Piers, John

In Latin: John Piers, D.D., after having served as Dean of Chester, Christ Church at Oxford University, and of Salisbury, and after having administered the Bishopric of Rochester for twenty months and that of Salisbury for about eleven years, died in his sixth year as Archbishop of York and the seventy-first of his life on the 28th September AD 1594. His body is buried here. His origins were not great but neither were they lowly; great in rank and dignity, but greatest of all in example. If ever man was, he was absolutely innocent of all vindictive and malignant sentiments, liberal to all, and to the poor so beneficent, that as royal almoner, he distributed with a lavish hand for many years not only his own resources but also the bounty of his prince: he was so hospitable that his expenses were always equal to his revenues, and sometimes exceeded them: a contemner of world, most excellent, easy, haughty only against vice; in deed as well as word, a sincere proclaimer of the word; and in preaching the gospel, both at court and in the university as well as in the Church, he was always very vigorous, and wonderfully assiduous right up until his final breath; he promoted in every way the genuine religion of Christ, the false and spurious he attacked with all his might; he supported good learning, according to his means; diligent himself, he had no indulgence for the slothful; 'he laid hands suddenly on no man'. The patrimony of the church he esteemed sacred to God, and as such most carefully preserved it. He flourished in the favour of the great and the court of Elizabeth the most illustrious of earthly sovereigns, and he will for ever flourish in unutterable glory in the presence of the king immortal. His soul lives in heaven, may his memory live on earth, and may as lively image of his excellencies be ever seen in all the bishops and pastors of the church. John Bennet, D.L., whom he made his heir, in memory of so great a prelate and so worthy a patron, to whom he owes every expression of duty and respect, has erected this monument for a memorial of his piety and gratitude, not of his inheritance, at his expense. [Translation courtesy of York Minster Records, adapted.]