fon of North-Kilworth, for the rectory of Weft-Tilbury in Eflex, in order to be near his patron bishop Neile, who, in May 1610, gave him the rectory of Cuckftone in Kent. October the fecond following, he refigned his fellowship of St. John's college in Oxford. Finding the air of Cuckftone prejudicial to him, he exchanged it for the living of Norton; into which he was inducted in November 1610, by proxy. About Christmas the fame year, the lordchancellor Ellesmere complained against him to the king, at the inftigation of Dr. Abbot, archbishop elect. May the tenth 1611, he was elected prefident of St. John's college; but his election being called in queftion, it was at laft confirmed by his majefty. The fame year, on the third of November, he was sworn the king's chaplain. April the eighteenth 1601, Dr. Neile, then bishop of Lincoln, gave him the prebend of Bugden; and December the first 1615, conferred upon him the archdeaconry of Huntingdon. In November 1616, he was advanced by his majesty to the deanery of Gloucefter, and attended him towards Scotland, -from whence he returned a little before him in 1617. He refigned his living of Weft-Tilbury, and was inducted into that of Ibstock, in Leicefterfhire, on the fecond of Auguft 1617. January the twenty-fecond 1620, he was inftalled prebendary of Westminster, having had the advowfon of it ten years the November beВ 2 fore. fore. June the twenty-ninth 1621, the king gave him the grant of the bishopric of St. David's; to which fee he was chosen on the tenth of C&tober following, and refigned the prefidentfhip of St. John's college on the feventeenth of November. Shortly after, he contracted an intimacy with George Villiers, then marquifs of Buckingham; before whom, and the countess his mother, he had a conference with Fisher the jefuit, which confirmed their attachment to the proteftant religion. January the twentyfirst 1622-3, he was inducted into the rectory of Creeke, in Northamptonshire, which he held in commendam with his bifhopric. In October 1623, he incurred the difpleafure of Dr. John Williams, bishop of Lincoln, then lord keeper of the great feal. April the feventeenth 1624, he became deputy-clerk of the closet to king Charles I. for Dr. Neile, then bishop of Durham, who was indifpofed, and executed that office till the first of May following. February the fecond 1625-6, he officiated at the coronation of his majefty, as dean of Westminster; the king having commanded bishop Williams, the dean of that church, not to be present at that ceremony. June the twentieth 1626, he was nominated to the fee of Bath and Wells; to which he was elected on the fixteenth of Auguft. In the beginning of October, the fame year, he was made dean of the chapel royal; and April the twenty-ninth 1627, 1627, was made privy-counfellor to his majefly. On the fifteenth of July 1628, he was tranflated to the bishopric of London; and, about this time, his ancient acquaintance, Sir James Whitelocke, a judge, ufed to fay of him, that he was too full of fire, though a just and good man; and, that his want of experience in ftate-matters, and his too much zeal for the church, and heat, if he proceeded in the way he was then in, would fet this nation on fire. April the twelfth 1630, he was elected chancellor of the univerfity of Oxford. In May 1633, he attended the king into Scotland; and, June the fifteenth, was fworn counsellor of that kingdom. Auguft the fourth, the fame year, upon the death of archbishop Abbot, the king refolved to advance him to the fee of Canterbury. The fame morning a perfon came to him, and offered him to be a cardinal. This offer he rejected, faying, that fomething dwelt within him which would not fuffer that, till Rome was other than it was. September the nineteenth, he was tranflated to the archbishopric of Canterbury. May the thirteenth he received the feals of his being chofen chancellor of the univerfity of Dublin in Ireland, to which office he had been elected on the fourteenth of September 1633. March the fourteenth 1634-5, he was named one of the commiffioners of the exchequer, upon B 3 the the death of Walton, lord high-treasurer of England. March the fixth, 1635-6, he procured the staff of lord high-treasurer of England for Dr. William Juxon, bishop of London. June the fourteenth 1637, he made a fpeech in the Star-chamber at the cenfure of Dr. John Baftwic, Henry Burton, B. D. and William Prynne, Efq. In October following, he fell under the dif pleafure of her majefty, for complaining of the increase and behaviour of the catholic party. In the beginning of the long parliament, he was attacked on account of the canons made by the convocation in May 1640; whereupon he wrote a letter to Mr. Seldon, dated November the twenty-ninth 1640. December the fixteenth, these canons were condemned by the house of commons, as containing in them things contrary to the king's prerogative, to the fundamental laws and ftatutes of this realm, to the rights of parliament, to the property and liberty of the subject, and tending to fedition and dangerous confequence. December the eighteenth, he was accufed by the commons of high treafon; upon which he was committed to the cuftody of the ufher of the black rod, and on the firft of March to the Tower. On the twelfth of March 1643-4, he was brought to his tryal, which lafted for twenty days, till the twenty-ninth of July; and on, the twenty-first of September, he made his recapitulation. ecapitulation. November the thirteenth, a ill of attainder of him paffed the house of ommons; and, January the fixth, 1644.5, it paffed the house of lords. He was beheaded on Tower-hill, on Friday, the tenth of January, aged feventy-one years, thirteen weeks, and four days; and his body was interred in the chancel of the church of Alhallows, Barkin; from whence, in July, 1663, it was removed to Oxford, and depofited in the chapel of St. John's college. " He compofed feveral pieces befides his anfwer to Fisher. "He was of low ftature," fays Dr. Heylin, . but of a strong compofition; his counte nance chearful and ruddy; which chearfulness and vivacity he carried with him to the very block, notwithstanding the afflictions of four years imprisonment. Of apprehenfion he was quick and fudden; of a very fociable wit and pleasant humour; and one that knew as well how to put off the gravity of his place and perfon, when he faw occafion, as any man living." The following is an authentic relation. of the Archbishop's Speech on the fcaffold, and other circumftances attending his execution. ".. Good people, "THIS is an uncomfortable time to preach, yet I fhall begin with a text of fcrip B. 4 ture: |