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HAving past Canterbury and London, both Neighbours to the Court, and as it were within the verge; I thought the greatest part of my task passed over. Howbeit Winchester I finde also will af∣ford some variety of matter; and as it hath been a place that hath had many learned men, and bred many, both Di∣vines,
Philosophers, and Poets, so I shall take occasion in speaking of some of these that ensue, to produce some Poems both Latine and English; some made at Winchester, some of Winchester, some against Winchester: not digressing herein much from the method and man∣ner of my Authour; who, as your High∣nesse may see, produceth good old riming verses of Fryers, both in praise and dis∣praise of some of the Bishops, for my purpose from the beginning, though it were chiefly to inform your Highnesse, knowledge, with a faithfull report of some things passed in Queen Elizabeths time, overpassed by my Authour; yet was it also to sauce it in such sort with some variety of matter, not impertinent, to cheer your spirit, lest a dull relation of the Acts of grave gray-beards to a young Prince might grow fastidious.
whose life my Author hath set out so amply and orderly, as I need adde no∣thing thereunto; onely, because a man that hath made so many good schollers deserves a better verse then that on his Tomb.
Willelmus dictus Wickhā jacet hic nece victu•• Jugiter oretis, tumulum quicunque videtis.
And such like stuffe, which a Winchester scholler now would be scourged, if he make no better. I having this pretty Poem of his whole life, made by Doctor John∣son, thought I could never doe it or him more honour, then to present it to your Princely view, for as Sir Philip Sidney curseth all despisers of Poetry, with this Poeticall Anathema: First, that they may be in love, and lose their love for lack of a Sonnet; next, that when they die, their memory may die for want of an Epitaph: so, I would wish such as wrong good Poets, no worse punishment, then to have some vile Verse written of him, whose reading (as Martial saith) might make a mans Physick work the better with him; such as for the most part those lazie Friers were were wont to write; for my part, though Wickhams Epitaph be but seven or eight lines, and this Elegie (I think) about twenty times seven lines, yet I must confesse, it were lesse tedious to me at this present to read the seven score, then the seven; and hoping it may seem so to you, I have here annexed them.
Ortus & vita Gulielmi de Wickham olim Episcopi Wintoniensis, & condito∣ris istius Collegii.
Qua capit australes comitatu Hamptona Bri∣tannos Wickhamia est vicus nec nisi parvus ager; Vixit Johannes illic cognomine longus Cui fuit in Casti, parte Sibilla tori Hanc habuit patriam Gulielmus & hosce paren∣tes Wickhamus augurio, nec tamen absque bon••. Nam{que} loci ut nomen, sic vim matris{que} patris{que} Haud dubie in vitam transtulit ille suam. Longus enim ut longo duraret tempor a caute Ut bene prospiceret cuncta Sibilla dedit Ergo sub Edvardo natus regnante secundv Tunc ubiter sceptri, sexta cucurrit Hyems Vinginti primos studiis & moribus annos Wickhamiae patris cura ea summa dedit. Nec tamen hic omnes, nam partē temporis hujus Venta & Edingdoni praesulis aula tulit: Potinus Edwardi translatus tertius in aulam Non fieri nullo caepit & esse loco. Namque bis octo annis recte & feliciter actis Rem fidei plenam consiliique subit; Winde••ora a suit pagus celeberrimus illic Rex statuit castri maenia magna sui: Wick••amus huic operi praeponitur at{que} probatū est Ingenio quantum polluit arte fide
And hereby your Highnesse may ob∣serve how vaine that foolish tradition is which my Author discreetly omitted, as not beleeving that some will still main∣taine that Wickham was unlearned, and onely a Surveyer of buildings, and by a kinde of fraud deceived King Edward 3. (no likely Prince to be so deceived) beg∣ing the Parsonage of Eastmeane, to which by like Authority they will have the Bishoprick of Winchester annexed as un∣separably as the Earledome of Arundell to Arundell-Castle, for who could think that such a King as Edw. 3. would make Sir John Laclattin, first his Secretary, then Privie-Seale, then Master of the Wards, and Treasurer of France, and lastly Pre∣late of the Garter, and Chancellor of England,
Because I will not be alwayes be pray∣sing, but sometimes when just cause is given, reprehend mens demerits, as well magnifie their merits, I will take occasion to speake somewhat of Stephen Gardiner, twice bishop of Winchester; and therefore may challenge to be twice remembred,
though for some things of him that were to be wisht they were ever forgotten, my Author derects this Reader to Mr. Foxes booke of Martyrs, for a more full Rela∣tion of his doings; but that is so full (though I assure my selfe it is very faith∣full) that I doubt your Highnesse will find it over tedious to read; my purpose is therefore but to note some important ob∣servations out of this Story, and after, as I did of Wickham in Latin, so to adde some English poetrie written of him, and to him, which is not to be found in Mr. Fox, though some of it helps to confirme something concerning him, affirmed by Mr. Fox, and called in question by others. Mr. Fox therefore first greatly prayseth his naturall gifts of minde, his sharpe wit, his excellent memory, which is indeed the store-house of all learning and know∣ledge, for tantum scimus quantum memini∣mus. But to these (saith he) he had great vices, as pride, envie, & cruelty, flattering to his Prince, submisse to his superiours, envious to his equals (namely to Cromwel) and haughty to his inferiours, these or the like are Mr. Foxes words. It seemes further in relation of his Life and Death, he was a Catholick-Protestant, or a pro∣testing
Catholick, for as he showes at large out of his Books & Sermons, though he received the Popes authority in Queen Maries time; Yet his opinion was as his writings before declared, and as the wiser sort I thinke, do still hold of it, that it is but a temporall constitution of Men, and agreement of Princes, to allow the same, which upon just occasions they may re∣straine or exclude, as they shall find cause; but yet I observe this, that although it was necessary for Queen Mary, in respect of her Birth to admit of the Popes Au∣thority, as the contrary was as necessary for her Sister, yet this so Catholicke Queen, and this so popish Prelate could keep out the Popes Legat out of England by her royall Prerogative when he would have sent a Legat hither not to her li∣king; again, he was earnest against Mar∣riage of Ministers, yet he confesseth frank∣ly, that a married man may be a Minister: he defended the reall presence, yet he al∣lowed the Cōmunion under both kinds, he writ in defence of Images, yet he pub∣lickly approved their pulling down when they were superstitiously abused. Finally he said at his Death, that that would marre all, to teach the people, that they
are freely justified by the blood of Christ, and yet even then, when hee could not dissemble, he confessed it to be true Do∣ctrine.
Loe how farre this stout Prelate, Cedere nescius, (as Mr. Fox saith of him) did yeeld in those many points of Popery. 1. Su∣premacy. 2. The marriage of some Mini∣sters. 3. The Sacrament in both kinds. 4. Removing Images. 5. Justification. But now for his sharp persecuting, or ra∣ther revenging himselfe on Cranmer and Ridley, that had in King Edwards daies deprived him, his too great cruelty can∣not be excused.
Lastly, the plots he laid to entrap the Lady Elizabeth, his terrible hard usage of all her followers, I cannot yet scarce think of with charity, nor write of with patience.
My father, onely for carrying a Letter to the Lady Elizabeth, and professing to wish her well, he kept in the Tower 12 moneths, and made him spend a thou∣sand pounds ere he could be free of that trouble. My mother, that then served the said Lady Elizabeth, he caused to be sequestred from her as an heretick, inso∣much that her own father durst not take
her into his house, but she was glad to sojourne with one Mr. Topcliff; so as I may say, in some sort, this Bishop persecuted me before I was born.
Yet, that I speak not at all in passion, I must confesse I have heard some as par∣tially praise his clemency and good con∣science, and namely, that he was cause of restoring many honourable houses, over∣thrown by King Henry the eighth, and in King Edwards minority. The Duke of Norfolke, (though Mr. Fox saith, that Gardiner made him stay long for his din∣ner one day) yet both he, and those de∣scended of him were beholding to him: with the house of Stanhops, and the Lord Arundell of Warder; and I have heard old Sir Matthew Arundell say, that Bonner was more faulty then he, and that Gar∣diner would rate at him for it, and call him asse for using poor men so bloodily; and when I would maintain the contrary, he would say, that my father was worthy to have lain in prison a yeer longer, for the saucy sonnet he wrote to him from out of the Tower; which sonnet, both because it was written in defence of Queen Elizabeth, and because (if I be not par∣tiall, it is no ill Verse, for those unrefined
times, and toucheth the matter I enforce) I will here set down; presupposing that in the eleven moneths before, he had sent him many Letters, and Petitions full of reason, (that could not prevaile) for his liberty. The distressed prisoner writeth this Rime.
1.At least withdraw your cruelty, or force the time to work your will; It is too much extremity, to keep me pent in prison still. Free from all fault, voyd of all cause; Without all right, against all lawes. How can you doe more cruell spight, Then proffer wrong, and promise right? Nor can accuse, nor will acquight.2.Eleven moneths past, and longer space, I have abid your divellish drifts, While you have sought both man and place, and set your snares, with all your shifts; The fault lesse foot to wr ap in wile, With any guilt, by any guile; And now you see that will not be, How can you thus for shame agree, To keep him bound you can set free?3.Your chance was once, as mine is now,
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to keep this hold against your will, And then you sware you know well how, Though now you swearve, I know how ill. But thus the world his course doth passe, The Priest forgets a Clerke he was; And you that then cry'd justice still, And now have justice at your will, Wrest justice wrong, against all skill.4.But why doe I thus coldly plaine, as if it were my cause alone? When cause doth each man so constraine, as England through hath cause to moane, To see your bloody search of such, Whom all the Earth can no way touch. And better were that all your kind, Like hounds in hel with shame were shrind Then you had might unto your mind.5.But as the stone that strikes the wall, sometimes bounds back on th' hurlers head, So your foule fetch, to your foule fall, may turn and noy the brest that bred. And then such measure as you gave, Of right and justice look to have; If good or ill, if short or long; If false or true, if right or wrong, And thus, till then I end my Song.
But to shew a pattern, what partiality can paint in his praise, and what ill will can pervert to reproach, I will adde an Elegie in English also, written by one Mr. Prideaux, in commendation, and the same answered in execration of the same Bishop.
1.THe Saints in Heaven rejoyce, this earth and we may waile; Sith they have won, and we have lost the guide of our availe.2.Though death hath loosed life yet death could not deface His worthy work, his stayed state, nor yet his gifts of grace.3.As Gardner was his name, So Gardned he his life With justice, and with mercy both, to 'stroy the weeds of strife.4.A Steven in Religion stout, a Bishop by his acts, A faithfull man most free from fraud, as witnesse be his facts;5.A Judge most just in judgement seat,
of parties no regard; An Eye to see, an Eare to heare, a hand that shunn'd reward.6.A heart to help, and not to harm; his will was wisdomes law, A minde that malice could not move, such was of God his awe.7.A faith in friendship firm and fast, a mount the right to raise. A Spright 'not pall'd with slanderous bruits nor puft with pride by praise.8.Not light of credit to reports, revenge he never sought, But would forgive, and did forget the wrongs that were him wrought.9.A truth, so tri'd in trust, as tongue could never taint. Nor earst was heard in guilefull wise, a lie with lips to paint.10.Though Natures child by birth, yet vertues heir by right, Which held his height so madestly, as measure master'd might.
11.Ambitions climing cliffe could never move his minde, Nor fortune with her fawning cheer, his heart did ever blind.12.Nor Misery which most he felt, or prison might him pall, But bare his minde in levell so, as change could be no fall.13.In all these turns of joy and woe, he turned to the best; And held him to the tried truth, which now hath won him rest.14.From foes deface, and envies bell, his end hath made him free, And pluckt him from this wicked world, too worthy here to be.15.Who can give tears enough to plaino the losse and lack we have; So rare a man, so soon bereft, when most we did him crave.16.When age and yeers had made him ripe, and surely had him set, To know himselfe and weeld the world
and right with mercy met.17.And when of envy, and of hate, the conquest he had wonne, And falsehood forc'd to fly his fort, and right his race to run.18.And when of glory and of grace, he wonne the palm and price, And conquered all affections force, with wisdoms good advice.19.And in the office that he bare. and service of his Queen, So choice a man to serve her call, scarce any where was seen.20.Then death, that fatall fce, the line of life did lose, And in the belly of the earth as earth shee did him close.21.The Prince may plaine his death, the Realm his lack may rue; All men may say, O Winchester, most worthy wight adue.22.The poor may plaine and pine, whose lacks he did relieve;
His Servants may lament their Lord which Lordly did them give.23.The Bishops may behold a Bishop then berest, A perfect Priest, a shield of faith, a mirrour of them left24.His foes if any were, that first did wish him gone In length of time and lack of life too late his loss will mone.25.O Pastor past this Pilgrims pain in earth thine Acts do live, In skies thy vertues written are, all penns thee praise shall give.26.Which after all these heaps of kap a happy life hast led, And in the happiest hap of all in fame and love art dead.
The same answered verse for verse by an Ill-willer of the said Bishop.
1.THe Devils in Hell do dance, this Realm and we may joy
Since they have got and we forgone the cause of our Annoy.2.Though death hath wipt out life, yet death cannot outrace His wicked works usurped state nor faults of his deface.3.A Gardner such he was, as spoiled so our plants, That Justice withered, mercy dy'd and we wrong by their wants.4.A Stev'n in name, a Fox in fact, a Bishop but in Weeds, A faithless man full fraught with frauds as deem him by his deeds.5.A partiall Judge in Judgement seat, of parties great respect, A blinded eye, a closed eare, a hand with bribe infect6.A heart to harm and not to help his lust was laid far low, A mind with malice over-whelm'd of God nor man no awe.
7.A fained fickle friend and false that right could never bid, A courage every storm cast down and praise puft up with pride.8.Of fowle reports and slanderous bruts he nourisht up the brood; His wrongs to pardon or to passe revenge and rage withstood9.A tri'd untruth in trust, As tongues well try'd have told, A mouth that breath'd more odious lies then It' upbraid am bold.10.Scant Natures Child by birth sure Satans sonne in right Which rule maintain'd with sword & fire, and measur'd all by might.11.Ambitious clyming Cliffe had ravisht so his mind, As he was sotted drunk therein, and fortune made him blind.12.The smell of prisons misery felt his pride did greatly pall
He bare his staffe so staggeringly, as each change seem'd a fall.13.In all these turns of joy and woe he turned with the best, And never left the surer side till breath did leave his brest.14.From Widow course and Orphans crie his end him cannot save, Though that have rid kim of his raigne unworthy rule to have.15.Who can give thanks and joy enough that we have scapt this syre, This monstrous man this bloody beast, when most we did desire.16.When yeeres had fram'd him fit for Hell and pride so high had set, As God nor man nor self he knew and might with mischiefmet.17.And when the envy and the hate he wan of every wight, And falshood florisht in his Fort, and wrong had wrong outright;18.And when he gloried most in pomp,
in honour and in health, And by affection conquered all, and wallowed all in wealth;19.And in the Office that he bare to rule above the Queen, So cruel and so merciless, scarce ever man was seen;20.Then God that most just Judge lifes line to part was pleas'd, The Earth his Carrion corps hath caught▪ the Devil his soulhath seiz'd21.The Prince his death may please, this Realm his life doth rue, All men may well his birth-day, ban this cursed wretch that knew.22.The poor may plain and pine; for none be would relieve, His men may joy his death was such his Goods were his to give.23.Good Bishops may beware this Ravener them bereft, This popish-priest this shield of wrong, a warning for them left.
24.His friends if any were, that wisht him longer ruigne With length of time might cause have caught too late his rule to plain25.O thou devourer of the good thy wrongs in earth do dwell, Thy cruel thirst of guiltless blood now must thou quench in hell.26.Which in the world of deadly hurts most burtfull life didst lead, And now with Englands common jay in shame and hate art dead.
Which of these wrote truest I will not take upon me to judge, left I should be thought partiall; but that saying ap∣peares true: Scribit in Marmore laesus. Therefore I will conclude against all partiall Poets, with two verses of
Falsus honor juvat et mendax infamia terret Quem? nisi mendosum & mendacem.
He was born of a worshipfull house, and in the Diocess of Winchester, and became after Warden of Winchester, thence for his great learning, and vertu∣ous life prefer'd to the Bishoprick of Lin∣coln, and after upon the death of Stephen Gardner, made Bishop of Winchester; wherefore of him I may say, his fame did well answer his name, and so would all men say (how contrary soever to him in Religion, but for one black Ser∣mon that he made; yet for the colour is may be said he kept decorum, because that was a Funerall Sermon of a great Queen both by birth and mariage, I mean Q. Mary. But the offence taken against him was this. His Text was out of Eccles. 4. 2. Laudavi mortuos magis quam viventes, & faliciorem utro{que} judicavi qui nec dum na∣tus est. And speaking of Queen Mary her high Parentage, Her bountifull dispositi∣on, Her great gravity, Her rare devotion, (praying so much as he affirmed that her knees were hard with kneeling, Her Ju∣stice and Clemency in restoring Noble Houses to her own privat losse and hind∣rance.
And lastly her grievous yet pati∣ent death: He fell into such an unfaign∣ed weeping, that for a long space he could not speak. Then recovering him∣self, he said she had left a Sister to succeed her, a Lady of great worth also whom they were now bound to obey; for saith he melior est Canis vivus Leone mortuo, & I hope so shall raign well and prosperously over us, but I must say still with my Text, Laudavi mortuos magis quam vi∣ventes; for certain that is, Maria optimam partem elegit: thus he, at which Queen E∣lizabeth taking just indignation, put him in prison, yet would proceed no further then to his deprivation, though some would have made that a more haynous matter. He was a man of austere life, and much more mortified to the World, than his Predecessor Gardiner, who was noted for ambitious, but vet to his Prince very obsequious. But if Doctor White had had a true propheticall spirit, he might have urged the second part of his Text. Sed faeliciorem utroque judicavi qui nec dum na∣tus et; for that may seem verified indeed in the Kings Majesty that now is, who was then unborn, and hath since so hap∣pily united these Kingdoms; yet least that
which I would make in him a Prophecy, others will take in me for flattery; I will proceed to the next, or rather I should say to another, for of the two next I need add nothing, my Authour having testifi∣ed by both their Epitaphs, that they li∣ved and died well.
I intend therefore to speak next of Dr. Cooper, because of Bishop Herne, and Bi∣shop Watson, I cannot add any thing up∣on sure ground, for of the former times, I have either Books of stories, or relation of my Fathers that lived in those dayes; but or these that lived in the first twenty yeeres of the Queens Raign when I was at school, or at the University, I could hear little, yet at my first coming to the Court, I heard this pretty tale, that a Bi∣shop of Winchester one day in pleasant talk, comparing his Revenue with the Arch-bishops of Canterbury, should say, your Graces will showe better in the Rack, but mine will be found more in the Manger, upon which a Courtier of good place said, it might be so in diebus illis; But saith he, the Rack stands so high in
sight, that it is fit to keep it full, but that may be, since that time, some have with a provideatur swept some provender out of the Manger: and because this Meta∣phor comes from the Stable, I suspect it was meant by the Mr. of the Horse. To come then to Bishop Cooper, of him I can say much, and I should do him great wrong, if I should say nothing; for he was indeed a reverent man, very well learned, exceeding industrious, and which was in those dayes counted a great praise to him, and a chief cause of his preferment, he wrote that great Dictio∣nary that yet bears his name, his Life in Oxford was very commendable, and in some sort Saint-like; for if it be Saint∣like to live unreprovable, to bear a cross patiently, to forgive great injuries freely: this mans example is sampleless in this age.
He maried a Wife in Oxford, for that speciall just cause (I had almost said onely cause) why Clergymen should ma∣ry, viz. for avoiding of sin. Melius est e∣nim nubere qu am uri, yet was that his very hard hap that she proved too light for his gravity by many grains, or rather many pounds. At the first he winkt at that with
a Socraticall and Philosophicall patience, taking, or rather mistaking the equivoca∣ting counsel of Erasmus Ecchoe. Quid si mihi veniat usu quod his qui incidunt in uxores parum pudicas parum{que} frugiferas? Feras. At qui cum talibus morte durior est vita? vita; wherein I observe in the two Ecchos, how in the first Feras signifies ei∣ther the verb, suffer, or that Nown, wild beasts, or shrews. In the latter, vita signi∣fieth the Nown life, or the verb shun or eschew: so he (good man) construed Feras, Vita. suffer during life, and I should take that vita Feras shun shrews. But this Fe∣ra whom his Feras made Feram, com∣mitted wickedness even with greediness, more then was in power of flesh and blood to bear: wherewith being much afflicted, having warned his Brother pri∣vatly, and born with him perhaps 70. times seven times. In the end taking him both in a place and fashion (not fit to be named) that would have angred a Saint, he drave him thence, (not much unlike) as Tobias drove away the spirit Asmo••eus, for that was done with a Roste, and this with a spit. It was high time now to follow the Counsel. Dic Ecclesiae, so (as all Oxford knows) her Paramor
was bound from her in a bond of one hundred pound, but they should rather have been bolts of an hundred pound.
The whole University in reverence of the man and indignity of the matter, offered him to separate his wife from him by publique authority, and so to set him free, being the innocent party. But he would by no means agree thereto, al∣ledging he knew his own infirmity, that he might not live unmarried; and to di∣vorce and marry againe, he would not charge his conscience with so great a scandall.
After he was Bishop, mad Martin, or Marprelate wrote his book or rather Li∣bell, which some (playing with Martin at his own weapon) answered pleasantly both in Ryme and Prose, as perhaps your Highnesse hath seen, or I wish you should see, for they are short and sharp. But this Bishop with authority and gravity confu∣ted him soundly; whereupon Martin Madcap, (for I think his cap and head had like proportion of wit) replying, and anabaptized his bastard book by the name of Work for the Cooper; and had not the wisdome of the State prevented him, I think he and his favourers would have
made work for the Tinker.
This Bishop my Authour professeth to reverence for his names sake, and his pre∣decessors sake; and I much more for his own sake, and his vertues sake. About the yeere 1570. he was Vice-provost of Eaton, and as the manner was, in the Schoolmasters absence would teach the schoole himselfe, and direct the boyes for their exercises (of which my selfe was one) of whom he shewed as fatherly a care, as if he had been a second Tutor to me. He was reputed there a very milde and good natured man, and esteemed a very good Preacher, and free from that which St. Paul calleth Idolatry, I mean covetousnesse; so that one may say pro∣bably, that as the first William Wickham was one of the richest Prelates that had been in Winchester a long time, and be∣stowed
it well; so this was one of the poorest, and endured it well. He prea∣ched before the Queen at a Parliament, I think the last time that ever he preached before her; and indeed it was Cygnea vox, sweetest, being neerest his end, which if I could set down as he delivered, were well worth the remembring. But the effect was this, that the Temporalities of Bi∣shopricks, and Lands of Colledges, and such like, were from the beginning for the most part the graces, gifts, and Almes of Princes, her Majesties progenitors, that for some excesses and abuses of some of them, they had been and lawfully might be some quite taken away, some altered, some diminished, and that accordingly they were now reduced to a good medi∣ocrity; for though there were some farre greater Bishopricks in France, Spaine, and Germany••, yet there were some also lesse and meaner even in Italy. But yet he most humbly besought her Majesty to make stay of them at least in this medio∣crity; for if they should decay so fast in thirty yeeres to come, as they had for thirty yeeres past, there would hardly be a Cathedrall Church found in good re∣paire within England; which inconveni∣ence
(he said) would soon spread from the Clergy to the Temporalty, that would have cause with Hippocrates Twins to laugh and weep together. This, as he spake zealously, so the Queen gave eare to it graciously, and some good effect was supposed to follow it, for which they both now feel their reward;
It was said that a pleasant Courtier and Servitor of King Henry the eighth, to whom the King had promised some good turn, came and prayed the King to be∣stow a Living on him, that he had found out, worth 100 li. by the yeere more then enough; why, saith the King, we have none such in England: yes Sir, said his man, the Provostship of Eaton; for (said he) he is allowed his diet, his lodging, his horse∣meat, his servants wages, his riding charge, his apparrell, even to the points of his hose, at the Colledge charge; and 100 li. per annum besides. How true this is, I know not, but this I know, that Mr. Day having both this and the Deanry of
Windsor was perswaded to leave them both, to succeed him (that had been once his Vice-provost of Eaton) in the Church of Winchester. He was a man of a good nature, affable and courteous, and at his table, and in other conversation pleasant, yet alwaies sufficiently containing his gra∣vity. When he was first Deane of Wind∣sor, there was a singing man in the Quire, one Woolner, a pleasant fellow, but fa∣mous for his eating, rather then his sing∣ing; and for the swallow of his throat, then for the sweetnesse of his note. Master Deane sent a man to him to reprove him for not singing with his fellows; the Messenger thought all were worshipfull at least that did then weare white Sur∣plices, and told him Mr. Deance would pray his worship to sing; thank Mr. Dean (quoth Woolner) and tell him, 1 am as merry as they that sing; which answer, though it would have offended some man, yet hearing him to be such as I have described, he was soon pacified. He brake his leg with a fall from a horse, that star∣ted under him; whereupon some waggish schollers, of which my selfe was in the quorum, would say it was a just punish∣ment, because the horse was given him
by a Gentleman to place his sonne in Ea∣ton, which at that time was thought had been a kind of sacriledge, but I may also say, Cum eram parvulus sapiebam ut par∣vulus. He had in those daies a good and familiar fashion of preaching not mincing the word, as some doe, with three words to feed 3000 people, that goe away all sometimes as empty as they came; nor as others, that are Nodosi drawing their au∣ditory with them into deep questions and dangerous passages; that howsoever they suppose they come of themselves much admired, they leave their auditors many times more then halfe mired; but this was a good plain fashion, apt to edifie, and easie to remember; I will repeat one lesson of many, that I remember out of Sermons of his, which I can imagine yet I heare him pronouncing, and it was con∣cerning prayer: It is not (saith he) a praying to God, but a tempting of God, to beg his blessings, without doing also our own endeavours; shall a scholler pray to God to make him learned, and never goe to his book? shall a husband∣man pray for a good harvest, and let his Plow stand still: the Pagans, and the hea∣then people would laugh at such devo∣tion.
In their fabulous Legion they have a tale of Hercules, whom for his strength they counted a God; how a Carter (for∣sooth had overthrown his Cart, and sate in the way crying, help Hercules, help Hercules; at last Hercules, or one in his likenesse came to him, and swadled him thriftily with a good cudgell, and said, thou varay lazie selly fellow (so he used to pronounce) callest thou to me for help & dost nothing they selfe; arise, set to thy shoulder & heave thy part, and then pray to me to help thee, and I will doe the rest. And thus much of our good old Provost, who being made a Bishop, & of a Register of the Garter becoming now Prelate of the Garter, enjoying this dignity a very short time, turned his day into night, though no night can oppresse them that die in the Lord. By the way, I think this worthy the noting, that whereas in Anno Dom. 1486. being the first of King Henry the seventh, it was found that three Bishops successively had held this Bishop∣rick six score yeeres save one, namely, Wickham, Beauford, and Wainfleet. Now in Queen Elizabeths raigne, there had been seven Bishops in forty yeeres, five in seventeen yeers, and three in four yeeres.
My Author, following his own reso∣lution of forbearing to speak of men now living, or but lately dead; and I holding my purpose to speak frankly and truly, as farre as my understanding will serve me, both of dead and living; I am now comming to speak of the present Bishop of VV inchester, of whom I finde in this book but foure lines; and if I should give him his due in proportion to the rest, I should spend foure leaves. Not that I need make him better known to your Highnesse, being (as on just occasion, as I noted before) one of the most eminent of his ranck, and a man that carried pre∣lature in his very aspect. His rising was meerly by his learning, as true Prelates should rise. Sint non modo labe mali sed suspicione errantis, not onely free from the spot, but from the speech of corrup∣tion. Hee ascended by all degrees of schooles; first, wherein to win know∣ledge himselfe, next whereby to impart it to others, having sometime taught the schoole that doth justly boast of the
name of VVinchester, where, if I mistake not, he succeeded the excellent scholler and schoolmaster Doctor Johnson, that wrote that forecited Poem of VVickham; and having praised all his predecessors in pretty Disticks, he wrote this at the last in modesty of himselfe.
Ultimus hic ego sum, sed quam bene quam male nolo Dicere, de me qui judicet alter erit.
And accordingly his successor gave this judgement,
Ultimus es ratione loci, re primus Johnson, Sed quis qui de te judicet aptus erit. Tam bene quam nullus qui te praecesserit ante Tam male posteritas ut tua pejus agat.
Wherein Mr. Johnson became truly fortunate, according to the saying, Laudari a laudato viro, laus est maxima. Him fame doth raise, whose praiser me∣rits praise.
From Schoolmaster of VVinchester, he became Warden, and having been infi∣nitely studious and industrious in Poetry, in Philosophy, in Physick; and lastly, (which his genius chiefly call'd him to)
in Divinity, he became so compleat, for skill in Languages, for readinesse in the Fathers, for judgement to make use of his readings, as he was found to be no longer a souldier, but a Commander in chiefe, in our spirituall warfare, being first made Bishop of Worcester, and after of Winchester. In the mean season a crew of mutinous souldiers (a forlorne hope) untertook to surprize one of the twelve fortresses of our faith, I mean one of twelve Articles of the Creed, and ere men were aware they had entred by a Postern cor∣rupted, a Watchman or two thrown down a battlement and set up their Colours of white and black (black and blew had been fitter for them) publishing a book in print, that Christ descended not into Hell. The alarum was taken by many faithfull servitors of the Militant Church, but many were not found fit for this en∣terprize, for that was whispered, (nay rather publisht in the enemies Camp, that some cowardly souldiers of our side had made a motion to have this Fort, or part thereof rased, because there was thought to be perill in defending of it; for so Campian writes confidently, that Cheyney Bishop of Gloucester had affirmed to him,
how it had been moved in a Convocation at London, Quemadmodum sine tumultu penitus eximatur de symbolo; how with∣out many words it might be taken out of the Creed wholy. But I leave Erasmus eccho to answer it, oly. True it is, there was a hot shot one Mr. Browghton, no Can∣nonere, for he loves no Cannons, but that could skill of such fireworks, as might seem to put out hell fire; this hot braine having with a Petard or two broken open some old dore, tooke upou him with like Powder out of some Basilisk (as I think) to shoot Hades quite beyond Sunne and Moon; such a Powder-work against all Divinity and Philosophy, as was never heard of, alwaies excepting the powder∣treason. Then this learned Bishop, like a worthy leader (that I proceed in this metaphor) with a resolute Troop, not of loose shot, but gravis armaturae, arm'd to proofe out of Christs armorie, the old and new Testament, Fathers, Doctors, Schoolmen, Linguists, encounters these Lanzbezzadoes, casts down their Colours, repaires up the raines, beautifies the bat∣tlements, rams up the mynes, and makes such ravelings, and counter-searfes about this Fort, that now none of the Twelve
may seem more impregnable. Their great Inginere, before mentioned, upon griefe of this repulse, is gone (as I heare) to teach the Jewes Hebrew; God send him to scape Hades at the end of his journey. Yet in the heat of these skirmishes there happened an accident worthy to be re∣membred, and I think by the very devise of the divell. This Bishop preaching at Pauls Crosse, upon this Article of the Creed; and there proving by authority irrefragable, that hell is a place prepared for the Divel and his angels; that it is be∣neath in corde terrae, and that Christ de∣scended into it. Satan, that knew all this to be true, and was sorry to remember it, and wisht that none of the Auditors would believe it, raised a sudden and causelesse feare, by the fraud or folly of some one auditor. This feare so incre∣dibly possest not onely the whole multi∣tude, but the Lord Major and other Lords there, that they verily believed Pauls Church was at that instant falling down, whereby such a tumult was raised, as not onely disturbed their devotion and atten∣tion, but did indeed put some of the gra∣vest, wisest and noblest of that assembly into evident hazard of their lives, as I
have heard of some of their own mouthes. The Bishop not so dismayed himselfe, sympathizing in pitty, rather then feare of their causelesse dismay, after the tu∣mult was a little pacified, finished his Sermon; upon which accident, some fa∣vourers of that opinion make themselves merry with this story, that at least that which they could not confute they might seem to contemn.