A briefe view of the state of the Church of England as it stood in Q. Elizabeths and King James his reigne, to the yeere 1608 being a character and history of the bishops of those times ... / written ... by Sir John Harington ..., Knight.

Doctor Richard Bancroft.

Upon the death of Arch-bishop White∣guift, divers worthy men were named in the vacancy. His Majesty not after the manner of some Princes, seeking to keep that vacant, but rather hastning to fill that. The Bishops of Durham and Win∣chester were as it were, voce populi made competitrs with the Bishop of London, rather by their eminence of merit and Learning, then by any known desire, or endeavour of them or their friends. Wherein methinks by the way, envy it self cannot but gratulate the Church of England, that is so furnished with learned Bishops, as if choyce had been to be made, not by a judicious Prince, but by the for∣tune of a lot among those three, and ma∣ny more beside, that could not have fallen amiss. But his Majesty had long since un∣derstood of his writing, against the

Genevising, and Scotizing Ministers: and though some imagined he had therein given the King some distaste, yet finding him, in the disputations at Hampton Court, both learned and stout, he did more and more increase his liking to him; So that although in the common rumour, Thoby Matthew then Bishop of Durham was likest to have carried that, so - learned a man, and so assiduous a Preacher, qui in concionibus dominatur as his emulous and enemy wrote of him, yet his Majesty in his learning knowing, and in his wisdom, weighing that this same strict charge Pasce oves mes feed my sheep, requires as well a pastorall courage of driving in the stray sheep, and driving out the infectious, as of feeding the sound, made especiall choyce of the Bi∣shop of London, as a man more exercised in affaires of the State. I will add also my own conjecture out of some of his Maje∣sties own speeches, that in respect he was a single man, he supposed him the fitter, according to Queen Elizabeths prin∣ciples of state: upon whose wise foun∣dations, his Majesty doth daily erect more glorions buildings.

But I lose labour to repeat these things

to your Highnesse better known, then to my selfe. I should onely speak of the for∣mer times.

Of his beginning therefore, and rising, I will boldly say that, which I would I might as truly of all that follow in this Treatise, viz. that he came to all his pre∣ferments very clearly, without prejudice or spoile of his Churches.

He was Tutor in Cambridge, to the Lord Cromwell, who had cause to wish, and (as I have heard) hath wisht, he had staid with him longer, though he were sharp and austere. My Lord Chancellor Hatton made speciall choyce of him, to be his Examiner.

Est a liquid de tot Graiorum millibús unum a Diomede legi.

By his means Queen Elizabeth came to take knowledge of his wisdome and suf∣ficiency. He both: wrote, as I touched before, and laboured earnestly by all good means for the suppressing of the fantasti∣call Novellists. After the strange and frantick attempt of Hacket and his fel∣lows; which practice, though the bran∣ches thereof were easily cut off, yet was it thought, to have a more dangerous and secret root. But for these his travels, as

the Queen and State favoured him, so the seditious Sectaries (to use Judge Pophams word, that would not have them call'd Puritanes) they, l say, no lesse maligned-him in Libels and Rimes; (for they were void of reasons) laying the im∣putation of Papistry unto him; some of them were punished in the Starchamber, namely one Darling, the last. Starchamber day in Queen Elizabeths time, was sharp∣ly censured. And it is no wonder, if they lov'd him not, for indeed he had stoutly opposed their chiefest darlings. As for the imputation of Papistry, which they lay on all men that crosse their designes, he is so free from it, that I can truly af∣firme the greatest blow the Papists recei∣ved in all Queen Elizabeths time, came from his hand, or at least from his head: For having wisely observed the emula∣tion, ambition; and envy, that lurked in the minds of their secular Priests, and the Jesuits one against another, he found the means by the same policy, and with the like spirit, that St. Paul set the Phari∣sees against the Sadduces, to set the Priests against the Jesuits, Watson against Parsons (Impar congressus) but yet thereby he so divided their languages, as scantly they

can understand one another as yet. These things acted, before the King your fathers happy entry, I thought good to touch, though more sparingly then my particu∣lar affection & his just deserts do give me occasion. Of his late imployments of his great care, in setting; forward and setting forth all his Majesties godly procee∣dings, though I know much, yet if I should say all I know, perhaps it is lesse then your Highnesse knowes; therefore I will con∣clude with that which the truth, rather then my kindnesse enforceth me to say, that no Bishop since I can remember hath been counted more vigilant in looking to his charge. Ne quid Ecclesia detrimenti capiat.