his first fruits; C. C. Vol. Epist. 66 BOOK "favourable consideration, how destitute he had been of a II. "competent living in the realm ever sith his bishopric was Anno 1563. " violently taken away from him; I being," said he, "compelled to resign, and how I never had pension, annuity, MSS. C.C." 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 gra"ciously 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. And to the MSS. Cecilian. His first fruits forgiven. 66 66 66 Myl. Cov. quond. Exon." 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, 66 "Myles Coverdale quondam Exon." Coverdale wrote a month or six weeks after to the Archbishop again, signifying, that the Lord Robert Duddely sent him a message, that the Queen had granted him his firstfruits. 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 XVIII. had occasioned so much unquietness in others: and perhaps CHAP. relinquishing his parish before his death: for he was buried, not at St. Magnus, but St. Bartholomew's. Anno 1563. a Scotch The Divines in Scotland in their Assembly about the The wife of latter end of this year, sent a message to the Archbishops Minister in England. To both which most reverend Fathers on the goes away into Eng10th of February, Spotswood Superintendant of Lowthian, land. 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 Gene- The Assembly at Edinral Assembly at Edinburgh, as well of the nobility as of the burgh to superintendant Ministers, and Commissioners of Churches, both Archbishops to upon Baron's petition and complaint, gave their command-apprehend ment 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 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. her. tary. MSS. Archbishop Parker was now at Bekesbourn near Canter-The Archbishop conbury; and surprised herewith, writ to the Secretary Cecil, fers with April 14, signifying, "That he doubted how agreeable it the Secre"were for him to satisfy such requests; praying him to im- c. c. c. c. "part his counsel, the rather for that, he said, it might Epist. 66 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 supe"rior governor, as subjects of one realm or empire: and was "also used, where the abode or continuance of the party to 150 II. BOOK "be called is certainly known in whose territory she con"tinueth. And doubtful, added he, it is to me by what Anno 1563. "authority these requesters do exercise their conference. Musculus's "For they make no mention of their warrant or commis"sion. 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 "rise, 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 com"mand any resiant within her dominions to appear before a foreign power out of her realm. Besides, that the exam"ple 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. 66 66 66 66 66 "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] 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." 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. I shall mention only one thing more under this year, and Places de- that is, that Musculus's Common Places came forth this dicated to the Arch- year in folio, translated out of Latin into English, for the bishop. XVIII. use of English Divines and others, in order to instruct them CHAP. in a body of sound divinity, purged from the errors of Popery. The author was a learned Professor of Divinity Anno 1563. in Berne in Switzerland, and reckoned among the most profound Doctors that had writ in the Church of God. The translator was Mr. Man, Head of Merton college in Oxford; who dedicated the book to our Archbishop. 66 ition sub After this Epistle Dedicatory is an Admonition to the An AdmonReader; which seems to be done by the Archbishop himself, joined. 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 cere"monies 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 Eng"land, 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 prac"tised in the same. And therefore where this author seemed "to disallow the interrogatories that were made at the chris"tening 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." BOOK This was the prudent and safe rule he gave for reading the II. opinions of authors about the government of Churches. Anno 1568. And that if readers would observe this caution in perusing 151 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 in"struction of the people." 66 Anno 1564. Attempts to reduce to unifor. mity. CHAP. XIX. The Archbishop labours an Uniformity among the Ministers; in habits and other ceremonies appointed. Dr. Turner, Dean of Wells, refractory to them. Varieties used in the service of the Church. Information of this to the Archbishop out of the country. The Queen's letter to the Archbishop for enjoining the habits. The Bishop of Durham's letter occasioned hereby: and the Archbishop's to the Bishop of London. What the Bishops did hereupon; and the Puritans. Dean Whittingham's letter to the Earl of Leicester: and Kingsmil to the Archbishop. THE next year the Archbishop, being returned back to Lambeth, entered upon a new and troublesome work, the Clergy which cost him much pains and sorrow, struggling in it as long as he lived. It was his endeavour to oblige Ministers to an uniformity and agreement in their attendances upon the service of God. For the Queen had taken great offence at many of the Clergy, having information how remiss they were, both in the University and out of it, especially in the city of London, in wearing the habits appointed for the Clergy to use in time of ministration, and at other times: chiefly the square cap, the tippet, and the surplice. Some Ministers' de testation of It is marvellous to consider how much these were abhor the cap and red by many honest well meaning men; accounting them surplice. |