promise. Thus Poole of Peterborough, Turbervile of Exeter, &c. lived in their own or their friends' houses. The like liberty was allowed to Heath, archbishop of York, who (like another Abiathar, 1 Kings ii. 26, sent home by Solomon to his own fields in Anathoth) lived cheerfully at Chobham in Surrey, where the queen often courteously visited him.

20-22. Cruelty causelessly complained of. One Bishop continued. A List of Persons deprived.

Popish writers will persuade people, that these bishops were cruelly used in their prisons, should their hyperbolical expressions be received as the just measure of truth. Carceribus variisque custodiis commissi, longo miseriarum tædio extincti sunt, saith Sanders.* fessor obiit in vinculis, saith Pitzæus of White. A great cry and a little pain! Many of our poor protestants in the Marian days said less, and suffered more. They were not sent into a complimental custody; but some of them thrust into the prison of a prison, where the sun shined as much to them at midnight, as at noonday. Whereas abbot Feckenham, of Westminster, (who, as a parliamentary baron, may go in equipage with the other bishops,) may be an instance how well the papists were used after their deprivation. For he grew popular for his alms to the poor;† which speaks the queen's bounty to him, in enabling him (a prisoner) to be bountiful to others.

4. Only one bishop conformed himself to the queen's commands, and was continued in his place; namely, Anthony Kitchen, aliàs Dunstan, of Landaff. Camden calls him, sedis suæ calamitatem, "the bane of his bishopric," wasting the lands thereof by letting long leases; as if it were given to binominous bishops (such as had two names) to be impairers of their churches, as may appear by these four contemporaries in the reign of king Henry VIII. John Capon, aliùs Salcot, spoiled Salisbury; John Voisey, aliàs Harman, spoiled Exeter; Robert Parfew, aliàs Warton, spoiled St. Asaph; Anthony Kitchen, aliàs Dunstan, spoiled Landaff.

I know what is pleaded for them,-that physicians in desperate consumptions prescribe the shaving of the head, (which will grow again,) to save the life; and that these bishops, fearing the final alienation of their lands, passed long leases for the prevention thereof; though whether policy or covetousness most shared in them herein we will not determine. Only I find a mediate successor of Kitchin's‡ (and therefore concerned to be knowing therein) much excusing him from this common defamation of wronging his see, because

• De Schismate Anglicano, page 335. GODWIN in the Bishops of Landaff.

+ CAMDEN'S "Elizabeth" in hoc anno.

many forged leases are countenanced under the pretence of this passing the same.

As for the numbers of recusants which forsook the land at this time, the prime of them were, Henry lord Morley; Sir Francis Inglefield; Thomas Shelley and John Gage, esqrs. As for the nuns of Sion, and other votaries wafted over, we have formerly treated of them in our "History of Abbeys." Nor were there more than eighty Rectors of churches, fifty Prebendaries, fifteen Masters of Colleges, twelve Archdeacons, twelve Deans, with six Abbots and Abbesses, deprived at this time of their places throughout all England.

23-26. Matthew Parker designed Archbishop: his due Commendation. The Queen's Letter for his Consecration; the Manner thereof; the Legality of his Consecration.

Now the queen and her council accounted it high time to supply the church of Canterbury (which hitherto had stood vacant a year and three weeks)* with an archbishop. Dr. Matthew Parker is appointed for the place; born in Norwich, bred in Cambridge, master of-benefactor to-Bennet College there, chaplain to queen Anne Boleyn, (a relation which, next his own merits, befriended him with queen Elizabeth for such high and sudden advancement,) then to king Henry VIII. dean of the college of Stoke-juxta-Clare; a learned and religious divine. He confuted that character which one gives of antiquaries, that "generally they are either superstitious or supercilious," his skill in antiquity being attended with soundness of doctrine and humility of manners. His book called Antiquitates Britannica hath indebted all posterity to his pen which work our great critic† cites as written by Mr. Joscelin, one much employed in the making thereof. But we will not set the memories of the patron and chaplain at variance, (who loved so' well in their lives' time,) nor needeth any writ of partition to be sued out betwixt them, about the authorship of this book, though probably one brought the matter, the other the composure thereof.

The queen had formerly sent order, July 18th, to Dr. Wotton, dean of Canterbury, (an exquisite civilian, and therefore one who may be presumed critical in such performances,) and to the chapter there, to choose Matthew Parker their archbishop, which, within fourteen days after, August 1st, was by them accordingly performed. This done, she directeth her letters patents in manner and form following:

ELIZABETHA Dei gratiâ, &c. Reverendis in Christo patribus,

Counted from Pole's death to Parker's consecration.

† MR. SELDEN" Of

Tythes," cap. ix, page 256.

Antonio Landavensi episcopo, Wilhelmo Barlow quondam Bath, et Well. ep. nunc Cicestrensi electo, Joh. Scory quondam Cicestrensi episcopo, nunc electo Herefor. Miloni Coverdalio, quondam Exoniensi episcopo, Johanni suffraganeo Bedford, Johanni suffraganeo Thetford, Johanni Bale Osserensi episcopo. Quatenus vos, aut ad minus quatuor vestrúm, eundem Matthæum Parkerum in archiepiscopum, et pastorem ecclesiæ cathedralis et metropolitica Christi Cantuariensis prædicta, sicut præfertur, electum, electionemque prædictam confirmare et eundem magistrum Matthæum Parkerum in archiepiscopum, et pastorem ecclesiæ prædicta consecrare, cæteraque omnia et singula peragere, quæ vestro in hac parte editorum et provisorum, velitis cum effectu, &c. Dat. sexto Decembris, anno secundo Elizabetha.*

But the old bishop of Landaff appeared not at the consecration, December 6th; terrified, say the papists, by Bonner's threats, so as to absent himself; which others do not believe. For, he that feared not the lion out of the grate,—would he be frighted with the lion within the grate? If Bonner, when at liberty, could not deter him from taking the oath of supremacy, improbable it is that, when now detained prisoner in the Tower, he could dissuade him from his obedience to his sovereign. More likely it is, that his absence (as also bishop Bale's and the suffragan's of Thetford) was occasioned by their indisposition of body, and infirmity of old age.

But the other four bishops appeared,-William Barlow, John Scory, Miles Coverdale, and John Hodgskins; by whom Matthew Parker was solemnly consecrated, December 17th, in manner and form following:-The east part of the chapel of Lambeth was hung with tapestry, the floor spread with red cloth, chairs and cushions are conveniently placed for the purpose. Morning Prayer being solemnly read by Andrew Peerson, the archbishop's chaplain, bishop Scory went up into the pulpit, and took for his text, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who also am an elder nd a witness of the sufferings of Christ," &c. 1 Peter v. 1. Sermon ended, and the sacrament administered, they proceed to the consecration. The archbishop had his rochet on, with Hereford, and the suffragan of Bedford; Chichester wore a silk cope, and Coverdale, a plain cloth-gown down to his ancles. All things are done conformable to the book of ordination, Litany sung, the queen's patent for Parker's consecration audibly read by Dr. Vale. He is presented, the oath of supremacy tendered to him, taken by him, hands reverently imposed on him, and all with prayers begun, continued, concluded. In a word, though here was no theatrical pomp to make it a popish pageant ; though no sandals, gloves, ring, staff, oil, pall, &c. were used upon

* Registrum Parkeri, tome i. fol. 3.

† Ibid. fol. 9.

t Ibid. fol. 10.

him; yet there was ceremony enough to clothe his consecration with decency, though not to clog it with superstition.

This his consecration is avowed most legal, both according to

canon and common law. In the latter it was ordered by king Henry VIII. that an archbishop should not be consecrated but by an archbishop and two bishops; or by four bishops, in case an archbishop was wanting, as here it was performed.* Object not, that one of these four was but a suffragan; seeing, such, by the laws of the land, though not able to vote as barons in parliament, had episcopal power to all purposes and intents.† Neither cavil, that Coverdale henceforward led a private life, being always a bishop quoad characterem, and for the present quoad jus et titulum, (Exeter, his former bishopric, being actually void by the deprivation of Turberville,) though refusing to be so quoad possessionem. As for the canonical part of his consecration, six of the most eminent doctors of that faculty England then afforded gave it under their hands, that the same was exactly observed.

27-30. The impudent Lie of the Nag's Head. Neale's Testitimony (the sole Witness thereof) confuted. A silent Witness pretended in vain.

Yet, notwithstanding all circumstances so solemnly performed, some impudent papists have raised a lie, that Matthew Parker was consecrated ad caput manni, "at the Nag's Head," a tavern in Cheapside. Indeed, they show a place therein, just against the bar, so anciently arched, that an active fancy (which can make any thing of any thing) may create to itself a top or tester of a pulpit thereof, though the like thereunto may be seen elsewhere in the city. But that this lie of the Nag's Head was bred in a knave's brains, doth plainly appear. For why should a rich man be a thief? Seeing all churches in England were equally open unto them to pick and choose at pleasure, why should they steal a clandestine consecration in a place so justly obnoxious to censure? Were not the Canaanites and Perizzites then in the land? Were not many prying papists then mingled amongst protestants? which consideration alone would command them to be cautious in their proceedings. Besides, that mock pulpit, shown at this day at the entrance of that tavern, was inconsistent with the secrecy, (which is said to be their design,) who would rather have made choice of an inner and more remote room for that purpose. But when once one Jesuit had got this shameless lie of the Nag's Head (I cannot say by the tail, but) by the ears, instantly Champney, Fitz-Simon, Persons, Killison, Constable, and

• Anno regni 25.

26th of Henry VIII. cap. 14.

all the whole kennel of them, bawl it out in their books to all posterity.

All the authority the papists produce for their Nag's-Head consecration is ultimately resolved into the single testimony of one Thomas Neale,* chaplain to bishop Bonner, and some time Hebrew professor in Oxford. But was this Neale known or unknown to the bishops, pretended in this tavern-assembly? If known, as most probable he was, (Bonner's chaplains bearing their master's mark, the indelible character of cruelty stamped upon them, as the wolf is too well known to the sheep,) it is utterly unlikely they would permit a person vowing open opposition to their proceedings, to be present thereat. If Neale were unknown, the English bishops (whom the papists, though they call "heretics," do not count fools) would not admit a stranger to their privacies of such importance; seeing, commonly in such case, men's jealousies interpret every unknown face to be a foe unto them.

To the testimony of Neale, one endeavours to twist the witness of John Stow, to prove this Nag's-Head consecration:† a silent witness, who says nothing herein, if either we consult his "Chronicle" of our kings, or his "Survey of London ;" he neither speaks words nor makes any signs thereof. But, saith the Jesuit, Stow, though prudently omitting to print it, told the same to some of his private friends. I pray, to whom? Where and when? and what credible witnesses do attest it? Be it referred to the ingenuity of our very adversaries, whether their bare surmises, without any proof, be to be believed before the public records, faithfully taken when the thing was done, carefully preserved ever since, entirely extant at this day, and truly transcribed here by us! Besides, Charles Howard, earl of Nottingham, (not more famous for the coronet of a count than the crown of old age,) alive in the latter end of the reign of king James, being requested of a friend whether he could remember Matthew Parker's consecration, gave an exact account of the same solemnly performed in Lambeth chapel, being himself an eye-witness thereof, and an invited guest to the great feast kept there that day, therefore the more observant of all particular passages thereat, because the said archbishop was related to him as a kinsman. Let such as desire further satisfaction herein, consult learned Mason, (whom king James justly termed a "wise builder in God's house,") who hath left no stones unturned to clear the truth, and stop the mouth of malicious adversaries. Let the papists, therefore, not be so busy to cast

• A curious co-incidence in name between the originator of this oft-refuted slander, and the zealous propagator of it in more modern times-the author of " the History of the Puritans."-EDIT. † CHAMPNEIUS, page 501. De Ministerio Anglicano,

lib. iii. cap. 8, 9, &c.