Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book III/Chapter V

This is the enhanced reading edition of Book III, Chapter V of John Strype's The Life and Acts of Matthew Parker (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1821), Vol. I. It has been proofread against the original printed pages, and is presented with descriptive section headings, Strype's Latin passages translated, editorial notes, and Strype's footnotes preserved as references. Strype's own words, chronology, claims, and spelling are retained; editorial additions are clearly distinguished.

The Archbishop's care in providing Lent preachers before the Queen. Deliberates about appointing Dean Nowel to be one; with whom the Queen had been displeased. The Archbishop reviseth the combination of those preachers. His concern for filling two vacant Welsh bishoprics. Appointeth a visitation for Bangor. Recommends Herle, Master of Manchester college, for that see. The usefulness of that college. His judgment of certain salt works in Kent.

Providing Preachers for Lent

IT being now the latter end of January, the Archbishop of Canterbury's thoughts were busied about providing preachers before the Queen the ensuing Lent. Which was the chief, if not the only time in the year of her Majesty's hearing sermons, if we may believe a late writer. This business, it seems, then lay upon the Archbishop, (though now upon the Lord Chamberlain of the household,) and it created the Archbishop a great and anxious care.

For it was somewhat hard in those times to procure a sufficient number of able and fit preachers for that audience, such a scarcity there then was of them. Insomuch as once they failed of a preacher. Which was a matter that the Puritans threw much in our Prelate's teeth: as that he should proceed so hotly to urge conformity upon Ministers, and thereby endanger the casting out of the Church divers preachers, when he himself saw what a need there was of them, that the Queen's turn in Lent could hardly be served.

The Puritan Taunt

He therefore feared the like sequel of reproof, as was by insultation oft rehearsed of the adversaries. But this accusation was partly true, and partly false: for there was a competent number of preachers even in those times; though not such as were in all points fit to stand in a pulpit, and discourse before so critical and learned a Princess as Queen Elizabeth.

The Archbishop sent the Secretary a list of the combination of the preachers, which is in the Appendix, Numb. XLIV., consisting of four Bishops, four Deans, four Doctors, and the rest Masters.

Nowel Considered for the Lent List

Nowel, Dean of St. Paul's, was then a famed preacher, and him the Archbishop thought upon for one of these Lent preachers, as he commonly was one. But because of the great check that good man received at Court, March last, both from the Queen and some of the popishly affected courtiers, before the Archbishop concluded upon him, he wished the Secretary could understand the Queen's inclination. For, he said, if the Queen should not like, after her accustomed manner, to favour him, and give him the hearing, he would be hardly entreated to occupy the place. For if she liked not a man that was put up to preach, she would absent. And according to the answer he should receive from the Secretary, so he intended to invite the Dean to dine with him, and then to move him to officiate a day or two. But he had a further reach by this message to the Secretary; namely, to engage him to interpose his interest with the Queen, for the reconciling her to the good Dean. For (as he said) by her displeasure towards him, she would but please the Papists, and discourage her good Protestants. For he added, "If the Papists be angry, (though in flattery they dissemble to win,) and the poor Protestant discouraged, it will make an universal disliking, and kindle grudging, and secret vain talkings. Tanti est in tam factioso seculo æquabilitatem servare. God bless her Highness long to reign over us in pace et veritate." By which two words he seemed to aim at Dissenters and Papists. The one sort the obstructers of peace, and the other of truth.

Some Account of Nowel

Indeed Nowel in these times was reckoned an excellent Divine, and much esteemed by the heads of our Church. He was employed by the Bishop of London, in the last plague, to compose an homily suitable to that occasion. And he was put upon making his Catechism by some great persons in the Church, on purpose to stop a clamour, that then went among the Roman Catholics, that the Protestants had no principles. And the Convocation, that met in the year 1562, diligently reviewed this Catechism, and interlined it in some places; and so it was by them unanimously approved, and allowed as their own book, and owned doctrine. And when Mr. Dorman, in the preface to his Disproof, reflected upon the learning and abilities of Nowel, and charged him for some upstart preacher upon his return from his exile, he spake thus in his own vindication; "That he had endured sundry years, both in his country and exile, reading, not scattered scraps of old overworn heretics, (as Dorman lay to his charge,) but the whole body of the holy Scripture, and whole volumes of the best ancient Doctors. Neither could any his acquaintance marvel, that he returning home was become suddenly a preacher, as the other affirmed; who did right well know, that he was a preacher fifteen years ago, [that is, about the year 1550 or 1551,] yea, and had preached in some the notablest places and auditories in this realm, before he went out of his country."

Nowel Declines; Dr. Cary in His Room

But to return to the Lent preachers: whether or no the Archbishop were not secure enough of the Queen's favour towards this Dean, or whether it were some other unwillingness in him, or whether his present study in answering Dorman's book, were hinderances; but he pretended the last, and so prayed the Archbishop to be discharged this Lent. And so he was. And in his room the Archbishop put Dr. Cary, the Dean of Exeter, and Dean of the Queen's chapel: and the rather, for his vindication against one Gibbs, probably a Puritan, who had foully defamed the said Dean to be altogether unlearned.

Revising the Combination of Preachers

The method used in providing these preachers was this; that the Secretary, upon the Archbishop's nomination, drew up bills of such persons as he judged proper and acceptable to preach before the Queen. Which bills he sent to the Archbishop, for his judgment therein, and to alter as he thought good. And accordingly he was to send unto such as were appointed, that they should prepare themselves, giving them timely notice thereof. In the bill sent him this year, the Archbishop made but little alteration, more than that was mentioned above, and the removal of Dr. Pern: who, however he were an excellent preacher, yet was at this time under some dislike. To the rest he had spoken or sent. But many of them returned no answer, whether they should come or no. But for avoiding a failing in any, which once happened, and made so much clamour, he bespake his Chaplain, Mr. Bickley, who was afterwards Bishop of Chichester, to be ready to supply for all such wants.

Two Vacant Welsh Bishoprics

In the latter end of this year, to wit, in February, resolution was taken for the speedy supplying of two Welsh bishoprics, namely, that of Landaff, and that of Bangor. The former of which had been two or three years before in effect void, and wanted a vigilant Bishop to manage that diocese. Which therefore the Archbishop, in the year 1563, had earnestly put the Secretary in mind of. But the great dilapidations had so impoverished that see, that few that were honest and able would be persuaded to meddle with it. As for Bangor, that diocese was also much out of order, there being no preaching used, and pensionary concubinacy openly continued: which was, allowance of concubines to the Clergy by paying a pension; notwithstanding the liberty of marriage granted. And the Archbishop was at that time earnestly solicited to have such a Commissioner there as kept openly three concubines, as men of good reputation offered to prove before him.

Things in fine were in such disorder here, that our Archbishop was desired by some well affected of that country to have a visitation, and to set such order there, as whosoever should come to the bishopric should be forced to prosecute it. And accordingly a visitation was instituted the next year by the Archbishop's commission to Dr. Yale: which did great good, as he that was afterwards Bishop there wrote him word.

Hugh Jones for Landaff

So that Wales being in an evil condition as to religion, the inhabitants remaining still greatly ignorant and superstitious, the Queen left it particularly to the care of the Archbishop to recommend fit persons for those two sees, now to be disposed of. And accordingly he writ to the Secretary for one Hugh Jones to be preferred to Landaff, whom Dr. Lewis, a civilian, and two or three other such, had informed him well of. But while he was preparing an instrument for this Jones's commendams, Davies, an exile in Queen Mary's days, and now Bishop of St. David's, sent certain letters to the Archbishop, giving a character of him different to what the Archbishop had heard before. Which made him stop his instruments; and the letter he thought good to send to the Secretary, telling him, that he should be loath, after so long tarriance for Landaff, the Queen's Majesty should be deceived, and her good people not well appointed. But a few days after, he hearing better of the man, proceeded to the finishing of his business.

Bangor: Dr. Ellis, Hewit, and Robinson

To Bangor the Earl of Pembroke recommended one Dr. Ellis, that had been aforetime Sheriff of the county: but was neither Priest, nor had a priestly disposition. Which made the Archbishop say, he had rather dissent from that Lord, than to commend a doubtful man to the Queen's Highness; and on whom, as yet persuaded, he would be loath to lay his hands; and that he, the said Ellis, might otherwise do good service. The Archbishop therefore recommended one Hewit, a Welshman, whom he knew himself, and dared upon his own credit to commend. And if the Queen had sought a great way to supply that room, there were not a fitter man. But a few days after, his mind began to alter, having conferred with some wise men, partly of the same country, who, in respect of good to be done there in that diocese, wished no Welshman in Bangor; they banded so much together in kindred, that a Bishop could not do as he would for his alliance sake. And he learned, that country was much afraid either of Ellis or Hewit, who were, he said, very stout men: that is, who would not be opposed, but vigorously pursue their purposes. And in that regard were only commended. Et præterea quoad mores episcopales nihil. So at last the Secretary propounded one Robinson, as a person well known and beloved in that country, and a Welshman, and one that was much desired by the people there. And considering these and such like things, and probably to decline giving the Earl of Pembroke offence, if the Earl's man should have been refused, and the Archbishop's accepted; the said Archbishop allowed of the Secretary's judgment: and so he was accordingly preferred to the diocese, though his consecration happened not till October following. This Robinson was a grave learned man, and one of the Divines who was lately called in to consult with the Bishops' Commissioners about the apparel. We shall hear more of him under the next year.

Herle, Warden of Manchester

The Archbishop had his eye upon one Mr. Herle, the Queen's Chaplain, and now Warden of Manchester. Whom though he judged not to be made Bishop of Bangor for this turn, yet he could willingly have seen him placed there upon some future avoidance. And if he thought, as he told the Secretary, the Queen would allow of him for that dignity hereafter, he would join him with some other learned men presently to go through that diocese by way of a visitation: adding, that he thought Mr. Herle a grave priestly man, and should well furnish the office with commendams of his other livings, which he then had, though he should give over Manchester, where he could have little rest. But such a visitation he was so wary as not to undertake, without first having consulted with the Secretary; desiring therefore some signification of his mind in the matter; and so he would frame himself accordingly. For he knew (he said) what jealous eyes were wont in those days to be cast upon the doings of the Bishops, and how severely their actions would be censured.

The State of Manchester College

The mention of the little rest the Warden of Manchester took, brings to my mind a letter of complaint he was forced to send up to the Lord Treasurer Burghley some years after this, viz. 1574. The enemies to religion, whereof there were many in the north, had a particular envy against this college, that maintained godly preachers, which they saw tended to the expelling of their Popish darkness, and to the disposing the people to receive the Gospel. The Queen had issued out a commission to the Archbishop of York, and others, to look into the state of that college. Which they did, placing honest and learned men there; and ordering the lands and revenues thereof, as was most necessary for hospitality and relieving the poor. But it appeared how displeased some were herewith. For soon after one of the college, a Bachelor in Divinity, riding to a chapel belonging to the parish, to preach there, was set upon in the way by one of Manchester, who taking his horse by the bridle, drew his dagger, and beat and wounded the preacher with three wounds: and if his horse had not broken out of the other's hands, in likelihood he had killed him. Nor was it the first time their preachers had been so used. They had also caused an attorney of the duchy of Lancaster to enter upon certain lands of the college, called obit lands, upon pretence that they were concealed lands; though they were contained within the letters patents of their foundation. And before this, upon the deprivation of Herle's popish predecessor, they took also all their evidences, and letters patents, and other plates and ornaments, as much as was worth five hundred marks, whereof the plate was the Queen's. And although they had proof into whose hands it came, yet it was kept from them. These complaints the Warden made to the Lord Treasurer, who was their true friend, and had before this time saved the college from utter spoil and destruction. He desired them still to help their poor college, that it might be able to maintain learned men, to the help of the country. This letter I have put among the monuments in the Appendix, Numb. XLV. To which I have subjoined another, Numb. XLVI., whereby may appear, in how ill a state that college was divers years after.

A Project for Salt Works in Kent

This year was a project for salt works in Kent set on foot by several persons of quality; one whereof was the Earl of Pembroke, and among the rest the Secretary Cecyl, and the Queen herself. Now because these works would require much firing, the aforesaid Earl sent his Secretary, and Cecyl his servant Mount, in the month of February, to the Archbishop, desiring him out of his woods to supply them with wood, and to use their interest with others in Kent for the buying of more. Whereupon he ordered forty oaks, and twenty or thirty acres of wood of his own, to be felled for that use; and appointed a person to attend upon the Earl's Secretary, when he went down into Kent; and directed the said Earl and Cecyl, to the Dean of Canterbury, and one Mr. Rolf, to be sped with what they should need more. But he seemed to make some doubt of the success of this their purpose. He told Secretary Cecyl, that he doubted not, but they had well considered the likelihood of the matter, wishing it good success; better than he knew the like to take place about thirty years past in his county, about Walsingham side. From whence came to Norwich, by cart, great plenty. So that the price of the bushel fell from sixteen pence to sixpence. But after experience, they ceased of their buying, and fell to their old salt again, three pecks whereof went further than a bushel of that white, fair, fine salt. He considered also to Cecyl the inconvenience that might come to Kent hereby; partly by wasting the woods by salt making, as it had been before by Dover pier, and other where, by saltpetre making; and partly by planting many strangers about the sea-coasts, who were to manage the works, having great store of them at Sandwich and Norwich already. So that he thought it might be doubted, what good might come to the commonwealth thereby.

The Archbishop's Counsel to the Undertakers

And in conclusion he propounded to the undertakers a good work, out of the love he bore to that country, and that was, that in case God gave it success in that country, then if the Queen of her princely liberality, and the Lords, the gainers, would convert part of that gain to the repairing and maintaining Dover haven, that would redound indeed to the great honour and wealth of the realm: more, he meant, than mere salt making would do to the honour and wealth of the nation. Which had been, probably, so much pretended by the undertakers.

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. Proofread against the original printed pages; enhanced reading edition prepared per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts.