The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 87 – Biography 88
IOHN WHITGIFT.
The Life and Death of John Whitgift.
IN the year of our Lord 1530. being the twenty and first of King Henry the eight (a year very remarkable for the Parliament then held, wherein that proud Prelate Cardinall Wolsey was attainted, and the first opposition made by the maine body of the the Commons therein assembled against the tirannicall usurpation of the Popish Clergy) was Iohn Whitgift born at great Grimesbie in Lincolnshire, descended from an ancient and worshipfull Family of the Whitgifts in Yorkeshire. An Unckle he had called Robert Whitgift, Abbot of Wellow: who though himselfe a professed Monk, yet not greaty liked the profession; and was by this his Nephew, therefore heard sometime to say, that they and their Religion could not long continue; for that having read the Scripture over and over again… he could never finde therein that their Religion was founded by God: and it is not unlikly, that by the cariage of businesses in the State at that time, being an understanding man, he might shrewdly guesse at those things that shortly after sued.
Under this his Unckle was he educated together with some other young Gentlemens sonnes for some space of time: and whether taking some hints from him, or being by some other meanes wrought on, through a secret hand of God, already moulding and preparing him for future employments, he began to grow, though very young yet, into a dislike of Popish superstitions, and to af…ect the better way. For being by his said Unckle, who observed his towardlinesse, for his further improvement in learning, sent up to London, entred there into Saint Antonies schoole, and boarded with an Aunt of his, wife to one Michael Shaller a Verger of Pauls Church; he was after som time by her dismissed againe and thrust out of doores, because he refused to frequent the morning Masse with her, albeit by some of the Canons earnestly solicited so to doe. Upon returne to his Parents, according to his Unckles advice and direction, finding that he had well profited in learning, he was by them sent to the University of Cambridge, and there placed in Q…eenes Colledge. But not so well relishing t…e disposition of some in that house, he removed from thence to Pembrooke Hall, where he was pupill to that blessed Ma… tyr of God Iohn Bradford, Doctor Ridley afterward Bishop of London being then Hed of the house, by whom also in regard of his forwardnesse both in learning and godlinesse, he was made scholer of the house.
With his years his worth growing, and notice taken of his good parts, his preferments likewise accordingly came on: For from thence he was chosen to be Fellow of Peterhouse, D…ctor Pern being then Master th…re: who very tenderly affected him, and when out of tendernesse of conscience, in Queen Maries time, upon expectation of som Commis…ioners that were to come downe visit to the University and settle Popery there, he had entertained some thoughts of going beyond the Seas, the Dr. perceiving it and withall his resolution in matter of religion, both encouraged and caused him notwithstand to stay, promising him withall to take such order for him, that keeping himselfe quiet, he should remaine free from molestation: that which according to his promise given him, he also faithfully fulfilled.
Having thus by the favour and connivancy of the Doctor (God reserving him for further and higher employments) rid out those stormy and tempestuous times; upon the dispersions of those blacke clouds, that had formerly overspread and eclipsed the good parts of many, by the happy sunshine of that illustrious Princesse Queene Elizabeths ascent to the throne of this Realme, contrary to that that is wont to befall at the naturall Suns rising; this our bright Star, among others and above many others, began now to shine forth and discover its luster. Notice whereof being taken, as in the Univer…ity so at Court, he received advancement unto eminent places from either.
For in the University he was called, first to the Professors place founded by the Lady Margeret Countesse of Richmond; and in the same he demeaned himselfe with so great approbation and good liking of the whole University, that not onelyonly for his sake they augmented the Salary to that Professors place assigned, but the chiefe Professors place becoming shortly after vacant, they conferred th… upon him. Wherein as his other readings were generally both with much company frequented, and with great applause entertained; so especially those his Lectures upon the Apocalips, and upon the Epistle to the Hebrewes; which being also put in writing by him at the request of some great ones, are said to remaine yet under hope of seeing sometime further light. During this time h… tooke the degree of Doctor in Divinity; when being called to answer the Act at the Commencement in publicke, he maintained this Position, that The Pope i… that Antich…ist.
From Peterhouse, upon the departure of Doctor Hutton, he was chosen Master of Pembrooke Hall; and the same of him being now arrived at Court, he was sent for up to Preach before the Q…een; who so well liked the method and manner of his Teaching, that alluding to his name (as her wonted manner was to doe in like case, where she liked, and found fit matter for such expressions) she said he was a White gift indeed; and in testimony of her good opinion and esteeme of him, ere he was thorowly warme in the Hedship of Pembrook… Hall, she removed him to the Mastership of Trinity Colledge; adding not long after the Deanry also of Lincolne thereunto.
At his accesse to Trinity Colledge, he found divisions in the House, by occasion of some that misliked the solemn rites and government Ecclesiasticall then setled and exercised in the Church, of whom Thomas Cartwright Professor for the Lady Margaret was a chiefe man, with whom he also entred the lists in writing by occ…sion of his Answer to a Worke entituled, An Admonition to the Parliament. But by his wise and discreet carriage the matter was so mannaged, that all things were setled in peace and quietnesse again.
Ten years he continued Governor there; being entrusted with the education of divers of great birth, among whom were the Earles of Worcester and Cumberland, the Lord Zouch, the Lord Verulam, and Sir Nicolas Bacon his elder brother; as also divers were trained up under him that were after advanced to Episcopall dignitie, among whom was Doctor Babington sometime Bishop of Worcester, whose Works testifie his worth. And within those ten years he was twice chosen Vice-chancellour of the University. In which time he laboured, with the assistance of the right honourable Sir William Cecill Lord Treasurer unto the Queen, to have the Statutes of the University (being in many things defective) recollected, reviewed, suppyed and amended: that which by his travaile and credit with her Majesty was accordingly effected.
From thence he was removed to the Bishoprick of Worcester; having taken his leave of the University and the Colledge, by two solemn Sermons, both perswading to peace and unity; the one preached in Saint Maries Church, the other in the Colledge Chappell, on 2 Cor. 13.11. The revenues of which Bishoprick finding much impaired and impeached by some sinister courses, making use therein of his favour and authority with her Majesty, though not without expence of some round sums of money, to give satisfaction to some, for the more quiet composition, who had go… the same into their hands, he recovered again what had been fra…dulently intercepted, and wrongfully detained, to the no small behoofe of his Successor….
He had not sat there above a year, but he was made Vice-president of the Marches of Wales, under the right honorable Sir Henry Sidney, being then at the same time both Lord Deputy of Ireland, and Lord President also of those parts. In which employment he carried himselfe as with paines unweariable, so with exceeding great integrity; reforming many abuses and corruptions, that he observed to have crept in and to be exercised either by the Officers belonging unto that Court, or by some other that were joyned in Commission with him; and with no lesse moderation of Fines and Penalties; that which gained him much love and respect in those parts.
Besides this, while he sat at Worcester, upon complaint made to the Queens Majesty of many discords and disorders in the two Cathedrall Churches of Lichfield and Hereford, he was by speciall Commission from her Majesty appointed to Visite them; which accordingly he did, reforming them both, and appointing them Statutes for the better and more peaceable government of either.
Having spent six years at Worcester, to the great contentment, and with the generall good affection of all sorts in those parts, he was now advanced to the highest pitch of dignity that our Church affordeth, being called to succeed that most reverend Father in God, Grindall, in the Archbishopricke of Canterbury. For the benefit of which seat also being many wayes much wronged, he travelled as much, and with as good successe, as for that of Worcester he had before done: for which his successors in either remaine beholden to him unto this day. In this height of honour together with his Soveraignes highest favour, he continued during the whole remnant of Queen Elizabeths raigne, and some small while after King Iames his entrance; alwayes constantly maintaining the present Ecclesiasticall Government against those that oppugned it; and yet carrying himselfe moderately, as toward all in generall, so toward those also that therein stood out, and holding a good correspondency with those in foraine parts, as Master Beza among the rest, that followed another course of discipline; that which appeareth by diverse letters that passed to and fro betweene them.
He had the honour to be chiefe mourner at the solemne exequies of that Heroicall Princesse Queen Elizabeth, (who used also in familiar manner to salute him by the name of her blacke husband) and of setting the Royall Crown on the head of that most learned and illustrious Prince King I…mes her successor, and of Queene Anne his worthy consort. About seven months after which office performed, returning by barge from the Bishop of Londons house at Fulham, with whom he had been to consult about Ecclesiasticall affaire…, in an high wind and a sharp day, he took cold on his head: and yet striving to attend his Majesty at Court on the next day being the Lords day, after his accustomed manner, he was taken there with a dead palsie, whereof he dyed some few dayes after.
He was a man of a middle stature, black heired, of a grave countenance, and brown complexion; small timbered, but quick and of indifferent good strength, and well shaped to the proportion of his bulk: of a milde and moderate disposition, of a free minde, and a bountifull hand towards his houshold servants, his poore neighbours, but especially towards Schollers and strangers; many whereof resorting hi…her out of France and Germany, (among whom that fa… man Drusius, Renicherus, and others) he most courteously entertained, and very liberally relieved: a diligent preacher, as well after his preferments as before, seldome failing any Lords day; while he was Bishop of Worcester, notwithstanding his important and incessant emploiments otherwise, but that he preached in some of the Parish Churches thereabouts; and no lesse freq…ently when he was Archbishop, visiting the Church and Pulpit at Cr…ydon, during the time of his residence there in the Vacations from attendance at Court.
He departed this world on the last of February being Wednesday, in the year of grace 1603. and of his age 73. having bin Bishop of Worcester six years and five moneths, and Archbishop of Canterbury 20. years and five moneths: and lyeth enterred on the South side of the Church of Croydon, with a faire Monument in memory of him. His la… words to his Majesty, who in person visited him the day before he dyed, when he could hardly be understood, are reported to have been, Pro Ecclesiâ Dei, pro Ecclesiâ Dei: for the Church of God, for the Church of God: thereby intimating his care thereof even to the last.
The principall Monuments of his Charity, are, an Hospitall builded Colledge-wise at Croydon, for a Warden and twenty eight Brothers and Sisters; and a Free-School neer …nto it, with a convenient House for the School-Master, and a standing stipend of twenty pounds by the year. His Workes in writing published, are onelyonly these:
1. His Answer to the Admonition to the Parliament, 2. His Defence of the Answer to the Admonition. 3. A Sermon on John 6. ver. 25, 26, 27. Preached before Queene Elizabeth on March the 24. 1574.
You courtly Prelats, you that feare
To loose your honors, look ye here:
Make him your president, and then
You shall have honor, spite of men:
He bred not, but compos'd debate…
Nor mov'd he in the Orbe of State;
By whose example, Churchmen stood
Lesse for the stile of great then good:
If factions chanc'd, or diffence fell,
He would perswade, and not compell:
To him our Phenix-Queen did share
Proud Lambeths patriarchall chayre,
Where he remain'd, the Churches Nurse,
Ten years twice told, without a Curse.
The Life and Death of Lucas Trelcatius, who dyed Anno Christi 1602.
LVke Trelcatius was born at Erinum Anno Christi 1542. and brought up by his Aunt who was Abbesse of … Nunnery: his first education was in the School at Dowai…, where (being of an acute wit) he profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the humane Arts: from thence he went to Paris, and whil'st he studyed there, he fell into acquaintance with Iohn Mercer, the Hebrew Professor, and Peter Ramus, and being exceedingly affected with the love of the reformed Religion, he forsook his Aunt, and was maintained by the bounty of some Merchants of Flanders. From thence he went to Aurelia, and from thence to Sancerra in the twenty eight year of his age: and being driven from thence by the tempest of Civill Wars, he came into England, and at London he taught a School, by which he maintained himself eight years: Then was he called by some Merchant… into Flanders to be their Pastor; but enjoying little peace there, he went to Bruxels, where he continued in the exercise of his Ministery six year…s; and then meeting with opposition, he went to An…werp, and that City being presently after besieged, he was forced to stay there eight moneths: after which, being sent for to diverse places, at length he was by the consent of his bretheren in the Ministery fixt at Leiden, where he was made Pastor of the French Church, which place he supplyed faithfully, for the space of seventeen years. He had scarce been there two years, when for his excellent parts and learning, he was chosen Divinity-Professor in that University also: and at last having acquired much honor in both his offices, he dyed of the Plague Anno Christi 1602. and of his age 60.
Where vertue lives there need not be
A question of sufficiency:
Trelcatius was a man whose worth
Few men are able to set forth:
They that desire to know him well
Must first know what it is t'excell.