Edmund Grindal

Edmund Grindal (c. 1519 – 6 July 1583) was Bishop of London, Archbishop of York, and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I. Though born far from the centres of political and religious power, he had risen rapidly in the church during the reign of Edward VI, culminating in his nomination as Bishop of London. However, the death of the King prevented his taking up the post, and along with other Marian exiles, he was a supporter of Calvinist Puritanism. Grindal sought refuge in continental Europe during the reign of Mary I. Upon Elizabeth's accession, Grindal returned and resumed his rise in the church, culminating in his appointment to the highest office.

Quotes

• I cannot as yet write of the state of this country [the Province of York], as of mine own knowledge; but I am informed that the greatest part of our gentlemen are not well affected to godly religion, and that among the people there are many remanents of the old. They keep holy days and fasts abrogated: they offer money, eggs, &c. at the burial of their dead: they pray on beads, &c.: so as this seemeth to be, as it were, another church, rather than a member of the rest. And for the little experience I have of this people, methinketh I see in them three evil qualities; which are, great ignorance, much dulness to conceive better instructions, and great stiffness to retain their wonted errors. I will labour, as much as I can, to cure every of these, committing the success to God.
  • Letter to Sir William Cecil (29 August 1570), quoted in The Remains of Edmund Grindal, D.D. Successively Bishop of London, and Archbishop of York and Canterbury, ed. Rev. William Nicholson (1843), pp. 325-326

• The prophet Ezechiel termeth us, ministers of the church, speculatores [watchmen], and not adulatores [flatterers]. If we see the sword coming by reason of any offence towards God, we must of necessity give warning, or else the blood of those that perish will be required at our hands.
  • Letter to Queen Elizabeth (20 December 1576), quoted in The Remains of Edmund Grindal, D.D. Successively Bishop of London, and Archbishop of York and Canterbury, ed. Rev. William Nicholson (1843), p. 377

• Public and continual preaching of God's word is the ordinary mean and instrument of the salvation of mankind. St Paul calleth it the ministry of reconciliation of man unto God. By preaching of God's word the glory of God is enlarged, faith is nourished, and charity increased. By it the ignorant is instructed, the negligent exhorted and incited, the stubborn rebuked, the weak conscience comforted, and to all those that sin of malicious wickedness the wrath of God is threatened. By preaching also due obedience to Christian princes and magistrates is planted in the hearts of subjects: for obedience proceedeth of conscience; conscience is grounded upon the word of God; the word of God worketh his effect by preaching. So as generally, where preaching wanteth, obedience faileth.
  • Letter to Queen Elizabeth (20 December 1576), quoted in The Remains of Edmund Grindal, D.D. Successively Bishop of London, and Archbishop of York and Canterbury, ed. Rev. William Nicholson (1843), p. 379

• I am very well assured, both by reasons and arguments taken out of the holy scriptures, and by experience, (the most certain seal of sure knowledge,) that the said exercises, for the interpretation and exposition of the scriptures, and for exhortation and comfort drawn out of the same, are both profitable to increase knowledge among the ministers, and tendeth to the edifying of the hearers,—I am forced, with all humility, and yet plainly, to profess, that I cannot with safe conscience, and without the offence of the majesty of God, give my assent to the suppressing of the said exercises... Bear with me, I beseech you, Madam, if I choose rather to offend your earthly majesty, than to offend the heavenly majesty of God.
  • Letter to Queen Elizabeth (20 December 1576), quoted in The Remains of Edmund Grindal, D.D. Successively Bishop of London, and Archbishop of York and Canterbury, ed. Rev. William Nicholson (1843), pp. 386-387

• In God's matters all princes ought to bow their sceptres to the Son of God, and to ask counsel at his mouth, what they ought to do. David exhorteth all kings and rulers to serve God with fear and trembling.
  Remember, Madam, that you are a mortal creature... And although ye are a mighty prince, yet remember that He which dwelleth in heaven is mightier.
  • Letter to Queen Elizabeth (20 December 1576), quoted in The Remains of Edmund Grindal, D.D. Successively Bishop of London, and Archbishop of York and Canterbury, ed. Rev. William Nicholson (1843), p. 389

Quotes about Edmund Grindal

• Read that excellent Letter of Edmond Grindal Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to Q. Elizabeth, for Ministerial meetings and exercises (such Bishops would have prevented our contentions and wars).
  • Richard Baxter, Gildas Salvianus; The first Part: i.e. The Reformed Pastor. Shewing the nature of the Pastoral work; Especially the Private Instruction and Catechizing. With an open Confession of our too open Sins. Prepared for a day of Humiliation kept at Worcester, Decemb. 4. 1655. by the Ministers of that County, who subscribed the Agreement for Catechizing and Personal Instruction, at their entrance upon that work. (1656)

• If her Majesty will be safe, she must comfort the hearts of those that be her most faithful subjects even for conscience sake. But if the Archbishop of Canterbury [Grindal] shall he deprived, then up starts the pride and practice of the Papists, and down declines the comfort and strength of her Majesty's safety. And then King Richard the Second's men will flock in Court apace, and will shew themselves in their colours. From the which company the Lord bless her Majesty.
  • Sir Francis Knollys to Secretary Wylson (1577), quoted in John Strype, The History of the Life and Acts of the most reverend father in God, Edmund Grindal, the first Bishop of London, and the second Archbishop of York and Canterbury successively, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. To which is added, an appendix of original mss. faithfully transcribed out of the best archives; whereunto reference is made in the history. In two books. (1821), p. 354

• And surely they were moderate Divines indeed, neither hot nor cold; and Grindall the best of them, afterwards Arch-Bishop of Canterbury lost favour in the Court, and I think was discharg'd the goverment of his See for favouring the Ministers.
  • John Milton, Of Reformation touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Cavses that hitherto have hindered it (1641), p. 15

• He was of a mild and moderate Temper, easy of Access, and affable even in his highest Exaltation. He is blamed by some for his gentle Usage of the Puritans, though he used them worse than he would have done if he had been left to himself. About a Year or two after his Exaltation to the See of Canterbury he lost the Queen's Favour on the Account of the Prophesyings, and was suspended for some Years, during which Time many Puritan Ministers took shelter in the Counties of Kent and Surrey.
  • Daniel Neal, The History of the Puritans or Protestant Non-Conformists, From the Reformation to the Death of Queen Elizabeth (1732), pp. 394-395

• Camden calls him a religious and grave Divine. Hollingshead says he was so studious, that his Book was his Bride, and his Study his Bride-Chamber, in which he spent his Eye-sight, his Strength and his Health. He was certainly a learned and venerable Prelate, and had a high Esteem for the Name and Doctrines of Calvin, with whom, and with the German Divines, he held a constant Correspondence. His high Stations did not make him proud; but if we may believe his Successor in the See of York, Archbishop Sandys, he must be tainted with Avarice (as most of the Queen's Bishops were) because within 2 Months after he was translated to Canterbury, he gave to his Kinsmen and Servants, and sold for round Sums of Money to himself, fix score Leases and Patents, even then when they were thought not to be good in Law. But upon the whole, he was one of the best of Queen Elizabeth's Bishops.
  • Daniel Neal, The History of the Puritans or Protestant Non-Conformists, From the Reformation to the Death of Queen Elizabeth (1732), p. 395

• Edmund Grindall next enjoying this See, a grave and pious man, and a fugitive in Queene Maries raigne, stood highly in Queene Elizabeths favour for a long time: till by the cunning devises of some, who accused him as a favourer of the Puritans, Conventicles, and prophecying (which he justified in a particular treatise which I have seene, dedicated to the Queene, and subscribed by all his suffragans) hee utterly lost the same; being thereupon suspended from his Bishopricke and so dyed suspended.
  • William Prynne, The Antipathie of the English Lord Prelacie, Both to Regall Monarchy, and Civill Unity...The first Part (1641), p. 149

• Have They not ever since their [the Dissenters] first Unhappy Plantation in this Kingdom, by the Intercession of That False Son of the Church, Bishop Grindhall, always Improv'd, and Rise upon their Demands in the Permission of the Government? Insomuch that Queen Elizabeth was Deluded by that Perfidious Prelate to the Toleration of the Genevian Discipline, found it such an Headstrong, and Encroaching Monster, that in Eight Years, She foresaw it would Endanger the Monarchy, as well as the Hierarchy.
  • Henry Sacheverell, The Perils of False Brethren, both in Church, and State: Set forth in a Sermon Preach'd Before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London; at the Cathedral-Church of St. Paul, on the 5th of November, 1709 (1709), p. 29

• What you write of Archbishop Grindall's Life was very agreeable. I shall heartily subscribe to it: for it often grieved me that the memory of so venerable and pious a Reformer should be so unworthily reflected upon. The hastening the publication is the best effect that Dr. Sacheverell's heat has produced.
  • Ralph Thoresby to John Strype (22 April 1710), quoted in D. H. Atkinson, Ralph Thoresby, the Topographer; His Town and Times, Vol. II (1887), p. 159