Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book I/Chapter IX

This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter IX (Book I), prepared for AnglicanWiki. Section headings, English translations of Latin, internal links, and editorial notes are modern additions; Strype's text is otherwise preserved. A faithful transcription without modern editorial apparatus is also maintained.

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Wherein he was now employed. The Secretary consults with him for the new Bishops. His advice for reformation in Cambridge. He informs the Lord Keeper of some present dangerous doctrine. Commissions from the Dean and Chapter during this interval. Assisteth at the French King's obsequies. His endeavour about the exchanges of Bishops' lands. A fraud in the church of Dublin, signified to him from the Archbishop there. His free advice to the Queen concerning the crucifix in her chapel.

Directions for Filling the Vacant Sees

Anno 1559.

FOR one thing wherein he was consulted by the Secretary, (in this interval, as it seems,) was about filling of the sees, and in what method it was customary, and might be convenient in this critical juncture to proceed, many difficulties appearing: as now there being no Archbishop at all, and hardly four Bishops remaining; and whether the Popish Ordinal should be used, or that of King Edward VI. which was abolished under Queen Mary, &c. But Dr. Parker being one of the best skilled in ecclesiastical rites and usages, Cecil desired to be assisted with his advice and judgment; for whom the said Doctor drew up this paper of instructions, for entrance into the bishoprics, which I met with in the Paper House.

I. Suit is to be made for the Queen's letters patents, called Significaverunt ("they have signified"), to the Archbishop of the province, for the confirmation of the elect, and for his consecration.

II. When the archiepiscopal see is vacant, then after election, like letters patents for the confirmation of the elect, are to be directed to any other Archbishop within the King's dominions. If all be vacant, to four Bishops; then they to be appointed by the Queen's letters patents, declaring her Grace's assent royal, with request for the consecration and pall.

III. The fealty for the temporalities of the see is to be made to her Majesty: the oath also to be given: the ordinary fees to be paid to her Majesty's officers.

IV. The consecration is to be done on such a Sunday as the consecrator, with the assent of the consecrated, shall accord: and in such place as shall be thought most requisite.

V. The order of King Edward's Book is to be observed: for that there is none other especially made in this last sessions of Parliament.

Obligations for the New Bishops

And the new Bishops that were to be made, were to sign obligations, binding themselves in several articles, for preserving the revenues and good estate of the bishoprics, and for preventing the mischiefs and ill turns that had been done to them by the late incumbents: and this also seems to have been by the direction and counsel of Parker. The articles of these obligations were:

I. That they make no leases in any manner in gross for years, or fee-farm; nor any lease of the demesne of any manor, above one and twenty years: wherein the accustomed rent is reserved.

Nor that they make any lease of any land, used by the Bishop for his household; nor of any of his parks, with the herbage, to endure after the time of the ____.

Nor that they make sale or gift of great timber, nor take any thing thereof, but for repairs of their houses, tenements, farms, and parks.

Nor that they charge the bishopric with any annuity, longer than they shall continue Bishop there.

Nor that they make any grants of office, longer than for their life times; except it be for offices that have had continuance, and have been ordinary.

Item, That they grant none advowsons of any parsonage or prebend, before the same shall be void.

And that order be taken with the Dean and Chapter, that they confirm no grants made contrary to the said articles.

Advice for the Reformation of Cambridge

Another thing wherein our Divine a little before this time concerned himself, and shewed his care for the public welfare, was concerning the University of Cambridge. He was now in February returned from London, whither he was sent for, to come to the Court. And his family being at Cambridge, hither he came, driven (as he told the Secretary in his letter) to this place by divers necessities, as not able by otherwhere dwelling to maintain a double charge: for that his purse, after his late persecutions, was but low. The University was now in ill case, being in danger to have its revenues embezzled by the Popish Heads of the colleges: who, upon the passing of the act for the Queen's supremacy, in the Parliament now sitting, concluded upon relinquishing their places; but before they departed, to make their advantages by spoiling the revenues: and the better to cover that, to get such to succeed them who might wink at their doings. Of this, secret notice was brought to Dr. Parker: who, to prevent this mischief to learning as much as he could, by a letter dated the 1st of March, acquainted the Secretary with this affair: and the rather now upon his acceptation of the Chancellorship, the highest office there, for the stay of the University: telling him, that he heard divers colleges were much disordered, as well in regard of their possessions, as in other respects, not so maintained as they were left to them of late: and that they were awhile in fear, by a visitation, to be answerable: but that now they had gotten intelligence of no visitation to be purposed. He shewed the Secretary further, that upon passing of the Primacy, [i. e. the bill of Supremacy,] they gathered the sequel, [that is, that they the present Masters were like to be turned out, if they refused to take the oath,] whereupon some of them were about to resign to their friends chosen for their purpose, peradventure to slide away with a gain. And in the conclusion, to hint a way to prevent this, he imparted to the Secretary what was done when Queen Mary first came to reign: which was, that she gave out authority to Bishop Gardiner, Chancellor of that University, [as Cecil now was,] who forthwith sent his Chaplain Watson with instructions to every college; and as then he [Dr. Parker] could gather, to report to him [the Chancellor] in what state every college stood. And further peradventure, upon cause to have the Masters and others assured de coram sistendo, et interim bene gerendo ("concerning their appearing before him, and meanwhile conducting themselves well"), until a further order. And that the said Chancellor, Sir William Cecil, might the better know the precedent, Parker sent him the copies of these letters; and added, he should be loth that in his first entry to his office, colleges should sustain hurt by any slight, he [Cecil] not understanding the likelihood. The rest of the matter he committed to his prudent oversight. And finally, he prayed God to grant so good luck of his election, that the University might joy to be raised and restored none otherwise than his zeal thereunto had been long perceived: ut amputetur malevolis omnis occasio improbitatis et querulationis ("that every occasion of dishonesty and querulous complaint may be cut off from the ill-disposed"). And he informed him further, that if he should intend any thing of this nature, Dr. Cole had both counterpanes of the whole statutes of every college, so found at the last visitation.

Queen Mary's and the Chancellor Bishop Gardiner's letters, for visiting the University, follow.

Queen Mary's and Gardiner's Letters to Cambridge

Queen Mary to the Chancellor of Cambridge, for enjoining the old statutes.

"Mary the Quene. Right Reverend Father in God, Right Trusty, and Right Well-beloved; we grete you well. And where among divers other inconveniences and disorders, brought in and set forth in that our University, one of the greatest and chief occasions of many of the said misorders, is, that without sufficient authority, only upon the sensual minds and rash determinations of a few men, the ancient statutes, foundations, and ordinances of the whole University, the colleges, and other places of students, have been much altered, broken, and almost utterly subverted: whereby not only the last wills of many good men have been broken, and many wise, polite, and godly ordinances, confirmed by Parliaments, and by sundry our progenitors, fondly and unreverently contemned, but the conscience of many honest men, which by their oaths were bound to the observation of the said statutes and foundations, have been much encumbered; and youth loosely and insolently brought up, to the great discredit of the University; and no small hindrance of the commonwealth of all our realm: "We therefore, knowing it our bounden duty to Almighty God, to whose own goodness we acknowledge ourselves called and placed in the royal estate of this realm, to travel by all the ways we may, that his glory and holy will being truly declared to all our subjects, he may of all sorts, in their several vocations, be reverently feared, served, and obeyed; have thought good that for a beginning, to wish that the examples hereof may first begin in our Universities, where young men, and all sorts of students, joining godly conversation with their studies in learning, may after, as well by their doings as by their preachings, instruct and confirm the rest of our subjects, both in the knowledge and fear of Almighty God, in their due obedience towards us, our laws, and all other their superiors, and in their charitable demeanours towards all men. And because we know where order is not kept, all things go to confusion, we have therefore thought good to will and require you our Chancellor, and all other the Heads and Governors of the colleges, and other houses, that both yourselves, for your own parts, do exercise your offices, and live, and cause all scholars, students, servants, ministers, and others living under you, of what sort, state, or condition soever they be, to live and frame themselves, their studies, conversations, and manner of living, in such form and order, as by the ancient statutes, foundations, and ordinances of that our University, and of the colleges and other houses, is to you severally appointed. Which statutes and foundations we will to be inviolably kept and observed, according to the ancient foundations and ordinances of the founders, and grants of our progenitors. And therefore do eftsones require and charge you our Chancellor, whom we do authorize by these presents for that purpose, to see the same well and truly observed, as you will answer for the contrary; notwithstanding injunctions or new ordinances made, set forth, or delivered by any Visitors or other, sithence the death of our Father of most worthy memory, King Henry the Eighth, (whom God assoyl,) or any other new device to the contrary hereof. Geven under our signet at our manor of Richmond, the 20th of August, in the first year of our reign."

Chancellor Gardiner's letter to the University.

The Chancellor's letter to the University, in pursuance of the Queen's, (which Dr. Parker sent with the former,) was to this tenor:

Doctissimis viris, Vice-Cancellario et Senatui Cantabrigiensi.

Quàm multæ causæ sint (viri Doctissimi) quæ animum meum, ut ad vos hoc potissimum tempore accederem, permoverent, totidem ferè occurrunt impedimenta, quæ corpus [quominus] vobis adsit, justissimè prohibent. Interim autem, dum occasionem capto commodiorem, qua vos ipse inviserem; hunc Sacellanum meum, vobis non omnino ignotum, et mihi notissimum, cujus fidem perspectam, et exploratam habeo, mandare volui, eidemque demandare, ut meo nomine referat quæ vos ex me cuperem intelligere. Cui ut credatis, oro: et benè valete. Londini ex ædibus meis, octavo calend. Septembr. 1553.

Vester Cancellarius Steph. Wint on. Cancell.

(Translation: "To the most learned men, the Vice-Chancellor and Senate of Cambridge. However many causes there are (most learned men) which might move my mind to come to you at this particular time, almost as many impediments occur which most justly prevent my bodily presence [from being] with you. Meanwhile, while I seek a more convenient occasion on which I may visit you in person, I have wished to send this my Chaplain, not wholly unknown to you and very well known to me, whose faithfulness, tried and tested, I possess; and to charge him to report in my name what I would wish you to understand from me. That you believe him, I pray: and farewell. From London, from my house, on the eighth day before the Kalends of September, 1553. Your Chancellor, Steph. Winton. Chancellor.")

Dangerous Doctrines Noted to the Lord Keeper

And it may not be unworthy to observe of our Divine further, that being in Town in January, as was before said, he took notice with grief of certain books, (and now in his recess complained to the Lord Keeper Bacon thereof,) that went then about London, being printed and spread abroad, and their authors Ministers of good estimation. The doctrine of one was, that a lady woman cannot be by God a governor in a Christian realm. [Knox, and Christopher Goodman, had published tracts to this purpose.] And in another was matter set out to prove, that it is lawful for every private subject to kill his Sovereign, ferro, veneno, quocunque modo ("by iron, by poison, by whatever means"), if he think him to be a tyrant in his conscience; yea, and worthy to have his reward for his attempt. At which, said Parker, exhorrui cum ista legerem ("I shuddered when I read these things"). Adding, "if such principles be spread into men's heads, as now they be framed, and referred to the judgment of the subject to discuss what is tyranny, and to discern whether his prince, his landlord, his master, is a tyrant, by his own fancy and collection supposed; what Lord of the Council shall ride quietly minded in the streets among desperate beasts? what Minister shall be sure in his bed-chamber?" This reverend and wise Divine well saw the devilish tendency of these doctrines: and it grieved him the more, that they were set forth by such as were Ministers of the Gospel: and that their pens and labours should be diverted from opposing and confuting Anabaptists, Arians, Libertines, Free-will men; against whom he thought Ministers should have needed only to have fought, for unity of doctrine: (for as for Romish adversaries, their mouths, he said, might be stopped with their own books and confessions:) but he never dreamed that Ministers should be compelled to impugn Ministers. The adversaries, as he added, would have good sport to prognosticate the likelihood. More of these books, and the authors of them, and the recantation that one of them made afterwards, by means of this our Doctor, may be read in the Annals of the Reformation under Queen Elizabeth.

One of the Queen's Visitors at Cambridge

Dr. Parker, who we heard a little before had such a concern now for the University of Cambridge, was in the summer following appointed one of the Queen's visitors there; having had long experience in the affairs of it. The visitors consisted of two learned Knights, Sir William Cecil, and Sir Anthony Cook; two Doctors of Divinity, our Parker, and William Bill; two Doctors of the Civil Law, William May, and Walter Haddon; one Doctor of Physic, Dr. Wendy; two Professors of Divinity, (as they are styled,) Robert Horn, and James Pilkington: all persons of great integrity and learning, and that had formerly been members of the said University. The citation of the heads and members of all the colleges, halls, and hostles, before them, to undergo the visitation, bore date at Westminster the 21st day of June, 1 Elizabeth. Therein the day of appearance appointed was the 7th day of September ensuing: and the place, the church or chapel of King's college. The visitors are styled in the said citation, the Queen's General Commissioners to visit that University. The transactions, and how matters were now managed, I do not find: as what detecta ("discoveries") were found, what regulations, what corrections, what deprivations, what restitutions were now made. Fuller saith something concerning the two last: but he must be read warily, making two errors in one line concerning the change in Clare hall; viz. that Swinburn was put out master there, and Madew put in: whereas both the one and the other died under Queen Mary. But this undoubtedly was the chief business of the visitors, to purge the University, by swearing the heads, and chief members and officers, to the supremacy, and by depriving the refusers. Dr. Parker (though nominated) had hardly any hand in this visitation, being about the very time of it at London, attending the solemnization of the funerals of the French King, and his own weighty affairs, being by this time elect.

Commissions of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury

I find little done by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury this year, (who had now all the jurisdiction of the Archbishop, while the see remained vacant,) except it were granting several commissions: as to Nicolas Harpsfeld, LL.D. Official of the Court of Arches, to admit Richard Mitche to be Advocate of the Court of Arches. This commission bare date the ____ day of April 1559. Another to the same, to admit Thomas Yale, LL. D. Advocate of the Court of Canterbury, dated the ____ day of April 1559. Another to William Mowse, LL. D. Vicar General, admitting him to take cognizance of causes in the Court of Audience, dated the 30th of May. Another to the same, and of the same date, constituting him Official of the Court of Canterbury. And yet another commission to him, the said Mowse, dated June 13, to constitute him Dean of the Arches. This Dr. Mowse was a man that always light upon his legs, and would be sure to hold in in all revolutions: being first preferred by Archbishop Cranmer in King Edward's reign, and complying with all changes afterwards. Yet he was a good scholar, and a good benefactor to Trinity hall in Cambridge, whereof he was Master.

At the French King's Obsequies

It was but two months after the giving forth these commissions, that our Divine became Elect of Canterbury. When the first thing I find him employed about, was assisting, in the beginning of September, at the funeral solemnities of Henry II. of France, celebrated in St. Paul's church, together with the Elects of Chichester and Hereford, appareled in their surplices and Doctors' hoods; having the Dirige ("the Dirige," the Office of the Dead) said in English.

The Act for Exchanging Bishops' Lands

But it was a greater matter at which he assisted the next month, or thereabouts, or indeed was the chief agent; which shewed his zeal and his care for learning and religion, and the welfare of the Church, over which he was to be constituted. The late Parliament had made an act to enable the Queen upon the vacation of any bishopric, (and there were now many vacant,) to convert the temporal revenues, or part thereof, unto herself, settling in exchange church-lands in lieu thereof; such as impropriations, formerly belonging to monasteries dissolved, and tenths: taking into her own hands good old lordships and manors for them. The inequality of which exchanges was, that to these impropriations were oftentimes considerable charges annexed, by necessary reparations of houses and chancels, and yearly pensions payable out of them: and tenths would often fall short and be unpaid by reason of the poverty or inability, or death of the poor Curates and Ministers. Nor could the Bishops have any good title to them; it being doubtful whether they could be alienated from the Crown, having been by act of Parliament given to it.

The Bishops' Supplication to the Queen

The Archbishop elect therefore joining with him the four other elects, viz. of London, Ely, Chichester, and Hereford, consulted seriously what was to be done in this case: and resolved for this purpose to make an humble supplication to the Queen, to make her sensible of the evil that might hereby accrue to the revenues of her Bishops; and to stay her, if possible, from making the benefit she might of the said act, to offer her a yearly pension for favouring them in this request; which was a thousand marks for the province of Canterbury, in consideration of her great and manifold charges daily sustained; offering moreover to declare at large to her in writing, if she would permit it, the great inconveniences that were like to ensue the execution of this act, upon many good grounds and reasons. But if this might not be obtained, then they sued and prayed, that she would grant these reasonable favours following, viz. that the vicarages of these impropriations that were to be exchanged and conveyed from the Queen to the Bishops, might be made competent livings and subsistences: that chancels and mansion-houses decayed might be considered: that yearly pensions might be reprized out of the parsonages: that the manors being withdrawn from them, they might not be charged with setting forth men to war, as the Bishops had done before such alienation: that equivalent recompence should be made for the perquisites of courts and wood-sales, and such other casual profits arising from the manors exchanged with the Queen: that parks and woods might be valued: that corn-heaps, fish and fowl, with carriages and other commodities, might remain to the Bishops for hospitality: that parsonages appendant to the manors exchanged, might be referred to the Bishop's see: that the Bishops of the new erected sees might have the bestowing of the prebends of those churches, as in others was used, to maintain learned men and preachers: that if any of the exchanged tenths or rectories were evicted from them by law, recompence might be made them: that they might have remedy by law to recover tenths denied or delayed: that no rents be returned for spiritual possessions: that bishoprics might be discharged of arrearages of subsidies and tenths, and other incumbrances past in the days of their predecessors: to be discharged of subsidies the first year of their paying their fruits: that the Queen would continue the new erected sees: (which it seems some were looking with a greedy eye upon:) that the benefice of Cliff might be annexed to the see of Rochester: and that the benefice lately annexed to the see of Chester might not be dismembered: that they might receive the half year's rent last past at Michaelmas, in consideration of their charge in necessary furniture of their houses, and discharge of fees paid before and at the restitution of their temporalities: that their first-fruits might be abated and distributed into more years, for the better maintenance of hospitality: and without the grant of this they should not dare to enter into their functions, which she had nominated them to, being too importable for them. But this whole address is preserved in the Appendix. But however humble and reasonable these requests were, which the Archbishop elect and his brethren then made in their own and the Church's behalf, the Queen, pressed by some greedy courtiers and other back-friends to religion, was not over favourable in granting.

The Bleeding Crucifix of Dublin

It was not long after this, that a letter came from Hugh Corwin, Archbishop of Dublin, to our Archbishop, upon a very remarkable occasion, and in very good season for the setting forward the taking away of images out of the churches, that were now replenished with them; and the Queen somewhat indifferent and unresolved about it. The case was this. At the coming of the Earl of Sussex into Ireland, (who was lately sent over by the Queen her Lieutenant there,) the Litany was sung in English at Christ's church in Dublin. This gave great offence to some of the Popish zealots, reckoning aright, that the use of the Mass was in danger of being laid aside in that cathedral. Something therefore was to be done, now or never, to keep up the reputation of the old superstition; and a miracle was to be shown in the said church the next Sunday, when the Lord Lieutenant, the Archbishop, and the rest of the Privy Council were there at service. There was in that cathedral an image of Christ in marble standing with a reed in his hand, and the crown of thorns on his head. And while service was saying before this great assembly, blood was seen to run through the crevices of the crown of thorns, trickling down the face of the crucifix. The people did not perceive it at first; therefore some who were in the fraud, cried out to one another, and bade them see, how our Saviour's image sweat blood! Whereat several of the common people fell down with their beads in their hands, and prayed to the image. Vast numbers flocked to the sight. And one present (who indeed was the contriver, and formerly belonged to the priory of this cathedral) told the people the cause, viz. That he could not choose but sweat blood, whilst heresy was then come into the Church. The confusion hereupon was so great, that the assembly brake up; but the people still fell upon their knees, thumping their breasts: and particularly one of the Aldermen and Mayor of the city, whose name was Sedgrave, and who had been at the English service, drew forth his beads, and prayed with the rest before the image. The Lord Sussex and those of the Privy Council hasted out of the choir, fearing some harm. But the Archbishop of Dublin being displeased, caused a form to be brought out of the choir, and bade the sexton of the church to stand thereon, and to search and wash the image, and see if it would bleed afresh. The man soon perceived the cheat, observing a sponge within the hollow of the image's head. This sponge one Leigh (sometime a monk of this cathedral) had soaked in a bowl of blood: and early on Sunday morning, watching his opportunity, placed the said sponge, so swoln and heavy with blood, over the image's head within the crown: and so by little and little the blood soaked through upon the face. The sponge was presently brought down, and shewed to these worshippers; who began to be ashamed: and some of them cursed Father Leigh, (who was soon discovered,) and three or four others that had been the contrivers with him. The Archbishop the next Sunday preached in the same church before the Lord Lieutenant and the Council, upon 2 Thess. ii. 11. God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie: exposing the cheats, who openly stood there, with Father Leigh, upon a table before the pulpit, with their hands and legs tied, and the crime written on their breasts. This punishment they suffered three Sundays; were imprisoned for some time; and then banished the realm. This converted above an hundred persons present, who swore they would never hear Mass more.

And further, upon the 10th September 1559, the Archbishop caused this image to be taken down, although he himself had caused it to be set up at his coming to that see, after it had been pulled down once before by George Brown, the former Archbishop in King Edward's time. The contents of all this did Archbishop Corwen write in a letter to Archbishop Parker: who was glad thereof; by reason that the Clergy were debating at this present, whether images should stand in the churches, or no; the Queen herself being indifferent in the matter, and rather inclinable to them. But this letter which the Archbishop shewed her, wrought on her to consent for the throwing of images out of the churches; together with many texts of Scripture, which our Archbishop and other Divines had laid before her, for the demolishing of them.

Advice to the Queen on the Crucifix in Her Chapel

Another of his applications to the Queen about this time must not also be forgotten. The Queen had been prevailed with, that images, and lights, and crucifixes, should be enjoined to be taken away, to prevent that gross idolatry and superstition that the common people had been brought into by means thereof. But she retained nevertheless in her own private closet a crucifix and lighted tapers in divine service. This being so contrary to her own injunctions, and savouring so much of superstition, and that example being so dangerous, the Archbishop elect had the assurance and the honesty to advise her Majesty not to permit these things any longer in her presence: which he did with that gravity and freedom becoming his office, that Sir Francis Knollys sent him a letter, October 13, 1559, "wishing him prosperity in all godliness; namely, in his good enterprize against the enormities yet in the Queen's closet retained. Although, said he, with the Queen's express commandment these toys were laid aside till now a late." But though Parker did thus discharge his duty, she, I doubt, continued these furnitures of her oratory: which gave such an offence to another of her Bishops, that he could very hardly be induced to minister there before her: as may be read more largely in the History of the Reformation under that Queen.

Editorial Notes

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Source: John Strype, The Life and Acts of Matthew Parker, the First Archbishop of Canterbury in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1821), Vol. I. Enhanced reading edition: section headings, English translations of Latin, internal links, and editorial notes are modern additions; Strype's text is otherwise preserved.