It would prevent them of the good which they may doe in this behalf the next Session of the parliament. It would animate the Busshopps to enforme the Kinge that it was but a fancy of his lower house to stand soe much uppon subscription for the ministers themselues haue yealded sauing a verie fewe. If many stand out it will pittie the Kinges hart to displace soe many godly ministers, which else in a fewe would seeme singularitie. It will much dishonor god that men should subscribe to thinges against his word. It must be a corasive to their owne consciences and procure a curse on them and their ministry notwithstanding the pretence of caring for the flock. It will giue a grevous offence to the consciences of the godly, to the strong and weake, that after soe longe tyme men should goe backwards to popery. or at the least to idle Ceremonyes. It wilbe a great preiudice to the obteyning of the Kinges promise viz: that he would not only remove Cross and Surplesse but alsoe subscription, if this will content men, this was accepted and wilbe sued for. It wilbe an idle president left to all posteritie, and preiudice the godly that hereafter shall seeke the reformacon hereof. VI WHITGIFT'S LETTER OF 1597 CONCERNING BANCROFT'S PREVIOUS CAREER 1597 REASONS ALLEDGED BY THE ARCHB: OF CANTERBURY FOR DR. BANCROFT'S BEING PROMOTED TO THE BPRIC OF LONDON. Baker MSS. in the Library of the University of Cambridge, M. m. 1. 47. f. 333-5. Another copy with an endorsement in what seems to be Bancroft's own handwriting, Petyt MSS. in the Inner Temple, London, 538. 38. f. 155. Strype, Life of Whitgift, II. 386-388. His Conversation hath been without blame in the world, having never been complained of, detecteth (sic) or for ought he knoweth suspected of any extraordinary enormity. He hath taken all the degrees of the schools as other men have done and with equall credit. He hath been a preacher against Popery about 24 years and is certainly no papist. Indeed he is not of the Presbyterial faction. Since he hath professed Divinity, he hath ever opposed himself, against all sects and innovations. By the appointment of Archbp Grindall, he did once visit the Dioc: of Petr: About 12 years since, he was likewise a visitor of the Diocese of Ely. He was sent for from Cambridge to preach at Bury, when the pretended Reformation was begun there, without staying for ye magistrate as the term was then, and when the Sheriff, as he said, could hardly get any preacher in that country, that either would or durst oppose themselves against it. At his being at Bury, he detected to the Judges the writing of a Poesie, about her Matie armes, taken out of the Apocalypse but applyed to her Highness most falsely and seditiously. It had been sett up a quarter of a year in a most public place without concealment. I note these two last points, partly for the effects 1 1 The legends were as follows: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold that followed of them, and because he was greatly maligned, by no mean persons for his duty in both. He remained with the late Lord Chancellor1 12: years at the least for the most part in her Matie court, and was in good Reputation with him and often employed in sundry matters of great Importance for her Highnes service. Since his sd Ld's death,2 he hath remained with the like credit five years almost with the L: Archbp of Canterbury. He hath been one of her Matie Commission general, for causes ecclesiasticall throughout England, almost 12 years, in wch time there have been few causes of any Importance dealt in, either at Lambeth or London wherein he hath not been an Assistant. : He was by his diligent search the first Detector of Martin Mar-Prelates Press and Books, where and by whom they were printed. He was an especial man that gave the Instructions, to her Matie learned Council, when Martin's agents were brought into the Star Chamber. By his advice that course was taken wch did principallye stop Martin and his Fellows' mouths, viz. to have them answered after their own vein in writing. By his diligence to find out certain letters and writing Mr. Cartwright and his complices, their setting up their Discipline secretly in most shires of the Realm, their Classes, their Decrees, and Book of Discipline were first detected. The chief Instructions were had from him whereby her Matie learned Counsell framed their Bill and Articles against Mr. Cartwright and the rest in the Star Chamber. By his letter written at the commandment of the Lord Chancellor to himself, her Majesty was thoroughly informed of the state of the Church, how it then stood, and how far these factious persons had impeached her Highnes authority and the Government established. art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, it will come to pass that I will spue thee out of my mouth."' "Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee that thou sufferest the woman, Jezebel, (i. e. the Queen) which maketh herself a prophetess to teach and deceive my servants, to make them commit fornication, and to eat meat sacrificed to idols." Strype, Annals, III. pt. i. 176. 1 Sir Christopher Hatton, Chancellor, 1587-1591. 2 November 20, 1591. 3 John Whitgift. 4 This letter cannot be traced. By his only diligence, Penry's seditious writings were intercepted as they came out of Scotland, and delivered to the now L. Keeper.1 His earnest desire to have the slanderous libells against her Majestie answered and some pains of his taken therein wold not be omitted, because they show his true Affection and dutifull heart unto her Highness. His Sermon at Pauls Cross the first Sunday in the Parliament 15872 being afterwards printed by direction from the L. Chancellor and L. Treasurer, was to special purpose, and did very much abate the edge of the Factious. 3 The last Parliament, he did sett out two Books in defence of the State of the Church, and against the pretended Holy Disc. wch were liked and greatly commended by the learnedest men in the Realm. He hath been an especiall man of his calling that the L. Archb of Canterbury hath used for the space of 9: or ten years, in all the stirs wch have been made by the factious, against the good of the Church, weh hath procured him great dislike amongest those who are that way inclined. Though he hath been carefull and zealous to suppress some sort of sectaries, yet hath he therein shewed no tyrannous Disposition, but with mildness and kind dealing, when it was expedient, hath reclaimed diverse. Whilst he hath been occupied for 15 or 16: yeares as hath been expressed, 17 or 18 of his Juniors (few or none of them being of his experience) have been preferred, eleven to Deaneries, and the rest to Bishopricks of wch number, some have been formerly inclined to Faction, and the most as neuters have expected the issue, that so they might as things should fall out run with the time. They that list may enter into ye consideration hereof particularly. He hath been long in speech for ye Bishoprick of London; his late good L. told him," the summer before he died, that her Majesty was purposed, to have removed Bishop Elmer to Worcester and to have preferred him to London. 1 Thomas Egerton. 2 An error: it should read, 1588-9. 3 William Cecil, Lord Burghley. 4"The Survey of the Pretended Holy Discipline" and the "Danger ous Positions. 5 i. e. awaited. 6 Hatton. 7 Usually written Aylmer. Bishop Elmer offered thrice in two years, to have resigned his Bprick with him, upon certain conditions, wch he refused. Bp Elmer signified the day before his death, how sorry he was that he had not written to her Matie and commended his last suit unto her Highness, viz: to have made him his Successor. Since the death of the last Bishop,1 no man hath been so commonly named for that place as he, nor is more generally thought to be more fit for it. 1 Richard Fletcher. |