State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I.

Observations on the Life of Arch-Bi∣shop Bancroft.

DOctor Richard Bancroft, (whom his Adver∣saries character a better States-man than Divine, a better Divine than Preacher, though upon good occasion he shewed he was all these) was bred in Iesus Colledge in Cambridge, where his parts in discovering the bottom of Presbytery, and his sufficiency when his Patron Hatton's Exa∣miner commended him to Queen Eliz. to be Bi∣shop of London, and to King Iames to be Arch-Bi∣shop of Canterbury. Indeed he was in effect Arch-Bishop while Bishop, to whom Doctor Whitgift in his decrepit age remitted the managing of matters, so that he was the soul of the High-Commission. A great States-man he was, and grand Champion of Church-discipline; having well hardned the hands of his Soul, which was no more than needed for him, who was to meddle with Nettles and Bryars, and met with much opposition.

No wonder if those who were silenced by him in the Church, were loud against him in other pla∣ces.* 1.1 David speaketh of poyson under mens lips; This Bishop tasted plentifully thereof from the mouths of his Enemies, till at last (as Mithridates) he was so habited to poisons, that they became food unto him. Once a Gentleman coming to visit him, presented him a Libel, which he found pasted on his door; who being nothing moved thereat, said, Cast it to an hundred more which lye here on a

h••ap in my Chamber. Many a Libel, (Lye) (because false) (Bell) because loud) was made upon him. The aspersion of covetousness, though cast, doth not stick on his memory, being confuted by the Estate which he left, small in proportion to his great preferment, being but 6000 l. after being above twelve years in London and Canterbury.

He cancelled his first Will, wherein he had be∣queathed much to the Church: suspecting an im∣pression of popular violence on Cathedrals, and fearing an Alienation of what was bequeathed unto them, he thought fit to cancel his own, to pre∣vent others cancelling his Testament. This partly appears by his second Will, wherein he gave the Library at Lambeth (the result of his own, and three Predecessors collections) to the University of Cambridge (which now they possess) in case the Arch-Episcopal See should be extinct.

How came such a jealousie into his mind? what fear of a storm when the Sun shined, the Sky clear, no appearance of Clouds? Surely his skill was more than ordinary in the complexion of the Com∣mon-wealth, who did foresee what afterward (for a time) came to pass. This clause providentially inserted, secured this Library in Cambridge during the vacancy of the Archi-Episcopal see, and so prevented the embezelling, at the least the dis∣membring thereof, in our late civil distempers.

They that accuse this excellent Prelate of cruelty, never read this story: A Ministe•• privately prote∣sted to him, that it went against his conscience to con∣form. Which way said the good Arch-Bishop (ob∣serving the mans ingenuity) will you live, if you be put out of your Benefice? The other answered,

He had no other way but to g•• a begging. Not so (said the Arch-bishop) that you shall not need to do, but come to me, and I will take order for your mainte∣nance.

They that exclaimed against his unserviceable∣ness, never observed this passage: A company of young Courtiers appeared extraordinary gallant at a Tilting, far above their Fortunes and Estates, gi∣ving for their Motto, Solvat Ecclesia. Bishop Ban∣croft then of London hearing of it, finds on enquiry that the Queen was passing a considerable parcel of Church-lands to them, and stops the business with his own and his friends Interest, leaving these Gal∣lants to pay the shot of their pride and prodigality out of their own purses. —And this; that a prevalent Courtier had swallowed up the whole Bishoprick of Durham, had not this Arch-Bishop seasonably interposed his power with King Iames (ready e∣nough to admit such Intercessions) and dashed the design. They that traduce him for a Papist, for∣get that he fomented the difference between the Seculars, and Regulars, to the weakning, and pro∣moted the foundation of Chelsey-Colledge, to the ru∣ining of that cause.

But they that perform great actions, reserving as it is fit the reason of them in their own bosomes, may sufficiently satisfie their Consciences towards God, though they can hardly avoid the censures of men.

I shall add no more concerning this excellent Prelate, but that it was observed as the Historian writes, That at Hampton-Court-Conference Arch-Bishop Whitgift spake most gravely, Bishop Bilson most learnedly, but Bishop Bancroft [when out of passi••n] most politickly.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psa. 104.3.