Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter XX
This is the enhanced reading edition of Chapter XX, 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 and other Bishops compose the Book of Advertisements. Why so called. The difficulty the book met with at the Council Board. The Archbishop in some heat about it. The Dean of St. Paul's chidden at Court.
The Archbishop and the Commissioners Compose the Book
THE Earl of Leicester's power and interest was not so great with the Queen, (or at least he thought not fit now to try it,) as to hinder her purpose of bringing in an uniformity, nor to stop the proceedings of her letter before mentioned, whereby she had given her commands to the Archbishop to that intent. In obedience to which, the Archbishop, and some other Bishops of the ecclesiastical commission, proceeded to compile certain articles, to be observed partly for due order in the public administration of the holy Sacraments, and partly for the apparel of persons ecclesiastical. These articles were printed with a Preface this year 1564, by Reginald Wolf, according to Bishop Sparrow's Collections, and entitled Advertisements. Though by a writing on the backside of the fair copy that was sent to the Secretary, when they were first framed, it seems they were not presently published nor authorized. For these are the words written upon them by the Secretary's own hand, Mar. 1564. Ordinances accorded by the Archbishop of Cant. &c. in his province. These were not authorized nor published.
Why Called "Advertisements"
The matter, I suppose, was this: When these articles (by Leicester's means no question) were refused to be confirmed by the Queen's Council, the Archbishop however thought it advisable to print them under his and the rest of the Commissioners' hands, to signify at least what their judgment and will was; and to let their authority go as far as it would. Which was probable to take some effect with the greater part of the Clergy; especially considering their canonical obedience they had sworn to their Diocesans. But because the book wanted the Queen's authority, they thought fit not to term the contents thereof Articles or Ordinances, by which names they at first went, but by a modester denomination, viz. Advertisements.
The Preface in the Manuscript and Printed Copies
This was the reason that there is some difference in the Preface thereof, as we have it printed in Bishop Sparrow's Collections, from that which is in the MS. copy sent unto the Secretary. That Preface is all the same, but only, whereas in the MS. it ran thus, [The Queen's Majesty—hath by the assent of the Metropolitan, and with certain other her Commissioners in causes ecclesiastical, decreed certain rules and orders to be used, as hereafter followeth,] in the said Collections we read thus, [The Queen's Majesty—hath by her letters directed unto the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Metropolitan, required, enjoined, and straitly charged, that with assistance and conference had with other Bishops, namely, such as be in commission for causes ecclesiastical, some orders might be taken, whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the people, as breeding nothing but contention, offence, and breach of common charity, and be against the laws, good usage, and ordinances of the realm, might be reformed and repressed, and brought to one manner of uniformity throughout the whole realm: that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve Almighty God in truth, concord, unity, peace, and quietness, as by her Majesty's said letters more at large doth appear. Whereupon by diligence, conference, and communication in the same, and at last by assent and consent of the persons beforesaid, these orders and rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient to be used and followed.] There be also some other small alterations. As the word constitutions in the MS. is changed into temporal orders in the Collections: and positive laws in discipline, is changed into rules in some part of discipline. I have also diligently compared the printed book with the aforesaid MS. copy, and find them different in many places, and sundry things are left out which are in the copy; the Archbishop thinking fit in that manner to publish them, because of their want of the stamp of authority to oblige persons to the observance of them. This hath inclined me to put it into the Appendix as I find it, being sent from the Archbishop to the Secretary;[ed 1] thinking it worthy the retrieving such acts of the governors of the Church, the better to enlighten our ecclesiastical history.
The Opposition at the Council Board
But to give some more particular account of these Articles, published afterwards under the name of Advertisements, and of the opposition they met with at Court. They were nothing but such as had been before agreed upon by the Queen's Commissioners, only now reviewed and corrected, and some things added. And thus the book with the alterations and additions, partly interlined, and partly in paper fastened on, was sent by the Archbishop to the Secretary, being the first view, and not fully digested, that he might peruse it and give his judgment, and so return it back; that so it might be fair written, and presented to the Council. The devisers, as the Archbishop signified to the Secretary, were only the Bishops of London, Winchester, Ely, Lincoln, and himself, though it were agreed upon and subscribed by one Bishop more, viz. Rochester, and other Commissioners, as appears by the subscription in the printed Advertisements. Among the rest of these amendments of the old book, this was one, that whereas preachers were restrained before from meddling in their sermons with any controversies, this was now in the present book omitted; it being thought very fitting, that the errors of the Popish religion should be treated of and confuted, for the vindication of the Reformation. And especially considering the coming over, it seems, at that time beyond sea, of great numbers of books of the adversaries; which were conveyed privately to persons in the Court, impugning the verity of our religion. After the Secretary had seen this foul copy, which had been thus sent to him by the Archbishop, March the 3d, he soon returned it. For five days after, the Archbishop sent the fair copy thereof, signed by the Bishops and himself, that the Secretary might take his opportunity to present it to the Queen and her Council: signifying, that he had rather he, the Secretary, should present it, than himself, for the avoiding of offence that might grow, as he said, by his own imprudent talk. For he knew there were some in the Council that would be apt to make opposition to this book, and so occasion might be given him of some more hot discourse than were convenient in such a presence.
He foresaw well that it would be difficult to pass the Council, in order to the obtaining the Queen's authority for the decreeing the observation of it. But he told the Secretary, "That if the Queen's Majesty would not authorize it, the most part [of the orders therein prescribed] were like to lie in the dust, for execution on their parties, laws were so much against their own private doings." By which words suggesting that many of the leading Clergy (and probably some of the highest order) neglected the enjoined apparel and rites; and so would be very backward to execute and perform the directions of the book, unless the Queen's absolute commands were annexed. "But if she with consent [thereunto] would publish her pleasure concerning these Articles, he trusted, out of the awe the Clergy had of her, she should be obeyed." But notwithstanding these endeavours of the Archbishop, and his applications to his friends at Court, he could not gain the Queen's authority to ratify the book: so prevalent was that party in the Council that disliked it, and who adhered to such of the Clergy as were not forward for these observances.
The Archbishop in Some Heat
This somewhat chafed the zealous Archbishop, and the rather because the Court, and particularly the Secretary himself, were the first movers of this matter, and which had put the Archbishop upon the labour of redressing this evil. He said, "It was better not to have begun, except more were done: and that all the realm was in expectation. Sapienti pauca.[ed 2] And that seeing his Honour principally had begun, Tuâ interest (said he) ut aliquid fiat.[ed 3] Adding, concerning them of the commission, "That if this ball should be tossed unto them, and then they have no authority by the Queen's Majesty's hand, they would sit still. And that if they of the Council laid not to their helping hand, as they did once, he said, in Hooper's days, all that was done was but to be laughed at."
This Hooper was he that was Bishop of Worcester and Gloucester in King Edward's days, and suffered martyrdom in the reign of Queen Mary.[ed 4] Him that King and his Council sent down into his diocese, fortified with their letters and authority, to make search into abuses in those superstitious parts of the land, and reform them. Which he did vigorously, and to good purpose, by virtue of this countenance from the Court, inflicting punishments as he saw occasion.[1] Judge Morgan, at one of the Bishop's examinations before Gardiner, threw in his teeth what a stir and rout he made at Gloucester, railing at him, and saying, that there was never such a tyrant. No question those parts, labouring more than the rest under Popish corruptions, required a stirring Bishop: and good reformation he made there, by the assistance the Council's letters gave him. But this by the by, to shew what the Archbishop hinted at.
The Queen's Neglect
Soon after this, the Bishop of London[ed 5] was at Court in the Queen's presence; but scarcely a word was spoken by her to him, to excite him to redress the neglect of conformity in London. For the said Bishop had told our Archbishop, that not six words were spoken from the Queen to him for uniformity of his London, where, it seems, it was most disregarded. This neglect of the Queen created a new concern in the mind of our Prelate. Which made him signify this very thing unto his old friend the Secretary; hinting again to him hereupon his desire, that a letter from her Majesty should be sent him to back their endeavours, adding in some heat these words; "If you remedy it not by letter, I will no more strive against the stream, fume or chide who will." This letter was dated March the 8th. Such a strong party had the disaffected then in the Council and Court, that the Queen was stayed from seconding her own letter to the Archbishop, by her own authority to confirm what they had drawn up and prepared by her own order.
And no wonder, for the Bishops and Divines themselves had but little countenance given them at the Court by divers of the great ones there; who did what they could to prejudice the Queen against them. For, but the day before, viz. March the 7th, the Archbishop, and the other Bishops and Divines of the ecclesiastical commission, being at the Court, and the Queen present, one of them, the Dean of St. Paul's, Alexander Nowel, a person that had been much favoured by her for his excellent learning and education, and whom she used to permit to discourse before her;[2] being, I suppose, appointed then to preach a Lenten sermon, among other things spoken of, entered into speech concerning a very lewd Popish book lately published. It was stuffed not only with Papistical doctrine, but in many places tainted with immodest and unhonest language: and so, guilty of irreverence and impudence towards the Queen: for to her it was dedicated. This caused him in that presence to shew his dislike of the book, though liked much of some indiscreet subjects, and of their judgments too. But, it seems, upon some words unwarily by him spoken, or rather by some of his captious and prejudiced auditors taken hold of, they browbeat him, and run him down with much severe language, and the Queen also reproved him. This unexpected usage astonished the modest man greatly: insomuch that the Archbishop, then present, for pure pity took him home that day to dine with him, and to give him some countenance and comfort, being utterly dismayed, the very expression the Archbishop used, speaking to the Secretary concerning him. And the next day the Dean wrote a letter to the said Secretary, giving an account of the cause of that his discourse against the book, namely, "That it was his due reverence to his gracious Sovereign, so lacking in that book, and the impudency of the author to her: and though it were fallen out otherwise than he, so long accustomed to his Sovereign's gracious patience with him, could well foresee, yet what error soever was admitted in the utterance thereof, he said, he enjoyed the testimonies of sound doctrine, recorded as well in the Scriptures, as the ancient Doctors, and the conscience of a good intent, and most humble reverence towards his most gracious Sovereign." The letter may be read in the Appendix.[ed 6]
The Advertisements Recover Their Force
But to return to the Advertisements. At length, it seems, the Archbishop's patience and persistance prevailed, and these ecclesiastical rules (now called Advertisements) recovered their first names of Articles and Ordinances: as may appear by the metropolitical visitation of the church of Gloucester, anno 1576, by Laur. Humfrey, Herbert Westphaling, Doctors in Divinity, and some other Civilians, by the Archbishop's deputation;[3] when among the Injunctions (eight in number) given to that Church, one was this, "Not to oppose the Queen's Injunctions, nor the Ordinations nor Articles made by some of the Queen's Commissioners, (which are there said to be, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury; Edmund, Bishop of London; Richard, Bishop of Ely; Edmund, Bishop of Rochester; Robert, Bishop of Winton; and Nic. Bishop of Lincoln;) January the 25th, in the 7th year of the Queen's reign." To which that Archbishop (next successor to our Archbishop) subscribed his name. Where we may observe, that these Ordinances of the Queen's Commissioners are joined with her own Injunctions to be observed. Of such force they were now become.
Notes
Editorial Notes
- ↑ Strype marks this item as Appendix Number XXVIII; the Appendix is not included in the scan from which this edition is transcribed.
- ↑ Sapienti pauca — "A word to the wise" (literally, "Few things to the wise").
- ↑ Tuâ interest ut aliquid fiat — "It is your interest that something be done."
- ↑ John Hooper was burned at Gloucester in February 1555.
- ↑ The Bishop of London was Edmund Grindal, who would succeed Parker as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1575.
- ↑ Strype marks this letter as Appendix Number XXIX; the Appendix is not included in the scan from which this edition is transcribed.
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.