The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. 14. The life of Dr. METCALF.
NIcholas Metcalf Doctour of Divinity, extracted out of an ancient and numerous family of Gentry in Yorkshire, was Archdeacon of Rochester, & Chaplain to John Fisher the Bishop thereof; by whom this our Doctour was employed to issue forth the monies for the building of S. Johns Colledge in Cambridge. For Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Derby intending to graft S. Johns Colledge into the old stock of S. Johns Hospitall, referr'd all to the Bishop of Rochester, and he used Metcalf as an agent in all proceedings which did concern that Foundation: which will inferre him to be both a wise and an honest man.
Some make him to be but meanly *Ascham. Schoolmaster, 2. Book, fol. 47.learned; and *Lively in his Chron. of Persian Monarch. p. 196.one telleth us a long storie how a Sophister put a fallacie upon him, à sensu diviso ad sensum compositum, and yet the Doctours dimme eyes could not discern it. But such trifles were beneath him; and what wonder is it if a Generall long used in governing an armie, hath forgotten his school-play, and Fencers rules, to put by every thrust?
Doubtlesse, had not his learning been sufficient, Bishop Fisher, a great clerk himself, would not have placed him to govern the Colledge. But we know that some count all others but dry scholars, whose learning runneth in a different channell from their own: and it is possible, that the great distance betwixt men in matter of Religion might hinder the new learning in one to see the old learning in the other.
But grant that Metcalf, with Themistocles, could not fiddle, yet he could make a little city a great one: though dull in himself, he could whet others by his encouragement. He found the Colledge spending scarce two hundred marks by the yeare, he left it spending a *Ascham. in loco priùs citato.thousand marks and more. For he not onelyonly procured and settled many donations, and by-foundations (as we term them) of Fellowships, and Scholarships, founded by other; but was a Benefactour himself, Pro certis ornamentis & structuris in Capella, & pro aedificatione sex Camerarum à tergo Coquinae, &c. as it is evidenced in the Colledge books. He counted the Colledge his own home, and therefore cared not what cost he bestowed on it: not like those Masters, who making their Colledges as steps to higher advancement will trample on them to raise up themselves, and using their wings to flie up to their own honour, cannot afford to spread them to brood their Colledge. But the thriving of the nourcery, is the best argument to prove the skill and care of the nource. See what store of worthy men the house in his time did yield:
Statesmen.
William Cecill, Lord Burly,
Sr. John Cheek,
Walter Haddon.
Ralph Bain, Bishop of Coventrie and Lichfield
John Christopherson, Bishop of Chichester,
Robert Horn, Bishop of Winton,
James Pilkinton, Bishop of Duresme,
John Tailour, Bishop of Lincoln,
Thomas Watson. Bishop of Lincoln.
Learned writers.
Roger Ascham,
George *Pi…zaeus de Scriptor. Angli. pag. 773.Bullock,
Roger *Baleus de Scriptor. Anglicanis.Hutchinson,
Alban Langdale,
John Seaton.
Learned Men.
Hugh Fitz-Herbert,
William Jreland,
Laurence Pilkinton,
—Tomson,
Henry Wright.
With very many more. For though I dare not say that all these were old enough to bear fruit in Metcalfs time, yet sure I am by him they were inoculated, and in his dayes admitted into the Colledge.
Yet for all these his deserts Metcalf in his old age was expell'd the Colledge, and driven out when he could scarce go. A new generation grew up (advanced by him) whose active spirits stumbled at his gravity (young seamen do count ballast needlesse yea burthensome in a ship) and endeavoured his removall. It appears not what particular fault they laid to his charge. Some think that the Bishop of Rochester his good lord being put to death, occasioned his ruine, Fishers misfortune being Metcalfs highest misdemeanour. He sunk with his Patron, and when his sunne was set it was presently night with him: for according to the Spanish proverb, *Yrà la s…ga con el calderon.where goes the bucket, there goes the rope, where the principall miscarries, all the dependants fall with him.
Others conceive it was for his partiality in preferring Northern men, as if in his compasse there were no points but such onelyonly as looked to the North, advancing alone his own countrey-men, and more respecting their need then deserts. Indeed long *1446. Manuscrip Hutch…. Coll. R…gal.before, I find William Millington first Provost of Kings Colledge put out of his place, for his partiality in electing Yorkshire men.
But herein Metcalf is sufficiently justified: for he found Charity hottest in the cold countrey, Northern men were most *Ascham. in loco citato.partiall (saith one) in giving lands to the Colledge, for the furtherance of learning. Good reason therefore Northern Scholars should be most watered there, where Northern Benefactours rained most.
Well, good old Metcalf must forsake the House. Methinks the blushing bricks seem asham'd of their ingratitudes, and each doore, window, and casement in the Colledge, was a mouth to plead for him.
But what shall we say? Mark generally the grand deservers in States, and you shall find them lose their lustre before they end their life. The world, out of covetousnesse to save charges to pay them their wages, quarrelling with them, as if an over-merit were an offence. And whereas some impute this to the malignant influence of the heavens, I ascribe it rather to a pestilent vapour out of the earth; I mean, That rather men then starres are to be blamed for it.
He was twenty years Master, and on the 4 day of June 1537. went out of his office, and it seems dyed soon after: his Epitaph is fastned on a piece of brasse on the wall, in the Colledge-Chappell. We must not forget that all who were great doers in his expulsion, were great sufferers afterwards, and dyed all in great *Omnes qui Metcalfi excludendi autores exstiterunt, multis adversae fortunae procellis (sive divinâ ultione seu fato suo) jactati, de gradu dejecti & deturbati, i… glorii mortem obierunt exemplo memorabili, Caius lib. 1. Hist. Cantab…. pag. 75, & 76.miserie. There is difference betwixt prying into Gods secrets, and being stark blind: Yea I question whether we are not bound to look where God points by so memorable a judgement, shewing that those branches most justly whithered which pluck'd up their own root.