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

Preface to the enhanced edition. This chapter is presented as an enhanced reading edition of John Strype's text, prepared per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. Strype's substance, chronology, claims, and quotations are faithfully preserved from the 1821 Clarendon Press edition (Vol. I, Book III, Chapter XXIV), proofread against the Google Books scan; original spelling and grammar are retained, punctuation and capitalization modernized where it improves readability. Descriptive section headings, English translations of Latin passages, verified internal links, and editorial notes (clearly distinguished from Strype's own notes) have been added for the reader's convenience.

Letters from the Council to the Archbishop, to take account of his diocese. He visits by commission. Visitation of the archdeaconry, certified to the Archbishop. A debate between the Dean and Canons; referred to the Archbishop. Eastbridge hospital visited. The Archbishop makes new statutes for it.

The State of the Realm

THINGS began now to look black and cloudy upon the realm.

The Popish princes abroad were entered into a secret league against the Queen: the Pope had declared her excommunicate by a solemn bull, and given away her crown. In Lancashire the gentlemen that came hitherto to church, now withdrew on a sudden; a dangerous insurrection was peeping forth in the north; and Scotland threatened us. These matters begat deep thoughts at Court. And in October, or the beginning of November, the Queen entered into serious deliberation with her Council concerning the state of her kingdom, and for the redressing of things, as yet amiss therein.

The Queen's Concern for the Church

And the matters ecclesiastical coming under consideration, she found a defect in the care of her Bishops, and that her subjects wanted teaching, and due information in religion, many of them falling into the errors of Popery, and others neglecting to resort to their parish churches, and refusing to comply with the rites and usages of the Church. This gave a great concern and trouble to the Queen: for she esteemed the disunion of her subjects in the religion established, a great ground of her danger. Whereupon she charged her Council to inquire into these matters, and to provide speedy reformation thereof. The Lords therefore directed a long and earnest letter to the Archbishop, (and the like was notified to all the Bishops,) to appoint inquiry to be made of all such, certifying their names and qualities, that had of late not resorted to their parish churches, nor used the Common Prayer according to the order of the Church; and of the number of preachers in each diocese; and divers such like things, for the better understanding the state of the dioceses. Which may more fully be perceived in the letter which I have hereto subjoined; directed, To the most reverend Father in God, and our very good Lord, the Archbishop of Canterbury:

The Council's Letter

"After our hearty commendations to your good Lordship. The Queen's Majesty of late in conference with us upon the state of this realm, among other things meet to be reformed, is moved to think, that universally, in the ecclesiastical government, the care and diligence that properly belongs to the office of Bishops, and other ecclesiastical Prelates and Pastors of this Church of England, is of late years so diminished and decayed, as no small numbers of her subjects, partly for lack of diligently teaching and information, partly for lack of correction and reformation, are entered either into dangerous errors, or into a manner of life of contempt or liberty, without use or exercise of any rites of the Church, openly forbearing to resort to their parish churches, where they ought to use common prayers, and to learn the will of God by hearing of sermons, and, consequently, receive the holy Sacraments. Of the increase of which lamentable disorders, her Majesty conceiveth great grief and offence. And therefore hath expressly charged us to inquire the truth hereof by all good means possible; and to proceed speedily for the reformation and remedy hereof. Whereupon, according to her Majesty's charge, and as we find it very requisite of our own duties, as well towards Almighty God, as to her Majesty and our country, we have entered into a further consideration hereof. And though we find a concurrency of many causes, whereupon such general disorders and contempts have of late years grown and increased, the remedy whereof we mean to seek and procure by as many other good means as we can; yet certainly we find no one cause hereof greater, nor more manifest, than an universal oversight and negligence (for less we cannot term it) of the Bishops of the realm, who have not only peculiar possessions, to find, provide, and maintain officers, but have also jurisdictions over all inferior Ministers, Pastors, and Curates; by them to inquire, or be informed of this manner of contempts and disorders, and by teaching and correction to reform them: or if the offenders should for any respect appear incorrigible, thereof to make a due information to her Majesty, as the supreme governor, under God, of the whole realm. And surely, though we know that some of the Bishops of the realm are to be more commended than some others for preaching, teaching, and visiting of their dioceses; yea, and for good hospitality, and for other good examples of life; yet at this time doubting, that a great part of the realm in sundry places is touched with the infection of these disorders, though some more, some less; and as we fear no bishopric fully free; we have therefore necessarily concluded to notify to every one of the Bishops alike, this her Majesty's carefulness and desire, to have her realm herein reformed: and for that purpose at this present to seek the understanding of the state of every diocese in certain points hereafter following.

"And therefore we will and require your Lordship, in her Majesty's name, that, first, you will earnestly conceive and thankfully allow of this her Majesty's godly disposition. And next, that you do circumspectly, and as quietly as you may, without any manner of proceeding likely to breed public offence, inquire, or cause to be inquired by such as are faithful officers, and not dissemblers, (1.) what persons they be, and of what quality, degree, and name, that have not of late time resorted to their parish churches within their diocese, or have not used the common prayers according to the laws of the realm, or have not at usual times received the holy Sacrament: and (2.) how long they have forborne. And further, we require you to be advertised, (3.) what ecclesiastical public officers you have under your Lordship in your diocese. Who they be, with their names and degrees, ordained to see to the execution of the laws and orders of the Church. Likewise, (4.) what preachers you have properly, for the most part conversant with yourselves in household. And what other preachers residing abroad in your diocese. And what ecclesiastical livings every one of them hath, with the values thereof; or what other stipends they have, wherewith they have any maintenance or sustentation to continue in their function. Likewise, (5.) we require you by authority of these our letters to confer with the Dean and Chapter of your cathedral church, and with the heads of any other collegiate church in your diocese, or with any other persons having any peculiar jurisdiction within your diocese, and cause them to certify distinctly by writing, what number of Prebendaries, Canons, and Preachers they have, which do reside within the said churches and jurisdictions, and how many do not reside. And how many of them do use and not use to preach. And what be their names and degrees. And in like sort, the names and degrees of them that have any sustentation in their churches to preach, and yet do not reside nor do preach. And likewise, (6.) we desire to be advertised, what churches or places, ordained to have common prayer, are by any means presently void of Curates. And in whose default the same happeneth, and in what sort you think the same may be best remedied.

"And while you shall be occupied in the inquisition hereof, wherein we would have you use all good diligence, we heartily and earnestly require your Lordship, as you will be accounted worthy of your calling, to employ all your care and industry in procuring more diligent preaching and teaching within your dioceses, as well by yourselves as by all other, having the gift to preach. And therein to use all charitable means by diligent instruction, and faithful teaching and example of life, to stay the good, faithful, and obedient subjects in their duties; and to induce and persuade others to return from their disorders and errors. So as all parties may observe their duties in the public and open service of Almighty God, according to the ordinance and use, that by the common order of the realm is for God's honour established. And whatsoever your Lordship shall think meet and needful to be granted or devised for your further assistance, thereof to advertise us. Whom you shall find ready to aid and satisfy you, as farforth as we shall find in our powers reasonable, either by ourselves, or by means to her Majesty, whom we perceive earnestly disposed to have the glory of God increased by the due reverence of all her subjects in his service, according to his blessed word and commandment. And thus we bid your good Lordship well to fare. From Windsor this 6th of November, 1569.

"Your Lordship's loving friends, N. Bacon, C. S. E. Clynton. W. Howard. F. Bedford. F. Knollys. W. Cecyll. W. Northampton. R. Sadleyr. Wa. Mildmay. R. Leicester.

"Postscript. We pray your Lordship not to delay the answering to us with speed the names of the recusants to come to church without deferring for the rest. And to procure the like certificate of these matters from the bishoprics of Chichester and Oxford, now vacant. And to that end to send them a copy of these our letters, with special charge to see the same accomplished."

The Archbishop's Visitation

About this time, in the month of November, (and for the cause abovesaid no question,) the Archbishop visited his own diocese. Among the MSS. preserved in the library of Christ's Church, Cant. there is one containing a great collection of notes taken out of old ledger books of monasteries and priories, registers and records of Archbishops and Bishops: in this is recorded, that this year 1569. Archbishop Parker visited the diocese of Canterbury jure ordinario: though he came not down in person before the next year. And he was the first, saith the writer, for ought it doth appear upon the records, that visited that diocese jure ordinario.

To proceed therefore with this visitation. The Archbishop commissioned Andrew Peerson, B. D. and Thomas Lawse, M. A. together with the Suffragan of Dover, to visit the city and diocese, and granted them afterward a particular commission, ad reformanda detecta, "to examine, discuss, correct, and legally to punish, whatsoever crimes, excesses, faults, &c. were discovered either in the Laity or Clergy."

The Injunctions now given to the Dean and Chapter of Christ's Church are set down in Latin in the Archbishop's register. "The first was inviolably to observe all the statutes of that foundation, not contrary to the word of God, and the laws of the kingdom of England. For that he interpreted, none were bound to such statutes as were repugnant to the word of God and statutes of the land. And that no Canon should procure any dispensation by any authority for the abrogating of the said statutes. That no matters of weightier moment, that required not speed, as the demising of their lands, their woods, or possessions, or alienations of any goods of the church, the commencing of law suits, &c. be done in any other time or manner, but in two general Chapters, according to the statute limited, under pain of amotion, &c." I omit the rest for brevity sake.

The Archdeacon's Certificate

Now to give some further account of this visitation, so far as it concerned the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Canterbury, (there being about thirty parishes exempt from his jurisdiction,) which account is collected from the original MSS. late in the hands of the reverend Archdeacon, Dr. Battely, late deceased. The Archdeacon's Official at that time, whose name was Vincent Den, visited his archdeaconry by order of the Archbishop's Commissioners before mentioned; and returned an account thereof at large to the Archbishop, prefaced with this letter:

"Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, Domino Matthæo, permissione divina, Cant. Archiepiscopo, totius Angliæ Primati, et Metropolitano: vestri humiles et devoti Vincentius Denn, LL. D. Archidiac. Cant. Officialis, et Thomas Cranmer Notarius Publicus, ejusdem Domini Archidiaconi Registrarius et Actorum Scriba, omnem et omnimodam obedientiam, et reverentiam, debitam cum honore. Literas vestras missivas dudum reverendo Patri Richardo permissione divina Episcopo Suffraganeo Dovor. et venerabilibus viris Andreæ Peirson, S. T. B. et Thomæ Lawse, A. M. Commissariis vestris ad visitationem ordinariam infra diocesin vestram Cantuar. exercendam directas, in quantum nos dictæ literæ concernerent, inspeximus et consideravimus. Quibus inspectis et consideratis, nos ex officii nostri debito mandatis vestris in eisdem contentis et specificatis pro temporis brevitate, et nostris earundem rerum scientiis, humiliter obtemperantes, vestram reverendiss. paternitatem certiorem facimus de statu, conditione et numero omnium et singularum ecclesiarum et capell. infra Archidiaconatum Cantuar. et jurisdictionem ejusdem, et non alibi: deque nominibus et cognominibus, gradu et qualitate omnium et singulorum rectorum, vicariorum et curatorum infra jurisdictionem Archidiacon. prædict. et non alibi existentium: necnon de numero familiarum et communicantium unius cujuscumque parochiæ: deque rebus aliis in dictis literis nobis injunctis, modo et forma subsequent. In quorum omnium et singulorum fidem et testimonium, nos præfatus Vincentius Denne Officialis et Thomas Cranmer Notarius Publicus huic præsenti certificatorio nomen nostrum manu nostra propria respectivè subscripsimus. Dat. 1. Dec. anno Dom. 1569.

"Per me Vincentium Denn, LL. D. &c.

"Per me Thomas Cranmer, Notarium Publicum prædict."

Then follow the names of every parish, rector, vicar, or curate, his quality, residency, whether married or single; the number of families in every parish, and of communicants. Which matters stood thus in short:

Churches and chapels within the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Canterbury	216
Married Clergymen	135
Licensed Preachers	34
Graduates	37

That is to say, one Doctor of Divinity, one Doctor of Law, seven Bachelors of Divinity, seventeen Masters of Arts, nine Bachelors of Art, two Bachelors of Law.

Families	11,174
Communicants	32,986

Some of the non-resident Undergraduates were here certified to study at Cambridge or Oxford.

The Dean and Canons at Variance

About this time happened a dissension between the Dean, Dr. Thomas Godwin, and the Prebendaries of Canterbury, about choosing officers; when it was agreed that the case should be referred to their Archbishop. The case was this, as it is recorded in the register of the Dean and Chapter.

"November 25, 1569, in the forenoon, the Dean and Chapter proceeded to the election of officers, according to the statutes of the church; which occupied the better part of the forenoon, and yet no election could be made. Thereupon the Chapter was continued till one of the clock afternoon, the same day. When Mr. Dean and the Chapter met, and were assembled accordingly, and eftsones entered to have made the election of the said officers. And every Prebendary's voice was very sundry times demanded. But such a number as ought to consent to the perfecting of those elections, although the whole day was spent in that business, could not be had nor made: and so it was generally thought good that the Archbishop's Grace should be informed thereof. And then the Chapter was continued till eight of the clock the next morning. When, because there had been contention between Mr. Dean and the Chapter, touching the aforesaid election of officers, and whereas also complaints and griefs of wrong offered to some of the Chapter had been shewed, it was, for avoiding further contentions, agreed, that the Archbishop should have the ordering of all the matter, and that the day of appearance should be before him on Monday, the 5th of December next. And the Chapter was continued till two of the clock afternoon. Thence continued Monday, November 28, forenoon. And thence to the afternoon the same day. And then to December 1, forenoon. At which time Mr. Dean and the Chapter met: and then being given to understand that the Archbishop had heard of the aforesaid controversy, and had signified that the Dean and Chapter should be before him on December 5, which day, by reason of some other matters intervening, was not thought convenient to hold; but that the Archbishop should be sent and sued unto, to defer the day of appearance until the 9th of December, was for causes [Here two or three lines are burnt out of the register] Mr. Dean and the Chapter should appear on the 15th day of December. On which day the Dean, and such of the Prebendaries as were appointed, appeared before the Lord Archbishop at Lambeth. When and where his Grace did order the election of officers; and did elect and nominate a Vice-Dean, Receiver, and Treasurer. Which nomination and election, Mr. Dean, after his return, viz. on December 19, 1569, did communicate to the whole Chapter then assembled; and it was agreed that oaths, according to the statutes, should be administered to them severally: which was done."

Eastbridge Hospital Reformed

Now also the ancient hospital of St. Thomas, of Eastbridge in Canterbury, was visited, and statutes given it, drawn up and prepared by the Archbishop himself in May last. This hospital was founded for poor pilgrims; but converted by the Archbishop from superstition, and made serviceable for the uses of charity. It became by this time greatly abused. Many of the statutes, by the carelessness or fraud of the Masters of that hospital, were wholly disused. And the goods, the woods, and possessions, and other rights and dues of the hospital were dilapidated and embezzled. One Swerder, late Master of this hospital, got an annuity of ten pounds out of the rents: and, which was worst of all, the poor were defrauded of their alms. Which were the reasons that moved the Archbishop to reform and make new statutes for this house.

By these statutes he appointed the Master to be his Commissary General in the city of Canterbury for the time, and to be in Priests' Orders; unless the Archbishop's Suffragan would take that place, who was, as to his choice thereof, to be preferred before the Commissary. The Master was every year to give a true account of the state of the house, as to the rents and incomes thereof. And that, according to the Archbishop's pleasure, the Master was to reside either at the mansion-house of the hospital, or at his manor of Blene and Hothcourt; and to receive yearly from the fruits of the lands and possessions of the hospital six pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence, and twelve carectates, that is, cartloads of wood.

That every Friday throughout the year, the Master was to receive thirty poor people assembled at the door of the hospital, such as had been natives of Canterbury or lived long in that city, and to distribute thirty pence to them. But in war time the payment of these thirty pence was to cease: and in lieu thereof, four pence were daily to be distributed to such soldiers as passed through the city, especially such of them as had been hurt or wounded, and to be harboured for a night; excepting such as were infected with the leprosy. And twelve beds to be kept constantly for poor soldiers, or other poor; and a woman of honest reputation, of forty years old and upwards, to be entertained, to attend upon such as should be lodged there.

The house was to have two books: one as a calendar, wherein the number of the poor lodgers, their sickness, and the monies given them, were to be entered daily: and this book was yearly, with the accounts of the house, to be brought to the Archbishop for the time being. The other book was for the writing therein the day, month, year, and the names of such as died in the hospital.

There was also a freeschool to be maintained here for boys, not exceeding twenty, who were to be taught to read, to sing, and to write fairly: and especially the skills of singing and writing: and they were to have paper, pens, and ink, and other convenient books, provided them at the charge of the house. And no boy to stay at this school above four years, to make room for others. And three days in the week they were to sing aloud the Litany, or other short prayers, according to the appointment of the Master. And the Master of the hospital was himself to be the teacher, or to procure one, who should also be the collector of the rents, and to have a livery given him by the Master, such as he gave to his other servants, with a salary.

Two Scholars to be maintained out of the rents at Corpus Christi college in Cambridge, as by indenture between the Master of the hospital and the Masters and Fellows of the said college it was agreed. For the rest of these good statutes and orders, devised by the Archbishop for this hospital, I refer the reader to the Appendix.

I find Thomas Lawse, Clerk, was admitted to the government of this hospital, February 13, 1569.

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.