Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter XVIII
This is the enhanced reading edition of Book II, Chapter XVIII, 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.
Coverdale made Minister of the parish of St. Magnus, London. A message to the two Archbishops from the Assembly of Divines in Edinburgh. Musculus's Common Places translated, dedicated to the Archbishop. An Admonition (prefaced as it seems) by him.
Coverdale Collated to St. Magnus
AND these are the matters that passed through the hands of our Archbishop of Canterbury while he was in his diocese in Kent. Now let us take notice of some other things. Miles Coverdale, that assisted at the consecration of our Archbishop, sometime Bishop of Exon,[ed 1] being now old and poor, the Bishop of London committed to his charge the church and parish of St. Magnus, at the bridge foot, London. But the height of the first-fruits being 60l. 16s. 10d. ob.[ed 2] beyond his ability to satisfy, made him in the month of January write to the Archbishop, (as he did also to others of the Court,) that the setting his age and his poverty before the Queen, would prevail with her to forgive him that debt. The contents of this letter to the Archbishop, which will set forth his present condition, were, "That it would please him to join with the Bishop of London in suit for him to the Queen, that in
"favourable consideration, how destitute he had been of a competent living in the realm ever sith his bishopric was violently taken away from him; I being," said he, "compelled to resign, and how I never had pension, annuity, or stipend of it these ten years and upwards; how unable also I am to pay the first-fruits, or long to enjoy the said benefice, going upon my grave, as they say, and not like to live a year; her Majesty, at the contemplation of such reverend, honourable, and worthy suitors, will most graciously grant me her warrant and discharge for the first-fruits of the said benefice. And as I am bold most humbly to crave your Grace's help herein, so am I fully persuaded, God willing, to shew myself again as thankful, and in my vocation, during my short time, as fruitful and as quiet as I can. 29 Jan. new year.
"Myl. Cov. quond. Exon."[1][ed 3]
Coverdale Writes to Cecil
He wrote also in the beginning of February to Cecil, the Secretary, to the same import, to be a means for him to the Queen, to grant him the first-fruits of the said St. Magnus, which the Bishop of London had gently granted him the pastoral office and benefice of. That heretofore (he praised God for it) his Honour had ever been his special help and succour in all his rightful suits. And that if now (that poor old Miles might be provided for) it would please him to obtain this for him; he should think this enough to be as good as a feast. And so beseeching him to take this his boldness in good part, he committed him and all his to the gracious protection of the Almighty. From London, 6 Feb. Subscribing,
"Myles Coverdale quondam Exon."[2]
His First-fruits Forgiven
Coverdale wrote a month or six weeks after to the Archbishop again, signifying, that the Lord Robert Duddely[ed 4] sent him a message, that the Queen had granted him his first-fruits. He lived little more than two years after, and died aged eighty-one, living, as he promised the Archbishop, quiet, though not coming up to the uniformity required, which had occasioned so much unquietness in others: and perhaps relinquishing his parish before his death: for he was buried not at St. Magnus, but St. Bartholomew's.
A Message from the Divines of Scotland
The Divines in Scotland in their Assembly about the latter end of this year, sent a message to the Archbishops in England. To both which most reverend Fathers on the 10th of February, Spotswood Superintendant of Lowthian,[ed 5] Knox and Craig Ministers of Edinburgh, wrote their letters. The occasion pretty strange, and hardly weighty enough for the cognizance of so solemn an assembly: and it was this. One Baron a Minister had made complaint to the General Assembly then met at Edinburgh, that his wife Anne Goodacre, an English woman, I suppose, departed from him, and went away for England without his leave, after great rebellions by her committed, and after several warnings given by him to her. She remained for a season at York. The General Assembly at Edinburgh, as well of the nobility as of the superintendant Ministers, and Commissioners of Churches, upon Baron's petition and complaint, gave their commandment to the said Spotswood, Knox, and Craig, to write to and request the two Archbishops, being principal in ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the realm of England, that they would in their respective jurisdictions cause by public edicts, or else personally to apprehend, summon, charge, and warn the said Anne to compere[ed 6] before the superintendant Ministers and session of Edinburgh, in their Consistory, the sixth day after their summons, there to come and answer for herself and for her crimes.
The Archbishop's Answer to Cecil
Archbishop Parker was now at Bekesbourn[ed 7] near Canterbury; and surprised herewith, writ to the Secretary Cecil, April 14, signifying, "That he doubted how agreeable it were for him to satisfy such requests; praying him to impart his counsel, the rather for that, he said, it might seem to touch the state and order of the realm. That the request in his opinion was strange, for that this vicissitude was used at the request of them, which agnize one superior governor, as subjects of one realm or empire: and was also used, where the abode or continuance of the party to be called is certainly known in whose territory she continueth. And doubtful, added he, it is to me by what authority these requesters do exercise their conference. For they make no mention of their warrant or commission. And further, I take, that the party is not bound to obey any such commandment of theirs in England, to appear in Scotland, the cause as it is. And some doubt may arise, whether they go about to practise a precedent by our assents, to divorce the parties, and to license the innocent to marry again. And further, it may be considered, how it may be taken at the Queen's Majesty's hand, to command any resiant[ed 8] within her dominions to appear before a foreign power out of her realm. Besides, that the example may be dangerous, if in any time the like practice might be. And therefore to jeopard the indemnity of the godly where extreme princes be, or evil prelates do reign, to desire to torment the poor Protestants. Now if they require justice it might there, as there, be ministered of us by the Queen's laws; which I trust do not much differ from God's words well understood.
"I am bold to write to your Honour my fancies; whereto I do yet incline: notwithstanding ready to redress my cogitations, if your wisdom, in respect of gratification of such neighbourhood as is now betwixt us, I mean betwixt England and Scotland, may think it convenient. If it were but a matter private, I would not trouble your other affairs; but seeing it may be drawn to a great importance, I will stay till I may hear from your Honour, praying the same, as your opportunity will serve, to return your advice. My Lord Marquis [of Northampton][ed 9] I have acquainted with it, being with me at Bekesborn, who telleth me he will help to some certain resolution at his next repair to the Court."[3] I make no reflections on all this, only cannot but contemplate the wise, wary, and deep judgment of our Prelate appearing in these lines of his.
Musculus's Common Places Translated
I shall mention only one thing more under this year, and that is, that Musculus's Common Places[ed 10] came forth this year in folio, translated out of Latin into English, for the use of English Divines and others, in order to instruct them in a body of sound divinity, purged from the errors of Popery. The author was a learned Professor of Divinity in Berne in Switzerland, and reckoned among the most profound Doctors that had writ in the Church of God. The translator was Mr. Man,[ed 11] Head of Merton college in Oxford; who dedicated the book to our Archbishop.
An Admonition to the Reader
After this Epistle Dedicatory is an Admonition to the Reader; which seems to be done by the Archbishop himself, to prevent any offence that might be taken at something in the Common Places, or incline any to fall into dislike with some usages in our Church. As, "That in rites and ceremonies the primitive Church was not so precisely to be followed, but that it was left free to all Churches to dispose them indifferently, as they might know to make to edification. And that whereas this author pressed some particularities, not agreeable to the Church of England, he meant himself none otherwise to charge the reader to any necessity of receiving his judgment and opinion in things of mere circumstance: and professed in divers places of his book, that he meant not to prejudice the judgment of any others, who might extend such matters in question. That it was fit for the good English reader to be an obedient subject to all orders prescribed unto him in this realm where he dwelt; whatsoever difference he might read in writers uttering their opinion: which for their countries seemed most convenient, and were so practised in the same. And therefore where this author seemed to disallow the interrogatories that were made at the christening of infants; yet at the end of his discourse of these matters, he said, I do prescribe or give order to no man; but by other men's leave I do only declare what I think most profitable and expedient. That as for the opinion of Doctors, the Archbishop said (if he be the writer of the said sober and wise Admonition) that neither this Church of England nor any other ought to be subject thereto, but to be left to their particular determination, as should be thought good unto them."
This was the prudent and safe rule he gave for reading the opinions of authors about the government of Churches. And that if readers would observe this caution in perusing of Musculus's works, or any other such, it would have this great benefit, "That it would serve to stay them from any innovation of things quietly reposed; and from uttering such judgments in contention, to win a singularity in newness of opinion, to the disturbing of the quiet instruction of the people."
Notes
Editorial Notes
- ↑ Exon is Exeter (Latin Exonia). Miles Coverdale had been Bishop of Exeter under Edward VI, and was deprived on the accession of Mary.
- ↑ That is, £60 16s. 10½d. ob. is obolus, a halfpenny. The first-fruits, or annates, were the first year's revenues of an ecclesiastical benefice, due to the Crown.
- ↑ quond. is quondam, "formerly, late" — "Miles Coverdale, late [Bishop] of Exeter."
- ↑ As printed; the modern spelling is Dudley — Lord Robert Dudley, the Queen's favourite.
- ↑ John Spottiswoode (1510–1585), Superintendent of Lothian; John Knox and John Craig were ministers of Edinburgh.
- ↑ As printed; Strype's spelling for "appear" (compare Scots compear).
- ↑ Bekesbourne, in Kent, near Canterbury — the Archbishop's country residence.
- ↑ As printed; a Scots form of "resident" — one resident within her dominions.
- ↑ William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton (1513–1571), brother of Queen Katharine Parr.
- ↑ The Loci communes ("Common Places" of divinity) of Wolfgang Musculus (1497–1563), Reformed theologian at Berne in Switzerland.
- ↑ John Man (d. 1569), Warden of Merton College, Oxford.
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, Book II. 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.