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"godly man, because the country was given to sift a man's life; a stout and couragious man in God's cause, because the coun"try otherwise would abuse him; and yet a sober and discreet man, because too much rigourousness should harden the hearts "of some, that by fair means might be mollified, &c.; and such a Bishop, likewise, as was both learned himself, and also loved "learning, that that rude and blind country might be furnished "with learned preachers; and such a man was the Bishop of "London [Bp. Grindall] known to be; whom, therefore, he "wished to have translated to York." Perhaps he might give a hint for himself.

After the Archbishopric of York had been kept vacant near two years, it was at length filled up by the translation of Bishop Grindall thither. Dean Hutton was one of the persons mentioned to succeed him in the See of London; but Archbp. Parker obstructed his promotion by giving this character of him, that "he took him for an honest, quiet, and learned man, but he "thought him not meet for that place;" which, indeed, required a stirring and resolute man, and of a more rugged disposition, as was Bp. Sandys, whom the Queen translated thither from Worcester.34

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While Dr. Hutton continued Dean of York, he was very zealous in preserving the rights of that church, as appears from two instances in particular. One Mr. Hammond, of Yorkshire, a rich and covetous man, had, through some courtier's interest, applied, "that his son, a boy of tender age, and little learning or discretion, might be dispensed withal, to receive the pre"bend of Riccall, which was of considerable value, meet for a "preacher; and that country was then much destitute, and "stood in need of preachers." 35 This was in the year 1570, when that prebend was vacant. The Dean's interposition prevailed, and it was given to another.36

The other instance is this: John Gibson, LL.D. and Præcentor of York, procured a dispensation from the Queen, in 1582, that, being present or absent, he should have the commodi

34 Strype's Life of Abp. Parker, p. 295. For a character of Abp. Sandys, see Dr. Br. Willis's Survey of the Cathedrals, vol. i. p. 48, 49.

35 Strype's Life of Abp. Parker, p. 298, 299.

36 See Dr. Willis's Survey of the Cathedrals, vol. i. p. 159. 37 Ib. p. 76.

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38

ties or advantages of a Canon Residentiary. But tho' the dispensation was expressed in as ample words "as by lawe "maie be devised, ex certa scientia et plenitudine potestatis; "which are clauses of the greatest force that are in the lawe;" and tho' the dispensation was "signed, first with her Majestie's "hande, and afterwards with the broad seal;" 39 tho' Valentine Dale, the Clerk of the Council, represented to the Dean, that Dr. Gibson had "greate frendes, whose credit with "her Majestie might do very much; and, therefore, in his opinion, they should do verie well to use him favorablie, "and to enterprete her Majestie's grant as beneficially as her "Majestie's meaning was at the tyme of the graunting thereof;" 40 and tho' Abp. Grindall endeavoured to persuade him and the rest of the Chapter to comply with the dispensation;11 yet our worthy Dean could not be brought to any thing further, than that Dr. Gibson should enter into ordinary residence, and bear all charges for the same, as is requisite; notwithstanding, that the said entry into residence, at that time, would be very much to his hindrance.42 A just and very commendable instance of resolution in Dean Hutton, who alledged for the reasons of this his proceeding, that such a dispensation was contrary to their statutes, and opened a window to the overthrow of the good estate of their church; 43 and he doubted not, but he could make good proof to the Lords of the Council that so much of the dispensation as was needful to their church, and took from other men, and gave unto him what he never had before, did proceed upon wrong information.44

He opposed also some encroachments of Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York, a man of a restless and contentious disposition. In order to remove the Dean out of his way, Sandys used his interest at court, that he might be made Bishop of Lichfield. For, says he, "I cannot live with that man." In return, Dr. Hutton taxed him, “that he made no account of his clergy and "the preachers of the Gospel."45 In 1576, he resigned his Rec

38 From original letters.

39 From V. Dale's original letter, hereafter.

41 From four letters of the Archbishop's.

42 From a letter of Abp. Grindall.

40 Ibid.

43 Dean Hutton's original letter.

44 From Dean Hutton's and the Chapter's original letter. 45 Dr. Br. Willis's Survey of the Cathedrals, vol. i. p. 49.

tory of Bosworth.46 In 1577, it appears that Abp. Grindall had an intention of recommending him for the Bishopric of Durham or that of Carlisle.47 In 1578, he had a fall attended with a hurt; but we do not find that it had any dangerous consequences. The same year there was thoughts of sending him to the assembly at Smalcald.

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These particulars we learn from a letter of the Earl of Huntingdon to him, wherein are these passages: "I am sorrye to "understand of your falle and harme you have therbye; but I "trust God will shortlye restore you to your olde good state agayne." "To the assemblie at Smalcald her Majestie hath "sent certaine persons to dissuade and staye the proceedings, &c. "Dr. Humphrey of Oxford, D. Wilson of Worcest., D. Still "of Cambridge, and D. Hamonde, a civilian, ar appointed for "this purpose. And if hast had not required, the Deane, Mr. "Hutton, should have bene the principall; and so ought he to "have bene allowed."

In 1583, his old friend Abp. Whitgift, at his first coming to the See of Canterbury, wrote him a very obliging letter, wherein he assured him, that he would labour to have him removed from the Deanery of York to some better place.48 However, he remained six years longer fixed in his old station.49

At length, having continued 21 years Dean of York, he was promoted, in 1589, to the Bishopric of Durham, after that See had been vacant two years. He was elected the 9th of June, confirmed the 26th of July, and consecrated the next day.50 He recovered from the executors of his predecessor, Bp. Barnes,

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46 Bp. Wren's notes in Le Neve's Lives, p. 81.

47 This I infer from the following passage in a letter of Abp. Grindall to him: "Iff I had hadde anie speciall creditte when Durham and Carl. were bestowed, some hadde not spedde so well; but blame your selfe and Sr Tho. Gary; ye two "commendett him, to be rydde of him; and now Simon is as good as Peter." 48 That clause in the Abp.'s letter is in these words: ..."to stay you there "I wyll do my endevor, unless yt be for some better preferment; but assure yourself that I wyll not cease to labor you frome thence, yf yt may be to such a place as wyll countervale that, and wherein you may doe more good." 49 May 5, 1582, he lost his 2d. wife; and took, on the 20th of November, 1583, to his 3rd. wife, Frances, widow of Martin Bowes, son of Sir Martin Bowes, Alderman of London. Epitaph, and Fuller's Worthies, Lanc. p. 111. 50 Registr. Piers, Archiep. Ebor. J. Le Neve's Fasti, p. 350.

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64L. 38. 6d. for dilapidations.51 Not long after his consecration, being at court, he dined with the Lord Treasurer Burghley, in his private chamber; none being present besides, but Secretary Walsingham. Those two great statesmen took that opportunity of desiring our learned Prelate's sentiments upon some points then very much contested: of which he afterwards related the substance in a letter to Abp. Whitgift, dated Octob. 10. Those points were, concerning the Judicial Law of Moses; the authority of a Prince in Causes Ecclesiastical; and the authority and lawfulness of Bishops.

From our Prelate's letter, we may see and understand what were, upon those subjects, the judgements of the Bishops of this Realm, and of the learnedest Divines, in the times nearest the Reformation, who consequently knew best our true Constitution.52 In 1594, his lordship laid the foundation of a free school at Warton, his native place. Over the school are two large chambers for the master's lodgings, and a library, furnished with classic authors, for the use of the masters and scholars. At the top of the door is this inscription, " Anno Dom. 1594, Deo & bonis Literis Matt. Hutton, Episc. Dunelm." He gave 20L a year to the master, and 10£ to the usher; but part of the usher's salary is now unhappily sunk. His lordship appointed also alms houses to be erected in the same place, or, as he names it in his will, the Hospital of Jesus.53 The poor men maintained in it are six in number, and receive each 3£ 68. 8d.54

In the beginning of the year 1595, his lordship was translated from Durham to the Archbishopric of York. 55 His congé d'elire bore date Febr. 6, 1594-5. He was elected the 24th of the same month; had the royal assent March 6; was confirmed Mar. 24; was inthronized by proxy March 31; and had the temporalities restored April 3d. following. 56 Before his translation, some hard and disagreeable conditions were required of him; but what, is not mentioned; only it seems to have been

51 From the sentence or decree.

52 See Strype's Life of Whitgift, p. 320, 321; and Appendix, p. 131.

53 See the will hereafter.

54 Thoresby's Vicar. Leod. p. 141, 142.

55 He would rather have remained at Durham, but the Queen obliged him to remove; see Archbp. Whitgift's letter hereafter.

56 Reg. Eborac. & Regist. Whitgift, pars ii. fol. 456; and Le Neve's Fasti, p. 311.

some lease disadvantageous to the See," which he scrupled very much to submit to.58 When he was fixed in that high station, he made it his business to stop, as much as he could, the progress of Popery, which was very prevailing in the northern parts; and to make several converts, particularly one Dawson, a notorious priest.59 This Abp. Whitgift acknowledges with pleasure, in a letter of his to our Primate, dated 2d. May, 1597, wherein is this passage: ... "The last letters written from your selfe & the "Councell there, touching certeyn Papists & Recusants, are very "well taken, and yow are lyke to receave thancks for the same, "especiallie for your paynes in conference with some of them to so good an effect." "60 But, notwithstanding his diligence, complaints were soon after made against him, as if he were grown negligent in that point; 61 so inconstant is popular applause !62 Perhaps he was milder in his proceedings than some zealots would have wished; for it is certain that Abp. Hutton was not of a persecuting spirit.

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However, upon the prevailing of these reports, Abp. Whitgift thought fit to acquaint his brother Primate, "that Recusants "were said to increase rather than to diminish, in the Province "of York; which was imputed to the Archbishop's making some unworthy men ministers; and to his not procuring a "sufficient number of learned clergymen fit and able to preach "the Gospel; therefore he desired to know what number of preachers and of Recusants they had in the North." Archbishop Hutton in his answer said, "That as to his conferring "orders upon such bad men as was suggested, he did not remem"ber it; but that he had heard, which might give occasion to the "report, that two or three had counterfeited his hand and seal, " and were fled out of the country. That, as for preachers, there "were many good ones in the Bishopric of Durham, and good "store in the Archbishopric of York. But in Northumberland "there were but few, because the greatest livings, which were in "the Queen's hands, were let to fermours, who would not “contribute any thing to a preacher; and that he had about him as chaplains some godly learned preachers. He added, that

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57 See letter in its order.

59 See letters hereafter.

58 From original letters.

60 See letter in its order. The substance of it is inserted here.

61 From original letters.

62 See letters.