BOOK And yet so ungrateful were the Papists of those times, that they were not only unsensible of this kind usage of Anno 1563. their Bishops and chief Divines, but represented them in Kindness their ordinary discourses and public prints as miserable the Popish prisoners. Thus Dorman about this very time had the Clergy. confidence to publish these words: "How many notable exercised to 66 66 men of the Clergy, said he, both for life and learning, only for refusal of this oath [of supremacy] suffer they "to pine away in prison?" To which false suggestion let Nowel's Re-me by the way subjoin the answer which Nowel, Dean of proof, p. 11. St. Paul's, gave; telling Dorman, "That this oath was "never required of them; and they pined not, but fared well, and of other men's cost too, a great many of them. "They were well fed and in good liking, and some of them "so fat as they might wallow too. That they neither sat "nor hung in stocks by legs or fingers, nor had their necks "in chains. That they were neither whipped nor scourged, "as some of them used others, [meaning Bonner's dealing "with the professors of the Gospel.] And that in sickness "time, they had their progresses both for health and plea"sure too." Having in his eye, no question, the sending of these two unto the Archbishop from the sickness at London; as well as others of them, that had now permission granted them to retire from London to their friends, or places of more safety. Bourn with the Bishop So that it was a most true denomination by which our Archbishop called these Popish dignitaries, viz. his guests, and not his prisoners. Though whether it But with the said Such gentle and good usage did Bourn, late Bishop of of Lincoln. Bath and Wells, receive at the hands of the Bishop of Lincoln, with whom he was now placed. were before or after this he lived with chapel, as Godwin writes, I know not. Bishop I find him in January 1565. Archbishop to be a suitor to the Secretary to obtain licence, that his guest, Mr. Bourn, for so he called him, might be at his own house, which he had in London, for the Parliament time, being sufficiently bound to be quiet, and XVI. to return again with him, or otherwise, when the said Bishop CHAP. should repair home; because his own lodging at Lambeth was too strait. He lodged, I suppose, at Lambeth, that he Anno 1563. might be near the Archbishop, where the commission court was kept, he being one of the ecclesiastical Commissioners. The Archbishop, according to the Bishop of Lincoln's request, writ to the Secretary to the effect above mentioned, adding, that if they of the commission might do it, they would not wish it to be moved to the Queen or Council; and so prayed the Secretary to grant his desire. Whence we may conclude, that Bourn had the liberty to dwell at his own house, under some easy conditions of living peaceably; and so enjoyed himself and his friends about him. And so did divers others of Queen Mary's Bishops and Divines. France, Court con cerning his In the month of February the Archbishop being at his Upon apprehension Palace at Canterbury, I find his two guests, Thirleby and of some atBoxal, still with him. But there being at this time a great tempt from consternation in those parts, upon apprehension of the sends to the French's invasion of England thereabouts; he put it to the Secretary's consideration, what were best to be done two guests. with them in that time and country, and in such vicinity 143 [of the French.] Though he judged by their words, which they now spake, that they were true Englishmen, not wishing (as he said) to be subject to the governance of such insolent conquerors. dies. In November died a famous man, John Bale the anti-John Bale quary, formerly Bishop of Ossory in Ireland, but a Prebendary now of this church of Canterbury, where he resided after Queen Elizabeth possessed the crown. He was once a White Friar in Norwich, and very hot and devout in that way of religion. In one of his books speaking concerning the worshippers of images, and the practisers of Popish superstitions, he added, "Yea, I ask God mercy a thou"sand times, I have been one of them myself." Afterwards, being convinced of his superstitions by the Lord Wentworth, and well observing himself the unclean and shameful practices used too commonly in the monastic life, he left II. BOOK his Order, and became a zealous decrier of the Papal supremacy and worship, between the years 1530 and 1540. Anno 1563. And sometimes we find him in the north, where Lee the Archbishop imprisoned him; and sometimes in the south, where Stokesly, Bishop of London, met with him. But making his supplications to the Lord Crumwel, the King's Vicar General, he escaped out of their hands. The said Crumwel used to be delighted with reading certain witty plays composed by Bale in Latin. At Crumwel's death he thought it not safe for him to abide any longer in the land, especially persecution growing so hot upon the Six Articles; so he with his wife and family went beyond sea, and tarried in Lower Germany for eight years: that is, till King Edward came to reign. The Archbishop labours to get ties; And his prebend conferred upon his Chaplain : The decease of this man created our Archbishop two businesses. The one was to get into possession of the anhis Antiqui- tiquities which Bale had by great diligence, industry, and charges, for many a year been picking up and collecting. These our Archbishop took care speedily to bespeak before others, and was promised to have them for money. And this he writ to his friend the Secretary, as knowing him to be a great antiquarian himself, and a studious retriever of such monuments; and therefore an acceptable piece of news to him. The other was to procure Mr. Bale's prebend for a Chaplain of his, who was Andrew Peerson, his Almoner. Which by the instant intercession of the Secretary with the Queen he obtained. But instead of a presentation, the ordinary instrument in such cases, there was brought to the Archbishop a donation under the Great Seal, for the Chaplain's enjoyment of the prebend. This did a little disturb our Prelate, who used to be very punctual in keeping to old ecclesiastical statutes and orders, and was no further for any innovations than was necessary. For this instrument was not in such order passed, as both by laws ecclesiastical, and statutes of the house, was required. This caused him to send another letter to the Secretary, urging to him, how this would work a subversion of order in the Church, and a breach of statute, besides other inconveniences. He blamed XVI. the clerks, wishing they would better consider the order of CHAP. such privy seals. He took notice also of another mistake, namely, that the Queen's grant was two days before Bale's Anno 1563. departure. Which little error, he said, might peradventure be hurtful to the party to come into that prebend, which was not void when the grant was made: though the Great Seal bare date after his decease. But he earnestly desired the Secretary that he would get the instrument reformed, that it might pass by presentation as it ought. Which was accordingly procured. next pre church was But there happened not long after another matter, that Though the gave fresh occasion for the Archbishop to solicit the Secre- bend that tary again in his Chaplain's behalf about this prebend. There fell in that was one Tamworth, who had obtained so much favour from promised to the Queen, that she had granted him the next avoidance of another. a prebend in that church; and so ought to have been admitted into Bale's place. But it seems he was not quick enough; nor did the Archbishop, when he solicited on his Chaplain's behalf, know of any such grant to Tamworth. But observing a prejudice done to him, and that his Chaplain's title might not be so firm in case the other should have tried to reverse the possession the said Chaplain had therein: to make therefore some amends for the prejudice, and to secure his domestic, he entreated the Secretary that he would prefer the said advowson to the Queen's Highness, to have it renewed for the next hereafter. Which, he said, was no more cost, but her favourable grant to be the same, that once was granted to take place at the next turn: seeing it was of late otherwise at her free favour bestowed. 144 BOOK II. Anno 1563. contract rents' con CHAP. XVII. The Archbishop judges a cause of contract of marriage. Fears of a French invasion in Kent. The Archbishop's service, and his letter to Court on this emergence. The evil condition of the nation at this time. The Archbishop's judgments of commendams for St. Asaph and small bishoprics. His care about the bishopric of Landaff, now void. Judges of a ABOUT this time also came a case before him, as judge made with thereof; in which a certain young gentleman, named Berout the pa- naby Goge, was concerned. He had been a retainer to Sir sent. William Cecil the Secretary, and his relation, now a Gentleman Pensioner to the Queen; and for whom the said Knight had writ to the Archbishop, desiring his case might be heard according to law and equity. The business was; a young gentlewoman, named Mary, the daughter of Mr. Darrel of Kent, had privily contracted herself to Goge, without the knowledge of her parents. Which she seemed to do, to prevent her parents from marrying her to one Sampson Lennard, living at Chevening, a certain rich man, a Protonotary; but a person belike whom she could not affect; being not so much moved with the consideration of his money, as her parents were. Some relation of the case. The Secretary had writ to Lennard the father, (who depended also upon him,) in favour of his kinsman Goge, who had informed the said Secretary that he was hindered by Lennard's means from his marriage with Mr. Darrel's daughter, by disparaging of him; giving out that he was destitute of friends, and that the Secretary looked upon him but as one of his men. The Secretary wrote, that the matter was made plain to him by the maid's letter and her father's, that she had assured herself to Mr. Goge; and so praying Mr. Lennard to pleasure his honest kinsman, and to order his son to desist his suit, seeing she was engaged already. But Lennard with some heat answered the Secretary, that for his marriage, he might and must have done |