BOOK "hibit sin. And lastly, that he might percase shortly at II. "his coming up treat more of this matter." Anno 1575. 190 CHAP. V. upon for Canter bury. Nominated for the see of Canterbury. The Lord Presi- THE archbishopric of Canterbury lay now void since the decease of the most pious and reverend Matthew ParConcluded ker, who died in August last. The Queen, after three months' deliberation who was fittest to succeed in that metropolitical station, pitched upon Grindal, recommended to her by the Lord Treasurer, his friend; who therefore gave him the first notice of it in a letter dated Nov. 25, in these words: "I do let your Grace understand, that I "do think assuredly her Majesty will have your Grace to "come to this province of Canterbury, to take care there"of; and that, now at this Parliament. Wherefore I mean "to give order to the officers of the temporalties to take "care of the preserving thereof. And where the officers “would be felling of woods, they shall not." But speaking with one Marsh, late Receiver, he told him, that the last Archbishop was wont at Christmas to fell wood for his fuel and coal; and so were it necessary to be done for his Grace, if he should have that place. The Treasurer therefore, out of his friendship to our Archbishop, and care of his affairs, desired him by his letters, or otherwise, to appoint him somebody near at hand to attend on him for this and such like causes. So as when her Majesty should certainly resolve, as he meant to procure her to do within three or four days, he [the Lord Treasurer] might direct order CHAP. for his Grace's benefit. V. nour the This honour was not of our Archbishop's own ambitious Anno 1575. seeking nay, he had many inward motions to decline it. This hoHe was possessed with an humble spirit, and low conceit of Archbishop his own abilities for so high a function in the Church; sought not. but was swayed by the vocation thereto, and the fears of giving offence. But I chose to give the reader his own words in his answer to the Treasurer; which was not writ till after fifteen days' consideration. 66 66 to the Trea "I understand by your Lordship's letter of the 25th of His letter "November last, which I received the 26th thereof, what your Lordship thinketh of her Majesty's inclination for my remove. If her Majesty should so resolve, (although "I have had heretofore many conflicts with myself about "that matter,) yet have I in the end determined to yield "unto the ordinary vocation; lest in resisting of the same, "I might with Jonas offend God, occasion a tempest, &c. "beseeching God to assist me with his grace, if that 66 weighty charge be laid upon me; to the sustaining "whereof I find great insufficiency in myself. And I most 191 "heartily thank your good Lordship, that it pleaseth you "to have such a care over me, and to take such pains in giving direction for the extern commodities pertaining to "that place. I have appointed one William Marshal my "servant to attend upon your Lordship from time to time, "and to follow your Lordship's direction in all things, as "the case shall require, &c. From Bishopthorp, Decimo Dec. 1575. "Your Lordship's in Christ, "Edm. Ebor." A memorial of his advance And now our Divine is arrived to the top of his promotion in three removes; that is, from a private man to the highest advancement in the Church, and in the State too. ments. As a standing memorial whereof, both to himself and others after him, he caused to be painted upon glass four coats of arms, and to be set up at Bekesbourn near Canterbury, where formerly was a palace of the Archbishops of that II. BOOK diocese. The first was the coat of Grindal by itself; the second, significative of his first advance, was the coat of the Anno 1575. see of London, impaled with Grindal; the third, the see of York, impaled with Grindal; and the fourth, that of Canterbury, impaled also with Grindal. And though that palace hath been now long demolished, yet these four panes of glass are yet preserved in a gentleman's house in that parish, as some remembrance still of this good man. The Lord President's character But well had it been for our most reverend Father had he continued at York, and never removed a step higher to Canterbury; since he lived here so quietly, had such a share in his Sovereign's favour, and governed so well in those northern parts: but soon after his translation, he met with much sorrow, and fell under the Queen's frowns, as by the sequel of his story will appear. The Earl of Huntingdon, Lord President of the north, was now doubly concerned; both at the removal of so good of the Arch- a man from that see, and for another able person to suchis remove. ceed there. For thus did he express his mind upon this occasion to the Treasurer: "I hear that my Lord Archbi bishop upon 66 66 shop is in election for Canterbury; of whom I must say, "without offence to others, that I know none worthy to be "preferred before him to that place for many respects; "and yet, while I serve here, I am as loath he should be changed. But that place requireth such a sufficient man; and therefore I shall be glad if her Majesty ap"point him to the place. But I beseech your Lordship "of your help, that such one may succeed him as will "be comfortable to the godly, and a terror to the adversary. Thus much I am bold shortly to touch unto your Lordship, leaving the rest to your better consideration. "For I will not presume to name any: but next to a sound "judgment, and zeal to religion, (which are two most ne 66 66 66 66 cessary points to be in a Bishop,) he that shall be in this place, had need to be a man which otherwise should be "both wise and stout." And such indeed was his successor. Though an unhappy matter fell out at the very first between them, that hindered, I think, so good an understand V. ing as had been between the former Archbishop and him: CHAP. which was, that the Lord President in this juncture had made an interest above to obtain the grant of the Arch- Anno 1575. bishop's house at Bishopthorp; which this successor would 192 not be brought to yield unto: and therein gave one instance of his stoutness. But to name him. sor's con tions. Dr. Edwin Sandys, Bishop of London, March 8, suc- His succesceeded Grindal in the archbishopric of York, another test about worthy man, and once an exile, as was Grindal, and both dilapidasprung from the town of St. Bees in Cumberland. But the case of dilapidations made these two old friends, countrymen, and fellow-sufferers, somewhat angry one with another. But Sandys, desirous of quiet and peace, according as the servant of God ought to be by the Apostle's rule, prayed the Lord Burghley to take the reference of the case upon himself. He had, as he said, ever deserved well of his predecessor; but that he had used him hardly many ways, especially in matter of dilapidation; which matter he had set over wholly to his Lordship's determination. He knew, he said, his Lordship favoured the Archbishop, and that he had been and was his best friend and preferrer: yet he was so persuaded of his Lordship's wonted good-will towards him, [the present Archbishop of York,] and of his unspotted and known indifferency in all matters, that he would most willingly put the whole determination of that matter into his Lordship's hands; yea, if it stood upon his life. Finally, his hope was, he would take the matter into his hands to end it. And as Sandys thus referred himself to this just and noble Peer, so I make no question but Grindal did also: and he made a seasonable pacification between both, after a year or two contesting between themselves. But return we to our Archbishop. tion. Re About two afternoon, January 3, Mr. Marsh exhibited His electo the Dean her Majesty's letters of congé d'élire, toge-gistr. Dether with letters missive under her signet, commending the can. et Camost reverend Father in God, Edmund Archbishop of pit. Eccles. York, to be elected Archbishop of Canterbury: which Cant. were read with all duty and reverence. Whereupon they Cathedr. II. BOOK proceeded touching the same election, as followeth: "Mr. "Robert Whythers shall have commission under our comAnno 1575. "mon seal to cite the Dean and all the Canons and Preben "daries to appear at the chapter-house on Tuesday, January "10, betwixt nine and ten forenoon, then and there to pro"ceed to the said election." On which day, at two o'clock afternoon, the said Archbishop was elected, and certificates thereof under their common seal were sent to the Queen's Majesty, and to the said Lord Archbishop elect. Also a proxy was made to Mr. Dean, Dr. Yale, Dr. Newenson, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Bungay, and Mr. Incent, to exhibit the caid certificates of election to the said Archbishop, &c. And in April following, the said Dean and Chapter shewed their respect to their new Archbishop by making this order: It is agreed, that the Lord Archbishop shall against the next Easter be presented by the Treasurer of the church with twenty fat wethers, in token of the Chapter's good-will at his now entrance into the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. 193 Our Archbishop was confirmed, February 15 following, Confirma by virtue of the Queen's letters patents commissional to Grind. Re- Sandys, Bishop of London; Horn, Bishop of Winchester; gist. Cox, Bishop of Ely; Davies, Bishop of St. David's; Gest, Bishop of Sarum; John Incent being principal Register to the Archbishop. John Bishop of Hereford was also in the Queen's said letters commissional: but he seems to have been absent at the confirmation of the election by reason of tion. The Archbishop's Proctor. his age. The oath of allegiance was taken, not by the Archbishop in person, but, according to the common practice in such cases, by Thomas Watts, his Proctor, in these words; "I "Thomas Watts, Procurator for the most reverend Father "in God, Edmund, Archbishop of the church and see of "Canterbury, in the name of the said most reverend Fa"ther in God, do utterly testify and declare in my con"science, that the Queen's Highness is the only supreme "governor of this realm, and of all other her Highness's "dominions;" and so on, according to the usual term of the oath. |