The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 26 · Section 7
Prelates.
Here in this City we are at a greater losse, as to this Topick, than in any Shire in England: for in vain it is for any man to name himself Thomas of London, John of London, &c. such Sirnames not reaching their end, nor attaining their intention, viz. … diversifie the Person, the laxity of so populous a place leaving them as unspecified as it found them. We therefore have cause to believe, that many Clergy-men both Bishops and Writers born in this City, did not follow suit with others of their Coat, to be named from the Place of their Nativity, but from their Fathers, the Reason why we can give so slender an account of them as followeth.
SIMON OF GAUNT, was born in this City, *1. Bale, 1. Pitz. and Bish. Godwin in the Bishops of Salisbnry.(his Mother being an English Woman, his Father a Flemming) and being bred in good literature, became so famous, that by King Edward the first he was preferred Bishop of Salisbury, 1298. He gave the first leave to the Citizens thereof, to fortifie that place with a deed Ditch, partly remaining, and a strong wall wholly demolished at this day. Now seeing good Laws are the best walls of any foundation, no lesse was his care for the Church, than City of Salisbury, making good Statutes, whereby it was ordered even unto our age. He dyed about the year 1315.
JOHN KITE, was born in *Godwin in the Bishops of Carlisle.London, bred in Oxford, sent Embassadour into Spain, made a Grecian titulary Arch bishop, (receiving thence as much profit, as men shear wool from hogs) and at last the real Bishop of Carlisle: yet is his Epitaph in the Church of Stepney neither good English, Latine, Spanish or Greek, but a barbarous confusion, as followeth,
Under this Stone closyd & marmorate Lveth John …, Londoner naciste.
Encreasing invirtues rose to hyghestate In the fourth Edwards chappel by his yong life
Sith which the Seuinth Henries service primatife
Proceeding still in virtuous efficase
To be in favour with this our Kings grase.
With Witt endewyed chosen to be Legate,
Sent into Spain, where he right joyfully
Combined both Princes in pease most amate.
In Grece Archbishop elected worthely
And last of Carlyel ruling postorally:
Kepyng nobyl houshold with great hospitality.
On thousand fyve hundred thirty and seuyn
Inuyterate with carys consumed with Age,
The nineteeth of Jun reckonyd full euyn
Passed to Heauyn from worldly Pylgramage,
Of whose Soul good peopul of Cherite
Prey, as ye wold be preyd for, for thus must you lye;
Ie…u mercy, Lady help.
These, if made 300 years ago, had been excusable, but such midnight verses are abominable, made, as it appears, in the dawning of good learning and pure language. Yet because some love Poetry, either very good or very bad, that if they cannot learn from it, they may laugh at it, they are here inserted.
WILLLIAM KNIGHT, was born in this *Register of that Colledge in anno 1493.City, bred Fellow of New-colledge in Oxford, on the same token, that there have been ten of his Sirname, Fellowes of that Foundation. He proceeded Doctor of Law, and a noble *Lord Herbert in the Life of Hen. 8. p. 216.Pen makes him Secretary to King Henry the Eighth. Sure it is, he was the first Person imployed to the Pope, to motion to him the matter of his Divorce; advertizing the King, by his weekly dispatches, how slowly his Cause, (though spurred with English Gold) crept on in the Court of Rome. After his return, the King rewarded his Industry, Fidelity and Ability, with bestowing the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells upon him.
In Wells) with the assistance of Dean Woolman) he built a stately covered Crosse in the Market-place, for the glor… of God, and conveniency of poor people, to secure them from the weather, adding this Inscription; Laus Deo, Pax Vivis, Requies Defunctis. He dyed September 29. Anno 1547.
NICOLAS HEATH, was born, and had his childhood in the City of London, being noted for one of St. *Stows Survey of London.Anthonies Pigs therein, (so were the Scholars of that School commonly called, as those of St. Pauls, Pauls pigeons) and bred first in* Idem Ibidem. *Rich. Hall in the Life of Bishop Fisher.Christs-Colledge, then Fellow of Clare-hall in Cambridge▪ By K. Henry the eighth (to whom he was Almoner) he was preferred Bishop first of Rochester, then of Worcester: deprived by K. Edward the Sixth, restored by Q. Mary, who advanced him Arch-bishop of York, and Lord Chancelour of England. A moderate man, who would not let the least spark of persecution be kindled in his Diocess, if any in his Province.
In the Conference at Westminster betwixt Papists and Protestants, primo Elizabethae he was a kind of Moderatour, but interposed little. Infected b… his Fellow-PrisonerPopish-Prelates, he could not be perswaded to take the Oath of Supremacie, for which he was deprived. He led a pious and private life on his own lands; at Cobham in Surrey, whither Q. Elizabeth came often to visit him, and dyed about the year of our Lord 1566.
Since the Reformation.
JOHN YOUNGE D. D. was borne in *So am I informed by Sir John Young his GrandchildCheapside, and bred in Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge, whereof he became Master; hence he was preferred Rector of St. Giles Cripple▪ gate, and at last Bishop of Rochester. A constant preacher, and to whose Judgement Q. Elizabeth ascribed much in Church matters.
Better Bishopricks were often offered to, and as often refused by him; particularly, when Norwich was proferred him, by one who affirmed it to be a higher Seat: Bishop Young pleasantly returned; Yea, but it is a harder, and not so easie for an old man, since the Cushion was taken away from it; Meaning, since Dr. Scambler had scambled away the Revenues thereof. He dyed Anno Dom. 1605. and lyeth buried at Bromly Church in Kent, where his son most solemnly and sumptuously interred him, though he enjoyned all possible privacy, and on his death-bed forbad all funeral expences. But in such cases it may become the Charity and Affection of the survivers, to do what beseemes not so well the modesty and discretion of the dying to desire.
WILLIAM COTTON D. D. was bon in this City, (though his infancy was much conversant about Finchley in Middlesex) as his *Edward Cotton D. D. his son.nearest relation hath informed me. He was bred in Queens Colledge in Cambridge, preferred by Queen Elizabeth, Arch-Deacon of Lewis, and Canon Residentiary of St. Pauls. Hence he was advanced and consecrated Bishop of Ex…ter, November the 12. 1598.
During his sitting there, Mr. Snape a second Cartwright (not for abilities but activity) came out of Gersey, and plentifully sowed the Seeds of non-conformity in his Diocesse, which the vigilancy of this stout and prudent Prelate, plucked up by the roots, before they could come▪ to perfection.
In his old age he was Apoplectical, which malady deprived him of his Speech some dayes before his death; so that he could only say Amen, Amen, often reiterated. Hereupon some scandalous Tongues broached this jeer, that he lived like a Bishop, and dyed like a Clark, and yet let such men know, that no dying person can use any one word more expressive; Whether it be an invocation of his help in whom all the promises are Amen; or whether it be a submission to the Divine providence in all, by way of approbation of former, or option of future things.
I will only add and translate his Epitaph transcribed from his Monument.
| A Paulo ad Petrum Pia te Regina vocavit: | Whom th' Queen from Paul to Peter did remove: |
| Cum Petro & Paulo Coeli Rex arce locavit. | Him God with Paul, and Peter plac'd above. |
He lyeth buried in the North-side of the Quire of Exeter, but his Monument is distanced from the place of his Interment, in a North-East Chappel. His Death happened Anno Domini 1621.
LANCELOT ANDREVVS D. D. was born in this City in Tower street, his Father being a Seaman of good repute belonging to Trinity House. He was bred Scholar, Fellow and Master of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge.
He was an unimitable Preacher in his way, and such Plagiaries who have stolen his Sermons could never steal his Preaching, and could make nothing of that whereof he made all things as he desired. Pious and pleasant Bishop Felton (his Contemporary and Colleague) indevoured in vain in his Sermon to assimulate his style, and therefore said merrily of himself; I had almost marr'd my own natural Trot by endevouring to imitate his artificial Amble. But I have spoken largely of this peerlesse Prelate in my ChurchHistory. He dyed Anno Dom. 1626.
THOMAS DOVE D. D. was born in this City, as a *Mr. Thursby.Credible person of his nearest Relation hath informed me, bred a Tanquam, (which is a Fellowes Fellow) in Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge. He afterwards became an eminent Preacher, and his Sermons substantial in themselves, were advantaged by his comely person and graceful elocution. Q. Elizabeth highly *See more of h…m in my Church. History.affected, and Anno 1589. preferred him Dean of Norwich, advancing him eleven yeares after to the Bishoprick of Peterborough. He departed this life 1630. in the thirtieth year of his Bishoprick, on the thirtieth of August, who kept a good house whilst he lived, and yet raised a Family to Knightly degree.
JOHN HOWSON D. D. was born in St. *So am I informed by his own Daughter the Widow of famous Master Farnaby, since remarried to Mr. Cole in Suf…olk.Frides Parish in this City, bred a Scholar in St. Pauls School, whence going to Oxford, he became a Student and Canon of Christ-Church, and afterwards was consecrated Bishop of Oxford, May 9. 1619. being his *H. Holland in his Printed Additions to Bishop Godw.Birth-day in his Climacterical, then entring upon the 63 year of his age.
His Learned book, in what case a Divorce is lawfull, with his Sermons against Sacriledge, and stating of the Popes supremacy, in 4 Sermons, injoyned on him by King James, (to clear his causelesse aspersion of favouring Popery) and never since replyed unto by the Romish party, have made him famous to all posterity. He was afterwards removed to the Bishoprick of Durham, but continued not long therein; for he dyed in the 75 year of his Age, 6th of February, Anno Domini 1631. and was buried in St. Pauls in London.
JOHN DAVENANT D. D. born in Watling-street, was son to John Davenant a Wealthy Citizen, whose father was of Davenants lands in Essex. When an Infant newly able to go, he fell down a high pair of staires, and rising up at the bottome smiled, without having any harme; God and his good Angels keeping him for further service in the Church.
When a child, he would rather own his own frowardnesse, than anothers flattery, and when soothed up by the servants, that not John but some other of his brothers did cry; He would rather appear in his own face, than wear their disguise; returning, that it was none of his brothers, but John only cryed.
He was bred first Fellow-Commoner, then Fellow, then Margaret Profeslor, then Master of Queens▪ …lledge in Cambridge. At a publick Election, he gave his negative voice against a near Kinsman, and a most excellent *M. John …ore (aft…rwards kn…ghted) of Gilesden in Hertfordshire.Scholar; Cosen (said he) I will satisfie your father, that you have worth, but not want enough to be one of our Society.
Returning from the Synod of Dort, he was elected Bishop of Sarum, 1621.
After his Consecration being to perform some personal Service to King James at Newmarket,, he refused to ride on the Lords Day, and came (though a Day later to the Court) no lesse welcome to the King, not only accepting his excuse, but also commending his seasonable forbearance.
Taking his leave of the Colledge, and of one John Rolfe, an ancient servant thereof, he desired him to pray for him. And when the other modestly returned, that he rather needed his Lordships Prayers: Yea John (said he) and I need thine too, being now to enter into a Calling wherein I shall meet with many and great Temptations. Pŕaefuit qui profuit, was the Motto written in most of his Books, the sense whereof he practised in his Conversation.
He was humble in himself, and (the Consequence thereof) charitable to others. Indeed once invited by Bishop Field, and not well pleased with some Roisting Company there, he embraced the next opportunity of departure after Dinner. And when Bishop Field, proferred to light him with a Candle down Stairs, My Lord, my Lord (said he) let us lighten others by our unblameable Conversation, for which Speech some since have severely censured him, how justly I interpose not. But let others unrelated unto him write his Character, whose Pen cannot be suspected of Flattery, which he when living did hate, and dead did not need.
We read of the Patriarch Israel that the time drew nigh, that he *Gen. 47. 29.must dye; Must, a necessity of it. Such a decree attended this Bis…op happy to dye, before his Order (for a time) dyed, April 1641. and with a solemn Funeral he was Buried in his own … dral, Dr. Nicholas (now Dean of St. Pauls) preaching an excellent Sermon …t his In▪ terment.
MATHEVV WREN D. D. was born in this City (not far from Cheap-side) but descended (as appears by his Arms) from the worshipful Family of the Wrens in Northumberland. He was bred Fellow of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge where he kept the extraordinary Philosophy Act before King James. I say kept it with no lesse praise to himself, then pleasure to the King, where if men should forget, even Dogs would remember his seasonable distinction, what the Kings hounds could perform above others, by vertue of their prerogative.
He afterward became an excellent Preacher, and two of his Sermons in the University were most remarkable; one preached before the Judges on this Text; *Amos 5. 24.And let Judgement run down like waters, and righteousnesse as a mighty stream; at what time the draining of the Fens was designed, suspected detrimental to the Univer…ity: The other when newly returned from attending Prince Charles into Spain, on the words of the Psalmist, *Psal. 42. 7.abyssus abyssum invocat, one depth calleth another.
He was afterwards preferred Master of Peterhouse, Dean of Windsor, Bishop of Norwich and Ely: Some in the Long Parliament fell so heavily on him, that he was imprisoned in the Tower almost fifteen years, and his cause never heard. Surely had the imposers been the sufferers hereof, they would have cryed it up for a high piece of injustice. But as St. *Acts 16. 39.Paul had the credit to be brought with intreaties out of Prison, by those who sent him thither: so this Prelate hath had the honour, that the same Parliamentary power (though not constituted of the same persons) which committed him, caused his Inlargement, still living 1661.