that, in some instances, personal favour or political interest succeeded in thwarting their efforts. Notwithstanding all this, the assertion will be found true, that," although occasionally he may have been importuned by ministers" and court favourites, " and the influence of archbishops have been" impeded, still the king did really appoint, and "the bishops were habitually consulted." As we follow the series onwards, we shall trace the progress of corruption; till, "in our own times, the nomination gradually passed from the king to his ministers; yet even then," it is well known, "as late as in the administration of the Duke of Wellington, the opinion of the bishops was still requested. Is this customary law still observed? If not, it is for the church to look to it that she be not corrupted."

The extracts now forwarded extend through the reigns of the sovereigns of the house of Tudor. With particular reference to this first portion of the history, it may be well permitted, in few words, to call the reader's attention to the following points:-(1) The entire recognition, in those days, of the nomination to bishoprics, and other high dignities in the church, being with the king, implied, perhaps most strikingly because most incidentally, in the thankfulness to Him who hath the hearts of kings in his rule and governance, which bishops of the church will be found to express when they hear of an appointment which promises well for the church.-(2) The uniform consultation of the archbishop in the disposal of those preferments. I should rather have said, the uniform recommendation of persons to the crown by the archbishop, as soon as any office fell vacant, or generally in the prospect of vacancies. The archbishops of those days speak of "making a bill" of persons qualified for promotion, and of the stations in which they would wish to see them placed, as though the matter were entirely submitted to their disposal, and it were quite understood and taken for granted as the established system. In some cases, we find the archbishop called upon for his recommendation; in others, he seems to volunteer his "bill," as though his sovereign looked to him for such assistance in the execution of his arduous and responsible office. He writes, indeed, to the secretary,-the secretary being, by his official situation, the person through whom the correspondence with the sovereign was carried on. For long after this, it will be remembered, as Clarendon observes, speaking of the next century, that the secretaries of state" were not, in those days, officers of that magnitude they have been since, being only to make despatches upon the

Our first protestant archbishops, for instance, when a see was reported to them to be vacant, had, unhappily, in the first place, to petition, in many cases repeatedly, that it might be immediately filled up, and its revenues not left a prey to hungry courtiers; and then to press the appointment of persons who would be fathers and pastors of the church, not hireling robbers of its patrimony, or betrayers of its sacred deposit; neither papists, on the one hand, which was the first danger which beset it, nor puritans on the other, which was the next, and which was the more imminent in that the principal court favourites [Leicester especially] were the patrons of that party, and those whom they would have elevated on every vacancy were, on principle, not unwilling to see the church despoiled of that, in their view, superfluous wealth, the alienation of which was made the condition of their promotion in a way which, in these days, would be looked upon as gross simony.

conclusion of councils, not to govern or preside in those councils." (3) In the working of this system, the reader can scarcely fail to be struck with the long deliberation which was had in the selection of persons for vacant offices, and the care which was taken that each should be placed in the situation for which his peculiar character and talents seemed best to qualify. (4) Still further, men were really then sought out and called to responsible places of dignity. The records of those times supply many cases in which the "Nolo episcopari" was evidently most heartfelt and sincere, though not always equally successful with the instance which meets us in the first of the following extracts.

To those who are at all acquainted with the records of the English church, the names of certain persons whom we find severally recommended and opposed by its early protestant archbishops will be sufficient evidence of the inestimable value of the system which was then pursued. Looking back to those " turning points," as they have been called, which we 66 may, from time to time, mark out in the annals of the church, with more certainty, perhaps, than in those of the world," "points in which everything seems to depend on some one critical event or coincidence, at the time possibly quite unobserved,"*-the true son of the church of England will, perhaps, in more than one very remarkable instance, feel as though he could trace the hand of a gracious Providence in the influence which the highest spiritual ruler of that branch of the catholic church which has been established in this land was, if not called upon, at least permitted, to exercise, in the disposal of its important posts. In our retrospect on such times, on which it is, indeed, "awful, yet encouraging, to look back, after the lapse of ages and generations, and to observe the whole course of things tending some evil way, up to the very instant when it pleased God in his mercy to interfere, and, by methods of which we can now see more than contemporaries could, to rescue, it may be, not only that generation, but succeeding times also, and, among the rest, ourselves and our children, from some form of apostacy or deadly heresy," we shall find our eyes fixed, in several important instances, upon the spiritual ruler of the English church, exerting this influence with his sovereign, or bearing by his unyielding, though ineffectual, opposition, and the danger or disgrace which he has incurred for it at the hand of political power, a witness which will sooner or later, in some❝ days of" like "trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy," be assuredly brought to light.

HENRY VIII. (ARCHBISHOP CRANMER.)-Letter to Crumwell, Nov.29, 1539. "My very singular good lord, after my most hearty commendations, these shall be to advertize your lordship that I have received your letters, dated the 27th day of November, and therewith a bill concerning the device for the new establishment to be made in the metropolitan church of Canterbury, by which your lordship requireth mine advice thereupon by writing, for our mutual consents.

"Surely, my lord, as touching the book drawn, and order of the same, I think that it will be a very substantial and godly foundation......

* Keble's Preface to Hooker, p. li.

VOL. XI.-Feb. 1837.

U

"Now concerning the dean, and other to be elected into the college, I shall make a BILL of all them that I can hear of in Oxford, Cambridge, or elsewhere meet to be put into the said college, after my judgment; and then of the whole number the King's Highness may choose the most excellent; assuring you, my lord, that I know of no man in England more meet for the dean's room than Dr. Crome, who by his sincere learning, godly conversation, and good example of living, with his great soberness, hath done unto the King's Majesty as good service, I dare say, as any priest in England; and yet his Grace daily remembereth all other that do him service, this man only except...... Wherefore if it would please his Majesty to put him in the dean's room, I do not doubt but that he would shew light to all the deans and masters of colleges in this realm.... And thus, my lord, you have my final advice concerning the premises, which I refer unto the King's Grace's judgment." Burnet, iii. 65; Jenkyns, i., Letter, ccliv.

1540. (Dec. 29.)—We find "Thomas Thirlby consecrated the first bishop of Westminster." The Archbishop had become "acquainted with him, and liked his learning and his qualities so well, that he became his good lord towards the King's Majesty.... So that he grew in the King's favour by the means of the Archbishop, who had a very extraordinary love for him.... And we may conclude it was by his means that, after the dissolution of the bishopric of Westminster, he was preferred to Norwich, in the year 1550."-Strype's Cranmer, p. 90.

EDWARD VI. (ARCHBISHOP CRANMER.)—"There were certain bishoprics in Ireland, about this time, (1552,) vacant. And it was thought convenient to have them filled by divines out of England. In the month of August, the Archbishop was consulted with for this; that so, by the influence of very wise and learned men and good preachers, the gospel might be the better propagated in that dark region. But because it was foreseen to be difficult to procure any Englishmen, so endowed, to go over thither, therefore Secretary Cecil, being then with the King in his progress, sent a letter to the archbishop, at Croydon, to nominate some worthy persons for those preferments, and whom he thought would be willing to undertake them. He returned him the names of four-viz., Mr. Whitehead, of Hadley, Mr. Turner, of Canterbury, Sir Thomas Rosse, and Sir Robert Wisdome, "which," he says,t" being ordinarily called, I think, for conscience' sake, will not refuse to bestow the talent

* Dr. Wotton, who was chosen, was at this time Commissary of the Faculties to the Archbishop. He is thus mentioned by Strype::-" This year [1538], October 6th, I meet with a commission, ad facultates, granted from the Archbishop to a famous man, Nicholas Wotton, L. L. D., a man of great learning, and made use of by the King afterwards, in divers embassies, and a privy counsellor to King Henry, and his three children, successively princes of the realm. So that Cranmer took notice of the merits of this man, who was so much made use of afterwards in the church and state, and was of that great esteem and reputation that he was thought on, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, for Archbishop of Canterbury."-Strype's Cranmer, pp. 71–2.

He had, it appears, been designed for a bishopric; but, "being informed of an intention to advance him to the mitre, he wrote to Dr. Bellasis, Nov. 11th, 1539, requesting him for the passion of God to convey that bishopric from him. So I might,' adds he, avoid it, without displeasure, I would surely never meddle with it. There be enough that be meet for it, and will not refuse it. I cannot marvel enough, cur obtrudatur non cupienti, immò ne idoneo quidem. My mind is as troubled as my writing is......... Yours, to his little power, Nicholas Wotton. Add whatsoever you will more to it, if you add not Bishop.'"-Birch's Life of Tillotson, p. 142.

Refusing the bishopric, he was, it would appear, prevailed upon to accept the deanery of Canterbury, and accordingly, his name was inserted in the charter of incorporation, granted April 8th, 1542.

In a letter, dated August 25th, 1552.

committed unto them, wheresoever it shall please the King's Majesty to appoint them. Among whom I take Mr. Whitehead, for his good knowledge, special honesty, fervent zeál, and politick wisdom, to be most meete. And next him, Mr. Turner who........ There is also one Mr. Whitacre [lege, Goodacre], a man both wise and well learned, chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester [Poynet], very meet for that office, if he might be persuaded to take it upon him."

"In fine, Turner was the man concluded upon by the King, for the archbishopric of Armagh; Whitehead either being not overcome to accept it, or otherwise designed." [Turner, however, it appears, at last managed to decline the intended honour.] So that, at last, this charge fell upon Hugh Goodacre, the last man, as it seems, nominated by the archbishop, whom he termed a wise and learned man.-Strype, p. 273–278. Appendix, No. Ixv., Cranmer—Jenkyns, letter cclxxxviii.

"I have thought fit," says Strype, "to give this account of these men, that we may perceive hence the good judgment of our archbishop, in propounding them for those Irish preferments; so fit and well qualified for them, as in other respects of prudence and learning, so especially for their tried zeal and boldness in preaching the gospel," &c.-Strype, p. 277.

"The King, in the summer of this year [1552], as was hinted before, went a progress, accompanied by the Duke of Northumberland; brought about, probably, by him, to get more into the King's affections, and to have his own designs the better to take effect, and with the less opposition and control; and possibly that the King might be the further off from the Archbishop to consult withal."....

"While the King was thus abroad, and the Archbishop absent, unworthy or disaffected men were in a fairer probability of getting promotions in the church, while he was not at hand, for to nominate fit men to the King, and to advise him in bestowing the vacant dignities and benefices. The Archbishop knew very well how much learning and sobriety contributed towards the bringing the nation out of popery, and that nothing tended so effectually to continue it as the contrary. This matter the Archbishop seemed to have discoursed at large with Secretary Cecil, at parting; who therefore, by a letter sent to the said Archbishop, then at his house at Ford, desired him to send him up a catalogue of learned men, and such as he esteemed fit for places of preferment in the church and university: that so, as any place fell in the King's gift, the said secretary might be ready, at the least warning, to recommend fitting and worthy men to supply such vacancies, and to prevent any motion that might be made by any courtiers or Simonists, for ignorant persons, or corrupt in religion. In answer to which letter, the Archbishop wrote him word, that he would send him his mind in that matter with as much expedition as he could. And undoubtedly we should have seen the good effects of this afterwards in the church, had not the untimely death of that admirable prince, that followed not long after, prevented these good designs."-Strype's Cranmer, pp. 283—4.

"In the month of November [1552], Grindal was nominated for a bishopric in the north.... Of this, his designed preferment, Bishop Ridley was very glad, giving God hearty thanks, as he said in a letter to certain of his friends at court -viz., Sir John Gate, vice chamberlain, and Sir Wm. Cecil, secretary—that it had pleased Him to move the heart of the King's Majesty to choose such a man of such godly qualities into such a room. But being desirous to bestow the prebend that would be vacant upon Grindal's remove, and to fix some worthy person therein himself, fearing lest some courtier might obtain it of the King for some uuworthy or unfit person, the said Bishop addressed for that purpose a letter to the same Sir J. Gate and Sir Wm. Cecil, men of great interest with the King........ beseeching them, therefore, for God's sake, to be so good unto the see of London, which, as he said, was the spectacle of all England, as to be petitioners for him in God's cause, unto the King, That seeing his Highness did perceive that he did so well bestow the prebend which

Mr. Grindal had of his, collation, that it would please him, of his gracious clemency, to grant him the collation of the same again; that he might therewith call some other like learned man, whom hereafter, by God's grace, his Highness might think fit likewise to promote, as Mr. Grindal then was. If they desired to know unto whom he would that dignity of his church, called the chauntership, should be given, he told them, unto any one of these following persons:-Mr. Bradford, Mr. Sampson, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Grimold, Dr. Samuel Ridley, all preachers. And to conclude, he prayed them to be suitors to the King for him-nay, not for him, but for God's word's sake-that the said collation might be given unto him for one, or any of these; and he would surely praise God in them."-Strype's Grindal, i. 2, p. 7, 8.

QUEEN ELIZABETH. (ARCHBISHOP PARKER.)-1559. The Archbishop being consecrated and enstated in his metropolitical see, the next care was to fill the church with other worthy bishops where the sees were vacant. Strype then enumerates the persons consecrated or confirmed in bishopricks, and adds— "These were men truly worthy of their episcopal dignity, being all endued with learning and piety, and that had been exiles and confessors for the true religion: those qualifications being chiefly regarded in this choice rather than either high birth, wealth, or other worldly considerations. And if Erasmus had sometime took occasion to praise England in making choice of their bishops for gravity and learning, whereas other countries chose them more for birth and politick respects of worldly affairs, this commendation was now more signally due to the present English government. They were all likewise excellent and constant preachers of God's word. To these bishops thus made let me add one dean, and he an eminent one, now restored, namely, Dr. May. . . . . This Dean May was nominated and elected for the metropolitan see of York, but died before his consecration."

1567.-"The archbishopric of Armagh in Ireland, the chief and highest spiritual dignity in that kingdom, was now void. Upon the sending of a fit man to fill that see, the well-being of religion there did mainly consist. Great friends and interest were made by some to obtain this high spiritual dignity. Among the rest was Mr. Dorril, one, I think, of the prebend of Canterbury, but corrupt in religion. . . . . A certain Irish scholar, but a hearty friend to religion, and zealous towards his country, dreading Dorril's coming into Ireland in the quality of primate there, applied himself to our Bishop [Grindal of London] to put a stay, if possible, to it; who forthwith writes a letter to the secretary (Nov. 19), and makes this Irishman the bearer. Therein he shewed the secretary that the bringer had made suit to him against the foresaid man, and that it was his opinion he would hinder the course of religion in that country. And the Bishop added, that he was himself of the same opinion.

The Bishop proceeded to give his advice in this spiritual matter—viz., that he, the secretary, would be the means that some learned man, of grave and godly disposition, might be put there, who, by doctrine and good example, might win people to Christ. He recommended one person as well qualified, whom he had once before recommended-viz., Dr. Spenser, parson of Hadley; but that, if it pleased the Queen, the Archbishop might be sent to, to BILL three or four grave men, out of which she might take her choice. Adding withal this seasonable caution, that the men that sued for bishoprics did in that declare themselves unfit for the room.”—Strype's Grindal, p. 120.

The archbishoprick of York had now lain vacant ever since June, 1568. For this high promotion much interest was made; and among the rest, the Lord Henry Howard, brother to the Duke of Norfolk, aspired to it. A person he was of good learning, great parts, and as great conceit of himself, and withal very active, but popish. This man, therefore, being waved, Grindal, a northern man by birth, stood fairest for York; and in the latter end of this year was designed for it, by favour of Secretary Cecyl, and the approbation of Parker the archbishop, who was consulted about it, and signified that he liked well of his removal; for he reckoned him not resolute and severe enough for the