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LAUD, this concerning the Greek, we took into our care also a great Abp. Cant. difficulty, which yet we conceive may be well mastered, if it be providently looked into. There is a great deal of learning, and that very fit and necessary to be known, that is written in Arabic; and there is a great defect in both our universities, very few spending their time to attain that, or any other of the Eastern languages: which we impute not so much to the fault of the students there, as partly to the great scarcity and want of Arabic and Persian books, on which they might spend their pains, and partly to their lack both of opportunity and means to provide and furnish themselves with such books. While we took this into our royal consideration, and withal how useful and necessary the knowledge of those languages would be for our subjects, we could not but think and advise which way some better store of Arabic and Persian books might be gotten and brought unto us. After a long deliberation, we could not find any way so good, and likely to be successful, as the employing your service which trade thereabouts. And because we would do it with little or no burden unto you, we have thought of this course, which we pray and command you to follow carefully, and with effect, namely, that every ship of yours, at every voyage that it makes, should bring home one Arabic or Persian manuscript book, to be delivered presently to the master of the company, and by him sent or carried to the lord archbishop of Canterbury for the time being, who shall dispose of them as we in our wisdom shall think fit. And we doubt not but you will be careful at all times readily to perform this service, which so much tends to our own honour, the advancement of learning, and the good of our people; the value of one book being not a considerable thing. And always provided that they bring any other books besides the Alcorans, because we have choice of them already.

Godwin, bishop of Hereford.

"Given under our signet at our palace at Westminster, the day of February, in the ninth year of our reign."

The death of This year Francis Godwin, bishop of Hereford, departed this life. He was son to Thomas Godwin, bishop of Bath and Wells. Francis was translated from the see of Landaff to that of Hereford by king James. He was a considerable mathematician, a good preacher, and an eminent antiquary, and

successor.

I.

wrote well in Latin. His principal works are, his book, "De CHARLES Præsulibus Angliæ,” and his “ Annals" of the reign of Henry VIII., king Edward VI., and queen Mary. Juxon, dean of Worcester, and clerk of the closet, was nominated for his But upon Laud's advancement to Canterbury, he was recommended to the king by that archbishop for the see of London, and hither his majesty promoted him. And thus the church of Hereford continuing vacant, Augustin Lyndsell was translated thither, and Francis Dee, doctor in divinity, and dean of Chichester, was made bishop of Peterborough.

secuted and

the Star

This year William Pryn, outer-barrister of Lincoln's-inn, was Pryn procalled to an account for his "Histriomastix." In this perform- censured in ance the heat of his temper, and his puritanical principles, chamber. carried him too far. He writes with no guard of discretion or charity; rambles extravagantly beyond his bounds; and not only falls upon masks and dancing without reserve, but flies his satire against hunting, public festivals, keeping Christmas, bonfires, and May-poles.

Rushworth's
Collections,

He is charged with insulting the court, reproaching the vol. 2. queen, and dropping some dangerous expressions against the P. 220. 235. king and government.

Besides these misdemeanours, for which he was prosecuted in the Star-chamber, attorney-general Noy cited several scandalous passages in his book, of which the information took no notice. The reason why these things were overlooked in the matter alleged against him was, their being of ecclesiastical cognizance, and proper for the High Commission.

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Ibid. p. 221.

To mention somewhat of this part of Pryn's invective. He throws a general censure upon the bishops and clergy; falls upon them for making an over-expensive and foreign figure; and taxes them with scorning to feed the poor. He complains of cringing and ducking to new-erected altars, and of dedicating St. Paul's to Diana. He goes on in this coarse way of rallying calls the Church music "a bleating of brute beasts. Choristers (says he) bellow the tenor as if they were oxen; bark a counterpoint like a kennel of dogs; roar a treble as if Ibid. p. 232. they were bulls; and grunt out a base like a parcel of hogs." for p. 223. The lords of the Star-chamber, that delivered their opinion at large, and harangued upon Pryn's misbehaviour, were the lord Cottington, chancellor of the Exchequer, the lord chief justice Richardson, the earl of Dorset, and secretary Cook. After

"wrong paged,

LAUD, three days' hearing, this sentence passed upon him: "That he Abp. Cant should be expelled the society of Lincoln's-inn; be degraded at

762.

A.D. 1633-4.
Archbishop
Laud's

annual ac

province to

the king.

Oxford; stand in the pillory at Westminster, and Cheapside;

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lose an ear in each place, with a paper on his head declaring his offence, that he was punished for publishing an infamous libel against both their majesties' state and government; and lastly, he was fined five thousand pounds to the king, and condemned to a perpetual imprisonment." By Rushworth's narrative, one might conclude the rest of the court concurred with the lords above-mentioned without making any speeches. Had the archbishop heightened the charge, and delivered himself with the acrimony and vehemence of lord Cottington and the other three, we may reasonably imagine it would not have been omitted by this collector. But notwithstanding this comparative gentleness, Pryn is particularly piqued at Laud, sends him a provoking letter, and misreports what the archbishop had spoken when the censure passed in the Star-chamber. Upon this, the attorney-general, by the king's order, sends for Pryn, shews him the letter, and asks him whether it was his hand? Pryn desired to read it, for that otherwise he could not answer the question. The letter being put into his hands, he tore it in small pieces, and threw it out at the window. Notwithstanding this stroke of art, he was prosecuted for a libel, and at last pardoned by Laud in the Star-chamber. This happened the next year; but to give the story more unbroken, I have mentioned it now.

I shall conclude this year with the archbishop's account of the condition of his province, which he gave in to the king. It begins thus:—

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MOST SACRED MAJESTY. "According to your royal commands, I do here upon the 2nd of January present my account of both the diocese and province of Canterbury, concerning all those Church affairs which are contained within your majesty's most gracious declaration and instructions; published out of your most princely and religious care to preserve unity in orthodox doctrine, and conformity to the government, in this Church of England.

"And first, for his own diocese of Canterbury, he acquaints the king, his time has been so short, that he can only certify, some of his peculiars in London are extremely out of order.

"For the bishopric of London, it is certified, that the CHARLES bishop had not received a complaint against any of his clergy since his coming to that see, which was at last Michaelmas. "The bishop of Bath and Wells had taken a great deal of pains, in his late visitation, to make all the king's instructions observed. And particularly, he put down several lecturers in market towns, who were beneficed in other dioceses; because he found that, when they preached factious sermons, they retired into other counties, beyond the reach of his jurisdiction.

"In the diocese of Rochester, the town of Malling, and that whole deanery, were very much out of order. But the archbishop, by the lord bishop's command, had settled them.

"And whereas his majesty's instructions require that lecturers should turn their afternoon sermons into catechising, some parsons and vicars within the diocese of Peterborough object against their being included within the order, because lecturers, as they pretend, are only mentioned. But this being no better than misconstruction, the bishop will quickly take care to clear the doubt, and settle the practice accordingly.

"The bishop of Coventry and Lichfield complains, the peculiars of his diocese (in which he has no power) are much out of order. His lordship further certifies his having suppressed a seditious lecture at Ripon. He had likewise put down several monthly lectures, kept with a fast, and managed by a moderator. He had also suppressed a meeting called the Running-lecture.' It was so called, because the lecturer went from village to village; and at the end of the week gave public notice where they might find him for the next exercise.

6

"The bishop of St. Asaph acquainted the archbishop, that the condition of his diocese was without exception, abating the increase of Romish recusants in some places, which seems to be encouraged by their superstitious concourse to St. Winifred's Well.

"The bishop of Landaff certifies, that he has not so much as one stubborn Nonconformist, or schismatical minister within his diocese; and that there are but two lecturers, and those both licensed preachers.

"The lord bishop of Lincoln reports, that the company of mercers in London, intrusted with the legacy of one Mr. Fishburn, has set up a lecture in Huntingdon, with an allowance of forty pounds per annum. But then the establishment is

LAUD, lodged with this proviso, that upon the company's dislike of Abp. Cant. any lecturer, he was to be discharged at a month or a fortnight's warning; neither was his diocesan or metropolitan to interpose in this affair."

[And here the archbishop intreats the king, that no layman whatsoever, and least of all companies or corporations, may, under any pretence of a benefaction to the Church, or otherwise, have power to put in, or turn out any lecturer, or other minister. To this request the king answers in these words: Certainly I cannot hold fit, that any lay person, or corporation whatsoever, should have the power these men would take to themselves. For I will have no priest have a necessity of a lay-dependency."]

66

"To proceed. The bishop of Lincoln complains, it is the custom of some in Bedfordshire to stroll from their parish churches, and follow preachers of their own fancy; and that he had ordered his officers to take strict notice of their misbehaviour. And as for the placing of the communion-table in parish churches, this prelate declares he takes care of it pursuant to the canon."

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[These two last particulars, though not within the regal instructions, the archbishop takes care to report, to do justice to bishop Williams, and recommend him to his majesty's good opinion.]

"The bishoprics of Hereford and Bangor were void, and no certificates transmitted before the vacancy.

"The bishop of Ely certifies, that by the best information he can get, none of his majesty's instructions are disobeyed in his diocese.

"All these bishops," continues the archbishop, "agree, that all other things (abating the singularities abovementioned) in his majesty's instructions are carefully observed; and particularly that branch of them which relates to discourses upon the 'prohibited questions.'

"And lastly, the archbishop acquaints the king, that from the dioceses of Salisbury, Norwich, Worcester, Oxford, Bristol, Winchester, Chichester, Gloucester, and Exeter, he had as Hist. of the yet received no certificates.”

Troubles,
&c of Abp.

And thus I have given the reader the most material pasLaud, p.525. sages in this report. By the way, the archbishop's giving the king an annual account of his administration, and the condi

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