ordinary favour to obtain that Mastership) should in a case of his own (and wherein he is thought to seek his private revenge) use this uncharitable and indirect course. I think I might say contrary to his oath and Statutes of that Colledge. Digbie is a man unknown to me. Mr Whitaker hath had my help and furtherance in most of his preferments, and therefore, if there were respect of persons to be had, the matter would soon be decided. And it would be much more credit for Mr Whitaker to prosecute the other matters against him, being of so great importance, then to persist in this of so small moment and already (according to justice) ordered. And so being very heartily sorry for your Lordship's sickness and praying for your recovery I commit you to the tuition of Almighty God. From Lambeth, the last of April 1588. This copy, with that from the Earl of Leycester, sent by the Archbishop to the Lord Burghley, with the following letter. To the Right Honourable My singular good Lord, the Lord Burghley etc. My singular Good Lord. Mr Whitaker, Palmer and some others of St John's College, deal very extraordinary in the matter of Digbee and (as I think) contrary to their own Statutes. But I am assured contrary to the rule of charity, I might say of honesty also. For they have (as it seemeth) privately laboured to the Earles of Leycester, Warwick and Essex, and informed their Lordships of divers matters against Digbee, that he is a Papist, a seducer of youth in the College, a depraver of some doings beyond the seas, and such like, whereof they neither. have complained to us, nor punished the same at home as they ought to have done, if it be true. Whereupon the three Earles have written their severall letters to me against Digbee, and for the staying of the sentence. To my Lords of Warwick and Essex I have made no answer. What my Lord of Leycestre hath written unto me and what my answer is to him your Lordship may perceive by the copy of both the letters enclosed. I did not think that Mr Whitaker, who hath received so many and good turns from your Lordship especially, would have so used himself. It is far from Divinity to seek to over rule Justice by letters, and it is most contrary to the rule of charity to backbite a man and to condemn him in corners, especially to such noble personages, before he be judicially heard and convicted. I am sorry Mr Whitaker doth so far forget himself, but without doubt it is the violence of praecisenesse which deliteth a rule and government absolute, without controulment, be it never so vehement and unjust. It were convenient that Mr Whitaker should understand of his evill dealing herein, for so much as in him lyeth he goeth about to breed some hard conceit in these noblemen, toward me especially, who have least deserved any such thing at his hands. Thus wishing to your Lordship most heartily restitution to your good health, I committ you to the tuition of Almighty God. From my house at Lambehith the last of April 1588. To your Lordship most bounde Jo. CANTUAR. The following further letter from the Earl of Leicester to the Archbishop of Canterbury is not given in the Baker MSS., but will be found in Strype's Annals of the Reformation, Vol. iii, Book ii, Chap. 20. My very good Lord. Whereas there are very strong and credible informations that this Digby is a very unsound and fractious fellow, I am to make a new and earnest request unto your Grace, that seeing the matter hath been so deliberately and thoroughly heard, that you may not undo it, you will limit this Digby some short time of stay in that College, so that he be gone within a quarter of a year. Whereby neither this your Grace's action shall be undone, and the College shall be disburthened of a leud fellow, which disturbeththe government, and hath empoisoned their youth. Your Grace may very well know that this matter should not be so far urged, but for Religion's sake, which must needs receive a blow, if such a Fellow remain among them. Or if you shall deny me this request to appoint him this time to go away and to depart, yet I will trust that you will grant me thus much, so to receive him that he be at last removed out of the Seniority, that he may have the less strength to do harm. I assure your Grace, he is a very naughty fellow, from divers instructions which I have received of honest men, which may not be here commenced against him without prejudice of their places which commence them. Thus trusting that he shall lose for his demerits, either his fellowship or seniority I bid your Grace right heartily farewell. From Wansted the 6th of May 1588 Your very loving friend It appears from the "Register of Acts of the University" that by a Decree of the Commissioners (John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury; William Cecil, Lord Burghley; Andrew Pearne, Dean of Ely, and Thomas Byng) Digby was restored to his Fellowship in St John's 28 May 1588. A reference to the College Accounts seems to shew that he soon afterwards vacated his Fellowship. In the Accounts for the year headed "1587," Digby's name does not appear in the list of Fellows as originally written out. It was subsequently interlined, and he appears to have received no allowance for the first quarter of the year, to have received a double allowance for the second quarter, the ordinary allowance for the third quarter, and again nothing in the fourth quarter of that year. He received nothing in the year" 1588," and his name disappears from the list of Fellows. It does not appear from the Accounts themselves to what civil year the date "1587" applies. We must remember that the civil year began on the 25th of March. The College financial year ended on St Thomas' Day, December 21. He If we assume that the year headed "1587" in the Accounts means the year beginning 22 December 1587, and ending 21 December 1588 the entries in the Accounts would agree with Digby's statement. owed his Commons for the month ending 22 December 1587. Whitaker deprived him of his Fellowship in January 1587-8, and he was not reinstated till May 1588. When the Bursar drew up the list of Fellows for the year 1587 he regarded Digby as non socius, and omitted his name. The Bursar at that time was Dr Hickman, who published Digby, as a defaulter, in the Chapel. Digby was reinstated in May 1588, hence his name is inserted in the list and for that quarter gets his allowance with the arrears of the previous quarter. From the fact that he got nothing in the last quarter we may infer that Whitaker carried his point and got rid of Digby towards the close of the year 1588. R. F. S. (To be coninued). THE EROS OF PRAXITELES. 1. WHO has not heard of Phryne? Fairest she Of women mortal-born in Grecian land! Fairer than all that in our dreams we see, Beyond the charming of a poet's wand, The sole type of Anadyomene Fit to be painted by Apelles' hand! Unbound her locks, she stoops, the wave 'o'erflows; And more a goddess through the spray she rose. 2. So gain'd Apelles fame and she too won And round her cold those seas no longer roar A beauty lovelier than Apelles drew. 3. For he work'd but with art and pencill'd line, Though skill'd his head and strong his fancy were; Nature made her life-breathing and divine, The sea enrobed her waist and bosom bare, |