Prelates.
NICHOLAS of FERNHAM, or, de Fileceto, was born at Fernham in this County, and bred a Physician in Oxford. Now our Nation esteemeth Physicians, little Physick, little worth, except far fetcht from foreign parts. Wherefore this Nicholas to acquire more skill and repute to himself, travelled beyond the Seas. First he fixed at Paris, and there gained great esteem▪ * accounted Famosus Anglicus. Here he continued until that •…ni∣versity was in effect dissolved, thorough the discords betwixt the Clergy and the Citizens. Hence he removed, and for some years lived in Bononia. Returning home his fame was so great, that he became * Physician to King Henry the Third. The Vivacity and health of this Patient (who reigned longer than most men live) was an effect of his care. Great were the gi•…ts the King conferred upon him, and at last made him Bishop of Chester. Wonder not, that a Physician should prove a Prelate, seeing this Fernham was a general Scholar. Besides, since the Reformation, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, we had J. Coldwel, Doctor of Physick, a Bishop of Sarum. After the Resignation of Chester he ac∣cepted of the Bishoprick of Durham. This also he surrendred, (after he had sitten nine years in that See) reserving only three*Mannors for his maintenance. He wrote many Books, much esteemed in that Age, of the practice in *Thysick and use of Herbs, and died in a private life 1257.
Page 81WALTER de MERTON was born at Merton in this County, and in the reign of King Henry the Third, when Chancellors were chequered in and out, three times he discharged that Office.
- 1 Anno 1260 placed in by the King, displac'd by the Barons, to make room for Nicholas of Ely.
- 2 Anno 1261. when the King (counting it no Equity or Conscience, that his Lords should obtrude a Chancellor on him) restored him to his place, continuing therein some three years.
- 3 Anno 1273. when he was replaced in that Office for a short time.
He was also preferred Bishop of Rochester, that a rich Prelate might maintain a poor Bishoprick. He founded Merton-Colledge in Oxford, which hath produced more famous School-men, than all England (I had almost said Europe) besides. He died in the year 1277, in the fifth of King Edward the First.
THOMAS CRANLEY was in all probability born at, and named from Cranley (in Blackheath Hundred) in this County. It confirmeth the conjecture, because I can not find any other Village so named in all England. Bred he was in Oxford, and became the first Warden of New* Colledge, thence preferred Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland. Thither he went over 1398, accompanying Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and Lieutenant of Ireland, and in that Kingdom our Cranley was made by King Henry the Fourth Chancellour and by King Henry the Fifth Chief Justice thereof. It seems, he finding the Irish possessed with a rebellious humour, bemoaned himself to the King in a terse Poem of 106 Ver∣ses, which Leland perused with much pleasure and delight. Were he but half so good, as some make him, he was to be admired. Such a Case, and such a Jewel, such a presence and a Prelate clear in Complexion, proper in Stature, bountiful in House-keeping and House-repairing, a great Clerk, deep Divine, and excellent Preacher. Thus far we have gone along very willingly with our * Author, but now leave him to go alone by himself, unwilling to follow him any farther for fear of a tang of Blasphemy, when bespeaking him, Thou art fairer than the children of men, full of grace are thy lips, &c.
Anno 1417 he returned into England being fourscore years old, sickned and died at Faringdon, and lieth buried in New-Colledge Chappel, and not in Dublin, as * some have re∣lated.
NICHOLAS WEST was born at *Putney in this County, bred first at Eaton, then at Kings-Colledge in Cambridge, where (when a youth) he was a Rakel in grain. For, something crossing him in the Colledge, he could find no other way to work his Revenge than by secret setting on fire the Masters lodgings, part whereof he burnt to the ground. Immediately after this Incendiary (and was it not high time for him?) left the Col∣ledge, and this little Heros•…ratus lived for a time in the Country, debauched enough for his conversation.
But they go far who turn not again. And in him the Proverb was verified, Naughty Boyes sometimes make good Men, he seasonably retrenched his wildness, turn'd hard Student, became an eminent Scholar and most able States-man, and after smaller promotions was at last made Bishop of Ely, and often employed in forreign Embassies. And now, hath it been possible, he would have quenched the fire he kindled in the Colledge with his own tears, and in expression of his penitence became a worthy Benefactor to the house, and re-built the masters Lodgings firm and fair from the ground. No Bishop of England was better attended with Menial Servants, or kept a more bountiful house, which made his death so much lamented, Anno Dom. 1533.
Since the Reformation.
JOHN PARK•…URST was born at *Gilford in this County, bred first in Magdalen then in Merton-Colledge in Oxford. Here it was no small part of praise, that he was Tutor, yea Mecenas, to John Jewel. After his discontinuance returning to Oxford, it was no small comfort unto him to hear his Pupil read his Learned humanity-Lectures to the Somato Christians, (Reader I coyn not the word my self, but have took it in Payment from a good * hand) that is, to those of Corpus Chris•…i Colledge, to which house then J•…wel was removed. Hereupon Mr. Parkhurst made this Distich;
Indeed he was as good a Poet as any in that Age, and delighted to be an Anti∣Epigrammatist to John*VVhite Bishop of VVinchester, whom in my opinion he far surpassed both in Phrase and fancy.
Mr. Parkhurst, when leaving Oxford, was presented Parson, shall I say, or Bishop of Cleve in Glocester-shire; as which may seem rather a Diocess than a Parish for the rich Revenue thereof. But let none envy Beneficium opimum beneficiario optimo, A good living to an incum∣bent who will do good therewith. He laid himself out in works of Charity and Hospitality. He used to examine the * Pockets of such Oxford Scholars as repaired unto him, and alwayes recruited them with necessaries, so that such who came to him with heavy hearts and light purses, departed from him with light hearts and heavy purses.
But see a sudden alteration. King Edward the Sixth dies, and then he, who formerly entertained others, had not a house to hide himself in. Parkhurst is forced to post speedily and secretly beyond the Seas, where he remained all the reign of Queen Mary, and pro∣viding for his return in the First of Queen Elizabeth, was robbed of that little he had, by some Searchers appointed for that purpose. Were not these Thieves themselves robbed, I mean of their expectation, who hoped to enrich themselves by Pillaging an Exile and a Poet? It grieved him most of all that he lost the fair * Copy of his Epi∣grams, though afterwards with much ado he recovered them from his foul papers. These at last he put in print Et juvenilem 〈◊〉 senex edidit, without any trespass on his gravity, such his Poems being so witty that a young man, so harmless that an old man need not be of them ashamed.
Being returned into England he was by Queen Elizabeth preferred to the Bishoprick of Norwich, and was consecrated *Sept. the 1, 1560. 14 years he sate in that See, and died 1574.
THOMAS RAVIS was born of worthy Parentage at †Maulden in this County, bred in Christ-Church in Oxford, whereof he was Dean, and of which University he was twice Vice-Chancellor. Afterwards, when many suitors greedily sought the Bishoprick of Glocester then vacant, the Lords of the Councel *requested Doct. Ravis to accept thereof.
As he was not very willing to go •…hither, so (after his three years abode there) those of Glocester were unwilling he should go thence, who in so short a time had gained the good liking of all sorts, that some who could scant brook the name of Bishop were * content to give (or rather to pay) him a good Report.
Anno 1607 he was removed to London, and there * died on the 14th. of December 1609. and lieth buried under a fair Tomb in the wall at the upper end of the North-part of his Cathedral.
ROBERT ABBOT D. D. was born at Guilford in this County, bred in 〈◊〉 Colledge in Oxford, whereof he became Principal, and Kings Professor of Divinity in that University. What is said of the French, so graceful is their Garbe, that they make any kind of Cloathes become themselves, so general was his Learning, he made any liberal imployment beseem him, Reading, VVriting, Preaching, Opposing, Answering, and Modera∣ting, who could dis-intangle Truth though complicated with errours on all sides. He so routed the reasons of Bellarmin, the Romish Champion, that he never could rally them again. Yet Preferment (which is ordered in Heaven) came down very slowly on this Doctor, whereof several Reasons are assigned,
- 1 His Humility affected no high Promotion.
- 2 His Foes traduced him for a Puritan, who indeed was a right godly Man and cor∣diat to the Discipline, as Doctrine of the Church of England.
- 3 His Friends were loath to adorn the Church with the spoil of the University and marre a Professor to make a Bishop.
However preferment at last found him out, when he was consecrated B. of Salisbury, Decemb. 3. 1615. Herein he equaled the felicity of Suffridus B. of Chichester, that being him∣self a Bishop he saw his brother George at the same time Archbishop of Canterbury. Of these two, George was the more plausible Preacher, Robert the greater Scholar; George the abler States-man; Robert the deeper Divine; Gravity did frown in George and smile in Robert.
But alas! he was hardly warm in his S•…e, before cold in his Coffin, being one of the •…ive Bishops, which Salisbury saw in six years. His death happened Anno 1617.
Page 83GEORGE ABBOT was born at Guilford in this County, being one of that happy Ternion of Brothers, whereof two eminent Prelats, the third, Lord Mayor of London. He was bred in Oxford, wherein he became Head of University-Colledge; a pious man, and most excellent Preacher as his Lectures on Jonah do declare.
He did first creep, then run, then fly into preferment, or rather preferment did fly upon him without his expectation. He was never incumbent on any Living with cure of soules, but was mounted from a Lecturer to a Dignitary, so that he knew well what belong'd to the stipend and benevolence of the one, and the dividend of the other, but was utterly un∣acquainted with the taking of Tithes, with the many troubles attending it, together with the causeless molestations which Persons Presented meet with in their respective Pa∣rishes. And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that, whereof he never had a suffering, this (say some) was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him.
Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then Omni-prevalent with King James, he was un∣expectedly preferred Archbishop of Canterbury, being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England. I find two things much charg'd on his memory: First, that in his house he respected his Se∣cretary above his Chaplains, and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks, Lay above Clergie-men. Secondly, that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity, in so much that I read in a modern Author,
Had Bishop* Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed with∣out interruption, there is little question to be made, but that our Jerusalem (by this time) might have been a City at unity in it self.
Yet are there some of Archbishop Abbot his relations, who (as I am informed) will undertake to defend him, that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge.
This Archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramzel-Park, though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby.
In the reign of King Charles he was sequestred from his Jurisdiction; say some, on the old account of that homicide, though others say, for refusing to Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorps. Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration, the Commission only saying in the general, That the said Archbishop could not at that pre∣sent in his own person, attend those services, which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and Jurisdiction.
For my own part I have cause to believe that as Vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere re∣crudescit, so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to Licence that Sermon with some other of his Court-un-compliances. This Archbishop died Anno Dom. 1633. having erected a large Hospital with liberal main∣tenance at Guildford the place of his nativity.
RICHARD CORBET D. D. was born at Ewel in this County, and from a Student in, became Dean of, Christ-Church, then Bishop of Oxford. An high VVit, and most ex∣cellent Poet, of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him, counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him. He afterwards was advan∣ced Bishop of Norwich, where he died Anno Dom. 1635.
