ABBOT

ABBOT (George), archbishop of Canterbury, was born October 29. 1562, at Guildford in Surrey. He went through his studies at Oxford, and in 1597 was chosen principal of University College. In 1599, he was installed dean of Winchester: the year following, he was chosen vice-chancellor of the university of Oxford, and a second time in 1603. In 1604, that translation of the bible now in use was begun by the direction of king James; and Dr Abbot was the second of eight divines of Oxford, to whom the care of translating the whole New Testament (excepting the epistles) was committed. The year following, he was a third time vice-chancellor. In 1608, he went to Scotland with George Hume earl of Dunbar, to assist in establishing an union betwixt the kirk of Scotland and the church of England; and in this affair he behaved^* with so much address and moderation, that it laid the foundation of all his future preferment. For king James ever after paid great deference to his advice and counsel; and upon the death of Dr Overton bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, he named Dr Abbot for his successor, who was accordingly consecrated bishop of those two united sees in December 1609. About a month afterwards he was translated to the see of London, and on the second of November thereafter was raised to the archiepiscopal see. His great zeal for the Protestant religion made him a strenuous promoter of the match between the Elector Palatine and the princess Elizabeth; which was accordingly concluded and solemnized the 14^th of February 1612, the archbishop performing the ceremony on a stage erected in the royal chapel. In the following year happened the famous case of divorce betwixt the lady Francis Howard, daughter of the earl of Suffolk, and Robert earl of Essex: an affair which has been by many considered as one of the greatest blemishes of king James's reign; but the part acted therein by the archbishop added much to the reputation he had already acquired for incorruptible integrity. The matter was by the king referred to a court of delegates. The archbishop saw plainly, that his Majesty was very desirous the lady should be divorced; but he was, in his own judgment, directly against the divorce. He laboured all he could to extricate himself from this difficulty, by having an end put to the cause by some other way than by sentence: but it was to no purpose; for those who drove on this affair, had got too great power to be restrained from bringing it to the conclusion the king desired. The archbishop prepared a speech, which he intended to have spoken against the nullity of the marriage, in the court at Lambeth; but he did not make use of it, because the king ordered the opinions to be given in few words. He continued, however, inflexible in his opinion against the divorce; and drew up his reasons, which the king thought fit to answer himself. It need scarce be added, that sentence was given in the lady's favour.—In 1618, the king published a declaration, which he ordered to be read in all churches, permitting sports and pastimes on the Lord's

day: this gave great uneasiness to the archbishop; who, happening to be at Croydon when it came thither, had the courage to forbid its being read.—Being now in a declining state of health, the archbishop used in the summer to go to Hampshire for the sake of recreation; and being invited by lord Zouch to hunt in his park at Bramzill, he met there with the greatest misfortune that ever befell him; for he accidentally killed the game-keeper, by an arrow from a cross-bow which he shot at one of the deer. This accident threw him into a deep melancholy; and he ever afterwards kept a monthly fast on Tuesday, the day on which this fatal mischance happened, and he settled an annuity of 20l. on the widow^*. There were several persons who took an advantage of this misfortune, to lessen him in the king's favour; but his Majesty said, "An angel might have miscarried in this sort." His enemies alledging that he had incurred an irregularity, and was thereby incapacitated for performing the offices of a primate; the king directed a commission to ten persons to inquire into this matter. The result, however, was not satisfactory to his Grace's enemies; it being declared, that, as the murder was involuntary, he had not forfeited his archiepiscopal character. The archbishop thenceforward seldom assisted at the council, being chiefly hindered by his infirmities; but in the king's last illness he was sent for, and attended with great constancy till his Majesty expired on the 27^th of March 1625. He performed the ceremony of the coronation of king Charles I. though very infirm and much troubled with the gout. He was never greatly in this king's favour; and the duke of Buckingham being his declared enemy, watched an opportunity of making him feel the weight of his displeasure. This he at last accomplished, upon the archbishop's refusing to license a sermon, preached by Dr Sibthorpe to justify a loan which the king had demanded, and pregnant with principles which tended to overthrow the constitution. The archbishop was immediately after suspended from all his functions as primate; and they were exercised by certain bishops commissioned by the king, of whom Laud, the archbishop's enemy, and afterwards his successor, was one: while the only cause assigned for this procedure was, That the archbishop could not at that time personally attend those services which were otherwise proper for his cognisance and direction. He did not, however, remain long in this situation; for a parliament being absolutely necessary, his Grace was sent for, and restored to his authority and jurisdiction. But not proving friendly to certain rigorous measures adopted by the prevailing church-party, headed by Laud, whose power and interest at court was now very considerable, his presence became unwelcome there; so that upon the birth of the prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. Laud had the honour to baptize him, as dean of the chapel. The archbishop being worn out with cares and infirmities, died at Croydon, the 5^th of August 1633, aged seventy-one years; and was buried at Guildford, the place of his nativity, and where he had endowed an hospital with lands to the amount of 300l. per annum. A stately monument was erected over the grave, with the effigy of the archbishop in his robes. He shewed himself, in most circumstances of his life, a man of great moderation to all parties; and was desirous that the clergy should attract the esteem of the laity by the sanctity

sanctity of their manners, rather than claim it as due to their function. His notions and principles, however, not suiting the humour of some writers, have drawn upon him many severe reflections; particularly, which is to be regretted, from the earl of Clarendon. But Dr Welwood has done more justice to his merit and abilities*. He wrote several tracts upon various subjects; and, as already mentioned, translated part of the New Testament, with the rest of the Oxford divines, 1611.