Tobie Mathew

Son of John Mathew, a native of Roos in Herefordshire, by his Wife Elianor Croston of Ludlow, was born in the city of Bristow, in that part of it which is in Somersetshire, educated in Grammar learning in the City of Wells, became a Student in this University in the beginning of the year 1559. aged 13. years, but in what house, unless in Vniv. coll. (the antient members of which have claim’d him as theirs) I know not. Sure it is, that being a Student of Ch. Ch. soon after his first coming, he did, as a member of that house, take the degree of Bach. of Arts in 1563. and three years after, that of master, and holy orders; at which time he was much respected for his great learning, eloquence, sweet conversation, friendly disposition, and for the sharpness of his wit. In 1569. he was unanimously elected the publick Orator of the University, which office he executed with great applause, and with no little honour to the University. In 1570. he was made Canon of Ch. Ch. and on the 28. Nov. the same year, he was admitted Archdeacon of Bathe. In 1572. May 15. he became Prebendary of Teynton Regis with Yalmeton in the Church of Salisbury, and in July the same year, he was elected President of S. Johns coll. At which time being much famed for his admirable way of Preaching, he was made one of the Queens chaplains in Ordinary, and soon after proceeding in Divinity, was made Dean of Ch. Ch. 1576. So that then his name sounding high among scholars, he deservedly obtain’d the name of Theologus praestantissimus, for so he is stiled by the learned Camden, who adds (b)(b) In Britannia in [〈…〉] . that in him doctrina cum pietate, & ars cum natura certant. Eam. Campian. the Jesuit in his book of Ten Reasons, (which the R. Catholicks count an Epitomy of all their doctrine) labouring to prove that the Fathers were all Papists, and to give the uttermost he could to his assertion saith that Thoby Mathew confest to him so much— [〈◊〉] saith he, &c. We did once in a familiar sort sound Th. Mathews opinion, he that now domineers in your Pulpits, whom for his good learning and seeds o [•] vertue, we esteemed, &c. Which character coming from a Jesuits pen, makes it the truer because he was in some manner his Adversary. In 1579. he did undergo the office of Vicechancellour of this University. and in 1583. he was not only made Chantor of the Church of [〈◊〉] on the resignation of George Carew, in the month of June, but also Dean of Durham, void by the decease of Dr. [〈…〉] . In which dignity being installed 31. Aug. he g [•] ve up his Chantorship in Febr. following, wherein he was succeeded by Dr. Will. Zouch, and in the beginning of the year following his Deanery of Ch. Ch. In 1595. he was to the great joy of many, especially those of the Clergy, made Bishop of Durham, upon the translation of Dr. Math. Hutton to York; (which was made 24. of March 1594.) to which See being consecrated soon after, sate there till August an. 1606. and then being translated on the 18. of the said month, and installed on the 11. of Sept. following in the person of his Proctor, sate there in great honour and repute till the time of his death. He gave way to sate in a good old age, on the 29. of March in sixteen hundred twenty and eight, 1628 and was buried in a chappel behind or beyond the east end of the choire of the Cath. Ch. of York. Soon after was a noble monument of black and white marble set up under the great east window of that chappel, with his Effigies in his Archiepiscopal robes, and an inscription thereon: A copy of which containing his just character, you may see in Hist. & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 255. b. 256. a. He hath extant a latin Serm. intit. Concio Apologetica contra Edm. Campianum, in Deut 32. 7. Oxon. 1638. oct. As also a letter to K. Jam, 1. which is printed in the Cabala. I have been informed that he had several things lying by him worthy of the Press, but what became of them after his death, I know not, nor any thing to the contrary but that they came into the hands of his Son Sir Tobie. In the said See of York succeeded Dr. George Mountaigne of Queens coll. in Cambridge, sometimes a Lecturer in Gresham coll. afterwards Master of the Savoy, Dean of Westminster in the place of Dr. Neile promoted to the See of Lichf. and Cov. (in which dignity he was install’d in Dec. 1610.) Bishop of Lincolne, (to which he was consecrated 14. Dec. 1617.) and then of London, being translated to that place 20. July 1621. In the latter end of 1627. he was translated to Durham; whence, after he had sate three months, he was translated to York, in the place of Mathew; (as I have before told you) to which See being elected 16. June, was inthronized therein 24. Oct. 1628. But he expiring soon after in the year of his age 59. six months, and two days, was buried in the chancel belonging to the Church of Cawood in Yorksh. (in which parish he was born) and had soon after a comely monument set up to his memory, at the charge of Isaac his brother (Curator of his last Will and Test.) in the north wall of the said chancel, containing his bust in his lawn sleeves, with a large inscription under it: All which, especially the verses, were made by Hugh Holland the Poet. After him succeeded in the said See Dr. Sam. Harsnet Bishop of Norwych, sometimes Master of Pembr. hall in Cambridge, who being elected thereunto on the 26. of Novemb. 1628, was inthronized 23. April following. He died on the 12. of March 1630. (being then Privy Counsellour to his Majesty) at Moreton in Marsh in Glocestershire, in his return from Bathe to his Mannour of Southwell in Nottinghamshire. Whereupon his body was carried to Chigwell in Essex, and was buried in the Chancel of the Parish Church there. Over his Grave was soon after a Monument of black Marble set up, with the Effegies of the Defunct engraven on a brass plate fastned thereunto. Among the several books that this Doctor Harsnet hath published are (1) A discovery of the fraudulent practices of John Darrel Minister; written in answer to a book intit. A true narration of the strange and grevious vexation by the devil of Seven persons in Lancashire and Will Sommers of Nottingham: printed 1600. qu. Wherupon Darrell came out with a reply intit. A detection of that sinful, shameful, lying, and ridicul [•] us discourse, intit. A discovery &c. printed 1600. qu. (2) A Declaration of egregi [•] us P [•] pish impostures, to withdraw the hearts of her Majesties Subjects from their allegiance, &c. practiced by Edmunds alias West [•] n a Jesuit. &c. Lond. 1603 qu. besides one, or more Sermons, and four or more MSS. fit for the Press, of which one is, De Necessitate Baptismi, &c. This Learned and Judicious Prelate, was born, as ’tis said, in the Parish of St. [〈◊〉] in the antient borough of [〈◊〉] in Essex, educated in Pemb. hall, where he was first Schol [•] r and afterwards Fellow. When he was some years [〈◊〉] Master, he was chosen Proctor; which [〈◊〉] he went through with great credit to himself. Afterwards he become Vicar of Chigwell in Essex, Archdeacon of [〈◊〉] , Chaplain to Archb. Bancroft, Prebendary of St. Pauls Cathedral. Master of Pemb. hall in, and twice Vicechancellour of the University of Cambridge. From whence he had an easie Progress to the see of Chichester, and afterwards to [〈◊〉] After his death [〈…〉] being elected to the See of [〈◊〉] 28. Feb. 1631. was translated thereunto, and on the 16. o [•] Feb. 1632. was [〈◊〉] in the person of Dr. Phineas Hodson Chanc. of the Church of York.