WHITEHEAD. 173 queen offered him the archbishopric of Canterbury. This he declined, as some thought, from a desire ofprivacy ; but as others thought, from a disaffection to the ecclesiastical discipline. The mastership of the Savoy, which he might have accepted without subscription, was also offered hint about the same time ; bat he would accept of no preferment in theehureh, as it then stood. Refusing to embrace these offered promotions, he excused himself to the queen, by saying, he could live plentifully by the preaching of the gospel without any preferment.. While others exerted themselves to obtain dignified titles and worldly emolument, he was content with deserving them. Accordingly, he went up and down like an apostle, preaching the word where it was most wanted ; and spent his life in celibacy, which gained him the greater reputation in the eye of the queen, who was never fond of married priests. It is observed, that Mr. Whitehead coming one day to the queen, her majesty said to him, 44 I like thee the better, Whitehead, because thou livest unmarried." 44 In troth, Madam," replied Mr. Whitehead, 44 I like you the worse for the same cause."+ In the year 1564, Mr. Whitehead shared the same fate with many of his brethren. He was cited before the eccle- siastical commissioners, and suffered deprivation, for non- 'conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the church.t Though it does not appear how long he remained under the ecclesiastical censure, Bishop Maddox is greatlymistaken, when he asserts, 44 that Mr. Whitehead always continued preaching, that he approved the constitution of the church, and died a member of the church of England."§ The celebrated Lord Bacon observes, that though he was much esteemed by Queen Elizabeth, lie was not preferred, because hewas against the government of the bishops.i During his deprivation, he most probably united with the other non- conformist divines, in presenting to Archbishop Parker, a paper of reasons for refusing the apparel. This excellent paper, now before me, is entitled 44 Reasons grounded upon the Scriptures, whereby we are persuaded not to admit the use of the outward apparel, and ministering' garments of the pope's church."s Mr. Whitehead died in the year 1571. According to Wood, he was a great scholar, and a 46 Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. is. f Ibid. Strype'sGrindal, p. 98. § Vindication of the Church, p. Sr. h Bacon's Works, vol. ii. p. 419. Edit: visos. MS. Register, p. 57-60.
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