XX. Edmund 1575-6 Grindal. 1583 formed," he says, "that the greatest part of our gentle- CHAP. men are not well affected to godly religion, and that among the people there are many remnants of the old. They keep holydays and fasts abrogated: they offer money, eggs, &c., at the burial of their dead: they pray on beads, &c.; so as this seemeth to be, as it were, another church, rather than a member of the rest. And for the little experience I have of this people, methinketh I see in them three evil qualities; which are, great ignorance, much dulness to conceive better instructions, and great stiffness to retain their wonted errors. I will labour, as much as I can, to cure every of these, committing the success to God."* Perhaps his grace would have done better to have waited till he knew more of the character of the Yorkshiremen before he thus addressed Mr. Secretary Cecil. Demesne land being here under less restraint than in London, he was able more effectually to propagate the principles of the Reformation, and apparently with considerable success. We infer this from a letter he wrote to Zanchius, from which, however, nothing of importance can be transcribed that has not been before advanced. Grindal always seems to have desired to act Grindal's on synodal authority, and he took an early opportunity tion as after his appointment to hold a visitation, which took archplace in the year 1571. The Archbishop of Canterbury 1571. transmitted to the Archbishop of York a copy of the Canons of Discipline, drawn up for the observance of the southern province. To these canons by some oversight the queen's authority was not obtained, and Grindal was afraid lest he should incur the perils of Præmunire, if he enforced them before he obtained the royal permission. He fell back therefore upon the authority which he possessed through the common law of the Church, as an Remains, p. 325. first visita bishop, XX. Edmund 1583. The arch bishop's injunctions. CHAP. archbishop and metropolitan. He held his visitation, and in the charge he delivered, he inserted and enforced the articles in question.* They are in1575-6 teresting as showing indirectly the condition of the Church at this period. The clergy were directed in the administration of the Communion not to put the consecrated bread into the people's mouths, but into their hands; the priests are likewise forbidden to use any ceremonies or gestures not appointed by the Book of Common Prayer; they were to refuse to marry any persons who were not perfect in the Catechism; all who sought the Holy Communion were required to repeat the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and they were not to be under the age of fourteen. The Holy Communion was to be received three times a year in addition to Ash Wednesday. There is something extremely remarkable, and I have not seen it accounted for, in the fact that the days appointed for the compulsory reception of the Holy Communion were not the festivals of the highest celebrity, but common Sundays. It was to be received on one of the two Sundays before Easter, on one of the two Sundays before Whitsuntide, and on one of the two Sundays before Christmas. Grindal's propensity to to Ultra-Protestantism was shown, among other things, by his abolition of stone altars. At burials any ceremonies which implied a belief in purgatory, together with all yearly commemorations of the dead, were forbidden. The ministers were not permitted to make any pause between the Morning Prayer, the Litany, and the Communion. They were to go through the whole service without break or intermission. No persons were allowed to wear beads, or to pray upon them, in Latin or English. They were *Collier, vi. 501. not to burn any candle on the Feast of Purification, or to make the sign of the cross when at any time they entered the church. CHAP. Edmund 1583. York On October 10, 1572, the archbishop held a visita- 1575-6tion at the cathedral church of York, which was the His visitabeginning of his provincial visitations. He visited the tion of cathedral again in 1575. In the regulations which he Cathedral, made for his cathedral, his diocese, and his province, the 1572. archæologist will read with interest what then took place, inferring the existence of certain ceremonials which by authority were then set aside. Through carelessness, Grindal was sometimes induced to take a sectarian view of his position, and instead of enquiring what was the ancient custom, to obtain information as to what was enjoined by modern legislation. In forming a new sect nothing may be observed but what is commanded: in reforming an old church, on the contrary, all things must remain as they were, unless express direction be given for their abolition or alteration. queen's to visit York, In 1574 a report reached York that the queen would The visit that city and be the archbishop's guest. Grindal intention communicated with the Archbishop of Canterbury as to the measures he ought to adopt to give her majesty a 1574. loyal reception. This drew forth a letter from Parker, who gave a description of what had occurred when he himself entertained the queen at Canterbury. Of this an account is given in the life of Parker.* Grindal's conduct was praiseworthy in procuring for his diocese and province learned men for the cathedrals, and good preachers in the various large towns. On February 26, about five o'clock at night, there was an earthquake in Yorkshire, Nottingham, and some other of the northern counties. No great harm was done, Vol. iv. (New Series), p. 570. Earth the North, quake in Feb. 26, 1574. CHAP. Grindal. 1583. but by reason of the concussion a general alarm prevailed among the people. It was feared that some public Edmund calamity might follow. In Archbishop Cranmer's time 1575-6— an earthquake took place at Croydon, and not long after King Edward died. Grindal evidently viewed the event superstitiously, and feared lest it might augur some evil to the queen. But Archbishop Parker only made the pious remark, that as to that prognostic, It is the Lord: let Him do what is good in His eyes. Grindal's share in the Bishops' Bible. By the encouragement of learning, and by saving from ruin certain charitable foundations, intended for the entertainment and relief of poor travellers, as well as by his general learning and courtesy to all who approached him, Grindal made himself deservedly popular in the north of England. He had the high honour of being permitted to regard Spenser as one of his friends, and by that illustrious poet his virtues have been recorded, and he himself was celebrated, as we shall hereafter show, by the name of Algrind. He had taken an active part while Bishop of London in the formation of what is known as the Bishops' Bible, and he probably when at York completed that history of the work that he had undertaken. CHAPTER XXI. GRINDAL ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. News of Parker's death.-The see is offered to Grindal.-His unwillingness to accept it.-His nomination, election, and confirmation. -Banquet at Lambeth.-Visitation of the Province of Canterbury.Various enquiries made concerning the services and ceremonies of the Church.-Conformity of the clergy to the Thirty-nine Articles required.-Grindal attempts to reform the Spiritual Courts.-Congratulations from Cambridge. Terrible earthquake in 1580.Grindal's directions to the clergy through his archdeacon.Fanaticism in the universities.-Case of David Thickpenny.-Sect of the Family of Love.-Ingratitude of Thickpenny towards the archbishop.-Grindal is threatened with blindness. He contemplates resignation.-Harshness of the queen towards him.-Controversy between the queen and the primate concerning the 'Prophesyings. Grindal's letter to the queen thereon.-Elizabeth's behaviour to him at Court.-Leicester supports him for a time.Sequestration of the archbishop.-Kindness of Lord Burghley.— Proceedings in the Star Chamber.-Grindal officiates at the consecration of certain bishops.-Convocation of 1580.-He renews his metropolitical visitation, and appoints Whitgift as his deputy.— His policy in regard to politics.-The queen and Convocation.-Addresses from Convocation and from the bishops of the Southern province for Grindal's restoration.-The queen takes no notice of them. -Restoration of the archbishop.-His letter of submission to the queen. His many infirmities.-His resignation and pension from the queen. He wishes to retain the archbishopric until Michaelmas.— Refusal of the queen.-Value of the archbishopric.-Elizabeth wishes to nominate Whitgift.-He refuses during Grindal's lifetime. CHAP. XXI. Edmund Grindal. In the year 1575, the news reached York of the death of Grindal's dear and honoured friend Archbishop Parker. 1575-6— 1583. |