England, and brothers in suffering for her cause, Gunning and Barrow. And these appointments were made at the very time when things looked most hopeless; when "the court" had "delivered itself up to vice," and the good bishop who had now for some time filled the office of dean of his majesty's chapel royal, "being then weary of a courtlike life, or (in truth) finding but little good effect of his pious endeavours, retired to his episcopal see,† and soon after, as we find, probably from the same view of things, Sheldon had taken "a resolution of retiring from public business." And the appointments made at this time were such as might have been anticipated, of persons whose only claim seems to have been personal or political interest. Yet, in the midst of this, without any obvious explanation, Sheldon's influence reappears again.§ "Cor regum inscrutabile."

[K. CHARLES II. ARCHBISHOP SHELDON continued.] "Anno 1670, June 19, Robert Creighton, D.D., was consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells. "An. 1671. July 2, ... the archbishop.... consecrated the Honourable Nathaniel Crew, LL.D., Bishop of Oxford, and Thomas Wood, D.D., Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.... In the same year, Feb. 11., Guy Carleton, D.D., was consecrated Bishop of Bristol.

"Nathaniel Crew, third son of the Lord John Crew, baron of Stene, in Northamptonshire, was born there, became a commoner of Lincoln College, 1652, and fellow when bachelor of arts. At the restoration of his majesty King Charles II., Mr. Crew being then M.A. of two years standing, he turned about, and no man seemed greater for the royal cause and prelacy than he. In 1663 he was installed one of the proctors of the university. The next year he proceeded in the civil law, and about that time took holy orders, as several noblemen's sons did about that time. In 1668 he was elected rector of his college, upon the decease of Dr. Paul Hood, so that, being thereby put into the road for preferment, he was in the year following made dean and chantor of Chichester, and soon after clerk of the king's closet. In 1671 he was nominated Bishop of Oxford, upon the translation of Dr. Walter Blandford to Worcester: whereupon, being consecrated in the archbishop's chapel at Lambeth, on the second Sunday after that of the Holy Trinity, which was then the 2nd day of July, an. 1671, he was then enthronized in the cathedral belonging to his see, on the 5th day of the same month; about which time he had liberty allowed him to keep his rectory of Lincoln college in commendam with it for sometime. At length, the see of Durham having been void near four years after the decease of the most orthodox and generous bishop, Dr. J. Cosins, which happened in Westminster, 15th Jan., 1671, he was translated thereunto on the 22nd of Oct. 1674. On the 26th April, 1676, he was sworn one of the privy council to King Charles II., and after his death shewing himself ready to keep pace with the humour of King James II., he was not only made dean of his chapel, in the place of Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, (who in few days before had been deprived of it,) but also sworn one of his privy council on the 8th day of Jan. following. In the next year he was appointed by his majesty one of the commissioners for ecclesiastical affairs, at which time, Dr. W. Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, being appointed another, he utterly refused to sit among them, gaining thereby great credit from the true

Ibid. [anno 1668] p. 297.

Vid. sup. notice of Bishop Croft, vol. xiv. p. 387. This was at "the beginning of March, 1669." Gunning was consecrated March 6, and Barrow, March 21. Vid. sup. p. 381.

Le Neve, pp. 185, 6. (July, 1669.)

At least in the case of the "poor bishopric" of Gloucester, vid. p. 507. To whose influence are we to ascribe such an appointment as Pearson's?

Le Neve, pp. 186, 7.

sons of the church of England. On the 3rd of August the said commissioners opened their commission, and the next day they began to sit, and so continued to the beginning of October, 1688, at which time it was generally known that the Prince of Orange was about to come into England to rescue the people thereof from popery; towards the advancement of which those commissioners were generally supposed to give their assisting hand, especially in this respect, that they punished those ministers that acted and preached against it. But when Dr. Crew fully saw that the Prince of Orange would take place, he began in some respects to flinch from and desert his master, by sneaking after and applying himself to the Orangian party. And when his said master, King James II., did leave the nation, to avoid danger, on the 11th of Dec. 1688, he was one of the bishops that voted on the 6th of Feb. following, in the convention or parliament that met on the 22nd of Jan. going before, that he the said king had abdicated the nation, as I was informed by letters soon after. But notwithstanding all this, and other his endeavours to please King William III., he was excepted out of the act of pardon of the said king and queen, dated 23rd May, 1690; and about the 21st of Dec., 1691, he took to him a wife."*

“Thomas Wood, a younger son of a father of both his names (clerk of the spicery of King James I.) was . ..... educated in the college school at Westminster, elected student of Christ Church in 1627 or thereabouts, took the degrees in arts, holy orders, and by the endeavours of Sir Henry Wood, his elder brother, was made chaplain in ordinary to King Charles I., being then but twenty-eight years of age. In 1641 he took the degrees in divinity, by virtue of a dispensation for allowance of terms, and about that time was rector of Whilkham, in the bishopric of Durham. In the time of the grand rebellion against King Charles I., he left the nation and his preferments, and travelled to Rome, and to other places in Italy, where he spent some years, and after his return lived a retired life in the country. In the jubilee year, 1660, he was restored to his rectory, and, in reward of his sufferings, had a prebendship in the church of Durham conferred on him, (installed therein 10th Dec. the same year,) and, upon the promotion of Dr. William Paul to the see of Oxford, he was made dean of Lichfield, in the latter end of 1663. In 1670 he was promoted to the see of Lichfield, on the death of Dr. John Hacket, by the endeavours of his said brother, Sir Henry, (whose daughter and heir was married to Charles Fitzroy, Duke of Southampton, natural son to King Charles II. ;) whereupon being consecrated on the 2nd day of July (being the second Sunday after that of Trinity,) anno 1671, (at which time Dr. Crew was consecrated Bishop of Oxon,) enjoyed that honour, though a person of no merit, unless it was for his preaching, to the time of his death. But so it was that, he not caring to live in Lichfield or Eccleshall (where is a seat belonging to the see), either for not being beloved, or to save charges, he retired to Hackney, and lived in the house where he was born in an ordinary condition: whereupon Dr. Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, suspended him of his office."†

"Guy Carleton was born of an ancient and genteel family at Brampton Foot, in Gilsland, within the county of Cumberland, educated in the free school at Carlisle under Mr. Thomas Robson, and admitted a poor serving child of Queen's college under the tuition of Charles, son of the said Thomas Robson, an. 1621, aged seventeen years, or thereabouts. Afterwards he was made tabarder, fellow, and, in 1635, one of the proctors of the university, vicar of Bucklesbury, near to Newbury, in Berks, &c. At length, upon the breaking out of the grand rebellion, he took part with his majesty, and did him good service, being then accounted an excellent horseman in a double sense, for which he had his share in sufferings as other loyalists had. After the king's restoration he was made one of his chaplains, was actually created D.D. in

* Wood, vol. ii. pp. 1177, 8.

+ Ibid. p. 1176.

the beginning of August, 1660, made Dean of Carlisle in the place of Dr. Thomas Comber, sometime master of Trinity college, in Cambridge, (some years before dead,) and on the 2nd of November the same year was installed Prebendary of Durham. In 1671, he was nominated Bishop of Bristol, on the death of Dr. Gilbert Ironside, to which see being consecrated in St. Peter's church, at Westminster, on the 11th day of February, in the same year, [he] had, much about that time, liberty allowed him to keep his prebendship in commendam. In 1678, he was translated to Chichester on the death of Dr. Brideoake, and was confirmed therein on the 8th day of January, the same year; but had not the name there for a scholar or liberal benefactor, as his predecessor and kinsman had, named Dr. George Carleton. This Dr. Guy Carleton died in the city of Westminster, during his attendance in parliament, on the 6th day of July, 1685; whereupon his body was conveyed, as I have been informed, to Chichester, and buried in the cathedral church there."*

"An. 1672, Nov. 3, the archbishop in person, assisted by Humphrey London, &c. . . . consecrated John Prichard, D.D., Bishop of Gloucester, in his chapel at Lambeth.

"In the same year, Feb. 9, the archbishop, assisted by Humphrey London, &c. . . . consecrated Peter Mews, LL.D., Bishop of Bath and Wells; and John Pearson, D.D., Bishop of Chester . . . . in his chapel at Lambeth.”↑

"John Prichett, son of Walter Prichett, of Hillenden, in Middlesex, (afterwards alderman of London, as his relations have told me,) was born there, or in that county, admitted a student of Queen's college in Michaelmas term, 1662, aged eighteen years; took the degrees in arts as a member of St. Edmund's Hall, that of master being completed in an act celebrated 1629. Afterwards, marrying an Oxford woman of inferior note, he became beneficed in his own country; but whether he suffered for any cause during the civil war, I know not. Sure 'tis, he being vicar of St. Giles's church, near Cripplegate, in London, after the restoration of King Charles II., and esteemed a rich man, as indeed he was, he, by the endeavours of Dr. Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, had the poor bishoprick of Gloucester conferred on him, after the death of Dr. Nicolson, with leave allowed to him to keep the said church of St. Giles's in commendam with it. So that being consecrated thereunto on the 3rd day of November, (being the 1st Sunday of that month,) an. 1672, [he] sat there till the time of his death, which happening at Harefield, in Middlesex, (where he had an estate,) on the 1st day of January, 1680, [he] was buried on the 7th day of the same month under the pulpit of the church there."§

"Peter Mews, or Meaux, son of Elzeus Mews, of Candle-Purse, or PurseCaundell, in Dorsetshire, was born there, or in that county, educated a scholar in Merchant Tailors' school in London, elected of St. John's college, an. 1637, aged eighteen years; afterwards was made fellow, and, when the puritanical rebellion broke out in 1642, he took up arms for his majesty King Charles I. In the year 1645 he proceeded in arts, and, when the parliamentarian visitors sate in 1648, was ejected his fellowship and the university. Afterwards he served his majesty in Scotland, and, when his cause declined there, he spent several years in other countries beyond the seas, and did undergo many troubles and dangers. In July, an. 1660, his majesty King Charles II. being then restored, he was made Archdeacon of Huntingdon, in the place of Dr. Richard Holdsworth, some years before that time dead; and in December following was actually created doctor of the laws, being about that time one

Ibid. pp. 1168, 9.

Le Neve, pp. 187, 8.

Compare (sup.) p. 25, the case of Dr. William Paul, made Bishop of Oxford "by the endeavours of Dr. Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury," and vol. xiv. p. 383 (note), that of Ironside's appointment, by the same influence, to the "mean bishopric" of Bristol.

§ Wood, vol. ii. p. 1166.

of the king's chaplains, and vicar of St. Mary's church in Reading, in the county of Berks. On the 30th of October, 1662, he was installed Canon of Windsor, in the place of Dr. Henry Carpenter, deceased, and about that time became Canon of St. David's. In 1665, he was made Archdeacon of Berks, in the place of John Ryves, LL.B. deceased, and soon after giving up his archdeaconry of Huntingdon, William Johnson, D.D., famous for his book called "Deus Nobiscum," succeeded. . ... In 1667, Dr. Mews was elected president of St. John's college, in the place of Dr. Richard Baylie, deceased; had the golden prebendship of St. David's bestowed on him, and in 1669, 1670, and 1672, he did undergo, with great credit to himself, the office of vicechancellor of this university. On the 4th of August, 1670, he was installed Dean of Rochester, in the place of Dr. Nathaniel Hardy, deceased; and, upon the death of Dr. Robert Creighton, Bishop of Bath and Wells, he was nominated to succeed him; whereupon being consecrated to that see at Lambeth (with Dr. Pearson to Chester) on Shrove Sunday, February the 9th, an. 1672, [he] sate there several years, much beloved and admired for his hospitality, generosity, justice, and frequent preaching. In the beginning of November, 1684, he was declared by the king in his council Bishop of Winchester, in the room of Dr. G. Morley, then lately deceased, and soon after was translated to that see. In June, 1685, he appeared in actual service for his majesty King James II. against the rebels conducted by James, Duke of Monmouth; which being very signal, his majesty was graciously pleased to reward him with a rich medal. After that king withdrew himself into France, he adhered to King William III., and took the oaths as due to him.”*

6

John Pearson, D.D., “a learned man, and famous for his Exposition of the Creed,' and other books... [was] born at Creake, in Norfolk, bred in Eaton school, admitted into King's college in Cambridge, an. 1631; commenced M.A., became chaplain to George, Lord Young, at Exeter, prebendary of Sarum, preacher at St. Clement's, Eastcheap, and afterwards at St. Christopher's, in London. In 1660, he was installed Archdeacon of Surrey, after it had lain void about eleven years, (being then D.D.,) was afterwards master of Jesus college, in Cambridge, prebendary of Ely, chaplain in ordinary to his majesty, and master of Trinity college, in the said university. I say that he succeeded Dr. Wilkins in Chester, was consecrated to that see (with Dr. Peter Mew to Bath and Wells) on the 9th day of February, 1672, having before published an Exposition on the Creed," &c.t

SACRED POETRY.

THE PROPHECY OF BALAAM.-(Numbers, xxiv.)

O JACOB, goodly are thy tents,
How beautiful they stand,
Bright as the aloes, blossoming
Beneath Jehovah's hand;

As gardens, o'er the valleys spread
By some proud river's side;

Or the cedar trees, whose mightiness
Is mirror'd in its tide.

* Wood, vol. ii. pp. 1178, 9.

Ibid. pp. 125, 1159, 1160.

A Star shall shine from Israel,
To bless the world with light;
And a Sceptre risen in Jacob

Shall Moab's princes smite.

And mine eyes shall look upon Him,
Though yet it may not be ;
And in the fulness of the time
His glory shall I see.

For I saw the future all unveiled,
Although my trance was deep;
And I heard the voice of God himself,
When most I seemed to sleep.

PSALM CIII.

WAKE, O my soul, and all within my frame,
To bless the Lord, and praise his holy name;
O wake to own his mercy, nor forget
Of all his benefits the countless debt.

All thine iniquities doth he forgive,

And biddeth thee, from curse delivered, live;
Healeth thy wounds, and maketh glad thy face,
With loving-kindness and abounding grace.

Thy mouth he satisfieth still with good;
And like an eagle's is thy youth renewed;
In righteousness doth he maintain the right
Of all that are oppress'd by lawless might.

He unto Moses did reveal his grace,
And all his acts to Israel's chosen race :
Grace and compassion from the Lord o'erflow,
In mercy plenteous and to anger slow.

He will not alway for transgression chide,
Nor will his wrath unchangeably abide :
He hath not paid our sins their due reward,
Nor made his dealings with our guilt accord.

For as the heaven is high the earth above,
So to all those who fear him is his love;
Far as the east is from the west apart,
So far hath he remov'd our guilt of heart.

Less doth a father feel his children's claim
Than the Lord pitieth all who fear his name-
Knowing whereof he made our feeble kind,
That we are dust, he calleth still to mind.

VOL. XV.-May, 1839.

S. P. R+

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