Archbishop Sandys had been dissatisfied with the condition of the Cathedral of Durham, and in 3 578, at his instance, a commission was appointed to visit that body 'as well in its head as its members.'[1] 'Orders' are a special point to be investigated, and the commission is directed, 'if they find them ' (i.e. the Dean or any of the Canons) 'insufficient in that behalf, to dismiss them from their offices and benefices.' The Archbishop's Chancellor expressly says that Dean Whittingham 'confessed that he was neither deacon nor minister according to the order and law of this realm,' but that he says 'he was ordered in Queen Mary's time in Geneva, according to the form there used.' This last statement is, however, expressly denied by the Archbishop himself, who says that Whittingham 'hath not proved that he was orderly made minister at Geneva, and as far as appears that he did not allege that he had received any imposition of hands.' The Chancellor also further quotes the words of the first certificate which Whittingham displayed to the Commission, saying that 'he was made a minister by lot and election of the whole English congregation at Geneva.' This certificate he afterwards attempted to amend, but to very little purpose. But there are two other letters quoted by Strype,[2] viz. one from the Archbishop of York to Lord Burghley, and the other from Lord Huntingdon, who was one of the commissioners in the case, to the same statesman. The Archbishop says: 'The Dean hath gotten more friends than the matter deserveth.' The discredit of the Church of Geneva is hotly alleged. 'Verily, my Lord, that Church is not touched. For he hath not received his ministry in that Church, or by any authority or order from that Church,
