WHITTINGHAM. 235 of Durham, the Lord President, the Chancellor of the Diocese, and some others in whom lie could confide, to visit the church of Durham. The chief design of this was to deprive Mr. Whittingham, as a mere layman. Upon his appearance before the commissioners, he produced a certifi- cate under the hands of eight persons, signifying the manner of hisordination, in these words It pleasedGod, by the " suffrages of the whole congregation (at Geneva) orderly " to choose to Mr. W. Whittingham, unto the office of " preaching the word of God, and ministering the sacra- " ments ; and he was admitted minister, and so published, " with such other ceremonies as are there used and accus- " tomed. "* It was then objected, that there was no mention made of bishops or superintendants, nor of any external solemnities, nor even of imposition of hands. Mr. Whit- tingham replied, that the testimonial specified ingeneraithe ceremonies of that church, and that he was able to prove his vocation to be the same as all other ministers of Geneva. Upon this the lord president said, " I cannot in conscience agree to deprivehim for thatcause alone. This," he added, " would be ill taken by all the godly and learned, both at home and abroad, that we allow of popish massing priests in our ministry, and disallow of ministers made in a reformed church." The commission was, therefore, ad- journed, and never renewed.+ The archbishop's proceedingsagainst Mr. Whittingham, were evidently invidious; and they greatly sunkhis reputa- tion, both in town and country. His calling Whittingham's ordination in question was expressly contrary to the statute of 13 Eliz. by which, says Mr. Strype, " The ordination of foreign reformed churches was made valid ; and those who had no other orders, were made of like capacity with others, to enjoy any place of ministry in England." Indeed, the Oxford historian says, Mr. Whittingham did good service to his country, not only against the popish rebels in the north, but in repelling the Archbishop of York, from visiting the church of Durham. Yet he denominates him a lukewarm conformist, an enemy to the habits and ceremonies, and an active promoter of the Geneva doc- trine and discipline ; and he brings many severe charges against him, styling them works of impiety. Re caused several stone coffins, belonging to the priors, and laid in the cathedral of Durham, to be taken ap, and appointed them Strype's Annals,val. ii. p. 525. t Ibid. p. 524. f Ibid.
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