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
and besought her Highnesse to make choice of Sir Christopher Hatton who shortly after was made Lord Chancellour in the Arch-bishops house at Croydon thereby the rather to grace the Arch-bishop His advancement did much strengthen the Arch-bishop and his friends and withall the Earl of Leicester and his designments came soon after to an end 21. An. 1588. Upon the death of the Earl of Leicester the Chancellorship of Oxford being void divers of the Heads and others of the University made known unto the Arch-bishop their desire to chuse him their Chancellour although he was a Cambridge man To whom he returned this Answer That he was already their friend whereof they might rest assured and therefore advised them to make choice of some other in near place about the Queen that might assist him on their behalf and both at the Council-board and other places of Justice right them many waies both for the benefit of their Vniversity and of their Colledges And therewithall recommended unto them Sir Christopher Hatton being sometime of that University Whom accordingly they did chuse for their Chancellour and whom the Arch-bishop ever found a great Assistant in bridling and reforming the imtemperate humour of those Novelists who by the Countenance of some great personages were now grown to a strong head 22. It was in their Assemblies Classical and Synodical concluded that the Discipline should within a time limited be put in practice and erected all in one day by the Ministers together with the people whom those Disciplinarians bragged to be already enflamed with zeal to lend so many thousand hands for the advancement of their Cause In their publick Sermons and Exhortations as in their private Conventicles they did alienate the hearts of their Auditors from all obedience of the Ecclesiastical Magistrates As namely Mr. Cartwright who also in his prayer before his Sermons used thus to say Because they meaning the Bishops which ought to be pillars in the Church do band themselves against Christ and his truth therefore O Lord give us grace and power all as one man to set our selves against them Which words by way of Emphasis he would often repeat And doth not Udall threaten that the Presbytery shall prevail and come in by that way and means as shall make all their hearts to ake that shall withstand or hinder the same 23. Great was the temper and moderation of the good Arch-bishop in handling these businesses In his time Brown was changed from his fansies and afterwards obtained a Benefice called Achurch in North-Hamptonshire where he became a painfull Preacher He did not though he might have blemished with her Majesty the reputations of some in great place for favouring the Libellers and Libels which had stowage and vent in their Chambers He procured at her Majesties hands both pardon and dismission for Mr. Cartwright and the rest out of their troubles For which Mr. Cartwright held himself much obliged and in his letters acknowledgeth his bond of most humble duty so much the straiter because his Graces favour proceeded from a frank disposition without any desert of his own 24. The Arch-bishop hath been heard to say That if Mr. Cartwright had not so far engaged himself as he did in the beginning he thought verily he would in his later time have been drawn to Comformity For when he was freed from his troubles he often repaired to the Arch-bishop who used him kindly and was contented to tolerate his preaching in Warwick divers years upon his promise that he would not impugn the laws orders and government in this Church of England but perswade and procure so much as he could both publickly and privately the estimation and peace of the same Which albeit he accordingly performed yet when her Majesty understood by others that Mr. Cartwright did preach again though temperately according to his promise made to the Arch-bishop She would by no means endure his preaching any longer without subscription and grew not a little offended with the Arch-bishop for such conniving at him Not long after Mr. Cartwright dyed rich as it was said by the benevolence and bounty of his followers 25. An. 1592. After the death of Sir Christopher Hatton Sir John Puckering was made Lord Keeper who shewed himself a friend to the Church to the Arch-bishop and his proceedings and acknowledged him a furtherer of his Advancement Sir Thomas Egerton Master of the Rolles succeeded him 6. May. 1596. a lover of learning and a most constant favourer of the Clergy and Church-government established as also a faithfull loving friend to the Arch-bishop in all his affairs In so much as after his advancement to that honour and that the Earl of Essex and the Arch-bishop concurred together being also further strengthned by the friendship and love of Sir Robert Cecil Principal Secretary he began to be fully revived again And her Majesty finding in him a zealous care and faithfull performance of his duty laid the burthen of the Church upon his shoulders telling him That if any thing went amiss be it upon his soul and conscience to answer it for she had rid her hands and looked that he should yeeld an account on her behalf to Almighty God 26. And now though the Arch-bishop was in this singular favour and grace with his Majesty so that he did all in all for the managing of Clergy-affairs and disposing of Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical promotions yet was he never puffed up with pride nor did any thing violently against any man For he ever observed this rule That he would not wound where he could not salve So that it was truly noted by the Earl of Salisbury a great Counsellour in the Star-chamber when Pickering was there censured for libelling against him after his death That there was nothing more to be feared in his Government especially toward his later time then his mildnesse and clemency And some younger spirits were of opinion that he was much to blame in that kind and sometimes would be bold to tell him That he knew not his own strength with her Majesty 27. As you may perceive his clemency towards the irregular sort so towards the conformable he was carried with an exceeding tender respect and kindnesse He loved a learned Minister vertuous and honest with all his heart framing himself unto that rule of Aristotle which directeth a good Magistrate to be as carefull in encouraging good men according to their merits as in punishing the bad according to the quality of their offenses If he found a Scholar of extraordinary gifts or hopes that out of wants grew discontented and enclined to Popery or Puritanism as most of their discontentments and way-wardnesse proceedeth thence him would he gain both with supplies of mony out of his purse and preferments of his own gift or otherwise as opportunity served 28. Neither was his Bounty wanting to men of learning and quality of forrein Countries Sundry times sent he mony to Mr. Beza out of his own purse
Austin did He had the greatest Antipathy against those unquiet and pragmatick Spirits which affect endlesse Controversies Varieties and Novelties in Religion to carry on a party and under that skreen of Religion to advance their private Interests and politick Designs 9. For the Liturgy though he needed a set form as little as any yet he had a particular great esteem of it 1. For the honour and piety of its Martyrly Composers 2. For its excellent matter and prudent Method 3. For the good he saw it did to all sober Christians the want of which he saw was not supplied by any Ministers private way of praying and preaching Not that the Liturgy is unalterable but he judged all such Alterations ought to be done by the publick spirit As for Bishops he was too learned a man to doubt and too honest to deny the universal Custom and practice of the Church of Christ in all ages and places for fifteen hundred years according to the pattern at least received from the Apostles who without doubt followed as they best knew the mind of Christ 10. He was by the favour of King Charls and to the great liking of all good men made Bishop of Exeter Anno 1641. Whereupon a certain Gentleman told me He wondred Doctor Brounrig would be made a Bishop whom he had heard sometime declare his judgment against Episcopacy Which as I no way beleived so relating it soon after to the Bishop He with some passion replyed I never thought much lesse said as that person hath falsely averred I thank God I took the office of a Bishop with a good Conscience and so I hope by his Mercy I shall both maintain and discharge it 11. And however this excellent Bishop enjoyed not the benefit of the Kings favour and munificence as to his Bishoprick or any other preferment after the Troubles of the times yet he was ever most unmovable in his royal respects of fidelity gratitude love and obedience Accordingly when O. P. with some shew of respect to him demanded his judgment in some publick affairs the Bishop with his wonted Gravity and Freedome replyed My Lord the best Counsel I can give you is that of our Saviour Render unto Caesar the things that be Caesars and unto God the things that be Gods With which free Answer O. P. rested rather silenced then satisfyed 12. This Grave personage when forced to retire was usefull to those that were worthy of him and knew how to value and use him either as a Bishop or as a Divine or a Counsellor or a Comforter or a Friend Among those that gave him a liberal and noble entertainment Thomas Rich Esq of Sunning in Bark-shire deserves with honour to be thus registred That he was the special friend to Bishop Brounrig Indeed none could be hospitable to him gratis He alwaies paid largely for his entertainments by his many excellent Discourses 13. He was alwaies when in health as cheerfull as far as the Tragedies of the Times gave leave as one that had the continual feast of a good Conscience and as content as if he had had a Lords estate All diminutions and indignities which some men put upon so worthy and venerable a person he digested into patience and prayers Thus he was in some degree conformable to the primitive Bishops which were poor and persecuted yea to the great Bishop of our Souls Who for our sakes made himself of no reputation 14. About a year before he dyed he was invited with much respect and civility to the Honourable Societies of both Temples to blesse them as with his constant Residence so with his Fatherly Instructions and Prayers To shew the Reality of their love and value to his Lordship they not only allowed an annual honorary Recompence to expresse their Thanks but they provided handsome Lodgings and furnished them with all things necessary convenient and comely for a person of his worth Such as could hear him preach rejoyced at his gracious words such as for the crowd could not come nigh enough to hear him had pleasure to stay and behold him conceiving they saw a Sermon in his looks and were better'd by the venerable Aspect of so worthy a person 15. God was pleased to exercise him with bodily pains indispositions and distempers sometimes with sharp fits of the Stone but under all these God supported him with his Grace and spirit as alwaies humble devout and pious so for the most part sociable serene and cheerfull till he had lived to his sixty seventh year He had more frequent Infirmities as gentle monitors a little before his death of which he would speak to my self and others as one that by dying dayly was well acquainted with death and would say That it was a very cheap time now to die there being so little temptation to desire life and so many to welcome death since he had lived to see no King in the State no Bishop in the Church no Peer in Parliament worthy of that name He only hoped and prayed that God would favour him so far with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as to let him dy without pain as indeed he did For after his spirits were in ten days decayed and wasted he slumbred much yet had vigilant Intervals at which times he gave himself to prayer and meditation and holy Discourses And being full of the Grace and peace of God and confirmed in it by the Absolution of the Church which belongs to all that dye in the true-faith and blessed hope of penitent sinners he placidly rendred his holy devout and precious Soul to God that gave it Dec. 7. 1659. vid. fin 16. His Body for stature and figure was somewhat taller and bigger then ordinary yet very comely No man ever became the Preachers Pulpit or the Doctors Chair or the Episcopal Seat it was called of old Thronus Episcopalis better then he did carrying before him such an unaffected State and grandeur such a benign gravity and a kind of smiling Severity that one might see much in him to be reverenced and more to be loved yet what was venerable in him was very amiable and what was amiable was very venerable 17. If you please to add to your former favours while he lived amongst you this last of giving order and leave to adorn your Chappel with any Monument for him you need be at no more cost then to inscribe on a plain Stone the name of BISHOP BROUNRIG This will make that Stone Marble enough and your Chappel a Mansoleum Naz. Orat. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VIII Mr THO. GATAKER Out of the Narrative annexed to his Funeral Sermon 1. HE was a branch of an antient Family so firmly by Gods providence planted in Shropshire that the stock hath continued in the same House carrying the name of its owner and known by the title of Gatacre-hall by an uninterrupted succession from the time of K. Edward the Confessor 2. His Father was houshold Chaplain to Robert Earl of