besides the general Collections for Geneva Upon which occasion many letters passed between them In his letter Mar. 8. 1591. Beza confesseth That he never intended to touch or impugne the Ecclesiastical policy of this Church of England nor to exact of us to frame our selves or our Church to the pattern of their Presbyterial Discipline c. That as Queen Elizabeth was the true nursing Mother of the Church of Christ so England and our English Church was both the harbour of the Godly and the preserver of all other Reformed Churches So far was he also from esteeming the Arch-bishop an Antichristian Prelate as he never omitted to term him A most Reverend Father in Christ and his most honoured good Lord. I wish that our Disciplinarians who seem to direct themselves by the rule of Geneva would learn thus to Discipline their tongues with him and imitate his Modesty 29. Although Monsieur Buse a French Minister who read weekly a Lecture in Latin in his Chappel by his French pronunciation and want of good delivery did somewhat blemish the goodnesse of the matter which he handled yet the Arch-bishops property ever was to cherish and encourage him and all others that preached before him and was never heard to give the Preacher distast but rather would commend or excuse him against other mens censures saying If he were young better experience would correct his defaults and if he were in years he was in that respect to be borne withall alledging for both that some would take exceptions sometimes rather to satisfy their own too much curiosity then for any just cause of dislike in the Preacher 30. As his continual endeavours were to reward those of best gifts and to encourage those of meaner so as often as Church and State-affairs gave him leave he was industrious in propounding wholesome Doctrine to the people and a worthy pattern of true Divinity and diligence unto all others of the Clergy When he was Bishop of Worcester unlesse extraordinary businesses of the Marches of Wales hinder'd him he never failed to preach upon every Lords-day many times riding five or six miles to a Parish-Church and after Sermon came home to dinner The like he did also when he was Arch-bishop and lay at Croydon the Queen being in her Progresse No Sunday escaped him in Kent where the Gentlemen would exceedingly resort unto him and he would often preach so early in the morning in some Parish-Church both in Worcester and Canterbury that he came afterwards to the Sermon in the Cathedral-Church 31. His gift that way was excellent as if you had heard Saint Augustine himself or some of the ancient Bishops in the primitive Church his gesture and action in the Pulpit so grave and decent his words coming from him so fatherly and comely and though plainly for the most part and without affectation yet alwayes elegantly with special choice and substantial matter full of good and sound learning plentifull in Authorities out of Scripture Fathers and Schoolmen so singularly applied that he much affected his Auditory therewith And his pious life was answerable to his religious Sentences He never preached but he first wrote his notes in Latin and afterward kept them during his life For he would say that whosoever took that pains before his preaching the older he waxed the better he should discharge that duty but if he trusted only to his memory his preaching in time would become pratling 32. When he was Bishop of Worcester he did much good also by his often conference and conventing of the Papists whom he used with mild and temperate speeches and thereby got many of them to conform themselves both Gentlemen and others whereby as at his first coming he found many Recusants so he left very few at his coming thence Immediately after he came to be Arch-bishop he convented before him the chiefest and most learned Recusants throughout all England He also wrote letters to the Bishops his brethren within the Province of Canterbury to proceed with the Recusants by their Authority Ecclesiastical and censures of the Church and called yearly upon them for an account of their doings 33. An. 1600. In the time of Essex's disloyalty the Arch-bishop sent threescore men well armed to shew themselves before the Court of whose arrival Secretary Cecil with the rest of the Lords of the Council were right glad and said He was a most worthy Prelate They had speedily a leader appointed them and marched presently and were the first that entred into the Gates of Essex house and in the first Court made good the place untill the Earl yeelded himself and was by the Lord Admiral brought to Lambeth house where he remained an hour or two and was from thence conveyed to the Tower The Arch-bishop had likewise in readinesse fourty Horse-men well appointed and expected directions from the Court how to dispose of them The next morning he sent a Gentleman to know how the Queen did and how she rested all night To whom she made Answer That she rested and slept the better for his care the day before but I beshrew his heart said she he would not believe this of Essex though I had often told him it would one day thus come to passe But indeed the Queens own recommendation of the Earl had wrought that good opinion of him in the Arch-bishop An. 1602. Mar. 24. dyed Queen Elizabeth And although the Arch bishop was much dejected and grieved for the losse of his dear Soveraign and Mistress who had so highly advanced him yet he with the rest of the Lords repaired immediately to Whitehall and after two hours sitting in Council about the penning of the Proclamation He principally as his place required with a cheerfull countenance and the rest of the Lords in like sort accompanying him first at the Court gate at Whitehall with the applause and unspeakable comfort of all the people proclaimed her most rightfull Successor King James Afterwards in like cheerfull sort the Arch-bishop with the rest of the Lords trouped up to the Cross in Cheapside and there with like acclamation of the Lord Mayor and Citizens proclaimed him again The People and Citizens took great comfort in the presence of the Arch-bishop as if they nothing doubted but that all went well for the State in that Council among whom He was present 35. Besides the pains which he took himself many years with a number of worthy young Gentlemen in reading to them thrice a day he took into his house besides his Chaplains divers of quality to instruct them in the Mathematicks and other Lectures of sundry Arts and Languages giving them good allowance and preferments otherwise as occasion was offered And besides the many poor Scholars whom he kept in his house till he could provide for them and prefer them he also maintained divers in the University at his own charge 36. He kept also for the exercise of Military Discipline a godly Armory and a fair Stable of great Horses
of the Church but Bishopricks being more essential to the Constitution of the same he did not onely preserve as before he found them but encrease their number Six of the wealthier Monasteries he turned into Episcopal Sees i. e. the Abbies of Westminster Peterborough Bristol Glocester and Chester with that of Ousney for the See of the Bishop of Oxon assigning to every new Episcopal See its Dean and Chapter and unto every such Cathedral a competent number of Quire-men and other officers all of them liberally endowed and provided for And that the Church might be continually furnished with sufficient Seminaries he founded a Grammar School in every one of his Cathedrals either old or new with Annual Pensions to the Master and some allowance to be made to the Children yearly and ordained also that in each of the two Universities there should be publick Readers in the faculties of Divinity Law and Physick and in the Greek and Hebrew Tongues all which he pensioned and endowed with liberal Salaries as the times then were Besides which publick benefactions he confirmed Cardinal Wolsey's Colledge in Oxon by the name of Kings Colledge first and of Christ-Church afterwards and erected that most beautifull pile of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Those being the two fairest and most magnificent Foundations in the Christian World And as for the polity of the Church he settled it in such a manner that Archbishops and Bishops might be chosen consecrated and all the Subjects relieved in their Sutes and Grievances without having such recourse to the Court of Rome as formerly had drained the Realm of so much Treasure 8. The Earl of Hartford after Duke of Somerset the young Kings Uncle is chosen Governour of his Person and Protector of his Kingdoms till he should come to the Age of eighteen years The Protector and other Grandees of the Court presently entertain some thoughts of a Reformation In which they found Arch-bishop Cranmer and some other Bishops to be as forward as themselves but on different ends endeavoured by the Bishops in a pious zeal for rectifying such things as were amiss in God's publick Worship iâ— but by the Courtiers on an hope to enrich themselves by the spoil of the Bishopricks 9. Commissioners are sent forth into all parts of the Kingdom armed with Instructions to enquire into all Ecclesiastical Concernments in the manner of a Visitation directed by the King as Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England Which Commissioners being directed into several Circuits were accompanied with certain learned and godly Preachers appointed to instruct the people and to facilitate the work of the Commissioners in all Towns and Places where they sate And that the people might not cool or fall off again in and from that which had been taught them by the learned Preachers they were to leave some Homilies to the same effect with the Parish-Priests which the Arch-bishop had composed not only for the help of unpreaching Ministers but for the regulating and enstructing even of learned Preachers The Preachers were more particularly instructed to perswade the people from praying to Saints from Adoring of Images from praying in unknown Language and some other like things whereunto long Custom had brought a Religious Observation All which was done to this intent That the people in all places being prepared by little and little might with more ease and lesse opposition admit the total Alteration in the face of the Church which was intended in due time to be introduced Among the Injunctions sent with the Commissioners were these following viz. That the laws for abolishing the Popes usurped Power be observed That the people be exhorted to works of Faith Mercy and Charity That Images be taken down That the Bible in English and Erasmus Paraphrase be placed in the Church That Ecclesiastical persons promoted give exhibitions to poor Scholars in the Universities That no Ecclesiastical person haunt Ale-houses That none preach without licence That no Curate admit to the Communion such who are in malice with their Neighbours That the Holy Day be wholly given to God except in times of harvest That Tithes be not detained That Priests be not abused c. 10. The famous Preacher at Court was Father Latimer who drew such multitudes of people after him to hear his Sermons that being to preach before the King on the first Friday in Lent it was thought necessary that the Pulpit should be placed in the Kings Privy-gatden where he might be heard of more then four times as many Auditors as could have thronged into the Chappel In which place was erected afterwards a fixed and standing Pulpit for the like occasions especially for Lent-Sermons on Sundaies in the Afternoon and hath so continued ever since till these later times 11. In the second of his raign An. 1548. his Majestic declared by Proclamation Septemb. 23. That for the setling of an Uniformity and Order throughout his Realm and for putting an end to all Controversies in Religion He had caused certain Godly Bishops and other notable learned men to be Congregated or called together And thereupon doth infer That notwithstanding many of the Preachers formerly licensed had behaved themselves very discreetly and wisely to the Honour of God and the contentation of his Highnesse Yet till such time as the said Order should be generally set forth throughout the Realm His Majesty did thereby inhibit all manner of Persons whatever they be to preach in open Audience in the Pulpit or otherwise by any sought colour or fraud to the disobeying of his Commandment And this he did to the intent That the Whole Clergy in the mean space might apply themselves to prayer to Almighty God for the better atchieving of this same Godly intent and purpose Not doubting but that all his loving Subjects in the mean time would occupy themselves to Gods honour with due prayer in the Church and patient hearing of the Godly Homilies and so endeavour themselves that they may be the more ready with thankful Obedience to receive a most quiet godly and uniform Order throughout all his Realms and Dominions 12. Here it is to be observed That those who had the chief directing of this weighty businesse were before hand resolved that none but English heads or hands should be used therein lest otherwise it might be thought and perhaps objected That they rather followed the example of some other Churches or were swayed by the Authority of those forein Assistants then by the Word of God and the most uncorrupted practice of the Primitive Times And though it was thought necessary for the better seasoning of the Universities in the Protestant Reformed Religion that Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr two eminent Divines of the forein Churches should be invited to come over yet we find neither of them here till the end of November 1548 when the Liturgie had been approved of by the King and Council if it had not also passed the Approbation of both Houses of Parliament 13.
their Surplices three only excepted 9. Doctor Whitgift after that Mr. Cartwright had broached his dangerous Doctrin used to confute it in the same Church the next Sunday following and settled the judgment of many and fore-seeing these sparks of sedition if not timely quenched would grow to a great flame often sent to Mr. Cartwright and in friendly manner advised him to surcease from those courses but finding him wilfull and obstinate highly conceited of himself and a despiser of others that were not of his mind and a refuser of any fair tryal of his cause by Conference or writing caused him to be expelled the House and deprived likewise of the Margarit Lecture An. 1570. 10. Not long after the Disciplinarians published a seditious Treatise entituled An Admonitión to the Parliament the summary of their opinions and slanders And in regard of the applause it found among the greener heads given to novelty Doctor Whitgift answers it Cartwright replyes and Doctor Whitgift defends his Answer A second Reply being publisht by Cartwright the Doctor addresses himself to answer that too but is dissuaded by his judicious friends and especially by Doctor Whitaker in a Letter wherein are these among other words concerning the Authour Verbis ludit sententiis dormitat plane indignus est qui à quopiam docto refutetur 11. In his ten years Government of Trinity Colledge Doctor Whitgift bred many excellent Scholars six whereof were in his time-Bishops and some great States-men he procured an Amendment of the Statutes of the Vniversity and as the causes he dealt in were alwaies just so his success was ever prosperous through his wisdom and stoutnesse And yet that stoutnesse was so well tempered and mingled with his other vertue of mildnesse and patience that Mr. Hooker made this true observation of him He alwaies govern'd with that moderation which useth by patience to suppresse boldnesse and to make them conquer that suffer which well suted with his Motto Vincit qui patitur 12. An. 1577. He was chosen to be Bishop of Worcester consecrated 21. Apr. and having taken leave of the Vniversity and Colledge by preaching of peace publickly and privately he was in June following attended on his way to Worcester by a great Troup of the chiefest persons full of sorrow for their losse of so excellent a Governour The Queen to shew her Bounty and Love forgave him his first fruit and gave him the disposing of all the Prebends of that Church during his Continuance there 13. He found the Bishoprick at his first coming much impaired by his Predecessors in long Leases and Grants but that which most troubled him was the letting of the Rent Corne of his two best Mannors Hollow and Grimley the chief upholding of the Bishops hospitality To redeem the said Corn from a powerfull Tenant the Bishop was contented by way of Composition to give three hundred pound out of his own purse to have the lease surrendred 14. There was such mutual love between the Gentlemen and the Bishop that they delighted to converse much together And if the Bishop understood of any jar or discord he would send for both parties under pretence of some service to be done and make them friends If they were froward against perswasion he would interpose his Authority as Vice President of Wales which place her Majesty bestowed on him shortly after he was made Bishop and threaten the obstinate with imprisonment 15. He had a special care of his own family as behoved him and of his Attendants neer unto him and to avoid all colour of corruption would never receive informations or petitions in his private Chamber but abroad by the Petitioners themselves in so much that a Gentleman of his Bed-chamber making request he might have the delivery of Suitors Petitions and indorse their Answers he grew into such dislike that he presently discharged him 16. Her Majesty out of her experience of his wise and prudent Government was pleased upon complaint of the many discords and disorders in the two Cathedral Churches of Lichfield and Hereford to direct two Commissions unto him for the visiting of the said Churches He reformed them both and ordained them Statutes for their better Government 17. Arch-bishop Grindal laboured him in most earnest manner to accept of the Arch-bishoprick being himself contented to shake off his cares and receive from her Majesty some yearly Pension which Bishop Whitgift utterly refused and in presence of the Queen her self besought pardon in not accepting thereof upon any condition whatsoever in the life time of the other Whereupon the Queen was graciously pleased to say As she had made him an Arch-bishop so he should dye an Arch-bishop As he did shortly after 18. He was advanced to the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury Sept. 24. 1583. At his first entrance he procured an Order for the abatement of his first fruits he recover'd from the Queen a thousand Acres of Land and by abating the fines of his Impropriations encreased the Pensions of Curates 19. Her Majesty commanded him to be vigilent and carefull for the reducing of Non-Conformists much strengthened by his Predecessors connivency Wherein he had much adoe many conflicts and was opposed by some great Personages Concerning whom he thus writeth I trust those that love me indeed will not so lightly cast off their old friends for any of these new fangled and factious Sectaries whose fruits are to make division If my honourable friends should forsake me when I think to deserve best and in a manner consume my self to satisfie that which God her Majesty and the Church requireth of me I should be evil rewarded Sed meliora spero The slanderous tongues of this uncharitable Sect reported that I am become a Papist but it proceedeth from their leudness not any desert of mine c. But how is it possible that I should perform the charge which I have undertaken after so long liberty and lack of Discipline if a few persons so meanly qualified as most of these factious Sectaries are should be countenanced against the whole state of the Clergy of greatest account both for learning years staidnesse wisdome religion and honesty and open breakers and impugners of the Law young in years proud in conceit contentious in disposition should be maintained against their Governours seeking to reduce them to order and obedience c. The day wil come when all mens hearts shall be opened In the mean time I will depend upon him who never fiaileth those that put their trust in him 20. An. 1587. Tho. Bromley the then Lord Chancellor dyed Whereupon it pleased her Majesty to discover her gracious inclination to have made the Arch-bishop Lord Chancellour of England But he excusing himself in many respects that he was grown into years and had the burthen of all Ecclesiastical businesses laid upon his back which was as much as one man could well undergoe considering the troubles with so many Sectaries that were then sprung up desired to be spared