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.

Of HEREFORD.

John Scory.

OF this twice Bishop Scory I have heard but little, yet it hath been my fortune to read something that will not be amisse to acquaint your Highnesse with, that you may see how Satan doth sift the lives and doings of English Bishops with the Quills sometimes of strangers and Forraigners. For whereas this our English modest writer onely reports how he was first Bi∣shop of Chicester, being but Batchelour; of Divinity, and deprived for no fault but that he continued not a Batchelor where∣upon he fled for Religion (as the phrase was) till comming home in the yeare 1560 he was preferred to Hereford: the French writer stayeth not there, but tel∣leth how that being setled there, though he professed to be a great enemy to I∣dolatry, yet in another sence according to St. Paul, he became a worshipper of Images (not Saints but Angels) belike he feared some future tempest, and therefore ••his h•• to provide better for himselfe

then he had at Chichester, so as what with pulling downe houses and selling the Lead, and such loose ends, what with setting up good husbandries, what with Leases to his Tenants, with all manner of viis et modis, he heaped together a great Masse of wealth. He that hath store of mettle must have also some drosse, and no marvaile if this Bishop then according to his name had much Scoria with this Treasure. A Noble and Honourable coun∣cellour and thenLord President of Wales, hearing so frequent complaints made of him for oppressions, extortions, symonies, and the like, caused a bil to preferred into the Star-chamber against him; in which bill was contained such matter as was e∣nough not onely to disgrace him, but to degrade him if it had been accordingly followed. His Sollicitour of his causes brings him a Copy of the bill, and in reading it with him seemed not a little dismaid in his behalfe much, like to the servant of Elisha that came trembling to his Master, and told him how they were beleagred with a huge Army. But this Bi∣shop though not indewed with the spirit of a Prophet, yet having a spirit that could well see into his profit, bids his Sollici∣tour

(who was his kinsman, perhaps his sisters brothers sonne) to be of good com∣fort; adding it may be the very words of Elisha, for there are more of our side then a∣gainst us. But when his Gehezi (for the comparison suits better to the man then to the Master) could see as yet no comfor∣table vision; The good Bishop did not open his eyes to let him see as Elisha did the Chariots of fire on the tops of the mountaines: but he opened his own bags and shewed him some legions or rather chiliads of Angells, who entring all at once, not into a herd of Swine, but into the hoard of a Lady that then was potent with him that was Dominus fac totum, cast such a Cloud into the Star-chamber, that the bill was never openly heard of after. This or the like and much more to the like effect writes this French Author of the said Bishop of Hereford, though the Treatise it selfe was not specially meant against the Bishop, but against a temporall Lord of a higher ranck that was not a lit∣tle netled with the same. In so much as many travelling Gentlemen, and among other this Bishops son was called in que∣stion for the publishing of this booke, be∣like because some particularities of this

matter were discovered that could come from none but him. But to come againe to this Bishop; I hope it shall be no just scandall to other good Bishops, Judas will have Successors as well as James, and Simon Magus as well as Simon Peter (and sometime perhaps both in one chaire. This man indeed had been brought up in the age of the Fryars that made much of themselves, and relinquisht their Cels, that read in the old Testament laetare & fac, but left out bonum; for so he followed the Text in the New Testament, Make you friends of the wicked Mammon, but left out that part that should have brought him to everlasting Tabernacles. For if Gods mercy be not the greater, I feare his friend and he are met in no plea∣sant mansion, though too too durable, if the vision of Henry Lord Hunsdon were true, as an honest Gentleman hath often reported it. But all this notwithstanding, his posterity may doe well, for God him∣selfe forbids men to say, That the fathers eate soure grapes, and the childrens teeth be on edge; and if the worst be, the Eng∣lish Proverb may comfort them, which, lest it want reason, I will cite in rime.

It is a saying common, more then civill, The son is blest, whose sire is with the divel.

After his decease a great and long suit was held against him about his dilapida∣sions, which makes the former report to eem the moreprbable.

Doctor Herbert Westphaling.

There succeeded him a learned & famous Doctor indeed, Dr. Westphaling, who after he had been a Bishop divers yeeres, yet to showe that good Bishops do not quite discontinue their studies, but rather in∣crease their knowledge with their digni∣ty, came to Oxford at her Majesties last being there, and made an eloquent and copious Oration before her, for conclusi∣on of the Divinity disputations: among which one speciall question, that bred much attention, was this, whether it be lawfull to dissemble in cause of Reli∣gion? and one Argument more witty then pithy, produced by an opponent was this, it is lawfull to dispute of Religion, therefore it is lawfull to dissemble, and urging it further, he said thus, I my self now do that which is lawfull, but I do now dissemble. Ergo, it is lawfull to dissemble; at which her Majesty, and all the Auditory were very merry, I could

make a rehearsall of some of the Bishops oration concerning this question, how he allowed a secrecy, but without dissimula∣tion, a policy but not without piety, least men taking too much of theSerpent, have too little of the Dove, but I am sure in all his speech he allowed no equivocation. Howbeit, if I should-insist long hereon, I might commit the same fault to your Highness, that the Queen at that time found in him, which was that she thought him too tedious. For she had sent twice to him to cut short his Oration, because her self went to make a publique speech that evening, but he would not, or as some told her, could not put himself out of a set methodicall speech, for fear he should have marr'd it all, and perhaps confounded his memory. Wherefore she forbare her speech that day, and more privately the next morning, sending for the heads of Houses, and a few others she spake to them in Latin, and among o∣there she school'd Doctor Reynolds, for his preciseness, willing him to follow her Laws, and not to run before them. But it seemed he had forgotten it when he came last to Hampton Court, so as there he re∣ceived a better schooling. I may not for∣get

how the Queen in the midst of her o∣ration, casting her eye aside, and seeing the old Lord, Treasur er Burleigh standing on his lame feet for want of a stool, she call'd in all hast for a stool for him, nor would she proceed in her speech till she saw him provided of one, then fell she to it again, as if there had been no interrup∣tion: upon which one that might be so bold with her, told her after, that she did it of purpose to showe that she could in∣terrupt her speech, and not be put out, although the Bishop durst not adventure to do a less matter the day before.

But this Bishop was every way a very sufficient man, and for such esteemed while he was of Christ-Church. Trifling accidents showe as good proof of times, as the waightiest occasions. Such a one hapned this Doctor while he was of the University as a Scholar of that time hath told me, and it was this. There had been a very sharp frost (such as have been ma∣ny this year, and a sudden rain or sleet falling with it from the South-East, had as it were candied all that side of the Steeple at Christ-church, with an ice mix∣ed with snow, which with the warmth of the Sun soon after 10. of the clock be∣gan

to resolve, and Doctor Westphaling being in the middle of his Sermon, it fell down altogether upon the Leads of the Church, with such a noyse, as if indeed it would have thrown down the whole Church. The people (as in sudden ter∣rors is usuall) fill'd all with tumult, and each man hasted to be gonē so fast that they hindered one another. He first kneel∣ing down, and recommending himself to God, as in the apprehension of a sodain danger, straight rose again, and with so chearfull, both voice and countenance, encouraged them as they all returned, and he quietly finished his Sermon. But his chief praise I reserve for the last, which was this; for all such benefices as either were in his own guift, or fell into his hand by Lapse, which were not few, and some of great value, he neither respected Letters nor commendations of Lords nor Knights, nor Wife nor friends in prefer∣ment of any man, but onely their suffici∣ency and their good conversation, so as to sue for a benefice unto him, was rather a means to miss then to attain it.

Doctor Robert Bennet.

This Bishop was preferr'd to this place since my Authour wrote his Catalogue, so as he is not therein specified; yet must I not do him that wrong to omit in this relation. This is he (if your Highness do remember it) of whom his Majesty said, if he were to chuse a Bishop by the aspect, he would chuse him of all the men he had seen, for a grave reverent and pleasing countenance. Concurring here∣in in a sort, though by contraries with the judgement of Henry the foūrth Em∣perour, who comming from hunting one day (as Malmesbury writeth) went for de∣votion sake into a Church, where a very ill-favoured faced Priest was at service. The Emperour thinking his virtues suted his visage, said to himself, how can God like of so ugly a fellows service. But it fortuned at that instant, the Priests boy mumbling of that versicle in the hundred Psalm, Ipso nos fecit & non ipsi nos, and because he pronounced it not plainly, the Priest reproved him, and repeated it a∣gain, aloud, Ipse nos fecit & non ipsi nos, which the Emperour applying to his own

Cogitation, thought the Priest to have some prophetical spirit, & fromthat time forward esteemed him greatly, and made him a Bishop. Thus that Bishop, though he could not set so good a face on it, yet perhaps he got as good a Bishoprick. But to come to our Bishop whom my self knew in Cambridge, a Master of Art, and a proper active man, and plaid well at Tennis; and after that, when he came to be Batchellor of Divinity, he would tosse an Argument in the Schools, better then a Ball in the Tennis-court. A grave Doctor yet living, and his ancient allu∣ding to his Name in their disputation, called him Erudite Benedicte, and gave him for his outward, as well as inward Ornaments great commendation. He be∣came after Chaplain to the Lord Treasu∣rer Burleigh, who was very curious, and no lesse fortunate in the choyce of his Chaplains, and they no lesse happy in the choyce of their Patron, as Mr. Day after Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop I now speak of Doctor Neale now Dean of West∣minster, and divers others.