concomitancy, that forsooth by reason of concomi tancy there is both flesh and blood in the transubstantiated bread. But these are the inventions of later men, whereas the Catholicke relligion abhorreth invented alterations in matters of faith." While they were houlding this disputation without speakeing aloud, because they were close at the Bishops backe, who at that time sate before the fire, for it was in the winter season; the Bishop leaned his chair somewhat backwards, and harkened what they said. And when they had done speaking, the Bishop_turning to his chaplaines, useth these words, "Fathers soule, let him alone, for he hath more learning then you all." Whilest he lived at Essingdon, he preached the word of God constantly to the people. Now so it was that the archdeaconry of Durham was annexed to the rectory of Essingdon. Thereupon Mr. Gilpin for a time supplyed both places. And when by chance he had notice that the Bishop was so carefull of him, that he had a purpose to encrease his maintenance, he made answer that he was provided for sufficiently and even somewhat more then sufficient already; and desired the Bishop that he might have his good leave to resigne either the rectory or the Archdeacons place: "for" (saith he) the one of them will be sufficient; me thinkes both together are too heavie a burthen for me." Hereat the Bishop seemed to be mooved with him, and said: "have not I tould thee before hand, that thou wilt die a begger? I found them both combined; and combined I will leave them." Not long after he bestowed upon Mr. Gilpin the rectory of Houghton being a very large parish contayning 14. villages with very large possessions. Mr. Gilpin being settled at Houghton persevered most constantly constantly in the duties of the ministry, and repaired the decayed houses. His parsonage house seemed like a Bishops pallace: nor shall a man lightly finde one Bishops house amongst many worthy to be compared to this house of his, if he consider the variety of buildings, and neatnesse of the scituation, Whiles Mr. Gilpin lived at Houghton he was touched with a care not of that parish onely but of many more: for he sawe and was much grieved to see many congregations through the disease of impropriation, as they call it, to be even dispersed and destitute of pastors. For the parsonages being in the possession of laymen, there remained not maintenance for a minister: for the laymen sought out for poore base preistes, who were onely able to read prayers to the people morning and evening: nor did the one use to require, or they take care to performe any more. This desolation of the Church, and ignorance of the common sort much troubled the holy heart of Mr. Gilpin. He therefore purposed with himselfe, with as much care and vigilancy as he could, not to make up the breach wholy (for that was a thing impossible for him to dooe) but to doe his owne duty to the best of his endeavours, that the truth may be propagated, and God glorified. This desolation of the congregations appeared most of all in Northumberland and the parts adjoyning which are called Riddesdale, and Tindale. For in these quarters, especially in that time, the word of God was never heard of to be preached amongst them but by Mr. Gilpin's ministry. So that once a yeare it was his custome to make a journey amongst them. For which purpose he would usually take the oppor The Lay-men sought out.] See Jewel's Sermons. p. 181. 190. &c. tunity of Christmas holidayes, when in respect of frost and snowe other men were loth to travell. That time he liked best, because then there came many holy-dayes together, and the people would more usually assemble upon the holy-dayes, whereas at other times they neither would come together so easily, nor so often. He got himselfe a great deale of estimation and respect amongst this people both by preaching and by distribution of monies to the poore in his journey, being sometimes benighted before he was aware, and forced to lodge in the snowe all night. In which extreamity, he commanded William Airy, who for the most part attended upon him, to trott the horses up and downe, and neither to permit them nor himselfe to stand still, whiles he himselfe in the meane while did bestirre himselfe sometimes running, sometimes walking, as not able to stand still for cold. At home his daily care was for the discharge of his ministry and provision for the poore. Now there was in this towne of Houghton a streete of poore people; for their reliefe he tooke order that every Thursday through the yeare a very great pot should be provided full of boyled meat purposely for the poore. And not at Houghton alone, but even wheresoever opportunity presented it selfe, he was carefull for the poore, insomuch that by the common consent of the country people he was stiled a father of the poore. Upon a time as he was returning home upon a journey there was a certaine husbandman at plow, in whose teame of horses one upon a sodaine fell downe, whether with being overwrought or upon some disease it is uncertaine. The husbandman and those who were with him did their best to raise the horse againe with all the strength they had: had: but it was in vaine, for the horse was dead. Mr. Gilpin passing by accidentally stayed to observe the issue of the matter: And perceiving that the horse could not be raised againe, and that the husbandman was exceedingly grieved for the death of his beast, and that he cryed out he was even undone by that miserable accident, he commanded his man to alight from the horse he had under him, and patiently to carry the saddle and bridle to the next towne, and to give to the poore man the horse whereon he rode. The husbandman thereupon cryed out, "Alas Sir, I am not able to pay you the price of so good an horse." "Be of good cheare" (saith Mr. Gilpin) "thou shalt never pay me for him, till I demand it; in the meane while goe on with thy worke." Yea, and many a time as he travailed was he accustomed thus to help poore men. When at any time he chanced to meete any naked poore, he would put off part of his apparell to cover their nakednesse: and at his table he usually fed many poore persons. When that blessed Queene Elizabeth of never dying memory, after the direfull times of her sisters raigne came to the crowne, the scarcity of learned men who were able to preach the word of God, mooved not onely many religious persons, but even the very Counsell of the Queene to seeke a salve for this sore by all the meanes they could. Mr. Gilpin observing the laudable endeavours of many in relieving the churches want in this kinde, himselfe also was exceeding studious to doe what good he could possibly in his owne charge. Whereupon he began to conceive thoughts of a seminary of good literature, or a grammer-schoole, and builded A salve for this sore.] See Kennett's Case of Improprias tions, and of the Augmentations of Vicarages. p. 153-174. a schoole, a schoole, allowing maintenance for a master and usher. Himselfe also made choice out of the same schoole of such as he liked best to be privately instructed by himselfe. Which resolution of his much benefited Mr. Gilpin himselfe, and the whole Church of God all England over. For in that schoole of his were bred very many learned men, who very much graced the Church by their indeavours and uprightnesse of life. There was great resort of schollers to that schoole of his, many of whom were boorded in the towne, and many at Mr. Gilpins house. He boorded the sonnes of knights and esquires at a small rate: those who were of his kindred were free: yea and he had many poore mens sonnes upon whom he bestowed both meate, and drinke, and cloth, and education. Whereby Mr. Gilpins schoole was every where spoken of to Out of this his credit, but himselfe much more. schoole of his he sent daily very many to both Universities, unto divers whereof he also allowed maintenance in the University at his owne cost and charges. And now while he was wholly taken up with these imployments, glory and reputation which followeth him that flyeth from it, and flyeth from him that has pursued it, had made the name of Mr. Gilpin most renowned, insomuch that he was not onely honoured among the fathers of the clergy, but amongst all the nobility of the kingdome. Amongst the nobles at court the Earle of Bedford was one that marvelloufly respected Mr. Gilpin. This Earle earnestly desired of the Queene that the bishoprick of Carlile, at that time vacant upon the death of Owen Oglethorpe, should be bestowed upon him Mr. Gilpin, and obtained it. And thereupon the Earle dispatcheth his letters to Mr. Gilpin to gather that power of election which is |