1.

Pembroke

At this disputation, one of the four selected out of the CHAP. whole University that asserted the negative, was our Grindal, then a young man, and Fellow of Pembroke hall: a college Anno 1549. wherein in those times were harboured many eminent pro-m fessors of sincere religion, that came up students from the northern parts, as Ridley, Turner, Bradford, and others. The other three disputants being Pern, Guest, and Pilkington. And probably Bishop Ridley hearing how aptly and excellently Grindal did then acquit himself, might from thence design him for his chaplain. The disputation may be seen at large in Fox's Martyrology.

He was this year (being Bachelor in Divinity) admitted Lady Marthe Lady Margaret's public Preacher in Cambridge.

66

66

garet's

Preacher.

lian.

racter and

The first appearance of him in the Church, as I can find, Anno 1550. was when Bishop Ridley, now removed to the bishopric of London, made choice of him for his chaplain, being fellow-Becomes domestic with two other holy and learned men, Rogers and Ridley's Chaplain. Bradford, who both ended their lives at a stake for the tes- MSS. Cecitimony of the Gospel. Of all whom the said Bishop, in a letter to Sir John Cheke, gave this testimonial: "That they were men of good learning, and, as he was persuaded, of "excellent virtue; and which were able both with life and learning to set forth God's word in London and in the "whole diocese." And of Grindal, in particular, he told The BiCheke, "that he himself knew him to be a man of virtue shop's cha"and learning." But as yet this last was without prefer- care of him. ment: for whom, upon the death of Layton, an old preacher, he designed the prebend of Cantrelles in the Church of St. Paul's, had he not been obstructed by one Thomas, a clerk of the Council, who had laboured with the King and Council the next avoidance for himself. And, being become void, letters were writ to the Bishop by some of the Council to stay his collation of the prebend. For when it was perceived that Ridley would never be thought to bestow the prebend upon Thomas, some procured it to be settled for the furnishing of the King's stables. This extremely troubled the good Bishop; who therefore applied himself to Cheke, Wroth, and Cecil, at the Court, whom he

I.

pre

BOOK esteemed men that loved the Gospel: that they would interpose, that he might collate this his Chaplain to the said Anno 1550. bend, to whom he said he would with all his heart grant it; 6 that so he might have him continually with him, and in his

Made
Chanter

of Paul's.

President of Pembroke hall.

putation

held with

Young.

66

66

66

diocese to preach. He added, "that the man, Mr. Grindal, "moved him very much; for that he was known to be both "of virtue, honesty, discretion, wisdom, and learning. And, finally, he prayed them for God's sake to help; that, with "favour of the Council, he might have knowledge of the King's good pleasure to give this living unto his said welldeserving Chaplain." But whether Grindal after all this enjoyed Cantrelles or no, I cannot tell: nevertheless, soon after, the chantership of the church was collated on him, a thing of better value. So that in short time the Bishop, like a good master, provided for this, as well as his two other chaplains. This was collated on him August 24, 1551.

Grindal was now President of his college, (as Ridley the Bishop, to whom he was Chaplain, was Master,) but was absent this summer, being at London with the Bishop; when there happened a public disputation at Cambridge, between Bucer ap- Martin Bucer, the King's Professor of Divinity, and one plies to him about a dis-John Young, of the same University, a Papist, yet a subscriber; who undertook to grapple with that learned Professor about works done before justification; which he asserted were not pleasing to God, but were of the nature of sin. Young held the other part; though the doctrine were laid down in one of the King's late Homilies, viz. that of Good Works. In fine, the disputation caused great stirs and party-making in the University. The business came into the Vice-Chancellor's court, where Young accused Bucer of great errors, and asserting matters both against Scripture and Fathers; and had drawn up in writing his own disputation, but not faithfully, and communicated it to his friends; though he would not to Bucer, who was most concerned, when he desired it. The reverend man, therefore, to vindicate himself from slanders and misreports, wrote down the disputation himself, according to what both said

I.

pro and con, and first laid the writing before the heads: CHAP. and thought it expedient likewise, for his own safety and reputation, being the King's Reader, for thus vindicating his Anno 1550. doctrine, to give an account of this affair to the Court; and therefore wrote it to Sir John Cheke: and soon after he sent the whole copy of this dispute to Grindal, then with the Bishop, his very cordial friend, together with a letter to him, dated August the last, praying him first to peruse it well himself, and then to represent it clearly and fully to the said Bishop: and that, "because this point now debated "was a principal article of doctrine, which," as he said, "he "would not betray for the sake of no creature in the world; "and that it was not meet for him to be tolerated a mo"ment in his present function, should he err in this head of "Christian doctrine:" he beseeched Grindal therefore to open his cause to the Bishop, and withal to ask his counsel, what he would direct him to do; which he was confident the reverend Father would not think much to impart to him: and since it was the cause of Christ, the Church, and University, that Grindal would speedily send some trusty person to him, with an ample answer; if he came not himself. This whole letter to Grindal may not be amiss to be perused: and 7 I have set it in the Appendix, as I found it in his Scripta Num. I. Anglicana. And no question this kindness Grindal did for his friend Bucer, and especially for his greater friend truth.

It was but the latter end of the winter following that he paid his last respects to his said friend; being one of those that assisted at the funeral, and bore up Bucer's hearse, Assists at when he was carried to St. Mary's church to be buried: and neral. Dr. Matthew Parker preached his funeral sermon. But to return to Bishop Ridley, our Grindal's patron.

These his foresaid three Chaplains the Bishop preferred

Bucer's fu

preaching.

to be prebendaries of his church of St. Paul's. But such Employed was their worth and usefulness, that they were all employed abroad in abroad: so that Ridley could keep none of them with him in his house, as he told the Secretary and the Vice-Chamberlain.

BOOK

1.

certain con

In the year 1551, Grindal's parts were so well known, that he was concerned in two amicable private conferences: Anno 1551. What the true and genuine sense of those words of Christ Engaged in was, This is my body; and, whether they were to be unferences. derstood in the letter, or in the figure? the former managed at Secretary Cecil's house, and the latter at Mr. Morison's; whereat divers learned and noble men were present. There assisted on the Protestant side, (beside Grindal,) Cheke, Horn, and Whitehead; and Feckenham, Young, and Watson on the other.

Becomes In December this year a resolution was taken by the one of the King's Council, that the King should retain six Chaplains; King's Chaplains. whose employments were thus laid out for them: two to be always with the King in waiting; the other four to be sent over the kingdom, especially the remoter counties, to preach to the common people, and to instruct them in the principles of true religion, and obedience to their prince. These six were afterwards reduced to four: and Grindal was one of these; the other being Dr. Bill, Dr. Harley, (afterwards Bishop of Hereford,) and Dr. Pern. And their annual salaries were 401. each.

Anno 1552.

Hath a royal li

cence to

preach.

Nominated for a bishopric.

In the month of June, 6 Edward VI. for his greater countenance he obtained a royal licence to preach. And in July following, I find (in King Edward's Warrant-Book) a grant to Edmund Grindal, B.D. of a Prebend in Westminster for life, void by the death of one Breton.

In the month of November, Grindal was nominated for a bishopric in the north, being then not above three and thirty years of age: such public notice had been already taken of his abilities. Of this his designed preferment Bishop Ridley was very glad, giving God hearty thanks, as he said in a letter to certain of his friends at court, viz. Sir John Gate, Vice-Chamberlain, and Sir William Cecil, SecreMSS. Ceci- tary, "that it had pleased him to move the heart of the King's majesty to choose such a man, of such godly qua"lities, unto such a room." But being desirous to bestow the prebend that would be vacant upon Grindal's remove, and to fix some worthy person therein himself, fearing some

lian.

66

I.

courtier might obtain it of the King for some unworthy or CHAP. unfit person, the said Bishop addressed for that purpose a letter to the same Sir John Gate, and Sir William Cecil, Anno 1552.

men of great interest with the King. And as an argument

to move the King thereto, he shewed them how well himself had bestowed three or four of these prebends, and what worthy and well-deserving men they were, to whom he granted them; namely, men that were known to be so necessary abroad in the commonwealth, that he could keep none of them with him in his house; meaning our Grindal, together with Bradford and Rogers: propounding to their consideration also, how he was placed where he had daily need of learned men's counsel and conference. Beseeching them therefore, for God's sake, to be so good unto the see of London, which, as he said, was the spectacle of all England, as to be petitioners for him in God's cause unto the King; "That seeing his Highness did perceive that he did "so well bestow the prebend which Mr. Grindal had of his "collation, that it would please him, of his gracious cle"mency, to grant him the collation of the same again: that "he might therewith call some other like learned man, "whom hereafter, by God's grace, his Highness might “think meet likewise to promote, as Mr. Grindal then was. "If they desired to know unto whom he would that dignity ❝of his church, called the Chantership, should be given, he "told them, unto any one of these following persons: Mr. "Bradford, (whom in my conscience, said he, I judge more worthy to be a bishop, than many of us that be bishops

66

66

already to be parish priests,) Mr. Sampson, Mr. Harvey, “Mr. Grimold, Dr. Lancelot Ridley, all preachers. And to "conclude, he prayed them to be suitors to the King for "him: nay, not for him, but for God's word's sake, that the "said collation might be given unto him for one or any of "these; and he would surely praise God in them.”

was.

What this northern bishopric was, to which Grindal was What it nominated, we are left to conjecture. It was concluded in the year 1552, by the King and his Council, that the bishopric of Durham, now void by the deprivation of Tonstal,