cises (of which we have given a relation in the life of archbishop Grindal) which he countenanced with his presence and assistance, setting them up in some places, and restoring them in others. It is surprising, to find what an indifference to hear even so able a Preacher sometimes prevailed; as at Acliffe, where designing to preach, he found not three men, or one woman, though it was the Lord's day, and he had, by his servant, given notice two days before; but when he preached there the Sunday after, he found a full congregation, for which he praised GOD. He was disappointed thus at Acham, when he was archbishop, "where (saith he) to my sorrow I found neither "priest nor people, although they had warning over "night." No wonder, then, that he was so particularly zealous, when he found so much ignorance and remiss

ness.

That this proceeded not from a sudden pang of devotion during the plague, but was his mature judgment, is evident from matter of fact; for when he was some years past his grand climacteric, we find him preaching at the Exercises at Mansfield, Nottingham, and Retford, besides other occasional sermons, eight in less than five weeks. And this was so far from being a disservice to the church of England (as some have intimated) that it did really advance it most effectually; " I appeal (says our Author) to "the original book of the minister's subscriptions in the

register's office at York, that, not to take the advantage "of that noted time, when forty-five were ordained at "one time, there are communibus annis as many in one year at the latter end, as in three at the beginning." So attractive was this grand exemplar of a preaching bishop.

The next time we meet with bishop Matthew at court, is in preaching at Whitehall, before the king, and the commissioners of England and Scotland, upon the designed union of the two kingdoms; a project K. James pursued to the utmost, but the completion of it was reserved to the next century, for the honour of Q. Anne. The Epiphany after, he preached before the king at the creation of prince Charles, duke of York. The next time he preached before the king, was upon a signal occasion, being the Lord's day after the deliverance from the gunpowder treason, which was discovered on the Tuesday before, viz. November 5th, 1605. The year after, he shut up his diary, as bishop of Durham, with this memoran

dum,

dum, "That in the space of somewhat less than twelve "years, I have preached five hundred and fifty-sermons ;' often excusing himself, that he preached no more, because his house was infected, &c.

On Monday, August 18, 1606, he was translated to the archbishopric of York, and September 11. enthroned by proxy; here he sat with great honour and reputation, to the time of his death, and had the uncommon happiness, though then above sixty years of age, to continue therein twenty-one years and a half; but notwithstanding his age, and the care and government of a whole province, he did not look upon himself as discharged from preaching, but was as diligent as ever; whence that challenge of Alexander Cooke, vicar of Leeds; That Tobie Mat thew, the archbishop of York, though almost eighty ( years of age, preacheth more sermons in a year, than you [the popish party] can prove, has been preached by all your popes, from Gregory the Great's days.' Cooke's Popish brags abated.

Yet, for all his pains in preaching, he neglected not his proper episcopal acts of visitation, confirmation, ordination, &c. he confirmed sometimes five hundred, sometimes one thousand at a time, yea, so many, that he has been forced to betake himself to his bed for refreshment.. At Hartlepool he was forced to confirm in the church-yard. At such times he often preached to instruct them more fully in the doctrines of Christianity, which they were now more solemnly obliged to know and observe. He preached also sometimes at marriages, baptizings, funerals, assizes, and other meetings of the gentlemen of the country abcut public affairs, as at Ripon, August 16, 1607, at the laying the foundation of that church.

It is much to be lamented, that those sermons, that were so passionately desired by persons of the greatest quality, so acceptable to the judicious, and so crowded after by persons of all ranks, should not have been published; such, especially as were upon extraordinary occasions, and made such impressions upon himself, as to give thanks for divine assistance.

He died yearly in report, (says Fuller) and I doubt not, but that in the apostle's sense, he died daily in his mortifying meditations: He died at last, at Cawoodcastle, March 29, 1628, and was buried in our lady's chapel at the east end of the cathedral at York, in the eighty-second year of his age; leaving behind him Frances

his wife, by whom he had several children, but only two (so far as we can learn) that survived him, namely Samuel, his mother's favourite, who died at Peter-house, in Cambridge; and Sir Tobie Matthew, knt. . Who (says Fuller) had all his father's name, and many of his natural parts, but had few of his moral virtues, and fewer of his spiritual graces, as being an inveterate enemy to the Protestant religion.'

We will conclude his life, with characters given him by two different authors. He was certainly (says our

first author) one of the most eminent divines of this na* tion, considered either in the schools, the pulpit, or the episcopal chair, even Campian himself, his Romish antagonist, confessing that he rules in the assemblies' (to which Sir Thomas Widdrington adds) who alone was wont to preside there.' adding, whom we love, for knowledge and virtue.' The learned Camden's character is more comprehensive, a most excellent divine, in whom piety and learning, art with nature strove.' But most of all, that of the excellent bishop Fell, who says of him, that he was a man of infinite reading, insomuch, that scarce any book, which either the same of its author, or the worth of its subject recommended, had escaped ‹ him; and withal, so happy a memory, that few things he read, but were so in his power, as to be readly quoted, when occasion required.'

To this we will subjoin Fuller's Account of him in his Church History. He was one of a proper person (such people, cæteris paribus, and sometimes cateris imparibus, were preferred by the queen) and an excellent preacher, Campian himself confessing, that he did domi

nari

*Frances Matthew was first married to Matthew Parker, fon to Matthew Parker archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards to our archbishop. She was a woman of exemplary wifdom, gravity, piety, beauty, and indeed, in all other virtues, not only above her fex, but the times. One exemplary act of hers, first devifed upon this church, and through it flowing upon the country, deferves to live as long as the church itself. The library of our archbishop deceased, confifting of three thousand books, she gave entirely to the ufe of this church. A rare example, that fo great care to advance learning, fhould lodge in a woman's breaft! But it was the less wonder in her, because herself was related to fo much learning. She was the daughter of bishop Barlow; fhe had four fifters married to four bishops, one to William Wickham, bishop of Winchester, another to Overton, bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, a third to Weftphaling, bishop of Hereford, and a fourth to Day, that fucceeding Wickham in Winchefter. So that a bishop was her father, an archbishop her father-in-law, fhe had four bishops her brethren, and an archbishop her husband.

<nari Concionibus. He was of a chearful spirit, yet with⚫out any trespass on episcopal gravity. None could con⚫ demn him for his pleasant wit, though often he would ⚫ condemn himself, as so inhabited therein, he could as 'well not be, as not be merry, and not take up an inno'cent jest as it lay in the way of his discourse. One passage must not be forgotten. After he had arrived ' at his greatness, he made one journey into the West, to visit his two mothers; her that bare him at Bristol, and her that bred him in learning, the university of Oxford. Coming near to the latter, attended with a train suitable to his present condition, he was met almost with an equal number, who came out of Oxford to give him entertainment. Thus augmented with another troop, and remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar, when first coming to the university, he kneeled down and took up the expression of Jacob, With my staff 'came I over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.

His WORKS. We know of nothing that was published during his own life, but his Concio Apologetica contra Campianum, in Deuteron. xxxii. 7. first printed anno 1581, and again in 1638, at Oxford, 8vo." Dr Fuller has since exhibited a large letter, which was elegantly penned by him in the name of the Convocation, about archbishop Grindal's suspension; and Dr Parr another to Mr Usher, afterwards archbishop of Armagh. Dr Smith has also printed a letter of his to Mr Camden. These are all that are genuine, (for that in the Cabala' is of George Abbot archbishop of Canterbury) except one that Mr Strype has published, a remarkable letter of his concerning the memorable Hampton-court Conference, from the original in his library. Dr Fervour mentions his "manuscript Notes upon all the ancient Fathers," which he had not only read with a diligent eye, but noted them with a judicious " pen, as mine own eyes (adds Dr Fervour) are ⚫ witnesses.' These, it is presumed, are safely lodged in the archives of his cathedral church at York, to which his relict bequeathed his library.

THOMAS

THOMAS JAMES.

THOMAS JAMES, a learned English critic and divine, was born about the year 1571, at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, and being put to Winchester School, became a scholar upon the foundation, and thence, in his course, a fellow of New-college in Oxford, in the year 1593.

He commenced master of arts in 1599, and the same year, having collated several manuscripts of the Philobib lion of Richard of Durham, he published it in quarto at Oxford, with an appendix of the Oxford manuscripts; he dedicated this piece to Sir Thomas Bodley, apparently in the view of recommending himself to this librarian's place when he should have completed his design. In the interim, Mr James proceeded in the same spirit to publish a catalogue of all the manuscripts in each college library in both universities, and in the compiling of it having free access to the manuscripts in each college at Oxford, he perused them carefully, and, when he found any society careless of them, he borrowed and took away what he pleased, and put them into the public library. These instances of his taste and turn to books, effectually procured him the designation of the founder to be the first keeper of the public library; in which office he was confirmed by the university, in the year 1602. He filled this post with great applause, and commencing doctor in divinity in 1614, was promoted to the subdeanery of Wells by the bishop of that see, About the same time the archbishop of Canterbury also presented him to the rectory of Mongeham in Kent, together with other spiritual preferments. These favours were undeniably strong evidences of his distinguished merit, being conferred upon him without any application on his part.

In the year 1620, he was made a justice of the peace, and the same year he resigned the library-keeper's place, and betook himself more intensely to his studies, and of what kind these were we learn from himself: "I have of late, (says he, in a letter dated May 23, 1624, to a "friend) given myself only to the reading of manuscripts, and in them I find so many and so pregnant testimonies,

"either