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.

tues of the

"If learning and wisdom be so necessarily requisite in a The abili "governor, how great is the goodness of Almighty God to ties and vir"usward, who hath so plentifully bestowed this gift of queen set forth by "knowledge and wisdom upon our sovereign, not far infe- him. "rior to Mithridates for diversity of languages; but far

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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 constancy 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.

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"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

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Merciful.

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BOOK "her majesty passeth all princes; and therefore in credit II. "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

queen.

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"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

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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, "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

"venom her highness doth abhor. Some have embrued CHAP. "themselves in blood: wherewith her majesty did never,

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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 "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 people, 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.”

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 à grant, he returned him this honest answer; "That he might command him in what he could. But the 66 truth he had never in his life given any advowson of "any prebend. That he had given his word to the contrary: 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

was,

II.

BOOK ther excuse to his lordship, "That he had many learned chaplains, 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 lordship 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 Car

ter.

Chatham hospital in danger by pretence of concealment. 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

bishop of Ely, was fellow-bishop and fellow-confessor with CHAP. the former: and his life mixed with continual troubles and XVII. cares, as the other's was, as hath been shewn in the former Anno 1579. chapter.

suit about

Garden.

This bishop was now in chancery, for the preserving the The bishop revenues of his see, about the lease made by Goodrick, his of Ely's lawpredecessor, of Hatton-Garden. It was a long and charge- Hattonable suit, (as himself expressed it to the lord treasurer,) that the see of Ely should not be spoiled by bishop Goodrick's lease. By which lease, as bishop Cox added, he meant nothing less than the spoil of the bishopric. Her majesty being moved diversely by the lord treasurer, by Mr. Hatton, and by him, the present bishop, had sent to the late lord keeper, that the matter should be heard only in her honourable court of chancery. And thus far he [the lord keeper] had proceeded; viz. he heard the complaint; he sent forth commissioners. The witnesses had been examined and certified: publication was orderly made; and the day of hearing was appointed that term. And hereupon, it was his request to the lord treasurer, (and the rather because her majesty was a party therein,) that if need required, he would vouchsafe to move the lord keeper in the matter: that (whereof he doubted not) equity and justice might prevail, And So, like a father of the church, he concluded with his prayer; "That the Lord Jesus would send him long life, "that he might be able to prevail especially on God's cause, 580 "and in faithful travel towards her majesty, and fruitful

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dealing towards the whole realm." This was dated from

his house at Doddington, April the 26th, 1579.

A pretty while after, in the month of October, the busi- A decree for ness of Goodrick's lease wanted nothing but the lord chan-Goodrick's cellor's decree to be finished. The good bishop moves his lease. said friend, the lord Burghley, to put the chancellor in mind to do it. Which now hung only upon a decree to be made by him who, he knew, was well bent, he said, to the justice of the cause.

Still this grave bishop of Ely was vexed with the old test of the lord North with him; which he called,

con- Lord

"the

North's action against