9

M A T T H E W W R E N, D. D.

" Kingdom hath done; and some os them, Men of great Abilities, and some“ Persons of great Place, and is this the Way to introduce Popery ?” —-Then,briefly naming some of his respective Converts, concludes. — " And now, let

any Clergyman of England come forth, and give a better Account of his

Zeal to the Church.” But this Zeal, equally offensive to the Romanifts onthe one Hand, and Seffaries on the other, was not to be forgiven by suchpowerful and malignant Enemies, who labour’d and mutually rejoye’d in thePersecution of the Church.

From this Deviation we now return to the Purpose, in order of Time.

In the Year 1624. Dr. Wren was presented to the Rectory of Bingham in so >624. Dr.blottinghamjhire, and a Prebend of Winchester. In 1625, he was rather m J decall’d than prefcrr’d to the Mastership of St. Peter’s College in Cambridge ; Bingham inwhere he exercis’d such Prudence and Moderation in his Government, thatN ott “? ham -he reduced all the bellows to one sacred Bond of Unity and Concord, and stfsbendof’ 1existed the Scholars to Constancy and Diligence in their Studies: Moreover, Winchester,he built great Part of the College from the Ground, rescued their Writings I” 1625 .madeand ancient Records from Dust and Worms, and by indefatigable Industry pfffs °stjffdigested them into a good Method and Order. But seeing the publick Offices lege Cam-of Religion less decently pcrform’d, and the Service of God depending upon brid £ e -the Courtesy of others, for wtlnt of a convenient Oratory within the Wallsof the college ; what then he could not do at his own Charge, he compass’dby his Interest in well difpos’d Persons abroad, and procur’d such considera-ble Sums of Money, that he built and beautified a complete Chapel, whichhe dedicated March 17, 1632.

Being made Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge , he asserted the Privileges, re- Nov. 4,1628.stor’d the Discipline, kept all close to their respective Duties, and taughtthe University at length to consider and understand itself.

In 1628. he was promoted to the Dignity of Dean of Windsor and /Fs/- Rb 24,1628.'verbamfton, and Register of the most honourable and noble Order of theGarter ; in which Office he dilcharg’d his Duty with remarkable Gravity,

Prudence, and Authority ; bestow’d many accurate "Writings of his own onthe Soacty ; and to his Honour “ it is to be remember’d, that from the In-" stitution of the most noble Order, until he was chosen into the Office of/,. 201.

" Rcgi/lcr, the Annals of the Order were at no Time recorded by a Pen near" so judicious and elegant, whose excellent Pattern his worthy Brother and Suc-" cessor in that Office, Doctor Christopher Wren exactly copied.”

To observe by the Way. - At the Solemnity of ratifying the Peace between Aihmole.King Charles and Louis XIII. King of France, Sept. 6, 1629, in the Chapel ^ '75-of St. George at Windsor, he gave the Oath (as Dean) to the Marquis ofChajleauncuf , the French King’s Ambassador, and not the Arch-biffiop of Can-terbury , tho’ he was then present. It is no small Privilege, that if the Arch-bilhop of Canterbury be present at the Chapel of Windsor, yet he sits belowthe Dean, nor can he consecrate there without his Licence.

In 1633. the King (who after so many Trials in every Promotion, had^"J^?’found him a most loyal Subject, and an approv’d Son of the Church, born as Hereford ,'it were, and ordain’d from his Minority for the Government thereof) con - cl <y°ftheferr’d on him the Bijhoprick of Hereford ; the Place of Clerk of the Closet ; ‘prcbffdlfand a Prebend of Westminffer : and altho’ he did not long enjoy the See Westminster,of Hereford, yet in that little Space of Time, he settled that Church by ac-curate and certain Statutes, which before was govern’d by useless, obsolete,and papistical Customs.

May 14 1624. he was chosen a Governor of S ut ton’s-Hospital call’dthe Charter-house.

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