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THE LIFE OF

"And, to make you that are trusted with their preserva"tion, the better to understand the danger of it, I beseech you forget not, that to prevent these curses, the Church's "land and power have been also endeavoured to be preserved "(as far as human reason, and the law of this nation, have "been able to preserve them) by an immediate and most "sacred obligation on the consciences of the princes of this "realm. For they that consult Magna Charta shall find, "that as all your predecessors were at their coronation, so "you also were sworn before all the nobility and bishops "then present, and in the presence of God, and in his stead "to him that anointed you, to maintain the church-lands, " and the rights belonging to it ;' and this you yourself have "testified openly to God at the holy altar, by laying your "hands on the Bible then lying upon it. And not only Magna Charta, but many modern statutes have denounced a curse upon those that break Magna Charta: a curse like "the leprosy, that was entailed on the Jews; for as that, so "these curses have and will cleave to the very stones of those "buildings that have been consecrated to God; and the fa"ther's sin of sacrilege hath and will prove to be entailed on "his son and family. And now, madam, what account can "be given for the breach of this oath at the last great day, "either by your majesty, or by me, if it be wilfully, or but negligently violated, I know not.

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"And therefore, good madam, let not the late lord's ex"ceptions against the failings of some few clergymen prevail "with you to punish posterity for the errors of this present age; let particular men suffer for their particular errors, "but let God and his Church have their inheritance: and though I pretend not to prophecy, yet I beg posterity to "take notice of what is already become visible in many fami"lies; that church-land added to an ancient and just inheritance, hath proved like a moth fretting a garment, and secretly "consumed both; or like the eagle that stole a coal from the al“tar, and thereby set her nest on fire, which consumed both her "young eagles, and herself that stole it.

"And, though I shall forbear to speak reproachfully of your father; yet I beg you to take notice, that a part of

"the Church's rights, added to the vast treasure left him by "his father, hath been conceived to bring an unavoidable "consumption upon both, notwithstanding all his diligence "to preserve them. And consider that after the violation of "those laws, to which he had sworn in Magna Charta, God "did so far deny him his restraining grace, that as king Saul 'after he was forsaken of God, fell from one sin to another; “so he, till at last he fell into greater sins than I am willing "to mention. Madam, religion is the foundation and cement of human societies: and when they that serve at God's altar "shall be exposed to poverty, then religion itself will be ex"posed to scorn, and become contemptible; as you may al

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ready observe it to be in too many poor vicarages in this "nation. And therefore, as you are by a late act or acts "of parliament entrusted with a great power to preserve or "waste the Church's lands; yet dispose of them for Jesus' sake, as you have promised to men, and vowed to God; that "is, as the donors intended; let neither falsehood nor flattery beguile you to do otherwise: but put a stop to God's and "the Levite's portion, I beseech you, and to the approaching “ruins of His Church, as you expect comfort at the last great day; for, Kings must be judged. Pardon this affec“tionate plainness, my most dear sovereign, and let me beg to be still continued in your favour, and the Lord still " continue you in his."

The Queen's patient hearing this affectionate speech, and her future care to preserve the Church's rights, which till then had been neglected, may appear a fair testimony, that he made her's and the Church's good the chiefest of his cares, and that she also thought so. And of this there were such daily testimonies given, as begat betwixt them so mutual a joy and confidence, that they seemed born to believe and do good to each other: she not doubting his piety to be more than all his opposers, which were many; nor doubting his prudence to be equal to the chiefest of her council, who were then as remarkable for active wisdom, as those dangerous times did require, or this nation did ever enjoy. And in this condition he continued twenty years, in which time he saw some flowings, but many more ebbings of her favour to

wards all men that had opposed him, especially the Earl of Leicester: so that God seemed still to keep him in her favour, that he might preserve the remaining church-lands and immunities from sacrilegious alienations. And this good man deserved all the honour and power with which she gratified and trusted him; for he was a pious man, and naturally of noble and grateful principles: he eased her of all her church cares by his wise menage of them; he gave her faithful and prudent counsels in all the extremities and dangers of her temporal affairs, which were very many; he lived to be the chief comfort of her life in her declining age, and to be then most frequently with her, and her assistant at her private devotions; he lived to be the greatest comfort of her soul upon her death-bed, to be present at the expiration of her last breath, and to behold the closing of those eyes that had long looked upon him with reverence and affection. And let this also be added, that he was the chief mourner at her sad funeral; nor let this be forgotten, that within a few hours after her death, he was the happy proclaimer, that King James (her peaceful successor) was heir to the crown.

Let me beg of my reader, that he allow me to say a little, and but a little, more of this good bishop, and I shall then presently lead him back to Mr. Hooker; and, because I would hasten, I will mention but one part of the bishop's charity and humility; but this of both: he built a large almshouse near to his own palace at Croyden in Surrey, and endowed it with maintenance for a master and twenty-eight poor men and women; which he visited so often, that he knew their names and dispositions; and was so truly humble, that he called them Brothers and Sisters: and whensoever the Queen descended to that lowliness to dine with him at his palace in Lambeth, (which was very often,) he would usually the next day shew the like lowliness to his poor brothers and sisters at Croyden, and dine with them at his hospital; at which time, you may believe, there was joy at the table. And at this place he built also a fair free-school, with a good accommodation and maintenance for the master and scholars; which gave just occasion for Boyse Sisi, then ambassador for the French king, and resident here, at the

bishop's death, to say, "The bishop had published many "learned books; but a free-school to train up youth, and "an hospital to lodge and maintain aged and poor people, "were the best evidences of Christian learning that a bishop "could leave to posterity." This good bishop lived to see King James settled in peace, and then fell into an extreme sickness at his palace in Lambeth; of which when the King had notice, he went presently to visit him, and found him in his bed in a declining condition, and very weak; and after some short discourse betwixt them, the King at his departure assured him, "He had a great affection for him, and a very high value for his prudence and virtues, and would "endeavour to beg his life of God for the good of his "Church.” To which the good bishop replied, Pro ecclesia Dei, Pro ecclesia Dei: which were the last words he ever spake; therein testifying, that as in his life, so at his death. his chiefest care was of God's Church.

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This John Whitgift was made archbishop in the year 1583, In which busy place he continued twenty years and some months; and in which time, you may believe, he had many trials of his courage and patience; but his motto was, Vincit qui patitur: and he made it good..

Many of his many trials were occasioned by the then powerful Earl of Leicester, who did still (but secretly) raise and cherish a faction of Nonconformists to oppose him; especially one Thomas Cartwright, a man of noted learning; some time contemporary with the bishop in Cambridge, and of the same college, of which the bishop had been master: in which place there began some emulations, (the particulars I forbear,) and at last, open and high oppositions betwixt them; and in which you may believe Mr. Cartwright was most faulty, if his expulsion out of the university can incline you to it.

And in this discontent after the earl's death (which was 1588,) Mr. Cartwright appeared a chief cherisher of a party that were for the Geneva church-government; and, to effect it, he ran himself into many dangers both of liberty and life; appearing at the last to justify himself and his party in many remonstrances, which he caused to be printed, and to which

J. S.

The Earl of Leicester to the archbishop concerning Mr. Cartwright.

the bishop made a first answer, and Cartwright replied upon him and then the bishop having rejoined to his first reply, Mr. Cartwright either was, or was persuaded to be, satisfied: for he wrote no more, but left the reader to be judge which had maintained their cause with most charity and reason. After some silence, Mr. Cartwright received from the bishop many personal favours, and betook himself to a more private living, which was at Warwick, where he was made master of an hospital, and lived quietly, and grew rich; and where the bishop gave him a license to preach, upon promise not to meddle with controversies, but incline his hearers to piety and moderation: and this promise he kept during his life, which ended 1602, the bishop surviving him but some few months, each ending his days in perfect charity with the other.

[It is true, the archbishop treated Cartwright with such civility as gained much upon him, and made him declare unto his patron, the Earl of Leicester, how much the archbishop's humane carriage had endeared him to him; and withal shewed his desire that he might have liberty sometimes to have access to him; professing that he would seek to persuade all with whom he had concern and converse, to keep up an union with the church of England. This, I say, is certain; but it is not so certain, that the archbishop gave Cartwright a license to preach. It appears, that in the year 1585 he refused to grant it him, however solicited by Leicester's own letter to do it; and notwithstanding Cartwright's promises, he required more space of time to be satisfied of his conformity. For the elucidation whereof, and some further light into this matter, let both these letters be read and considered; the former of the earl to the archbishop; the latter of the archbishop to the earl.

My good Lord,

"I most heartily thank you for your favourable and court"eous usage of Mr. Cartwright, who hath so exceeding kindly "taken it also, as, I assure your Grace, he cannot speak "enough of it. I trust it shall do a great deal of good. "And he protesteth and professeth to me, to take no other