Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/147

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Representative Churchmen
131

alone or with some companion, with whom he might confer and recount his studies." It is certain that from an early date his mind was given over to scholarship and meditation.

Andrewes must have felt much out of sympathy with the teaching at Cambridge, and this would have led him to take the strong stand he did to uphold the teaching of the Church of England. Cartwright, the leader of the Puritans, was at the height of his power when Andrewes first went to the University. The reaction set in, and Cartwright was expelled from the University.

Andrewes made good progress in the University. After he had received his degree of B.A., he soon rose to be the head of his College, and was elected a Fellow. He gave his mind over to the study of the Greek and Hebrew languages, the last of which was so much neglected in those days, and became proficient in them. He received Holy Orders in 1580, and this circumstance led him to the study of theology, in which he became a complete master. He had a particular love for moral theology. [1]"He was," says Harrington, "a man deeply seen in all cases of conscience, and he was much sought to in that respect." Andrewes held many preferments in the Church of England. Coming under the notice of Walsingham, the Queen's Minister, he was made Rector of S. Giles', Cripplegate, and brought under the notice of the Court. He was elected Canon of S. Paul's and Southwell. Then he was Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen. In Elizabeth's reign he was several times pressed to accept a bishopric, but he refused for conscientious reasons. He did not agree with Elizabeth in her custom of alienating

  1. Quoted by Ottley, p.15.