Edward Lee

Son of Rich. Lee of Lee-magna in Kent Esq Son of Sir Rich. Lee Knight, sometimes twice Lord Mayor of the City of London, was born in Kent, particularly (as I suppose) at Lee before-mentioned, sent to St. Mary Magd. Coll. about 1499, and took, as ’tis said, one Degree in Arts, but whether true, I cannot justly affirm, because the Register of that time and other writings, are imperfect. In the Year 1523, one Ed. Lee was admitted Bachelaur of Arts, but him I take to be too late for this Edw. Lee, whom we are further to mention. Afterwards he went to Cambridge, as one (n)(n) Fr. Godwinus in Comment. de praesulib. Angl. Edit. 1616. p. 86 in Eborac. reports, being probably driven hence by Pests that frequently then hap’ned in Oxon. Yet the Reader is to know, that he is not reckoned among the Archbishops and Bishops, which have been educated in that University, by Dr. Matthew Parker, in his Catalogue of them, at the end of his Cat. of Chancellors, Proctors, &c. thereof, in his Edition of Antiquitates Britannicae, &c. Printed an. 157 2-3. Howsoever it is, I shall not dispute it, only say, that afterwards he was made Chaplain to K. Hen. 8. and his Almoner, being then a violent Antagonist of Erasmus, but whether greater in Learning than he, or his equal, was then doubtful; yet there be not wanting some that say, that tho he was a learned Man, yet he was not a fit match for that polite Person. Not long after, the K. employed him in several Embassies, particularly in that to the Emperor with Sir Franc. Pointz, and in another with the Lord Morley, and Sir Will. Hussey into Germany to Don Ferdinando Duke of Austria, with the Order of the Garter, an. 1523, and a third with Stokesley B. of London, and Thom. Earl of Wilts. to the Pope at Bononie, about the intricate matter of Marriage with Qu. Catherine, an. 1529. In which Year, in the beginning of Febr. he became Chancellor of the Church of Salisbury by the resignation of Thom. Winter, and was succeeded in that dignity by Edw. Farmer, in Decemb. 1531. After his return from the last Embassie, he was made Archbishop of York an. 1531. was incorporated D. of D. of this University in the latter end of October (which Degree he had received in a transmarine University, while he was an Embassador, by actual creation) and on the 5. of Dec. following, in the same Year, he had (o)(o) Rot. Pat. 23. Hen. 8. p. [•] . restitution made to him of the temporalities belonging to that See. He was a great Divine, and very well seen in all kind of Learning, famous as well for his Wisdom as virtue, and holiness of life, a continual Preacher of the Gospel, a Man very liberal to the poor, and exceedingly beloved of all sorts of Men, who greatly miss’d and bemoan’d the want of him, when dead. He hath written,

Comment. in universum in Pentateuchum Mosys. MS. See in Rog. Aschams Epistles, lib. 2. in an Epist, Cuidam amico Eborac.

Apologia contra quorundam columnias. Lovan. 1520. in quarto.

Index annotationum prioris libri. Printed there the same Year.

Epistola nuncupatoria ad Desid. Erasmum. There the same Year.

Annotationum libri duo, alter in annotationes prioris editionis Novi Testam. D. Erasmi; alter in annotat. posterior is editionis ejusdem. Pr. there the same Year.

Epistola Apologetica, quâ respondet D. Erasmi Epistolas. There the same Year. In which Year also (1520.) was published a Book in qu. at Basil entit. Epistolae aliquot eruditorum virorum, ex quibus perspicuum sit Edwardi Lei virulentia. They were written to shew the great anger and spleen, that the said Lee bore against Erasmus and some of his Writings, mostly by Sir Tho. More, Tho. Lupset, Rich. Paice, Ulricus Huttenus Esq and Jo. Sapidus.

Epistolae Sexcentae.

Epicedia clarorum virorum, besides other things which I have not yet seen. This Dr. Lee Archb. of York died 13. Sept. 1544 in Fifteen hundred forty and four, aged 62. and was buried in the middle of the South Isle, above the Choir of the Cath Church there. Over his Grave, as there is a little Inscription to continue his memory at that place, so in the Windows of the Founders Chamber at Magd. College (over the great Gate leading into the quadrangle) are these two Verses set up under his Arms (impaled by those of the See of York) by Dr. Laur. Humphrey, an. 1556.

Unus erat Leyus velut inter sydera Phaebus,

Sic vicit socios temporis ipse sui.

In the said Windows, Dr. Humphrey caused to be put up the Arms of all such Bishops that had been educated in Magd. Coll. even to his time, an. 1566. I have seen several Letters written by this Dr. Lee to K. H. 8. and in one he wonders, that the Popes Supremacy should be a cause for Martyrdom, and that Fisher Bishop of Rochester should dye in defence of it, when in other matters of faith, and errors against the same, he hath dissembled, and hath not been content with such as have written against them for the favor he bare to the Party, in whose Books they are found, &c.