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.

There follows now to say somewhat also of the Pro∣vince of Yorke, which I shall indeavour to accomplish with like brevity and fi∣delity.

Of the Arch-bishops of Yorke,

and first of Doctor Thomas Young.

Concerning the Arch-bishops of Yorke that have been in the former ages, whose lives are particularly-related by this Au∣thor, it seèmes to me a matter worthy some note, that there have been of them, for devotion and pietie, as holy, for blood and nobilitie, as high, of wealth and abi∣lity as huge, as any not onely of England but of Europe. Now that every age may have his excellency, I will say of this our age, I meane for some fifty yeares past, in

which there hath bin seven Arch-bishops of Yorke, that these have been as excellent in courage, in learning, and eloquence; for Doctor Nicholas Heath whom her late Majesty found both Arch-bishop and Chancellor (though she did take or rather receive both from him) yet did she ever gratefully acknowledge both his courage & fidelity show'd in her cause, & used no man of his Religion so graciously. Of Arch-bishop Grindall I have spoken be∣fore, and in his due place given him his due praise; now I am to adde a word or two of Arch-bishop Young, that in the third yeare of Queen Elizabeth was made Arch-bishop. He was first Bishop of Saint Davids, and either next or very soon after Bishop Farrar, who among other articles that were alleaged against him, had one that I thinke was never alleaged against Clergy-man or Lay-man before, and that was for riding on a Scottish saddle; but this Bishop walked more warily then that Bishop did ride, so as this came to live in a state when t'other died at a stake: and how great soever his honour was in being both Arch-bishop and President, he left one president that too many are apt to follow, which was the pulling downe of

a goodly Hall, for the greedinesse of the Lead that covered it. Plumbi faeda fames. A drossie desire and unworthy part, with which he stained the reputation of learn∣ing and religion, that was before ascribed to him, and although by meanes of some great friend this was lesse spoken of in his life time then after, yet if I have beene rightly informed, even by that he was made no great gainer. True it is, he pur∣chased great things of the Earle of Arun∣dell, and how his heires thrive with it, I do not heare, but there is a perilous verse, Demale quaesitis vix gaudet tertius baeres. For my owne part I must confesse, that where I finde that same destroying and reviving spirit, that in the Apocalyps is named in Hebrew Abaddon, & sounds in my English care and heart, a bad one, I suspect there is little true vertue or godlines harbour'd in that breast. But if he were finely beguil∣ed of all this Lead by his great friend that would be bold with him, I imagin that none that heares it will much lament it; at a venture, I will tell your Highnesse the tale that I heard, from as good a man as I tell it of, onely because he named not the parties, I cannot precisely affirme it was this man, but I dare affirme this man

was as worthy of it. A great Lord in the Court in those daies sent to a great Prelate in the North to borrow 1000 li. of him: The Prelate protested on his faith (I think not a justifying faith) that he was not able to doe it, but if he were, he would be very willing, acknowledg∣ing great favours of the said Lord, and sending some present enough perhaps to pay for the use of 1000 li. The noble man that had a good espyall both North and South, hearing of a certaine Ship loaden with lead, belonging to this Prelate, that came to be sold at London, even as it came to land, sends for the Prelates Agent, shows him his Lords Letter and Protestation under his hand, proves the ability de∣monstrable by the Lead, and so by treaty or terrour, or treachery of the servant, made him betray his Master for 1000 li.

Doctor Edwin Sands.

As those that saile from Flanders or Ireland, to London or Bristoll, being past the tempestuous and broken seas, and now in sight of the Harbour, yet even their fear to miscarry sometime by mistaking the Channell, are oft so perplext, as one

bids to set saile againe, another advises to cast Anchor; so is it now with me, draw∣ing toward the end of this my short and voluntary voyage: I remember a ship of London once that having past the Goodwin Sands very safe, and sayling on this side Black-wall to come up to Ratcliefe, struck on the black Rock at the point below Greenwich, and was almost cast away. I have, as your Highnesse sees past already the Godwins, if I can aswell passe over this E'dwin Sands, I will goe roamer of Greenwich Rock, not forgetting to vaile as becomes me in passing by, and if the spring Tide serve, come to Anchor about Richmond. For I am entring now to write of an Archbishop, who though he dyed twenty yeares since in that Anno mirabili of 88. yet he lives still in his off-spring, having a sonne of his name that both speakes and writes admirably, whose pro∣fession, though it be not of Religion as his fathers was, yet never did his fathers prea∣ching shew better what to follow, then his writings shew what to shun; if my Pen therefore should wrong his father, his Pen no lesse might wrong me. I must appeale therefore for my justification in this point to the most indifferent censurers, and to

yours especially sweet Prince, for whose fake I write; for ifI should let passe a mat∣ter so notorious as that of this Archbishop of Yorke and Sir Robert Stapleton, it were so willfull an omission as every one might accuse me of; and if I should speake of either partially and against my owne conscience and knowledge, I should much more accuse my selfe. Here then is the Scylla and Carybdis that I saile betweene, and if I faile of my right course, I shall be driven to say as a filly preacher did upon an unlike occasion, and much lesse to his purpose when he hapned unawares to have a more learned Auditory then he expected.

Incidi in ancillam cupiens vitare Caribden.

But the Story that I make this long in∣troduction unto is shortly this. About 25. yeares fince there was great kindnesse, and had long continued between Archbishop Sands and Sir Robert Stapleton a Knight of Yorkeshire, whom your Highnesse hath often seen, who in those dayes for a man well spoken, properly seen in Languages, a comely and goodly Personage, had scant an equall, and (except Sir Philip

Sidney) no superiour in England: for which Reasons the Arch-bishop of all his Neighbours and Countreymen, did make a speciall account of him. About the year 83. also he was High-Sheriffe of York-shire, and met the Judges with seven score men in sutable Liveries, and being at this time likewise a Widdower, he wooed and won, and wedded soon after, one of the best reputed Widdows in the West of England. In this felicity he sail∣ed with ful sails, but somewhat too high, and no lesse the Arch-bishop in like pro∣sperity of wealth, and friends and Chil∣dren, yet seeming above all, to joy in the friendship of this Knight, who answered in all good correspondence, not onely of outward complement, but inward com∣fort; but well said the Spanish Poet,

Nulli te facias nimis sodalem, Gaudebis minus & minus. dolebis. Too much Companion make your self to none, Your joy will be the lesse, and less your mone.

These two so friendly Neighbours and Consorts swimming in this Calm of con∣tent, at last hapned to fall foul one on an∣other by this occasion. The Knight in

his great good fortunes, having as great defigns among other things, had laid the foundation of a fair house, or rather Palace, the model whereof he had brought out of Italy, which house he in∣tended to name Stapletons stay; and for that cause invited the Arch-bishop in good kindness to see it, and requested him for the more credit, and as it were, blessing to the house, that his grace would give it the foresaid name. But when the Arch-bishop had fully beheld it, and in his Judgement found it fitter for a Lord Treasurer of England, then for a Knight of York-shire. He said to him, would you have me call this intended House Stapletons Stay. Nay rather let me say to you, stay Stapleton; for if you go forward to set up this House, it will pull you down. How often a man loses a friend with a jest, and how grievous it is for a mans vanity to be crost in the hu∣mour. This speech of my Lords that I should think, intended friendly, uttered faithfully, and applyed even fatherly un∣to him, he took in so deep disdain and despite, that howsoever he smothered it for the present, from that time forward he sought a mean to revenge it. And

wanting neither wit to devise, nor cou∣rage to execute his design, he found out, or at least he supposed he had found a stratagem, not onely to wreak this scorn on the good Bishop that mistrusted no∣thing, but also to make the old mans purse pay for the finishing of the new house. He acquaints him with an Officer in my Lords house, some malecontent that had been denyed a Lease. These two devise, that when my Lord should lie next at Doncaster, where the Hostess of the house having been (formerly I sup∣pose) Mistriss Sands Maid, was bold sometimes to bring his Lordship a Cawdle to his Beds side (for in charity I may surmise no worse) Sir Robert should also by chance come and host at the same house. This bad Wife and her good man are made partakers and parties of this stratagem, her part was but a naked part, viz. to slip into my Lords Bed in her smock, mine Hoast must sodainly be jea∣lous, and swear that he holds his reputa∣tion, though he be but a poor man, more dear then that he can indure such an in∣dignity, and thereupon calls Sir Robert Stapleton, brings him to the Bishops Chamber in his Night-gown, takes them

in bed together with no small exclamati∣on. The Knight that acted his part with most art, and leaft suspition, takes great pains to pacifie the Hoast, conjures all that were admitted to secresie and si∣lence, and sending all to their Lodgings without tumult, asketh of my Lord how this came to passe. The Bishop tells him with a great Protestation, that he was be∣trayd by his man and his Hoast, little su∣specting the Knight to be of the Quorum. The Knight sooths him in all he said, condoles the great mischance, is sorrow∣full for the danger, and carefull for the honour of the Bishop, and specially the Church.

Proh superi quantum mortalia pecior a caecae Noctis habent? ipso sceleris molimine (Miles) Creditur esse pius. The distressed Arch∣bishop distrusting no fraud in him, ask∣eth his advise in this disaster, and follow∣ing his counsel from time to time, gives the Hoast a peece of money, the false Of∣ficer a Farm, and the Knight for his tra∣vail in this matter many friendly recom∣pences. But when he found after all this smoothing and soothing, that he grew so bold at last to presse him beyond all good manner, for the good Mannour

of Soothwell, then he found that in sooth all was not well, and was even compell'd too late, to that he might much better have done much sooner, viz. To com∣plain to the Lords of the Councel, and to his ancient and dear friend, the Earl of Leicester (for whose Father he had almost lost his life) by whose help, he got them call'd to the Star-chamber. Ore tenus, where they were for this conspiracy con∣victed, fined and imprisoned. The fame, or rather the infamy of this matter spe∣cially before their conviction was far and diversly spread, according as the Report∣ers favoured or disfavoured either: and the friends of each side had learned their tale so perfect, that many long time after, held the first impression they had recei∣ved, notwithstanding the censure and sen∣tence in the Starr-chamber. Part where∣of being, that the Knight should publick∣ly acknowledge how he had slandered the Arch-bishop, which he did in words conceived to that purpose accordingly, yet his friends gave out, that all the while he carried a long Whetstone hanging out at the Pocket of his sleeve, so conspicu∣ous, as men understood his meaning was to give himself the lie, which he would

not in another matter have taken of any man. But thus the Bishop had a Con∣quest which he had no great comfort of, and lived but few years after it, and the Knight had a foile that he would not seem much daunted with, and lived to have part of his fine releast by his Maje∣sties clemency; but yet he tost up and down all his life without any great con∣tentment, from Wiltshire into Wales, and thence to the Isle of Man, a while to Chel∣sey, but little to York-shire where his stay should have been, so that of this story I could collect many documents, both for Bishops and Knights, but that I shun pro∣lixity in a matter no way pleasing. How∣beit because one P. R. or R. P. for he can turn his name as Mountebank turns his Capp, in his Epistle before the Reso∣lution (a Book much praised by Sir Ed∣win Sand, hath a scoffe after his manner at this Hostess of Doncaster; I would pray him but to peruse the Life of St. Bernard, not that of their lying Legend, but that which unworthily perhaps goeth among his most worthy works, written by William Abbot in five Books. There he shall find in the third Chapter of his first Book, how that same maidenly Saint

was subject to the like manner of scan∣dall: first, of a young woman lying by him in naked bed, half a night when him∣self was not 30 year old, and yet we must believe he toucht her not; and next of his Hostess also offering three timesin one night to come to his Bed, and he crying out each time, Latrones, Latrones, Theeves▪ Theeves, which our Bishop had much more cause to have cryed, and had he but remembred it, as I doubt not but he had read it, he might peradventure have dissolved the pack with it. To utter mine own conceit franckly, if Parsons conje∣cture were true, that by humane frailty this Prelate had in his younger dayes been too familiar with this woman, which is said to passe but as a veniall sin among those of his Profession, yet was the Knights practise very foul, and the Lords censure very just that condemned him: for I heard Judge Anderson, a learned and stout Judge, condemn one for a Rape, up∣on the Oath of a Woman (notwithstand∣ing, the man affirmed, and the Woman denyed not, but she had often in former times yielded her self to his lust) because it seemed she had repented that course of life, in betaking her to a Husband. So my

Lord, if he had once such a fault, yet now that the fault had left him, as well as he the fault, had just cause to complain, and the Knights practise was blame-wor∣thy to seek to entrap him thereby to the spoile of the Church and disgrace of his calling. And the Arch-bishop did much noblier to hazard this obloquie of some idle tongues then to have incurred the greater scandall of betraying his Church. To conclude therefore, I wish all Squires and all Knights to be fuller of reverence toward Bishops and Arch-bishops, and not to oppose or contest with them. The play at Chess, a Game not devised for or by fooles may teach, that the Bishops due place is nearest the King, and though some Knight can leap better over the pawns heads, yet ofttimes he leaps short, where the Bishops power, if you crosse it, reacheth the length of the whole Pro∣vince.

Doctor John Piers.

Of this Doctor John Piers, who lived and dyed a moft reverent Prelate, I must, to give him the greater commendation, do like those, that when they will enforce

them to leap their farthest, go back the contrary way some part of the ground, and by little and little amending their pace, at laft over-leap the mark them∣selves had designed, so shall I look back into some part of his life, and showe first how unlikely he was to come to such high honour and place as he dyed in. For although he was a Scholar towardly e∣nough in his youth, of good wit, and not the meanest birth, having a Gentleman of good sort to his Brother: yet hasting to a competent ftay of life, he accepted of a small Benefice in the Countrey, as I take it near Oxford, and there was in great hazard to have drowned all those excellent guifts that came after to be so well esteemed and rewarded in him: there first he was enforced to keep mean and rusticall Company, that Company enticed him to the German fashion, even then grown too common in England, to sit whole nights in a Tipling house at Ale and Cakes, as Ennius & Cato are noted, of the former of whom Horace saith, En∣nius ipse pater nunquam nisi potus ad arma prosiluit dicenda, and of the latter Martial saith,

Quod nintio gaudes noctem producere vino Ignosco vitium forte Catonis habes.

Howbeit this Gentleman never met with such a disgrace by such company as the Parson of Limmington had, whom our Countreyman Sir Amias Pawlet about a drunken fray set in the Stocks, and yet af∣ter he proved both Arch-bishop of York, and one of the greatest Cardinals of Christendom. Neither do I bring these examples to lessen this fault, as if I were to leave some aspersion hereof upon him, my purpose is nothing lesse, for I am ra∣ther of that Gentlemans mind, that ha∣ving by Fatherly indulgence tolerated the humour of gaming and wenching in his Sonne, disinherited him for drinking, saying of the first, if he had wit he would not lose much by it: of the second, that in time for his own ease he would leave it; but of the third he said, he would prove the elder the viler, and hardly e∣ver amend it. Now therefore that I have show'd you how this Bishop was in dan∣ger by this fault, let me also showe how he was freed from it. Being once a∣gainst preparing, as well himself as others

for receiving the holy Communion, and making choice of a discreet Confessor, before whom he might powre out his soul, a custom as pittifully abused in those dayes, as disused in these, he decla∣red to him by the way this disposition of his to company and drinking. The Preacher like a true spirituall Father in∣deed, no less▪ learnedly then zealously, laying before him the enormity of such a Custom, did earnestly dehort him from it, affirming to him, that though every particular excess in that kind, did not reach to a habit, or height of mortall sin, as one act of Adultery, murder, or false witness doth, yet if it should grow to a habit, it were not onely an ugly scandall in that profession, but would draw also as bad sins as it self with it. Behold a comfortable example, how where nature is weak, grace can strengthen it; upon this grave admonition, he left first the vice, and after the Company, and following his study more industriously then before at the University, he ascended worthily the degrees of Doctor and Deane, and Bishop and Arch-bishop, and lived all his life not onely continent, but abstinent: of his continence, my Authour hath said

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sufficient, of his abstinency this may be one proofe, that being sickly toward his end, he was so fearfull to drinke Wine though his stomacke required it, that his Physician being a pleasant man, and loving a cup of Wine himselfe very well, was wont to fay to him sometimes, now if your Grace will call for a cup of Wine and drinke to me, I warrant it will never hurt you.

Doctor Matthew Hutton.

I no sooner remember this famous and worthy Prelate, but me thinks I see him in the Chappel at White-Hall, Queen Eliza∣beth at the window in the Closset, all the Lords of the Parliament spirituall and temporall about them, and then after his three courtsies that I heare him out of the Pulpit thundring this Text: The King∣domes of the Earth are mine, and I doe give them to whom I will, and I have given them to Nebuchodonozor and his son, and his sons son: which Text, when he had thus produced, taking the sense rather then words of the Prophet, there followed first so generall a murmur of one friend whis∣pering to another, then such an erected

countenance in those that had none to speake to, lastly so quiet a silence and at∣tention in expectance of some strange Doctrine, where Text it selfe gave away Kingdomes and Scepters, as I have never observed either before or since. But he, as if he had been a Jeremiah himselfe, and not an expounder of him, shewed how there were two speciall causes of transla∣ting of Kingdomes, the fulnesse of time and the ripenesse of sinne, that by either of these, and sometime by both, God in se∣cret and just judgments transferred Scep∣ters from kindred to kindred, from Nati∣on to Nation at his good will and plea∣sure, & running over historically the great Monarchies of the world, as the King∣dome of Egypt and after of Israel swallo∣wed up by the Assirians, and the golden head of Nabuchodonozor, the same head cut off by the silver brest and armes of the Medes. and Perfians. Cyrus and Darius this silver consumed by the brazen belly, and this of the Graecians and Alexander, and that brasse stamped to powder by the Iron legges of the Romans and Caesar. Then coming neerer home, he shewed how oft our Nation had been a prey to forreiners, as first when we were all Brittans subdued

by these Romans, then, when the fulnesse of time and ripenesse of our finne requi∣red it, subdued by the Saxons, after this a long time prosecuted and spoyled by the Danes, finally conquered and reduced to perfect subjection by the Normans whose posterity▪ continued in great prosperity till the days of her Majesty, who for peace, for plenty, for glory, for continuance, had exceeded them all, that had lived to change all her Councellours but one, all officers twice or thrice, some Bishops foure times, onely the uncertainty of succession gave hopes to Forreiners to attempt fresh inva∣sions and breed feares in many of her Sub∣jects of new Conquest, the onely way then said he that is in pollicy left to quase those hopes and to asswage these feares were to establish the succession. He noted that Nero was specially hated for wishing to have no Successor, that even Augustus was the worse beloved for appointing an ill man to his Successor, and at last insi∣nuating as farre as he durst the neernesse of bloud of our present Soveraigne, he said plainly, that the expectations and pre∣sages of all writers went Northward, na∣ming without any circumlocution Scot∣land, which said he, if it prove an errour,

yet will it be found a learned errour. When he had finished this Sermon there was no man that knew Q. Elizabeths dis∣position, but imagined that such a speech was as welcome as salt to the eyes, or to use her own word to pin up her winding sheet before her face, so to point out her Successor and urge her to declare him, wherefore we all expected that she would not onely have been highly offended, but in some present speech have shewed her displeasure. It is a principle not to be despised, Qui nescit dissimulare nescit reg∣nare, she considered perhaps the extraor∣dinary auditory, she supposed many of them were of his opinion, she might sus∣spect some of them had perswaded him to this motion, finally she ascribed so much to his yeares, to his place, to his learning, that when she opened the window we found ourselves all deceived; for very kindly and calmly without shew of of∣fence (as if she had but waked out of some sleepe) she gave him thanks for his very learned Sermon. Yet when she had better confidered the matter, and recollected her selfe in private, she sent two Councellours to him with a sharp message, to which he was glad to give a patient answer. But in

this time that the Lords and Knights of Parliament and others were full of this Sermon, a great Peere of the Realme that was then newly recovered of an impedi∣ment in his hearing (I would he did heare no worse now) being in great liking of the Archbishop for this Sermon, prayed me to prove my credit with his Grace to get a Copy thereof, and to use his name if need were, alledging that impediment which caused though he were present, that he carried away little of it, I did so and withall told how my selfe had stood so incommodiously by meanes of the great presse, as I heard it not well, but was faine to take much of it on trust on others mens reports, who varyed so, as some I was sure did him wrong. The Archbishop wel∣com'd me very kindly, and made me sit with him a pretty while in his Lodging, but in fine he told me plainly he durst give no Copy, for that Sir John Fortescue and Sir John Wolley (as I remember had beene with him before from the Queene with such a greeting as he scant knew if he were a prisoner or a free man, and that the speech being already ill taken, the writing might exasperate that which al∣ready was exulcerate so he denyed my

suit, but in so loving a fashion as from that time to his end I did greatly honour him, and laid up in my heart many good lessons I learned of him, and it was not long ere the Queen was so well pacified, that he went downe with the Presidency of Yorke in the vacancy (halfe against his will) committed to him. Till afterward the Lord Burleigh now Earle of Exeter, of whose courage fidelity and religious heart the Queen had great assurance, was made the Lord President.

But to returne to this Archbishop; as he was in place, so was he in learning, and es∣pecially in reading, not second to any in his time, insomuch as in Cambridge long since, he was one of the chosen disputants before the Queen, and a Jesuit 26. yeares since disgracing our English students, as neglecting and not reading the fathers, excepts this Matthew Hutton, and one fa∣mous Matthew more, and of this Hutton he saith, Qui unus in paucis versare patres dicitur, who is one of those few that searcheth the fathers: for matters of the world I can say but that that is known to the world; his eldest sonne is a Knight of faire living, and now or lately Sheriffe of Yorkeshire, and a man of very good repu∣tation.

One other Sonne he had, that had an ill life, brought to a worse end, his name was Luke Hutton, so valiant that he feared not men nor Laws, and for a rob∣bery done on St. Lukes day, for names sake he died as bad a death, I hope with a better mind then the Theef, of whom St. Luke writes, that he bad our Saviour, if he were Christ to save himself and him. The Arch-bishop herein show'd the constancy and severity worthy of his place; for he would not endeavour to save him (as the world thought he easily might) deserving herein the praise of Ju∣stice, which Eli wanted, that was too in∣dulgent of his Sonnes voices, and having hereby no blot, but such as may sort him with the great Monark of this last age, King Philip, with two famous Warriors of the old Romans, Manlius and Brutus, and with the highest Priest even Aaron. His own death was more happy then his life, to die Satur annorum, full of years, and to see and leave peace upon Israel.

Doctor Thoby Matthews.

The praises of a friend are partiall or suspicious, of strangers uncertain and not iudicious, of courtly persons complemen∣tall and mannerly, of Learned and wise

men more pretious, of a Prince most cor∣diall and comfortable; but of an adver∣sary, though often dangerous, yet never undeserved: what exceptions then can be taken to his just prayses, whom friends commend, strangers admire, Nobles im∣brace, the Learned affect and imitate, his Soveraigns have advanced, and even his enemy and emulous cannot chuse but ex∣toll and approve. For Edmond Campion in his Pamphlet of the ten reasons, which the Catholiques count an Epitome of all their Doctrine, labouring to prove, that the Fathers were all Papists, to give the uttermost credit he can to his assertion, saith, that Thoby Matthew confest to him so much. Pertentavimus (saith he) ali∣quando familiariter Thobiam Mattheum, qui nunc in concionibus dominatur, quem propter bonas artes & virtutum semina di∣leximus. We did once in familiar sort sound Thoby Matthews opinion, he that now domineers in your Pulpits, whom for his good learning and seeds of vertue, we esteemed &c. This then is the testimo∣niall of their Champion concerning his excellent guifts 27 yeers since; if this commendation were then due, as indeed except it had been very due, that Pen

would never have given it, what may we think of him now, that for preaching may say with St. Paul, I have laboured more then ye all, for reading lets no Book passe, which for Authour, matter, or wit hath any fame, who hath so happy a memory that no occasion slips him, whe∣ther premeditate or sudden, either in pub∣lick or private, to make use of that he hath read. But it is worth the hearing, which he answers to this calumniation, as well as commendation, which answer being in a long and learned latine Ser∣mon, Ad Clerum, I will not wrong so much to abbreviate in this place, but on∣ly for that same point. Qui in concionibus domininatur, his sharp and modest return, I could not let passe being but a line. Neque enim nostrū ministeriū est dominatio, ne{que} do∣minatio vest: ministeriū. For neither is our Ministery any Lordly Authority, nor your Lordly command a true Ministery. But his Reading, Learning & preaching is so well known to his Highness, as I do but lose labour in recounting either generall or particular prayses thereof. I will descend now to some personall matters, which though commonly they are more capti∣ous for the writer, yet are they withall

more pleasing and acceptable to the Rea∣der. He was born of honest rather then honourable parents in the City of Bristol, which City, standing in two Counties, Somerset and Gloucester, might move both Counties hereafter to challenge him for their Countreyman, as divers Cities of Greece did Homer, if himself would not somtime clear it, by saying that he is a So∣mersetshire man, or to write it as he spake sportingly a Zomersetshire man, showing a towardliness in his very infancy to learning, he was set very young to school at Wells; but over-running his School∣masters Doctrine with his docility, he went quickly to Oxford, yet ere he went, he had a marvellous misfortune; for even as if Sathan had foreseen that he should one day prove some excellent instrument of his service that must bruise the Ser∣pents head, he forgot not to attempt his part Insidiari calcaneo, procuring him in a plain easie way so terrible a fall, as brake his foot, and small of his legg and ankle almost to pieces. But if the strong man procured this harm, a stronger granted the remedy; for he was soon af∣ter so soundly cured, as there remained after, no sign or scar, no effect or defect.

either for fight or use of this rupture. After his coming to Oxford, he took all his degrees so ripe in learning, and so young in age, as was half a miracle. There it seems also the Colledges strove for him, he removed so oft, till he rested in that for which he was ordained a prin∣cipall Vessel, Christs Church; during his abode, there being Dean of ChristsChurch, it was hard to say, whether he was more respected for his great Learning, Elo∣quence, Authority, countenance given by the Queen, and the great Ones: or belo∣ved, for his sweet conversation, friendly disposition, bounty, that even then showd it self, and above all a chearfull sharpness of wit, that so sawced all his words and behaviour, that well was he in the Uni∣versity, that could be in the Company of Thoby Matthew, and this name grew so popular and plausible, that they thought it a derogation to their love, to add any title of Doctor or Deane to it; but if they spake of one of his men, as he was e∣ver very well attended, they would say Mr. Matthew, or Mr. Thoby Matthews man, yea even since he was Bishop, and Arch∣bishop, some cannot leave that custom yet. Among some speciall men that en∣joyed,

and joyed most in his friendship and company in Oxford, and in remem∣brance of it, since they were sundred, was Doctor Eedes, late Dean of Worcester, one whose company I loved, as well as he loved his Thoby Matthew. He for their farewell, upon his remove to Durham, in∣tending first to go with him from Ox∣ford, but one dayes Journey, was so be∣trayed by the sweetness of his Company, and their old friendship, that he not one∣ly brought him to Durham; but for a pleasant penance wrote their whole Journey in Latine verse, which Poem himself gave to me, and told me so many pretty Apophthegmes of theirs in their younger years, as might make a Book al∣most by it self. And because I wrote onely for your Highness pleasure, I will hazard my Lords displeasure to repeat one or two of his, of one two hundred, that Doctor Eedes when he lived, could remember, being Vice-chancellor in Ox∣ford, some slight matters & men coming before him, one was very importunate to have them stay for his Councel: who is of your Councel saith the Vice-Chancellor, (saith he) Mr. Leasteed, alas said the Vice-Chancellor, no man can stand you in less

stead, no remedy saith the other, necessi∣ty hath no Law. Indeed quoth he, no more I think hath your Councellor. In a like ruatter another was to be bound in a bond very like to be forfeited, and came in hast to offer it, saying he would be bound if he might be taken, yes saith he, I think you will be taken, what's your name, Cox saith the party, and so prest as the manner is to come into the Court, make him more room there said he, let Coxcome in. Such facetious passages as these that are as delightfull to the hearer, as a fair course at tilt is to the beholders, where the staffe breaks both at the point, and counterbuffe even to the hand, such I say a man might collect a volum of, not at the second hand but at the first, that had been so much in his company, and so oft at his board as I have been, but that I must keep good manners, remembring the Greek Proverb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Odi memorem compotorem. And if your Highness had a fancy to hear more of them, Mr. Doctor Dromond can as well relate them as my self, both of us having met in his graces dish sometimes, and ta∣sted of this sawce. Yet this kind of plea∣santness that I repeat as one of his pray∣ses,

himself will most seriously check in himself, sometime as his fault and infir∣mity, which he confesses he is inforced to use, sometime as a recreation of his wea∣ried spirits, after more painfull and seri∣ous studies, and though in these conceits, the wit might seem to labour, as much as in these gravest, and had need to carry as it were, a good bent to send them so smartly as they come from him ordinari∣ly: yet methinks it may be fitly compa∣red to a bow that will endure bending the contrary way, and thereby come to cast the better in his right bent, or by a more homly comparison, to a true and tough Laborer in our Countrey, that ha∣ving sweat at hard labour all the week, asketh no better refreshing, then to sweat as fast with dancing about the May-pole, or running at Base, or wrestling upon the Holiday. Wherefore let himself call it his fault, as I have heard him oft, and say he knows such nugacity be∣comes not his place, and lament that nature and custom have so fram'd him, that when he ceases to be plea∣sant at his meat, he must cease to be; for my part, I' speak frankly, I will love this fault in him, if it be a fault, and

be glad if I can follow it, having learnt an old rule of my mother in law, At meat be glad, for sin be sad; and I will say here∣after for my selfe,

Haud metuam si jam nequeo defendere cri∣men Cum tanto commune viro.

Or, as upon no unlike occasion, I wrote ten yeers since to Dr. Eeds.

Though M••s love mens lines and lives to scanne, He saith he thinks me no dishonest man; Yet one great fault of mine he oft rehearses, Which is, I am too full of Toyes and Uerses: True 〈◊〉〈◊〉 true it is, my fault I grant; Yet when thou shalt thy greatest vertues vaunt, I know some worthy spirits one might entice To leave that greatest vertue for this Uice.

But if any wil be so Stoicall, as to make this confession of my Lords grace (which is indeed of grace) to serve them for an accusation, to give him thereby the nick-name of Nugax, given 500 yeers past to Radulphus Archbishop of Canterbury, and successour of the great Anselme, as is no∣ted in the Catalogue p. 38. I should think them unjust and undiscreet to stir up new emulation between Canterbury and Yorke; but rather I might compare him with one

of his own predecessors in Durham, Cuth∣bert Tunstall, p. 532. of the same book, well worth the reading and remembring. In the mean time let me lay their censo∣rious mood with this verse.

Qui sic nug atur tractantem ut seria vincat, Hic tractaturus seria quantus erat.

But to draw to an end, I will tell one act of his of double piety, done not long since. He made a journey, accompanied with a Troop, fit for his calling, to Bristol, to see his mother, who was then living, but not able to travel to him; after much kindnesse shewed to her, and much boun∣ty to the City, he went to visit his other mother of Oxford, and comming neer the Town with that troop of his retinue, and friends to the water, it came into his mind how that time 40 yeer, or more, he past the same water, as a young poor scholler, going to Oxford, remembring Jacobs words, In baculo meo transivi Jor∣danem istum, &c. with my staffe I passed over this Jordan, and now I passe over a∣gain with these troups, he was so moved therewith, that he alighted from his hors, and going apart, with devout tears of joy and thankfulnesse, he kneeled down and used some like words.

It may seem pity that a man of so sweet and milde disposition should have any crosse, but he that sends them knowes what is best for his. He hath had one great domesticall crosse, though he beares it wisely, not in his wife, for she is the best reported and reputed of her sort I thinke in England, and they live together by St. Pauls rule. Uientes hoc seculo.

But I meane such a crosse as David had in his sonne Absalom, for though he gave both consent and commission to prosecute him, yet nature overcame displeasure, and forced him to cry, Absalom my son, my son, I would I might suffer for thee or in thy stead my son, my son. For indeed this son of his whom he and his friends gave over for lost, yea worse then lost, was likely for learning, for memory, for sharpnesse of wit and sweetnesse of behaviour to have pro∣ved another Thoby Matthew, neither is his case so desperate, but that if he would belief Matthew better then Thoby, I would thinke yet there were hope to reclaime him.

Of DURHAM,

and the present Bishop thereof Dr. James.

It is noted of Dionysius of Sicily that he had no care of any religion that was pro∣fessed in his country, as neither had his father before him, making but a sport to robbe their Gods, taking away Aesculapi∣us Beard of Gold, because his father Apollo had no Beard, and Jupiters golden Cloake saying that it was too heavy for Sommer and too cold for Winter, yet used he to conferre sometimes with Philosophers, and have the choysest of them and give them honourable entertainment, which honour at last bred him this commodity, that losing his Crowne hee learned to beare poverty not onely without dismay but with some disport. The like I may say of a late great Earle of this Realme, Son of a great Duke, who though he made no great conscience to spoyle the Church livings no more then did his fa∣ther, yet for his reputation and perhaps for his recreation, he would have some choyce and excellent men for his Chap∣laines

of both Universities, as Doctor Thoby Matthew now Archbishop of Yorke, Doctor John Still Bishop of Bath and Wells, and this Prelate that I am now to speake of Doctor James then Deane of Christchurch and this hope of comfort came to his Lordship thereby, that if it pleased God to impart any mercy to him (as his mercy endureth for ever) it was by the speciall Ministery of this man, who was the last of his Coat that was with him in his sicknesse. Concerning this Bishop∣rick it is formerly noted by mine Author, that it was once dissolved by Act of Par∣liament in the Minority of King Edward the sixth, what time the two new Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberland like the Souldiers that cast lots for Christs gar∣ment divided between them Patrimonium Crucifixi, namely, the two good Bishop∣ricks of Bath and Durham, one being de∣signed as a seat for the Western Duke, the other for the Northern; and whereas by an old Metamorphofis the Bishop of Dur∣ham had been Earle of Northumberland, now by a new Apotheosis the Duke of Nor∣thumberland would have beene Bishop of Durham: But qui despexit de coelo deribe∣dat eos. That visible hand that wrote in

the wall while Balthasar was quaffing in the holy Vessels, that hand though invisi∣ble weighed these petty Monarks in the ballance of Gods judgements, found them too light; and because they should not grow too long, they were both cut shor∣ter by the head: the Bishopricks restored to what they now are by Queene Mary, one being in substance, the other by acci∣dent of leaden Mines, two of the best Bi∣shopricks of England, and as worthy Bi∣shops they have had, especially these two of them, namely two Matthews are spoken of in the Title of Yorke. There remaines now this third, who having had yet scant a yeare and a day as they say, I have the lesse to speake of as of a Bishop. But that examining by the infallible square set downe by St. Paul to Timothy chap. 3. for choyce of a Bishop he will be found as worthily chosen as any: For his Lear∣ning it may be sufficient to say he was Deane of Christchurch, which as I have said formerly attaines not to but choyce men, and there are sermons of his extant in Print that testifie no lesse. For hospi∣tality which is a speciall praise of a Bi∣shop, he shewed in Oxford his disposition thereto in that lesse hability, and for both

at once at the comming of divers great States, and lastly fifteen yeares past of the Queen her self before whom he preached, and to whom he gave so good entertain∣ment, as her Majesty commended the or∣der and manner of it long after; which commendation of well setting out and ordering a feaft, I should have thought of the lesse moment, if I did not finde in Plu∣tarke in the life of Paulus Aemylius a great Captain and Conquerour, and otherwise a man of much vertue and temperance, the well ordering of a feast to be esteemed not one of his least commendations. But I will conclude with a greater and more worthy commendation; and which I could wish, as it is exemplar, so it might be followed by all ensuing Bishops. For whereas Durham house had been granted to Queen Elizabeth only during her life, when few thought that such a house would have proved too little for her e∣state. It fortuned after she was Queen this house to be neglected according to the proverbe not unfit to be applyed to his Learning that first built it: Praestat esse ca∣put asini quam cauda leonis. Among other roomes the Chappell was not onely pro∣phaned but even defaced This good Bi∣shop

the first thing he doth at his com∣ming repaires this Chappell, and and fur∣nisheth it within in comely and costly sort; for which good mind and act, I doubt not but God wil build him a house, toward which he shall ever have my best wishes.

Of CARLILE,

and the Bishop Dr. Henry Robinson.

THis Bishopricke, as my Author hath touched page 540. and 543. hath beene so fortunate to have yeilded two singular examples of fidelity and loyalty of Prelats to their Soveraigne, one of es∣peciall marke worthy to be cannonized with the Patron of Venice. St. Marke was also named Merks commended here by my Author, and no lesse worthily extolled by Mr. Samuel Daniel, in his excellent Poem of the civill Warres of Lancaster and Yorke. The other was Bishop Ogle∣thorpe, who when all the Bishops of Eng∣land refused to Crowne Elizabeth because of her Religion, yet he being himselfe of a contrary Religion performed it, neither

of these received their reward in this world that they were worthy. Merks be∣ing removed from Carlile to Samos in Greece, viz. out of Gods blessing into a warme sunne as the saying is, Oglethorpe enduring deprivation because even at the Coronation he would not omit the cere∣mony of elevation, howbeit it is supposed if he had not so suddenly after dyed of the griefe, her Majesty would have had some speciall respect of him above all fel∣lowes, which I speake not upon meere conjecture, but upon some speech of her Majesty used to the present Bishop that now is, for when shee received his ho∣mage, she gave many gracious words to him of her good opinion, for his learning integrity, and sufficiency to the place, concluding that she must ever have a care to furnish that place with a worthy man; for his sake said she that set my Crowne first on my head, and many words to like effect, as the Bishop himselfe hath partly told me. He seemes a man of great gravi∣ty, and temperance very mild in his speech, but not of so strong a constitution of body as his countenance doth promise; but having seen his Sea never, and himself

but seldome, I must content me of him with this short relation.

Of CHESTER;

and the present Bishop, Dr. Flood.

OF this new Bishopricke, and new Lord Bishop also I have very little to say, and I need say the lesse, because your Highnesse hath heard him Preach often, and very well; I call him a new Lord Bishop, because though he were a Bishop before, yet was he not thereby a Lord of the Parliament House; howbeit his Title before sounded to the vulgar ears more universall then either Rome or Constanti∣nople, namely Bishop of Man: but from thence he was translated to Chester the chiefe City of that Shire, that some call chiefe of men, which Shire having a spe∣ciall temporall blessing (to abound) not with milke and honey, as the Land of Pro∣mise, but with milke and salt, a matter more necessary in sacrifice; I wish it may also flow in spirituall blessings, and doubt not but that by the irrigation rather then inundation of this Floud they shall en∣crease

in them, and as our Saviour com∣mands to joyne peace with salt, and espe∣cially I wish that blessing to their Neigh∣bours beyond the salt water, I meane in Ireland, who though they have milk, and are so weake in faith they cannot yet di∣gest hard meat, yet for want of this salt and peace, they make many goe of Pilgri∣mage to Westchester against their wills from both Realmes, some of whom the Bishop of Chester was wont to entertaine in kinde sort, as my selfe can testifie, and this Bishop I heare doth herein succeed also his worthy Predecessor Doctor Vau∣ghan.