Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book I/Chapter V
This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter V, prepared according to the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts.
Dr. Parker Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge. His account to the Chancellor (Bishop Gardiner) of an interlude, that gave him offence. The Chancellor's letter hereupon, reprimanding some. His order about pronouncing Greek. Orders to the Vice-Chancellor from the Chancellor and Privy Council, touching these players. of certain matters in the University. His regulations
Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge
IN this year 1545, Dr. Parker continuing Vice-Chancellor The Chan of Cambridge, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, to cell or sends Parker, being their Chancellor, a matter fell out there, which gave Vice-Chan the said Chancellor great disgust, and made a great dust for cerning cell or, conan some time in that University; and likewise created the abusive interlude. Vice-Chancellor no small trouble to execute the orders sent him down from his Chancellor. The cause was this. An interlude was played at Christ's college publicly, (but, as was suggested, against the mind of the Master and President,) wherein the Popish manner of Lent-fasting and the ceremonies were exposed. Somebody soon carried the tale unto the Chancellor; and he made a heavy do about it. He would have come down himself, as he said, if his occasions had permitted him, to examine into the matter. But he required Parker, his Vice-Chancellor, to assemble the Masters and Heads of colleges, with the Doctors of the University; and declaring this matter, he should require them to assist in the trial of the truth concerning the said tragedy; that what order was established in the Church, might not by any be presumed to be contradicted, nor that to be reproved which by the King's Majesty was allowed. He added,
" that it was a lamentable case, that such as by the King's " privilege and supportation be there preserved in quiet to " learn all virtue, should presumptuously mock and scorn " the directions of their Prince in matters of religion. That " their obedience should be example to all others in public. " That if learning now should be an instrument to stir up " dissension, and trouble the common quietness, their opin❝ion should be confirmed, which not many years past " laboured to prove in books printed in English, that the “ Universities be the corruption of the realm."
He added,
" that Oxford lived quietly with fewer privileges, and that " there were that would that Cambridge had as few as they." All this stir did the Bishop make upon this business; The account the ViceChancellor jealous of any attempt upon the old superstitions. But in gives of it. obedience to the commands aforesaid, the Vice-Chancellor falls upon the business; and in fine, makes no great matter of it. For (as he related it, after examination, to the Bishop) he found, that it was not against the mind of the Master and President, as was given out. The President told the Vice-Chancellor, that it cost the college nigh twenty nobles, allowed by the Master and company. That there were indeed in the play some slanderous cavillations and suspicious senses; but the Master and Seniors took care, that all such speeches should be wholly omitted in the acting of the play, whereby offence might justly have risen. That he had not spoke with any that was present, that shewed himself grieved, albeit it was thought the time and labour might have been spent to a better purpose. And this was all the prudent Vice-Chancellor made of it; for which some bigots would have made a flame in the University, by aggravating
it before one who was apt soon to be heated. But the business ended not so; nor would the Vice-Chan-Further orcellor's account serve the Chancellor's turn; but, in a second der about this affair. message, he commanded him to examine what the words were indeed that were spoken. In obedience to his commands, the Vice-Chancellor and Heads agreed, that every President should assemble their companies, to know what they heard, and wherewith they were offended.
So all the
colleges forthwith underwent examination. And at the next meeting all the Heads gave in this answer; That none of their companies had declared to them, that they were of Examinaherefended with any thing that they remembered to be then tions spoken; and that very many indeed, whether of purpose upon. or by chance, were absent. And for a further trial, what was uttered in the interlude, Parker sent to the Bishop a book of the said tragedy; and all therein noted and cancelled that was unspoken, the rest being then uttered: which had been delivered him by the Master and all the Fellows of the college: and conventing all the Fellows of that house, he found but two that were offended. Of which one was Scot, the same, I suppose, that was afterwards under Scot of Christ's. Queen Mary made Bishop of Chester. And this Scot was he that was the informer, and had told all this tale to the Chancellor. And hereupon the rest of the society were grieved with him. The case between him and the rest, the Vice-Chancellor and some others had the hearing of: which was thus in short; When the Master and Fellows were consulting about playing this tragedy, Scot, being against it, cried out, that it was poison thrown abroad. Whereunto Crane, a Fellow, and one that acted, replied, that they intended nothing, but to rebuke the Pope's usurped power. But Scot said, that under that pretence they would destroy all godliness; and some other words he spake in his heat, that reflected upon the government. The conclusion was, that the Vice-Chancellor caused them all to be bound with sureties, till they should hear from his Lordship, and know his pleasure. And of all this the Vice-Chancellor gave the Chancellor to understand, and together sent him the play itself, as was said before. The answer that this produced from the Chancellor was as followeth:
" Master Vice-Chancellor, " After my harty commendation, I perceive by your The Chancellor's let" letter, which I have received with the book of the trater to Par66 gedy, that ye have assembled the sage of the University, ker, ViceD3
THE LIFE OF MAT THE
,
" to know, by their inquisition severally in their houses, 1. " what was uttered that might and ought to offend godly “ ears in the playing of the same. Wherein, as appear by Chancellor, your letters, report was made unto you, that no man is concerning
former " offended; and yet, perusing the book of the tragedy, the matter. MSS. C. C. " which ye sent me, I find much matter, not stricken out, C. C. Mis- " all which by the parties' own confession was uttered very cel. Cantab. 66 nought. And on the other part some things not well omitted, where allowing and rejecting should proceed of judgment, and that to be taken for truth which was ut" tered, and that for untruth, which they note as untrue, " to be omitted and left unspoken.
So that this book de-
" clareth the parties to be double offenders, both in denying " that is true, and also approving that is false, as in some part by their notes doth appear. And in that tragedy, " untruth is so maliciously weaved with truth, as making " the Bishop of Rome, with certain his abuses, the founda❝tion of the matter, the author's reproach whereof is true; " so many abominable and detestable lies be added and min66 gled with the other truth, as no Christian ear should pa66 tiently hear, and cannot, in the process of the matter, " without a marvellous alteration, other than now was used, " be dissevered asunder. By means whereof, where all other " proof faileth, there the book maketh an undoubted proof " of their lewdness to me here: and that which so many of "the University being present heard, and offended them not, do deny. But it is now worn out, and they be no longer offended, the same is by exhibition of the book so " notified unto me, and so grieveth me, being absent, as " how soon soever I forget the offence upon their reconci" liation, I shall hardly of a great while forget the matter. " And if often and notorious faults, which the offenders in pomp and triumph so utter, as they would have men 20 " know them and mark them, shall from henceforth without " all reformation be neglected and forgotten, or so by si" lence hidden as they shall not appear to be corrected, " there is small hope of conservation of good order, and a " marvellous boldness given to offenders, the means of re-
"formation thus taken away. Wise men have noted truly, " that it is caput audaciæ impunitatis spes. Which must " needs grow where open faults be thus neglected and pre- " termitted. Wherein they be chiefly to be blamed, that "forbear to make report of that they have heard, when " they be required. " I would not be over-curious, unless the crime were " notable, to bring to light his fault, that himself hath used 66 means to hide from the world. But if the offender be so " destitute of all fear and shame, as these players were, why " should any man forbear, when they walk in the street " naked, to point them with his finger, and say, There they go? " I hear many things to be very far out of order, both
openly in the University, and severally in the colleges, " whereof I am sorry: and among other, in contempt of me, the determination of the pronunciation of certain " Greek letters, agreed unto by the authority of the whole His decree for the pro66 University, to be violate and broken without any correcnouncing of " tion thereof. The matter is low, and the contempt so lected. Greek neg" much the more. I was chosen Chancellor to be so ho" noured (although without my deserts) of them; and I “ have given no cause to be despised. I will do that I can " for the maintenance of virtue and good order there, and challenge again of duty to be regarded after the prop or❝tion, not of my quality, but mine office: requiring you, " Master Vice-Chancellor, to communicate these my letters " with the Masters, Presidents, and Doctors; and on my " behalf to desire them gravely to consider of what moment "the good order of youth is, and to withstand the lewd [attempts ] of such as have neither shame, nor fear of pu" nishment and correction. The lesson of obedience would " be well taught and practised, and I will be more diligent to know how men profit in it than I have been. " I have shewed the whole Council the words spoken by " Mr. Scot; from whom ye shall shortly receive answer in " that matter. And as touching those that were chief play66 ers in the tragedy, I hear very ill matter; and I pray
" you call them unto you, and know whether they will f. " acknowledge and confess their fault or no; and to signify the same to me. And so fare ye well. " Your loving friend, 66 Stephen Wint on." At London, the 12 May. The CounSo that to make the more of this business, besides these cil's order to the Vice his own animadversions, he brought it before the Privy Chancellor. Council. And in fine, the Lords of the Council thus far concerned themselves by the Bishop's instigation in it, that May the 16th they wrote, by a secretary of his, to the Vice-Chancellor. The sum of which was, " That he should " call the parties before him, and admonish them to endea" vour to employ their wits and studies in knowledge of " that is good, true, and wholesome; and that nothing " might be meddled withal that might offend the law and 66 quiet of the realm. That those that were the Heads and " Governors should have such special cure and care, as if " any misorder were among the youth, they return it from " time to time, and do that might be for their discharge in " that behalf.
And discharging Mr. Scot, that had been
The Chancellor Reprimands
" noted for the speaking certain words, they exhorted him " to do for the reformation of those that had misused them" selves in the playing of the tragedy, as to his and their " wisdoms should be thought requisite." And no further did the Council think fit to espouse the Chancellor's mighty quarrel. And with what moderation and prudence our Dr. Parker put an end to this business, we may conjecture. I have but one thing more to add concerning our Doctor Things set down bythe in his office of Vice-Chancellor. And that I gather from Vice-Chancellor to be what was writ with his own hand on the back-side of the reformed. Chancellor's letter aforesaid. Which, I suppose, were mi21 nutes of matters that he intended to reform, and give his orders about; viz.
" Raiment, gowns, beards, crowns, [ which two last were " to be kept shaven, and not allowed to grow, ] habits, " lawyers, and Masters of Art.
" Sitting at divinity disputations and at sermons, &c. " Coming to congregations and common dirges. “ dirges.
King's " Matriculation to be had by the Presidents. " Pronunciation of the Greek tongue. [About which was
great controversy about this time. ] " Revelation of secrecies."
Notes
Editorial Notes
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 per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts.