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

This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter VIII, 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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Dr. Parker considered upon Queen Elizabeth's access to the crown. Commissions from the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. Dr. Parker's care now for religion. Nominated to the archbishopric. His reluctancy to accept thereof. Messages to him from Court: with his answers. Petitions the Queen by a letter. Dr. Parker Lord Elect of Canterbury.

The Vacant See of Canterbury

AND now we have brought our Divine to the fifty-fourth year of his age: when, as there happened in the nation a great and happy change in the civil and ecclesiastical affairs, so there fell out as great and unthought an one in relation to him; namely, from being a poor, obscure, absconding, persecuted Clergyman, to be advanced to the very top of ecclesiastical honour and trust in the English Church; though altogether without his seeking, and with much reluctancy: the height of all his desire being to be restored to his former preferments: or if not so, yet he could gladly have contented himself to have lived and died Master of his old beloved college, and to have foregone the rest.

But as yet the see of Canterbury was void since the 17th of November, on which day, or early the day after, the last Archbishop, Cardinal Pole, expired. In this vacancy Dr. Nicolas Wotton, Dean of the church, (according to ancient privilege and custom,) issued out divers commissions for visitations: which, with other visitations, viz. that of the Queen and of the Diocesan, that followed so close, oppressed and impoverished the Clergy. There were two commissions, both dated December 1, 1558. The one to Laurence Huse, LL. D. Dean of Shoram and Croyden, to visit the churches and chapels within the said deaneries. The other to John Nowel, [or Newal,] S. Th. B. Rector of the church of Hadley, and Dean of Bocking, (who succeeded Dr. Rowland Taylor, the holy martyr,) to visit that deanery. Another commission was dated February 16, 1558, to Thomas Packard, LL. D. Dean of South Malling, Pagham, and Terring, to visit those deaneries.

The Prayer Book and the Lent Sermon

Thus destitute of the comfort of a pastor, that see remained for near a twelvemonth, namely, until our Doctor entered on that weighty office. In which interval nevertheless he lay not by useless. But his abilities and parts being well known, he was appointed one of those who, in the very beginning of the Queen's reign, were selected to contrive the book of prayers and religious worship to be publicly used instead of the superstitious Mass-book; that it might be ready against the meeting of the next Parliament, to be presented unto them to be allowed and confirmed. These persons sat close this winter at Sir Tho. Smith's house about this business. But Dr. Parker was detained in the country the most part of this season by a quartan ague, (a disease very rife and mortal about this time,) and so was absent. Yet, upon a summons from the Court, he came up in the month of January, and was in London in February. But the relics of that distemper still hung about him; so that before February was expired he was fain to go home again. But though he could not assist in this work in person, yet was he not idle in his retirement, but contributed his counsel and judgment in writing for setting the matters of the Church in good accommodation, as we shall hear by and by.

But while he was here in town, he was chosen to preach this first Lent before the Queen. Which he did on Friday the 10th of February, being the first week in Lent; Dr. Cox, (sometime Dean of Westminster and Christ Church, Oxon.) preaching the Wednesday before, being Ash-Wednesday; and Bishop Skory the Sunday following; and Mr. Whitehead the Wednesday ensuing: all eminent reformed Divines in King Edward the Sixth's days.

Chosen for Canterbury

In these beginnings and dispositions toward a reformation, the Church wanted a pious, grave, wise, and suitable Metropolitan: which therefore was necessary in the first place to provide. The Queen left the ordering of Church matters, for the most part, to the two brothers-in-law, Secretary Cecil, and Sir Nicolas Bacon, before mentioned. Who, in serious debate between themselves, concluded on Dr. Parker, as the fittest man to be preferred to the archbishopric; after Dr. Wotton, the Dean of Canterbury, Whitehead, and some other, are said by some to have been under their consideration.

For their purpose and full intent was to provide such a person for Archbishop, who might govern his province with that discretion and moderation, as might abolish Popery, and promote the Gospel; yet not by methods of severity or sharp contention, but by persuasion rather than force. There was now before them a greater choice of learned and godly men, than any age ever before produced in this land. The lot in these two wise counsellors' judgments fell upon the foresaid Doctor, who had in him an admirable mixture of gravity and honesty, learning and prudence, gentleness and obliging behaviour.

Therefore, December the 9th, Bacon, Lord Keeper, summoned the reverend man, then (as it seems) at Cambridge, to come up to him at Burgeny house in Paternoster Row, London, for matters touching himself; which (as he wrote to him) he trusted would turn to his good; or that if he, the Lord Keeper, were gone out of town, then he should repair to the Secretary. But our modest learned man suspecting by those words some public high honour in the Church designed him, endeavoured earnestly to put it by; choosing much rather in his own mind to be employed in some more private capacity.

The Plea of Ill Health

For the good Divine pleaded at large his excuse, by his answer wrote from Cambridge, where he was with some relations. He pleaded a quartan ague, that then afflicted him, and so distempered the state of his health, that without apparent danger he could not as yet commit himself to the adventure of the air. And prayed Bacon to signify as much to such as sent for him. And then, more than suspecting what burden was intended him, he sued to him, "in confidence, as he said, of his good old heart to him, to decline this intended dignity in the Church from him." He said, he should be inwardly heavy and sorry, that his favourable affection should procure him any thing above the reach of his ability, whereby he should but dishonest himself, and disappoint the expectation of such as might think that in him which was not. But especially that he might clog and cumber his conscience to God-ward, before whom he looked every day to appear to make his answer, which he thought and trusted was not far off. Notwithstanding, that though he would most fain wear out the rest of his life in private state; yet concerning that small talent credited unto him, he would not so unthankfully unto God ensue his quiet, that he could not be content to bestow it, so it were there whither his heart and conscience afore that time, and daily yet did incline him; namely, to be further enabled, by the revenue of some prebend, without charge of cure or of government, to occupy himself to dispense God's word among the simple strayed sheep of God's fold in poor destitute parishes and cures; more meet, he said, for his decayed voice and small quality, than in theatrical and great audience.

A University Life Above All

Which walk he wished and would, to be near those quarters, [viz. Norfolk,] where they both [Parker and Bacon] were born, that he might have opportunity to wait other while on him at Redgrave.—If he might yet be bolder with him, to disclose his desire, of all places in England he would wish to bestow most his time in the University. The state whereof, he said, was miserable at that present, as he had intelligence from time to time thereof. And if in any respect he could do service, as a weak member of the commonwealth, he thought he might do it with them, having long acquaintance, and some experience in the doings thereof.—And to tell Bacon his heart, he had rather have such a thing as Bene't college, and a living of twenty nobles a year at the most, than to dwell in the deanery of Lincoln, which was two hundred at the least. And so he prayed him to insinuate these things to Mr. Secretary. And at the reverence of God he entreated him, either to help that he be quite forgotten, or else so appointed, that he were not entangled now of new with the concourse of the world, in any respect of public state of living.

Summoned to Court

Again, December 20, he wrote again to the Lord Keeper, in answer (as it seems) to a second summons of that Lord; importing, that he would wait upon him either at Burgany, or at New Market in his return down into Suffolk. And that Lord being at that time afflicted with a quartan ague, (which about this time cut off a great many people,) he prayed God to restore his strength, that he might be the sooner restored to the commonwealth, which, in that apparent danger of worthy persons, he feared felt God's hand in this his visitation. And added his advice, that he should not stir much abroad in that distemperance of the air, so contrarious to the state of men's bodies, once pierced with that insolent quartan, (as he called it,) as experience shewed. And he thought the spring-time in natural respects must be expected, though Almighty God, he said, was bound to no time.

Thus hitherto had Dr. Parker delayed coming up, choosing rather (if he might) to stay till the Lord Keeper went down, that he might have opportunity to deal the more effectually with him, to help him to avoid the great burden that he feared was to be laid upon him. In the mean while another letter, dated the 30th of December, comes to him from Court; which was more peremptory. Wherein the Secretary wrote to him in the Queen's name, that she was minded presently to use his service in certain matters of importance; and therefore that he [the Secretary] was commanded so to signify to him: to the end, that he should forthwith, upon the sight hereof, put himself in order to make his undelayed repair unto London: and then he would declare unto him the Queen's further pleasure. But our Doctor made use again of his indisposition and want of health, to retard his coming so speedily.

It was but four or five days after, viz. January the 4th, that the Lord Keeper sends again to him, mentioning the Secretary's letter, and requiring him to come up immediately, if his health would suffer, for certain weighty matters touching the Queen's service: adding, that he had been willed to hasten his coming up.

The Sort of Man for the See

At these last summons the reverend man comes up, and understands more perfectly that the archbishopric was intended for him; and therefore that he should accordingly prepare himself. Which message held him in such carefulness all the time of his being at London, with the recurring of a dull distemperance in his head by the dregs of his quartan, and some other displeasant cogitations of the state of the time, that made him take so little joy of his being at London, as he never had less in his life; and glad he was when his back was turned thereunto, as his own words were. And hoping yet he had half got himself off from this honour, in an excellent letter to Bacon, dated the beginning of March, at his return home, gave his advice what sort of man the Queen should make choice of for this place; and the rather, because the office being bestowed well, they might care the less for the residue. "He prayed God then to grant that it chanced neither on an arrogant man, nor a faint-hearted man, nor on a covetous man. The first, he said, should both sit in his own light, and should discourage his fellows to join with him in unity of doctrine, which must be their whole strength. For if any heart-burnings be amongst them, if private quarrels stirred abroad be brought home, and so should shiver them asunder, it might chance to have that success, which he feared in the conclusion would follow. The second should be too weak to commune with the adversaries, who would be the stouter upon his pusillanimity. The third man not worth his bread, profitable for no estate in a Christian commonwealth, to serve it rightly."

Excuses of Poverty and Infirmity

Then again as to himself, as conscious of his own abilities, he thus bespake both Bacon and Cecil: "that except they moderated and restrained their over-much good-will in the former respect towards him, he feared in the end he should dislike them both; and that their benevolences should, by occasion of his obstinate untowardness, jeopard him into prison. Yet he had rather, he said, suffer it in a good conscience, than to be intruded into such a room and vocation, wherein he should not be able to answer the charge to God nor the world: and wherein he should not serve the Queen's honour, nor live to the honour of the realm. And in fine, he said, by God's favour, and their good helps, he never intended to be of that order, [of episcopacy,] better or worse, higher or lower." So far was he from affecting the archbishopric, that he resolved against being the meanest Bishop. He shewed likewise his own poverty, "that he was worth thirty pounds when he came up to London, and then wasted a good part. And what would that do to furnish his household? He gave an instance in Hopton, the last Bishop of Norwich, lately deceased, that upon his departure was so in debt, that the creditors seized his goods to answer his debts to them; and then straightway came the Queen's officers and discharged them all; [sweeping all from the creditors, to satisfy his debts to the Queen.] So that for all his spare hospitality, he was not able to pay half he owed." Then Parker shewed Bacon another of his imperfections, as he called them, namely, his painful bodily infirmity, taken by a fall from his horse in his flight once, under Queen Mary in the night time, from such as sought for him: whereby he was so dangerously hurt, that he should never recover it: and in his late journey to London it was increased, to his greater pain. "So that he was fain, he said, sometimes to be idle, when he would be occupied, and to keep his bed, when his heart was not sick. And, in a word, he prayed his Honour not to think that he sought hereby his own private gain, or his idle ease; for his heart would right fain serve his Sovereign Lady in more respects than that of his allegiance; and bidding them to put him where they would else; [excepting the place of a Bishop;] and if, as far as his power of knowledge and of health of body would extend, he did not apply himself to discharge his duty; let me," said he, "be thrust out like a thief."

Self-Distrust and a Low Conceit of Himself

Bacon, it seems, had given him some hint, as though one reason of his declining to accept this preferment, was his fear of sad times, conceived from some prophecies, that then went about, of Nostredame and others. Whereat he wrote thus in answer: "I pray you think not, that the prognostication of Mr. Michael Nostredame reigneth in my head. I esteem that fantastical hodge-podge not so well as I credit Lucian's book De veris Narrationibus ("Of True Histories"), nor yet all other vain prophecies of Sands, more than I regard Sir Tho. Moor's book of Fortune's Answers upon the Chance of Three Dice casting. I would I saw no more cause to fear the likelihood of God's wrath deserved for dissolute life, to fall upon the realm, by the evidence of the true word, and by God's old practices."

Indeed well might our Doctor shrink at the undertaking of such a weighty province, at this particular juncture especially, when the greatest prudence, courage, conduct, learning, and experience, would be required to assist in that reformation that was now to be set on foot, and carried on: the national Church being at this time generally corrupted in doctrine, discipline, and manners; and the correction thereof requiring so much skill and audacity. Besides, he was conscious to himself of an excess of natural bashfulness, and want of experience for government, his spirits having been much depressed under the hard reign of Queen Mary. Of which he complained, not long after his acceptation of the archbishopric, in a secret letter to the Secretary, a great instrument of his promotion: "that it grieved him, that he was not able to answer his friendly report of him before time, [meaning when he recommended him to the Queen,] whereby, to his much grief of heart, he passed forth his life in heaviness, having been thus intruded, notwithstanding his reluctation by oft letters to his friends, to be in such room: which, he said, he could not sustain agreeably to the honour of the realm, if he should be too far tried. And that with passing those hard years of Mary's reign in obscurity without all conference, or such manner of study, as now might do him service, and what with his natural vitiosity of over-much shamefacedness, he was so abashed in himself, that he could not raise up his heart and stomach to utter in talk with others, which with his pen he could express indifferently, without great difficulty: which made him [in an over-much misconceit of himself] request of the Secretary to decline from him such opportunities, wherein he might work a lack to his promoters, and a shame to himself," as he modestly expressed it.

But whatever his low esteem of his own abilities were, others were well satisfied concerning his great endowments: nor did the Queen make an ill choice; but as great things were expected from him, so he failed not in that expectation: which he shall be convinced of, that diligently observeth in what state the English Church stood at Parker's first entrance upon the government of it, and what advances it made under him.

The May Summons

Dr. Parker now seemed to lie still for a month or six weeks, till May 17, when the Lord Keeper writ again to him, "That by a resolution made that day in the Queen's presence, he perceived that his friends would hardly deliver him of the charge written in former letters: and so he thought to make him privy thereunto, and to advise him to commit to the judgment of his friends his ability or disability, to serve where and when he should be called: that if he knew a man in whom the description made in the beginning of his letter might more justly be deferred than to himself, he would prefer him before Parker; but knowing none so meet indeed, he took it, he said, to be his duty to prefer him before all others: and the rather, because otherwise he should not follow the advice Parker had given him: and added, that it was like ere long he would receive letters subscribed by him and others jointly;" meaning the Council. And accordingly, two days after, that is, May 19, a short letter was sent him, "that for certain causes the Queen's Majesty intended to use his service; and her pleasure was, that he should repair up with such speed as conveniently he might." This was signed by the Lord Keeper, and the Secretary, from the Court. But Parker, such was his extraordinary unwillingness to be a Bishop, gave no answer, nor took his journey for some days after the aforesaid letter came to him: so that May 28, they both writ to him again, that it was the Queen's pleasure that he should repair up with all speed possible; leaving him not to his convenient speed, as they had done in the former letter.

The Petition to the Queen

Coming up now to the Court, no other endeavours succeeding to divert this place, so much dreaded by him, his last application was unto the Queen herself; addressing an excellent letter to her, upon his being nominated by her to the archbishopric, and disabling himself: which letter, though already published, yet containing such a character of the wisdom, goodness, humility, and self-diffidence of this venerable man, I will here present the reader with the substance of it.

He addressed to her by way of suit; which, as he said, extreme necessity compelled him to make; both in respect of his constrained conscience to God, and in regard of his duty which he owed to her noble estate. That calling to examination his great unworthiness of so high a function, and his disability he might allege in particular, but for molesting her most weighty affairs; he was bold to approach by writing to her Honour, to discharge him of that so high and chargeable an office: which required a man of much more wit, learning, virtue, and experience, than he saw and perfectly knew could be performed by him worthily; to occupy it to God's pleasure, and to her Grace's honour, and to the wealth of her loving subjects.

"He urged to her many other imperfections in him: as, temporal abilities for furnishing thereof, as was seemly to the honour of the realm; as also infirmity of body, which would not suffer him to attend on so difficult a cure, to the discharge thereof in any reasonable expectation. And where, besides his duty of allegiance to her princely dignity, he was otherwise for the great benefits which he sometimes received at her Grace's honourable mother's benevolence, (whose soul he doubted not but was in blessed felicity with God,) most singularly obliged above many other, to be her most faithful beadsman, both in thanking God for that fatherly protection hitherto over her noble person; and furthermore, to pray for the continuance of her fortunate reign; so he was right sorry, and lamented within himself, that he was so basely qualified inwardly in knowledge, and outwardly in extern sufficiencies, to do her Grace any meet service, as he could wish could be acceptable to her Grace's expectation: assuring her noble estate, that in any other smaller vocation under the degree of such chargeable offices, and more agreeable to his infirmity, if it should so seem to her high wisdom and merciful liberality, he should endeavour himself to attend thereon: referring yet himself wholly to her Grace's pleasure, rather than by just allegation of his unworthiness, the loyal duty of his faithful heart should be any ways suspected by her reverend Majesty. Subscribing himself,

"Her Grace's poor subject, Matthew Parker."

Fixed for Archbishop

But nothing would do, and Dr. Parker must be the man pitched upon, for his admirable qualities and rare accomplishments, to fill the see of Canterbury. And in his cares and preparations for this high office, we leave him for a while, six months passing away before his consecration. Yet in the mean time not unemployed in the service of religion and the Church, as we shall see by what follows.

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, Latin translations, internal links, and editorial notes are modern additions; Strype's wording and historical spelling are otherwise preserved, with punctuation lightly modernized for readability.