_Born 1573. President of St. John's College Oxford 1611. Bishop of St.
David's 1621, of Bath and Wells 1626, and of London 1628. Chancellor
of the University of Oxford 1629. Archbishop of Canterbury 1633.
Beheaded 1645._
By CLARENDON.
It was within one weeke after the Kings returne from Scotlande that
Abbott dyed at his house at Lambeth, and the Kinge tooke very little
tyme to consider who should be his successour, but the very next tyme
the Bishopp of London (who was longer upon his way home, then
the Kinge had bene) came to him, his Majesty entertayned him very
cheerefully, with this compellation, My L'ds Grace of Canterbury you
are very wellcome, and gave order the same day for the dispatch of all
the necessary formes for the translation, so that within a moneth,
or therabouts, after the death of the other Arch-Bishopp, he was
compleately invested in that high dignity, and setled in his Pallace
at Lambeth: This Greate Prelate had bene before in greate favour with
the Duke of Buckingham, whose greate confident he was, and by him
recommended to the Kinge, as fittest to be trusted in the conferringe
all Ecclesiasticall præferments, when he was but Bishopp of S't Davids,
or newly præferred to Bath and Wells, and from that tyme he intirely
governed that Province without a ryvall, so that his promotion to
Canterbury was longe foreseene and exspected, nor was it attended with
any encrease of envy, or dislike.
He was a man of greate parts and very exemplar virtues, allayed and
discredited by some unpopular[1] naturall infirmityes, the greatest of
which was (besydes a hasty sharpe way of exspressinge himselfe) that
he believed innocence of hearte, and integrity of manners, was a
guarde stronge enough to secure any man, in his voyage through this
worlde, in what company soever he travelled, and through what wayes
soever he was to passe, and sure never any man was better supplyed
with that provisyon. He was borne of honest parents, who were well
able to provyde for his education, in the schooles of learninge,
from whence they sent him to St. Johns Colledge in Oxforde, the worst
indowed at that tyme, of any in that famous university; from a scholar
he became a fellow, and then the President of that Colledge, after
he had receaved all the graces and degrees, the Proctorshipp and
the Doctorshipp, could be obtained ther: He was alwayes maligned and
persequted by those who were of the Calvinian faction, which was
then very pouerfull, and who accordinge to ther usefull maxime and
practice, call every man they do not love, Papist, and under this
senselesse appellation they created him many troubles and vexations,
and so farr suppressed him, that though he was the Kings Chaplyne, and
taken notice of for an excellent preacher, and a scholer of the most
sublime parts, he had not any præferment to invite him to leave his
poore Colledge, which only gave him breade, till the vigour of his age
was passed; and when he was promoted by Kinge James, it was but to
a poore Bishopricke in Wales, which was not so good a supporte for a
Bishopp as his Colledge was for a pri[v]ate scholler, though a Doctor.
Parliaments in that tyme were frequent, and grew very busy, and the
party under which he had suffer'd a continuall perseqution appeared
very powerfull and full of designe, and they who had the courage
to oppose them, begann to be taken notice of with approbation and
countenance, and under this style he came to be first cherished by the
Duke of Buckingham, after he had made some exsperiments of the temper
and spiritt of the other people, nothinge to his satisfaction: from
this tyme he prospered at the rate of his owne wishes, and beinge
transplanted out of his cold barren Diocesse of S't Davids, into a
warmer climate, he was left, as was sayd before, by that omnipotent
Favorite, in that greate trust with the Kinge, who was sufficiently
indisposed towards the persons or the principles of M'r Calvins
disciples.
When he came into greate authority, it may be he retayned to keene a
memory of those who had so unjustly and uncharitably persequted him
before, and I doubte was so farr transported with the same passyons he
had reason to complayne of in his ad[v]ersaryes, that, as they accused
him of Popery, because he had some doctrinall opinions, which
they liked not, though they were nothinge allyed to Popery, so he
intertayned to much præjudice to some persons, as if they were enimyes
to the disciplyne of the Church, because they concurred with Calvin
in some doctrinall points, when they abhorred his disciplyne, and
reverenced the goverment of the Church, and prayed for the peace of
it, with as much zeale and fervency, as any in the kingdome, as they
made manifest in ther lives, and in ther sufferings with it and
for it. He had, from his first entrance into the worlde without any
disguise or dissimulation declared his owne opinion of that Classis
of men, and as soone as it was in his power, he did all he could to
hinder the growth and encrease of that faction, and to restrayne those
who were inclined to it, from doinge the mischieue they desyred to do:
But his power at Courte could not enough qualify him, to goe through
with that difficulte reformation, whilst he had a superiour in the
Church, who havinge the raynes in his hande, could slacken them
accordinge to his owne humour and indiscretion, and was thought to be
the more remisse to irritate his cholirique disposition, but when he
had now the Primacy in his owne hande, the Kinge beinge inspired with
the same zeale, he thought he should be to blame, and have much to
answer, if he did not make hast to apply remedyes, to those diseases,
which he saw would grow apace....
The Arch-Bishopp had all his life eminently opposed Calvins doctryne
in those contraversyes, before the name of Arminius was taken notice
of or his opinions hearde of; and therupon for wante of another name
they had called him a Papiste, which nobody believed him to be, and
he had more manifested the contrary in his disputations and writings,
then most men had done: and it may be the other founde the more
seveare and rigourous usage from him, for ther propagatinge that
calumny against him. He was a man of greate courage and resolution,
and beinge most assured within himselfe that he proposed no end in all
his actions or designes, then what was pyous and just (as sure no
man had ever a hearte more intire, to the Kinge, the Church, or his
country) he never studyed the best wayes to those ends; he thought it
may be, that any arte or industry that way, would discreditt, at least
make the integrity of the end suspected: let the cause be what it
will, he did courte persons to little, nor cared to make his designes
and purposes appeare as candid as they were, by shewinge them in any
other dresse, then ther owne naturall beauty and roughnesse: and did
not consider enough what men sayd, or were like to say of him. If the
faultes and vices were fitt to be looked into and discover'd, let the
persons be who they would that were guilty of them, they were sure to
finde no connivence of favour from him. He intended the disciplyne of
the Church should be felte, as well as spoken of, and that it should
be applyed to the greatest and most splendid transgressors, as well
as to the punishment of smaller offences, and meaner offenders; and
therupon called for, or cherished the discovery of those who were not
carefull to cover ther owne iniquitycs, thinkinge they were above the
reach of other mens, or ther power, or will to chastice: Persons of
honour and great quality, of the Courte, and of the Country, were
every day cited into the High Commissyon Courte, upon the fame of
ther incontinence, or other skandall in ther lyves; and were ther
prosequted to ther shame and punishment, and as the shame, (which
they called an insolent tryumph upon ther degree and quality,
and levellinge them with the common people) was never forgotten,
but watched for revenge, so the Fynes imposed ther were the more
questioned and repyned against, because they wer assigned to the
rebuildinge and repayringe St. Pauls Church, and thought therfore to
be the more sevearely imposed, and the lesse compassionately reduced
and excused, which likewise made the jurisdiction and rigour of the
Starrchamber more felte and murmured against, which sharpened many
mens humours against the Bishopps, before they had any ill intention
toward the Church.
[Footnote 1: 'unpopular' substituted for 'ungracious' in MS.]
25.
By THOMAS FULLER.
[Sidenote: Over-severe in his censures.]
Amongst his humane frailties, _choler_ and _passion_ most discovered
it self. In the _Star-Chamber_ (where if the crime not extraordinary,
it was fine enough for one to be sued in so chargable a Court) He was
observed always to concur with the severest side, and to infuse more
_vinegar_ then _oyle_ into all his _censures_, and also was much
blamed for his severity to his Predecessor easing him against his
will, and before his time, of his jurisdiction.
[Sidenote: Over-medling in State matters.]
But he is most accused for over-medling in State-matters, more
then was fitting, say many, then needful, say most, for one
of his profession. But he never more overshot himself, then
when he did impose the _Scotch Liturgie_, and was [Greek:
allotrio-archiepis[ko]pos] over a free and forrain Church and Nation.
At home, many grumbled at him for oft making the _shallowest_ pretence
of the _Crown deep_ enough (by his powerfull digging therein) to drown
the undoubted right of any private Patron to a Church-living. But
Courtiers most complained, that he persecuted them, not in their
proper places, but what in an ordinary way he should have taken from
the _hands_ of inferior officers, that He with a _long_ and _strong
Arm_ reached to himself over all their heads. Yet others plead for
him, that he abridg'd their _bribes_ not _fees_, and it vexed them
that He struck their _fingers_ with the _dead-palsie_, so that they
could not (as formerly) have a _feeling_ for Church Preferments....
[Sidenote: An enemy to gallantry in Clergiemens cloaths.]
He was very plain in apparrel, and sharply checkt such Clergymen
whom he saw goe in rich or gaudy cloaths, commonly calling them of
the _Church-Triumphant_. Thus as _Cardinal Woolsy_ is reported the
first Prelate, who made _Silks_, and _Sattens_ fashionable amongst
clergy-men; so this Arch-Bishop first retrenched the usual wearing
thereof. Once at a Visitation in _Essex_, one in _Orders_ (of good
estate and extraction) appeared before him very gallant in habit, whom
D'r _Laud_ (then Bishop of _London_) publickly reproved, shewing to
him the plainness of his own apparrel. My _Lord_ (said the Minister)
_you have better cloaths at home and I have worse_, whereat the Bishop
rested very well contented....
[Sidenote: No whit addicted to covetousness.]
Covetousness He perfectly hated, being a single man and having no
project to raise a name or Family, he was the better enabled for
publick performances, having both a _price in his hand_, and an
_heart_ also to dispose thereof for the general good. S't _Johns_
in _Oxford_, wherein he was bred, was so beautified, enlarged, and
enriched by him, that strangers at the first sight knew it not,
yea, it scarce knoweth it self, so altered to the better from its
former condition. Insomuch that almost it deserveth the name of
_Canterbury-Colledge_, as well as that which _Simon Islip_ founded,
and since hath lost its name, united to _Christ-Church_. More
buildings he intended, (had not the stroke of one _Axe_ hindred the
working of many _hammers_) chiefly on Churches, whereof the following
passage may not impertinently be inserted.
[Sidenote: The grand causer of the repairing of Churches.]
It happened that a _Visitation_ was kept at S't _Peters_ in
_Corn-hill_, for the Clergy of _London_. The Preacher discoursing of
the painfulness of the Ministerial Function, proved it from the Greek
deduction of [Greek: Diakonos] or Deacon, so called from [Greek:
konis] _dust_, because he must _laborare in arena in pulvere_, _work
in the dust_, doe hard service in hot weather. Sermon ended, Bishop
_Laud_ proceeded to his charge to the Clergy, and observing the Church
ill repaired without, and slovenly kept within, _I am sorry_ (said He)
_to meet here with so true an Etymologie of Diaconus, for here is both
dust and dirt too, for a Deacon (or Priest either) to work in. Yea it
is dust of the worst kind, caused from the mines of this ancient house
of God, so that it pittieth his[1] servants to see her in the dust_.
Hence he took occasion to press the repairing of that, and other
decaied places of divine worship, so that from this day we may date
the general mending, beautifying and adorning of all English Churches,
some to decency, some to magnificence, and some (if all complaints
were true) to superstition.
[Sidenote: Principally of S. Pauls]
But the Church of S't Pauls, (the only Cathedral in Christendom
dedicated to that _Apostle_) was the master: piece of his
performances. We know what[2] one Satyrically said of him, that
_he pluckt down Puritans, and Property, to build up Pauls and
Prerogative_. But let unpartial Judges behold how he left, and
remember how he found that ruinous fabrick, and they must conclude
that (though intending more) he effected much in that great designe.
He communicated his project to some private persons, of taking down
the _great Tower_ in the middle, to the _Spurrs_, and rebuild it in
the same fashion, (but some yards higher) as before. He meant to hang
as great and tuneable a ring of Bels, as any in the world, whose sound
advantaged with their height and vicinity of the _Thames_, must needs
be loud and melodious. But now he is turned to his dust, and all _his
thoughts have perished_, yea that Church, formerly approached with due
reverence, is now entred with just fear, of falling on those under it,
and is so far from having its old decays repaired, that it is daily
decayed in its new reparations.
He was low of Stature, little in bulk, chearful in countenance,
(wherein gravity and quickness were well compounded) of a sharp and
piercing eye, clear judgement, and (abating the influence of age)
firme memory. He wore his hair very close, and though in the beginning
of his greatness, many measured the length of mens stricktness by
the shortness of their hair, yet some will say, that since out of
Antipathy to conform to his example, his opposites have therein
indulged more liberty to themselves. And thus we take our leave of
him.
[Footnote 1: Psal. 102. 14]
[Footnote 2: Lord F.]
26.
By SIR PHILIP WARWICK.
Archbishop Laud was a man of an upright heart and a pious soul, but
of too warm blood and too positive a nature towards asserting what he
beleived a truth, to be a good Courtier; and his education fitted
him as little for it, as his nature: which having bin most in the
University, and among books and scholars, where oft canvassing
affairs, that are agitated in that province, and prevailing in it,
rather gave him wrong than right measures of a Court. He was generally
acknowledg'd a good scholar, and throughly verst in Ecclesiastical
learning. He was a zealot in his heart both against Popery and
Presbytery; but a great assertor of Church-authority, instituted
by Christ and his Apostles, and as primitively practised; which
notwithstanding, he really and freely acknowledged subject unto the
secular authority. And therefore he carefully endeavored to preserve
the jurisdiction, which the Church anciently exercised, before the
secular authority own'd her; at least so much thereof, as the law
of this our Realm had apply'd to our circumstances; which our common
Lawyers dayly struck at; and thro' prohibitions and other appeals
every day lessened; and this bred an unkindnes to him in many of
the long robe, however some of them were very carefull of the
Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction.
He was a man of great modesty in his own person and habit, and of
regularity and devotion in his family: and as he was very kind to his
Clergy, so he was very carefull to make them modest in their attire,
and very diligent in their studies, in faithfully dispensing God's
Word, reverently reading the Prayers, and administring the Sacraments,
and in preserving their Churches in cleanlines and with plain and
fitting ornament, that so voyd of superstition, GOD's House in this
age, where every man bettered his own, might not lye alone neglected;
and accordingly he sett upon that great work of St. Paul's Church,
which his diligence perfected in a great measure: and his Master's
piety made magnificent that most noble structure by a Portico: but
not long after the carved work thereof was broken down with axes and
hammers, and the whole sacred edifice made not only a den of thieves,
but a stable of unclean beasts, as I can testifie, having once gone
into it purposely to observe: from which contamination Providence some
few years since cleansed it by fire.
He prevented likewise a very private and clandestine designe of
introducing Nonconformists into too too many Churches; for that
society of men (that they might have Teachers to please their itching
ears) had a designe to buy in all the Lay-Impropriations, which the
Parish-Churches in Henry the VIII's time were robb'd of, and lodging
the Advowsons and Presentations in their own Feoffees, to have
introduced men, who would have introduced doctrines suitable to their
dependences, which the Court already felt too much the smart of, by
being forced to admitt the Presentations of the Lay-Patrons, who too
often dispose their benefices to men, rather suitable to their own
opinions, than the Articles and Canons of the Church.
All this bred him more and more envy; but if it had pleas'd God to
have given him an uninterrupted course, and if few of his Successors
had walked in his stepps, wee might, without any tendency to Popery,
or danger of superstition, have serv'd God reverently and uniformely,
and according unto Primitive practice and purity, and not have bin, as
we are now, like a shivered glass, scarse ever to be made whole again.
Thus finding Providence had led him into authority, he very really and
strongly opposed both Popery and Presbytery. He was sensible, how the
first by additions had perverted the purity of Religion, and turned
it into a policy; but resolving not to contest Rome's truths, tho'
he spared not her errors, both Papist and Presbyter, with all their
Lay-Party, were well contented, that it might be believed, he was
Popishly affected. And being conscious likewise, how Presbytery or
the Calvinisticall Reformation, which many here, and more in Scotland,
affected, by substraction and novel interpretation, had forsaken the
good old ways of the primitive Church, and was become dangerous to
Monarchy, he sett himself against this, as well as that: but both
their weights crusht him....
As this good Arch-Bishop I write of, had these great eminences, so he
may be acknowledged to have failed in those prudences, which belong
unto a great Minister of State, who like a wise Physician is to
consider times and seasons, as well as persons and diseases, and to
regard those complications, which usually are mixed in ill habits of
body, and to use more alterative than purgative Physick. For popular
bents and inclinations are cured more by a steddy than precipitate
hand or counsel; multitudes being to be drawn over from their errors,
rather by wayes they discerne not, than by those, which they are
likely to contest; whilst upon single persons and great men courses
of violence and authority may be exercised. But Ministers of State
unwillingly run this course, because they would have the honour of
perfecting the work they affect in their own time; and the multitude
of this good man's busines, and the promptnes of his nature, made
those ceremonies, which are necessary by great Persons to be paid unto
men in his station, to be unwelcome unto him, and so he discharged
himselfe of them, and thereby disobliged those persons, who thought
their quality, tho' not their busines, required a patient and
respectfull entertainment. This I reflect upon, because I heard from a
good hand, that the Marquiss of Argile making him an insidious visit,
and he, knowing he neither loved him nor the Church, entertaining him
not with that franknes he should have done, but plainly telling him,
he was at that time a little busy about the King's affairs, this great
Lord took it so much in indignation, and esteem'd it such a Lordly
Prelacy, that he declaimed against it, and became (if possible) more
enemy both to him and the Church, than he was before. The rectitude of
his nature therefore made him not a fitt instrument to struggle with
the obliquity of those times; and he had this infirmity likewise, that
he beleived those forward instruments, which he employed, followed the
zeal of their own natures, when they did but observe that of his: for
as soon as difficulty or danger appeared, his petty instruments shrunk
to nothing, and shewed, from whom they borrowed their heat.
He weighed not well his Master's condition; for he saw him circled
in by too many powerfull Scots, who mis-affected the Church, and had
joyned with them too many English Counsellors and Courtiers, who were
of the same leaven. If he had perceived an universall concurrence in
his own Clergy, who were esteemed Canonicall men, his attempts might
have seem'd more probable, than otherwise it could: but for him
to think by a purgative Physick to evacuate all those cold slimy
humors, which thus overflowed the body, was ill judged; for the good
affections of the Prince, back'd only by a naked or paper-authority,
sooner begets contumacy, than complyance in dissaffected Subjects....
And this shall suffice to be said of that well intentioned, but
not truly considerative, great man, unles wee add this single thing
further, that he who looks upon him thro' those Canons, which in
Synod passed in his time, will find him a true Assertor of Religion,
Royalty, and Property; and that his grand designe was no other, than
that of our first Reformation; which was, that our Church might stand
upon such a foot of Primitive and Ecclesiastick authority, as suited
with God's word, and the best Interpreters of it, sound reason and
Primitive practice. And untill this Nation is blest with such a
spirit, it will lye in that darknes and confusion the Sects at this
time have flung it into.
27.