Nugae Antiquae
It is noted of Dionysius of Sicily, that he had no care of any religion that was professed in his country, as neither had his father before him, making but a sport to rob their Gods; taking away Esculapius' beard of gold, because his father Apollo had no beard; and Jupiter's golden cloak, saying it was too heavy for summer and too cold for winter; yet used he to confer sometime with philosophers, and have the choicest of them, and give them honourable entertainment; which humour at last bred him this commodity, that losing his crown he learned to bear poverty not only without dismay, but with some disport. The like I may say of a late great Earl<534> of this realm, son of a great duke, who though he made no great conscience to spoil the church livings no more than did his father, yet for his reputation, or perhaps for his recreation, he would have some choice and excellent men for his chaplains of both universities; as Doctor Toby Matthew, now Archbishop of York; Doctor John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells; and this prelate that I am now to speak of, Doctor James,<535> then Dean of Christ Church. And this hope of comfort came to his lordship thereby, that if it pleased God to impart any mercy to him, (as his mercy indureth for ever!) it was by the special ministery of this man, who was the last of his coat that was with him in his sickness.
Concerning this bishopric it is formerly noted by mine author, (pag. 533,) that it was once dissolved by act of parliament in the minority of King Edward 6, what time the two new Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland (like the soldiers that cast lots for Christ's garment) divided between them patrimonium crucifixi;<536> namely, the two good bishoprics of Bath and Durham: one being designed as a seat for the western duke; the other for the northern. And whereas by an old metamorphosis, the Bishop of Durham had been made Earl of Northumberland; now, by a new apotheosis, the Duke of Northumberland would have been Bishop of Durham: but qui despixit de coelo deridebat eos.<537> That visible hand that wrote in the wall while Balthazar was quaffing in the holy vessels; that hand, though invisibly, weighed these petty monarchs in the balance of God's judgements, found them too light; and because they should not grow too long, they were both cut shorter by the head: the bishoprics restored to what they now are, by Queen Mary; one being in substance, the other by accident of leaden mines, two of the best bishoprics of England, and as worthy bishops they have had, specially this. Two of them, namely two Matthews, are spoken of in the title of York. There remains now this third, who having had yet scant a year and a day, as they say, I have the less to speak as of a bishop. But that examining by the infallible square set down by St. Paul to Timothy, chap. 3, for choice of a bishop, he will be found as worthily chosen as any. For his learning it may be sufficient to say he was Dean of Christ Church; which, as I have said formerly, none attains to but choice men, and there are sermons of his extant in print that testify no less. For hospitality, which is a special praise of a bishop, he showed in Oxford his disposition thereto in that less ability; and for both at once, at the coming of divers great states; and lastly, 15 years past of the Queen herself, before whom he preached, and to whom he gave so good entertainment, as her Majesty commended the order and manner of it long after: which commendation of well setting out and ordering a feast, I should have thought of the less moment, if I did not find in Plutarch, in the life of Paulus Emilius, (a great captain and conqueror, and otherwise a man of much virtue and temperance,) the well ordering of a feast to be esteemed not one of his least commendations.<538>
But I will conclude with a greater and more worthy commendation; and which I could wish, as it is exemplar, so it might be followed in all ensuing bishops. For whereas Durham house had been granted to Queen Elizabeth only during her life, when few thought that such a house should have proved too little for her estate: it fortuned, after she was Queen, this house to be neglected, according to the proverb, (not unfit to be applied to his learning that first built it,) pręstat esse caput asini quam cauda leonis. Among other rooms the chapel was not only profaned but even defaced. This good bishop, the first thing he doth at his coming, repairs this chapel, and furnisheth it within in comely and costly sort; for which good mind and act, I doubt not but God will build him a house, toward which he shall ever have my best wishes.
