Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter VIII
This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter VIII, 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 Queen in her progress displeased with the Clergy. An order against women's living in cathedrals and colleges. The Secretary's letter to the Archbishop; and the Bishop of Ely's to him hereupon. The Queen declares to the Archbishop her offence at Bishops' and Priests' marriages. The Archbishop's thoughts of it.
The Queen's Progress
THIS summer the Queen went a progress into Essex and Suffolk. I find her at Colchester the latter end of July; and thence she went to Ipswich. Here her Majesty took a great dislike at the imprudent behaviour of many of the Ministers and Readers; there being many weak ones among them, and little or no order observed in the public service, and few or none wearing the surplice.[ed 1] And the Bishop of Norwich himself was thought remiss, and winked at schismatics. But more particularly she was offended with the Clergy's marriage, and that in cathedrals and colleges there were so many wives, and women, and children seen: which, she said, was so contrary to the intent of the founders, and so much tending to the interruption of the studies of such who were placed there.
An Order Against Women in Cathedrals
Therefore she issued out an order to all dignitaries, dated August 9. at Ipswich, to forbid all resort of women to the lodgings of cathedrals or colleges; and that upon pain of losing their ecclesiastical promotions. And this order was to be entered into their books of statutes, and to be reputed as parcel of the statutes. The copy of this order was sent by the Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury for his province; to the Archbishop of York for his; and to the Chancellors of the two Universities for their charges. And this injunction was as followeth:
The Queen's Injunction
By the Queen.
ELIZABETH.[1]
"The Queen's Majesty, considering how the palaces and houses of the cathedral churches and colleges of this realm have been both of ancient and late time builded and enclosed in severally, to sustain and keep societies of learned men, professing study and prayer, for the edification of the Church, and so constantly to serve that commonweal; and understanding of late, that within the "houses thereof, as well the chief governor, as the prebendaries, students, and members thereof, being married, do keep particular housholds with their wives, children, and nurses; whereof no small offence groweth to the intent of the founders, and to the quiet and orderly profession of study and learning within the same; hath thought meet to provide remedy herein, lest by sufferance thereof the rest of the colleges, especially such as be so replenished with young students, as the very rooms and buildings be not answerable for such families of women and young children, should follow the like example: and therefore expressly willeth and commandeth, that no manner of person, being either the Head or member of any college or cathedral church within this realm, shall, from the time of the notification hereof in the same college, have, or be permitted to have, within the precinct of any such college, his wife, or other woman, to abide and dwell in the same; or to frequent or haunt any lodging within the same college, upon pain, that whosoever shall do to the contrary shall forfeit all ecclesiastical promotions in any cathedral or collegiate church within this realm. And for continuance of this order, her Majesty "willeth, that the transcript hereof shall be written in the book of the statutes of every such college, and shall be reputed as parcel of the statutes of the same. Given under our signet, at our town of Ipswich, 9th of August, in the third year of our reign."
Cecil's Account to the Archbishop
When Secretary Cecil[ed 2] sent this injunction to the Archbishop, he knew that it could not be well taken by him, who was himself a married man, and much for the Clergy's liberty of marriage; and so was Cecil himself: but he plainly told the Archbishop, how the Queen still continued an enemy to the state of matrimony in Priests; and was near at a point to have forbidden it them absolutely, had he not been very stiff at this juncture. But for her satisfaction he passed over this matter with her by that present device. And this was the Secretary's letter to the Archbishop.[2]
"Your Grace shall understand, that I have had hitherto a troublesome progress, to stay the Queen's Majesty from daily offence conceived against the Clergy, by reason of the undiscreet behaviour of the Readers and Ministers in these countries of Suffolk and Essex. Surely here be many slender Ministers, and such nakedness of religion as it overthroweth my credit. Her Majesty continueth very ill affected to the state of matrimony in the Clergy. And if I were not therein very stiff, her Majesty would utterly and openly condemn and forbid it. In the end, for her satisfaction, this injunction now sent to your Grace is devised. The good order thereof shall do no harm. I have devised to send it in this sort to your Grace for your province; and to the Archbishop of York for his; and to the Chancellors of the two Universities for their charge; so as it shall not be promulged to be popular. The Bishop of Norwich is blamed even of the best sort for his remissness in ordering his Clergy. He winketh at Schismatics and Anabaptists, as I am informed. Surely I see great variety in ministration. A surplice may not be borne here. And the Ministers follow the folly of the people, calling it charity to feed their fond humour. Oh! my Lord, what shall become of this time? The Lady Katherine Grey[ed 3] is known to be big with child by the Earl of Hertford. She is committed to the Tower, and he sent for home. She saith she is married. I beseech your Grace devise of some meet Master for St. John's college in Cambridge, and write to me therein; so as I may shew your letter to the Queen's Majesty. From Smallbridge,[ed 4] 12. August, 1561. Your Grace's at commandment, W. Cecil."
Strype's Observations
By which letter we perceive not only the Queen's displeasure against the Bishops and Clergy, and why; but also in what ill state the English ministry, at least in those parts of the nation, then was, and how averse the common people were to the ecclesiastical habits, and how the people more scrupled the seeing the surplice, than the Ministers the wearing it. And withal we observe here the good and cordial temper and concern of the Secretary, both for the Church and University. But to our subject. The Archbishop dutifully dispersed the foresaid commandment of the Queen through his province, by the Bishop of London.
The Bishop of Ely's Protest
But how sadly this was resented among the Bishops, may appear by a letter which I have seen, of Cox, Bishop of Ely,[ed 5] to the Archbishop. He considered, what a great inconvenience this would prove, if the Prebendaries' wives should not be allowed to live within the close. This would be a great occasion of non-residence; for they would live with their wives and families. And so there would be more non-residents than before, there being in many cathedrals not above one or two dwelling there, and in his church there was but one with his family. And so all good housekeeping would be destroyed. He trusted the Queen might be brought to allow three or four families in each cathedral. But it may not be amiss to read his letter.[3]
"Sal. in Christo.[ed 6] I have received of late from your Grace, by my Lord of London, a copy of an edict from the Queen's Majesty concerning Priests' wives, not to remain in colleges or cathedral churches. Truly methinketh it very reasonable, that places of students should be in all quietness among themselves, and not troubled with any families of women or babes. But when I considered on the other part concerning cathedral churches, I mused upon what ground or information that should be so ordained. Forasmuch as it is not needful, but at this present very miserable, and sounding contrary to the ordinance of the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures of God. In cathedral churches ye know the Dean and Prebendaries have large and several houses, one distant from another. And if their wives be driven out, I suppose ye shall seldom find in most of the churches either Dean or Prebendary resident there. It is also miserable, for that in some churches there is not past one or two there dwelling, and have small livings besides their prebends. Now if their families be hurled out suddenly, it seemeth a poor reward for their preaching and godly travail hitherto. There is but one Prebendary continually dwelling with his family in Ely church. Turn him out, daws and owls may dwell there for any continual house-keeping. It is miserable that the poor men's families should be turned out; and miserable that such a number of houses should be left desolate. God mercifully provided for his Clergy among his people in Moses's time; neither married Bishop, Priest, nor Levite, was unprovided for living and house. Ye will say, that time was Jewish. Nay, God saw that such marriage was natural, and, as St. Paul saith, honourable; and to forbid or deface marriage is the doctrine of devils. And therefore the Holy Ghost gave a general rule to Deacons, Priests, and Bishops, that they should be the husbands of one wife, keeping hospitality, bringing up their families virtuously; whereby they might be counted worthier for an higher government in Christ's Church. Albeit of late years, fond and blind devotion in the Latin Church hath marvellously perverted this godly ordinance, with forbidding that which God made free, and with separating of them whom God hath joined. Methinks, I can neither doubt nor distrust, but if the Queen's tender, merciful, and zealous heart towards God's truth were humbly and gently moved in this case, she would bear with my poor man, and some others this winter: and I trust would hereafter suffer two, three, or four, to remain in such vast cathedral churches, as have rooms plenty and several. What rejoicing and jeering the adversaries make; how the godly Ministers are discouraged, I will pass over, and so leave you. Dominus Jesus[ed 7], &c."
The Queen's Bitterness Against Clerical Marriage
But to shew here what a prejudice the Queen had against the Clergy's taking wives, it may appear hence, that near this time, or a little after, the Archbishop came according to his custom to wait upon her Majesty, to know if she had any thing to say to him concerning religion or the Church: when she took occasion to speak in that bitterness against the holy estate of matrimony, and especially against this estate in the Clergy, that the Archbishop was in a horror to hear her. Angry in effect she was with the Bishops, and the whole state of the Clergy upon that account, and repented her for making married men Bishops, and wishing it had been otherwise. Which the Archbishop attributed to certain persons about her that hated true religion, and did it to subvert the Gospel of Christ. It grieved him to observe how hereby the Queen diminished the authority of her Bishops, and lessened their credit, and so their power among the people was become very weak for doing her service. This was, as some observed, contrary to the practice of all princes, whoever cherished the ecclesiastical state. The Archbishop took notice of the Queen's order against Prebendaries' wives to remain within the bounds of the cathedrals.
A Secret Letter to Cecil
The ill policy of which he charged, as driving out hospitality out of those places, and the emptying of the chief cities of good preachers. And he observed how unkind this was, when people of inferior ranks, as porters, and pantlers, and horse-keepers, might have their wives and their cradles going in these places, and only her learned and godly preachers must not have that liberty. This and much more he said in a secret letter to Secretary Cecil, written to him upon this rencounter of the Queen, which he took so heavily. For the sight of this notable letter, I refer the reader to the Appendix, Numb. XVII.
Threatened Injunctions
There was one passage in the Queen's angry speech to the Archbishop, which as it startled him more than all the rest, so I cannot omit the mention of it. Which was, that she told him, she had other manner of injunctions, which should follow; as though she had thoughts of setting out injunctions in favour of Popery. For so the Archbishop seemed to understand her words, when reflecting upon them he told the Secretary very seriously, "That there would not be wanting of that contemptible flock, that would not shrink to offer their blood for the defence of Christ's verity. And that he would be sorry that the Clergy should have cause to shew their disobedience to her, and be forced to use the words of the Apostle, We must obey God rather than men.[ed 8] But as he added, he attributed these words of the Queen to some humanus æstus[ed 9], sudden heat incident to human nature, conceived upon untrue reports raised against them by their enemies; and doubted not but her Majesty would well consider in matters of such importance, and use Theodosius' days of deliberation.[ed 10] And he trusted, that as she had begun godly in this good work, [of reforming religion,] so God would stay her heart, and move her to go on and to finish."
Notes
Editorial Notes
- ↑ The surplice, the white linen vestment worn over the cassock; its use was a point of contention between conformists and the more radical reformers.
- ↑ William Cecil (1520–1598), the Queen's Secretary of State, later Lord Burghley.
- ↑ Lady Katherine Grey (1540–1568), sister of Lady Jane Grey; her secret marriage to Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, angered the Queen.
- ↑ Smallbridge Place, near Bures St Mary, Suffolk.
- ↑ Richard Cox (c. 1500–1581), Bishop of Ely from 1559.
- ↑ Salutem in Christo — "Greeting in Christ."
- ↑ Dominus Jesus — "The Lord Jesus."
- ↑ Acts 5:29.
- ↑ Humanus æstus — "human heat," i.e. a sudden passion; Strype himself glosses it as "sudden heat incident to human nature."
- ↑ A reference to the Emperor Theodosius I, who at St Ambrose's bidding set aside days of deliberation before carrying out a sentence of death.
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.