, dated at Redgrave the 9th of
September, to six Bishops; viz. Cutbert, Bishop of Durham;
Gilbert, Bishop of Bath and Wells ; David, Bishop of Peter-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 107
borough ; Anthony, Bishop of LandafF ; William Barlow, CHAP.
Bishop ; John Scory, Bishop ; (without mentioning the sees ^' .
of these two last;) commissionating them to proceed to the Anno isss.
confirmation and conseci-ation of the Elect ; and command-
ing, that they should do all things requisite to the same, as
had been accustomed according to the laws and customs of
the realm. This is extant in the Rolls : and I have seen the
first draught of it (I suppose) in the Paper Office, where there
is a blank left to be filled up with the names of the Bishops ;
only Cutbert Bishop of Durham''s name is put in by Par-
ker's own hand ; thinking, as it seems, upon some good
gi'ounds, that he might be willing to assist at these acts ;
though he did not, whatever was the reason : perhaps inabi-
lity by reason of age and sickness, for he died within two
months after.
But these first letters commissional from the Queen (which Bp. Bn«m-
may be seen in Bishop BramhalFs Works) took not place, ^orks.
whatever the reason was : whether it were that some of these P- 449.
Bishops, being Papists, refused to act in this business; or
because of the omission of a clause ; viz. Vos aut minus qua-
tuor vestrum, as it ran in the Queen's second letters patents :
which were executed, and bore date at Westminster, the
6th day of December. And these were directed to some
other Bishops, more favourable to the Queen's proceedings ;
viz. Anthony, Bishop of LandafF ; Barlow, formerly Bishop
of Bath and Wells, now elect of Chichester ; Scory, formerly
Bishop of Chichester, now elect of Hereford ; Coverdale,
sometime Bishop of Exeter ; Richard, [miswritten in the let-
ters for John,] Suffragan Bishop of Bedford; John, Suffra^
gan Bishop of Thetford ; and John Bale, Bishop of Ossery
in Ireland. Wherein is specified her Majesty's consent to
the election of Dr. Parker by the Dean and Chapter of Can-
terbury, setting out their proceeding therein ; as appeared
by their letters patents, signed with their common seal di-
rected to her : and that she had accepted the election, and
had given her assent and favour thereunto. And so com-
manded them by the fealty and love whereby they were
bound unto her, or four of them, to confirm the said Elect
108 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK to be Archbishop and Pastor of the said cathedi-al and me-
tropolitica] church ; and also to consecrate him Archbishop
Auno 1659. and Pastor of the said church ; and to perform all and sin-
gular matters which were incumbent on their pastoral office
in this behalf, according to the form of the statute set forth
and provided. And lastly, she added in her said letters these
words, to supply any defects :
Supplentes nihilominus, suprema authoritate nostra re-
ffid, ex mero motu et certa scientia nostris, siquid aut in his,
queejuxta mandatiim nostrum preedictum per vos Jient, aut
in vohis aut vestriim aliquo, conditione, statu, facultate ves-
tris, ad preemissa perjicienda desit, aut deer'it, eorum, qua
per statuta hujus regni nostri, atit per leges ecdcsiasticas,
in hac parte requiruntur, aut necessaria sunt, temporis ra-
tione, et rerum necessitate id postulante. In cujus rei testi-
monium, &c. That is, in English :
The clause " Supplying nevertheless by our supreme authority royal,
Stipplentis. mere motion and certain knowledge, if any thing
55 " be or shall be wanting, either in the things, which accord-
" ing to our foresaid commandment shall by you be done,
" or in you or any of you, by reason of your condition, state,
" or power, to perform the premises ; any thing, I say, re-
" quired or necessary in this behalf, either by the statutes of
" this our kingdom, or by the ecclesiastical laws, the circum-
" stance of time,or the necessity of things requiring it. In wit-
" ness whereof we have made these our letters patents, Szc."
Consecra- These words were put in (I conjecture, by the wary
testant Bi- Archbishop elect himself) for the stopping of any illegality
shops vin- uncanonicalness in the ordination or confirmation, or any
p. 451.' other objections that might be made to this present busi-
ness, according to the custom of the Court of Rome ; which
had ordinarily such dispensatory clauses (as Archbishop
Bramhall hath observed) in their Instruments, for more
abundant caution, (whether there were need of them or
not,) to relax all sentences, censures, and penalties inflicted
either by the law, or by the judge. Some thought this
clause might have relation to Bishop Barlow and Bishop
Scory; because they were not yet enthroned in the new
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 109
bishoprics. But this was but a mistake, since their episco- chap.
pal ordination sufficiently qualified them to consecrate. But ^'
the most probable ground of this clause was the exception, Anno i659.
or cavil rather, (now whispered about,) that Boner after-
wards made more openly against the legality of Bishop
Hornets consecration ; viz. that he was not ordained ac-
cording to the prescript of our very statutes. And the
statute in the 8. Elizab. as it hath a plain respect to this Cap. i.
clause, so it strengthens it, by declaring valid this conse-
cration ; having these words, " That the Queen in her let-
" ters patents had not only used such words as had been
" accustomed to be used by King Henry VIII. and King
" Edward VI. but also divers other general words ; where-
" by her Highness, by her supreme power and authority,
" had dispensed with all cavises and doubts of any imper-
" fection or disability that could be objected."''
For the further strengthening the abovesaid clause of the Registr.
Supplentes, there was underwritten to it, in the Register of
the Archbishop, the judgment of the chiefest civilians for
learning and eminence in those times, concerning the vali-
dity of the Queen's letters, as followeth :
" We, whose names be here under subscribed, think in
" our judgments, that by this Commission in the form
" penned, as well the Queen''s Majesty may lawfully autho- ■
" rize the persons within named to the effect specified, as
" the said persons may exercise the act of confirming and
" consecrating, in the same to them committed.
" William May, Henry Harvey,
" Robert Weston, Thomas Yale,
" Edward Leeds, Nicolas BuUingham."
It may be noted, that the foregoing dispensing clause
was inserted into all the Queen s letters patents for making
her Bishops, for the first seven years of her reign, ad ma- 8. Eiiz.
jorem cautelam, until the said act of Parliament anno 1566,
declaring the manner of making and consecrating of Arch-
bishops and Bishops of the realm, to be good, lawful, and
110
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK perfect. This dispensation, and this statute notwithstand-
ing, tlie papistical writers afterwards quarreled with these
Anno 1559. ordinations : which gave occasion to the learned Mi*. Ma-
son, to vindicate the same in his excellent book, in Latin,
De Minist. of the English Ministry : and to the most reverend Arch-
AngUcan. j^ighop Bramhall, about thirty years after, in his book of
the Consecration of Protestant Bishops vindicated.
The Arch- When the day of the confirmation drew on, the Arch-
bishi)]. s |)ishop elect, bv his letters bearino; date the 7th of Decem-
ber, constituted William May, Dean of St. Paul's, London,
and Nicolas Bullingham, Doctors of Laws, his Proctors, to
William, heretofore Bishop of Bath and Wells, and the
rest of the before-named Bishops, Commissioners from the
Queen, to act and do all things for him before them.
The confirmation was performed three days after the
Queen's letters commissional abovesaid ; that is, on the 9th
day of December, in the church of St. Mary de Arcubus,
[i. e. IVIary le Bow in Cheapside,] regularly, and according
56 to the usual custom : and that after this manner. First,
John Incent, Public Notary, appeared personally, and pre-
sented to the right reverend the Commissaries, appointed by
the Queen, her said letters to them directed in that behalf ;
liumbly praying them to take upon them the execution of the
said letters, and to proceed according to the contents thereof
in the said business of confirmation. And the said Notary
Public publicly read the Queen's commissional letters. Then,
out of the reverence and honour these Bishops present (who
were Barlow, Scory, Coverdale, and the SvifFragan of Bed-
ford) bore to her Majesty, they took upon them the com-
mission, and accordingly resolved to proceed according to
the force, power, and effect of the said letters. Next, the
Notary exhibited his proxy for the Dean and Chapter of
the metropolitical church, and made himself a party for
them ; and, in the procuratorial name of the said Dean and
Chapter, presented the venerable Mr. Nicolas Bullingham,
LL. D. and placed him before the said Commissioners :
who then exhibited his proxy for the said elect of Canter-
bury, and made himself a party for him. Then the said
Notary exhibited the original citatory mandate, together
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. Ill
with the certificate on the back side, concerning the execu- CHAP,
tion of the same : and then required all and singular per- ^'
sons cited, to be publicly called. And consequently a three- Anno 1559.
fold proclamation was made, of all and singular opposers,
at the door of the parochial church aforesaid ; and so as is
customary in these cases.
Then, at the desire of the said Notary to go on in this Schedule
business of confirmation, they the Commissioners decreed ^js^op'
so to do, as was more fully contained in a schedule read by Barlow.
Bishop Barlow, with the consent of his colleagues. It is
too long to relate distinctly every formal proceeding in this
business; which may be read more conveniently in the Re-
gister, and likewise in an exact transci'ipt thereof in Arch-
bishop BramhalPs Works, printed at Dublin anno 1 677, at
the end of the book. Only it may be necessary to add some
few of the most material passages.
There followed the deposition of witnesses, concerning Tiie Artii-
tlie life and actions, learning and abilities of the said Elect ; y.;^,
his freedom, his legitimacy, his priesthood, and such like, "osses.
One of these witnesses was John Baker, of thirty-nine years
old, Gent, who is said to sojourn for the present with the
said venerable Dr. Parker, and to be born in the parish of
St. Clement''s in Norwich. He among other things wit-
nessed, " That the same reverend Father was and is a pru-
" dent man, conmiended for his knowledge of sacred Sciip-
" ture, and for his life and manners. That he was a free-
" man, and born of lawful matrimony ; that he was in law-
" ful age, and in Priests'' Orders, and a faithful subject to
" the Queen." And the said Baker, in giving the reason
of his knowledge in this behalf, said, " that he was the
" natural brother of the Lord elect, and that they were
*' born ex unis parentibtis.'''' [Or rather surely ex una
jmrente ; 1. e. "of one mother."] William Tolwyn, M. A.
aged seventy years, and Rector of St. Anthony's, London,
was another witness ; who had known the said Elect thirty
years, and knew his mother: and that he was still very well
acquainted with him, and of his certain knowledge could
testify all abovesaid.
112
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK The Notary exhibited the process of the election by the
Dean and Chapter ; which tlie Commissioners did take a
Anno 1559. (Ji}igent view of. And at last, in the conclusion of this
mi'ssioners' ^ff^i^, the Commissioners decreed the said most reverend
decree. Lord elected and presently confirmed, should receive his
consecration ; and committed to him the care, rule, and ad-
ministration, both of the temporals and spirituals of the said
archbishopric ; and decreed him to be inducted and in-
stalled into the real, actual, and corporal possession of the
same archbishopric, and of all its rights, dignities, honours,
preeminencies, and appertenancies, by the Dean and Chap-
ter of the church of Canterburv, or by some other, to
whom by right and custom that office is known to belong,
according to the laudable custom of Christ's Church, Can-
terburv ; not reclaiming or contradicting the modern laws
and statutes of this famous realm of England.
In fine, all the matters done at our Archbishop's confirm-
ation, and in order to it, are particularly and punctually
set down in liis Register under this title, Acta, habita, et
facta, &c. i. e. " Acts and things had and done in the busi-
" ness of tlie confirmation of the venerable and eminent
57 "man, Master Matthew Parker, elected Archbishop of
" Canterbury the 9th day of December, in the parochial
" church of St. Mary Bow, London, &c. before the re-
" verend Fathers in Christ, the Queen's Commissioners in
" this behalf, William elect of Chichester, John elect of
" Hereford, &c. by virtue of letters patents commissional
" from the Queen, &c. in the presence of Francis Clark,
" Notary Public, taken for scribe of the acts in this behalf,
" by reason of the absence of Anthonv Huse, Register."
Tliis Huse had been Register a great while, and was now
absent, I suppose, through age and infirmity ; for about
half a year after he died; that is, in June 1560: and then
John Incent succeeded in his place ; though I find the said
Huse was present at the consecration.
Thus the process being ended, with the sentence defini-
tive, and final decree of the Bishops, Commissioners, con-
firming and ratifying the election, it is like the company
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 113
might part, and go from Bow church, to take a dinner to- CHAP,
getlier at the Nag's Head tavern hard by, according to tlie .
common custom formerly and usually before and since, evcn'^""o issg.
to our times, after the despatch of the confirmations of Bi-
shops elect.
Proceed we now to the consecration: which, as the cow- The conse-
Jirmation was performed on Saturday, December 9, in St. ^("^^^gj^
Mary le Bow church, so this was on Sunday, December the and
17th, in Lambhith chapel. The which the Archbishop, in
liis parchment journal aforementioned, noted in these words :
" The 17th of Decemb. 1559. I was consecrated Arch- His medita-
" bishop of Canterbury." To which he subjoined this sen-^^p"^^''^'^'^"
tence ; (whereby will appear what small joy he took in his
honour, and how sensible he was of the mighty burden
of his place ;) Heu ! heu ! Dom'ine Deiis, S^c. i. e. " Alas !
" alas ! O Lord God, for what times hast thou reserved
" me Now I am come into the deep waters, and the floods
" overflow me. O Lord, I am in trouble : answer for me ;
" and establish me with thy free spirit. For I am a man,
" and of short time, and less," &c.
The order of the rites and ceremonies in this consecration The order
was after this manner : " First of all, the chapel on the east p^^j^'^^'^'^**
" part was adorned with tapestry, and the floor was spread gist.
" with red cloth, and the table used for the celebration of
*' the holy Sacrament, being adorned with a carpet and
" cushion, was placed at the east. Moreover, four chairs
*' were set to the south of the east part of the chapel for
" the Bishops, to whom the oflice of consecrating the Arch-
" bishop was committed. There was also a bench placed
" before the chairs, spread with a carpet and cushions, on
" which the Bishops kneeled. And in like manner a chair,
" and a bench furnished with a carpet and a cushion, was
" set for the Archbishop on the north side of the east part
" of the same chapel. ^
" These things being thus in their order prepared, about
" five or six in the morning, the Archbishop entereth the
" chapel by the west door, having on a long scarlet gown
" and a hood, with four torches carried before him, and ,
VOL. I. I
114 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Scory
preaches
The Arch-
bishop pre
seated.
" accompanied with four Bishops, who were to consecrate
" him ; to wit, WilUam Barlow, John Scory, Miles Cover-
Anno 1559. " dale, and John Hodgkin, Suffragan of Bedford. After
'* each of them in their order had taken their seats pre-
" pared for them, morning prayer was said with a loud
" voice by Andrew Pierson, the Archbishop's Chaplain.
" Which being finished, Scory went up into the pulpit,
" and taking for his text, The elders "which are among
" yoit I beseech, being also a fellow elder, ^-c. made an ele-
" gant sermon," [admonishing the pastor of his office, care,
and faithfulness towards his flock ; and the flock, of the
love, duty, and reverence they owed to their pastor.]
" Sermon being done, the Archbishop, together ^vith the
" other four Bishops, go out of the chapel to prepare them-
" selves for the holy Communion : and, without any stay,
" they come in again at the north door thus clad : The
" Archbishop had on a linen surplice, the Elect of Chi-
" Chester used a silk cope, being to administer the Sacra-
" raent. On whom attended and pelded their service the
" Archbishop's two Chaplains, Nicolas Bullingham and
" Edmund Gest, the one Archdeacon of Lincoln, and the
*' other of Canterbury, having on likewise silk copes. The
" Elect of Hereford and the Suffrag-an of Bedford wore
58" hnen surplices: but Miles Coverdale had nothing but a
" long cloth gown. Being in this manner appareled and
" prepared, they proceed to celebrate the Communion, the
" Archbishop being on his bended knees at the lowest step
" of the chapel. The Gospel being ended, the Elect of
" Hereford, the Suffragan of Bedford, and Miles Cover-
*' dale, brought the Archbishop before the Elect of Chi-
" Chester, sitting in a chair at the table, with these words ;
*' Reverend Father in God, we offer and present to you
" this godly and learned man to be consecrated Archbishop.
" This being spoken, forthwith was produced the royal in-
" strument or mandate for the Archbishop's consecration :
" which being read through by Thomas Yale, Dr. of Laws,
*' the oath of the Queen's primacy, or of defending her su-
*' preme authority, set forth and promulgated according to
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 115
" the statute in the first year of the reign of Queen EUza- CHAP.
" beth, M-as I'equired of the said Archbishop. Which when ^'
" he solemnly had performed verbis conceptis, the Elect of ^^""o issg.
" Chichester having exhorted the people to prayer, betook
" himself to sing the Litany, the choir answering. Which The Litany
" being ended, after some questions propounded to the
" Archbishop by the Elect of Chichester, and the making
*' some prayers and suffrages to God, according to the form
" of the book put forth by authority of Parliament, the The Arch-
" Elects of Chichester and Hereford, the Suffi-agan of Bed- secrated.°"
" ford, and Coverdale, laying their hands upon the Arch-
" bishop, said in English, Take the Holy Ghost ; and re-
" member that thou stir up the grace of God which is in
" thee by imposition of hands. For God hath not given
" us the spirit cyf fear, but of power, and love, and sober-
*' ness. These words being said, they delivered the holy
" Bible into his hands, using these words to him ; Give
" heed unto thy reading, exhortation, and doctrine. Think
*' upon these things contained in this book ; be diligent in
" them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest
" u/nto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy
*' teaching, and be diligent in doing them. For in doing
*' this, tlwu shall save thyself, and them that hear thee,
" through Jesus Christ oiir Lord. After they had said
*' these things, the Elect of Chichester (delivering no pas-
" toral staff to the Archbishop) proceeded to the other so-
*' lemnities of the Communion ; with whom the Archbishop, They com-
" and the other Bishops before named, did communicate, municate.
" together with some others [when the Archbishop de-
sired the prayers of them all, that the office now laid upon
him by the hands of the Pi-esbytery might above all tend
to the glory of God, and salvation of the Christian flock,
and the joyful testimony of his own conscience from his
office faithfully performed, when it should happen that he
should go to the Lord, to whom he had devoted him-
self.]
" These things being finished and performed, the Arch-
" bishop goeth out through the north door of the east part
" of the chapel, accompanied \vith those four that had con-
1 2
116 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
white
staves,
BOOK " secrated him: and presently, being attended with the
same Bishops, returned by the same door, wearing an
Anno 1559. a episcopal white garment, and a chimere of black silk :
" and about his neck he had a rich tippet of sable. In
" like manner the Elects of Chichester and Hereford had
" on their episcopal garments, surplice, and chimere : but
" Coverdale and the Suffragan of Bedford wore only their
The Arch- " long gowns. The Archbishop then going forward toward
hifolfeJs^' " t'^^ ^^^^ S^"^^ to Thomas Doyle, his Steward, John
" Baker, his Treasurer, and John March, his Comptroller,
" to each of them white staves ; admitting them after this
" manner into their places and offices. These things there-
" fore thus performed in their order, as is already said, the
" Archbishop goeth out of the chapel by the west door, the
" gentlemen of his family of the better sort in blood going
" before him, and the rest following behind. All and sin-
" gular these things were acted and done in the presence
" of the reverend Fathers in Christ, Edmund Grindal,
" elect Bishop of London ; Richard Cocks, elect of Ely ;
" Edwin Sandes, elect of Wigorn; Anthony Huse, Esq.
" principal and primary Register of the said Archbishop ;
" Thomas Argal, Esq. Register of the Prerogative of the
" Court of Canterbury; Thomas Willet and John Incent,
" Public Notaries, and some others."
An account of this order of the rites and ceremonies of
this consecration, in the very words of the register, is pre-
served carefully in the MS. library of Bene't college, Cam-
bridge, where I have seen it : and that I suppose by the
peculiar appointment of Archbishop Parker himself. This,
5Qand the whole course and history of the consecration, as it
is largely and most exactly recorded in the Archbishop's
register, and that, no question, by special care ; so it is faith-
fully transcribed, and published in Archbishop Bramhal's
Works aforementioned ; as being serviceable to some of that
learned man's writings in vindication of the Church of
England, in respect of the Orders conferred upon her Bi-
shops and Priests ; and for the disproof of that idle story
of the Nag's Head ordination, and to the perpetual shame
of the inventors and upholders of it.
These
things
carefully
recorded.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 117
After the consecration was over at Lambhith, all were CHAP,
entertained there at a splendid dinner ; and among the
honourable guests was present Charles Lord Howard of -^"no 1559.
Effingham, afterward Lord High Admiral, and created
Earl of Nottingham ; who acknowledged Archbishop Par- nt-r.
ker to be his kin. This the Earl spake of long after : and
a friend of the Earl's told it to Mr. Mason, the author De Mason de
Ministerio Anglicano, while the Earl was alive ; who lived gUcan.
to a great age. Which the said Mason made use of, as a
good testimony to confute the Nag's Head ordination.
Which story give me leave to stay at a little, by the way. The Nag's
For having given all this authentic account of Dr. p^j.. H*^^*^ '^'''j'^*
ker's consecration, and of all particulars of it from indubit-
able records, I cannot but mention the notorious falsehoods
and slanders that have by Papists been raised upon it : and
the mentioning them is enough. The story, when it ap-
peared first, was, " That when the Bishop of Landaff, champ-
" through Bishop Boner's threatening, would not be pre-"^^^'
" vailed with to consecrate the Protestant Divines, having
" no other means to compass their desires, they resolved to
" use Mr. Scorie's help, an apostate religious Priest ; who,
" having bore the name of Bishop in King Edward the
" Vlth's time, was thought to have sufficient power to per-
" form that office, especially in such a streight necessity, as
" they pretended : which he performed in this sort. Hav-
" ing the Bible in his hand, and they all kneeling before
" him, he laid it upon every one of their heads or shoulders,
" saying, ' Take thou authority to preach the word of God
" sincerely.' And so they rose up Bishops of the new Church
" of England. Thus Champneys, and others of that sort."
Francis Mason, B. D. Archdeacon of Norfolk, was the C onfuu-d
first that confuted this idle improbable calumny, in an Eng- !,',^/\^rch-
lish book in vindication of the English Ministry, written bishop
in the reign of King James I. And that he did so gf.
fectually, that there was no more mention of it for thirty
years after. The book was set forth again the second time
in Latin, by the care of Nathaniel Brent, a learned Civilian,
at the importunity of George Archbishop of Canterbury,
I 3
118 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and then entitled, Vindicice Ecclesice Anglicana:, sive de
legitimo ejusdem Mi7iisterio, id est, de Episcoporum Suc-
Anno "i^id. (.gggiQjjg^ Consecratione, Electione et Confirmatione. Printed
anno 1625.
Legacy left After many years, as was mentioned before, the old story
to Protest- . . .
ants. IS ventured again into the world, in a book printed at Dow-
ay, anno 1654, wherein they thus tell their tale : " I know
" they [i. e. the Protestants] have tried many ways, and
" feigned an old record [meaning the authentic register of
" Archbishop Parker] to prove their ordination from Ca-
" tholic Bishops. But it was false, as I have received from
Dr. Darbi- Certain witnesses. The former of them was Dr. Dar-
sliire.
" bishire, then Dean of St. PauPs, [Canon there, perhaps,
" but never Dean,] and nephew to Dr. Boner, Bishop of
" London : who almost sixty years since lived at Meuse
Died anno <' Pont, then a holy, religious man, [a Jesuit,] very aged,
" but perfect in sense and memory. Who speaking what
" he knew, affirmed to myself and another with me, that
" like good fellows they made themselves Bishops at an
" inn, because they could get no true Bishops to consecrate
" them. My other witness was a gentleman of known worth
" and credit, dead not many years since ; whose father, a
" Chief Judge of this kingdom, visiting Archbishop Heath
" saw a letter, sent from Bishop Boner out of the
" Marshalsea, by one of his Chaplains, to the Archbishop,
" read, while they sat at dinner together : wherein he mer-
" rily related the manner how these new Bishops (because
" he had dissuaded Ogelthorp, Bishop of Carlisle, from
" doing it in his diocese) ordained one another at an inn,
" where they met together. And while others laughed at
" this new manner of consecrating Bishops, the Archbishop
" himself gravely, and not without tears, expressed his
" grief, to see such a ragged company of men, come poor
" out of foreign parts, and appointed to succeed the old
go " Clergy." Thus this story is improved by Jesuits : nay,
they had the confidence to annex to it the pretended testi-
mony of a Protestant Bishop, namely, Morton Bishop of
Durham; as if he had owned in the House of Lords in the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 119
Long Parliament, the English Bishops' consecration at the CHAP.
Nag's Head, and by speech of his there to vindicate the ^'
same. Which that learned good Bishop happening to be Anno 15.59.
ahve at the publishing this falsehood, (which they perhaps
little thought of,) and living at the house of Tho. Saunders Treat, of
in Hertfordshire, Esq. did there publicly, under his hand and RouHif'"*'''
seal, utterly declare to be false and most untrue ; dated July 'tp ".
the 17th, 1658, and was attested by a public notary. The P- 432.
whole protestation of which pious Bishop is extant in Arch-
bishop BramhaFs book of the Consecration of Protestant Bi-
shops Vindicated. In which treatise that right learned Bishop
confuted, and most effectually overthrew, the late attempts
of the Jesuits against our Church, by this calumny of the
consecration of Parker, and the other primary Bishops of
Queen Elizabeth.
Which forgery (when once invented) was so acceptable Hie liber —
to the Romanists, that it was most confidently repeated 'n,"e p'oi1-
again in another English book, printed at Antwerp 1 658, t'^'ans Ca-
. . , . IT- V 1 1 thec.]altero
permissu superiorum: bemg a second edition, licensed by preiodignus
Gulielmo Bolognimo. Where the author sets down his story ^^^^^
in these words: " The heretics, who were named to suc-
" ceed in the other Bishops' sees, could not prevail with
" Landaff (whom he calls a little before cm old simple
" man) to consecrate them at the Nag's Head in Cheap-
*' side, where they appointed to meet him. And therefore
** they made use of Scory, who was never ordained Bishop,
" though he bore the name in King Edward's reign. Kneel- Sacrobosco,
" ing before him, he laid the Bible upon their heads or
*' shoulders, and bid them rise up, and preach the word of stable,
*' God sincerely. This is," added he, " so evident a truth, Fit^^He"*/'
" that for the space of fifty years no Protestant durst con-bert in his
" tradict it : nothing being more common in England, as ther Var-
" hath been lately demonstrated in a book called, A Trea- ^^^j.
" Use of the Nature of CatJiolick Faith and Heresy. [The and stapie-
" book abovesaid exposed by the said excellent Bishop.] To*""-
" which I remit the reader, where he will see how the Pro-
" testant Ministers [or more truly Popish Priests] abuse the
I 4 ^
120 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " world with cheating tricks, and false records, to cry down
" this most certain story."
Anno 1559. But before this fable came to light, (which was not heard
of a great many years after Parker's consecration,) it was
the old Papists' prime endeavour to invalidate his ordina-
tion. For they knew, if they could bring it about that he
was no true Archbishop or Bishop, then as a sequel all the
Bishops that he afterwards consecrated should be no Bi-
shops, because he was none himself, and therefore could
not consecrate nor give Orders to others. And what argu-
ment could have better served their turn to prove this, than
that mad manner of ordination, if it had been true ? But it
was not then devised ; their great argument in those days
How Pa- to prove our Archbishop's ordination to be null, was, that
wHhsto<Iu he was made Archbishop by King Edward's Book of Ordi-
Vaiker's nation, which had been repealed under Queen Mary, and
tio'ii.'^'^'^* not restored by authority of Parliament when he was con-
secrated; though that was false too. And even Boner,
who is feigned to write that letter to Heath of Parker's
ridiculous consecration, spake not one word of this, when
it might have served his purpose admirably well. But
when, in the year 1565, he was called upon by Horn, Bi-
shop of Winton, his Diocesan, to take the oath of allegi-
ance, he went another way, and objected that Horn had
nothing to do to administer it, because he was no Bishop
of Winchester ; no, nor no Bishop at all, because he was
not ordained according to law : and that those that conse-
crated Parker were no Bishops, because they had been de-
prived.
Cott. Li- This cause, and the act of Parliament occasioned by it,
brar. cico- J ^\]\ forth in the words of a MS. paper, which 1 have
patra, F. 4. • i i • ii • ^ • i
met with ; being a collection, shewing what jurisdiction the
Clergy hath heretofore lawfully used, and may lawfully
use, in the realm of England. In this collection is this
passage : " It appears in Dier's book, [of Reports,] that at
" the arraignment of Boner, he cavilled upon the point,
" whether Horn, Bishop of Winchester, was a Bishop, or
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 121
" no. And it seems, that it was then resolved, that if he c H A P,
" would, he should be received upon that issue ; and the *'
"jury should try it. And the cause was nothing else, Anno 1.559.
" than that he was made Bishop according to the Book of
" King Edward, not yet authorized in Parliament. Another
" objection was against the consecration of Parker, Arch-
" bishop of Canterbury ; by whom the rest were afterwards
" consecrated and invested. For whereas by law three 6 1
" Bishops at the least ought to be at the consecrating of
" an Archbishop, it was pretended that at his consecration
" there was never a Bishop at all. For Barlow, Scory,
Coverdale, and Bale, albeit in King Edward's days they
" were Bishops, yet were they deprived in the time of
" Queen Mary, and not restored again. And the two Suf-
" fragans, of Bedford and Thetford, were in the same time
" of Queen Mary deposed by act of Parliament. So, as it
" is supposed, there was not any Bishop at the said Arch-
" bishop's consecration.
" Archbishop Parker, in the description of his own life. The statute
" seems to pretend, that this consecration so passed ^^g'<? secratiotrof
" quadam de hac re lata ; i. e. by a law made concerning Parker.
*' it. Which cannot be understood of any other act of Par-
" liament than this, [which shall be declared by and by.]
" Wliich Indeed was very necessary, both for the confirma-
" tion of his own consecration, and of all the Bishops be-
" side ; and likewise the ordaining of all the Ministers that
" were made from the beginning of her Majesty's reign,
" unto the time of the making of said statute."
A little backward this writer was speaking of this said
statute or act, which was the 8. of the Queen, cap. pi-imo,
to take away all ambiguities and questions that might be
objected against the lawful confirmation!?, investing, and
consecrations of Bishops. And it shewed, that for the con-
firming, investing, and consecrating of persons elected, her
Majesty had not only used such words and sentences as
were accustomed to be used by King Henry VIII. and
King Edward VI. but also had used and put in her said
letters patents other general words and sentences ; whereby
im THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK her Highness, by her supreme power, had dispensed with
all cases and doubts that could or might in any ■\vise be ob-
AQno i559.jected against the same. And by the same statute it ap-
peared what was the cause of the making thereof ; viz. that
when the Book of Common Prayer was only established in
the first year of her Majesty's reign, and not the Book of
King Edward for making of Ministers and consecrating of
Bishops: and yet nevertheless the Bishops and Ministers
were made according to the same Book, not yet authorized
by Parliament, seeing the statute of the 25. of Henry VIII.
touching the making of Bishops, was revived only anno
primo, it was thought that the consecration of them should
have been according to the form used 25. Hen. VIII. and not
according to the Book of King Edward repealed in Queen
Mary's time.
So that (to return whence we came) this w£is all the flaw
found in Archbishop Parker's consecration in the times
next after it, and aU the advantage that Boner, or any
other adversaries, took against it : and not one word in
those days of a Nag's Head ordination. But enough and
enough hath been said by our writers against this fancy.
Parker the Indeed the Archbishop took a pleasiu-e sometimes to re-
first Arch- collect how he was consecrated ; and that he was the first
bishop con- i i • i
secrated of all the Archbishops of Canterbury that came mto that
per'titien"' without any spot or stain of Popish superstitions and
Matthasus. vain ccremonies, required of all before him ; without any
bull of approbation from the Pope of Rome : that he was
consecrated without any old idle ceremony of Aaronical
garments ; nor with gloves nor rings, nor sandals nor slip-
pers, nor mitre nor pall ; but more chastely and religiously,
according to the purity of the Gospel ; by four Bishops,
according to the law in this case; who placed him in his
chair; and such godly stipulation by him interposed, as
was equal to be required of an evangelical pastor. And
yet that the consecration was not celebrated without the
becoming garments of a Bishop, nor without the godly
prayers, as well of ecclesiastical Ministers, as of the people,
and a pious sermon preached by a Bishop to aU present ;
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 123
and all christianly concluded with the reception of the holy CHAP,
Communion. ^'
But to proceed in the Acts : There is an instrument, being Anno 1 559.
a mandate, dated from London the last day of December, J "r\he"en-
directed from the four Bishops that consecrated the Arch- throniza-
bishop, to Edmund Gest, Archdeacon of Canterbury, for^r"^^"^. ^
the inducting, installing, and enthronizing of the said Arch-
bishop. Then the said Archdeacon sent his mandate, dated
January 1. Which is also in the said acts set down, being
the deputation of the Archdeacon to certain of the Chap-
ters unnamed, to perform every thing relating to the Arch-
bishop's enthronization, which he himself should have done, 62
to whom of long and prescribed custom the right apper-
tained to induct, install, and enthronize all Bishops within
the province of Canterbury, being hindered from doing it
in person by certain weighty and urgent affairs. Next after
follows the Archbishop's procuration, dated from Lambeth,
January 2, to Edward Leeds, and some others his Chap-
lains ; that because of his necessary absence from Can-
terbury, they should excuse his personal appearance, and
to be his proctors to obtain his enthronization, and to in-
duct, invest, and install him into the real, actual, and cor-
poral possession of his archbishopric of Canterbury, with all
and singular the honours, privileges, prerogatives, preemi-
nencies, and rights thereof, temporal and spiritual, accord-
ing to the statutes, ordinances, and customs of the said ca-
thedral and metropolitical church, not repugning to the
present laws, statutes, and provisions of this realm.
And lastly, the restitution of his temporalties was done Restitution
March the 1st. To all which I will subjoin his oath of
allegiance and homage, transcribed from the very original :
viz.
" I Matthew Parker, Doctor of Divinity, do utter. His oath of
" testify, and declare in my conscience, that your Majesty ''"^S"">ce.
" is the only supreme governor of this realm, and of all me.
" other your Highness' dominions and countries, as well in
" all spiritual and ecclesiastical things or causes, as tem-
" poral : and that no foreign person, prelate, state, or po-
124
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " tentate hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power,
' " superiority, preeminence, or authority ecclesiastical or spi-
Anno 1659." ritual within this realm. And therefore I do utterly re-
" nounce and forsake all foreign jurisdictions, powers, su-
" periorities, and authorities. And do promise, that from
" henceforth I shall bear faith and true allegiance to your
" Majesty, your heirs and lawful successors : and to my
" power shall assist and defend all jurisdictions, privileges,
" preeminencies, and authorities granted and belonging to
" your Highness, your heirs and successors, or united and
" annexed to the imperial crown of this realm. And fur-
" ther, I acknowledge and confess to have and to hold the
" said archbishopric of Canterbury, and the possessions of
" the same entirely, as well the spiritualities as temporal-
" ties thereof, only of your Majesty, and crown royal of
" this your realm. And for the said possessions, I do mine
" homage presently unto your Highness : and to the same,
" and to your heirs and lawful successors, shall be faithful
" and true. So help me God ; and by the contents of this
" book.
" Matthue Cantuar.""
The oaths At this very day these several Bishops took their oaths
Bishop" sXso, and did their homage ; viz. Edmond, Bishop of Lon-
don ; Richard, Bishop of Ely ; William, Bishop of Chi-
chester; John, Bishop of Hereford; Edwin, Bishop of
Worcester ; Roland, Bishop of Bangor ; Nicolas, Bishop
of Lincoln ; John, Bishop of Salisbury ; Thomas, Bishop
of St. David's ; and Richard, Bishop of St. Asaph : sub-
scribing their own names under these words : " And we
" whose names be under-written, being Bishops of several
" sees within this your Majesty's realm, do acknowledge
" all manner of things, respectively of our parts, for our-
" selves, and our bishoprics above specified, to be done and
" knowledged towards your Majesty, your heirs and suc-
" cessors, in as large manner as the right reverend Father
" in God, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, hath at
" this present acknowledged and confessed : and according
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 125
' to this instrument signed with the hand of the said Arch- c H a P.
' bishop. ^'
Anno 1559
' Edm. London. Edwinus Wigorn. Thomas Meneven.
' Richard Ely. Rolandus Bangor. Richardus Assaphen.
' Wilham Cistren. Nicholas Lincoln.
' John Hereford. Johannes Sarlsberien.""
CHAP. II. 63
Consecrations and ordinations of Bishops and Ministers
hy the Archbishop, or his order. His care for the va-
cant churches. Lent. The Popish Bishops write to the
ArchbisJiop : his excellent answer. So doth Calvin write
to him about the union of Protestants. A metropolitical
visitation. His letter to the Bishops of his province.
The BisJwp of Ely gives him a certificate of his diocese.
Visits Canterbury and Rochester dioceses. Makes sta-
tutes for two hospitals in Canterbury.
1 HE Archbishop being consecrated and instated in his Bishops
metropolitical see, the next care was to fill the Church with ^j^^
other worthy Bishops, where the sees were vacant. So on Archbishop,
the 21st of December following, next after the Archbishop's
consecration, was consecrated, in the Archbishop''s chapel at
Lambeth, Edmund Grindal, B. D. a native of Cumber-
land, aged forty, Bishop of London, by the said Arch-
bishop, assisted by Barlow, Scory, and Hodgkins, in sur-
plices, all the ceremonies and rites accustomed being used.
This Grindal, as Alexander Nevyl in his book of the Nor- Grindal.
folk Rebellion saith, was a man that all his life joined a
notable prudence and an ingenious conversation together,
and of very sweet and obliging behaviour. With Grindal
was also consecrated Richard Cox, a native of Bucks, D. D. Cox.
aged sixty. Bishop of Ely : Edwin Sandys, born in Lanca- Sandys,
ehire, D. D. aged forty-three, Bishop of Worcester. This
1^6 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Sandys was in 1552 made a Prebendary of Carlisle, and
being a member of the University of Cambridge, held di-
Meyrick.
Scory and
Barlow.
Anno 1559. vers disputations in the public schools against Papal tradi-
uan! '^''^"^ ' many of his sermons, being a most eloquent
preacher, did acutely and notably confute them. He wor-
thily discharged the office both of Proctor and Vice-Chan-
cellor in his University ; and was Head of Katharine hall
there. Being Bishop, he would not suffer Papists to re-
main in his diocese. And lierein he was so earnest, that
he would not be persuaded to give them any toleration by
any prayers or intercessions made to him in their behalf.
The fourth person at this time consecrated was Rowland
Meyrick, of Wales, LL. D. aged fifty-four. Bishop of Ban-
gor. These were all exiles lately returned home. And I
find no more consecrated at this time. The sermon at these
con.secrations was preached by Alexander Nowel, Chaplain
to the said Bishop of London, upon this text, Attendite vo-
bis et universo gregi, ^c.
Scory and Barlow being Bishops before, needed no con-
secration, but wei-e confirmed in their new bishoprics the
day befox-e, being St. Thomas''s eve : on which day the elec-
tions of the four above mentioned were also confirmed at
Bow church, the Archbishop of Canterbury present. So
that the Church was now provided with seven Protestant
Bishops, besides Coverdale and Hodgkin ; mIio had the
characters, but returned not to act in the office of Bishops :
and likewise Bale, late Bishop of Ossory, who contented
himself with a prebend of Canterbury.
January the 21st, five Bishops more were consecrated,
viz. Thomas Yong, LL. D. born in Wales, aged fifty-two,
was consecrated Bishop of St. David's ; Nicolas Bolingham,
or Bullingham, LL. D. and the Archbishop's Chaplain,
bom in Worcestershire, aged 48, consecrated Bishop of
Lincoln. He had been Vicar General to the Bishop of
Lincoln in King Edward's days. Archbishop Parker in-
tended to prefer him, being very learned in the common
and civil laws, to govern his Courts, and to make him one
of his Judges : but he was prevented, the Queen advancing
More Bi-
shops con-
secrated.
Yong.
Bolingham.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 127
him to this bishopric. John Jewel, B. D. born in Devon- CHAP,
shire, aged forty, consecrated Bishop of Sahsbury. Richard
Davis, a Welshman, M. A. aged fifty, consecrated Bi- Anno 1559.
shop of St. Asaph. One Allen was first nominated to the
see of Rochester ; but died before consecration, or declined 64
it : and so Edmund Guest, B. D. born at AfFerton in York- Guest,
shire, aged 51, was consecrated Bishop of Rochester. He
was also Archdeacon of Canterbury, and one of the Arch-
bishop's family : a great student in divinity, and arrived to
notable degrees of knowledge therein. He and Bollingham
tarried in England under Queen Mary's reign ; but often
changed their holes and lurkingplaces, where they hid
themselves for their preservation. Guest became Almoner
to the Queen ; and wrote divers books mentioned by Bale.
He had been a scholar of King's college in Cambridge,
where he was admitted anno 1536.
At this consecration Andrew Pierson, the Archbishop's
Chaplain and Almoner, preached upon this text, Let your
light so shine before men, iSfc.
Two other Bishops, viz. of the province of York, were
consecrated March the 2d. James Pilkington, B. D. some- piikington.
time Master of St. John's college in Cambridge, of a good
family in Lancashire, aged forty-five, for Durham ; and
John Best, a Yorkshire man, sometime of Oxford, aged Best,
forty-eight, for Carlisle.
All these Bishops (with some others that were conse-
crated after them) are conveniently digested in a table in
the British Antiquities, with their countries, universities,
degrees of school, their holy orders, their ages, and the
time of their consecrations. And in the column of their
Orders, as some of them are said to be Priests Regular, as
having belonged to some religious order, some Secular, as
not ; so Pilkington (with one more) is set down Minister
Secular, meaning no doubt the same order of priesthood.
But the using of that term was to distinguish him from the
Popish, massing Priests ; and probably to imply his receiv-
ing his holy Orders from some Protestant Bishop or Bishops
in King Edward's days. Which word Minister became
usual in these times for distinction from the idolatrous
128 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Priests of the Romish Church. This I the rather take no-
tice of here, to meet with a hbeller near these times, that
Anno 1559. put forth the book of The Seventieth Archbishop of Canter-
Arehbishop ^"^J' (t^^t ^e shall hear more of hereafter,) who makes a
of Cant, great matter of it, that the rest of these Bishops are entitled
nno pj-jgg^g^ Regular or Secular.
MoreBi- The next Bishops that were consecrated were, William
secrate^a"' ^^^^kley, B. D. born in Lincolnshire, aged forty-two, con-
Barkiey. secrated Bishop of Bath and Wells ; and John Bentham,
^" M. A. born in Yorkshire, aged forty-six, consecrated Bi-
shop of Litchfield and Coventry. These consecrations were
celebrated March 24. And these were all that were conse-
crated this year.
Their qiiaii- These Were men truly worthy of their episcopal dignity ;
being all endued with learning and piety, and that had been
exiles and confessors for tlie true religion : those qualifica-
tions being chiefly regarded in this choice, rather than either
high birth, wealth, or other worldly considerations. And if
Erasmus had sometime took occasion to praise England in
making choice of their Bishops for gravity and learning,
whereas other countries chose them more for birth and politic
respects of worldly affairs ; this commendation Avas now more
signally due to the present English government. They were
all likewise excellent and constant preachers of God''s word.
Dr. May To these Bishops thus made, let me add one Dean, and
the deanery ^e an eminent one, now restored, namely, Dr. May ; to whom
of St. Paul's. Henry Cole, the former Dean, seemed to surrender the
deanery of St. PauPs, London ; which indeed was his under
King Edward VI. It is sure that September the 20th,
1559, he delivered these books to Dr. May his successor,
viz. a book of Statutes and Ordinances of the new Gram-
Hist. of .St. mar School of St. Paul's [founded by Dr. Colet, once Dean
Paul's, by ^hgre.! Item, a book entitled, Statutes used in Dean
Dugdale.
Colefs Days. Item, a book entitled. Liber Visitationis Joan.
Coleti, Decani Ecclesia S. PauU, Londin. sub anno Dom.
1506. Item, a book written in parchment of certain sta-
tutes collected by Dean Colet, being bound in board, and
covered with black leather.
This Dean May was nominated and elected for the me-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 12^
tropolitan see of York, but died before his consecration : CHAP,
and was buried at his churcli of St. PauPs, Aiigust the 12th,
anno 1560, the Bishop of London preaching his funeral ser-Anno 1559.
mon in his rochet. Nominated
for lork.
And as the foresaid pious and learned men had the Arch-
bishop's hands laid on them, setting them apart to govern Ordination*
the sees; so for furnishing the parishes with subordinate [^[^ ^I^^J^^
Ministers to preach and officiate and serve the cures honestly
and conscientiously^ the Archbishop instituted now speedily
divers ordinations following apace one after another. Thus
three days before Christmas, and the day following the con-
secration of Grindal, Cox, Sandes, and Merick, Avere ordain-
ed twenty-two Deacons and Priests in Lambeth chapel by
the Bishop of Hereford, by order from the Archbishop. In
January following were ordained by autliority from the said
Archbishop, to the Bishop of Bangor, ten Deacons and Read-
ers in Bow church, London. In February fourteen more
received Orders from the Bishop of Lincoln in the Arch-
bishop's house in Lambeth. And in the next month was
another ordination at Lambeth, performed by the Arch-
bishop himself, within his chapel. Which being so weighty
a work, and on which the future welfare of the newly re-
formed Church, and the edification of the people depended,
he caused public notice to be given of his intention to cele-
brate holy Orders to such as should be found fit for their
learning and good conversation, and having sufficient let-
ters testimonial of their virtuous and sober demeanor in the
places where they then dwelt, or had dwelt for three years
last past, and other things by the law required to be had.
And moreover, that the Thursday and Friday before the
Orders were to be given, the said most reverend Father and
his officers would examine such as came to receive the said
holy Orders. Three days after this ordination did the Bi-
shop of Lincoln, by order from the Archbishop, ordain in •
the Chamber of Presence at Lambeth, 155 Deacons and
Priests. And yet in the same month was another ordina^
tion performed by the said Bishop of Lincoln, of seven in
the Archbishop's chapel at Lambeth,
vol.. I. K
130 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
MSS. G
Petvt.
BOOK Tliis early care was taken by the Metropolitan to provide
' Pastors and Curates, not only for filling the vacant churches,
Anno 1559. ^j^jj.]^ there were now very manv, (the Popish Priests
The benefit . „ . fr» . ' t i
of these going away, or reiusing to oinciate according to the new
ordinations. Ijqq]^^^ but also to supply the parishes vnth honest men, stu-
dious of religion, and lovers of the Gospel ; and to train up
an order of virtuous men to supply the mortality of others.
The Arch- For the further effecting of this great work of providing
contrivance Ministers at this time, when a great many churches were
[re^^o ^^^^^ "^P? either by reason of non-residency, or desertion of
churches, the incumbents, or the smallness of the benefits belonging to
them, it is worthy of remark, that the Archbishop drew up
a writing, (which I have seen under his own hand,) entitled.
An Order for serving of Cures now destitute. It was chiefly
designed to contrive a method for one Minister to supply
several churches near adjoining ; taking in the assistance of
Deacons and Readers. The said order was to this purport :
" That the Bishops of the dioceses should take special
Armig. " care, that such were presented to the benefices, whether
" of then* own collation or of others, that would promise to
" be resident : and those to take into their cure some such
" other vicarages or parsonages as the Bisliops should think
" meet, according to the worthiness of the persons, and for
" the more convenient union of the cures.
" Item, Orders to be taken for faculty of pluralities and
" the like.
" That the person at the receiving of his principal bene-
" fice, compound for the rest, as they fall vacant ; and to
" have favourable days of paj-ment for those united bene-
" fices. And when any able Clerk or Minister will take upon
" him to serve any of the said united benefices, the prin-
" cipal incumbent to be discharged : or to be otherwise ap-
" pointed as the Ordinary and Patron agree, with conveni-
" ent contentation of the Ministers, between themselves.
" The Lay-patrons to be advertised by authority of Par-
" liament, or otherwise, to suffer the cures of their presenta-
" tions to be so united for the time in this case of necessity,
" without hurt of their rights.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 131
" The said principal incumbent to depute, in every such CHAP.
" pai'ish committed to his care, a Deacon, (if it might be,) '
"or some honest, sober, and grave layman: who, as a Anno 1559.
" Reader, should read the order of service appointed : but
" such Reader not to intermeddle to christen, marry, or
" minister the holy Communion, or preach or prophesy : 66
" but only to read the service of the day, with the Litany
and Homily, as should be prescribed, in the absence of
" the principal Pastor.
" The said principal Incumbent or Pastor in course to
" resort in circuit to every his peculiars, as well to preach
" the word, and to minister the holy Communion, as to
" marry and baptize the children, born since his last being
" with them. And the people to be taught by an homily,
" that they need not to scruple for the delay of baptism, if
" the children depart before they be presented to the Min-
" ister : considering, that in the primitive Church, the Fa-
'* thers used but two principal feasts, Easter and Pentecost,
" to admit children to the holy font."
But this clause was added by Secretary CeciPs order:
and not approved of by Bishop Grindal, (one of those to
whom the care of the Reformation was committed,) she wing-
that this was one of the quarrels in the Cornish rebellion
under King Edward, viz. that their children died without
baptism.
" Yet the Minister or Pastor was not forbid, if he might
" conveniently, to minister the sacrament of Baptism on the
" week-day, being required thereunto, and that without pact
" or covenant of reward, but of charity and zeal ; which he
" ought to bear to the reasonable request of his people : and
" they of their charitable consideration, in respect of time,
" weather, or distance of place, not to molest the said Pastor
" more than need.
" The Pastor in his circuits to know how the youth pro-
" fited in the catechisn), to be taught them weekly by the
•* Lector or Minister : and to see that the elder and ancient
" folk prepared themselves three times in the year at least
" to receive the holy Communion in love and charity. The
K 2
132
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
" Pastor to refer all causes of great importance [occasioning
" difference between the parishioners] to the Bishop or his
" Chancellor, as was provided by the injunctions.
" The Pastor, over and above his principal cure, before
" some receipt of his possession, not to pay to the Ordinary
" for his institution and induction, more than for the fees of
" the register only, for all such benefices as were thought to
*' be of small portion of living, and charged with first-fruits.
" The Readers not to be appointed but by the oversight
" of the Bishop or his Chancellor : to have their convenient
" instruction and advertisement, with some letters testimo-
" nial of their admission, how to order themselves in the
" said charge. The said Lectors or Readers always remove-
" able upon their disability or disorder, by certificate and
" proof thereof.
" A convenient rate to be made by the Bishop and his
" Council, with the consent of the Patron of the benefices
" to be united, what portion to be allowed in stipend to the
" principal Pastor ; what to the Reader ; what for ordinary
" and extraordinary payments ; what for the reparation of
*' the chancel and mansion-houses, and what might remain
" to be distributed to the poor.
" The principal Pastor not to let to ferm over one year,
*' any such benefice united : and that ever at the Annuncia-
" tion of our Lady : and with the consent of the Ordinary
" and Patrons, not above three years.
" The fermour to be aided and assisted, as well by the
" laws and diligence of the Ordinary, as by the aid of the
" next Justices. That the rights, tithes, and other ecclesi-
" astical emoluments, be duly contented and paid : whereby
" the charges and persons aforesaid might have due relief
" and stipend, according to law, equity, and conscience."
I shall make no other observations upon this notable pa-
per, than to take notice of the wise and excellent course the
Archbishop took in this present distress, when the churches
in such numbers were vacant, to supply and furnish them
with Ministers on a sudden ; and that all things might be
done peaceably and in order.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 133
I find a little hint of our Archbishop this year, seizing on CHAP,
papers for her Majesty's use, as then belonging to the bishop-
rics of Winchester and London, which I suppose he did by -^""^ i56o.
his authority in the ecclesiastical Commission. And I must bishop Liz-
crave leave here again to conjecture, these papers were the^tii papers,
examinations, inquisitions, and judgments of the professors 'J'
of the Gospel in the late reign, in their imprisonments, con- Mcmor.
fiscation of their goods, and other inhuman and illegal usages
67
of them. Wherein Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, and
Boner of London, most fiercely acted their parts. For these
doings were now looked into, in order to the setting the un-
justly imprisoned at liberty, and making the wronged resti-
tution and satisfaction.
The time of Lent was strictly observed, though not super- observation
stitiously : insomuch that when the Lord North''s son desired
to be dispensed with for keeping it, he came himself to the
Archbishop with a letter from Secretary Cecil for a licence ;
which ran to this tenor: " That the bearer. Sir Roger North,
" son and heir to the Lord North, being to him [the Secre-
" tary] well known, had, in consideration of his ill estate of
" health, and the danger that might follow, if he should be
" restrained to eating of fish, prayed him to be means to his
*' Grace to dispense with him herein. He doubted not but
" his Grace should of others also well understand, how re-
" quisite it was for the preservation of his health that he
" should be dispensed withal.""
This Lent our Archbishop preached twice before the He preaches
Queen : one of his sermons he preached on Palm Sunday, Queen.*^*
April 7, 1560 ; which, in a journal (in a volume of the Cot-
ton library) writ by somebody in those times that was an
auditor, is styled a noble .sermon.
Several sees yet remained vacant, either by the deaths or Consecra-
deprivations of the former Bishops; which in this year fol-*'""""
lowing, viz. 1560, were filled. As, Ally was consecrated in
July for the diocese of Exeter ; Parkhurst for Norwich, in
September ; Horn for Winchester, and Scambler for Peter-
borough, in January ; Pilkington for Durham, and Best for
Carlisle, in March.
K S
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK There were also this year several ordinations of Priests
and Deacons instituted, by licences from the Archbishop to
Anno 1560. the Bishop of Lincoln, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and
OrUina- j-j^g Bishop of Exeter ; and performed in the churches of St.
Pancrase, Alhallows Bread-street, the Archbishop''s peculi-
ars, and other churches in London ; to the number of seventy
persons.
The Popish But now to look again upon the Popish Bishops. They
fhreatcn laboured earnestly, according to that little remainder of
and curse power they had, to hinder the Church from being filled with
the Clergy, pg^gj-^j-g Ministers, by affrighting the Bishops and the
rest of the Clergy (if they could) by denunciations of ana-
themas, and such like terrors. For the latter end of the last
year, viz. 1559, our Archbishop received from Hethe, late
Archbishop of York, and the rest of the deprived Bishops,
a terrifying letter, loading the Bishops and Clergy, now
placed in the Church, with curses and other threatenings, for
not acknowledging the Papacy : laying to their charge that,
by so doing, they yielded no subjection unto Christ and his
Apostles, nor to Councils.
The Archbishop shewed this letter to the Queen and
Council : and having written an answer to the same, shewed
it hkewise to them ; which extremely pleased her Majesty
and the reformed party of her Council. In this excellent
letter sent to Hethe and the rest, the Archbishop told them :
The Arch- " That it was the pride, covetousness, and usurpation of
swer^to* " tlie Bishop of Rome, and of his predecessors, which had
V'*?;. , " made the princes of the earth to defend their territories
Archbishop - . ...
Usher's " and their privileges from that wicked Babylon and her
Hunting " I^isliop. And that whereas he [Archbishop Hethe] and
the Rom. " the rest of the late expulsed Bishops, had scandalized our
" reformed Clergy within these her Majesty's realms, that
" they yielded no subjection to Christ and his Apostles ; he
" answered, that they yielded more than they, the Fathers
" of the Romish Church, did. For they, the reformed
" Clergy, honoured and adored Christ, as the true Son of
" God, equal with his Father, as well in authority as in ma-
" jesty, and did make him no foreigner to the realm, as they,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 135
" members and Clergy of the Church of Rome, did ; but C H A p.
" professed him to be our only Maker and Redeemer, and
" Ruler of his Church; not only in this realm, but also Anno i560,
" in all nations ; unto whom princes and preachers are but
" servants ; the preachers to propose, the princes to execute
" Christ''s will and commandments : whom they, [of the
" Romish party,] and all that desired to be saved, must be-
" lieve and obey, against all councils and tribunals, that did
" dissent from his word, whether Regal or Papal.
" That the Apostles they reverenced and obeyed, as the 68
" messengers from Christ ; and did receive their writings
" with exacter obedience than Romanists did : for that we
" would not permit, as Rome and her Clergy did, any to
" dispense against the Scriptures. And that we never said
" with Pighius, that the Apostles wrote certain things, not Pigh. Hie-
" that their writings should be above our Jaith and religion, Jj'
" hut rather under? That we confessed the Apostles were
" men allowed of God, to whom the Gospel should be com-
*' mitted : and therefore we received the word from them,
" not as the word of man, but as it was truly the word of
" God : assuring ourselves, that it was God's power to save
" all that believe. Thus did our Reformation detest their
" Romish errors and heinous presumptions : which made
" their Romish writers and Popes to add, alter, and dimin-
" ish, nay, and to dispense with the words that Christ him-
" self spake, as well as the writings of the Apostles.
" That we should and did own such Councils as the Church
" of Christ was wont to call, by the help of her religious
" princes : and did and should own brotherly concord and
" communion ; so long as they [on the other hand] made no
" breach in faith or charity. But as touching subjection or
" servitude, he warned them to take heed, lest they com-
" mitted treason against the laws of her Majesty's realms :
" for that we owed them none. That the blessed angels
" professed themselves to be fellow-servants with the saints
" upon earth. What are ye then, said he, or your Bishop
" of Rome ; who, with your tribunals and jurisdictions,
" would be rulers and lords over the inheritance of Christ
K 4
136
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " He bade them consider, how St. Peter claimed no sub-
" jection : which St. Cyprian, by these his words thus trans-
Anno 1560." lated. Said : ' Peter, whom the Lord made first choice of,
Cyprian, ad u j^g ^ ^iis Church, when St. Paul after
tiuirin. ....
" strove with him (for circumcision) did not take upon him,
" nor challenge any thing insolently, or arrogantly, neither
advanced he himself as chief, or like one unto whom Em-
perors. Kings, or Princes, should be subject.""
" That because they were so earnest ^v^th us of the Re-
" formed Church of these her Majesty's dominions for sub-
" jection to foreign tribunals, to confute them and their er-
" rors, he prayed them to behold and see, how we of the
" Church of England, reformed by our late King Edward
J' and his Clergy, and now by her Majesty and hers,
reviving the same, had but imitated and followed the ex-
amples of the ancient and worthy Fathers. And then he
St. Cypri- *^ prayed them to resolve us, what tribunals did St. Cyprian
tencr'in ^'g^^y Bisliops of Carthage acknowledge, when
tiie Coun- " he said, Christus unus et solus habct potestatem de actu
^hage " ^0*^'"'' judicandi ; i. e. that Christ only and solely had
" the power of judging of our act. And again, Episcopvs
" ab alio judicari non potest ; i. e. A Bishop cannot bejudg-
.*f ed by another [Bishop.] And again he likewise saith, Ex-
pectemus universi judicium Christi ; i. e. Let us all expect
^' the judgment of Christ.
" He further entreated these men, before they censured
*' our Reformation and her Majesty, to recollect, what tribu-
" nals abroad did Policrates, and the Bishops of Asia with
him, acknowledge, when he replied to the Bishop of Rome,
" then threatening to excommunicate him and the rest of his
" Bishops, Non turbabor its qua. terrendi gratia objiciun-
" tur; i. e. I will not be disturbed for such things as are ob-
^' jected to aft'right me."
August. He demanded further, " what tribunals did St. Augustin
Concii. u ^j^jj i^^Q hundi-ed and sixteen Bishops acknowledge,
African. f '
cap. 29. & " when they decreed, that none appealing over seas (to tri-
f bunals abroad) should be received to the communion with-
in iViVica ? And when they repelled the Bishop of Rome,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 137
" labouring to please liis Legates a latere within their pro- CHAP,
vince, and willed him not to hr'mg Jiunofium seculi ty- ______
*' phum ,• i. e. the smoky pride of the world into the Church Anno i5So.
" of Christ.
" Adding, that they had thus far imitated these Fathers
" by their Reformation, and denying of unlawful demands
" which were proud and usurpal of the Bishop of Rome, to
demand fi-om them of the Clergy within these her Majes-
ty's dominions : nay, not only them, but our predecessors,
" the British Bishops of old within this realm. For what
" tribunals did they ever own, when Augustin came hither
" fi'om Rome ; when they replied, they owed him none, and
" would not be subject
That he and the rest of his brethren, the Bishops and 69
Clergy of the realm, supposed them to be their brethren
" in Christ : but they were sorry that they [the Papal Bi-
-*' shops] should by their perverseness have separated them-
" selves, not only from them, but from these ancient Fathers,
^' and their opinions : and that they permitted one man to
have all the members of their Saviour Jesus Christ under
" his subjection. And that this their wilful opinion was not
" the way to reduce kings, princes, and their subjects, to
truth ; but rather to bhndfold them and the whole Church :
" and so lead them into utter darkness. For, as Gregory Gregor.l.vl.
said, Ecclesia utiiversa corruit, 8fc. the universal Church ^P'"^'
^' sinks, &c."
He asked, " What was it occasioned the Romish writers
to write against the Bishop of Rome What was it caused
*' Luther, Calvin, and other orthodox Clergymen, to re-
" nouncc Rome and her Church, but this thing, called ihe
" Bishop of Rome''s tribunal That several learned men,
^' from the time that the Bishop of Rome begun to demand
*' tribute, and to set up a tribunal, had written, that that very
" thing had caused those Bishops to forget their Maker,
" and also their Redeemer : and that they, by their demands
" to us, to own Rome and her tribunal, had forgotten their
" duties to God, with their father the Bishop of Rome : for
that his usurping of a tribunal to make all nations subject
138 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "to his beck, had caused him and his successors ever since
" to forget the hving God.
Anno 1560. a That they, his followers and acknowledgers, partook of
" this sin also, and had occasioned the Bishops of Rome to
" fall into these errors : for they had made it sacrilege to
" dispute of what he did, and heresy to doubt of his power;
" Paganism to disobey him, and blasphemy against the Holy
" Ghost, to act or speak against his decrees. Nay, that which
" is most horrible, they had made it presumption in any man,
" not to go to the devil after him, withotit any grudging :
" which was so shameful and so sinful a subjection, that Lu-
" cifer himself never demanded the like from his slaves in hell.
" He bade them consider of these things : and that it
" should be the continual prayer of our Reformed Church,
" to convert tliem all to the truth of God's word, and to
" obedience to their Sovereign Lady Elizabeth their Queen :
" and in so doing, they would glorify Christ, and the eternal
" God in heaven ; who alone was the chief and absolute Ruler
" of princes."" And concluding friendly, subscribed himself.
Their faitlvful brother in Christ. This notable letter was
dated March the 26th, 1560.
Calvtn And this is the account of the Popish Clergy's letter to
writes to the . . , * i
Archbishop the Archbishop, and his behaviour thereupon. There was
of "protest-" ^"other letter this year sent to him from the hands of a great
ants : M. Divinc, but of another temper, and for another and a better
Hunt. Rom. end; namely, from John Calvin, the great French Reformer:
importing, " how he rejoiced in the happiness of England,
" and that God had raised up so gracious a Queen, to be in-
" strumental in propagating the true faith of Jesus Christ,
" by restoring the Gospel, and expelling idolatry, together
" with the Bishop of Rome's usurped power. And then
" made a serious motion of uniting Protestants together," [as
he had done before in King Edward's reign.] " He en-
" treated the Archbishop to prevail with her Majesty to
" summon a general assembly of all the Protestant Clergy,
" wheresoever dispersed ; and that a set form and method
" [i. e. of public service, and government of the Church]
" might be established, not only within her dominions, but
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 139
"also among all the Reformed and Evangelic Churches CHAP.
" abroad."
This was a noble offer, and die Archbishop soon acquaint- Anno i seo.
ed the Queen's Council with it. And they took it into con- I™'
^ J parts it to
sideration, and desired his Grace to thank Calvin ; and to the Coun-
let him know they liked his proposals, which were fair and*^'''
desirable : yet, as to the government of the Church, to sig-
nify to him, that the Church of England would still retain
her episcopacy ; but not as from Pope Gregory, who sent
over Augustln the monk hither, but from Joseph of Ari-
mathea ; as appeared by Gildas, printed first anno 1525. in
the reign of King Heiu-y VIII. ; and so far agreeing to Eleu-
theriiis, sometime Bishop of Rome, who acknowledged Lu-
cius, King of Britain, Christ's Vicar within his own domin-
ions. All this being before Rome usin-ped over princes : yet
also renouncing the Romish manner, way, and ceremonies of
episcopacy, which were either contrary to God's glory, or the
English monarchy. This was a great work, and created seri- 70
ous thoughts in the Archbishop's mind, for the framing a
proper method to set it on foot. But he had considered but
a little while of these matters, when news arrived at Court
that Calvin was dead.
And how Calvin stood affected in the said point of epi~ Caivin for
scopaci/, and how readily and gladly he and other heads *P'*'*'P*'^5*
the Reformed Churches would have received it, is evident
enough from his writings and epistles. In his book Of the De Necess.
Necessity of i-ejbrming the Church, he hath these words : eccLT"''
Talem nobis hierarchiam cxhibeant, he. " Let them give us
" such an hierarchy, in which Bishops may be so above the
" rest, as they refuse not to be under Christ, and depend
" upon him as their only Head ; that they maintain a bro-
" therly society, &c. If there be any that do not behave
" themselves with all reverence and obedience towards them,
" there is no anathema., but I confess them worthy of it."
But especially his opinion of episcopacy is manifest from a
letter he and Bullinger, and others, learned men of that sort,
wrote anno 1549. to King Edward VI. offering to make him
their Defender, and to have Bishops in their Churches for
140 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK better unity and concord among them : as may be seen in
. Archbishop Cranmer's Memorials ; and Ukewise by a writ-
Anno 1560. ing of Archbishop Abbot, found among the MSS. of Arch-
b. ii. ch/i's! bishop Usher: which, for the remarkableness of it, and the
mention of Archbishop Parker's papers, I shall here set
down.
Parker's''ac " some papers of our predecessor Matthew Par-
count there-" ker, we find that John Calvin, and others of the Protest-
hL^papersI* " churches of Germany and elsewhere, would have had
by Archbi- « episcopacv, if permitted : but could not upon several ac-
shop Abbot.,, - , 1 • i-iT.
" counts, partly rearing the other prmces oi the Roman Ca-
" tholic faith would have joined with the Emperor and the
" rest of the Popish Bishops, to have depressed the same ;
*' partly being newly reformed, and not settled, they had
" not sufficient wealth to support episcopacy, by reason of
" their daily persecutions. Another, and a main cause was,
" they would not have any Popish hands laid over their Cler-
" gy. And whereas John Calvin had sent a letter in King
" Edward the Vlth's reign, to have conferred with the Cler-
" gy of England about some things to this effect, two Bishops,
*' viz. Gardiner and Boner, intercepted the same : whereby
" Mr. Calvin's ofFerture perished. And he received an an-
" swer, as if it had been from the reformed Divines of those
*' times ; wherein they checked him, and slighted his propo-
*' sals : from which time John Calvin and the Church of Eng-
*' land were at variance in several points ; which otherwise
" through God's mercy had been qualified, if those papers
" of his proposals had been discovered unto the Queen's
" Majesty during John Calvin's life. But being not disco-
" vered until or about the sixth year of her Majesty's
" reign, her Majesty much lamented they were not found
" sooner : which she expressed before her Council at the
" same time, in the presence of her great friends, Sir Henry
« Sidney, and Sir William Cecil."
th^*p' "^"^ from this digression, to turn back to Calvin's let-
pists took, ter to our Archbishop ; though his unhappy death prevented
further good steps that might have been made, in concord
between this and the foreign Churches, yet our industrious
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 141
and watchful enemies made a fatal use of it, to the dividing CHAP*
us, and keeping us at a distance. For this being known be-
yond seas, Pius IVth, Bishop of Rome, with the advice of A""" > s^*^-
his Cardinals, granted indulgences to several orders of Rome, ulher's''"^
for to set up new tenets and principles of religions, and they MSS.
themselves to be seemingly enemies to that Church ; pur-
posely to confound the Protestant religion, and to hinder
for the future all general assemblies, (so much desired,) lest
thereby a better understanding might be had among Pro-
testants ; and thence at length spring a general union and
agreement between all of tbem. And mark how this Popish
project wrought. At these indulgences, several of the ban-
ished Clergy (newly departed hence) snapped, and partici-
pated with the foreign Clergy, who were set on work to dis-
tract the common peop]e''s capacities, that had renounced the
Romish doctrines and usurped powers. Amongst these were
Dr. Thomas Lacy ; Thomas Tunstal, a Franciscan Friar,
and cousin german unto the late Bishop of Durham of that
name ; James Scot, cousin unto Scot, late Bishop of Ches-
ter; Faithful Comin, a Dominican Friar; (who escaped hang-
ing for his impostures anno 1566 ;) William Blagrave of the
same order, wlio was hanged at York the same year : for
being suspected to be an impostor, he was seized on, and
divers treasonable papers were found in his closet ; who go- 'J I
ing up the ladder, laughed in the Archbishop of York's
face, saying, that those converts that he had drawn unto
him, would hate the Church's Liturgy as much as his Grace
did Rome. And when the Archbishop desired him to tell the
names of those he had deluded, he desired to be excused ;
" hoping they would be ashamed, (as he said,) of their
" folly, [which he had led them into,] and so turn back again
" to their mother-principles, and not to heresy."
The careful Archbishop's mind was already bent upon A metropo-
making an inspection into the state of the churches of his
province : who therefore treading in the steps of his glorious
predecessor Cranmer, (when he intended a reformation in his
province,) determined upon a metropolitical visitation. And
142 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK for that purpose he issued out an inhibition to John, Bishop
of Hereford, to visit, because himself intended to visit that
Inhibitions
to visit.
Anno 1560. diocese May 17. There were inhibitions also to the Bishop
of London and otlier Bishops of the province of Canterbury,
though he would not yet a while visit himself. The reason
whereof he gave in the same instruments. Which was, that
though he had a power by virtue of his place, to visit all
dioceses within his province ; yet he would defer it for some
time, because of the great poverty of the Clergy, which was
brought upon them by the frequency of former visitations :
and therefore lie forbade the Bishop of London, and all
Park. Re- Other Bishops so to do. The words were, " Since our ears,
" not without great grief, have sounded, and do still sound,
" with the frequent and lamentable cries of our Clergy of
" the province of Canterbury ; that not only the Clergy,
" but all the people are so pressed with continual visita-
" tions, and the immoderate exactions of procurations and
" other burdens, that, to the great scandal of their state and
" ministry, they have scarce wherewithal to buy them food
" and raiment : we therefore, as we are bound, heartily de-
" siring to obviate the pressing necessity of the Clergy and
" Ministers of our said province of Canterbury, and having
" a special care of the quiet and tranquillity of our whole
" province, and of all persons wheresoever dwelling in the
" same ; especially in this so busy a time ; have thought
" good to defer this our raetropolitical visitation, to be com-
" menced and exercised in and through the whole province
" of Canterbury, unto another time, wherein we may exer-
" cise it with the more convenience. And (as it went on)
" because he understood some of his brethren intended
" speedily to \asit, therefore he enjoined them upon the
" foresaid considerations not to do it, and that under pain
" of contempt."
The Arch- And that our Metropolitan might with more effect reform
know^the' Well as visit the dioceses, he sent his letters first to the
tiT ci''^ respective Bishops, to inform him of the particular state of
their Clergy ; what residence, what preaching, what learned
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 143
men, what ecclesiastical preferments possessed by mere lay- CHAP
men. A copy of his letter to the Bishop of London, for this .
pui-pose, is this that follows :
" After my harty commendations to your Lordship pre- The Arch-
" mised, these shall be to desire and require you for certain t/ie Bishop
" considerations, conducent to the general reformation of the L""^""-
. ^ Park. Re-
" Clergy of the province of Cantei-bury, to certify me on gist.
" this side the first day of February next ensuing, or so
" speedily as you may conveniently, of the names and sur-
" names of all and singular persons and Vicars within your
" diocese : and how many of them be resident, and where
*' the absents do dwell and remain : how many of them, as
" well of the cathedral church, as of other benefices in your
" diocese, be neither Priests nor Deacons ; noting also the
" names of all such as be learned, and able to preach ; and
" which of them, being already licensed, do preach accord-
" ingly : and finally, how many of them do commonly keep
" hospitality. And thus trusting of your Lordship's good
" diligence herein, I wish you most hartily well to fare.
" From my manor of Lambeth, 18th November, 1560.
" Your loving brother.
To the Right Reverend Father in God, " Mat. Cant."
tJie Bishop of London.
And such a letter as this was sent to every Bishop of the
province of Canterbury.
The answer one of the Bishops gave, {viz. Cox, Bishop of 72
Ely,) I shall here subjoin : by which we may guess the mi- £,^1*'^°''
serable estate the other dioce.ses were in at this time : and count of hU
may withal observe our Archbishop's extraordinary diligence
to know inwardly the present condition and needs of the
Church, in order to his care and supply thereof.
" He certified his Grace, that according to his letters di- His letter
" rected unto him November the 18th, he had sent him a bishop,
" full certificate, as might possibly be gathered, of all his
" demands in the same letter contained ; signifying also tmto Mss. c. c.
" his Grace, beside the certificate, that of the Avhole sum of
" the cures in his diocese, which was 1.52 parsonages andwiil.Lunn.
144 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " vicarages, and other cures; there were duly sensed but
" only fifty-two cures. Tliat there were thirty-four bene-
Anno 1560. " fices vacant ; thirteen that had neither Rectors nor Vicars ;
" and fifty-seven enjoyed by non-residents. And upon this
" sad account the pious Bishop made this reflection ; Mise-
*' 7-anda sane et deploranda hujus dioceseos facies^ &c. So
" pitiable, and to be lamented, is the prospect of this diocese.
" And if in other places it be so too, most miserable indeed
" is the condition of the Church of England. It is time to
" pray the Lord to send forth labourers into his harvest.
" Nor are we [Bishops] in the mean time to sleep. He added,
" that he liked the Archbishop's diligence, although he did
" not fully apprehend what he drove at by the search that
*' he made." Fearing, as it seems, that some advantage
might be taken by the enemies of the reformation, when
this nakedness of the Church should be known. But un-
doubtedly the Archbishop designed hereby to apply a re-
medy to this present disease of the Church. The Bishop's
letter bore date from Downeham, Jan. 24, 1560.
The church About autumn the Archbishop began to visit his own
bury visited, church of Canterbury. The persons appointed by him to
visit in his name, as appears in the Archbishop's commission
to them, were, Thomas Yale, LL. D. ; Edward Leeds, Li-
centiate in Laws; Stephen Nevinson, LL. D. ; and Alexan-
der Nowel, B. D. The names of the Dean and Prebendar-
ries this present year^ and at this visitation time, were
The Dean Nicolas Wotton, Dean. John Butler,
bendaries. William Darrel, Vice-Dean. Thomas Becon.
Anthony Seint Leger. Theodore Newton.
John Mills. John Bale.
Thomas Willoughby. Alexander Nowel..
Hugo Turnbull. Henry Goodrick.
But Theodore Newton was departed the realm by the
Queen's licence nor was he a priest, and so not capable of
that prebend. The names of the six Preachers were,
The Preach- Lancelot Ridley. Barker.
Richard Turner. Edward Burnel.
Richard Bisley, alms Beesly. John Prat.
The visitation began and continued in the chapter-house
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 145
of the church in the month of September. The })articular CHAP,
course of proceedings by the Archbishop's appointment,
(who was a pimctual man in all his doings,) was in this or- Anno iseo.
der : That, in the Morning Prayer, the Lessons should be ^'j'^visita-
left out, for more time to be had for the sermon. That notion- legist.
Park.
more should be taken for the copy of the articles and injunc-
tions but 9,d. ; and by no clerk for the writing of their pre-
sentment or answer, but 46?. for writing and finding clean
paper. This setting of fees the good Archbishop thought
fit to do, to make the visitation, which used to be very bur-
densome, as easy as might be, and to check the demands of
officers, clerks, and writers, which it seems had been exces-
sive before. The Inquisitors were to be charged. The Min-
isters and Clerks were to be called, and severally talked with,
touching their ministration, doctrine, teaching, and manners.
How they entered the ministry ; by whom, and upon what
testimonies. This done, then the Commissioners should hear
and determine quarrels, complaints, and controversies : re-
ferring great and weighty matters to the hearing and detei-
mination of the most reverend Father in God Matthew, the
Archbishop himself.
The Articles to be inquired of in this metropolitical visita-73
tion of the most reverend Father in God Matthew, bv di-
vine sufferance Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all
England, and Metropolitan, as well in his own church, as
in all and singular other cathedral and collegiate churches
within his province of Canterbury, were these that follow :
I. Whether your Dean, Archdeacon, and other Dignities Articles of
[Dignitaries] of your church be resident, or not. ^Vhere ti,e cathe-
they be : what other promotions or livings every one of them
hath. Whether every one of them be Ministers, or not. Whe-
ther they use seemly and priestly garments, according as they
are commanded by the Queen's Majesty's injunctions, or not.
II. Item, Whether your Prebendaries be resident, or how
many of them. Where every one of the rest be. What be
their names. What livings they have. What Orders they
be in. How, and in what apparel, they do commonly go.
Whether they do preach in their cour.se ; or how often, and
VOL. 1. L
146 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK what times in the year they do resort to your cathedral
church.
Anno 1560. HI. Item, Whether your divine service be used, and the
Sacraments ministered in manner and form prescribed by the
Queen's Majesty ''s injunctions, and none other way. Whe-
ther it be said or sung in due time. Whether in all points,
according to the statutes of your church, not being repug-
nant to any of the Queen's Majesty's laws or injunctions.
Whether all that were wont, be bound, or ought to come to
it, do so still. And whether every one of the church openly
communicate in the said cathedral church, at least once in
the year.
IV. Item, Whether your grammar-school be well ordered.
Whether the number of the children thereof be furnished.
How many wanteth : and by whose default. Whether they
be diligently and godly brought up, in the fear of God, and
wholesome doctrine. Whether any of them have been re-
ceived for money or rewards ; and by whom. Whether the
statutes, foundations, and other ordinances touching the said
grammar-school, the schoolmaster, or the scholars thereof,
or any other having doing or interest therein, be kept. By
whom it is not observed, or by whose fault, and the like, in
all points, you shall require and present of such your cho-
rists, and their master.
V. Item, Whether all other officers and Ministers of your
church, as well within as without, do their duty in all points,
obediently and faithfully. And whether your Dean, Stew-
ards, Treasurers, Bursars, Receivers, or any officer having
any charge, or any ways being accountant to the said church,
do make a plain, faithful, and true account, at such days and
times as be limited and appointed by the statutes or customs
of the said church ; making full payment faithfully of aU ar-
rearages. Whether any money or goods of the church do
remain in any man's hand. Who they be, and Avhat sum re-
maineth.
VI. Item, You shall inquire of the doctrine and judgment
of all and singular heads and members of this your church ;
as your Dean, Archdeacons, Prebendaries, Readers of Di-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY^. 147
vinity, Schoolmasters, Vicars, Petty Canons, Deacons, Con- ^
ducts, Singingmen, Chorists, Scholars in grammar-schools, —
and all other officers and Ministers, as well within your'^"
church as without. Whether any of them do either privily
or openly preach or teach any unwholesome, erroneous, or
seditious doctrine ; or discourage any man, soberly for his
edifying, from the reading of the holy Scripture ; or in any
other point do persuade any not to conform themselves to
the order of religion reformed, restored, and received by
pubhc authority in this Church of England. As for exam-
I pie ; to affirm and maintain, that the Queen''s IVIajesty that
now is, and her successors, Kings and Queens of this realm
of England, is not, or ought not to be, head, or chief go-
vernor of this her people, or Church of England, as well in
ecclesiastical causes or matters, as temporal : or that it is not
lawful for any particular church or province to alter rites and
ceremonies. To edify or extol any superstitious religion or
relics, pilgrimages, lightings of candles, kissing, kneeling,
or decking of images, or praying in a tongue not known, ra-
I ther than in English ; or to put trust in a certain number
of Pater-nosters, or to maintain purgatory, private masses,
trentals, or any other fond fantasies invented by men, with-
j out ground of God's word : or to say, teach, or maintain,
that children, being infants, should not be baptized ; or that 74
every article of our Creed, commonly received and used in
I j the Church, is not to be believed of necessity ; or that mor-
tal and voluntary sin committed after baptism be not remis-
sible by penance; or that any man after that he have received
the Holy Ghost cannot sin, and afterwards rise again by
grace to repentance ; or that any man liveth without sins, or
that it is not lawful to swear, for certain causes ; or that
r civil magistrates cannot punish (for certain crimes) a man
' with death ; or that it is lawful for a man without outward
calling to take upon him any ministry in Christ's Church ;
or that the word of God doth prohibit the regiment of wo-
men ; or that the word of God doth command sole life, or
abstinence from marriage, to any Minister of the Church of
I, 2
148
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Christ ; or any other errors or false doctrine, contrary to the
.faith of Christ, and holy Scriptures.
Anno 1560. VII. Item, You shall inquire of the name and surname
of all and singular the abovenamed members, officers, and
Ministers of this your said church ; whether you know or
suspect any of them to obtain his room or living by simony ;
that is, by money, or unlawful covenant, gift, or reward.
Who presented him. Whether his living be in lease, and
by whom it is leased : to whom ; upon what rent. Whether
he doth pay a pension for it : for what cause, what sum, and
by whom. Whether any of them be known or suspected
to be a swearer, an adulterer, a fornicator, or suspected for
any other uncleanness. Whether any of them do use any
suspect house, or suspected company of any such faults, any
tavern, alehouse, or tippling houses, at any inconvenient sea-
son. Whether any of them be suspected to be a drunkard,
a dicer or carder, a brawler, fighter, quarreler, or unquiet
person ; a carrier of tales, a backbiter, slanderer, batemaker,
or any other ways breaker of charity or unity, or cause of
unquietness by any means.
VIII. Item, Whether you have necessary ornaments and
books for your church. Whether your church be suffi-
ciently repaired in all parts. What stock or annuity is there
towards reparation of tlie cathedral church. In whose hands
or custody doth it remain.
IX. Item, Finally, you shall present what you think ne-
cessary or profitable for the Church to be reformed, or of
new to be ap})ointed or ordained in the same.
Articles for Besides these Articles, which were for the use of the cathe-
le loceses. (>]^j,j,gj^gg^ there were others, in number twenty-two, by
the Archbishop appointed, suited to the rest of the dioceses.
Numb. XI. And what they were may be read in the Appendix, being
somewhat too long to be laid here.
A present- But to look upon the visitation of Christ's Church, Canter-
the cathe- bury. There was a presentment made by the Prebendaries
terbury*"*"^"^ Petty Canons, &c. by which it appeareth, that the
Park. Re- Prebendaries came not daily to the divine service, and that.
gist.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 149
the Ministers of the church were neahg-ent in cominff to the CHAP,
church. There was drunkenness amonsr some of the Petty "
Canons, raihng and jesting, with great disobedience. Some '^""o 's^**-
of them were great quarrelers. They had but seven Petty
Canons, whereas there ouglit to have been twelve : and to
supply the vacant rooms of the Petty Canons, they took men
out of the town to serve ; who had eight pounds a year
apiece. Women did suspiciously resort to the houses of cer-
tain of the church. Mr. Bale and Mr. Goodrich presented,
that the arms of Cardinal Pole, with the CardinaPs hat, were
hung up in the church, which they thought " not decent,
" nor tolerable, but abominable, and not to be suffered," as
the words of the presentment ran.
There were two ancient hospitals, both founded by the Statutes for
Archbishop''s predecessors, Archbishops of Canterbury ; the IJ^I^ "^"^ll'
one, St. John's in the suburbs of Canterbury, situate without •John's and
the north gate of the city ; the other, St. Nicolas Harbol- down,
down, so called from a village of that name, within a mile
from Canterbury, in the road from London. On the north
side stands the parish church, and on the south of the road
the hospital over against the church. They were both pious
foundations for very charitable uses ; namely, to harbour
poor and sick men and women. But both of them were now
run into disorder, and many things amiss there. The Arch-
bishop being visitor, the settlement of these houses was one
of the first things he took care of, being ever a great friend
to all ancient foundations of religion, or learning, or charity. ^5
In this first year therefore of his consecration, lie framed
very wholesome statutes for the upholding and good govern-
ment of both. Now at this visitation at Canterbury, Dr. Park. Re-
Yale, the Archbishop's Commissary in the said visitation,
and his Vicar General, September 18, in the church of St.
John's, delivered to the Prior and Prioress of the hospital of
St. John's there, the said statutes and ordinances made and
conceived by the said most reverend Father : which he will-
ed and connnanded to be inviolably observed by them, and
the rest of the Brothers and Sisters of that house. And the
L 3
150
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK same were also given near this time to the other hospital of
St. Nicolas
Anno 1560. These statutes began in these words: " Matthew, by the
bishop'T^' " sufferance of God Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate
preface to " and Metropolitan of England, to all Christian people send-
■ " eth greeting in our Lord. Whereas amongst other things
" that do concern our pastoral office, we have before our eyes
" the charitable affection and godly zeal that was in divers
" our predecessors, Archbishops of Canterbury ; which
" founded and erected two several hospitals, the one of St.
" John's in Northgate, in the suburbs of Canterbury, and
" the other of St. Nicolas of Harboldown, nigh unto our see,
" the city of Canterbury, for poor, sick, impotent, and needy
" people, to be relieved and succoured in the same ; we know-
" ing the provision for the poor to be a thing very accept-
*' able to God in this world, have, for the discharge of our
" conscience, thought it our duty unto God to see, as nigh
" as we can, and the law of God doth suffer, that the said
hospitals be vised and ordered according to the minds of
" the founders our predecessors." But the statutes are
somewhat too long here to be inserted. In the year 1565.
the Archbishop took some further cognizance of his hospitals,
upon some disagreement between the Prior and the Minister
for preference, and some other matters, and added five arti-
cles to the said statutes. And again in the year 1574. he
Nuinb. xil. added two more : all which may be read in the Appendix.
By these good statutes the hospitals are governed to this
day.
The diocese Thus after they had visited the cathedral church and hos-
Msited. pitals, they proceeded to visit the diocese. And to the com-
mission, for this purpose granted by the Archbishop, were
added and assigned the several sessions, where the Commis-
sioners were to sit, and the times when. As on Thursday
September 19, in the church of St. Alphage, Cant, for visit-
ing the deaneries of Canterbury and West Bere ; September
20, in the same place, to visit the deaneries of Sandwich and
Dover ; September 23, in the parish church of Ashford, to
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 151
visit .the deaneries of Elham and Bridge ; September 24, in CHAP,
the same place, the deaneries of Charing and Lymme ; Sep-
tember 26, in the church of Sittingbourn, the deaneries of Anno i560.
Sittingbourn and Ospring ; September 28, in the church of
Maidstone, the deanery of Sutton.
At this time the Archbishop's visitors, under one, visited Rochester
also the church and diocese of Rochester, by virtue of his *
commission granted them : and kept the visitation in the
church of Rochester, September SO, Mr. Walter Philips be-
ing now Dean there. The visitors were the same that visited
the church and diocese of Canterbury ; viz. Yale, Leeds,
&c. Then Richard Turner, the same man perhaps that had
been of great fame for a great while in Kent, for his abili-
ties and sufferings for religion, now Vicar of Dertford,
preached a sermon before them. This Turner was towards
the latter end of King Edward's reign preferred to a pre-
bend of Windsor : but soon after became a voluntary exile
for religion. See more of him in the Memorials of Arch- Cran. Mem.
bishop Cranmer, who had recommended him for Archbishop ^'
of Armagh.
CHAP. III. 76
Divers dioceses visited. Some difference between the Arch-
bishop and Bishop Sandys. The ArchbisJwp makes sta-
tutes. Lands of the see of Canterbury exchanged. Re-
gulates his courts, and other matters in his church.
Moves the Queen to marry. The Archbishop in ecclesias-
tical commission ; makes a reformation of divers matters
in the Church. Alteration of the Lessons in the Calendar.
Book of Homilies. Bucer and Fagius restored. The
Queen dines at Lambeth.
Our Archbishop, pursuant to this his metropolitical visit- Commis-
ation, gave out divers commissions this year, and appointed vUitltions,
divers commissioners for other dioceses. As namely ;
' Regist.
L 4
152 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK A commission, dated August the 8th, to Robert Weston,
LL. D. to visit the city and diocese of Coventry and Litch-
Anno 1560. field, vice et autlioritate reverendissimi Patris Archiepiscopi
Cantuarimsis.
A commission of the date above, to Thomas Bishop of
St. David's, to visit the cathedral chui-ch, city, and diocese
of St. David's, vice et authoritate reverendissimi Patris, &c.
A commission of the date above, to Richard Bishop of
St. Asaph, to visit the diocese of St. Asaph, vice et authori-
tate, &c.
A commission to Roland Bishop of Bangor, of the date
above, to A isit that diocese, vice et authoritate, &c.
A commission to Gilbert Bishop of Bath and Wells, of
the date above, to visit that diocese, vice et authoj-itate, &c.
A commission to John Bishop of Sarum, dated Septem-
ber 8, to visit the cities and dioceses of Sarum and Bristol,
Jure metropolitico.
A commission to Thomas Powel, LL.D. dated December
3, to visit the city and diocese of Gloucester.
A commission, dated November 9, to John Cottrel, LL.D.
to visit the cathedral church of Sarum. The visitation of
this cathedral the Archbishop prudently declined to com-
mit to the Bishop of the said diocese, that all occasion of
contest between the Bishop and the Dean and Chapter
might be avoided. Because the Archbishop was informed,
that if the Bishop of Sarum should visit that church, the
rites, liberties, privileges, and immunities of the said church
by such visitation, though in the Archbishop's name, might
be hurt, by reason of the example of it : therefore, because
he was tender of doing any prejudice to their pretended li-
berties and privileges, and to keep all fair between the
Bishop and them, he issued his commission to this Dr. Cot-
trel to be visitor of that cathedral.
Hist. Pe- A conmiission to Yale and Leeds, bearing date Decem-
terb.p.330. jjgj. "I^g^ to \'isit the church, city, and diocese of Peterbo-
rough. To which two commissioners, Gvmton, in his His-
tory of Peterborough, addeth John Pory, D.D. This vi-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 153
sitfltion was held January the 9th, when they gave injunc- CHAP,
tions and ordinations, in number nine, to the Dean and
Chapter, pubhshed in the chapter-house. Anno i56o.
Another commission, dated February 19, to William
Bynsley, Bachelor of Law, and Anthony Burton, Clerk, ad
reformand. detecta ; that is, to punish, censure, and correct
what crimes had been detected in the diocese of Peterbo-
rough, in the late visitation of it.
In this visitation the Archbishop drew up two forms to An oath and
be made use of : the one was an oath to be exhibited to the enjoinTa^th"
Clergy, and to such as were to make presentments; the '-''^■'sy-
other, a subscription to be made by all such as had any ec-
clesiastical preferments ; which consisted in a declaration of 7 7
the Queen\s supremacy, owning the Book of Common
Prayer, and the Queen's injunctions.
The oath ran in this tenor: " You shall swear that you The oatb.
" shall be faithful and obedient unto the Queen's Majesty, Lambethan.
" her heirs and successors, to the uttermost of your power,
" understanding, and learning. You shall maintain and
" set forth all statutes and laws, and the religion received
" by her Grace, or her heirs or successors, and the injimc-
*' tions at this present time exhibited by her Grace, her
" officers and commissioners : and that you shall make true
" presentment of all such things as are to be presented in
" this visitation. So help you God, and by the contents of
" the book."
The subscription was thus: " We acknowledge and con- The sub-
" fess the restoring again of the ancient jurisdiction over ""P''""'
" the state ecclesiastical and spiritual of this realm of Eng-
" land, to the crown of this realm ; the abolishing of all
" foreign power repugnant to the same, according to an
" act thereof made in the late Parliament begun at West-
" minster the 23d day of January, in the first year of the
" reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, and there
" continued and kept to the 8th of May next ensuing ; the
" administration of the Sacraments, the use and order of
" divine service, in manner and form as it is set forth in the
" book commonly called, The Book of Common Prm/er, &c.
154 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " established by the same; and 'the order and rules con-
^I- " tained in the injunctions given by the Queen's Majesty,
Anno 1560. " and exhibited unto us in this present \-isitation ; to be
" according to the true word of God, and agreeable to the
" doctrine and use of the primitive and apostolic Church.
" In witness of the premises to be true, we have unfeign-
" edly hereunto subscribed our names." The original of
this, with the numerous subscriptions of the Clergy in divers
parchment rolls, remain yet in the Lambeth library. And
Dr. Cottrei. the first Subscriber was Dr. Cottrel, who thus subscribed ;
JEg'o Joannes Cottrel volens subscripsi : according to which
form the rest followed. He was Doctor of Laws, Archdea-
con of Derby, and one of the members of the famous Syn-
od anno 1562, and of whom the Archbishop made much
use afterwards. Amongr some of the first subscribers was
Henry Syd- Henry Svddal, a thorough-paced man, who being a Canon
of Christ's Church, Oxon, had complied in the beginning of
King Edward's reign, and was a great zealot the other way
under Queen Mary, and one of those that were much about
Archbishop Cranmer at Oxford, when he was induced to
recant. His subscription I find again as Vicar of Waltham-
stow in Essex. And many such temporizing Priests there
were among these subscribers ; some whereof got others to
subscribe for them, eorum vice et nomine. And some of the
volens are so written, as if they were nolens rather. Some
also there were that chose in their subscriptions to signify
their good-will to the reformed religion. Such was one
Edward Walker, at Woodstock, who subscribed in these
words ; Ego JEdwardus Walker, hie nomen meum volens et
non coactus siibscribo, veram in sacra Dei religione a su-
peris reformation em implorans.
This metropolitical visitation thus begun this year, con-
tinued on the next year, and the next to that, as we shall
see when we come so far.
I do not find as yet what was detected in these dioceses
abovesaid in this \'isitation : nor if I had, Avould it be con-
venient here to set all down, for the avoiding prolixity.
But for a taste ; the Bishop of Bath and Wells had many
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 155
a stiff Papist in his diocese, and many others that being in- CHAP,
cumbents of li^^ngs went abroad, absenting themselves, and
left proxies to take their benefices for their advantage. Anno i56o.
Whereupon the Archbishop gave him this instruction, at p°J^"^^^^ j
his going upon this visitation : namely, to deprive all Popish the diocese
Priests that refused conformity, or were absent, with what ^g^fj
speed he might, and to put others in their rooms. So in
his visitation he intended to proceed to deprive them in
eighteen days, if they appeared not. Some of these Priests
went over the seas. One particularly went with Count * De * Perhaps
Verio, a Spaniard. These left proxies in their livings, and
they made leases of them for one and twenty years. And one
of these proxies boldly told the Bishop, that unless he would
give him institution, he would wage law against him. So
the Archbishop bade him proceed roundly with them : whose
order I suppose he followed in his visitation.
Sandys also. Bishop of Worcester, visited his diocese for
the Archbishop. And his method in his visiting, was to Bishop of
, . . . p , „ , . Worcester
send process in wntmg tor the appearances oi the respective visits tij^t
Parsons, Vicars, or Curates of the parishes; the church-^'""**-
wardens, and six others of each parish, to be sworn to make
true presentments upon articles of inquiry. Among other
things informed of in Worcester, in the parish where Sir
John Bourn (late Secretary to Queen Mary) lived, informa-
tion was made by these sworn men, of an altar stone stand-
ing in that church. Which the Bishop commanded to be pull-
ed down and defaced, according to the Queen's injunctions.
But the said Knight commanded the contrary, and that it
should not be broken and defaced, but reserved; and in con-
tempt of the Bishop, caused it to be borne out of the church,
and carried home to his own house, and there it remained.
Thus it was informed the Bishop, and the Bishop had, in
some difference afterwards between them, so informed the
Queen's Council. But Sir John Bourn in his answer made
this favourable pretence for himself; that the altar stone was
taken down a year before the Bishop came to the church, and
that it was reserved and laid aside towards the pavement of
one of the aisles ; nor was ever brought to his house, nor car-
156 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK ried out of the church. There were also in this visitation of
the city of Worcester five or six Priests of that city present-
Anno 1560. ed, for keeping of five or six whores apiece. Which was so
notoriously scandalous, that the said Bishop in a sermon at
the cathedral a few days after spake of it : and took occa-
sion thence to shew, how necessary it was to allow Priests
marriage.
Difference After each visitation was despatched, the respective Bishops,
Archbishop ^r Others the Archbishop's Commissioners appointed to visit,
and Bishop sent him their accounts thereof. And so did the said Bishop
.Sandys. . '■
of Worcester, by a letter which his Chancellor, then at Lon-
don, delivered. This Bishop soon after visited again, as
Ordinary : which gave the Archbishop some disgust. In
this his visitation, (which was anno 1561,) he deprived two
persons ; which, as savouring of too much rigour, the Arch-
bishop disliked, and surmised that he had covetous ends
thereby, as in a letter which he sent to the said Bishop he
Germanical hinted : and therein spake of Germanical natures, as though
that Bishop, who had been an exile in Germany, with tUvers
others now Bishops, had sucked in some principles of Ger-
manv, more than were good ; as that of pride for one. But
Bishop Sandys replied bluntly to that point, as touching-
somewhat close the Archbishop himself ; viz. that Germany
had brought forth as good natin-es as England : and that
there were some of them that had been exiles there, that
were neither big-hearted nor proud-minded. The Arch-
bishop told him moreover, " That he knew whence Canter-
" bury was disliked ; [as though the dislike that some con-
" ceived against him arose from some of the exiles and
" their principles.] He suspected, that Bishop Sandys had
" sent his own letter to Grindal, Bishop of London, another
" exile, to be overlooked by him, before he sent it to the
" Archbishop. The Archbishop spake in his letter of some,
" [as though he meant Bishop Sandys,] that were such as
" could not bear vulnera amantis. And he blamed him for
" visiting so soon, before he was scarce warm in his seat ;
" as though he had thereby sought chiefly his own commo-
ditv." To which the Bishop thus replied in his own vin-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 157
dication ; " That It was with the Archbishop's consent ; that CHAP.
" it was orderly, according to laws and injunctions ; that he
" redressed disorders, and punished sin; that after he had Anno i560.
" done, instead of being a gainer, he was 24/. out of purse."'
The Archbishop, making some further reflection upon him,
said ; " Some men did some things to win a favour against
" another day, and bade him live, and leave off talking." To
which Sandys replied, " That he had the testimony of his
" conscience ; that his chief study was, that his life hindered
" not his preaching ; and he trusted his adversaries could
" not be so impudent as to open their mouths against him."
The Archbishop still further threw in some words about
the go'mg of the Clergy, as though their habit was not as
Churchmen's ought to be. To which Sandys said, " That
" how it was with others he could not tell ; his own Clergy's
" was soberly and decently, so as they offended none of the
" Queen's injunctions." The Archbishop called in question
some of his Clergy's preachings. He said, " That his preach-
" ing and theirs was to win and edify, not to command.
" And that as to himself, his people heard him and believed 79
" him, and universally favoured him : which was his chief
" comfort."
And then for his housekeeping, he said, " That for the
" better utterance of his food for the soul, he was fain large-
" ly to feed the body ; because that withovit loaves, people
" did not use to follow the word. That he spent all, and
" more. And that were it not God's cause, he would soon be
" at a point, [meaning, to be no longer a Bishop.] In short,
" he prayed the Archbishop not to mislike or cut off a
" hearty well-wisher without cause, but to continue his good
" lord and friend, as he was wont. That for his part he had
" ever borne a great love to him, and that he had spoken
" much for him. That he was his, and that most unfeignedly.
" And that though he, the Archbishop, had put him to
" sore pinches, and danger of too heavy displeasure, [mean-
" ing of the Queen's,] yet he could never be persuaded his
" good-will Mas alienated from him. And that if he had
" been earnest in matters of conscience, he trusted his Grace
158 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " would not mislike him. That when God''s cause came in
" hand, he forgat what displeasure might follow. In all
Anno 1560. " other things he could ever have been guided by the Arch-
" bishop." This letter of Bishop Sandys to Archbishop
Parker was writ in October ; and the whole, whereof this is
Number the sum, deserves to be recorded. Thus did differences arise
XIII.
among these grave Fathers, of the same mind and judg-
ment as to the main points of religion. And though they
did expostulate and argue with one another, yet it was done
with all Christian meekness and condescension, not to the
breach of love and union.
A Commis- 'p^ which we will here add the Archbishop's concern with
sion to the , ^ . .
Archbishop the college of Christ's Church, Oxon. For this year Sir
tute'f of William Petre, one of the Queen's Secretaries, sent a com-
Chrisfs mission to our Aixhbishop and others, for the considering of
Oxon. ' statutes of that college. Another of these Commissioners
was Cox, Bishop of Ely, who, the Secretary said, understood
well this matter : for indeed he had been divers years Dean
of this college, and at the same time Chancellor of that Uni-
versity. And Petre added, that he understood this work
was necessary, and a good deed. About this the Arch-
bishop took great pains, and drew that college a body of sta-
tutes, as we may hear afterwards.
Dr. Bill Such a work was Dr. Bill, the Queen's Almoner, no%v upon
the^tatutes for Westminster church, when she had founded that mo-
ter's^'west "^^^^^J ^"^w, and changed it into a collegiate church : of
minster. which she appointed him the first Dean. For which that
learned man drew out statutes and rules the first year of the
said erection, viz. 1560. Which were to be seen many years
after writ by his own hand. Among the which, there is one
special statute for the good estate of the revenues : which was,
that as the farms of the rectories, and all the commodities un-
to them belonging, grew void, and the term ended, the Dean
and Chapter should let and demise them for not above the
space and term of ten years, under the pain of perjury, and
the loss of their places for ever. And another statute in the
end of the chapter, that no revention, as they call it, of any
possession of whatsoever sort, should be granted or allowed,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 159
but two years, or at furthest three years, before the expira- CHAP.
tion expressed in the indentures, under pain of perjury.
In this third of the Queen, July 12, the Queen made an Anno iseo.
exchange of lands with the Archbishop, whatever his will
chang'6
was thereunto ; when she had several good manors made over with the
to her, that had belonged to the see : and she in recompense
gave other things to the Archbishop : the chief whereof were
the tenths of the diocese of Canterbury. The rest of what
then came to the archbishopric from the Queen is set down
in a MS. belonging to the library of Christ's Church, Can- MS. Eccies.
terbury. ChrUt.
I will set down here a list of the lands situate in Kent, go
and their values, which once belonged to this archbishopric,
but come now into the Crown ; some made over in exchange
by this Archbishop, and some by his predecessors, Cranmer
especially : as I transcribe them out of an authentic MS.
Lands, Rents, he.
Marsh lands, called Sherlemoor
Court at Wyke - - | ^
Certain marsh lands - / '
Rent of assize - - - 15 0
Woods called Beech
Site of the manor of Westwel 22 0
The park there - - 10 0
A mill there - - - 4 0
- 0 13
Values per Ann. Lands be-
longing to
the archbi-
shopric,
now in the
Crown.
MSS.
Burghlian.
23 0 0
91 0 0
Certain lands there -
Rent of assize and moveables
there - - - 32 1 4o6.J
The manor of Temple Waltham
Site of the manor of Horton 20 0 0 -|
The farm there - - 4 5 6
Rent of assize - - 14 8 0 J
Site of the manor of Padles- "j
worth - - - - 6 0 0
The farm there - - 1 10 0 '
Rent of assize and moveables I
there - - - 6 16 0 J
184 0 0
)> 68 14 Sob.
7 0 0
38 13 6
11 4 0
160 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Lands Rents, &c.
The manor of Tynton
Anno 1560. The manor of Blakeliose, alias Cannow
Court, viz.
The site of the manor
Divers farms
Rent of assize there -
Site of the manor of Enbroke
Rent of assize - - -
The farm called St. Radigunds
The manor of West Lanff-
don. Divers lands there 20 0 0
Farm and rent there - 7 6 Sob.
Farm called Appleton lands
Site of the manor of Riplc 16 0 0
Rent of assize - - 8 0 0
Site of the jnanor of North-
born - - - 37 17 6
Divers farms there - - 25 18 5
Rent of assize there - 58 11 5
Site and divers lands of the
manor of Down Barton 41 0 0
Rent of assize there - 19 0 0
Manor of Wingham Barton - . -
Rectory of Goodneston . _ _
Manor of Wingham - 24 13 4
A mill with the appertenances 4 6 3
Divers parcels of divers
lands there - - - 23 6 8
Rent of assize there - - 140 0 0
Site of the manor of Petham 4 13 4
Rent of assize there - - 19 9 9ob
Site of the manor of Ten-
ham - - - - 33 6 8
Certain lands and greatorch-
ards there - - - 15 0 0
Divers farms - - 10 6 8
Rent of assize there - - 49 19 3
I'ulues per j4un.
42 6 8
16 12 5
10 7 7
18 15 3
27 6 3
9 6 8
24 0 0
122 7 6
60 0 0
50 0 0
24 0 0
> 192 16 4
24 3 1
\ 108 12 7
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 161
Lands, Rents, ^C. ralvcs per Ajm. CHAP.
Ill
A certain wood called Okenfoldwood and
King's Acre - - - - - - 4 4 0 Anno iseo.
The manor of Milton (which was parcel of
the old inheritance of the Crown) - - 120 6 8
Woods called Chcston Woods - - - 16 18 0
Site of the manor of Gilling-
ham - - - - 10 13 4
Certain wood - lands and
woods there - - - ^^^^ 39 7 4
Farms - - - - 1 16 2
Rent of assize - - - 18 1 2
From the manor of Grange
there - - - - 3 6 8 J
The manor with the abbey of Mailing - 100 0 0
Our Archbishop now took some order with his Courts of 81
the Arches and the Audience. Which began about this
time to be complained of by the Bishops of the dioceses ;
who, in the execution of their office in discipline and correc-
tion of evil manners, were commonly stopped by inhibitions
obtained from those courts of the Archbishop, and enjoined
by the officers thereof to bring matters from them into those
their courts. Which when they had done by appeals, upon
pretence of injuries done to the parties appealing, they used
to dismiss the matter, and proceed no further, having ob-
tained their purpose ; which was, to stop the proceeding of
the Bishops. Whereupon his Grace, hearing these inhibi-
tions thus complained of, forthwith issued out his letters
dated Nov. 20. to Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and Judge of his
Court of Audience ; and to Dr. Weston, Dean of his Arches,
for the preventing of this mischief. Tliat to Dr. Yale ran
in this tenor :
" I commend me unto you. And being informed that divers
" malicious persons, abusing as well their Bishops and their
" officers, as other their Ordinaries, do surmise untrue griefs
" and injuries to be done to them by their Bishops and other
Ordinaries ; and thereupon do appeal and get from you
VOL. I. M
162 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK '< inhibitions and citations, to the great vexation and trouble
' " both of their Ordinaries, and also of their neighbours, the
Luno 1560. u Queen's Majesty's poor subjects : and especially in cases of
" correction and reformation of their evil lives and manners :
" for the redress whereof, we will and charge you, that upon
" your acceptation of any appeal, you cause an act to be
" made of it in the records of your courts, specifying all
" circumstances thereof; and withal, you take a corporal
" oath of all such Proctors as shall exhibit the same, that as
" far as he doth know or believe, the grief or cause pretend-
" edis true and just; causing also the same Proctor to exhibit
" his proxy, and to make himself party to prosecute the same
" cause, as well as to appeal. So as if the party be cited,
" and do appeal at day and place appointed, that forth-
" with he be dismissed with such charges as the law in that
" case doth bear, luiless the party appealing do then pre-
" sently prosecute the appeal with effect. And that in every
" one of your inhibitions you do appoint a reasonable day
" certain to the party appealing, to prosecute his appeal.
" Which if he then do not effectually, you to remit the cause
" again to the first court with charges reasonable ; cutting
" off all matters frivolous and frustratory delays, and finish-
" ing all causes with such expedition, as in any wise the laws
" will suffer : any style or usage in any of your courts used
" to the contrary notwithstanding. And if these notes prac-
" tised shall seem sufficient remedies for the said abuses after
" a trial, I would have you to frame the effect thereof in
" form of law to me, to be authorized for a perpetual rule to
" be observed in youj: courts. And thus fare you well.
" From my manor of Lambeth, 20. Nov. 1560.
" To Mr. Dr. Yale, my Chancellor, and Judge
" of my Court of Audience."
A letter of the like tenor and date was sent to Dr. Weston,
Dean of the Arches.
A difference A difference being now arisen between the Vicar General
between the Master of the Faculties, about licences to marry in times
Vicar Gene- _ _ _
ral and Mas- prohibited, was determined by his Grace. The case was,
tor of the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 163
that Dr. Yale, the Archbisliop's Chancellor and Vicar Ge- CHAP,
neral, granted licences to marry in times prohibited, which
the Master of the Faculties complained of to the Archbishop; Anno iseo.
asserting that the Archbishop could not do this as Arch- ^'^"'^f^'
r decided by
bishop, but that it belonged to the Court of the Faculties the Archbi-
only. But it was proved that this information was false ;
and instances were shewn of the three former Archbishops
that granted such licences. Whereupon the Archbishop
caused this memorandum to be made, and entered into his
register, to stand upon record.
" Memorandum. That tlie 29th day of November, anno His memo-
" Dom. 1560, information was given to the most reverend [""J^^JJ-'
" Father in God Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, by I'ark. lle-
*' William Cook, the Queen's Majesty's Clerk of the Faculties,
" and William Lark, Clerk of the Faculties to the most
" reverend father ; that Mr. Dr. Yale, Chancellor to the
" said Archbishop, did, by the authority of the same Arch-
" bishop, grant licences to marry in the time by the law pro-
" hibited ; which as the said Cook and Lark affirmed, the 82
*' said Archbishop could not grant as Archbishop of Canter-
*' bury ; but that the same appertained only to the office of
*' the Faculty. Whereupon tlie Archbishop the day and year
" abovesaid called before him, at his manor of Lambetli, the
" said Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and John Incent, hisprinci-
*' pal Register. Where and when, in the presence of the
** said Cook and Lark, records were shewed by tiie said Dr.
" Yale and John Incent, that the predecessors of the said
" Archbishop, viz. Warham, Cranmer, and Cardinal Pole,
*' late Archbishops of Canterbury, had from time to time
*' granted licences to marry in the time prohibited.
" Upon the sight whereof, the said Cook and Lark had
*' nothing to say or allege for tliemselves. Whereupon it
*' was for that time permitted by the said Archbishop, that
" the Chancellor for the time being might and should here-
*' after grant licences for marriage in the time prohibited, by
" the Archbishop's archiepiscopal authority as before; until
" the said Cook and Lark can shew further matter to the
" contrary."
ii 2
I
164 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK The Queen having now settled the true relimon in her
II. . .
kingdom, the hearts of all good men were exceedingly at ease.
Anno 1560. gjju jj^gy ■^vere very solicitous for fear of a Popish succes-
bishop'^aiid ^^^^ religion depending so much upon the Queen's single
other Bi- life : which consideration moved the Parliament the last year
the Queen ^ to Urge her to marry. The Bishops were of the same mind,
to marry. And therefore those of them that were of the greatest author-
ity with her, namely, our Archbishop, and the Bishops of
London and Ely, did privately make an humble address to
her : wherein they extolled her for establishing of the true
religion ; imploring God's blessing to fall on her, to enable
her to proceed in her godly enterprise as she had begun, and
that she might proceed therein with constancy. Tliey pro-
mised for themselves to endeavour, that this Christian liberty
which her subjects enjoyed, might not be turned into cai-nal
liberty. And then they prayed God, that they might see
that happy day of her wedlock, whereby the Queen's esta-
blishment and the people's assurance would be so fully con-
cluded : and added, that they advised her hereunto as
Christ's Ministers ; it being a cause incident to their min-
istry, to regard the safety of the realm by her succession in
blood, as well as sincere docti'ine and unity. This letter came
the more seasonable, the Queen being at this present sought
to by so many noble suitors. For she was courted almost at
the same time by Charles, Duke of Austria; James, Earl of
Arran ; Erick, King of Sweden ; Adolph, Duke of Holstein ;
Sir William Pickering, a brave, wise, comely English gentle-
man ; the Earl of Arundel, of very ancient nobilit}' ; and the
Lord Robert Dudley, the late Duke of Northumberland's
son, and the Queen's especial favourite. But the Queen was
averse from the motion, and cared not to take an liusband,
which might be some abatement of her power and authority.
But the foresaid letter well deserves to be preserved, being
composed by the Archbishop's head and hand. It may be
Num. XIV. read in the Appendix.
The Queen's The Archbishop, sitting with the rest of the ecclesiastical
rei;uiation Commission, which was now on foot, found some chapters
of several appointed to be read in the ordinary course of the Common
things in ^ ^
the Church.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 165
Prayer, to be less profitable for vulgar auditors ; and there- C H
fore thought fit they should be changed for others tending [1
more to edification. He found also great neglect in many A"""
churches, and especially chancels, in keeping them decent.
Which betrayed much want of reverence towards the places
where God was served. Many of the churches also were
sadly out of repair, and ran into decay, and were kept slo-
venly, with unseemly communion tables, and foul cloths for
the comn\union, and want of ornaments for the place of
prayer. Now for the amendment of these disorders and in-
conveniences, the Archbishop procured letters under the
Queen's Great Seal, dated Jan. 22. to the Commissioners for
their greater authority ; and particularly to himself, with
the Bishop of London, Dr. Bill, the Queen's Almoner, and
Dr. Haddon, or any two of them, for the redressing and cor-
recting of these matters ; viz. to peruse the Order of the Les-
sons throughout the whole year, and to cause new calendars
to be printed, and to take some remedies about decays of
churches, and the unseemly keeping of chancels, and for the
comely adorning of the east parts of the churches, and that
the Tables of the Commandments be set or hung up at the
east end of the chancels ; and to prescribe some good order 83
for collegiate churches, in the use of the Latin service, that
the Queen's allowance thereof might not be abused : and
that their order and reformation of these things should be
of one sort and fashion, that, as near as might be, one
form and manner might be observed everywhere. A com-
mandment was added to the Archbishop, to see these things
so ordered, to be put in execution through his province ; and
he, with the Commissioners, were to prescribe the same to
the Archbishop of York ; and finally, to do all quietly,
without any shew of innovation. A draught of this letter was
written by the Archbishop's Secretary, as I meet with it
among his papers : which makes me conclude it of the Arch-
bishop's own inditing, and recommended by him to Secre-
tary Cecil, to get it made authentic, and of authority by the
Queen's Seal. This her Majesty's letter may be found in the
*M 3
166
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Appendix, as I meet with it in the Bene"'t college library;
. and is also recorded in the Archbishop's register.
Anno 1560. Jn pursuance of this order from the Queen, the next
Th™\rch- "^o"th the Archbishop directed his mandate to the Bishop of
bishop's London, to publish the Queen's letters through the province
thereupon. Canterbury, to this tenor :
" Mntthcus lyerm'issione Divina Cant. Archiepiscopus,
" venerabili confratri nosti'O D. Edmundo eadem pei-missi-
" one London. Episcopo salutem 6^- fraternam in Domino
" chuntatem. Cum serenissima Domina, &c. In English
" thus ; Whereas our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the
" grace of God Queen of England, &c. by her letters mis-
" sive, dated at Westminster the 22d day of January last
" past, in the third year of her reign, gave in command-
" ment to us and your brotherhood, and other her Commis-
" sioners, deputed and assigned for deciding of ecclesiastical
" causes by her royal letters patents, sealed with the Great
" Seal of England, among other things, that we, for the il-
" lustrating of the glory of God, and the honour of the
" Church of England, and to take away dissensions and
" controversies between her subjects, and to establish con-
*' sent of truth, according to the tenor of a certain statute
*' set forth in the Parliament of England, holden at West-
" minster in the first year of the reign of our said Queen ;
" should conceive and make certain decrees, or ordinances,
" corrections, interpretations, or reformations ; and firmly
" enjoining us, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, as
" aforesaid, by her said letters missive commanded, that we
" should cause the foresaid decrees, ordinances, corrections,
" or reformations, to be published in and through our Avhole
" province of Canterbury, and to be commanded to be exe-
" cuted, as in the said letters missive, (the tenor of which we
" were willing should be here enclosed,) among other things
" more largely is contained and set down : now we, desiring
" heartilv to obey the letters and commands of our said Lady
" and Queen ; and willing, according to our duty towards
" her Highness, to give all care and diligence to the busi-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 167
" nesses committed and intrusted to us by her Highness; ^^j^^"
" firmly command your brotherhood in behalf of her Ma
" jesty, that with the receipt of these presents, with all the "^""^ *
" celerity and mature diligence you can, you publish and
" declare the ordinances, corrections, or reformations of the
" calendar, together with the Tables of the Commandments
" made, conceived, and established by us and other the
** Queen's Commissioners, by authority and vigour of the
said letters missive, according to the form of the statute
aforesaid, (the copies whereof imprinted in paper annexed
" to these presents we send to you,) to all and singular our
*' venerable brethren of our province of Canterbury, Fel-
*' low-Bishops and Suffragans of our Church of Christ in
*' Canterbury : and to them and every of them, on the part
" of our Lady the Queen, you firmly command that each of
" them in their cathedral churches, and in the parochial
" churches of their concerns and dioceses, the ordinances,
" reformations of the calendar, and the Tables of the Com-
" mandments of God aforesaid, be inviolably observed, in
" all and by all, according to the prescript of the Queen's
" letters, and be accomplished : and that they diligently and
" exactly take care thereof with effect ; and do not delay to
" have them done : and so to be done and observed by you,
" dear brother, in your cathedral church, and in London, and
" through your diocese. Given at our manor of Lambhith
" the 15th of February 1 560, and the second year of our
" consecration."
The Bishop of London accordingly sent his letters to the Registr.
Bishop Suffragans, ult. Feb. the said year. 84"''
Before this reformation of the Lessons, it was recommend- Allowed to
ed to the discretion of the Ministers, to change the chapters
J. , „ . . . 1 , , . . change the
tor some others more proper. For so it is in the Admonition Ussons.
to the ecclesiastical Ministers set before the Second Book of
Homilies, (but I suppose erroneously, belonging rather to
the First Book, which was printed this year 1560,) where it
is said, " And where it may so chance, some one or other
chapter of the Old Testament to fall in order to be read
" upon the Sundays or holydays, which were better to be
M 4
168
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
" changed with some other of the New Testament of more
" edification, it shall be well done to spend your time to
" consider well of such chapters beforehand : whereby your
" prudence and diligence in your office may appear. So that
" your people may have cause to glorify God for you, and
" be the readier to embrace your labours, to your greater
" commendation, to the discharge of your consciences and
" their own." But when the abovementioned Commission-
ers had altered the Lessons, and made a new calendar, and
tables directing the chapters to be read, this liberty was no
longer indulged every private Minister.
The reformation that was made in the Lessons was
this : that whereas in King Edward's Fii'st Book there M'ere
no peculiar Lessons for the holydays and Sundays of
the year, but the chapters of the Old and New Testament
were read on in course withovit any interruption or va-
riation : so I have seen it in a Common Prayer Book in
folio, printed 1549 : and in the second edition of that book
under that King, there were Proper Lessons for some holy-
days, but not for Sundays. Now (as I have observed in a
Common Prayer Book in quarto, printed this year 1560.)
there was a table of Proper Lessons thus entitled. Proper
Lessons to be read for the First Lesson, both at Morning and
Evening Prayer, on the Sundays throitghout the Year:
and for some also the Second Lessons. And it begins with
the Sundays of Advent. On the first whereof is appointed
to be read, Esay i. for mattins, and Esay ii. for evensong.
There is another table for Proper Lessons on holydays, be-
ginning with St. Andrew. Wherein the first Lesson is Pro v.
XX. and for evensong Prov. xxi. And yet a third table for
Proper Psalms on certain days : which are Christmas-day,
Easter-day, Ascension-day, and Whit-sunday. But these
Proper Psalms indeed were not now first appointed, having
been used ever since the first Common Prayer Book was en-
joined.
At the end of this Common Prayer Book {viz. that in
quarto, put forth this year, and printed by Jug and Cawood)
were divers very good prayers added for private and family
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 169
use : entitled, Certain godly Prayers to be used for sundry CHAP.
Purposes. Which I cannot think otherwise but to be inserted
by the order of the Archbishop; and they were the same -^""o '56".
that were printed in tlie former Common Prayer Books
under King Edward. But in our latter editions of the Com-
mon Prayer Book, they are either shortened, or wholly
omitted : which, whatever was the reason, to me is great
pity, being so proper to be used for various occasions and
emergencies. I will but mention what the subject and matter
of these prayers were. The first was a general confession of
sin, to be said every morning, beginning, " O Almighty God
" our heavenly Fatlier, I confess and knowledge," he. Then
followed pravers to be said in tlie morning, four in number.
Besides these, there was a prayer against temptation : a prayer
for obtaining of wisdom, Sapien. ix. beginning, " O God of
" our fathers, and Lord of mercy," &c. This prayer is also
set at the beginning of the Bishops' Bible, put forth by
Archbishop Parker ; who, we may conclude, ordered the
setting of that prayer there, as proper to be used before the
reading of any portions of the holy Scripture. The next is
a prayer against worldly-carefulness : beginning, " O most
" dear and tender Father,"" &c. A prayer necessary for all
persons, " O merciful God, I a wretched sinner," &c. A
prayer necessary to be said at all times, " O bountiful Jesu,"
&c. Then there follow certain prayers taken out of the ser-
vice daily used in the Queen's house. The first whereof be-
ginneth, " Almighty God, the Father of mercies, and God
" of all comfort," &c. These prayers are nine in number.
Then follows a prayer for trust in God, " The beginning of
" the fall of man was trust in himself; the beginning of the
" restoring man was distrust in himself, and trust in God,"
&C. A prayer for concord of Christ's Church. A prayer
against the enemies of Christ's truth. A prayer for patience 85
in trouble. A prayer to be said at night going to bed. A
prayer to be said at the hour of death.
In this year was the First Book of Homilies first reprinted. Homilies
containing twelve sermons, after they had been by the ^^'^ ''*P""*"
Queen's order diligently looked over and perused by her
170 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Divines: and added at the end of the said quarto edition of
the Book of Common Prayer. These homihes bore this
Anno 1 560. j^jtjg^ Certain Sermons appointed by the Qtieen''s Majesty to
be declared and read by all Parsons, Vicars, and Curates,
every Sunday aiid Holy day in their Churclies. And by
her Grace''s advice, perused and overseen for the better un-
derstanding of the Simple People. Newly imprinted in Parts
according as is mentioned in the Book of Common Prayers.
Anno M.D.LX.
Bucer and Among Other things done this summer by the ecclesiasti-
rtored! cal Commission aforesaid, which was appointed for settling
of the Church, and inspecting matters of rehgion, and cor-
recting of abuses, according to the power the Parliament
had lately given the Queen, as having the supremacy of the
Church in her own dominions ; our Archbishop, Bishop
Grindal, and Dr. Haddon, Master of the Requests, among
many others, were three in the Commission ; who, by virtue
of the power committed to them by the Queen, wrote letters
to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Andrew Pern, and the rest of
the University of Cambridge, to restore Martin Bucer and
Paul Fagius, deceased in that University, to their due ho-
nour. Whose dead bodies had been in the late reign so in-
humanly dealt with by Cardinal Pole\s order, as to be digged
out of their graves, and publicly burnt in the market-place.
The said letters being read in the senate. Dr. Pern being
then Vice-Chancellor, it was asked, Placetne vobis, ut gradus
et honoris titulus, qucB olim Martino Bucero et P. Fagio
publicis hujus Academice stiffragiis adempta erant, eisdem
in integrum restituantur, et omnes actus contra eos aut eo-
rum doctrinam rescindantur : which they all agreed to.
This was done July 22. And the 30th of July Dr. Ack-
worth, the Public Orator, made an oration publicly in St.
Mary's in honour of these two learned men, at an assembly
of the University appointed for that purpose. And the ora-
tion done, Dr. James Pilkinton, the Public Professor of Di-
vinity, went up the pulpit, and made a sermon upon the
cxith Psalm, beginning, Blessed is the man that feareth the
Lord, &c. The entrance and walls of the church were
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 171
all hung ■with verses in the praises of these men. And an CHAP,
account of this restitution the University on the 3d of
August sent up to the Archbishop and the Commissioners ; Anno iseo.
acquainting them with what great joy and triumph and ap-
plause it was generally done ; and that as soon as their let-
ters were read to the Senate, and the injuries offered to the
dead bodies by them mentioned, they were all presently on
fire to honour them.
About the time this was in doing, the Queen honoured The Queen
the Archbishop with a visit at his palace. For on the 29th the Arch-
of July she set out on her progress from Greenwich west- '"^''op-
ward, and coming to Lambeth she dined with my Lord of
Canterbiu-y, together with her Privy Council. And thence
took her journey towards Richmond : where she rested five
days ; and then removed to Oatlands, to Sutton, and other
places on that side.
CHAP. IV.
The Archbishop takes care of the vacant sees: especially/
those of the north. His Admonition concei-ning Matri-
mony, set Jhrth. An order concerning preaching. A
message from the Protestants in Germany. The visitors
of Cambridge advise the Archbishop, of Cosins of Cathe-
rine hall, his resignation. The Council sends to the Arch-
bishop concerning the Popish Bishops in the Tower. He
writes in behalf of some of the Dutch Church, London, in
the inquisition in Flanders. Appoints a special form of
prayer. Forbids the ordination of mechanics.
J. HERE were three great and rich bishoprics yet undis- Preachers
posed; which required some longer deliberation, what suflfi- ^PP°'j"*^p.
cient men to place in them: namely, the archbishopric of "cs vacant.
York, and the bishoprics of Win ton and Durham. William
May, LL. D. Dean of St. PauPs, under King Edward, and
also in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, a wise and well-
weighed man, was resolved upon for the archbishopric, but he
172 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK fell sick, and died before he was consecrated, as was said before.
II •
In this vacancy, care was taken that some able preachers
Anno 1560. should be sent into those dioceses to preach to the people,
and to keep them quiet in the Queen's proceedings. The
Archbishop was thought the fittest to recommend proper
MSS. c. c. men for this work. And the Earl of Winchester, who was
c c
Lord Treasurer, sent a letter to the Archbishop, signifying
that he had desired of the Queen, that some preachers might
be appointed in those three sees not yet filled : that is, for
York two or three, for Durham two, and for Winchester
two ; to be appointed by the Dean and Chapter of each dio-
cese. And that the Queen had directed to take the Arch-
bishop's advice herein, and to accept such as he should name
to tliat charge : which was the occasion of his writing to the
Archbishop : adding, that he would allow to the said Preach-
ers for their pains and charges forty mark between that and
Michaelmas : and desired accordingly his letters to the par-
ties bv him to be named to this office. This letter was writ
in July.
Solicits for The northern parts remained some months after unsup-
the north- p]jgj ^,v{t}\ Bishops, the Court (pei'haps by the counsel of the
Lord Treasurer) being loath yet to let go the plentiful tem-
poralties belonging to them. This troubled the good Arch-
bishop, solicitous to see the Church of England filled ^vith
her Bishops : for he saw well the great inconveniences of the
want of faithful pastors, to oversee and govern the Church
at this time, and to keep the Queen's subjects in good order,
and well instructed in true religion : and therefore thought
it highly necessary to call upon the Court again, (as he had
done oft before,) to have those vacant sees filled. He ad-
dresseth therefore on the 12th of October, to the Secretary,
(whom it was his custom to apply to in all such cases,) " in-
Paper Of- " stantly desiring him to make request to the Queen's Ma-
" jesty, that some Bishops might be appointed into the north.
" That it was not credible how often it was desired at divers
" men's hands, and how the people there were offended, that
" they were nothing cared for. Alas ! (said the Archbishop,)
" they be poor, rude of their own natures ; and the more had
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 173
" need to be looked to, for retaining them in quiet and civi- C H^A P.
" lity. He feared, that whatsoever was then through good
" husbandly saved, would be an occasion of further expense,
" in keeping them down, if (as he prayed God to forefend)
" tliey should be too much Irish and savage. Peradventure
" (added he) Terence counselled not amiss, pec U7iiam in loco
" negligere, summum interdum lucrum; i. e. that upon a
" fitting occasion to disregard money, may prove the greatest 8/
" gain. He knew the Queen's disposition to be graciously
" bent to have her people to know and fedr God. Why
" then (demanded he) should others hinder her good zeal for
" money-sake, as it was most commonly judged F""
Then he proceeded to reconunend some, as fit persons to
be preferred to those bishoprics. " That if such as had been
" named to York and Durham were not acceptable, or of
" themselves not inclined to be bestowed there, he would
" wish that some such as were placed already were translat-
" ed thither. And, if they were minded to have a lawyer at
" York, in his opinion the Bishop of St. David's, Dr. Yong,
" was both witty, prudent, and temperate, and manlike.
" That the Bishop of Rochester [Guest] would be well be-
" stowed at Durham, nigh to his own country. And the
" two other bishoprics might more easily be provided for,
" and with less inconvenience, though they for a time stood
" void : and if, to be joined with him, the deanery of Dur-
" ham were bestowed upon Mr. Skinner, (whom he esteem-
" ed learned, wise, and expert,) he thought they could not
" better place them." His advice concerning Skinner took
place ; for he was preferred to the deanery : and likewise for
tlie translation of the Risliop of St. David's.
And whereas any fear might arise, that these whom lie His advice
had named might injure the revenues of these bishoprics, he bishoprics
reminded the Secretary of what caution he had formerly ''"'"''^
, . ' , . . •' ceive no
given tor the preventing this : saying, that if either of them, damage,
or any of them all, should be feared to hurt the state of their
churches, by exercising any extraordinary courses for pack-
ing and purchasing, that fear might soon be prevented ; viz.
that they had old precedents in law, practised in times past,
for such parties suspected, to be bound at their entry to leave
174
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK their churches in no worse case by their defaults, than they
found them : and then, said he, what would you have more
Anno 1560. of US ?
In fine, like a compassionate Father of the Church, he con-
cluded this address with an earnest expostulation, to this
tenor : that he had aforetime wearied him in this suit ; and
until he saw these strange delays determined, he should not
cease to trouble their time. If they heard him not for j ustice
sake, and for the zeal they must bear for Christ's dear souls,
importunity should win one day, he doubted not. For he
saw it had obtained a Judicibus iniqu'is, quanta mag-is a
misericordibus ; i. e. from unrighteous judges, much rather
would it prevail \vith such as were merciful. And thus con-
cluding, that he should offer his prayers to God, that he,
the Secretary, might find grace in his solicitation to the
Queen's Majesty for the comfort of her people, and the dis-
charge of her own soul.
The Ad- The Archbishop this year set forth An Admonition for
monition ^f^^ Necessity of the present Time, [as the title thereof
concerning a r ' l
matrimony ;run,] till a further Consultation, to all such as shall intend
hereafter to enter the State of Matrimony godly, and agree-
able to Law. This he found highly needful, because of the
lawless and incestuous marriages that in these times had
much prevailed. This same Admonition was printed, and
appointed to be set up in churches. And the observation of
this order is still required, as is ordinarily to be seen in the
churches of the kingdom to this day, the Admonition hang-
ing up in all parish churches. And therefore I shall not here
insert it ; but only observe what I find of the Archbishop's
own hand, writ on the sides of one of these printed Admoni-
tions ; as namely these passages.
With his Levit. xviii. and xx. None slmll come near to any of tfie
annota- Jcindred of his flesh, to uncover her shame. On the side of
tions. .....
MSS. c. c. this is writ, Textus intelUgendus, de gradibus, non tantum
de personis. These sentences stand variously here and there
in the margent, viz.
" Liberi duorum fratrum, vel duarum sororum, vel fra-
tris et sororis, contrahunt; nec jiu*e divino vel civili pro-
" hibentur, jure communi et usitato ct speciali in conjun-
c. c.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 175
" ctionibus spectandum non quod liceat, sed quod ho- CHAP.
« nestum.''
" Ubi par gradus et eadem ratio est : ubi et par prohibi- Anno iseo.
" tic, et similis constitutio est. Ut si proneptem ducere
" prohibetur in gradu remotiore, multo magis neptem."
" Mulier, si duobus nupserit fratribus, abjiciatur usque
" in diem mortis. Sed propter humanitatem in extremis suis, §8
" sacris reconciliari oportet. Ita tamen ut si forte recupe-
rarit, matrimonio soluto ad poenitentiam admittatur. Ex
*' Conciho Neocaesariensi, Can. 2."
" Mariti fihus ex alia uxore, et uxoris filia ex alio matri-
" monio, recte contrahunt."
" Quis ex his, quas legibus, et moribus prohibemur uxores
ducere, duxerit, incestum committere. L. Sororis. F. ritu."
" Hen. VIII. 25. ca. 22. This statute* repealed, but * Wherein
" yet the reason of the law doth remain, which saith, that tj,e degrees
*' there be degrees prohibited by God's word." marriage
1-1 • 1 V 1 1 1 -1 • prohibited
" Fratris uxorem ducendi, vel duabus soronbus eonjun- by God's
" gendi penitus licentiam submovemus, nec dissolute quo-
" cunque modo conjugio.'"
" Inter consanguineos vlri et consanguineos mulieris,
" nulla est affinitas. Unde duo fratres contrahunt duabus
" sororibus, et pater, et filius cum matre et filia. Affinitas
" est inter consanguineos mulieris, et ipsum virum, et con-
" sanguineos viri, et ipsam mulierem. De Cons, et AfF. ca.
" quod super."
" Soror mea habuit maritum, ea mortua maritus ejus fili-
" am accepit. Quo defuncto potero cum ejus rehcta contra-
" here. Quod inter me et illam relictam nulla est affinitas."
Omittuntur in lege; quamvis'
existimein prohibitiones in lege
commemoratas ideo proponi, ut
ex illis evidenter intellig-amus
quid in consimilibus gradibus
Pellicanus
Basilius.
Antonius,
*' Avia,
" Uxor avi, ^
" Conjunx j facere deceat. Petrus Martyr f'Part. iii.
" Patrui,
in Judic. cap. primo. Et putat
has prohibitiones naturales esse,
propterea quia Canaansei repre-
.hendunt."
tit. 1.
11.
cap.
176
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " Brentius
1
" Lambertiis j
Anno 1560. '« Vatablus )"Concedunt uni duas sorores duccre.
" Phagius I
" Lyranus J
" Matrimoniuni
" clandestinum,
Quod non habet testes.
Quod non fit solennitate.
Quod non denuntiatur publice."
An order J shall add onlv this more concerning this Admonition :
concerning , . . i t« • i i t-tr^ i <> t-« ■ ir-
preaching, tbat it was printed first by Reginald W oli, Printer to King
Edward VI. as now, in tlie beginning of this reign, to the
Queen. And in tlie end of this first edition, it is forbid,
" that any under the degree of a Master of Art preach or
" expound the Scripture; but only to read the Homilies:
" nor to innovate or alter any thing, or use any other rite, but
" only what is set forth by authority." This order, thus sub-
joined to the Admonition, that was to be set up in every
church, and so the more obvious to be read by all Priests
and Curates, as well as others, was doubtless to hinder raw
and indigested heterodox preaching, and so to keep up the
reputation and soundness of it, and to prevent the mixing
of any Popish superstitions in the public worship.
German This year, a letter, and certain articles of religion, as it
Protestants ^ n i i •
send to the seems, were sent to the Queen ironi some learned men in
Quien. Germany, to propound an accommodation for union among
all that professed the Gospel. The Queen ordered Secre-
tary Petre to send them to the Archbishop to consider of :
to tlie intent she might the better make such speedy answer
to the messenger that brought them, as should be conveni-
ent. The Archbishop was required to come the next day
to the Court to understand her Majesty's further pleasure.
I find this letter of Petre to the Archbishop, but I am sorry
I can give no more account of so material an occurrence.
The M?.s- William Bill, D. D. one of the visitors of Cambridge, but
therine hall, now at Court, being Almoner to the Queen, signified to the
<;ainbri<!i;e, Archbishop by a letter July the 7th, that Cozins, Master of
resigns. . .
Katherine hall, Cambridge, had made a resignation of his
mastership freely in writing, and had delivered the same
unto him, the said Bill, to the intent his Grace, or other the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 177
poMcr, and to free good Christians from earthly ma- CHAP
gistrates : saying, " that God had made a Christian lord of.
XVI.
" all; and in heaven and earth we have no lord but the Anno 1&72.
" Lord Jesus. By faith we are one with him ; his power is
" ours : we reign with him, we are risen with him, and the
" world hath no more power over us." What shall we
think of such servile men, who will lead us into bondage of
every trifle, whom Christ hath made rulers over all the
Avorld.-* As though he held the doctrine of dominion
Jbunded in grace. These and such like unwary expres-
sions, not to say worse, were vented by him in his readings
upon the Epistle to the Hebrews, which were printed. And
which, I suppose, might be the occasion that his readings
were restrained by authority. Of this man we shall hear
more under the next year.
After this small deviation, we return again to Sanders's The method
book. Burghley sent, not long after, a message by the Dean t",c'^'\rch-''^
of Westminster again, to have this obnoxious book answered hishop for
by all means, which the Archbishop by his last letter seemed sanders's"
to him not to be warm enough in. But the careful Prelate
had not been unmindful of it. For he had laboured cer-
tain men, who were at good leisure, to do somewhat : which
were for a shew to be first sent out to the readers, both
English and strangers. And intending also, according as
the Bishop of Ely had advised, to have the book taken into
distinct parts ; and so to be confuted : namely, so much of
it as concerned the honour and state of the realm ; the dig-
nity and legitimation of the Prince, with the just defence of
King Henry's honour. Queen Anne's, and particularly the
Lord Burghley's own, as he was by name touched, from
page 686 to page 739-
The first and chief that he employed in this business Dr. rierk
was Bartholomew Clerk, of King's college, who had lately rniJTng "
proceeded Doctor of Law in Cambridge; and for whose''-
more estimation the Archbishop had credited him with a
room in the Arches. Of him, he said, he doubted not but
he would sufficiently deal in the matter ; and that he should
not want his advice and diligence. And for some particular
VOT.. II. N
178 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK matters, which were not known to the Archbishop, he
.trusted, he said, to have his Lordship's counsel. Burghley
Anno 1572. himself had such an opinion of this man's abilities, that
he had employed him, about this time, in some other
work. But the Archbishop entreated his Lordship, that he
would respite the said Clerk, that this might be the sooner
382 done. Yet before the Lord Burghley cared that he should
engage in such a business, he required him to get a testi-
monial from the University : which he did. And Dr.
Byng, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Whitgift, Public Professor
of Divinity, gave this character of him, under their hands :
Histesti- " Not only that he had taken the degree of Doctor of Civil
" Law ; but that, as well in replying as answering, he did
" so learnedly demean himself, that he had thereby not
" only much increased the good opinion long since con-
" ceived of his towardness ; but also obtained a right com-
" mendable report of those that bore the chief name among
" them for that faculty."
Orders Day The Archbishop had, furthermore, for the better ac-
new^iLlian complishment of this piece, and others that should follow,
letter. spoken to Day the printer, to cast a new Italian letter,
which would cost him forty marks. But notwithstanding
the charge, he was in hand with it.
Some sheets Before the one and twentieth of December, Dr. Clerk
swer sent had made an introduction into his task that the Archbi-
to the Lord g^op Set him, against the foul talk of Sanders. For on
1 reasurer ; '■ .
that day the Archbishop sent the first specimen in sheets
to the Lord Treasurer Burghley to consider of, praying
him to return his allowance or disallowance ; and how he
judged of the beginning, and whether the writer should go
forward, or in what sort.
With his The Lord Treasurer approved of the writing ; and sent
thereof the Archbishop word, that he guessed the writer's pen was
holden by his hand ; so well, it seems, did he like this first
specimen. The Archbishop replied, that it was true, that
neither he nor any other in such an argument should
want either his head or heart, or any of his collections ; and
that the writer was a pithy man, and apt to deal in such a
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 179
case. And though he were young, yet he doubted httle of CHAP,
him. And withal the Archbishop sent this Dr. Clerk to. '
Burghley, to hear his advice. My Lord of Leicester indeed^"""
pretended to fear his judgment. And no wonder, for he
would ordinarily oppose any thing our good Prelate had an
hand in. But in answer to that, he only told the Lord
Treasurer in his blunt dialect, th.*t this labour should both
betray him, and stay him for hereafter : meaning, that this
book of Clerk's should shew to the world of what discretion
and judgment and abilities he was, in order to his future
advancement.
Towards the latter end of December he completed an-Anotiier
other quire of his book ; which the Archbishop sent on nj'shed.
Christmas-day to the Lord Treasurer, to read and peruse.
In one or two places the author had given a stroke of his pen
against the secret favour and connivance that some enjoyed,
who opposed the ecclesiastical rites and customs established
in the Church ; which the Archbishop used to style Ma- Maciiiavei-
chiavel-governance, or by such like terms. Upon these pas-^'^*'^'^"'""**
sages in the book, the Archbishop thought convenient to
make his remark. Because he thought the Lord Treasurer
would reckon that the author had the Archbishop's inform-
ation and direction herein. But the Archbishop assured
him, before God, (that was his word,) that that tract was
only of himself : nor that he did approve thereof. That in- The Arch-
deed, in private and secret letters to his Lordship, he did cen'l'ure^of
sometime write of such manner of Machiavel-governance, som^ parts
as hearing sometimes wise men talk. But he liked not this
particular charge or application, in so open writing, nor
by his advice should it be inserted. A notable footstep of
the wise and wary temper of this great Prelate.
As to what the author had writ of the divorce of King Particularly
Henry VIII. he said, that in his opinion he had handled it;,"" King's
well, and as stories might instruct most English. And so divorce,
he thought that might pass, except he [the Lord Trea-
surer] knew any more particularities to be added for the
more confirmation. Adding, that once the Queen told him
N 2
180
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of a Popish bull, wherein King Henry's marriage with
Queen Anne was confirmed ; and willed the Archbishop to
Anno i572.seek^ out ; thinking belike it might be among his records ;
or as being best skilled where to go to look for matters of
that nature, himself having been Chaplain to that Queen.
The Archbishop accordingly did look among his old regi-
sters, and others, whom he thought might have it : but
did it as secretly and as prudently as he could, and to his
383 own self. But he could not as yet hear of it, as he informed
the Lord Treasurer. For if he had, he would have in-
formed her Highness again thereof. He told the Treasurer,
that if he had found it, it would have served well to am-
plify the falsehood of the Pope, and disprove that lying
writer Sanders, as he styled him.
And the jjg once made the Treasurer privy to a little dis-
Princ6*s
supremacy, course of his, both out of history and statute law, t-a let the
world understand what provision had been made before-
time to avouch the Prince's liberty against the Pope's usurp-
ation. This he thought not amiss to be in this place of
Dr. Clerk's book treated of. And, but that the eloquence
of the writer could hardly be brought to set down the bar-
barous and strange terms of some laws ; yet he would wish
the matter to be formed, and the law terms and terms of
art to be holpen by circumlocutions. And he prayed his
Lordship to say something to Clerk in that ai-gument.
TheArcii- Thus, as oiir Archbishop took care to have this work
ene'th^'th'if done well, so his care also was to have it finished with as
work. much speed as possible. And Day's press being so busy,
yet the printing of all other books was laid aside till this
was done.
Bishop Bishop Parkhurst had sent his ingenious Epigrams to his
EpigrarasV ancient and dear friend Dr. Wylson, the Master of St. Ka-
tharine's, as a new year's gift; which he styled his good,
godly, and pleasant Epigrams. And by the consent of the
said Bishop Wylson, now in February, had offered them to
Day to print : which he was forced to delay till after Easter,
because of the present woi'k that was upon his hand.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 181
March following, the Archbishop wrote to the Lord Trea- CHAP,
surer, that he had found matter of that bull of the King's
marriage: and sent him some more quires of the book : Anno 1572.
which, with two or three more, would make an end. ^nrfrom^'
the Arch-
bishop to
the Lord
CHAP. XVII. Treasurer.
aerie's and AckzeortlCs hooks against Saunders come
Jorih. Characters of them. The Archbishop prefers
Clerk to the Arches. But the Queen sends to the Archbi-
shop to remove him. The Archbishop struggles with tJie
Qiceen on his behalf. His expostulatory letter to her.
Clerk visits at Canterbury for the Archbishop. His
earnest letter from thence to the Lord Treasurer.
This book came out anno 1573, printed by Day, in quarto, The book
and was entitled, Fidelis servi subdito infdeli Responsio,'^^^
cum examine errorum N. Sanders in libro De Visibili Mo-
norchia : but it was intended chiefly to answer the calum-
nies in the seventh book.
I cannot find to what persons the Archbishop committed Ack-
the answering the rest of the parts of Sanders's book, nor ^ook a-
whether they were ever done and published. Only Dr. Ack- gams* San-
worth, of Cambridge, published a book, entitled YlpoXey6^sva.y
against the said book of Sanders, in the same year, viz. 1573,
by the said printer Day : and I make no doubt, by the or-
der of the Archbishop. Both these books are published with-
out any name of their authors. But in the Oxford library I
have seen their names added, by somebody's pen, in the title-
page of the respective books, being bound up both toge-
ther. In the said Ack worth's book there is a chapter, viz.
chap, xviii. with a title to this purpose, That Pope Cle-
ment VII. did by a private patent, or bull, rescind the
King's marriage with Queen Katharine. Which bull the
Pope delivered to Campegio, his Nuncio, ordering him to
shew it privately to the King, but to reserve it in his own
hands. And that afterwards, out of fear of the Emperor,
the Pope commanded it to be burnt. This I mention, as 384
182 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK that particular bull which Queen Elizabeth spoke of to our
. Archbishop to look for it. Who after much search found
count of
Ackworth,
Anno 1 572. at last the matter of it : and no question communicated
it unto this same Ackworth, to make use of it in the book
that he should write.
Some ac- It may not be amiss here to inquire a little who these two
scholars were, to whom the Archbishop committed the an-
swering of some part of Sanders's book. Dr. George Ack-
worth had been Orator of the University of Cambridge ; and
was he that made a panegyrical oration in public, in honour
of Martin Bucer, upon the commission granted by Queen
Elizabeth to our Archbishop, and Grindal, Bishop of Lon-
don, and Dr. Haddon, Professor of Civil Law, to restore
the memory of that learned Professor, and of Phagius, the
Hebrew Professor. Who had both been digged out of their
graves, and their bones burnt, in Queen Mary's reign. His
said oration is still extant, being preserved to us by John
Fox in his Martyrology. He was after called by the Bi-
shop of Winchester, Horn, to be the Chancellor of his dio-
cese. Whom the said Bishop, in the year 1569, sent to Se-
cretary Cecyl, with a copy of a commission to be granted
by the Queen to that Bishop and others, for the better
ordering the affairs of his diocese. But Ackworth disliking
that place, retired, and put himself into our Archbishop's
family, about the year 1570. Which was a kind of com-
mon receptacle for learned and ingenuous men. Where he
addicted himself to his study, preparing himself for to do
service to the Church or his country. So that he wrote his
book in the Archbishop's family.
The Arch- In the troublesome times of Queen Mary he had tra-
careof him. veiled into France and Italy, and there studied the civil
law. Afterwards returning home, the Archbishop took
notice of him, and procured him the Orator's place in the
University of Cambridge : he gave him a prebend also ; and
other things Ackworth obtained by his Grace's means :
owing all he had to him, as he acknowledged in a letter
that remains among that Archbishop's MSS. in Bene't col-
lege. The Archbishop called upon him to enter upon
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 183
the study of divinity ; which he seemed to dedine for the CHAP.
• • XVII
present, upon pretence of making further progress in the
study of the law. He afterwards proved a debauched man. A^^no 1572.
For which cause he was deprived of his preferments in
England, and went into Ireland. Being here, he laboured
by friends at the Court to be a Commissioner for dispensing
Juculttes in that kingdom. But he was opposed therein by
the Archbishop. For this Court of Faculties was, by an
act in Ireland of 28. Henry VIII. vested in the King, who
was to appoint Commissioners to execute that office during
their lives. These Commissioners were usually Civilians.
But now that place is in the Primate of Ireland ; King
Charles I. having passed a grant, that the Primate of Ire-
land for the time being should be perpetual Commissioner
or Judge of the Faculties. Which was done by the appli-
cation of Archbishop Usher to the Lord Strafford.
Dr. Bartholomew Clerk was a member likewise of the Some fur-
University of Cambridge, admitted in King's college 1554, *ount*of
a very good scholar, and had an excellent pure Latin style ; Clerk,
and was well known, while he was in the University, to the
Secretary : who used to take good notice of all the floridest
wits there, where he was Chancellor. To him I have seen
letters of Clerk's writing, styling him his Lord and Master.
One whereof was in the year 1568, when the University, in
respect to Sir William Cecyl, their Chancellor, and to the
memory of Sir John Cheeke, that excellent man, had given
his son, Henry Cheeke, the degree of Master of Arts;
this Clerk wrote the news thereof to the said Sir William,
who was Mr. Checkers uncle, entreating him to give his
kinsman leave to accept the honour the University had
done him.
He was tempted with the salary of three hundred crowns His favour
to be Public Reader in Angiers, which he refused. For2',f^7^*j
Clerk had studied in Paris, where he was much admired men-
for his oratory, was dear to Edward, Earl of Oxford, (to
whom he seemed to have been tutor,) and to Sir Thomas
Sackvil, Lord Buckhurst, who entertained him at his house.
This Lord put him upon writing a short history of the
N 4
184 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Queen and her Court. For he was noted for one that
. had an happy stvle. Dr. Caius, in a letter to liim, bestowed
Anno 1572. this character on him, Anglia nostr<z gratulor, in qua ille
natus est, quern in ipsa Romana lingua et eloquentia pau-
cissimis Roynanis scrijytoribus non temere postponerem.
385 " I congratulate our country of England, in which such an
" one is born, before whom I should prefer very few Ro-
" man ^^Titers, even in their owti Roman language and
" eloquence." While he remained in Cambridge, he often
disputed in philosophy and the civil law, and sometimes
read rhetoric, wherein Caius aforesaid, a great critic, praised
him for his sweet pronunciation and graceful delivery, al-
most singular to himself. He professed he hardly knew
any other, of our own nation or foreigner, that without pre-
meditation spoke so solidly and nervously, or at such length
of speech confuted, ex tempore, those with whom he dis-
puted. This Clerk translated an Italian book into very
neat Latin, wTote by Balthazar Castilion*. The title it bore
was De Aul'ico, or The Courtier : and came forth in print
anno 1571 . And in commendation of the translation it had
three letters prefixed, vTote by the Earl of Oxon, the
Lord Buckhurst, and Dr. Caius. I add only this more
concerning him, that Sir Francis Clerk, of Merton Priory,
in Surrey, a good benefactor to Sydney college, Cambridge,
as we are told, was his son.
The Bishop The Archbishop, to reward him, the next year made him
h'is'officiai ^'^^ Official in the Arches. In Avhich place he acquitted
in the himself very well. But so much was the Queen wrought
upon, either by the Papists' party at Court, or that of the
Puritans, and of these I suspect chiefly Leicester, (in whose
heart lay a great prejudice against our Archbishop, who
greatly favoured Clerk,) that in June, that very year where-
in his book came forth, she commanded the Archbishop to
remove him, only upon pretence that he was too yoimg to
fill up such a place. The Archbishop had granted him the
• Which hook had been also translated into English by Sir Thomas Hobby,
and called The Courtier.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 185
place by patent during pleasure, while Dr. Weston, who ^^^'^j^'
was Dean of the Arches before, was alive ; and after his '
death, he had his promise of a new patent during life. This'^"""
went very near the Archbishop, that he should be com-
manded to deal thus with one of his own officers, whom he
had himself preferred, and that for his merits ; and that he
must lay him aside for so small a matter, as that he was not
more in years, or because probably he had been impartial,
and decided something against some of Leicester's creatures.
This business therefore he resolved to oppose as much as he
could.
But the Archbishop took care herein to manage himself The Arcli-
with the greatest wariness and discretion, and seeming com- [^a^a^^e.
pliance with the Queen. So he first told Clerk the Queen's™*^"*
pleasure, and willed him to remove. Which he did again upon the
the second time ; that is, the day after. And havino- done *
' o command
this, and received Clerk's answer, he composed a soft letter to remove
to the Queen, more covertly in his behalf ; and got it pre- ^iJe Arches,
sented to her through the Lord Treasurer's hand ; which
was some advantage to his cause. When the Archbishop
first signified to Dr. Clerk to remove from the room of the
deanery of the Arches, he immediately said, that he had
as lieve forego his life as his office ; for thereby he should
be utterly undone, being so discredited. And the next
morning Clerk came again to the Archbishop with the
same intent. When the Archbishop telling him again her
Majesty's pleasure that he should depart, he answered,
with all submission, that he trusted in the Queen's cle-
mency and justice, that he might have her favour with
the right of the law : and said moreover, that Dr. Yale
and Dr. Weston were as young as himself when they were
preferred ; and that he was thirty-six or thirty-seven in
years, and had spent all his life in study. All this the
Archbishop signified to her Majesty, in the month of June,
as shall be seen more largely by and by.
When the Archbishop had hinted to Clerk that he would Clerk's me-
write in his behalf to the Queen, Clerk despatched a paper re^Archbi-
186
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK to him to this import, that he should remember these par-
' ticularities following.
Anno 1572. J. That Dr. Yale was admitted his Grace's Chancellor,
own behalf. Vicar General, as himself confessed, at thirty-five ; and
as appeared in the Arches windows.
II. That the Chancellor to the Archbishop of York was
three years Master of Arts after him, and at the least four
years younger than he.
III. That Dr. Weston, in the opinion of all men, was
admitted Dean of the Arches as young as Clerk : and both
Mr. Yale and he [Weston] in their first year of advocation.
386 IV. That whosoever should except against him for insuf-
ficiency, he would dispute with him ; (and so consequently
with all the lawyers in this realm, that shall take that ex-
ception;) either before her Grace, or in any University.
V. That the University wrote both to his Grace and the
Lord Treasurer, that never any man performed his acts
with more commendation.
Finally, That by the laws a man may be a Bishop at
thirty. And therefore it were hard, if not Official to a Bi-
shop at six and thirty.
And withal he desired the Archbishop, that if he had al-
ready despatched his letter to the Queen before these notices
came to his hand, that then he would write to the Lord
Treasurer to the same effect ; and he would be the mes-
senger. He also got the Lord Buckhurst to go to her Ma-
jesty in his behalf.
The Arch- But when the Archbishop perceived the Queen's mind,
bishop's notwithstanding these intercessions, still bent that Clei-k
letter to _
the Queen should give Way, and surrender his patent for this place,
then he shewed himself a true friend, and stuck close to him,
and would never, even for the Prince's frowns, be accessary
to a piece of such injustice and ingratitude, to one who
was so deserving. And this put him upon composing that
before-mentioned letter to the Queen, all writ with his
own hand. In which he stretched all his eloquence and
rhetoric to put the Queen off from this harsh resolution.
on Clerk's
behalf.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 187
Which I have therefore thought worthy to be preserved in CHAP.
the Appendix. Here he first presented to the Queen the L_
pleas of Dr. Clerk, as, " That it would be his utter undoing, ^"n" '^72.
" to be thus deprived of his living: that he should be de-^"^^^'
" faced and discountenanced, if he should be pronounced
" by the Queen's own mouth insufficient : that he must
" never shew his face in the Arches, where his only profession
*' lay : that he must banish himself from all other places
" and companies of credit. He humbly prayed, that he
*' might at least have the benefit of the law, as all the rest
" of her Majesty'^s subjects had. For that neither in equity,
" in respect of the Archbishop's patent to him during plea-
** sure, while Dr. Weston was alive, the former Dean of the
" Arches; nor yet in justice, since his death, in respect of
" the Archbishop's grant and promise during life, it might
" be taken from him. As for the pretence of his insuffi-
*' ciency, by reason of his years, which his enemies objected
" against him, he craved that some public trial thereof
" might be made, as well for his learning as his years, as
" also for his modest and honest life. He urged moreover,
" that he had always sought her Majesty's honour and ser-
" vice, and particularly in his last labour against Sanders.
" And here the Archbishop took occasion to add his own
" testimonial, viz. that he must needs witness, that he
" shewed himself a most dutiful and careful subject towards
" her Highness. Clerk concluded, that he hoped he should
" never be accounted by her Majesty imworthy of that,
" whereof theArchbishop, and also all the laws of the realm,
" did allow him worthy and capable."
And thus the Archbishop, having laid Dr. Clerk's words
and speeches before her Majesty, proceeded, in the next
place, to use his own arguments to her: " making his suit to
" her, that she would have respect to this man, having de-
" served her favour. Or, secondly, if she would proceed so
" severely against him, yet being legally vested in the said
" office, and setting in place of judgment there, he prayed,
" that his accusers might, by public trial, prove his insuffi-
" ciency : though it had rarely or never been seen, that
188 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " one, thus placed by an Archbishop of Canterbury, had
' " been brought in question, and after long time displaced.
Anno 1672." Thirdly, that if she had no respect to Clerk or his cause,
" yet that she would have some consideration of him, the
" Archbishop, and of that place unto which she had advanced
" him. For it would be a great derogation unto the see
" itself, and unto him, if he, who possessed jurisdiction
" over so many Bishops, should be reproved in the choice
" of one of his own officers. And in the end, this discredit
" would be a prejudice to her Majesty's service: his doings
" being brought into contempt ; and that by such as should
" be to him, as the foot is to the head. Whereby her Ma-
" jesty should give encouragement to them, and pei-adven-
*' ture in greater matters hereafter to oppose themselves
" against him. But lastly, that if he could by no means
" satisfy her Majesty, then he yielded up the cause to her,
" to deal and do therein as her good pleasure should be,
" trusting she would never lay on him so heavy a burden,
" as to make him the instrument of Clerk's displacing
*' whom, for good respects, he had already placed ; or that
" he should remove him as unworthy, whom, in his con-
" science, he thought very worthy ; or to take that office
" from him, which he by his word and promise gave him ;
" or to be the doer of his utter discredit, who, to his know-
" ledge, had dutifully served her Majesty and the realm.
" His suit therefore was, that her Majesty would not re-
" quire it of him, but to assign so ingrateful a work to
" somebody else : and so he concluded, praying God, that
" the goodness of her own nature and conscience were not
" ch'awn to other men's several affections." A letter this
was, shewing the stout heart of our Prelate, and liow
immoveable he was to be brought, even by the Princess
herself, to do any thing contrary to justice, honesty, or
conscience.
The Queen This letter suspended the Queen's purposes for the pre-
bent"tr against the Dean of the Arches : but about six months
displace after, viz. in December following, the Queen again took up
her former displeasure against him ; and was fully bent to
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 189
have him displaced. He was now at Canterbury in visit- CHAP.
. . . . XVII.
ation by commission from tlie Archbishop. Which, when the .
said Dean had word brought him of it, created a new sor-Amo 1572,
row unto him : and he immediately despatched a letter to
the Lord Treasurer Burghley, his ancient friend and patron,
" requiring of his Lordship, for God's sake, for equity, and Dr- Clerk
" for the commonwealth's sake, [to use his terms,] where- ti,g i^^^
" unto this example, he said, mierht be dangerous, to pity Treasurer
, 11- 11 1 hereupon.
" this his case, wiiereunto he was driven he knew not how,
" unless by some hard and strange destiny. He urged his
" painful service at that very present, being in visitation
" for the Archbishop ; his earnest travel against Sanders,
" her own cause, which he had defended, and which by his
" wrack might suffer discredit. ,But if none of these could
" revoke her Highness from her resolution, he would offer
" up his patent, and all that he had in this world, to her
" pleasure, rather than her Majesty should think him insuf-
" ficient for so mean a place. Yet this he must say withal,
" that if her Highness should so at one instant take from
" him both his credit and living, he should not only for
" ever be made insufficient to live, but ashamed to look any
" man in the face. The precedent whereof, wherein he was
" the first and most unhappy example, what inconvenience
*' it might hereafter work, he left to his Lordship's honour-
" able wisdom : wherein, as he said, the chiefest stay of all
" our state depended. And in the mean time he must be
" enforced, not only to interrupt that inquisition he was
" upon, which in that county of Kent, full of dangerous
" opinions, was greatly necessary, but also of force he must
" forthwith banish himself, unless he stood, as he had done
" always, his singular good Lord and Master. And for his
" sufficiency, both in practice and knowledge, if his Honour
" had any doubt, he referred himself to the report of Dr.
" Aubrey and Dr. Ford, (two eminent Civilians at that
" time,) or to any other of the Arches, to report what they
" had tried in him almost now a whole year."
The Lord Treasurer, a general patron of all learned and "^he Lord
sober men, did, according to his request, intercede on his intercedes
for him.
190 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK behalf to the Queen. And so he escaped the second time
___l__the Queen's anger, as I believe. For I find him In the
Anno 1572. Arches in the yeai- 1586, writing thence to the Lord Trea-
surer : unless he were then only an advocate there. But
tlie Queen then again had conceived some great displeasure
against him, for somewhat that he had said in answer to an
oration of Sir Thomas Heneage. And then he prayed the
Lord Treasurer to remove her Majesty's heavy indignation
and misconceit towards him, that at the least he might en-
joy his private life Avithout disgrace. Which makes me apt
to conclude, that he was not now Dean of the Arches, but
a private advocate only. And before this, in the year 1579,
388 I find he wTote a letter, dated from the Arches also, in com-
mendation of Sir Thomas Chaloner's poem, De Rep. An-
glorum instaiiranda : being a great judge in all polite and
human learning.
In some re- Yet he Seemed afterwai'ds to come again into reputation,
quest after- . . , , ^ . ^
wards. (at least in Leicester's absence.) For when, in the yeai* 1587,
the estates of the Low Countries had accused Leicester to
the Queen of evil government ; and the Queen had sent the
^u™.*!'^''" Lord Buckhurst, none of Leicester's friend, to them, to
zabeth. _ ' '
examine and compound the matter, I find our Dr. Clerk
was the Civilian joined in commission wth him. And the
year after, 1588, in the month of December, (Leicester be-
ing now dead,) I meet with a letter from Hatton, Lord
Chancellor, to him, superscribed, To Mr. Dr. Clerks Dean
of the Arches.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 191
CHAP. XVIII.
Message Jrom the Council to the Archbishop, to know hoxv
he and the ecclesiastical Commissioners proceeded. His
answer about the Puritans, and their books. Notes their
favour at Court. The Bishop of Ely writes to the Arch-
bishop concerning them. CharFs sermon at St. Mary^s
in Cambridge, against the hierarchy. A libel set up
there against Dr. Whitgift. Broxming of Trinity col-
lege, his trouble upon a sermon preached there. His
case in the college. One Brown also preaches seditiously.
Makes his retractation.
But I must return again to the refusers of the ecclesi- Anno 1572.
astical discipline, and take some further view of them, ^e- ^'^^^^'Jl^^jl^
fore I leave this present year. Notwithstanding the oppo-
sition they met with from the Queen and her Commission-
ers, by her repeated orders and commands ; yet they daily
got ground, and increased more and more, being favoured and
countenanced by many in Court and City. They issued out
their books in great plenty. The Bishops they laboured
to make odious, and termed them persecutors: and they
gave out, that what the Bishops did was not so mvich for
the Church, as for securing their own credits. At the
Council Board they had professed friends; such as the Earl
of Leicester, Sir Ralph Sadleir, and divers others. Inso-
much as the Church party had but two or three fast friends
there, whereof the Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer, was
the chief.
In the month of November the Dean of Westminster The Arch-
repaired to the Archbishop from the Lord Treasurer, with[',',g\^P^.^°
some messages : namely, that he should write to him or the surer con-
Council, how he and the rest of the Commissioners pro- pj"ii"^s ;
ceeded in matters of commonwealth, and concerning Pu-
ritan books then published. For our Prelate had been
more silent of late, than formerly he used to be ; seeing
things ran with so strong a torrent against their doings for
192 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK the good and peaceable state of the Church. The Arch-
bishop returned this answer, That he was so backward now
Anno 1572. to write of ecclesiastical matters, because he doubted they
might be judged [as they were indeed charged] to care
more for their own private defences and estimations, partly
against the Puritans, and partly against the Papists, than
upon good zeal of the quiet governance of the Queen's
people. And to write to the Board of the Council in such
particularities, (some being affected, as the report went,) he
And their thought it no prudence. And as for the Puritans'" books,
(for that was one particular whereof the Lord Treasurer''s
message consisted, viz. what seditious books, either Popish
or Puritan, were vended or dispersed,) the Archbishop sent
him word, that he liad signified formerly by letters, how
389 they multiplied them by secret printing. Though their
presses they had sought for diligently, but could not find
them. Concerning them and their books, thus he com-
plainingly wrote to the said Lord. " He understood, he said,
" how throughout all the realm, among such as professed
" themselves Protestants, the matter was taken. They, the
" Puritans, rightly justified, and we [meaning themselves,
" the Commissioners] judged to be extreme persecutors.
" He said, he had seen this seven years how the matter
" was handled on all parts. And that if the sincei-ity of the
" Gospel should end in such judgments, he feared they of
" the Council would have more ado than they should be
" able to overcome. That the Puritans slandered them
" with slanderous books and libels, lying they cared not
" how deep. You feel, said he to the Lord Treasurer, the
" Papists, and what good names they give you, and where-
" about they go, [hinting a danger of the like nature from
" the innovators.] He added, that the more they writ, the
" more they shamed our religion, the more they were ap-
" plauded, the more they were comforted. And that their
" bearing and suffering, their winking and dissembling had
such effect, as now they might see everywliere to be
Vide Cam- " fallen out." [Such as, wholly absenting from the divine
oTq Eliza- service in public, making schisms among professors of the
both, ad aim. I 573.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 193
same religion, and defaming the ecclesiastical policy, as CHAP,
corrupted with Romish dregs.] " And so he prayed God,.
" that all the doings of such, as were thought most politic, Anno 1672.
" proved good policies meaning those of the Court, that
were for the tolerating of these principles.
For this party grew now formidable to the State, as well The party
as to the established government of the Church, as being in seUer"-
danger of overrunning the realm, and overthrowing the dis- s^'nst epi-
cipline of that Church, that was settled by the laws upon
its first reformation : and wholly setting themselves against
episcopacy; and against our Archbishop, and two other Bi-
shops especially ; who stirred, it seems, more than the rest
against them. As will appear from a letter the grave Bishop
of Ely writ to the Archbishop in the month of December ;
wherein are these words :
' ■ I doubt not but ye are circumspect and vigilant, that Bishop of
*' these godless schismaticks overrun not the realm, ne de- ^' tiie'l""-
" face the religion of our godlv and well reformed Church, i^'siiop-
° . . .MSS.
*' Ne aiiferatur a nobis regnum Dei, et detur genti facienti Burghiian.
Jructum ejus. Mundus in maligno positus est. They
*' are bent against us toto. One openly at his table spake
especially against your Lordship, Winchester, and Ely,
" [using these words,] It were well they were deprived, and
*' others in their rooms. [He that spake thus at his own
" table was, I suppose, the Earl of Leicester.] Your re-
" pair to her Majesty (as the letter goes on) is very need-
" ful, for the stay of much ungodliness in this loose and
" sinful world." This letter was judged of that weight by
the Archbishop, that he sent it inclosed in one of his own
to the Lord Treasurer, " making," as he said, " no gloss
" on it, but referring it to his prudence."
And that you may also see how prevalent this party grew How the
in the University of Cambridge, as well as in the rest of the Jj^^^^^.^^j^^'^J
nation, I think it not amiss here to recite what Dr. By ng, affected,
the Vice-Chancellor, in the beginning of December this !J;,"i"t!on
year, wrote unto the Chancellor in reference to these mat-
ters. He recommended Dr. Bartholomew Clerk, (he of
whom something hath been spoken before,) then newly come
VOL. II. o
194 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK from Cambridge, to his Lordship, to inform him how the
inclination generally of men's minds stood throughout the
Anno 1572. town. And he made no doubt it was a trouble to him to
see those that should preach God's truth, and maintain
unity, seek occasion to quarrel against the present state.
He signified, that they were much in oppugning Whitgift's
book against Cartwight : but yet, the same was more with
vehemency of words, than with force of reasons. That a
few days past, viz. on the 5th of December, Mr. Chark,
late Fellow of Peter house, and at present Chaplain to the
Lord Cheynie, preaching, as he was appointed, a sermon
ad Cleriim, among other matters which he then uttered,
maintained in his discourse these two conclusions, viz.
390 I. Episcopatus, Archiepiscopatus, Metropolitanatus, Patri-
Positions in archutus, et Papatus, a Satana inEcclesiam introducti sunt.
mon ad IL Inter ministros Ecclesite, non debet alius alio esse su-
Clerunu pgrior.
For the which his doctrine, as repugnant to the govern-
ment in this Church of England established, the Vice-
Chancellor caused him, as their statutes required, to be
called before him and the re.st of the Heads. Where he,
being charged with the points aforesaid, did earnestly stand
to the defence of the same. It was shewed him what dan-
gers would ensue, if he so persisted; and therefore he was
advised to confer with better learned than himself, and to
hear their judgments. The which that he might do to his
greater profit, they granted him a reasonable space to con-
sider more diligently of his assertions, and after, to yield
up a full resolution of his mind therein. The time prefixed
him was Ash- Wednesday following. In the mean while he
had leave to depart. And so far they had dealt with Chark ;
meaning, unless their Chancellor's determination was other-
wise, as the Vice-Chancellor wrote him, to proceed with him
according to their statutes. Which bound him either to re-
voke his opinions, or to be expelled the University.
A libel set Not long before that sermon of Chark's, there was a
school**'* slanderous libel set upon the outer door of the schools,
doors. against Dr. Whitgift and Dr. Pern. Some were not with-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 195
out cause suspected for it ; but the author was not certainly CHAP.
, ^ XVIII.
known.
Thus I have dehvered the reader a httle view of this '^"""^ ^72*
busy commonwealth, as the Vice-Chancellor styled that Uni- errors of
versity in his letter to their Chancellor. But this was not Browning
. vented in
all that was doing here about this time. For about Christ- st. Mary's,
mas, one Browning, a Fellow of Trinity college, uttered in
St. Mary's certain doctrines, tending to the favouring of
Novatus's heresy. For which he was convented, and
charged to abstain from preaching, till his further purgation.
Nevertheless, soon after he adventured to preach again :
whereupon it was thought good, that, for the contempt, he
should be committed. And because among the articles ob-
jected against him, one chiefly sounded to the touching of
great matters, [matters of State, I suppose,] he was bound
in recognizance with two sureties, to be answerable for the
same, when he should be called. This man was afterward
Chaplain to the Earl of Bedford ; and being a senior Fel-
low, commenced Doctor at Oxford two years before his
time. For which he was deprived of his fellowship by
Dr. Still, the Master, in the year 1584.
But that I may relate this matter somewhat more parti- Deprived of
cularly, being an extraordinary case, as Dr. Still styled it si'jip^^'and"
in a letter which he wrote to the Lord Burghley, their why.
Chancellor, about it. For before he proceeded to any cen- account' '
sure, he first prudently acquainted him therewith. Telling
him, that they, the members of the college, thought it di-
rectly against their statutes, and the suffering thereof would
much hurt the good government of their college ; and
would in time greatly disgrace the University; others upon
any disgust making this a precedent for them to do the like.
Then he mentioned the words of the statute, for the pro-
ceeding of a Fellow of their college to the degree of
Bachelor or Doctor in Divinity. Which contained some
exercise and allowance to be made necessarily in the col-
lege, before their admission thereunto, under pain of loss
of their places. The words were these : Statuimvi^, ut sin-
o 2
196 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK guU, qui sunt Bacchalaureatum in Theologia stiscepturi,
tria capita Novi vel Veto-is Testamenti, a Magistro, vel ocfo
Anao} 57^. senioribiis, vcl, kc. designata, Latine in Sacello interpir-
tantur. And then, if in their judgment he shall be judged
fit for that degree, he is to be admitted publicly to oppose,
&c. And the punishment for not observing this order is
expressed to be sub poena amissionis sodalitii. But Brown-
ing had neither read these three chapters, nor had any as-
signment or grace granted by them. Nor had he any way
made the college privy to his intended doings. Which, be-
side the breach of their statutes, and the evil example given
thereby, was greatly disliked of the whole University ; that
Fellows of colleges here in this University should take
their degrees there at Oxfox-d, at their pleasures, before their
391 time. He wrote the Chancellor likewise, that he, the Master,
and the seniors, had conferred concerning the meaning of
that statute ; and it was the judgment of the more part of
them, that his place was void by this fact. And that the
seniors and others had earnestly called upon him, the Master,
to execute the statute for the loss of his place. But he had
chosen to forbear the final judgment till a month or two
longer, because he would shew him what favour he might,
and see whether in the mean time he would of himself give
place, rather than have the sentence pronounced against
him. But notwithstanding, Browning would not give place,
urging to the Master, that he was not within the breach of
that statute, and that they should do him wrong if they
should apply that statute to him. The Chancellor upon
this consulted Dr. Lewis, a learned Civilian of the Arches,
concerning this case. Who, in a letter to him, gave his
judgment, that the said Fellow had given just cause to be
Browning's deprived of his fellowship. Dr. Browning also wrote his
^'"^^^ letter to the Chancellor on his own behalf, urging that he
had not broken the statute, because he had offered to read the
three chapters, and be approved by the seniors before he
was admitted into the college. And that he behaved him-
self in tlie University, as though he had not that degree,
ARCHBISHOP OF CAxNTERBUllY. 197
making use of no privileges or commodities thereby; and CHAP,
seemed willino; to take his degree again in Cambridge. He '
explained also the causes wherefore he had done it : namely, ^^^a.
because when he should have proceeded Bachelor in Divi-
nity, he was in my Lord of Bedford's house two years ; and
before he could have been Doctor in Cambridge, he must
have tarried two years more. So that to redeem those two
years, he went to Oxford ; besides, their proceeding to the
degree of Doctor, who were his punies, and the motion of
his friends, and the commodity and countenance that would
accrue to him hereby, did draw him forward.
In fine, this contest lasted four years, that is, to Septeni- This con-
ber 1584, when Dr. Still displaced him. But Dr. Browning, ^^^^
however, would not depart, keeping his chamber door shut
till some were sent to pull him out ; a decree being passed
from the Vice-Chancellor and the Heads, to have the Proc-
tors enter with force : and Dr. Still made a decree, the next
day by eight o'clock his doors should be broke open. And
this was accordingly executed, and they carried him out
by strong hand. The Master had some days before caused
his name to be cut off the butteries, and commenced an ac-
tion of three hundred pounds against him. That which
gave the more occasion to all this hurlyburly was, that Dr.
Browning had carried liimself too malapertly towards Dr.
Still, the Master. For being Vice-Master, he had upon some
pretence, as for his marriage contrary to his oath, and sun-
dry other pretended breaches of statutes, suspended the au-
thority of the Master : no question, to prevent him from
exei'cising any censure vipon him, the Vice-Master. Nor Browning
did Browning yet desist ; but applied himself to the Arch- ute'QTeen
bishop that then was ; who, upon the relation he made of "gainst
his own case, was very favourable to him. And in the^''^*'"'
month of October he presented a petition to the Queen^
wherein he requested that she would remit the hearing of
his cause to the Archbishop and the Lord Treasurer. And Eari of Bed-
to make his business succeed the better, he got his patron,
the Earl of Bedford, to write his letter on his behalf to the
o 3
198 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK said Lord Treasurer : wherein he called Browning-'s removal,
IV. *
Dr. Still's hard dealing with him ; and virged that his fel-
Anno i572.lowship was the only preferment he had to depend upon;
and desired his Lordship to suspend his opinion till he
should indifferently hear both parties ; and lastly, in com-
mendation of the man, he said, that he had good experience
of his sound preaching of the truth, and of his godly con-
versation in his family.
I have been too long in this matter ; but by this appears
of what a turbulent hot spirit this non-complier Avas.
One Brown One Brown also of the same Trinity college. Fellow, im-
^^^^'"^j'pp. mediately before Christmas, and also since, in some sermons,
posed the by Way of refutation of Musculus, seemed to oppugn the
ordaining Order of our Church, concerning the election of Ministers,
Ministers, ^nd the government used in the Church of England ; and
that the Orders received in King Henry and Queen Mary's
time were invalid. He was called also before the Heads
divers times, and examined, and confined sometime to his
chamber, sufficient proof having been brought against him.
392 Howbeit, they had not yet proceeded to his punishment,
but rested upon hope of his further conformation, if by
reasonable means he would be ruled. I write the very
words of the Vice-Chancellor to the Chancellor, in a letter
which was carried by Dr. Whitgift ; with whom lie desired
his Lordship to confer, for the repressing of these and such
like enormities there ; and he would be most ready to see to
the due execution of the same.
But Brown aforesaid denied that he uttered such thinsrs
as were laid to his charge : and therefore refused to make
any recantation of them, as was required : and withal com-
plained thereof to the Chancellor, in a letter addressed to
him in the month of July, 1573, which I have placed in
N". LXXX.the Appendix. But, however, he was fain to submit ; and
in November made his retractation. The articles charged
upon him, and the retractation, as I found them exem-
plified under Stokys, the University Register s hand, are as
follows :
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 199
Certain articles objected to Mr. Nicolas Browne, of Trinity chap.
. XVIII.
college, upon tzvo sermons made by him. The one the .
Sunday before Christmas, the other the 25th of January,
^ (TWO Articles ob-
i^t'i- jected to
I. Item, That in both the said sermons he uttered doc-
trine and reasons tending to the infringing of the order
and manner of creating or electing Ministers ; or the regi-
ment now used in the Church of England ; or tending to
the confuting of Musculus's reasons; whereby the said
Musculus would establish the said order or regiment now
used.
II. Item, That he said, no Priests made in the Popish
time ought to have any function in the Church of England,
except they were called again ; or words tending to that end.
Tenor Retractationis.
" Whereas I, preaching in this place the Sunday before His retrac-
*' Christmas, and also the 25th of January last past, was***^'""'
" noted to have preached offensively ; speaking as well
*' against the manner and form of making and ordering of '
Ministers and Deacons in the Church of England, now
" established and allowed, as also against such Priests as
" were made in King Henry's and Queen Mary's time,
" saying, that they were not to be admitted into the min-
" istry without a new calling : I let you all to understand
*' that I never meant so. For I do here acknowledge and
*' openly protest, that the manner and form of ordering of
*' Ministers and Deacons in the Church of England, now
" estabhshed, is lawful, and to be allowed. Item, That the
" Priests made in King Henry's and Queen Mary's times,
*' now allowed, and having or exercising any function in the
" Church, are lawful Ministers of the word and sacraments,
" without any new ordering, otherways than is prescribed
" by the laws of this realm." By the way, this was not that
Brown that gave name to that sect, known by the name of
Brownists, though he also were of Trinity college, as this
was. For they differed in their Christian names, he being
Robert, this Nicolas.
o 4
200
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
IV.
CHAP. XIX.
393
Upon a report of a disputation, the Queen sends to the
Archbishop. His ansxcer. A Parliament. The Arch-
bishop is discouraged. His concern about a bill for
rites and ceremonies. The ill state of the Church. The
Parliament runs high against the Queen of Scots. A
Convocation. The Archbishop''s excellent speech at the
opening of it. Dr. Whitgjft Prolocutor. The Archbi-
sliop grants a protection.
Anno 1572. HaVING given this view of the growing of these prin-
bourto ^ ciples in the University, I come back again to our Archbi-
A '"m '^'r ^'^°P • whoi^j about the latter end of this year, great la-
into (lis- hour was used to discredit with the Queen. And it was
the Q^e'en S^"^^^ ^^^^ quite out with her. They reported,
that he was entering vipon I know not what new attempts for
the strengthening of his government : which seems to be
this, as if upon some provocation and challenge of the
adverse party, the Archbishop had some thoughts of ap-
pointing a public disputation with them. This coming to
the Queen's ears, she acquainted the Lord Treasurer with
it, ordering him to let the Archbishop know, that he should
not go about such matters, without first making her privy
thereunto. But this was a mere device and tale of some
of his enemies, purposely spread, that it might reach to the
Queen. So that our Archbishop was fain to beseech the
His message said Lord to certify her Majesty, " that he did not pur-
to pQgg ^yjy such new attempts in state of his poor govern-
" ance, but that he would first take her Majesty's advice of
*' herself, or from his Lordship. Nor that there was any
" such disputation meant; and that he was of opinion,
" Sermo datur cimctis^'' &c. adding, " that words miglit
" not now be used, but doings: and that it was by sufferance
" past his reach, and the reach of his brethren [the Bishops.]
" He said, the comfort that these Puritans had, and their
^' countenance, was marvellous. And therefore, that if
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 201
"her Highness with her Council stepped not to it, he CHAP
" saw the hkehhood of a pitiful commonwealth to follow.
" Where Almighty God, said he, is so much English, A^""" ^^72
" [meaning so much a friend to England,] should we not
" requite his mercy with some earnestness to prefer his ho-
" nour, and true religion ?''"' These things he wrote to the
Lord Treasurer March the 12th.
A Parliament was now to sit, and the Puritans had con- The Arch-
fident hopes and expectations of favour there, when they ^'^'^"p^^'"^
should come together. And they had prepared bills and bearded,
petitions for the regulating of the pretended abuses of the
Church. The Bishops themselves seemed to be jealous of
it; and were reported by that party to have sued to the
Queen, that the nether House should not deal in such mat-
ters of religion. But it was but a false surmise. But so
rude they were upon the Bishops now, that the Archbishop
writ after this sort to his great friend at the Court; " If your
" Lordship knew how we be bearded and used, ye would
" think strange, that we should be thus dealt with in so fa-
" vourable a governance. And, but that we have our
" whole trust in God, in her Majesty, and in two or three
" of her Council, I see it will be no dwelling for us in
" England." But the Queen, whether by our Archbishop
or by the Lord Ti'easurer, (I suppose by both,) became now
awakened, " that she might prevent a schism," saith Cam- Camd. Eliz
den ; " and misliking these men, as men of unquiet spirits,
" and greedy of novelty, and too forward to root up things
" that were well established, commanded the rigor of the
" laws concerning uniformity to be every where put in ex-
" ecution." So that historian tells us. But whether this
check were effectual, I know not. We shall see hereafter
how that faction prevailed.
But let us see what it was that gave occasion to our 3^4
Archbishop to write and speak as he did. In this Parlia- i^^'^fed by
ment, which began to sit May the 8th, the Puritan party member of
(which was now very strong in the House) soon brought inp"^'||
a bill, or rather two bills, one concerning rites arid cere- Jour. f.
monies, driving therein at the whole overthrow of those that
araent.
wes'
aOJl THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK were already established in the Church. In one of these
.bills several of the Thirty-nine Articles were rejected, and
Anao 1572. complaint seems to [have been] made of the indicting and hard
usage of many godly preachers, when, on the other hand,
Papists had encouragement. By the 20th of May it was
read the third time. And then referred to be considered by
Mr. Treasurer, (who, if he were Sir Francis Knolles, was a
zealous opposer of Bishops,) Sir Thomas Scot, Mr. Attorney
of the Duchy, and, among others, Peter Wentworth, Esq.
(who was also of another committee this Parliament, for
another rigorous work, viz. impeaching Mary Queen of
Scots.) These referees sat in the afternoon in the Star-
chamber, a place commonly used in those days for such
purposes. Then it was thought adAasable that some of
them should repair with their bills to the Archbishop, and
perhaps others of the Bishops too. The said Mr. Went-
worth (a man of a hot temper, and impatient for the new
discipline) was one of them, and undertook to talk with the
Archbishop in behalf of their book that they had di'awn.
The Archbishop signified his dislike of it ; since the ordi-
nary course of redressing matters amiss in the Church did
properly belong to the Bishops and Clei'gy in Convocation ;
and that the Parliament had empowered the Queen, with
her ecclesiastical Commissioners, or the Metropolitan, to
regulate the rites and ceremonies, or appoint others, by the
act of Supremacy and Uniformity/. Which made the Arch-
bishop ask them. Why they did put out of the book, (that
is, out of their book,) then offered him, the articles of the
Homilies, and that for the Consecration of Bishops, and some
D'Ewes' others And when Wentworth had answered. Because they
239"^ ^ were so occupied in other matters that they had no time to
examine them, how they agreed with the word of God ; the
Archbishop replied, " Surely, you mistook the matter. You
" will refer yourselves wholly to us therein.""
is.Eiiz. To which the hot gentleman presently made answer, (as
anno / . related it himself in another sessions of Parliament,)
" No, by the faith I bear to God, we will pass nothing be-
" fore we understand what it is. For that were to make
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 203
you Popes. Make you Popes who list, for we will make CHAP,
you none." This was pretty liberal language with the .
good Archbishop, and the rest of his order. This man, no Anno 1572.
question, learnt his lesson from Thomas Cartwright and his
brethren, who, in despite of the hierarchy, now begun
commonly to style them Popes, and the Archbishops of
Canterbury, Popes of Lambeth.
But what became of their book of articles, that they had The Queen
been so industriously hammering, and their bill of rites and Jll^^^il^^jj^^j.,
ceremonies? The Queen was highly displeased with these tides, and a
attempts of laymen in matters of religion, and particularly here-
with Went worth. For but two days after, (viz. the 22d of
May,) the Speaker declared from the Queen to the House, into the
" that her pleasure was, that from henceforth no bills
" concerning religion should be preferred or read in the
" House, unless the same were considered and liked by the
" Clergy, [meaning her Bishops alone in commission, or
" whole Convocation.] And further, that her pleasure was
" to see the two last bills read in the House touching rites
" and ceremonies." Whereupon it was ordered by the
House, that the same bills should be deUvered unto her
by the Privy Council that were in the House, or by any
four of them. And they were delivered accordingly with
all respect and submission to her, as appears.
For upon this, the very next day, being May the 23d,
Mr. Treasurer reported to the House the delivery of the two
bills to her Majesty, together with the humble request of
the House; which was, to beseech her Highness not to con-
ceive evil opinion of their House, in case she liked not of
the said bills, or of the parties that preferred them. And
he declared further, that she seemed utterly to dislike of
the first bill, and of him that brought the same into the
House. And further, that her express will and pleasure
was, that no preacher or minister should be impeached or
indicted, or otherwise molested or troubled, as the pre-
amble of the said bill did import : and added these words,
(to sweeten all the rest,) that she would, as Defender of the 395
Faith, aid and maintain all good Protestants, to the dis-
204 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK couraglng of all Papists. Which the Queen said for this
end undoubtedly, not only to keep the supreme authority
Anno 1572. in spirituals in her own hand, but to meet with the pre-
tended grievances prefaced in their biU concerning preachers
unjustly molested, and of too much favour shewn to Papists.
But that we may see how this matter ended ;
In the next session of Parliament, which by divers pro-
rogations, till three years after, (as it seems, on purpose, by
length of time to cool these heats,) this restless party could
not forbear ; but as soon as they came together, the same
D'Ewes' JVlr. Wentworth, in a long speech, (set down in D'Ewes'
p. 236. ' Journal,) repeated these transactions in this session. And
that ^nth so much bitter and unjust reflections upon our
Archbishop, and the rest of the Bishops, and bold indecent
accusations of the Queen herself, for her message to the
House before mentioned, {viz. that they should not deal in
matters of religion, but first receive them from her Bi-
shops,) that the House stopped him before he had done,
and then sequestered him, and committed him to the Ser-
geant's ward: and afterwards, being examined concerriing
his said speech by a committee of the House in the Star-
chamber, was adjudged to close imprisonment in the
Tower.
The ill The state of the Church and relimon at this time was but
t f
nAon°and" sadly neglected, occasioned in a great measure by
the C hurch these unhappy controversies about the Church's govern-
ment, and other external matters in rehgion : which so em-
ployed the thoughts and zeal of both Clergy and Laity, that
the better and more substantial parts of it were very little
regarded. The Churchmen heaped up many benefices upon
themselves, and resided upon none, neglecting their cures ;
many of them alienated their lands, made unreasonable
leases and wastes of their woods, granted reversions and
advowsons to their wives and children, or to others for their
use. Churches ran greatly into dilapidations and decays;
and were kept nasty, and filthy, and undecent for God's
worship. Among the laity there was little devotion. The
Lord's day greatly profaned, and little observed. The
time.
ARCHBISHOr OF CANTERBURY. 205
common prayers not frequented. Some lived without any CHAP,
service of God at all. Many were mere heathens and
atheists. The Queen's own Court an harbour for c/?2a/; <?* Anno 1572.
and atheists, and a kind of lawless place, because it stood
in no parish. Which things made good men fear some sad
judgments impending over the nation. This exercised the
thoughts of the good Lord Burghley, (the Archbishop's
friend and confident,) and put him upon considering seri-
ously with himself about some effectual remedies for these
public evils, now against the sitting of the Parliament. In
order to which, at Reding, in the month of September, be-
ing then with the Queen in her progress, while others were
upon their pleasures, he drew out a draught for reform-
ation ; bearing this title, as I have transcribed it from his
own MS. verbatim.
Things 7ieedful to he considered, Iwzo to be ordered.
" The government of the Chvirch of England to be di- The Lord
" rected not only in more uniformity, according to the laws ,i|!;jurh't for
" and ordres stablished, but also in more reverence and '^'^"| j?^^™'f
" votion. For which purpose these and like abuses wold church.
" be reformed in this sort followyng :
" I. The churches wold be replenished with the proper
" Parsons and Vicars ; and all pluralitees resumed by gene-
" ral ordre. And Commissioners to be appoynted to exa-
" myne the necessite of any dispensation. Wherein, for
" ordre sake, the Archbishops wold be in connnission in
" their several provynces.
" II. The churches also wold be both repared in ther
" decays, and ordred to be kept more clenly and reverently
" for dyvyne prayer.
" III. The statut for resort to common prayers wold be
" by some better ordre executed, and the imperfections
" therein amended. So as none shuld lyve as they doo,
" without any manner of servyce of God. Which hath
" bred so many lieathen atheists to the dishonor of God,
" and to the daunger of the realm. In this point ther is
" better regard to be gyven to the Quen's Majesty's own 396
206
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " howshold; which is now a coverture for no small nombre
" of epicures and atheists. Because the Court is not com-
Anno 1572. « prehended within a parish, but seemeth to be a lawless
" place.
" IV. The days of Sondays wold be both by ordre and
*' example more strayghtly kept.
" V. The whole Clergy wold be restrayned from alien-
" ation of their lands, and from unresonable lessees, wastes
" of woods, and grants of reversions, and advowsons, to
" any persons ; and namely, to their wives and children, or
" to others for their use. An inquisition wold be made in
" the register books, what nombre of graunts have bene
" made witliin these five or six years, to the disherison of
" the Church ; and a resumption wold be made therof by
" Parlement.'"
His memo- Likewise in the next month, being still at Reding, this
wise and pensive Statesman drew out a memorial of certain
things necessary to be better ordered. Whereof the first
and second paragraph concerned the state of the Church
and religion. Which ran to this tenor :
A good vi- « The Bishops and Clergy to be reformed, for their
sitation pi- • • i i- p i
for this. wastes oi their patrnnomes, the negligence oi teachyng,
hanl'*'*^ ' " ^""^ abuse of pluralitees, and non-residence by unne-
" cessary dispensations. The decays of churches, chancels,
" and chapels, ordeined for dyvyn service, to be repayred.
" The lack of Parsons, Vicars, Curats, in sondry places.
" The obstinate contemners of religion to be punished
" according to the laws of the realm."
The Pariia- What the Parliament did this year in point of religion,
disgusted I have already briefly related : I shall now only touch the
Queen of S^'^^t disgust they had against Mary Queen of Scots, now
Scots. detained in England ; the Papists, by their late persecutions
in France, and plots in England, having made both them-
selves odious and formidable to this nation, and her the
head of that faction here. So that they talked in the House
of httle less than her death. But Queen Elizabeth would
Bishop of not hear of any such dealing to be used towards her. To
Buurn-er!" ^his purpose wrote Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich, to Bui-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
207
llneer at Zurich; " How the Queen of Scots was in much CHAP.
• XIX
" fear. And well she might," said he; "for had not the.
"great clemency of the Queen interposed, actum de Anno 1572.
fuissetT' He added, " What will become of her the next
" Parliament, it is uncertain. Sure it is, she had very few
" friends among them. And what wonder, since she gaped
" for our kingdom ; et cum tot tantisque flagitiis sit con-
*' spurcata et pane cooperta, i. e. and since she hath been so
" stained, and in a manner overwhelmed, with so many and
" so great abominations."
But in the Convocation that began now. May the 9th, what was
the settlement of religion and regulation of matters amiss convoca-
in the Church seemed very earnestly to be intended and
set about, according to the abovementioned memorial of
things needful to be considered, and reformed. The Arch-
bishop came that day in person from Lambeth, landing at
Paul's Wharf, and so to St. Paul's ; and there made an ex-
cellent speech in Latin to that purpose : to which I refer
the reader in the Appendix. The substance and contents Number
of what he said were in English as follows ; and the Arch-
bishop in great gravity thus began :
" That there was none doubted, but that this Synod by The Arcii-
" him called together, by virtue of the Queen's command, to
" and in which they now were met, was meant for some t^e Synod.
" wholesome end and purpose to the Church of Christ.
" That they had happily begun this assembly, first with
" prayer to the Divine Majesty, and then with a fruitful
*' and learned exhortation delivered to them by a reverend
" man. And that it, being entered upon and sanctified
" after that manner with prayer and the word of God, was
" likely to produce a joyful conclusion to their labours and
" endeavours. That however others variously expressed
" their zeal and desire in propagating and preserving
" Christian religion, they of that Synod, remembering their
" order and dignity, ought to excel, not only in zeal and 397
" watchfulness, but, if need were, even with the loss of
" their good names, their estates, and their very lives.
" That for this they were appointed by God, and warned
208 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
" by tlie Holy Spirit, to search into God's truth, and to
" reveal it to the people. And therein to imitate their an-
" cestors : not only those who in the late times went before
" them, and with utmost study sought for this truth, and
" at last confirmed it with holy martyrdom ; but those
" also who lived in the first and apostolical times, and left
" very ancient and written monuments of things done
" in this island. Which although partly stifled by Anti-
" christ, and partly obscured by long desuetude ; yet a
" great many of them," he said, " had been preserved even
" to the present age, and these our clearer times; and
*' which did sufficiently shew, that our rites and ordinances
" little differed from their appointments and decrees. And
" that those ancient writings ought to be so much the
" dearer unto us, as they were our own, and written by our
" own countrymen here at home.
" But in case the Divine providence had not reserved
" them to us, but had permitted them to have utterly pe-
" rished, and been withdrawn from human memory ; yet,"
said he, " the very fountains of all Divine knowledge still
" remained, kept, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, in the
" Hebrew and Greek originals. To which fountains, though
" the rivulets thence by so long depravations were cor-
" rupted and soiled, we should have recourse, to attain the
" sure knowledge of the Divine will. And so," he said,
" the holy martyr Cyprian writ, ' That if we go back to
" the head and original of Divine tradition, human error
" will cease ; and while we have respect to the heavenly
" mysteries, whatsoever lay obscure in clouds and darkness
" would appear by the light of the truth. And that God^s
" Priests ought to adhere to his precepts ; that if in any
" thing they chanced to waver, or to stray from truth, they
" might return to the original ; that is, what our Lord,
" the Gospel, and the Apostles, have delivered.' He added
" to this of St. Cyprian another testimony of St. Basil the
" Great, to this tenor, ' That we should not think it just,
" that a custom that obtained among any should go for a
" law and rule of right doctrine ; but that the Scripture
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 209
" divinely inspired should be made by us the great judge CHAP.
" and umpire. And that they had the suffrage of truth, '
" %vith whomsoever were found doctrines agreeable with the^""" '-^^a
" word of God.' And from the authority of these holy Fa-
" thers," as our Archbishop went on, " we were admonished,
" that as often as we wandered by human negligence and
" blindness from the holy and pure ways of God, Ave should
" again return into them. That the holy Scriptures which
" bear witness of him should by us be searched : and that
*' ancient testimonies were to be looked into ; from whence,
*' St. Cyprian so avowing, ' the rise and original of our re-
" ligion comes.' That if we firmly stuck to the testimony
" of holy and divine antiquity, we might be sure what the
" true worship of God was, and secure wherein true reli-
" gion consisted, whatever depravations have happened to
" the monuments of human matters and ordinances, con-
" sumed by the teeth of time. For these sacred fountains,
" ever flowing, never to be violated, were continually day
" and night to be repaired unto ; and that with the waters
" flowing hence, our pits or wells were to be thoroughly
" purged ; which our enemies the Philistines, by throwing
" dirt into them, had defiled : that they might again be
" filled with these wholesome fountains, whence we draw
" life eternal.
" That this argument furnished him with plenty of mat-
" ter, if he had been minded to insist thereupon; that is, to
" set before their eyes, by what witchcrafts Antichrist had
" deluded them, and had led them captives, in gross and
" palpable darkness, into his own prisons. That it ought
" therefore to be matter of infinite joy to them, and thank-
" fulness to God, that those more than Cymmerian dark-
*' nesses were dispelled ; and that the unspeakable bright-
" ness of his truth at length shone upon them. He ex-
" horted them with all their strength to set about it, to re-
" sist stoutly the darksome powers of the world and the
" Devil ; and to defend and maintain the truth of God's
" word, so often opposed by their wicked and ungodly ad-
" versaries. For from thence it was that their hope and
VOL. 11. p
210 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
^^OK « triumph (who embraced the truth) would follow; and
" their confusion be effected, who neither would nor could
Liino 1572. a (jpgj^ their eyes to contemplate the brightness of the
" light of the Gospel, their hearts being shut up in an af-
" fected and slothful ignorance and blindness. But he left
" this matter of great moment to those who had more con-
" venient place and larger leisure than he had in that short
" time.
" He came therefore to the matter that related to the
" present purpose, and which their awful assembly and ap-
" pearance required. They knew,"" he said, " that this Syn-
" od was divided into two companies, and they into two
" Houses ; tlie Upper and Lower. That they might there-
" fore be unanimous in their counsels and deliberations in
" ecclesiastical causes, and avoid strifes and debates in all
" their disceptations, some were appointed for this very
" purpose. And I," said he, " for my part, will preside in
" this Upper House : that all that jve say, answer, and dis-
" course together, may not be thwarted by confusion, but
" done rightly and in order. In the same manner, they of
" the lower council," he said, " ought carefully to beware,
" that they admitted not of contentions and complaints,
" while they were arguing together of things of such weight
" and moment ; but that all things miglit be managed be-
" tween them moderately and prudently.
" That therefore, for the preventing of this, and that
" their good might not be evil spoken of, he advised them
" to choose some person of singular gravity, piety, pru-
" dence, and learning, to be their Prolocutor for the whole
" time of the Synod ; who might temper the debates, that
" they might not be spun out longer, or be handled more
" sharply and vehemently, than was convenient : and who
" also might declare their desires to them, the Bishops, and
" likewise bring the monitions of the Upper House to them
" of the Lower. That they had a great number in their
" House to make their choice out of ; exhorting and admo-
" nishing them in the Lord, that with all speed convenient
" they would go together, and choose some fit person : and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 211
" on Wednesday following: present him to them. At which CHAP.
X.IX
time he should proceed further in this Convocation busi-
" ness, according as time, and place, and ancient custom, re- Ann*> i572.
" quired." And so he made an end.
Dr. Young, one of the Residentiaries of St. PauPs, Dr. Young
preached the sermon before the Clergy now met ; taking ' •
for his text that in the Revelations, Nam opera tua et laho-
rem et patientiam novi, &c.
Dr. Whitgift, Dean of Lincoln, and well known for his !>• ■ whit-
writings, was now accordingly chosen Prolocutor, and pre-£i,to'r.
sented by Dr. Perne, Dean of Ely, and Dr. Humfrey,
Dean of Gloucester; this latter making a speech. Being
accepted and confirmed, the Bishop of London, substitute
for the Archbishop, (who then was ill at ease,) called for
the said Prolocutor and his two presenters, and bade them
choose to themselves in their House some learned, grave
men, and such as were of best ability and fitness; and
they to consider and bethink themselves concerning what
was requisite to be reformed in the Church ; and then to Matters re-
cause it to be reduced into writing ; and the next session to fo"rmat^on
present it to the most reverend Father, or his substitute : be drawn
which looked like a fair step towards the doing of much Synod.
good. But by reason of frequent prorogations and continu-
ations from place to place, and from time to time, stop was
made of these good intentions ; till the Queen's writ, dated
July the 1st, came forth, commanding a prorogation. And
so this Convocation was pi'orogued by Dr. Yale, unto No-
vember 2. following. And so from time to time till the year
1575. These matters required to be drawn up in order to a
reformation, (though they are not specified in the extract of
the journal of this Synod, which I have seen,) I make little
doubt were those mentioned before in the Lord Treasurer's
draught for reformation, as to the substance of them.
It may be noted here, that during this session of Convo- A protec-
cation the Archbishop granted a protection to an attendant *'jby^[he'
of one of the members, viz. the Dean of Gloucester, named Arci.bi-
James Massam, having taken an oath before the Archbi-^''"^'
shop, that he did then wait upon him. The said protection
p 2
21« THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK was directed to the Mayor and Bailiffs of the city of Win-
. Chester, " sti'ictly commanding them, and every of them,
Anno 1572. u ^ij^^ during the said Convocation they permit him to have
" free hberty of going, waiting, and returning, without ar-
" rest or molestation ; according to the form of a statute,
399 " ^- Hen. VI. cap. 1. wherein it was decreed and established,
" that the servants and family of such as were called to a
" Convocation by virtue of the King''s writ, should enjoy
" the same liberty in coming, waiting, and sitting, as the
" noblemen and commons of the kingdom did, or were ac-
" customed to do." The form of this protection (for in-
TYYvrr foraiation) I have placed in the Appendix.
CHAP. XX.
An account of the Archbishop's new edition of the Great
Bible. The Archbishop's Prefaces. The Tables. The
Translators, viz. the Bishops.
^ -'^^ND here under this year, seventy-two, it must not be
tion of the ' J '
Bible pro- omitted to mention how much the English Church was be-
thrArch- holden unto Archbishop Parker for the second publication
bishop. of a fair well translated large church Bible; as it was to
his predecessor. Archbishop Cranmer, for the fii'st. Great
and long were the pains and study that our Archbishop
took therein. 1 will give some account of it ; viz. of that
printed in the year 1572, which hath the coat of arms and
the two capital letters of his name {viz. M. C.) in several
places of the book ; and which was the second time that
this Bible by his means, in this Queen's reign, was printed
with corrections and amendments, and other improvements,
more than the former editions ; and this last more than
that in the year 1568, and (if I mistake not) of a larger vo-
lume, for the use of the churches. This hath no other title
in the first page but The Holy Bible, with a fair effigies
cut in copper of Queen Elizabeth, on each side of whom
are the figuies of Hope and Charity ; and underneath her
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 213
those words of St. Paul, Ncyii me pudet Evangelii Christi. CHAP.
Virtus enim, &c. Whicli divine sentence is supported with ,
the lion rampant and dragon. In the following pages there 'S^^-
be, first, several Prolegomena, as a necessary previous Intro- His Proie-
1 • • , o • ^. 1 T IT- 1 gomenabe-
duction into the more fruitful reading and distinct know- fore the
ledge of the holy book itself. The first bears this title, The '^^^f'^''-
Sum of the whole Scripture of the BooJcs of the Old and
New Testament. The next matter is a very excellent and
most useful genealogical table, very large, having before it
the Archbishop's coat of arms, empaled with that of his
archbishopric ; to signify the said table, as I conjecture,
to be of his doing. And it bears this title : This Table sets
out to the eye the Genealogy of Adam ; so passing by the
Patriarchs, Judges, Kings, Prophets, and Priests, and the
Fathers of their time, continuing in lineal descent to Christ
our Saviour. And it may serve as a brief chronological
and scriptural history, from the beginning of the world to
our Saviour's birth, and from his birth to his res^irrection.
The third Prolegomenon bears this title, and begins thus :
The whole Scripture of the Bible is divided into two Testa-
ments, the Old Testament and the Nexv. Which Boole is of
divers natures, some legal, some historical, some sapien-
tial, some prophetical. The Old teacheth by figures and
ceremonies. The Law was given terribly in lightning
and thundering, to induce tiie people to observance there-
of by fear. The New Testament came in more glori-
ously, with the gentle name of the Gospel and good Ti-
dings, to induce men to observe it by love. And then he
enlargeth vipon the particular books of Scripture, according
to the forementioned fourfold distribution of them. Then
follows an excellent Preface of this Archbishop's writing, be-
fore the Bible, which I have taken care to transcribe, and
place in the Appendix, as I did that of Cranmer in his Me- Number
morials. After that succeeds the said Cranmer's Preface, L^^^'"-
called his Prologue, before the Bible. Then you have A
Description of the Year from the Creation of the World
until this prcseiU Year 157^^, drawn for the most part out
of the lioly Scripture, with Declaration of certain Places,
p3
214 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK wherein is certain Difference of the reckoning- oftfie Years.
On the side whereof are divers of his marginal notes. Then
Anno 1 572. succeeds the order of the books of the Old Testament and
the New. Then direction for the Lessons, and the Alma-
nack. Then a fair map of Canaan, or the Holy Land, with
the Lord Burghley''s coat of arms engraven in it, as like-
wise it is in other places of the book, as being a great en-
courager of the work. The Bible hath all along many
learned marginal references and notes, for explanation of
the difficulty of the texts, or observations of matters i-emark-
able. Which I make no doubt were done by the Bishops,
but chiefly by the Archbishops.
Finally, there is a Preface of St. Basil the Great, en-
glished, before the Book of Psalms, and a suitable sentence
of St. Austin. Here stands the picture of the Lord Trea-
surer Burghly, with the Book of Psalms in his hand, as be-
ing his great delight.
And before Before the New Testament is a description of the Holy
t eNew. L^jjj^ containing the places mentioned in the four Evan-
gelists, with other places about the seacoast. Wherein
may be seen the ways and journies of Christ and his
Apostles in Judaea, Samaria, and Galilee. Together with
the names of the places specified in this map, with their
situation, by the observation of degrees, concerning their
longitvide and latitude. There is also the Archbishop's
Preface to this New Testament, as there was one to the
Number Old. Which is also to be seen in the Appendix.
T^e^^^ In that to the Old there be so many remarkable passages,
tents of his that it may not be amiss to draw into the body of these
the ow memorials the contents thereof. And first, from the precept
Testament, of Christ to scarch the Scriptures, he laboured to prove,
" That God's intent was, that the Scripture should be read,
" not only of some particular persons, as of more rank,
" eminency, and understanding than the rest, [as was aJ-
" lowed under King Henry VIII.] but of all without ex-
" ception. Inasmuch as it belongs unto us all to be called
" unto eternal life, and it was God's will that all should
" be saved. Then he goes forward to charge it as a great
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 215
" fault to discourage or forbid the reading and studying of
" the Scripture, by secret slanderous reproaches of it, or by L_
" open laws contracting the liberty of the people from hav-^""" ^^^^
" ing it. And that it must be Antichrist that giveth pre-
" cept or counsel contrary to that which Christ gave, under
" what colour or pretence soever it is given. For little did
" they resemble Christ's spirit, that wished ignorance to
" reign in us, that they might by our ignorance reign the
" more frankly in our consciences. They who take the
" hght from us intend that we should stumble in the path
" of perdition. They who envy us the bread of life mean
" to famish us, or, instead thereof, with the traditions and
" doctrines of men to infect us. Then he proceeded to ex-
" hort the reader to the perusing of the holy Scriptures,
" and to employ himself therein all his life. Advising him,
" that he should not suffer himself to be drawn from them
" by the insinuations of the adversaries, either upon ac-
" count of their pretended obscurity, or their unsearchable
" hidden mysteries, or the strangeness or homeliness of the
" phrases : saying, that Christ exhorted us the rather to
" search them, because of the difficulty of them ; and St.
" Paul, to have our senses exercised in them. That we
*' should impute it to our dulness, and want of diligent
" searching into them, rather than to think the Scriptures
" be insuperable. Only, that we search with an humble
" spirit, ask in continual prayer, seek with purity of life,
" knock with perpetual perseverance, and cry to the good
*' Spirit of God. That the holy table of the Scripture be-
" comes to some the table of a snare, and a trap, and a
*' stumblingblock, how busy soever they search it ; but it
" is to such, whose conscience is subject to filthiness of life.
" For all perverse cogitations separate from God. That
" therefore we ought to search to find out the truth, not to
" oppress it. To seek Christ, not as Herod did, under pre-
" tence of worshipping him, to destroy him ; or, as Phari-
" sees searched the Scriptures, to disprove Christ and dis-
" credit him, not to follow him. That it was not enough
" to acknowledge the Scriptures as the Jews did, who
P 4
£16
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " could number every verse, word, and syllable, nay, letter
!_ " of the Bible ; and Avho would not suffer any other book to
Anno 1572. « ]ay upou it, nor let it fall to the ground, be at great cost
" in the binding it, and have it exquisitely written. But
401 " they wanted true faith, and charity to their neighbours;
" they stole, they were adulterers, slanderers, and back-
" biters. That the true scope of the Scripture, which every
" reader should make his aim, is to find Christ their Savi-
" our, to cleave to his salvation and merits, to be brought
" to repentance and amendment, to raise their faith to
" Christ, and so to think of him as the Scriptures testify
" of him. These be the principal causes why Clirist did
" send the Jews to search the Scriptures.
" Then he descended to extol God's Avisdom, and praise his
" providence, for preserving this incomparable treasure of
" the Church, and renewing it by special miracle from age
" to age. First Moses, divinely inspired, Avrote the stony
" tables, and the law, being forty days in the mount. After
" him God sent the Prophets. But battle followed, and all
" were slain ; and books were burnt up. Then he inspired
" Esdras to repair these Scriptures, who of his great learn-
" ing set them together again. After that he provided, that
" the LXX Interpreters should take them in hand. And
*' at the last came Christ himself. The Apostles received
" them ; spread them throughout all nations. Christ's mi-
" racles and wonders were writ. And the Apostles, they
" writ. That it must needs signify some great thing, that
" God had such care to prescribe these books; and not
" only so, but to maintain and defend them against the
" malignity of the Devil and his ministers, who always went
" about to destroy them. But notwithstanding they have
" continued whole and perfect to this day.
" Next he went on to shew, how other books of mortal
" wise men have perished in great numbers. He particular-
" ized divers libraries at Alexandria, at Constantinople, at
" Rome, and divers other places. As of later times in the
" abbeys in simdry ages: besides private men's libraries.
" But since God preserved these books of Scripture safe
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 217
" and sound, and that in their native languages wherein CHAP.
" they were first Avritten, in that ignorance that reigned in '__
" those tongues, and contrary to the mischances that befel Anno 1572.
" all other books, and maugi-e all the worldly wits to ex-
" tinguish them ; we have cause reverently to embrace
" them, to study them, to search them, and to instruct our
" blind natures out of them.
" Then he proceeded to consider the endeavours of The Ro-
" evil men to destroy or stifle the holy Scriptures, hea- deavour to
" thens and Romanists. The latter from time to time suppress the
II- • 1 • 1 ■!_ Scriptures.
" barkmg at them, not in open sort condemning them, but
" more subtilly undermining them, under pretence that
" they were too hard to understand, and very perilous to
" translate ; and that they could not be well translated :
" and so slandering the translators. And yet themselves -
" would not translate them at all. In the Provincial Consti-
" tutions it is inhibited under excommunication to translate
" them, without the ordinaries or the provincial council
" allow it. The subtilty whereof was utterly to suppress
" them : they meaning never to allow or give counsel to
" set them out. Unlike in this to the Fathers of the pri-
" mitive Church, who exhorted all persons, men and wo-
" men, to exercise themselves in the Scriptures. Unlike
" their forefathers in this realm, who in their times trans-
" lated whole books of Scripture : as was to be seen at that
" time when the Archbishop wrote this his Preface ; name-
" ly, such books translated, some by Kings, some by Bi-
" shops, some by Abbots, and some by other devout godly
" fathers. And that very many of them were extant :
" which, for the age of the speech, and the strangeness of
" the character, were almost worn out of knowledge. That
" among the Saxons the four Gospels were read in the
" church every Sunday and festival-day, by the ordinary
" Ministers in their common prayer. And this setting out
" these books in the vulgar language he attributed to the
" impulse of the Holy Ghost upon our ancient Fathers of
" the English Church, as St. Peter affirmed the Prophets
gld THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " had the impulse of the Holy Ghost to speak out these
" Divine testimonies.
Anno 1572. " He goes on to produce several authorities out of the
" Fathers, Augustin, Hierom, Tertullian, Chrysostom, Ba-
'* sil, shewing their endeavours of advancing the holy
" books. And therefore (added he) let men extol, as much
" as they will, Church practices, traditions, and customs, de-
402 " cisions in synods and councils, and vaunt of the presence
" of the Holy Ghost among them, yet we will be bold
" to say with St. Peter, we have, for our parts, a more
" stable ground, the prophetical word of the Scripture.
" And we know that all prophetical Scripture standeth not
" in any private interpretation, or vain names of several
" churches, and catholic and universal sees, of singular and
" wilful heads : which will challenge by custom all deci-
" sion to pertain to them only. And notwithstanding their
" strange claimed authority, we will proceed in the Re-
*' formation begun, and doubt not of our unity to Christ's
" Catholic Church, and of the uprightness of our faith. As
" the Spanish Clergy, in the second Council of Braccara,
" assembled together by their King's commandment, trusted
" to their faith and unity. Which was before Popes were
" acknowledged to have that authority they now claim.
" Then he mentions the Nicene and African decrees, for-
" bidding appeals to the Bishop of Rome ; and for the end-
" ing of controversies in the provinces where they were be-
" gun : forbidding him to send his Clerks to meddle in other
" provinces. That we may repose ourselves in the anti-
" quity of the Christian Catholic Church of England. And
" then fetcheth out of the laws of King Edward, how King
" Lucius sent to Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, requiring of
" him the Christian religion ; but that Eleutherius gave
" over that care to the King in his epistle ; ' For that the
" King is Vicar of God in his own kingdom,' as he writ,
" ' and for that he had received the faith of Christ, and
" had both Testaments in his kingdom ; and to draw out
" of them his laws, and by those laws to govern his realm ;
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 219
" and not so much to desire the Roman or Emperor's laws, CHAP.
" which had defect in them.' Eluan and Medwine, who
" were Lucius's legates returning, became the former a Bi- Anno 1572.
" shop, and the other a public teacher. At whose hand the
" King and all his nobility received baptism. Which story he
" collected from the archives of the state of the church of
" Landaff, out of the Life of Dubritius, and out of Capgrave.
" Therefore the only surety to our faith and conscience
" is, to stick to the Scriptures. For the Apostle said, W?iaf-
" soever was written afore was written for our instruction,
" tJmt through patience and comfort of Scripture we might
" have liope. We will have patience with the vain inven-
" tions of men, who exalt themselves above all that is God,
" while this word of God is Rock. We will take comfort
" by the Scriptures against the maledictions of the adver-
" saries; doubting not to pertain to the elect number of
" Christ's Church, how far soever we be excommunicated
" out of the synagogue of such who suppose themselves
" the universal lords of all the world, and lords of our faith
" and conscience. But it would be needless to commend
" unto the reader this cause, since the godly Father, Arch-
*' bishop Cranmer, did it so fully in his learned Preface be-
" fore the Bible, which he set out."
After this he proceeds to give the reason of this edi-
tion : " namely, because the copies of the former were so
" wasted, that very many churches wanted Bibles. This oc-
" casioned some well-disposed men to recognize it again in
" that form it was then come out ; with some further dili-
" gence in the printing, and some more light added partly
" in the translation, and in the order of the text : not
" condemning the former translation, which was followed
" mostly of any other translation, excepting the original
" text, Avith as little variance as was thought meet to such
" who took pains therein. Then he apologizeth for any
" fault or error in the translation, from the nature of man
" subject to error. But that the reader might be assured no-
" thing was done, either of malice or wilful meaning, in al-
" tcring the texts, j)utting in more or less to the same, on
220 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " purpose to bring In any private judgment. As some had
L_" been overbold to do, little regarding the majesty of God''s
Anno 1572. " Scripture, to make it serve to their corrupt erroi-s. As
" Hosius, to prove his doctrine of satisfaction, turned the
" word sanctijicationem, Rom. vi. into satisj'actionem. Then
" he blames such as cried out tragically against any error
*' through human negligence, Avhen they will not translate
*' the Scriptures themselves at all, nor are like ever to pur-
" pose it. Whereas, where error is not of malice, but sim-
" plicity, especially in handling these books, so profound in
403 " sense, so passing natural understanding, it is most reason-
" able not to be too severe.
" Then he warns the reader not to be offended with the
*' diversity of translators, nor ambiguity of translations, quot-
" ing a passage out of St. Austin concerning this. That
" they intended not to prejudice any men's judgment by
" this new labour of the present translation ; nor professed
" this to be so absolute a translation, as that hereafter no
" other might follow, which might see what was not yet un-
" derstood. And so concludes with an excellent passage
" out of Bishop Fisher, ' That many things of the Scripture
" are more clearly discussed and understood by the wits of
" this present age, than of the former. And there be many
" dark places in the Gospel, which to posterity, without
" doubt, shall be much more open. And that the Gospel
" was delivered for this intent, to be utterly understood.'
" Ending all with an exhortation to implore the Holy Spirit
" of God to give us the understanding of his law, in the
" words of David's octonary Psalm, and in the words of
" King Solomon, Sap. ix." And this is the sum of that
learned and religious Preface, composed by our Archbishop.
Useful Nor must it be omitted, that the Archbishop improved
thu BiWc edition of the Bible, not only by many ornamental
cuts and instructive pictures, dispersed up and down the
book, but chiefly by divers useful tables. As, I. A table
of degrees of kindred which let matrimony : and another of
degrees of affinity and alliance which let matrimony. This
is set at the 18th chapter of Leviticus. IL A table for the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 221
understanding of the histories of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, *^^^^*
Daniel, and divers other places of Scripture, very dark, by
reason of the discord that is among historiographers, and'^"'^"
among the expositors of the holy Scripture, touching the
successive order of the kings or monarchies of Babylon and
of Persia ; of the years that the said monai'chies lasted, from
the transmigration of the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar,
until the monarchy of the Greeks ; and of the confusion
that is in the names of the kings of Persia. This table
stands before the book of Ezra. III. There is a third
table for the knowledge of the state of Judah, from the
beginning of the monarchy of the Greeks, (where the for-
mer table ended,) until the death and passion of our Lord.
This table is placed before the books of the Maccabees.
IV. A fourth table, placed before the New Testament, to
make plain the difficulty that is found in St. Matthew and
St. Luke, touching the generation of Jesus Christ the Son
of David, and his right successor in the kingdom. Which
description beginneth at David, and no higher, because the
difficulty is only in his posterity. V. Yet another table is
placed before the Epistle to the Romans. The intent where-
of is to shew the order of times from the death of Christ ;
being a synchronism of the years of the reigns and go-
vernments of the Roman Emperors, Presidents of Juda?a,
and the Herodian family, with the years of Christ and
St. Paul, to his beheading at Rome, beginning with Tibe-
rius, Pilate, and Herod. And besides, this Bible is divided
into verses : which seems to me to be the first edition of
the English Bible so distinguished ; excepting perhaps that
of Geneva.
The method taken for the more exact performance of Portions of
this work was this. Divers select men of learning and abi- anoMed'to
lity. Bishops and others, were appointed for it. To whom several to
were allotted distinct portions of the Bible to translate, and'""'*'**^^'
also to revise the former translations ; amounting to fifteen
allotments at least. And at the end of each portion were
set the first letters of each man's name in capitals. As,
The first allotment was the five books of Moses. At the
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BO^K end whereof stand these capital letters, W. E. for William
___l_Exon, I suppose.
L.nno 1572. -pj^g second allotment contained Joshua, Judges, Ruth,
and the two books of Samuel. And at the end are set these
capitals, R. M. (it is likely) for Richard Meneven.
The third allotment comprised the First and Second Book
of Kings, and the First and Second of Chronicles. To which
was subjoined E. W. which seems to denote Edwin AVigorn.
The fourth contained the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Es-
ther, and Job. And that portion was subscribed with the
letters, A. P. C. which might stand for Andreas Peerson,
Cantuariensls. One of Archbishop Parker's Chaplains, a
Prebendary of Canterbury, and his Almoner.
404 The fifth allotment was the Book of Psalms, with the
letters T. B. which perhaps designed Thomas Becon, an-
other Prebendary of Canterbury, and a great writer against
Popery.
The sixth took in the Proverbs. To which were the capi-
tals A. P. C. the C. standing at some distance for distinction
from the former A. P. C. Quare.
The seventh contained Ecclesiastes and Solomon's Song.
The letters at the end were A. P. E. for Andreas Pern,
Eliens.
The eighth contained Esay, Jeremiah, and Lamentations:
and had the letters R. W. standing probably for Robert
Winton.
The ninth allotment was Ezekiel and Daniel : and at the
end stood T. C. L. Might it not be Thomas Cole of Lin-
colnshire, and brother to William Cole, President of Corpus
Christi, Oxon, a Lincolnshire man
The tenth contained Hosea, Joel, Amos, to Malachi in-
clusive : and had the letters E. L. for Edmundus London.
The eleventh portion was the two books of Esdras, Tobit,
Judith, and all the rest of the Apocrypha, with the letters
J. N. for Johannes Norwicen.
The twelfth was the four Evangelists and the Acts of
the Apostles, with the letters R. E. for Richardus Ehensis.
The thirteenth was the Epistle to the Romans, with the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 223
letters R. E. quare, unless displaced for E. R. signifying CHAP.
Edmundus RofFensis. L_
The fourteenth contained the First Epistle to the Corin- Anno 1572.
thians. The letters subjoined were G. G. importing pro-
bably Gabriel Goodman, who was Dean of Westminster.
The remaining epistles and books of the New Testament
have no capital letters at all set to them. The Archbishop's
province was not so much to translate, as to order, direct,
overlook, examine, and prepare and finish all.
To all, let me add a word or two of the careful course The course
that was taken in this translation, besides what was said of t^nsiation.
it before. He employed divers critics in the Hebrew and
Greek languages to peruse the old translation, and to compare
it dihgently with the original text : and to compare like-
wise the Geneva translation, together with other translations
also. One of those, upon whom the task for the examination
of the New Testament was imposed, was Laurence, a man
in those times of great fame for his knowledge in the Greek
language, (and who read Greek to the Lady Cecyl, after- Tlie^ Preface
wards Baroness Burghly, the Lord Treasurer's lady; oftoryof
whom the said Laurence testified, that she equalled, if not France
. . ^ ' translated.
overmatched, any of the same profession in that language.)
Whose way was to set down his own emendations of the old
text under divers heads. As namely, under these words : not
aptly translated: words and pieces of sentences omitted:
words superfluous : the sentence changed, and, error in
doctrine : moods and tenses changed : and, places not well
considered by Theodore Beza and Erasmus. The latter
of whom, as it seemed, the old translators, and the former,
the Geneva translators, had followed. And I find this Bi-
shops Bible foUoweth exactly these castigations of Laurence.
The original of his own hand I have cast into the Appendix, Number
as thinking it well worthy the preserving to posterity : and
to shew with what exactness even this translation of the
Bible was managed.
And that our Church may see how chiefly beholden she ^•^""f
. . ccrning this
is to the Archbishop for this edition of the sacred Scrip- translation,
ture, I shall add what Stow, the best historian in those days,
224 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK saith of him under the year 1575, in which year he died:
" He thoroughly examined the Enghsli translation of the
Anno 1572. " Bible : wherein he partly used the help of his brethren,
" Bishops and other Doctors ; and caused the same to be
" newly printed in the largest volume, for the furniture of
" many churches then wanting them."
405 CHAP. XXI.
Concealers. The Archbishop laments their spoiling of the
Clergy. Sends to the Bishops Jor information of their
doings. Solicits in behalf of the poor Clergy. Is
minded to repair and enlarge Belesborn and Canterbury
palaces, with the ruins of Ford. His request of the
Queen Jor that purpose.
The Clergy AbOUT the latter end of this year, the Clergy were ex-
oppressed by l-l ^. lI1y-| 7
Concealers, tremely pestered with a sort of men called Concealers, of
whom something was spoken above. These men became
so odious, and so unjust, and so oppressive, that, by the
Lord Treasurer's means, the Queen by proclamation re-
voked her commission, as was shewn before, and forced
them to restore the things they had wrongfully taken. But
they stood upon their justification, and laboured again to
get their commission renewed. And particularly one Sir
Richard Bagnal did so, who was very severe, especially upon
the Clergy. The Lord Treasurer, to stop this, and to make
these unjust men refund, sent his private letters to our Arch-
bishop, desiring of him some particular information against
these men ; who, as the said Lord writ, stood upon their
justification, and were importunate to be let loose again ;
the Archbishop, though his diocese had not yet been trou-
The Arch- bled by thein, took hold of this phrase : saying, " Indeed
te'rceXs'for " JOM term it rightly and aptly, to be let loose again: for
the Clergy, u there could not have been devised a more extreme way to
Dec. 25. -
" scourge the poor Clergy, than to set such loose to plague
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 225
" them. If it be true, as I hear, they be marvellous vi- chap.
. XXI.
" sitors. They do that, I fear, whereby her Majesty shall .
not be judged to do that which is reglum aut pium.''^^^^^]^'^^-
" Alas ! saith he, however the faulters be justly plagued ;
" howsoever the state despite the poor Ministers of the
" Gospel ; yea, and good preachers extremely dealt with-
" al ; will this turn to honour, after the fruits, tenths, sub-
" sidies of late most liberally granted ; after the arrear-
" ages of tenths, of subsidies, from King Henry's days,
" required and extorted ; and some of these sums and ar-
" rearages t'vvice and thrice discharged : and now after all
" this, such pastimes to be procured I do not so much la-
" ment the misery and begging of the poor Priests, as I do
" most heartily bewail to see this manner of handling under
" her Majesty''s merciful governance, whom I desire of all
" other to be graciously reported. But as I have done, I
** keep in my contemplations. God send us all of his fa-
" vour, ut in fine sit lionorificum. And so he told the
" Lord Treasurer, that at his leisure he might fortune to
" write what he heard concerning the abuses of these Con-
" cealers; if at the least way were meant such stay and re-
" dress." By which words may be gathered his doubt of it.
The Archbishop, to be sure, was not wanting to do as the informa-
Treasurer had suggested, to furnish him with instances f>f se,',"^;*"
the unrighteous and rigorous vexations of these Concealei-sag!"'ist the
towards the poor Clergy. And so I find the Archbishop,
in a letter wrote in November to the Bishop of Norwich,
gave him this instruction : " If your Lordship or your
" Chancellor would make a collection, \yiz. in writing,] for
r j " such extremities as late have been exercised upon the
" Clergy by certain extraordinary visitors, it would do very
" well. And I pray you so to do." And the like intima^
tions seemed to be made to every Bishop for his diocese.
The Lord Treasurer wrote also to Sandys, Bishop of ''^''''^li'shop
London, to give him what knowledge he had of BagnaPs sent*to,"to
doings, and to inquire into his proceedings. Whereupon
he desired the Lord Treasurer to let him know unto what Concealers,
dioceses BagnaPs commission did extend : and he would
VOL. II. o
I
226 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK write unto the respective Bishops ; who would be best able
to certify how the case stood. And that he had taken
IV
Anno 1572. oi-cler. that his Lordship should know what disorders had
406 fallen out in his diocese, with convenient speed: and had
writ to the Bishops of Winchester and Ely in that behalf.
The Arch- But in April following, a hot report went abroad, that
licits anew this Bagnal, and some others like him, should have a new
against a commission for a Melius inquirendum ; to wrack afresh the
ijuirendum. poor Clergy. This coming to the careful Archbishop s ears,
he gave a short but passionate hint of it to his friend the
Lord Treasurer : " The fame goes, that some Baynol, or
" some [concealing the name, but meaning Leicester,
" I believe,] shall by commission search for a Melius in~
" quirendum. I can say no more, but Dcus misereatur
" nostri. Est modus hi rebusy By which short expressions,
insinuating the miserable estate of the Clergy : and that
they had been sufficiently oppressed already, without pro-
ceeding to more oppressions of them.
And again But by the good Archbishop's solicitations with a good
afterr*" man, viz. the Lord Treasurer, and of great sway at the
Court, this matter was still kept off till the latter end of
the year 1574, when there was a Parliament suddenly to
come together ; and then a great talk was of terrible things
to be contrived against the Clergy; and especially for a
Melius inquirendum. Whereupon he again seeks to the
Treasurer, saying, " he trusted the Queen's Highness meant
" not so to be induced to win a little increase of revenue,
^' to lose in the end ten times more. Quod satis est sufficit.
" Adding, what a scarcity there was of able Clergymen ;
" and therefore rather to be encouraged than depressed.
" Take away, said he, a few of the Clergy, namely, those
" which were especially appointed to preach before her
" Highness, and I take the rest to be but a simple sort.
" And that some of the Clergy had need to be made much
" of, to beat out of the commons' heads that which is
" beat in."
The vex- jjut thc gain that came in by this device of concealments,
conceal- was the cause that such kind of oppressors were never
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 227
wanting throughout this Queen's days, to soHclt the Court CHAP,
for these commissions. For I find even in the latter end of 1_
her reign, the Churchmen, and especially the new founda-^""" >^72.
tions of cathedral and collegiate churches, were cruelly "^'^"[ft^g*
vexed with them. And they went so far as to procure <^"een's
many of the possessions of these churches as concealments ; "^"^
and that for very trifles. Whereby the revenues thereof
were wasted and spent ; contrary, undoubtedly, to the noble
intentions of the royal Founders, Henry VIII. Edward VI.
and Queen Elizabeth herself. Upon which, at length, the
Deans and Canons presented the Lord Treasurer with a
petition of complaint : which he favourably accepted : for
he never liked these practices, and liad a favour for these
foundations. He also, with Archbishop Whitgift, spake to
the Queen in their behalf : Avhich he did so heartily, that
the said Archbishop thought it convenient to acquaint the
Deans and Prebendaries therewith. For which, in a letter
signed by many of their hands, they thanked him ; and de-
sired withal, that at a Parliament then sitting, he would
procure this evil to be remedied by an act, to confirm the
grants formerly made them by the Queen and her royal
ancestors. This letter, wrote from their Convocation house,
may be read in the Appendix. uocxvi
There belonged anciently to this great archbishopric The Arch-
many noble seats, and they of a first and second rank. Of ^
J ^ J _ mmcled to
the former sort were these palaces following: that at Can- enlarge his
terbury, that at Otford, at Knol, at Croydon, and Lambeth. Jjekesborn
Of the latter were the country and manor houses at Ford, i-amb. Per-
at Charte, Charing, Charteham, Tenham, Wingham, Bekes- 284' "tiilrd
born, and elsewhere. But before this Archbishop's time,
they were almost all passed away from the see. His pre-
decessor Cranmer used to be much at Ford, towards the
latter end especially of King Edward, which was one of the
oldest seats of the Archbishops of Canterbury ; a magnifi- viiiare
cent mansion, as Philpot calls it ; given by Ethelbert, King
of Kent, who granted also the whole parish, called Chisdet,
wherein Ford standeth, unto the said see. It had a certain
proportion of land empaled round it, in form of a park, as
Q 2
228 TH^ LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK if they had judged it meet thereby to justify the first dona-
. tion. But Bekesborn, a far less house, but more heaUhfuUy
Anno 1672. ^nd conveniently situated, pleased Archbishop Parker better.
It was a small, yet an elegant house, very commodious for
the Archbishop's retirement and recess, and the river brought
407 so convenient about it, that the trouts, the principal fish
there, are plentifully useful to it. But our Archbishop
Phiipofs found Bekesborn too strait for him. Ford was larger, as
Cantian wrote to the Lord Treasurer, but very inconvenient, be-
ing an old, decayed, wasteful, unwholesome, and desolate
house. To that case, it seems, it was come in his time. He
therefore was minded to enlarge his house at Bekesborn
with the materials of the former. This enlargement he
thought needful and requisite, as well for the foreign friends
as for the foreign enemies. Ford was in such a corner, and
the soil such, as he thought no man would have any delight
to dwell there, if he had any other place nigher the church.
He would also, Avith the ruins of that, have repaired his
palace at Canterbury, and supplied it with some better
lodging. This, he said, he thought honest, and yet would
leave houses enough at Ford, to such as should have the
oversight of his grounds there.
In order Now, for the compasslng this, it was convenient he should
desires the have the Queen''s consent. For this he made use of the
Queen's Lord Treasurer, entreating him to Avait his opportunity to
grant of his . . ? . .
old house niove her Highness in this suit : that he might make a
at Fold. (jgg(j Qf gift of it to her ; and then that she might grant it
again to him and to his successors. Not meaning, as he
professed, one penny of advantage to himself, but to the
commodity of the see, if it should stand in any tolerable
state. This was propounded in March. But he had it in
his mind the December before : but was discouraged from
making the suit, the Queen having denied him in some
things before : no question occasioned by some of his back
friends at Court. " He had thovight, as he told the Lord
" Treasurer, in that month, to have uttered a small suit,
" that should not have been in honour hurtful to her Ma-
" jesty, nor to her purse chargeable ; but that he was so
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 229
" unlucky and unfortunate to win any thing for himself or
" his friends. Which made him resolve hereafter to crave
" little, as he had not used much importunity, he said, in a
" dozen years before : although most of his predecessors
" had things of more importance granted them by the
" Prince"'s favour in their time. But he would hold himself
" within his bounds, and take the times as they were ; and
" would yet do his duty in conscience, and serve to his ut-
" termost power, till the day of his dissolution." And so
he waved wholly the mention what his request was at this
time.
But his request, when he afterwards discovered it, seemed His request
to find a favourable admission. For I find in April follow- AprU 27,
ing, the writings were drawn concerning the translation of
Ford house, and sent to the Lord Treasurer for his ap-
probation. But there they stuck till the latter end of the
year, and how long after I cannot tell. For in the month
of November, he put his Lordship in mind again of this bu-
siness ; telling him, that if his Lordship would comfort him
with her Majesty's grant, he would yet assay to amend
Bekesborn building. And in the same month he again
told him, that if he knew her Majesty's contentation, he
would prepare towards the reparation of Bekesborn ;
*' meaning to do, as he said, while he lived, as though he
" should live ever: and yet he trusted, being ready in
" all the storms of the world, to depose his tabernacle to-
" morrow. Doubting not but his Lordship was so framed
" for both : per honam famam et infamiam, per convH'ia
" et laudes, to go forward in his vocation, as God had placed
" him." But the reason of the delay of this business was,
I suppose, occasioned partly by the Queen's going her pro-
gress this summer ; and so not at leisure to be spoken to
about lesser business ; and partly by the opposition of some
of his Court enemies. This in fine came to nothing. Ford
house stood till of late years it was pulled down by seques-
trators. And tlie Archbishop finished Bekesborn this year,
though not with that largeness and magnificence his good
heart intended.
a 3
230 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
IV.
408
CHAP. XXII.
from the
cliarge of
covetous-
ness.
The Archbishop liberal, but represented otherwise. Relieves
the French Protestants ; and Citolinus, an Italian ; and
two Irish Bishops. Bishop Malachias false. The Arch-
bishop's pains with Stourton, a young' Popish Lord. His
compliance.
Anno 1573. A.BOUT this time there were in Eng-land many foreigners,
He clears j ci '
himself wlio had fled hither out of tlieir own countries for tlie pro-
fession of the Gospel. And among these, many persons of
quality that fled from France upon the massacre : as Count
Montgomei-y, the Vidame of Charti-es ; and divers Ministers
of France, and some Italians, and some Irish. All these,
it was expected, the Churchmen should be burdened with
the relief of ; and particularly the Archbishop. And be-
cause they wanted at this time those supplies that were suf-
ficient for their subsistence, the blame was presently laid
upon him. And the Lord Treasurer sent a sharp message
by Dr. Wilson, Master of St. Katharine''s, and after Secre-
tary of State, to our Prelate, in behalf of some of these
strangers : urging him, belike, as though he had been neg-
ligent in his care of them, and that hospitality and charity
was especially required of such as were preferred to eccle-
siastical dignities. And indeed it was this good man's for-
tune, as it used to happen to all others of that function, to
be charged with covetousness, and of not living suitably to
their great incomes. Concerning this latter, he sent word
to the Treasurer, " that if he knew the truth of his abili-
" ties, he should see that he did as much as he could. He
" was, he said, no gatherer, nor would be, whatsoever
" they prated abroad. He professed, before God, he lied
*' not, that he was compelled to borrow every half year
" before his money came in, for his own expenses. And
" excepting a little money he had to bury him, he had no
" superfluity."
His com- ^fjj other charge, as though he were not so di-
passion to .... • r i i •
strangers, hgent m relicvmg these strangers, at which his Lordship was
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 231
so offended, he told him, " that it was for want of inform- CHAP.
XXII
" ation : for that he was not slack, to his uttermost abihty, to .
" provide for strangers ; whose state I always jntied, said^""" ^^''3-
" he, Deus novit. And as for Count Montgomery, and rdigLn ;
" those Ministers of France exiled, he had not only pro-
" cured, by collections, a great portion for them, but also
" gave them of his own purse a large and an honest por-
" tion among them. Which, he said, he had not yet much
*' blazed, nor intended to do. Let other men delight in
*' their Gloria Patriy Meaning this of some others that
got the report of their charities to be noised abroad, and to
come to the knowledge of the Court. And because his was
not so public, there were some that thought he had not con-
tributed at all, or very sparingly. He added, that what he
did, he would do quietly.
And to be more particular, our Archbishop was a good To Aicxan-
friend and benefactor to Alexander Citolinus, an Italian, re- „us^ a„
commended to him by the Lord Treasurer. He was a per- it^i'an-
son of great integrity and learning, and of as great modesty.
In his own country he was possessed of a plentiful estate.
But by reason of the cruelty of Papists, he was forced to
go into exile, leaving his wife and children ; and endured
all with such a patience as moved pity. He came first to
Strasburg, where Sturmius kindly entertained him, and
highly valued him. And the more, because he well per-
ceived his great abilities and advancement in good learning,
by a MS. which he had writ in Italian, entitled, Septem Die-
rum Sermones : a work, it seems, of very great learning A learned
and knowledge. It was not brought to a conclusion, but [1°°"*
was only a kind of skeleton, or specimen, of a more large
intended treatise. A work it was to be of that compre-
hensive nature, that he should need a great many leisure 409
months, and the assistance of other scholars, to bring it to
perfection. These things considered, Sturmius thought it -
best for him to go over into England, where he might peace-
ably and securely follow his studies, and be encouraged by
the favoiu- and gratuities of great men, and have the aid
of persons of learning. This made Sturmius, anno 1565,
Q 4
232 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK send him over with very earnest letters of recommendation,
not only to Sir Antliony Cook, and Sir WilUam Cecyl, and
Anno 1 573. Mr. Jolin Hales, but to the Queen herself. He wrote to Sir
Anthony, that it grieved him that he wanted money to re-
tain Citolinus with him, that by their mutual labour and
industry they might finish that work ; entreating him to
recommend him to his son-in-law, Sir William Cecyl, and
to the Queen. To whom he recommended him, not only for
his religion and integrity, but chiefly for his book. The
subject of, it was to shew the way to attain to the highest
top of wisdom : In arcem Sapient'ia: certa via et ratione
asccndcrc. In qua (as the said Sturmius writes to the Queen)
qu'tcqukl in univci'sa natura est, totuin illtid sit locis nota-
tum, generihus partitum, formis distinctum, idque plenum
atque congestnm rebus ct sententiis, earumqiie verbis et for-
mulis. Usque adeo ut quicquid cogitanti in mentem venire
possit, illius queat ad locum decurrere, et imo aspectu intu-
eri quacunque de eo vel cogitatione comprehendi vel scripto
notari, vel oratione exprimi debeat. Usque adeo ab uno
solo initio mens Jiominis per onmem reriim naturam ad
unum quoddam extremum indagando et perlustrando potest
decurrere. This method, he told her Majesty, Citolinus
held or understood, and in his Discourses of the Seven Days
did clearly shew. And so commended his work to the
Queen's liberality. He wrote to Sir Anthony Cook, that
whereas he had been labouring to compose his 'AvaXunx^,
(which I think was his book De Inventione,) which all men
had nov/ for many a year expected from him, and which he
had been studying for thirty years, this Citolinus seemed per-
fectly to have attained to. To Mr. Hales he wrote, that he
would fain have detained this Italian with him for two years;
in which space he reckoned his work would be finished :
that we might do something, saith he, profitable to posterity,
not only to the rendering learning more perfect, but more
easy too. What the issue of this book was, or whether ever
it came to perfection, I know not ; but I find the man here
in England again in the year 1568. And to the year 1573,
he remained not so well provided for as he ought. Only he
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 233
still had the favour of very great and good men; particu- CHAP,
larly the Earl of Bedford and the Lord Treasurer ; who
wi'ote letters to our Archbishop in his behalf. Upon whose A""" i573.
letters the Archbishop retained him both friendly and gently,
as he writ himself, and gave him also certain French crowns.
He received him at his own board, and otherwhiles in his
hall, when he came. He offered him his entertainment
■within his house, and to provide him with things necessary.
But the Earl of Bedford and he refused it, as not conve-
nient. He signified also to him, that the Queen might give
him the next advowson of a prebend in the church of
Canterbury ; and promised him his diligence in the same.
But the Lord Treasurer liked not that. He also wrote for
him to certain of his brethren, the Bishops, for some pre-
bend. And the Bishop of Ely had wrote him back, that he
had sent up one to the Lord Treasurer for him. For the
next voidance also, the Archbishop was content that he
should have one of the prebends which he gave in Can-
terbury. All this the Archbishop writ to the Lord Trea-
surer, to satisfy him how cordially and dihgently he had
consulted for this Italian's benefit, which the said Lord
seemed to charge him with neglect in. And even while he
was vTiting what was mentioned before, Citolinus came to
dinnei', and dined in the hall, not at the Archbishop's board,
he being then distempei'ed, and keeping his chamber.
After dinner, he sent him word of the advowson of the
prebend the Bishop of Ely had granted him ; and because
the Archbishop was going into Kent, he off'ered to take him
with them. But he refused to make any answer till he had
consulted with the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Bedford.
This happened in April.
There was an Irish Bishop also about this time, for whose And to
relief the Lord Treasurer wrote to the Bishop of London, B^^iiops.**
to this purpose ; that they, the Bishops, should take care for
his relief. This letter the said Bishop shewed to our Arch-
bishop. The effect was, the Archbishop retained him at his
table, and gave him certain crowns. He shewed his favour 4 10
likewise to another Irish Bishop, named Malachias, who
294 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK had been long in prison for being a Papist. This man
.came to our Ai'chblshop, and pretended that he was re-
Anno 1573. fm-i^ej from Papistry; telling his Grace, that the Lord
Treasurer favoured him, and was about to give him an
Irish archbishopric ; though when he Avas in prison, to the
Archbishop's knowledge, he gave Popish counsel to some of
the said Archbishop's servants, whom he had sent to visit
him. When this Irishman resorted to the Archbishop, he
desired a plurality, as he called it, meaning somewhat to
hold with his bishopric ; whence he received no profit. The
Archbishop told him, it should be a commendam, that he
must first sue for at the Queen's hands, and he would give
him his fees, and so dismissed him, giving him an honest
piece of gold, as he called it.
The false- A\\d here, bv the way, let me say a little more of this
hood of one _ ' y '
of them. Bishop INIalachias, sumamed O Molana. He was formerly
Bishop of Ardagh, as he pretended. For the suspicion our
Archbishop seemed to have of him was not without ground.
There was an Irish gentleman named Maurice Obrien, of
Magdalen college, Cambridge, whom my Lord Treasurer
seemed to have placed there for the breeding him up in the
Protestant principles, and got him afterwards made Bishop
of Killalow in Ireland. This person discovering the false-
ness of Malachias, acquainted the Lord Treasurer there-
with. Indeed in the month of September, the last year
past, he had wrote in the behalf of this man, then living
poor in the Marshalsea. Of whom he then gave this testi-
mony to the said Lord, that he did detest unfeignedly from
his heart the Antichrist of Rome, with all his adherents ; and
had promised to write against the Pope. And he sent two
letters of the said Malachias to the Treasurer, which con-
tained his protestations this way : so that he then hoped he
would have been a profitable member of Christ's Chui'ch
hereafter. Yet in the next month the said Obrien, having
better information of him, and understanding that he prac-
tised with the Pope to get the bishopric of Killalow, to
which the said Obrien was elected, conferred upon himself,
he wrote now to the Lord Treasurer, " that Malachias was
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 235
" still an egregious Papist and traitor, whom his wickednesses CHAP.
" had made famous ; and that he had obtained a bull from
" the Pope to obtain that bishopric, which the Queen had Anno 1573.
" granted to him. That he feigned himself a very sharp
" adversary of the Popish religion ; but that he would be
" loath to see such an office entrusted with him, whose mind
" was not at all concerned, either for the peace of tliat com-
" monwealth, or the safety of that people. That oftentimes
" the hungry fox pretendeth to be asleep ; and so this man,
" labouring under the hunger of a bishopric, became a
" professor of truth." I put this letter into the Appendix, Number
not justifying the good Latin of it, nor the correct spelling,
but as serving to our history.
But the February following I meet with a very solemn His submis-
... , . 111-T-1 1 sion to the
submission and protestation made by this Irisliman to theprivyCoun-
Queen's Privy Council. Wherein he repents of his former
Ufe led in Popish superstitions, submits himself to the Queen ;
and professed and swore upon the sacred Gospels, that from
that hour to his death he would bear her true allegiance,
that he would not be in any counsel or practice, wherein
any thing was done prejudicial to the state or crown ; but
that he would discover such things if he knew them. This
submission, under his own hand, I place also in the Appendix. Number
He had subscribed also to the Articles of Religion. LXXXVIII.
In the month following I find him still in the Marshalsea,
when (March 10, 1572.) he wrote a letter to the Lord Trea-
surer, signifying, that he understood by the Bishop of Kil-
lalow, that his Lordship and the rest of the Privy Council
received in good part his former protestation. And then he
again renewed his promises, that he would faithfully per-
form and make good what he had said ; and that if more
were in his power, he would not be deficient. And therefore
prayed deliverance from that prison. And it seems he soon
after obtained liis liberty. For it was in the month after that
he applied himself from the Lord Treasurer to our Arch-
bishop, as was said above.
In the beginning of this year the Lord Stourton, a young '^♦""f^on, a
gentleman, whose name was John, the eldest son of that piirLrd,
236 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Cliarles, Lord Stourton, whom Queen Mary made an ex-
, ample of severity for a barbarous murder, notwithstanding
Amio 1573. being a zealous Roman Catholic, which he thought would
to"h"^*.^^,. have procured him a pardon. This young Lord, by the
bishop's advice of his instructor, one Williams, then in the Marshal-
^ J J sea, privately attempted to steal away beyond sea, and to
become a fugitive ; but by some means or secret intelligence
was seized, the Queen being then very jealous of her sub-
jects, especially persons of honour, going out of England,
lest they might, with the King of Spain, combine against
her. He being taken, was put under strait confinement ;
and the Queen's Majesty's high displeasure was signified to
him : but this imprisonment was but short. Tlie next care
was to bring him off fi-om the prejudices of his education,
and to make him a good subject to the Queen. And for
that purpose he was committed to the Archbishop's keeping,
in the month of April, at Lambeth; where he sat with him
at his table, and enjoyed his conversation. The Archbishop
was instructed to deal with him, in order to the making him
sensible of his error in what he had done, and bringing him
to be willing to come to Protestant common prayer and
sermon. Accordingly he and some of his Chaplains con-
ferred with him, and entertained him with all friendliness.
In his discourses with him he found he was of no reading,
but depended upon some of his old corrupt instructions.
The Archbishop laid before him his unkindness to the
Queen's Majesty, to steal away from her governance in such
sort, and charged him Avith unnatural affection towai'ds his
country, to withdraw his such aid as he might do unto it :
telling him, that if her Majesty's favour were not yet the
more, he might be utterly undone. This discourse of the
Archbishop with him had this effect, that it made him per-
ceive his own folly and great oversight, and promise, that
hereafter he would be better advised, and take better heed.
He feared much that her Highness was in great displeasure
with him, and fain he would have pardon, and desired much
to hear some comfortable words, that he might understand
of her Highness' mercy and clemency ; howsoever his fool-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 237
ish youth, as he said, had overseen itself. Some comfort he C H A P.
• • XXII
gathered, because he was no longer kept in prison, nor
committed more hardly. The kind Archbishop promised Anno 1573.
him to write in his favour.
He found him at first very stiff, insomuch as he could The pains
not hear of the disabling of his religion, and of the reason- bishop took
ableness of ours ; which the Archbishop told him was esta- "
blished by public authoijty, however some fond people,
pretending the love of it, go out of the way. Nor could he
persuade him to come to the daily prayers in the chapel
with his household. But some time after he relented, and
seemed to be ready to hear and read, and thought in some
things otherwise than he had done. And April the 25th,
the very day wherein the Archbishop writ all this, before-
mentioned, unto the Lord Treasurer, concerning this Lord,
he promised that he would come vmto the common prayer
both then and after. The Archbishop told the said Lord
concerning him, that he had good trust in his nature, and
that he thought it pity, linum Jitm'igantem extinguere.
He saw Jionesty in him, as he termed it ; and gave this in-
stance of it : that when the Archbishop had charged him
much, that his schoolmaster, then in the Marshalsea, had
been his instructor, upon whom he depended ; he thought
utterly to excuse him, and commended him, and sorry he
was that he should be hardly entreated for his sake ; as not
guilty any more, than when he spake to his tutor to go over
with him, he agreed thereto. The Archbishop advised to
use mercy towards him : that as Terence said, Pccuniam
in loco neg'Ug'cre, maximum inter dum lucrum ; so he
thought, Summiim jus non cxigere, summum intcrdum lu-
crum. As he thought her Majesty was altogether inclined
that way, though in necessary severity he doubted not her
Majesty would do like a Prince. And so having acquainted
the Lord Treasurer with his case, he left it to him to order
it as he should think best ; praying that he might hear of
some information to instruct or to comfort his guest ; or to
hold him yet in some suspense about all his doubts. Two
days after he petitioned the Queen that he might hear some
238 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK favourable message from her, and his suit was reposed with
' his uncle, the Earl of Darby ; and that because he under-
Anno 1573. stood the Archbishop was going into Kent. Who had ap-
pointed a gentleman to wait upon the said Lord Stourton in
his absence. Yet I find the Ai'chbishop at his house at Lam-
beth the latter end of July, when he sent a message to the
Lord Treasurer to know how this his guest should be used.
4 1 2 So that all this summer he reipained under the Archbi-
shop's roof at Lambeth. The Queen went her progress this
summer, and so left this Lord under restraint till her re-
turn home. In November, tlie Lord Treasurer sent one Mr.
Arundel to the Archbishop with this message, that he
shoidd send unto his Lordship some commendations of
His con- the Lord Stourton. Whereupon the Archbishop wrote him
formity. yf^^d, that he could testify of his coming to his chapel with
the rest of his household, and that he gave ear to the Les-
sons there read, and heard such sermons as were made
there. He saw him also modestly behaving himself, and
orderly at the table, according to his degree so used by
him ; and prayed his. Lordship to be good unto him for his
further liberty.
CHAP. XXIIL
Puritans taken up. Examined about CartwrigMs booTc,
in several inquiries. Some exj)ressio7is of Dcring in
his Lectures. The CounciVs judgment upon these men.
The Archbishop of York to our Archbishoj) concerning
them. The Archbishop constitutes Dr. Clerk Official of
the Arches. Sends the Lord Treasurer the book of Ger-
vasius Tilburiensis ; Lambard's Perambulation ; and
his own Antiquitates BritanniccE. His account and
reason in writing thereof Resolution to some doubts
about this book. Josceliri's assistance in it. His own life
omitted in his book. Some account thereof.
The Pari- The prosecution of the Puritans went now \ngorously
a disputa- forward, more than ever it had done, the Queen being re-
tion.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 239
solved to suppress them. For they had too openly depraved CHAP,
the orders established by law : which gave the Queen great
offence. And they and their friends had lately cried out Anno 1573.
much for a public disputation. The Bishop of London
therefore, not being afraid of the cause, and to satisfy the
people, offered in writing to the Lord Treasurer and the
Earl of Leicester, certain names of such as he thought meet
for the dispute on both sides. But the Lord Treasurer pru-
dently answered, that it were not fit that her Majesty should
call her established laws into question.
About this time, in the beginning of the year, divers of Examined
the most eminent men among them were taken up, and ^l^^gj^j!^*"*"
brought before the Council, and before the ecclesiastical book-
commission. And particularly, about Cartwright's book,
several were examined by the Council ; namely, Dering,
Wibom, Johnson, Brown, Field, Wilcox, Sparrow, and
King. Of these, Johnson was Chaplain to the Lord Keeper,
and dwelt in Middlesex, near Mr. Gresham ; and J. Brown
was Chaplain to the Duchess of Suffolk. These men were
examined, as was said, about the book, and other matters
relating to the Reformation of this Church, boldly contra^
dieted therein, under these articles :
I. Whether it be lawful for a private man openly to dis- in five ar-
prove or condemn in doctrine, that thing that is established ^I'^ss' G Pe-
by public authority, before he hath by humble supplication tytj Armig.
shewed the error thereof to the said authority ; expressing
his name and hand to the same ?
II. Whether the Book of Service be good and godly,
every tittle grounded on holy Scripture ?
III. Whether the Book of Articles, established by Par-
liament, be agreeable to God's word, or not.''
IV. Whether we must of necessity follow the primitive
Church in such things as be used or established, or
not ?
V. Whether all Ministers in the Church of God should 4 13
be of equal authority, as well concerning their jurisdiction,
as administration of the word and sacraments?
Four, one after another, (I do but transcribe out of the Four con-
MS.) were called, viz. Dering, Johnson, Wyborn, Brown ; ^yji'^jh^^f^*
hnnk.
M) THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK who all subscribed to the first question, that it was not law-
ful. One then present said, they had all condemned Mr.
Anno 1573. Cartwright's book.
Field and Field and Wilcox were now prisoners in NeAvgate, by
Newgate? commandment from the High Commissioners; but were
cherished by frequent visits of divers ministers and preach-
ers that resorted to them : namely, (according to the certi-
ficate given in of their names by the jailor of Newgate,) Wy-
born, Cartwright, Dering, Humfrey, (who is noted here to
have denied in certain letters sent to them, that he would
subscribe,) Lever, Crowley, Johnson, and Brown: Dr.
Fowks [Fulk] also visited them: and one James Young
was a common carrier of news for them and their visitors.
Dci Wig's as- As for Dering, there were these sayings produced to have
his lecture, been spoken by him, as some of his assertions. " Mr. De-
MSS. G.Pe- « Ymo^ said in his lecture at Paul's upon Tuesday was seven-
tyt, Armig. . . . . •' ,
" night, the 3d of April, that Christ did descend into hell
" only, by suffering the great burden of our sins, hanging
" on the cross. And that that descending that the old Fa-
" thers do speak upon, that he should afterwards descend
" into hell, is but a mere superstitious error of the Fathers,
" and Papistry.
" In his lecture, the 5th of this month, he likewise af-
" firmed the same ; and also did say, that it was unlawful,
" and against the law of natui-e, that any man should be
" suffered to hang on any gallows after that he is dead.
" In the next lecture, the 7th of this month, he did sayj
" that nowadays it Avas thought well enough for a good
" Minister, if he have a gown, and a cap and tippet, though
" he do not preach. If he have a gown and tippet, he is
" an honest man : if he have a gown and tippet, he is well-
" learned, and hath no fault, and that though he do never
" come at his benefice.
" Item, At his lecture he openly protested, that of right
" the election of Ministers to benefices or cures belongeth
" to the people, and of ancient writers is justified that it
" ought to be so.
MSS. Ceci- " Item, The 11th day of December, 1572, he said, putting
" off' his cap, Now I will prophesy, that Matthew Parker
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 241
whom he should appohit in liis j^l^ice. After this, he com- CHAP,
missionated Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and Dr. Drury, his
Commissary for the Faculties, to receive the Bishops" certifi-'^n'io i562.
catories, and to look into the proxies of the absents, and to
examine the causes of their respective absences. And then
pronounced all of the Clergy that appeared not by them-
selves, nor by their proxies, to be contumacious, reserving
the punishment of their contumacies unto the next session.
The next session being Saturday, Jan. the 16th, the Arch- The Arch-
bishop came again to the Synod held at St. Paul's, between
one and two in the afternoon, with the rest of the Bishops, ^^ynod.
There, in the chapter-house, first of all prayers were said by
him, pronounced with a loud and intelligible voice, in Latin,
with the usual Collects, and a new prayer proper to be said 122
in a provincial Synod. These prayers were responsed by
the Bishops, the Prelates, the Clergy, and people present.
After these things, the Clergy I'esorting to their own house,
the Archbishop sent for them ; who being come presented Nowei Pro-
the foresaid Nowel for their Prolocutor, being conducted
between the Deans of Westminster and of Christ Church
Oxon. The former in a short Latin speech shewed, how
deservedly they had elected him, on the account of his
virtues and endowments. But the venerable Elect in another
speech disabled himself for various reasons for so great an
office. Yet lest he should seem to decline a work so godly,
he promised willingly to take it upon him. Then the most
reverend having some discourse with the rest of the Bishops
concerning his fitness for this place, all with one mind con-
cluded and affirmed him most fit for the said ofl'ice of Pro-
locutor. Then the said most reverend Father, with the
common assent of the rest of the Fathers, in a handsome
speech confirmed the election made of so worthy a person.
And so dismissed the Lower House. The next thing he did,
was to desire the Bishops, that each of them would bethink
themselves of such things as in their several dioceses wanted
reformation ; and that they would propound them in the
next session. And then the Archbishop and his brethren
had secret communication among themselves, all others being
VOL. I. R
242 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK withdrawn. And so by their consent he continued and
prorogued the Convocation to the Tuesday following, being
Anno 1562. January the 19th, appointing that next meeting to be in
King Henry VIL's Chapel in Westminster.
His tiiird When the Archbishop was there again in person. Be-
thrsynod. ginning the session with the prayer mentioned before. Now
the most reverend Father, with the rest of his Suffragans,
held a conference or disputation concerning some articles
relating to the Christian faith. And afterwards sent for the
Prolocutor; who with six others of the Lower House appeared
before the Bishops ; and certified them, that some of their
house had exhibited certain sheets of paper concerning
matters to be reformed ; being respectively devised by them
and reduced into writing. Which sheets by common con-
sent were delivered to certain of the graver and learneder
sort of that Lower House, whom they had pitched upon for
this purpose, to take a careful view of them, and to consider
them : and that it was appointed them to reduce these
sheets into chapters, and to exhibit them the next session
before him, the Prolocutor. And he further proposed that
the Articles in the London Synod, set forth, as he said, in
the time of Kins: Edward VI. might be delivered to some
other of their company, chosen also for this purpose, to take
a diligent view, examination, and consideration of them ;
and, as they thought good, to correct and reform them ; and
the next session also to exhibit them. All this the most
reverend did approve and allow, and willed and commanded
them to proceed in the same according to their determi-
nation. And then he continued and prorogued the Convoca-
tion to the next day, viz. Jan. the 20th.
Present a- The said day the Archbishop was again present, with the
thnls'^'^*'^* rest of his brethren, the Bishops. Where, after prayers
begging the Divine assistance, being set, for three hours
space they treated and held communication between them-
selves, upon certain articles touching Chrisfs holy religion :
whereof mention was made in the acts yesterday. And so
the Convocation was prorogued and continued to Friday,
January the 22d : when the diligent Archbishop was pre-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
sent asain with the rest of the Bishops. And so he was CHAP.
... XII.
with them constantly every session after, for some time, viz. '
Jan. 25. 27. and 29. consulting with his brethren commonly i^fia.
for three hours together before they brake up, upon the
articles of doctrine, and matters to be reformed. On which
29th day they subscribed their names unanimously, to cer-
tain articles of orthodox faith, xnz. the Thirty-nine Articles,
and sent tliem down to the Lower House to be subscribed
there. In this session also the most reverend, with the
consent of his brethren, chose these Bishops following, xnz.
of London, Winchester, Lincoln, and Hereford, to devise
certain heads for a discipline in the Church, the doctrine of
it being now so well despatched.
He was present also in the session February the 3d, con- 123
suiting then with the rest of the Upper House in secret com-
munication for about three hours. After which he com-
mitted his place to some of the Bishops. Because by this
time, as it seems, they were come to a resolution concerning
discipline, and matters that required reformation. But
after three sessions, in the session. Febr. the 13th, being
Saturday, the Archbishop appeared again ; the reason
whereof was for the forwarding a subsidy to be raised
by the Clergy : as he was present the next session, Febr.
the 15th, upon the same business : and likewise Febr. 22.
when it was despatched and finished.
And though the most reverend Father was present
divers times after, (for the knowledge of which, recourse
may be had to the journal of this Convocation,) yet I shall
mention only one of his comings more, which was on
Friday the 19th of February, having then a weighty
business to offer to the consideration of the Lower House ;
which declared his patriarchal care for the state of the poor
Clergy, to stop (if possible) some severe counsels of laying
heavier burdens upon them. For having now at this session The Arch-
sent for the Prolocutor ; and he with six others of the said r,^^'rs''artT-
House appearing, the Archbishop gave him certain articles '^'^ *° t^e
■ • 1111 11 vi , ... , Prolocutor.
m wntmg ; and bade them all diligently to mquire into the
contents thereof : and whatsoever they should find, to re-
R 2
244
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK duce into writing, and deliver and exhibit to him. The
Articles were these :
Anno 1562
The Arti
' First, Whether yf the writt De melius inquirendo be
cies."' " sent forth, the likelyhod be, that yt will turne to the
" Quenes commodltie.
" Item, Whether sura benefices ratable be not les then
" they be alredie valued.
" Ite7n, To enquire of the manner of dilapidations, and
" other spoliations, that they can remembre to have passed
" upon theyr lyvinges ; and by whom.
" Item, How they have bene used for the levying of
" arrearages of tenths and subsidies : and for how many
" years past.
" Item, How many benefyces they fynd that are charged
" with pensions of religious persons.
" Item, To certify how many benefyces are vacant in
" every dyocese."
These inqumes, I make no doubt, were framed by the
Archbishop, that the answers to them from the Clergy
throughout the nation (which the Lower House represented)
might declare their poverty and miserable harassed con-
dition. Which, being offered and better known to the
Court, might facilitate compassion to be shewn them, and
prevent more rigours designed against them. But I do not
find any answers brought in from the Lower House to this
paper.
This Synod, after thirty-six sessions, by virtue of the
Queen^s writ to the Archbishop, was, on the 14th of April
1563, prorogued and continued to the third day of October
ensuing, by Dr. Yale, commissioned thereto by the said
most reverend Father.
Conference The Synod being thus broke up, and the Bishops and in-
ferior Clergy, the members thereof, departed and gone
shop and home, our Archbishop and Secretary Cecil, in an evening
concen^ing soon after, had a serious conference between themselves
the Bi- concerning the Bishops, their tempers, dispositions, discre-
tions, abilities, qualifications, and fitness for their office.
The Archbishop found many of them, by the late experi-
sbops.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 245
ence he had of them in the Synod, to have had their frailties : CHAP,
which chiefly consisted in their not proceeding with that.
prudent moderation with regard to Papists, as he reckoned Anno 1 562.
convenient : which he still pressed upon them, as he wrote
in a private letter to the Secretary about this time. The
Queen on the other hand, as he proceeded to tell the Secre-
tary, thought him too soft and easy. And indeed towards
the Popish sort he acknowledged he carried himself affably,
sparing punishment. Yet towards the wilful of them severe
enough.
But now happened another occasion for our Archbishop Tiie statute
to shew his wisdom and moderation. In this fifth year of the Queen's
the Queen, Jan. 12. her second Parliament began to sit. pow*^"".
Wherein an act was made for the assurance of the Queen's
power over all estates. The chief intent was to fortify the
Queen's power ecclesiastical, in her own dominions, against 1 24
the Papal pretences. By virtue of this act all people what-
soever, ecclesiastical as well as lay, that took any preferment
upon them, whether in the Inns of Court, or University, or
in the Church, were bound to take the oath framed in the
Queen's first Parliament in the first year of her government.
Which ran to this tenor :
" I ^. jB. do utterly testify and declare in my conscience, The oath of
" that the Queen's Highness is the only supreme governor
" of this realm, and of all other her Highness' dominions
" and countries, as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical
" things or cases, as temporal ; and that no foreign prince,
" person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have,
" any jurisdiction, power, superiority, preeminence, or au-
" thority ecclesiastical or temporal within this realm. And
" therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign
" jurisdiction, powers, superiorities, and authorities ; and do
" profess, that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true
" allegiance to the Queen's Highness, her heirs and lawful
" successors ; and to my power shall assist and defend all
"jurisdictions, privileges, preeminences, and authorities,
" granted or belonging unto the Queen's Highness, her
" heirs and successors, or united or annexed to the imperial
R 9,
^46
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK u Crown of this realm. So help me God, and by the con-
. " tents of this book."
Anno 1 56-2. rpj^jg ^^^^ Archbishops and Bishops were empowered
^^ e penal g^j^jj^jjjjgjgj. j^]} their Clergy. The penalty, pain, and
forfeiture of the refusal of this oath Avas, that the first time
they proceeded against the refusers by tlie statute of provi-
sions and premunire, made in the 16th year of King
Richard II. And the Bishop was, within forty days after
the refusal, to certify under his seal into the King's Bench,
the name, place, and degree of the person so refusing. And
if the same person did A\ithin three months after the first
tender of the oath to him refuse again to take it ; that then,
for the second offence, he was to forfeit, lose, and suffer
such like and the same pains, forfeitures, judgments, and
executions, as were used in cases of high treason.
One speaks Against the severity of the penalty of this bill did a
bfn°^^ * " member of the Lower House stand vip and argue. " And
" whereas some had said in behalf of this law, that by the
" common law of the nation the offence of not owning the
" Queen''s supremacy was treason, and that the offenders
" were traitors, as men that sought to take away the
" crown from the King's head, and give it to the Pope ;
" this gentleman denied this. And that if it might be
" proved, that the maintenance of foreign jurisdiction was
" not by the laws ever accounted ti*eason ; then the offence
" not being so great, the punishment ought not to be great
" neither. He heard the preachers say, that though in the
" old laAv idolatry was punished with death, yet since the
" coming of Christ, who came to win the world by peace,'
" the greatest punishment taught by the Apostle w^as that
" of excommunication. That religion, as they said also,
" must sink in by persuasion, it cannot be pressed in by
" violence. And for the dealings in Queen Mary's days,
" they much misliked them, calling the Bishops bloodsuckers,
" and bade_^ on the tormciHors, that delighted in nothing
" but in the blood of innocents, that threatened the whole
" realm with fire and fagot : that they were murderers,
" worse than Caiaphas and Judas. And that they spake
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 247
" with such vehemency, that he wondered how it should be CHAP.
" tliat they should now desire to establish that as a law, .
" which they thought then so far unlawful. That indeed^""" ^^^2-
" many a solemn Clerk and holy Father had been in the
" Church, that much misliked these cruel handlings, and
" wished rather the opinions of the men to be taken away
" than the men themselves. Then he undertook to shew,
" I. The cause why in all Christian realms offenders in reli-
" gion were punished with death. II. How far the punish-
" ment in this bill devised, exceeded that in rigor and
" cruelty. III. How offenders in this cause of religion
" ought not to be punished by the one, nor by the other,
" but liberty of their consciences allowed them." This
whole speech is set down in the Annals of the Reformation ; Annai Re-
to which I refer the reader. form. ch. as.
The Lord Mountague also made another speech in the 125
House of Lords (as the former was made in the House of ^""^Lord"*'
Commons) against passing this bill : and his discourse ran Mountague.
upon these three arguments ; viz. That this law was not ne-
cessary, was not just nor reasonable, nor that it was possi-
ble and commodious, apt or fit to be put in execution. Yet,
notwithstanding the best arguments the Papists could make,
the bill passed. This Lord's speech also is set down at
large in the book above said..
But to our Axxhbishop this severe act created some pen- The Arcii-
sive thoughts ; being a matter that might occasion much Immoderation
hard speech against the Bishops, if any by their inform- the exe-
ation (which they were by the act directed to make) should this act"
come to lose their lives. The result of the Archbishop's
deliberation in this matter was, privately to send his letters
to his brethren, warning them to have a great regard, and
use much prudence, in executing that act, and not to tender
the oath a second time to any (as they might be provoked
probably by the Papists' obstinacy sometimes to do) before
they had sent to him, giving him notice thereof, and had
received his letter in answer thereunto. This tenderness of
the Archbishop, in requiring the Bishops not to offer the
oath the second time without his notice, was very commcnd-
K. 4
248 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK able; that none might have occasion to clamour against
them or their order as cruel, or afFectine the sheddins of
Anno ises. the blood of those that differed from them, or revenging
themselves for former injuries. And having drawn up the
minutes of tlie said letter, he sent it to Secretary Cecil for
his judgment and advice, and according to his approbation
he would proceed therein. Which letter ran thus :
His letter " To his loving brother, &c. After my right hearty
shopTtbere- " commendations to your Lordship, this is upon good and
MS° G " '^^^''^^^^^^ consideration to require you, as also upon your
Petyt. Ai-ni. " obedience to charge you, to have a very grave, prudent,
" and godly respect, in executing the act of the establishment
" of the Queen's authority over her ecclesiastical subjects,
" late passed in this Parliament. And that if upon very
" apparent cause your Lordship shall be as it were com-
" pelled, for the wilfulness of some of that sort, to tender
" the oath mentioned in the same act, the peremptory re-
" fusal whereof shall endanger them in premunire, that im-
" mediately upon such refusal of any person you do ad-
" dress your letters to me, expressing the disorders of such
" one who is fallen into such danger ; and that ye proceed
" not to offer the said oath a second time, until your Lord-
" ship shall have mine answer returned again to you in
" writing. Which upon yovir declaration of the behaviour
" of such wilful recusants shall, I trust, ertend to the pu-
" nishment and abolishment of such corrupt members,
" if reason and clemency will not convince their wilful
" error and stubborn ignorance. Praying your Lordship
" also not to interpret mine advertisement, as tending to
" shew myself a patron for the easing of such evil-hearted
" subjects, which, for divers of them, do bear a perverse
" stomach to the purity of Christ's religion, and to the state of
" the realm thus by God's providence quietly reposed, and
" which also do envy the continuance of us all so placed by
" the Queen's favour, as we be : but only in respect of a
" fatherly and pastoral care ; which must appear in us,
" which be heads of his flocks, not to follow our private af-
" fection and hearts, but to provide coram Deo ct hominibus.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 249
" for saving and winning of others, if it may be so ob- CHAP.
" tained.
" And I also pray you to assure and persuade yourselves, ^""o isea.
" that this manner of my sudden writing at this time is JJ^'^j^^^*
" grounded upon great and necessary consideration, for the these mi-
" weal and credit of us that are governors in the Church, secretar^
" under the Queen's Majesty, and yet for divers respects ^^^^^^'^
" meet to be kept secret to yourselves, as I doubt not but
" your wisdoms will easily see and judge."
This device aforesaid did the Archbishop send unto his
iriend the Secretary, together with a letter to him, explain-
ing his reason of penning it in his own name, rather than in
the Queen's, who also was privy to this business, not willing
to have this act executed to the extremity. Wherein also
he gave some character of his brethren the Bishops, of
whom he had now better knowledge since the late Synod.
And this was the Archbishop's letter :
" Sir, in consideration of yesternight's talk, calling to my 1 26
" remembrance the qualities of all mv brethren, in experi- ^'"^
• • • X PI bishop to
" ence of our Convocation societies, I see some of them to the Secre-
" be pleni r'tmarum, liac atque iliac effiuunt, although ii^- *ernin"'the
" deed tlie Queen's Majesty may have good cause to be Bishops.
" well contented with her choice of the most of them, very ^^'^ ^' ^'
" few excepted. Among whom I count And
" furthermore, though we have done among ourselves little
" in our Queen's cause, yet I assure you our mutual con-
" sciences have taught us such experiences, that I trust we
" shall all be yet the better in governance for hereafter.
" And where the Queen's Highness doth note me to be
" soft and eas}', I think divers of my brethren will rather
" note me, if they were asked, too sharp and too earnest in
" moderation. Which towards them I have used, and will
" still do, till mediocrity shall be received among us.
" Though towards them qui forts sunt, I cannot but shew
" civil affability, and yet, I trust, inclining to no great
" cowardness, to suffer wilful heads to escape so easily.
" Sed ista parerga.
" I have thought to use this kind of writing to my bre-
250 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " thren, already departed home; not to recite the Queen''s
" Majesty's name ; which I Avould not have rehearsed
Anno 1562." to theii' discouragement of the honest Protestants; nor
" known too easy, to the rejoice of the adversaries, her
" adversaries indeed. I had rather to bear the burden my-
" self, to sustain the note of what they both will, than the
" good cause should be touched like to [produce] much
" quiet obedience. Whei'eupon though I shall thus write,
" as having no warrant in writing, to stay full execution of
" the impartial laws, as it may be so far forced ; yet if the
" jeoparding of my private estimation may do good, that
" the purpose itself may be performed, that the Queen
" would have done, it shall suffice, I think. If ye shall
" allow this device, I pray your Honour to return it me
" again, with your correction as you shall think meet."
Which the Secretary did with an addition of his own pen,
as we saw above.
The favour The effect of this was, that none of the Popish Bishops
.Sta\'rto the Divines had this oath now administered to them, except
Popish Bi- that bloody man Boner ; so tender was the State of the
sliops.
Rejiroof, estates and lives of these men. And this Nowel, the Dean
P- of St. PauFs, confidently tells Dorman his adversary in print,
saying, that the oath was never required of them.
Dr. Ack- This year the Ai'chbishop sent a commission to Dr.
mined Ad- Weston, Official of the Court of the Arches, to admit
vocate. George Ackworth, LL. D. to be an Advocate in that Court.
This Ackworth, a learned man, was entertained by the Arch-
bishop in his family : he was Orator of the University
of Cambridge, and made an eloquent speech at the restitu-
tion of Bucer and Fagius ; and was employed by the Arch-
bishop, not long after this, in answering a part of Saunder's
book De Visihili Monarchia; and was one of the learned
men he made use of in his courts and visitations, as we
may hear hereafter.
What the In these first four years our Archbishop settled many
i^therto things relating to the state of religion and God's service
had done, in his province. In that time he discharged his first-fruits,
and furnished his house with provisions and householdstufi'
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 251
suitable to the dignity of his place. Then he fell upon the CHAP,
thoughts of repairing the palace of Canterbury. In which,
when it was finished, he made extraordinary feasting, and Anno 1562.
kept vast hospitality there divers times, and sometimes for
some days together. And at the assizes he had his feast-
ings, that he might have the opportunity of entertaining all
the gentry of the county. Here also was noble entertain-
ment at the confirmation of the Archbishop of York. But
this was some years after, as we shall be told.
The next year when he went down to Canterbury, his He repairs
presence and directions greatly set forward the work of the at^^^^'t^g^^
said palace. i>ury.
But the fair progress religion had by this time made by
his prudent government and wary counsel, in the midst of
so many difficulties and oppositions, redounded more to his
praise. And " how gravely, (according to the observation Preface to
" of one in those days,) learnedly, and Christianly, his Grace Comm.
"and others the Bishops, by their most godly travail, with ^'^^^'^j^*'
"the good help of the Queen''s laws in that behalf pro- 1 563. ^
" vided, had reformed the state of the corrupt Church, re-
" stored to God his due honour in public service, planted
^true obedience to her Majesty in the hearts and con-
" sciences of her subjects, delivered the thralled minds of 12^^
" 'true Christians from their heavy bondage and oppression,
" drawn deceived souls out of most dangerous error, and to
" the people''s eternal comfort published the most glorious
" light of God's most holy truth, both her Majesty, to her
" great contentation, joyfully beheld, and they the flock
" committed to her charge, and under her to his execution,
" did both feel to their benefit, and right worthily did con-
" fess with most loving memory." This public acknowledg-
ment was thought due to him.
252 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 1563. CHAP. XIII.
The Councirs letter to the Archbishop for St. PauTs. The
Archbishop goes down to his diocese. Book of Homilies ;
both parts. Letters to him from the Council ; requiring
an exact account of his diocese. His certificate thereof.
His metropolitical visitation continues. The ignorance
of the Curates.
The work ThE Contributions made by the Clergy of the province
at astauii'* of Canterbury for repairing the damages made by fire in
St. Paul's church, anno 1561, which we heard of under that
year, enabled the work to go commendably forward hither-
to. But now in 1563, it received a stop for want of money
to carry it on, and to buy lead for the covering ; whereby
some parts of the church unfinished, being exposed to the
weather, received injury : some of the Clergy being back-
ward in their payments by reason of their poverty, and some,
it seems, refusing any benevolence at all. The Council there-
fore, to back and give the more authority to the Archbishop
to gather up the arrears in his diocese, sent him a letter re-
hearsing the condition of that church, and exciting him to
hasten the collection ; which Avas as followeth :
The Coun- " After our vei'y hearty commendations to your Lordship :
to the^Arch- " whereas we understand, that according to such order as
bisiiop ii ye received from the Queen's Majesty, ye have directed
MSS.''c c. " your letters to all the Bishops of your province for the
c. c. a levying of a contribution of the Clergy within the same
" towards the re-edifying of the church of Paul's, according
" to certain limits in that behalf ; so it is that at this pre-
" sent the works of the said church, being one of the most
" notable monuments of this realm, which hitherto with great
" diligence and like success have been prosecuted, are now
" compelled to cease ; and some part of the roof thereof to
" stand bare and uncovered for want of lead and present
" money, to sustain the charges of such a work ; not only
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. S5S
" to the decay of the places uncovered, but also to some CHAP.
" note and slander in the sight of the world. "
" These are therefore to require your Lordship foi'thwith, Anno issa.
" with all diligence, according to the rate of the book of
" tenths and subsidies, to collect all the arrearages of the
" said contribution remaining unpaid, as well of all the dig-
" nities and prebends of your cathedral church, as of all
" other spiritual promotions within your diocese of Canter-
" bury, which for exility are not exempted from the said
" contributions by your former letter ; and to pay the same
" unto the treasurers of the same works of Paul's, at or be-
" fore the first day of August next ; taking further order
" for those that will deny or refuse the payment thereof,
" according to the said rate before limited, as to your wis-
" dom shall seem good. And thus we bid your Grace right
" heartily well to fare. From Greenwich, 26th of June, 1563.
" Your Lordship's assured loving friends,
" N. Bacon, C. S. Will. Northampton.
" Arundel. Pembroke. Will. Howard. R. Duddely.
« E. Clinton. F. Knollys. W. Cecil."'
This letter no question forwarded the work ; but all was 128
not finished before the year 1566.
Soon after Midsummer the Archbishop went down to hisThe Uishop
diocese, to visit it in person, that he might, as he told the o^yn^j'ot
Secretary, thoi'oughly know the state thereof himself per-ccse.
sonally, and take order among the Clergy. And this year
he obtained a licence of the Queen to retain forty persons ;
perhaps that he might now make the greater appearance.
The Book of Homilies as yet lay before the Queen to be The Book
considered of. But in the month of June he earnestly ^x-
cited the Secretary to put her Majesty upon resolving her-
self concerning this book, which had been revised and finish-
ed, with a second part, by him and the other Bishops, and
printed the year before, and waited only for the Queen's
allowance to be publicly used in the parish-churches of the
nation. And this motion the Archbisliop now made the
rather, because he was minded to deliver these books to each
254 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK parish one, as he should go along in his intended visitation,
and give his charge to the respective Ministers to read those
Anno 1 663. Homilies for the people's profit and edification. And I find
two editions of them (perhaps there were more) this year
1563, printed.
He resolves In this visitation he was resolved to maintain a table, be-
goortai^ie fitting his quality ; and during his being abroad to receive
ill his visit- both the Clergy and gentry with the ancient hospitality of
an Archbishop of Canterbury. But he had no parks, or at
least others had spoiled them of their venison. For he com-
plained, that the most part of his brethren, meaning the Bi-
shops, were better furnished in that provision than himself.
Therefore, as he said, to avoid the shame of his table, if he
should not have to bid his neighbours to a piece of flesh, he
requested of the Secretary to procure him from some of his
friends in Kent a couple of bucks. And the like request he
made to the Lord Robert Duddely (the same that was after-
wards the great Earl of Leicester) and other of his friends.
And gave an hint to the said Secretary, that if he durst as
boldly speak to the Queen, as he was wont formerly to find
grace in Queen Anne''s favour in such hke requests, he would
offer his suit to her for three or four bucks out of her park
at Cantei'bury, as some recompence for taking away his
Broyle in Sussex : which was and still is a very large and
noble park near Lewis in that county. But in some kind of
suUenness for that disregard and contempt of the Clergy,
that then was visible enough at the Court, he thought it best
to say nothing to her Majesty, and content himself with his
beef ; telling the Secretary between jest and earnest, " Marry,
" because I doubt in these days whether Bishops or Min-
" isters may be thought worthy to eat venison, I will hold
" me to my beef, and make merry therewith, and pray for
Takes no
" all my benefactors." This also must be added to the me-
procura- niorial of his generosity in his visitation, that it was at his
tions oi his o J '
Clergy. own cost ; not taking of his Clergy the procurations that
were due to him for visitinjj.
In July the Lords of the Council wrote a letter to him,
to give them an exact account of the diocese, (which indeed
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 255
contained a common order to all of the Bishops.) And this chap.
was the tenor of it.
Anno 1563.
" After our very hearty commendations to your good The Coun-
, • > cil*s letter
" Lordship ; the Queetfs Majesty, upon certain good consi- ^o him.
" derations moving; her to understand in some part the state '^^^j'- ^•
» C. C. Vol.
" of your diocese, hath commanded us to write unto your Certlficator.
" Lordship with all speed possible ; and thereby to require
" the same to make answer by writing distinctly to us of
" all these articles following.
" I. How many shires or counties your diocese doth con-
" tain, or into how many it doth extend.
" II. Into what manner of regiment the same is divided ;
" whether the same be into archdeaconries, deaneries, or
" such like. And how many the same be, with their dis-
" tinct names. Who occupieth those rooms at the present ;
" and where they are, to your understanding.
" III. What exempt or pecuHar places are within the
" circuit of your diocese, where you have not full jurisdic-
" tion as Ordinary ; and what the names thereof be ; and
" who hath the ordinary jurisdiction thereof at this present.
" IV. How many churches within every such archdea-129
" conry, deanery, or other regiment. Which be parochial.
" How many of them have Parsons, Vicars, Curates. And
" whereas the parishes are so large, as they have divers
" chapels of ease, which have or ought to have Curates or
" Ministers in them ; to certify how many be of that sort in
" every such parish, with the names of the towns or hamlets
" where the same churches or chapels are so situate.
" V. How many households are within every parish, or
" within any such member of any parish, that hath such
" churches and chapels of ease.
" VI. And lastly, wheresoever any such exempt places
*' be within the circuit of your diocese, wherein you have
" no such jurisdiction, as you can presently make sufficient
" answer to the former articles, her Majesty would, that
" you should in writing copy out so much of the substance
256
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " of these five former articles as shall seem convenient for
" the purpose: and with speed send to such persons as have
Anno 1563. 4£ the jurisdictions of those exempt places, or their deputies,
" residing next unto you ; willing and commanding them in
" her Majesty's name forthwith to send distinct answers
" thereunto ; to be sent either to yourself, or by them sent
" to us.
" And because the greater part of these former articles is
" such, as we doubt not but ye are by means of your visit-
" ation able to cause sufficient certificate to be made unto us
" with speed, we require your Lordship to use- therein all
" the diligence that you can, and not to defer any time
" therein ; but either by this messenger, or within two or
" three days at the farthest, to return us answer. And for
" some such part thereof as speedily you cannot certify, with
" conference had with your Chancellor, Commissioners,
" Archdeacons, Deans, or other inferior officers, our like
" earnest request is, that you do procure information there-
" of without delay of time ; and to command in her Majes-
" ty's name the like to be done by all other, having, as above
" is said, any exempt jurisdiction; so as her Majesty may
" be amply and certainly satisfied therein. And so fare
" your Lordship right heartily well. From Greenwich, the
" 9th of July, 1563.
" Your Lordship's assured friends,
" T. Norfolk.
" Pembroke. R. Duddely.
William Cecyl."
Sends up a And accordinfflv he sent up his certificate to the Lords
certificate of ^ *j i
his diocese, with such speed as they required ; naming not only the pa-
rishes in each deanery, and the Parsons and Vicars respect-
ively, but the number of households in each of those parishes
for the most part.
The Certificate was as foUoweth, bearing this title ;
The Certificate of the most reverend Father in God,Matthue,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 257
Archbishop of Canterbury, according to the letters mis- CHAP.
sives of the Lords of the Queeii's Majesty's most honour-
able Privy Council in that behalf directed, bearing date Anno isea.
the 9th of July, ann. Dom. 1563.
Imprimis, The diocese of Canterbury extendeth to a mss. Hon.
part of the county of Kent only, and to none other shire or J^'^^'j^J^J^;
county. Armig.
Item, There is in the same diocese only one Archdeacon,
by the name of Archdeacon of Canterbury : who is at this
present Edmond Geste, Bishop of Rochester, the Queen's
Majesty's Ahnoner.
Item, The diocese is divided into eleven deaneries, [which
are by and by expressed.]
There is no part of the diocese exempt from the Arch-
bishop ; but the said Archbishop hath the sole and plenary
jurisdiction ordinary throughout all the said diocese.
Item, The number of churches and chapels of every 130
deanery aforesaid, with the states and qualities thereof, are
here under written.
In the deanery of Canterbury,
The parish church of Fordwiche. The town of Ford-
wiche is served by a Parson. Households 24.
The parish church of Sturry. The town of Sturry is
served by a Vicar. Households 42.
The parish church of St. Paul, in the city of Canterbury,
is served by a Vicar. Households 80. And so the certifi-
cate proceeds, enumerating the parishes in the deanery : and
at the foot is set down the sum of the churches and chapels
within this deanery, viz. 16. And the sum of the house-
holds, viz. 493.
In the deanery of Bridge, after the parishes are all spe-
cified, then follows the sum total of the churches and cha-
pels of this deanery, viz. 34, households 1135.
In the deanery of Charing, parish churches and chapels
24, households 2286.
In the deanery of Sutton, churches and chapels 26, house-
holds 1474.
VOL. I. S
268 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK In the deanery of Syttingborn, churches and chapels 26,
"• . households 783.
Anno 1563. In the deanery of Ospringe, churches and chapels 25,
households 933.
In the deanery of Limpne, churches, and chapels 36,
households 1094.
In the deanery of Westbeere, churches and chapels 15,
households 737.
In the deaneiy of Sandwich, churches and chapels 27,
households 591-
In the deanery of Dover, sum of the churches and chapels
20, households 551.
Sum total of all the churches and chapels of the diocese
of Canterbury as before expressed, 276. And of all the
households before particularly expressed, 10,948.
Bristol and The Archbishop still continued his metropolitical vlsita-
Eiy visited. ^.^^ j,^^ besides a commission to Cottrel, LL. D. dated
May 23, for visiting Bristol, the day of August 1563,
he gave out a commission to Thomas Yale, LL. D. John
Pory, D. D. and Edward Leeds, M. A. to visit the city and
diocese of Ely.
Becon col- rpj^g ^Oth day of the same month he admitted a famous
lated to
Back man, both for his sufferings under King Henry VIII. and
church. Queen Mary, and also for his many useful 'mntings, to be
Minister of St, Dionys Back church, London, viz. Thomas
Becon ; who was also one of the Prebendaries of the church
of Canterbury.
The Curate fhe ignorance of the ordinary sort of Clerffvnien, Curates,
of Cripple- 111- 1 -J T ' '
gate. and such like, is commonly said to be gi-eat about these
times. For notwithstanding all the pains that was used to
deliver the Church of that blindness that enveloped the
Priests in the late Popish times, it would not yet be dis-
pelled. For an instance of this, I bring in here the Curate
of Cripplegate, one Tempest, a well-meaning man ; who
having upon some occasion (perhaps the metropolitical visit-
ation) been before Peerson the Archbishop's Chaplain, was
asked by him some questions : and among the rest, what M^as
the meaning of the word function. AVhich hard word he
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 259
could not well tell what to make of : for which it seems he CHAP.
was reprehended. But soon after, to vindicate himself, and
to make his excuse by the pretence of a surprise, he wrote A""" '563.
a right learned letter, which may be read in the Appendix. Numb. xx.
CHAP. XIV. 131
The Arclihishop at Canterbury. His pimis motion. An
Office of Prayer and Fasting appointed Jbr the plague
and other judgments. The Arclihishop'' s concern therein.
The state (yf the church of Durham. Whittingham Dean
there ; his letter concerning it. An Office of Thanksgiv-
ing.
In the latter end of the month of July I find our Arch- The Arch-
bishop at his house at Bekesbourn, near Canterbury, a place Bekei^ "
of retirement, healthfully and pleasantly seated, which he'"'"''"'^-
took a great deal of delight in. Here he piously consider-
ing how the nation was at this time afflicted universally by
war, and the pestilence broken out at London, and a famine
at Canterbury, the people wanting necessary provisions, as
was reported to him : he thought good to call upon the Appoints
or. , ^^■ ^ i- fasting and
Mayor or Canterbury, and his Commonalty, to meet him on prayer at
Friday at the cathedral church : where he did himself ex-
. . bury.
hort them to prayer : and then appointed Friday for the
future to be set apart for prayer and preaching in the cathe-
dral, and Mondays and Wednesdays in the parish churches :
prescribing for this occasion a form of prayer, much what
the same with that that had been before appointed by au-
thority in the Guises' time, a few words only in the same
being altered. For you must know, that about the year
1559 or 1560, the nation was in great fears and apprelien-
sions of Queen Elizabeth's safety, upon the malice of the
Duke of Guise and his brother, who ruled all France in
those times : and being uncles to the Queen of Scots, labour-
ed to reduce Scotland under France, and to wound England
on that side. And, having a peculiar hatred to Queen
s 2
260 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Elizabeth for the sake of her reHgion, "bent themselves
" with mio-ht and main," as Camden writes, " to work her
Anno 1563. " destruction, relying upon the promises of some English
Camd. Ehz. j^jj^j g averse to the Protestant religion." Upon these
ad ann. or
1^60. jealousies a form of prayer had been drawn up, pi-obably by
our Archbishop, and ordered to be used in the kingdom for
her Majesty's safety, and the good estate of the nation, and
of the religion professed therein.
But not in These prayers, after the Archbishop had accommodated
the rest of, i -i -in i^j
the diocese ; them to the present occasion, he prescribed now to be used
and why. Canterbury. This he did, not enjoining the like to the
rest of his diocese, nor to the rest of his province, for want
of sufficient warrant from the Prince or Council, lest he
might otherwise run into some transgression of the laws.
But he writ to the Secretary, that he marvelled he had no
advertisements from above, enjoining him to take order for
so pious a purpose, in a time that so much required it. And
lest it might be objected to him and the rest of the Bishops,
that they by their vocation should have had special regard
of such matters, he answered, " That they were holden
" within certain limits by statutes, and so might stand in
" doubt, how it would be taken, if they should of them-
" selves have given order herein." This was the cause that
he thought it prudent not to charge the rest of his diocese
with injunctions for fasting and prayer, but left them to
their own liberty to follow them in the city for common
prayer, if they wovild. But withal the Archbishop desired
a warrant from the Council for the same ; that he might di-
rect his precepts, as he thought it very necessary, to exer-
cise the said public prayers.
A public The Archbishop having made this good motion, Cecil,
prayer and Qucen's Secretary, immediately acquainted the Queen
fasting or- therewith, and recommended the devising a form of solemn
prayer and fasting, unto Grindal, Bishop of London, chiefly
for the judgment of the plague then Iving upon the nation,
brought over from Newhaven in France, when the English
surrendered it. This very matter that careful and pious
Bishop had already thought on, and made some progress in
dt-red.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 261
before the Secretary's letter came to him for that purpose ; CHAP,
having sent to the Dean of St. Paurs, Alexander Nowel, to .
XIV.
pen an homily meet for the time ; which the said Dean ac- ^""o ' ^63.
cordingly did. But that Bishop meant it at first but for his
o^vn cure, to use his own expression, meaning, I suppose,
thereby his cathedral, or the city of London, or at most his 132
diocese. But since the Secretary had admonished him to
prepare a form of prayer to be used more generally, he pro-
ceeded further by the help of the said Dean. And having Prepared by
finished it, he sent the Secretary a copy of it ; advising him, of London!
after he had perused it, to send it speedily by one of Jug
the printer's men to the Archbishop. Accordingly the
Secretary having reviewed it, and adding somewhat in divers
places thereof by his own hand, Avithout delay despatched it
to Canterbury ; desiring the Archbishop's last review there-
of, and so to remit it to be printed. And withal procuring,
according to the Archbishop's request, the Queen's letters to
the Archbishop, to authorize him to publish a public form
of prayer and fasting to be observed through the nation, he
sent those letters also.
For this the Archbishop thanked him, and keeping the Revised and
copy by him about a week, altered some parts thereof, not the'^A^ch-''^
in substance and principal meaning, but in the circumstances ; bishop,
and that for this reason. " Because, as he said, he saw
" offence grew by new innovations ; and he therefore doubt-
" ed, .whether it were best to change the established form
" of prayer appointed already by law, in this alteration of
" prayer for a time, as that formular [of Bishop Grindal's]
" would infer, which directed all the service to be said in the
" body of the church. Which being once in this particular
" order devised, he judged they abolished all chancels. And
" therefore the Litany, with the new Psalms and Collects,
" he judged might be said, as Litany is already ordered, in
" the midst of the people." But the other parts, containing
a second service, he approved to be celebrated in the chan-
cel. " In short, the Archbishop said, he had no otherwise
" altered the book, but to make it draw, as nigh as could
" be, to the public book and orders used. And whereas the
s 3
26S THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " Collects were somewhat long, he wished they had been
shorter: fearing the service to be too long, as he said,
Anno 1563. << foj- their cold devotions." But the composers had design-
edly made them long, for this reason, that the people might
continue in prayer till four in the afternoon, and then to take
one meal. And this also the Archbishop seemed not to like,
saying, that all things agreed not every where.
Used in the This book was soon printed, and began to be exercised in
province oi _ ^ ...
Canter- London in the month of August, and so likewise in all the
bury. province.
^f'th'^'^'f"' * Tl^is form was to be used in common prayer twice a week.
of prayer. And there was an order of public fast to be used every Wed-
nesday during the time of mortality and other afflictions,
wherewith the realm at that time was visited. In the be-
ginning of this book is published a copy of the Queen's let-
ter to the Archbishop of Canterbury : which ran to this im-
The Queen's port; " That he, having devised a form, and considered of
thoriz'ing " some good order to be prescribed therein, and required
the form. « the application of her authority for the better observation
" thereof among the people ; she therefore commanded all
" manner of Ministers, ecclesiastical or civil, and all her sub-
" jects, to execute, foUow, and obey such godly and whole-
" some orders, as he, being Primate of all England and Me-
" tropolitan, upon godly advice and consideration, should
*' prescribe and publish, for the universal usage of prayer,
" fasting, and other good deeds." This was given under
her signet at Richmond, August 1. This letter taken from
Num. XXI. the original shall be found in the Appendix.
The Pre- Then foUows a Preface, which began in these words, viz.
" We be taught by many and sundry examples of holy
" Scriptures, that upon occasion of particular punishments,
" afflictions, and perils, which God of his most just judg-
" ment hath sometime sent among his people, to shew his
" wrath against sin, and to call his people to repentance, and
" to the redi'ess of their evil lives ; the godly have been pro-
" voked and stirred up to more fervency and diligence in
" prayer, fasting, and almsdeeds ; to a more deep consider-
" ation of their consciences ; to ponder their unthankful-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. . 263
" ness, and forgetfulness of God's merciful benefits towards CHAP.
" them, with craving of pardon for the time past, and to
" ask his assistance for the time to come, to live more godly : Auno i663.
" and so to be defended and delivered from all further perUs
" and dangers. So King David, &c. Now therefore, call-
" ing to mind that God hath been provoked by us to visit
" us at this present with the plague and other grievous dis-
" eases ; and partly also with trouble of wars ; it hath been
" thought meet to set forth by public order some occasion
" to excite and stir up all godly people within this realm
" to pray earnestly and heartily to God to turn away his 133
" deserved wrath from us, &c. For the effectual accom-
" plishment thereof it is ordered, &c." And then follow
particular rules and orders to be observed both by Ministers
and people, viz.
First, That all Curates and Pastors shall exhort their
parishioners to endeavour themselves to come unto the
church, with so many of their families as may be spared
from their necessary business ; (having yet a prudent respect
in such assembUes to keep the sick from the whole, in places
where the plague reigneth ;) and they to resort, not only on
Sundays and holydays, but on Wednesdays and Fridays,
during the time of these present afilictions, exhorting them
reverently and godly there to behave themselves, and
with penitent hearts to pray unto God to turn these plagues
from us.
Secondly, The said Curates shall then distinctly and plain-
ly read the General Confession appointed in the Book of Ser-
vice, with the residue of the Morning Prayer, using, for
both the Lessons, the chapters hereafter following. That is
to say, for the first Lesson one of these chapters out of the
Old Testament, ^ King xxiv. Levit. xxvi. Deutr. xxviii.
Jer. xviii. unto these words. Let us, &c. and chap. xxii.
2 Paral. xxxiv. Esa. i. Ezek. xviii. and xix. Jer. ii. 2 Esdr,
ix. Jonas iid and iiid chapters together. Which chapters
would be read orderly on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fri-
days. And for the second Lessons, one of these chapters
out of the New Testament, Matth. iii. vi. vii. xxiv. xxv.
s 4
264
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Luke xiii. Acts ii. beginning at these Avords, Ve men of
Israel, &c. to the end of the chapter. Rom. ii. vi. xii. xiii.
Anno 1563. Gal. V. Ephcs. iv. V. I Tim. ii. Apoc. ii.
Older of The order for Wednesdays, which were the days ap-
day's fast, pointed for general fast, was this : " After Morning Prayer
" ended, the Curates and Ministers were to exhort the
" people to give themselves to their private prayers and
" meditations. For which purpose a pause was to be made
" of a quarter of an hour or more, by the discretion of the
" Curate. During wlaich time, as good silence should be
" kept as might be. That done, the Litany was to be read
" in the midst of the people, with the addition of certain
" prayers afterwards mentioned. Then followed the ad-
" ministration of the Communion, so oft as a just number of
" communicants should be thereto disposed, with a sermon,
" if it could be, to be made by such as were authorized by
" the Metropolitan or Bishop of the diocese. And they
" were to treat of such matters especially, as were meet for
" that cause of public prayer; or for want of such Preacher,
" to read one of the Homilies appointed, after the reading
" of the Gospel, as had been accustomed. And so the
" Minister, commending the people to God with the ac-
" customed benediction, should dismiss them. If no Com-
" munion, then, after the Litany, the Ten Commandments,
" the Epistle, Gospel, sermon or homily done, tlie general
" usual prayer for the state of the whole Church, as is set
" forth in the Common Prayer, was to be read. After which
" followed two praj ers, viz. Almighty God, the Jhuntain of
" all wisdom, he. and. Almighty God, "which hast pro-
" mised, &c. and the benediction."
Order for The Order for Fridays was, that then should be used
only the Morning Prayers and the Litany, with the prayers
now appointed to be annexed to the same.
Homilies The Homilies to be read in order. 1. A Homily concern-
tob'e'us^l. ^"S ^ ustice of God in punishing of Impenitent Sinners,
then newly set forth, made by Nowel, Dean of St. Paul's.
2. The eighth Homily of the first tome of Homilies, entitled.
Of declining Jrom God. 5. The ninth Homily of the same
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 265
tome, entitled, Jn Exhoi-tation against the Fear qf Death. CHAP.
4. The Homily of Fasting. 5. The Homily of Prayer. 6. The
Homily of Alms-deeds. 7. The Homily of Repentance. These '^""o i^ea.
four last in the second tome. When these Homilies were
once read over, then to begin again, and so to continue
them in order.
After the Litany was to be used a prayer. Three are set The prayer*
down in the book : and the Curate was to use them one Litany,
after the other on different days. The first is somewhat
long, being a confession consisting of five sides and above :
which I think was that which gave some dislike to the
Archbishop, as was hinted before. The second is shorter ;
and about the same length is the third prayer; both con-
sisting of about two sides.
The first prayer began thus penitently: " O Almighty, 134
" most just and merciful God, we here acknowledge our-
" selves most unworthy to lift up our eyes unto heaven.
" For our conscience doth accuse us, and our sins do re-
" prove us. We know also that thou. Lord, being a just
" Judge, &c." The second beginneth thus: " O eternal and
" ever-living God, most merciful Father, which of thy long-
" suffering and patience, Sic." The third thus: " It had
" been the best for us, O righteous Judge, and our most
" merciful Father, that in our wealthes and quietness, and
" in the myddest of thy manifold benefits bestowed upon
" us, &c.''
Then foUoweth a short meditation to be said of such as
were touched in affliction, beginning, " O Father, doubtless
" our own wickedness do reward us, but do thou, O Lord,
" according to thy name, &c."
Then were added certain Psalms that might be sung or
said before the beginning or after the ending of public
prayer.
Then followed the order for the general fast ; when the Order for
Minister was to begin with these words : " It is most evident f^s^t general
" to them that read the Scriptures, that both in the Old
" Testament under the Law, and in the primitive Church
" under the Gospel, the people of God had always used
266 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " general fasting, both in times of common calamities, &c.""
Wherein I do observe, that it was here acknowledged as a
Adqo 1563. fault, that this was the first fast that was kept in the Queen's
reign, and said to be for a heg;innmg of redress herein.
Then were prescribed the rules of this fast ; which may not
be impertinent to transcribe here : and the rather because I
believe they were of the Archbishop's dra^\ing up.
I. It was ordained that the Wednesday of every week
shall be the day appointed for this general fast.
II. AU persons between the age of sixteen years and
sixty (sick folks and labourers in harvest or other great
labours only excepted) shall eat but one only competent
and moderate meal upon every Wednesday. In which said
meal shall be used very sober and spare diet, \vithout variety
of kinds of meat, dishes, spices, confections, or wines ; but
only such as may serve for necessity, comliness, and health.
III. Item, In that meal it shall be indifferent to eat flesh
or fish ; so that the quantity be small, and no variety or
delicacy be sought. AVherein every man hath to aunswer to
God, if he, in such godly exercises, either contempne pub-
lique order, or dissemble with God, pretending abstinence,
and doing nothing less.
IV. Item, Those that be of health and habilitie ought that
day to abate and diminish the costliness and variety of their
fare, and encrease theremth their hberality and alms to-
wards the poor. The same poor which either indeed lack
food, or else that which they have is unseasonable, and cause
of sickness, may thereby be relieved, and charitably suc-
coured, to be maintayned in health.
V. Last of all, this day, being in this manner appointed
for a day of general prayer and fasting, ought to be be-
stowed, by them which may forbear from bodily labour, in
prayer, study, reading or heainng of the Scriptures, or good
exhortations, &c. And when any dulness or weariness shall
arise, then to be occupied in other godly exercises. But no
part thereof to be spent in plays, pastimes, or ydleness,
much less in lewd, wicked, and wanton behaviour.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 267
Then follows this order ; when there is a sermon, or other CHAP,
just occasion, one of the Lessons may be omitted, and the
shortest of the three prayers appointed in the Litany by Anno 1 563.
this order may be said, and the longest left off.
Then comes the new homily, entitled. Concerning' the The ho-
Justice of God in punishyng of Impenitent Synners, mzd™''^'
of his Mercies towards all such as in their Afflictions un-
feignedly turn to him : Appointed to be read in the time of
Sickness. Beginning thus : " The most ryghteous God,
" and the same our most mercy ful Father, abhorryng all
" wickedness and impiety, and delighting in all ryghteous-
" ness and innocencye, and wyllyng that we his people
" and chyldren should herein be conformed, &c." A very
good, pious, and plain discourse, and consisteth of two
parts.
The Secretary prevailed with the Queen likewise to send 135
her letters to the Archbishop of the other province, viz. of The fast
York, to enjoin him to cause the form to be used there, *]"^p'°Qy'|„"g
conveying withal some few of these books of prayers, to of York,
begin with, in the city of York, and promising that the im-
pression for that province should follow with convenient
speed. I find it observed in Durham in the month of De-
cember, on Wednesdays and Fridays, attended also with
preaching. In which quarters give me leave here to insert
also what progress religion made; and particularly what
care was taken for the public service of God in the cathe-
dral, and for the instruction of youth in the city. A pro-
spect whereof will be shewn in a letter from W. Whitting-
ham. Dean of that church, to Secretary Cecil ; which ran as
ensueth :
" Grace, mercy, and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Tlie Dean
" Albeit I am not ignorant how unbeseeming it is to trouble "o {^""^s^"'
" your Honour with letters of small importance, yet I colde ^retary.
. , . , . . „ The state
" not m so long tyme omit to shew some signification of my of their
" special duety ; aswel to yielde unto your Honor most ^g^'^''^^^
" humble thanks, with promise of my service where you ciUan.
*' shall appoint, as also to certify you of our doings here.
268
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " First, in the morning at six of the clock the grammar
" schoole and song schole with all the servants of the
Anno 1563. " house, resort to prayers into the church. Which exercise
" continueth almost half an houre. At nyne of the clock
" we have our ordinary service ; and likewise at thre after
*' none. The Wenesdays and Fridays are appointed to a
" general fast, with prayers and preaching of God's word.
" The Sundaies and holydays before none we have sermons ;
" and at after none the catechisme is expounded.
" Because we lak an able scholemaster I bestow daily
" three or four hours in teaching the youth, till God pro^
" vide us of some that may better suffice.
" The people in the country are very docile, and willing
" to hear God's word ; but the towne is very stiff, notwith-
" standing they be handeled withal lenitie and gentleness.
" The best hope I have, that now of late they begyn to re-
" sort more diligently to the sermons and service. God
" make us all profitable setters forth of his glory, and pre-
" serve long, bless, and direct your Honour to his glory and
" all our comforts. My brother Mr. Hallyday most humbly
" saluteth your Honour : so doth Mr. Benet. From Dur-
" " ham, this 19th Decemb.
" Your Honours most humbly to commande
" W. Whittingham."
This Dean Whittingham I find, September 12. had so
much favour, as to preach before the Queen, then at Wind-
sor.
A thanks- January 22. the plague ceasing, there was a short form
poTntecTfor of thanksgiving drawn up and appointed to be used Sun-
the ceasing ({sLjs, Wednesdays, and Fridays, instead of the common
prayer used in. the time of the mortality : set forth by the
Bishop of London. It consisted of an hymn composed of
divers suitable verses taken here and there out of the
Psalms, and prayer of some length.
Thethants- To which I may add, that there was another different
fn^thf dfo- form of thanksgiving also appointed by the Bishop of Ely,
teseofEiy. entitled, J short Forin of Thanksgiving- to God^or ceasing
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 269
the contag'knis Sickness of the Plague ; to he used in Com- CHAP.
man Prayer on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in-
stead of the Common Prayer used in the Time qf Mor-^^o ^^^3-
tality; commanded by the Lord Bishop of Ely to be used in
his Cathedral Church at Ely, and the rest of his Diocese.
This office is transferred to the Appendix: the reading of N°. XXII.
which may be acceptable to some, studious of the devotions
of our Church in those times.
CHAP. XV. 136
Some of the Archbishop's doings in his diocese. He hears
of some writings of A rchbishop Cranmer. Searches af-
ter them. Recovers, them. Visits Sandwich. Furthers
the foundation of a freeschool there. The good behaviour
of the strangers settled there.
Archbishop PARKER being now in his diocese was^'* pious
loath to be idle, but took into his consideration how he might in his dio-
be serviceable to God and the Queen in those quarters.
And that none might escape his diligent inspection, nor the
benefit he was minded to do them, he divided his flock into
the Laity and the Clergy. The Laity he divided again into
the common sort, and into those of highest rank and quality.
As to the common sort, his care was to maintain and settle
a peaceable and quiet state among them. As for the other,
whom he called the better sort, he consulted for the making
them instrumental to maintain and further the Queen's ser-
vice, and her affairs. And as to both, he sent up at length The good
this account to the Secretary, that he found them all in so which he
good order, that he rejoiced therein. And for the eccle- ^"""'^
siastical persons, he signified, that with them he dealt in- the ecciesi-
difFerently, and found obedience in them. And in this good
case stood his diocese at this time, occasioned, as one may
rationally conjecture, by the long care and diligency of
Archbishop Cranmer: the influences of whose paternal
270
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK government, notwithstanding the interval of Queen Mary,
still remained in Kent. Though afterwards the county ran
Anno 1563. into such ccclesiastical disorders, as created a great deal of
trouble to Whitgift, one of this Archbishop's successors;
as may be shewn hereafter.
He is in As One of our Archbishop's designs, wherever he came,
some'wHt- was to retrieve as much as ever he could the British and
iii^'s of Saxon antiquities, or any other ancient writings of our own
Cianmer. Countrymen, whether Divmes or Historians, of which there
had been such a fatal destruction by the dissolution of mona-
steries, when the respective hbraries of those houses under-
went the same fate with the places where they were kept ;
so he being now at Canterbury, made this one of his busi-
nesses, to pick up what he could of this nature. And by
searching- and pri/ing; (as he styled it himself,) among other
things, he found, by very credible information, in whose
hands the learned writings of his predecessor Dr. Cranmer
did remain. But the parties denied they had them. How-
ever, he, loath to be deprived of such a treasure, in the month
of August earnestly requested the Secretary to procure him
the Council's letters, to authorize him to make the best
search he could after them, and to give him all the advan-
tage that might be, strictly to examine such as he suspected
might have them. Which letters were prepai'ed for him by
the Secretary, being himself a person so studious of learn-
ing, and having so high a value for, and having been so
Cranm Me- great a friend and acquaintance of, the said Cranmer. Of
uior. p.2i7. j^j^^g I had occasion to write in the Memorials of that Arch-
bishop; look into the Appendix, to which I did transfer
Archbishop Parker's letter concerning this matter : to which
I refer the reader.
Dr.Nevin- But to give Some larger relation hereof, and to shew what
writings! kind of books these were that the Archbishop was in this
earnest pursuit of, and in whose possession they were. They
were in the possession of Dr. Nevinson, one of the Preben-
daries of Canterbury. Yet was he not, it seems, the rightful
owner of them, but somebody else, that appears not. But
who could that be but Cranmer's heir.'' And who was he
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 271
but Thomas his only son, who, I suppose, was now at Can- CHAP,
terbury, and perhaps gave Archbishop Parker the first no- '
tice of these writings. But whoever it were that gave the Anno i563.
notice, the same informer asserted, that he had seen them
with his own eyes in Nevinson's study : however, Nevinson
had denied he had them. Which when Parker was ac-
quainted with, he thought not fit to require them himself of
the said Nevinson, concluding he would give him the same
answer; viz. that he had them not. But he privately 13/
speeds away a letter to Windsor, where the Court and his
friend the Secretary was, requesting the CounciFs letters
as before was said, but omitting Nevinson's name. To
which, two or three days after, the Secretary made him this
answer.
" May it please your Grace, I thank the same for your Tlie Secre-
t&i'y*s let"
*' letters. I am glad that you have heard of such hid ter to the
" treasures, as I take the books of the holy Archbishop ^'"'^'''"'*!'°p
•' _ concerning
" Cranmer to be. I have of late recovered of his written them. E
" books five or six, which I had of one Mr. Herd of Lin-
' U. Hen.
" coin. Your Grace writeth to have letters from the Coun-D. Episc.
"cil; but to whom they should be written, or who theDom. Pe-
" persons be of whom the writings should be demanded,
" your Grace's letter maketh no mention. And therefore
knowing no such earnestness here, or care of such mat-
" ters, I forbear to press the Council therewith, especially
" being not liable to render them an account, who hath the
" writings. But upon advertisement thereof, I will not fail
*' but procure such letters. From Windsor, where we are,
*' yet in health, thanked be Almighty God. On Tuesday
" the Spanish Ambassador died here within two miles, of a
" burning ague, 25 Aug. 1563.
" Your Grace's at commandment,
" W. Cecyl."
The Archbishop in liis next letter informed the Secre-
tary of the possessor's name; as appears by these minutes
of his letter.
272
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " Where I did write to your Honour to procui-e the Coun-
" cil's letter for the obtaining of certain ancient written books
Anno 1563." of the Lord Cranmer; and behke did not express par-
bishop'7' ' " ticularly either to whom these letters should be directed,
answer. " or the persons of whom tliey should be demanded ; your
' " Honour shall understand, that the party to whom be-
" longed these books sued to me to recover them out of
" Dr. Nevinson's hands, in whose study the ow^ner plainly
" avoucheth that he saw them with his own eyes, and did
" then require them of him. But he denied to have them.
" And I am persuaded he would do the same to myself, if
" I should demand them, and therefore desired the Coim-
" ciPs letters, &c." The rest is so defaced that I cannot
read it. Dated Sept. 7.
The Coun- The Secretary now soon obtained letters of the Council
Nevinson • ^^is purpose. One whereof they wrote to Nevdnson
himself, ordering him to deliver these writings to the Arch-
bishop. And another to the Aixhbishop, to empower him,
in case of Nevinson's refusal, to search his study, or any
other places for them, and to take them into his custody ;
especially considering these wTitings contained matters of
divinity, very proper to be consulted at this time, when
true religion was in restoring and setthng. But behold the
letter.
And to the " After oiu" very hearty commendations to your good
sh'op'. Ubi " Lordship. Being given to understand, that certain writ-
supr. £< {gjj books, containing matters of diA-inity, sometimes be-
" longing to Archbishop Cranmer, your Lordship's prede-
" cessor, are come to the hands of Dr. Nevinson, being very
" necessary to be seen at this time; we have somewhat
" earnestlv writ to the said Mr. Nevinson, to deKver those
" books unto your Lordship. And like as we doubt not
" he will forthwith dehver the same unto you, considering
" they are for so good a purpose required of liim ; so if he
" shall deny the dehvery thereof, we think meet that your
" Lordship, by your own authority, do cause his study,
" and such other places where you think the said books do
ARCHBISHOP OP CANTERBURY. 273
*' remain, to be sought: and if the same books may be CHAP.
" found, to take them into your custody. And tlius we
"bid youx* good Lordship most heartily farewell. From Anno 1 563.
« Windsor Castle, 23. Sept. 1563.
" Your good Lordship's most assured loving friends,
" N. Bacon, C. S. W. Northampton. Pembroke.
" R. Duddeley. E. Clynton. Franc. KnoUys. -
« WiUiam Petre. S. W. Cecyl."
And by these means the Archbishop at length obtained 138
the books desired. They are two volumes in folio, con-TheArcU-
■sisting of collections made by that most venerable Father, J^a^n" these
Cranmer, in order to the furnisliing liimself with a sound writings,
knowledge of the true state of the ancient Church, for his
good proceeding in the great work of refonning the Churcli
of England ; being vast transcriptions out of the Fathers
and ecclesiastical authors, as well as holy Scripture, di-
gested by him under proper heads or common places ; slicw-
ing what the doctrines and practices of the Church in the
ancient times were; and thereby making it evident, how
much the present Church of Rome was warped and gone
off' from it. Parker caused both these volumes to be copied
out for his own use, and then restored the originals, I sup-
pose, where they belonged. These transcribed volumes I Heniy,Loi-d
have seen in the MS. library of the right reverend and lo,',',",!',,"*
right honourable the present Bishop of London, into which
by his favour I had free access. In the former vohnne
Archbishop Parker had caused to be inserted, ob memoriam
ret, the three letters by me above specified. He number-
ed also all the pages with his red lead pencil. There is also
at the beginning a 7'abula Rcpertor'ia, shewing the various
matters or common places treated of in these volumes.
Which index, I suppose, was dra\vn up also by Parker.
I have presented it to the reader in the Appendix, for the Nu'i'ber
giving more light into these valuable writings. XXlli.
During the Archbishop's stay here at Canterbury, he be-i* instm-
came the instrument of founding a freeschool at Sandwich, fllumi'ins"
The townsmen were well disposed to build it at their charire :
* " school nX
'VOL. I. T S;inilwich.
^74
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, by our Arch-
bishop's particular solicitation, were willing to grant an acre
Anno 1563. of ground belonging to their Church, whereon to found it:
and Mr. Manwood, he who was afterward Sir Roger Man-
wood, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, being born in
the town, and taught in a school there belonging to a
chantry, which with the chantry was dissolved, was fully
determined to give to that foundation twenty pounds per
annum in perpetmim, of his own possessions presently.
And his lands were ready for assurance. And nothing was
wanting but the Queen's licence to the town of Sandwich ;
and to the Dean and Chapter for their alienation, or to
make a lease in fee-farm of the said piece of land. Where-
upon our Archbishop, having brought matters to this ripe-
ness, on the 27th day of the month of August, despatched,
his letters to his friend the Secretary, who was never want-
ing in such good works, to obtain such a licence from her
Majesty : urging to him the opportunity ; which being such,
he doubted not of the Queen's Majesty's good and gracious
assent. As he learned by the experience of a former suit,
which he had made to her in a thing of the like nature ;
Regained of namely, for the recovery of the Schoolmaster's stipend at
the stipend Stoke College, whereof he had formerly been Dean. Which
of the college was dissolved in the beginning of King Edward,
ter'of 'stoke ai^d the whole revenue, with the Schoolmaster's allowance
college. also, swallowed up into the Exchequer ; which nevertheless
he obtained of the Queen, though that money went now out
of her own coffers. By which he perceived, as he said, the
Queen's godly zeal for the furtherance of learning.
Commends He took notice also of the good zeal of Manwood in this
wood's in- business ; " Considering, as he said, how persons of his vo-
tended h- a catiou (that is, towards the law) were commonly iudged
berality to ^ ' .... .
Sandwicii " rather to employ all their abilities to their own posterities,
scliooi. 4{ jj^g^j-, such common respects ; and that he, being not
" without issue, and daily like to have more, might have
" followed the common example, in leaving the gains of his
" time to his offspring. Therefore, he said, he wished his
" purpose were favoured, both for example to others, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 275
also to put away the common judgment which ran upon CHAP,
such as were of his calling. He added, that he took it to.
" be a motion of God: in consideration, said he, that we Anno ises.
poor Bishops be not now able to succeed our predeces-
" sors in their so liberal foundations." And to signify, that
now, since the fleecing of the Clergy, it was incumbent upon
secular persons of wealth and interest to promote such
charitable foundations, he used these words to the Secre-
tary. " Now you, such as you be, and as Mr. Man wood
*' is, must lay hands to the furtherance of such public en-
" dowments, or else ye be not like to leave to your succes-
" sors that which ye have received of your ancestors."
And this pious purpose took effect. And for the lasting 139
good name, both of the Archbishop and the Founder, let it The pious
be further remembered here, that besides what he settled {.'"gj^j*^""^'
upon this school himself, he procured of his brother Tho-
mas Man wood. Mayor of Sandwich, ten pounds per annum ;
and of one Thomson, a Jurat of that town, eight pounds
more per annum, for the use of the said school. He built
also a school-house for the habitation of a master, an usher,
and sixteen boarders. And in the year 1586, he procured
letters patents of the Queen, for incorporating the school,
with the lands and revenues thereunto belonging, to the
Mayor and his brethren of Sandwich, and their successors.
And moreover he obtained two Scholars' places in Caius
college in Cambridge, and two more in Lincoln college in Ad aim. -27.
Oxford, for such as should be removed from this .school ; ''^"'S'"*
and four marks yearly to be paid to each of the .said four
Scholars : as Holinshcd relates at large in his history.
And this was not all our pious Archbishop did for the R'Jes to
furthering this good design ; but to take a view of the ground
and situation, as well as for other good causes, he rode on
Sunday morning from his house at Bekesborn to Sandwich,
which was about five or six miles; and got thither by
seven o'clock ; that by coming so soon he might prevent
their formalities of receiving him, and pailly to be present
at tlieir whole service. But notwithstanding, the townsmen
prevented him : for though that morning were very foul
276
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and rainy, yet he found the Mayor and his Jurats ready at
. the town gate to accompany him to his lodging, and so to
Anno 1563. the church. Of whom he gave this character to a friend
SrinhTbt " ^^^^ ^^^^ of honest civility, and of
tants; " comely grave personages, and of good vmderstanding.
" And that theii- streets were clean, as might be for the
" straitness of them. That their service was sung in good
" distinct harmony and quiet devotion. That the singing
" men were the Mayor and the Jurats, with the head men
" of the town, placed in the quire far and distant, in as
" good order as he could wish." The Archbishop himself
then preached before an auditory great and attentive : and
took that occasion to declare the Queen's pleasure concern-
ing the prayers and fast before mentioned. And, in sum,
to their credit he said of them, " That he saw not, but the
" Queen''s Majesty would have of them good subjects and
" true orators."
And the Thus being; here accordine to his function, he inquired
stran'^ers '
there? diligently into the behaviour of the inhabitants, as likewise
of the strangers, who had fled hither for the sake of the
Gospel from foreign parts, whether French or Dutch, or
both; and had here settled themselves. Of these also he
took notice, and found them, as he wrote to the same friend
at Court, very godly on the Sabbath day, and busy in their
work on the week day : and their quietness such, as the
Mayor and his brethren had no causes of variance between
themselves, coming before them.
Our Archbishop indeed was a friend to all strangers that
Def. of fled over hither, if they were truly pious and sober. " Pro-
" fitable and gentle strangers" (they are his own words)
naze.
" ought to be welcome, and not to be grudged at."
Deputes the And for disorders there, reformable by ecclesiastical laws,
raana^eVc" he had, before his coming here, deputed their Minister, a
ciesiasticai grave learned man, to exercise, by his Grace's authorit}-,
there. ecclesiastical censures as he shovdd see cause ; of which
little had been spied- The finding things in this good state,
in this outward corner of his diocese, created much joy to
him. Which he did communicate unto the Secretary, as
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 277
he said, that he miglit be the wlUinger to help them in this CHAP.
aff'aii- of the school before spoken of ; and in so doing, he
used these moving words to him, Mercedem reportabis a Anno i563.
Domino in remrrectione justorum ; i. e. You shall receive
your reward from the Lord at the resurrection of the
just.
140
CHAP. XVI.
Bisfiop Thirleby and Dr. Boxal with the Archbishop at
Bekesborn. Queen Mary's Bishops and Divines fa-
vourably dealt with. Archbishop Hethe, Bisfiop Bourn.
John Bale, the antiquarian, Prebendary at Canterbury,
dies.
In the month of September this year, the Queen's Council Thiriby and
were so kind to Thiriby, late Bishop of Ely, and Boxal, placed with
late Dean of Windsor, (whom the Lord Bure;hley * called
, kesborn.
" a person of great modesty and knowledge,' ) as to remove # ijj^
them for their preservation from London, where the plague ^^"^ ^nti-
grew now very hot: and having been with the Archbishop tion' for
before at Lambeth, appointed them to harbour with him treason,
^ ^ not for Re-
now at his house at Bekesborn. And their keeper, whoiigion.
conveyed them thither, brought also letters from the said
Council to the Archbishop, signifying upon what conditions
he was to receive them. Concerning this resolution of the
Council, Thiriby also had wrote him a letter before. But
this was some surprise to him, not only in regard of the
inconveniency of the entertainment of them here, such was
the straitness of his house, having not many less than an
hundred persons uprising and down lying therein ; besides
divers of his family, which were forced to lodge abroad :
but chiefly because of the great danger of harbouring per-
sons that came from a place infected. And that if anv
peril should arise from them, the country would make such
exclamation, which he saw was wonderfully afraid of all
such as came from London. Nor did he, as he writ his
T 3
278
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK friend, in respect of his own person, repine at this appoint-
ment, nor would he be thought slack to gi'atify his old ac-
Anno i563.quaintance, so far as his faith to God and his word, and
his allegiance to his Prince and her government, might bear
with it. But for the prevention of any danger of infection,
he desired the Secretary that he would prefer his request
imto the Lords of the Council, that it might stand with
their pleasures, that for the fear his household was in of
them, coming from a contagious air, he might place them
in the town, not far from his house, in an house then
standing empty, till such time as they were better blown,
as his phrase was, with that fresh air for a fourteen days.
He would see to their provision, and for the custody of their
persons. As to one of them, he said, he was surely per-
suaded that he would not disappoint the CounciPs expec-
tations : which, I suppose, was Thirlby ; with whom pro-
bably he might have contracted a good acquaintance, having
been Bishop of Norwich (the Archbishop's native city) in
King Edward's days. But the nature of the other he was
not so well acquainted with. Whereupon, if ought should
chance in the mean time, till he should receive them to him-
self, he trusted the Council would rather bear with him, in
avoiding the danger of infection, as might be feared, than
for their behoof endanger his whole family.
This he prudently thought good to signify to the Se-
cretary's own hands, praying him to be a means that his
doings might be taken in the best part.
And so was Thirlby entertained henceforward with the
Thirlby Archbishop in all courteous and gentle manner, both here
died* with "6^1" Canterbury and at Lambeth, until his death, which
t'.'«^Arch- happened Aug. 26. in the year 1570. " Taking more plea-
Cata°K of " sure," as Bishop Godwin assured himself, " in this time
Bishops. i( q£ Yiis imprisonment, than ever heretofore in the midst
" and fullest stream of his highest honours." The Arch-
bishop took care to have him decently buried in the chan-
cel of Lambeth church, and a fair stone laid over him, with
an inscription in brass, still remaining.
He was born in Cambridge, Fellow of Trinity hall, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 279
in degree Doctor of the Civil Law; and the first and last CHAP.
Bishop of Westminster.
And here I will take this occasion to cast an eye back Anno isea.
upon Queen Mary's Bishops and other ecclesiastics. I^^^- Queen' Ma-
son of state, and their incompliance with the laws now esta- ry's Bi-
blished, made it necessary to take them up and lay divers the'xower.
of them in the Tower. In the year 1560, they petitioned 141
the Lords of the Council that they might have liberty to
come together at their meals. This suit of theirs was left
imto the discretion of the Archbishop, as head of the Queen's
Commissioners ecclesiastical, that if he judged it not con-
venient that this liberty should be granted them, then they
desired him by the Secretary to signify it imto the Lords :
but if he approved it, then to send his orders to the Lieu-
tenant of the Tower to allow them so to do as they had
desired, prescribing nevertheless the order unto them :
which was, that Dr. Hethe, Dr. Boxal, Dr. Pates, and Dr.
Fecknam, be admitted to one company to one of the tables :
and to the other table Dr. Thirleby, Dr. Bourne, Dr. Wat-
son, and Dr. Turbervile. Which favour, no question, the
Archbishop readily yielded them.
And so they, or some of them, continued under an easy They are
restraint till the year 1563, the year wherein the nation, [Ji™"^^^^
and chiefly London, was visited with the plague : when f'^*'" "f
they desired the Lords to be removed, because of the dan- '''^
ger of infection. Whereupon the Lords dispersed them
among the Bishops in their respective places of habitation,
where they might be safe. Fecknam was sent to the Bishop
of Winchester, Bourn to the Bishop of Lincoln ; and to the
Archbishop the Council wrote, to receive Thirleby and
Boxal, his foraner guests, as was mentioned before ; and
" to give them convenient lodging, each of them one
" man allowed them, and to use them as was requisite for
" men of their sort ; and that they should satisfy his Lord-
" ship for the charges of their commons." This letter
was dated September 15. Upon this order, Dr. Thirleby
wrote to him concerning his coming into his family, saying,
" That he was an unbidden guest, who, according to the pro-
T 4
280 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " verb, wotteth not where to sit; and that he would brinar
II ... .
all his family Avith him, tliat is, his man and his boy."" To
Anno 1.563. ■which the Afchbisliop made this very friendly answer :
The Arch- " gir^ as an unbidden guest, as you write, knoweth not
i)r''Thlrie- " where to sit, so a guest bidden or unbidden, being con-
^y- " tent with that which he shall find, shall deserve to be the
" better welcome. If you bring with you your man and
" your querister too, ye shall not be refused. And if your
" companion in journey [Dr. Boxal] can content himself
" with one man to attend upon him, your lodging shall be
" the sooner prepared. Your best way were to Maidstone
" the first night, and the next hither. I would wish your
" coming were the sooner afore night, that such as shall
Ex Archiv. " come with you, being once discharged of their charge,
VoL intit. " return that night to Canterbury, two miles off, to
Epist. Prin- " their bed. And thus God send you a quiet passage.
cipum, &c
" 20th September, 63.''
fhirieby Thirlebv contmued with the Archbishop to his dvins:
liad lodg- , . . . . 1 1 1 1 ■ -r 1 •
ings in day ; though sometimes, it seems, he lodged in JLondon in
Black Black Friars, at one Mrs. BlackwelFs. In whose bedcham-
Fnars. n t i r i •
ber some years after died one Mrs. Catharine Carus, a
Lancashire woman, a zealous Papist, widow of a Justice of
Peace of that name. Which gentlewoman, it is likely out
of her devotion, hired that chamber in her age to die in, upon
the supposed holiness and merit thereof, which the said
Thii'leby might be thought to convey to it. This news of
her death thus Fleetwood, Recorder of London, writ to the
Lord Burghley. " Katherin Carus, the late Justice wife,
" my countrywoman, with all her pride and Popery, is this
" week gone, I trust, to God. She died in Bishop Thirleby's
" chamber in Mrs. BlackwelPs house in the Black Friars."
Boxal re- Boxal after some time removed to Bromley, whether it
were to the Bishop of Rochester's, or to some other habi-
tation of his own there, it is uncertain to me. Thence he
wrote a letter of thanks to the Archbishop for his hospi-
table entertainment. Which was in these words :
moves.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 281
" I have none other business to trouble your Grace with CHAP.
" a letter, but only to render unto the same my humble
" thanks, as well for my very good entertainment, which so Anno i563.
" long time without desert your Grace exhibited unto me, j^"^^"
" as also for your gentleness shewed at this my removing bishop.
" from your Grace's house to Bromleigh. Which I do
" knowledge, and most heartily wish I were able by any Voi.ubi
" means to declare myself mindful of it, as I am, &c. ^nprn.
" Your Grace's debter and well-willer
" to his small power,
" Jo. Boxall.''
This Boxal, it seems, after some time returned to the 142
custody of the Archbishop again, and was, as were the
aforesaid Thirleby and Bishop Tunstal, a guest at his table
continually. But afterwards falling sick and shook with a
fever, he went to a friend of his at London, and there ex- He dies,
pired a httle after of that disease. He was Doctor of Divini-
ty of Oxford, Dean of Peterburgh, Norwich, and Windsor,
Secretary and Counsellor to Queen Mary. He abstained Mattheus.
under that Queen from shedding innocent blood, or giving
his consent thereto. There was in him as it Avere by nature
a great modesty and courteous disposition.
As for Hethe he seemeth before this time to have had his Hethe lives
liberty of dwelling at large, and might be gone to his seat own.^
at Cobham in Surrey, where he lived and died at full ease, Cobham.
quiet, and safety, and as handsomely as most gentlemen in
England. For Cobham (according to a particular of that
manor which I have seen among Sir Michael Hicks's pa-
pers) was situate twenty miles from London, four miles
wide of Windsor, held in sockage. It contained five hun-
dred acres of land, meadow, wood, and pasture. The wood
and timber valued at eight hundred pounds. A fair house,
garden, and orchard. The whole ground paled about. It
was rented at 180Z. a year. The price of the purchase
SOOO?. It was now Sir Francis Lee's ; formerly Mr. Hethe's,
the heir, I suppose, of Dr. Hethe. This was that grave
man's easy retirement in his old age.
282 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK And yet so ungrateful were the Papists of those times,
that they were not only unsensible of this kind usage of
Anno 1563. their Bishops and chief Divines, but represented them in
^'e°rcUed to ordinary discourses and public prints as miserable
the Popish prisoners. Thus Dorman about this very time had the
confidence to publish these words: " How many notable
*' men of the Clergy, said he, both for life and learning,
" only for refusal of this oath [of supremacy] suffer they
" to pine away in prison ?" To which false suggestion let
Newel's Re- me by the way subjoin the answer which Nowel, Dean of
"St. Paul's, gave; telling Dorman, " That this oath was
" never required of them ; and they pined not, but fared
" well, and of other men's cost too, a great many of them.
" They were well fed and in good liking, and some of them
" so fat as they might wallow too. That they neither sat
" nor hung in stocks by legs or fingers, nor had their necks
" in chains. That they were neither whipped nor scourged,
" as some of them used others, [meaning Bonner's dealing
" with the professors of the Gospel.] And that in sickness
" time, they had their progresses both for health and plea-
" sure too." Having in his eye, no question, the sending of
these two unto the Archbishop from the sickness at London ;
as well as others of them, that had now permission granted
them to retire from London to their friends, or places of
more safety.
So that it was a most true denomination by which our
Archbishop called these Popish dignitaries, viz. his guests,
and not his prisoners.
Bourn with Such gentle and good usage did Bourn, late Bishop of
the Bishop o o ^ i
of Lincoln. Bath and Wells, receive at the hands of the Bishop of Lin-
coln, with whom he was now placed. Though whether it
were before or after this he Uved with Gary, Dean of the
chapel, as Godwin writes, I know not. But with the said
Bishop I find him in January 1565. When he desired the
Archbishop to be a suitor to the Secretary to obtain li-
cence, that his guest, Mr. Bourn, for so he called him,
might be at his own house, Avhich he had in London, for the
Parliament time, being sufficiently bound to be quiet, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 283
to return again with him, or otherwise, when the said Bishop CHAP
should repair home ; because his own lodging at Lambeth
was too strait. He lodged, I suppose, at Lambeth, that he Anno i563.
might be near the Archbishop, whei-e the commission
court was kept, he being one of the ecclesiastical Com-
missioners. The Archbishop, according to the Bishop of
Lincoln's request, writ to the Secretary to the effect above
mentioned, adding, that if they of the commission might
do it, they would not wish it to be moved to the Queen or
Council ; and so prayed the Secretary to grant his desire.
Whence we may conclude, that Bourn had the liberty to
dwell at his own house, under some easy conditions of living
peaceably ; and so enjoyed himself and his friends about
him. And so did divers others of Queen Mary's Bishops
and Divines.
In the month of February the Archbishop being at his Upon ap-
Palace at Canterbury, I find his two guests, Thirleby and orsome'at-
Boxal, still with him. But there being at this time a great ^™r*^
consternation in those parts, upon apprehension of the sends to the
French's invasion of England thereabouts ; he put it to ^""T*
o ' i cerning his
the Secretary's consideration, what were best to be done two guests,
with them in that time and country, and in such vicinity 143
[of the French.] Though he judged by their words, which
they now spake, that they were true Englishmen, not wish-
ing (as he said) to be subject to the governance of such in-
solent conquerors.
In November died a famous man, John Bale the anti- John Bale
quary, formerly Bishop of Ossory in Ireland, but a Pi-e-*'"^*'
bendary now of this church of Canterbury, where he resid-
ed after Queen Elizabeth possessed the crown. He was once
a White Friar in Norwich, and very hot and devout in that
way of religion. In one of his books speaking concerning
the worshippers of images, and the practisers of Popish
superstitions, he added, " Yea, I ask God mercy a thou-
" sand times, I have been one of them myself." Afterwards,
being convinced of his superstitions by the Lord Went-
worth, and well observing himself the unclean and shame-
ful practices used too commonly in the monastic life, he left
284 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 156'3
The Arch-
bishop la-
bours to get
his Antiqui-
ties ;
And his
prebend
conferred
upon his
Chaplain :
his Order, and became a zealous decrier of the Papal su-
premacy and worship, between the years 1530 and 1540.
And sometimes we find him in the north, where Lee the
Archbishop imprisoned him ; and sometimes in the south,
where Stokesly, Bishop of London, met with him. But
making his supplications to the Lord Crumwel, the King's
Vicar General, he escaped out of their hands. The said
Crumwel used to be delighted with reading certain witty
plays composed by Bale in Latin. At Crumwel's death
he thought it not safe for him to abide any longer in the
land, especially persecution growing so hot upon the Six
Articles ; so he vnih his wife and family went beyond sea,
and tarried in Lower Germany for eight years : that is, till
King Edward came to reign.
The decease of this man created our Archbishop two
businesses. The one was to get into possession of the an-
tiquities which Bale had by great diligence, industry, and
charges, for many a year been picking up and collecting.
These ovir Archbishop took care speedily to bespeak before
others, and was promised to have them for money. And
this he writ to his friend the Secretary, as knowing him to
be a great antiquai'ian himself, and a studious retriever of
such monuments ; and therefore an acceptable piece of news
to him. The other was to procure Mr. Bale's prebend for
a Chaplain of his, who was Andi-ew Peerson, his Almoner.
Which by the instant intercession of the Secretary Avith the
Queen he obtained. But Instead of a presentation, the or-
dinary instrument in such cases, there was brought to the
Archbishop a donation under the Great Seal, for the Chap-
lain's enjoyment of the prebend. This did a little disturb
our Prelate, who used to be very punctual in keeping to
old ecclesiastical statutes and orders, and was no further for
any innovations than was necessary. For this instrument
was not in such order passed, as both by laws ecclesiastical,
and statutes of the house, was required. This caused hin)
to send another letter to the Secretary, urging to him, how
this would work a subversion of order in the Church, and a
breach of statute, besides other inconveniences. He blamed
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 285
the clerks, wishing they would better consider the order of CHAP,
such pi'ivy seals. He took notice also of another mistake,
namely, that the Queen's grant was two days before Bale's Anno 1 563.
departure. Which little error, he said, might peradventure
be hurtful to the party to come into that prebend, which
was not void when the grant was made : though the Great
Seal bare date after his decease. But he earnestly desired
the Secretary that he would get the instrument reformed,
that it might pass by presentation as it ought. Which was
accordingly procured.
But there happened not long after another matter, that Though tiie
gave fresh occasion for the Archbishop to solicit the Secre- jje^j ^j,!^^
tary again in his Chaplain's behalf about this prebend. There
was one Tamworth, who had obtained so much favour from promised to
the Queen, that she had granted him the next avoidance of
a prebend in that church ; and so ought to have been ad-
mitted into Bale's place. But it seems he was not quick
enough ; nor did the Archbishop, when he solicited on his
Chaplain's behalf, know of any such grant to Tamworth.
But observing a prejudice done to him, and that his Chap-
lain's title might not be so firm in case the other should have
tried to reverse the possession the said Chaplain had therein :
to make therefore some amends for the prejudice, and to
secure his domestic, he entreated the Secretary that he 144
would prefer the said advowson to the Queen's Highness,
to have it renewed for the next hereafter. Which, he said,
was no more cost, but her favourable grant to be the same,
that once was granted to take place at the next turn : seeing
it was of late otherwise at her free favour bestowed.
286 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
CHAP. XVII.
Anno 1563. j . 7 • t /. •
The Archbishop judges a cause of contj-act of marriage.
Fears of a French invasion in Kent. The Archbishop's
service, and his letter to Court on this emergence. The
evil conditio Ji of the nation at this time. The Archbishop's
judgments of commendams Jbr St. Asaph and small
bishoprics. His care about the bislwpric of Landaff, now
void.
"^onf^^t^* About this time also came a case before him, as judge
made with- thereof ; in wliich a certain young gentleman, named Ber-
oiit the pa- „abv Goge, was concerned. He had been a retainer to Sir
rents con- ...
sent. William Cecil the Secretary, and his relation, now a Gen-
tleman Pensioner to the Queen ; and for whom the said
Knight had writ to the Archbishop, desiring his case might
be heard according to law and equity. The business was ;
a young gentlewoman, named Mary, the daughter of Mr.
Darrelof Kent, had privily contracted herself to Goge, with-
out the knowledge of her parents. Which she seemed to
do, to prevent her parents from marrying her to one Samp-
son Lennard, living at Chevening, a certain rich man, a
Protonotary ; but a person belike whom she could not
affect ; being not so much moved with the consideration of
his money, as her parents were.
Some reia- The Secretary had writ to Lennard the father, (who de-
case, pended also upon him,) in favour of his kinsman Goge, who
had informed the said Secretary that he was hindered by
Lennard's means from his marriage with Mr. Darrel's
daughter, by disparaging of him ; giving out that he was
destitute of friends, and that the Secretary looked upon liim
but as one of his men. The Secretary wrote, that the mat-
ter was made plain to him by the maid's letter and her
father's, that she had assured herself to Mr. Goge ; and so
praying Mr. Lennard to pleasure his honest kinsman, and
to order his son to desist his suit, seeing she was engaged
already. But Lennard with some heat answered the Secre-
tary, that for liis marriage, he might and must have done
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 287
with honesty as he did, though it had touched his (the Se- CHAP.
cretary's) son, or the best subject's in the i-eahn : shewing
him, how her parents were very earnest, and more eai*nest '563.
than he, to bring about the match for his son, who indeed
had a great amour for her. Whereupon, he said, he had
often discoursed with the maid about matching with his son ;
when she, as well as her parents, seemed very inclinable,
and never offered any delay to be his son"'s wife, but seemed
desirous of it in word and gesture. But in truth, of these
her two rivals, Mr. Goge had the greater share in her affec-
tions : and she entertained young Lennard chiefly in obedi-
ence to her parents, who were much for him because of his
wealth. But Lennard the father, being by reason of his
riches both proud and hasty, plainly told the Secretary at
last, that he should be no gainer by this match, but should
forego a thousand mark, which he might have had in match-
ing his son with as good a stock in the country where he
dwelt. And that now he and his son might give up the suit
with honesty, and so would. For that he would have been
too mad to match his eldest son, where any entangling was,
and no stedfastness at all. And that his son now said, that
though she would, he would not ; and I say, saith he, he
shall not have her. He shewed great offence against Goge,
who, he said, seemed to have a hot head and a sick brain : 145
and complained that he had written very disrespectfully to
him. But this was after Goge had obtained some words
from the gentlewoman, amounting to a promise. Which
made him, when he could not draw her father to consent, to
speak somewhat indecently to him : as that he would tell the
Queen of him, and that a Serjeant at Arms should fetch his
daughter from him, or that the Secretary should fetch her
within a month.
The Archbishop, to understand the business mox-e fully, Ti'f procoss.
had the young woman before him, to learn from herself the
state of the case ; who remained firm and stable to stand to
that contract which she had made. The father and mother
also personally appeared ; whom the Archbishop found most
earnest against it, and pretended a precontract to Lennard.
288 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK This he supposed they did, that it might serve as an occa-
sion to draw the case into the Arches, to spend money.
Anno 1563. Whicli rich Lennard and the wilful parents would fain have
done ; thinking thereby to weary out Goge, peradventure
not superfluously monied. But the Archbishop not liking
these dilatory courses, though in his own Courts, meant to
dull that expectation, [of going into the Arches,] resolving
himself to go to work plane et summarie, without the tedi-
ous formalities of the law. In the mean time, he sequestered
the young gentlewoman put of the parents'" hands into the
custody of one Mr. Tufton, a rig^ht honest gentleman, (for
that was the character he gave of him,) until the precon-
tract, which the parents pretended, were produced. I find
no more of this business ; and so cannot relate the issue
thereof.
Lennard Lennard's riches, I suppose, might accrue to him by a
or aerkl'f wealthy office held by him and his father. For in King
the Crown. Edward's book of warrants for the seal, under the year
1550, there is specified the grant of the office of Pronotary,
or Clerk of the Crown, to John Leonard and Tho. Leonard
for life, and the longest liver, of the counties of Glamorgan,
Monmouth, Brecknock, and Radnor, in all courts, terms,
sessions, &c. together with the making and entering of all
manner of writs, processes, declarations, &c. with all fees and
profits thereunto belonging, without account making.
His course In this case our Archbishop may seem to some to be
"^iJ,^jg^J,"^5g blameworthy : as though he gave too much countenance to
justified. children in disposing of themselves in marriage without or
against the consent of their parents ; and suffered himself to
be biassed in his judgment, upon the Secretary's letter to
him to favour his kinsman. But the ignorance of the cir-
cumstances of this business makes us uncapable of passing
a true judgment thereon. Nor did the Secretary desire any
thing else at the Archbishop's hands, than to take cogni-
zance of the cause, and to proceed according to law and
eqviity. Which whosoever governs himself by, cannot make
an imrighteous decision. Neither did the Archbishop ap-
prove of matrimonial contracts made by children without
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 289
the privity of their parents. But all he was now to do was CHAP,
to pass a judgment, where a contract had been already made;
and it may be, to deliver a young woman from being match- ^""o i563.
ed with a person whom she loved not : and thereby to rescue
both from an unhappy life ; which might in all possibility
have followed from a forced marriage.
This year the French had prosperous success against the A noise of
English. So that they, or rather the hand of God by a p^^j.^^'^j'^^j,'"^^"
pestilence, which cost abundance of brave captains, as well '""de by the
as other soldiers, their lives, had forced this nation to sur- puts him
render Newhaven to them, about August or September. In 1^P°"
IDg to
January following, the French forces lay upon the seacoast. Court,
over against Kent ; which put the country, especially about
Canterbury, in great fears and disorders, expecting no less
than an invasion every moment. And the castles on that
coast, as well as the people of the country, were altogether
unprovided. This put our careful Archbishop upon de-
spatching his letters to the Secretary, letting him know the
condition of the county, and desiring to receive some com-
fort from the Court to animate the people. The sum of
his letter was, " That the country there was in much per-
" plexity and fear, doubting what might follow of the pre-
" parations they heard of, made by the French. That there-
" fore he thought good to write to him privately, how small
" soever his skill in such cases was, trusting he would bear
" with it, in respect of his zeal to his country. That the
*' fear indeed arose upon consideration, that Dover castle,
" Walmer and Deal castles, and Quinborow castle, were as 146
" forsaken and unregarded for any provision. The country
*' was destitute of the Lord Warden and of a Lieutenant ;
" whom in such straits men might resort to. The people
" but feeble and unarmed, and commonly discomforted."
The day he writ his letter, he sent his man to Thanet to Sir Sends a ser-
Henry Crispe ; who, as the Archbishop proceeded to acquaint xtTanet •
the Secretary, stood in much doubt. The said Sir Henry
had understanding of a French pinnace to have searched
as far as the Thames mouth, to know how the Queen's ships
were appointed. And he thought they were like to land in
VOL. I. u
290 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
And an-
other to
Dover.
BOOK Shepy, to keep the Queen's ships within the Thames, and
' not to come forth : wliereby tliey might be the bolder to
Anno 15G3. j^j.j.^yg where they intended. The Archbishop added further,
" Tliat he feared, that if the country were not comforted,
" some folks of wealth would be removinf; their household
" and substance. Upon which example more might do the
" like. And, but that he reposed his whole trust and con-
" fidence, next to God, in the Queen's carefulness, and their
" prudent foresight toward that quarter, seeing no great
" trust in the furniture of men, nnmition, or artillei'y, he
" would else be carried with mistrusts of the worst, as others
" were most commonly."
As he had sent a servant to Thanet, so he sent another to
Dover to the Lieutenant. Who sent word back, that the
people in the town were amazed, and had their hearts cold,
to hear of no preparation towards this feared mischief.
Which caused the Archbishop to add, " That though they
" [at Court] saw fully all manner of proceedings, and could
" note the furthest sequel of them, yet in his opinion it were
" not amiss that some participation of advices proceeded
" into those quarters, to speed them abroad to the stay of
" the people. For to whom to go, upon whom to stay, they
" know not. He said, they had too few Justices; and
" between Canterbury and Dover none : wishing that Mr.
" Edward Boyes were one, whom he took to be an honest
" gentleman.
" He prayed his Honour to send him some information by
" his servant. Not that he could see any ability in himself
" to do service that way ; yet he could, he said, cause his
" neighbours to trust well, and cause his Chaplains to com-
^' fort the people in their sermons in the poor villages : which
*' was the best they could do in their skill. And so beseeching
" God to assist the Queen, and all their circumspections, ita
" maturare consilia S7Ui, that peace and unity might still
" reign among them in their days." This was writ from his
house at Bekesborn, Jan. 20.
The same These fears still continued among them, and little was
^ons^put done at Court to the satisfying of the country. Only six-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 291
teen days after the Archbishop''s letter, the Lord Cobham CHAP.
• XVII
went to Dover castle ; but a naked man, without strength of
men. This put his Grace, now at Canterbury, upon the -^""o '■5'>i^-
writing a second letter to the Secretary : " Requesting him ||.'riJipg° he
" to be an instant means, to have special respects of the second time.
" country there, to the Queen's Majesty and her Council ; g.
" assuring his Honour that he feared the danger, if it were
" not speedily looked to, would be irrecupcrable ; if the
" enemy should have an entry, as by great considerations
" of our weakness, and their strength, of their vigilancy,
" and our dormitation and protraction, was like. And then
" the Queen's Majesty woidd never be able to leave to her
" successors that which she found delivered her by God's
" favourable hand. He said, that posts and letters with re-
" quests were sent, but little return was made, as he heard,
" and small aid and comfort came to the Lord Warden, a
" good gentleman, and that meant honourably. But what,
" saith he, can a man do more than may be done, by a man
" almost destitute of men, money, and arms He also de-
sired to put it to their consideration, what were best to be
done at that juncture with his two guests, which they had
sent him ; meaning Thlrlby and Boxal. What order was
sent back concerning them I do not find: but I suppose
they still remained with him, and returned with him to Lam-
beth when he returned.
But by good providence these fears and dangers went But peace
off without any other harm done. For the Court was at f^''io\^s''""^
this very time busily transacting a peace with the French :
which about the beginning of the next year was concluded
between both nations. And probably the French had made
this great show of arms almost in the sight of England,
thinking thereby to procure to themselves a more advan-
tageous peace.
In truth, about this time, the gravest and wisest men ap- 1 47
prehended the kingdom to be in a very ill condition, not only Ti'e i" state
in respect of France and enemies abroad, but of the loose and tion at this
bad order of things at home. The Queen's subjects lived
dissolutely, vainly, and luxuriously, with little fear of God
u 2
292 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and care of honesty, and in a neglect of that honour and
obedience that was due to her. So that now the clouds ga-
Anno i563.thered thick over the nation. Which Sir John Mason, an
old and wise counsellor, Treasurer of the Queen's Chamber,
well perceiving, exhorted much to the striking up a peace
with France upon this necessity ; that so the Queen might
the better look after her concerns within the realm. In
March, being retired for his health into the country to
Gonelsbury, he signified these his apprehensions, and sug-
gested this counsel to the Secretary. The Secretary had in
a former letter spoke of the present infirmities of the king-
Sir John dom. The said Sir John in his answer told the Secretary,
sense"* " That the cure of his own sickness was much lessened by
thereof. " his great care of the many sicknesses that he saw in the
me. ^^^''^ " commonwealth ; which was to him more dear than was
" either health or life. He wished to God they were but
" injlrmities, as the Secretary had termed them, ac non
" potius xocxo^Sstg, seu quod genus morbi Us sit mag-is immo-
" rigerum, et ad sanandum rebclltus. And, (that worse
" was,) cum universes partes corporis nobis doleant, a ver-
• " tice capitis usque ad plantam pedis. Dolorem tamen (for
" any care was seen to be had thereof) sentire non vide-
" mur : quod mentis eegrotantis est indicium. A great argu-
" ment whereof was, that in tot reip. difficultatibus, editur,
" bibitur, luditur, altum dormitur, privata curantur, pub-
" lica negliguntur, ceti riderent omnia, et pax rebus esset
" altissima. The fear of God, whereby all things were
" wont to be kept in indifferent order, was in effect gone,
" and God seemed to weigh them, and to conduct their do-
" ings thereafter. The fear of the Prince went apace after,
*' whereof they saw daily proof both by sea and by land. It
" was high time therefore for her Highness to take some good
" way with her enemy, and to grow with him to some rea-
" sonable end, yielding to necessity ; cui ne dii quidem resist-
" unt, et non ponere rumores ante salutem : and to answer
" their friends in reason. So as rebus Jbris constitutis, she
" might wholly attend to set things in better order at home.
*' The looseness whereof was so great, as being not remedied
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 293
" in time, the tempest, he said, was not a little to be feared, CHAP.
" cum tot coactee nuhcs nobis minantur. AVhich God of his
" mercy by the prayer of decern justi a nobis lo7ig-issime ^^^^
" avertaty
London also, the metropolis of the kingdom, was in ill The state of
case, by reason of the late plague, poverty, and other judg-
ments : " There being, as the said Sir John Mason wrote,
" in the said city and about it, numbers of men in much
" necessity ; some for lack of work, and some for lack of
" will to work. So that if they, with others that possessed
" the highest ways round about, were not by some good
" means kept in awe, he feared there would be ill dwelling
" near unto London." And therefore, whereas the Queen
was intending to take a progress northward that summer, he
advised to the contrary ; and " he thought no good man
" would counsel her thereunto. That the Prince's face,
" turned towards these loose citizens, must needs be a great
*' bridle to them. Whereunto he trusted her Highness
" would have good respect. Besides the great discomfort
" that needs must be to many of her good subjects there, to
" see her Majesty to turn her countenance from them."
Our Archbishop had an occasion offered him now in a business
March, whereby to shew his wisdom and his care, both of shop of st.
the Church, and of the credit of those that were preferred Asaph le-
fcrrfcl to
to the government of it. The Bishop of St. Asaph, Dr. the ArcU-
Thomas Davies, consecrated in the year 1561, enjoyed some ^'^'"'P"
benefices, together with the bishopric, without any legal war-
rant, or royal indulgence, as it seems, so to do. Whereupon,
it being discovered, endeavours were made by certain per-
sons to get themselves presented, and invested into those
livings. This put the Archbishop upon suing to the Queen
and her Council, that he might not be deprived of his small
benefices, considering the smallness and incompetency of his
bishopric. This being the cause of a Bishop within our
Archbishop's province, and the Council valuing his judg-
ment in matters of this nature, referred the thing unto
him, to consider how meet and convenient it were to yield
to his suit, and by what means his benefices might be legally
I-
294 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 1563.
148
March 18.
His judg-
ment of
commeii-
danis and
pluralities.
Takes care
about the
see of Lan-
daff.
continued to him. Concerning this he wrote his judgment
unto the Secretary to this purpose : " That to the mainte-
" nance of his hospitahty it were needful for him to obtain
" so much favour, for the commendam of his benefices, at
" the Queen's Majesty's hands, as to have her warrant to
" the faculties. Which grace, he said, was such as was
" commonly heretofore granted, when livings were better,
" and victuals cheaper. And tliough these commendams
" seemed, as he said, to be a kind of appropriation, yet that
" inconvenience might be thought less, than that the order
" of godly Ministers in that function should be brought
" to contempt for lack of reasonable necessaries. Which
" though before God it made no great matter, nor needed
" honest Ministers to be abashed within themselves, to ex-
" pend no more than they may ; yet the world looked for
" port agreeable. And wise grave men thought, there was
" done already enough toward that state for bringing super-
" fluity to moderation."
It was his judgment, that the port of a Bishop ought to
be preserved, for his better countenance in the world ; which
is apt to despise the function when those that are of it are
poor and live nearly. And though he did not like of com-
mendams nor pluralities ; yet in small bishoprics and prefer-
ments he thought thern a less inconvenience, than that hos-
pitality and the credit and esteem of the Clergy should be lost.
Whereby religion itself might be subject to the contempt of
the people : and lest any might object, that the Clergy were
to be kept poor upon political accounts, he thought the
Church had been sufficiently stripped, to prevent any evil
that might arise to the commonwealth at any time from their
pride or faction.
And as it was a piece of his paternal care that the Church
should be full, and that the revenues thereof might not be
more diminished, so the bishopric of LandafF, being now to
be provided for, and the house called Mathern, belonging
thereunto, being alienated, whether by Dunstan, the late
Bishop, a monstrous dilapidator of that see, or by some other
means ; our Archbishop earnestly reminded the Secretary
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 295
to procure some to be preferred to it, and to get the house CHAP,
restored back to the bishopric ; that so it might be a means .
to oblige to residence sucli as should be admitted Bishops ' ^^'s-
there. And signifying how highly convenient it were that
Bishops should reside in their dioceses, he used these words;
" That how little soever they did severally in their dioceses,
" it was a good stay in divers respects to the insolent alFec-
" tion of the people." Meaning that they would be awed by
the presence of a spiritual father among them. This letter
makes it evident, that Godwin's Catalogue is misprinted,
where this Bishop is made to decease anno 1566, which
should be 1563.
CHAP. XVIII.
Coverdale made Minister of the parish of St. Magnus,
London. A message to the tzco Archbishops from the
Assembly of Divines in Edinburgh. Miisculus''s Common
Places translated, dedicated to the Archbishop. An Ad-
monition (prefaced as it seems) by him.
And these are the matters that passed tlirough the hands c:overdaie
of our Archbishop while he was in his diocese in Kent. ^jJ^'J^^gnus
Now let us take notice of some other things. Miles Cover- London,
dale, that assisted at the consecration of our Archbishop,
sometime Bishop of Exon, being now old and pooi", the
Bishop of London committed to his charge the church and
parish of St. Magnus, at the bridge foot, London. But the
height of the first-fruits being 60Z. 16.y. lOd. ob. beyond his
ability to satisfy, made him in the month of J anuary write to
the Archbishop, (as he did also to others of the Court,) that
the setting his age and his poverty before the Queen, would 1 4()
prevail with her to forgive him that debt. The contents of
this letter to the Archbishop, which will set forth his present
condition, were, " That it would please him to join with the His letter
" Bishop of London in suit for him to the Queen, that in j^s^op^for^
u 4
296 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " favourable consideration, how destitute he had been of a
" competent hving in the realm ever sith his bishopric was
Anno 1563. " violently taken away from him ; I being," said he, " com-
fruits " Polled to resign, and how I never had pension, annuity,
MSS. c.c. " or stipend of it these ten years and upwards; how unable
Epist. " ^Iso I am to pay the first-fruits, or long to enjoy the said
Princip. <t benefice, going upon my grave, as they say, and not like
" to live a year ; her Majesty, at the contemplation of such
" reverend, honourable, and worthy suitors, will most gra-
" ciously grant me her warrant and discharge for the first-
" fruits of the said benefice. And as I am bold most humbly
" to crave your Grace's help herein, so am I fully persuaded,
" God willing, to shew myself again as thankful, and in my
" vocation, during my short time, as fruitful and as quiet
" as I can. 29 Jan. new year.
" Myl. Cov. quond. Exon."
And to the He wrote also in the beginning of February to Cecil, the
Ceai!*'^^ Secretary, to the same import, to be a means for him to the
Queen, to grant him the first-fruits of the said St. Magnus,
MSS. Ce- " which the Bishop of London had gently granted him the
« pastoral office and benefice of. That heretofore (he praised
" God for it) his Honour had ever been his special help and
" succour in all his rightful suits. And that if now (that
poor old Miles might be provided for) it would please
" him to obtain this for him ; he should think this enough
*' ^,o be as good as a feast. And so beseeching him to take
*' this his boldness in good part, he committed him and all
" his to the gracious protection of the Almighty. From
" London, 6 Feb. Subscribing,
" Myles Coverdale quondam Exon."
His first- Coverdale wrote a month or six weeks after to the Archbi-
given. shop again, signifying, that the Lord Robert Duddely sent
him a message, that the Queen had granted him his first-
fruits. He lived little more than two years after, and died
aged eighty-one, living, as he promised the Archbishop, quiet,
though not coming up to the uniformity required, which
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 297
had occasioned so much unquietness in others : and perhaps CHAP.
• * XVIII
rehnquishing his parish before his death : for he was buried '_
not at St. Magnus, but St. Bartholomew's. A""" i&63.
The Divines in Scotland in their Assembly about the The wife of
latter end of this year, sent a message to tlie Archbishops
Minister
in England. To both which most reverend Fathers on the
o _ into Eng-
10th of February, Spotswood Superintendant of Lowthian, land.
Knox and Craig Ministers of Edinburgh, wrote their letters.
The occasion pretty strange, and hardly weighty enough for
the cognizance of so solemn an assembly : and it was this.
One Baron a Minister had made complaint to the General
Assembly then met at Edinburgh, that his wife Anne Good-
acre, an English woman, I suppose, departed from him, and
went away for England without his leave, after great rebel-
lions by her committed, and after several warnings given by
him to her. She remained for a season at York. The Gene- The Assem-
ral Assembly at Edinburgh, as well of the nobility as of the burgh to
superintendant Ministers, and Commissioners of Churches, Arch-
... . bisliops to
upon Baron's petition and complaint, gave their command- apprehend
ment to the said Spotswood, Knox, and Craig, to write to''^'^'
and request the two Archbishops, being principal in eccle-
siastical jurisdiction in the realm of England, that they
would in their respective jurisdictions cause by public
edicts, or else personally to apprehend, summon, charge, and
warn the said Anne to compere before the superintendant
Ministers and session of Edinburgh, in their Consistory, the
sixth day after their summons, there to come and answer for
herself and for her crimes.
Archbishop Parker was now at Bekesbourn near Canter- The Arch-
bury ; and surprised herewith, writ to the Secretary Cecil, ferl'^ith""'
April 14, signifying, " That he doubted how agreeable it^^e Secre-
" were for him to satisfy s6ch requests ; praying him to im- ^c7c. c. c.*
" part his counsel, the rather for that, he said, it might ^P'**"
" seem to touch the state and order of the realm. That the
" request in his opinion was strange, for that this vicissitude
" was used at the request of them, which agnize one supe-
" rior governor, as subjects of one realm or empire : and was
" also used, where the abode or continuance of the party to
298 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " be called is certainly known in whose territory she con-
. " tinueth. And doubtful, added he, it is to me by what
Anno 1563." authority these requesters do exercise their conference.
" For they make no mention of their warrant or commis-
" sion. And further, I take, that the party is not bound
" to obey any such commandment of theirs in England, to
" appear in Scotland, the cause as it is. And some doubt may
" rise, whether they go about to practise a precedent by our
*' assents, to divorce the parties, and to license the innocent
" to marry again. And further, it may be considered, how
" it may be taken at the Queen''s Majesty's hand, to com-
" mand any resiant within her dominions to appear before a
" foreign power out of her realm. Besides, that the exam-
" pie may be dangerous, if in any time the like practice
" might be. And therefore to jeopard the indemnity of the
" godly where extreme princes be, or evil prelates do reign,
" to desire to torment the poor Protestants. Now if they
" require justice it might there, as there, be ministered
" of us by the Queen's laws; which I trust do not much
" differ from God's words well understood.
" I am bold to write to your Honour my fancies ; whereto
" I do yet incline : notwithstanding ready to redress my
" cogitations, if your wisdom, in respect of gratification of
" such neighbourhood as is now betwixt us, I mean betwixt
" England and Scotland, may think it convenient. If it
" were but a matter private, I would not trouble your other
" affairs ; but seeing it may be drawn to a great importance,
" I will stay till I may hear from your Honour, praying the
" same, as your opportunity will serve, to return your
" advice. My Lord Marquis [of Northampton] I have
" acquainted with it, being with me at Bekesborn, who
" telleth me he will help to some certain resolution at his
" next repair to the Court." I make no reflections on all
this, only cannot but contemplate the wise, wary, and deep
judgment of our Prelate appearing in these lines of his.
Muscuius's J shall mention only one thing more under this year, and
Common . n ^ ^ •
Places de- that is, that Muscuius's Common Places came forth this
thrArch- y^^'' ti'anslated out of Latin into English, for the
bishop.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 299
use of English Divines and others, in order to instruct them c H A P.
in a body of sound divinity, purged from the errors of
Popery. The author was a learned Professor of Divinity Anno 1 563.
in Berne in Switzerland, and reckoned among the most pro-
found Doctors that had writ in the Church of God. The
translator was Mr. Man, Head of Merton college in Oxford;
who dedicated the book to our Archbishop.
After this Epistle Dedicatory is an Admonition to theAnAdmon-
Reader ; which seems to be done by the Archbishop himself, joined,
to prevent any offence that might be taken at something in
the Common Places, or Incline any to fall into dislike with
some usages in our Church. As, " That in rites and cere-
" monies the primitive Church was not so precisely to be
" followed, but that it was left free to all Churches to dis-
" pose them indifferently, as they might know to make
" to edification. And that whereas this author pressed
" some particularities, not agreeable to the Church of Eng-
" land, he meant himself none otherwise to charge the reader
" to any necessity of receiving his judgment and opinion
" in things of mere circumstance : and professed in divers
" places of his book, that he meant not to prejudice the
" judgment of any others, who miglit extend such matters
" in question. That it was fit for the good English reader
" to be an obedient subject to all orders prescribed unto
" him in this realm where he dwelt ; whatsoever difference
" he might read in writers uttering their opinion : which for
" their countries seemed most convenient, and were so prac-
" tised in the same. And therefore where this author seemed
" to disallow the interrogatories that were made at the chris-
" tenlng of infants ; yet at the end of his discourse of these
" matters, he said, / do jjrescribe or give o?-der to no man ;
" but by other men's leave I do only declare what I think
" most profitable and expedient. That as for the opinion of
" Doctors, the Archbishop said (if he be the writer of the
" said sober and wise Admonition) that neither this Church
" of England nor any other ought to be subject thereto,
" but to be left to their particular determination, as should
" be thought good unto them."
300 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK This was the prudent and safe rule he gave for reading the
opinions of authors about the government of Churches.
Anno 1563. And that if readers would observe this caution in perusing
of Musculus's works, or any other such, it would have this
great benefit, " That it would serve to stay them from any
" innovation of things quietly reposed ; and from uttering
" such judgments in contention, to win a singularity in
" newness of opinion, to the disturbing of the quiet in-
" struction of the people."
CHAP. XIX.
The Archbishop labours an Uniformity among the Min-
isters ; in habits and other ceremonies appointed. Dr.
Turner, Dean of Wells, refractory to them. Varieties
used in the service of the Church. Information of this
to the Archbishop out of the country. The Queen's letter
to the Archbishop for enjoining- the habits. The Bishop
of DurhanCs letter occasioned hereby : and the Archbi-
sliop''s to the Bishop of London. What the Bislwps did
hereupon ; and the Puritans. Dean WhittingJiam'' s let-
ter to the Earl of Leicester : and Kingsmil to the Arch-
bishop.
Anno 1564. 'J' jj J] jjext year the Archbishop, being returned back to
to* reduce Lambeth, entered upon a new and troublesome work,
the Clergy which cost him much pains and sorrow, strusreling in it as
to unifor- , , V 1 T 1 • 1 1 V •
mity. long as he uvea. It was his endeavour to oblige Mmisters
to an uniformity and agreement in their attendances upon
the service of God. For the Queen had taken great offence
at many of the Clergy, having information how remiss they
were, both in the University and out of it, especially in
the city of London, in wearing the habits appointed for the
Clergy to use in time of ministration, and at other times :
Some Min ^^^^^7 Square cap, the tippet, and the surplice.
isters' de- It is uiarvellous to consider how much these were abhor-
the*^ap"iind "^^".V honest well meaning men ; accounting them
siirjilire.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 301
Antichristian ceremonies, and so stylinff them ; and by no CHAP.
means to be used in a true Christian Church, because used '_
in the apostate Church of Rome. It may suffice as a sign Anno i564.
how averse many were unto these habits, only to mention
one or two. Crowley called them conjuring garments of
Popery, and would not therefore be persuaded to minister in
them : and in the year 1565, Dr. Turner, the Dean of Wells, Particularly
enjoined a common adulterer to do his open penance in aj"^""^
Priest"'s square cap. Of which the Archbishop complained Weiu.
to the Secretary. And two years before this ; viz. the latter
end of the year 1563, he used to call the Bishops white coats,
and tippet gentlemen, with other words of reproach ; con-
temning moreover their office, and asking, " Who gave
" them authority more over me, than I over them, either to
" forbid me preaching, or to deprive me, unless they have
" it from their holy Father the Pope Gilbert, Bishop of
Bath and Wells, was so incumbered with this his Dean for
such talk, and for his indiscreet behaviour in the pulpit, med-
dling with all matters, and unseemly speaking of all states,
that he first advertised him by writings, and admonished
him secretly by his own friends. But persisting herein, he
was forced to advertise our Archbishop of it ; and proceeded
to entreat Secretary Cecil to write a few lines to him, which
he believed might stay his undiscreet doings. To add one
passage more of him, which is intendedly related for his 152
credit by Martin Marprelate, that he had a dog full of good ^p'**-
qualities ; and having invited a Bishop to his table, in din- ribie
ner while he called the dog, and told him that the Bishop ^g"^*'*'
did sweat ; the dog flies at the Bishop, and took off his
cornered cap ; and away goes the dog with it to his master. The varie-
And the confused varieties that divers Ministers in these ^^^^
the StTVtCC
days used in the service of God, and in their habits which and habits,
they wore, gave much offence, and were complained of.
Insomuch as I find a paper among the Secretary's MSS.
specifying these varieties, dated Febr. 14, 1564, which was
the month before the articles for uniformity, afterward
mentioned, were devised by the Archbishop and the other
Bishops. This paper I think worthy oiu- transcribing, for
302 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK the illustrating our present history. Which is as follows
verbatim :
Anno 1564.
Varieties in the service and administration used.
Mss. c;eci- Service and Some say the service and prayers in the
Prayer. chancel ; others in the body of the church.
Some say the same in a seat made in the
church ; some in the pulpit, with their faces to
the people. Some keep precisely the order of
the book ; others intermeddle Psalms in metre.
Some say with a surplice ; others without a
sui'plice.
Table. The table standeth in the body of the church
in some places ; in others it standeth in the
chancel. In some places the table standeth
altarwise, distant from the wall yard. In some
others in the middle of the chancel, north and
south. In some places the table is joined ;
in others it standeth upon tressels. In some the
table hath a carpet ; in others it hath none.
Adminis- Some with surplice and cap ; some with sur-
tration of plice alone ; others with none. Some with
the Com- chalice ; some with a Communion cup ; others
munion. with a common cup. Some with unleavened
bread, and some with leavened. [He might
have added, some with wafers, some with com-
mon manchet bread.]
Receiving: Some receive kneeling, others standing, others
sitting.
Baptizing: Some baptize in a font, some in a basin.
Some sign with the sign of the cross ; others sign
not. Some minister in a surplice, others without.
Apparel. Some with a square cap ; some with a round
cap ; some with a button cap ; some with a hat.
Some in scholars'" clothes, some in others.
Infomia- An application made this year to our Ai'chbishop by one
thfse*varie- his Clergy for his advice will further declare these mat-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 303
ters, and shew how the Clergy in the countries about this CHAP.
■ • * • XIX
time behaved themselves in their ministration. The Arch-
bishop had placed one Richard Kechyn in some benefice Anno 1 564.
near Bockine; in Essex, which seemed to be one of his Pecu- f ^'i'l •
o ' _ the Archhi-
liars : and upon his admission had charged him to follow shop.
the orders and rules appointed and established by law, and
to make no variation, whatsoever others should or might do
or persuade him to the contrary. But now this year in his
ministerial course, he met with many rubs and checks by
one, a neighbouring preacher, (or English Doctor, as they
loved then to call themselves,) who came into his pulpit,
being a licensed preacher, and there openly condemned
him, the incumbent, for certain things. We must know
that Kechyn had in the Rogation-week gone the perambu-
lation with his parishioners ; and according to the old
custom and the Queen's injunctions, had said certain offices
in certain places of the parish. And several women of the
parish accompanied as was wont, and joined in the prayers
that were said. And all was ended in a good friendly din- 1 53
ncr : wherein such poor women and others that attended
were refreshed and relieved. Kechyn had also upon occa-
sion shewed his mind concerning preaching in ordinary
assemblies upon predestination : and that he thought that
deep point were better be let alone, to be argued and dis-
coursed among the learned. He also constantly wore the
surplice in his ministration, and in reading the divine service
turned his face to the east.
This one Holland, Curate of Bocking, thought fit to check mss. g. p.
this man for. And the Sunday next following the Rogation- a" "^^°'*
week, coming to preach at his parish, his sermon went
on two arguments only, viz. of predestination, and of
women's walking the perambulation in Rogation- week. Of Preaching
predestination he said, " That it should and ought to be ^^jlp^,*****^'"
" preached in every sermon and in every place, before all
" congregations, as the only doctrine of salvation. And that
" they that granted a truth in it, and would not have it
" every where preached, as well as they that denied it, were
" enemies to God and the eternal predestination." The
304 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK like he judged of them that said, it was a high and secret
__J_[_ mystery, and fitter for learned men in schools and Univer-
Anno 1564. si ties : against which he boldly spake, as far as he durst,
Women go- and would fain have said more as might well appear. And
ing the per- whereas certain women in the parish had followed the rest
ambulation, _ _ ^
in the Rogation-week, as they were always accustomed, and
heard the Gospels read with the I'est, and assisted with
their prayers, rendering of thanks, saying Amen to the
curses, [one whereof appointed by the Injunctions to be said
was, Ctirsed is he that translateth the bounds and dolls of
his neighbour,'^ and so forth, as the Injunctions did permit :
this he condemned as unlawful ; and pretended the Queen's
authority for this his new doctrine, and the judgment
of the learned Bishops of the realm ; and laboured at large
to confute what miffht be said in favour of this custom.
The Dean of Bocking, (who, I think, Avas Mr. Cole,)
having some jurisdiction over Kechyn and some other Min-
isters thereabouts, had charged him and the rest not to
turn their faces to the high altar in service-saying, which was
a new charge and not given before. But this Dean in his
visitation usually gave new articles every year. And lastly,
offence was taken against him that he used the surplice.
The Arch- Upon this occasion, the said Minister thought convenient
bishop con- acquaint Peerson, the Archbishop's Almoner and Chap-
suited , . ^. , , , . . \ , . 1 , • 1
about some lam. With these things, to impart them to the Archbishop,
jui^s that he might have his counsel and direction. He told the
Almoner in a letter to him what his practice was, that
though he turned his face upward, aa he had done hitherto,
yet his Church was small, and his voice might be heard.
That the Litany he said in the body of the church ; and
when he said the service he kept the chancel, and turned his
face to the east ; and that he was not zealous in setting
forth predestination. And for these matters they were
much offended with him. He beseeched the Almoner
therefore to let him understand his Grace's mind in the opin-
ions above rehearsed. For though the cause was flat, as he
had before reported to him, yet he had not, he said, taken in
hand to disclose or confute openly in the church any of
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 305
these matters wherein these English Doctors had been and CHAP.
XIX
were wrestling at this day. That lie would do nothing '
against his lawful Ordinary's mind. That if he willed him Anno i564.
to leave off the surphce, as others did, he was ready ; to
forbid the women to pray in the Rogation-week, &c. he was
also ready. That in such cases he depended upon them
that had authority to alter ceremonies ; and not upon the
new brethren that seemed and would be thought to have
authority, but had none. Further, that he would gladly
learn what articles his Grace caused to be inquired of in his
visitation ; because the Dean their Visitor had every year a
new scroll of articles. And this, of charging all not to turn
their faces to the high altar was one ; whicli he called a
new charge. That, for his suffering the women to pray in
the fields in Rogation- week, he said, that the poorer women
(as God knew) that lacked work tlie last week were glad of
the relief that was accustomably piwided for them ; and
that the substantial men took part with him in it.
Then Kechyn took the liberty to acquaint the Archbi- Holland a
shop's Chaplain with some character of this Holland, that p"/^^^,",.^
took so much upon him in his pulpit ; and with the practices
now brought in, in the churches. That though this man
had called these perambulation feasts, feasts of Bacchus,
shewing liis skill in poetry ; yet if one should have asked
him how to decline Bacchus, he would have been put to his 154
shifts : however he would appear to be seen in Latin, Greek,
and Hebrew. He cried out, that tlie Schoolmen had in-
fected all the country with superstition, as he termed this
going of the women. That in his sermons he used much
Latin, and took great pleasure in pronouncing it much like
the good fellows that went about with foot plays. He
asked, if this were not at length a fit learned man to
preach predestination in such presumption. And added,
that he marvelled much that his Grace permitted him by his
licence to preach out of his cure, or any proud English
Doctor of them all, as the good man, raised into some pas-
sion, expressed himself. But that now, he is no English
Doctor with us, as he proceeded, that hath not some singu-
voL. r. X
306
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK lar opinion to inflame the multitude withal against those
that live under laws and obedience. That in short, by
Anno 1564. means of these, learning was had in derision of most men.
That he was sorry to have occasion to pen these matters for
his reading ; and might think he spake of affection, but he
assured him he did but write as other men talked : and
that he thought much of the sauclness of these bold rude
*The Pu- English Preachers and Doctors* : he wished it by pvmish-
fected that ^^^^^ 3,nd penalties to be reformed. For he knew his Grace
title from had taken order for such in some points ; but that they
were no more regarded. And he wished that he (to whom
he wrote) might see where the fault was.
Liberty And lastly, he shewed him the liberty that was commonly
used among the Clergy there, in varying from the appoint-
ments of the Church. How that some conferred Baptism in
basins, some in dishes, [rejecting the use of the font,] as he
himself had seen. Some held there must be seven god-
fathers. Some would either, that every father .should
christen his own child, or at least admit him to be chief god-
father. Some took down the font, and painted a great bowl,
and caused to be written on the outside BAP | TIS | ME,
as was notably known. Some taught that women might not
pray in the Rogation-week. Some detested the surplice in
ministration. And that in Bocking it had been laid a
water (as he expressed it) by Holland the Curate there for
many a day.
How this Thus by this letter, shewing the state of the Church-
eaine^re-*^ Service, and the Ministers thereof, in one part of the nation,
trenched, may be guessed how it was every where else : and had
it not been for the great disturbances in the Church, occa-
sioned by these varieties, and the common omission of what
was prescribed by the Queen's Injunctions ; and for tlie
rude and Insolent behaviour of some that refused the habits
towards those that quietly used them, and conformed them-
selves to orders, (as in the case of Kechyn aforesaid,) probably
the urging of them so strictly afterwards would not have
been. And had the scrupling brethren peaceably and
$ilently used their liberty in the omission of some few things
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 307
which their consciences scrupled, it might not have been CHAP,
with such rigor afterwards restrained. For hitherto, as far
as I find, they were indulged and connived at by the Bi- ^""^0 •^64.
shops, as much as they might, without giving offence to the
Queen, or disparaging her Injunctions. For when these
and some other matters enjoined by the Common Prayer
Book were charged upon the Bishops by BuUinger, Pastor
of the Chin-ch of Zurich, and some other learned foreigners
of the Reformation ; they replied in their letters, " That
" none of them were of the Parliament House at the passing
" of the book ; and that they had therefore no voice in
" making of the law. But that after it was passed, they
" being chosen to be Bishops, must either content them-
" selves to take their places, as things were, or else leave
" them to Papists or Lutherans. But in the mean space
" they promised not to urge their brethren in those things :
" and when opportunity should serve, to seek reformation
" of them." Which letters were shewn to George Withers,
a Divine, by BuUinger and Gualter at Zurich in the year
1567, as the said Withers wrote to the Lord Burghley.
Whose letter I shall hereafter have occasion to produce,
when about the year 1583 subscription was enjoined to the
Book of Common Prayer : upon which occasion it was
writ.
These practices therefore, being so contrary" to the The Queen
Queen''s Injunctions, set out in the year 1559, and I'^^gstt^ig |'eJ,''e*s uf
so much dissension, difference, and disorder among Chris- the Arciibi-
tians of the same profession, redounding so much to the J',™'
disparagement of the reformed religion among the enemies fo'nity.
thereof ; the Queen dii'ccted her letter this year, 1564, in
the month of January, to her Archbishop, requiring him,
with other Bishops in the commission for causes ecclesiasti-
cal, that orders might be taken, whereby all diversities and 155
varieties among the Clergy and Laity, as breeding nothing-
hut contention and breach of common charity, and against
the laws and good usage and ordinances of the realm,
might be reformed and repressed, and brought to one man-
ner of uniformity throughout the realm. A draug^ht of
308 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK which letter I have thought worthy to reposit in the Ap-
II.
pendix. Whereby may be perceived, tliat tliis was the
Anno 1564. second time the Queen had called upon the Bishops to
Numbe
XXIV.
Number j-ggtrain these differences ; and that neither those our Arch-
bishop, nor the rest of his brethren, were ever forward
to prosecute that did vary from the appointed rites and
ceremonies ; but had, for peace sake, winked a little at the
non-observance of them. For she in the said letter blames
the Archbishop and Bishops, " for their lack of regard
" that should have been given hereto, and their sufferance
" of simdry varieties and novelties : and moreover, straitly
" charged and required him, that hereafter she might not be
" occasioned, for lack of his diligence, to provide further
" remedy against the Dissenters, by some other sharp pro-
" ceedinffs."
The.diffi- But the compassing of this business, the Queen had now
cuitiesof it.pyj^ him upon, had its great difficulties; not only in re-
spect of the earnest prejudices many had taken to the
apparel, because not used in other, which they esteemed
purer, Churches ; but also because these Dissenters had
many secret favourers, both among the courtiers and the
TheBisliop Bisliops too. And chiefly Pilkington, the Bishop of Dur-
wri^es'to"" ^am, formerly an exile for the Gospel : who not only dis-
Leicester liked the cap and surplice, (though he wore them,) but
cce'dirft's^'^*' when he observed this matter was going to be pressed, he
wrote a large and earnest letter, dated October 25. to the
Earl of Leicester, a great man with the Queen, to do his en-
deavour to oppose it, and to defend this cause, though
he should incur some displeasure thereby : and that though
he had sundry times spoken in this cause without the suc-
cess desired, yet importunity commonly procured many
things in time. He urged also to him that passage of Mor-
decai to Esther ; If thou hold thy peace, deliverance shall
come another way, but thou and thy Jathers house sJmU
perish. He said, " It was Satan''s malice to raise great
" troubles for trifles. That Paul circumcised Timothy,
" when there was hope to win the Jews; but when they
" would have it of necessity, he would not circumcise Titus.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 309
" That compelling should not be used in things of liberty. CHAP.
" That in those superstitious parts where he lived, Priests
" went with swords and daggers, and such coarse apparel as Anno i564.
" they could get, not regarding colour or fashion. But it
" was lamentable, that among those that were more civil,
" such offence should be taken at a cap. He bade the Earl
" consider, how all reformed countries had cast away Popish
" apparel with the Pope, and that we contend to keep it as
" a holy relic. That many Ministers would rather leave
" their ministry and livings, than be like to Popish teachers
" of such superstitions. And the realm had a great scarcity
" of teachers, and many places were left destitute of any.
" That it would give incurable offence to the favourers of
" God's truth in other countries : that St. Paul bade men
" use such apparel as became those that professed godliness:
" but if we forsake Popery as wicked, how shall we say
" their apparel becomes saints and professors of the Go,s-
" pel But I will not any further forestall the reading the
letter itself, which I have put in the Append
The Queen having sent her letters to the Archbishop, as TheArchbi-
was above said, for pressing conformity upon the Ministers ^^^j^ti^g
throughout her realm, he, in obedience to her commands, Bishop of
within two days after, wrote letters to the Bishop of London, upon the
shewing him, " How discomfortable these varieties and con- '^"'^'^'''^ '"^t"
■ !-««-• 11 1 ters to liim.
*' tentions were to her Majesty, and how she apprehended
" danger and ruin at last by them ; and that she had there-
" fore, in the beginning of her reign, provided laws and ordi-
" nances to stay and knit her people in unity ; but that for
" want of regard in the Bishops, notwithstanding the Queen's
" charge given to them, for due execution, varieties, and
" novelty in opinions, and external ceremonies, were crept
" in. That thereby good religion was impaired and defaced.
" And the Queen saw these disorders still to increase, and
" not to diminish, and was now resolved to have these diver-
" sities against the laws to be expelled, and to have uni-
" formity throughout the realm. And that she had there-
" upon commanded him, the Archbishop, according to the
" power and authority he had under her, to have consider-
310
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " ation of the same in such form as was expressed in her let-
" ters; and to understand of every person having ecclesiasti-
" cal jurischction, both in the Universities and elsewhere,
156" what varieties were used in doctrine or ceremony, and in
" the manners of the Clergy ; and to seek the reformation of
" the same. And that none should be admitted to any place
or benefice, but such as should be disposed to follow com-
" mon order, and before admittance should promise to use
" themselves in true unity and concord, and to keep order
" and imiformity. And that none that maintained these dis-
" sensions should remain in authority, wliereby her sove-
" reign authority might be frustrate. And that she com-
" nianded him, the Archbishop, to inform her of all such as
" were not reformable, and to refer them to her further or-
" der. And that otherwise she would ' impute to him the
cause thereof. Therefore, for declaration of his allegi-
" ance and obedience to her authority, and to avoid her
" indignation, he had sent his letter to him, the Bishop of
" London, desiring his Lordship, and in her name straitly
charging him, to expend and execute the premises ; and
to signify the same to the rest of his brethren in the
" Archbishop's province, that tliey should see the laws and
" ordinances already established, to be without delay and co-
" lour executed : and such as were incorrigible, to send up,
" and the causes and demerits of the said persons. And
" the said Bishops to charge their inferiors, having any ju-
" risdiction, to do the same : and to certify up what varieties
" there be in doctrines and ceremonies, and behaviour of the
" Clergy. And this to be returned by the last day of Febru-
" ary ensuing." This is the sum of the Archbishop's letter,
xxvi*'^ But in the Appendix it may be found at length.
How the This was no very gi*ateful work to the Bishops ; many
Mnt the"^*^ of their Clergy in their respective dioceses, otherwise learned
Queen's and sober, using these variations from the laws, and taking
order : ^ liberty to wear other habits, out of a detestation of Po-
pery. Yet the Bishops were sensible of the discord these
Bishop Al- differences occasioned, and wished for a redress. Alley,
Bishop of Exeter, wrote a letter, containing advices for the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 311
Church in matters of doctrine and discipline. Therein, for chap.
his own diocese, he wished some order might be taken for
the habits; for that there was such preaching about them, Anno isea.
to the great disturbance of the people. He said, he knew
one that boasted he had preached seven or eight sermons
against the habits. He wished, that they might either be
confirmed by authority, or laid aside ; that so there might
be no more contention about them.
But upon these motions for bringing all Ministers to an And the
uniformity in rites, according to the laws in force, great were ^o"urses *
the strivings and strugglings of the refusers. They wrote hereupon,
letters, made friends, marshalled up their arguments against
the use of these things. And many that used these rites,
disliked their imposition : such were some of the Bishops
themselves. Pilkington, Bishop of Durham, wrote a letter
to this purpose, as was said before, to the Earl of Leicester,
who set up for a patron of the Puritaas, upon some dis-
pleasure against our Archbishop, and for other ends. And Whitting-
so did Whittingham, the Dean of Durham, writing a very jo'"j,e Earl
large letter to the same Earl, his patron, who had procured °f Leicester,
him the deanery : shewing therein his reading in the Fathers :
passages out of whom he quoted liberally, in confirmation of
his arguments. He said, " That through packing of ene-
" mies he thought it past remedy, and that the decree was
" either passed, or at hand, to compel all to wear the old Po-
" pish apparel, or to lose their livings. That that which
" made a shew for the wearing the apparel, was the opinion
*' of indifferency. But he on the other hand said, that he
" that would persuade to any thing in religion must prove
" that it tended to God''s glory, consented with his word,
" edified the Church, maintained Christian liberty. Which
" conditions and circumstances, if it wanted, that which by
" nature was indifferent did degenerate and become hurtful.
" He demanded, how could God^s glory be advanced by gar-
" ments which superstitious men and Antichrist have invent-
" ed, for the maintaining and beautifying of idolatry ? That
" St. Austin required two points in things indifferent ; v'l^.
" that they induced to a better life, and so served to cdifi-
X 4
312 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "cation; and next, that we bewared lest offence came
" therel)y. That to use the outward shew and manner of
Anno 1564. " the wicked, is to approve their false doctrine. And where-
" as it was said, that this apparel served not to set forth Pa-
" pistry, but reserved as a thing merely tending to the con-
157" servation of polity, he said, that this was vox tantum et
" praterea nihil. That it was a poor policy to think by this
" means to change the nature of superstition, or to deck the
" spouse of Christ with the ornaments of the Babylonish
" strumpet, or to force the true preachers to be like in out-
" ward shew to the Papists, Christ's enemies. That when
" he considered how Jeroboam maintained his calves in Dan
" and Bethel, under the persuadable name of policy, it made
" him tremble so often as he saw the Popelike garments
" avouched and set forth under the vizard and countenance
" of policy.
" That as for those that said, they that refused these
" habits did this out of singularity rather than conscience ;
" he answered, that if that apparel they at present wore
" seemed not so modest and grave as their vocation requir-
" ed, and that it sufficed not to distinguish them from men
" of other callings, they refused not to wear such as should be
" thought to the godly magistrates for these uses most de-
" cent ; so that they might keep themselves ever pure from
" the defiled robe of Antichrist. He exhorted all earnestly to
" pray and to call unto God, that he would illuminate the
»' Queen's heart, as he did in time past, for the true reform-
" ation of religion, the minds of so many godly princes, whom
" he inflamed with the zeal of his glory, as Hezekiah, Josias,
" and other princes. And urging how many Papists enjoyed
" liberty and livings that had neither sworn obedience, nor
" did any part of duty towards their miserable flock, he cried,
" Alas ! my Lord, that such compulsion should be used to-
" ward us, and so great lenity toward the Papists. Oh no-
" ble Earl, at length be our patron and stay in this behalf,
" that we may not lose that liberty which hitherto by the
" Queen's benignity we have enjoyed." But the letter of
Dean Whittingham being penned in a notable moving style.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. SIS
I present it to the reader in the Appendix. This letter the CHAP.
Earl, to whom it was writ, delivered to the Bishop of Lon-
don, to consider, I suppose, the arguments therein, and toAnnoi564.
communicate it to the Archbishop. Yet this Whittingham Number
XXVII
afterwards wore the habits required ; and when one of his
Geneva fellow-exiles had reproached him for so doing, he
justified himself by Calvin's judgment, whom he and others
had heard say, " That for external matters of order, they Ath, Oxon.
" might not neglect and leave their ministry : which would
" be for tithing mint, to neglect the weightier things of the
" law."
KingsmU also, another learned man, (the same, if I miS- Kint^smil's
take not, with Andrew Kingsmil, of All Souls college, Oxon ;
of whom it is related, that Sampson, Humfrey, and he, were
in the year 1563 the only preachers in that University,) this
man now wrote a long letter to the Archbishop against urg-
ing the habits. Which letter is preserved among Mr. Pe-
tyt's manuscripts.
CHAP. XX.
The Archbishop and other Bishops compose the Book of
Advertisements. Why so called. The difficulty the book
met with at the Council Board. The Archbishop in some
Jieat about it. The Dean of St. Paul's chidden at Court.
The Earl of Leicester's power and interest was not so The Arch-
great with the Queen, (or at least he thought not fit now to ecd°s'iasU-
try it,) as to hinder her purpose of bringing in an uniformity, cai Com-
nor to stop the proceedings of her letter before mentioned, l^'mpose'^
whereby she had given her commands to the Archbishop to Adver-
tiseinents.
that intent. In obedience to which, the Archbishop, and some
other Bishops of the ecclesiastical commission, proceeded to
compile certain articles, to be observed partly for due order
in the public administration of the holy Sacraments, and
partly for the apparel of persons ecclesiastical. These arti-
314 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK cles were printed with a Preface this year 1564, by Reginald
Wolf, according to Bishop Sparrow's Collections, and enti-
Aano 1564. tied Advertisements. Though by a writing on the back-
^^^side of the fair copy that was sent to the Secretary, when
they were first framed, it seems they were not presently pub-
lished nor authorized. For these are the words written
upon them by the Secretary's own hand, Mar. 1564.
Ordinances accorded hy the Archbishop of Cant. c^-c. in his
province. These were not authoi'ized nor published.
Not^autho- The matter, I suppose, was this : When these articles (by
Leicester's means no question) were refused to be confirmed
by the Queen's Council, the Archbishop however thought it
advisable to print them under his and the rest of the Com-
missioners' hands, to signify at least what then* judgment and
will was ; and to let their authority go as far as it would.
Which was probable to take some effect with the greater
part of the Clergy ; especially considering their canonical
obedience they had sworn to their Diocesans. But because
the book wanted the Queen's authority, they thought fit not
to term the contents thereof Articles or Ordinances, by
which names they at first went, but by a modester denomi-
nation, viz. Advertisements.
Somc Jiffer- This was the reason that there is some difference in the
Ms!c'opy. Preface thereof, as we have it printed in Bishop Sparrow's
Collections, from that which is in the MS. copy sent unto
the Secretary. That Preface is all the same, but only,
whereas in the MS. it ran thus, [The Queen's Majesty
hath by the assent of the Metropolitan, and with certain other
her Commissioners in causes ecclesiastical, decreed certain
rules and orders to be used, as hereafter followeth,] in the
said Collections we read thus, [The Queen's Majesty
hath by her letters directed unto the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, and Metropolitan, required, enjoined, and straitly
charged, that with assistance and conference had with
other Bishops, namely, such as be in commission for causes
ecclesiastical, some orders might be taken, whereby all di-
versities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the
people, as breeding nothing but contention, offence, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 315
breach of common charity, and be against the laws, good CHAP,
usage, and ordinances of the realm, might be reformed and
repressed, and brought to one manner of uniformity through- Anno i564.
out the whole realm : that the people may thereby quietly
honour and serve Almighty God in truth, concord, unity,
peace, and quietness, as by her Majesty's said letters more at
large doth appear. Whereupon by diligence, conference,
and communication in the same, and at last by assent and
consent of the persons beforesaid, these orders and rules en-
suing have been thought meet and convenient to be used
and followed.] There be also some other small alterations.
As the word constitutions in the MS. is changed into tempo-
ral orders in the Collections : and positive laws in discipline,
is changed into rules in some part of discipline. I have
also diligently compared the printed book with the aforesaid
MS. copy, and find them different in many places, and sun-
dry things are left out which are in the copy ; the Archbi-
shop thinking fit in that manner to publish them, because
of their want of the stamp of authority to oblige persons to
the observance of them. This hath inclined me to put it
into the Appendix as I find it, being sent from the Archbi- r»'u'i>ber
shop to the Secretary ; thinking it worthy the retrieving "
such acts of the governors of the Church, the better to en-
lighten our ecclesiastical history.
But to give some more particular account of these Articles, Some fur-
published afterwards under the name of Advertisements, and count of
of the opposition they met with at Court. They were nothing these Arti-
but such as had been before agreed upon by the Queen's vertise-
Commissioners, only now reviewed and corrected, and some
things added. And tlius the book with the alterations and ad-
ditions, partly interlined, and partly in paper fastened on, was
sent by the Archbishop to the Secretary, being the first view,'
and not fully digested, that he might peruse it and give his
judgment, and so return it back ; that so it might be fair
written, and presented to the Council. The devisers, as the
Archbishop signified to the Secretary, were only the Bishops
of London, Winchester, Ely, Lincoln, and himself, though
it were agreed upon and subscribed by one Bishop more, vi^.
316 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Rochester, and other Commissioners, as appears by the sub-
scription in the printed Advertisements. Among the rest of
Anno i56'4. these amendments of the old book, this was one, that where-
as preachers were restrained before from meddling in their
sermons -mih any controversies, this was now in the present
book omitted ; it being thought very fitting, that the errors
1 59 of the Popish religion should be treated of and confuted,
for the vindication of the Reformation. And especially con-
sidering the coming over, it seems, at that time beyond sea,
of great numbers of books of the adversaries ; which were
conveyed privately to persons in the Court, impugning the
verity of our religion. After the Secretary had seen this
foul copy, which had been thus sent to him by the Archbi-
shop, March the 3d, he soon returned it. For five days
after, the Archbishop sent the fair copy thereof, signed by
the Bishops and himself, that the Secretary might take
his opportunity to present it to the Queen and her
Council : signifying, that he had rather he, the Secretary,
shoidd present it, than himself, for the avoiding of offence
that might grow, as he said, by his oAvn imprudent talk.
For he knew there were some in the Council that would be
apt to make opposition to this book, and so occasion might
be given him of some more hot discourse than Avere conve-
nient in such a presence.
Foresaw tlie jjg foresaw well that it would be difficult to pass the
difficulty of .... , _ , , . »
its passing Council, m Order to the obtammg the Queen s authority for
the Coun- ^y^^ decreeing the observation of it. But he told the Secre-
tary, "That if the Queen''s Majesty would not authorize it,
" the most part [of the orders therein prescribed] were like
" to lie in the dust, for execution on their parties, laws were
*' so much against their own private doings." By which
words suggesting that many of the leading Clergy (and
probably some of the highest order) neglected the enjoined
apparel and rites ; and so would be very backward to exe-
cute and perform the directions of the book, unless the
Queen's absolute commands were annexed. " But if she
" with consent [thereunto] would publish her pleasure con-
" cerning these Articles, he trusted, out of the awe the Cler-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 317
" gy had of her, she should be obeyed." But notwithstand- chap.
ing these endeavours of the Archbishop, and his applications.
to his friends at Court, he could not gain the Queen's au-^^nno i^^'*-
thority to ratify the book : so prevalent was that party in
the Council that disliked it, and who adhered to such of
the Clergy as were not forward for these observances.
This somewhat chafed the zealous Archbishop, and the His concern
at the
rather because the Court, and particularly the Secretary book's ill
himself, were the first movers of this matter, and which had ^"'^'^^^
put the Archbishop upon the labour of redressing this evil, council.
He said, " It was better not to have begun, except more
" were done : and that all the realm was in expectation.
" Sapienti pauca. And that seeing his Honour principally
" had begun, 7^7^a interest (said he) ut aliqnid jiatP Adding,
concerning them of the comm.ission, " That if this ball
" should be tossed unto them, and then they have no author-
" ity by the Queen's Majesty's hand, they would sit still.
" And that if they of the Council laid not to their helping
" hand, as they did once, he said, in Hooper's days, all that
" was done was but to be laughed at." This Hooper was
he that was Bishop of Worcester and Gloucester in King
Edward's days, and suffered martyrdom in the reign of
Queen Mary. Him that King and his Council sent down
into his diocese, fortified with their letters and authority, to
make search into abuses in those superstitious parts of the
land, and reform them. Which he did vigorously, and to
good purpose, by virtue of this countenance from the Court,
inflicting punishments as he saw occasion. Insomuch that Fox's Mod.
Judge Morgan, at one of the Bishop's examinations before
Gardiner, threw in his teeth what a stir and rout "he made
at Gloucester, railing at him, and saying, that there was never
such a tyrant. No question those parts, labouring more than
the rest imder Popish corruptions, required a stirring Bishop:
and good reformation he made there, by the assistance the
Council's letters gave him. But this by the by, to shew
what the Archbishop hinted at.
Soon after this, the Bishop of London was at Court in the And at the
Queen's presence ; but scarcely a word was spoken by her to ^ll^^l
318
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK him, to excite him to redress the neglect of conformity in
London. For the said Bishop had told our Archbishop,
Anno 1564. that not six words were spoken from the Queen to him for
uniformity of his London, where, it seems, it was most dis-
regarded. This neglect of the Queen created a new concern
in the mind of our Prelate. Which made him signify
this very thing unto his old friend the Secretary ; hinting
again to him hereupon his desire, that a letter from her
Majesty should be sent him to back their endeavours, adding
in some heat these words ; " If you remedy it not by letter, I
160 " will no more strive against the stream, fume or chide who
" will." This letter was dated March the 8th. Such a
strong party had the disaffected then in the Council and
Court, that the Queen was stayed from seconding her own
letter to the Archbishop, by her own authority to confirm
what they had drawn up and prepared by her own order.
The Clergy And no wonder, for the Bishops and Divines themselves
v'oure/at little Countenance given them at the Court by di-
Court. vers of the great ones thei'e ; who did what they could to
prejudice the Queen against them. For, but the day before,
viz. March the 7th, the Ai'chbishop, and the other Bishops
and Divines of the ecclesiastical commission, being at the
Court, and the Queen present, one of them, the Dean of St.
Paul's, Alexander Nowel, a person that had been much fa-
Vid. Annals voured by her for his excellent learning and education, and
format^*" ^'lo'^ ^he used to permit to discourse before her ; being, I
p. 407. suppose, appointed then to pi'each a Lenten sermon, among
other things spoken of, entered into speech concerning a very
lewd Popish book lately published. It was stuffed not only
with Papistical doctrine, but in many places tainted with im-
modest and unhonest language: and so, guilty of irreverence
and impudence towards the Queen : for to her it was dedi-
Offence cated. This caused him in that presence to shew his dis-
taken at a j^j^g jj^g book, thouffh liked much of some indiscreet sub-
sermon of _ .
the Dean ofjects, and of their j udgments too. But, it seems, upon some
St. Paul s. ^Qj-jg imwarily by him spoken, or rather by some of his cap-
tious and prejudiced auditors taken hold of, they browbeat
him, and run liini down with much severe language, and the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 319
Queen also reproved him. This unexpected usage astonish- CHAP,
ed the modest man greatly : insomuch that the Archbishop,
then present, for pure pity took him home that day to dine Anno i664.
with him, and to give him some countenance and comfort,
being- utterly dismayed, the very expression the Archbishop
used, speaking to the Secretary concerning him. And the
next day the Dean wrote a letter to the said Secretary, giv-
ing an account of the cause of that his discourse against the
book, namely, " That it was his due reverence to his gracious
*' Sovereign, so lacking in that book, and the impudency of
" the author to her : and though it were fallen out otherwise
" than he, so long accustomed to his Sovereign"'s gracious pa-
" tience with him, could well foresee, yet what error soever
" was admitted in the utterance thereof, he said, he enjoyed
" the testimonies of sound doctrine, recorded as well in the
" Scriptures, as the ancient Doctors, and the conscience of a
" good intent, and most humble reverence towards his most
" gracious Sovereign." The lettier may be read in the Ap- Number
1* XXIX.
penclix.
But to return to the Advertisements. At length, it seems. The Adver-
the Archbishop's patience and persistance prevailed, and
these ecclesiastical rules (now called Advertisements) reco-f<""ce.
vered their first names of Articles and Ordinances : as may Grfnd*.
appear by the metropolitical visitation of the church of
Gloucester, anno 1576, by Laur. Humfrey, Herbert West-
phaling. Doctors in Divinity, and some other Civilians, by
the Archbishop's deputation ; when among the Injunctions
(eight in number) given to that Church, one was this, " Not
" to oppose the Queen's Injunctions, nor the Ordinations nor
" Articles made by some of the Queen's Commissioners,
" (which are there said to be, Matthew, Archbishop of
" Canterbury ; Edmund, Bishop of London ; Richard, Bishop
" of Ely; Edmund, Bishop of Rochester; Robert, Bishop of
" Winton; and Nic. Bishop of Lincoln ;) January the 25th,
" in the 7th year of the Queen's reign." To which that
Archbishop (next successor to our Archbishop) subscribed
his name. Where we may observe, that these Ordinances of
820 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOO K the Queen's Commissioners are joined with her own Injunc-
tions to be observed. Of such force they were now become.
Anno 1564.
161 CHAP. XXI.
The Archbishop's proceedings for Unijbrmiy. He excites
tlie Bishop of London.
The pro. ThUS stood the Court affected. In the mean time the
the Arch" Archbishop and his fellows of the ecclesiastical commis..
bishop m gjQf, (jjfi „Q fg^j. ^i^igy could, to rcducc the Church
relation to . . .
uniformity, to oue uniform order, the Queen still calling upon them so
to do, reckoning their own. authority sufficient. They cited
many before them, conferring with them, admonishing them,
and threatening their censures to those that would not com-
ply. But the effect did not correspond at all : but rather
what they did proved the occasion to others of becoming
more refractory. And whereas the habits had been the only
or chief matter they boggled at, now the rest of the Church's
rites began to be called in question too : such an influence
had the connivance of the Court. But now the Queen
shewed herself much offended that so little had been done
March 24. all this while. The Archbishop takes this occasion again to
write to his friend at the Court, signifying the great mischief
of these delays and irresolute proceedings. He wished,
" that the Secretary and the rest had not stirred istam
" camarinam, or else to have set on it to some order at the
" beginning. For that delaying wrought daily more incon-
" venience, et obfirmatiores Jiunt. So that he saw it not
" best to send up for disordered persons. For after they
" espy, saith he, how the game goes, redduntur multo pr<z-
^'•Jractiores. Adding, that he thought non solum periculum
" verti in 7-itibus vestium tantummodo, sed omnium rituum
" in iiniversum, i. e. that not only the rites of apparel were
*' now in danger, but all other rites universally." And there-
fore he advised, that prudence would be taken. And
whereas he understood it was purposed by some, probably
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 321
that secretly favoured these men, to send for some of the ( HAP.
• • • • XXI
cliief of them to the Council, and mvc them a chiding bc-
fore the whole body of the Council, he said, if that were all -^""o 1^64.
that should be done with them, to be foully chidden, they
were verba tantum et praterea nihil ; i. e. words only, and
nothing else : and he doubted whether it would work a
quietness. That the deformities were to be openly entreated.
Adding this proverb, according to his dialect. All men he
not one mmi's childetm. By which he might mean, that all Desires a
men were not to be dealt with alike, but some more rouffhlv
' o J with some
than others, because of the difference of their tempers. He "f the
propounded also, that the Secretary, and the Earl of Leices- li^^'reupon.
ter, would do well to resort to the Lord Keeper, and to con-
sult with him, how to deal in this case, to do good, and to
pacify the Queen's Majesty. And he thought it would be
a piece of an afternoon well spent. And if the Secretary
should think good, he and the Bishop of London would
meet them at the Lord Keeper''s. And that peradventure
they might take some occasion from their information t^
treat this cause with the less offence. For that he and the
said Bishop now knew the whole state and complexion of the
causes, and the parties. Which they might well do, having
before this time summoned before them the chief of the
Ministers of this judgment both in London and the Univer-
sities, and fully understood their arguments and pretensions
from themselves.
And now we have mentioned the Bishop of London, it stirs up the
brings to my mind another difficulty the Archbishop had tOLonjon"t„
struggle with: which was to gain him over to join vigor- execute the
ously with him in this business: whose temper was naturally
mild, and averse from rigorous methods. Whereby our
Archbishop thought him not active enough in his diocese ;
London at that time having many Ministers beneficed tliere-
in, who wholly neglected the observance of the habits and
rites prescribed. And he knew what an influence their ex-
ample would have all the nation over. This made him urge
this Bishop to a more quick execution of the ecclesiastical
laws and injunctions. And by his arguments he at length
VOL. I. V
822 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK brought him to a good resolution therein. And to back his
. own endeavours, he writ to the Secretary to obtain a private
Anno 1564. jg^-jgy from the Queen to that Bishop, to execute her Ma-
jesty's pleasure in that regard. For he had told the Arch-
1 62 bishop, that if he were so charged, he would out of hand see
reformation in all London. " And ye know, saith he, in
" his letter to the Secretary, there is the most disorder, and
" then is the matter almost won through the realm. And
" so prayed him earnestly to procure these letters expeditely,
" for that he was then in a good mood to execute the law ;
" and that it would work much more than he would think."
CHAP. XXIL
Sampson and Humphrey of Oxford, summoned before the
Archbishop and Ecclesiastical Commission. Their sup-
plicatory letter to the said Commission for forbearance :
and to the Earl of Leicester. The Archbishop consults
with the Secretary about displacing them. They are put
up to preach at St. PauTs Cross.
Mention was made before of the Archbishop''s sending
for divers persons that refused the habits, to appear before
the Commissioners : two whereof, and they the chief heads
^^Th"" P^''ty, were Thomas Sampson, and Lawrence Hum-
phrey cited phrey ; the one Dean of Christ Church, and the other Pre-
to Lambeth, gijgn^ ^f Magdalen college, Oxon. These were of great
esteem in the nation, being men of good learning, and having
been both of them exiles in Queen Mary's reign. Therefore
the Archbishop and Commissioners appointed them to appear
at Lambeth on the 3d of March in the afternoon, with four
other Ministers in London of the same opinions : that the
Commissioners might confer with them, and to understand
their reasons for their omissions of what was enjoined. The
Archbishop signified this in the morning to the Secretary,
desiring his company, and that he would step over to them,
advising him in these words, in tota hac causa ne nimium
J:
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 323
tendas Juniculum. What this straining of the cord too ^^'^j''*
much means, whether referring to too much indulgence
towards them, or severity against them, I leave to the read-''^"'"'
er's conjecture. But that by the way.
The effect of this appearance of Sampson and Humphrey, The issue
among other things, was, that the Archbishop urged to tliem
the opinions of those learned foreigners, Bucer and Martyr,
(both which had been Public Professors of Divinity in each
University,) for conformity to the apparel prescribed. The
same, I suppose, which are mentioned in Whitgift''s Defence,
viz. Peter Martyr in his letter to Hooper, and Martin Bu-
cer in his to Alasco. Of these letters, declaring their judg-
ment in that matter, he gave them copies, desiring them to
take them home with them, and to peruse and weigh them
well. But those learned men's judgments had but little
effect on them ; for on March the 8th following, they came
to the Archbishop again, returning the letters, but no turn
of their judgments. For so the Archbishop sent word to
the Secretary, antiquum retinent immobiles. They requested
at that time, that as they were sent up for from Oxon, so they
might have leave to return home again. The Archbishop
told them, they must tarry : intending to get the Queen's
Council to send for them, or else their Chancellor, the Earl
of Leicester, to proceed against them : who, being one of
the Commissioners, had exhorted them, at least pretendedly,
to conform themselves to the Queen's pleasure. This also
he signified to the Secretary, that he might bring it about ;
telling him in short, that for his part he could do no good.
But when they could not yet obtain leave to go back to Their letter
their colleges, which they were very earnest to do, being i,"/iIop'^^,j',^|i'
weary of their uncomfortable attendance, and of the checks Conimis-
which they had also received at Court from some of the*'""*^'^'
Council, on the 20th of March following, they having framed
a supplicatory letter in a very elegant, but submissive style,
on their own behalves for brotherly connivance, sent it unto
the Archbishop, and Bishops of London, Winton, Ely,
Lincoln, Commissioners. Protesting, " First, before God,
" what a bitter grief it was to them that there should be a
y 2
324 THE LIFE OP MATTHEW,
BOOK " dissension between them for so small a matter, as propter
" lanam et hmtm, woollen and linen, as they styled the cap
Anno 1564." and surplice. But that it comforted them that it was
163 « an agreeing discord, seeing they all, under Christ
^' their Captain, professed the same Gospel, and the same
" faith ; and that it was in things plainly indifferent,
*' that each followed their own spirit and opinion ; where
*' there might be a room foi- liberty often, but there ought
to be for charity ever. They alleged Augustin, Socrates,
" Theodoret, in whose times there were varieties in the rites
" and observances of Christian Churches ; and yet these
" differences brake no unity and concord. That some
" Churches, and particularly ours of Britain, departed from
" the decree of Constantine, the Clergy of Ravenna from
" Charles, nay, Paul from Barnabas, Peter from Paul, and
" John from Peter. That if there were any reckoning to
*' be made of fellowship in Christ, if there were any fellow-
" feeling and compassion, of which they doubted not, they
" beseeched them to permit, nay, to promote that which
** Paul commended, and Augustin yielded ; that every one
" might acquiesce in his own 7rX>;po<popi'a, i. e. confident per-
" suasion ; and that the unity of the faith might be kept in
*' divers observances. That their reasons for this address were
*' many and great, viz. that conscience was a tender thing,
" that ought not to be touched nor angered. That they were
" not turbulent nor obstinate, nor willing to see the peace
" of the Church disturbed, or studied novelty, or refused to
" be comdnced. But they were taught by conscience, that
" things in their own nature indifferent do not always seem
" indifferent to the opinions of men, and are changed by
times and accidents. That this law concerning the restor-
" ing the ceremonies of the Roman Church is joined with
" the hazard of slavery, necessity, and superstition: sub-
joining these Avords, because this does not seem so to you,
" you are not to be condemned by us ; because this does seem
so to us, Tve are not to be vexed by you. That their con-
" sciences told them, that if they should recollect to their
" memories former times, God and Christ, and the faith of
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 325
" the primitive Church would be on their side. The Jewish CHAP.
• XXII.
*' kings, by God's command, aboUshed all the vessels, in- V
" struments, and furniture of idolatry. Christ rejected all Anno i664.
" the leaven, fasts, washings, phylacteries, and fringes of the
" Pharisees. The ancient Fathers Avould not fast on the
" Sabbath, or keep the Passover, after the manner of the
" Jews, nor wash with heretics, nor use abstinence on the
" Lord's day with the Manichees ; nor would they commu-
" nicate in any other thing with them, where there might
" be any signification of agreement. That learned men in
" our own age lived and died with them in this faith and
" opinion, teaching them the same out of their books. That
" they, the Bishops themselves, if they might have leave to
" appeal to their own consciences, were of the same opinion
" with them, and that they could wish that all these stones of
" offence were removed. Lastly, they appeal to the purer
" Churches of Germany, France, and Scotland ; in which
" religion is not only preserved unstained, but such rites are
" observed as are simple and undefiled testimonies and signs
*' of religion, taken from Christian Churches, nor borrowed
" from the Roman synagogue. In fine, that themselves
" were not Ignorant what a great scandal would arise hence :
" that the adversaries would insult over them in their afflic-
*' tions, and would laugh in their sleeves at them, viz. the
" Bishops, when they saw them thus defending their cause,
" and pursuing that which they would have ; and would be
" still more pleased Avith their own inventions, after they
" should see it not only retained by them, but by them ob-
" truded upon their brethren. Wherefore they most hum-
" bly prayed, that a thing which was the care and pleasure
" of Papists, and which they, the Bishops, had no great
" value for themselves ; and lastly, what they did, not out
" of any contempt of them, but out of hatred of the com-
" mon enemy, might not be their snare, nor their crime."
This letter, drawing up the sum of the arguments then
insisted upon for non-compliance with the rites, and with the
best advantage of style, and by two men of the greatest
fame of that party, I thought worthy to insert in the Appen- Number
y 3 XXX.
326 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK dix. It is, I confess, a copy, yet, I doubt not, a true and
authentic one, being inscribed on the back-side by the
Anno 1564. hand of the Secretary Cecil thus, StippUcatio Tho. Samp-
son, et Lau/rentii Humfrey ad Arch. Cantuar. Episcopos
London. Wynton. Eliensem, Lincolniensem. 20 Martii
1564.
1 64 As they had applied themselves a little before to the Arch-
And to the bishop for leave to go home, so they now address to the Earl
cester. of Leicester for the same purpose. And to obtain their re-
quest, they composed a letter to him in the softest and most
compliant terms : urging divers reasons how needful their
departure home was, as well that they might perform their
duties to their colleges, as that they might be at more leisure
to consult with themselves in reference to the compliance
required. They writ him, " That since their being at Lam-
" beth before their Honours, they had considered the weight
" of the advice, honourably and favourably given them, to
" be of such importance, as that men, not persuaded in con-
" science, yet unwilling rashly to reject such advertisements,
" they humbly desired further respite, upon deliberation to
" resolve. This, they said, they should the better do, if by
" his means they might obtain licence to sequester them-
'* selves from that troublesome turmoil, and depart home to
" their books. Where they should not only more quietly pre-
" pare themselves to satisfy their promised service of preach-
" ing the Easter ensuing, [at St. Paul's Cross,] but have
" more leisure to consider what was therein of them to be
" done. So they should also be released of their great
" charges here, and do their duty by order then required
" against that solemn time to their companies at home.
" They were not, they said, so un\vise or witless, that they
" would willingly either incur the displeasure of the Queen's
" Majesty, or lightly regard his Honour's counsel, or stub-
" bornly separate themselves from their brethren, or fondly
" sue to be deprived of their rooms and livings ; but rather
*' they minded with all quietness to confer and consult with
" God and learning. Of whom, as they trusted, they had
" received their persuasion, and to whom they did and would
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 827
" commend the government of their consciences. Which CHAP.
" done, they should be ready to yield themselves conform-
" able, or else most humbly submit themselves to her High- Anno i564.
" ness's pleasure and law."
But they could not prevail to get a release from their at- Peremptori-
tendance on the Commissioners. For on the 29th of April jfy the Arch-
following, (to bring; their story together, thoua-h it belong to bishop to
.X 5 1 1 1-1 -11. 1 » f 1 • comply, or
the next year,) 1 nnd them called agam beiore the Archbi-su„eiider
shop, and after some words of advertisement, he did peremp- P'^ces.
torily will them to agree with the rest of the Clergy in mat-
ters of conformity, or else to depart their places. He shewed
them in few words, that these were the orders which they
must observe, viz. to wear the cap appointed by injunction,
to wear no hats in their long gowns, to wear a surphce with
non-regent's hoods in the choirs at their colleges, according
to the ancient manner there : and to communicate kneeling,
in wafer bread. In fine, they said, their consciences could
not agree to these orders : and they required some respite
to remove their stuff. The Archbishop answered, that he
would signify their determination to the Queen's Majesty ;
and what time should be granted them to remove, they
should be informed. Then Mr. Sampson declared some-
thing referring to the college, namely, that by the death of
Mr. Bruerne, their receiver, a great sum of money of the
college was to be answered at the said Bruerne's hands :
which he might haply mention, to hint how ill the college
could spare him at that time, he knowing best how those
accounts stood. Mr. Humphrey alleged, for that he had
divers noblemen's sons, he trusted to have a time, requesting
much to be spared of the extremity of losing his living.
The next day the Archbishop wrote all this to the Secre- Writes to
tary, and desired him to inform the Queen, to understand ^^^^y^^^*^"^*^'
her pleasure, how they should be dealt with, whether to know the
tolerate them, or to provide others : as the deanery which pleasure,
was at her Highness's disposition, and the presidentship of
Magdalen, at the election of the college. He was in doubt,
upon what grounds, and how to proceed. If it were the
Queen's pleasure that he should write letters to both col-
V 4
328 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK leges, signifying, that they might not be reputed nor ac-
.cepted in their rooms, nor enjoy any commodity, he would
Anno i56'4.[io, he said, her commandment. Resign, he thought they
might not. Judicially to be deprived, his jurisdiction after
long pleading might serve, he said, against Sampson ; yet
so it could not against Dr. Humphrey, the Bishop of Win-
chester being their Visitor. He declared to the Secretary,
that he was right sorry they were no more tractable ; and as
he learned by him the Queen's pleasure, so he would do.
1 65 But they had great friends, and their interest at the Court
Tnce on animated them thus to stand it out. And it was the Arch-
thcir grtiit bishop's thoughts, that if so many delays had not been used
makes them towards them, they might have been prevailed with to com-
stand out. pjy . sighing that they had been peremptorily at first put to
preach at their choice, either conformity, or depart. But they abused,
Cross* he said, their friends'' lenity, on whom they trusted. And
to manifest the favour they had, about this very time both
of them were put up to preach at Paul's Cross ; and that at
one of the chief times of the year, viz. Easter. This, it
seems, the Queen had notice of. Which caused the Secretary
to signify as much to the Archbishop, who used to be one of
those who nominated the preachers there, and by whose ap-
pointment they were to have their turns; ordering him to
strike them out, and to put others in their rooms. Preachers
at Paul's Cross were in those times the more taken notice of,
because the Queen and Court came often thither to church.
The Archbishop sent word back, that they were not appoint-
ed by him, and by whom he knew not, whether the Bishop
of London, or the Lord Mayor. But it was indeed neither
of these, but the Earl of Leicester, their private friend, who
had secretly put this work upon them, which they promised
to perform, as appears in their letter to him a little before
mentioned. But as to the appointment of others in their
room, the Archbishop made this reply, that if those solemn
sermons should stay for want after so short a warning, (as
it seems must then be given,) it Avould raise a marvellous
speech. And so prayed him to advertise the Queen. Pru-
dently esteeming it a better course to wink at their preach-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 329
inff at that time, rather than to adventure the failure of the CHAP.
. • XX[I
pulpit by reason of the shortness of the warning '
Anno 1364.
CHAP. XXIII.
Queries put hy the Archbishop in favour of the apparel :
with the answers of Sampson and Humphrey. Replies
to those answers. Arguments against the apparel. An-
siocrs to them. Arguments against imposing things in-
different: with the Bishop of Rochester's answers. The
controversy, as handled by Bucer and Alasco. The Arch-
bishop and Bishops debate this matter among themselves.
The Dean of St. PauPs pacijication. Humphrey and
Sampson''s subscription.
UT I must not omit to advise the reader, that before Queries
B
these judiciary proceedings, the business of conformity w^'S
learnedly and amicably discoursed and scanned between pounded by
the Archbishop and these two learned men. For in the shopf
month of December 1564, his Grace propounded to them
nine questions upon this subject : to each of which they gave withSamp-
succinct answers. Both which questions and answers were ^JJ^'^""'*
as follow, as I have extracted them exactly out of a copy plirey's an-
sent by the Archbishop to the Secretary, digested by him into
two columns after this manner.
I. Whether the surplice of I. Though the surplice in j gg
the Minister or Clerk be a substance be indifferent, yet MSS. penes
thing evil, or wicked, or in- by circumstances it is not in-
different different ; being of the same
nature that vestis peregrina
is in Zoplumie : the wearers Zeph. i. a.
of which God threatened to
visit. Which Lyra and Kim-
hi expound to be the apparel
of idolatry, or strange wor-
ship. How and by whom
they have been so abused, it
330
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 1664.
II. Whether if it be not
indifferent, for what cause ?
III. Whether the Ordi-
naiy, detesting of Papistry,
may enjoin the surpUce to be
worn, or may enforce the in-
junction ah-eady made : and
whether the Minister ought
to obey, or no
IV. Whether the cope be
a thing indifferent, or no;
appointed to be worn by order
of law, for decency and reve-
rence of the Sacrament, and
not in respect of any super-
stition, or hohness ?
is not unknown. Therefore
oderis, Chr'istiane, quorum
authores ncmpotes non odisse.
Tertull.
II. The cause is, for that
things that are consecrated to
idolatry, are not indifferent.
Nam idololutrieE ah initio
dicata fiabent profanationis
suee maculam.
III. If an Ordinary, de-
testing all Papistry, should
enjoin the surplice, being a
patch of Papistry, it may be
said to him in TertuUian's
words, Si tu Diaboli pompam
[oderis] quicquid ex ea atti-
geris, id scias esse idololatri~
am. Which if he be per-
suaded, neither will he en-
force the injunction already
made, neither exact obedi-
ence of any Minister to it.
IV. Order and laws must
have evTot^loiv. This must not
be set from an heresy, or any
sect ; but from God"'s word.
Reverence unto the Sacra-
ment is wrought by doctrine
and discipline. Decency to
it is not gained by that which
hath been devised and used
to deface the Sacrament.
Hierom saith, Aut aurum re-
pudiemus cum cateris super-
stitionibus JudtBorum, aut si
aurum placet, placeant et
Judai, quos cum auro aut
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 331
V. Whether any thing
that is indifferent may be
enjoined godly to the use of
Common Prayer, or Sacra^
ments ?
VI. Whether the civil ma-
gistrate may constitute, by
law, an abstinence from
meats, in days prescribed ?
VII. Whether a difference
may be appointed for exter-
nal apparel in the Ministers
of the Church ; or any law
may be made for the differ-
ence of the Ministers' appa-
rel from the laymen ?
prohare nobis necesse est, aut C HA P.
XXIII.
damnare. If the gold or-
dained by God, for reverence
and decency of the Jewish
Temple, is not to be admitted
to beautify the Church of
Christ ; much less copes
brought in by Papists, the
enemies of God, and con-
tinued in their service as
proper ornaments of their
religion, ought to be of us
Christians to that end re-
tained.
V. If it be mere indif-
ferent, as the time, place,
and such necessary circum-
stances, for the which there
may be brought a ground
out of the Scripture; we
think it true.
VI. By cause of abstinence,
a manifest commodity riseth
to the commonwealth in po-
licy, without superstition,
this law may be constituted,
Habita ratione personarum
et temporum.
VII. Omnia mihi licent,
sed non omnia expediunt.
As not expedient, Paul pre-
termitteth it, speaking yet of
all things pertaining to the
ministry. And whether such
prescription to a Minister of
the New Testament be law-
ful, may be doubted ; sith
neither the New Testament
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
11.
Anno 1564.
167
VIII. Whether Ministers
going in such apparel as the
Papists used, ouglit to be
disproved or condemned of
any preacher for so doing
IX. Whether such preacli-
ers ought to be reformed and
restrained, or no ?
decreed, neither the primi-
tive Church appointed any
distinction : but would rather
Ministers to be known from
the laity, doctrina non veste.
Celest. Ambrose, Polydore.
Hierom also, as it were ut-
tering the difference of both
ministries, saith, Ille [Moi-
ses] sacerdotis sc'ientiam ar-
nat in vestibus. Iste [Pau-
las] Timotheum et Titum
instruit disciplinis, &c.
VIII. Tojudge, disprove,
or condemn another man's
servant, is not our part : for
that he standeth or falleth
unto his Lord.
IX. Iren will not have
brethren restrained from bro-
therly communion, for diver-
sity in cerejnonies, so there
be unity of faith and cha-
rity. And it is to be wished,
that there may be a charita>-
ble permission of diversity,
as on both parts there is
unitas operantium. Bernard.
As of meats Hierom teach-
eth, so of garments we say,
H(EC enim consuetudo in ho-
diemum usque diem mansit
in ecclesiis ; et Mc quidem
abstinentiam amplectitur, ille
vero omnibus esculentis abs-
que ullo scrupulo vescitur, et
nec Mc ilhim judicat, nec ille
cdtcrum rtprehcndit, sed eos
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 333
claros et msiffnes reddit lex chap.
° XXIII.
concoraia.
To which after was atlded a tenth, and a conclusion con-'^"'"* i^^'^*
taining a passage of St. Ambrose : which were in these words
following:.
X. Whether it may stand This had no answer,
with a good conscience, for
him, who is entered into the
ministry, to cease from the
same, rather than to wear the
apparel appointed by author-
ity in the ministration of
prayer and sacraments : or to
use that extern apparel, which
of custom hath been used in
the realm ever sithence the
reformation of religion hath
been received, and before
Quum de ecclesiajuherchir
exirc Amhrosius, ait. Ego,
inquif,hoc sponte non fac'iam,
ne lupis ovium septa con-
tradere v'ldear, aut hlasphc-
mantibus Deuvi.
TriparL Hist. lib. ix. cap.
20.
To these answers were framed large and learned replies,
too long to be here inserted ; (by whom they were com-
posed, whether by the Archbishop, or some other learned
persons, I do not find;) together with collections out of an-
cient Doctors and Councils, concerning the same subject.
So that at this time the controversy of ecclesiastical gar- The contro-
ments was resolved to be more deeply and deliberately weigh- hXts^more
ed, and thoroughly discussed. And great was the pains our closely con-
... siiicrt^d.
Archbishop took in it. For, as he had propounded those be-
fore cited inquiries in favour of the lawfulness of the habits,
and confirmed the same by those replications ; so having ex-
tracted, out of the discourses and writings of the disagreeing
334 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK brethren, all their arguments to the contrary, he digested
them into a succinct method ; and either he, or some of his
Anno 1564. Chaplains, (but I am more inclined to believe it was him-
168 self,) framed brief answers thereunto in order: which being
not very large, I shall here insert. The copy out of which I
transcribe them, was that which the Archbishop sent to
Cecil, probably for his own satisfaction, and to give him a
fair scheme of the contest.
Contra usum vestium Argu-
menta.
1. Frustra colunt me manda-
tis hominum. Matth. xv.
&c.
2. Polydorus de Inventoribus
Rerum irridet istas vestes.
3. Paulus nihil de vestibus
praecepit, cum requisivit
ea quae in Episcopo requi-
rantur.
4. Occasionem pompae dant,
et ambitionem nutriunt.
Responsiones.
1. Haec mandata de vestibus,
cum neque praescribuntur,
ut cultus Dei, neque ut
quicquam fiduciae in illis
coUocetur, neque urgentur
sic ut adferant neglectum
praeceptorum Dei,non sunt
mandata hominum juxta
hunc locum Scripturae.
2. Quam irrideat decentes
vestes, non apparet. Lib.
vi. cap. 12.
3. Paulus tantum praecipit
necessarla, non speciatim
omnia, quae ad ordinem :
ut de archidiaconis, de-
canis, praepositis, decimis,
jurisdictione ecclesiastica,
de mensa Dominica, et de
die Dominico nihil praece-
pit, &c.
4. Non magis quam velata
capita mulierum. Paul.
1 Cor. xi. Imo minus
quam multorum privato-
rum vestes peregrinae.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 335
5. Summa. Commentum hu-
manum.
II.
Conspurcant sacerdotium
Christi, qui vestes Minis-
tris imponunt, quasi um-
bris indigent, cum sit lux
ipsa; et sacerdotium Aa^-
ronis abrogatum est to-
tum, quia umbraticum
est.
III.
Papse inventum vestes esse,
et notum Antichristi.
Qui odit sacerdotium Papse,
odisse debet et ejus notas-
5. Sit commentum, ut leges CHAP.
XXIII
civiles, ut statuta cecono- '_
mica, ceremoniae, ac ritus Anno 1 664.
ad ordinem et decorem
instituti, &c.
II.
Minister Ecclesise non est
sacerdos sacrificans, nec
umbra Christi ; uti potest
ritibus non mystic^ signifi-
cantibus, sed suo ministe-
rio aptis. Nec iis indiget,
ut re semper necessaria,
sed ut secto publico, nola
ad convocandum coetum,
aut aliqua re hujus-
modi.
III.
1. Ante auditum nomen et
regnum Papas, erant vestes
in ministerio ecclesiastico
usitat^. Ut Chrysostom.
homil. 60. ad pop. Anti-
och. Et tamen inventisgen-
tUium utuntur Christiani.
2. Res Sacramentorum divi-
norum Diabolus in idolo-
rum mysteriis asmulatur :
tingit et ipse quosdam,
signat in frontibus milites
suos, celebrat et panis ob-
lationem, &c. Tertull. de 1 69
praescript. advers. hae-
ret.
3. Hasretici habent in schis-
mate, quod pii tenent in
veritate. Chrysostom. in
Matthsum. hom.
336 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK IV.
Praecipua pars sacerdotii An-
Annoi5(;4. ticliristi consistit in ca?re-
nioniis, unctionc, rasuris,
mitris, vestibus, &c.
Papisticum sacerdotium An-
tichristi et Diaboli est ;
ergo piis destruendum.
Venit enim Christus de-
struere opera Diaboli.
V.
Potestas omnis ad aedificatio-
nem : vestes non asdificant,
sed obscurant sacerdotium
Christi.
VI.
1. Item, non aedificant, sed
destructunt.
2. Fastum augent et hypo-
crisin.
3. Ostentat enim se quod
non est, aut si est, nierce-
dem acciplt ab homini-
bus.
4. Quod monent liomines
officii sui, nihil est.
IV.
Etiam utuntur vestibus, qui
renuntiant pap. sacerdo-
tio, et qui destruunt opera
Diaboli. i. falsam sacerdo-
tii pap. rationem. Incptas
et superfluag caeremoniae,
stabilientes pap. sacerdo-
tium, sunt toUendae,
una cum doctrina papis-
tica.
V.
Spiritus Sanctus tantum aedi-
ficat per ministerlum verbi.
At vestes faciunt ad aedi-
ficationem, ut reliqua,
quae ad commodius pre-
candum, docendum et au-
diendum verbum Dei, in-
stituuntur : ut pulpita,
sedilia, cantus psalmo-
rum, &c.
VI.
1. Quis hoc dijudicabit, si
publica authoritas contra-
dicat
2. Hypocrisls quavis veste
tegitur.
3. Ostentat quoque quod est,
aut saltern quod esse de-
bet.
4. Imo Tertull. sic, Auditur
philosophus, dum videtur,
et grande pallii beneficium
est; sub cujus recogitatu
improbi mores vel eru-
bescunt.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 337
5. Nam verbo Dei moveri
debent.
6. Christus a Petro amorem,
non vestes exigit.
5. Multa movent praeter ver- CHAP,
bum, ut in magistratibus.
VII.
Impium infirmioribus ob-
jicere scandalum. Quia
posteris omnia pura relin-
quenda.
VIII.
Ministerium obscurant ves-
tes, quia incurrentes in
oculos hominum, remoran-
tur a contemplatione re-
rum spiritualium.
vol.. r.
civilibus, in SUppliciis, Anno 1 564.
&c.
6. Nec vestes impediunt,
quo minus ames. Et
Christus obedientiam erga
magistratus exigebat in
hiis, quae non repugnant
verbo ; et pacem Eccle-
siae commendabat, et
schisma vetuit. Christus
non exigebat acadeniias,
&c.
VII.
Infirmi, qui nondum penitus
a papismo recesserunt,
gravi scandalo merito of-
fenduntur, quod in vesti-
bus decentibus, nec super-
fluis, non paretur pubUcis
legibus : cum neque ob-
truduntur, ut cultus di-
\ani pars ahqua, nec ut
errores foveant, aut bonos
mores corrumpant. Ita^- I70
que purae rehnquuntur.
In rebus adiaphoris, quo
ad sensum et doctrinam
semper hbertas in animo
tenenda, non quoad actio-
nem.
VIII.
Non magis quam vestes usi-
tatae, quibus vulgus ut
plurimum capitur. Eru-
endi erunt ocuh : siquae
remorantur quovis mode
z
S38 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 1564.
• Euseb.
lib. 3. cap.
ai.
t Author
Pont. Dia-
conus.
IX.
Tyrannis est, et durissima
servitus, imperium vestis
et dierum.
X.
Commaculamur sordibus An-
tichristi per istas vestes :
non glorificamus plane
Christum.
♦Judic, vi.
a contemplatione spiritua-
lium, penitus toUerentur.
Atqui piis conspicuum
magis redditur ministe-
rium decora veste. Hinc
in ecclesiastica historia *
legimus de vestibus Joan-
nis Evangelistae, qui ges-
tavit petalum, seu lami-
nam pontificalem." Et Cy-
prianus f dederit birrhum
carnifici, Dalmaticam ves-
tem diaconis, et stetit in
lineis.
IX.
Non est tyrannis, servitus,
vel imperium, obedire non
illicitis Regum edictis.
Conscientia est libera.
Nec conscientia premitur
servitute, cum vaga et ef-
frasnis licentia in adiapho-
ris non permittitur.
Circumstantiae non tollunt
naturas rerum. Dies Do-
minica nulla tyrannide ju-
betur.
X.
1. Doctrina Antichristi com-
maculat et opinio perversa,
non res indifFerentes. Cae-
terum ut cibus, qui intrat
per OS, natura sua non
coinquinat hominem, ita
nec vestes, &c.
Possunt res abusae ab idolola-
tris, bene usurpari a piis.
Ut Gedeon * usus est lig-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 339
nis luci alienorum Deo- ^^^J*'
rum ad holocausta veri
XI.
Ab omni specie mali absti-
nendum est. Ergo &c.
XII.
Vestas liberae; sed non in
Ecclesia.
Dei. Sic auriim Hiero-^""° i '^^^-
cuntinum f inferebatur, et t Josue vi.
consecrabatur in thesauros °'
Domini. Sic Paulus su-
mebat cibum apud Athe-
nas, ex hiis quae Minervae
consecrata erant. A ug.
Ep. 154. et Amb. Ep. 31.
de theatralibus pecuniis.
2. Qui vescitur, Domino
vescitur, &c. Rom. xiv.
Sic glorificant Deum, &c.
XI.
Ab omni specie malge vitae
et doctrinae abstinendum,
nequid dubita perplexa-
que conscientia amplecta- 1 7 1
tur. Aliter non potest
esse generalis sententia.
XII.
Verum, quae Ecclesiam non
deceant, ut luxuriosissimas
vestes virorum et mulie-
rum.
I meet also with a third paper upon this argument, writ
in the month of December this year, containing six reasons
against the aSiaipopa, with excellent answers subjoined to
each by Guest, Bishop of Rochester, in a very clear,
distinct, and logical method, well worthy the perusing.
The paper superscribed by CecyPs own hand thus, Reasons
pro 'Aitx^ogotg. The reasons are these :
I. Apparel ought to be worn, as meat ought to be eaten ;
but by Paul, meat offered to idols ought not to be eaten.
Therefore Priests' apparel, which hath been superstitiously
used, ought not to be worn.
z 2
Another
paper writ
af;aiMst tlie
use of
tliintcs in-
difi'cMfiit ;
and ni\^\vor-
ed by I lie
Bisliop of
Rochester.
1 Cor. X.
340 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK II. We must not wear such apparel as ofFendeth our
brethren : but by wearing of Priests' apparel we offend our
Anno 1564. brethren. Therefore we must not wear Priests' apparel.
1 Cor. X. jjj j^uj-ant, Manrus, and others, write that Priests'' ap-
parel hath many superstitious significations, and hath been
and should be sanctified; and judge it so necessary, that
Ministers cannot serve God well in the Church without it.
Therefore Priests' apparel ought not to be worn.
IV. We ought by Paul to forbear from all appearance of
evil : but in apparel, to go like a Papistical Priest, hath the
appearance of evil. Therefore we ought not to go in
Priests' apparel.
V. We may not use indifferent things, when they be com-
manded, because then of things indifferent they be made
not indifferent, but necessary. But Priests' apparel, though
it be indifferent, is commanded ; and so it is made not indif-
ferent, but necessary. Therefore we ought not to wear
Priests' apparel, because it is commanded.
VI. If we should grant to wear Priests' apparel, then it
might and Avould be required at our hands to have shaven
crowns, and to receive more Papistical abuses. Therefore
it is best at the first not to grant to wear Priests' apparel.
The answers to these reasons, being somewhat long, that I
may not be too tedious upon one thing, I have thought
N» XXXI good to refer to the Appendix : where they may be found.
A scheme of And as OUT Archbishop diligently inquired in the argu-
this contro- jj^gjj^g j^}jg leamedest of the refusers, that were now alive,
versy as ' '
managed by concerning tliis matter ; so he canvassed and weighed the
a/^co"'"' controversy, as it had been before managed between two
foreigners, men of great fame for their learning and piety,
namely, Bucer and Alasco : not only for his own use, but
chiefly for the use of Cecil ; among whose papers I found it.
Where the whole controversy on both sides is drawn up
by the Archbishop in a short and easy scheme, and en-
titled, Summa controversice de re vestiaria inter Bucerum
et Alascum.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 341
Conveniunt Buce-
rus et Alasco.
Non con-
veniunt
Bucerus
et Alasco.
Bucerus
vult has
vestes
sublatas.
Alasco
vult has
vestes
sublatas.
"Uterque queritur de usu vestis albae
atque cappat?.
Uterque cupit has vestes sublatas.
Uterque dicit, neminem posse Chris-
tianum, eoque nec ullam Ecclesiam,
quicquam bona usurpare conscien-
tia, de quo non constet ei, et ex
verbo Dei, ipsaque rerum e^fperien-
tia certa facere illud, vel aliquo
niodo ad gloriam Christi illustran-
dain, et nullo niodo ab obscuran-
dum earn.
Uterque dicit, vestes has esse ex parte
similes Aharonicis, easdem vero ma-
teria et forma cum papisticis, usur-
parique a Papistis summa impieta-
te, sicut abutuntur reliquis rebus
omnibus.
Uterque dicit, seniel et una cuncta
Antichristi esse toUenda.
Propter praesentem abusum in eccle- l'J2
siis Anglicis metuendum.
Propter pleniorem declarationem de-
testationis Antichristianismi.
Propter pleniorem professionem li-
bertatis Christi.
Propter toUendas inter fratres dissen-
siones.
Quia usus harum non possit ab ulla
Ecclesia pie adhiberi; quod is usus
habeat significationem aliquam Sa^
cerdotii Aaronici, vel Antichristia-
nismi.
Quod is usus habeat commendatio-
nem utriusque sacei'dotii.
Quod hinc obscuratur aliquo modo
gloriam Christi.
z 3
CHAP.
XXIll.
iVnno 1564.
342 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II.
Anno 1564.
Non con-
veniunt
Bucerus
et Alas-
co.
Bucerus
urget
Alasco
nescit
[
D. Bucerus.
T. Ecclesiae, in quibus vi-
get Christi purissima et
praedicatio et fides, Anti-
cliristorumque omnium ma-
nifesta acerrimaque detesta-
tio, ut nemo, nisi perditi
judicii, possit eas eccle-
sias notare Antichristianismi,
possunt pie, ac sancte vere,
ad gloriam Christi, usur-
pare vestes, Aharonicis quan-
tumvis similes, et cum Pa-
pisticis easdem materia, figu-
ra et colore.
II.
Antichristus non potest,
uUo suorum abusu, vel vestes
has, vel uUum Dei opus
sic contaminare, ut piis non
quean t, omni rejecto abusu,
etiam ad pias significatio-
nes et admonitiones adhi-
beri ; sicque serviant ad glo-
riam Dei praedicandam,
III.
Vestes istae possunt tolli
propter pleniorem Antichris-
tianismi detestationem, et
libertatis Christi professio-
nem : tum ad tollendas dis-
sensiones inter fratres.
Ut auferantur primum praecipua Ec-
clesias sacrilegia, tum restituantur
alia.
r Utrum alteri praeponat, an quae ur-
\ get Bucerus, an ut vestes aufe-
rantur.
D. Alasco.
1. Usus istarum vestium
non potest ab ulla Ecclesia
pi6 adhiberi.
II.
Non potest is usus harum
vestium non significationem
aliquam, et commendationem
inferre, vel Antichristianismi,
vel Aharonici, vel certe utri-
usque sacerdotii ; ac ita om-
nino aliquo modo obscurare
gloriam Christi.
III.
Debent vestes istae omnino
tolli.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 343
IV.
Ut aliquid ad significan-
dum, et movendum vestes
istae, vel res aliae, valent, to-
tum id accidit eis ab illis,
qui eis utuntur : ita pari
fructu pietatis potest aliqua
Ecclesia Christi vere sancta,
ad detestandum Antichris-
tum, et ad prasdicandum
Christum, ejusmodi vestibus
uti, quibus usa est synagoga
Antichristi, ad commendan-
dum ministerium Antichris-
ti. Et hiis vestibus potest
honestare ministerium sa-
crum.
Nec Papa, nec quisquam,
vestes has pro fulcris suae
tyrannidis habet ; et con-
demnatur quidem, qui pro-
nunciatur retinere in cultu
Christi, quod est fulcrum
Antichristi.
IV.
CHAP.
XXIIl.
^unt fulcra et ornamenta.
tyrannidis Antichristi. Ex- Anno 1 564.
terminanda est memoria An-
tichristi. Neque eo quod
ipse vestes non fero, alios,
quos prasfractos non esse
scio, illarum nomine con-
demno.
Now also our Archbishop, and divers other Bishops, and 1 73
learned Dig-nitaries of the Church, gravely debated this mat- Tf^f' Arch-
® °. •' bishop and
ter among themselves. It was a pomt that they themselves other Di-
were not all agreed in : for some were for indulging Minis- "p"theiT^
ters in the disuse of these garments, and others were for the judgment
general using them ; but with a protestation, that it were i,abits into
desirable, that these differences of garments were taken ^. P'°p°5'-
away. Of which judgment was Mr. Nowel, Dean of
St. PauPs : as appears by a paper of the Archbishop's,
which seems to be the result of much deliberation. It
runneth thus :
z 4
344 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Propositio Episcoporum.
Minlstri in Ecclesia Anglicana, in qua Dei beneficio pura
Anno 1564. Christi doctrina, et fidei Evangelicae praedicatio jam viget,
quaeque manifestum detestationem Antichristianismi public^
profitetur, sine impietate uti possunt vestium discrimine,
publica authoritate jam pracscripto, tum in administratione
sacra, tum in usu externo, modo omnis cultus, et necessita-
tis opinio amoveatur. — This was subscribed to by Canter-
bury, London, Winchester, and Ely, Bishops; and by Good-
man, Dean of Westminster ; Robinson, a learned Doctor in
Divinity in Cambridge, the Archbishop's Chaplain, and
afterward Bishop of Bangor; Bickley, the Archbishop's
Chaplain, and afterwards the Warden of Merton college,
and Bishop of Chichester ; and one Hill. Two more sub-
scribed, but with this addition and condition ;
Rom. xiv. Modo omnis cultus opinio ct necessitas amoveatur, eorum-
manducat ' quibus pevsuasum non est, ratio, juxta charitatis regu-
&c. non d (Ji^jQ Paulo prcEScriptam, habeatur.
tern non Who these two were, I know not, the Archbishop think-
spernat, et gj. conceal their names under the two uncertain
qui non "
manducat letters, N. N. This difference was endeavoured to be thus
manducan-
tem ne ju-
accorded by Mr. Nowel ; which therefore the Archbishop
dicet. entitled,
Mr. NoweFs Pacification.
Ministri Ecclesiae Anglicanse, qui Dei beneficio puram
Christi doctrinam, et manifestam detestationem Antichristi-
anismi publice profitentur, vestiumque discrimine, publica
auctoritate jam prasscripto, utuntur, tum in administra-
tione sacra, tum in usu externo, eo discrimine sine impietate
uti possunt, modo omnis cultus, necessitatisque opinio
amoveatur.
Optamus tamen hoc vestium discrimen propter has causas
toUi. 1. Propter abusum in ecclesiis Anglicanis metuendum.
2. Propter pleniorem declarationem detestationis corruptas et
superstitiosae religionis. 3. Propter pleniorem professionem
libertatis Christi. 4. Propter tollendas inter fratres dissen-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 345
siones. — With this last paragraph Mr. Nowel declared CHAP.
XXIII
he could subscribe, or else not. '
To the proposition, as first set down, Humfrey and Anno 1 564.
Sampson subscribed after such a manner, that by it in How Hum-
efFect they declared rather their dissent than their allow- ^'a,^,pson
ance. For under the proposition they underwrit a sentence
of St. Paul, and beneath that their names, thus : position.
Omnia mihi licent, sed non omnia expediunt. Omnia
mihi licent, sed non omnia adijicant.
Laurentius Humfredus.
Tho. Sampson.
By this subscription they seemed to allow the lawfulness
of the garments, though on account of the inexpediency of
them they declined to use them.
But let us leave this controversy for a while, and proceed
to some other matters, falling within the compass of this
year.
CHAP. XXIV.
The Archbishop repairs his chancels, and his palace at Can- i jr^
terbury. Assists at the Kmper or'' s funerals. The Arch-
bishop''s son at Peter house in Cambridge. Dr. Perns
judgment in a dissertation giving offence, his account
thereof to the Archbishop.
This year the Archbishop began to repair the chancels of The Arch-
those churches which came into his possession : of which pafrrcimn-
there were many (now miserably decayed) belonging to his eels ;
see, partly by the exchanges of the ancient possessions of
the Archbishops of Canterbury, made between Archbishop
Cranmer and King Henry, and others ; and partly by
another exchange between this Archbishop and the Queen,
imposed upon him sore against his will, upon account of a
statute published in the first year of this Queen mentioned
346 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK before. This year also he fully completed the reparation
and building of his noble palace at Canterbury, (both
Anno 1 564 . ancient, and also noted for its grandeur and stateliness,)
paiace'at ^^ving been in great decay, partly by fire and partly by
Canterbury, time, and the edifices thereof, in many parts of it, fallen
flat to the ground : though nothing was left by his prede-
cessors towards the dilapidations.
The great Yet he entered not upon this expensive undertaking but
charge .
thereof. with prudence and caution : for he had now cleared his
first-fruits, and got out of debt for the furniture and orna-
ments of his house : and especially (as he made God's ser-
vice his first and chief care) had settled religion and divine
worship in his province. In the second place, his mind was
to restore the see of Canterbury to its ancient magnificence.
He had indeed naturally a spirit towards the doing of great
things : and before this, it was his custom, wheresoever he
was, to lay out himself in acts of magnificence, that might
be serviceable to religion, learning, or charity. This enter-
prise of his was the greater, in that he would not be dis-
couraged in it ; though much of the lands and revenues of
his see were taken away, the price of victuals and provisions
much enhanced, wages of workmen raised, being more a
great deal than in former times ; and people expected that
he should enlarge his housekeeping, rather than to diminish
it. Add, that there were no materials of stone, mortar,
timber, scaffolding, &c. now remaining, but all gone : which
incredibly increased the charges of building. A matter
that had so far prevailed with other of his fellow Bishops,
that they pulled quite down, rather than builded up, the
ruins of their palaces. These reparations, in short, cost him
above 1400/. a great sum in those days; besides the great
feastings that followed.
The hall Notwithstanding, this charge he was the more willing
to undergo, because of the fame that went of the hall
of this palace. Which was of such a vast amplitude, that
once (viz. in the year 1519-) it was graced with the presence
of the Emperor Charles V. and King Henry VIII. at the
same time ; together with his royal consort Queen Katha-
tbere.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 347
rine, whom (being the said Emperor's aunt) he came into CHAP.
England to visit. This hall then contained these most
royal persons, and all their numerous attendants. Wherein Anno i564.
they adjusted matters of state between them, exercised their
triumphs, and feasted together in a most splendid manner,
at the incredible cost and expenses of Warham, then Arch-
bishop. The report of this inflamed the Archbishop's
desire to keep up the magnificence of this hall ; and espe-
cially for the memory also of the coronation of Kings and
Queens, frequently heretofore performed here ; and lastly,
for the enthronization of Archbishops his predecessors. To
whose most sumptuous feasts in this hall there had been
vast confluences, as well of the nobility as gentry ; when
personages of the greatest quality, dukes and earls, bore
the offices of stewards and butlers ; and received yearly fees 175
as such, from the Archbishops, agreeable to the qualities of
such noblemen.
In the library of the church of Canterbury there be yetCireat feast-
1 1 T • • 11 1 •! • 1 '"6^ there.
remaining some old distinct printed sheets, describing the
magnificent solemnities and feasts that had formerly been
made there, by Archbishops and Abbots in Canterbuiy, or
elsewhere. As for example ; there is set forth an account Bibiioth.
of the great feast at the installation of Ralph de Bourn, c^^j^*
Abbot of St. Augustin's, Cant, anno 1309; also of the N. Battely.
mighty feast at the enthronization of George Nevyl, Archbi-
shop of York ; also of the feast made at the enthronization
of Archbishop Warham, on Passion Sunday, March 9,
anno Dom. 1504. And the last of these tables conclude in
words to this effect : " Memorandum, That in the same
" year, viz. 1504, when W. Warham was enthronized,
" Matthew Parker was born the sixth day of August next
" before. Who being preferred to the said archbishopric,
" and consecrated to the same the 17th day of December,
" in the year of our Lord 1559, finding the said palace,
" with the great hall, and all edifices therein, partly burned
" and fallen down, and partly in utter ruin and decay,
" did repair and re-edify again all the houses of the same, in
" the year of our Lord 1560, and 1561, [beginning then I
848 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " suppose the work,] as it is at this day. The charges and
expenses whereof amounted to the sum of 1406/. 14.y. and
Aanoi564. " 4.(1, as appears by a particular book drawn of the same.
*' And this was to remain upon record, instead of any splen-
" did feast to be made by Archbishop Parker."
The inabi- The same Archbishop, in his Antiquities, (where he treats
Bishops to of Archbishop Warham, and gives account of liis said vast
<io as their fgast.) took occasion again to excuse himself and other
prcdeces- .....
tors. Bishops in his time, in the want of such entertainments ;
and withal bestowed a secret lash on the times wherein he
lived, while he assigned the reason why they were no more
to be expected. " Complaint is now commonly every where
" made, that that more than Asiatic luxury is reduced to too
" much niggardise. But the Bishops are falsely blamed,
" whose possessions have been taken away from them, and
" given to laymen^." But as to those tables of former
luxury above mentioned, they seem, according to the con-
N. Batteiy. jecture of my learned friend deceased, to have been printed,
to be hung up in the great hall of the palace, as public me-
morials. And there might have been more of them, which
now are lost.
The Arch- In October our Archbishop assisted at the solemnization
si'su°atThe the funerals of Ferdinand the Emperor, late deceased, at
Emperor's St. Paul's church ; whereat was a splendid appearance of
the Peers of the kingdom, both spiritual and temporal;
and many of the Court : and the Bishop of London preach-
ed the sermon. Which was pi'inted. An account whereof
Ch. X. p. is given in that Bishop's life.
I find the Archbishop"'s son (his eldest, I suppose) in Oc-
shop's son tober this year, returning to his studies to Cambridge, hav-
piaced at been admitted there, as it seems, not long before. His
Cambridge, * ' • i j j- •
under Dr. father planted him in Peter house, knowmg the good disci-
pline of that college, under the inspection of Dr. Pern, an
excellent governor of youth : choosing to place his son under
his care, and in that house, rather than in that where him-
«Sed hunc conviveudi plusquam Asiaticuin luxum, ad nimiam parsimoniain
redaclum, vulgus ubique conqiieritur. Atque id quidem falso de Preelatis,
(juibiis ereptie possessiones in laicos translats sunt.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 849
self was educated. Upon his coming back to the college, CHAP.
Dr. Pern signified to the Archbishop how glad he was of
his son's return to follow his studies. The course he ap-Annoi564.
pointed the young gentleman for his studies was, that,
besides the reading of logic, he enjoined him every day
tasks of the Greek language, as well as of the Latin, as the
Doctor certified the Archbishop ; and that he had provided
him a very learned and affable master to read to him, and
that he himself was not wanting to take all care possible of
him.
The said Dr. Pern having been a complier under allDr.^Pem
governments, (Chaplain to King Edward VI. and one of his himself in a
six itinerary preachers, kept in under Queen Mary, and '^'^P"***'""-
still under Queen Elizabeth held his preferments of the
mastership of his college, and to the deanery of Ely,) many
nowadays failed not to bespatter him for his fickleness,
and to throw out expressions, that he was a favourer of all
the Romish errors and superstitions, abating the Pope's
universal bishopric. Whereupon happening somewhere to
vindicate himself, he made a challenge at last to dispute his
opinion before the Queen herself. But sure it is, that not
long before this time he held a public dispute with some 1 76
learned man in a great audience ; some whereof were Bi-
shops. The report went afterward, when this matter came
to be talked of in the mouths of men, that Pern had called
the person he disputed with heretic, and that he approved
of all those errors that were embraced in the Romish
Church. Of these rumours the Archbishop freely acquaint-
ed him. To whom Dr. Pern in a letter at length, dated
from Peter house, October 9,5, 1564, gave answer in his
own vindication to this tenor :
" That the unjust accusation of him by some in his ab- His letter
" sence had moved him for a disputation to be held before ^uh'o^p'^'^'^'''
" the Queen. And that if his conscience had not been more M^^- ^- P-
" to him, and more sustained him, the speeches of his Grace
*' concerning that matter would have cast him into great
" anxiety. That whereas the Archbishop signified to him,
" that it was by some affirmed, that in his dispute he should
350 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "in that audience call that learned man, funmentioned,! and
II ' * ' .
_ " in many respects his friend, an heretic ; it was no more
Anno 1564." true, than that if he should have uttered any svich mat-
" ter, he should have been a person estranged from all hu-
" manity. That where they seemed to assert, that he ap-
" proved of every thing brought in by the Roman Church,
*' except the Roman Bishop's pride, whereby he usurped
*' an universal bishopric over all other bishops ; nor was
*' that agreeable to truth. For he was not so ignorant, nor
" such an enemy to known truth, but that he knew most
" foul errors were brought into the Roman Church by the
" boldness and rashness of some Popes, who were never of
" him hked, and whom in that disputation he denied in ex-
" press words that they should ever be defended by him.
" Although he did not with an unwilling mind embrace
" the catholic and orthodox faith received by the Roman
" Church, agreeable to the word of God ; nor judged the
" truth which it professed, to be rejected in hatred to the
" Church of Rome; nor was his judgment swayed by so
" blind a lie, that the title of the Church of Rome was to
" be defended ; nor that if it obtruded upon us any errors
" repugnant to the word of God, should he contend, by any
" preposterous and corrupt judgment, that they were to be
" retained. He acknowledged, he said, that many things
" were piously retained by the Church of England, in the
" administration of the Lord's Supper, which appeared
" plainly to all to be taken from the very description of the
" Mass itself : and that in the other forms of prayer we
*' might observe the same to be prudently done cum delectu,
" with due choice and culling. And that such things, as
" might seem to contribute to the edification of the common
" people, were transferred by lawful authority into our
" public prayers, being things that were taken out of the
" ancient prayers of the Church. But the rest, which could
" not with any just reason be defended, were thrown out
" by the same authority whereby they were first brought
" in. For, said he, as it is the part of an arrogant inso-
" lence to reject all things promiscuously, so to approve all
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 351
" which crept in, (I know not by what rite or title,) were CHAP.
■ • • XXIV
" the part of an ignorant creduUty. In which bounds, as
" he went on, when the current of my discourse was then Anno i664.
" circumscribed, (although I confess ingenuously, that I was
" very angry with one for denying that most approved
" axiom of sacred discipline. Quod prius melius, quod pos-
" terius deterius,) I do not see how it could occasion any
" great offence among learned and equal hearers. Though
*' that disputation, or rather tumultuary oration, suddenly
" uttered, was not made by me with that intent, that I
" should hope to gain a good-will from any, or to give
" distaste to any, but to satisfy the duty of my order. Yet,
" thanks be to God, as far as I understand, that dissertation
" of mine was less offensive at that time to the ears of such,
" who by reason of their singular learning were able best
" to judge of it; and of whose judgment, for their high
" authority, most account was to be had."
But whatsoever it was, he promised the Archbishop, that, Dr. Pern
as far as his memory after such a space of time could re-^rmon'to
collect, he would transmit to his Lordship to judge of, as
soon as he had leisure. And in the mean time he sent him promises bis
a copy of his sermon lately, as it seems, preached at Court. '''*P"t»tion.
For it was customary for the Archbishop in these times to
require copies of the sermons preached in more public au-
ditories, as at Court, or at St. Paul's Cross.
852 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
II CHAP. XXV.
Anno 1564. yi;^^ j^r malc'mg Wednesday a fsh day. The Arch-
bishop dispenseth with Winchester college, and with the
University, Jhr that day ; and with John Fox, for Lent.
Bishop JeweTs Latin Apology. The Archbishop^s letter
to the Lady Bacon, that translated it into English. The
Archbishop''s tract printed at the end. Learned women
about this time. Dorman's Proof against JeweTs Chal-
lenge : and NoweVs Reproof. Many other Papists write
against Jewel.
The Wed- It was lately enacted, for the benefit and commodity of the
nesday ast. j,g^jj^^ ^j^g days in every week, as well those which
were of ancient time by law allowed and continued, as also
Wednesdays in every week, were now enjoined to be ob-
served and kept. Of this act, whereby Wednesday was
made a fish day. Sir William Cecyl was the chief author,
for the great benefit that wise man apprehended to be by
spending much fish in the realm. But this was not well
resented by the people, and but slenderly observed, the Eng-
lish nation being very much addicted to flesh meats, and
not pleased to have more fish days imposed upon them.
Insomuch, that four years after, viz. 1568, the Queen issued
out a proclamation for the better observation of this Wed-
The Uni- nesday fast. The Universities particularly regretted this
and'\\^n- VL?,e6. such arguments with the Queen for their
Chester non-observauce of it, (at least the first year, that is, 1564,)
pensedw'ith. t^at she dispensed with them for that time. And Winches-
ter college also, by the Warden, requested the same of her ;
which she granted, and appointed her Secretary to will
the Archbishop to grant his dispensation. Whereupon he
penned this letter to the Archbishop :
" The Queen's Majesty, at the humble suit of the Warden
" of Winchester, is pleased to dispense with the Scholars
*' there, in like sort as she hath for the Universities of Cam-
♦* bridge and Oxford, touching the observation of Wednes-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 353
" day, made a fish day by politic constitution. It may CHAP.
" please your Grace, according to her Majesty's will, so to 1_
" give out your dispensation for the said college. Anno i5G4.
" Your Grace's humbly to command,
" W. C."
Though the Archbishop seems to have been but a second Tiie Um-
. , . , . , . , . , . versity of
cause m this business, yet he was in truth a mam and pri- Cambridge
marv instrument in brinerinff this to pass. And the scheme
_ & » r _ Aichbishop.
of obtaining this favour from the Queen was laid by him,
with the concurrence of Cecyl. This is cleared by the
letter of thanks which the University of Cambridge wote
to him upon this occasion in November, which may be found
in the Appendix : and wherein it appears this was not the ^^j''"
first time the Archbishop had done good offices for them,
and they great ones too. " Which, they say in the said
" letter, they did not only now acknowledge, but openly
" profess. They declare further, that it was both his virtue
" and his propense study to gratify them that had stirred
" him up to a perpetual beneficence towards them ; but
" that this present dispensation granted them was more
*' than they dared to ask : and that moreover it was done
" with so much celerity, that they could scarce have believed
" it could have been done so soon : which tended to the
" great commendation of his counsel, who wanted not the
" motion and quickening of others ; and likewise of his
*' kindness, who suffered not the University to be any longer
" without such a benefit. So that not only themselves, but
*' those that should come after them, were bound to remem-
" ber this his beneficence, who so seasonably had provided I78
" for the concerns of the University." This was dated 15.
cal. of Decemb. 1564. Subscribed by the Vice-Chancellor
and the whole Senate.
The copy of this letter remains in the register of the
University Orator. In the margin whereof it is thus
noted ; " Thanks for obtaining for us a licence to eat flesh
" on Wednesdays." Which note, Mr. Baker, B. D. of St.
John's college, hath humanely communicated to me, with
VOL. I. A a
354 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK the transcript of the above mentioned letter. The benefit
of this indulgence was, that it tended to the cheaper and
Anno i56'4.niore plentiful providing of subsistence for the great num-
ber of students there, and also for their health, especially
this present year, when the nation was afflicted with tlie
infection of the plague.
John Fox And however the observation of the fast of Lent was re-
dispenseJ i i t • i ■ i
witii for garded, yet dispensations also tor it were granted upon rea-
sonable causes. This favour the Archbishop had formerly
shewed to J ohn Fox the Martyrologist, a spare sickly man,
whom he permitted for his bad stomach to eat flesh in Lent.
And for the like favour that reverend man did now again
address to him in a handsome Latin letter ; beginning,
Salutem et vitam in Christo aaternam. Pro rara ac sin-
gulari hac natura tuee mansuetudine, qute semper mihi in te
placuit, Matthcee episcoporum decus ac sydiis eximium,
rogo etiam atque etiam sublimitatem tuam, ut hanc ip-
sam, &c.
Jewel's A- This year came forth, by the Archbishop's order, being
fisbed'^in printed by Reginald Wolf, Bishop Jewel's Apology for the
Trfn's^iated CliuTcli of England, translated into English by the Lady
by the La- Anne Bacou, wife to Sir Nicolas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the
by Bacon. Qj,g^|. ggah After she had finished the translation, she sent
the copy unto the Archbishop to peruse it, as a proper per-
son to whom the care of the Church of England, and its
doctrine, chiefly belonged. She sent also this her translation
to Bishop Jewel, the author, to overlook it, that she might
not in any point mistake his meaning. Her copy she sent
to liim, with an epistle in Greek ; and he answered her in
Greek again. Both this Bishop and the Archbishop read
over the said translation, and found it so correct that they
mended nothing ; no, not the least word. The letter the
Archbishop sent to her, relating to this Apology, put by her
into English, was thus superscribed, To the right lumour-
able, learned, and virtuous Lady, A. B. M. C. wisheth
from God, grace, honour, and felicity. He told her there-
^heAr^'- in, " That according to her request he had perused her stu-
ter to her " dious labour of translation, profitably employed in a right
hereupon.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 355
"commendable work. Whereof, for that it Hkecl her to CHAP.
*' make him a judge, and for that tlie thing itself had sin-
" gularly pleased his judgment, and delighted his mind in Anno i564,
" reading it, he had right heartily to thank her ladyship,
" both for her well thinking of him, and for the comfort
" that it wrought in him. But far above these private
" respects, he was by greater causes enforced, not only to
" shew his rejoice of this her doing, but also to testify the
*' same by this his writing prefixed before the work, to the
" commodity of others, and good encouragement of herself,
" That she had used her accustomed modesty, in submitting
*' it to judgment; but therein her praise doubled, sith it
" had passed judgment without reproach. And whereas
both the chief author of the Latin work and he, severally
perusing and conferring her whole translation, had with-
out alteration allowed of it, he was both to desire her lady-
" ship, and advertise the readers, to think that they had
not therein given any thing to any dissembhng aft'ection
*' towards her, as being contented to wink at faults to please
** her, or to make her without cause to please herself. For
that there were sundry respects to draw them from so
** doing, although they had been so ill minded, as there was
** no cause why they should be so thought of. That her
own judgment in discerning flattery, her modesty in mis-
liking it, the laying open of their opinion to the world, the
truth of their friendship toward her, the unwillingness of
" theia both, in respect of their vocations, to have that
public work not truly and well translated, were good
causes to persuade that their allowance was of sincere
*' truth and understanding. That by her travail she ex-
" pressed an acceptable duty to the glory of God, deserved
" well of this Church of Christ, honourably defended the
good fame and estimation of her own native tongue,
" shewing it so able to contend with a work originally wit-
" ten in the most praised speech. That beside the honour 1^9
" she had done to her sex, and to the degree of ladies, she
" had done pleasure to the author of the Latin book, in
*' dehvering him by her clear translation from the perils pf
A a. 2
356 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "ambiguous and doubtful constructions; and in making
" his good work more publicly beneficial : wherebv she had
Anno 15C4." raised up great comfort to her friends, and had furnished
" her own conscience joyfully with the fruit of her labour
" in so occupying her time. Which must needs redound
" to the encouragement of noble youth in their good edu-
" cation, and to spend their time and knowledge in godly
" exercise, she having delivered them so singular a prece-
" dent. That as God, he was sure, did accept that her
" doing, and would bless with increase; so her and their
" most virtuous and learned sovereign Lady and Mistress, it
" should be good cause to commend ; and all noble gentle-
" women should, he trusted, hereby be allured from vain
*' dehghts, to doings of more perfect glory.
" That he for his part, as occasion might serve, should
" exhort others to take profit by her work, and follow her
" example : whose success he beseeched our heavenly Fa-
" ther to bless and prosper. That to the end, both to ac-
" knowledge his good appi'obation, and to spread the bene-
" fit more largely, where her ladyship had sent him her
" book written, he had with most hearty thanks returned
" it her, as she saw, printed : knowng that he had there-
" by done for the best, and in this point used a reasonable
" policy ; that is, to prevent such excuses as her modesty
" would have made in stay of publishing it."
I have given this sum of the Archbishop's letter, not only
to preserve a good wi'iting of his from pei-ishing, but for
the remembrance of this excellent, pious, and learned lady ;
and chiefly to reconcile a due value unto this piece, written
in behalf of our reformed Church; being thus publicly
owned and favoured by the chief Bishop of it in his time.
Atract^add- This epistle is printed before the edition of the book. And
English A- to make this treatise of the Church of England the more
P°'°sy>':oo- perfect, there is added at the end of it a small tract, entitled,
governlnent The Manner Iww the Chui-ch qf England is administered
Church governed. Which, I make no doubt, is the work of
the Archbishop's oAvn pen. The reason he added it was,
(as he writ,) to answer the clamour of some enemies of this
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 357
Church, that spread abroad rumours how with us nothiii'r CHAP.
• • XX.V
was done in order, and as it ought to be done ; and that .
there was no rehgion at all among us, no ecclesiastical disci- Aano i56'4.
pline observed, no regard had of the salvation of men's souls :
but that all was done quite out of order, and seditiously ;
that all antiquity was despised ; that liberty was given to
all sensuality ; and that the livings of the Church were con-
verted to profane and worldly uses. But this little tract,
as well worthy the reading and preserving, (that nothing of
the most worthy Archbishop might be lost,) I have reposited
in the Appendix. Though there was before this, (viz. 1562,) ^xxiY
one English edition of the Apology, printed by Reiner Wolf :
in which English translation the Archbishop had a con-
siderable hand.
The noble Lady Bacon was one of the five daughters of Learned wo-
Sir Anthony Cook, of Gyddy Hall in Essex, Kt. who bred these times,
them all up in good learning, as he was a very learned
man himself ; so that his daughters were famous for their
knowledge in the Latin and Greek tongues. Indeed about
the latter times of King Henry, many young ladies, daugh-
ters of men of nobility and quality, were bred up to skill in
tongues and other human learning : taking example, I sup-
pose, from that King ; who took special care for the edu-
cating of his daughters, as well as his son, in learning.
And they were happy in learned instructors. His last wife,
Queen Catharine Par, was a learned as well as godly lady.
And Lady Jane, the daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, that
unhappy Queen, had excellent learning. Dr. Meredith
Hanmer read Eusebius in Greek to a certain honourable
lady, as he tells us in his epistle before his English transla-
tion of that book : which gave him occasion to publish the
said translation. And before all these, Sir Thomas More
had a daughter named Margaret, whom he bred up in in-
genuous literature. She composed a Latin oration, and
some verses, which her father shewed to Voysey, Bishop of
Exeter; whereat he was much moved with delight, and
sent her a Portugud by her father, which he enclosed in a
letter to her. And but little after the same time, viz.
A a 3
358 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK anno 1537, there was one Elizabeth Lucar, a citizen's
wife, buried in St. Laurence Pountney''s church, daughter
Anno 1564. of one Paul Withipol. By the inscription upon whose
car! " monument it appeared, that she writ very fairly three
180 several hands; that she understood Latin, Spanish, and
Italian ; writing, speaking, and reading it with perfect ut-
terance and readiness: that she sung in divers tongues,
and played excellently upon the viol, lute, and virginals.
And beside all this, she wrought all needle-work that wo-
men used to exercise with pen, frame, or stool : understood
"Well drawing of pictures, curious knots, and trails, beasts,
birds, and flowers, with a curious fancy. And to crown all,
she was virtuous, read the Scriptures, and directed her
faith to Christ as her only mark. And all this she arrived
to in her youth : for she died at twenty-seven years of
age.
The women Qf the Women in Kine; Edward's reign we may iudffe and
in King Ed- , . , ^ . , . ^ ^ ^
ward's Wonder, comparmg them with that sex in this present age,
"■e'g"- by observing what Nicolas Udal writ in his epistle to Queen
Catharine, before the English paraphrase upon the Gospel
of St. John. " But now in this gracious and blissful time
" of knowledge, in which it hath pleased God Almighty to
*' reveal and shew abroad the light of his most holy Gospel,
" what a number is there of noble women, especially here
" in tliis realm of England ; yea, and hoAV many in the
*' years of tender virginity, not only as well seen, and as
" familiarly traded in the Latin and Greek tongues, as in
" their own mother language ; but also both in all kinds of
" profane literature and liberal arts, exacted, studied, and
" exercised ; and in the holy Scripture and theology so
" ripe, that they are able aptly, cunningly, and with much
" grace, either to indite or translate into the vulgar tongue,
" for the public instruction and edifying of the unlearned
" multitude ? Neither is it now a strange thing to hear
" gentlewomen, instead of most vain communication about
" the moon shining in the water, to use grave and sub-
" stantial talk in Latin or Greek, with their husbands, of
" godly matters. It is now no news in England, for yoimg
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 359
"damsels in noble houses, and in the courts of princes, CHAP.
" instead of cards and other instruments of idle trifling, to '
" have continually in their hands either Psalms, Homilies, Anno 1 564.
" and other devout meditations, or else Paul's Epistles, or
" some book of holy Scripture matters ; and as familiarly
" to read or reason thereof in Greek, Latin, French, or
" Italian, as in English. It is now a common thing to see
" young vir^ns so nursed and trained in the study of let-
" ters, that they willingly set all other vain pastimes at
" nought for learning's sake. It is now no news at all to
" see Queens and ladies of most high state and progeny,
" instead of courtly dalliance, to embrace virtuous exercises
" of reading and writing, and with most earnest study, both
*' early and late, to apply themselves to the acquiring of
*' knowledge, as well in all other liberal arts and disci-
*' plines, as also most especially of God and his most holy
« word."
But to return again to Jewel : who, as he saw this work Dorman
of his Apology come forth in English, so the same year he p^^^^f a-*
saw a Popish book appearing against him. For by hisK^'"**^
challenge at St. Paul's Cross, he had raised many enemies
against him. Among the rest, Tho. Dorman, B. D. took
upon him to prove against Jewel's negatives, I. That the
Bishop of Rome is the head of Christ's universal Church
here in earth ; and that, within the first six hundred years
after Christ's departure hence, he was so called and taken.
II. That the people was then taught to believe that Christ's
body is really, substantially, corporally, carnally, or na-
turally in the Sacrament. III. That the Communion was
then ministered under one kind. IV. That there was Mass
said at that time, although there were none to receive with
the Priest. But all his reasons Dorman took from Harding,
as Harding had taken them from Eckius, Pighius, Groper,
and Hosius ; who had wrote for the Pope's power and su-
premacy; Harding translating ad verhum almost such places
as he thought for his purpose, as Alex. Nowel against
the said Dorman asserts in his Preface. This Book of Dor- And Now-
man's was printed at Antwerp, 1564, and entitled, A Proof^^^^^^^l^^l^
A a 4
360 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of certain Articles in Religion, denied by Master Nowel.
This book the said Alexander Nowel, Dean of St. PauFs,
Anno 1564. answered. Which answer came out July 13, 1565 : printed
Other books, by Henry Wikes. His book he entitled, A Reproof of a
pionn j^QQ^. ^jiinif^d^ Proof, &c. Dorman vindicates himself
from Nowel, and entitles his second book, A Disproof, &c.
Nowel comes out again against the IDisproqf, anno 1567,
and entitles his book, A Confutation, as well of Mr. Dor-
man'' s Last Book, entitled, A Disproof as of Dr. Sanders'' s
Causes of Transubstantiation ; whereby our Countrymen,
especially the simple and unlearned, may understand Jiow
181 shamefully they are abused by tliose and such like Books,
pretended to be written for their Instruction. It was thought
also that Dorman borrowed from Dr. Richard Smith, who
dying at Doway, 1563, left him by his wiU in some trust :
whereby his written books of controversy came into Dor-
man's hands.
stapieton. And that I may here mention together the rest of Bishop
Sander, JewePs antagonists besides Dorman and Harding before
gainst^Bi "^^^^itioned, Stapieton wrote a great volume upon the
shop Jewel. Bishop's marginal notes, by violent plucking of the which
from the continuance of the process whereupon they do
depend, and whereby they be made plain, he both blindeth
the reader, and depraveth and corrupteth the notes, con-
Nowei's trarv to the true sense and meaning of them. Mr. Rastal,
Ep. to his . . ° .
Confutat. by snatching at certain parcels of the Bishop's book, patched
vip two new books. Dr. Sander, by discoursing upon some
fragments of the Bishop's book, and upon fourteen or fifteen
leaves of Alex. Nowel's first book, published a huge volume.
" Weak and trifling reasons," saith Nowel, " but earnest
" and bitter reproaches."
The said j^jj these writers and more did the Bishop of Sarum
Bishop hath . ■ i • i <>
many ad- raise up agaiust himself. And that because, as the same
And'why learned man gives us the reason, he did not tie them straitly
to the trial of Scripture, the certain and only judge in con-
troversies of religion, and Avherein indeed they could say
nothing at all; but gave them a most large scope of all
Doctors of the Chuixh, who had written for the space of
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 361
six hundred years after Clirist being here on cartli, and of CHAP.
all Councils kept in the same continuance of time. Out of
the which Doctors and Councils, (for that the said Bishop Anno i564.
had avouched, that the best learned of all the adversaries,
or all the adversaries together, were able to bring nothing to
any purpose from them,) he set all the adversai'ies, learned
and unlearned, a work by common conference, to devise to
say something for themselves, and against him.
CHAP. XXVI.
The state of the Church in tfie north parts. And particu-
larly of Rachdale, Whalley, and Blackburn, in LancOr-
shire, belonging- to the Archbishop. At Rachdale he
founds a frecschool. The state of the Church of Canter-
bury. The certificate thereof sent to the Archbishop. The
Bishops of London and Peterborough go out Doctors.
About this time, or perhaps the year before, the Arch- The state of
bishop of York seemed to have visited his province, as our ),f'York '""^^
Archbishop had his. The noise out of the north parts,
Pilkinton, Bishop of Durham, sent to the Archbishop of
Canterbury ; making complaint how sadly things there in
those quarters were out of sorts. As that the Bishop of
Chester''s diocese was not visited by the Archbishop of
York, who had compounded with the Bishop for it. Nor
did that Bishop visit himself, but only gathered the visita-
tion or procuration money by his servants ; pretending for
his neglect, that he would not put the country to charge.
That the Bishop of Man was jolly, and lived at ease out of
his diocese. That as for the north parts of Lancashire, the
Priests were very negligent in the service, and often said
none at all: and that the Archbishop of Canterbury's own The Anh-
towns and parishes there, namely, Whalley and Blackburn, lo^!',"''*,,
were very sorrily supplied ; the Vicar of one had resigned Lancashire,
for a pension, and in the other a Popish schoolmaster liad
settled. Rachdale indeed was somewhat better provided
862 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK by means of a Curate there; who seems to have been one
J I
' Gargreve ; for whom to be preferred to be Vicar there, the
Addo 1664. said Bishop of Durham made request. But take his rela-
tion of the state of those parts as he wrote it to the Arch-
bishop.
The Bishop *' It IS to be lamented to see and hear how negligently
to the Arch-" ^^^7 ^"J Service, and how seldom. I have heard of
bishop. « a commission for ecclesiastical matters, directed to my
182" Lord of York, &c. But because I know not the truth
" of it, I meddle not. Your cures all, except Rachdale, be
*' as far out of order as the worst in all the country. The
" old Vicar of Blackboum resigned for a pension, and now
*' liveth with Sir John Biron. Whalley hath as ill a Vicar
" as the worst. And there is one come thither that hath
" been deprived or changed his name, and now teacheth
" school there ; of evil to make them worse. If your
" Grace's officers lust, they might amend many things. I
" speak this for the amendment of the country, and that
" your Grace's parishes might be better spoken of and
" ordered. If your Grace would, either yourself or by my
" Lord of York, amend these things, it were very easy.
" One little examination or commandment to the contrary
" would take away all these and more.
" The Bishop of Man liveth here at ease, and as merry
" as Pope Joan. The Bishop of Chester hath compounded
" with my Lord of York for his visitation, and gathereth
" up the money by his servants ; but never a word spoken
" of any visitation or reformation. And that, he saith, he
" doth of friendship, because he will not trouble the country,
" nor put them to charge in calling them together. I be-
" seech you, be not weary of well-doing, but with authority
*' and counsel help to amend that is amiss. Thus after com-
" mendations I am bold boldly to write, wishing good to
" my country, and furtherance of God's glory. God be
" merciful to us, and grant, ut I'lbere ct/rrat Evangelium.
" VakinChriMo. Cras profecturus Dunelmum,volente Deo.
" Tuus Ja. AvvtXiisv."
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 363
Now we are fallen upon the mention of these places in C H A P.
Lancashire belonging to our Archbishop, I will subjoin
something: relating; hereunto. These three rectories of Anno i&64.
Blackburn, Rachdale, and Whalley, came into the arch-^j^^^p
bishopric by Archbishop Cranmer"'s exchange with King founds a
Henry the Vlllth, and Edward the Vlth, formerly ap- Jj'^^j^g^,'^
propriated to the Abbey of Whalley. The rectory of Rach-
dale was let to a farmer with this condition among others,
that the Vicar should be paid by him forty marks per an-
num ; and to pay certain pensions to the Ministers that
served the chapels of the said rectories. But the farmer for
some years paid not these pensions ; whence the poor Min-
isters were drawn to great exigence. Whereupon Arch-
bishop Parker went to law with him, and would have taken
from him the possession of the rectory by forfeiture for
non-payment of these rents: meaning, if he should have
the better, to have paid the Ministers their arrears, and en-
larged their stipend for the future. It proved a long suit
and very expensive. At last the farmer, Sir John Biram,
fearing to lose the rectory, came to his prayers and entreaties,
and begged the Archbishop that he would forbear any
further to prosecute the law, and he would leave the matter
wholly to his Grace's decision and will. Hereupon the
Archbishop pondering in his mind how many families that
parish contained, and consulting for the good of the whole
county of Lancaster, he promised to release the farmer of
all fears of losing the rectory, if he, besides the yearly rent,
would give seventeen pounds yearly for the finding of a
master and an under-master for the teaching of children in
a free grammar school, that should be founded in the said
town of Rachdale. Which condition the farmer readily
agreed to during his lease. Afterwards, for the continu-
ance of this school for ever, the Archbishop by his own
ratification, and the concurrence of the Chapter of Canter-
bury, tied the sum of seventeen pounds per annum for
maintenance of the said school, to be paid for ever out of
the rectory. And it was his will, that the Master and
Fellows of Corpus Christi college in Cambridge should be
364 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK overseers of the same school, and electors of the school-
master, in case he, or any succeeding Archbishop of Can-
Anno 1564. terbury, happened not to do it ; as appeareth by an in-
denture tripartite, bearing date Jan. 1. an. Begin. 7.
Which he caused to be made ; and one of the copies he left
to the Master and Fellows of the said College, to be kept
among their other monuments belonging to their house.
If the Archbishop for the time being presented not a
schoolmaster in three months after a vacancy, then the
Master of the college, or in his absence the President, was
within two months to nominate and present two able scho-
1831ars, and offer them to the Archbishop, to choose one for
the schoolmaster of the said school. And let me occa-
Dr. Ken- sionally add what I read in a late book, that another
net's Case of ^j.^yi|jjgj^Q /^-^ Juxon) auo;mented still more Rachdale
vicarage with 42?. per annum. And the vicarage of Black-
burn by 101. per annum, beyond the old pension of 261.
15s. 4cZ. And made Whalley 1201. per annum.
The state of It was mentioned above, how that in January last, upon
of'cant"eri'' the Quccn's letters to our Archbishop for establishing the
bury as to uniformity, he had required of every Bishop a certificate to
contormity, . • i • • /-n i
to be certi- be Sent him up concerning their respective Clergy s man-
ners and behaviours, their doctrine, and conformity to the
rites and ceremonies of the Church. He also sent his let-
ters to his own cathedral church for that purpose. And
this was the certificate made to the Archbishop's Commissary
thereupon.
The certi- " Christ's Church, Cant. The certificate of the Vice-
the Church. " Dean of the cathedral and metropolitical church of
MSS. c. c. « Christ in Canterbury, and the Prebendaries of the same
Ian. D. " church here present. After due consultation had upon
" the copy of a letter directed from the most reverend Fa-
" ther in God, Matthew, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury,
" unto you liis Grace's Commissary, containing the Queen's
*' Highness pleasure and commandment for special regard
" to be had to the Clergy within the province, for their
" conformity in doctrine, and uniformity in rites and ccre-
" monies of the Church, and for their private manners.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 365
" usages, and behaviour, accordinff to the tenor of the said CHAP,
• XXVI
" letters; we do make our certificate for the state of our '_
" Chui-ch touching the premises in manner and form fol- Anno i56'4.
" lowing.
o
" First, we do certify, that there is no doctrine taught or I-
" defended by us, or any of us, nor by any preacher of our
" church to our knowledge, other than that which is ap-
" proved by the word of God, and set forth within this
" realm by public authority.
" The Common Prayer daily through thie year, though n.
" there be no Communion, is sung at the communion table,
*' standing north and south, where the high altar did stand.
" The Minister, when there is no Communion, useth a sur-
" plice only, stanchng on the east side of the table with his
" face toward the people.
" The holy Communion is ministered ordinarily the first
" Sunday of every month through the year. At what time
" the table is set east and xccst. The Priest which min-
" istereth, the Pystoler and Gospeler, at that time wear
" copes. And none are suffered then to tarry within that
" chancel but the communicants.
" For the ministering of the Communion we use bread -f t Wliich
" appointed by the Queen's Highness Injunctions. sembie the
" The evening prayer in winter is between three and . ,
<=> -I _ cakes, which
" four ; in summer between four and five of the clock in served for-
" the afternoon. At which prayers Mr. Dean, when he is "I'g'^'ifse "of
" here, and every of the Prebendaries, are present evei-y private
" day once at the least, appareled, in the choir. And when
" they preach, with surplice and silk hoods.
" The preachers, being at home, come to the Common
" Prayer on Sundays and holydays, wearing surplices and_
" hoods.
" The Petty Canons, the Lay Clerks, and Choristers, wear
" surplices in the choir daily.
*' The schoolmaster for grammer, the usher, and the
" Queen's Highness scholars, come to the choir on Sundays
" and holydays in surplices.
" Thirdly, we certify, that touching the manners, usages, m.
866
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW, &c.
BOOK " and behaviours for ourselves, for the preachers, and other
" inferior Ministers within our church, we know none that
Anno i5b4. " liveth unorderly, or to use himself otherwise than is by
" order prescribed and permitted by the Queen's Highness
" Injunctions.
" Thomas Willoughby, Thomas Beacon,
" William Darrel, Theodore Newton,
" Johannes Butler, Henry Goodiick,
" Andi'ew Peerson."
Two Bi- This year did Grindal Bishop of London, and Skamler
ated Doc- Bishop of Peterborough, go out Doctors of Divinity per
tors III Di- m-atiam^ in the University of Cambridge.
vimty, o ' JO
END OF BOOK 11.
THE
LIFE AND ACTS
OP
MATTHEW,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,
BOOK III.
CHAP. I.
Proceedings with Sampson and Humfrey. Sampson de-
prived, and confined. The Archbishop''s Mnd7iess to
him in letters wrote in his behalf. His grave advice to
him. Other recusants silen<^ed. Among the rest, Wi-
thers of Bury. His letter to the Archbishop of compliance.
Some are winked at.
The Archbishop was now arrived to the sixty-first year Anno 1 565.
of his age ; and all the remainder of his days from hence to
his grave was imbittered by the labours and pains he had
with such as would not comply with the established rites
and orders of the Church. The former part of this year T'le Arch-
was taken up in very uneasy work to the Archbishop and easyTand'
his Fellows, viz. in pressing -conformity to the ceremonies, ^^y-
and to the habits chiefly ; and in citing and censuring those
that yielded not due obedience.
We come now to pursue the proceedings with Sampson Sampson
and Humfrey ; who, being the heads of this party, had been frey win
summoned up from Oxford before the Archbishop and the c<""piy»
Commissioners ecclesiastical, with whom we left them ear-
nestly debating the last year. With these they did not only
contend about the points in controversy both in words and
868
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK writings, but they appealed to the learnedest foreign Divines
of the reformed Churches, whose judgments they them-
Anuo 15G5. selves had sent over in their letters, that there might be a
means of allaying these contests, as we shall hear more of
by and by : but nothing could move them. No, though
Bishop Grindal prayed Sampson even with tears that he
would but now and then, in the public meetings of the
University, put on the square cap, but could not prevail
with him to do so. So they, utterly refusing to conform
185 themselves, wei'e both confined. But the storm fell upon
Sampson chiefly, who being in so eminent a place in the
University, and for fear his example might have too great
Sampson an influence among the students, was, by a special order
deprucd. ^^.^j^j ^j^g Quceu, deprived of his deanery by the Arch-
bishop and Commissioners.
Humfrey Humphrey, after confinement in London for some time,
Mr's^'^War- got leave to depart home ; retiring for a time to the house of
cup's house, the pious widow Mrs. Warcup, dwelling in Oxfordshire or
Berks ; the same that was so remarkably charitable to tlie
poor afflicted under Queen Mary. Being here, he wrote a
letter May 24. to his friend John Fox, lamenting the pre-
sent condition of their affairs ; and knowing what an interest
Fox had in the Duke of Norfolk, whose tutor he had
been, and for whom the Duke had expressed a long time a
very great respect, Humphrey excited him to use all his in-
fluence with the said Duke ; that he, by letter or by word
of mouth, would procure a forbearance of these impositions.
And the Duke indeed seemed well inclined hereunto. For
when Humphrey was at Norwich not long before, the Duke
promised him his endeavour in many kind words. But if
we desire to see the earnest concern this learned man had
for this cause, I shall here set down a part of his letter.
t^'pox^to Nostra res quo in statu sint, in quo luhrico et scopuloso
move the loco vcrscntur, non ignorasy audis, vides, ingemiscis. Qui-
Norfonf autem modis tantee misej'ia sublevari possint, quo tot
MSS. Foxii. mails salutaris medicina adhiberi queat, non reperin, non
invenio, nescio. Tu siquid nosti, communica; ne desis
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 369
cmisee bona, officio tioo, laboranti Ecdesia. Siquid Diicis CHAP.
Nor. literce, opera, gratia, authoritas valere possunt, age, ^'
effi.ce, ut vel scribat ad suos serio et sape, vel prasens c?/mAnno i565.
aliis instet, urgeat. Miseret me Jratrum ; aliorum qui
summi et primi esse volunt, pudet. Dux, cum essem Nor-
wici, longe et prolixe pollicitus est omnia. Deus sic illi dux
sit, sic regat et fiectat alios, ut congruentibiis animis et
studiis in causam konestissimam, sed deploratissimam, in-
cumbant. Ultimum ac prastantissimum refugium est, ar-
dens ad Deum homimim bonorum comprecatio, pro Rcgina
serenissima, pro consiliariis honor atissimis, pro Episcopis,
pro Ecclesia. Tu, mi Foxe, or a, intercede, clama, ac vale
in Domino, qui tuos omnes labores sanctijicet ac fortunet,
uxor em et liber os conservet. Anglic ex adibus D. War-
coppee,piee et lectissima vidua. Maii 20.
T. totus Laur. Hurnfredus.
Notwithstanding, Humphrey, for his usefulness in the Uni-
versity, had a toleration till ten or eleven years after, when
he complied, and wore the habits. But even this present rresenteii
year 1565. he was presented to a benefice in the diocese "
of Sarum, by the Bishop of Winton, with the mild Arclibi-
shop's consent, as it seemed, though Jewel, the Bishop of
the diocese, made some stop to it. Humphrey had a little
before felt the pulse of these Bishops assembled in the eccle-
siastical commission ; and found the Bishop of Winton con-
tented to pleasure him, and had the Archbishop's favour too ;
but Bishop Jewel seemed more difficult. Yet Humphrey
thought he would not refuse to admit him at last ; which
was the cause that he had not spared his purse nor travail
about this living. That Bishop objected to him St. Paul's
uxixTOLG-Tcta-'ia ; meaning either that confusion spoken of by
him, 1 Cor. xiv. 33. God is not the author o/' confusion, but
of peace ; or those tumults, (the same word in the Greek,)
2 Cor. xii. 20. whisperings, swellings, tumults, which
the A}X)stle layeth to the charge of the same Corinthians.
The Bishop also told him, that diversities in God's worship
VOL. I. B b
370 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK was deformity ; and that it was a sufficient cause of depri-
vation. What Humfrey's answers were, he gave in a letter
Anno 1565. to the Blshop, dated Decemb. 20, from Oxon, to this purport:
to Bishop " ^^^'^ Lordship's stay hung upon a small point. That
Jewel. " he never was author of confusion : for that was, he said,
Petyt Ar- " ^ horrible crime. But that he had studied to live in peace
n>ig> " and concord with his brethren, and in due obedience to-
" wards his betters ; and that so he purposed, by the grace
" of God, to do. But that he took this matter far otherwise
" than his Lordship did signify it to be, both in nature and
" substance ; and in all circumstances, as appeared by the
" word «xarao-T«(r/a in St. Paul. And that if diversity in
" outward ceremonies were deformity, if it were any confu-
" sion, if it were a sufficient cause of deprivation, if it were a
1 86 " necessary parcel and essential piece of the ministry, that
" none might be without it ; if this congruity and prescrip-
" tion came not directly from the Pope, and if it were be-
" fore the Popedom ; then I am, said he, much deceived.
" But that whatever it were, light or great, order or disorder,
" it forced not. And that, as he writ before, so he again
" assured his Lordship, that his desire was not to innovate
" any thing that way, or to violate their ecclesiastical ordi-
" nances by example, thought, or counsel. He added, that the
" man that then served the cure, he heard was conformable
" enough, and that he himself, when he preached, should not
" transgress. That therefore if he offended not in his dio-
" cese, he trusted the Bishop would not be offended out of his
" diocese. In short, that this was the first living or bene-
fice that ever was granted him : and for that he had pass-
" ed the Scillis and Syrtis of Popish Proctors by the Arch-
" bishop of Canterbury's favour, and the Bishop of Winton's
" patronage, now it rested upon his friendship ; and in por-
" tu to make shipwreck, it would grieve him, and to take a
" repulse by him [the Bishop] would comfort Mr. Saye,
" whose prophecy of his not having it would by the Bi-
" shop's means be verified." What effect and issue this
earnest letter had with the Bishop, I do not find. But in
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 371
five years after he became Dean of Gloucester. And so we CHAP,
leave Dr. Humfrey. ^'
But concerning Sampson we have something more to say. Anno isea.
Some of the common lawyers disputed the legality of his Lawyers ar-
. . . . gne con-
deprivation, and would have those that inflicted this punish- cerning
ment on him to be involved in a premunire for so doing. ^^™ps""'s
_ <~> deprivation.
In a volume in the Cotton library there is a discourse of
some great common lawyer for prohibitions : where he hath
this passage ; " That Justice Brook, in his Abridgment, titulo
" Premunire, num. 21. reported that Barlow, Bishop in the
" time of Edward VI. for that he had deprived the Dean
" of Wells, that deanery being a donative, was in apremu-
" nire, and was constrained to sue for a pardon. And if it
" be so, said this lawyer, in all donatives, I would fain know
" by what authority Mr. Thomas Sampson was deprived
" from the donative deanery of Christ's Church in Oxford, -
" which he had pro termino vita under the Great Seal of
" England. If in law it be a lay thing, and the ecclesias-
" tical commission is only to exercise ecclesiastical jurisdlc-
" tion in ecclesiastical causes, it must needs follow, that the
" fault in the one was as great as in the other." These are
the words taken out of that MS.
But however, Sampson was not only deprived of his dean- Sampson
ery, but of his liberty too, being confined by the Queen''s
special commandment ; who was very angry with these men,
and thought good to make Sampson an example to the rest:
yet not committed to a common prison, though that was
feared to follow.
And lying in this condition, he had two things to do for The Arch-
his better ease under his calamities. The one was, to obtain |'(!re"s'^j(„j"'
some favour from the Chapter of Oxon, and the other to f""" I'im ;
prevent a closer imprisonment, and to get a full liberty from
his present confinement. For both which he applied to
the Archbishop by letter : who very gently and readily, out
of his tender and compassionate disposition to all men,
wrote two letters from Canterbury, where he now was ; the
one to the Dean and Chapter of Oxon, praying them to With the
Bb2
372 THE LITE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK shew Dr. Sampson all favour, and particularly in what he
had, or should request at their hands ; especially having
Anno 1563. been a man that had, for his government, well deserved of
With the them and the college. The other to the Secretary on this
Secretary ; Qg^asion. The Earl of Huntingdon, a great favourer of these
men, had moved the Secretary to intercede with the Queen,
that Sampson might have his liberty to go whither he would,
in order to provide for the future subsistence of himself
and family. The Secretary soon yielded thereunto, but re-
quired a letter from the Archbishop to him first for that
purpose, thereupon the better to build his mediation with the
Queen. For this end the Earl had sent a messenger to the
Archbishop, and Sampson sent liis own letter withal ; thank-
ing him also therein for the favour he had done him with
the college. Sampson's letter ran thus :
Sampson to « Reverendissime, S. My humble thanks to your Grace
shop. " premised. By these letters enclosed, your favourable
MSS. G. p. « commending of my case to the Chapter of Christ Church
" " in Oxon is well witnessed to have had with them just re-
" gard. And now as my necessity compelleth me to crave
1 87 " further aid, so your facility to grant my last encourageth
" me to make this second request for the same. The ho-
" nourable Earl of Huntingdon hath moved at my suit Mr.
" Secretary, that, without assignment of place, I might go
" and abide at mine own liberty ; where I may by seeking
" find some commodious settling for me and my poor fa-
" mily. He hath promised to become for me a favourable
" mediator herein to the Queen's Majestv, if that in this
" behalf he might receive from your Grace some letter of
" commending this my humble suit to him, whereupon, as
" upon a meet ground, he might the better build his medi-
" ation to her Highness. I think my said Lord of Hun-
" tingdon doth certify your Grace of the truth hereof by this
" bearer. The equity of the thing and my urgent necessity
" considered, of their own condition, will move I trust your
" goodness to add this second salve to my misery, which I
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 373
" do humbly desire. The Lord Jesus direct you by his CHAV.
" mighty Spirit to do in your calling that best pleaseth him. ^'
" Lond. 3. Jun. 1565. Anno 1 565.
" Yours to command,
« Tho. Sampson."
The gentle and good nature of the Archbishop was such, T'le Aicii-
that he presently wrote to the Secretary, the very next day wrttefto
after he received Sampson"'s letter, recommending Samp-
, '■ . " ^ ly in Samp-
son's case most heartUy, and praying the Secretary to use son's be-
his interest with the Queen : and that upon the account of
her clemency, which she was wont to shew indifferently to
all her subjects. Which letter being so expressive of the
mild and Christian spirit of this grave Father, even to
such as did not altogether agree with him in all points, I do
here set down as a testimony hereof.
" After my hearty commendation to your Honour. Where His letter.
" I understand that Mr. Sampson lieth still at suit for his Amig!^ ^
" favourable placing out at his own liberty, without note of
" committing him as prisoner to any place, your Honour
" should do a right good deed in mine opinion to be suitor
" to the Queen''s Highness for favour therein ; her pleasure
" being thus executed upon him for example to the terror of
" others, might yet be mollified to the commendation of her
" clemency ; whereunto her Highness is inclined both godly
*' and naturally to all persons indiflPerently. And as your
" Honour is the common refuge, to be a solicitor to the
" Queen's Majesty in our causes, so ye shall do a good act
" to continue herein. Which favour shewed, if it should be
" abused by the wilfulness of some fond heads, yet God's
" cause in reasonable men may be pitied. And thus, with
" the offer of my prayer, and most humble recommendation
" to the Queen's Highness, I take my leave of your Honour.
" From my house at Canterbury, this 4th of June 1565."
And to Sampson also he wrote the same day a most hu-
mane letter ; and with much gravity and sweetness persuaded
him to unite himself with the practice enjoined the Church.
" Mr. Sampson, After my hearty commendations ; I am The Arch-
B b 3
374 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " glad that my letters MTitten in your behalf to the Church
" took such effect as ye desired. And as ye have not deserv-
Anno 1565." ed to the same in your government the contrary, to my
bishop to u understandinof, so again I have written mv letter to obtain
Sampson, o' o ^
exhorting " your otlier request : praying you in Jesus Christ to salve
unTty" " against this great offendicle risen by your dissent from
Mss. G. P. " the course of the Gospel. Remember what obedience so
°" " great hberty of the whole doctrine of Christ granted, re-
" quireth at your hands. I am persuaded that time, and
" indifferent reading on your party, will give cause to join
" together in our communion. I mean not in doctrine, but
" in matter of ecclesiastical policy. And thus wishing you,
" and all other, well as myself, I end my letter. Written at
" Canterbury this 4th of June, 1565.""
Withers of As Samson was thus deprived, so other recusants of the
Bury SI- habits, and that would not enter bonds to wear tlie square
lenced. . -Ill
cap, at that time were silenced, and forbade preaching in their
places for some months ; and remaining incompliant, after
the space fixed, to be deprived. Of this number was
George Withers, a man of good learning, preacher at Bury
of St. Edmond's in Suffolk. When he went down to his
188 flock with this censure upon him, the people were moved
that they should be deprived of his ministry and preaching
for want of wearing a cap, which they made no great mat-
ter of; and they knowing that he had refused it, that he
might not give them offence, nor cast a stumblingblock be-
fore them, (as he told the Commissioners,) they presently as-
sured him, that it should be no offence to them ; and prayed
him rather to wear the cap than to forsake them. And so
Withers, finding that his departing should more offend them
than his wearing the apparel, and that the departure of
preachers would so rejoice the enemy, he sent a letter to the
Archbishop, to let him know that he would rather stj-ain his
conscience a little, as he expressed it, than to discourage the
godly, or let the wicked have their mind. And knowing the
Ai'chbishop would allow him to preach, and to enjoy his
place, upon the notice of his compliance, he sent him word
thereof in this letter following, dated May 24, from Bury.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 375
" Right honourable and my singular good Lord : Whereas CHAP,
at my late being with you at London, I refused to enter ^
" bonds for wearing of the cornered cap ; for the which you Anno i565.
" did then inhibit and restrain me from preaching; J^^'ti^^Arch
" townsmen of Bury, whose offence I chiefly feared, have bishop, pio-
" been earnest in hand with me rather to wear a cap than ™par"the'
" to forsake them ; promising moreover never the more to habit.
" regard it or mind it tor my weanng or it. 1 thereupon, Armig.
" who greatly feared lest the wearing of it here should be a
" stumblingblock, and an occasion of falling to a great num-
" ber, who should discredit me, and by that means the Gospel
" by me preached, seeing my expectation deceived, have also
" altered my mind. I was afraid to have been an offence
*' unto the godly, considering the wo pronounced upon them
" by whom offences come : but seeing my departure should
" more offend them, than the wearing any apparel, and
" also more rejoice the enemy, who seeketh nothing so
" much as to banish preachers from them, I will rather
" strain my conscience somewhat, than altogether to dis-
" courage the godly, or to let the wicked have their minds.
" Wherefore after talk had with Mr. Badly immediately
" after his return home, understanding that your Lordship
" is content that I should have, use, and enjoy my room and
" office of preaching, so that I do signify unto you by my
" letter, that I am content to wear the cornered cap at Bury,
" I thought good to write these few lines to your Grace, to
" signify I am content to accept it : but yet so as to avoid a
" greater inconvenience, as Vte mihi, si non evangeUza-
" vero, fee." We shall have more of this man hereafter.
But notwithstanding those severe orders of the Queen be- Many Dis-
fore mentioned, and this prosecution of the same, yet she ^^."^^^'^^
and her Commissioners did dispense or wink at many Divines Fox's letter
who could not comply, and yet had and retained still dig-Qj/Jen.
nlties in the Church. There is a letter of Father Fox, the
Martyrologist, writ in Latin to the Queen about this time,
wherein he exalted her in his praises, as for restoring learn-
ing and religion, so particularly for her regard and gracious
answer to a petition of certain Divines concerning the habits.
B b 4
376 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Which I suppose was, that she was contented they should
be dealt favourably withal. In this letter Fox said, that
Anno i56'5.he had divers monuments concerning her Majesty, which he
Her history, thought of compiling into her history ; but he invited her to
write her own life, and that none could do it better. He
gratefully commemorated also the prebend of Shipton, which
she had lately bestowed on him.
189 CHAP. II.
The ArchbisJiop's orders about licences for preaching, and
Curates. Repairs to Canterbury. Gi-cat feasting in his
hall. He is godfather with the Queen. Publishes a
Dietary.
The Arch- But leaving these matters a while, let us attend our
ill aU 11- Archbishop, wearied with the former controversies, into
cences for Kent. Within the month of May he went from Lambeth to
preach) n„. (;;^,^(^gj.]ijyj.y^ entei'taiu his guests in his new repaired haD,
and to inspect his diocese. But a little before he went, he
found it convenient to rectify some things relating to the
Clergy. Many there were who had obtained licences to
preach from him and other Bishops ; men esteemed then by
them to have been discreet persons, and such as would have
dutifully complied with the orders of the Church established
by authoritj^ ; but had deceived their expectations. These
were guilty of much indiscretion, (whereof the Queen was
informed,) and went up and down preaching where they
pleased in any church ; and the Curates allowed them, fear-
ing to gainsay their licences. But now orders were given
out from the Archbishop to the Bishops, that all should
bring in their old licences, and take new ; and that no
Curate should suffer any to preach in their churches upon
any former licences given by the Archbishop. And that
such as took licences hereafter, should be bound not to dis-
turb the state of religion pubhcly established. And this
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBXJRY. 377
stopping of licences was no new thing. For Archbishop CHAP.
Cranmer had called in his licences twice or thrice vipon such
occasions. But care was taken that such who had licences, Anno i565.
and were now required to take out others, should not be
burdened with any great charge therein.
Again, Cvirates about this time made it a common prac- No Curates
tice to depart from one diocese to another, having probably
been discharged their former curacies for scandal, or pope- ^^t^se with-
^ . „, » . out letters
ry, or puritamsm, or msumciency. ihereiore it was ap- testimonial,
pointed, that such Curates as came out of other dioceses
should not be allowed to serve without letters testimonial
from the Ordinary where they last did serve.
And lastly, divers incumbents of parishes. Popish Priests, None *»
as it seems, that were minded to leave their livings, and run their livings
away beyond sea, as many now did, to make a benefit of ,
consent oi
their livings, would farm them out at easy yearly rents, the Ordina-
taking good fines, and then dishonestly depart from their
places, to the manifest fraud of the farmers. The Archbi-
shop therefore ordered, that none, especially such as were
not of constant abode, should let out their livings without
the consent of the Ordinary, for preventing this, and to pro-
vide against all dishonest bargains. And all this the Arch-
bishop signified by letter, dated May 12, to the Bishop of
London, to disperse to the Bishops of the province : and may
, J . , ^. ^ ^ [Number
be read m the Appendix. xxxii.]
But as to the licences, it appears that those that had them i he ill
were not very forward to briner them in, notwithstanding these P™'=*"^es of
J o ' » some or the
orders ; but made use of them still to preach about, where licensed
they listed. And the rather, because they made advantage by i"^'^^'^''*'"^*
it, requiring money for their sermons. Some of these licens-
ed preachers came in Bishop Jewel's diocese. Of whom by
a letter, dated Decemb. 22, he gave notice to the Arch-
bishop, " that there were certain that had received his Certified by
" Grace's licences ; and these passed up and down the coun- j^^''"''^^
" try from church to church, preaching every where, as if the Archbi-
" they were Apostles : and by virtue of your Grace's seal, (^^^*
" as lie added, require money for their labours. I will stay
378
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
III.
Anno 1565.
The Arch-
bishop
makes three
feasts in liis
ball at
Cant.
Historiol.
At Whit-
suntide.
" one or other of them, if I can, that your Grace may know
" them better."
The Archbishop soon after this repaired to Canterbury :
and to add to the rest of his noble expenses in and about
his new hall and palace mentioned before, to xvarm them, as
we used to say, made there three magnificent and most
splendid feasts in the summer. The first was at Whitsuntide,
and lasted three days, that is, Sunday, Monday, and Tues-
day. Which was after this manner : his Grace first resort-
ed to his cathedral church, to pay God his service; and there,
after he had preached himself to the Clergy and people of
Canterbury, they received the holy Communion at the hands
of the Dean and Clerks ; that thus, having made his
guests first feast with God before they feasted with him,
every thing afterjtvards might be the more decently and inof-
fensively performed. Church being done, he was conducted
home to his palace by the Prebendaries of the church, the
Mayor of the city and his brethren, and many other gen-
tlemen of the country, who all dined in his great hall, which
he had a mind to see filled. All took their places in their
comely order. The Archbishop himself sat in the midst of the
uppermost table. On his left hand the Mayor, and all other
men according to their dignity and quality. And so on one
side of the hall a continual row of men filled the other tables,
set in order, and severed by a little space between, through-
out» the length of the hall. On his right hand sat only
some noble women, and others who were wives of some
persons of quality, and a course and line of women the
length of the hall, altogether like and corresponding to
the row of men on the other side. This order of placing
the women was observed in honour of the Queen's Majesty ;
because that it was under her government that the Arch-
bishop, having escaped the cruelties and threatenings of
the Papists, was now advanced to that height of an Arch-
bishop. This first rank of guests being risen, and the
tables cleared, they were furnished again the second time,
and filled with others, partly of the Archbishop's family, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 379
partly of the country thereabout, who straightway sat down CHAP.
in tlieir places that rose, in the same order as before And
this manner of feasting continued the two next days also. Anno i ses.
His second feast was on Trinity Sunday following. 9" Trinity
Which he celebrated in memory of King Henry VIII. the'^ ^'
last restorer and founder of the church of Canterbury, (de-
dicated to the Holy Trinity,) and reformer of several evil ce-
remonies and customs. But as the last feast, so this was
begun with God's service at the cathedral ; where, prayers
being ended, one of the chief Ministers of the church made
a sermon, and then the Archbishop himself administered the
mystical bread unto the people. And all being finished, he
departed, decently and reverently conducted home bv the
whole number and congregation of them that had assembled
at the church : who all dined in the hall, in the same man-
ner as before, with other chief men both of the city and
country.
The third entertainment, which seemed to have been more At the as-
grand than any of the rest, was on the J23d day of July,
in assize time; when the Archbishop invited to dine with
him the Judges that went that circuit. Sir John Southcotes,
a Judge of the Common Pleas, and Gilbert Gerrard, Esquire,
Attorney General to the Queen, and Sir Tho. Kemp, Knt.
High Sheriff, with all their train ; and all the rest that were
met at these assizes, as well gentlemen as meaner persons :
for by messengers and officers, the Archbishop had invited
also the justices of the peace, advocaters, and common law-
yers, and all the rest of proctors and attorneys : who all (with
a promiscuous company) in troops came in. The hall was
set forth with much plate of silver and gold, adorned with
rich tapestry of Flanders, and furnished with many tables :
at which the guests were disposed according to their quality.
There were dainties of all sorts, both meats and drinks, and
in great plenty, and all things served in excellent or-
der, by none but the Archbishop's servants. The tables
were often the same day furnished afresh with new guests,
by reason of their multitude, as the former were satisfied and
gone. The ladies and gentlewomen were nobly entertained
380 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK in inner parlours, received there by Mrs. Parker, the hall
being now filled only with gentlemen. Otherwise at these
Anuo 1565. feasts it was the Archbishop's custom, in honour of matri-
mony, to entertain both men and their wives.
The palace Qf this uoble hall and palace at Canterbury, now within
ruin. an hundred and fifty years, there is little or nothing left, ex-
igi cept a few ruins : (thus, according to our Archbishop's true
motto, Mundus transit, et concupiscentia ejus.) And yet
so much, that a friend of mine of late years discovered the
arms of the Archbishop in stone, upon the wall of the south
end of the palace, very fair, and the date 1565, as he sup-
posed. Some of the out-walls of the hall I saw divers
years ago remaining ; and many of the curious broken pillars
were piled up there for fencing : and within the area of it
was a good house erected, and an orchard ; then occupied
by a Minister of the city of Canterbury.
The Arch- When the Archbishop was returned to Lambeth, the
father w'ith Q'^s^*^ ^ great honour in appointing him with her-
the Queen, self, and the illustrious Prince, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk,
to stand godfather to the son of Cecilia, sister of the King
of Sweden, and wife of Christopher, Margrave of Baden:
who was baptized at her own chapel in the month of Sep-
tember, and by her named Edvardus Fortunatus.
The Arch- About the declining; of this year happened a great dearth,
bishop pub-, „ 1 , n
lishes a by reasou oi unseasonable weather ; and the prices or corn
Dietary, prew SO high, that it threatened a famine : though the Oueen
upon octa- o o ' o ^ ^
sion of a by her prudent conduct at length brought down the prices,
dearth fear- pg^j,jjy T^y hindering the exportation of corn, and partly by
encouraging the importation thereof from foreign parts. But
during this time, the wiser sort began to think of the causes
of the dearth, and of the remedies for the prevention of it ;
and of more thrifty living for the time to come. Concern-
ing the latter, a paper was published in print, entitled, A
Dietary : which, though it have neither date, nor name of
the author, yet I have some strong presumptions that it was
composed by our Archbishop, and set forth about this time,
for the common benefit. It consisted first of a transcript of
a writ published by Edward II. anno 1315, upon a great
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 381
dearth, wherein were stinted the precise prices of all sorts of chap.
provisions. And of another the year after, for restraining
of unmeasurable services of messes and meats. Then follow- Anno i565.
ed a warning of our Saviour, concerning excessive eating and
drinking, taken out of Matth. xxiv. 37, &c. and Luke xvii.
26, 27. Next came a constitution of Archbishop Cranmer,
anno 1541, for retrenching the tables of Clergymen to a par-
ticular number of dishes, entitled, Constitutio Thomee Cran-
meri Archiep'iscopi , ct aliorum fratrum suorum. And lastly,
the paper concludes with a legantine constitution of Cardinal
Pole, enjoining sobriety in the Clergy, as to their persons
and families, that they might give good example : as to their
habits, forbiddincr them the wearing; of silk : as to their ta-
bles, enjoining, whatsoever guests they had, but three kinds
of meat, or four at most, besides fruit and banqueting dishes;
and the reading of holy books, and good communication,
should make up the rest of the furniture of the table. This
is thus entitled, Inter Constitvtiones Legantinas, editas
Londini, 1555. Prasidente Reghialdo Card'inale Polo De-
cret. 5. This sheet I thought worthy to be preserved in
the Appendix ; together with another MS. of the same na- dumber
XXXIII
ture, which I found thus superscribed by Sir Will. CecyFs xxxiv.*
own hand ; Nov. 1565. Causes of the Dearth of Corn,
with the Remedies.
CHAP. III. 192
The Archbishop moves the Chancellor of Cambridge foi-
regulation of University licences. One Withers preaches
there for reformation of glass ivindows. Several Heads
of the University write to the Chancellor against
pressing conformity there. Dr. Hiitton and Dr. Beau-
mont, by occasion hereof, misrepresented. He sends them
new statutes, f-amed chiefly by the Archbisliop. His ad-
vice to the Chancellor hereupon. Fanatici Superpellici-
ani in Cambridge, complained of to him.
For the hindering the further spreading and breaking out
of the aforementioned irregularities and disorders in the
882 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Church, the Archbishop thought it highly necessary to look
. well to the licensing of preachers : that none might be ad-
Anno 1565. iq preach, but such as he might be well assured of
tliTucens- ^"^^ their compliance with the orders established,
ing of There was a power lodged in the University of Cam-
And f ^"^^S^' '-^ licence twelve preachers yearly, to preach any
cularly into where throughout England, without obtaining other licence
sity^cei" ^^^^ Other. This the Archbishop was jealous of, as
ces. opening a back door to let in the disaffected into the Church :
and therefore he thought it very advisable for the Chan-
cellor of the University, (who was the Queen's Chief Secre-
tary,) Cecyl, to take some order about this. And this he
might, and ought to do, because the licences, as the Univer-
sity then gave them, were discrepant from what they an-
ciently were.
The occa- That which gave the first occasion to look more narrowly
sion there- . . ,. ...
of. into these University licences, was this. While things were
in that ferment in the Church, as hath been mentioned
already, about the beginning of the month of March, anno
1564, and the Puritans (for by that name they now com-
monly went) laboured at this juncture, all they could, to
shew their utter dislike and resistance of that conformity
that was then in agitation, out of hope, belike, that when
the superiors should observe how irksome these matters
were, they might be discouraged any further to press them ;
a great racket was raised in Cambridge, chiefly occasioned
George by a busy member thereof, named George Withers, men-
tioned before, a man of parts and zeal. He, whether in his
sermon or otherwise, had pressed for a reformation of the
University windows, urging, I suppose, the superstition of
the stories painted on them. Whereupon followed a great
destruction of them, and the danger of a greater, by some
zealots there. This person was preacher at Bury, as we heard
before, and was so well thought of by Parkhurst, Bishop
of Norwich, that he had given him, it seems, encouragement
in his diocese ; notwithstanding an ecclesiastical commission
he lately had gotten for the checking of these seditious
preachers. For which the Archbishop twitted him, in a let-
Withers.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 383
ter to Cecyl, saying, " My Lord of Norwich hath gotten him a CHAP.
" commission to good purpose." The news of this hurlyburly
was soon sent both to the Archbishop and the University's Anno i565.
Chancellor. But when the Heads had either wilfully con-
nived at this man, or thought it not safe, or in their power
to censure him, the Archbishop sent for him up, to answer
for his doings, before him and the rest of the Queen's Com-
missioners. About a fortnight after, Withers appeared cum
magna confidentia, vidtu senatorio, as the Archbishop ex-
pressed it to the Secretary. And because the disturbance
chiefly seemed to arise from some sermon that he had
preached in the University, the Archbishop demanded of
him his letters of licence to preach. Whereupon he pro-
duced the letters of the University ; whereby he was, in the
year 1563, nominated and appointed by Dr. Hawford, Vice-
Chancellor, one of the twelve University Preachers. This
licence the Archbishop, who was excellently skilled in the 193
ancient customs of the University, as well as other antiqui-
ties, found to be defective, being drawn up in the name only
of the Vice-Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the Uni-
versity, without any mention of the Chancellor's name :
which, according to the laudable custom, ought to have been
prefixed.
This the Archbishop signified to the Chancellor. Where- '^}'^ Arch-
upon, and probably by the Archbishop's advice, he sent forpartsa writ-
his Vice-Chancellor, as for other matters, so to satisfy him '"S ^° ^''^
Secretary,
of the power that lay in him to give these licences. And, shewing the
that he might be prepared to talk with him, when he should unlver-
come up, he requested the Archbishop to communicate to sity privi-
him some part of his University notes, concerning this busi-ji'^'ensing
ness of preaching. Hereupon the Archbishop sent him a preachers,
form of licence for preaching, of old custom used, and the
original of that privilege granted the University. The sum
of which was, that at the suit of Thomas Cabold, the Pope's
lesser Penitentiary in the Roman Court, for England, Scot-
land, and Ireland, Julian, Bishop of Ostia, by the authority
of Pope Alexander the Sixth, granted to Fisher, Bishop of
Rochester, Chancellor of the University, and his successors.
384 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
^OOK licence to choose every year twelve Doctors, Masters, or
Graduates, who should be in Priest's Orders, to preach
Anno 1565. ji^j-ough the whole kingdom of England, Scotland, and Ire-
land, under the common seal of the University, without any
other licence from any other Bishop. And for this there
was a bull of the Bishop of Ostia. And upon this, Fisher
the Chancellor gave hcence to one Bayly, to preach through-
out England, in ]\Iay 1522. The Archbishop sent him also
another form of licence for preaching that was then used :
and that was the licence given to George Withers, which
ran in the name of Edward Hawford, Vice-Chancellor, with-
out any mention of the Chancellor : and it mentioned this,
as granted to that University from the Queen's letters pa-
tents, bearing date the third year of her reign: and the
licence ran durante vita naturali. It had also this clause,
which touched the Archbishop, as an infringement upon his
and his brethren's authority, licentia ordinariorum locornm
super lioc minime requmta. He acquainted him also, that
this privilege of Ucensing was sued for by the University,
to be granted them of King Edward VI. but not obtained.
The clause containing this pri\'ilege, as it was drawn up
and prepared to be inserted into the King's letters patents,
the Archbishop sent to the Secretary, with the two other
forms, and the clauses in the Queen's letters patents con-
Number cerninff this licensing. All which are reposited in the Ai)-
XXXVIII. pendix.
His advice After he had imparted to the Chancellor, namely, Secre-
thereupon ^^O' Cecyl, these forms of licences, he told him, " He had best
" look to it, or else it would grow to much inconvenience.
" And that he took all their licences hitherto, in the late
" form wherein that of Withers was drami up, to be naught;
" because they were not according to the ancient laudable
" form, his name, as their Chancellor, not prefixed. Which
" authority, he said, it were best for him to keep still ; so
" might the better choice be made. And to say the truth,
" as he goes on, seeing their letters patents be granted, but
" agreeably to their pri\'ilege, it is but a v, eak hole for them.
" For that bull of Episcoptis Ostiensis is long ago dead.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 885
" Tliat for his diocese, he was resolved, unless he saw the CHAP.
" Chancellor's name prefixed, they should not be received.
" That he could not see what Master Vice-Chancellor's ex- Anno i565.
" perience [who, it seems, was now come to Town] had
" brought up to inform his Honour, [their Chancellor,]
" more than his [the Archbishop's] notes had declared.
*' That they left out of their licences such words as were in
" the bull of Hostiensis, whereto their style did allude.
" That he took it, that though sometimes the University
" seal went out by the name of the Vice-Chancellor, yet it
" was not rightly done. For the incorporation was. To the
" Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars : and such style w ere
" fitter for the seal of the office. And he thought the Bi-
" shop of Rochester, for the weight of the matter, would
" have it pass in his name, [as it did in the first form.] And
" he thought too, not without some trial, or credible inform-
" ation of the worthiness of the party. In his opinion,
" he added, it would be well done, that they had a form
*' prescribed of their licences, and so expressed in the Proc-
" tors' books, and by a grace established, with the annulling
" of all licences passed before. Telling him, that if they so
*' much abused the Queen's grant, ilia viventc, what would
" they do hereafter .'' He took notice also of the largeness
" of the licences they granted, namely, for natural life. I94
" Whereas all Ordinaries, in their licences, granted them
" more deliberately, inserting such words, quandiu nobis
*' placuerit, et, dum laudabiliter te gesseris. But thev, sim-
" ply, hand over head, admit all without revocation."
This efFoi't of Withers, before mentioned, gave occasion to The state of
look more narrowly into the manners and conformity of the*.'"* ^"'y*""-
•' _ _ _ • sity, iis to
Students of that University. And it was also found to be conformity,
there much neglected by many. W^hich to redress, great
endeavours were used. The Queen appointed the visitors
to inspect again, and regulate the University affairs. The
statutes of King Edward VI. established by his Council,
and delivered them by his visitors, were revised by these,
and sent home again. The Queen signified her mind to
the Archbishop, as to their obedience to the ecclesiastical
VOL. r. c e
386
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK laws for apparel, and the like ; and bade him write his letters
,to the University, declaring in them her Majesty's pleasure.
Anno i66'5. 'PhtJ Chancellor sent down his orders about rectifying the
grant of licences, as well as other matters.
Several In the mean time, that I may take up here what I can
loThe retrieve of the University matters, in the month of Novem-
C hanceiior, ber this year, several Heads of the University, that liked not
to stop the , ... 1 • 1 1
Queen's what was uow in agitation, wrote their letter unto the Chan-
prociama- ^ellor : and they were men of note, namely, Robert Beau-
tion for en- . . •'
joining tiie mont. Master of Trinity college, and one that had been
habits. g^-jg . j^Qggj. Master of Magdalen ; Matthew Hut-
ton, Master of Pembroke hall, and the Queen's Professor,
afterwards Archbishop of York ; Richard Longworth, Mas-
ter of St. John's; and John Whitgift, Fellow of Peter
house, and Margaret Professor, afterwards Archbishop
of Canterbury. Who all subscribed this letter with their
own hands. Wherein they signified to him, that they
had heard now a good while, concerning an edict, or pro-
clamation, that was to be issued out from her Majesty,
for the enjoining the wearing of the old habits, and forcing
all the members of the University to submit thereto. They
shewed him, that there was a multitude of pious and learned
men, who thought in their consciences all using of such gar-
ments was unlawful for them. So that by the imposition
thereof, they must be compelled to depart. But if it should
so happen, that they should go away, the University would
be left very bare and destitute. They therefore thought it
their duty, leaving this condition of their brethren and fel-
low-academics to his consideration, earnestly to beseech him,
that, according to the great credit and favour that he had
with the Queen, he would be their mediator with her, to re-
mit the promulgation and publishing of this order. And
that in their judgments the taking off this burden, especially
considering the present state of the University, would not
bring either inconvenience or danger. But on the contrary,
they feared, that such imposition would prove very injurious,
both to the preaching of the Gospel, and good learning. The
Number copy of this letter I have inserted into the Appendix.
XXXIX.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 387
But. this letter was ill taken, and great stir was made CHAP,
about it ; and that because of the reports, partly true and
partly false, that attended it. For it was reported, that Dr. '^""o ^^^i.
Hutton had writ against the apparel, and that he had in his ^^j'^^^j^'J**'^
public sermons preached against it, and winked at the neg-
lect thereof. And that he and the rest had been instru-
mental to create disturbances in the University about it.
Which caused the Chancellor to write a very sharp letter to
Dr. Beaumont, his Vice-Chancellor. But the truth was other-
wise. For Dr. Hutton had writ nothing of the present
controversy : but something he had said in two lectures
relating to it ; namely, to repress the fond dealing of rash
young men, in framing such grounds and arguments against
apparel, as they were not able to prove. And Dr. Beau-
mont, in a sermon, reprehended the rash and unlawful at-
tempts of them, which (being private men) would, by making
of reformation, thrust themselves into the office of the Ma-
gistrate. Though in the afternoon, in a sermon made in
St. John"'s chapel by Mr. Fulk, he was uncharitably spoke
against for his so doing. He himself weekly wore the sur-
plice ; and for other appointed apparel, not only lived in
order himself, and procured it in others, as much as he
could, but also saw offenders punished, so far as the local
statutes permitted ; as he writ himself to the Chancellor in
his own vindication.
And as for the letter, Beaumont gave this account of it. Beaumont
There were at that time two sore and unseemly letters drawn
up by some persons; the one to the Queen''s Majesty, and I95
the other to the Chancellor, whereunto many were to have
subscribed. These five Heads, fearing, through the said
letters, chiefly by that to her Majesty, the whole University
should have incurred great displeasure, means were found,
that both those letters, being rash and untrue, were stayed ;
and a third, with much mitigation, was writ to the Chancellor
by Beaumont, and the rest ; " not by them, as the said
" Beaumont told the Chancellor, who sought to subvert
'* civil orders, but by humble scholars to their Head and
" Chancellor, for the avoiding of greater inconvenience,
c c 2
388
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
Ancient
orders for
apparel in
Oxford.
BOOK " which tlien, as it seemed, could not otherwise have been
" repressed. But the fact being misUked, he, being it seems
Anno 1565." the chief agent, was sorry for it: and was bent to con-
tinue in order without change, and also to see to others,
" which he had to do with, as he ought." As he wrote to
the Chancellor, in his letter, dated December 6.
Among the MSS. I make use of, I meet with a paper
without date, of an old handwriting, somewhat difficult to
be read, with this title, For Orders in Apparel and other
things in Oxford. Which paper belonged to Archbishop
Parker : and he sent it, as I judge, to Sir William Cecyl,
who was now very busy in preparing the new statutes for
the University : that so the Archbishop might contribute
what he could to him in so weighty a work. The Arch-
bishop knew this would be of great force, for the clearing
these two or three things. I. That it was no novel matter
to prescribe apparel to such as were members of an Uni-
versity. II. That the prescription of apparel related not so
much to religion, to distinguish him a Papist that wore it ;
but was a more civil matter, appointed for decency, to dis-
tinguish a scholar of the University from another man.
III. That this injunction of apparel, that was now required
and urged in the University, was no more than what was
very anciently required and observed there. The transcript
Num. XL. I have placed in the Appendix.
TheUniver- I hinted before, that the Chancellor of the University had
refornfe^d this year sent down his orders for the rectifying of several
things amiss there, chiefly caused by the incompliance of
such as opposed the rites. It was nothing but a reformation
of the University statutes ; and done with great advice for
the maintenance of learning and decent order within the
said University. Wherein he was greatly assisted by our
Archbishop. It took him up the best part of this year, be-
fore he brought the business to a conclusion. The statutes
thus reformed, and sent down for the consent of the Uni-
versity, were generally well and gratefully received, and
published in the Regent House: though some few hot-
headed men there made some opposition. But by the most
and sent
down.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 889
and best part consented to, declaring themselves ready to CHAP,
execute them; as some letters sent now to the Chancellor '
gave him to understand. '^^'s-
The Chancellor was a prudent, wary, and circumspect The Arcli-
man, and loath to eive offence, or use rigour, and so made '"s'lop's «d-
' o ' & ' vice to the
some demur. These letters therefore from Cambridge he Chancellor,
sent to the Archbishop to peruse, requiring his advice and opp"si\°on
judgment thereupon. Who soon after sent him this message, thereunto,
that by those letters it might be understood, that he, the
Chancellor, had such there, that were ready to execute his
orders, and they of the best sort, and of the most part, except-
ing a few Catilines, as he expressed it, who by sufferance
would infect the whole. And to excite him to a resolution
to punish such as were infringers of his orders, he added,
" that if he, their Chancellor, of the Privy Council, and in
" such place and credit as he was, should suffer so much
*' authoi-ity to be borne under foot by a bragging brainless
" Head or two, in my opinion, said he, your conscience
" shall never be excusable : praying his charity to pardon
*' his plainness, for he spake ex intimo corde^ ex pura con-
" scientia, coram Deo et Christo ejus. We mar our reli-
" gion, as he proceeded ; our circumspections are so vari-
*' able, (as though it were not God's cause, which he will
" defend,) makes cowards thus to cock over us. I must say
" as Demosthenes answered, what was the chief part in rhe-
" toric, the second part, the third. Pronunciation, pronunci-
*' ation, pronunciation, said he ; so say I, Execution, execu-
*' tion, execution of laws and orders, must be the first and
" the last part of good government. Although I yet admit
" moderation for times, places, multitudes, &c. And here-
" after, for God's love, never stir any alterations, except it
" be fully meant to have them established. I'or else we
** shall hold us in no certainty, but be ridiculous to our ad-
" versaries, contemned of our own, and give the adventure ig6
*' of more dangers. And thus begging him to pardon his
" boldness, for his own part, he said, he reposed himself in
*' silentio et in spe ; et fortitudo mea Dominus, however the
c c 3
390 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " world fawneth or fumeth." This notable letter was writ
' December the 8th.
Anno 1565. What resolution upon this letter of the Archbishop, Cecyl
St.* JohnV" Chancellor took up, may appear by his message sent to
and other his Vice-Chancellor two days after, viz. December the 10th,
Cambridge, as We shall specify by and by, after we shall have related
what happened particularly in St. John's college, where the
said Chancellor was once a student, and ever after a favourer
and patron of the same. For they had, by agreement of al-
most all the yoimger sort, on one and the same day, resorted
to the chapel without surplices, commonly worn before, and
had also innovated in some parts of the divine service, and
administration of the Sacrament, then celebrated. And the
like course was used in many other colleges. The tidings
whereof were soon bi'ought to Cecyl : which he took very
heavily, as creating him great trouble, that orders and rules,
established by public authority, should be so presumptu-
ously broken by such, who ought peaceably to obey their
lawful superiors. Therefore forthwith he sent to them,
admonishing them peremptorily, that they should do as
they had done always before, in obedience to order and
law.
Their apo- But they quickly despatched an apologizing letter for
Ce/yi'" themselves ; " beseeching him, that their consciences might
" not be forced to the ceremonies they had laid aside ; and
" that he would not suffer acerbissimum illud conscientiee
" servitutis jugum, i. e. that most bitter yoke of slavery of
" conscience to be again imposed upon them. That the
" slavery of the body was grievous, but that of the mind,
" tormented with the daily racks of conscience, was more
" sharp than the most exquisite torments. That they cast
" not away ceremonies out of malice, rather than a love of
" truth ; nor yet for vainglory, nor affectation of popu-
" larity, nor contempt of laws, nor a desire of innovation.
" But, that reason only compelled them to do as they had
" done. And that God was witness, that what they did
" yas, first, that they might enjoy the peace of their con-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
391
" sciences before God : and next, that the true and sincere CHAP.
" worship of God might be promoted among them."
Richard Longworth, B. D. was now Master of St. John's '^""o '565.
college, who was brought in two years before by the influ-^f'\^j'^j^^|^^y^
ence Leonard Pilkington, the former Master, had with Cecil: '"stru-
who, upon the good character Pilkington had given of him,
(being his countryman and kinsman,) procured the Queen's
commendatory letters in his behalf to the college, to elect
him upon Pilkington's resignation. Roger Kelk, Master of
Magdalen college, was his competitor at the election. And
of sixteen that gave their votes, eleven of them were for the
latter. One was for the Bishop of Winchester, and four sup-
pressed their votes for that time. The eleven urged, (and
so they writ to Cecyl,) that they were bound by oath to
choose the best, the fittest, and the most worthy man. And
that, though they desired not to make any reflections upon
Mr. Longworth by their letters, yet they all knew him to be
in all respects inferior to Kelk, ut salva fide juramenti
aquare non possimus, nedum, quod postulabatur preeponere ;
i. e. that, saving their oath, they could not equal Longworth
with him, much less (as was required) prefer him before
him. However, matters were so managed, (upon the pre-
tence of PUkington's resignation to Longworth,) that Long-
worth became Master of the college. It was to his conniv-
ance (if not counsel) that all the foresaid new reformation
happened in the college ; he in the mean time absenting him-
self, while this was to be transacted. But for which, he,
being found to be the secret orderer of this disorder, must
be called to account.
It is now time for the Chancellor of the University toTiicCiian-
concern himself in this affair : and with all convenient haste "'rearers'^'
thus imparts his mind and his commands to his Vice-Chan- t'lese disor-
cellor, mentioning " how perplexed he was with this inso- Cambridge.
" lency of the youth : because the authority of the Queen
" was invaded, by breaking the common order made for the
" government of the University." And in another letter
after this, he mildly, after his manner, but effectually, de-
clared and pronounced in what method of animadversion the
c c 4
892
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOO K Vice-Chancellor (whom he called his principal officer) should
proceed, for the taking punishment upon the disobedient.
III.
Anno 1 565. and for the restraint and prevention of such exorbitances
^9/ for the future : and this, " both by virtue of his authority, as
" Chancellor of that University, and also on account of his
" service with his Prince : which would empower and call
" upon him to reform disordered persons in any part of the
" realm. Yet notwithstanding, that he had acqviainted the
" Queen with this violation of her ordinances; and that she
" was much provoked with the offence they had given her.
*' And therefore had enjoined him to punish such as were
" faulty : offering also to him her own princely aid for the
" effectual doing of it. Which however he thought fit to
" decline, and to make use only of his own lawful power."'"'
His direc- In short, he directed the Vice-Chancellor to call together
tioiis to the j^i^g Heads, and other p'rave men of the Universitv ; and in
Vice-Chan- ' ' _
cellor. his name, for the honour of God, and for the preservation
Amig*^ ^ Christian unity, to charge all, that they should persist in
the observation of uniform order in these external things, to
make a demonstration of obedience, and render a testimony
of unity ; and also to prevent the farther decay of the esti-
mation of the ministry, which did daily evidently decay.
And that, as for such as had preached against these orders
in such a riotous manner, they to be prohibited to preach or
read publicly for a time. The ringleaders of those late dis-
turbances in private colleges to have some time allotted
them to reform themselves ; otherwise to be utterly exclud-
ed the University. Notwithstanding, he did permit the
Vice-Chancellor and Heads of colleges to use some sharper
courses, if they thought fit : but that such as would reform
themselves should be gently used. But I had rather the
reader should peruse this excellent letter himself, proceed-
ing from a very wise man, as it came from his own pen. It
Num. XLI. is in the Appendix.
And for St. As for St. John"'s college, where these innovations chiefly
let'".' began, he ordered the Vice-Chancellor to give a general
warning to the President, for the members to reform them-
selves, and not to persist in their wantonness, at their peril.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 393
And for Mr. Loneworth, the Master, who countenanced CHAP,
these irregularities among the scholars, and Mr. Fulk, a.
preacher, who had taken upon him in a sermon to heat the^""°
minds of the youth against the habits and other usages en-
joined; the Chancellor sent for them both up, meaning to
deal more roundly with them. And for this course (as he
wrote to the Vice-Chancellor in his said letter) he had the
attestation of his own conscience, to take up this audacity
in the beginning, and the Queen''s express commandment,
that in nowise her authority should be in this manner vio-
lated. The issue was, that Longworth was brought to de-
clare and confess his fault before him ; and at his return to
Cambridge, to read a paper openly in the college, relating
his crime, and promise better to regulate the Fellows and
the rest of the scholars of the house. And this paper was
subscribed with his own hand. But when he came to read
it in his college, how he shuffled, in leaving out words and
sentences, and sometimes making alterations, may be seen
in the authentic copy thereof in the Appendix. N". xui.
So that it is evident he was not hearty in his confession, AnnaU of
nor promise of endeavour to reform these abuses. Some 442""^"" ^"
account hath been given of these matters in the Annals of
the Reformation.
A letter in this juncture came to the Chancellor, dated A letter
December 12, from Bartholomew Clerk, a learned member f [""I,
' the Univer-
of the University, who was afterwards Official of the Arches, sity, com-
and of whom we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter, these "meu.
In which letter he complained of these men, whom he called
Fanatici Superpelliciani et Galeriani, " That they made
" such disturbances by their counsels, that the time that be-
" fore was wont to be taken up in the study of the arts and
" sciences was now spent and trifled away in fruitless dispu-
" tations de lana caprina : blaming those, though otherwise
" good and religious men, who first brought in among them
" such seminaries. Adding, that they feigned to themselves
" unheard-of laws of conscience, and infected many with
*' their venom, not to say Anabaptistical principles. And
*' in fine, hearing how busy his Honour was at that time in
394 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " pi-eparing good orders for them, entreated him, that he
'__ " would be the means of rectifying the exercises of their
Anno 1565. " pulpits and theatres, which had sounded a great while
" with nothing almost but fond new paradoxes ; and put a
198 " stop to their controversies, or rather wild errors." Who-
soever is minded to read and see the state then of the Uni-
versity may have recourse to this letter, which I have re-
'N". XLIll. posited in the Appendix.
CHAP. IV.
The ArchbisJwp's care of the University. Withers apolo-
gizes for himself to the Archbishop. His compliance;
afterwards travels beyond seas. A controversy between
Dr. Caius, Master of Cuius college, and some of the
Fellows, referred to the Archbishop. He is accused to
the Archbishop of irreligion and Popery. The Archbi-
shojis displeasure at him.
Private About this very time our Archbishop received a private
CimiTto letter, as it seems, from Court, that gave him some secret
c'h ^"^ " iV*** ^"t^^^ig^"'^^ practices of certain of the great men and
' counsellors, to obstruct what the Chancellor was now a doing.
To him the Archbishop, December 13, conveyed this letter,
to peruse and send him back again : saying, he saw " there
" were strange doings among the wiser sort." So extraordi-
nary diligent and pensive was our Archbishop for the re-
ducing of the University, as well as the Clergy, to unity
and obedience to the lawful commands of their superiors.
These frequent solicitations and counsels of the Archbi-
shop added new spirit to the Chancellor, and put him upon
doing somewhat effectually in order to uniformity in the
University.
Withers But to return to Withers before mentioned, thus much
to wear the appears by a letter of his own writing to the Archbishop ;
"P" that (besides his making himself noted for setting the Uni-
versity in a combustion, as we shewed before) he drew up
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 395
certain articles at Cambridge against the square cap and CHAP,
surplice : which articles, however concealed among his
friends, yet soon came to the knowledge of the Archbishop ; Anno i665
for which he was the more offended with him. But Withers
made this apology for himself, that those articles were writ-
ten upon this occasion; that one, whom he took for his very
friend, came to him after his return from London, (whither
he had been summoned before the Archbishop, as was
said before,) and persuaded him not to stick at the cornered
cap ; promising him, that if he would give him his reasons
that moved him, he would cause them to be answered to his
satisfaction. And so he wrote those articles, and delivered
them to his said friend, requiring him to make good his pro-
mise. Another copy of them he lent to one of Trinity hall,
that saw them in his chamber, and desired to read them.
By the means of one of these two he supposed they came to
be communicated to others : and so the Archbishop came
acquainted with it by some who thought thereby either to
work him displeasure, or to procure themselves favour ; as
he excused himself to the Archbishop.
Before this, the Archbishop, upon his refusal to enter
bonds for the wearing of the cornered cap, had inhibited and
retrenched hnn from preaching. But upon better thoughts,
when he was come down from London, he was contented to
comply to wear it. And on the 24th of May he promised
the same to the Archbishop : making this excuse or reason
for altering his mind, " that the men of Bury (whose offence MS. G. P.
" he chiefly feared) had been earnest in hand with him
" rather to wear a cap than to forsake them ; promising
*' never the more to regard it or esteem it for his wearing of
" it, as was related before." Hence in a journey he took
to Ipswich, taking Bury in his way, he gave them two ser-
mons. Which he did, as he said, so much the rather, for
that divers of his friends were greatly endangered by bar-
gains which they sold, provoked by the brags of adversa-
ries, to be paid when he preached again in Bury.
I find him not long after leaving the nation, and travel- 1 99
ling beyond sea, sent, as it seems, by the Dissenters, to the Withers
travels to
Zurich.
396 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK foreign Churches, as to Geneva. And among other places
he visited, he went to Zurich, the famous harbour and sanc-
Anno i565,tuary for many of the Enghsh Pi-otestant scholars in Queen
Mary's days : where he became acquainted with those who
were their great acquaintance and favourers, viz. Bullinger
and Gualter, and had much discourse with them about our
Church matters in the year 1567: and they, I am apt to
think, satisfied and confirmed him in compliance with the
Church's orders. For he was afterwards a parish Min-
ister in England ; and though he fully approved not of all
the rites, yet submitted to them for peace sake : and was living
in the year 1583 at Danbury in Essex, and had the Lord
Burghley to his friend, however he might have censured him
in former times, when he was the occasion of such a tumult
in Cambridge. To the said Lord in that year he wrote a
letter against the purpose that was then in hand by Arch-
bishop Whitgift, that all the Clergy should be obliged to
subscribe to the Common Prayer Book : as we may have
occasion (God granting life and health) to mention more at
large in due place.
The Arch- During these heats about ecclesiastical matters, a case of
pealed tcfby another nature, between the Master and Fellows of Gonvil
Cams col- game before our Archbishop in the month of December.
lege. • 1 1
The Master, Dr. Caius, who was also a Founder of the
college, had in a fit of anger taken some advantage against
three of the Fellows, Dethike, Spencer, and Clerk, for
some breach of statute, and expelled them out of the college ;
charging them withal with perjury. Upon this the Fellows
made an appeal to the Archbishop, but not in so regular
and orderly manner as ought to have been in such cases-
But his Grace saw that Dr. Caius had been to blame, as
well as the Fellows. Whereupon he blameth both, but more
severely the Master. Who nevertheless was willing to com-
mit the final issue to the Archbishop's decision. But so
were not the Fellows ; because they perceived he would not
restore them to their fellowships, which they above all de-
The Chan- sired, that they might win the victory over the Master. But
peau/to by when they had brought away their cause from him to the
the college.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 397
Chancellor Cecyl, to him the Archbishop signified what he CHAP.
Avould have done in case they had left the business to him :
whereby one may see an instance of his prudence and good Anno i565.
judgment. He would not grant a restitution to the Fellows,
for he spied, he said, so long as Caius was Master there,
and they Fellows, there would be maintained nothing but
continual brawling ; and the rather, for that their appella-
tion was not lawfully made, nor orderly prosecuted. And
the drift was, as he judged, for Dethike to continue such
sticklers in the college, of his pupils, as might win him in
time, by hook or by crook, the Master's room. For the end-
ing therefore of their controversies, he thought good to cause
a writing indented to be made between them, whereby the
Fellows should appear willingly to depart from their fellow-
ships ; and yet to have one year's profits for their tdtimum
vale : to be borne for Spencer out of Caius's own purse, and
for the other two to be borne by the college. And that the
Master should express to discharge them of the note of ex-
pulsion, and the crime of perjury, that might be to their
hinderance afterwards. And further, he meant within the
compass of that year to have bestowed Dethike in some
benefice, and the other two in some other fellowships in
other colleges : but because they liked not of this, as trust-
ing of further friendship elsewhere, the Archbishop gave
them over.
It appears, by another letter of the Archbishop, that the The Arch-
Chancellor had referred this business to him, (together with vers°his^^''"
the Bishop of London,) knowing him to be well seen in judgment in
fj ■ ■ 1 ■ II ■ 1 ■ « 1 1 ■ this contest.
University matters, and especially in this. And this account
he gave the said Chancellor. He confirmed " the removal
" of these Fellows to be needful for the quiet of the society.
" That they had before sued to him, and he promised them to
" deal with the Master, to obtain from him more commodity
" for them than he took them worthy to have. Only resti-
" tution to their fellowships he would not move : wherein
" he saw good cause. For if they were there, he said,
" trouble would ever arise. And that these Fellows had
" divers marks to shoot at, which he thought good should
398
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "be disappointed. He saw the faction had laboured very
" much in this matter. He saw even much rasliness in the
Anno 1565." Master for expelHng Fellows so suddenly: and both he
200 " Bishop of London had told him sufficiently of
" it : but that the contumelious behaviour of those Fellows
" had much provoked him. The Archbishop confessed he
" rather bore with the oversight of the Master, being no
" greater than as yet he saw, in respect of the good he had
" done, and like to do, in the college, than with the brags
" of a fond sort of troublesome factious bodies, as he called
" them. Founders and Benefactors, he added, were very rare
" in these days. Therefore he did bear the less with such as
" would (but in a mere triumph) deface him, and respected
" more that conquest than any quiet in the house. And
" the rather, for that he thought, that if this matter were
" ended, there would arise no more trouble in such kind
" there. For the Master had firmly assured him to do
" nothing in such innovations, but partly with his know-
" ledge and approbation first, and other of his friends. But
" in his opinion undoubtedly, computatis omnibus circum-
" stantiis, he thought it nothing meet to have them restored
" again, what other commodities soever they might have of
" favourable departing. And added this counsel, that if his
" Honour should hear their challenges, he should hear such
" cumbrous trifles and brattles, that he should be weary.
" And he would not wish particular colleges in these times
" should learn to have, by forced appellations, a recourse to
" his authority, as Chancellor, for the precedent sake here-
" after. And again, he would not have his time so drawn
" from better doings in the weighty causes of the realm.
" Besides, controversies, he said, were now many and trou-
" blous. And then* delight was to come before men of au-
" thority, to shew their wits, &c. And he could not tell
" how, but so it came to pass, that such busy sorts drew
" them up some of the graver personages to be doers, an ex
" sinceritate et ex bona conscientia, nescio. His old expe-
" rience there had taught him to spy daylight at a little
*' hole." Thus gravely and wisely he delivered his judgment.
*
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 399
But the Fellows were not wanting to scrape into their CHAP.
Master's life and manners for crimes to lay to his charge, ,
and drew up certain articles against him. Some whereof'^""" i^^^-
^ . . . . The Fellows
made a deep impression upon the pious Archbishop ; as not draw up ar-
only sounding to and favouring atheism, but plainly express- ^'^^^^^^^
ing the same, with further shew of a perverse stomach to Caius, their
the professors of the Gospel. Whereupon the Archbishop
said, if he were credibly persuaded of these things, he would
take him tanquam ethnicum et publicamim, and would not His athe-
vouchsafe him Avithin his house, where, it seems, he some-
times resorted, and was harboured, his house being a recep-
tacle for learned men. And Caius was not only a man of
great learning, but his countryman too. There is a differ-
ence, said he, between the frailty of a man''s mutability, (for
he had professed himself Papist and Pi'otestant, accord-
ing as the different religions prevailed under the Kings and
Queens of those times,) and a professing of plain impiety.
And he gave his opinion to the Chancellor, that he should
send to his Vice-Chancellor, to inqube further into the truth
of this accusation : and that if it could be indifferently testi-
fied before the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Hutton, and one other
indifferent man, it were good to suspend him, whatsoever
orders he, the Vice-Chancellor, intended to take with the
Fellows of the house. And if it fell out that these articles
could be well testified, the Archbishop said, he would wish
a better in his place, to govern the house, and he to hold
himself in his foundership, if he would. " For he liked
" not," as he said, " the stones builded by such impiety."
Probably Caius thought the better to cover his former A nd favour
instability in religion, by throwing out expressions occasion- p^^h ren°'
ally, whereby he would pretend to have had little zeal forg'""-
any religion : or his aim might be to obscure his secret kind-
ness for the old Popish religion. For that he had a kind-
ness for it, appeared in his private reservation of abundance
of Popish trumpery : which he might think would come in
play again ; and so out of good husbandry preserved them,
to save the college the charge of buying new furniture for
the chapel. But in the year 1572 all came out. For the
400 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK fame hereof coming to the ears of Sandys, Bishop of Lon-
.don, he wrote earnestly to Dr. Byng, Vice-Chancellor, to
Anno 1565. see those superstitious monuments aboHshed. Byng could
hardly have been persuaded that such things had been by
him reserved : but causing Caius's own company to make
search in that college, he received an inventory of much
Popish ware : as vestments, albes, tunicles, stoles, manicles,
corporas cloths, with the pix and sindon, and canopy ; be-
201 sides holy water stops, with sprinkles, pax censors, superal-
taries, tables of idols, mass books, portuises and grailes, with
other such stuff, as might have furnished divers Masters at
one instant. It was thought good, by the whole consent of
the Heads of houses, to burn the books, and such other
things as served most for idolatrous abuses, and to cause the
rest to be defaced. Which was accomplished the 13th of
December, 1572, with the willing hearts, as it appeared, of
the whole company of that house.
Which ne- But however Caius stood affected this way, he laboured
vertheiess dissemble his ffood-will to it ; and would be thoueht a
he labours " ...
to conceal, good Protestant. Of which I meet with this instance. There
was one Depup, a Scholar of his college in his time, that was
greatly suspected to be Popish, and well known to be noto-
riously vicious. Of whom therefore the said Master and
Founder had so great disliking, that he gave special order
before his death, that the said Depup should never be Fel-
low. Though Dr. Legg, that succeeded Master, soon after
his coming to the college, brought him into a fellowship.
Other de- These were some of Dr. Caius's defects; and others might
Caius'.'' be named : as, that he too much affected superiority over his
Fellows ; and was observed to be the first that made the in-
novation of preferring a junior Fellow to be President,
whereas before in that college the senior Fellow was always
President, and that only in the Master's absence. This was
the cause of much strife and contention afterwards in the
college. For in the next Master's time, as I find in some
papers relating to that college, there happened a fierce
contest betwixt a senior Fellow and a junior, who had been
by the Master made President : the senior notwithstanding
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 401
striving for the upper place at their assemblies, both in the CHAP.
chapel and elsewhere. In which quarrel the Fellows backed
him, against the Master, being desirous to keep the ancient -^""o '^^5.
custom of the house, and to destroy that innovation of
Caius. But the said person having merited so much of
that college by his noble benefactions, and of the whole
commonwealth of learning, it is pity that these or any
other frailties in him should now, after so long a time,
rise up in judgment against him. And so I take my leave
of him, and beg the reader's pardon for this digression.
CHAP. V.
The ArcJibishop's care in providing Lent preachers before
the Queen. Deliberates about appointing Dean Nowel to
be one ; with whom the Queen had been displeased. The
Archbishop reviseth the combination of those preachers.
His concern for Jilting two vacant Welsh bishoprics.
Appointeth a visitation for Bangor. Recommends Herle,
Master of Manchester college, for that see. The useful-
ness of that college. His judgment of certain salt works
in Kent.
It being now the latter end of January, the Archbishop's The Arch-
thoughts were busied about providing preachers before the vides Lent"
Queen the ensuing Lent. Which was the chief, if not the preacliers.
only time in the year of her Majesty's hearing sermons,
if we may believe a late writer. This business, it seems, Howei's
then lay upon the Archbishop, (though now upon the J'"'' ^'
Lord Chamberlain of the household,) and it created the
Archbishop a great and anxious care. For it was somewhat
hard in those times to procure a sufficient number of able
and fit preachers for that audience, such a scarcity there
then was of them. Insomuch as once they failed of a
preacher. Which was a matter that the Puritans threw
much in our Prelate's teeth : as that he should proceed
VOL. I. D d
409 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK so hotly to urge conformity upon Ministers, and thereby
endanger the casting out of the Church divers preachers,
Anno ises.^hen he himself saw what a need there was of them, that
'^^'■^ the Queen"'s turn in Lent could hardly be served. He
thei'efore feared the like sequel of reproof, as was by insult-
ation oft rehearsed of the adversaries. But this accusation
was partly true, and partly false : for there was a compe-
tejnt number of preachers even in those times ; though not
such as were in all points fit to stand in a pulpit, and dis-
course before so critical and learned a Princess as Queen
Elizabeth. The Archbishop sent the Secretary a list of the
N». XLIV. combination of the preachers, which is in the Appendix,
consisting of four Bishops, four Deans, four Doctors, and
the rest Masters.
Nowei, Nowel, Dean of St. Paul's, was then a famed preacher,
Paul's" no- Archbishop thought upon for one of these
ininated by Lent preachers, as he commonly was one. But because of
the great check that good man received at Court, March
last, both from the Queen and some of the popishly af-
fected courtiers, before the Archbishop concluded upon
him, he wished the Secretary could understand the Queen's
Jan. 29. inclination. For, he said, if the Queen should not like, after
her accustomed manner, to favour him, and give him the
hearing, he would be hardly entreated to occupy the place.
For if she liked not a man that was put up to preach, she
would absent. And according to the answer he should re-
ceive from the Secretary, so he intended to invite the Dean
to dine with him, and then to move him to officiate a day or
two. But he had a further reach by this message to the Se-
cretary ; namely, to engage him to interpose his interest
with the Queen, for the reconciling her to the good Dean.
For (as he said) by her displeasure towards him, she would
but please the Papists, and discourage her good Protestants.
For he added, " If the Papists be angry, (though in a
" flattery they dissemble to win,) and the poor Protestant
** discouraged, it will make an universal disliking, and
" kindle grudging, and secret vain talkings. Tanti est in
" tarn Jhcttow s<eculo (eqtiabilitatem servare. God bless
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 403
" her Highness long to reign over us in pace et ver'itate.'''' By CHAP,
wliich two words he seemed to aim at Dissenters and Pa- ^'
pists. The one sort the obstructers oi peace, and the other A-"'" 'sss-
of truth.
Indeed Nowel in these times was reckoned an excellent Some ac-
Divine, and much esteemed by the heads of our Church, ^owei^^
He was employed by the Bishop of London, in the last
plague, to compose an homily suitable to that occasion.
And he was put upon making his Catechism by some great
persons in the Church, on purpose to stop a clamour, that
then went among the Roman Catholics, that the Protestants
had no principles. And the Convocation, that met in the
year 1562, diligently reviewed this Catechism, and intei-lined
it in some places; and so it was by them unanimously
approved, and allowed as their own book, and owned doc-
tiine. And when Mr. Dorman, in the preface to his Dis-
proof, reflected upon the learning and abilities of Nowel,
and charged him for some upstart preacher upon his return
from his exile, he spake thus in his own vindication ;
" That he had endured sundry years, both in his country Nowei's
" and exile, reading, not scattered scraps of old overworn [joJl'^^p^j^
" heretics, (as Dorman lay to his charge,) but the whole
" body of the holy Scripture, and whole volumes of the
" best ancient Doctors. Neither could any his acquaintance
*' marvel, that he returning home was become suddenly a
" preacher, as the other affirmed ; who did right well
*' know, that he was a preacher fifteen years ago, [that is,
" about the year 1550 or 1551,] yea, and had preached in
" some the notablest places and auditories in this realm, be-
" fore he went out of his country."
But to return to the Lent preachers : whether or no the Dr. Cary
Archbishop were not secure enough of the Queen's favour
towards this Dean, or whether it were some other unwilling- '« Nowei's
ness in him, or whether his present study in answering Dor-
man's book, were hinderances ; but he pretended the last,
and so prayed the Archbishop to be discharged this Lent.
And so he was. And in his room the Archbishop put Dr.
Cary, the Dean of Exeter, and Dean of the Queen's chapel :
D d 2
404 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and the rather, for his vindication against one Gibbs, pro-
bably a Puritan, who had foully defamed the said Dean to be
Anno 1565. altogether unlearned.
The combi- The method, used in providing these preachers was this ;
Lent" °^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ Secretary, upon the Archbishop"'s nomination, drew
preachers up bills of such persons as he judged proper and acceptable
the Archbi- to preach before the Queen. Which bills he sent to the
shop. Archbishop, for his judgment therein, and to alter as he
203 thought good. And accordingly he was to send unto such
as were appointed, that they should prepare themselves,
giving them timely notice thei-eof. In the bill sent him
this year, the Archbishop made but little alteration, more
than that was mentioned above, and the removal of Dr.
Pern : who, however he were an excellent preacher, yet was
at this time under some dislike. To the rest he had spoken
or sent. But many of them returned no answer, whether
they should come or no. But for avoiding a failing in any,
which once happened, and made so much clamour, he be-
spake his Chaplain, Mr. Bickley, who was afterwards Bi-
shop of Chichester, to be ready to supply for all such
wants.
Delibera- In the latter end of this year, to wit, in February, resolu-
about mi- ^^^^ taken for the speedy supplying of two Welsh
ing the va- bishoprics, namely, that of Landalf, and that of Bangor.
Landafr and The former of which had been two or three years before in
Bangor, effect void, and wanted a vigilant Bishop to manage that
LandafF. (Jiocese. Which therefore the Archbishop, in the year
1563, had earnestly put the Secretary in mind of. But the
great dilapidations had so impoverished that see, that few
that were honest and able would be persuaded to meddle
Bangor. with it. As for Bangor, that diocese was also much out of
order, there being no preaching used, and pensionary con-
cubinacy openly continued : which was, allowance of concu-
bines to the Clergy by paying a pension ; notmthstanding
the liberty of marriage granted. And the Ai'chbishop was
at that time earnestly solicited to have such a Commissioner
there as kept openly three concubines, as men of good repu-
tation offered to prove before him. Things in fine were in
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 405
such disorder here, that our Archbishop was desired by CHAP.
some well affected of that country to have a visitation, and ^-
to set such order there, as whosoever should come to the bi- Anno 1 565.
shopric should be forced to prosecute it. And accordingly
a visitation was instituted the next year by the Archbisliop's
commission to Dr. Yale : which did great good, as he that
was afterwards Bishop there wrote him word.
So that Wales being in an evil condition as to religion, jones no-
the inhabitants remaining still greatly ignorant and super- Land^tf' ^'^
stitious, the Queen left it particularly to the care of the
Archbishop to recommend fit persons for those two sees,
now to be disposed of. And accordingly he writ to the Se-
cretary for one Hugh Jones to be preferred to LandafF,
whom Dr. Lewis, a civilian, and two or three other such,
had informed him well of. But while he was preparing
an instrument for this Joneses comrnenclams, Davies, an
exile in Queen Mary's days, and now Bishop of St. David's,
sent certain letters to the Archbishop, giving a character of
him different to what the Archbisjiop had heard before.
Which made him stop his instruments ; and the letter
he thought good to send to the Secretary, telling him, that
he should be loath, after so long tarriance for Landaff, the
Queen's Majesty should be deceived, and her good people
not well appointed. But a few days after, he hearing bet-
ter of the man, proceeded to the finishing of his business.
To Bangor the Earl of Pembroke recommended one Dr. The Arch-
Ellis, that had been aforetime Sheriff of the county : but commends
was neither Priest, nor had a priestly disposition. Which Hewit for
made the Archbishop say, he had rather dissent from that
Lord, than to commend a doubtful man to the Queen's
Highness ; and on whom, as yet persuaded, he would be
loath to lay his hands ; and that he, the said Ellis, might
otherwise do good service. The Archbishop therefore re-
commended one Hewit, a Welshman, whom he knew him-
self, and dared upon his own credit to commend. And if
the Queen had sought a great way to supply that room,
there were not a fitter man. But a few days after, his mind
began to alter, having conferred with some wise men, partly
D d 3
406
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of the same country, who, in respect of good to be done
there in tliat diocese, wished no Welshman in Bangor ;
Anno 1565. they banded so much together in kindred, that a Bishop
could not do as he would for his alliance sake. And he
learned, that country was much afraid either of Ellis or
Hewit, who were, he said, very stout men : that is, who
would not be opposed, but vigorously pursue their purposes.
And in that regard were only commended. Et prceterea
quoad mores episcopales nihil.
Robinson So at last the Secretary propounded one Robinson, as a
Btshoirof' P^^'^o" ^^'^^1 known and beloved in that country, and a
Bangor. Welshman, and one that was much desired by the people
there. And considering these and such like things, and
204 probably to decline giving the Earl of Pembroke offence, if
the Eai'l's man should have been refused, and the Archbi-
shop's accepted ; the said Archbishop allowed of the Secre-
tary's judgment : and so he was accordingly preferred to
the diocese, though his consecration happened not till Octo-
ber following. This Robinson was a grave learned man,
and one of the Divines who was lately called in to consult
with the Bishops' Commissioners about the apparel. We
shall hear more of him under the next year.
Recom- The Archbishop had his eye upon one Mr. Herle, the
mends the Ouecn's Chaplain, and now W arden of Manchester. Whom
Warden of ^ i '
Manchester tliough he judged not to be made Bishop of Bangor for
avoidanc'e."^* this tum, yet he could willingly have seen him placed
there upon some future avoidance. And if he thought, as he
told the Secretary, the Queen would allow of him for that
dignity hereafter, he would join him with some other learn-
ed men presently to go through that diocese by way of
a visitation : adding, that he thought Mr. Herle a grave
priestly man, and should well furnish the office with com-
mendams of his other livings, which he then had, though he
should give over Manchester, where he could have little
Designs a rest. But such a visitation he was so wary as not to under-
Bango'r''(iio- ^^^^^5 ^thout first having consulted with the Secretary;
desiring therefore some signification of his mind in the mat-
ter ; and so he would frame himself accordingly. For he
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 407
knew (he said) Avhat jealous eyes were wont in those days CHAP,
to be cast upon the doings of the Bishops, and how severely .
their actions would be censured.
The mention of the little rest the Warden of Manchester The state of
took, brings to my mind a letter of complaint he was forced conp^.e^****^
to send up to the Lord Treasurer Burghley some years
after this, viz. 1574. The enemies to religion, whereof
there Avere many in the north, had a particular envy against
this college, that maintained godly preachers, which they
saw tended to the expelhng of then- Popish darkness, and
to the disposing the people to receive the Gospel. The
Queen had issued out a commission to the Archbishop
of York, and others, to look into the state of that college.
Which they did, placing honest and learned men there ;
and ordering the lands and revenues thereof, as was most
necessary for hospitahty and relieving the poor. But it ap-
peared how displeased some were herewith. For soon after
one of the college, a Bachelor in Divinity, riding to a
chapel belonging to the parish, to preach there, was set up-
on in the way by one of Manchester, who taking his horse
by the bridle, drew his dagger, and beat and wounded the
preacher with three wounds : and if his horse had not
broken out of the other's hands, in likelihood he had killed
him. Nor was it the first time their preachers had been so
used. They had also caused an attorney of the duchy of
Lancaster to enter upon certain lands of the college, called
obit lands, upon pretence that they were concealed lands ;
though they were contained within the letters patents of
their foundation. And before this, upon the deprivation of
Herle's popish predecessor, they took also all their evidences,
and letters patents, and other plates and ornaments, as much
as was worth five hundred marks, whereof the plate was the
Queen's. And although they had proof into whose hands
it came, yet it was kept from them. These complaints the
Warden made to the Lord Treasurer, who was their true
friend, and had before this time saved the college from utter
spoil and destruction. He desired them still to help their
poor college, that it might be able to maintain learned men,
D d 4
408 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK to the help of the country. This letter I have put among
the monuments in the Appendix. To which I have sub-
Anno i5«5.jQjj^gjj another, whereby may appear, in how ill a state that
XLVl^^ college was divers years after.
Hisjudg- This year was a project for salt works in Kent set on
^1 "works'*^ by several persons of quality; one whereof was the
in Kent. Earl of Pembroke, and among the rest the Secretary Cecyl,
and the Queen herself. Now because these works would
require much firing, the aforesaid Earl sent his Secretary,
and Cecyl his servant Mount, in the month of Februai'y, to
the Archbishop, desiring him out of his woods to supply
them with wood, and to use their interest with others in
Kent for the buying of more. Whereupon he ordered
forty oaks, and twenty or thirty acres of wood of his own,
to be felled for that use ; and appointed a person to attend
upon the EarPs Secretary, when he went down into Kent ;
and directed the said Earl and Cecyl, to the Dean of Can-
205 terbury, and one Mr. Rolf, to be sped with what they
should need more. But he seemed to make some doubt of
the success of this their purpose. He told Secretary Cecyl,
that he doubted not, but they had well considered the like-
lihood of the matter, wishing it good success ; better than
he knew the like to take place about thirty years past in his
county, about Walsingham side. From whence came to
Norwich, by cart, great plenty. So that the price of the
bushel fell from sixteen pence to sixpence. But after expe-
rience, they ceased of their buying, and fell to their old salt
again, three pecks whereof went further than a bushel
of that white, fair, fine salt. He considered also to Cecyl
the inconvenience that might come to Kent hereby ; partly
by wasting the woods by salt making, as it had been before
by Dover pier, and other where, by saltpetre making ; and
partly by planting many strangers about the sea-coasts,
who were to manage the works, having great store of them
at Sandwich and Norwich already. So that he thought it
might be doubted, what good might come to the common-
His good wealth thereby. And in conclusion he propounded to the
the"under- Undertakers a good work, out of the love he bore to that
takers.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 409
country, and that was, that in case God gave it success in CHAP,
that country, then if the Queen of her princely Hberality, ^'
and the Lords, the gainers, would convert part of that gain Anno i665.
to the repairing and maintaining Dover haven, that would
redound indeed to the great honour and wealth of the
realm : more, he meant, than mere salt making would do to
the honour and wealth of the nation. Which had been,
probably, so much pretended by the undertakers.
CHAP. VI.
TJie Geneva Bible comes forth. The Archbishop's judg-
ment thereof. The editions of that Bible. A new trans-
lation of the Bible set forward by the Archbisftop. The
Bishops employed therein. Over which the Archbisfiop
hath the chief itispection. The said Bisf tops'' letters and
advices.
The Geneva Bible had been once printed already at Ge- Geneva
neva, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign ; viz.
in the year 1560, by Rowland Harle, in 4to. For when Troubles at
the English congregation came away from thence, and were
gone homeward, upon the death of Queen Mary, some of
them remained behind, to finish an English translation of
the Bible, and some of the Psalms in metre. Which was
begun by some of the godly and learned English exile
preachers there, at the charge of such as were of the best
ability in that congregation.
It may not be amiss here to give some more particular ac- Some ac-
count of the undertaking of this translation. These Geneva ^"""^ °^
the Geneva
translators, who were Miles Coverdale, John Knox, W. translation.
Whittingham, Ant. Gilby, and some others, were sensible
that the former English translation required to be perused
and reformed ; " Divers errors therein being occasioned by
" the infancy of those times^ and imperfect knowledge of
" the tongues, in respect of the ripe age, and clear light
" which God afterwards revealed, as they speak themselves
410
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
<< in the preface. Hence divers learned and godly men,
, " by their earnest desire and exhortation, put them upon
Anno 1565. <£ jj^ig ^ork ; being encouraged also by the ready wills
" of such, whose heart God had touched, not to spare any
" charges for the furtherance of such a benefit toAvards
" God"'s Church." Another encouraoement to them was
the present opportunity and occasion, that God then afforded
them, by the means of so many godly and learned men,
where they were, and such diversities of translations into
divers tongues ; which they then had the liberty of consult-
ing. And as to their carefulness and sincerity in the work,
they said for themselves, that they might with a good con-
science protest, that they had in every point and word,
according to the measure of that knowledge which it pleased
Almighty God to give them, faithfully rendered the text,
206 and in all hard places most sincerely expounded the same.
See the " For God IS our witness," say they, " that we have by all
preface. means endeavoured to set forth the purity of the word,
" and right sense of the Holy Ghost, for the edifying of the
" brethren in faith and charity." And as they chiefly ob-
served the sense, so they reverently kept the propriety
of the words ; considering that the Apostles, who spake
and wrote to the Gentiles in the Greek tongue, rather con-
strained them to the lively phrase of the Hebrew, than
molHfied their language to speak as the Gentiles did. And
for this and other causes, they in many places reserved the
Hebrew phrases, notwithstanding they might seem some-
what hard in tlicir ears, that were not well practised in the
phrases of holy Scripture.
How long So at last, after the labour and study of two years and
"^^y '■''J'^ more, day and night, they finished their translation, and
>voik. published it, as was said before, in the year 1560, prefixing
an epistle dedicatory before it to the Queen, and another
epistle, by way of preface, to the brethren of England,
Scotland, and Ireland.
M hut wiis That wliich was done in this Geneva Bible, beside the
(lone in ti>'s translation, Avas all this that followeth.
I. Because some translations read alter one sort, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 411
some after another, they noted in the margin the diversities CHAP,
of speech, and reading, especially according to the He-
brew. .Anno 1565.
II. Wliere the Hebrew speech seemed hardly to agree
with ours, they noted in the margin, using that which was
more intelligible.
III. Though many of the Hebrew names were altered
from the old text, and restored to the true writing, and first
original, yet in the usual names little was changed, for
fear of troubling the simple readers.
IV. Whereas the necessity of the sentence required any
thing to be added, whether verb, or some other word, they
put it in the text with another kind of letter, that it might
easily be discerned from the common letter of the text.
V. As touching the division of the verses, they followed
the Hebrew examples, adding the number to each verse.
VI. The principal matters were noted; and the arguments
both for each book and for each chapter.
VII. They set over the head of every page some notable
word or sentence, for the help of memory.
VIII. They set brief annotations upon all the hard
places, as well for the understanding of obscure words,
as for declaration of the text. And for this pui*pose they
diligently read the best commentaries, and had much confe-
rence with godly and learned brethren.
IX. They set forth with figures certain places in the
books of Moses, of the Kings, and Ezekiel ; which seemed
so dark, that by no other description they could be made
easy to the reader.
X. They added certain maps of cosmography, of divers
places and countries, partly described, and partly by occa-
sion touched, both in the Old and New Testament.
XI. They adjoined two profitable tables : the one of in-
terpretations of Hebrew names, and the other containing all
the chief and principal matters of the whole Bible.
But this year, 1565, the Bible was preparing for a second intention
impression. So earnestly did the people of the nation thirst, i'ng'^X
412 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK in those days, after the knowledge of the Scriptures, that
that first impression was soon sold off. As this Bible had
Anuo isbo.been set forth before by a joint company of men, (the name
• Who was of one whereof, and I think the chief undertaker, was *
that upon John Bodleigh), so about the beginning of March they had
the troubles finished a careful review and correction of this translation, in
that arose .. . -r>ii-iii ^• i i •
at Frank- Order to the reprmtmg it. Bodleigh had applied himself
ford upon ^j^^^ Queen's Secretary Cecyl, for the renewing of his
the Geneva ... J J ^ o
discipline, privilege with longer term of years than was at first granted
to Geneva" them, for the new printing of this Bible, that had been by
him and his associates before published. But the Secretary
suspended giving his furtherance, until he had heard the
1207 advice of the Archbishop, and Bishop of London. Where-
upon Bodleigh repaired unto them, and signified the charge
that he and the rest had been at, by the last impression,
and by the late review, desiring their letter to the Secretary.
The Secretary, I suppose, might make some scruple at the
encouragement of this new impression, because the Bishops
had intended themselves speedily to publish a fair and accu-
The Arch- rate English translation. But both the Archbishop and
letter'to Bishop Willingly gave their letters to the Secretary in Bod-
the Seers- leigh's behalf. Writing to him, " That they thought so
t her' it! " well of the first impression, and the review of those who
" had since travelled therein, that they wished it would please
" him to be a means, that twelve years longer term might
" be by special privilege granted him, in consideration of
" the charges by him and his associates in the first impres-
" sion, and the review sithence sustained. And that though
" one other special Bible for the churches were meant by
*' them to be set forth, as convenient time and leisure here-
*' after should permit ; yet should it nothing hinder, but
*' rather do much good, to have diversity of translations
*' and readings. And, that if the licence hereafter to be
" made, went simply forth, Avithout proviso of their ovei-
" sight, as they thought it might so pass well enough; yet
*' they told the Secretary, they would take such order with
" the party, in witing [under his hand,] that no impres-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 413
" sion should pass but by their direction, consent, and ad- CHAP.
" vice." This was writ from Lambeth, signed by the Arch-
bishop, and Bishop of London, March 9th. Anno isGs.
I am not able to say, whether this Bible was soon after Yet not re-
repi'inted, upon this allowance and recommendation of these ^
Prelates. I am apt to think it was not. For I find the
author of the Treatise of the troubles at Frankford, which
was not published till nine or ten years after this, makes Viz. 1575.
this complaint : " If that Bible be such, as no enemy of
" God could justly find fault with, then may men marvel,
" that such a work, being so profitable, should find so small
" favour, as not to be printed again." Whatever the cause
were, it was not surely from any discouragement the trans-
lation found from the Bishops. For they do, by the fore-
quoted letter under their hands, like and approve it, and
recommend the undertakers to the Secretary, to procure for
them the Queen''s licence to reprint it. Unless the reason
were, that the undertakers were loath to subscribe to the
terms that were demanded by the Bishops, that the impres-
sion should not pass without their direction, consent, and
advice. Yet in the year 1576 I find it was reprinted, and
again three years after, viz. 1579.
From the former letter it appears, that the Archbishop The Bl-
and Bishops had not yet prepared and published their Great bie^'tvi^'n
Bible : though the Bishop of Sarum supposed it came forth first printed,
in the year 1561, or soon after; because the calendar, pre- mat. Part
fixed for the moveable feasts, began with that year. There
was indeed a large Bible printed anno 1562, but that was
the old translation by Coverdale; which having been printed
in King Edward's days, after his last review, was printed
again that year. Out of which translation, Gregory Mar- So Fuik
tin, of the College at Rheims, picked several words, as he ^The
pretended, badly translated, to serve the Protestants' own English
ends : as, instead of schism and heresy, that translation read tion, ch. 1 .
division and sect: instead of heretic, an author of sects. ^^'^"^^
. «^ edit. an.
So they translated ^fm/;Ze instead of altar, and congregation issa.
instead of church : and instead of to the King, as supreme
head, they read, to the King, as having preeminence. I
414 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK leave the reader to Dr. Fulke's Apology for those readings,
against the exceptions of that Popish writer. But those
Aono 1565. readings are not found in that which was called the Bishops'
Bible, but schism, and alia?- ; and Church, and King- as
supreme.
Tiie Arch- Whensoever this Bible was first printed, already many
forwar/a*^ hands Were at work about it : which I will proceed now to
new trans- r^ye some accouut of. Among the noble designs of this
lationof tlie° . . . ,
Bitie. Archbishop, must be reckoned his resolution to have the
holy Bible set forth well translated into the vulgar tongue,
for private use, as well as for the use of churches ; and
to perform that, which his predecessor, Arciibishop Cran-
mer, endeavoured so much to bring to pass, but could not,
(the Bishops in his days being most of them utterly averse
to any such thing,) that is, tliat the Bishops should join
together, and take their parts and portions in reviewing,
amending, and setting forth the English translation of those
holy books. This our present Archbishop's thoughts ran
much upon. And he had about this time distributed the
Bible, divided into parts, to divers his learned fellow Bi-
shops, and to some other Divines that were about him :
who cheerfully undertook the work. As for the Bible
commonly used, it was not only very ill printed, but the
translation in many places bad, and such as gave offence ;
and the translator had followed Munster, who was very
negligent, and mistook sometimes the Hebrew, as Bishop
Sandys observed. The Archbishop took upon him the
labour to contrive, and set the whole work a going in a
proper method, by sorting out the whole Bible into parcels,
as was said, and distributing those parcels to able Bishops,
and other learned men, to peruse and collate each the book
or books allotted them ; sending withal his instructions for
the method they should observe ; and they to add some
short marginal notes, for the illustration or correction of the
text. And all these portions of the Bible being finished, and
sent back to the Archbishop, he was to add the last hand
to them, and so to take care for printing and publishing the
whole.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 415
Edwin, Bishop of Worcester, who, as he was an excellent CHAP,
preacher, so a man well skilled in the original languages,
was one of the Bishops appointed to this work. His part Anno iscs.
being finished, he sent it back to the Archbishop, with his pf'^yfjor^''
letter dated from Worcester, Feb. 6. Which, because it employed
may give us some light into this good design, I will here
set down.
" My duty remembered ; According to your Grace's let- His letter.
" ter of instruction, I have perused the book you sent me, ^'
" and with good diligence : having also, in conference with
" some other, considered of the same, in such sort, I trust,
" as your Grace will not mishke of. I have sent up with it
*' my Clerk, whose hand I used in writing forth the correc-
" tions and marginal notes. When it shall please your
" Grace to set over the Book to be viewed by some one of
" your Chaplains, my said Clerk shall attend a day or two,
" to make it plain unto him, how my notes are to be placed.
" In mine opinion, your Grace shall do well to make
" the whole Bible to be diligently surveyed by some well
" learned, before it be put to print ; and also to have skil-
" ful and diligent correctors at the printing of it, that it
" may be done in such perfection, that the adversaries can
" have no occasion to quarrel with it. Which thing will re-
" quire a time. Sed sat cito, si sat bene. The setters forth
" of this our common translation followed Munster too
" much, who doubtless was a very negligent man in his
" doings, and often swerved very much from the Hebrew.
" Thus, trusting that your Grace will take in good part my
" trifles, wherein wanted no good will, I commend the
" same to the grace of Almighty God. From my house
" at Worcester.
" Your Grace's in Christ at commandment,
" Ed. Wigorn."
And in another letter, the same pious Bishop put the This Bishop
Archbishop in mind of this great work, to proceed ea'-nestly A'^"|',h'^rs*Uop
forward in it. " Your Grace, said he, should much benefit i" this
work.
4:^6 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " the Church, in hastening forward the Bible which you
III. ^
. " have in hand : those that we have be not only false print-
Anno 1565." ed, but also give great offence to many, by reason of the
" depravity in reading."
Bishop To Guest, Bishop of Rochester, the Archbishop sent the
ployed In" ^^^ok of Psalms to rcvise : and he sent it back again with his
the Psalms, notes and advertisements, as the Bishop of Worcester had
Bri'iiotiK done. In his letter to the Archbishop he said, " he had
c. c. c. c. t< ^qj. altered the translation but where it gave occasion of
" an error. As at the first Psalm, at the beginning, I turn
" the preterperfect tense into the present tense ; because the
" sense is too harsh in the pretei*perfect tense. Where in
" the New Testament one piece of a Psalm is reported, I
" translate it in the Psalms according to the translation
" thereof in the New Testament, for the avoiding of the
" offence that may rise to the people upon divers transla-
" tions. Where two great letters be joined together, or
*' where one great letter is twice pxit, it signifieth that both
" the sentences or the words be expounded together."
209 To Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich, the Archbishop sent
Another another part of the Bible, to make his notes and advertise-
commUted Hients upon. Who wrote back to the Archbishop, that he
to Bishop ■HTOuld travail therein with such diligence and expedition as
Parkhurst, ... o r
he might.
And another Davies, Bishop of St. David's, had another portion. And
Davies' -"^ he wrote to the Archbishop, that he was in hand with that
part of the Bible he sent him. And again, not long after, in
the year 1566, he wrote the Archbishop, that he would
finish it with as much speed as he could ; and that he be-
stowed, for his performance of the same, all such time as he
could spare.
Who was This Bishop was now very busy in translating the Bible
Iiso the'"° ^^^^ Welsh, together with William Sahsbury, Bishop of
Bible into Man, a man very learned in the British antiquities.
Bishop This business in correcting the former translation of the
Cox's ad- Bible went forward along the next year 1566. Cox, Bishop
translating. ^^Y) "^^^o seems to have had another part of the holy
Scripture committed to him, in a letter dated May 3, 1566,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 417
had these words concerning this noble work; " I trust your CHAP.
" Grace is well forward with the Bible by this time. I per-
" ceive the greatest burden will lie upon your neck, touch- Anno 156S.
" inff care and travail. I would wish that such usual words
" as we English people be acquainted with might still re-
" main in their form and sound, so far forth as the Hebrew
" will well bear ; ink-horn terms to be avoided. The trans-
" lation of the verbs in the Psalms to be used uniformly in
" one tense, &c. And if ye translate bonitas or miseri-
" cordia, to use it likewise in all places of the Psalms, &c.
" God send this good travail a blessed success."
We shall hear more of Archbishop Parker's care and pains Tiie Arch-
in this translation under the years 1568, 1569, and 1572, care°about
when it seems first to have been printed in the largest folio, Bible,
according to Dr. Fulk, in his Defence of the English Transla-
tions against Gregory Martin. Where he speaks of the Bible Answer to
revised by divers Bishops to be first printed in the ^«^^^Preface,'p
volume, and authorized for the Churches, about ten or ^6.
twelve years before he wi-ote his book ; which fell in with or
about the said year 1572. In which year I have it very
fairly printed by Jugg. But by other authentic notices it
appears, that this English Bible was reviewed, and had an
edition or two before. Therefore I shall say no more of it
here, till we come to the years aforesaid.
CHAP. VII.
The Archbishop conversant about ancient books. Corre-
sponds with Bishop Davies, Mr. Salisbury, and Bishop
Scory, about British antiquities. A MS. in strange and
unknown characts.
Our Archbishop, notwithstanding his great public labours Tlie .Urch-
in the Church, could not but shew his propension to antiqui- q^-^^^^'fl"'
ty, especially that part of it relating to this nation: and was de- antiquities
sirous to inquire every where for Saxon and British antiqui-
ties, for the better knowledge of the history of the ancient
state of this Church and nation. And to further these his
VOL. I. E e
418 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK commendable inquiries, he sent to the Welsh Bishops espe-
. cially, to gather up what ancient writings they could pos-
Anno 1566. sibly retrieve. When he wrote to Davies, Bishop of St.
David's, calling upon him to despatch his lot in the Bible, he
also then sent to him a MS. of very great antiquity, which
seemed to have been in the old British language ; but the
letters were not known ; praying him to try to read it, and
to shew it to Mr. Salisbury, who sojourned then with the
Bishop of St. David's, and to confer with him about it, be-
cause he had heard he was a searcher for antiquities.
210 Salisbury wrote to the Archbishop, that as for that quire
count Uiere- antiquity, it was charected with so strange letters, that
of from he might swear he knew not one. At last he selected about
Salisbury. ^^^^^ ^^^^ twenty Sundry characters, both of the capital and
small letters : and so met with the words Sion, Melchizedeck,
Israel, &c. And he found it was to be read from the left to
the right hand. He acknowledged of himself, that he was,
as the Archbishop had heard, a searcher after antiquities ;
but he told his Grace, that he could find rather obscure than
any clear monuments, and so unworthy of his Grace's sight.
He told him withal of one H. Lloyd of Denbigh, a retainer
to the Earl of Arundel ; that he, John Leland and John
Bale, of any in those parts, were the most universally seen
in history, and most singularly skilled in rare subtilties. He
told the Archbishop moreover, that in an old pamphlet at
St. Asaph, being a register or record, he found somewhat
for the marriage of Priests, meeting there with the word
Clerico nxorato. But a Canonist told him, that there were
some named Clerici, that were no Priests. In fine, he said,
that as to that book first mentioned, the Bishop of St. Da-
vid's, to whom the Archbishop sent it, could find neither
Welsh, English, Dutch, Hebrew, nor Greek nor Latin
in it.
Bishop°Da- '^^^^ Bishop of St. David's also wrote to the Archbishop,
vies. that as to that book of strange characters, both he and Salis-
bury despaired to do any thing therein. That for all such
old monuments as they had in their cathedral or library,
which it seems had a fame for such things, he told the Arch-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 419
bishop, who had sent for them, that Mr. Secretary had them CHAP,
two years ago. Some the said Secretary had of Mr. Chanter,
and some of him the Bishop. But yet he sent the Archbi-^nno i.56s.
shop a Gyraldus Cavibrcnsis, a chronicle of England, the
author unknown, and Galfridus Monumetensis. Out of
which chronicle he related to the Archbishop one notable
story, which was this : " That after the Saxons conquered
" the land, continual wars remained between the Britains,
" then inhabitants of the realm, and the Saxons, the Bri-
" tains being Christians, and the Saxons Pagans. As occa-
" sion served they sometime treated of peace : and then met
" together, communed together, and eat and drank toge-
" ther. But after that, by the means of Austin, the Saxons
" became Christians, in such sort as Austin had taught
" tliera, the Britains would after that neither eat nor drink
" with them, nor yet salute them, because they corrupted,
" \vith superstition and idolatry, the true religion of Christ,
" which the Britains had reserved pvu'e among them from
" the time of King Lucius."
This being writ in the latter end of 1565, the Archbishop The Ai cii-
made this answer thereunto in the beginning of 1566. " I s^er'to'""
" pray you thank Mr. Salisbury, whose full writing his con-
" jectures I like well. And as for deciphering my quayr in
" such a strange charact, it shall be reserved to some other
" opportunity to be considered. As for these characts wherein
" some of your records of donaticm be written, whereof I
" send a whole line written, it was the speech of the old
" Saxons ; whereof I have divers books and works ; and
" have in my house those that do well understand them."
The Archbishop had sent' also to Scory, Bishop of Here- The Arch-
ford, in the borders of Wales, for antique British MSS. or g"''"
others, if any were in his church. Which Bishop sent him s''<'P
three Saxon books from the Dean there : but what they were, f„r mss.
doth not appear.
420 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
CHAP. VIII.
Auno ^56'5. Aj-chbishop's proceedings about the habits : chiejly with
the London Ministers. Lever'' s letter to the Earl of Lei-
cester and Secretary Cecyl. The Archbishop endeavours
to have his book for apparel allowed by authority. Ten-
der of proceeding to deprivation. The Queen'' s procla-
mation for conformity. The Archbishop'' s care about the
Spital Preachers. How to proceed with the London
Ministers.
I WILL now go on with some further history of the habits,
and shew as well as I can from the records and papers I have
seen, (which have not been a few,) Avhat were the proceed-
ings herein afresh towards the conclusion of this year, and
onward in the next.
The Areh- Though the ecclesiastical proceedings seemed to slacken
to^the Bi°''*^°^' ^ while, yet now uniformity began to be urged anew:
shop of Lon- soon after Christmas the Archbishop and ecclesiastical Com-
don, to look . . . . , i ■ i i t n
after Lon- missioners, exercismg the authority they had, as far as it
don forum- -v^rQuld o;o, and moving the Council for their countenance
formity. i
and concurrence. Towards the middle of January the
Archbishop intending to begin a reformation in the Min-
isters of London, who generally, as it seems, forbore the sur-
plice and other orders prescribed, sent to the Bishop of Lon-
don to press uniformity in the city, and to assist at a sessions
of the commission on such a day prefixed. The Bishop,
January 13, returned his answer, promising the Archbi-
shop to be present at the day, and wishing that Bishop
Horne and Bishop Cox, men of great wisdom, gravity, and
learning, might be present also for the more effectual pro-
secuting of the business. That indeed for his own part, the
matter was grown to that pass, that it was greater than he
could remedy, and wanted his Grace's advice; some of
the Ministers being very factious. Which he would more at
large declare at their next meeting. And then he thought
it would be convenient for them to confer together of their
method of proceeding in this work.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 421
This and some other meetings seemed to be chiefly pre- CHAP,
paratory to the general citation of the Clergy of London
before them : which happened not before March 26. But Anno 1 665.
the noise of this soon spread in the city, and many preachers
were now in danger of being put out of their places. Upon
this, divers earnest applications were made anew to the great
men of the Court by those of the dissenting party, or by
those, that, though they conformed themselves, liked not the
imposition and compulsion. Among the rest, by Thomas Lever's let-
Lever, Master of Sherborn hospital, near Durham. He was ^^^"^
' r ' upon,
a man of great account for his piety and learning, and abili-
ties in preaching the Gospel, formerly Master of St. John's
college in Cambridge, the chief nursery in those times of the
favourers of true religion and solid learning ; and contem-
porary there with Cheeke, Cecyl, Ascham, Pilkinton, &c.
In King Edward's time he was reckoned one of the most
eminent preachers. Insomuch, that Bishop Ridley, in his La-
mentation for the Change of Religion in Queen Mary's days,
mentioned four preachers then, namely, Latimer, Bradford,
Knox, and Lever, to be famous for their plain and bold
preaching : saying, " That they ripped so deeply in the
" galled backs of the great men of the Court, to have purged
" them of the filthy matter that was festered in their hearts,
" of insatiable covetousness, filthy carnality and voluptuous-
" ness, intolerable ambition and pride, and ungodly loath-
" someness to hear poor men's causes and God's word ; that
" they of all other they could never abide." But in Queen
Mary's reign he lived an exile in Zui-ich. This is enough
to characterize the man. In the month of February he writ Feb. 24.
to the Earl of Leicester and Sir William Cecyl the Secre-
tary, that they would shew all the favoiu* that could be to
such as, being lawfully admitted to their livings, had ever
since diligently preached ; that they might not be ejected, 21 2
only for refusing prescription of man in apparel. In this Notes the
letter he took notice also " of the decaying: sinking condi-'^^'' "1^
. propn-
" tion of all states in England : assigning one cause thereof ations.
" to be the covetous spoils that were made of impropriations,
" grammar-schools, and other provisions for the poor. And
K c a
422 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
K " concerning these impropriations he observed, that the ne-
" cessary revenues of the Prince, the Bishops, otiier estates,
i65. " and the Universities, did rather sink into the corruption,
" than stand upon the profits of impropriations. And then
" he assigned one cause beside of the decaying condition of
" the Universities, viz. in that the office and living of a
" Minister was taken from him, that once was lawfully ad-
" mitted, and had ever since diligently preached, because he
" refused prescription of man in apparel : and the name,
" living, and office of a Minister of God''s word allowed unto
" him that neither could nor would preach, except it were
" pro formcC tantum. He said moreover, that if in the min-
" istry, and Ministers of God's word, the sharpness of salt
" by doctrine to mortify affections be rejected, and ceremo-
" nial service, with flattery to feed affections, retained ; then
" doth Christ threaten such treading under foot as no power
" nor policy can withstand or abide. In fine, that the end
" of his writing to them was, that not any such corruptions
" might be allowed among Protestants, being God's servants,
" as should make Papists to joy, and hope for a day, being
" God's enemies : but rather that there should be such abo-
" lishing of inward Papistry, and other monuments of the
" same, as should cause idolatrous traitors to grieve, and
" faithful subjects to be glad.'' The whole letter, for the
sake of the author, and to shew the arguments then insisted
' upon, I have placed in the Appendix.
of I will add here, in memory of this grave man, what I find
print- ^£ j^jg published to the world. There were three sermons
printed in the year 1573. The first preached in the Shrowds,
upon Rom. xiii. from verse 1 to verse 7. Let every soul be
subject to the higher pozvers, &c. The second before King-
Edward, upon John vi. verse 5. to the 14th. When Jesus
then lift up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto
him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that
these may eat, &c. The third at Paul's Cross, upon 1 Cor.
iv. 1. Let a man so account of us, as of the Ministers of
Christ, &c. Another book also composed by him was print-
ed 1575, entitled. The right Way from Danger of Sin and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. t23
Vengeance in this xatcked World, tmlo godly Wealth, and c n A l'.
Salvation in Christ.
The Archbishop, in the beginning of March, began again A""" '565
to try if his book of Articles for IMinisters" apparel would
find any better success at Court, than it had done the year iiis book of
before: when though the Queen's Majesty's letters to him ft'^in'to th
had been very general for uniformity, yet he and the rest in Secretary,
commission consulted and agreed upon some particularities
in apparel only. And because by statute they were inhibited
to set out any constitution without licence obtained of the
Prince, he sent the Articles to the Secretary to be present-
ed, as was said before. But they could not be then allowed:
of what meaning, the Archbishop said, he could not tell.
Now he sent them again, together with a letter to the
Queen ; praying the Secretary, that if not all, yet so many
as might be thought good, might be returned with some au-
thority, at least for particular apparel. Otherwise he told
the Secretju-y, that he and the rest of the ecclesiastical Com-
missioners should not be able to do so much as the Queen's
Majesty expected of them to be done. His letter to the
Queen he sent open, and inclosed in his to the Seci'etary,
desiring him, if he thought it tolerable, to seal it up, and
use his opportunity to deliver it.
In his to the Secretary, dated March the ISJth, he told Why he
him, " He had made a stop for a while, in urging the Cler- ^^^^^^ij^^
" Sy'^ obedience to the Queen's commands, upon the politi- uniformity
" cal considerations which they who were the secret friends ^""^ " " "'^
" to nonconformity urged. But that he did no ways approve
" of these delays and cold doings. Insomuch that he said, he
" was much astonished, and in great perplexity to think
" what event this cause would have in the proceeding to an
" end. And where he had endeavoured himself to enforce
" the Queen's pleasvu'e upon all his brethren, and had de-
" sired that others would not hinder such proceedings by
" secret aiding and comfort, he saw, as he told the Secre-
*' tary, his sei'vice but defeated : and then again otherwhiles
" dulled by various considerations of the state of times, and 213
" of doubtfulness in discoiu aging some good Protestants, if
E e 4
424 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
His applica-
tion of ap-
parel en-
joined the
laity.
BOOK " this order should be vehemently prosecuted. Upon such
" advertisements, he said, he stayed : but he alway per-
Anno i56«. " ceived much hurt might come of such tolerations. The
" parties hardened in their disobedience : and at the last
" the Queen's displeasure incurred, to see how her com-
" mandment took little effect.'"
There were at that very time laws issued out for the regu-
lation of the apparel of the laity, and for tlie abstaining from
flesh in Lent : and this gave much offence to many. To this
the Archbishop compared what he was enjoining upon the
Churchmen : " Where order, saith he, for all other men's
" apparel, and laws for abstinence, so much forced and well
" set to, might induce an obedience, however a great num-
" ber may be offended. And they who thought the disorder
" of the ecclesiastical state might be as soon reformed, if the
" Bishops had the like helps, seemed to him to speak reason-
" ably." And as there were some great men that secretly
aided the Puritans, so there were others, that though they
favoured them not, yet now withdrew themselves, and de-
clined, as much as they could, meddling any more in the
matter : leaving an odium upon those that honestly further-
ed the Queen's commands : two of the chief whereof was the
Archbishop and the Secretary. Which caused him to add
these words; " If I draw forwards, said he, and others
" draw backwards, what shall it avail, but raise exclamation,
'* and privy mutinyings against your Honour and against
" me, by whom they think these matters be stirred. I see
" how other men get their heads out of the collar, and con-
" vey the envy otherwhere."
It was in the power of the Archbishop and Commission-
ers to deprive and imprison : both which probably were
threatened upon occasion. But there were some of these
men that offered themselves to lose all ; yea, and their bodies
to prison, rather than they would condescend. " This wil-
" fulness of theirs, he said, did move him the more, be-
" cause he could not but think that the Queen's Majesty
" was unworthily dealt with, thus to be resisted. But these
" rigorous courses he thought not fit to attempt, having no
Tender of
inflicting
the penal-
ties of de-
privation.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 425
" more warrant and help ; lest after much stirring, he might CHAP.
" do little in the end but hurt."" All this he discoursed with
the S^retary, to prepare him the better to further his book ^""o ' 56s
of Articles with the Queen. As to the penalty of depriva- And why.
tion, he was tender of inflicting it, for that much depriving
with new fruiting., as he styled it, (by which he meant pay-
ing first-fruits,) would be taken in malam partem. As
though her Majesty drove at covetous by-ends to herself;
by drawing money by this means into her own Exchequer :
and putting those to extraordinary charge that were depriv-
ed ; and afterwards were minded to comply, and so be pre-
sented affain to their livings. And that was the reason he
gave the Secretary, why, in the fourth chapter of his book of
Articles, they made the pain sequestration rather than depri-
vation. He was shy also of depriving upon the Queen's
verbal order, who had, it seems, commanded him to inflict
that punishment, where he should see cause. For he had
consulted with lawyers, who were of opinion it was hard to
proceed to deprive, having no more warrant but the Queen's
Majesty's word of mouth only.
But notwithstanding the Queen's express will and plea- Denies to
sure, and our Archbishop's endeavours, the Ministers refus- ^"fy^g*^
ing the habits had such countenance, that they were much the habits
put up to preach public sermons ; and they would take the the^'spital
confidence then, and that even before the Queen, to preach s^^^''^-
without their habits. And it was taken great notice of, that
some had preached before her Majesty without tippet, and
had nothing said to them for it. Of which some had assured
the Archbishop : which so moved him, that he thought good
to tell the Secretary of it. The persons also that were pre-
pared by the Lord Mayor to preach the solemn sermons at
the Spital the Easter ensuing, were, the Bishop of Dur-
ham, a favourer of the opposers of the apparel, or in his room
Mr. Beaumont, Master of Trinity college, (how he stood
affected may be seen before,) and the two others were Dr.
Cole and Mr. Penne, neither of them fully conformable. The
allowance of these public preachers lay in the Archbishop.
These two last being named to him by certain messengers
426 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK sent from the Lord Mayor, he said, he could not commend
. their conformity, and so required others to be placed in their
Anno 1565. rooms : which then was promised him by another message
214 from the Mayor. But the day after came the Chamberlain
of the city, and another with him, to signify to his Grace,
that it would be hard to get any other : and therefore they
wished to have these two, with the Bishop of Durham or
Mr. Beaumont. Upon which the Archbishop told them the
Queen's pleasure resolutely : and if they would seek to her
Majesty to be dispensed with, that he could not assure them
to speed ; and so left them to their consultation : charging
them yet that they should not suffer the days to be unoccu-
pied, so to derive an envy and mutinying against their Sove-
reign. All tliis happened about the beginning of March.
The preach- Nor was this business adjusted till above a month after,
crs of the • • • .
Spitai ser- I find by a signification given, April the 12th, by the
mons. Archbishop to the Secretary, for the satisfaction of the Court,
that was now Inquisitive what preachers were put up for the
Spitai this critical time. The Dean of Exeter was appointed
for Good Friday ; on Monday, Dr. Bemont ; for Tuesday,
Mr. Young, a Chaplain of the Bishop's of London ; and for
the third day, the Lord Mayor had sent to the Archbishop
to procure Mr. Becon, (of whom honourable^mention was
made in Cranmer's Memorials, and now one of the Canons
of Canterbury,) who, they heard, should preach at the Cross.
The Archbishop promised that he would move him to satisfy
their desires. And if he could not be obtained, the day was
like to be void. But rather than that should happen, for
the preventing the raising of a speech, he promised he would
get Mr. Bemont to divide his Monday's sermon, and to re-
serve half till Wednesday. This was his care of those ser-
mons of solemnity, as he styled them.
The city of Such was the favour and esteem the Dissenters then had
head'the ^^^J London. And this the Archbishop very well
Dissenters, knew ; and had written, and written oft to Court, " That a
" few in London ruled over this matter ; and therefore he
" thought it advisable to begin there." For their example
the rest of the nation were like to follow ; and they seemed
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 427
the most averse of any Ministers in the land to use the habits CHAP,
and observe the rites.
But now at last upon the late address of our Archbishop Anno i665.
to the Queen and Secretary, she forthwith issued out her isl'ue^out"
proclamation, publishinjj her will and pleasure in print, procia-
^ . ' ^ . . . , . ^ , n J ^ mationfor
peremptorily requmng uniiormity by virtue tnereoi. so that uniformity,
now the wearing of the apparel, and obedience to the usages
of the Church, became absolutely enjoined ; and that upon
pain of deprivation and prohibition of preaching : the Queen
hereby by her own authority confirming and ratifying that
book of Articles that he had a little before sent to the Secre-
tary, or at least so much of it as related to apparel. The
Secretary also signified now unto him and the Bishop of
London, that it was her Majesty's will, according as his
Grace had suggested, that they should resolutely proceed
with the London Ministers, and that she would send some
persons of honour to join with them, the better to counte-
nance their doings in her name. And withal the Secretary
desired to understand after what manner and method they
intended to proceed in this weighty matter.
Whereupon, March the 20th, he and the Bishop of Lon- The method
don came to this result as to their proceedings, after having "[j'Ji^rr'*
conferred with men learned in the laws ; yet leaving all to upon with
the allowance or disallowance of the Secretary. Miuu't'ers!"
I. They meant to call all manner of Pastors and Curates
^vithin the city of London to appear before them at Lambeth,
in the chapel there: and to propound the cause, and say some-
thing to move them to conformity, with intimation of the pe-
nalty which necessarily will ensue against the recusants.
II. After the general propositions made, as afore, to the
whole number, they intended particularly to examine every
of them, whether they would promise conformity in their
ministrations and outward apparel, established by law and
injunction, and testify the same by subscription of theii-
hands.
III. It was intended presently to suspend all such as re-
fused to promise conformity in the premises ; and al.so to
pronounce sequestration of their ecclesiastical livings fnmi
428 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK after the date of our Lady next, being then at hand. And
after such sequestration, if they were not reconciled within
Auno 1565. three months, to proceed to deprivation of their hvings by
due form of law.
IV. The fourth article related to the sarcenet tippet ; that
such should wear it as might by the act of Parliament anno
24. Hen. VIII. and none other.
215 The Archbishop and Bishop was well aware of what
Desire some ^^ould follow. That is, thev thought very many churches
honouralile . .
persons to would be destitute for service the ensuing Easter, by reason
nance\iieir suspensions ; and that many would forsake their liv-
proceed- iugs, and live at printing, teaching children, and otherwise as
thefr pre- they could. And they left it to the Secretary''s wisdom to
sence. consider what tumults might follow, and speeches and talks
were like to rise in the reahn, and presently in the whole
city, by this doing of theirs. Now that the clamour of this
might not wholly light upon them, they told the Secretary,
that they hoped the Queen, as was purposed, would send
some honourable persons to join with them two. They
prayed him also that he would consult with whom his wis-
dom should think most meet, that they might be resolved.
That so having summoned them on Friday to appear before
them on Saturday, order might be taken with them then, or
at furthest a day or two after.
CHAP. IX.
The Archbishop in commission. His proceedings with the
London Clergy. The hook of Advertisements revived.,
and pxihlished. Dr. Humphrey s letter to the Secretary
thereupon.
fine, the 26th day of March was the day appointed for
them. the Ministers' appearance. And the Secretary gave the Arch-
bishop notice, that according to his desire, and the Queen's
promise, the Lord Keeper [Bacon] and the Lord Marquess [of
Northampton] and himself intended to be present. But the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 429
Archbishop desiring to be certain, whether they would come CHAP,
or no, as laying great stress upon the presence of some great
persons, sent a message on purpose to the Secretary ; mind- Anno 1 565.
ing, if they would come, to invite them to dinner. Or if
they came not, he intended to have more assistance with
himself and the Bishop of London. And indeed they came
not, detained either by weightier matters, or their own un-
willingness.
The day being come, the Ministers, serving within the ^" account
1- 1 T 1 -<,r? 1 of the pro-
city, according to command did appear. When by per-ceedings
suasion several of them, backward before, did conform
London
themselves ; and those that would not from the 28th day of clergy.
March were declared suspended ; and standing out three
months longer to be ipso facto deprived of all their spiritual
promotions : and the patrons might present and collate
thereto. The Archbishop the same day gave the Secretary
an account what they had done in the examination of them.
Which was, that sixty-one of them had promised conformity :
nine or ten were absent : thirty-seven denied. Of which
number, as the Archbishop acknowledged, were the best,
and some preachers. Six or seven convenient sober men
pretending a conscience. Divers of them zealous, but of
little learning and judgment. And in short, he and the
rest in commission with them, (whereof the Bishop of Lon-
don was one,) did suspend them, and sequester their fruits,
and put them from all manner of ministry ; with significa-
tion, that if they would not reconcile themselves within three
months, then to be deprived. The Archbishop did expect
hereupon, that their behaviour would have been rough and
clamorous, but, otherwise than he looked for, they sheWed
reasonable quietness and modesty.
Of them the Archbishop delivered his judgment to theHisjudg-
Secretary, viz. " That some of them, he thought, would t7,o^ t°hat
" come in, when they should feel their wants ; especially refused con-
" such, as by a spiced fancy held out. Some of them
" doubted not were moved in a conscience ; which he la-
" boured by some advertisements to pacify. But the wood,
" he said, was yet green ; and it was not felt, as he thought
430 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK "it would be hereafter." Some of them at this time alleged
they were in fruits, [that is, were now in payment for their
Anno i66"5. first-fruits, having not long been come in to their livings,]
-21^ and would have had some toleration or discharge of pay-
ment. Which indeed seemed to be reasonable, that if they
were sequestered from the benefit, they should not pay the
first-fruits. But the Archbishop told them he could not so
dispense, and left them to their own suit.
Fears the Thus far the Bishop of London had gone along with
London'f ^™ ' Seemed still, as he had been before, to be
mildness, jealous of the too much lenity of his nature, and tenderness
towards these men : which might spoil this round beginning
they had used with them. And therefore the Archbishop
did entreat the Secretary, that he would move the Bishop
to execute orders, fearing he might hereafter slacken in this
course that was now begun.
Confirmed But the Archbishop was the more confirmed in these his
shop of Ely measures that he was now taking, from the judgment of
another ancient and experienced Prelate, to whose wisdom
great deference was in those times given, viz. Cox, Bishop
of Ely: who had at this very juncture writ to him concern-
ing the London Ministers ; viz. that if they were reformed,
all the rest would soon follow. And this the Archbishop
thought good to let the Secretary know, that he might see
that he was not singular in his judgment.
Corrects the And to back this step to uniformity already made, at the
nients!'**^ same time he revived the book of Advertisements, but with
some amendments, and some omissions of things that before
had given offence, and were the cause, at least pretended,
of stopping it ; as some matters of doctrine, this book being
only intended for order : and the Articles of Religion, agreed
upon in the year 1562, being sufficient for that. And such
passages also were omitted, as might seem to render the
book contrary to the laws of the land. And so, with the
Queen's letters to him, he had these corrected Advertise-
ments printed : but not yet published, till he had sent a
copy thereof to the Secretary to peruse with his pen, and to
give him his advice. Telling him in his letter, dated
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 431
March 28th, " That he had weeded out of these Articles all CHAP.
IX
" such matters of doctrine, &c. which peradventure stayed
" the book before from the Queen's Majesty's approbation : -^"no i^^^-
" and that he had put in but things advouchable, and, as he
" took them, against no law of the realm." After the Se- P^''^'*''^* ^
cretary had done with them, he sent them to the Bishop of resolves to
London, and so had them published. " For he was fully
" bent, he said, to prosecute that order, and to delay no
" longer. And this he was the more resolute in, because
" the Queen's Highness would needs have him assay with
" his own authority what he could do for order. But he
" trusted, he said, he should not be stayed hereafter, [as he
" had been formerly,] and prayed the Secretary to have his
" advice, to do that more prudently in the common cause,
" which there was a necessity to be done."
The Archbishop, as was said before, sent the book to the His letter
Bishop of London, Maixh 28. enjoining him to send andshopof
disperse copies thereof to all the Bishops, with his letter to London
1 I 1 1 ' mi !• thereupon;
them, to see them duly executed. Then, as for executing
punishment upon the recusants in his diocese, he earnestly
required the said Bishop to be diligent therein ; especially
since by tlie act of Parliament they had all power and au-
thority to reform and punish, by censures of the church,
all that should offend. And out of his obedience to Al-
mighty God, allegiance to his Prince, and sincere zeal
to the Church, he could do no less, than to require and
charge him, as he would answer to God and her Majesty,
to see her laws and injunctions duly performed within his
diocese. This letter may be read at length in the Appendix, Nnmii.
as I took it out of the Archbishop's register.
The same 28th of March, the Archbishop sent these ^"^ ^is
books of orders to the several Deans of his own peculiar ArchbisUop
jurisdiction, with his letter to this purport to the rest, as he'^j''^''-
wrote to the Dean of Bocking; " That he had heard, that"^
" divers Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, within his peculiar
" jurisdiction of the deanery of Bocking, had not conformed
" themselves to the Queen's Injunctions, that he sent him a
" l)ook of certain orders, agreed upon by him and his brc-
432 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " thren of the province of Canterbury, and hitherto not
" pubHshed : wilHng him to call before him, and to publish
III
Anno 1566. " to them the said orders prescribed in that book, to move,
" persuade, and command them, as they would answer at
217 " their peril, duly to observe her Majesty's laws in the ad-
" ministration of public prayers and sacraments, and in
" their extern appai'el, and all the orders sent to them there-
" with. And upon obstinate disobedience to suspend them
" from public ministration, and also sequester all the fruits
" of their livings so long time as they shall remain in diso-
" bedience. And to signify to him the names of all, to the
" intent that he might take further order with them : and
" to signify to them, that if they continue so three months
" they are to be deprived."
A like letter was writ to Mr. Denne, Commissary of Can-
terbury ; to the Bishop of Chichester, Commissary of the
peculiar jurisdiction of South Mailing, Pagham, and Ter-
ring ; and to Mr. Dr. Weston, Dean of the Arches, Shoram,
and Croydon, with several of the books above mentioned
inclosed therein.
These These Advertisements came now abroad so well strength-
courses ened with authority, and menace of animadversions upon
grievously _ . . . 7
taken by disobedience ; and this with the fresh proceedings against
the Dissent- ^^j^^ London Ministers ; as did mightily awaken and terrify
such as would or could not comply ; as appeared by a
April 23, letter that Laurence Humfrey wrote from Oxon in April,
l^^^' , to the Secretary on this occasion, with his earnest desire to
Humfrey s
discontent him to procure the stopping the execution, and laying aside
hereupon, ^.j^^ book. " I am sorry, writes he, that the old sore is
" broke out again, in such sort, at such a solemn time, in
" print, to the common calamity of many, and marvel and
" misery of all. The cause is not so sound in my poor
" opinion, as it is made. The trouble is greater than we
" think. The inhibition of preaching, strange and lament-
" able. The cry of a number is and will be pitiful in the
" ears of God and man. The book of Advertisements,
" though it contain much, that is many ways of the wise
" misliked, yet because it hath no determination of time,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 433
" noi- of penalty, was bettor esteemed. The execution hi- CHAP.
" therto vehemently urged marvellously moveth and marreth '
" all. I am so highly bound to God, that giveth me this Anno 1 566,
" bold access to your Honour, that I cannot for this his
" goodness yield to him condign thanks. Wherefore, as I
" of these proceedings simply promote the judgment of
" many ; so I humbly request you to bear with this my
" rude plainness, and to be a means to the Queen's Ma-
" jesty to stop the execution, and to suffer the book to sleep
" in silence. These days, these evils, this people, this age,
" require other advertisements. The Queen's Majesty in
" the Preface seeketh unity and concord ; this hath bred
" variety and discord more than ever was. To your wis-
" dom, goodness, and godliness, I refer all ; as also the con-
" tinuance of your prosperous state to the Almighty."
CHAP. X.
Some are sequestered and silenced. Crowley, Minister of
Cripplegate, one of them. The stir made by him in his
church. Sent for and censured by the Archbishop.
Some account of Crowley. The Archbishop clamoured
against. His protestation and resolution.
But let us turn our eyes to these sequestered and silenced Some view
Ministers, and see how they behaved themselves, and what questeTed^
course they took. Some of these sely recusants (I use the Ministers,
very words of the Archbishop) said now, that they thought
not that ever the matter, in such scarcity of Ministers,
should have been forced : and some began to repent. One
of them was with the Archbishop two days after, to be ad-
mitted again to his parish, and promised conformity : but
he repelled him, till he had him bound with two good
sureties of his own parish : and so he was. The said Min-
ister told the Archbishop, that there would more come to
that point. And tliem also the Archbishop intended so to
VOL. I. F f
4S4 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK order. But the most part of those recusants he wished
III ...
out of the ministry, as being " mere ignorant and vam
Anno 1S66. f heads;" as his Grace wrote to the Secretary.
And indeed the Archbishop reckoned, that by what he
made'upon done, and by making this determination known abroad,
some that the speech raised would soon cease, and the offence assuage,
surpHce.^ and more peace and order follow, as he signified to his
friend : but he was deceived. For but four or five days
after, viz. April 2, one Crowley, Minister of the parish of
St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, and one of those that had
been suspended, this person and his Curate gave a great
occasion of much trouble in his church. A certain corpse
being to be buried in his church, divers Clerks were in their
surplices attending, to sing as accustomably they used, and
as my Lord of London before had prescribed, namely, to
wear surplices within the churches. But Crowley quarreled
with them for their porters coats, as he called them, and
said, he would shut the doors against them. And one Sayer,
an Alderman's deputy, also assisted Crowley, and used words
likewise to that purpose. He seemed to be an honest man,
but too much leaning from the surplice. But the singing-
men on the other hand made resistance against Crowley,
willing to go on with their business : insomuch that the
deputy threatened them to set them fast by the feet, if they
should break the peace. These things caused a great up-
, roar. At length the singing-men shrunk away ; and they
then had some quietness, though with shrewd stomachs.
The Arch- g^^^ f}^g noise of this coming to the ears of the Archbishop
jnons those and the other Commissioners ; and complaint being made
^n'lr " hereof by the Lord Mayor to him, desiring him to examine
the cause; he summoned Crowley and others to appear
before them, April the 4th, to hear the cause : resolving to
execute punishment, if he found the deserts of them to be
such, as that they gave such occasion of tumult among the
people so gathered together. And that the rather, consider-
ing the time, being now just upon enjoining the wearing of
that garment. Signifying withal to the Secretary, that he
trusted that neither the Queen's Majesty nor her Council
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 435
would charge their doings herein, as guilty of any severity CHAP,
or lack of prudence. Which charges, it seems, some of the ^"
Court had been wont before to cast in their teeth. Anno 1.566.
At the examination was present, with the Archbishop, Examines
the Bishop of London. They found that Crowley quarreled ^ythor''^
first with the singing-men. In their examination of him, Crowiey.
there fell from him several fond paradoxes, that tended to
anabaptistical opinions. As, to have a motion in conscience
to preach in the church (being not deprived) without extern
vocation : and saying, as pastor, he would resist the wolf,
meaning the surplice-men. The Commissioners asked him,
if he would resist a Minister so sent to them. He said,
that till he was discharged, meaning from his living by de-
privation, his conscience would so move him. And there-
upon desired to be discharged. The Archbishop seeing his
desire, did presently, without any more ado, discharge him
of his flock and parish. Then he fled to this, that he would
be deprived by order of law. Which the Archbishop told
him was to say, he would be deprived, and yet not be de-
prived. Then he seemed to be desirous to have the glory
to be committed to prison, rather than he would grant to
suffer such a wolf to come to his flock. But the Archbi-
shop, as he told the Secretary, dulled his gloi'y. And yet His punisii-
for some severity, being in suspense, they charged him to gn °ment°
keep his house, and remain under confinement at home :
that so they might stay his resistance of any that should
come to officiate at his church with the surplice. As for
the deputy, they bound him in an hundred pounds to be
ready at calling, when the Queen's Council should call for
either of them, to judge of their doings. And so he and
the Bishop of London dismissed them all, advertising them
to be obedient. So gentle was our Archbishop in his censure
of so great a fault as quarreling (and, it may be, coming to
strokes) in God's house. But he reckoned the suspension
and secret prison would be some terror. He imagined, that
the Secretary might think that they had done too little, and
he doubted not but that that side would think it too much.
How long he was confined I know not, only I find him
F f 2
436 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK remaining impi'isoned in his own house, April 12th: when
the Archbishop gave the Secretary a further account of the
Anno 1566. matter ; which was, that he could do no less, considering
bisho^'T*' his behaviour and speech, that " he would not suffer the
Chaplain " wolf to come to his flock." And therefore to prevent his
hUchnrch! resistance they committed him. And the next Sunday he
2 19 sent Mr. Bickley, his Chaplain, to preach in his parish:
whom they heard quietly. And a Minister, thither sent,
was received with his surplice.
A confer- This Crowley was once a stationer, but bred at the Uni-
tween versity of Oxford, and for his parts and good disposition to
Crowley religion, was under King Edward ordained a Minister by
and some T-»-n -n-i p -r i t • ^ -nr •>j
Popish Kidley, Bishop or London ; and m Queen Mary s days was
Priests in g^j^ exile in Frankford. He was a man of note among the
the Tower. . . . • i j
Dissenters long after this; for I find him and Field, and
Charke, and one Hern, in the year 1582, very diligent in
visiting and disputing with certain Priests in the Tower.
And Crowley particularly took a great deal of pains with
one of them named Kirby ; endeavouring to bring him off
from his opinion of the lawfulness of deposing princes by
the Pope. Crowley also was one of those that attended
them to execution. There he laboured to convince Kirby
of the falseness of his principle that he was going to death
for. And that from Rom. xiii. and the beginning; and
from the words of Christ to Pilate, Job. xix. 10, 11. Urging
thence, that princes, having their authority from God
alone, could not be deposed by any, but God alone. But
while Crowley was discoursing this to Kirby, he demand-
ed of him, whether, if a prince were guilty of Turcism,
atheism, or infidelity, he might not be lawfully deposed,
(which question he had asked him before in the Tower.)
To which Crowley and the rest of the preachers answered
learnedly, and in the negative. Whereat Kirby cried out,
O Mr. Crowley, Mr. Crowley ! and there paused, as if,
HoUinshed. saith the historian, that Mr. Crowley had agreed with him
in this point, in his conference with him in the Tower. So
that Crowley was fain to justify himself there, saying to
one standing by, that when Kirby had propounded this
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 437
question to him in the Tower, his answer was, " That if any CHAP.
" prince fell into any such kind of error, that prince were ^'
" indeed corrigible. But of whom ? not of any other earth- Anno isss.
" ly prince, but of that heavenly Prince who gave him his
" authority ; who seeing him abuse it in any way, corrects
" him in his justice." And thus much for Crowley; only
further that he wrote divers books; and died 1588, and
was buried in the chancel of his parish church of Cripple-
gate.
The Dissenters, upon this round dealing of the Arch- Tiie Arch-
bishop with them, and expecting no favour to be obtained g^atfy cia-
from him under any less condition than plain submission moured up-
and conformity, conceived a great ill-will against him ; and Dissenter,
derived the blame from the Queen, from the Secretary, and
every body else, upon him alone. The talk now much in-
creased, and the Archbishop alone, they said, was in fault.
He indeed, in his expostulation with many of them, signified
to them their disobedience to the Queen. Wherein because
they saw the danger, if they should lay the blame upon
her, they ceased to impute it to the Queen ; saying, that
were it not for the Archbishop's calling on her, she was in-
different. And most of them likewise dared not name the
Secretary in this tragedy, because many of them were to have
his help in their suits. They said, my Lord of London
was their own, and was but brought in against his Avill : and
that he, the Archbishop alone, was the stirrer and incenser.
And that my Lord of Durham would be against them all ;
and would give over his bishopric, rather than it should
take place in his diocese. They said also, that my Lord of
Leicester should move and obtain the Queen ; and that this
was now done in his absence. That Mr. Cole, probably
Leicester''s Chaplain, or belonging to some other great
courtier, was then at Court in his hat and short cloak ;
who would overthrow all their attempts, [to enjoin the
using of the apparel.]
So that now, as we may collect hence, their recourse was Their appii-
altogether to the Court, where they had so well sped be-^^''^^*^
fore: and very industrious were their practices there to
F f 3
438 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK get this enterprise overthrown: and great their hopes
III.
thereof.
Anno 1566. The Archbishop signified all this to the Secretary, April
The Arch- ly^}^ . sighing to understand from him what likelihood
bishop s _ " .
protesta- there might be of this great expectation. As for his own
ion con- p^j.* professed, " That whatsoever he had done, and did,
cerning his 1 ' I ' ' '
actions. " was bond conscientid ; that he regarded God's honour, and
" the public quiet. That he wished obedience to the Queen's
" Highness, and her laws. Which was the greatest estima-
" tion her Highness could have among her people. And
220" that if this matter should be overturned, according to all
" these great hopes, he said, he was at a point to be used
" and abused. Nam scio nos Episcopos in hunc usum
" positos esse, as he added. We be the stiles, over which
" men will soonest leap. And if we be thus backed, [mean-
" ing, thus slenderly backed, or rather not backed at all,]
" there will be fewer Winchesters, as is desired." For that
was one of the odious phrases these men bestowed upon the
Bishops that urged uniformity, calling them Winchesters ;
pointing to Stephen Gardiner, that bloody persecuting Bi-
shop of Winchester in Queen Mary's reign. But when he
told the Secretary, there would be fewer Winchesters, if
they were no better backed, he intimated that he saw that
the favour shewed to these men tended to the overthrow of
all Bishops, and that he feared it would end there. " But for
" my part, as he proceeded, so that my Prince may Avin
" honour either by standing or relenting, I will be very
" gladly lapis offensionis. Sed interim cum Dominus sit
" mihi adjutor, non timebo quid mihi Jaciat homo. But he
" was not, he said, amused, or danked, Fremat mundus,
" ruat caelum.''''
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 4S9
CHAP. XI.
Endeavour to concern the ParUament in these contests.
Books published for and against conformity. The
Privy Council's order against seditious boohs. The
Archbishop to Dr. Haddon about these matters. Some
under restraint. John Fox peaceable ; in this juncture
writes to the ecclesiastical Commissioners.
A. PARLIAMENT was now sitting, and the dissenting Anno i566.
party had used their utmost with their friends, both Bishops, The Pariia-
* ■' . ment moved
noblemen, and others, in the Houses, to obtain some favour for the Pu-
there, and that some expedient might be brought about for"^*°'"
dispensation to be granted in these ecclesiastical matters, for
sober and useful Ministers. Humfrey, who was now at
Oxford, writ earnestly to his friend John Fox about it on
that remarkable day, March 28 ; when so many had been
suspended. Commendo precibus tuis (so ran a part of his MSS. Foxii.
letter) et curcB tucB propagationem religionis, reforma-
tionemque Ecclesice in his comitiis. Ut agas et peragas,
ope, opera, gratia, et modis omnibus, ut Principes regni et
proceres Cleri moveant aliquid salutare, et promoveant.
But notwithstanding all endeavours, this Parliament brake
up without interposing in this affair.
Nor did the press lie still all this while. For the non- Books set
compilers wrote books, and printed them ; confuting the ar- p^Jlan^,!^*
gunients (the best they could) which the Bishops had
brought to persuade them to uniformity. But they were
written with so much confidence and sharpness, that the
Archbishop and the State thought fit to have them con-
sidered and answered. Which was done with brevity ; a
little in his judgment being enough to satisfy wise and
learned men in this controversy.
One of these short books now writ (of which I think by And an-'
the style Bishop Cox, or Jewel, was author) bore this title,
A brief and lamentable Consideration of the Apparel tjok' a brief and
used by the Clergy; set out for the Instruction of the Weak, coiisidera-
by a foithful Servant of God. In the book, as well the''°"'&<:-
F f 4
440 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK reasons of the refusers of the apparel were weighed, as
other reasons cursorily suggested in the behalf of it. The
Anno 1566. reasons urged commonly against the habits were, first, in
general, that they did not edify ; and because they hindered
the simple, made the Papists obstinate, and were monu-
ments of idolatry. Also, that they were precepts of men,
and that they gave offence. Secondly, in particular, that
ministering garments were taken from the Jews and Gentiles ;
that Samuel was not known to Saul. Which was a sign his
garments were not different from other men''s. And that
Peter Avas known by his speech. Therefore we ought not
to be known by our attire. After the author had briefly
answered these reasons, he subjoined his own reasons, why
submission ought to be given to these orders for apparel.
Which were, that it could not be shewn out of the word of
God, that any form of apparel, except that which was
pompous, was expressly forbidden. Nor could it be proved
221 that uniformity in attire among spiritual persons was not
meet. Nor could any declare by unwrested places of Scrip-
ture, that any supreme magistrate might not enjoin his
Clergy a certain form of apparel : or if such a form of ap-
parel had been abused, that it was not from thenceforth to
be used. Nay, that in case apparel had been offered unto
idols, yet a Christian were not absolutely forbid to wear it.
After this he made, by way of conclusion, a compassion-
ate address to the dissenting people and Ministers. To the
people, in this tenor ; " Have you churches, and yet will
" you flock into the fields Have you places appointed for
" prayers, and yet will you appoint you private assemblies ?
" Have you the Gospel of Christ sincerely preached among
" you Why are you then offended ? Have you the sacred
" Scriptures read unto you, and at your will to be perused ?
" Why are you displeased ? Idolatry is reproved. Papistry
" overthrown. Why are you not contented ? He added,
" that they which now wore the apparel were such as had
" been banished for the profession of the Gospel, and lost
" their goods, and that willingly. For preaching and writ-
" ing, who did it more painfully and effectually than they
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 441
" and who watched more dutifully that the Gospel might CHAP.
" have its full course ? That others talked for reformation,
" they did it indeed. To the dissenting Ministers at last^""" i^^^-
" he spake, begging them in the name of dear brethren, to
" join hands to help forward the Lord's buUding. That
" whereas they had among them proud loiterers too many,
*' he, wished they themselves might be faithful labourers.
" He exhorted them, if they loved Christ, to feed his sheep,
" not to brawl in his vineyard ; to love the brethren, and
'* not to disturb their quietness ; and every one of them to
" help the other's burdens, &c." See the whole tract, where-
of this is the summary, in the Appendix.
On the behalf of the ecclesiastical laws, a book came Other books
forth about this time, I suppose by the Archbishop's order, ga'imit con-
printed by Jugg, which urged the sin of disobeying lawful form'ty-
authority in indifferent things. It was entitled thus, Whether
it be mortal Sin to transgress the Civil Laws, which be the
Commandments of Civil Magistrates. The judgment of
Philip Melancthon in the Epitome of moral Philosophy,
the resolution of H. Bullinger, Dr. Rodulph Gualter, D.
Martin Bucer, and Dr. Peter Martyr, concerning the ap-
parel of Ministers, and other indifferent things. The dis-
senting Ministers also on the other hand put forth in print
A Declaration in the Name arid Defence of certain Ministers
in London, that refused the apparel prescribed. But this was
answered in a book in quarto, called A brief Examination
of that Declaration. And at the end was reported the judg-
ment of Bucer and Martyr concerning this controversy.
Which book was composed by the Archbishop's peculiar
direction, and it is very probable in his house.
Care was not only taken for answering of these disaffected Orders of
persons' books, but for preventing of the writing such for j.onj.erning
the future. For it was not thought convenient by any P'''"'^'"S
sffditious
means that the Queen's Injunctions, and other laws and or- books,
dinances made for the regular and uniform worship of
God, should be thus openly impugned. These books were
printed both here in the realm, and abroad, and privily
brought in and divulged : and so, being got into the hands
443 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of many, tended to the keeping open or widening the dif-
ferences that were now districting the Church. For pre-
Anno 1566. venting therefore the pubhshing of these books, the Arch-
bishop, and other the ecclesiastical Commissioners, recom-
mended several articles to the Lords of the Privy Council.
Which gave occasion to these ordinances, decreed for the
reformation of divers disorders in printing and uttering of
books, dated from the Star-chamber in the month of June.
I. That no person should print, or cause to be printed,
or bring or procure to be brought into the realm printed,
any book against the force and meaning of any ordinance,
prohibition, or commandment, contained or to be contained
in any the statutes or laws of this realm, or in any in-
junctions, letters patents, or ordinances passed or set forth,
or to be passed or set forth, by the Queen's grant, com-
mission, or authority.
II. That whosoever should offend against the said ordi-
nances should forfeit all such books and copies : and from
thenceforth should never use or exercise, or take benefit by
any using or exercising, the feat of printing ; and to sustain
three months' imprisonment without bail or mainprize.
222 III- That no person should sell, or put to sale, bind,
stitch, or sow any such books or copies, upon pain to forfeit
all such books and copies, and for every book 20*.
IV. That all books so forfeited should be brought into
Stationers' Hall : and there one moiety of the money for-
feited to be reserved to the Queen's use, and the other
moiety to be delivered to him or them that should first seize
the books, or make complaint thereof to the Warden of the
said Company. And all the books so to be forfeited, to be
destroyed or made waste paper.
V. That it should be lawful for the Wardens of the Com-
pany for the time being, or any two of the said Company
thereto deputed by the said Wardens, as well in any ports, or
other suspected places, to open and view all packs, dry-fats,
maunds, and other things, wherein books or paper shall be
contained, brought into this realm ; and make search in all
workhouses, shops, warehouses, and other places of printers,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 443
booksellers, and such as bring books into the realm to be CHAP,
sold, or where they have reasonable cause of suspicion. And
all books to be found against the said ordinances, to seize Anno i566.
and carry to the Hall to the uses abovesaid ; and to bring
the persons offending before the Queen''s Commissioners in
causes ecclesiastical.
VI. Every stationer, printer, bookseller, merchant, using
any trade of book-printing, binding, selling, or bringing
into the realm, should before the Commissioners, or before
any other persons, thereto to be assigned by the Queen's
Privy Council, enter into several recognizances of reasonable
sums of money to her Majesty, with sureties or without, as
to the Commissioners should be thought expedient ; that he
should truly observe all the said ordinances, well and truly
yield and pay all such forfeitures, and in no point be resist-
ing, but in all things aiding to the said Wardens and their
deputies, for the true execution of the premises.
And this was thus subscribed : " Upon the consideration
" before expressed, and upon the motion of the Commission-
" ers, we of the Privy Council have agreed this to be ob-
" served and kept upon the pains therein contained. At
" the Star-chamber the 29th of June, anno 1566, and the
*' eighth year of the Queen's Majesty's reign ;
" N.Bacon, C.S. Winchester, R.Leicester, E. Clynton,
" E.Rogers, F. Knollys, Ambr. Cave, W. Cecyl."
To which the Commissioners also underwrit, " We under-
" writ think these ordinances meet and necessaiy to be
" decreed and observed.
" Matthue Cantuar. Ambr. Cave. Tho. Yale.
" Edm. London. David Lewis. Rob. Weston.
T. Huycke."
Great was the friendship between our Archbishop and The Arch-
Dr. Haddon, of whom we have had occasion to speak before. '"'''°P^
Jr sends Dr.
He being now the Queen's Ambassador at Bruges, the Arch- Haddon a
bishop in the midst of these his turmoils wrote him a letter, hl"pro^ceed-
shewing him how they had proceeded in these matters, and '"g»-
444 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK withal sent him inclosed the opinion of Bucer and Martyr
'^'^ concerning the habits. To whom the Civilian from Bruges
Anno 1566. made him answer; and concerning the solid judgment of
those two learned foreigners thus he wrote :
Haddon's Quorum authoritas, licet sola plebeiorum istorum et no-
judgmentof _ _ ^ r
the Dissent- yi^iomw commenta Jrangere posset, tamen perfectissimi
c?c^cf c Theologi tarn grav'iter in his causis argumentati sunt, ut
interEpist. ipsis rationum momentis omnibus satisjieri possit, qui se-
cum aures sinceras, et nullis errorum prajudiciis occupa-
tas, qfferre volunt. Quapropter in doctrina satis arbitror
esse processum, in disciplina reliquum esse debet, ut illorum
importunitas poena devinciatur, qui contra Principis edi-
ctum, et publicas Ecclesia constitutiones in rebus arbitrariis
223 vociferantur. This was the judgment of this grave and
learned man; to this tenor in English: " Whose authority
" alone [namely, of Bucer and Martyr] was enough to over-
" throw the fancies of those vulgar men and mere novices;
" much more when those most accomplished Divines argued
" so solidly in these causes, that their weighty reasons might
" satisfy all that brought sincere minds, and not forestalled
" with error. Wherefore I think we have proceeded far
" enough in doctrine, the remainder ought to concern dis-
" cipline, that so their importunity might be restrained
" by punishment, that make such a clamour in arbitrary
" matters against the Prince's decree, and the public con-
" stitutions of the Church."
The Arch- In the course of the correspondence between these two,
Haddon ' the Archbishop, in his answer to the above mentioned, com-
concerning municated some further news of the Puritans and their
the Pun- J. ■ ,
tans. MS. friends and books. An answer to one of them he now also
sent him. And this following; was the tenor of his letter.
" I have received your letters, wherein et amice et gra-
" viter, you do both comfort my travail-taking in the
" establishing of order and concord in our Church, as ye
" do godly admonish me to go on to mine office, and to
" refer the success thereof to God. As I am always per-
" suaded to [set a value] upon letters elegantly written,
" which come from your pen, so I rejoice to see in you so
G. p. Ar
mig.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 445
" much grave Christian philosophy. Ye may well marvel CHAP,
" of the boldness of these men ecclesiastical, advancing
" themselves so far to insult against the Prince, and public Anno i566.
" authority of laws, &c. and not to be ashamed to put
" their fancies in public print. Lamentable it is, that some
" of these light heads be much comforted of such, whose
" authority should be bent to repress them. The boldness
" of their books imprinted caused some examination to be
" set forth, which here I send you to expend. Indeed all
" things be not so answered as their writing deserved, but
" yet more was considered what became such which hath
" taken in hand to answer, than what they deserved. And
" I am deceived, if a little be not enough to satisfy wise and
" learned men in this controversy. And thus signify to
*' you, that with the assistance of the Queen's Majesty's
" Council we have dispersed a few of the heads of them,
" some to the Bishop of Winchester, some to Ely, and
" some to Norwich, to school them, or else at the least to
" have them out of London, till we see cause, to restore
" them their liberty. I commend you to God, with my
" commendations to my Lord Mountague, to Mr. Dene,
" and to Dr. At Cray den.'"
Gentleness, as appears hence, was used towards the.se Many de-
Ministers that stood out, and so were deprived. Some of ^^1^55^^""^^
them by order of the Council, with the advice of the eccle- for a time,
siastical Commissioners, were taken up, and put under easy
restraints with some of the Bishops, being sent down, some
to Ely, some to Norwich, and some to the Bishop of Win-
ton ; partly to have the benefit of their instructions, and
partly to rid London of them. But it was not long that
they remained so, but were restored to their liberties ; and
had leave, or at least connivance, to preach. So did Samp-
son and Lever, who, though they wore not the habits,
yet had places, and preached. For when some, who were
brought before the Lord Mayor and the Bishop of London,
in the year 1567, for holding private conventicles, had
urged in their own vindication, that none might preach or
minister, except he used the apparel ; the Bishop answered,
446
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " No? How say you to Sampson, and Lever, and others?
" Do not they preach ? and that, though the laws stand in
Anno 1566." force against them."
Part of a How John Fox behaved himself in these commotions
Register.
John Fox's about Uniformity, when several Ministers were forbid
behaviour preaching: for their non-compliance, may be understood bv
peaceable. ^ ° . . .
what I am going to relate concerning him. He, having
no living, was not taken notice of, or summoned before the
Commissioners, though he was no approver of the habits;
and it was well enough known he was not. But his temper
was mild, and his principles peaceable ; and he carried him-
self as a promoter of quiet on both sides ; being one that
224 declared a great dislike of all separations and schisms among
Protestants. But to give a taste of Fox's spirit. There
was one West, whom the ecclesiastical Commissioners, in or
near this year, had laid in prison for uttei'ing something
against the superior powers, going probably upon the prin-
ciples of Goodman's book. Fox, having been West's school-
fellow and collegian and friend, writ to the Commissioners
an elegant letter; not justifying West, but concluding him
blame-worthy. And hence descending to lament the differ-
ences in the Church of England, and shewing in what an
ill state of looseness and wickedness the nation then stood ;
which, he said, ought chiefly to be ordered, and that many
matters were to be reformed, but no schism by any means
to be made ; he had moreover these expressions in his said
letter : " That the more earnestly he favoured the peace
" and tranquiUity of the Church, the more did these intes-
" tine differences of opinions and controversies (whence
" arisen he could not tell) torture his mind. Yet had they
" sprung from necessary causes, they had less troubled him.
" But while from light matters they drew occasions for
" grievous contentions, and tossed about unnecessary ques-
" tions, the fruit of brotherly communion was not only lost,
" but the adversaries' forces got strength against them. To
" whom they afforded a very joyful spectacle in these their
" quarrels. But how much better were it, said he, with
" united strength to do Christ's work, and to diffuse his
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 447
" faith in the minds of the godly, as far as possible, and to CHAP.
" fight against the sworn enemies of our salvation, rather
"than against the friends of the faith. He Icnew much Anno 1 566.
" was yet wanting to a perfect Church. But prudent phy-
" sicians should here be imitated, whose first care is wont
" to be, that the body live, and then that it flourish and
" be in good health. But we, said he, by a preposterous
" solicitude, while we strive to bring the Church to a most
" perfect rule of reformation, do in effect by this strife
" bring to pass, that we see no Church at all, or one very
" deformed. For what Church is to be seen there, where
" we have peace neither with our friends nor enemies Nay,
" what peace have we with God, when atheism reigns, lust
" goes without punishment, covetousness robs and spoils,
" benefices are bought and sold, Priests grow cold.'' and
" would they were cold indeed. But now many are neither
*' cold nor hot. The pulpits are silenced; Christ's sheep-
" fold is fleeced, not fed ; the harvest is despised. And
" since it is thus, what can we do better than to shew our-
" selves good Divines, by minding the greater matters of
" Christian religion ? And then to build on that, what con-
" cerns the external reformation, if we may : but if we
" may not, by no means to move any schism." This letter,
containing this pious admonition to the Clergy, may be
found in the Appendix. Num. L.
CHAP. XII.
Continuation of the history of the London Ministers sus-
pended. Supply of the vacant churches. The Arch-
bishop vindicates himself. His earnest letter for more
countenance from the Court. Becon''s Postills.
But to continue our story of the London Ministers sus- Care taken
pended, or deprived. It may be asked, whether upon thcpiy of th"^"
suspending of so many Ministers the church doors of their vacant
. . , , , . churches.
respective panshes were shut up, and no divme service nor
448 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK sermons there performed? But to this I answer, the Arch-
. bishop and Bishop of London took care by their Chaplains
Anno 1 566. jQ provide for the vacant churches, as well as they could.
But they could not supply aU, being opposed by the sus-
pended incumbents. " Some whereof were peevish, [they
" are the Archbishop's own words,] and some froward, and
" some fearful, and some would fain step in [to their
225 " churches again] with honesty. To whom they [the
" Commissioners] used such affability, as they might.
" Yet not suffering their authority and constancy to seem to
" fear, or to be more desirous of them than they moved
" them to their own commodity, but especially to the
" people's quiet, and to the obedience of laws as the
Archbishop himself gave the account to his friend and
correspondent the Secretary.
The great But the Puritans took great advantage at this present
gainst the necessity of lea\Ting divers churches unsupphed, by reason
suspensions, ^j^jg ^^te censure inflicted upon the Ministers : and they
took care to get the Court acquainted vnth the great incon-
venience thereof : noising it abroad, that now against Easter
there were none to officiate, and administer the Sacrament :
and that there were on Palm Sunday six hundred persons
ready to receive the Communion, and came to church for
that purpose, and found the doors shut. These reports
brought to the Court, and cherished there by some about
the Queen, caused the Secretary to vnite unto the Arch-
bishop concerning them ; and concerning the imprisonment
of some ; of which severe handling great complaints were
made. And finally advising him to continue his care of
London.
The Arch- Concerning these matters, the Archbishop, April 12,
dica°ion of " Good Friday, now indisposed in his bed, wrote by
himself. another hand unto the Secretary, that aU this was no more
than he foresaw before he began : and that when the Queen
put him upon doing what he had done, he told her at his
first speech vAth her the second Sunday in Lent, that these
precise folks would offer their goods, and bodies to prison,
rather than they would relent. And her Highness then
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 449
willed him to imprison them. And in a letter that he after- CHAP.
• • • • XII
wards wrote the Queen, he signified this to her, and like- '__
wise the vacancy of several churches. And in a joint letter ■'^""o ' see.
of his and of the Bishop of London to the Secretary, they
said, there would be many parishes unserved, and many
speeches would arise, and much resistance there would be.
And therefore nothing more than what was expected. As
for the disappointment of those well disposed people, that
came to receive the Sacrament, he said, in general, that
these reporters made ex musca elephantem : and that my
Lord of London, being that very day, viz. Good Friday,
to preach at Court, and so present there, was able to give
the truest account of matters in his own jurisdiction. But
that he could say, that whereas he had sent divers days
three or four of his Chaplains to serve in the greatest
parishes, what for lack of surplice and wafer bread, they did
mostly but preach. And one of his Chaplains serving Palm Tlie insolen-
Sunday, and being informed tliat divers communicants Dissenters,
would have received, the table made ready accordingly,
while he was reading the Passion, one man of the parish
drew from the table both cup and wafer bread, because the
bread was not common : and so the Minister was derided,
and the people disappointed. And divers churchwardens,
to make a trouble and a difficulty, would provide neither
surplice nor bread. All this the Archbishop signified to the
Secretary. He called upon the Bishop of London also to
do his part, to supply some of the vacancies by his Chap-
lains. Who sent him word, that there needed only preach-
ers, for others might be appointed to serve the cures. He
added, moreover, that it was no great inconvenience, though
some parishes wanted in London, saying, that London was
no grange, and that they might go otherwhere. But these
precise men, said he, for all their brags of six hundred com-
municants, did promise openly that they would neither
communicate, nor come to church, where either the sur-
plice or the cap is. And so he knew it was practised.
I meet with a paper without date, probably to come in Orders how
... , • I.,- • • , "ne Min-
at this time; wherein one Minister was appointed to serve ister tiiouid
vox,. I. G g
450 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK two churches in London. And it contained the order how
this should be performed ; which ran thus : " Those Min-
Anno 1566." istcrs Avhich in this time of necessity are commanded and
Parishes*' " ^ippointed to serve another church beside their own, shall
" on Sundays and holydays at the one church begin morn-
" ing prayer at seven of the clock, or soon after ; and
" reading only one Lesson, which shall be the Lesson of the
" New Testament, shall afterwards say the Litany : and
226" that ended, which may be done by eight of the clock,
" shall go to the other church appointed unto him, and
" there say the morning prayer in like form with the Li-
" tany ; and after a sermon made, or homily read, shall
" minister the whole Communion, when any just number
" of communicants shall be disposed to receive. And like-
" wise, preventing the accustomed hour for evening prayer
" at the one church, shall afterwards serve the other. Item,
" The said Ministers shall use this order at the said churches
" alternis vicibus : so that in the church, where he be-
" ginneth one Sunday at seven, he shall begin the next
" Sunday at eight. And so in course continuallv, till other
" provision can be made. Item, The said Ministers shall
" use the same order for the prayers appointed on Wednes-
" days and Fridays before noon, and Saturdays afternoon."
His care of Concerning the last particular in the Secretary's letter,
London. which related to his care of London, the Archbishop signi-
fied back, that for his own peculiars, foiu-teen or fifteen
were all in good order. Some had refused, but now they
were induced ; and they were sortly learned with the best
of them. Among whom was one Cole, of Bow church,
and one Beddel, of Pancras. He complained, that the
charge of another should be thus devolved upon him : se-
cretly pointing to the remissness of the Bishop of London.
He said, that for his part he could do no more, nor promise
any more : that his age would not suffer him to peruse all
the parishes ; and that he had called on the Bishop of Lon-
don, who was younger and nearer them, and had vacant
priests in his church. And that that Bishop sent him
word, that there needed preachers only, having sufficient to
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 451
supply the cures. He desired the Secretary, tlaat he might CHAP,
be spoken to, to see to his charge ; which might be done
seasonably that day, being Good Friday, when he preached Anno i566.
at Court. He told the Secretary moreover, that he had
talked with new come preachers to London, who had moved
to sedition, and that he had charged them to silence. And
some he had in prison, which in that quarrel fell to open
blows in the church. On Maunday Thursday, he had
many of the Bishop of London's parishes, churchwardens,
and others, before him, sitting in commission with Dr.
Lewis, Mr. Osborn, and Mr. Drury : and so he had done
all the week, till he was fully tired. For some Ministers
would not obey their suspensions : and some churchwar-
dens would not provide surplices and wafer bread for the
Communion, and others opposed and disturbed those that
were sent by tlie Archbishop and Bishop to officiate in the
prescribed apparel. All which misdemeanors created him
work and trouble enough.
Which made him in conclusion to complain, " that he Complains
" must do all things alone : that he was not able, and must ^ ^
refuse to promise to do what he could not, and was an- London lay
"other man's charge [meaning London]. He marvelled 'jf;!^"''"
" that he must be charged to see and judge of all parishes
" in London, and the care be committed unto him only: as
" though the burden should be laid on his neck, and other
" men di-aw backward. All other men, said he, must win
" honour and defence, and I only shame, to be so vilely re-
" ported. And yet I am not weary to bear to do service
" to God and ray Prince. But an ox can draw no more
" than he can."
But all this pains and labour had not a success answer- is dis-
able. The Queen had followed the Archbishop with re-
r and makes
peated commands to press the ecclesiastical orders. And some stop,
she was in such good earnest to have them observed all her
kingdom over, that she had now willed the Archbishop of
York, to declare in his province also her pleasm-e determi-
nately to have them take place there. But her Majesty's
Council was backward to empower and countenance our
Gg2
452
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Archbishop in his endeavours for that pm-pose. This, with
the clamour and rage of the dissenting Clergy and their
Anno 1566. adherents, and the hard names they gave him, quite dis-
couraged the good man. He liked not the work, especially
being accompanied with so much severity ; but it Avas out
of obedience to the Queen, who was continually calling
upon him, and ordering the Secretary to write to him, to
quicken him. But finding his own inability to do her that
service she required of him, he very often and earnestly
sent to the Secretary, that the Queen's Council might stand
by him with their authority. But he could not obtain his
desire. Whereupon he made a stop in his proceedings, and
227 grew more languid in them. But withal he wondered at
the great neglect that the Queen's counsellors shewed to her
therein.
His grounds These his dealings must not be interpreted, as though he
him what any overfondness to the cap and surplice, and the
he did. wafer bread for the Communion, and such like injunctions.
For it would have pleased him well enough, if some tolera-
tion had been given in these matters, as he often declared.
But being the chief supervisor of the Church, he laboured
to bring in an imiform method in the public service of God,
as tending so much to unity and peace. And when the
Queen's absolute command was, to have these things ob-
served by Churchmen, it was his care of his Prince's honour
that made him so sedulous that her will and pleasure should
take place. And this was the conclusion of this effort
against the Puritans at this time.
To illustrate all this the more, I wiU here present the
copy of a letter he wrote to the Secretary, wherein he re-
solved to surcease any further to pursue that matter, with
the reasons of that resolution, dated April 28.
His letter " Sii', The Quecn's Majesty willed my Lord of York to
to that pur- a declare hir pleasure determinately, to have the order to
pose. * . . . , .
" go forwarde. I trust hir Highness hath devised how it
" maye be performed. I utterly despaii'e therin as of my
" self : and therefore must set still, as I have nowe done.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 453
" alweys wayting eyther hir toleration, or ellis furder ayde. CHAP.
" Mr. Secretary, can it be thought that I alone, having sun
" and moon agaynst me, can compass this difficultye.'' Yf Anno 1 566.
" youe, of hir Majesties Counsale, provide no otherwise for
" this matter, than as it appearith openly, what the sequel
" wil be, horresco vel reminiscendo cogitare. In King
" Edward's dayes the holl bodye of the Counsayle traveled
" in Hoopers attempt. My predecessor Dr. Cranmer, la-
" bourying in vayne with B. Ferror, the Counsayle took it
" in honde. And shal I hope to do that the Queen's Ma-
" jesty wil have done What I here and see, what com-
" playntes be brought on to me, I shal not report. How
" I am used of many mennys bonds. I commyt all to
" God. If I dye in the cause (malice so far prevayling) I
" shal commyt my soul to God in a good conscyence. Yf
*' the Quenes Majesty be no more considered, I shal not
" mervel what be said or done to me. Yf you heare and
" see so manifestly as maye be sene, and will not consult in
" tyme to prevent so many myseries, &c. I have and do
" by this presence discharge my allegiance, dutye, and con-
" scyence to youe, in such place as ye be. I can promyse
" to do nothing, but hold me in silence within myne own
" conscyence, and make my complaynts to God, ut exurgat
" Deus, et judicet causam istam : ille, ille, qui comprehen-
" dit sapientes in astutia ipsorum. Thus God be ^vith
" your Honor. Almyghti God preserve the Quenes Ma-
" jestie : this xxviii of April, 1566.
" Your Honours in Christ,
" Matth. Cant."
From which letter permit me to make two or three re- Remarks
marks. One is, the great inconveniences, dangers, and 1'^^^^.
confusions, that the Archbishop apprehended would ensue
from this licentiousness and disobedience. And that he
gathei'ed from what he had already seen ; such as fighting in
the church; sacrilegious taking away the elements prepared
for the holy Communion, even when the piously disposed
were ready to receive ; and that for no other reason but
Gg3
454 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK because the bread was wafer, and not common bread ; taking
Clerks that were celebrating the holy offices, and turning
Anno 1566. them by violence out of the church, only because they woi'e
surplices ; making a sinner do penance publicly in a square
cap ; and such like things. Which exorbitant practices
could portend nothing but evil to follow. Again, we may
228 observe, that it was not without precedent what his Gi'ace
required of the Council, namely, upon great occasions to aid
and coimtenance with their authority the Bishops, in the
execution of some weighty ecclesiastical affairs, as the Coun-
cil had done to Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Hooper.
We observe moreover, that the Archbishop, by what he had
already done, had raised so much malice against himself,
that he seemed to be in some hazard of liis life. And lastly,
how strong the party of the disaffected were even thus early
in the English Church.
Becon'snew While these matters were thus carrvinff on, Thomas
ostil for JO '
the use "of j^econ, a famed preacher and writer, living at Canterbury,
Curates. where he had a prebend, was employed in a very useful
work at this season, namely, in providing the Church with
a postil, containing honest plain sermons for all the Sundays
in the year, upon the Gospels, beginning with the first
Sunday in Advent, to be read by the Curate to his congre-
gation. They seem to be only a translation either out of
Latin or Dutch. To which the said Becon added a large
Preface, To his Felhw-Labourers in the Lord's Harvest,^
the Ministers and Preachers of God's most holy Word.
Wherein he earnestly exhorted them to the discharge of
their weighty duty: written from Canterbury, July 16,
1566. To which postil are two prayers added, either of
them to be said before sermon, a longer and a shorter, ac-
cording to the Minister's discretion : and another prayer or
thanksgiving to be said after sermon. These prayers and
these sermons were framed for Ministers of less ability to
invent and compose prayers and sermons themselves ; that
the people might be instructed in sound and wholesome
doctrine, whatsoever the abilities of the Ministers were un-
der whom they happened to live. And this accorded with
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 456
the Queen's Injunctions. The title the book bore was, A CHAP.
neio Postil, containing most godly and learned Sermons,
to be read in the Church throughout the Year. Lately Anno isee.
forth unto the great profit, not only of all Curates and
Spiritual Ministers, but also of all godly and faitlvful
Readers. Perused and allowed according to the Queen'' s
Mc0esty''s Injunctions.
CHAP. XIII.
The Judgments of Bishop Cox, in a letter to the Archbi-
shop; and of Bishop Grindal, concerning these contro-
versies. The Bishops'' arguments with the Dissenters.
Their practices. A letter to the Bishops from the Church
of Scotland. The deprived M'lnisters remitted their first-
fruits. A Dominican pretends h'lmself a Puritan. Ex-
amined by the Archbishop.
The Bishops, (for the Archbishop's mind we have seen The Bishops
already,) how little stress soever they laid upon these obser- uissenters'
vances, and how willing soever they were to have them re- "jl*"'^'^"
moved by authority ; yet were not at all pleased to see the And why.
oppositions and the refractoriness of many against them,
when they were once by law enacted, and by the Queen's
determinate will and pleasure enjoined. Cox, Bishop of
Ely, wrote thus in May to the Archbishop.
" Salutem in Christo. I thank your Grace for your Bisnop Cox
" sundry letters. Your Grace's last I received by Jug, one Archbishop.
" of the Queen's Majesty's printers. Wherein I Perceive ^^-^^^j^
" your travail and zeal, and some griefs that things proceed
" not rightly ; which is too too much to be lamented, for
" such respects as your Grace Avith others consider rightly.
" Quod Dominus dixit Josue, hoc t'lbi dictum puta; Con-
^^fortare et esto robustus. Noli metuere, et noli t'lmere,
" quum tecum est Dominus Dcus tuus, &c. Time and
" truth shall put folly to flight. Interim modis omnibus
G g 4
456
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK enitendum, tie nostra Heroina J'rangatur animo, aut
offendatur ad verrucas paucorum, ac interea ad mitlto-
{\.nno rum tubera conniveat. Malcsaniis est nostrorum zelus,
" at Papistarum deliria quavis peste nocentiora.
" Et Dom. Jesus inetatcm tuam nobis diutissime servct in-
" columem. From Somersham 3 Mali 1566.
" Your Grace's assured,
" Richarde Ely."
By which letter it appears, that the great fears among
the wise and good men were, that the Queen, taking offence
at these differences among her Protestant subjects, should in-
cline the more to her Popish subjects. And upon that account
Bishop Cox reckoned the Puritans the more to be blamed,
as endangering even the Gospel itself by their stubborn in-
compliances. For that this reverend Father seems to mean
by those expressions : " In the mean time we must take
" care, and endeavovu* by all means, lest our royal Mistress
" be discouraged, or offended with the little warts of a few,
" and wink at the greater sores of many. Ours are guilty
" of a wild zeal, but the madness of Papists do more harm
" than any plague."
BuUingei's And Griudal, Bishop of London, a wise and learned man,
prUted by ^ut reputed to be not vigorous enough in these matters.
Bishop^ ^as often upon the bench in the commission at Lambeth,
in order to the reproof and restraint of these men. For he
saw now these contentions about indifferent things did not
edify, but divide the Churches, and sow discord among
brethren. And therefore, as a means to allay them, caused
to be printed in Latin and English the judgment of BuUin-
ger, which he sent over hither to Grindal, Horn, and Park-
hurst, concerning the habits and the lawfulness of wearing
them ; but drawn up for the satisfaction of Sampson and
Humfrey. Which had so good an effect, that many who
had resolved to leave their ministry, rather than put them
on, took now other resolutions ; and the common people
came to soberer thoughts of these habits, by reading that
learned foreigner's writing hereupon : who though he used
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 457
them not himself, yet condemned them not of any impiety ; CHAP,
which none should ever have persuaded them to believe, be-
fore the publishing of this writing. Anno isse.
All this I collect from a letter of Grindal to Bullinger, Vid.Life of
. , . Grindal, p.
wrote in August this year. jos.
The Bishops indeed did endeavour to bring in these Dis- Arguments
senters, not only by authority, as ecclesiastical Commis- pissg^ters.
sioners, but by the milder course of argument and persua-
sion. In a paper near about this time, as I guess, I find
these syllogisms propounded to them.
I. No faithful Minister ought once to seem to condemn Foxii MSS.
his faithful fellow Ministers, Fathers, and Bishops, which
are yet living, or such as are departed this life by mar-
tyrdom, in the true confession of Christian faith. But so
straitly to refuse such priestly apparel as they did use,
seemeth to condemn them. Ergo, No faithful Minister
ought so straitly to refuse such priestly apparel.
II. In things indifferent the Prince may command, and
we ought to obey. But this priestly apparel i& a thing in-
different. Ergo, In this priestly apparel the Prince may
command, and we ought to obey. But these and such like
arguments were usually replied unto again.
In the mean time the Puritans were not wanting to them- Their en-
selves, by all means labouring for a toleration in the neglect
of these human constitutions. And as tliey got an interest
with some great men in the Court at home, so they made
their complaints to the reformed Churches abroad : and by 230
writings and books printed, endeavoured to justify their in-
compliances. And they sent their case to the Churches of
Geneva and of Zurich, as was shewed before.
They sent also their messengers and letters to the Church The ciiurch
of Scotland, setting forth how they were deprived ; many
whereof, as they gave out, of the greatest learning within Bishops,
the realms ; because their conscience would not suffer them, J**""'. °^ *
. Register, p.
at the command of authority, to wear such garments as 125.
idolaters used in their idolatry: and that they were hin-
dered by the Bishops from promoting the kingdom of Jesus
Christ. Whereat that Church, in the month of December
458 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
III.
Anno 156'6
Numb. LI.
Ministers
deprived,
pardoned
their first-
fruits.
Pap. Office.
Num. LII.
this year 1566, sent an earnest letter to the Bishops in
their behalf. Wherein, " they, upon a misinformation no
■ " doubt, spake of many thousands, both godly and learned,
" that refused the habits, (for as yet the Church was not so
" well replenished.) They argued, that the surplice, cor-
" nered cap and tippet, had been badges of idolatry in the
" very act of idolatry, and that they were the dregs of the
" Romish beast. That the scruplers of these things did
" not damn nor molest the Bishops that used such vain
" trifles ; and therefore the Bishops should not trouble
" them. That they should walk more circumspectly than
" for such vanities to trouble the godly. That they, the
" Bishops, should boldly oppose themselves against the au-
" thority, that urged the consciences of their brethren fur-
" ther than God burdened them. That though there ap-
" peared no great worldly pomp in them, [the Scotch Min-
" isters and Pastors,] yet, they supposed, the Bishops
" would not despise them, but esteem them to be of the
" number of those that fought against the Romish Anti-
" christ. And so concluded, craving favour for the Dis-
" senters." This was dated from the General Assembly at
Edinburgh. The whole letter may be read in the Ap-
pendix. But surely this was somewhat rough treating their
brethren, the English Bishops.
But as for those that stood out the three months'" sus-
pension, and so were deprived, the hardship of paying their
first-fruits (which they had compounded for) was mollified:
their compounding for which, and their obligations, some
of them had complained of to the Archbishop, as we heard
before. He, In all probability, as he had acquainted the
Secretary with It, so he moved him to obtain favour for
them of the Queen in this behalf. And accordingly I meet
with a formal warrant drawn up to discharge them. The
draught whereof will be seen In the Appendix. It was
directed to the Treasurer and Barons of her Exchequer,
letting them understand, that of her grace and mere mo-
tion, she had clearly remitted and forgiven unto those per-
sons that were deprived and amoved from their promotions
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 459
and dignities spiritual, for not obeying certain ecclesiastical CHAP,
rites and ceremonies, by her laws and injunctions appointed,
such sums of money as were or should be due from them Anno i566.
by their writings obligatory, for the first-fruits of the same:
And therefore commanding them, that upon the sight of
these her letters, and proof had of their deprivations by cer-
tificate of the Ordinaries under their hands and seals to
them directed, or by any other due means, to cancel and
make void the said specialities and writings obligatory.
In this year came one of these dissenting preachers (in One of these
appearance, but in truth a Dominican Friar) to Maidstone, Jj^royes'^a'^*
to the Maidenhead Inn there, with divers others his Dominican
followers ; where as guests they bespake a dinner. Di- Foxes and
vers others resorted hither, inquiring for this man, whose F"ebr.
name was Faithful Cummin. These were his congregation.
Being thus met in the room they had taken up, Cummin
exercised extemporary prayer for about two hours, groaning
and weeping much. The exercise being over, most of the
company departed; some few tarried and partook with the
exerciser of the dinner provided. Of this meeting, John
Clarkson, the Archbishop''s Chaplain, being informed, ac-
quainted his Grace, and he the Queen and Council. Be-
fore whom at length this man was convented the next year,
as a sower of sedition among the Queen's subjects. Here
the Archbishop examined him. He acknowledged he was
ordained by Cardinal Pole; but said, that he was fallen off
from Rome, and that he was a preacher of the Gospel ;
but that he had no licence to preach from any of the Bi- 23 1
shops since the Reformation. And when the Archbishop
asked him, if he had no such licence, how any could be as-
sured that he was not of the Romish Church ; he would
prove that by his prayers and sermons, wherein he had
spoken against Rome and the Pope, as much as any of the
Clergy. And he pretended, that it was licence enough to
preach, to have the Spirit; which, he said, he had. When
the Archbishop again demanded, whether that could be the
Spirit, that complied not with the orders of the Church,
lately purged and cleansed from idolatry; he repUed, he
460 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK endeavoured to make the Church purer than it was. This
man had a congregation that followed him, which he termed
Anno 1566. men of tender consciences : and Avith them he prayed and
preached, and administered the Sacrament. When he preach-
ed in public, he Avould be absent till the divine service were
over, (for the English Liturgy he could not away with,)
and then he would come into the church and preach.
Departs be- After his former examination, and giving bail for a fur-
yond sea. ^ o o
ther appearance, he found opportunity to escape beyond
sea : telling his congregation, that he was warned of God
to travel abroad, to instruct Protestants in other parts of
the world, and would come again to them ; leaving these as
his last words to them : That spiritual prayer was the chief
testimony of a true Protestant ; and that the set form of
prayer was but the Mass translated ; and so praying Avith
them, and getting money from them to bear his expenses,
in many tears he parted from them.
This matter and the issue of it shall be related more at
large under the next year.
I relate this only as a memorable matter, not to be omit-
ted by an ecclesiastical historian, without making any obser-
vation ; only noting, how diligent Papists have been, from
the first times of our Reformation, to cherish divisions
among Protestants : and whether it were the hand of Pa-
pists that made this unhappy separation so early in our
Church, it is uncertain ; to be sure, they presently took
hold of these misunderstandings, to continue and blow them
up, and to embitter the spirits of well-meaning men against
the reformed religion, so well established.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 461
CHAP. XIV. 232
The Archbishop makes 'inquiry into the Clergy of Ms pro-
vince. Appoints public prayers against the Turk. Ro-
binson consecrated Bishop of' Bangor. His sermon. The
Archbishop receives information where Cranmer'^s and
Ridley''s Disjmtations at Oxford were. Desires of Grcif
ton a sight of certain ancient authors used in his Chroni-
cle. This historian'' s condition. The Archb'ishop) informed
of the .misbehaviour of one Day, Curate of Maidstone.
The Earl of Oxford holds in Knighfs service of the Arch-
bishop.
But now to return to our Archbishop again, and to make Anno i566.
some further discovery of his extraordinary dihgence and 7^^''f ■'^'^5''"
*' . . bisliop in-
care in his office. To know the true state of his province, quires into
and what kind of Clergy for learning and abilities, and what ^^'^^^
oj o ' his pro-
numbers to supply the cures, and what parishes void there vince.
now were, and especially how the cathedrals were supplied,
that he might the better take order in the Church, and see
what proficiency it had made in seven or eight years ; he
sent a letter to the Bishop of London, (and the like I sup-
pose he did to the rest of the Bishops,) to certify him on this
side Michaelmas of these things, viz. of the names, sur-
names, degrees, and reputed age of all Deans, Archdeacons,
Dignitaries, and Prebendaries, within his cathedral church. Archbishop
... Park. Re-
and of all others any ways beneficed, or having any spiritual gist."
promotion within his diocese. And how many of them be re-
sident ; and where and in what place and calling the absents
do Uve ; and how many of all such be Ministers or Deacons ;
and how many no Priests nor Deacons ; and how many be
learned and able to preach ; and how many be licensed, and
by whom they be so ; and how many of them do keep hos-
pitality upon their benefices ; with a note of all vacant bene-
fices, and the names of such as do receive the fruits thereof.
The Archbishop undoubtedly had great ends in this inquiry ;
as to know in what better state the Church now was, as to
the number and improvements of the Clergy, and also to
462
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
^op'^ stop the mouths of Papists ov other enemies of the Church,
. who failed not to make representations bad enougli of them :
Anno i5e6'. where there were defects, by knowledge thereof to be
the better able to redress them.
Sets forth a The Turks were now very unquiet in the parts next
form of , . , . . , *' ^ . /. , .
prayers their dommions, and poor Hungary was m danger of being
'l\jr'k** overrun by them. Our most reverend Father now, to shew
himself a truly Catholic Bishop, that had a tender concern
for the welfare of all Christians, wheresoever dispersed, or-
dered a form of prayer to be used every Sunday, Wednes-
day, and Friday, throughout the whole realm, to excite and
stir up all godly people to pray unto God for the preserv-
ation of those Christians and their countries, that were then
invaded by the Turks in Hungary or elsewhere. This form
was printed, and set forth by the most reverend Father in
God Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury. The Preface to
which shewed, " That whereas the Turks the last year most
" fiercely assaulting the isle of Malta with a great army
" and navy, by the grace and assistance of Almighty God
" were from thence expelled and driven with their great
" loss, shame, and confusion ; they, being inflamed with
" malice and desire of revenge, did now by land invade the
" kingdom of Hungary, (which had been of long time a most
" strong wall and defence to all Christendom,) far more ter-
233 " ribly and dreadfully, and with greater force and violence,
" than they did either the last year, or at any time within
" the remembrance of man. That it was therefore our parts,
" which for distance of place cannot succour them with tem-
" poral aid of men, to assist them at least with spiritual
" aid : that is to say, with earnest hearts and fervent pray-
" ers ; and that the Emperor, as God's principal minister,
" might repress the rage and violence of these infidels ; who
" by all tyranny and cruelty labour heartily to root out not
" only true religion, but also the name and members of
" Christ, and all Christianity. And for so much as, if the
" infidels, who have already a great part of that most goodly
" and strong kingdom in their possession, should prevail
" wholly against the same, all the rest of Christendom should
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 463
" lie as it wei-e naked and open to their incursions and inva- CHAP.
" sions, to the most dreadful danger of whole Christendom."
There was one prayer to be used for the morning and an- Anno i566.
other for the evening. That for the evening was to this
tenor :
" O God of hosts, most righteous Judge, and most Tlie prayer.
" merciful Father. The dreadful dangers and distresses
" wherein other Christian men our brethren and neigh-
" hours do now stand, by reason of the terrible invasion of
" most cruel and deadly enemies the Turks, infidels and
" miscreants, do set before our eyes a terrible example of
" our own worthy deserts by our continual sinning and
" offending against thy great Majesty and most severe
" justice, and do also put us in remembrance here in this our
" realm of England, of our most deserved thanks for our
" great tranquillity, peace, and quietness, which we by thy
" high benefit, and preservation of our peaceable Prince
" whom thou hast given us, do enjoy, while others, in the
" like or less offences than ours are against thy Majesty, are
" by thy righteous judgments so terribly scourged. This
" thy fatherly mercies do set forth thy unspeakable patience,
" which thou usest towards us thy ingi'ate children, as well
" in the same thy gracious benefits of such our peace and
" tranquillity, as in thy wholesome warnings of us, by thy
" just punishments of others less offenders than we be.
" For the which thy great benefits bestowed upon us
" without our deserving, as we praise thy fatherly goodness
" towards us, so being stricken in our minds with great di-ead
" of thy just vengeance, for that we do so little regard the
" great riches of thy fatherly goodness and patience towards
" us, we most humbly beseech thee to grant us thy heavenly
" grace, that we continue no longer in the taking thy mani-
" fold graces and goodness in vain. And upon deep com-
" passion of the dreadful distresses of our brethren and
" neighbours, the Christians, by the cruel and most terrible
" invasion of these most deadly enemies the Turks, we do
" make and offer up our most humble and hearty prayers
" before the throne of thy grace, for tlie mitigation of thy
464 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " wrath, and purchase of thy pity and fatherly favour to-
. " wards them ; and not only towards them, but to us also
Anno 1566-." by them. For so much as our danger or safety doth fol-
" low upon success of them. Grant them and us thy grace,
" O most merciful Father, that we may rightly understand
" and unfeignedly confess our sins against thy Majesty to
" be the very causes of this thy scourge and our misery.
" Grant us true and hearty repentance of all our sins against
" thee ; that the causes of thy just offence being removed,
" the effects of these our deserved miseries may withal be
" taken away. Give to thy poor Christians, O Lord God
" of hosts, strength from heaven, that they neither respect-
" ing their own weakness and paucity, nor fearing the mul-
" titude and fierceness of their enemies or their dreadful
" cruelty, but setting their eyes and only hope and trust
" upon thee, and calling upon thy name who art the Giver
" of all victory, may by thy power obtain victory against
" the infinite mviltitudes and fierceness of thine enemies.
" That all men, understanding the same to be the act of
" grace, and not the deed of man"'s might and power,
" may give unto thee all the praise and glory : and especially
234 " thy poor Christians by thy strong hand being delivered
" out of the hand of their enemies, we, for their and our
" safety with them, may yield and render unto thee all lauds,
" praises, and thanks, through thy Son our Saviour Jesus
" Christ. To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, one
" eternal God of most sacred Majesty, be all praise, honour,
" and glory, world without end. Amen.''''
Robinson Now at length was consecrated Nic. Robynson, D. D.
Bishop^o*/ *^ Bishop of Bangor, a Welshman, of the University of Cam-
Bangor. bridge, spoken of under the last year, succeeding in the
room of Merick deceased. This Robinson was the Arch-
bishop's Chaplain, eloquent in the English and Latin tongues,
well furnished with human learning and divinity, and in
Queen Mary's reign had suffered much from the Papists in
the foresaid University, where he seemed then to reside.
Among the Archbishop's papers there is a sermon, known
to be this man's, by what the Archbishop by his own hand
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 465
noted upon it, viz. Concio N. Robinson: it was preached CHAP.
near this time before some great audience either at Court or
St. Paul's Cross, by the Archbishop''s order. By which may Anno i366.
be perceived his great abihty in preaching, and what sort of
preaching there was even in those first times of Queen EHza-
beth ; and what sins prevailed. I will give some few lines
of it therefore in this place.
" It is a pitiful case to see abroad in country and town A specimen
" (and we may see it daily, if we shut not our eyes) godly °f his"™°"
*' preaching heard without remorse or repentance ; lawful ^- ^•
" prayers frequented without any devotion, fastings kept
" without affliction, holy days kept without any godliness,
" almsgiving without compassion. Lent openly holden with-
" out any discipline. And what fruit of life may be looked
" for, upon so simple a seed sowing ? He will not come to
" church, but that the law compelleth him : he will never
" be partaker of the most reverend mysteries, if he might
" otherwise avoid shame : he heareth the chapters, to jeer
" at them afterwards : he cometh to the sermon for fashion-
" sake only. He makes himself Minister to get a piece of a
" living. He sings stoutly for the stipend only. Chrysos-
" torn eloquently lamenting the corrupt manners of his days,
" universally throughout all estates, high and low, rich and
" poor, man and wife, master and servant, judge th all at
" length to spring of this root, that things in the Church
" were done u>s xctru (rwrjSeicov, as it were for foshion sake
" only, as church prayer, God's word, sacraments, service,
" &c. And alas ! among us for fashion sake, men of wor-
" ship have chaplains, peradventure to say service. For
" fashion sake simple men are presented to cures, and have
" the name of parsons. For fashion sake some hear the
" Scripture, to laugh at the folly thereof. For fashion sake
" merchantmen have Bibles, which they never peruse. For
" fashion sake some women buy Scripture books, that they
" may be thought to be well disposed : yea, for fashion sake
" many good laws are lightly put in execution, and so forth.
" And many carry death on their fingers, [a ring with a
" death's head,] when he is never nigh their hearts. He
VOL. I. H h
466 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " abhorreth superstition, because he would live as he list:
" he is a Protestant, because of his lands: I warrant you,
Anno 1566. «4 \yQ hateth the Pope, because he is married : he must needs
" be a favourer of religion, because of his promotions. From
" all these fashions what ill fashions in manners and life must
" spring, we may easily conjecture. 1 fear me, (and pray
" God from my heart it be not so,) many deal now with
" God's sincere religion publicly professed, (for the which
" the Lord's name be blessed,) as Dionysius the younger in
" his time did with philosophy : who indeed, though he
" maintained many philosophers at his house right well, and
" sometime reasoned of the Divinity, and conferred with
them ; yet in his heart, as he said, he neither regarded
" nor esteemed them a haw ; saving, that by that means he
" might be thought of many, a philosopher or a favourer of
" wisdom. Many think it enough to be thought Protest-
" ants. Here I forgat the example of Saul ; Honor a me
" coram jpopulo?''
235 At or near this time I find two learned historians apply-
Pursmt Archbishop. The one was John Fox, who by
after Cran- P . . ^ . .
mer's dis- his letter signified to his Grace and the Bishop of London,
MSS^'c'^c ^^^^ ^^^^ found in a register of a certain church in Lon-
C- C. don, (as he was a curious searcher into registers and records,)
- that the famous disputations of Dr. Cranmer, Dr. Ridley,
and Dr. Latymer, with the Oxford Divines, were under the
seal of the University, and the subscription of notaries ex-
hibited into the House of Convocation by Hugh Weston
(the chief moderator of those disputes) and some lawyers :
which was celebrated in the first of Queen Mary, Boner be-
ing Bishop of London : and that there were contained under
the same seal other things perhaps not unworthy knowledge.
That he had endeavoured to search them out ; but when
his pains succeeded not, he was compelled to desire the assist-
ance of some that belonged to the Convocation House. Dr.
Incent, that was Actuary, told him, that these papers were
either in Boner's hands, or in the custody of the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and that he had them not. And having
given this information to the said Archbishop and Bishop,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 467
Fox left it to them to consult as they thought good for the CHAP,
finding of these wi-itings. Which no question set the Arch-
bishop on work, who was an elaborate collector and retriever Anno ises.
of such things.
The other historian was Richard Grafton. The Archbi- Certain in-
shop was an earnest student in the ancient history of this his j^g'^'^rdf
native country, and more especially of the ecclesiastical his- bishop to
tory thereof. And reading Grafton's history, he met with historian,
the mention of two things relating to antiquity, that he was
desirous to make more diligent inquiry into. The one was
a book of Guido [he surnamed De Columna perhaps] which
Grafton had mentioned to be in his possession. This the
Archbishop did desire of him a sight of. The other was a
passage concerning King Lucius, the first Christian King of
Britain, and concerning two men named Elvanus and Med-
winus, whom Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, had sent to this
King to convert the inhabitants to the faith, and concerning
the conversion of them. The Archbishop''s request was to
know whence he had those names and the rest of the story.
This probably the Archbishop was the more desirous to be
informed in, because he intended to make some use of the
history of this conversion in his Preface to the Great English
Bible, and in his Antiquitates Britannicee ; both which he
had now under his hand : in the former whereof I remem-
ber he makes mention thereof. Grafton accordingly gave
the Archbishop a letter, wherein he certified his Grace, that
concerning the book of Guido, he had sought for it, but could
not find it. But to his remembrance he had delivered it to Mr.
Keyes, [Caius the antiquarian I suppose,] and that he would
send for it, and then his Grace should see it. And that as
for the matter of Lucy, [Lucius,] he added, that Eleutherius
sent Elvanus and Medwinus unto him, that the Britains
might I'eceive the faith of Christ : that their two names were
added by Mr. Keyes, [who, as it seems, had a great hand in
Grafton's history :] but where he found them he knew not.
But he would learn of him, and certify his Grace. And finally,
that the rest of the story of Lucy was in Fabian, [a chroni-
cler in the time of Henry VII.] in the thii'd book, fol. 59.
H h 2
468 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK The mention of Grafton here gives me occasion to say
.somewhat more of that eminent printer, and confessor too:
Anno 1566. f^j. y,g suffered imprisonment under Queen Mary; the
condition Popish party having a mortal hatred against the man, who |
under was the first that printed the Ensrhsh Bible. He wrote also,
Queen . . .
Elizabeth, or published, a very good Chronicle, as was hinted above.
King Edward VI. ought him 300Z. I suppose the debt was
chiefly for an edition of the Bible in his days. Under Queen
Elizabeth he fell down stairs, and brake his leg in two places ;
which made him lame to the day of his death. And by this
and other mischances he was reduced in his last age to
poverty. So that I find in fifteen hundred seventy and odd,
he petitioned the Queen for the benefit of a penal statute
made in the eighth of her reign, for the setting a work the ,
greater number of cloth-workers. Which statute was, that
whosoever should after the making of that act be licensed to
carry cloth out of the realm undressed, should for every
nine cloths undressed carry also one cloth of like goodness
dressed within the realm, upon pain of the forfeiture, for every
236 nine cloths so carried, of ten pounds, one moiety to the
Queen, and the other to the Master and Wardens of the
cloth-workers. But the cloth-workers, being now most of
them merchants, were offenders against this statute them-
selves, and would not punish any offenders or offence. Now
Grafton desired that the Queen would grant to him and his
assigns authority in her name to put in suit the offenders
against the said statute ; and for his pains to grant him the
half of what he should recover in the Queen's name, in any
of her Majesty's courts of record, to her use. And this suit
he besought the Lord Treasurer to countenance, and got his
old friend Dr. Wylson to solicit it before his Lordship.
Day, a scan- A complaint this year came before the Archbishop against
rate of one John Day, Curate of Maidstone. Both the parish and
Maidstone, country laid to his charge, that he was a person of a most
bisho^Tn*- Scandalous life, frequenting alehouses, retreating thither or-
fornied of dinarily from the church, and a common player at cards and
dice. This man held this curacy from the first year of Queen
Mary, to this year 1566. And when seven holy men and
4
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 469
women were burnt as heretics in the same town of Maid- ^^j^^*
stone, in a place called the King's Meadow, he preached at .
their burning; and said to the people, " That they should'^"""
" not pray for them ; and that as they should see their bodies
*' burn with material fire, so their damned souls should burn
*' in the unquenchable fire of hell." And this and the like
he said of them the next Lord's day in his pulpit. When,
in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, some of the friends and
relations of these martyrs had required him to recant what
he then said, he answered, he would do so. But then, be-
fore the public audience, instead of recanting, he both be-
lied himself and them. For he said, that it was now out of
his mind what he then said concerning those persons that
were burnt, and whether he said they were heretics or no ;
but, he added, he knew some of them denied the human
nature of Christ, and the equality of the three Persons m
the Trinity, and so he was sure in that respect they were
heretics. Which, as soon as he came out of the pulpit, when
some had confuted to his face, and told him, that he had lied
in so saying ; he said, that there were none of them but had
been guilty of telling lies at some time or other, or else they
were not men, but justifiers of themselves and hypocrites;
and so flung away to the alehouse, his common retreat. Of
this, John Hall, one of these men that confeiTed with the
said Day, and an inhabitant of Maidstone, gave Mr. Fox in-
formation by way of letter.
Which letter began in this tenor: " May it please you to a letter to
" understand, that one John Day, the Curate of Maidstone ^^''^ 5°"'
' ' _ cerning
" from the first year of Queen Mary unto this present year him. MSS.
" 1566, (of whom we beseech God for his mercy to deliver
" us,) sheweth himself still not to have any fear of God at
" all before his eyes. In Queen Mary's days he was defamed
" greatly for whoredom, besides his abominable blasphemy
" of God's truth, and detestable Papistry. And one most
" execrable example thereof above all other is to be had in
" perpetual memory." And then the writer proceeds to
tell at length that most uncharitable and unchristian censure
he gave of the pious Christians at the stake, as they were
H h 3
470 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK burning, being on Wednesday the 16th of June, 1557.
Who, besides his damning them to hell, relates what dis-
Anno 1566. course this Popish Curate had first with them ; telling them,
" That they were heretics most damnable ; and that by their
" heresy they had separated themselves from the holy Chvirch,
" as he called that of Rome, terming it the spouse of Christ,
" and Christ's mystical body. And therefore, said he, ye
" have no part in him. But when he saw that they were
" builded upon the unmoveable rock of Christ's word, and
" that at that hour comfortably put their whole trust in their
" Saviour, and cried out to him, Away^ Satan ; away with
" thy docti-ine and thy blasphemy ; then in great haste and
^' fury he turned both his face and talk to the people standing
" by, and spake concerning them as was mentioned before."
This man being thus put to it ; viz. now to revoke in the
same pulpit what he had said so maliciou.sly before, (which
was, that these pious martyrs were heretics and damned,) the
better to bring himself oflP, charged them with Anabaptism
and Arianism : asserting, that he knew some of them denied
the humanity of Christ and the equality of the Trinity : and
that none doubted that such were heretics, and that there-
fore he might be bold to say, that without the great mercy
237 of God and repentance, they were damned. Whei*eas in
truth they were known to hold no such errors, and much
abhorred all such heresies to the death.
His slander Which most vile and false imputation that he had the
martyrs. Confidence in so public a manner to lay to their charge, and
to defame the memoiies of such holy persons that had laid
down their lives for true religion, stirred therefore the zeal
of the good men, their former friends and acquaintance, who
knew them well to be none such as he had represented them.
Insomuch, that standing where he should pass, they de-
manded of him, which of these martyrs it was that he asserted
these things of. AA^hereat he was so surprised with his own
guilty conscience, that he stood mute for a while, as it were
astonished, and at last confessed, that none of them that were
burnt at Maidstone held such opinions. Then they roundly
charged him for his abominable lying: and asked him,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 471
whether the pulpit was made to utter lies and blasphemies CHAP,
in ? Whereupon he made that poor plea for himself, as is .
abovesaid. For this tergiversation towards true rehgion now '^^s-
professed, accompanied with the looseness and immoralities
of his life, the parishioners drew up a supplication, wherein
what is related before, and the rest of his crimes, were set
forth ; which they presented to the Archbishop, as it seems,
sitting in commission ecclesiastical. A copy whereof the
aforesaid Hall promised to send to Mr. Fox : wherein he
should more at large understand the life and behaviour of
this monster, as he called him.
This year was the decision of a famous suit, prosecuted a decree in
•by the Archbishop in right of his see. It was held before of'yvardr
Sir William Cecil, Master of the Wards and Liveries, and Liveries
against Edward, Earl of Oxon, a minor, for the manor of ti,e Arch-
Fleet in Kent, which that Earl held in knio-hfs service of the '"^'lop-
11-1 f 1 • 111 Antlq.Brit.
Archbishops of Canterbury. In his own behalf he produced p. 27.
ancient instruments and monuments, and shewed how it liad
been adjudged in behalf of the Archbishops in the times of
King Henry VI. and King Henry VIII. concerning lands
of the Lords Rosse, Conyers, and Darcy, which were held
in knight's service of the Archbishops of Canterbury. In
July, the eighth of Queen Elizabeth, it was decreed by the
said Master of Wai'ds and Liveries, with the consent of the
King"'s Attorney, and others of the Council present, that the
profits and emoluments of the manor of Fleet, the Earl be-
ing under age, did pertain unto the Archbishop ; and that
all whatsoever had hitherto been received thence for the
Queen's use, before the Archbishop had made his own right
appear, should be restored to him.
H h 4
472 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
I"- CHAP. XV.
A Saxon Homily y with two Epistles of j^lfric, set Jbrtli hy
the Archbishop ; and a learned Preface. The Great
Bible reprinted again. Convocation adjourned to Lam-
beth. A Suffragan of Nottingham.
Anno 1 566. AmONG the ancient books and treatises which our Pre-
bisho^seu S^^^^Y studious of antiquity, occasionally set forth, I
forth a Sax- make little doubt to add that Saxon sermon (which, as near
on homily. j guess, about this year appeared abroad) of the
Paschal Lamb, and of the sacramental body and blood of
Christ, written in the old Saxon tongue before the Con-
quest, and appointed in the reign of the Saxons to be pro-
nounced to the people, before they should receive the Com-
munion on Easter-day. Which sermon speaks of that Sacra-
ment plainly and evidently contrary to the novel doctrine of
the Papal transubstantiation. The book is entitled, A Tes-
timony of Antiquity, shewing the ancient Faith of the Church
of England, touching the Sacrament of the Body and Blood
of the Lord, here publicly preached, and also received, in the
Saxons'' Time, above seven hundred years ago. It was
238 first printed by John Day in octavo ; and reprinted at Ox-
ford by Leon. Litchfield, 1675. In this sermon are these
expressions :
A passage " Some have often searched, how bread that is gathered
against " Corn, and through fire*'s heat baked, may be turned to
transub- " Christ's body ; and how wine, that is pressed out of many
" grapes, is turned through one blessing to the Lord's blood.
" Now say we to such men, that some things be spoken of
" Christ by signification ; some things by things certain.
" True thing is and certain, that Christ was born of a maid,
" and suffered death of his own accord, and was buried, and
" on this day rose from death. He is said to be bread by signi-
" fication, and a lamb and a lion, and somewhere otherwise.
" He is called bread, because he is our life and angels'
" life. He is said to be a lamb for his innocency ; a lion for
" strength, wherewith he overcame the strong devil. But
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 473
" Christ is not so notwithstanding after true nature, neither CHAP.
" bread, nor a lamb, nor a lion. Why is then the holy
" housel called Christ's body or his blood, if it be not truly Anno isee.
" that it is called ? Truly, the bread and wine, which by the
" Mass of the Priest is hallowed, shew one thing without to
*' human understanding, and another thing they call within
" to believing minds. Without, they be seen bread and
" wine both in figure and taste. And they be truly, after
" their hallowing, Christ's body and his blood through
" ghostly mystery, &c."
The Preface to this homily, which without doubt was of The Preface
the most reverend publisher's writing, is both large and ^o^iiy.
learned, and sheweth first how great contentions had then
been of long time about the most comfortable Sacrament of
the body and blood of Christ our Saviour. In the inqui-
sition and determination whereof, many had been charged
and condemned of heresy, and reproved as bringers up of
new doctrine, not known of old in the Church before Beren-
garius's time ; who taught in France in the days when Wil-
liam the Norman was by conquest King of England, and
Hildebrand, otherwise called Gregory VII. was Pope of
Rome. But that the reader might know how this was
advouched more boldly than truly, in special of some certain
men, which were more ready to maintain their old judgment
than of humility to submit themselves into a truth ; here
was set forth a testimony of very ancient time; wherein was
plainly shewed what was the judgment of the learned men in
this matter in the days of the Saxons, before the Conquest.
It was further shewed, that the sermon before mentioned
was found among many other sermons in the said old Saxon
speech, made for other festival days and Sundays of the
year ; and used to be -spoken orderly, according to those
days, unto the people, as by the books themselves it did ap-
pear. That many books of such sermons were then to be
seen : some remaining in private men's hands, having been
taken out of monasteries at their dissolution : and some yet
reserved in the libraries of cathedral churches, as of Wor-
cester, Hereford, and Exeter. That from these places many
474 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOO K had been delivered into the hand of this our Archbishop of
Canterbury : by means of whose diligent search for such
Anno 1566. writings of history, and other monuments of antiquity, as
might reveal unto us what had been the state of the Church
in England from time to time, the things here made known
to the reader came to light. That one of these ancient books
thus retrieved, and falling into the Archbishop's hands, was
a Saxon book of sixty sermons ; about the middle of which
was this sermon against the bodily piesence. That this ser-
mon among others was translated out of Latin into Saxon
by ^Ifric, a learned Abbot, first of Malmesbury, and after-
wards of St. Alban's.
He pub- The Archbishop also did, at the same time and in the
epistles^o^ Same book, (together with the aforesaid sermon,) put forth
MUric. two epistles of the same ^Ifric. The former indeed was
but part of an epistle to Wolf stane, Bishop of Scyiburn ;
where he, finding fault with an abuse of his time, which was,
that Priests on Easter-day filled their housel box, and so
kept the bread a whole year for sick men, [as if that bread
were holier than the bread of other sacraments,] took occa-
sion to speak against the bodily presence of Christ in the
Sacrament : " So holy is the housel, said he, which to-day
" is hallowed, as that which on Easter-day was hallowed :
" that housel was Christ''s body, not bodily but ghostly.''''
The otlier epistle was addi'essed to Wolf stane. Archbishop
of York : where speaking again of this overlong reserving
239 of the housel, addeth words more at large against the same
bodily presence. This latter epistle the Archbishop thought
good to set forth in the words of the Latin epistle, as well
as the English translation of it. Which Latin liappened to
be recorded, and still extant in books fairly written, in the
cathedral churches of Worcester and Exeter; where it is
remarkable there be these words : Non sit tamen hoc sacri-
Jicium corpus ejus in quo pass us est pro nobis, neq ue sanguis
ejus, quern pro nobis effuclit ; sed spiritualiter corpus ejus
efficitur ct sanguis ; sicut manna quod de ceelo jjluit, et aqua
qua de petra jluxit. Which sentence, it must be noted, was
rased by some hand out of the copy at Worcester, but by
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 475
good hap remained in that of Exeter: whereby it was re- CHAP.
stored again, as is signified in the margin of the printed
book. Anno 1566.
Finally, our Archbishop shewed learnedly in his said The Arch-
Preface, out of antiquity, first, that ^Elfric was but the ^^^^'^.^J^^^^^^
translator of the foresaid sermon, as of other sermons con- hence of
tained in two books: and that therefore they were sermons doctrine of
before his time : and the doctrines contained in them were thischurch.
more anciently embraced in the English Church : and next,
that it was not hard to know not only what ^Ifric's judg-
ment was in this controversy of transubstantiation, but also
(what was more) what was the common leceived doctrine
of this Church herein, as well when ^Ifric himself lived,
as befoi-e his time, and also after his time, even from him to
the Conquest, when Berengarius lived. Indeed (as our
Archbishop confessed) the Church then was in divers points
of religion full of blindness and ignorance, full of childish
servitude to ceremonies, as it was long before and after ; and
too much given to the love of monkery ; which now at this
time unreasonably took root, and grew excessively. But yet
to speak what the adversaries of the truth (he meant those
of the Church of Rome) have judged of this time, most cer-
tain it was, that there was no age of the Church of England
that they more I'everenced, and thought more holy than this.
And that the Archbishop proved from the multitude of
saints that they canonized ; as Odo, Archbishop of Canter-
bury, and King Edgar, and King Edward the Martyr, and
many more, both men and women, which our Archbishop
reckoneth up. And all of them in this age wherein iElfric
lived in great fame and credit.
And then our Most Reverend concludes, " How some
" nowadays not only dissented in doctrine from their own
" Church, which they have thought most holy, and judged
" a most excellent pattern to be followed. Wherefore what
" might we now think (as he added) of that great consent
" whereof the Romanists had long made vaunt ; to wit, their
" doctrine to have continued many hundred years, as it were
" linked together with a continued chain, whereof had been
476 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
K O O K « no breach at any time ? That this their so great affirmation
'. " had uttered unto us no truth, as the reader miglit well
Lnno 1566'. 't judge by truly weighing of this that had been spoken, and
" by reading of the abovementioned sermon and epistles.
*' And so trusting, that after the reader had well weighed
" this matter of such manner of the being of Christ's body
" in the Sacrament, as this testimony shewed, no untruth or
" dishonour should need to be attributed to Christ's loving
" words pronounced at his last supper among his Apostles :
" no derogation to his most sacred institution : no diminish-
" ing of any comfort to Christian men's souls in the use of
" this reverend Sacrament, [matters urged by the adversa-
" ries for the corporeal presence,] but all things to stand
" right up, most agreeably to the verity of Christ's infalli-
" ble words, and to the right nature, congruence, and effica-
" cies of so holy a Sacrament : and finally, most comfortable
" to the conscience of man, for his spiritual uniting and in-
" corporation with Christ's blessed body and blood to immor-
" tality, and for the sure gage of his resurrection." These
are the weighty words of our Archbishop, both in managing
of the argument taken from the doctrine of our Saxon an-
cestors, against the Popish doctrine of the Sacrament, and in
his full and comprehensive expressing of the true virtue and
efficacy of it unto all pious Christians.
Now that this homily and these two epistles before men-
tioned were faithfully and exactly published from the old
manuscript books, (of which there were divers, some in Latin
and some in Saxon,) the Archbishop procured the subscrip-
tion of fourteen Bishops, (besides his own,) who had care-
fully perused and compared the same, testifying that they
240 were truly put forth in print, without adding or Avithdraw-
ing any thing ; together with divers other personages of
honour and credit subscribing their names. The original
whereof remained in the hands of the Archbishop. But the
transcript of the said subscriptions the Archbishop caused
to be printed in the said book at the end thereof. The
Bishops that subscribed were, besides Matthew our Arch-
bishop, Thomas Archbishop of York, Edmond London,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 477
James Durham, Robert Winton, William Chichester, John CHAP.
XV
Hereford, Richard Ely, Edwin Wigorn, Nicolas Lincoln,
Richard St. David's, Thomas Coventry and Litchfield, John Anno isee.
Norwich, John Carlisle, Nicolas Bangor.
After which names is underwritten, " The record hereof
*' remains in the hands of the most reverend Father Mat-
" thew, Archbishop of Canterbury."
This year the Great Bible was printed again for the use The Bible
of churches, being nothing but the old translation of Cover- "pnnted.
dale, not yet corrected. For though the Archbishop had
much in his thoughts a careful review of that translation,
and seems already to set about it together with the assist-
ance of other Bishops and Divines, yet it being not yet ready,
for the present necessity the old EngUsh Bible was now anno
1566 printed again.
This year, March the 9th, Richard Banies, S. T. P. Barnes
Chancellor of York, was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of ^^^^g^^^
Nottingham, in the church of St. Peter"'s, York, by Arch-Nouing-
bishop Yong, James Bishop of Durham, and William Bishop gist. Eccles.
of Chester, assisting. For the diocese of York, being des-^^""^-
titute of a Suffragan that might be assistant to the Arch-
bishop in his see, being aged and sickly, he presented two
of his Clergy to the Queen ; of whom she, being to choose
one to some see within the province or diocese of York, no-
minated the said Barnes to the style, title, and dignity of
the said see of Nottingham, according to the manner and
force of the statute of Parliament 26. Henry VIII. He was
afterwards Bishop of Carlisle and Durham successively.
And so our Archbishop also three years afterwards, viz. Rogers
anno 1569, (for the better supply of his absence from his
. I ^ ^ fragan of
diocese,) consecrated Richard Rogers, S. T. B. of an ancient Dover,
family in Wales, a Prebendary of his church. Bishop Suf-
fragan of Dover: Archbishop Parker having hitherto de-
clined to have any Suffragan : though Cardinal Pole, his
Immediate predecessor had two ; namely, Richard Thorn-
den, (sometimes written Thornton,) once a Benedictine
Monk ; and upon his death, anno 1557, one Thomas Chet-
ham, Titular Bishop of Sidon. So that that see was without
478 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK a Suffragan twelve years. Rogers held that dignity twenty-
. eight years : and became also Dean of Canterbury, anno
Aqdo 1566.1584^ and died in the year 1597, and was buried in the ca-
thedral there: where he hath still a monument remain-
ing.
The Arch- J shall add nothing more under this year concerniner our
bishop's . . .
proxies. Archbishop but this : that while the Parliament was sitting
this eighth year of the Queen, he was under great weakness
and indisposition of health ; so that being compelled to be
absent, he appointed the Bishops of London and Ely to be
his proxies : as he certified in his letter of proxy, Onmibus,
SfC. noveritis me prtEfatum Matthaum, ratione adverse vale-
ttidinis, qua in prasentiarum maxime laboro, guominus pra-
senti liac sessione Parliamenti interesse valeam, &c. It
was dated Nov. 1, with his hand and seal.
Convoca- And on the same account the Convocation was adjourned
Lambeth Lambeth, to the Archbishop's palace there, November
the 22d ; where a subsidy was granted by the Clergy. And
on the 7th of December, the Archbishop was well enough,
with the Bishops of London, Chichester, Ely, and Lincoln,
to repair to Westminster, and there to present her Majesty
with the instrument of the said subsidy, at whose hands she
received it pleasingly and thankfully.
241 CHAP. XVL
Many separate and withdraw communion. Tliey use the
English Geneva hooJc. Some are taken at a private
meeting in London. The CounciTs orders concerning
them. The learneder sort will not separate. BezcCs ad-
vice to wear the habits. Papists against the English
hiturgy. The imposture of a Friar, pretending himself
a Puritan Minister. Brought before the Council. Ex-
amined by the Archbishop.
Anno 1 567. W^E come now again to pursue the history of noncon-
The refus- formity. Upon the late proceedings with the refusers of the
draw com- habits, by the Archbishoji and ecclesiastical Commissioners,
munion.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 479
many of them withdrew from the national Church, and the CHAP,
religious communion of tlie rest of Christians, and set up se-
parate assemblies ; where, casting away wholly the book ap- Anno i567.
pointed for the public and common service of God, they
served him according to ways and platforms of their own,
and used prayers and preaching, and administering of the
sacraments by themselves. The reason of their withdraw-
ing was, because " the ceremonies of Antichrist were tied
" to the service of God," as one of them told the Bishop of
London ; " so that no man might preach and administer the
" sacraments without them. And that it was compelling
" these things by law that made them separate." The book
they used in these their private meetings was, for the most
part, the book of service made and used by the English at
Geneva : which was mostwhat taken out of the French
book of Calvin.
This book I have seen in the most copious and complete The Eng-
library of the right reverend Father, Dr. John Moor, now yl ^Jo^, "
Bishop of Ely, together with several other Offices and Con-
fessions, which were afterwards added to it, and printed with
it, anno 1584. It is a small thick volume, and entitled,
The Form of Praters and Administration of the Sacra-
ments used in the English Church at Geneva : approved
and received hy the Church of Scotland. Whereunto, besides
that which was in the former Books, are also added sundry
other Prayers. The contents of this book are,
I. The order of excommunication, and of public repent-
ance in the Church of Scotland, and commanded to be
printed by the General Assembly of the same, in the month
of June, 1571.
II. The form and order of the election of Ministers at
Edinburgh, the 9th of March, 1560, John Knox being
Minister.
III. The Confession of the Christian faith, used in the
English congregation at Geneva ; received and approved by
the Church of Scotland ; beginning, " I believe and confess
*' my Lord God eternal, infinite," &c.
IV. Of the Ministers and their election.
480 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK V. Another confession of prayer, commonly used in the
Church of Edinburgh, on the day of common prayers : and
III
Anao 1567. many other things, as offices for the sacraments, for mar-
riage, for visitation of the sick, for burial, for ecclesiastical
discipline, &c. But to return to our story.
Separation, This was a most unhappy event of this controversy ;
event.''*'''*^ whereby people of the same country, of the same religion,
and of the same judgment too, concerning the errors of Po-
pery, and the evangelical doctrine, parted communions, and
went aside into secret houses and chambers to serve God by
themselves ; which separation begat estrangements between
neighbours, Christians, and Protestants.
How the After the deprivation of some London Ministers, in this,
was first set I'sther the last year, for not wearing the habits, nor ob-
"P- serving the other usages; for seven or eight weeks their
hearers either came to the churches, and heard the conform-
They hear able preachers, or went no whither. Many of them then ran
after Father Coverdale, who took that occasion to preach
the more constantly : but yet with much fear, so that he
would not be known where he preached, though many came
to his house, to ask where he would preach the next Lord's
day. This, it is likely, he did, because he did not care
for tumultuous meetings, lest he might give offence to the
government. But in the space of these seven or eight weeks,
they bethought what was best to do, seeing they could not
have the word freely preached, and the sacraments adminis-
tered, without idolatrous gear^ as they termed it. And
they remembered, that there was a congregation of them in
Queen Mary's days, in London, and a congregation at Ge-
neva, which used a book and order of preaching, ministering
sacraments, and discipline ; which book Calvin had allowed
of. And, in short, concluded to break off from the public
churches, and separate into private houses. And so they
did, and used that book, as was mentioned before. But
however, of these Dissenters, many of theirMinisters disliked
of this separation altogether, and would not join with them.
Part of a And SO the Bishop of London told some of them, " They
register, j^j.^^ Jl] not be preachers, nor meddle with you."
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 481
The State began now to be very jealous of this novelty; CHAP,
and the ecclesiastical Commissioners thought it concerned
them to look after these private meetings, knowing how con-^^"""
trary it was to the laws. The 19th of June, there were
about a hundred got together in Plumbers' Hall, which they
hired under pretence of a wedding ; and so one of them told
the Sheriff. But here they were seized, and about fourteen Some takeu
or fifteen sent to prison. The next day seven of them were!*''* "'*''^**
r J ms, 111
brought to examination, Avhose names were, Smith, Nixon, Plumbers'
Wh. Ireland, Hawkins, Rowland, Morccraft ; and some of^'^"'
them, I suppose, Ministers. They were convented before
Sir Roger Martin, the Lord Mayor, the Bishop of London,
the Dean of Westminster, Dr. Watts, and other Commission-
ers. Then it was told them, their fault was, that they, con-
trary to the act of Parliament, met together, using prayers
and preaching, and administering the sacraments among
themselves. And for withdrawing themselves from the pa^*
rish churches.
The Queen and Council hearing of these meetings, had Tlie Bishop
sent a letter to the Bishop of London, the sum whereof was, ^o'ldon's
1 ' ' speech to
to require such as frequented tliem to be conformable by them,
gentleness ; or, if not, that they should first be punished
with the loss of their freedoms of the city, and afterwards
abide other jienalties. This the Bishop opened at this ex-
amination, June 20, and offered to shew it them, with the
names of the Counsellors'" hands thereto subscribed. The
Bishop moreover mildly told them, " That in this severing
" of themselves from the society of other Christians, they
" condemned not only them, but all the whole state of the
" Church reformed in King Edward's days ; which, he said,
" was well reformed, according to the word of God, and that
" many good men had shed their blood for the same : which,
" he said, their doings condemned. He asked them, if they
" had not the Gospel truly preached, and the sacraments
" ministered accordingly, and good order kept, although
" they differed from other Cluuclies in ceremonies and in-
" different things, which laid in the Prince's power to com-
" mand, for order's sake."
vor. I. I i.
482
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Tlie Dean of Westminster told them, because they seemed
to vahie themselves for following the foreign reformed
Anno 1567. Cliurches, that all the learned men in Europe were against
Foreign re- them. The BishoD of London added, that the learned in
formed /
Churches Geneva were agamst them ; and then produced the very
'"^.'^'^ ^ letter that came from Geneva, and read therein these words;
against _ '
litem. " That they should exercise their office against the will of
" the Prince and the Bishops, we do so much the more trem-
" ble at." Tho. Hawkins would have made the meaning of
Beza by those words to have been, that they trembled at the
Prince''s case and the Bishops' ; because they, by such ex-
tremity, should drive them against their wills to that which
of itself was plain enough [Popish,] though they would not
utter it.
They dis- Jn this Conference there happened some discourse about
bread. the bread used in the Sacrament, which gave these men
dislike, because it was wafer bread, resembling the bread
used in the Sacrament by the Papists. But the Bishop
of London told them, that the Church of Geneva, by whose
pattern they chiefly guided themselves, communicated in
wafer cakes. But one of them answered, that the English
congregation that were there [in the time of the exile] did
243 communicate in loaf bread. He that is minded to have an
account of this whole conference, may find it in a book call-
ed Part of a Register. After this conference with them,
and exhortation to them to forbear these meetings, and no
promise given that they would forbear, but rather a steady
resolution appeared in them to hold in the same judgment,
they were, at least some of them, sent to prison again. But
after some time were released.
The learned But many of the graver and more learned men, however
formists they disallowed the ceremonies, and would not be brought
will not to use them, and so underwent ecclesiastical censures, did
separate. i t
utterly disapprove of these practices of separation, nor
would by any means be brought to join with those that did,
or meet among them, or preach to them. Among these were
Sampson and Lever, and others, as the Bishop of London
told those persons above mentioned. Though some other
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 483
Ministers there were, that would by no means come to that CHAP,
mind, neitlier would commimlcate with the Church that serv-
ed God after the laws established. And one of them said, Anno isg?.
that he had rather be torn in an hundred pieces, than com-
municate with them; as Hawkins told the Bishop of Lon-
don and the rest. But as for the peaceable nonconform-
ists, and particularly Sampson and Lever, to Avhom I might
add Coverdale, Fox, and Humphry, and some more, as
Wiburn, Johnson, and Penny ; they were dealt gently with,
and had, if not licence, yet connivance to preach in public,
and hold preferments.
Whereas the Dean of W estmlnster had told the Separat- Beza'sjudg.
ists aforesaid, that all the Churches were against their
o wear the
practices, as before we saw the judgment of the Church of habits;
Zurich, so I shall now produce that of Geneva, which these
men supposed to be most of their side. The Dissentei's had
sent to Beza, the chief Minister there, to advise them what
they should do, when these things were so imposed, that
they must either leave their ministry or use them. Though
he disliked these habits, as being polluted with superstitions,
and that in his judgment they deserved very ill of the
Church of God, and must answer it another day, who were
authors thereof ; yet he declared himself for the compliance
of the Ministers, rather than to leave their ministry. Etsi Epist. xH.
nostro quidem Judicio non recte revehuntur in Ecclesiam, ta- ^'
men quum non sint ex earum rerum genere, guce per se im-
pice sunt, non videri nobis illas tanti momenti, tit propterea
vel p)astoribus deserendiim sit potius Ministerium, quam ut
vestes illas assumant, vel gregibus omittendum publicum
pabulum, potius quam ita vcstitos pastores audiant, &c.
That is, " Although in our judgment it was not well done
" to bring these habits again into the Church, yet since they
" are not of the nature of those things which are of them-
" selves ungodly, we think them not of so great moment,
" that therefore, either the pastors should leave their min-
" istry, rather than assume those garments, or that the
" flock should neglect their public food, rather than to hear
" pastors so habited. Only he advised the pastors to free
I i
484 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " their consciences by an open and modest protestation
" against them, before the Queen and Bisliops, and their
Anno 1567. " congregations. But yet he dissuaded them from subscrib-
" ing to these things as riglit, or from allowing them to be
" so by their silence. But he exhoT'ted all the brethren, even
" with tears, that, laying aside all bitterness of mind, and
" keeping truth of doctrine, and a good conscience, they
" would patiently bear with one another, obey from their
" heart the Queen and all her Bishops, and resist Satan,
" seeking all occasions of tumults and calamities ; and agree
" together in the Lord, though in some things they had not
" at present the same thoughts." This Beza wrote in the
month of October.
And submit Where we may observe by the way, that as the reverend
to the Bi- gg2a exhorted them to submit to the habits, so also to the
shops. '
Bishops. For though he were an earnest patron of the
Presbyterian discipline, and came far short of Calvin's mo-
deration in that behalf ; yet in one of his discourses he
De Minis- spake tlius, Quod si nunc AnglicancB Ecclesias &c. i. e. "But
gel Mp^'is. " if "o^^ reformed English churches did persist, being
" upheld by the authority of their Bishops and Archbishops,
" (as this hath happened to them in our memory, that they
" have had men of that order, not only famous martyrs of
" God, but also most worthy pastors and doctors,) let Eng-
" land surely enjoy that singular blessing of God ; which I
" pray God may be perpetual unto it." This passage is
244 quoted by Dr. George Downame, in his sermon at the con-
secration of Mountague, Bishop of Bath and Wells, anno
1608.
Papists de- Upou these domestic broils among Protestants, the Papists,
against the under disguise, fell foul upon the English Liturgy, and
Liturgy, combined with the Puritans in defacing the common ser-
vice used in our churches. Sir William Cecyl, the wise
Secretary of State, kept a memorial book, or journal, where-
sir James in he writ matters that occurred. Thence Sir James Ware,
the antiquarian, extracted these words : " In these days,
" [anno 1567,] men began to speak against the reformed
" prayers, established first by King Edward VI. and his
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 485
" Parliament, and since by her Majesty and her Parha- CHAP.
" ment. Upon which account, divers Papists disguisedly .
spoke as bitterly against the reformed prayers of the
" Church, as those then called Puritans did." And with this
preface he ushered in the story of Faithful Cummin, a Do- ""pos-
minican Friar, a person generally reputed a zealous Pro- cummin" a
testant, and much admired and followed by the people, for Dominican,
his seeming piety, and for speaking against Pius V. then
Pope. He was accused by John Clarkson, Chaplain to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, Nicolas Draper, and Mary
Dean : who, being sworn upon the holy Evangelists before
her Majesty and the Lords of the Council, deposed, that
the said Cummin was no true Protestant, but a false impos-
tor, and a sower of sedition among her Majesty's loyal sub-
jects. Upon which, Monday, 5th of April, the said Faith-
ful Cummin was brought before her Majesty and the ho-
nourable Lords of the Privy Council, and there examined by Examineii
his Grace the Archbishop ; who when he had asked him of I^^,*hbi-
what order he was, Cummin answered, Of Chrisfs order, ^hop-
And when he asked him again what order that was, he
said, A preacher of the holy Gospel. And being demanded
again, under what power he owned to hold that Gospel,
he answered, Under Christ and his saints. The Archbishop
asked him again, whether he acknowledged any other power,
save Christ, to be on earth ; he acknowledged he did ; name-
ly, the holy Catholic Church. But the Archbishop, willing
to know what allegiance he would confess to the Queen, de-
manded, if he did not acknowledge a defender of the holy
Catholic Chui'ch : to which he replied. That God was the
only defender. Whereupon the Archbishop, addressing him-
self to the Queen, said, " Your gracious Majesty may
" perceive, that either this man hath been instructed what
'* to say, or otherwise he must be, by his answers, a man of
" craft ; to which the Queen replied, she supposed so."
Then Clerkson, who had known him a year or more. The causes
being called in, the Queen asked him what he had to say suspected.'"
against this man, that he was suspected to be an impostor.
He replied, three things ; First, That he be required to
lis
486 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK prove his Orders. Secondly, Why he never came to the
prayers of the Church of England, but started up, and
Aimo 1567. preached to the people, not coming into the church till the
prayers were finished. Thirdly, To prove that ever he re-
ceived the Sacrament according to the Church of England,
from any of the orthodox Clergymen. Accordingly, when
the Archbishop first inquired of Cummin concerning liis
Orders, he said, he was ordained of the Cardinal, meaning
Pole ; [but Pole never ordained any, for ought appears in
his register.] And he acknowledged he had no certificate
or licence to preach, under any other Bishop''s hand. Which
made the Archbishop ask him, How they might then be
assured that he was not of the Romish Church To which
he answered. That several that had heard his prayers and
sermons could testify, that he had spoke against Rome and
her Pope, as much as any of the Clergy had. The Arch-
bishop then said, that he perceived, that he would have any
one preach, so he spake but against the Pope in his sermons.
Pretends to Cummin answered. Not every one, but he whose function
e Spin . ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^j^^ j^^^ ^j^^ Spirit. But because that was a
dubious expression ; when the Archbishop asked him what
spirit, he replied, The spirit of grace and truth. Then his
Lordship asked him, whether that spirit in him was the spi-
rit of grace or truth, that did not comply with the orders of
the Church, lately purged and cleansed from schism and idol-
atry ? But Cummin said, he endeavoured to make it purer.
The Archbishop went on to demand of him, how he endea-
voured to make the Church purer, when he would not com-
municate with her in the Sacrament, nor in prayer. He said,
245 he endeavoured it, when he prayed to God, that he would
open the eyes of men to see their errors : and that many had
joined with him in his prayers. And as for the Sacrament,
he had, he said, both given and taken the body of Christ,
among those of tender consciences, who had assembled with
him in the fear of the Lord. And withal acknowledged,
that he had a cong-reffation that followed him.
Cummin .
and his Draper, another witness against Cummin, was a cook at
meTTa.i ^^^^ Maidenhead in Maidstone. He testified, that Cummin
inn.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 487
and his company came to his house, and bespake a dinner : CHAP,
and by chance going up stairs, he heard one groan and .
XVI.
weep; and upon this, going into the room where they were, '^''7.
he was startled; but they told him, they were aU at prayers.
And the Queen asking how long they were at prayer, he
said, about two hours. Mary Dean, a servant in the family,
said, she saw this Cummin at prayers, and thought he was
distracted. But the people said he was an heavenly man, and
that God's Spirit made him weep for the sins of the people.
In fine, the Queen required him, either to receive Orders,
and become of the Church of England, to qualify him to
preach and pray amongst her subjects ; or else commanded
him to be committed to close prison, unless some would be
bound for his appearance. So one Bland, his half-brother, He is bound
gave bond for his appearance on the 12th of April following; agaln^*^*"^
on which day he appeared. But other business in the Coun-
cil intervening, he was ordered the next day to appear.
But Cummin thought it his best way now to be gone. So
he came to his followers, told them, " That the Queen and
" Council had acquitted him ; that he was warned of God
" to go beyond seas, to instruct tlie Protestants there, and
" would return to them again. He told them, moreover,
" that spiritual prayer was the chief testimony of a true
" Protestant, and that the set form of prayer in England
" was but the Mass translated." And then praying extem-
pore with them, shed many false tears, which, it seems, he
had at command. Then telling his people he had not a far-
thing to support him in his journey, yet being God's cause
he would undertake it out of charity, being assured that the
Lord would raise him up friends ; they fell a weeping, and
collected for him thirty pounds before his escape. And so Uut escapes,
he got away. And though search was made for him in Lon-
don and Kent, and among his followers, (many of whom
were examined before the Council,) yet he could not be
heard of.
Till September following, one John Baker, master of a Goes to
ship called the Swan of London, arriving at Portsmouth,
said he had seen Faithful Cummin in the Low Countries.
1 i 4
488 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Which coming to the Queen's ears, she sent for the said
Baker to the Council Board, where he gave tlie said relation
Anno 1567. of his having seen him in the said countries: and added
moreover, that occasionally speaking of him to one Martin
Van Daval, a merchant in Amsterdam ; he told him, that this
Cummin had been lately at Rome, and that Pius Quintus
had put him in prison : but he writing to the said Pope,
that he had somewhat of Importance to communicate to
him, the Pope sent for him the next day, and said to
him, " Sir, I have heard how you have set forth me
" and my predecessors among your heretics of England, by
" reviling my person, and railing at my Church." To
whom Cummin replied, " That with his lips he had ut-
" tered that, which his heart never thought; and that
" his Holiness little thought that he had done him a
" considerable service, notwithstanding he spoke so much
" against him." When the Pope asked how? he said, "he
" had preached against set forms of prayer, and that he
" called the English prayers Englisli Mass, and had persuad-
" ed several to pray spiritually, and extempore. And that
" this had so much taken with the people, that the Church
" of England was become as odiovis to that sort of people,
" whom he instructed, as Mass was to the Church of Eng-
" land. And that this would be a stumblingblock to that
And is re- " Church while it was a Church.'" And upon this the
tife p^pe.^ Pope commended him, and gave him a reward of two thou-
sand ducats.
The Queen The Queen -wrote over to her agent beyond sea, if possl-
abroad to ^^^5 ^o take Cummln, and send him into England. But the
take bim. thing took air, and some of his friends gave him advertise-
ment of his danger : whereupon he quitted the Low Coun-
tries, and retired into the Romish territories. All this I
246 have taken out of a book called Foxes and Firebrands; and
have laid it at this length, that it may be the better ob-
sei-ved, what arts the Papists have used to undermine
this Church.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 489
CHAP. XVII.
The Archbishop visits N'oricich diocese. His commissions,
and Articles of Inquirjj. The disorders there. The
Archbishop's endeavoicrs to rectify them. Blames the
Bisliop of Norwich. The Archbishop xoill not dispense
xoith an order for three Priests in Merton college. A
conspiracy in that college, against the Archbis/iop, dis.
persed. He Jbunds scholarships in Norwich : and ser-
mons anniversary. His ordinances for them.
Now did the Archbishop intend to visit the diocese of Anno 1 567.
Norwich, where he had understood many things to have ^.'"^
been out of order, and the Bishop himself not without his visits the
imperfections. For which place he had a more special love 'j^!"^^!^}"^
and tender concern, being born and bred there, mentioning
this in his commission to have been a particular cause of his
visitation. In order to this. May 8, he issued out an inliibi-
tion to John, Bishop of Norwich, from visiting the church,
city, and diocese. And a mandate came forth, dated May
the 16th, from him to the said Bishop, for his summoning
all persons concerned, to appear at the said visitation, hav-
ing this preamble ; viz.
Mattheus permissione Divina Cantuarien. Archiepisc. Mandate
totius AnglicB Primas et Metropolitanus, venerabili ^o?i/ra-
tri nostro Dno. Johann. ead. permissione Norwicen. Episc. shop to the
saltern, et Jraternam in Dom. charitatem. Suscepti cura^^^^^^^^
regiminis, &c. i. e. " The care of government undertaken MSS. T.
" by us, compels us, that, by rooting out vices, and planting j^^*^' ^'jj
" virtues, we endeavour to fulfil the duty of our office, Cantab.
" as much as with God''s help we may. Hence it is, that^"*^'
" we purpose and intend, ere long, God assisting, to visit
" your cathedral church, and city, and diocese of Norwich,
" of our province of Canterbury ; as well in the head as in
" the members ; and the Clergy and people living and re-
" siding in the same, by our metropolitical right; and to
" correct the defects found there, lacking necessary correc-
490
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " tion and reformation; and, according to our power, to
" restore them to their due state.
Anno 1567. " Wherefore he [the Archbishop] committed to and
" commanded his brotherhood [the Bishop of Norwich] to
" take order, that the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral
" church, and all and singular Archdeacons, Canons Choral,
" Choristers, and other Ministers of the said church ; and all
" and singular Rectors, Proprietaries, Vicars, &c. and all
" others exercising any ecclesiastical function, appear be-
" fore him, or his Vicar General in spirituals, or his Commis-
" sary, the days, hours, and places, that should be appointed
" and specified in a schedule annexed to these presents ; and
" humbly to undergo his metropolitical visitation, to be
" exercised in that behalf : and further to do, receive, and
" hear such things, as on his part were to be declared and
" ministered to them : premonishing the Dean and Chapter,
" Archdeacons, Canons, &c. of the said cathedral church, to
" exhibit and produce their foundations, dotations, charters,
" grants, statutes, ordinances, and all other their muni-
" ments, &c. and to cause all executors of the deceased, and
" the widows and kindted of such as are departed intestate,
" living within the city and diocese of Norwich, to appear,
" and produce the testaments and last wills of the said
" defuncts. He also cited the Bishop of Norwich himself
247 " to appear, by his Proctor lawfully constituted, before him
" or his Vicar General in spirituals, on the 18th day of
" July, in the chapter-house of his cathedral of Norwich,
" between the hours of eight and ten in the morning : then
" and there to undergo this metropolitical visitation : and to
" do and receive that which the nature and quality of the
" same his visitation did of itself exact and require : and
" what he should do or cause to be done in the premises,
" to certify by his letters patents : and by a schedule to
" notify all the names and surnames of all and singular
" so cited and summoned ; and the names of their benefices
" and promotions.
" Dated as above from his manor of Lamehith
" Jo. Incent, Register."
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 491
The Archbishop also sent articles to be inquired of in CHAP,
this cathedral church, being the same for all the rest of the
cathedral and collegiate churches in his provinces ; and Anno 1567.
were nine in number. The first concerned the residence "'^
Inquiry,
and behaviour of the Dean, Archdeacons, and Dignitaries of mss. utsu-
the church. The second concerning the Prebendaries and'"^'*"
their residence ; their livings ; their apparel ; their preach-
ing. The third concerning the using of divine service and
sacraments in their church, according to the Queen's laws
and injunctions ; and concerning communicating thrice
a year. The fourth, concerning the well ordering of their
grammar-school and the children in it ; and concerning the
keeping of the statutes and ordinances of it. The fifth
concerned all their other ministers and officers, doing their
duties in all points obediently ; and concerning stewards and
receivers making a true account. The sixth was concern-
ing the doctrine and judgment of the head and members of
their church ; and concerning any of them preaching un-
wholesome, erroneous doctrine, or moving any not to con-
form to the orders of religion reformed and restored. Par-
ticularly, if any affirmed the Queen not to be head and chief
governor of her people or Church of England ; or that it is
not lawful for a particular church to alter its rites and cere-
monies for better edification ; or to affirm, that any man
might by his private authority do the same ; or that such
are to be borne with that extol superstitious religion, relics,
pilgrimages, lighting of candles, &c. ducking to images,
praying in a tongue unknown, &c. or other Anabaptisti-
cal errors, [which it seems were already crept into this
Church :] as, maintaining that infants should not be baptized :
that every article in the Creed was not to be believed of
necessity : or that mortal sins committed after baptism were
not remissible: or that man, after he have received the
Holy Ghost, cannot sin : or that afterwards he cannot rise
again to repentance : or that any liveth without sin : or that
it is not lawful to swear in some cases : or that the civil
magistrate cannot punish a man with death : or that any
man may take upon him any ministry in Christ's Church ;
4m THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK or that the word of God did condemn the government
of women, &c. The seventh was concerning the names and
Anno 1567. surnames of all and singular the members of the said
Church : and of any of them attaining their places by
simony, and whether any of them were swearers, adidterers,
fornicators, &c. The eighth Avas concerning having ne-
cessary ornaments and books for the Church ; and concern-
ing the reparation of it. The ninth, to present whatsoever
they should think necessary and profitable for the Church.
Answers To these articles of inquiry were distinct answers made by
quh'ies!"' Gcorge Gardiner, one of the Prebendaries. Which with
M». Liii. the articles at large may be read in the Appendix. Some
■ particulars whereof were, that one AVenden, one of the Arch-
deacons and a Prebendary, did not reside, and went not in
priestly apparel, but in a cloak with a Spanish cape, and a
rapier by his side ; was no Priest, and lived at Lovain.
That Smith, another of their Prebendaries, kept at Swines-
head in Lincolnshire, and was neither Priest nor Preacher.
That there Avere but two preachers among the Prebendaries.
That the communion was ministered in a chalice, contrary to
the Queen's advertisements. That they had no grammar-
school, but they allowed twenty marks a year to one that
taught a grammar-school in the city ; and he received such
scholars as they sent him. To the article concerning
preaching or holding errors, the answer only was, that
he knew no offender, because he knew no man''s conscience,
248 and openly he could accuse no man. The master of the
choristers suspected, for carrying tales between gentlemen,
and by that means caused unquietness. Toller, one of the
Canons, was a great brawler, and kept another matfs wife.
To the last article, that he desired service might be sung
more deliberately, with Psalms at the beginning and end of
the service, according to the Injunctions. That the chalice
might be turned into a decent communion cup. That a
divinity lecture might be read, according to their foundation.
That their Prebendaries might be all Priests, and resident.
And some provision might be made against spoiling their
woods.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 493
But now to go a little back, and to give some particulars CHAP,
of tliis visitation. June the 28th, a commission was signed
to Dr. Yale, the Archbishop's officer; Dr. Thomas Godwin, Anno i567.
Dean of Chrises church, Canterbury ; and Dr. Drurv, Advo- ^"'"'"'l;
' •' ^ y ' sion to Dr.
cate of his Court of Arches, and Commissary of his Facul- Yale, &c. to
ties ; James Gervis, an Advocate of the said Court ; and ^ '
Thomas Bickley, B. D. his Chaplain, to visit the said
church, city, and diocese. The Archbishop began his com-
mission with these words, Suscepti muneris solicitudo et cura Rpg'st.
. . . , . Parker.
nos imjirirms movet, movere et potest nataks patrttB chari-
tas, excitat officium, ut in civitate et dioc. Norzmcen. unde
orti et enutriti sumus, juccta Jpostoli prcEscriptum, &c.
Norwich was a large diocese, and the report was come to The Bishop
the Archbishop's ears, that it was greatly gone into disorder, writes to
partly by Papists, and partly by Puritans ; by livings also ""^ visitors,
simonically disposed of, and many unsupplied. And that
which contributed to these irregularities was, that the Bi-
shop had not visited in seven years, according to an evil
custom, which prevailed in that diocese, which that Bishop
himself complained of, but could not help; and his late
Chancellor, Dr. Gascoin, had greatly neglected his duty.
So that the Bishop was very glad of this archiepiscopal visi-
tation ; but yet believed it would not be found so bad as was
reported, as he signified to the Archbishop. Towards the
latter end of July, the said Bishop of Norwich wrote to
the Archbishop's Commissioners, who had now made
a good progress in their visitation, " rendering unto
" them his hearty thanks, for their painful diligence taken
" about the reformation of his diocese. Wherein, as they
" had supplied, as he said, the defaults of his officers,
" upon whom he might justly lay the burden of such
" things as were amiss, so his trust was, there should
" follow thereupon such speedy redress as he had always
" desired." He gave them again his thanks for their
pains, and wished unto them all as well as to himself, and
so concluded his letter, dated from Ludham, July 27.
The Bishop also wrote now an account of the state of
494 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
iOOK his diocese, wliich, with his letter to tlie Archbishop, he
'. prayed the Commissioners to deUver to his Grace. His
Anno 1567. letter was as followeth :
And to the
Arclibisliop.
E Biblioth.
R. P. Job.
£p. Elien.
249
" My duty in humble wise remembered. These are to
render thanks to your good Grace, that it hath pleased
you to have so fatherly a care of the state of this diocese,
as to appoint such grave and learned persons to visit the
same, for the reformation of such things as are amiss.
I have, as my duty is, received them. And my trust is,
there shall not appear imto them so many disorders,
as vmto your Grace hath been reported. And yet such as
shall be found, I may in part excuse me of, for that
I can visit but once in seven years, (as the custom hath
been ;) but I see no reason thereto; and being now almost
seven years since I did last visit with an unexpert Chan-
cellor. Since which time committing the order and re-
formation of such cases unto my late Chancellor Dr.
Gascoin, and my other officers, they have not in all parts
so trustily behaved themselves as my desire and their du-
ties required. Which as your Grace in some part can
witness with me, so my trust is, you will consider thereof
accordingly.
" I signified unto your Grace a year past of one Leonard
Elston, a schoolmaster of Worsted, procured thither by
Dr. Gascoin ; who having written a fond work against the
state of true religion, now used, and sending the same to
a friend of his, I chanced in the way to light upon that
book, which as at that time I thought not meet to trouble
your Grace withal, being in every part unworthy the
reading ; so now hearing him to be apprehended, and in
the gatehouse at Westminster, I think it not amiss,
together with these letters, to send the same unto your
Grace ; that having sufficiently wherewith to charge him,
he may have that to him belongeth, and others by his
example warned not to offend in the like, &c.
" Your, &c. Joh. Norwic.'"
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 495
The good Arclibishop''s reason therefore for this visitation chap.
appears to have been certain scandalous doings liere. Which
I will set down from a letter by him wrote to the Lady Anno 1567.
Bacon not lon^ after, in the month of February, choosing The reason
* ' •'^ » of tl.is visi-
rather to use his words than my own. tation ;
" Of late I sent my visitors to Norwich diocese : his [the Shewed in
. his letter
" Lord Bacon's] country and mine, to set order, and know to the
" the state of the country. Whereof I hear in that country, ^^''^
_ con.
" that Quid vultis mihi dare had so much prevailed there mss.g. p.
" among the Simoneans, that now to sell and to buy bene-
" fices, to fleece parsonages and vicarages [was come to
" pass,] that omnia erant vcnalia. And I anl informed, Lay gentry
" the best of the country, not under the degree of Knights, benefices.
" were infected with this sore : so far, that some one
" Knight had four or five, others seven or eight benefices
" clouted together ; fleecing them, and defrauding the
" Queen's subjects of their duty of prayers. Some were for
" setting boys and servingmen to bear the names of such
" livings. Understanding this enormity, how the Gospel
" was thus pinched, to the discouraging of all good labour-
" ers in God's harvest, I mean to inquire of it. In such Servingmen
" inquisition was presented at Norwich, that my Lord [Bl- beiids.^"^^'
" shop of Norwich] hath set a servingman, not ordered, a
" mere lay body, in the face of the whole city, to be a Pre-
" bendary of his church there. And that he had at home
" at his house another Prebendary. And bearing them
" great vmder my Lord's authority, despised mine, to be at
" the church's visitation. This matter had been long
" tossed among the people, of the two places thus used.
" Whom I knew not of, till my visitors came home again."
The good Archbishop, when his visitors came home. The Arch-
inquiring of them first of the cathedral church, was inform- JjeaiYng
ed of this by them. He at his next opportunity told the with them.
Bishop of Norwich of it, and what was talked ; but the Bi-
shop seeming not to remember their names, the Archbishop
ceased further talk of it then. But the Ai-chbishop
seemed not well content that they should have neglected to
496
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK do their duties to his Commissioners, in not appearing upon
summons. But the said Commissioners for tliis absence
Anno 1567. had charged the Dean and Chapter, unknown to the Arch-
bisliop, to pay them no rent of their prebends, till they had
sliewed good cause to the Archbishop of their non-appear-
ance. One of them, whose name was Smith, came thither
soon after for his money, and was denied it. And after, he
resorted to the Archbishop for a letter of release, whereby
he miglit have the Archbishop's allowance to receive his
money. When his Grace perceived what he was, and withal
that he had honest learning, moved him to enter into Or-
ders, to avoid the speech of the world, and not to live
so contrary to laws, and so to honest, as he said, that small
number of the Church besides, being but six Prebendaries,
who though they were all at iiome, one could hardly be
spared, as they might be in churches where were forty or
fifty prebends. But this man, after many woi'ds, answered
the Archbishop, that though he had been brought up in
some profane learning, yet in Scripture he had no know-
ledge, and therefore he would not enter into the ministry.
Persuades And then he further asked the Archbishop"'s counsel. Who
to resign, told him, he thought it best for him, for the necessity of
life, after his service spent with my Lord [Bishop of Nor-
wich,] reserving some pension, to resign the prebend to such
an one as were able to do good service in that church. He
told the Archbishop, that there were some that had offered
him well, but he liked not their judgments ; and in fine,
he thought good, to gratify the whole city [of Norwich,] to
resign it to one Mr. W alker, who was desired for the gift of
250 his preaching to continue there. And so to be out of the
danger of non-residency from a little benefice he had in the
country, Avhither he must be fain else to go, and leave the
city destitute of his labours. The Archbishop, for the com-
passing so good a design, gave Smith his letters of release to
the Dean, to receive his payment, after what time he should
resign his prebend upon a pension of five pounds assured
by the church. Upon this supposed vacation, the Duke of
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 497
Norfolk [a personage very well disposed to religion, and CHAP,
out of liis kindness to the city of Norwich, and being, as it
is like, moved thereto by the Archbishop] writ to the Bi- Anno 1567.
sliop of Norwich, (now, as it seems, at London,) in the
aforesaid Walker's behalf, [who came up with these letters
to the Bishop.] But notwithstanding Walker could not be
admitted. And the cause was, that Smith was bound to the Which the
Bishop of Norwich to pay five pounds pension out of hisJ^'^^^P^^
prebend, to a sister's son of the Bishop's, studying at Cam- hindered,
bridge. And this was the answer the Bishop himself gave
AValker. Which when he had told the Archbishop, he was
sorry to hear it of him, qid Jxenum habet in cornn, as he
expressed himself, [meaning, I suppose, being so well to pass
in wealth.] As he thought it would be in the Greenyard,
a common place where sermons were made. But the Arch-
bishop excused it as well as he could to Walker. Who
told his Grace, that this kind of doing was common in all
the country, and he marvelled that they which favoured the
Gospel should so practise, with divers words to that effect.
Whereby the Archbishop, as he said, gathered the sequel,
what was like to follow this repulse ; [namely, the scandal
and reproach of it to light upon the Bishop.]
And immediately in that very article of time, while he re- Blamed
tained Walker at dinner in his house on purpose, the Arc\i-^^"^^^°^^
bishop writ to the Bishop, to put the matter to his wisdom Archbishop,
and consideration, without mentioning any of the hard cir-
cumstances of the cause, how it was like to be taken. But
he signified what a pleasure it would have been to my Lord
of Norfolk, who he was sure would have taken it thankfully,
to have sped ; and so being made known among his friends
in the city, would have, he doubted not, promoted the
credit of the Gospel, for his Grace to be the mover, and
bringer into the Church and into the city such a preacher,
had Walker sped at the said Duke's request. This was
the contents of the Archbishop's letter to the Bishop of
Norwich. But it would not serve for Walker, who was the
messenger that carried it. This five pound pension was the
VOL. I. K k
498 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK stop and let. But the answer he sent to the Duke''s
Grace was, that Walker, for whom he requested, should
Anno i567.be sure of the next vacant room, when it chanced there.
Which being told the Archbishop, he made this reflection ;
" I pray God send my Lord many joyful years to continue
" botli in life and in office till that day and time ; but I
" think this offer would have been taken in time. And
" I wish I had borne this five pound pension of my own
" purse, that the common slanderous speech might have
" been stayed, where I fear it will by this doing be
" farther wondered at. But it may be said. Let such as
*' talk of it, remedy it, if they can. O Madam, God is the
" rewarder of all good doings, and reformer of all disorders.
'* I see this country so much without remorse of conscience
" in this outrage, [of robbing Ministers of what is allotted
" to them,] that the stones will speak of it, if it be not
*' reformed." Such was the zeal and honesty of this good
overseer of the Church against these abuses and wrongs
done to the Clergy, and through them unto all the people,
by putting their revenues into the hands of laymen, that did
nothing for it.
TiieArchbi- He was in the month of June at Croydon, labouring
a'suit^of "'^ under a severe fit of the stone, to which disease he was very
the Attor- subject. Hither the Queen's Attorney writ to him for
rai, and 3, favour towards Merton college, (Man, the Warden, being
^■'■y- now Ambassador in Spain;) but the Archbishop granted not
his suit ; yet gave him so good a reason for his denial, that
he could not take it amiss. In a former visitation of that
college, the Archbishop had, among other Injunctions,
enjoined, that there should be three Priests at least in the
college. But the young men of the house were so addicted
to pleasure and sloth, that this injunction was too hard for
them, and they obtained of Mr. Attorney, to desire the
Archbishop to dispense with it. But one of the wise and
godly Archbishop's main maxims for the Church's good
was herein so much opposed, namely, tlie furnishing tlie
251 Church with ministers and preachers, which it then much
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 499
wanted, that he would by no means comply with a request CHAP.
of that nature. But take the reason of the Archbishop's
denial from his own letter to the said Attm-ney. Anno 1567.
" I mai*vel much that the Fellows of Merton college His letter
" should be so much grieved with one order we made for t"rney co*n-
" three only Priests to be within the college : whereunto cerning
" they be all sworn by statute : and among the number of eoiiege.
" twenty of them, that not three are disposed to serve the MSS. c. C.
" realm in the holy ministry, but would in idle pleasure ^' ^•-^P'*'*
" wear out their lives. I cannot of conscience favour them
" therein. And of late hearing of a by-statute they had,
" that none of the younger Fellows might be Priests, I dis-
" pensed with them in that statute, whereby they might
" the better come to the number of three. They ought all
*' to be and so the nigher to be Divines. There is
" one physician among them, tolerated for the reading
" of Linacre's lesson within their house ; which else would
" be to the more shame of the house, if outward students
" should read it. I am sorry that Latham should deceive
" mine expectation, to abhor the ministry, being one of the
" ancients to give good example to the house. But because
" I hear their Warden shall shortly come home, he shall
" take order among them. And I am sorry, that this
" matter being of this congruence, I cannot pleasure your
" request, as else I would. Surely, Mr. Attorney, if there
" be no preachers to maintain Christ's religion, to move the
" subjects' hearts, in persuasion of obedience to the Prince,
" and the tenants to their landlords, neither Westminster
" Hall will loner continue, nor outward force will rule the
" matter. In which consideration, methinks their Founders
" have bestowed their cost to bring them up that way,
" to deceive God and the world, I think it not reasonable.
" And thus pinched at this time with a shrewd fit of stone,
" I wish you God's grace and health, as to myself. From
" my house at Croydon, June 21.
" Yoin- loving friend,
" Matt. Cant."
K k 2
500 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK This college, as the Archbishop had once at least before
visited it, so now again in August he issued out orders,
Anno 1567." for the appeasing (as the words in the register ran) of
controver- " certain controversies lately risen in Marten college in Ox-
sies in the " ford, between the Fellows of the same coUege, about the
Xcidedlfy " calling of certain Bachelor Fellows of the said college
the Archbi- u the degree of Masters of Art. First it was ordered by
shop. "
Reg. Park. " the said most reverend Father, that before Saturday
" next coming, or at tlie furthest, at the first coming home
" of the Vice -Warden of the said college, the said Vice-
" Warden shall call the company of the Fellows and Scho-
" lars of the said college together, and before the same
" company so gathered shall open and declare the calhng
" of Sir Tatam and Sir Borne to the degree of Masters,
" made by the Vice -Warden, and the consent of the five
" seniors, to be orderly and lawfully done, and so to be re-
puted and taken." Some other orders followed, which I
shall not here insert, being of no great concern.
A conspira- jj^t it was not long after, the Archbishop had much
cv of sornc ^
Fellows of more trouble with this turbulent college. For some of the
a'ainst the ^^^^^ows, namely, Wanton, Fletcher, and Row, entered into
Archbishop, a conspiracy, written by the hand of one of them, and se-
Park. Reg. (Jevised by the oath of the said parties, (as they them-
selves confessed,) to wage law against the Archbishop, for his
patronage and jurisdiction of the said college : as also for
borrowing of money, and for the lease and sale of Ibston-
wood ; to maintain their quarrel against his Grace ; and
also for the maintaining of their expulsion of R. Latham,
whom the Archbishop had restored, and for restoring to
their fellowships such persons as the Archbishop had ex-
pelled or suspended ; and also for the satisfaction of the
losses of the said parties so suspended by the Archbishop.
These had got several others of the same college to their
party, namely, J. H. F. W. E. F. C. A. and others.
252 The Archbishop was so tender of the reputation of these
His kind- hot-headed blades, notwithstandine their malice against him,
ness not- ' _ => , , . , .
withstand- that he would not have their names written at length m his
ingtothem. ^.ggjgj^^j. i^qj. go it is inserted in the margin of the regis-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 501
ter. The Archbishop gave order, that in the register CHAP.
tfieir names shmdd be spared by reason of danger and slan-
dev. Amio 1567.
The combination was this, to which they subscribed their The combi-
nation.
names :
" Whereas doubtful things ask judgment to discern, and
" weighty matters strength to wield their sway ; we, and
" every of us, the sooner to avoid the doubtful danger
" whereunto we are brought, and the better to wield the
" weighty affairs we presently take in hand, do our power,
" strength, policy, and wit, to the uttermost we may do
" them ; that is to wit, concerning jus patronatus, La-
" tham's expulsion, Wanton's and Jessop's admission ; the
" reducing of them, with Mr. Heming, to their full and
" former state in their fellowships. For that it toucheth us,
" and every of us, our estate, assurance, liberty, and author-
" ity, for our being in the house, to do so far for them,
" both jointly and severally, every one, whose names be
" here subscribed, as right and honesty may require, or
" law and reason can permit ; to our comfort in trouble,
" and in quietness to our joy, and to all our profits, if we
" prevail.
" God send the ship full safe to lay,
" That bears his sails full low.
" John Heminge, Christopher Atkinson,
" Tho. Wanton, Henry Savyl,
" James Whitehead, John Whetcomb,
" Robert Fletcher, John Wintley."
" Will. Row,
This dangerous and bold attempt, after it was discovered, This busi-
was examined and sifted, and finally dispersed, by the pru- persc'i'raod
dence and care of the Aichbishop and others, by virtue
either of the ecclesiastical or some special commission. Some
of the decrees were these : " That two of them should
" remain in the city of London, for this Lent, and not re- ,
" turn back to the college. That Mr. H. having the
K k 3
502
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " words of the said purposed conspiracy written in a paper,
' and in presence of four Fellows of the college, whose
III
Anno 1667." names are there, shall subscribe his hand to this recogni-
" tion, saying thus ; ' I iV. do utterly renounce this se-
" ditious conspiracy, tending to the subversion of the estate
" of the college, whereof I am Fellow : and promise, by
" this my writing and subscription, never hereafter to
" attempt the like. And also, I promise from henceforth,
" to be faithful to the wealth and worship of my said college,
" to my uttermost powers, by the grace of God.' And
" he ordained, that the three chief conspirators, and for
" contempt, should within ten days remove themselves out
" of the company and circuit of the same college, and so re-
" main until the day of St. John Baptist next following,
" except upon the repentance and unfeigned submission
" of them, or any of them, it shall be thought meet by the
" Commissioners to release, or obviate any of the orders
" concerning any of the persons afore-named. But one was
" ordained to be actually expelled. That whereas the
*' Founder decreed, that there should be in the college
" always three at least in order of priesthood, and none,
" not one, now was ; he decreed that henceforth there
" should be always three at the least in holy Orders. And
*' that within this day and tlie day of St. John Baptist,
" they dispose themselves to be within the same Orders ac-
*' cording to their oath. That the three senior residents
" shall take Orders, or else to avoid their fellowships.
" And then the next three seniors to take Orders, except
" some of the juniors will take the same. That the Vice-
" Warden for the time being, and the seven seniors with him,
" shall not at any time, in the absence of the Warden,
" or without his consent, suffer any thing to pass by
" their common seal, either lease for term of years, either
" advowson, annuity, &c. that may tend to the hurt of the
" possessions of the college ; and before that, the Archbi-
" shop of Canterbury, for the time being, be informed
253 " by them thereof, to expend how reasonable it may be.
" That neither the Sub-Warden nor any of the fellowship
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 503
" shall hereafter attempt to alienate or spoil the lands, CHAP.
XVII
" the moveable goods or woods of the same college, of.
" their private authority, during the time that their War- Anno 1567.
" den, Mr. John Man, abideth Ambassador to the Queen''s
" Majesty in Spain, nor shall do any thing contrai-y to the
" right and interest of the same college. That Latham
" be reputed and taken in all constructions to enjoy his
" fellowship and right of the same, as he hath enjoyed
" it in times past. And that the late sentence, unjustly
" passed against him, be revoked, and utterly frustrated,
" being contrary to law and good conscience, as by the
" judgment of certain learned men appeared, with the sub-
" scription of their hands."
These and other decrees, dated March 8, were made and
subscribed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of
London, Sir Gilb. Gerard, the Queen's Attorney General,
Dr. Tho. Yale, and Dr. Will. Drury. And so this storm
was allayed for this time.
At this time did the good Archbisliop express also his Founds
kindness and peculiar love towards the city of Norwich, to- larThips for
gether with some other neighbouring places in that county, Norwich ;
by founding three scholars to be sent thence to Bene't col-D.Eji. E-'
lege, and for preaching certain sermons. For by an inden-^'^"'
ture, dated the 24th of June, in the 9th of the Queen, he
gave to that city. For which they were to grant an
annuity of 101. to the said college : and the Master and
Fellows thereof were to bestow 8Z. of the said lOZ. to these
uses, and none other; that is, towards the use and exhibi-
tion of three grammar scholars, to be found within the said
college : to be from time to time nominated and appointed
by the Mayor and his successors, with the assent of the
most part of the Aldermen, out of the schools at or in the
city of Norwich, or Alesham in Norfolk. And the Mayor And four
of the city, and his successors, to employ the forty shillings
parcel of the said annuity after this manner, that is to say,
to a preacher to be sent or appointed by the said Master
and Fellows of Bene't college, to preach or declare one
sermon at the town of Thetford in Norfolk, 6*. 8^/. Also,
K k 4
504 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK to a preacher that shall preach a sermon at Windham, in
the said county, 6s. 8d. And for a sermon to be preached
Anno 1567. in the Greenyard of the city of Norwich, 6s. 8d. And for
a sermon in the parish church of St. Clement, by Fribrig,
[where the Archbishop was born,] 10.?. And the 10*. re-
maining, to the persons and officers under named : to the
Mayor, being at the sermon at the parish church of St
Clement's, 12d. To the two Sheriffs, being at the sermon,
16d To the Parson or Curate of the parish of St. Cle-
ment, present at the sermon, 8d. To the Town-clerk, being
at the same sermon, 6d. To the Sword-bearer of the same
city, being at the sermon, 6d. To four of the Mayor's
officers, or Sergeants at the mace, being present, 16d. To
the Clerk of the parish church, 4(Z. ; and to the same Clerk
yearly, for overseeing the tomb of William Parker and
Alice his wife, set within the churchyard of the parish of
St. Clement, that it be not misused to the decay thereof,
IQd. To the poor of that parish, Wd. To the prisoners of
the gaol of the city, 20d. And the portion of such persons
aforementioned, as should be absent from the sermon in St.
Clement's paiish church, to be distributed to and among
the poor of the said parish, and the prisoners. And as often
as the said 10^. or any part thereof shall be behind, and un-
paid, or not distributed, so often the said Mayor and She-
riffs shall pay unto the Master and Fellows of Bene't col-
lege 4:1. of good English money, in the name of a pain :
and then it shall be lawful for the said college to enter and
distrain.
The lands out of which this annuity was to be paid was
the manor and farm of Hethehilde, with the appertenances,
in the county of Norfolk.
His ordi- The Archbishop also made ordinances for these his three
thescho- scholars, abovesaid, and for the said sermons. Which were,
^*"» that the scholars were to be sent to the college from the
Mayor and Aldermen of Norwich. That without all favour
and affection and partiality, as they would answer to Al-
mighty God for doing the contrary, they should name and
appoint for scholars, such as should be born within the city,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 505
and being between tlie age of fourteen and twenty, well in- c H A P.
structed in their grammar, able to write and sing, and, if it
might be, to make a verse ; and such as should be of honest Anno i567.
parents, and brought up in the fear of God, and disposed 254
to enter by God's grace, in time to come, into the ministry,
and in that vocation to serve God and his Church. And
that the said scholars, for the time being, should direct their
studies to that end and effect. And that if, after the term
of three years' continuance in their studies, the Master and
Fellows should perceive, by sufficient proof, that the said
scholars, or any of them, were not disposed that way, then
they should give notice thereof to the Mayor and Alder-
men, to provide some other to supply the room of such in-
disposed persons, as also of such others as should depart out
of this present life in the time of their exhibition. The
scholars to have the said exhibition continued for six years,
from the first day of their admission. No scholar's room to
be longer vacant than six weeks. No scholar to absent him-
self out of the college in visiting his fi'iends, more than one
month at the most in the year.
The first sermon to be made at the town of Thetford, the And ser-
Sunday going before Rogation-week. The second sermon'"*'"*'
at Windliam, on Monday in Rogation-week. The third to
be made at St. Clement's, in Fybridge, on Ascension-day
following, in the forenoon or afternoon, by the appointment
of the Mayor. The fourth sermon in the Greenyard, or
other such connrion place in Norwich, to be preached the
Sunday following the said Ascension-day. That if the said
Master and F ellows should neglect or forget to send out of
their college, or out of some other college of the University,
such preacher, to perform the said sermons, then the Mayor
to nominate and assign them.
The first sermon of this foundation was made in the The first
Greenyard, on Sunday, July the 20th, 1567, by Tho. God- p""'"''""'
wine, S. Th.P. Dean of Christ's Church, Canterbury: pre-
sent, the Commissioners of the most reverend Father in God,
Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury; (they with the said
Dean then, jure mcirupoUtico, visiting the city and diocese
506
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of Norwich ;) present also the Duke of Norfolk, and other
' worshipful persons, and John the Bishop of Norwich, with
Lnno 1567. his people, and the Mayor and Aldermen of the city. The
same day and year, in the afternoon, the said Godwine
preached in the churchyard of St. Clement, next Fybridg,
under the great oak there. The same year, July the 25th,
John Tory, S. Th. P. Master of Corpus Christi college,
made a sermon at Wimondham, or Windham; and July
the 27th at Thetford. These sermons were preached some-
what out of the order prescribed, occasioned, I suppose, by
the visitation. But the next year, viz. 1568, all was per-
formed regularly. For May the 23d Dr. John Pory
preached at Thetford ; the 24-th at Wyndham ; the 27th
at Noi'wich, in the parish of St. Clement's, before noon ;
and the 30th in the Greenyard. And anno 1571, May the
20th, being Rogation Sunday, Tho. Aldrich, Master of
Corpus Christi, preached at Thetford. May the 21st,
being Rogation Monday, he preached at Wymondham.
May the 22d, being Tuesday in Rogation-week, he preached
at Mattishal in Norfolk, [the Archbishop's wife's native
town,] and saw the first distribution made among the poor
of the same town, according to an order made then by the
Archbishop. May the 24th, the same person preached at
Norwich, being Ascension-day, in the parish of St. Cle-
ment's : and there saw a distribution made according to the
said Archbishop's order. And the next Lord's day, being
May the 27th, he preached publicly in the Greenyard, be-
fore the Mayor and citizens. And in the year 1573, April
6, &c. the same sermons were preached by Robert Norgate,
M. A. then Master of the said college.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 507
CHAP. XVIII.
The Archbishop's kindness to Petrus Bizar7-us. Curw'm 255
confirmed Bishop of Oxford. Some accoiint of him. The
Bishop of Ba ngor sends the Archbishop the state (rf his
diocese; and of his pursuit of British antiquities there.
The Bishop of Peterborough informs the Archbishop of
abuses done to his Clergy. The Bishop of Carlisle moves
the Archbishop to pi-event the danger of the alienation of
a benefice from the Church. JElmer of Lincoln writes to
the Archbishop concerning ancient books there. Dr. Caius
sends the Archbishop his book of the antiquity of Cam-
bridge. Contest in Cambridge about the descent into hell.
The Clergy makes waste. The Secretary informs the
Archbishop of both. The Queen and Lord Keeper offended
with the Archbishop. His constancy notwithstanding.
His advice of dangers from Spain ; and of informers
against the Clergy.
Our Archbishop had a due regard for foreigners, espe- Anno i5(>7
cially the learned sort of them, and the embracers of true '*'^^tows a
.. . . . |iri!lu-nd iij
rehgion, for which they were exiles. Such an one, an on I'eter
Italian, he preferred this year to a prebend in the church of
Salisbury, of his gift, to the value of 20/. per annum, which
was confirmed to him by Jewel, Bishop of the diocese. He
was a Tuscan born, named Petrus Bizarrus, Perusinus, i.e.
of Perugia. He wrote some learned tracts ; and that he
might have the better conveniency of printing them, and
likewise of being serviceable to the State of England, by
giving intelligence of foreign affairs, in the year 1570, he I'aper of-
desired the Secretary, that he might enjoy his prebend,
though absent, with some little increase of his stipend, to
enable him to live. And in the mean time he offered to her
Majesty his most faithful and diligent service ; though he
was minded to remain at Venice, or Lyons, where he would
print some of his writings ; and thought no places in Eu-
rope more fit for coming to the knowledge of occurrences.
And how useful this was for princes and kings, he said,
508 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
Cunvin
confirmed
Bishop of
Oxen.
BOOK daily experience witnessed. He prayed the Secretary to
choose wliicli place he would have him reside at, and as-
Anno i567.sm.ed him, that whatsoever benefit he should confer upon
him, should be upon a thankful person, and one that would
be ever mindful of him and his. This was the substance
of a Latin letter, dated June 12 ; and in the conclusion, he
prayed the Secretary to communicate it with the Lord
Robert and the Earl of Bedford. And such a correspon-
dence (as aforesaid) he held ^nth Cecill ; a bundle of such
letters of intelligence, in Italian, from him, I have seen,
and possess.
This year our Archbishop confirmed Hugh Curwin, (or
Coren,) LL. D. Bishop of Oxford, removed from the arch-
bishopric of Dublin in Ireland, of which kingdom he also
had been Lord Chancellor; being well skilled in the civil
law. Which office he performed many years with reputa-
tion. But being now grown old, he desired to return, and
die in his own country: as he did the next year at Swin-
broke near Burford. Being the King^s Chaplain, he preach-
ed often before him. In the year 1532, in a sermon be-
fore the King, he spoke much in behalf of the svipremacy ;
when one Elstow, a Friar of Greenwich, openly told him
in that presence, he lied : for which he was committed to
prison. In 1533, when Friar Peto had in the King's pre-
sence, at Greenwich, inveighed against the King's marriage
with Anne Bolen; Dr. Curwin the next Sunday preached
before the King, and spake as much for that marriage ;
256 and added, that he much wondered, how a subject dared so
audaciously to behave himself before the King's face, as he
had done. But however he were for the supremacy and
the marriage, and went along with the King in his other
proceedings, yet he was a zealous man for the corporal pre-
sence ; and the death of pious Frith was attributed to him.
For in a sermon preached before the King in Lent, he in-
veighed against the Sacramentaries ; and at length in some
heat said, " It is no mervail, though this abominable heresy
*' so much prevail among us ; for there is one now in the
" Tower (meaning Frith) so bold, as to write in defence of
Stow.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 509
" that heresy, and yet no man goeth about his reformation." CHAP.
* \ • * XVIII
But this was the Bishop of Winchester's device to put the
King upon prosecuting that poor man. Which took place, Anno 1567.
the King forthwith commanding the Archbishop of Canter-
bury that then was, and the Lord Crumwel, to call him
into examination.
Nicolas, Bishop of Bangor, last year preferred thither, The state
having this year made some inspection into the condition of jio^es"^*"^
liis diocese, sent the Archbishop, according; to his order, the ^- ^•
' 1 ' ^ ' C.C. Epist.
names of all the Dean and Chapter, and of all the Min-
isters in the diocese, with account of their residency and
their hospitality ; such also as were not Deacons nor Priests,
and yet held ecclesiastical preferments. To the end, as he
wrote, that his Grace might perceive, liow men that were no
Ministers had such livings, to the utter decay of learned
men to be Ministers, when others had that liberty, [to have
benefices, and not be in Orders.] He had but two preach-
ers in his diocese ; but he told the Archbishop of others
that could do well, whom he would labour to make willing
to preach, and to take licences. He added, that whereas
the Archbishop had sent down Dr. Yale, with his letters
commissional to visit that diocese, that it had done much
good in short time, and more he trusted it would do here-
after to the glory of God, and the salvation of such people.
The same Bishop of Bangor writ an account to the Arch- The Bishop
bishop of his pursuit after British or other antiquities, in "'^j'^" "j^ '
the parts of his diocese, that he had got a young man - toti'e Arch-
write Eadmerus's History, and had sent it up to him. He antiquities,
writ, that there were no monuments of antiquity left within ^^'^^^ g' .*^^'
that country, but certain fabulous histories, and they lately
written : as the rude laws of one Howel Dau, or Dha, and
the life of a troublesome prince or two, which were subdued
since the Conquest. - That he was promised daily the sight
of some Welsh histories, but as yet saw nothing, nor could
hear certainly of any doings of the old Britons.
I find also some other Bishops' and learned men's letters The Bishop
to him under this year. The contents whereof I will briefly i,urghwrites
rehearse. Edmund, Bishop of Peterburgh, gave him to un-*"'''™'*^""-
derstand, how the parishioners of Wistenden put their Vi- Ministers
abused. MSS. C. C. C, C. Epist.
510 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK car into the stocks : and so had another parish served theirs;
and otherwise ill entreated them, rather in contempt of the
Anno 1 667. ministry, than upon any just cause. This Bishop desired
the Archbishop, that he would favour those Ministers' suits,
who, as it may seem, had made their complaints to the
Archbishop and ecclesiastical Commissioners ; or rather
were complained of, and brought up thither by their ene-
mies, to their further charge and vexation. He also wrote
the Archbishop, that another person had fetched up the
Minister of Barton Segrave, to the Archbishop"'s Court of
Audience, out of mahce, to put the poor man to charge.
He desired the cause might be remitted back unto him, the
Bishop of the diocese, before whom it lay before.
Bishop of John, Bishop of Carlisle, wrote to him, April 9, about an
writes to advowsou, like to go into secular hands, and that his Grace
him, to would do his endeavour to prevent it. What the case was
rescue an ^
advowson may be understood by the letter itself. " I have a com-
hands'MSS " ''^^^ndam of a parish, called Rumald church; it will ex-
ec, c.c. " pire within a year, or less. The advowson of the same is
^i"^*- c« offered to be sold to gentlemen of this country, at un-
" reasonable sums of money. So that it is apparent the
" revenues thereof are like to come into the temporal men's
" hands, and the cui-e into some unlearned ass, as many
" others are like to do in these parts ; unless your Grace be
" a good stay therein. For this cause, and for that my
" chai'ge here in the Queen's service doth daily increase;
" and also, that in times of wars, I have none refuge left to
" fly unto, but only it ; I am compelled to be a suitor to
" your Grace, for the renewing of my commetidam, for the
257 "time of my life. In doing whereof, yovu* Grace shall
" both stay the covetous gripe, that hath the advowson,
" from his prey, the unlearned ass from the cure, where I
" have now a learned Preacher, and bind me, as I am other-
" wise most bound to sei'\'e, and pray for your Grace's long
" continuance in honour and godliness.
" Your Grace's
" poor Brother to command,
" Johannes Carliolens."
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 511
To the learned John Mlmer, then at Lincoln, being CHAP.
Archdeacon there, (afterwards Bishop of London,) had the
Archbishop writ, as he had done to the rest of the learned Anno i567.
men in other cathedral churches, to search and inquire into ^c°u"t*to
the libraries in those parts, for old written ecclesiastical his- the Bishop
lories; and to send him the names and titles of all such as^fteran-
he should discover, tinier, in November, from Lincoln, ^jg'^J"*^.'^''*
where he had his preferment, wrote back to the Arch- c. c. Epist.
bishop, that he had made the best search that he could,
both in his own study and sundry others, and could find
none. And that for the most part of the old fellows he had
there, as he expressed it, were Schoolmen, as Alexander de
Hales, Johannes de Turi'e, &c. But he spake of an Arch-
bishop of Canterbury's book, viz. a Comment tipon the
Old Testament, which he Iiad, and which he promised his
Grace to send him, as soon as he could get opportunity.
And in fine, he professed how he rejoiced, that God had
chosen the chief Pastor of this Church out of his native
country; meaning Norfolk.
Dr. Caius, the Founder and Master of the college thatCai'Js's
bears his name, in the beginning of April, sent his letters to Cambridge,
the Archbishop, together with his book of the Antiquities of
Cambridge. Which work his Grace chiefly put him upon
writing. The occasion whereof was a supposed reflection
upon that University. For Thomas Caius, a learned anti-
quarian of Oxford, and Register of that University, had in
seven days made and writ a small treatise, entitled Asscr- Assertio
... . . . . Antiq.
tio Antiquitatis Oxoniensis Academi(B, and presented it to Oxonien.
the Queen in September last, when she was at Oxford ;
wherein the honour and antiquity of the other University
received some abatements. This MS. as it seems, by the
Secretary's means, a Cambridge man, coming into the hands
of the Archbishop, a Cambridge man also, was transcribed,
and communicated by him unto another Caius, and a learned
antiquarian of Cambridge ; the Archbishop exhorting him Employed
to consider well the book, and to vindicate his University ; therdrby*^
and contributing to him not a little herein. The work "'^ ^rch-
being done, the author sent the first draught of it to his
512
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Grace, for his review and accurate iudament. And ac-
III • ...
cording to that, he intended, with his correction, and what
Anno 1567. lie pleased to add, to print it. And as he desired his
Grace"'s judgment, so he let him know, that he should be
glad he would procure him Dr. Haddon''s and Secretary
CecyPs, whom he described to be men of wit and skill, and
close also. For it was his earnest desire, that the copy
might be kept greatly concealed, and not shewn to any ;
no, not to his servant Joscelyn; who he feared would shew
it to every body, and give copies, ante maturitatem, and
do little good in it himself. And he was the more inclin-
able to print it, being mindful of what the Archbishop had
once said, how troublesome the writing out of copies were,
and what depravations commonly crept into writing. But
he committed it wholly to the Archbishop. Yet if he ap-
proved the printing of it, he intended to view it over again,
because many things were roughly left, for want of leisure,
and out of haste to satisfy his Grace. Some things there
were, which the Archbishop thought fit to have left out:
what he would have added, or altered, Caius prayed him to
note, according to the number of the page. All this makes
appeal', how from the first to the last, the Archbishop's in-
fluence and assistance ran through this curious work.
N". LV. Concerning which, Caius's letter may be found in the Ap-
pendix.
And so well did the Archbishop approve of this book,
that the next year [viz. 1568] it came forth in print ;
258 Caius concealing his name under that of Londinensis. And
again, 1574, it was reprinted with his own name, John
Caius. The author of Athence Oxonien. saith, that Tho-
mas Caius wrote an answer to his namesake, and adversary,
of Cambridge, which never came out ; but that he had seen
two copies of it at Oxon.
Dispute in i\q rrreat Controversy arose in the University of Cam-
concerning bridge, about this time, what the true sense of Chrisfs
Christ's descent into hell was : whether it were a local descent, as
descent in-
to hell. it was then commonly taken, or to be understood in some
other meaning. This dispute was managed with so much
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 313
lieat, that it came to the Seci'etary, who %vas tliat Univer- CHAP,
sity's Chancellor. And he sent unto the Archbishop for his
advice in this matter; who gave him his thoughts for the
better stilling and composing this difference. But what
that was, I find not: perhaps, to forbear all contesting
about that doctrine ; the sense of which was left in such a
latitude in the Book of Articles, without assigning any par-
ticular meaning thereof.
Complaint had been made to the Queen concerning the The Clergy
waste that some of the Clergy made in their church lands w^te!*^
and tenements, by long leases, or otherwise. This report
was brought to the Queen by such as owed the Clergy no
good-will, but were ready to get their possessions them-
selves. The Queen, upon this, was almost come to a re-
solution, to have a commission issued out, to inquire into
these misdemeanors of the Clergy throughout the whole na-
tion. This the Secretary communicated to the Archbishop.
Of both the before-mentioned matters thus the Secretary
wrote to the Archbishop, September 12.
"It may please your Grace to receive my humble The Secre-
" thanks for your care taken, in the discreet advice given to ArchbUhop
" me, concerning the appeasing of the unprofitable rash
" controversy, newly raised, upon the article of tlie Descent c. c. Epist.
« of Christ to Hell.
" And again, much troubled with the Queen's Majesty's
" earnestness to have certain commissioners in the whole
" realm, to inquire of the wastes of the whole Clergy. For
" so she is also much thereto enticed. I do what I can to
" delay the execution; fearing that thereby the Clergy
" shall receive great blemish in opinion ; and so I mean to
" defer it, if I can. From my house in Westminster.
" Your Grace's at commandment,
" WiUiam Cecyl."
What proceedings were made further in this matter, I An act
... against
know not; but in the year 1571, agamst this waste there waste made
was an act of Parliament, and against the covetousness of
VOL. I. 1 L I
514 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Churchmen, defrauding then* successors, wasting the goods
of the Church, and letting leases for many years.
Anno 1567. The good Archbishop, as he had struggled with a very
The Queen painful fit of the stone this year, so he also encountered
offended r _ J ■>
\¥ith the with no small troubles of mind, as well as body. For he
Archbishop, j^gjjjg ^ most earnest and invariable lover of truth, integrity,
and righteousness, would not spare either prince or noble,
in speaking or writing freely his mind. This made him
fall now under the displeasure both of the Queen, his
mistress, and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, his old
friend. The Queen gave him publicly a most severe chiding,
and that before many of his officers, as weE as others ; be-
cause he had freely spoke something to her relating to his
office, but what particularly, I am not able to declare. Yet
was she so wise, as not to allow his esteem and respect to be
abated by occasion of her anger towards him. To prevent
which, the next day meeting him, she shewed him a very
gracious aspect. Take this from the Archbishop's own pen,
in a letter to the Lady Bacon. " I will not be abashed to
" say to my Prince that I think in conscience, in answer-
" ing to my charging. As this other day I was well
" chidden at my Prince's hand ; but with one ear I heard
" her hard words, and ^vith the other, and in my conscience
" and heart, I heard God. And yet her Highness being
" never so much incensed to be offended with me, the next
259 " day coming to Lambeth bridge into the fields, and I ac-
" cording to my duty meeting her on the bridge, she gave
" me her very good looks, and spake secretly in mine ear,
" that she must needs continue mine authority before the
" people, to the credit of my service. Whereat divers of
" my Arches, then being with me, peradventure mervailed.
" Where peradventure somebody would have looked over
" the shoulders, and slily slipt away, to have abashed me
" before the world."
And so is The Archbishop meaning by that expression to give a
Keeper!'* secret repi'oof to the Lord Keeper Bacon ; who, in some
displeasure now also taken at him for something else, had
shewn himself after that fashion towards him. The occa-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 515
slon of this anger towards the Arclibishop, his old fi-iend CHAP.
... XVIII
and acquaintance, seems to liave been by a visitation of the
diocese of Norwich. Where he, as before was s])oken, had '^""o
lieard much irregularity to have been ; shameful simony,
and other wrongs done to tlie Church by gentlemen, and
some knights. How two laymen enjoyed two prebends in
that church, was mentioned before; and what good remedy
the Archbishop intended to make therein, by procuring one
of these prebends for a learned Minister, and thereby also
providing a good preacher for that city ; which by the Bi-
shop of Norwich, by reason of a former bargain with lilni
that held that prebend, was prevented. As he wrote to that
Bishop immediately, upon this disappointment; so, while
his mind was full of inward trouble at it, he wrote also to
the Lord Keeper, complaining to him, after his godly way,
of these corruptions and wrongs done to the Church : and,
it is very likely, laying some charge in that respect upon
the Keeper himself, and by his counsel and example giving
occasion hereunto. Bacon, being a passionate man, could
not bear this, but fell out with this plain dealer. He re-
turned a few lines to the friendly letter the Archbishop sent
him ; telling him, that " he conceived that now of the
" Archbishop, which he thought not to have heard at his
"hands;" and sent a hard answer by the Archbishop's
man, by word of mouth, whom the Archbi.shop intended
should not have known any thing at all of these dealings
between them, so privately wrote on his part.
The Archbishop made no more words to the angry The Arch-
Keeper ; but he did soon after write his mind at large to upon writes
the Lady Bacon, his wife; a most prudent, learned, and ^^"^ Lady
godly woman, with intention that he should know the Arch-mss. G.l».
bishop's mind by her. " He desired her, who was a great
" solicitor to the lord her husband, in the causes of the
" poor for justice, that she would take a fitting opportunity
" to represent him to her lord, because to him, he per-
" ceived, he might not write ; except the things he wrote
" were placcntissima. He protested to her, that he meant
" not only prudently in what he lately wrote, or spake, to
I. 1 2
516 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " the Lord Bacon, but christianly, godly, and friendly.
" And that he wrote with that deference, as that if Bacon
Anno 1567." had been prince of the realm, and he [the Archbishop]
" his chaplain, he might have writ as he did. And yet,
" as he chose to express it, might Matthew Parker write
" privately to Nicolas Bacon, in matters of good friendship,
*' without offence. But still, in humility of heart, he would
" not stick to submit himself to the page of his chamber,
" and would be admonished by him in reason, though
he were his enemy. And again, in doing his duty to
" God, and the office of friendship to them, whom he did
" sincerely honour and love, he would not be abashed to
" say to his Prince that he thought in conscience. For
" speaking his mind so plainly to his Lordship, he said for
" himself, that God, the God of vengeance, would ask ac-
" count of him, if he should hold his peace ; when both my
" Lord and I, said he, shall stand dreadfully before his
" chancery. And therefore he would not so covet the favour
" of men, as to displease God : and that he could do no
" less, of tender heart to his estimation. Aud loath he would
" be, that his example should be alleged for divers spoilers
" of the ministry in that country of Norfolk. He beseeched
" this honourable lady, his wife, to help to remove this
" scandal out of God's house ; that that Lord might not
" bespot the glory of his old age. Evil reports went about,
" which he would not write, or credit all tales. Fy on
" the world ! to carry God's good elect, and principal mem-
" bers of his kingdom, so to be drowned in the dregs of this
" mortality, not to regard these so chief causes. What
260 " shall be hoped for in friendship, if the advertising of one
" another in true faithful friendship, and to God-ward, shall
" stir up enmity and disliking.'' He said, he was jealous
" over my Lord's conscience, and over his honourable
" name. That he had joyed in him, and always honour-
" ably reported him ; and in great places, and before the
" most honourable, compared him with More and Audley,
" for eloquence, wit, and learning in law, and with Bishop
*' Goodrick, for his sincerity towards justice ; though they
i
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 517
"all had their faults: which he prayed God to keep my CHAP.
" Lord and him from. The first imbued with Papistry ; ^^t^^-
"the second, omnia, ct ah omnibus. The third, a dis- Anno 1567.
" sembler in friendship.
" I would be loath to break friendship with any mean
" body, much less with my Lord. And yet either King,
" or Caesar, contrary to my duty to God, I will not, nor in-
" tend not, God being my good Lord. And it is not the
" solemnity or commodity of mine office that I so much
** esteem. I was sorry to be so accumbered : but necessity
" drove me ; and what fate shall thrust me out, susque
" deque fero. I am grown into a better consideration by
*' mine age, than to be afraid or dismayed with such vain
" terriculaments of the world. I am not now to learn to
" fawn upon men, whose breath is in their nostrils." But
I leave the reader to peruse the whole letter in the Appen-
dix, wherein so much of the good temper and brave spirit Nu
of our Archbishop will appear.
More of that spirit, and public concern for religion, and His advice
the professors of it, this ffodlv Archbishop shewed in an- "PP''^-
^ . . hcnsions
Other matter happening this summer. There was now a from Spain;
secret contribution made, by means of the Archbishop,
among the Bishops and Clergy, for some foreign friends,
Protestants (as it seems) in Flanders, and those parts un-
der the Spanish yoke, who endured great and intolerable
pressures. But however privately this charitable business
was carried, it came to the Spanish Ambassador''s know-
ledge; who then had a great stroke with the Queen. And
she (though for politic ends) seemed to be too much led by
him, to the trouble of her truest friends. This, with some
concern, the Secretary had hinted to our Archbishop.
Whereat the venerable man declared himself astonished :
but, however, took this occasion to excite the Secretary
most earnestly to use his interest with the Queen, to set her
right in these Spanish matters. And these were his words
to him : " That whereas the Spanish Ambassador knew of To Secre-
" their contribution, he would wish that he not only heard ^""^^ '
" of it, and suspected it, but saw it. And yet prudence
L 1 3
518 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " would be used. God save the Queens's Majesty (said he)
" from his enchanting. Her peril is evidently feared in
Anno 1567." this security. The realm is like to be in danger, if our
" foreign friends be not well. For God's sake, and for his
" Son's religion sake, by whom vivimus et salvi sumus,
" have good consideration in this matter, and use your Avis-
" dom, opportune, importune. Non putardm, is no wise
" man's saying. God fortify you, and my Lords of the
" Council. God make the Queen's Majesty to understand
" all foreign sleights." This he writ from Croydon, July
the 17th. This great danger did the honest party of the
Court apprehend the nation and the religion to be under
at this time, from the crafty insinuations of the Spaniard ;
and this was the seasonable warning of this great watch-
man. The Queen, however, continued this favour for
Spain, or at least backwardness to fall out with that na-
tion : notwithstanding many base and false characters and
stories of her and her government were commonly vented,
and told about there, to her dishonour. In January the
next year, our Archbishop sent a paper of notes thereof to
the Secretary, that he might take his opportunity to ac-
quaint the Queen with them ; and by this means take off
her favourable sentiments towards that her most dangerous
enemy. For he doubted, as he said, there never was any
notice given her, how courteously (as he spake ironically)
she was used in Spain, by these their public stories of her.
The Clergy Among the various discouragements of the Clergy nowa-
in^onnm.^ days, there were many that watched their tripping, by trans-
gressing any penal law, to take advantage against them that
way. Many promoters there were, that were ready to in-
form against such as did not reside, let the non-residence be
never so necessary or reasonable ; hoping to enjoy the for-
261 feiture of ten pounds a month for absence. The Archbi-
Anno 1568. shop, in one of his letters writ this year, makes mention of
a very honest man, having two benefices, and keeping a
very good house at the greater benefice, who was notwith-
standing accused in the King's Bench in Hilary term, by
one of these informers, for non-residence from his less be-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 519
nefice; and, as it seemeth, was fain to pay the penalty for CHAP,
divers months' absence. Therefore one Walker, mentioned
before, a learned preacher in Norwich, and so of great use Anno isea.
in that city, where there was scarce a preacher besides, not-
withstanding, out of fear of this kind of informers, resolved
to leave the city, and return to his small living in the coun-
try. And so by the means of these evil men that city was
deprived of the good service he did in it.
CHAP. XIX.
The ArchbisJiop's care for preserving hospitality at Canter-
bury. Attempteth to make the river there navigable.
Consecrates a Suffragan of Dover. Orders to the Arch-
bishop to inquire into the religion and condition of all
strangers. The Archbishop, by letters of the Privy Coun-
cil, hath the care of records and monuments. The Bishop
of Sarum sends up a Saxon book to the Archbishop. Sir
John Southworth, a Lancashire gentleman, and a Papist,
sent by the Council to be examined by the Archbishop.
Committed cfterwards to the Bishop of London. The
Archbishop repairs Bekesbourn chancel.
Our Prelate, among other his episcopal qualities, had a His care for
great care for preserving the reputation of his church of {Jgj^'jj^J'j'^^
Canterbury. To which the keeping of hospitality tended his
considerably ; that travellers and strangers might not want canterbury
for entertainment there. But the Queen having determined
to reserve the prebends of that church for her Chaplains, he
seemed not to like of it ; lest their non-residence might pre-
judice that good housekeeping, that was so convenient to be
there maintained. But there was another thing in it, that
tended most fatally to the destruction of hospitality there :
and that was, that, notwithstanding their non-residence, they
obtained grants to receive their full profits, without any de-
falcation for absence: whereby the charge lay still harder
upon those that resided. And this would make them think
L 1 4
520 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK of absenting themselves too. And upon that occasion some
now were about so to do. They heard that Dr. Nevison
Anno 1568. ^vould sue for liis whole profits absent, and Mr. Freke would
do the like. Three more, viz. Mr. Sentleger, Mr. Boleyn,
and Mr. Dorel, were so preferred. The Archbishop thovight
it worth writing to the Secretary for the redress of this mat-
ter: " Praying his Honour to consider how the Churcli
" stood, that foreigners and noblemen, passing that way,
" might find convenient numbers at home to offer them a
" dinner : for if many of them shovdd be absent, and have
" their whole profits, as many of them had lately obtained,
" the rest would be too much hindered in their hospitality :
" and it would make them also to absent themselves. This
" therefore he thought not expedient; and that three of
" them had such a grant of the whole profits, notwithstand-
" ing non-residence, he said, it was enough, and too much,
" and so left it to their consideration."" This matter he
Avrote of to the Secretary, March 29.
His endea- ^jjd he was a friend to the city of Canterbury as weU as
TOurs for , , , , . p ^ • p o
the making the church, being a furtherer, if not a first propounder, of
Ca^aterbury "^^^ing the river to Canterbury navigable. The charge was
navigable, computed to amount to fifteen hundred pounds. Which be-
ing too great for the city to raise of itself, there was endea-
vour made to get aid elsewhere. And for this purpose he
262 laboured, by the Secretary's means, to procure letters from
the Queen : and that they might be penned in such form that
the Lords of the Council might subscribe them, to be directed
to the Justices of Kent, to be delivered them at their next
meeting. He prayed the Secretary's help, and left it to his
management, as he should think good : appointing his ser-
vant to attend the Secretary's pleasure ; intending himself
to have come and spoke to him by word of mouth concern-
ing it at the Star-chamber, if the business had taken there,
which it seems was adjourned, and so he went not ; but sup-
plied his absence by a letter. May 21st, exciting both him-
self and the Secretary to the doing of good, from the uncer-
tainty of their abode in the world ; which he meant by those
short sentences wherewith he concluded his letter ; Dum
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 521
sumus in mundo, operemur bonum: and, Opera illorum se- CHAP.
quuntur illos.
In this eleventh of the Queen, the Archbishop under his Anno 1 568.
seal recommended to her Majesty two persons for the office ^^^"^^f
of a Suffragan within the province of Canterbury, and to fragan of
nominate one of the^n. These two were Richard Rogers,
B. D. and John Butler, Clerk, Canon and Prebendary of
Christ's Church, Cant. And being so nominated by her, to
grant him the style, title, name, and dignity. So she by
letters patents sealed under her privy seal. May 12, nomi-
nated Rogers for Suffragan of Dover, and commanded the
Archbishop to consecrate him thereunto, according to the act
of Parliament in the 36th of Henry VIII. and renewed in
the first of her reign.
Those in the Netherlands that professed religion were now Dangerous
persecuted intolerably by D'Alva, that breathed out nothing "j.™ gj,^ -^^
but blood and slaughter. Great numbers of them from all by strang-
parts daily fled over hither into the Queen's dominions, for*"'
the safety of their lives, and liberty of their consciences ; and
had hospitable entertainment and harbour for God's sake
and the Gospel's: being allowed to dwell peaceably, and
follow their callings without molestation in London and
Southwark, and elsewhere. But with these came over Ana-
baptists also, and sectaries, holding heretical and ill opinions,
and some also suspected to be guilty of horrible crimes, as
was pretended by their enemies.
This the Queen being informed of, and not intending tOTheQueen's
allow harbour to such sort of persons, (though all sincerely "ke fn
professing the purity of Christ's religion, she was very ready quisition
to receive and cherish,) issued out her letters, dated in May, ^^^^^ them,
to our Archbishop to this purpose ; " That he, with the
" Bishops his brethren, under whose jurisdictions any con-
" fluences of these strangers were, should take particular
" cognizance what and who they were. And that he should
" give speedy order to the Bishop of London, and all other
" Bishops within his province, where these people took up
" their residence, that they should make a special visitation
" and inquisition in every parish, of all manner of persons,
" being strangers, of what country, quality, condition, and
522 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " estate they were, with the probable causes of their coming
" into the realm, and the time of their continuance here, and
Anno 1568. " in what Sort they lived, and to what churches they resort-
" ed ; and to make and continue registers thereupon. And
" to give notice to the J ustices of peace concerning such as
" should be suspected of the foresaid crimes, or were not
" conformable to the religion, agreeable with the laws of
" the land, or permitted to places especially appointed for
" strangers to resort to for the exercise of religion." This
Num. LVII. letter I have exemplified in the Appendix.
The Arch- The Copy of this letter the Archbishop sent to the Bishop
the^BUhop London, as was commanded, adding by postscript,
of London " These shall be therefore in the Queen's Majesty ""s name,
ereupon. ^^.^^^ require your Lordship, that having regard, as
" I doubt not but you will, to the execution of the Queen's
" Majesty's said letters within your own diocese, you do also
" forthwith signify the tenor hereof to all [and] singular my
" brethren, the other Bishops and other Ordinaries within
" my province, where you shall think any confluence of
" strangers to be, &c. Dated May 24, 1568." This in truth
was chiefly occasioned by this Bishop's application to the
Secretary, many Anabaptists now holding secret conventicles
in the city ; and by that means had corrupted a great many
of the citizens with their doctrines. This was now the third
search made for strangers in this Queen's reign.
2g3 As the Archbishop had the chief care of the Church and
The Arch- of religion under the Queen, so had he also of the venerable
authority^ antiquity of the nation. Whose great skill therein, and
from the earnest desire of retrieving the ancient stories and accounts
searching of persons and things in these islands, from the times of the
after anti- Britains and Saxons, was so well known, that a kind of ofiice
quitifg, _ ' . ...
was granted him for the preservation of these antiquities.
And the Privy Council granted him their countenance, to
gather up ancient monuments throughout England, in whose
possession soever they were ; not indeed to keep or convert
to his own use, but to have the sight and reading of them.
For in July divers of the Queen's Privy Counsellors, the
Lord Keeper Bacon, the Duke of Norfolk, the Secretary,
and others, issued out their letters to all persons, to notify
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 523
the Queen's pleasure, " That the Lord Archbishop of Can- CHAP.
• • • XIX
" terbury should have a special care and oversight in the
"conservation of such ancient records and monuments Anno 1 668.
" as were written of the state and affairs of the realm of
" England and Ireland ; which were heretofore preserved
" and recorded, by special appointment of certain of her
" Majesty's ancestors, in divers abbeys, to be treasurehouses
" to keep and leave in memory such occurrences as fell in
" their times. And because divers of such writings were
*' commen into the hands of private persons, and so partly
" remained obscure and unknoAvn ; they Avilled and requir-
" ed, that when the same Archbishop should send his letters,
" or learned deputies, requesting to have a sight of any such
" ancient records, that they would, at the contemplation of
" these letters, gently impart the same : not meaning to with-
" draw them from the owners, but for a time to peruse the
" same, upon promise or band given of making restitution.
" So as, when need should require, resort might be made for
" the testimony that might be found in them ; and also by
" conference of them, the antiquity of the state of these coun-
" tries might be restored to the knowledge of the world.
" Dated from Howard Place, [now called the Charter
" House,] anno 68, July 7.
« Nic. Bacon, C. S. Th. Norfolk, W. Northampton,
" R. Leicester, W. Howard, W. Cecyl."
This letter was printed, because there would be occa-
sion to use divers copies of it, to be shewn by the Arch-
bishop's many deputies to such persons as had any of
these ancient books, or instruments, or records, in their
possession, and to authorize them to require the sight of
them.
It is probable the Archbishop obtained this letter to meet Search into
with such as were unwilling, or otherwise refused, to oblige
him with the sight of such ancient books or writings as were dent books,
in their possessions ; but the Archbishop's desire alone pre-
vailed with many others, considering the public end he drove
at, especially with the Bishops of the several sees ; whom he
had friendly exhorted to examine the books in their churches,
524 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK and to inform him what they were, and if among them any
Saxon authors were found. The Bishop of Sarum had been
Anno 1568. this year at London, and received great respects from our
Archbishop, who took that opportunity to pray him to search
narrowly the Hbrary of his cathedral for the said purpose ;
and as he went his visitation, (which the Bishop performed
this year,) to make diligent inquiry for such ancient books ;
and that in his correspondency with BuUinger he would
confer with him in some certain matters. Upon the Bishop
of Sarinn's return back to Salisbury, he did according to the
Archbishop's desire ; and what success he had, these his
lettei's will shew ;
Bishop of « My duty most humbly premised, with like thanks for
the Arch- " your Grace's favour to my late being there. It may please
bishop, «c your Grace to understand, that, according; to my promise,
concerning •' . ,P
a Saxon " I have ransacked our poor library of Salisbury, and have
i'nthat'"' " ^^und nothing worthy the finding, saving only one book
church's " written in the Saxon tongue ; which I mind to send to
Pubi[c Li- " your Grace by the next convenient messenger. The
brar.Cambr. « book is of a reasonable bigness, well near as thick as
" the Communion Book. Your Grace hath three or four
" of the same size. It may be Alfricus, for all my cunning.
264 " But your Grace will soon find what he is. Other certain
" books there are of Rabanus and Anselmus,but as common,
" so also little worth. If I had any leisure, I would send
" your Grace the titles of all. But as now I am entering
" into the visitation of my diocese. By the way, if I may
*' learn of any antiquities, I will do your Grace to under-
" stand. Thus I humbly take my leave from Sarum, the
" 18th of January, 1568.
" Your Grace's most humble,
" Jo. Sarum."
After his return from his visitation, he sent up the said
Saxon book to the Archbishop, accompanied with another
letter to this tenor ;
" After my most humble commendations. Being now
AUCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 525
"newly returned from the visitation of my diocese, and CHAP.
" having this convenient messenger, I thought it my duty
" to perform my promise. And therefore have sent your Anno 1 568.
" Grace that hidden treasure that we had in our Ubrarv. f^"''*''^'^
y letter from
" Whether it be Alfricus or no, or what matter it contain- the same
" eth, your Grace will soon judge. I have made inquiry J^g**2rch-
" for such antiquities, as I have passed through my Clergy bishop.
" in this visitation ; but as yet I can find nothing. If there '
*' be any thing found, I shall have understanding of it. I
" will not forget to write to Mr. Bullinger: and if your
" Grace shall otherwise command me to others else, I am
" always ready. Thus I humbly take my leave from Sarum,
" the 31st of January, 1568.
" Your Grace's most humble,
" Jo. Sarum."
These letters are found in a volume in folio in the pub-
lic library of Cambridge ; being St. Gregory''s tract, De
Cura Pastorali, turned paraphrastically into Saxon.
The Lords of the Council wrote to the Archbishop, and Southworth,
the rest of the ecclesiastical Commissioners, to call before com*mitted
him Sir John Southworth, a gentleman of Cheshire or Lan- *° Arch-
cashire, and a Papist, and by his corporal oath to examine
him upon certain articles and matters that had been already
objected against him by the Bishop of Chester, to whom he
had refused to give an answer: he had promised, that to
the Lords he would, but not either to the former Bishop
or the Archbishop of York, upon some mistrust that he
should not find such indifference at their hands. So being
brought up, the Lords, as was aforesaid, committed him to
the Archbishop and Commissioners, the said Lords advising,
that he should be only dealt with about those articles ;
thinking it convenient for other things touching his con-
science, that he rather should be won by persuasion. He
was privy (it is like) to certain secret conferences held at
York, between the Bishop of Rosse and Lidington, friends
of the Scotch Queen, and the Duke of Norfolk, to use his
interest to procure her liberty, propounding to him a match
526 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK with her: he might also be privy to some fugitive Priests,
who in these parts were now busily stirring the people to
Anno 1568. discontent, and drawing them away from their obedience:
Pope Pius V. this year, by Ridolph of Florence, but resid-
ing in London as a factor, exciting the Papists every where
against the Queen. But the articles touched not these mat-
ters, but they concerned his entertainment of Popish Priests
into his house and company, and relieving them who had
not only refused the ministry, but also in his hearing had
spoken against the present state of religion ; and about his
neglect in coming to church to the common prayer and
holy Communion, so often as he should have done.
The Lords, together with their letter, had sent the Arch-
bishop a form of a submission for the said Knight to sub-
scribe. On the 14th of July he appeared before the Arch-
bishop, according to their Lordships^ order : and the said
form being offered to him, he refused to submit himself to
any such subscription : telling the Archbishop, his con-
science could not serve him in most points of that order.
But he offered not to receive nor sustain any such disorder-
ed persons, as heretofore he had sustained and holpen. This
265 the Archbishop signified back to the Council ; and that he
seemed further to desire that he might be suffered to live
according to his conscience ; and desired much to go over
sea. The considei'ation of all which suits he [the Arch-
bishop] referred to their honourable wisdoms.
Escapes, but This Southworth escaped now, having at last subscribed
next year at Complied With the established laws ; but soon after re-
Bath, vol ted. For the next year, viz. 1569, in May, Sir John
Southworth was at Bath, where there was great flocking of
gentlemen, all hinderers of God's word and the Gospel, and
this gentleman the ringleader, and no little doer in Bath,
(where Bonner's friends and relations also were,) and re-
mained in great admiration, as one Thomas Churchyard
informed Secretary Cecyll. And thereupon he was taken
up again, and committed to the custody of the Bishop of
London.
I find him in August the following year, viz. 1569, with
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 527
the said Bishop, who then sent letters to the Council, that CHAP.
he could do no good with him for altering his opinion in
religion. Besides the Bishop's labour with him, the Dean Anno 1568.
of PauPs, by him requested, conferred with the said Knight Harboured
very often, and had used also much courtesy and humanity Bishop of
towards him, and not without charge; which in reason
might have been a means to move the said Sir John some-
what to relent, but the man was altogether unlearned, car-
ried with a blind zeal without knowledge : [I do but tran-
scribe Bishop Grindal's letter to the Secretary ;] his princi-
pal grounds were, " He will follow the faith of his fathers :
" he will die in the faith wherein he was baptized." Sir
John after this earnestly requested to repair to the Court,
to sue unto the Council, that he might be employed in some
service. And the Bishop allowed him to go. The Bishop was
now discharged of him, and the Dean of St. Paul's harboured And Dean
him, where, after he had been ten or twelve days, he grew
weary of him ; for the Knight now became more peremptory
by the Dean's gentle usage, and would come neither to prayers
nor sermon. So the Bishop in behalf of the Dean suggested
to the Secretary how gladly the Dean would be to be deliver-
ed of him. Yet the Bishop in his letters now to the Lords,
prayed them to spare his imprisonment for a time, because
the prison sicknesses reigned usually at that time of the year.
The Archbishop, who was a great repairer of the houses The Arch-
and chancels pertaining unto his see, did this year repair p3''||!°gg^gj.
and beautify the chancel of Bekesbourn church, where he bourn chan-
had an house. He set up fair and comely seats of wainscot N Batteiy.
for ornament. And in one of these seats, which probably
might be that wherein he sat himself, are still remaining the
arms of Parker, and the date 1568 engraven : but now are
much gone to decay, through the negligence of the tenants,
that should have kept them in repair ; and some of them
have been lately pulled down, and cut to pieces. About
that time an augmentation was given to the vicarage, being
a pension of corn, viz. four quarters of wheat and eighteen
quarters of barley per annum ; and ten pounds in money :
so settled, as it seems, by the Archbishop's means.
528
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
CHAP. XX.
Anno 1568 ^^P^^ Christi college, Oxon, visited hy the Bishop of
266 Winton : and more effectually, by commission from the
Queen. The Archbisliop of Canterhury''s privilege to
visit Oxford. The Commissioners Ecclesiastical appoint
a vintation of Corpus Christi in Cambridge. The Uni-
versity refuse their visitation on account of their pri-
vileges. The Commissioners call the College up to Lam-
beth. The Archbishop satisjieth the Chancellor of Cam-
bridge of their doings. Papists banished the Court. Some,
in the diocese of Gloucester off date witlwut orders. The
ArchbisJiop pacifieth differences in Corpus Christi col-
lege, Cambridge. The Queen''s appointment of Latin
prayers disobeyed in most colleges. The Archbishop'' s
advice to the Chancellor liereupon. Procures new statutes
for Corpus Christi college. Gives the advowson of Abb
church, London, to the college. His advice for a Bishop
(f Chichester. Appoints Lent Preachers for the Queen.
Tremellius and Corranus apply to him. His brotlier
Mayor of Norwich.
A President A NOTABLE visitation of Corpus Christi college in Ox-
Corpus " ^^^^ happened this year. The occasion was this : upon the
Christi, avoidauce of the presidentship of that house, the Queen sent
letters to the Fellows, recommending William Cole to their
choice to supply that place, a sober and religious man, who
had been an exile under Queen Mary. But notwithstand-
ing, being well affected towards Popery, they rejected the
Queen''s letter, and chose for their President one Robert
Harrison, formerly of that house, but gone from thence for
his favour to the Romish religion. The Queen hearing this,
pronounced their election void, as being made amiss, and
against the statutes ; and again commanded them to elect
Cole. But they still refused, urging, that their former
election was done according to their consciences and their
oaths. Soon after, Horn, Bishop of Winchester, their visitor,
was sent down to place Cole, which he did ; but first was
fain to force the college gates, being shut against him.
Oxon.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 529
There being such a nest of Popish Fellows here, and the CHAP,
rude carriage the college had shown the Bishop, their Visitor,
considered, he intended a farther visitation for them. But Anuo iocs,
upon other intervening; business, it was deferred by him : 7^'"^ '^t"
^ _ . naviour oi
which made the Fellows triumph. But some other Fellows the Fellows
were here of a better inclination ; as Hooker, and his learned Jh^jr'^''*
and ingenious pupil George Cranmer, nephew to the late Visitor.
Archbishop of that name. This man last mentioned, in this
juncture wrote a letter to the Bishop of Winchester ; who
the last time he was at the college adjourned his visitation
till another time, and afterward, as report went, laid it wholly
aside. This rumour, Cranmer told him, brake all the hopes
of the good men, and begat the triumphs of the bad. These
talked abusively of the Bishop, that he would come when there
was hope of gain, viz. ten mark. But now, being no hopes
of that, he would not trouble himself to take the pains. Cran-
mer told him, moreover, how they spake against him, and
boasted how well it succeeded, that they had resisted him, [as
though he were afraid to come again to them.] He urged also
to the Bishop, that he would do well to purge the New college
and Winchester school, wherein were harboured many po-
pishly affected. This letter came into the hands of Archbi-
shop Parker, sent to him by the Bishop aforesaid ; who pray-
ed him, that care might be taken about these irregulai'ities by
the ecclesiastical Commission, rather than by him as Visitor.
The Archbishop sent the letter to the Bishop of London,
who approved of some speedy course to be taken for redress. 267
What was done with the colleges of Winchester and New
college, I know not ; but Corpus Christi was procured by The college
the Archbishop to be this year visited by commission from by
^ . Comrais-
the Queen to the said Bishop of Winton, Secretary Cecyll, sioners.
Cooper, and Humfrey, Doctors of Divinity, and George
Ackworth, LL. D. an officer of the Archbishop''s. Where
lighter punishments were inflicted upon lesser crimes, and
three notorious Papists expelled, whose names were Rey-
nolds, Windsor, and Napier.
The Archbishop had lately met with an old writing taken The Arcli-
out of the rolls of Parliament, anno 1411, and of the 13- SlltTbuIy
VOL. I. Mm
530
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Regis Henrici IV. wherein was expressed the power of the
Archbishops of Canterbury to visit the University of Ox-
P. 96fi.
Anno IS 6 8. ford. It began, Memorandum quod memorubiUs in Christo
Oxford Pater, Thomas Aixhiep. Cantuar. in prasenti Pari, nostra
exhibuit quandam petitionem, &c. It was concerning his
right of visiting that University ; and it was confirmed by
that Parhament. The aforesaid writing is very large. This
the Archbishop ordered to be put into his register, as ap-
pears by this note subjoined, " Memof'andum, That the copy
" of the act of Parhament above mentioned, touching the
" University of Oxford, was dehvered to me John Incent,
" the xix February, A. D. 1568. by the most reverend Fa-
" ther in God, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, and
" commandment to me given by him to register the same in
Cleopatra, « manner and form above specified." As for this preroga-
tive of the Archbishops of Cant. I find by the notes of
Dr. Yale, preserved in the Cotton library, that the scho-
lars of Oxon submitted themselves to the Archbishop of
Canterbury, et nequeunt sese exceptos. Ex. Reg. A7undel.
And in the same Cotton volume I find this prerogative de-
clared and ratified by King Richard II. in these words:
Dedaratio Regis per literas suas patcntes, quod jus visi-
tandi Cancellarium et Universitatem Oxon. pertinet et per-
tinere debet, ae in perpetuum pertincbit ad Archiepiscopum
Cantuar. et Ecclesiam suam, et non ad ipstim regem. This
happened upon some contest and debate moved between
Thomas, Archbishop of Cant, on the one part, and the
Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and some others of
that University, on the other, upon the use and exercise of
jurisdiction and visitation of the said University; the Chan-
cellor and the rest saying, that the visitation belonged to
the King alone. This was dated at Westminster, June 1,
in the 20th year of King Richard II.
This year I meet with an instance of the Archbishop''s
ecciesias- great love and good-will to his old college of Corpus Christi
information Cambridge, where he was educated, and whereof he was
against once governor, and ever after a loving patron. The pre-
lege. sent Master, Dr. Pory, was aged, and often absent, and
The Com
missioners
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 531
government and good order was greatly wanting in the col- cHAP.
lege. The Archbishop, the Bishop of London, Dr. Yale,
Dr. Drury, and Dr. Watts, were now some of the Queen's Anno 1 568.
Commissioners. To these information was lately brought
of divers misdemeanors, as well in manners as in doctrine,
of which this society was guilty. I make no question this
information was brought by the Archbishop's means : who,
finding no other way so convenient to remedy the abuses
grown in that house, thought good to attempt the doing of
it by the Commission. The method therefore taken was
this. Upon this information they directed their letters of
commission to the Vice-Chancellor, and some other Heads
of the University, to examine and inquire into these matters,
and to return them an account thereof. But they to whom The Uni-
this commission was directed made some stop thereat, de- ^j^j^g*^,,^;^
laying the execution thereof, fearing, as they said, to preju-ju"sdiction.
dice their privileges, if they should advance the ecclesiastical ^"'^
Commission in the University. And hereupon the Vice-
Chancellor, Dr. Young, sent letters by the University
beadle to Sir William Cecyll, their Chancellor. Upon the
receipt of which, the said Chancellor desired their opinion
who were the Commissioners, and had sent this commission
to his Vice-Chancellor. They signified accordingly their
opinion in a letter that ran thus :
" It may please you to be advertised, that our opinion is, 268
" that the Queen's Majesty's commission for causes eccle- The judg-
" siastical doth extend, and may be executed, upon persons ™rc"hbuVop
" resiant within either of the Universities, or within any ^"'^ others
" other privileged place within the realm, by virtue of the mss. Ce-
" words, 'in places as well exempt as not exempt:' and'^''"'"*'
" that the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, and others which
" are joined with him in commission, from the Commission-
" ers here, may safely, without prejudice of the liberties
" of the same University, proceed to the execution of the
" said commission. Yet notwithstanding, we think it not
" amiss, for avoiding all scruples, that the said Vice-Chan-
" cellor, and the other associates with him, do declare by
M m 2
532 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " protestation, that their meaning, in executing of the said
' " commission, is not to prejudice any the Uberties of the
Anno 1668." said University, but only to shew their obedience unto
" the authority of the Queen's Highness, committed to the
" said Commissioners.
" From Lambeth, the 4th of January, 1568.
" Matth. Cantuar.
" Edmund London.
" Tho. Yale.
" Tho. Wattes."
The contest This letter, as the resolution of the point, the Chancellor
University returned to the Vice-Chancellor, by the same beadle that
and the ^lad been sent to him a little before. But the Queen's Com-
Commis- . . , .
sioners. missioners had intelligence, that the Vice-Chancellor, not-
withstanding this, proceeded not to the execution of the
commission which they had sent. Whereupon they revoked
their said commission, and advocated the said cause to their
own examination : to the debating whereof the most part of
the said society, being parties to the said matters, volunta-
rily appeared at Lambeth, and submitted themselves to be
ordered. But one Stallard, Bachelor of Arts, and principal
party in the business, remained still at Cambridge. Him
they sent for by their letters and commandment. The exe-
cution of which the Vice-Chancellor stayed ; commanding
the said Stallard not to appear before them : and withal
withstood a search of suspected books, by the Commission-
ers decreed to be made in the said college ; removing such
as they had appointed to do the same ; and causing a search
to be by such, and in such manner, as he, the Vice-Chan-
cellor, devised, unsealing the door, which they for that pur-
pose caused to be sealed. For which doings, the Vice-Chan-
cellor answered by his letters ; alleging, that it was never
heard that any extraordinary or foreign authority had inter-
meddled to call any from the University.
The Com- Though this did somewhat provoke the Queen's Commis-
letterto the sioners, yet before they would do any thing more, they thought
Chancellor convenient to signify the whole matter to the Chancellor,
upon occa-
siou thereof.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 533
for that the Vice-Chancellor was his deputy. So they writ CHAP,
to him, and made him privy to all their proceedings, before
they called him in question ; expecting the Chancellor's fur- Anno isss.
ther mind herein at their next meeting. They let him know,
" That they marvelled not a little at what the Vice-Chan-
" cellor wrote and did, having in fresh memory their own
" continual proceedings in this commission, since the first
" time of it. And that they had from time to time called,
*' as occasion served, out of both the Universities, and had
" always to that present, appearance humbly, without any
" denial or contradiction ; and had done therein, as they
" trusted, good service to God, the Queen, and the realm ;
" removing by authority of their said commission, out of
" both Universities, divers stubborn Papists, and head ad-
" versaries of God's true religion, to the number of forty
*' and more ; and some of them such as had been sent to the
" Commissioners by order of the Privy Council, as might
*' appear by their records. The denial of which authority
" now, after so long a time, they took too much to preju-
" dice the credit of their said former doings, and to dero-
" gate the authority of the Queen's Highness commission,
" committed unto them by act of Parliament." What fur-
ther issue this business had, I find not. But the college 269
seeming to want a stirring resident Master, the present be-
ing seldom there, and grown old, as was said before, the
Archbishop at last prevailed with him to resign, as we shall
see the next year.
The nation was now very sensible of Papists, who had Papists ba-
flocked about the Court, and sheltered themselves in the court;
houses of persons of the best quality and reputation. The
Queen now issued out her command to her Counsellors,
that all Papists should be banished her Court, which was
done; and the true Protestants took great joy thereat.
And the Archbishop himself, by a command, turned out of Ami from
his family some persons that were discovered to be so dis- bisiiop's
posed. Whereof I suppose one was Dr. John Caius, who^^^'''''^'
was sometime entertained by the Archbishop for his learn-
ing. Now also were the Doctors of the Arches examined,
M m 3
534 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK as was reported ; and some of them refused to subscribe to
the supreme authority of the Queen.
Anno i56'8. Under the Clergy of the reformed Church, here did some
J unworthy men also now shelter themselves. Two such the
isters. Bishop of Gloucester had discovered in his diocese ; notice
whereof he sent to the Archbishop in the month of October ;
viz. that they had administered the Communion, christened
infants, and married people, and done other spiritual offices
in the Church ; and yet never took holy Orders. One of
these had counterfeited that Bishop's seal ; and the other
was perjured. The said Bishop writ also the same intelli-
gence to the Secretai'y, that such wretches, and scandals to
religion, might be detected; and due punishment taken
upon them.
Contest in The Archbishop now had a new trouble created him,
Corpus p 1 • 1 -111 111 1
ciiristi col- from his own abovementioned college, as he had not long
ifrfd^e"'""' ^^^^^^ from one or two colleges in the other University;
declaring himself much vexed at the frowardness of some
parties there. The contentions there chiefly arose from
the diversity of religion : whereupon one party spited the
other. For the allaying of this contest, the Archbishop
used privately the assistance of Dr. Pern and Dr. Leeds.
Whereby he at present compounded the matter between
them, and brought them to a quietness. But it was not so
firm, but a difference bi'oke out soon after into further
trouble : which again the good Archbishop, as an affectionate
father to this college, laboured to pacify, partly by the au-
thority of the Queen's Council, and partly by the help of
the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Pern, and Dr. Whitgift.
Offence at jj^jj jg ^grth the knowing the main ground of these
Latin . . ^ .
prayers in dissensions. It was a late order of the Queen's, for Latin
Cambridge. pj.jjygj.g g^ij j]^g colleges, for the better accustoming
of the scholars to the learned language. For whereas she
had devised a Latin book of prayers for the Latin colleges,
certain in this college would have none of them. And so
it was, not only in this, but in most of the colleges besides :
where they had overthrown the Queen's authority, in respect
of this order. But the Archbishop had counselled the
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 535
Master of Gonvil hall, and charged him of Corpus Christi CHAP,
college, to keep the said order, and to regard the Queen's
authority. Which thing, because these colleges only did, Anno i568.
the adverse party in each college were much offended.
Insomuch, that some of the fellowship of Bene't college
went contemptuously from the Latin prayers, the Master
being the Minister then that read the same. And some of
them said, that Latin service teas the Pope's dregs : and
further, some of this number said grace at the common
table in English. These and such other disorders, tlie
Archbishop was now about reforming. But he kneAv what
need there was of the assistance of Sir William Cecyl, the
University's Chancellor ; and therefore applied to him in The Arch-
the beginning of January, letting him know, " that the ^JJ^^^j the
" authority of chancellorship must interpose : and warned Chancellor
" him, that, if it should not set a stroke in this cause, he
" might peradventure hear worse of the whole University
" hereafter: adding, that, when his Honour should be
" rightly informed, that little company was able to shew
what the whole University meant. And that for his part,
" he had done uprightly, and intended so to do."
The Archbishop was minded to bring the University to
some uniformity in this matter: and for that intent soon
after thought to wait upon the Chancellor at the Court, 2'JO
(but his health would not .permit, as he wrote to him,) to
talk with him, what were best to be done in this Cambridge
contention ; whether to suffer by silence the commandment
of the Latin service to be overthwarted, or to urge it still ;
which was, as he said, the chief ground of the distastes
amonsT them. And that if he, as Chancellor of that Uni-
versity, would resolve it, he knew most of the Heads would
rather follow it. He pressed this matter again in the
month of February unto the Chancellor; having forborne a Febr. i8.
while, because of urgent business of state, that the Aixh-
bishop knew then lay upon him. Now he offered it again
to his consideration, to resolve the doubt, which was looked
for at his hands from Cambridge ; that is, for their order in
private chapel prayers. The Archbishop reminded him,
M m 4
536 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK how it made variance, which soon might be appeased. And
added, that he had no other charge in the matter, but to
Anno 1568. wish Well to that body. And that, as he understood, their
beadle was then with him, so he would please, if his leisure
could so serve, to transmit his advice : and so wished his
Honour well to fare in God. I am sorry I cannot go on
to acquaint the reader what was further done in this mat-
ter, for the use of the Latin prayers in the colleges ; but by
what hath been said, we see the Archbishop's zeal to have the
Queen's orders uniformly observed; and his judgment to have
sedition timely checked, for fear of greater inconvenience.
New s^ta- Now also, in the month of February, the Archbishop
Corpus applied himself to Secretary Cecil, about new statutes for
j^ge"*^* college of Corpus Christi in Cambridge. In King
Edward's days, when he was Head of that college, he moved
the King's visitors for the renovation of the statutes of the
said college. Whereupon they granted, that Dr. Mey and
himself should finish them, which he then caused to be
written fair, and procured the visitors' subscriptions. At
the visitation that happened under Queen Mary, these
statutes were abolished ; and they returned to their old
ones. Upon the coming of Queen Elizabeth to the crown,
was another visitation of the University appointed; where
the Archbishop, Secretary Cecil, and some others, were in
commission. And those statutes of King Edward were
revived again. But upon pretence of some imperfection in
the manner of doing it, some of the college thought them-
selves not bound by them : and because the Master of the
college went down that week to the audit, the Archbishop
thought good to have the new statutes recognized; and
where some things necessary of the old statutes were omitted
in the former book, he had them now inserted ; and so to
offer them to the house to be received. This copy of the
new statutes, therefore, he sent by his servant to the Secre-
tary, praying him, for the more authority, to put his name
to them, as he had desired the hands of some others of the
visitors, who were, (beside himself,) the Bishop of Winton,
Sir Anthony Cook, and Dr. Walter Haddon.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 637
Another good turn the Archbishop did this year for the CHAP,
said college. For the better and more flourishing state of
it, he yielded and made over the rectory of Penshurst in Anno 1 568.
Kent unto the Queen, confirmed by Goodwin, Dean of
Christ's church, Canterbury; in lieu of her grant of the perpetual
advowson, donation, and presentation of the rectory of the ^'1^°^^'^°^°*^
church of the blessed Mary the Virgin, Abchurch, London, London,
to Bene't college. This charter of the Queen, whereby she
granted this church to the college, was dated the 7th of
July, 10 Eliz. which patent cost the Archbishop 20?. 9^-
8d. viz.
L.
s.
d.
The Great Seal
8
9
0
The writing and enrolling.
2
6
8
The Signet and Privy Seal,
4
13
4
The vellum book, -
0
10
0
The wax and examination.
0
4
0
To the learned Counsel a->
bout the same conveyance
0
0
from the Archbishop to^
the Queen.
20 9 8
The Archbishop did intend this living for the Masters 2/ 1
of the college, for the time being, that some more gain
might accrue to them by this addition to their mastership.
But Fellows of that house have commonly been incumbents
there.
Barlow, Bishop of Chichester, deceased this year, August Bishop Bar-
the 13th, whereof Dr. Overton of that church had given onerecom-
notice to the Secretary the next day ; and withal mentioned
Day, Provost of Eton, as a good man to succeed, both in bisimp to
regard of his learning and piety: and three or four days*"'^"^'^'
after, the Archbishop suggested to him, that when it was
the Queen's pleasure to appoint another Bishop there, that
she would remember her Chaplain, Mr. Courteis, giving him
the character of an honest learned man; that he was of age
538 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK competent, and among other qualifications, he added, that
he was poor, and wanted living. But he trusted, that he
Anno 1568. ^Qy^fj supply the office to God's honour and the Queen's
contentation. And as the Archbishop recommended one, so
But^notthehe endeavom'ed to prevent another, namely, Cheny, Bishop
Gloucester, of Gloucester, whose unsound principles were well known
both to the Archbishop and the rest of the Bishops. His
doctrines gave great offence to the people of his diocese, and
created such disagreements between them, both in Gloucester
and Bristow, (which he held in commeiidam,) that that Bishop
had wished he might be discharged of the burden of his
bishopric. But the Ai-chbishop told the Secretary, that he
pretended this, but meant another thing, intending rather a
remove than a discharge. And, " that they the Bishops
*' knew by experience what rule Gloucester made among
" his people. That he would bring them to his contempla-
" tion ; which he laboured to do, but spied that he should
" never, and thereupon wished that he were discharged."
Which he pretended a long time, but meant something else.
Nor truly was he a proper man to be translated to this
diocese, abounding so much with Papists and Papism. The
person the Archbishop named succeeded, but it was almost
two years after this vacancy.
Lent'"**^^ One thing more I find the Archbishop doing about the
preachers, latter end of the year, (which he seemed yearly to have
done,) and that was, drawing out a list of such preachers as
were to come up before the Queen the Lent following ; which
he sent the 19th of January to the Secretary to review, for
his judgment, how he liked them. That so none might
preach before her Majesty, but whom she should have a
pleasure or content to hear ; which the Secretary best knew.
Tremelius Two learned foreigners did this year make their ad-
writGs to
the Arch- dresses to the Archbishop : Emanuel Tremelius, (who was
bishop. Cor- ^jjg of the learned exiles under King Edward, entertained
ranus pre- _ . .
sents his by Bishop Cranmer, and then Parker's acquaintance in the
French*'' University, where he was Public Professor of the Hebrew
books. tongue,) paying him his respects in a letter, and therein in
his wife's, as well as his own name, saluting optima vi Do-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 539
minam una cum utroque filio ; meaning the Archbishop's CHAP,
wife and his two sons: and Anthony Corranus, a learned
Spaniard, and preacher to the Spanish congregation in Lon-Anuo i568.
don, lately come from Antwerp, having been preacher in
French to a congregation there, whither he had fled from
his own country, for the profession of true religion. This
Corranus, understanding these children of the Archbishop
learned French, (as they were brought up in all good li-
terature,) with a letter addressed to his Grace, sent them
two French books, writ by himself, for the use of the church
at Antwerp ; in which church he first began to perform
the office of a pastor, as he wrote to the Aixhbishop. One
of these books was a confession of his faith : which he af- His books,
terward set forth in Latin and English. This learned man
wrote also certain tables concerning the works of God ;
which appeared abroad in four languages, Latin, French,
Dutch, and English. Wherein he endeavoured to compre-
hend, as it were in propositions, the holy doctrine of both
the Testaments. Intending thereby to set forth the true
and right meaning and pure truth of the Christian religion,
drawn out of the fountains of holy Scripture : and that in
orderly method and apparent plainness. But this writing
of his gave offence to some in those days, who charged it
with Pelagianism. For which therefore he met with much
trouble, and was fain afterward to write articles of his faith, Vid. Arch-
printed by Tho. Purfoot, anno 1574. We may hear more g'|jj''Pj^jjj.g
of this man hereafter. book i.
And this year, the Archbishop's brother, Thomas Parker, '
was Mayor of Norwich. And Allen, his Grace's Chaplain, '^^^
if I mistake not, being now at Norwich, in a letter to his bishop's
Grace from thence, delivered his brother the Mayor's com- brother
,. ., -,. •1 Mayor of
mendations to him. And I meet with a certificate signed Norwich,
by the Bishop of Norwich, and Thomas Parker, Mayor,
dated in August, whereby he and the said Bishop consti-
tuted one Simon Warner, to be guider and keeper of the
house, or hospital, of our blessed Lady and St. Clement,
without St. Austin's gate, in Norwich : putting out John
540
THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Bradley thence, and from any manner of collection by him
III
Anno 15b'8.
any more to be made for the poor in the said hospital.
CHAP. XXI.
The Archbishop sets out a new edition of the Great Bible ;
and of a smaller for families . The Clergy find arms.
Their taxation put into a method by the Archbishop.
Malies a rate of arms for his own diocese. His taxation
of himself.
The Arch- A GREAT Bible by statute being to be had in all
ri'shes'the'^ churches, and the edition of the old Church Bible being
^^h B bi°^" almost gone, our pious Archbishop set himself to prepare a
new edition for the churches. And this was the year, {viz.
1568,) if I mistake not, that a new English translation of
the Bible did appear in print, whereof our Archbishop was
the great procurer. Of his pains in this work somewhat
was said before, under the year 1565. This then was the
year (as it seems) when the Great English Bible was first
printed. For the Bible called the Great English Bible,
with the year of the impression, {viz. 1568,) I find in the
catalogue of the books the Archbishop gave to the library
of Corpus Christi, Cambridge. He had used about this
work the help, not only of his learned Chaplains, but of his
brethren the Bishops ; sending them particular portions of
the Bible, of the former translation, to revise with the
exactest scrutiny. And dealt so earnestly with all of them,
Matthaeus. that they refused not to be companions and partakers with
him in these his labours. And afterwards himself, with
other learned Divines in his family, perusing all again, he
set forth a more correct translation of the holy Scriptures,
of the same volume with the former, or a little bigger, and
better printed. And so highly pleased was this good Pre-
late, when he saw an end put to this great work, that he
seemed to be in the same spirit with old Simeon, using liis
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 541
very words, Lord^ now let thy servant depart in peace ; for CHAP.
mine eyes have seen thy salvation. This was that which
was commonly called the Bishops'' Bible, because the Arch- Anno 1668.
bishop and the Bishops had the chief hand in correcting,
reviewing, and publishing it : a thing which his predecessor
Cranmer laboured to do with his fellow Bishops, but
could not obtain. But there was a better set of Bishops at
this time in the Church of England. Under the year 1 572.
we shall have a fuller account of the pains our Archbishop
took in this most useful work. For it was that year printed
again in the greatest folio, with another review.
But our good Archbishop had a care, that private families. And smaller
as well as churches, might be supplied with the sacred Bible
well corrected, to read and meditate in, for their spiritual
profit and comfort, as often as they pleased. And therefore
the very next year I find it set forth by him in a small. Anno 1 569.
but fine black letter, in large octavo, a curious book, some-
time shewn me by the learned Mr. H. W. an excellent an- Humphrey
tiquarian. In this Bible, the first capital letter at the first ^^ ''"'^J'*
chapter of Genesis is adorned with the arms of the see of
Canterbury, impaling the Archbishop''s coat, with the letters
M. P. set on each side, (which is commonly seen in the
books written or printed by his procurement,) and under- 273
neath is set the year 1569. The chapters here are divided
into verses ; but no break in a chapter till the end thereof.
And this, I think, is the first English Bible printed with
distinction of verses. This Bible hath divers alterations in
the version from the former English translations; which
shews it to have been aJI revised anew : and there be di-
vers notes set in the margin by the Archbishop, as it seems,
which are different from the notes of Tindal and Cover-
dale ; and such as are very instructive and significant. Take
for a specimen the first note, set against the second verse
of the first chapter of Genesis ; The earth was witJwut form
and void, ^c. " Although the works of God, both in the
" creation and in his spiritual operation, may seem rude
" and imperfect at the first, yet God, by the working of his
" Holy Spirit, bringeth all to a perfection at the end."
Things now tended apace towards a rebellion, which
542 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK broke out in the north this year, headed chiefly by the
Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland ; the Earl of
Anno 1568. gjjgggjj.^ true-hearted gallant gentleman, being now Lord
prepares for Lieutenant of the north. But however secretly it was carried,
defence of \i brake not forth before November ; yet it seems there were
dom. ^ already jealousies and suspicions of some such enterprise, or
of some invasion of the Spaniard, by the managery of Duke
D'Alva : who indeed was privy to the plot, and intended to
send over forces to the assistance of the rebels. For the
Queen was now making preparation for arms. And in May
her Privy Council sent to the Archbishop concerning the
Clergy : that a certain view should be taken of their ar-
The Clergy jjjour ; and certificates made of the armour to be provided by
cliarged _ _ .
with arms, them, according to the proportion and rate prescribed and
used in the time of King Philip and Queen Mary. Where-
upon the Archbishop wrote to the Bishop of London, to give
notice of it to his brethren, the Bishops of the province ;
and withal he sent a schedule, how the Clergy should be
charged. Which was to this tenor,
bishop'^to' " Whereas the Lords of the Queen's most honourable
the Bishop " Privy Council have given commandment for the provision
for ra'tin*g"' " of armour, and other furniture, by the Clergy of this
the Clergy. (( realm, accorchng to such order and rates as were used in
P£irltcr*s
Register. " the time of the late King Philip and Queen Mary, the
" several rates and orders in that behalf then used are
" hereafter particularly specified ; viz.
" That every one of the Clergy, having land, or pos-
" sessions of estate of inheritance of freehold, shall provide,
" and find, and be chargeable with armour, horse, and
" other furniture, in such sort, and manner, and form, as
" every temporal man is charged, by reason of his lands
" and possessions, by virtue of the statute made in the 4th
" and 5th years of the reign of the late King Phihp and
" Queen Mary.
" Item, That every one of the Clergy, having benefices,
" spiritual promotions, or pensions, the clear value whereof,
" either by themselves or joined together, do amount to
" the clear yearly value of thirty pounds, or upwards, shall
be bound, and charged to provide, have, and maintain ar-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 543
CHAP.
XXI.
His obser-
vations in
doiag it.
" mour, and other provisions requisite, according to such
" proportion and rate as the temporality are bound and
" charged by the said statute, by reason of their moveable Anno iseg.
*' goods.
" Item, If any of the Clergy of this realm hath both
" temporal lands and possessions, and also spiritual pro-
*' motions, he shall be charged with armour, and other
*' provisions, according to the greatest rate of one of them,
" and not with both."
He added also observations of his own in rating for the
proportion of armour ; viz.
" I. The Bishop to rate himself among the temporally
*' for lands.
" II. To rate the Dean and Prebendaries, as the tem-
" poralty for goods, from thirty pounds upwards.
" III. To rate the whole diocese in like sort.
" IV. To account such as be resident within the diocese,
" under the sum of thirty pounds, and yet having benefices,
*' or pensions elsewhere, to make up the same sum, or up-
" wards, to be rated there among the supplies.
" V. To rate every Incumbent where he is resident, and
*' every ordinary Chaplain, not resident in the diocese,
" where he serveth."
And this the Archbishop sent to the Bishop of London,
to be dispersed to all the Bishops of his province. The
Archbishop also sent this order to the Dean and Chapter of
York, that archbishopric being then void.
I find also in one of the Archbishop's MSS. in the Bene't His method
college library, that this following was the way propounded rating them,
of laying the charge of armour.
274
J3
H
u
I.
200
<U _
100
40
6 B
30
c
cs
u
c
Corslets.
i
i
Almainp.j^g jLong
Rivets. ' Bows.
Sheaves'
of <^^P^
Arrows.
Sculls,
ii
ii
Black
Bills
or Hal-
berds.
Har-
que-
Imts.
i
544 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK This great pains the Archbishop took to draw the mat-
ter into a good method, and that the weight might He even
Anno 1569. and just upon the Clergy; and yet, that the Queen might
have as large aid as might be from them ; as appeared
hence. The Secretary had employed one Godfrey, belong-
ing, it may be, to the First-fruits Office, to draw up a book
of all the Clergy of England, and what armour might be
expected from them, according to their benefices. Which
being done by the said Godfrey, the Secretary sent his book
to the Archbishop for his judgment thereof. Who liked
it not, telling the Secretary, that the rate, as he made it,
was of small importance, to that which should be certified
from every Ordinary ; besides, that it was in many respects
imperfect. For the illustrating which, view the table he
drew up for his own diocese, on the opposite page.
275 Of this table of his own diocese, the Archbishop sent di-
vers copies to several of his brethren, where he thought it
might be taken for their better expedition : not as intending
to prejudice their own inventions, as he told them, but
shewing his, if they liked it. He desired the Secretary to
inform him, if there were any thing further to be considered,
and he would follow it. By this scheme, I cannot but ob-
The Arch- Serve by the way, how largely the Archbishop taxed him-
large'taxa- Whence one might perhaps make a calculation of the
tionof him- value, cvcu then, of the revenues of that see, but especially
of his generous and open mind, to serve the Queen and his
country : taxing himself at six horse, with armour, ten light
horse, with their furniture ; forty corslets, forty Almain
rivets, forty pikes, thirty long bows, thirty sheaves of
arrows, thirty steel caps, twenty black bills, twenty har-
quebuts, and twenty morions. This strength then the
Queen might expect in this dangerous time from the Arch-
bishop and the rest of her Clergy.
A Rate of Arms for the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury.
Horses anc
Oeldings,
witiiArniou
Whereof th(
one half to
heHorsenuT
at the least
I.iirht
Horses, wit
ture of Har
nesses, and
Weapons.
I
Corslets.
Ahnayn
Platecotes,
Brigandines
PyKes.
Long Bows
.Sheafs of
Arrows.
!
Steel t^aps.
Black Bills
or Halbards
* Harquehuts
Morians, or
Salets.
Archbisliop
vi
X
xl
xl
xl
XXX
XXX
XXX
XX
XX
XX
Arclitleacon, who being also Bishop of Rochester, was charged under his own diocese.
ij
i
i
i
i
Dean of the Church
i
ij
i
viij
ij
ij
ij
i
— . —
Prebendaries xj
viij
xi
vi
xviij
xviij
xviij
Preachers iv
vj
^-j
^j
iv
R. Sturmo\ith
i
ij
ij
R. Wickhani
i
i
i
R. Mershani
i
ij
ij
ij
R. Hollingborn
i
i
R. Biddenden
i
i
i
V. Cianebroke
ij
ij
V. Tenterden
i
ij
ij
V. Feversliam
i
ij
ij
ij
SUPPLIES.
R. Adshani
i
ij
R. St. Andrew's
i
ij
R. Alington
ij
i
V. Lydd
ij
i
PECULIARS.
R. of Bowe
ij
i 1
i
i
i
R. of St. Dunstan's
ij
i
i
i
i
R. of St. Foster's
i
ij
ij
ij
i
R. of Hays
i
ij
ij
ij
i
R. of Rocking
i
ij
ij
ij
i
Summa Tot.
X
xlix
Ixxxiij
xlix
Ixxxv
Ixxxv
Ixxxv
xliiij
xxj
xxj
The Rates after Mr. Godfrey's Book for xv Benefices of xwl. and upwards.
1 1 1 1 xviij 1 1 xxvij 1 xxvij | xxvij | xv | |
The Sum Total of another Diocese, which I suppose was Rochester, was this :
1 i 1 iij 1 xxvj 1 Dcxvij | xxvj | Dclxxxiiij | oclxxxiiij |Dclxxxiiij | cccv | ix | vij
Place this Rate between p. 544 and 545.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 545
CHAP. XXII.
Sherborn house in disorder. Lever''s application to the
Archbishop for redress thereof. Persons nominated for
vacant bishoprics. Consulted with about them. His
judgment of JElmer ; Bishop Grindal ; Ctirteis. Stands
up for his Courts. His exccllerit letter to the Secretary
about dispensations. Favours Binneman the printer.
We return now to give account of more of our holy Pre- Anno i sea.
late's cares and counsels, in the emergencies of the remain-
ing part of this year.
Mr. Thomas Lever, that truly pious and learned man, Tiie Arch-
(of whom mention was made before,) was now Master of concerned
Sherborn house, an hospital near Durham. But though a '^'^^
1 !• ■ ■ ^ p T • orders in
good man were the governor of it, yet m regard of religion siierbom
there were great disorders, and little obedience in it : its'"'"^'^'
members, I suppose, were favourers of the old superstition,
and too negligent of the worship of God, according to the
prescription of the reformed religion. And being not able
to remedy these things himself, he had sought for redress of
them from the Bishop of Durham, who then was Doctor
Pilkington. But whether out of fear of that party, who were
very strong in those northern parts, and this year made a
great rebellion; or out of some prejudice to Lever himself, he
did but coldly proceed to do any thing for the correcting and
bettering of these things. Lever was come to Town in May
this year, and made the Archbishop a visit, when he shewed
him at large his gi-ief for the evil ordering of the house; add-
ing, that the Bishop considered it not, though he had com-
plained to him. But our Archbishop thought this was not a
matter to be neglected, though the misdemeanors were so far
northly : but the rather, he reckoned consultation ought to be
liad for religion in those parts where it most wanted. This
made him recommend the matter to the Secretary ; telling
him, it were pity that the Church, being so far off, should
yet be out of good order. There was no good understand- The cimrch
ing in this church of Durham between this Bishop and hiSoy^o/jj^j"*^
VOL. I. N n
546 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Canons. Whereof this Lever and his brother or relation,
Ralph Lever, who was afterwards Dean, were two. The
Anno 1569. latter whereof, was one of those that had drawn up articles
against Whittingham, the present Dean, whom the Bishop
favoured. The feud in this church grew high, and lasted long.
Insomuch, that in the year 1577, the year in which Bishop
Pilkington died, a commission was sent from the Queen to
Sandys, Archbishop of York, and the Dean of that church,
and others, to inquire into that church of Durham and the
276 disorders there. And it may be to these home discords
might be imputed the negligence of the Bishop, in Lever's
business, before mentioned. Thus do private prejudices
oftentimes hinder much public good.
The Arch- There were now some sees vacant, three at least, York,
bishop tor
Ayimer's Cliicliester, and Oxon. Which having remained so for
succeeding g^j^^g time, the Queen intended now in June, before her
in the dio- 7 •>
cese of Lon- progress, to fill. This, when the Secretary wrote him word
of to Croyden, where his Grace now was, he was glad to
hear. For he liked not to have the bishoprics empty :
knowing the inconveniences that were apt to accrue to a
diocese, sede vacante, both as to the revenues, which were
then especially made a prey of, and to the inferior Clergy
too, for want of a careful inspector into their doctrine and
manners ; and being not ignorant what advantages the se-
cret Popish missionaries might have upon the flock, being
without a shepherd : therefore he told the Secretary, " that
" in his opinion the Queen had done graciously to purpose
" to furnish the places then vacant of watchmen, the times,
" as he said, being then dangerous, and requiring prudent,
" speedy, and vigilant foresight." This indeed the Queen
was sensible of ; and therefore, before she filled these va-
cancies, did use to consult with the Archbishop, and take
his judgment. The Secretary, as from the Queen, had felt
him, as to his opinion for the removal of Grindal, of Lon-
don, to York ; and who was fittest to succeed in that see
of London. Among others, Aylmer and Curteis were
much talked of The Secretary desired the Archbishop's
thoughts of these men. To whom he returned this answer.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 547
that once he had at Hampton Court, when the Queen was CHAP,
there, told the Earl of Leicester, at his request, whom he
judged fit to occupy the vacant sees. Wherein he Anno 1 569.
to him his Jantasie, as the Archbishop expressed himself.
He then mentioned, among others, Aylmer for London :
but doubting withal how he would be accepted of by the
Queen, being no more then but Archdeacon of Lincoln ;
[though famous for his being tutor to the Lady Jane ;] and
so he passed him then over.
But when the Secretary had now again brought up his The cha-
name, he was glad of it, knowing Aylmer's learning, and give him ;
thorough-paced obedience to the discipline of the Church,
and therefore was very willing that he should succeed
Grindal, now in nomination for the see of York. The
Archbishop therefore gave the Secretary this character of
him, that he thought certainly that the Queen's Highness
should have " a good, fast, earnest servitor" at London,
of him, and, he doubted not, fit for that busy governance ;
especially as these times be, said he, when Papists, the
Queen's mortal enemies, pretend what they will, [of duty,
love, and loyalty,] have gotten such courage. And as to And of the
my Lord of London, he thought him as fit for York, ^'^f
" a heady and stout people ; witty, but yet able to be
" dealt with by good governance, as long as laws can be
" executed, and men backed." There were, it seems, some
frivolous objections made by some of the courtiers against
these men to the Queen. To which the Archbishop gave
this general answer, " That if the Queen's Highness, and
" her realms, will be well served, she must bear with some
" manners of men. Men, said he, cannot be angels, and
" yet, I trust, disciphnable, and soon reformed, (I speak of
" our sort,) if they be reasonably considered of in them-
" selves, and not by others' gay reports, [made to the Queen,]
" for the most part unanswered, [when if others, that
" thoroughly knew them, had been present, they might
" have given sufficient answers to control such reports.]
" If it were sufficient to accuse, added he, who should be
" innocent.''"
N n 2
548 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK He forbore to give his judgment of the rest of the per-
sons tliat were mentioned by the Secretary, and whom he
Anno 1569. himself had, it seems, recommended before for the vacant
Curteis ^^^^ • ^^J^^S' would be too long to discourse particularly
the cause of his judgment towards them, but generally, that
he thought them meet in such considerations as moved him ;
but he left all to her Majesty, according as she should allow
in them all. But particularly as to <]urteis, who was the
Queen's Chaplain, and a noted preacher; for whose ad-
vancement to York, there were some endeavours at Court ;
and for the keeping Grindal still at London ; a thing the
Archbishop inwardly perhaps liked not of, being desirous of
his removal from London, though he thought convenient
not openly so to declare himself : therefore he told the
Secretary concerning Cui'teis, that he might do better to be
nigher to serve the Court, than, as yet, to be removed far.
And that it was thought hardly of, that there should be so
mean Chaplains towards the Prince, as, it seems, many of
them now were. So that it seemed convenient in his opinion,
for the Pi-ince's reputation, to retain Curteis her Chaplain
yet longer, who was a famed Court preacher. Nor when
he was Bishop did he lose that fame ; preaching then not
seldom at the Court, and at other assembhes of great so-
A Court lemnity : and some of his Court sermons, and other pubhc
pieacier. ^j^gg^ were printed in the j'ears 1584 and 86; namely; these
following. There was one preached at Greenwich, in the
year 1573 ; on Eccles. xii. the seven first verses. Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, &c. Then
shall the dust return to the dust as it was : and the spirit
shall return to God that gave it. Another was preached at
Richmond, in the year 1575, on Judges i. and the first
thirteen verses. Now after the death of Joshua, &c. And
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb'' s younger brother, took it:
and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. Another at
PauFs Cross, 1576, upon Revelations xii. the first nine verses.
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven ; a woman
clothed with the sun, &c. And the great dragon was
cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 549
deceivetk the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, chap.
and his angels were cast out with him. Another at West- ^^'I-
minster, 1576, on Acts xx. verse 28 — 31. which seemed to Anno 1 569,
be a Convocation sermon. Talce heed therefore unto your-
selves, and to all the JlocTc, over the which the Holy GJwst
hath made you overseers, &c. Therefore watch, and re-
member, that by the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears.
But to return to the thread of our history; the conclusion How the
this cam.e to was, that Grindal was removed, though not ["^1"'^"^*
before the next year, to York, and Curteis made Bishop of stowed.
Chichester, and Sandys, Bishop of Worcester, succeeded
Grindal in London. And Aylmer, missing all, must be
contented to stay five or six years more, and then he shall
be advanced to that diocese, which the Archbishop so ear-
nestly wished him in, and where he would have been glad to
have seen him placed before his death. But in all proba-
bility he was opposed by the Earl of Leicester, who began
now to be acted very much by puritanical counsels. Oxon
yet remained unfilled.
In the month of June happened a case at the Arches, stands up
wherein the Archbishop shewed his stoutness, in standing ^qh^s^
up for the privileges of his Courts, in relation to the grant-
ing of dispensations ; though he thereby were under some
danger of incurring the displeasure of his good friend the
Secretary, nay, and the Queen herself. There was one Mr.
Tilney, that was to be dispensed with in some matter or
other as to marriage. This case came before the Arches,
where were present the Archbishop, the Lord Keeper, and
the Secretary. A question was then moved, whether this
gentleman might be dispensed with, and if so, doubt was
made who might do it. The Secretaiy said, that the Queen
might do it, (and probably had done it already,) for she
might do, he said, as much as the Pope ; and said farther,
that the Archbishop might do it, and why not the Queen ?
This the Archbishop not liking, and being a man not of
many words in public, gave some blunt answer to the Se-
ci'etary ; as at that sudden occasion, wanting time and
N n 3
550 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK place to have opened his mind further. But soon after he
wrote him his mind more at large ; that he might prevent
Anno 1569. incurring any displeasure, either from the Queen or him.
Hisjudg- He bade him, " not to mistake his words, for that he
the°Pri lice's " intended not to arrogate to himself above his measure, or
dispensa- u derogate the Queen's authority ; which in all respects,
" as God and laws might bear, he would as well have de-
" fended, as he would wish his own life regarded. Where-
" upon he thought good to put to the Secretary's consider-
*' ation, privately, some of his cogitations. He Avould not,
" he said, dispute of the Queen's absolute power, or pre-
" rogative royal, how far her Highness might do in following
" the Roman authority. But he yet doubted, that if any
" dispensation should pass from her authority to any sub-
" ject, not advouchable by laws of her realm, made and
" established by herself, and her three estates, whether that
" subject be in surety at all times afterwards : specially
" seeing there be Parliament laws, precisely determining
278 '* cases of dispensations. Wherein, as he had heard say,
" King Henry himself did use that authority in some of
" his own private causes. The Prince, he said, might dis-
" pense in omnibus casibus insolitis ; where the Arch-
" bishop's authority is shut up by the words of the statute.
" If these cases had their right course, the Prince might
" grant them; but yet by a warrant to the Office of Faculties,
" under that law, to pass. And whereas somebody may
" say, that the Bishop of Canterbury can dispense ; I think
" for myself, said he, I take some heed not to extend my
" sleeve beyond my ann, nor to use much ready talk,
" in medio magnatum. Which made him to sit sometime
" mute, and hear out. And yet he thought to this day, he
" had not absolutely granted any casus insolitos, if they
" were weighed, but left them to his Prince, as he ought.
" It was one thing to discuss what is done in order, or out
" of order, and commonly hand over head ; and what is
" safely and surely done by warrant of law. During the
" Prince's life, who will doubt of any thing that may pass
" from that authority ? But the question is, what will stand
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
551
" sure in all times, by the judgment of the best learned? CHAP.
" And here I am offended, added he, with some lawyers,
" who make the injunctions of a Prince in her own life not -^n"" i sea.
" to be of such force as they make a Roman law, written
" in the same or like case. Exempli causa ; I urge the
" Injunctions upon all Ministers, when their case comes in
" question ; whether they be capable of any ecclesiastical
" living, if they marry not in such due form, as yet I
*' think is godly prescribed ; especially, if the words of the
" Injunction be regarded ; which were once a disjunctive,
" but by the printer made a copulative ; viz. that the parties
" marriable, must be so allowed by two Justices of the peace,
" or (and) by tlie Ordinary. It is said to me, that the omis-
*' sion or contempt of this maketh them not incapable.
" Marry, if there be any Roman law that forceth deprivation,
" then is the danger seen, but not before. Sir, I think
*' these lawyers keep but their old. trade, and not regard
" much the imperial laws of the Prince : and yet these new
" cases of marrying have no other direction in law before-
" times, but by Injunction for this present time. But this
" he saw led him into a sea of perplexities ; and so proceed-
" ed no further ; but praying the Secretary to take in good
" part, and plain sense, that he did bluntly speak the other
" day to him before the Lord Keeper. And that in such
" narrow points to tread in, he professed himself ready to
" be informed to judge otherwise, if he might see reason
" and learning to lead him."
The Queen used not to be very forward in filling up the Urges the
vacancies of the sees. But the Archbishop was as industri-^"j"^^_'^'^
ous to perform his office in calling upon her, and those s'>oprics.
about her, to do it. The bishoprics before spoken of being
yet void in August, he sent word to the Secretary, " that Aug. 9.
" there could not be too many watchmen, which Latimer,
" said he, was wont to speak ; and that there was one dili-
" gent watchman ever resident, which never ceaseth to walk
" about for his prey." But for all this, the sees remained
as they did, till the next year. And then they were filled,
as before was said.
>; n 4
553 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK As he was a great patron and promoter of good learning,
so he took care of giving encouragement to printing, a great
Anno 1569 instrument of the increase thereof. This made him a suitor
printing Secretary in the behalf of one Binneman, a diligent
Latin printer in those days, that he might have the Queen's pri-
Binnemiin. vilege for printing a few usual Latin books, for the use of
grammarians, as Terence, Virgil, TuUy's Offices, &c. a thing
not done here in England before, or very rarely. The
said printer had brought the Archbishop a little piece of
liis workmanship, as a proof : which, upon his desire, the
Archbishop sent to the Secretary, to see the form and order
of his print. The Archbishop said, he thought he might
do this amply enough, and better cheap, than they might
be brought from beyond the seas, standing the paper and
goodness of his print. Adding, that it were not amiss to
set our own countrymen on work, so they would be dihgent,
and take good characters.
279 CHAP. XXIII.
An edition of Matthew Paris preparing- by the Archbishop.
Censured about it ; and vindicated. His labour to pre-
vent incestuous marriages. His table of marriage.
Preparing
He was now very busy in preparing to publish the excel-
to publish lern history of Matthew Pai-is, our countryman, to the world.
IViutt. Puns. ^ iirti
He compared as many copies as he could get for that purpose.
The Secretary having a choice collection of manuscripts, and
among them one of this author; our Archbishop desired
now to borrow it of him for a week or two; telling him,
after a second letter for it, that he would be loath to be im-
portune, but he would turn it to the commodity of our
own country : and as in other works every man was doing,
these were but in few men's hands, and were testimonies,
he said, not to be lost, and time would be taken, [for the
publishing such things, while one might.] This book came
not forth till the year 1571. And since that, thrice reprinted;
that is, in the year 1606, at Zurich, in the years 1640, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 553
1684, at London. Great was the pains our Prelate took in CHAP,
the finishing this work, and the exactness he used about it.
Which consisted in considering what books Paris put forth. Anno i569.
of which he was the true and undoubted author : where he
began his history, and how far he continued it : and what
faithful and ancient historians he followed ; and when he
left off writing. For this purpose he consulted divers manu- The MSS.
script pieces of this author. One whereof he had of his own, J,'^
which was procured him, as it seems, by Stow, as himself in
his history tells us : another was that of Secretary Cecyl's,
before mentioned, which began at the year 1066, and pro-
ceeded as far as 1208, viz. to the 10th year of King John.
,He also made use of an ancient copy of Edward Aglionby''s,
Esq. as to the former part of the entire great history : which
was continued from the beginning of the world, to the year
1189. Another excellent copy, which he had before him,
was that of Sir Henry Sidney's, that went on from the year
1189. to 1254. This manuscript was writ by Matthew Pa-
ris's own hand, as our Archbishop said in his Preface to the
book ; but that it was foully maimed in some leaves, and
erased in many places by some Friar ; but restored by some
other copies. He used also a copy belonging unto Henry,
Earl of Arundel. By this copy he was helped as to the lat-
ter part, viz. from the year 1254, to the last year of Henry
III.
Where all these manuscripts now are, I cannot tell : but wiiere to
that of Sir William Cecyl and that of Aglionby are both inl^^!:^"''*
_the private library of Bene't college. That called the Les-
ser History, which is an abridgment of the larger, is in the
Arundelian library. And in the Cotton library is a tran-
script of it also, by William Lambard, that ingenious, learn- w. Lam-
ed, and painful antiquarian, and great acquaintance of our
Archbishop. In which transcript he wrote these words with
his own hand : Hujus libri duo tantummodo vidi vetusta
exemplaria, quorum alterum penes Henricum ArundelieR
comitem est; alterum vcro penes Mattheeum Cantuarite
Archiejnscopum. W. L. This was dated by him in the year
1565.
554 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Those of the Church of Rome set very hard upon the first
publisher of this book ; not knowing, I suppose, that our
Anno 1 569. Archbishop was the man ; but if they had, liis authority
lusher cen- '^^uld uot have much more swayed with them. Particu-
siiied by larly Baronius ; whom Casaubon, in his Prolegomena to his
Casaubon's learned Exercitations, brings in uttering his uncharitable
Pioiego- censure in these words : Nisi prohra ilia fuerint addita-
menta, pohus ejus, qui edtdit, novatoris, hcEretici nonums :
quum peculim-e sit illis libros quos potuerint, depravare.
" Unless these reproaches'" [he means those charges which
Matthew Paris lays upon the Church of Rome, in regard
of their greedy rapines] " be rather the additions of that
*' innovator and heretic that put forth the book ; since it is
" peculiar to them to deprave what books they can.'" I
280 leave Casaubon there to answer this charge laid upon Pro-
testants, of depraving authors, and to throw back that impu-
tation upon themselves. But that the Archbishop should
be guilty of it in publishing Matthew Paris, none can easily
believe, who knew the man and his communication. Such
a lover of antiquity, such a restorer of it, such a person of
honour and integrity, could never be guilty of so much vio-
lence to truth, learning, and antiquity. He may be vindi-
cated also from those divers manuscript copies of this author
that are still extant : which have those very passages in
them, of the rapacities of the Popes, for which the sincerity
of the publisher was called in question. And Casaubon
says, that he himself had, in his own study, one of these
manuscripts in parchment, well writ, that came out of the
King's library, of that antiquity, that he supposed it to be
that very book that had been dedicated by the author to
the library of the abbey of St. Alban''s : and that he had
examined, and found no chversity in those things, that spake
of the covetousness and spoil of the Popes. And lastly,
that there were other pieces of this author in many English
libraries, not then published, as the Lesser History, and
the Lives of the Abbots of St. Alban''s, wherein the like, or
greater matters, are related of the rapaciousness of the
Popes.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 555
And here I cannot but take notice also of the disinge- chap.
nuity of one of the members of our own Church ; I mean
Brian Twine, in his book called, Acadcmice Oxoniensis Apo-A-ano i569.
loflia ; who, out of a too childish fondness of the Univer-
. . ... Brian
sity wherein he was bred, presumed to question the sincerity Twine,
of our grave Archbishop, as though he were not sufficiently Apotog.'"'"'
faithful or honest in publishing this historian and some
others; because he did not like somewhat that is related in
them. Thus, when in one of them there happened this
passage, " That once many deserted Oxon, and retired to
" Cambridge," Twine, thinking belike that this might be
some reflection upon his University, writes. Si ilUs standum
sit historiis, quas Matt. Parlterus Cantuar. ArcMep. edi-
dit. And in another place of his book, speaking of his set-
ting forth Matt. Paris, adds invidiously, Si vera sit, Matt.
Cantuar. editio. But I leave the reader to see what reply Hist. Camb.
Dr. Fuller gives him in his History of Cambridge. P '"**
But there was another matter, of greater moment than the His care for
publishing of Matthew Paris, and more properly pertaining fncJs'tuouf
to his function, that exercised our Archbishop's thoughts, ""arriages*
and took up much of his care at this time. It was concern-
ing incestuous and vmnatural contracts and marriages, which
were now very rife, to the great scandal of the nation, and
its reformed religion. Cambridge itself, a place where more At Cam-
knowledge and more grace ought to have been, was too '"'"'S''-
guilty of it. That unnatural filthiness was too much known
and blazed there abroad, in that great liberty of marriage,
which was then used : a thing that made good men lament,
and the adversaries laugh. And Dr. Fulk himself, of St. Dr. Fuik.
John's college, had laid under a great blot for it. But such
favour notwithstanding many had for him, that he was now
near being elected Master of that college, by a great party
he had there. Which much offended our Archbishop, that
" Fulk's head should be thus stroken,"" as he after his plain
way expressed it. But to vindicate the dead, though we go
a little out of our way to do it ; it seems this was some calum-
niation cast upon him, his name being unjustly stained.
And he recovered soon his reputation; being publicly judged
556 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK clear by the Bishop of Ely, that college's Visitor. And
as he had under his trouble, occasioned by this slander, re-
Anno 1 569. signed his fellowship, so he was now reelected by the col-
lege again. And this year the Earl of Leicester, to coun-
tenance him the more, received him into his family for his
domestic or ordinary Chaplain. But it must not be denied,
but that, by some frailty, Fulk had given occasion to these
surmises.
AndatLon- And at London there was one Gerard Danet, of a good
family, and his german sister, both having the same mother,
who had contracted for man and wife, and had two children
betwixt them, and she then big with the third. And this
course they had continued ten or twelve years, the mother
also allowing it. And they were so far from the thoughts
of separating from one another, that they could not be per-
suaded it was a sin they lived in. The Archbishop had cited
Danet before him, but secretly, for the sake of his family,
281 and had examined them, but it flew abroad. All with little
success, though he laboured, as he expressed himself, with
all the wits he had to persuade them both that it was a sin
to be repented of. He took them also apart ; and spent a
whole afternoon with the sister, but all in vain. Six years
before, he had the man before him, and thought he had won
him in secret communication from his lewdness ; and so he
promised the Archbishop then. But it feU out otherwise.
" Thus," said he, " the devil locketh up men's hearts in out-
" rage. Thus this watchman, the devil, watcheth and wan-
" dereth, to shame God's word, and to shame their house."
This he wrote to the Secretary, protesting before God, he
knew not what to do with them, nor how to deal, \vishing
he had his counsel.
Pubiisiieth This was a sin that this kingdom had been very much
a table of addicted to, even from the beginninsr of the Queen's reisrn,
marriage. • p & » » '
vid. Bishop and, no question, before too. Insomuch, that our good Arch-
Coikctlons bishop ^^^^5 y^^i" 1563, set forth a table of marriage,
shewing in what degrees of affinity and consanguinity mar-
riage was unlawful ; that none might be left in such an igno-
rance, as to commit the sin, and not know thereof Therein
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 557
he gave this threefold admonition. First, That none con- CHAP,
tract with such persons as were expressed in that table, nor
with any of like degrees against the laws of God. Secondly, Anno 1569.
That they make no secret contracts without consent or coun-
sel of their parents or elders, under whose authority they be.
Thirdly, That they contract not anew with any other upon
divorce and separation made by the Judge for a time, the
laws yet standing to the contrary.
CHAP. XXIV.
Lettei'S Jrom the Council to the Archbishop, to take account
of his diocese. He visits by coynmission. Visitation of
the archdeaconry, certijicd to the Archbishop. A debate
between the Dean and Canons ; referred to the ArcJi-
bishop. Eastbridge hospital visited. The Archbishop
makes new statutes foz it.
Things began now to look black and cloudy upon the
realm. The Popish princes abroad were entered into a
secret league against the Queen : the Pope had declared herVid. Annals
excommunicate by a solemn bull, and given away her crown, "[/^liv"^""*
In Lancashire the gentlemen that came hitherto to church,
now withdrew on a sudden; a dangerous insurrection was
peeping forth in the north ; and Scotland threatened us. These
matters begat deep thoughts at Court. And in October, orxhcQneen
the beginning of November, the Queen entered into serious f^g^j
deliberation wirii her Council concerning the state of herchurcii
kingdom, and for the redressing of things, as yet amiss
therein. And the matters ecclesiastical coming under con-
sideration, she found a defect in the care of her Bishops, and
that her subjects wanted teaching, and due information in
religion, many of them falling into the errors of Popery,
and others neglecting to resort to their parish churches, and
refusing to comply with the rites and usages of the Church.
This gave a great concern and trouble to the Queen : for
she esteemed the disunion of her subjects in the religion
558 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK established, a great ground of her danger. Whereupon she
charged her Council to inquire into these matters, and to
Anno 1 569. provide speedy reformation thereof. The Lords therefore
directed a long and earnest letter to the Archbishop, (and
the like was notified to all the Bishops,) to appoint inquiry
to be made of all such, certifying their names and qualities,
that had of late not resorted to their parish churches, nor
used the Common Prayer according to the order of the
282 Church; and of the number of preachers in each diocese;
and divers such like things, for the better understanding
the state of the dioceses. Which may more fully be per-
ceived in the letter which I have hereto subjoined ; directed,
To the most reverend Father in God, and our very good
Lord, the Archbishop of Canterbury :
MSS. G. « After our hearty commendations to your good Lord-
Armig. " ship. The Queen''s Majesty of late in conference with us
" upon the state of this realm, among other things meet to
" be reformed, is moved to think, that universally, in the
" ecclesiastical government, the care and diligence that pro-
" perly belongs to the office of Bishops, and other ecclesi-
" astical Prelates and Pastors of this Church of England, is
" of late years so diminished and decayed, as no small num-
*' bers of her subjects, partly for lack of diligently teaching
" and information, partly for lack of correction and reform-
" ation, are entered either into dangerous errors, or into a
" manner of life of contempt or liberty, without use or exer-
" cise of any rites of the Church, openly forbearing to resort
" to their parish churches, where they ought to use common
" prayers, and to learn the will of God by hearing of ser-
" mons, and, consequently, receive the holy Sacraments. Of
" the increase of which lamentable disorders, her Majesty
" conceiveth great grief and offence. And therefore hath
" expressly charged us to inquire the truth hereof by all
" good means possible ; and to proceed speedily for the re-
" formation and remedy hereof.
" Whereupon, according to her Majesty's charge, and as
" we find it very requisite of our own duties, as well towards
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
659
" Almighty God, as to her Majesty and our country, we CHAP.
" liave entered into a further consideration hereof. And
" though we find a concurrency of many causes, whereupon Anno i569.
" such general disorders and contempts have of late years
" grown and increased, the remedy whereof we mean to
" seek and procure by as many other good means as we
" can ; yet certainly we find no one cause hereof greater,
" nor more manifest, than an universal oversight and neg-
" ligence (for less we cannot term it) of the Bishops of the
" realm, who have not only peculiar possessions, to find,
" provide, and maintain officers, but have also jurisdic-
" tions over all inferior Ministers, Pastors, and Curates ;
" by them to inquire, or be informed of this manner of
" contempts and disorders, and by teaching and correc-
" tion to reform them : or if the offenders should for any
" respect appear incorrigible, thereof to make a due inform-
" ation to her Majesty, as the supreme governor, under
" God, of the whole realm. And surely, though we know
*' that some of the Bishops of the realm are to be more
" commended than some others for preaching, teaching,
" and visiting of their dioceses ; yea, and for good hospi-
" tallty, and for other good examples of life ; yet at this
" time doubting, that a great part of the realm in sundry
" places is touched with the infection of these disorders,
" though some more, some less; and as we fear no blshop-
" ric fully free; we have therefore necessarily concluded to
" notify to every one of the Bishops alike, this her Majes-
" ty's carefulness and desire, to have her realm herein re-
" formed : and for that purpose at this present to seek the
" understanding of the state of every diocese in certain
" points hereafter following.
" And therefore we will and require your Lordship, in
" her Majesty's name, that, first, you will earnestly con-
" ceive and thankfully allow of this her Majesty's godly dis-
" position. And next, that you do circumspectly, and as
" quietly as you may, without any manner of proceeding
" likely to breed public offence, inquire, or cause to be In-
" quired by such as are faithful officers, and not dissem-
560 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK " biers, what persons they be, and of what quaUty, degree,
" and name, that have not of late time resorted to their pa-
Annoi569." rlsh churches within their diocese, or have not used the
" common prayers according to the laws of the realm, or
" have not at usual times received the holy Sacrament : and
2- " how long they have forborne. And further, we require
" you to be advertised, what ecclesiastical public officers you
" have under your Lordship in your diocese. Who they
*' be, with their names and degrees, ordained to see to the
8- " execution of the laws and orders of the Church. Like-
" wise, what preachers you have properly, for the most part
" conversant with yourselves in household. And what other
4. " preachers residing abroad in your diocese. And what
283 " ecclesiastical livings every one of them hath, with the
" values thereof ; or what other stipends they have, where-
" with they have any maintenance or sustentation to con-
6- " tinue in their function. Likewise, we require you by au-
" thority of these our letters to confer with the Dean and
" Chapter of your cathedral church, and with the heads of
" any other collegiate church in your diocese, or with any
" other persons having any peculiar jurisdiction within your
" diocese, and cause them to certify distinctly by writing,
" what number of Prebendaries, Canons, and Preachers
" they have, which do reside within the said churches and
"jurisdictions, and how many do not reside. And how
" many of them do use and not use to preach. And what
" be their names and degrees. And in like sort, the names
" and degrees of them that have any sustentation in their
" churches to preach, and yet do not reside nor do preach.
6. " And likewise, we desire to be advertised, what churches
" or places, ordained to have common prayer, arc by any
" means presently void of Curates. And in whose de-
" fault the same happeneth, and in what sort you think the
" same may be best remedied.
" And while you shall be occupied in the inquisition
" hereof, wherein we would have you use all good diligence,
" we heartily and earnestly require your Lordship, as you
" will be accounted worthy of your calling, to employ all
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 561
" your care and industry in procuring more diligent pi'each- chap.
" ing and teaching within your dioceses, as well by your-
" selves as by all other, having the gift to preach. And Anno iseg.
** therein to use all charitable means by diligent instruction,
*' and faithful teaching and example of life, to stay the good,
" faithful, and obedient subjects in their duties ; and to in-
*' duce and persuade others to return from their disorders
" and eiTors. So as all parties may observe their duties in
" the public and open service of Almighty God, according
" to the ordinance and use, that by the common order of
" the realm is for God's honour established. And what-
" soever your Lordship shall think meet and needful to be
*' granted or devised for your further assistance, thereof to
" advertise us. Whom you shall find ready to aid and
" satisfy you, as farforth as we shall find in our powers rea-
" sonable, either by ourselves, or by means to her Majesty,
" whom we perceive earnestly disposed to have the glory of
" God increased by the due reverence of all her subjects in
*' his service, according to his blessed word and command-
" ment. And thus we bid your good Lordship well to fare.
" From Windsor this 6th of November, 1569-
" Your Lordship's loving friends,
" N. Bacon, C. S. E. Clynton. W. Howard.
" F. Bedford. F. Knollys. W. Cecyll.
" W. Northampton. R. Sadleyr. Wa. Mildmay.
" R. Leicester.
" Postscript. We pray your Lordship not to delay the
" answering to us with speed the names of the recusants
" to come to church without deferring for the rest. And
" to procure the like certificate of these matters from the
" bishoprics of Chichester and Oxford, now vacant. And
" to that end to send them a copy of these our letters, with
" special charge to see the same accomplished."
About this time, in tlie month of November, (and for the Tiie Arcli-
cause abovesaid no question,) the Archbishop visited hisj,'^^.^^!-'*
own diocese. Amons; the MSS. preserved in the library of
" ' N. Battel y.
VOL. I. GO
562 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
III.
Anno 156'9.
Christ's Church, Cant, there is one containing a great col-
. lection of notes taken out of old ledger books of monasteries
• and priories, registers and records of Archbishops and Bi-
shops: in this is recorded, that this year 1569. Archbishop
Parker visited the diocese of Canterbury jure ordinario :
though he came not down in person before the next year.
And he was the first, saith the writer, for ought it doth ap-
pear upon the records, that visited that diocese Jure ordi-
nario.
His com- proceed therefore ^vith this visitation. The Arch-
niissioii to ... .
visit. Park, bishop Commissioned Andrew Peerson, B. D. and Thomas
Reg'st. Lawse, M. A. together with the Suffragan of Dover, to visit
284 .
the city and diocese, and granted them afterwai'd a particu-
lar commission, ad reformanda detecta, " to examine, dis-
*' cuss, correct, and legally to punish, whatsoever crimes,
" excesses, faults, Sic. were discovered either in the Laity or
" Clergy."
injnnc- The Injunctions now given to the Dean and Chapter of
tioiis. Piirk. Christ's Church are set down in Latin in the Archbishop's
Keg i St. . . . ^
register. " The first was inviolably to observe all the
" statutes of that foundation, not contrary to the word of
" God, and the laws of the kingdom of England. For that
*' he interpreted, none were bound to such statutes as were
" repugnant to the word of God and statutes of the land.
" And that no Canon should procure any dispensation by
" any authority for the abrogating of the said statutes.
" That no matters of weightier moment, that required
" not speed, as the demising of their lands, their woods, or
" possessions, or alienations of any goods of the church, the
" commencing of law suits, &c. be done in any other time
" or manner, but in two general Chapters, according to the
" statute limited, under pain of amotion, &c." I omit the
rest for brevity sake.
The Arch- Now to give some further account of this visitation, so far
visitation, as it Concerned the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Can-
N. Batteiy. tej-^ury, (there being about thirty parishes exempt from his
jurisdiction,) which account is collected from the original
MSS. late in the hands of the reverend Archdeacon, Dr.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 563
Battely, late deceased. The Archdeacon's Official at that CHAP.
• XXIV
time, whose name was Vincent Den, visited his archdeaconry .
by order of the Archbishop's Commissioners before men-
tioned ; and returned an account thereof at large to the Arch-
bishop, prefaced with this letter :
" Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, Domino The Offi-
" Matthaeo, permissione divina. Cant. Archiepiscopo, totius li'e^reuponTo
" Angliae Primati, et Metropolitano : vestri humiles et devoti AicU-
" VincentiusDenn,LL. D. Archidiac. Cant.Officiahs,et Tho-
" mas Crannier Notarius Publicus, ejusdem Domini Archi-
" diaconi Registrarius et Actorum Scriba, omnem et omnimo-
" dam obedientiam, et reverentiam, debitam cum honore. Li-
" teras vestras missivas dudum reverendo Patri Richardo per-
" missione divina Episcopo SufFraganeo Dovor. et venerabili-
" bus viris Andreae Peirson, S. T. B. et Thomae Lawse,
" A. M. Commissariis vestris ad visitationem ordinariam
" infra diocesin vestram Cantuar. exercendam directas, in
" quantum nos dictae literte concernerent, inspeximus et
" consideravimus. Quibus inspectis et consideratis, nos ex
" officii nostri debito mandatis vestris in eisdem contentis et
" specificatis pro temporis brevitate, et nostris earundem
" rerum scientiis, humiliter obtemperantes, vestram reve-
" rendiss. paternitatem certiorem facimus de statu, condi-
tione et numero omnium et singularum ecclesiarum et
" capell. infra Archidiaconatum Cantuar. et jurisdictionem
" ejusdem, et non alibi : deque nominibus et cognominibus,
" gi-adu et qualitate omnium et singulorum rectorum, vicari-
" orum et curatorum infra jurisdictionem Archidiacon. prae-
*' diet, et non alibi existentium : necnon de numero famili-
" arum et communicantium unius cujuscumque parochiae :
" deque rebus aliis in dictis literis nobis injunctis, modo et
" forma subsequent. In quorum omnium et singulorum
" fidem et testimonium, nos praefatus Vincentius Denne
" Officialis et Thomas Cranmer Notarius Publicus huic
" praesenti certificatorio nomen nostrum manu nostra propria
" respective subscripsimus. Dat. 1. Dec. anno Dom. 1569.
" Per me Vincentium Denn, LL. D. &c.
" Per me Thomas Cranmer, Notarium Publicum praedict."
o o 2
564 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK
III.
Anno 1569.
285
The Clergy
of the arch-
deaconry of
Cant.
A contro-
versy be-
tween the
Dean of
Canterbury
and the
Canons.
Regist. Dec.
Capli. Eccl.
Cath. Cant.
N. Bat.
Then follow the names of every parish, rector, vicar, or
curate, his quality, residency, whether married or single;
the number of families in every parish, and of communi-
cants. Which matters stood thus in short :
Churches and chapels within the jurisdiction
of the Archdeacon of Canterbury - 216
Married Clergymen - - - - 135
Licensed Preachers _ _ - - 34
Graduates ------ 37
That is to say, one Doctor of Divinity, one Doctor of
Law, seven Bachelors of Divinity, seventeen Masters of
Arts, nine Bachelors of Art, two Bachelors of Law.
Families 11,174
Communicants - 32,986
Some of the non-resident Undergraduates were here cei-
tified to study at Cambridge or Oxford.
About this time happened a dissension between the Dean,
Dr. Thomas Godwin, and the Prebendaries of Canterbury,
about choosing officers ; when it was agreed that the case
should be referred to their Archbishop. The case was this,
as it is recorded in the register of the Dean and Chapter.
November 25, 1569, in the forenoon, the Dean and Chap-
' ter proceeded to the election of officers, according to the
' statutes of the church ; which occupied the better part of
' the forenoon, and yet no election could be made. There-
' upon the Chapter was continued till one of the clock after-
' noon, the same day. When Mr. Dean and the Chapter met,
' and were assembled accordingly, and eftsones entered to
' have made the election of the said officers. And every Pre-
' bendary's voice was very sundry times demanded. But
' such a number as ought to consent to the perfecting of
' those elections, although the whole day was spent in that
' business, could not be had nor made : and so it was gene-
' rally thought good that the Archbishop's Grace should be
' informed thereof. And then the Chapter was continued
' till eight of the clock the next morning. When, because
' there had been contention between Mr. Dean and the
' Chapter, touching the aforesaid election of officers, and
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 565
" whereas also complaints and griefs of wrong offered to chap.
" some of the Chapter had been shewed, it was, for avoid-
" ing further contentions, agreed, that the Aixhbishop Anno 1569.
" should have the ordering of all the matter, and that the ^''f'^''"^''
" _ ' the Arch-
" day of appearance should be before him on Monday, the bishop.
" 5th of December next. And the Chapter was continued
*' till two of the clock afternoon. Thence continued Mon-
" day, November 28, forenoon. And thence to the after-
" noon the same day. And then to December 1, forenoon.
" At which time Mr. Dean and the Chapter met : and then
" being given to understand that the Archbishop had heard
" of the aforesaid controversy, and had signified that the
" Dean and Chapter should be before him on December 5,
" which day, by reason of some other matters intervening,
" was not thought convenient to hold ; but that the Arch-
" bishop should be sent and sued unto, to defer the day of
" appearance until the 9th of December, was for causes
" [Here two or three lines are burnt out of the register] Mr.
" Dean and the Chapter should appear on the 15th day of
" December. On which day the Dean, and such of the Pre-
" bendaries as were appointed, appeared before the Lord
*' Archbishop at Lambeth. When and where his Grace did
" order the election of officers ; and did elect and nominate
*' a Vice-Dean, Receiver, and Treasurer. Which nomi-
" nation and election, Mr. Dean, after his return, viz. on
" December 19, 1569, did communicate to the whole Chap-
" ter then assembled ; and it was agreed that oaths, accord-
" ing to the statutes, should be administered to them seve-
" rally : which was done."
Now also the ancient hospital of St. Thomas, of East- 286
bridge in Canterbury, was visited, and statutes given it, Easfhridge
drawn up and prepared by the Archbishop himself in May visited,
last. This hosy)ital was founded for poor pilgrims ; but con-
verted by the Archbishop from superstition, and made ser-
viceable for the uses of charity. It became by this time
greatly abused. Many of the statutes, by the carelessness
or fraud of the Masters of that hospital, were wholly disused.
And the goods, the woods, and possessions, and other I'ights
o o 3
566 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK g,nd dues of the hospital were dilapidated and embezzled.
" One Swerder, late Master of this hospital, got an annuity of
knno 1569. ^gn pounds out of the rents : and, which was worst of all, the
poor were defrauded of their alms. Which were the rea-
sons that moved the Archbishop to reform and make new
statutes for this house. By these statutes he appointed the
Master to be his Commissary General in the city of Canter-
bury for the time, and to be in Priests"" Orders ; unless the
Archbishop's Suffragan would take that place, who was, as
to his choice thereof, to be preferred before the Commissary.
The Master was every year to give a true account of the
state of the house, as to the rents and incomes thereof. And
that, according to the Archbishop's pleasure, the Master was
to reside either at the mansion-house of the hospital, or at
his manor of Blene and Hothcourt ; and to receive yearly
from the fruits of the lands and possessions of the hospital
six pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence, and twelve
carectates, that is, cartloads of wood. That every Friday
throughout the year, the Master was to receive thirty poor
people assembled at the door of the hospital, such as had
been natives of Canterbury or lived long in that city, and
to distribute thirty pence to them. But in war time the
payment of these thirty pence was to cease : and in lieu
thereof, four pence were daily to be distributed to such sol-
diers as passed through the city, especially such of them
as had been hurt or wounded, and to be harboured for a
night; excepting such as were infected with the leprosy.
And twelve beds to be kept constantly for poor soldiers, or
other poor; and a woman of honest reputation, of forty
years old and upwards, to be entertained, to attend upon
such as should be lodged there. The house was to have two
books : one as a calendar, wherein the number of the poor
lodgers, their sickness, and the monies given them, were to
be entered daily: and this book was yeai'ly, with the ac-
counts of the house, to be brought to the Archbishop for the
time being. The other book was for the writing therein the
day, month, year, and the names of such as died in the hos-
pital. There was also a frecschool to be maintained here
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 567
for boys, not exceeding twenty, who were to be taught to CHAP,
read, to sing, and to write fairly : and especially the skills
of singing and writing: and they were to have paper, pens, Anno ise*.
and ink, and other convenient books, provided them at the
charge of the house. And no boy to stay at this school
above four years, to make room for others. And three days
in the week they were to sing aloud the Litany, or other
short prayers, according to the appointment of the Master.
And the Master of the hospital was himself to be the teacher,
or to procure one, who should also be the collector of the
rents, and to have a livery given him by the Master, such as
he gave to his other servants, with a salary. Two Scholars
to be maintained out of the rents at Corpus Christi college
in Cambridge, as by indenture between the Master of the
hospital and the Masters and Fellows of the said college it
was agreed. For the rest of these good statutes and orders,
devised by the Archbishop for this hospital, I refer the
reader to the Appendix. N... lviii.
I find Thomas Lawse, Clerk, was admitted to the govern- Park. Regis-
ment of this hospital, February 13, 1569.
CHAP. XXV. 287
Papists in the Temples ; brought before the Archbishop).
Interrogatories for some of them. The Council writes to
the Benchers. John Alasco, sometime Superintendent
of the Dutch Church, Londori, dies. Some account of him.
Muttheio and John Parlcer have offices conferred on
them by their father. By the means of the Archbishop, the
Master of BeneH college resigns. Founds certain sclio-
larships and fellowships in this his college. Makes or-
dinances for thern. Provides thein chambers and books.
Gives a great gilt basin and ewer to the city of Norwich.
It was thought fit now to purge the Inns of Court, called Paget and
the Two Temples, of sundry Papists that here harboured fi',e^fenjpj'/^
themselves. Many of them came not to common prayer I'ap'sts.
o n 4
568 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK nor communion, though sometimes to the sermons in the
Temple church. Among these was Paget, Under-treasurer
Anno 1569. (jf t}jg Inner Temple ; and Shaftow, who did business in law
for the Earl of Northumberland, the traitor. These and
others were brought before the Archbishop and other Com-
missioners in the Star-chamber : and some of them were, by
the said Commissioners, committed to the Fleet. And for
the further instruction of these Commissioners, the Council
had sent their letters to them, and interrogatories, for the
removing of Papists out of the Temples. In drawing up
which interrogatories, the Archbishop had his hand ; for in
some places are his own insertions. Which when I shall
have set down, it will appear what the crimes of these gen-
tlemen were.
Interrogatories to he ministered unto G. H.
interroga- " First, Whether you have commonly frequented the
Papists. " Temple church at service time, as others of the house do
MSS. G. P. n Jt^m, Whether you have received the Communion in
Armig.
" the Temple church, accustomably, as others of the house
" have done ?
" Item, Whether you said of late time, that the marriage
" of Priests was unlawful, and their children bastards
" Item, You being requested in your chamber to go to
" a sermon at Paul's Cross, whether said you, ' That you
" would not hear one knave of them all and, ' That Mr.
" Alvey, the Master of the Temple, stood in the pulpit like
" a crow-keeper
" Item, Whether, after your committing to the Fleet, you
" said that you cared not a rush for the Commissioners ?
" Item, Whether you have in your keeping a certain lewd
" libel, entitled, A KnacTc to know a Knave, or any other
" such like ; or whether any other, to your knowledge,
*' hath any such ?
" Memorandum, The two first interrogatories, and this
" last, be to be ministered to them all."
More inter- Other articles there were, as interrogatories for T. P. the
rogatories °
Sot T. P.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 569
Under-treasurer. He was interrogated, Whether he was CHAP.
sworn, when he was admitted to the office of Under-trea-
surer, according to the statute, as was commanded by the Anno 1 569.
Council's letters? Whether he said not, that he divided
every sermon that he heard into two parts ; that is to say,
into matter touching doctrine, and into matter touching
manners ? And as for matter touching manners, he could
be content to hear it, and partly to digest the same. But as
for any matter touching doctrine, that is to say, touching 288
points of religion, you let that pass, and care not a point for
it?
Other Interrogatories were for J. S. and more for PagetFor J. s.
and Stone. They were generally examined of their hearing '^JJ^ stlfne.'
Mass in die Temple, White Friars, or at the Spital. Whe-
ther at Mass they prayed for the Queen Whether they
had the books of Harding and Dorman against the supre-
macy of the Queen Whether they had not in their hands
any bull of absolution, or seen it in other men''s ? Concern-
ing their seeing a letter or letters, written by Harding, Dor-
man, Hopkins, Stanford, or any of them from beyond sea ;
and what the contents of them were ?
To Matthew Shaftow (and this is written with the Arch- And Shaf-
bishop's hand) were these interrogatories put. That he was
Solicitor to the Earl of Northumberland. Whether he had
not his livery and exhibition for the same ? And where he
made his abode during the time of the late rebellion in the
north parts About contribution to Popish rebels, and fu-
gitives beyond sea; about books, reasons, and arguments,
touching the Scotch title, and the authors thereof. Thus
did Papists nowadays behave themselves. And of the Inns
of Court in this house chiefly did the young Popish gentle-
men shroud themselves and their practices, against the
Queen and the laws. And this eye did the government
now cast upon them. The issue of these examinations in
tlie Star-chamber was, that some were reformed and profit-
ably reconciled to those laws and ecclesiastical orders which
they had before despised ; and others expelled and secluded,
that were so perverse and seditiously bent, as to continue
570 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK in disorder. And the Council wrote letters to the Ancients
and Benchers, to let them know what was done with these
Anno 1569. persons, and to furnish them with orders for the better re-
drs letters Straining of Popery in those houses for the time to come,
to the Inns The copy whereof the Secretary sent the Bishop of London
for his iudfrment therein. Which, he answered the Se-
Bishop of •' .
London. cretary, he liked very well : but he wished added thereto a
commandment to the Benchers of every house, that in call-
ing men to the bench or bar, they should reject all those
that were notoriously known, or vehemently suspected, to
be adversaries to true religion, until they had sufficiently
purged themselves. And to this effect the Bishop had de-
hvered his mind in a letter himself. This was in the month
of May.
A Lasco Johannes a Lasco having been the first Superintendent
stoi Mss. ^^^^ foreigners'" church in London, in the reign of King
Eccies. Bel- Edward, and a person of the nobility of Poland, we will take
' ' occasion here to mention his death, which happened in Ja-
nuary this year at Frankford ; where he left a wife, scarce
known to any, in great trouble ; as he had buried one be-
fore in England. He had a son named Thomas, and a
daughter Barbara, at Groning. This grave and learned
man, upon the coming in of Queen Mary to possess the
crown, removed with his Church of Germans beyond sea.
Being afterwards at Frankford, he laboured much to settle
a right understanding in the doctrine of the Sacrament be-
tween the Protestants, Lutheran and Reformed. Which
was the cause, that in the year 1556. he went from Frank-
ford to the Elector Palatine, and the Duke of Witten-
burg, endeavouring the meeting and conference of learned
men about the said matter of the Sacrament. Of this Peter
Martyr, from Strasburg, acquainted Utenhovius, at Lon-
don, by letter. But knowing well the heat of the Lutherans,
especially at that time, thought it unseasonable, as he wrote
in the said letter, and that it would be without any fruit.
Quo enim magis hcec ambiuntur, animi adversariorum ma-
gis exasperantur, i. e. " The more these things are labour-
" ed for, the more arc the minds of the adversai"ies cxaspc-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 571
"rated; yet I pray God to send good success." And it CHAP,
proved as that good man feared. For this produced a hot .
dispute with Brentius ; of which there was afterwards a nar- Anno i569.
ration writ ; wherein A Lasco was much misrepresented in
what he had said.
This pious man having been tlie great procurer of the His picture,
church of the Augustin Friars for the Protestant strangers,
and the first Minister thereof, his picture was there hung Dan. Van-
up, and kept in the hbrary in memory of him, until the fire
of London, when it was conveyed away, and covdd never
since be heard of, as I have been told from an ancient mem-
ber, and elder of that Church. What A Lasco was in his 289
younger years may be learned from a character Erasmus Erasmus's
gave him, whom he called Baro Poloniae, in a letter to Regi- ^^^j'^^'^^Ep"^
nald Pole; Clarissimorum majorum imagines, dignitates ^vVu \'\h. \8.
amplissima, spes ampUores, ingenii mira vena, eruditio
ncutiquam vulgaris, ne tantulum quidem addunt illi super-
cilii : i. e. " That his ancestry, his honours, his expectations,
*' his wonderful ingenuity, his uncommon learning, did not
*' in the least puff him up." He went away from Basil from
Erasmus there, in the year 1525, towards Rome; whose
departure, saith Erasmus, even killed many that knew him,
and among the rest himself. So great a love he left behind
him among those with whom he conversed.
This is the first time I meet with the names of the Arch- OHices con-
bishop's children recorded. In a register of the decrees and tii" Arch-"
orders of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury it is noted, '"shop's
that the office of the Actuary of the Court of Audience was n. Batteiy.
granted by the Archbishop to Matthew Parker and John
Parker, Gentlemen. And the office of Principal Register
was granted to the said John Parker and Matthew Parker,
and Thomas Pede.
Which Matthew, being now eighteen years of age, Archbishop
was, December 29, married to Frances, a woman aftt-r- ^^.^'^J'^j ^^^^^
wards renowned for her virtues, one of the daughters of marries.
Barlow, Bishop of Chichester. She being not long after Matthew!
left a widow, disposed herself in marriage to Dr. Toby Mat-
thew, that learned and eloquent Divine, Dean of Christ's
572 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK Church, Oxon, Dean of Durham, Bishop of Durham, and
. Archbisliop of York, successively.
Anno 1569. "We gaid something the last year concerning the fatherly
Procures the .
old Master Care of our Archbishop for Bene't college : now Ave shall
"oi^^e^to ^ passage or two more. The Master, Dr. Pory, who
resign. was also Minister of Lambeth, and a Prebendary of West-
minster, was now superannuated, and so not fit to reside
and act there as he ought to have done. Which contri-
buted much to the disorders in that house; and was the
reason the Arclibishop had, for two or three years past,
moved him to resign up his mastership ; a thing he always
seemed loath to do. But with calling on him, he prevailed
with him about Christmas to do it. And Pory Avent down
for that purpose. But he resigned up, as he said, all his
joy with it. For with that academical preferment his mind
seemed more to be delighted than with his other dignities.
But while the Archbishop, now in March, expected his re-
turn back again to Lambeth, where he lived, he perceived
that he was minded, with his mastership, to resign up all he
had besides. And by a letter to the Archbishop, he signi-
fied that he was content to resign up his prebend to his suc-
Aidrich cessor in the mastership : namely, to one Mr. Aldrich, then
Senior Proctor. He Avas known to the Archbishop, accord-
ing to the character he gaA'e of him, to be an honest young
man, and skilled in the learned tongues ; as also in French
and Italian, and, as he trusted, like to do service in the realm
hereafter. Whereupon the Archbishop laboured to obtain
this Prebend for the ncAv IVIaster : and for that purpose Avrote
to the Secretary to prefer Pory's resignation to the Queen
Avith favour, and he doubted not it AA'ould be Avell bestowed.
He sent also another message to the Lady Stafford, a great
Lady of Honour about the Queen, that she might also speak
some good Avord, for the love of her son, Avho then Avas of
that college.
Clears him- That Pory had kept this headship so long Avas commonly
faise^hnpu- inipi^ited to the Archbishop ; and that he stayed him in it
tation of a in hopes to be his executor, for he Avas reckoned to be very
himf " rich. But the Archbishop, to take oft' any such sinister
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
573
opinions of him, " protested, in good faith, to the Secretary, CH AP.
" that he looked not to be advantaged five shillings by him,
" nor would be either his executor or supervisor, if God Anno 1 569.
" should take him to his mercy. But he might live, and
* " spend all, said the Archbishop ; and so he had, for ought
*' he knew : and that he was but a poor man, contrary to
" the world's opinion of him.'"
Whether Aldrich enjoyed this prebend, I know not : yet The new
in order to it, he had the endeavours of the Archbishop, and proves in-
his good character of him to the Secretary. The master- grateful to
° the Arch-
ship was actually in his possession, chiefly by the means of bishop
his Grace's recommendation. But the good Archbishop was^^^g""*
mistaken, and Aldrich proved ingrateful. For afterwards
he created a great deal of vexation to his patron; insomuch,
that some few years hence we shall see how he laboured all
he could to out him of this mastership, as he had been very 29O
instrumental to bring him into it : and at last got it voided
of him.
To this his beloved college he shewed his great affection The Arch-
this year, as he had upon all occasions done before, by obtain- foui,ds
inff and grantinff benefits to it. And he so prudently ordered ^^^hoiars
• 1 -11 1 c 1 . . n n- '^'■om Can-
It, that certam schools and counties felt the benefit of it too. terbuiy ;
First, by an indenture, dated May the 22d, an7i. Regin. 11.
it appears he appointed two scholars to be sent from the free-
school in Canterbury, to Bene't college in Cambridge, and
procured for their salaries yearly, six pound, thirteen shil-
lings, and four pence, payable out of the rents of the hos-
pital of Eastbridge. Which the said Archbishop had, by
his pains and diligence, increased and augmented to the re-
venues of the said hospital, over and above what the original
endowment of that house was. And hereupon it was de-
creed, between the Master of the said hospital, and the Mas-
ter and Fellows of the said college, and their successors, that
the said Master, with the assent of the Dean of Christ's
Church, Canterbury, should always send from the said
school, according to the condition of the time, (until the
number of two hundred years should be completed,) two
scholars born within the county of Kent. For which the
574 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK said Master of the hospital should, out of the annual rents
III
' thereof, make the payments of the said salaries, as afore-
Aniio 156'9. said.
The foresaid indenture of the 22d of May was made be-
tween William Murphet, Clerk, Master of the hospital of
the poor of Eastbridge, in the city of Canterbury, and
John Porie, D. D. Master or Keeper of Corpus Christi
college in Cambridge. The said William and his succes-
sors to pay to the said Master or Keeper yearly, at the
choir door in the church of Westminster, on the west part
of the said church, at the feast of St. Michael the Arch-
angel, or within thirty days next following, the sum of
twenty-seven pound, thirteen shillings, and four pence, for
and during the term of two hundred years. In consider-
ation of which, the Master or Keeper of the said college
should admit and receive into the said college, for the in-
crease of the number of scholars there, two scholars, to be
named and chosen by the Master of the hospital and Dean
of Christ's church, Canterbury, to be taken out of the free-
school in Canterbury, and such as should be born within the
county of Kent.
And from And further, by another indenture, dated the last of May
Suftbik/aiid this same year, it appears the Archbishop obtained from the
Lincoln. Queen, out of certain tenements, situate in Westminster, in
a place called Long Ditch, in the parish of St. Margaret's,
an annual clear rent of eight pound, thirteen shillings, and
four pence, for the more happy progress and increase of
three scholars in the college of Corpus Christi, or Bene't
college. And because the foresaid cathedral church of Can-
terbury had some part of their farms and possessions with-
in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, by a certain agree-
ment and consent it was determined, that two of the three
foresaid scholars might be freely taken by the Dean and
Chapter out of them, who were the children of their tenants,
in the said farms and possessions, if their parents did crave
and desire it. The third to be of the county of Lincoln ; of
the cathedral church whereof the Archbishop was sometime
Dean. Which three, after they should be sufficiently in-
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 575
structed in grammar learning, the said Dean and Chapter CHAP,
were to send from the school to the said college, to enjoy .
the same benefit, table, and stipend, as other scholars of that^""°
college had a right to ; as by an instrument between the said
Dean and Chapter, and the foresaid Master and Fellows,
did appear. And here the Archbishop made a wise pi-o~
viso, viz. that the Master and Fellows might increase or
diminish the said sum to the scholars, according as the said
living should increase or diminish : foreseeing what improve-
ments might in aftertimes be made of those tenements.
Still further, this same year, he founded two fellowships Founds two
and two scholarships more, in Bene't college, appropriated to an"°two'''*
Norwich. For which, and other charitable uses, he paid scholarships
three hundred and twenty pounds to the mayor, sheriffs, Norwich,
citizens, and commonalty of the said city. In consideration
of which money there was an indenture made, August the
Gth, 11. Regin. between the said mayor, sheriffs, &c. and the
said college; wherein the former gave and granted to the 29 1
college an annuity of eighteen pound of lawful money, out
of all and singular the messuages, lands, tenements, &c.
lying within the parishes of the said city, hamlets, or fields,
belonging unto the same, which they had in the right of
their corporation ; to employ the same annuity for several
uses and purposes. As, to the use of two Fellows yearly to
be found, and to continue within the said college ; likewise
to the use and towards the exhibition of two grammar
scholars, to be sent out of the schools at or in the city of
Norwich, Wymondham, or Aylsham, to the said college ;
and other uses.
The Archbishop also made certain articles, or ordinances. Makes ordi-
concerning these two fellowships, and also concerning the"ii'emr
ninth and tenth fellowships, and concerning the two Nor-
wich scholars, viz. that these two Fellows be called the
Norwich Fellows, and always to be at the order of the
election of the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi col-
lege, as they chose other Fellows of the same house. That
these two Fellows might enjoy any pension or canonship,
prebend or prebends, in any cathedral or collegiate churcli,
without cure, valued not above ten pounds in the book of
576 THE LIFE OF MATTHEW,
BOOK first-fruits and tenths : and that the ninth and tenth Fellows
might enjoy, with their fellowships, the like ecclesiastical
Anno 1669. livings, valued not above six pound in the said books. By
reason of which preferments the said four Fellows were
bound to teach freely the five Norwich Scholars. That if
the two Norwich Fellows, the ninth or tenth Fellows, or any
of them, would not or could not enjoy in their own persons
such canonship or canonships, prebend or prebends, that
then the Master and Fellows for the time being should
have the disposition thereof, pro hac vice tantum, with such
convenient consideration as should seem best unto their
consciences, to the relief of the four Fellows aforesaid, and
five Norwich Scholars. And that every the said Fellows, at
the acceptation or presentation of the said ecclesiastical liv-
ings, should enter into sufficient bonds to the Master and
Fellows, and that at their departure out of the said fellow-
ships they should resign up their said ecclesiastical livings,
to the behalf of such as should succeed them in their rooms.
Provides his And here let me add, that, for the more convenience and
Scholars Ijenefit of the Scholars founded by him, he afterwards, anno
chambers ; _ ' '
1574, allotted them chambers in the college, and procured
them several books to be used in common by them in their
studies. Whereby he saved them much money, that must
otherwise have gone out of their purses to provide them.
The chambers were on the east side of the college; for three
of which (if no more) the Archbishop provided implements,
viz. beds, mattresses, bolsters, and coverlids of tapestry,
chairs, and tables ; that is, one of each sort belonging to
each chamber. Which cost him ten pound eight shillings.
The books, which were for the common use of all the six
Norwich Scholars, were chained, and remained within the
under-chamber of the tenth chamber on the east side. And
they were these :
And books. Tcxtus BihlicE cum Gloss. Lyra, in quatuor voluminibus.
Noviim Testamentum GrtJECum, cum versionihus Vulgat.
et Erasmi.
Paraphrasis Erasmi super Novum Testament, in duob.
voluminib. Latine.
Concordantia Biblioruni.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 577
Lexicon Grieco-Latinum, recognitum an. 1562. CHAP.
Thesaurus Lingua Roman, et Britannic, per Tliom.
Cooper., anno 1565. Anno i569.
Thesaurus Linguce Latin, in trib. voluminib. recognit.
anno 1561.
Lexicon Latino-Grac. anno 1554.
Historia Antiquitat. Cantabrigia. anno 1574.
This year the Archbishop expressed, a further testimony Gives a ba-
of his good-will to his native city of Norwich, by presenting ^'j^
(as a new-year's gift) a basin and ewer, whole gilt, weigh- Norwich,
ing an hundred, threescore, and fifteen ounces, to the Mayor,
Sheriffs, and Citizens thereof. For which they gave a bond
of an hundred pound, to Bene't coUege, never to alienate
it, except for urgent causes of necessity, as might be thought
reasonable to the Master of the said college. On the out-
ward bottom of the basin was this inscribed, Mattheeus
Parker, Norvicens. Archiepisc. Cantuar. dedit eidem civi- 2Q2
tat. 1. Jan. anno Dom. 1569. et anno consecrationis suoe xi.
atatis sua. vero 66.
I meet with these persons preferred this year by the Preferred
Archbishop; viz. Radulphus Cavelarius, (Hebrew Pi'ofes- ^^J^'j^^.^l^^p
sor at Cambridge,) admitted Jan. 27, to the seventh pre- Regist.
bend of Christ's church, Canterbury : and Thomas Lawse,
Clerk, admitted the 13th of February, to the government of
the hospital of East Bridge in Canterbury.
I end this year with the emergence of an excellent man, Cecil, the
Secretary Cecil, out of a very great danger of disgrace, if fhop's great
not of death ; most of the great men about the Queen com- friend, reco-
bining to bring her into displeasure with him. He was the Quee*n's
Archbishop's chief and fast friend, and to whom he con-^a^ou'".
stantly made his applications on all occasions, (as is evident
by what hath been already said,) and so did all the rest of
the good Bishops in their affairs and necessities. So that on
his safety and credit with the Queen, the Church's welfare
in great measure depended. In what strength and security
this great patron and friend of the Archbishop and hierar-
chy now again stood, after a desperate shock, I had rather
express in his own words than mine. Writing thus to a friend
VOL. I. p p
578 LIFE OF MATTHEW, ABP. OF CANT.
BOOK of his. " I am in quietness of mind, as feeling the nearness
" and readiness of God's favour to assist me with his grace,
Anno 1569." to have a disposition to serve him, before the world. And
" therein have I lately proved his mere goodness to preserve
" me from some clouds or mists ; in the midst whereof I
*' trust mine honest actions are proved to have been light-
** some and clear. And to make this rule more proper and
" special to be applied, I find the Queen's Majesty, my gra^
" cious good Lady, without change of any part of her old
" good meaning towards me. And so I trust only by God's
" goodness to observe the continuance. I am also presently
" moved to believe, that all my Lords, from the greatest to
" the meanest, think my actions honest and painful, and do
" profess inwardly to bear me as much good-will as ever
*' they did heretofore."
END OF VOL. I.
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