Gilbert Sheldon

the youngest son of Rog. Sheldon of Stanton in Staffordshire, near to Ashbourne in Derbyshire, was born there on the 19 of July 1598, and had his Christian name given to him at his Baptization by Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury, to whom his father was a menial Servant. In the latter end of 1613 he became a Communer of Trinity Coll, and proceeding in Arts seven years after, was, in the year 1622 elected Fell. of that of Alls, and about the same time took holy Orders. Afterwards he was made domestick Chapl. to Thom. Lord Coventry L. Keeper of the Great Seal, who finding him to be a man of parts, recommended him to K. Ch. 1. as a person well vers’d in Politicks. In 1634 he proceeded in Divinity, being then, as it seems, Preb. of Gloc, and in the latter end of the year following he was elected Warden of his Coll. About the same time he became Chapl. in ord. to his Maj, was afterwards Clerk of his closet, and by him designed to be Master of the Hospital called the Savoy and Dean of Westm, that he might the better attend on his royal person; but the change of the Times and Rebellion that followed, hindred his settlement in them. During the time of the said Rebellion he adhered to his Maj. and his cause, and therefore was not only ejected his Wardenship, but also imprison’d with Dr. H. Hammond in Oxon, and elsewhere, by the Visitors appointed by Parliament, an. 1648, to the end that their eminency in the Univ. might not hinder their proceedings, and to keep them both from attending the King at the Treaty in the Isle of Wight. After he was released, he retired to his friends in Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire, whence and where, from his own purse and from others which he made use of, he sent constantly moneys to the exil’d King, followed his Studies and Devotions till matters tended to a happy restauration of his Maj. On the 4 of Mar. 1659 Dr. Joh. Palmer, who had usurp’d his Wardenship almost 12 years, died, at which time there being an eminent foresight of his Maj. return, there was no election made of a Successor, only a restitution of Dr. Sheldon; who instead of re-taking possession in person (which he never did) was made Dean of his Maj. Chap, royal and nominated to succeed Dr. Juxon in London, upon his translation thence to Canterbury: Whereupon being consecrated thereunto in the Chap. of K. H. 7. at Westm, by the Bish. of Winchester, (delegated thereunto by Canterbury,) assisted by York, Ely, Rochester and Chichester, on the 28 of Oct. (S. Sim. and Jude) an. 1660, sate there, as one thought fittest to take charge and care of that great and populous City, till the decease of the said Dr. Juxon; and then being elected to succeed him in Canterbury by the Dean and Chapter thereof, on the 11 of Aug. 1663, the Election was confirmed on the 15 of the same month by his Majesty (to whom Dr. Sheldon had been for some time before one of his Privy Council) and thereupon was translated with great solemnity in the Archb. Chap. at Lambeth, the 31 of the said month. On the 8 of Sept. following Dr. Humph. Henchman Bish. of Salisbury was elected to the said See of London, and on the 15 he was translated thereunto in the Ch. of S. Mary le Bow, where he sate to the time of his death. In 1667 Dr. Sheldon was elected Chancellour of the Univ. of Ox. but was never install’d, or ever was there after that time, no not so much as to see his noble work call’d the Theater, or ever at Canterbury to be there personally installed Archbishop, or upon any other occasion while he was Archbishop. At length arriving to a fair age, he surrendred up his soul to God on Friday about 7 of the clock at night,1677. of the 9 day of Nov. in sixteen hundred seventy and seven: Whereupon his body was privately inter’d in the parochial Ch. of Croyden in Surrey, near to the tomb of Archb. Whitgift (according to his own special direction) upon Friday evening, the 16 of the said month. Soon after was a most stately monument erected over his grave by his heir Sir Joseph Sheldon, then lately L. Mayor of London, son of his elder brother Ralph Sheldon of Stanton before mention’d, with a large inscription thereon, part of which runs thus. Fortiter & suaviter hic jacet Gilbertus Sheldon antiqua Sheldoniorum in agro Staffordiensi natus, &c. vir omnibus negotiis par, omnibus titulis superior, in omnibus magnus, in propriis bonus, utriusꝫ fortunae dominus. Pauperum parens, literatorum Patronus, Ecclesiae stator, de tanto viro pauca dicere non expedit, multa non opus est. Norunt praesen tes, posteri vix credent, &c. He hath only extant A Sermon before the King at Whitehall 28 June 1660, being the day of solemn Thanksgiving for the happy return of his Maj on Psal. 18.49. Lond. 1660. qu. His works of piety and charity were many in his life time, as first the building of the Theater at Oxon, which cost him more than 16 thousand pounds, besides the gift of 2000 l. to buy lands worth an 100 l. per an. to keep it in repair. This noble Structure was built chiefly for the celebration of the public Acts, yet since neglected. (2) The fair Library at Lambeth House, built at his own charge. (3) Two thousand pounds towards the Structure of S. Pauls Cathedral. (4) Considerable sums of money to Trin. Coll. in Oxon, and Trin. Coll. in Cambr, besides great and large sums of money annually bestowed, some to publick, and some to private charities. His Legacies at his death for charitable uses came to 1500 l, which afterwards were paid, part to Alls. Coll, part to the Church of Canterbury, part to the Hospital of Harbledowne in Kent, and the rest to indigent persons. I have heard Sir Joseph Sheldon before mentioned say, (who was afterwards buried near to the body of his Uncle) that from the time of Dr. Sheldon’s being made Bishop of London to the time of his death, it did appear in the book of his Accompts that he had bestowed upon publick, pious and charitable uses, about threescore and six thousand pounds. In his Archbishoprick succeeded Will. Sancroft D. D. Dean of S. Pauls Cath. Ch. in Lond. and sometimes Fellow of Eman. Coll. in Cambridge; who, after he had been nominated by the King (thro the endeavours of James Duke of York) was consecrated in the Abbey Ch. of S Peter at Westm, on Sunday the 27 of Jan. 1677. What he hath written and published except (1) Modern policies taken from Machiavel, Borgia, and other choice authors, by an eye witness. Lond. 1652, in tw. (2) Serm. on the first Sunday in Advent (1660) at the consecration of John Bishop of Durham, William Bishop of S. Dav. &c. Lond. 166 [•] . qu. and (3) Serm. preached to the H. of Peers, 13 Nov. 1678, being the Fast day appointed by the King, &c. Lond, 1679. qu. I say, what he hath published besides these things let others speak, while I tell you that after he had sate in the said See, without the exception of any, and had behaved himself with great prudence and moderation, was, after K. Will. 3. came to the Crown, deprived with five other Bishops for not swearing Allegiance and Supremacy to that Prince and his Queen.