with the

the said Bishop, who then sent letters to the Council, that CHAP. he could do no good with him for altering his opinion in XIX. religion. Besides the Bishop's labour with him, the Dean Anno 1568. of Paul's, by him requested, conferred with the said Knight Harboured very often, and had used also much courtesy and humanity Bishop of towards him, and not without charge; which in reason London, might have been a means to move the said Sir John somewhat to relent, but the man was altogether unlearned, carried with a blind zeal without knowledge: [I do but transcribe Bishop Grindal's letter to the Secretary ;] his principal grounds were, "He will follow the faith of his fathers: "he will die in the faith wherein he was baptized." Sir John after this earnestly requested to repair to the Court, to sue unto the Council, that he might be employed in some service. And the Bishop allowed him to go. The Bishop was now discharged of him, and the Dean of St. Paul's harboured And Dean him, where, after he had been ten or twelve days, he grew weary of him; for the Knight now became more peremptory by the Dean's gentle usage, and would come neither to prayers nor sermon. So the Bishop in behalf of the Dean suggested to the Secretary how gladly the Dean would be to be delivered of him. Yet the Bishop in his letters now to the Lords, prayed them to spare his imprisonment for a time, because the prison sicknesses reigned usually at that time of the year.

of Paul's.

cel.

The Archbishop, who was a great repairer of the houses The Archand chancels pertaining unto his see, did this year repair pairs Bekesbishop reand beautify the chancel of Bekesbourn church, where he bourn chanhad an house. He set up fair and comely seats of wainscot N. Battely. for ornament. And in one of these seats, which probably might be that wherein he sat himself, are still remaining the arms of Parker, and the date 1568 engraven: but now are much gone to decay, through the negligence of the tenants, that should have kept them in repair; and some of them have been lately pulled down, and cut to pieces. About that time an augmentation was given to the vicarage, being a pension of corn, viz. four quarters of wheat and eighteen quarters of barley per annum; and ten pounds in money: so settled, as it seems, by the Archbishop's means.

BOOK
III.

Anno 1568.

266

placed in

Corpus
Christi,
Oxon.

CHAP. XX.

·Corpus Christi college, Oxon, visited by the Bishop of Winton: and more effectually, by commission from the Queen. The Archbishop of Canterbury's privilege to visit Oxford. The Commissioners Ecclesiastical appoint a visitation of Corpus Christi in Cambridge. The University refuse their visitation on account of their privileges. The Commissioners call the College up to Lambeth. The Archbishop satisfieth the Chancellor of Cambridge of their doings. Papists banished the Court. Some in the diocese of Gloucester officiate without orders. The Archbishop pacifieth differences in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge. The Queen's appointment of Latin prayers disobeyed in most colleges. The Archbishop's advice to the Chancellor hereupon. Procures new statutes for Corpus Christi college. Gives the advowson of Abb church, London, to the college. His advice for a Bishop of Chichester. Appoints Lent Preachers for the Queen. Tremellius and Corranus apply to him. His brother Mayor of Norwich.

A President A NOTABLE visitation of Corpus Christi college in Oxford happened this year. The occasion was this: upon the avoidance of the presidentship of that house, the Queen sent letters to the Fellows, recommending William Cole to their choice to supply that place, a sober and religious man, who had been an exile under Queen Mary. But notwithstanding, being well affected towards Popery, they rejected the Queen's letter, and chose for their President one Robert Harrison, formerly of that house, but gone from thence for his favour to the Romish religion. The Queen hearing this, pronounced their election void, as being made amiss, and against the statutes; and again commanded them to elect Cole. But they still refused, urging, that their former election was done according to their consciences and their oaths. Soon after, Horn, Bishop of Winchester, their visitor, was sent down to place Cole, which he did; but first was fain to force the college gates, being shut against him.

XX.

haviour of

their

mer.

There being such a nest of Popish Fellows here, and the CHAP. rude carriage the college had shown the Bishop, their Visitor, considered, he intended a farther visitation for them. But Anno 1568. upon other intervening business, it was deferred by him: The ill bewhich made the Fellows triumph. But some other Fellows the Fellows were here of a better inclination; as Hooker, and his learned towards and ingenious pupil George Cranmer, nephew to the late Visitor. Archbishop of that name. This man last mentioned, in this Geo. Cranjuncture wrote a letter to the Bishop of Winchester; who the last time he was at the college adjourned his visitation till another time, and afterward, as report went, laid it wholly aside. This rumour, Cranmer told him, brake all the hopes of the good men, and begat the triumphs of the bad. These talked abusively of the Bishop, that he would come when there was hope of gain, viz. ten mark. But now, being no hopes of that, he would not trouble himself to take the pains. Cranmer told him, moreover, how they spake against him, and boasted how well it succeeded, that they had resisted him, [as though he were afraid to come again to them.] He urged also to the Bishop, that he would do well to purge the New college and Winchester school, wherein were harboured many popishly affected. This letter came into the hands of Archbishop Parker, sent to him by the Bishop aforesaid; who prayed him, that care might be taken about these irregularities by the ecclesiastical Commission, rather than by him as Visitor. The Archbishop sent the letter to the Bishop of London, who approved of some speedy course to be taken for redress. 267

Commis

What was done with the colleges of Winchester and New college, I know not; but Corpus Christi was procured by The college the Archbishop to be this year visited by commission from visited by the Queen to the said Bishop of Winton, Secretary Cecyll, sioners. Cooper, and Humfrey, Doctors of Divinity, and George Ackworth, LL. D. an officer of the Archbishop's. Where lighter punishments were inflicted upon lesser crimes, and three notorious Papists expelled, whose names were Reynolds, Windsor, and Napier.

The Archbishop had lately met with an old writing taken The Archout of the rolls of Parliament, anno 1411, and of the 13.

bishops of Canterbury

might visit Oxford.

F. 1.

66

BOOK Regis Henrici IV. wherein was expressed the power of the III. Archbishops of Canterbury to visit the University of OxAnno 1568. ford. It began, Memorandum quod memorabilis in Christo Pater, Thomas Archiep. Cantuar. in præsenti Parl. nostro exhibuit quandam petitionem, &c. It was concerning his right of visiting that University; and it was confirmed by that Parliament. The aforesaid writing is very large. This the Archbishop ordered to be put into his register, as appears by this note subjoined," Memorandum, That the copy "of the act of Parliament above mentioned, touching the University of Oxford, was delivered to me John Incent, "the xix February, A. D. 1568. by the most reverend Fa"ther in God, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, and "commandment to me given by him to register the same in Cleopatra, "manner and form above specified." As for this prerogative of the Archbishops of Cant. I find by the notes of Dr. Yale, preserved in the Cotton library, that the scholars of Oxon submitted themselves to the Archbishop of Canterbury, et nequeunt sese exceptos. Ex. Reg. Arundel. And in the same Cotton volume I find this prerogative declared and ratified by King Richard II. in these words: Declaratio Regis per literas suas patentes, quod jus visitandi Cancellarium et Universitàtem Oxon. pertinet et pertinere debet, ac in perpetuum pertinebit ad Archiepiscopum Cantuar. et Ecclesiam suam, et non ad ipsum regem. This happened upon some contest and debate moved between Thomas, Archbishop of Cant. on the one part, and the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and some others of that University, on the other, upon the use and exercise of jurisdiction and visitation of the said University; the Chancellor and the rest saying, that the visitation belonged to the King alone. This was dated at Westminster, June 1, in the 20th year of King Richard II.

P. 266.

The Commissioners

This year I meet with an instance of the Archbishop's ecclesias- great love and good-will to his old college of Corpus Christi tical receive in Cambridge, where he was educated, and whereof he was against once governor, and ever after a loving patron. The present Master, Dr. Pory, was aged, and often absent, and

information

Bene't col

lege.

XX.

government and good order was greatly wanting in the col- CHAP. lege. The Archbishop, the Bishop of London, Dr. Yale, Dr. Drury, and Dr. Watts, were now some of the Queen's Anno 1568. Commissioners. To these information was lately brought of divers misdemeanors, as well in manners as in doctrine, of which this society was guilty. I make no question this information was brought by the Archbishop's means: who, finding no other way so convenient to remedy the abuses grown in that house, thought good to attempt the doing of it by the Commission. The method therefore taken was this. Upon this information they directed their letters of commission to the Vice-Chancellor, and some other Heads of the University, to examine and inquire into these matters, and to return them an account thereof. But they to whom The University dethis commission was directed made some stop thereat, de- cline their laying the execution thereof, fearing, as they said, to preju-jurisdiction. dice their privileges, if they should advance the ecclesiastical Commission in the University. And hereupon the ViceChancellor, Dr. Young, sent letters by the University beadle to Sir William Cecyll, their Chancellor. Upon the receipt of which, the said Chancellor desired their opinion who were the Commissioners, and had sent this commission to his Vice-Chancellor. They signified accordingly their opinion in a letter that ran thus:

And why.

ment of the

ciliana.

"It may please you to be advertised, that our opinion is, 268 "that the Queen's Majesty's commission for causes eccle- The judg"siastical doth extend, and may be executed, upon persons Archbishop "resiant within either of the Universities, or within and others any herein. "other privileged place within the realm, by virtue of the MSS. Ce"words, in places as well exempt as not exempt:' and "that the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, and others which "are joined with him in commission, from the Commission"ers here, may safely, without prejudice of the liberties “of the same University, proceed to the execution of the "said commission. Yet notwithstanding, we think it not "amiss, for avoiding all scruples, that the said Vice-Chan"cellor, and the other associates with him, do declare by