But that which only pleaseth you!
O, in sorrow, all things sleep!
In her presence, all things smile;
Humour, frolic then awhile!
_Chorus._ But never Humour yet was true,
But that which only pleaseth you!
[Then follows a piece of instrumental music, entitled
_LOWLAND's Adieu for Master OLIVER CROMWELL._]
_The Sequestration of Archbishop ABBOT_
_from all his Ecclesiastical_
_Offices, in 1627._
+JOHN RUSHWORTH+, Esq., of
Lincoln's Inn.
[It will be necessary, ere long, to establish a _Society for the
Preservation of the Memory of the STUART Kings of England, from
Universal Execration_; so much is it now seen, that, stripped of
the mantle of their Kingship, they were unworthy of the name of
English Gentlemen. Scotland could have sent us many a better bred
family!
What a picture has the good Archbishop given us of the English King
and Court in the first days of the reign of the so called Royal
Martyr. CHARLES, first claiming for himself an unbounded power
over his subjects, and then lavishly bestowing it on his favourite
BUCKINGHAM, is the modern counterpart of NEBUCHADNEZZAR setting up
his golden image "in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon."
Note that this Narrative was written without the faintest
conception or realisation of such a possibility as a national
rising under the guidance of the Long Parliament. The two
characters, of LAUD at _p._ 548, and of BUCKINGHAM at _p._ 574,
are Eye-Witness portraits, and should be included, unabridged, in
every future History of England. Imagine an Archbishop scornfully
speaking (_p._ 548) of Bishop LAUD as "what a sweet man he was
likely to be!"
It should be also remembered that LAUD records in his _Diary_,
that on the 2nd October, 1626 (_i.e._, nine months before the
Archbishop's present Narrative was written), CHARLES I. promised
him the reversion of the Archbishopric, when Doctor ABBOT should
die.]
[_Historical Collections_, i. 435. Ed. 1659.]
Archbishop ABBOT, having been long slighted at Court, now fell under
the King's high displeasure; for refusing to license Doctor SIBTHORP's
sermon, entitled _Apostolical Obedience_, as he was commanded; and,
not long after, he was sequestered from his Office, and a Commission
was granted to the Bishops of LONDON, DURHAM, ROCHESTER, OXFORD, and
Doctor, LAUD, Bishop of BATH AND WELLS, to exercise archiepiscopal
jurisdiction.
The Commission is followeth--
_CHARLES, by the grace of GOD, King of England, Scotland, France,
and Ireland; Defender of the Faith, &c. To the Right Reverend
Father in GOD, GEORGE [MONTAIGNE], Bishop of LONDON; and to
the Right Reverend Father in GOD, our trusty and well beloved
Councillor, RICHARD [NEYLE], Lord Bishop of DURHAM; and to the_
_Right Reverend Father in GOD, JOHN [BUCKERIDGE], Lord Bishop
of ROCHESTER; and to the Right Reverend Father in GOD, JOHN
[HOWSON], Lord Bishop of OXFORD; and to the Right Reverend Father
in GOD, our Right Trusty and Well Beloved Councillor, WILLIAM_
_[LAUD], Lord Bishop of BATH AND WELLS._
* * * * *
_Whereas GEORGE, now Archbishop of CANTERBURY, in the right of the
Archbishopric, hath several and distinct Archiepiscopal, Episcopal,
and other Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Powers and Jurisdictions, to
be exercised in the Government and Discipline of the Church within
the Province of Canterbury, and in the Administration of Justice in
Causes Ecclesiastical within that Province, which are partly executed
by himself in his own person, and partly and more generally by
several persons nominated and authorised by him, being learned in the
Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm, in those several places whereunto
they are deputed and appointed by the said Archbishop: which several
places, as We are informed, they severally hold by several Grants for
their several lives, as namely_,
_Sir HENRY MARTIN Knight hath and holdeth by the grants of the
said Archbishop, the Offices and Places of the Dean of the
Arches, and Judge or Master of the Prerogative Court, for the
natural life of the said Sir HENRY MARTIN._
_Sir CHARLES CÆSAR Knight hath and holdeth by grants of the said
Archbishop, the Places or Offices of the Judge of the Audience,
and Master of the Faculties, for the term of the natural life of
the said Sir CHARLES CÆSAR._
_Sir THOMAS RIDLEY Knight hath and holdeth by the grant of the
said Archbishop, the Place or Office of Vicar General to the said
Archbishop._
_And NATHANIEL BRENT, Doctor of the Laws, hath and holdeth by
grant of the said Archbishop, the Office or Place of Commissary
to the said Archbishop, as of his proper and peculiar diocese of
Canterbury._
_And likewise the several Registrars of the Arches, Prerogative,_
_Audience, Faculties, and of the Vicar General and Commissary of
Canterbury, hold their places by grants by the said Archbishop
respectively._
_Whereas the said Archbishop, in some or all of these several
Places and Jurisdictions, doth and may sometimes assume unto his
personal and proper Judicature, Order, or Direction, some particular
Causes, Actions, or Cases, at his pleasure. And forasmuch as the
said Archbishop cannot, at this present, in his own person, attend
these services which are otherwise proper for his Cognisance and
Jurisdiction; and which as Archbishop of CANTERBURY, he might and
ought in his own person to have performed and executed in Causes and
Matters Ecclesiastical, in the proper function of Archbishop of the
Province._
_WE, therefore, of Our regal power, and of Our princely care and
providence, that nothing shall be defective in the Order Discipline,
Government, or Right of the Church, have thought fit by the service
of some other learned and reverend Bishops, to be named by Us, to
supply those which the said Archbishop ought or might, in the cases
aforesaid, to have done; but, for this present, cannot perform the
same._
_Know ye, therefore, That We, reposing special trust and confidence
in your approved wisdoms, learning, and integrity, have nominated,
authorised, and appointed, and do, by these presents, nominate,
authorise, and appoint You, the said GEORGE, Lord Bishop of LONDON;
RICHARD, Lord Bishop of DURHAM; JOHN, Lord Bishop of ROCHESTER;
JOHN, Lord Bishop of OXFORD; and WILLIAM, Lord Bishop of BATH AND
WELLS, or any four, three, or two of you, to do, execute, and perform
all and every those acts, matters, and things any way touching or
concerning the Power, Jurisdiction, or Authority of the Archbishop
of CANTERBURY in Causes or Matters Ecclesiastical, as amply, fully,
and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as the said Archbishop
himself might have done._
_And We do hereby Command you, and every of you, to attend, perform,
and execute this Our Royal Pleasure in and touching the premises,
until We shall declare Our Will and Pleasure to the contrary._
_And We do further hereby Will and Command the said Archbishop of
CANTERBURY, quietly and without interruption, to permit and suffer
you the said GEORGE, Bishop of LONDON; RICHARD, Bishop of DURHAM;
JOHN, Bishop of ROCHESTER; JOHN, Bishop of OXFORD; and WILLIAM,
Bishop of BATH AND WELLS; any four, three, or two of you, to execute
and perform this Our Commission, according to Our Royal Pleasure
thereby signified._
_And We do further Will and Command all and every other person and
persons, whom it may any way concern in their several Places or
Offices, to be attendant, observant, and obedient to you and every
of you, in the execution and performance of this Our Royal Will and
Command; as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their
utmost perils._
_Nevertheless, We do hereby declare Our Royal Pleasure to be That
they the said Sir HENRY MARTIN, Sir CHARLES CÆSAR, Sir THOMAS RIDLEY,
and NATHANIEL BRENT, in their several Offices and Places; and all
other Registrars, Officers, and Ministers in the several Courts,
Offices, and Jurisdictions appertaining to the said Archbishop,
shall, quietly and without interruption, hold, use, occupy, and
enjoy their several Offices and Places, which they now hold by the
grant of the said Archbishop, or of any other former Archbishop
of CANTERBURY, in such manner and form, and with those benefits,
privileges, powers, and authorities which they now have, hold, and
enjoy therein or there-out, severally and respectively: they, and
every of them, in their several Places, being attendant and obedient
unto you, the said GEORGE, Bishop of LONDON; RICHARD, Bishop of
DURHAM; JOHN, Bishop of ROCHESTER; JOHN, Bishop of OXFORD; and
WILLIAM, Bishop of BATH AND WELLS; or to any four, three, or two of
you, in all things according to the tenour of this Our Commission; as
they should or ought to have been to the said Archbishop himself, if
this Commission had not been had or made._
_In witness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made
Patents. Witness Our Self, at Westminster, the ninth day of October
[1627] in the third year of our reign._
Per ipsum Regem.
_EDMONDS._
Archbishop Abbot's own Narrative.
[RUSHWORTH. _Historical Collections, idem._]
_Pars Prima._
It is an example, so without example, that in the sunshine of the
Gospel; in the midst of profession of the true religion; under a
gracious King, whom all the world must acknowledge to be blemished with
no vice; a man of my place and years, who has done some service in the
Church and Commonwealth, so deeply laden with some furious infirmities
of body, should be removed from his ordinary habitation, and, by a kind
of deportation, should be thrust into one end of the Island (although I
must confess into his own diocese), that I hold it fit that the reason
of it should be truly understood, lest it may someways turn to the
scandal of my person and calling. Which Declaration, notwithstanding,
I intend not to communicate to any, but to let it lie by me privately;
that it being set down impartially, whilst all things are fresh in
memory, I may have recourse to it hereafter, if questions shall be made
of anything contained in this Relation.
And this I hold necessary to be done, by reason of the strangeness of
that, which, by way of Censure, was inflicted upon me; being then of
the age of sixty-five years, encumbered with the gout, and afflicted
with the stone: having lived so many years in a Place of great service,
and, for ought I know, untainted in any of my actions; although my
Master, King JAMES (who resteth with GOD) had both a searching wit of
his own to discover his servants, whom he put in trust, whether they
took any sinister courses or not; and wanted not some suggesters about
him, to make the worst of all men's actions whom they could misreport.
Yet this innocency and good fame to be overthrown in a month! and a
Christian Bishop suddenly to be made _fabula vulgi_, to be tossed
upon the tongues of friends and foes, of Protestants and Papists, of
Court and Country, of English and Foreigners, must needs, in common
opinion, presuppose some crime, open or secret; which, being discovered
by the King, albeit not fully appearing to the world, must draw on
indignation in so high a measure.
I cannot deny that the indisposition of my body kept me from Court,
and thereby gave occasion to maligners to traduce me, as, "withdrawing
myself from public services, and therefore misliking some courses that
were taken": which abstaining, perhaps, neither pleased the King, nor
the Great Man that set them on foot.
It is true, that in the turbulency of some things, I had not great
invitements to draw me abroad; but to possess my soul in patience till
GOD sent fairer weather. But the true ground for my abstaining from
solemn and public places, was the weakness of my feet, proceeding from
the gout: which disease being hereditary unto me, and having possessed
me now nine years, had debilitated me more and more; so that I could
not stand at all, neither could I go up or down a pair of stairs but,
besides my staff, I must have the service of one at least, of my men,
who were not fit to be admitted in every place where I was to come.
And although I was oft remembered by the wisest of my friends, that
"I might be carried, as the old Lord Treasurer BURLEIGH was!" yet I
did not think my service so necessary for the commonwealth, as his
Lordship's, by long experience, was found to be. I did not value myself
at so high a rate; but remembered that it was not the least cause of
overthrow to ROBERT [DEVEREUX], Earl of ESSEX, that he prized himself
so, as if Queen ELIZABETH and the Kingdom could not well have stood, if
he had not supported both the one and the other.
Now for me, thus enfeebled, not with gout only, but with the stone and
gravel, to wait on the King or the Council Table, was, by me, held a
matter most inconvenient. In the Courts of Princes, there is little
feeling of [_for_] the infirmities belonging to old age. They like
them that be young and gallant in their actions, and in their clothes.
They love not that men should stick too long in any room of greatness.
Change and alteration bringeth somewhat with it; what have they to do
with kerchiefs and staves, with lame or sickly men? It is certainly
true, there is little compassion upon the bodily defects of any. The
Scripture speaketh of "men standing before Kings." It were an uncouth
sight to see the subject sit the day before the Coronation: when, on
the morrow, I had work enough for the strongest man in England, being
weak in my feet, and coming to Whitehall to see things in readiness
against the next day. Yet, notwithstanding the stone and gout, I was
not altogether an inutile servant in the King's affairs; but did
all things in my house that were to be done: as in keeping the High
Commission Court, doing all inferior actions conducing thereto; and
despatching references from His Majesty that came thick upon me.
These Relations which are made concerning me, be of certain truth; but
reach not to the reason I was discarded.
To understand therefore the verity, so it is, that the Duke of
BUCKINGHAM (being still great in the favour of the King; could endure
no man that would not depend upon him) among other men, had me in his
eye, for not stooping unto him, so as to become his vassal.
I (that had learned a lesson, which I constantly hold, _To be no
man's servant, but the King's_: for mine old royal Master which is
with GOD, and mine own reason did teach me so) went on mine own ways;
although I could not but observe, that as many as walked in that path
did suffer for it upon all occasions, and so did I: nothing wherein
I moved my Master taking place; which, finding so clearly (as if the
Duke had set some ill character upon me), I had no way but to rest
in patience; leaving all to GOD, and looking to myself as warily as
I might. But this did not serve the turn; his undertakings were so
extraordinary, that every one that was not with him, was presently
[_instantly_] against him: and if a hard opinion were once entertained,
there was no place left for satisfaction or reconciliation. What befell
the Earl of ARUNDEL, Sir RANDAL CAREW, and divers others, I need not to
report; and no man can make doubt but he blew the coals.
For myself, there is a gentleman called Sir H. S., who gave the first
light what should befall me.
This Knight, being of more livelihood than wisdom, had married the Lady
D., sister of the now Earl of E.; and had so treated her, both for
safeguard of her honour, blemished by him scandalously; and for her
alimony or maintenance, being glad to get from him; she was forced to
endure a suit in the High Commission Court.
So to strengthen his party, he was made known to the Duke; and, by
means of a dependent on his Grace, he got a letter from the King,
that "The Commissioners should proceed no further in hearing of that
cause; by reason that it being a difference between a Gentleman and
his Wife, the King's Majesty would hear it himself." The solicitor
for the lady, finding that the course of Justice was stopped, did
so earnestly, by petition, move the King, that, by another letter,
there was a relaxation of the former restraint, and the Commissioners
Ecclesiastical went on.
But now, in the new proceeding, finding himself by justice like[ly]
enough to be pinched; he did publicly in the Court, refuse to speak by
any Counsel, but would plead his cause himself: wherein he did bear
the whole business so disorderly and tumultuously, and unrespectively
[_disrespectfully_], that, after divers reproofs, I was enforced, for
the honour of the Court and the reputation of the High Commission, to
tell him openly that "If he did not carry himself in a better fashion,
I would commit him to prison!"
This so troubled the young gallant, that, within few days after, being
at dinner or supper (where some wished me well), he bolted it out that
"As for the Archbishop, the Duke had a purpose to turn him out of his
Place, and that he did but wait the occasion to effect it." Which
being brought unto me, constantly, by more ways than one; I was now in
expectation, what must be the issue of this Great Man's indignation;
which fell out to be, as followeth.
* * * * *
There was one SIBTHORP, who, not being so much as a Bachelor of Arts
(as it hath been credibly reported unto me), by means of Doctor PEIRCE,
Dean of Peterborough (being Vice Chancellor of Oxford), did get to be
confirmed upon him, the title of a Doctor.
This man is Vicar of Brackley, in Northamptonshire; and hath another
benefice not far from it, in Buckinghamshire: but the lustre of his
honour did arise from being the son-in-law of Sir JOHN LAMB, Chancellor
of Peterborough, whose daughter he married; and was put into the
Commission of Peace.
When the Lent Assizes were, in February last [1627], at Northampton,
the man that preached [_on the 22nd of the month_] before the Judges
there, was this worthy Doctor: where, magnifying the authority of Kings
(which is so strong in the Scripture, that it needs no flattery any
ways to extol it), he let fall divers speeches which were distasteful
to the auditors, and namely, "That Kings had power to put poll money
upon their subjects' heads": when, against those challenges, men did
frequently mourn.
He, being a man of low fortune, conceived that the putting his sermon
[_entitled "Apostolical Obedience"_] in print, might gain favour at
Court and raise his fortune higher, on he goeth with the transcribing
of his sermon; and got a bishop or two to prefer this great service to
the Duke. It being brought unto the Duke, it cometh in his head, or was
suggested to him by some malicious body, that, thereby, the Archbishop
might be put to some remarkable strait. For if the King should send
the sermon unto him, and command him to allow it to the press, one of
these two things would follow: that, either he should authorise it, and
so, all men that were indifferent should discover him for a base and
unworthy beast; or he should refuse it, and so should fall into the
King's indignation, who might pursue it at his pleasure as against a
man that was contrary to his service.
Out of this fountain flowed all the water that afterwards so wet. In
rehearsing whereof, I must set down divers particulars; which some man
may wonder how they should be discovered unto me: but let it suffice,
once for all, that in the word of an honest man and a Bishop, I recount
nothing but whereof I have good warrant; GOD Himself working means.
The matters were revealed unto me, although it be not convenient that,
in this Paper, I name the manner how they came unto me; lest such as
did, by well doing, farther me, should receive blame for their labour.
* * * * *
Well, resolved it is, that "I be put to it! and that, with speed!"
and therefore Master WILLIAM MURRAY (nephew as, I think, unto Master
THOMAS MURRAY, sometimes Tutor to Prince CHARLES), now of the King's
Bedchamber, is sent to me with the written Sermon: of whom, I must
say, that albeit he did the King his Master's service; yet he did use
himself temperately and civilly unto me.
For avoiding of _inquit_ and _inquam_, as TULLY saith, _I said this_
and _he said that_, I will make it by way of dialogue: not setting down
every day's conference exactly by itself, but mentioning all things
in the whole; yet distinguishing of times where, for the truth of the
Relation, it cannot be avoided.
MURRAY. My Lord! I am sent unto you by the King, to let you know
that his pleasure is, That whereas there is brought unto him, a
Sermon to be printed: you should allow this Sermon to the press.
_Archbishop._ I was never he that authorised books to be printed:
for it is the work of my Chaplains to read over other men's
writings, and what is fit, to let it go; what is unfit, to expunge
it.
MURRAY. But the King will have you yourself to do this, because
he is minded that no books shall be allowed, but by you and the
Bishop of LONDON [_then GEORGE MONTAIGNE_]: and my Lord of LONDON
authorised one the other day, COSENS's book; and he will have you
do this.
_Archbishop._ This is an occupation that my old Master, King
JAMES, did never put me to; and yet I was then young, and had more
abilities of body than I now have: so that I see I must now learn a
new lesson. But leave it with me! and when I have read it, I shall
know what to say unto it. A day or two hence, you shall understand
my mind.
When I had once or twice perused it; I found some words which seemed to
me to cross that which the King intended, and, in a sort, to destroy
it; and therefore upon his return a day or two after, I expressed
myself thus:
Master MURRAY! I conceive that the King intended that this Sermon
shall promote the service now in hand about the Loan of Money:
but in my opinion he much crosseth it. For he layeth it down for
a rule (and because it should not be forgotten, he repeateth
it again) that _Christians are bound in duty one to another,
especially all subjects to their Princes, according to the
Laws and Customs of the Kingdom wherein they live_. Out of
this, will men except this Loan; because there is neither Law nor
Custom for it, in the Kingdom of England.
Secondly. In my judgement, there followeth a dangerous speech,
_Habemus necessitatem vindicanda libertatis_. (For this was all
that was then quoted out of CALVIN, no mention being made of any of
the other words which are, now, in the printed copy.) For when, by
the former rule he hath set men at liberty whether they will pay or
not; he imposeth upon them a necessity to vindicate this liberty;
and _vindicare_ may be extended to challenge with violence, _cum
vi_. But, for my part, I would be most unwilling to give occasion
to Sedition and Mutiny in the kingdom!
Again, here is mention made of Poll Money; which, as I have heard,
hath already caused much distaste where the Sermon was preached.
Moreover, what a speech is this? _That he observes the_
_forwardness of the Papists to offer double according to an Act_
_of Parliament so providing; yea, to profess that they would part
with the half of their goods_: where he quoteth in the margent,
_Anno I. CAROLI, the Act for the Subsidy of the Laity, whereby
Popish Recusants were to pay double_; when indeed there is _no such
Act_!
And in the fifth place, it is said in this Sermon, that _the
Princes of Bohemia have power to depose their Kings, as not being
hereditary_. Which is a great question: such a one as hath cost
much blood; and must not in a word be absolutely defined here, as
if it were without controversy.
I pray you, make His Majesty acquainted with these things! and take
the book with you!
Where it is to be noted, that, all this time, we had but one single
copy [_manuscript_]; which was sometimes at the Court, and sometimes
left with me.
MURRAY. I will faithfully deliver these things to the King, and then
you shall hear further from me!
* * * * *
Some two or three days after, he returneth again unto me, and telleth
me, That he had particularly acquainted the King with my objections;
and His Majesty made this answer.
First. For the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom, he did not stand
upon that. He had a precedent for that which he did, and thereon he
would insist.