sermon upon his York. BOOK piety and learning, sometime an exile and confessor for reII. ligion, and who had been master of arts of St. John's colAnno 1576. lege in Cambridge, head of Katharine hall, and vice-chancellor of that university, and after bishop of London, was remove to this year translated and advanced to the see of York, March 8, and installed in the person of William Palmer, chancellor of York, March 13, following. At his departure 423 from London, where he was dearly beloved, he made them a farewell sermon at St. Paul's Cross. His text was in 2 Cor. xiii. For the rest, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. In this his last discourse to the citizens, as he openly avowed how faithfully and sincerely he had discharged his duty among them, so in most affectionate and endearing expressions he shewed his love to them, and acknowledged theirs to him, their pastor. Much pious and good counsel he leaves with them. And hopes God had placed another very worthy bishop in his room; and so would have the less want of him. He promiseth not to forget to pray for them, as he earnestly desired their prayers for him. But take his own excellent and right Christian words. His protes "That his conscience bare him record, that he had entation con- «deavoured to tread in the same steps [with St. Paul] in cerning the discharge of his diligence toward this Corinthian church. That of his duty. "his doctrine, which was the chiefest point, he dared affirm "even the same which the holy apostle did; I have de"livered none other unto you, than that which I have re"ceived of the Lord. Yea, safely, in the sight of the "most high God, he might say with him, You have re"ceived of us not the word of man, but as it was indeed, the "word of God. And that in the distribution thereof, nei❝ther had he used flattery, as they knew, neither coloured "covetousness, the Lord would testify. Neither had he "sought his own praise, his heart was witness. And this "testimony of conscience, that he had dealt sincerely in the "house of God, as touching doctrine, had been his great II. "relief and comfort in all the stormy troubles; which by CHAP. "the mighty assistance of Almighty God, he had waded " through. 66 66 "That concerning diligence in the execution of his office, although he had a ready will, yet his weak body being "not answerable to his desire, as all flesh herein was faulty, "so for his part he must plead guilty. One debt and duty, "with St. Paul, he professed he had truly paid them. For "with a tender affection he had loved them. That the nurse was never more willing to give the breast unto the "child, than he had been, that they should suck not only "milk, but also blood from him, if it stood them in stead, "or served to their safety. God he knoweth, added he, "that with this love I have loved you. That in using cor"rection, I have sought reformation, and not revenge. "That to punish, had been a punishment to himself. That ❝he never did it but with great grief. That he always had "laboured rather by persuasion to reclaim transgressors, "than by correction. With which kind of dealing, be"cause stubborn minds would not be bowed, his softness, "he granted, had rather deserved reproof than praise. 66 Anno 1576. "His life and conversation among them he left wholly "to their secret judgments. That he could not say (for "who could?) that his heart was clear. That if in many things we offend all, how could any man say he was no "sinner, except he said also, that God is a liar? Howbeit "this the God of his righteousness knew, that wittingly and willingly he had wronged no man. If I have, said he, "reddam quadruplum, I will render four times so much "good. That if any had wronged him, he heartily forgave 424 "them, and would forget it for ever. That while he lived " he would acknowledge, that he had received more good liking, favour, and friendship at their hands, than he "could either look for or deserve. That God had, no “doubt, his people; that he had many a dear child in that "city. έσ "But now that by God's providence, not by his own pro"curement, he was called from thence to serve elsewhere in II. BOOK "the church of Christ, he would, with St. Paul, take his "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, 66 gravity, wisdom, skill in government, knowledge, as in successor. He will not part with Bi 66 66 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. "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 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 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 archbisbop of that And for 66 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 pur 66 pose that it may not, without great prejudice to the "execution of his office, be spared. "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. "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 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. 426 “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 66 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 archbishops heretofore. 66 “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❝cessors. 66 “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. "Item, The lord president shall herein much impair the good opinion conceived of him for the defence of re |