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

This chapter is presented as an enhanced reading edition: proofread against the 1821 Clarendon Press scan, with descriptive section headings, English translations of Latin passages, and editorial notes added. Strype's text, spelling, and substance are preserved; marginal notes from the print have been omitted as navigational apparatus.

The Archbishop's kindness to Petrus Bizarrus. Curwin confirmed Bishop of Oxford. Some account of him. The Bishop of Bangor sends the Archbishop the state of his diocese; and of his pursuit of British antiquities there. The Bishop of Peterborough informs the Archbishop of abuses done to his Clergy. The Bishop of Carlisle moves the Archbishop to prevent the danger of the alienation of a benefice from the Church. Ælmer of Lincoln writes to the Archbishop concerning ancient books there. Dr. Caius sends the Archbishop his book of the antiquity of Cambridge. Contest in Cambridge about the descent into hell. The Clergy makes waste. The Secretary informs the Archbishop of both. The Queen and Lord Keeper offended with the Archbishop. His constancy notwithstanding. His advice of dangers from Spain; and of informers against the Clergy.

The Archbishop's Kindness to Petrus Bizarrus

OUR Archbishop had a due regard for foreigners, especially the learned sort of them, and the embracers of true religion, for which they were exiles. Such an one, an Italian, he preferred this year to a prebend in the church of Salisbury, of his gift, to the value of 20l. per annum, which was confirmed to him by Jewel, Bishop of the diocese. He was a Tuscan born, named Petrus Bizarrus, Perusinus, i.e. of Perugia. He wrote some learned tracts; and that he might have the better conveniency of printing them, and likewise of being serviceable to the State of England, by giving intelligence of foreign affairs, in the year 1570, he desired the Secretary, that he might enjoy his prebend, though absent, with some little increase of his stipend, to enable him to live. And in the mean time he offered to her Majesty his most faithful and diligent service; though he was minded to remain at Venice, or Lyons, where he would print some of his writings; and thought no places in Europe more fit for coming to the knowledge of occurrences. And how useful this was for princes and kings, he said, daily experience witnessed. He prayed the Secretary to choose which place he would have him reside at, and assured him, that whatsoever benefit he should confer upon him, should be upon a thankful person, and one that would be ever mindful of him and his. This was the substance of a Latin letter, dated June 12; and in the conclusion, he prayed the Secretary to communicate it with the Lord Robert and the Earl of Bedford. And such a correspondence (as aforesaid) he held with Cecill; a bundle of such letters of intelligence, in Italian, from him, I have seen, and possess.

Curwin Confirmed Bishop of Oxford

This year our Archbishop confirmed Hugh Curwin, (or Coren,) LL. D. Bishop of Oxford, removed from the archbishopric of Dublin in Ireland, of which kingdom he also had been Lord Chancellor; being well skilled in the civil law. Which office he performed many years with reputation. But being now grown old, he desired to return, and die in his own country: as he did the next year at Swinbroke near Burford. Being the King's Chaplain, he preached often before him. In the year 1532, in a sermon before the King, he spoke much in behalf of the supremacy; when one Elstow, a Friar of Greenwich, openly told him in that presence, he lied: for which he was committed to prison. In 1533, when Friar Peto had in the King's presence, at Greenwich, inveighed against the King's marriage with Anne Bolen; Dr. Curwin the next Sunday preached before the King, and spake as much for that marriage; and added, that he much wondered, how a subject dared so audaciously to behave himself before the King's face, as he had done. But however he were for the supremacy and the marriage, and went along with the King in his other proceedings, yet he was a zealous man for the corporal presence; and the death of pious Frith was attributed to him. For in a sermon preached before the King in Lent, he inveighed against the Sacramentaries; and at length in some heat said, "It is no mervail, though this abominable heresy so much prevail among us; for there is one now in the Tower (meaning Frith) so bold, as to write in defence of that heresy, and yet no man goeth about his reformation." But this was the Bishop of Winchester's device to put the King upon prosecuting that poor man. Which took place, the King forthwith commanding the Archbishop of Canterbury that then was, and the Lord Crumwel, to call him into examination.

The State of the Bangor Diocese

Nicolas, Bishop of Bangor, last year preferred thither, having this year made some inspection into the condition of his diocese, sent the Archbishop, according to his order, the names of all the Dean and Chapter, and of all the Ministers in the diocese, with account of their residency and their hospitality; such also as were not Deacons nor Priests, and yet held ecclesiastical preferments. To the end, as he wrote, that his Grace might perceive, how men that were no Ministers had such livings, to the utter decay of learned men to be Ministers, when others had that liberty, [to have benefices, and not be in Orders.] He had but two preachers in his diocese; but he told the Archbishop of others that could do well, whom he would labour to make willing to preach, and to take licences. He added, that whereas the Archbishop had sent down Dr. Yale, with his letters commissional to visit that diocese, that it had done much good in short time, and more he trusted it would do hereafter to the glory of God, and the salvation of such people.

The Bishop of Bangor's Pursuit of British Antiquities

The same Bishop of Bangor writ an account to the Archbishop of his pursuit after British or other antiquities, in the parts of his diocese, that he had got a young man to write Eadmerus's History, and had sent it up to him. He writ, that there were no monuments of antiquity left within that country, but certain fabulous histories, and they lately written: as the rude laws of one Howel Dau, or Dha, and the life of a troublesome prince or two, which were subdued since the Conquest. That he was promised daily the sight of some Welsh histories, but as yet saw nothing, nor could hear certainly of any doings of the old Britons.

The Bishop of Peterborough on Abuses Done to His Clergy

I find also some other Bishops' and learned men's letters to him under this year. The contents whereof I will briefly rehearse. Edmund, Bishop of Peterburgh, gave him to understand, how the parishioners of Wistenden put their Vicar into the stocks: and so had another parish served theirs; and otherwise ill entreated them, rather in contempt of the ministry, than upon any just cause. This Bishop desired the Archbishop, that he would favour those Ministers' suits, who, as it may seem, had made their complaints to the Archbishop and ecclesiastical Commissioners; or rather were complained of, and brought up thither by their enemies, to their further charge and vexation. He also wrote the Archbishop, that another person had fetched up the Minister of Barton Segrave, to the Archbishop's Court of Audience, out of malice, to put the poor man to charge. He desired the cause might be remitted back unto him, the Bishop of the diocese, before whom it lay before.

The Bishop of Carlisle and the Advowson

John, Bishop of Carlisle, wrote to him, April 9, about an advowson, like to go into secular hands, and that his Grace would do his endeavour to prevent it. What the case was may be understood by the letter itself.

"I have a commendam of a parish, called Rumald church; it will expire within a year, or less. The advowson of the same is offered to be sold to gentlemen of this country, at unreasonable sums of money. So that it is apparent the revenues thereof are like to come into the temporal men's hands, and the cure into some unlearned ass, as many others are like to do in these parts; unless your Grace be a good stay therein. For this cause, and for that my charge here in the Queen's service doth daily increase; and also, that in times of wars, I have none refuge left to fly unto, but only it; I am compelled to be a suitor to your Grace, for the renewing of my commendam, for the time of my life. In doing whereof, your Grace shall both stay the covetous gripe, that hath the advowson, from his prey, the unlearned ass from the cure, where I have now a learned Preacher, and bind me, as I am otherwise most bound to serve, and pray for your Grace's long continuance in honour and godliness."

"Your Grace's poor Brother to command, "Johannes Carliolens."

Ælmer of Lincoln and the Search After Ancient Books

To the learned John Ælmer, then at Lincoln, being Archdeacon there, (afterwards Bishop of London,) had the Archbishop writ, as he had done to the rest of the learned men in other cathedral churches, to search and inquire into the libraries in those parts, for old written ecclesiastical histories; and to send him the names and titles of all such as he should discover. Ælmer, in November, from Lincoln, where he had his preferment, wrote back to the Archbishop, that he had made the best search that he could, both in his own study and sundry others, and could find none. And that for the most part of the old fellows he had there, as he expressed it, were Schoolmen, as Alexander de Hales, Johannes de Turre, &c. But he spake of an Archbishop of Canterbury's book, viz. a Comment upon the Old Testament, which he had, and which he promised his Grace to send him, as soon as he could get opportunity. And in fine, he professed how he rejoiced, that God had chosen the chief Pastor of this Church out of his native country; meaning Norfolk.

Dr. Caius and the Antiquities of Cambridge

Dr. Caius, the Founder and Master of the college that bears his name, in the beginning of April, sent his letters to the Archbishop, together with his book of the Antiquities of Cambridge. Which work his Grace chiefly put him upon writing. The occasion whereof was a supposed reflection upon that University. For Thomas Caius, a learned antiquarian of Oxford, and Register of that University, had in seven days made and writ a small treatise, entitled Assertio Antiquitatis Oxoniensis Academiæ, and presented it to the Queen in September last, when she was at Oxford; wherein the honour and antiquity of the other University received some abatements. This MS. as it seems, by the Secretary's means, a Cambridge man, coming into the hands of the Archbishop, a Cambridge man also, was transcribed, and communicated by him unto another Caius, and a learned antiquarian of Cambridge; the Archbishop exhorting him to consider well the book, and to vindicate his University; and contributing to him not a little herein. The work being done, the author sent the first draught of it to his Grace, for his review and accurate judgment. And according to that, he intended, with his correction, and what he pleased to add, to print it. And as he desired his Grace's judgment, so he let him know, that he should be glad he would procure him Dr. Haddon's and Secretary Cecyl's, whom he described to be men of wit and skill, and close also. For it was his earnest desire, that the copy might be kept greatly concealed, and not shewn to any; no, not to his servant Joscelyn; who he feared would shew it to every body, and give copies, ante maturitatem and do little good in it himself. And he was the more inclinable to print it, being mindful of what the Archbishop had once said, how troublesome the writing out of copies were, and what depravations commonly crept into writing. But he committed it wholly to the Archbishop. Yet if he approved the printing of it, he intended to view it over again, because many things were roughly left, for want of leisure, and out of haste to satisfy his Grace. Some things there were, which the Archbishop thought fit to have left out: what he would have added, or altered, Caius prayed him to note, according to the number of the page. All this makes appear, how from the first to the last, the Archbishop's influence and assistance ran through this curious work. Concerning which, Caius's letter may be found in the Appendix. And so well did the Archbishop approve of this book, that the next year [viz. 1568] it came forth in print; Caius concealing his name under that of Londinensis. And again, 1574, it was reprinted with his own name, John Caius. The author of Athenæ Oxonien. saith, that Thomas Caius wrote an answer to his namesake, and adversary, of Cambridge, which never came out; but that he had seen two copies of it at Oxon.

The Dispute at Cambridge on Christ's Descent into Hell

The great controversy arose in the University of Cambridge, about this time, what the true sense of Christ's descent into hell was; whether it were a local descent, as it was then commonly taken, or to be understood in some other meaning. This dispute was managed with so much heat, that it came to the Secretary, who was that University's Chancellor. And he sent unto the Archbishop for his advice in this matter; who gave him his thoughts for the better stilling and composing this difference. But what that was, I find not: perhaps, to forbear all contesting about that doctrine; the sense of which was left in such a latitude in the Book of Articles, without assigning any particular meaning thereof.

The Clergy Accused for Waste; the Secretary's Letter

Complaint had been made to the Queen concerning the waste that some of the Clergy made in their church lands and tenements, by long leases, or otherwise. This report was brought to the Queen by such as owed the Clergy no good-will, but were ready to get their possessions themselves. The Queen, upon this, was almost come to a resolution, to have a commission issued out, to inquire into these misdemeanors of the Clergy throughout the whole nation. This the Secretary communicated to the Archbishop. Of both the before-mentioned matters thus the Secretary wrote to the Archbishop, September 12.

"It may please your Grace to receive my humble thanks for your care taken, in the discreet advice given to me, concerning the appeasing of the unprofitable rash controversy, newly raised, upon the article of the Descent of Christ to Hell. And again, much troubled with the Queen's Majesty's earnestness to have certain commissioners in the whole realm, to inquire of the wastes of the whole Clergy. For so she is also much thereto enticed. I do what I can to delay the execution; fearing that thereby the Clergy shall receive great blemish in opinion; and so I mean to defer it, if I can. From my house in Westminster.

"Your Grace's at commandment, "William Cecyl."

What proceedings were made further in this matter, I know not; but in the year 1571, against this waste there was an act of Parliament, and against the covetousness of Churchmen, defrauding their successors, wasting the goods of the Church, and letting leases for many years.

The Queen Offended with the Archbishop

The good Archbishop, as he had struggled with a very painful fit of the stone this year, so he also encountered with no small troubles of mind, as well as body. For he being a most earnest and invariable lover of truth, integrity, and righteousness, would not spare either prince or noble, in speaking or writing freely his mind. This made him fall now under the displeasure both of the Queen, his mistress, and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, his old friend. The Queen gave him publicly a most severe chiding, and that before many of his officers, as well as others; because he had freely spoke something to her relating to his office, but what particularly, I am not able to declare. Yet was she so wise, as not to allow his esteem and respect to be abated by occasion of her anger towards him. To prevent which, the next day meeting him, she shewed him a very gracious aspect. Take this from the Archbishop's own pen, in a letter to the Lady Bacon.

"I will not be abashed to say to my Prince that I think in conscience, in answering to my charging. As this other day I was well chidden at my Prince's hand; but with one ear I heard her hard words, and with the other, and in my conscience and heart, I heard God. And yet her Highness being never so much incensed to be offended with me, the next day coming to Lambeth bridge into the fields, and I according to my duty meeting her on the bridge, she gave me her very good looks, and spake secretly in mine ear, that she must needs continue mine authority before the people, to the credit of my service. Whereat divers of my Arches, then being with me, peradventure mervailed. Where peradventure somebody would have looked over the shoulders, and slily slipt away, to have abashed me before the world."

The Lord Keeper's Displeasure; the Letter to the Lady Bacon

The Archbishop meaning by that expression to give a secret reproof to the Lord Keeper Bacon; who, in some displeasure now also taken at him for something else, had shewn himself after that fashion towards him. The occasion of this anger towards the Archbishop, his old friend and acquaintance, seems to have been by a visitation of the diocese of Norwich. Where he, as before was spoken, had heard much irregularity to have been; shameful simony, and other wrongs done to the Church by gentlemen, and some knights. How two laymen enjoyed two prebends in that church, was mentioned before; and what good remedy the Archbishop intended to make therein, by procuring one of these prebends for a learned Minister, and thereby also providing a good preacher for that city; which by the Bishop of Norwich, by reason of a former bargain with him that held that prebend, was prevented. As he wrote to that Bishop immediately, upon this disappointment; so, while his mind was full of inward trouble at it, he wrote also to the Lord Keeper, complaining to him, after his godly way, of these corruptions and wrongs done to the Church: and, it is very likely, laying some charge in that respect upon the Keeper himself, and by his counsel and example giving occasion hereunto. Bacon, being a passionate man, could not bear this, but fell out with this plain dealer. He returned a few lines to the friendly letter the Archbishop sent him; telling him, that "he conceived that now of the Archbishop, which he thought not to have heard at his hands;" and sent a hard answer by the Archbishop's man, by word of mouth, whom the Archbishop intended should not have known any thing at all of these dealings between them, so privately wrote on his part. The Archbishop made no more words to the angry Keeper; but he did soon after write his mind at large to the Lady Bacon, his wife; a most prudent, learned, and godly woman, with intention that he should know the Archbishop's mind by her.

"He desired her, who was a great solicitor to the lord her husband, in the causes of the poor for justice, that she would take a fitting opportunity to represent him to her lord, because to him, he perceived, he might not write; except the things he wrote were placentissima. He protested to her, that he meant not only prudently in what he lately wrote, or spake, to the Lord Bacon, but christianly, godly, and friendly. And that he wrote with that deference, as that if Bacon had been prince of the realm, and he [the Archbishop] his chaplain, he might have writ as he did. And yet, as he chose to express it, might Matthew Parker write privately to Nicolas Bacon, in matters of good friendship, without offence. But still, in humility of heart, he would not stick to submit himself to the page of his chamber, and would be admonished by him in reason, though he were his enemy. And again, in doing his duty to God, and the office of friendship to them, whom he did sincerely honour and love, he would not be abashed to say to his Prince that he thought in conscience. For speaking his mind so plainly to his Lordship, he said for himself, that God, the God of vengeance, would ask account of him, if he should hold his peace; when both my Lord and I, said he, shall stand dreadfully before his chancery. And therefore he would not so covet the favour of men, as to displease God: and that he could do no less, of tender heart to his estimation. And loath he would be, that his example should be alleged for divers spoilers of the ministry in that country of Norfolk. He beseeched this honourable lady, his wife, to help to remove this scandal out of God's house; that that Lord might not bespot the glory of his old age. Evil reports went about, which he would not write, or credit all tales. Fy on the world! to carry God's good elect, and principal members of his kingdom, so to be drowned in the dregs of this mortality, not to regard these so chief causes. What shall be hoped for in friendship, if the advertising of one another in true faithful friendship, and to God-ward, shall stir up enmity and disliking? He said, he was jealous over my Lord's conscience, and over his honourable name. That he had joyed in him, and always honourably reported him; and in great places, and before the most honourable, compared him with More and Audley, for eloquence, wit, and learning in law, and with Bishop Goodrick, for his sincerity towards justice; though they all had their faults: which he prayed God to keep my Lord and him from. The first imbued with Papistry; the second, omnia, et ab omnibus. The third, a dissembler in friendship. I would be loath to break friendship with any mean body, much less with my Lord. And yet either King, or Cæsar, contrary to my duty to God, I will not, nor intend not, God being my good Lord. And it is not the solemnity or commodity of mine office that I so much esteem. I was sorry to be so accumbered: but necessity drove me; and what fate shall thrust me out, susque deque fero. I am grown into a better consideration by mine age, than to be afraid or dismayed with such vain terriculaments of the world. I am not now to learn to fawn upon men, whose breath is in their nostrils."

But I leave the reader to peruse the whole letter in the Appendix, wherein so much of the good temper and brave spirit of our Archbishop will appear.

His Advice upon Apprehensions from Spain

More of that spirit, and public concern for religion, and the professors of it, this godly Archbishop shewed in another matter happening this summer. There was now a secret contribution made, by means of the Archbishop, among the Bishops and Clergy, for some foreign friends, Protestants (as it seems) in Flanders, and those parts under the Spanish yoke, who endured great and intolerable pressures. But however privately this charitable business was carried, it came to the Spanish Ambassador's knowledge; who then had a great stroke with the Queen. And she (though for politic ends) seemed to be too much led by him, to the trouble of her truest friends. This, with some concern, the Secretary had hinted to our Archbishop. Whereat the venerable man declared himself astonished: but, however, took this occasion to excite the Secretary most earnestly to use his interest with the Queen, to set her right in these Spanish matters. And these were his words to him:

"That whereas the Spanish Ambassador knew of their contribution, he would wish that he not only heard of it, and suspected it, but saw it. And yet prudence would be used. God save the Queen's Majesty (said he) from his enchanting. Her peril is evidently feared in this security. The realm is like to be in danger, if our foreign friends be not well. For God's sake, and for his Son's religion sake, by whom vivimus et salvi sumus, have good consideration in this matter, and use your wisdom, opportunè, importunè. Non putarám, is no wise man's saying. God fortify you, and my Lords of the Council. God make the Queen's Majesty to understand all foreign sleights."

This he writ from Croydon, July the 17th. This great danger did the honest party of the Court apprehend the nation and the religion to be under at this time, from the crafty insinuations of the Spaniard; and this was the seasonable warning of this great watchman. The Queen, however, continued this favour for Spain, or at least backwardness to fall out with that nation: notwithstanding many base and false characters and stories of her and her government were commonly vented, and told about there, to her dishonour. In January the next year, our Archbishop sent a paper of notes thereof to the Secretary, that he might take his opportunity to acquaint the Queen with them; and by this means take off her favourable sentiments towards that her most dangerous enemy. For he doubted, as he said, there never was any notice given her, how courteously (as he spake ironically) she was used in Spain, by these their public stories of her.

The Clergy Watched by Informers

Among the various discouragements of the Clergy nowadays, there were many that watched their tripping, by transgressing any penal law, to take advantage against them that way. Many promoters there were, that were ready to inform against such as did not reside, let the non-residence be never so necessary or reasonable; hoping to enjoy the forfeiture of ten pounds a month for absence. The Archbishop, in one of his letters writ this year, makes mention of a very honest man, having two benefices, and keeping a very good house at the greater benefice, who was notwithstanding accused in the King's Bench in Hilary term, by one of these informers, for non-residence from his less benefice; and, as it seemeth, was fain to pay the penalty for divers months' absence. Therefore one Walker, mentioned before, a learned preacher in Norwich, and so of great use in that city, where there was scarce a preacher besides, notwithstanding, out of fear of this kind of informers, resolved to leave the city, and return to his small living in the country. And so by the means of these evil men that city was deprived of the good service he did in it.

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, Book III. 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.