Note 245 — A TRUE DESCRIPTION, OR RATHER A PARALLEL BETWEENE CARDINALL WOLSEY, ARCH-BISHOP OF YORK, AND WILLIAM LAUD, ARCH-BISHOP OF CANTERBVRIE, &c.
Reading edition
This mention of omens reminds me that Dr. Wordsworth in his notes to Wolsey’s Life has related the following affecting anecdote of Archbishop Laud.
"The year 1639 we all know was big with events calamitous to Laud, and to the church and monarchy. In Lambeth Library is preserved a small pane of glass, in which are written with a diamond pencil the following words:
Memorand: Ecclesiæ de Micham, Cheme et Stone, cum aliis fulguro combusta sunt Januar: 14, 1638/9. Omen evertat Deus.
On a piece of paper the same size as the glass and kept in the same case with it, is written by the hand of Abp. Wake, as follows: “This glasse was taken out of the west-window of the gallery at Croydon before I new-built it: and is, as I take it, the writing of Abp. Laud’s own hand.”