Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter XIII
This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter XIII, prepared according to the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. It adds descriptive section headings, English translations of Latin passages (with the original preserved), and editorial notes clearly distinguished from Strype's text. Strype's wording, historical spelling, and substance are preserved.
The Council's letter to the Archbishop for St. Paul's. The Archbishop goes down to his diocese. Book of Homilies; both parts. Letters to him from the Council; requiring an exact account of his diocese. His certificate thereof. His metropolitical visitation continues. The ignorance of the Curates.
St. Paul's: The Work at a Stand
THE contributions made by the Clergy of the province of Canterbury for repairing the damages made by fire in St. Paul's church, anno 1561,[ed 1] which we heard of under that year, enabled the work to go commendably forward hitherto. But now in 1563, it received a stop for want of money to carry it on, and to buy lead for the covering; whereby some parts of the church unfinished, being exposed to the weather, received injury: some of the Clergy being backward in their payments by reason of their poverty, and some, it seems, refusing any benevolence at all. The Council therefore, to back and give the more authority to the Archbishop to gather up the arrears in his diocese, sent him a letter rehearsing the condition of that church, and exciting him to hasten the collection; which was as followeth:
The Council's Letter for St. Paul's
"After our very hearty commendations to your Lordship: "whereas we understand, that according to such order as "ye received from the Queen's Majesty, ye have directed "your letters to all the Bishops of your province for the "levying of a contribution of the Clergy within the same " towards the re-edifying of the church of Paul's, according " to certain limits in that behalf; so it is that at this pre" sent the works of the said church, being one of the most " notable monuments of this realm, which hitherto with great diligence and like success have been prosecuted, are now compelled to cease; and some part of the roof thereof to " stand bare and uncovered for want of lead and present " money, to sustain the charges of such a work; not only
"to the decay of the places uncovered, but also to some
" note and slander in the sight of the world. " These are therefore to require your Lordship forthwith, "with all diligence, according to the rate of the book of "tenths and subsidies, to collect all the arrearages of the " said contribution remaining unpaid, as well of all the dig" nities and prebends of your cathedral church, as of all " other spiritual promotions within your diocese of Canter" bury, which for exility are not exempted from the said "contributions by your former letter; and to pay the same " unto the treasurers of the same works of Paul's, at or be" fore the first day of August next; taking further order "for those that will deny or refuse the payment thereof, " according to the said rate before limited, as to your wis" dom shall seem good. And thus we bid your Grace right " heartily well to fare. From Greenwich, 26th of June, 1563. "Your Lordship's assured loving friends, "N. Bacon, C. S. Will. Northampton. "Arundel. Pembroke. Will. Howard. R. Duddely. "E. Clinton. F. Knollys. W. Cecil."
The Archbishop Visits His Diocese
This letter no question forwarded the work; but all was not finished before the year 1566. Soon after Midsummer the Archbishop went down to his diocese, to visit it in person, that he might, as he told the Secretary, thoroughly know the state thereof himself personally, and take order among the Clergy. And this year he obtained a licence of the Queen to retain forty persons; perhaps that he might now make the greater appearance. The Book of Homilies as yet lay before the Queen to be considered of. But in the month of June he earnestly excited the Secretary to put her Majesty upon resolving herself concerning this book, which had been revised and finished, with a second part, by him and the other Bishops, and printed the year before, and waited only for the Queen's allowance to be publicly used in the parish-churches of the nation. And this motion the Archbishop now made the rather, because he was minded to deliver these books to each
The Book of Homilies
parish one, as he should go along in his intended visitation, and give his charge to the respective Ministers to read those Homilies for the people's profit and edification. And I find two editions of them (perhaps there were more) this year 1563, printed.
Keeping a Good Table
In this visitation he was res
No Procurations Taken
olved to maintain a table, befitting his quality; and during his being abroad to receive both the Clergy and gentry with the ancient hospitality of ation. an Archbishop of Canterbury. But he had no parks, or at least others had spoiled them of their venison. For he complained, that the most part of his brethren, meaning the Bishops, were better furnished in that provision than himself. Therefore, as he said, to avoid the shame of his table, if he should not have to bid his neighbours to a piece of flesh, he requested of the Secretary to procure him from some of his friends in Kent a couple of bucks. And the like request he made to the Lord Robert Duddely (the same that was afterwards the great Earl of Leicester) and other of his friends. And gave an hint to the said Secretary, that if he durst as boldly speak to the Queen, as he was wont formerly to find grace in Queen Anne's favour in such like requests, he would offer his suit to her for three or four bucks out of her park at Canterbury, as some recompence for taking away his Broyle in Sussex: which was and still is a very large and noble park near Lewis in that county. But in some kind of sullenness for that disregard and contempt of the Clergy, that then was visible enough at the Court, he thought it best to say nothing to her Majesty, and content himself with his beef; telling the Secretary between jest and earnest, " Marry, " because I doubt in these days whether Bishops or Min" isters may be thought worthy to eat venison, I will hold " me to my beef, and make merry therewith, and pray for " all my benefactors." This also must be added to the memorial of his generosity in his visitation, that it was at his own cost; not taking of his Clergy the procurations[ed 2] that were due to him for visiting.
The Council Requires an Account of the Diocese
In July the Lords of the Council wrote a letter to him, to give them an exact account of the diocese, (which indeed contained a common order to all of the Bishops.) And this was the tenor of it.
"After our very hearty commendations to your good "Lordship; the Queen's Majesty, upon certain good consi- "derations moving her to understand in some part the state "of your diocese, hath commanded us to write unto your Certificator. Lordship with all speed possible; and thereby to require “ the same to make answer by writing distinctly to us of " all these articles following. " I. How many shires or counties your diocese doth con" tain, or into how many it doth extend. " II. Into what manner of regiment the same is divided; " whether the same be into archdeaconries, deaneries, or " such like. And how many the same be, with their dis" tinct names. Who occupieth those rooms at the present; " and where they are, to your understanding. " III. What exempt or peculiar places are within the " circuit of your diocese, where you have not full jurisdic" tion as Ordinary; and what the names thereof be; and " who hath the ordinary jurisdiction thereof at this present. "IV. How many churches within every such archdeaconry, deanery, or other regiment. Which be parochial. " How many of them have Parsons, Vicars, Curates. And " whereas the parishes are so large, as they have divers chapels of ease, which have or ought to have Curates or "Ministers in them; to certify how many be of that sort in every such parish, with the names of the towns or hamlets " where the same churches or chapels are so situate.
" V. How many households are within every parish, or " within any such member of any parish, that hath such " churches and chapels of ease. " VI. And lastly, wheresoever any such exempt places " be within the circuit of your diocese, wherein you have no such jurisdiction, as you can presently make sufficient answer to the former articles, her Majesty would, that you should in writing copy out so much of the substance
"of these five former articles as shall seem convenient for "the purpose: and with speed send to such persons as have the jurisdictions of those exempt places, or their deputies, " residing next unto you; willing and commanding them in " her Majesty's name forthwith to send distinct answers "thereunto; to be sent either to yourself, or by them sent "to us. " And because the greater part of these former articles is " such, as we doubt not but ye are by means of your visit" ation able to cause sufficient certificate to be made unto us " with speed, we require your Lordship to use therein all " the diligence that you can, and not to defer any time " therein; but either by this messenger, or within two or " three days at the farthest, to return us answer. And for " some such part thereof as speedily you cannot certify, with " conference had with your Chancellor, Commissioners, " Archdeacons, Deans, or other inferior officers, our like " earnest request is, that you do procure information there" of without delay of time; and to command in her Majes" ty's name the like to be done by all other, having, as above " is said, any exempt jurisdiction; so as her Majesty may " be amply and certainly satisfied therein. And so fare your Lordship right heartily well. From Greenwich, the " 9th of July, 1563. "Your Lordship's assured friends, " T. Norfolk. " Pembroke. R. Duddely.
William Cecyl."
The Archbishop's Certificate
And accordingly he sent up his certificate to the Lords with such speed as they required; naming not only the parishes in each deanery, and the Parsons and Vicars respectively, but the number of households in each of those parishes for the most part.
The Certificate was as followeth, bearing this title; The Certificate of the most reverend Father in God, Matthue,
Archbishop of Canterbury, according to the letters missives of the Lords of the Queen's Majesty's most honourable Privy Council in that behalf directed, bearing date the 9th of July, ann. Dom. 1563.
The Diocese Described
Imprimis ("in the first place"), The diocese of Canterbury extendeth to a part of the county of Kent only, and to none other shire or county. Item, There is in the same diocese only one Archdeacon, by the name of Archdeacon of Canterbury: who is at this present Edmond Geste, Bishop of Rochester, the Queen's Majesty's Almoner.[ed 3] Item, The diocese is divided into eleven deaneries, [ which are by and by expressed. ] There is no part of the diocese exempt from the Archbishop; but the said Archbishop hath the sole and plenary jurisdiction ordinary throughout all the said diocese. Item, The number of churches and chapels of every deanery aforesaid, with the states and qualities thereof, are here under written. In the deanery of Canterbury, The parish church of Fordwiche. The town of Fordwiche is served by a Parson. Households 24. The parish church of Sturry. The town of Sturry is served by a Vicar. Households 42.
The parish church of St. Paul, in the city of Canterbury, is served by a Vicar. Households 80. And so the certificate proceeds, enumerating the parishes in the deanery: and at the foot is set down the sum of the churches and chapels within this deanery, viz. 16. And the sum of the households, viz. 493.
In the deanery of Bridge, after the parishes are all specified, then follows the sum total of the churches and chapels of this deanery, viz. 34, households 1135. In the deanery of Charing, parish churches and chapels 24, households 2286.
In the deanery of Sutton, churches and chapels 26, households 1474.
In the deanery of Syttingborn, churches and chapels 26, households 783.
In the deanery of Ospringe, churches and chapels 25, households 933. In the deanery of Limpne, churches and chapels 36, households 1094. In the deanery of Westbeere, churches and chapels 15. households 787. In the deanery of Sandwich, churches and chapels 27, households 591. In the deanery of Dover, sum of the churches and chapels 20, households 551. Sum total of all the churches and chapels of the diocese of Canterbury as before expressed, 276. And of all the households before particularly expressed, 10,948.
Bristol and Ely Visited
The Archbishop still continued his metropolitical visitation. For besides a commission to Cottrel, LL.D.[ed 4] dated May 23, for visiting Bristol, the [blank] day of August 1563, he gave out a commission to Thomas Yale, LL.D.[ed 5] John Pory, D.D.[ed 6] and Edward Leeds, M.A.[ed 7] to visit the city and diocese of Ely.
Thomas Becon Collated to Backchurch
The 10th day of the same month he admitted a famous man, both for his sufferings under King Henry VIII. and church. Queen Mary, and also for his many useful writings, to be Minister of St. Dionys Backchurch, London, viz. Thomas Becon;[ed 8] who was also one of the Prebendaries of the church of Canterbury. The ignorance of the ordinary sort of Clergymen, Curates, and such like, is commonly said to be great about these times. For notwithstanding all the pains that was used to deliver the Church of that blindness that enveloped the Priests in the late Popish times, it would not yet be dispelled.
The Ignorance of the Curates
For an instance of this, I bring in here the Curate of Cripplegate, one Tempest, a well-meaning man; who having upon some occasion (perhaps the metropolitical visitation) been before Peerson the Archbishop's Chaplain, was asked by him some questions: and among the rest, what was the meaning of the word function. Which hard word he could not well tell what to make of: for which it seems he was reprehended. But soon after, to vindicate himself, and to make his excuse by the pretence of a surprise, he wrote a right learned letter, which may be read in the Appendix, Numb. XX.
Notes
Editorial Notes
- ↑ The steeple of St Paul's Cathedral was struck by lightning and burned in June 1561; a national collection was ordered for its repair.
- ↑ Procurations: fees paid by the clergy to the visiting bishop or archdeacon, in lieu of entertainment.
- ↑ Edmund Guest (Geste, 1514–1577), Bishop of Rochester 1560–1571.
- ↑ LL.D.: Doctor of Laws.
- ↑ LL.D.: Doctor of Laws.
- ↑ D.D.: Doctor of Divinity.
- ↑ M.A.: Master of Arts.
- ↑ Thomas Becon (1512–1567), reformer and chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer; a Marian exile.
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, 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.