BOOK Anno 1579. "work in hand: his will be fulfilled; and his name be "blessed for ever." Then he went on to relate his life and conversation in times past, viz. "That he was in Cambridge twenty-one "years; and was never sued, never complained upon unto "any magistrate. That he had been in Yorkshire then "almost thirteen years; and never sued, never complained upon for any fact. And that if his honour had not put "him in the commission to visit the church of Durham, "(for which doing, you [meaning the lord treasurer] were "blamed openly at Durham by my lord's grace,) he be"lieved he had not been complained upon at this time. Yet 66 66 truly, as he added, he dealt as uprightly in that commis❝sion as ever he did in any thing in his life. God is my "judge, and they that were present. That there was now "no dean left in the north parts, but himself. [For the "dean of Durham died this year.] Would to God I might "not, after a sort, say with the prophet, Derelictus sum "ego solus, et quærunt animam meam. That his lordship 576" had been his special good lord always; nay, Receptus ab “ imbre, et latibulum a vento, for all injured persons to fly a No, he ❝unto. ment from 66 "And therefore he came to him as to a sanctuary, under "her majesty, beseeching his lordship to be a mean that he "might be not discredited, nor condemned without hearing. "But that if his grace would needs seek his defacing, "(which he hoped he would nota,) yet that he would do it only sought his advance-" charitably, openly, orderly, and in writing; that he might answer, and have his lawful defence. He beseeched his a bishopric. "lordship to pardon him, if he were somewhat earnest; be"cause he had not been acquainted with this kind of deal"ing. And so praying God to continue his lordship in "good health, to the comfort of many, he took his leave.” Dated from York, the 10th of January, 1579. But this illwill of the dean still continued divers years after, secretly informing against the archbishop. a deanery to All that I can add more of archbishop Sandys, under this XVI. year, is what follows. On the 17th day of November, the CHAP. day of the queen's access to the throne, the archbishop preached at York a sermon on that occasion: where he set Anno 1579. forth the praise of the queen, and the happiness of her sub- The archbishop jects under her government. Some part whereof was after preaches at this manner delivered by him, (which may deserve a place 17th of Noin this history.) "As this day now twenty years fully finished, the Lord "in his mercy remembering us, when we little hoped, and "less deserved, delivered us from the state of miserable "servitude, and gave us our gracious sovereign, his own "elect Elizabeth, by his grace, our gracious sovereign, the "restorer of our religion and liberty. York, the vember. ties and vir him. "If learning and wisdom be so necessarily requisite in a The abili"governor, how great is the goodness of Almighty God to tues of the “usward, who hath so plentifully bestowed this gift of queen set "knowledge and wisdom upon our sovereign, not far infe- forth by "rior to Mithridates for diversity of languages; but far "surmounting all English princes in learning, knowledge, " and understanding! which rare and excellent gift dwell"eth not in her royal breast alone; but it is beautified and "accompanied with sundry other most singular graces. She "is the very patroness of true religion, rightly termed the "defender of the faith; one that, before all other things, "seeketh the kingdom of God. If the threatenings of men "could have terrified her, or their allurement enticed her, "or any crafty persuasions had prevailed, she had revolted long ere this; so fiercely, by great potentates, her con66 stancy had been assaulted. But God hath strengthened “his royal handmaid. The fear of God hath put to flight "the fear of men. Her religious heart is accepted of the "Lord: and glorious also is it in the eyes of men. 66 "A prince so zealous for God's house, so firmly settled "in his truth, that she hath constantly determined, and "oftentimes vowed, rather to suffer all torments, than one "jot in matter of religion. She is not fraudulent nor "treacherous, but dealeth justly and truly, in word and "deed, with all men: promiseth and performeth. Herein II. Merciful. 66 BOOK "her majesty passeth all princes; and therefore in credit "she is far before others. And her great desire is, that Anno 1579." all men placed in authority under her should deal truly, judge righteously, and give to every man his own accord577" ing to justice; matching always with justice mercy: which "two are so linked and coupled together, that they may "not be severed. No prince of this realm, inclining so "much to mercy, did ever less hinder the course of justice "than her highness hath done: such as are placed in judi❝cial rooms must needs confess. Of nature a prince most "merciful; in judgment upright and just. A prince void "of all corruption: a hater of bribes: free in bestowing; "in taking close-handed. One that hath learned, and doth "practise, our Saviour's lesson, It is more blessed to give "than to receive. A right Samuel, that cannot be charged "with indirect dealing. A prince mild as Moses, just as "Samuel, peaceful as Solomon, zealous as David. The happy govern 66 "Neither speak I this in flattery, (which thing be far "from me,) but in an upright conscience; not of guess, “but of knowledge; not seeking myself, but the glory of "God. That being put in mind of your happiness, you may praise God for his mercy, and glorify him in his "gracious gifts." This character of that excellent queen may the rather be depended upon, both because of the preacher's protestation against flattery, and speaking from his own personal knowledge and experience; having long known the queen, and well acquainted with the court and her proceedings. To the which I may add the account he gave his audiment of the tors of the queen, in another sermon in York, preached on the same anniversary day, in these words: "If any church, queen. 66 any people, any nation in the world have cause to praise "the Lord for their prince, this land hath more than any, "in respect of the wonderful blessings wherewith God, by "the ministry of his handmaid, [queen Elizabeth,] hath "enriched us, far beyond all that we are possibly able to "conceive, &c. Look upon other princes at this day. Some are drawn with the poisoned cup of that harlot, whose 66 66 venom her highness doth abhor. Some have embrued CHAP. "themselves in blood: wherewith her majesty did never 66 XVI. yet stain the tip of her finger. When they tumble in Anno 1579. "wars, she sitteth in peace. When they break oaths and covenants, she keepeth promise. Therefore God hath "blessed the work of her hands. She found this realm in 66 war; she hath established it in peace. She found it in "debt; which she hath discharged. She hath changed dross "into silver and gold. She hath, by living within compass, "and sparing wasteful expenses, without pressing the peo❝ple, or seeking more than ordinary and useful tribute, fur"nished this land with so great a navy, with store of armour "and warlike munition, both for defence and offence, as "England never had in former times. This I speak, not of "flattery, (it was never my fault,) but rather in sincerity, testifying the truth. That seeing your happiness, you may be thankful.” 66 no advow mitted any This archbishop shewed his conscientious discharge of his This archbiepiscopal office, and how immoveable he was in his resolution shop gave for the well governing of his church, by this one instance that son, nor adhappened this year, while he was in such a dependance upon resignation. the said lord treasurer, his friend. That lord had moved him to grant the promise of the next advowson of a prebend in Southwel upon his chaplain, Mr. Mountford. Which request he modestly refused to grant, that he might keep a good purpose that he had made, in order to the preferring none but worthy men; and that none might obtain preferment under him by any sinister ways and means. Which purpose 578 was, never to grant an advowson before it actually fell void; nor ever to take a resignation. According to which resolution, when that lord had sent to him (as abovesaid) for the favour of such a grant, he returned him this honest answer; "That he might command him in what he could. But the "truth was, he had never in his life given any advowson of any prebend. That he had given his word to the con"trary: which he might not, he said, recede from. Neither "had he at any time admitted of resignation: for that they "proceeded of unlawful pactions." Again, he added in fur 66 VOL. II. PART II. II. BOOK ther excuse to his lordship, "That he had many learned chap"lains, which wholly depended upon him: and as yet it had Anno 1579.❝ not been his hap to reward them with any living. And 579 "that when an ecclesiastical living fell in his gift, he should "be thought unthankful, if he should not prefer them be"fore others. Neither did they serve him, but in hope of some requital." And then applying further to that lord, "I know," said he, " that in honour and wisdom your lord"ship will consider thereof.” But that it might not fare the worse with his lordship's chaplain, whom he had minded to gratify, the archbishop subjoined, that he learned, that Dr. Chaderton should be made bishop of Chester, who had a prebend in the church of York. And that upon his preferment it was in her majesty's donation: which, if it were not granted, his lordship might for a word obtain it. CHAP. XVII. Cox, bishop of Ely, defends the see against a lease for Hatton-Garden. The lord North's actions against him. Labours to resign his bishopric. His letters thereupon ; and requests. The bishop of Norwich declines a remove to Ely. His honest letter on that occasion. By the lord treasurer's intercession, the queen grants the bishop of Ely leave to resign. Sectaries of the family of love in Norwich diocese. The bishop of Norwich prevents a change of some lands belonging to his church. The bishop of Peterborough endeavours to ease a heavy tax laid upon the poorer sort there, for draining a common. The bishop of London takes a seditious printer, named CarChatham hospital in danger by pretence of conceal ter. ment. The bishop of Rochester stirs in its behalf. His notes upon the book called, The Gospel of the Kingdom. The bishop of Lincoln's letter upon the queen's thoughts of removing him to Norwich. The vicar of Cuckfield, vicious: the bishop of Chichester required to deprive him. Cox, the learned, well-deserving, and now very ancient |