BANCROFT, IlicirAno, Archbishop of Canterbury, and a bitter opponent of the Puri tans, son of John B. and Mary, niece of Hugh Curwyn, archbishop of Dublin, was b. at Farmyard', Lancashire, in Sept., 1544. Educated at Cambridge, he took the degree of B.A. at Christ's college, in 1567, and that of m. A. at Jesus' college, in 1570. He became rector of Teversham, Cambridgeshire, in 1575, of St. Andrews, Holborn. in 1584, and treasurer of St. Paul's cathedral in 1585. In the latter year he was admitted D.D. By the lord chancellor, Hatton, to whom he was chaplain, lie was presented to the rectory of Cottingliam, Northamptonshire. In 1589, lie became a prebendary of St. Paul's, in 1592, of Westminster. and in 1594, of Canterbury. Consecrated bishop of London, May 8, 1597, he attended queen Elizabeth during her last illness. At the famous Hampton court conference under James I., he was one of the chief commissioners on behalf of the church of England, and took the lead in the disputations. In the convocation of
1603-4, he sat as president. In Oct., 1604, lie succeeded Whitgift as archbishop of Can terbury; and was sworn in one of his majesty's privy council in Sept., 1605, and chan cellor of the university of Oxford, 1608. He d! Nov. 2, 1610. B. had a high character as a preacher and statesman; and was a vigilant ruler of the church. He is author of two sermons, one of which, preached at St. Paul's, in 1588, contains a furious invective against the Puritans, and of two treatises respecting church order and discipline. B. left his library to his successors in the see of Canterbury forever.—His nephew, JOHN B., bishop of Oxford, 1632, d. 1640, built the palace of Cuddesden for the bishops of that see. Burned by the parliament troops, 1644, it was rebuilt, 1679.