ANDREW'S, LANCELOT, an eminent English divine, was born in London, in the year 1555, and was descended from a very ancient family of that name, in the county of Suffolk. He received his education at Cooper's free school in Radcliff, and at Merchant Taylor's hall. He distinguished himself so much by his application and at tainments, that he was chosen a fellow, first of Pembroke hall in Cambridge, and soon after of Jesus College,Ox ford. He was patronised by Henry earl of Huntingdon, and by sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state to queen Elizabeth. He passed very rapidly through many stages of preferment. He was appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to queen Elizabeth ; was so much esteemed by that princess, that she made him first pre bendary, and then dean of Westminster. He was equal ly favoured by James I. who bestowed upon him, suc cessively, the bishoprics of Chichester, Ely, and Win chester, and appointed him lord almoner, dean of the king's chapel, and a privy counsellor both of England and Scotland. He died at Winchester house on the 25th of September 1626, in the 71st year of his age ; and a marble monument was erected to his memory, with a Latin inscription, in the highest style of panegy ric, composed by one of his domestic chaplains. A beautiful elegy upon the death of this prelate was writ ten by Milton, when he was only 17 years of age, and is to be found in the third book of his elegies.
Bishop Andrews was very eminent as a literary cha racter ; and understood a great number of the ancient, oriental, and modern languages. He cultivated an ac quaintance and maintained a correspondence with the most learned men, both of his own and of other coun tries, many of whom have left the strongest testimonies to his learning and worth. He excelled in casuistical divinity, and was very much consulted in cases of con science. Even in his highest dignities, and in his old age, lie continued to devote the greater part of his time to study. He was particularly careful in the composition of his sermons ; and it was a common saving of his, that when he preached twice a day at St Giles, he prated once. He was the most admired preacher of the time in which he lived, when wit was the only eloquence, and a pun the most pointed argument ; but his style is now justly condemned, as full of the most puerile conceits, and pedantic play of words. His character as a man,
however, will stand the test, and command the appro bation of every age. His great and numerous prefer ments were all bestowed upon him without any solicita tion on hits part ; and he even frequently declined many which were offered, when he thought they were accom panied with improper stipulations. Ile conferred the benefices in his own gift upon those only who were pos sessed of character and ability ; and persons of this de scription he made it his study to search out and bring into notice. He was a man of the most unaffected piety, exemplary in his private devotions, eminent for hospita lity, and abundant in his charities. He was iemarkable for his firm fidelity and strict integrity in all his transac tions and offices ; grateful and generous to his benefac tors, especially to his instructors and their descendants ; affable and unassuming in his general demeanour; and with all his celebrity, he was peculiarly modest, and diffident of himself. Though he was often placed so near the persons of Elizabeth, James, and Charles, and pos sessed so much of their esteem, yet he interfered very seldom in political matters ; but in causes which related to his own duties, or to the church in general, he ex erted his influence with the utmost vigour. He pre served a dignified and independent spirit, even in the court of James I., and always estrained, by his presence, the licentious levity of that prince. The following anecdote has frequently been adduced as strikingly characteristic or his conduct in this respect. " 111v lords," said king James on one occasion, addressing himself to Andrews, bishop of Winchester, and to Neal, bishop of Durham, "cannot I take my subjects' money when I want it, without all this formality in parliament ?" The bishop of Durham readily answered "God forbid. sir, but you should ; you are the breath of our nostrils." Upon which the king turned, and said to the bishop of Winchester, " Well my lord, what say you ?" " Sir," replied Andrews, "I have no skill to judge of parlia mentary cases." " The king answered, " No put-offs, my lord, answer me presently." " Then, sir," said he, "I think it lawful for you to take my brother Neal's money, for he offers it." For farther particulars re specting this venerable prelate, and for a list of his writ ings, see Biog. Britan. ANDREWS. Note. (q)