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ARCHBISHOP NEILE's POLICY.
had been incumbent of a living worth ^^240 per
annum. For two years he had tried in vain to reclaim
him, refusing to receive his resignation. But
he had just received a letter from him, written on
board ship, thanking his grace for the counsel he had
given him, but telling him that his resignation must
now be definitely accepted, for he was then actually
commencing his voyage. The king's marginal note
upon tliis communication is, "An honester man must
be put in his place."
The Archbishop gave much umbrage to some of
the country gentlemen by his refusal to consecrate
their private chapels. Sir Henry Slingsby had made
a request to that effect, partly, as it would seem, for
the convenience of his large household, and partly
because Mr. Thriscross, who had formerly been
Archdeacon of Cleveland and Rector of Kirby
Moorside—a very excellent, but somewhat scrupulous
person—had declined to officiate there on the ground
of its being unconsecrated. But Neile absolutely
refused ;
" having," as he said, " express command
not to consecrate any, least it may be occasion of
conventicles."!
Laud was, no doubt, the prompter of every move
which his brotlier Archbisliop made in the northern
province. The latter was said to be pradicator
inirabilis, but he was evidently a weak man, with no
small amount of bigotry and intolerance. Laud was
a man of far higher powers of intellect, but equally
intolerant of opposition to his own cherished views
'
"Diary of Sir Hen. Slingsby" (ed. D. Tarsoii';, M.A.,
Loiul., 1836), p. 19.