BOOK Popery; to which a great many in these parts were adII. dicted. He was therefore determined to try his interests Anno 1578. with her Majesty, consulting with his great friend the Writes to the Lord Treasurer about it. Lord Treasurer the most convenient season to begin it: for thus he wrote to him in the month of February; "That "he would be glad now to begin his suit to her Majesty "for the gift of the prebends of his church of Worcester. "And that since his coming to that bishopric, he had not 66 one living to bestow, [which was almost two years,] nei"ther was he in hope ere long to have any; unless it "would please her Majesty to be gracious unto him in "this suit. That it could not be expressed how much "good wise and learned preachers might do in these "quarters: where although there were many very back"ward, yet the most part were most desirous and willing "to hear. So that if he had, he said, livings to bestow, "he persuaded himself that he could do very much good, "by placing such there as he was purposed by the grace "of God to do. Wherefore for God's sake, (as he ear66 nestly concluded his letter,) for the Church's sake, and "for the commonwealth's sake, I beseech your Lordship "to help forward my suit." This was written from Ludlow, February 5, 1578. And the Bishop succeeded in this his request, by the Queen's favour, and bestowed the prebends of that church during his continuance there. CHAP. II. The Lord President of Wales resumes his office. Abuses in the Queen's fines endeavoured by the Bishop to be remedied. Takes the part of Fabian Philips, an honest man of the Council there; faithful in his trust. The Council's order to him for seminaries. Dangers from them. A Parliament. A petition for reformation of abuses. Our Bishop's answer thereto. Left to our Bishop to nominate Justices for his diocese. A note of Peter Baro, the Lady Margaret Professor. An Act against the Papists. In pursuance thereof the Lords write to him for dealing with them. Opposes the Lord President about a commission. The effects of his conference with Recusants. Interposes for his Clergy. 88 ABOUT the declining of the next year, viz. 1579, Sir Anno 1579. Henry Sydney, Lord President of the Marches of Wales, being come into England, was about to go down into those parts, to act again in the commission in his own person. to him up ceasing to be Vice Number II. Notice whereof the Lords of the Council gave The Counthe Vice-President, by a letter dated in February, which cil's thanks may be found in the Appendix: and therefore that he was on his to be no longer Vice-President, but as he was before, one ce of the Council there. It was penned with great respect President. toward the Bishop; and with their acknowledgments and thanks for his former good service: and that they found very good cause right well to like and allow of his Lordship's doings, while he had exercised that office, as VicePresident: and that they did in her Majesty's behalf, and in their own, yield him right hearty thanks for the same; not doubting, but that his Lordship, as a man faithfully inclined to her Majesty's service, and a Counsellor there, would yield his best assistance to the said Lord President, that now meant to attend that place himself. The Vice-President was at this time taking in hand a matter in those parts very beneficial to the Queen. It was about the fines. The officers whereof he observed Endeavours to correct the Queen's fines. BOOK made their own benefit by it, to the Queen's wrong: and II. his meaning was to have tried the same. But the Lord Anno 1579. President coming over from Ireland at this juncture put that business to an end. He signified further to the Lord abuses in Treasurer, that his opinion was, ever since he first came to that place, (and as his Lordship partly knew,) that there was great abuse in that office. And his suspicion was increased but how to reform it, as the case then stood, he could not tell. And [as though the Lord President were minded to stop his proceedings therein] he, the said Lord President, had lately sent for as well the clerks of the fines, as also the auditors' rolls, and books of instruction, as he informed the Lord Treasurer; and what was intended by it, he said, he knew not. But that the truth would hardly appear, unless some were there also to make objections, and to shew the causes of suspicion, touching the account of the fines. And whereas he had not long since set his hand to a patent for the office of fines there, he wished that he [the said Lord Treasurer] would find means to stay it until such time as he might either speak with his Lordship himself, or otherwise signify by his let89 ters some just cause of the stay thereof. All this shews how active and faithful our Bishop was in the Queen's affairs. part of an of that And as he was so himself, so he had a particular regard of those of the Council that were honest and stout in the discharge of that trust, and minded the public and her MaTakes the jesty's benefit, above that of private men. One of these honest man was Mr. Fabian Philipps, whose integrity and courage had been the occasion of many sinister and false reports bruited abroad there; and had, not unlikely, reached to the Court too: but our Bishop interposed seasonably in his behalf, by applying himself to his constant upright friend the Lord Treasurer. Whose words shewing so much of true friendship, where justice and merit required it, I shall repeat: Council, Philipps. The Arch "Right honourable and my singular good Lord. It is bishop's let-« told me, that there are hard speeches given out against behalf. "Mr. Fabian Philipps, one of this Council, tending to his ter in his II. "discredit, and the dislike of his service here. My hum- CHAP. "ble suit to your Lordship is, that if you understand of "any such thing, it would please you to suspend your Anno 1579. 'judgment until you hear his answer, and also be a means 66 to others, that he be not condemned in their opinions, "before he be heard. For my own part I know not any66 thing, whereupon he can justly be charged, unless it be "because he is stout and upright in judgment, and not ap"pliable to satisfy other men's affections and pleasures, as "peradventure it is looked for. Truly, my Lord, I find "him one and the same man; but I see how hard it is for "such to follow the rules of equity and justice, without respect to please all men: and I would to God, it were not ❝ altogether contrary." This letter was dated from Ludlow, February 14, 1579. the trust the Queen. Thus did the Bishop play the part of an able and faithful Faithful to servant to the Queen, in trust, as to the Marches of Wales, committed by frequent letters of intelligence and advice; and besides to him from his letters, he reserved other things to be told, till he had occasion to come up himself, as at the sessions of Parliament; namely, such matters as required more privacy, and not so safe to be committed to writing, or wherein many words were to be used. As this present year he expected from time to time his own coming up, in respect of the Parliament; which had hitherto caused him to forbear writing to the Lord Treasurer, of divers things worthy and meet to be reformed in that place of government: which indeed, as he said to that Lord, he could not so well express in writing, as he could do by word of mouth. Yet if the Parliament were again prorogued for a time, he promised to send to his Lordship a note thereof. with when matters of And such was his knowledge of the affairs of Wales, and Consulted of the government thereof, that after his remove to Can-Archbiterbury, his advice was required in matters relating there- shop about to, by Henry Earl of Pembroke, Lord President of the Wales. Council there; who having drawn up orders for the better regulation of attorneys and clerks belonging to those courts, sent them to the Lord Treasurer in the month of II. BOOK April 1587, and referred them to his consideration, and the consideration of the Archbishop; and that because, as he Anno 1579. said, he had formerly performed the business of the President of Wales in Sir Henry Sydney's absence in Ireland. And that whatsoever they two should think fit to be altered, he would willingly follow; desiring the said Treasurer to procure of her Majesty allowance of those orders. Dangers ap from Priests sent over from the seminaries. The seminaries at Doway and other places in Flanders prehended harboured now a great many boys and young persons, that were sent out of England to study there; where they were bred up in principles of rank Popery, and tied under a vow to return, after some time, back again: and others crept in with the Jesuits. All being sent forth into divers parts of this realm, and Ireland, to breed in the minds of the people a belief of the Pope's power over the Queen; and that he might dethrone her, and absolve her subjects from the oath of allegiance to her; and to dissuade them from going to church, and instead thereof to go to Mass; which 90 they privately said. Whereupon many proselytes were made, and withdrew themselves from our divine service and religious worship. And this became so known and observed, that the State was in great apprehension of danger, nay, and of the Queen's life from them. Hence a proclamation came forth in the month of June, to this purpose; "That whosoever had any children, or wards, or kins"men, or other relations in the parts beyond seas, should "after ten days give in their names to the Ordinary; and "within four months call them home again. And when "they were returned, to give notice thereof to the Ordi"nary." Those two dangerous Jesuits, Parsons and Campion, came this year into England; so that it was thought highly necessary now to have an eye to the dangers that might ensue hence, and to prevent them; which was the cause of that statute 23 Eliz. anno 1580. To retain the Queen's subjects in their due obedience. The Coun A great many of these seminary Priests skulking in Worcil send to cestershire and throughout the diocese of our Bishop, he had, the Bishop by order of the Queen's Privy Council, sent up a certificate for the |