said bishop of Hereford; though the treatise it selfe was not speacially meant against the bishop, but against a temporall lord of a higher ranck, that was not a little netled with the same. In so much, as many travelling gentlemen, and among other, this bishops sonne was calld in question for the publishing of this booke, belike because some particularities of this matter were discoverd that could come originallie from none but him. But to come againe to this bishop, I hope it shall be no just scandall to other good bishops, trew successors of the apostles, that this man was a bishop. Judas will have successors as well as James, and Symon Magus as well as Symon Peter, and somtime perhaps both in one chayre. This man, indeed, had bene brought up in the age of the fryars that made much of themselves, and relinquisht their cells; that read in the old testament, lætare et fac, but left out bonum; for so he followed the text in the new testament, "Make ye frendes of the wicked Mammon;" but left out the part that should have brought him to "everlasting tabernacles." For if Gods mercie be not the greater, I feare his frend and he are met in no pleasant mansion, though too durable; if the vision of Henry Lord Hunsdon' were trew, as an honest gentleman hath often reported it. But all this, notwithstanding, his posteritie may doe well, for God himself forbids men to say, that "the fathers eat sowr grapes, and the childrens teeth be on edge ;" and if the worst be, the English proverb may comfort them, which, least it want reason, I will cyte in ryme, It is a saying common, more than civill, After his decease a great and long suite was held about his dilapidacions, which makes the former report to seeme the more probable. 5 Lord Chamberlain to Q. Elizabeth. Ob. 1596. His custom of swearing, and his obscenity of discourse, are noticed by Sir Robert Naunton, in "Fragmenta Regalia," 1642. M 2 DOCTOR HERBERT WESTPHALING." THERE succeeded him a learned and famous doctor indeed, Dr. Westphaling, who after he had bene a bishop divers yeares, yet to shew that good bishops do not quite discontinew their studie, but rather increase their knowledge with their dignitie, came to Oxford at her Majesties last being there," and made an eloquent and copious oration before her, for conclusion of the divinitie disputations among which, one speciall question that bred much attention, was this, "Whether it be lawfull to dissemble in cause of religion?" And one argument more witty then pithie, produced by an opponent, was this, "It is lawful to dispute of religion, therefore it is lawful to dissemble," and urging it further, he said thus, "I my selfe now do that which is lawfull, but I do now dissemble; ergo, it is lawfull to dissem ❝ Canon of Windsor. Made Bp. of Hereford in 1585. Ob. 1601-2. 7 In Sept. 1592. See that very curious and entertaining publication, "The Progresses &c. of Queen Elizabeth." Vol. II. ble:" at which her Majesty and all the auditorie were very merry. I could make a rehearsall of some of the bishops oration concerning this question, how he allowd a secrecie, but without simulation, a pollicie but not without piety, least men taking too much of the serpent, have too little of the dove; but I am sure in all his speach he allowd no equivocation. Howbeit, if I should insist long hereon, I might commit the same fault to your Highness that the Queen at that time founde in him, which was, that she thought him too tedious. For she had sent twice to him to cut short his oration, because her self meant to make a publique speech that evening. But he would not, or as some told her, could not, put himself out of a set methodicall speache, for fear he should have mard it all, and perhaps confounded his memorie. Wherefore she forbare her speach that day, and more privately the next morning sending for the heads of houses, and a few others, she spake to them in Latin, and among other she school'd Doctor Reynalds, for his 8 8 Probably John Reynolds, Pres. of C. C. C. Oxon, in 1598. to whom the following complimentary lines were addressed, in Bastard's "Chrestoleros," Lib. iv. Epig. 34. "Doe I call judgement to my foolish rimes, preciseness, willing him to follow her lawes, and not to run before them. But it seemd he had forgotten it when he came last to Hampton Court, so as there he receaved a better schooling. I may not forget how the Queene, in the midst of her oration, casting her eye aside, and seeing the old Lord Threasurer Burleigh standing on his lame feete for want of a stoole, she call'd in all hast for a stoole for him, nor would she proceede in her speach till she saw him provided of one; then fell she to it againe, as if there had bene no interruption; upon which one that might be so bold with her, told her after, that she did it of purpose to shew that she could interrupt her speech, and not be put out, although the bishop durst not adventure to do a lesse matter the daie before. But this bishop was everie way a verie sufficient man, and for such esteemd while he was of Christ Church. Trifling accidents shew as good proof, oft times, of a mans spirit, and courage, and constancy, as the waightiest occasions. Such a one happend this doctor while REYNOLDES religion's oracle most true! |