successor. BOOK "the church of Christ, he would, with St. Paul, take his II. "leave of them: and that the more willingly, as well beAnno 1576. " cause it was God's good will and appointment, as also for "that he trusted the change should be good and profitable Elmer, his "unto them; his hope was, that the Lord had provided His charac- one of choice to be placed over them, a man to undertake ter of him." this great charge so well enabled for strength, courage, gravity, wisdom, skill in government, knowledge, as in "many other things, so especially in the heavenly mysteries "of God, that he doubted not but his departure should "turn very much to their advantage. And that among “them, sith a great part of his life was now spent, and a "few evil days remained otherwhere to be bestowed, he "must use the words of the blessed apostle, For that which "remaineth, my brethren, fare ye well. My dear and "faithful flock, farewell; my crown and my joy, farewell. He will not part with Bi Again, with grief I speak it, farewell. I must in body go "from you; yet in heart and good-will I shall be ever "with you. You shall ever be most dear unto me. And "I shall not cease (God forbid I should) to pour out my 66 prayers before the Almighty in your behalf; that the great Shepherd of the sheep, even the Lord Jesus, may "take care of you, and by his holy Spirit direct and govern 66 66 you in all your ways: and in like sort he most heartily "craved at their hands, that they would not be unmindful "to pray also for him, that he might walk worthy of his calling, &c." So grave, so compassionate, so pastor-like, did this truly primitive bishop take his leave of his beloved people which I thought worthy setting down, as some memorial of this good man, as also of the obliging, Christian behaviour of the citizens of London in these times to their bishop. But no sooner came the bishop to York, but he had like to have lost one great branch of his bishopric from it: some shopthorp. moving for the president of the council in the north to have Bishopthorp at present for his use. But the archbishop saw the danger thereof, fearing the alienating it at last from the see; the place of the archbishops of that province, their II. frequent residence. The archbishop was so honest and re- CHAP. solute, that he refused to do it, but in the most submissive manner. I have met with a writing of his own hand, di- Anno 1576. lating therein his reasons: entitled, Certain causes and reasons, why the archbishop of York should not depart from his house called Bishopthorpe, belonging to the see. Dated January the 28th, 1576. what rea "1. The house was purchased by an archbishop of that And for ❝see, and given to the dean and chapter there, upon special sons. Pap. trust to reserve the same to the archbishop for the time Office. "being and not to let the same for any longer time than 425 during his incumbency, as an house for many opportuni"ties necessary for the archbishop's use. And therefore especially provided to meet with any lease or alienation, "which otherwise any archbishop might be induced to "make. “Item, The archbishop having no house within the city " of York, where his most attendance must be for the exe"cution of his office, this house lying within one mile of the city, doth most commodiously serve his use for that purpose: that it may not, without great prejudice to the "execution of his office, be spared. 66 66 Item, Good hospitality, required of a bishop, as one of "the things which give credit to his function, and so a "special means to win the people the better to believe his "preaching, shall be greatly, by want of this house, hin"dered; specially, for that the city of York, of all other "places wherein his charge is, hath the greatest need, and "doth greatliest expect relief. In which city, or any thing near it, he hath no house to keep hospitality in. 66 "Item, The archbishop's other house, called Cawood, "besides that it is eight miles distant from York, and so "shall be occasion of many troublesome journeys, un 66 66 meet for a man of his great years, if he should do his duty there; it is also at certain seasons of the year, by "reason of waters and ditches, very unwholesome: and "therefore cannot without danger to his health be con"tinually used. The rest of his houses be set so far off in II. BOOK "the utter parts of the diocese, and all the commodities appertaining to them so let out, that he cannot make his Anno 1576. " abode in any of them. "Item, There appeareth no cause why the archbishop "which shall be, should not enjoy the said house, as in the "times of this and other our presidents, the archbishops "have had and occupied the same. Neither can there be 66 any colour of necessity pretended, that hath not been at "other times, or not heretofore not sufficiently satisfied "without the grant of the house to the lord president's ❝ use. " Item, The house being once possessed by one lord pre"sident, it will hereafter be drawn to like example. And "other lords presidents making suit for the use thereof "shall more hardly be answered, when there is a former pattern of such grant to the lord president that now is. "Whereof will grow matter of grief between the archbishop " and them, to the hinderance of her majesty's service by "them both. "Item, The grant of the house from the archbishop will, " in the opinion of that country, seem to tend to the spoil of "that see the blame whereof, wheresoever it shall rest, "will be occasion of great discontentation to so many as "like the hospitality usually maintained there by the arch"bishops heretofore. “Item, It were inconvenient that the archbishop, whose "credit must especially further his good government, should "enter thither either with the opinion of yielding to the "grant of his house, or with note of unworthiness to enjoy "the possessions heretofore freely permitted to his prede 426 "Item, The conscience of the archbishop now named is "herein to be favoured. Who, as hitherto he hath always "professed, so yet assureth himself, that without offence to "his duty, he may not give his private assent to the di"minishing of the public patrimony of the church. 66 Item, The lord president shall herein much impair the "good opinion conceived of him for the defence of re ❝ligion, and for sincerity. Whereby hitherto his govern- CHAP. "ment hath had special success; if he shall give the first 66 II. example of taking from that see, which before him hath Anno 1576. "not been attempted by any lord president, neither may "be, without the great offence and discontentation of many." Elmer bishop San nues. The same bishop, soon after his translation, met with Bishop more trouble, happening by a contest Elmer, that succeeded contends him in London, (or some busy lawyer for him,) had with with archhim; who required all the incomes of that see, from Mi-dys about chaelmas last. Sandys, on the other hand, would enjoy the the reve benefits from Michaelmas to Candlemas ensuing; having been to that time bishop of London, before he removed to York. And pleaded to the lord treasurer, that he had spent upon the bishopric of London in hospitality what he had received, and 550l. more, since Michaelmas last past. That there was no example that he should make any restitution thereof to his successor. That neither bishop Yong, (who was the first archbishop under queen Elizabeth,) neither the late bishop of York [archbishop Grindal] was so dealt withal; but enjoyed all that they had received, and yet looked so far backward as he [archbishop Sandys] desired. That indeed his said successor had at first required no more than the ensuing Lady-day rent. And that so he had said. And he is able, added the archbishop, and I a beggar. That he had taken the cost and pains, and his successor none. And that if the restitution day looked back to the Purification of our lady, it was as much and more than he looked for. to the lord archbishop. But it seems bishop Elmer, by the advice of some, altered He appeals his mind, and now insisted upon the whole revenue from treasurer, Michaelmas to be restored to him. And to take off any against the pleas of the archbishop to the contrary, gave in a note to the lord treasurer, (to whom he laid open this his cause,) specifying what considerable benefits and advantages the archbishop had received since his coming to York: as first, the Lady-day rents, 500l. the demeans, amounting to II. BOOK 400%. the benevolence of his clergy, 8001. and in wood, to the value of 30007. This note the said lord sent to the Anno 1576. archbishop, by the hand of one of his servants, that he might hear and understand both sides the better. On the margin thereof, which he soon sent back to the treasurer, with his letter, he gave his answer briefly to each article: viz. to the Lady-day rents, "This is untrue by a great sum; "and perhaps some part of the tenths will be required of "me." Secondly, to the demeans, he wrote in the margin, "Not five pound." Against the third sum, viz. the clergy's benevolence, he wrote, "In two years to come." Against 427 the value he should make of his woods, thus he answered in the margin, "He might as well have rated the houses "there, to pull down and sell. He [the bishop of London] "hath as much wood left at London." The archbishop's letter to his own behalf. Paper Office. And his letter was to this tenor: "My good lord, of "late I came out of Buckinghamshire. Since what time I that lord in "have kept myself here, at the Minoresse, within the "doors, cogitating what to say at the Cross for my farewell. "If that had not stayed me, I had, according to my duty, "visited your lordship ere this. Yesterday I received by "William Seres a note from your lordship (as it seems) "unto me, delivered unto you by the bishop of London, or by his means. If I should say nothing unto it, I trust your lordship can easily espy what spiteful meaning is in "it, and what untruth it setteth forth. But I have set a "brief and a true comment to this false text, as by the bil"let enclosed your lordship may perceive. 66 66 "Coloured covetousness, an envious heart, covered with "the coat of dissimulation, will, when opportunity serveth, "shew itself. My lord, I am sore dealt withal, and most "shamefully wronged on every side. My only comfort is, "that a clear conscience will answer for me before God: "and that when I shall be tried, veritas liberabit me. To"morrow, if I may find your lordship at home, I will at"tend myself, to open this matter more at large. Thus, "much bound unto your lordship, and ever yours to use |