Nicholas Heath

, or Heth, a most wise and learned man, of great policy, and of as great integrity, was descended from the Heaths of Aspley in the Parish of Tamworth in Warwickshire, but whether born there, (where his brother had certain lands) I cannot tell, was educated for a time in C. C. coll. in this University, but before he took a degree there, he was transplanted first to Christs coll. and afterwards to Clare hall in Cambridge, where proceeding in Arts, took holy Orders, was afterwards Archdeacon of Stafford, and in 1535. did commence D. of divinity. In 1539. Apr. 4. he was consecrated B. of Rochester, being then chief Almoner to the King, and on the 14. of the same month, the temporalities of that See were (b)(b) Pat. 31. Hen. 8. p. 7. delivered to him. On the 22. of Decemb. 1543. he was elected B. of Worcester upon the resignation of Dr. Bell, and in Feb. following, being translated thereunto, the temporalities also of that See were restored (i)(i) Pat. 35. Hen. 8. p. 4. to him on the 22. March following: where continuing till the beginning of K. Ed. 6. was soon after committed Prisoner to the Fleet, as being no Friend to that King, or reformation. Afterwards Q. Mary coming to the Crown, he was restored to his Bishoprick, which Jo. Hooper had for some time occupied, and became so great in the favour of that Queen, that he was not only made by her President of Wales, but also Archbishop of York; to which See being elected, P. Paul the fourth by his Bull dated xi. Cal. Jul. 1555. did confirm it. Afterwards being translated, the temporalities of that See were given (k)(k) Pat. 2. & 3. Ph. & Mar. p. 1. to him 8. Jan. following, and on the 22. of that month was enthronized or installed in the person of Robert Bishop of Hull, Heath being then Lord Chancellour of England. While he sate Archbishop, Q. Mary gave to him Suffolk-house against S. George’s Church in Southwark to be a habitation for him and his Successors for ever in that See, when their occasins called them to London; done in recompence for York-house near Westminster, which her Father had taken from Card. Wolsey. But the said house being remote from the Court, Archb. Heath sold it to a Merchant, and bought Norwich-house or Suffolk-place near to Charing-cross for him and his Successors for ever. When Q. Elizabeth came to the Crown, which was in Nov. 1558. (Cardinal Pole Archb. of Canterbury and Primate of all England being then dead,) he the said Heath not only refused (tho it appertained to his office) to anoint and Crown Q. Elizab. as all the Bishops besides did, except one, but also about the beginning of the year following refused to take the Oath of her Supremacy over the Church. Whereupon being deprived of his Archbishoprick about Midsomer in the same year, as also of his Chancellourship, was for a time committed to custody, (Jo. Fox saith (l)(l) In the Acts and Mon. of the Church, &c. under the year 1558. to the Tower, where he died,) but being a person of great moderation, quiet behaviour, and modest disposition, was soon after set at liberty. So that retiring to his estate at Chobham in Surrey which he before had purchased, spent the remaining part of his days there in great security, retiredness, good studies, and devotion, being then in such great grace with Q. Elizabeth that she several times visited him with marvellous kindness. At length arriving to a fair age, died in the beginning of fifteen hundred seventy and 1579 nine, as it should seem, for on the 5. of May that year one Tho. Heath, next Kinsman to the said Archbishop, had a Commission then granted (m)(m) Ut in lib. MS. Administrationum in Offic. Praerog. Cant. incipiente 1. Jan. 1571. fol. 168. a. to him from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to administer the goods, debts, chattels, &c. of him the said Nich. Heath S. T. P. sometimes Archb. of York, lately deceased. He was buried in the middle of the Chanc. belonging to the Ch. of Chobham before-mentioned, and over his grave was soon-after a plain marble stone laid, with an inscription thereon; which stone was since broken and made shorter, and the inscription, engraven on a brass plate, taken away. His brother Will. Heath, as he is at Chobham so called, was also buried in the said Chancel, some years, as it seems, before the Archbishop, where there was lately, if not still, some memory of him on a gravestone: But who are now the possessors of the Archb. lands there, which he left to his relations, I cannot tell. The picture drawn to the life of the said Archbishop, I have many times seen, which shews him to have been proper in person, black hair’d, pale-faced, thin and macerated, somewhat like the picture of Fisher B. of Rochester, but his nose not so long. I say, this picture I have often beheld, among many other choice pictures, hanging in the large Gallery belonging to Weston-house near to Long-Compton in Warwickshire, now in the possession of my worthy acquaintance Raphe Sheldon. Esq; whose Ancestor of both his names of Beoly in Worcestershire, (who died 21. Dec. 1546.) married Philippa daughter and coheir of Baldwin Heath, (by his Wife Agnes the eldest daughter and coheir of Joh. Grove of Ford-hall in Wotton in Warwickshire,) Son of Thomas Heath of Aspley in the Parish of Tamworth before-mentioned; which Thomas is supposed by those of the Sheldonian Family, (who quarter with their Arms those of Grove and Heath,) to be Great Grandfather to the Archbishop. This hath been several times told me by my never to be forgotten friend and generous acquaintance, Raphe Sheldon of Beoly and Weston Esq; (who deceased 1684.) a person always very curious and industrious in Genealogies.