Master Prynn found the Glazier's bill, discharged by the Archbishop himself, among others of his papers. He likewise put up an

Organ in the Chapel, as appears by his will, a copy of which is preserved in the manuscript library at Lambeth.

"This will, dated January 13, 1643, was not proved till January 8, 1661, by Dr Bailey President of St. John Baptist's College, Oxford; by it the Archbishop leaves to the poor of Canterbury, Lambeth, and Croydon, £10. each. Item to Mr Cobb, my Organ that is at Croydon.'

"In the times of anarchy and confusion which ensued after the death of Archbishop Laud, this palace, with the estate about it, was wrested from the See of Canterbury, and offered to sale; a particular survey for that purpose (wherein the materials of this house, which was to be taken down and sold, were valued at £1200) being made the 17th of March, 1646; to which time the palace, and every thing that belonged to it, had been leased by the then ruling powers to the Earl of Nottingham; after which the possession of it fell to Sir William Brereton, Colonel-general for the Cheshire forces, who turned the

Chapel into a Kitchen, which I suppose continued in that condition till the Restoration in

"(1660), When Archbishop Juxon repaired and fitted it up in a handsome decent manner, as appears by his arms in several parts of it, and in the North window of the guard-chamber. His successor,

"(1663) Archbishop Sheldon, retired hither in the latter part of his life, after the dreadful plague of London, during which time he continued at Lambeth, and with his diffusive charity preserved great numbers alive. He died in this palace November the 9th, 1677, in the 80th year of his age*.

This very eminent and munificent prelate, was born in the year of our Lord, 1598, at Stanton, in the county of Stafford, and entered of Trinity College Oxford, in 1613; in 1622 he was elected fellow of All Souls, and became chaplain to Lord Coventry, who was keeper of the Great Seal. He made him prebendary of Gloucester, and recommended him to King Charles. I. The King made him Vicar of Hackney, and Rector of Ickford and Newington. In 1635 he was chosen Warden of All Souls; during the civil wars he continued attached to the King, and attended as one of his Commissioners at the Treaty of Uxbridge, where he argued warmly for the King and the Church; hence he was afterwards imprisoned by the Parliament for six months, and deprived of

"The learned Mr. Henry Wharton, who has numerated his works of piety and charity, mentions amongst other repairs of his house at Fulham, Lambeth, and Croydon, £4500; and as his arms appear in the North window of the guard chamber, I make no doubt of his improving this palace.

"I pass over his successors Archbishop Sancroft, and Archbishop Tillotson, who I believe, did not at all reside here, to come to

"(1694) Archbishop Tenison, whose residence I can say nothing of, but his regard

his Wardenship and Lodgings. He was liberated by the Reforming Committee October 24, 1648, on condition that he should not come within five miles of Oxford. In the Restoration, he was replaced in his wardenship, made Master of the Savoy, Dean of the Chapel-royal, and Bishop of London; and in 1663, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1667, he was chosen Chancellor of the University of Oxford, but lost King Charles the Second's favor, by honestly advising him to dismiss his mistress, Barbara Villiers.

By his own particular directions, he ordered his body to be buried in a very private manner, and near to that of his predecessor, Archbishop Whitgift, in the church of Croydon.

He was a person of a generous and charitable mind, and expended, as appears by his books of accounts, in private and public benefactions, £66,000.

1

for this town was manifested by his founding a charity school at Croydon. His successor,

"(1715) Archbishop Wake, resided here several summers, and considerably improved this Palace. He rebuilt the great gallery, leading to the garden; and out of the peculiar love which he bore to this Palace, and regard to every thing that appertained to it, hath preserved a pane of glass which was formerly in one of the windows of the gallery, and is now carefully deposited in a neat shagreen case, in the manuscript library at Lambeth.

66

(1736) Archbishop Potter seldom resided here, but

"(1447) Archbishop Herring at a very great expense, completely repaired and fitted up this Palace, furnished it neatly, and improved and laid out the gardens in a most elegant taste."

CHAP. XIII.

Observations upon the Buildings of Croydon Palace.

To the preceding account we beg to add some further particulars respecting this antique structure, drawn up by the same learned author.

"The mansion houses of the nobility in former times" says Dr. Ducarel, 66 very much resembled the old colleges in our universities. They generally consisted of one large court, containing a chapel, a hall, a buttery, kitchen, &c. besides other convenient and necessary apartments, among which a long gallery is not to be omitted.

"All these are to be found in the palace of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury at Croydon. The hall and adjoining offices, as also the guard-chamber, are of Stone; the rest

Α ́ Α