Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter IV

This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter IV, prepared according to the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. It adds descriptive section headings, English translations of Latin passages (with the original preserved), verified internal links, and editorial notes clearly distinguished from Strype's text. Strype's wording, historical spelling, and substance are preserved.

The Archbishop takes care of the vacant sees: especially those of the north. His Admonition concerning Matrimony, set forth. An order concerning preaching. A message from the Protestants in Germany. The visitors of Cambridge advise the Archbishop, of Cosins of Katherine hall, his resignation. The Council sends to the Archbishop concerning the Popish Bishops in the Tower. He writes in behalf of some of the Dutch Church, London, in the inquisition in Flanders. Appoints a special form of prayer. Forbids the ordination of mechanics.

The Vacant Sees of the North

THERE were three great and rich bishoprics yet undisposed; which required some longer deliberation, what sufficient men to place in them: namely, the archbishopric of York, and the bishoprics of Winton and Durham. William May, LL. D. Dean of St. Paul's, under King Edward, and also in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, a wise and wellweighed man, was resolved upon for the archbishopric, but he

fell sick, and died before he was consecrated, as was said before. In this vacancy, care was taken that some able preachers should be sent into those dioceses to preach to the people, and to keep them quiet in the Queen's proceedings.

The Archbishop was thought the fittest to recommend proper men for this work. And the Earl of Winchester, who was Lord Treasurer, sent a letter to the Archbishop, signifying that he had desired of the Queen, that some preachers might be appointed in those three sees not yet filled: that is, for York two or three, for Durham two, and for Winchester two; to be appointed by the Dean and Chapter of each diocese. And that the Queen had directed to take the Archbishop's advice herein, and to accept such as he should name to that charge: which was the occasion of his writing to the Archbishop: adding, that he would allow to the said Preachers for their pains and charges forty mark between that and Michaelmas: and desired accordingly his letters to the parties by him to be named to this office. This letter was writ in July.

Soliciting for the Northern Sees

The northern parts remained some months after unsupplied with Bishops, the Court (perhaps by the counsel of the Lord Treasurer) being loath yet to let go the plentiful temporalties belonging to them. This troubled the good Archbishop, solicitous to see the Church of England filled with her Bishops: for he saw well the great inconveniences of the want of faithful pastors, to oversee and govern the Church at this time, and to keep the Queen's subjects in good order, and well instructed in true religion: and therefore thought it highly necessary to call upon the Court again, (as he had done oft before,) to have those vacant sees filled. He addresseth therefore on the 12th of October, to the Secretary, (whom it was his custom to apply to in all such cases,) "instantly desiring him to make request to the Queen's Majesty, that some Bishops might be appointed into the north. " That it was not credible how often it was desired at divers " men's hands, and how the people there were offended, that " they were nothing cared for. Alas ! (said the Archbishop,) they be poor, rude of their own natures; and the more had

" need to be looked to, for retaining them in quiet and civility. He feared, that whatsoever was then through good " husbandry saved, would be an occasion of further expense, " in keeping them down, if (as he prayed God to forefend) they should be too much Irish and savage. Peradventure (added he) Terence counselled not amiss, pecuniam in loco negligere, summum interdum lucrum; i. e. that upon a fitting occasion to disregard money, may prove the greatest 87 " gain. He knew the Queen's disposition to be graciously " bent to have her people to know and fear God.

Why

" then (demanded he) should others hinder her good zeal for " money-sake, as it was most commonly judged ?” Then he proceeded to recommend some, as fit persons to be preferred to those bishoprics. " That if such as had been

" named to York and Durham were not acceptable, or of " themselves not inclined to be bestowed there, he would " wish that some such as were placed already were translated thither. And, if they were minded to have a lawyer at "York, in his opinion the Bishop of St. David's, Dr. Yong, was both witty, prudent, and temperate, and manlike. " That the Bishop of Rochester [ Guest ] would be well be" stowed at Durham, nigh to his own country. And the " two other bishoprics might more easily be provided for, " and with less inconvenience, though they for a time stood " void: and if, to be joined with him, the deanery of Dur" ham were bestowed upon Mr. Skinner, (whom he esteem" ed learned, wise, and expert,) he thought they could not " better place them." His advice concerning Skinner took place; for he was preferred to the deanery: and likewise for the translation of the Bishop of St. David's. And whereas any fear might arise, that these whom he had named might injure the revenues of these bishoprics, he reminded the Secretary of what caution he had formerly given for the preventing this: saying, that if either of them, damage. or any of them all, should be feared to hurt the state of their churches, by exercising any extraordinary courses for packing and purchasing, that fear might soon be prevented; viz. that they had old precedents in law, practised in times past, for such parties suspected, to be bound at their entry to leave their churches in no worse case by their defaults, than they found them: and then, said he, what would you have more of us?

An Admonition Concerning Matrimony

In fine, like a compassionate Father of the Church, he concluded this address with an earnest expostulation, to this tenor that he had aforetime wearied him in this suit; and until he saw these strange delays determined, he should not cease to trouble their time. If they heard him not for justice sake, and for the zeal they must bear for Christ's dear souls, importunity should win one day, he doubted not. For he saw it had obtained a judicibus iniquis, quanto magis a misericordibus; i. e. from unrighteous judges, much rather would it prevail with such as were merciful. And thus concluding, that he should offer his prayers to God, that he, the Secretary, might find grace in his solicitation to the Queen's Majesty for the comfort of her people, and the discharge of her own soul. The Archbishop this year set forth An Admonition for the Necessity of the present Time, [as the title thereof run,] till a further Consultation, to all such as shall intend hereafter to enter the State of Matrimony godly, and agreeable to Law. This he found highly needful, because of the lawless and incestuous marriages that in these times had much prevailed. This same Admonition was printed, and appointed to be set up in churches. And the observation of this order is still required, as is ordinarily to be seen in the churches of the kingdom to this day, the Admonition hanging up in all parish churches. And therefore I shall not here insert it; but only observe what I find of the Archbishop's own hand, writ on the sides of one of these printed Admonitions; as namely these passages. Levit. xviii. and xx. None shall come near to any of the kindred of his flesh, to uncover her shame. On the side of this is writ, Textus intelligendus, de gradibus, non tantum de personis. ("The text is to be understood of degrees, not only of persons.") These sentences stand variously here and there in the margent, viz. " Liberi duorum fratrum, vel duarum sororum, vel fra" tris et sororis, contrahunt; nec jure divino vel civili prohibentur, jure communi et usitato et speciali in conjunctionibus spectandum non quod liceat, sed quod honestum." " Ubi par gradus et eadem ratio est: ubi et par prohibitio, et similis constitutio est. Ut si proneptem ducere " prohibetur in gradu remotiore, multo magis neptem." " Mulier, si duobus nupserit fratribus, abjiciatur usque

" in diem mortis. Sed propter humanitatem in extremis suis, 88 " sacris reconciliari oportet. Ita tamen ut si forte recuperarit, matrimonio soluto ad pœnitentiam admittatur. " Concilio Neocæsariensi, Can. 2."

Ex

" Mariti filius ex alia uxore, et uxoris filia ex alio matrimonio, rectè contrahunt." " Quis ex his, quas legibus, et moribus prohibemur uxores 66 ducere, duxerit, incestum committere. L. Sororis. F. ritu."

" Hen. VIII. 25. ca. 22. This statute * repealed, but * Wherein be declared yet the reason of the law doth remain, which saith, that the degrees of marriage " there be degrees prohibited by God's word." prohibited " Fratris uxorem ducendi, vel duabus sororibus conjunby God's laws. " gendi penitus licentiam submovemus, nec dissoluto quo66 cunque modo conjugio."

" Inter consanguineos viri et consanguineos mulieris, " nulla est affinitas. Unde duo fratres contrahunt duabus " sororibus, et pater, et filius cum matre et filia.

Affinitas

" est inter consanguineos mulieris, et ipsum virum, et con"sanguineos viri, et ipsam mulierem. De Cons. et Aff. ca. quod super." " Soror mea habuit maritum, ea mortua maritus ejus filiam accepit. Quo defuncto potero cum ejus relicta contrahere. Quod inter me et illam relictam nulla est affinitas."

Omittuntur in lege; quamvis' existimem prohibitiones in lege commemoratas ideo proponi, ut

Pellicanus

" Avia,

ex illis evidenter intelligamus

Basilius.

" Uxor avi, " Conjunx " Patrui,

quid in consimilibus gradibus Antonius, facere deceat. Petrus Martyr (Part. iii. in Judic. cap. primo. Et putat has prohibitiones naturales esse, propterea quia Canaanæi reprehendunt. "

tit. 1. cap. 11.

" Brentius " Lambertus

Vatablus Concedunt uni duas sorores ducere.

Phagius

Lyranus " Matrimonium " clandestinum,

Quod non habet testes. Quod non fit solennitate.

An Order Concerning Preaching

Quod non denuntiatur publicè."

An Order Concerning Preaching

I shall add only this more concerning this Admonition: that it was printed first by Reginald Wolf, Printer to King Edward VI. as now, in the beginning of this reign, to the Queen. And in the end of this first edition, it is forbid, " that any under the degree of a Master of Art preach or expound the Scripture; but only to read the Homilies: nor to innovate or alter any thing, or use any other rite, but only what is set forth by authority." This order, thus subjoined to the Admonition, that was to be set up in every church, and so the more obvious to be read by all Priests and Curates, as well as others, was doubtless to hinder raw and indigested heterodox preaching, and so to keep up the reputation and soundness of it, and to prevent the mixing of any Popish superstitions in the public worship.

A Message from the German Protestants

This year, a letter, and certain articles of religion, as it seems, were sent to the Queen from some learned men in Germany, to propound an accommodation for union among all that professed the Gospel. The Queen ordered Secretary Petre to send them to the Archbishop to consider of: to the intent she might the better make such speedy answer to the messenger that brought them, as should be convenient. The Archbishop was required to come the next day to the Court to understand her Majesty's further pleasure. I find this letter of Petre to the Archbishop, but I am sorry I can give no more account of so material an occurrence.

The Master of Katherine Hall Resigns

William Bill, D. D. one of the visitors of Cambridge, but now at Court, being Almoner to the Queen, signified to the Archbishop by a letter July the 7th, that Cozins, Master of Katherine hall, Cambridge, had made a resignation of his mastership freely in writing, and had delivered the same unto him, the said Bill, to the intent his Grace, or other the

visitors, might nominate or commend, by his letters to the Fellows of the said college, some fit person for the said room; who must be, he said, by their statutes, either Doctor or Bachelor of Divinity: and so desiring the Archbishop to recommend somebody, he concluded. Writ from the Court at Greenwich. This Cozin was he that came in Master upon the putting out of Dr. Sandys, in the beginning of Queen Mary's reign, by the order of Bishop Gardiner, the Chancellor, to the Fellows, to elect him: and being a creature of Gardiner's, was a busy man in that reign, and one in commission for prosecuting Protestants. And now I suppose the visitors might have some matters against him, which might have been sufficient to deprive him. Or perhaps he not minded, because of his religion, to tarry longer in the University, thought it his best way quietly to resign. He that succeeded in the mastership was John May, brother, I Dr. May. suppose, to William May, Dean of St. Paul's. This John was afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, and might be he that was recommended to the college by the Archbishop.

The Popish Bishops in the Tower

Divers of the more eminent of Queen Mary's Clergy had Liberty to Bishops refused to take the oath of supremacy to Queen Elizabeth, the imprisoned having been cited some before the Privy Council, and some to eat together. before the Queen's ecclesiastical Commissioners for that purpose: and so for that denial were committed to prison, and deprived.

They that lay in the Tower were these that follow: Hethe, late Archbishop of York, and Lord Chancellor of England; Dr. Pates, late Bishop of Wigorn; Dr. Thirl by, late Bishop of Ely; Dr. Watson, of Lincoln; Dr. Turbervile, of Oxon; Dr. Boxal, late Dean of Windsor;

Dr. Feckenham, late Abbot of Westminster; Dr. Bourn, late Secretary, and Bishop of Bath and Wells. These lying under some closer restraint, petitioned the Lords of the Council, that though they were kept asunder,

yet that they might have the liberty to eat together at mealtimes. But being committed by the Archbishop, and other the Commissioners, the Lords sent to the Archbishop an account of what was by these prisoners desired; and that if he approved of it, he might send his order to the Lieutenant of

Interceding for Protestants in Flanders

the Tower, to allow them so to do: prescribing nevertheless the order unto them; namely, that Dr. Heth, Dr. Boxal, Dr. Pates, and Dr. Feckenham, be admitted to one company to one of the tables; and to the other table, Dr. Thirl by, Dr. Bourn, Dr. Watson, and Dr. Turbervile. But if he thought not fit that this liberty should be granted them, then to signify it unto the Lords. The Arch The summer of this year our Archbishop was concerned bishop intercedes for tenderly for the condition of some poor foreigners: who, liv some Protestants in ing in England for their religion, went for some time into Flanders. Flanders, their occasions calling them thither; where they fell into the cruel hands of the Inquisitors: in whose behalf our Archbishop, by letters to the magistrates where they were detained, interceded. The case was this. While the persecution lasted in Flanders under King Philip of Spain, many fled into England, taking shelter under the protection of Queen Elizabeth, and joined themselves to the Dutch Church in London. Among the rest, there were these three of Steenwerk, Christian Quekere, Jaques Dionysart, and Jean De Salomez; who, upon some occasion going back into Flanders, were seized not long after their landing at Nieuport, and brought prisoners to the town of Furne. Here they were examined by Inquisitors, and urged to forsake their profession of the Gospel; but they remained stedfast. So that when their friends of the Dutch Church of England saw nothing but death likely to befall them, they prevailed with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London, their Superintendent, to send their letters to the magistrates of Furne, to release these prisoners: which the Archbishop and Bishop did, the letters being signed with their names, as also with the name of Haddon, Master of the Requests, and others about the Queen. They certified therein, that these good men passed along in the highway without any misbehaving themselves, or holding any dispute with any, and were innocent as to the committing any thing against the laws of the country. That for their faith they might not be molested, living within the Queen's dominions; as the Queen had given free leave to foreigners in case of

religion. They mentioned the command the Queen had given, that none of the subjects of the Low Countries coming into England, and carrying themselves modestly, should be meddled withal. But that if they should deal too hardly 90 with those of the religion, who had submitted themselves to her Majesty, and dwelt under her protection, she should be constrained to make the same measure to those of other nations. But she hoped and expected the contrary from the wisdom of these magistrates. This was dated July 26, 1660.

These letters the magistrates of Furne sent to the

A Special Form of Prayer

King's Council at Brussels: but they laboured to extenuate their authority, giving out that they were forged by some Lutherans, and so notwithstanding, they resolved to proceed against these honest men, according to the extremity of their laws; and in fine put them to death by strangling and burning. I find our Archbishop issuing out two needful precepts to The Archbishop's orhis provincial Bishops this summer. The one was, an order der for for prayer for the preventing of God's judgments, and paron prayer, upunseaticularly that which was feared from the weather that now sonable proved unseasonable. This occasioned him to prescribe a weather. short form to be used thrice in the week for seasonable weather, and also for good success of the common affairs of the realm. And it was framed not only to be read at this present time, but also at any time hereafter, when like occasion should arise, at the discretion of the Ordinary, within the province of Canterbury. The preface to this short form began thus: " That we were taught by many and sundry ex-Regist. Grind. " amples of holy Scripture, that upon occasion of particular punishments, afflictions, and perils, which God of his most "just judgments hath sent among his people, to shew his " wrath against sin, and to call his people to repentance, " and to the redress of their lives, the godly have been pro" voked and stirred up to more fervency and diligence in prayer, fasting, and alms deeds; to a more deep consider-

❝ation of their consciences, to ponder their unthankfulness, " &c." This form was sent to the Bishop of London, enelosed in the Archbishop's letter July 7; and he forthwith

enjoined his Archdeacons, to give commandment to all CuII. rates and Ministers in their respective archdeaconries, to observe the said book duly, and to begin their service at eight of the clock in the morning every day.

Forbidding the Ordination of Mechanics

The inconvenience of admitting laymen of mechanical trades and occupations into the ministry, was soon espied; many of them by reason either of their ignorance, or want

Regist. Grind.

of grave behaviour, rendering themselves despised or hated by the people. The Archbishop therefore resolved, that no more of this sort should be received into Orders: and thereupon sent his directions and commandment to the Bishop of London, and the rest of the Bishops of his province, to forbear it for the future, till a Convocation should be called, further to consider of it. His letter to the Bishop of London ran to this tenor:

His letter to the Bishop of London.

" That whereas, occasioned by a great want of Ministers, " both he and they, for tolerable supply thereof, had here" tofore admitted unto the ministry sundry artificers and " others, not traded and brought up in learning; and as it happened in a multitude, some that were of base occu66 pations: forasmuch as now by experience it was seen, that " such manner of men, partly by reason of their former pro" fane arts, partly by their light behaviour otherwise, and " trade of life, were very offensive unto the people; yea, " and to the wise of this realm, they were thought to do a " great deal more hurt than good; the Gospel thereby sus66 taining slander: these therefore were to desire and require " them hereafter, to be more circumspect in admitting any " to the ministry; and only to allow such, as, having good " testimony of their honest conversation, had been traded and " exercised in learning; or at the least had spent their time in 66 teaching of children, excluding all others which had been brought up and sustained themselves, either by occupa❝tions or other kinds of life, alienated from learning. This " he prayed him diligently to look to, and to observe not only in his own person, but also to signify this his adver" tisement to others of their brethren, Bishops of his pro" vince, in as good speed as he might

so that he and they

66 might stay from collating such Orders to so unmeet per- " sons; until such time as in a Convocation they might meet together, and have further conference thereof. " Lambeth the 15th of August. "

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, verified internal links, and editorial notes added per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. Strype's text faithfully transcribed from the Google Books scan; spelling and substance as in the original.