II.

BOOK treasurer wrote to the master of the rolls there: and that they had made distinction thereof, noting herein wherein Anno 1577. the complainants, both here and there offended, not ignoJuly 15. rantly, but wilfully; and wherein the complaints deserved favourable remedy, in respect of the excess of the cesse, as it appeared unto them, the queen's council. And therefore for the offence committed, both they here, and their authors there, had deserved exemplary punishment. And that for the remedy of the burden of the cesse, they hoped the lord deputy either had or would devise means, to the reasonable satisfaction of the parties grieved. And they of the council had also, at that present time, collected in writing some devices to ease the same: which, as things only projected, they sent unto the lord deputy.

The lord treasurer gave the master of the rolls in Ireland this account of that affair, and the sense the court had of the ill management of the queen's prerogative, in another letter, half a year after, using these words: "So plenteous "are the affairs of that country [Ireland] to the worst, as "I should be more sorry for them, if I did not hope that "either malice or lightness did not increase the evil thereof. "The matter stirred up against the queen's prerogative for "her relief to victual her army hath been duly corrected. "And the parties deserve the more correction, for that in "evil handling they hindered a needful matter; which was "to have had the excess of the cesse remedied: which for my part I think needful; but not in such a strenable sort "as it was sought." This was dated from Hampton Court, Jan. 18, 1577.

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His

The queen's ambassador at the council at Frankford: and why. Sent to the princes of Germany. New books of religion there set forth. The archbishop of York about to visit the church of Durham, is refused. The proceedings thereupon. The bishop of Durham's account of his visitation of his diocese, by order from the queen; and especially of the disorders in that church. His letter to the lord treasurer about it: slandered and hated. vindication of himself for some words of his against archbishop Grindal, and the exercises. Bishop Barnes' pedigree. Cox bishop of Ely's thoughts upon archbishop Grindal's suspension. The queen's letter to the bishop of Lincoln to forbid prophesyings. The bishop of Chichester's troubles. Caldwell, parson of Winwich, his sermon. Dr. Goodman, dean of Westminster, concerning the statutes of that collegiate church.

AND now for the affairs of religion abroad, as well as here Anno 1577. at home, this year, I find these occurrences.

sends her

fession.

There was a great and long desired design among all pro- The queen testants now in hand, in order to unite them in a profession ambassador of the same faith and doctrine. In order to which a coun- to the council at Frankcil was held this year at Frankford, for the drawing up a ford, met common confession of all the reformed churches. To this about a concouncil, to assist at it, the queen sent her ambassador, shewing her concurrence in this useful affair. The province of drawing up the form was committed to Zacharias Ursinus, the learned professor of Heydelberg, who had formerly been an hearer of Melancthon and Peter Martyr: What the issue was, and what particular esteem the queen obtained for this with the protestants of Germany and Switzerland, will appear from a letter of Ralph Gualter, chief minister of Zuric, to the bishop of Ely, written in the beginning of March.

"That they were in expectation every hour of prince "John Casimire's letter (he was brother to Frederick, elec"tor palatine, and deserved well of religion) unto their

BOOK
II.

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senate, whereby they might be more certified concerning "the writing of a common confession, which they had deAnno 1577. " creed in the synod of Frankford, the ambassador of the "most serene queen being present, and moderating the "whole business. But that D. Zacharias Ursinus put a delay to the whole business: who declined to undertake "the work of drawing it up, which was committed to him. “That they knew not yet who was placed in his room for "that affair. He added, that the queen in this regard had performed an excellent work, and worthy a nursing mo"ther of the church."

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She had also sent her ambassador to divers of the princes The queen's of Germany about this time on the same account of union. embassy to the German The good effect whereof was signified by the same divine to princes. the same English bishop: "That in these days he had un"derstood that her embassy to the princes of Germany was "very fruitful, especially with Julius, of Brunswick; and "that Augustus, the elector of Saxony, did so receive the "ambassador, that from the time the business of Jacobus "Andreas, [a learned professor at Tubing,] the chief head "of their adversaries, [who opposed some doctrines of the "Helvetian churches, being a great ubiquitarian, and was

New books at Frankford mart set forth.

some hinderance to the finishing this common confession,] "did altogether begin to shake." Then he piously added, "That God was to be sought to, that the work so happily "begun might be brought by him to the wished for end. "For it would very much profit, as he subjoined, that there

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were extant such a public confession of so many king"doms and nations; which might testify of our consent in "faith. Our people (said he) [meaning those Helvetian "churches] yield themselves ready and cheerful to this "business. But, as I said, this is the Lord's work. I pray that he would here put to his own hand."

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The reverend and learned man on this occasion acquaints him with some books now set forth, relating to the religious controversies then on foot; which will not be amiss to set down with the rest. That at that fair [at Frankford] he had published nothing, besides ten sermons in the German

VII.

language, of the bread of life, Jesus Christ, and the true CHAP. eating of him, from the sixth chapter of St. John; which if he should hereafter put into Latin, he promised to send Anno 1577. him. And that Julius [who was a learned man there, and sometime P. Martyr's great friend and assistant, and so was now the more esteemed] had sent him a book of Benedict Talman: whereby the new and monstrous doctrine (as he styled it) of the ubiquity of Christ's body was notably confuted. And informed him further, that there was in the press a learned book of the orthodox consent of the ancient church, in the business of the supper of our Lord.

by the bi

This good bishop had sent by the way of Frankford unto Money sent Mr. Gualter and Julius 13 florens and five German rashop of Ely gions; which like gifts of money, he and several other to Gualter. bishops, that formerly had lived and been kindly harboured there, often in gratitude did convey by bills of exchange to them and others. For this favour they gave his lordship great thanks; and wished it were in them to gratify him. And concerning Julius, now grown old, and his circumstances low, he added; "You do well, right reverend father "in Christ, who have Julius in your regard. For he is

worthy to be helped, and hath great need of it." The conclusion of this letter (whence I have taken these things) must not be omitted, viz. Hæc habui quæ nunc darem: non quod tuam amplitudinem meis opus habere putem, sed testandi officii causa. Deus Pater miserationum tuam senectam, mi reverende pater, mitiget, et suo Spiritu regat ad sui nominis gloriam. Tiguri, 4 Martii, 1578.

Tuæ amplitudinis observantissimus,

Superscribed, Reverendo in Christo

patri, episcopo Eliensi vigilantissimo, domino suo cum omni observantia honorando.

Rod. Gualtherus.

The contents of this letter being of such public and 481 weighty concern, as it was highly approved of bishop Cox, Communiso that he might be prepared to give some reasonable an- ter's letter swer to the same; he soon communicated the same to the to the trea

cates Gual

surer.

II.

BOOK lord treasurer Burghley; being sent from that foreigner, whom he styled the most faithful minister of the church of Anno 1577. Tygur, and successor of Bullinger: whose letter, he said, he could not answer, nor satisfy his expectation, unless he [the lord treasurer] would in part help him. For that he was altogether ignorant of that which Gualter chiefly wrote about. And what to write he had nothing certain, or what the queen's majesty had done in that which he [Gualter] made mention of. “That he seemed to hint magnificum "quid, and worthy the highest praise, that the queen should "endeavour that there might publicly be a confession and "consent of Christian kingdoms in the true religion of "Christ. Which very thing, added the bishop, that it might come to pass, I did not sluggishly wish in my ser"mon, some years ago, preached publicly before the queen. "He proceeded, that if he might but get the least notice of "such a thing, he should make Gualter's heart very glad : "and that he knew and was persuaded this so pious an en"deavour would be very acceptable to Christ himself, and "to his little flock most delightful, and most safe for the "afflicted church. That Constantine the emperor, truly great for his piety, assisted and helped by the holy clergy "and pious princes, (the heretics and schismatics either repulsed or bridled by silence,) at last brought the church "to the unity of the Holy Ghost, reclaimed from errors "and contentions."

Archbishop Sandys visits the

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And so concludes his letter to that great counsellor: "You see my confidence towards you, whereby I talk with you "somewhat boldly; whereby I may answer in some measure the wish of a pious brother.” It was writ from Somersham, May the 16th.

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Now for some particular occurrences relating to some of our bishops.

Sandys, removed lately from the see of London, succeeded Grindal in that of York; and this year began the visitachurch of tion of his province. And having heard of some irregularities in the church of Durham, (that see being now void,) Whitting begins a visitation thereof: the dean whereof, William Whitham, dean.

Durham.