Lancelot Andrewes(1555-1626).

[95]Lancelot Andrewes[F], lord bishop of Winton, was borne in London; went to schoole at Merchant Taylors schoole. Mr. Mulcaster[G]was his schoolemaster, whose picture he hung in his studie (as Mr. Thomas Fuller,Holy State).

Old Mr. Sutton, a very learned man of those dayes, of Blandford St. Maries, Dorset, was his school fellowe, and sayd that Lancelot Andrewes was a great long boy of 18 yeares old at least before he went to the university.

He was a fellowe[96]of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge (calledCollegium Episcoporum, for that, at one time, in those dayes, there were of that house ... bishops).

The Puritan faction did begin to increase in those dayes, and especially at Emanuel College. That party had a great mind to drawe in this learned young man, whom if they could make theirs, they knew would be a great honour to them. They carried themselves outwardly with great sanctity and strictnesse, so that 'twas very hard matter to——as to their lives. They preached up very strict keeping and observing the Lord's day; made, upon the matter, damnation to breake it, and that 'twas lesse sin to kill a man then.... Yet these hypocrites did bowle in a private green at their colledge every Sunday aftersermon; and one of the colledge (a loving friend to Mr. L. Andrewes) to satisfie him one time lent him the key of a private back dore to the bowling green, on a Sunday evening, which he opening, discovered these zealous preachers, with their gownes off, earnest at play. But they were strangely surprized to see the entrey of one that was not ofthe brotherhood.

There was then at Cambridge a good fatt alderman that was wont to sleep at church, which the alderman endeavoured to prevent but could not. Well! this was preached against as a signe ofreprobation. The good man was exceedingly troubled at it, and went to Andrewes his chamber to be satisfied in point of conscience. Mr. Andrewes told him that was an ill habit of body not of mind, and that it was against his will; advised him on Sundays to make a more sparing meale and to mend it at supper. The alderman did so, but sleepe comes upon again for all that, and was preached at. comes againe to be resolved, with tears in his eies; Andrewes then told him he would have him make a good heartie meale as he was wont to doe, and presently take out his full sleep. He did so[97]; came to St. Marie's[98], where the preacher was prepared with a sermon to damne all who slept at sermon, a certaine signe ofreprobation. The good alderman having taken his full nap before, lookes on the preacher all sermon time, and spoyled the designe.—But I should have sayd that Andrewes was most extremely spoken against and preached against for offering to assoile or excuse a sleeper in sermon time. But he had learning and witt enough to[99]defend himselfe.

His great learning quickly made him known in the university, and also to King James, who much valued him for it, and advanced him, and at last[100]made him bishop of Winchester, which bishoprick he ordered with great prudence as to government of the parsons, preferring of ingeniose persons that were staked to poore livings and diddelitescere. He made it his enquiry to find out such men. Amongst severall others (whose names have escaped my memorie) Nicholas Fuller (he wroteCritica Sacra), minister of Allington neer Amesbury in Wilts, was one. The bishop sent for him, and the poor man was afrayd and knew not what hurt he had donne. makes him sitt downe to dinner; and, after the desert, was brought in in a dish his institution and induction, or the donation, of a prebend: which was his way. He chose out alwayes able men to his chaplaines, whom he advanced. Among others, Wren, of St. John's in Oxon, was his chaplaine, a good generall scholar and good orator, afterwards deane of Winsore, from whom (by his son in lawe, Dr. William Holder) I have taken this exact account of that excellent prelate.

His Life is before his Sermons, and also his epitaph, which see. He dyed at Winchester house, in Southwark, and lies buried in a chapell at St. Mary Overies, where his executors ... Salmon M. D. and Mr. John Saintlowe, merchant of London, have erected (but I beleeve according to his lordship's will, els they would not have layed out 1000li.) a sumptuose monument for him.

He had not that smooth way of oratory as now. It was a shrewd and severe animadversion of a Scotish lord, who, when king James asked him how he liked bp. A.'s sermon, sayd that he was learned, but he did play with his text, as a Jack-an-apes does, who takes up a thing and tosses and playes with it, and then he takes up another, and playes a little with it. Here's a pretty thing, and there's a pretty thing!

[101]Bishop Andrews: vide the inscription before hisSermons.

Notes.[F]Aubrey gives the coat:—'See of Winchester; impaling ..., 3 mullets on a bend engrailed and cottised ...,' ensigned with a mitre or, and encircled by the Garter motto.[G]Richard Mulcaster, Head Master of Merchant Taylors' School, 1561-1586.

[F]Aubrey gives the coat:—'See of Winchester; impaling ..., 3 mullets on a bend engrailed and cottised ...,' ensigned with a mitre or, and encircled by the Garter motto.

[G]Richard Mulcaster, Head Master of Merchant Taylors' School, 1561-1586.

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