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Nugae Antiquae - BISHOP OF CARLISLE:

BISHOP OF CARLISLE:


Doctor Henry Robinson


            This bishopric, as my author hath touched, (pag. 540, and 543,) hath been so fortunate to have yielded two singular examples of fidelity and loyalty of prelates to their sovereign: one of especial mark, worthy to be canonized with the patron of Venice, St. Mark, was also named Marks, commended here by my author, and no less worthily extolled by Mr. Samuel Daniel, in his excellent poem of the civil wars of Lancaster and York. The other was Bishop Oglethorp, who when all the bishops of England refused to crown Queen Elizabeth because of her religion, yet he, being himself of a contrary religion, performed it. Neither of these received their reward in this world, that they were worthy: Marks being removed from Carlisle to Samos in Greece,<540> viz. out of God's blessing into a warm sun, as the saying is; Oglethorp enduring deprivation, because even at the coronation he would not omit the ceremony of elevation. Howbeit, it is supposed if he had not so suddenly after died of the grief,<541> her Majesty would have made some special respect of him above all his fellows; which I speak not upon mere conjecture, but upon some speech of her Majesty used to the present bishop that now is; for when she received his homage, she gave many gracious words to him of her good opinion, for his learning, integrity, and sufficiency to the place; concluding, that she must ever have a care to furnish that place with a worthy man, "for his sake (said she) that set my crown first on my head;" and many words to like effect, as the bishop<542> himself hath partly told me. He seems a man of great gravity, and temperance, very mild in his speech, but not of so strong a constitution of body as his countenance. doth promise. But having seen his see never, and himself but seldom, I must content me of him with this short relation.

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