BOOK him the like again, how these letters discouraged learning; II. when the worse were preferred before the better deserving: Anno 1578. and this dispensing with statutes to the overthrow of good against granting them. The master of Queen's college re ter con cerning before the queen. laws and customs, to the great hindering of learning, and utter discouragement of good scholars and hard students, that studied out of hope of reward. This was pressed upon their chancellor; and he sufficiently sensible of. In this Dr. Perne had a great hand, being a great instrument in consulting for the benefit of learning there. This lord, therefore, took his opportunity to lay this petition of the university before the queen. And it had this effect, that she promised her mandamuses should be more sparing for the time to come: favouring that lord's godly and necessary suit, as the said Perne, in a letter, called it. And of this his success he [their chancellor] wrote most lovingly in his answer to their former letter. But however, it was observed afterwards, that since that time there were more mandamuses sent down, and dispensations with the statute, than were before. Which caused another from Cambridge to him, that his lordship knowing the same, would, they doubted not, help to redress. There came a private letter this year to the master and fellows of Queen's college, Cambridge, containing a friendly ceives a let-hint and information concerning such as came to preach before the queen: some of them she liked not, in using so preachers much freedom with her in their sermons in respect of dissensions in the church, properly belonging to matters of government; judging they went beyond their bounds. The letter is without any name subscribed, only dated in March, 1578. But I conjecture it was sent from the earl of Leicester, Dr. Chaderton the master of Queen's great patron; or perhaps from secretary Walsingham. The letter itself I here transcribe, as followeth : MSS. R. S. The letter. "Master Dr. I perceive the queen's majesty doth mislike, "that of late such as have preached afore her, in their ser"mons entered into dissensions of matters properly apper"taining to matters of government: rather by private advice "to be imparted to herself or to her council, than in pul "pits, to the hearing of vulgar people, which are not apt to CHAP. "hear such things: especially thereby to catch lightly occa- XIII. "sions to think either sinisterly or doubtfully of the head Anno 1578. "and of her government. "If any allowed to preach, be moved to desire amend"ment in things properly belonging to herself, I do assure myself, she will willingly hear any that shall either desire "by speech or writing to impart their charitable conceits. "And many times I find even preachers as perverse 542 "men, led, yea, carried with sinister informations, especially "against government. Yet it may be doubted of good men, "that all reports are not always true. I wish in my heart "no jot of the authority of preachers to be diminished. "And yet I wish them not to presume upon their authority, to enter into condemnation of others, without some "grounds." CHAP. XIV. The queen's progress. THIS summer the queen took her progress into Suffolk II. visits some country seats. BOOK and Norfolk. But first in the month of May she took her pleasure abroad to the lord Compton's house at Tottenham : Anno 1578. and thence to the lord treasurer's at Theobald's; where she The queen tarried three or four days. From thence she went to Mr. of her nobi-Barret's house. But where that was, I cannot assign; somelity at their what, as it seems, in the way to Wansted, in Waltham forest, which was the earl of Leicester's seat: where she continued five or six days. In July we find her at Hunsdon; and the lord treasurer now at his house at Theobald's, where he had entertained her majesty a month or two before. And thence he wrote to Mr. Randolph, chamberlain of the exchequer and master of the posts, sometime ambassador to Russia and Scotland, to signify to him, that she would have the ambassador of Scotland to come to Hunsdon on the Thursday, and the next day to Mr. Sadleir's house in Hertfordshire, where she would be. And that considering the high way from London was by his house there at Theobald's, and that they must have a resting place for dinner-time, he prayed The Scots Randolph, in his name, to make that ambassador an offer to invited to dine with him there. Where also he [the treasurer] should Theobald's. be the gladder to see him, and he the opportunity to see his 543 house, according as he had said he had a desire to see. ambassador [For a fame went of my lord's splendid buildings here.] 66 Though there were nothing," as that lord modestly told him, "worth his desire, considering his foreign travels; al"though percase," added he, "you may see as much to " content you as in Moscovia, [that barbarous country.] "With no other I will offer any comparison." He told him further, "That my lord of Hunsdon would also meet "with him there at dinner. And that the queen's ma"jesty was privy, and well liking of this his invitation. "And as the ambassador should assent, so to send him "word." This was dated at Theobald's, the 21st of July, at night, 1578. The queen The queen had been some days before at Havering, in at Audely End. Essex, one of the royal seats; and remained there several days. And after one or two removes she came to Audely End. Where the university of Cambridge waited upon her, XIV. with speeches and disputations made before her, as we shall CHAP. hear by and by. Thence she intended to proceed in her progress to Suffolk, to the house of the master of the rolls, Anno 1578. And if she went not further, which was not presently concluded upon, (as the lord Burghley writ to the vice-chancellor,) then she would return by Cambridge, by Mr. Hynde's, by Somersham, by Mr. Crumwell's, and so by Justice Dyer's, and the lord St. John's: and so through Buckinghamshire, towards Windsor: as it was by the lord Burghley signified to the vice-chancellor of Cambridge; that so the university might be prepared to receive her majesty, if she came that way. to wait queen But now before we go further in this progress, to relate The universomething concerning the university's waiting upon the sity intends queen while she was at Audely End, which was in the lat- upon the ter end of July. Dr. Howland, master of St. John's, and there. vice-chancellor, had sent his letter to the lord Burghley, their chancellor, with notice of their purpose in that respect; and likewise to give them his advice and instructions therein. "That they intended to wait upon her majesty, with the "heads of the colleges: and to have in readiness some dis"putants upon two moral questions." The one whereof was, An clementia magis sit laudanda in principe, quam severitas. The second, De fortuna et futo. When they intended also to present the queen with a book well bound. But what that book was, I find not: perhaps some curious edition of the Bible. instructions chancellor. Rev. T. B. "In answer, their high chancellor heartily thanked them; Lord " and that he liked well of their purpose of presenting them-Burghley's "selves unto her majesty at Audley End. And that of the to the vice"two questions, he liked better the first. And that the "second might yield many reasons impertinent for Chris- S. Th. B. "tian ears, if it were not circumspectly used. But yet he "left the further consideration thereof to themselves. That "the present to her majesty he allowed of, But that they "must have regard, that the book had no savour of spike, "which commonly bookbinders did seek to add, to make "their books savour well. But that her majesty could not BOOK "abide such a strong scent. II. 66 That they should do well to provide for the earl of Leicester, the lord chamberlain, Anno 1578. " and the earl of Oxford, some gloves, with a few verses in 544 a paper joined to them, proper to every of their degrees; "so that in number they exceeded not above eight verses. "That for himself he could spare them; so that others "might have them. And that if Mr. Vice-chamberlain "might have a pair with some verses, it should do well, to "conciliate his good-will, being a lover of learned men." This was dated from the court at Havering, July 15. His orders for their waiting queen. It was not before the 25th of July that the lord Burghley could inform the vice-chancellor when the queen was upon the certainly to come to Audely End, viz. the next day. And forthwith ordering him, that his servant should bring a letter from him, as vice-chancellor, and from some of the heads of the colleges; jointly directed to the earl of Leicester, as their steward, and to him, [Lord Burghley,] as their chancellor therein requiring those said lords to direct them [the heads] at what time and in what order they should think. meet that they of the university should come. And that his particular opinion was, that he thought fittest for them all to present themselves in their long black gowns. And as for the matter of the oration to be uttered by their orator, he knew it must be demonstrativo genere, mingled with thanks and praise to Almighty God, for his long blessings, delivered to the whole realm by her majesty's government; and particularly to the two universities; which were kept by her, as by a nurse, in quietness to be nourished in piety, and all other learning; free from all outward troubles, as rebellions, and such other innumerable calamities, as other countries were then subject unto. And so to the end, with thanks to her majesty, and request to continue her favour. This entertainment of the queen by speeches, &c. was soon after set forth in print, in a book by Gabr. Harvey. The queen at Norwich. The queen in her progress, being come in the month of The Dutch August as far as the city of Norwich, among the welcomes congrega that were there given her, the Dutch congregation there wait upon waited upon her: and one of their ministers, (whose name tion there her. |