CHAPTER V.
PROVOSTSHIP OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
Archbishop Ussher — Dr John Preston — Letter of Sibbes — Sir William Temple- Letters of Ussher to Archbishop Abbot and the Hon. Society of Gray's Inn— Sibbes to Ussher — Archbishop Abbot to Ussher — Declines the Provostship.
Installed as 'preacher' at Gray's Inn, Sibbes seems to have acted up to the letter of his appointment ; which, it will be re- membered, required that he was ' to be continually resident,' and ' to take no other benefice or living.' This he continued appa- rently to do, with the exception of occasional ' sermons ' in the 'city 'or in Cambridge, until 1626. In that year new honours came to him. Archbishop Ussher sought to have him mace pro- vost of Trinity College, Dublin ; and he was elected, on the death of Dr John Hills, ' Master' of St Katherine Hall (now College) Cam- bridge. A very interesting correspondence remains in relation to
* One asks wistfully if they took any note of one William Shakespeare, vho, within tbroo months of the appointment to the ' preachership' at ' Gray's Inn,' vas laid beside his little Hamnet by the Avon ! (Died, 23d April 161G.)
MEMOIR OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D. xliii
the former, which I would now introduce. He had long been in intimate friendship with the illustrious primate of Ireland, who, on his visits to London, was wont to invite himself to his ' study/ * One early notice of their mutual regard is contained in a por- tion of a letter from Dr John Preston to Ussher. It is as fol- lows: 'March 16. 1619. — Your papers you shall surely have with you ; and if there be no remedy that I cannot see you myself, I shall entreat you to make 'plain to Mr Sihhes (or whom else you will) the last point especially, when the LXX weeks began, though I should speak to you about many other things.' f The following brief letter of Sibbes himself a few years onward, 1622, gives us a further glimpse of their relations, as well as of various memorable names and occurrences. Ussher was then Bishop of Meath. Mr R. Sibbs to the Bishop of Meath. I
I could not, Right Eeverend Sir, omit so fit an opportunity of writing unto you as the coming of two of my worthy friends, Sir Nathaniel Rich and Mr Crew ; though it were but to signify unto you that I retain a thankful and respectful remembrance of your lordship's foimer love and kindness. Mr Crew is aheady known unto you ; Sir Nathaniel, I think, a stranger yet unto you ; you shall find him for sincerity, wisdom, and right judgment worthy your inward acquaintance. How matters stand here you shall have better information from those worthy gentlemen than from me. For Cambridge matters, I suppose your lordship hath already heard that Dr Ward is chosen professor in Dr Davenant's place ; there is hope of Mr Preston's coming to be lecturer at Lincoln's Inn, which place is now void. Mrs More, Mr Drake and his wife, Mr Dod, with others that love you heartily in the Lord, are in good health, the Lord be praised. Sir Henry Savil hath ended his days, secretary Murray succeeding him in Eton, but report wiU prevent my letter in this and other matters. Sir, I long to see your begim historical discourse of the perpetual continuity of a visible church, lengthened and brought to these latter times. No one point will stop the clamour of our adversaries more, nor furnish the weaker with a better plea. Others not veiy well afiected to the Waldenses, &c., for some tenets . . . have gone about to prove what you do some other ways. But perhaps the present exigence of j'our Church is such as taketh up your daily endeavours and thoughts. And I know the zeal of your heart for the public good will put you forward for whatsoever is for the best advantage of the common cause. I fear lest the encountering with that daring chal-
* 'Ussher and Sibbes.' Brook's 'Lives of the Puritans,' vol. ii. p. 416, From Brook's own copy, interleaved and containing additional MS. notes. In the library of Joshua "Wilson, Esq , Tunbridge "Wells.
t ' Preston and Ussher.' This and the succeeding correspondence I take from 'The whole "Works of the Most Kev. James Ussher, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland. "With a Life of the Author, and an Account of his Writings. By Charles Richard Elrington, D.D., Begins Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin. Dublin : Hodges & Smith. 16 vols. 8vo, 1847, seq.' See vol. xvi. p. ;^73 Elrington supersedes Parr (who also gives the most of the letters), and I therefore take the whole from him.
X ' Sibbes to Usher.' Letter ccclxiii. Vol. xvi. p. 395, 396.
Sliv MEMOIR OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.
lenger breed you a succession of troubles. How far you have proceeded in this matter we know not. The Lord lead you through all conflicts and businesses, with comfortable evidence of his wisdom in guiding you, and goodness in a blessed issue.
Your Lordship's in all Christian affection and service,
E. SiBBS. Gray's Inn, March 21. 1622.
Advancing to 1626-27, Ussher was now archbishop and primate, and involved in an imbroglio of political and ecclesiastical difficul- ties. His was only a splendid exile. He writes, half-mournfully, half in dread, under date ' Feby. 9th, 1626 :' — * As for the general state of things here, they are so desperate that I am afraid to write anything thereof.'* He was specially ' troubled ' in the matter of * Trinity College,' of which he was the patron. Sir William Temple was provost, and from his great age, utterly inefficient, and even in dotage. There were perpetual disputes between him and the ' fellows,' so much so that the removal of the provost, in some quiet manner, was felt to be the only method of preserving the discipline and good order of the college. To this Ussher addressed himself, and ultimately persuaded the old man — a not unhistoric name — to resign, on condition that Sibbes took his place. This we learn from a letter of the primate to Archbishop Abbot, to whom, on 10th January 1626-27, he writes : — 'The time is now come wherein we have at last wrought upon Sir William Temple to give up his place, if the, oilier may he drawn over' That ' other ' was Sibbes. But all difficulty about the resignation, with or without conditions, was unexpectedly removed by the death of Sir William, who expired on the 15th of January 1626-27, five days only after the date of Ussher's letter, — upon which he again wrote Abbot in favour of Sibbes. The whole correspondence is of the last interest, and is self-explanatory. It may now be given in order, the more so, that, excepting one of the letters, it has been overlooked or left unused : —