His good Works Worcester, 120. As for good Works (whereof in Lincoln, the Papifts fo vainly brag, as particular effects of their fuperftitious Doctrines, yea, for which Heaven it felf is a due reward by condignity) many Towns, Cities and Counties can yield a plentiful Teftimony for him in this behalf; namely, Lincoln, Worcester, the Marches of Wales, Kent and Surry, wherein he lived, and, in particular, that notable Monument of our time, his Hofpital of the Bleffed Trinity in Croydon, which he built very fair, and College-wife, for a Warden, and Eight and twenty Brothers and Sifters. He builed alfo near unto it a goodly Free fchool, with a Schoolmafter's Houfe, allowing unto the Schoolmafter Twenty pounds by year for ever. All which he performed with fuch alacrity, and good fuccefs, that he hath been heard divers times to profefs with great comfort, that, notwithstanding the charge of the Purchase and Building was not fmall unto him, in comparison of his Eftate (who neither impaired Houfe-keeping, nor Retinue at that time) yet when he had finifhed and done that whole Work, he found himself no worfe in his Estate than when he first began, which he af cribed unto the extraordinary blessing and goodness of God. Comit. Lin coln. 121. After the finishing of this Hofpital, among many other his good Deeds, the French Lieger Embaffador in England, called Boys Sifi, enquired what Works the Archbishop had publifhed, for that he would willingly read his Books, who was reputed The Peer- Cambden lefs Prelate for Piety and Learning in our Britan. in days, and whom in conference, he found fo grave, godly, and judicious; when it was answered, that he only published certain Books in the English Tongue, in defence of the Ecclefiaftical Government (although it be very well known to many, who were near unto him, that he left divers learned Treatifes in Written-hand, well worthy the printing) and that it was thereupon incidently told the Embaffador that he had founded an Hofpital, and a School, he used thefe words; Profectò Hofpitale, Boys Sifi, the ad fublevandam paupertatem, & Schola, French Emad inftruendam Juventutem, funt optimi opinion and Libri, quos Archiepifcopus confcribere po- fpeech of Archtuit; Truly an Hofpital to fuftain the bishop Whir Poor, and a School to train up Youth, gift. are the worthieft Books that an Archbifhop could fet forth. 122. And baffador, his His love to retirement. 122. And albeit the Archbishop had Croydon for ever a great affection to lie at his Manfion houfe at Croydon, for the fweetness of the Place, efpecially in Summer time; whereby alfo he might fometimes retire himfelf from the multiplicity of Bufineffes and Suitors in the Vacations; yet, after he had builded his Hofpital, and his School, he was farther in love with the Place than before. The chief comfort of repose or folace that he took, was in often dining at the Hofpital among his poor Brethren, as he called them: There he was often vifited by his entire and honoura ble Friends, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Cumberland, the Lord Zouch, the Bishop of London, and others of near place about her Majefty, in whofe company he chiefly delighted. Chearful and affable in his Family. 123. In the abfence of his Friends, he would be exceeding chearful and af, fable with his own Gentlemen and Servants, though his Bounty towards them and the Poor did not confift in words, Liberal to h but in deeds, for he was very liberal in rewarding them, both with Leafes, Offices, and otherwife with Supplies, as their Occafions required, out of his Purfe; and would, I make no queftion, Servants. have done much more for them out of his own Eftate, if he had had ability, and time (after his Sickness first seized upon him) to difpofe of his worldly Affairs. Poor, and to 124. As his Bounty was very great Bountiful to towards his own (for in that number the industrious likewife he always accounted the poor the Disabled Society of his Hofpital) fo were his and NeceffiHands every where reached out to the tous. neceffities of all forts. Yea fuch was his Charity, that if he had feen poor men addicted to labour, he would have given them Money, and wafte Ground to employ in gardening, or fome fuch ufe as might be for their relief. Or if he heard that any of his poor Neighours were decrepit, or deftitute of means to follow their Trade, he would fupply their needs either with Money or Fewel, and fometimes poor Watermens wants with Boats, and fuch like; wherein he dealt no worfe with them, than that famous Bifhop of Lincoln, Robert After the Grofthead, dealt with his poor Kinfman; manner of Ro in whofe behalf when he was follicited bert Grofthead Bishop of to advance him, and thereupon enqui- Lincoln his ring what courfe of life he followed, usage of his Kinfman. and receiving anfwer that he was an Husbandman; Why then (quoth he) if C if his Plough be broken, I will repair it, or rather than fail bestow a new one upon him, whereby he may go on in his course of life; but fo to advance him, as to make him forfake his Trade, or Condition, in which he was brought up, that mean I not to do. 125. I fear left I have held the Reader too long in these private matters: therefore I will for brevity fake, omit to fpeak of the fair Library which he left behind him, with many other memorable things (worthy the obfervation) and return again unto his publick Affairs. 126. THE HE Archbishop (respecting the welfare of the Church, and publick Caufe) albeit he was very confident of the King's Princely wisdom, by the experience he had thereof (being now an ancient Counsellor) and well understanding the paffages of Matters betwixt his Majefty, and ftate of our Country, (whereby he did conceive that it was not probable fo wife and learned a Prince could be overcome with the Conceits of fuch Innovators, whofe Fancies could not stand bur with hazard of the State) yet he held it most expedient to fend that Re |