A HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE 



thing was done towards subdivision of large parishes in the West Riding. 

 A chapel was built at Denby in Penistone parish (1627).""" Ecclesall 

 Chapel in Sheffield was restored for service in 1622." The vicarage 

 of Halifax had been held since 1593 by Dr. John Favour, who was 

 preferred by Matthew to stalls at Ripon, Southwell, and York, and in 

 1617 to the precentorship of York.'" Favour's thirty years' tenure of 

 his benefice was remarkable for his efforts to restrain the immorality 

 and superstition prevalent in his parish." He obtained the restora- 

 tion of the alienated chapelry of Rastrick : a new chapel was built, 

 in which ' ordinarye service was so distinctly done and redd and psalmes 

 so well tuned and songe ... it pleasyd Mr. Dr. Favour (to en- 

 corage the people in weldoinge) to preache there in May 1606.''* 

 Favour's religious ideals excluded harshness to Nonconformists." He set 

 great store by preaching : on the last Wednesday in every month an 

 ' exercise ' was held at Halifax, at which two sermons were preached. These 

 were noted down in manuscript by Elkanah Wales, afterwards curate of 

 Pudscy, and his brother ; and among those who took part in the exercises 

 were two Nonconformist lecturers named Boys and Barlow, who were 

 protected by Favour, with the connivance of the archbishop,'* 



Matthew, while sharing the zeal of his age against Papist recusants, was 

 a representative of the moderate Anglican school. He is said to have ' died 

 yearly in report ' ; and on one of these false alarms, the importunate Arch- 

 bishop of Spalato was a disappointed candidate for York.'^ Matthew died 

 in 1628, at the age of eighty-two." His successor, George Montaigne, 

 Bishop of Durham, died little more than a fortnight after his enthronement." 

 Samuel Harsnett, translated from Norwich in 1629, enjoyed the see for only 

 two years. ^' He belonged to the Laudian school of thought, averse alike 

 from ' all modern Popish superstitions, as all novelties of Geneva.' " In 



"" Lawton, op. cit. 210. " Ibid. 224. 



"' For an interesting account of Favour, see W. J. Walker, Chapters on the Early Registers of Halifax Parish 

 Ch. (1885), I seq. See also Fowler, TI/^ot. of Ripon (Surt. Soc), ii, 277 seq. 



" The Chantry Commissioners of 1 548 estimated the number of houseling people in Halifax, Elland, and 

 Heptonstall at 8,500 ; Totks. Ckant. Surv. (Surt. Soc.) ii, 421. 



" W. J. Walker, op. cit. 27. 



" A book w.is published by him (16 19) in favour of his conception of primitive Christianity. Its title is 

 curious : ^ntijuitie triumphing over Noveltie : whereby it is proved that Antiquitie is a true and certaine Note 

 of the Christian Catholic Church and Verity, against all new and late upstart heresies, advancing themselves 

 against the religious honour of old Rome, whose ancient faith was so much commended by St. Paul's pen, and often sealed 

 with the blcud of man'i Martyrs and worthy Bishops of that Sea (sic). 



" W. J. Walker, op. cit. 36. For Elkanah Wales, see Calamy, Nonconformists' Mem. (ed. Palmer, 1803), 



iii. 444- 



" Fuller, op. cit. bk. x, sect, vl, § g. Spalato left England in 1622 : Neile, afterwards archbishop, is said by 

 Heylyn (Cyprianus Anglicus [167 1 ed.], 103) to have been the author of the pamphlet called Spalatt't 

 Shijiings in Religion. In Harl. MS. 2128, fol. 160, is a receipt for 15/. (26 Feb. 1623-4) fr°™ '^° Greeks, 

 ' deputed and authorized by the Archbishopp of Dirach, Spate, and Mussalc ' to receive money collected for him 

 in the county by virtue of letters patent. Briefs are mentioned directed to the parishes of Leeds, Gargrave, 

 Pannal, Keighley, and Water Fryston. Who was this prelate ? 



"Drake, op. cit. 459, who notes Matthew's activity as a preacher. See Lansdowne MS. 973, fol. 

 41 d. for an account relating to Matthew's hospitality at Bishopthorpe during the Christmas seasons of 1624 

 and 1625. 



''" Drake, ibid. See Diet. Nat. Biog. xxxviii, 277, for the clever but indecorous jest which was said to 

 have won him the see. Milton, Of Reformation in England {16^1), bk. i, has a taunt at 'old bishop Mountain' 

 which may have been justified by facts. 



'* Drake, op. cit. 461. 



" Will of Archbishop Harsnett, quoted by Drake, ibid. Harsnett's brass at Chigwell, Essex, represents 

 him with mitre, cope, rochet, chimere, and pastoral staff. 



56 



