them firm Friends. ledged fo much, and thereupon they parted in no unkind terms, but with due refpect of each other in very friendly manner. The Queen, not long af- She makes ter, was the mean of their entring into further Friendship; having oftentimes recommended unto the Archbishop the Earl's many excellent Parts, and Vertues, which the thought then rare in fo young Years. And the Earl likewise confeffed to the Archbishop, that her Majesty's often speech of her extraordinary opinion of him, and his worth, was the cause of his feeking after the Archbishop; and therefore did offer to run a course for Clergy Caufes, according to his directions, and advice, and to caft off the Novelifts, as indeed he did, immediately after Sir Francis Wal- Sir Francis fingham's death; which was a fpecial Walfingham cause of the Archbishop's conftancy and died Apr. 6. firmness to the Earl in his disgrace and The Archbitrouble afterwards. 1590. Troubles. fhop's firmness 83. But now to return to our former to Effex in bis courfe The Lord Chancellor's death much troubled and perpexed the Arch- The Archbishop bifhop; fearing that new Troubles fears on the would befal him and the Church. Lor's death. Howbeit, things were then fo well and firmly fetled, that he had no great ado F 3 after Lord Chancel New Pamph lets difperjed by the Puritans. afterwards, faving with their difperfing of Pamphlets, and that fome few Perfons (though thanks be to God not Attempts in powerful) both in Court and Country, Parliament on did attempt, as much as in them lay, their behalf. The Queen comforts the with fresh af Archbishop by motions in Parliament, and Bills there preferred, to bring in I know not (nor they themselves) what kind of new Government in the Church, but were prevented by the Wisdom of her Majefty, who always fuppreffed those Bills and Motions, and ftill comforted the Archbishop (who was oftentimes much grieved with their caufelefs Complaints) and affured him they should furances of her not prevail to do any hurt, except it were to hurt themfelves. For fhe did to the Church. fee in her Princely wisdom, how dangerous they were to her and all Imperial Government. And when she found them ftill bent to purfue fuch Bills, and Motions, fhe (to deliver the Archbifhop from farther trouble and vexation) before it was expected, and as it were with filence, brake up the Parliament. Countenance and Favour Sir John 84. Fter the death of Sir Chriftopher A Hatton, Sir John Puckering was June 4.1592. made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, of whom (because he lived not not long) I fhall not have occafion to fay much: But for ought that I ever Upon Hatheard, he fhewed himfelf a Friend to ton's death the Church, unto the Archbishop and the Queen of his Proceedings, and acknowledged Archbishop his him to have been amongst his other Place: But he good Friends, a Furtherer of his Ad- because of his vancement. fered the declined it, Age and Ec made Lord 85. Sir Thomas Egerton, Mafter of clefiaftical Bufinefs the Rolls fucceeded him, May 6. 1596. Sir Thomas Her Majefty and the State had long ex- Egerton perience of his Integrity and Wisdom, Keeper of the as may appear by the great Places Great Seal, which he worthily held; being first May 6. 1996. her Highness's Sollicitor, and then Attorney General. In which time (befides his many great and weighty Services) he was very careful and induftrious in labouring earnefty to fupprefs the aforefaid Libellers; a lover of Learning, and a moft conftant Favourer of the Clergy, and Church Govern- He is a conment established; as alfo a faithful lo- ftant Friend. ving Friend to the Archbishop in all his before and afAffairs; infomuch, as after his advance, ter his Adment to that Honour, and that the Earl of Effex and the Archbishop concurred together, being alfo (out of the affection of his moft honourable Friend, the Lord Burghley, Lord Treafurer) F 4 further to the Church vancement. The Archbishop further ftrengthned by the friendship sherifhed and and love of Sir Robert Cecyll, principal Strengthened by union of Secretary, (and now Earl of Salisbury, any Friends. and Lord Treasurer of England) he began to be fully revived again, and as well fortified by them as ever he was, when he was moft and best friended. And her Majefty finding in him a zealous care, and faithful performance of his duty and fervice towards the Church, and her Highness, fhook off thofe Clergy Cares, and laid the burthen of them upon his Shoulders, telling him, "That if any thing went "amifs, be it upon his Soul, and Con The Queen throws the phole care of the Church upon him. He difpofeth and all other fcience to anfwer it; for fhe had rid "her hands, and looked that he should “ yield an account, on her behalf, unto Almighty God. 86. And now, though the Archbiof Bishopricks fhop was in this fingular favour and Ecclefiaftical grace with her Majefty, fo that he did Promotions. all in all for the managing of ClergyAffairs, and difpofing of Bifhopricks, and other Ecclefiaftical Promotions His great Hu- yet was he never puffed up with Pride, mility and Le nor did any thing violently (by reafon of his Place, and greatnefs with her Majefty) against any man. For he ever obferved this Rule, that he would not nity. wound, wound, where he could not falve. And I leave to the report of the Adverfaries themselves, when he had that fway in Government, and favour with her Highness, whether his Carriage were not exceeding mild, and temperate, and whether he did not endeavour rather by gentle Perfuafions, and kind Ufages to win them, than (as the Law and his Place required) to pronounce Sentence, or lay any sharp Cenfure upon them. Hath he not many a time, when Sentence hath been ready to be given by consent of all the Commiffioners, found fome occafion to delay the Sentence to another Court-day, and in the mean time fo plied the Delinquents, and fet on others to perfuade them, as thereby many of them were won, which otherwise would never have been brought unto Conformity? Wherein he was of Antoninus Pius his mind, who faid, when he was taxed by Aurelius for like Remifnefs, and Lenity, That he had rather fave one Citizen of Rome, than kill a thousand Enemies. And yet they knew this Archbishop had Courage enough in him, and Credit, and Authority to back him, if he would have extended it unto feverity. 87. But Opus de temporibus mua di in vita, Antonini Pii. |