First, then be thou pleased to take notice, that this
holy man hauing beene noursed vp from his tender age
in the exercises of true Pietie, and in the studies of various
and exquisite Learning first, in the famous
Schoole of Winchester, where he was placed a child,
and after in New Colledge in Oxford, whether
he was elected to bee a fellow was in his riper yeares
aduanced to diuers eminent places of dignitie in the
Church, not by any ambitious suit or seeking of his own;
but by the speciall, and I had almost said; immediate
prouidence of Almightie God, who beyond his expectation
or desire, raised him by insensible degrees to the
heighth of Episcopall dignitie: thereby giuing vs one
proofe among many, that notwithstanding our great
and manifold sinnes he hath not altogether abandoned
the care of this Church. For while this man by the naturall
inclination and bent of his owne minde, affected
rather the fruitfulnesse of the Vine , and the fatnesse
of the Oliue, in a more priuate and retired life
then to be a Gouernour ouer the trees; as appeared by
his willing acceptance of a Fellowship in the Colledge
neare Winchester, where for a time he liued, and
could haue beene contented to haue ended his dayes
there in sweet contemplation if he had beene let alone.
Yet God, that rules all things, so disposed of him, that
one while by the conspiring votes of a numerous Society
hee was, euen before he thought of it, recalled to the
Wardenship of that Colledge whereof he had beene
formerly fellow: another while by the speciall grace
and fauour of his Maiestie, without any suite of his
owne likewise, preferred first to the Prefecture of the
Hospitall of Saint Crosses neare Winchester, then
to the Deanerie of the Cathedrall Church of Worcester,
and lastly to the Bishopricke of Bath and Wels,
where he died.
In all which places of honour and employment,
first, he forgate not the practice of those vertues, whereof
he had made shew in his more priuate life, but continued
the same in his Rotchet, which he had beene in his
Schollers gowne; thereby shewing that his vertues were
vertues indeed, and that hee vsed them not as Stageplayers
doe their vizards, only to act a part in, which
being done, they pull them off, and cast them into a
corner.
Instances of this kind may be, First, his Humilitie,
the Basis, as it is well called, of all vertue, which
being a fruit of true Christian mortification, and consisting
in a low-prising of a mans selfe, and his gifts, he
had studied so well in his younger yeares, that in the
whole course of his life, afterwards there was no tumor
of pride appeared, but as well in his actions as in his
speeches, he euer made himselfe equall with those
of the lowest sort. and that notwithstanding the many
temptations which hee had both from the eminencie
of his place, and excellencie of his parts to doe and
speake otherwise.
Secondly, From this, and not from the goodnesse
of his nature only, though that were very good, did
proceed that singular Affabilitie, and easinesse of
Accesse which he euer retained to all sorts of men, and
to those of his owne Coate especially. There was no place
nor time almost, except it were his times of deuotion,
wherein hee might not bee spoken with by the meanest
person; and in his speech so farre as lawfully he might,
hee euer studied to giue the partie content; so that although
it were not in his power to grant euery mans
suite, for who can doe that? yet I thinke no man
can say, hee was euer sleighted or superciliously vsed
by him.
3. Adde hereunto his rare Tranquillitie and
Contentednesse of minde: which though a man
would thinke should agree best with an honourable
and plentifull estate, yet experience teacheth, that it
is farre otherwise. Accesse of fortunes in most men, rather
enlargeth then satisfieth desire, and new honours
breed new ambitions: besides the verie employment of
great men occasioneth many troublesome & disquieting
thoughts which a priuate life is naturally free from.
But this man hauing first framed his mind to haue true
contentment in his more priuate fortunes, retained the
same temper in all the alterations of his estate; so that
whatsoeuer outwardly befell him either to the better
or the worser part, he seemed very little to be affected,
surely nothing disquieted therewithall. A strange serenitie
of minde in him; whereof I take it also to haue
beene a good argument, that as I haue often heard
him say so long as he was in perfect health of his bodie,
he did neuer dreame.
4. But a speciall cause of that also may haue
beene his great Temperancie or rather Austeritie
in diet, which was another vertue that hee retained
from the time he first tasted Vniuersitie Commons vnto
his dying day. For as at the greatest and best furnished
meales whereat the condition of his place required
his presence, his feeding was commonly vpon one dish,
and that none of the daintiest; so it is well knowne,
that when he was not hindered by the extraordinarie
resort of strangers vnto him, he fasted commonly foure
times in the weeke from his supper, and spent that
time vntill eight or nine of the clocke at night in framing
some Meditation or other vpon a piece of holy
Scripture, the copies of diuers whereof remained in his
Studie at his departure; some few of which thou shalt
find annexed to this worke for thy vse and benefit.
5. As hee was in his diet, so in his apparell,
recreations, and all other outward things belonging to
this life a most sparing and temperate vser of Gods
blessings, and that as well in his richer as in his meaner
fortunes: so that vnlesse it were in the companie of
schollers, and in such ingenious and pleasant discourses,
as are incident thereto, wherein he would sometimes
expresse much freedome of innocent mirth a man could
not obserue that he tooke much delight in any wordly
thing whatsoeuer; an euident argument, that his intellectuall
part had the predominancy ouer his sensuall,
or rather indeed that grace ruled them both; and that
the Man in him was subordinate to the Christian.
With these vertues did this good man come furnisht
to the Episcopall Chaire; and being there hee
kept them: like as he did also his firme purpose of single
life, which though it be not of it selfe a vertue but a
State; yet he that could liue in that state, free not only
from the act, but from all suspition of vncleannesse,
as I thinke no man in this age liued more free; had certainly
attained that excellent gift, which our Sauiour
commends, and wisheth them that haue it to make
vse of as of a great aduantage, and helpe to godlines,
Matth. 19.12.
Now as the varietie of his preferments in the
world, did no way hinder him in the practice of these
his priuate and personall vertues; as hath beene said:
so did they yeild him a greater furtherance or opportunitie
at least of acting some others, which I may call
publike or Pastorall.
For first, as he had beene alwayes liberall, from the
time he had any thing to giue; so vpon the increase of
his fortunes hee improued that vertue euen to a kind of
Magnificence. I am verily perswaded, if hee had
attained to that wealth which some of our English
Prelates heretofore haue done: hee would haue built
Churches and Colledges. But his forwardnesse in this
kind, could neuer stay till his purse were full: therefore
hee neuer attained to the doing of any pompous
worke. But if it were possible to lay together his ordinarie
largesse to the poore at his gates, and in the
streets; his contributions to pious workes of all sorts
vpon his owne and others motions: his Exhibitions to
poore Schollers both abroad and in the Vniuersitie, of
all which he kept no Kalender. I assure my selfe they
would arise to as great a summe as the workes of one of
the greatest Benefactours of our time. Besides his increasing
of the allowance of the poore Brethren of
Saint Crosse, both in diet and otherwise, which
was worthily continued by his Successour his maintayning
of two Lectures in New Colledge in Oxford,
one for the Hebrew Tongue, another for the
Mathematickes: his leading the way to the setting
vp of the great Organ in the Church of Worcester,
and to the founding of a Librarie there, as also of another
in Welles, might well be reckoned as particular
instances of his farre extended bountie in this
kinde.
2. Next his Magnanimitie and Courage
appeared well in the gouernment of the Vniuersitie,
that one yeare wherein he bare the office of Vicechancellour;
For as they well know that haue had experience
of that place, the animosity of some spirits there,
being like Alexanders horse, generous indeed, and
fit for great seruices, but yet fierce and vntractable
for the time, requires no lesse then an Alexander
to curbe them, and to bring them to their due
temper and pace. And such an Alexander was he.
For, notwithstanding all opposition that is vsually
made in that kind, hee reuiued much of the ancient
Discipline there: and indeed wrought such a sensible
reformation vpon the more distempered parts of the
Vniuersity, that as I haue credibly heard, it was deliberated
by those that had the highest care of that place
to haue continued him longer therein, though a consecrated
Bishop: had not he of his owne minde desirous
to attend his greatest charge, shewed himselfe auerse
from receiuing any such dispensation.
3. Next to his Magnanimitie, if not a part of
it, I may reckon his Contempt of wealth, and especially
of that manner of getting wealth which is too
commonly in vse among them which seeke.
quocunque modo rem.
Had he made that his rule, he might haue beene a rich
man. But I dare say, that in all Elections of Schollers,
Collations of Orders, and Benefices, Dispositions
of Offices, and Grants of Colledge and Church-leases
that passed through his hands, as there passed in his
time very many, he neuer fouled them with the least
touch of a Gehazi's reward, which Integrity of his, together
with his open-handednesse and house-keeping,
were the onely causes that he left no greater estate
behind him.
But to come yet more nearely to the discharge of
his Episcopall Function. His Abilitie to teach,
which Saint Paul makes one of the principall vertues
of a Bishop as it was very great, so did it neuer
appeare more, then after he came to speake ex cathedra,
for although the acts of gouernment alone may
seeme sufficient to take vp a man in that place: yet he
knowing that there is a double honour which Saint
Paul allowes to such as doe not only rule well, but
also labour in the Word and Doctrine, 1. Tim. 5.
17. did after the example of Saint Chrisostome,
Saint Augustine, Saint Gregorie the Great, and
other ancient Bishops, whose Homilies wee enioy and
read at this day, and neuer ceast after he was a Bishop
to adorne the Pulpit with his no lesse frequent and assiduous,
then learned and pious labours. Witnesse his
ordinary preaching in the Cathedrall Church of
Welles, his frequent excursions into the Parishes
adioyning; and indeed his leauing of no place where
he came, if it were a fit time of preaching vnsupplied.
Besides all which, his ordinarie Discourses were in one
kind or other as good as Lectures to those that heard
them: for indeed, he was a man of rare sufficiencie
in all parts of Learning; and for any doubts that were
proposed to him, whether historicall, textuall, practicall
or controuersall; as his readinesse was singular to
take notice of them; so was his dexteritie no lesse happy
in resoluing them: So that to conclude for this point, I
may say he was a Salomon to his houshold Seruants;
to the City where he liued an Oracle: to any Scholler
that resorted to him a liuing librarie: & to the whole
Church such a Priest as God himselfe describes by his
Prophet Malachie, one whose lips did preserue
knowledge and men did seek the law at his mouth.
But it is required of a Bishop, that hee should pascere
cibo too as well as verbo: and therefore Saint
Paul among other things sayes hee should bee giuen
to hospitalitie. So was this man in a very extraordinarie
and remarkable degree. For to omit his housekeeping,
first at Saint Crosse, where hee made it his
studie and profession to refresh the bowels of the poore
not with drie Pensions as his Predecessors for the most
part had done, either for the sauing of trouble or charges,
or both: but as became the honour of that place,
with constant, solide, and substantiall meales: and
then afterward at his Deanerie of Worcester,
where he entertained the better sort with that splendour,
and the meaner with that bountie and munificence,
that the whole Countrie rings of it to this day:
to omit these, I say; the list of his ordinarie Family
which he kept in diet after hee came to the Bishopricke
of Bath and Welles did commonly consist of at least
fiftie persons; a great part whereof hee kept not so
much for any state or attendance vpon his person, as out
of pure charitie in regard of their owne priuate needs.
Besides all which, his gates were the daily refectorie
of his poore neighbours; and for superuenient strangers
he was another Abraham, a Lot, neuer suffering
any man of fashion, Schollers especially, that
came to him vpon businesse or otherwise to depart emptie
away.
Now in this rankenesse of housekeeping, I know
it is a disease that commonly fals vpon great Families,
that they grow disorderly and riotous, abusing oftentimes
the bountie of a good Lord or Master to their
owne hurt and the scandall of others. Which fault lest
any man should suspect to haue beene in his house, I cannot
but remember another vertue of his which Saint
Paul commends also in a Bishop and that is the
ruling of his house well: and hauing those that are
vnder him in subiection with all grauitie. Surely this
man had so. For notwithstanding his large allowances
of all things fit for the entertainment of strangers, you
should see no footsteps of riot or excesse in his house:
No tipling or carowsing of healths; no casting of the
childrens bread vnto dogs; not so much as any hawkes
or hounds kept, vnlesse it were those wherewith hee
hunted after the Kingdome of Heauen. And the
reason of all this I take to haue beene first his owne example,
who was indeed a patterne of sobrietie, and of
all good conuersation, as Saint Paul wisheth Timothie
to be: then the choice of his seruants wherein
he imitated Dauid, Psal. 101. 8. and lastly his training
them vp whom he entertained in true pietie and deuotion.
For besides his ordinary Chappell houres which
he saw duely and by all frequented: hee caused many of
his household to assist euery morning at the sixe a clocke
Prayers in the Cathedrall Church adioyning: Hee
neuer sate downe to his meales, but he had according
to the ancient fashion of Bishops a Chapter of the holy
Bible, read by one whom he kept for that purpose;
and lastly, at the close of the night, he called his whole
Family into his ordinary dining roome, and therein his
owne person most deuoutly commended them by his
prayers vnto Almightie God. Which thing though it
be no more then euery Christian housekeeper in his particular
charge doth or should doe; yet I account it the
more memorable in a man of his place, because the
multitude and different qualitie of their attendants
seemes ordinarily vnto such a sufficient pretence to remit
that dutie to their Chaplaines, if not to lay it quite
aside.
Now as the Philosopher sayes, that each priuate
Family is the modell of a Common-wealth: so may I say
that each Christian Family is the modell of a Church:
and therefore no wonder if he that was so good at the
ordering of the one, proued no lesse excellent in the administration
of the other. The care of his Diocesse as
it was of all other his greatest, and that which most
tooke him vp; so did it bring forth in him fruits of exemplary
diligence, and such as deserue not to be concealed
from the World.
For first, whereas the foundation of all good order
in a Church, is the planting of an able and learned
Ministery, which thing appertaines to the care of
the Bishop, and hath euer beene accounted a chiefe
branch of his supereminent power: in the discharge
hereof he was so carefull and precise, that he neuer
conferred holy Orders vpon any person, whom he did
not first examine strictly according to the Canons of the
Church; neither did hee trust herein any Chaplaine or
other Deputie; but himselfe personally performed the
office for the satisfaction of his owne conscience, as one
that meant to giue an account to God for what hee did.
A worthy example doubtlesse, which if it were imitated
by all the rest of that Venerable ranke, neither on
the one side would they bee troubled with so many clamours
of the Laitie against the vnsufficiencie of their
Clergie: nor on the other would they haue such cause as
oftentimes they haue to beshrew their owne fingers for
ordaining them, who are no sooner put into the Ministerie,
but they become the ring-leaders of faction and
schisme against that very authoritie which ordained
them.
As he was thus prouident to plant a good Ministerie
in his Diocesse, so was hee no lesse carefull to
cherish those who were alreadie planted. His care of
them all in generall was most tender and fatherlike.
The most eminent among them for Pietie and Learning
he did not only vse most familiarly; but studied to
draw them nearest to himselfe by prouiding them of
Prebends in his Church, wherein it was his want of
opportunitie rather then of desire and forwardnesse
that he did no more. And lastly, to the weaker sort
of them he spared not to giue his aduice and direction
vpon all occasions how they might enable themselues
for the better discharge of their calling; to which purpose
he had both intended and begun a plaine and familiar
explanation of the Doctrine of the Church of
England, contained in the Catechisme and thirtie
nine Articles which he meant to haue communicated
to them for their proper vse and instruction; but the
interruption of Parliaments and other great affaires
toward his later time, and at last his vntimely and
much lamented death, as it seemes, put an end to that
worthy and religious designe.
In the exercise of the Discipline of the Church hee
carried himselfe so, that by his own practice he wrought
a great reuerence thereof, euen in those who were otherwise
not well affected thereunto. For when any ennormous
offender was censured in his Consistorie, whose
punishment and penance was fit should be performed in
the Cathedrall Church as incestuous persons, notorious
Adulterers, notorious Schismatickes, or the like; himselfe
was vsually the Preacher at such times: and this
he did often and vpon diuers occasions: and in such his
Sermons, sundry of which thou shalt find in this
Worke did so open the grieuousnesse of those offences,
and the authoritie of the censures and discipline of the
Church, as for the most part wrought great contrition
in the parties punished; and after Sermon before
the whole Congregation himselfe gaue them absolution.
All which he performed with that grauitie, learning,
and power, as gaue great comfort to all, and bred, no
doubt, a generall reuerence and awe of the censures and
authoritie of the Church.
And here by the way I cannot but acknowledge as
himselfe often did what a helpe he found toward the
ordering of his iurisdiction in the assistance of a wise,
honest, learned, and discreet Chancellour, whom as it
was his happinesse to find there, so it was his vertue euer
to make much of his person, and to vse his counsell as
occasion serued. By meanes whereof hee not only was
neuer crost, nor contested with in any cause wherein he
thought fit to inter-medle, but also for the legall and orderly
carriage of such things as came before him, no
man could euer take iust exception to the formalitie of
his proceedings.
His trienniall Visitations, he alwayes kept in his
owne person, and kept them so; that to say no more,
he was euer welcome where he came; for indeed his
comming was like Saint Pauls to the Corinthians,
not burthensome but beneficiall to those he came too:
for he sought not theirs, but them: yea, as occasion
serued, he did gladly spend, and was spent for them:
though I cannot adde as it is in the same place, that
the more he loued, the lesse he was loued againe:
for surely it was a great argument of their loue, that
they resorted & flockt to him in euery place tanquam
ad salutare & beneficum sidus, as Seneca speakes
of good Princes going their Progresses; yea, they
brought their children and whole Families to receiue
his bleßing, and to be confirmed by him; which act being
one of those that antiquitie hath euer reserued to
the Episcopall power, he performed not in a tumultuarie
manner, or as we vse to say, hand ouer head; but
with aduised deliberation and choice, admitting only
those, whom either by the certificate of their Minister,
or the examination of his owne Chaplaines, hee
found to be sufficiently instructed in the Principles of
Religion, and so by the intention of our Church: capable
of the benefit of that sacred action.
Of his care of the Cleargie in generall I haue alreadie
spoken: yet it is not to be omitted heere, how in those
Visitations of his he particularly exprest it. Wherein
his fashion was to examine strictly all those of whose
sufficiencie hee any way doubted, as well touching their
course of studie, as of their preaching: and as he would
restraine those from preaching for a time, whom hee
found weake and ignorant: so would hee with all direct
them both for the Bookes they should reade, and the
method they should vse for the better enabling of themselues
to that exercise: and thereof would he take account
as occasion serued: by which meanes he alwayes
quickned their industrie, and drew many of them to
such a commendable improuement of their talent, that
the Countrie was much edified thereby.
I will adde but one thing more of the cariage of
this man in his Episcopall Function; which though it
were a thing small in it selfe, yet I know not how, it serued
to increase much as well the peoples deuotion to
God, as their reuerence to his person. In the Cathedrall
Church of Welles, whether it were so that
himselfe preacht or no, as indeed very often he did;
but though he did not after the Sermon done, and the
Psalme sung as the manner is, himselfe standing vp in
his Episcopall seat, gaue the benediction to the people,
after the example of the High Priest in the Old Testament,
Numb. 6. 23. which thing as hee performed
like himselfe, that is to say, in a most graue and fatherlike
manner; so any man that had but seene with what
attentiue and deuout gestures all the people receiued it,
what apparant comfort they tooke in it, and how carefull
euery particular man was not to depart the Church
without it; could not but conclude, that there is a secret
vertue in the Prayers and blessings as of naturall
so of spirituall Parents, which as they are
neuer the worse for giuing, so those that haue
the relation of sonnes vnto them, are much the
better for the receiuing; and it is not for nothing
that the Apostle saith: The lesser vseth to be blessed
of the greater.
By these few things which I haue set downe Christian
Reader thou mayest easily perceiue what an
eminent patterne of all vertue as well personall as pastorall
God hath bestowed on our Church in the person
of this one man, whom as oft as I reflect on considering
the rare integritie and synceritie of his life, together
with his singular pietie and Deuotion, whereof no man
that knew him but was a witnesse, me thinkes I may
well ballance him with any of those whom the Church
of Rome boasteth of, and whom she daily canonizeth
among the Saints. Neither doe I doubt but those of
that Church that either knew him or shall read of these
things, are by this time ready to say, Talis quum fuerit,
vtinam noster fuisset. Yea, who knowes whether
they may not by some forged plea goe about to claime
him after his death, who liued in a Church opposite to
theirs all his life time? For such trickes haue they practised
of late vpon some of our most eminent Prelates;
and it is no new art; but that which they may haue
learned from that old Italian Thiefe, who was wont
to draw all the faire Oxen he could lay hands on,
though it were obtorto collo, & auersis vestigijs vnto
his owne Den. But to preuent all such practises in
this particular, I hold it not amisse to acquaint thee
somewhat more particularly with his resolutions touching
matter of Religion, and how hee stood affected to
the controuersies of our times. It is true that of his owne
disposition whether framed so by nature or by grace or
both he was NoValue of a most peaceable and milde
temper, apter to reconcile differences then to make
them, and to interprete the sayings euen of the Aduersaries
where they were ambiguous in the better part:
in regard whereof if there be yet any hope left of sowing
vp those innumerable rents which Faction hath
wrought in the seamelesse coat of Christ, and of drawing
the distracted parts of his Church to some tolerable
vnitie, I thinke he had beene such a man as is hardly
found amongst many to bee imployed in that seruice.
Howbeit as Saint Iames sayes of the wisdome
which is from aboue, that it is first pure, and then
peaceable: So I may be bold to say, that this mans desire
of peace came euer in the second place, and that his
first care was to maintaine the puritie of Religion, as it
is now taught in the Church of England. For proofe
whereof, though I might thinke it enough to referre
thee to these and other of his Sermons, wherein he hath
as his matter led him confuted and cut the throat of
most of the errours currant at this day in the Church of
Rome: yet because it may be excepted that a mans opinions
are in some sort as the Lawyers say of ones
Will ambulatorie while he liues: and that no man
is bound to stand to any Religion but what he dies in:
I will rather impart to thee a late profession of his made
in his last Will and Testament, which is the most authentike
Record of a mans minde, and such, as when
hee is once dead, no man disanulleth or addeth
thereunto, as the Apostle speakes. In this last Testament
of his, amongst other pious recommendations of
his soule to God, he hath these words:
I Desire to end my life in that faith, which is now
established in the Church of England, whereof
I am a member, and haue been by Gods blessing
well nigh thirtie yeares a Preacher: and my
soules vnfained desire is, that it may euer flourish,
and fructifie in this Kingdome, and in all his Maiesties
Dominions, and from thence be propagated
to other countries which sit in darknesse and in
the shadow of death, whether Infidels or Heretickes.
Amen.
Behold here not only a sound but a zealous Professor
of the Religion established: and I would to God euery
man of learning and conscience whether of the
one, or other side, would but make the like declaration
of himselfe in his last Will: perhaps it would be as good
a Legacie as any hee could bequeath to Gods Church.
For by it would it appeare what euery man thinkes of
the summe of Religion truly and indeed, when all
worldly hopes, feares, preiudices, dependances, and
engagements being set aside, he hath non but God, and
his owne conscience to satisfie: And then I doubt not
but as an eminent Prelate of the Church of Rome said
of the doctrine of Iustification by faith only, that
it was a good Supper-doctrine, though not so good to
breake fast on: so it would bee acknowledged of our reformed
Religion in generall, that although it be not so
plausible and pleasant a religion to liue in, as some other
may be, yet it is the only comfortable Religion to die
in; as being that which settles a man vpon the true
rocke, and giues a sure footing to his faith, when all the
superstitious deuises of mans braine, doe like sand, faile
and moulder away.
But to returne to his Reuerend Prelate of whom
we are speaking, being fallen vpon the mention of his
last Will and Testament, it may haply bee expected
that I should here relate what Legacies he gaue therein
to the Church, what summes of money he bequeathed
ad pios vsus, &c. for that is the pompe of Willes in
these dayes. But for that I haue said enough alreadie.
He that gaue all whilst he liued euen his very Bookes
a great part of which I thinke to the value of foure
hundred pounds worth, hee disposed to the Librarie of
New Colledge in Oxford, by a Deed of Gift diuers
yeares before his death, reseruing the vse of them
only for his life time: could not haue much left to bestow
at his death. Only a name hee hath left behind
him, and that more precious then any ointment a name
that filleth the Church for the present, with the sweet
sauour thereof, and I trust that euen Posteritie also
shall be refreshed by it. For the memoriall of vertue,
as he saith is immortall; because it is approued
both with God, and Men. When it is
present men take example at it, and when it is gone
they desire it: it weareth a Crowne and triumpheth
for euer, hauing gotten the victorie, and striuing
for euerlasting rewards.
As touching the manner of his death, though any
man might guesse at it that hath beene acquainted thus
farre with the passages of his life, for seldome doe a
mans life and his end varie yet it will not bee amisse
to acquaint thee with thus much, that hauing some
few houres before his departure made a zealous and
deuout confession both of his faith and sinnes, to the
Bishop of Elie there present, from whom also he receiued
absolution according to the order of our Church:
and being assisted to the last gaspe with the comfortable
and heauenly prayers of that diuine Prelate; after
he had taken particular leaue of all about him, and giuen
them respectiuely both his counsell and benediction:
he speedily yeilded vp his soule to God.
There passed not many moneths before that Reuerend
Bishop, whom I last mentioned, followed him to
his graue: with whom as he had liued many yeares in a
most entire league of friendship, not vnlike that which
Saint Chrysostome describes to haue beene betwixt
himselfe and Saint Basil Lib.I. de Sacerdotio so
I doubt not but they are now vnited and incorporated
together in a farre more firme and vndiuided societie,
euen that of the first-borne which are written in
Heauen, Heb. 12.23. and as they were heere geminum
sidus, a paire of Lights of our Church, comparable
euen to those Primitiue ones, whose lustre and
influence remaines with this day: so they haue by this
time receiued the reward of such as turne many to
righteousnesse, euen to be Stars in the Firmament
for euer and euer, Dan. 12.3.