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

This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter X, 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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The Archbishop elect employed. In commission upon Ministers deprived. Divers Popish Bishops and Divines in the Archbishop's custody. Bishop Tunstal; Bishop Thirlby; Dr. Boxal; Dr. Tresham; and Dr. Richard Smith; some accounts of them. An addition to the Archbishop's coat of arms; given him by Garter. The patent thereof.

The Commission upon Ministers Deprived

PARKER, Archbishop elect, remained now in London, or rather at Lambeth, there being great need of him both at Court and elsewhere, with the rest of the Bishops elect and other Divines, to consult with, concerning matters of the Reformation that was now at hand.

Among other weighty matters the Archbishop was now employed in, one was in doing justice to such as had been wrongfully deprived and thrown out of their places in the Church under Queen Mary. One of these occurs, namely, William Turner, Doctor of Physic, and a zealous Divine, who under King Edward VI. had been Dean of Wells, but outed in the next reign, and became an exile. He was now restored to his deanery by the judgment of the Archbishop and some others, joined in commission with him. But after his restitution in the year 1560, John Goodman, the last Dean, had procured a commission to certain special persons, named and chosen by himself, and (as it was thought) very partial, to convent the said Dr. Turner, and to remove him again from the said deanery. Whereupon he made supplication to the Queen to inhibit the said commission to proceed against him. Nevertheless, that justice might be indifferently ministered to both parties, she willed and commanded the Lord Keeper, by her letters, to call both parties before him, and to direct a commission in her name, as he was accustomed to do upon appeals, to such indifferent persons as he should think fit, or as they both should accord upon: and in the mean season to take order, that Dr. Turner might remain in quiet possession: and so he did to his death; which was in the year 1568, being buried in Crutched Friars church, London: where he hath a monument yet remaining.

Cuthbert Tonstal in the Archbishop's Custody

Now were committed unto the Archbishop's custody divers Popish Bishops, as Cuthbert Tonstal, Bishop of Durham, having been deprived in July; who died in the Archbishop's house at Lambeth in November following, being eighty-five years of age. But before his death, by the Archbishop's means, he was brought off from Papistical fancies. And he declared it his judgment, that the Pope's too far distended power ought to be restrained within his own diocese of Rome. Letters to which purpose he had long before written to Cardinal Pole. Unto which mind he now returned again, after his compliance with the Pope under Queen Mary. And not above fourteen days before his death, while he lived with the Archbishop, he testified to him and others, those letters to Pole to be his; one of which is extant in Fox's Monuments, writ about 1534, and others of them be in MS. in the Cotton Library. Tonstal also allowed of the marriage of Priests, as permitted by the word of God. To all which I may add his judgment in point of justification, which was according to the doctrine of the Reformed: as appears by a book that he wrote and published ann. 1555, in quarto, Contra Blasphematores Johannis Redmanni de Justificatione. Which learned Divine, Dr. Redman, did on his death-bed declare freely his judgment for justification by faith. For which, it seems, several Papists had railed against him after his death; and occasioned this learned Bishop, even under Queen Mary, to take his part in the said book: which is, or was, among our Archbishop's books, by him given to the public library of Cambridge. Of this man Erasmus speaking, gave this character of him in his younger years, before he was Bishop: "That he was a man of a most unblameable life, exactly skilled in both kinds of learning, and not unversed in any good disciplines."

Thirlby, Boxal, Tresham, and Dr. Smith

Besides Tonstal, (whom the Archbishop caused to be decently buried under a fair stone, with an inscription in brass, in the parish church of Lambeth,) he entertained Thirlby, first Bishop of Westminster, late Bishop of Ely; and Boxal, D. D. of New college, Oxon. and late Dean of Peterborough and Windsor; a man, who though he were so great with Queen Mary, yet had the good principle to abstain from the cruel blood-shedding of the Protestants, giving neither his hand nor his consent thereunto. Thomas Tresham, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, was also sent to be with the Archbishop in custody. But he giving sureties, that he would neither by word nor deed attempt any thing against religion in the behalf of the Papacy, was set at liberty. To his custody also was committed Dr. Richard Smith, once Public Professor of Divinity in Oxford, a very fickle man, of whom some things have been spoken in Archbishop Cranmer's Memorials. Being with Archbishop Parker this year, he convinced him of many errors that he had divulged in a furious book by him writ against the marriage of Priests: insomuch that Smith now pretended to some detestation of it; and declared openly this his detestation of his book at Oxford, in the same schools in which he once read divinity: and he acknowledged there, that it was writ by him out of a vain ostentation of his wit and parts. And that if any doubted of those doctrines which he recanted, he desired such to come to him, and he was ready to satisfy them with very good reasons.

Smith and the Oath of Supremacy

Of this Smith I have something more to add: namely, that at the visitation at Oxford, (the Queen's visitors being, among many others, the Lord Williams of Thame, Dr. Richard Cox, Elect of Ely, Sir John Mason, and Dr. Walter Wright, Archdeacon of Oxford,) he did, it seems, refuse the oath of supremacy, required of him. Upon which he was sent up to the Council, and the Council remitted him to the Archbishop, and the Bishop of London, to whom they writ their letters to deal with Smith, to take the oath to the Queen: and the Archbishop was successful therein, and persuaded him to take it, and to make a subscription with his hand to the same purpose. Concerning which, the Archbishop writ a letter to the Council, together with Smith's subscription inserted; signifying, "that he and the Bishop of London had spent some time with Dr. Smith in conference; and what partly by our allegations, and he more pressly weighing the form of the oath of the Queen's supremacy by the exposition inserted in the injunctions, is contented to take it, as he saith, with a full persuaded conscience: and saith further, that if he had so understood it afore, as he seeth cause at this present, he would never have departed from Oxford. And now to some declaration of his conformity, I offered him to consider the form of a subscription, which we devised to be used in the order of visitation: whereunto he hath, as your Lordships will see, subscribed gladly." And so desiring to know their Lordships' further pleasure concerning him, &c. The issue was, that they took bonds of him, and had others bound for him, and then let him go to Oxford, to be ordered by the visitors there; that is, to take his oath, and make his recantation.

The Archbishop's Letter to the Oxford Visitors

But Smith obtained so much favour, by his crafty dealing, at the hands of the good Archbishop, that he wrote a letter to the visitors, which Smith was to be the bearer of, that they would deal favourably with him, and expose him not too publicly. Smith having told the Archbishop, that he might thereby be so discredited as not to be able to do that service in the University that otherwise he might and would. Therefore the Archbishop signified in his letter to Sir John Mason and Dr. Wright, the visitors, "that the Queen's Counsellors willed him to take sufficient bonds of Dr. Smith to repair to their presence, to declare before them his subscription to the articles of the Queen's supremacy, for the order of service received, and for the authority and lawfulness of the injunctions, to be confessed also before them. Now forasmuch as the said Dr. Smith feared, that if ye should summo jure ("by the strictest right of the law") order him, and produce him too much openly, he should too suddenly discredit himself for any good doing, as he promised to do to his utmost power, as may be used with prudence. And therefore he offereth himself to me [as the Archbishop proceeded] that he will gladly travel at your commandment, to reduce any wilful or stubborn person, bona fide ("in good faith"), to the like conformity. Whereupon this shall be to pray you, upon the trust I have in his sincerity, that ye use him the more indifferently, as may stand with your commission. Your assured loving friend, Mat. Elect Cant."

Smith Overreaches the Archbishop

This letter, thus kindly writ for him by the Archbishop, Smith, upon some crotchet or other, took not with him when he returned to Oxford, either not liking some passage in it, or thinking to shift well enough without it: and so he left it behind him. Now after this job was over with him at Oxford, he used his wits to get clear his sureties that were bound for him; which he also compassed by his craft and lying, and herein over-reached the unwary Archbishop again. For this purpose he addressed a letter to the Archbishop, thanking him for his charitable entreating him, when he was with him; and then went on to tell him this formal story: "that the wife of one of his sureties named Roger Smith, his cousin, did so sore trouble her husband, because he was bound for him in such a great bond, that she would not continue in house with him, except he were discharged: and that were pity," added Smith, "for that they had many goodly witty children: and that she had in her keeping a cap-case of his [Dr. Smith's] with gold in it and money, which she would not deliver to him until her husband were out of that obligation: and that he had no money but that to pay his debts; and so should be constrained to sell his books, bedding, and apparel, and to give up the studying divinity, to teach children; which would be not only his undoing, but some hindrance to his setting forth of God's word, and the truth of it. That his tarrying there in Oxon was very chargeful, as he had no living: and therefore that, except his Lordship would grant his petition, he must depart straight away. That his other surety was his own sister's son; to whom he gave thirty pounds to set up his craft; which he did so dearly love, that he would not undo him in no case; as he said he should, if he should depart out of the realm: because the obligation would be broken thereby." And so he desired that his Grace would let only him and his said nephew stand bound; and that he would never break that bond, if death should follow thereof. Deum testem invoco in animam meam, si mentior. ("I call God to witness upon my soul, if I lie.") And much more he writes to the Archbishop to this purpose. And yet, as it is written by the Archbishop's Secretary in the midst of the letter, "notwithstanding this earnest promise and bond, yet this good Father fled into Paris; such was his faith."

I cannot here omit another piece of Smith's fraud, to conceal his purpose of flying, and to make the harmless Archbishop believe his sincerity: which was thus compassed; in a letter which he wrote to the Archbishop, he prayed him, that he would order his Chaplain Mr. Perse [Peerson I suppose] to write out a few of the best authorities and reasons, which his Honour had gathered to prove the marriages of Priests to be lawful: that he might use them, when he should either speak or write for the defence thereof. Both which, he said, he minded to do, as soon as he could conveniently. But we have said enough, and too much of this man, contemptible and infamous for his shifting falsehood and inconstancy. He was afterwards preferred in the college of Doway, and made Dean of St. Peter's there, and died in the year 1563.

The Grant of Arms

The time of the Archbishop elect's consecration drawing near, as a mark of greater honour, and that his seal for his offices and courts might be ready, Sir Gilbert Dethick, Principal King of Arms, called Garter, added to his paternal coat on chevron argent, the three estoils, gules. Confirmed by Garter's patents, an authentic copy still remaining in the Heralds' Office, bearing date November 28, 1559. Therein he gave the Archbishop his testimony, "to be a gentleman of a good family, bearing arms; and that he was a person that merited in all places to be admitted and received into the number and society of illustrious persons. And that for his laudable merits, excellent endowments of mind, and great dexterity in managing affairs, he [the said Garter] had given him that addition to his arms." But behold the patent, favourably communicated to me by Sir Henry St. George, then Clarencieux, now Garter:

Garter's Patent

Omnibus Christi fidelibus has præsentes literas inspecturis, visuris, vel audituris, Gilbertus Dethick, alias Garter, miles, Principalis Rex Armorum Anglicorum, salutem, cum debita et humili commendatione. Æquitas vult, et ratio postulat, quod homines virtuosi, laudabilis dispositionis, et vitæ honorabilis, sicut per eorum merita honorati et remunerati in suis personis existentes in hac vita mortali tam brevi et transitoria, et in quolibet loco honoris præ cæteris exaltati, demonstrando signa et exempla virtutis, honoris ac etiam humanitatis, ea intentione ut per eorum exempla alii magis conentur eorum vitam in bonis operibus et factis clarissimis exercere; et ideo ego prædictus Rex Armorum ut supra, non solum ex divulgata fama, verum etiam ex meo, cæterorumque nobilium fide dignorum testimonio, sum veraciter instructus et informatus, quod Reverend. in Christo Pater Dom. MATTHÆUS PARKER, Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis, est præclara familia ortus, gerens arma vel insignia, ac diu in virtute claruit, ac veri et Christiani Præsulis officio functus est, ac in dies fungitur; adeo ut mereatur, et dignus sit in omnibus locis honoris admitti, numerari et recipi in numerum et consortium aliorum veterum et illustrium virorum. Quapropter cum mecum ipse perpendere laudabilia ipsius mérita, et egregias ipsius animi dotes, magnumque in rebus gerendis dexteritatem, aliquod in eum affectionis signum, virtutis testimonium exhibere volui. Igitur additione in ipsius arma; quibus antecessores sui ab antiquo tempore utebantur, in hunc ut sequitur modum decoravi, viz. Sur unge chevron d'argent trois estoilles, geules, ut latius in scuto hic depicto apparet; habendum et gaudendum prædicta arma unà cum additamento prædict. dicti Reverend. Patri Matthæo Parker Archiepiscopo, ut supra, et ut ipse in his ornatus sit ad ejus honorem in perpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum meum ad arma præsentibus apposui, ac manu mea propria subscripsi. Dat. Londini, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo nono, Die vero xxviii mensis Novembr. ac anno regni Elizabethæ Dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ Reginæ, Fidei Defensoris, &c. secundo.

Translation:

To all faithful Christians who shall inspect, see, or hear these present letters, Gilbert Dethick, otherwise Garter, knight, Principal King of Arms of England, greeting, with due and humble commendation. Equity wills it, and reason demands, that men of virtue, of praiseworthy disposition, and of honourable life — as they are honoured and rewarded according to their merits in their own persons while living in this mortal life, so brief and transitory, and in every place of honour exalted above others, displaying signs and examples of virtue, honour, and also humanity — do so to the end that by their example others may strive the more to exercise their lives in good works and in most illustrious deeds; and therefore I, the aforesaid King of Arms as above, not only from common report, but also from my own and from the testimony of other trustworthy nobles, am truly instructed and informed, that the Reverend Father in Christ, Lord MATTHEW PARKER, Archbishop of Canterbury, is sprung from an illustrious family, bearing arms or insignia, and has long shone in virtue, and has discharged and daily discharges the office of a true and Christian Prelate; so that he deserves, and is worthy, in all places of honour to be admitted, numbered, and received into the number and fellowship of other ancient and illustrious men. Wherefore, when I had considered with myself his praiseworthy merits, and the excellent endowments of his mind, and his great dexterity in managing affairs, I wished to show some token of affection toward him, a testimony of virtue. Therefore I have adorned his arms, which his ancestors used from ancient time, with an addition in the manner that follows, viz. On a silver chevron three estoiles, red, as appears more fully in the shield here depicted; the aforesaid arms, together with the aforesaid addition, to be had and enjoyed by the said Reverend Father Matthew Parker, Archbishop, as above, and that he himself in these things may be adorned to his honour for ever. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal of arms to these presents, and subscribed with my own hand. Given at London, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and fifty-nine, on the twenty-eighth day of the month of November, and in the second year of the reign of Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Verses upon the Arms

And here I may subjoin an ingenious copy of verses made in those times; being a poetical, but apt signification of the keys and the stars in our Archbishop's coat of arms aforesaid, with the motto.

<poem>So God it would, that he in shield should bear The keys, his sign of ancient gentle race, By God's decree, by whom appointed were The heavenly keys of skill, and eke of grace. Thereby to shew, O England, plain to thee, The treasures great which thou art blest to see.

So God it would, that he whose prudent sight Disclosed is, by using well the keys, Should jointly bear the stars of heavenly light, In word to teach, in life to shine always. For stars give light, and beautify the sky ; So learning shines with life accordingly.

So God it would, that men of worthy fame, By noble acts, by wit and learning tried, Should honour have, deserving so the same ; That in their arms, their name should still abide. Yet they, the world, both reason, will and lust, With man himself, at length must turn to dust.</poem>

END OF BOOK I.

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.