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

This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter VI, prepared according to the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts.

Stoke college by his means preserved from dissolution under King Henry VIII. But dissolved under King Edward. Hath a pension for it. Parker marries. Hath a son. Vice-Chancellor again. The Archbishop and Bishop of Westminster summon him to preach at Court. Two discourses of his writing. Preaches to Ket, and the rebels in Norfolk. His danger thereby.

Stoke College Threatened with Dissolution

In this same year, being the 37th of the King, all colleges, chantries, hospitals, &c. were granted by Parliament to him. This act struck full at Stoke college, which caused the Dean to bestir himself, if it were possible to prevent the dissolution of a place which he had laid out so much of his pains about, to make it useful for the service of the King, the Church, and commonwealth. And he applied himself particularly unto good Queen Katherine and her Council, (she being patroness, as it seems,) to try, if by his arguments to them he might prevail to stop this ruin impending over so good a foundation. He shewed them, how he had improved the college above the first institution: how he had formerly refused to comply with certain, who would have persuaded him to surrender the college, with promise of considerable advantage to accrue to himself by pension and otherwise. But now the continuance thereof being in such danger, as it was out of his ability to prevent, he laid the consideration thereof before them, who in other matters consulted for the Queen's honour and commodity. He urged to them, "how small a matter of profit it would bring to the King, viz. but 300l. and chiefly consisting in spiritual rents. That the house was so situate, that the Queen's tenants were round about it: whence they did use to receive alms and hospitality, and had good instructions from the Dean and Prebends there out of God's word preached to them: and that the Queen's tenants' children had their education there gratis. Then he also laid before them, how convenient the house was for the entertainment of the Queen's officers and servants, as often as they should have occasion to come down among her tenants, (a part of her revenue lying thereabouts,) as in former times, upon surveys, her Council had been received there sometimes eight days together, with resort of the most part of her farmers thither at the same time." These things the Dean recommended to them, to acquaint the Queen with, that she might accordingly inform the King; and that by her suit unto him, he might grant a continuation of this said college.

And as he wrote this to the Queen's Council, so he likewise made suit to the Queen's Grace herself, with his declaration of these things aforesaid. But the whole letter, whereof these are the short contents, may be found in the Appendix.

And lastly, he made use of the interest of Sir ²² Anthony Denny, a learned and worthy Knight, and one of the Privy Chamber to the King: who made his application to the King in the said behalf; shewing the King withal the great merits of the Dean himself, and of his honest and virtuous using of that college.

All these together moved the King to suffer the college yet to stand: but it was but for a little while longer, that is, during his life, as we shall see by and by.

The College Dissolved under King Edward

The college of Stoke then remained until the first year of King Edward VI. In which year it was suppressed, and the members were dispersed, by virtue of an act of the Parliament, that began to sit November 4, 1547. By which act (as there had been such an act before under King Henry) all colleges, free chapels, chantries, hospitals, fraternities, guilds, were given to the King, to convert the benefits of them, with the colleges and chapels themselves, to his use; and the right and title thereof to the King, to commence at Easter next following. Now the Dean again tried what he could do to rescue his college, by soliciting the Commissioners to respite the ruin of so useful a foundation. But when he saw there was no remedy, he bethought himself to part with it upon as good terms as he could. So he applied himself to his friend Sir Anthony Denny, to use his interest with the Commissioners, for the settling a good pension upon him for his loss of his college. Who therefore wrote thus to them:

"Besides most harty commendations; for that heretofore I have been a suitor to the King, our late sovereign Lord deceased, on the behalf of Mr. Parker, Dean of Stoke, whose honest and virtuous using of that college much also moved the same late King, in such wise as his Majesty clearly resolved to permit the same to remain undissolved; I am much at this present stirred to require you to be favourable towards him. And albeit I mean not to have the said college to endure in his former plight, knowing that of necessity it must now ensue the course of others, being in like state; yet that it might seem good unto you to consider the man's worthiness above the common sort: and that as he in all points hath shewed himself not like to the rest, so likewise to be esteemed, and accordingly rewarded to his deserts; that is, in having an honest and convenient pension. Which although peradventure it shall seem the greater, yet may the King's Majesty be soon thereof discharged by redemption of some other spiritual promotion, and the man nevertheless worthily advanced. Thus much I have thought good to write in his commendation and favour, whose worthiness I much esteem and tender. Trusting thereby, both for his deserts sake, and this my simple contemplation, ye will the rather have respect towards him, as the cause and person require; and my thankfulness for the same may deservedly ensue. Fare ye right hartily well: from my house at Chesthunt, the last of February 1547.

"Your own assured, "Ant. Denny."

And no question Sir Anthony Denny's request, (being of the Privy Chamber to the present King, as he was also to his father,) especially considering the great deserts of the man, so much insisted on by him, had a favourable answer; and that a good pension was settled on the Dean, until the said pension was redeemed, according to Denny's phrase, with the dignity of the deanery of Lincoln, afterwards conferred on him, though that was not till some years after. And April 1. he resigned his deanery.

When the college therefore was now to be dissolved, Nicholas Bacon, the great lawyer, (afterwards Lord Keeper of the Great Seal,) Christopher Peyton, and Ambrose Gilbert, these being some of the Commissioners appointed by the King, together with Sir Roger Townsend and Sir Arthur Hopton, for the surveying of colleges, and doing divers things in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk; the three former sent the Dean a letter to bring in, against such a day, a perfect rental of the lands, tenements, possessions, and hereditaments appertaining to his college; and a certain inventory of all the ornaments, plate, jewels, goods, debts, cattals, due unto the said college: which accordingly he did. This was exactly the method observed under King Henry VIII. when monasteries were dissolved.

²³ This college at length fell into the hands of Sir John Cheke; who with Walter Moyl purchased it, together with all the tenements and messuages in the parish of St. Lawrence Pountney, London, belonging to the college of Corpus Christi, near that church. But herein Sir John made use of the friendship, counsel, and direction of Dr. Parker, the Dean. Which kindness so affected him, that he promised him his pension should be first settled; as appears by Cheke's letter to him, wherein he mentions the kindness and friendship he received from him; and that when the Commission was come forth, "you and yours," said he, "shall be the first to whom pensions shall be appointed; and for your part, I trust, so rewarded, that no pensioner better."

Thus, until the first year of King Edward, did Parker hold this college against some that often sought it. And he had a pension for it of forty pounds per annum allowed him, paid out of the Exchequer.

And thus was this house, and all the good uses Parker made it serviceable to, (in great pity,) put to an end. And when he could not save the college any longer, he saved at least the remembrance of it, by conveying away thence a small square of glass, painted with the coat of arms of the founder, the Lord Mortimer, being three lilies, which he set up in his lodge at Bene't college, and remains there unto this time; which was shewn me, when I was there in the year 1690, by the reverend Dr. Spencer, then Master. It bespake Parker's good affection to that religious foundation, over which he had presided, and which he had made so useful to the country. Thus did the superstition of such foundations draw this, though so well purged, and made so useful, into the same calamity with the rest; nor would the private covetousness of those times be persuaded to spare so public a good.

A Grateful Scholar

I meet with one of the scholars bred in the school of this college of Stoke; whom the Dean removed thence to his college in Cambridge; and afterwards took care of him there for divers years. He was afterwards preferred at the Court in the Signet Office. Who, when his patron was preferred to be Archbishop of Canterbury, came not long after to congratulate him at Lambeth, and to offer him his service, and to acknowledge his former great favours. But for his delay in the mean time, he made his apology, and did his duty by letter. His name was Thomas Bowsly. In which letter he acknowledged to the Archbishop, "how he bred him a scholar, first at his school of Stoke, then sent him to Bene't college, and placed him in the room of a Bible Clerk; permitted him, for his better conveniences in learning, to have a key to the library; took him sometimes abroad with him to Norwich, [his native city,] to Ely, [where he had a prebend,] and other places, besides manifold other benefits." Such countenance, favour, and furtherance did he use to afford his scholars that were studious and ingenious. "He excused himself, that he had not before now offered himself to his Grace, and acknowledged his former favours; that the reason was a fit of sickness, that brought him to a consumption: and afterward, being recovered of that, he served in the office of the Queen's Signet, which required such continual attendance, by reason of the absence of his master, that he could not have convenient time to acknowledge his bounden duty to his Grace. But that he had been often at his Grace's house, to have done it at Lambeth."

And this was the return of one of the Dean's grateful scholars to his obliging master: and no doubt many other such there were, that owed their education, and their after-preferments, both in Church and State, unto him and this his school.

Some little part of the endowments of this college, after many years, became appropriated again to a religious use. For Sir William Cordel, Master of the Rolls under Queen Elizabeth, by his will founded an hospital in Long Melford in Suffolk, for a Warden and twelve brethren; a part of the endowment whereof was a parcel of tithes in Melford, formerly pertaining to Stoke college.

Parker Marries

June 24, in this year 1547, Dr. Parker, in the forty-third of his age, entered into the state of marriage, and took to wife Margaret, aged twenty-eight years: she was the daughter of Robert Harlestone, of Matsal in the county of Norfolk, gentleman; and sister of Simon Harlestone, who lived sometime at Mendlesham in Suffolk; a man eminent both for his piety and sufferings, being an earnest professor ²⁴ of religion in Queen Mary's days, and in Orders.

He was a great dissuader of the people against Popish superstitions; and such was his authority and influence upon them, that they mightily built upon his doctrine. Which was the very information that was given to Bishop Boner against him, by one Ty, a Priest, and Commissary to that Bishop in the parts about Dedham in Essex; whither, in the year 1556, this Harlestone was fled, and abode some time, upon a severe inquisition made by some officers of the Bishop of Norwich in the town of Mendlesham, where were a great many zealous professors of the Gospel: which inquisition was occasioned by the information chiefly of Sir John Bradish, the parish priest; who caused many in that place to recant, and do against their consciences. A great persecution was raised against this town; a chief instrument wherein was Sir John Tyrrel, of Gippinghall, a Justice of Peace, and a great Romish zealot. There was one Adam Foster of this town, who for his religion was sent by this man to the Bishop of Norwich, and there condemned and burnt. In this persecution many were taken up, and forced to abjure; and many were scattered, and fled away from their habitations, whither they could.

Then did this good man, with his wife Katherine and five children, convey themselves away from Mendlesham. One of whose sons, named Samuel, was afterwards a student in Cambridge; to whom the Archbishop, his uncle, gave a legacy of books. The said Simon was also another time in great danger of falling into the hands of the Bishop's officers, by the intention of one Robert Blomefield, constable of Little Stanfield in Suffolk, to inform against him, had not God about that very time cut him off by death.

The Harlestones

The family of the Harlestones seems to have been anciently placed in those parts. There is a town in Suffolk, upon the borders of Norfolk, called by this name, famous for a rising intended to have been made in the year 1570, by certain gentlemen of Norfolk at a fair there, for the deliverance of their beloved Duke of Norfolk, then in prison upon the Queen of Scots' cause; by the sound of a trumpet to gather the multitude together, upon pretence of driving the Netherlanders out of England. The same family seems likewise to have been of good quality and wealth, there having been an ancient hostle in Cambridge built by one of that name, and called Harlestone's Hostle, situate in Harlestone-lane, on the east of St. Clement's church.

There were of the Harlestones also in Essex. Sir Clement Harlestone, living not far from Cogshal, was present with the Abbot of Cogshal, when he opened an old urn found by a ploughman not far from the said town. In which urn were small bones found wrapped up in silk: which the Abbot supposed to be some saint's relics, and laid them up in his vestry. There was an ancient family at South Ockingdon of the Bruins, and of great repute, a coheiress of which a Harlestone married. And from her and her sister were descended many great families besides the Harlestones, as the Tyrils, the Berniers, the Hevininghams, and especially Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, as we are taught by Camden.

Margaret Harlestone

As for Margaret Harlestone, our Divine affected her for her virtues, being a person accomplished in all good endowments both of body and mind, and towards him of great tenderness and observance. He loved her seven years before he married her, with a conjugal love and faithfulness, being dear to one another; but they abstained from wedlock by mutual agreement, for the avoiding danger, King Henry having made it felony for persons in Orders to marry. In the mean time she wanted not for importunate suitors; but would never yield herself to any, but faithfully kept her promise to her first lover, and chose rather to remain single than to violate it. But when that King died, and under the reign of King Edward VI. matrimony being allowed to Priests, the time and laws permitting, they entered the sacred bonds of marriage. She proved an excellent wife, as well as an excellent woman, very obedient, indulgent, and observant of her husband; and her behaviour such, as it became much taken notice of: and Bishop Ridley is reported to have asked if Mrs. Parker had a sister; as though he should have been willing to have married, if he could have found her fellow. And in a certain letter which that Bishop wrote to our Doctor, in the conclusion, he sent his commendations to Mrs. Parker; "whom although I do not know," as he wrote, "yet, for the fame of her virtues, in God I do love." And Dr. Sandys, (soon after Bishop of London,) in a letter to Dr. Parker 1559, ²⁵ calls her, for her gravity, chastity, discretion, and piety, Parker's Abbess. While Parker was in a private capacity, she shewed her discretion in her good housewifery and frugality; and yet for her husband's credit, she had all things handsome about her. But when he was advanced to the high place of Archbishop of Canterbury, she ordered her housekeeping so nobly and splendidly, (her family also being enlarged,) that all things answered that venerable dignity. And her domestic affairs she managed so discreetly, and yet so exactly to the mind of her husband, that is, creditably and honourably, (for he had a generous spirit in him,) that he was taken off from caring for these more private concerns, and the more wholly gave up himself to the affairs of the Church and commonwealth.

Birth of a Son; Vice-Chancellor Again

By her, May 5th the next year, he had a son, named John. Which name I guess he had given him by Sir John Cheke, Dr. Parker's learned friend.

Febr. 7, Dr. Parker was chosen Vice-Chancellor the second time, there being but two years past (in both which Dr. Madew served that honourable office) since he was Vice-Chancellor before. And this election Walter Haddon signified to Mr. Cheke, then at Court, as part of his University news: giving this character of him, (whereby we may infer of what high account he then was among the best,) Cujus tu gravitatem, consilium, literas nosti, nos etiam experimur: adding these words, Catonem aut Quintum Fabium in illo renatum putes. That is, "How grave, how prudent, how learned he was, Cheke had formerly known, [when he lived in the University with him,] and they who still were there very well knew: and that one would think that Cato or Quintus Fabius lived again in him."

Summoned to Preach at Court

In Lent, Archbishop Cranmer writ to him to preach before the King; advising him, that it was the Lord Protector's order for him so to do on a certain Sunday in the Lent season by him appointed: "having good opinion," as the Archbishop added, "of your learned knowledge and godly zeal in the advancement of God's word." This letter of the Archbishop's was seconded by another from Thirlby, Bishop of Westminster, for the same purpose, to this tenor:

"After my right harty commendation to you: where my Lord of Canterbury his Grace hath appointed you to preach before the King's Majesty the third Sunday of Lent, and hath written unto you for the same purpose, and yet hath received no answer from you again; theis shall be to desyre you both to prepare your self to accomplish his request; and also to advertize his Grace, by your letters, of your determination herein. Thus I bid you hartily farewel. From Westminster this fourth day of March 1548.

"Your assured frende, "Thomas Westmon."

According to these summons our Doctor discharged this office the third Sunday in Lent, preaching before the King at Westminster out of the Gospel for the day. And then probably, being the second year of the King, he was admitted one of the King's Chaplains, if it were not done before.

Two Learned Discourses

Among Parker's MSS. preserved in his college at Cambridge, I have met with two pretty large discourses of his. The former, De Conjugio Sacerdotum; i.e. "Concerning the marriage of Priests:" under this question, An liceat Sacris initiatus contrahere matrimonium; that is, "Whether it be lawful for such as are entered into holy Orders to marry." The title of the latter discourse is, Non debere res Ecclesiasticas, ad publicum sacri ministerii usum destinatas, ad alios usus, aut ad privatas hominum commoditates transferri. Et proinde, non posse bona cum conscientia Episcopum aliquem designatum aut designandum, hujusmodi alienationibus consentire. That is, "That the possessions of the Church, which are appointed for the public use of the sacred ministry, ought not to be transferred to other uses, or to the private commodities of any men. And moreover, that none, appointed or to be appointed a Bishop, may with a good conscience consent to such alienations." There is a large and learned exercitation of Parker's own hand-writing upon this argument, which I have cast into the Appendix. But these discourses under his own hand I do conjecture he made before the Convocation, in the year 1548. In which the question of Priests' marriage, I am sure, was at large disputed and allowed of. Which is the reason I place these discourses here.

The Royal Visitation of 1549

In the next year, viz. 1549, was a royal visitation of the University: and on Tuesday, May the 21st, the Visitors ²⁶ came to Corpus Christi college, where it seems (all things being kept in such good order) "they soon made an end," as it is set down in the college MSS. "and supped there, Dr. Parker, then Master of the college, and supplying the room of the Vice-Chancellor in his absence, for the most part of the visitation."

Ket's Rebellion

About the time of the breaking out of Ket's dangerous rebellion, in the parts in and about Norwich, Dr. Parker happened to be retired from Cambridge to his friends and relations there; where the great service he did at that time deserveth to be mentioned. For he was one of those Divines that used now to go up into the pulpits of the city churches, exhorting the citizens (many of whom were actually in this insurrection, and many more too much disposed thereunto) to leave off their wicked attempts, and to return to peace and quietness, and their obedience to their Sovereign. And that was not all the service he and they did, but a-nights would, with the rest of the townsmen, be upon watch armed. Parker was one of the chief of their Preachers, who was much esteemed for his prudence, fatherly integrity, and gravity: and, out of compassion to his country, that he saw now lying under all the miseries that fury and violence could bring it into, he did shew himself both stout and honest, in a free reproof of their courses. And one day, ¹ with his brother Thomas and some friends, did adventure himself into Ket's mad camp, resolving to bestow his good counsel upon them, and to try to reclaim them from their evil course: but, observing the camp then everywhere drowned in drunkenness and luxury, and all in the confusions and disturbances of excess, he thought not convenient to talk soberly to such a mad rout, and so went back into the city. But the next day in the morning, not having any rest in his own mind till he had discharged his conscience, and spoken his mind; and supposing now the heat of wine and madness were somewhat abated, he went again to the camp with his said brother: and now he found them in quite another posture than they were in the day before; for they were now all at their prayers under the oak of reformation, (as they called the tree under which Ket and his party exercised their justice,) and one Thomas Conyers, Vicar of St. Martin's in Norwich, (whom they had made their Chaplain,) was saying the Litany among them.

Dr. Parker judging this a very fair opportunity, ascended the oak, and there preached a sermon to them of prudence, sobriety, and moderation. He distributed his discourse into three parts chiefly:

I. He admonished them to temperance and sobriety, and that the provisions they had brought into their camp, being God's gifts, they would not consume and spend in luxury and ungodliness: secretly hereby reproving their yesterday's excesses.

II. Next, That they should not pursue their private enmities, nor lift up themselves in anger, or study of revenge, nor imbrue their hands in civil blood, nor restrain in custody and bonds those that they had taken as enemies, nor cruelly deprive them of their lives. Which things they were notoriously guilty of.

III. And lastly, That, consulting for the common profit, they would desist from their purpose; and that they should not withdraw their faith from the King's heralds and messengers, but give the King's Majesty his honour even in his tender age.

Tumult and Escape

While he preached these things to them, he was very earnest; and all heard him with much attention and good will, the Doctor being a most charming preacher, till one of the most wicked and loosest sort of them said, "How long shall we bear this hireling teacher, who, being hired by the gentlemen, is come hither with a tongue, that is sold for money, and tied up for a reward. But, for all his prating, let us bridle their intolerable power, and bring them under our law." Upon this a tumult was made, and the Preacher was threatened. One was for bringing him ²⁷ down, as he said, with arrows and javelins. And presently there was heard a clattering of weapons under him; so that he looked for present death. Yet those that were next him under the tree were quiet, and none of them made the least stir or murmur against him, but rather defended him. But, in this juncture, Conyers, with some others, on purpose to divert the mischief, fell to singing the Te Deum; whereat the rabble was composed into some quiet; which gave opportunity to the Preacher to convey himself away. But, before he was got into the city, some of the gang overtook him, and began to question with him about his licence to preach. He might have told them he was sufficiently licensed, both by King Henry VIII, and the Archbishop of Canterbury; but he, knowing how vain and dangerous it was to talk to such a pack, hastened away slightly, and left his brother, who was then in his company, to hold them in discourse. And so our Doctor got free from them for that time.

The Horses Preserved

But the next day, in St. Clement's church, where many of the rebels were present, he made an exposition out of one of the Lessons; where he spake against these wicked hurly-burlies. Coming out of the church, some of these fellows, who were put into great displeasure by what he had said, followed him: and knowing that he had three or four good geldings, charged him that they might be ready in the afternoon to serve the King; that is to say, to serve themselves with them. But, to prevent this, he cunningly bade his groom pull off the shoes of some of his horses, and pare their hoofs to the quick; and to rub others of them with nerve oil, as though they had been lamed with travel, and so to have them to pasture. The rebels afterwards coming for his horses, and seeing in what a case they were, forbore meddling any further with them. But the Doctor, apprehending his danger here, resolved to go back to Cambridge: and so soon after, walking two miles on foot, as though he took a walk in the fields, met his horses at the place appointed, where he mounted, and got safe to his journey's end.

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: text proofread against the 1821 page scans; section headings, Latin translations, editorial notes, and internal links added per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts; Strype's original wording, spelling, and claims preserved.