Is a great Peace-maker among them. 44. If he had underftood of any Jar, or Discord, he would fend for both Parties, unawares to each other, under pretence of fome fervice to be done, or fome meeting appointed; and before their departure would make them Friends. If he perceived a frowardnefs in either of them, and that by intreaty he could not prevail, then would he leave perfuafion, and intreaty; and, as being Vice-l'refident of the Marches of Wales (which Place her Majefty shortly after he was made a Bishop, bestowed upon him) threaten the Obftinate with imprisonment, or fafe custody, till he fhould reform himself. Of which his Refolution, when the Gentlemen of the chiefeft fway and account had experience, they then would grow calm, and submit themselves, and he as mildly and gently did use them, when he saw them coming. One particular inftance (among many) I will Remarkable give you, of Sir John Ruffell, and Sir Henry Barkeley; betwixt whom was fo deadly a Quarrel, as that great Bloodshed was like to have enfued at a Seffions in Worcester, by reafon of their many Friends, and Followers, had not the Bishop wifely prevented it, by provi Makes up a Quarrel be twixt Sir John ding a ftrong Watch at the Gates, and about the City, and requiring them to bring both Parties, with their Attendance, well guarded to his Palace, where he caused them all to the number of four or five hundred, to deliver their Weapons into his own Servants cuftody; and after two hours pains taken, fometimes in perfuading, and other whiles in threatning them, he made them fo good Friends, as they both attended him Hand in Hand to the Town-Hall, where they performed the Service of their Country in amity and love, and ever after held him in great honour and estimation therefore. Wherein he was much happier than Bias, who reporteth of himself, that He never ar. Diog. Laert. bitrated any Controversy between two of de vita Phibis Friends, but he made one of them his Enemy. 45. A year after his Confecration to that Bishoprick, he was (as before lofoph. lib. 1. the Marches is mentioned) made Vice-Prefident of Is made Vicethe Marches of Wales, (Sir Henry Sid- President of honourable Friend, being of Wales. ney, his very then Lord Prefident, and at that time, Lord Deputy of Ireland) where albeit the Bishop might immediately have taken upon him, according to his place, to to direct the Court, having an excellent quick Understanding, a good facility in Speech, and a deep and found Judgment, gained by his long experience in Government in Cambridge, and elfewhere, where his Sufficiency and Patience were tried to the proof; yet notwithstanding it was a whole Year before he would almoft fpeak in the publick Affairs, much less take upon him to bear any fway, but still obferved the Orders and Practice of the Court, and looked into the Affections and Difpofitions of his Affociates; hearing the Complaints of the Suppliants, and enforming himself by others of Integrity, and Honesty, and fometimes noting their partial Orders, and corrupt Dealings; but at the Years end, he then took upon him the directing and ordering of things himself, taking exceeding pains from Morning till Bed-time, affording himself only fome fmall times for Meals and Study. 46. And when he had found the corruption of fome of his Affociates, as well by his own obfervation, as by the confeffion of the Parties that corrupted them (for the property of fome amongst them, was to leave nothing unaffayed to to corrupt any man to ferve their own turn for the prefent, though they ever after hated him to the death, and would revile him) he would difmifs thefe Affociates by fending for others under pretence of eafe to the Parties. 47. He had also a special care (as Has a Special behoved him) of his own Family, and Watch over his own Family Attendants near unto him; and there- and Attenfore to avoid all colour and fufpicion of dants, to avoid all colour of Corruption, he would never hear any corruption. Caufe or Informations, or receive Petition in his private Chamber, but abroad, by the Petitioners themfelves, either in going to the Chappel, Court, Dinner, Supper, or at the Councilboard; infomuch as a Gentleman of his Bed chamber (imployed fometimes by him) making requeft unto him that he might have the delivery of Suiters Petitions, and indorfe their Answers, he grew into fuch diflike of the young Gentleman (as fuppofing he had been tampered withal) that he prefently discharged him of his Chamber, and could never afterwards very well brook him. 48. For this his Integrity and juft deal- Is highly ing,the People of Wales especially had a effeemed by the People of very reverend and honourable opinion of Wales. His great In tegrity, Jufiice, and mild Government. He is made Commiffioner by the Queen for reforming the Disorders in the Cathe drals of Lich. field and He reford. him, the rather because they obferved in him a temperate and mild government without reviling or harsh Speeches; and oftentimes moderating their Fines and Punishments, which in ftrictness of Law, and opinion of his Affociates, would have lighted heavily upon them ; for which they highly efteemed him as their Patron and Protector, and faid he was fent amongft them to deliver them from the oppreffion of the Mighty, and corruption of the Wicked, yea fuch was their opinion and conceit of him, that if he had imprifoned, whipped, or inflicted any other grievous Punishment upon them, they would have undergone it with pa. tience, confeffing their Offences, and lauding his uprightness and justice. 49. Her Majesty out of her experience of his wife and prudent Government, was pleafed (upon complaint made unto her, of the many Discords and Disorders that were in the two Cathedral Churches of Lichfield and Hereford) to make choice of him alone, amongst a number of worthy Prelates, for redress thereof; directing two Commiffions unto him for the vifiting of the faid Churches, which accordingly he |