the object of Elizabeth's solicitude. There were only three of king Edward's bishops alive, Scory, Barlow, and Coverdale, besides Hodgskins, suffragan bishop of Bedford; but a strong expectation was entertained that Heath, Thirlby, and Tonstal, would again conform to an establishment far more consonant with their opinions than that to which they had conformed in the reign of king Edward. Elizabeth had long fixed on a divine, whose qualities she well knew and approved, to preside over the protestant church of England. Matthew Parker in his early life had filled the office of chaplain to Anne Boleyn, and a short time before the death of that unfortunate princess, she had imposed on him the solemn duty of superintending the education of her infant daughter, and of instructing her in the rudiments of Christianity. This sacred trust was not neglected by Parker, and its conscientious fulfilment was always acknowledged with gratitude by Elizabeth. Her early instructor had not been undistinguished by Henry or Edward; and at the accession of Mary, he held the mastership of Corpus Christi college, in the university of Cambridge, à prebend in the cathedral of Ely, and the deanery of Lincoln. But when Mary ascended the throne, he was deprived of all his preferments; and two strong reasons contributed to his deprivation: he was a decided protestant, and he was married. Thus reduced from an honourable independence to penury, he retired into obscurity, hoping at least to find safety: he did not, like many of his brethren, retire into exile; but, without sacrificing his opinions, nobly resolved to await persecution in his A. D. 1559. Elizabeth. CHAP. own country. He was frequently exposed to the most imminent dangers, and obliged to change his abode; but his behaviour under his sufferings he has himself related, and the following edifying reflections are worthy to be transcribed. "After my deprivation, I lived so joyful before God in my conscience, and so neither ashamed nor dejected, that the most sweet leisure for study to which the good providence of God recalled me created much greater and more solid pleasure than my former dangerous and busy kind of living pleased me. What will hereafter happen to me, I know not; but to God who takes care for all, and who will one day reveal the hidden things of men's hearts, I commend myself wholly, and my godly and most chaste wife, and my dear little ones*." When his early pupil became his sovereign, it was not likely that his merits and his misfortunes should be forgotten: he reasonably expected to be restored to competence and peace; but more than these he wished not. An employment of the annual value of twenty nobles was desired in preference of any high dignity, and he courted a situation in the university of Cambridge, where he had spent his youth in useful activity, and where he hoped to pass his declining years in quietness. General expectation, however, was soon turned towards him as one who would not be permitted to "rest long in his cellt." Bacon and Cecil intimately knew his worth, and concurred in pro * Strype's Life of Parker, b. i. c. 7. + Sandys's Letter to Parker, in Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. ii. b. 3. Appendix, No. 8, moting the intentions of the queen, and, what was more difficult, in conquering the reluctance of Parker to accept her proffered patronage. The unwillingness of Parker to emerge from his literary retirement and to engage in an active life was unfeigned; and when he knew that he was designated for the highest ecclesiastical station, he wrote to the lord chancellor, setting forth in the strongest language his inability to discharge so arduous an office in times so dangerous. Fully was he aware of the requisites for the station, and that it was necessary to fill the see with a man who was neither arrogant, timid, nor covetous. An arrogant man would, perhaps, divide from his brethren in doctrine, whereas the whole strength and safety of the church lay in unity; a timid man would raise the spirits of its enemies, and increase the jealousies within itself; and a covetous man was "profitable in no state of the community to serve it rightly." As for himself, he knew the unfitness both of his body and mind so well, that though he was unwilling to offend his partial friends, and especially the queen; yet he must still more avoid the indignation of God, and not enter on a station which he could not fulfil, so as to answer either to God or the world for his administration. He knew of what he was capable; he was poor, and unable to meet the expenses of such a dignity; he was infirm, and therefore was unfit for so active an employment. He had a very few years of life in prospect, and he had no wish to accumulate a large fortune for his family. Besides these objections, he saw that great divisions were likely to happen among the protestants, which would be a cause of A. D. 1559. Elizabeth. CHAP. exultation to the church of Rome: he saw that XV. some men were men still, even after all their teaching in the school of affliction *. This representation from Parker only tended to confirm the queen in her resolution, and his friends in their judgment. Bacon replied, that if he knew any man with whom the character described in Parker's letter agreed better than with its author, he would choose that man; but not knowing such, he must abide by his first choice. Parker, wearied by an importunity which proceeded so far as to threaten him with imprisonment, at last yielded; and writing to the queen herself, protested that extreme necessity had forced him to trouble her, both out of conscience to God, and regard to her service. He knew his great unworthiness for so high a function; in an inferior office he would cheerfully discharge his duty, and if he could be placed in a situation suitable to his infirmities. But in the conclusion, he submitted himself entirely to her pleasure, rather than that the loyalty and sincerity of his heart should be suspected, even by a just allegation of his own unworthiness t. The legal forms for the appointment of Parker were expedited, but the consecration was delayed for several months. A serious difficulty opposed the speedy performance of that solemn ceremony. Many of the bishops who had refused the oath of supremacy still kept possession of their sees, and * Parker's letter to sir N. Bacon, in Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. iii. b. 3. Appendix, No. 8. + Parker's letter to queen Elizabeth, in Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. ii. b. iii. Appendix, No. 8. A. D. 1559. the queen still expected that at least three of these prelates would be induced to comply with the law. A commission for the consecration of the new arch. Elizabeth. bishop was directed to the bishops of Durham, Bath and Wells, Peterborough, and Llandaff, together with Barlow and Scory, who were styled in the commission bishops, though not in the actual possession of any sees. The three bishops first named in the commission having refused to proceed to the consecration, a new commission passed under the great seal, directed to Kitchen, bishop of Llandaff; Barlow, bishop elect of Chichester; Scory, bishop elect of Hereford; Coverdale, late bishop of Exeter; Hodgskins, bishop suffragan of Bedford; John, suffragan of Thetford; and Bale, bishop of Ossory, authorizing all, or any four of them, to consecrate Parker archbishop of Canterbury. The bishop of Llandaff, though he had taken the oath of supremacy, declined to assist in the consecration, probably by the instigation of Boner; but four of the bishops named in the commission, Barlow, Scory, Coverdale, and Hodgskins, consented. They met at the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, where, according to custom, the election of the dean and chapter of Canterbury was confirmed. All the preliminaries having been performed according to law, Parker was consecrated by the four bishops in the chapel of Lambeth. The ceremonial was that prescribed by the ordinal of Dec. 17. king Edward, which, together with the rest of the liturgy, had been restored by the late act of uniformity. The consecration of Parker is an event which |