I also much reverence, D. M., whose years and modesty are so great, as it is thought by those that know him better than I, he will rather choose a private life. And it were great pity to cast such a load upon him against his will, now when he is come to that condition as to need a coadjutor, if he were already in the office: his sight is almost quite gone, and his infirmities otherwise so great, as he can hardly come up hither to receive consecration, which is but the preface to his work. For these and the like reasons, I am encouraged by those that foresee rubs before they come, to desire your lordship to send some more names from his majesty, to supply such possible defects as these, if they should fall out in these, or any other persons already named. But, however, I beseech you by the first opportunity to send the name of a fit person for Carlisle; for till then the work must be at a stand; and the bishop of Derry (upon whom the canonical dispatch of it, as to that election, wholly depends,) is infirm, and cannot live long. And farther, I must beseech your favour, to signify his majesty's pleasure concerning the supplying of the bishoprick of the Isle of Man, which is in the province of York; for though the nomination of the person belong to the Earl of Derby, who desires it may be done, and refers it wholly to them, now that the person hath refused it, to whom he proffered it, yet they will hardly do it without his majesty's leave ; and it is thought necessary to supply as many places as may be within that province, considering how small the whole number is if they were all full. "My lord of Ely returns all dutiful acknowledgments to his majesty, and his humble service to your lordship; I perceive you misunderstood him as to the poizing the number between the two universities; for he never suspected his majesty's equal favour to both, nor thought him worthy of the office of bishop that is not of the same temper; but however he has observed it, as a good encouragement to learning, when young students could recount such and such bishops of the same university or college with themselves. It is not now indeed so considerable, seeing the rule of En. Sylvius, which was always good, is now indispensably necessary, Non hominibus dandas esse dignitates, sed dignitatibus homines; and for this and other reasons (with all dutiful thanks) the bishop of Ely desires to be excused as to the recommending of any person either to Carlisle, or any other dignity; though he will not omit his prayers, that God would direct his majesty always for the best, and at this time more particularly, when the settlement both of the church and universities is like to have so great an influence, not only upon the souls of men, but also upon his majesty's government, to all future ages. I have heard him say, (and I know another of the same temper,) that he never was suitor for any place in the church; and I have heard others say, both of him and Bishop Andrews before him, that neither of them ever gave any to any that were. It has been too common a mistake to dispense such places by favour and affection, and call them preferments, and look upon them as rewards, which are indeed (especially now) only new obligations to a far greater work, and a much greater charge upon our last account. The iniquity of these present times hath rectified this error in many; and it is the opinion of some churchmen of the greatest understanding and foresight among us, that for one age none can possibly have occasion to fall into it again, though all other things should answer our desire. The whole revenue of the church, (supposing, which yet can hardly be imagined, it should return entirely and immediately,) will hardly allow necessaries to the first incumbents by that time the churches are made fit for God's service, and the houses for man's habitation, so that the straw will be wanting, and yet the tale of brick must be multiplied tenfold. I beseech your lordship, excuse this digression. These are not my thoughts Dr. Francis Mansel, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford.... His obstinate refusal of the episcopal dignity more than once, is mentioned on his epitaph in that college, where he was interred. 3 D VOL. XIII.-April, 1838. only, but also of the greatest masters of reason of our tribe in this place, which your former candour hath given me the boldness to represent unto you, in order to the good of the church; and whoever of us thinks otherwise, will (I fear) either fall short of his hopes, or fail the church in his duty. A public spirit was always good in the clergy, but now indispensably necessary... "If your lordship has received mine of the eighth past, I shall need say no more; only it can be no tautology to present again my most dutiful acknowledgement of his majesty's goodness in that good opinion he hath of me, and my humble thanks to your lordship for the great favours you express continually towards me. If by a dignity, his majesty means a prebend, I have one already; if a deanery, I think I could be most serviceable to the church of Durham; being acquainted with the statutes and customs in part, and having two livings near to support it, if there should be need; but if any other place be thought of more advantage to this church in general, or his majesty's service in particular, I shall willingly submit to his command.. The Lord Chancellor to Mr. John Barwick. "Brussels, Oct. 17, 1659. "I shall say only a word to you concerning ecclesiastical preferments; that there is no deanery in England, (Westminster excepted, which his majesty hath in truth designed to a person of very known and confessed merit) that the king hath in the least degree made promise of to any man; or that it will be your friends' fault (who, I am sure, will not be guilty of it,) if you are not very well provided; and if my lord of Ely had prevailed with you to have taken the bishopric of Man, I am confident the king would not have suffered you to have continued there long after your removal could have been avowed. For the truth is, the king hath a very extraordinary sense of your merit towards him and the church. I wish you would once send the blessed news that this affair is taken to heart, and provided for as it ought to be.”† From the same to the same. "Nov. 21, 1659, Brussels. "I can assure you, that the king hath so just a sense of the inevitable consequences of the universities being well or ill provided for in point of government, that when the time comes he will manifest his great care in that particular, especially concerning Christ Church, in Oxford; which, if I had not looked upon rather as the government of a college, and so forgotten it as a deanery, I could have told you the king hath designed it to a person who your sick friend § will tell you is every way equal to it. And I do assure you, that the king is not more fixt in any principle than in the belief that the church can never be restored and repaired by any expedient but the learning, virtue, and reputation of the churchmen; and he will be so careful in making that provision, that I have heard him often say, that he would abhor that churchman who would give the least sum of money for the greatest preferment, and turn away that servant who would endeavour to get money that way; and I think him as unlike to swerve from that resolution as ever prince was. God send our good sick friend perfect health, and preserve it to my lord of Ely, that he may live to help in the repairing of the ruins that are made. I have not time to add more."|| * Barwick's Life, Appendix, No. XII. pp. 438-442, 447, 448. Ibid. No. XIV. p. 452. Dr. Morley, installed Feb. 27, 1660. § Most probably Dr. Juxon, Bishop of London, whom I take to be B. L., in the postscript to No. VII.-See note on Barwick, p. 404. Barwick's Life, Appendix, No. XV. pp. 460, 461. From the same to the same. " SIR, "Brussels, Nov. 28, 1659. "I have by this last post yours of the 11th two days since, and yesterday those of the 13th and 14th of September, and the 3rd of this month together. by the long way; so that I think now our accounts are even, and that all mine to you, and yours to me, are safely delivered. I shall not, (indeed I cannot, in point of time,) reply to all those particulars in your several good dispatches, but shall only mention what is applicable to present use; but I give you very hearty thanks for the whole information and instruction, of which I shall always make the most advantage I can for the publick. I can say no more with reference to the church, but that if there be nothing hinders it but the winter, it will be quickly over, whilst preparations are making; and yet God knows, it will be almost a miracle if the winter doth not take away half the bishops that are left alive; and I must still lament that some way is not found that the bishop of Ely may be at liberty, which would carry on the work more than any expedient I can think of. Concerning any assurance we have of any consent from the persons named to undergo the charge designed to them, I can give you no satisfaction, not knowing that any one of them hath been communicated with to that purpose; and I have always been of the opinion, that the method you say was observed by Bishop Andrews and the Bishop of Ely is the right; and if I could help it, if the king were at Whitehall to-morrow, he should never prefer any man in the church who sought it; and I think I have reason to believe the king is of that mind. The care that was taken in the nomination of those who were sent to you was that fit men might be appointed; nothing being so evident as the conclusion you allege, that nothing but the great merit of churchmen can buoy up the church; yet upon all the particulars it was thought that they were men like to submit to the king's determination. And it was always concluded, that some means would be found there to persuade them to do their duties; and some insinuation that Dr. Laney would be very unwilling to submit to it, was the cause that he was left out; as the consideration of age and disability to travel was the cause that Dr. Sanderson was not named; and we were then informed, that Dr. Mansel was in very good health, and that he lived still in Oxford. If it be otherwise, and that his age and infirmities make him unfit, he must be dispensed with. Secretary Nicholas and I consulted together of his brother ;* and he was and is confident, that he will depart from the resolution which fortune and his inclination would tempt him to, and wholly resign himself to the king's pleasure; and therefore, if you please, let Dr. Henchman acquaint him with it, and know his mind. As soon as the king returns (which will now be, I am confident, within less than twenty days,) you shall receive the list in cypher under his majesty's own hand, which was delivered by himself to Mr. Allestrey; but methinks, if some of them should refuse, or all of them, to come together, course might be taken to consecrate as many as are ready; but of all this judgment must be made upon the place. I am sorry my lord of Ely will not commend any particular person; but it is absolutely necessary, that by communication with him and the other of your friends, you return hither a list of such worthy men as are fit for those charges, and not like to decline them, and of the number the king may choose as he pleases. There is indeed too much reason to doubt, that if the crown were restored to-morrow, the church would not be in many years repaired; yet I hope it would not be in so miserable a condition as you suppose, and that the publick and general piety of the nation will contribute to the repairing of those defacings and ruins which the general madness and impiety hath dishonoured the nation with. And truly, I am of opinion, that the church will be either totally ruined, (towards which there is too great a conspiracy between persons who agree in nothing else,) or else that it will be restored to a great lustre."+ "Dr. Matthew Nicholas, afterwards Dean of St. Paul's," + Barwick's Life, Appendix, No. XVI. pp. 461–465. "It may be proper to observe, that his majesty's great care in his exile for continuing the succession of our English bishops, when they were reduced to a declining number, is thus set forth by a prelate concerned in it, Dr. Henry King, Bishop of Chichester.* 'His sacred majesty, desirous to preserve the succession of his English church, and sensible of his bishops' decay, most whereof were dead, and those few who remained not likely to last long, was pleased to commit this trust principally to his (Bishop Duppa's) solicitation. In discharge whereof, how industrious he was, some who yet live know, and none better than myself, who was his only associate in several travels undertaken to bring it to effect. "Tis true divers ways were propounded, yet all found dangerous, under the inquisition we then lived, both to the undertakers and the actors. His majesty, therefore, at last thought of a safer and more certain expedient, to call over to him two of the remaining bishops, who, joined to a worthy prelate residing with him in his exile (Bishop Bramhall), might canonically consecrate some of those eminently deserving divines who then attended him; thus preserving the order in a few until God gave opportunity to fill up the other vacancies. This desire was by a trusty messenger sent over by his majesty, communicated only to five, whereof (I shall not magnify mine office to say) myself was one, who, in the integrity of my conscience can profess, that, in the willing acceptance of the summons, I never declined any hazard, when I might do the king, my master, or the church service. But, great age and great infirmity denying the concurrence of any one of the rest, (though otherwise most ready) that design fell; and God hath, in the miraculous restoration of his sacred majesty, restored the church to that lustre wherein (blessed be his name) you now see it. Let all take notice how careful his majesty was to preserve and support the church at that time, when in his exiled condition he could not well support himself." "+ SACRED POETRY. HEAVENLY SIGNS. St. Matthew, xvi. 2, 3-"He answered and said unto them, When it is evening ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day, for the sky is red and lowring." Oн, ask no sign from Heav'n; ye know full well All nature's stops and changes, and from far Each note prelusive, from her unseen cell, Of sunshine or of storm the harbinger; And all that speaks in comings on Of evening, when the western sun Is seen in beauty on the sea and sky, With the moon's silver boat in silence launching by. Then from some pine-tree top a lonely hern Steps of the storm, in acquiescence stern [Bp. King's Funeral Sermon for Bishop Duppa, p. 42.] And Echo, from her mountain cave, Then Hope, 'mid darkening shadows not unblest, And can ye not perceive streaks that illume The glowing footsteps to descry, Where, 'mid this earth, a Holy One hath trod, 'Mid things of man despised, the better things of God? Have ye not seen Him? as that eye He rais'd, One who hath gazing heard, and hearing gazed, And from behind her secret screen, Where shrouded conscience sat unseen, She found an ear that heard the unspoken word, Have ye not seen Him, where the poor have throng'd- That look hath not to mortal-born belong'd; But on your eyes there is a blinding charm, Which Satan more and more doth lay Upon the heart that will not pray. Earth's cherish'd toys grow on the longing eye, And thence shut out the worlds that fill the mighty sky. Oh, ask no sign from Heav'n; catch but one note What undiscerned sounds thus dimly float? Still does she utter one unvaried taleThat man is trembling, borne at will Upon the verge of good and ill. Yet tells she not why daily doth she give The guiltless Lamb to die for guilty man to live. Still doth he live, still spared, still loved in vain. At Nature's beck. The ox doth know His owner. Thou in thine own ways dost dwell Go, ask of Nature; to the pensive ear She whispers. Often widow'd souls, forlorn, Have felt one at their side in mercy near, Though they of fellow-men have been the scorn: Yea, surely as God sits on high, In wondrous meekness he is nigh; 'Mid paths of lowly pity to be found, And not where pride of earth, and passion, doth abound. |