..................




THE
HISTORY OF THE PITRITkNS,
OR
PROTESTANT NONCONFORMISTS;
FROM
THE REFORMATION IN 1517, TO THE REVOLUTION IN 1688,
COMPRISING
Zin  rccount of their   rtntciplIs;
THEIR ATTEMPTS FOR A FARTHER REFORMATION IN THE CHURCH; THEIR SUFFERINGS;
AND THE LIVES AND CHARACTERS OF THEIR MOST CONSIDERABLE DIVINES.
BY DANIEL N-EAL, M.A.
REPRINTED
FROMI THE TEXT OF DR. TOULMIN' S EDITION: WITH HIS LIFE OF THE AUTHOR
AND ACCOUNT OF HIS WRITINGS.
REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, WITH ADDITIONAL NOTES
BY JOHN O. CHOOULES, M.A.
wifth wint Vortrat tt an  Otter.
IN  TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
329 & 331 PEARL STREET,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
185 5.




Enteild., recording to Act of Congress. in the year 1843, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the CleF's Office of the Soiuthern District of New York



P R E F A C E.
A THOUGHTFUL man is not only convinced that God has created this world,
he is as deeply persuaded that God has a Church in it; that he planted it here,
and waters and nourishes it, and exerts In its favour a heavenly influence.
In Revelation we are furnished with a lively emblem of the Church, "a bush
burning with fire, and not consumed."-EExodus, iii., 2. The Church has not,
however, sustained the conflict in her own strength, but because the Lord Jesus
Christ, the angel of the covenant, has been in the bush, " either to slack the
fire, or to strengthen the bush, and make it incombustible." The history of
the Church is a record of suffering and affliction; she has ever had the cross
in her experience; and all who have followed Christ and his apostles have received
the Word in much affliction.- I Thessalonians, i., 4.
The persecutions of God's people were great under the pagan emperors; but
still the Church has suffered more from Rome papal than Rome pagan. That
idolatrous and apostate communion may truly be said to be drunk with the
blood of the saints. We talk, and write, and preach about the reformation
from popery, and seem almost to imagine that the beast is destroyed; we forget too commonly the partial character of the Reformation, the imperfect
views of the early champions for truth, and the grasp which popery retained in
England through the unsanctified alliance of the Church and State.
Very few are thoroughly informed as to the events connected with the struggles for truth in the reigns of the Tudor family. The reformation of Henry the
Eighth and the Sixth Edward was certainly a glorious achievement, but can
never be regarded as a complete triumph, a perfect work. It was effected by
those who only saw men as trees walking, and who just felt that all around
them were men still blinder than themselves. Satan, when he cannot destroy
a good thing, is content to mar it. Elizabeth was a Protestant but in name;
her religion was papistical; all her sympathies were with external pomp and
showy ceremony; she regarded religion as a mere matter of state policy, and
the Church as an affair to be governed by her will, expressed by parliamentary
statutes. To Christ's sceptre she never bowed-the supremacy of his laws she
never recognised-of Christ's headship in the government of the Church she
never dreamed. A haughty princess and a proud and persecuting prelacy fashioned the Church as it suited their taste and purpose, and they have ha.nded it
down to us with so many alterations and additions, that the fishermer of Galilee
and the early disciples of Jesus would be unable to recognise it as the " kingdom
not of this world."
The power and excellence of the Gospel are never seen to greater advantage
than in the days of persecution. It is true that God's children are like stars




v1                           PREFACE.
that shine brightest in the darkest skies; like the chamomile, which, the more
it is trodden down, the faster it spreads and grows. The glories of Christianity in England are to be traced in the sufferings of confessors and martyrs in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; and it was under the influence of
Christian principles, imbibed at this very period, that the Mayflower brought
over the band of Pilgrims to Plymouth.
Afflictions and religious persecutions have for a long period been unknown to
the happy citizens of these United States, and we have strangely forgotten the
times that tried the souls of our fathers.
There is a resurrection in the land at the present time of feelings and principles which were once generally prevalent, and which so eminently distinguished our English ancestry. Now, after a long period of carelessness and inattention to the history of Protestant Nonconformity, the descendants of the
Pilgrims have been compelled to fall back upon the history and faith of their
fathers, in consequence of the pressing impertinence with which the claims of
popery, prelacy, and priestcraft have been urged upon them and their children.
God has been building up Zion in all our borders for two hundred years, making our land the praise of the nations; he has granted the quickening influence of his Spirit to the ministrations of thousands of all religious names, who
have published the deathless love of his adorable Son; and yet a comparative
handful of our fellow-Christians gravely deny that our solemn gatherings make
Christian churches; that our pastors and teachers have any authority to speak
in His name who has so unequivocally blessed them in their labour; and as for
Zion's chief and holiest feast, that they stigmatize as " the blasphemous mockery of a lay sacrament." We have again to fight the battle for all that we hold
dear; but we enter the contest cheered by the undying renown of the names
which illustrate the early history of the struggles for religious freedom. It is
as fitting and proper for an American to forget or scorn the names of Lexington and Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton, Hancock and Adams, Washington and Jefferson, as for a New-Englander to be unaffected by the utterance of
Smithfield, Lambeth Palace, and the ever-honoured names of Rogers and Ridley, Hooper, Lawrence, Latimer, and their fellow-martyrs. We should never
forget that the prison, the scaffold, and the stake were stagers in the march of
civil and religious liberty which our forefathers had to travel, in order that we
might attain our present freedom.
It is quite clear, that in the United States there is a general attention directed to the subject of Church History, partly arising from the almost total apathy which has so long existed, and in a considerable degree owing to the extraordinary movement in the Church of England by that party who regard their
amputation from Rome as original sin and actual transgression. I have long
wished to see Neal's admirable History of the Puritans in the hands not only
of the ministry and students, but all private reading Christians, a growing class
in this country; but its very expensive price has been an insuperable barrier to general circulation. Consultation with many of our most influential
clergy of all denominations interested has induced me to prepare an edition
which shall not only be so cheap as to admit of general use, but shall imbody
the valuable information which has been garnered up by the writers of the last
century. Since Neal finished his work we have had the writings of Towgood




PREFACE.                              viV
and Toulmin, Wilson and Palmer, Brooks and Conder, Fletcher and Orme, and
especially the admirable contributions of Drs. Vaughan and Price. The works
alluded to, and very many others, have been faithfully and laboriously consulted in order to enrich this edition. It may have some errors in typography
which have escaped my notice, but I can assure the reader that it is the most
perfect edition extant, and that I have made scores of corrections from the latest London edition. Not an iota has been altered in the original text of Neal,
and every edition of the immortal work has been carefully collated and compared. To the Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist ministry
of the land, I believe these volumes will be welcome, and if our pastors are
faithful to their high trust, they will see that they are placed in the hands and
houses of their people: should this be the case, we may defy the machinations
of Rome, and laugh at the absurdity of apostolical succession.
I anticipate the happiest results from the wide circulation of this History. It
will create an interest in favour of the venerable sufferers in behalf of truth.
We shall see that the persecuting party, who had also enjoyed a partial escape
from anti-Christian despotism, secured their political ascendency only by accidental causes; and we shall see " that in these circumstances, the same convictions and feelings which had led all the friends of the Reformation to resist
the papal tyranny of Rome, determined the consistent advocates of that reformation to oppose the Protestant tyranny of the Tudors and the Stuarts. They
were anxious to attain a greater degree of simplicity and purity in the administration and ritual of the Reformed Church. When, at a subsequent period, an
Alct of Uniformity was passed, it was not for the sake of vestments and forms
that the successors of the Puritans withheld their acquiescence, but because in
the principles which led to their adoption by legislative arrangements there
was no recognition of personal and social rights; no accordance with the liberty of the Christian dispensation; no allowance for weak and tender con.
sciences; no desire for a liberal and enlarged comprehension; but a system
of arbitrary and capricious enactments, independent both of personal and representative consent, and supported by a usurpation of authority which directly
impugned the great principles of the Reformation, and invaded the prerogative
of Him who is our' only Master and Lord!' Not finding a sufficient code foi
the regulation of their ecclesiastical system in the New Testament, they added
an apocryphal book of Leviticus to its canon, and claimed for this appendage of
human origin implicit faith and unresisting obedience." Thus originated Non
conformity. Before our children remove their religious connexions, and, en
amoured with a show of pomp and circumstance, embrace a religion which mal
cause its professor to be greeted in the high places-before they leave the ole
paths of God's Word, alone sufficient for man's faith, guidance, and sal
vation-before they barter their birthright for a mess of pottage —let us place
in their hands this chronicle of the glorious days of the suffering Churches, and
let them know that they are the sons of the men " of whom the world was not wor.
thy," and whose sufferings for conscience' sake are here monumentally recorded.
JOHN OVERTON CHOULES.
August 12, 1843.








P R E F A C E
TO VOLUME I. OF THE ORIGINAl. EDITION
THE design of the following work is to preserve the memory of those great and
good men among the Reformers who lost their preferments in the Church for attempting a farther reformation of its discipline and ceremonies, and to account for the
rise and progress of that separation from the national establishment which subsists
to this day.
To set this in a proper light, it was necessary to look back upon the sad state of
religion before the Reformation, and to consider the motives that induced King Henry
VIII. to break with the pope, and to declare the Church of England an independent
body, of which himself, under Christ, was the supreme head upon earth. This was
a bold attempt, at a time when all the powers of the earth were against him, and
could not have succeeded without an overruling direction of Divine Providence.
But as for any real amendment of the doctrines or superstitions of popery, any farther than was necessary to secure his own supremacy, and those vast revenues of
the Church which he had grasped into his hands, whatever his majesty might design,
he had not the honour to accomplish.
The Reformation made a quick progress in the short reign of King Edward VI.,
who had been educated under Protestant tutors, and was himself a prodigious genius
for his age; he settled the doctrines of the Church,. and intended a reformation of its
government and laws; but his noble designs were obstructed by some temporizing
bishops, who, having complied with the impositions of King Henry VIII., were willing to bring others under the same yoke; and to keep up an alliance under the
Church of Rome, lest they should lose the uninterrupted succession of their characters from the apostles. The controversy that gave rise to the separation began in
this reign, on occasion of Bishop Hooper's refusing to be consecrated in the popish
habits. This may seem an unreasonable scruple in the opinion of some people, but
was certainly an affair of great consequence to the Reformation, when the habits
were the known badges of popery; and when the administrations of the priests were
thought to receive their validity from the consecrated vestments, as I am afraid many,
both of the clergy and common people, are too inclinable to apprehend at this day.
Hlad the Reformers fixed upon other decent garments, as badges of the episcopal or
priestly office, which had no relation to the superstitions of popery, this controversy
had been prevented. But the same regard to the old religion was had in revising
the liturgy, and translating it into the English language; the Reformers, instead of
framing a new one in the language of Holy Scripture, had recourse to the offices
of the Church of Rome, leaving out such prayers and passages as were offensive,
and adding certain responses to engage the attention of the common people, who, till
this time, had no concern in the public devotions of the Church, as being uttered in
an unknown tongue.  This was thought a very considerable advance, and as much
as the times would bear, but was not designed for the last standard of the English
reformation; however, the immature death of young King Edward put an end to all
farther progress.
Upon the accession of Queen Mary, popery revived by the supremacy's being
lodged in a single hand, and, within the compass of little more than a year, became
a second tine the established religion of the Church of England; the statutes of
Kirlg Edward were repealed, and the penal laws against, heretices were put in executionl against the Reformers; many of whom, after a long imprisonment, and cruel
trials of nockings and scourgings, made a noble confession of their faith before many
VOL. I.-B




x                                 PREFACE.
witnesses, and sealed it with their blood.  Great numbers fled into banishment, and
were entertained by the reformed States of Germany, Switzerland, and Geneva, with
great humanity; the magistrates enfranchising them, and appointing churches for
their public worship. But here began the fatal division:* some of the exiles were
for keeping to the liturgy of King Edward as the religion of their country, while
others, considering that those laws were repealed, apprehended themselves at full
liberty; and having no prospect of returning home, they resolved to shake off the
remains of antichrist, and to copy after the purer forms of those churches among
whom they lived. Accordingly, the congregation at Franklifort, by the desire of the
magistrates, began upon the Geneva model, with an additional prayer for the afflicted
state of the Church of England at that time; but when Dr. Cox, afterward Bishop of
Ely, came with a new detachment from England, he interrupted the public service
by answering aloud after the minister, which occasioned such a disturbance and division as could never be healed.  Mr. Knox and Mr. Whittingham, with one halt
of the congregation, being oblige4tor-reumrv  to- Geneva, Dr. Cox and his friends
kept possession of the church at Frankfort, till there arose such quarrels and contentions among themselves as made them a reproach to the strangers among whom they
lived. Thus the separation began.
When the exiles, upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth, returned to England,
each party were for advancing the Reformation according to their own standard.
The queen, with those that had weathered the storm at home, were only for restoring King Edward's liturgy; but the majority of the exiles were for the worship and
discipline of the foreign churches, and refused to comply with the old establishment,
declaiming loudly against the popish habits and ceremonies. The new bishops,
most of whom had been their companions abroad, endeavoured to soften them
for the present, declaring they would use all their interests at court to make them
easy in a little time.  The queen also connived at their nonconformity till her government was settled, but then declared roundly that she had fixed her standard, and
would have all her subjects conform to it; upon which the bishops stiffened in their
behaviour, explained away their promises, and became too severe against their dissenting brethren.
In the year 1564, their lordships began to show their authority, by urging the
clergy of their several dioceses to subscribe the liturgy, ceremonies, and discipline
of the Church; when those that refused were first called Puritans, a name of reproach derived from the Cathari, or Puritani, of the third century after Christ, but
proper enough to express their desires of a more pure form of worship and discipline
in the Church. When the doctrines of Arminius took place in the latter end of the
reign of James I., those that adhered to Calvin's explication of the five disputed
points were called Doctrinal Puritans; and at length, says Mr. Fuller,t the name
was improved to stigmatize all those who endeavoured in their devotions to accompany the minister with a pure heart, and who were remarkably holy in their conversations. A Puritan, therefore, was a man of severe morals, a Calvinist in doctrine,
and a Nonconformist to the ceremonies and discipline of the Church, though they
did not totally separate from it.
The queen, having conceived a strong aversion to these people, pointed all her;
artillery against them; for, besides the ordinary courts of the bishops, her majesty
erected a new tribunal, called the Court of High Commission, which suspended and
deprived men of their livings, not by the verdict —of twelve men upon oath, but by the
sovereign determination of three commissioners of her majesty's own nomination,
founded, not upon the statute laws of the realm, but upon the bottomless deep of the
canon law; and instead of producing witnesses in open court to prove the charge,
they assumed a power of administering an oath ex officio, whereby the prisoner was
obliged tO answer all questions the court should put to him, though never so prejudicial to his own defence; if he refused to swear, he was imprisoned for contempt;
and if he took the oath, he was convicted upon his own confession.
* Fatal division; i. e., on account of the animosities it created, and the miseries in which it involved very
many persons and families; but in another view, it was a happy division, for it hath been essentially serviceable to civil as well as religious liberty, and, hlike other evils, been productive of many important good
effects; as the author himself points out, p. xi.-ED.   t Church History, b. ix., p. 76, and b. x., p. 100.




PRE FACE.                                 xl
The reader will meet with many examples of the high proceedings of this court
in the course of this history; of their sending their pursuivants to bring ministers out
of the country, and keeping them in town at excessive charges; of their interrogatories upon oath, which were almostequal to the Spanish Inquisition; of their examinations and long imprisonments of ministers without bail, or bringing them to a trial 
and all this not fobr insufficiency, or immorality, or neglect of their cures, but for not
wearing a white surplice, for not baptizing with the sign of the cross, or not subscribing to certain articles that had no foundation in law. A fourth part of all- the.preachers in England were under suspension from one or other of these courts, at a
time when not one beneficed clergyman in six was capable of composing a sermon.
The edge of all those laws that were made against popish recusants, who were continually plotting against the queen, was turned against Protestant Nonconformists;
nay, in many cases, they had not the benefit of the law, for, as Lord Clarendon*
rightly observes, Queen Elizabeth carried her prerogative as high as in the worst
times of King Charles I.  "They who look' back upon the council-books of those
times," says his lordship, " and upon the acts of the Star Chamber then, shall find as
high instances of power and sovereignty upon the liberty and property of the subject
as can be since given.  But the art, order, and gravity of those proceedings (where
short, severe, constant rules, were set, and smartly pursued, and the party felt only
the weight of the judgment, not the passion of his judges) made them less taken notice of, and so less grievous to the public, though as intolerable to the person."
These severities, instead of reconciling the Puritans to the Church, drove them farther from it; for men do not care to be beat from their principles by the artillery of
canons, injunctions, and penal laws; nor can they be in love with a church that
uses such methods of conversion.  A great deal of ill blood was bred in the nation
by these proceedings; the bishops lost their esteem with the people, and the number of Puritans was not really lessened, though they lay concealedl till in the next
age they got the power into their hands and shook off the yoke.
The reputation of the Church of England has been very much advanced of late
years by the suspension of the penal laws, and the legal indulgence granted to
Protestant dissenters.  Long experience has taught us that uniformity in doctrine
and worship enforced by penal laws is not the way to the Church's peace; that
there may be a separation from a true church without schism, and schism within a
church without separation; that the indulgence granted by law to Protestant Nonconformists, which has now subsisted above forty years, has not been prejudicial to
Church or State, but rather advantageous to both; for the revenues of the Established
Church have not been lessened; a number of poor have been maintained by the Dissenters, which must otherwise have come to the parish; the separation has kept up
an emulation among the clergy, quickened them to their pastoral duty, and been a
check upon their moral behaviour; and I will venture to say, whenever the separate
assemblies of Protestant Nonconformists shall cease, and all men be obliged to worship at their parish churches, that ignorance and laziness will prevail among the
clergy; and that the laity in many parts of the country will degenerate into superstition, profaneness, and downright atheism.  With regard to the state, it ought to be
remembered that the Protestant Dissenters have always stood by the laws and Constitution of their country; that they joined heartily in the glorious revolution of King
William and Queen Mary, and suffered for their steady adherence to the Protestant
succession in the illustrious house of his present majesty, when great numbers that
called themselves churchmen were looking another way; for this, the Schism Bill
and other hardships were put upon them, and not for their religious differences with
the Church; for if they would have joined the administration at that time, it is. well
known they might have made mnuch better terms for themselves; but as long as
there is a Protestant Dissenter in England, there will be a friend of liberty and our
present happy Constitution. Instead, therefore, of crushing them, or comprehending
them within the Church, it must be the interest of all true lovers of their country,
even upon political views, to ease their complaints, and to support and courtenance
their Christian liberty.
* Vol. i., p. 72, 8vo.




uii                             PREFACE.
For, though the Church of England is as free from persecuting principles as any es.
tablishment in Europe, yet still there are some grievances remaining, which -wise and
-good men of all parties wish:might be -reviewed; not to mention the subscriptions
which affect the clergy, there is the act of the twenty-fifth of King Charles II. for
preventing dangers arising from popish recusants, commonly called the Test Act,
"which obliges, under very severe penalties, all persons [of the laity] bearing any
office or place of trust or profit (besides taking the oath of allegiance and supremacy,
and subscribing a declaration against transubstantiation) to receive the sacrament of
the Lord's Supper according to the usage of the Church of England, in some parish
church, on a Lord's Day, immediately after Divine service and sermon, and to deliver
a certificate of having so received it, under the hands of the respective ministers and
church-wardens, proved by two credible witnesses upon oath, to be recorded in court."
It appears by the title of this act, and by the disposition of the Parliament at that
time, that it was not designed against Protestant Nonconformists; but the Dissenters in the house generously-oame iato it, to save the nation from popery; for when
the court, in order to throw out the bill, put them upon moving for a clause to except
their friends, Mr. Love, who had already declared against the dispensing power,
stood up, and desired that the nation might first be secured against popery, by passing the bill without any amendment, and that then, if the house pleased, some regard might be had to Protestant Dissenters; in which, says Mr. Echard, he was seconded by most of his party.* The bill was voted accordingly, and another brought
in for the ease of his majesty's Protestant dissenting subjects, which passed the
Commons, but before it could get through the Lords, the king came to the house and
prorogued the Parliament. Thus the Protestant Nonconformists, out of their abundant zeal for the Protestant religion, shackled themselves, and were left upon a level
with popish recusants.
It was necessary to secure the nation against popery at that time, when the preaumptive heir of the crown was of that religion; but whether it ought not to have
been done by a civil rather than by a religious test, I leave with the reader.  The
obliging all persons in places of civil trust to receive the holy sacrament of the
Lord's Supper, seems to be a hardship upon those gentlemen whose manner of life
loudly declares their unfitness for so sacred a solemnity, and who would not run the
hazard of eating and drinking unworthily, but that they satisfy themselves with
throwing off the guilt upon the imposers. Great Britain must not expect an army
of saints, nor is the time yet come when all ner officers shall be peace, and her exactors righteousness. It is no less a hardship upon a great body of his majesty's
most dutiful and loyal subjects, who are qualified to serve their king and country in
all offices of civil trust, and would perform their duty with all cheerfulness, did they
not scruple to receive the sacrament after the usage of the Church of England, or to
prostitute a sacred and religious institution as a qualification for a civil employment.
I can see no inconvenience either to Church or State, if his majesty, as the common
father of his people, should have the service of all his subjects who are willing to
swear allegiance to his royal person and government; to renounce all foreign jurisdiction, and to give all reasonable security not to disturb the Church of England, or
any of their fellow-subjects, in the peaceable enjoyment of their religious or civil
rights and properties. Besides, the removing this grievance would do honour to the
Church of England itself, by obviating the charge of imposition, and by relieving the
clergy from a part of their work, which has given some of them very great uneasiness; but I am chiefly concerned for the honour of religion and public virtue, which
are wounded hereby in the house of their friends. If, therefore, as some conceive,
the sacramental test be a national blemish, I humbly conceive, with all due submission, the removal of it would be a public blessing.
The Protestant Nonconformists observe with pleasure the right reverend fathers
of the Church owning the cause of religious liberty, " that private judgment ought to
be formed-upon examination, and that religion is a free and unforced thing."  And
we sincerely join with the Lord-bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, in the preface to
his excellent Vindication of the Miracles of our Blessed Saviour,t "in congratulating
* Echard's Church History, ad ann. 1672-3.  t Pref., p. viii




PREFACE                                     xiii
our country on the enjoyment of their civil and ecclesiastical liberties within their
just and reasonable bounds, as the most valuable blessings," though we are not
fully satisfied with the reasonableness of thosq bounds his lordship has fixed.  God
forbid that any among us should be patrons of open profaneness, irreligion, scurrility,
or ill-manners to the established religion of the nation; much less that we should
countenance any who blasphemously revile the founder of it, or who deride whatsoever is sacred! No; we have a fervent zeal for the honour of our Lord and Master, and are desirous to " contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints"
with all sorts of spiritual weapons; but we do not yet see a necessity of stopping
the mouths of the adversaries of our holy religion with fines and imprisonments,
even though, to their own infamy and shame, they treat it with indecency: let scandal and ill-manners be punished as they deserve, but let not men be terrified from
speaking out their doubts, or proposing their objections against the Gospel revelation,
which we are sure will bear a thorough examination; and- though the late ungenerous attacks upon the miracles of our blessed Saviour may have had an ill influence.,
upon the giddy and unthinking youth of the age, they have given occasion to the.
publishing such a number of incomparable defences of Christianity as have confirmed
the faith of many, and must satisfy the mrinds of all reasonable inquirers after truth.
Nor do we think it right to fix the boundaries of religious liberty upon the degrea
of people's differing from the national establishment, because enthusiasts or Jews
have an equal right with Christians to worship God in their own way; to defend
their own peculiar doctrines, and to enjoy the public protection as long as they keep
the peace, and maintain no principles manifestly inconsistent with the safety of the
government they live under.
But his lordship apprehends he has a chain of demonstrable propositions to maintain his boundaries: he observes,t " 1. That the true ends of government cannot
subsist without religion, no reasonable man will dispute it.  2. That open impiety,
or a public opposition made to, and an avowed contempt of the established religion,
which is a considerable part of the Constitution, do greatly promote the disturbance
of the public peace, and naturally tend to the subversion of the whole Constitution."
It is here supposed that one particular religion must be incorporated into the Constitution, which is not necessary to the ends of government; for religion and civil government are distinct things, and stand upon a separate basis. Religion in general is
the support of civil government, and it is the office of the civil magistrate to protect
all his dutiful and loyal subjects in the free exercise of their religion; but to incorporate one particular religion into the Constitution, so as to make it part of the common law, and to conclude from thence that the Constitution, having a right to pre-:
serve itself, may make laws for the punishment of those that publicly oppose any
one branch of it, is to put an effectual stop to the progress of the Reformation thtoughout the whole Christian world: for by this reasoning our first reformers must be condemned; and if a subject of France, or the ecclesiastical states, should at this time
write against the usurped power of the pope, or expose the absurdities of transub.
stantiation, adoration of the host, worshipping of images, &c., it would be laudable
for the legislative powers of those countries to send the writer to the galleys, or shut
him up in a dungeon, as a disturber of the public peace, because popery is supported
by law, and is a very considerable part of their constitution.
But to support the government's right to enact penal laws against those that opposed
the established religion, his lordship is pleased to refer us to the edicts of the first
Christian emperors out of the Codex Theodosianus, composed in the fifth century,
which acquaints us with the sentiments of that and the preceding age, but says
nothing of the doctrine of Scripture, or of the practice of the Church for three hundred years before the empire became Christian. His lordship then subjoins sundry
passages out of a sermon of Archbishop Tillotson, whom he justly tanks among the
greatest of the moderns. But it ought to be remembered, that this sermon was
preached at court in the year 1680, when the nation was in imminent danger from
the Popish Plot. His lordship should also have acquainted his readers with the archbishop's cautious introduction, which is this: "I cannot think (till I be better in
* Pref. p. ix., x.




xiv                                   PREFACE.
formed, which I am always ready to be) that any pretence of conscience warrants any
man that cannot work miracles to draw men off from the established religion of a
nation, nor openly to make proselytes to his own religion, in contempt of the magistrate and the law, though he is never so sure he is in the right."* This proposition,
though pointed at the popish missionaries in England at that time, is not only inconsistent with the Protestant Reformation (as I observed before), but must effectually
prevent the propagating of Christianity among the idolatrous nations of the Eastern
and Western Indies, without a new power of working miracles, which we have no
ground to expect; and I may venture to assure his lordship and the world that the
good archbishop lived to see his mistake, and could name the learned person to
whom he frankly confessed it after some hours' conversation upon the subject.t  But
human authorities are of little weight in points of reason and speculation.
It was from  this mistaken principle that the government pressed so hard upon
those Puritans whose history is now before the reader, in which he will observe
how the transferring the.-'sopruimray —fon tFie- pope to the king united the Church
and State into one body under one head, insomuch that writing against the Church
was construed by the judges in Westminster Hall a seditious libelling the queen's
government, and was punished with exorbitant fines, imprisonment, and death. He
will observe, farther, the rise and progress of the penal laws; the extent of the regal
supremacy in those times; the deplorable ignorance of the clergy; with the opposite principles of our church-reformers, and of the Puritans, which I have set in a
true light, and have pursued the controversy as an historian in its several branches,
to the end of the long reign of Queen Elizabeth; to all which I have added some
short remarks of my own, which the reader will receive according to their evidence.
And because the principles of the Scotch Reformers were much the same with
those of the English Puritans, and the imposing a liturgy and bishops upon them
gave rise to a confusion of the next age, I have inserted a short account of their religious establishment, and have enlivened the whole with the lives and characters
of the principal Puritans of those times.
A history of this kind was long expected from the late reverend and learned Dr.
John Evans, who had for some years been collecting materials for this purpose, and
had he lived to perfect his design, would have done it to much greater advantage;
but I have seen none of his papers, and am informed that there is but a very small
matter capable of being put in order for the press. Upon his decease, I found it
necessary to undertake this province, to bring the history forward to those times
when the Puritans had the power in their own hands; in examining into which, I
have spent my leisure hours for some years; but the publishing those collections
will depend, under God, upon the continuance of my health, and the acceptance this
meets with in the world.
I am not so vain as to expect to escape the censures of critics, nor the reproaches
of angry men, who, while they do nothing themselves, take pleasure in exposing the
labours of others in pamphlets and newspapers; but as I shall be always thankful to
any that will convince me of my mistakes in a friendly manner, the others may be
secure of enjoyingtthe satisfaction of their satirical remarks without any disturbance
from me.
I have endeavoured to acquaint myself thoroughly with the times of which I write;
and as I have no expectations from any party of Christians, I am under no temptation to disguise their conduct. I have cited my authorities in the margin, and flatter
* Abp. Tillotson's Works, vol. i., fol., p. 320, 321.
t The learned person to whom Mr. Neal refers, I conceive, was Mr. Howe: the purport of the conver
sation he had with the bishop, on the proposition contained in his sermon, was given to the public by Dr.
Calamy, in his Memoirs of Mr. Howe, p. 75, 76. The fact was, that the bishop was sent for, out of his
turn, to preach before the king, on account of the sickness of another gentleman, and had prepared his
discourse in great haste, and impressed with the general fears of popery: the sentiment above quoted from
it was the occasion of its being published from the press. For the king having slept most part of the time
while the sermon was delivered, a certain nobleman, when it was over, said to him, "'Tis pity your majesty slept, for we have had the rarest piece of Hobbism that ever you heard in your life." "Odsfish, he
shall print it, then," replied the king. When it came from the press, the author sent a copy, as a present,
to Mr. Howe,..who freely expostulated with Dr. Tiliotson on this passage, first in a long letter, and then in
a conversation which the doctor desired on the subject, at the end of which he fell to weeping freely, and
said " that this was the most unhappy thing that had of a long time befallen him."




PREFACE.                                   xv
myself that I have had the opportunity of bringing many things to light relating tc
the sufferings of the Puritans, and the state of the Reformation in those times, which
have hitherto been unknown to the world, chiefly by the assistance of a large manuscript collection of papers, faithfully transcribed from their originals in the University
of Cambridge, by a person of character employed for that purpose, and generously
communicated to me by my ingenious and learned friend, Dr. Benjamin Grosvenor;
for which I take this opportunity of returning him my own and the thanks of the
public. Among the ecclesiastical historians of these times, Mr. Fuller, Bishop Burnet, and Mr. Strype, are the chief; the last of whom has searched into the records
of the English Reformation more than any man of the age; Dr. Heylin and Collyer
are of more suspected authority, not so much for their party principles, as because
the former never gives us his vouchers, and yet the latter follows him blindly in all
things.
Upon the whole, I have endeavoured to keep in view the honesty and gravity of
an historian, and have said nothing with a design to exasperate or widen the differences among Christians; for, as I am a sincere admirer of the doctrines of the New
Testament, I would have an equal regard to its most excellent precepts, of which
these are some of the capital, that "; we love one another; that we forgive offences;
that we bear one another's infirmities, and even bless them that curse us, and pray
for them that despitefully use us and persecute us."  If this spirit and temper were
more prevalent, the lives of Christians would throw a bright lustre upon the truth and
excellence of their Divine faith, and convince the atheists and infidels of the age,
more than all their arguments can do without it.
I would earnestly recommend this temper to the Protestant Nonconformists of the
present age, together with a holy emulation of each other in undissembled piety and
sanctity of life, that while they are reading the heavy and grievous sufferings of their
ancestors from ecclesiastical commissions, spiritual courts, and penal laws, for conscience' sake, they may be excited to an humble adoration of Divine Providence,
which has delivered them so far from the yoke of oppression; to a detestation of all
persecuting principles; and to a loyal and dutiful behaviour to the best of kings, under whose mild and just government they are secure of their civil and religious liberties. And may Protestants of all persuasions improve in the knowledge and love
of the truth, and in sentiments of Christian charity and forbearance towards each
other, that, being at peace among themselves, they may with greater success bend
their united forces against the common enemy of Christianity!
DANIEL NEAL.
Loudon, Feb. 1st, 1731-2,




ADVERTISEMENT
TO VOLUME I. OF DR. TOULMIN'S EDITION.
MXORE than half a century has elapsed since the work now again offered to the
public made its first appearance. The author gave it a second edition in 4to. In
1755 it was printed at Dublin, on the plan of the first impression, in four volumes
octavo. The English editions have for a number of years been scarce, and copies
of the work, as it has been justly held in estimation by dissenters, have borne a high
price. Foreigners also have referred to it as a book of authority, affording the most
ample information on that part of the English-hi'story which it comprehends.*
A republication of-i-,ti  Off- 6accounts, it is supposed, be acceptable to the
friends of reliri-ous liberty. Several circumstances concur to render it, at this time,
peculiarly seasonable.  The Protestant Dissenters, by their repeated applications to
Parliament, have attracted notice and excited an inquiry into their principles and
history. The odium and obloquy of which they have recently become the objects
are a call upon them to appeal to both,in their owni justification. Their history, while
it brings up to painful review scenes of spiritual tyranny and oppression, connects
itself with the rise and progress of religious liberty, and necessarily brings forward
many important and interesting transactions which are not to be met with in the general histories of our country, because not falling within the province of the authors
to detail.
The editor has been induced, by these considerations, to comply with a proposal
to revise Mr. Neal's work.  In doing this, he has taken nob other liberty with the
original text than: t cast into notes some papers and lists of names, which appeared
to him too much to interrupt the narrative. This alteration in the form of it promises to render it more pleasing to the eye, and more agreeable to the perusal.  He
has, where he could procure the works quoted, which he has been able to do in most
instances, examined and corrected the references, and so ascertained the fairness
and accuracy of the authorities. He has reviewed the animadversions of Bishops
Maddox and Warburton, and Dr. Grey, and given the result of his scrutiny in notes;
by which the credit of the author is eventually established.  He has not suppressed
strictures of his own, where he conceived there was occasion for them. It has been
his aim, in conducting this work through the press, to support the character of the
diligent, accurate, and impartial editor. How far he has done this he must leave to
the candid to determine.
Whatever inaccuracies or mistakes the eye of criticism may discover, he is confident that they cannot essentially affect the execution of the design, any more than
the veracity of the author. The remark, which Mr. Neal advanced as a plea in his
own defence, against the censure of Bishop Maddox, will apply with force, the editor conceives, to his own case, as in the first instance it had great weight.  "The
commission of errors in writing any history of times past," says the ingenious Mr.
Wharton, in his letter to Mr. Strype, " being altogether unavoidable, ought not to detract from the credit of the history or the merits of the historian, unless it be accompanied with immoderate ostentation or unhandsome reflections on the errors of
others."t
The editor has only farther to solicit any communications which may tend to im
prove this impression of Neal's History, or to furnish materials for the continuation
of the History of the Protestant Dissenters from the Revolution, with which period
Mr. Neal's design closes, to the present times, as he has it in contemplation, if
Providence favour him with life and health, to prepare such a work for the press.
Taunton, 13th June, 1793.
* Mosheimn, Dictionnaire de Heresies, and Wendeborn.
t Mr. Wharton discovered as many errors in Mr. Strype's single volume of Memorials of Archbishop
Cranmer as filled three sheets; yet Mr. Strype's collections were justly entitled to the commendations of
posterity, as a work of great utility and authority.-See Neal's Review, p. 6, 8vo.




MEMOIR
OF THE
LIFE OF AIR. DANIEL NEAL, A.M.*
MR. DANIEL NEAL was born in the city of London, on the 14th of December, 1678.
When he was very young, his parents were removed by death, and left him, their only
surviving child, in the hands of a maternal uncle, whose care of his health and education was faithful and affectionate, and was often mentioned by his nephew with gratitude.
He received his classical education at Merchant Tailors' School, to which he was
sent when he was seven or eight years of age, and where he stayed till he was head
scholar. In this youthful period he gave a proof of the serious and conscientious principles by which he was governed; for, an exhibition to St. John's College in Oxford
being offered to him, out of a foundation belonging to that school, he declined it, and
chose an education for the ministry among the Protestant Dissenters.
About the year 1696 or 1697 he removed from this seminary to a dissenting academy, under the direction of the Reverend Thomas Rowe, under whose tuition several
eminent characters were, in part, formed.t To this gentleman Dr. Watts addressed
his animated ode, called " Free Philosophy," which may, in this view, be considered
as an honourable testimonial to the candid and liberal spirit with which Mr. Rowe conducted the studies of his, pupils.
Mr. Neal's thirst after knowledge was not to be satisfied by the limited advantages
of one seminary, but prompted him to seek farther improvement in foreign universities Having spent three years with Mr. Rowe, he removed to Holland, where he
prosecuted his studies for two years, under the celebrated Professors D'Uries, Grwevius,
and Burman, at Utrecht; and then one year at Leyden.
About the middle or latter end of 1703 he returned to England, in company with Mr.
Martin Tomkinst and Mr. (afterward the eminent Dr.) Lardner, and soon after appeared in the pulpit.
* This narrative is drawn up chiefly from the memoir of Mr. Neal's life in the funeral sermon by Dr. Jennings, and a MS. account of him and his works by his son, Nathaniel Neal, Esq., communicated by his
grandson, Daniel Lister, Esq., of Hackney.
t Among others, Dr. Watts, Dr. Hort, afterward Archbishop of Tuam, Mr. Hughes the poet, Dr. John
Evans, Mr. Grove, and Dr. Jeremiah Hunt.
t This gentleman was settled with a dissenting congregation at Stoke Newington. In the year 1718,
Mr. Asty, the pastor of a congregation in Ropemaker's Alley, Moorfields, on making an exchange with Mr.
Tomkins for one Lord's day, thought fit to alarm his people with the danger of pernicious errors and damnable heresies creeping in among the Dissenters; and particularly referred t0drrors concerning the doctrine of Christ's deity. Mr. Tomkins, to counteract the ill tendency of this discourse, and of the'censures
it conveyed, preached the succeeding Lord's day from John, xx., 21-23, on the power of Christ to settle
the terms of salvation. The inference which he deduced from the discussion of his subject was, " that no
man on earth, nor body of men, no, nor all the angels in heaven, have power to make anything necessary
to salvation but what Christ hath made so." In the conclusion of his discourse, he applied this general
principle as a test by which to decide on the importance of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, and of the
deity of Christ. Here he entered into a particular survey of the various passages in the historical and epistolary books of the New Testament connected with this point, and gave at large his reasons why he did
not apprehend the orthodox notion concerning the deity of Christ to be a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. This sermon, though the preacherneither denied nor intimated any doubt of the truth of the orthodox
doctrine, gave much disgust, and made a great noise. The minds of his people were irritated, and every
attempt which Mr. Tomkins used to calm them and restore harmony proving unsuccessful, he resigned his
pastoral connexion, after ten years' services among them. Prejudice rose so high against him, thathe was
afterward denied the communion of the church, in which he had been many years before; when, on being
disengaged from stated ministerial functions, he desired to return to it.
Mr. Tomkins did not again settle as the pastor of a congregation, but did not wholly lay aside the character, or drop the studies, of the Christian minister; for he occasionally preached, and published several valjable theological tracts. The first, about the year 1723, was " A Sober Appeal to a Turk or an Indian concerning the plain sense of Scripture, relatingto the Trinity: being an answer to Dr. I. Watts's late book, entitled' The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity; or, Father, Son, and Spirit, three Persons and one God, asserted
and proved by plain evidence of Scripture, without the aid and encumbrance of human schemes."'  This
piece was drawn up in terms of decency and respect, and in the language of friendship towards that excellent and eminent person, to whose tract it was a reply; and the whole was written in an exemplary strain
of moderation and candour. In the year 1748 it came to a second edition: to which were added, 1. Remarks on Dr. Watts's three citations relating to the doctrine of the Trinity, published in 1724. 2. A sobel
VOL. I. —C




xviii                      MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF
It was not lonlg before his furniture and abilities attracted notice;.and, in the next
year, he was chosen assistant to Dr. John Singleton,* in the service of an Independent
congregation in Aldersgate-street; and, on the doctor's death, in 1706, he was elected
their pastor.  In this relation he continued for thirty-six years, till about five months
before his decease. When he accepted the pastoral office, the church, though some
persons of considerable fortune and character belonged to it, was very small as to
numbers; but such acceptance did his ministry meet with, that the place of worship
became, in a few years, too strait to accommodate the numbers that desired to attend
on Mr. Neal's preaching, which obliged them to remove to a larger house, in Jewinstreet.
He fulfilled the duties of his character with attention and diligence: statedly preaching twice every Lord's day, till the three or four last years of his life, and usually devoting two or three afternoons in a week to visiting his people. He pursued his studies with so close an application as to reserve little or no time for exercise; though he
was assiduous in his preparations for the pulpit, he gave himself some scope in his literary pursuits, and particularly indulged in the study of history, to which his natural
genius strongly led him.  " He still," abserves Dr. Jennings," kept his character and
profession in view as a Christia'n' di'vine and minister."t
The first fruits of his literary labours appeared in 1720, under the title of" The History of New-England: being an impartial account of the civil and ecclesiastical affairs
of the country, with a new accurate map thereof: to which is added an appendix, containing their present charter, their ecclesiastical discipline, and their municipal laws,"
in two volumes 8vo. This work contains an entertaining and instructive narrative
of the first planting of the Gospel in a foreign heathen land; and, besides exhibiting
the rise of a new commonwealth, struggling in its infant state with a thousand difficulties, and triumphing over them all, it includes biographical memoirs of the principal
persons in Church and State.  It was well received in New-England; and the next
year their university honoured the author with the degree of master of arts, the highest academical title they had power to confer.
In the same year there came from Mr. Neal's pen, "A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Francis Hare, Dean of Worcester, occasioned by his reflections on the Dissenters, in his late
visitation-sermon and postscript," 8vo.t
In 1721, he published " The Christian's Duty and Interest in a time of public danger,
from Ezekiel, ix., 4. A sermon preached at the Rev. Mr. Jennings's.meeting-place in
Wapping, on Friday, October 27, being a time of solemn prayer on account of the
plague."~ This discourse is preserved in the library of Queen's College, Cambridge.ll
Appeal to all that have read the New Testament, whether the reputed orthodox are not more chargeable
with preaching a new Gospel than reputed Arians? 3. A Reply to Dr. Waterland's Animadversions upon
some passages in the " Sober Appeal." To neither of the editions of this treatise was the author's name
affixed. In 1732. Mfr. Tomkins published, also without his name, a piece which gained him great reputation, entitled " Jesus Christ the Mediator between God and Man; an Advocate for us with the Father, and
a Propitiation for the Sins of the World." A new edition of this work appeared in 1761. He published,
in 1738, " A Calm Inquiry whether we have any warrant from Scripture for addressing ourselves, in a way
of prayer or praise, directly to the Holy Spirit: humbly offered to the consideration of all Christians, par.
ticularly of Protestant Dissenters." This iece has seriously impressed the minds of many, and has, undoubtedly, contributed very much to the disuse of the Trinitarian doxology among the Dissenters. Mr.
Tomkins himself, so far back as the time when he was minister to the congregation at Stoke Newington,
had forborne it, because he could find no instance of it in Scripture. All Mr. Tomkins's pieces are proofs
of the candour of his spirits and of the clearness and strength of his judgment. Long since his death, there
has appeated, in the Theological Repository, vol. iii., p. 257, "A Letter from him to Dr. Lardner, in reply
to his letter mn the Logos, in defence of the Arian hypothesis." In this enumeration of his publications, it
had almost escaped me to mention another, and that the first in order of time, viz., " The Case of Mr. Martin Tomkins, being an Account of the Proceedings of the Dissenting Congregation at Stoke Newington,
upon occasion of a seiqhn preached by him July 13, 1718." This piece bears on it all the marks of being
a fair and impartial, as it:isan instructive, narrative. The character of candour -and-piety which he supported, and with which his Zvi'ngs are impressed; the simplicity and integrity with which he bore his testimony to Scriptural worship, Christian moderation, and the Divine unity; and the weight and influence of:his publications in the Trinitarian controve'sy, have jtstly intitled Mr. Tomkins to this particular mention.
* Dr. John Singleton was a student in the University of Oxford; from whence, after he had been there
eight Years, he was turned out by the commissioners in 1660. He then went to Holland, and studied
physic, but never practised it any farther than to give his advice to particular friends. His settlements
-were various. Residing some time with Lady Scott in Herttordshire, he preached then to some Dissenters at Hertford. He was afterward pastor to a congregation in London. When the meetings were generally suppressed, he went into Warwickshire, and lived with his wife's brother, Dr. Timothy Gibbons, a
physician. Upon King James giving liberty, he preached first at Stretton, a small hamlet, eight miles
from Coventry, and then became pastor to the Independent congregation in that city. From whence he
was again called to London, to succeed Mr. T. Cole.-Palmer's AVnconformists' Memorial, vol. i., p.1 170.
There is a sermon of Dr. Singleton's in the Morning Exercises.
t Funeral Sermon for Mr. Neal, p. 33.
t The title of this sermon was "Church Authority Vindicated."  This discourse also attracted the no
tice of Bishop Hoadiey, who published an answer to it.
~ It then raged at Marseilles, in France, being brought thither from the Levant; and eighteen thousand
died of it.                          II Cooke's Index to Sermons, vol. ii., page 241. article Neal.




MR. DANIEL NEAL.
Mr. Neal gave to the public, in 1722, " A Narrative of the method and success of in,
oculating the smallpox in New-England, by Mr. Benjamin Colman; with a reply to
the objections made against it from principles of conscience, in a letter from a minister at Boston. To which is now prefixed an historical introduction." On the appearance of this piece, her royal highness Caroline, princess of Wales, sent for him to wait
on her, that she might receive from him farther satisfaction concerning the practice of
inoculation.  He was introduced by a physician of the royal family, and received by
the princess in her closet, whom  he found reading " Fox's Martyrology."' Her highness did him the honour of entering into a free conversation with him for near an hour
on the subject of inoculation; and afterward on other subjects, particularly the state
of the dissenting interest in England, and of religion in New-England.  After some
time the Prince of Wales, afterward George II., came into the room, and condescended to take a part in the conversation for above a quarter of an hour.  Mr. Neal had
the honour of kissing the hands of both the royal personages.*
In 1722 he published, at request, a sermon preached to the Societies for Reformation
of Manners, at Salters' Hall, on Monday, June 25th.  This discourse, grounded on
Psalm xciv., 16, is to be met with in the library mentioned before.
In the beginning of the next year the request of the managers of the charity-school
in Gravel Lane, Southwark, procured from him the publication of a.sermon, preached
January 1st, for the benefit of that institution, on Job, xxix., 12, 1:3, entitled "The
Method of Education in the Charity-schools of Protestant Dissenters; with the Advantages that arise to the Public from them."
After this nothing of Mr. Neal's appeared from the press for several years, till, in
1726, the death of the Rev. Matthew Clarke, a minister of considerable eminence
among the Dissenters of that period, gave occasion for his publishing a funeral sermon
for him, from Matt., xxv., 21. This discourse was next year reprinted, and annexed
to a volume of sermons upon several occasions, by Mr. Clarke; of which Mr. Neal
was the editor, and to which he prefixed some memoirs of the author.t
At the beginning of this year he printed a sermon, entitled, " Of sorrowing for them
who sleep in Jesus," occasioned by the death of Mrs. Anne Phillibrowne, who departed
this life February 1st, 1726-7, in the forty-third year of her age. This discourse is
also to be found in Queen's College library, Cambridge.
In 1730, the united request of the ministers and the church prevailed with him to
publish a sermon, entitled, " The Duty of Praying for Ministers and the Success of
their Ministry," from 2 Thess., iii., 1; preached at the separation of the Rev. Mr. Richard Rawlin,T to the pastoral office in the church at Fetter Lane, June 24th. A passage
in this discourse deserves to be quoted, to show the catholic and generous sentiments
of Mr. Neal. Having referred to the persecutions of the Christians under the Roman
emperors, and then to the prevalence of darkness and superstition for a thousand years
after Rome became papal, he proceeds, " The light of the'Gospel broke out again at
the Reformation; but, alas! what obstructions has it met with ever -since! how much
blood has been spilled, and how many families ruined, and sent into banishment, for the
profession of it! There is at this time a bloody inquisition in Spain; and the sword
of the magistrate is drawn against the preaching of the Gospel in Italy, France, Poland, in several parts of Germany, and in other popish countries.  I wish I could say
* The MS. account of Mr. Neal.
t Mr. Matthew Clarke, a gentleman of eminence among the dissenting ministers of that period, and the
father to Dr. Clarke, a physician of extensive practice, who died not long since at Tottenham, in Middlesex, was descended from a genteel family in the county of Salop. He was the son of the Rev. Matthew
Clarke, who was ejected from Harborough, in Leicestershire, and was born February 2d, 1663-4. His
father, who had been an indefatigable student in Trinity College, Cambridge, led him through the learned
languages. His academical studies were pursued under the learned Mr. Woodhouse, at Sherifhales, in
Shropshire, a tutor of eminence in those times. Mr. Clarke, when he had finished his academical course,
spent two years in London, for the benefit of conversing-with learned men, and forming himself on tlhe
model of the most celebrated preachers. He began his ministry in 1684, with great acceptance: so that
great additions were made to the church, which his father had formed, at Market Harborough; and he laid
the foundation of several societies of Protestant Dissenters in those parts. Being engaged, when he was
on a visit to London, in 1687, to supply the congregation at Sandwich, in Kent, for a few Lord's days, he
was prevailed with to spend two years there, which he did with eminent success. In 1689, he was unanimously in:vited to become assistant to the aged Mr. Ford, the pastor of a congregation in lfiles's Lane,
which was then reduced to a very low state; but the auditory in a few years became crowded, and seven
or eight in a month were added to the communion. In 1697, Mr. Clarke was chosen dne of the lecturers
a.t Pinners' Hall. He married, ha 1696, Mrs. Anne Frith, daughter of Mr. Robert Frith, of Windsor, who
as repeatedly mayor of that corporation.  His pulpit abilities were greatly admired, and his services
uch sought; s6hat he usually preached twice or three times on a Lord's day, and several times in the
eek. He died March 27, 1726, aged sixty-two years, much beloved and much lamented, and leaving beind him the character of having been among the best and most useful divines of his age.-Mr. Neal's Mfeeoirs of his Life.
t Mr. lRawlin was a minister of reputation among the Independents, one of the six preachers of the Merchants' lecture at Pinners' Hall, and the author of a volume of sermohs on Justification, which met with
great acceptance, and passed through more than one edition.




XX                         MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF
that all Protestant governments were willing the Gospel should have its free couise;
but our fathers in this nation have drunk of the bitter cup of persecution; olr teachers
have been driven into corners, and the mouths of thousands stopped in one day: bless-,ed be God that there is now a more open door!  Let us pray that all penal laws for
religion may be taken away, and that no civil discouragements may lie upon Christians
of any denomination for the peaceable profession of their faith, but that the Gospel
may have free course."
In the year 1732 came out the first volume of Mr. Neal's great work, " The History
of the Puritans." The following circumstances gave birth to this publication. Dr.
Edmund Calamy, many years before, had, in his "Abridgment of the Life of Mr. Richard Baxter, and the continuation of it," laid before the public a view of the state of nonconformity, and of the characters and sufferings of the principal adherents to it, during
the period that immediately succeeded to the Act of Uniformity in 1662. Dr. John Evans,* on this, formed a design of writing " A History of Nonconformity," from the beginning of the Reformation to 1640, when the civil wars began. Mr. Neal was requested, by several ministers and other persons of considerable figure among the Dissenters, to take up the history from the- yer I1640, and to carry it on to the Act of Uniformity. Dr. Evans proceeded a great way in the execution of his design, by collecting, for several years, with great industry and expense, proper materials from all quarters, and by filling several quires of paper with references, under each year, to the
books he had read on the subject. He had gone so far as to have written out fairly
about a third part of the two folios he intended to fill.  But his constant employment
as a minister, the multiplicity of public affairs which passed through his hands, ill
health, and various disappointments and troubles in his own concerns, greatly interrupted his close application to the work; and his death, in the year 1730, put a final
period to the design, which was left in an unfinished state. In the mean time, Mr.
Neal had prosecuted his work with so much application and spirit, that he had completed his collections, and put them in order for the press, some length of time before
the doctor's decease. This event obstructed his immediate progress, and opened to
him a new field of study and investigation: for he now found it necessary to take up
himself the long period of history from the Reformation to the commencement of the
civil wars, that his own collections might be published with more acceptance, and appear with greater advantage, than he apprehended they could have done if the doctor's
province had been entirely neglected.t
The approbation which followed the publication of the first volume of " The History
of the Puritans" encouraged him to prosecute his design, and the next year, 1733,
produced a second volume of that work.
Between the appearance of this and the subsequent parts of his history, we find Mr.
Neal engaged with some of his respectable brethren in carrying on two courses of
lectures: one at Berry-street, the other at Salters' Hall.
The former was preached at the request and by the encouragement of William Cow.
* Dr. John Evans, the author of two volumes of judicious and admired sermons on the Christian temper,
and of many single sermons, was the son of Mr. John Evans, of Baliol College, Oxford, and ejected by the
Act of Uniformity from Oswestry. He was born at Wrexham, in the year 1679. His mother was the daugh
ter of the eminent Colonel Gerard, governor of Chester Castle. He received his education first under
Mr. Thomas Rowe, of London; and afterward under Mr. Richard Frankland, at Rathmill, in Yorkshire.
He enjoyed great advantages under both, and made a singular proficiency in all the parts of rational and
polite literature. His first settlement was in the family of Mrs. Hunt, of Boreatton in Shropshirc, relict of
Roland Hunt, Esq., and sister of Lord Paget, ambassador to the Ottoman court. In this retirement he read
over entire Mr. Pole's Latin Synopsis, in five volumes folio, which laid the foundation of his great skill in
Scripture criticism, and all the Christian writers of the first three centuries, under the direction of the learned Mr. James Owen. His first settlement as a minister was in the place of his nativity; from whence
he removed to London,to be assistant to Dr. Daniel Williams, pastor of a congregation in Hand Alley,
Bishopsgate-street; which asfterward removed to New Bond-street, Petty-Fronc5. Dr. Evans, after sev.
eral years, was by Dr. Williams's desire made copastor with him, and succeeded him at his death. On
taking the whole charge of the congregation, he gpent a week in solemn retirement and in extraordinary
exercises of devotion. He was one of the six prea'chr~sseirthe Merchants' lecture at Salters' Hall, and for
several years concerned in the Lord's day evening lecture in that place. Besides the sermons mentioned
above, he published a small volume addressed to young persons, which has been reprinted within these few
years, -and a tract or two on the " Importance of Scripture Consequences," drawn up in a masterly way,
with great clearness and judgment, sobriety and decency. Both the universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen,
without his knowledge and in a most honourable manner, conferred on him their highest academical honour. A complication of distempers broke down his constitution, and deprived the world of his abilities and
labours, at so early a period as the fifty-first year of his age, May 23, 1730. He excelled in the several virtues of integrity, greatness and generosity of mind; in compassion and tenderness, in a catholic temper and
a'public spirit, and in a steady, regular piety. His solidity of judgment united with. vivacity, his industry
and prudence, were distinguishing^and superior to most others. Among the pertinent, devout, and excellent
sentiments he dropped in the course of his illness, when he looked upon his body swollen with distemper,
he would often say with pleasure, "This corruptible shall put on incorruption-Oh, glorious hope!"-Dr.
lTarris's Funeral Sermonafor Dr. Evans, in his Funeral Discourses, p. 285-296.
t Dr. Harris's Funeral Sermon for Dr. Evans, in his volume of Funeral Discourses, p. 289, 290; and the
MS. Account of Mr. Neal.




MR. DANIEL NEAL.                                     xxi
ard,' Esq., of Walthamstow. It consisted of fifty-four sermons on the principal heads
of the Christian religion, entitled " Faith and Practice."  Mr. Neal's associates in this
service were Dr. Watts, Dr. J. Guise, Mr. Samuel Price, Mr. John Hubbard, and Dr.
David Jennings.* The terms on which Mr. Neal complied with Mr. Coward's request,,
made through a common friend, to take part in this service, are proofs of the independence and integrity of mind which he possessed, and was determined to maintain, His
requisitions were, that he would draw up the dedication, write the preface, and choose
his own subjects, in which Mr. Coward, though they were not very pleasing to a gentleman of his known humour and fondness for adulation and control, acquiesced, rather than the lecture should lose the advantage and reputation that it would derive from
Mr. Neal's abilities and name.t  The subjects handled by him were "The Divine authority and perfection of the Holy Scriptures," from 2 Tim., iii., 16.  " Of God, as the
Governor and Judge of the moral world, angels, and men," on Daniel, iv., 35. " The incarnation of Christ as the promised Messiah," the text Gal., iv., 4, 5.  "Effectual calling, with its fruits, viz., regeneration and santification by the Holy Spirit," from 2 Tim.,
i., 9.  "Confession of sin, repentance, and conversion to holiness" on Acts, iii., 19.
"Of fearing God and trusting in him," Psalm xxxi., 19. " The sacrament of the Lord's
Supper," on 1 Cor., xi., 23, 36. " The love of our neighbour," the text John, iii., 34, 35;
and " The pleasure and advantage of vital religion," from Rom., vii., 22.  These, with
the discourses of the other preachers, were, after the course was finished, published
in two vols. 8vo, in 1735, and have passed through several editions. Dr. Doddridge,
when speaking of them, says, " I cannot recollect where I have seen a set of important thoughts on such various and weighty subjects more judiciously selected, more
naturally digested, more closely compacted, more accurately expressed, or, in a few
words, more powerfully enforced, than I have generally found in those sermons."t
Without determining whether this encomium be exaggerated or not, it may certainly
be pronounced, that the practical strain in which the discourses are drawn up, and the
good temper with which the subjects of greatest controversy are here handled, without
any censure or even illiberal insinuation against others mingling with the representation of their own views on the points discussed, do great honour to the heart and spirit
of the authors.
The other course of lectures, in which Mr. Neal was engaged, arose from an alarm
concerning the increase of popery, which prevailed about the end of the year 1734.
Some eminent dissenting ministers of the day, of the Presbyterian denomination, in
conjunction with one of each of the other persuasions, agreed to preach a set of sermons on the main principles and errors, doctrines and practices, of the Church of
Rome, to guard Protestants against the efforts of its emissaries.  The gentlemen who
engaged in this design were Mr. John Barker, Dr. Samuel Chandler, Mr. George Smith,
Dr. Samuel Wright, Dr. William Harris, Dr. Obadiah Hughes, Dr. Jeremiah Hunt, Mr.
Joshua Bayes, Mr. John Newman, Dr. Jabez Earle, Mr. Moses Lowman, Dr. Benjamin
Grosvenor, Mr. Thomas Leavesly, Mr. Joseph Burroughs, a minister of the Antipaedobaptist persuasion,~ and Mr. Neal, who was an Independent. The subject which fell
* It is needless to say anything here of the first name on this list, Dr. Watts, whose fame by his various
writings has been so universally diffused.
Mr. Samuel Price, the uncle of the late Dr. Richard Price, served forty-five years in the ministry of the
Gospel, with Dr. Watts, as assistant or copastor. He was a man of exemplary probity and virtue, of sound
and solid sense, a judicious and useful preacher, eminent for his gift in prayer, and for wisdom and prudence
in the management of affairs. He was a native of Wales, received his academical learnihg under Mr. Timothy Jollie, at.Attercliffe, and died in 1756.
Dr. John Guise was well known as a popular preacher, and as the author of a paraphrase on the New
Testament, in three vols. quarto.
Mr. Hubbard was minister of a congregation at Stepney, and about three years before his death was
chosen tutor of a-seminary for educatingyoung men for the ministry. He filled both capacities with considerable reputation, and is said to have had so extensive and familiar an acquaintance with the Scriptures
as to supersede the use of a concordance, which had no place in his library.
Dr. David Jennings has left behind him "An Introduction to the Use of the Globes and Orrery," "An
Introduction to the Knowledge of Medals," and " Jewish Antiquities," as monuments of his genius and learning. For many years he was at the head of the seminary endowed by Mr. Coward's munificence, and for
forty-four years pastor of a congregation in Old Gravel Lane, Wapping. He was a pleasing and pathetic
preacher, an early riser, very methodical and punctual in the arrangements of his studies and business, and,
notwithstanding that he lived much in his study, his conversation was lively and instructive, and his address easy and affable. He published several sermons, and was the author of several other pieces besides
the above. He died September 26, 1762, in his seventy-first year.
t From private information.:          Doddridge's Ten Sermons, 12roa  Preface, p. ix.
Q Mr. John Barker was for a number of years a preacher of popular talents and great eminence,' first at
Hackney, and then at Salters' Hall. Many single sermons came from his pen, and he published a: volume
of discourses in his lifetime, which was succeeded by a second volume after his death in 1763. - 
Dr. Samuel Chandler is well known as rising superior to most, either within the pale of the establishment
or out of it, in learning and abilities.
Mr. George Smith officiated to the society of the Gravel-pit meeting, Hackney, for thirty years, as a
preacher excelled by none and equalled by few. He died May,' 1746, aged fifty-seven, looked upon byhis




MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF
to his lot to discuss was, " The supremacy of St. Peter, and the bishops of Rome, his
m*dcessors."   These discourses were separately printed immediately after each was
preached,- and when the lecture was closed, were collected together, and formed two
volumes 8vo.*
own brethren as holding the first rank in merit among them; and not less honoured and valued by those
of the establishment who knew him.
Dr. Samuel Wright, the author of many single sermons and several valuable practical works, was distinguished by pulpit talents. He was thirty-eight years pastor of the congregation which originally met for
religious worship in Blackfriars, and then, greatly increasing under his preaching, which was serious and
judicious, solemn and striking, removed to Carter Lane. He died in his sixty-fourth year, 1746.
Dr. William Harris, who was upward of. forty years pastor of a congregation in Crutched Friars, was a
very acceptable preacher, and the author, besides many single sermons, of a volume of discourses on " The
prncipal Representations of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament," and of another called "Funeral
Discourses, in two Parts: containing, 1. Consolation on the Death of our Friends;  and, 2. Preparation for
our own Death." His compositions were laboured and finished. It was among the excellences of his
character, that he was scarce ever seen to be angry, was a very great patron and friend of young ministers,
and had a concern in many great and useful designs of a public nature. He died, high in reputation and
usefulness, May 25, 1740, aged sixty-five.
Dr. Obadiah Hughes " was ianyyeam minister of a congregation in Southwark, from which he removed to Westmnister.  He was an acceptable preacher, and printed some occasional sermons."-Dr.
Kippis's Life of Dr. Lardner.
Dr. Jeremiah Hunt, of Pinners' Hall, was a most respectable character, a man of extensive learning and
profound knowledge of the Scriptures; he published many occasional sermons, and " An Essay towards
explaining the History of the Revelations of Scripture." He died 5th of September, 1744, aged sixty-seven.
Mr. Joshua Bayes was pastor of the congregation in Hatton Garden.
Mr. John Newman was for many years one of the most celebrated preachers in the city of London, who
delivered, to crowded audiences, long and laboured sermons without any assistance of notes. He was first
assistant to Mr. Nathaniel Taylor, and then copastor with Mr. William Tong, at Salters' Hall; appearing in
the same place for five-and-forty years, with great credit and comfort, and died while he was esteemed and
beloved, in full reputation and usefulness, much missed and lamented, in his sixty-fifth year, July 25, 1741
Dr. Jabez Earle, a classical scholar, remarkable for a vivacity and cheerfulness of temper, which nevei
forsook him to the last, was for near seventy years a noted minister in London. He preached to the last
Sunday in his life, and died in his chair without a groan or sigh, aged ninety-two. He was pastor of a congregation at Long-acre, and one of the Tuesday lecturers at Salters' Hall. He printed, besides several sermons, a little tract called Sacramental Exercises; and in the second edition of the " Biographia Britannica,"
under the article Amory, there is a small copy of verses which he sent to his friend Dr. Harris, on their both
receiving diplomas from a Scotch university.
Mr. Moses Lowman, more than forty years minister'of a congregation at Clapham, Surrey, to a great
character for general literature added a thorough acquaintance with Jewish learning and antiquities. His
treatise on the civil government of the Hebrews, another on the ritual of that people, and a commentary on
the Revelations, have been held in high estimation. A small piece drawn up by him, in the mathematical
form, to prove the unity and perfections of God d priori, was called by Dr. Chandler a truly golden treatise,
and asserted to be a strict demonstration. After his decease there appeared from the press three tracts on
the Shechinah and Logos, published from his MSS. by Dr. Chandler, Dr. Lardner, and Mr. Sandercock.
He reached the age of seventy-two, and died May 3, 1752.
Dr. Benjamin Grosvenor was a minister in London, of distinguished reputation, upward of fifty years. A
singular acumen, lively imagination, and warm devotion of heart, characterized his discourses, which were
delivered with a graceful utterance. He was born in London, 1st January, 1675; was chosen minister to
the congregation in Crosby Square in 1704, which he soon raised into a flourishing church and crowded auditory; and in 1716 he was elected one of the six preachers at the Merchants' lecture at Salters' Hall. In
1749 he retired from all public services, and died August 27th, 1758, in the eighty-third year of his age.
He published many single sermons; the most distinguished of which was one on "The Temper of Jesus
towards his Enemies," which was reprinted at Cambridge so lately as the year 1758; it was a transcript of
his own heart and life; " An Essay on Health," and an excellent treatise entitled "The Mourner," both
of which have passed through several editions, and will continue to be memorials of his genius, learning,
and spirit. Of the latter the following passage in his diary is ad amiable specimen: " I thank God," says
he, "for that temper of mind and genius which has made it natural for me to have an aversion to bigotry.
This has improved constantly with my knowledge; and the enlarging my mind towards those who differ
from me has kept pace with my illumination and intellectual improvements.' Agree to differ' is a good
motto. The reas6noand loveliness of suchl, friendly disposition would recommend it, and I am persuaded
people would almost tale it of themselves, if it were not for the several arts used to prevent it."
Mr. Thomas Leavesly was for some years minister of the Old Jewry in London. -
Mr. Joseph Burroughs was a learned and judicious divine; of which, not only the sermon in the above
collection, but a volume of sermons published in 1741, and "A View of Popery," taken from the creed of
Pope Pius IV., afford ample proof. He wastalso the author of soeeral single sermons, and of " Two Discourses relating to Positive Institutions," which brought on a controversy between him and the worthy
Dr. Caleb Fleming on the mode and subject of baptism, He was fifty-two years connected with the general Baptist congregation in Barbican, London, first as an assistant to the Rev. Richard Allen, and from the
year 1717, as pastor, to November 23, 1761, when he died, in the seventy-seventh year of his age; having
supported, through so long a life, the character of the steady friend to liberty and free inquiry, of a zealous
advocate for the importance of the Christian revelation, and of the strenuous promoter of every scheme that
tended to advance the common interests of religion, as well as those which were particularly calculated for
the benefit of Baptist societies; while through the greatest part bf this period he had as a minister served
the church with which he was united with the greatest fidelity, affection, and zeal.
The length of this note might appear to require an apology, were not the names to whose memory it is
devoted too eminent in their day to be passed over without some respectful notice. Several of the preceding gentlemen, vi.., the Drs. Grosvenor, Wright, and Evans, and Mr. Lowman, were engaged in the years
i716, 1717, 1718, with Dr. Avery and Mr. Simon Brown, in a valuable publication, entitled, "The Occa.
sional Paper," a work sacred to the cause of religious liberty, free inquiry, and charity.
* It is proper to add, that this defence of Protestantism did not terminate with the delivery of the ser




MR. D ANI:E L N EA. 
In the year 1736 came out the third volume- of the History of the Puritans; and Mr.
Neal's design was completed by the publication of the fourth, in the year 1738, which
brought down the history of Nonconformity to the Act of Toleration by King Wfilliam
and Queen Mary, in the year 1689. This and Mr. Neal's other historical works spread
his name through the learned world, and justly secured to him great and permanent
reputation.  Dr. Jennings, speaking of them, says, " I am satisfied that there is no judicious and unprejudiced person that has conversed with the volumes he wrote, but
will acknowledge he had an excellent talent at writing history.  His style is most easy
and perspicuous; and the judicious remarks which he leads his readers to make upon
facts as they go along, make his histories to be not only more entertaining, but to be
more instructive and useful, than most books of that kind."*
While this work was preparing for and going through the press, part of his time was
occupied in drawing up and publishing an answer to Dr. Maddox, bishop of St. Asaph,
who wrote a pretty long " Vindication of the Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the
Church of England, established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from the Injurious
Reflections (as he was pleased to style them) of Mr.'Neal's first volume of the History
of the Puritans."  This answer was entitled, "A Review of the Principal Facts objected to the first volume of the History of the Puritans."  It was reckoned to be written with great judgment, and to establish our historian's character for an impartial regard to truth.  And it was reasonably concluded, from this specimen of his powers of
defence, that, if his declining state of health had permitted him, he would have as thoroughly vindicated the other volumes from the animadversions afterward published
against them by Dr. Zachary Grey.
The pleasure Mr. Neal had in serving the cause of religious liberty had carried him
through his undertaking with amazing alacrity. But he engaged in it at an advanced age,
and when his health had begun to decline: this, joined with the close applicationJe
gave to the prosecution of it, brought on a lingering illness, from which he never recovered. He had been all his life subject, in some degree, to a lowness of spirits, and
to complaints of an indisposition in his head. His love of study, and an unremitting
attention to the duties of his office, rendered him averse to the frequent use of any exercise that took him  off from  his books.  In the end, repeated strokes of the palsey,
first gentle and then more severe, which greatly enfeebled all his powers both of body
and mind, baffled the best advice, the aids of medicine, and repeated use of the Bath
mons from the pulpit at Salters' Hall. Dr. Chandler pursued his subject in "A second treatise on the notes
of the Church," as a supplement to his sermon at that place on the same subject. And Dr. Harris followed up his sermon on transubstantiation with "A second discourse, in which the sixth chapter of St.
John's Gospel is particularly considered: preached at the Merchants' lecture at Salters' Hall, April 22,
1735," which was reckoned to possess peculiar merit. Mr. Burroughs farther showed himself an able writer, in the cause for which the sermons were preached, by his " Review of Popery."  The course of lectures had not gone on a month, when a gentleman or two being in company with a Romish priest at the
Pope's-head tavern in Cornhill, they became the subject of conversation; and the latter objected, in particular, against some passages in Mr. Barker's sermon, as what could not be supported by proper vouchers.
This brought on, by appointment, "Two conferences on the 7th and 13th of February, 1734-5, at the Bell
tavern in Nicholas Lane, on the blasphemy of many popish writers in giving, and of popes in receiving,
the title of Our Lord God the Pope; on the doctrines of substantiation; praying to saints and angels  and
of denying the use of the Scriptures to the laity." At the first of these conferences twenty wert present,
and the dispute was supported by the Romish priest, Dr. Hunt, and a divine of the Church f England 
at the second the debate lay between the former Catholic gentleman, Mr. Morgan, accompanied by Mr.
Vaughan, supposed to be a priest, and Dr, Hunt, Dr. Chandler, and Mr. John Eames, well known to the
world for his integrity and learning: Dr. Talbot Smith was chosen chairman, and the whole company con.
sisted of thirty. A statement of these disputations was soon published by an anonymous author, e ntited,
"Two Conferences held," &c. The Catholic party also gave a representation of them to the public in a
pamphlet entitled, "The two Conferences, &c., truly stated." This broughtoiout from the pen of Dr. Chandler, " An account of the Conference held in Nicholas Lane, February 13th, 1734-5, between two Romish
priests and some Protestant divines, with some remarks on the ~pamphlet," &c.'The doctor's account is
confined to the second conference, because he was not present at the first.
Soon after these Salters' Hall sermons were published, there appeared a pamphlet in 1735, which 
1736 ran to a third edition, entitled, "A Supplement to the Sermons lately preached at Salters' Hail
against Popery: containing just and useful remarks on another great corruption therein omitted."  The
author of this tract was Mr. G. Killingworth, a respectable lay-gentleman of Norwich. The design of it
was to show that the reasoning of the gentlemen who preached those sermons affected, not only the papists, but themselves, in rejecting the baptism of adult persons, and substituting in the room thereof the
sprinkling of infants. The author, with this view, besides stating from the New Testament the evidence
in favour of his own sentiments, shrewdly applied a great number of passages from the sermons, somewhat
in the way of a parody, to establish his own conclusion; and to prove that, if those gentlemen practised or
believed anything as a part of the religion of the Holy Jesus which could not be plainly and clearly proired
from the New Testament (as he conceived that they did in the matter of sprinkling of infants), they must
look upon themselves as self-condemned, their own arguments being a full confutation of them. Mr. Killingworth showed himself an able writer by other pieces in favour of the seatiments for which he was a
strenuous advocate; and published also "An Answer" to the late very respectable Mr. Micajah Towgood's tract, entitled, " Infant Baptism a Reasonable Service," by way. of appendix to an exammntion of
Dr. Forster's "Sermon on Catholic Communion."  In one of his pieces, he likewise replied to the arguiaents of Mr. Emlyn's previous question.                           * Fureral Sermon, p. 32.




Xxiv                  MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF
waters, brought him to his grave, perfectlyworn out, in the sixty-fifth year of his age
He died April.4th, 1743.
During the declining state of his health, Mr. Neal applied to the excellent Dr. Doddridge to recommend some young minister as an assistant to him. A gentleman was
pointed out, and appeared in his pulpit with this view; and a letter, which on this occasion he wrote to Dr. Doddridge, and which the doctor endorsed with this memorandum, " Some wise Hints," affords such an agreeable specimen of Mr. Neal's good sense
candour, and prudence, as cannot fail, we think, to render it acceptable to our readers.
"DEAR SIR,
"Your letter, which I received yesterday, gave me a great deal of agreeable entertainment, and made me almost in love with a person that I never saw. His character
is the very picture of what I should wish and pray for. There is no manner of exception that I can hear of, but that of his delivery, which many, with you, hope may be
conquered, or very much amended. All express a very great respect and value for
Mr. -   and his ministry, and are highly pleased with his serious and affectionate
manner. And I am apt to think, when we have heard him again, even the thickness
of the pronunciation of some of his words will in a great measure vanish; it being
owing, in a great measure (according to my son), to not making his under and upper
lip meet together; but, be that as it will, this is all, and the very worst that I know of,
to use your own expression.
"I wish, as much as you, that the affair might be speedily issued; but you know
that things of this nature, in which many, and those of a different temper, are concerned, must proceed with all tenderness and voluntary freedom, without the least shadow
of violence or imaginary hurry. Men love to act for themselves, and with spontaneity; and, as I have sometimes observed, have come at length cheerfully and voluntarily into measures which they would have opposed if they had imagined they were to
be driven into them.
"I don't mention this as if it was the present case, for I can assure you it is not;
but to put you in mind that it may possibly not always be for the best to do things too
hastily; and therefore I hope you will excuse the digression. I am exceedingly tender of Mr.'s character and usefulness, and therefore shall leave it to your prudence to fix the day of his coming up; and you may depend upon my taking all the
prudential steps in favour of this affair that I am master of. I hope the satisfaction
will be general, but who can answer for it beforehand. It has a promising appearance; but, if it comes out otherwise, you shall have a faithful account.
" I am pleased to hear that Mr. —  is under so good an adviser as yourself, who
cannot but be apprized of the great importance of this affair, both to your academy, to
myself, and to the public interest of the Dissenters in this city; and I frankly declare
I don't know any one place among us in London where he can sit more easy, and enjoy the universal love and affection of a good-natured people, which will give him all
fitting encouragement. We are very thankful to you, sir, for the concern you- express
for us, and the care you have taken for our supply. I hope you will hare a return from
above of far greater blessings than this world can bestow, and you may expect from
me all suitable acknowledgments.
" Pray advise Mr. -, when you see him, to lay aside all undue concern from
his mind, and to speak with freedom and ease. Let him endeavour, by an articulate
pronunciation, to make the elder persons hear, and those that sit at a greater distance,
and all will be well. He has already got a place in the affections of many of the people, and I believe will quickly captivate them all. Assure him that he has a candid
audience, who will not make a man an offender for a word. Let him speak to the
heart and touch the conscience, and show himself in earnest in his1 Work, and he will
certainly approve himself a workman that needs not be ashamed. I beg pardon for
these hints. Let not Mr. -- impress his mind too much with them. My best respects attend your lady and whole family; not forgetiing good Mr. -—, etc.
I am, sir, in haste, your affectionate brother and very humble servant,
" DANIEL NEAL.*
"London, Saturday evening, May 12, 1739.
"Brethren, pray for us!"
Disease had, for many months before his death, rendered him almost entirely incapable of public service. This induced him to resign the pastoral office in the November preceding. The considerate, as well as generous manner in which he did it, will
appear from the-following letter he sent to the church on that -occasion:
* The above letter was very obligingly communicated by the Rev. Thomas Stedman, vicar of St. Chad's,
Shrewsbury:




MR. DANIEL NEAL.                                     zxx
" To the Church of Christ meeting in Jewin-street, London.
"MY DEAR BRETHREN, AND BELOVED IN THE LORD,
"God, in his all-wise providence, having seen meet for some time to disable me in
a great measure from serving you in the Gospel of his Son, and therein to deprive me
of one of the greatest satisfactions of my life, I have been waiting upon him in the use
of means for a considerable time, as I thought it my duty to do. But, not having found
such a restoration as might enable me to do stated service, it is my duty to acquiesce
in his will; and, having looked up to him for direction, I think it best, for your sakes,
to surrender my office of a pastor among you.
" Upon this occasion it becomes me to make my humblest acknowledgments to the
blessed God for that measure of usefulness he has honoured me with in the course of
my labours among you; and I render you all my unfeigned thanks for the many affectionate instances of your regard towards me.
" May the Spirit of God direct you in the choice of a wise and able pastor, who may
have your spiritual and everlasting welfare at heart.  And, for that end, beware of a
spirit of division; be ready to condescend to each other's infirmities; keep together in
the way of your duty, and in waiting upon God for his direction and blessing; remem,
ber, this is the distinguishing mark of the disciples of Christ,' that they love one an.
other.' Finally, my brethren, farewell! Be of good comfort, and of one mind; live in
peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.'I am your affectionate well-wisher and obedient, humble servant,
"' DANIEL NEA.L.)"
From the first attack of his long illness, it appears he had serious apprehensions
how it would terminate; and a letter written from Bath. in April, 1739, to a worthy
friend,t shows the excellent state of his mind under those views.
" My greatest concern," he says, " is to have rational and solid expectations of a future
happiness. I would not be mistaken, nor build on the sand, but would impress my
mind with a firm belief of the certainty of the future world, and live in a practical
preparation for it.  I rely very much on the rational notions we have of the moral
perfections of God, not only as a just, but a benevolent and merciful Being, who knows
our frame, and will make all reasonable allowances for our imperfections and follies
in life; and not only so, but, upon repentance 4nd faith in Christ, will pardon our past
sins, though never so many or great.
" In aid of the imperfection of our rational notions, I am very thankful for the glorious truths of Gospel revelation, which are an additional superstructure on the-other:
for, though we can believe nothing contrary to our reason, we have a great many excellent and comfortable discoveries built upon and superadded to it. *Upon this double
foundation would I build all my expectations, with an humble and awful reverence of
the majesty of the great Judge of all the earth, and a fiducial reliance on the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. In this frame of mind, I desire to fear God,
and keep his commandments."
In all his sensible intervals, during his last illness, he enjoyed an uncommon serenity of mind, and behaved becoming a Christian and a minister.t
This peaceful state of mind and comfortable hope he possessed to the last. ~ About
a month before his death, he appeared to his fellow-worshippers, at the Lord's Supper,
with an air so extraordinarily serious and heavenly as made some present say, " He
looked as if he were not long for this world."
The preceding particulars and his writings will, in part, enable the reader to form for
* From the MS. account.
t This friend was Dr. Henry Miles, an eminent Dissenting minister at Tooting, in Surrey, and a respectable member of the Royal Society, who died February 10, 1763,in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He was
a native of Stroud, in Gloucestershire. His knowledge in natural history, botany, and experimental philosophy, for which he had a remarkable taste, occasioned his being elected a member of the Royal Society in
1743, in the transactions of which appear several papers from his pen; and Dr. Birch, in the preface to his
fine edition of Mr. Boyle's works, handsomely says, that the conduct and improvement of that edition were
chiefly to be ascribed to the great labour, judgment, and sagacity of the learned Mr. Miles, and that to him
the puplic owed considerable additions never before published. Besides this, he could never be prevailed
upon to publish more than a single sermon, preached at the Old Jewry, on occasion of a public charity, in
1738. He was a hard student. His preparations for the pulpit cost him incessant labour; and, for a course
of thirty years, he constantly rose, two days in the week, at two or three o'clock in the morning, to compose his sermons. He lived like an excellent Christian and minister: his behaviour was on all occasions
that of a gentleman; the simplicity of his spirit and manners was very remarkable; his conversation instructive and entertaining; his countenance was always open, mild, and amiable; and his carriage so condescending and courteous, even to his inferiors, as plainly discovered a most humane and benevolent heart.
He was the friend of Dr. Lardner and Dr. Doddridge; and, in the correspondence of the latter,'published
by the Rev. Mr. Stedman, there are several of his letters. See also Dr. Furneaux's Funeral Sermon for
Dr. Miles.: Letters to and from Dr. Doddridge, 1790, p. 358.
~ Dr. Jennings's Funeral Sermon, and the MS. account.
VOL I.-D




xvi          IMEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF MR. DANIEL NEAL.
himself a just opinion of Mr. Neal's character, and will certainly give credibility to
what is reported concerning it.
He filled the relations of domestic life with integrity and honour, and left a deep and
fond regret in the hearts of his family.* In his public connexions, he was the prudent
counsellor, and a faithful, steady friend. His labours in the pulpit, and his visits in
families, while his health continued firm, were edifying and entertaining.  He had an
easy and agreeable manner, both in the style and in the delivery of his sermons, free
from affectation. In conversation, he knew how to mix grave and prudent instruction or advice with a becoming cheerfulness, which made his company to be pleasing
and profitable.
He was honoured with the friendship of some in very high stations; and, in early
life; contracted an acquaintance with several who afterward made a considerable figure in the learned world, both in the established Church and among the Dissenters.
The repeated and frequent invitations he received to appear in the pulpit, on singular and public occasions, especially the share he had in the lectures at Salters' Hall,
against popery, are honourable proofs of the respect and estimation in which his abilities and character were in general held, even by those who differed from him in their
sentiments on many questions of doctrine and church government.
His own doctrinal sentiments were supposed to come nearest to those of Calvin,
which he looked upon as most agreeable to the sacred Scriptures, and most adapted
to the great ends of religion. But neither were his charity nor his friendships confined to
men of his own opinion. The Bible alone was his standard for religious truth, and
he was willing and desirous that all others should be at perfect liberty to take and follow it as their own rule. The unchristian heats and unhappy differences which had
arisen among Christians by the restraints that had been laid, more or less by all parties, when in power, on the faith or worship of their fellow-Christians, had fixed in him
an utter aversion to imposition upon conscience in any shape, and to all such party distinctions as would naturally lead to it.
Mr. Neal married Elizabeth, the only daughter of the Reverend Richard Lardner,
many years pastor of a congregation at Deal,t and sister of the great and excellent
Dr. Lardner. She survived Mr. Neal about five years, dying in 1748. They left a son
and two daughters: one of these ladies married Mr. Joseph Jennings, of Fenchurchstreet, the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. David Jennings; the other the Rev. Mr. Lister,
minister of the Dissenting congregatiorlat Ware.  His son, Mr. Nathaniel Neal, was
an eminent attorney, and secretary to the Million Bank. He wrote a pamphlet entitled
"A Free and Serious Remonstrance to Protestant Dissenting Ministers, on occasion
of the Decay of Religion," which was republished by the late Rev. Job Qrton, in 1775.
Many admirable letters of this gentleman to Dr. Doddridge are given to the public in
that instructive and entertaining collection of letters to and from the doctor, which we
owe to the Rev. Thomas' Stedman, vicar of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury; and who, to the
mention of Mr. Nathaniel Neal, adds from a correspondent, " whose character I never
think of without the highest veneration and esteem, as few ever possessed more eminently the virtues of the heart, united with a very superior understanding and judgment."t
* Of this we have a proof in the expressive and affecting manner in which his son wrote concerning his
death to Dr. Doddridge. " The report which you had heard of my honoured father's death was too well
founded, if it is becoming the filial gratitude I owe to his memory to seem to repine at my own loss,
which I am satisfied is greatly his gain; especially when his nobler powers were so much obscured, even
to the sight of his friends, as they have been for some time past, by the bodily decays he laboured under.
But, notwithstanding all the admirable reliefs which reason and faith afford under the uneasiness which
nature feels on the loss of so near and (who had been) so desirable a relation, and the many circumstances of weakness which seemed to make dissolution less formidable,, yet the parting season will be gloomy,
the breathless corpse of a once dear and valuable friend will affect us, and the carrying out of our house,
and leaving behind us, in a solitary tomb, all that was visible (when, at the same:time, it was so venerable)
of a father, strikes a damp on the spirits which is not easily overcome or forgotten."-Letters to and from
Dr. Doddridge, p. 355, etc.
t The character of Mr. Lardner, drawn by his son-in-law Mr. Neal, forms the sixth number of the Appendix to Dr. Lardner's Life, prefixed to the new edition of his works, in 8vo.: Letters, and p. 353, note.




CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
Page                                          P
Editorial Preface.      v                 CHAPTER II.
Preface to Vol. I. of the Original Edition  ix From the death of Archbishop Bancroft to the
Advertisement to Vol. I. of Dr. Toulmin's Edi-  death of King James I., A.D. 1610-1625. 256
tion.xvi
Memoir of the Author.. vii                           CHAPTER III.
From the death of King James I. to the disPART  I.                       solution of the third Parliament of King
Charles I. in the year 1628.. 278
HISTORY OF THE PURITANS FROM THE ACCESSION
OF HENRY VIII. TO THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZ-                  CHAPTER IV.
ABETH, A.D. 1509-1602.                      From the dissolution of the third Parliament of
ICHAPTERI           King Charles I. to the death of Archbishop
CHAPTER I.                      Abbot, A.D. 1628-1633..        297
Reign of Henry the Eighth, A.D. 1509-1547  29
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER II.                    From the death of Archbishop Abbot to the
Reign of King Edward the Sixth, A.D.            beginning of the commotions in Scotland in
1547-1553.                              43 the year 1637.                         310
CHAPTER III.                                  CHAPTER VI.
Reign of Queen Mary, A.D. 1553-1558        57 From the beginning of the commotions in Scotland to the Long Parliament in the year 1640 334
CHAPTER IV.
From the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign                CHAPTER VII.
to the separation of the Protestant Noncon-  The character of the Long Parliament.-Their
formists, A.D. 1558-1566...     71   arguments against the late convocation and
CHAPTER V.                   canons.-Impeachment of Dr. William Laud,
CH.  archbishop of Canterbury. —Votes of the
From the separation of the Protestant Noncon-   House of Commons against the promoters
formists to the death of Archbishop Parker,   of the late innovations.35(
A.D. 1566-1575.. 106
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VI.                    The antiquity of liturgies, and of the episcoFrom the death of Archbishop Parker to the      pal order, debated between Bishop Hall and
death of Archbishop Grindal, A.D. 1575-1585  139   SMECTYMNUUS.-'Petitions for and against
the hierarchy.-Root and branch petition.CHAPTER VII.                     The ministers' petition for reformation.From the death of Archbishop Grindal to the     Speeches upon the petition.-Proceedings
Spanish invasion in 1588.      156   against papists.. 363
CHAPTER VIII.                                  CHAPTER IX.
From the Spanish invasion to the death of     From the impeachment of the Earl of Strafford
Queen Elizabeth, A.D. 1588-1602.. 188   to the recess of the Parliament upon the
king's progress into Scotland, A.D. 1640-41  374
Preface to Vol. II. of the Original Edition. 219         CHAPTER X.
Advertisement to Vol. II. of Dr. Toulmin's Edi-  From the reassembling of the Parliament to
tion..225  the king's leaving his palace of Whitehall,
January 10, 1641-2.                    395
PART  II.                                    CHAPTER XI.
HISTORY OF THE PURITANS FROM THE DEATH OF From the kmg's leaving Whitehall to the beQUEEN ELIZABETH TO THE BEGINNING OF THE   ginning of the civil war, A.D. 1642.. 409
CIVIL WAR IN THE YEAR 1642.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER 1.                    The state of the Church of England.-ReliFrom the death of Queen Elizabeth to the        gious character of both parties. —Summary
death of Archbishop Bancroft, A.D. 1603-1610.227   of the ground of the civil war...3




xxviii                                 C ON T E NT S.
Page                                             ge
Preface to Vol. lLI. of the Original Edition. 433           CHAPTER IIl.
The Oxford Parliament.- Progress of the
war.-Visitation of the University of CamPART  III.                       bridge by the Earl of Manchester.-Committees for plundered, sequestered, and scandaHISTORY OF THE PURITANS FROM THE BATTLE   lous ministers.476
OF EDGE HILL TO THE DEATH OF KING CHARLES                    CHAPTER IV.
I., A.D. 1643-1649.
Of the several parties in the assembly of divines-Presby terians —Erastians —IndependCHAPTER I.                       ents. - Their proceedings about ordination,
From the battle of Edge Hill to the calling of    and the directory for Divine worship.-Rise,
the assembly of divines at Westminster. 441   progress,.and sufferings of the English Antipaedobaptists.. 488
CHAPTER II                                      CHAPTER V.
From the calling of the assembly of divines at  *Abstract of the trial of Archbishop Laud, and
Westminster to the Oxford Parliament. 457   of the treaty of Uxbridge.      501




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E  ri' y il71-,21  to  6utber cc0W Lc/:   rart.
bi 1[1      i                   " RI,
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HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
CHAPTER I.                    England, or did receive or execute them, they
were declared to be out of the king's protection,
LPUIODAN OF HENRY VIII.           and should forfeit their goods and chattels to the
KING William the Conqueror, having got pos- king, and should be attached by their bodies, if
session of the crown of England by the assist- they may be found, and brought before the king
ance of the See of Rome, and-King John hav- and council to answer to the cases aforesaid;
ing afterward sold it in his wars with the bar- or that process should be made against them,
ons, the rights and privileges of the English by pramunire facias, in manner as it is ordained
clergy were delivered up into the hands of the in other statutes of provisors; and other which
pope, who taxed them at his pleasure, and in do sue in any other court in derogation of the
process of time drained the kingdom of immense regality of the king."* From this time the archtreasures; for, besides all his other dues, arising bishops called no more convocations by their
from annates, first-fruits, Peter-pence, &c., he sole authority, but by license from the king;
extorted large sums of money from the clergy their synods being formed by writ or precept from
for their preferments in the Church. He ad- the crown, directed to the archbishops, to asvanced foreigners to the richest bishoprics, who semble their clergy, in order to consult upon such
never resided in their diocesses, nor so much affairs as his majesty should lay before them.
as set foot upon English ground, but sent for all But still their canons were binding, though contheir profits to a foreign country; nay, so cov- firmed by no authority but their own, till the
etous was his holiness, that, before livings be- act of submission of the clergy took place.
came void, he sold them provisionally among   About this time flourished the famous John
his Italians, insomuch that neither the king nor Wickliffe, the morning-star of the Reformation.
the clergy had anything to dispose of, but every- He was born at Wickliffe, near- Richmond, in
thing was bargained for beforehand at Rome. Yorkshire,t about the year 1324, and was eduThis awakened the resentments of the Legislature, who, in the twenty-fifth year of Edward   * Fuller's Church History, book iv., p. 145-148.
III., passed an act, called the statute of provi-   t See the very valuable Life of Wickliffe, publishsors, to establish "that the king and other ed by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of Margate, which begins
lords shall present unto benefices of their own, thu: " John de Wickliffe was born, very probably,
about the year 1324, in the parish of Wickliffe, near
or their ancestors' foundation, and not the Bishop Richmond, in Yorkshire, and was first admitted comof Rome." This act enacted " that all forestall- moner of Queen's College, Oxford, then newlyfounding of benefices to foreigners shall cease; and ed by Robert Egglesfield, S.T.B., but was soon after
that the free elections, presentments, and colla- removed to Merton College, where he was first protions of benefices, shall stand in right of the bationer and afterward fellow. He was advanced to
crown, or of any of his majesty's subjects, as the professor's chair, 1372. It appears by this ingethey had formery enjoyed  them, notwithstand- nious writer, as well as by the Catalogus Testium,
ing any provisions from Rome."        -       that Wickliffe was for'rejecting all human rites,
and new shadows or traditions in religion; and with
But still the power of the court of Rome ran regard to the identity of the order of bishops and priests
very high, for they brought all the trials of titles in the apostolic age, he is very positive. Unum auto advowsons into their own courts beyond dacter assero, one thing I boldly assert, that in the
sea; and though by the seventh of Richard II. primitive Church, or in the time of the Apostle Paul,
the power of nomination to benefices, without two orders of clergy were thought sufficient, viz.,
the king's license, was taken from them, they priest and deacon; and I do also say, that in the time
still claimed the benefit of confirmations of of Paul,fuit idem presbyter atque episcopus, a priest
tran n  of b s ad of e ni     and a bishop were one and the same; for in those
translations of bishops, and of excommunica- times the distinct orders of pope, cardinals, patriarchs,
tions; the Archbishops of Canterbury and York archbishops,bishops, archdeacons, officials, and deans
might still, by virtue of bulls from Rome, as- were not invented."
semble the clergy of their several provinces, at   Mr. Neal's review of the first volume of the Histowhat time and place they thought fit, without ry of the Puritans, subjoined to the quarto edition of
leave obtained from the crown; and all the can- this history, vol. i., p. 890.-ED.
ons  and constitutions concluded upon in those   To Mr. Neal's account of Wickliffe's sentiments, it
may be added, that he advanced some tenets which
synods were binding, without any farther ratifi- not only symbolize with, but directly led tenethe pwhichcation from the king; so that the power of the culiar opinions of those who, called Baptists, have in
Church was independent of the civil govern- subsequent ages formed a large body of dissenters,
ment. This being represented to the Parlia- viz., "that wise men leave that as impertinent which
ment of the sixteenth of Richard II., they pass- is not plainly expressed in Scripture; that those are
ed the statute commonly called presmunire, by fools and presumptuous which' affirm such infants
which it was enacted, "that if any did purchase not to be saved which die without baptism; that baptranslations to benefices, processes, sentences tism doth not confer, but only signify grace, which
translations to, benefices, proesses, sentences was given before. He also denied that all sins are
of excommunication, bulls, or any other instru- abolished in baptism; and asserted that children may
ments from the court of Rome, against the king be saved without baptism; and that the baptism of
or his crown; or whoever brought them into water profiteth not, without the baptism of the Spir




30                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
cated in Queen's College, Oxford, where hewas vourable to Wickliffe, insomuch that he vendivinity professor, and afterward pastor of Lut- tured out of his retirement, and returned to his
terworth in Leicestershire. He flourished in the parish at Lutterworth, where he quietly departlatterend ofthe reignofKingEdward III. and the ed this life, in the year 1384. This Wickliffe
beginning of Richard II., about one hundred and was a wonderful man for the times in which he
thirty years before the Reformation of Luther. lived, which were overspread with the thickest
The University gave this testimonial of him af- darkness of anti-Christian idolatry; he was the
ter his death: " That, from his youth to the time first that translated the New Testament into
of his death, his conversation was so praisewor- English; but the art of printing not being then
thy, that there was never any spot or suspicion found out, it hardly escaped the inquisition of
noised of him; that in his reading and preach- the prelates; at least, it was very scarce when
ing he behaved like a stout and valiant champion Tyndal translated it a second time in 1526. He
of the faith; and that he had written in logic, preached and published the very same doctrines
philosophy, divinity, morality, and the specula- for substance that afterward obtained at the Reftive arts, without an equal." While he was di-, ormation; he wrote near two hundred volumes,
vinity professor at Oxford, he published certain all which were called in, condemned, and orderconclusions - against transubstantiation and ed to be burned, together with his bones, by the
against the infallibility of the pope; that the Council of Constance, in the year 1425, fortyChurch of Rome was not the head of alln other one years after his death; but his doctrine rechurches; nor had St. Peter the power of the mained, and the number of his disciples, who
keys any more than the rest of the apostles; were distinguished by the name of Lollards, inthat the New Testament, or Gospel, is a per- creased after his decease,* which gave occasion
feet rule of life and manners, and ought to be to the making sundry other severe laws against
read by the people.*  He maintained, farther, heretics.
most of those points by which the Puritans were   The clergy made their advantage of the conafterward distinguished; as, that in the sacra- tentions between the houses of York and Lanmrent of orders there ought to be but two de- caster; both parties courting their assistance,
grees, presbyters or bishops and deacons; that which they did not fail to make use of for the
all human. traditions are superfluous and sinful; support of the Catholic faith, as they called it,
that we must practise and teach only the laws and the advancement of their spiritual tyranny
of Christ; that mystical and significant cere- over the consciences of men. In the primitive
monies in religious worship are unlawful; and times there were no capital proceedings against
that to restrain men to a prescribed form of heretics, the weapons of the Church being only
prayer is contrary to the liberty granted them  spiritual; but when it was found that ecclesiby God. These, with some other of Wickliffe's astical censures were not sufficient to keep men
doctrines against the temporal grandeur of the in a blind subjection to the pope, a decree was
prelates and their usurped authority, were sent obtained in the fourth Council of Lateran, A.D.
to Rome and condemned by Pope Gregory XI., 1215, "that all heretics should be delivered
in a consistory of twenty-three cardinals, in the over to the civil magistrate to be burned."
year 1378. But the pope dying soon after, put Here was the spring of that anti-Christian tyra stop to the process. Urban, his successor, anny and oppression of the consciences of men
wrote to young King Richard II. and to the which has since been attended with a sea of
Archbishop of Canterbury, and the University Christian blood: the papists learned it from the
of Oxford, to put a stop to the progress of heathen emperors, and the most zealous ProtWickliffism; accordingly, Wickliffe was cited estants of all nations have taken it up from
before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his them.  Conscience cannot be convinced by
brethren, the prelates, several times, but was fines and imprisonments, or by fire, and fagot;
always dismissed, either by the interest of the all attempts of this kind serve only to make
citizens of London, or the powerful interposi- men hypocrites, and are deservedly branded
tion of some great lords at court, or some other with the name of persecution. There was no
uncommon providence, which terrified the bish- occasion for putting these sanguinary laws in
ops from passing a peremptory-sentence against execution among us till the latter end of the
him for a considerable time; but at length his fourteenth century; but when the Lollards, or
new doctrines, as they were called, were con- followers of Wickliffe, threatened the papal powdemned, in a convocation of bishops, doctors, er, the clergy brought this Italian drug from
and bachelors, held at London by the command- Rome, and planted it in the Church of England.
ment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1382, and   In the fifth year of Richard II., it was enacted
he was deprived of his professorship, his books " that all that preached without license against
and writings were ordered to be bur'ned and the Catholic'faith, or against the laws of the
himself to be imprisoned; but he kept out of the land, should be arrested, and kept in prison till
way, and in the time of his retirement wrote a they justified themselves according to the law
confession of his faith to the pope, in which he and reason of Holy Church. Their commitment
declares himself willing to maintain his opinions was to be by writ from the chancellor, who was
at Rome, if God had not otherwise visited him  to issue forth commissions to the sheriffs and
with sickness and other infirmities: but it was other the king's ministers, after the bishops had
well for this good man that there were two antipopes at this time at war with each other, one   * Knighton, a canon of Leicester and a contempoat Rome, and the other at Avignon. In Eng- raryofWickliffe, tellsus that in the year 1382 "their
land, also, there was a minority, which was fa- number very much increased, and that, starting like
saplings from the root of a tree, they were multiplied,
it."-Fuller's Church History, b. iv., p. 130. Trialo- and filled every place within the compass of the
gus, lib. iv., cap. i-ED.                   land." —Dr. Vaughan's Life of Wicklfe, vol. ii., p 154
* Fox's Martyrol. Pierce's Vindicat., p. 4, 5.    2d edition-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      31
returned the names of the delinquents into the ing to the genius of the popish religion, exer.
Court of Chancery.                            cised numberless cruelties upon the people.  If
When Richard II. was deposed, and the any man denied them any degree of respect, or
crown usurped by Henry IV., in order to gain any of those profits they pretended was their
the good-will of the clergy, it was farther en- due, he was immediately suspected of heresy,
acted, in the second year of his reign, "that if imprisoned, and, it may be, put to death; of
any person were suspected of heresy, the ordi- which some hundreds of examples are upon
nary might detain them in prison till they were record.*
canonically purged, or did abjure their errors;   Thus stood the laws with respect to religion,
provided, always, that the proceedings against when King Henry VIII., second son of King
them were publicly and judicially ended within  Henry VII., came to the crown; he was born
three months.  If they were convicted, the dio- in the year 1491, and bred a scholar: he undercesan, or his commissary, might imprison and stood the purity of the Latin tongue, and was
fine them at diosretion. Those that refused to well acquainted with school divinity.  No sort
abjure their error, or, after abjuration, relapsed, of flattery pleased him better than to have his
were to be delivered over to the secular power, wisdom and learning commended.  In the beand the mayors, sheriffs, or bailiffs, were to be ginning he was a most obedient son of the papresent, if required, when the bishop, or his pacy, and employed his talents in writing against
commissary, passed sentence, and after sen- Luther in defence of the seven. sacraments of
tence they were to receive them, and in some the Church. This book was magnified by the
high place burn them to death before the peo- clergy as the most learned performance of the
ple."  By this law the king's subjects were put age; and upon presenting it to the pope, his
from under his protection, and left to the mercy holiness conferred upon the King of England,.
of the bishops in their spiritual courts, and and his successors, the glorious title of DEmight, upon suspicion of heresy, be imprisoned FENDER OF THE FAITH;t it was -voted in full
and put to death, without presentment or trial consistory, and signed by twenty-seven cardiby jury, as is the practice in all other criminal nals, in the year 1521.1
cases.                                           At the same time, Cardinal Wolsey, the king's
In the beginning of the reign of Henry V., favourite, exercised a sovereign power over the
who was a martial prince, a new law passed whole clergy and people of England in spiritual
against the Lollards or Wickliffites,* " that they matters: he was made legate in the year 1519,
should forfeit all the lands they had in fee-sim- and accepted of a bull from the pope, contrary to
pie, and all their goods and chattels to the king. the statute of premunire, empowering him to suAll state officers, at their entrance into office, perintend and correct what he thought amiss in
were sworn to use their best endeavours to dis- both the provinces of Canterbury and York,
cover them, and to assist the ordinaries in and to appoint all officers in thespiritual
prosecuting and convicting them."  I find no                                       
mention, in any of these acts, of a writ or war-   * Thus, in the reign of Edward IV., John Keyser
rant from the king, de h&eretico comburendo; the was committed to jail, by Thomas, archbishop of
sheriff might proceed to the burning of heretics Canterbury, on the suspicion of heresy, because,
without  it; but it proc eed tms the burning's learned having been excommunicated, he said "that, not
withoun      t it; but it seemso the king's learned  withstanding the archbishop or his commissary had
counsel advised him to issue out a writ of this excommunicated him, yet before God he was not
kind to the sheriff, by which his majesty took excommunicated, for his corn yielded as well as his
them, in some sort, under his protection again; neighbours."' Thus, also, in the reign of Henry VII.
but it was not as yet necessary by law, nor are Hillary Warner was arrested on the charge of heresy
there any of them to be found in the rolls before because he said " that he was not bound to pay tithe
the reign of King Henry VIII.                 to the curate of the parish where he lived."
By virtue of these statutes, the clergy, accord- 0~Coke's Institutes, 3 inst:, p. 42, quoted in a treatise
on heresy as cognizable in the spiritual courts,.p. 22,
* It marks the profaneness, as well as cruelty of 23.-ED.
the act here quoted by Mr. Neal, that it was not di-   t Mr. Fox observes, that though "this -book carrected merely against the avowed followers of Wick- ried the king's name in the title, it was another who
liffe, as such, but against the perusal of the Scrip- ministered the notion and framed the style. But,
tures in English: for it enacted, "that whatsoever whoever had the labour of the book, the king had
they were that should read the Scriptures in the the thanks and the reward."-Acts and Monuments of
mother tongue (which was then called Wicleue's Mllartyrs, vol. ii., p. 57. It has been said that the jester
learning), they should forfeit land, catel, lif, and at the court, seeing Henry overcome with joy, asked
godes, for theyr heyres forever, and so be condemp- the reason; and when told that it was because his
ned for heretykes to God, enemies to the crowne, holiness had conferred upon him this new title, he
and most arrant traitors to the lande." - Emlynvs replied, "My good Harry, let me and thee defend
Complete Collection of State Trials, p. 48, as quoted iri each other, and let the faith alone to defend itself."
Dr. Flemming's Palladium, p. 30, note.        " If this was uttered as a serious joke," says a writer,
So great an alarm did the doctrine of Wickliffe " the fool was, undoubtedly, the wisest man of the
raise, and so high did the fear of its spread rise, that two."-C.
by the statute of 5 Rich. II. and 2 Hen. IV., c. 15, it   $ "The extravagant praises which he received for
was enacted, as part of the sheriff's oath, "that he this performance," observes Dr. Warner, "meeting
should seek to redress all errors and heresies, com- with so much pride and conceitedness in his nature,
Inonly called Lollards." And it is a striking instance made him from this time impatient of all contradic
of the permanent footing which error and absurdity, tions on religious subjects, and to set up himself fox
and even iniquity gain, when once established by the standard of truth, by which his people were to
law, that this clause was preserved in the oath long regulate their belief."-REclesiastical History, vol. ii.,
after the Reformation, even to the first of Charles I., p. 228. We are surprised, in the event, to see this
when Sir Edward Coke, on being appointed sheriff prince, who was now " the pride of popery, become
of the county of Buckingham, objected to it, and ever its scourge." Such are the fluctuations in human
since it has been left out. —The Complete Sheriff, characters and affairs, and so unsearchable are the
p. 17.-ED.                                    ways of Providence!-ED.




32                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
courts.*  The king also granted him a full pow- bulls for his legatine power, which for many
erof disposing of all ecclesiastical benefices in years he had executed. The cardinal pleaded
~the gift of the crown; with a visitatorial power ignorance of the statute, and submitted to the
over monasteries, colleges, and all his clergy, king's mercy; upon which he was declared to
exempt or not exempt. By virtue of these be out of the king's protection, to have forfeited
vast powers a new court ofjustce was erected, his goods and chattels, and that his person
called the legate's court, the jurisdiction where- might be seized. The haughty cardinal, not
of extended to all.actions relating to conscience, knowing how to bear his disgrace, soon after
and numberless rapines and extortions were fell sick and died, declaring that if he had sercommitted by it under colour of reforming men's ved God as well as he had done his prince, he'
manners; all which his majesty connived at, would not have given him  over in his gray
out of zeal to the Church.                 hairs.
But at length, the king, being weary of his   But the king, not satisfied with his resentQueen Katharine, after he had lived with her ments against the cardinal, rgsolved to be realmost twenty years, or being troubled in con- venged on the pope himself, and accordingly,
science because he had married his brother's September 19th, a week before the cardinal's
wife, and the legitimacy of his daughter had death, he published a proclamation forbidding
been called in question by some foreign princes, all persons to purchase anything from Rome
he first separated from her bed, and then mo- under the severest penalties, and resolved to
ved the pope for a divorce; but the court of annex the ecclesiastical supremacy to his own
Rome having held his majesty in suspense for crown for the future. It was easy to foresee
two or three years for fear of offending the em- that the clergy would startle at the king's assuperor the queen's nephew, the impatient king, ming to himself the pope's supremacy; but his
by the advice of Dr. Cranmer, appealed to the majesty had them at his mercy, for they having
principal universities of Europe, and desired acknowledged Cardinal Wolsey's legatine powtheir opinions upon these two questions:   er, and submitted to his jurisdiction, his majes1. " Whether it was agreeable to the law of ty caused an indictment to be preferred against
God for a man to marry his brother's wife 1    them in Westminster Hall, and obtained judg2. "Whether the pope could dispense with ment upon the statute of prazmunire, whereby
the law of God 1"                          the whole body of the clergy were declared to be
All the universities, and most of the learned rout of the king's protection, and to have forfeitmen of Europe, both Lutherans and papists, ex- ed all their goods and chattels.
cept those at Rome, declared for the negative   In this condition they were glad to submit
of the two questions., The king laid their de- upon the best terms they could get, but the
terminations before the Parliament and convo- king would not pardon them but upon these
cation,Aho agreed with the foreign universi- two conditions: (1.) That the two provinces of
ties. lIthe convocation of English clergy, two Canterbury and York should pay into the exhundred and fifty-three were for the divorce, chequer ~118,840, a vast sum of money in those
and but nineteen against it. Sundry learned times. (2.) That they should yield his majesty
books were written for and against the lawful- the title of sole and supreme head of the Church
ness of the marriage; one party being encour- of England, next and immediately under Christ.
aged by the king, and the other by the pope and The former they readily complied with, and
emperor.' The pope cited the king to Rome, promised for the future never to assemble in
but his majesty ordered the Earl of Wiltshire convocation but by the king's writ; nor to
to protest against the citation, as contrary to make or execute any canons or constitutions
the prerogative of his crown; and sent a letter without his majesty's license; but to acknowlsigned by the cardinal,. the Archbishop of Can- edge a layman to be supreme head of an eccleterbury, four bishops, two dukes, two marquis- siastical body, was such an absurdity, in their
es, thirteen earls, two viscounts, twenty-three opinion, and so inconsistent with their allebarons, twenty-two abbots, and eleven common- giance to the pope, that they could not yield to
ers, exhorting his holiness to confirm the judg- it without'an additional clause, as far as is
ment of the learned men, and of the universi- agreeable to the laws of Christ. The king ac.
ties of Europe, by annulling his marriage, or cepted it with the clause for the present, but a
else he should be obliged to take other meas- year or two after obtained the confirmation of
ures. The pope in his answer, after having ac- it in Parliament and convocation without the
knowledged his majesty's favours, told him that clause.
thie queen's appeal and avocation of the cause   The substance of the act of supremacy* is as
to Rome must be granted. The king seeing follows: " Albeit the king's majesty justly and
himself abused, and that the affair of his mar- rightfully is, and ought to be, supreme head of
riage, which had been already determined by the Church of England, and is so recognised by
the most learned men in Europe, and had been the clergy of this realm in their convocations;
argued before the legates Campegio and Wol- yet, nevertheless, for confirmation and corrobosey, must commence again, began to suspect ration thereof, and for increase of virtue irn
Wolsey's sincerity; upon which his majesty Christ's religion within this realm of England,
sent for the seals from him, and soon after com- &c., be it enacted by the authority of this presmanded his attorney-general to put in an in- ent Parliament, that the king, our sovereign
formation against him in the King's Bench, be- lord, his heirs and successors, kings of this
cause that, notwithstanding the statute of Rich- realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed
ard II. against procuring bulls from Rome un- the only supreme head on earth of the Church
der the pains of a pramunire, he had received of England; and shall have and enjoy, annexed
* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. i., p. 8.         * 26 Henry VIII., cap. i.




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITAN-S.                                 33
and united to the. imperial crown of this realm, by proxy, on the 20th of May, 1533, but her ma.
as well as the title and style thereof, as all hon- jesty refused to appear, adhering to her appeal to
ours,- dignities, immunities, profits, and corn- the court of Rome; upon which the archbishoP,
modities, to the said dignity of supreme head of by advice of the court, declared her contmnax,
the said Church belonging and appertaining; and on the 23d of the same month pronounced
and that our sovereign lord, his heirs and suc- the king's marriage with her null and void, as
cessors kings of this realm, shall have full being contrary to the laws of God. Soon after
power and authority to visit, repress, redress,.which his majesty married Anne Bullen, and
reform, order, correct, restrain, and amend all procured an act of Parliament for settling the
such errors, heresies, abuses, contempts, and crown upon the heirs of her body, which all his
enormities, whatsoever they be, which, by any subjects were obliged to swear to.
manner of spiritual authority or jurisdiction,   There was a remarkable appearance of Diought or may be lawfully reformed, repressed, vine Providence in this affair; for the French
ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained, or king had prevailed with the King of England to
amended, most to the pleasure of Almighty refer his cause once more to the court f Rome,
God, and increase of virtue in Christ's religion, upon assurances given that the pope should deand for the conversation of peace, unity, and cide it in his majesty's favour within a limited
tranquillity of this realm; any usage, custom, time; the pope consented, and fixed a time for
foreign law, foreign authority, prescription, or the return of the king's answer, but the courier
anything or things to the contrary notwith- not arriving upon the very day, the Imperialists,
standing."                                   who dreaded an alliance between the pope and
Here was the rise of the Reformation. The the King of England, persuaded his holiness to
whole power of reforming heresies and errors give sentence against him; and accordingly,
in doctrine and worship was transferred from  March 23d, the marriage was declared good,
the pope to the king, without any regard to the and the king was required to take his wife again,
rights of synods or councils of the clergy, and otherwise the censures of the Church were to
without a reserve of liberty to such consciences be denounced against him.*  Two days after
as could not comply with the public standard. this the courier arrived from England with the
This was undoubtedly a change for the better, king's submission under his hand in due form,
but is far from being consonant to Scripture or but it was then too late, it being hardly decent
reason.                                      for the infallible chair to revoke its decrees in
The Parliament had already forbid all appeals so short a time. Such was the crisis of the
to the court of Rome, in causes testamentary, Reformation!
matrimonial, and in all disputes concerning di-   The pope having decided against the king, his
vorces, tithes, oblations, &c., under penalty of majesty determined to take away all his profits
a prcemunire,* and were now voting away an- and authority over the Church of England at
nates and first-fruits; and providing "that, in once: accordingly, a bill was brought into the
case the pope denied his bulls for electing or Parliament then sitting, and passed without any
consecrating bishops, it should be done without protestation, by which it is enacted " that all
them by the archbishop of the province; that payments made to the apostolic chamber, and
an archbishop might be consecrated by any two all provisions, bulls, or dispensations, should
bishops whom the king should appoint; and be- from thenceforth cease; and that all dispensaing so consecrated, should enjoy all the rights of tions or licenses, for things not contrary to the
his see, any law or custom to the contrary not- law of God, should be granted within the kingwithstanding." All which acts passed both hous- dom, under the seals of the two archbishops in
es without any considerable opposition. Thus, their several provinces. The pope was to have
while the pope stood trifling about a contested no farther concern in the nomination or confirmmarriage, the king and Parliament took away ation of bishops, which were appointed to be
all his profits, revenues, and authority in the chosen by conge d'elire from the crown, as at
Church of England.                           present. Peter's-pence and all procurations from
His majesty having now waited six years for Rome were abolished. Moreover, all religious
a determination of his marriage from the court houses, exempt or not exempt, were to be subof Rome, and being now himself head of the ject to the archbishops' visitation, except some
Church of England, commanded Dr. Cranmer, monasteries and abbeys which were to be sublately consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury,t ject to the king."tO Most of the bishops voted
to call a court of canonists anddivines, and pro- against this bill, but all but one set their hands
ceed to judgment. Accordingly, his grace sum- to it after it was passed, according to the cusmoned Queen Katharine to appear at Dunstable, tom of those times. Thus the Church of Eng.
near the place where she resided, in person or land became independent of the pope, and all
foreign jurisdiction.
* 24 Henry VIII., cap. xii.                  Complaints being daily made of the severe
t Cranmer's elevation took place in 1533. "He proceedings of the eclesiastical courts against
appears to have accepted the distinction with reluc-proceedings of the ecclesiastical courts against
tance, and the best friends of his reputation must re- heretics, the Parliament took this matter into
gard his compliance with some degree of regret. He consideration, and repealed the act of the second
was destitute of that fortitude and determination of of Henry IV., above mentioned, but left the statmind which so high a station required. He was timid utes of Richard II. and Henry V in full force,
and vacillating; honest in his purposes, but irreso- with this qualification, that heretics should be
lute in his conduct. In a private station, or in a proceeded against upon presentments by two
calmer age, he would have maintained an irreproach- witnesses at least; that they should be brought
able character; but at present he needs all the sym- to answer in open court; and if th-y were found
pathy which his martyrdom inspires to retain for him
a high place in the respect of impartial men." —Dr.  a Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. i., p. 135.
Price's History of Nonconformity, vol. i., p. 8.-C.  t 25 Henry VIII., cap. xx., xxi.
VOL. I.




34                     -HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
guilty, and would not abjure, or were relapsed, ance to the king, and acknowledging him to be
they should be adjudged to death, the king's.the head of the Church, they declared, upon
writ de hretico comburendo being first obtained.*  oath, "the lawfulness of his marriage with
By this act the ecclesiastical courts were lim- Queen Anne, and that they would be true to
ited, heretics being now to be tried according the issue begotten in it. That the Bishop of
to the forms of law, as in- other cases.      Rome had no more power than any other bishTowards the latter end of this session, the op in his own diocess; that they would submit
clergy, assembled in convocation, sent up their to all the king's laws, notwithstanding the
submission to the king to be passed in Parlia- pope's censures; that in their prayers they
ment, which was done accordingly: the con- would pray first for the king as supreme head
tents were, "that the clergy acknowledged all of the Church of England; then for the queen
convocations ought to be assembled by the [Anne], then for the Archbishop of Canterbury,
king's writ; and promised in verbo sacerdotii, and the other ranks of the clergy."  Only Fishthat they would never make nor execute any er, bishop of Rochester, and Sir Thomas More,
new calnons or constitutions without the royal lord-chancellor, refused to take the oath, for
assent; and since many canons had been re- which they afterward lost their lives.
ceived that were found prejudicial to the king's   The separation of the Church of England
prerogative, contrary to the laws of the land, from Rome contributed something towards the
and heavy to the subjects, that, therefore, there reformation of its doctrines, though the body of
should be a committee of thirty-two persons, the inferior clergy were as stiff for their old
sixteen of the two houses of Parliament and as opinions as ever, being countenanced and supmany of the clergy, to be named by the king, ported by the Duke of Norfolk, by the Lordwho should have full power to revise the old chancellor More, by Gardiner, bishop of Wincanons, and to abrogate, confirm, or alter them, chester, and Fisher of Rochester; but some of.as they found expedient, the king's assent being the nobility and bishops were for a farther
obtained."                                    reformation: among these were the new queen,
This submission was confirmed by Parlia- Lord Cromwell, afterward Earl of Essex, Dr.
meat; and by the same act all appeals to Rome Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, Shaxton,
were again condemned.  If any parties found bishop of Salisbury, and Latimer of Worcester.
themselves aggrieved in the archbishops' courts, As these were more or less in favour with the
an appeal might be made to the king in the king, the reformation of religion went forward
Court of Chancery, and the lord-chancellor was or backward throughout the whole course of his
to grant a commission under the great seal for reign.
a hearing before delegates, whose determination    The progress of the Reformation in Germashould be final. All exempted abbots were also ny, by the preaching of Luther, Melancthon,
to appeal to the king; and the act concluded  and others, with the number of books that were
with a proviso "that, till such correction of the published in those parts, some of which were
canons was made, all those which were then  translated into English, revived learning, and
received should remain in force, except such as raised people's curiosity to look into the state
were contrary to the laws and customs of the of religion here at home. One of the first books
realm, or were to the damage or hurt of the that was published was the translation of the
king's prerogative."  Upon the proviso of this New Testament by Tyndal, printed at Antwerp,
act all the proceedings of the commons and  1526.*  The next was the Supplication of the
other spiritual courts are founded; for the canons not being corrected to this day, the old ones * Of this edition, which consisted of fifteen hunare in force, with the exceptions above men- dred copies, only one is supposed to exist; that
tioned; and this proviso is probably the reason  copy is preserved in the library of the Baptist Coltioned; and-this proviso is probably the reason lege, Bristol, England. The scarceness of this ediwhy the canons were not corrected in the fol- tion is easily accounted for: "The book that had
lowing reigns, for now it lies in the breast of the greatest authority and influence was Tindal's
the judges to declare what canons are contrary translation of the New Testament, of which the
to the laws or rights of the crown, which is bishops made great complaints, and said it was full
more for the king's prerogative than to make a of errors. But Tonstal, then Bishop of London, becollection of ecclesiastical laws which should be ing a man of invincible moderation, would dc nofixed and immovable,                          body any hurt, yet endeavoured, as he could, to get
Before the Parliamentbroke up they gave their books into his hands; so, being at Antwerp in
Before the Parliamentebroke up they gave the year 1529, he sent for one Packington, an Engthe annates or first-fruits of benefices, and the lish merchant there, and desired him to see how
yearly revenue of the tenth part of all livings, many New Testaments of'indal's translation he
which had been taken from the pope last year, might have for money. Packington, who was a seto the king. This displeased the clergy, who cret favcurer of Tindal, told him what the bishop
were in hopes of being freed from that burden; proposed. Tindal was very glad of it; for, being
but they were mistaken, for by the thirty-second  convinced of some faults in his work, he was designing a new and more correct edition; but he was..of Henry VIII., cap. xlv, a court of record is
of'HenryVII., cap.xlv, acourtofrodispoor, and the former impression not being sold off,
ordered to be erected, called the court of the he could not go about it; so he gave Packington all
first-fruits and tenths, for the levying and gov- the copies-that lay in his hands, for which the bishop
ernment of the said first-fruits forever.     paid the price, and brought them over, and burned
The session being ended, commissioners were them publicly in Cheapside. This had such a hatesent over the kingdom to administer the oath of ful appearance in it, being generally called a burning
succession to all his majesty's subjects, accord- of the Word of God, that people from thence concluu       ng to a late allct of Parliament, by which it jecded there must be a risible contrariety between that
aei   book and the doctrines of those who so handled it;
appears that, besides renewing their allegi- by which both their prejudice against the clergy, and
their desire of reading the New Testament, were in* 25 Henry VIII., cap. xiv.         creased. So that next year, when the second edition




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    35
Beggars, by Simon Frith of Gray's Inn, 1529. into the king's hands; others, upon examination,
It was levelled against the begging friars, and  appeared guilty of the greatest frauds and imcomplains that the common poor were ready to  positions on the simplicity of the people: many
starve, because the alms of the people were in- of their pretended relics were exposed and de*tercepted by great companies of lusty, idle fri- stroyed, as the Virgin Mary's milk, showed in
ars, who were able to work, and were a burden  eight places; the coals that roasted St. Lawto the commonwealth. More and Fisher an- rence; and an angel with one wing that brought
swered the book, endeavouring to move the  over the head of the spear that pierced our Savpeople's passions by representing the supplica- iour's side; the rood of grace, which was so
tions of the souls in purgatory which were re- contrived, that the eyes and lips might move
lieved by the masses of these friars. But the upon occasion; with many others. The images
strength of their arguments lay in the sword of of a great many pretended saints were taken
the magistrate, which was now in their hands; down and burned, and all the rich offerings made
for while these gentlemen were in power the at their shrines were seized for the crown, which
clergy made sad havoc among those people who  brought an immense treasure into the exchequer.
were seeking after Christian knowledge; some    Upon the report of the visiters, the Parliament
were cited into the bishops' courts for teach- consented to the suppression of the lesser moning their children the Lord's Prayer in Eng- asteries under ~200 a year value, and gave
lish; some for reading forbidden books; some them to the king to the number of three hundred
for speaking against the vices of the clergy; and seventy-six. Their rents amounted to about
some for not coming to confession and the sac- ~32,000 per annum: their plate, jewels, and
rament; and some for not observing the furniture, to about ~100,000.*  The churches
Church fasts; most of whom, through fear of and cloisters were for the most part pulled down,
death, did penance and were dismissed; but and the lead,-and bells, and other materials, sold.
several of the clergy refusing to abjure, or after A new court, called the Court of Augmentations
abjuration falling into a relapse, suffered death. of the King's Revenue,t was erected, to receive
Among these were the Rev. Mr. Hitton, curate the rents and to dispose of the lands, and bring
of Maidstone, burned in Smithfield, 1530; the the profits into the exchequer. Every religious
Rev. Mr. Bilney, burned at Norwich, 1531; Mr. person that was turned out of his cell had 45s.
Byfield, a monk of St. Edmondsbury; James given him in money, of which number there
Bainham, Knt. of the Temple; besides two men  were about ten thousand; and every governor
and awoman, atYork. In theyear 1l533, Mr. John  had a pension. But to ease the government of
Frith,* an excellent scholar of the University of this charge, the monks and friars were put into
Cambridge, was burned in Smithfield, with one benefices as fast as they became vacant; by
Hewet, a poor apprentice, for denying the corpo- which means it came to pass that the body of
real presence of Christ in the sacrament; but the inferior clergy were disguised papists and
upon the rupture between the king and the pope, enemies to the Reformation.
and the repeal of the act of King Henry IV. against   The lesser religious houses being dissolved,
heretics, the wings of the clergy were clipped, the rest followed in a few years: for in the years
and a stop. put to their cruelties for a time.  1537 and 1539, the greater abbeys and monasNone were more adverse to the Reformation  teries were broken up, or surrendered to the
than the monks and friars: these spoke openly  crown, to prevent an inquiry into their lives and
against the king's proceedings, exciting the peo- manners. This raised a great clamour among
pie to rebellion, and endeavouring to embroil the people, the monks and friars going up and
his affairs with foreign princes; the king, there- down the country like beggars, clamouring at
fore, resolved to humble them, and for this pur- the injustice of the suppression. The king, to
pose appointed a general visitation of the mon- quiet them, gave back fifteen abbeys and sixasteries, the management of which was com- teen nunneries for perpetual alms; but several
rmitted to the Lord Cromwell, with the title of of the abbots being convicted of plots and convisiter-general, who appointed other commis- spiracies against his government, his majesty
sioners under him, and gave them injunctions resumed his grants after two years, and obtained
and articles of inquiry.  Upon this, several ab- an act of Parliament, whereby her was empowbots and priors, to prevent a scrutiny into their ered to erect sundry new cathedral churches and
conduct, voluntarily surrendered their houses bishoprics, and to endow them out of the profwas finished, many were brought over, and Constan- its of the religious houses. The king intended,
tine (a coadjutor of Tindal) being taken in England,  ays Bishop Burnet, to convert ~18i00 a year
the lord-chancellor, in a private examination, prom- into a revenue for eighteen bishoprics and caised him that no hurt should be done him if he would thedrals; but of them he only erected six, viz.,
reveal who encouraged and supported him at An- the bishoprics of Westminster, Chester, Petertwerp; which he accepted of, and told that the great- borough, Oxford, Gloucester, and Eristol. This
est encouragement they had was from the Bishop of was the chief of what his majesty did for reliLondon, who had bought up half the impression. g
This made all that heard of it laugh heartily, though  mense sums that fell into his handsfor the
more judicious persons discerned the great temper  mense  sums that fell into his hands: for the
of that learned bishop in it."-Burnet's Reform., i., clear rents of all the suppressed houses were
260. —C.                                     cast up at ~131,607 6s. 4d per annum, as they
* Mr. Frith wrote a tract, published with his other were then rated, but were at least ten times as
wolks, London, 1573, entitled " A Declaration of much in value. Most of the abbey lands were
Baptism."                                    given away among the courtiers, or sold at easy
ir Jtiiies Bainham seemns, from his examination  rates to the gentry, to engage them by interest
before the BIishop of London, Dec. 15, 1531, to have
been an opposer of infant baptism. —Crosby's Hist. of against the resumption of them to the Church.
the EnglkAh Baptists, vol. i,, p. 31.             e Burnet's Uist. Ref., vol. i., p. 223.
Fox's Ma tyrs, vol. ii., p. 227, 241, 256, 445.-C.  t 27 Henry VIII., cap. xxvii., xxviii.




36                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
In the year 1545, the Parliament gave the king    The fall of Queen Anne Bullen, mother of
the chantries, colleges, free chapels, hospitals, Queen Elizabeth, was a great prejudice to the
fraternities, and guilds, with their manors and  Reformation.  She was a virtuous and pious
estates. Seventy manors and parks were alien- lady, but airy and indiscreet in her behaviour:
ated from the archbishopric of York, and twelve the popish party hated her for her religion; and
from Canterbury, and confirmed to the crown. having awakened the king's jealousy, put him
Hlow easily might this king, with his immense upon a nice observance of her carriage, by which
revenues, have put an end to the being of Par- she quickly fell under his majesty's displeasure,
liaments!                                    who ordered her to be sent to the Tower, May
The translation of the New Testament by  1.  On the 15th of the same month she'was
Tyndal, already mentioned, had a wonderful tried by her peers for incontinence, for a prespread among the people; though the bishops contract of marriage, and for conspiring the
condemned it, and proceeded with the utmost king's death; and though there was little or no
severity against those that read it. They com- evidence, the lords found her guilty, for fear ot
plained of it to the king; upon which his majes- offending the king; and four days after she was
ty called it in by proclamation in the month of beheaded within the Tower, protesting her innoJune, 1530, and promised that a more correct cence to the last.  Soon after her execution the
translation should be published: but it was im- king called a Parliament to set aside the succespossible to stop the curiosity of the people so sion of the Lady Elizabeth, her daughter, which
long; for, though the bishops bought up and  was done, and the king was empowered to nomiburned. all they could meet with, the Testament nate his successor by his last will and testament;
was reprinted abroad, and sent over to mer- so that both his majesty's daughters were now
chants at London, who dispersed the copies declared illegitimate; but the king having power
privately among their acquaintance and friends. to settle the succession as he pleased, in case
At length, it was moved in convocation that of failure of male heirs, they were still in hopes,
the whole Bible should be translated into Eng- and quietly submitted to their father's pleasure.
lish, and set up in churches; but most of the    Complaint being sent to court of the diversity
old clergy were against it  They said this of doctrines delivered in pulpits, the king sent a
would lay the foundation of innumerable here- circular letter to all the bishops, July 12 [1536],
sies, as it had done in Germany; and that the forbidding all preaching till Michaelmas; by
people were not proper judges of the sense of which time certain articles of religion, most
Scripture: to which it was replied, that the catholic, should be set forth. The king himself
Scriptures were written at first in the vulgar framed the articles, and sent them into convotongue; that our Saviour commanded his hear- cation, where they were agreed to by both housers to search the Scriptures; and that it was es.  An abstract of them will show the state
necessary people should do so now, that they  of the Reformation at this time.
might be satisfied that the alterations the king    1. " All preachers were to instruct the pqople
had made in religion were not contrary to the to believe the whole Bible, and the three creds,
Word of God. These arguments prevailed with viz., the Apostles', the Nicene, and Athanasian,
the majority to consent that a petition should and to interpret all things according to them.
be presented to the king, that his majesty would   2. " That baptism was a sacrament instituted
please to give order about it.                by Christ; that it was necessary to salvation;
But the old bishops were too much disincli — that infants were to be baptized for the pardon
ned to move in it. The Reformers, therefore, of original sin; and that the opinions of the
were forced to have recourse to Mr. Tyndal's Anabaptists and Pelagians were detestable herBible, which had been printed at Hamburg, esies. [And that those of ripe age, who desired
1532, and reprinted three or four years after by baptism, must join with it repentance and conGrafton and Whitchurch. The translators were trition for their sins, with a firm belief of the
Tyndal, assisted by Miles Coverdale, and Mr. articles of the faith.]
John Rogers, the protomartyr: the Apocrypha    3. " That penance, that is, contrition, confeswas done by Rogers, and some marginal notes sion, and amendment of life, with works of charwere inserted to the whole, which gave offence,
and occasioned that Bible to be prohibited. But infect them with heresy. I have bestowed never an
Archbishop Cranmer, having now reviewed and hour upon my portion, nor ever will. And therecorrected it, left out the prologue and notes, fore my lord shall have this book again, for I will never
be guilty of bringing the simple people into error.'*
and added a preface of his own; and because So perverted were the views of the dignitaries of the
Tyndal was now put to death for a heretic, his Church, and so determined the opposition which
name was laid aside, and it was called Thomas Cranmer encountered in his labours for its reformaMatthew's Bible, and by some Cranmer's Bible; tion. His personal sense of the value of the Scripthough it was no more than Tyndal's transla- tures, and deep conviction of their importance, led
tion corrected.*  This Bible was allowed by au- him to persevere in his design, and secured his ultithority, and eagerly read by all sorts of people.  mate success."-Dr. Price's Hist. of Nonconformity,
vol. i., p. 49.-C.
* "Cranmer began with the New Testament, an   * When Cranmer expressed his surprise at the conduct
of Stokesley, we are told that Mr. Thomas Lawney, who
English copy of which he divided into eight or ten stood by, remarked, "I can tell your grace why my Lord
parts, and sent to the most learned men of his day for of London will not bestow any labour or pains this way.
their correction. These were returned to Lambeth Your grace knoweth well that his portion is a piece of the
at the appointed time, with the exception of the Acts New Testament; but he, being persuaded that Christ had
of the Apostles, which had been intrusted to Stokes- bequeathed him nothing in his Testament, thought it mere
ley, bishop of London, who wrote to Cralmer,'I madness to bestow any labour or pains where no gain was
marvel what my Lord of Canterbury meaneth, that to be gotten. And, besides this, it is the Acts of the Aposties, which were simple, poor fellows, and therefore my Lord
he thus abuseth the people, in giving them liberty to of London disdained to 4ave to do withr any of them.'read the Scriptures, which doth nothing else but Strype's Cranmer, vol. i., p. 48, 49, 59, 82-C




HISrORY  OF ThlE PURITANS.                                37
Ity, was necessary to salvation; to which must cient creeds are made the standards of faith
be- added, faith in the mercy of God, that he without the tradition of the Church or decrees
will justify and pardon us, not for the worthi- of the pope; the doctrine of justification by faith
ness of any merit or work done by us, but for is well stated; four of the seven sacraments
the only merits of the blood and passion of Jesus are passed over, and purgatory is left doubtful.
Christ; nevertheless, that a confession to a But transubstantiation, auricular confession, the
priest was necessary, if it mhght be had; and worshipping of images and saints, still remained.
that the absolution of a priest was the same as   The court of Rome were not idle spectators
if it were spoken by God himself, according to of these proceedings; they threatened the king,
our Saviour'swords. That auricular confession and spirited up the clergy to rebellion; and
was of use for the comfort of men's consciences. when all hopes of accommodation were at an
And though we are justified only by the satis- end, the pope pronounced sentence of excomfaction of Christ, yet the people were to be in- mnunication against the whole kingdom, depristructed in the necessity of good works.   ving his majesty of his crown and dignity, for4. " That in the sacrament of the altar, under bidding his subjects to obey him, and all foreign
the form of bread and wine, there was, truly princes to correspond with him; all his leagues
and substantially, the same body of Christ that with them were dissolved, and his own clergy
was born of the Virgin.                    were commanded to depart the kingdom, and
5. " That justification signified the remission his nobility to rise in arms against him   The
of sins, and a perfect renovation of nature in king, laying hold of this opportunity, called a
Christ.                                    Parliament, and obtained an act requiring all his
6. " Concerning images: that the use of them  subjects, under the pains of treason, to swear
was warranted in Scripture; that they served that the king was supreme head of the Church
to stir up devotion; and that it was meet they of England; and to strike terror into the popish
should stand in churches; but the people were party, three priors and a monk of the Carthuto be taught that, in kneeling or worshipping be- sian order were executed as traitors for refufore them, they were not to do it to the image, sing the oath, and for saying that the king was
but to God.                                not supreme head under Christ of the Church of'7. "Concerning honouringof'saints, theywere England; but the two greatest sacrifices were
to be instructed not to expect those favours from  John Fisher, bishop of Rochester, and Sir Thomthem which are to be obtained only from God, as More, late lord-chancellor of England, who
but they were to honour them, to praise God for were both beheaded last year, within a fortnight
them, and to imitate their virtues.        of each other. This quieted the people for a
8. " -For praying to saints: that it was time, but soon after there was an insurrection
good to pray to them to pray for us and with us. in Lincolnshire of twenty thousand men, head9. "Of ceremonies. The people were to be ed by a churchman and directed by a monk;
taught that they were good and lawful, having but upon a proclamation of pardon, they dismystical significations in them; such were the persed themselves: the same year there was
vestments in the worship of God, sprinkling holy another more formidable in the North, but after
water to put us in mind of our baptism and the some time the rebels were defeated by the Duke
blood of Christ; giving holy bread, in sign of of Norfolk, and the heads of them executed,
our union to Christ; bearing candles on Can- among whom were divers abbots and priests.
dlemas day, in remembrance of Christ, the spirit- These commotions incensed the king against
ual light; giving ashes on Ash Wednesday, to the religious houses, as nurseries of sedition,
put us in mind of penance and our mortality; and made him resolve to suppress them all.
bearing palms on Palm Sunday, to show our   In the mean time, his majesty went on boldly
desire to receive Christ into our hearts as he against the Church of Rome, and published cerentered into Jerusalem; creeping to the cross tain injunctions by his own authority, to reguon Good Friday, and kissing it, in memory of late the behaviour of the clergy. This was the
his death; with the setting up of the sepulchre first act of pure supremacy done by the king,
on that day, the hallowing the font, and other for in all that went before he had the concurexorcisms and benedictions.               rence of the convocation. The injunctions were
Lastly. " As to purgatory, they were to de- to this purpose.
dare it good and charitable to pray for souls de-   1. " That the clergy should twice every quarparted; but since the place they were in, and ter publish to the people that the Bishop of
the pains they suffered, were uncertain by Scrip- Rome's usurped power had no foundation in
ture, they ought to remit them to God's mercy. Scripture, but that the king's supremacy was
Therefore, all abuses of this doctrine were to according to the laws of God.
be put away, and the people disengaged from    2, 3. "They were to publish the late articles
believing that the pope's pardons, or masses of faith set forth by the king, and likewise the
said in certain places, or before certain images, king's proclamation for the abrogation of cercould deliver souls out of purgatory."    tain holydays in harvest-time.
These articles were signed by the Archbishop   4. " They were to dissuade the people from
of Canterbury, seventeen bishops, forty abbots making pilgrimages to saints, and to exhort
and priors, and fifty archdeacons and proctors them to stay at home and mind their families,
of the lower house of convocation: they were and keep God's commandments.
published by the king's authority, with a preface   5. " They were to exhort them to teach their
in his name requiring all his subjects to accept children the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and Ten
them, which would encourage him to take far- Commandments, in English.*
ther pains for the honour of God and the wel- ~   "     e     i    w 
* "And every incumbent was to explain these,
fare of his people. One sees here the dawn of one article a day, until the people were instructed in
the Reformation; the Scriptures and the an- them."-Maaddox' Vindic., p. 299.-ED.




38                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
6. " They were to take care that the sacra- ed, was this year printed and published. Cromments were reverently administered in their well procured the king's warrant for all his majparishes.                                     esty's subjects to read it without control; and,
7. " That the clergy do not frequent taverns by his injunctions, commanded one to be set up
and alehouses, nor sit long at games, but give publicly in all the churches in England, that the
themselves to the study of the Scriptures and a people might read it.  His majesty farther oengood life.                                    joined the clergy to preach the necessity of
8. "Every beneficed person of ~20 a year that faith and repentance, and against trusting in
did not reside, was to pay the fortieth part of his pilgrimages andl other men's works; to order
benefice to the poor.                         such images as Had been abused to superstition
9. "Every incumbent of ~100 a year to main- to be taken down, and to tell the people that
tain one scholar at the university; and so many praying to them  was no less than idolatry;
hundreds a year so many scholars.             but still, transubstantiation, the seven sacra10. " The fifth part of the profits of livings ments, the communion in one kind only, pur-.to be given to the repair of the vicarage house, gatory, auricular confession, praying for the
if it be in decay."                           dead, the celibacy of the clergy, sprinkling of
Thus the very same opinions, for which the holy water, invocation of saints, some Images
followers of Wickliffe and Luther had been in churches, with most of the superstitious rites
burned a few years before, were enjoined by the and ceremonies of the popish church, were re
king's authority.                             tained.
This year a very remarkable book was print-   Here his majesty made a stand; for after
ed by Batchelor, the king's printer, cum privile- this the Reformation fluctuated, and, upon the
gio, called "The Institution of a Christian Man." whole, went rather backward than forward;
It was called the "' Bishop's Book," because it which was owing to several causes, as (1.) To
was composed by sundry bishops, as Cranmer, the unhappy death of the queen in childbed,
archbishop of Canterbury, Stokeley of London, who had possession of the king's heart, and
Gardiner of Winchester, Sampson of Chiches- was a promoter of the Reformation.  (2.) To
ter, Reps of Norwich, Goodrick of Ely, Latimer the king's disagreement with the Protestant
of Worcester, Shaxton of Salisbury, Fox of princes of Germany, who would not put him
Hereford, Barlow  of St. David's, and some at the head of their league, because he would
other divines, It is divided into several chap- not abandon the doctrine of transubstantiation
ters, and contains an explanation of the Lord's and permit the communion in both kinds. (3.'
Prayer, the Creed, the Seven Sacraments, the To the king's displeasure against the archTen Commandments, the Ave Maria, Justifica- bishop and the other bishops of the new learntion, and Purgatory. " The book maintains the ing, because he could not prevail with them to
local descent of Christ into hell, and that all ar- give consent in Parliament that the king should
tides of faith are to be interpreted according to appropriate all the suppressed monasteries to
Scripture and the first four general councils. his own use. (4.) To his majesty's unhappy marIt defends the seven sacraments, and under the riage with the Lady Anne of Cleves, a Protestsacrament of the altar, affirms that the body of ant; which was promoted by the Reformers, and
Christ that suffered on the cross is substantial- proved the ruin of the Lord Cromwell, who was
ly present under the form of bread and wine. at that time the bulwark of the Reformation.
It maintains but two orders of the clergy, and (5.) To the artifice and abject submission of
avers that no one bishop has authority over Gardiner, Bonner, and other popish bishops,
another according to the Word of God. The who, by flattering the king's imperious temper,
invocation of saints is restrained to interces- and complying with his dictates, prejudiced him
sion, forasmuch as they have it not in their against the reformed. And, lastly, To his majown power to bestow any blessings upon us. esty's growing infirmities, which made him so
It maintains that no church should be conse- peevish and positive that it was dangerous to
crated to any being but God. It gives liberty advise to anything that was not known to be
to work on saints' days, especially in harvest- agreeable to his sovereign will and pleasure.
time. It maintains the doctrine of passive obe-   The king began to discover his zeal against
dience. In the article of justification, it says the  Sacramentaries  [and Anabaptists*] (as
we are justified only by the merits and satisfac- those were called who denied the corporeal
tion of Christ, and that no good works on our presence of Christ in the eucharist), by prohibpart can procure the Divine favour or prevail for iting the importing of all foreign books, or
our justification."*
This book was recommended and subscribed   * In the articles of religion set forth in 1536, the
by the two archbishops, nineteen bishops, and sect of Anabaptists is mentioned and condemned.
the lower house of convocation, among whom  Fourteen Hollanders, accused of holding their opinwere Gardiner, Bonner, and others, who put ions, were put to death in 1535, and ten saved themtheir brethren to death for these doctrines in selves by recantation. In 1428, there were in the
diocess of Norwich one hundred and twenty who
the reign of Queen Mary; but the reason of held that infants were sufficiently baptized if their
their present compliance might be, because all parents were baptized before them; that Christian
their hopes from the succession of the Prin- people be sufficiently baptized in the blood of Christ,
cess Mary were now defeated, Queen Jane be- and need no water; and that the sacrament of baptism
ing brought to bed of a son October the 12th, used in the Church by water is but a light matter,
1538, who was baptized Edward, and succeeded and of small effect. Three of these persons were
his father.                                   burned alive. Long before this, it was a charge
The translation of the Bible, already mention- laid against the Lollards that they held these opin
ions, and would not baptize their new-born children.
St- p'                    — See Fox as quoted by Crosby, vol. i, p. 24, 40, 41'  Strype's Me. of Cranmer, p. 51.     -ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       39
fPintlng any portions of Scripture till they had benefit of clergy; and those who, either in word
been examined by himself and council, or by or writing, declared against them, were to be
the bishop of the diocess; by punishing all that prisoners during the king's pleasure, and to fordenied the old rites, and by forbidding all to feit their goods and chattels for the first offence,
argue against the real presence of Christ in the and for the second to suffer death. All ecclesisacrament, on pain of death.  For breaking this astical incumbents were to read this act in their
last order, he condemned to the flames this churches once a quarter.
very year that faithful witness to the truth,   As soon as the six articles took place, ShaxJohn Lambert, who had been minister of the ton, bishop of Salisbury, and Latimer of WorEnglish congregation at Antwerp, and after- cester, resigned their bishoprics, and being preward taught school in London; but hearing sented for speaking against the act, they were
Dr. Taylor preach concerning the real presence, imprisoned.  Latimer continued a prisoner to
he offered him a paper of reasons against it: the king's death, but Shaxton, being threatened
Taylor carried the paper to Cranmer, who was with the fire, turned apostate, and proved a cruel
then a Lutheran, and endeavoured to make him  persecutor of the Protestants in Queen Mary's
retract; but Lambert, unhappily, appealed to reign.  Commissions were issued out to the
the kiing, who, after a kind of mock trial in archbishops, bishops, and their commissaries, to
Westminster Hall, in presence of the bishops, hold a sessions quarterly, or oftener, and to pronobility, and judges, passed sentence of death  ceed upon presentments by a jury according to
upon him, condemning him to be burned as an law; which they did most severely, insomuch
incorrigible heretic.  Cranmer was appointed  that in a very little time five hundred persons
to dispute against him, and Cromwell to read  were put in prison, and involved in the guilt of
the sentence.  He was soon after executed  the statute; but Cranmer and Cromwell obtainm  Smithfield in a most barbarous manner; ed their pardon, which mortified the popish clernis last words in the flames were, " None but gy to such a degree, that they proceeded no farChrist! None but Christ!"*                  ther till Cromwell fell.
The Parliament that met next spring disserv-   Another very remarkable act of Parliament,
ed the Reformation, and brought religion back passed this session, was concerning obedience
to the standard in which it continued to the to the king's proclamations. It enacts, that the
ting's death, by the act [31 Hen. VIII., cap. xiv.] king, with advice of his council, may set forth
commonly known by the name of the bloody  proclamations with pains and penalties, which
statute, or the statute of the six articles: it was shall be obeyed as fully as an act of Parliament,
entitled, An act for abolishing Diversity of Opin- provided they be not contrary to the laws and
ions in certain Articles concerning Christian  customs in being, and do not extend so far as
Religion.  The six articles were these:t    -  that the subject should suffer in estate, liberty,
1. " That in the sacrament of the altar, after or person. An act of attainder was also passed
the consecration, there remains no substance of against sixteen persons, some for denying the
bread and wine, but under these forms the nat- supremacy, and others without any particular
ural body and blood of Christ are present.     crime mentioned; none of them were brought
2. "That communion in both kinds is not ne- to a trial, nor is there any mention in the reccessary to salvation to all persons by the law of ords of any witnesses examined.* There never
God, but that both the flesh and blood of Christ had been an example of such arbitrary proceedare together in each of the kinds.            ings before in England; yet this precedent was
3. "That priests may not marry by the law of followed by several others in the course of this
God.                                          reign. By another statute, it was enacted that
4. "That vows of chastity ought to be observ- the councillors of the king's successor, if he were
ed by the law of God.                          under age, might set forth proclamations in his
5. " That private masses ought to be contin- name, which were to be obeyed in the same
ued, which, as it is agreeable to God's law, so manner with those set forth by the kcing himmen receive great benefit by them.             self.  I mention this, because upon this act was
6. "That auricular confession is expedient founded the validity of all the changes of reliand necessary, and ought to be retained in the gion in the minority of Edward VI.t
Church."                                         Next year [1540] happened the fall of Lord
It was farther enacted, that if any did speak, Cromwell, one of the great pillars of the Reforpreach, or write against the first article, they mation.  He had been lately constituted the
should be judged heretics, and be burned with- king's vicegerent in ecclesiastical affairs, and
out any abjuration, and forfeit their real and made a speech in Parliament, April 12th, under
personal estate to the king. Those who preach- that character.  On the 14th of April the king
ed, or obstinately disputed against the other ar- created him Earl of Essex, and Knight of the
ticles, were to suffer death as felons, without Garter; but within two months he was arrested
at the council-table for high treason, and sent to
* Lambert having heard Dr. Taylor preach on the the Tower, and on the 28th of July was beheadpresence of Christ in the sacrament, he sought an ed by virtue of a bill of attainder without being
interview with him, and stated his objections to the
received doctrine, which he afterward committed to   * Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. i., p. 263.
writing. Taylor showed this paper to Dr. Barnes, a   t In this year sixteen men and fifteen women were
Lutheran, and they reported the matter to Cranmer, banished for opposing infant baptism. they went to
who summoned Lambert into the archiepiscopal Delft, in Holland, and were there prosecuted and put
court. It is deserving of notice that Cranmer, Tay- to death as Anabaptists; the men being beheaded,
ior, and Barnes, the chief agents in Lambert's death, and the women drowned. Among other injunctions
were themselves brought to the stake as heretics!-  issued out in 1539, was one against those who emDr. Price's lHist. of Noncon., vol. i., p. 49, 50.-C.    braced the opinions, or possessed books containing
t Cranmer alone had the courage to oppose the the opinions, of Sacramentarians and Anabaptists.passing these articles.-W                     Crosby, b. i., p. 42.-ED.




40                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
brought to a trial, or once allowed to speak for terward read and approved cy the lords spnl tual
himself.  He was accused of executing certain  and temporal, and the lower house of Parliaorders and directions, for which he had very  ment.  A great part of it was corrected by the
probably the king's warrant, and, therefore, was  king's own hand, and the whole was published
not admitted to make answer.  But the true  by his order, with a preface in the name of King
cause of his fall* was the share he had in the  Henry VIII., dedicated to all his faithful subking's marriage with the Lady Anne of Cleves, jects.  It was called the King's Book, and was
whom his majesty took an aversion to as soon  designed for a standard of Christian belief.*
as he saw her, and was, therefore, determined  The reader, therefore, will judge by the abstract
to show his resentments ag*-ainst the promoters  below, of the sentiments of our first Reformers
of it; but his majesty soon after lamented the  in sundry points of doctrine and discipline,t
loss of his honest and faithful servant when it   * Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. i., p. 286.
was too late.                                     t It begins with a description of Faith, " of which
Two days after the death of Cromwell there  (says the book) there are two acceptations. (1.) It is
was a very odd execution of Protestants and  sometimes taken for'a belief or persuasion wrought
papists at the same time and place.  The Prot- by God in men's hearts, whereby they assent and
estants were Dr. Barnes, Mr. Gerrard, and Mr. take for true all the words and sayings of God reJerome, all clergymen and L~utherans * they were  vealed in Scripture.' This faith, if it proceeds no farther, is but a dead faith. (2.) Faith is sometimes
sent to the Tower for offensive sermons preach- considered in conjunction with hope and charity, and
ed at the Spittle in the Easter week, and were  so it signifies-'a sure confidence and hope to obtain
attainted of heresy by the Parliament without whatsoever God has promised for Christ's sake, and
being brought to a hearing.  Four papists, viz., is accompanied with a hearty love to God, and obeGregory Buttolph, Adam  Damplin, Edmund  dience to his commands.' This is a lively and effectBrindholme, and Clement Philpot, were by the  ual faith, and is the perfect faith of a Christian. It
same act attainted for denying the king's suprem- is by this faith that we are justified, as it is joined
acy and adhering to the Bishop of Rome  The  with hope and charity, and includes an obedience
acy, and adhering to the Bishop of Rome. The  to the whole doctrine and religion of Christ. But
Protestants were burned, and the papists hang- whether there be any special particular knowledge,
ed: the former cleared themselves of heresy by  whereby meni may be certain and assured that they
rehearsing the articles of their faith at the stake, are among the predestinate, which shall to the end
and died with great devotion and piety; and the  persevere in their calling, we cannot find either in
latter, though grieved to be drawn in the same  the Scriptures or doctors; the promises of God being
hurdle with them they accounted heretics, de- conditional, so that, though his promise stands, we
dared their hearty forgiveness of all their ene-may fail of the blessing for want of fulfilling our obmies.                                             After the chapter of Faith follows an excellent parAbout this time [1543] was published a very  aphrase on the twelve articles of the Creed, the Lord's
remarkable treaties, called A Necessary Erudi- Prayer, the Ave Maria, or the salutation of the angel
tion for a Christian Man.  It was drawn up by  to the blessed Virgin, and the Ten Commandments;
a committee of bishops and divines, and was af- and here the second commandment is shortened, the
words' for I the Lord thy God,' &c., being left out,
* Dr. Maddox remarks on this statement of the  and only those that go before set down. Images are
cause of Cromwell's fall, that it is expressly contra- said to be profitable to stir up the mind to emulation,
dicted by Bishop Burnet, who, speaking of the king's though we may not give them godly honour; nevercreating him Earl of Essex, upon his marriage with  theless, censing and kneeling before them is allowed.
Anne of Cleves, adds, "This shows that the true  Invocation of saints as intercessors is declared lawcauses of Cromwell's fall must be founded in some ful; and the fourth commandment only ceremonial,
other thing than his making up the king's marriage, and obliging the Jews.
who had never thus raised his title if he had intend-   Then follows an article of Free-will, which is deed so soon to pull him down."-Hist. Ref., vol. i., scribed, "'A certain power of the will joined with
p. 275.                                        reason, whereby a reasonable creature, without conIn reply to this, Mr. Neal says, "Let the reader straint in things of reason, discerneth and willeth
judge: his (i. e., Bishop Burnet's) words are these: good and evil; but it willeth not that that is accept-'An unfortunate marriage, to which he advised the  able to God unless it be holpen with -race, but that
king, not proving acceptable, and he being unwilling  which is ill it willeth of itself.' Our wills were perto destroy what himself had brought about, was the  fect in the state of innocence, but are much impaired
occasion of his disgrace and destruction.'-Vol. iii., p. by the fall of Adam; the high powers of reason and
172. If his lordship has contradicted this in any other freedom of will being wounded and corrupted, and
place (which I apprehend he has not), he must an- all men thereby brought into such blindness and inswer for it himself."                          firmity that they cannot avoid sin except they are
It may be observed, that these two passages stand  made free by special grace, that is, by the supernatin a very voluminous work, at a great distance from  ural working of the Holy Ghost. The light of reaone another, so that the apparent inconsistency might son is unable to conceive the things that appertain to
escape the bishop's notice; while his remark in the  eternal life, though there remains a sufficient freedom
first can have little force, when applied to the con- of will in things pertaining to the present life.' Withduct of a prince so capricious and fluctuating in his out me,' says the Scripture,'you can do nothing;'
attachments as was Henry VIII., and who soon grew  therefore, when men feel that, notwithstanding their
disgusted with his queen. It is with no propriety that diligence, they are not able to do the which they deMr. Neal's accuracy and fidelity are, in this instance, sire, they ought with a steadfast faith and devotion
impeached: it justifies his representation, that nearly  to ask of him, who gave the beginning, that he would
the same is given by Fuller in his Church History, vouchsafe to perform it. But preachers are to take
b. v., p. 231. "Match-makers," says he, "betwixt pri- care so to moderate themselves, that they neither so
vate persons seldom find great love for their pains; preach the grace of God as to take away free-will,
betwixt princes, often fall into danger, as here it and make God the author of sin, nor so extol freeproved in the Lord Cromwell, the grand contriver of will as to injure the grace of God."
the king's marriage with Anne of Cleves."        In the article of Justification, it asserts, " that all
The cause of Cromwell's disgrace is more fully and the posterity of Adam are born in original sin, and
judiciously investigated by Dr. Warner, in his Eccle- are hereby guilty of everlasting death and damnation;
siastical History, vol. ii., p. 197, 198.-ED.  but that God sent his own Sonl, being naturally God,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                        41
which then constituted the established doctrine and ordained by the archbishops, bishops, and
of the Church of England; for by the statute  doctors, and shall be published with the king's
of 32 Hen. VIII., cap. xxvi., it is enacted " that advice and confirmation, by his letters patent,
all decrees and ordinances which shall be made in and upon the matters of Christian faith, and
lawful rights and ceremonies, shall be in every
to take our nature and redeem us, which he could point thereof believed, obeyed, and performed,
not have done but by virtue of the union of his two to all intents and purposes, upon the pains therenatures."  It then speaks of a twofold justification: in comprised; provided nothing be ordained conthe first is upon our believing, and is obtained by re- trary to the laws of the realm."  How near the
pentance and a lively faith in the passion and merits book above mentioned comes to the qualificaof our blessed Saviour, and joining therewith a full
purpose to amend our lives for the future. The sec-   of this    statute, i obvious to the  reader.
ond, or final justification at death, or the last judg- It is no less evident that by the same act the
ment, implies, farther, the exercise of all Christian king was in a manner invested with the infalligraces, and the following the motions of the Spirit of bility of the pope, and had the consciences and
God in doing good works, which will be considered faith of his people at his absolute disposal.
and recompensed in the day of judgment. When    By this abstract of the erudition of a Christhe Scripture speaks of justification by faith without tian man,* it appears, farther, that our reformers
mentioning any other grace, it must not be understood of a naked faith, but of a lively, operative faith, " Their office in the primitive Church was partly to
as before described, and refers to our first justifica- minister meat and drink, and other necessaries, to the.
tion: thus we are justified by free grace; and, what- poor, and partly to minister to the bishops and priests.
ever share good works may have in our final justifi- Then follows this remarkable passage:' Of these
cation, they cannot derogate from the grace of God, two orders only, that is to say, priests and deacons,
because all our good works come of the free mercy  Scripture maketh express mention, and how they
and grace of God, and are done by his assistance; so were conferred of the apostles by prayer and imposithat all boasting is excluded."                 tion of hands; but the primitive Church afterward
This leads to the article of Good Works, "which  appointed inferior degrees, as sub-deacons, acolytes,
are said to be absolutely necessary to salvation; but exorcists, &c.; but lest, peradventure, it might be
they are not outward corporeal works, but inward thought by some that such authorities, powers, and
spiritual works; as the love and fear of God, patience, jurisdictions, as patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and
humility, &c. Nor are they superstitious works of metropolitans now have, or heretofore at any time
men's invention; nor only moral works done by the'have had, justly and lawfully over other bishops, were
power of reason, and the natural will of man, without given them by God in Holy Scripture, we think it
faith in Christ; which, though they are good in kind, expedient and necessary that all men should be addo not merit everlasting life; but such outward and vertised and taught, that all such lawful power arid
inward good works as are done by faith in Christ, out authority of any one bishop over another, werd and
of love to God, and in obedience to his commands, and be given them by the consent, ordinances, and posiwhich cannot be performed by man's power without tive laws of ment only, and not by any ordinance of
Divine assistance. Now these are of two sorts: God in Holy Scripture; and all such power and aun(1.) Such as are done by persons already justified; thority which any bishop has used over another, which
and these, though imperfect, are accepted for Christ's have not been given him by such consent and ordisake, and are meritorious towards the attaining ever- nance of men, are in very deed no lauful power, but
lasting life. (2.) Other works are of an inferior sort, plain usurpation and tyranny."
as fasting, alms-deeds, and other fruits of penance,   To the view which Mr. Neal has given of the doc
which are of no avail without faith. But, after all, trinal sentiments contained in this piece, which was
justification and remission of sins is the free gift of also called the bishop's book, it is proper to add the
the grace of God; and it does not derogate from that idea it gave of the duty of subjects to their prince.
grace to ascribe the dignity to good works above Its commentary on the fifth commandment runs thus:
mentioned, because all pur good works come of the  "Subjects be bound not to withdraw their fealty,
grace of God."                                 truth, love, and obedience towards their prince, for
The chapter of Prayer for Souls Departed leaves any cause, whatsoever it be."  In the exposition of
the matter in suspense: " It is good and charitable the sixth commandment, the same principles of pasto do it; but because it is not known what condition sive obedience and nonresistance are inculcated, and
departed souls are in, we ought only to recommend it is asserted "that God hath assigned no judges
them to the mercy of God."                      over princes in this world, but will have the judgment
In the chapter of the Sacraments, "all the seven of them reserved to himself."-ED.
sacraments are maintained, and in particular the cor-   Though the Institution of a Christian Man is a book
poreal presence of Christ in the eucharist."    now disused, the same sentiments, connected with the
In the sacrament of Orders, the book maintains no idea of the jure divino of kings, still run through the,
real distinction between bishops and priests; it says homilies, the articles, the canons, and the rubric of
that "St. Paul consecrated and ordered bishops by the Church of England, and have been again and
imposition of hands; but that there is no certain rule again sanctioned by the resolutions and orders of our
prescribed in Scripture for the nomination, election, convocations. Bishop Blake, on his deathbed, solor presentation of them; this is left to the positive emnly professed "that the religion of the Church of
laws of every country. That the office of the said England had taught him the doctrine of nonresistministers is to preach the word, to minister the sac- ance and passive obedience, and that he took it to
raments, to bind and loose, to excommunicate those be the distinguishing character of that church." —
that will not be reformed, and to pray for the univer- High-Church Politics, p. 75, 89, and the note in the
sal Church; but that they may not execute their of- last page.-ED.
fice without license from the civil magistrate. The   It is not easy to say what sincere or complete allisacraments do not receive efficacy or strength from  ance there can be between the Church and State,
the ministration of the priest or bishop, but from God; when the dogmas of the former are in such glaring
the said ministers being only officers, to administer repugnance to the constitution of the latter; when
with theirhands those corporeal things by which God the former educates slaves, the latter freemen; when
gives grace, agreeably to St. Ambrose, who writes the former sanctions the tyranny of kings, the latter
thus:' The priest lays his hands upon us, but it is is founded in the rights of the people. In this reGod that gives grace; the priest lays on us his be- spect, surely, the Church needs a reform.-ED.
seeching hands, but God blesseth us with his mighty   * Dr. Warner observes, on this performance, that
hand."'                                         there were so many absurdities of the old religion
Concerning the order of Deacons, the book says, still retained, so much metaphysical jargon about the
VOL. I.-F




42                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
built pretty much upon the plan of St. Austin, Henry VIII., cap. i., which leads the people
with relation to the doctrines of justification and back into the darkest parts of popery. It says
grace.  The sacraments and ceremonies are so " that recourse must be had to the Catholic and
contrived as to be consistent with the six arti- apostolic Church for the decision of controvercles established by Parliament.  But with re- sies; and therefore all books of the Old and
gard to discipline, Cranmer and his brethren  New Testament in English, being of Tyndal's
were for being directed wholly by the civil false translation, or comprising any matter of
magistrate, which has since been distinguish- Christian religion, articles of faith, or Holy
ed by the name of Erastianism.  Accordingly, Scripture, contrary to the doctrine set forth by
they took out commissions to hold their bishop- the king [in the six articles], 1540, or to be set
rics during the king's pleasure, and to exercise forth by the king, shall be abolished. No pertheirjurisdiction by his authority only.      son shall sing or rhyme contrary to the said
But notwithstanding this reformation of doc- doctrine.  No person shall retain any English
trinej the old popish forms of worship were books or writings against the holy and blessed
continued till this year [1544], when a faint at- sacrament of the altar, or other books abolished
tempt was made to reform them.  A form of by the king's proclamation.  There shall be no
procession was published in English, by the annotations or preambles in Bibles or New Tesking's authority, entitled An Exhortation to taments in English. The Bible shall not be read
Prayer, thought meet by His Majesty and his in English in any church.  No woman, or artifClergy to be read to the People; also a Litany, icers, apprentices, journeymen, serving-men,
with Suffrages to be said or sung in the Time husbandmen, or labourers, shall read the New
of the Processions.  In the litany they invocate Testament in English.  Nothing shall be taught
the blessed Virgin, the angels, archangels, and or maintained contrary to the king's instrucall holy orders of blessed spirits; all holy patri- tions. If any spiritual person shall be convicted
archs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, of preaching or maintaining anything contrary
virgins, and all the blessed company of heaven, to the king's instructions already made, or hereto pray for them.  The rest of the litany is in a after to be made, he shall for the first offence
manner the very same as now in use, only a recant, for the second bear a fagot, and for the
few more collects were placed at the end, with third be burned.
some psalms, and a paraphrase on the Lord's   Here is popery and spiritual slavery in its full
Prayer.  The preface is an exhortation to the extent.  Indeed, the pope is discharged of his
duty of prayer, and says that it is convenient, jurisdiction and authority, but a like authority
and very acceptable to God, to use private pray- is vested in the king. His majesty's instrucer in our mother-tongue, that, by understanding tions are as binding as the pope's canons, and
what we ask,* we may more earnestly and fer- upon as severe penalties.  He is absolute lord
vently desire the same. The hand of Cranmer of the consciences of his subjects. No bishop
was, no doubt, in this performance, but it was or spiritual person may preach any doctrine but
little regarded, though a mandate was sent to what he approves, nor do any act of governBonner, bishop of London, to publish it.t     ment in the Church but by his special commisBut Cranmer's power was now very much sion: This seems to have been given his maj.weakened; he strove against the stream, and esty by the act of supremacy, and is farther
could accomplish nothing farther, except a small confirmed by one of the last statutes of his reign
mitigation of the rigorous prosecution of the six  [37 Henry VIII., cap. xvii], which declares that
articles; for by the thirty-fifth of Henry VIII., "archbishops, bishops, archdeacons, and other
cap. v., it is enacted "that persons shall not ecclesiastical persons, have no manner ofjurisbe convicted upon this statute but by the oaths diction ecclesiastical, but by, under, and from
of twelve men; that the prosecution shall be his royal majesty; and that his majesty is the
within a year; and that, if any one preaches only supreme head of the Church of England
against the six articles, he shall be informed and Ireland; to whom, by Holy Scripture, all
against within forty days."  This rendered the authority and power is wholly given to hear and
prosecution more difficult; and yet, after all, determine all manner of causes ecclesiastical,
several were burned at this time for denying and to correct all manner of heresies, errors,
the doctrine of transubstantiation, as Mrs. Anne vices, and sins whatsoever, and to all such
Askew, Mr. Belenian, Adams, Lascels, and oth- persons as his majesty shall appoint thereers. The books of Tyndal, Frith, Joy, Barnes, unto."
and other Protestants, were ordered to be burn-   This was carrying the regal power to the uted; and the importation of all foreign books re- most length.  Here is no reserve of privilege
lating to religion was forbid, without special li- for convocations, councils, or colleges of bishcense from the king.                          ops; the king may ask their advice, or call them
Upon the whole, the Reformation went very in to his aid and assistance, but his majesty has
much backward the three or four last years of not only a negative voice upon their proceedthe king's life, as appears by the statute of 35 ings, but may himself, by his letters patent, publish injunctions in matters of religion, for cormerit of good works, about the essential parts and recting all errors in doctrine and worship. His
consequences of faith, about free-will and grace, that proclamations have the force of a law, and all
this book, instead of promoting the Reformation, visi- his subjects are obliged to.believe, obey, and
bly put it back.-Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 205.  profess according to them, under the highest
This work was reprinted by Bishop Lloyd, in 1825, penalties.*
under the title of Formularies of Faith put forth by au- _    ~ _.
thority in the reign of Henry VIII.-C.          * "When the religion of a people is made. to depend
* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. i., p. 331, and the Rec- on the pleasure of their rulers, it is necessarily subords, b. iii., No. 28.                        jected to a thousand infusions foreign from its nature.
+ Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 164.   The kingly or magisterial office is essentially politi



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS,                                        4.
Thus mt.tters stood when this great and ab-                 CHAPTER II.
solute monarch died of an ulcer in his leg, being
so corpulent that he was forced to be let up
and down stairs with an engine.  The humour    THE sole right and authority of reforming the
in his-leg made him so peevish, that scarce'any-  Church of England were now vested in the
body durst speak to him of the affairs of his  crown; and, by the Act of Succession, in the
kinsgdom or of another life.  He signed his will king's council, if he were under age. This was
December 30, 1546, and died January 28ti fol- preferable to a foreign jurisdiction; but it can
lowing, in the thirty-eighth year of his reign, hardly be proved that either the king or his
and  the  fifty-sixth of his age.   He ought to be  council have a right to judge for the whole naranked (says Bishop Burnet) among the ill prin- tion, and impose upon the people what religion
ces but not among the worst.       they think best, without their consent.  The
reformation of the Church of England was becal. Its power may be wielded by an irreligious, im- gun and carried on by the king, assisted by
moral, or profane man; a despiser of Christianity, or Archbishop Cranmer and a few select divines.
a blasphemer of God. What, therefore, can be more  The clergy in convocation did not move in it
monstrous than to attach to such an office a control- but as they were directed and overawed by
ling power over the faith and worship of the Church; their superiors; nor did they consent till they
to constitute its occupant the supreme head of that were modelled to the designs of the court.
body, which is represented as a congregation of faith-   Our learned historian, Bishop Burnet,* enful men? The Christian faith addresses men individually, soliciting an examination of its.character, and deavours to justify this conduct, by putting the
demanding an intelligent and hearty obedience. But following question, " What must be done when
where the pleasure of a king is permitted to regulate  the major, part of a church is, according to the
the faith of a nation, authority is substituted for rea- conscience of the supreme civil magistrate, in
son, and the promptings of fear supplant the percep- an error, and the lesser part is in the right 1"
tions of evidence, and the confiding attachment of an  In answer to this question, his lordship obenlightened piety. This it the radical defect of the
English Reformation. The people were prohibited  serves, that "there is no promise in Scripture
from proceeding farther than the king authorized. that the majority of pastors shall be in the
They were to believe as he taught, and to worship as right; on the contrary, it is certain that truth,
he enjoined. Suspending their own reason, extin- separate from interest, has few votaries.  Now,
guishing the light divine within them, they were to  as it is not reasonable that the smaller part
follow their monarch, licentious and bloodthirsty as should depart from  their sentiments because
he was, in all matters pertaining to the moral gov- opposed by the majority, whose interests led
ernmnent and eternal welfare of their souls."-Dr. them to oppose the Reformation, therefore they
Price's Hist. Nonconformity, vol. i., p. 63, 64.-C.
* "The policy of the king continued to vacillate to might take sanctuary in the authority of the
the close of his life, which happened on the 28th of  prince and the law."   But is there any promJanuary, 1547. Of his character little need be said. ise in Scripture that the king or prince shall
In early life, his personal qualities were brilliant and  be always in the right? or is it reasonable
imposing, and the contrast he furnished to his pru- that the majority should depart from their sendent and parsimonious father attached an unwonted  timents in religion because the prince, with
degree of popularity to the commencement of his the minority, are of another mind.  If we
reign. But his temper grew capricious, and his dis- ask what authority Christian princes have to
position cruel, as he advanced in years. Casting
position cruel, as he advanced in years. Casting bind the consciences of their subjects, by penal
aside the tenderness of his youth, he became ferocious and bloodthirsty, the indiscriminate persecu- laws, to worship God after their manner, his
tor of all parties, according as his humour or policy  lordship answers, This was practised in the
might suggest. His claim to our attention is found- Jewish state.  But it ought to be remembered
ed on the religious revolution he effected. The part that the Jewish state was a theocracy; that
he acted in this great change invested him with a  God himself was their king, and their chief
false glory, which has misled the judgment and per- magistrates only his vicegerents or deputies;
verted the sympathies of his countrymen. His inti
mate connexion with the first movements of ecclesi- that the laws of Moses were the laws of God;
astical reform has obtained him credit for religious  and the penalties annexed to them as much of
principles of which he was wholly destitute. The  Divine appointment as the laws themselves. It
adulatory style in which he was addressed by the  is therefore absurd to make the special comcontending religionists of his day has been mistaken  mission of the Jewish magistrates a model for
for the sober expressions of truth; and his name, in  the rights-of Christian princes.  But his lordconsequence, has passed current as a reformer of re- ship adds, "It is the first law in Justinian'(
ligion, a purifier of the temple of God. A veil has code, made by the Emperor Theodosius, that
thus been cast over the enormities of his life, which  all should everywhere, under severe pain, follow
has preserved him from the execration to which he
is so justly obnoxious. The motives by which he that faith that was received by Damasius, bishwas actuated, in his separation from the papacy, were  op of Rome, and Peter of Alexandria.  And
anythingbut religious. The divorce whichhe caused  why might not the king and laws of England
Cranmer to pronounce in 1533, as it was designed to  give the like authority to the Archbishops of
make way for his own gratification, so it precipitated  Canterbury and York."  I answer, Because
him into a course of measures, from the spiritual Theodosius's law was an unreasonable usurbearings of which his heart was utterly estranged. pation upon the right of conscience. If the Apos.
He sought only the satisfaction of his own evil passions. The man who could profane with blood the   te  Paul, who was an inspired person, had not
sanctuary of domestic joys; who could win, with dominion over the faith of the churches, how
flattering speech, the confiding attachment of the  came the Roman emperor, or other Christian
female heart, and then consign the beautiful form, in
whose best affections he was enshrined, to the block; of the image of humanity, as to be infinitely removed
who could raise talent from obscurity, avail himself from the spirit and temper of Christ."-Doct. Price.
of its services, and then with brutal indifference, re- Hist. Nonconformity, vol. i., p. 60, 61.-C.
ward them with a public execution, retained so little    * Hist. Ref., vol. ii., in preface.




44                     HIISTORY  OF THE  PURI-TANS.
princes, by such a jurisdiction, which has no  the Reformers had the ascendant, the young
foundation in the law of nature or in the New  king having been educated in their principles
Testament "                                  by his tutor, Dr. Cox, and the new protector,
His lordship goes on, " It is not to be ima- his uncle, being on the same side. The majorgined how any changes in religion can be made ity of the bishops and inferior clergy were on
by sovereign princes, unless an authority be the side of popery, but the government was in
lodged with them of giving the sanction of a law  the hands of the Reformers, who began immeto the sounder, though the lesser part, of a diately to relax the rigours of the late reign.*
church; for as princes and lawgivers are not The persecution upon the six articles was stoptied to an implicit obedience to clergymen, but ped; the prison doors were set open; and sevare left to the freedom of their own discerning, eral who had been forced to quit the kingdom
so they must have a power to choose what side for their religion, returned home, as, Miles
to be of, where things are much inquired into."  Coverdale, afterward Bishop of Exeter; John
And why have not the clergy and the common  Hooper, afterward Bishop of Gloucester; John
people the same power. why must they be Rogers, theprotomartyr; and many others, who
tied to an implicit faith in their princes and law- were preferred to considerable benefices in the
givers. Is there any promise in the Word of  Church. The reforming divines, being deliverGod that princes and lawgivers shall be infalli- ed from their too awful subjection to the late
ble, and always judge right which is-the sound- king, began to open against the abuses of poer, though the lesser part of a church? "If," as pery. Dr. Ridley and others preached vehementhis lordship adds, " the major part of synods can- ly against images in churches, and inflamed the
not be supposed to be in matters of faith so as- people, so that in many places they outrun the
sisted from Heaven that the lesser part must law, and pulled them down without authority.
necessarily acquiesce in their decrees, or that Some preached against the lawfulness of soulthe civil powers must always make laws accord- masses and obits; though the late king, by his
ing to their votes, especially when interest does last will and testament; had left a large sum of
visibly turn the scale," how can the prince or money to have them  continued at Windsor,
civil magistrate depend upon such assistance? where he was buried, and for a frequent distriCan we be sure that interest or prejudice will bution of alms for the repose of his soul, and its
never turn the scale with him; or that he has deliverance out of purgatory; but this charity
a better acquaintance with the truths of the  was soon after converted to other uses. The
Gospel than his clergy or people 1 It is highly  popish clergy were alarmed at these things, and
reasonable that the prince should choose for insisted strongly that till the king, their suhimself what side he will be of, when things are preme head, was of age, religion should continue
much inquired into; but then let the clergy and  in the state in which King Henry left it. But
people have the same liberty, and neither the the Reformers averred that the king's authority
major nor minor part impose upon the other, was the same while he was a minor as when
as long as they entertain no principles incon- he was of age; and that they had heard the
sistent with the safety of the government. late king declare his resolution to turn the mass
" When the Christian belief had not the support into a communion if he had lived a little longer,
of law, every bishop taught his own flock the  upon which they thought it their duty to probest he could, and gave his neighbours such an  ceed.
account of his faith, at or soon after his conse-   After the solemnity of the king's coronation,
cration, as satisfied them; and so," says his the regents appointed a royal visitation, and
lordship, "they maintained the unity of the  commanded the clergy to preach nowhere but
Church."  And why might it not be so still? in their parish churches without license, till
Is not this better, upon all accounts, than to  the visitation was over. The kingdom was diforce people to profess what they cannot believe, vided into six circuits, two gentlemen, a civilor to propagate religion with the sword, as was ian, a divine, and a register, being appointed for
too much the case with our Reformers? If the  each. The divines were by their preaching to
penal laws had been taken away, and the points instruct the people in the doctrines of the Refin controversy between Protestants and papists ormation, and to bring them off from their old
had been left to a free and open debate, while superstitions. The visitation began in the month
the civil magistrate had stood by and only kept of August; six of the gravest divines and most
the peace, the Reformation would certainly have  popular preachers attended it: their names were
taken place in due time, and proceeded in a Dr. Ridley, Dr. Madew, Mr. Briggs, Cottisford,
much more unexceptionable manner than it did. Joseph, and Farrar. A book of homilies,t or
To return to the history. King Edward VI. sermons, upon the chief points of the Christian
came to the crown at the age of nine years and  faith,: drawn up chiefly by Archbishop Cranmer,
four months; a prince for learning and piety,
for acquaintance  with the world, and applica-   * The heads of the two parties were these: For
the Reformation-King Edward, duke of Somerset,
tion to business, the very wonder of his age. protector; Dr. Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury;
His father, by his last will and testament, named  Dr. Holgate, archbishop of York; Sir W. Paget, secsixteen persons executors of his will, and re- retary of state; Lord-viscount Lisle, lord-admiral;
gents of the kingdom, till his son should be Dr. Holbeach, bishop of Lincoln; Dr. Goodrick, bisheighteen years of age: out of these, the Earl of op of Ely; Dr. Latimer, bishop of Worcester; Dr.
Hertford, the king's uncle, was chosen protector Ridley, elect of Rochester. For the old religionof the king's realms, and governor ekf his per- Princess Mary; Wriothesley, earl of Southampton,
son.  Besides these, twelve were added as a lord-chancellor; Dr. Tonstal, bishop of Durham; Dr.
Gardiner, bishop of Winchester; Dr. Bonner, bishop
privy council, to'  assisting to them. Among of London.
the regents, some were for the old religion, and    t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 27.
others for the new; but it soon appeared that   $ The book consisted of twelve discourses, on the




HISTORY OF' THE PURITANS.                                     45
was printed, and ordered to be left with every  cuse. They were o give orders to none but
parish priest, to supply the defect of preaching, such as were able to preach, and to recall their
which few of the clergy at that time were capa- licenses from others. The injunctions were to
ble of performing.  Cranmer communicated it be observed under the pains of excommunicato Gardiner, and would fain have gained his ap- tion, sequestration, or deprivation.
probation of it; but he was so inflamed at being    In bidding of their prayers, they were to releft out of the king's will, that he constantly op- member the king, their supreme head, the
posed all innovation till the king should be of queen-dowager, the king's two sisters, the lordage.                                          protector, and the council; the nobility, the
With these homilies the visiters were to de- clergy, and the commons, of this realm.  The
liver sundry injunctions from the king, to the  custom of bidding prayer, which is still in use
number of thirty-six.*                        in the Church, is a relic of popery. Bishop BurThe bishops were enjoined to see the articles net* has preserved the form, as it was in use beput in execution, and to preach themselves four fore the Reformation, which was this: After the
times a year, unless they had a reasonable ex- preacher had named and opened his text, he
called on the people to go to their prayers, tellfollowing arguments: 1. Concerning the use of the ing them what they were to pray for.  "Ye
Scriptures. 2. Of the misery of mankind by sin. 3. shall pray," says he, " for the king, for the pope,
Of their salvation by Christ. 4. Of a true and lively forthe HolyCatholic Church," &c. After which
faith. 5. Of good works. 6. Of Christian love and           tholic Church," &c. After which
charity. 7. Against swearing and perjury. 8. Against all the people said their beads in a general siapostacy. 9. Against the fear of death. 10. An ex- lence, and the minister kneeled down likewise
hortation to obedience. 11. Against whoredom and  and said his: they were to say a Paternoster,
adultery. 12. Against strife and contention about Ave Maria, Deus misereatur nostri, Domine
matters of religion. These titles of the homilies are salvum fac regem, Gloria Patri, &c., and then
taken verbatim from Bishop Burnet.-Neal's Review. the sermon proceeded. How sadly this bidding
* The chief were,                           of prayer has been abused of late by some di1. "That all ecclesiastical persons observe the of prayer has been abused of late by some dilaws relThating all ecclesiastical persons observe the vines, to the entire omission of the duty itself,
laws relating to the king's supremacy.        is too well known to need a remark!
2. "That they preach once a quarter against pilgrimages and praying to images, and exhort to works    Most of the bishops complied with the inof faith and charity.                         junctions, except Bonner of London, and Gar3. " That images abused with pilgrimages and of- diner of Winchester. Bonner offered a reserve,
ferings be taken down; that no wax candles or ta- but that not being accepted, he made an absopers be burned before them; but only two lights upon lute submission; nevertheless, he was sent for
the high altar before the sacrament shall remain still, some time to the Fleet for contempt. Gardiner
to signify that Christ is the light of the world."
The limitation in this article giving occasion to  having protested against the injunctions and
great heats among the people, some affirming their homilies as contrary to the law of God, was
images had been so abused, and others not, the coun- sent also to the Fleet, where he continued till
cil sent orders to see them all taken down.   after the Parliament was over, and was then
4. " That when there is no sermon, the Paternos- released by a general act of grace.
ter, the Creed, and Ten Commandments, shall be re-   The Parliament that met November the 9th
cited out of the pulpit to the parishioners.  made several alterations in favour of the Refor5. "That within three months every church be
provided with a Bible; and, within twelve months, thing treason but what was specified in the act
with Erasmus's Paraphrase on the New Testament. thing treason but what was specified in the act
9. "That they examine such who come to confes- of 25 Edward III., and two of the statutes
sion, whether they can recite the Paternoster, Creed,'against Lollardies. They repealed the statute
and Ten Commandments in English, before they re- of the six articles, with the acts that followed
ceive the sacrament of the altar, else they ought not in explanation of it; all laws in the late reign
to come to God's board.                       declaring anything felony that was not so de21. "That in time of high mass the Epistle and ared before; together with the act that made
Gospel shall be read in English; and that one chap- the king's proclamation of equal authority with
ter in the New Testament be read at matins, and one
in the Old at even-song.                      an act of Parliament.  Besides the repeal of
23. " No processions shall be used. about churches these laws, sundry new ones were enacted,t as
or churchyards; but immediately before high mass " that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper should
the litany shll be said or sung in English; and all be administered in both kinds," agreeably to
ringing of bells (save one) utterly forborne.  Christ's first institution, and the practice of the
24. "That the holydays, at the first beginning god-Church for five hudred years: and that all
ly instituted and ordained, be wholly given to God, in
hearing the Word of God read and taught; in private private masses should be put down: an act
and public prayers, in acknowledging their offences concerning the admission of bishops into their
to God, and promising amendment; in reconciling  sees; which sets forth that the manner of
themselves to their neighbours, receiving the com- choosing bishops by a congi d'elire, being but
munion, visiting the sick, &c. Only it shall be law- the shadow of an election all bishops, hereful in time of harvest to labour upon holy and festival after, shall be appointed by the king's letters
days, in order to save that thing which God hath patent only, and shall continue the exercise
sent; and that scrupulosity to abstain from working  of their jurisdiction ding   their atural life,
on those days does grievously offend God.     of their jurisdiction during their natural life,
on those days does grievously offend God.
28. "That they take away allshrines, coverings of if they behave well.   One of the first pashrines, tables, candlesticks, trindills, or rolls of wax, tents with this clause is that of Dr. Barlow,
pictures, paintings, and other monuments of feigned  bishop of Bath and Wells,$ bearing date Febmiracles, so that no memory of them remain in walls ruary 3, in the second year of the king's reign;
or windows; exhorting the people to do the like in
their several houses."                          * Hist. Ref., vol. ii, p. 30, and Collection of RecThe rest of the articles related to the advancement ords, b. i., No. 8.'
of learning, to the encouragement of preaching, and    t 1 Edw, VI., cap. i.  J 1 Edw. VI., capii.,
correcting some very gross abuses.              ~ Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 218.




46                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
but all the rest of the bishops afterward took processions, wakes, carrying of candles on Canout letters for their bishoprics with the same dlemas Day, and palms on Palm Sundays, &c.,
clause. In this the archbishop had a princi- while others looked upon them as heathenish
pal hand, for it was his judgment that the ex- rites, absolutely inconsistent with the simpliciercise of all episcopal jurisdiction depended ty of the Gospel. This was so effectually repupon the prince; and that, as he gave it, he resented to the council by Cranmner, that a procmight restrain or take it away at his pleas- lamation was published, February 6, 1548, forure.*  Cranmer thought the exercise of his bidding the continuance of them. And for putown episcopal authority ended with the late ting an end to all contests about images that
kilg's life, and, therefore, would- not act as had been abused to superstition, an order was
archbishop till he had a new commission from  published February 11th, that all images whatKing Edward.t                               soever should be taken out of churches; and
In the same statute it is declared "that, the bishops were commanded to execute it in
since all jurisdiction, both spiritual and tempo- their several diocesses.*  Thus the churches
ral, was derived from the king, therefore, all were emptied of all those pictures and statues
processes in the spiritual court should from  which had for divers ages been the objects of
henceforward be carried on in the king's name, the people's adoration.
and be sealed with the king's sea], as in the   The clergy were no less divided than the laiother courts of common law, except the Arch- ty, the pulpits clashing one against the another,
bishop of Canterbury's courts, only in all facul- and tending to stir up sedition and rebellion:
ties and dispensations; but all collations, pre- the king, therefore, after the example of his
sentations, or letters of orders, were to pass un- father, and by advice of his council, issued out
der the bishops' proper seals as formerly."  By a proclamation, September 3d, in the second
this law, causes concerning wills and marriages year of his reign, to prohibit all preaching
were to be tried in the king's name; but this throughout all his dominions. The words are
was repealed in the next reign.              these: " The king's highness, minding shortly
Lastly: The Parliament gave the king all the to have one uniform order throughout this realm,
lands for maintenance of chantries not pos- and to put an end to all controversies in relisessed by his father; all legacies given for gion, so far as God shall give grace, doth at this
obits, anniversaries, lamps in churches; to- present, and till such time as the said order
gether with all guild lands, which any ffater- shall be set forth, inhibit all manner of persons
nity enjoyed on the same account:t the mon- whatsoever to preach in open audience, in the
ey was to be converted to the maintenance pulpit or otherwise; to the intent that the
of grammar-schools, but the hungry courtiers whole clergy, in the mean space, may apply
shared it among themselves. After this the themselves in prayer to Almighty God for the
houses were prorogued from the 24th of Decem- better achieving the same most godly intent and
ber to the 20th of'April following.          purpose."
The convocation that sat with the Parliament   At the same time a committee of divines was
did little; the majority being on the side of po- appointed to examine and reform the offices of
pery, the archbishop was afraid of venturing the Church:t these were the Archbishops of
anything of importance with them; nor are Canterbury and York; the Bishops of London,
any of their proceedings upon record; but Mr. Durham, Worcester, Norwich, St. Asaph, SalStrype has collected, from the notes of a pri- isbury, Coventry and Lichfield, Carlisle, Brisvate member, that the lower house agreed to tol, St. David's, Ely, Lincoln, Chichester, Herethe communion in both kinds; and that, upon a ford, Westminster, and Rochester; with the
division about the lawfulness of priests' mar- Doctors Cox, May, Taylor, Heins, Robertson,
riages, fifty-three were for the affirmative, and and Redmayn. They began with the sacratwenty.two for the negative.d                ment of the eucharist, in which they made but
The Reformation in Germany lying under little alteration, leaving the office of the mass
great discouragements by the victorious arms as it stood, only adding to it so much as chanof Charles V., who had this year taken the Duke ged it into a communion of both kinds. Auricuof Saxony prisoner, and dispossessed him of his lar confession was left indifferent.  The priest,
electorate, several of the foreign Reformers, who having received the sacrament himself, was to
had taken sanctuary in those parts, were forced turn to the people and read the exhortation:
to seek it elsewhere: Among these, Peter Mar- then followed a denunciation, requiring such as
tyr, a Florentine, was invited by the archbish- had not repented to withdraw, leErt the devil
op, in the king's name, into England, and had should enter into them as he did into Judas.
the divinity-chair given him at Oxford; Bucer After a little pause, to see if any would withhad the same at Cambridge; Ochinus and Fa- draw, followed a  confession of sins and absolugius, two other learned foreigners, had either tion, the same as now in use; after which the
pensions or canonries, with a dispensation of sacrament was administered in both kinds, withresidence, and did good service in the universi- out elevation. This office was published, with
ties; but Fagius soon after died.           a proclamation declaring his majesty's intenThe common people were very much divided tions to proceed to a farther reformation, and
in their opinions about religion, some being willing his subjects not to run before his dizealous for preserving the popish rites, and oth- rection, assuring them of his earnest zeal in
ers no less averse to them. The country peo- this affair, and hoping they would quietly tarry
ple were very tenacious of their old shows, as for it.
In reforming the other offices, they examined
~ Strype's Mem.: of Crannler, p. 141. App., p. 53.
t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 42.
T Edw. VI., cap. 42.                          * Brnlet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 61, 64.
64 trype's Life of Cran., p. 156.             t Id. ib.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  47
and eompared the Romish missals of Sarum, Bishop Burnet*) had their peculiar rites, with
York, Hereford, Bangor, and Lincoln; and out the saints' days that belonged to their order, and
of them composed the morning and evening services for them; but our Reformers thought
service, almost in the same form as it stands at proper to insist upon an exact uniformity of
present; only there was no confession nor ab- habits and ceremonies for all the clergy; though
solution. It would have obviated many objec- they knew many of them were exceptionable,
tions if the committee had thrown aside the having been abused to idolatry, and were a yoke
mass-book, and composed a uniform service in which some of the most resolved Protestants
the language of Scripture, without any regard could npt bear. Nay, so great a stress was laid
to the Church of Rome; but this they were not upon the square cap and surplice, that, rather
aware of, or the times would not bear it. From  than dispense with the use of them to some tenthe same materials, they compiled a litany, con- der minds, the bishops were content to part with
sisting of many short petitions, interrupted by their best friends, and hazard the Reformation
suffrages; it is the same with that which is into the hands of the papists. If there must be
now used, except the petition to be delivered habits and ceremonies for decency and order,
from the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome, and why did they not appoint new ones rather than
all his detestable enormities; which, in the re- retain the old, which had been idolized by the
view of the liturgy in Queen Elizabeth's time, papists to such a degree as to be thought to
was struck out.                            have a magical virtue, or a sacramental effica.
In the administration of baptism, a cross was cy. Or, if they meant this, why did they not
to be made on the child's forehead and breast, speak out, and go on with the consecration of
and the devil was exorcised to go out, and en- them?
ter no more into him. The child was to be   The council had it some time under considdipped three times in the font, on the right and eration whether those vestments in which the
left side, and on the breast, if not weak. A  priests used to officiate should be continued. It
white vestment was to be put upon it, in token was objected against them, by those who had
of innocence; and it was to be anointed on been confessors for the Protestant religion, and
the head, with a short prayer for the unction others, that "the habits were a part of the train
of the Holy Ghost.                         of the mass; that the people had such a superIn order to confirmation, those that came stitious opinion of them as to think they gave
were to be catechised; then the bishop was to an efficacy to their prayers, and that Divine sersign them with the cross, and lay his hands vice said without this apparel was insignificant:
upon them, in the name of the Father, Son, and whereas, at best, they were but inventions of
Holy Ghost.                                popery, and ought to be destroyed with that idolIf sick persons desired to be anointed, the atrous religion."t But it was said, on the other
priest might do it upon the forehead and breast, hand, by those divines that had stayed in Engonly making the sign of the cross, with a short land, and weathered the storm of King Henry's
prayer for his recovery.                   tyranny by a politic compliance, and concealIn the office of burial, the soul of the depart- ment of their opinions, that " Church habits and
ed person is recommended to the mercy of God; ceremonies were indifferent, and might be apand the minister is to pray that the sins which pointed by the magistrates; that white was the
he committed in this world may be forgiven colour of the priests' garments in the Mosaical
him, and that he may be admitted into heaven, dispensation; and that it was a natural expresand his body raised at the last day.       sion of the'purity and decency that became
This was the first service-book or liturgy of priests. That they ought to depart no firther
King Edward VI. We have no certain account from the Church of Rome than she had departof the use of any liturgies in the first ages of the ed from the practice of the primitive Church.,"
Church, those of St. Mark, St. James, and that   Besides, " clergy were then so poor that they
of Alexandria, being manifestly spurious. It is could scarce afford to buy themselves decent
not till the latter end of the fourth century that clothes."  But did the priests buy their own
they are first mentioned; and then it was left to garments 1 could not the parish provide a gown,
the care of every bishop to draw up a form of or some other decent apparel, for the priest to
prayer for his own church.  In St. Austin's minister in sacred things, as well as a square
time they began to consult about an agreement cap, a surplice, a cope, or a tippet were these
of prayers, that none should be used without the habits of the primitive clergy before the rise
common advice; but still there was no uniform- of papacy'I But upon these slender reasons the
ity. Nay, in the darkest-times of popery, there garments were continued, which soon after diwas a vast variety of forms in different sees; vided the Reformers among themselves, and
witness the offices secundum usum Sarum, Ban- gave rise to the two parties of Conformists and
gor, York, &c. But our Reformers split upon Nonconformists; Archbishop Cranmer and Ridthis rock, sacrificing the peace of the Church to ley being at the head of the former, and Bishop
a mistaken necessity of an exact uniformity of Hooper, Rogers, with the foreign divines, being
doctrine and worship,.in which it was impossi- patrons of the latter.
ble for all men to agree. Had they drawn up   The Parliament, after several prorogations,
divers forms, or left a discretionary latitude for met the 24th of November, 1548; and, on the
tender consciences, as to some particular phra- 15th of January following, the act confirming
ses, all men would have been easy, and the the new liturgy passed both houses, the Bish
Church more firmly united than ever.       ops of London, Durham, Norwich. Carlisle
The like is to be observed as to rites and cere- Hereford, Worcester, Wvestminster,:an( Chi
monies of an indifferent nature.  Nothing is chester protecting. The preamble:sts earth
more certain than that the Church of Rome in-   * Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 72.
dulged a variety. Every religious order (says   t Fuller's Church History, b. vii., I *0




48                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
*"that the Archbishop of Canterbury, with other ing on in their old way, of wakes, processions,
learned bishops and divines, having, by the aid church ales, holydays, censing of images, and
of the Holy Ghost, with one uniform  agree- other theatrical rites, which strike the -minds or
ment, concluded upon an order of Divine wor- the vulgar: these, being encouraged by the old
ship agreeably to Scripture and the primitive monks and friars, rose up in arms in several
Church, the Parliament having considered the counties, but were soon dispersed. The most
book, gave the king their most humble thanks, formidable insurrections were those of Devonand enacted, that from the feast of Whitsun- shire and Norfolk. In Devonshire they were
day, 1549, all divia e offices should be perform.- ten thousand strong, and sent the following ared according to it; and that such of the clergy tides or demands to the king:
as refused to do it, or officiated in any other   1. "That the six articles should be restored.
manner, should, upon the first conviction, suf-   2 "That mass should be said in Latin.
fer six months' imprisonment, and forfeit a   3. "That the host should be elevated and
year's profits of his benefice; for the second of- adored.
fence, forfeit all his Church preferments, and   4. " That the sacrament should be given but
suffer a year's imprisonment; and for:the third in one kind.
offence, imprisonment for life. Such as writ or   5. " That images should be set up in churches.
printed against the book were to be fined ~10    6. "That the souls in purgatory should be
for the first offence, ~20 for the second, and to prayed for.
forfeit all their goods, andbe imprisoned for life   7. " That the Bible should be called in, and
for the third."  It ought to be observed, that prohibited.
this service-book was not laid before the convo-   8. " That the new service-book should be laid
cation, nor any representative body of the clergy; aside, and the old religion restored."
and whereas it is said to be done by one univer-   An answer was sent from court to these desal agreement, it is certain that four of the bish- mands; but nothing prevailed on the enraged
ops employed in drawing it up protested against multitude, whom the priests inflamed with all
it, viz., the Bishops of Norwich, Hereford, Chi- the artifice they could devise, carrying the host
chester, and Westminster.  But if the liturgy about the camp in a cart, that all might see and
had been more perfect than it was, the penal- adore it. They besieged the city of Exeter, and
ties by which it was imposed were severe and reduced it to the last extremity; but the inhabunchristian, contrary to Scripture and primitive itants defended it with uncommon bravery, till
antiquity.*                                 they were relieved by the Lord Russell, who
As soon as the act took place, the council ap- with a very small force entered the town and
pointed visiters to see that the new liturgy was dispersed the rebels. The insurrection in Norreceived all over England. Bonner, who re- folk was headed by one Ket, a tanner, who assolved to comply in everything, sent to the dean sumed to himself the power of judicature under
and residentiary of St. Paul's to use it; and all an old oak, called from thence the Oak of Refthe clergy were so pliable, that the visiters re- ormation. He did not pretend much of religion,
turned no complaints; only that the Lady Mary but to place new counsellors about the king, in
continued to have mass said in her house, which, order to suppress the greatness of the gentry,
upon the intercession of the emperor, was in- and advance the privileges of the commons.
dulged her for a time.t  Gardiner, bishop of The rebels were twenty thousand strong; but
Winchester, continued still a prisoner in the the Earl of Warwick, with six thousand foot
Tower, without'being brought to a trial, for refu- and fifteen hundred horse, quickly dispersed
sing to submit to the council's supremacy while them. Several of the leaders of both rebellions
the king was under age, and for some other were executed, and Ket was hanged in chains.
complaints against him. His imprisonment was   The hardships the Reformers underwent in
certainly illegal: it was unjustifiable to keep a the late reign fiom the six articles, should have
man in prison two years upon a bare complaint; made them tender of the lives of those who difand then, without producing any evidence in fered from the present standard. Cranmer himsupport of the charge, to sift him by articles self had been a papist, a Lutheran, and was now
and interrogatories: this looked too much like a Sacramentary, and in every change guilty of
an inquisition; but the king being in the pope's inexcusable severities; while he was a Lutherroom (says Bishop Burnett), there were some an, he consented to the burning of John Lambert
things gathered from the canon law, and from  and Anne Askew, for those very doctrines for
thb  proceedings ex officio, that rather excused which he himself afterward suffered.  He bore
than justified the hard measures he met with. hard upon the papists, stretching the law to
When the council sent Secretary Petre to the keep their most active leaders in prison; and
bishop, to know whether he would subscribe to this year he imbrued his hands in the blood of a
the use of the service-book, he consented, with poor frantic woman, Joan Bocher, more fit for
some exceptions, which, not being admitted, he Bedlam than a stake; which was owing, not to
was threatened with deprivation.            any cruelty in the archbishop's temper, but by
But the new liturgy did not sit well upon the those miserable persecuting principles by which
minds of the country people, who were for go- he was governed.                 4
* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 93, 95.  Among others that fled out of Germany into
t The intercession of the Emperor Carolus was England, from the Rustic war, there were some
supported by the requisition of the council, and urged that went by the name of Anabaptists [dissem.
by the importance of preserving amity with him. But inating their errors, and making proselytes],
the king, amiable as his temper appears to have been, who, besides the principle of adult baptism, held
with tears opposed the advice of his council, and several wild opinions about the Trinity, the Virfinallydenied the empror's suit.-Fox,as quoted by gin Mary, and the person of Christ.*  ComCrosby, b. i., p. 44.-E 52.                     It is to be wished that Mr. Neal had not charac
$ Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 152.             * It is to be wished that Mr. Neal had not charac




HISTORY OF T.HE PURITANS.                                     49
plaint being made of them to the council, April   Nor did his grace renounce his burning prin12th, a commission was ordered to the Arch- ciples as long as he was in power; for about
bishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Ely, Wor- two years after, he went through the.same
eester  [Westminster], Chichester, Lincoln, bloody work again.  One.George Van Paris, a
Rochester [Sir William Petre, SirThomas Smith, Dutchman, being convicted of saying that God
Dr. Cox, Dr. May], and some others, any three the Father was only God, and that Christ was
being a quorum, to examine and search after all not very God, was dealt with to abjure, but reAnabaptists, heretics, or contemners of the com- fusing, he was condemned in the same manner
mon prayer, whom they were to endeavour to with Joan, of Kent, and on the 25th of April,
reclaim, and after penance to give them absolu- 1552, was burned in Smithfield; he was a man
tion; but if they continued obstinate, they were of a strict and virtuous life, and very devout;
to excommunicate, imprison, and deliver them  he suffered with great constancy 9f mind, kissto the secular arm. This was little better than ing the stake and fagots that were to burn him.
a Protestant inquisition.  People had generally No part of Archbishop Cranmer's life exposed
thought that all the statutes for burning here- him  more than this: it was now said by the
tics had been repealed;. but it was rinw said papists that they saw men of harmless lives
that heretics were to be burned by the common might be put to death for heresy by the confeslaw of England, and that the statutes were only sion of the Reformers themselves. In all the
for directing the manner of conviction; so that books published in Queen Mary's days, justify.
the repealing them did not take away that which
was grounded upon a writ at common law. Sev- frantic woman, more fit for Bedlam than the stake,
eral tradesmen that were brought before the com- and as obstinately maintaining her opinion, has not
missioners abjured; but Joan Bocher, or Joan spoken so respectfully of her as her character and
of Kent, obstinately maintained that "Christ the truth of the case required. The charge of obstinacy wants propriety and candour; for though an opinwas not truly incarnate of the Virgin, whose         in the account of others may be a great and hurtflesh being sinful, he could not partake of it; but ful error, it cannot, without insincerity andi the viola.
the Word, by the consent of the inward man in tion of conscience, be renounced by the person who
the Virgin, took flesh of her." These were her has embraced it until his judgment is convinced of
words: a scholastic nicety not capable of doing its falsehood. Arguments which produce conviction
much mischief, and far from deserving so severe in one mind, do not carry the same degree of cleara punishment. The poor woman could not rec- ness and strength to other minds; and men are very
oncile the spotless purity of Christ's human incompetent judges of the nature and force of evi~~~~~~~~oncile h  solssprtydence necessary to leave  on others the impressions
nature with his receiving flesh from a sinful they themselvesfeel.  The extraordinaryefforts used
creature; and for this she is declared an obsti- to bring Joan Bocher to retract her opinion, show her
nate heretic, and delivered over to the secular to have been a person of note, whose opinions carried
power to be burned. When the compassionate more weight and respect than it can be supposed
young king could not prevail with himself to would the chimeras of a frantic woman. The acsign the warrant for her execution, Cranmer count which Mr. Strype gives of her is truly honourwith his superior learning was employed to per- able.  She was," he says, "a great disperser of
-ihhsuprolanigw epratie o ter  Tyndal's New Testament, translated by him into
suade him; he argued from the practice of the English, and printed at Colen, and was a great reader
Jewish Church in stoning blasphemers, which  of Scripture herself. Which book, also, she dispersed
rather silenced his highness than satisfied him: in the court, and so became known to certain women
for when at last he yielded to the archbishop's of quality, and was more particularly acquainted with
importunity, he told him, with tears in his eyes, Mrs. Anne Ascue. She used, for the more secresy,
that if he did wrong, since it was fn submission  to tie the books with strings under her apparel, and
to his authority, he should answer for it to God.* so pass with them into the court."*  By this it ap
This struck the archbishop with surprise, but pears that she hazarded her life in dangerous times,
This struck  the archbishop  with surprise, but  to bring others to the knowledge of God's Word; and
yet he suffered the sentence to be executed.t by Mr. Neal's own account, her sentiments, were
they ever so erroneous, were taken up out of respect
terized, in this style, the sentiments of these persons; to Christ, " for she could not reconcile the spotless
but had contented himself, -without insinuating his purity of Christ's human nature with his receiving
own judgment of their tenets, with giving his readers flesh from a sinful creature." —E.
the words of Bishop Burnet; for calling their opin-   When condemned to die, we are informed she said
ions wzld notions will have a tendency with many to her judges, " It is a goodly matter to consider your
to soften their resentment against the persecuting ignorance. It was not long ago since you burned
measures which Mr. Neal justly condemns, and be Anne Ascue for a piece of bread, and yet came yourconsidered as furnishing an apology for them. Bishop selves soon after to believe and profess the same docBurnet says, " Upon Luther's first preaching in Ger- trine for which; you burned her. And now, forsooth,
many, there arose many who, building on some of his you will needs burn me for a piece of flesh, and in
principles, carried things much farther than he did. the end you will come to believe this also, when you
The chief foundation he laid down was, that the have read the Scriptures and understand them."
Scripture was to be the only rule of Christians." Where was Granmer's conscience, that this stateUpon this many argued that the mysteries of the ment did not arouse him? I scarcely know a more
Trinity, and Christ's incarnation and sufferings, of painful and humiliating fact than the part he took in
the fall of man, and the aids of grace, were indeed this criminal affair. It did not arise from cruelty of
philosophical subtilties, and only pretended to be de- disposition, for his heart was humane and benevolent,
duced from Scripture, as almost all opinions of reli- but from the perverted views he had early imbibed in
gion were, and therefore they rejected them. Among an intolerant and unchristian sclaool. How bitter
these the baptism of infants was one. They held must the recollection of it have been during his Own
that to be no baptism, and so were rebaptized. But imprisonment at Oxford! —$trype's Mem., vol ii., i.,
from this, which was most taken notice of, as being a 335.-C..
visible thing, they carried all the general name of   * Strype's Ecclesiaia Memorials, vol ii. p. 214 as
knabaptists.-Burnet's  Hist. Ref., voL ii., p. 110, &c. quoted in Lindsey's Apology, fourth edition, p. 43, and, in
-ED.         * Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 112. his ]istorical V~iw of the Unitarian Doctrine of Worship,
t Mr. Neal, representing Joan Bocher as a poor, p. 87.
VOL. I.-G




0so                     HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.
ing hei severities against Protestants, these the title of Reformatio Legum Anglicarum, &Sc.,
-instances were always produced; and when and it was reprinted 1640. By this book CranCranmer himself was brought to the stake, they mer seems to have softened his burning princicalled it a just retaliation. But neither this, ples; for though, under the third title of judgnor any other arguments, could convince the ments for heresy, he lays a very heavy load upon
divines of this age of the absurdity and wicked- the back of an obstinate heretic, as that "' he shall
ness of putting men to death for conscience' be declared infamous, incapable of public trust,
sake.                                      or of being witness in any court, or of having
Bonner, bishop of London, being accused of power to make a will, or of having the benefit
remissness in not settling the new service-book of the law," yet there is no mention of capital
throughout his diocess, and being suspected of proceedings.
disaffection to the government, was enjoined   Another remarkable act, passed this session,*
to declare publicly, in a sermon at St. Paul's was for ordaining ministers; it appoints "that
Cross, his belief of the king's authority while such forms of ordaining ministers as should be
under age, and his approbation of the new ser- set forth by the advice of six prelates and six
vice-book, with some other articles; which he divinez; to be named by the king, and authorinot performing to the council's satisfaction, zed under the great seal, should be used after
was cited before the court of delegates, and af- April next, and no other."  Here is no mention
ter several hearings, in which he behaved with again of a convocation or synod of divines; nor
great arrogance, sentence of deprivation was do the Parliament reserve to themselves a right
pronounced against him, September 23d, by the of judgment, but intrust everything absolutely
Archbishop of Canterbury, Ridley, Bishop of with the crown. The committee soon finished
Rochester, Secretary Smith, and the Dean of their Ordinal, which is almost the same with'St. Paul's. It was thought hard to proceed to that now in use. They take no notice in their
such extremities with a man for a mere omis- book of the lower orders in the Church of Rome,
sion, for Bonner pleaded that he forgot the ar- as subdeacons, readers, acolytes, &c., but conticle of the king's authority in his sermon; and fine themselves to bishops, priests, and deait was yet harder to add imprisonment to depri- cons; and here it is observable that the form
vation: but he.-lived to take a severe revenge of ordaining a priest and a bishop is the same
upon his Judges in the next reign. The vacant we yet use, there being no express mention in:see was filled up with Dr. Ridley, who, on the the words of ordination whether it be for the.24th of February, 1549-50, was declared Bishop one or the other office:t this has been altered
of London and Westminster, the two bishoprics of late years, since a distinction of the two oribeing united in him; but his consecration was ders has been so generally admitted; but that
deferred to the next year.                 was not the received doctrine of these times.t
The Parliament that met the 14th of Novem- The committee struck out most of the modern
ber revived the act of the late king, empowering rites of the Church of Rome, and contented
his majesty to reform the canon law, by naming themselves, says Bishop Burnet, with those
thirty-two persons, viz., sixteen of the spiritual- mentioned in Scripture, viz., imposition of.ity, of whom four to be bishops; and sixteen hands, and prayer. The gloves, the sandals,
of the temporality, of whom four to be common the mitre, the ring, and crosier, which had been
lawyers, who within three years should compile used in consecrating bishops, were laid aside.
a body of ecclesiastical laws, which, not being The anointing, -the giving consecrated vest-,contrary to the statute law, should be published ments, the delivering into the hands vessels for
by the king's warrant under the great seal, and consecrating the eucharist, with a power to ofhave the force of laws in the ecclesiastical fer sacrifice for the dead and living, which had
courts. This design was formed, and very far been the custom in the ordination of a priest,
advanced in King Henry VIII.'s time, but the were also omitted. But when the bishop ortroubles that attended the last part of his reign dained, he was to lay one hand on the priest's
*prevented the finishing it. It was now resu- head, and with his other hand to give him a Binmed, and in pursuance of this act a commission ble, with a chalice and bread in it. The chalice
was first given to eight persons, viz., two bish- and bread are now omitted, as is the pastoral
ops, two divines, two doctors of law, and two staff in the consecration of a bishop. By the
common lawyers, who were to prepare materi- rule of this Ordinal, a deacon was not to be or-.als for the review of the thirty-two; but the dained before twenty-one, a priest before twenpreface to the printed book says that Cranmer ty-four, nor a bishop before he was thirty years
did almost the whole hlimself.*  It was not fin- of age.
ished till the month of February, 1552-53, when   The council went on with pressing the new
another commission was granted to thirty-two liturgy upon the people, who were still inclined
persons to revise it, of whom the former eight in many places to the old service; but, to put it
were a part, viz., eight bishops, eight divines, out of their power to continue it, it was ordereight' civilians, and eight common lawyers; ed that all clergymen should deliver up, to such
they divided themselves into four classes, and persons whom the king should appoint, all their
the amendments of each class were communi- old antiphonals, missals, grails, processionals,.cated to the whole. Thus the work was finish- legends, pies, portuasses, &c., and. to see to the
ed, being digested into fifty-one titles. It was observing one unifortn order in the Church;
translated into Latin by Dr. Hadden and Sir
John Cheek; but before it received the royal   * 3 and 4 of Edward VI., cap. xii.
confirmation the king died; nor was it ever re-   t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. li., p. 144. Collyer's
vived in the succeeding reigns. Archbishop Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 290.
Parker first published it in the year 1571, under   j For a full vindication of the above assertions,
i________________,    see Mr. Neal's Review, p. 860-864 of the first vol* Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 271.  ume of the' quarto edition of his history. —ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    -51
which the Parliament confirmed, requiring, far- bishops refused to comply with the couneil's
ther, all that had any images in their houses order; as Day, bishop of Chichester, and Heath
that had belonged to any church, to deface of Worcester, insisting on the apostle's words
them; and to dash out of their primers all pray- to the Hebrews, " We have an altar;" and, rders to the saints.                           ther than comply, they suffered themselves to
1550. Ridley, being now bishop of London, be deprived of their bishoprics for contumacy,
resolved upon a visitation of his diocess. His October, 1551. Preachers were sent into the
injunctions were, as usual, to inquire into the countries to rectify the people's prejudices,
doctrines and manners of the clergy;* but the which had a very good effect; and if they had
council sent him a letter in his majesty's name, taken the same methods with respect to the
to see that all altars were taken down, and to habits, and other relics of popery, these would
require the church-wardens of every parish to hardly have kept their ground, and the Reformers
provide a table decently covered, and to place would have acted a more consistent and pruit in such part of the choir or chancel as should dent part.
be most meet, so that the ministers and com-   The sad consequences of retaining the popish
muanicants should be separated from the rest of garments in the service of the Church began
the people. The same injunctions were' given to appear this year: a debate, one would think,
to the rest of the bishops, as appears by the col- of small consequence, but at this time apprelection of Bishop Sparrow. Ridley began with hended of great importance to the Refobrmahis own cathedral at St. Paul's, where he or- tion. The people, having been bred up in a sudered the wall on the back side of the altar to perstitious veneration for the priests' garments,
be broken down, and a decent table to be placed were taught that they were sacred; that within its room; and this was done in most church- out them no administrations were valid; that
es throughout the province of Canterbury. The there was a sort of virtue conveyed into them
reasons for this alteration were these:      by consecration; and, in a word, that they
1. "' Because our Saviour instituted the sac- were of the same importance to a Christian
rament at a table, and not at an altar.      clergyman as the priests' garments of old vtere
2. "Because Christ is not to be sacrificed in their ministrations; it was time, therefore,
over again, but his body and blood to be spirit- to disabuse them. The debate began upon ocually eaten and drunk at the holy supper; for casion of Dr. Hooper's nomination to the bishwhich a table is more proper than an altar.  opric of Gloucester, in the room of Dr. Wake3. " Because the Holy Ghost, speaking of the man, who died in December, 1549.
Lord's Supper, calls it the Lord's table, 1 Cor.,   Dr. Hooper was a zealous, pious, and learned
x., 21, but nowhere an altar.                man: he went out of England in the latter end
4. " The canons of the Council of Nice, as well of King Henry's reign, and lived at Zurich at a
as the fathers St. Chrysostom and St. Augustine, time when all Germany was in a flame on accall it the Lord's table; and though they some- count of the Interim, which was a form of wortimes call it an altar, it is to be understood ship contrived to keep up the exterior face of pofiguratively.                                pery, with the softenings of some other senses
5. "An altar has relation to a sacrifice; so put upon things. Upon this arose a great and
that if we retain the one we must admit the important question among.the Germans conother; which would give great countenance to cerning the use of things indifferent.*  It was
mass-priests.                                said, " If things were indifferent in themselves,
6. "There are many passages in ancient they were lawful; and that it was the subject's
writers that show that communion-tables were duty to obey when commanded."  So the old
of wood; that they were made like tables;t popish rites were kept up, on purpose to draw
and that those who fled into churches for sanc- the people more easily back to popery.  Out of
tuary did hide themselves under them.        this another question arose, " whether it was
7. "The most learned foreign divines have lawful to obey in things indifferent, when it
declared against altars; as Bucer, CEcolampa- was certain they were enjoined with an ill dedius, Zuinglius, Bullinger, Calvin, P. Martyr, sign."  To which it was replied, that the deJoannes Alasco, Hedio, Capito, &c., and have signs of legislators were not to be inquired into.
removed them out of their several churches: This created a vast distraction in the country:
only the Lutheran churches retain them.":    some conformed to the Interim; but the major
Ridley, Cranmer, Latimer, and the rest of part were firm  to their principles, and were
the English Reformers, were of opinion that the turned out of their livings for disobedience.
retaining altars would serve only to nourish in Those who complied were for the most part
people's minds the superstitious opinion of a Lutherans, and carried the name of Adiaphopropitiatory mass, and would minister an occa- frists, from the Greek word that signifies things
sion of offence and division among the godly; indifferent. But the rest of the Reformed were
and the next age will show they were not mis- for shaking off all the relics of popery, with -the
taken in their conjectures. But some of the hazard of all that was dear to them  in the
world; particularly at Zurich, where Hooper
+ Among the other articles which he put to the was, they were zealous against any compliance
inferior clergy, this was one: " Whether may Ana- with the Interim, or the use of:the old rites pre
baptists or others, use private conventicles, with scribed by it.
different opinions and forms from those established,   With these principles Hooper came over to
and with other questions about baptism and marri- England, and applied himself to preaching and
ages."-Crosby, vol. i., p. 31 -ED.          explaining the Scriptne's to the people; he was.t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 150. Strype's in the pulpit almoos every day in the week, and
Am., vol. i., p. 160.
t Strype's Ann,, vol. i., p. 162. Hist. Ref., vol. iii.. -
p 158  Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 162.                 + Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 199.



52                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS..his sermons were so popular, that all the church- ter Martyr at Oxford, who gave their opinions
es were crowded where lie preached.* His fame  against the habits, as inventions of antichrist,
soon reached the court, where Dr. Poynet and land wished them removed, as will appear more
he were appointed to preach all the Lent ser- fully in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,* but were
mons. He was- also sent to preach throughout of opinion, since the bishops were so resolute,
the counties of Kent and Essex, in order to  that he might acquiesce in the use of them for a
reconcile the people to the Reformation. At time, till they were taken away by law; and the
length, in the month of July, 1550, he was ap- rather, because the Reformation was in its infanpointed Bishop of Gloucester by letters patent cy, and it would give occasion of triumph to the
from the king, but declined it, for two reasons: common enemy to see the Reformers at variance
I. Because of the form of the oath, which he among themselves.'The divines of Switzerland
calls foul and impious. And,                 and Geneva were of the same mind, being un2. By reason of the Aaronical habits.      willing that a clergyman of so much learning
By the oath is meant the oath of supremacy,t and piety, and so zealous for the Reformation
which was in this form: " By God, by the saints, as Hooper was, should be silenced; they thereand by the Holy Ghost;" which Hooper thought fore advised him to comply for the present, that
impious, because God only ought to be appealed  he might be the more capable, by his authority
to in an oath, forasmuch as he only knows the  and influence in the Church, to get them laid
thoughts of men. The young king, being con- aside. But these reasons not satisfying Hoopvinced of this, struck out the words with his er's conscience, he continued to refuse for above
own pen.t                                    nine months.
But the scruple about the habits was not so ea-   The governing prelates being provoked with
sily got over. The king and council were inclined  his stiffness, resolved not to suffer such a preto dispense with them; but Ridley and the rest of cedent of disobedience to the ecclesiastical laws
the bishops that had worn the habits were of an- to go unpunished. Hooper must be a bishop,
other mind, saying "the thing was indifferent, and must be consecrated in the manner others
and, therefore, the lawought to be obeyed." This had been, and wear the habits the law appointhad such an influence upon the council, that all ed; and to force him to comply, he was served
Hooper's objections were afterward heard with  with an order of council, first to silence him, and
great prejudice. It discovered but an ill spirit then to confine him to his house. The doctor
in the Reformers not to suffer Hooper to decline thought this usage very severe: to miss his
his bishopric, nor yet to dispense with those hab- promotion was no disappointment; but to be perits which he thought unlawful. Hooper was as secuted about clothes, by men of the same faith
much for the clergy's wearing a decent and dis- with himself, and to lose his liberty because he
tinct habit from the laity as Ridley, but- prayed  would not be a bishop, and in the fashion, this,
to be excused from the old symbolizing popish  says Mr. Collyer, was possibly more than he well
garments,                                    understood. After some time, Hooper was com1. Because they had no countenance in Scrip- mitted to the custody of Cranmer, who, not beture or primitive antiquity.                 ing able to bring him to conformity, complained
2. Because they were the inventions of anti- to the council, who thereupon ordered him into
christ, and were introduced into the Church in the Fleet, where he continued some months, to
the corruptest ages of Christianity.         the reproach of the Reformers. At length he
3. Because they had been abused to supersti- laid his case before the Earl of Warwick, who,
tion and idolatry, particularly in the pompous by the king's own motion, wrote to the archcelebration of the mass; and, therefore, were bishop to dispense with the habit at his consenot indifferent.                             cration; but Cranmer alleged the danger of a
4. To continue the use of these garments prcemunire; upon which a letter was sent from
was, in his opinion, to symbolize with antichrist, the king and council to the archbishop and other
to mislead the people, and was inconsistent with  bishops to be concerned in the consecration,
the simplicity of the Christian religion.    warranting them to dispense with the garments,
Cranmer was inclined to yield to these rea- and discharging them  ot all manner of dansons; but Ridley and Goodrick insisted strongly  gers, penalties, and forfeitures they might incur
on obedience to the laws, affirming that, " in  any manner of way by omitting the same; but
matters of rites and ceremonies, custom was a though this letter was dated August the 5th, yet
good argument for the continuance of those that such was the reluctance of Cranmer and Ridley,
had been long used." But this argument seem- that Hooper was not consecrated till March foled to go.too far, because it might be used for lowing; in which time, says Bishop Burnet,t the
the retaining all those other rites and ceremo- matter was in some sort compromised, Hooper
nies of popery which had been long used in the  consenting to be robed in his habits at his con.
Church, but were now abolished by these Re- secration, when he preached before the king, or
formers themselves.                          in his cathedral, or in any public place, but to
Hooper, not willing to rely upon his own judg- be dispensed with at other times.
ment, wrote to Bucer at Cambridge, and to Pe-   Accordingly,4 being appointed to preach be* Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 297.
* HeKwas chaplain to the Duke of Somerset.   t Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 166.
Fuller says he was well skilled in Latin, Greek, and   t Mr. Neal, in his Review, adds from Mr. Fox,
Hebre%, —C.                                 that "Bishop Hooper was constrained to appear
t Mr. Fuller, when he wrote his Church History, once in public attired after the manner of other bishconceived that the oath Bishop Hooper refused- was ops, which, unless he had done, some think' there
that of canonical obedience, but when'he pniblished was a contrivance to take away his life; for his serhis Worthies he was convinced of his mistake, and vant told me,' says Mr. Fox, " that the Duke of Suf
corrected it.-Neal's Reivew.-ED.            folk sent such word to Hooper, who was not himself
t Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 203.          ignorant of what was doing."-ED.




HISTORY  OF'TiE PURITANS.                                   53
tore the king, he came forth, says Mr. Fox, like  and, as a mark of favour, three hundred and
a-new player on the stage: his upper garment eighty of the congregation were made- denizens
was a long scarlet chymere down to the foot, of England. The preamble to the patent sets
and under that a white linen rochet that covered  forth that the Qerman Church made profession
all his shoulders. and a four-square cap on his of pure and uncorrupted religion, and was inhead; but he took it patiently, for the public  structed in truly Christian and apostolical opinprofit of the Church.*  After this, Hooper re- ions and rites.*  In the patent which incorpotired to his diocess, and preached sometimes rates them there is the following clause: "Item.
two or three times a day, to crowds of people  We command, and peremptorily enjoin our lordthat hungered for the word of life: he was im- mayor, aldermen, and magistrates of the city
partial and zealous in the faithful discharge of of London, and their successors, with all archevery branch of his episcopal character, even  bishops, bishops, justices of the peace, and all
beyond his strength, and was himself a pattern  officers and ministers whatsoever, that they perof what he taught to others.                 mit the said superintendent and ministers to enIn the king's letter to the archbishop, Hooper joy and exercise their own proper rites and ceris said to be a divine of great knowledge, deep  emonies, and their own proper and peculiar ecjudgment, and long study, both in the Scriptures clesiastical discipline, though differing from the
and profane learning, as also a person of good  rites and ceremonies used in our kingdom, withdiscretion, ready utterance, and of an honest out impediment, let, or disturbance; any law,
life; but all these qualifications must be buried  proclamation, or injunction heretofore published
in silence and a prison, at a time when there  to the contrary notwithstanding."
was a famine of the Word, rather than the above-   John a Lasco was a Polander of noble birth;
mentioned uniformity in dress be dispensed with. and, according to the words of the patent, a
Most of the reforming clergy were with Hoop- man very famous for learning, and for integrity
er in this controversy; several that had submit- of life and manners. He was in high esteem
ted to the habits in the late reign laid them aside  with the great Erasmus, who says that he,
in this, as the Bishops Latimer and Coverdale, though an old man, had profited much by his
Dr. Taylor, Philpot, Bradford, and others, who  conversation. And Peter Martyr calls him his
laid down their lives for the Protestant faith.t most learned patron.t  But he did not please
In some ordinations, Cranmer and Ridley dis- the ruling prelates, because he took part with
pensed with the habits; for Mr. Thomas Samp- Hooper, and wrote against the popish garments,
son, parson of Bread-street, London, afterward  and for the posture of sitting rather than kneelone of the heads of the Puritans, and success- ing at the Lord's Supper.4
ively Dean of Chichester and Christ Church, in   1551. Upon the translation of Ridley to the
a letter to Secretary Cecil, writes, " That at his see of London, Dr. Poynet was declared Bishop
ordination by Cranmer and Ridley, he excepted  of Rochester, and Coverdale, coadjutor to Veyagainst the apparel, and was, nevertheless, per- sey, Bishop of Exeter. The see of Winchester
mitted and admitted."t If they had not done  had been two years as good as vacant by the
so on some occasions, there would not have long imprisonment of Gardiner, who had been
been clergymen to support the Reformation. confined all this time without being brought to
Bishop Burnet says they saw their error, and  a trial: the bishop complained of this to the
designed to procure an act to abolish the po- council, who thereupon issued out a commission
pish garments; but whether this were so or not, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops
it is certain that in the next reign they repented  of London, Ely, and Lincoln, with Secretary
their conduct; for when Ridley was in prison he Petre, Judge Hales, two civilians, and two Maswrote a letter to Hooper, in which he calls him  ters in Chancery, to proceed against him for
"his dear brother and fellow-elder in Christ,"  contempt. It was objected to him, that he reand desires a mutual forgiveness and reconcili- fused to preach concerning the king's power
ation. And when he and Cranmer came to be while under age; that he had been negligent in
degraded, they smiled at the ridiculous attire  obeying the king's injunctions, and was so obwith which they were clothed, and declared they  stinate that he would not ask the king mercy.
had long since laid aside all regards to that pa- It was the declared opinion of the popish clergeantry. ~                                   gy at this time, that the king's laws were to be
This behaviour of the bishops towards the  obeyed, but not the orders of his council; and,
king's natural-born subjects was the more ex- therefore, that all things should remain as the
traordinary, because a latitude was allowed to  late king left them, till the present king, now a
foreign Protestants to worship God after the  child, came of age. This the rebels in Devon
manner-of their country, without any regard to  pleaded, as well as the Lady Mary and others.
the popish vestments; for this year a church of For the same opinion Gardiner was deprived of
German refugees was established at St. Aus- his bishopic, April 18th,~ upon which he appealed
tin's in London, and erected into a corporation  to the king when at age; and so his process endunder the direction of John a Lasco, superin- ed, and he was sent back to the Tower, where
tendent of all the foreign churches in London, he lay till Queen Mary discharged him. Nowith whom were joined four other ministers; thing can be said in vindication of this severity
but this, that both he and Bonner had taken out
* Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 173.
t Pierce's Vind., p. 31-33.                  * Burnet's Hist. Ref., in Records, vol. ii., No. 51.
t Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 192.          t Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 239.
~ Bishop Maddox maintained that the habits put: About the end of December, 1550, after many
on those Reformers were the popish habits, which  cavils in the state, Bishop Burnet informs us that
was the ground of their dislike. Mr. Neal, in his an act passed for the king's general pardon, wherein
Review, controverts the truth, and exposes the futil- the Anabaptists were excepted.-Crosby, vol. i., p. 50
ity, of this distinction.-ED,.                    Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 191.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
commissions, with the rest of the bishops, to hold controverted clause of the twentieth article, that
their bishopric only during the king's pleas- the Church has power to decree rites and cereure, which gave the regents a right to displace monies, and authority in controversies of faith,
them  whensoever they pleased. Dr. Poynet is not in King Edward's articles, nor does it
was translated from Rochester t' Winchester; appear how it came into Queen Elizabeth's. It
Dr. Story was made Bishop of Rochester; and is evident, by the title of the articles, that they
Veysey resigning, Coverdale was made Bishop were designed as articles of truth, and not of
of Exeter in his room; so that now the bench peace, as some have since imagined, who subof bishops had a majority for the Reformation.  scribed them rather as a compromise, not to
It was therefore resolved, in council, to re- teach any doctrine contrary to them, than as a
form the doctrine of the Church.  Archbishop declaration that they believed according to them.
Cranmer and Bishop Ridley were appointed to This was a notion the imposers never thought of,
this work, who framed forty-two articles upon nor does there appear any reason for this conceit.
the chief points of the Christian faith; copies So that (says Bishop Burnet*) those who subof which were sent to the other bishops and scribed did either believe them  to be true, or
learned divines, for their corrections and amend- else they did grossly prevaricate.
ments; after which, the archbishop reviewed    With the book of articles was printed a short
them a second time, and having given them his catechism, t with a preface prefixed in the king's
last hand, presented them to the council, where name. It is supposed to be drawn up by Bishop
they received the royal sanction.*  This was Poynet, but revised by the rest of the bishops
another high act of the supremacy; for the ar- and other learned men. It is dated May 7th,
ticles were not brought into Parliament, nor about seven weeks before the king's death;
agreed upon in convocation,t as they ought to [and in the first impression of the articles it
have been, and as the title seems to express: was printed before them.t]
when this was afterward objected to Cranmer   1552. The next work the Reformers were
as a fraud in the next reign, he owned the employed in was a second correction of the
charge, but said he was ignorant of the title, Common Prayer Book. Some things they addand complained of it to the council, who told ed, and others that had been retained through
him  the book was so entitled because it was the necessity of the times were struck out.
published in the time of the convocation; which The most considerable amendments were these.
was no better than a collusion. It is entitled, The daily service opened with a short confes" Articles agreed upon by the bishops and other sion of sins, and of absolution to such as should
learned men in the convocation held at London, repent. The communion began with a rehearsal
in the year 1552, for the avoiding diversity of of the Ten Commandments, the congregation
opinions, and establishing consent touching true being on their knees; and a pause was made bereligion.  Published by the king's authority." tween the rehearsal of every commandment, for
These articles are for substance the same with the people's devotions. A rubric was also addthose now in use, being reduced to the number ed, concerning the posture of kneeling, which
of thirty-nine in the beginning of the reign of declares that there was no adoration intended
Queen Elizabeth, where the reader will meet thereby to the bread and wine, which was gross
w.'a the corrections and alterations.4  The idolatry: nor did they think the very flesh and
J i                                     blood of Christ there present. This clause was
* Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 210.           struck out by Queen Elizabeth, to give a latit Bishop Maddox objected to this representation, tude to papists and Lutherans, but was insertand said it was confuted by Archbishop Wake, who ed again at the restoration of King Charles II.,
had examined the matter fully. Mr. Neal rests the at the request of the Puritans. Besides these
vindication of his state of it on the authority of BishQp Burnet, supported by the remark of Mr. Collyer, amendments, sundry old rites and ceremonies
who says, "'Tis pretty plain they were passed by which had been retained in the former book,
some members of convocation only, delegated by were discontinued; as the use of oil in confirmboth houses, as appears by the very title, articles, ation and extreme unction; prayer for the dead
&c., agreed upon in the synod of London, by the in the office of burial; and in the communion
bishops and certain other learned men."-Eccles. service, auricular confession, the use of the
Hist., vol ii., p. 325. Neal's RevieW.-ED.   cross in the eucharist, and in confirmation. In
An alteration in the twenty-eighth article is not short the whole liturgy was, in a manner, renoticed by Mr. Neal, in the place to which he refers.The last clause of the article was laid down in these duced to the form in which it appears at preswords: "The custom of the Church for baptizing ent, excepting some small variations that have
young children is both to be commended, and by all since been made for the clearing some ambigumeans' to be retained in the Church." This clause ities. By this book of Common Prayer, says
was left out of Queen Elizabeth's articles. It seems Mr. Strype,$ all copes and vestments were forby this, however, observes Crosby, " that the first Re- bidden throughout England; the prebendaries
formers did not found the practice of infant baptism  of St. Paul's left off their hoods, and the hishupon Scripture, but took it only as a commendable
custom, that had been used in the Christian Church, ops their crosses, &c., as by act of Parliament
and, therefore, ought to be retained."-Hist. Eng. is more at length set forth.
Bapt., vol. i., p. 54, 55. But what shall we think of,   When the Parliament met January 23d, the
rather, how should we lament the bigotry and illib- new Common Prayer Book was brought into the
erality of those times, when men were harassed and house, with an ordinal or form of ordaining bishput to death for declining a religious practice, which ops, priests, and deacons, both which passed the
they who enjoined it did not preteud to enforce on the houses without any considerable opposition.
authority of Scripture, but only as a custom of the
churches: a plea which would have equUlly'justifled
all those other religious ceremonies which they   * Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 169.
themselves, notwithstanding this sanction, rejected!   t Ibid., vol. iii., p. 211, 214.   t Neal's Review
— ED.                                         ~ Life of Cranmer, p. 290.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    5
The act requires " all persons, after the feast of tion of the riches of the kingdom was in the
Alhallows next, to come to common prayer ev- hands of the Church, they should have made ams
ery Sunday and holyday, under pain of the cen- ample provision for the maintenance of the
sures of the Church. All archbishops and bish- clergy, and the endowment of smaller livings,
ops are required to endeavour the due execution before they had enriched their friends and faroof this act; and whereas divers doubts had been ilies.
raised about the service-book, it is said the king   Nor were the lives of many who were zealand Parliament had now caused it to be perused, ous for the Reformation free from scandal,: the
explained, and made more perfect."  The new  courtiers and great men indulged themselves in
service-book was to take place in all churches a dissolute and licentious life, and the clergy
after the feast of All Saints, under the same were not without their blemishes. Soine that
penalties that had been enacted to the former embraced the Reformation were far from adornbook three years before.*                   ing their profession, but rather disposed the peoBy another act of this session, the marriages ple to return to their old superstitions: neverof the clergy, if performed according to the ser- theless, there were many great and shining lights
vice-book, were declared good and valid, and among them, who preached and prayed ferventtheir children inheritable according to law; and ly against the corruptions of the times, and were
by another, the bishopric of Westminster was an example to their flocks, by the strictness and
suppressed, and reunited to the see of London. severity of their lives and manners, but their
Dr. Heath, bishop of Worcester, and Day of Chi- numbers were small in comparison to the many
chester, were both deprived this year [1553], that were otherwise, turning the doctrines of
with Tonstal, bishop of Durham, whose bishop- grace into.laseiviousness.*
ric was designed to be divided into two; but   We have now seen the length of King Edthe act never took effect.                  ward's reformation. It was an adventurous unOne of the last things the king set his hand dertaking for a few bishops and privy-councilto was a royal visitation, in order to examine lors to change the religion of a nation- only by
what plate, jewels, and other furniture were in the advantage of the supremacy of a minor,
the churches. The visiters were to leave in without the consent of the people in Parliament
every church one or two chalices of silver, with or convocation, and under the eye of a presump.
linen for the communion-table and for surplices, tive heir, who was a declared enemy of all their"
but to bring in the best of the church furni- proceedings, as was the case in the former part
ture into the king's treasury, and to sell the lin- of this reign. We have taken notice of the misen copes, altar-cloths, &c., and give the money taken principles of the Reformers in making use
to the poor. The pretence was, the calling in of the civil power to force men to conformity,
the superfluous plate that lay in churches more and of their stretching the laws to reach at
for pomp than use. Some have called this by those whom they could not fairly come at any
no better name than sacrilege, or church theft, other way.  But, notwithstanding these and
and it really was no better. But it ought to be some other blemishes, they were great and good
remembered, the young king was now languish- men, and valiant in the cause of truth, as aping under a consumption, and near his end.  pears by their sealing it with their blood. They
It must, however, be confessed, that in the made as quick advances, perhaps, in restoring.
course of this as well as the last reign, there religion towards its primitive simplicity as thewas a very great alienation of church-lands: circumstances of the time would admit; and it
the chantry-lands were sold -among the laity, is evident they designed to go farther, and not
some of whom held five or six prebendaries or make this the last standard of the Reformation.
canonries, while the clergy themselves were in Indeed, Queen Elizabeth thought her brother
want. Bishop Latimer complains, in one of his had gone too far, by stripping religion of too
sermons, "that the revenues of the Church many ornaments, and, therefore, when she came
were seized by the rich laity, and that the in- to the crown, she was hardly persuaded to re-.
cumbent was only a proprietor in title; that store it to the condition in which he left it.
many benefices were let out to farm by secular King James I., King Charles I., Archbishop
men, or given to their servants as a considera- Laud, and all their admirers, instead of remotion for keeping their hounds, hawks, and hor- ving farther from the superstitious pomps of the
ses; and that the poor clergy were reduced to Church of Rome, have been for returning back
such short allowance that they were forced to to them, and have appealed to the settlement
go to service, to turn clerks of the kitchen, sur- of Queen Elizabeth as the purest statidard.t
veyors, receivers," &c.  And Camden corn-   But the Reformers themselves were of an-.
plains " that avarice and sacrilege had strange- other mind, as appears by the sermons of Lati:ly the ascendant at this time; that estates for- mer, Hooper, Bradford, and others; by the let-.
merly settled for the support of religion and the ters of Peter Martyr, Martin Bucer, and John
poor were ridiculed as superstitious endow- a Lasco,$ who, in his book De Ordinatione Ecments, first miscalled and then plundered." The clesiarum Peregrinarum in Anglia, dedicated to
bishops were too easy in parting with the lands Sigismund, king of Poland, 1555, says "that
and manors belonging to their bishoprics, and King Edward desired that the rites and cerethe courtiers were too eager in grasping at everything they could- lay their hands upon.t If   * Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 290.
the revenues of the Church had been abused to   t It is evident to the careful student of history,superstition, they might have been converted to that the Reformation in England produce4 its happiother religious uses; or if too great a propor- est effects in the days of Edward; thbtte Church.
of England has never been so pue a8 soon after it:
transition from popery; and that its subsequent alta* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 190.  ations have ever been in favour of Roman.sm.,-0C
t Hist. Ref. oLkiii.,, p. 218.         t Voet., Eccl. Pol., lib. ii, cap. vi., part i, p. H41.




56                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.'
monies used under popery should be purged out their clergy often together,- and inspect them
by degees; that it was his pleasure that stran- closely; and that a provincial synod should
gersshould have churches to perform all things meet twice a year, when a secular man, in the
according to apostolical observation only, that king's name, should be appointed to observe
by this means the English; churches might be their proceedings.
excited to embrace apostolical purity with the    Cranmer:was of the same mind. He disliked
unanimous consent of the states of the king- the present way of governing the Church by
dom." He adds, ".that the king was at the head convocations as they are now formed, in which
of this project, and that Cranmer promoted it, deans, archdeacons, and cathedrals have an inbut that some great persons stood in the way." terest far superior in number to those elected
As a farther evidence of this, a passage was to represent the clergy. These, says Bishop
left in the-preface of one of their service-books Burnet,* can in no sort pretend to be more thanR
to this purpose:* "that they had gone as far as a part of our civil constitution. They have no
they could in reforming the Church, considering foundation in Scripture, nor any warrant from
the times they lived in, and hoped they that the first ages of the Church; but did arise from
came after them would, as they might, do more." the model set forth by Charles the Great, and
King Edward, in his Diary,t laments that he formed according to the feudal law, by which a
could not restore the primitive discipline ac- right of giving subsidies was vested in all who
cording to his heart's desire, because several of were possessed of such tenures as qualioed
the bishops, some for -age, some for ignorance, them to contribute towards the support of thea
some for their ill name, and some out of love state. Nor was Cranmer satisfied with the lit;o
to popery, were unwilling to it. And the Church urgy, though it had been twice reformed, if we,
herself, in one of her public offices, laments the may give credit to the learned Bullinger,t who
want of a godly discipline to this day.      told the exiles at Frankfort "that the archbishe
Martin Bucer, a German divine, and profes- op had drawn up a book of prayers a hundred
sor of divinity in Cambridge, a person in high times more perfect than that which was then
esteem with the young king, drew up a plan in being; but the same could not take place,
and presented it to his majesty, in which he for that he was matched with such a wicked
writes largely of ecclesiastical discipline,;  The clergy and convocation, and other enemies.":
king having read it, set himself to write a gen-   The king was of the same sentiments; but
eral discourse about reformation, but did not his untimely death, which happened in the sixlive to finish it.  Bucer proposedS that there teenth year of his age and seventh of his reign,
might be a strict discipline, to exclude scanda- put an end to all his noble designs for perfectlous livers from the sacrament; that the old po- ing the Reformation.  He was, indeed, an: inpish habits might be laid aside. He did not comparable prince, of most promising expectalike the half office of communion, or second tions, and, in the judgment of the most imparservice, to be said at the altar when there was tial persons, the very phcenix of his age. It
no sacrament. He approved not of godfathers was more than whispered that he was poisoned.
answering in the child's name so -well as in But it is very surprising that a Protestant ditheir own. He presses much the sanctification vine, Heylin, in his History of the Reformaof the Lord's Day, and that there might be tion,~ should say "that he was ill-principled;
many fastings, but was against the observation that his reign was unfortunate; and that his
of Lent. He would have the pastoral function death was not an infelicity to the Church," only
restored to what it ought to be; that bishops, because he was apprehensive he would have
throwing off all secular cares, should give them- reduced the hierarchy to a more primitive standselves to their spiritual employments.  He ad- ard. With good King Edward died all farther
vises that coadjutors might be given to some, advances of the Reformation; for the altera
and a council of presbyters appointed for them  tions that were made afterward by Queen Elizall. He would have rural bishops set over abeth hardly came up to his standard.ll
twenty or thirty parishes, who should gather
* Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 214.
* The following quotation, Mr. Neal, in answer to   t Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 266. Bennet's
Bishop Maddox, observes, is transcribed from Mr. Mem., p. 52.
Pierce's Vindication, p. 11, where it is to be found   J The troubles at Frankfort, in the Phoenix, vol
verbatim, with his authority; and in Bennett's Me- ii., p. 82, and Pierce's Vindic., p. 12, 13. Mr. Pierce
morial of the Reformation, p. 50, Mr. Strype inti- remarks that this is reported, as is plain to him who
mates that a farther reformation was intended (Life looks into the book itself, not on the testimony of
of Cran., p. 299); and Bishop Burnet adds, that in Bullinger, as Strype represents it, but by one of Dr.
many of the letters to foreign divines, it is asserted Cox's party on his own knowledge.-Review.-ED.
that both Cranmer and Ridley intended to procure   ~ Pref., p. 4, part vii., p. 141.
an act for abolishing the habits.-ED.         II " It is praise enough for young Edward," re
t King Edward's Remains, num. 2.           marks Sir James Mackintosh, " that his gentleness
$ Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 156.   as well as his docility, disposed him not to shed
~ Bucer died in 1551, and was consulted on the re- blood. The fact, however, that the blood of no Roview of the Common Prayer, 1550. But Mr. Neal man Catholic was spilt on account of religion in Edhas introduced his sentiments in this place, because ward's reign, is indisputable. The Protestant Church
he was here giving a summary of the changes in of England did not strike the first blow. If this proKing Edward's reign. And in reply to Bishop Mad- ceeded from the virtue of the counsellors of Edward,
dox, who, after Bishop Burnet, says that the most we must allow it to outweigh their faults; if it fol.
material things to which Bucer excepted were cor- lowed from their fortune, they ought to have been
rected afterward, Mr. Neal observes, that they who envied by their antagonists. Truth and justice re.
will be at the pains to read over the abstract of his quire it to be positively pronounced, that Gardiner
book, entitled "Of the Kingdom of Christ,". in Coll- and Bonner cannot plead the example of 1iranmer
yer's Eccles. Hist.,.vol. ii., p. 296, &c., must be of and Latimer for the bloody persecution which involvanother mind.-Review.-ED.                    ed in its course the destruction of the Protestant prel



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS                                      57
We may observe, from the history of this imer, in a sermon before the king, reported, on
reign,                                       the authority of a credible person, that there
1st. That in matters of faith the first Reform- were, in one town, five hundred Anabaptists.*
ers followed the doctrine of St. Austin in the The Reformers, in thus proscribing inquiry and
controverted points of' original sin, predestina- reformation beyond their own standard, were
tion, justification by faith alone, effectual grace, not consistent with themselves; for they ac.
and good works.                              knowledged that corruptions had been a thou.
2dly. That they were not satisfied with the sand years introducing, which could not be all
present discipline of the Church, though they discovered and thrown out at once.t By this
thought they might submit to it till it should be concession they justified the principle, while
amended by the authority of the Legislature.   they punished the conduct of those w'io, acting
3dly. That they believed but two orders ofchurch- upon it, endeavoured to discover and wvished to
men in Holy Scripture, viz., bishops and deacons; reject more corruption.]-ED.
and, consequently, that bishops and priests were but
different ranks or degrees of the same order.
4thly. That they gave the right hand of fellowship to foreign churches, and ministers that            CHAPTER III.
had not been ordained by bishops; there being no
dispute about reordination in order to any church
preferment, till the latter end of Queen Eliza-   IT will appear, in the course of this reign,
beth's reign!                               that an absolute supremacy over the conscienIn all which points most of our modern church- ces of men, lodged with a single person, may as
men have departed from them.*                well be prejudicial as serviceable to true reli[To Mr. Neal's remarks on the reign of Ed- gion; for if King Henry VIII. and his son, King
ward VI. it may be added, that the Reformation Edward VI., reformed some abuses by their
was all along conducted in a manner inconsist- supremacy, against the inclinations of the maent with the principles on which it was found- jority of the people, we shall find Queen Mary
ed. The principles on which the justification making use of the same power to turn things
of it rested were, the right of private judgment, back into their old channel, till she had restored
and the sufficiency of the Scriptures as a rule the grossest and most idolatrous part of popery.
of faith. Yet the Reformation was limited to This was begun by proclamations and orders
the conceptions and ideas of those who were in of council, till her majesty could procure a parpower.  No liberty was granted to the con- liament that would repeal King Edward's laws
sciences of dissidents; no discussion of points for religion, which she quickly found means tz
on which they themselves had not doubts was accomplish. It is strange, indeed, that when
permitted: such as held sentiments different there were but seven or eight peers that opfrom their model, and pursued their inquiries posed the laws made in favour of the Reformafarther, without consideration of their numbers tion under King Edward, the same House of
or their characters, so far from being, allowed Lords should almost all turn papists in the reign
to propose their opinions, or to hold separate of Queen Mary; but as to the Commons it is
assemblies for religious worship, agreeably to less wonderful, because they are changeable, and
their own views of things, were stigmatized as the court took care to new-model the magisheretics, and pursued unto death. Besides the trates in the cities and corporations before the
instances Mr. Neal mentions, the Anabaptists elections came on, so that not one almost was
were excepted out of the king's general pardon, left that was not a Roman Catholic. Bribery
that came out in 1550;t they were also burned and menaces were made use of in all places;
in divers towns in the kingdom, and met death and where they could not carry elections by'
with singular intrepidity and cheerfulness.$ reason of the superiority of the reformed, the
Thus inquiry was stifled; and the Reformation sheriffs made double returns.t  It is sad when
was really not the result of a comprehensive the religion of a nation is under such a direcview and calm investigation of all the doctrines tion! But so it will be when the management
and practices which had been long established, of religion falls into the hands of a bigoted
but the triumph of power in discarding a few  prince and ministry.
articles and practices which more particularly    Queen Mary was a sad example of the truth of
struck the minds of those who were in govern- this observation, whose reign was no better than
ment. These persons gained, and have exclu- one continued scene of calamity. It is the genusively possessed, the honourable title of Reform- ine picture of popery, and should be remembered
ers, without anyrespect to, nay, with a contempt- byaill true Protestants with abhorrence; the prinuous disregard of, those who saw farther, and, in ciples of that religion being such as no man can
point of numbers, carried weight. Bishop Lat- receive, till he has abjured his senses, renounced
es. Theanti-TrinitarianandtheAnabaptist,ifthey his understanding and reason, and put off all
ates. The anti-Trinitarianathe tender compassions of human nature.
had regained power, might, indeed, have urged such the tender compassion g of human nature.
a mitigation; but the Roman Catholic had not even King Edward VI. being far gone in a conthe odious excuse of retaliation."-Hist. of England. sumption, from a concern for preserving the
ii., 271. 319.-C.                            Reformation, was persuaded to set aside the
* It is with pleasure that mention is made of the succession of his sisters Mary and Elizabeth,
liberal and able essay of Archbishop Whately on the and of the Queen of Scots, the first and last beNature of Christ's Kingdom; this work takes essenti- ing papists, and Elizabeth's blood being tainted
ally different ground from that held by the larger part by act of Parliament; and to settle the crown
of the English and American Episcopalians.-C.
t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 143.         * Crosby'sHist., vol. i., p. 63.
t Crosby's History of the English Baptists, vol. i.,  t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 190.
p. 62..                              Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii.* p. 252.
VOL. —H




58'HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
by will upon Lady Jane Grey, eldest daughter ming upon their merits and the queens promise,
of the Duke of Suffolk, a lady of extraordinary  sent a deputation to court to represent their
qualities, zealous for the Reformation, and next grievances; but the queen checked them for
in blood after the princesses above mentioned. their insolence; and one of their number, hapOne may guess the sad apprehensions the coun- pening to mention her promise, was put in the
cil were under for the Protestant religion, when  pillory three days together, and had his ears
they put the king, who was a minor, and not cut off for defamation. On the 22d of August,
capable of making a will, upon this expedient, Bonner of London, Gardiner of Winchester, Tonand set their hands to the validity of it. The  stal of Durham, Heath of Worcester, and Day of
king being dead, Queen Jane was proclaimed  Chichester, were restored'to their bishoprics.
with the usual solemnities, and an army raised  Some of the Reformers, continuing to preach af
to support her title; but the Princess Mary, ter the inhibition, were sent for into custody,
then at Norfolk, being informed of her brother's among whom were Hooper, bishop of Gloucesdeath, sent- a letter to the council, in which she ter, Coverdale of Exeter, Dr. Taylor of Hadley,
claims the crown, and charges them, upon their Rogers the protomartyr, and several others.
allegiance, to proclaim her in the city of London  Hooper was committed to the Fleet, September
and elsewhere. The council, in return, insisted  1, no regard being had to his active zeal in asupon her laying aside her claim, and submitting  serting the queen's right in his sermon against
as a good subject to her new sovereign. But the title of Lady Jane; but so sincerely did this
Mary, by the encouragement of her friends in the good man follow the light of his conscience,
North, resolved to maintain her right; and to  when he could not but see what sad consequenmake her way more easy, she promised the  ces it was like to have. Coverdale of Exeter,
Suffolk men to make no alteration in religion. being a foreigner, was ordered to keep his house
This gained her an army, with which she march- till farther order. Burnet* says he was a Dane,
ed towards London; but before she came thith- and had afterward leave to retire. But, accorder, both the council and citizens of London de- ing to Fuller,t he was born in Yorkshire. Archclared for her; and on the 3d of August she made bishop Cranmer was so silent at Lambeth, thai
her public entry, without the loss of a drop of it was thought he would have returned to the
blood, four weeks after the death of her brother. old religion; but he was preparing a protestaUpon Queen Mary's entrance into the Tower tion against it, which taking air, he was examshe released Bonner, Gardiner, and others, ined, and confessing the fact, he was sent to
whom she called her prisoners. - August 12, the Tower, with Bishop Latimer, about the 13th
her majesty declared in council " that, though  of September. The beginning of next month,
her conscience was settled in matters of reli- Holgate, archbishop of York, was committed to
gion, yet she was resolved not to compel others, the Tower, and Horn, dean of Durham, was
but by the preaching of the Word."  This was summoned before the council, but he fled bedifferent from her promise to the Suffolk men: yond sea.
she assured them that " religion should be left   The storm gathering so thick upon the Reupon the same foot she found it at the death of formers, above eight hundred of them  retired
King Edward, but now she insinuates that the  into foreign parts; among whom were five bishold religion is to be restored, but without compul- ops, viz., Poynet of Winchester, who died in
sion." Next'day there was a tumult at St. Paul's, exile; Barlow of Bate and Wells, who was suoccasioned by Dr. Bourne, one of the canons of perintendent of the congregation at Embden;
that church, preaching against the late Reforma- Scory of Chichester; Coverdale of Exon; and
tion; he spoke in commendation of Bonner, and  Bale of Ossory; five deans, viz., Dr. Cox, Hadwas going on with severe reflections upon the don, Horn, Turner, and Sampson; four archlate King Edward, when the whole audience was deacons, and above fifty doctors of divinity and
in an uproar; some called to pull down the preach- eminent preachers, among whom were Grindal,
er, others throwing stones, and one a dagger, Jewel, Sandys, Reynolds, Pilkington, Whitewhich stuck in the timber of the pulpit. Mr. head, Lever, Nowel, Knox, Rough, Wittingham,
Rogers and Bradford, two popular preachers for Fox, Parkhurst, and others, famous in the reign
the Reformation, hazarded their lives to save'of Queen Elizabeth: besides, of noblemen, merthe doctor, and conveyed him in safety to a chants, tradesmen, artificers, and plebeians,
neighbouring house; for which act of charity  many hundreds. Some fled in disguise, or went
they were soon after imprisoned, and then burned  over as the servants of foreign Protestants, who,
for heresy..having come hither for shelter in King Edward's
To prevent the like tumults for the future, the  time, were now required to leave the kingdom;t
queen published an inhibition, August 18th, for- among these were Peter Martyr and John a
bidding all preaching without special license; Lasco, with his congregation of Germans. But
declaring, farther, that she would not compel her to prevent too many of the English embarking
subjects to be of her religion till public order with them, an order of council was sent to all
should be taken in it by common assent. Here the ports that none should be suffered to leave
was another intimation of an approaching storm: the kingdom without proper passports. The Ro" the subjects were not to be compelled till pub- man Catholic party, out of their abundant zeal
lic order should be taken for it."  And, to pre- for their religion, outrun the laws, and celebravent farther tumults, a proclamation was pub- ted mass in divers churches before it was relished, for masters of families to oblige their stored by authority;~ while the people that faapprentices and servants to frequent their own  voured the Reformation continued their public
parish churches on Sundays and holydays, and
keep them at home at other times.               t Fuller's Worthies, b. iii., p. 198.
The shutting up all the Protestant pulpits at  T Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 314.
once awakened the Suffolk men, who, presu-      ~ Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 223.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     59
devotion with great seriousness and fervency, putation was managed according to the fashion
as foreseeing what was coming upon them; but of the times, with reproaches and menaces on
the rude multitude came into the churches, in- the stronger side, and the prolocutor ended it
suited their ministers, and ridiculed their wor- with saying, "You have the word, but we have
ship. The court not only winked at these things, the sword."*
but fined Judge Hales (who alone refused to sign   This year [1554] began with Wyat's rebelthe act which transferred the crown to Jane lion, occasioned by a general dislike to the
Grey) a thousand pounds sterling, because in queen's marriage with Philip of Spain: it was
his circuit he ordered the justices of Kent to a raw, unadvised attempt, and occasioned great
conform themselves to the laws of King Edward, mischiefs to the Protestants, though religion had
not yet repealed; upon which that gentleman no share in the conspiracy, Wyat himself being
grew melancholy, and drowned himself.        a papist: this gentleman got together four thouThe queen was crowned October 1, 1553, by sand men, with whom he marched directly to
Gardiner, attended by ten other bishops, all in London; but coming into Southwark, February
their mitres, copes, and crosiers; and a Parlia- 2, he found the bridge so well fortified that he
ment was summoned to meet the 10th. What could not force it without cannon, so he marchmethods were used in the elections have been ed about, and having crossed the Thames at
related. On the 31st of October a bill was sent Kingston, he cime by Charing Cross to Ludgate
down to the Commons for repealing King Ed- next morning, in hopes the citizens would have.
ward's laws about religion, which was argued opened their gates; but being disappointed, he
six days, and at length carried. It repeals in yielded himself a prisoner at Temple Bar, and
general all the late statutes relating to religion, was afterward executed, as were the Lady Jane
and enacts, "that after the 20th of December Grey, Lord Guilford her husband, and others,
next there should be no other form of Divine ser- the Lady Elizabeth herself hardly escaping.
vice but what had been used in the last year of Wyat, upon his trial, accused her, in hopes of
King Henry VIII."  Severe punishments were saving his life; upon which she was ordered
decreed against such as should interrupt the into custody; but when Wyat saw he must die,
public service, as should abuse the holy sacra- he acquitted her on the scaffold; and upon the
ment, or break down altars, crucifixes, or cross- queen's marriage this summer she obtained her
es. It was made felony for any number of per- pardon.
sons above twelve to assemble together with an   As soon as the nation was a little settled, her
intention to alter the religion established by law. majesty, by virtue of the supremacy, gave inNovember 3d, Archbishop Cranmer, the Lord structions to her bishops to visit the clergy.
Guilford, Lady Jane, and two other sons of the The injunctions were drawn up by Gardiner,
Duke of Northumberland, were brought to their and contain an angry recital of all the innovatrials for high treason, in levying war against tions introduced into the Church in the reign of
the queen, and conspiring to set up another in King Edward; and a charge to the bishops
her room. They all confessed their indictments, " to execute all the ecclesiastical laws that had
but Cranmer appealed to his judges how unwil- been in force in King Henry VIII.'s reign, but
lingly he had set his hand to the exclusion of not to proceed in their courts in the queen's
the queen: these judgments were confirmed by name. She enjoins them not to enact the oathof
Parliament; after which, the queen's intended supremacy any more, but to punish heretics and
marriage with Philip of Spain being discovered, heresies, and to remove all married clergymen
the Commons sent their speaker and twenty of from their wives; but for those that would retheir members humbly to entreat her majesty nounce their wives, they might put them into
not to marry a stranger, with which she was so some other cures.t All the ceremonies, holydispleased, that upon the 6th of December she * Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 267.
dissolved the Parliament.                      Bishop Warburton, in his notes on Mr. Neal's HisThe convocation that sat with the Parliament tory (see a supplemental volume of his works, 8vo,
was equally devoted to the court. Care had 1788, p. 455), with great anger, impeaches the truth
been taken about their elections. Inthe collec- of this passage. " This is to lie," says his lordship,
tion of public acts, there are found about a hun- "under the cover of truth. Can anybody in his
dred and fifty presentations to livings before the senses believe that when the only contention bechoice of representatives, so that the lower tween the two parties was who had the word, that the
house of convocation was of a piece with the more powerful would yield it up to their adversaries!?
house of convocation was of a piece with the Without all doubt, some Protestant member,:in the
upper, from whence almost all of the Protestant heat of dispute, said,'We have the word;' upon
bishops were excluded by imprisonment, depri- which the prolocutor insultingly answers,' But we
vation, or otherwise. Bonner presided as the have the sword,' without thinking any one would
first bishop of the province of Canterbury. be so foolish as to join the two propositions into'
Harpsfield, his chaplain, preached the sermon on one, and there give it to the prolocutor." In reply
Acts, xx., 28, Feed the flock; and Weston, dean to these unhandsome reflections, it is sufficient to
of Westminster, was chosen prolocutor. On the say, that Mr. Neal spoke on the authority of Bishop
20th of OWestminstober it was chosen proposed cutor. On the mem-Burnet, whom he truly quotes, and whom it Would
20th of October it was proposed to the mem- have been more consistent with candour and the love
bers to subscribe to the doctrine of transub- of truth for Bishop Warburton to have consulted the
stantiation, which all complied with but the authority before he insinuated his conjectures against
following six divines, who by their places had a the statement of a fact, and, without authority, pointright to sit in convocation: Philpot, archdea- ed his charge of folly and falsehood; of which Mr
con of Winchester; Philips, dean of Rochester; Neal, by quoting his author, stands perfectly clear;
Haddon, dean of Exeter; Cheyney, -archdeacon and which, if well founded, must fall, not on him, but
Haddon, dean of EAyleter, archdeacon of Stow; and Bishop Burnet, whose remark on the prolocutor's
of Hereford; Aylmer, archdeacon of Stowh; and speech is, that "by it he truly pointed out wherein
Young, chanter of St. David's: these disputed the strength of both causes lay."-ED.
upon the argument f6r three days, but the dis- "    Thf   aramed clergy were observed to sufihe




60                      HISTORY OF THE PURITAANS.
days, and fasts used in King Henry's time complished, with this proviso, that the queen
were to be revived.  Those clergymen who alone should have the government of the kinghad been ordained by the late service-book dom; after which the houses were presently
were to be reordained, or have the defects of dissolved.  King Philip arrived in England*
their ordination supplied; that is, the anoint- July 20th, and was married to the queen on the
ing, the giving the priestly vestments, with 27th, at Winchester, he being then in the twenother rites of the Roman pontifical. And, last- ty-seventh year of his age, and the queen in her
ly, it was declared that all people should be thirty-eighth.  He brought with him  a vast
compelled to come to church."*  The Archbish- mass of wealth: twenty-seven chests of bullop of York, the Bishops of St. David's, Chester, ion, every chest being above a yard long; and
and Bristol, wvere deprived for being married; ninety-nine horse-loads and two cart-loads of
and the Bishops of Lincoln, Gloucester, and coined silver and gold.
Hereford, were deprived by the royal pleasure,   The Reformers complaining of their usage in
as holding their bishoprics by such a patent. It the late dispute held in convocation, the court
was very arbitrary to turn out the married bish- resolved to give them a fresh mortification, by
ops, while there was a law subsisting to legiti- appointing another at Oxford in presence of
mate'their marriages; and to deprive the other the whole university; and because Archbishop
bishops without any manner of process, merely  Cranmer, Bishops Ridley and Latimer, were the
fobr the royal pleasure.  This was acting up to most celebrated divines of the Reformation,
the height of the supremacy, which, though the they were by warrant from the queen.removed
queen believed to be an unlawfiul power, yet she from the Tower to Oxford, to manage the disclaimed and used it for the service of the Ro- pute.  The convocation sent their prolocutor
mish Church.  The vacant bishoprics were fill- and several of their members, who arriving on
ed up the latter end of Marchi with men after the 13th of April, being Friday, sent for the
the queen's heart, to the number of sixteen, in bishops on Saturday, and appointed them Monthe room of so many deprived or dead.         day, Tuesday, and Wednesday, every one his
The new bishops in their visitation, and par- day, to defend their doctrine.  The questions
ticularly Bishop Bonner, executed the queen's were upon transubstantiation and the propitiinjunctions with rigour.  The mass was set up atory sacrifice of the mass. The particulars of
in all places, and the old popish rites and cere- the dispute are in Mr. Fox's Book of Martyrs.
monies revived.  The carvers and makers of The bishops behaved with great modesty and
statues had a quick trade for roods and other presence of mind; but their adversaries insultimages that were to be set up again in church- ed and triumphed in the most barbarous manner.
es.  Th6 most eminent preachers in London  Bishop Ridley writes, "that there were perwere under confinement, and all the married petual shoutings, tauntings, reproaches, noise,
clergy throughout the kingdom were deprived. and confusion."   Cranmer and old Latimer
Dr. Parker reckons that of sixteen thousand  were hissed and laughed at;t and Ridley was
clergymen, twelve thousand were turned out; borne down with noise and clamour: " In all
which is not probable, for if we compute by the my life," says lie, " I never saw anything cardiocess of Norwich, which is almost an eighth ried more vainly and tumultuously; I could not
part of England, and in which there were but have thought that there could have been found
three hundred and thirty-five deprived, the whole any Englishman honoured with degrees in learnnumber will fall short of three thousand.t Some ing, that could allow of such thrasonical ostenwere turned out without conviction, upon com- tations, more fit for the stage than the schools."
mon fame: some were never cited, and yet On the 28th of April they were summoned again
turned out for not appearing.  Those that quit- to St. Mary's, and required by Weston the proted their wives, and did penance, -were, never- locutor to subscribe, as having been vanquished
theless, deprived; which was grounded on the in disputation; but they all refusing, were devow that (as was pretended) they had made. clared obstinate heretics, and no longer inemSuch was the deplorable condition of the re- bers of the Catholic Church.
formed this summer, and such the cruelty of    It was designed to expose the Reformers by
their adversaries.                            another disputation at Cambridge; but the prisThe queen's second Parliament met April 2d. oners in London hearing of it, published a paThe court had taken care of the elections by per, declaring, " that they would not dispute
large promises of money from  Spain. Their but in writing, except it were before the queen
design was to persuade the Parliament to ap- and council, or before either house of Parliaprove of the Spanish match;$ which they ac- ment, because of the misreports and unfair
with most alacrity. They were bearing testimony should lose its liberties and be enslaved and ruined,
to the validity and sanctity of their marriage against it will be by means of Parliament corrupted with
the foul and unchristian aspersions of the Romish bribes and places."-Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p.
persecutors; the honour of their wives and children 341.-ED.
were at stake; the desire of leaving them an unsul-   * The view of Philip, in this match, was undoubtedlied name and a virtuous example, combined with ly to make himself master of the kingdom. When afthe sense of religious duty; and thus the heart deri- terward Mary was supposed to be pregnant, he applied
ved strength from the very ties which, in other cir- to Parliament to be appointed regent during the micumstances, might have weakened it."-Southey's nority of the child, and offered security to resign the
Book of the Church, London ed., vol. ii., p. 151.-C.   government on its coming of age. The motion was
* Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. ii., p. warmly debated in the House of Peers, and nearly
291, 274. Collection of Records, num. 15.     carried; when the Lord Paget stood up and said,
t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 226.   " Pray, who shall sue the king's bond?" This lacont "This," observes Dr. Warner, " is the first in- ic speech had its intended effect, and the debate was
stance to be met with in the English history of cor- soon concluded in the negative.- Granger's Biogr.
rupting parliaments; but the precedent has been so History of England, vol. i., p. 161, note, 8vo edition.
well followed ever since, that if ever this nation -ED.    t Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 338.




-HHIIS TOR-Y  OF THE  PURITANS.                            61
usage they had everywhere met with." At the draw up a supplication to the king and queen,
same time they printed a summary of their to intercede with the legate for a reconciliation,
faith, for which they were ready to offer up with a promise to repeal all acts made against
their lives to the halter or the fire, as God the pope's authority.* This being presented-by
should appoint.*                            both houses on their knees to the king and
And here they declared "that they believed queen, they made intercession with the cardithe Scriptures to be the true Word of God, and nal, who thereupon made a long speech in the
the judge of all controversies in matters of re- house, at the close of which he enjoined them
ligion; and that the Church is to be obeyed as for penance to repeal the laws above mentionlong as she followed this word.             ed, and so, in the pope's name, he granted them
"That they adhered to the Apostles' Creed, a full absolution, which they received on their
and those creeds set out by the Councils of knees, and then absolved the realm from all
Nice, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon; censures.
and by the first and fourth Councils of Toledo;   The Act of Repeal was not ready till the beand the symbols of Athanasius, Irenaeus, Ter- ginning of January, when it passed both houses
tullian, and Damasus.                       and received the royal assent. It enumerates
"They believed justification by faith alone; and reverses all acts since the 20th of Henry
which faith was not only an opinion, but a cer- VIII. against the Holy See; but then it contain persuasion wrought by the Holy Ghost, tains the following restrictions, which theypray,
which did illuminate the mind, and supple the through the cardinal's intercession, may be esheart to submit itself unfeignedly to God.  tablished by the pope's authority:
" They acknowledged the necessity of an in-   1. " That all bishoprics, cathedrals, or col.
herent righteousness, but that justification and leges, now established, may be confirmed for.
pardon of' sins came only by Christ's righteous- ever. 2. That marriages within such degrees
ness imputed to them.                       as are not contrary to the law of God, may.be
"They affirmed that the worship of God confirmed, and their issue legitimated. 3. That
ought to be performed in a tongue understood institutions into benefices may be confirmed.
by the people.                              4. That all judicial processes may be confirmed.
"That Christ only, and not the saints, was 5. That all the settlements of the lands of any
to be prayed to.                            bishoprics, monasteries, or other religious hous" That, immediately after death, departed es, may continue as they were, without any
souls pass either into the state of the blessed trouble from the ecclesiastical courts."
or of the damned, without any purgatory be-   The cardinal admitted of these requests, but
tween.                                      ended with a heavy denunciation of the judg" That baptism and the Lord's Supper are ments of God upon those who had the goods ol
the sacraments of Christ, which ought to be the Church in their hands, and did not restore
administered according to his institutions; and, them. And to make the clergy more easy, the
therefore, they condemned the denying the cup statutes of Mortmain were repealed for twenty
to the people, transubstantiation, the adoration years to come. But, after all, the pope refulsed
or sacrifice of the mass; and asserted the law- to confirm the restrictions, alleging that thele
fulness of marriage to all ranks and orders of gate had exceeded his powers; so that the pos
men."                                       sessors of Church lands had but a precarious
These truths they declared themselves ready title to their estates under this reign; for, eves
to defend, as before; and, in conclusion, they before the reconciliation was fully concluded
charged all people to enter into no rebellion the pope published a bull, by which he excom
against the queen, but to obey her in all points, municates all those persons who were in pos
except where her commands are contrary to the session of the goods of the Church or monaste
law of God. This put an end to all farther tri- ries, and did not restore them.t This alarmed
umphs of the popish party for the present, and the superstitious queen, who, apprehending hei
was a noble testimony to the chief and distin- self near her time of child-birth, sent for her min
guishing doctrines of the Protestant faith. But isters of state, and surrendered up all the land.
since the Reformers were not to be run, down of the Church that remained in the crown, to be
by noise and clamour, therefore their steadfast- disposed of as the pope or his legate should
ness must undergo the fiery trial.         think fit. But when a proposal of this kind: was
The queen's third Parliament met November made to the Commons in Parliament, some of
11, 1554. In the writs of summons the title of them boldly laid their hands upon their-swords
Supreme Head of the Church was omitted, and said " they well knew how to defend their
though it was still by law vested in the crown. own properties."  But the queen went on with
The money brought from Spain had procured a acts of devotion to the Church; she repaired
House of Commons devoted to the court. The several old monasteries, and erected new ones;
first bill passed in the house was the repeal of she ordered a strict inquiry to be made  after
Cardinal Pole's attainder. It had the royal as- those who had pillaged the churches and monassent November 22d, and the cardinal himself teries, and had been employed in the visitations
arrived in England two days after in quality of of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. She command.
the pope's legate, with a commission to receive ed Bishop Bonner to rase out of the public rec.
the kingdom of England into the bosom of the
Catholic Church, under the pope as their su-   * Here popery developed its genuine character,
preme pastor. On the 27th, he made a speech and clearly demonstrated that it could not exist with
in Parliament, inviting them to a reconciliation freedom of thought and the diffusion of populai
with the apostolic see. Two days after, a com- knowledge. The Church of Rome has never pos
Age' Jf5  sessed power i   non, without calltg the peo
mittee of Lords and Commons was appointed to sessed power - ay nation, withot calling the p
* Hist. Ref, vol ii., p. 285.     t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 30.




62                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ords all that had been done against the monks; asked whether they would abjure their heretical
and particularly the accounts of the visitations opinions about the sacrament, and submit to the
of monasteries; which has rendered the eccle- Church as then established; which they refusiastical history of this time defective.     sing, were declared obstinate heretics, and deThe next act brought into the house was for livered over to the secular power. Mr. Rogers
reviving the statutes of Richard II. and Henry was burned in Smithfield, February 4, a pardon
IV. and V. for burning heretics; which passed being offered him at the stake, which he refused,
both houses in six days, to the unspeakable joy though he had a wife* and ten small children
of the popish clergy. The houses having been unprovided for. Bishop Hooper was burned at
informed of some heretical preachers, who had Gloucester, February 9. He was not suffered
prayed in their conventicles that God would to speak to the people; and was used so barbarturn the queen's heart from idolatry to the true ously in the fire, that his legs and thighs were
faith, or else shorten her days, they passed an roasted, and one of his hands dropped off before
act "that all that prayed after this manner he expired: his last words were, " Lord Jesus,
should be adjudged traitors."  After which, on receive my spirit."t While he was in prison he
the 16th of January, 1555, the Parliament was wrote several excellent letters, full of devotion
dissolved.                                    and piety, to the foreign divines.t  In one to
The kingdom  being now reconciled to the Bullinger, dated December 11, 1554, about two
Church of Rome, and the penal laws against months before his martyrdom, are these expresheretics revived, a council was held about the sions: "With us the wound which antichrist
manner of dealing with the reformed.  It is had received is healed, and he is declared head
said that Cardinal Pole was for the gentler of the Church, who is not a member of it. We
methods of instruction and persuasion, which are still in the utmost peril, as we have been for
is somewhat doubtful;* but Gardiner was cer- a year and a half. We are kept asunder in pristainly for rigour, imagining that a few examples on, and treated with all kinds of inhumanity and
of severity upon the heads of the party would scorn. They threaten us every day with death,
terrify the rest into a compliance.  The queen which we do not value. We resolutely despise
was of his mind, and commanded Gardiner, by fire and sword for the cause of Christ.  We
a commission to himself and some other bishops, know in whom we have believed, and are sure
to make the experiment.  He began with Mr. we have committed our souls to him by wellRogers,t Mr. Cardmaker, and Bishop Hooper, doing.  In the mean time, help us with your
who had been kept in prison eighteen months prayers, that he that has begun the good work
without law. These, upon examination, were in us would perform it to the end. We are the
* Strype's Memoirs of Cranmer, p. 347; and Life Lord's, let him do with us as seemeth good in
of Whitgift, p. 6. Mr. Strype's words in the former his sight."
place are as follows: "In these instructions (given   About the same time, Mr. Saunders, another
tothe clergy) there are several strictures that make minister, was burned at Coventry.  When he
it appear Pole was not so gentle towards the here- came to the stake he said, " Welcome the cross
tics as was reported, but rather the contrary, and of Christ; welcome everlasting life." Dr. Taythat he went hand in hand with the bloody bishops lor, parson of Hadley, suffered next: Gardiner
of these days; for it is plain that he put the bishops
upon proceeding with them (the Protestants) accord- used him very roughly, and, after condemning
ing to the sanguinary laws lately revived, and put in and degrading him, sent him to his own parsonfull force andvirtue. What an invention was that of age to be burned, which he underwent with
his, a kind of inquisition by him set up, wherein the great courage, February 9, though he had barnames of all such were to be written, that in every barous usage in the fire, his brains being beat
place and parish in England were reconciled; and out with one of the halberts.~
so, whosoever were not found in those books, might   Gardiner, seeing himself disappointed, mcdbe known to be no friend to the pope, and so to be ed no farther, but committed the prosecution
proceeded against. And, indeed, after Pole's crafty dled no farther, but committed the prosecution
and zealous management of this reconciliation (with of the bloody work to Bonner, bishop of London.
gome), all that good opinion that men had before of This clergyman behaved more like a cannibal
nim vanished, and they found themselves much mistaken in him, insomuch that people spoke against   * He requested to see his wife before his execuhim as bad as of the pope himself, or the worst of his tion, but this favour was brutally denied by Gardiner.
cardinals. Indeed, he had frequent conferences with -Fox, vol. iii., p. 98.-C.
the Protestants about justification by faith alone,   t When engaged in prayer at the stake, a box was
&c., and would often wish the true doctrine might laid before him, containing his pardon if he would reprevail; but now the mask was taken off, and he cant; but he exclaimed, "If you love my soul, away
showed himself what he was."                  with it."-C.
In the place answering to the latter reference,   I Hist. Ref., vol. iii., in Records, numb. 38.
Strype says, "He wholly Italianized, and returned   ~ Fox tells us the jailer had strict charge not to
into England endued with a nature foreign and fierce, permit any one to speak to him. His wife was, conand was the very butcher and scourge of the English sequently, refused admission; but the keeper, himChurch."-4uthor's Review, p. 896.             self probably a father, took the babe from her arms
Dr. Warner, whose character of Cardinal Pole is and carried it to Saunders. He was delighted with
a panegyric, yet says " that he was very inconsistent the sight of his child, exclaiming, " What man, fearin one particular; which was, that at the same time ing God, would not lose this life present, rather than,
he was exclaiming against the persecution of the re- by prolonging it here, he should judge this boy to be
formed, and would not himself take any part in that a bastard, his wife a whore, and himself a whoreslaophter, he was giving commissions to others to monger?  Yea, if there were no rother cause for
proceet. in it, and returned a certificate irto the Court which a man of my estate should lose his life,. yet
of Chancery of several who had been convicted of who would not give it to avouch this child to be leheresy before the commissaries of his appointing." gitimate. and his marriage to be lawful and holy?"
— Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 402.   He likewise was offered a pardon at the stake, but
t A prebend of St. Pal's. He was a very learned steadfastly.reftised it, and died exclaiming, "Welcome
man and usefil nreacher.- C.                  the cross of Christ; welcome everlasting life " —-C




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    63
than aChristian; he condemned without mercy were, " Strait is the gate and narrow is the way
all that came before, him, ordering them to be that leadeth unto eternal life, and few there be
kept in the most cruel durance till they were that find it."  From Smithfield the persecution
delivered over to the civil magistrate. He tore spread all over the country; in the months of
off the beard of Tomkins, a weaver in Shore- June and July eight men and one woman were
ditch, and held his hand in the flame of a candle burned in several parts of Kent; and in the
till the sinews and veins shrunk and burst, and months of August and September, twenty-five
the blood spirted out in-Harpsfield's face, who more in Suffolk, Essex, and Surrey.
was standing by. He put others in dungeons,   But the greatest sacrifice to popish cruelty was
and in the stocks, and fed them with bread and yet to come, for on the 16th of October the
water; and when they were brought before him, Bishops Ridley and Latimer were burned at one
insulted over their misery in a most brutish stake, in Oxford. Latimer died presently, but
manner.                                      Ridley was a long time in exquisite torments,
In the month of March were burned Bishop his lower parts being burned before the fire
Ferrar, at St. David's; Mr. Lawrence, a priest, reached his body. His last words to his fellowat Colchester: Mr. Tomkins, a weaver, in Smith- sufferer were, "Be of good heart, brother, for
field; Mr. Hunter, an apprentice of nineteen God will either assuage the fury of the flame or
years of age, at Brentwood; Mr. Causton and enable us to abide it."  Latimer replied, " Be
Mr. Higden, gentlemen of good estates, in Es- of good comfort, for we shall this day light such
sex; Mr. William Pigot, at Braintree; Mr. Ste- a candle in England as, I trust, by God's grace,
phen Knight, at Maiden; Mr. Rawlings White, shall never be put out."  The very same day
a poor fisherman, at Cardiffe.  In the next Gardiner, their great persecutor, was struck
month, Mr. March, a priest, at Chester, and one with the illness of which he died; it was a supFlower, a young man, in St. Margaret's church- pression of urine, which held him in great agoyard, Westminster.                           nies till the 12th of November, when he expired.
These burnings were disliked by the nation, He would not sit down to dinner till he had rewhich began to be astonished at the courage ceived the news from Oxford of the burning of
and constancy of the martyrs, and to be start- the two bishops, which was not till four of the
led at the unrelenting severity of the bishops, clock in the afternoon, and while he was at dinwho, being reproached with their cruelties, threw  ner he was seized with the distemper which put
the odium upon the king and queen. At the an end to his life.*  When Bishop Day spoke to
same time, a petition was printed by the exiles him of justification through the blood of Christ,
beyond sea, and addressed to the queen, put- he said, " If you open that gap to the people, then
ting her in mind " that the Turks tolerated farewell all again."  He confessed he had sinChristians, and Christians in the most places ned with Peter, but had not repented with him.
tolerated Jews; that no papist had been put   On the 18th of December, Mr. Archdeacon
to death for religion in King Edward's time. Philpott was burned, and behaved at the stake
And then they beseech the nobility and common with the courage and resolution of the primitive
people to intercede with her majesty to put a martyrs.
stop to this issue of blood, and at least grant her   On the 21st of March following, Archbishop
subjects the same liberty she allowed strangers,
of transporting themselves into foreign parts."   * This is said on the authority of Fox, after whom
But it had no effect. King Philip, being inform- most historians repeat it. Dr. Warner, however,
ed of the artifices of the bishops, caused his gives no credit to the story. He observes "that the
confessor, Alphonsus, to preach against these bishops were burned on the 16th of October; on the
severities, which he did in the face of the whole 21st the Parliament was opened by a speech from the
court: Bonner himself pretended to be sick of lord-chancellor, and on the 23d he appeared again in
the House of Lords; and had he been seized with a
them, but after some little recess he went on. retention of urine on the 16th, he would scarcely have
And though Philip pretended to be for milder been able to come abroad on those days; neither
measures, yet on the 24th of May he and the would he probably have held out till the 12th of Noqueen signed a letter to Bonner, to quicken him  vember following, which was the day he died. And
to his pastoral duty;* whereupon he. redoubled Bishop Godwin, who takes no notice of this report,
his fury, and in the month of June condemned says he died of a dropsy.'-Warner's Ecclesiastical
nine Protestants at once to the stake in Essex, History, vol. ii., p. 382.-Eu.
and the council wrote to the sheriffss to gather   t It is not pleasing to dwell on the failings of good
and the gecouncil wrote to the   sheriffs to   gather   men, especially of those to whose zeal and integrity
the gentry together to countenance the burning the cause of religion and truth is, in a great degree,
with their presence.                        indebted; yet the impartiality of an historian, and
In the month of July, Mr. John Bradford, late the instruction and warning of future times, require
prebendary of St. Paul's, and a most celebrated some notice of them. Mr. Neal, in this view, would
preacher in King Edward's days, suffered mar- not have done amiss, had he informed his readers
tyrdom. He was a most pious Christian, and is that this eminent Protestant divine and martyr insaid to have done as much service to the Refor- curred the blame of his friends, and discovered a
very illiberal and intolerant spirit, by a highly insultmation by his letters from  prison as by his ing and passionate behaviour towards some of his
preaching in the pulpit. Endeavours were used fellow-prisoners, who denied the doctrine of the Trinto turn him, but to no purpose. He was brought ity and of the deity of Christ. It gave, even in those
to the stake with one John Lease, an apprentice times, so much offence, that he judged it proper to
of nineteen years old; he kissed the stake and attempt a vindication of himself in a little tract, enthe fagots, but being forbid to speak to the peo- titled, "An apology of John Philpot, written for spitple, he only prayed with his fellow-sufferer, and ting upon an Arian, with an invective against the
Arians, the verie natural children of Antichrist; with
quietly submitted to the fire. His last words,,an admonition to all that be faithful in Christ to beware of them, and of other late sprung hereaie.,'as
* Rapin, p. 184, 188.          of the most enemies of the Gospell." —ED.




64                       HISTOGRY OF THE PURITANS.
Cranmer suffered.  He had been degraded by    It is not within the compass of my design to
the Bishops Thirlby and Bonner on February  write a martyrology of these times, nor to fol14th.  Bonner insulted him  in an indecent low Bishop Bonner and his brethren through
manner, but Thirlby melted into tears.  After the rivers of Protestant blood which they spilt.
this, by much persuasion, and in hopes of life, The whole year 1556 was one continued persehe set his hand to a paper, in which he renoun- cution, in which popery triumphed in all its
ced the errors of Luther and Zuinglius, and ac- false and bloody colours.  Bonner, not content
knowledged his belief of the corporeal presence, to burn heretics singly, sent them by companies
the pope's supremacy, purgatory, and invoca- to the flames.  Such as were suspected of hertion of saints, -&c. This was quickly published  esy were examined upon the articles of the corto the world, with great triumph among the pa- poreal presence of Christ in the sacrament, aupists, and grief to the Reformers.  But the un- ricular confession, and the mass; and if they
merciful queen was still resolved to have his did not make satisfactory answers, they were,
life, and accordingly sent down a writ for his without any farther proofs, condemned to the
execution: she could never forgive the share fire. Women were not spared, nor infants in
he had in her mother's divorce, and in driving  the womb. In the Isle of Guernsey, a woman
the pope's authority out of England. Cranmer, with child being ordered to the fire, was deliv
suspecting the design, prepared a true confes- ered in the flames, and the infant being taken
sion of his faith, and carried it in his bosom to from her, was ordered by the magistrates to be
St. Mary's Church on the day of his martyrdom, thrown back into the fire. At length the butchwhere he was raised on an eminence, that he erly work growing too much for the hbands that
might be seen by the people and hear his own  were employed in it, the queen erected an exfuneral sermon.  Never was a more awful and  traordinary tribunal for trying of heresy, like
melancholy spectacle; an archbishop, once the the Spanish Inquisition, consisting of thirty-one
second man in the kingdom, now clothed in  commissioners, most of them laymen; and in
rags, and a gazing-stock to the world! Cole, the month of June, 1555, she issued out a procthe preacher, magnified his conversion as the lamation that such as received heretical books
immediate hand of God, and assured him of a. should be immediately put to death by martial
great many masses to be said for his soul. Af- law.  She forbid prayers to be made for the
ter sermon he desired Cranmer to declare his sufferers, or even to say God bless them: so
own faith, which he did with tears, declaring  far did her fiery zeal transport her.*  Upon the
his belief in the Holy Scriptures and the Apos- whole, the number of them that suffered death
tles' Creed, and then came to that which he for the Reformed religion in this reign were no
said troubled his conscience more than anything less than two hundred and seventy-seven perhe had done in his life, and that was his sub- sons,t of whom were five bishops, twenty-one
scribing the above-mentioned paper, out of fear clergymen, eight gentlemen, eighty-four tradesof death and love of life; and, therefore, when  men, one hundred husbandmen, labourers, and
he came to the fire, he was resolved that hand  servants, fifty-five women, and four children.
that signed it should burn first. The assembly  Besides these, there were fifty-four more under
was all in confusion at this disappointment; prosecution, seven of whom were whipped, and
and the broken-hearted archbishop, shedding  sixteen perished in prison: the rest, who were
abundance of tears, was led immediately to the making themselves ready for the fire, were destake, and, being tied to it, he stretched out his livered by the merciful interposure of Divine
right hand to the flame, never moving it, but Providence in the queen's death.
once to wipe his face, till it dropped off.  He    In a book corrected, if not written, by Lord
often cried out, "That unworthy hand!"* which  Burleigh in Queen Elizabeth's time, entitled the
was consumed before the fire reached his body. Executions for Treason, it is said four hundred
His last words were, " Lord Jesus, receive my persons suffered publicly in Queen Mary's reign,
spirit."  He died in the sixty-seventh year of besides those who were secretly murdered in
his age and twenty-third of his archbishopric, prison; of these, twenty were bishops and digand was succeeded by Cardinal Pole.           nified clergymen; sixty were women, of whom
some were big with child; and one was deliv* "The language of Cranmer," remarks one of ered of a child in the fire, which was burned;
the most philosophical and candid of historians, and above forty men-children.t  I might add,
", speaks his sincerity, and demonstrates that the these merciless papists carried theirfury against
love of truth still prevailed in his inmost heart. It the reformed beyond the grave; for they caused,gashed forth at the sight of death, full of healing the reformed beyond the grave; for they caused
power, which engendered a purifying and ennobling the bones of Fagius and Bucer to be dug out of
penitence, and restored the mind to its own esteem  their graves, and having ridiculously cited them
after a departure from the onward path of sincerity. by their commissioners to appear, and give an acCourage survived a public avowal of dishonour, the count of their faith, they caused them to be burnhardest test to which that virtue can be exposed; ed for nonappearance.  Is it possible, after such
and if he once fatally failed in fortitude, he in his last
moments atoned for his failure by a magnanimity   * Clarke's Martyr., p. 506.
equal to his transgression. Let those who require   t Bishop Maddox observes, that Bishop Burnet
unbending virtue in the most tempestuous times reckons the number of sufferers to be two hundred
condemn the amiable and faulty primate; others, and eighty-four. But Mr. Strype has preserved (Mewho are not so certain of their own steadiness, will morials, vol. iii., p. 291, Appendix) an exact catalogue
consider his fate as, perhaps, the most memorable of the nuhnbers, the places, and the times of execuexample in history of a soul which, though debased, tion. The general sums are as follows:
is not depraved. by an act of weakness, and preserv-  1555-71 Total, two hundred and eightyed a heroic courage after the forfeiture of honour, its  Anno 1556-89   eight, besides those that dyed
natural spur, and, in general, its inseparable com-   1557-88( of famyne in sondry prisons.
panion."-Mackintosh's England, vol. ii., p. 327, Lon-  t1558-40)  -Vindication, p. 313.-ED.
don litiaon.-C.                                 t Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 264.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   65
d relation of things, for any Protestant to be in of which was for predestination, and against
love with high commissions, with oaths ex officio, free-will. This confession he sent to the Protand laws to deprive men of their lives, liberties, estant prisoners in Newgate, whereunto -they
and estates, for matters of mere conscience? generally subscribed, and particularly twelve.that
And yet these very Reformers, when the power were under sentence of condemnation to be
returned into their hands, were too much incli- burned. Hart, having got a copy of Careless's
ned to these engines of cruelty.         Iconfession, wrote his own in opposition to it
The controversy about predestination* and on the back-side; and would have persuaded
free-will appeared first among the Reformers at the prisoners in Newgate to subscribe it, but
this time. Some that were in the King's Bench could not prevail. I do not find any of these
prison for the profession of the Gospel, denied free-willers at the stake (says my author), or if
the doctrines of absolute predestination and ori- any of them suffered, they made no mention of
ginal sin. They were men of strict and holy their distinguishing opinions when they came to
lives, but warm for their opinions, and unquiet die. But these unhappy divisions among men
in their behaviour. Mr. Bradford had frequent that were under the cross gave great advantage
conferences with them, and gained over some to the papists, who took occasion from hence to
to his own persuasion. The names of their scoff at the professors of the Gospel, as disagreeteachers were, Harry Hart, Trew, and Abing- ing among themselves. They blazed abroad
don; they ran their notions as high as the mod- their infirmities, and said they were suffering for
ern Arminians, or as Pelagius himself, despising theyknew not what. Dr. Martin, a great papist,
learning, and utterly rejecting the authorities of exposed their weaknesses: but when Martin
the fathers. Bradford was apprehensive that came to visit the prisoners, Careless took the
they would do a great deal of mischief in the opportunity to protest openly against Hart's
Church, and therefore, in concert with Bishop doctrines, saying " he had deceived many simFerrar, Taylor, and Philpot, he wrote to Cran- ple souls with his Pelagian opinions."
mer, Ridley, and Latimer, at Oxford, to take   Besides these free-willers, it seems there were
some cognizance of the matter, and consult to- some few in prison for the Gospel that were Arigether about remedying it. Upon this occasion ans, and disbelieved the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Ridley wrote back a letter of God's election and Two of them lay in the King's Bench, and raispredestination, and Bradford wrote another upon ed such unseemly and quarrelsome disputes,
the same subject. But the free-willers treated that the marshal was forced to separate the prishim rudely: "They told him he was a great oners from one another; and in the year 1556
slander to the Word of God in respect of his doc- the noise of their contentions reached the eais
trine, because he believed and affirmed the sal- of the council, who sent Dr. Martin to the King's
vation of God's people to be so certain, that they Bench to examine into the affair.*
should assuredly enjoy the same. They said   I mention these disputes to show the frailty
it hanged partly upon our perseverance to the and corruption of human nature ever under
end; but Bradford said it hanged upon God's the cross, and to point the reader to the first begrace in Christ, and not upon our perseverance ginnings of those debates which afterward ocin any point, otherwise grace was no grace." casioned unspeakable mischiefs to the Church;
When this holy martyr saw he could not con- for though the Pelagian doctrine was espoused
vince them, he desired they might pray one for but by a very few of the English Reformers, and
another. "I love you," says he, "my dear hearts, was buried in that prison where it began for although you have taken it otherwise without most fifty years, it revived in the latter end of
cause: I am going before you to my God and Queen Elizabeth, under the name of Arminianyour God; to my Father and your Father; to ism, and within the compass of a few years supmy Christ and your Christ; to my home and planted the received doctrine of the Reformation.
your home."                                   Many of the clergy that were zealous proMr. Careless, another eminent martyr, had fessors of the Gospel under King Edward VI.,
much conference with these men in the King's through fear of death recanted and subscribed;
Bench prison, of whose contentiousness he com- some out of weakness, who, as soon as they
plained in a letter to Philpot. In answer to were out of danger, revoked their subscriptions,
which Philpot writes, "that he was sorry to hear and openly confessed their fall; of this sort
of the contentions that these schismatics raised, were Scory and Barlow, bishops, the famous
but that he should not cease to do his endeav- Mr. Jewel, and others. Among the common
ours in defence of the truth against these arro- people, some went to mass to preserve their
gant, self-willed, and blinded scatterers; that lives, andyet frequented the assemblies of the
these sects were necessary for the trial of our Gospellers, holding it not unlawful to be presfaith.'  He advised Mr. Careless to be modest ent with their bodies at the service of the mass
and humble, that others, seeing his grave con- as long as their spirits did not consent.t Bradversation among those contentious babblers, ford and others wrote with great warmth against
might glorify God in the truth. He then be- these temporizers, and advised their brethren
seeches the brethern in the bowels of Christ to not to trust or consort with them. They also
keep the bond of peace, and not to let any root published a treatise upon this argument, entiof bitterness spring up among them.         tied the Mischief and Hurt of the Mass; and
But this contention could not be laid asleep recommended the reading it to all that had defor some time, notwithstanding their common filed themselves with that idolatrous service.
sufferings for the cause of religion. They wrote   But though many complied with the times,
one against another in prison, and dispersed and some concealed themselves in friends'
their writings abroad in the world. Mr. Care- houses, shifting from one place to another, oth.
less wrote a confession of his faith, one article   Strype's Life of Cranmer,  352.
* Strype's Life of Cranmer, p 352.
* Cranmer's Mem., p. 351-353. Appendix p. 83.  t Strype's Life of Craumer, p. 362, 363.
VOL. I-I




'66                    HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS..
ers resolved, with the hazard of their lives, to them their cities; so that they found little hos.
join together'and worship God according to the pitality in Saxony and other places of Germany
service-book of King Edward.  There were where Lutheranism was professed. Philip Meseveral of these congregations up and down the lancthon interceded with the Senate on their
country, which met together in the night, and behalf, but the clergy were so zealous for their
-in'secret places,'to cover themselves from the consubstantiation, that they irritated the magisnotice of their persecutors. Great numbers in trates everywhere against them. The number
Suffolk, arid Essex constantly frequented the of the refugees is computed at above eight hunprivate assemblies of the Gospellers, and came dred; the most considerable of whom have been
not at all to the public service; but- the most mentioned, as the Bishops of Winchester, Bath,
considerable congregation was in and about and Wells, Chichester, Exeter, and Ossory;
London.  It was formed soon after Queen the Deans of Christ Church, Exeter, Durham,
Mary's accession, and consisted of above two Wells, and Chichester; the Archdeacons of
hundred members. They had divers preachers, Canterbury, Stowe, and Lincoln; with a great
as Mr. Scambler, afterward Bishop of Peter- many other very learned divines.*  The Iaity
borough; Mr. Fowler; Mr. Rough, a Scotsman, of distinction were, the Duchess of Suffolk with
who was' burned; Mr. Bernher, and Mr. Ben- her husband, Sir Thomas Wroth, Sir Richard
tham, who survived the persecution, and, in the Morrison, Sir Anthony Cook, Sir John Cheeke,
beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, was made and others.
Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry; Mr. Cuth-   The exiles were most numerous at Frankfort,
bert Simpson was- deacon of the church, and where that contest and division began which
kept a book with names of all that belonged to gave rise to the Puritans, and to that separation
it': they met sometimes about Aldgate, some- from the Church of England which continues to
times in Blackfriars, sometimes in Thames- this day.  It will, therefore, be necessary to
street, and sometimes on board of ships, when trace it from its original. On the 27th of June,
they had a master, for their purpose: sometimes 1554, Mr. Whittingham, Williams, Sutton, and
they assembled in the villages about London, to Wood, with their families and friends, came to
cover themselves from the bishops' officers and settle at the city of Frankfort; and, upon applispies; and especially at Islington; but here, by cation to the magistrates, were admitted to a
the treachery of a false brother, the congrega- partnership in the French Church for a place of
tion was at length discovered and broke up: worship, the two congregations being to meet at
XIr. Rough their minister, and Mr. Simpson their different hours, as they should agree among
deacon, were apprehended and burned, with themselves, but with this proviso, that before
many others.  Indeed, the whole church was they entered they should subscribe the French
in the utmost danger; for whereas Simpson confession of faith, and not quarrel about cerethe deacon used to carry the book wherein the monies, to which the English agreed; and afnames of the congregation were contained to ter consultation among themselves, they con-:their private assemblies, he happened that day, eluded, by universal consent of all present, not.through the good providence of God, to leave it to answer aloud after the minister, nor to use
with Mrs. Rough, the minister's wife. When the litany and surplice, but that the public ser-:h'he was in the Tower the recorder of London vice should begin with a general confession of
examined him strictly, and because he would sins, then the people to sing a psalm in metre,.neither discover the book nor the names, he was in a plain tune; after which, the minister to
put upon the rack three times in one day.* He pray for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, and
was then sent to Bonner, who said to the spec- so proceed to the sermon; after sermon, a gentators, "'You see what a personable man this eral prayer for all estates, and particularly for
is; and for his patience, if he was not a here- England, at the end of which was joined the
tic, I should much commend him, for he has Lord's Prayer, and a rehearsal of the articles of
been thrice racked in one day, and in my house belief; then the people were to sing another
has endured some sorrow, and yet I never saw  psalm, and the minister to dismiss them with a
his patience moved." But notwithstanding this, blessing. They took possession of their church
Bonner condemned him, and ordered him first July 29th, 1554, and having chosen a minister
into the stocks in his Coal-house, and from  and deacons to serve for the present, they sent
thence to Smithfield, where, with Mr. Fox and to their brethren that were dispersed to invite
-Davenish, two others of the church taken at them to come to Frankfort, where they might
*Islington, he ended his life in the flames.  hear God's Word truly preached, the sacraments
Many escaped the fury of the persecution by rightly ministered, and Scripture discipline used,
withdrawing from the storm and flying into for- which in their own country could not be obeign countries.  Some went into France and tained.
Flanders, some to Geneva, and others into those   The more learned clergymen, and some youngparts of Germany and Switzerland where the er divines, settled at Strasburgh, Zurich, and
Reformation had taken place; as Basil, Frank- Basil, for the benefit of the libraries of those plafort, JZmbden, Strasburgh, Doesburgh, Arrow, ces, and of the learned conversation of the proand *Zurich, where the magistrates received fessors, as well as in hopes of some little emthem with great humanity, and allowed them  ployment in the way of printing.t The congreplaces for public worship. But the uncharitable- gation at Frankfort sent letters to these places
ness of the Lutherans on this occasion was on the 2d of August, 1554, beseeching the Engvery remarkable: they hated the exiles because lish divines to send some of their number, whom
they were Sacramnentarians, and when any Eng- they might choose, to take the oversight - of
lish *,ame among them for shelter, they expelled them. In their letter they commend their new
* Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 354,'&c.
* Clarke's Martyr., p. 497.        t Hist. of the Troubles of Frankfort, printed 1575.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 a
se3ttement, as nearer the policy and order of able weaknesses in it, which, becauseat t rst
Scripture than the service-book of King Ed- they could not be amended, were to be suffered,
ward. The Strasburgh divines demurring upon but that it behooved the learned, grave, and godthe affair, the congregation at Frankfort sent ly ministers of Christ to enterprise.farther, and
for Mr. Knox from Geneva, Mr. Haddon from  to set up something more filed from rust, and
Strasburgh, and Mr. Lever from Zurich, whom  purer. If religion (says he) had flourished.-till
they elected for their ministers. At length the this day in England, many of these things should
students at Zurich sent them word that, unless have been corrected. But, since -the Reformathey might be assured that they would use the tion is overthrown, and a church is to beset up
same order of service concerning religion as in another place, where you are at liberty -to eswas set forth by King Edward, they would not tablish what order is most for edification, I cancome to them, for they were fully determined not tell what they mean who are so fond of the
to admit and use no other. To this the Frank- leavings of popish dregs." Upon this letter the
fort congregation replied, that they would use Frankfort congregation agreed not to submit to
the service-book as far as God's Word com- the Strasburgh divines, but to make use of so
manded it, but as for the unprofitable ceremo- much of the service-book as they had done, till.nies, though some of them were tolerable, yet,. the end of April, 1555; and if any new contenbeing in a strange country, they could not be tion arose among them in the mean time, the
suffered to use them; and, indeed, they thought matter was to be referred to Calvin, Musculus,
it better that they should never be practised. Martyr, Bullinger, and Vyret.
"If any," say they, "think that the not using   But upon the 13th of March, Dr. Cox, who
the book in all points should weaken our godly had been tutor to King.Edward VI., a man of a
fathers' and brethren's hands, or be a disgrace. high spirit, but of great credit with his countryto the worthy laws of King Edward, let them  men, coming to Frankfort with some of hiks
consider that they themselves have, upon con- friends, broke through the agreement. and insideration and circumstances, altered many terrupted the public service by answering aloud
things in it heretofore; and if God had not in after the minister; and the Sunday following,
these wicked days otherwise determined, would one of his company, without the consent of the
hereafter have altered more; and in our case congregation, ascended the pulpit, and read the
we doubt not but they would have done as we whole litany. Upon this, Mr. Knox, their'mindo."  So they made use of the book, but omit-: ister, taxed the authors of this disorder'in his
ted the litany and responses.              sermon with a breach of their agreement; and
But this not giving satisfaction, Mr. Cham- farther affirmed, that some things in the serbers and Mr. Grindal came with a letter from  vice-book were superstitious and impure. The
the learned men of Strasburgh, subscribed with zealous Dr. Cox reproved him for his censorisixteen hands, in which they exhort them, in ousness; and being admitted with his company
the most pressing language, to a full conformi- to vote in the congregation, got the majority to
ty. They say they make no question but the forbid Mr. Knox to preach any more. But Knox's
magistrates of Frankfort will consent to the use friends applied to the magistrate, who commandof the English service, and, therefore, they can- ed them to unite with the French Churcb, botk
not doubt of the congregation's good-will and in discipline and ceremonies, according to their
ready endeavours to reduce their church to the first agreement. Dr. Coxiand his friends, findexact pattern of King Edward's book, as far as ing Knox's interest among the magistrates too
possible can be obtained: " should they deviate strong, had recourse to an unchristian method
from it at this time, they apprehend they should to get rid of him. This divine, some years
seem to condemn those who were now sealing before he was in England, had published an
it with their blood, and give occasion to their English book, called An Admonition to Chrisadversaries to charge them with inconstancy." tians, in which he had said that the emperor
The Frankfort congregation, in their letter of was no less an enemy to Christ than Nero. For
December 3d, reply, that "they had omitted as which, and some other expressions inthe book,
few ceremonies as possible, so that there was these gentlemen accused him of high treason
no danger of their being charged with incon- against the emperor. The Senate being tender
stancy. They apprehended that the martyrs in of the emperor's honour, and not willing to 0mEngland were not dying in defence of ceremo- broil themselves in a controversy of this nature,
nies, which they allow may be altered; and as desired Mr. Knox, in a respectful -manner, to
for doctrine, there is no difference; therefore, if depart the city, which he did accordingly, March
the learned divines of Strasburgh should come 25, 1555.
to Frankfort with no other views but to reduce   After this, Cox's party, being strengthened by
the congregation to King Edward's form, and to the addition of several English divines from
establish the popish ceremonies, they give them  other places, sixteen of them, viz., three docto understand that they had better stay away." tors of divinity and thirteen bachelors, petitionThis was signed by John Knox, now come from  ed the magistrates for the free use of King EdGeneva, John Bale, John Fox the martyrolo- ward's service-book, which they were pleased
gist, and fourteen more.                  to grant. Thus the old congregation was broke
Things being in this uncertain posture at up by Dr. Cox and his friends, whQ now carried
Frankfort, King Edward's book being used in all before them. They chose new church-offipart, but not wholly, and there being no pros- cers, taking no notice of the old ones, and set
pect of an accommodation with their brethren up the service-book of King Edward, without
at Strasburgh, they resolved to ask the advice interruption. Knox's friends would have left
of the famous Mr. Calvin, pastor of the church the matter to the arbitration of divines, which
at Geneva, who, having perused the English lit- the others refused, but wrote to Mr. Calvin to
urgy, took notice I, that there were many toler- I countenance their proceedings, which that great




68                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
divine could not do; but after a modest excuse later ages. For which, and other reasons, they
for intermeddling in their affairs, told them that, have thought fit to lay aside these human in"in his opinion, they were too much addicted ventions, which have done so much mischief
to the English ceremonies; nor could he see to and have contented themselves with that wis
what purpose it was to burden the Church with dom that is contained in God's book; which di
such hurtful and offensive things, when there rects them to preach the Word of God purely,
was liberty to have a simple and more pure to minister the sacraments sincerely, and use
order. He blamed their conduct to Mr. Knox, prayers and other orders thereby approved, to
which he said was neither godly nor brotherly; the edification of the Church, and increase of
and concludes with beseeching them to prevent God's glory."
divisions among themselves." This pacific let-   The reader has now seen the first breach or
ter having no effect, the old congregation left schism between the English exiles, on account
their countrymen in possession of their church, of the service-book of King Edward, which made
and departed the city. Mr. Fox, the martyrol- way for the distinction, by which the two parties
ogist, with a few more, went to Basil; and the were afterward known, of Puritans and Conformrest to Geneva, where they were received with ists. It is evident that Dr. Cox and his friends
great humanity, and having a church appointed were the aggressors, by breaking in upon the
them, they chose Mr. Knox and Goodman their agreement of the congregation of Frankfort,
pastors. Here they set up the Geneva disci- which was in peace, and had consented to go
pline, which they published in English, under on in their way of worship for a limited time,
the title of The Service, Discipline, and Form of which time was not then expired. He artfully
Common Prayers and Administration of Sacra- ejected Mr. Knox from his ministry among them,
ments used in the English Church of Geneva, and brought in the service-book with a high
with a dedication to their brethren in' England hand; by which those who had been in possesand elsewhere. Dated from Geneva, February sion of the church about nine months* were
10th, 1556. The liturgy is too long to be insert- obliged to depart the city, and set up their wored in this place, but is agreeable to that of the ship in another place.  The doctor and his
French churches. In their dedication, they say friends discovered an ill spirit in this affair.
" that their discipline is limited within the com- They might have used their own forms without
pass of God's Word, which is sufficient to gov- imposing them upon others, and breaking a
ern all our actions. That the dilatory proceed- congregation to pieces that had settled upon a
ings of the bishops in reforming church disci- different foundation with the leave of the govpline and removing offensive ceremonies is one ernment under which they lived. But they incause of the heavy judgments of God upon the sisted that, because the congregation of Frankland. That the late service-book of King Ed- fort was made up of Englishmen, they ought to
ward being now set aside by Parliament accord- have the form  of an English church; that
ing to law, it was in no sense the established many of them had subscribed to the use of the
worship of the Church of England, and, conse- service-book; and that the departing from it at
quently, they were under no obligation to use this time was pouring contempt on the martyrs
it, any farther than it was consonant to the who were sealing it with their blood. But the
Word of God. Being, therefore, at liberty, and others replied, that the laws of their country rein a strange land, they had set up such an order lating to the service-book were repealed; and
as, in the judgment of Mr. Calvin and other as for their subscription, it could not bind them
learned divines, was most agreeable to Scrip- from making nearer approaches to the purity
ture, and the best Reformed Churches."  Their and simplicity of the Christian worship, esreasons for laying aside the late rites and cere- pecially when there was no established Protmonies were these: "because, being invented estant Church of England, and they were in a
by men, though upon a good occasion, yet they strange country, where the vestments and cerehad since been abused to superstition, and made monies gave offence. Besides, it was allowed
a necessary part of Divine worship. Thus Hez- on all hands that the book itself was imperfect;
ekiah'was commended for breaking in pieces and it was credibly reported that the Archbishop
the brazen serpent, after it had been erected of Canterbury had drawn up a form of common
eight hundred years, and the high places that prayer much more perfect, but that he could
had been abused to idolatry were commanded not make it take place, because of the corrupto be destroyed. In the New Testament, the tion of the clergy. As for discipline, it was out
washing the disciples' feet, which was prac- of the question that it was imperfect, for the
tised in the primitive Church, was for wise rea- service-book itself laments the want of it; and,
sons laid aside, as well as their love-feasts. Be- therefore, they apprehend that, if the martyrs
sides, these rites and ceremonies have occasion- themselves were in their circumstances, they
ed great contentions in the Church in every would practise with the same latitude, and reage. The Galatian Christians objected to St. form those imperfections in the English servicePaul, that he did not observe the Jewish cere- book which they attempted, but could not obmonies as the other apostles did; and yet he tain, in their own country.
observed them while there was any hope of   * Mr. Neal has said, " almost two years;" here,
gaining over weak brethren; for this reason he by consulting his authority, "the troubles at Frankcircumclsea Ilmothy; but fWhen he perceived fort," it appears that he is properly corrected by
that men would retain them as necessary things Bishop Maddox. In other respects, his lordship's
in the Church, he called that, which before he animadversions on this part of Mr. Neal's History
made indifferent, wicked and impious, saying, are not just or accurate, if Mr. Neal's authority, to
which he has faithfully adhered, deserves credit.
that:' whosoever was circumcised, Christ could This piece, when it ws become scarceserves reprint
nothing profit him.''The like contentions have ed in the "Phoenix," vol. ii., 1708. Mr. Strype re
been between the Greek and Latin Church in fers to it as, giving authentic information. —ED.




HISTORY  OF liAE PURITANS.                               69
To return to Dr. Cox's congregation at Frank- burned all, the English Bibles, and such heretifort. The doctor having settled Mr. Horn in cal books as they could find. They took up the
the pastoral office, in the room of Mr. White- body of Peter Martyr's wife out of one of the
head, who resigned, after some time left the churches, and buried it in a dunghill, because,
place. But within six months a new division having been once a nun, she broke her vow;
happened among them, occasioned by a private but her body was afterward taken up again in
dispute between Mr. Horn, the minister, and Queen Elizabeth's time, and mixed with the
Mr. Ashby, one of the principal members. Mr. bones of St. Fridiswide, that they might never
Horn summoned Ashby to appear at the vestry more be disturbed by papists. The persecution
before the elders and officers of the Church; of the Reformed was carried on with all imaAshby appealed from them, as parties, to the ginable fury; and a design was set on foot to
whole Church, who appointed the cause to be introduce the Inquisition, by giving, commisbrought before them; but Mr. Horn and the sions to certain laymen to search for persons
officers protested against it, and chose rather suspected of heresy, and present them to their
to lay down their ministry and service in the ordinaries, as has been related. Cardinal Pole
Church, than submit to a popular decision. The being thought too favourable to heretics, becongregation being assembled on this occasion, cause he had released several that were brought
gave it as their opinion that, in all controversies before him upon their giving ambiguous anamong themselves, and especially in cases of swers, had his legatine power taken from
appeals, the dernier resort should be in the him, and was recalled; but upon his submisChurch. It is hardly credible what heats and sion he was forgiven, and continued here till
divisions, factions and parties, these personal his death, but had little influence afterward eiquarrels occasioned among a handfil of stran- ther in the courts of Rome or England, being
gers, to the scandal of religion, and their own a clergyman of too much temper for the times
reproach with the people among whom they he lived in.
lived.  At length the magistrate interposed,   Princess Elizabeth was in constant danger
and advised them to bury all past offences in of her life throughout the whole course of this
oblivion, and to choose new church officers in reign. Upon the breaking out of Wyat's conthe room of those that had laid down; and spiracy she was sent to the Tower, and led in
since their discipline was defective as to the by the Traitors' gate; her own servants being
points of controversy that had been before put from her, and no person allowed to have
them, they commanded them to appoint certain access to her: the governor used her hardly,
persons of their number to draw up a new form  not suffering her to walk in the gallery or upon
of discipline, or correct and amend the old one; the leads. Wyat and his confederates were
and to do this before they chose their ecclesias- examined about her, and some of them put to
tical officers, that, being all private persons, the rack; but they all cleared her except Wyat,
they might agree upon that which was most who once accused her, in hopes to save his life,
reasonable in itself, without respect of persons but declared upon the scaffold to all the people
or parties. This precept was delivered in wri- that he only did it with that view. After some
ting, March 1st, 1557, and signed by Mr. John time she was sent to Woodstock in custody of
Glauburge. Hereupon fifteen persons were ap- Sir Henry Benefield, who used her so ill that
pointed to the work, which, after some time, she apprehended they designed to put her priwas finished; and having been subscribed by vately to death.  Here she was under close
the Church to the number of fifty-seven, was confinement, being seldom allowed to walk. in
confirmed by the magistrate; and on the 21st the gardens. The politic Bishop Gardiner often
of December, twenty-eight more were added to moved the queen to think of putting her out
the Church and subscribed; but Mr. Horn and of the way, saying it was to no purpose to lop
his party, to the number of twelve, dissented, off the branches while the tree was left standand appealed to the magistrates, who had the ing. But King Philip was her friend, who sent
patience to hear their objections, and the others' for her to court, where she fell upon her knees
reply. But Mr. Horn and his friends not pre- before the queen, and protested her innocence
vailing, left the congregation to their new disci- as to all conspiracies and treasons against her
pline, and departed the city, from which time majesty; but the queen still hated her: howthey continued in peace till the death of Queen ever, after that, her guards were discharged,
Mary.                                      and she was suffered to retire into the country,
During these troubles died Dr. Poynet, late where she gave herself wholly to study, med
bishop of Winchester, born in Kent, and edu- dling in no sort of business, for she was always
cated in Queen's College, Oxon, a very learned apprehensive of spies about her. The princess
and pious divine, who was in such favour with complied outwardly with her sister's religion,
King Edward for his practical preaching that avoiding as much as she could all discourses
he preferred him first to the bishopric of Ro- with the bishops, who suspected her of an inchester, andthen toWinchester.* Uponthe ac- clination to heresy from her education. The
cession of Queen Mary he fled to Strasburgh, queen herself was apprehensive of the danger
where he died, August 2, 1556, before he was of the popish religion if she died without issue;
full forty years old, and was buried with great and was often urged by her clergy, especially
lamentations of his countrymen.            when her health was visibly declining, to seTo return to England. Both the universities cure the Roman Catholic religion by delivering
were visited this year.  At Cambridge they the kingdom from such a presumptive heir.
burned the bodies of Bucer and Fagius, with Her majesty had no scruple of conscience about
their books and heretical writings. At Oxford spilling human blood-in the cause of religion;*
the visiters went through all the colleges, and   * "In a book entitled'The Executions for Trea* Fuller's Worthies, b. ii., p. 72.  son,' written by Lord Burleigh, in Queen Elizabeth




w70                     X~I 131 HISTORY. OF THE  PUR;ITANS.
tihe preservatiou- of the princess was, therefore,' concerned to support it, for they began to think
little less than a miracle of Divine Providence, that Heaven itself was against it.
and was owing, under God, to'the protection    Indeed, there were strange and unusual acof King Philip. who, despairing of issue from  cidents in the heavens.*  Great mischief was
the queen, was not without expectations from  done in many places by thunder and lightning,
the princess.                                 by deluges, by excessive rains, and by stormy
Biut the hand of God was against Queen Mary  winds. There was a contagious distemper like
and her government, which was hardly attended  the plague, that swept away great numbers of
with one prosperous event; for instead of hav- people, so that in many places there were not
ing issue by her marriage, she had only a false  priests to bury the dead, nor men enough to
conception, so that there were little or no hopes reap the harvest.  Many bishops died, which
afterward of a child. This increased the sour- made way for the Protestant ones in the next
ness of her temper; and her husband, being  reign.  The Parliament was dissatisfied with
much younger than herself, grew weary of her, King Philip's demand for men and money for
slighted her company, and then left her to look  the recovery of Calais; and the queen herself
to his hereditary dominions, after he had lived  grew melancholy upon the loss of that place,
with her about fifteen months.  There being a  and the other misfortunes of the year.  She had
war between Spain and France, the queen was been declining in health ever since her pretendobliged to take part with her husband; this ex- ed miscarriage, which was vastly increased by
hausted the treasure of the -nation, and was the  the absence of her husband, her despair of issue,
occasion of the loss of all the English dominions  and the cross accidents that attended her govupon the Continent. In the beginning of this  ernment.  Her spirits were now decayed, and a
year the strong town of Calais was taken, after dropsy coming violently upon her, put an end to
it had been in the possession of the English two  her unhappy life and reign, November 17, 1558,
hundred and ten years: afterward the French  in the forty-third year of her age and sixth of
took Guines and the rest of that territory, no- her reign; Cardinal Pole, archbishop of Canterthing being left but the isles of Jersey and  bury, dying the same day.t
Guernsey. The English, says a learned writer,    Queen Mary was a princess of severe princihad lost their hearts; the government at home  ples, constant at her prayers, and very little givbeing so unacceptable that they were not much  en to diversions.  She did not mind any branch
of government so much as the Church, being
time, he says,'Four hundred persons suffered pub- entirely at the disposal of her clergy, and forlicly in Queen Mary's days, besides those who were  ward to give a sanction to al their cruelties.
secretly murdered in prison: of these, twenty were  She had deep resentments of her own ill-usage
bishops and dignified clergymen; sixty were women; in her father's and brother's reigns, which easily
children, more than forty; some women big with  induced her to take revenge, though she colourchild; one bore a child in the fire, and the child was ed it over with a zeal against heresy.  She was
burned.' This is probably the nearest approach we perfectly blind in matters of religion, her concan make to the facts of the case, and it exhibits a science being absolutely directed by the pope
sufficiently fearful and horrifying spectacle. Religious persecution had not been unknown to our fa-    her confessor, who encouraged her in all the
thers, but the instances of capital puishment for her- cruelties that were exercised against the Protesy were few, and the interval between them had  estants, assuring her that she was doing God
been great. They had not, however, been sufficiently  and his Church good service.  There is but one
numerous to impair the humanity of the nation, much  instance of a pardon of any condemned for herless so to pervert its sympathies as to induce any  esy during her whole reign.  Her natural temcomplacency in these horrible exhibitions.  The per was melancholy; and her infirmities, toslaughter of Gardiner and Bonner was therefore re- gether with the misfortunes of her government,
garded with indignation and abhorrence. w Theirtunes of her government,
names became hateful, hand their memory has been made her so peevish, that her death was lament.
loaded with the reproach of many generations.'It ed by none but her popish clergy. Her reign
was an unusual and an ungrateful thing,' says'Bur- was in every respect calamitous to the nation,
net,'to the English nation, that is apt to compas- and "ought to be transmitted down to posterity
sionate all in misery, to see four, five, six, seven, and in characters of blood."
once thirteen, burning in one fire; and the sparing
neither sex nor age, nor blind nor lame, but making
havoc of all equally, and, above all, the barbarity of
Guernsey, raised that horror in the whole nation, that
thete seems, ever since that time, such an abhorrence FROM  THE BEGINNING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S
to that religion, to be derived down from father to    REIGN TO THE SEPARATION OF THE PROTESTANT
son, that it is no wonder an aversion so deeply root-   NONCONFORMISTS.
ed, and raised upon such grounds, does, upon every
new provocation, or jealousy of returning to it, break    QUEEN Elizabeth'sl accession to the crown
out in most violent and convulsive symptoms.'
While some approach to truth can be obtained, in    * Burnet's Hist. Ref, vol. ii., p. 366.
calculating the numbers that were burned, it is im-   t During his residence in Italy, on the demise of
possible to form any adequate conception of the mass Paul III., Cardinal Pole had been elected pope, at
of misery which was involved in the persecutions of midnight, by the conclave, and sent for to come and
this penriod. A speedy death, though by fire, was be admitted. He desired that this, as it was not a
merciful and kind, compared with the treatment work of darkness, might be postponed to the mornwhich some experienced. New methods of torment ing. Upon this message, the cardinals, without any
were devised by a perverted ingenuity, which might farther ceremony, proceeded to another election, and
inflict the pain, without bringing the relief, of death. chose the Cardinal de Monte, who, before he left the
Bigotry put on its fiercest and most rancorous form, conclave, bestowed a hat upon a servant who looked
and revelled in scenes of wo which might have after his monkey.-Granger's Biogr. istr', 8vo, vol.
touched the hardest heart."-Dr. Price's Bzst. Non- i., p. 158, note.-ED.
con., vol. i., p. 120-122.-C.                   t Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 251, 175.




HISTORY OF THE PURITAN-S.                                  7
gave new life to the Reformation: as soon as with them in preaching God's word, and in enit was known beyond sea most of the exiles re- deavouring to obtain such a form of worship as
turned home, and those who had hid themselves they had seen practised in the best Reformed
in the houses of their friends began to appear; Churches. The others replied that it would not
but the public religion continued for a time in be in their power to appoint what ceremonies
the same posture the queen found it; the popish should be observed; but they were, determinedpriests kept their livings, and went on celebra- to submit in things indifferent, and hoped those
ting mass. None of the Protestant clergy who of Geneva would do so too; however, they
had been ejected in the last reign were restored, would join with them in petitioning the queen
and orders were given against all innovations that nothing burdensome might be imposed.
without public authority.  Though the queen Both parties congratulated her majesty's acceshad complied with the changes in her sister's sion, in poems, addresses, and dedications of
reign, it was well known she was a favourer of books; but they were reduced to the utmost
the Reformation; but her majesty proceeded poverty and distress. They came threadbare
with great caution, for fear of raising disturb- home, bringing nothing with them  (says Mr.
ances in her infant government.  No prince Strype*) but much experience, as well as learnever came to the crown under greater disadvan- ing. Those who could comply with the queen's
tages. The pope had pronounced her illegiti- establishment were quickly preferred; but the.
mate, upon which the Queen of Scots put in rest were neglected, and' though suffered to
her claim to the crown. All the bishops and preach in the churches for some time, they were
clergy of the present establishment were her afterward suspended, and reduced to as great
declared enemies. The nation was at war with poverty as before.
France, and the treasury exhausted; the queen,   It had been happy if the sufferings of the
therefore, by the advice of her privy council, re- exiles had taught them  a little more charity
solved to make peace with her neighbours as and mutual forbearance; or that they had folsoon as possible, that she might be more at lei- lowed the advice of their learned friends and
sure to proceed in her intended alterations of re- patrons beyond sea, who advised them to go
ligion, which, though very considerable, were through with the Reformation, -and clear the
not so entire as the best and most learned Prot- Church of all the relics of popery and superstiestants of these times desired. The queen in- tion at once. This was the advice of Gualter,
herited the spirit of her father, and affected a one of the chief divines of Zurich, who, in his
great deal of magnificence in her devotions, as letter to Dr. Masters, the queen's physician,
well as in her court. She was fond of many of January 16, 1558-9 wishes "that the Reformthe old rites and ceremonies in which she had ers among us would not hearken to the counbeen educated. She thought her brother had sels of those men who, when they saw that
stripped religion too. much of its ornaments, popery could not be honestly defended nor enand made the doctrines of the Church too nar- tirely retained, would use all artifices to have
row in some points. It was therefore with diffi- the outward face of religion to remain mixed,
culty that she was prevailed on to go the length uncertain, and doubtful; so that while:an evanof King Edward's reformation.*              gelical reformation is pretended, those things
The only thing her majesty did before the should be obtruded on the Church which will
meeting of the Parliament was to prevent pul- make the returning back to popery, superstition,
pit disputes, for some of the reformed that had and idolatry, very easy. We have had the exbeen preachers in King Edward's time, began perience of this (says he) for some years in Gerto make use of his service-book without author- many, and know what influence such persons
ity or license from their superiors; this alarmed may have: their counsels seem to a carnal
the popish clergy, and gave occasion to a proc- judgment to be full of modesty, and well fitted
lamation, dated December 27, 1558.t By which for carrying on a universal agreement; and we
all preaching of ministers or others was pro- may well believe the common enemy of our salhibited; and the people were charged to hear vation will find out proper instruments, by whose
no other doctrine or preaching but the Epistle means the seeds of popery may still remain
and Gospel for the day, and the Ten Command- among you. I apprehend that ir the first bements in English, without any exposition or ginnings, while men may study to avoid the
paraphrase whatsoever. The proclamation ad- giving some small offence, many things may be
mits of the litany, the Lord's Prayer, and the suffered under this colour, that they will be concreed, in English; but no public prayers were tinued but for a little while, and yet afterward
to be read in the Church but such as were ap- it will scarce be possible, by all the endeavours
pointed by law, till the meeting of the Parlia- that can be used, to get them removed, at least
ment, which was to be upon the 23d of Janua- not without great strugglings."t The letter
ry.4                                        seems to be written wlth a prophetic spirit;
While~ the exiles were preparing to return Masters laid it before the queen, who read it all
home, conciliatory letters passed between them; over, though without effect. Letters of the
those of Geneva desired a mutual forgiveness, same strain were written by the learned  upllinand prayed their brethren of Arrow, Basil, ger, Peter Martyr, and Weidner, to the Earl of
Frankfort, Strasburgh, and Worms, to unite Redford, who had been some time at Zurich;
* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., 376.     and to Jewel, Sandye, Horn, Cox, Grindal, and
t This proclamation was directed against the pa- the rest of the late exiles, pressing ther.eehepists as well as the reformed: " for both," says Strype, mently t act with zeal and courage, and to," took their occasions to speak freely their minds in take care in the first binnings 1t:have all
the pulpits." —trype's Annals, vo. i., Appendix, p. things settled upon sunganid sound'bfundatioi.
3. Camden's Eliz., p. 6.
t Burnet's History of the Reform., vol. ii., p. 376-  * Annals, vol. i., p. 129.
378.             Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 103-105.  t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 276




72                     HISTO RY OF THE PURITANS.
The exl'es, in their answers, seem resolved to  and as it revives King Edward's laws, it repeals
follow their advices, and make a bold stand for a severe act made in the late reign for punisha thorough reformation; and if they had done  ing heresy,* and three other old statutes menso, they might have obtained it. Jewel, in his tioned in the said act. "Moreover, all persons
letter of May 22, 1559, thanks Bullinger for in any public employs, whether civil or ecclesiquickening their zeal and courage; and adds, astical, are obliged to take an oath in recogni"they were doing what they could, and that tion of the queen's right to the crown, and of
all things'were coming into a better state." In  her supremacy in all causes ecclesiastical and
another, of April 10, " he laments the want of civil, on penalty of forfeiting all their promotions
zeal and industry in promoting the Reformation; in the Church, and of being declared incapable
and that things were managed in so slow and  of holding any public office."  In short, by this
cautious a manner, as if the Word of God was single act of the supremacy, all that had been
not to be received on his own authority."  In  done by Queen Mary was in a manner annulled,
another, of November 16, " he complains of the  and the external policy of the Church restored
queen's keeping a crucifix in her chapel, with  to the same foot as it stood at the death of King
lighted candles; that there was worldly policy  Edward VI.
in this, which he did not like; that all things    Farther: "The act forbids all writing, print.
were so loose and uncertain with them, that he ing, teaching, or preaching, and all other deeds
did not know whether he should not be obliged  or acts whereby any foreign jurisdiction over
to return back to Zurich. He complains of the  these realms is defended, upon pain that they
popish vestments, which he calls the relics of and their abettors, being thereof convicted, shall
the Amorites, and wishes they were extirpated  for the first offence forfeit their goods and chatto the deepest roots."  The like complaints tels; and if they are not worth twenty pounds,
were made by Cox, Grindal, Horn, Pilkington, suffer a year's imprisonment; spiritual perand others, but they had not the resolution to  sons shall lose their benefices, and all ecclesipersevere: had they united counsels, and stood  astical preferments; for the second offence they
by one another, they might at this juncture have  shall incur the penalties of a praemunire; and
obtained the removal of those grievances which  the third offence shall be deemed high treaafterward occasioned the separation.         son."
To return to the Parliament.-: The court took    There is a remarkable clause in this act,
such measures about elections as seldom fail which gave rise to a new court, called the Court
of success; the' magistrates of the counties and  of High Commission.t The words are these:
corporations were changed, and the people, who  "I The queen and her successors shall have powwere weary of the late persecutions, were as- er, by their letters patent under the great seal,
sisted, and encouraged to exert themselves in  to assign, name, and authorize, as often as they
favour of such representatives as might make shall think meet, and for as long time as they
them easy; so that when the houses met, the  shall please, persons, being natural-born submajority were on the side of the Reformation. jects, to use, occupy, and exercise, under her
The temper of the house was first tried by a bill and them, all manner of jurisdiction, privileges,
to restore to the crown the first-fruits and tenths, and pre-eminences, touching any spiritual or
which Queen Mary had returned to the Church. ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the realms of
It passed the Commons without much opposi- England and Ireland, &c., to visit, reform, retion' February 4th, but in the House of Lords dress, order, correct, and amend all errors, herall the bishops voted against it.*  By another esies, schisms, abuses, contempts, offences, and
act they repealed some of the penal laws, and  enormities whatsoever.  Provided that they
enacted that no person should be punished for have no power to determine anything to be hereXercising the religion used in the last year of esy but what has been adjudged to be so by the
King Edward. They appointed the public ser- authority of the canonical Scripture; or by the
vice to be performed in the vulgar tongue. They  first four general councils, or any of them; or
empowered the queen to nominate bishops to  by any other general council, wherein the same
the vacant bishoprics by conga d'elire, as at was declared heresy by the express and plain
present. They suppressed the religious houses words of canonical Scripture; or such as shall
founded by Queen Mary, and annexed them to  hereafter be declared to be heresy by the high
the crown; but the two principal acts passed  court of Parliament, with the assent of the clerthis session were the acts of supremacy, and  gy in convocation."$
of, uniformity of common prayer.
The former is entitled an act for restoring to   * The repeal of this act, it may not be improper to
the crown the ancient jurisdiction over the state  observe, operated in favour of those only who denied
ecclesiastical and spiritual, and for abolishing  the essential and disseminating tenets of popery. It
foreign power. It is the same for substance was a necessary step, when government was about
with the twenty-fifth of Henry VIII., already  to establish a reformation which would subvert the
mentioned, but the Commons incorporated sev- reception of those tenets. But it did not proceed
eral other bills into it; for, besides the title of from any just notions of the rights of conscience;
a o sinto  ao, asides thees aticl  and, as it appears in the course of this reign, still left
supreme governor in all causes ecclesiastical those who went beyond the limits fixed by the new
and temporal, which is restored to the queen, establishment exposed to the heaviest penalties.the act revives those laws of King Henry VIII. ED.           t Strype, p. 69. Rapin, p. 237.
and King Edward VI. whichi had been repealed   $ On this statute Mr. Justice Blackstone remarks,
in the late rei'gil,n It forbids all appeals to Rome, that 1" a man continued still liable to be burned for
and exonerates the subjects from all exactions what, perhaps, he did not understand to be heresy,
and imPositions heretofore paid to that 6ourt; till the ecclesiastical judge so interpreted the words
of the canonical Scriptures." To this a late writer
justly adds: " And even at this day, whoever, of the
i Strype, p. 67.             sectaries not tolerated, shall dare to interpret the




HISTO01Y OF THE PURITANS                                      73
Upon the authority of this clause the queen in spirituals that King Henry did, who, by the
appointed a certain number of commissioners act of the thirty-first of his reign, was made abfor ecclesiastical causes, who exercised the solute lord over the consciences of his subjects,
same power that had been lodged in the hands it being therein enacted that " whatsoever his
of one vicegerent in the reign of King Henry majesty should enjoin in matters of religion
VIII. And how sadly they abused their power should be obeyed by all his subjects."
in this and the two next reigns will appear in   It is very certain that the kings and queens
the sequel of this history.* They did not trouble of England never pretended to the character of.
themselves much with the express words of spiritual persons, or to exercise any part of the
Scripture, or the first four general councils, but ecclesiastical function in their own persons t
entangled their prisoners with oaths ex officio, they neither preached nor administered the sacand the inextricable mazes of the popish canon raments, nor pronounced or inflicted the cen.,
law; and though all ecclesiastical courts ought sures of the Church; nor did they ever conse-,
to be subject to a prohibition from the courts crate to the episcopal office, though the right of
of Westminster, this privilege was seldom al- nomination is in them: these things were done
lowed by the commissioners. The act makes by spiritual persons, or by proper officers in the
no mention of an arbitrary jurisdiction of fining, spiritual courts, deriving their powers from the
imprisoning, or inflicting corporeal punishments crown. When the adversaries of the supremaon the subjects, and therefore can be construed cy objected the absurdity of a lay person being
to extend no farther than to suspension or dep- head of a spiritual body, the queen endeavoure(
rivation; but notwithstanding this, these com- to remove the difficulty by declaring, in her inmissioners sported themselves in all the wanton junctions to her visiters, "that she did not, nor
acts of tyranny and oppression, till their very would she ever, challenge authority and power
name became odious to the whole nation; in- to minister Divine service in the Church; nor
somuch that their proceedings were condemned would she ever challenge any other authority
by the united voice of the people, and the court than her predecessors King Henry VIII. and
dissolved by act of Parliament, with a clause Edward VI. used."
that no such jurisdiction should be received for   But, abating this point, it appears very probathe future in any court whatsoever.           ble that all the jurisdiction and authority claimBishop Burnet sayst that the supremacy  ed by the pope, as head of the Church, in the
granted by this act is short of the authority that times preceding the Reformation, was transKing Henry had; nor is it the whole that the ferred to the king by the act of supremacy, and
queen claimed, who sometimes stretched her annexed to the imperial crown of these realms,
prerogative beyond it.  But since it was the as far as was consistent with the laws of the
basis of the Reformation, and the spring of all land then in being; though since it has underits future movements, it will be proper to in- gone some abatements.  The words of the
quire what powers were thought to be yielded learned Mr. Hooker* are very express: " If the
the crown by this act of supremacy, and some whole ecclesiastical state should stand in need
others made in support of it. King Henry VIII., of being visited and reformed; or when any
in his letter to the convocation of York, assures part of the Church is infested with errors,
them that "he claimed nothing more by the su- schisms, heresies, &c., whatsoever spiritual
premacy than what Christian princes in the powers the legates had from the see of Rome,
primitive times assumed to themselves in their and exercised in right of the pope for remedyown dominions."t  But it is capable of demon- ing of evils, without violating the laws of God
stration, that the first Christian emperors did or nature; as much in every degree have our
not claim all that jurisdiction over the Church laws fully granted to the king forever, whether
he thinks fit to do it by ecclesiastical synods, or
Holy Scriptures for himself, may be punished by ec- otherwise according to law."
clesiastical censures, if an ecclesiastical judge should otherwse acof this remarkrding to aw."
decree such interpretation to be erroneous." —High The truth of this remark will appear by con
Church Politics, p. 66.-ED.                   sidering thepowers claimed by the' crown in
* In addition to our author's remark may be sub- this and the following reigns.
joined the reflections of a modern writer: "On this   1. The kings and queens of England claimed
foundation," says he, " was erected, in a subsequent authority in matters of faith, and to be the ultipart of her reign, that court of ecclesiastical commis- mate judges of what is agreeable or repugnant
sion, which, in the sequel, was the source of the most to the Word of God. The act of supremacy-says
arbitrary proceedings, and of the most shameful tyr- expressly, "that the king has power to redress
anny, oppression, and persecution. The powers we
have mentioned, as granted to Elizabeth, will appear and amend all errors and heresies; he might
to many, in the present enlightened and liberal age, enjoin what doctrines he would to be preached,
to have been unreasonable and enormous, and con- not repugnant to the laws of the land; and if
trary to the just ends of political government. But any should preach contrary, he was for the third
the conferring of such powers accorded with the idea offence to be judged a heretic, and suffer death:
of the times, which had no conception of introducing his majesty claimed a right to forbid all preachreligious changes by the mere operation of reason ing for a time, as King Henry VIII., King Edand argument, and which had not learned to ascer-ing for  a time, as King Henry VIII., King Edtain the true nature, objects, boundaries, and dis- ward VI., Queen  Mary, and Elizabeth did; or
tinctions of civil and ecclesiastical authority."-His- to limit the clergy's preaching to certain of the
tory of Knowledge in the New Annual Register for 1789, thirty-nine articles established by law, as King
V. 6.-ED.                                     Charles I. did."  All the forementioned kings
t Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol. ii., p. 386.    and queens published instructions or injunctions
t The primitive times, as they are called, did not concerning matters of faith, without consent of
commence till:the beginning of the fourth century, the clergy in convocation assembled; and enunder Constantine the Great, who was the first
prince that employed the powers of the state in the forced them upon the clergy under the penalties
hffairs of the Church.-EDn.                              * Eccles. Pol., b. viii., ~ 8
L. I.-K




74                      HISTORY OF THE  PURI:TANS.
of a promunire, which made it a little difficult press words of several statutes,* that all juristo understand that clause of the twentieth arti- diction, ecclesiastical as well as civil, was vestcle-of the Church which says the Church has ed in the king, and taken away from the bishauthority in matters of faith.               ops, except by delegation from him. The king
2. With regard to discipline, the kings of was chief in the determination of all causes in
England seem to have had the keys at their gir- the Church; he had authority to make laws,
die: for, though the old canon law be in force, ceremonies, and constitutions, and without him
as far as is consistent with the laws of the land no such laws, ceremonies, or constitutions are,
and the prerogative of the crown, yet the king or- ought to be, of force. And, lastly, all apis the supreme. and' ultimate judge in the spirit- peals, which before had been made to Rome,
ual courts by his delegates, as he is in the are forever, hereafter, to. be made to his majes.
courts of common law by his judges. His maj- ty's chancery, to be ended and determined, as
esty might appoint a single person of the laity the manner now is, by delegates.t
to be his vicar-general in all causes ecclesiasti-   I am sensible that the constitution of the
cal to reform what was amiss, as King Henry Church has been altered in some things since
VIII. and Charles I. did, which very much re- that time; but let the reader judge, by what
sembled the pope's legate in the times before has been recited from acts of Parliament, of the
the Reformation.  By authority of Parliament, high powers that were then intrusted with the
the crown was empowered to appoint thirty-two crown, and how far they were agreeable with
commissioners, some of the laity and some of the natural or religious rights of mankind.
the clergy, to reform the canons or ecclesiasti- The whole body of the papists refused the oath
cal laws; and though the design was not exe- of supremacy, as inconsistent with their allegicuted, the power was certainly in the king, who ance to the pope; but the Puritans took it unmight have ratified the new canons, and given der all these disadvantages, with the queen's
them the force of a law, without the consent of explication in her injunctions; that is, that no
the clergy in convocation, or of the Parliament; more was intended than " that her majesty, un-.
and, therefore, at the coronationof King Charles der God, had the sovereignty and rule over all
I., the bishop was directed to pray " that God persons born in her realms, either ecclesiastical
would give the king Peter's key of discipline, or temporal, so as no foreign power had or ought
and Paul's doctrine."                        to have authority over them."  They appre3. As to rights-and ceremonies, the act of hended this to be the natural right of all soveruniformity* says expressly, "that the queen's eign princes in their dominions, though there
majesty, by advice of her ecclesiastical com- has been no statute law for it;. but, as they did
missioners, or of her metropolitan, may ordain not admit the government of the Church to be
and publish such ceremonies or rites as may be monarchical, they were of opinion that no sinmost for the advancement of God's glory and gle person, whether layman or ecclesiastic,
the edifying of the Church."  Accordingly, her ought to assume the title of supreme head of the
majesty published her injunctions, without send- Church on earth, in the sense of the acts above
ing them into convocation or Parliament, and mentioned. This appears from the writings of
erected a court of high commission for ecclesi- the famous Mr. Cartwright, in his admonition
astical causes, consisting of commissioners of to the Parliament.
her own nomination, to see them put in execu-   "The Christian sovereign," says he,t "ought
tion., Nay, so jealous was Queen Elizabeth of not to be called head, under Christ, of the parthis branch of her prerogative, that she would ticular and visible churches within his dotainnot suffer her high court of Parliament to pass ions: it is a title not fit for any mortal man;
any bill for the amendment or alteration of the for when the apostle says Christ is iceoaj, the
ceremonies of the Church, it being, as she said, head, it is as much as if he had said Christ,
an invasion of her prerogative.              and no other, is head of the Church. No civil
4. The kings of England claimed the sole magistrate, in councils or assemblies for Church
power of the nomination of bishops; and the matters, can either be chief moderator, overdeans and chapters were obliged to choose those ruler, judge, or determiner; nor has he such
whom their majesties named, under penalty of authority as that, without his consent, it should
a premuriire; and after they were chosen and not be lawful for ecclesiastical persons to make
consecrated,they might not act but by commis- any Church orders or ceremonies. Church mat
sion from the crown. They held their very ters ought, ordinarily, to be handled by church
bishoprics for some time durante bene placito; officers. The principal direction of them is, by
and by the statute of the fifth and sixth of Ed- God's ordinance, committed to'the ministers of
ward VI., chap. i., it was enacted "that arch- the Church and to the ecclesiastical governors:
bishops and bishops shall punish by censures of as these meddle not with the making civil laws,
the Church all persons that offend," &e., whith so the civil magistrate ought not to ordain
plainly implies that without such a license or ceremonies or determine controversies in the
authority they might not do it.              Church, so long as they do not intrench upon,5. No convocation or synods of the clergy   * 37 Hen. VIII., cap. xvii., 
can assemble but by a writ or precept from the * 37 Hen. VIII., cap. xvii.,  Eliz., cap i.
anassemble but by a writ or precept from the        Thus the power, which had been for ages exercrown; -and when assembled, they can do no cised by the pope, was transferre    the ttemporal
business without the king's letters patent, ap- monarch. The acquisition of this power was highly
pointing them the particular subjects they are flattering to the love of authority in princes, eape.
to debate upon;t and, after all, their canons cially as they had been so long under subjection- to
are of no force without the roy- al 6 eAen)ti.  the pope. To a woman of Queen Elizabeth's spirit
Upon the whyol  it-is   evident, by the etx  it was, independently of every religious consicdera.
—: i._.............................~  tion, a powerful inducement to support the Reforma.
*  1 liz., cap. 1.                     tion.-ED.
t Stat. 25 Hen. VIII., aid stat. praemun.  $ Admonition to Parliament, li. ii;, p. 4, 11.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    6
his temporal authority. Nevertheless, our mean- mation, there would have been no room for the
ing is not to seclude. the magistrate from our disturbance of any whose religious principles
Church assemblies; he may call a council of were not inconsistent with the safety of the
his clergy, and appoint both time and place; government.*  Truth and charity would have
he may be there by himself or his deputy, but prevailed; the civil powers would have protectnot as moderator, determiner, or judge; he may ed the Church in her spiritual rights; and the
have his voice in the assembly, but the orders Church, by instructing the people in their duty
and decrees of councils are not made by his to their superiors, would have supported the
authority; for in ancient times the canons of state. But the Reformers, as well Puritans as
the councils were not called the decrees of the others, had different notions. They were for
emperors, but of the bishops. It is the prince's one religion, one uniform mode of worship, one
province to protect and defend the councils of form of discipline or Church government for
his clergy, to keep the peace, to see their decrees the whole nation, with which all must comply
executed, and to punish the contemners of them, outwardly, whatever were their inward sentibut to exercise no spiritual jurisdiction."  ments; it was therefore resolved to have an
We shall meet with a fuller declaration of act of Parliament to establish a uniformity of
the Puritans upon this head hereafter;. in the public worship, without any indulgence to tenmean time, it may be observed, that the just der consciences; neither party having the wis.
boundaries of the civil and ecclesiastical pow- dom or courage to oppose such a law, but both
ers were not well understood and stated in endeavouring to be included in it.
this age.                                      To make' way for this, the papists who were
The powers of the civil magistrates seem  in possession of the churches were first to be
chiefly to regard the civil welfare of his sub- vanquished; the queen, therefore, appointed a
jects: he is to protect them in their properties, public disputation in Westminster Abbey, beand in the peaceable enjoyment of their civil fore her privy council and both houses of Parand religious rights; but there is no passage in liament, March 31st, 1559, between nine of the
the New Testament that gives him a commis- bishops and the like number of Protestant dision to be lord of the consciences of his sub- vines, upon these three points:
jects, or to have dominion over their faith.   1st. Whether it was not against Scripture and
Nor is this agreeable to reason, because religion the custom of the ancient Church to use a
ought to be the effect of a free and deliberate tongue unknown to the people in the common
choice. Why must we believe as the king be- prayers and sacraments  2dly. Whether every
lieves, any more than as the clergy or pope  church had not authority to appoint, change,
If every man could believe as he would; or if and take away ceremonies and ecclesiastical
all men's understandings were exactly of a rites, so the same were done to edifying? 3dly.
size; or if God would accept of a mere outward Whether it could be proved by the Word of God
profession when commanded by law, then it that in the mass there was a propitiatory sacriwould be reasonable there should be but one fice for the dead and living,
religion, and one uniform manner of worship:   The disputation was to be in writing; but
but to make ecclesiastical laws, obliging men's the papists, finding the populace against' them,
practice under severe penalties, without or broke it off after the first day, under pretence
against the light of their consciences, looks like that the Catholic cause ought not to be submitan invasion of the kingly office of Christ, and ted to such an arbitration, though they had not
must be subversive of all sincerity and virtue.  these scruples in the reign of Queen Mary, when
On the other hand, the jurisdiction of the it was known the issue of the conference would
Church is purely spiritual. No man ought to be in their favour. The Bishops of Winchester
be compelled by rewards or punishments to be- and Lincoln said the doctrine of the Catholic
come a member of any Christian society, or to Church was already established, and that it
continue of it any longer than he apprehends it was too great, an encouragement to heretics to
to be his duty. All the ordinances of the Church admit them to'discourse against the faith before
are spiritual, and so are her weapons and cen- an unlearned multitude. They added, that the
sures. The weapons of the Church are Scrip- queen had deserved to be excommunicated;
ture and reason, accompanied with prayers and and talked of thundering out their anathemas
tears. These are her pillars, and the walls -of against the privy council, for which they were
her defence. The censures of the Church are both sent to the Tower. The reformed had a
admonitions, reproofs, or declarations of per- great advantage by their adversaries quitting
sons' unfitness for her communion, commonly the field in this manner, it being concluded from
called excommunications, which are of a:spirit-.....
ual nature, and ought not to affect men's lives,   * It would have been more consistent with our anuliberties, or estates. No man ought to be cut thor's reasoning if, instead of' religious principles,
off from the rights and privileges of a subject he had substituted actions. If religious principles are
merely because he is disqualified  for Christian to be the grounds of toleration or protection, accordmerely because he is disqualified for Christian ing to theirsupposedconsistency or inconsistencywith
communion. Nor has any church upon earth the safety of the civil government, there is not only
authority from Christ to inflict corporeal punish- room for endless disputes concerning this consistency;
ments upon those whom she may justly expel but men of the best views and characters will be liaher society; these are the weapons of civil ble to suffer through the imputation of consequences
magistrates, who may punish the breakers of arising from their principles, which they themselyes
the laws of their countries with corporeal pains disavow and abhor. Besides, the pernicious t6hdency of some principles is couriteracted by thethfluence
and penalties,,as guardians of the civil rights of   of oth ers, and the good is csitions  of the ifto  hol d
their subjects; but Christ's kingdom. is not of them. Overt acts alone: afford a clear, definite rule,
this world.                                  by which to judge  f' moral or political charactse
If these principles had obtained at the Refor- -ED.




HI-STOR-Y OF THE PURITANS.
hence that their cause would not bear the light, all the garments were laid aside except the sur
Which prepared the people for farther changes.  plice, the queen now returned to King Edward's
The papists being vanquished, the next point first book, where copes and other garments were.Was to unite the reformed among themselves, ordered to be used.
and get such, an establishment as might make    The title of the act is, an act for the uniformthem all easy; for though the troubles at Frank- ity of common prayer and service in the Church,
fort were hushed, and letters of forgiveness had  and administration of the sacraments. It was
passed between the contending parties, and  brought into the House of Commons April 18,
though-all the Reformers were of one faith, yet and was read a third time April 20. It passed
they were far froma'greeing about discipline and  the House of Lords April 28, and took place
ceremonies, each party being for settling the from the 24th of June, 1559. Heath, archbishop
Church according to their own model. Some of York,* made an elegant speech against it, in
were for the late service and discipline of the which, among other things, he observes, very
English at Geneva; others were for the service- justly, that an act of this consequence ought to
book of King Edward VI., and for withdrawing  have had the consent of the clergy in convocano farther from the Church of Rome than was tion before it passed into a law. " Not only the
necessary to recover purity of faith, and the in- orthodox, but even the Arian emperors," says
dependence of the Church upon a foreign power. he, " ordered that points of faith should be exRites and ceremonies were, in their opinion, in- amined in councils; and Gallio, by the light of
different; and those of the Ghutch of Rome pref- nature, knew that a civil judge ought not to
erable to others. because they were venerable  meddle with matters of religion."  But he was
and pompous, and because the people had been  overruled, the act of supremacy, which pa.sed
used to them: these were the sentiments of the the house the very next day, having vested this
queen, who therefore appointed a committee of power in the crown.t This statute lying open
divines to review King Edward's liturgy, and to to common view at the beginning of the Comsee if in any particular it was fit to be changed; mon Prayer Book, it is not worth while to transtheir names were Dr. Parker, Grindal, Cox, cribe it in this place. I shall only take notice
Pilkington, May, Bill, Whitehead, and Sir Thom- of one clause, by which all ecclesiastical jurisas Smith, doctor of the civil law. Their in- diction was again delivered up to the crown:
structions were to strike out all offensive pas- " The queen is hereby empowered, with the adsages against the pope, and to make people easy  vice of her commissioners or metropolitan, to
about the belief of the corporeal presence of ordain and publish such farther ceremonies and
Christ in the sacrament; but not a word in fa- rites as may be for the advancement of God's
vour of the stricter Protestants.            glory and edifying his Church, and the revHer majesty was afraid of reforming too far; erence of Christ's holy mysteries and sacrashe was desirous to retain images in churches, ments."  And had it not been for this clause of
crucifixes and crosses, vocal and instrumental a reserve of power to make what alterations
music, with all the old popish garments; it is her majesty thought fit, she told Archbishop Parnot, therefore, to be wondered that, in reviewing  ker that she would not have passed the act.
the liturgy of King Edward, no alterations were    Upon this fatal rock of uniformity in things
made in favour of those who now began to be merely indifferent, in the opinion of the impocalled Puritans, from their attempting a purer sers, was the peace of the Church of England
form of worship and discipline than had yet been  split. The pretence was decency and order;
established. The queen was more concerned  but it seems a little odd that uniformity should
for the papists, and, therefore, in thelitany this be necessary to the decent worship of.God,
passage was struck out, " From the tyranny of when in most other things there is a greater
the Bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enor- beauty in variety. It is not necessary to a demities, good Lord, deliver us." The rubric that cent dress that men's clothes should be always
declared, that by kneeling at the,sacrament no of the same colour and fashion; nor would
adoration was intended to any corporeal presence  there be any indecorum or disorder if in one
of Christ, was expunged. The committee of congregation the sacrament should be adminisdivines left it at the people's liberty to receive tered kneeling, in another sitting, and in a third
the sacrament kneeling or standing, but the  standing; or if in one and the same congregaqueen and Parliament restrained it to kneeling; tion the minister were at liberty to read prayers
so that the enforcing this ceremony was purely  either in a black gown or a surplice, supposing
an act of the state. The old festivals, with their the garments to be indifferent, which the maeves, and the popish habits, were continued, as kers of this law admitted, though the Puritans
they were in the second year of King Edward VI., denied. The rigorous pressing of this act was
till the queen should please to take them away; the occasion of all the mischiefs that befell the
for the words of the statute are, "They shall Church. for above eighty years. What good
be retained till other order shall be therein taken  end could it answer to press men's bodies into
by authority of the queen's majesty, with the the public service without convincing their
advice of the commissioners authorized under minds? If there' must be one established form
the great seal of England, for causes ecclesiastical." Some of the collects were a little alter-   * Mr. Strype says there is so much learning, and
ad; and thus the book was presented to the such strokes therein, that we need not doubt but that
vwo houses and passed into a law,* being hardly it is his.-Ann. Ref., vol. i., p. 73. The speech itself
equal to thfiat which was set out by King Ed- is in his appendix to vol. i., No. 6. This prelate was
yard, and confirmed by Parliament in the fifth always honourably esteemed by the queen, and sometear of his reign., _For whereas in that liturgy  times had the honour of a visit from her. He lived
discreetly in his own house, till by veryage he de.
* Burnet's Hist. Re., vol. ii., p. 390. Strype's parted this life.-Annals, vol. i., p. 143. —En.
Ann., p. 83.                                   t D'Ew's Journal, p. 39.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      77
of worship, there should certainly have been an    Sad were the consequences-of these two laws
indulgence for tenrder consciences. When there both to the papists and Puritans. The papists,
was a difference in the Church of the Romans in convocation, made a stand for the oid reliabout eating flesh and observing festivals, the gion; and, in their sixth session, agreed upon
apostle did not pinch them with an act of uni- the following articles, to be presented to the
formity, but allowed a latitude, Rom., xiv., 5: Parliament for disburdening their conisciences.
",Let not him that eateth judge him that eateth   1. " That in the sacrament of the altar the
not: but let every man be fully persuaded in natural body of Christ is really present, by virhis own mind. Why dost thou judge thy broth- tue of the words of consecration pronounced by
er 1 or, why dost thou set at naught thy broth- the priest.
er. For we must all stand before the judg-   2. "That after the consecration there rement-seat of Christ."  Had our Reformers fol- mains not the substance of bread and wine, nor
lowed this apostolical precedent, the Church any other substance but God-man.
of England would have made a more glorious   3. " That in the mass the true body of Christ
figure in the Protestant world than it did by is offered as a propitiatory sacrifice for the livthis compulsive act of uniformity.*:        ing and the dead.
"The Actiot Unifrmity lik its indre stattes, 4. "That the supreme power of feeding and
The Act of Uniformity,like its kindred statutes, ruling the Church is in St. Peter and his.sucwas fenced round with penalties. He who ventured cessors.
to address his Maker in other language than that of
the Book of Common Prayer, was liable to the loss   5. " That the authority of determining matof goods and chattels for the first offence, to twelve ters of faith and discipline belongs only to the
months' imprisonment for the second, and to confine- pastors of the Church, and not to laymen."
ment during life for the third. How strange it is   These articles or resolutions were presented
that men bearing the Christian name should be so to the lord-keeper by their prolocutor Dr. Harpsimpious as to prescribe to the Deity the only form of field, but his lordship gave them no answer;
supplication he shall receive! This is one of those nor did the convocation move any farther in
species of infatuation, the folly of which would amuse, matters of religion, it being apparent that they
if its impiety did not prohibit the indulgence of levi-s          of  religion, it being apparent that they
ty. The statute in question affected both the Protest- were against the Reformation.
ants and Catholics, and was peculiarly offensive to   As soon as the session was ended, the oath
such of the former as had imbibed an attachment to of supremacy was tendered to the bishops, who
a simpler ritual, and a purer form of polity, than was all refused it, except Dr. Kitchen, bishop of
established in England. It prohibited the slightest Landaff, to the number of fourteen; the rest of
deviation from the prescribed order of public worship, the sees being vacant.  Of the deprived bishops
and obviously assumed a principle which would go three retired beyond sea, viz., Dr. Pate, bishop
far to discredit and condemn the Reformation itself.
If Elizabeth, by virtue of her office as queen, pos- of Worcester, Scot of Chester, and Goldwell of
sessed the right of determining the form of public St. Asaph; Heath, archbishop of, York, Was
worship, that right belonged equally to her sister suffered to live at his own house, where the
Mary, and the fathers of the English Church were, queen went sometimes to visit him; Tonstal
consequently, wrong in refusing her obedience. But and Thirleby, bishops of Durham and Ely, resiif it be alleged that the right of the former so to legis- ded at Lambeth, in the house of Archbishop
late was founded on the correctness of her creed, by Parker, with freedom and ease; the rest wera
whom, it may be asked, was this correctness to be suffered to go at large upn their parole; only
determined? By Elizabeth herself, or by her sub- suffered to go at large upon their parole; only
jects? If the former, why is not the same admission Bonner, bishop of London, White of Winchester,
to be made in favour of Mary? and if the latter, and Watson of Lincoln, whose hands had been
where is the justice of visiting with punishment such deeply stained with the blood of the Protestants
as deemed her creed unscriptural, and her laws per-'in the late reign, were made close prisoners;
nicious? Among the innumerable follies to which but they had a sufficient maintenance from the
men have been addicted, none is more egregious or queen. Most of the monks returned to a secuabsurd than is exhibited in the end which this statute
contemplated. Were it attainable, it would be unworthy of pursuit, for it is wholly apart from reli- all others who had a mind to live where they
gion; and, if compassed, it might exist with the might have a free exercise of their religion.
greatest security where the spirit of religion is not   Several of the reformed exiles were offered
found. To whatever extent it has been accomplish- bishoprics, but refused them, on account of the
ed by human legislation, it has involved the corrup- habits and ceremonies, &c., as Mr. Whitehead,
tion of Christianity, and a most unnatural and perni- Mr. Bernard Gilpin, old father Miles Coverdale,
cious imprisonment of the human mind. What con- Mr. Knox, Mr. Thomas Sampson, and others.
ceivable benefit would flow from the-same mode of   anywho accepted did it with trembling, from
worship being enforced in every Christian assembly
throughout England? But the folly of the attempt the necessity of the times, and in hopes by their
to secure uniformity of religious worship is apparent
in its hopelessness. It has not, it will not, it cannot Christendom which does not furnish- confirmiation of
succeed. So long as religious principle endures, or these remarks; and we shall frequently have occathe human mind retains the power of thought and sion to observe the evidence of their truth which the
the faculty of research, all enactments of this kind history of our own hierarchy supplies.' The artificial
must be futile. They constitute an unnatural coer- religion of creeds and rituals withers and dies in the
cion of man's intellect; and if they appear to succeed hands of the most artful priests, and the most abso.
for a season, their ultimate defeat is thereby ren- lute and prosperous monarchs;- while the artless
dered more signal. Uniformity in the modes of reli- practice of piety and virtue, lives with the poor
gion has usually been sought at the expense of its through successive generations. Penal statutes to
living spirit. They have been mistaken for religion suppress it resemble penal-statutes to cleanse the
itself; and the energy and zeal which ought to have world of violets; fashion may banish them from the
been expended on; the conversion of an apostate burgomaster's garden,: but the heavens will unite to
world have, consequently,been employed in the-eStab- novrish them under the shade of the nettle or atthe
lishment of rites with which religion has but little if foot of an oak.' "-Robinson's Eccl. Resear=c!e, p..186.
connexion. There is not an established sect in Dr. Price, vol. i., p. 140.-C.




HrS'TDRY' OF THE PURITANS.
interest withthe queen to obtain an amendment restored, and the Church of England settled on
in-he constitution of the Church; among these its present basis. The new bishops being poor,
were Grindal, Parkhurst, Sandys, Pilkington, made but a mean figure in comparison of their
and others.                                predecessors: they were unacquainted w.ith
Tlhe sees were left vacant for some time, to, courts and equipages, and numerous attendsee: if any of:the old bishops would conform; ants; but as they grew rich, they quickly rose
but neither. time nor anything else could move in their deportment, and assumed a lordly suthem; at length, after. twelve months, Dr. Mat- periority over their brethren.
thew -Parker was consecrated Archbishop of   The hierarchy being now at its standard, it
Canterbury at Lambeth, by some of the bishops may not be improper to set before the reader in
that had been deprived in the late reign, for not one view the principles upon which it stands;.one of thepresent bishops would officiate. This, with the different sentiments of the Puritans,
with some other accidents, gave rise to the by which he will discover the reasons why the
story of his being consecrated at the Nag's Reformation proceeded no farther:
Head tavern in Cheapside, a fable that has   1. The court-reformers apprehendedthat every
been sufficiently confuted by our church histo- prince had authority to correct all abuses of
rians;* the persons concerned in the conse- doctrine and worship within his own territories.
oration were Barlow and Scory, bishops:elect From this principle, the Parliament submitted
of Chichester and Hereford; Miles Coverdale, the consciences and religion of the whole nathe deprived Wbishop -of Exeter, and Hodgkins, tion to the disposal of the king; and in case of
suffragan of Bedford; the two former appeared a minority, to his council; so that the king was
in their chimere and surplice, but the two latter sole reformer, and might, by commissioners of
wore long gowns open at the arms, with a fall- his own appointment, declare and remove all
ing cape on the shouplders.; the ceremony was manner of errors, heresies, &c., and model the
performed in a plain manner, without gloves or doctrine and discipline of the Church as he
sandals, ring or slippers, mitre or pall, or even pleased, provided his injunctions did not exwithout any of the Aaronical garments, only by pressly contradict the statute law of the land.
imposition of hands and prayer. Strange! that   Thus the Reformation took place in sundry
the archbishop should be: satisfied with -this in material points in the reigns of King Edward
his own case, and yet be so zealous to impose VI. and Queen Elizabeth, before it had the
the popish garments upon his brethren.     sanction of Parliament or convocation; and
But still it has been doubted whether Par- though Queen Mary disallowed of the supremaker's consecration was perfectly canonical.  y, she made use of it to restore the old reli1.st. Because the persons engaged in it had gion, before the laws for abolishing it were rebeen legally deprived in the late reign, and were pealed. Hence, also, they indulged the foreign
not yet restored. To which it was answered, Protestants with the liberty of their separate
that having been once consecrated, the episcopal discipline, which they denied to their own councharacter remained in them, and therefore they trymen.
might convey it; though Coverdale and Hodg-   The Puritans disowned all foreign authority
kins never exercised it after this time.   and jurisdiction over the Church as much as
2dly. Because the consecration ought by law  their brethren, but could not admit of that exto have been directed according to the statute tensive power which-the crown claimed by the
of the twenty-fifth of Henry VIII, -and not ac- supremacy, apprehending it unreasonable that
cording to the form of King Edward's Ordinal the religion of a whole nation should be at the
for ordaining and consecrating bishops, inas- disposal of a single lay person; for let the aposmuch as that book had been set aside in the tle's rule, " that all things be done decently and
late reign, and was not yet restored by Parlia- in order," mean what it will, it was not directment.                                      ed to the prince or civil magistrate. However,
These objections being frequently thrown in theytook the oath, with the queen's explication
the way of the new bishops by the papists, made in her injunctions, as only restoring her majesthem uneasy; they began to doubt of the valid- ty to the ancient and natural rights of sovereign
ity of their consecrations, or at least of their le- princes over their subjects.
gal title to their bishoprics. The affair was at   2. It was admitted by the court-reformers
length brought before Parliament,sand to silence that the Church of Rome was a true church,
all future clamours, Parker's consecration, and though corrupt in some points of doctrine and
those of his brethren, were confirmed by the government; that all her ministrations were
two houses, about seven years after they had valid, and that the pope was a true Bishop of
filled their chairs.                       Rome, though not-of the universal Church. It
The archbishop was installed December 17, was thought necessary to maintain this, for the
1569, soon after which he consecrated several support of the character of our bishops, who
of his brethren, whom the queen had appointed could not otherwise derive their succession
to the vacant sees, as Grindal to the bishopric fifom the apostles.
of London, Horn to Winchester, and Pilkington j But the Puritans affirmed the pope to be anto Durham, &c. Thus the Reformation was Ftichrist, the Church of Rome to be no true'     ~                     _   church, and all her ministrations to be super* Life of Parker, p. 38, 60, 61. Voltaire, though stitious and idolatrous; they renounced her
he knew, or, as a liberal writer observes, should have communion, and durst not risk the validity of
known, that this ~tory was refuted eten by the Purl- their ordinations upon an uninterrupted line
tams themselves, has yet related it as a fact. It was
a calumny, to which the custom of the new-ordained of succession from the apostles through their
bishops furnishing a gran dinner or entertainment hands.
gave    Wnris d'sr' Vw is oaf.England, vo.L ii., p. 3. It was agreed by all that the Holy Scrip300 -ED.                                  tures were a perfect rule of faith;Lbut the bish.




HISTO-RY OF THE PURITA.N-S.                                 79
ops and courtsreformers did not allow them a whenever they could grasp the power in)to their
standard of discipline or church government, hands. The standard of uniformity, according
but affirmed that our Saviour and his apostles to the bishops, was the queen's supremacy and
left it to the discretion of the civil magistrate, the laws of the land; according to the Puritans,
in those places where Christianity should ob- the decrees of provincial and national synods
tain, to accommodate the government of the allowed and enforced by the civil magistrate;
Church to the policy of the state.           but neither party were for admitting that liberty
But the Puritans apprehended the Holy Scrip- of conscience and freedom of profession wiech
tures to be a standard. of church discipline, as is every man's right, as far as is consistent
well as doctrine; at least, that nothing should with the -peace of the civil government he lives
be imposed as necessary but what was express- under.
ly contained in, or derived from them by neces-   The principle upon which the bishops justisary consequence. And if it should be proved flied their severities against the Puritans, in this
that all things necessary to the well govern- and the following reigns, was the subjects' ob.
ment of the Church could not be deduced from  ligation to obey the laws of their country in all
Holy Scripture, they maintained that the dis- things indifferent, which are neither commandcretionary power was not Vesated -in the civil ed nor forbidden by the laws of God. And the
magistrate, but in the spiritual officers of the excellent Archbishop Tillotson, in one of.his
Church.                                      sermons, represents the dissenters as a humnor4. The court-reformers maintained that the ous and perverse set of people, in not complying
practice of the primitive Church for the first with the service and ceremonies of the Church,
four or five centuries was a proper standard of for no other reason, says he, but because. their
church government and discipline, and in some superiors require them. But if this were. true,
respects better than that of the apostles, which, it is a justifiable reason for their dissent, supaccording to them, was only accommodated to posing the magistrate requires that which is
the infant state of the Church while it was un- not within  the bounds of his commission.
der persecution, whereas theirs was suited to the Christ, say the Nonconformists, is the sole lawgrandeur of a national establishment. There- giver of his Church, and has enjoined all things
fore they only pared off the later corruptions of necessary to be observed in it to the end of
the papacy, from the time the pope usurped the the world; therefore, where he has indulged a
title of universal bishop, and left those standing liberty to his followers, it is as much their duty
which they could trace a little higher, such as to maintain it as to observe any other of his
archbishops, metropolitans, archdeacons, suf- precepts. If the civil magistrate should, by, a
fragans, rural deans, &c., which were not known stretch of the prerogative, dispense with the
in the apostolic age, or those immediately fol- laws of his country, or enjoin new ones, a,
lowing.                                      cording to his arbitrary will and pleasure, with-..Whereas the Puritans were for keeping out consent of Parliament, would it deserve
close to the Scriptures in the main principles the brand of humour or perverseness to refuse
of' church government, and for admitting no obedience, if it were for'no other reason, but bechurch officers or ordinances but such as are cause we will not submit to an arbitrary di-.
appointed therein. They apprehended that the pensing power? Besides, if the magistrate has
form of government ordained by the apostles a power to impose things indifferent, and make
was aristocratical, according to the constitution them necessary in the service of God, he ma5
of the Jewish sanhedrim, and was designed as dress up religion in any shape, and, instead of
a pattern for the churches in after ages, not to one ceremony, may load it with a hundred.
be departed from in any of its main principles;   To return to the history. The Reformation
and, therefore, they paid no regard to the cus- being thus settled, the queen gave out commistoms of the papacy, or the practices of the ear- sions for a general visitation, and published a
lier ages of Christianity, any farther than they body of injunctions, consisting of fifty-three
corresponded with the Scriptures.            articles, commanding her loving subjects obe5. Our Reformers maintained that things in- diently to receive, and truly to observe and
different in their own nature, which are neither keep them, according to their. offices, degrees,
commanded nor forbidden in the Holy-Scrip- and states. They are almost the same with
tures, such as rites, ceremonies, habits, &c., those of King Edward. I shall, therefore, only
might be settled, determined, and made neces- give the reader an abstract of such as we may
sary by the command of the civil magistrate; have occasion -to refer to hereafter.
and that in such cases it was the indispensable   Article 1. "'All ecclesiastical persons shall see
duty of all subjects to observe them.        that-the act of supremacy be duly observed, and
But the Puritans insisted that those things shall preach four times a year against yielding
which Christ had left indifferent ought not to obedience to any foreign jurisdiction.  2. They
be made necessary by any human laws, but shall not set forth or extol the dignity of any
*.hat we are to stand fast in the liberty where- images, relics, of miracles, but shall declare the
with Christ has made us free; and farther, that abuses of the same, and that all grace is from
such rites and ceremonies as had been abused God. 3. Parsons shall preach once every month
to idolaitry, and ranianistly tended to lead men upon works of faith, mercy, and charity, cornback to popery and superstition, were no longer manded by God; and shall inform the people
indifferenv, but to be rejected as unlawful.  that works of maa's devising, such as pilgrim6. Both I'arties agreed too well in asserting ages, setting up of candles, praying upon beads,
the necessity of a unitbormity of public worship, &c., are offensive to God. 4. Parsons having
and of using thke sword of the magistrate for the -cure of souls shall preach in person once a
support and defeerce of their respective -princi- quarter at least,';o else read one Of the homilies
pies, which they made an'ill-use of in their turns prescribed by the queen to be read every Sun



80                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Mdy in the churches where there is no sermon. or child shall be otherwise busied in time of,6. Every hiolyday, when there is no sermon, Divine service, but shall give due attendance to
they shall recite from the pulpit;the Paternos- what is read and preached.  40. No person
ter, Creed, and Ten Commandments  6. With- shall teach school but such as are allowed by
in three months every parish shall provide a the ordinary. 41. Schoolmasters shall exhort
Bible, and within twelve months Erasmus's their children to love and reverence the true
Paraphrase upon the Gospels in English, and religion now allowed by authority. 42. They
set them up in their several churches. 7. The shall teach their scholars certain sentences of
clergy shall not haunt ale-houses or taverns, or Scripture tending to godliness. 43. None shall
spend their time idly at dice, cards, tables, or be admitted to any spiritual cure that are utany other unlawful game.  8. None shall be terly unlearned. 44. The parson or curate of
admitted to preach in churches without license the parish shall instruct the children of his
from  the queen or her visiters, or from the parish for half an hour before evening prayer
archbishop or bishop of the diocess. 16. All on every holyday and second Sunday in the
parsons under the degree of M.A. shall buy year, in the catechism, and shall teach them
for their own use the New Testament in Latin the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandand English, with paraphrases, within three ments. 45. All the ordinaries shall exhibit to
months after this visitation.  17. They shall the visiters a copy of the book containing the
learn out of the Scriptures some comfortable causes why any have been imprisoned, famishsentences for the sick.  18. There shall be no ed, or put to death for religion in the late reign.
popish processions; nor shall any persons walk 46. Overseers in every parish shall see that all
about the church, or depart out of it, while the the parishioners duly resort to church, and shall
priest is reading the Scriptures. 19. Never- present defaulters to the ordinary. 47. Churchtheless, the perambulation of parishes or pro- wardens shall deliver to the queen's visiters an
cessions with the curates shall continue, who inventory of all their church furniture, as vestshall make a suitable exhortation. 20. Holy- ments, copes, plate, books, and especially of
days shall be strictly observed, except in har- grayles, couchers, legends, processionals, manvest-time, after Divine service. 21. Curates uals, hymnals, portuesses, and such like, appermay not admit to the holy communion persons taining to the Church. 48. The litany and praythat live openly in sin without repentance, or ers shall be read weekly, on Wednesdays and
that are at variance with their neighbours, till Fridays. 49. Singing-men shall be continued
they are reconciled. 22. Curates, &c., shall and maintained in collegiate churches, and
teach the people not obstinately to violate the there shall be a modest and distinct song so
laudable ceremonies of the Church. 23. Also, used in all parts of the common prayers in the
they shall take away, utterly extinguish, and Church, that the same may be as plainly underdestroy all shrines, coverings of shrines; all stood as if it were read without singing; and
tables, candlesticks, trindals, and rolls of wax, yet, nevertheless, for the comforting such as
pictures, paintings, and all other monuments of delight in music, it may be permitted that, in
reigned miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, and su- the beginning or end of the common prayer,
perstition, so that there remain no memory of there may be sung a hymn, or such-like song,
the same in walls, glass windows, or else- in the best sort of melody and music that may
where, within their churches and houses; pre- be conveniently devised, having respect that
serving, nevertheless, or repairing, both the the sentences of the hymn may be understood
walls and glass windows; and they shall ex- and perceived. 50. There shall be no vain and
hort all their parishioners to do the like in their contentious disputes in matters of religion;
several houses.  28. Due reverence shall be nor the use of opprobrious words, as papist, papaid to the ministers of the Gospel. 29. No pistical, heretic, schismatic, or sacramentary.
priest or deacon shall marry without allowance Offenders to be remitted to the ordinary. 51.
of the bishop of his diocess, and two justices of.No book or pamphlet shall be printed or made
the peace; nor without consent of the parents public without license from the queen, or six of
of the woman (if she have any), or others that her privy council, or her ecclesiastical commisare nearest of kin, upon penalty of being inca- sioners, or from the Archbishops of Canterbury
pable of holding any ecclesiastical promotion, and York, the Bishop of London, the chancelor ministering in the Word and sacraments. lors of both universities, the bishop being orNor shall bishops marry without allowance of dinary, and the archdeacon also of the place,
their metropolitan, and such commissioners as where any such book shall be printed, or two
she queen shall appoint. 30. All archbishops of them, whereof the ordinary to be always one:
and bishops, and all that preach and administer the names of the licensers to be printed at the
the sacraments, or that shall be admitted into end. Ancient and profane authors are exceptany ecclesiastical vocation, or into either of the ed. 52. In time of reading the litany, and all
universities, shall wear such garments and other collects and common prayer, all the peosquare caps as were worn in the latter end of ple shall devoutly kneel; and when the natue
the reign of King Edward VI. 33. No person of Jesus shall be in any lesson, sermorp;- or
shall absent from his parish church, and resort otherways pronounced in the church, du: revto another, but upon an extraordinary occasion. erence shall be made of all persons wath low34. No innholders or public-houses shall sell ness of courtesy, and uncovering the1,heads of
meat or drink in the time of Divine service. the men, as has been heretofore accustomed."
35. None shall keep in their houses any abused   These injunctions were to be,/read in the
images, tables, pictures, paintings, and monu- churches once every quarter ofa/year.
ments of feigned miracles. 36. No man shall   An appendix was added, containing one form
disturb the minister in his sermon, nor mock of bidding prayer; and an otrer relating to taor make a jest of him. 37. No man, woman, bles in churches, which etajoins " that no altar




_IH iS  oTsRY  o aY TH ER  P U-RITA N-S.
be. taien downj but by oversight of the curate  con of London to see that the CathedralChurch
and churoh-wrdwaens or one of them at least  of St. Paul's be purged and freed from:all awherin no riotoui or disorderly-manner shall singular images, idols, and altars; and in the
beused; and that the holy tablein every church  place of the altars, to provide a decent table for
t-o decently rade, and set in the place where  the ordinary celebration of the Lord's Supper;
the altar stood, and there to stand, covered, sa-  and, accordingly, the roods anid high altar -were
ving when the sacrament -is to be administered;  taken away.*
at which time it shall be so placed within the    The populace was on the side of the -Refrchancel, as thereby the:minister may, be more  mation,t having been provoked with the cruelconveniently heard of the communicants, and  ties of the late times: great numbers attended
the-communicants also more conveniently, and  the commissioners, and brought into Che'apside,
in more numbers, communicate with the said  Paul's Churchyard, and Smithfield, the roods
minister; and after the. communion done, the  and crucifixes that were taken down,. and in
holy table shall be placed where it stood before." some places the vestments of the priests, copes,
The penalties for. disobeying these injunc- surplices, alter-cloths, books, banners5 sepultions:were, suspension, deprivations, sequestra-  chres, and burned them to ashes, as it were to
tion of fruits and beneaices, excommunication,  make atonement for- the blood of the martyrs
and such other corrections as to those: who have'which had been shed there,, Nay, they went
ecclesiastical jurisdiction under her majesty  farther, and in their furious zeal broke the pit
should seem meet.                            ed glass windows, rased out some ancient inThe major part of the visiters were laymen, scriptions, and spoiled those monuments-of the
any two of whom -were empowered to examine  dead that had any ensigns of popery upon them.
into the true state of all churches; to suspend  "The divines of this time," says Mr. Strype,
or deprive such clergymen as were unworthy, "could have been content to have been- without
and to put others in their places;* to proceed  all relics and ceremonies of the Romish Church,
against the obstinate by imprisonment, church  that there might not be the least compliance8
censures, or any other legal methods.  They  with popish devotions."  And it:had not been
were to reserve pensions for such as quitted  the worse for the Church of England if their;
their benefices by resignation; to examine into  successors had been of the same mind.
the condition of all that were imprisoned on the    But the queen disliked these proceedings:t
account of religion, and to discharge them; and  she had a crucifix, with the blessed Virgin and
to restore all such to their benefices who had  St. John, still in her chapel; and when Sandys,
been unlawfully deprived in the late times.  bishop of Worcester, spoke to her against it,
This was the first high commission, which  she threatened to deprive him. The crucifixwas issued about midsummer, 1559. It gave  was after some time removed, but replaced ill
offence to many, that the queen should give  1570. To put some stop to these proceedings,
lay-visiters authority to proceed by ecclesiasti- her majesty issued out a proclamation, dated
cat censures; but this was no, more than is fre- September 19th, in the -second year of her reign,
quently done by lay-chancellors in the ecclesi- prohibiting "the defacing or breaking any parastical courts.t  It was much more unjustifia- eel of any monument, tomb, or grave, or other
ble for the commissioners to go beyond the cen- inscription, in memory of any per#son deceased,
sures of the Church, by finesei imprisonments, or breaking any images of kings, princes, or noand inquisitory oaths, to the ruin of some hun- bles, &c., set up only in memory of them  to
dreds of families, without the authority of that posterity, and not for any religious honour; or
statute which gave them being, or any other.   the defacing or breaking any images in. glass:
Mr. Strype assures us that the visiters took  windows in any churches, without consent of
effectual care to have all the instruments and  the ordinary."  It was with great difficulty, and
utensils of idolatry and superstition demolished  not without a sort of protestation from the;bishand destroyed out of the churchs where God's ops, that her majesty consented to  have; so
pure service was to be performed; such as roods, many monuments of idolatry as are mertioned
i. e., images of Christ upon thecross,with Mary
and John standing by; also images of tutelary    * Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 175.
saints of the churches that were dedicated to   t The following anecdotes mark the strong dispo'l
them, popish books, altars, and the like. Butition of the people towards a reformation, ad are
it,~ does not appear -thatslt either the second or pleasing specimens of the skill and ingenuity:with
which Queen Elizabeth knew how to suit:h~iself to,
twenty-third article of injunctions empowered    wih     n    ethknewhowtouitherself to
them asolutly toremovea I11Ima  dtheir wishes. On -her releasing the prisoners, conthem absolutely to remove all:images  out of  fined in the former reign on account of religion, one
churches; the queen herself was as -yet-unde- Rainsford told the queen that he had a petition to
termined in that matter.+  Bishop Jewel, in his present to her, in behalf of other prisoners, calledletter to Peter Martyr, February 4th, 1560, says Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. She readily retthere was to be a conference about the lawful- plied that she must first conslt the prisoners theness of images in churches the day following, be- selves, and learn of them whether they desire tat
tween Parker and Cox, who were for them, and, -liberty which he had: asked: for them, At the time
of her coronation, from one of the principal- arches
himself and Grindal, who were against them; through which:sheowas conducted, a boypersonating
and if they prevail, says he, I will beno longera. Truth was let down, and presented herwith a Bible.
bishop.. However, it is certain that. the visit- She received it -on her knees,'-kis.so it, and placing
ers commanded.the prebendaries and archdea- it.in her bosom, said, " she prefrred:that above all... other presents that were con; thatday made her,. —
* Hist. Ref, vol. ii., p. 400.             History of Knowledge,in.,t4 iVs: Annual,  Reifisterfoi'
t This, Dr. Warner observes, was jutifying one 1789, p. 4; and Burn   Iito!y of the?Reformat'o.
albse by another. —En.                       abridged, 8v,. 34p.~~
t Hist. Ref., vol. iii,, p.~-290,.:Hiitst-ki- p.-291. Life of Parkelpp4S~".
Pierce's Vind.; p. 38.i. —               310.S, -tBy  iinala,: voL i., p. -1754176.-  -
Von. I. —L




82                       HISTORY  OF THE- PURITANS.
in her twenty-third injunction removed out of queen had died, and the old religion had been
churches; but she would not part with her altar, restored, they would have turned again; but the
or her crucifix, nor with lighted candles, out of  bishops and some of the dignified clergy having'
her own eiapel. The gentlemen and singing  sworn to the supremacy under King Henry, and
children appeared there in their surplices, and  renounced it again under Queen Mary, they
the priests in their copes: the altar was fur- thought it might reflect a dishonour upon their
nished with rich plate, and two gilt candlesticks, character to change again, and therefore they
with lighted candles, and a massy crucifix of resolved to hold together, and by their weight
silver ifi the midst: the service was sung, not endeavour to distress the Reformation. Upon
only with the sound of organs, but with the ar- so great an alteration of religion the number of
tificial music of coronets, sackbuts, &c., on sol- recusants out of nine thousand four hundred
emn festivals. The ceremonies observed by the parochial benefices was inconsiderable; and yet
knights of the garter in their adoration towards it was impossible to find Protestants of a tolerthe altar, which had been abolished by King Ed- able capacity to supply the vacancies, because
ward, and revived by Queen Mary, were retain- many of the stricter sort, who had been exiles
ed.  In short, the service performed in the for religion, could not come up to the terms of
queen's chapel, and in sundry cathedrals, was conformity and the queen's injunctions.*
so splendid and showy, that foreigners could   It may seem strange that, amid all this connot distinguish it from the Roman, except that cern for the new form of worship, no notice
it was performed in the English tongue. By  should be taken of the doctrinal articles which
this method, most of the popish laity were de- King Edward had published for avoiding diversiceived into conformity, and came regularly to  ties of opinions, though her majesty might have
Church for nine or ten years, till the pope, being  enjoined them, by virtue of her supremacy unout of all hopes of an accommodation, forbid  der the great seal, as well as her brother; but
them, by excommunicating the queen, and lay- the bishops durst not. venture them into convoing the whole kingdom under an interdict.    cation, because the majority were for the old
When the visiters had gone through the king- religion, and the queen was not very fond of her
dom, and made their report of the obedience  brother's doctrines. To supply this defect for
given her majesty's laws and injunctions, it ap- the present, the bishops drew up a declaration
peared that not above two hundred and forty- of their faith,t which all churchmen were obliged
three clergymen had quitted their livings, viz., to read publicly at their entrance upon their
fourteen bishops, and three bishops elect; one  cures.
abbot, four priors, one abbess, twelve deans,   These were the terms of ministerial conformfourteen archdeacons, sixty canons or preben- ity at this time: the oath of supremacy, comdaries, one hundred beneficed clergy, fifteen  pliance with the act of uniformity, and this decheads of colleges in Oxford and Cambridge; to  laration of faith. There was no dispute among
which may be added about twenty doctors in  the Reformers about the first and last of these
several faculties.  In one of the volumes in the  qualifications, but they differed upon the second;
Cotton library, the number is one hundred and  many of the learned exiles and others refusing
ninety-two; D'Ew's Journal mentions but one to accept of livings in the Church according to
hundred and seventy-seven; Bishop Burnet one the act of uniformity and the queen's injunchundred and ninety-nine; but Camden and Car- tions. If the popish habits and ceremonies had
dinal Allen reckon as above. Most of the infe- been left indifferent, or other decent ones aprior beneficed clergy kept their places, as they  pointed in their room, the seeds of division had
had done through all the changes of the three  been prevented; but as the case stood, it was
last reigns,* and, without all question, if the  next to a miracle that the Reformation had not
fallen back into the hands of the papists; and
* "The number of clergy who lost their preferments if some of the Puritans had not complied for the
by refusing ths oath wasypegives the fosmallower than might present, in hopes of the removal of these grievhave been expected. Strype gives the following list,
ibid., 106.' ances in more settled times, this would have
Bishops.                          14     been the sad consequence, for it was impossiDeans..       13     ble, with all the assistance they could get from
Archdeacons..14                        both universities, to fill up the parochial vacanHeads of colleges..15                   cies with men of learning and character. Many
Prebendaries..50                        churches were disfurnished for a considerable
Rectors of churches. 80    time, and not a few mechanics, altogether as
Abbots, Priors, and:Abbesses,.   6     unlearned as the most remarkable of those that
In all, 192   were ejected, were preferred to dignities and
Burnet makes the number of deans 12, and of arch- livings, who, being disregarded by the people,
deaconS the same. In the other items of this list he brought great discredit on the Reformation,
agrees with Strype.-Burnet's Reform., vol. ii., 620. while others of the first rank for learning, piety,
Collier makes the whole number to be about 250.- and usefulness in their functions, were laid by
Bccles. Hist., vol. ii., 431. The compliance of the in silence. There was little or no preaching
Catholic clergy on this occasion shows the futility of
tests, however cautiously worded, as a means of securing uniformity of doctrine. They may drive the senters' Relief Bill, in 1779, I am not afraid of those,conscientious from the service of the sanctuary, but tender and scrupulous consciences who are over caunwill never eject the formalist and hypocrite. How  tious of professing and believing too much; if they
much more noble and Christian-like was the conduct are sincerely in the wrong, I forgive their errors, and
of the Nonconformists under Charfes'the Second, respect their integrity. The men I am afraid of ar
two-thousand of heom resigned their livings rather the men who believe everything, who subscribe ever -
than burden tneir conscience by an unprincipled sub- thing, and who vote for everything.' " —Pa. Histor,
scription! It was remnrked with equal truth and -C.        * Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 72, 73.
wisdom by Bishop Shipley, in the debate on the Dis-   t See this declaration, Appendix. No. 1.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 83
all over the country; the Bishop of Bangor out of the smoke are said to be heretics, false
writes that " he had but two preachers in all his teachers, worldly, subtle prelates, with monks,
diocess."*  It was enough if the parson could friars, cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bish.
read the service, and sometimes a homily. The ops, doctors, bachelors, and masters. But not.
bishops were sensible of the calamity; but in- withstanding these and some other exceptionastead of opening the door a little wider, to let in ble passages in the notes, the Geneva Bible was
some of the more conscientious and zealous reprinted in the years 1576 and 1579, and was
Reformers, they admitted the meanest and most in such repute that some, who had been curious
illiterate who would come up to the terms of the to search into the number of its editions, say
laws, and published a second book of homilies that by the queen's own printers it was printed
for their farther assistance.              above thirty times. However, for a present supIt is hard to say, at this distance of time, how  ply, Tyndal and Coverdale's translation, printed
far the bishops were to blame for their servile in the reign of King Henry VIII., wag revised and
and abject compliance with the queen; yet one published for the use of the Church of England
is ready to think that those who had drunk so till the bishops should publish a more correct
deep of the cup of persecution, and had seen one, which they had now undertaken.
the dreadful effects of it in the fiery trial of their   Together with the exiles, the Dutch and Gerbrethren the martyrs, should have insisted as man Protestants, who, in the reign of King Edone man upon a latitude for their conscientious ward VI., had the church in Austin Friars asbrethren in points of indifference; whereas signed them for a place of worship, returned to
their zeal ran in a quite different channel; for England with John a Lasco, a Polonian, their
when the spiritual sword was put into their superintendent. They petitioned the queen to
hands, they were too forward in brandishing it restore them to their church and privileges,
over the heads of others, and even to outrun the which her majesty declined for some time, belaws, by suspending, depriving, fining, and im- cause she would not admit of a stranger to be
prisoning men of true learning and piety, popu- superintendent of a church within her nishop's
lar preachers declared enemies of popery and diocess. To take off this objection, Alasco resuperstition, and of the same faith with them- signed, and the people chose Grindal, bishop of
selves, who were fearful of a sinful compliance London, their superintendent; and then the
with things that had been abused to idolatry.   queen confirmed their charter, which they still
All the exiles were now come home, except a enjoy, though they never chose another- sulew of the Puritan stamp that stayed at Geneva perintendent after him. The French Protestto finish their translation of the Bible, begun in ants were also restored to their church in
the late reign. The persons concerned in it were Threadneedle-street, which they yet enjoy.
Miles Coverdale, Christ. Goodman, John Knox,   The Reformation took place this year in
Ant. Gibbs, Thomas Sampson, William Cole, of Scotland, by the preaching of Mr. John Knox,
Corpus Christi College, Oxon, and William Whit- a bold and courageous Scotch divine, who shuntingham: they compared Tyndal's old English ned no danger, nor feared the face of any man
Bible first with the Hebrew, and then with the in the cause of religion. He had been a preachbest modern translations; they divided the chap- er in England in King Edward's time, then an
ters into verses, which the former translators exile at Frankfort, and at last one of the minishad not done; they added some figures, maps, ters of the English congregation at Geneva,
and tables, and published the whole in 1560, at from whence he arrived at Edinburgh, May 2d,
Geneva, in quarto, printed by Rowland Harle, 1559, being forty-five years of age, and settled
with a dedication to the queen, and an epistle to at Perth, but was a sort of evangelist over the
the reader, dated April 10th, which are left out whole kingdom. He maintained this position,
in the later editions, because they touched some- that if kings and princes refused to reform reliwhat severely upon certain ceremonies retained gion, inferior magistrates and the people)-being
in the Church of England, which they excited directed and instructed in the truth:by-their
her majesty to remove, as having a popish as- preachers, may lawfully reform within their
pect; and because the translators had published own bounds themselves; and if all, or the far
marginal notes, some of which were thought to greater part, be enlightened by the truth, they
affect the queen's prerogative, and to allow the may make a public reformation.  Upon this
subject to resist wicked and tyrannical kings; principle the Scots Reformers humbly petitiontherefore, when the proprietors petitioned the ed the queen-dowager, regent for het daughter
secretary of state for reprinting it in England  [Mary], now in France, for liberty to assemble
for public use, in the year 1565, it was refused, publicly or privately for prayer, for reading and
and the impression stopped, till after the death explaining the Holy Scriptures, and administer.
of the archbishop, in the year 1576.t The au- ing the sacraments of baptism and the Lotd's
thor of the Troubles at Frankfort, published in Supper in the vulgar tongue; and the latter in
the year 1575, complains that "if the Geneva both kinds, according to Christ's institution.
Bible be such as no enemy of God can justly This reasonable petition not being admitted,
find fault with, then may men marvel that such certain noblemen and barons formed an associa work, being so profitable, should find so small ation, resolving to venture their lives and forfavour as not to be printed again."T The ex- tunes in this cause; and they encouraged as
ceptionable notes were on Exodus, xv., 19, where many of the curates of the parishes within their
disobedience to kings is allowed; 2 Chron., xix.. districts as were willing to read the prayers
16, where Asa is censured for stopping short at and lessons in English, but not to expound thie
the deposing of his mother, and not executing Scriptures till God  sh6uld dispose the queen to
her; Rev., ix., 3, where the locusts that come grant them liberty. This being executed at
Perth and,tl:ineighbouring parts without dieHickman.,.86.    t Life of Parker, p. 2.   turbance, the association spread, and was sign-: Hickman a-,-inst Heylin, p. 179.




84                     HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS.
ed by great numbers, even in the capital city of 1 lace being warmed, pulled down altars and imEdinburgh. -Upon this they presented another ages, plundered the monasteries, and dismantled
petition, representing to the regent the unsea- the churches of their superstitious ornaments.
sonableness of her rigour against the:Protest- The regent marched against them at the head
ants, considering their numbers; but she was of two thousand French, and two thousand
deaf to all moderate councils. At the meeting  Scots in French pay; but being afraid to venof the Parliament the congregation, or heads of ture a battle, she retreated to Dunbar, and the
the association, presented the regent with sun- confederates made themselves masters of Perth,
dry articles relating to liberty of conscience, to  Scone, Stirling, and Lithgow.'At length a truce
lay before the house, which she suppressed, and was concluded, by which the ministers of the
would not suffer to be debated; whereupon congregation had liberty to preach in the pulpits
they drew up the following protestation, and  of Edinburgh for the present; but the regent,
desired it might be recorded:," That since they having soon after received large recruits from
could not procure a reformation, agreeable to  France, repossessed herself of Leith, and orderthe Word of God, from the government, that it ed it to be fortified and stored with all necessamight be lawful for them to follow the dictates ry provisions; the confederates desired her to
of their consciences. That none that joined  demolish the works, alleging it'to be a violawith them in the profession of the true faith tion of the truce; but she commanded them
should be liable to any civil penalties, or incur upon their allegiance to be quiet and lay down
any damages for so doing. They protest that their arms; and marching directly to Edinburgh,
if any tumults arise on the score of religion, the she obliged them to desert the city and retire
imputation ought not to lie upon them who now  to Stirling, whither the French troops followed
humbly entreat for a regular remedy; and that them, and dispersed them into the mountains.
in all other things they will be most loyal sub- In this low condition they published a proclajects."  The regent acquainted the court of, mation, discharging the regent of her authority;
France with the situation of affairs, and receiv- and threatening to treat as enemies all that'
ed an order to suffer no other religion but the obeyed her orders; but not being able' to stand
Roman Catholic to be professed, with a promise their ground, they threw themselves into the
of large supplies of forces to support her. Upon arms of  Queen Elizabeth, who, being sensible
this' she summoned the magistrates of Perth, of the danger of the Protestant religion, and of
and the Reformed ministers, to' appear before her own crown, if Scotland should become enher at Stirling, with a design to have them ban- tirely popish, under the government of a queen
ished by' a solemn decree. The ministers ap- of France, who claimed the crown of England,
peared accordingly, being attended by vast entered into an alliance to support the confedcrowds of people armed and prepared to defend  erate Protestants in their religion and civil libthem, agreeably to the custom  of Scotland, erties, and signed the treaty at Berwick, Febwhich allowed criminals to come to their trials ruary 27, 1560.
attended with their relations and friends. The   Among other articles of this treaty, it was
regent, astonished at the sight, prayed John  stipulated that the queen'should send forces into
Areskin to persuade the multitude to retire, and  Scotland, to continue there till Scotland was regave her parole that nothing should be decreed  stored to its liberties and privileges,- and the
against the ministers; but they were no sooner French driven out of the kingdom.' Accordinggone quietly home than she condemned them  ly, her majesty sent an army of seven thousand
for non-appearance.        -'    foot and twelve'hundred horse, which joined
This news being brought to Perth, the burgh- the confederate army of like force.*  This army
ers,'enouraged by great numbers of the nobil- was afterward re-enforced by a large detachment
ity and neighbouring gentry, formed an army of from the northern marches, under the command
seven thousand men, under the command of the of the Duke of Norfolk; after which they took
Earl of Glencairne, for the defence of their min- the city of Leith, and obliged the queen-regent
isters against the regent, who was marching  to shut herself up in the castle of Edinburgh,
with'an  army of French and Scots to drive where she died June 10th. The French offered
them out of their country; but being informed to restore Calais, if the queen would recall her
of the preparation of the burghers, she consented  forces from'Scotland; but she refused. At
to a treaty,: by which it was agreed that she length, the troubles of France requiring all their
should be: received. with honour into the city, forces at home, plenipotentiaries were sent into
and be suffered to lodge in it some days, provi- Scotland to treat with Elizabeth about withded'she would promise to make no alteration in drawing the French forces out of that kingdom,
religion,- but refer all to the Parliament; the  and restoring the Scots to their parliamentary
Scots forces on both sides to be dismissed; but government. The treaty was concluded the bethe reformed'had no sooner disbanded their ginning of August, whereby a general amnesty
army, and opened their gates to the regent, than  was granted; the English and French forces
she broke all the articles, set up the mass, and  were to withdraw in two months, and a parlia
left a garrison of French in the town, resolving ment to be called with all convenient speed, to
to make it a place of arms. Upon this notori- settle the affairs of religion and the kingdom;
ous'breach of treaty, as -well as the regent's but Francis and Mary refused to-ratify it.
declaration that promises were not to be kept   Before the Parliament met'Francis died, and
with heretics, the congregations of Fife, Perth, left Mary Queen of Scots a young widow. The
Dundee, An>us, Mearns, and Montrose raised  late treaty not being ratified, the Parliament had
a little army, and signed an:engageinet* to as- no direct authority fromt the crown, but-;iassemsist'eaeh ther in'naiantaining the Reformation  bled by virtue of the late treaty, and received
with theit lives andt ftunes. Mr. Knox en-....
couraged them by his serinsis; and the popu —        * Rapin, voL viii., p. 271.




HISTORY  OF TI'El  PURITANS.                                85
the following petitions from the barons and gen- the Reformers expected.. But after the recess
tlemen concerning religion:                  of the Parliament, several noblemen. barons,
1. 1" That the doctrines of the Roman Church and chief gentlemen of the nation met together,
should be suppressed by act of Parliament, in at the instance of Mr. Knox, and signed it, rethose exceptionable points therein mentioned.  solving to abide by the new discipline tilltit
2. "That the discipline of the ancient Church should be confirmed or altered by Parliament.
be revived.                                  From this time the old hierarchical government
3. " That the pope's usurped authority be dis- was disused, and the kirk was governed by gencharged."                                    eral, provincial, and classical assemblies, with
All which was voted, and the ministers were superintendents, though there was no law for it
desired to draw up a confession of faith, which till some years after.
they expressed in twenty-five articles, agreeable   To return to England. The popish bishops
to the sentiments of Calvin and the foreign Re- behaved rudely towards the queen and her new
formers. The confession, being read in Parlia- bishops: they admonished her majesty by letter
ment, was carried but with three dissenting voi- to return to the religion of her ancestors,. and
ces, the popish prelates offering nothing in de- threatened her with the censures of the Church5
fence of their religion.                     in case she refused. This not prevailing, Pope
By another act the pope's authority was abol- Pius IV. himself exhorted her by letter, dated
ished, and reading mass was made punishable, May 5, 1570, to reject evil counsellors, and obey
for the first offence, with loss of goods; for the his fatherly admonitions, assuring her that, if
second, banishment; and for the third, death. she would return to the bosom of the: Church,
This was carrying matters too far; for to judge he would receive her with the like affectionate
men to death for matters of mere conscience love as the father in the Gospel received his
that do not affect the government, is not to be son. Parpalio, the nuncio that was sent with
justified.  "To affirm that we are in the right this letter, offered, in the pope's name, to conand others in the wrong," says Mr. Collyer,* firm the English liturgy, to allow of the sacra"is foreign to the point; for every one that suf- ment in both kinds, and to disannul the senfers for religion thinks himself in the right, and tence against her mother's marriage; but the
therefore ought not to be destroyed for his sin- queen would not part with her supremacy.*
cerity, for the prejudices of education, or the Another nuncio, the Abbot Martmegues, was
want of a better understanding, unless his opin- sent this summer with other proposals, but was
ions have mutiny and treason in them, and shake stopped in Flanders, and forbid to set foot in
the fbundations of' civil society."          the realm. The emperor, and other Roman
Upon the breaking up of the Parliament a Catholic princes, interceded with the queen to
commission was directed to Mr. Knox, Willock, grant her subjects of their religion churches to
Spotiswood, and some other divines, to draw up officiate in after their own manner, and to keep
a sche me of discipline for the Church, which up a separate communion; but her majesty was
they did pretty much upon the Geneva plan, too politic to trust them, upon which they enonly admitting superintendents in the room of tered upon more desperate measures, as will be
bishops, and rejecting imposition of hands in seen hereafter.t 
the ordination of ministers, because that mira-   Archbishop Parker visited his diocess this
cles were ceased, which they apprehended to ac- summer, and found it in a deplorable condition,
company that ceremony.  Their words are the major part of the beneficed clergy being
these:t "Other ceremonies than the public ap- either mechanics or mass-priests in disguise;
probation of the people, and declaration of the many churches were shut up, and in those that
chief minister, that the person there presented were open, not a sermon was to be heard. in
is appointed to serve the Church, we cannot ap- some counties within the compass of twenty
prove; for albeit the apostles used imposition of miles; the people perished' for lack of knowlhands, yet, seeing the miracle is ceased, the using edge, while men who were capable of -instructof the ceremony we judge notnecessary." They ing them were kept out of the Church, or, at
also appointed ten or twelve superintendents to least, denied all preferment.in it. But -the
plant and erect kirks, and to appoint ministers queen wasiot so much concerned for this as
in such counties as should be committed to their for maintaining her supremacy; his, grace,
care, where there were none already.  But then therefore, by her order, drew up a form of subthey add, these men must not live like idle bish- scription to be made by all that held any ecops, but must preach themselves twice or thrice clesiastical preferment,$ wherein they acknowla week, and visit their districts every three or edge and confess " that the restoring the sufour months, to inspect the lives and behaviour premacy to the crown, and the abolishing all
of the parochial ministers, to redress grievan- foreign power, as well as the administration of
ces, or bring them before an assembly of the the sacraments according to the Book of Comkirk. The superintendents were to be chosen mon Prayer and the queen's injunctions, is
by the ministers and elders of the several prov- agreeable to the Word of God and the.practice
inces, and to be deprived by them for misbeha- of the primitive Church."  Which most that
viour. The assemblies of the kirk were divided favoured the Reformation, as:well.as great
into classical, provincial, and national, in which numbers of time-serving priests, complied with;
last the dernier resort of all kirk-jurisdiction was but some refused, and were deprived.
lodged.
When this. plan of discipline was laid before   * Foxes and Firebrand part iii., p. 15, 18.
the estates, it was referred to farther consider-   "Elizabeth," as p   arer expresses it, " was
ation, and had not a parliamentary sanction, as not to be won with either threats or. entreaties to.......       part with her 8upremacy, of which she was as fond
* Collyer's Ecel. Hist., p. 468.    as the king- her father."-ED.
t First Book of Discipline, p. 31.    t Strype's Ann., p. 408. -4 Life of Parker, p. 77




86                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
The next thing the archbishop undertook end of this Common Prayer Book, printea t
was settling the calendar, and the order of lea- Jug and Cawood, 1560, were certain prayers for
sons to be read throughout the year, which his private and family use, which in the lt'a;r edigrace, as one of the ecclesiastical commission- tions are either shortened or left out. Mr. St:ype
ers, procured letters under the great seal to re- cannot account for this conduct, but says it was
form.*  Before this time it was left to the dis- great pity that the people were disfurnished of
cretion of the minister to change the chapters those assistances they so much wanted; but
to be read in course for some others that were the design seems to have been to confine all demore for edification; and even after this new  votion to the Church, and to give no liberty to
regulation the bishops recommended it; for in clergy or laity, even in their closets or families,
the preface to the second book of homilies, pub- to vary from the public forms. An admonition
lished in the year 1564, there is a serious ad- was published at the same time, and set up in
monition to all ministers ecclesiastical to be all churches, forbidding all parsons under the
diligent and faithful in their high functions, in degree of master of arts to preach or expound
which, among others, is this remarkable instruc- the Scriptures, or to innovate or alter anything,
tion to the curates or ministers.t  "If one or or use any other rite but only what is set forth,other chapter of the Old Testament falls in or- by authority; these were only to read the homder to be read on Sundays or holydays, it shall ilies.*  And whereas, by reason of the scarcity
be well done to spend your time to consider of ministers, the bishops had admitted into the
well of some other chapter in the New Testa- ministry sundry artificers and others, not brought
ment of more edification, for which it may be up to learning, and some that were of base occhanged. By this your prudence and diligence cupation, it was now  desired that no more
in your office will appear, so that your people tradesmen should be ordained till the convocamay have cause to glorify God for you, and-be tion met and took some better order in this
the readier to embrace your labours."  If this affair.
indulgence had been continued, one consider-   But it was impossible to comply with this adable difficulty to the Puritans had been remo- monition; for so many churches in country
ved, viz., their obligation to read the Apocrypha towns and. villages were vacant, that in some
lessons; and surely there could be no great places there was no preaching, noi so much as
danger in this, when the minister was confined reading a homily, for many months together.
within the canon of Scripture.              In sundry parishes it was hard to find persons
But this liberty was not long permitted, to baptize, or bury the dead; the bishops, therethough, the admonition being never legally re- fore, were obliged to admit of pluralists, nonversed, Archbishop Abbot was of opinion that residents, civilians, and to ordain such as offerit was in force in his time, and ought to have ed themselves, how meanly soever they were
been allowed the clergy throughout the course qualified, while others, who had some scruples
of this reign.t His words are these, in his book about conformity, stood by unprovided for; the
entitled "Hill's Reasons Unmasked," p. 317: learned and industrious Mr. John Fox, the mar
" It is not only permitted to the minister, but tyrologist, was of this number, for in a letter
recommended to him, if wisely and quietly he to his friend Dr. Humphreys, lately chosen
do read canonical Scripture where the Apocry- President of Magdalen College, Oxon, he writes
pha, upon good judgment, seemeth not so fit; thus: "I still wear the same clothes, and re
or any chapter of the canonical may be con- main in the same sordid condition that England
ceived not to have in it so much edification be- received me in when I first came home out of
fore the simple as some other parts of the same Germany, nor do I change my degree or ordel
canonical Scriptures may be thought to have." which is that of the Mendicants; or, if you will
But the governing bishops were of another of the friars-preachers."  Thus pleasantly did
mind: they would trust nothing to the discretion this grave and learned divine reproach the inof the minister, nor vary a tittle from the act of gratitude of the times. The Puritans complaineti
uniformity.                                 of these hardships to the queen, but there was
Hitherto there were few or no peculiar les- no remedy.
sons for holydays and particular Sundays, but   The two universities could give little or no
the chapters of the Old and Ne*aTestaments assistance to the Reformers; for the professors
were read in course, without any interruption and tutors, being of the popish religion, had trainor variation; so it is in the Common Prayer ed up the youth in their own principles for the
Book of 1549, fol.~  In the second edition of last six or seven years. Some of the heads of
that book, under King Edward VI., there were colleges were displaced this summer, and Protproper lessons for some few holydays, but none estants put in their room; but it was a long
for Sundays; but now there was a table of time before they could supply the necessities ot
proper lessons for the whole year, thus entitled, the Church. There were only three Protestant
"Proper lessons to be read for the first lesson, preachers in the University of Oxford in the
both at morning and evening prayer, on the year 1563, and they were all Puritans, viz., Dr.
Sundays throughout the year; and for some Humphreys, Mr. Kingsmill, and Mr. Sampson;
also the second lessons."  It begins with the and though by the next year the clergy were so
Sundays of Advent, and appoints Isa., i., for mat- modelled that the bishops procured a convocains, and Isa., ii., for even-song. There is anoth- tion that favoured the Reformation, yet they
er table for proper lessons on holydays, begin- were such poor scholars that many of them could
ning with St. Andrew; and a third table for hardly write their names.
proper psalms,on certain days, as Christmas,   Indeed, the Reformation went heavily on.
Easter, Ascension Whitsunday, &c. At the The queen could scarcely be persuaded to part
* M.S.penes me, p 88.  t Life of Parker p. 84. with images, nor consent to the marriage of the
Z Strype's Ann., p. 117.  6 Life of Parker, p. 83.    * Life of Parker, p. 90.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       87
clergy; for she commanded that no head or    It has been warmly disputed whether the
member of any collegiate or cathedral church  first clause of the twentieth article, " The
should bring a wife or any other woman within  Church has power to decree rites and ceremothe precincts of it, to abide in the same, on pain  nies, and authority in controversies of faith,"
of forfeiture of all ecclesiastical promotions:*  was a part of the article which passed the synand her majesty would have absolutely forbid  od, and was afterward confirmed by Parliament
the marriage of all her clergy, if Secretary Ce- in the year 1571.  It is certain that it is -not
cil had not briskly interposed.  She repented  among King Edward's articles; nor is it, in
that she had made any married men bishops, that original manuscript of the articles suband told the archbishop, in anger, that she in- scribed by both houses of convocation with
tended to publish other injunctions, which his their own hands, still preserved in Bene't Colgrace understood to be in favour of popery; lege library among the rest of Archbishop Parupon which the archbishop wrote to the secre- ker's papers.  The records of this convocation
tary that he was sorry the queen's mind was so  were burned in the fire of London, so that there
turned, but in such a case he should think it his is no appealing to them; but Archbishop Laud
duty to obey God rather than man. Upon the  says that he sent to the public records in his
whole, the queen was so far from improving her office, and the notary returned him the twentibrother's reformation, that she often repented  eth article with the clause; and that afterward
she had gone so far.t                          he found the book of articles subscribed by the
Her majesty's second Parliament met the  lower house of convocation in 1571, with the
12th of January, 1562, in which a remarkable  clause.  Heylin says that he consulted the recact was passed, for assurance of the queen's ords of convocation, and that the contested
royal power over all states and subjects within  clause was in the book; and yet Fuller, a much
her dominions.  It was a confirmation of the  fairer writer, who had the liberty of perusing
act of supremacy.  "All persons that by wri- the same records, declares that he could not
ting, printing, preaching, or teaching, maintain- decide the controversy.*   The fact is this:
ed the pope's authority within this realm, incur- the statute of 1571 expressly confirms English
red a premunire for the first offence, and the sec- articles comprised in an imprinted book, entiond was high treason.  The oath of supremacy  tied " Articles, whereupon it was agreed by the
was to be taken by all in holy orders, by all archbishops and bishops of both provinces, and
graduates in the universities, lawyers, school- the whole clergy in the convocation holden at
masters, and all other officers of any court London in the year 1562, according to the comwhatsoever; and by all knights, citizens, and  putation of the Church of England; for the
burgesses, in Parliament."$  But the archbish- avoiding diversity of opinions, and for the esop, by the queen's order, wrote to the bishops tablishing of consent touching true religion:
not to tender the oath but in case of necessity, put forth by the queen's authority.". Now there
and never to press it a second time without his were only two editions of the articles in Engspecial direction; so that none of the popish  lish before this time, both which have the same
bishops or divines were burdened with it except numerical title with that transcribed in the
Bonner and one or two more.                   statute, and both, says my author, want the
The convocation was opened at St. Paul's the  clause of the Church's power. But Mr. Strype,
day after the meeting of the Parliament. Mr. in his life of Archbishop Parker, says that the
Day, provost of Eton, preached the sermon, clause is to be found in two printed copies of
and Alexander Nowel, dean of St. Paul's, was  1563, which I believe very few have seen.t
chosen prolocutor. Her majesty having direct- However, till the original MS. above mentioned
ed letters of license to review the doctrine and  can be set aside, which is carefully marked as
discipline of the Church, they began with the
doctrine, and reduced the forty-two articles of imputing to the Anabaptists as the Pelagians, the
King Edward VI. to the number of thirty-nine, opinion that original sin consisted in following of
Adam: in this revisal of the articles the part of the
as at present, the following articles being omit- clause charging theAnabaptists icesth that opinion
ted: Article 39. The resurrection of the dead  was left out. That article concerning baptism stated
is not passed already.  Art. 40. The souls of  also the grounds of administering that rite to infants
men deceased do neither perish with their bod- in this manner: "The custom of the Church for
ies nor sleep idly. Art. 41. Of the Millenarians. baptizing young children is both to be commended,
Art. 42. All men not to be saved at last. Some  and by all means to be retained in the Church."  It
of the other articles underwent~ a new division, seems, by this, that the first Reformers, did not found
two being joined into one, and in other parts the practice of infant baptism upon Scripture; but
took it only as a commendable custom that had been
one is divided into two; but there is no remark- used in the Christian Church, and, therefore, ought
able variation in the doctrine.~              to be retained.-Crosby's History of the English Bap
tists, vol. i., p. 54.-ED.
Life of Parker, p. 107, 109.                 * Church History, b. ix., p. 74.
t Of this Dr. Warner gives the following instances:   t The celebrated Mr. Anthony Collins discussed
When the Dean of St. Paul's, in a sermon at court, the question concerning the genuineness of this
spoke with some dislike of the sign of the cross, her clause, in several publications; and professed to demajesty called aloud to him from her closet, com- monstrate that it was not a part of the articles agreed
manding him to desist from that ungodly digression, on by the convocations of 1562 and 1571. His first
and to return to his text. At another time, when one pamphlet was entitled, Priestcraft in Perfection. Its
of her chaplains preached a sermon on Good Friday  appearance gave a general alarm to the clergy; and
in defence of the real presence, which, without guess- a variety of pamphlets, sermons, and larger works,
ing at her sentiments, he would scarce-have ventured  in reply to it, issued forth from the press. The two
on, she openly gave him thanks for his pains and pi- principal of which Mr. Collins answered in 1724, in
ety.-Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 427.-ED.  " An Historical: and Critical Essay on the Thirty?
t Life of P;'er, p. 126.-                  nine Articles of the Church of England." —See Brit-' The eigl  article of Edward VI. had a clause ith Biography, vol. ix., p. 275, 278, &c.-ED.




-88                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
to the number of pages, and the number of lines   "That the psalms MTay be sung distinctly
and articles in each:page, it seems more proba- by the whole congregation, and that Organs
ble that the clause was some way or other sur- may be laid aside. That none may baptize but'eptitiously inserted-by those who were friends ministers, and that they mary leave off the sign
of the Church's power, than struck out by the of the cross. That at the ministration of the
Puritans, as Laud and his followers have pub- communion the posture of kneeling may be left
lished to the world; for it is hard to suppose indifferent. That the use of copes and surplices
that a foul copy, as this is pretended to be, may be taken away; so that all ministers in
should be so carefully marked and subscribed their ministry use a grave, comely, and sad gar
by every member of the synod with their own ment, as they commonly do in preaching. That
hands, and yet not be perfect; but it:is not im- ministers be not compelled to wear such gowns
probable that the notary or registrar, who tran- and caps as the enemies of Christ's Gospel have
scribed the articles into the convocation-book, chosen to be the special array of their priestwith the names of them that subscribed, might, hood. That the words in the thirty-third artiby direction of his superiors, privately insert it; cle, concerning the punishment of those who do
and so it might appear in the records of 1571, not in all things conform to the public order
though it was not in the original draught. about ceremonies, may be mitigated. That all
The controversy is of no great moment to the saints' days, festivals, and holydays, bearthe present clergy, because it is certain the ing the name of a creature, may be abrogated;
clause was a part of the article confirmed by or at least a commemoration only of them reParliament at the restoration of King Charles served by sermons, homilies, or common prayer,
II., 1862; though how far it was consistent for the better instructing the people in history;
with the act of supremacy, which lodged the and that after service men may go to work."
ultimate power of determining matters of faith    I have subjoined the names of the subscribers
and discipline in the crown, I must leave with to this paper, that the reader may take notice
the reader. The synod itself seemed to be ap- what considerable persons they were for learnprehensive of the danger of a praemunire, and, ing and ability, as well as numbers, that desired
therefore, after their names these words were a farther reformation in the Church.*
cautiously added: "Ista subscriptio facta est   This paper not being approved, another was
ab omnibus sub hac protestatione, quod nihil brought into the lower house February 13, constatuunt in prwejudicium  cujusquam  senatus taining the following articles to be approved or
consulti, sed tantum  supplicem libellum. peti- rejected.t
tiones suas continentem  humiliter offerunt: i. e,   " That all Sundays in the year, and principal
" This subscription is made by all, with this pro- feasts of Christ, be kept holydays, and that all
testation, that they determine nothing in preju- other holydays be abrogated. That in all parish
dice of any act of Parliament, but only offer this churches the minister, in the common prayer,
little book to the queen or Parliament, contain- turn his face towards the people, and there read
ing their requests and petitions."           distinctly the service appointed, that the people
The articles were concluded, and the sub- pmay hear and be edified. That in baptism the
scription finished, in the chapter-house of St. &oss may be omitted, as tending to superstiPaul's, January 31, 1562, in the ninth session tion. Forasmuch as divers communicants are
of convocation.*  All the bishops subscribed
except Gloucester and Rochester, who, I believe,   * Alexander Nowel, dean of St. Paul's and prolowere absent. Of the lower house there were cutor.
upward of a hundred hands; but, whatever their   Sampson, dean of Christ Church, Oxon.
learning was, many of them wrote so ill that it   Lawrence Nowel, dean of Litchfield.
was hard to read their names. Among the   Ellis, dean of Hereford.
subscribers are several of the learned exiles,   Dodds, dean of Exon.
who were dissatisfied with the constitution; as   Mullins, archdeacon of London.
the Reverend Mr. Beseley, Watts, Cole, Mul-   Pullan, archdeacon of Colchester.
lyns, Sampson, Pullan, Spencer, Wisdom, Now-   Lever, archdeacon of Coventry.
el, Heton, Beaumont, Pqdder, Lever, Pownal,   Bemont, archdeacon of Huntingdon.
Wilson, Croley, and others. But the articles   Spencer, archdeacon of Chichester.
did not pass into a law, and become a part of   Croley, archdeacon of Hereford.
the establishment, till nine years after, though   Rogers, archdeacon of St. Asaph.
some of the more rigid bishops of the ecclesias-   Kemp, archdeacon of St. Alban's.
tical commission insisted upon subscription from    Prat, archdeacon of St. David's.
this time.                                     Longland, archdeacon of Bucks.
The next considerable affair that came under   Watts, archdeacon of Middlesex.
debate was the rites and ceremonies of the Calfhil,         Church of Oxon.
Church; and here, first, Bishop Sandys brought Walker,     Clergy of Suffolk.
in a paper of advice to move her majesty,    Saul,          Dean and chapter of Gloucester
"That private baptism, and baptism by wom- Wiburne,       Churchof Rochester.
en, may be taken out of the Common Prayer Savage,    A  Clergy of Gloucester.
W. Bonner,  4 Church of Somerset.
Book. That the cross in baptism may be dis- Avys,         ) Church of Wigorn. 
allowed, as needless and superstitious. That Wilson,     t  Church of Wigorn, Worcester.
commissioners may be appointed to reform the Nevynson,  0  Clergy of Canterbury.
ecclesiastical laws."                        Tremayne,  2  Clergy of Exeter.
Another paper was presented to the house Renyger,' Dean and chapter of Winton.
with the following requests, signed by thirty- Roberts,     Clergy of Norwich.
three names.                                 Reeve,        1 Dean and chapter of Westminster
-hree n ames'~............... _ ~Hills,       IClergy of Oxon.
Strype's Annals, p. 329.           f Strype's Annals, p. 337.




HISTORY O-F THE PURITANS.                                       89
not able to kneel for age and sickness at the  was determined to make no alteration in the
sacrament, and others kneel and knock super- ceremonies, nor any abatement of the present
stitiously, that therefore the order of kneeling  establishment.*
may be left to the discretion of the ordinary.    I mention these names, not to detract from
That it be sufficient for the minister, in time of the merit of those who appeared for the present
saying Divine service and ministering of the  establishment, for many of them  would have
sacraments (once), to wear a surplice; and that voted for the alterations, had they not been
no minister say service or minister the sacra- awed by their superiors, or afraid of a premuments but in a comely garment or habit. That nire; whereas, if the contrary vote had prevailthe use of organs be removed."                  ed, it was only to address the queen or Parlia.
These propositions were the subject of warm  ment to alter the service-book in those particyldebates; some approving and others rejecting  lars; but I mention them  to show  that the
them.  In conclusion, the house being divided, voice of half the clergy in convocation, and ot
it appeared, upon the scrutiny, that the majority  no less numbers out of it, were for amendments,
of those present were for approving them, forty- or, at least, a latitude in the observation of the
three against thirty-five; but when the proxies  rites and ceremonies of the Church.  Indeed,
were counted, the scale was turned; those who  it was very unkind that, when such considerwere for the propositions being fifty-eight, and  able abatements had been made in favour of
those against them fifty-nine; so that by the  the Roman Catholics, nothing should be in
majority of one single voice, and that not a per- dulged to those of the same faith, and who hafi
son present to hear the debates but a proxy,* it suffered in the same cause with themselves,
especially when the controversy was about
* "The authenticityof the first part ofthetwentieth  points which one party apprehended to be sinarticle, which affirms that' the Church hath power to  ful, and the other acknowledged to be inrifferdecree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controver- ent.  Sundry other papers and petitions were
sies of faith,' has been impugned ongrounds which, to
say the least, are entitled to respect. The charge of
interpolation was first advanced by Burton, during  favour of a farther reformation, but nothing
the reign of Charles the First. In a letter to the tem- passed into a law.
poral lords of the privy council, he says,' The prelates, to justify their proceedings, have forged a new  Strype and Collier maintain the opposite.-Fuller's
article of religion, brought from Rome,(which gives  Ch. Hist., vol. ix., 73. Neal's Puritans, vol. i., 147.
them full power to alter the doctrine and discipline  Strype's Parker, vol. ii., 54. Collier's Eccl. Hist., voL
of our Church at a blow), and have foistbed it into the  i., 486."-C.
twentieth article of our Church. And this is in the last   * The names of the forty-three that approved the
edition of the Articles, 1628, in affront of his majes- above articles were,
ty's declaration before them. The clause forged is   Dean Nowel, prolocutor, St. Paul's.
this: The Church (that is, the bishops, as they ex-   Mr. Archdeacon Lever, Coventry.
pound it) hath power to decree, &c. This clause is   Dean Pedder, Wigorniensis.
a forgery, fit to be examined and deeply censured in    Mr. Archdeacon Watts, Middlesex.
the Star Chamber. For it is not to be found in the    Dean Nowel, of Litchfield.
Latin or English Articles of Edward the Sixth, or   Mr. Archdeacon Spencer, Cicestrensis.
of Queen Elizabeth, ratified by Parliament. And if    Mr. Besely, proct. cler., Cant.
to forge a will or writing be censurable in the Star   Mr. Nevynson, proct. cler., Cant.
Chamber, which is but a wrong to a private man, how    Mr. Bower, proct. cler., Somers.
much more the forgery of an article of religion, to    Mr. Ebden, proct. cler., Wint.
wrong the whole Church, and overturn religion, which    Mr. Archdeacon Longland, Bucks.
concerns all our souls?' Laud denied the charge, al-   Mr. Lancaster, thesaurar., Sarum.
leging that the Puritans had been guilty of publishing    Mr. Archdeacan Weston, Lewensis.
mutilated editions of the Articles, in which the con-   Mr. Archdeacon Wisdom, Eliensis.
tested clause was omitted.' I do openly here,' he    Mr. Saul, proct. dec. cap., Glouc.
said in his speech in the Star Chamber,' charge upon    Mr. Walker, proct., Suffolk.
that pure sect this foul corruption of falsifying the    Mr. Becon.
Articles of the Church of England. Let them take    Mr. Proctor, proct. cler., Sussex.
it off as they can.' This controversy was revived, in    Mr. Cocerel, proct. cler., Surrey.
the beginning of the last century, by Mr. Anthony    Mr. Archdeacon Tod, Bedf.
Collins, in a publication entitled Priestcraft in Per-   Mr. Archdeacon Croley, Hereford.
fection. He attacked the authenticity of the con-   Mr. Soreby, proct. cler., Cicest.
tested clause with much ingenuity and force of evi-   Mr. Bradbridge, cancellar., Cicest.
dence. Several answers appeared, the principal of   Mr. Hills, proct. cler., Oxon.
which were, A Vindication of the Church of England    Mr. Savage, proct. cler., Glouc.
from the Assertions of Priestcraft in Perfectinn, &c.,   Mr. Archdeacon Pullan, Colchest.
published in 1710; and, An Essay on the Thirty-ninte   Mr. Wilson, proct., Wigorn.
Articles, by Dr. Bennet, in 1715. Collins replied to    Mr. Burton.
these, as well as to Collier and others, in An Histori-   Mr. Archdeacon Bemont, Huntingd
cal and Critical Essay on the Thirty-nine Articles of   Mr. Wiburne, proct. eccl., Roff.
the Church of England, published in 1724: wherein    Mr. Day, prov., Eton.
he undertakes to demonstrate that the clause, The   Mr. Reeve, proc. dec. cap., Westm.
Church has power, &c., is not a part of the Articles,   Mr. Roberts, proct. cler., Norw.
as they were established by act of Parliament in the    Mr. Calfhil, proct. cler., Lond. and Oror
thirteenth of Elizabeth, or agreed on by the convo-   Mr. Godwin, proct. cler., Linc.
cations of 1562 and 1571. It is not easy to form a   Mr. Archdeacon Prat, St. David's.
decided opinion on the question. Fuller, with his   Mr. Tremayn, proct. cler., Exon.
usual honesty, acknowledges the difficulty, and ab-   Mr. Archdeacon Heton, Glouc.
stains from giving judgment.' Whether,' he says,   Mr. Archdeacon Kemp, St. Alban's.' the bishops were faulty in their addition, or their   Mr. Avys, proct. ece., Wigorn.
opposites in their subtraction, I leave to more cunning    Mr. Renyger, proct. dec. cap., Wint.
state arithmeticians to decide.' Neal inclines to the   Mr. Dean Elis,. Hereford.
viewy of Collins, but speaks with hesitation; while   Mr. Dean Sampson, Oxon.
VOL. I. -M




90                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
The Church having carried  their point* that suffered for religion in the reigns of King
against the Puritans in convocation, we are Henry VIII. and Queen Mary; all which he
now to see what use they made of their victory. published, first in Latin for the benefit of forThe plague being in London and several parts eigners, and then in English for the service of
of the country this summer, put a little stop to his own country, in the year 1561. No book
their zeal for uniformity at present; some were ever gave such a mortal wound to popery as
indulged, but none preferred that scrupled the this; it was dedicated to the queen, and was in
habits. In proof of this, we may produce the such high reputation, that it was ordered to be
examples of two of the worthiest and most set up in the churches, where it raised in the
learned divines of the age: one was Father people an invincible horror and detestation of
Miles Coverdale, formerly bishop of Exeter, that religion which had shed so much innocent
who, with' Tyndal and Rogers, first trans- blood.  Queen Elizabeth had a particular eslated the Bible into English after Wickliffe. teem for Mr. Fox, but this excellent and laboThis prelate was born in Yorkshire, bred at rious divine, though reduced to very great povCambridge, and proceeded doctor in divinity in erty and want, had no preferment in the Church
the University of Tubing. Returning to Eng- because he scrupled the habits, till at length,
land in the reign of King Edward, he was made by the intercession of some great friend, he obBishop of Exeter, 1551.t Upon the accession  tained a prebend in the Church of Sarum, which
of Queen Mary he was imprisoned, and narrow- he made a shift to hold till his death, though
ly escaped the fire; but by the intercession of not without some disturbance from the bishops.*
the King of Denmark was sent over into that   The parochial clergy, both in city and councountry, and coming back at her death, assisted try, had an aversion to the habits; they wore
at the consecration of Queen Elizabeth's first them sometimes in obedience to the law, but
Archbishop of Canterbury; yet, because he more frequently administered without them; for
could not comply with the ceremonies and hab- which some were cited into the spiritual courts,
its, he was neglected, and had no preferment. and admonished, the bishops not having yet asThis reverend man, says Mr. Strype,t being sumed the courage of proceeding to suspension
now old and poor, Grindal, bishop of London, and deprivation. At length the matter was laid
gave him the small living of St. Magnus, at the before the queen, as appears by a paper found
Bridge Foot, where he preached quietly about among Secretary Cecil's MSS., dated February
two years; but not coming up to the conformity 24, 1564, which acquaints her majesty, that
required, he was persecuted thence, and obliged " some perform Divine service and prayers in the
to relinquish his parish a little before his death, chancel, others in the body of the Church; some
which happened May 20, 1567, at the age of in a seat made in the church; some in a pulpit
cighty-one.~  He was a celebrated preacher, with their faces to the people; some keep preadmired and followed by all the Puritans; but cisely to the order of the book, some intermix
the Act of Uniformity brought down his rever- psalms in metre; some say with a slrplice, and
end hairs with sorrow to the grave. He was others without one.
buried in St. Bartholomew's, behind the Ex-   " The table stands in the body of the church
change, and was attended to his grave with in some places, in others it stands in the chanvast crowds of people.                       eel; in some places the table stands altarwise,
The other was that venerable man, Mr. John distant from the wall a yard; in others in the
Fox, the martyrologist, a grave, learned, and middle of the chancel, north and south; in some
painful divine, and exile for religion, who em- places the table is joined, in others it stands upon
ployed his time abroad in writing the acts and tressels; in some the table has a carpet, in others
monuments of that Church which would hardly none.
receive him into her bosom, and in collecting    "Some administer the communion with surmaterials relating to the martyrdom  of those plice and cap; some with surplice alone;t others
with none; some with chalice, others with a
* "I conceive," says one of the most accurate and
impartial of historians, " the Church of England par- communion-cup, others with a common cup;
ty, that is, the party adverse to any species of ecclesias- some with unleavened bread, and some with
tical change, to have been the least numerous of the leavened.
three. (Catholic, Church of England, Puritan) during   " Some receive kneeling, others standing, oththis reign; still excepting, as I have said, the neu- ers sitting; some baptize in a font, some in a
trals, who commonly make a numerical majority, basin; some sign with the sign of the cross,
and are counted along with the dominant rel  others sign not; some minister in a surplice,
The Puritans, or, at least, those who rather favoured       some with a s
them, had a majority among the Protestant gentry in others without; some with a square cap, some
the queen's days. It is agreed on all hands, and is with a round cap, some with a button-cap, some
quite manifest, that they predominated in the House with a hat; some in scholars' clothes, some in
of Commons. But that house was composed, as it others."
has ever been, of the principal landed proprietors,   Her majesty was highly displeased with this
and as much represented the general wish of the report, and especially that her laws were so litcommunity, when it demanded a farther reform in tle regarded; she therefore directed a letter to
religious matters, as on any other subjects  One the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, dated
would imagine, by the manner in which some express themselves, that the discontented were a small January 25th, "to confer with the bishops of thea
faction, who, by some unaccountable means, in de- ecclesiastical commission, and to inquire what
spite of the government and the nation, formed a
majority of all parliaments under Elizabeth and her   + Strype's Annals, vol. i., p. 130. Bishop Wartwo successors."-Hallam's Const. Hist, i.,257. Such burton says that he was also installed in the third
is the representation of Bishop Maddox in his ani- prebend of Durham, October 14, 1572, but held it not
madversions on Neal, p. 37, &c.-C.           long; Bellamy succeeding to the same stall Octot Fuller's Worthies, b. iii., p. 198.      ber 31, 1573.-Supplement to Warburton's Works, p.: Ann., p. 405.      ~ Life of Parker, p. 149. 1456.-ED.          t Life of Parker, p. 149.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  91
diversities there were among the.clergy in doc- we have enjoyed."  Other letters were written
trine, rites, and ceremonies, and to take effectual to the same purpose, and all made what friends
methods that an exact order and uniformity be they could among the courtiers.
maintained in all external rites and ceremonies,   The nobility were divided; and the queen heras by law and good usages are provided for; and self seemed to be at a stand, but the archbishop
that none hereafter be admitted to any ecclesi- spirited her forward; and having received her
astical preferment but who is well disposed to majesty's letter, authorizing him to proceed, he
common order, and shall formally promise to entered upon the unpleasing work with vigour
comply with it."*  To give countenance to this and resolution. The Bishops Jewel and Horn
severity, it was reported that some of the warm- preached at Paul's Cross to reconcile the people
er Puritans had turned the habits into ridicule, to the habits. Jewel said he did not come to
and given unhandsome language to those that defend them, but to show that they were indif.
wore them, which, according to Mr. Strype, ferent, and might be complied with. Horn went
was the occasion of their being pressed after- a little farther, and wished those cut off from
ward with so much rigour; but whatever gave the Church that troubled it about white or black
occasion to the persecution that followed, or garments, round or square caps. The Puritans
whoever was at the head of it, supposing the in- were not allowed to preach against the habits,
sinuation to be just, it was very hard that so but they expostulated with the bishops, and told
great a number of useful ministers, who neither them that, in their opinions, those ought rather
censured their brethren, nor abused their indul- to be cut off which stopped the course of the
gence by an unmannerly behaviour, should be Gospel, and that grieved and offended their weak
turned out of their benefices for the indiscretion brethren, by urging the remnants of antichrist
of a few. The bishops, in their letters to the more than God's commandments, and by punforeign divines, had promised not to urge their ishing the refusers of them more extremely than
brethren in these things, and, when opportunity the breakers of God's laws.
served, to seek reformation of them; but now    The archbishop, with the Bishops of London,
they took themselves to be released from their Ely, Winchester, and Lincoln, framed sundry
promises, and set at liberty by the queen's ex- articles to enforce the habits, which were afterpress command to the contrary; their meaning ward published under the title ofAdvertisements.
being, that they would not do it with their own But when his grace brought them to court, the
accord, without direction from above.      queen refused to give them her sanction. The
The Puritans and their friends, foreseeing the archbishop, chafed at the disappointment, said
storm, did what they could to avert it. Pilking- that the court had put him upon framing the
ton, bishop of Durham, wrote to the Earl of Lei- Advertisements, and if they would not go on,
cester, October 25th, to use his interest with they had better never have done anything; nay,
the queen in their behalf. He said " that com- if the council would not lend their helping hand
pulsion should not be used in things of liberty. against the Nonconformists, as they had done
He prayed the earl to consider how all reformed heretofore in Hooper's days, they should only
countries had cast away popish apparel, with be laughed at for all they had done.*  But still
the pope, and yet we contend to keep it as a holy the queen was so cold, that, when the Bishop of
relic.t That many ministers would rather leave London came to court, she spoke not a word to
their livings than comply; and the realm had a him about the redressing the neglect of congreat scarcity of teachers, many places being formity in the city of London, where it was most
destitute of any. That it would give incurable disregarded. Upon which the archbishop apoffence to foreign Protestants; and since we plied to the secretary, desiring another letter
have forsaken popery as wicked, I do not see," from the queen to back their endeavours for
says the bishop, "how their apparel can become conformity, adding, in some heat, " If you remsaints and professors of the Gospel." Whitting- edy it not by letter, I will no more strive against
ham, dean of Durham, wrote to the same pur- the stream, fume or chide who will."
pose. He dreaded the consequence of imposing   But the wearing of popish garments being one
that as necessary which at best was only indif- of the grand principles of nonconformity, it will
ferent, and, in the opinion of many wise and be proper to set before the reader the sentilearned men, superstitious.  "If the apparel ments of some learned performers upon this
which the clergy wear at present," says he, controversy, which employed the pens of some
"seems not so modest and grave as their vo- of the most judicious divines of the age.
cation requires, or does not sufficiently distin-   We have related the unfriendly behaviour
guish them from men of other callings, they re- of the Bishops Cranmer and Ridley towards
fuse not to wear that which shall be thought, Hooper, and that those very prelates who once
by godly magistrates, most decent for these threatened his life for refusing the habits, if we
uses, provided they may keep themselves ever may credit Mr. Fox's Latin edition of the Book
pure from the defiled robe of antichrist. Many of Martyrs, lived to see their mistakes and repapists," says he, " enjoy their livings and lib- pent;t for when Brooks, bishop of Gloucester,
erty who have not sworn obedience, nor do any came to Oxford to degrade Bishop Ridley, he
part of their duty to their miserable flock.: refused to put on the surplice, and while they
Alas! my lord, that such compulsion should be were putting it on him whether he would or no,
used towards us, and such great lenity towards he vehemently inveighed against the apparel,
the papists. Oh! noble earl, be our patron and calling it " foolish, abominable, and too fond for
stay in this behalf, that we may not lose that a vice in a play."
liberty that hitherto, by the queen's benignity,   Bishop Latimer also derided the garments;
* Life of Parker, p. 154.                 * Life of Parker,:p. 159.
t Life of Parker, p. 155, and Appendix, p. 40.  f Fox's Book of Martyrs, vol. iii., p. 500. Strype's
T Life of Parker, p. 157, and Appendix, p. 43.   Ann., vol. ii., p. 555.




92                     HISTORY  OF THE PURITAN-S.
and when they pulled off his surplice at his deg- that he was not fond of the cap, the surplice.
radation, "Now," says he, "I can make no and the wafer-bread, and such like injunctions,
more holy water."                          and would have been pleased with a toleration;
In the articles against Bishop Farrar, in King that he gloried in having been consecrated withEdward's reign, it was objected, article forty- out the Aaronical garments; but that his connine, that he had vowed never to wear the cap, cern for his prince's honour made him resolute
but that he came into his cathedral with a longo that her royal will might take place.
gown and hat, which he did not deny, alleging   Dr. Horn, bishop of Winchester, in his letter
he did it to avoid superstition, and without any to Gaulter, says "that the act of Parliament
offence to the people.                     which enjoined the vestments was made before
When the popish vestments were put upon they were in office, so that they had no hand in
Dr. Taylor, the martyr, in order to his degrada- making it;* but they had obeyed the law, thinktion, he walked about with his hands by his ing the matter to be of indifferent nature; and
sides, saying, " How say you, my lord, am I not they had reason to apprehend that, if they had
a goodly fool? If I were in Cheapside, would  deserted their stations on that account, their ennot the boys laugh at these foolish toys and  emies might have come into their places;t but
apish trumpery?"  And when the surplice was he hoped to procure an alteration of the act
pulled off, "Now," says he, "I am rid of a fool's in the next Parliament, though he believed
coat."                                     it wouild meet with great opposition from the
When they were pulling the same off from  papists."  Yet this very bishop, a little after,
Archbishop Cranmer, he meekly replied, "All wished them cut off from the Church that troubthis needed not: I myself had done with this led it about white or black garments.
gear long ago."                              Bishop Jewel calls the vestments " the habits
Dr. Heylin testifies that John Rogers, the pro- of the stage, the relics of the Amorites, and
tomartyr, peremptorily refused to wear the hab- wishes they may be extirpated to the roots, that
its unless the popish priests were enjoined to all the remnants of former errors, with all the
wear upon their sleeves, by way of distinction, rubbish, and even the dust that yet remained,
a chalice with a host. The same he asserts con- might be taken away." But, he adds, the queen
cerning Philpot, a very eminent martyr; and is fixed; and so was his lordship soon after,
concerning one Tyms, a deacon, who was like- when he refused the learned Dr. Humphreys a
wise martyred in Queen Mary's reign.       benefice within his diocess on this account, and
The holy martyr John-Bradford, as well as called the Nonconformists men of squeamish
Mr. Sampson and some others, excepted against stomachs.t
the habits at their entrance into holy orders, and    Bishop Pilkington complains " that the diswere ordained without them.                putes which began about the vestments were
Bucer and Peter Martyr, professors of our two  now carried farther, even to the whole constifamous universities, were both against the hab- tution; that pious persons lamented this, atheits, and refused to wear them.  Bucer being ists laughed, and the papists blew the coals;
asked why he did not wear the square cap, an- and that the blame of all was cast upon the
swered, Because his head was not square.* And bishops. He urged that it might be considered
Martyr, in one of his letters after his return  that all Reformed Churches had cast away pohome, says, " When I was at Oxford I would pish apparel with the pope; that many ministers
never use those white garments in the choir, would rather leave their livings than wear them;
though I was a canon in the Church; and I am  and he was well satisfied that it was not an apsatisfied in my own reasons for what I did."t In  parel becoming those that profess godliness. I
the same letter, Bucer says he would be content confess," says he, "we suffer many things against
to suffer some great pain in his body upon condi- our hearts, groaning under them; but we cantion that these things were utterly taken away.t not take them away, though we were ever so
And, in such case as we are now [1550], he much set upon it. We were under authority,
willeth that in no case they should be received. and can innovate nothing without the queen;
He adds, in his letter from Cambridge to a friend  nor can we alter the laws; the only thing left
beyond sea, dated 12th January, 1550, that no to our choice is, whether we will bear these
foreigner was consulted about the purity of cer- things or break the peace of the Church."~
emonies, "De puritate rituum scito hic neminem    Bishop Grindal was a considerable time in
extraneum de his rebus rogari."  And though  suspense whether he should accept a bishopric
both he and Peter Martyr thought they might with the popish vestments. He consulted Pebe borne with for a season,, yet, in our case, he ter Martyr on this head, and says that all the
would not have them suffered to remain.    bishops that had been beyond the sea had dealt
These were the sentiments of our first Re- with the queen to let the habits fall; but she
formers in the reign of King Edward VI. and was inflexible. This made them submit to the
Queen Mary.                                laws, and wait for a fit opportunity to reverse
Upon restoring the Protestant religion, un- them. Upon this principle he conformed, and
der Queen Elizabeth, the same sentiments con- was consecrated; and in one of his, letters he
cerning the habits prevailed among all the Re- calls God to witness that it did not lie at their
formers at first, though they disagreed upon the (the bishops') door that the habits were not
grand question whether they should desert their quite taken away.
ministry rather ttan comply.                 Dr. Sandys, bishop of Worcester, and ParkMr. Strype, in his Life of Archbishop Parker, hurst of Norwich, inveigh severely against the
a most cruel persecutor of the Puritans, says habits, and they, with the rest of the bishops,
* Life of Parker, Appendix, p. 41.    * Pierce's Vindication, p. 44..
t Hist. Ref., p,;65.                 t Hist. Relf, vol. iii., p. 289, 294. Life of Parker,
T Ann. Ref., vol. ii., p. 554, 555.  p. 154. t MS., p. 873. ~ Hist. AIef., vol. iii., p. 316




HISTORY OF T.HE PURITANS.                                    93
threaten to declaim against them " till they are apprehended that if they did not reject them at
sent to hell, from whence they came."*'San- first, they should never obtain their removal af
dys, in one of his letters to Parker, says, "I terward.
hope we shall not be forced' to use the vest-   Dr. Humphreys and Sampson, two heads of
ments, but that the meaning of the law is, that the Nonconformists, wrote to Zurich the followothers, in the mean time, shll not take them  ing reasons against the lawfulness of wearing
away, but that they shall remain for the queen." the habits: "That they did not think the prescriDr. Guest, bishop of Rochester, wrote against bing habits to the clergy merely a civil thing;
the ceremonies to Secretary Cecil, and gave it nor that the habits now prescribed were decent;
as his opinion "that, having been evil used, and for how can that habit be decent that serves
once taken away, they ought not to be used only to dress up the theatrical pomp of popery 
again, because the Galatians were commanded The papists glory in this, that these habits were
to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had brought in by them, for which they vouch Otho's
made them free, and because we are to abstain  Constitutions and the Roman Pontifical. They
from all appearance of evil. The Gospel teaches add, that in King Edward's time the surplice
us to put away needless ceremonies, and to wor- was not universally used nor pressed, whereas
ship God in spirit and truth; whereas these cer- the copes then taken away are now to be restoemonies were no better than the devices of men, red. This is not to extirpate popery, but to plant
and had been abused to idolatry. He declares it again, and instead of going forward in Reforopenly against the cross, against images in mation, to go backward. We do not place rechurches, and against a variety of garments in ligion in habits," say they, "but we oppose them
the service of God. If a surplice bethought prop- that do [the papists]. Besides, it gives some
er for one," says his lordship, " it should serve authority to servitude, to depart from our liberfor all Divine offices.' The bishop is for the peo- ty. We hate contention, nor do we desert our
ple's receiving the sacrament into their hands, churches, and leave them exposed to wolves,
according to the example of Christ' and the but we are driven from them. We leave our
primitive Church, and' not for putting it into the brethren to stand and fall to their own master,
people's mouths; and as for the posture, that it and desire the same favourable forbearance-from
should be rather standing than kneeling; but them. All that is pretended is, that the habits
that this should be left to every one's choice."t are not unlawful; not that they are good and
Not one of the first set of bishops after the Ref- expedient; but forasmuch as the habits of the
ormation approved of the habits, or argued for their clergy are visible marks of their profession, they
continuance from Scripture, antiquity, or decency, ought not to be taken from their enemies. The
but submitted to them'out of necessity, and to ancient fathers had their habits, but not peculiar
keep the Church in the queen's favour.4  How  to bishops, nor distinct from the laity. The inmuch are the times altered! our first Reformers stances of St. John and Cyprian are singular.
never ascribed any holiness or virtue to the In Tertullian's time the pallium was the comvestments, but wished and prayed for their re- mon habit of old Christians. Chrysostom speaks
moval;~ whereas several modern conformists of white garments, but with no approbation: he
have made them essential to their ministrations, rather finds fault with them; nor do we condemn
and have represented religion as naked and de- things indifferent as unlawful; but we wish
fective without them.                        there might be a free synod to settle this matBut the question that'divided the Reformers ter, in which things may not be carried accordwas the lawfulness of wearing habits that had ing to the minds of one or two persons. The
been consecrated to idolatrous and superstitious doctrine of our Church is now pure, and why
uses, and were the very marks and badges of should there be any defect in our worship l why
that religion they had renounced.'Upon this should we borrow anything from popery 2 why
they consulted the foreign divines, who all should we not agree in rites, as well as in docagreed in the reasonableness of abolishing the trine, with the other Reformed Churches l we
habits, but were divided in their sentiments have a good opinion of our bishops, and bear
about the lawfulness of wearing them  in the with their state and pomp; we once bore the
mean time: some were afraid of the return of same cross with them, and preached the same
Lutheranism or popery, if the ministers should Christ with them; why, then, are we now turned
desert their stations in the Church; and others out of our benefices, and some put in prison,'
only for habits, and publicly defamed?*
* Bishop Burnet quotes this as concerning the cor-ispute is not only
ruptions of the spiritual courts, vol. iii.- T, T. 
t MS., p. 891. Strype's Annals,vol.p38 Ap-surplice; there are other grievances which
pendix, No. 14.                              o Strype's Annals, vol. i., p. 177. ought to be redressed or dispensed with; as, 1.'
~ Bishop Warburton asks here, " Who ascribes any Music and organs in Divine worship. 2. The
holiness or virtue to them now, I pray?" In reply, it sponsors in baptism, answering in the child's
is sufficient to observe that Mr. Neal refers to the name. 3. The cross in baptism. 4. Kneeling,
time when he wrote, about thirty-six years before the at the sacrament, and the use of unleavened
bishop's strictures appear to have been penned, and bread. 5. There is also a want of discipline in
not many years after Dr. Nichols, in his defence of the Church. 6he marage  f theclergy is
the Church of England, had called ministers' ordina-   Church. 6. The marriage of the cergy is
ry habit profane; and when Dr. Grey (System of Ec- not' legitimated, but their children are looked::
clesiastical Law, p. 55) had carried the notion of de- upon by some as bastards. 7. Marriage is not'
cency, in this respect, very high, representing " the to be performed without a ring. 8. Women are
Church, as by a prescript form of decent and comely not to be churched without'the veil. 9. The
apparel, providing to have its ministers known to the court of faculties, pluralities, licenses for nonpeople, aud thereby to receive the honour and esti- residence, for eatiltg:lsh in Lent, &c., are inmation due to the special messengers and ministers.....
of Alnighty God." Thisrepresentation approximates sufferable grievabies. 10. Minister  have not
very much to the idea of ho'lAess and virtue.-ED.         Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 31L..




94                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
a free liberty to preach without subscribing to ings, than study to aggravate them. They pray
the use and approbation of all the ceremonies.* his lordship to intercede with the queen and noAnd, lastly, the article which explained the man- bility for their brethren that were then under
ner of Christ's presence in the sacrament is ta- sufferings, who deserved a very great regard,
ken away."                                  forasmuch as it had appeared what true zeal
The bishops alleged, in vindication of their they had for religion, since the only thing they
compliance with these things, the necessity of desired was, that the Church should be purged
the time, the queen's peremptoriness, the in- from all the dregs of popery. This cause, say
different nature of the things required, and their they, in general is such, that those who promote
fears of the loss of the whole Reformation if it are worthy of the highest dignity. They do,
they should desert their stations in the Church; therefore, earnestly pray his lordship at this
promising not to urge them upon their brethren time to exert himself, and employ all the interwho were dissatisfied, but to endeavour their est he has in the queen and nobility, that the
removal in a proper season.                 Church of England, so happily reformed to the
The learned foreigners gave their opinions admiration of the whole world, may not be deupon this nice question with caution and reserve. filed with the remnants of popery. To retain
Peter Martyr, in his letter to Grindalt, writes these things will look like giddiness," say these
thus: " As to the habits to be used in holy divines; ";t will offend the weak, and give great
things, since they carry an appearance of the scandal to their neighbours in France and Scotmass, and are merely remainders of popery, it land, who are yet under the cross; and the
is," says he, " the opinion of the learned Bullin- very papists will justify their tyrannical impoger, the chief minister of Zurich, that they are sitions by such proceedings."*
to be refrained from, lest by your example a thing   The divines of Geneva were more peremptothat is scandalous should be confirmed; but," he ry in their advices; for in their letter of Octoadds, "though I have been always against the her 24th, 1564, signed by Theodore Beza, and
use of such ornaments, yet I see the present seventeen of his brethren, they say, "If the
danger, lest you should be put from the office of case were theirs, they would not receive the
preaching. There may also be some hopes, that ministry upon these conditions if it were profas images and altars are taken away, so also fered, much less would they sue for it. As for
those appearances of the mass may be removed, those who have hitherto complied, if they are
if you and others, who have taken upon you epis- obliged not only to wink at manifest abuses, but
copacy, labour in it. I am therefore more back- to approve of those things which ought to be
ward to advise you rather to refuse the bishop- redressed, what thing else can we advise them
ric than to submit to the-use of those vestures; to, but that they should retire to a private life?
and yet, because I am sensible scandals of this As for the popish habits, those men that are aukind are to be avoided, I am more willing to thors of their being imposed, do deserve most
vield to Bullinger's opinion aforesaid." But, af- evil of the Church, and shall verily answer it at
ter all, he advises him to do nothing against his the dreadful bar of Christ's judgment."  Then
conscience.                                 they argue very strongly against the habits;
Bullinger and Gualter, ministers of Zurich, in and having advised the ministers not to lay
their letters to Horn and Grindal, "lament the down their ministry presently, for fear of the
unhappy breach in the Church of England, and return of popery, they conclude thus: " Neverapprove of the zeal of those divines who wish theless, if ministers are commanded not only to
to have the house of God purged from all the tolerate these things, but by their subscriptions
dregs of popery. They are not pleased with to allow them as lawful, what else can we advise
them who first made the laws about habits, nor them to, but that, having witnessed their innowith those who zealously maintain them. They cence, and tried all other means in the fear of the
declare that they acted unwisely, if they were of Lord, they should give over their functions to
the reformed side; but if they were disguised open wrong."  They then declare their opinenemies, that they had been laying snares with ill ions against the cross in baptism; the validity
designs. They are therefore absolutely against of baptism by midwives; the power of the keys
the imposition of these, and other grievances; being in the hands of lay-chancellors and bishbut they think many things of this sort should ops' courts; and conclude with an exhortation
be submitted to, rather than men should forsake and prayer for unity, and a more perfect reforthe ministry at this juncture, lest the whole Ref- mation in the English Church.
ormation should be lost; but that they should   Though the Reformation in Scotland was not
press the queen and the nobility to go on and fully established, yet the superintendent miniscomplete the Reformation, so gloriously be- ters and commissioners of charges within that
gun."t                                     realm directed a letter the very first opportunity
These divines wrote also to the Earl of Bed- to their brethren the bishops, and pastors of
ford, and acquainted him "that they were sorry England, who have renounced the Roman antito hear that not only the vestments, but many christ, and do profess with them the Lord Je.
other things were retained in the Church, which sus Christ in sincerity. It was dated from Edsavoured plainly of popery. They complain of ifiburgh, December 28th, 1566, and signed by
the bishops printing their letter, and that their John Spotswood, and nine of his brethren,
private opinion about the lawfulness of wearing preachers of Christ Jesus. The letter does not
the habits for the present should be made use enter into the debate whether the habits are
of to cast reproaches on persons, for whom they simply indifferent or not, but pleads in a most
should rather have compassion in their suffer- earnest and pathetic manner for toleration and
* Hist. Ref., in Records, p. 335.      forbearance, and that the deprived ministers
t Strype's Life of Grindal, p. 29, 30. Ann., vol. i., may be restored. "If surplice, corner-cap, and
p. 173.  $ Hist. Ref., vol. iii., p. 508. MS., p. 889.  * Hist. Ref., vcl. ii., p. 313.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       9b:
tippet," say they, " have been badges of idola-   We have already mentioned the queen's lettry, what have the preachers of Christian liber- ter of January 25th; in obedience to which,
ty, and the open rebukers of all superstition, to Archbishop Parker wrote to his brethren of the
do with the dregs of the Roman beast 1  Our ecclesiastical commission, and in particular to
brethren, that of conscience refuse that unprofit- Grindal, bishop of London (there being in that
able apparel, do neither damn yours, nor molest city the greatest number of clergy, and of the
you that use such vain trifles. If ye shall do best learning, that refused the apparel), to conthe like by them, we doubt not but you will sult proper methods to reduce them to an exact
therein please God, and comfort the hearts of uniformity.*  After some debate, the commismany.' But the whole letter breathes such an sioners agreed upon certain advertisements (as
excellent spirit, that I cannot forbear recom- they were called), partly for due order in preachmending it to the reader's perusal in the Ap- ing and administering the sacraments, and partpendix.                                       ly for the apparel of persons ecclesiastical. t
It is evident, upon the whole, that it was the
unanimous opinion of the foreign divines that allegation, and thus endeavours to vindicate the bishthe habits ought to be laid aside by authority, ops from a charge of falsehood and tyranny. A preand that, ill the mean time, they should not be text for persecution has never been wanting, when
urged upon those that scrupled them; but they the governors of the Church or the State have deterof mined on it. Wyatt's insurrection was thus employwere not so well agreed in the lawfulness    ed in Mary's time; and the insolence and disloyalty of
wearing them till they were taken away; though  the Puritans were reiterated at subsequent periods,
their fears of the return of popery, if the minis- in vindication of the coercive measures which were
ters should desert their stations; their compas- adopted. The indiscretions and violence of the Pusion to the souls of the people, who were per- ritans towards the Protestant Church are not to be
ishing for lack of knowledge; and their hopes compared with those of the Reformers towards the
that the queen would quickly be prevailed with  Church of Rome; yet it is customary, with a certain
class of writers, to magnify the former and to gloss
to remove  them,  made most of then apprehend  over and extenuate the latter. The one class of ofthey might be dispensed with for the present.  fences is represented as justifying the'severest measThe English laity were more averse to the ures of a vindictive hierarchy; the other, as the inhabits than the clergy; as their hatred of po- evitable attendants on the earliest movements of repery increased, so did their aversion to the gar- ligious zeal. Such a procedure betrays more of parments.  There was a strong party in the very ty-spirit than of the calm decision of an impartial
court against them, among whom was the great judgment. The same principle holds in both cases,
Earl of Leicester, Sir Francis Knollys, vice- and must be fairly applied. Both the Reformers and
chamberlain; Burleigh, lord- treasurer; Sir the Puritans frequently mistook an intemperate and
contentious spirit for that of the Gospel. The vio.
Francis Walsingham, secretary of state; the lence and fierceness of human passion were permitEarls of Bedford, Warwick, and others.  But ted, in some cases, to mingle with and debase their
the Protestant populace throughout the nation religious zeal. To deny this fact is to contradict the
were so inflamed that nothing but an awful sub- page of history. To regret the Reformation on this
jection to authority could have kept them with- account is to display an ignorance of human nature,
in bounds.  Great numbers refused to frequent and an utter disregard of the welfare of the Church.
those places of worship where service was  in t instances of such misconduct did occur among
those places of worship where service was min- the Puritans, may be freely admitted; but that they
istered in that dress; they would not salute were so numerous as to call for or to justify the
such ministers in the streets, nor keep them  measureswhichtheirenemiesadopted3neitlherSt.iype
company; nay, if we may believe Dr. Whitgiit, nor Maddox has succeeded in proving. The fact is,
in his defence against Cartwright, "they spit that Elizabeth's bishops yielded somewhat to the
in their faces, reviled them as they went along, corrupting influences of their station, and were,
and showed such-like rude behaviour,"* be- therefore, indisposed to fulfil their early promises.
cause they took them  for papists in disguise, When writing to Bullinger, they had pleaded thatt   the obnoxious ceremonies were enjoined by Parlis:
-or t;..e...rvers,  are hmal-l ra e   rot3;tart i t~~t ment before their entrance into it.' But that, after
would be content with the return of that reli- it was passed, they, being chosen to be bishops, must
gion whose badge they wore.t There was, in- either content themselves to take their places as
deed, a warm spirit in the people against every- things were, or else leave them to papists or Luther
thing which came from that pretended church, ans. But, in the mean space, they promised not to
whose garments had been so lately dyed with urge their brethren in those things, and, when oppor
the blood of their friends and relations. Upon tunity should serve, to seek reformation of them.'-.
the whole, I leave the reader to determine how  Parker, i., 307. How far they fulfilled this promise.
let the records of history tell. Some of them were
far the wisdom and moderation of the queen honestly concerned to do so, but Parker was too incan be vindicated in imposing these habits on tolerant to permit it."-Dr. Price's Hist. of lVonconthe clergy; or the bishops be excused for im- formity, vol. i., p. 168.-C. * Life of Parker, p. 161
prisoning, suspending, and depriving some of   t The articles for preaching declare, " that all
the most useful preachers in the kingdom, on licenses granted before March 1st, 1564, shall be void
account of things which, in their own opinion, and of none effect; and that all that shall be thought
were but barely tolerable, but in the judgment meet for the office of preaching shall be admitted
er b  tren wer abslbut  int  again, paying no more than fourpence for the writing,
of their brethren were absolutely sinful.$    parchment, and wax; and that those who were not
* Strype's Annals, vol. i., p. 178, 460, 602. Mem. approved as preachers, might read the homilies.
Cranmer, p. 363. Life of Parker, p. 77.         "In the ministration of the communion in ca
t The grounds on which such a suspicion might thedrals and collegiate churches, the principal min.
rest may be seen in Mr. Neal's Review, in the quar- isters shall wear a cope with gospeller and epistolei
to edition of his History, vol. i., p. 881, 882.  agreeably; but at all other prayers to be said at the
"4$ Strype attributes the rigorous measures hence- communion-table, they shall wear no copes, but sur.
forth adopted to the disturbances and insolent beha- plices only; deans and prebendaries shall wear a surviour of some of the Puritans. Bishop Maddox, in plice with a silk hood in the choir, and when they
his animadversions on Neal, lays great stress on this preach, a hood




96                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
By the first of these articles, all preachers of Magdalen College, Oxon, men of high renown
throughout the nation were disqualified at once, throughout the nation for learning, piety, and
and by the last, they subscribed, and promised  zeal for the Reformation, and exiles for religion
not to preach or expound the Scriptures with- in Queen Mary's reign. Upon their appearance,
out a license from the bishop, which was not to the archbishop urged them with the opinions of
be obtained without a promise under the hand  Bucer and Peter Martyr; but the authority of
of an absolute conformity to the ceremonies. these divines not being sufficient to remove
Here the commissioners surely broke through their scruples, they were ordered not to depart
the act of submission, by which they were obli- the city without leave.  After long attendance,
ged never to make or execute any canons or and many checks from some of the council foi
constitutions without the royal assent.  But their refractoriness, they framed a supplicatory
the bishops presumed upon their interest with letter in a very elegant but submissive style,
her majesty; they knew her mind, though she and sent it to the archbishop, and the rest of the
refused, for political reasons, to ratify their ad- ecclesiastical commissioners, March 20th, " in
vertisements, telling them that the oath of ca- which they protest before God, what a bitter
nonical obedience was sufficient to bind the in- grief it was to them that there should be such
ferior clergy to their duty, without the interpo- dissensions about a cap and surplice among
sition of the crown.                           persons of the same faith.  They allege the auParker therefore went on, and having cited thorities of St. Austin, Socrates, and Theodothe Puritan clergy to Lambeth, he admonished ret, to show that in their times there was a vasome, and threatened others;* but Grindal with- riety of rites and observances, which break not
drew, being naturally averse to methods of se- unity and concord. They beseech the bishops,
verity, and afraid of a praemunire.  His grace therefore, if there was any fellowship in Christ,
took a great deal of pains to gain him over, and that they would follow the direction of St. Paul
by his arguments, says Strype, brought him to a about things in their own nature indifferent,
good resolution.  He also applied to the council' that every one should be persuaded in his own
for the queen's and their assistance; and to the mind.' Conscience (say they) is a tender thing,
secretary of state, beseeching him to spirit up and all men cannot look upon the same things as
the Bishop of London to his duty, which was indifferent; if, therefore, these habits seem  so
done accordingly.  What pains will some men to vrin, you are not to be condemned by us; on
take to draw their brethren into a snare, and the other hand, if they do not appear so to us,
force them to be partners in oppression and cru- we ought not to be vexed by you.  They then
elty!                                         appeal to antiquity, to the practice of other Re.Among those that the archbishop cited before formed Churches, and to the consciences of the
him were the Reverend Mr. Thomas Sampson, bishops themselves, and conclude thus:' Wheredean of Christ Church, and Dr. Lawrence Hum- fore we most humbly pray that a thing which
phreys (regius professor of divinity), president is the care and pleasure of papists, and which
you [the bishops] have no great value for your.
" Every minister saying the public prayers, or ad- selves, and which we refuse, not from any conministering the sacraments, &c., shall wear a sur- te    of authority, but fom anaversion t th
plice with sleeves; and the parish shall provide a  de-y, 
cent table standing on a frame for the communion- common enemy, may not be our snare nor our
table; and the Ten Commandments shall be set on crime.
the east wall, over the said table.               - In one of their examinations the archbishop put
" All dignitaries in cathedral churches, doctors, nine questions to them, to which they gave the folbachelors of divinity and law, having ecclesiastical lowing answers:
livings, shall wear in their common apparel a broad   Quest. 1. " Is the surplice a thing evil and wicked,
side-gown with sleeves, straight at the hands, with- or is it indifferent?
out any cuffs or falling capes, and tippets of sarse-   Answ. "Though the surplice in substance be innet, and a square cap, but no hats, except in their different, yet in the present circumstance it is not,
journeying.  The inferior clergy are to wear long being of the same nature with the vestis peregrina, or
gowns and caps of the same fashion, except in case the apparel of idolatry, for which God by the prophet
of poverty, when they may wear short gowns."   threatens to visit.
To these advertisements certain protestations were   Quest. 2. " If it be not indifferent, for what cause?
annexed, to be made, promised, and subscribed by   Answ. "Because things that have been consecrated
such as shall hereafter be admitted to any office or to idolatry are not indifferent.
cure in the Church. "And here every clergyman   Quest. 3. "Whether the ordinary [or bishop] desubscribed, and promised not to preach or expound testing papistry, may enjoin the surplice to be worn,
the Scriptures without special license of the bishop and enforce his injunction?
under his seal, but only to read the homilies; and   Answ. "It may be said to such a one, in Tertullikewise to observe, keep, and maintain such order lian's words,' Si tu diaboli pompain oderis, quicquid
and uniformity in all external polity, rites, and cere- ex ea attigeris, id scias esse idolatriam.' That is,
monies of the Church, as by laws, good usages, and' If thou hatest the pomp and pageantry of the devil,
orders are already well provided and established."   whatsoever of it thou meddlest with is idolatry.'
These advertisements were enjoined the clergy by Which if he believes, he will not enforce the inthe Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Lon- junction.
don and Rochester (commissioners in causes eccle-   Quest. 4. "Whether the cope be a thing indiffersiastical), and by the Bishops of Winchester, Ely, ent, being prescribed by law for decency and reverand some others. The preface says, " that they do ence, and not in respect of superstition or holiness?
not prescribe these rules as equivalent with the Word   Answ. " Decency is not promoted by a cope, which
of God, or as of necessity to bind the consciences of was devised to deface the sacrament. St. Jerome
the queen's subjects, in their own nature considered; says that the gold ordained by God, for reverence
or as adding any efficacy or holiness to public prayer, and decency of the Jewish temple, is not to be ador to the sacraments; but as temporal orders merely mitted to beautify the Church of Christ; and if so,
ecclesiastical, without any vain superstition, and as much less copes brought in by papists, and continrules of decency,'distinction, and order for the time."  ued in their service as proper ornaments of their
* Life of Parker, p. 161, 216.              religion.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       97
The ecclesiastical commissioners were very  wafer-bread, or else they should part with their
much divided in their opinions how to proceed  preferment.  To which our divines replied that
with these men.  Some were for answering  their consciences could not comply with these
the reasons given blelow, and for enforcing the  injunctions, be the event what it might.* Upon
habits, with a protestation that theywished them  this they were both put under confinement;
taken away.  Others were for connivance, and but the storm  fell chiefly upon Sampson, who
others for a compromise; accordingly, a pacific  was detained in prison a considerable time, as
proposition was drawn up, which Humphreys a terror to others, and, by special order from
and Sampson were willing to subscribe with  the queen, was deprived of his deanery; nor
the reserve of the apostle, "All things are law- could he ever obtain, after this, any higher preful, but all things edify not."  But the arch- ferment in the Church than the government of
bishop, who was at the head of the commission, a poor hospital. t
would abate nothing, for on the 29th of April,   Hulnphrey's place was' not at the queen's dis1561, he told them peremptorily, in open court, posal; however, he durst not return to Oxford,
that they should conform to the habits; that is, even after he had obtained his release out of
to wear the square cap, and no hats, in their prison, but retired to one Mrs. Warcup's, in
long gowns; to wear the surplice with non- Berkshire, a most devout woman, who had run
regents' hoods in the choirs, according to an- all hazards for harbouring the persecuted Protcient custom; and to communicate kneeling in estants in the late times: from hence he wrote
a most excellent letter to the queen, in which
Quest. 5. "Whether anything that is indifferent he "beseeches her majesty's favour about the
may be enjoined as godly to the use of common prayer habits, forasmitch as she well knew that the
and sacraments?                               controversy was about things in their own naAnsw. "If it be merely indifferent, as time, place, ture indifferent, and in which liberty of conand such necessary circumstances of Divine worship,, science ought not to be restrained. He protests
for the which there may be brought a ground out of his own and his brethren's loalty, and then xScripture, we think it may.                    his own and his brethren's loyalty, and then exScripture, we think it may.
Quest. 6. "Whether the civil magistrate may con- postulates with her majesty why her mercy
stitute by law an abstinence from meats on certain  should be shut against them, when it was open
days?                                          to all others.  Did she say she would not yield
Answ. "Because of abstinence a manifest com- to subjects   Yet she might spare miserable
modity ariseth to the commonwealth in policy, if it men.  Would she not rescind a public act? Yet
be sufficiently guarded against superstition, he may she might relax and suspend.  Would she not
appoint it, due regard being had to persons and times. take away a law?  Yet she might grant a tolQuest. 7. " Whether a law may be made for the eration.  Was it not fit to indulge some inen's
difference of ministers' apparel from laymen?
Answ. "Whether such prescription to a minister affections?  Yet it was most fit and equal not
of the Gospel of Christ be lawful may be doubted, to force the minds of men.  He therefore earbecause no such thing is decreed in the New Testa- nestly beseeched her to consider the majesty of
ment; nor did the primitive Church appoint any such the glorious Gospel, the equity of the cause, the
thing, but would rather that ministers should be dis- fewness of the labourers, the greatness of the
tinguished from the laity doctrine, non veste, by their harvest, the multitude of the tares, and the heavidoctrine, not by their garments.               ness of the punishment."  Humphreys made so
Quest. 8. " Whether ministers going in such apparel as the papists used ought to be condemned of many friends at court, that at length he obtainany preacher for so doing?                     ed a toleration, but had no preferment in the
Answ. " We judge no man; to his own master he Church till ten or twelve years after, when he
stands or falls.                               was persuaded to wear the habits.   For alQuest. 9. "Whether such preachers ought to be though the Bishop of Winchester presented him
reformed, or restrained, or no?               to a small living within the diocess of Salisbury,
Answ. "Irenaeus will not have brethren restrained Jewel refused to admit him, and said he was
from  brotherly communion for diversity in cere- determined to abide by his resolution till he had
monies, provided there be unity of faith and charity;
and it is to be wished that there may be the like char- good assurance of his conformity. The Oxford
itable permission among us."                   historian0 says Dr. Humphreys was a moderate,
To these answers our divines subjoined some conscientious Nonconformist, a great and genother arguments against wearing and enforcing the eral scholar, an able linguist, a deep divine;
habits; as, (I.) Apparel ought to be worn as meat and that for his excellence of style, exactness
ought to be eaten; but, according to St. Paul, meat of method, and substance of matter in his wrioffered to idols ought not to be eaten; therefore, po- tings, he went beyond most of our theologists.-l
pish apparel ought not to be worn. (2.) We ought
not to give offence in matters of mere indifference;   * Life of Parker, p. 185.
therefore, the bishops who are of this opinion ought   t Mr. Neal appears not to have known that Mr.
not to enforce the habits.  (3.) Popish garments Sampson was also appointed a prebendary in St.
have many superstitious mystical significations, for Paul's Cathedral, and was permitted by the queen to
which purpose they were consecrated by the papists; be a theological lecturer in Whittingdon College,
we ought, therefore, to consecrate them also, or lay in London. And in justice to Archbishop Parker it
them wholly aside. (4.) Our ministrations are sup- should be added, that some favour, though it does
posed by some not to be valid, or acceptable to God, not appear what, was, on his application, granted to
unless performed in popish apparel; and this being a Mr. Sampson by the chapter of Christ Church,
prevailing opinion, we apprehend it highly necessary and he also strongly solicited the secretary "that,
to disabuse the people. (5.) Things indifferent ought as the queen's pleasure had been executed upon him
not to be made necessary, because then they change for example to the terror of others, it might yet be
their' nature, and we lose our Christian liberty. mollified to the commendation of her clemency."(6.) If we are bound to wear popish apparel when British Biography, vol, iii., p. 20, note, and p. 22.
commanded, we may be obliged to have shaven  Warner's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii. p. 433.-ED.
crowns, and to make use of oil, spittle, cream, -and   $ MS. p. 873.  Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 451.
all the rest of the papistical additions to the ordi- Life of Parker, p. 185.  Q Athen. Ox., p. 242.
nances of Christ.-Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 459.  [1 "That Dr. Humphreys's want of preferment, lil7
VOL. I-N




98                      HITORY OF THE PURITANS.
As Sampson was thus deprived, so were oth- scribe, he took his Greek Testament out of his
ers who would not enter into bonds to wear the pocket, and said, "To this I will subscribe.'
square cap.* Of this number was George With- And when they offered him the canons he reers, a man of good learning, preacher of Bury fused, saying, "I have nothing in the Church
St. Edmonds, in Suffolk; but at the pressing in- but a prebend in Salisbury, and much good may
stances of the people, he sent a letter to the it do you if you take it from me."*  But the
archbishop to let him  know he would rather commissioners had not courage enough to destrain his conscience a little than discourage prive a divine of so much merit, who held up
the godly, or let the wicked have their mind. the ashes of Smithfield before their eyes.t
He afterward preached at Cambridge, and press-   The 26th of March being the day appointed
ed the university to destroy the superstitious for the appearance of the London clergy, the
paintings in the glass windows, which occa- archbishop desired the secretary of state, with
sioned some disorder; upon which, not long af- some of the nobility and queen's council, to
ter, he travelled to Geneva, Zurich, and other countenance the proceedings of the commisplaces, and after some years returned and be- sioners with their presence, but they refused to
came parish minister of Danbury, in Essex, sub- be concerned in such disagreeable work. When
mitting to the rites for peace' sake, though he the ministers appeared in court, Mr. Thomas
did not approve of them, which was the case of Cole, a clergyman, being placed by the side of
many others.                                  the commissioners in priestly apparel, the bishWhile the case of the Oxford divines was un- op's chancellor, from the bench, addressed them
der consideration, his grace was consulted how  in these words: "My masters, and ye ministo reduce the London Puritans — he was afraid ters of London, the council's pleasure is that
to press them with the advertisements, because strictly ye keel) the unity of apparel, like this
the queen could not be prevailed with to put the man who stands here canonically habited with a
seal to them; he therefore sent them again to square cap, a scholar's gown priestlike, a tipthe secretary, with a letter' to the queen, pray- pet, and, in the church, a linen surplice.  Ye
ing " that if not all, yet at least those articles that will subscribe, write Volo;: those that will
that related to the apparel might be returned not subscribe, write Nolo; be brief, make no
with some authority."t  But the queen was words."  When some of the clergy offered to
firm to her former resolution: she would give speak, he interrupted them, and cried, "Peace,
no authority to the advertisements; but, to sup- peace.  Apparitor, call over the churches, and
port her commissioners, issued a proclamation, ye masters answer presently, sub panha contenzpperemptorily requiring uniformity in the habits, tus."t  Great was the anguish and distress of
upon pain of prohibition from  preaching and those ministers, who cried out for compassion
deprivation.                                  to themselves and families, saying, "We shall
Hereupon the archbishop consulted with men be killed in our souls for this pollution of ours."
learned in the civil law what method to proceed After much persuasion and many threatenings,
in; and then concluded, with the consent of the sixty-one out of a hundred were prevailed with
rest of the commissioners, to summonsthe whole to subscribe, and thirty-seven absolutely rebody of pastors and curates within the city of
London to appear at Lambeth, and to examine   * cc Fuller, vol. ix., 76. Heylin's Reform., 164. The
every one of them upon this question, Whether remark of the latter writer on Fox's reply is characevery one of them upon  this question, Whether teristic.'This refractory answer,' he says,'for it
they would promise conformity to the apparel was no better, might well have moved the bishop to
established by law, and testify the same by sub- proceed against him, as he did against some others
scription of their hands? Those who demurred who had stood on the same refusal; but kissing goes
were immediately to be suspended, and, after by kindness, as the saying is, and so much kindness
three months, deprived of their livings. To pre- was shown to him, that he both kept his resolution
pare the way for this general citation, it was and his-place together; which, whether it might not
thought proper first to summon the Reverend do more hurt to the Church than that preferment in
Mr. John Fox, the martyrologisttht thate terepu-the Church did advantage him, I think no wise man
Mr. John Fox, the martyrologist, that the repu- will make a question; for, commonly, the exemption
tation of his great piety might give the greater or indemnity of some few particulars confirms the
countenance to -the proceedings of the commis- obstinacy of the rest, in hope of being privileged with
sioners; but when they called upon him to sub- the like indemnity.' "-C.
t " When Dr. Humphreys was chosen President of
1576, was owing to his Puritanical principles, is evi- Magdalen College, in 1561, Fox wrote him a congratdent," says Mr. Neal in his Review, "from the tes- ulatory letter, couched in a facetious style.' Why
timony of Lord Burleigh and Mr. Strype, whose do I trifle thus,' said this estimable man,' and begin
words are these:' In the latter end of the year 1576, he to congratulate you your preferment, who should
(Lord Burleigh) did Humphreys the honour to write much rather expostulate the case with you? Foi
to him, hinting that his nonconformity seemed to be come, sir, tell me, why have you thus left us and our
the chief impediment of his preferment, the queen, and flock and order, and gone away? Fugitive, runaway
some other honourable persons at court, considering as you are, be you not ashamed? You ought to have
him as forgetful of his duty in disobeying her injunc- taken example of greater constancy by me, who still
tions. This impediment being surmounted, to what- wear the same clothes, and remain in the same sorever considerations or influence it was owing, he was did condition as England received me in when I first
made Dean of Gloucester, and afterward Dean of came home out of Germany. Nor do I change my
Winchester. This last dignity and his professorship, deree nor order, which is that of the mendicant, or,
notwithstanding his non-subscribing, Fuller says, he if you will, of the friars preachers. And in this order
held as long as he lived. But then it appears, by you yourself were, and was like enough to continue
Strype, that the lord-treasurer was his particular an honest companion with us. But now you have
friend, and had prevailed with him to wear the hab- forsaken this our order and classes, and mounted I
its.'" —Maddox's Vindication, p. 324, 325; and Neal's know not whither; fortunate success, as the proverb
Review, p. 898.-ED.                          is, waiting on you.' "-Strype's Parker, vol. i., p. 223,
* Life of Parker, p. 187, 192, 199.        224.-C.
t Ibid., p. 212, 214.:               Life of Grindal, p. 98. Strype's Annals, p. 463.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                          99
fused; of which last number, as the archbishop    To their declaration, and everything else that
acknowledged, were the best, and some preach-  was offered, from the danger of the Reformaers. *  These were immediately suspended, and                                        L
put from all manner of ministry, with significa-  and Belial:' by  the example of Daniel, chap. vi.,
tion that if they did not conform within three  who, making his prayer to God contrary to the comtion that if they did not conform within three mandment of the king, set open his window towards
months they were to be deprived.  The arch- Jerusalem, lest he might seem to deny his profesbishop imagined  that their behaviour would  sion, or consent to the wicked: by the example of St.
have been rough and clamorous, but, contrary  Paul, who rebuked Peter sharply because he did, by
to. his expectations, it was reasonable, quiet, his dissimulation, discourage the godly that from
and modest.                                      among the heathen were converted to Christ, and
The ministers gave in a paper of reasons [see f encourage the superstitious Jews; and again, by his
Thbelow]in for r  efusing the apparelrOfreasons[ doctrine, 2 Cor., xiii., where he teacheth that mmisters have power to edify, but not to destroy. It is
* Life of Parker, p. 215.                     farther evident from the examples of the patriarchs
t "Reasons, grounded upon the Scriptures; where- and prophets, who, in worshipping God, would not
by we are persuaded not to admit the use of the out- use the rites and ceremonies of the idolatrous; and,
ward apparel and ministering garments of the pope's to conclude, from the doctrine and example of Peter
church.                                          and John, Acts, iv., who, refusing to obey the com" 1st. Our Saviour saith,' Take heed that you con- mandment of the rulers, in ceasing to preach Christ,
temn not one of these little ones; for he that of- said,' Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey
fendeth one of these little ones that believeth in me, you rather than God, be you yourselves judges.'
it were good for him that a millstone were hanged    "3dly. For a farther proof we may bring the testiabout his neck, and that he were drowned in the  mony and practice of the ancient fathers:
depth of the sea.' To offend the little ones in Christ,   "Tertullian, in his book De Corona Militis, coinis to speak or do anything whereby the simple Chris- pares those men to dumb idols who wear anything
tians may take occasioneitherto like that which is evil, like the decking of the idols. Again, he saith,' Si
or to mislike that which is good. Now for us to admit in idolio recumbere alienum est a fide, quid in idoli
the use* of these things may occasion this mischief; habitu videri?''If it be a matter of infide~Iy to sit at
therefore, in consenting to them, we should offend  the idol's feast, what is it to be seen in the habit or
many of these little ones.                       apparel of the idol?'
" Farther, St. Paul saith,' If any man that is in-   "St. Austin, in his eighty-sixth epistle to Casulafirm shall see thee that hast knowledge sitting at nus, warneth him not to fast on the same day, lest
meat at the idol's table, will not his conscience be  thereby he might seem to consent with the wicked
stirred up to eat that which is offered to idols? and  Manichees.
so the weak brother, for whom Christ died, shall   "The fourth Council of Toletane [Toledo], canon
perish in thy knowledge; and in sinning after this  fifth, to avoid consent with heretics, decreed that in
sort against the brethren, and wounding their weak  baptism the body of the baptized should be but once
consciences, ye do sin against Christ.'-1 Cor., viii., dipped.
10-12. This place proveth, that whatsoever is done    "The great clerk Origen, as Epiphanius writeth,
by him that has knowledge, or seems to have it, in  tom. i., b. ii., haeres. 64, because he delivered palm
such sort that he may seem to allow that as good  to those that offered to the image of Serapis, although
which in itself cannot be other than evil, is an occa- he openly said,' Venite accipite non frondes simulasion for the weak to allow and approve of the thing  chri sed frondes Christi,''Come and receive the
that is evil, and to mislike that that is good, though  boughs, not of the image, but of Christ:' yet was
the doing of it be indifferent of itself to him that has he for this, and such like doings, excommunicated
knowledge.  To sit at the idol's table, or to eat and cast out of the Church, by those martyrs and
things offered to idols, is in him that has knowledge  confessors that were at Athens.
a thing indifferent, for he knows that the idol is   "In the Tripartite History, b. vi., chap. xxx., it is
nothing, and that every creature of God is good, and  said that the Christian soldiers who, by the subtlety
to be received with thanksgiving, without asking  of Julian, were brought to offer incense to the idol,
any questions for conscience' sake. But to do this when they perceived their fault, ran forth into the
in presence of him that thinks that none can do so  streets, professing the religion of Christ, testifying
but he must be partaker of idolatry, is to encour- themselves to be Christians, and confessing that-their
age him to like idolatry, and to mislike the true  hands had offended unadvisedly, but that now they
service of God; for none can like both. Now the  were ready to give their whole bodies to the most
case of eating and drinking, and of wearing apparel, cruel torments and pains for Christ.
is in this point the same; for though to wear the    "Farther, to prove that wearing the ministering
outward and ministering garments of the pope's garments of the pope's church is to confirm the opinchurch is in itself indifferent, yet to wear them in  ion of the necessity and holiness of the same, and to
presence of the infirm and weak brethren, who do  show consent to idolatry, let it be- remembered that
not understand the indifference of them, may occa- the first devisers of them have taught that of necession them to like the pomp of the pope's ministra- sity they must be had; and have made laws to puntion, which of itself is evil, and to mislike the simple ish and deprive those that had them not, as appears
ministration of Christ, which in itself is good.  in the pontifical De Clerico faciendo, that is, of the
"2dly. We may not use anything that is repug- ordering of a clerk, where the surplice is termed the
nant to Christian liberty, nor maintain an opinion of habit or garment of the holy religion. And Duranholiness where none is; nor consent to idolatry, nor dus, in his third book, entitled Rationale Divinor,
deny the truth, nor discourage the godly, and en- calls it the linen garment, which those men that are
courage the wicked; nor destroy the Church of God, occupied in any manner at the service of the altar and
which we are bound to edify; nor show disobedience holy things must wear over their common apparel.
where God commanded us to obey; all which we    "Lindwood, also, in his constitutions for the provshould do, if we should consent to wear the outward  ince of England, De Habitu Clericali, affirms the neand ministering garments of the pope's church, as cessity of this habit; so does Ottobonus and others,
appear by the following passages of Scripture: by  appointing grievous punishments for those that reSt. Paul's exhortation, Gal., v., 1,' Stand fast in the fuse to wear them; yea, and the pontifical teaches
liberty wherewith Christ has made you free:' by the that when a clerk has, by murder or otherwise, deexample of Christ, Matth., xv., 2, 3, who would not served to die, he must be degraded, by plucking viohave his disciples maintain an opinion of holiness lently from him those garments, with these words,
which the Pharisees had in washing hands: by the' Authoritate Dei Omnipotentis, Patris, Filii, et Spirdoctrine of St. Paul, 2 Cor., vi., 15, where he teach- itus Sancti,' &c.' By the authority of Almighty
Ath that there' can be no agreement between Christ God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and by our au



100                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
tion, and the ruin of so many poor families, the    The Nonconformists had juster thoughts of
commissioners replied it was not their business him; he was at the head of all their sufferings,
to argue and debate, but to execute the queen's and pushed them forward with unrelenting viginjunctions. Archbishop Parker seemed pleased our. The queen might have been softened; the
with the resolution of his chancellor, and said secretary of state and courtiers declared they
i" that he did not doubt, when the ministers had could not keep pace with him; Grindal relented,
felt the smart of poverty and want, they would  and the Bishop of Durham  declared he would
comply, for the wood," says he," is yet green."* rather lay down his bishopric than suffer such
He declared, farther, that he was fully bent to proceedings in his diocess.  But Parker was
go through with the work he had begun; and above these reproaches, and instead of relaxing,
the rather, because the queen would have him  framed such injunctions for the London clergy
try with his own authority what he could do as had never been heard of in a Protestant kingfor order. This raised his ambition, and put dom or a free government. The commissioners
him  upon soliciting the secretary of state by obliged every clergyman that had cure of souls
letter for his countenance; in one of which he to swear obedience, 1. To all the queen's intells him  that "if he was not better backed junctions and letters patent; 2. To all letters
there would be fewer Winchesters, as is de- from the lords of the privy council; 3. To the
sired," referring to Stephen Gardiner, the bloody articles and injunctions of their metropolitan;*
persecuting Bishop of Winchester in Queen 4. To the articles and mandates of their bishop,
Mary's reign; "but for my part," says he, " so archdeacon, chancellors, somners, receivers,
that my prince may win honour, I will be very  &c., and in a word, to be subject to the control
gladly the rock of offence; since'the Lord is of all their superiors with patience.t  To gird
my helper, I will not fear what man can do to these injunctions close upon the Puritans, there
me;' nor will I be amused or daunted; fremat was appointed in every parish four or eight cenmundus, ruat coelum."t  These were the weap- sors, spies, or jurats, to take cognizance of all
ons, and this the language, of one whom Mr. offences given or taken.  These were under
Strype calls the mild and gentle archbishop!   oath enjoined to take particular notice of the
thority, we take from thee the habit of the clergy, conformity of the clergy and of the parishioners,
and we make the naked and bare of the ornaments and to give in their presentments when requiof religion; and we do depose, degrade, spoil, and red; so that it was impossible for an honest Pustrip thee of thy clergy order, benefice, and privi- ritan to escape the high commission.
lege; and as one that is unworthy of the profession   By these methods of severity, religion and
of a clerk, we bring thee back again into the servi- virtue were discountenanced for the sake of
tude and shame of the secular habit.'         their pretended ornaments; the consciences of
ItThese things being thus weighed, with the warn-  tir  doa              the nie
ing that St. Paul giveth, 1 Thess., chap. v., where good men were entangled, and the Reformation
he commands us to abstain from all appearance of exposed to the utmost hazard.t 1: Many churchevil, we cannot but think that in using of these things es were shut up in the city of London for want
we should beat back those that are coming from su- of ministers, to the grief of all good men and
-perstition, and confirm those that are grown in su- the inexpressible pleasure of the papists, who
perstition, and, consequently, overthrow that which rejoiced  to see the Reformers weakening their
we have been labouring to build, and incur the dan- own hands, by silencing such numbers of the
ger of that horrible curse that our Saviour has pro- most useful and popular preachers, while the
nounced,' Wo to the world because of offences.'                                hem.r  Bish"Knowing, therefore, how horrible a thing it is to country was in distress for want ofth
fall into the hands of the living God, by doing that op Sandys, in one of his sermons before the
which our consciences (grounded upon the truth of queen some years after, tells her majesty " that
God's Word, and the example and doctrine of an- many of her people, especially in the northern
cient fathers) do tell us were evil done, and to the parts, perished for want of saving food. Many
great discrediting of the truth whereof we profess to there are," says he, "that hear not a sermon in
be teachers, we have thought good to yield our-       ears I might a       a
selves into the hands of men, to suffer whatsoever seven y          afely say in seventeen:
God hath appointed us to suffer, for the preferring of their blood will be required  at somebody's
the commandments of God and a clear conscience, hands." 
before the commandments of men; in complying   But, to make thorough work with the refusers
with which we cannot escape the condemnation of of the habits, the archbishop called in all licenour consciences; keeping always in memory that ses, according to the advertisements, and ap
horrible saying of John in his First Epistle,' If our pointed all preachers throughout his whole provconscience condemn us, God is greater than our con- ince to take out new ones; this was to reach
science;' and not forgetting the saying of the Psalm- those who were neither incumbents nor curates
ist, I It is good to trust in the Lord, and not to trust those who were neither incu mbe nts or c urates
in man,' Psal. cxviii.'It is good to trust in the in parishes, but lecturers or occasional preachLord, and not to trust in princes.' And again, Psal. ers. All parsons and curates were forbid to
cxlvi.,' Trust not in princes, nor in the children of suffer any to preach in their churches upon any
men, in whom there is no health, whose spirit shall former licenses given by the archbishop; and
depart out of them, and they shall return to the earth such as took out new licenses bound themselves
from whence they came, and in that day all their de- for the future not to disturb the public estabvices shall come to naught.'
vices shall come to naught.'                 lishment, or vary from it. And because some,
" Not despising men, therefore, but trusting in God
only, we seek to serve him with a clear conscience
so long as we shall live here, assuring ourselves that   * Strype's Ann., p. 463.
those things that we shall suffer for doing so shall   t Dr. Warner calls this an oath of a most extraorbe a testimony to the world that great reward is laid dinary nature under a free government, and adds,
up for us in heaven, where we doubt not but to rest "with this unrelenting rigour did the archbishop
forever, with them that have before our days suffered carry on the severity against the Puritans, and al
for the like."-M S. penes me, p. 57, &c.     most he alone."-Ecclesiastical Ilistory, vol. ii., p.
* Life of Parker, p. 215.                  435.-En.              t Life of Parker, p. 224.
t Life of Parker, p. 219, 220, &c.           ~ Life of Parker, p. 198.




H.S' 3RY OF Ti W PURITANS.                                   101
when they had been discharged from their min-   In the queen's progress this year [1565], her
istry in one diocess for nonconformity, got a majesty visited the University of Cambridge,
settlement in another, it was now  appointed  and continued there five days, being entertained
that' such curates as came out of other diocess- by the scholars with speeches and disputations.
es should not be allowed to preach without let- On the 3d day of her being there [August 7th],
ters testimonial from the ordinary where they  a philosophy act was kept by Thomas Byng, of
last served. But those Puritans who could not Peter-house, on these two questions: 1. Whethwith a good conscience take out new licenses er monarchy be not the best form of government!
kept their old ones, and made the best use of 2. Whether frequent alterations of the laws are
them they could.*  "They travelled up and dangerous?  The opponents were Mr. Thomas
down the countries, from  church to church, Cartwright, fellow of Trinity College; Mr. Chadpreaching where they could get leave, as if derton, of Queen's; Mr. Preston and Mr. Clark,
they were apostles," says Bishop Jewel; and so of King's College; who performed their parts to
they were with regard to their poverty, for sil- the satisfaction of the queen and the whole au.
ver and gold they had none; but his lordship  dience; but it seems Preston pleased her majadds, " And they take money for their labours."  esty best, and was made her scholar, with the
An unpardonable crime! that honest men of a settlement of a salary.  The divinity questions
liberal education, that had parted with their liv- were, 1. Whether the authority of the Scripture
ings in the Church for a good conscience, should  is greater than that of the Church? 2. Whethendeavour, after a very poor manner, to live by er the civil magistrate has authority in ecclesithe Gospel.                                   astical affairs.  These were the tests of the
There was still one door of entrance in the times.  At the close of the disputation the
ministry left open to the Puritans, which the queen made a short and elegant oration in Latarchbishop used all his interest to shut, but could in, encouraging the scholars to pursue their
not prevail. It was a privilege granted the Uni- studies, with a promise of her countenance and
versity of Cambridge, by Pope Alexander VI., protection.
to license twelve ministers yearly to preach any-   But this learned body was soon after thrown
where throughout England without obtaining li- into conflusion by the controversy of the habits,
censes from any of the bishops. The bull says especially of the surplice. Dr. Longworth, masthat " the chancellor of the university (who was ter of St. John's, being absent from his college,
then Fisher, bishop of Rochester) and his suc- the students of that house came to chapel on a
cessors, shall license twelve preachers yearly, festival day without their hoods and surplices,*
under the common seal of the university, who to the number of three hundred, and continued
shall have liberty to preach, &c., durante vita to do so for some time, the master at his return
naturali."  The archbishop sent to Secretary  making no complaint, nor attempting to recover
Cecil, their chancellor, praying him to set aside them  to uniformity.  In Trinity College allt
this practice: 1. Because the present licenses except three declared against the surplice, and
varied from the original bull, being given out by many in other colleges were ready to follow
the vice-chancellor, whereas they ought to be in their example. The news of this being sent to
the name of the chancellor only. 2. Because it court, it was easy to foresee an impending
was unreasonable to give licenses durante vita storm: several members of the university wrote
naturali, i. e., for life; whereas they ought to be to the secretary, humbly beseeching his interonly quam diu nobis placuerint, and dum lauda- cession with the queen, that they might not be
biliter gesserint, i. e., during our pleasure, or forced to revive a popish ceremony, which they
as long as they behave well.t  3. But that had laid aside; assuring him, before God, that
which troubled the archbishop most was the nothing but reason, and the quiet enjoyment of
clause which infringed his own and his breth- their consciences, had induced them  to do as
ren's jurisdiction, that they might preach with- they had done.  But Cecil sent them an angry
out a license from any of the bishops.  And yet answer, admonishing them to return quietly to
this clause is in the letters patent of Queen
Elizabeth, granted to the university for this pur- couragers of popery.  The bishop's reflections are
pose; the words are, "Licentia ordinariorum  also pointed against our historian for mentioning
locorum  super hoc minime requisita."  This this conduct without a censure. To which Mr. Neal
was thought insufferable; the vice-chancellor, replies that this grant from Pope Alexander VI., the
therefore, was sent for to town to defend the advantage of which the Puritans enjoyed, had been
privilege of the university, which he did to the confirmed to the university by letters patent from
satisfaction of the chancellor; but the archbish- Queen Elizabeth herself; a copy of which may be
seen in the Appendix to Strype's Life of Archbishop
op was so angry that he declared he would not Parker, p. 69. Mr. Neal also properly asks, " Would
admit any of their licenses without the chancel- the Protestants in France have shut up their churchlor's name; nor could he imagine that the vice- es if the antichristian powers would have given them
chancellor, by his pretended experience and  a license to preach? Nay, would they not have
skill in the civil law, could inform his honour of preached without any license at all if they had not
anything that he was not capable of answering. been dragooned out of the country 1" He asserts
But here his grace met with a disappointment, for himself, "If he were a missionary, and could
for the university retained their privilege, an spread the Christian faith by virtue of a license from
for the university retained their privilege, and the pope, or the grand seignor, or the Emperor of
made use of it to the relief of the Puritans.+    China, in their dominions, he would not scruple to
accept it, but be thankful to the Divine Providence
+ Life of Grindal, p. 99. Pierce, p. 52.    that had opened such a door."-Appendix to the Ret Life of Parker, p. 193.                   view.-ED.: Bishop Maddox inveighs against them for avail-   * However, they had worn them before.-Bishop
ing themselves of a bull granted by the pope, whom.M3addox.
they affirm to be antichrist, and when they loaded the   t By the instigation of T. Cartwright.-Ib., from
queen and bishops with heavy accusations as en- Strype.




102                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the habits, as they had used them before. He whatsoever. He wrote divers learned books,
also wrote to the vice-chancellor, requiring him  and died a Nonconformist, in the year 1588, and
to call together the heads of the colleges, and was buried in the Church of Cripplegate. Among
let them know that, as they tendered the honour the deprived ministers, some betook themselves
of God, the preservation of Christian unity, the to the study of physic, and others to secular emreputation of the university, the favour of the ployments; some went into Scotland, or beyond
queen, and his own good-will to them, they sea; others got to be chaplains in gentlemen's
should continue the use of the habits.      families; but many who had large families were
The heads of the colleges being sensible of reduced to beggary. Many churches were now
the risk the university would run of being dis- shut up, and the people ready to mutiny for want
furnished of students if the habits were pressed, of ministers. Six hundred persons came to a
applied again to their Chancellor Cecil to inter- church in London to receive the communion on
cede with the queen for a dispensation: one of Palm Sunday, but the doors were shut, there
their letters was signed by the master of Trini- being none to officiate. The cries of the people
ty College, Dr. Beaumont, who had been an ex- reached the court; the secretary wrote to the
ile; John Whitgift, afterward Archbishop of archbishop to supply the churches, and release
Canterbury; Roger Kelk, master of Magdalen the prisoners; but his grace was inexorable, and
College; Richard Longworth, master of St. had rather the people should have no sermons
John's; Matthew Hutton, master of Pembroke or sacraments than have them without the surHall, afterward Archbishop of York, and many plice and cap. He acquainted the secretary in
others. In their letter they acquaint his honour a letter, "that when the queen put him upon
" that a great many persons in the university, what he had done, he told her that these precise
of piety and learning, were fully persuaded of folks would offer their goods and bodies to pristhe unlawfulness of the habits; and, therefore, on rather than relent; and her highness then
if conformity were urged, they would be forced willed him to imprison them.*  He confessed
to desert their stations, and thus the university that there were many parishes unserved; that
would be stripped of its ornaments; they there- he underwent many hard speeches, and much
fore give it as their humble opinion that indul- resistance from the people, but nothing more
gence in this matter would be attended with no than was to be expected. That he had sent his
inconveniences; but, on the other hand, they chaplains into the city to serve in some of the
were afraid religion and learning would suffer great parishes, but they could not administer
very much by rigour and imposition."*  This the sacrament, because the officers of the parish
letter was resented at court, and especially by had provided neither surplice nor wafer-bread.
the ecclesiastical commission; Longworth, mas- That on Palm  Sunday, one of his chaplains
tor of St. John's, was sent for before the com- desinging to administer the sacrament to some
missioners, and obliged to sign a recantation, that desired it, the table was made ready, but
and read it publicly in the Church; the rest while he was reading the chapter of the passion,
made their peace by letters of submission: all one of the parishioners drew from the table
the heads of colleges were commanded to assist both the cup and ti]e wafer-bread, because the
the vice-chancellor in bringing the scholars to a bread was not common; and so the people
uniformity in the habits, which, nevertheless, were disappointed, and his chaplain derided.
they could not accomplish formanyyears. Whit- That divers church-wardens would provide neigift, seeing which way the tide of preferment ther surplice nor wafer-bread. He acquainted
ran, drew his pen in defence of the hierarchy in the secretary, farther, that he had talked with
all its branches, and became a most potent ad- several of the new preachers, who were movers
vocate for the habits. But the University of of sedition and disorder, that he had commandCambridge was still a sanctuary for the Puri- ed them silence, and had put some into prison.
tans.                                       That on Maunday-Thursday he had many of the
To return to the Puritan clergy: April 2d, Bishop of London's parishioners, church-warMr. Crowley, the suspended minister of Cripple- dens, and others, before him; but that he was
gate, seeing a corpse coming to be buried at his fully tired, for some ministers would not obey
church, attended with clerks in their surplices their suspensions, but preached in defiance of
singing before it, threatened to shut the church them. Some church-wardens would not provide
doors against them; but the singing-men resist- the church furniture, and others opposed and
ed, resolving to go through with their work, till disturbed those that were sent to officiate in
the alderman's deputy threatened to lay them  the prescribed apparel. He then calls upon the
by the heels for breaking the peace; upon which secretary to spirit up [Grindal], bishop of Lonthey shrunk away, but complained to the arch- don, to his duty; and assures him that he had
bishop, who, sending for Crowley, deprived him  spoken to him  to no purpose; that he was
of his living, and confined him to his house, for younger, and nearer the city, and had vacant
saying he would not suffer the wolf to come to priests in his church, who might supply the
his flock. He also bound the deputy in ~100 to places of the deprived ministers; he therefore
be ready when he shall be called for.t This bewailed that he should be put upon the overMr. Crowley was a learned man, and had been sight of the parishes of London, which was anan exile in Queen Mary's days, at Frankfort; other man's charge; and that the burden should
he was very diligent in disputing against certain be laid on his neck when other men drew
priests in the Tower, and took a great deal of back."*  The truth is, Grindal was weary of
pains to bring them over to their allegiance to the unpleasant work, and having a real concern
the queen, upon the principle of the unlawful- to promote the preaching of the Word of God,
ness of deposing princes upon any pretence he could not act against the ministers otherwise than as he was pushed forward; and
* Life of Parker, p. 194.                                             Ipp., p. 69.
life of Parker, p. 218, 219.          ~ Life of Parker, p. 228.    t Ibid., p, 229




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    103
when the eyes of his superiors were turned  into the Jewish Church; ant that Pope Sylvesanother way, he would relax again. When the ter, about the year 320, was the first that apsecretary and archbishop sent to him to provide pointed the sacrament to be administered in a
for his charge and fill up the vacant pulpits, he  white linen garment; giving this reason for it,
told them  it was impossible, there being no  because the body of Christ was buried in a
preachers; all he could do was to supply the  white linen cloth. They represent how all these
churches by turns, which was far from  stop- garments had been abused to idolatry, sorcery,
ping the murmurs of the people.              and all kinds of conjurations; for, say they, the
This was the sad condition of the city of Lon- popish priests can perform none of their predon, the very bread of life being taken from  tended consecrations of holy water, transubthe people, for the sake of a few trifling cere- stantiation of the body of Christ, conjurations
monies;* and if it was thus in the city, how  of the devil out of places or persons possessed,
much worse must it be in those distant coun- without a surplice, or an albe, or some hallowed
ties where her majesty's injunctions were ri- stole. They argue against the habits as an ofgidly executed. And yet, with all this rigour, fence to weak Christians, an encouragement to
it was not in the power of the queen and her ignorant and obstinate papists, and as an affecbishops to reconcile the clergy and common  tion to return to their communion. That at
people to the habits. The queen herself was in  best they were but human appointments, and
earnest, and her archbishop went into the most came within the apostle's reproof, Col., ii., 20,
servile measures to fulfil the commands of his 22:' Why as though living in the world are ye
royal mistress; the high-commission was furi- subject to ordinances, after the commandments
ous, but the council were backward to counte- and doctrines of men? which all are to perish
nance their proceedings.                     with the using. Touch not, taste not, handle
All applications to the queen and her com- not.' That, supposing the garments were indifmissioners being ineffectual, the suspended min- ferent (which they did not grant), yet they ought
isters thought it their duty to lay their case be- not to be imposed, because it was an infringefore the world; accordingly, they published a ment of the liberty wherewith Christ had made
small treatise in this year [1566], in vindication  them free. Lastly, they call in the suffrages
of their conduct, entitled "A Declaration of the  of foreign divines, who all condemned the habDoings of those Ministers of God's Word and  its, though they were not willing to hazard the
Sacraments in the City of London which have  Reformation in its infancy for them.  Even
refused to wear the upper Apparel and minis- Bishop Ridley, who contended so zealously for
tering Garments of the Pope's Church."  In  the habits, when Dr. Brooks, at his degradation,
this book they show " that neither the prophets would have persuaded him to put on the surin the Old Testament, nor the apostles in the  plice with the rest of the massing garments, ab.
New, were distinguished by their garments; solutely refused, saying,' If you put the surplice
that the linen garment was peculiar to the  upon me, it shall be against my will.' And
priesthood of Aaron, and had a signification of when they forced it upon him, he inveighed
something to be fulfilled in Christ and his against the apparel, as foolish and abominable."
Church. That a distinction of garments in the    At the end of the book is a prayer, in which
Christian Church did not generally obtain till are these words: "Are not the relics of Romish
long after the rising of antichrist; for the whole idolatry stoutly retained 3 Are we not bereavclergy of Ravenna, writing to the Emperor Car- ed of some of our pastors, who by word and
olus Calvus, in the year of our Lord 876, say, example sought to free thy flock from these ofWe are distinguished from the laity not by our fences 1 Ah, good Lord! these are now by powclothes, but by our doctrines; not by our habits, er put down from pastoral care; they are forbid
but our conversation.  That the surplice, or to feed us; their voice we cannot hear. This
white linen garment, came from the Egyptians is our great discomfort; this is the joy and tri" The fact that so large a proportion of the first umph of antichrist; and, which is more heavy,
Reformers, and those confessedly among the most the increase of this misery is of some threatenlearned, zealous, and devout of their day, were at- ed, of the wicked hoped for, and of us feared,
tached to the peculiarities of the Puritans, should  as thy judgments against us for our sins."  At
shame the intemperate and ignorant partisans who the conclusion is the Lord's Prayer and Creed,
refer to them in anger and contempt. In libelling  after this manner: "In thy name, O0 Christ our
the Puritans, they asperse the men who exerted  Captain, we ask these things, and pray unto
themselves most diligently in laying the foundations
of their church, and lwerentl g the fo endureation thee, 0 Heavenly Father, saying, Our Father,"
the loss of liberty and life on behalf of a common  &c. After this, "0 Lord, increase our faith,
Protestantism.  The most eminent churchmen of whereof we make confession, I believe in God
the day were favourable to the alterations proposed the Father Almighty," &c. And in the end is
by the Puritans, and were only prevented from seek- this sentence: "Arise, O Lord, and let thine
ing their introduction into the offices of the Church  enemies be confounded."*
by the opposition and threats of the queen. Had it   Other pamphlets of the same kind were pubnot been for her influence, Puritanism would have lished in defence of the suspended ministers,
triumphed in the Church, and a purer reformation which the. bishops appointed their chaplains to
than was consonant with her views have been, in  which  the  bishops appointed their chaplains to
consequence, effected.' This arbitrary monarch had answer. Mr. Strype is of opinion that the archa leaning towards Rome in almost everything but bishop himself published an answer to their decthe doctrine of papal supremacy. To the real pres- laration; but whoever be the author, he is a man
ence she was understood to have no objection; the of a bad spirit and abusive language:t the mincelibacy of the clergy she decidedly approved; the isters printed a reply, entitled " An Answer for
gorgeous rites of the ancient form of worship she ad- the time to the examination pit in print with the
mired, and in her own chapel retained.' "-Dr. Price's
Hist. Nonconformity, vol. i., p. 163; also London Quar-  * Strype's Annals, p. 555. Pierce, p. 61.
terly, June, 1827, p. 31.-C.                     t Pierce's Vindication, p. 62.




104                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
author's name, pretending to maintain the ap-   The Puritans being thus foreclosed, and shut
parel prescribed, against the declaration of the out of the Church by sequestrations, imprisministers of London:" it answers the adversary  onments, the taking away of their licenses to
paragraph by paragraph, with good temper and preach, and the restraint of the press, most of
judgment. But the bishops printed some new  them were at a loss how to behave, being untestimoi ies of foreign divines, without. their willing to separate from the Church where the
consent with a collection of tracts of obedience Word and sacraments were truly administered,
to the magistrate, and Melancthon's exposition  though defiled with some popish superstitions;
of Rom., xiii., 1., " Let every soul be subject to of the number were Dr. Humphreys, Sampson,
the higherpowers:" from whence they conclude Fox the martyrologist, Lever, Whittingham,
that, because things are barely tolerable, though Johnson, and others, who continued preaching
offensive, dangerous, and, in their own opinions, up and down, as they had opportunity and could
tc be removed out of the Church as soon as an be dispensed with for the habits, though they
opportunity shall offer, yet, in the mean time, were excluded all parochial preferment.
they may be imposed under the penalties of sus-   But there were great numbers of the common
pension, deprivation, and imprisonment, from a people who abhorred the habits as much as the
mistaken interpretation of the apostle's words, ministers, and would not frequent the churches
" Let every soul be subject to the higher pow- where they were used, thinking it as uniawers."                                        ful to countenance such superstitions with their
The Puritans replied to all these attempts of presence as if they themselves were to put on
their adversaries; their tracts were eagerly the garments. These were distressed where to
sought after, and had a wide spread among the hear; some stayed without the church till serpeople; upon which the commissioners had re- vice was over, and the minister was entering
course to their last remedy, which was the far- upon his prayer before sermon; others flocked
ther restraint of the press. They complained after Father Coverdale, who preached without
to the council that, notwithstanding the queen's the habits; but, being turned out of his church at
injunctions, the differences in the Church were St. Magnus, London Bridge, they were obliged
kept open by the printing and publishing sedi- to send to his house on Saturdays to know
tious libels; and hereupon procured the follow- where they might hear him the next day: the
ing decree of the Star Chamber, viz:         government took umbrage at this, insomuch
1. "That no person shall print or publish any that the good old man was obliged to tell his
book against the queen's injunctions, ordinan- friends that he durst not inform them any more
ces, or letters patent, set forth or to be set of his preaching, for fear of offending his superiforth, or against the meaning of them.*      ors. At length, after having waited about eight
2. " That such offenders should forfeit all weeks to see if the queen would have compastheir books and copies, and suffer three months' sion on them, several of the deprived ministers
imprisonment, and never practise the art of had a solemn consultation with their friends, in
printing any more.                           which, after prayer, and a serious debate about
3. " That no person shall sell, bind, or stitch the lawfulness and necessity of separating from
such books, upon pain of twenty shillings for the established Church, they came to this
every book.                                  agreement: that, since they could not have the
4. " That all forfeited books should be brought Word of God preached, nor the sacraments adto Stationers' Hall, and half the money forfeited ministered without idolatrous gear (as they
to be reserved for the queen, the rest for the in- called it), and since there had been a separate
former, and the books to be destroyed or made congregation in London, and another at Genewaste-paper.                                 va, in Queen Mary's time, which used a book
5. " That the wardens of the company may, and order of preaching, administration of sacrafrom time to time, search all suspected places, ments, and discipline, that the great Mr. Calvin
and open all packs, dry fats, &c., wherein paper had approved of, and which was free from the
or foreign books may be contained; and enter superstitions of the English service; that, thereall warehouses where they have reasonable sus- fore, it was their duty, in their present circumpicion, and seize all books and pamphlets against stances, to break off from the public churches,
the queen's ordinances, and bring the offender and to assemble, as they had opportunity, in
before the ecclesiastical commissioners.     private houses, or elsewhere, to worship God in
6. " All stationers, booksellers, and merchants a manner that might not offend against the light
trading in books shall enter into recognisances of their consciences.* i Had the use of habits
of reasonable sums of money to observe the and a few ceremonies been left discretionary,
premises, or pay the forfeitures."          both ministers and people had been easy; but
This was signed by eight of the privy council, it was the compelling these things by law, as
and by the Bishops of Canterbury and London, they told the archbishop, that made them sepwith five more of the ecclesiastical commission. arate.
and published June 29th, 1566, in the eighth   It was debated among them  whether they
year of the queen's reign.t                 should use as much of the common prayer and
* Life of Parker, p. 221.  f Ibid., p. 222.  service of the Church as was not offensive, or
It is a just remark of a modern writer here, that, resolve at once, since they were cut off from
without entering into the controversy between the the Church of England, to set up the purest
bishops and the Puritans, we may at least venture to and best form of worship most consonant to
affirm that the former did no credit to their cause by the Holy Scriptures and to the practice of the
this arbitrary restraint of the press. This is an expe- foreign Reformers; the latter of these was condient utterly incompatible with the very notion of a
free state, and, therefore, ever to be detested by the ever it may to error, superstition, and tyranny.friends of liberty. And it is an expedient which can British Biography, vol. iii., p. 25.-C.
never be of any service tao the cause of truth, what-   * Life of Parker, p. 241.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     105
eluded upon, and, accordingly, they laid aside providence, to soften the queen's heart in their
the English liturgy, and made use of the Gene- favour.
va service-book.                                In Scotland all things were in confusion.
Here was the era or date of the separation, The young queen, Mary, after the death of her
a most unhappy event, says Mr. Strype, where- husband, Francis II., returned into her own
by "people of the same country, of the same country, August 21st, 1561, upon ill ternms
religion,; and of the same judgment in doctrine, with Queen Elizabeth, who could not brook her
parted communions; one part being obliged to assuming the arms of England, and putting in
go aside into secret houses and chambers, to her claim to the crown, on the pretence of her
serve God by themselves, which begat strange- bastardy, which most of the popish powersi
ness between neighbours, Christians, and Prot- maintained, because she was born during the
estants."  And not only strangeness, but un- life of Queen Katharine, whose marriage had
speakable mischiefs to the nation in this and the been declared valid by the pope.  Elizabeth offollowing reigns. The breach might easily have fered her a safe conduct if she would ratify the
been made up at first,'but it widened by de- treaty of Edinburgh, but she chose rather to
grees; the passions of the contending parties run all risks than submit. Mary was a bigoted
increased, till the fire, which for some years papist, and her juvenile amours and follies soon
was burning under ground, broke out into a entangled her government and lost her crown.
civil war, and, with unspeakable fury, destroyed As soon as she arrived in Scotland, she had the.
the constitution both of Church and State.    mortification to see the whole nation turnei
I leave the reader to judge at whose door Protestant, and the Reformation established by
the beginnings of these sorrows are to be laid, laws so secure and strict, that only herself was
each party casting the blame on the other. The allowed the liberty of mass in her own chapel,
Conformists charged  the deprived ministers and that without pomp or ostentation.  The
with disobedience to the queen, and obstinacy, Protestants of Scotland, by the preaching of
preciseness, and with breaking the peace of the Mr. Knox and others, having imbibed the strongChurch for matters of no consequence to salva- est aversion to popery, were for removing at
tion. The ministers, on the other hand, thought the greatest distance from  its superstitions.
it cruel usage to be turned out of the Church The General Assembly petitioned her majesty
for things which their adversaries acknowledged to ratify the acts of Parliament for abolishing
to be of mere indifference; whereas they took the mass, and for obliging all her subjects to
it upon their consciences, and were ready to frequent the reformed worship. But she replied
aver, in the most solemn manner, that they that she saw no impiety in the mass, and was
deemed them unlawful.  They complied as far determined not to quit the' religion in which she
as they could with the establishment while they was educated, being satisfied it was founded on
were within it, by using as much of the liturgy  the Word of God.  To which the General Asas was not offensive, and by taking the oath of sembly answered a little coarsely, that Turkism
supremacy; they were as dutiful subjects to stood upon as good ground as popery; and
the queen as the bishops, and declared them- then required her, in the name of the eternal
selves ready to obey their sovereign in all things God, to inform  herself better, by frequenting
lawful; and when they could not obey, patient- sermons and conferring with learned men; but
ly to suffer her displeasure.  After all this, to her majesty gave no heed to their counsels.
impute the behaviour of the Nonconformists to   In the year 1564, the queen married Henry
obstinacy and peevishness was very unchari- Stuart, Lord Darnley, who was joined with her
table.*  What could move them  to part with in the government.  By him she was brought
their livings, or support them  under the loss, to bed of a son, June the 15th, 1566, afterward
but the testimony of a good conscience? when James I., king of England; and while she was
they could not but be sensible their noncon- with child of him she received a fright by her
formity would be followed with poverty and husband's coming into her chamber with his
disgrace, with the loss of their characters and servants and putting to death her favourite, Dausefulness in the Church; and with numberless vid Rizzio, an Italian musician, who was sitting
unforeseen calamities to themselves and fam- with her at table. This was thought to have
ilies, unless it should please God, in his all-wise such an influence upon the prince that was born
" Schism, in fact, is a thing bad in itself, bad in of her, that he never loved the sight of a sword.
its very nature; separation may be good or bad, ac-   after this the king himself was found
cording to circumstances. A schismatic is an epi- murdered in a garden, the house in which the
thet of criminality; it indicates the personal charac- murder was committed being blown up with
ter of the individual, and it describes that character gunpowder to prevent the discovery. Upon the
as bad. A separatist is merely a nalne of circum- king's death the Earl of Bothwell became the
stance: in itself it is neither bad nor good; it indi- queen's favourite, and, as soon as he had obcates nothing as to the personal character of the in- ed a divorce from his legal wife, she too
dividual, it merely describes his position in relation him into her marriage-bed, to her very great
to others. Schism can exist, as we have seen, where
there is no separation, and separation itself is not infamy, and the regret of the whole Scots nanecessarily schism; not necessarily so, for while tion, who took up arms to revenge the late
it may be occasioned by crime, it may be occa- king's murder, and dissolve the present incessioned by virtue; it may result, in those who depart tuous marriage. When the two a-mies were
from intolerance attempted, or intolerance sustained, ready to engage, Bothwell fled to Dunbar, and
from the pride of faction, or the predominance of the queen, being apprehensive her soldiers would
principle; attachment to party or attachment to not fight in such an infamous cause, surre
truth. A schismatic, in short, must be a sinner, on not fight n such an infamous cause, surrenderwhichever side he stands; a separatist maybe' more ed herself to the confederates, who shut her up
sinned against than sinning.' "-Dissent not Schism. in the castle of Loch Levin, and obliged her to
By the Rev. Thomas Binney.-C.                 resign the crown to her young son, under the
VoL. I.-0




100                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
regency of the Earl of Murray. From  hence poral dignities and baronies annexed to their ofshe made her escape into England in the year fice, and their engaging in secular employments
1568, where she was detained prisoner by Queen and trusts, as tending to exalt them too much
Elizabeth almost eighteen years, and then put to above their brethren, and not so agreeable to
death. Bothwell turned pirate, and being taken their characters as ministers of Christ, nor conby the Danes, was shut up for ten years in a sistent with the due discharge of their spiritual
noisome prison in Denmark, till he lost his function.
senses and died mad.*                          Secondly. They excepted to the titles and of- The Earl of Murray being regent of Scotland, fices of archdeacons, deans, chapters, and othconvened a parliament and assembly at Edin- er officials belonging to cathedrals, as having no
burgh, in which the pope's authority was again foundation in Scripture or primitive antiquity,
discharged, and the act of Parliament of the but intrenching upon the privileges of the presyear 1560, for renouncing the jurisdiction of the byters of the several diocesses.
court of Rome, was confirmed, and all acts pass-   Thirdly. They complained of the exorbitant
ed in former reigns for the support of popish power and jurisdiction of the bishops and their
idolatry were annulled. The new confession of chancellors in their spiritual courts, as derived
faith was ratified, and the Protestant ministers, firom the canon law of the pope, and not from
and those of their communion, declared to be the Word of God or the statute law of the land.
the true and only kirk within that realm. The They complained of their fining, imprisoning, deexamination and admission of ministers is de- priving, and putting men to excessive charges
dared to be only in the power and disposition for small offences; and that the highest cenof the Church, with a saving clause for lay-pa- sures, such as excommunication and absolution,
trons. By another act, the kings at their coro- were in the hands of laymen, and not in the
nation, for the future, are to take an oath to spiritual officers of the Church.
maintain the reformed religion then professed  Fourthly. They lamented the want of a godand by another, none but such as profess the re- ly discipline, and were uneasy at the promiscuformed religion are capable of being judges or ous and general access of all persons to the
proctors, or of practising in any of the courts of Lord's table. The Church being described in
justice, except those who held offices heredita- her articles as a congregation of faithful persons,
ry, or for life.                             they thought it necessary that a power should
The General Assembly declared their approba- be lodged somewhere, to inquire into the qualition of the discipline of the Reformed Churches fications of such as desired to be of her comof Geneva and Switzerland; and for a parity munion.
among ministers, in opposition to the claim of   Fifthly. Though they did not dispute the lawthe bishops, as a superior order. All Church  fulness of set forms of prayer, provided a due
affairs were managed by provincial, classical, liberty was allowed for prayers of their own
and national assemblies; but these acts of the composure before and after sermon, yet they
General Assembly not being confirmed by Parlia- disliked some things in the public liturgy estabment, episcopal government was not legally abol- lished by law; as the frequent repetition of the
ished, but tacitly suspended till the king came of Lord's Prayer; the interruption of the prayers
age. However, the General Assembly showed by the frequent responses of the people, which
their power of the keys at this time, by deposing in some places seem to be little better than vain
the Bishop of Orkney for marrying the queen to repetitions, and are practised in no other ProtBothwell, who was supposed to have murdered estant Church in the world. They excepted to
the late king, and by making the Countess of some passages in the offices of marriage and
Argyle do penance for assisting at the ceremony. burial, &c., which they very unwillingly complied
with; as, in the office of marriage, "With my
body I thee worship;" and in the office of burial, "In sure and certain hope of the resurrecCHAPTER V.                    tion to eternal life," to be pronounced over the
worst of men, unless in a very few excepted caFROM THE SEPARATION OF THE PROTESTANT NON- ses.
CONFORMISTS TO THE DEATH OF ARCH5ISHOP   Sixthly. They disliked the reading of the apocryphal books in the Church, while some parts of
THOUGH all the Puritans of these times would canonical Scripture were omitted; and though
have remained within the Church, might they theydid not disapprove the homilies, they thought
have been indulged in the habits and a few cer- that no man ought to be ordained a minister
emonies, yet they were far from being satisfied in the Church who was incapable of preaching
with the hierarchy. They had other objections and expounding the Scriptures. One of their
besides those for which they were deprived, great complaints, therefore, throughout the
which they laboured incessantly throughout the course of this reign was, that there were so
whole course of this reign to remove. I will many dumb ministers, pluralists, and nonresiset them before the reader in one view, that he dents; and that presentations to benefices were
may form a complete judgment of the whole in the hands of the queeni, bishops, or lay-pacontroversy.                                trons, when they ought to arise from the election
First. They complained of the bishops affect- of the people.
ing to be thought a superior order to presby-   Seventhly. They diapproved of the observaters, and claiming the sole right of ordination, tion of sundry of the Church festivals or holyand the use of the keys, or the sole exercise of days, as having no foundation in Scripture or
ecclesiastical discipline. They disliked the tem- primitive antiquity. We have no example, say
they, in the Old or New Testament, of any days
* Rapin, p. 357.              appointed in commemoration of saints; to ob




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 107
serve the fast in Lent of Friday and Saturday, tion in antiquity for many hundred years after
&c.. is unlawful and superstitious, as also buy- Christ; and having since been grossly abused
ing and selliafg on the Lord's Day.        by the papists to idolatry, in their worshipping
Eighthly. They disallowed of the Cathedral the host, it ought, say they, to be laid aside;
raode of worship; of singing their prayers, and and if it should be allowed that the posture
of the antiphone, or chanting the psalms by was indifferent, yet it ought not to be imposed
turns, which the ecclesiastical commissioners and made a necessary term  as communion;
in King Edward VI.'s time advised the laying nor did they approve of either of the sacraments
aside. Nor did they approve of musical instru- being administered in private; no, not in cases
ments, as trumpets, organs, &c., which were of danger.
not in use in the Church for above twelve hun-   5. To bowing at the name of Jesus, grounded
dred years after Christ. i                 upon a false interpretation of that passage of
Ninthly. They scrupled conformity to cer- Scripture, "At the name of Jesus every knee
tain rites and ceremonies which were enjoined shall bow;? as if greater external reverence
by the rubric, or the queen's injunctions; as,   was required to that name than to the person
1. To the sign of the cross in baptism, which of our blessed Saviour, under the titles of Lord,
is no part of the institution as recorded in Scrip- Saviour, Christ, Immanuel, &c., and yet upon
ture; and though it was usual for Christians, in this mistake was founded the injunction of the
the earlier ages, to cross themselves, or make a queen and the eighteenth canon, which says,
cross in the air upon some occasions, yet there "When, in time of Divine service, the name of
is no express mention of its being used in bap- Jesus shall be mentioned, due and lowly revertism till about the fifth century. Besides, it hav- ence shall be done by all persons present." But
ing been abused to superstition by the Church the Puritans maintained that all the names of
of Rome, and been had in such reverence by God and Christ were to be had in equal reversome Protestants, that baptism itself has been ence, and therefore it was beside all reason to
thought imperfect without it, they apprehend it bow the knee, or uncover the head, only at the
ought to be laid aside. They also disallowed name of Jesus.
of baptism by midwives, or other women, in   6. To the ring in marriage. This they somecases of sickness; and of the manner of church- times complied with, but wished it altered. It
ing women, which looked to them too much like is derived from the papists, who make marriage
the Jewish purification.                   a sacrament, and the ring a sort of sacred sign
2. They excepted to the use of godfathers or symbol. The words in the liturgy are, " Then
and godmothers, to the exclusion of parents shall they again loose their hands, and the man
from being sureties for the education of their shall give unto the woman a ring, laying the
own children. If parents were dead, or in a dis- same upon the book; and the priest, taking the
tant country, they were as much for sponsors to ring, shall deliver it to the man, to put it on the
undertake for the education of the child as fourth finger of the woman's left hand; and the
their adversaries; but when the education of man holding the ring there, and taught by the
children is by the laws of God and nature in- priest, shall say,' With this ring I thee wed,
trusted to parents, who are bound to form them  with my body I thee worship, and with all my
to virtue and piety, they apprehended it very worldly goods I thee endow,' in the name of
unjustifiable to release them totally from that the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
promise, and deliver up the child to a stranger, Ghost."  They also disallowed the forbidding
as was then the constant practice, and is since of marriage at certain times of the year, and
enjoined by the twenty-ninth canon, which says, then licensing it for money, say they, is more
" No parent shall be urged to be present, nor be intolerable. Nor is it lawful to grant licenses
admitted to answer as godfather to his own that some may marry without the knowledge of
child."  In giving names to children, it was the congregation, who ought to be acquainted
their opinion that heathenish names should be with it, lest there should be any secret lets or
avoided, as not so fit for Christians; and also hinderances.
the names of God and Christ, and angels, and   7. To the wearing of the surplice, and other
the peculiar offices of the Mediator. They also ceremonies to be used in Divine service; condisliked the godfathers answering in the name cerning which the Church says, in the- preface
of the child, and not in their own.        to her Liturgy, that though they were devised
3. They disapprdved the custom of confirming by men, yet they are reserved for decency, orchildren as soon as they could repeat the Lord's der, and edification. And, again, they are apt
Prayer and their Catechism, by which they to stir up the dull mind of man to the rememhad a right to come to the sacrament, without brance of his duty to God by some notable and
any other qualification; this might be done by special signification, whereby he might be edifichildren of five or six years old. They were ed. But the Puritans saw no decency in the
also dissatisfied with that part of the office vestments; nay, they thought them a disgrace
where the bishop, laying-his hand upon the chil- to the Reformation, and, in the present circumdren, prays that God would by this sign certify stances, absolutely unlawful, because they had
them of his favour and goodness, which seems been defiled with superstition and idolatry, and
to impute a sacramental efficacy to the imposi- because many pretended Protestants placed a
tion of his hands.                         kind of holiness in them. Besides, the wearing
4. They excepted against the injunction of them gave countenance to popery, and looked
kneeling at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, as if we were fond of being thought a branch of
which they apprehended not so agreeable to the that communion which we had so justly renounexample of Christ and his apostles, who gave it ced. But, suppose them to be indifferent, they
to his disciples rather in a posture of feasting gave great offence to weak minds, and therethan of adoration. Besides, it has no founda- fore ought not to be imposed, when there was




108                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
no foundation for the use of them in Scripture cording to Mr. Fuller, were the Reverend Mr..or primitive antiquity.                       Colman, Mr. Button, Mr. Halingham, Mr. BenThese things, say they, every one should en- son, Mr. White, Mr. Rowland, and Mr. Hawkdeavour to reform in his place: ministers by the ins, all beneficed within the diocess of London.
Word, magistrates by their authority, according These had their followers of the laity, who forto the Word of God, and the people by prayer.  sook their parish churches, and assembled with
There was no difference in points of doctrine the deprived ministers in woods and private
between the Puritans and Conformists:* so that houses, to worship God without the habits and
if we add but one article more, we have the ceremonies of the Church.
chief head of controversy between the Church    The queen, being informed of their pioceedof England and the Protestant Dissenters at ings, sent to her commissioners to take effectthat day; and this is the natural right that ev- ual measures to keep the laity to their parish
ery man has to judge for himself, and make pro- churches, and to let them know that, if they frefession of that religion he apprehends most quented any separate conventicles, or broke
agreeable to truth, as far as it does not affect through the ecclesiastical laws, they should for
the peace and safety of the government he lives the first offence be deprived of their freedom of
under, without being determined by the preju- the city of London, and, after that, abide what
dices of education, the laws of the civil magis- farther punishment she should direct. This was
trate, or the decrees of councils, churches, or a vast stretch of the prerogative,* there being
synods.t  This principle would effectually put no law, as yet, to disfranchise any man for not
an end to all impositions; and unless it be al- coming to church.
lowed, I am  afraid our separation from  the    But, notwithstanding this threatening mesChurch of Rome can hardly be justified.  "The sage, they went on with their assemblies, and
Bible," says Mr. Chillingworth, " and that only, on the 19th of June, 1567, agreed to have a seris the religion of Protestants; and every one, mon and a communion at Plumbers' Hall, which
by making use of the helps and assistances that they hired for that day, under pretence of a wedGod has put into his hands, must learn and un- ding; but here the sheriffs of London detected
derstand it for himself as well as he can."   and broke them up, when they were assembled
it will appear hereafter what sort of discipline to the number of about one hundred; most of
the Puritans would have introduced; but these them were taken into custody, and some sent to
were the objections that hindered their compli- the Compter, and next day seven or eight of the
ance with the present establishment, and for chief were brought before the Bishop of London,
which they were content to suffer the loss of all Dean Goodman, Mr. Archdeacon Watts, and Sir
things. Those who remained within the Church  Roger Martin, lord-mayor of London. t  The
became. itinerant preachers, lecturers, or chap- bishop charged them with absenting from their
lains.  The chief leaders of the separation, ac- parish churches, and with setting up separate
assemblies for prayer and preaching, and minis* This was, undoubtedly, true with respect to the tering the sacrament.  He told them  that by
majority; but this history has furnished different in- these proceedings they condemned the Church
stances of objections in point of doctrine. The es- of England, which was well reformed according
tablished sentiments concerning the Trinity and the to the Word of   God, and  those martyrs w according
person of Christ, though they did not form the to the Word of God, and those martyrs who had
grounds of that separation of which our author shed their blood for it. To which one of them
writes, were yet called in question, and, as we have replied, in the name of the rest, that they conseen in the note, p. 61, were by no means universally demned them not, but only stood for the truth
received. But it would not have been surprising if, of God's Word. Then the bishop asked the
in that early period of the Reformation, there had been ancientest of them, Mr. John Smith, what he
a perfect acquiescence in every doctrinal principle could answer; who replied " that they thanked
that did not appear to have been peculiar to the sys- God for the Reforation; thrat as long as they
tern of popery; for the progress of the mind and of could hear the Word of God preached without
inquiry is necessarily gradual. The gross corruptions
of popery were at first sufficient to occupy and fill idolatrous gear about it, they never assembled
the thoughts of the generality. A kind of sacred awe in private houses; but when it came to this
spread itself over questions connected with the char- point, that all their preachers were displaced
acter and nature of God and his Christ, which would who would not subscribe to the apparel, so that
deter many from a close and free examination of they could hear none of them in the church, for
them. And ceremonies and habits, being more ob- the space of seven or eight weeks, except Favious to the senses, continually coming into use and ther Coverdale, they began to consult what to
practice, and being enforced with severity, the questions relative to them more easily engaged attention, do; and remembering there had been a congre
were more level to the decision of common under- gation of Protestants in the city of London in
standings, and became immediately interesting. In Queen Mary's days, and another of English exthis state of things there was little room and less in- iles at Geneva, that used a book framed by them
clination to push inquiries on matters of speculation. there, they resolved to meet privately together
-ED.                                         and use the said book."' And, finally, Mr. Smith
t Bishop Warburton is displeased with Mr. Neal offered., in the name of the rest, to yield and do
for speaking of the natural right every man has to
judge for himself as one of the heads of controversy
between the Puritans and Conformists, when, his the commissioners with him, could reprove that
lordship adds, "his whole history shows that this book, or anything else that they held, by the
was a truth unknown to either party." It is true Word of God.
that neither party had clear, full, and extensive views   The bishop told him they could not reprove
on this point, nor were disposed to grant the conse- the book, but that was no sufficient answer for
quences arising from it. But each in a degree admitted it, and acted upon it. And the Puritans, it ap-   * Which, adds Dr. Warner, " plainly showed Elizpears, by p. 109 of this edition, rested their vindica- abeth to be the true daughter of Henry."
tion, in part, upon this principle. —E.        t Life of Grindal, p. 242. Life of Parker, p. 342.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  109
his not going to church *' o which Mr. Smith  prisoners said, that "before they compelled the
replied, that "he would as soon go to mass as ceremonies, so that none might officiate withto some churches, and particularly to his own  out them, all was quiet."  Another (viz., Mr.
parish church, for the minister that officiated  Hawkins) produced a passage out of Melancthon,
there was a very papist."  Others said the that "when the opinion of holiness or necessisame of other parish priests. The bishop asked  ty is put unto things indifferent, they darken the
if they accused any of them by name; upon light of the Gospel."  The bishop replied "that
which one of them presently named Mr. Bedel, the ceremonies and habits were not commanded
who was there present, but the bishop would  of necessity." To which Hawkins rejoined that
not inquire into the accusation.            they had made them matters of necessity, as
The Dean of Westminster, who was one of many a poor man had felt to his cost, who had
the ecclesiastical commission, charged them  been discharged of his living for nonconformity.
with derogating from the queen's authority of When the bishop had occasionally observed that
appointing indifferent things in God's worship. he had formerly said mass, but was sorry for it,
To which one of them  answered, that " it lay  one of them answered, he went still in the habit
not in the authority of a prince, nor the liberty  of a mass-priest. To which he replied, that he
of a Christian man, to use and defend that had rather minister without a cope and surplice,
which appertained to papistry, idolatry, and the but for order's sake and obedience to the queen.
pope's canon law."  Another said that "'these  When some of the commissioners urged them
things were preferred before the Word, of God  with the Reformation of King Edward, one said
and the ordinances of Christ."  The bishop  that " they never went so far in his time as to
asked them what was preferred: one of them  make a law that none should preach or minister
answered boldly, " that which was upon the bish- without the garments."  Sundry other expresop's head,.and upon his back; their copes and  sions of warmth passed on both sides; at length
surplices, and canon laws." Another said " that one of them delivered to Justice Harris their book
he thought both prince and people ought to obey of order [the Geneva book], and challenged any
the Word of God." To which the bishop yield- of the commissioners to disprove it by the Word
ed, except in things that were indifferent, which  of God, and they would give over. The bishop
God had neither commanded nor forbidden; in said they reproved it not, but they liked not
these he asserted that princes had authority to or- their separate assemblies to trouble the common
der and command. Whereupon several of them  quiet of the realm against the queen's will. But
cried out, "Prove that; where find you that 1" the others insisted on their superior regards to
But the bishop would not enter into the debate, the Word of God. In conclusion, the prisoners,
alleging the judgment of the learned Bullinger; not yielding to the bishop, were sent to Brideto which Mr. Smith replied, that perhaps they  well, where they, with their brethren and suncould show Bullinger against Bullinger in the dry women, were kept in durance above a year:
affair of the habits.                        at length, their patience and constancy having.
The bishop asked them whether they would  been sufficiently tried, an order was sent from
be determined by the Church of Geneva. Mr. the lords of the council to release them,x with
Smith replied, "that they reverenced the learn- an admonition to behave themselves better for
ed in Geneva, and in other places, but did not the future.t Accordingly, twenty-four men and
build their faith and religion upon them."  The  seven women were discharged.1 Whether these
bishop produced the following passage out of severities were justifiable by the laws of God or
one of Beza's letters against them: " that against the land, I leave with the reader.
the bishops and princes' will they should exer-   There was a spirit of uncommon zeal in these
cise their office, they [the ministers of Geneva] people to suffer all extremities for the cause in
did much the more tremble at it."  "Mark,"  which they were engaged. In one of their letsays the bishop, " how the learned Beza trem- ters, directed to all the brethren that believed
bles at your case."  Whereupon one of them  in Christ, the writer, who was but a layman,
said they knew the letter well enough, and that says, " The reason why we will not hear our
it made nothing against them, but rather against parish ministers is, because they will not stand
the prince and the bishops. Beza and his learn- forth and defend the Gospel against the leavings
ed brethren trembled at their case in proceeding  of popery, for fear of loss of goods, or punishto such extremities with men as to drive them, ment of body, or danger of imprisonment, or
against their wills, to that which they did not else for fear of men more than God."  He then
care to mention. Their words are these: " We calls up their courage: "Awake, 0 ye cold and
hope that her royal majesty, and so many men  lukewarm preachers, out of sleep; gird up yourof dignity and goodness, will endeavour that selves with the truth; come forth and put your
care may rather be taken of so many pious and  necks [to the yoke], and think with Peter that
learned brethren, that so great an evil should  persecution is no strange thing; for which of
happen, to wit, that the pastors should be forced, the prophets were not persecuted as well as
against their consciences, to do that which is Christ and his apostles; not for evil doing, but
evil, and so to involve themselves in other
men's sins, or to give over; for we more dread  B   This was done at th e  motion and counsel of
that third thing, viz., to exercise their ministry   T The names of the men were John Smith, John
contrary to the will of her majesty and the bish- Roper, Robert Tod, Robert Hawkins, Jlames Ireland,
ops, for causes which, though we hold our peace, William Nickson, Walter Hynkesman, Thomas Rowmay well enough be understood."t How the land, George Waddy, William Turner, John Nashe,
bishop could think this was levelled against the James Adderton, William Wight, Thomas Lydfbrd,
Nonconformists is hard to understand.       Richard Langton, Alexander Lacy, John Leonard,
To go on with the examination. One of the Roger Hawksworth, Robert Sparrow, Richard King,
Christopher Colman, John Benson, John Bolton, RobPierce, p. 42.   t Life of Grindal, Records, No. 16  ert Gates.




110                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
for preaching God's Word, and for rebuking the was first a persecutor, and after was persecuted
world of sin, and for their faith in Jesus Christ. for the truth, that ever fell to persecuting again
This is the ordinance of God, and this is the and repented. I desire you, in the bowels of
highway to heaven, by corporeal death to eternal Christ, to consider your own case, who, by your
life, as Christ saith, John, v.: Let us never fear own confession, was once a persecutor, and
death, that is killed [conquered] by Christ, but have since been persecuted, whether displacing,
believe in him and live forever.' There is no banishing, and imprisoning God's children more
condemnation to them that are in Christ.'' 0  straitly than felons, heretics, or traitors, be perdeath! where is thy sting l thanks be to God secuting again or no. They that make the
that has given us the victory.' Let us not, then, best of it say you buffet your brethren, which,
dissemble, as some do, to save their pigs, but if the master of the house find you so doing, you
be valiant for the truth. I doubt not but all know your reward. I desire you, therefore, in
they who believe the truth, and will obey it, will the bowels of Christ, not to restrain us of the
consider the cause;* and the Lord, for his liberty of our consciences, but be a means to
Christ's sake, make Fphraim and Manasses to enlarge our liberty in the truth and sincerity of
agree, that we may all with one heart and mind the Gospel; and use your interest that- all the
unfeignedly seek God's glory, and the edification remnants of antichrist may be abolished, with
of his people, that we may live in all godly peace, every plant that our heavenly Father has not
unity, and concord! This grant, 0 Lord, for planted. Signed, Yours in the Lord to comChrist Jesus' sake, to whom, with thee and the mand, William White, who joineth with you in
Holy Ghost, be all praise, glory, and honour, every speck of truth, but utterly detesteth whole
forever and ever."                           antichrist, head, body, and tail, never to join
Another, in a letter to Bishop Grindal, occa- with you, or any, in the least joint thereof; nor
sioned by his lordship's discourse to the prison- in any ordinance of man, contrary to the Word
er at his examination before him, December 19, of God, by his grace unto the Church."
begins thus: " Pleaseth your wisdom, my duty   But neither the arguments nor sufferings of
remembered, &c., being grieved at certain words the Puritans, nor their great and undissembled
spoken by you, and at your extreme dealing piety, had an influence upon the commissioners,
with us of late, I am bold to utter my grief who had their spies in all suspected places to
in this manner. You said, if discipline did not prevent their religious assemblies; and gave out
tend to peace and unity, it were better refused; strict orders that no clergyman should be perwhereas our Saviour Christ commandeth dis- mitted to preach in any of the pulpits of London
cipline as one part of the Gospel, most necessa- without a license from the Archbishop of Canry for the Church's peace and order; the apos- terbury or the Bishop of London.
ties practised it, and Mr. Calvin and other learn-   The persecution of the Protestants in France
ed men call it the sinews of the Church that and the Low Countries was hot and terrible
keep the members together; and Beza says, about this time. The King of France broke
where discipline is wanting, there will be a li- through all his edicts for the free exercise of
centious life and a school of wickedness. Sec- the reformed religion; he banished their minisondly, you seemed to be offended with a late ters, and much blood was spilt in their religious
exercise of prayer and fasting, saying that you wars. In the Netherlands, the Duke d'Alva
had not heard of any exercise of this kind with- breathed out nothing but blood and slaughter,
out public authority; to which the example of putting multitudes to death for religion. This
the Ninevites plainly answers, who proclaimed occasioned great numbers to fly into England,
a fast before they acquainted the king with it; which multiplied the Dutch churches in Nornor did the king blame his subjects for going wich, Colchester, Sandwich, Canterbury, Maidbefore him in well-doing, but approved it by do- stone, Southampton, London, Southwark, and
ing the like. Thirdly, you said you would nev- elsewhere. The queen, for their encouragement,
er ask God mercy fbr using the apparel,t and allowed them the liberty of their own mode of
should appear before him with a better con- worship, and as they brought their manufactures
science than we; whereas you said in a sermon, over with them, they proved very beneficial to
as many can witness, that you was sorry, for the trade and commerce of the nation.
that you knew you should offend many godly   Even in England the hearts of all good men
consciences by wearing this apparel; requiring were ready to fail, for fear of the return of poyour auditory to have patience for a time, for pish idolatry; the queen being suddenly seized
that you did but use them fo)r a time, to the end with a severe fit of sickness this summer [1568],
you might the sooner abolish them; and now  which brought her to the very point of death,
you displace, banish, persecute, and imprison and the presumptive heir, Mary, late Queen of
such as will not wear nor consent thereunto, $cots, being a bigoted papist. The queen, toand, at the same time, say you fear not to ap- gether with her bodily distemper, was under
pear before God for so doing. But if the Co- great terror of mind for her sins, and for not
rinthians, for eating meat to the offence of their discharging the duty of her high station as she
brethren, are said to sin against Christ, how  ought: she said she had forgotten her God! to
much more do you, who not only retain the whom she had made many vows, and been unremnants of antichrist, but compel others to do thankful to him. Prayers were composed, and
the same 1 Better were it for you to leave your publicly read in all churches for her msjesty's
lordly dignity, not given you by Christ, and to recovery, in which they petitioned that God
suffer affliction for the truth of the Gospel, than, would heal her soul, and cure her mind as well
by enjoying thereof, to become a persecutor of as her body. The papists were never more sanyour breti.ren. Consider, I pray you, if through- guine in their expectations, nor the Reformation
out the whole Scriptures you can find one that in greater danger, than now; and yet Bride* MS., p. 42.-              t MS., p. 22. i"well and other prisons were full of Puritans, as
~MS., p. 42.               I MS., p. 22.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   111
appears by a manuscript letter of Mr. Thomas the second time the queen had supported them
Lever, now before me, dated December 5, 1568, in their religious wars against their natural
in which he endeavours to comfort the prison- kings. The foreign popish princes reproached
ers, and declares that, though the popish gar- her for it, and her majesty's ministers had
ments and ceremonies were not unclean in much ado to reconcile it to the court doctrines
themselves,* yet he was determined for himself, of passive obedience and non-resistance.
by God's grace, never to wear the square cap    At home the papists were in motion, having
and surplice, because they tended neither to de- vast expectations, from certain prophecies, that
cency nor edification, but to offence, dissension, the queen should not reign above twelve years:
and division in the Church of Christ; nor would their numbers were formidable; and such was
he kneel at the communion, because it was a their latitude, that it was not easy to bring them
symbolizing with popery, and looked too much within the verge of the laws. In Lancashire
like the adoration of the host. But at length it the Common Prayer Book was laid aside, churchpleased Almighty God to dissipate for the pres- es were shut up, and the mass celebrated openent the clouds that hung over the Reformation, ly. The queen sent down commissioners of inby the queen's recovery.                     quiry, but all they could do was to bind some
This yeart was published the Bible in folio, of the principal gentlemen to their good behavcalled the Bishops' Bible, with a preface by iour in recognisances of one hundred marks.*
Archbishop Parker.  It was only Cranmer's Two of the colleges of Oxford, viz., New Coltranslation revised and corrected by several lege and Corpus Christi, were so overrun with
bishops and learned men, whose names may be papists that the Bishop of Winchester, their visseen in the Records of Bishop Burnet's History iter, was forced to break open the gates of the
of the Reformation.  The design was to set college, and send for the ecclesiastical commisaside the Geneva translation, which had given sion to reduce them to order.t  Great numbers
offence. In the beginning, before the Book of of papists harboured in the inns of court, and in
Genesis, is a map of the land of Canaan; before several other places of public resort, expecting,
the New Testament is inserted a map of the with impatience, the death of the queen, and the
places mentioned in the four evangelists, and succession of the presumptive heir, Mary, late
the journeys of Christ and his apostles. There queen of Scotland.
are various cuts dispersed through the book,   Towards the latter end of the year, the Earls
and several genealogical and chronological ta- of Northumberland and Westmoreland, with
bles with the arms of divers noblemen, partic- their friends, to the number of four -thousand,
ularly those of Cranmer and Parker. There are broke out into open rebellion; their pretence
also some references and marginal notes for was, to restore the popish religion, and deliver
the explication of difficult passages.4  This was the Queen of Scots. In the city of Durham they
the Bible that was read in the churches till the tore the Bible and Common Prayer Book to pielast translation of King James I. took place.    ces, and restored the mass in all places wherevBut there was another storm gathering abroad, er they came; but hearing of the advance of
which threatened the Reformation all over Eu- the queen's army, under the Earl of Suffolk,
rope, most of the popish princes having enter- they fled northward, and mouldered away, withed into a league to extirpate it out of the world: out standing a battle; the Earl of Northumberthe principal confederates were, the pope, the land was taken in Scotland, and executed at
emperor, the Kings of Spain, France, and Por- York, with many of his confederates; but the
tugal, with the Duke of Savoy, and some lesser Earl of Westmoreland escaped into Flanders,
princes: their agreement was, to endeavour, by and died in poverty. No sooner was this rebelforce of arms, to depose all Protestant kings or lion over, but the Lord Dacres excited another
potentates, and to place Catholics in their room; on the borders of Scotland; but after a small
and to displace, banish, and condemn to death skirmish with the Governor of Berwick, he was
all well-wishers and assistants of the clergy of defeated, and fled, and the rabble were pardonLuther and Calvin, while the pope was to thun- ed. There was a general commotion among
der out his anathemas against the Queen of the papists in all parts of the kingdom, who
England, to interdict the kingdom, and to ab- would have united their forces if the northern
solve her subjects from  their allegiance. In rebels had maintained their ground.
prosecution of this league, war was already be-   To give new life to the Catholic cause, the
gun in France, Holland, and in several parts of pope published a bull, excommunicating the
Germany, with unheard-of cruelties against the queen, and absolving her subjects from their alreformed. Under these difficulties, the Protest- legiance. In this bull he calls her majesty a
ant princes of Germany entered into a league usurper, and a vassal of iniquity; and having
for their common defence, and invited the given some instances of her aversion to the
Queen of England to accede to it. Her majesty  Catholic religion, he declares " her a heretic,
sent Sir Henry Killigrew over to the elector and an encourager of heretics, and anathematipalatine with a handsome excuse, and, at the zes all that adhere to her. He deprives her of
same time, ordered her ambassador in France her royal crown and dignity, and absolves all
to offer her mediation between that king and her subjects from all obligations of fidelity and
his Protestant subjects; but the confederacy  obedience.J  He involves all those in the same
was not to be broken by treaties; upon which sentence of excommunication who presume to
her majesty, by way of self-defence, and to obey her orders, commands, or laws for the fuward off the storm from her own kingdom, as- ture, and excites all foreign potentates to take
sisted the confederate Protestants of France up arms against her."  This alarmed the adanl Holland with men and money. This was ministration, and put them upon their guard;
* MS., p. 18.   t Strype's Ann, vol. i., p. 623.   * Strype's Ann., p. 541.   t Grindal's Life p. 133.
J Strype's Ann., p 216.: Collyer, p. 523.




112                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
but it quickly appeared that the pope's thunder- conspiracies of the Roman Catholics should
bolts had lost their terror, for the Roman Cath- have alienated the queen's heart from  them,
olic princes not being forward to encourage the and prevailed with her majesty to yield someCourt of Rome's pretended power of excommu- thing for the sake of a firmer union among her
nicating princes, continued their correspondence Protestant subjects; but instead of this, the
with the queen; and her own Roman Catholic edge of the laws that were made against popish
subjects remained pretty quiet,'though from  recusants was turned against Protestant Nonthis time they separated openly from the Church. conformists, which, instead of bringing them
But the queen took hold of the opportunity to  into the Church, like all other methods of severrequire all justices of peace, and other officers ity, drove them farther from it.
in commission, throughout all the counties in   This year [1570] died Mr. Andrew Kingsmill,
England, to subscribe their names to an instru- born in Hampshire, and educated in All-Souls
ment, professing-their conformity and obedience College, Oxon, of which he was elected fellow
to the act of uniformity in religion, and for due in 1558. He had such a strong memory, that
resorting to their parish churches to hear com- he could readily rehearse in the Greek language
mon prayer. This affected Puritans as well as all St. Paul's Epistles to the Romans and Galapapists. The gentlemen of the Inns of Court tians, and other portions of Scripture, memoriter.
were also cited before the ecclesiastical com- He was a most pious and religious person, un
mission, and examined about their resorting to dervaluing all worldly profit in comparison of
church and receiving the sacrament, of which the assurance of his salvation. In the year
most of them were very negligent. This raised  1563, there were only three preachers in the
a clamour, as if the queen intended to ransack university, of whoIn Kingsmill was one; but afinto men's consciences; in answer to which she ter some time, when conformity was pressed, and
published a declaration that she had no such  Sampson deprived of his deanery, he withdrew
intention; "that she did not inquire into the from the kingdom, resolving to live in one of
sentiments of people's mind, but only required the best reformed churches for doctrine and disan external conformity to the laws; and that cipline, the better to prepare himself for the serall that came to the Church and observed her vice of the Church;* accordingly, he lived three
injunctions, should be deemed good subjects." years at Geneva; from thence he removed to
So that if men would be hypocrites, her majes- Lausanne, where he died this year, in the prime
ty would leave them to God; but if they would of his days, leaving behind him  an excellent
not conform, they must suffer the law.       pattern of piety, devotion, and all manner of
When the next Parliament met, they passed virtue.
a law making it high treason to declare the   The rigorous execution of the penal laws
queen to be a heretic, schismatic, tyrant, infidel, made business for the civilians: many were cior usurper; to publish or put in use the pope's ted into the spiritual courts, and after long atbulls; to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, tendance, and great charges, were suspended
or to receive absolution by them:* the conceal- or deprived; the pursuivant, or messenger of
ing or not discovering offenders against this the court, was paid by the mile; the fees were
act is misprision of treason.   A protestation  exorbitant, which the prisoner must satisfy bewas likewise drawn up, to be taken by all repu- fore he is discharged; the method of proceedted papists, in these words: "I do profess and ing was dilatory and vexatious, though they
confess before God that Queen Elizabeth, my seldom  called any witnesses to support the
sovereign lady, now  reigning in England, is charge, but usually tendered the defendant an
rightfully, and ought to be and continue, queen, oath, to answer the interrogatories of the court;
and lawfully beareth the imperial crown of these and if he refused the oath, they examined him
realms, notwithstanding any act or sentence without it, and convicted him upon his own
that any pope or bishop has done or given, or confession; if the prisoner was dismissed, he
can do or give, and that if any pope or other was almost ruined with the costs, and bound in
say or judge to the contrary, whether he say it a recognisance to appear again whensoever the
as pope, or howsoever, he erreth and affirmeth, court should require him. We shall meet with
holdeth and teacheth, error." And that the Pu- many sad examples of such proceedings in the
ritans might not escape without some note of latter part of this reign. The honest Puritans
disloyalty, another protestation was drawn up made conscience of not denying anything they
for them;t in which they profess before God were charged with if it was true, though they
that "they believe in their consciences that might certainly have put the accusers on proof
Queen Elizabeth is and ought to be the lawful of the charge: nay, most of them thought themqueen of England, notwithstanding any act or selves bound to confess the truth, and bear a
sentence that any church, synod, consistory, or public testimony to it before the civil magisecclesiastical assembly hath done or given, or trate, though it was made use of to their disadcan give; and that if any say or judge the con- vantage.t
trary, in what respect soever he saith it, he er-  Wood's Athen Ox, vol,
reth and affirmeth, holdeth and teacheth, error t I have an example of this now before me. The
and falsehood."                                t I have an example of this now before me. The
Reverend Mr. Axton, minister of Morton Corbet in
There was no manner of occasion for this Leicestershire, was cited into the bishop's court three
last protestation; for in the midst of these com- several times this year, and examined upon the reamotions the Puritans continued the queen's sons of his refusing the apparel, the cross in baptism,
faithful and dutiful subjects, and served her and kneeling at the sacrament, which he debated
majesty as chaplains in her armies and navy, with the bishop and his officers with a decent freethough they were not admitted into the church- dom and courage. At the close of the debate the
es.  One would have thought the formidable bishop said,
_  Bish. Now, Mr. Axton, I would know of you what
* Eliz., cap. i.   t Life of Parker, p. 224.  you think of the calling of the bishops of England?




HISTORY -OF THE PURITANS.                                       -113
The controversy with the Church, which had  the cross in baptism, and kneeling at the Lord'8
hitherto been chiefly confined to the habits, to  Supper, began now to open into several more
Axton. I may fall into danger by answering this and not as pastors and ministers. How were you
qltestion.                                       chosen pastor?
Bish. I may compel you to answer upon your oath.   Axt. By the free election of the people and leave
Axt. But I may choose whether I will answer upon  of the patron: after I had preached about six weeks
oath or not. I am not bound to bring myself into  by way of probation, I was chosen by one consent of
danger; but because I am persuaded it will redound  them all, a sermon being preached by one of my
to God's glory, I will speak, be the consequence what brethren, setting forth the mutual duties of pastor
it will; and 1 trust in the Holy Spirit that I shall be and:people.
willing to die in defence of the truth.            Bish. May the bishops of England ordain minisBish. Well, what do you think of my calling?   ters?
Axt. You are not lawfully called to be a bishop,   Axt. You ought not to do it in the matter ye do;
according to the Word of God.                    that is, without the consent of the eldership, without
Bish. I thought so; but why?                  sufficient proof of their qualifications, and without
Axt. For three causes: 1. Because you were not ordaining them to a particular congregation.
ordained by the consent of the eldership.          Bish. Well, Mr. Axton, you must yield somewhat
Bish. But I had the hands of three or four bishops. to me, and I will yield somewhat to you; I will not
Axt. But that is not the eldership St. Paul speaks trouble you for the cross in baptism; and if you will
of,'Tim., iv., 14.                              wear the surplice but sometimes, it shall suffice.
Bish. By what eldership were you ordained? Was   Axt. I can't consent to wear the surplice: it is
it by a bishop?                                 against my conscience; I trust, by the help of God,'I
Axt. I had, indeed, the laying on of the hands of shall never put on that sleeve, which is a mark of the
one of the bishops of England, but that was the beast.
least part of my calling.                          Bish. Will you leave your flock for the surplice?
Bish. What calling had you more?                 Axt. Nay, will you persecute me from my flock
Axt. I having exercised and expounded the Word  for a surplice? I love my flock in Jesus Christ, and
several times in all ordinary assembly of ten minis-_ had rather have my right arm cut off than be remoters; they joined in prayer, and, being required to ved from them.
speak their consciences in the presence of God, de-   Bish. Well, I will not deprive you this time.
cdared, upon the trial they had of me, that they were   Axt. I beseech you consider what you do in repersuaded I might become a profitable labourer in moving me from my flock, seeing I am not come in
the house of God; after which I received the laying at the window, or by simony, but according to the
on of the hands of the bishop.                   institution of Jesus Christ.
Bish. But you had not the laying on of the hands   On the 22d of November following Mr. Axton ap
of those preachers.                              peared again, and was examined touching organs,
Axt. No; I had the substance, but I wanted the music in churches, and obedience to the queen's
accident, wherein I beseech the Lord to be merciful laws, &c.
to me; for the laying on of hands, as it is the Word,   Bish. You, in refusing the surplice, are disloyal to
so it is agreeable with the mighty action of ordaining  the queen, and show a contempt of her laws.
the ministers of God.                              Axt. You do me great injury in charging me with
Bish. Well, then, your ordination is imperfect as disloyalty; and especially when you call me and my
well as mine. What is your second reason?       brethren traitors, and say that we are more troubleAxt. Because you are not ordained bishop over some subjects than the papists.
any one flock; nay, you are not a pastor over any    Bish. I say still the papists are afraid to stir, but
one congregation, contrary to 1 Pet., v., 2, " Feed the you are presumptuous, and disquiet the state more
flock;" and to Acts, xiv., 23, from whence it is man- than they.
ifest that there should be bishops and elders through    Axt. If I, or any that fear God, speak the truth,
every congregation.                              doth this disquiet the state?  The papists have for
Bish. What is a congregation?                  twelve years been plotting treason against the queen
Axt. Not a whole diocess, but such a number of and the Gospel, and yet this doth not grieve you.
people as ordinarily assemble in one place to hear But I protest in the presence of God, and of you' all,
the Word of God.                                that I am a true and faithful subject to her majesty;
Bish. What if you had a parish six or seven miles also I do pray daily both publicly and privately for
long, where many could not come to hear once in a her majesty's safety, and for her long and prosperous
quarter of a year?                              reign, and for the overthrow of all her enemies, and
Axt. I would not be pastor over such a flock.  especially the papists. I do profess myself an enemy
Bish. What is your third reason?               to her enemies, and a friend to her friends; therefore,
Axt. Because you are not chosen by the people; if you have any conscience, cease to charge me with
Acts, xiv., 23: "And they ordained elders by elec- disloyalty to my prince.
tion in every church," XeiporovuavrYes, "by the lifting    Bish. Inasmuch as you refuse to wear'the surup of hands."                                    plice, which she has commanded, you do, in effect,
B.'s Chanc. How come you to be parson of Mor- deny her to be supreme governess in all causes, ecton Corbet?                                     clesiastical and temporal.
Axt. I am no parson.                             Axt. I admit her majesty's supremacy so far as, if
Chanc. Are you, then, vicar?                   there be any error in the governors of the Church,
Axt. No; I am no vicar. I abhor those -names she has power to reform it; but I do not admit her
as antichristian; I am pastor of the congregation  to be an ecclesiastical elder, or church governor.
there.                                             Bish. Yes; but she is, and hath full power and auChanc. Are you neither parson nor vicar? How  thority all manner of ways; indeed, shle doth not adhold you your living?                            minister the sacraments and preach, but leaveth
Axt. I receive these temporal things of the people, those things to us. But if she were a man, as she is
because I, being their pastor, do minister to them  a woman, why might she not preach the Word of God
spiritual things.                                as well as we?
Chanc. If you are neither parson nor vicar, you    Axt. May she, if she were a man, preach the Word
must reap no profit.'of God'? Then'she may also administor the:sacraAxt.'Do you mean good faith in that you say?  ments.
Chanc. Yea, if you will be neither parson nor vicar.   Bish. This does not follow, for you know Paul
there is good cause why another should.          preached, and yet did not baptize.
Bish. You must understand that all livings in the   Axt. Paul confesses that he did baptize, though he
Church are given to ministers as parsons and vicars, was sent especially to preach.
VOL. I.-P




114                  - HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
considerable branches, by the lectures of the private debate by writing, which the other de
Reverend Mr. Thomas Cartwright, B.D., fellow  clined, as answering no valuable purpose.
of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Lady Mar-   Other dangerous and seditious propositions
garet's professor, a Courageous man, a popular as they were called, were collected out of Cartpreacher, a profound scholar, and master of an wright's lectures, and sent to court by Dr. Whitelegant Latin style; he was in high esteem in gift, to incense the queen and chancellor against
the university, his lectures being frequented by him; as,
vast crowds of scholars; and when he preach-    1. " In reforming the Church, it is necessary
ed at St. Mary's, they were forced to take down  to reduce all things to the apostolical institution.
the windows. Beza says of him, that he thought   2. "No man ought to be admitted into the
there was not a more learned man under the ministry but who is capable of preaching.
sun.  This divine, in his lectures, disputed    3. "None but such a minister of the Word
against certain blemishes of the English hierar- ought to pray publicly in the Church, or adminchy, and particularly against these six, which ister the sacraments.
he subscribed with his own hand.*                4. "Popish ordinations are not valid.
"The names and functions of archbishops and   5. "Only canonical Scripture ought to be
archdeacons ought to be abolished, as having no read publicly in the Church.
foundation in Scripture. The offices of the law-   6. "The public liturgy should be so framed
ful ministers of the Church, viz., bishops and that there be no private praying or reading in
deacons, ought to be reduced to the apostolical the Church, but that all the people attend to the
institution; the bishops to preach the Word of prayers of the minister.
God and pray, and deacons to take care of the    7. " The care of burying the dead does not
poor. The government of the Church ought belong more to the ministerial office than to the
not to be intrusted with bishops' chancellors, or rest of the Church.
the officials of archdeacons; but every church    8. " Equal reverence is due to all canonical
should be governed by its own minister and Scripture, and to all the names of God; there
presbyters.  Ministers ought not to be at large, is, therefore, no reason why the people should
but every one should have the charge of a cer- stand at the reading of the Gospel, or bow at
tain flock. Nobody should ask, or stand as a the name of Jesus.
candidate, for the ministry. Bishops should not   9. " It is as lawful to sit at the Lord's table
be created by civil authority, but ought to be as to kneel or stand.
fairly chosen by the Church."                    10. "The Lord's Supper ought not to be adThese propositions are said to be untrue, dan- ministered in private; nor should baptism  be
gerous, and tending to the ruin of learning and administered by women or lay-persons.
religion; they were, therefore, sent to Secreta-   11. "The sign of the cross in baptism is sury Cecil, chancellor of the university, who ad- perstitious.
vised the vice-chancellor to silence the author,   12. " It is reasonable and proper that the paor oblige him to recant. Cartwright challenged rent should offer his own child to baptism, maDr. Whitgift, who preached against him, to a king a confession of that faith he intends to edpublic disputation, which he refused unless he ucate it in, without being obliged to answer in
had the queen's license; and Whitgift offered a the child's name, I will, I will not, I believe,
&c.; nor ought it to be allowed that women, or
Bish. Did not Moses teach the people? and yet he persons under age, should be sponsors.
was their civil governor.                        13. " In giving names to children, it is conveAxt. Moses's calling was extraordinary. Remem- nient to avoid paganism, as well as the names
her the King of Judah, how he would have sacrificed and offices of Christ, angels, &c.
in the temple of God. Take heed how you confound    14. "It is papistical to forbid marriages at
those ofIfices which God ha~s distinguished.   certain times of the year; and to give licenses
Bish. You see how he runneth.
Bickley. You speak very confidently and rashly.
Bish. This is his arrogant spirit. —MS., p. 55, 56.    15. "Private marriages, that is, such as are
Thus the dispute broke off, and the good man, not- not published before the congregation, are highwithstanding all his supplications, was deprived of ly inconvenient.
his living, and: driven to seek his bread in another   16. " The observation of Lent, and fasting on
country, though the bishop owned he was a divine Fridays and Saturdays, is superstitious.
of good learning, a ready memory, and well qualified. "The observation of festivals is unlawful.
One sees here the difficulties the Puritans labour- Trading, or keeping markets on the
ed under in their ordinations; they apprehended the Lord's Day, is unlawful.
election of the people, and the examination of presby-   19. "In ordaining of the ministers, the protsrs, with the imposition of their hands, necessary to nouncing those words,' Receive thou the Holy
the call of a minister; but this, if it were done in Eng- Ghost,' is both ridiculous and wicked.
land without a bishop, would hardly entitle them to   20. " Kings and bishops should not be anointpreach in the Church, or give them a legal title to ed."
-the profits of their livings; therefore, after they had   These were Cartwright's dangerous doctrines,
passed the former trials, they applied to the bishop which he touched occasionally in his lectures,
for the imposition of his hands; but others, being dis-:satisfied with the ordination of a single person not but with no design to create discord, as appears
rightly called, as they thought, to the office of a bish- by a testimonial sent to the secretary.-f state
op, went beyond sea, and were ordained by the pres- in his favour, signed by fifteen corn idlerable
byteties of foreign churches; for though the English names in the university, in which they declare
Puritans had their synods and presbyteries, yet it is that they had heard his lectures, and that " he
~remarkable that they never ordained a single person never touched upon the controversy of the hab~
to the ministry.                              its; and, though he had advanced some propo* Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 628, 629. Life of Parker, p. 312.                                  sitions with regard to the ministry, according




HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS.                                  l11
to which he wished things might be regulated, Strickland, an ancient gentleman, offered a bill
he did it with all imaginable caution.. and mod- for a farther reformation in the Church, April 6,
esty."*  Other letters were written in his fa- and introduced it with a speech, proving that
your, signed by twenty names or upward, of the Common Prayer Book, with some superstiw~hom some were afterward bishops, but it was tious remains of popery in the Church, might
resolved to make him an example.  Cartwright easily be altered without any danger to religion.
himself sent an elegant Latin letter to the see- He enforced it witl, a second speech, April 13,
retary, in which he declares that he waived all upon which the treasurer of the queen's houseoccasions of speaking concerning the habits, but hold stood up, and said, " All matters of cereowns he had taught that our ministry declined  monies were to be referred to the queen, and for
from the ministry of the apostolical Church in  them to meddle with the royal prerogative was
some points, according to which he wished it not convenient."  Her majesty was so displeasmight be modelled; however, that he did this ed with Mr. Strickland's motion, that she sent
with all imaginable caution, as almost the whole for him before the council, and forbade him the
university would witness, if they might be allow- Parliament House, which alarmed the members,
ed. He prayed the secretary to hear and judge  and occasioned so many warm speeches, that
the cause himself, which was so far from novelty, she thought fit to restore him on the 20th of
that it was as venerable for its antiquity as the April. This was a bold stroke at the freedom
apostolic age; but, though the secretary was of parliaments, and carrying the prerogative to
convincedt that his behaviour was free from ar- its utmost length. But Mr. Strickland moved,
rogancy, or an intention to cause trouble, and  farther, that a confession of faith should be pubthat only as a public reader in the university he lished and confirmed by Parliament, as it was in
had given notes of the difference between the other Protestant countries; and that a commitministry in the times of the apostles and the tee might be appointed to confer with the bishpresent ministry of the Church of England, yet ops on his head. The committee drew up cerhe left him to the mercy of his enemies, who  tain articles, according to those whicn passed
poured upon him all the infamy and disgrace the convocation of 1562, but left out others.
their power would admit. They first denied  The archbishop asked them why they left out
him his degree of doctor in divinity, then forbade  the article for homilies, and for the consecrating
his reading public lectures, and at last deprived  of bishops, and some others relating to the hiehim of his fellowship, and expelled him the uni- rarchy. Mr. Peter Wentworth replied, because
versity. A short and compendious way of con- they had not yet examined how far they-were
futing an adversary!                         agreeable to the Word of God, having confined
Mr. Cartwright being now out of all employ- themselves chiefly to doctrines. The archbishment, travelled beyond sea, and settled a corre- op replied, Surely you will refer yourselves wholspondence with the most celebrated divines in  ly to us the bishops in these things? To which
the Protestant universities of Europe. While Mr. Wentworth replied, warmly, "No, by the
he was abroad he was chosen minister to the  faith I bear to God, we will pass nothing before
English merchants at Antwerp, and afterward  we understand what it is, for that were but to
at Middleburgh, where he continued two years make you popes. Make you popes who list, for
with little or no profit to himself; and then re- we will make you none."  So the articles relaturning to England, being earnestly solicited  ting to discipline were waived, and an act was
thereunto by letters from  Mr. Deering, Fulk, passed confirming  all the doctrinal articles
Wiburne, Fox, and Lever, we shall hear more  agreed upon in the synod of 1562.
of the sufferings of this eminent divine for his,  The act is entitled, "For reformation of disnonconformity.T                              orders in the ministers of the Church,"* "and
This year [1570] Grindal, bishop of London, enjoins all that havetany ecclesiastical livings to
being translated to York, Sandys, bishop of  declare their assent before the bishop of the dioWorcester, was removed to London; in his pri- cess to all the articles of religion, which only
mary visitation, January 10, he charged his cler- concern the confession of the true faith, and the
gy, 1. To keep strictly to the Book of Common  doctrine of the sacraments, comprised in the
Prayer. 2. Not to preach without a license. book imprinted and entitled'Articles, where3. To wear the apparel, that is, the square cap  upon it was agreed by the archbishops and bishand scholar's gown, and in Divine service, the  ops, &c., and the whole clergy, in the convocasurplice. 4. Not to admit any of other parishes tion of 1562, for avoiding diversity of opinions,
to their communion. He also ordered all clerks' and for the establishing of consent touching true
tolerations to be called in; by which it appears religion,' and to subscribe them; which was to
that some few of the Nonconformists had been  be testified by the bishop of the diocess, under
tolerated, or dispensed with hitherto, but now  his seal; which testimonial he was to read pubthis was at an end.~  However, the Puritans licly with the said articles, as the confession of
encouraged one another, by conversation and let- his faith, in his church on Sunday, in the time
ters, to steadfastness in opposition to the cor- of Divine service. or else to be deprived. If any
ruptions of the Church, and not to fear the re- clergyman maintained any doctrine repugnant
sentments of their adversaries.              to the said articles, the bishop might deprive
There was a spirit in the Parliament. which  him. None were to be admitted to any benefice
was convened April 2, 1571, to attempt sornee- with cure except he was a deacon of the age
thing in favour of the Puritans, upon whom the  of twenty-three years, and would subscribe and
bishops bore harder every day than other, Mr. declare his unfeigned assent to the articles above
mentioned. Nor might any administer the sacStrPierce's Anndials, vol ii, p 2.    raments under twenty-fiur years of age."
X Clarke's Life of (C:artwright,. 18.   It appears from the words of this statute, that
Clarype's Life of Cartwright, p. 18.
6 Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 29.                  * 13 Eliz., cap. x fi.




e116'HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.
those articles of the Church which relate to its articles of the Church only has been reckoned
discipline were not designed to be the terms of a very great grievance by many pious and learnministerial conformity; and if the queen and ed divines, both in Church and out of it; for it
the bishops had governed themselves according- is next to impossible to frame thirty-six propoly, the separation had been stifled in its infancy, sitions in any human words, to which ten thoufor there was hardly a Puritan in England that sand clergymen can give their hearty assent and
refiused subscription to the doctrinal articles: if consent. Some that agree to the doctrine itself
all the thirty-nine articles had been established, may dissent from the words and phrases by
there had been no need of the following clause, which it is expressed; and others that agree to
"Which only concern the confession of the true the capital doctrines of Christianity, may have
Christian faith, and the doctrine of the sacra- some doubts about the deeper and more abstruse
merits."  And yet, notwithstanding this act, points of speculation. It would be hard to demany that held benefices and ecclesiastical pre- prive a man of his living, and shut him out from
ferments, and that offered to conform to the all usefulness in the Church, because he doubts
statute, were -deprived in the following part of, of the local descent of Christ into hell; or wheththis reign; which was owing to the bishops' ser- er the best actions' of men before their convile compliance with the prerogative, and press- version have the nature of sins;* or that everying subscription to more than the law required.* thing in the three creeds, commonly called the
It deserves farther to be taken notice of, that Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian, may
by a clause in this act, the Parliament admits be proved by most certain warrants of Holy
of ordination by presbyters without a bishop; Scripture, and are therefore to be believed and
which was afterward disallowed by the bishops received.t Wise and good men may have difin this reign, as well as at the restoration of ferent sentiments upon the doctrine of the deKing Charles II., when the Church was depri- crees, which are a depth which no man can
ved of great numbers of learned and useful fathom. These, and some other things, have
preachers, who scrupled the matter of reordina- galled the consciences of the clergy, and driven
tion,'as they would at this time, if it had been them to evasions destructive to morality and
insisted on. Many of the present clergy had the peace of their own minds. Some have subbeen exiles for -religion, and had been ordained scribed them as articles of peace, contrary to
abroad, according to the custom  of foreign the very title, which says they 1" are for avoidchurches, but would not be ordained, any more ing the diversity of opinions."  Others have
than those of the popish communion; therefore, tortured the words to a meaning contrary to
to put an end to all disputes, the statute.in- the known sense of the compilers. Some subeludes both; the words are these: "That every scribe them with a secret reserve, as far as they
person under the degree of a bishop that doth are agreeable to the Word of God; and so they
or shall pretend to be a priest or minister of may subscribe the Council of Trent, or even
-God's Word and sacraments, by reason of any Mohammed's Alcoran. Others subscribe them,
form of institution, consecration, or ordering, not as doctrines which they believe, but as docthan the form set forth in Parliament in the trines that they will not openly contradict and
time of the late King Edward VI., or now used oppose; and others, I am informed, put no sense
in the reign of our most sovereign lady Queen upon the articles at all, but only subscribed'Elizabeth, shall, before Christmas next, declare them as a test of their obedience to their supehis assent, and subscribe the articles aforesaid." riors, who require this of them as the legal way
The meaning of which clause, says Mr. Strype, to preferment in the Church. How hard must
is undoubtedly to comprehend papists, and like- it be for men of learning and probity to submit
wise such as received their orders in some of to these shifts! when no kinds of subscriptions
the foreign Reformed Churches, when they were can be a barrier against ignorant or dishonest
in exile under Queen Mary.t                  minds. Of what advantage is uniformity of
It is probable that the controverted clause of profession without an agreement in principles?
the twentieth article, "The Church has power If the fundamental articles of our faith were
to decree rites and ceremonies, and authority drawn up in the language of Holy Scripture; or'in controversies of faith," was not among the if those who were appointed to examine into the
articles of 1562, as has been shown under that learning and other qualifications of ministers
year; though it might be (according to Laud were to be judges of their orthodox confessions
and Heylin) inserted in the convocation-book  of faith, it would answer a better purpose than
of 1571; but what has this to do with the act of subscription to human creeds and  articles.:Parliament, which refers to a book printed nine Though the Commons were forbid to concern,years before. Besides, it is absurd t6 charge themselves with the discipline of the Church,
the Puritans with striking out the clause as they ventured to present an address to the'Archbishop Laud has done, they having no queen,t complaining "that, for lack of true dis-'share in the-government of the Church at this cipline in the Church, great numbers are adtime,' nor interest to obtain the least abatement mitted ministers that are infamous in their lives
in their favour; nor does it appear that they and conversations; and among those that are
disapprovedthe clause under proper regulations: of ability, their gifts in many places are use
one might rather suppose that the queen should less, by reason of pluralities and non-residency,
take umbrage at it as an invasion of her prerog- whereby infinite numbers of your majesty's sub-:ative, and that, therefore, some zealous church- jects are like to perish for lack of knowledge.
man, finding the articles defective upon the head By means of this, together with the common:of the Church's authority, might insert it pri- blaspheming of the Lord's name, the most wickvately, to avoid the danger of a prem-unire.    ed licentiousness of life, the abuse of excommuBut, -after all, subscription to the doctrinal nication, the commutation of penance, the great
* Strype's Ann., vol. ii.,'p. 72.   t Ibid., p. 71.    * Art. 13.  t Art. 8.:  MS., p. 92.




HISTORY  OF Ti.ii[   PURITANS.                              117
numbers of atheists, schismatics daily springing of England in their behalf, beseeching her maj,
up, and the increase of papists, the Protestant esty not to insist upon subscriptions, or upon
religion is in imminent danger; wherefore, in wearing the habits, which gave such offence to
regard first and principally to the glory of God, great numbers of the clergy, and was like to
and next in discharge of our bounden duty to make a schism in the Church.* The letter was
your majesty, besides being moved with pity enclosed to Bishop Grindal, who, when he had
towards so many thousands of your majesty's read it, would not so much as deliver it to the
subjects, daily in danger of being lost for want queen, for fear of disobliging her majesty, whose
of the food of the Word, and true discipline, resolution was to put an end to all distinctions
we, the commons in this present Parliament in the Church, by pressing the Act of Uniformassembled, are humbly bold to open the griefs, ity. Instead, therefore, of relaxing to the Puriand to seek the salving of the sores of our coun- tans, orders were sent to all church-wardens
try, and to beseech your majesty, seeing the "not to suffer any to read, pray, preach, or
same is of so great importance, if the Parlia- minister the sacraments, in any churches, chapment at this time may not be so long continued  els, or private places, without a new license
as that, by good and godly laws, provision may from the queen, or the archbishop, or bishop of
be made for supply and reformation of these the diocess, to be dated since May, 1571." The
great and grievous wants and abuses, that yet, by more resolved Purit ans were therefore reduced
such other means as to your majesty's wisdom  to the necessity of assembling in private, or of
shall seem meet, a perfect redress of the same laying down their ministry.
may be had; by which the number of your   Though all the bishops were obliged to go
majesty's faithful subjects will be increased, into these measures of the court, yet some
popery will be destroyed, the glory of God will were so sensible of the want of discipline and
be promoted, and your majesty's renown will of preaching the Word, that they permitted
be recommended to all posterity."  But the their clergy to enter into associations for the
queen broke up the Parliament without taking promoting of both. The ministers of the town
any notice of the supplication.              of Northampton, with the consent and approbaThe convocation which sat with this Parlia- tion of Dr. Scambler, their bishop, the mayor of
ment assembled April 3d, 1571, when the Rev- the town, and the justices of the county,
erend Mr. Gilbert Alcock presented a supplica- agreed upon the following regulations for wortion to them in behalf of the deprived ministers, ship and discipline:t
praying their interest with the queen for a re-   "That singing and playing of organs in the
dress of their grievances:* "If a godly minis- choir shall be put down, and common prayer
ter," says he, " omit but the least ceremony for read in the body of the church, with a psalm
conscience' sake, he is immediately indicted, before and after sermon.  That every'Tuesdeprived, cast into prison, and his goods wasted  day and Thursday there shall be a lecture from
and destroyed; he is kept from his wife and chil- nine to ten in the morning, in the chief church
dren, and at last excommunicated.  We there- of the town, beginning with the confession in
fore beseech your fatherhoods to pity our case, the Book of Common Prayer, and ending with
and take from us these stumbling-blocks." But prayer and a confession of faith. Every Sunday
the convocation were of another spirit, and, in- and holyday shall be a sermon after morning
stead of removing their burdens, increased them  prayer, with a psalm before and after. Service
by framing certain new canons of discipline shall be ended in every parish church by nine
against the Puritans; as, that the bishops in the' morning every Sunday and holydays, to
should call in all their licenses for preaching, the end that people may resort to the sermon
and give out new ones to those who were best in the chief church, except they have a sermon
qualified;t and among the qualifications, they in their own. None shall walk abroad, or sit
insist, not only upon subscription to the doe- idly in the streets, in time of Divine service.
trines of the Church enjoined by Parliament, The youth shall every Sunday evening be exbut upon subscription to the Common Prayer arnmined in a portion of Calvin's Catechism,
Book and ordinal for the consecration of arch- which the reader shall expound for an hour.
bishops, bishops, priests, and deacons, as con- There shall be a general communion once a
taining nothing contrary to the Word of God. quarter in every parish, with a sermon. A fortAnd they declare that all such preachers as do night before each communion, the minister, with
not subscribe, or that disturb people's minds the church-wardens, shall go from house to
with contrary doctrine, shall be excommuni- house, to take the names of the communicants
cated.  But as these canons never had the and examine into their lives; and the party
sanction of the broad seal, surely the enforcing that is not in charity with his neighbour shall
them upon the Puritans was a stretch of power be put from the communion. After the comhardly to be justified. Bishop Grindal confess- munion, the minister shall visit every house, to
ed they had not the force of a law, and might understand who have not received the commupossibly involve them in a praemunire; and yet nion, and why.  Every communion-day each
the bishops urged them upon the clergy of their parish shall have two communions, one beginseveral diocesses. They cancelled all the licen- ning at five in the morning, with a sermon of an
ses of preachers, and insisted peremptorily on hour, and ending at eight, for servants; the
the subscription above mentioned.           other, from  nine to twelve, for masters and
The complaints of the ministers, under these dames. The manner of the communion shall
hardships, reached the ears of the Elector Pal- be according to the order of the queen's book,
atine of the Rhine, who was pleased to order saving that the people, being in their confesthe learned Zanchy, professor of divinity in the sion upon their knees, shall rise up from their
University of Heidelberg, to write to the Queen pews, and so pass to the communion-table,
* MS., p. 92.          t Sparrow, p. 223.   * Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 97.  t Ibid.




a'118                   HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
where they shall receive the sacrament in cornm- to be read and known by all people; and that the
panies, and then return to their pews, the min- authority of it exceeds all authority, not of the
ister reading in the pulpit. The communion- pope only, but of the Church also, and of countable shall stand in the body of the church, ac- cils, fathers, men, and angels.
cording to the book, at the upper end of the    "They condemn, as a tyrannous yoke, whatmiddle aisle, having three ministers, one in the soever men have set up of their own invention
middle to deliver the bread, the other two at to make articles of faith, and the binding men's
each end for the cup, the ministers often calling consciences by their laws and institutes; in
upon the people to remember the poor. The sum, all those manners and fashions of serving
communion to end with a psalm. Excessive God which men have brought in without the auringing of bells on the Lord's Day is prohibited; thority of the Word for the warrant thereof,
and carrying of the bell before corpses in the though recommended by custom, by unwritten
streets, and bidding prayers for the dead, which traditions, or any other names whatsoever; of
was used till within these two years, is re- which sort are the pope's supremacy, purgatory,
strained."                                  transubstantiation, man's merits, free-will, justiHere was a sort of association, or voluntary fication by works, praying in an unknown tongue,
discipline, introduced, independent of the queen's and distinction of meats, apparel, and days, and,
injunctions or canons of the Church; this was briefly, all the ceremonies and whole order of pawhat the Puritans were contending for, and pistry, which they call the hierarchy, which are
would gladly have acquiesced in, if it might a devilish confusion, established, as it were, in
have been established by a law.              spite of God, and to the reproach of religion.
Besides these attempts for discipline, the cler-   " And we content ourselves," say they, " with
gy, with leave of their bishop, encouraged reli- the simplicity of this pure Word of God, and
gious exercises among themselves, for the in- doctrine thereof, a summary of which is in the
terpretation of some texts of Scripture, one Apostles' Creed; resolving to try and examine,
speaking to it orderly after another; these were and also to judge all other doctrines whatsoevcalled prophesyings from the apostolical direc- er by this pure Word, as by a certain rule and
tion, 1 Cor., xiv., 31, "Ye may all prophesy one perfect touchstone. And to this Word of God
by one, that all may'learn, and all be comfort- we humbly submit ourselves and all our doings,
ed."  They also conferred among themselves willing and ready to be judged, reformed, or fartouching sound doctrine and good life and man- ther instructed thereby,'in all points of religion."
ners.                                          Mr. Strype calls this a well-minded and reliThe regulations or orders for these exercises giously-disposed combination of both bishop,
ill Northampton were these:                  magistrates, and people. It was designed to
" That every minister, at his first allowance stir up an emulation in the clergy to study the
to be of this exercise, shall by subscription de- Scriptures, that they may be more capable of
dare his consent in Christ's true religion with instructing the people in Christian knowledge;
his brethren, and submit to the discipline and and though men of loose principles censured it,
order of the same. The names of all the mem- yet the ecclesiastical commissioners, who had
bers shall be written in a table, three of whom  a special letter from the queen to inquire into
shall be concerned at each exercise: the first, novelties, and were acquainted with the scheme
beginning and ending with prayer, shall explain above mentioned, gave them, as yet, neither
his text, and confute foolish interpretations, and check nor disturbance; but when her majesty
then make a practical reflection, but not dilate was informed that they were nurseries of Purito a commonplace. Those that speak after tanism, and tended to promote alterations in the
may add anything they think the other has government of the Church, she quickly supomitted tending to explain the text; but may pressed them, as will be seen in its proper place.
not repeat what has been said, nor oppose their   This year [1571] put a period to the life of
predecessor, unless he has spoken contrary to the eminent John Jewel, bishop of Salisbury,
the Scriptures. The exercise to continue from  author of the famous Apology for the Church of
nine to eleven; the first speaker to end in three England. He was born in Devonshire, 1522,
quarters of an hour, the second and third not to and educated in Christ Church College, Oxon,
exceed each one quarter of an hour; one of the where he proceeded M.A. 1544. In King Edmoderators always to conclude. After the ex- ward's reign he was a zealous promoter of the
ercise is over, and the auditors dismissed, the Reformation; but, not having the courage of a
president shall call the learned brethren to him  martyr, he yielded to some things against his
to give him their judgment of the performances, conscience in the reign of Queen Mary, for
when it shall be lawful for any of the brethren which he asked pardon of God and the Church
to oppose their objections against them in wri- among the exiles in Germany, where he continting, which shall be answered before the next ued a confessor of the Gospel till Queen Elizaexercise.  If any break orders, the president beth's accession, when he returned home, and
shall command him, in the name of the eternal was preferred to the Bishopric of Salisbury in
God, to be silent; and after the exercise, he 1559. He was one of the most learned men
shall be reprimanded. When the exercise is among the Reformers, a Calvinist in doctrine,
finished, the next speaker shall be appointed, but for absolute obedience to his sovereign in
and his text given him."                     all things of an indifferent nature, which led
The confession of faith which the members him not only to comply with all the queen's inof these prophesyings signed at their admission junctions about the habits when he did not apwas to the following purpose:                prove them, but to bear hard upon the conscien" That they believed the Word of God, con- ces of his brethren who were not satisfied to
tained in the Old and New Testament, to be a comply. He published several treatises in his
perfect rule of faith and manners; that it ought lifetime, and others were printed after his death;




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  119
but that which gained him greatest reputation prince, and put her laws in execution; that
was his Apology, which was translated into the Grindal was too timorous, there being no danforeign languages, and ordered to be chained ger of a prcemunire; that the queen was content
in all the churches in England.*  He was a the late book of articles (though it had not the
truly pious man, and died in a comfortable frame broad seal) should be prosecuted; and in case
of mind: Sore of his last words were, " I have it should hereafter be repealed, there was no
not so lived that I am ashamed to die; neither -fear of a priemunire, but only of a fine at her
am I afraid to die, for we have a gracious Lord. pleasure, which he was persuaded her majesty,
There is laid up for me a crown of righteous- out of love to the Church, would not levy: but
ness. Christ is my righteousness.  Lord, let Grindal being now at York, wisely declined the
thy servant depart in peace;" which he did at affair."*
Monkton Farley, September 23, 1571, in the fif-  In the month of June the archbishop cited
tieth year of his age, and lies buried in the mid- the chief Puritans about London to Lambeth,t
die of the choir of the Cathedral of Salisbury.  viz., Messrs. Goodman, Lever, Sampson, WalkIn the same year died the Rev. Mr. David er, Wyburn, Goff, Percival, Deering, Field,
Whitehead, a great scholar, and a most excel- Browne, Johnson, and others. These divines,
lent professor of divinity. He was educated at being willing to live peaceably, offered to subOxford, and was chaplain to Queen Anne Bul- scribe the articles of religion as far as concernlen, and one of the four divines nominated by ed the doctrine and sacraments only, and the
Archbishop Cranmer to bishoprics in Ireland. Book of Common Prayer as far as it tended to
In the beginning of Queen Mary's reign he went edification, it being acknowledged on all hands
into voluntary exile, and resided at Frankfort, that there were some imperfections in it; but
where he answered the objections of Dr. Horn they prayed, with respect to the apparel, that
concerningChurch discipline andworship. Upon neither party might condemn the other, but that
his return into England he was chosen one of those that wore them, and those that did not,
the disputants against the popish bishops, and might live in unity and concord. How reasonshowed himself so profound a divine, that the able soever this was, the archbishop told them
queen, out of her high esteem for him, offered peremptorily that they must come up to the
him the archbishopric of Canterbury; but he queen's injunctions or be deprived.t  Goodman
refused it from Puritanical principles, and would was also required to renounce a book that he
accept of no preferment in the Church as it then had written many years ago, when he was an
stood: he excused himself to the queen by say- exile, against the government of women, which
ing he could live plentifully on the Gospel with- he refused, and was therefore suspended. Mr.
out any preferment; and, accordingly, did so: Strype says that he was at length brought to a
he went up and down like an apostle, preaching revocation of it, and signed a protestation bethe Word where it was wanted; and spent his fore the commissioners at Lambeth, April 23,
life in celibacy, which gained him the higher es- 1571, concerning his dutiful obedience to the
teem with the queen, who had no great affec- queen's majesty's person and her lawfill governtion for married priests. He died this year, in ment.-  Lever quietly resigned his prebend in
a good old age,t but in what church or chapel the Church of Durham. Browne being domeshe was buried I know not.                   tic chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk, his patron
Our archbishop was very busy this summer, undertook to screen him; but the archbishop
with the Bishops of Winchester and Ely, in har- sent him woid that no place within her majesassing the Puritans; for which purpose he sum- ty's dominions was exempt from the jurisdicmoned before him the principal clergy of both tion of the commissioners, and, therefore, if his
provinces who were disaffected to the uniform- grace did not forthwith send up his chaplain,
ity established by law, and acquainted them  they should be forced to use other methods.
that, if they intended to continue their ministry, This was that Robert Browne who afterward
they imust take out new licenses, and subscribe gave name to that denomination of dissenters
the articles, framed according to a new act of called Brownists; but his family and relations
Parliament, for reforming certain disorders in covered him for the present. Johnson was doministers; otherwise they might resign quietly mestic chaplain to the Lord-keeper Bacon, at
or be deprived. He took in the bishops above Gorambury, where he used to preach and admentioned to countenance his proceedings, but minister the sacrament in his family: he had
Grindal declared hewould not be concerned if his also some place at St. Alban's, and was fellow
grace proceeded to suspension and deprivation: of King's College, Cambridge. He appeared beupon which Parker wrote back that " he thought fore the commissioners in July, but, refusing to
it high time to set about it; and, however the subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer as
world may judge, he would serve God and his agreeable to the Word of God, he was suspended, though he assured them he used the book,
* This book was originally written in Latin, but, and thought, for charity's sake, it might be suffor the use of the generality of the people, it was fered till God should grant a time of more pertranslated into English, with remarkable accuracy, feet reformation; that he would wear the apby Anne, Lady Bacon, the second of the four learned parel, though he judged it neither expedient nor
daughters of Sir Anthony Coke. Such was the es- pare though he udged it neither expedient nor
teem in which it was held, that there was a design for edification; and that he was willing to subof its being joined to the thirty-nine articles, and of scribe all the doctrinal articles of the Church,
causing it to be deposited not only in all cathedrals according to the late act of Parliament; but the
and collegiate churches, but alsoin private houses. It commissioners insisting peremptorily upon an
promoted the Reformation from popery more than any absolute subscription, as above, he was susother publication of that period.-The New Annual pended, and resigned his prebend in the Church
Register for 1789, History of Knowledge, p. 19. —ED.
t At4h Ox., vol. i., p. 135, 136. Pierce's Vindic., p.  * Life of Grindal, p. 166.  t MS., p. 117.
45, 46                                        t Life of Parker, p. 326,327.  An. Ref, vol. il., p. 95.




120                      HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.
of Norwich; but about two years after he fell high strain of the prerogative, and a. blow. at the
into farther troubles, which cost him his life.    very root of the freedom of Parliament. But
The learned Beza [in 1572] wrote to the bish- the Commons sent her majesty the bills, with: a
ops not to be the instruments of such severities; servile request that she would not conceive an
and being informed that a Parliament was short- ill opinion of the house if she should not approve
ly to be called, in which a consultation was to them.*  Her majesty sent them word, within a
be had concerning the establishing of religion, day or two, that she utterly disliked the bills,
he excited the lord-treasurer to endeavour some and never returned them.  This awakened a
reformation of discipline: " For I will not dis- brave spirit of liberty among some of the memsemble," says he, "'that not a few complain of bers; many free speeches were made upon this
divers things wanting in the Church; and when -occasion, and among others, Peter Wentworth,
I say not a few, I do not mean that worst sort Esq., stood up and said,t "that it grieved him
whom  nothing pleases but what is perfect and to see how many ways the liberty of free speech
absolute in all respects; but I understand godly in Parliament had been infringed. Two things,"
men, learned men, and some that are best af- says he, "do great hurt among us: one is a rufected to God's Church, and lovers of their na- mour that ran about the house when the bill
tion.  I look upon the reformation of discipline about the rights of the Church was depending:
as of great importance to the peace and welfare' Take heed what you do; the queen liketh not
of the nation, and the strengthening of the Ref- such a matter; she will be offended with. them
ormation; and therefore there is nothing the that prosecute it.' The other is, that some time
queen's majesty and her council should sooner a message was brought to the house, either comthink of than this, however great and difficult manding or inhibiting our proceedings."  He
the work might be, especially since the English added, "that it was dangerous always to folnation  affords so many divines of prudence, low a prince's mind, because the prince might
learning, and judgment in these affairs; if they, favour a cause prejudicial to the honour of God
together with the bishops, to whom, indeed, espe- and the good of the state. Her majesty has forcially, but not alone, this care belongs, would de- bid us to deal in any matter of religion, unless
liberate hereupon, I doubt not but such things we first receive it from the bishops. This was
would follow whence other nations would take a doleful message; there is, then, little hope of
example."                                     reformation.  I have heard from old Parliament
Thus did this learned divine intercede for the. men, that the banishment of the pope, and the
recovery of discipline and the ease of tender reforming true religion, had its beginning from
and scrupulous consciences. But this was more this house, but not from the bishops: few laws
than our archbishop thanked him for, says Mr. for religion had their foundation from them;
Strype, after -he had taken so much pains in and I do surely think (before God I speak it)
pressing the Act of Uniformity.*              that the bishops were the cause of that doleful
The Parliament met May 8, 1572; the lord- message."  But for this speech, and another of
keeper opened it with a speech, in which he like nature, Wentworth was sent to the Tower
recommended to the houses, in the queen's
name, "to see that the laws relating to the erly persuasion omitted towards them; and most of
discipline and ceremonies of the Church were  them as yet kept their livings, though one or two
put in due execution;  and that, i~f any farther were displaced." In this connexion he quotes, also,
laws werewanting, they should consder ofthem; "exalting her in his praises for her regard and graand so, says his lordship, gladius gladium jUva- cious answer to a petition of certain divines concernbit, the civil sword will support the ecclesiasti- ing the habits."-Vindication, p. 173. This letter,
cal, as beforetirne has been used."t  But the Mr. Neal observes, was written in 1564, several years
Parliament, seeing the ill use the queen and before that part of her reign wherein she thought fit
bishops made of their spiritual power, instead to inflict severe punishments upon the Dissenters.
of framing new laws to enforce the ceremonies, Besides, whatever weight is due to Mr. Fox's praises,
of faignwlwtoeocthcee       or to Mr. Strype's representation, though the Puriordered two bills to be brought in to regulate tans had some intervals of ease, some tokens of royal
them; in one of which the hardships that the indulgence and favour, her reign, and their situation
Puritans complained of were redressed.4  The under it, are not surely to be characterized by a few
bills passed smoothly through the Commons, intervals of ease, and by partial indulgences; but by
and were referred to a select committee of both the spirit of the laws framed against them, and by the
houses, which alarmed the bishops, and gave the great leading measures and the general tenour of her
queen such offence, that two days after she government. The firstChristiansaregenerallyundersent to acquaint the Commons, by their speaker, I stood to have suffered ten severe persecutions under
sent to acquaint the Commons, by their speaker, the Roman emperors: "but it is not to be supposed
that it was her pleasure that no bills concerning that persecution was always violent and uninterruptreligion should henceforth be received, unless ed; there might be some abatements of those troubles,
the same should be first considered and appro- and some seasons of rest and peace. In the reigns
ved by the bishops or clergy in convocation; of Adrian and Titus Antoninus, there were some
and farther, her majesty commanded them to edicts, or rescripts, which were favourable to them,
deliver up the two bills last read in the house, though during those very reigns many Christians still
touching rights -and ceremonies.   This was a suffered in almost every part of the empire."-Lardner's Works, vol. viii., p. 341, 342, 8vo. So as to the
* Life of Parker, p. 344.                   period before us, the question is, Did the Puritans
t Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 125. D'Ew's Journal, enjoy liberty and security under the reign of Queen
p. 207.               $ Life of Parker, p. 394.   Elizabeth; or was their situation the reverse of en0 In the face of this full and positive evidence of joying these blessings? If it were the: latter (and
the temper and measures of the queen, Bishop Mad- the particulars of this long detail will show what was
dox talks of the great favour and indulgence shown the case), then the leading features of her governto the Puritans in the year 1572; and refers us to ment were intolerance and persecution. —Ea.
Strype, in his life of Whitgift, saying "that they   * Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 127, 128.
were as gently treated as might be; no kind of broths   t Ibid., p. 12.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  121
In the mean time, the late act of the thirteenth with a petition to the houses that a discipline
of Elizabeth for subscribing the articles was more consonant to the Word of God, and agreeput in execution all over England, together with ing with the foreign Reformed churches, may be
the queen's injunctions; and according to Mr. established by law. The authors themselves,
Strype's computation, one hundred clergymen viz., the Reverend Mr. Field and Wilcox, prewere deprived this year for refusing to sub- sented it to the house, for which they were sentl
scribe.*  The University of Cambridge was a for into custody, and by the influence of the bishnest of Puritans; many of the graduates were ops comnmitted to Newgate, October 2, 1572.*
disaffected to the discipline of the Church, as Upon this, the book already printed was suffered
particularly Mr. Browning, Mr. Brown, of Trin- to go abroad, and had three or four editionr:
ity College, Mr. Millain, of Christ's, Mr. Charke, within the compass of two years, notwithstandof Peterhouse, Mr. Deering, of Christ's College, ing all the endeavours of the bishops to find out
and several in St. John's College, who, being the press.t
men of learning, had a great number of follow-   The imprisonment of the two ministers ocers; but Dr. Whitgift, the vice-chancellor, watch- casioned the drawing up a Second Admonition,
ed them narrowly, and kept them under. The by Mr. Cartwright,$ lately returned from  beReverend Mr. Charke, in one of his sermons at yond sea, with an humble petition to the two
St. Mary's, had said that " there ought to be a houses for relief against the subscription requiparity among the ministers in the Church; and red by the ecclesiastical commissioners, which
that the hierarchical orders of archbishops, pa- they represent had no foundation in law, bu'
triarchs, metropolitans, &c., were introduced was an act of sovereignty in the crown, anu
into the Church by Satan."  For which he was was against the peace of their consciences,
summoned before the vice-chancellor and heads many having lost their places and livings for
of colleges, and refusing to recant, was expell- not complying; they therefore beseech their
ed the university. Charke wrote a handsome honours to take a view of the causes of their
Latin apology to Lord Burleigh, their present non-subscribing, that it might appear they were
chancellor, in which he confesses that it was not disobedient to the Church of God, or to
his opinion that the Church of England might their sovereign; and they most humbly entreat
be brought nearer to the apostolic character or for the removal and abolishing of such corruplikeness; but that this must not be said either tions and abuses in the Church as withheld
in the pulpit or desk, under the severest penal- their compliance. "The matters," say they,
ties. The chancellor, knowing him to be a good " contained in the Admonition, how true soever
scholar, and in consideration that he had been they be, have found small favour; the persons
hardly dealt with, interceded for him, but to no that are thought to have made it are laid up in
purpose. Mr. Browning, Mr. Deering, and oth- no worse prison than Newgate; the men that
ers, met with the like usage. Mr. Deering was set upon them are no worse than bishops; the
a man of good learning, and made a chief figure name that goeth of them is no better than rebin the university; he was also reader at St. els; and great words there are that their danPaul's, London, and a most popular preacher; ger will yet prove greater. Well, whatsoever
but being an enemy to the superior order of is said or done against them, that is not the
bishops, he fell into the hands of the commis- matter; but the equity of the cause, that is the
sioners, and was silenced.                   matter; and yet this we will say, that the state
The Puritans finding it in vain to hope for a showeth not itself upright if it suffers them to
reformation from the queen or bishops, resolved be molested for that which was spoken only by
for the future to apply to Parliament, and stand way of admonition to the Parliament, which
by the Constitution; for this purpose they made was to consider of it and receive or reject it,
interest among the members, and compiled a without farther matter to the authors, except
treatise, setting forth their chief grievances in it contained some willul maintenance of treason
one view; it was drawn up by the Reverend or rebellion, which it cannot be proved to do."I
Mr. Field, minister of Aldermary, London, as- Two other pamphlets were published on this
sisted by Mr. Wilcox, and was revised by sev- occasion, one entitled " An Exhortation to the
eral of the brethren, It was entitled, An Ad- Bishops to deal brotherly with their Brethren."
monition to the Parliament; with Beza's letter The other, "An Exhortation to the Bishops
to the Earl of Leicester, and Gualter's to Bish- and Clergy to answer a little Book that was
op Parkhurst for reformation of church disci- published last Parliament; and an Exhortation
pline, annexed. It contains the platform of a to other Brethren to judge of it by God's Word,
church; the manner of electing ministers; their till they saw it answered."
several duties, and their equality in government.   The prisoners themselves drew up an elegant
It then exposes the corruptions of the hierarchy, Latin apology to the lord-treasurer, Burleigh,
and the proceedings of the bishops, with some in which they confess their writing the Admoseverity of language. When Mr. Pearson, the nition, but that th'ey attempted not to correct
archbishop's chaplain, taxed the authors with or change anything in the hierarchy of themthis in prison, Mr. Field replied, "This con- selves, but referred all to the Parliament, hoping
cerns me; the Scriptures of the Old and New  by this means that all differences might be comTestament use such vehemency; we have used posed in a legal way, and the corruptions which
gentle words too long, which have done no
good; the wound grows desperate, and wants   * MS., p. 119, 135.   t Life of Parker, p. 347.
a corrosive; it is no time to blanch or sew pil-: He was at the head (observes Mr. Neal in his
lars under men's elbows, but God knoweth we Review) of a new generation of Puritans, of warmer
meant to touch no man's person, but their pla- spirits, who opened the controversy with the Church
ces and abuses."  The ad~monition concludes into other branches, and struck at some of the main
principles of the hierarchy.-ED.
* Strype's Annals, p. 187.         { Pierce's Vindication, p. 85.
VOL. I.-Q




122                       HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.
the most learned foreign divines con. plained of both of themselves and their fautors, and is
might be removed, to the preventing a.ly schism  subscribed Joha:ines Fieldus.t
or separation in the Church.*  However, the
treasurer had not courage to intermeddle with    * I have the whois before me, but shall only tran
scribe a few passages relating to the present controan affair which might embroil him  w:th the       y.
queen, or, at least, with her ecclesiastical cornm-  We hold and believe that we ought to keep invi.
missioners, though it was well enough known  olably that kind of government that is left us in the
he had a good will to the cause. But the com- Gospel. That the office of a pastor is to preach the
Inissioners, not content with the severity of the  Word and administer the sacraments, and, therefore,
law, sported themselves in an arbitrary man- that bare readers, or single sayers, are no more fit for
ner with the miseries of their fellow-creatures *  pastors than women or children that can read well;
detained them in prison beyond the time limited  yet we deny not the reading of the Scriptures in all
congregations, but this is not a part of the minister's
by the statute, as appears by their humble sup- office
plication to the Earl of Leicester, representing    "We think it unlawful to withdraw from the
"that they had been condemned, according to  Church where the Word is truly preached, the sacthe Act of Uniformity, to a year's imprisonment, rament sincerely ministered, and true ecclesiastical
which they had now suffered patiently in the  discipline exercised. We are not for an unspotted
common jail of Newgate, besides four months' Church on earth, and, therefore, though the Church
close imprisonment before their conviction, of England has many faults, we would not willingly
which they apprehended to be contrary to law; withdraw from it; and yet we believe that God's chilwhich they apprehended to be contrary to law; dren, when they are threatened with persecution
dren, when they are threatened with persecution,
that by this means they and their poor wives  and the church doors are shut against them, may
and children were utterly impoverished; their draw themselves into private assemblies, separating
health very much impaired by the unwholesome  from cursed idolatry and pestilent popery, though
savour of the place and the cold weather; and  the laws of princes are against it; and whosoever
that they were likely to suffer yet greater ex- refuseth to be subject to these congregations septremities: they therefore humbly beseech his  arating themselves, resisteth the ordinances of God.
lordship, for the tender mercies of God, and in  or We affirm that the Church of God is a company
or congregation of the faithful, called and gathered
consideration of their poor wives and children, out of the world by the preaching of the Gospel, unito be a means to the most honourable privy  ted in the true faith, and resolving to form their lives,
council, that they may be enlarged; or, if that government, order, and ceremonies according to the
could not be obtained, that they might be con- Word of God.
fined in a more wholesome prison."  Theypre-   "We hold that there ought to be joined to the
ferred another petition of the same nature to  pastors of the Church, elders and deacons, for the
the lords of the council;* and a third was sent bridling of vices and providing for the poor; that no
in the names of their wives and children. They  pastor ought to usurp dominion over another, nor any
church exercise lordship or rule over another.
also wrote a confession of their faith, dated   o"We believe that the pastor should be chosen by
from Newgate, December 4, 1572, with a pref- the congregation, and being chosen, should be conace, in which they complain of the reproaches  firmed in his vocation by the elders, with public
and calumnies of their adversaries: because  prayer and imposition of hands.
(say they) we would have bishops unlorded, ac-   "Concerning ceremonies, we hold that they ought
cording to God's Word, therefore it is said we  to be few, and such as have no show of evil, but
seek the overthrow  of civil magistrates; be  manifestly tend to decency and good order. We re- ject, therefore, all the popish ceremonies and apparel.
cause we say all bishops and ministers are  We hold that churches may differ in order and cereequal, and, therefore, may not exercise their monies, and yet keep the unity of the faith; and,
sovereignty over one another, therefore they  therefore, we condemn not other Churches that have
say, when they have brought this in among the  ceremonies different from ours. Concerning public
bishops, we shall be for levelling the nobility of worship, we hold that there ought to be places apthe land.  Because we find fault with the regi- pointed for this purpose, and that there may be a premen of the Church as drawn from the pope, script form of prayer and service in the known tongue,
because all have not the gift of prayer, but we would
therefore they say we design the ruin of the  nothave it patched out of the pope's portuises; but
state.  Because we say the ministry must not be the form of prayer never so good, we affirm that
be a bare reading ministry, but that every min- ministers may not think themselves discharged
ister must be learned, able to preach, to refute  when they have said it over, for they are not sent to
gainsayers, to comfort, to rebuke, and to do all say service, but to preach deliverance through Christ:
the duties of a shepherd, a watchman, and a  preaching, therefore, mu  not be thrust out of doors
steward, therefore they bear the world in hand  for reading. Neither cug  the minister so to be tied
that we condemn the reading of the Holy  to a prescript form that at all times he must be
bound of necessity to use it; for who can draw a
Scriptures in churches. Because we are afraid  form of prayer necessary for all ti  f  draw all
of joining with the Church in all her rites  congregations? We deny not but it is well that
and  ceremonies, therefore.we  are branded  there be various manners of prayers, but we must
with the odious names of Donatists, Anabap- take heed that they be not long and tedious; wheretists,,Erians, Arians, Hinckfeldians, Puritans,"  fore preaching, as it is the chief part of a minister's
&c.t-                                          office, so all other things must give place to it.
The confessioni itself is orthodox, according    " Concerning singing of psalms, we allow of the
people's joining with one voice in a plain tune, but
to the doctrinal articles of the Church of Eng-             t 
not of tossing the psalms from one side to the other,
land, and must give a general satisfaction to  with the intermingling of organs.
them who read it; it is written by the authors     Touching holydavs, we say that religion is tied
of the first admonition to the Parliament, to  to no time, nor is one day more holy than another;
testify their persuasion in the faith, against the  but because time must be had to hear the Word of
uncharitable surmises of Dr. Whitgift, uttered  God, and to administer the holy sacraments, therein his answer to their Admonition, in defence  fore we keep the Lord's Day as we are commanded,
but without all Jewish superstition. We think that
* Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 186.   t MS., p. 120. those feast-days of Christ, as of his birth, circum.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      123
The authors of this confession lay in prison   XVII. Of seniors, or government by elders.
a considerable time, for though the inhabitants  XVIII. Of certain matters concerning  dis
of Aldermary, London, presented two suppli-             cipline of the Church.
cations for the enlargement of their valuable    XIX. Of deacons and widows.
pastor, and learned and faithful preacher, as     XX. Of the authority of the civil magistrate
they called Mr. Field, and though some great            in ecclesiastical matters.
friends interceded for them, they could not ob-    XXI. Of subscribing the communion-book.
tain their release.  The archbishop sent his   XXII. Of cathedral churches.
chaplain to confer with them  in prison after  XXIII. Of civil officers in ecclesiastical per
they had been there three months, for which             sons.
they were thankful.  The conference began    These were the chief heads of complaint;
with a suitable prayer, which Mr. Field made, which the Puritans having laid before the world,
and was carried on with such decency as moved the bishops thought themselves obliged to anthe chaplain's compassion; but nothing would swer. Dr. John Whitgift, master of Trinity
prevail with the inexorable commissioners to  College and vice-chancellor of Cambridge, was
release them till they had suffered the extremity  appointed to this work, which he performed with
of the law, and paid their fees, though the keep- great labour and study, and dedicated it to the
er gave it under his hand that they were so  Church of England.  His method was unexpoor as not to have money to pay for their ceptionable, the whole text of the Admonition
lodgings or victuals.                          being set down in paragraphs, and under each
To return to the Admonition, which consisted  paragraph the doctor's answer.*  Before it was
of twenty-three chapters, under the following printed, it was revised and corrected by Archtitles:                                       bishop Parker, Dr. Cooper, bishop of Lincoln,
Chap. I. Whether Christ forbiddeth rule or su- and Pern, bishop of Ely; so that in this book,
periority to ministers.     -        says Mr. Strype, may be seen all the arguments
II. Of the authority of the Church in for and against the hierarchy, drawn to the best
things indifferent.                  advantage.
III. Of the election of ministers.          Dr. Whitgift's book was answered by Mr.
IV. Ofministers havingno pastoralcharge; Cartwright, whose performance was called a
and of ceremonies used in ordering  master-piece in its kind, and had the approbation
ministers.                           of great numbers in the University of CamV. Of the residence of the pastors.      bridge, as well as foreign divines. Whitgift reVI. Of ministers that cannot preach, and plied again to Cartwright, and had the thanks of
of licenses to preach.               the bishops and the queen, who, as a reward for
VII. Of the apparel of ministers.         his excellent and learned pains, made him Dean
VIII. Of archbishops, metropolitans, bish- of Lincoln; while Cartwright, to avoid the rigops, archdeacons, &c.                our of the commissioners, was forced to abscond
IX. Of the communion-book.               in friends' houses, and at length retire into banX. Of holydays.                          ishment.
XI. What kind of preaching is most effect-   But it was impossible for these divines to setual.                                tie the controversy, because they were not agreed
XII. Of preaching before the administra- upon one and the same standard or rule of judgtion of the sacraments.              ment.  Mr. Cartwright maintained that "the
XIII. Of reading the Scriptures.            Holy Scriptures were not only a standard of
XIV. Of ministering and preaching by dea- doctrine, but of discipline and government; and
con's.                              that the Church of Christ, in all ages, was to
XV. Of matters touching the communion.   be regulated by them."  He was, therefore, for
XVI. Of matters touching baptism.           consulting his Bible only, and for reducing all
cision, passover, resurrection, and ascension, &c., things as near as possible to the apostolical
may by Christian liberty be kept, because they are standard.  Dr. Whitgift went upon a different
only devoted to Christ, to whom all days and times principle, and maintained " that, though the
belong. But days dedicated to saints, with fasts on Holy Scriptures were a perfect rule of faith,
their eves, we utterly dislike, though we approve of they were not designed as a standard of church
the reverend memory of the saints, as examples to discipline or government; but that this was
-be propounded to the people in sermons; and of pub- changeable, and might be accommodated to the
lic and private fasts, as the circumstances of nations civil government we live under; that the aposor private persons require."                  tcivil government we live under; that the aposThe confession concludes with an article concern- tolical government was adapted to the Church
ing the office of the civil magistrate: "We hold in its infancy, and under persecution, but was
that Christians may bear offices; that magistrates to be enlarged and altered as the Church grew
may put offenders to death lawfully; that they may to maturity, and had the civil magistrate on its
wage war, and require a lawful oath of the subject; side."  The doctor, therefore, instead of reduthat subjects are bound to obey all their just and cing the external policy of the Church to Scriplawful commands; to pray for them, to give them all ture, takes into his standard the first four cenhonour; to call them by their lawful titles; and to tues af   Crist; and those customs that he
be ready with their bodies and goods, lives, and all turies after Christ; and those customs that he
that they have, to serve them with bodily service; can trace up thither, he thinks proper to be reyea, all these things we must do, though they be tained, because the Church was then in its mature
infidels, and obtain their dominion either by inherit- state, and not yet under the power of antichrist.
ance, by election, by conquest, or otherwise. On the   The reader will judge of these principles for
other hand, it is the magistrates' duty to provide for himself.  One is ready to think that the nearer
the public peace and quiet of their subjects; and to we can come to the apostolical practice the betset forth Christ's pure religion, by advancing the ter, and the less our religion is encumbered with
preaching of the Gospel, and rooting out all supertition and idolatry."-MS, p. 131.                         * Life of Whitgift, p. 42.




124                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
rites and ceremonies of later invention, the more were unsold. This Mr. Stroud was the suspendit must resemble the simplicity that is in Christ. ed minister of Cranbrook, an excellent preacher,
If our blessed Saviour had designed that his and universally beloved; but being reduced to
worship should be set off with pomp and gran- poverty, he was forced to condescend to the
deur, and a multitude of ceremonies, he would low offices of correcting the press, and of pubhave told us so, and, it may be, have settled lishing books for a livelihood.*  When he apthem, as was done for the Church of the Jews; peared before the Bishop of London upon this
but nothing of this appearing, his followers occasion, his lordship reproached him forlaying
should be cautious of inserting human comrn- down the ministry, though Parker had actually
mandments or traditions into the religion of deprived him, and forbid him to preach six years
Christ, lest they cast a reflection upon his kingly before.
office.                                        The bishops were no less careful to crush the
The dispute between Whitgift and Cartwright favourers of the Admonition; for when Mr.
was managed with some sharpness; the latter Wake, of Christ Church, had declared in favour
thought he had reason to complain of the hard- of it, in a sermon at St. Paul's Cross, the Bishop
ships himself and his brethren suffered; and of London sent for him next morning into custoWhitgift having the government on his side, dy; but he made his escape. Mr. Crick, chapthought he stood upon higher ground, and might lain to the Bishop of Norwich, having also cornassume a superior air. When Cartwright and mended the book in a sermon at the same place,
his friends pleaded for indulgence because they the archbishop sent a special messenger to apwere brethren, the doctor replies, " What signi- prehend him; and though he escaped for the
fies their being brethren  Anabaptists, Arians, present, he afterward fell into the hands of the
and other heretics, would be accounted brethren; commissioners, and was deprived.t  The like
their haughty spirits will not suffer them to see misfortune befell Dr. Aldrich, an eminent divine
their error; they deserve as great punishment and dignitary of the Church, with many others;
as papists, because both conspire against the notwithstanding which, Dr. Sandys, bishop of
Church.  If they are shut up in Newgate, it is London, in his letter to the treasurer, calls for
a meet reward for their disorderly doings; for farther help: "The city," says he, "-will never
ignorance may not excuse libels against a pri- be quiet till these authors of sedition, who are
vate man, much less when they slander the whole now esteemed as gods, as Field, Wilcox, CartChurch."  How would the doctor have liked wright, and others, be far removed from the
this language in the mouth of a papist sixteen  city; the people resort to them, as in popery they
years before? But this has been the method were wont to run on pilgrimages; if these idols,
of warm  and zealous disputants; the knots who are honoured as saints, were removed from
they cannot untie with their fingers, they would hence, their honour would fall into the dust, and
fain cut asunder with the sword.             they would be taken for blocks, as they are. A
Thus Dr. Whitgift routed his adversary; he sharp letter from  her majesty would cut the
had alreadydeprived him of his professor's chair, courage of these men. Good my lords, for the
and of his degree of D.D.; and being now Vice- love you bear to the Church of Christ, resist the
chancellor of Cambridge, he got him expelled tumultuous enterprises of these new-fangled
from the University upon the following pretence: fellows."  These were the weapons with which
Mr. Cartwright, being senior fellow of his col- the doctor's answer to the Admonition were enlege, was only in deacon's orders; the doctor forced; so that we may fairly conclude, with
being informed of this, and that the statute re- Fuller the historian, " that if Cartwright had the
quiring such to take upon them the order of better of his adversary in learning, Whitgift had
priesthood might be interpreted to priests' or- more power to back his arguments; and by this
ders, concluded he was perjured;* upon which he not only kept the field, but gained the victory."
he summoned the heads of the colleges together,   On the other hand, it is certain vast numbers
and declared that Mr. Cartwright had broken  of the clergy, both in London and the two unihis oath, and, without any farther admonition, versities, had a high opinion of Cartwright's
pushed his interest among the masters, to rid writings; he had many admirers, and, if we may
the college of a man whose popularity was too believe his adversaries, wanted not for presents
great for his ambition, insomuch that he declared and gratuities: many hands were procured in
he would not establish order in the University  approbation and commendation of his reply to
while a person of his principles was among Whitgift, and some said they would defend it
them. After this, he wrote to the archbishop, to death.T  In short, though Whitgift's writings
September 21, 1572, and begged his grace to might be of use to confirm those who had already
watch at court, that Cartwright might get no conformed, they made no converts among the
advantage against him, for (says he) he is flatly Puritans, but rather confirmed them in their
perjured, and it is God's just judgment that he former sentiments.
should be so punished, for not being a full min-   To pursue this controversy to the end: in
ister. A very mean and pitiful triumph!      the year 1573, Dr. Whitgift published his deThe queen, also, and her commissioners, fence against Cartwright's reply,~ in which he
brandished their swords against Cartwright and states the difference between them thus: "' The
his followers. Her majesty, by proclamation, question is not whether many things mentioned
called in the Admonition, commanding all her in your platform of discipline were fitly used in
subjects who had any in their possession to the apostles' time, or may now be well used in
bring them to the bishop of the diocess, and sundry Reformed Churches; this -is not denied;
not to sell them, upon pain of imprisonment;
upon which Mr. Stroud, the publisher, brought   * MS., p. 195.
in thirty-four, and his wife burned the rest that   t Life of Whitgift, p. 53. Life of Parker, p. 428.
t Life of Parker, p. 427.
L~ ife of Whitgift, n. 46.          d Whitgift's Life, p. 56.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS                                    15
but whether, when there is a settled order in i leged some of the fathers of the fourth and
doctrine and government established by law, it fifth century on his side, Cartwright replied,
may stand with godly and Christian wisdom to  " that forasmuch as the father's have erred, and
attempt so great alteration as this platform must that corruptions crept early into the Church,
needs bring in, with disobedience to the prince  therefore they-ought to have no farther credit
and laws, and unquietness of the Church, and  than their authority is warranted by the Word
offence of many consciences."  If this were  of God and good reason; to press their bare
the whole question, surely it might stand with  authority without relation to this, is to bring an
the wisdom of the Legislature in settled times intolerable tyranny into the Church of God."
to make some concessions in favour of pious    The second part of Cartwright's reply was
and devout men; nor can it be inconsistent not published till two years forward, when he
with godly and Christian wisdom for subjects to  was fled out of the kingdom;  it is entitled
attempt it by lawful and peaceable methods.    "The Rest of the Second Reply of Thomas CartTwo years after [1575] Mr. Cartwright pub- wrightegainst Master Doctor Whitgift's Answer
lished a second reply to Whitgift's defence; it touching the Church Discipline, imprinted 1577,"
consisted of two parts; the first was entitled  in which he shows that church government by
"' The Second Reply of T. C. against Dr. Whit- an eldership is by Divine appointment, and of
gift's Second Answer touching the Church Dis- perpetual obligation. He then considers the decipline;" with these two sentences of Scripture fects of the Church of England, and treats of
in the title-page: "For Zion's sake I will not the power of the civil magistrate in ecclesiashold my tongue; for Jerusalem's sake I will not tical matters, of ecclesiastical persons bearing
rest, till the righteousness thereof break forth  civil offices, and of the habits. He apologizes
as the light," &c.; " Ye are the Lord's remem- for going through with the controversyv at such
brancers: keep not silence," Isa., lxii., 6, 7. It a distance of time, but he thought it of imporis dedicated to the Church of England, and all tance, and that it need not be ashamed of the
that love the truth in it. In his preface he an- light. Speaking of his own poverty, disgrace,
swers divers personal matters between the doc- and banishment for appearing in this cause, he
tor and himself: he remembers him of his ille- says, " It were an intolerable delicacy if he could
gal depriving him of his fellowship, and pro- not give up a little ease and commodity for that
nouncing him perjured. He says he never open- whereunto his life was due if it had been asked;
ed his lips for the divinity chair, as he had falsely  or that he would grudge to dwell in another corcharged him; that he had never desired the de- ner of the world for that cause for which he
gree of a doctor, but by the advice of more than  ought to be ready altogether to depart out of
a dozen learned ministers, who, considering his it."  But he was sensible he strove against the
office of divinity reader, thought he ought to as- stream, and that his work might be thought unsume the title. He added, that he never refused  seasonable, his adversary being now advanced
a private conference with him [Whitgift], but so much above him; for this year Whitgift was
that he offered it, and the other refused it, saying  made a bishop, when poor Cartwright was little
he was incorrigible; indeed, he did refuse pri- better than a wandering beggar.t
vate conference by writing, having had expe-   Thus ended the controversy between these
rience of his adversary's unfaithfulness, and be- two champions: so that Fuller, Heylin, and
cause he thought that the doctrine he had taught Collyer must be mistaken when they say Whitopenly should be defended openly. Whitgift gift kept the field and carried off a complete
charged him that, after he was expelled the col- victory, when Cartwright had certainly the last
lege, he went up and down doing no good, but word. But, whoever had the better of the arliving at other men's tables.* How ungenerous gument, Whitgift got the most by it, and, when
was this, after the doctor had taken away his he was advanced to the pinnacle of church preadversary's bread, and stopped his mouth that ferment, acted an ungenerous part towards his
he might not preach, to reproach him with doing  adversary, for many years prosecuting him with
no good, and being beholden to his friends for a continual vexations and:imprisonments, and
dinner! Cartwright owned that he was poor; pointing all his church-artillery against him, not
that he had no wife nor house of his own; and  suffering him so much as to defend the common
that it was with small delight that he lived upon  cause of Christianity against the papists, when
his friends, but that he still did what little good he was called to it; however, at length, being
he could in instructing their children. Whitgift  wearied out with the importunities of great men,
charged his adversary fartherwith want of learn- or growing more temperate in his old age, he
ing, though he had filled the divinity chair with  suffered him to govern a small hospital in Warvast reputation, and had been styled by Beza Sol, wick, given him by the Earl of Leicester, where
the very sun of England; he taxed him with ma- this great and good man's hairs came down
king extracts of other men's notes, and that he with sorrow to the grave.
had scarce read one of the ancient authors he
had quoted. To which Cartwright modestly    * Strype's Ann.                      t Ibid.
replied, that as to great reading, he would let it   t' Sir George Paule, the panegyrist rather than
the biographer of Whitgift, has attempted to discredit
pass; for if Whitgift had read ~all the fathers'Cartwright by impugning his motives. In the year
and( he scarce one, it would easily appear to the  1564, on the occasion of Elizabeth's visit to the unilearned world by their writings; but that it versity, Cartwright, as one of the most learned of that
was sufficiently known that he had hunted him  body, was chosen, with others, to dispute before her.
with more hounds than one.                   Paule represents him as mortified by the neglect with
The strength of his reply lies in reducing the  which the queen treated him, and as proceeding impolicy of the Church as near as possible to the  mediately to Geneva,'that he might the better feed
his humour.'' Mr. Cartwright,' he says, Iimmedistandard of Scripture, for when Dr. Whitgift al- his humour.''Mr. Cartwright' he says, immediately after her majesty's neglect of him, began to
* Whitgift's Life, p. 64.        wade into diverse opinions, as that of the discipline,




26                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
To return: Notwithstanding all this opposi-  private way; for this purpose they erected a
t.on from the queen and her commissioners, the  presbytery in Wandsworth, a village five miles?aritans gained ground; and, though the press  from the city, conveniently situated for the Lonwas restrained, they galled their adversaries  don brethren, as standing on the banks of the
with pamphlets, which were privately dispersed  River Thames.  The heads of the association
both in city and country.  Parker employed all were Mr. Field, lecturer of Wandsworth, Mr.
his emissaries to discover their printing press-  Smith of Mitcham, Mr. Crane of Roehampton,
es, but to no purpose; whereupon he complain-  Messrs. Wilcox, Standen, Jackson, Bonham,
ed to the treasurer in these words: " I under-  Saintloe, and Edmonds, to whom  afterward
stand throughout all the realm," says he, " how  were joined Messrs. Travers, Chake, Barber,
the matter is taken; the Puritans are justified, Gardiner, Crook, Egerton, and a number of very
and we judged to be extreme persecutors; I  considerable laymen.  On the 20th of Novemhave observed this for seven years; if the sin- ber eleven elders were chosen, and their offices
cerity of the Gospel should end in such judg- described in a register entitled "The Orders of
ments, I fear the council will be overthrown.  Wandsworth." This was the first Presbyterian
The Puritans slander us with books and libels, Church in England.  All imaginable care was.
lying they care not how deep, and yet the more  taken to keep their proceedings secret, but the
they write the more they are applauded and  bishop's eye was upon them, who gave immedicomforted.": The scholars of Cambridge were  ate intelligence to the high commission, upon
generally with the Puritans, but the masters  which the queen issued out a proclamation for
and heads of colleges were against them; so  putting the Act of Uniformity in execution; but,
that many who ventured to preach for the dis- though the commissioners knew of the presbycipline were deprived of their fellowships and  tery, they could not discover the members of it,
expelled the university, or obliged to a public  nor prevent others being erected in neighbourretraction.                                     ing counties.
There being no farther prospect of a public    While the queen and bishops were defending
reformation by the Legislature, some of the  the outworks of the Church against the Purileading Puritans agreed to attempt it in a more  tans, and bracing up the building with articles,
canons, injunctions, and penal laws, enforced
and to kick against her ecclesiastical government.' — by the sword of the civil magistrate, the papists
Life of Whitgift, 10. Heyiin, Hist. of Reformation, were sapping the very foundation; for upon
164, and Collier, Ecclesiastical Hist., ii., 492, have  publishing the pope's bull of excommunication
retailed this slander, in which unworthy conduct against the queen, great numbers deserted the
they have been followed by several modern writers.
Fuller mentions the charge with evident marks of public worship, and resorted to private convendistrust.' We find one great scholar,' he remarks, tides to hear mass, while others who kept their'much discontented, if my author may be believed, stations in the Church were secretly underminamely, Mr. Thomas Cartwright. He and Thomas  ning it.  "There were at this time," says a
Preston were appointed two of the four disputants in learned writer,*  " certain ministers of the
the Philosophy Act before the queen. Cartwright Church that were papists, who subscribed and
had dealt most with the muses, Preston with the  observed the orders of the Church, wore a sidegraces, adorning his learning with comely carriage,
graceful gesture, and pleasing pronunciation. Cartwright disputed like a great, Preston like a genteel, would run into corners, and say to the people
scholar, being a handsome man; and the queen, upon Believe not this new doctrine; it is naught, it
parity of deserts, always preferred properness of per- will not long endure; although I use order
son in conferring her favours.' And he adds,' Mr. among them  outwardly, my heart is not with
Cartwright's followers credit not the relation. Ad- them, but with the mother-church of Rome.
ding, moreover, that the queen did highly commend, No, no, we do not preach, nor yet teach openly;
though not reward him.'-Hist. of the University of  though we read their ne-devised  homilies for
Cambridge, 139. Cartwright's general character is a colour to satisfy the time for a season    Info
sufficient to discredit this account. But its inaccuracy is rendered more apparent by the fact that his Yorkshire they went openly to mass, and were
visit to Geneva, which Paule represents as the con- so numerous that the Protestants stood in awe
sequence of his disgust at the queen's neglect, and as of them.  In London there was a great resort
the source of those opinions for which he was depri- to the Portugal ambassador's chapel; and when
ved of his professorship, did not take place till after the sheriff, by order of the Bishop of London,
his expulsion from the university. Strype exoner- sent his officers to take some of them into cusates Cartwright, alleging that,'by the relation of the
queen's reception at Cambridge (now in the hands of tody, the  queen was displeased, and ordered
a learned member of that university), there appears   them immediately to be released.
no clear ground for any such discontent. For the    Sad was the state of religion, says Mr. Strype,
queen is said there to have approved them all; only  at this time: " the substantials being lost in
that Preston pleased her most, and was made her contending for externals; the churchmen heapscholar, with the settlement of a yearly honorary sal- ed up many benefices upon themselves, and reary on him.'-Annals, i., ii., 107. His elevation to  sided upon none, neglecting their cures.t'Many
the divinity chair, in 1569, is ample evidence of the  of them alienated their lands, made unreasonaestimation in which he was held by the university, ble leases and waste of woods, and granted reand would have sufficed to calm his spirit had it been
perturbed by such emotions as his enemies were for- versions and advowsons to their wives and
ward in attributing to him. It was due to the mem- children.  Among the laity there was little deory of this eminent man to vindicate him from so  votion; the Lord's Day greatly profaned, and
foul an aspersion. But what must we think of those little observed; the common prayers not fremodern libellers who, passing over the admission of quented; some lived without any service of
Strype, and the mistrust of Fuller, retail the venom  God at all; many were mere heathens and
f Paue,  eylin, and Collier"-Clare's  Lives of atheists; the queen's own court a harbour for
Thirty-two Divines, p 17. Dr. Price's Hist. Noncon.,
vol. i., p. 215.-C.   * Life of Parker, p. 389.   * Strype's Ann., p. 98.  t Life of Parker, p. 395.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   127
epicures and atheists, and a kind of lawless enteenth chapter of St. John, and 1 Cor., xv.,
place, because it stood in no parish; which both which he ordered to be frequently read to
things make good men fear some sad judgments him: his body was attended to the grave with
impending over the nation."  The governors of great solemnity and honour.
the Church expressed no concern for suppress-   The queen being incensed against the Puriing of vice and encouraging virtue; there were tans for their late applications to Parliament,
no citations into the Commons for immoralities; reprimanded the bishops for not suppressing
but the bishops were every day shutting the them, resolving to bend all the powers of the
Mnouths of the most pious, useful, and industri- crown that way. Accordingly, commissioners
ous preachers in the nation, at a time when the were appointed under the great seal,* in every
queen was sick of the smallpox and troubled shire, to put in execution the penal laws by
with fainting fits, and the whole Refobrmation way of oyer and terminer, and the queen pubdepended upon the single thread of her life.    lished a proclamation in the month of October,
This precarious state of religion was the declaring her royal pleasure that all offenders
more terrible because of the Parisian massacre, against the Act of Uniformity should be severely
which happened this very summer [1572], on punished. Letters were also sent from  the
the 24th of August, being Bartholomew Day, lords of the council to the bishops, dated Nowhen great numbers of Protestants having been vember 7th, 1573, to enforce her majesty's procinvited to Paris, on pretence of doing honour to lamation,t in which, after having reproached
the King of Navarre's marriage to the king's sis- them with holding their courts only to get monter, ten thousand were massacred in one night, ey, or for such like purposes, they now require
and twenty thousand more in other parts of the them in her majesty's name, either by themkingdom, within the compass of a few weeks, selves, which is most fit, or by their archdeaby his majesty's commission; no distinction cons, personally to visit and see that the habits,
being made between lords, gentlemen, justices, with all the queen's injunctions, be exactly and
lawyers, scholars, physicians, and the meanest uniformly observed in every church of their diof the people;* they spared neither women, ocess, and to punish all refusers according to
maids, children in the cradle, nor infants in the ecclesiastical laws.  The lord-treasurer,
their mother's womb. Many who escaped fled also, made a long speech before the commisto Geneva and Switzerland, and great numbers sioners in the Star Chamber,: in which, by the
into England, to save their lives. The Protest- queen's order, "he charged the bishops with
ant princes of Germany were awakened with neglect, in not enforcing her majesty's proclathis butchery; and the queen put the coasts mation: he said the queen could not satisfy her
into a posture of defence, but made no conces- conscience without crushing the Puritans; for
sions for uniting her Protestant subjects among she thought none of her subjects worthy of her
themselves.t                                 protection that favoured innovations, or that diThis year died the reverend and learned Mr. rectly or indirectly countenanced the alteration
John Knox, the apostle and chief Reformer of of anything established in the Church; that by
the Kirk of Scotland. This divine came into too much lenity some might be apt to think the
England in the reign of King Edward VI., and exceptions of these novelists against the cerewas appointed one of the itinerant preachers monies were reasonable and well founded, or
for the year 1552; he was afterward offered a but trifling matters of disputation; but the
parochial living in London, but refused it; upon queen was resolved that her orders and injuncKing Edward's death he retired beyond sea, tions should not be contemned; that the public
and becamle preacher to the English exiles at rule should be inviolably observed; and that
Frankfort, till he was artfully spirited away by there should be an absolute obedience, because
the contrivance of Mr. Cox, now bishop of Ely, the safety of her government depended upon it."
for not reading the English service. He after- The treasurer, therefore, as some other memward preached to the English at Geneva; and ber, proposed in council that all ministers
upon the breaking up of that congregation in throughout the kingdom should be bound in a
the year 1559, he returned to Scotland, and was bond of ~200 to conform in all things to the Act
a great instrument in the hand of Providence of Uniformity, and in case of default, their names
for the reformation of that kirk. He was a son to be returned into the exchequer by the bishop,
of thunder, and feared not the face of any man and the bond to be sued.~  If this project had
in the cause of religion, which betrayed him  taken place, it would have ruined half the clersometimes into too coarse treatment of his su- gy of the kingdom.
periors.4  However, he had the respect of all   Another occasion of these extraordinary prothe Protestant nobility and gentry of his coun-   Life of Parker, p. 447, 479. Strype's Annals, vol.
try; and after a life of great service and labour, ii., 260.  t Life of Parker, App., vol. ii., 454.
he died comfortably in the midst of his friends,   $ Life of Parker, p. 456, 458.
in the sixty-seventh year of his age,~ being   The letter from the lords of the council, and the
greatly supported in his last hours from the sev- speech of the lord-treasurer, are alleged by Bishop
Maddox-as convincing proofs of the mild conduct of
* Strype's Ann., p. 160.                  the bishops. How far his conclusion is justly drawn;
t Edinburgh Review, No. 87.               whether it prove anything more than that the zeal: It has been justly observed, "that though the and activity of the bishops did not keep pace with
praise of sincerity and piety cannot be denied him, it the wishes of the court, the reader will judge from
is to be regretted that those virtues were accompani- the facts Mr. Neal's History has exhibited. But,
ed with a narrow and bigoted turn of mind. In the however this evidence may exculpate the bishops, it
time of John Knox, the having suffered persecution certainly impeaches the lenity of the queen and is a
did not hinder men from exercising persecution when direct proof of the severity, the unyielding severity
it was in their power."-The New Annual Register of her government.-ED.
for 1189. History of IKnowledge, p. 31.       ~ Strype's Ann., p. 260; vol. ii., p. 288. Life of
~ Life of Parker, p. 366.                  Grindal, p. 185.




128                    HI-STORY OF THE PURITANS.
ceedings of the court is said to arise from the and other ecclesiastical officers, to give it in
accidental madness of one Peter Birchet, of the charge to their clergy and questmen to present
Middle Temple, who had the name of a Puritan, the names and surnames of all Nonconformists
hut was disordered in his senses; this man in their several parishes, before the first week
came out of the Temple in his gown, October in Lent.*  A letterof this sort was sent, among
14, 1573, about eleven in the morning, and see- others, by the old Bishop of Norwich to his
ing Mr. Fitzgerald, lieutenant of the pensioners, chancellor, dated from  Ludham, January 30,
Sir William Winter, and Mr. Hawkins, officers 1-573. This was very unacceptable work to a
of the queen's navy, riding through the Strand, man who was dropping into his grave;t but he
with their servants on foot, came up to them, gave orders as he was commanded; and many
and suddenly struck Hawkins with a dagger ministers of his diocess being returned unconthrough the right arm into the body, about the formable, were suspended from  reading comarm hole, and immediately ran into the Bell Inn, mon prayer and administering the sacraments,
where he was taken, and, upon examination, but allowed still to catechise youth;$ several
being asked whether he knew Mr. Hawkins, he of whom offered to preach to some congregaanswered he took him for Mr. Hatton, captain tions as the bishops should appoint, of which
of the guards, and one of the privy chamber, his lordship wrote to the archbishop, but his
whom he was moved to kill by the Spirit of' grace refused to set them on work, and continue
God, by which he shouldl do God and his coun- their parts in the public exercises or prophesytry acceptable service, because he was an ene- ings, for which the bishop was severely reprimy of God's Word, and a maintainer of papistry. manded, and threatened by the commissioners
In which opinion he persevered, without any with the queen's high displeasure; whereupon
signs of repentance, till, for fear of being burned he allowed his chancellor to silence them totalfor heresy, he recanted before Dr. Sandys, bish- ly, though it was against his judgment;;:for, in
op of London, and the rest of the commission- his letter to a gentleman on this occasion, he
ers.  The queen asked her two chief-justices writes: " —I was obliged to restrain themr, unand attorney-general what corporeal punish- less I would willingly procure my own danger.
ment the villain might undergo for his offence; Therefore, let not this matter seem strange to
it was proposed to put him to death as a felon, you, for the matter was of importance, and
because a premeditated attempt with an inten- touched me so near, that I could do no less if 1
tion of killing had been so punished by King would avoid extreme danger."~  But, after -all,
Edward II., though the party wounded did not his lordship being suspected of remissness, Pardie; but the judges did not apprehend this to ker directed a special commission to commisbe law. It was then moved that the queen, by saries of his own appointing, to visit his diocess
virtue of her prerogative, should put him to death parochially; which they did, and reported that
by martial law; and, accordingly, a warrant was some ministers were absent, and so could not
made out under the great seal for his execution, be examined; other churches had no surplices,
though the fact was committed in time of peace. but the ministers said they would wear them
This made some of the council hesitate, appre- when provided; but that there were about three
hending it might prove a very bad precedent. hundred Nonconformists whom they had susAt length the poor creature put an end to the pended, one of whom, as the good old bishop
dispute himself, for on the 10th of November, wrote, was godly and learned, and had done
in the afternoon, he killed his keeper Longworth much good.l 
with one blow, striking him with a billet on the   The heads of the Puritans, being debarred
hinder part of the head, as he was looking upon the liberty of preaching and printing, challenged
a book in the prison window of the Tower; for their adversaries to a public disputation; this
this crime he was next day indicted and arraign- had been allowed the Protestants in Queen Maed at the King's Bench, where he confessed the ry's reign, and the papists at the accession of
fact, saying that Longworth, in his imagination, Queen Elizabeth; but the queen and council
was Hatton: there he received judgment for would not now admit that what was establishmurder, and the next day, November 12, had ed by law should be exposed to question, and
his right hand first cut off at the place in the referred to the hazard of a dispute. Instead,
Strand where he struck Hawkins, and was then therefore, of a conference, they took a shorter
immediately hanged on a gibbet erected purpose- way, by summoning the disputants before the
ly between eight and nine of the clock in the ecclesiastical commission, to answer to sundry
morning, and continued hanging there for three articles exhibited against them, and, among othdiays. The poor man talked very wildly, and ers, to this, Whether the Common Prayer Book
was by fits downright mad, so that if he had is every part of it grounded upon Holy Scripbeen shut up in Bedlam after his first attempt, ture? an honour hardly to be allowed to any
as he ought to have been, all farther mischief human composure; and for not answering to the
had been prevented.*  However, it was very satisfaction of the commissioners, Mr. Wyburn,
unreasonable to lay this to the charge of the Johnson, Brown, Field, Wilcox, Sparrow, and
Puritans, and to take occasion from hence to King were deprived, and the last four commitspread a general persecution over the whole ted to Newgate,~ from whence two of them had
kingdom; but the queen was for laying hold of been but lately released. They were told, farall opportunities to suppress a number of conecientious men whom, she would often say, she   * Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p..261.
hated more than the -papists.t                t Life of Parker, p. 159, 246, 251, 252, 449.
The commissioners, being thus pushed for-   t Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 261,262. Life of Parward from above, sent letters to the bishops, ker, p. 336.
exhorting them to command their archdeacons,   ~ Life of Parker, p. 246, 259, 449, 451, 452, 479.
_ _  a, Strype's Annals, vol. i., p. 109, 261-263, 343.
* MS., p. 870.   t Life of Parker, p. 454.  11 Life of Parker, p. 336.  ~ Ibid., p. 413.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   129
ther, that if they did not comply in a short time, as it were, before an inquisition, as he thought
they should be banished, though there was no himself not bound to be his own accuser, so he
law for inflicting such punishment.          prayed their honours that what he had said
Mr. Cartwright was summoned among the might not be interpreted to his prejudlice; yet
rest, but wisely got out of the way, upon which the commissioners ungenerously took advantage
the commissioners issued out the following or- of his answers, and deprived him of his lecture
der: "To all mayors, bailiffs, sheriffs,. consta-   Mr. Deering appealed from the commissionbles, headboroughs, and all others the queen's ers to the council, who were pleased to: restore
officers, to be aiding and assisting to the bearer him, which galled the archbishop, as appears by
[.their messenger] with the best means they can his letter to one of the commissioners, dated
devise, to apprehend one Thomas Cartwright, July 6th, 1573, in which are these words: "We
student in divinity, wheresoever he be within have sent you certain articles taken out of
thte realm, and to bring him up to London with Cartwright's book, by the council propounded
a sufficient guard,.to appear-before us, her maj- to Mr. Deering, with his answers to the same;
esty's commissioners in causes ecclesiastical, and also a copy of the council's letter to Mr.
for his misdemeanors in matters of religion:* Deering, to restore him to his former reading
December 15th, 1573. Signed by John; Rivers, and preaching, notwithstanding our advices
mayor; Edwin, bishop of London;, Alex. Now- never required thereunto. These proceedings
ell,.dean of St. Paul's; Gabriel Goodman, dean puff them up with pride, make the- people hate
of Westminster; together with the attorney- us,. and magnify them with great triumphing,
general, recorder, master of the rolls, and mas- that her majesty and. her privy council have.
ter of the requests."  But Mr. Cartwright lay good liking of this new building; but we are
concealed among his friends till an opportunity persuaded that her majesty has no liking thereoffered of leaving the kingdom.              of, howsoever the matter be favoured by others."
The Reverend Mr. Deering, reader of St.   Mr. Deering. was a learned, pious, and peacePaul's, was also suspended for some trifling able Nonconformist; his printed sermons are
words spoken against the hierarchy in conver- polite and nervous. In his letter to the Lordsation; and in order to his restoration, was obli- treasurer Burleigh, on this occasion, he offered
ged to subscribe four articles, viz., to the su- to show, before any body of learned men, the
premacy; to the thirty-nine articles; to the difference between the bishops of the.primitive
Book of Common Prayer; and that the Word Church and those of the present Church of
and sacraments are rightly administered in.the England, in the following particulars: Bishops
Church of England; which he did, with some and ministers then were in one degree; now
few exceptions. The commissioners then ex- they are divers. There were then many bishamined him upon fifteen or twenty articles more,:ops in one town; now there is but one in a
of which these were some:                    whole country. No bishop's authority was more
s" Whether we be tied by God's Word to the than in one city, but now it is in many shires.
order and use of the apostles, and of the primi- Bishops then used no bodily- punishments; now
tive Church, in all things? Whether nothing they imprison, fine, &c. The primitive bishops
may be in the Church concerning ceremonies or could not excommunicate or absolve merely by
regimen but only that which Christ himself has their own authority; now they may. Then,
commanded in his word 1 Whether every par- without consent of presbyters, they could make
ticular parish church, of necessity and by order no ministers; now they do. They could confirm
of God's Word, ought to have their pastors, el- no children in other parishes; they do now in
ders, and deacons' chosen by the people, and they manyshires. Theyhad then but one living; now
only to have the whole government of the Church they have divers. They had neither officials,
in ecclesiastical matters 1 Whether there should commissaries, nor chancellors. They dealt in
be an equality among the ministers of this realm, no civil government by any established authoras well concerning government and discipline ity.*  They had no right to alienate any paras the ministration of the Word and sacraments? sonage, or let it in lease. Then they had a
Whether the patrimony of the Church, as glebe- church where they served the cure, as, those
lands and tithes, &c., ought to be taken from  we call parish priests, though they were metrothem? Whether the present ministers of the politans or archbishops; so that Ambrose, St..
Church of England are true ministers, and their Austin, and others, who lived as late as the:
administrations effectual I Whether it be more fourth or fifth century, and were called bishops,
agreeable to God's Word, and more for the profit had very little agreement with ours. But for
of the Church, to use a form of common prayer; this our archbishop never left him till he was
or that every minister pray publicly, as his own silenced again and deprived.
spirit shall direct him?  Whether the-children    On the 29th of January, 1573, the Reverend
of papists ought to be rebaptized? Whetheran Mr. Arthur Wake, parson of Great-Willing,
ecclesiastical person may have more livings value ~100 a year; Eusebius Paget, parson ot
than oneI Whether a minister of Christ may Owld, ~100 a year; Thurston Mosely, parson
exercise a civil function?"t                of Hardingston, ~40 a. year; George Gilderd,
The test of the articles, making in all above parson of Collingtrowge, and William Dawson,
twenty, were about the obligation of the judi- parson of Weston-Favel, one hundred marks
cial law of Moses, and the power of the civil (all in the diocess of Peterborough, of which Dr.
magistrate in matters of religion. To all which Scambler was Bishop, and James Ellis, LLD.,
Mr. Deering gave wise and modest answers, chancellor), were first suspended for three
yieldingas much as his principles and the na- weeks, and then deprived of their livings.: They
ture of things would admit; but being called, were all preachers; four of them were licensed
*by the university as learned and religious dit Pierce's Vindication, p. 80, 81.         * Collyer's Church History, p. 543.
VOL. I.-R




130                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
vines, and three of them had been moderators ing short, he sent for more, but did not consein the exercises. The reasons of their depri- crate it afresh, accounting the former consecravation were not for errors in doctrine or de- tion sufficient for what was to be applied to the
pravity of life, but for not subscribing two forms same use; but nothing of this kind appears in
of the commissioners' devising, one called for- his two indictments which are now before me,
ma promissionis, the other forma objurationis. with the names of all the witnesses; but for the
In the forma promissionis they swear and sub- other offences, viz., for omitting these words in
scribe "to use the service and Common Prayer the office of baptism, " I receive this child into
Book, and the public form of administration of the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign
sacraments, and no other; that they will serve him with the sign of the cross, in token," &c.,
in their cures according to the rites, orders, and for omitting these words in the marrying of
forms, and ceremonies prescribed; and that Leonard Morris and Agnes Miles, "With this
they will not hereafter preach or speak any- ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship,
thing tending to the derogation of the said book, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in
or any part thereof, remaining authorized by the name of the Father," &c., and for refusing
the laws and statutes of this realm."  In the to subscribe, he was shut up in close prison for
forma objurationis they subscribe and protest seven weeks, till he died in great poverty and
upon oath "that the book of consecration of want.
archbishops and bishops, and of the ordering of   The forms of subscription varied in the sevdeacons, set forth in the time of King Edward eral diocesses, though the usual subscription
VI., and confirmed by authority of Parliament, and protestation. for such clergymen as were
doth contain in it all things necessary for such cited before the commissioners for Nonconformconsecration and ordering, having in it nothing ity* was this: "I promise unfeignedly by these
that is either superstitious or ungodly, accord- presents, and subscribe with my hand, that I
ing to their judgment; and, therefore, that they will teach the Word of God soberly, sincerely,
which be consecrated and ordered according to and truly, according to the doctrine established
the same book be duly, orderly, and lawfully by law, without moving unnecessary contenordained and consecrated, and that they do ac- tions; and that I will never suffer any person to
knowledge their duty and obedience to their or- use my license of preaching, by rasing out the
dinary and diocesan as to a lawful magistrate name or abusing the seal; and that I will deunder the queen's majesty, so set forth as the liver up my license, being so required by that
laws and statutes do require-; which obedience authority from whence I had it.
they do promise, according as the laws shall   " I acknowledge the book of articles agreed
bind them to perform. In testimony whereof on in the synod of 1563, and confirmed by the
they do hereunto subscribe their names."*    queen, to be sound and agreeable to the Word
The ministers offered to use the Book of of God.' That the queen's majesty is supreme
Common Prayer, and no other, and not to governor of the Church of England next under
preach against the same before the meeting of Christ, as well in ecclesiastical as in civil causthe next Parliament;; but apprehending the es.  That in the Book of Common Prayer there
oath and subscription to be contrary to the laws is nothing evil, or repugnant to the Word of
of God and the realm, they appealed to the God, and that it may be well used in this our
Archbishop of Canterbury, who denied their Christian Church of England. That as the pubappeal.t Hereupon they presented a supplica- lic preaching of the Word in the Church of Engtion to the queen, and another to the Parlia- land is sound and sincere, so the public order of
ment, but could not be heard, though their case administration of sacraments is consonant to
was most compassionate, for they had wives the Word of God. And whereas I have in pub-'and large families of children, which were now  lie prayer and administration of sacraments,reduced to poverty and want, so that (as they neglected and omitted the order by public au-:say in their supplication), if God in his provi- thority set down, following my own fancy in al-,dence does not help, they must beg.         tering, adding, or omitting of the same, not using
In the room of the deprived ministers, cer- such rites as by law and order are appointed, I
tain outlandish men succeeded who could hardly acknowledge my fault therein, and am sorry for
read so as to be understood; the people were it, and humbly pray pardon for that disorder.
left untaught; instead of having two sermons And here I do submit myself to the order and
*every Lord's Day, there was now but one in a rites set down; and I do promise that I will,quarter of a year, and for the most part not that. from henceforth, in public prayer and adminis-'The parishioners signed petitions to the bishop tration of the sacraments, use and observe the
for their former preachers, but to no purpose; same. The which I do presently and willingly
they must swear and subscribe, or be buried in testify with the subscription of mine own hand."
silence.                                       But this not reaching the laity, many of whom
On the 20th of September, 1573, the Rev. Mr. deserted their own parish churches and went
Robert Johnson, already mentioned, some time to hear the Nonconformists, the commissioners
domestic chaplain to the Lord-keeper Bacon, now  framed the following subscription for such of
parson of St. Clement's, near Temple Bar, was them as should be presented as defaulters:
tried at Westminster Hall for Nonconformity;$   "I acknowledge the queen's majesty to be
it was alleged against him that he married with- chief governor of the Church of England under
out the ring, and that he had baptized without Christ. That in the Book of Common Prayer
the cross.  Mr. Pierced says he was also ac- there is nothing repugnant to the Word of God.
cused of a misdemeanor, because, when once he That as the public preaching in this Church of
was administering the sacrament, the wine fall- England is sound, so the public administration
* MS., p. 198.       f MS., p. 202.   ~~ ~ —of the sacraments is consonant to the %Word o,
MS., p. 19.            Vdat, p 83                       * MS., p. 202.: MS., p. 199.        Vindic.at., p. 83.                  M * MS., p. 200.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      131
God.  And whereas I have absented myself   Notwithstanding the dangers already menfrom my parish ch irch, and have refused to join  tioned, " people resorted to the suffering Puriwith the congregation in public prayer, and in
receiving the sacrament, according to the pub-   Mr. Ger. Will you, then, come to prayers when
there is no sermon?
lie order set down, and my duty in that behalf,   White. I would avoid those things that are an ofI am right sorry for it, and pray that this my fence to me and others, and disturb the peace of the
fault may be pardoned; and do promise that Church; however, I crave the liberty of a subject,
from  henceforth  I will frequent my parish  and if I do not publicly frequent both preaching, praychurch, and join with the congregation there, er, and the sacraments, deal with me accordingly.
as well in prayer as in the administration of the   Dean of West. What fault find you in the common
sacraments, according to such order as by pub- prayer?
White. Let them answer to whom it appertains;
lie authority is set down and established; and for being in prison almost a year about these matters,
to witness this my promise, I do hereunto will- I was, upon a statute relating to that book, indicted,
ingly subscribe my name."*                     and before I came to liberty almost outlawed, as your
The officers of the spiritual courts planted their worship, Mr. Gerard, knows.
spies in all suspected parishes to make obser-   Mast. Req. What Scripture have you to ground
vation of those who came not to church, and  your conscience against these garments?
caused them to be summoned into the commons,   White. The whole Scriptures are for destroying
where they iwere punished at pleasure.  The idolatry, and everything that belongs to it.
Mast. Req. These things never served to idolatry.
keepers were charged to take notice of such as   White. Shugh they are thng e same which heretocame to visit the prisoners or bring them relief; fore were used to that purpose.
and, upon notice given, spies were set upon    Mast. Req. Where is the place where these are forthem to bring them into trouble.  Complaints bidden?
have been made of their rude language to the   White. In Deuteronomy, and other places, the Isbishops and the rest of the commissioners; and  raelites are commanded, not only to destroy the altars,
it is possible that their lordly behaviour and ar- groves, and images, with all thereto belonging, but
bitrary proceedings might sometimes make their also to abolish the very names; and God by Isaiah
Oppression will make a commandeth not to pollute ourselves with the garpassions overflow.   Oppression will make a  ments of the image, but to cast it away as a menstruwise man mad."  But I have the examinations ous clout.
of several before me, in which nothing of this   Mast. Rolls. These are no part of idolatry, but are
kind appears.  On the other hand, it is certain  commanded by the prince for civil order; and if you
the conduct of the commissioners was high and will not be ordered, you show yourself disobedient to
imperious; their under officers were ravenous, the laws.
and greedy of gai  the fees of the court were    White. I would not willingly disobey any law, only
and greedy of gain; the fees of the court were I would avoid those things that are not warranted by
exorbitant,t so that if an honest Puritan fell the Word o God.are warranted
into their hands, he was sure to be half ruined    Mast. Req. These things are commanded by act of
before he got out, though he was cleared of the  Parliament, and in disobeying the laws of your counaccusation.t                                   try you disobey God.
White. I do it not of contempt, but of conscience;
* MS., p. 201.              t MS., p. 176.    in all other things I am an obedient subject.: The commissioners treated those that came be-   L. C. J. Thou art a contemptuous fellow, and wilt
fore them neither like men nor Christians, as will ap- obey no laws.
pear, among many others, by the following examina-   White. Not so, my lord: I do and will obey laws;
tion of Mr. White, a substantial citizen of London, and therefore refusing but a ceremony out of conJanuary 1.8, 1573, who had been fined, and tossed science, and not refusing the penalty for the same, I
from one prison to another, contrary to law and jus- rest still a true subject.
tice, only for not-frequenting his parish church. His   L. C. J. The queen's majesty was overseen not to
examiners were, the lord-chief-justice, the master of make you of her council, to make laws and orders for
the rolls, the master of the requests, Mr. Gerard, the religion.
dean of Westminster, the sheriff of London, and the   White. Not so, my lord; I am to obey laws warclerk of the peace. After sundry others had been de- ranted by God's Word.
spatched, Mr. White was brought before them, whom    L. C. J. Do the queen's laws command anything
his lordship accosted after this manner:       against God's Word?
L. C. J. Who is this?                         White. I do not so say, my lord.
White. White, an't please your honour.          L. C. J. Yes, marry do you, and there I will hold
L. C. J. White, as black as the devil.       you.
White. Not so, my lord; one of God's children.  White. Only God and his laws are absolutely perL. C. J. Why will you not come to your parish fect; all men and their laws may err.
church?                                          L. C. J. This is one of Shaw's darlings; I tell thee
White. My lord, I did use to frequent my parish what, I will not say anything of affection, for I know
church before my troubles, and procured several godly thee not, saving by this occasion; thou art the wickmen to preach there, as well as in other places of edest and most contemptuous person that has come
preaching and prayer; and since my troubles I have before me since I sat in this commission.
not frequented any private assemblies, but, as I have   White. Not so, my lord; my conscience witnesseth
had leave and liberty, have gone to my parish church; otherwise.
and therefore those that presented me, have done it   Mast. Req. What if the queen should command to
out of malice; for if any of these things can be pro- wear a gray frieze gown, would you come to church
red against me simply, or that I hold all things in com- then?
mon, your lordship may dismiss me from hence to the   White. That were mnore tolerable than that God's
gallows.                                       ministers should wear the habit of his enemies.
Mr. Ger. You have not usually frequented your   L. C. J. How if she should command to wear a
own parish church.                             fool's coat and a cock's comb?
White. I allow I have more used other places,   White. That were very unseemly, my lord, for
where I was better edified.                    God's ministers.
Mr. Ger. Then your presentment is in part true?    Dean of West. You will not, then, be obedient to
White. N ot, al l't please you, for I am presented for the queen's commands?
ot coming at all to my parish church.           White. I would only avoid those things that have




132~                     HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS.
tans in prison, as in popery they were wont to  don's words).  Some aldermen and  several
run on pilgrimage (they are the Bishop of Lon- wealthy citizens gave them  great and stout
countenances, and, persuaded others to do the
no warrant in the Word of God, that are neither de- like."
cent nor edifying, but flatly the contrary, and are con-   Separate communions were established,where
demned by the foreign Reformed Churches.      the sacrament of the- Lord's Supper was ad-'
L. C. J. You would have no laws.             ministered privately, after the manner of the
White. If there were no laws, I would live a Chris- foreign Reformed Churches; and those who
tian and do no wrong; if I received any, so it were.  joined  with them, according to Archbishop ParL. C. J. Thou art a rebel.              re,  joined with them, according to Archbishop ParL. C. J. Thou art a rebel.
White. Not so, my lord: a true subject.      ker, signed the following protestation:
L. C. J. Yea, I swear by God, thou art a very reb-    "Being thoroughly persuaded in my con
el; for thou wouldst draw thy sword, and lift up thy science, by the working and by the Word of the
hand against thy prince, if time served.       Almighty, that these relics of antichrist are
White. My lord, I thank God my heart standeth abominable before the Lord our God; and, also,
right towards God and my prince; and God will not for that by the power, mercy, strength, and
condemn, though your honour hath so judged. goodness of the Lord our God only I am escaL. C. J. Take him away.
White. I would speak a word which I am sure will ped from the filthiness and pollutionof these deoffend, and yet I must speak it; I heard the name of testable traditions, through the knowledge of
God taken in vain; if I'had done it, it had been a our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and, last of
greater offence than that which I stand here for.    all, inasmuch as by the working also of the Lord
Mr. Ger. White, White, you don't behave yourself Jesus his Holy Spirit, I have joined in prayer
well.                                          and hearing God's Word with those that have
White. I pray your worship show me wherein, and not yielded to this idolatrous trash, notwithI will beg pardon and amend it.
L. C. J. I may swear in a matter of charity,  standing the danger for not coming to my parWhite. There is no such occasion; but because it ish church, &c. Therefore I come not back
is bruited that at my last being before you I denied again to the preaching of them that have rethe supremacy of my prince, I desire your honours ceived the marks of the Romish beast.
and worships, with all that be present, to bear wit-   "Because of God's commandment to go forness that I acknowledge her majesty the chief gov- ward to perfection.-Heb., vi., 1; 2:Cor., vii., 1;
ernor, next under Christ, over all persons and causes Psalm lxxxiv., 1; Ephes., iv., 15. Also to avoid
within her dominions, and to this Iwill subscribe. I them Ro., xvi. 17; Ephes. v. 11; 1 Thess.
acknowledge the book of articles, and the Book of
Common Prayer, as far as they agree with the Word v., 22.
of God. I acknowledge the substance of the doctrine    "Because they are an abomination before the
and- sacraments of the Church to be sound and sin- Lord our God.-Deut., xxvii., 25, 26, and xiii.,
cere; and so I do of rites and orders, as far as they  17; Ezek., xiv., 6.
agree with the Word of God.                      "I will not beautify with my presence those
Dean of West. You will not, then, allow that all filthy rags, which bring the heavenly Word of
things in the Book of Common Prayer are taken out the Eternal our Lord God into bondage, subjecof the Word of God?
White. Though they should be so, yet, being done ton,"Because I ould not communicate withslavery.
by man, I cannot give them the same warrant as to
the writings of the Holy Ghost.                other men's sins.-John, ii., 9-11; 1 Cor., vi.,
L. C. J. Take him away.                      17.  Touch no unclean thing, &c.-Sirach,
White. I would to the Lord Jesus that my two xiii., 1.
years' imprisonment might be a means of having these    "They give offence both to preacher and
matters fairly decided by the Word of God, and the hearers.-Rom., xvi., 17  Luke, xvii., 1.
judgment of other Reformed Churches.             " They glad and strengthen the papists in
L. C. J. You shall be committed, I warrant you. a their errors, and grieve the godly. —Ezek., xiii.,
White. Pray, my lord, let me have just-ice; I am
unjustly committed; I desire a copy of my present- 21, 22. [Note this 21st verse.]
ment.                                            "They do persecute our Saviour Jesus Christ
L. C. J. You shall have your head from your shoul- in his members. —Acts, ix., 4, 5; 2 Cor;, i., 5.
ders; have him to the Gatehouse.               Also they reject and despise our Lord and SayWhite. I pray you to commit me to some prison in iour Jesus Christ.-Luke, x., 16.  Moreover,
London, that I may be near my house.          those labourers who, at the prayer of the faithL. C. J No, sir, you shall go thither.      ful, the Lord hath sent forth into his harvest,
White. I have paid fines and fees in other prisons;,  e d 
send me not where I shall pay them over again.  they refuse, and also reject.-Matt., ix., 38.
L. C. J. Yes, marry shall.you: this is your glory.   "These  popish garments are now  become
White. I desire no such glory.               very idols indeed, because they are exalted
L. C. J. It will cost you twenty pounds, I warrant above the Word of the Almighty.
you, before you come out.                        " I come not to them because they should be
White. God's will be done.                   ashamed, and so leave their idolatrous garThese severities against zealous Protestants of pi- ments, &c.-2 Thess., iii., 14.  If any manobey
ous and sober lives raised the compassion of the   ot our saings, note him
common people, and brought them over to their inter- not our sayings, note him.
ests. " It was a great grief to the archbishop," says   "Moreover, I have now joined myself to the
Mr. Strype, "and to other good bishops, to see per- Church of Christ, wherein I have yielded mysons going off from the first establishment of the self subject to the discipline of God's Word, as
Protestant religion among us, making as if the ser- I promised at my baptism, which, if I should
vice-book was unlawful, and the ecclesiastical state now again forsake, and join myself with their
anti-Christian; and labouring to set up another gov-traditions, I should forsake the union wherein I
eminent and discipline —" But who drove them to am knit to the body of Christ, and join myself
these extremities? Why were not a few amendments     to the discipline   of antichrist, and join myself
in the liturgy yielded to at first, whereby. conscientious men might have been made easy; or liberty of the traditionaries there is no other discipline
given them to worship.God in their own way?  than that which has been maintainedhby the an




HISTORY  OF Ti1iE  PURITANS.                                133
ti-Christian Pope of Rome, whereby the Church  should separate themselves from the customs
of God has always been afflicted, and is until of their own country.x
this day, for the which cause I refuse them.   Gualter, Bullinger, and other foreign divines?
"God give us grace still to strive in suffering again this year addressed the bishops their corunder the cross, that the blessed Word of our God respondents for moderation, but nothing could
may only rule and have the highest place, to be obtained; only Parkhurst, bishop of Norwich,
cast down strongholds, to destroy or overthrow  lamented the case, and wished to God that all
policy or imaginations, and every high thing the English people would -follow the Church of
that is exalted against the knowledge of God, Zurich, as the most absolute pattern. "The
and to bring into captivity or subjection every papists," says he, " lift up their crests, while
thought to the obedience of Christ.-2 Cor., x., Protestants walk about the streets dejected and
4, 5. That the Name and Word of the Eternal sorrowful; for at this time there are not a few
our Lord God may be exalted, and magnified preachers that have laiddowntheir cures of souls,
above all things.-Psalm viii., 2. Finis."*   and left them to fools and idiots, and that for
To this protestation the congregation did this reason, because they would not use the
severally swear, and then resolved the com- linen garment called a surplice. New arnid semunion for the ratification of their assent, if vere edicts are lately published here against
we may believe the relation of Archbishop Par- such as refuse to observe our ceremonies: pray
ker, who -wrote this last paragraph with his God give a good issue, and have mercy upon all
own hand; though his grace had not always the the churches of Christ."
best information, nor was sufficiently careful to   The prophesyings of the clergy, begun in the
distinguish between subscribing and swearing.  year 1571, had by this time [1574] spread into
Sundry Nonconformists, who were willing to the diocesses of York, Chester, Durham, and
be at ease, and avoid the hazard of persecution, Ely; the Bishop of London set them up in sevtook shelter in the French and Dutch churches, eral parts of his diocess, as did most of the
and joined themselves to their communion: other bishops. The clergy were divided into
there were not many of this sort, because they classes, or associations, under a moderator apunderstood not their language.  But the queen pointed by the bishop; their meetings were
and council had their eye upon them, arid r,, once a fortnight; the people were present at
solved to drive them from this shelter; for this the sermon; and after they were dismissed,
purpose a letter was written from the council- the members of the association, whose names
board to the ministers and elders of the Dutch were subscribed in a book, censured the perChurch in London, bearing date April, 1573, in formance. These exercises were of great serwhich they say " that they were not ignorant, vice to expose the errors of popery, and spread
that from the beginning of the Christian reli- the knowledge of the Scriptures among the
gion various churches had various and divers people.
rites and ceremonies; that in their service and   But the queen was told by the archbishop
devotions some stood, some kneeled, and others that they were no better than seminaries of
lay prostrate, and yet the piety and religion was Puritanism;t that the more averse the people
the same, if they directed their prayers to the were to popery, the more they were in danger
true God, without impiety and superstition. of nonconformity; that these exercises tended
They added, farther, that they contemned not to popularity, and made the people so inquisitive'their rites; nay, that they approved their cere- that they would not submit to the orders of their
monies as fit and convenient for them, and that superiors, as they ought. It was said farther,
state whence they sprang.  They expected, that some of the ministers disused the habits,
therefore, that their congregation should not and discoursed on church discipline; and that
despise the customs of the English Church, nor others were too forward to show their abilities,
do anything that might create a suspicion of to the discouragement of honest men of lower
disturbing its peace; and, in particular, that capacities; and that all this was notorious in
they should not receive into their communion the diocess of' Norwich.  Hereupon the queen
any of this realm that offered to join with them, gave the archbishop private orders to put them
and leave the customs and practice of their na- down everywhere, and to begin with Norwich;
tive country, lest the queen should be moved to his grace, accordingly, wrote to Matchet, one
banish them out of the kingdomn."t          of the chaplains in that diocess, requiring him
Endeavours had been used to bring these to repair to his ordinary, and show him how the
churches under the jurisdiction or superintend- queen had willed him to suppress those vain
ence of the bishop of the diocess for the time prophesyings; and that thereupon he should rebeing; but they pleaded their charter, and that quire the said ordinary, in her majesty's name,
Grindal, while Bishop of London, was their su- immediately to discharge them from any farther
perintenden't only by their own consent; how- such doings.
ever, a quarrel happening some time after in   This was very unacceptable news to the good
the Dutch Church at Norwich, the queen's com- old bishop, who, taking hold of the word vain,
missioners interposed; and because the elders wrote to the archbishop, desiring to be resolved
refused to own their jurisdiction, they banished whether he meant thereby the abuse, or some
all their three ministers; which struck such a vain speeches used in some of these conferenterror into those of London, that when they re- ces; or, in general, the whole order of those exceived the council's letter they were perfectly ercises; of which he freely declared his own
submissive, and after returning thanks for their approbation, saying " that they had, and still
own liberties, they promised to expel all such did bring, singular benefit to the Church of
out of their church, and for the future not to God, as well in the clergy as in the laity, and
receive any English who from such principles
* Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 284.
Ilife of Parker, p. 435.  t Ibid., p. 364.        t Life of Parker, p. 461.




134                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
were right necessary exercises to be continued, pain of her majesty's high displeasure; and al
so the same were not abused, as, indeed, they vised him not to be led by fantastical folk, not
had not been, unless in one or two places at take such young men into his counsels, who,
the most; whereof after he had knowledge he when they had brought him into danger, could
wrote an earnest letter to his chancellor, that not bring him out of it. Of my care I have for
such persons as were over-busy speakers should you and the diocess (says the archbishop) I write
be put to silence, unless they would subscribe thus much.*
to the articles of conformity in religion, or else   Upon this the good old bishop submitted, and
promise not to intermeddle with any matter es- wrote to his chancellor from Ludham, June the
tablished and commanded by her majesty; 7th, " Whereas, by the receipt of my Loid of
which was performed accordingly, since which  Canterbury's letter, I am commanded by him,
time he had not heard but all things had suc- in the queen her majesty's name, that the prophceeded quietly without offence to any."      esyings throughout my diocess should be supThe archbishop was vexed at this letter, and pressed, these are therefore to will you that, as
wrote back to his chaplain " that it was one of conveniently as you may, you give notice to
his old griefs, that this bishop had shown his every of my commissaries that they in their
letter to his friends, who had eluded its true several circuits may suppress the same. And
meaning, by standing upon the word vain. It so I leave you to God."  Thus were these reliis pity, says he, that we should show any vani- gious exercises suppressed in one diocess, which
ty in our obedience."  In the mean time, the was but the prologue to their downfall over the
Bishop of Norwich applied to the privy council, whole kingdom.
who knew nothing of this affair; but were sur-   But his lordship did not long survive this disprised at the archbishop's order, and gave his tinguishing mark of the archbishop's displeaslordship instruction to uphold the prophesyings. ure, for towards the latter end of the year he
Their letter was as follows:                 departed this life, to the great loss of his dio" Salutem in Chlristo.  Whereas, we under- cess, and of the whole Church of England.
stand that there are certain good exercises of   John Parkhurst, bishop of Norwich, was born
prophesyings and expounding of Scriptures in at Guildford, in Surrey, 1511, and educated in
Norfolk, as, namely, at Holt-town and other pla- Merton College, Oxon.  He  had been domestic
ces, whereby both speakers and hearers do profit chaplain to Queen Katharine Parr, tutor to Bishmuch in the knowledge of the Word of God. op Jewel, and rector of the rich parsonage of
And whereas, some not well minded toWards  Clive; all which he forsook in the reign of Queen
true religion, and the knowledge of God, speak Mary, and was an exile at Zurich, ir Switzerevil and slanderously ofthese exercises, as com- land, where he was so delighted with the order
monly theyused to do against the sincere preach- and discipline of that church, that he would
ing of God's holy Word; these are to require often wish the Church of England were modelyour lordship, that so long as the truth is godly led according to it. He was an open favourer
and reverently uttered in their prophesying~s,  of the Puritans, and never entered willingly into
and that no seditious, heretical, or schismatical any methods of severity against them. "I find,'
doctrine, tending to the disturbance of the peace says he, in one of his letters to Archbishop Parof the Church, can be proved to be taught or ker, "that rough and severe methods do the
maintained in the same; that so good a help least good, and that the contrary has won over
and means to further true religion may not be divers; and therefore I choose to go in this way,
hindered and stayed, but may proceed and go rather than with others to overrule by rigour
forward to God's glory, and the edifying of the and extremity."t  He would willingly have alpeople. Thus, not doubting of your forward- lowed a liberty of officiating in the Church to
ness herein, your office and calling dutifully re- such as could not conform to the ceremonies,
quiring the same at your hands, we bid your but by command from above he was forced somelordship right heartily farewell.*           times to obey his superiors, contrary to his judg"Your lordship's loving friends,         ment. The bishop was a zealous Protestant,
" T. SMITH,     EDWIN, bp. London, and a great enemy to popery; a learned divine,
" WA. MILDMAY, FRAN. KNOLLYS.      a faithful pastor, a diligent and constant preach"From London, this 6th of May, 1574."        er, and an example to his flock in righteousness,
he archbishop was surprised to see his or  in faith, in love, in peace, in word, and in purity.
The archbishop was surprised to see his or- He was exceeding hospitable, and kept a table
ders countermanded by the privy council; but for the poor- and was universally beloved, honhis grace took no notice of it to them, only ac- oured,  an d     esteemed by his whole diocess. This
quain ting the queen with it; by whose direc- character is given him, says Mr. Strype, by one
tion he wrote again to the bishop, that whereas that knew him well, Thomas Becon, a native of
he understood he had received letters from the Norfolk,  and of known  eminence days.
council to continue the prophesyings, contrary He was made Bishop of Norwich, 1560, and died
to the queen's express command, he desired to of the stone this year [1574], in the sixty-third
know what warrant they had given him for their year of his age.
proceedings; upon this the Bishop of Norwich    Sundry well-disposed people in the parishes
wrote back to the Bishop of London, who was of Balsham in Cambridgeshire, and of Strethall
one of those who had signed the letter, for ad- in Essex, met together on holydays, and at other
vice; but his lordship and the council were times, after they had done work, to read the
afraid to meddle any farther.              Scriptures, and to confirm one another in the, Parker, being thus supported by the queen, Christian faith and practice; but as soon as the
wrote again to Norwich, commanding the bishop commissioners were informed of these assemperemptorily to obey the queen's orders, upon
* Life of Parker, p. 462. Strype's Annals, vol. ii.,
* Life of Parker, p. 460, 461.     p. 323.       t Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 343.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  135
blies, the parsons of the parishes were sent for, men in the streets, his gentlemen-ushers going
and ordered to suppress them; though the hon- before him with bare heads, and his family full
est people declared themselves conformable to of idle serving-men, looked very lordly."  He
the orders of the Church, and that they met to- adds, " that his own and his brethren's revenues
gether after dinner, or after supper, upon holy- should not be laid out in maintaining a parcel
days only, for their own and their families' in- of lazy, idle servants, but rather upon these,
struction, for the reformation of vice, and for a who were labourers in the harvest of the Lord
farther acquaintance with the Word of God. Jesus. That whereas the archbishop had called
The occasion of their assemblies we have in them Puritans, it was a name unjustly imposed
their own words: " For that heretofore," say on brethren with whose doctrine and life none
they, " we have at divers times spent and con- could find fault; if by Puritans such were meant
sumed our holydays vainly, in drinking at the as, following Novatus, dissembled themselves
alehouse, and playing at cards, tables, dice, and to be teachers, and wished the ceremonies
other vain pastimes, not meet for us and such might be observed, while they hated the cusof our calling and degree, for the which we have toms of the ancient Church,. then might a numbeen often blamed of our parson: we thought ber of churchmen be called Puritans; and he
it better to bestow the time in soberly and godly prayed God to purge them and make them more
reading the Scriptures, only for the purposes pure."  And whereas the archbishop in his
aforesaid, and no other. We do not favour or letter had pitied his complaints of poverty and
maintain any of the opinions of the Anabaptists, lameness, he said " he complained of nothing;
Puritans, papists, or libertines, but would be if he should complain of the former, it would be
glad to learn our duty towards God, our prince, before he had need; but when he had need he
and magistrates, towards our neighbours and would complain to those to whom he might
our families, in such sort as becomes good, and complain. Concerning his lameness, he was
faithful, and obedient subjects; and it is our so far from complaining of that, that he humbly
greatest and only desire to live, follow, and per- thanked God for it; and these chains he would
form the same accordingly, as God shall give us choose to carry before the clogs and cares of a
grace."  But our archbishop had rather these bishopric."-* Such was the plain dealing of this
poor people should be drinking and gaming at confessor to one of the highest dignitaries in
an alehouse than engaged in a religious assem- the Church.
bly not appointed by public authority.*      Parker's zeal against the Puritans betrayed
The Rev. Mr. Sampson, late dean of Christ him sometimes into great inconveniences; like
Church, Oxon, was this year struck with the a true inquisitor, he listened to every idle story
dead palsy on one side, which made him resign of his scouts, and sent it presently to the queen
his lecture in the church at Whittington Col- or council; and the older he grew the more did
lege, which he had held to this time, and for his jealousies prevail. In the month ofJune, one
which he had ~10 a year: it was in the gift of of his servants acquainted him that there was a
the cloth-workers' company, to whom he rec- design of the Puritans against the life of the lordommended Mr. Deering for his successor; but treasurer and his own; and that the chief conDeering being silenced for nonconformity, the spirator was one Undertree, encouraged, by the
archbishop utterly refused him, which Sampson great Earl of Leicester: the old archbishop was
complained of in a letter to the treasurer, say- almost frighted out of his wits at the news, as
ing, "that though my Lord of Canterbury liked appears by the following passage in his letter
not to take pains in the congregation himself, to the treasurer: "This horrible conspiracy,"
yet should he not forbid others who were both says he, "has so astonished me, that my will
able and willing; that he could find no fault and memory are quite gone; I would I were
with Mr. Deering's doctrine or manner of life; dead before I see with my corporeal eyes that
and that this was no great promotion."t He which is now brought to a fill ripeness."  le
therefore humbly desired, that if the cloth-work- then prays that the detector of this conspiracy
ers chose him, that his lordship would use his may be protected and honourably considered,
interest with the archbishop not to refuse him; and the conspirators punished with the utmost
but his grace was inflexible, and so the business severity, otherwise the end would be worse than
miscarried.                                the beginning. And, that he might not seem to
This Mr. Sampson was a most exact man in express all his concern for his own safety, he
his principles and morals; and, having suffered tells the treasurer that it was for his sake and
the loss of all things for a good conscience, he the queen's that he was so jealous, " for he
took the liberty to write freely to his superiors feared that when rogues attempted to destroy
upon proper occasions; and, among others, to those that were so near her majesty's person,
Grindal, archbishop of York, who had been his they would at last make the same attempt upon
companion in exile, though now advanced to her too; and that even some that lay in her bothe dignity of a lord-archbishop. Sampson, in som [Leicester], when opportunity served, would
one of his letters, put him in mind of his former sting her." The archbishop sent out his scouts
low condition, and cautioned him against being to apprehend the conspirators that his steward
too much exalted with his high title. Grindal had named, who pretended a secret correspondtold him he did not value the title of a lord, but ence with Undertree; and among others who
that his great care was to discharge his func- were taken into custody were the Rev. Mr.
tion faithfully until the great day of the Lord. Bonham, Brown, and Stonden, divines of great
Sampson replied, "that if he, whom worldly name among the Puritans: Stonden had been
policy had made a lord, kept the humility of an one of the preachers to the queen's army, when
humble brother and minister of the Gospel, he the Earl of Warwick was sent against the
was a phoenix; but his port, his train-of waiting- northern rebels. Many persons of honour were
*,ife of Parker, p. 47..  t Ibid. p, 478  * Life of Parker, p. 469.   t Ibid., p. 466.




136                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
also accused, as the Earls of Bedford, Leicester, churches. This was so great a concern to -tne
and others. But when Undertree came to be inhabitants that they sent up their complaints
examined before the council, the whole appear- to the Earl of Leicester, who made such a reed  to be a sham between Undertree and the port to the queen of the archbishop's proceedarchbishop's steward, to disgrace the Puritans, ings that her majesty immediately gave order
and punish them as enemies to the State as well that things should return to their former chanas the Church. So early was the vile practice nel;* and when his grace came to court after
of fathering sham plots upon the Puritans be- his visitation, her majesty received him coldly,
gun, which was repeated so often in the next and declared her displeasure against his unseaage! Undertree had forged letters in the names sonable severities. The Bishop of Winchester
of Bonham, Stonden, and others; as appeared also complained that the clergy of his diocess
to a demonstration when they were produced had been sifted in an unmerciful manner; all
before the council, for they were all written which, instead of softening this prelate, drew
with one hand. When he was examined about from him the following angry letter to the lordhis accomplices he would accuse nobody, but treasurer, wherein he complains " of the strong
took the whole upon himself; so that their hon- interest the Puritans had at court, and of the
ours wrote immediately to the archbishop to inconstancy of some of the bishops; that sevdischarge his prisoners.*  But, which is a lit- eral of that order lay by and did little, while
tie unaccountable, neither Undertree nor the others endeavoured to undermine him. That
archbishop's steward received any punishment. the queen was almost the only person that
His grace's reputation suffered by this plot; stood firm to the Church; but if the Precisians
all impartial men cried out against him  for had the advantage, her majesty would be unshutting up men of character and reputation in done. That he was not so much concerned for
prison upon such idle reports. The Puritans the cap, tippet, surplice, wafer-bread, and such
and their friends reflected upon his honour and like ceremonies, as for the authority of the
honesty; and in particular the Bishop of Lon- laws that enjoined them. The queen, indeed,
don and Dr. Chatterton, master of Queen's Col- had told him that he had the supreme governlege, Cambridge, whom in his wrath he called ment ecclesiastical, but, upon experiment, he
a chatterer, and in his letter to Grindal, arch- found it very much hampered and embarrassed.
bishop of York, said " that he cared not three Before God," says he, " I fear that her highchips for aught that could be proved as to his ness's authority is not regarded; and if public
allegiance, he doing it so secretly, faithfully, laws are once disregarded, the government must
and prudently, as he did, and would do the sink at once."t
same again if he knew no more than he did at   There was but one corner of the British dothat time."  The Earl of Leicester could not minions that our archbishop's arm could not
but resent his ill-usage of him, which he had an reach, viz., the isles of Guernsey and Jersey;
opportunity to repay had he been so minded, these had been a receptacle for the French refthe archbishop having executed an act of justice ugees from the Parisian massacre, and, lying
[as he- called it] upon a person in the late plot upon the coasts of France, the inhabitants were
after he had received a letter from court forbid- chiefly of that nation, and were allowed the
ding him to do it, which was not very consist- use of the Geneva or French discipline by the
ent with his allegiance.. But the archbishop lords of the council. An order of the states of
braved out his conduct against everybody, after France had been formerly obtained to separate
his own brethren the bishops, and all the world, them from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Conhad abandoned him. He told the lord-treasurer stance in Normandy, but no form of discipline
"that he cared not for Leicester, though he having been settled by law since the Reformawas informed he took council with the Pre- tion, Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Snape were incisians to undo him; that though he had writ- vited to assist the ministers in framing a proper
ten to the earl, and to another Puritan courtier, discipline for their churches; this fell out hapit was not in way of submission, as some of pily for Cartwright, who, being forced to abanthe crew reported and took it.t That the earl don his native country, made this the place of
had peaceably written again to him, dissembling his retreat. The two divines being arrived, one
his malice like a right courtier; but he, not- was made titular pastor of Mount Orgueil, in
withstanding, knew what was purposed against the isle of Jersey; and the other of Castle Corhim, and for religion's sake he took it."  This net, in Guernsey. The representatives of the
was the spirit and language of our archbishop! several churches being assembled at St. PeOne of the last public acts in which his grace ter's Port, in Guernsey, they communicated to
was employed was visiting the diocess of Win- them a draught of discipline, which was debachester, and, in particular, the Isle of Wight, in ted and accommodated to the use of those
1575; -and here he made use of such methods islands, and finally settled the year following,
of severity, says Mr. Strype, as made him talk- as appears by the title of it, which is this:
ed against all over the country. This island "The ecclesiastical discipline observed  and
was a place of resort for foreign Protestants practised by the churches of Jersey and Guernand seafaring men of all countries, which occa- sey, after the reformation of the same, by the
sioned the habits and ceremonies not to be so ministers, elders, and deacons of the isles of
strictly observed as in other places, their trade Guernsey and Jersey, Sark and Aldelney, conand commerce requiring a. latitude: when the firmed by the authority, and in the presence, of
archbishop came thither with his retinue, he the governors of the same isles, in a synod
gave himself no trouble about the welfare of holden in Guernsey, June 28, 1576; and afterthe island, but turned out all those ministers ward received by the said ministers and elders,
who refused the habits, and shut up their                 Life of Parer, p. 421.
* Life of Parker, p. 421.
~ Life of Parker, p. 466.  t Ibid., p. 477.           t I  \ppendix, No, 99.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     137
and confirmed by the said governors in a synod    The number of students educated in these
holden in Jersey the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, colleges may be collected from  hence; that
and 17th days of October, 1577."  The book  whereas, according to Saunders, an eminent poconsists of twenty chapters, and each chapter pish writer,* there were but thirty old priests
of several articles, which were constantly ob- remaining in England this year [1575], the two
served in these islands till the latter end of the  colleges of Douay and Rome alone, in a very
reign of King James I., when the liturgy of the  few years, sent over three hundred; and it is
Church of England supplanted it.*             not to be doubted but there was a like proportion
Though the papists were the queen's most from the rest.
dangerous enemies, her majesty had a peculiar    About this time began to appear the fna.'is,
tenderness for them;t she frequently released  of love, which derived its pedigree from  one
them out of prison, and connived at their reli- Henry Nicholas, a Dutchman.t  By their congious assemblies, of which there were above five  fession of faith published this year, it appears
hundred in England at this time: many of the  that they were high enthusiasts; that they alqueen's subjects resorted to the Portugal am- legorized the doctrines of revelation, and, under
bassador's house in Charter House yard, where  a pretence of attaining to spiritual perfection,
mass was publicly celebrated; and because the  adopted some od.d and whimsical opinions, while
sheriffs and recorder of London disturbed them, they grew too lax in their morals, being in their
they were committed to the Fleet by the queen's principles something akin to the Quietists of
express command. At the same time, they  the Church of Rome, and the Quakers amonwere practising against the queen's life; and  ourselves.  They had their private assemblies
that their religion might not die with the pres- for devotion, for which they tasted of the severent age, seminaries were erected and endowed, ities of the government.
in several parts of Europe, for the education of    But the weight of the penal laws fell heaviest
English youth, and for providing a succession  upon some of the German Anabaptists, who reof missionaries to be sent into England for the  fused to join with the Dutch or English churchpropagation of their faith.  The first of these  es. There were two sorts of Anabaptists that
was erected when the kingdom was excommu- sprung up with the Reformation in Germany;
nicated; after which many others were found- one was of those who differed only about the
ed, to the unspeakable prejudice of the Protest-  subject and mode of baptism, whether it should
ant religion. To set them before the reader in  be administered to infants, or in any other
one view: colleges were erected at the follow- manner than by dipping the whole body under
ing places:                                   water.  But others who bore that name were
The 1st at Douay, 1569, by Philip, king of mere enthusiasts, men of fierce and harbarcbvu
Spain.                               tempers, who broke out into a general revolt,
2d at Rome, 1579, by Pope Gregory XIII. and raised the war called the Rustic war. They
3d at Valladolid, 1589, by the King of  had an unintelligible way of talking of religion,
Spain.                               which they usually turned into allegory; and
4th at Seville, 1593, by the same.     these being joined in the common name of An5th at St. Omer's, 1596, by the same.    abaptists, brought the others under an ill charac6th at Madrid, 1606, by Joseph Creswel, ter. Twenty-seven of them were apprehended
Jesuit.                              in a private house without Aldersgate-bars, on
7th at Louvain, 1606, by Philip III. of  Easter Day, 1575, where they were assembled
Spain.                               for worship: of these, four recanted the follow8th at Liege, 1616, by the archbishop of ing errors: (1.) That Christ took not flesh of the
that country.                        substance of the Virgin.  (2.) That infants
9th at Ghent, 1624, by Philip IV.      born of faithful parents ought to be rebaptized.
The popish nobility and gentry sent over their (3.) That no Christian man ought to be a machildren to these colleges for education;. and  gistrate.  (4.) That it is not lawful for a Chrisit is incredible what a mass of money was col- tian man to take an oath. But others refusing
lected in England for their maintenance, by to abjure, eleven of them, all Dutchmen, were
their provincials, sub-provincials, assistants, condemned in the consistory of St. Paul's to be
agents, coadjutors, familiars,.&c., out of the  burned, nine of whom were banished, and two
estates of such Catholics as were possessed of  suffered the extremity of the fire in Smithfield,
abbey-lands: the pope dispensing with their J.uly 22, 1575, viz., John Wielmacker and Henholding them  on these considerations.  The  drick Ter Woort. Thus the writ de hceretico
oath taken by every student at his admission       Do Schismat. Aug., p. 365.
t- This is an error: the foZ.under of the Familists
"Having resolved to offer myself wholly up  was David George, of Delft. He fled from Holland,
to Divine service, as much as I may, to fulfil the and settled at Basil, and took the name of John of
end for which this our college was founded, I Bridges; he affirmed that he was the true David,
promise and swear, in the presence of Almighty  sent from God, who should restore the kingdom again
God, that I am prepared from mine heart, with  to Israel. He was the author of several works; his
the assistance of Divine grace, in due time to  chief production is entitled " The Wonder Book."
receive holy orders, and to return into England, His history was written by his son-in-law, Nicholas
Blesdcyke, and was published at Daventry, 1633. I-His
to convert the souls of my countrymen and kin- doctrines are set down in 30 articles. He died Audred, when and as often as it shall seem good  gust 16, 1556. He had proinised his disciples that
to the Szuperior of this college."            he should not die, or, if he did, he should rise again.
Henry Nicholas, or, as lihe is often called, Henry
Heylin's Aerius Redivivus, p. 276.       of Amsterdam, then maintained the same doctrines.
t Strype's Annals, p. 329, 410, 622. Life of Par-   For very curious particulars respecting this delui
ker, p. 352-354. Ai.pendix, p. 47             sion the reader is referred to Ephraihm Pagitt's Here: Fuller, b. ix., p 92                      si-raphy, I646.-C.
VOL. I.-S




138                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
comburendo, which had hung up only in terrorerm   A little before the burning of these heretics,
for seventeen years, was taken down, and put Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, dein execution upon these unhappy men.  The  parted this life: he was born at Norwich, 1504,
Dutch congregation interceded earnestly for and educated in Bene't College, Cambridge. In
their lives; as did Mr. Fox, the martyrologist, the reign of King Edward VI.* he married, and
in an elegant Latin letter to the queen,' but she  was, therefore, obliged to live privately under
was immovable; so distant was her majesty  Queen Mary. Upon Queen Elizabeth'saccession,
from the tender spirit of her brother, King Ed-  he was advanced to the archbishopric of Canward.t                                          terbury; and how he managed in that high station may be collected from the foregoing history.
"To roast thle living hodies of unhappy ~men,"He wrote a book entitled Antiquitates Britanhe says, "who err rather through blindness of judg- ni   which  shows him to have had some sritan
ment than perverseness of will, in fire and flames,  n   ich shows  him to have had          skill
raging with pitch and brimstone, is a hard-hearted  in ecclesiastical antiquity; but he was a severe
thing, and more agreeable to the practice of the Ro- churchman, of a rough and uncourtly temper,
manists than the custom of the Gospellers. I do  and of high and arbitrary principles, both in
not speak these things because I am pleased with  church and state; a slave to the prerogative
their wickedness, or favour thus the errors of any  and the supremacy, and a bitter enemy to the
men; but, seeing I myself am a man, I must favour Puritans, whom he persecuted to the length of
the life of man; not that he should err, but that he his power, and beyond the limits of the law.
might repent. Wherefore, if I may be so bold, I hum- His religion consisted in a servile obedience to
bly beg of your royal highness, for the sake of Christ,
who was consecrated to suffer for the lives of many, the queen's injunctions, and in regulating the
this favour at my request, which even the Divine  public service of the church; but his grace had
clemency would engage you to, that if it may be  too little regard for public virtue,t his entertain(and what cannot your authority do in such cases?), ments and feastings being chiefly on the Lord's
these unhappy men may be spared. There are ex- day: nor do we read, among his episcopal qualcommunications and imprisonments; there are bonds; ities, of his diligent preaching or pious example.$
there is perpetual banishment; burning of the hand,
whipping, or even slavery. This one thing I most Countries, quoted in Mr. Lindsey's Second Address
earnestly beg, that the piles and flames of Smith- to the Youth of the Two Universities, p. 230, &c.,
field, so long ago extinguished by your happy gov- or La Roche's Abridgment of Brandt, p. 168.-ED.
ernment, may not be revived. But, if I may not ob-   * In this reign he was initiated into the exercise
tain this, I pray with the greatest earnestness, that of power and measures of persecution; for in the
out of your great pity, you would grant us a month  year 1551 he was put into a commission, with thirty
or two, in which we may try whether the Lord will other persons, for correcting and punishing Anabap
grant that they may turn from their dangerous er- tists.-British  Biography, vol. iii., p. 4.-ED.
rors, lest, with the destruction of their bodies, their   t Life of Parker, p. 524.
souls be in danger of eternal ruin.":          "As primate of the Church of England, he comrn
" All his topics," says Sir James Mackintosh, re- mitted a capital error in not availing himself of the
ferring to this letter, "are not, indeed, consistent influence of his station to heal the divisions which
with the true principles of religious liberty. But early ensued. It was in his power greatly to have
they were more likely to soften the antipathy of his diminished, if not entirely to have prevented them.
contemporaries, and to win the assent of his sover- But the rigidity of Parker's temper aggravated the
eign, than bolder propositions; they form a wide step  wound he should have healed, and thus entailed on
towards liberty of conscience. Had the excellent his successors the necessity of measures whose cruwriter possessed the power of showing mercy, and  elty has stamped them with indelible infamy. Misonce tasted the sweetness of exercising it towards trusting the stability of his church, he was perpetudeluded fanatics, he must doubtless have been at- ally alarmed for its safety, and unscrupulously emtracted to the practice of unbounded toleration."-  ployed in its support every means which force or
Hist. of Eng., iii., 170. Dr. Price's Hist. of Noncon- fraud could supply. The least deviation fiomn the
fiornity, vol. i., p. 295.-C.                    ordinary routine of religious services awakened his
t The remarks of that valuable historian, Gerard  suspicions and fears. The simplest and most fervent
Brandt, on these cruel proceedings, are so just and  piety failed to secure his complacency, unless it were
liberal that they deserve to be laid before the reader. clothed in the habiliments which authority had sane-' This severity," says he, " which was not the first tioned, and expressed itself in language borrowed
that had been practised in England since the Ref- from the offices of his church. That men were adormation, appeared to many Protestants, who were vancing in conformity to God, and in benevolence
still under the cross in Flanders and Brabant, both  towards their species, failed to interest his mind, if
strange and incredible. They lamented that those  the slightest taint of Puritanism were suspected, or
who not long before had been persecuted themselves  the least irregularity in religious services were known.
were now harassing others for the sake of their reli-   "Placed in a station of commanding influence, he
gion, and offering violence, with fire and sword, to the  prostituted his power to the support of the queen's
consciences of other men, though they had before prerogative and the maintenance of ecclesiastical
taught, and that with great truth,' that it did not be- uniformity. To this he sacrificed the higher purposes
long to any mortal man to lord it over the conscien- of his vocation, and set an example of servility in
ces of others. That faith was the gift of God, and  the state, and of despotism in the Church, which
not to be implanted in the minds of men by any ex- Whitgift, Bancroft, and Laud fatally imitated. He
ternal force, but by the Word of God, and illumina- had refused submission to the pope, yet he claimed
tion of the Holy Spirit; that heresy was not a carnal, it from others, and enforced the demand with a hardbut spiritual crime, and to be punished by God alone; heartedness which penury and weeping innocence
that error and falsehood were not to be overcome  could not move. Nor can it be justly pleaded in
with violence, but truth; that the obligation which  his defence that his course was shaped by the comthe children of God lie under is not to put others to  mands of the queen and her council. In a few in
death for the faith, but to die themselves in bearing  stances this might have been the case, but in gen.
witness to the truth. Lastly, that the shedding of eral it was otherwise. He was Elizabeth's princiblood for the sake of religion is a mark of antichrist, pal adviser in ecclesiastical affairs. She relied on
who thereby sets himself in the judgment-seat of his churchmanship, and found him ever ready to exGod, assuming to himself the dominion over con- ecute her severest edicts. He rarely, if ever, mani-,cience, which belongs to none but God only."' See  fested sorrow when employed as the minister of her
Brandt's History of the Reformation in the Low  wrath; though his joy knew no bounds when he




HISTORY  OF qTHE   PURITANS.                                  139
Fuller calls him a Parker indeed, careful to keep  declaims against the wealth and splendour of
the fences and shut the gates of discipline against the bishops, and speaks with vehemence against
all such night-stealers as would invade the same; their lordly dignities and civil authority.  In
and, indeed, this was his chief excellence. He the convocation of 156i2, when the question
was a considerable benefactor to Bene't Col- about the habits was debated, he withdrew, and
lege, the place of his education, where he or- would not be concerned in the affair; but, upon
dered his MS. papers to be deposited, which  his advancement to the episcopal order, he behave been of considerable service to the writers came a new convert, and a cruel persecutor of
of the English Reformation.*  He died of the the Puritans.  He was a little man, of a quick
stone on the 17th of May, 1575, in the seventy- spirit, and of no extraordinary character.
second year of his age, and was interred in    The Parliament being now sitting, a bill was
Lambeth Chapel the 6th' of June following, brought into the House of Lords to mulct such
where his body rested till the end of the civil as did not come to church and receive the
wars; when Colonel Scot, having purchased sacrament, with the payment of certain sums
that palace for a mansion-house, took down the of money, but it was thought proper to drop it
monument, and buried the bones, says Mr. for the present.
Strype,t in a stinking dunghill, where they re-   The convocation was busy in framing articles
mained till some years after the Restoration, touching the admitting able and fit persons to
when they were decently reposed near the place the ministry, and establishing good order in the
where the monument had stood, which was now  Church.*  Thirteen of them  ~were published
again erected to his memory.J                 with the queen's license, though hecy had not
the broad seal; but the other two, fir marrying
at all times of the year, and for private baptism
by a lawful minister, in cases of necessity, her
CHAPTER VI.                    majesty would not countenance.  One of the
articles makes void all licenses for preaching,
FROM THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP  PARKER TO THEINDAL   dated before the 8th of February, 1575, but provides that such as should be thought meet for that
DR. EDMUND GRINDAL, archbishop of York, office should be readmitted without difficulty or
succeeded Parker in the see of Canterbury, and charge.  This had been practised once and
was confirmed February 15, 1575-6. He was a again in Parker's time, and was now renewed,
divine of moderate principles, and moved no that by disqualifying the whole body of the
faster in courses of severity against the Puritans clergy, they might clear the Church of all the
than his superiors obliged him, being a friend to Nonconformists at once; and if all the bishops
their preachings and prophesyings. Sandys was had been equally severe in renewing their litranslated from  London to York, and Aylmer censes, the Church would have been destitute
was advanced to the see of London.  This last of all preaching, for the body of the conforming
was one of the exiles, and had been a favourer clergy were so ignorant and illiterate that many
of Puritanism; for in his book against Knox, who had cure of souls were incapable of preachentitled "An Harbour of Faithful Subjects," he ing, or.even of reading to the edification of the
hearers; being obliged by law only to read the
was sanctioned by her authority to execute the per-       hearers; being obliged by law only to read the
secuting code which he had mainly contributed to  erce and administer the sacrament in person
form.' On the review of his whole behaviour,' says once in half a year, on forfeiture of five pounds
Mr. Hallam,'he must be reckoned, and always has to the poor.
been reckoned, the most severe disciplinarian of Eliz-   The Nonconformist ministers, under the
abeth's first hierarchy, though more violent men character of curates or lecturers, supplied the
came afterward.' Yet it is due to the memory of defects of these idle drones for a small recomParker to observe, that the errors of his administra- pense from the incumbent and the voluntary
tion, serious and criminal as they were, sprung natu- contribution of the parish, and by their warm
rally out of the system he represented. The Reformed Church of England was unsound at heart. and affectionate preaching gained the hearts ol
It had its origin infoice; it was shaped and moulded the people; they resided upon their curacies,
by human laws, and could only be maintained by the and went from house to house visiting their
exercise of an authority unsanctioned by the Word parishioners and instructing their children;
of God. It was based on principles subversive of they also inspected their lives and manners,
human rights, and could not fail its supporters in and according to the apostolical direction remeasures which reason condemns, and which revelation represents as destructive of those graces with proved, rebuked, and exhorted  them  with all
which God seeks to embellish the human soul. His long-suffering and doctrine, as long as they
name will be handed down to the latest posterity as could keep their licenses.  Thus most of the
a persecutor of the saints of God."-Dr. Price's Hist. Puritan ministers remained as yet within the
Nonconf., vol. i., p. 291-3.-C.               Church, and their followers attended upon the
* It should be added, that literature was indebted Word and sacraments in such places where
to him for editions of our best ancient historians: there were sober and orthodox preachers.
Matthew of Westminster, Matthew Paris, Thomas   But still they continued their associations
Walsingham, and Asser's Life of King Alfred. It
should also, says Mr. Granger, be remembered, to and private assemblies for recovering the dishis honour, that he was the first founder of the So- cipline of the Church to a more primitive standciety of Antiquaries in England.-ED.          ard; this was a grievance to the queen and
t Life of Parker, p. 499.                   court bishops, who were determined against all
$ As a balance to this, the bodies of nineteen or innovations of this kind.  Strange, that men
twenty Puritan divines were dug up in Westminster should confess in their public service every
Abbey, and thrown into a pit in the yard: Dr. Trap, first day of Lent, " that there was a godly disMr. Marshall, Mr. Strong, &c. See, in Strype, cipline in the primitive Church; that this diswhat a pompous funeral Parker had ordered for himself. —ED.                                              Strype's ife of Grindal, p. 194.




140                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
cipline is not exercised at present in the Church     Concerning Church-wardens.
of England, but that it is much to be wished    "It seems that church-wardens and collectors
that it were restored," and yet never attempt for the poor may:be thus turned into elders and
to restore it, but set themselves with violence deacons.
and oppression to crush all endeavours that  "' Let the Church have warning of the time
way! For the reader will observe that this of election, and of the ordinanceof the realm, fifwas one chief occasion of the sufferings of the teen days beforehand; but especially of Christ's
Puritans in the following part of this reign.  ordinance, touching appointing of watchmen and
Some of the ministers of Northampton and overseers in his Church, who are to take care
Warwickshire, in one of their associated meet- that no offence or scandal arise in the Church;
ings, agreed upon certain rules of discipline in and if any such happen, that it be duly aboltheir several parishes, but, as soon as they be- ished.
gan to practice them, the court took the alarm,
and sent letters to the new archbishop to sup-    Of Collectors for the Poor, or Deacons.
press them.*  His grace accordingly sent to    "Touching deacons of both sorts, viz., men
the bishops of these diocesses to see things andwomen,  the Church shall beadmonished
reduced to their former channel, and, if need  what is required by the apostle; and that they
were, to send for assistance from himself or are not to choose men of custom or course, or
the  ecclesiastical commissioners; accordingly, for their riches, but for their faith, zeal, and inMr. Paget and Mr. Oxenbridge, the two heads tegrity; and that the Church is to pray, in the
of the association, were taken into custody and mean time, to be so  directed that they may
sent up to London.                           choose them that are meet.
Some time after there was another assembly "Let the names of those that are thus chosen
at Mr. Knewstub's church, at Cockfield in Suf- be published  by the next Lord's Day, and after
folk, where sixty clergymen of Norfolk, Suffolk, that their duties to the Church and the Church's
and Canmbridgeshire met together to confer of duty towards them; then let them be received
the Common Prayer Book, and come to some into their office with the general prayers of the
agreement as to what might be tolerated and whole Church
what was necessary to be refused. They consulted also about apparel, holydays, fastings,                Of Classes.
injunctions, &c.t From thence they adjourned    ":The brethren are to be requested to ordain
to Cambridge, at the time of the next com- a distribution of all the churches, according to
mencement, and from thence to London, where the rules set down in the synodical discipline,
they hoped to be concealed by the general re- touching classical, provincial, comitial, and assort of the people to Parliament; in these as- semblies for the whole kingdom.
semblies they came to the following conclu-   "The classes are to be required to keep acts
sions, which were drawn up in an elegant Latin  of memorable matters, and to- deliver them to
style by Mr. Cartwright and Travers, and given the cornitial assembly, and from thence to the
to the ministers for their direction in their sev- provincial assembly.
eral parishes.                                 "They are to deal earnestly with patrons, to
present fit men whensoever any Church falls
void in their classis.
"Let no man, though he be a university    "The comitial assemblies are to be admonman, offer himself to the ministry; nor let any ished to make collections for the relief of the
man take upon him  an uncertain and vague poor, and of scholars, but especially for the reministry, though it be offered unto him.     lief of such ministers as are deprived for not
" But such as are called by some church, let subscribing the articles tendered by the bishops;
him impart it to the classis or conference of also for the relief of Scots ministers, and others;
which they are members, or to some greater and for other profitable and necessary uses.
church assemblies; and if the called be ap-   " Provincial synods must continually foresee
proved, let them  be commended by letters to in due time to appoint the keeping of their next
the bishop, that they may be ordained ministers provincial synods; and for the sending of chosen
by him.                                      persons with certain instructions to the national
"Those ceremonies in the Book of Common synod, to be holden whensoever the Parliament
Prayer which, being taken from popery, are in for the kingdom shall be called, at some certain
controversy, ought to be omitted, if it may be time every year."
done without danger of being put from the min-   The design of these conclusions was to introistry; but if there be imminent danger of being duce a reformation into the Church without a
deprived, then let the matter be communicated separation. The chief debate in their assemto the classis in which that church is, to be de- blies was, how far this or the other conclusion
termined by them.                            might consist with the peace of the Church,
" If subscription to the articles and Book of and be moulded into a consistency with episcoCommon Prayer shall be again urged, it is pacy. They ordainednoministers; and, though
thought that the book of articles may be sub- they maintained the choice of the people to be
scribed, according to the stat. 13 Eliz., that is, the essential call to the pastoral charge, yet'to such only as contain the sum of the Chris- most of them admitted of ordination and inductian faith and the doctrine of the sacraments.' tion by the bishop only, as the officer appointed
But neither the Common Prayer Book nor the by law, that the minister might be enabled to
rest of the articles may be allowed; no, though demand his legal dues from the parish.
a man should be deprived of his ministry for re-   In the room of that pacific prelate, Parkhurst,
fusing it.                                  bishop of Norwich, the queen nominated Dr.
* Life of Grindal, p. 215.   t Fuller, b. ix., p. 135. Freke, a divine of a quite different spirit, who,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  141
n- his primary visitation made, sad havoc among and commanded to leave the country; but the
the Puritan ministers. Among others that were good man was so universally beloved that: the
suspended in that diocess were Mr. John More, whole county of Kent almost signed petitions
Mr. RichardCrick, Mr. George Leeds,.Mr. Thom- to the archbishop for his continuance among
as Roberts, and Mr. Richard Dowe, all minis- them.
ters in or near the city of Norwich; they ad-   "We know, most reverend father,' say they,
dressed the queen. and council for relief, but "that Mr. Stroud has been several times beaten
were told that her majesty was fully bent to re- and whipped with the untrue reports of slandermove all those that would not be persuaded to ous tongues, and accused of crimes whereof he
conform to established orders. The Reverend has most clearly acquitted himself to the satisMr. Gawton, minister of Goring in the same faction of others.'Every one of us,: for the
diocess, being charged with not wearing the most part, most gracious lord, hath heard him
surplice, nor observing the order of the queen's preach Christ truly, and rebuke sin boldly, and
book, he confessed the former, but said that in hath seen him hitherto apply to his calling faithother things he was conformable, though he did fully, and live among us peaceably; so that not
not keep exactly to the rubric.*  When the only by his diligent doctrine our youth has been
bishop charged him with holding divers errors, informed, and ourselves confirmed in true relihe answered, "We are here not above half a gion and learning, but also by his honest condozen unconfbrmable ministers in this city [Nor- versation and example we are daily allured to
wich]; and if you will confer with us by learn- a Christian life, and the exercises of charity;
ing, we will yield up our very lives if we are and no one of us, reverend father, hath hitherto
not able to prove the doctrines we hold to be heard from his own mouth, or by credible relaconsonant to the Word of God." After his sus- tion from others, that he has publicly in his
pension he sent his lordship a: bold letter, in sermons, or privately in conversation, taught
which he maintained that Christ was the o;ly unsound doctrine, or opposed the discipline,
lawgiver in his Church. "If any king or prince about which great controversy, alas! is now
in the world ordain or allow other officers than maintained; yea, he has given faithful promise
Christ has allowed, we will," says he, "rather to forbear the handling any questions concernlay down our necks on the block than consent ing the policy of the Church, and we think in
thereunto; wherefore do- not object to us so our consciences he has hitherto performed it. In
often the name of our prince, for you use it as consideration whereof, and that our country
a cloak to cover your cursed enterprises. Have may not be deprived of so diligent a labourer in
you not thrust out those who preached the lvely the Lord's harvest; nor that the enemies of
Word faithfully and sincerely? Have you not God's truth, the papists, may find matter of joy
plucked out those preachers where God set and comfort; nor the man himself, in receiving
them in? And do you think that this plea will a kind of condemnation without examination,
excuse you before the high Judge,'I did but be thus wounded at the heart and discouraged:
execute the law!'"                          we most- humbly beseech your grace, for the
Mr. Harvey, another minister of the same poor man's sake, for your own sake, and the
city, was cited before the bishop, May 13th, for Lord's sake, either to take judicial knowledge
preaching against the hierarchy of bishops and of his cause, to the end he may be confronted
their ecclesiastical officers; and at a court held with his adversaries; or else, of your great
at St. George's Church he was suspended from  wisdom and goodness, to restore him to his libhis ministry, with Mr. Vincent Goodwin and erty, of preaching the Gospel among us. And
John Mapes.                                 we, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c."
Mr. Rockrey, B.D. of Queen's College, Cam-   This petition was signed by nineteen or twenbridge, a person of great learning and merit, ty hands; another was signed by twenty-four
was expelled the university for nonconformity ministers; and a third by George Ely, vicar of
to the habits.t Lord Burleigh, the chancellor, Tenderden, andtwenty-oneparishioners; Thomgot him restored and dispensed with for a year, as Bathurst, Sen., minister of Staplehurst, and
at the end of which the master of his. college nine parishioners; William Walter, of Frittenadmonished him three times to conform him- den, and fourteen of his parishioners; Antony
self to the custom of the university in the hab- Francis, minister of Lamberhurst, and four paits, which he refusing, was finally discharged, rishioners; Alexander Love, minister of Rolenas an example to keep others to their duty.  den, and eighteen parishioners; Christopher
About the same time, Mr. Richard Greenham, Vinebrook, minister of Helcorne, and nine paminister of Drayton, was suspended,4: a man of rishioners; William Vicar, of Tysherst, and ten
a most: excellent spirit, who, though he would parishioners; Matthew Wolton, curate of Bennot subscribe or conform to the habits, avoided eden, and eleven parishioners; William Cocks,
speaking of them, that he might not give offence; minister of Marden, and thirteen parishioners;
and whoever reads his letter to Cox, bishop of William Hopkinson, minister of Saleherst, and
Ely, will wonder what sort of men they must eight parishioners,*
be who could bear hard on so peaceable a di-   Such a reputation had this good man among
vine.                                       all who had any taste for true piety and zeal
Some time before the death of Archbishop for the Protestant religion! He was a peaceaParker, Mr. Stroud, the suspended minister of ble divine, and by the threatening of Aylmer,,
Cranbrook, returned to his: parish church; but bishop of London, had been prevailed with to
being represented to the present archbishop as subscribe with some reserve, for the support of
a disturber of the peace, he was forbid to con- a starving family; and yet he was continually
tinue his accustomed exercises in the Church, molested and vexed in the spiritual courts.
* MS., p. 253. Strype's Annals, p. 448.   Two eminent divines of Puritan principles
f MS., p. 285.: Pierce's Vindication, p. 97.           * MS., p. 196.




142                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
died this year: one was James Pilkington, B.D.,    Ante omnia, that no lay-person be admitted to
and Bishop of Durham; he was descended from  speak publicly in the exercises.
a considerable family near Bolton in Lanca-    That if any man glance at affairs of state,
shire, and was educated in St. John's College, the moderator shall immediately silence him,
Cambridge, of which he was master.  In the  and give notice to the bishop.
reign of Queen Mary he was an exile, and con-    If any man inveighs against the laws confessor for the Gospel; upon the accession of  cerning rites and ceremonies, and discipline esQueen Elizabeth he was nominated to the See  tablished, he shall immediately be silenced, and
of Durham, being esteemed a learned man and  not be admitted to speak any more till he has
a profound divine; but could hardly be prevail- given satisfaction to the auditory, and obtained
ed with to accept it on account of the habits, to  a new admission and approbation of the bishop.
which he expressed a very great dislike; he  And
was always a very great friend and favourer of    No suspended or deprived ministers shall be
the Nonconformists, as appears by his letters, suffered to be speakers, except they shall first
and a truly pious and Christian bishop.*  He  conform  to the public order and discipline of
died in peace at his house, Bishop's Auckland, the Church, by subscription and daily practice.
January 23, 1575-6, in the sixty-fifth year of    But the queen was resolved to suppress them;
his age; Dr. Humphreys, and Mr. Fox the  and having sent for the archbishop, told him she
martyrologist, adorning his tomb with their fu- was informed that the rites and ceremonies of
neral verses.                                   the Church were not duly observed in these
The other was Mr. Edward Deering, a Non- prophesyings; that persons not lawfully called
conformist divine, of whom  mention has been  to be ministers exercised in them; that the asmade already; he was born of an ancient and  semblies themselves were illegal, not being alworthy family in Kent, and bred fellow  of  lowed by public authority; that the laity negChrist's College, Cambridge; a pious and pain- lected their secular affairs by repairing to these
ful preacher, says Fuller,t but disaffected to  meetings, which filled their heads with notions,
bishops and ceremonies; he was a learned man  and might occasion disputes and seditions in
and a fine orator, but in one of his sermons be- the state; that it was good for the Church to
fore the queen he took the liberty to say, that have but few preachers, three or four in a county
when her majesty was under persecution her being sufficient.*  She farther declared her dismotto was Twanquam ovzs; but now it might be, like of the number of these exercises, and thereTanquam indonmita juvenca, as an untamed heif- fore commanded him peremptorily to put them
er.$   For which he was forbid preaching at down.  Letters of this tenour were sent to all
court for the future, and lost all his preferments  the bishops in England.t
in the Church.Q
Archbishop Grindal had endeavoured to regu-      MS., p. 203.
late the prophesyings, and cover them from the    t The copy of her majesty's letter to the Bishop
objections of the court, by enjoining the minis- of London, with his lordship's order thereupon, being
ters to observe decency and order, by for- before me, I shall impartit to the reader.
bidding them to meddle with politics and church'4 Salutem it Christo.
governgtent, and  by  prohibiting all Noncon-   "Having received from the queen's majesty letters
formist ministers and laymen from being speak-  of strait commandment touching the reformation of
formist ministers and laymen from being speak-  certain disorders and innovations within my diocese,
ers.  The other bishops, also, in their several the tenour whereof I have inserted, as followeth:
diocesses, published [in 1577] the following                   "'ELIZABETH.
regulations:                                         "'Right Reverend Father in God,
That the exercises should be only in such   "' We greet you well. We hear, to our great
churches as the bishop, under his hand and seal, grief, that in sundry parts of our realm there are no
should appoint.                                 small number of persons presuming to be preachers
That the archdeacon, or some other grave  and teachers in the Church, though neither lawfully
That the archdeacon, or some other grave thereunto called, nor yet meet for the same; who,
divine appointed and allowed by the bishop, contrary to our laws established for the public Dishould be moderator.                            vine service of Almighty God, and the administration
That a list of the names of those that are  of his holy sacraments within this Church of Engthought fit to be speakers in course be made  land, do daily devise, imagine, propound, and put
and allowed of by the bishop; and the bishop to  in execution, sundry new rites and forms in the
appoint sluchl part of Scripture they shall treat of. Church, as well by the inordinate preaching, reading,
and ministering the sacraments, as by unlawfully proospeak publicly be assigned some   other task  curing of assemblies, and great numbers of our peo.
to speak publicly be assigned some other task  ple, out of their ordinary parishes, and from places
by the moderator, for the increase of their learn- far distant; and that also of some of our subjects of
ing'                                            good. callings (though therein not well advised), to be
hearers of their disputations and new-devised opin- Ath. Ox., i., 590.  t Fuller, b. ix., p. 109.   ions upon points of divinity, far unmeet for vulgar
t Life of Parker, p. 380.                     people; which manner of ministrations they in some
~ Strype, in his Life of Parker, says that Deering  places termn prophesyings, and in some other places
was disliked of the bishops, because he would tell exercises; by means of which assemblies, great numthem of their swearing and covetousness, yet, he  bers of our people, especially of the vulgar sort (meet
adds, that he was given to tell lies. This looks like  to be otherwise occupied with somne honest labour for
slander.                                       their living), are brought to idleness, seduced, and in
Dr. Sampson, who knew him well, gives him an  manners schismatically divided among themselves
exalted character as a man and a Christian, and  into variety of dangerous opinions, not only in towns
Granger, in his Biographical History, vol. i., p. 215, and parishes, but even some families are manifestly
observes, "' The happy death of this truly religious thereby encouraged to the violation of our laws, and
man was suitable to the purity and integrity of his to the breach of common orders, and not smally to
life." —See Brook's Lives of the Puritans, vol: i., p. the offence of all our quiet subjects, that desire to
193-211. Strype's Parker, p. 381-429.-C.      live and serve God according to the uniform orders




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      143
Most of the bishops complied readily with the exercise till it shall please God we may eithel
queen's letter, and put down the prophesyings; by earnest prayer or humble petition obtain the
but some did it with reluctance, and purely in full use thereof, with her good pleasure and full
obedience to the royal command, as appears by authority; and, in the mean time, so to use the
the following letter of the Bishop of Litchfield heavenly and most comfortable gift of preachand Coventry to his archdeacon:               ing, that you may seek and set forth Jesus
" Salutem in Christo.                     Christ and his kingdom without contempt and
"Whereas the queen has been informed of controlment of the state and laws, under which
some matters handled and abused in the exer- we ought to live in unity and peace; which I
cise at Coventry, and thereupon hath written to beseech God grant unto you and me, and all
me a strait charge to inhibit the said exercise; that look for the coming of our Saviour Christ,
these are therefore to will and require you, and, to whose direction I commit you, this 18th of
nevertheless, in her majesty's name to charge June, 1577.*
you, to forbear and stay yourselves from that   " Your loving friend and brother in Christ,
"THOMAS Coyv. and LITCHF.
established in the Church, whereby these [exercises] "To my very loving friend and brother in
cannot but be dangerous to be suffered. Wherefore,   Christ Thomas Lever, archdeacon of Co.
considering it should be the duty of bishops, being
the principal ordinary officers in the Church of God   or, in his absence, to the censors of the ex(as you are one), to see these disorders against the   ercise there."
honour of God and the quietness of the Church re-   But our archbishop could not go this length;
formed, and that by the increase of these, through he who had complied with all the queen's insufferance, great danger may arise, even to the decrease of Christian faith, whereof we are by God ap-unctons, and with the seve
pointed the defender; besides the other inconvenien- siastical commissioners against the Puritans
ces, to the disturbance of our peaceable government. hitherto, is now distressed in conscience, and'We, therefore, according to the authority which  constrained to disobey the commands of his
wehave,do charge and commandyou, as bishop of that royal mistress in an affair of much less consediocess, with all manner of diligence to take order quence than others he had formerly complied
throughout your diocess, as well in all places exempt with. Instead, therefore, of giving directions
or otherwise, that no manner of public or Divine ser- to his archdeacons to execute the queen's comvice, nor other form of ministration of the holy sacraments, or any other rites and ceremonies, be in any sort mands, he writes a long and earnest letter to
used in the Church, but directly according to the order her majesty, dated December 10, 1576, to inform
established by our laws: neither that any manner of her of the necessity and usefulness of preachperson be suffered in your diocess to teach, preach, ing, and of the subserviency of the exercises to
read, or exercise, any function in the Church but this purpose:
such as shall be lawfully approved and licensed, as   " With regard to preaching, nothing is more
persons able by their knowledge, and conformable to evident from Scripture," says his grace, " than
the ministrations in the rites and ceremonies of thiss a great blessing to have the Gospel
Church of England. And where there shall not be
sufficient able persons for learning in any cure to preached, and to have plenty of labourers sent
preach and instruct their cures as are requisite, then into the Lord's harvest.  That this was the orshall you limit the curates to read the public homi- dinary means of salvation, and that hereby
lies, according to the injunctions heretofore by us men were taught their duty to God and their
given for like cause.                         civil governors. That, though reading the hom"'And furthermore, considering the great abuses ilies was good, yet it was not comparable to
that have been in sundry places of our realm, by rea- preaching, which might be suited to the diverson of the aforesaid assemblies called exercises; and
for that these are not, nor have been appointed or sity of times, places, and hearers, and be de.
warranted by us or our laws, we will and straightly livered with more efficacy and affection. That
charge you that you do cause the same forthwith to homilies were devised only to supply the want
cease, and not to be used; but if any shall attempt of preachers, and were, by the statute of King
to continue or renew the same, we will you not only Edward VI., to give place to sermons whensoto commit them to prison, as maintainers of disor- ever they might be had.  He hoped, therefore,
ders, but also to advertise us or our council of the her majesty would not discountenance an ordinames and qualities of them, and of their maintain- nance so useful, and of Divine appointment.
era and abettors; that thereupon, for better ey ample,   "For the second point, concerning the exertheir punishment may be made more sharp, for their
reformation. And in these things we charge you to cises, he apprehended them profitable to the
be so careful and vigilant, as by your negligence (if Church; and it was not his judgment only, but
we shall hear of any persoi attempting to offend in that of most of the bishops, as London, Winton,
the premises without your correction or information Bath and Wells, Litchfield, Gloucester, Lincoln,
to us), we be not forced to make some example in Chichester, Exon, and St. David's, who had
reforming of you according to your deserts. Given signified to him by letter, that by means of these
refortninb o~fY~, t~urdanor~~fGlenwcl, te thsignified to him by letter, that by means of these
under our signet, at our manor of Greenwich, the 7th exercises the clergy were now better versed in
of May, 1577, andin the nineteenth year of our reign." teScies the cl ere  now  b etter versed in
~~-J~MS., p. 283.    ~the Scripture than heretofore; that they had
-M/S., p. 283.
"Therefore I will and straightly charge you, in made them studious and diligent; and that noher majesty's name, that, immediately upon the re- thing had beat down popery like them.  He af.
ceipt hereof, you do diligently and carefully put in firms that they are legal, forasmuch as, by the
execution, in every point, all such things as therein canons and constitutions of the Church now in
be contained, throughout and in every place within force, every bishop has authority to appoint
your whole archdeaconry; so that at my visitation, such exercises, for inferior ministers to increase
which, God willing, shall be shortly, sufficient account may be given of that your doin, and diligence their knowledge in the Scriptures, as to him
in that behalf accordingly. Fail you not so to do,as shall seem  most expedient."t  Towards the
you will answer the contrary, at your peril.  close of this letter his grace declares himself
"Your loving brother,
" JOHN LONDON."      * MS., p. 284.               t Ibid.. p. 245.




144                    HISTO-RY  OF THE  PURITANS.
willing to resign his province, if it should be her Church, but could not accept it upon the terms
majesty's pleasure, and then makes these two of subscription and wearing the habits; he was
requests: " (1.) That your majesty would refer therefore suspended by the ecclesiastical comecclesiastical matters to the bishops and divines missioners; till his great name and singular
of the realm, according to the practice of the merit, reflecting an odium upon, those who had
first Christian emperors. And (2.) That when deprived the Church of his labours, and exposed
your majesty deals in matters of faith and reli- him a second time to poverty and want after his
gion, you would not pronounce so peremptorily exile, he was at length dispensed with, and
as you may do in civil matters; but remember made Archdeacon of Coe, and master of Sherthat in God's cause, his will, and not the will burne Hospital, near Durham, where he spent
of any earthly creature, is to take place. It is the remainder of his days in great reputation
the antichristian voice of the pope,' Sic volo and usefulness. He was a resolute Nonconformsic jubeo, stet pro ratione voluntas.'"  He then ist, and wrote letters to encourage the deprived
puts her in mind that, though she was a great ministers to stand by their principles, and wait
and mighty princess, she was nevertheless a patiently for a farther reformation. He was
mortal creature, and accountable to God; and buried in the chapel of his own hospital, hav-,
concludes with a declaration, that whereas be- ing this plain inscription on a flat marble stone
fore there were not three able preachers, now  over his grave: "Thomas Lever, preacher to
there were thirty fit to preach at Paul's Cross, King Edward VI."  Had he lived a little longer
forty or fifty besides able to instruct their own he had been persecuted by the new bishop, as
cures. That therefore he could not, without his brother Whittingham was; but God took
offence of the majesty of God, send out injunc- him away from the evil to come. He dlied in
tions for suppressing the exercises.         July, 1577, and was succeeded in the hospital
The queen was so inflamed with this letter, by his brother Ralph Lever.*
that she determined to make an example of the   Mr. Cartwright, upon his return from the Isle
honest archbishop, as a terror to the whole of Guernsey, was chosen preacher to one of the
bench: she would not suffer her commands to English factories at Antwerp: these factories
be disputed by the primate of all England, but submitted to the discipline of the Dutch Churchby an order from the Star Chamber confined him  es among whom they lived, and their ministers
immediately to his house, and sequestered him  became members of their consistories. While
from his archiepiscopal function for six morths. Cartwright was here, many of the English, who
This was a high display of the supremacy, when were not satisfied with the terms of conformity,
the head of the Church, being a woman, with- or the English manner of giving orders, went
out consulting the bishops or any of the clergy over thither, and were ordained by the presby
in convocation assembled, shall pronounce so ters of those churches; nay, some who had re
peremptorily in a matter purely respecting reli- ceived deacons' orders in the Church of Enggion; and for noncompliance tie up the hands land chose to be made full ministers by the forof her archbishop, who is the first mover under eign consistories; among. these were Mr. Cartthe prince in all ecclesiastical affairs.    wright, Fenner, Ashton, and Travers.t TravBefore the expiration of the six months, which ers was bachelor of divinity in the University
was in December, Grindal was advised to make of Cambridge before he left England, and was
his submission, which he did so far as to ac- ordained at Antwerp, May 14,1578. The copy
knowledge the queen's mildness and gentleness of his testimonials4 is to this effect:
in his restraint, and to promise obedience for   "Forasmuch as it is just and reasonable that
the future; but he could not be persuaded to such as are received into the number of the
retract his opinion, and confess his sorrow for ministers of God's Word should have a testimowhat was past; there was, therefore, some talk nial of their vocation, we declare that, having
of depriving him, which being thought too se- called together a synod of twelve ministers of
vere, his sequestration was still continued till God's Word, and almost the same number of
about a year before his death; however, his elders, at Antwerp, on May 8th, 1578, our very
grace never recovered the queen's favour. Thus learned, pious, and excellent brother, the Rev.
ended the prophesyings, or religious exercises Dr. GualterTravers was, by the unanimous votes
of the clergy, a useful institution for promoting and ardent desires of all present, received and
Christian knowledge and piety, at a time when instituted into the ministry of God's Holy Word,
both were at a very low ebb in the nation. The and confirmed according to our accustomed
queen put them down for no other reason but manner, with prayer and imposition of hands;
Chiefly because they enlightened the people's and the next day after the Sabbath having
minds in the Scriptures, and encouraged their preached before a full congregation of English,
inquiries after truth; her majesty being always at the request of the ministers, he was acknowlof opinion that knowledge and learning in the
laity would only endanger their peaceable sub-   * Fuller says that "whatever preferments in the
mission  to her absolute will and pleasure.  Church he pleased courted his acceptance."-Wor
This year put an end to the life of that emi- thies, part ii., p. 284. Strype denominates him "a
nen   t divine, Mr eT homas Lever, a gretat favour- man of distinguished eminence for piety, learning,
nent divine, Mr.Thomas  Lever, a great faour-  and preaching the Gospel." —Strype's Parker, p. 211.
ite of Queen Elizabeth till he refused the habits. He was the intimate friend of Bernard Gilpin. His
He was Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, spirit as a genuine Reformer rested upon his posterin the reign of King Edward VI., and was reck- ity, and l find Henry Lever, his grandson, and Roboned one of the most eloquent preachers in those ert Lever, his great-grandson, were among the ejected
times. He had a true zeal for the Protestant ministers in 1662. His writings are very valuable,
religion, and was an exile for it all the reign of but exceedingly scarce. They are chiefly sermons,.
Queen Mary. Upon Queen Elizabeth's accession and a commentary on the Lord's Prayer.-C:
he might have had the highest preferment in the   $ Fuller, b. ix., p. 214.
t Fuller, b. ix., p. 214.








.1~~~~~ 
ei)
7:-L
QSl
um                    -




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    4 15
edged and received most affectionately by the  rose up and said that he could not, in conwhole Church. That Almighty God would pros- science, agree to deprive him for that cause
per the ministry of this our reverend brother only; for (says he) it will be ill taken by all the
among the English, and attend it with great sue- godly and learned, both at home and abroad,
cess. is our most earnest prayer, through Jesus that we should allow of the popish massing priests
Christ. Amen.                                in our ministry, and disallow of ministers made in
"Given at Antwerp, May 14, 1578, and signed  a Reformed Church; whereupon the commission
"JOANNES TAFFINus, V.D.M.,       was adjourned sine die. These proceedings of the
" LOGELERIUS VILERIUS, V.D.M.,   archbishop against. the dean were invidious, and
"JOANNES HoCHELEUS, V.D.M."   lost him his esteem both in city and country.
Pilkington, late bishop of Durham, was sue- The calling his ordination in question was exceeded by Dr. Barnes, bishop of Carlisle, a prel- pressly contrary to the statute 13 Eliz., by which,
ate of severer principles than his predecessor  says Mr. Strype, the ordination of foreign Rewho, having in vain attempted to reduce the  formed Churches was declared valid; and those
clergy of his diocess to an absolute conformity, that had no other orders were made of like cacomplained to his metropolitan of the lax gov- pacity with others, to enjoy any place of minisernminent of his predecessor, and of the numbers try within England.
of Nonconformists whom he could not reduce to    But the death of Mr. Whittingham, which
the established orders of the Church. Upon this, happened about six months after, put an end to
Sandys, the new archbishop of York, resolved to  this and all his other troubles. He was born in
visit his whole province, and to begin with Dur- the city of Chester, 1524, and educated in Braham, where Dean Whittingham was the principal zennose College, Oxon; he was afterward
man under the bishop; he was a divine of great translated to Christ Church, when it was foundlearning, and of long standing in the Church, but ed by King Henry VIII., being reckoned one of
not ordained according to the form of the Eng- the best scholars in the university; in the
lish service-book. The accusation against him  year 1550 he travelled into France, Germany,
was branched out into thirty-five articles and  and Italy, and returned about the latter end of
forty-nine interrogatories, the chief whereof was King Edward VI. In the reign of Queen Mary
his Geneva ordination.*  The dean, instead of he was with the exiles at Frankfort, and upon
answering the charge, stood by the rights of the  the division there, went with part of the congreChurch of Durham, and denied the archbishop's gation to Geneva, and became their minister.
power of visitation, upon which his grace was He had a great share in translating the Geneva
pleased to excommunicate him; but Whitting- Bible, and the Psalms in metre, as appears by
ham  appealed to the queen, who directed a the first letter of his name [W] over many of
commission to the archbishop, to the lord-presi- them. Upon his return home he was preferred
dent of the council in the north, and to the  to the deanery of Durham, 1563 by the interest
Dean of York, to hear and determine the valid- of the Earl of Leicester, where he spent the reity of his ordination, and to inquire into the mainder of his life. He d(lid good service, says
other misdemeanors contained in the articles, the Oxford historian,* against the popish rebels
The president of the north was a favourer of the in the north, and in repelling the Archbishop of
Puritans, and Dr. Hutton, dean of York, was of York from visiting the Church of Durhan  but
Whittingham's principles, and boldly averred he was at best but a lukewarm Conformist, an
"that the dean was ordained -in a better sort enemy to the habits, and a promoter of the Gethan even the archbishop himself;" so that the  neva doctrine and discipline.  However, he
commission came to nothing. But Sandys, vex- was a truly pious and religious man, an exceled at the disappointment, and at the calling in  lent preacher, and an ornament to religion. He
question his right of visitation, obtained another died while the cause of his deprivation, for not
commission directed to himself, the Bishop of being  ordained according to the rites of the
Durham, the lord-president, the chancellor of English Church, was depending, June 10, 1579,
the diocess, and some others whom he could  in the sixty-fifth year of his age.t
depend upon, to visit the Church of Durham. We have mentioned the Bishop of Norwich's
The chief design was to deprive Whittingham  severity in his primary visitation; his lordship
as a layman; when the dean appeared before  went on still in the same method, not without
the commissioners, he produced a certificate un-some marks of unfair designs; for the incumder the hands of eight persons, for the manner bent of Sprowton being suspected to be of the
of his ordination, in these words: "It pleased  Family of Love, his lordship deprived him, and
God, by the suffrages of the whole congregation immediately begged the living for his son-in[at Geneva], orderly to choose Mr. W. Whit- law, Mr. Maplesdon, who was already arclideatingham unto the office of preaching the Word  con of Suffolk.Q  He showed no mercy.o his
of G-od and ministering the sacraments; and  suspended clergy, though they offered to subhe was admitted minister, and so published, scribe as far as the laws of the realm required.
with such other ceremonies as here are used  At length they petitioned their metropolitan,
and accustomed."t It was objected, that here  Grindal, who, though in disgrace, licensed them
was no mention of a bishop or superintendent, to preach throughout the whole diocess of Nornor of any external solemnities, nor so much as  wich, durante bene placito, provided they did not
of imposition of hands. The dean replied, there  preach against the established orders of the
was mention in general of the ceremonies of
that church, and he was able to prove his vo-   * Ath. Ox., vol. i., p. 154.
cation to be the same that all the ministers of   t Some of his versions are still used in the Church.
Geneva had; upon which the lord-president Those which are from his pen have W. W. annexed
The 119th Psalm is one of them. -Woods Athena,
vol. i., p. 62, 36, 153.-C.
* Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 481.  t Ibid., p. 523.    4 Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 284.   { MS., p. 286.
VOn. I.-T.




146                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Church, nor move contentions about ceremonies; ministers, whereof there be no small number.
but still they were deprived of their livings.  There are in this city a great number of churches,
The Reverend Mr. Lawrence, an admired but the one half of them at the least are utterpreacher, and incumbent of a parish in Suffolk, ly unfurnished of preaching ministers, and are
was suspended by the same bishop for not com- pestered with candlesticks not of gold, but of
plying with the rites and ceremonies of the clay, unworthy to have the Lord's light set in
Church.* Mr. Calthorp, a gentleman of quality them, with watchmen that have no eyes, and
in the county, applied to the lord-treasurer in clouds that have no water; in the other half,
his behalf; and the treasurer wrote to the bish- partly by means of non-residents, which are
op requesting him to take off his sequestration; very many, partly through the poverty of many
but his lordship replied, that what he had done meanly qualified, there is scarcely the tenth man
was by virtue of the queen's letter to him, re- that makes conscience to wait upon his charge,
quiring him to allow of no ministers but such whereby the Lord's Sabbath is ofttimes wholly
as were perfectly conformable. Mr. Calthorp neglected, and for the most part miserably
replied, and urged the great want the Church mangled; ignorance increaseth, andwickedness
had of such good men as Mr. Lawrence, for comes upon us like an armed man. As sheep,
whose fitness for this work he would undertake therefore, going astray, we humbly, on our knees,
the chief gentlemen of credit in the county beseech this honourable assembly, in the bowels
should certify; but his sequestration was still and blood of Jesus Christ, to become humble
continued. The like severities were used in suiters to her majesty, that we may have guides;
most other diocesses.                        as hungry men bound to abide by our empty
The Bishop of Londont came not behind the rackstaves, we do beg of you to be means that
chief of his brethren the bishops, in his perse- the bread of life may be brought home to us;
cuting zeal against the Puritans; he gave out that the sower may come into the fallow ground;
orders for apparitors and other officers to go that the pipes of water may be brought into our
from church to church, in time of Divine ser- assemblies; that there may be food and refreshvice, to observe the conformity of the minister, ing for us, our poor wives, and forlorn children:
and to make report to her majesty's commis- so shall the Lord have his due honour; you
sioners. As this prelate had no compassion in shall discharge good duty to her majesty; many
his nature, he had little or no regard to the languishing souls shall be comtbrted; atheism
laws of his country, or the cries of the people and heresy banished; her majesty have more
after the Word of God.:                     faithful subjects, and you more hearty prayers
Great was the scarcity of preachers about for your prosperity in this life, and full happiness
England at this time; in the large and populous in the life to come, through Jesus Christ our
town of Northampton there was not one, nor alone Saviour. Amen."*
had been for a considerable time, though the   In the supplication of the people of Cornwall,
people applied to the bishop of the diocess by it is said,t "We are above the number of fourmost humble supplication for the bread of life. score and ten thousand souls, which, for the
In the county of Cornwall there were one hun- want of the Word of God, are in extreme misdred and forty clergymen, not one of which was ery and ready to perish, and this neither for
capable of preaching a sermon, and most of want of maintenance nor place; for besides
them were pluralists and non-residents. Even the impropriations in our shire, we allow yearly
the city of London was in a lamentable case, as above ~9200, and have one hundred and sixty
appears by their petition to the Parliament which churches, the greatest part of which are supmet this winter, in which are these words: plied by men who are guilty of the grossest
"May it please you, therefore, for the tender sins; some fornicators, some adulterers, some
mercies of God, to understand the woful estate felons, bearing the marks in their hands for
of many thousands of souls dwelling in deep the said offence; some drunkards, gamesters.darkness, and in the shadow of death, in this on the Sabbath-day, &c. We have many nonfamous and populous city of London; a place, residents who preach but once a quarter, so
-in respect to others, accounted as the morning that, between meal and meal, the silly sheep
star, or, rather, as the sun in its brightness, be- may starve. We have some ministers who
cause of the Gospel, supposed to shine gloriously labour painfully and faithfully in the Lord's husand abundantly in the same; but being near bandry; but these men are not suffered to atlooked into, will be found sorely eclipsed and tend their callings, because the mouths of padarkened through the dim cloud of unlearned pists, infidels, and filthy livers are open against
them, and the ears of those who are called lords
* Strype's Ann., p. 285.                  over them, are sooner open to their accusations,
t Phis Bishop Warburton censures as " an unfair though it be but for ceremonies, than to the
charge which runs through the History. The ex- others' answers. Nor is it safe for us to go and
acting conformity of the ministry of any church by hear them; for, though our own fountains are
the go; ernors of that church is no persecution." dried up, yet, if we seek for the waters of life
This is t strange- sentiment to come from the pen of elsewhere, we are cited into the spiritual courts,
a Protestant prelate. There was no persecution, reviled, and threatened with excommunication.
then, in ti e reign of Queen Mary. It was no persecutiol wh, n the Jewish sanhedrim agreed " that, if Therefore, from  far we come, beseeching this
any man di i confess that Jesus was the Christ, he honourable house to dispossess these dumb
should be pt t out of the synagogue." It was no per- dogs and ravenous wolves, and appoint us faithsecution whtn the Parliament imposed the Scots fill ministers, who may peaceably preach the
Covenant.-E.                              Word of God, and not be disquieted by every
-puns He declar  that he would surely and severely apparitor, registrar, official, commissioner, chanpunish those wi o would nriot comply with the Act of cellor &     light occasion-"
Uniformity, or" I will lie," said he, " in the dust for, &., upon every
it."-Strype. —ED                                * MS., p. 302.         t MS., p. 300.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS                                     147
The ground of this scarcity was no other than imember (says Camden, being present) that, as
the severity of the high-commission, and the soon as Stubbs's right hand was cut off, he
narrow terms of conformity. Most of the old pulled off his hat with his left, and said with a
incumbents, says Dr. Keltridge,* are disguised loud voice, God save the queen, to the amazepapists, fitter to sport with the timbrel and pipe ment of the spectators, who stood silent, either
than to take into their hands the book of the out of horror of the punishment, or pity to the
Lord; and yet there was a rising generation of man, or hatred to the match. Mr. Stubbs provaluable preachers ready for the ministry, if ved afterward a faithful subject to her majesthey might have been encouraged; for in a sup- ty, and a valiant commander in the wars of Ireplication of some of the students at Cambridge land.
to the Parliament about this time, they acknowl-   At the beginning of the next session of Paredge that there were plenty of able and well- liamnent, which was January 10, 1580, the Comnfurnished men among them, but that they could mons voted " that as many of their members as
not get into places upon equal conditions; but conveniently could, should, on the Sunday fortunlearned men, nay, the scum  of the people, night, assemble and meet together in the Temple
were preferred before them, so that, in this Church, there to have preaching, and to join togreat want of labourers, we (say they) stand gether in prayer, with humiliation and fasting,
idle in the market-place all the day, being urged for the assistance of God's Spirit in all their
with subscriptions before the bishops to approve consultations during this Parliament; and for
the Romish hierarchy, and all the effects of that the preservation of the queen's majesty, and her
government to be agreeable to the Word of realms."*  The house was so cautious as not
God, which with- no safety of conscience we to name their preachers, for fear they might be
can accord unto. They then offer a conference thought Puritanical, but referred it to such of
or disputation, as the queen and Parliament her majesty's privy council as were members
shall agree, to put an amicable end to these dif- of the house. There was nothing in this vote
ferences, that the Church may recover some contrary to law or unbecoming the wiZdom of
discipline, that simony and perjury may be ban- Parliament; but the queen was no sooner acished, and that all that are willing to promote quainted with it, than she sent word by Sir Christhe salvation of souls may be employed; but topher Hatton, her vice-chamberlain, that " she
the queen and bishops were against it.       did much admire at so great a rashness in
All the public conversation at this time ran that house as to put in execution such an innoupon the queen's marriage with the Duke of vation, without her privity and pleasure first
Anjou, a French papist, which was thought to made known to them."  Upon which it was
be as good as concluded; the Protestant part moved by the courtiers that "the house should
of the nation were displeased with it, and some acknowledge their offence and contempt, and
warm divines expressed their dark apprehen- humbly crave forgiveness, with a full purpose
sions in the pulpit. The Puritans in general to forbear committing the like for the future;"
made a loud protest against the match, as dread- which was voted accordingly. A mean and abing the consequences of a Protestant body being ject spirit in the representative body of the naunder a popish head. Mr. John Stubbs, a stu- tion!
dent of Lincoln's Inn, whose sister Mr. Cart-   Her majesty having forbid her Parliament to
wright had married, a gentleman of excellent appoint times for fasting and prayer, took hold
parts, published a treatise this summer, entitled of the opportunity, and gave the like injunctions
"The Gaping Gulf, wherein England will be to her clergy; some of whom, after the putting
swallowed up with the French Marriage;" down of the prophesyings, had ventured to agree
wherewith the queen was so incensed that she upon days of private fasting and'prayer for the
immediately issued out a proclamation to sup- queen and Church, and for exhorting the people
press the book, and to apprehend the author and to repentance and reformation of life, at such
printer. At the same time, the lords of the times and places where they could obtain a
council wrote circular letters to the clergy to pulpit. All the Puritans, and the more devout
remove all surmises about the danger of the part of the conforming clergy, fell in with these'Reformation in case the match should take appointments: sometimes there was one at Leiplace, assuring them the queen would suffer no cester; sometimes at Coventryand at Stamford,
alterations in religion by any treaty with the and in other places, where six or seven neighduke, and forbidding them in their sermons or bouring ministers joined together in these exerdiscourses to meddle with such high matters. cises; but as soon as the queen was acquainted
Mr. Stubbs, the author, Singleton, the printer, with them, she sent a warm message to the
and Page, the disperser, of the above-mentioned archbishop to suppress them, as being set up by
book, were apprehended, and sentenced to have private persons, without authority, in defiance
their right hands cut off, by virtue of a law made of the laws, and of her prerogative.t
in Queen Mary's reign against the authors and   Mr. Prowd, the Puritan minister of Burton
dispersers of seditious writings: the printer was upon Dunmore, complains, in a melancholy letpardoned but Mr. Stubbs and Page were brought ter to Lord Burleigh, of the sad state of religion,
to a scaffold erected in the market-place at by suppressing the exercises; and by forbidding
Westminster, where, with a terrible formality, the meeting of a few ministers and Christians,
their right hands were cut off, by driving a cleav- to pray for the preservation of the Protestant
er through the wrist with a mallet;t but I re- religion, in this dangerous crisis of the queen's
marrying with a papist.  He doubted whether
"This," says BishopWarburton, "was infinite- his lordship dealt so plainly with her majesty
t "This," says BisopWarhurton,  " was infinite- as his knowledge of these things required, and
ly more cruel than all the years under Charles I.,
whether we consider "he punishment, the crime, or  * Heylin, p. 287.
the man." —ED.                                    t Heylin's Aerius Redivivus, p. 286.




148                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
begs him to interpose. But the queen was de- majesty being informed of, procured a statute
termined against all prayers except what her- this very Parliament* [1580], by which it is enself should appoint.                         acted, that "if any person or persons, forty days
We have already taken notice of the petitions after the end of this season, shall devise, or
and supplications to Parliament from London, write, or print, or set forth, any manner of book,
Cornwall, and some other places, for redress of rhyme, ballad, letter, or writing, containing any
grievances; but the house was so intimidated false, seditious, or slanderous matter to the defby the queen's spirited behaviour, that they durst amation of the queen's majesty, or to the ennot interpose, any farther than, in conjunction couraging, stirring, or moving of any insurrecwith some of the bishops, to petition her majesty, tion or rebellion within this realm, or any of the
as head of the Church, to redress them. The dominions to the same belonging; or if any perqueen promised to take order about it, with all son or persons shall procure such books, rhymes,
convenient speed; putting them in mind, at the or ballads to be written, printed, or published
same time, that all motions for reformation in (the said offence not being within the compass
religion ought to arise from none but herself.   of treason, by virtue of any former statute), that
But her majesty's sentiments differed from  then the said offenders, upon sufficient proof
the Parliament's; her greatest grief was the in- by two witnesses, shall suffer death and loss of
crease of Puritans and Nonconformists, and goods, as in case of felony."  This statute was
therefore, instead of easing them, she girt the to continue in force only during the life of the
laws closer about them, in order to bring them  present queen; but within that compass of time,
to an exact conformity. Information being giv- sundry of the Puritans'were put to death by viren that some who had livings in the Church, tue of it.
and preached weekly, did not administer the sac-   In the same session of Parliament, another
rament to their parishioners in their own persons, severe law was made, which, like a two-edged
her majesty commanded her bishops, in their vis- sword, cut down both papists and Puritans; it
itations, to inquire after such half-conformists was entitled An Act to retain the Queen's Subas disjoined one part of their function from the jects in their due Obedience:t " by which it is
other, and to compel them by ecclesiastical cen- made'treason for any priest or Jesuit to seduce
sures to perform the whole at least twice a year. any of the queen's subjects from the established
The Puritan ministers being dissatisfied with to the Romish religion. If any shall reconcile
the promiscuous access of all persons to the themselves to that religion, they shall be guilty
communion, and with several passages in the of treason; and to harbour such above twenty
office for the Lord's Supper, some of themn used days, is misprision of treason.  If any one shall
to provide a qualified clergyman to administer say mass, he shall forfeit two hundred marks,
thee ordinance in their room; but this was now  and suffer a year's imprisonment; and they that
made a handle for their ejectment: inquisition are present at hearing mass shall forfeit one hunwas made, and those who, after admonition, dred marks, and a year's imprisonment."  But
wouldunot conform to the queen's pleasure, were that the act might be more extensive, and conisent for before the commissioners, and deprived. prehend Protestant Nonconformists as well as
Though the springs of discipline moved but papists, it is farther enacted " that all persons
slowly in the diocess of Canterbury, because the that do not come to church or chapel, or other
metropolitan, who is the first mover in ecclesi- place where common prayer is said, according
astical causes under the queen, was suspended to the Act of Uniformity, shall forfeit twenty
and in disgrace, yet the sufferings of the Puri- pounds per month to the queen, being thereof
tans were not lessened; the other bishops, who lawfully convicted, and suffer imprisonment till
were in the high commission, doubled their dil- paid. Those that are absent for twelve months
igence; the Rev. Mr. Nash was in the Mar- shall, upon certificate made thereof into the
shalsea, Mr. Drewet in Newgate, and several King's Bench, besides their former fine, be bound
others were shut up in the prisons in and about with two sufficient sureties, in a bond of two
London. Those thatwere at libertyhad nothing hundred pounds, for their good behaviour. Evto do, for they might not preach in public with- ery schoolmaster that does not come to common
out full conformity; nor assemble in private to prayer shall forfeit ten pounds a month, be dismourn over their own and the nation's sins, with- abled from teaching school, and suffer a year's
out the danger of a prison.                 imprisonment."  This was making merchandise
This exasperated their spirits, and put them  of the souls of men, says a reverend author;$
upon writing satirical pamphlets* against their for it is a sad case to sell men a license to do
adversaries; in some of which there are severe that which the receivers of their money conceive
expressions against the unpreaching clergy, call- to be unlawful. Besides, the fine was unmerciing them (in the language of Scripture) dumb ful; by the Act of Uniformity, it was twelve pence
dogs, because they took no pains for the instruc- a Sunday for not coming to church, but now ~20
tion of their parishioners; the authors glanced a month; so that the meaner people had nothing
at the severity of the laws, at the pride and am- to expect but to rot in jails, which made the ofbition of the bishops, at the illegal proceedings ficers unwilling to apprehend them. Thus the
of the high commission, and at the unjustifiable queen and her parliament tacked the Puritans to
rigours of the queen's government; which her the papists, and subjected them to the same penal laws, as if they had been equal enemies to
* Bishop Warburton censures Mr. Neal for not her person and government, and to the Protestspeaking in much severer terms of these. pamphlets. ant religion. A precedent followed by several
But he should have adverted to our author's grave parliaments in the succeeding reigns.
censure of them in chap. viii., and have recollected   The convocation did nothing but present an
that "the writers on the Church-side-came not behind their adversaries- in buffoonery and ridicule."  * 23 Eliz., cap. ii.  t 23 Eliz., cap. i.
These were the weapons of the age. —ED.         t Fuller, b. ix., p. 131.




HISTORY  OF T:;>E;  PURITANS.                                149
humble petition to the queen to take off the arch- their Charge, because they will tarry till the
bishop's sequestration, which her majesty was Magistrate command and compel them."  For
not pleased to grant.                         this he was sent for again into custody, and
This summer, Aylmer, bishop of London, held upon examination confessed himself the author,
a visitation of his clergy, at the convocation but denied that he was acquainted with the
house of St. Paul's, and obliged them to sub- publication, of "the book; whereupon he was
scribe the following articles: 1. Exactly to dismissed a second time, at the intercession of
keep to the Book of Common Prayer and sac- the lord-treasurer, and sent home to his father,
raments.  2. To wear the surplice in all their with whom  he continued four years; after
ministrations. 3. Not add or diminish anything  which he travelled up and down the countries
in reading Divine service.  He then made the in company with his assistant, Richard Harrifollowing inquiries: 1. Whether all that had son, preaching against bishops, ceremonies, eccure of souls administered the sacraments in clesiastical courts, ordaining of ministers, &c.,
person 1  2. Whether they observed the cere- for which, as he afterward boasted, he had been
monies to be used in baptism and marriageS committed to thirty-two prisons, in some of
3. Whether the youth were catechised  4. which he could not see his hand at noonday.
Whether their ministers read the homilies. At length he gathered a separate congregation
5.'Whether any of them called others that did of his own principles; but the queen and her
not preach by ill names, as dumb dogs 1  Those bishops watching them  narrowly, they were
who did not subscribe, and answer the interrog- quickly,forced to leave the kingdom.  Several
atories to his lordship's satisfaction, were im- of his friends embarked with their effects for
mediately suspended and silenced.             Holland; and having obtained leave of the maBut these violent measures, instead of recon- gistrate to worship God in their own way, setciling the Puritans to the Church, drove them  tiled at Middleburgh, in Zealand.  Here Mr.
farther from it. Men who act upon principles* Brown formed a church according to his own
will not easily be beaten from them with the model: but when this handful of people were
artillery of canons, injunctions, subscriptions, delivered from  the bishops their oppressors,
fines, imprisonments, &c., much less will they  they crumbled into parties among themselves,
esteem a church that fights with such weapons. insomuch that Brown, being weary of his office,
Multitudes were by these methods carried off returned to England in the year 1589, and havto a total separation, and so far prejudiced as ing renounced his principles of separation, benot to allow the Church of England to be a true came rector of a church in Northamptonshire:
church, nor her ministers true ministers; they here he lived an idle and dissolute life, accordrenounced all communion with her, not only in ing to Fuller,* far from that Sabbatarian strictthe prayers and ceremonies, but in hearing the ness that his followers aspired after.  He had a
Word and the sacraments. These were the peo- wife, with whom he did not live for many years,
ple called Brownists,t from one Robert Brown, a and a church in which he never preached; at
preacher in the diocess of Norwich, descended length, being poor and proud, and very passionof an ancient and honourable family in Rutland- ate, he struck the constable of his parish for deshire, and nearly related to the Lord-treasurer manding a rate of him; and being beloved by
Cecil; he was educated in Corpus Christi Col- nobody, the officer summoned him before Sir
lege, Cambridge, and preached sometimes in Roland St. John, a neighbouring justice of
Bene't Church, where the vehemence of his de- peace, who committed him to Northampton jail;
livery gained him reputation with the people. the decrepit old man, not being able to walk,
He was first a schoolmaster, then a lecturer at was carried thither upon a feather-bed in a cart,
Islington; but being a fiery, hotheaded young where he fell sick and died, in the year 1630,
man, he went about the countries inveighing  and in the eighty-first year of his age.
against the discipline and ceremonies of the    The revolt of Mr. Brown broke up his conChurch, and exhorting the people by no means gregation at Middleburgh, but was far from deto comply with them.' He was first taken no- stroying the seeds of separation that he had
tice of by the Bishop of Norwich, who com- sown in several parts of England; his followers
mitted him to the custody of the sheriff of the increased, and made a considerable figure tocounty in the year 1580, but, upon acknowledg- wards the latter end of this reign; and because
ment of his offence, he was released.  In the some of his principles were adopted and imyear 1582, he published a book called " The Life proved by a considerable body of Puritans in
and Manners of true Christians; to which is the next age, I shall here give an account of
prefixed a Treatise of Reformation without tar- them.
rying for any; and of the Wickedness of those    The Brownists did not differ from the Church
Preachers who will not reform themselves and of England in any articles of faith, but were
very rigid and narrow in points of discipline.
To do so is highly virtuous and praiseworthy. They denied the Church of England to be a
It is the support of integrity, and constitutes excellence of character: yet, in this instance, Bishop War- true hurch,  and her min isters to be rightly orburton could allow himself to degrade and make a dained.   They  maintained the discipline of the
jest of it. " It is just the same," says he, " with men Church of England to be popish and antichriswho act upon passion and prejudice, for the poet says tian, and all her ordinances and sacraments in- v
truly,                                        valid.  Hence they forbade their people to join
"'Obstinacy's ne'er so stiff            with them in prayer, in hearing, or in any part
As when'tis in a wrong belief.' "-ED.  of public worship; nay, they not only renount With them commenced the third period of Pu- ced communion with the Church of England,
ritanism. The increasing severity of the bishops in- but with all other Reformed churches, except
flamed, instead of subduing, the spirits of the Non- such as should be of their own model.
conformists, and drove them to a greater distance                B. x., p. 263.
frsm the establishment.-En.                                    * B. x., p. 263.




150                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
They apprehended, according to Scripture, not believe the Church of England to be a true
that every church ought to be confined within  one. They apprehend, farther, that the constithe limits of a single congregation, and that tution of the hierarchy was too bad to be mended,
the government should be democratical. When  that the very pillars of it were rotten, and that
a church was to be gathered, such as desired the structure must be begun, anew.  Since,
to be members made a confession of their faith therefore, all Christians are obliged to preserve
in presence of each other, and signed a cove- the ordinances of Christ pure and undefiled,
nant obliging themselves to walk together in the they resolved to lay a new foundation, and keep
order of the Gospel, according to certain rules as near as they could to the primitive pattern,
and agreements therein contained.            though it were with the hazard of all that was
The whole power of admitting and excluding dear to them in the world.
members, with the deciding of all controversies,   This scheme of the Brownists seems to be
was in the brotherhood. Their church officers, formed upon the practice of the apostolical
for preaching the Word and taking care of the churches before the gifts of inspiration and
poor, were chosen from among themselves, and prophecy were ceased, and is therefore hardly
separated to their several offices by fasting and practicable in these latter ages, wherein the inprayer and imposition of the hands of some of firmities and passions of private persons too
the brethren. They did not allow the priest- often take the place of their gifts and graces.
hood to be a distinct order, or to give a man an Accordingly, they were involved in frequent
indelible character; but, as the vote of the quarrels and divisions; but their chief crime
brotherhood made him an officer, and gave him  was their uncharitableness, in unchurching the
authority to preach and administer the sacra- whole Christian world, and breaking of all manments among them, so the same power could ner of communion in hearing the Word, in pubdischarge him from office, and reduce him to lic prayer, and in the administration of the sacthe state of a private member.               raments, not only with the Church of England,
When the number of communicants was but with all foreign Reformed churches, which,
larger than could meet in one place, the church  though less pure, ought certainly to be owned
divided, and chose new officers from among as churches of Christ.
themselves as before, living together as sister   The heads of the Brownists were, Mr. Brown
churches, and giving each other the right hand himself, and his companion Mr. Harrison, toof fellowship, or the privilege of communion gether with Mr. Tyler, Copping, Thacker, and
with either.  One church might not exercise others, who were now in prison for spreadiurisdiction and authority over another, but ing his books; the last two being afterward
each might give the other counsel, advice, or put to death for it. The Bishop of Norwich
admonition, if they walked disorderly, or aban- used them cruelly, and was highly displeased
doned the capital truths of religion; and if the with those that showed them any countenance.
offending church did not receive the admonition, When the prisoner above mentioned, with Mr.
the others were to withdraw, and publicly dis- Handson and some others, complained to the
own them as a Church of Christ. The powers justices, at their quarter-sessions, of their long
of their church officers were confined within and illegal imprisonment, their worships were
the narrow limits of their own society; the pleased to move the bishops in their favour,
pastor of one church might not administer the with which his lordship was so dissatisfied that
sacrament of baptism or the Lord's Supper to he drew up twelve articles of impeachment
any but those of his own communion and their against the justices themselves, and caused
immediate children. They declared against all them  to be summoned before the queen and
prescribed forms of prayer. Any lay-brother council to answer for their misdemeanors.:
had the liberty of prophesying, or giving a word In the articles they are charged with counteof exhortation, in their church assemblies; and nancing Copping, Tyler, and other disorderly
it was usual, after sermon, for some of the clergymen. They are accused of contempt of
members to ask questions, and confer with each his lordship's jurisdiction, in refusing to admit
other upon the doctrines that had been deliver- divers ministers whom  he had ordained, beed; but as for church censures, they were for cause they were ignorant, and could only read;
an entire separation of the ecclesiastical and  and for removing one Wood from his living on
civil sword. In short, every church or society  the same account.  Sir Robert Jermin and Sir
of Christians meeting in one place was, accord- John Higham, knights, and Robert Ashfield and'ng to the Brownists, a body corporate, having Thomas Badley, esquires, gentlemen of Suffolk
full power within itself to admit and exclude and Norfolk, and of the number of the aforesaid
members, to choose and ordain officers, and, justices, gave in their answer to the bishop's
when the good of the society required it, to articles in the name of the rest, in which, after
depose them, without being accountable to asserting their own conformity to the rites and
classes, convocations, synods, councils, or any ceremonies of the Church, they very justly tax
jurisdiction whatsoever.                     his lordship with cruelty in keeping men so'Some of their reasons for withdrawing from  many years in prison without bringing them to
the Church are not easily answered; they al- trial, according to law; and are ashamed that
leged that the laws of the realm  and the a bishop of the Church of England should be a
queen's injunctions had made several unwar- patron of ignorance and an enemy to the preachrantable additions to the institutions of Christ. ing the Word of God. Upon this the justices
That there were several gross errors in the were dismissed. But though the lord-treasurer,
Church service. That these additions and er- Lord North, Sir Robert Jermin, and others,
ors wdre imposed and made necessary to com- wrote to the bishop that Mr. Handson, who
munion. That if persecution for conscience'
sake was the mark of a false church, they could     * Strype's Annals, vol. iii., p. 20.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   151
was a learned and useful preacher, might have estant religion was always subordinate to he)
a license granted him, the angry prelate de- private interest.
dared peremptorily that he never should have   About this time [1582] the queen granted a
one, unless he would acknowledge his fault, and commission of concealments to some of her
enter into bonds for his good behaviour for the hungry courtiers, by which they were empowfuture.                                     ered to inquire into the titles of Church lands
While the bishops were driving the Puritans and livings; all forfeitures, concealments, or
out of the pulpits, the nobility and gentry receiv- lands for which the parish could not produce a
ed them into their houses as chaplains and tu- legal title, were given to them: the articles ol
tors to their children, not merely out of com- inquiry seemed to be levelled against the Puri
passion, but from a sense of their real worth tans, but, through their sides, they must have
and usefulness; for they were men of undis- made sad havoc with the patrimony of the
sembled piety and devotion; mighty in the Scrip- Church.* They were such as these: What right
tures; zealous for the Protestant religion; of have you to your parsonage?  How came you
exemplary lives; far remote from the liberties into it. Who ordained you? and at what age
and fashionable vices of the times; and inde- were- you ordained. Have you a license?
fatigably diligent in instructing those committed Were you married under the hands of two justo their care. Here they were covered from  tices of the peace.  Do you read the whole sertheir oppressors; they preached in the family, vice?  Do you use all the rites, ceremonies, and
and catechised the children; which, without ornaments appointed by the queen's injunctions 1
all question, had a considerable influence upon Have you publicly read the articles, and subthe next generation.                         scribed them?  The church-wardens of every
The papists were now very active all over the parish had also twenty-four interrogatories adcountry: swarms of Jesuits came over from the ministered to them upon oath concerning their
seminaries abroad, in defiance of the law,* and parson and their church lands; all with a despread their books of devotion and controversy  sign to sequester them  into the hands of the
among the common people; they had their pri- queen's gentlemen-pensioners. This awakened
vate conventicles almost in every market-town. the bishops, who fell upon their knees before the
in England; inthe northern counties they were queen, and entreated her majesty, if she had
more numerous than the Protestants. This put any regard for the Church, to supersede the
the government upon inquiring after the priests; commission; which she did, though, it is well
many of whom were apprehended, and three enough known, the queen had no scruple of
were executed, viz., Edmund Champion, a learn- conscience about plundering the Church of its
ed and subtle Jesuit, educated in Cambridge, revenues.
where he continued till the year 1569, when he   To return to the Puritans. The Rev. Robert
travelled to Rome and entered himself into the Wright, domestic chaplain to the late Lord
society of Jesus, 1573. Some years after he Rich, of Rochford, in Essex, fell into the hands
came into England, and travelled the countries of. the Bishop of London last yeart [1581]; he
to propagate the Catholic faith. Being appre- was a learned man, and had lived fourteen years
hended, he was put on the rack to discover the in the University of Cambridge; but being disgentlemen who harboured him, and afterward satisfied with episcopal ordination, went over to
was hanged, drawn, and quartered, when he was Antwerp, and was ordained by the laying on of
but forty-one years of age. The other two that the hands of the presbytery of that place. Upon
suffered with him were Ralph Sherwin and his return home, Lord Rich took him into his
Alexander Bryant. These were executed for family at Rochford, in the hundreds of Essex,
an example, but the rest were spared, because where he preached constantly in his lordship's
the queen's match with the Duke of Anjou was chapel, and nowhere else, because he could
still depending. However, the Protestants in obtain no license from the bishop. He was an
the Netherlands being in distress, the queen as- admired preacher, and universally beloved by
sisted them with men and money, for which the clergy of the county for his great seriousthey delivered into her majesty's hands the most ness and piety. While his lordship was alive
important fortresses of their country, which she he protected him from danger, but his noble pagarrisoned with English. She also sent relief tron was no sooner dead than the Bishop of Lonto the French Protestants who were at war with don laid hands on him, and confined him in the
their natural prince, and ordered a collection Gatehouse, for saying that to keep the queen's
all over England for the relief of the city of birthday as a holyday was to make her an idol.
Geneva, besieged by the Duke of Savoy: mincas- When the good man had been shut up from his
ures which were hardly consistent with her family and friends several months, he petitioned
own principles of government; but, as Rapin the bishop to be brought to his trial, or admitted
observes,t Queen Elizabeth's zeal for the Prot- to bail. But all the answer his lordship returned
was, that "he deserved to lie in prison seven
* Bishop Warburton asks here, "Were the es- years." This usage, together with Mr. Wright's
Bishop Warburton asks here, "Were the Jes- open and undisguised honesty and piety, moved
uits more faulty in acting in defiance of the laws than the ompassion of his keeper, insomuch that, his
the Puritans?" and replies, " I think not. They had the compassion of his keeper, insomuch that, his
both the same plea, conscience, and both the same poor wife being in childbed and distress, he
provocation, persecution." This is candid and perti- gave him leave, with the private allowance of
nent, as far as it applies to the religious principles of the secretary of state, to make her a visit at
each: but certainly the spirit and views of these Rochford upon his parole; but it happened that
parties were very different; the former was engaged, Dr. Ford, the civilian, meeting him upon the
once and again, in plots against the life and govern- road, acquainted the bishop with his escape,
ment of the queen; the loyalty of the other was, notwithstanding all their sufferings, unimpeached.-ED.  * Strype's Annals, vol. iii., p. 114.
f Vol. viii., p. 475.                             t d. ibid., p 123.




152                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
who thereupon fell into a violent passion, and nounced him a layman, and incapable of holding
sending immediately for the keeper, demanded  any living in the Church.
to see his prisoner. The keeper pleaded the    The Lord Rich, and divers honourable knights
great compassion of the case; but the bishop  and gentlemen in Essex, had petitioned the
threatened to complain of him to the queen, and  Bishop of London for a license, that Mr. Wright
have him turned out. Mr. Wright being in- might preach publicly in any place within his
formed of the keeper's danger, returned imme- diocess; but his lordship always refused it, bediately to his prison, and wrote to the lord- cause he was no minister, that is, had only been
treasurer on his behalf. "Oh! my lord," says ordained among the foreign churches. But this
he, "I most humbly crave your lordship's fa- was certainly contrary to law; for the statute
vour, that I may be delivered from such unpiti- 13 Eliz., cap. xii., admits the ministration of
ful minds; and especially that your lordship will those who had only been ordained according to
stand a good lord to my keeper, that he may not the manner of the Scots, or other foreign churchbe discouraged from favouring those that pro- es; there were some scores, if not hundreds of
fess true religion."  Upon this the keeper was them, now in the Church; and the Archbishop
pardoned.                                   of Canterbury at this very time commanded Dr.
But the bishop resolved to take full satisfac- Aubrey, his vicar-general, to license Mr. John
tion of the prisoner: accordingly, he sent for Morrison, a Scots divine, who had had no other
him before the commissioners, and examined  ordination than what he received from a Scots
him upon articles concerning the Book of Com- presbytery, to preach over his whole province.
mon Prayer; concerning rites and ceremonies; The words of the license are as follows: " Since
concerning prayer for the queen and the Church; you, the aforesaid John Morrison, about five
and concerning the established form of ordain- years past, in the town of Garret, in the county
ing ministers. He was charged with preaching  of Lothian, of the kingdom of Scotland, were
without a license, and with being no better than  admitted and ordained to sacried orders and the
a mere layman. To which he made the follow- holy ministry, by the imposition of hands, acing answers: " That he thought the Book of cording to the laudable form and rite of the ReCommon Prayer, in the main, good and godly, formed Church of Scotland; and since the conbut could not answer for every particular. That gregation of that county of Lothian is conformas to rites and ceremonies, he thought his re- able to the orthodox faith, and sincere religion
sorting to churches where they were used was now received in this realm of England, and esa sufficient proof that he allowed them. That tablished by public authority: we, therefore, as
he prayed for the queen, and for all ministers much as lies in us, and as by right we may, apof God's Word, and, consequently, for archbish- proving and ratifying the form of your ordinaops and bishops, &c. That he was but a pri- tion and preferment done in such, manner aforevate chaplain, and knew no law that required  said, grant unto you a license and faculty, with
a license for such a place."  But he could not the consent and express command of the most
yield himself to be a mere layman, having  reverend father in Christ, the Lord Edmund, by
preached seven years in the university with li- the Divine Providence Archbishop of Canterbucense; and since that time having been regu- ry, to us signified, that in such orders by you
larly ordained, by the laying on of the hands of taken, you may and have power in any convethe presbyters at Antwerp. The bishop having  nient places in and throughout the whole prov
charged him with saying that the election of ince of Canterbury, to celebrate Divine offices,
ministers ought to be by their flocks, he owned  to minister the sacraments, &c., as much as in
it, and supposed it not to be an error; and ad- us lies; and we may de jure, and as far as the
ded, farther, that in his opinion every minister laws of the kingdom do allow."  This license
was a bishop, though not a lord-bishop; and  was dated April 6, 1582, and is as full a testithat his lordship of London must be of the same monial to the validity of presbyterial ordination
opinion, because, when he rebuked Mr. White  as can be desired. But the other notion was
for striking one of his parishioners, he alleged  growing into fashion; all orders of men are for
that text that a " bishop must be no' striker:"  assuming some peculiar characters and powers
which had been impertinent, if Mr. White, be- to themselves; the bishop will be a distinct and
ing only a minister, had not been a bishop. superior order to presbyters; and no man must
When his lordship charged him with saying  be a minister of Christ but on whom they lay
there were no lawful ministers in the Church  their hands.*
of England, he replied,* " I will be content to    The behaviour of the Bishop of London tobe condemned, if I bring not two hundred wit- wards the Puritans moved the compassion of
nesses for my discharge of this accusation. I some of the conforming clergy; the Rev. Mr.
do as certainly believe that there are lawful Wilkin, rector of Danbury, in Essex, in a letter
ministers in England as that there is a sun in  to the lord-treasurer, writes thus: "As sotme
the sky. In Essex, I can bring twenty godly might be thought over-earnest about trifles, so,
ministers, all preachers, who will testify that
they love me, and have cause to think that I   * Here Bishop Warburton remarks, "Tlie Puritans were even with them; and to the jus divinum
love and reverence them... eac~hof episcopacy, opposed the jus divinum of presbytery,
years in the University of Cambridge with ap- which was the making each other antichristian."
probation, and have a testimonial to produce His lordship goes into this conclusion too hastily,
under the hands and seals Of the master and  and applies it without, nay, against authority-, to the
fellows of Christ College, being all ministers at Puritans: they never required such as had been
that time, of my good behaviour."  However, episcopally ordained to be reordained; but, in the
all he could say was to no purpose: the bishop height of their power, declared,' We hold ordination
would not allow his orders, and therefore pro- by a bishop to be for substance valid, and not to be
disclaimed by any that have received it."-Sebe our
* Strype's Ann,, vol. iii, Appendix, No. 23, 24.  author, vol. iii.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   153
on the other hand, there had been too severe    "And yet we are christened with the odiouq
and sharp punishment for the same. Though I name of Puritans; a term compounded of the
myself think reverently of the Book of Common heresies above mentioned, which we disclaim.
Prayer, yet surely it is a reverence due only to The papists pretend to be pure and immaculate;
the sacred writings of Holy Scripture to say the Family of Love connot sin, they being deithe authors of them erred in nothing, and to fled (as they say) in God. But we groan under
none other books of men, of what learning so- the burden of our sins, and confess them to
ever. I have seen the letters of the bishops to God, and, at the same time, we labour to keep
Bullinger and Gualter, when I was at Zurich in ourselves and our profession unblameable; this
the year 1567, in which they declare that they is our Puritanism; a name given to such magic,had no hand in passing the book, and had no trates, and ministers, and others, that have a
other choice but to leave their places to papists strict eye upon their juggling.
or accept them as they were; but they profess-   "We think ourselves bound in duty to unfold
ed and promised never to urge their brethren these matters to your lordships; and if you
to those things; and also, when opportunity shall please to call us to the truth of them, it is
should serve, to seek reformation."  How dif- the thing we most desire."
ferent was the practice of these prelates from    This supplication produced a letter from the
their former professions!                   council to the judges of the assize, commandBut not only the clergy, but the whole coun- ing them not to give ear to malicious informers
try also, exclaimed against the bishops for their against peaceful and faithfill ministers, nor t:
high proceedings; the justices of peace of the match them at the bar with rogues, felons, or
county of Suffolk were so moved, that, notwith- papists, but to put a difference in the face of the
standing his lordship's late citation of them be- world between those of another faith and they
fore the council, they wrote again to their hon- who differ only about ceremonies, and yet diliours, praying them to interpose in behalf of the gently and soundly preach true religion. The
injuries that were offered to divers godly min- judges were struck with this letter, and the
isters.  The words of their supplication are Bishop of London, with his attendants, returned
worth remembering, because they discover the from his visitation full of discontent. Indeed,
cruelty of the commissioners, who made no dis- his lordship had made himself so many enemies
tinction between the vilest of criminals and con- that he grew weary of his bishopric, and petiscientious ministers: "The painful ministers of tioned the queen to exchange it for that of Ely,
the Word," say they,' are marshalled with the that he might retire and be out of the way; but
malefactors, presented, indicted, arraigned, and her majesty refused his request.
condemned for matters, as we presume, of very   Notwithstanding these slight appearances in
slender moment: some for leaving the holydays favour of the Puritans two ministers of the
unbidden; some for singing the psalm  Nunc Brownist persuasion were condemned and put
Dimittis in the morning; some for turning the to death this summer for nonconformity, viz.,
questions in baptism concerning faith from the Mr. Elias Thacker, hanged at St. Edmund'sinfants to the godfathers, which is but you for bury, June 4th, and Mr. John Copping two days
thou; some for leaving out the cross in baptism; after, June 6th, 1583. Their indictments were
some for leaving out the ring in marriage. A  for spreading certain books seditiously penned
most pitiful thing it is to see the back of the by Robert Brown against the Book of Common
law turned to the adversary [the papists], and Prayer established by the laws of this realm.
the edge with all sharpness laid upon the sound The sedition charged upon Brown's book was,
and true-hearted subject.*                   that it subverted the constitution of the Church,
" We grant order to be the rule of the Spirit and acknowledged her majesty's supremacy
of God, and desire uniformity in all the duties civilly, but not otherwise,- as appears by the
of the Church, according to the proportion of report which the judges sent to court, viz.,
faith; but if these weak ceremonies are so in- That the prisoners, instead of acknowledging
different as to be left to the discretion of minis- her majesty's supremacy in all causes, would
ters, we think it (under correction) very hard allow it only in civil.*  This the judgesbtook
to have them go under so hard handling, to the hold of to aggravate their offence to the queen,
utter discredit of their whole ministry and the after they had passed sentence upon them on
profession of truth."                       the late statute of the 23d Eliz. against spread" We serve her majesty and the country [as ing seditious libels, and for refusing the oath of
magistrates and justices of the peace] according supremacy. Mr. Copping had suffered a long
to law; we reverence the law and lawmaker; and illegal imprisonment from the bishop of his
when the law speaks, we keep silence; when it diocess; his wife being brought to bed while he
commandeth, we obey. By law we proceed was under confinement, he was charged with
against all offenders; we touch none that the not suffering his child to be baptized; to which
law spareth, and spare none that the law touch- he answered, that his conscience could not adeth; we allow not of papists; of the Family of mit it to be done with godfathers and godLove; of Anabaptists, or Brownists.  No, we mothers, and he could get no preacher to do it
punish all these.t                           without. He was accused, farther, with saying
the queen was perjured, because she had sworn
* Strype's Annals, vol. iii., p. 183, 184.  to set forth God's glory directly as by the
t Bishop Maddox observes the expressions in Scriptures are appointed, and did not; but these
Strype a,'e stronger.,, We allow not of the papists, were only circumstances to support the grand
their subtleties and hypocrisies: we allow not of the
Family of Love, an egg of the same nest: we allow  ish all these." This, we must own with his lord
not of the Anabaptists and their communion: we al- ship, was not the language of real and consisten
low not of Brown, the overthrower of Church and friends to liberty of conscience.-ElD.
commonwealth: we abhor all these; no, (we) pun- * Strype's Annals, vol. ii., p. 186.
VOL. I.-U




154                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
charge of sedition in spreading Brown's book. He continued a papist all the reign of King
However, it seemed a little hard* to hang men Henry VIII., but was converted by the lectures
for spreading a seditious book, at a time when of Peter Martyr, in the beginning of the reign
the author of that very book [Brown] was par- of Edward VI.*  He was remarkably honest
doned and set at liberty.  Both the prisoners and open to conviction, but did not separate
died by their principles; for though Dr. Still, from the Romish communion till he was perthe archbishop's chaplain, and others, travelled  suaded the pope was antichrist. Cuthbert Tonand conferred with them, yet at the very hour stal, bishop of Durham, was his uncle by the
of their death they remained immovable; they mother's side, by whose encouragement he
were both sound in the doctrinal articles of the travelled to Paris, Louvaine, and other parts,
Church of England, and of unblemished lives.t being still for the real presence of Christ in the
One Wilsford, a layman, should have suffered  sacrament, though not for transubstantiation.
with them, but upon conference with Secretary  Returning home in the days of Queen Mary, his
Wilson, who told him the queen's supremacy uncle placed him first in the rectory of Essing-,
might be understood only of her majesty's civil ton, and afterward at Houghton, a large parish
power over ecclesiastical persons, he took the containing fourteen villages; here he laboured
oath and was discharged.                      in the work of the ministry, and was often
While the bishops were thus harassing hon- exposed to danger, but constantly preserved
est and conscientious ministers for scrupling by his uncle, Bishop Tonstal, who was averse
the ceremonies of the Church, practical religion  to burning men for religion. Miserable and
was at a very low ebb; the fashionable vices of heathenish was the condition of these northern
the times were, profane swearing, drunkenness, counties at this time with respect to religion!
revelling, gaming, and profanation of the Lord's Mr. Gilpin beheld it with tears of compassion,
Day; yet there was no discipline for these of- and resolved, at his own expense, to visit the
fenders, nor do I find any such cited into the desolate churches of Northumberland and the
spiritual courts, or shut up in prisons.  If men  parts adjoining, called Riddesdale and Tindale,
came to their parish churches, and approved of once every year, to preach the Gospel and disthe habits and ceremonies, other offences were tribute to the necessities of the poor, which he
overlooked, and the court was easy.  At Paris continued till his death; this gained him the
Gardens, in Southwark, there were public sports veneration of all ranks of people in those'parts;
on the Lord's Day for the entertainment of but though he had such a powerful screen as
great numbers of people who resorted thither; Bishop Tonstal, yet the fame of his doctrine,
but on the 13th of January, being Sunday, it which was Lutheran, reaching the ears of Bonhappened that one of the scaffolds, being crowd- ner, he sent for him to London; the reverend
ed with people, fell down, by which accident man ordered his servant to prepare him a long
some were killed and a great many wounded. shirt, expecting to be burned, but before he came
This was thought to be a judgment from heav- to London Queen Mary died. Upon the accesen; for the lord-mayor, in the account he gives sion of Queen Elizabeth, Mr. Gilpin, having a
of' it to the treasurer, says "that it gives great fair estate of his own, erected a grammaroccasion to acknowledge the hand of God for school, and allowed maintenance for a master
such abuse of the Sabbath day, and moveth me and usher; himself choosing out of the school
in conscience to give order for redress of such such as he liked best for his own private incontempt of God's service; adding, that for struction.  Many learned men, who afterward
this purpose he had treated with some justices adorned the Church by their labours and upof peace in Surrey, who expressed a very good rightness of life, were educated by him in his
zeal, but alleged want of commission, which he domestic academy.  Many gentlemen's sons
referred to the consideration of his lordship."'  resorted to him, some of whom were boarded
But the court paid no regard to such remon- in the town, and others in his own house; bestrances, and the queen had her ends in en- sides, he took many poor men's sons under his
couraging the sports, pastimes, and revellings care, giving them  meat, drink, clothes, and
of the people on Sundays and holydays.        education.
This year died the famous northern apostle,   In the year 1560 he was offered the bishopric
Mr. Bernard Gilpin, minister of Houghton, in of Carlisle, and was urged to accept it by the
the bishopric of Durham.  He was born at Earl of Bedford, Bishop Sandys, and others,
Kentmire, in Westmoreland, 1517, of an an- with the most powerful motives; but he desicient and honourable family, and was entered red to be excused, and in that resolution reinto Queen's College, Oxford, in the year 1533. mained immovable; his reasons were taken
* Bishop Warburton imputes it to party and preju- from the largeness of the diocesses, which were
dice in Mr. Neal that he doth not point out the dif- too great for the inspection of one person; for
ference in this case, which his lordship states to be he was so strongly possessed of the duty of
the same as between A" the dispensers of poison bishops, and of the charge of souls that was
hanged for going on obstinately in mischief, and of committed to them, that he could never be perhim who compounded the poison, but was, on his suaded to keep two livings, over both of which
repentance, pardoned." But no such distinction ex- 
isted, and his lordship lost sight of the real state of   * In 1552 Gilpin was appointed to preach before
the case. Brown did not renounce his principles King Fdward, at Greenwich, andin his discourse he
till seven years after he was committed to prison for censured the avarice of the clergy and the corruppublishing his book, and was dismissed, not on his tions of the Church with great freedom. His adrepentance, but at the intercession of the lord-treas- dress to the king, the clergy, and magistrates, is one
urer. So far from repenting, he went up and down of the boldest and most honest remonstrances in beinveighing against bishops, &c., and gathered a sep- half of truth to be found in the annals of the English
arate congregation on his own principles.-See our hierarchy. This sermon, the only one he ever pub.
author, p. 268.-ED.                          lished, is to be found in Carleton and Gilpin's " Life
t Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 532, 533.:  Id. ibid. of Bernard Gilpin." —C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 155
he could not have a personal inspection, and pious, devout, and open-hearted divine; a con.
perform all the offices of a pastor; he added, scientious Nonconformist, but against separafarther, that he had so many friends and rela, tion. He was accounted a saint by his very
tives in those parts to gratify or connive at, enemies, if he had any such, being full of faith
that he could not continue an honest man and and good works; and was at last put into his
be their bishop. But though Mr. Gilpin would grave as a shock of corn fully ripe.xnot be a bishop, he supplied the place of one, by   The same year died Edmund Grindal, archpreaching, by hospitality, by erecting schools, bishop of Canterbury, born at Copland, in the
by taking care of the poor, and providing for county of Cumberland, in the year 1519, and
destitute churches; in all which he was coun. educated in Cambridge.  He was a famous
tenanced and encouraged by the learned and preacher in King Edward's days, and was nomreverend James Pilkington, then bishop of inated by him to a bishopric when he was only
Durham, by whom he was excused from sub- thirty-three years of age; but that king dying
scriptions, habits, and a strict observance of soon after, he went into exile, and imbibed the
ceremonies, it being his fixed opinion that no hu- principles of a farther reformation than had as
man invention should take place in the Church, yet obtained in England. Upon Queen Elizainstead of a Divine institution. After Bishop beth's accession he returned to England, and
Pilkington's death, Dr. Barnes was chosen his was advanced, first to the See of London, and
successor, who was disgusted at Mr. Gilpin's then to York and Canterbury, though he could
popularity, and gave him trouble: once, when hardly persuade himself for some time to wear
he was setting out upon his annual visitation to the habits and.comply with the ceremonies of
Riddesdale and Tindale, the bishop summoned the Church; nor did he ever heartily approve
him to preach before him, which he excused in them, yet thought it better to support the Refthe handsomest manner he could, and went his ormation on that foot than hazard it back into
progress; but upon his return he found himself the hands of the papists.t He was of a mild
suspended, for contempt, from all ecclesiastical and moderate temper, easy of access, and affaemployments. The bishop afterward sent for ble even in his highest exaltation. He is blamed
him again on a sudden, and commanded him to by some for his gentle usage of the Puritans,
preach, but then he pleaded his suspension, and though he used them worse than he would have
his not being provided; the bishop immediately done if he had been left to himself. About a
took off his suspension, and would not excuse year or two after his promotion to the See of
his preaching, upon which he went into the pul- Canterbury, he lost the queen's favour on the
pit, and discoursed upon the high charge of a account of the prophesyings, and was suspended
Christian bishop; and having exposed the cor- for some years, during which time many Puriruptions of the clergy, he boldly addressed him- tan ministers took shelter in the counties of
self to his lordship in these words: " Let not Kent and Surrey, &c., which made more work
your lordship say, These crimes have been for his successor. The good old archbishop becommitted without my knowledge, for whatso- ing blind and broken-hearted, the queen took off
ever you yourself do in person, or suffer through his sequestration about a year before his death,
your connivance to be done by others, it is and sent to acquaint him that if he would resign
wholly your own; therefore, in the presence of he should have her favour and an honourable
God, angels, and men, I pronounce your father- pension, which he promised to accept within
hood to be the author of all these evils; and I six months; but Whitgift, who was designed for
and this whole congregation will be a witness in his successor, refusing to enter upon the see
the day ofjudgment, that these things have come while Grindal lived, he made a shift to hold it
to your ears."  All men thought the bishop till his death, which happened July 6th, 1583, in
would have deprived Mr. Gilpin for his freedom  the sixty-third year of his age. Camden calls
as soon as he came out of the pulpit, but, by the him a religious and grave divine. Hollingshead
good providence of God, it had quite a different says he was so studious that his book was his
effect; the bishop thanked him for his faithful bride, and his study his bridechamber, in which
reproof, and after this suffered him to go on he spent his eyesight, his strength, and his
with his annual progress, giving him no farther health. He was certainly a learned and venerdisturbance.  At length, his lean body being able prelate, and had a high esteem for the name
quite worn out with labour and travail, and and doctrines of Calvin, with whom, and with
feeling the approaches of death, he commanded the German divines, he held a constant correthe poor to be called-together, and took a sol- spondence. His high stations did not make him
emn leave of them; afterward he did the like proud; but if we may believe his successor in
by his relatives and friends; then giving him- the See of York, Archbishop Sandys, he must
self up to God, he took his bed about the end be tainted with avarice (as most of the queen's
of February, and died March 4, 1583, in the bishops were), because, within two months after
sixty-sixth year of his age. He was a heaven- he was translated to Canterbury, he gave to his
ly man, endued with a large and generous soul, kinsmen and servants, and sold for round sums
of a tall stature of body, with a Roman nose:  of money to himself, six score leases and pathis clothes were neat and plain, for he was ents, even then when they were thought not
frugal in his own dress, though very bountiful to be good in law.t But, upon the whole, he
to others. His doors were always open for the was one of the best of Queen Elizabeth's bishentertainment of strangers. He boarded in his
own house twenty-four scholars, most of whom * "The worth and labours of this excellent man,"
were upon charity. He  kept a  table for the it was observed in the New Annual Register for
were  pon  charity. He kept a table for the 1789," have been amply displayed in the present
poor every Lord's Day, from  Michaelmas to century, by the elegant pen of one of his own name
Easter, and expended ~500 for a free school and family."-ED.      t Grindal's Life, p. 295.
for their children. Upon the whole, he was a -  Strype's Annals, vol. ult., Suppl., p. 21.




156                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ops. He lies buried in the chancel of the Church  ed by Parliament."*  And with what severity
at Croydon, where his effigy is to be seen at his grace enforced these articles will be seen
length in his doctor's robes, and in a praying presently.
posture.*                                       It is easy to observe that they were all levelled at the Puritans; but the most disinterested
civil lawyers of these times were of opinion that
his grace had no legal authority to impose those,
CHAPTER VII.                   or any other articles, upon the clergy, without
the broad seal; and that all his proceedings
FROM THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP GRINDAL TO THE  pon them were an abuse of the royal preroga-'SPANISH INVASION IN 1588.          upon them were an abuse of the royal prerogaSPANISH INVASION IN 1588.          tive, contrary to the laws of the land, and, conUPON the death of Grindal, Dr. John Whit- sequently, so many acts of oppression upon the
gift, bishop of Worcester, was translated to the subject. Their reasons were,
See of Canterbury, and confirmed September   1. Because the statute of the twenty-fifth
23d, 1583.  He had distinguished himself in the Henry VIII., chap. 20, expressly prohibits " the
controversy against the Puritans,t and  was whole body of the clergy, or any one of them, to
therefore thought the most proper person to re- put in use any constitutions or canons already
duce their numbers.  Upon his advancement, made, or hereafter to be made, except they be
the queen charged him "to restore the disci- made in convocation assembled by the king's
pline of the Church, and the uniformity estab- writ, his royal assent being also had thereunto,
lished by law, which (says her majesty), through  on pain of fine and imprisonment."
the connivance of some prelates, the obstinacy    2. Because, by the statute of the 1st of Eliz.,
of the Puritans, and the power of some noble- chap. iii., " all such jurisdictions, privileges, sumen, is run out of square."  Accordingly, the periorities, pre-eminences, spiritual or ecclesivery first week his grace published the following  astical power and authority, which hath heretoarticles, and sent them  to the bishops of his fore been, or may lawfully be, executed or used
province, for their direction in the government for the visitation of the ecclesiastical state and
of their several diocesses:                   persons, and for reformation of the same, and of
"That all preaching, catechising, and pray- all manner of errors, heresies, schisms, abuses,
ing, in any private family, where any are pres- contempts, and enormities, are forever united to
ent besides the family, be utterly extinguished.$ the imperial crown of these realms."  Whence
That none do preach or catechise, except also he it follows that all power is taken from the bishwill read the whole service, and administer the ops except that of governing their diocesses acsacraments four times ayear. That all preach- cording to the laws of the land, or according to
ers, and others in ecclesiastical orders, do at all any farther injunctions they may receive from
times wear the habits prescribed. That none be the crown under the broad seal.
admitted to preach unless he be ordained accord-   3. Because some of the archbishop's articles
ing to the manner of the Church of England. That were directly contrary to the statute laws of the
none be admitted to preach, or execute any part realm,  which the queen herself has not power
of the ecclesiastical function, unless he subscribe to alter  or dispense with.  By the 13th Eliz.,
the three following articles: 1st, To the queen's chap. xii., the subscription of the clergy is limsupremacy over all persons, and in all causes ited to those articles of the Church which reecclesiastical and civil within her majesty's do- late to the doctrines of faith and administration
-minions. 2dly, To the Book of Common Prayer, of the sacraments only; whereas the bishop
and of the ordination of priests and deacons, enjoined them to subscribe the whole thirtyas containing nothing contrary to the Word of nine. And, by the preamble of the same statGod; and that they will use it in all their public ute, all ordinations in the times of popery, or
ministrations, and no other. 3dly, To the thirty- after the manner of foreign Reformed Churchnine articles of the Church of England, agreed es, are admitted to be valid, so that such
upon in the synod of 1562, and afterward confirm- may enjoy any ecclesiastical preferment in the
Church; but the archbishop says [art. 4th]
This prelate is the Algrind of Spencer, which is " that none shall be admitted to preach unless
the anagram of his name. The French Protestants he be ordained according to the manner of the
were very much indebted to his influence and activi- Church of England."  Upon these accounts, if
ty in obtaining for them a settlement in England, in the queen had fallen out with him, he might
their own method of worship. This was the begin- hae incur
ning of the Walloon Church, situated in Threadnee-      red the guilt of a praeminire.
die-street, London, which has ever since been ap-   To these arguments it was replied by his
propriated to the use of the French nation.-British  grace's lawyers,
Biography, vol. iii., p. 161. Granger's Biographical   1. That, by the canon law, the archbishop
I-lzstory, vol. ii., p. 204, note, 8vo.-ED.   has power to make laws for the well-governt " It is seldom good policy," says Mr. Hallam, when  ment of the Church, so far as they do not enreferring to WBitgift's elevation, " to confer such em- counter the peace of the Church and quietness
inent stations in the Church on the gladiators of the- of the realm.  To which it was answered, this
ological controversy; who, from vanity and resentment, as well as the course of their studies, will al- might be true in times of popery, but the case
ways be prone to exaggerate the importance of the was very much altered since the Reformation,
disputes wherein they have been engaged, and to because now the archbishops' and bishops' auturn whatever authority the laws or the influence of thority is derived from the person of the queen
their place may give them against their adversaries. only; for the late Queen Mary having surrenThis was fully illustrated by the conduct of Arch- dered back all ecclesiastical jurisdiction into
bishop Whitgift, whose elevation the wisest of Eliz-                                  no
abeth's counsellors had ample reason to regret."-the hands of the pope, the present queen, upon
Hallam's Constitutional Hist., vol. i., p. 269.-C.  her accession, had no jurisdiction resident in
t Life of Whitgift, p. 118.                                 * MS., p. 429.




HI.STORY  OF THE  PURITANS.,57
ner person till the statute of recognisance, 1st All whose names are now before me; besides
of Eliz., by which the archbishops and bish- great numbers in the diocess of Peterborough,
ops of this realm, being exempted from the in the city of London, and proportionable in
jurisdiction of the pope, are made subject to other counties; some of whom were dignitaries
the queen, to govern her people in ecclesias- in the Church, and most of them graduates in the
tical causes, as her other subjects govern the university; of these some were allowed time,
same (according to their places) in civil caus- but forty-nine were absolutely deprived at once.*
es;* so that the clergy are no more to be called   Among the suspended ministers his grace
the archbishops' or bishops' children, but the showed some particular favour to those of Susqueen's liege people, and are to be governed by sex, at the intercession of some great persons;
them  according to the laws, which laws are for after a long dispute and many arguments
such canons, constitutions, and synodals pro- before himself at Lambeth, he accepted of the
vincial, as were in force before the twenty-fifth subscription of six or seven, with their own exof Henry VIII., and are not contrary nor repug- plication of the rubrics, and with declaration
nant to the laws and customs of the realm, nor that their subscription was not to be underderogatory to her majesty's prerogative royal; stood in any other sense than as far as the
and, therefore, all canons made before the twen- books were agreeable to the Word of God, and
ty-fifth of Henry VIII., giving to the archbish- to the substance of religion established in the
ops or bishops an unlimited power over the Church of England, and. to the analogy of faith;
clergy, as derived from the See of Rome, are ut- and that it did not extend to anything not exterly void, such canons being directly against pressed in the said books.t  Of all which the
the laws and customs of the realm, which do archbishop allowed them an authentic copy in
not admit of any subject executing a law but by writing, dated December 6th, 1583, and ordered
authority from the prince; and they are derog- his chancellor to send letters to Chichester that
atory to her majesty's prerogative royal, be- the rest of the suspended ministers in that
cause hereby some of her subjects might claim  county might be indulged the same favour.
an unlimited power over her other subjects, in-   Many good and pious men strained their condependent of the crown, and, by their private sciences on this occasion; some subscribed the
authority, command or forbid what they please. articles with this. protestation in open court,
Since, then, the archbishop's articles were " as far as they are agreeable to the Word of
framed by his own private authority, they can- God;" and others dempto sec undo, that is, tanot be justified by any of the canons now in king away the second. Many, upon better conforce. And as for the peace of the Church and sideration, repented their subscribing in this
quiet of the realm, they were so far from pro- manner, and would have rased out their names,
moting them, that they were like to throw both but it was not permitted.  Some, who were alinto confusion.                              lured to subscribe with the promises of favoul
2. It was said that the queen, as head of the and better preferment, were neglected and for.
Church, had power to publish articles and in- gotten, and troubled in the commissaries' court
junctions for reducing the clergy to uniformity, as much as before.t The court took no notice
and that the archbishop had the queen's license of their protestations or reserves; they wanted
and consent for what he did. But the queen nothing but their hands, and when they had got
herself had no authority to publish articles and them, they were all listed under the same colinjunctions in opposition to the laws; and as ours, and published to the world as absolute
for her majesty's permission and consent, it subscribers.
could be no warrant to the archbishop except it   The body of the inferior clergy wished and
had been under the great seal. And if the arch- prayed for some amendments in the servicebishop had no legal authority to command, the book, to make their brethren easy.  "I am
clergy were not obliged to obey; the oath of sure," says a learned divine of these times,
canonical obedience does not bind in this case, "that this good would come of it. (1.) It would
because it is limited to licitis et honestis, things please Almighty God. (2.) The learned minislawful and honest; whereas the present arti- ters would be more firmly united against the
cles being against law, they were enforced by papists.  (3.) The good ministers and good
no legal authority, and were such as the minis- subjects, whereof many are now at Weepingters could not honestly consent to.          cross, would be cheered; and many able stuNotwithstanding these objections, the arch- dents encouraged to take upon them the minisbishop, in his primary metropolitical visitation, try. And (4.) Hereby the papists, and more
insisted, peremptorily, that all who enjoyed any careless sort of professors, would be more eaoffice or benefice in the Church should subscribe sily won to religion. If any object that excelthe three articles above mentioned; the second lent men were publishers of the Book of Prayer,
of which he knew the Puritans would refuse: and that it would be some disgrace to the
accordingly, there were suspended for not sub- Church to alter it, I answer, 1st, That though
scribing —                                  worthy men are to be accounted of, yet their
In the county of Norfolk,   64 ministers. oversights in matters of religion are not to be
"            ISuffolk,  60 "      honoured by subscriptions.  2dly, The reforma"r    "  Sussex, -about 30  *tion of the service-book can be no disgrace to
"''L  Essex,  38   "i   nus nor them, for men's second thoughts are
"     "      Kent,  19 or 20            wiser than their first; and the papists, in the
"     ("     Lincolnshire, 21    4      late times of Pius V., reformed our Lady's Psal
ter. To conclude, if amendments to the book
In all, 233            * MS., p. 436.
t MS., p. 323, 405. Life of Whitgift, p. 129.
* MS., p. 661.                 T Fenner's Answer to Dr. Bridges, p. 119, 120.




158                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
be inconvenient, it must be either in regard of   Loud were the cries of these poor sufferers
Protestants or papists; it cannot be in regard  and their distressed families to Heaven for
of Protestants, for very great numbers of them  mercy, as well as to their superiors on earth!
pray heartily to God for it. And if it be in re- Their temptations were strong; for as men,
gard of the papists, we are not to mind them; they were moved with compassion for their
fbr they, whose captains say that we have nei- wives and little ones, and as faithful ministers
ther church, nor sacraments, nor ministers, nor of Christ, they were desirous to be useful, and
queen in England, are not greatly to be regard- to preserve the testimony of a good conscience.
ed of us.-"*                                   Some, through fiailty, were overcome and subBut Whitgift was to be influenced by no such mitted, but most of them cast themselves and
arguments; he was against all alterations in families upon the providence of God, having
the Liturgy, for this general reason, lest the written to the queen, to the archbishop, and to
Church should be thought to have maintained the lords of the council, and, after some time,
an error: which is surprising to come from the to the Parliament, for a friendly conference or
mouth of a Protestant bishop, who had so lately a public disputation, when, and where, and beseparated from the infallible Church of Rome. fore whom they pleased, though without sucHis grace's arguments for subscription to his cess.*
articles are no less remarkable.  1st, If you do    The supplication of the Norfolk ministers to
not subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer, the lords of the council, signed with twenty
you do in effect say, there is no true service of hands;t the supplication of the Lincolnshire
God, nor administration of sacraments, in the ministers, with twenty-one hands; the suppliland.  2dly, If you do not subscribe the Book cation of the Essex ministers, with twenty-seven
of Ordination of Priests, &c., then our calling hands; the supplication of the Oxfordshire minmust be unlawful, and we have no true minis- isters, with -    hands; the supplication of the
try nor church in England.  3dlv, If you do not ministers of Kent, with seventeen hands, are
subscribe the Book of the Thirty-nine Articles, now before me; besides the supplication of the
you deny true doctrine to be established among London ministers, and of those of the diocess
us, which is the main note of a true church.t of Ely and Cambridgeshire, representing in
Could an honest man, and a great scholar, be most moving language their unhappy circumin earnest with this reasoning?  Might not the stances: " VWe commend," they say, "to your
Puritans dislike some things in the service- honours' compassion  our poor families, but
book, without invalidating the whole?  Did not much more do we commend our doubtful, fearhis grace know that they offered to subscribe ful, and distressed consciences, together with
to the use of the service-book, as far as they  the cries of our poor people, who are hungering
could apprehend it consonant to truth, though  after the Word, and are now as sheep having
they could not give it under their hands that no shepherd. We have applied to the archthere was nothing in it contrary to the Word bishop, but can get no relief; we therefore
of God, nor promise to use the whole, with- humbly beg it at your honours' hands."$ They
out the least variation, in their public minis- declare their readiness to subscribe the doctritry? But, according to the archbishop's logic, nal articles of the Church, according to the stat.
the Church must be infallible or no church  13 Eliz., cap. xii., and to the other articles, as
at all. The Liturgy must be perfect in every far as they are not repugnant to the Word of
phrase and sentence, or it is no true service of   * In the year 1583 one John Lewis, for denying
God; and every article of the Church must be the deity of Christ, was burned at Norwich. Many
agreeable to Scripture, or they contain no true of the popish persuasion, under the charge of treadoctrine at all. He told the ministers that all son, were executed in different places, But, notwho did not subscribe his articles were schis- withstanding these severities, "her majesty," says
matics; that they had separated themselves Fuller," was most merciful unto many popish malefrom  the Church; and declared peremptorily factors whose lives stood forfeited to the law in the
thatfrom the  Chu rch; and declared    peremptrily  rigour thereof. Seventy, who had been condemned,
Thisat they should be turned out of it.  exposedby one act of grace were pardoned and sent beyond
This conduct of the archbishop was exposed sea." —Church History, b. ix., p. 169, 170.-ED.
in a pamphlet entitled, " The Practice of Prel-'   " We dare not yield to these ceremonies," say
ates,"t which says that none ever used good  several of the Norfolk ministers, in a supplication
ministers so severely since the Reformation as which they presented to the council, "because,
he; that his severe proceedings were against so far from edifying and building up the Church,
the judgment of many of his brethren the bish- they have rent it asunder, and torn it in pieces, to its
ops, and that the devil, the common enemy of great misery and ruin, as God knoweth; although
mpsankind, thad certainli than  in. eny who her majesty be incensed against us, as if we would
maain~d, hadt certainly a hand in it. F or vwhlo obey no laws, we take the Lord of heaven and earth
of the ministers, says this writer, have been  to witness that we acknowledge, from the bottom of
tumultuous or unpeaceable 1  Have they not our hearts, her majesty to be our lawful queen,
striven for peace in their ministry, in their wri- placed over us by God for our good; and we give
tings, and by their example; and sought for God our most humble and hearty thanks for her
their discipline only by lawful and  dutiful happy government, and, both in public and private,
means 1 Why, then, should the archbishop tyr- we constantly pray for her prosperity. We renounce
all foreign power, and acknowledge her majesty's
annise over his fellow-ministers, and starve all foremacy to be laful and just. We detest alt ermany thousand souls, by depriving all who re- ror and heresy. Yet we desire that her majesty will
fuse subscription?  Why should he lay such not think us disobedient, seeing we suffer ourselves
stress upon popish opinions, and upon a hierar- to be displaced rather than yield to some things rechy that never obtained till the approach of quired. Our bodies, and goods, and all we have,
antichrist 1                                  are in her majesty's hands; only our souls we reserve to our God, who alone is able to save us or
" MS., p. 156.    t Life of Whitgift, p. 125.   condemn us." —MS., p. 253.
t Life of Whitgift, p. 122.                   t MS., p. 328, 330, &c.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    159
God. And they promise farther, if they may and twenty, signed a petition to the lordbe dispensed with as to subscription, that they mayor and court of aldermen for his release,
will nlake no disturbance in the Church, nor but that court could not obtain it.*  March 4,
separate from it.                            1584, the learned Mr. Field and Mr. Egerton
The Kentish ministers, in their supplication were suspended. Mr. Field had been often in
to the lords of the council, professed their rev- bonds for nonconformity; he was minister of
erence for the established Church,* and their Aldermary, and had admitted an assembly of
esteem  for the Book of Common Prayer, so ministers at his house, among whom were some
far as that they saw no necessity of separating Scots divines, who, being disaffected to the hiefrom the unity of the Church on that account: rarchy, the assembly was declared an unlawful
that they believed the Word preached, and the conventicle, and Mr. Field was suspended from
sacraments administered according to author- his ministry for entertaining them; but the rest
ity, touching the substance, to be lawful. They were deprived for not subscribing.
promised to show themselves obedient to the   Many gentlemen of reputation both in city
queen in all causes ecclesiastical and civil; and country appeared for the suspended minisbut then they added, that there were many ters, as well out of regard to their poor families
things that needed reformation, which there- as for the sake of religion, it being impossible
fore they could not honestly set their hands to supply so many vacancies as were made in
to.t  They conclude with praying for indul- the Church upon this occasion.  The gentlegence, and subscribe themselves their honours' men of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Kent indaily and faithful orators, the ministers of Kent terceded with the archbishop, alleging that it
suspended from the execution of their ministry. was very hard to deal with men so severely for
The London ministers applied to the convo- a few rites and ceremonies, when they were
cation, and fifteen of them offered to subscribe neither heretics nor schismatics, and when the
to the queen's supremacy, to the use of the country wanted their useful preaching. The
Common Prayer Book, and to the doctrinal ar- parishioners of the several places from whence
ticles of the Church, if they might be restored; the ministers were ejected signed petitions to
but then add, "We dare not say there is nothing the lord-treasurer, and others of the queen's
in the three books repugnant to the Word of council, beseeching them, in the bowels of Jesus
God, till we are otherwise enlightened; and Christ, that their ministers, being of an upright
therefore humbly pray our brethren in convo- and holy conversation, and diligent preachers
cation to be a means to the queen and Parlia- of the Word of God, might be restored, or otherment that we may not be pressed to an abso- wise (their livings being only of small value)
lute subscription, but be suffered to go on in the their souls would be in danger of perishing for
quiet discharge of the duties of our calling, as lack of knowledge.t
we have done heretofore, to the honour of Al-   The inhabitants of Malden in Essex sent up
mighty God, and the edification of his Church. a complaint to the council, "that since their
We protest, before God and our Saviour Jesus ministers had been taken from them, for not
Christ, that if by any means, by doing that subscribing to certain articles neither confirmed
which is not wicked, we might continue still by the law of God nor of the land, they had
our labours in the Gospel, we would gladly and none left but such as they could prove unfit for
willingly do anything that might procure that that office, being altogether ignorant, having
blessing, esteeming it more than all the riches been either popish priests or shiftless men,
in the world; but if we cannot be suffered to thrust in upon the ministry when they knew not
continue in our places and callings, we beseech else how to live; men of occupation, servingthe Lord to show greater mercy to those by men, and the basest of all sorts; and which is
whom this affliction shall be brought upon us, most lamentable, as they are men of no gifts, so
and upon the people committed to our charge, they are of no common honesty, but rioters,
for whom we will not cease to pray, that the dicers, drunkards, &c., and of offensive lives.
good work which the Lord has begun by our la- These are the men," say they, "that are supportbours may still be advanced, to that day when ed, whose reports and suggestions against others
the Lord shall give them and us comfort one in are readily received and admitted; by reason
another, and in his presence everlasting happi- of which, multitudes of papists, heretics, and
ness and eternal glory."$  This petition was other enemies to God and the queen, are inpresented to the convocation, in the first sessions creased, and we ourselves in danger of being inof the next Parliament, in the name of the min- sulted.  We therefore hlumbly beseech your
isters of London that had refused to subscribe honours, in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to be a
the articles lately enforced upon them; with an means of restoring our godly and faithful minishumble request to have their doubts satisfied by ters; so shall we and many thousands of her
conference, or any other way.                majesty's subjects continue our daily supplicaAmong the suspended ministers of London tions to Almighty God," &c.
was the learned and virtuous Mr. Barber, who   The petition of the inhabitants of Norwich,
preached four times a week at Bow Church: signed with one hundred and seventy-six hands,
his parishioners, to the number of one hundred and manyletters and supplications fiom the most
* This has been considered, by Bishop Warbur- populous towns in England, to the same purpose,
ton, as inconsistent with calling the "established are now before me. But these appeals of the
Church an hierarchy, that never obtained till the ap-. Puritans and their friends did them no service;
proach of antichrist." But the charge of inconsist- for the watchful archbishop, whose eyes were
ency does not lie against the Kentish ministers who about him, wrote to the council to put them in
speak above, unless it be proved that they were the mind, "that the cause of the Puritans did not
authors of the pamphlet entitled "The Practice of lie before them; that he wondered at theprePrelates," which contains the other sentiments.-E. lie before them; that he wondered at the pre
t MS., p. 326.:      MS., p. 595, 632.    * MS., p. 460, 568, &c.   t Ibid., p. 457.




160                       HI STORY OF THE PURITANS.
sumption of the ministers, to bring his doings in    The Court of High Commission was so call-question before their lordships; and at their ed, because it claimed a larger jurisdiction and
proud spirit, to dare to offer to dispute before so
great a body against the religion established by this, in most of which the powers of the commissionlaw, and against a book so painfully penned, and  ers had been enlarged; but forasmuch as the court
confirmed by the highest authority."  He then  was now almost at its height, I will give the reader
adds, " that it was not for him to sit in his place, an abstract of their commission from an attested
if every curate in his diocess must dispute with  copy, under the hand and seal of Abraham Hartwell,
him; nor could he do his duty to the queen, if a notary public, at the special request and command
he might not proceed without interruption; but of the archbishop himself, dated January 7th, 1583-4.
if they would help him, he should soon bring   The preamble recites the act of the first of the
queen, commonly called the act for "restoring to the
them  to comply."   As to the gentlemen wh crown the ancient jurisdiction of trle state eccieslaspetitioned for their ministerst, he told them to  tical and civil, and the abolishing all foreign power
their faces that he would not suffer their fac- repugnant to the same;" and another of the same
tious ministers, unless they would subscribe; year, " for uniformity of common prayer and service
that no church ought to suffer its laudable rites of the Church and administration of the sacrament;"
to be neglected; that though the ministers  nd a third of the fifth of the queen, entitled "An Act
were not heretics, they were schismatics, be- of Assurance of the Queen's Powers over all States,"
&c.; and a fourth of the thirteenth Eliz., entitled
cause they raised a contention in the Chrch, An Act for reforming certain Disorders touching
about things not necessary to salvation.  And  Ministers of the Church," as the foundation of her
as for lack of preaching, if the gentlemen or ecclesiastical jurisdiction and power. Her majesty
parishioners would let him dispose of their liv- then names forty-four commissioners, whereof twelve
ings, he would take care to provide them  with  were bishops; some were privy-councillors, lawyers,
able men.  Thus this great prelate, who had  and officers of state, as Sir Francis Knollys, treasucoimplied with the popish religion4, and kept rer of the household, Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state, Sir Walter Mildmay, chancellor of
his place in the university through all the reign   tary of state, Sir Walph Sadlier, chancellor of
of Queen Mary, was resolved to bear down all Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Gilbert Gerard, master of
opposition, and to display his sovereign power the rolls, Sir Robert Manhood, lord-chief-baron of
against those whose consciences were not as the exchequer, Sir Owen Hopton, lieutehnant of the
flexible as his own.                            Tower of London, John Popham, Esq., attorney-genBut not content with his episcopal jurisdic- eral, Thomas Egerton, Esq., solicitor-general; the
tion, his grace solicited the queen for a new ec- rest were deans, archdeacons, and civilians. Her
clesiastical commission, and gave her majesty  majesty then proceeds:
"We, earnestly minding to have the above-menthese weighty reasons for it, among others. tioned  eaws put in execution, and putting special
Because the Puritans continue the ecclesiasti- trust and confidence in your wisdoms and discretions,
cal censures.  Because the commission may  have authorized and appointed you to be our comorder a search for seditious books, and examine missioners; and do give full power and authority to
the writers or publishers upon oath, which a you, or any three of you, whereof the Archbishop of
bishop cannot.  Because the ecclesiastical com- Canterbury, or one of the bishops mentioned in the
misskio   can punish by fines, which are very  commission, or Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Gilbert
commodious to the government * or by imp  Gerard, or some of the civilians, to be one, to inquire
fiom time to time during our pleasure, as well by the
onment, which will strike more terror into the  oaths of twelve good and lawful men, as also by witPuritans.  Because a notorious fault cannot be nesses, and all other means and ways you can denotoriously punished but by the commission. vise; of all offences, contempts, misdemeanors, &c.,
Because the whole ecclesiastical law is but a done and committed contrary to the tenour of the
carcass without a soul, unless it be quickened  said several acts and statutes; and also to inquire of
by the commission.mc all heretical opinions, seditious books, contempts,
The queen, who was already disposed to  conspiracies, false rumours or talkls, slanderous words
and sayings, &c., contrary to the aforesaid laws, or
any others, ordained for the maintenance of religion
archbishop's arguments, and ordered a new high  in this realm, together with their abettors, counselcommission to be prepared, which she put the lors, or coadjutors.
great seal to, in the month of December, 1583,   "And farther, we do give full power to you, or any
and the twenty-sixth year of her reign.ll      three of you, whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury,
or one of the bishops mentioned in the commission,
* Life of Whitgift, p. 127.                  to be one, to hear and determine concerning the
t Strype's Life of Whitgift, p. 4.            premises, and to order, correct, reform, and punish all
t Bishop Maddox here censures Mr. Neal, and says persons dwellingo in places exempt or not exempt,
that the reverse was true. The fact, from all his bi- that wilfully and obstinately absent from church, or
ographers, appears to be, that on the expectation of a Divine service established by law, by the censures
visitation of the university, in Queen Mary's reign, to  of the Church, or any other lawful ways and means,
suppress heresy, and to oblige such as were qualified by the Act of Uniformity, or any laws ecclesiastical
to take the first tonsure, Whitgift, foreseeing his dan- of this realm limited and appointed; and to take orger, and fearing not only an expulsion, but for his life, der of your discretions, that the penalties and forfeit
particularly because he could not comply with this ures limited by the said Act of Uniformity against
requisition, would have gone abroad; but Dr. Pearn'the offenders in that behalf may be duly levied, acencouraged and persuaded him to stay, bidding him  cording to the forms prescribed in the said act, to the
to keep his own counsel, and not utter his opinion, use of us and the poor, upon the goods, lands, and
and engaging to conceal him without incurring any tenements of such offenders, by way of distress, acdanger to his conscience in this visitation. He con- cording to the true meaning and limitation of the
tinued, therefore, in the college throughout this reign. statute.
But it is not to be conceived but that he must have   "And we do farther empower you, or any three
preserved an outward conformnity to the public and of you, during our pleasure, to visit and reform all
usual services of the Church.-ED.               errors, heresies, schisms, &c., which may lawfully
~ Life of Whitgift, p. 134.                   be reforumed or restrained by censures ecclesiastical,
11 There had been five high commissions before deprivation, or otherwise, according to the power




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      161
higher powers than the ordinary courts of the court was erected upon the authority of the acts
bishops; its jurisdiction extended over the whole mentioned in the preamble, and therefore its
kingdom, and was the same, in a manner, with powers must be limited by those statutes; but
that which had been vested in the single person the counsel for Mr. Cawdrey, whose case was
of Lord Cromwell, vicar-general to King Henry argued before all the judges in Trinity term,
VIII., though now put into commission.  The 1591, questioned whether the court had any
foundation at all in law; it being doubtful
and authority limited and appointed by the laws, or- whether the queen could delegate her ecclesiasdinances, and statutes of this realm.          tical authority, or the commissaries act by vir" And we do hereby farther empower you, or any tue of such delegation.
three of you, to call before you such persons as have          the court to be legal, it will apecclesiastical livings, and to deprive such of them as But admitting the court to be legal, it wil ap~wilfully and advisedly maintain any doctrine contra- pear that both the queen and her commissionry to such articles of religion of the synod of 1562 ers exceeded the powers granted them by law;
which only concern the confession of the true faith for it was not the intendment of the act of suand doctrine of the sacraments, and will not revoke premacy to vest any new powers in the crown,
the same.                                      but only to restore those which were supposed
" And we do farther empower you, or any three of to be its ancient and natural right.  Nor do the
you, to punish all incests, adulteries, fornications,  acts above recited authorize the queen to disoutrages, misbehaviours, and disorders in marriage;
and all grievous offences punishable by the ecclesias- pense with the laws of the realm, or act contratical laws, according to the tenour of the laws in that ry to them; or to set aside the ordinary legal
behalf, and according to your wisdoms, consciences, courts of proceeding in other courts of judicaand discretions, commanding you, or any three of ture, by indictments, witnesses, and a jury of
you, to devise all such lawful ways and means for twelve men; nor do they empower her to levy
the searching out the premises as by you shall be fines, and inflict what corporeal punishments
thought necessary; and upon due proof thereof had, she pleases upon offenders; but in all criminal
by confession of the party, or lawful witnesses, or by cases, where the precise punishment is not deany other due means, to order and award such punishnient, by fine, imprisonment, censures of the termined by the statute, her commissioners
Church, or by all or any of the said ways, as to your were to be directed and governed by the comwisdom and discretions shall appear most meet and mon law of the land.
convenient.                                      Yet, contrary to the proceedings in other
" And farther we do empower you, or any three of courts, and to the essential freedom of the Engyou, to call before you all persons suspected of any lish Constitution, the queen empowered her comof.the premises, and to proceed against them, as the missioners to " inquire into all misdemeanors
quality of the offence and suspicion shall require, to
examine them on their corporeal oaths, for the better not only by the oaths of twelve men, and wittrial and opening of the truth; and if any persons nesses, but by all other means and ways they
are obstinate and disobedient, either in not appearing could devise;" that is, by inquisition, by the
at your command, or not obeying your orders and rack, by torture, or by any ways and means
decrees, then to punish them by excommunication, that forty-four sovereign judges should devise.
or other censures ecclesiastical, or by fine, accord- Surely this should have been limited to ways and
ing to your discretions; or to commit the said of- means warranted by the laws and customs of
fenders to ward, there to remain till he or they shall the realm.
be by you, or three of you, enlarged or delivered;
and shall pay such costs and expenses of suit as the    Farther, her majesty empowers her " commiscause shall require, and you, in justice, shall think sioners to examine such persons as they susreasonable.                                    pected upon their corporeal oaths, for the better
" And farther, we give full power and authority trial and opening of the truth, and to punish those
to you, or three of you as aforesaid, to command that refused the oath by fine, or imprisonment,
all our sheriffs, justices, and other officers by your according to their discretion."  This refers to
letters, to apprehend, or cause to be apprehended, the oath ex ofcio mere, and was not in the first
such persons as you shall think meet to be convened
before you; and to take such bond as you shall think f ive commissions.
fit for their personal appearance; and in case of re- t was said in behalf of this oath, by Dr. Aufusal, to commit them to safe custody, till you shall brey,* that though it was not warrantable by the
give order for their enlargement; and, farther, to letter of the statute of the I st of Elizabeth, yet
take such securities for their performance of your the canon law being in force before the making
decrees as you shall think reasonable. And, farther, of that statute, and the commission warranting
you shall keep a register of your decrees, and of the commissioners to proceed according to the
your fines, and appoint receivers, messengers, and law ecclesiastical, they might lawfully adminisother officers, with such salaries as you shall think                               To which
fit; the receiver to certify into the exchequer, every  er it according to ancient custom.t To  which
Easter and Michaelmas term, an account of the fines it was answered, "that such an oath was never
taxed and received, under the hands of three of the allowed by any canon of the Church, or general
commissioners.                                 council, for a thousand years after Christ; that
" And we do farther empower you, or any six of when it was used against the primitive Chrisyou, whereof some to be bishops, to examine, alter, tians, the pagan emperors countermanded it;
review, and amend the statutes of colleges, cathe- that it was against the pope's law in the decredrals, grammar-schools, and other public foundations, tals, which admitsf such an inqisition only
and to present them to us to be confirmed.
and to present them to us to be confirmed.     tals, which admits of such an inquisition only
"And we do farther empower you to tender the in cases of heresy; nor was it ever used in Engoath of supremacy to all ministers, and others com- land till the reign of King Henry IV., and then
pellable by act of Parliament, and to certify the names it was enforced as law only by a haughty archof such as refuse it into the King's Bench.    bishop, without consent of the commons of Eng"And, lastly, we do appoint a seal for your office, land, till the 25th of Henry VIII., when it was
having a crown and a rose over it, and the letter E
before and R after the same; and round about the   * And nine others, learned civilians; and most ot
seal these words,'Sigil. commiss. regie maj. ad them, Strype says, judges in the civil and ecclesias
causas ecclesiasticas.'"                       tical courts.-En.      t Life of Whitgift, p. 340
VOL. I. —X




6  HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
utterly abrogated.  This pretended law was lawfully be reformed, according to the power
again revived by Queen Mary, but repealed again  and authority limited and appointed by the laws
by the Ist of Queen Elizabeth, and so remain- and statutes of the realm. But there never was
ed.*  Besides, as this purging men by oath has a clause in any of the commissions empowering
no foundation in the law of the land, it is un- them to enforce subscription to articles of their
doubtedly contrary to the law of nature and na- own devising.*  Therefore, their doing this
tions, where this is a received maxim, Nemo te- without a special ratification under the great
netur seipsum accusare: No man is bound to ac- seal was no doubt a usurpation of the supremcuse himself. The queen, therefore, had no pow- acy, and brought them within the compass of a
er to authorize her commissioners to set up an proemunire, according to the statutes of 25 Heninquisition, and administer an oath to the sus- ry VIII., cap xx., and 1 Eliz., cap. iii.
pected person, to answer all questions the court   Lastly: Though all spiritual courts (and, conshould put to him, and to convict him upon those sequently, high commission) are and ought to be
answers; or, if they could confront his declara- subject to prohibitions from the supreme courts
tions, to punish him as perjured.             of law, yet the commissioners would seldom or
If any persons disobeyed the orders and de- never admit them, and at length terrified the
crees of the court, by not appearing at their sum- judges from granting them: so that, upon the
mons, &c., the commissioners were empowered  whole, their proceedings were for the most part
to punish them by fine or imprisonment, at their contrary to the act of submission of the clergy,
discretions. This also was contrary to law, for contrary to the statute laws of the realm, and
the body of a subject is to be dealt with, secun- no better than a spiritual inquisition.t
dum legem terrae, according to the law of the land,   If a clergyman omitted any of the ceremonies
as Magna Charta and the law saith. The clerk of the Church in his public ministrations, or
felon in the bishop's prison is the king's prison- if a parishioner bore an ill-will to his minister,
er, and not the bishop's, and therefore by the 1st he might inform  the commissioners by letter
of Henry VII., cap. iv., "the bishop of the dio- that he was a suspected person; upon which a
cess is empowered to imprison such priests, or pursuivant or messenger was sent to his house
other religious persons within his jurisdiction, with a citation.
as shall by examination, and other lawful proofs    The pursuivant wh6 brought them  up had
requisite by the law of the Church, be convicted  thirty-three shillings and fourpence for forty-one
of fornication, incest, or any fleshly incontinen- miles, being about nine or ten pence a mile. Upon
cy, and there to detain them for such time as their appearing before the commissioners, they
shall be thought by their discretions convenient, were committed prisoners to the Clink Prison
according to the quality of the offence; and that seven weeks before they were called to their
none of the said archbishops or bishops shall be trial.  When the prisoners were brought to the
chargeable with an action of false imprisonmen't bar, the court immediately tendered them the
for so doing.t  Which plainly implies, that a oath to answer all questions to the best of their
bishop cannot by law commit a man to prison, knowledge, by which they were obliged not
except in the cases above mentioned; and that only to accuse. themselves, but frequently to
in all others, the law remains in force as before.   *
If, then, the queen, by her ecclesiastical commisr  MS., p. 573.
If;, then, the queen, by her ecclesiastical commis-   t In this view it was considered by the Lord-treas7
sion, could not dispense with the laws of the   t  this view it was consideredbytheLod-treas
sind, cln   di spidens  wi.the  theg laws ofbithey urer Burleigh. "According to my simple judgment,"
landl, it is evident that the long and arbitry  says he, ina letter to the archbishop, "this kind of
imprisonments of the Puritan clergy, before they proceeding is too much savouring the Romish inqui
had been legally convicted, and all their confine- sition, and is rather a device to seek for offenders
ments afterward, beyond the time limited by the than reform any."-Fuller's Church History, b. ix., p.
statutes, were so many acts of oppression; and  155. Mr. Hume stigmatizes this court not only as a
-every acting bishop or commissioner was liable real inquisition, but attended with all the iniquities
to be sued in an action of false imprisonment.  as well as cruelties, inseparable from that horrid tri
The law says no man ~shall be finedl ult~ra te-1: The citation was to the following effect:
azcmenlum, beyond his estate or ability.  But the   4" We will and command you, and every of you, in
fines raised by this court, in the two next reigns, her majesty's name, by virtue of her high commission
were so exorbitant, that no man was secure in for causes ecclesiastical, to us and others directed.
his property or estate; though, according to Lord that you, and every of you, do make your personal
Clarendon, their power of levying fines at all appearance before us, or others her majesty's corn
was ver.y doubtful. Some for speaking an un- nmissioners in that behalf appointed, in the consistory
within the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, London
mannerly word, or writing what the court was w
emannerly wor,  or waitingb what the  court was [or at Lambeth], the seventh day next after the sight
pleasedl to construe a libel, were fined from  hereof, if we or other our colleagues shall then hap
~500 to ~10,000, and perpetual imprisonment; pen to sit in commission, or else at our next sitting
some had their ears cut off, and their noses slit, there, then next immediately following; and that af.
after they had been exposed several days in the ter your appearance there made, you, and every of
pillory; and many families were driven into ban- you, shall attend, and not depart without our special
ishment; till, in process of time, the court be- license; willing ani comfnanding you, to whom these
came such a general nuisance, that it was dis- our letters shall first be delivered, to show the same
solved by Parliament, with a clause that no such  and oive intimation and knowledge lhereof, to the
others nominated upon the endorsement hereof, as:court should be erected for the future.       you, and every of you, will answer to the contrary at
Farther, the commission gives no authority to your perils. Given at London, the 16th of May, 1584.
the court to frame articles and oblige the clergy                            John Cant.
to subscribe them. It empowers them to reform             Gabriel Goodman.   John London.
all errors, heresies, and schisms which may       Endorsed,
To Ezekias Morley,
* Life of Whitgift, p. 393, 394.     Robert Parnnet, and of Ridgwell in Essex."
t Life of Aylmer, p. 145.            William Bigge,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       163
bring their relations and friends into trouble.   When the Lord-treasurer Burleigh had read
The party to be examined was not to be ac- them  over, and seen the execution they had
quainted with the interrogatories beforehand,
nor to have a copy of his answers, which were   6. Item. " Obj., That in the said statute her majlodged with the secretary of the court, against esty, the lords temporal, and all the commons, in that
the day of his trial. If the commissioners could  Parliament assembled, do in God's name earnestly
not convict him upon his own confession, then  charge and require all the archbishops, bishops, and
they examined their witnesses, but never clear- other ordinaries, that they shall endeavour themed him upon his own oath.  If they could not selves, to the uttermost of their knowledge, that the
reach the prisoner by their ordinary jurisdiction  due and true execution of the said act might be had
as bishops, they would then sit as ecclesiastical  hroughout their diocess and charge, as they would
as bishops, they w   oul d       t hen sit as ecclesiastical answer it before Almighty God. Et obj. ut supra.
commissioners.  If they could not convict him    7. Item. "Obj. ponimus, &c. That you deem and
upon any statute, then they had recourse to judge the said whole book to be a godly and a virtutheir old obsolete law ecclesiastical; so that the ous book, agreeable, or at least not repugnant, to the
prisoner seldom knew by what law he was to  Word of God;'if not, we require and command you
be tried, or how  to prepare for his defence. to declare wherein, and in what points.' Et objiciSometimes men were obliged to a long attend- mus ut supra.
ance, and at other times condemned in haste,   8. Item. " Obj., That for the space of these three
years, two years, one year, half a year; three, two,
~without any trial.  The Rev. IM~r. Brayne, a or one monthlast past, you have at the time of comCambridge minister, being sent for to Lambeth, munion, and at all or some other times in your minmade his appearance before the archbishop and istration, used and worn only your ordinary apparel,
two other commissioners, on Saturday, in the and not the surplice, as is required.'Declare how
afternoon, and being commanded to answer the long, how often, and for what cause, consideration,
interrogatories of the court upon oath, he re- or intent you have so done, or refused so to do.' Et
fused, unless he migfht first see them, and write  obj. ut supra.
fusedown hi s    he m   ight first see theand which his   9. Item. " Obj., That within the time aforn-said you
down his answers with his own hand, which his have baptized divers, or at least one infant, and have
grace refusing, immediately gave him  his ca- not used the sign of the cross in the forehead, with
nonical admonitions, once, twice, and thrice, the words prescribed to be used in the said Book of
and caused him to be registered for contempt, Common Prayer.' Declare how many you have so
and suspended.*                                 baptized, and for what cause, consideration, and inLet the reader carefully peruse the twenty- tent.' Et obj. ut supra.
four articles themselves, which the archbishop    10. Item. "Obj., &c., That within the time aforeframed for the service of the court, and then  said you have been sent unto, and required divers
times, or at least once, to baptize children, or some
judge whether it were possible for an honest one child being weak, and have refused, neglected,
man to answer them upon oath without expo- or at least so long deferred the same, till the child or
sing himself to the mercy of his adversaries.t  children died without the sacrament of baptism.' Declare whose child, when, and for what considera* Life of Whitgift, p. 163.                  tion.' Et obj. ut supra.
t The articles were these that follow:          11. Item. "Obj., &c., That within the time afore1. Imprimis. " Objicimus, ponimus, et articulamur, said you have celebrated matrimony otherwise than
e., We object, put, and article to you, that you are the book prescribes, and without a ring, and have re-a deacon or minister, and priest admitted; declare fused at such times to call for the ring, and to use
oy whom and what time you were ordered; and such words in that behalf as the book appoints, and
likewise, that your ordering was according to the book particularly those words,' that by matrimony is sig
in that behalf by the law of this land provided. Et nified the spriritual marriage and unity between
objicimus conjunctim de omni et divisim de quolibet, Christ and his Church.''Declare the circumstani. e.,' And we object to you the whole of this article ces of time, person, and place, and for what cause,
taken together, and every branch of it separately.'   intent, and consideration.' Et obj. ut supra.
2. Item. " Objicimus, ponimus, et articulamur,   12. Item. " Obj., &c., That you have within the
That you deem and judge such your ordering, admis- time aforesaid neglected, or refused to use, the form
sion, and calling into your ministry, to be lawful, and of thanksgiving for women, or some one woman afnot repugnant to the Word of God. Et objicimus ut ter childbirth, according to the said book.'Declare the
supra, i. e.,' And we object as before.'      like circumstances thereof, and for what intent, cause,
3. Item. " Objicimus, ponimus, &c. That you have or consideration you have so done, or refused so to
sworn, as well at the time of your ordering as insti- do.' Et obj. ut supra.
tution, duty and allegiance to the queen's majesty,   13. Item. " Objicimus, &c., That you within the
and canonical obedience to your ordinary and his suc- time aforesaid baptized divers infants, or at the least
cessors, and to the metropolitan and his successors, one, otherwise and in other manner than the said
or to some of them. Et objicimus ut supra.      book prescribeth, and not used the interrogatories to
4. Item. " Onjicimus, &c. That by a statute or the godfathers and godmothers in the name of the
act of Parliament made in the first year of the infant, as the said book requireth.'Declare the like
queen's majesty that now is, one virtuous and godly circumstances thereof, or for what cause, intent, or
book, entitled The Book of Common Prayer and Ad- consideration you have so done, or refused so to do.'
ministration of Sacraments, &c., was authorized and Et objicimus ut supra.
established to stand and be from and after the feast   14. Item. " We do object, that you have within the
of the Nativity of St. John Baptist then next ensuing, time aforesaid used any other form of litany, in divers
in full force and effect, according to the said statute, or some points, from the said book; or that you have
and so yet remaineth.  Et obj. ut supra.        often, or once, wholly refused to use the said litany.
5. Item. " Obj., That by the said statute all minis-' Declare the like circumstances thereof, or for what
ters within her majesty's dominions, ever since the cause, intent, or consideration you have so done, or
said feast, have been, and are bound to say and use, refused so to do.'
a certain-form of morning and evening prayer called   15. Item. " We do object, &c., That you have
in the act matins, even-song, celebration of the Lord's within the time aforesaid refused and omitted to
Supper, and administration of each of the sacraments; read divers lessons prescribed by the said book, and
and all other common and open prayer in such order have divers times either not read any lessons at all,
and form as is mentioned in the same book, and none or read others in their places.' Declare the like cirther, nor otherwise. Et obj. ut supra.         cumstance thereof, and for what intent, cause, or




164                        HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
done upon the clergy, he wrote his grace the         "It may please your grace,
following letter:                                 "I am sorry to trouble you so oft as I do, but
consideration you have so done or refused.' Et obj. I am more troubled myself, not only with many
"t supra.     iprivate petitions of sundry ministers, recom16. Item.  Objicimus, That within the time aire- mended for persons of credit and peaceable in
said you have either not used at all, or else used an- their ministry, who are greatly troubled by your
other manner of common prayer or service at burial, grace, and your colleagues in commission; but
from that which the said book prescribeth, and have I am also daily charged by counsellors and pubrefused there to use these words, We commit earth lie persons with neglect of my duty, in not stayto earth, in sure and certain hope of resurrection to
eternal life.' Declare the like circumstances there-  ing your grace's vehement proceedings against
of, and for what intent, cause, or consideration you ministers, whereby papists are greatly encourhave so done or refused so to do.' Et obj. ut supra.  aged, and the queen's safety endangered.*  I
17. Item. "Objicimus, &c., That within the time have read over your twenty-four articles, found
aforesaid you have advisedly, and of set purpose, in a Romish style, of great length and curiosity,
not only omitted and refused to use the aforesaid  to examine all manner of ministers in this time,
parts, or some of them, of the said book, but also without distinction of persons, to be executed
some other parts of the said Book of Common Pray-ind them  so curiously
er, as being persuaded that in such points it is repug- penned, so  ll of branches and circumstances,
nant to the Word of God.'Declare what other, ofull of branches and circumstances
parts of the said book you have refused to use, for that I think the Inquisition of Spain used not so
what intent, cause, or consideration.' Et objic. ut many questions to comprehend and to trap their
supra.                                          priests.  I know  your canonists can defend
18. Item. "Objic., &c., That within thetime afore- these with all their particles; but surely, under
said you have at the communion, and in other parts of correction, this judicial and canonical sifting
your ministration, advisedly added unto, diminished, poor  inisters is not to edify or reform.  And
and taken from, altered, and transposed, manifoldlynot to                            
at your own pleasure, sundry parts of the said Book
of Common Prayer.'Declare the circumstances of these nice points, except they were notorious
time and place, and for what intent, cause, and con- papists or heretics.  I write with the testimony
sideration.' Et obj. ut supra.                  of a good conscience.  I desire the peace and
19. Item. "Objic., That within the tinme aforesaid unity of the Church.  I favour no sensual and
you have advisedly, and of set purpose, preached, wilful recusant; but I conclude, according to
taught, declared, set down, or published by writing, my simple judgment, this kind of proceeding is
public or private speech, matter against the said Book too much savouring of the Romish Inquisition
of Common Prayer, or of something therein contain- and is a device rather to seek for offenders than
ed, as being repugnant to the Word of God, or not and is a device rather to seek for offenders than
convenient to be used in the Church; or something to reform any.  It is not charitable to send poor
have Written or uttered tending to the depraving, de- ministers to your common registrar, to answer
spising, or defacing of some things contained in the upon so many articles at one instant, without a
said book.' Declare what, and the like circumstan- copy of the articles or their answers.  I pray
ces thereof, and for what cause or consideration you your grace bear with this one (perchance) fault,
have so done.' Et objic. ut supra.              that I have willed the ministers not to answer
20. Item. " Objicimus, &c., That you at this pres- these art
ent do continue all or some of your former opinions fer them.s except their consciences may sufagainst the said book, and have a settled purpose to
continue hereafter such additions, diminutions, alter-  "July 15, 1584.         W. CECIL."
ations, and transpositions, or some of them, as you    This excellent letter was so far from softenheretofore unlawfully have used in your public min- ing the archbishop, that, two days after, he reistration; and that you have used private conferen- turned his lordship a long answer, vindicating
ces, and assembled, or been present, at conventicles, his interrogatories, from  the practice of the
for the maintenance of their doings herein, and for the
animating and encouraging of others to continue in ops, priests, and deacons, containeth in it nothing
the like disposition in this behalf that you are of. contrary to the Word of God, and that the same may' Declare the like circumstances, and for what intent, be lawfully used; and that you who do subscribe will
cause, and consideration.' Et objic. ut supra.  use the form in the said book prescribed, in public
21. Item. " Objicimus, &c., That you have been prayer and administration of the sacraments, and
heretofore noted, defamed, presented, or detected none other. (3.) That you allow the book of articles
publicly, to have been faulty in all and singular the of religion, agreed upon by the archbishops and bishpremises, and of every or some of them; and that ops of both provinces, and the whole clergy in the
you have been divers and sundry times, or once convocation holden at London in the year of our
at the least, admonished by your ordinary, or other Lord God 1562, and set forth by her majesty's au
ecclesiastical magistrate, to reform the same, and to thority; and do believe all the articles therein conobserve the form and order of the Book of Common tained to be agreeable to the Word of God.' DePrayer, which you have refused, or defer to do. dare by whom, and how often, which hitherto you' Declare the like circumstances thereof.' Et objic. have advisedly refused to perform, and so yet do per
ut supra.                                       sist.' Et objic. ut slpra.
22. Item. "That for the testification hereafter of   23. Item. "That you have taken upon you to
your unity with the Church of England, and your preach, read, or expound the Scriptures, as well in
conformity to laws established, you have been re- public places as in private houses, not being licensed
quired simply and absolutely to subscribe with your by your ordinary, nor any other magistrate having au
hand, (1.) That her majesty, under God, hath, and thority by the laws of this land so to license you..
ought to have, the sovereignty and rule over all'Declare the like circumstances hereof.' Et objic
manner of persons born within her realm, dominions, ut supra.
and countries, of what estate either ecclesiastical or   24. Item. " Quod pramissa omnia et singula, &c.,
temporal soever they be; and that none other foreign i. e.,' That all and singular the premises,."' &c
power, prelate, state, or potentate hath, or ought have,   Could the wit of man invent anything more like
any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or an inquisition! Here are interrogatories enough to
authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within her maj- entangle all the honest men in the kingdom, and
esty's said realms, dominions, or countries. (2.) That bring them into danger.
the Book of Common Prayer, and of ordering bish-   * Life of Whitgift, b. iv., Rec. No. 4.




HISTORY OF TVi]E PURITANS.                                    165
Star Chamber, the Court of Marches, and other after reading his grace's iong answer, he was
places.*  The treasurer found it was to no pur-  not satisfied in the point of seeking by examipose to contend, and therefore repliedin ashort nation to have ministers accuse themselves,
but smart letter, in which he tells him " that and then punish them for their own confession;
*  Whitgift replied to the lord-treasurer, alleging., that he would not call his proceedings captious,
that he had uniformly acquainted him with his pro- but they were scarcely charitable; his grace
ceedings, and had acted on his advice.'Touching  might therefore deal with his friend Mr. Brayne
the twenty-four articles,' he says,' which your lord- as he thought fit, but when, by examining him,
ship seemeth so much to dislike, as written in a Roe- it was meant only to sift him with twenty-four
mish style, smelling of the Romish Inquisition, &c., I articles, he had cause to pity the poor man."*
cannot but greatly marvel at your lordship's vehe-    The archbishop, being desirous to give satisment speeches against them (I hope without cause),                               to 
seeing it is the ordinary course in other courts likewise; as in the Star Chamber, the Court of the  of reasons, one to justify the articles, and the
Marches, and other places. And (without offence  other the manner of proceeding ex mero offcio.
be it spoken) I think these articles to be more toler- In the former he says, that by the ecclesiastical
able, and better agreeing with the rule of justice and  or canon laws, articles of inquiry may be adcharity, and less captious, than those in other courts. ministered, and have been ever since the Ref-..... For my own part,' he adds,'I neither do  omination   and that they ought not to be comnor have done anything in this matter, which I do pared with the Inquisition, because the nqusnot think myself in duty and conscience bound to doed  with;
which her majesty hath not with earnest charge com-  tion punished with death, whereas they only
mitted unto me; and the which I am well able to  punished obstinate offenders with deprivation.
justify, to be most requisite for this State and  In the latter his lordship gives the following reaChurch; whereof, next to her majesty, though most sons, among others, for proceeding ex mero ofiunworthy, or, at the least, most unhappy, the chief cio: If we proceed only by presentment and
care is committed to Iie; which I may not neglect, witnesses, theu papists, Brownists, and family
whatsoever come upon me therefor.  I never es- men wouldexpect the like measure-  It is hard
teem the honour of the place (which is to me gravis- to get witnesses against the Puritans, because
simunz onus), nor the largeness of the revenues (for
the which l am not yet one penny the richer), nor most of the parishioners favour them, and
any other worldly thing, I thank God, in the respect therefore will not present them, nor appear
of the doing of my duty. Neither do I fear the dis- against, them.  There is great trouble and
pleasure of man, nor regard the wicked tongues of charge in examining witnesses, and sending
the uncharitable, which call me tyrant, pope, papist, for them  from  distant parts.  If archbishops
knave, and lay to my charge things which I never and bishops should be driven to use proofs by
did, nor thought upon.'
"The archbishop expresses his deep concern at witnesses only, the execution of the law would
"The archbishop expresses his deep concern at
the lord-treasurer's dissatisfaction with his proceed- be partial; their charges in procuring and proings.' God knoweth,' he said,'howdesirous I have ducing witnesses would be intolerable; and
been, from time to time, to satisfy your lordship in  they should not be able to make quick despatch
all things, and to have my doings approved by you. enough with the sectaries.  These were the
For which cause, since my coming to this place, I arguments of a Protestant archbishop! I do
did nothing of importance without your advice. I not wonder that they gave no satisfaction to
have risen up early and sat up late, to write unto you  th  wise treasurer; for surely, all wh  have
such objections and answers as are used on either
side. I have not donle the like to any man. And any regard for the laws of their country, or the
shall I now say that I have lost mylabour? Or shall civil and religious rights of mankind, must be
my just dealing with two of the most disordered min- ashamed of them.
isters in a whole diocess (the obstinacy and contempt   The treasurer having given up the archbishof whom, especially of one of them, yourself would  op, the lords of the council took the cause in
not bear in any subjected to your authority) cause  hand, and wrote to his grace and the Bishop of
you so to think and speak of my doings and of my- London, in favour of the deprived ministers,
self? No man living should have made me believe                   In their letter they tell their
it. My lord, an old friend is better than a new. And  September 2 th.a
I trust your lordship will not so lightly cast off your lorships "that they had heard of sundry conold friends for any of these new-fangled and factious plaints out of divers counties, of proceedings
sectaries; whose endeavour is to make division where- against a great number of ecclesiastical persons,
soever they come, and separate old and assured  some parsons, some vicars, some curates, but
friends......   Your lordship seemeth to burden  all preachers; some deprived, and some susme with wilfulness, &c. I think you are not so per- pended by their lordships' officers, chancellors,
suaded of me; I appeal therein to your own conscience., but that they had taken no notice of these
There is a difference betwixt wilfulness and constan-        thee o 
cy. I have taken upon me the defence bf the religion things, hoping their lordships would have stayand rites of this church; the execution of the laws ed their hasty proceedings, especially against
concerning the same; the appeasing of the sect  nd  such as did earnestly instruct the people against
schisms therein; the reducing the ministers tfereof  popery.  But now of late, hearing of great numto uniformity and due obedience. Herein I intend  bers of zealous and learned preachers suspendto be constant; which also my place, my person, my ed from their cures in the county of Essex, and
duty, the laws, her majesty, and the goodness of there is no preaching prayers or sacracause requireth of me; and wherein your lordship  ments  in most of the vacant places; that in
and others (all things considered) ought, as I take
it, to assist and help me. It is more than strange  some few of them  persons neither of learning
that a man in my place, dealing by so good warran- nor good name are appointed; and that in other
ty as I do, should be so hardly used, and for not places of the country great numbers of persons
yielding be counted wilful. But Vincit qui patitur, that occupy cures are notoriously unfit; most
overcomes. And if my friends herein forsake me, I for lack of learning; many chargeable with
trust God will not, nor her majesty, who have laid great and enormous faults as drunkenness,
the charge on me, and are able to protect me; upon
whom only I will depend.' "-Dr. Price's Hist. Non-   * Life of Whitgift, p. 160.     t Ibid.
conformity, vol. i., 341-2.-C.                   $ Ibid., p. 166.




166                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
filthiness of life, gaming at cards, hauntingsof seem best to his good lordship; and now I per
alehouses, &c., against whom they C[the coun- ceive," said he, "you are the men, of whom one
oil] heard of no proceedings, but that they were I never saw or knew before [Dr. Sparke]; the
quietly suffered."  To fix this charge home on  other I know well.  Let us hear what things in
the bishops, they sent with their letter a cata- the Book of Common Prayer you think ought
logue of names; one column of learned minis- to be mended: you appear not now judicially
ters deprived; a second of unlearned and vi- before me, nor as called in question by authorcious persons continued: "A matter very la- ity for these things, but by way of conference;
mentable," say they; "for this time!" and a for which cause it shall be free for you (speakthird of pluralists and nonresidents; "Against ing in duty) to charge the book with such matthese latter we [the council] have heard of no  ters as you suppose to be blameworthy in it."
inquisition; but of great diligence, and extreme    Dr. Sparke replied, " We give most humble
usage against those that were known to be dil- and hearty thanks to Almighty God, and to this
igent preachers; we, therefore, pray your lord- honourable presence, that after so many years,
ships to have some charitable consideration of wherein our cause could never be admitted to
their causes, that people may not be deprived  an indifferent hearing, it hath pleased God of
of their diligent, learned, and zealous pastors, his gracious goodness so to dispose things, that
for a few points ceremonial, which entangled  we have now that equity and favour showed
their consciences." This letter was dated from  us, that before such honourable personages, as
Oatlands, September 20th, 1584, and signed by may be a worthy means to her most excellent
Lord Burleigh, the Earls of Warwick, Shrews- majesty for reformation of such things as are
bury, and Leicester; the Lord Charles Howard, to be redressed, it is now lawful for us to deSir James Crofts, Sir Christopher Hatton; and  dare with freedom what points ought to be reSir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state.    viewed and reformed which our endeavour is,
But this excellent remonstrance had no man- because it concerns the service of God, and the
ner of influence upon our archbishop.*  After satisfaction of such as are in authority; and for
this, Mr. Beale, clerk of the queen's council, a that the good issue depends on the favour of
man of great learning and piety, drew up a trea- God, I desire, that before we enter any farther,
tise, showing the injustice and unlawfulness of we may first seek for the gracious direction and
the bishop's proceedings; and delivered it in man- blessing of God by prayer."  At which words,
uscript into the archbishop's own hands, which, framing himself to begin to pray, the archbishtogether with some freedom of speech, inflamed op interrupted him, saying he should make no
his grace to that degree, that he complained of prayers there, nor turn that place into a convenhim to the queen and council, and used all his ticle.
interest to have him tried in the Star Chamber,   Mr. Travers joined with Dr. Sparke, and deand turned out of his place.t Among his mis- sired that it might be lawful for them to pray
demeanors, drawn up by the archbishop, were  before they proceeded any farther; but the
these: that he had printed a book against eccle- archbishop not yielding thereunto, terming it a
siastical oaths; that in the House of Commons conventicle if any such prayer should be offered
he had spoke of ecclesiastical matters, contrary  to be made, my Lord of Leicester and Sir Franto the queen's command; that he had defended  cis Walsingham desired Dr. Sparke to content
his book against the practice of the ecclesiasti- himself, seeing they doubted not but that he
cal courts; that he had disputed against the had prayed already before his coming thither.
queen's having authority, by virtue of the stat- Dr. Sparke, therefore, omitting to use such prayute of the 1st of Elizabeth, to grant power to  er as he had proposed, made a short address to
her ecclesiastical commissioners to imprison  God in very few words, though the archbishop
whom they please, to impose fines upon offend- continued to interrupt him all the while.
ers, and to administer the oath ex officio, say-   The heads that the ministers insisted upon
ing they are within the statute of premunire; were, Ist. Putting the apocryphal writings (in
that he had condemned racking for grievous of- which were several errors and false doctrines)
fenders, as contrary to law and the liberty of upon a level with the Holy Scriptures, by readthe subject; and advised those in the marches ing them publicly in the Church, while several
of Wales that execute torture by virtue of in- parts of the canon were utterly omitted. This
structions under her majesty's hands to look to  they said had been forbidden by councils, and
it that their doings are well warranted: but particularly that of Laodicea.  The archbishop
the court would not prosecute upon this charge. denied any errors to be found in the Apocrypha;
All that the Puritans could obtain was a kind  which led the ministers into a long detail of
of conference between the Archbishop of Can- particulars, to the satisfaction (says my author)
terbury and the Bishop of Winchester on the  of the noblemen. 2dly. The second head was
one part, and Dr. Sparke and Mr. Travers on upon baptism; and here they objected against
the other, in presence of the right honourable  its being done in private. Against its being
the Earl of Leicester, the Lord Grey, and Sir done by laymen or women. And against the
Francis Walsingham. The conference was at doctrine from whence this practice arises, viz.,
Lambeth, concerning things needful to be re- that children not baptized are in danger of damformed in the Book of Common Prayer.         nation; and that the outward baptism of water
The archbishop opened it with declaring, saveth the child that is baptized. Against the
"that my Lord of Leicester, having requested  interrogatories in the name of the child, which
for his satisfaction to hear what the ministers Mr. Travers charged with arising fiom a false
could reprove, and how their objections were principle, viz., that faith was necessary in all
to be answered, he had granted my lord to pro- persons to be baptized; lie added, that the incure such to come for that purpose as might terrogatories crept into the Church but lately,
* Life of Whitgift, p. 143.  t Ibid., p. 212.   and took their rise from the baptism of those




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   167
that were of age; from whence, very ignorantly,   Mr. Carew, of Hatfield-Peveril, was a zeal
they were transferred to infants. Against the  ous promoter of the welfare of souls, and mourncross, as a mlystical rite and ceremony, and an  ed over the want of a learned and preaching
addition to the sacrament of human invention: ministry; he was ordained by the Bishop of
here they argued, that though the foreign di- Worcester, and licensed by Archbishop Grindal
vines did not condemn the use of the cross, yet and the Bishop of London himself, who comall agreed it ought to be abolished; and Beza  mended his preaching; but being too forward
gives counsel to the ministers, rather to forego  in acquainting his diocesan by letter, that in
their ministry, than subscribe to the allowance Essex, within the compass of sixteen miles,
of it. After many words upon this head, my  there were twenty-two non-residents, thirty inLord of Leicester said it was a pitiful thing that sufficient ministers, and, at the same time,
so many of the best ministers, and painful in nineteen preachers silenced for not subscribing;
their preaching, should be deprived for these his lordship, instead of being pleased with the
things. 3dly. They objected to private com- information, sent for Carew before the commismunion. 4thly. To the apparel; and here they  sioners, and charged him falsely, without the
produced the judgment of Bishop Ridley at his least evidence, with setting up a presbytery,
degradation, as reported by Mr. Fox, who said  and with contemning ecclesiastical censures.
it was too bad to be put upon a fool in a play. It was alleged against him farther, that he was
5thly. They objected to the bishop's allowing  chosen by the people; that he had defaced the
of an insufficient ministry, non-residence, and  Book of Common Prayer, and had put several
pluralities.*                                from  the communion, when there was more
The conference continued two days, at the  need to allure them to it, &c. But to make
close of which, neither party being satisfied, the  short work, the bishop tendered him the oath
noblemen requested some favour for the minis- ex officio, which Carew refusing, he was comters.  Mr. Strype sayst the ministers were  mitted to the Fleet, and another clergyman sent
convinced and confirmed; but it is evident he down to supply his place. Mr. Allen, the paknew not the disputants, nor had seen the de- tron, in whom the right of presentation was by
bate, a copy of which is before me. Travers inheritance, refusing to admit the bishop's readwas a Nonconformist to his death, and Sparke  er, was summoned before his lordship, and comappeared at their head, at the Hampton Court mitted to prison; because (as the warrant exconference, the beginning of the next reign. presses it) he behaved seditiously in withstandNor was the archbishop softened, but rather ing the authority of the court: nay, the very sexconfirmed in his former resolution.          ton was reprimanded, and ordered not to meddle
Ayllner, bishop of London, came not behind  with the Church any more; and because he
his metropolitan in acts of severity. Mr. Strype  asked his lordship simply whether his meaning
says he was the chief mover in the ecclesiasti- was that he should not come to church any
cal commission, and had as high a spirit as the  more, he committed him  for ridiculous behagreatest lord-in the land. During Grindal's dis- viour.  Both Allen and Carew offered bail,
grace, he harassed the London clergy with new  which was refused, unless they would admit
interrogatories and articles, three or four times his lordship's clergyman.*  After eight weeks'
a year. He advised the heads of the Universi- imprisonment, they appealed to the privy county of Cambridge (with whom he had nothing to  cil and were released; with which his lordship
do) to call in all their licenses, and expel every  was so displeased that he sent the council a
man who would not wear the apparel, saying  very angry letter, calling the prisoners knaves,
" that the folly that is bound up in the heart of rebels, rascals, fools, petty gentlemen, precisa child is to be expelled with the rod of disci- ians, &c., and told their honours that if such
pline."t                                     men were countenanced, he must yield up his
* MS., p. 562, &c.    t Life of Whitgift, p. 170. authority; and the bishop never left him till he
4 Life of Aylmer, p. 84, 94. In his visitation this had hunted him out of the diocess.
summer [1584], he suspended the following clergy-   Mr. Knight suffered six months' imprisonmen in Essex, &c.  Mr. Whiteing, of Panfield, ment for not wearing the apparel, and was
Messrs. Wyresdale and Gifford, of Malden, Mr. fined one hundred marks. Mr. Negus was susHawkdon, vicar of Fryan, Mr. Carre, of Rain, Mr. pended on the same account: twenty-eight of
Tonstal, of Much-Tottam, Mr. Huckle, of Atrop- his parishioners, who subscribed themselves his
Rooding, Mr. Piggot, of Tilly, Mr. Cornwal, of Mark  hungry sheep that had no shepherd, signed a
stay, Mr. NegusWard, of Writtleigh, Mr. Dyke, afterward of St.field, letter, beseeching him to conform; but he proAlban's, Mr. Rogers, of Weathersfield, Mr. Northey, tested he could not do it with a good conscience,
of Colchester, Mr. Newman, of Coxall, Mr. Taye, and so was deprived.
of Peldon, Mr. Parker, of Dedham, Mr. Morley, of   The Rev. Mr. Gifford, of Malden, was a
Ridswell, Mr. Nix (or Knight), of Hampstead, Mr. modest man, irreprovable in his life, a great and
Winkfield, of Wicks, Mr. Wilton, of Aldham, Mr. diligent preacher, says Mr. Strype, and esteemDent, of South Souberry, Mr. Pain, of Tolberry, Mr. ed by many of good rank. He had written learnLarking, of Little-Waltham, Mr. Camillus Rusticus,
pastor of Tange, Mr. Seredge, of East-Havingfield, edly against the Brownsts and by his diligence
Mr. Howel, of Pagelsam, Mr. Chadwick, of Danbu- had wrought a wonderful reformation in the
ry, Mr. Ferrar, of Langham, Mr. Serls, of Lexdon, town; but being informed against for preaching
Mr. Lewis, of St. Peter's, Colchester, Mr. Cock, of up a limited obedience to the magistrate, he was
St. Giles's, Colchester, Mr. Beaumont, of East- suspended and imprisoned.t  After some time
Thorp, Mr. Redridge, of Hutton, Mr. Chaplain, of he was brought to his trial, and his accuser failHempsted, Mr. Culverwell, of Felsted, Mr. D. Chapman, preacher at l)edham, and Mr. Knevit, of Mile- plice, saying, We shall be white with him, or he will
End, Colchester; in all, about thirty-eight. These, be black with us.-MS., p. 584, 741.
says my author, ale the painful ministers of Essex,   * Life of Aylmer, p. 122. MS., p, 662, 658.
whom the bishop threatens to deprive for the sur-   t MS., p. 410, 420.




168                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANo.
ing in his evidence, he was released. But the sovereign, and their neighbours;* but that of
Bishop of London setting his spies upon him, late it had pleased the Lord to visit them with
lie was imprisoned again for nonconformity.* the means of salvation, the ordinary ministry of
Upon this he applied to the lord-treasurer, who the Word, in the person of Mr. Dyke, an authorapplied to the archbishop in his favour; but his ized. minister, who, according to his function,
grace having consulted his brother of London, had been painful and profitable, and both in life
told his lordship that he was a ringleader of the and doctrine had carried himself peaceably and
Nonconformists; that he himself had received dutifully among them, so as no man could justly
complaints against him, and was determined to find fault with him, except of malice. There
bring him  before the high commission. The were some, indeed, that could not abide to hear
parishioners of Malden presented a petition in their faults reproved, but through his preaching
behalf of their minister, signed with fifty-two many had been brought from their ignorance
hands, whereof two were bailiffs of the town, and evil ways to a better life, to be frequent
two justices of the peace, four aldermen, fifteen hearers of God's Word, and their servants were
head burgesses, and the vicar; but to put an end in better order than heretofore.
to all farther application, the archbishop wrote    " They then give his lordship to understand
to the treasurer, " that he had rather die, or live that their minister was suspended, and that they
in prison all the days of his life, than relax the were as sheep without a shepherd, exposed to
rigour of his proceedings, by showing favour to manifold dangers, even to return to their former
one, which might give occasion to others to ex- ignorance and cursed vanities, h1at the Lord
pect the same, and undo all that he had been had spoken it, and therefore it must be true, that
doing;t he therefore beseeches his lordship not where there is no vision the people perish. They
to animate this forward people by writing in therefore pray his lordship, in the bowels of his
their favour."  Sir Francis Knollys, the queen's compassion, to pity them in their present misery,
kinsman, and treasurer of her chamber, second- and become a means that they may enjoy their
ed the treasurer, beseeching his grace to open preacher again."
the mouths of zealous preachers, who were   Upon this letter, Lord Burleigh wrote to the
sound in doctrine, though they refused to sub- bishop to restore him, promising that if he troubscribe to any traditions of men, not compellable led the congregation with innovations any more,
by law; but all was to no purpose; for as Ful- he would join with the bishop against him; but
ler observes,: "This was the constant custom  his lordship excused himself, insinuating that he
of Whitgift: if any lord or lady sued for favour was charged with incontinence; this occasionto any Nonconformist, he would profess how  ed a farther inquiry into Dyke's character, which
glad he was to serve them, and gratify their de- was cleared up by the woman herself that acsires, assuring them, for his part, that all possi- cused him, who confessed her wicked contrible kindness should be indulged to them, but at vance, and openly asked him forgiveness. His
the same time he would remit nothing of his rig- lordship, therefore, insisted upon his being restoour. Thus he never denied any man's desire, red, forasmuch as the best clergymen in the world
and yet never granted it; pleasing them for the might be thus slandered; besides, the people of
present with general promises, but still kept to St. Alban's had no teaching, having no curate
his own resolution; whereupon the nobility, in but an insufficient doting old man. For this faa little time, ceased making farther applications your (says the treasurer) I shall thank your lordto him, as knowing them  to be ineffectual." ship, and will not solicit you any more, if hereafSome of the ministers were indicted at the as- ter he should give just cause of public offence
sizes,~ for omitting the cross in baptism, and against the orders of the church established.
for not wearing the surplice once every month, But all that the treasurer could say was ineffectand at every communion. Most of them were ual; the Bishop of London was as inexorable
deprived, or, to avoid it, forced to quit their liv- as his grace of Canterbury.
ings and depart the country.                   The inhabitants of Essex had a vast esteem
Among these was the excellent Mr. Dyke, for their ministers; they could not part from
preacher first at Coggeshall in Essex, and after- them without tears; when they could not preward at St. Alban's in Hertfordshire, whose vail with the bishop, they applied to the Parliacharacter was without blemish, and whose prac- ment, and to the lords of the privy council. I
tical writings discover him to be a divine of con- have before me two or three petitions from the
siderable learning and piety; he was suspend- hundreds of Essex, and one from the county,
ed, and at last deprived, because he continued signed by Francis Barrington, Esq., at the head
a deacon, and did not enter into priest's orders, of above two hundred gentlemen and tradesmen,
which (as the bishop supposed) he accounted housekeepers, complaining, in the strongest
popish.  He also refused to wear the surplice, terms, that the greatest number of their presand troubled his auditory with notions that ent ministers were unlearned, idle, or otherwise
thwarted the established religion. The parish- of scandalous lives; and that those few from
loners, being concerned for the loss of their min-. whom they reaped knowledge and comfort were
ister, petitioned the Lord Burleigh to intercede molested, threatened, and put to silence, for
far them, setting forth "that they had lived small matters in the common prayer, though
without any ordinary preaching till within these they were men of godly lives and conversations.
four or five years, by the want of which they   The bishop was equally severe in other parts
were unacquainted with their duty to God, their of his diocess. The Rev. Mr. Barnaby Benison, a city divine of good learning. had been
* Life of Aylmer, p. 111.                  suspended and kept in prison several years, on
t Fuller, b. ix., p. 162.    $ Fuller, b. ix., p. 218  pretence of some irregularity in his marriage:, M. Beaumont of East-Thorp, Mr. Wilton of Ald
ham  Mr. Hawkdon of Fryan, M. Seredge of East- the bishop charged him with being married in
Havingfield.                                            * Life of Aylmer, p. 303.




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.                               169
an afternoon, and in presence of two or three   After some time the bishop returned this anhundred people, by Mr. Field, a Nonconformist; swer:
for this he was committed to the Gate-house,
where he had lain ever since the year 1579. At   "r beseech your lordships to consider, that it
length he applied to the queen and council, and is a rare example thus to press a bishop for his
in the state of his case he declares that he had zealous service to the queen and the peace of
invited only forty persons to the ceremony, and the Church, especially the man being found worthat of them there were only twenty present; thy to be committed for nonconformity, to say
that he was married in a morning, and accord- nothing of his contemptuous using of me; neving to law; that when the bishop sent for him  ertheless, since it pleaseth your lordships to reand charged him with sedition, he cleared him- quire some reasonable sum of money, I pray you
self to his satisfaction; but that after he was to consider my poor estate and great charges
gone home he gave private order under his own otherwise, together with the great vaunt the
hand for his being apprehended and sent to the man will make of his conquest over a bishop.
Gate-house; that he was shut up there in a dun- I hope, therefore, your lordships will be fovourageon eight days, without knowing the cause of ble to me, and refer it to myself, either to bestow
his imprisornment, though Dr. Hammond, and upon him some small benefice, or otherwise to
his faithful father Fox, who were both at the help him as opportunity offers. Or if this shall
wedding, and saw the whole proceeding, went not satisfy the man, or content your lordships,
to the bishop and assured him that he was with- leave him to the trial of the law, which I hope
out wickedness or fault in that way he went will not be so plain with him as he taketh it.
about to charge him; but his lordship would Surely, my lords, this and the like must greatly
not release him without such bonds for his good discourage me in this poor service of mine in
behaviour and appearance as the prisoner could the commission.'
not procure. " Thus I continue," says Mr. Ben-   What recompense the poor man had for his
ison, " separated from my wife before I had been long imprisonment I cannot find. But he was
married to her two weeks, to the great trouble too wise to go to law with a bishop of the court
of her friends and relations, and to the stagger- of high commission, who had but little coning of the patient obedience of my wife; for since science or honour, and who, notwithstanding
my imprisonment his lordship has been endeav- his "poor estate and great charges," left behind
ouring to separate us, whom God has joined him about ~16,000 in money, an immense sun
together in the open presence of his people. for those times   i
Wherefore I most humbly beseech your godly His lordship complained that he was hated
honours, for the everlasting love of God, and like a dog and commonly styled the oppressor
for the pity you take upon God's true Protest- of the children of God *  that he was in danger
ants and his poor people, to be a means that my of being mobbed in his progress at Maiden, and
pitiful cry may be heard, and my just cause with other places; which is not strange, considering
some credit be cleared, to God's honour and her his mean appearance, being a very little man
majesty's, whose favour I esteem more than all and his high and insulting behaviour towards
the bishop's blessings or bitter cursings; and those that were examined by him, attended with
that, I now being half dead, may recover again ill language and a cruel spirit. This appears in
to get a poor living with the little learning that numberless instances. When Mr. Merbary, one
God has sent me, to his glory, to the discharging of the ministers of Northampton, was brought
some part of my duty, and to the profit of the before him, he spake thus:
land."                                       B. Thou speakest of making ministers; the
The council were so moved with Benison's Bishop of Peterborough was never more overcase, that they sent his lordship the following seen in his life than when he admitted thee to
letter:                                    be a preacher in Northampton.
Merbury. I,ike enough so (in some sense)- 1
"Whereas Barnaby Benison, minister, has pray God these scales may fall from his eyes
given us to understand the great hinderance he p ray Go         d these scales may fall from his eyes.
B. Thou art a very ass; thou art mad; thou
has received by your hard dealing with him, and courageous! Nay, thou art impudent; by my
his long imprisonment, for which if he should troth, I think he is nad  he careth for nobody.
bring his action of false imprisonment he should   M. Sir, I take exception at swearing judges
recover damages, which would touch your lord- I praise God I am not mad, but sorry to see you
ship's credit; we therefore have thought fit to so out of temper.
require your lordship to use some consideration B. Did you ever hear one more impudent.
towards him, in giving him some sum of money   M. It is not, I trust, impudence to answer for
to repay the wrong you have done him, and in myself.
respect of the hinderance he hath incurred by   B. Nay, I know thou art courageous; thou
your hard dealing towards him. Therefore, art foolhardy.
praying your lordship to deal with the poor man,   M. Though I fear not you, I fear the Lord.
that he may have occasion to turn his complaint      of London. Is he learned 1
into giving to us a good report of your charita-   B.  He hath an arrogant spirit: he can scarce
ble dealing, we bid you heartily farewell. Hamp-construe Cato, I think.
ton Court, November 14th, 1584. Signed,     M. Sir, you do not punish me because I am
Ambrose Warwick, Fr. Bedford,      unlearned; howbeit, I understand both the Greek
Fr. Knollys,      Rob. Leicester,  and Latin tongues; assay me to prove your
VWalter Mildmay,   Charles Howard, disgrace.
Fr. Walsinghanl,   James Crofts,     B. Thou takest upon thee to be a preacher,
Wmin. Burghley,    Chr. Hatton."                      _}__
Bromley, chan.                                 * Life of Aylmer, p. 96.
VOL. I.-Y




.70                   HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS.
but there is nothing in thee; thou art a very   Among these, the case of the Rev. Mr. Euass, an idiot, and a fool.                 sebius Paget, minister of the parish church
M. I humbly beseech you, sir, have patience; of Kilkhampton, in the diocess of Exon, was
give this people better example; I am that I very moving; this divine, at the time of his
am through the Lord; I submit the trial of my presentation, acquainted his patron and ordinasufficiency to the judgment of the learned; but rythat he could not with quietness of conscience
this wandering speech is not logical.      use some rites, ceremonies, and orders appointThere is a great deal more of the same lan- ed in the service-book; who promised, that if
guage in this examination; one thing is remark- he would take the charge of the said cure, he
able, that he insults poor Merbury, because he should not be urged to the precise observation
was for having a minister in every parish. At of them; upon which condition he accepted the
parting he gave him the salutation of an " over- charge, and was admitted and regularly inductthwart, proud, Puritan knave;" and sent him  ed.*  Mr. Paget was a lame man, but, in the
to the Marshalsea, though he had been twice opinion of Mr. Strype, a learned, peaceable, and
in prison before.*                         quiet divine, who had complied with the cusHow different was this from the apostolic toms and devotion of the Church, and was incharacter of a bishop I "A bishop," saith St. defatigable in his work, travelling up and down
Paul, "should be blameless, of good behaviour, the neighbouring country, to preach the plain
no brawler, nor striker, nor greedy of filthy lu- principles of religion; but Mr. Farmer, curate
cre. The servant of the Lord must not strive, of Barnstaple, envying his popularity, complainbut be gentle to all men, patient, in meekness ed of him to the high commission, because he
instructing those that oppose themselves, that did not mention in his prayers the queen's suthey may recover them out of the snare of the premacy over both estates; because he had said
devil."  Nay, how different was this bishop that the sacraments were but dumb elements,
from himself before he put on lawn-sleeves! For and did not avail without the Word preached;
in his book entitled " The Harbour for Faithful because he had preached that Christ did not deSubjects," published soon after the queen's ac- scend into hell both body and soul; that the
cession, are these words: " Come off, ye bishops, pope might set up the feast of jubilee, as well
away with your superfluities, yield up your as the feasts of Easter and Pentecost; that holy
thousands; be content with hundreds, as they days and fasting days were but the traditions
be in other Reformed churches, where be as of men, which we were not obliged to follow;
great learned men as you are. Let your portion that he disallowed the use of organs in Divine
be priestlike, and not princelike; let the queen service; that he called ministers that do not
have the rest of your temporalities and other preach dumb dogs, and those that have two
lands, to maintain these wars which you pro- benefices knaves; that he preached that the
cured, and your mistress left her; and with the late Queen Mary was a detestable woman and
rest to build and found schools throughout the a wicked Jezebel.
realm; that every parish may have his preacher,   But when Mr. Paget appeared before the comevery city his superintendent, to live honestly, missioners, January 11th, 1584, he was only arand not pompously; which will never be, unless ticled according to the common form, for not
your lands be dispersed and bestowod upon many, observing the Book of Common Prayer, and the
which now feedeth and fatteth but one; re- rites and ceremonies of the Church. Towhich
member that Abimelech, when David in his he made the following answer:
banishment would have dined with him, kept
such hospitality that he had no bread in his   "I do acknowledge that, by the statute of the
house to give him but the shew bread. Where 1st of Eliz., I am bound to use the said Common
was all his superfluity to keep your pretended Prayer Book in such a manner and form as is
hospitality I For that is the cause you pretend prescribed, or else to abide such pains as by law
why you must have thousands, as though you are imposed upon me.
were commanded to keep hospitality rather with   " I have not refused to use the said common
a thousand than with a hundred. I would our prayer, or to minister the sacraments in such
countryman Wickliffe's book, De Ecclesia, were order as the book appoints, though I have not
in print; there should you see that your wrinch- used all the rites, ceremonies, and orders set
es and cavillations be nothing worth."t When forth in the said book: 1. Partly because to my
the bishop was put in mind of this passage, he knowledge there is no common prayer book in
made no other reply than that of St. Paul, "When the Church. 2. Because I am informed that you 
I was a child I spake as a child, I thought as a before whom I stand, and mine ordinary, and
child."                                   the most part of the other bishops and minisThe case of those clergymen who were sent ters, do use greater liberty in omitting and alfor up to Lambeth from the remotest parts of tering the said rites, ceremonies, and orders. 3.
the kingdom was yet harder.  Mr. Elliston, And especially for that I am not fully resolved
vicar of Preston, made seven journeys to Pe- in conscience, I may use divers of them. 4.
terborough, which was thirty-six miles from his Because, when I took the charge of that church,
house, and ten to London, within the compass I was promised by my ordinary that I should
of two years, besides several to Leicester and not be urged to such ceremonies, which I am
Northampton, at his own cost and charge; and, informed he might do by law.
after all, was deprived for not subscribing. To   " In these things which I have omitted I have
whom might be added, Mr. Stephen Turner, Mr. done nothing obstinately; neither have I used
William  Fleming of Beccles, Mr. Holden of any other rite, ceremony, order, form, or man
Biddlestone, and others.                   ner of administration of the sacraments, or open
prayers, than is mentioned in the said book; al* Part of a register, p. 382. Pierce's Vindic., p. 97. prayers, than is mentioned in the said book; al
- Life of Aylmer, p. 269.                               + MS., p. 582.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  171
though there be some things which I doubt out a license, they tendered him the articles to
whether I may use or practise.               subscribe, which he refusing, they shut up his
"' Wherefore I humbly pray that I may have school and sent him a begging. Let us hear
the liberty allowed by the said book, to have in  his own relation of his case in a letter that he
some convenient time a favourable conference sent to that great sea-officer Sir John Hawkins,
either with mine ordinary, or with some other who had a high esteem for this good man. "I
by you to be assigned; which I seek not for any  was never present at any separate assembly
desire I have to keep the said living, but only  from the Church," says he, "but abhorred them.
for the better resolution and satisfaction of my  I always resorted to my parish church, and was
own conscience, as God knoweth. Subscribed present at service and preaching; and received
thus-by me,                                  the sacrament according to the book. I thought
"Lame Eusebius Paget, minister."   it my duty not to forsake a church because of
some blemishes in it; but while I have endeavThis answer not proving  satisfactory, he oured to live in peace, others have prepared
was immediately suspended; and venturing to  themselves for war. I am turned out of my livpreach after his suspension, was deprived; the ing by commandment.  I afterward preached
principal causes of his deprivation were these  without living or a penny stipend;, and when I
two:                                         was forbid, I ceased.  I then taught a few
1. Omission of part of the public prayers, the  children, to get a little bread for myself and
cross in baptism, and the surplice.          mine to eat; some disliked this, and wished me
2. Irregularities incurred by dealing in the  to forbear, which I have done, and am now to
ministry after suspension.                   go as an idle rogue and vagabond from door to
But in the opinion of the civilians neither of door to beg my bread, though I am alle in a
these things could warrant the proceedings of lawful calling to get it."*. Thus this learned
the court:* 1. Because Mr. Paget had not time, and useful divine was silenced till the death of
nor a conference, as he craved, and as the stat- Whitgift, after which he was instituted to the
ute in doubtful matters warrenteth. 2. Because living of St. Anne within Aldersgate.
he had not three several admonitions, nor so    The Rev. Mr. Walter Travers, B.D., some
much as one, to do that in time which the law  time fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, al..
requires. If this had been done, and upon such  ready mentioned, came into trouble this year.
respite and admonition he had not conformed, He had been ordained at Antwerp, and being an
then the law would have deemed him a recu- admired preacher, a fine gentleman, and of great
sant, but not otherwise. 3. If this course had learning, he became domestic chaplain to Secbeen taken, yet Mr. Paget's omissions had so retary Cecil, and lecturer at the Temple. Dr.
many favourable circumstances (as the'parish's Alvey the master dying about this time, Travers
not having provided a book, and his ordinary's  was recommended to succeed him by the doctor
promising not to urge him with the precise ob- on his deathbed, and by the benchers of the
servance of all the ceremonies), that it was house, in a petition to the treasurer on his behardly consistent with the prudent consideration  half; but the archbishop interposed, and deand charity of a judge to deprive him at once.  dlared, peremptorily, that unless he would be
As to his irregularity, by exercising the minis- reordained according to the usage of the Church
try after suspension, the suspension was thought of England, and subscribe to his articles, he
to be void, because it was founded upon a meth-  would not admit him. Upon which he was set
od not within the cognizance of those who gave  aside, and Mr. Hooker preferred. Travers consentence; for the ground was, refusing to sub- tinued lecturer about two years longer, and was
scribe to articles tendered by the ecclesiastical then deprived of his lectureship, and deposed
commissioners, who had no warrant to offer any  from the ministry. The treasurer, and others of
such articles at all; for their authority reaches  Travers's friends, advised him for peace' sake
no farther than to reform and correct facts done  to be reordained; but he replied in a letter to
contrary to certain statutes expressed in their his lordship, that this would be to invalidate his
commission, and contrary to other ecclesiastical former orders; and not only so, but as far as in
laws; and there was never yet any clause in  him lay, to invalidate the ordinations of all fortheir commission to offer subscription to articles  eign churches.  " As for myself," says he, " I
of their own devising. But suppose the suspen- had a sufficient title to the ministerial office,
sion was good, the irregularity was taken away  having been ordained according to God's holy
by the queen's pardon long before his depriva- Word, with prayers and impositions of hands,
tion. Besides, Mr. Paget did not exercise his  and according to the order of a church of the
ministry after suspension, till he had obtained  same faith and profession with the Church of
from the Archbishop of Canterbury a release  England, as appears by my testimonials."  He
from that suspension, which, if it was not suffi- prayed his lordship to consider, farther, whethei
cient, it was apprehended by him to be so, the  his subscribing the articles of religion, which
archbishop being chief in the commission; and  only concern the profession of the Christian
all the canonists allow that simplicity, and ig- faith and doctrine of the sacraments, as agreed
norant mistaking of things, being void of wilful upon in the convocation of 1562, which most
contempt, is a lawful excuse to discharge irreg- willingly and with all his heart he assented to
ularity. But the commissioners avowed their according to the statute, did not qualify him for
own act, and the patron disposed of the living  a minister in the Church, as much as if he had
to another.                                  been ordained according to the English form.
Mr. Paget, having a numerous family, set up a But the archbishop was determined to have a
little school, but the arms of the commissioners strict eye upon the inns of court, and to bring
reached hinm there; for, being required to take them to the public standard; and the rather, in* MS., p. 572.                          * Life of Whitgift, p. 377.




172                     HISTORY OF THE PURITA1NS.
asmuch as some of them  pretended to be ex- their oppressors, because of their great names
empted from his jurisdiction; for though in all or religious characters.
other places the sacrament was received in the    The affairs of the Church were in this ferposture of kneeling, the templers received it to ment when the Parliament met November 23d,
this very time sitting.  Travers would have in- 1584, in which the Puritans, despairing of all
troduced the posture of standing at the side of other relief, resolved to make their utmost efthe table, but the benchers insisted upon their forts for a farther reformation of church disciprivilege, and would receive it in no other pos- pline. Fuller says* their agents were soliciting
ture than sitting.*  The archbishop, in order to at the door of the House of Commons all day,
put an end to this practice, would admit none and making interest in the evening at the chambut a high Conformist, that they might be obli- bers of Parliament men; and if the queen would
ged to receive it kneeling, or not at all.     have taken the advice of her two houses, they
The harder the Church pressed upon the Pu- had been made easy.  December 14th, three
ritans, the more were they disaffected to the petitions were offered to the House: one touchnational establishment, and the more resolute ing liberty for godly preachers; a second to exin their attempts for a reformation of discipline. ercise and continue their ministry; and a third
There was a book in high esteem among them  for a speedy supply of able men for destitute
at this time, entitled Disciplina ecclesia sacra ex places.t  The first was brought in by Sir ThomDei verbo descripta; that is, "6 The Holy Disci- as Lucy, the second by Sir Edward Dymock,
pline of the Church described in the WVord of and the third by Mr. Gates. Soon after this Dr.
God."  It was drawn up in Latin by Mr. Trav- Turner stood up, and put the House in rememers, and printed at Geneva about the year 1574, brance of a bill and book which he had heretobut since that time had been diligently reviewed, fore offered to the House; the bill was entitled
corrected, and perfected by Mr. Cartwright, and  " An Act concerning the Subscription of Minisother learned ministers, at their synods. It was ters," and proposes " that no other subscription
translated into English this year, with a preface but what is enjoined by the 13th of Queen Elizby Mr. Cartwright, and designed to be published abeth be required of any minister or preacher
for more general use; but as it was printing at in the Church of England; and that the refusing
Cambridge it was seized at the press; the arch- to subscribe any other articles shall not be any
bishop advised that all the copies should be cause for the archbishops or bishops, or any
burned as factious and seditious, but one was other persons having ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
found in Mr. Cartwright's study after his death, to refuse any of the said ministers to any eccleand reprinted in the year 1654, under this new  siastical office, function, or dignity; but that
title, "A  Directory of Government anciently the said archbishops, bishops, &c., shall insticontended for, and as far as the time would suf- tute, induct, admit, and invest, or cause to be
fer, practised by the Nonconformists in the instituted, &c., such persons as shall be presentDays of Queen Elizabeth, found in the Study of ed by the lawful patrons, notwithstanding their
the most accomplished Divine, Mr. Thomas refusal to subscribe any other articles not set
Cartwright, after his decease, and reserved to down in the statute 13th Eliz. And that no
be published for such a time as this. Published minister for the future shall be suspended, deby authority."  It contains the substance of prived, or otherwise molested in body or goods,
those alterations in discipline which the Puri- by virtue of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but
tans of these times contended for, and was sub- only in the cases of obstinately and wilfully described by the brethren hereafter named, as fending any heresies condemned by the express
argeeable to the Word of God, and to be pro- Word of God, or their dissolute lives, which shall
moted by all lawful means, that it may be es- be proved by two credible witnesses, or by their
tablished by the authority of the magistrate and own voluntary confession."  The book consistof the Church; and in the mean time to be ob- ed of thirty-four articles of complaint, but by
served, as far as lawfully they may, consistently advice of the House, the substance of the petiwith the laws of the land and peace of the tions was reduced by the ministers in sixteen arChurch.  I have therefore given it a place in titles, which he desired might be imparted to the
the Appendix, to which I refer the reader.t   House of Lords, and they be requested to join
Another treatise, dispersed privately about with the Commons in exhibiting them, by way of
this time, against the discipline of the Church, humble suit, to the queen.  The first five were
was entitled "' An Abstract-of certain Acts of Par- against insufficient ministers; then followed,
liament, and of certain of her Majesty's Injunc-   6. That all pastors to he admitted to cures
tions and Canons, &c., printed by H. Denham, might be tried and allowed by the parishes.
1584."  The author's designs was to show that   7. That no oath or subscription might be tenthe bishops in their ecclesiastical courts had ex- dered to any at their entrance into the ministry
ceeded their power, and broke through the laws but such as is expressly prescribed by the statand statutes of the realm; which was so noto- utes of this realm, except the oath against corrious, that the answerer, instead of confuting rupt entering.:
the abstracter, blames him for exposing their   8. That ministers may not be troubled for
father's nakedness, to the thrusting through of omission of some rites or portions prescribed in
religion, by the sides of the bishops. But who the Book of Common Prayer.
was in fault?  Shall the liberties and properties   9. That they may not be called and urged to
of mankind be trampled upon by a despotic answer before the officials and commissaries,
power, and the poor sufferers not be allowed to but before -the bishops themselves.
hold up the laws and statutes of the land to   10. That such as had been suspended or de* Strype's Annals, p. 244.    t Appendix, No. 4.   * B. ix., p. 173.   t Life of Whitgift, p. 176, 177..
X Stiype's Annals, vol. iii., p. 233, 283.    J MS., p 466. Fuller, b. ix., p. 189, 190.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 173
prived for no other offence, but only for not sub- &c., and confirmation of the rites and ceremoscribing, might be restored.               nies of the Church.
11. That. the bishops would forbear their ex-   The ninth desires a dispensation from the jucommunication ex officio mero of godly and learn- risdiction of our ecclesiastical courts, as chaned preachers, not detected for open offence of cellors, officials, &c., which will in the end sublife, or apparent error in doctrine; and that they vert all episcopal authority. To the tenth they
might not be called before the High Commission, say, that the ministers who have been suspendor out of the diocess where they lived, except ed are heady, rash, and contentious; and it is
for some notable offence.                  a perilous example to have sentences revoked
12. That it might be permitted to them in ev- that have been given according to law, except
ery archdeaconry to have some common exer- they would yield. The eleventh petition cutteth
cises and conferences among themselves, to be off another considerable branch of ecclesiastical
limited and prescribed by the ordinaries.  jurisdiction, viz., the oath ex officio, which is
13. That the high censure of excommunica- very necessary in some cases, where the parishtion may not be denounced or executed for small ioners are so perverse that, though the minister
matters.                                    varies the service of the Church as by law ap14. Nor by lay-chancellors, commissaries, or pointed, they will not complain, much less be
officials, but by the bishops themselves, with the witnesses against him.
assistance of grave persons.                  The exercises mentioned in the twelfth article
15, 16. That nonresidence and pluralities may are by the queen's majesty suppressed.
be quite removed out of the Church, or at least   To the thirteenth and fourteenth they answer,
that, according to the queen's injunctions (arti- that they are willing to petition the queen that
cle 44), no nonresident having already a license the sentence of excommunication may be proor faculty may enjoy it, unless he depute an nounced by the bishop, with such assistance as
able curate, who may weekly preach and cat- he shall call in, or by some ecclesiastical person
echise, as is required in her majesty's injunc- commissioned by him.
tions.                                        To the fifteenth and sixteenth articles they
This petition was attended with a moving sup- answer, that the small value of many ecclesiasplication to the queen and Parliament, in the tical livings made pluralities and nonresidence
name of thousands of the poor untaught people in a manner necessary.*
of England, drawn up by Mr. Sampson, in which   The debates upon this last head running very
they complain, that in many of their congrega- high, a bill was ordered to be brought in immetions they had none to break the bread of life, diately against pluralities and nonresidences,
nor the comfortable preaching of God's Holy and for appeals from ecclesiastical courts. It
Word;* that the bishops in their ordinations was said in favour of the bill, that nonresiden-.
had no regard to such as were qualified to ces and pluralities were mala in se, evil in their
preach, provided they could only read, and did own nature; that they answered no valuable
but conform to the ceremonies; that they de- purpose, but hindered the industry of the clergy,
prived such as were capable of preaching on ac- and were a means to keep the country in ignocount of ceremonies which do not edify, but are rance, at a time when there were only three
rather unprofitable burdens to the Church; and thousand preachers to supply nine thousand parthat they molest the people that go from their ishes.  The archbishop drew up his reasons
own parish churches to seek the bread of life, against the bill, and prevailed with the convocawhen they have no preaching at home. They tion to present them in an address to the queen,
complain that there are thousands of parishes wherein they style themselves her majesty's
destitute of the necessary means of salvation, poor distressed supplicants, now in danger from
and therefore pray the queen and Parliament to the bill depending in the House of Commons
provide a remedy.                           against pluralities and nonresidences; " which,"
In answer to the petition last mentioned, the say they, "impeacheth your majesty's prerogaBishop of Winchester, in the name of his breth- tive; lesseneth the revenues of the crown;
ren, drew up the following reply:          overthrows the study of divinity in both univerThe first five petitions tend to one thing, that sities; will deprive men of the livings they lawis, the reformation of an unlearned and insuffi- fully possess; will beggar the clergy; will bring
cient ministry: to which we answer, that though in a base and unlearned ministry; lessen the hosthere are many such in the Church, yet that pitality of cathedrals; be an encouragement to
there was never less reason to complain of them  students to go over to foreign seminaries, where
than at present, and that things are mending they may be better provided for; and, in a word,
every day.                                 will make way for anarchy and confusion."t
To the sixth article they answered, that it sa-   And to give some satisfaction to the public,
voured of popular elections long since abroga- they presented six articles to the queen, as the
ted; that it would breed divisions in parishes, sum of all that needed arnendment.t  The first
and prejudice the patron's right.          was, that none should be admitted into holy orTo the seventh and four following articles ders under twenty-four years of age; that they
they reply, that if they are granted, the whole should have presentation to a cure; that they
hierarchy will be unbraced; for the seventh ar- should bring testimonials of their good life; and
tide shakes the ground of all ecclesiastical gov- that the bishop might refuse whom he thought
ernment,- by subverting the oath of canonical fit, without the danger of a quare impedzt. The
obedience to the bishop in " omnibus licitis et second was to restrain the commutation of penhonestis."t The eighth article requires a dis- ance, except upon great consideration, of which
pensation from the civil magistrate, to the sub- the bishop to be judge. The third was, to reverting the Act of Uniformity of common prayer,   * Life of Whitgift, p. 190.  t Ibid., p. 193.
* Strype's Ann., p. 223. t Life of Whitgift, p. 189.: Ibid., p. 209.




174                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
strain licenses to marry without bans.  The albeit also, according to your majesty's good li.
fourth, to moderate some excesses about excom- king, we have sent down order for the admitting
munication. The fifth, for restraining plurali- of meet men in the ministry hereafter; yet have
ties of benefices. The sixth, concerning fees to they passed a bill in that house yesterday touchecclesiastical officers and their servants.  But ing that matter; which, besides other inconvenieven these articles lay by till the year 1597, ences (as, namely, the trial of the minister's sufwhen they were confirmed in convocation, and ficiency by twelve laymen, and such like), hath
afterward incorporated among the canons.    this also, that if it pass by Parliament it cannot
In the mean time, the bill against pluralities hereafter but in Parliament be altered, what nepassed the House of Commons, and was sent cessity soever shall urge thereunto: which I
up to the Lords, where the Archbishops of Can- am persuaded in a short time will appear, conterbury and York, and Bishop' of Winchester, sidering the multitudes of livings, not fit for men
made long speeches, showing that neither the so qualified, by reason of the smallness thereof;
cathedrals nor professors in the universities whereas, if it be but as a canon from us, or by
could subsist without them. To prove this, they your majesty's authority, it may be observed or
produced a list of the small value of many ec- altered at pleasure.
clesiastical livings, according to the queen's   "They have also passed a bill giving liberty
books.  To which it was replied, that there to marry at all times of the year without rewere many suspended preachers would be glad straint, contrary to the old canons continually
of the smallest of those livings, if they might observed among us, and containing matter
have them without molestation; however, that which tendeth to the slander of this Church, as
it was more proper to go upon ways and means having hitherto maintained an error.
for the augmentation of smaller livings than to   " There is likewise now in hand in the same
suffer the poor people to perish for lack of knowl- house a bill concerning ecclesiastical courts,
edge, while the incumbents were indulged in idle- and visitation by bishops; which may reach to
ness and sloth; but the weight of the bench of the overthrow of ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and
bishops, with the court interest, threw out the bill. study of the civil laws.  The pretence of the
This exasperated the Commons to that de- bill is against excessive fees and exactions in
gree, that after the holydays they resumed the ecclesiastical courts; which fees are none other
debate of the Bill of Petitions, and ordered sev- than have been of long time accustomed to be
eral other bills to be brought in to clip the wings taken; the law already established providing a
of the bishops, and lessen the power of the spir- sharp and severe punishment for such as shall
itual courts. One was for swearing bishops in exact the same; besides an order also which
the courts of Chancery and King's Bench, that we have at this time for the better performance
they should act nothing against the common law  thereof.
of the land; another, to reduce their fees; a third,   " I therefore most humbly beseech your majfor liberty to marry at all times of the year; a esty to continue your gracious goodness tofourth, for the qualification of ministers; and a wards us, who with all humility submit ourfifth, for restoring of discipline.  The act for selves to your highness, and cease not daily to
qualifying ministers annuls all popish ordina- pray for your happy state, and long and prostions, and disqualifies such as were not capable perous reign over us. From Lambeth, the 24th
of preaching, as well as those who were con- of March, 1584.
victed of profaneness, or any kind of immorali-  "Your majesty's chaplain,
ty; but obliges the successor to allow the de-          "And daily orator most bound,
prived minister a sufficient maintenance, at the                        " JO. CANTUAR."
discretion of the justices of the quarter sessions;   The queen was pleased with the archbishop's
and if the living be not sufficient, it is to be done advice of making alterations by canon, and not
by a parish rate. It insists upon a careful ex- by statute, that she might reserve the power in
amination and trial of the qualifications of can- her own hands; and immediately sent a mesdidates for the ministry by the bishop, assisted sage to the Commons by the lord-treasurer, to
by twelve of the laity; and, makes the election, reprimand them " for encroaching upon her suor consent of the people, necessary to his in- premacy, and for attempting what she had forduction to the pastoral charge. The bill for bidden, with which she was highly offended;
discipline is for abolishing the canon law and and to command the speaker, in her majesty's
all the spiritual courts,* and for bringing the name, to see that no bills touching reformation
probates of testaments, and all civil business, in causes ecclesiastical should be exhibited; and
into the courts of Westminster Hall; it appoints if any such were exhibited, she commands him
a presbytery or eldership in each parish, which, upon his allegiance not to read them."  The
together with the minister, shall determine the Commons now saw their mistake in vesting the
spiritual business of the parish, with an appeal whole power of reforming the policy of the
to higher judicatories in cases of complaint.    Church in the single person of the queen, who
Mr. Strype sayst the bill for the qualification knew how to act the sovereign ant display her
of the ministers passed the Commons, which prerogative as well as her father.  Had it been
put the archbishop into such a fright, that the reserved to the whole Legislature, queen, lords,
very next day he wrote the following letter to and Commons, with advice of the representathe queen;                                   tive body of the clergy, it had been more equi"May it please your majesty to be advertised, table; but now, if the whole nation were dissat"That notwithstanding the charge of late isfied, not an insignificant rite or ceremony must
given by your highness to the lower house of be changed, or a bill brought into either house
Parliament for dealing in causes of the Church; of Parliament, without an infringement of the
prerogative: no lay-person in the kingdom must
* MS., p. 208, 213.    t Life of Whitgift, p. 198. meddle with religion except the queen; the




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   175
lnands of Lords and Commons are tied up, her ry to law and the liberty of the subject; that
majesty is absolute in the affairs of the Church, those ministers who have been of late suspendand no motion for reformation must arise from  ed may he restored, upon giving a bond and seany but herself.                             curity not to preach against the dignities of
The archbishop's reasons against the bill for archbishops, bishops, &c., nor to disturb the ormarrying at any time of the year are very ex- ders of the Church, but to maintain it as far as
traordinary; it is contrary (says his grace) to they can, and soberly to teach Jesus Christ
the old canons. But many of these are contrary crucified;* that ministers may not be exposed
to the canon of Scripture; and they who framed to the malicious prosecution of their enemies,
this seem a little to resemble the character which upon their omission of any tittle in the servicethe apostle gives of an apostate from the faith, book; that they may not be obliged to read the
1 Tim., iv., 3, "Forbidding to marry, and com- Apochrypha, seeing in the first book printed in
manding to abstain from meats." He adds, "It her majesty's reign the same was left out, and
tendeth to the slander of the Church, as having was afterward inserted without warrant of law,
hitherto maintained an error."  Is it, then, a and contrary to the statute, which allows but
slander to the Church of England, or to any three alterations; that the cross in baptism may
Protestant church, to say she is fallible, and not be enforced, seeing in King Edward's second
may have maintained an error?  Have not fa- book there was a note which left that and some
thers and councils erred?  Nay, in the very other rites indifferent; which note ought to have
Church of Rome, which alone lays claim to in- been in the queen's book, it not being among
fallibility, have we not read of one pope and the alterations appointed by statute: they farcouncil reversing the decrees of another? The ther desire, that in baptism the godfathers may
twenty-first article of the Church of England answer in their own names, and not in the
says that "general councils may err, and some- child's; that midwives and women may not
times have erred, even in things pertaining to baptize; that the words upon delivery of the
God."  And if a general council may err, even ring in marriage may be left indifferent; that
in things of importance to salvation, surely it his grace would not urge the precise wearing of
can be no slander to say a convocation, a par- the gown, cap, tippet, and surplice, but only that
liament, or a single person, may mistake in ministers be obliged to wear apparel meet and
commanding to abstain from meats, and forbid- decent for their callings; that lecturers who
ding to marry at certain times of the year.  have not cure of souls, but are licensed to
While the Puritans were attending the Par- preach, behaving themselves well, be not enliament they did not neglect the convocation: forced to minister the sacraments unless they
a petition was presented to them in the name be content so to do.
of the ministers who refused to subscribe the    But the archbishop would abate nothing, nor
archbishop's three articles, wherein they desire admit of the least latitude from the national esto be satisfied in their scruples, which the law  tablishment.  He framed an answer to the proadmits, but had not hitherto been attempted.* posals, in which he insists upon a full conformThe convocation rejecting their petition, the ity, telling the petitioners that it was none of
ministers printed their " Apology to the Church his business to alter the ecclesiastical laws or
and humble Suit to the High Court of Parlia- dispense with them: which was all they were
ment," in which they mention several things in to expect from him. What could wise and good
the public service as repugnat to the Word of men do more in a peaceable way for the liberty
God: as, requiring faith in an infant to be bap- of their consciences, or a farther reformation in
tized; confounding baptism and regeneration; the Church?  They petitioned the queen, appliadding to the pure and perfect institutions of ed to both houses of Parliament, and addressed
Christ the cross in baptism, and the ring in mar- the convocation and bishops; they moved no
riage; advancing the writings of the Apochry- seditions nor riots, but fasted and prayed for the
pha to a level with Holy Scripture, by reading queen and Church as long as they were allowed;
them in the Church; with many others.  They and when they could serve them no longer, they
conclude with an earnest supplication to their patiently submitted to suspensions and deprivasuperiors to be continued in their callings, con- tions, fines and imprisonments, till it should
sidering their being set apart to the ministry, please God, of his infinite mercy, to open a door
and the obligations they were under to God and for their farther usefulness.
their people; they protest they will do anything    The papists made their advantages of these
they can without sin, and the rather, because divisions: a plot was discovered this very year
they are apprehensive that the " shepherds being [1585] against the queen's life, for which Lord
stricken, their flocks will be scattered."   Pagett and others fled their country; and one
The Puritans' last resort was to the arch- Parry was executed, who was to have killed
bishop, who had a prevailing interest in the her majesty as she was riding abroad; to which
queen; a paper was therefore published, enti- (it is saidS) the pope encouraged him, by
tied" Means how to settle a Godly and Charita- granting him his blessing, and a plenary indulble Quietness in the Church," humbly address- gence and remission of all his sins; assuring
ed to the archbishop, and containing the follow-  To this proposal the archbishop answered, "I do
ing proposals:                             not mislike of the bond; but he that shall enter into
That it would please his grace not to press it, and yet refuse to subscribe, in my opinion is a mere
such subscription as had been of late required, hypocrite, or a very wilful fellow; for this condition
seeing in the Parliament that established the containeth more than doth the subscription."-nMadarticles the subscription was misliked, and put dox's Vindication, p. 348.-ED.
out;t that he would not oblige men to accuse   t See Bishop Carleton's thankful Remembrance
themselves by the oath ex oficio, it being contra- of God's Mercy, 1627: a very curious volume, with
remarkably tine illustrations. —C.
3 MS., p. 595.    f Life of Whitgift, p. 196.    4 Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 249.




176                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
him that, besides the merit of the action in  voured of Puritanism, as against nonresidents,
heaven, his holiness would make himself his for making a more strict inquiry into the qualidebtor in the best manner he could, and there- fications of ministers, and for restraining unfore exhorted him to put his "most holy and  worthy communicants.*  He also erected a kind
honourable- purposes" in execution; this was of judicatory,t consisting of four learned divines
written from Rome, January the 30th, 1584, and  with himself, to examine such as should be presigned by the Cardinal of Como. Mary, queen  sented for ordination. When the archbishop
of Scots, was big with expectation of the crown  had read them over, he called them the wellof England at this time, from the preparations of spring of a pernicious platform, and represented
foreign popish princes, who were determined to  them to the queen as contrary to law, and the
make the strongest efforts to set her upon the settled state of the Church; the bishop wrote a
throne, and to restore the Catholic religion in defence of his articles to the archbishop, showEngland; but they could not get ready before ing their consistency with law, and the great
her head was laid down upon the block.       advantage which might arise from them; but
The Parliament, which met again in Novem- Whitgift would hear of nothing that looked like
der, being sensible of the importance of the a Puritanical reformation.S
queen's life, entered into a voluntary association    The Lord's Day was now very much profaned
to revenge her death, if that should happen  by the encouragement of plays and sports in the
through any violence:* they also made a severe evening, and sometimes in' the afternoon. The
statute against Jesuits and seminary priests, or Rev. Mr. Smith, M.A., in his sermon before the
others who engaged in plots by virtue of the University of Cambridge, the first Sunday in
bull of excommunication of Pope Pius V., and  Lent, maintained the unlawfulness of these
against any subject of England that should go plays; for which he was summoned before the
abroad for education in any of the popish sem- vice-chancellor, and upon examination offered
inaries. Yet none of these things could move to prove that the Christian Sabbath ought to be
the queen or bishops to take any steps towards observed by an abstinence from all worldly buuniting Protestants among themselves.        siness, and spent in works of piety and charity;
But to put an effectual stop to the pens of the though he did not apprehend we were bound to
Church's adversaries, his grace applied to the the strictness of the Jewish precepts.~  The
queen for a farther restraint of the press, which  Parliament had taken this matter into considerhe obtained and published by authority of the ation,il and passed a bill for the better and more
Star Chamber (says Mr. Strypet), June 23d, 28 reverent observation of the Sabbath, which the
Elhz.  It was framed by the archbishop's head, speaker recommended to the queen in an elewho prefixed a preface to it: the decree was to gant speech; but her majesty refused to pass
this purpose, "that there should be no printing- it, under pretence of not suffering the Parliapresses in private places, nor anywhere but in  ment to meddle with matters of religion, which
London and the two universities.  No new  was her prerogative. However, the thing appresses were to be set up but by license from  peared so reasonable, that, without the sanction
the Archbishop and Bishop of London, for the  of a law, the religious observation of the Sabtime being; they to signify the same to the war- bath grew in esteem with all sober persons, and
dens of the. Stationers' Company, who should  after a few years became the distinguishing
present such as they chose to be masters of mark of a Puritan.
printing-presses before the ecclesiastical com-   This summer Mr. Cartwright returned from
missioners for their approbation. No person to  abroad, having spent five years in preaching to
print any book unless first allowed according to  the English congregation at Antwerp; he had
the queen's injunctions, and to be seen and pe- been seized with an ague, which ended in a hecrused by the Archbishop or Bishop of London, tic, for which the physicians advised him to his
or their chaplain. No book to be printed against native air. Upon this he wrote to the Earl of
any of the laws in being, nor any of the queen's Leicester and the lord-treasurer for leave to
injunctions. Persons that should sell or bind  come home; these noblemen made an honourup such books to suffer three months' imprison- able mention of him in Parliament, but he could
ment., And it shall be lawful for the wardens not obtain their mediation with the queen for
of the Stationers' Company to make search after his pardon, so that as soon as it was known he
-them, and seize them to her majesty's use; and  was landed, though in a weak and languishing
the printers shall be disabled from exercising  condition, he was apprehended and thrown into
their trade for the future, and suffer six months' prison; when he appeared before the archbishop
imprisonment, and their presses be broken."  he behaved with that modesty and respect as
Notwithstanding this edict, the archbishop was
far from enjoying a peaceable triumph, the Pu-   * Strype's Ann., vol. iii., p. 328.
ritans finding ways and means from abroad to   t Here Mr. Neal is censured by Bishop Warburpropagate their writings, and expose the sever- ton, as partial, for reckoning the Bishop of Litchity of their adversaries.                    field's conduct to be agreeable to law, because infaSome faint attempts were made this summer voeyr of the Puritans; and for representing before, p.
for reviving the exercises called prophesyings, 348, the archbishop's publishing articles without the
great seal as illegal, because against the Puritans.
in the diocess of Chester, where the clergy were  Not to say that the articles in one case are very difvery ignorant: Bishop Chadderton drew  up  ferent from the object of the judicatory in the other,
proper regulations, in imitation of those already  Mr. Neal, it will appear on examining, doth not dementioned, but the design proved abortive. cide on the legality of the measure in either case, but,
The Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry also pub- as an historian, states what was offered on this head
lished some articles for his visitation which sa- by the parties; and this he does with respect to the
archbishop very fully pro and con.-ED.
* Strype's Ann., vol. ii., p. 293.     ~ MS., p. 55.         ~ Strype's Ann., p. 341
t Life of Whitgift, p. 223.            11 Ibid., vol. iii., p. 296.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     177
softened the heart of his great adversary, who, without any warning; for, as he was going up
upon promise of his peaceable and quiet beha- into the pulpit to preach on the Lord's Day afviour, suffered him to go at large; for which ternoon, the officer served him with a prohibithe Earl of Leicester and Mr. Cartwright return- tion upon the pulpit stairs; upon which, instead
ed his grace thanks; but all their interest could of a sermon, he acquainted the congregation
not procure him  a license to preach. "Mr. with his suspension, and dismissed them.* The
Cartwright," says the archbishop to the earl, reasons given for it were, 1. That he was not
"shall be welcome to me at all times, but to grant ordained according to the rites of the Church
him a license to preach till I am better satisfied  of England. 2. That he had broken the orders
of his conformity, is not consistent with my duty of the 7th of the queen, " That disputes should
or conscience."  However, the earl made him  not be brought into the pulpit."
governor of an hospital in Warwick, where he   Mr. Travers, in his own vindication, drew up
was connived at for a time, and preached with- a petition or supplication to the council, in which
out a license: his salary was a house, and ~100 he complains of being judged and condemned
per annum.                                    before he was heard, and then goes on to anMr. Fenner and Wood, two other suspended swer the objections alleged against him in the
ministers, were released after twelve months' prohibition.
imprisonment, upon a general subscription to    First, it is said "that I am  not lawfully
the articles, as far as the law required, and a called to exercise the office of a minister, nor
promise to use the Book of Common Prayer, allowed to preach, according to the laws of the
and no other; but such was the clamour on all Church of England."
hands, by reason of the three articles to be sub-   To which I answer, that my call was by such
scribed by all who had livings already, as well methods as are appointed in the national synods
as those that should hereafter take orders, that of the foreign Reformed churches; testimonials
Secretary Walsingham went over to Lambeth, of which I have shown to my Lord Archbishop
and told his grace that it would stop, in a great of Canterbury; so that, if any man be lawfully
measure, the complaints which were brought to called to the ministry in those countries, I am.
-court, if he would require subscription only of    But " I am not qualified to be a minister in
such as were hereafter to enter into holy orders, England, because I am not ordained according
and suffer those already in places to proceed in to the laws of this country."
the discharge of their duty, upon condition of   I beseech your lordships to weigh my answer:
their giving bond to read the common prayer Such is the communion of saints, as that, what
according to the usages and laws prescribing solemn acts are done in one true church of
the same; which the archbishop promised to  Christ, according to his Word, are held lawful in
comply with.*                                 all others: the constituting or making of a minBut the nonsubscribing divines, who were un- ister being once lawfully done, ought not to be
preferred, might not so much as teach school repealed: pastors and teachers in the New
for a livelihood, for the archbishop would grant Testament hold the same manner of calling as
no license without subscribing; and from this I had: the repeating ordination makes void the
time his licenses to teach grammar, and even former ordination, and, consequently, all such
reading and writing, were granted only from  acts as were done by virtue of it, as baptism,
year to year: the schoolmasters were to be full confirmation, marriage, &c. By the same rule,
conformists;t they were limited to a particular people ought to be rebaptized and married over
diocess, and were not authorized to teach else- again, when they come into this country from
where; they were to instruct their scholars in' a foreign.t
nothing but what was agreeable to the laws   Besides, by the statute 13 Elizabeth, those
and statutes of the realm; and all this only du- who have been ordained in foreign Protestant
ring the bishop's pleasure.  Such was the rig- churches, upon their subscribing the articles
our of these times!                          therein mentioned, are qualified to enjoy any
Mr. Travers had been lecturer at the Temple benefice in the kingdom, equally with them who
with Mr. Hooker, the new master, about two  are ordained according to the laws now in beyears, but with very little harmony or agree- ing; which, comprehending all that are priests
ment, one being a strict Calvinist, the other a according to the order of the Church of Rome,
person of larger principles; the sermon in the
morning was very often confuted in the after-   a Many who approved of the silencing of Travers
noon, and vindicated again the next Lord's Day. were indignant at the way in which it was done.
The writer of Hooker's lifet reports that the Fuller gives the following account of it. "All the
congregation, on a Sabbath in the afternoon, were
morning sermon spoke the language of Canter- assembled together, their attention prepared, the
bury, the afternoon that of Geneva.  Hooker cloth (as I may say) and napkins were laid, yea, the
complaining of this usage, the archbishop took guests set, and their knives drawn for their spiritual
the opportunity to suspend Mr. Travers at once, repast; when suddenly, as Mr. Travers was going
tup into the pulpit, a sorry fellow served him with a
letter prohibiting him to preach any more. In obe* Life of Whitgift, p. 226, 227.    t Ibid., p. 246. dience to authority, Mr. Travers calmly signified the: Bishop Warburton deems it disingenuous in Mr. same to the congregation, and requested them quietNeal to quote the language of this biographer. as he ly to depart to their chambers.
knew that, so quoted, it would be understood to re-' Thus was our good Zecharias struck dumb in the
flect upon Mr. Hooker as only a tool or creature of Temple, but not for infidelity. Meantime, his audithe archbishop. But is not Bishop Warburton here tory, sent sermonless home, manifested in their vaunnecessarily captious? To me it appears that the riety of passion, some grieving, some frowning, some
opposition lying between Canterbury and Geneva is murmuring, and the wisest sort, who held their
sufficient to screen Mr. Neal's use of the biogra- tongues, shook their heads as disliking the managing
phlier's words from the imputation of such a meaning. of the matter."-Chu.rch History, ch. ix., p. 217.-C.
-El).                                         t Whitgift's Life, p. 251.
VOL. I.-Z




178                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
must certainly be as favourable to ministers or- But let all be granted that he would have, says
dained among foreign Protestants. In conse- Mr. Hooker, what will it advantage him 1 He
quence of this law many Scots divines are now  ought to have complained to the high commisin possession of benefices in the Church, as was sioners, and not have confuted me in the pulpit;
Mr. Whittingham, though he was the first who for schisms and disturbances will arise in the
was called in question in this case.         Church, if all men may be tolerated to think as
But it is said, "I preached without presenta- they please, and publicly speak what they. think.
tion or license."                            Therefore, by a decree agreed upon by the
To which I answer, that the place where I bishops, and confirmed by her majesty, it was
exercised my ministry required no presentation, ordered that, if erroneous doctrine should be
nor had I a title, or reaped any benefit by law, taught publicly, it should not be publicly refubut only received a voluntary contribution, and ted, but complained of to such persons as her
was employed in preaching only; and as to a majesty' should appoint to hear and determine
license, I was recommended to be a minister of such causes; for breach of which order he is
that place by two several letters of the Bishop charged with want of duty; and all the faults
of London to the gentlemen of the Inner Tem- he alleges against me can signify nothing in his
ple, without which letters that society. would own defence. Mr. Hooker concludes with his
not have permitted me to officiate.         unfeigned desires that both Mr. Travers's and
Secondly, "I am charged with indiscretion his papers may be burned, and all animosities'and want of duty to Mr. Hooker, master of the buried in oblivion, and that there be no strife
Temple; and with breaking the order of the 7th among them but this, who shall pursue peace,
of the queen, about bringing disputes into the unity, and piety with the greatest vigour and
pulpit."                                     diligence.
As to " want of duty," I answer, though some   But the council interfered not in the affair.
have suspected my want of good-will to Mr. Travers was left to the mercy of the archbishop,
Hooker, because he succeeded Dr. Alvey in the who could never be prevailed with to take off
-lace I desired for myself; this is a mistake, his suspension or license him to preach in any
for I declined'the place because I could not part of' England; upon which he accepted an
subscribe to my Lord of Canterbury's late arti- invitation into Ireland, and became Provost of
cles, which I would not do for the mastership Trinity College in the University of Dublin;
of the Temple, or any other place in the Church. here he was tutor to the famous Dr. Usher, afI was glad the place was given Mr. Hooker, as terward Archbishop of Armagh, who always
well for the sake of old acquaintance as to some had him in high esteem; but being driven from
kind of affinity there is between us, hoping we thence by the wars, he returned after some
should live peaceably and amicably together, as years into England, and spent the remainder of
becomes brethren; but when I heard him preach his days in silence, obscurity, and great poveragainst the doctrine of assurance, and for sal- ty; he was a learned man, a polite preacher,
vation in the Church of Rome, with all their er- an admirable orator, and one of the worthiest
rors and idolatry, I thought myself obliged to divines of his age. But all these qualifications
oppose him; yet, when I found it occasioned a put together could not atone for the single crime
pulpit war, I declared publicly that I would con- of nonconformity.
cern myself no farther in that manner, though    Mr. Cartwright being forbid preaching, had
Mr. Hooker went on with the dispute.         been encouraged by the Earl of Leicester and
But it is said, " I should then have complain- Secretary Walsingham to answer the Rhemist,ed of him to the high commission."          translation of the New Testament, published
To which I answer, It was not out of con- with annotations in favour of popery; divers doctempt or neglect of lawful authority, but because tors and heads of houses of the University of
I was against all methods of severity, and had Cambridge solicited him to the same work, as
declared my resolution to trouble the pulpit with appears by their epistle prefixed to the book:
those debates no more.                       the like encouragement he received from sundry
Upon the whole, I hope it will appear to your ministers in London and Suffolk, none being
lordships that my behaviour has not deserved thought so equal to the task as himself; and:so severe a punishment as has been inflicted because Cartwright was poor, the secretary of
upon me.; and therefore I humbly pray that your state sent him ~100, with assurance of such farlordships would please to restore me to my min- ther assistance as should be necessary.* This
istry, by such means as your wisdoms shall was about the year 1583. Cartwright accordthink fit; which will lay me under farther obli- ingly applied himself to the work, but the arch-.gations to pray for your temporal and eternal bishop, by his sovereign authority, forbade him
happiness. But if your lordships cannot pro- to proceed, being afraid that his writings would
cure me this favour, I recommend myself to your do the hierarchy more damage than they would
lordships' protection, under her majesty, in a do service to the Protestant cause: the book,.private life, and the Church to Almighty God, therefore, was left unfinished, and not published
-who in justice will punish the wicked, and in till the year 1618, to the great regret of the,mercy reward the righteous with a happy im- learned world, and reproach of the archbishop,
mortality.                                     The sufferings of Mr. Gardiner, the deprived
Mr. Hooker wrote an answer to Mr. Trav- minister of Malden, in Essex, would have moved
ers's supplication, in a letter to his patron, the compassion in any except the Bishop of London.
Archbishop of Canterbury, in which he takes I will represent them in his own words, as they
no notice of Travers's ordination, but confines were'sent to him in form of a supplication, dated
himself to his objections against his doctrines; September 7th, 1586.t
some of which he undertakes to refute, and in
other places complains of misrepresentation.   * Life of Whitgift, p. 253.  t MS., p. 752.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  179
* o the right reverend father in God, the Lord- they are encumbered with civil affairs, not only
bishop of London:              in their own ecclesiastical courts, in causes tes" }y duty in humble wise remembered, my lord, tamentary, &c., but as lord-barons, justices of
"I am cast into prison by your lordship for a peace, members of the Star Chamber, Councilmatter which about seven years past was slan- table, and Ecclesiastical Commission; all which
derously raised up against me; I was by course is contrary to the words of Christ, who says
of law cleared, and the Lord God which search- his kingdom is not of this world; and contrary
eth the hearts, before whom  both you and I to the practice of all other Reformed churches.
shall shortly appear, doth know, and him I call And whereas the Scriptures say that ministers
to witness, that I was and am falsely accused. of the Gospel should be such as are able to teach
I have been extremely sick in prison; I thank sound doctrine and convince gainsayers, yet the
God I am amended, but yet so that the physi- bishops have made priests of the basest of the
cians say my infection from the prison will be people, not only for their occupations and trades
very dangerous. I have a poor wife and five whence they have taken them, as shoemakers,
children, which are in lamentable case; I had barbers, tailors, water-bearers, shepherds, and
six children at the beginning of my imprison- horse-keepers, but also for their'want of good
ment; but by reason of my sickness in prison, learning and honesty. How true this our commy wife being constrained to attend upon me, plaint is, may appear by the survey of some
one of my children, for want of somebody to shires and counties hereunto annexed, even
oversee them, was drowned in a tub of wort, some of the best, whereby the rest may be esbeing two years and half old. If your lordship timated.
have no compassion on me, yet take pity upon   "We do acknowledge that there are a numthe widow and fatherless (for in that state are ber of men within the ministry who have good
now my wife and poor infants), whose tears are and acceptable gifts, and are able to preach the
before the Lord. I crave no more but this, to be Word of God to edification; of which number
bailed; and if I am found guilty of any breach of there are two sorts: there are a great number
law, let me have extremity without any favour. that live not upon the place where they are ben" Your lordship's to command in Christ,   eficed, but abandon their flocks, directly contrary
" JOHN GARDINER."  to the charge of Christ to Peter, saying,' Feed
Mr. Giles Wiggington, M.A., minister of Sed- my sheep;' and of the apostle Paul to the elders
burgh, having been deprived at Lambeth for of Ephesus,'Take heed to yourselves, and the
nonconformity, and another inducted into his flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you
living, went home, and being denied entrance overseers, to feed the Church of God.' Of this
into the Church, preached a kind of farewell sort are sundry bishops, who have benefices in
sermon to his parishioners in the churchyard, commendam; university men, and chaplains at
and administered the sacrament, having no court; others get two or three benefices into
peace in his mind till he had done it, though his their hands, to serve them for winter and sumbrethren in the ministry would have dissuaded mer houses; which pluralities and nonresidenhim; after this he retired with his wife and chil- ces are the more grievous because they are toldren to Burrough-bridge, but was arrested in his erated by law. There are, indeed, several that
journey by a pursuivant from the Archbishop of reside upon their benefices, but content themYork, and sent to Lancaster jail, fifty miles dis- selves with just satisfying the law; that is, to
tant from the place where he was arrested, in have Divine service read, and four sermons a
a hard and cold winter; there he was shut up year.
among felons and condemned prisoners, and   "But great numbers of the best qualified for
worse used than they, or than the recusant pa- preaching, and of the greatest industry and appist. From hence he sent up his case to Sir plication to their spiritual functions, are not sufWalter Mildmay, one of the privy council, but fered quietly to discharge their duties, but are
with little success; for he was a warm noncon- followed with innumerable vexations, notwithformist, and a bold preacher against the lordly standing they are neither heretics nor schismatproceedings of the bishops, for which, and for ics, but keep within the pale of the Church, and
refusing the oath ex officio, he suffered a long persuade others to do so, who would otherwise
imprisonment.*  He was afterward apprehend- have departed from it. They fast and pray for
ed again, upon suspicion of his being one of the the queen and the Church, though they have
authors of Martin Mar-Prelate, which he denied; been rebuked for it, and diversely punished by
but confessing he did not dislike the book, he officers both civil and ecclesiastical. They are
was therefore confined in the Compter and the suspended and deprived of their ministry, and
Gate-house, till, I believe, he consented to leave the fruits of their livings are sequestered for the
the realm.                                  payment of such a chaplain as their superiors
In the Parliament that met this year, Octo- think fit to employ; this has continued for many
ber 29th, 1586, and 28 Eliz., the Puritan minis- months and years, notwithstanding the interces
ters made another effort for parliamentary re- sion of their people, of their friends, and somelief, for which purpose they presented an hum- times of great personages, for their release.
ble supplication to the House of Commons; in Last of all, many of them  are committed to
which they say, "It pierces our hearts with prison, whereof some have been chained with
grief to hear the cries of the country people for irons, and continued in hard durance for a long
the Word of God.  The bishops either preach time.
not at all, or very seldom; neither can they for  *"To bring about these severities, they [the
their manifold business, their diocesses being bishops] tender to the suspected persons an oath
too large for their personal inspection; besides, ex oiczo, to answer all interrogatories that shall
be put to them, though it be to accuse them* MS., 764, 843, &c.           selves; and when they have gotten a confew




180                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
sion, they proceed upon it to punish them with  commissioners according to their own discreall rigour, contrary to the laws of God and of tions, without regard to law: 3. The small numthis land, and of all nations in Christendom, ex- hber of commissioners, viz., three, who may decide
cept it be in Spain by the Inquisition. Those the most weighty causes: 4. The not allowing
who have refused the oath have bean cast into  an appeal to any other court: 5. The double
prison, and commanded there to lie without bail character of the bishops, who sit on the bench
till they yield to it.                       both as bishops and as commissioners: 6. The
i" The grounds of these troubles are, not im- oath ex officio, in which this is always one of
piety, immorality, want of learning or diligence their interrogatories, " Do you wholly keep, obin their ministerial work, but for not being sat- serve, and read in your church, all the parts of
isfied in the use of certain ceremonies and or- the Book of Common Prayer, and wear the
ders of the Church of Rome, and for not being habits 1"
able to declare that everything in the Common   The survey mentioned in the supplication, by
Prayer Book is agreeable to the Word of God. which the miserable state of the Church for
Alas! that for these things good preachers want of an able and efficient ministry appears,
should be so molested, and the people deprived  is too large to be inserted; it was taken in the
of the food of their souls, and that by fathers of years 1585 and 1586, by some persons employed
the same faith with ourselves.              for that purpose against the meeting of the Par" We therefore most humbly, and for the liament;* it is divided into eight columns:
Lord's sake, crave of this high and honourable   The first contains the name of the benefice.
court of Parliament that it may please you to   The second, the yearly value.
hear and read this our supplication, and take   The third, the number of souls.
such order for it as to your godly wisdom shall   The fourth, the name of the incumbent, and
be thought necessary.*                       whether a preacher or not.
November, 1586."      The fifth, what other benefices he has, and
The grievances annexed to this supplication  what curates do serve him.
were these:                                    The sixth, his character and conversation.
1. The absolute power of the bishop to give   The seventh, who made him minister. And,
and take away licenses to preach at his pleas-   The eighth, the patron of the living; accordure:  2. The proceedings of' the ecclesiastical ing to the following plan:
_   0,    -.ou paCUp9   00  -4 -         to l  |'0    - 
Cs'.   0TIM JO
V   a         Q Q  if   O..           r   A' 
0i::.       V     to EC vapeaU nq   q ) t
o              bO At  b OC
~    ~.0^.0.m              SI<
0441'.          I'oO414C 4 — - - - - -4
~< sdos o  cd o<  ^     o   oo  a o'soqal an
mo,,      2  2       2   ia
W   od  
4.0"-.CQ        0.0
a                          -5d               04.4d  ).0                                        0
0  0    0  0) 0.0o                          0 0.4
0 8                  _Uauoqoajqnouj
0  
E-1  sI0                                             Cd -
o                                    0 0'sap.0n3 C.4 -0
VS., p. 672.                             MS., p. 684.




HISTORY  OF TAhi  PURITANS.                                  181It must be uncommon diligence and appli- mons for a farther reformation; wherein, after
cation, as well as a very great expense, to col- a recital of their grievances, they pray that the
fect so many names and characters of men; books hereunto annexed, entitled " A Book of
the exact valuation of so many livings; the the Form  of Common Prayer, &c., and everynumber of nonresident ministers; of such as thing therein contained, may be from hencehad been mass-priests; and of mechanics and forth authorized and put in use and practice,
tradesmen: but such was the zeal of these pi- throughout all her majesty's dominions, any
ous men!  The survey of Lincolnshire was former law, custom, or statute to the contrary,
signed by the justices of the peace of that coun- in any wise notwithstanding."  The book conty, and the others are attested by some of the tained prayers before and after sermon, but left
principal clergymen of those parts, and are so a liberty for variation, if it was thought proper.*
particular in all circumstances, as leave little The minister was to pray and give thanks in
room to doubt of their truth in general, though the words there prescribed, or such like. In
there may be some few mistakes in characters the Creed it leaves the article of Christ's deand numbers: upon the whole, the survey takes scent into hell more at large. It omits three of
*notice that, after twenty-eight years' establish- the thirty-nine articles,, viz., the thirty-fourth,
ment of the Church of England, there were thirty-fifth, and thirty-sixth. It takes the jurisonly two thousand preachers to serve near ten diction of the Church out of the hands of the
thousand parish churches, so that there were spiritual courts, and places it in an assembly of
almost eight thousand parishes without preach- ministers and elders in every shire, who shall
ing ministers.*  To this account agrees that of have power to examine, approve, and present
Mr. Fenner, who lived in these times, and says ministers to the several parishes for their electhat a third part of the ministers of England tion, and even to depose them, with the conwere covered with a cloud of suspensions;t sent of the bishop, upon their misbehaviour.
that if persons would hear a sermon, they    At the same time a pamphlet was dispersed
must go in some places five, seven, twelve, without doors, entitled " A Request of all true
yea, in some counties twenty miles, and at the Christians to the Honourable House of Parliasame time be find 12d. a Sabbath for being ab- ment."  It prays " that every parish church
sent from their own parish church, though it be may have its preacher, and every city its superproved they were hearing a sermon elsewhere, intendent, to live honestly, but not pompously."
because they had none at home. -Nor is it at all And to provide for this it prays "' that all cathestrange it should be thus in the country, when dral churches may be put down, where the serthe Bishop of London enjoined his clergy in his vice of God is grievously abused by piping with
visitation this very year, 1. That every person organs, singing, ringing, and trowling of psalms
should have a Bible in Latin and English.  2. from one side of the choir to another, with the
That they should have Bullinger's Decads.  3. squeaking of chanting choristers, disguised (as
That they should have a paper book, and write in are all the rest) in white surplices; some in
it the quantity of a sermon every week. 4. That corner caps and filthy copes, imitating the fashsuch as could not preach themselves, should be ion and manner of antichrist the pope, that man
taxed at four purchased sermons a year.$ of sin and child of perdition, with his other
What a miserable state of things was this! rabble of miscreants and shavelings. These
when many hundreds of pious and conscientious  unprofitable drones, or, rather, caterpillars of
preachers were excluded the Church, and starv- the world, consume yearly, some ~2500, some
ing with their families for want of employment. ~3000, some more, some less, whereof no profit
With the supplication and survey above men- cometh to the Church of God. They are the
tioned, a billy was offered to the House of Comn- dens of idle, loitering lubbards; the harbours
of time-serving hypocrites, whose prebends and
MS., p. 206.   t Answer to Dr. Bridges, p. 48. livings belong, some to gentlemen, some to: Life of Aylmer, p. 148.                   h
~ Bishop Warburton condemns " the offering of boys, and some to serving-men and others. If
this bill to the house as such a mutinous action in the revenues of these houses were applied to
the Puritan ministers," that he wonders a writer of augment the maintenance of poor, diligent,
Mr. Neal's " good sense could mention them without preaching parish ministers, or erecting schools,
censure, much more that he should do it with com- religion would then flourish in the land."t
mendation." It is not easy to see where his lordship
found Mr. Neal's commendation of this bill; the edi- view these transactions at this distance of time, and
tor can discern a bare statement of the proceedings many years after a toleration act has passed, from
only. And by what law, or by what principle of the what those had whose minds, in the infancy of a
constitution, is the offering of a bill and a represent- separation from the Church, felt all the attachments
ation of grievances to the house an act of mutiny? to it produced by education and habit, and were natThe bill of the Puritans undoubtedly went to new  urally averse to a total and final secession from it.
model the establishment, but only by enlarging the He considers' the House of Commons in a temper
terms of communion; not by substituting new cere- to have passed a bill for toleration." But he forgets
monies in the room of those which were burdensome that the success of such a bill, or of any bill, did not
to themselves. It went, it is true, to introduce a new  depend on the temper of the house, but on the pleasdiscipline, but not to abolish episcopacy. And was ure of the queen. Besides, for the first twelve or
not the spiritual jurisdiction then exercised oppres- fourteen years of her majesty's reign the prayer of
sive? Were not the proceedings of the bishops the petitions presented by the Puritans was, if not
arbitrary?  If so, how was it "insufferable inso- for a toleration in a separation from the Church, yet
lence" to seek a parliamentary reform? It would only for a dispensation for the use of the habits and
have been, as his lordship grants, just and reasonable three or four ceremonies, and a redress of a few noif the Puritans had moved for toleration only. This torious abuses. As the queen and bishops continued
would have been more consistent in those who unyielding, and grew more vigorous, new questions
sought only their own liberty. But his lordship did were started, and now burdens were felt, and new
not allow for the very different ideas we may have demands arose.-See Mr. Neale's Review.-ED.
on the measures that should have been pursued, who   * Life of Whitgift, p. 258.  t MS., p. 814.




182                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Some bold speeches were made in Parliament writings against Cartwright, and his injunctions
against the arbitrary proceedings of the bishops, set forth in her majesty's name. That if any
by Mr. Wentworth and others, for which those  men among the Protestants lived virtuously,
members were sent to the Tower; at which  they were the Puritans, who renounced their
the house was so intimidated that they would  ceremonies, and would not be corrupted with
not suffer the bill to be read.  Besides, the pluralities. That unlearned and reading minisqueen sent both for the bill and petition out of ters were rather a furtherance than a hinderance
the house, and ordered the speaker to acquaint to the Catholic cause. That though the bishops
them " that she was already settled in her reli- owned her majesty to be supreme governor in
gion, and would not begin again; that changes causes ecclesiastical, yet they did not keep their
in religion were dangerous; that it was not courts in her majesty's name; and that, though
reasonable for them to call in question the es- the names and authority of archbishops and bishtablished religion, while others were endeav- ops, &c., were in use in the primitive Church,
ouring to overthrow it; that she had consider- they forgot that they were then lords or magised the objections, and looked upon them  as trates of order only, made by the prince, and not
frivolous; and that the platform itself was most lords of absolute power, ruling without appeal."
prejudicial to her crown, and to the peace of This was written by Mr. Treasurer himself, Ocher government."*  Nay, so incensed was the  tober 15th, 1586, upon which Sir Francis adviqueen with these attempts of the Puritans, that sed in council "' that special care should be tain drawing up a general pardon to be passed in ken of popish recusants; and that the absolute
Parliament, she ordered an exception to be  authority of private bishops, without -appeal.
made of such as committed any offence against should be restrained; that they might not conthe Act of Uniformity, or were publishers of demn zealous preachers against the pope's suseditious books or pamphlets.t               premacy for refusing to subscribe unlawful artiThe convocation, contrary to all custom and  cles, nor without the assembly of a synodical
usage, continued sitting after the Parliament, council of preachers, forasmuch as the absolute
and gave the queen a subsidy or benevolence. authority of the bishops, and their ambition and
This precedent Archbishop Laud made us of in  covetousness, had a tendency to lead people
the year 1640 to prove the lawfulness of a con- back to popery."  But how much truth soever
vocation sitting without a Parliament. All they  there was in these observations, the queen and
did farther was to address the queen with an  archbishop were not to be convinced.
offer to maintain by disputation that the plat-   The Puritans being wearied out with repeated
form of the Puritans was absurd in divinity, and  applications to their superiors for relief, began
dangerous to the state; which the Nonconform- to despair, and in one of their assemblies came
ists would willingly have debated, but the others to this conclusion: that since the magistrate
knew the queen and council would not admit it. could not be induced to reform the discipline of
The press was in the hands of the archbish- the Church, by so many petitions and supplicaop, who took all possible care to stifle the wri- tions (which we all confess in the liturgy is to
tings of the Puritans, while he gave license$ to  be wished), that therefore, after so many years'
Ascanio, an Italian merchant, and bookseller in  waiting, it was lawful to act without him, and
London, to import what popish books he thought introduce a reformation in the best manner they
fit, upon this very odd pretence, that the adver- could. We have mentioned their private classes
saries' arguments being better known by learn- in Essex, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and
ed men, might be more easily confuted.~  But other parts, in which their book, entitled " The
was it not a shorter way to confute them in the  Holy Discipline of the Church, described in the
high commission. Ormight not the same rea- Word of God," being revised, was subscribed
son have served for licensing the books of the by the several members in these words, accordPuritans? But hist grace seems to have been  ing to Mr. Strype, which are something different
in no fear of popery, though this very year from the form at the end of the book in the Apanother assassination-plot was discovered, for pendix: "We acknowledge and confess the
which Ballard, a priest, and about twelve or same, agreeable to God's most holy Word, so
fourteen more, were executed.ll  Remarkable  far as we are able to judge or discern of it, exare the words of this Ballard, who declared, upon  cepting some few points [which they sent to
examination, to Sir Francis Knollys, treasurer their reverend brethren in some assembly of
of the queen's household, and a privy counsellor, them, for their farther resolution], and we affirm
"that he would desire no better books to prove it to be the same which we desire to be estabhis doctrine of popery than the archbishop's lished in this Church, by daily prayer to God,
which we profess (as God shall offer opportunity,
* Life of Whitgift, p. 259.   t Heyl. Aer., p. 269. and gives us to discern it so expedient) by hum$ This license was not absolute and unlimited, but ble suit to her majesty's most honourable privy
restrained the importation to a few copies of every  council and Parliament, and by all other lawful
such sort of books, and on this condition only, that any means to farther and advance, so far as the law
of them be not showed or dispersed abroad; but adelivery of them was to be made to one of the privy  and  peace of the present state of our Church
council, or to such only as they or some one of them
should judge meet to have the perusal of them. As-'We promise to guide ourselves according to it,
canio was obliged to enter into strict bonds to per. and follow the directions set down in the chapform these conditions. This method of licensing ter' Of the Office of the Ministers of the Word.'
popish books was not so inconsistent with the re- We promise to frequent our appointed assemstraint laid on the liberty of the press, and on the cir- blies, that is, every six weeks classical conferculation of the books of the Puritans, as our aithore
represents it, and appears to have conceived of it.-  ences, every half year provincial assemblies, and
Maddox's Vindication, p. 350.-ED.           general assemblies every year."*
~ Life of Whitgift, p. 268.  II Ibid., p. 265.   * Among those that subscribed or declared their




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     183
Besides the Puritans already mentioned as cally into hell, and that Calvin and Beza were
suffering this year, the learned Dr. John Wal- of his mind, which put the archbishop into
ward, divinity professor at Oxford, was enjoin- such a passion that he called him ass, dolt, fool.
ed a public recantation, and suspended till he Mr. Settle said he ought not to rail at him, behad done it, for teaching that the order of the ing a minister of the Gospel. What, said the
Jewish synagogue and eldership was adopted archbishop, dost thou think much to be called
by Christ and his apostles into the Christian  ass and dolt?  I have called many of thy betChurch, and designed as a perpetual church ters so. True, said Mr. Settle, but the question
government.*  He was also hound in a recog- is, How lawfully you have done so? Then said
nizance of ~100 for his good behaviour. Mr. the archbishop, Thou shalt preach no more in
Harsnet, of Pembroke Hall, was imprisoned at my diocess. Mr. Settle answered, I am called
the same time for not wearing the surplice. Mr. to preach the Gospel, and I will not cease to do
Edward Gillibrand, fellow of Magdalen College, it. The archbishop replied, with a stern counCambridge, was forbid preaching, and bound in tenance, Neither you nor any one in England
a recognizance of ~100 to revoke his errors in shall preach without my leave. He then charsuch words as the commissioners should ap- ged Mr. Settle with not observing the order of
point. His crime was speaking against the hie- the service-book; with not using the cross in
rarchy, and against the swelling titles of arch- baptism; with disallowing the baptism of midbishops and bishops, for which Whitgift told him  wives; and not using the words in marriage,
he deserved not only to be imprisoned and sus- "With this ring I thee wed."  The Dean of
pended, but to be banished the university. Mr. Winchester asked him  if he had subscribed.
Farrar, minister of Langham  in Essex, was Settle answered, Yes, as far as the law requicharged with rebellion against the ecclesiastical red, that is, to the doctrines of faith and the saclaws, and suspended for not wearing the habits. raments, but as touching other rites and cereBishop Aylmer told himt that except he and his monies he neither could nor would. Then said
companions would be conformable, in good faith, the archbishop, Thou shalt be subject to the
he and his brethren the bishops would, in one ecclesiastical authority.  Mr. Settle replied, I
quarter of a year, turn them all out of the Church. thank God you can use no violence but upon my
September 11th, Mr. Udall, of Kingston-upon- poor body. So his grace committed him to the
Thames, was suspended and imprisoned for Gate-house, there to be kept close prisoner.*
keeping a private fast in his parish.  In the    Sandys, archbishop of York, was no less acmonth of January, Mr. Wilson, Mr. More, and tive in his province; I have many of his examtwo other ministers were imprisoned, and obli- inations before me; he was a severe governor,
ged to give bond for their good behaviour.    hasty and passionate; but it was said in exIn the month of May the Rev. Mr. Settle was cuse for him and some others, that the civilians
summoned before the Archbishop of Lambeth, by their emissaries and spies turned informers,
and charged with denying the article, " Of the and then pushed the bishops forward, to bring
descent of our Saviour's soul into hell," or the business into the spiritual courts.
place of the damned. Mr. Settle confessed it   About this time Dr. Bridges, afterward bishop
was his opinion that Christ did not descend lo- of Oxford, wrote against the Puritans, and mainapprobation of the Book of Discipline, were the Rev. tained that they were not grievously afflicted,
~Messrs. Cartwright, Travers, Dr. Knewstubs, Messrs. unless it were caused by their own deserts.
Charke, Edgerton, Reynolds, Gardiner, Gifford, Bar- The doctor was answered by Mr. Fenner, who
ber, Spicer, Greenham, Payne, Fenner, Field, Snape, appealed to the world in these words: " Is it no
Johnson, Nichols, Dr. Sparkes, Messrs. Ward, Stone, grievous affliction by suspension to be hung up
Warkton, Larke, Fletcher, Lord, Farmer, Rushbrook, between hope and despair for a year or two, and,
Littleton, Oxenbridge, Seyntclere, Standen, Wilcox, in the mean time, to see the wages of our labourDr. Whitaker, Messrs. Chadderton, Perkins, Allen, ers eaten up by loiterers    Nay, our righteous
Edmunds, Gillibrand, Bradshaw, Harrison, Massie, ers eaten  up by loiterers   Nay, our righteous
H-idersham, Dod, Brightman, Cawdrey, Rogers, Udall, souls are vexed with seeing and hearing the igDyke, Wight, Paget, and others to the number of norance, the profane speeches, and evil examabove five hundred, all beneficed in the Church of ples of those thrust upon our charges, while we
England, useful preachers, of unspotted lives and ourselves are defamed, reproached, scoffed at,
characters, and many of them of the University of and called seditious and rebellious; cited, acCambridge, where they had a strong and powerful cused, and indicted, and yet no redress to be
interest,                                     found.  All this we have patiently bore, though
Bishop Maddox triumphs in the representation of we come daily to the congregations to prayers,
Mr. Neal, that five hundred who subscribed the holy
discipline were all beneficed in the Church, as a proof to baptisms, and to the sacrament, and by our
of the lenity of government. Mr. Neal, in his reply, examples and admonitions have kept away many
adds, " that there were more than twice five hundred from excesses whereunto rashness of zeal have
clergymen who made a shift to keep their places in carried them. And though to such as you, who
the Church." But when, at the same time, they swarm  with deaneries, with double benefices,
were continually exposed to suffer from the rigour of pensions, advowsons, reversions, &c., these mogovernment; when, as Dr. Bridges declared, a third lestations seem  light, yet surely, upon every
part of the ministers of England were covered with
a cloud ofsuspensions; whenmanysmartedseverely irreligious man's complaint in such things as
for attempting a reformation, for which they all wish- many times are incredible, to be sent for by pured and prayed; when Cartwright, Travers, Field, suivants, to pay twopence for every mile, to find
Johnson, Cawdery, Udall, and other leaders of the messengers, to defray our own charges, and this
Puritans, were suspended, imprisoned, and frequently by such as can hardly, with what they have,
in trouble, not to say dying under the hand of power, clothe and feed themselves and their families, it
the reader will judge with what propriety his lord- is not only grievous, but, as far as well can be,
ship exults over our author.-See Mr. Neal's Review, a very heart-burning.  It is grievous to a freep. 872, 873. —ED 
MS., p. 798            f Ibid., p. 800, 805.                 MS, p 798




184                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
man, and to a free minister, for a light cause-    Double-beneficed men without...
as, for an humble supplication to her majesty   Simple preachers (as the survey calls
and the whole Parliament, and to the fathers of  them)..              10
the Church-to be shut in close prison, or, upon   Dumb, or unpreaching ministers.. 17
every trifling complaint, to be brought into a sla-   Resident preachers, abiding in London
vish subjection to a commissary, so as at his    only........    19
pleasure to be summoned into the spiritual   With the survey they offered divers reasons
courts, and coming thither, to be sent home to prevail with the court to appear for them;
again at least with unnecessary expenses, mas- as, Because the laws of the realm have provided
terlike answers, yea, and sometimes with open very well for a learned preaching ministry;
revilings. We will not justify ourselves," says whereas by the account above, it appears that
Mr. Fenner,* " in all things, but acknowledge, many are pluralists and nonresidents, others ilthat when coming by dozens and scores before literate, being brought up to trades, and not to
the bishop, after half a day's disorderly reason- learning, and others of no very good character
ing, some not being heard to the full, some rail- in life: because divers of the principal preached on and iniscalled, none with lenity satisfied, ers of this land have of late been put to silence:
but all suspended from our office because we because of the prevailing ignorance and impiety
would not subscribe his last two articles, there that is among the common people for want of
might pass from us some infirmities afterward; better instruction; and because we now pay
this and many other things we are willing to im- our money and dues to them that do little or
pute to ourselves." But, after all, it may be ques- nothing for it: but the aldermen were afraid to
tioned whether the history of former ages can interpose.*
furnish an example of so many severities against   Such was the scarcity of preachers, and the
divines of one and the same faith, for a few tri- thirst of the people after knowledge, that the
fling ceremonies, or of a more peaceable and suspended ministers of Essex petitioned the
Christian behaviour under sufferings.        Parliament, March 8th, 1587, for some remedy.
Camden, indeed, complains of their disper- " Such," -ay they, " is the cry of the people to
sing pamphlets against the Church and prelates, us day ana night for the bread of life, that our
in a time of common danger, when the nation bowels yearn within us; and remembering the
was in arms against the Spanish invasion; but solemn denunciation of the apostle,' Wo be to
these pamphlets were only to show that the us if we preach not the Gospel,' we begin to
danger of the return of popery (which all men think it our duty to preach to our people as we
were now apprehensive of) arose from stopping have opportunity, notwithstanding our suspenthe mouths of those ministers who were most sion, and to commit our lives and whole estates
zealous against it. It had been easy at this to Almighty God, as to a faithful Creator; and
time to have distressed the government and the under God to the gracious clemency of the
hierarchy, for the cry of the people was against queen, and of this honourable house."  Many
the bishops; but the Puritans both here and in suspended preachers came out of the countries,
Scotland were more afraid of the return of po- and took shelter in the city. But to prevent as
pery than their adversaries: those in Scotland much as possible their getting into any of the
entered into an association to assemble in arms pulpits of London, the following commission
at what time and place their king should require, was sent to all the ministers and church-wardto assist the Queen of England against the ens of the city.
Spaniards; and their brethren in London took    "Whereas sundry preachers have lately come
the opportunity to petition the queen for the into the city of London, and suburbs of the
liberty of their preachers.t  " That the people same; some of them not being ministers, others
might be better instructed in the duties of obe- such as have no sufficient warrant for their
dience to their civil governors, and not be left a calling, and others such as have been detected
prey to priests and Jesuits, who were no better in other countries, and have, notwithstanding,
than traitors to her majesty and the kingdom. in the city taken upon them to preach publicly,
They assure her majesty that the people will to the infamy of their calling; others have in
give their ministers a good maintenance; that their preaching rather stirred up the people to
they [the people] will always pray for her maj- innovation than sought the peace of the Church.
esty's safety, and be ready to part with their These are, therefore, in her majesty's name, by
goods, and pour out their blood like water for virtue of her high commission for causes eccleher preservation, if they may but have the Gos- siastical to us and others directed, straitly to
pel."  But the queen gave them no answer; enjoin, command, and charge all persons, victhe whole Reformation must be hazarded rath- ars, curates, and church-wardens of all churcher than the Puritans relieved.               es in the city of London, and the suburbs thereAfter this, they applied to the lord-mayor and of, as well in places exempt as not exempt, that
court of aldermen, beseeching them to address they nor any of them do suffer any to preach in
the queen, to make some better provision for their churches, or to read any lectures, they not
the city; and to enforce their petition, they laid being in their own cures, but only such whose
before them a new survey of the ministry of licenses they shall first have seen and read, and
London, taken this very year, with the names whom they shall find to be licensed thereto,
of every parish-priest and curate set down either by the queen's majesty, or by one of the
against his living and curacy, which is now be- universities of Cambridge or Oxford, or by the
fore me;$ and it appears at the foot of the ac- Lord-archbishop of Canterbury, or the Bishop
count that there were,                       of London for the time being, under seal.
Double-beneficed men within the city. 18    "And that this may be published and take the
Answer to Dr. Bridges, p. 45, 46.  better effect, we will that a true copy thereot
Mnswer to Dr. Bridges, p. 45, 46.p. 839.
-MS., p. 838.:          Ibid., P. 482.                MS., P. 839.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   185
shall be taken and delivered to every curate and because he refused to subscribe his suspension
church-warden of every of the churches afore- was continued, and himself treated by the cisaid. The 16th day of August, 1587.*         vilians with great inhumanity.
(Subscribed)     "JOHN CANTERBURY,         Mr. Arthur Hildersham, whom  Mr. Fullei
"JOHN LONDON,          represents as a heavenly divine, being at this
" VAL. DALE,           time fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, was
"EDWARD STANHOPE,   suspended by the commissioners for preaching
"RICH. COZIN."         occasionally before he had taken orders, and
Under all these discouragements the Puri- obliged to sign the following recantation:* " I
tans kept close together, hoping one time or confess that I have rashly and.indiscreetly ta
other that Providence would make way for their ken upon me to preach, not being licensed nor
relief. They maintained their classes and as- admitted into holy orders, contrary to the orders
sociations, wherein they agreed upon certain of the Church of England, contrary to the exgeneral rules for their behaviour: one was, that ample of all antiquity, and contrary to the dithey should endeavour in their preaching and rection of the apostle in the Acts; whereby I
conversation to wipe off the calumny of schism, have given great and just offence to many; and
forasmuch as the brethren communicated with the more, because I have uttered in my sermons
the Church in the Word and sacraments, and in certain impertinent and very unfit speeches for
all other things, except their corruptions; and the auditory, as moving their minds to disconthat they assumed not authority to themselvest tent with the state, rather than tending to god.
of compelling others to observe their decrees. ly edification; for which my presumption and
In their provincial synod, held at Warwick, indiscretion I am very heartily sorry, and deJune 4th, 1588, it was agreed that it was not sire you to bear wV.itness of this my confession,
lawful to baptize in private; nor sufficient for and acknowledging my said offences." This rea minister to read homilies in churches; nor cantation was, by the archbishop's appointment,
lawfil to use the cross in baptism. They agreed, to be uttered in Trinity Hall Chapel, before
farther, that they were not obliged to rest in Easter. In the mean while, he was suspended
the bishop's deprivation, nor to appear in their from the profits of' his fellowship, and stood
courts, without a protestation of their unlawful- bound to appear before the commissioners the
ness. In another synod it was determined that first court day of Easter term, if he did not beno man should take upon him a vague or wan- fore that time recant. Whether Mr. Hildersham
dering ministry; that they who take upon them  recanted I am not certain, but September 14,
a cure of souls should be called by the church  1587, he left the university, and settled at Ashwhom they are to serve, and be approved by by-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, where he conthe classes or some greater assembly; and if by tinued a deep sufferer for nonconformity fortythem they are found meet, they are to be rec- three years, having been suspended and put to
ommended to the bishop for ordination, if it silence by the High Commission no less than
might be obtained without subscribing the Book four times, and continued under that hardship
of Common Prayer.1  It was farther agreed almost twenty years.
how mnuch of the common prayer might be law-   This year put an end to the life of the famous
fully read for the preserving their ministry, and martyrologist, John Fox, a person of indefatigahow far they might exercise their discipline ble labour and industry, and an exile for reliwithout the civil magistrate. In another pro- gion in Queen Mary's days; he spent all his
vincial synod about Michaelmas, it was agreed time abroad in compiling the acts and monuthat the oppressions offered to others, and es- ments of the Church of England, which were
pecially to the ministers, by the hishops and published first in Latin, and afterward, when he
their officials in their spiritual courts, should be returned to his native country, in English, with
collected and registered: if this had been pre- enlargements; vast were the pains he took in
served entire, more of the sufferings of these searching records and collecting materials for
great and good men would have appeared, and this work; and such was its esteem, that it
many works of darkness, oppression, and cru- was ordered to be set up in all the parish churchelty would have been brought to light, which es in England. Mr. Fox was born at Boston, in
now must be concealed till the day of judg- Lincolnshire, 1517, educated in Brazen-nose
ment.                                        College, Oxon, where he proceeded M.A. in the
The danger with which  the nation was year 1543. He was afterward tutor to the Duke
threatened from a foreign invasion gave a little of Norfolk's children, who, in the days of Queen
check to the zeal of the bishops against the Pu- Mary, conveyed him privately out of the kingritans for the present; however, this year Mr. dom. He was a most learned, pious, and judiCawdrey, minister of South Luffingham, was cious divine, of a catholic spirit, and against all
suspended, imprisoned, and deprived by the methods of severity in religion. But he was
Bishop of London;~ he had a wife and seven shamefully neglected for some years, because
children, which were cast upon Providence; he was a Nonconformist, and refused to subbut this divine gave his lordship some farther scribe the canons and ceremonies; nor did he
trouble, as will be seen hereafter. Mr. Wilson, get any higher preferment in the Church than
who had been suspended some time before, a prebend of Salisbury, though the queen used
moved for a release in the bishop's court; but to call him father, and professed a high veneration for him, as, indeed, he deserved. He died
* MS., p. 835.                            in London in the seventieth,;ar of his age,
t There was, as Bishop Warburton hints, an im- and lies buried in Cripplegat\e Church, where
propriety in disclaiming the use of authority, when, his monument is still to be seen, against the
being a small and oppressed party, no authority from
the state was invested in them.-Ed.
t Life of Whitgift, p. 192.  5 MS., p. 825.            * Fuller, b. ix., p. 642.
VOL I —A  A




186                        HISTORY OF THEPTJRITANS.
south wall of the chancel, with a flat marble al council of the Church; that Martin and nls
stone over his remains.*                       companions had maintained the same opinion;
It has been observed, that our Reformers ad- but that St. Jerome and Calvin had confessed
rnitted only two orders of church officers to be that bishops have had superiority over presbysf Divine appointment, viz., bishops and dea- ters ever since the times of St. Mark the evaneons, a presbyter and bishop, according to them, gelist. This was new and strange doctrine to
seing two names for the same office; but Dr. the churchmen of these times.  It had been alBancroft, the archbishop's chaplain, in a ser- ways said that the superiority of the order of
mon at Paul's Cross, January 12, 1588, main- bishops above presbyters had been a politic human
tained that the bishops of England were a dis- appointment, for the more orderly government
tinct order from  priests, and had superiority  of the Church, begun about the third or fourth
over them jure divino, and directly from  God. century; but Bancroft was one of the first who,
He affirmed this to be God's own appointment, by the archbishop's directions, advanced it into
though not by express words, yet by necessary  a Divine right.*  His sermon gave offence to
consequence, and that the denial of it was many of the clergy and to all the friends of the
heresy.  The doctor confessed that Aerius had Puritans about the court, who would have
maintained there was no difference between a brought the preacher into a praemunire for say
priest and a bishop; but that Epiphanius had ing that any subject of this realm hath superipronounced his assertion full of folly, and that ority over the persons of the clergy, otherwise
it had been condemned as heresy by the gener- than from and by her majesty's authority. But
the doctor retorted this argument upon the dis* Fox's Acts and Monuments of the Martyrs have ciplinarians, and added, that it was no better
long been, still remain, and will ever continue, sub- than a sophism, because the prince's authority
stantial pillars of the Protestant Church; of more
force than volumes of bare arguments, to withstand may, and very often does, confirm and corrobthe tide of popery; and, like a Pharos, should be kept orate that which is primarily from the laws of
kindled in every age, as a warning to all posterity. God.  Sir Francis Knollys, who had this affair
Strype pronounces the following encomium on this at heart, told the archbishop that Bancroft's aswork: "Mr. Fox,' says he, " hath done such ex- sertion was contrary to the command of Christ,
quisite service to the Protestant cause, in showing,. who condemned all superiority among the aposfrom abundance of ancient books, records, registers, ties.  " I do not deny," says he, " that bishops
and choice manuscripts, the encroachments of popes may have lordly authority and dignity, provided
and papalins, and the stout oppositions that were       lordly authority and dignity, provided
made in all ages and countries by learned and good they claim it not from a higher authority than
men against them, especially under King Henry and her majesty's grant.  If the bishops are not unQueen Mary in England. He hath preserved the me- der-governors to her majesty of the clergy, but
moirs of those holymen and women, those bishops and superior governors over their brethren by God's
divines, together with their histories, acts, sufferings, ordinance [i. e., jure divinol, it will then follow
and death, willingly undergone for the sake of Christ that her majesty is not supreme governor over
and his Gospel, and for refusing to comply with the her clergy."  The same gentleman, not relying
popish doctrines and superstitions; and, as he hath
been found most diligent, so most strictly true and upon his own judgment, wrote to the learned
faithful in his descriptions."-Strype's Annals, vol. i., Dr. Reynolds, of Oxford, for his opinion of Banp. 239-241. Mr. Fox enjoyed the friendship of Grin- croft's doctrine, which he gave him in a letter
dal, Parkhurst, Pilkington, Sir Francis Walsingham, now before me.t
Sir Thomas Gresham, and Queen Elizabeth, and by
them could have received any preferment, but he   * Life of Whitgift, p. 292. The first English Rewould not subscribe nor conform to the ceremonies. formers acknowledged only two orders of church ofFuller says, "1 How learnedly he wrote, how con- ficers, bishops and deacons, to be of Divine appointstantly he preached, how piously he lived, how  ment.-C
cheerfully he died, may be fetched from his life at t The letter is to this effect:
large, prefaced before his book. One page therein      Though Epiphanius says that Aerius's asomitted we must here insert, having received it sertion is full of folly, he does not disprove his reafrom witnesses beyond exception: In the year 88, sons from Scripture; nay, his arguments are so weak,
when the Spanish half mooe  did hope to rule all the that even Bellarmine confesses they are not agreeamotion in our seas, Master Fox was privately in his ble to the text. As for the general consent of the
chamber at prayers, battering heaven with his impor- Church, which, the doctor says, condemned Aerius's
tunity in behalf of this sinful nation. And we may opinion for heresy, what proof does he bring for it?
justly presume that his devotion was as actually in- It appears (he says) in Epiphanius; but I say it does
strumental to the victory as the wisdom of our ad- not; and the contrary appears by St. Jerome, and
miral, valour of his soldiers, skill and industry of his sundry others who lived about the same time. I
seamen. On a sudden, coming down to his parish, grant that St. Austin, in his book of heresies, ascribes
he cried out, They are gene, they are gone! which, in- this to Aerius for one; that he said there ought to be
deed, happened in the same instant, as, by exact no difference between a priest and a bishop, because
computation, did afterward appear."-Abel Redivivus, this was to condemn the Church's order, and to make
p. 381-2.                                      a schism therein. But it is a quite different thing to
His epitaph still remains on his tombstone.  say that, by the Word of God, there is a difference
In memory of John Fox,             between them, and to say that it is by the order and
the most faithful martyrologist of our English Church, custom of the Church; which is all that St. Austin
a most diligent searcher into historical antiquity,  maintains. When Harding the papist alleged these
a most strong bulwark             very witnesses to prove the opinion of bishops and
and fighter for evangelical truth;     priests being of the same order to be heresy, our
who hath revised the Marian martyrs     learned Bishop Jewel cited to the contrary Chrysosas so many Phoenixes.             tom, Jerome, Ambrose, and St. Austin himself, and
from the dust of oblivion,         concluded his answer with these words: All these,
is this monument erected,           and other more holy fathers, together with the Aposin grief and affliction,         tle Paul, for thus saying, by Harding's advice, must
by his eldest son, Samuel Fox.       be held for heretics. Michael Medina, a man of great
lie died April 18, A.D. 1588.-C.       account in the Council of Trent, adds to the foremen



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     187
We shall meet with this controversy again  doctrine at this time. Most of the clergy who
hereafter.  Whitgift said the doctor's sermon  approved the superiority of the episcopal order
had done much good, though he himself rather were against the Divine right; but the bishops
wished than believed it to be true: it was new  in the next age revived the debate, and carried
their pretensions so high as to subvert the very
tioned testimonies, Theodorus, Primarius, Sedulius, foundations upon which they built.
Theophylact, with whom agree (Ecumenius the    The queen having suffered Mary, queen of
Greek scholiast, Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, Scots, to be beheaded at Fotheringay Castle,
Gregory, and Gratian; and after them, how many? February, 1587-8, all the Roman Catholic prinit being once enrolled in the canon law for Catholic ces were alarmed, and threatened revenge;
doctrine, and thereupon taught by learned men.  among others, the Spaniards hasted their invin"Besides, all that have laboured in reforming the cible armada, to reduce Englandto the Catholic
Church for five hundred years have taught that all e armada, to reduce England to the Catholic
pastors, be they entitled bishops or priests, have equal faith, which had been three years preparing at a
authority and power by God's Word; as, first, the Wal- prodigious expense: the fleet was well manned,
denses, next Marsilius Patavinus, then Wickliffe and and furnished with strange instruments of torhis scholars, afterward Husse and the Hussites; and ture for the English heretics; they came through
last of all, Luther, Calvin, Brentius, Bullinger, and the Channel like so many floating castles, being
Musculus. Among ourselves we have bishops, the to take in a land army from the Low Countries;
queen's professors of divinity in our universities, and
other learned men consenting herein, as Bradford,  but partly by storms, and partly by the valour
Lambert, Jewel, Pilkington, Humphreys, Fulke, &c. and wise conduct of the queen's admirals and
But what doI speak of particular persons? It is the sea captains, the whole fleet was burned and
common judgment of the Reformed churches of Helvetia, destroyed, so that not a Spaniard set foot upon
Savoy, France, Scotland, Germany, Hungary, Po- English ground; nor was there a ship left ent;re
land, the Low Countries, and our own. I hope Dr. to carry the news back to Spain. The quetn
Bancroft will not say that all these have approved ordered the coasts to be well guarded, and raised
that for sound doctrine which was condemned by the a land army, which she animated by appearing
general consent of the whole Church for heresy, in at the head of them.  A  terror was spread
a most flourishing time: I hope he will acknowledge at   the   head    of them. A terror was spread
that he was overseen when he avouched the superi- through the whole nation by reports of the enority which bishops have among us over the clergy gines of cruelty that were aboard the fleet; their
to be God's own ordinance.                    barbarous usage of the poor Protestants in the
"As for the doctor's saying that St. Jerome, and Low Countries under the Duke d'Alva was reCalvin from him, confessed that bishops have had membered, as well as their bloody massacres
the same superiority ever since the time of St. Mark of the poor Indians in America; but the storm
the evangelist, I think him mistaken, because neither blew over, and, by the blessing of God upon the
Jerome says it, nor does Calvin seem to confess it on blew over, and, by the blessing of God upon t
his report; for bishops among us may do sundry oth- queen's arms, the nation was soon restored to
er things besides ordaining and laying on of hands, its former tranquillity.
which inferior ministers or priests may not; where-   The following winter the queen summoned a
as, St. Jerome says, What does a bishop except or- Parliament to meet [February 4th, 1588], in ordination which a priest does not? meaning, that in der to defray the extraordinary expenses of the
his time, bishops had only that power above priests; year, and make some new laws against the pawhich Chrysostom also witnesses in Homily xi., on pists. The Puritans having expressed their zeal
1 Timothy. Nor had they this privilege alone in all
places, for in the Council of Carthage it is said for the queen and  the  Protestant religion by
that the priests laid their hands together with the listing in her army and navy, thought it advisabishops on those who were ordained. And St. Je- ble once more to address the houses for some
rome having proved by Scripture that, in the apos- favour in point of subscription.  Upon the detle's time, bishops and priests were all one, yet grant- livery-of the petition, one of the members stood
eth that afterward bishops had that peculiar to them- up and moved that an inquiry might be made
selves somewhere, but nothing else; so that St. Je- how far the bishops had exceeded the laws in
rome does not say, concerning the superiority in the prosecution of her majesty's Protestant subquestion, that bishops have had it ever since St. jects.  Another m     oved for reviving the  bill
Mark's time.                                  jects.  Another moved for reviving the bill
" Nor does Calvin confess it; he says that, in old against pluralities and nonresidents, which was
time, ministers chose one out of their company in brought in, and having passed the Commons, was
every city, to whom they gave the title of bishop; sent up to the Lords. This alarmed the convoyet the bishop was not above them in honour and cation, who addressed the queen to protect the
dignity, but, as consuls in the Senate, propose mat- Church; and having flattered her with the title
ters, ask their opinions, direct others by giving ad- of a goddess, "  dea certe " they tell her, " that
vice, by admonishing, by exhorting, and so guide the
whole action, and by their authority see that per- the passing of the bill will be attended with the
formed which was agreed on by common consent; decay of learning, and the spoiling of their livthe same charge had the bishop in the assembly of ings; that it will take away the set forms of
ministers; and having showed from St. Jerome that prayer in the Church, and bring in confusion
this was brought in by consent of men, he adds, that and barbarism. They put her in mind how danit was an ancient order of the Church, even from  gerous innovations are in a settled state; and
St. Mark; from whence it is apparent that the order add that all the Reformed churches in Europe
of the Church he mentions has relation to that above t 
described, in which he affirms,' that the bishop was lcannot comparned ministers. England in the number of
not so above the rest in honour as to have rule over
them.' It follows, therefore, that Calvin does not so " not as directors, but as humble remembranmuch as seem to confess of St. Jerome's report, that, cers, beseech your highness's favourable beholdever since St. Mark's time, bishops have had a ru- ing of our present state, and not to suffer the
ling superiority over the clergy."            bill against pluralities to pass."*  Hereupon the
Dr. Reynolds, on account of his uncommon skill in queen forbade the House of Lords to proceed,
Greek and Hebrew, was appointed by James, in 1604, and sent for those members of the House of
one of the translators of the Bible. His name is often found in history spelled Rainolds.-C.                   Life of Whitgift, p. 280.




188                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS..
Commons into custody who had dared to break  or was denied preferment for his Puritanical
through her orders, of not meddling with affairs principles.
of religion without her special allowance; which    To these we may add the venerable Edwin
put an end to all expectations of relief for the  Sandys, archbishop of York, an excellent and
present.                                      frequent preacher in his younger days, and an
This year died the reverend and learned Mr. exile for religion in Queen Mary's reign.  He
Thomas Sampson, of whom mention has been  was afterward successively Bishop of Worcesmade already; he was born about the year 1517, ter, London, and York, and a zealous defender
and educated at Oxford; he afterward studied  of the laws against Nonconformists of all sorts;
at the Temple, and was a means of converting  when arguments failed, he would earnestly imthe famous martyr John Bradford to the Prot- plore the secular arm; though he had no great
estant religion; he took orders from Archbishop  opinion of the discipline or ceremonies of the
Cranmer and Ridley in the year 1549 (who dis- Church, as appears by his last will and testapensed with the habits at his request), and be- ment, in which are these remarkable exprescarne Rector of Allhallows, Bread-street: he sions: "I am persuaded that the rites and cerwas a famous preacher in the reign of King Ed- emonies, by political institution appointed in the
ward; but upon the accession of Queen Mary  Church, are not ungodly nor unlawful, but may
he fled to Strasburgh,* and was highly esteem- for order and obedience' sake be used by a good
ed by the learned Tremelius.  When Queen  Christian; but I am now, and ever have been,
Elizabeth came to the crown, she offered him  persuaded that some of these rites and ceremothe Bishopric of Norwich, which he refused, for nies are not expedient for this church now; but
no other reason but because he could not con- that in the Church reformed, and in all this time
form to the habits and ceremonies.  In the year of the Gospel, they may better be disused by little
1561, he was installed Dean of Christ Church, and little, than more and more urged."*  Such a
Oxon; but soon after, in the year 1564, was testimony, from the dying lips of one who had
deprived by sentence of Archbishop Parker for been a severe persecutort of honest men, for
nonconformity. He afterward contented him- things which he always thought had better be
self with the mastership of an hospital in Lei- disused than urged, deserves to be remembered.
cester, where he spent the remainder of his He diedS in the month of July, 1588, in the sixdays in peace.  He was seized with the dead  ty-ninth year of his age, and was buried in the
palsy on one side many years before he died; collegiate church of Southwell, where there is
but continued preaching and writing to the last, a monument erected to his memory, with his
and was in high esteem over all England for his own effigies on the top, and a great number of
learning, piety, and zeal for the Protestant reli- his children kneeling round the sides of it.
gion.  He died at his hospital, with great tranquillity and comfort in his nonconformity, the
latter end of March or the beginning of April,               CHAPTER VIII.
1588-9, in the seventy-seconid year of his age.t FROM THE SPANISH INVASION TO TE DEATH OF
Soon after him  died the very learned Dr.                 QUEEN ELIZABETH.
Lawrence Humphreys, a great friend and companion of Sampson's; he was born at Newport-    WHILE there were any hopes of compromi
Pagnel, in Buckingharnshire, and educated in  sing matters between the Church and Puritans
Magdalen College, Oxon, of which he was per- the controversy was carried on with some depetual fellow.  In the reign of Queen Mary he  cency; but when all hopes of accommodation
obtained leave to travel, and continued at Zu- were at an end, the contending parties loaded
rich till Queen Elizabeth's accession, when he each other with the heaviest reproaches.  The
was made queen's professor in divinity; he was public printing-presses being shut against the
afterward President of Magdalen College, and  Puritans, some of them purchased a private one,
Dean of Gloucester, which was the highest pre- and carried it from one country to another to
ferment he could obtain, because he was a Non- prevent discovery: it was first set up at Moulconformist fom  the ceremonies of the Church. sey in Surrey, near Kingston-on-Thames; from
conform ist from t   he eremonies  of the Church. thence it was conveyed to Fawsley in NorthThe Oxford historian says he was a moderate  amptonshire; from  thence to Norton, from
and conscientious Nonconformist, and stocked  thence to Coventry, from Coventry to Woolston
his college with a generation of that sort of men  t hence to Coventry,  from  thentry to Woolston
that could not be rooted out in many years: he ter in W arwicshire, and frhe ne ito a ncheswas certainly a strict Calvinist, and a bitter ter in Lancashire, where it was discovered.
was certainly a strict Calvinist, and a bitter Sundry satirical pamphlets were printed by this
enemy of the papists; he was a great and gen-ress, and dispersed all over the kingdom; as,
eral scholar, an able linguist, and a deeper di- ess, an  dispersed all over the kingdom; as,
vine than most of his age: he published many    * Life of Whitgift, p. 287.
learned works, and at length died in his college,   i Life of Parker, p. 428, 438. Pierce's Vindicain the sixty-third year of his age, 1589, having  tion, p. 89.
had the honour to see many of his pupils bish-   t Bishop Sandys was one of the translators of the
ops,t while he who was every way their superi- Bible in this reign, and the author of a volume of
sermons esteemed superior to any of his contemporaries. The words of his last will, quoted above,
* The particular cause of his leaving the kingdom  agree with his former declaration to Bishop Parker,
was a discovery that he was concerned with Richard  produced by our author, p. 160. But his treatment
Chambers, a zealous Protestant, in collecting money of the Puritans was a contradiction to both, and is
in the city of London for the use of poor scholars in one proof, among the several instances furnished by
the universities who had imbibed the reformed doc- these times, of the influence of preferment and prostrines.-British Biography, vol. iii., p. 20, the note. perity in corrupting the human mind or blinding the
-En.                                          judgment. For, in the same will, he entered his set Wood's Ath. Ox., vol. i., p. 192.         rious protest against the platforms offered by the Pu
T Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 472; vol. ii., p. 451.    ritans.-See Maddox's Vindication, p. 352.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   189
" Martin Mar-Prelate," written, as is suppo-   "Epitome of the First Book of Dr. John Bridges
sed, by a club of separatists, for the authors against the Puritans," with this expression in
were never discovered: it is a violent satire the title-page,." Oh! read over Dr. John Bridgagainst the hierarchy and all its supporters; it es, for it is a worthy work. Printed over sea
calls the lord-bishops petty antichrists, petty in Europe, within two furlongs of a bouncing
popes, proud prelates, enemies to the Gospel, priest, at the cost and charges of Martin Marand most covetous, wretched priests. It says Prelate, gent., in quarto."
"that the Lord has given many of our bishops   " The Cobbler's Book,"'  which denies the
over to a reprobate sense, because they wilfully Church of England to be a true church, and
oppose and persecute the truth; and supposes charges her with maintaining idolatry under the
them to have committed the unpardonable sin, name of decency, in the habits, fonts, baptism
because they have manifested in their public by women, gang-days, saints' eves, bishoping
writings, &c., most blasphemous and damnable of children, organs, wafer-cakes, &c.
doctrines."  The author then addresses him-   "Ha' ye any more work for the Cooper."* In
self to the clergy who had subscribed, and who printing of which the press was discovered and
were for pressing subscription upon others, in seized, with several pamphlets unfinished; as,
such punning language as this: "Right puissant Episto [Episco] Mastix, Paradoxes, Dialogues,
and terrible priests, my clergy masters of the Miscellanea, Varive Lectiones, Martin's Dream,
confocation or conspiration house, whetherfickers The Lives and Doings of English Popes, Itine(vicars], paltripolitans, or others of the holy rarium or Visitations, Lambethisms.
league of subscription. Right poisoned, perse-   The last two of these were imperfect; but to
cuting, and terrible priests; my horned masters, complete the Itinerarium, the author threatens
your government is antichristian, your cause is to survey all the clergy of England, and note
desperate, your grounds are ridiculous; Martin  their intolerable pranks; and for his Lambethunderstands all your knavery; you are intoler- isms he would have a Martin at Lambeth. Othable withstanders of reformation, enemies of er books were published of the same nature;
the Gospel, and most covetous, wretched, and as, "A  Demonstration of Discipline," "The
popish priests," &c.*  There are a great many Counter-poison," &c.
sad truths in the book, but delivered in rude   The writers on the Church side came not beand unbecoming language, and with a bitter, an- hind their adversaries in buffoonery and ridigry spirit.                                  cule, as appears by the following pamphlets
The titles of the rest were,               printed at this time:
"Theses Martinianae; i. e., certain demon-   " Pappe with an hatchet, alias, A fig for my
strative conclusions set down and collected by godson; or, Crack me this nut, that is, a sound
Martin Mar-Prelate the Great, serving as a box of the ear for the idiot Martin to hold his
manifest and sufficient confutation of all that peace. Written by one that dares call a dog a
ever the college of cater-caps, with their whole dog. Imprinted by John Anoke, and are to be
band of clergy-priests, have or can bring for the sold at the sign of the Crab Tree Cudgel, in
defence of their ambitious and antichristian prel- Thwack-Coat-Lane."t
acy. Published by Martin, Junior, 1589, in oc-   " Pasquil's Apology. In the first part whereof
tavo, and dedicated to John Kankerbury" [i. e., he renders a reason of his long silence, and galCanterbury]. The author of this tells the bish- lops the field with the treatise of Reformation.
ops that he would plant young Martins in every Printed where I was, and where I shall be ready,
diocess and parish, who should watch the beha- by the help of God and my muse, to send you a
viour of the clergy, that when anything was May-game of Martinism. Anno 1593." Quarto.
done amiss it might be made public.            "An Almond for a Parrot; or, An Alms for
" Protestation of Martin Mar-Prelate; where- Martin Mar-Prelate, &c. By Cuthbert Curryin, notwithstanding the surprising of the print- Knave."  Quarto.
er, he maketh it known to the world that he   " The return of the renowned Cavaliero Pasfeareth neither proud priest, antichristian pope, quil to England, and his meeting with Marforius
tyrannous prelate, nor godless cater-cap, &c. at London, upon the Royal Exchange, London,
Printed 1589."  Octavo.                      1589, against Martin and Martinism."
"His appellation to the High Court of Parlia-   "A Counter-cuff given to Martin, Junior, by
ment from the bad and injurious dealing of the the Pasquil ofEngland, Cavaliero. 1589." 8vo.
Archbishop of Canterbury, and other his col-  It is sad when a controversy about serious
leagues of the High Commission, &c.t Printed matters runs these dregs: ridicule and personal
1589."  Octavo.                              reflection may expose an adversary and make
"Dialogue, wherein is plainly laid open the him ashamed, but will never convince or recontyrannical dealings of the lords-bishops against cile; it carries with it a contempt which sticks
God's children. Printed 1589."  Quarto.      in the heart, and is hardly ever to be removed,
"A Treatise, wherein is manifestly proved nor do I remember any cause that has been
that Reformation, and those that sincerely fa- served by such methods. Dr. Bridges answervour the same, are unjustly charged to be ene- ed Martin in a ludicrous style; but. Cooper,
mies to her majesty and'the state. Printed bishop of Winchester, did more service by his
1590."  Quarto.                              grave and sober reply, with the assistance of
"Ha' ye any work for the Cooper!" This the Archbishop of Canterbury, who, being miswas written against Dr. Thomas Cooper, bishop erably aspersed, furnished the bishop with reof Winchester, and is said to be printed in Eu- plies to the particular charges brought against
rope, not far from some of the bouncing priests, him. The book is entitled " An Advertisement
1590.                                       to the People of England," wherein the slan
* Life of Whitgift, p. 290.          * Life of Whitgift, p. 296.   t Ibid., p. 288.
Ath. Oxon., vol., i., p., 259.     $ Ath. Ox., vi., 280.




190                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ders of Martin Mar-Prelate the libeller are dis- with others calculated to dissolve all friendship
tinctly answered. But, after all, it was impos- in country towns, and set a whole diocess in a
sible for the bishops to wipe off from  them- flame. When Sir Francis Knollys had read the
selves the charge of persecution and violation  articles, he sent them to the treasurer, calling
of the laws.                                  them by their proper name, " articles of inquiTo put a stop to these pamphlets, the queen  sition, highly prejudicial to the royal prerogasent a letter to the archbishop, commanding him  tive;" but there was no stopping his grace's
to make diligent inquiry after the printing-press, career.*
and issued out her royal proclamation, dated    Among the divines that suffered deatht for
February 13th, 1589, " for the bringing in all sedi- the libels above mentioned were the Rev. Mr.
tious and schismatical books, whether printed Udal, whose case being peculiarly hard, I shall
or written, to the ordinary, or to one of the give the reader an abstract of it. He had been
privy council, as tending to bring in a monstrous minister  of Kingston-upon-Thames,  where,
and dangerous innovation of all manner of ec- having been silenced by the official, Dr. Hone,
clesiastical government now in use, and with a he lay by for half a year, having no farther prosrash and malicious purpose to dissolve the state pect of usefulness in the Chruch. At length,
of the prelacy, being one of the three ancient the people of Newcastle-upon-Tyne wanting a
estates of this realm under her highness, where- minister, prevailed with the Earl of Huntingdon
of her majesty mindeth to have a reverend re- to send him to them; when he had been there
gard; she therefore prohibits any of her sub- about a year he was sent for up to London by
jects from keeping any books in their custody the Lord Hunsdon and the lord-chamberlain, in
against the order of the Church, or the rites and  the name of the whole privy council. Mr. Udal
ceremonies of it, her majesty being minded to set out December 29, 1589, and on the 13th of
have the laws severely executed against the January, 1590, appeared at Lord Cobham's
authors and abetters of them, as soon as they house before the commissioners, Lord Cobham,
shall be apprehended."*                       Lord Buckhurst, Lord-chief-justice Anderson,
As soon as the printing-press was discovered, Dr. John Young, bishop of Rochester, Mr. Forhis grace wrote to the treasurer to prosecute tescue, Mr. Egerton, the queen's solicitor, Dr.
the persons with whom it was found; but, like Aubrey, and Dr. Lewin.  The bishop began the
an able politician, wishes it might be done by examination in this manner: Bishop. Have you
the lords of the council rather than by the ec- the allowance of the bishop of the diocess to
clesiastical commissioners, because they had preach at Newcastle? Udal. There was neither
already suffered for supporting the government, bishop of the diocess nor Archbishop of York at
which was wounded through their sides.t  Ac- that time.  Fortescue. By what law, then, did
cordingly, Sir Richard Knightly, Sir -   Wig- you preach at Newcastle, being silenced at
ston, who had entertained the press, together Kingston 1  Udal. I know  no law against; it,
with the printer, and Humphrey Newman, the seeing I was silenced only by the official, whose
disperser, were deeply fined in the Star Cham- authority reaches not beyond his archdeaconry.
ber, and others were put to death.T           L. C. J. Anderson. You are called to answer
The archbishop, being now in his visitation, concerning certain books thought to be of your
had framed twenty-two articles of inquiry, upon writing. Udal. If it be any of Martin's books,
which the church-wardens of every parish were I have disowned them a year and a half ago at
to be examined upon oath.  By these articles Lambeth.  L. C. J. Anderson. Who was the
they were to swear that their minister was ex- author of the Demonstration, or the Dialogue.
actly conformable to the orders of the Church, Udal. I shall not answer. Anderson. Why will
or else to impeach him; and to declare, farther, you clear yourself of Martin, and not of these?
whether they knew any of their neighbours or Udal. Because I would not be thought to handle
fellow-parishioners that were " common swear- the cause of discipline as Martin did; but I
ers, drunkards, usurers, witches, conjurers, think otherwise of the other books, and care
heretics; any man that had two wives, or not though they should be fathered upon me; I
woman that had two husbands; whether they think the author did well, and, therefore, would
knew any that went to conventicles or meet- not discover him if I knew him, but would hinings for saying prayers in private houses; der it all I could. L. C. J. Anderson. Why
any that were of age, and did not receive the dare you not confess if you be the author?
sacrament at church three times a year;"   Udal. I have said I liked of the books, and the
t Life of Whitgift, in Rec., b. iii., no. 41.  matter handled in them; but whether I made
t        Ibid., p. 314. Fuller, b. ix., p. 194.  them or no I will not answer, for by the law I
T Fuller adds, Archbishop Whitgift improved his
interest with the queen till, though she was at first   * Pierce's Vindic., p. 129.
angry with his solicitations, they were delivered out   t Bishop Warburton is very severe in his censure
of prison and eased of their fines. Bishop Maddox of Mr. Neal for using this language; "which," he
censures Mr. Neal for passing this over in silence; says, " in common English, means dying by the hand
but he himself omits the construction put on this of the executioner;" whereas Mr. Udal died in prisapparently kind conduct of the prelate, "'which, on. But when he died quite heart-broken with sorwhile some highly commended, so others," says Ful- row and grief through imprisonment and the severe
ler, "imputed it to the declining of envy, gaining of treatment he met with on account of the libels, his
applause, and remorse of conscience for over-rigor- death was as much the consequence of the prosecution
ous proceedings; it being no charity to cure the commenced against him as if it had been inflicted by the
wound he had caused, and solicit the remitting those executioner. At most there was only an inaccuracy
fines which he had procured to be imposed." Our in the expression, which it was very unworthy the
author proceeds: "Thus impossible is it to please bishop to censure as "unworthy a candid historian
froward spirits, and to make them like the best deed or an honest man."-ED. There is nb attempt at
who dislike the doer."-ED.                    deception in Neal, for he goes on and minutely rsQ Life of Whitgift, p. 309, 311.           lates his dying daily in the prison.-C




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS                                  191
am not obliged to it. Anderson. That is true, he affirmed was not to be found in the Word
if it concerned the loss of your life. [And yet of God. To whom Udal replied, This being a
the judges tried and condemned him for his controversy among learned divines, he thought
life.] Udal. I pray your lordship, does not the Mr. Daulton might have suspended his judg.
law say, No man shall be put to answer with- ment, since he had formerly showed some liout presentment before justices on matters of king to the cause. Upon which the judge said,
record, or by due proofs and writ original, &c.? Sirrah! sirrah! answer to the matter.  Mr.
(A. 42 Edw. III., cap. iii.). Anderson. That is Daulton, go on to the proof of the points in the
law if it be not repealed. Bishop of Rochester. indictment, which were these three:
Pray let me ask you a question concerning your   1. That Udal was the author of the book.
book. But Udal was upon his guard, and said,   2. That he had a malicious intent in making it.
It is not yet proved to be mine. Mr. Solicitor.  3. That the matters in the indictment were
I am sorry, Mr. Udal, you will not answer nor felony by the statute 23 Eliz., cap. ii.
take an oath, which by law you ought to do;   The first point was to prove Udal to be the
but he did not say by what law. Udal. Sir, if I author of the book; and here it is observable,
have a liberty by law, there is no reason why I that the witnesses were not brought into court,
should not challenge it; show me by what law  but only their examinations, which the. registrar
I am  obliged to accuse myself. Dr. Lewin. swore to. And, first, Stephen Chatfield's artiYou have taken the oath heretofore, why should cles were produced, which contained a report
you not take it now? Udal. I then voluntarily of certain papers he had seen in Udal's study.
confessed certain things concerningmy preach- Upon seeing them, he asked whose writings
ing of the points of discipline, which could never they were. Udal answered, A friend's. Chathave been proved, and when my friends labour- field then desired him to rid his hands of them,
ed to have me restored to my ministry, the for he doubted they concerned the state. He
archbishop answered there was sufficient mat- added, that Udal told him another time, that if
ter against me, by my own confession, why I they put him to silence, he would give the bish..
should not be restored; whereupon I covenant- ops such a blow as they had never had. Chated with my own heart never to be my own ac- field was called to witness these things, but apcuser again.                               peared not. Daulton said he went out of the
At length the bishop told him his sentence way on purpose. The judge said, Mr. Udal,
for that time was to be sent to the Gate-house; you are glad of that. Mr. Udal answered, My
take it in his own words. " I was carried to lord, I wish heartily he were here; for as I am
the Gate-house by a messenger, who delivered sure he could never say anything against me to
me with a warrant to be kept close prisoner, prove this point, so I am able to prove it to be
and not to be suffered to have pen, ink, or pa- true that he is very sorry that he ever made
per, or anybody to speak with me. Thus I re- any complaint against me, confessing he did it
mained half a year, in all which time my wife in anger when Martin came first out, and by their
could not get leave to come to me, saving only suggestions, whom he had proved since to be very
that in the hearing of the keeper she might bad men. Mr. Uda added, that the book was
speak to me, and I to her, of such things as she published before this conversation with Chatfield.
should think meet. All which time my chamin-   The examination of Nicholas Tomkins beber-fellows were seminary priests, traitors, and fore the commissioners was next produced.
professed papists. At the end of the half year This Tomkins was now beyond sea, but the
I was removed to the White Lion, in South- paper said that Udal had told him he was the
wark, and so carried to the assizes at Croy- author. But Tomkins himself sent word that
don."                                      he would not for a ~1000 affirm any more than
On the 23d of July, Mr. Udal was brought to'that he had heard Udal say, that he would not
Croydon with fetters on his legs, and indicted doubt but set his name to the book if he had
upon the statute 23 Eliz., cap. ii., before Baron indifferent judges. And when Udal offered to
Clarke and Mr. Sergeant Puckering, for wri- produce his witnesses, the judge said, that beting a wicked, scandalous, and seditious libel, cause the witnesses were against the queen's
called " A Demonstration of Discipline," dedi- majesty, they could not be heard.
cated to the supposed governors of the Church   The confession of Henry Sharp, of Northof England,* in which is this passage: " Who ampton, was then read, who, upon oath before
can, without blushing, deny you [the bishops] the lord-chancellor, had declared that he heard
to be the cause of all ungodliness. forasmuch Mr. Penry say that Mr. Udal was the author of
as your government gives liberty for a man to be the Demonstration.
anything but a sound Christian; it is more free   This was the whole evidence of the fact upon
in these days to be a papist or a wicked man which he was convicted, not a single living witthan what we should be; I could live twenty ness being produced in court; so that the prisyears as such in England, and it may be in a oner had no opportunity to ask any questions,
bishop's house, and not be molested: so true is or refute the evidence. And what methods
it that you care for nothing but the mainte- were used to extort these confessions may
nance of your dignities, be it to damnation of easily be imagined from the confessors flying
your souls, and infinite millions more."  These their country, and then testifying their sorrow
are the words of the indictment. To which for what they had said.
Mr. Udal pleaded not guilty, and put himself   To prove the sedition, and bring it within the
upon the trial of his country. In opening the statute, the counsel insisted upon his threatencause, Mr. Daulton, the queen's counsel, made a ing the bishops, who being the queen's officers,
long invective against the new discipline, which it was constructed a threatening of the queen
herself. The prisoner desired liberty to explain
ILife of Whitgift, p. 343  the passage, and his counsel insisted that an




192                   HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
offence against the bishops was not sedition Whereof the trial of the law imputing to me all
against the queen; but the judge gave it for such defaults as are in that book, and laying the
law, that " they who spake against the queen's punishment of the same in the most grievous
government in causes ecclesiastical, or her laws, manner upon me; as my most humble suit to
proceedings, and ecclesiastical officers, defamed her most excellent majesty is, that her mercy
the queen herself."  Upon this the jury were and gracious pardon may free me from the guilt
directed to find him guilty of the fact, and the and offence which the said trial of the law hath
judges took upon them the point of law, and cast upon me, and farther of her great clemencondemned him as a felon. Mr. Fuller confess- cy to restore me to the comfort of my life and
es* that the proof against him was not preg- liberty, so do I promise, in all humble submisnant, for it was generally believed he wrote not sion to God and her majesty, to carry myself in
the book, but only the preface. They might as the whole course of my life in such humble and
well have condemned him without the form of dutiful obedience as shall befit a minister of
a trial, for the statute was undoubtedly strained the Gospel and dutiful subject, fervently and
beyond the intent of it, to reach his life. He continually praying for a good preservation of
behaved modestly and discreetly at the bar; her highness's precious life and happy governand having said as much for himself as must ment, to the honour of God, and comfort of
have satisfied any equitable persons, he submit- her loyal and dutiful subjects.  February 19,
ted to the judgment of the court.           1590-1."
Mr. Udal was convicted in the summer assi-   Mr. Udal had often, and with great earnestzes, 1590, but did not receive sentence till the ness, petitioned his judges for their mediation
Lent assizes; in the mean time, he was offered with the queen: in his letter of November 1 th,
his pardon if he would sign the following sub- he says, "I pray you call to mind my tedious
mission:t                                 state of imprisonment, whereby myself, my wife,
"I, John Udal, have been heretofore, by due and children are reduced to beggary; pray call
course of law, convicted of felony, for penning to mind by what course this misery is brought
or setting forth a certain book called' The Dem- upon me, and if you find, by due consideration,
onstration of Discipline,' wherein false, slan- that I am worthy to receive the punishment from
derous, and seditious matters are contained the sentence of upright justice, I pray you to
against her majesty's prerogative royal, her hasten the execution of the same, for it were
crown and dignity, and against the laws and better for me to die than to live in this case;
government ecclesiastical and temporal by law  but if it appear to your consciences (as I hope
established under her highness, and tending to it will) that no malice against her majesty can
the erecting a new form of government contrary possibly be in me, then do I humbly and heartily
to her said laws; all which points I do now per- desire you to be a means that I may be releasceive, by the grace of God, to be very danger- ed; then I shall not only forget that hard opinous to the peace of this realm and church, se- ion conceived of your courses against me, but
ditious in the commonwealth, and infinitely of- pray heartily to God to bury the same, with the
fensive to the queen's most excellent majesty; rest of your sins, in the grave of his Son Jesus
so as thereby I, now seeing the grievousness of Christ."  Mr. Udal wrote again, November 18
my offence, do most humbly on my knees, be- and 25, in most humble and dutiful language,
fore and in this presence, submit myself to the but the court would do nothing till he had signmercy of her highness, being most sorry that I ed their submission.
have so deeply and worthily incurred her majes-   At the close of the Lent assizes, being called
ty's indignation against me: promising, if it to the bar with the rest of the felons, and asked
shall please God to move her royal heart to have what he had to say why judgment should not
compassion on me, a most sorrowful, convicted be given against him according to the verdict,
person, that I will forever hereafter forsake all he gave in a paper consisting of nine reasons,
such undutiful and dangerous courses, and de- of which these are the principal:
mean myself dutifully and peaceably; for I do   1. "Because the jury were directed only to
acknowledge her laws to be both lawful and find the fact whether I was author of the book;
godly, and to be obeyed by every subject. Feb- and were expressly fireed by your lordship from
ruary, 1590-1."                            inquiring into the intent, without which there is
No arguments or threatenings of the judges no felony.
could prevail with Udal to sign this submission;   2. " The jury were not left to their own conbat the day before sentence was to be passed sciences, but were wrought upon partly by
he offered the following, drawn up by himself:  promises, assuring them it should be no farther
"Concerning the book whereof I was by due danger to me, but tend to my good; and partly
course of law convicted, by referring myself to by fear, as appears, in that it has been a grief
the trial of the law, and for that by the verdict to some of them ever since.
of twelve men I aml found to be the author of   3. " The statute, in the true meaning of it, is
it, for which cause an humble submission is thought not to reach my case, there being noworthily required and offered of me: although thing in the book spoken of her majesty's perI cannot disavow the cause and substance of son but in duty and honour; I beseech you,
the doctrine debated in it, which I must needs therefore, to consider whether the drawing of
acknowledge to be holy, and (so far as I con- it from her royal person to the bishops, as being
ceive it) agreeable to the Word of God, yet I part of her body politic, be not a violent depraconfess the manner of writing it is such in some ving and wresting of the statute.
part as may worthily be blamed, and might pro-   4. " But if the statute be taken as it is urged,
voke her majesty's just indignation therein. the felony must consist in the malicious intent;
wherein I appeal first to God, and then to all
* B. ix., p. 223. t Strype's Ann., vol. ult., p. 26. men who have known the course of my life,




HIS'TORY  OF TiiE  PURITANS.                                193
and to your lordships' own consciences, wheth- ecclesiastical and civil. And if the prince comer you can find me guilty of any act in all my mands anything contrary to the Word of God,
life that savoured of any malice or malicious it is not lawfill for subjects to rebel or resist,
intent against her majesty; of which, if your but with patience and humility to bear the punconsciences must clear me before God, I hope ishment laid upon them: I believe the Church,
you will not proceed to judgment.            rightly reformed, ought to be governed ecclesi5. "'By the laws of God, and I trust also by the  astically by ministers, assisted by elders, as in
laws of the land, the witnesses ought to be pro- the foreign Reformed churches: I believe the
duced face to face against me; but I have none censures of the Church ought merely to consuch, nor any other things, but papers and re- cern the soul, and may not impeach any subports of depositions taken by ecclesiastical corn- ject, much less any prince, in liberty of body,
missioners and others. This kind of evidence  goods, dominion, or any earthly privilege; nor
is not allowed in case of lands, and therefore  do I believe that a Christian prince ought othmuch less ought it to be allowed in case of life. erwise to be subject to the Church censures
6. " None of the depositions prove me. direct- than our gracious queen professes herself to be
ly to be the author of the book in question; and  to the preaching of the Word and the administhe author of the chief testimony is so grieved, tration of the sacraments."*
that he is ashamed to come where he is known. |With this declaration of his faith he sent an
7. ".Supposing me to be the author of the humble request, that if her majesty would not
book, let it be considered that the said book for graciously be pleased to pardon him, she would
substance contains nothing but what is taught change his sentence into banishment, that the
and believed by the best Reformed churches in  land might not be charged with his blood.t
Europe, so that in condemning me you condemn  King James of Scotland wrote to the queen, reall such nations and churches as hold the same  questing most earnestly that, for the sake of his
doctrine. If the punishment be for the manner intercession, Udal might be relieved of hi~spresof writing, this may be thought by some worthy  ent strait, promising to do the like for heir miajof an admonition, or fine, or some short impris- esty in any matter she should recommend to
onment;* but death for an error of such a kind, him. The Turkey merchants also offered to
as terms and words not altogether dutiful of send him as chaplain to one of their factories
certain bishops, cannot but be extreme cruelty  abroad if he might have his life and liberty;
against one that has endeavoured to show him- which Udal consented to, as appears by his letself a dutiful subject and faithful minister of ter to the lord-treasurer, in which he says,
the Gospel.' Lamentable is my case, having been three
"If all this prevail not, yet my Redeemer years in durance, which makes me humbly deliveth, to whom I commend myself, and say as sire your lordship's favour, that I may be resometime Jeremiah said in a case not much un- leased firom my imprisonment, the Turkey merlike,' Behold, I am in your hands to do with me chants having my consent to go into Syria or
whatsoever seemeth good unto you; but know  Guinea, there to remain two years with their
you this, that if you put me to death, you shall factors, if my liberty may be obtained."  The
bring innocent blood upon your own heads, and  writer of Archbishop Whitgift's life says the
upon the land.' As the blood of Abel, so the  archbishop yielded to this petition; that the
blood of Udal will cry to God with a loud voice, lord-keeper promised to farther it; and that the
and the righteous Judge of the land will require  Earl of Essex had a draught of a pardon ready
it at the hands of all that shall be guilty of it."  prepared, with this condition annexed, that he
But nothing would avail unless he would  should neverretnrn without the queen's license;
sign the submission the court had drawn up for but her majesty never signed it, and the Turhim; which his conscience not suffering him to  key ships going away without him, poor unhapdo, sentence of death was passed upon him Feb- py Udal died a few months after in the Marruary 20th, and execution openly awarded; but shalsea prison, quite heart-broken with sorrow
next morning the judges, by direction from  and grief, about the end of the year 1592. Mr.
court, gave private orders to respite it till her Fullerl says he was a learned man, and of a
majesty's pleasure was farther known.  The blameless life, powerful in prayer, and no less
Dean of St. Paul's and Dr. Andrews were sent profitable than painful in preaching. He was
to persuade him to sign the submission, which  decently interred in the churchyard of St.
he peremptorily refilsed. But because the queen  George, Southwark, not far firom the grave of
had been misinformed of his belief, he sent her Bishop Bonner, being honoured with the attendmajesty a short confession of his faith in these  ance of great numbers of the London ministers,
words:                                       who visited him in prison, and now wept over
" I believe, and have often preached, that the the remains of a man who, after a long and seChurch of England is a part of the true visible  vere trial of his faith and patience, died for the
Church, the Word and sacraments being truly  testimony of a good conscience, and stands
dispensed; for which reason I have communi- upon record as a monument of the oppression
cated with it several years at Kingston, and a and cruelty of the government under which he
year at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and do still desire suffered.
to be a preacher in the same church; therefore    Though the moderate Puritans publicly disI utterly renounce the schism and separation of owned the libels above mentioned, and conthe Brownists:   I do allow the articles of reli- demned the spirit with which they were writgion as far as they contain the doctrine of faith  ten, they were nevertheless brought into trouband sacraments according to law: I believe the le for their associations. Among others, the
queen's majesty hath, and ought to have, su- Rev. Mr. Cartwright, the father of the Pupreme aqthority over all persons, in all causes   * Life of Whitgift, p. 376.
* Strype's Ann., vol. iv., p. 23.      t Fuller, b. ix., p. 203.    t Fuller, b. ix., p. 222.
VOL. I.-B 




194                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ritans, and master of the new hospital at War- committed to divers prisons. But the archbishwick, was suspended by his diocesan, and sum- op, by advice of the treasurer, was not present
moned before the high commissioners, who at the commitment of his old adversary.
committed him to the Fleet, with his brethren,   On the 13th of May, 1591, they were brought
Mr. Egerton, Fen, Wright, Farmer, Lord, before the Star Chamber,* which was a court
Snape, King, Rushbrooke, Wiggins, Littleton, made up of certain noblemen, bishops, judges,
Field, Royde, Payne, Proudlove, and Jewel. At and counsellors of the queen's nomination, to
their first appearance, the commissioners asked  the number of twenty or thirty, with her mjilthem where they held their associations or as- esty at their head, who is the sole judge when
semblies, and how often; who were present, present, the other members being only to give
and what matters were treated of; who cor- their opinion to their sovereign by way of adrected or set forth the book of Discipline, and vice, which he [or she] disallows at their pleaswho had subscribed or submitted to it; wheth- ure; but in the absence of the sovereign, the
er in a Christian monarchy the king is supreme determination is by a majority, the lord-changovernor of the Church, or whether he is un- cellor or keeper having a casting vote. The
der the government of pastors, doctors, and determinations of this court, says Mr. Rushsuch like; whether it be lawful for a foreign worth, were not by the verdict of a jury, nor acprince to ordain ceremonies, and make orders cording to any statute-law of the land, but acfor the Church; whether the ecclesiastical gov- cording to the king's [or queen's] royal will and
ernment established in England be lawful, and pleasure, and yet they were made as binding to
allowed by the Word of God; whether the sac- the subject as an act of Parliament. In the
raments ministered according to the Book of reign of King Henry VII., the practice of that
Common Prayer, are godly and rightly minis- court was thought to intrench upon the comtered, &c.                                   mon law, though it seldom did any business;
Mr. Cartwright's answer to these interroga- but in the latter end of this, and during the
tories was said by the civilians to be sufficient; two next reigns, the court sat constantly, and
upon which they exhibited thirty-one articles was so unmerciful in its censures and punishagainst him, September 1, 1590, and required ments, that the whole nation cried aloud against
him to answer them upon oath.*              it as a mark of the vilest slavery. Lord ClarThe first twenty-four articles charge him  endon says,t " There were very few persons of
with renouncing his episcopal orders, by being quality in those times that had not suffered or
reordained beyond sea, with interrupting the been perplexed by the weight and fear of its
peace, and breaking the orders of the Church censure and judgments; for having extended
since he came home, and with knowing the their jurisdiction from riots, perjuries, and the
authors or printers of Martin Mar-Prelate.   most notorious misdemeanors, to an asserting
Art. 25. Charges him with penning, or pro- of all proclamations and orders of state, to the
curing to be penned, the book of Discipline, vindicating illegal commissioners and grants of
and with recommending the practice of it.    monopolies, no man could hope to be any longer
Art. 26. Charges him with being present at free from the inquisition of that court; than he
sundry pretended synods, classes, or conferen- resolved to submit to those and the like exces of ministers in divers countries.        traordinary courses."
Art. 27. That at such synods they subscribed    When Mr. Cartwright and his brethren apthe book of Discipline, and promised to govern peared before the court, Mr. Attorney-general
themselves by it as far as they could.       inveighed bitterly against them for refusing the
Art. 28. Charges him with setting up partic- oath; and when Mr. Fuller, counsel for the pris-,ular conferences in several shires, which were oners, stood up to answer, he was commanded'to receive the determinations of the General silence, and told that far less crimes than theirs
Assembly, and put them in practice.          had been punished with the galleys or perpetual
Art. 29, 30, and 31. Mention some rules and banishment, which latter he thought proper for.orders of their synods; as, that the members them, provided it was in some remote place
should bring testimonials from  their several from whence they might not return.$  From
classes; that they should subscribe the book of the Star Chamber they were remitted back to
Discipline; that no books should be printed but the High Commission, where Bancroft had a long
by consent; that they should be subject to the argument with Cartwright about the oath; from
censures of the brethren both for doctrine and thence they were returned again to the Star
life; and that if any should be sent abroad upon Chamber, and a bill was exhibited against them,public service at the meeting of Parliament, with twenty articles; in answer to which they
their charges should be borne, &c.           maintain that their associations were very use-.Mr. Cartwright offered to clear himself of ful, and not forbidden by any law of the realm;
some of these articles upon oath, and to give that they exercised no jurisdiction, nor moved
his reasons for not answering the rest; but if any sedition, nor transacted any affairs in them,
this would not satisfy, he was determined to but with a due regard to their duty to their.submit to the punishment the commissioners prince, and to the peace of the Church; that:should award* [which was imprisonment in the they had agreed upon some regulations to renFleet], praying the lord-treasurer to make some der their ministry more edifying, but all was
provision for the poor people of Warwick, who  voluntary, and in breach of no law; and as for
had no minister.  The rest of Cartwright's the oath, they refused it, not in contempt of the
brethren refusing the oath for the same rea- court, but as contrary to the laws of God and
*sons, viz., because they would not accuse them- nature.
selves, nor bring their friends into trouble, were   * Life of Whigift, p. 361.
t Hist. of Gr. Rebellion, vol. i., 8vo, p. 68, &c.
* Life of Whitgift, p. 373.  f Ibid., p. 338.    $ Life of Whitgift, p. 360.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   X
But this answer not being satisfactory, they quiet and peaceable behaviour, and restored to
were remanded to prison, where they continued his hospital in Warwick, where he continued
two years without any farther process, or being without farther disturbance the rest of his days;
admitted to bail; in the mean time, King James but many of his brethren continued under susof Scotland interceded for them, in a letter to pension while their families were starving, as the
the queen, dated June 12, 1591, in which he re- Rev. Mr. Fenner, of Cranbrook, suspended sevquests her majesty to show favour to Mr. Cart- en years; Mr. Leverwood, of Manchelsea, seven
wright and his brethren, because of their great years; Mr. Percival Wyburne, of Rochester, five
learning and faithful travels in the Gospel.* years; Mr. Rockeray, prebendary of Rochester,
Cartwright himself petitioned for his liberty,t four years; Mr. Barber, of Bow Church, London,
as being afflicted with excessive pains of the two years six months; Mr. Field, of Aldermary,
gout and sciatica, which were much increased London; Mr. Smith, lecturer of St. Clement's,
by lying in a cold prison; he wrote a most hum- whose printed sermons were a family book all
ble and pious letter to the Lady Russel, and over England for many years;* Mr. Travers,
another to the lord-treasurer, beseeching them  of the Temple; Mr. Colset, of Easton-on-theto procure his enlargement with the queen, Hill; Mr. Settle, of Buxstead, Suffolk; Mr. Gelthough it were upon bond, expressing a very librand, Dyke, Flemming; Mr. Kendal; Mr.
great concern that her majesty should be so Hubbock, of Oxford; with many others whose
highly offended with him, since he had printed names are before me. Mr. Hubbock was an
no books for thirteen years past that could give excellent divine, and was called before the
the least uneasiness; since he had declared his commission for saying that a great nobleman
dislike of Martin Mar-Prelate; and that he never (meaning the archbishop) had kneeled down to
had a finger in any of the books under the name, her majesty for staying and hindering her intent
nor in any other satirical pamphlets; and far- to reform religion. But his grace not being willther, that in the course of his ministry for five ing to insist upon this, commanded him to subyears past at Warwick, he had avoided all con- scribe, and in case of refusal, to enter into bonds
troversy.  Dr. Goad, Dr. Whitaker, and two not to preach any more, nor to come within
others of the university, wrote an excellent let- ten miles of Oxford; which Mr. Hubbock detert to the treasurer in favour of the prisoners, dlined, saying " he had rather go to prison than
beseeching his lordship that they might not be consent to be silent from preaching, unless he
more hardly dealt with than papists; but this was convinced that he had taught false doctrine,
not prevailing, after six months they petitioned or committed any fault worthy of bonds."t Sir
the lords of the council [December 4, 1591] to Francis Knollys and the treasurer interceded for
be enlarged upon bail, and wrote to the treasu- him, but to no purpose; upon which Sir Francis
rer to second it, assuring his lordship of their wrote back to the treasurer in these words:
loyalty to the queen, and peaceable behaviour " You know how greatly, yea, and tyrannously,
in the Church.  "We doubt not," say they, the archbishop hath urged subscription to his
"but your lordship is sensible that a year's im- own articles without law; and that he has claimprisonment and more, which we have suffered, ed, in the right of all the bishops, a superiority
must strike deeper into our healths, considering over the inferior clergy from God's own ordiour education, than a number of years to men nance, in prejudice to her majesty's supreme
of a different occupation. Your lordship knows government, though at present he says he does
that many papists who deny the queen's suprem- not claim it: therefore, in my opinion, he ought
acy have been enlarged, whereas we have all openly to retract it."
sworn to it, and, if the government require, are   These high proceedings of the commissioners
ready to take the oath again." This was signed brought their powers under examination: most
by                                           were of opinion that they exceeded the law, but
THo. CARTWRIGHT,  EDWARD LORD,           some thought the very court itself was illegal,
HUMP. FEN,         EDMUND SNAPE,         imagining the queen could not delegate her suANDREW KING,       WM. PROUDLOVE,        premacy to others. Mr. Cawdery, late minister
DAN. WRIGHT,       MELANCTHON JEWEL. of Luffingham, in Suffolk, had been suspended
JOHN PAYNE,                              by the Bishop of London for refusing the oath
They also applied to the archbishop, who re- ex officio; but not acquiescing in his lordship's
fused to consent to their enlargement, unless sentence, the bishop summoned him before the
they would under their hands declare the Church high commissioners, who deprived him for nonof England to be a true church, and the whole conformity and lack of learning, and gave away
order of public prayers, &c., consonant to the his living to another, though Mr. Cawdery was
Word of God, and renounce for the future all one of the most learned clergymen and best
their assemblies, classes, and synods, which preachers in the country, and ofered to give
they declined. These applications proving in- proof of his learning before his judges. When
effectual, they resolved at last to address the this would. not be accepted, he pleaded with
queen herself for which purpose they drew up tears his wife and eight poor children that had.queen hersef, fo whic  purose tey drw upno maintenance; but the hearts of the coma declaration, containing a full answer to the m  aintenanceot b  the he   arts of the comseveral charges brought against them.~       missioners not being mollified, Mr. Cawdery was
several charges brought against them.9
It was not till some time after this that Mr. at Trinity College, and had a respect for his abilities,
Cartwright was releasedII upon promise of his and it was also said, " feared the success in so tough
a conflict."-Fuller's Church History, b. ix., p. 204.
* Life of Aylmer, p. 321.  t Fuller, b. ix., p. 203.  "' Putting all the circumstances together," remarks
$ Life of Whitgift, p. 370.                Mr. Hanbury, "' and weighing them deliberately, no
Q See the Appendix, No. 5.                 fair inference can be deduced that Cartwright was
l] It should be observed here, that Mr. Cartwright indebted for any voluntary favour from Whitgift."was indebted for his liberty to the services of Arch- Life of Cartwright, p. 200.-C.
bishop Whitgift, who had been his old acquaintance   * MS., p. 584.    t Life of Whitgift, p. 341, 342,




19t                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
advised to appeal to the Court of Exchequer, prayer; and that their usual debates were, how
and proceed against the chaplain that had pos- far they might comply with the establishment
session of his living; on this occasion the juris- rather than forego their ministry; here they rediction of the court was argued before all the vised their Book of Discipline, and consulted of
judges in Hilary term, 1591.*  Dr. Aubrey, the peaceable methods in subordination to the laws
civilian, confessed that their proceedings were for promoting a reformation in the Church, and
not warrantable by the letter of the statute 1st how far they might exercise their own platform
Eliz., but were built upon the old canon law still in the mean time: but the worst part of their
in force; though it has been shown that their pro- confession was their discovering the names of
ceeding, by way of inquisition, was warranted the brethren that were present, which brought.by no law at all; but the judges confirmed the them into trouble. The reasons they gave for
proceedings of the court, and left Mr. Cawdery, taking the oath were, Because it was adminiswith his large family, to starve as a layman. tered bya lawful magistrate: because the maThe suit cost Mr. Cawdery's friends a round gistrate had a right to search out the truth in
sum of money, besides two-and-twenty journeys matters relating to the public safety: because
which he made to London. But it was a brave it was impossible to keep things any longer sestand for the rights of the subject, and stagger- cret, many letters of the brethren having been
ed the archbishop so much, that he declined intercepted: because there was nothing crimithe business of the commission afterward, and nal in their assemblies, and the magistrate might
sent most of his prisoners to the Star Chamber. suspect worse things of them than were true;
While these causes were depending, sundry and though their confessions might bring some
books were written for and against the oath ex into trouble, they might deliver others who were.oficio; among others, Mr. Morrice, attorney of suspected. How far these reasons will justify
the Court of Wards, and member of Parliament, the confessors, I leave with the reader; but it
published a learned treatise, to prove that no is certain they purchased their own liberties at
prelates or ecclesiastical judges have authority the expense of their brethren's; for they had
to compel any subject of the land to an oath, the favour to be dismissed, and lived without
except in causes testamentary or matrimonial; disturbance afterward.
and he gives these reasons for it: Because it is   To render the Puritans odious to the public,
against the Word of God: it was never allowed all enthusiasts, without distinction, were ranked
by any general council for a thousand years after among them; even Hacket and his two prophChrist: it was forbidden by the pagan emperors ets, Arthington and Coppinger.*  Hacket was
against the Christians: it is against the pope's a blasphemous, ignorant wretch, who could not
decretals, except in cases of heresy, and where so much as read; he pretended to be King Jethere is danger to the accuser, and not other- sus, and to set up his empire in the room of the
-wise: it is against the laws of the realm; and, queen's, who, he said, was no longer to be Queen
Because it is against the queen's prerogative.t of England. He defaced her majesty's arms,
Morrice's book was answered by Dr. Cosins, a and stabbed her picture through with his dagcivilian, in his "' Apology for the Ecclesiastical ger, in the house where he lodged. Being apProceedings;" to which Morrice had prepared prehended and put upon the rack, he confessed
a reply, but the archbishop hearing of it, sent everything they would have him, and upon his
for him, and forbade the publication. The at- trial pleaded guilty, declaring he was moved
torney complained of this usage to the treasurer thereunto by the Spirit; he was hanged July
in these words: " Cosins may write at his pleas- 18, arid died raving like a madman. Coppinger
ure of ecclesiastical courts without check or con- starved himself in prison, but Arthington lived
trolment, though never so erroneously; but I, to recover his senses, and was pardoned. Dr.
poor man, such is my ill-hap, may not maintain Nichols says, that by the solicitation of these
the right cause of justice without some blot or men the Puritans stirred up the people to rebellblemish."  But this was his grace's shortest ion, their design being communicated to Cartway of ending controversies.                 wright, Egerton, and Wiggington;t whereas
Though Mr. Cartwright and his brethren there was not a single Puritan concerned with
above mentioned had the resolution to lie in jail them. Fuller,t the historian, speaks candidly
for two years rather than take the oath ex officio, of the matter: " This business of Hacket," says
others out of weakness, or some other principle, he, " happened unseasonably for the Presbyteriyielded to it, and discovered their classes, with ans; true it is, they as cordially detested his
the names of those that were present at them:T blasphemies as any of the episcopal partyy; and
among these were Mr. Stone, rector of Wark- such of them as loved Hacket the Nonconformton, in Northamptonshire; Mr. Henry Alvey, ist abhorred Hacket the heretic, after he had
fellow of St. John's, Cambridge; Mr. Thomas mounted to so high a pitch of impiety." HowevEdmunds, Mr. William Perkins, Mr. Littleton, er, Mr. Cartwright wrote an apology for himself
Johnson, Barber, Cleaveley, and Nutter. These and his brethren against the aspersions of Dr.
divines confessed, upon examination, that they Sutcliff, in which he declares he had never seen
had several meetings with their brethren in Hacket nor Arthington, nor ever had any conLondon, at the houses of Mr. Travers, Eger- ference with them by letter or message.~  Had
ton, Gardner, and Barber; that there had been
assemblies of ministers in Cambridge, North-   * Strype's Ann., vol. ult., p. 71.
amptonshire, and Warwickshire; that at these   t Pierce's Vindic., p. 140.  $ B. ix., p. 206.
meetings there were usually between twelve   Q No legal steps were taken against Cartwright
and twenty ministers present; that they had a for his justification, which affords a practical admismoderator; that they began and ended with sion of the innocence of the Puritans. " True it is,"
*Heyl.,   _.           _says the candid Fuller, " they as cordially detested
Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 318.            his blasphemies as any of the episcopal party"
t Life of Whitgift, p. 340.   ]   Ibid., p. 371.   Church History, ix., 206.-C.




HISTORY OF Th, PURITANS.                                     197,here been any ground for this vile charge, we under the king as they had under the pope, he
should no doubt have found it among their arti- answered, that there was a clause in the act
cles of impeachment.                          which restrains them from offending against the
At the opening of the new Parliament, Feb- king's prerogative and the laws and customs of
ruary 19, the queen signified her pleasure to the the realm; and, according to the laws and cushouse, that they might redress such popular toms of the realm, no subject can hold a court
grievances as were complained of in their sev- but by special warrant from the crown."  Mr.
eral counties, but should leave all matters of Beal spoke upon the same side, and added,
state to herself and the council; and all mat- " that the bishops had incurred a prTemunire,
ters relating to the Church, to herself and the because the statute of 13 Eliz. requires subscripbishops. What an insignificant thing is a repre- tion to articles of faith only; that this limitation
sentative body of the nation, that must not med- was made by the Lords after the bill had passed
die with matters of Church or State! But her the Commons; and that no councils nor canons
majesty was resolved to let them see she would gave authority to the bishops to frame articles
be obeyed, forwhen Mr. Wentworth and Bromley  and require subscription at their pleasure." For
moved the house to address the queen to name which speech the queen forbade him the court,
her successor, she sent for them, together with and commanded him  to absent himself from
Mr. Welsh and Stevens, and committed them  Parliament.
to prison, where Wentworth remained many    These debates awakened the civilians in the
years.*  When it was moved in the house to house, and particularly Mr. Daulton, who opaddress the queen for the release of their mem- posed the reading of the bill, because the queen
bers, it was answered by those privy council- had often forbid them to meddle with the reflors that were of the house, " that her majesty ormation of the Church; which Sir Robert
had committed them for causes best known to Cecil, one of her majesty's secretaries, conherself; that the house must not call the queen firmed.
to account for what she did of her royal author-   As soon as the queen was acquainted with
ity; that the causes of their restraint might be the proceedings of the house, she sent for the
high and dangerous; that her majesty did not speaker, Coke,* and commanded him to tell
like such questions, nor did it become the house the house " that it was wholly in her power to
to deal in such matters."                     call, to determine, to assent or dissent, to anyAfter this it was a bold adventure of Mr. At- thing done in Parliament; that the calling of
torney Morrice,t and for which he paid very this was only that such as neglected the serdear, to move the house to inquire into the pro- vice of the Church might be compelled to it
ceedings of the bishops in their spiritual courts,: with some sharp laws; and that the safety of
and how far they could justify their inquisition; her majesty's person and the realm might be
their subscriptions; their binding the queen's provided for; that it was not meant that they
subjects to their good behaviour contrary to the should meddle with matters of state or causes
laws of God and of the realm; their compelling ecclesiastical; that she wondered they should
men to take oaths to accuse themselves, and, attempt a thing so contrary to her commandupon their refusal, to degrade, deprive, and im- ment; that she was highly offended at it; and
prison them at pleasure, and not to release them  that it was her royal pleasure that no bill,
till they had complied.  At the same time he touching any matters of state and causes ecoffered two bills to the house: one against the clesiastical, should there be exhibited."t At the
oath ex ofiycio, and the other against their illegal same time, Mr. Attorney Morrice was seized on
imprisonments, which last he prayed might be in the house by a sergeant-at-arms, discharged
read presently.  Sir Francis Knollys seconded  from his office in the court of the duchy of Lanthe attorney, and said, "that in his opinion caster, disabled from any practice in his profesthese abuses ought to be reformed; and that if sion as a barrister-at-law, and kept for some
the prelates had acted against law, they were in years prisoner in Tutbury Castle.
a prwemunire.~  He added, that after the refor-   If there had been a just spirit of English libmation of King Henry VIII., no bishop practised  erty in the House of Commons, they would not
superiority over his brethren; that in King Ed- have submitted so tamely to the insults of an
ward VI.'s time a statute was made that bish- arbitrary court, which arrested- their members
ops should keep their courts in the king's name; for liberty of speech, and committed them  to
and that though this statute was repealed by prison; which forbade their redressing the
Queen Mary, and not since revived, yet it was grievances of Church or State, and sent for
doubtful what authority bishops had to keep their bills out of the house and cancelled them.
courts in their own name, because it was nani- These were such acts of sovereign power as
festly against the prerogative that any subject none of her majesty's predecessors had dared
should hold a court without express warrant to assume, and which cost one of her successors
from the crown.  If it was said they kept their his crown and life.
courts by prescription, or by the statute of King    But this Parliament, instead of asserting
Henry VIII., which gives bishops the same rule their own and the people's liberties, stands
* Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 319.            upon record for one of the severest acts of opt This step of Mr. Attorney Morrice is described pression and cruelty that ever was passed by
in more proper and happy language by Dr. Warner, the representatives of a Protestant nation and
who calls it " a noble attempt in favour of religious
liberty." His situation was in the gift of the crown,   * Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 320.
which exhibits his conduct in a remarkably honoura-   t This, says Dr. Warner, " was the message of a
ble. light. Morrice was the legal adviser of Cawdery, queen to the House of Commons, whose reign affords
and was author of a treatise, against the oath ex oJfi- such subjects of panegyric to those who would be
cio —C.                                       thought patriots and patrons of liberty in the present
t Life of Whitgift, p. 386, 387.    Q Ibid., p. 388. age."'-Ecclesiastical History, vol. iii., p. 464. —ED




b19                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
a free people. It is entitled "An act for the infinite mischiefs upon the kingdom; many
punishment of persons obstinately refusing to families being forced into banishment; some
come to church, and persuading others to im- put to death, as in cases of treason; and others
pugn the queen's authority in ecclesiastical as the authors of seditious pamphlets.*
causes."  It is therein enacted "that if any    The moderate Puritans made a shift to evade
person above the age, of sixteen shall obstinate- the force of this law by coming to church when
ly refuse to repair to.some church, chapel, or common prayer was almost over, and by reusual place of common prayer, to hear Divine ceiving the sacrament in some churches where
service, for the space of one month, without it was administered with some latitude; but
lawful cause; or shall at any time, forty days the weight of it fell upon the separatists, who
after the end of this session, by printing, wri- renounced all communion with the Church in
ting, or express words, go about to persuade the Word and sacraments as well as in the
any of her majesty's subjects to deny, with- common prayer and ceremonies; these were
stand, or impugn her majesty's power or au- called Brownists or Barrowists, from one Barthority in causes ecclesiastical; or shall dis- row, a gentleman of the Temple, who was now
suade them from coming to church to hear Di- at their head.  We have given an account of
vine service, or receive the communion accord- their distinguishing principles in the year 1580,
ing as the law directs; or shall be present at since which time their numbers were prodiany unlawful assembly, conventicle, or meeting, giously increased, though the bishops pursued
under colour or pretence of any exercise of re- them, and shut them up in prison without bail
ligion; that every person so offending, and law- or troubling themselves to bring them to a trial.
fully convicted, shall be committed to prison Sir Walter Raleigh declared in the Parliament
without bail, till they shall conform and yield house that they were not less than twenty thouthemselves to come to church, and make the sand, divided into several congregations in Norfollowing declaration of their conformity:    folk, in Essex, and in the parts about London:
"'I, A B, do humbly confess and acknowl- there were several considerable men now at
edge that I have grievously offended God in their head, as the Reverend Mr. Smith, Mr. Jacontemning her majesty's godly and lawful cob, the learned Mr. Ainsworth, the rabbi of
government and authority, by absenting myself his age. and others.
from church and from hearing Divine service,   The congregation about London, being pretty
contrary to the godly laws and statutes of the numerous, formed themselves into a church,
realm, and in frequenting disorderly and un- Mr. Francis Johnson being chosen pastor by the
lawful conventicles, under pretence and colour suffrage of the brotherhood, Mr. Greenhood docof exercise of religion; and I am heartily sorry tor [or teacher], Mr. Bowman and Lee deacons,
for the same, and do acknowledge and testify Mr. Studley and Kinaston elders, all in one day,
in my conscience that no other person has, or at the house of Mr. Fox in Nicholas Lane, in
ought to have, any power or authority over her the year 1592;t seven persons were baptized at
majesty.  And I do promise and protest, with- the same time without godfathers or godmothout any dissimulation or colour of dispensation, ers, Mr. Johnson only washing their faces with
that from henceforth I will obey her majesty's water, and pronouncing the form, I baptize thee
statutes and laws in repairing to church and in the name, &c. The Lord's Supper was also
hearing Divine service; and to my utmost en- administered in this manner: five white loaves
deavour will maintain and defend the same.'   being set upon the table, the pastor blessed
" But in case the offenders against this Stat- them by prayer; after which, having broken the
ute, being lawfully convicted, shall not submit bread, he delivered it to some, and the deacons
and sign the declaration within three months, to the rest, some standing and others sitting
then they shall abjure the realm, and go into  about the table, using the words of the apostle,
perpetual banishment.*   And if they do not 1 Cor., xi., 24, "Take, eat, this is the body of
depart within the time limited by the quarter the Lord Jesus, which was broken for you: this
sessions or justices of peace, or if they return  do in remembrance of him."  In like -manner
at any time afterward without the queen's li- he gave the cup, using the like words of the
cense, they shall suffer death without benefit of apostle, "This cup is the New Testament in
clergy." So that, as Lord-chancellor King observed at the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, the case to take them at any time during the prosecution, he
of the Nonconformists by this act was worse applied to the magistrates of the county, at their
than that of felons at common law, for these quarter sessions, who illegally refused to administer
were allowed the benefit of clergy, but the them; the consequence was, that he was excommuwere allowed the benefit of clergy, but the nicated. Upon a representation of the committee in
others were not.  This statute was levelled London for taking care of the civil concerns of the
against the laity as well as the clergy, and the Dissenters, the chairman of the sessions acknowlsevere execution of it with that of the 23d of edged the error of the justices, and the man took the
Eliz., in this and the following reigns,t brought oaths at the ensuing sessions, but it was then too
late."-High Church Politics, p. 59.-ED.
* It is remarkable that there is a proviso in this   * Dr. Warner remarks on this statute, " that thus
statute that no popish recusant shall be compelled in some measure were renewed the days of Henry
or bound to abjure by virtue of this act. Such was VIII., when it was a crime against the state to de
her majesty's tenderness for the papists while she part ever so little from the religion of the sovereign
was crushing Protestant dissenters.-Neal's Review. but in some part of this act she exceeded her father's
-ED.                                         tyranny. For, absolute as he was, he contented
t "These laws are still put in execution, and himself with punishing such as opposed the estababout three years ago, in Cornwall, a poor fellow, a lished religion by some overt act. But by this new
Dissenter, was libelled in the spiritual court for not statute, the subjects were obliged to make an open
attending Divine worship at his parish church on profession by a constant attendance on the establishSunday. He had not taken the oaths required by ed service."-Eccles. History, vol. ii., p. 465.-ED.
the Toleration Act; but it being a sufficient defence   t Strype's Annals, vol. iv., p. 174.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      199
his Hflood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in tion, being afraid to move in an affair that lay
remembrance of him."  In the close they sung more immediately before the High Commission.
a hymn, and made a collection for the poor.   Mr. Smith, one of their ministers, after he
When any person came first into the church, had been in prison twelve months, was called
he made this protestation or promise: that "he before the commissioners, and being asked
would walk with them so long as they did walk  whether he would go to church, answered, that
in the way of the Lord, and as far as might be he should dissemble and play the hypocrite if
warranted by the Word of God."                 he should do it to avoid trouble, for he thought
The congregation being obliged to meet in  it utterly unlawful; to which one of the comdifferent places to conceal themselves from the missioners answered, "Come to church and
bishop's officers, was at length discovered on a
bishLord's Dayofficers, was at Islington, in th discvered on a their pleasure our poor bodies, without any trial, reLord's Day at Islington, in the very same place lease, or bail; and hitherto without any cause either
where the Protestant congregation met in Queen for error or crime directly objected. Some of us
Mary's reign; about fifty-six were taken pris- they have kept in close prison four or five years with
oners, and sent two by two to the jails about miserable usage, as Henry Burrowe and John GreenLondon, where several of their friends had been wood, now in the Fleet; others they have cast into
confined for a considerable time.              Newgate, and laden with as many irons as they could
At their examination, they confessed that for bear; others into dangerous and loathsome jails,
some years they had met in the fields in the among the most facinorous and vile persons, where
it is lamentable to relate how many of these innosummer-time at five o'clock in the morning of cents have perished within these five years: aged
the Lord's Day, and in the winter at private widows, aged men, and young maidens, &c., where,
houses;* that they continued all day in prayer so many as the infection hath spared, lie in woful
and expounding the Scriptures; that they dined distress, like to follow their fellows, if speedy redress
together, and after dinner made a collection for be not had; others of us have been grievously beaten
their diet, and sent the remainder of the money with cudgels in Bridewell, and cast into a place
to their brethren in prison; that they did not called Little Ease, for refusing to come to their
-theiLrds beren  pri he     di not tchapel service; in which prison several have ended
use the Lord's Prayer, apprehending it not to their lives; but upon none of our companions thus
be intended by our blessed Saviour to be used  committed by them, and dying in their prison, is any
as a form after the sending down of the Spirit search or inquest suffered to pass, as by law in like
at Pentecost.  Their adversaries charged them  case is provided.
with several extravagances about baptism, mar-   " Their manner of pursuing and apprehending us
riage, lay-preaching, &c., from which they vin- is with no less violence and outrage; their pursuidicated themselves in a very solid and judicious vants, with their assistants, break into our houses at
reply, showing how  far they disowned, and all times of the night, where they break open, ranwithwhatlimitatis  they anowlged, t sack, and rifle at their pleasure, under pretence of
with what limitations they acknowledged, the searching for seditious, unlawful books. The huscharge. f                                      bands in the dead of the night they have plucked out
But the bishops observing no measures with  of their beds from their wives, and haled them to
this people, they ventured to lay their case be- prison. Some time since their pursuivants, late in
fore the lords of the council in an humble peti- the night, entered in the queen's name into an honest
tion.1  But the privy council dropped the peti- citizen's house upon Ludgate Hill, where, after they
had at their pleasure searched and ransacked all pla* Strype's Annals, vol. iii., p. 579.        ces, chests, &c., of the house, they apprehended
t MS., p. 850.                               two of our ministers, Mr. Francis Johnson and John
$ In this petition they say, that " upon a careful Greenwood, without any warrant at all, both whom,
examination of the Holy Scriptures, we find the between one and two of the clock after midnight,
English hierarchy to be dissonant from Christ's in- they with bills and staves led to the counter of Woodstitution, and to be derived from antichrist, being the street, taking assurance of Mr. Boys, the master of
same the pope left in this land, to which we dare not the house, to be prisoner in his house till next day;
subject ourselves. We farther find that God has at which time the archbishop, with certain doctors
commanded all that believe the Gospel to walk in his associates, committed them to close prison, two
that holy faith and order which he has appointed in to the Clink, and the third to the Fleet, where they
his Church; wherefore, in the reverend fear of his now remain in distress. Since this they have cast
name, we have joined ourselves together, and sub- into prison Thomas Settle, Daniel Studley, and
jected our souls and bodies to those laws and ordi- Nicholas Lane, taken upon a Lord's Day in our asnances; and have chosen to ourselves such a minis- sembly, and shut them up in the Gate-house; others
try of pastor, teacher, elders, and deacons as Christ of our friends they are in continual pursuit of; so
has given to his Church on earth to the world's end, that there is no safety for them in any one place.
hoping for the promised assistance of his grace in   " We therefore humbly pray, in the name of God
our attendance upon him; notwithstanding any pro- and our sovereign the queen, that we may have the
hibition of men, or what by men can be done unto benefit of the laws, and of the public charter of the
us. We are ready to prove our church order to be land, namely, that we may be received to bail till we
warranted by the Word of God, allowable by her maj- be by order of law convicted of some crime deservesty's laws, and noways prejudicial to her sovereign ing bonds. We plight unto your honours our faith
power; and to disprove the public hierarchy, wor- unto God, and our allegiance to her majesty, that we
ship, and government, by such evidence of Scripture will not commit anything unworthy the Gospel of
as our adversaries shall not be able to withstand; Christ, or to the disturbance of the common peace
protesting, if we fail herein, not only willingly to and good order of the land, and that we will be forthsustain such deserved punishment as shall be inflict- coming at such reasonable warning as your lordships
ed upon us, but to become conformable for the fi- shall command. Oh! let us not perish before trial
ture; if we overthrow not our adversaries, we will and judgment, especially imploring and crying out to
not say if our adversaries overcome us.        you for the same. However, we here take the Lord
"But the prelates of this land have for a long of heaven and earth, and his angels, together with
time dealt most injuriously, unlawfully, and outrage- your own consciences, and all persons in all ages, to
ously with us, by the great power and high authori- whom this our supplication may come, to witness
ty they have gotten in their hands, and usurped above that we have here truly advertised your honours of
all the public courts, judges, laws, and charters of our case and usage, and have in all humility offered
this land, persecuting, imprisoning, and detaining at our cause to Christian trial,"




200                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
obey the queen's laws, and be a dissembler, be    Among the names subscribed to this petition
a hypocrite, or a devil, if thou wilt."*  Upon  is Mr. Henry Barrowe, an ingenious and learnhis refusal he was remanded to the Clink, and
his brethren to the Fleet, where, by order of    "The Almighty God, that hath preserved your
Mr. Justice Young, one of the commissioners, lordship unto these honourable years in so high serthey were shut up in close rooms, not being al- vice to our sovereign prince, and to the unspeakable
lowed the liberty of the prison;* here they died  comfort of this whole land, give your honourable
heart so tender compassion and careful consideralike rotten sheep, some of the disease of the  tion in equity, of the poor afflicted servants of Christ,
prison, some for want, and others of infectious  and that (before the Lord plead against this land for
distempers.  " These bloody men [the ecclesi- Abel's innocent blood that is shed in the several
astical commissioners]," says Mr. Barrowe, in  prisons) your honour may open your mouth for the
his supplication, " will allow us neither meat, dumb in the cause of the children of [devoted todrink, fire, lodging, nor suffer any whose hearts destruction, [that] you may open your mouth and
the Lord would stir up for our relief to have an  judge righteously, and judge the cause of the afflicted; as the people of Israel, when they went to war,
first made peace with God, and removed all occasion
teen have perished in the noisome jails within  whereby his wrath might be incensed, lest he should
these six years;t some of us had not one penny  fight against them in battle. For if this suppression
about us when we were sent to prison, nor any- of the truth and oppression of Christ in his members,
thing to procure a maintenance for ourselves and  contrary to all law and justice, be, without restraint,
families but our handy labour and trades, by. prosecuted by the enemy in the land, then not only
which means not only we ourselves, but our faim- the persecuted shall daily cry from under the altar
ilies and children, are undone and starved. Their for redress, but God's wrath be so kindled for the
ilies and children, are undone and starved. Their shedding the innocent blood of men, even the blood
unbridled slander, their lawless privy searches, of his own servants (of whom he has said,'Touch
their violent breaking open houses, their taking  not mine anointed'), that, if Noah, Daniel, and Job
away whatever they think meet, and their bar- should pray for this people, yet should they not de
barous usage of women, children, &c., we are  liver them.
forced to omit, lest we be tedious. That which    "Pleaseth it, then, your lordship to understand,
we crave for us all is the liberty to die openly, that we, her majesty's loyal, dutiful, and true-heartor live openly in the land of olur nativity;* if we  ed subjects, to the number of threescore persons and
deserve death, let us not be closely murdered, upward, have, contrary to all law and equity, been im
prisoned, separated from our trades, wives, children,
yea, starved to death with hunger and cold, and  and families; yea, shut up close prisoners from all
stifled in loathsome dungeons."  Among those  comfort, many of us for the space of two years and a
who perished in prison was one Mr. Roger Rip- half, upon the bishop's sole commandment, in great
pen, who, dying in Newgate, his fellow-prison- penury and noisomeness of the prisons; many ending
ers put this inscription upon his coffin:      their lives, never called to trial; some haled forth to
(" This is the corpse of Roger Rippon, a ser- the sessions; some cast in irons and dungeons; some
vant of Christ, and her majesty's faithful sub- in hunger and famine; all of us debarred from any
ject; who is the last of sixteen or seventeen  lawful audience before our honourable governors and
magistrates, and from all benefit and help of the
which that great enemy of God, the Archbishop  laws; daily defamed and falsely accused by publishof Canterbury, with his high commissioners, ed pamphlets, by private suggestions, open preachhave murdered in Newgate within these five  ing, slanders, and accusations of heresy, sedition,
years, manifestly for the testimony of Jesus  schism, and what not. And, above all, which most
Christ; his soul is now with the Lord, and his utterly toucheth our salvation, they keep us from all
blood cried for speedy vengeance against that spiritual comfort and edifying by doctrine, prayer, or
great enemy of the saints, and against Mr. Rich-  mutual conference, &c.
"And seeing for our conscience only we are deard Young [a justice of peace in London], who  prived of all comfort, we most humbly beseech your
in this, and many the like points, hath abused good lordship that some more mitigate and peaceahis power for the upholding of the Romish an- ble course might be taken therein, that some free
tichrist, prelacy, and priesthood. He died A.D. and Christian conference, publicly or privately, beL592."t                                        fore your honour, or before whom it would please
Many copies of this inscription were dispersed  you, where our adversaries may not be our judges
among friends, for which some were apprehend-  [might be had]; that our case, with the reason and
ed and confined,                               proof on both sides, might be recorded by indifferent
notaries and faithful witnesses; and if anything be
The privy council taking no notice of the  found inus worthy of death or bonds, let us be made
above-mentioned supplications, the prisoners in  an example to all posterity; if not, we entreat for
the several jails about London joined in the  some compassion to be shown in equity according to
petition given below to the Lord-treasurer Bur- law for our relief; [and] that, in the mean time. we
leigh, to which they subscribed their names.s   may be bailed to do her majesty service, walk in our
callings, to provide things needful for ourselves, our
* Strype's Ann., vol. ult., p. 134.          poor wives, disconsolate children, and families, lying
t Ibid., vol. ult., p. 133.        Ibid., vol. Iut., p. 91. upon us, or else that we might be prisoners together
in Bridewell, or any other convenient place at your
imprisoned by the bisops in sundry p~risons in and  honour's appointment, where we might provide such
about Lprisonedon byto the bishops in rd-treasundry prisons in  relief by our diligence and labours as might preserve
We hunmbly beseech your honour  either to grant life, to the comfort both of our souls and bodies."
Signed by your supplicants in the following pris
us a speedy trial together, or some free Christian    Signed by your supplicants in the followg pris
conference, or else, in the mean while, that we may
be bailed according to law, or else put into Bride-  In the Gate-house.   William Dodshowe,
well, or some other convenient place where we may  John Gaulter,      Father Debnam,
be together for our mutual help and comfort; or, if John Nicolas,     Edmund Thompson,
your honour will not yourself alone grant this our re- John Barnes,   Thomas Freeman.
quest, that then it may please you to be a mean for John Crawford,          In the Fleet.
our speedy relief, unto the rest of her majesty's most Thomas Conadyne,
honourable privy council.                      Thomas Reeve,          Henry Barrowe.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   201
ed man, but of too warm a spirit, as appears by tion, against whom their exceptions extend:*
his book, entitled "A Brief Discovery of False the Church of England has submitted to dispuChurches," printed 1590, and reprinted 1707. tation three times in King Edward's, Queen
This gentleman having been several years in Mary's, and Queen Elizabeth's time: these men's
prison, sent another supplication to the attorney- errors have been condemned by the writings of
general and privy council for a conference with learned men: it is not reasonable that a religion
the bishops, or that their ministers might be con- established by Parliament should be examined
ferred with in their hearing, without taunts or by an inferior authority: it is not reasonable to
railings, for searching out the truth in love. " If condemn those foreign churches that have acit be objected," says Barrowe, " that none of knowledged ours for a true church: their prinour side are worthy to be thus disputed with, cipal errors have been confiuted by St. Austin:
we think we should prove the contrary, for there this will strengthen the hands of the papists:
are three or four of them in the city of London, it has been the manner of heretics to require
and more elsewhere, who have been zealous dlisputations with clamour and importunity: the
preachers in the parish assemblies, and are not ig- cause has been already decided by written books,
norant of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues, which they may consult: they will not stand to
nor otherwise unlearned, and generally confess- the judgment of the civil magistrate: if the
ed to be of honest conversation. If this motion Church should satisfy every sect that riseth,
takes effect, the controversy will soon end with there would be no end of disputations."  Thus
most of us, for by this means we poor wretches these pious and conscientious persons, after::
shall perceive whether, as simple souls, we are long and illegal imprisonment, were abandoned
lead aside, or whether, as the dear children of to the severity of an unrighteous law; some of
God, we are first trusted with the view of, and them being publicly executed as felons, and othstanding up for, the cause of holiness and righte- ers proscribed and sent into banishment.
ousness. But let us not perish secretly in prison,   Among the former were Mr. Barrowe, gent.,
or openly by execution, for want of that help of Gray's Inn, Mr. Greenwood and Penry, minthat lies in your power to afford; when we pro- isters; the first two had been in prison some
test, in the sight of God, we do not separate years, and several times before the commissionfrom the establishment out of pride or obstinacy, ers; their examinations, written by themselves,
but from the constraints of conscience."     are now before me. Barrowe was apprehended
But all these petitions were rejected by the. at the Clink prison in Southwark, where he went
bishops and privy council, for the following rea- to visit his brother Greenwood; he was carried
sons, if they deserve that name: " Because a immediately to Lambeth, where the archbishop
disputation had been denied to papists: to call would have examined him upon the oath ex offithe ministry of the Church of England into cio, but he refused to take it, or to swear at all
question, is to call all other churches into ques- upon the Bible; but, says he, by God's grace I
will answer nothing but the truth. So the arch
John Greenwood,         In the White Lion.    bishop took a paper of interrogatories into his
Daniel Studley,      Thomas Legat,           hand, and asked him, 1. " Whether the Lord's
Robert Badkyne,      Edmund Marsh,           Prayer might be used in the Church?"  He anWalter Lane.         Antony Johnes,          swered, that in his opinion it was rather a sumIn Newgate,    - Cook,                 mary than a form, and not finding it used by the
William Deptford,         Auger.             apostles, he thought it should not be constantly
Widow Borrough,         Wood-street Compter.   used by us. 2. Whether forms of prayer may
Roger Waterer.       George Snells,          be used in the Church! He answered, that
In Bridewell.   Christopher Bowman,    none such ought to be imposed. 3. Whethei
William Broomal,     Robert Jackson,         the common prayer be idolatrous or superstiJames Forrester,     Rowlet Skipwith.       tious? He answered, that in his opinion it was
Antony Claxton,          Poultry Compter.    so. 4. Whether the sacraments of the Church
Nicholas Lee,        George Kingston,        are true sacraments and seals of the favour of
Jonh Francis,        Thomas Ey
William Forrester,   Thomas Eyneworth,       God?  He answered, he thought, as they were
John Clarke,         Richard Hayward,        publicly administered, they were not. 5. WhethJohn Fisher,         John Lancaster.         er the laws of the Church are good? He anJohn Bucer,              In all, fifty-nine.  swered, that many of them were unlawful and
Roger Rippon,           Prisoners deceased:   antichristian.  6. Whether the Church of EngRobert Andrews,       Outf othe Poultry Compter. land is a true church?  He answered, that, as
Richard Skarlet,                             it was now formed, it was not; yet there are
Luke Hayes,          John Chandler.          many excellent good Christians of it. 7. WhethRichard Maltusse,    Outof Wood-street Compter. er the queen be supreme governor of the Church,
Richard Umberfield,    George Dinghtie.      and may make laws for it  He answered, that
William Fowler,
William Burt,             Out of the Clink.    the queen was supreme governor of the Church,
William Hutton.      Henry Thompson,         but might not make laws other than Christ hadi
In the Clink.  Jerome Studley.         left in his Word. 8. Whether a private person
Geo:ge Collier,           Out of Newgate..  may reform if the prince neglects it?  He anJohn Sparrow,        Richard Jackson,        swered, that no private persons might reform
Edmund Nicholson,    Widow Mainard,          the state, but they are to abstain from any unChristopher Browne,   Widow Row,            lawful thing commanded by the prince.  9.
Thomas Mitchel,      Nicholas Crane,        Whether every particular church ought to have
Andrew Smith,        Thomas Stephens.        a presbytery?  He answered in the affirmative.
William Blackborrow,     Out of Bridewell.   After this examination he was remanded to a
Thomas Lemare,
Christopher Raper,    Joln Pardy.
Quintin Smith.             In all, ten.             * Strype's Annals, vol. ult., p. 172.
VoL. T.-C c




-202                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
close prison, and denied a copy of his answers, ops and the hierarchy of the Church; which
though he earnestly desired it.             was apparent enough.  However, the jury
His next examination was before the arch- brought them all in guilty.*  Bellot desired a
bishop, the lord-chancellor, lord-treasurer, Lord conference, and with tears confessing his sorBuckhurst, and the Bishop of London, at White- row  for what he had done, was pardoned.
hall, where he found twelve of his brethren in Bowlle and Studley being looked upon only as
the same circumstances with himself, but was accessories, though they continued firm, declanot admitted to speak to them. Being called ring their unshaken loyalty to the queen, and reinto another room, and kneeling down at the fusing to ask for mercy, were reprieved and sent
end of the table, the lord-treasurer spoke to back to prison; but Barrowe and Greenwood
him thus: Treasurer. Why are you in prison I were to be made examples. Sentence of death
Barrowe. Upon the statute against recusants. being passed upon them March 23, sundry diTreasurer. Why will you not go to church? vines were appointed to persuade them to reBarrowe. Because I think the Church of Eng- cant; who not succeeding, they were brought
land as established bylaw not a church of Christ, in a cart to Tyburn on the last of March, and
nor their manner of worship lawful. After a exposed under the gallows for some time to the
long debate on this head the treasurer said, You people, to see if the terrors of death would afcomplain of injustice, where have you wrong? fright them; but remaining constant, they were
Barrowe. In being kept in prison without due brought back to Newgate, and on the 6th of
trial; and in the misery we suffer by a close im- April, 1593, carried a second time to Tyburn
prisonment contrary to law. The archbishop and executed. At the place of execution they
said he had matter to call him before him for a gave such testimonies of their unfeigned piety
heretic. Barrowe replied, That you shall never towards God and loyalty to the queen, praying
do; I may err, but heretic, by the grace of God, so earnestly for her long and prosperous reign,
I will never be. It being observed that he did that when Dr. Reynolds, who attended them,
not pay such reverence to the Archbishop and reported their behaviour to her majesty, she reBishop of London as to the temporal lords, the pented that she had yielded to their death.
chancellor asked him if he did not know those   They had been in close prison ever since the
two men, pointing to the bishops. To which year 1590, exposed to all the severities of cold,
he answered, that he had cause to know them, hunger, and nakedness, which Mr. Barrowe repbut did not own them for lord bishops. Being resented in a supplication to the queen, already
then asked by what name he would call the arch- mentioned, concluding with an earniest desire of
bishop, he replied that he was a monster, a deliverance from the present miseries, though it
persecutor, a compound of he knew not what, were by death; but the archbishop interceptneither ecclesiastical nor civil, like the second ed the paper, and endeavoured to prevent the
beast spoken of in the Revelations: upon which knowledge of their condition from coming to the
the archbishop rose out of his place, and with a queen's ear: upon this, Mr. Barrowe exposed
severe countenance said, My lords, will you suf- his grace's behaviour towards miserable men,
fer him. So he was plucked off his knees, and in a letter to one Mr. Fisher, wherein he charcarried away.                               ges him with " abusing the queen's clemency
Mr. Greenwood the minister was examined by false informations and suggestions, and with
after the same manner before the Archbishop of artful disingenuity, in committing so many inCanterbury, the Bishops of London and Win- nocent men to Bridewell, the Compter, Newgate,
chester, the lords-chief-justices, the lord-chief- the White Lion, and the Fleet, and then postbaron, and the master of the rolls: he had in- ing them to the civil magistrate to take off the
terrogatories put to him as Barrowe had, but re- clamour of the people from himself. He says
fused to swear, and made much the same an- that he had destined himself and his brother
swer with the other. At length, on March 21, Greenwood to death, and others to be kept in
1592, they, together with Saxio Bellot, gent., close prison; their poor wives and children to
Daniel Studley, girdler, and Robert Bowlle, fish- be cast out of the city, and their goods to be
monger, were indicted at the sessions-house in confiscated. Is not this a Christian bishop? "
the Old Bailey, upon the statute of 23 Eliz., for says he. "Are these the virtues of him who
writing and publishing sundry seditious books takes upon him the care and government of all
and pamphlets, tending to the slander of the the churches of the land, to tear and devour
queen and government, when they had only God's poor sheep, and to rend off the flesh and
written against the Church; but this was the break their bones, and chop them in pieces as
archbishop's artful contrivance to throw off the flesh to the caldron?t Will he thus instruct
odium of their death from himself to the civil and convince gainsayers 1 Surely he will permagistrate; for, as the reverend and learned suade but few that fear God to his religion by
Mr. Hugh Broughton observes, "though Mr. his dealing and evil. Does he consult his own
Barrowe and Greenwood were condemned for credit, or the honour of his prince, by this tyrdisturbance of the state, yet this would have annous havoc I For our parts, our lives are not
been pardoned, and their lives spared, if they dear to us, so that we may finish our testimony
would have promised to come to church."* with joy: we are always ready, through God's
Upon their trial they behaved with constancy grace, to be offered up upon the testimony of
and resolution, showing no token of recognition, the faith that we have made."
says the attorney, nor prayer for mercy: they   Thus fell these two unhappy gentlemen a sacprotested their inviolable loyalty to the queen, rifice to the resentments of an angry prelate.
and obedience to her government; that they   About six weeks after this, the Rev. Mr. John
never wrote, nor so much as intended anything, Penry, or Ap-Henry, a Welsh divine, was exeagainst her highness, but only against the bish-* Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 323
* Broughton's Works, p. 731                t Life of Whitgift, p. 416.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      203
cuted for the same crime, in a cruel and inhu- an address to the queen, to show her majesty
man manner. He was a pious and learned man, the true state of religion, and how ignorant she
well disposed to religion, says Mr. Strype, but was of many abuses in the Church of England,
mistaken in his principles and hot in his tem- especially in the management of ecclesiastical
per; a zealous platformer, and a declared ene- matters; and likewise to intercede for so muchl
my of the archbishop.  He was born in the favour that he might, by her authority, have libcounty of Brecknock, and educated first at Cain- erty to go into Wales, his native country, to
bridge, and afterward in St. Alban's Hall, Ox- preach the Gospel.* With this petition he came
ford, where he became M.A., 1586, and entered
into holy orders, being well acquainted with arts then in London, under the burden, and elsewhere in
and languages.  He preached in both universi- exile, more flourishing churches than any now tolerated by your authority.
ties with applause, and afterward travelling into a" Now, whereas we should have your help both
Wales, was the first, as he said, that preached  to join ourselves with the true Church and reject
the Gospel publicly to the Welsh, and sowed the the false, and all the ordinances thereof, we are in
good seed among his countrymen.  In the year your kingdom permitted to do nothing, but account1518 he published a' "View of such Public Wants ed seditious if we affirm either the one or the other
and Disorders as are in her Majesty's Country  of the former points; and, therefore, madam, you are
of Wales, with an humble Petition to the High not so much an adversary to us poor men as unto
Christ Jesus and the wealth of his kingdom.
Court of Parliament for their Redress:" where- Christ Jesus and the wealth of his kingd
"If we cannot have your favour but by omitting
in is showed not only the necessity of reforming our duty to God, we are unworthy of it, and, by God's
the state of religion among that people, but also  grace, we mean not to purchase it so dear.
the only way in regard of substance to bring    "But, madam, thus much we must needs say,
that reformation to pass.  He also published  that in all likelihood, if the days of your sister Queen
"An Exhortation to the Governors and People Mary and her persecution had continued unto this
of her Majesty's Country of Wales, to labour day, that the Church of God in England had been
earnestly to have the preaching of the Gospel far more flourishing than at this day it is; for then,
earnestly to have the preaching of the Gospel                   t)
madam, the Church of God within this land, and
planted among them."  Printed in 1588.         elsewhere, being strangers, enjoyed the ordinances
When Martin Mar-Prelate and the other sa- of God's holy Word as far as then they saw.
tirical pamphlets against the bishops were pub-   "But since your majesty came unto vour crown, we
lished, a special warrant was issued from the have had whole Christ Jesus, God and man; but we
privy council, 1590, under several of their hands, must serve him only in heart.
whereof the archbishop's was one, to seize and    "And if those days had continued to this time,
apprehend Mr. Penry as an enemy of the state, and those lights risen therein, which, by the mercy
of God, have since shined in England, it is not to be
and that all the queen's good subjects should  doubted but the Church of England, even in England,
take him so to be. To avoid being taken, he reti- had far surpassed all the Reformed churches in the
red into Scotland, where he continued till the year world.
1593. Here he made many observations ofthings   "Then, madam, any of our brethren durst not
relating to religion, for his own private use, and have been seen within the tents of antichrist; now
at length prepared the heads of a petition,* or they are ready to defend them to be the Lord's, and
that he has no other tabernacle upon earth but them.
* The heads of the petition, taken upon him, were Our brethren then durst not temporize in the cause
as follow: " The last days of your reign are turned  of God, because the Lord himself ruled in his Church,
rather against Jesus Christ and his Gospel than to by his own laws, in a good measure; but now, bethe maintenance of the same.                   hold! they may do what they will, for any sword
" I have great cause and complaint, madam; nay, that the Church has to draw against them, if they
the Lord and his Church have cause to complain contain themselves within your laws.
of your government, because we your subjects, this   "This peace, under these conditions, we cannot
day, are not permitted to serve our God under your enjoy, and therefore, for anything I can see, Queen
government according to his Word, but are sold Mary's days will be set up again, or we must needs
to be bond-slaves, not only to our affections, to do temporize. The whole truth we must not speak;
what we will, so that we keep ourselves within the the whole truth we must not profess. Your state
compass of established civil laws, but also to be ser- must have a stroke above the truth of God.
vants to the man of sin [the pope] and his ordinances.   "Now, madam, your majesty may consider what
" It is not the force that we seem to fear that will good the Church of God hath taken at your hands,
come upon us (for the Lord may destroy both you for even outward peace with the absence of Jesus
denying, and us for slack seeking, of his will) by Christ in his ordinance; otherwise as great troubles
strangers: I come unto you with it: if you will hear are likely to come as ever were in the days of your
it, our cause may be eased; if not, that posterity may sister.
know that you have been dealt with, and that this   "As for the council and clergy, if we bring any such
age may know that there is no expectation [hope] to suit unto them, we have no other answer but that
be looked for at your hands.                   which Pharaoh gives to the Lord's messengers
"Among the rest of the princes under the Gospel, touching the state of the Church under his governthat have been drawn to oppose it, you must think ment.
yourself to be one; for until you see this, madam,   "For when any are called for this cause before
you see not yourself, and they are but sycophants and your council, or the judges of the land, they must
flatterers whoever tell you otherwise: your standing take this for granted, once for all, that the uprightis and has been by the Gospel. It is little beholden ness of their cause will profit them nothing if the
to you for anything that appears. The practice of law of the land be against them; for your council
your government shows that if you could have ruled and judges have so well profited in religion, that they
without the Gospel, it would have been doubtful will not stick to say that they come not to consult
whether the Gospel should be established or not: whether the matter be with or against the Word or
for now that you are established in your throne by not, but their purpose is to take the penalty of the
the Gospel, you suffer it to reach no farther than the transgressions against your laws.
end of your sceptre limiteth unto it.            "If your council were wise, they would not kindle
"If we had had Queen Mary's days, I think that your wrath against us; but, madam, if you give eai
we should have had as flourishing a church this to their words, no marvail though you have not bet
day as ever any, for it is well known that there was ter counsellors."  * Life of Whitgift, -. 409.




204                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
from Scotland, resolving to finish and deliver it   "Though my innocence may stand me in no
with his own hand, as he should find opportu- stead before an earthly tribunal, yet I know that
nity; but upon his arrival he was seized with  I shall have the reward thereof before the judghis papers at Stepney parish, by the information  ment-seat of the Great King; and the merciful
of the vicar, in the month of May, and arraign- Lord, who relieves the widow and fatherless,
ed, condemned, and executed, hastily, the very  will reward my desolate orphans and friendless
same month.                                  widow that I leave behind me, and even hear
It appears by this petition, as well as by his their cry, for he is merciful.
letter sent to the congregation of Separatists    " Being like to trouble your lordship with no
in London, that Mr. Penry was a Brownist. more letters, I do with thankfulness acknowlHis Book of Observations was also seized, out edge your honour's favour in receiving the wri
of which were drawn articles of accusation  tings I have presumed to send to you from time
against him. He was indicted upon the statute to time; and in this my last, I protest I have
of the 23d of Eliz., cap. ii., for seditious words written nothing but the truth from time to time.
and rumours uttered against the queen's most   "Thus preparing myself, not so much for an
excellent majesty, tending to the stirring up of unjust verdict, and an undeserved doorn- in this
rebellion among her subjects, and was convict- life, as unto that blessed crown of glory which,
ed of felony, May 21, in the King's Bench, be- of the great mercy of my God, is ready for me
fore the Lord-chief-justice Popham.  He re- in heaven, I humbly betake your lordship unto
ceived sentence of death May 25, and was exe- the hands of the just Lord. May 22, 1593. Your
cuted on the 29th of the same month. It was lordship's most. humble in the Lord,
designed to indict him for the books published                          " JOHN PENRY."
in his name, but by the advice of council, Mr.   In the protestation enclosed in this letter he
Penry drew up a paper entitled "Mr. Penry's declared that he wrote his observations in ScotDeclaration, May 16, 1593, that he is not in land; that they were the sum of certain objecdanger of the law for the books published in his tions made by people in those parts against her
name."  Here he observes that the statute was majesty and her government, which he intendnot intended against such as wrote only against ed to examine, but had not so much as looked
the hierarchy of the Church, for then it must into them for fourteen or fifteen months past;
condemn most of the most learned Protestants that even in these writings, so imperfect, unfinboth at home and abroad; but relates to such  ished, and enclosed within his private study, he
as defame her majesty's royal person, whereas had shown his dutifulness to the queen, nor had
he had always written most dutifully of her he ever a secret wandering thought of the least
person and government, having never encour- disloyalty to her majesty: " I thank the Lord,"
aged sedition or insurrection against her maj- says he, "I remember not that that day has
esty, but the contrary; nor had he ever been  passed over my head, since under her governat any assembly or conventicle where any, un- ment I came to the knowledge of the truth,
der or above the number of twelve, were as- wherein I have not commended her estate unto
sembled with force of arms, or otherwise, to  God. Well, I may be indicted and condemned,
alter anything established by law; nor was it and end my days as a felon or a traitor against
his opinion that private persons should of their my natural sovereign, but heaven and earth
own authority attempt any such thing, for he shall not be able to convict me thereof. Whenhad always written and spoken to the contrary. soever an end of my days comes (as I look not
But, however, if all this had been true, he to live this week to an end), I shall die Queen
ought to have been accused within one month  Elizabeth's most faithful subject, even in the
of the crime, upon the oath of two witnesses, consciences of mine enemies, if they will be beand have been indicted within one year, other- holders thereof.*
wise the statute itself clears him in express    "I never took myself for a rebuker, much less
words.                                       for a reformer of states and kingdoms; far was
The court, apprehending this declaration  that from me; yet in the discharge of my conmight occasion an argument at law, set aside  science, all the world must bear with me if I
his printed books, and convicted him upon the  prefer my testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ
petition and private observations above men- before the favour of any creature. An enemy
tioned, which was still harder, as he represent- to good order and policy either in this Church
ed it himself in the following letter to the lord- or commonwealth was I never.  I never did
treasurer, with a protestation enclosed, imme- anything in this cause (Lord! thou art witness)
diately after his condemnation.  "Vouchsafe, for contention, vainglory, or to draw disciples
I beseech your lordship (right honourable), to  after me. Great things in this life I never
read the enclosed writing. My days, I see, are  sought for; sufficiency I have had, with great
drawing to an end, and I thank God an unde- outward trouble, but most content I was with my
served end, except the Lord stir up your honour lot; and content I am and shall be with my tinto acquaint her majesty with my guiltless state. timely death, though I leave behind me a friend";The cause is most lamentable that the pri- less widow and four infants, the eldest of which
vate observations of any student, being in a is not above four years old. I do from my heart
foreign land and wishing well to his prince and  forgive all that seek my life; and if my death
country, should bring his life with blood to a can procure any quietness to the Church of God
violent end, especially seeing they are most or the State, I shall rejoice. May my prince
private, and so imperfect as they have no-cohe- have many such subjects, but may none of them
rence at all in them, and in most place carry no meet with such a reward! My earnest request
true English.                               is that her majesty may be acquainted with
" Life of Whitg'ft, p. 412.              * Life of Whitgift, in Rec., p. 176.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                205
these things before my death, or at least after dangerous rebellions in the north, there were
my departure.                              only twelve priests executed, and most of them
"Subscribed with the heart and hand that for matters against the state. In the ten folnever devised or wrote anything to the discredit lowing years, when swarms of priests and Jesor defamation of my sovereign Queen Elizabeth: uits came over from foreign seminaries to inI take it on my death, as I hope to have a life vite the Catholics to join with the Spaniards,
after this. By me,         JOHN PENRY."  the laws were: girt closer upon them, fifty priests
It was never known before this time that a being executed, and fifty-five banished; but as
minister and a scholar was condemned to death soon as the danger was over, the laws were refor private papers found in his study; nor do I laxed, and by reason of the ignorance and laziremember more than once since that time, in neSS of the beneficed clergy, the missionaries
whose case it was given for law, that scribere gained over, such numbers of proselytes in the
est agere, that to write has been construed an latter end of this reign, as endangered the
overt act; but Penry must die, right or wrong; whole government and Reformation in the bethe archbishop was the first man who signed ginning of the next.
the warrant for his execution, and after him    The last and finishing hand was put to the
Puckering and Popham. The warrant was sent Presbyterian discipline in Scotland this year
immediately to the sheriff, who the very same [1554]. That kingdom had been governed by
day erected a gallows at St. Thomas Water- different factions during the minority of King
ings; and while the prisoner was at dinner, sent James, which prevented a full settlement of rehis officers to bid him make ready, for he must ligion. The General Assembly in the year
die that afternoon; accordingly, he was carried 1566 had approved of the Geneva discipline;
in a cart to the place of execution; when he but the Parliament did not confirm the votes of
came thither the sheriff would not suffer him to the assembly, nor formally deprive  the bishops
speak to the people, nor make any profession of of their power, though all church affairs from
his faith towards God, or his loyalty to the that time were managed by presbyteries and
queen, but ordered him to be turned off in a generalassemblies. In the year 1574 they vohurry about five of the clock in the evening, ted the bishops to be only pastors of one parMay 29, 1593, in the thirty-fourth year of his ish; and to show their power, they deposed the
age.                                       Bishop of Dunkeld, and delated the Bishop of
The court being struck with this behaviour Glasgow. In the year 1577 they ordained that
of the Brownists, began to be ashamed of hang- all bishops be called by their own names, and
ing men for sedition against the state, who died the next year voted the very name of a bishop
with such strong professions of loyalty to the a grievance. In the year  1580, the General
queen and government, and therefore could suf- Assebly, with one voice, declared diocesan
fer only for the cause of religion. This raised episcopacy to be unscriptural and unlawful
an odium against the bishops and the high com- The same year, King James with his family,
missioners, who, all men knew, were at the and the whole nation, subscribed a confession
bottom  of these w roceedings.  It is said the of faith, with a solemn league and covenant anqueen herself was displeased with them  when nexed, obliging themselves to maintain and deshe heard of the devotion and loyalty of the  fend the Protestant doctrine and the Presbytesufferers. It was therefore resolved to proceed  ian government.  After this, in the year 1584,
for the future on the late statute of the 31st the bishops were  restored by Parliament to
Eliz., to retain the queen's subjects in their some parts of their ancient dignity  and it
obedience, and instead of putting the Brown- was made  treason for any man to procure the
ists to death, to send them into banishment. innovation or diminution of the power and auUpon this statute, Mr. Johnson, pastor of the thority of any of the three estates; but when
Brownist Church, was convicted, and all the this act was proclaimed, the ministers protested
jails were cleared for the present; though the against it, as not having been agreed to by the
commissioners took care within the compass Kirk. In the year 1587, things took another
of another year to fill them again.        turn, and his majesty being at the full age of
The papists were distressed by this statute, twenty-one, consented to an act to take away
and that of 23d Eliz., as much as the Brown- bishops' lands, and annex them to the crown.
ists, though they met with much more favour In the year 1593, it was ordained by the Generfrom the ecclesiastical courts; the queen either al Assembly that all that bore office in the Kirk,
loved or feared them, and would often say she or should hereafter do so, should subscribe to
would never ransack their consciences if they the Book of Discipline. In the year 1592, all
would be quiet; but they were always libelling acts of Parliament whatsoever, made by the
her majesty, and in continual plots against her king's highness or any of his predecessors, in
government. While the Queen of Scots was favour of popery or episcopacy, were annulled;
alive, they supported her pretensions to the and in particular, the act of May 22, 1584, "for
crown, and after her death they maintained in granting commissions to bishops, or oth.er ecprint the title of the Infanta of Spain: they clesiastical judges, to receive presentations to
were concerned with the Spaniards in the inva- benefices, and give collation thereupon;" and
sion of 1588, which obliged the queen to con- it was ordained that for the future " all-presentfine some of their chiefs in Wisbeach Castle, ations to benefices shall be directed to the parand other places of safety, but she was tender ticular presbyteries, with full power to give colof their lives. In the first eleven years of her lation thereupon; and to order all matters and
reign, not one Roman Catholic was prosecuted causes ecclesiastical within their boundsaccordcapitally for religion; in the next ten years, ing to the discipline of the Kirk.t
when the pope had excommunicated the queen
and the whole kingdom, and there had been   * Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 231.   t Id. ibid., p. 294




206                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"Farther, the act ratifies and confirms all begun his work while master of the Temple, but
former acts of Parliament in favour of kirk dis- meeting with some trouble, and many interrupcipline, and declares that it shall be lawful for tions in that place, the archbishop, at his rethe Kirk and ministers to hold general assem-  quest, removed him  to Boscum, in the diocess
blies once a year, or oftener if necessity require, of Salisbury, and gave him a minor prebend in
the king's commissioner being present if his  that church; here he finished his first four
majesty pleases.  It ratifies and approves of  books; from thence he was removed to the parprovincial and synodal assemblies twice a year sonage of Bishopsborn, in Kent, about three
within every province; and of presbyteries and  miles from Canterbury, where he finished his
particular sessions appointed by the Kirk, with  work and his life in the year 1660, and in the
the whole discipline and jurisdiction of the  forty-seventh year of his age.*
same.  Provincial assemblies have power to    The chief principles upon which this learned
redress all things omitted or done amiss in the  author proceeds are,
particular assemblies, to depose the office-bear-    "That though the Holy Scriptures are a perer of the province, and generally they have the  feet standard of doctrine, they are not a rule of
power of the particular elderships whereof they  discipline or government: nor is the practice of
are collected.                                  the apostles an invariable rule or law to the
" The power of presbyteries is declared to  Church in succeeding ages, because they acted
consist in keeping the kirks within their bounds  according to the circumstances of the Church
in good order; to inquire after and endeavour in its infant and persecuted state: neither are
to reform  vicious persons.  It belongs to the  the Scriptures a rule of human actions, so far
elderships to see that the Word of God be duly  as that whatsoever we do in matters of religion
preached, and the sacraments rightly adminis- without their express direction or warrant is
tered, and discipline entertained; they are to  sin, but many things are left indifferent: the
cause the ordinances made by the Provincial, Church is a society like others, invested with
National, and General Assemblies, to be put in  powers to make what laws she apprehends reaexecution; to make or abolish constitutions  sonable, decent, or necessary for herwell-being
which concern decent order in their kirks, pro- and government, provided they do not interfere
vided they alter no rules made by the superior with or contradict the laws and commandments
assemblies; and communicate their constitu-  of Holy Scripture: where the Scripture is sitions to the Provincial Assembly; they have  lent, human authority may interpose; we must
power to excommunicate the obstinate after then have recourse to the reason of things and
due process.  Concerning particular kirks, if  the rights of society: it follows from hence that
they are lawfully ruled by sufficient ministers  the Church is at liberty to appoint ceremonies,
and session, they have power and jurisdiction  and establish order within the limits above
in their own congregation in matters ecclesias-  mentioned; and her authority ought to detertical."                                         mine what is fit and convenient: all who are born
This act, for the greater solemnity, was con- within the confines of an established church,
firmed again in the year 1593, and again this  and are baptized into it, are bound to submit to
present year 1594, so that from this time to the  its ecclesiastical laws; they may not disgrace,
year 1612 presbytery was undoubtedly the legal establishment of the Kirk of Scotland, as it scrutinizing inquiry into the nature of man and the
constitution of human society can effect, is here achad been, in fact, ever since the Reformation.   complished on behalf of the hierarchy. If, therefore,
To return to England.  Several champions  such a work fails to sustain its positions; if many of
appeared about this time for the cause of epis-  its principles are unsound, and its course of argucopacy; as, Dr. Bilson, Bancroft, Bridges, Cos- mentation is precisely similar to that which popery
ins, Soam, and Dr. Adrian Sararia, a Spaniard, employs; if large sections of the work are as conclubut beneficed in the Church of England: this  sive against the Protestant faith as against that form
last was answered by Beza; Bridges was an- of it to which Hooker was opposed, a strong presumption must be awakened that there was a radical
swered by Fenner, Cosins by Morrice, and Bilunsoundness in the cause he advocated, which no
Bon by Bradshaw, though the press was shut genius could remedy or diligence correct.  That
against the Puritans.                           such defects do attach to this celebrated performance
But the most celebrated performance, and of  has been extensively acknowledged, and will be ingreatest note, was Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical creasingly felt, as the true spirit of Protestantism
Polity, in eight books; the first four of which  prevails among its professed disciples."  "The better
were published this year; the fifth in the year parts of the Ecclesiastical Polity," remarks Mr. Hal1597, and last three not till many years after lam, "bear a resemblance to the philosophical writings of antiquity, in their defects as well as their
his death; for which reason some have suspect-  excellences.  Hooker is often too vague in the use
ed them  to be interpolated, though they were  of general terms; too inconsiderate in the admission
deposited in the hands of Archbishop Abbot, of principles; too apt to acquiesce in the scholastic
from  whose copy they were printed, about the  pseudo-philosophy; and, indeed, in all received tenbeginning of the civil wars.*  This is esteemed  ets. He is comprehensive rather than sagacious,
the most learned defence of the Church of Eng-  and more fitted to sift the truth from the stores of
land, cwtherein all that woiuld be acquainted with  accumulated learning than to seize it by an original
impulse of his own mind. Nor would it be difficult
its constitution, says a learned prelate, may see  impuiset outhis oseveral other sujects, such as religious
upon what foundation it is built.t  Mr. Hooker toleration, as to which he did not emancipate himself from the trammels of prejudice."-Con.stitutieonal
Life of Whitgift, p. 421.                   HIistory, vol. i., p. 295.-(C.
t The Ecclesiastical Polity is deeply interesting to    k Hooker's production grew out of his dispute with
the Protestant Nonconformist, because it exhibits the  Travers, and his object was to recover the junior
utmost that can be advanced in support of the church  members of the Temple from the influence of Travsystem to which he is opposed. "All," says Dr. ers's ministry.-See Walton's Life of Hooker,i,,295.
Price, "that human genius, or the most patient and  -C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     207
revile, or reject them at pleasure: the Church is governed by the laws and precepts of the
is their mother, and has more than a maternal New Testament, so far is it a Church of Christ;
power over them: the positive laws of the but when it sets up its own by-laws as terms
Church not being of a moral nature, are muta- of communion, or works the policy of the civil
ble, and may be changed or reversed by the magistrate into its constitution, it is so far a
same powers that made them; but while they creature of the state.
are in force they are to be submitted to, under   Mr. Hooker's last two propositions are inconsuch penalties as the Church in her wisdom  sistent with the first principles of the Reformashall direct."                                tion, viz., that all men that are born within the
The fourth and fifth propositions are the main  confines of an established church, and are bappillars of Mr. Hooker's fabric, and the founda- tized into it, are bound to submit to its ecclesition of all human establishments, viz., " that the astical laws under such penalties as the Church
Church, like other societies, is invested with  in her wisdom shall direct. Must I, then, be of
power to make laws for its well-being; and that the religion of the country where I am born?
where the Scripture is silent, human authority that is, at Rome a papist, in Saxony a Lutheran,
may interpose."  All men allow that human  in Scotland a Presbyterian, and in England a
societies may form themselves after any model, diocesan prelatist, and this under such penalties
and make what laws they please for their well- as the Church in her wisdom  shall think fit q
being; and that the Christian Church has some Must I believe as the Church believes, and subthings in common with all societies as such, as mit to her laws right or wrong   Have I no
the appointing time and place, and the order of right, as a man and a Christian, to judge and
public worship, &c.; but it must be remembered  act for myself, as long as I continue a loyal and
that the Christian Church is not a mere volun- faithful subject to my prince? Surely religious
tary society, but a community formed and con- principles and Church communion should be the
stituted by Christ, the sole king and lawgiver of effect of examination and a deliberate choice,
it, who has made sufficient provision for its or they lose their name, and degenerate into
well-being to the end of the world.  It does not hypocrisy or atheism.
appear in the New Testament that the Church    From general principles Mr. Hooker proceeds
is empowered to mend or alter the constitution  to vindicate the particular rites and ceremonies
of Christ, by creating new offices, or making of the Church, and to clear them from the exnew laws, though the Christian world has ven- ceptions of the Puritans; which may easily be
tured upon it. Christ gave his church, proph- done when he has proved that the Church has
ets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the a discretionary power to appoint what cereperfecting the saints, and edifying his body; but monies and establish what order she thinks fit;
the successors of the apostles in the government he may then vindicate not only the ceremonies
of the Church, apprehending these not sufficient, of the Church of England, but all those of
have added patriarchs, cardinals, deans, arch- Rome, for no doubt that church alleges all
deacons, canons, and other officials. The Church their ceremonies conducive to her well-being,
is represented in Scripture as a spiritual body, and not inconsistent with the laws of Christ.*
her ordinances, privileges, and censures being    This year died Dr. John Aylmer, bishop of
purely such; but later ages have wrought the London, whose character has been sufficiently
civil powers into her constitution, and kept men  drawn in this history; he was born in Norfolk,
within her pale by all the terrors of this world, educated in Cambridge, and in Queen Mary's
as fines, imprisonments, banishments, fire, and reign an exile for religion; he was such a little
sword. It is the peculiar excellence of the Gos- man, that Fullert says, when the searchers were
pel worship to be plain and simple, free from  clearing the ship in which he made his escape,
the yoke of Jewish ceremonies; but the anti- the merchant put him into a great wine-butt that
christian powers, thinking this a defect, have had a partition in the middle, so that Mr. Aylloaded it with numberless ceremonies of their mer sat enclosed in the hinder part while the
own invention; and though there are laws in searchers drank of the wine which they saw
Scripture sufficient for the direction of the drawn out of the head on the other part; he
Church, as constituted by Christ and his apos- was of an active, busy spirit, quick in his lanties, they have thought fit to add so many vol- guage, and, after his advancement, of a stout and
nimes of ecclesiastical laws, canons, and injunc-  To Mr. Neal's remarks on the principles of the
tions, as have confounded, if not subverted, the Ecclesiastical Polity, it may be added, that how just
laws of Christ.                               and conclusive soever those principles are in themWhereas, if men considered the Church as a selves, they do not, they cannot applyto the vindicaspiritual body, constituted by Christ its sole tion of our religious establishment, till it be proved
lawgiver for spiritual purposes, they would then  that its ceremonies and laws were fixed by the
see that it had no concern with their civil rights, Church. In whatever sense the word church is
used, this is not the fact. Whether you understand
properties, and estates, nor any power to force
men to be of its communion, by the pains and by it "a congregation of faithful men," or " all ecclemen to be of iths comlunion,  by the pains and siastical persons," or " an order of men who are set
penalties of this world.  The laws of the New  apart by Christianity, and dedicated to this very purTestament would appear sufficient for the well- pose of public instruction," in neither sense were the
being of such a society; and in cases where forms and opinions of our established religion settled
there are no particular rules or injunctions, that by the Church. They originated with royal pleasit is the will of Christ and his apostles there ure; they have changed as the will of our princes
should be liberty and mutual forbearance; there hath changed; they have been settled by acts of
would then be no occasion for Christian courts, Parliaments, formed illegally, corrupted by pensions,
and overawed by prerogative, and they constitute
as they are called, nor for the interposition of part of the statute law of the land. —,ee my Letters
human authority, any father than to keep the to the Rev. Dr. Sturges, 1782, p. 15-28. -ED.
peace. Upon the whole, as far as any church   t Fuller's Worthies, b. ii., p. 548.




:208                    HI-STORY  OF THE  PURITANS.
imperious behaviour: in his younger days he spirit as was thought to hasten his death, which
was inclined to Puritanism, but when he was happened the next year, as he was sitting in his
made a bishop he became a resolute champion chair smoking a pipe of tobacco. The year folof the hierarchy, and a bitter persecutor of his lowing he was succeeded by Dr. Bancroft, the
former friends. In his latter days he was very great adversary of the Puritans.
covetous, and a little too lax in his morals; he   These violent proceedings of the bishops drove
usually played at bowls on Sundays in the after- great numbers of the Brownists into Holland,
noons, and used such language at his game as where their leaders, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smith,
justly exposed his character to reproach; but Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Jacob, and
with all these blemishes, the writer of his life, others, were gone beforehand, and, with the
Mr. Strype, will have him  a learned, pious, leave of the States, were erecting churches after
and humble bishop. He died at Fulham, June their own model at Amsterdam, Arnheim, Mid3, 1594, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.*  dleburgh, Leyden, and other places. The church
Aylmer was succeeded by Dr. Fletcher, bish- at Amsterdam had like to have been torn in pieop of Worcester, who, in his primary visitation, ces at first by intestine divisions, but it aftergave out twenty-seven articles of inquiry to the ward flourished under a succession of pastors
church-wardens concerning their preachers; for ahove a hundred years. Mr. Robinson, pasas, whether they prayed for the queen as su- tor of the church at Leyden, first struck out the
preme head over all persons and causes within  Congregational or Independent form of church
her dominions, ecclesiastical and temporal; government, and at length part of this church,
whether they were learned, or frequented con- transplanting themselves into America, laid the
venticles, or taught innovations, or commended foundation of the noble colony of New-England,
the new discipline, or spoke in derogation of as will be seen hereafter.
any part of the common prayer, or did not ad-   Hitherto the controversy between the Church
minister the sacrament in their own persons at and Puritans had been chiefly about habits, and
certain times of the year, &c. By these, and ceremonies, and church discipline, but now it
such like inquiries, the prisons, which had been began to open upon points of doctrine; for this
lately cleared, were filled again; for by an ac- year Dr. Bound published his treatise of the
count sent to the queen from the ecclesiastical Sabbath, wherein he maintains the morality of
commissioners towards the close of this year, a seventh part of time for the worship of God;
it appears that in the Marshalsea, Newgate, the that Christians are bound to rest on the Lord's
Gate-house, Bridewell, the Fleet, the Compters, Day as much as the Jews on the Mosaical Sabthe White Lion, and the King's Bench, there bath, the commandment of rest being moral and
were eighty-nine prisoners for religion; some perpetual; that, therefore, it was not lawful to
of them were popish recusants, and the rest follow our studies or worldly business on that
Protestant Nonconformists, of whom  twenty- day, nor to use such recreations and pleasures
four had been committed by the ecclesiastical as were lawful on other days, as shooting, fen.
commission, and the rest by the council and cing, bowling, &c. This book had a wonderful
the bishops' courts. But his lordship's pro- spread among the people, and wrought a mighty
ceedings were quickly interrupted by his falling reformation, so that the Lord's Day, which used
under her majesty's displeasure, a' few months to be profaned by interludes, May-games, morafter his translation, for marrying a second rice-dances, and other sports and recreations,
wife, which the queen looked upon as indecent began to be kept more precisely, especially in
in an elderly clergyman; for this she banished corporations. All the Puritans fell in with this
him the court, and commanded the archbishop  doctrine, and distinguished themselves by spendto suspend him from his bishopric; but after six ing that part of sacred time in public, family,
months, her majesty being a little pacified, or- and private acts of devotion.*  But the governdered his suspension to be taken off, though ing clergy exclaimed against it as a restraint of
she would never admit him into her presence, Christian liberty, as putting an unequal lustre
which had such an influence upon his great on the Sunday, and tending to eclipse the authority of the Church in appointing other festi* This prelate had been preceptor to Lady Jane vals. Mr. Rogers, author of a commentary on
Grey. During his.residence in Switzerland he as- the Thirty-nine Articles, writes in his preface
sisted John Fox in translating his Martyrology into," that it was the comfort of his soul, and would
Latin. It was usual with him, when he observed  be to his dying day, that he had been the man
bis audience to be inattentive, to take a Hebrew Bi- and the means that the Sabbatarian errors were
ble out of his pocket and read them a-few verses, brought to
and then resume his discourse. It is related, as an    the light and knowledge of the state."
instance of his courage, that he had a tooth drawn But I should have thought this clergyman might
to encourage the queen to submit to the like opera- have had as much comfort upon a dying bed if
tion. But it is more to the honour of his judgment he had spent his zeal in recommending the reliand patriotism that, notwithstanding his rigour and gious observation of that sacred day. Dr. Bound
cruelty in ecclesiastical matters, he had and avowed might carry his doctrine too high if he advanjEst sentiments concerning the constitution of the ced it to a level with the Jewish rigours; but
English government and the, power of Parliaments, it was certainly unworth  the character of diof whom he said, that "if they used their privileges,
the king can do nothing without them; if he do, it is vines to encourage men in shooting, fencing,
his fault in usurping it, and their folly in permitting and other diversions on the Lord's Day, which
it. Wherefore, in my judgment, those that in King they are forward enough to give way to withHenry's days would not grant him that proclamation out the countenance and example of their spirshould have the force of a statute, were good fathers itual guides.  Archbishop Whitgift called in all
of the country, and worthy of commendation in de- the copies of Dr. Bound's book by his letters
fending their liberty." —Strype, as quoted in British and officers at synods and visitations, and forBiography, vol. iii., p. 240, 241, and Granger's Biogr.
lHistory, vol. i., p. 208, 209.                          * Fuller, b. ix., p. 227.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   209
bade it to be reprinted; and the Lord-chief-jus- to encourage such a bold, corrupt, and unlearned
tice Popham did the same, both of them decla- young fellow, and insisted on the rights and
ring that the Sabbath doctrine agreed neither prerogatives of the University. At length Mr.
with the doctrine of our Church nor with the Barret was sent for to Lambeth, and having
laws and orders of this kingdom;* that it dis- been examined before the archbishop and some
turbed the peace of the commonwealth and other divines, they agreed that he had mainChurch, and tended to schism in the one and tained some errors, and enjoined him  in an
sedition in the other; but, notwithstanding all humble manner to confess his ignorance and
this caution, the book was read privately more mistake, and not to teach tne like doctrines for
than ever.  " The more liberty people were of- the future; but he chose rather to quit the Unifered," says Mr. Fuller, "the less they used; versity.*  This Barret was a conceited youth,
refusing to take the freedom authority tendered who did not treat his superiors with decency:
them, as being jealous of a design to blow up in one of his letters he calls the grave and learntheir civil liberties."  The archbishop's head ed Mr. Perkins, homuncio quidam, a little conwas no sooner laid but Dr. Bound prepared his temptible fellow: but at last he turned papist.
book for the press a second time, and published The fire was no sooner kindled than it was obit, with large additions, in 1606; and such was served that Barret and his friends were counits reputation, that scarce any comment or cate- tenanced by the high Conformists and Roman
chism was published by the stricter divines for Catholics, and that his adversaries took part
many years in which the morality of the Sab- with the Puritans, which was like to produce a
bath was not strongly recommended and urged,; new division in the Church.t
but this controversy will return again in the    To put an end to these disputes, the heads of
next reign.                                  the University sent Dr. Whitaker and Dr. TynAll the Protestant divines in the Church, dal to Lambeth, to consult with the archbishop,
whether Puritans or others, seemed of one mind and some other learned divines, upon these
hitherto about the doctrines of faith; but now  points; who at length, November 20, concluded
there arose a party, which were first for soften- upon the following nine propositions, commonly
ing, and then for overthrowing, the received opin- called the Lambeth Articles, which the scholars
ions about predestination, perseverance, free- in the University were strictly enjoined to conwill, effectual grace, and the extent of our Sa- form their judgments unto, and not to vary from.
viour's redemption. The articles of the Church  The articles were as follows:
of England were thought by all men hitherto to    "That God from eternity has predestinated
favour the explication of Calvin; but these di- some persons to life and reprobated others to
vines would make them stand neuter, and leave death: the moving or efficient cause of predesa latitude for the subscriber to take either side tination to life is not foreseen faith, or good
of the question. All the Puritans, to a man, works, or any other commendable quality in the
maintained the articles of the Church to be Cal- persons predestinated, but the good-will and
vinistical, and inconsistent with any other in- pleasure of God: the number of the predestinate
terpretation, and so did far the greatest number is fixed, and cannot be lessened or increased:
of the conforming clergy; but as the new expli- they who are not predestinated to salvation
cations of Arminius grew into repute, the Cal- shall be necessarily condemned for their sins:
vinists were reckoned oldfashioned divines,f a true, lively, and justifying faith, and the sancand at length branded with the character of tifying influence of the Spirit, is not extinguishDoctrinal Puritans.                          ed, nor does it fail, or go off either finally or
The debate began in the University of Cam- totally: a justified person has ia full assurance
bridge, where one Mr. Barret, fellow of Gon- and certainty of the remission of his sins, and
ville and Caius College, in his sermon ad clerum, his everlasting salvation by Christ: saving grace
declared himself against Calvin's doctrine about is not communicated to all men; neither have
predestination and falling from grace, reflecting all men such a measure of Divine assistance,
with some sharpness upon that great divine, that they may be saved if they will: no person
and advising his hearers not to read him. For can come to Christ unless it; be given him, and
this he was summoned before the vice-chancel- unless the Father draw him; and all men are
lor and heads of colleges, and obliged to retract not drawn by the Father that they may come
in St. Mary's Church, according to a form pre- to Christ: it is not in every one's will and power
scribed by his superiors, which he read after a to be saved."
manner that showed he did it only to save his   These high propositions were drawn up and
place in the University. This was so offensive consented to by Archbishop Whitgift, Dr. Fletchto the scholars, that forty or fifty graduates of er, bishop of London, Dr. Vaughan, elect of Banthe several colleges signed a petition, dated May gor, and some others; they were sent to Dr.
26,1595, desiring some farther course might be Hutton, archbishop of York, and Dr. Young, of
taken with him, that the great names which he Rochester, who subscribed them, only wishing
had reproached, as P. Martyr, Calvin, Beza, that the word necessarily, in the fourth article,
Zanchius, &c., might receive some reparation.  and those words in the seventh article, if they
Both parties appealed to the archbishop, who will, might be omitted. The archbishop, in his
blamed the University for their too-hasty pro- letter which he sent to the University with the.
ceedings, and seemed to take part with Barret; articles, says they are to look upon them not as
but the heads of colleges, in a second letter, vin- new laws and decrees, but only as an explica
dicated their proceedings, desiring his grace not tion of certain points which they apprehend to
be true, and corresponding to the doctrine pro* Life of Whitgift, p. 531.              fessed in the Church of England, and already
t While they, in return, looked on the others as
little better than novelists.-Warner.-ED.      * Heyl., Hist. Pres., p. 343.
t Life of Whitgift, p. 437.                  t Hickman's Quinq. Hist. against Heylin, p. 210.
VOL. I.-D D




210                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
established by the laws of the land. But, foras- about twenty-five years.*  He left a large fam.
much as they had not the queen's sanction, he ily behind him, and was buried in St. Olave'a,
desires they may not become a public act, but Hart-street, his pall being supported by six docused privately and with discretion.*  He adds, tors of divinity, by order from  the Bishop of
that her majesty was fully persuaded of the truth  London.  The chancellor, in his letter to the
of them; which is strange, when she commanded University, was very angry because they sifted
Sir Robert Cecil to signify to the archbishop  Baro with interrogatories, "as if," says he, "he
by letter " that she misliked much that any al- was a thief; this seems done of stomach among
lowance had been given by his grace and his you."t  How sad, then, was the case of the
rethren for any such points to be disputed, be- Puritans!
ing a matter tender and dangerous to weak, ig-   The divines of Oxford, and, indeed, all the first
norant minds; and thereupon commanded him  Reformers, were in the same sentiments with
to suspend the urging them publicly, or suffer- those of Cambridge about the disputed points;
ing them to be debated in the pulpit."         Calvin's Institutions being read publicly in the
The queen's design was to stifle the contro- schools by appointment of the convocation,
versy in its birth; for if she was dissatisfied though perhaps they might not go the full length
with the archbishop's private determinations, she of the Lambeth Articles, nor express themselves
was downright angry with Dr. Baro, a French- with the exactness of those who lived afterward,
man, and one of the divinity professors at Cam- when those doctrines were publicly opposed by
bridge, for continuing the debate.  She said Arminius and his followers.
that, being an alien, and humanely harboured    The article of our Saviour's local descent into
and enfranchised, both himself and family, he hell began to be questioned at this time. It had
ought to have carried himself more quietly and been the received doctrine of the Church of
peaceably.  His case was this: in his sermon  England, that the soul of Christ, being separabefore the University, preached January 12, he ted from his body, descended locally into hell,
asserted "that God created all men according that he might there triumph over Satan, as beto his own likeness in Adam, and consequently fore he had over death and sin.:  But the learnto eternal life, from which he rejects no man ed Mr. Hugh Broughton, the rabbi of his age,
but on the account of his sins: that Christ died whom  King James would have courted into
for all mankind, and was a propitiation for the Scotland, convinced the world that the word
sins of the whole world, original and actual; hades, used by the Greek fathers for the place
the remedy provided by him being as extensive into which Christ went after his crucifixion, did
as the ruins of the fall: that the promises of not mean hell, or the place of the damned, but
eternal life made to us in Christ are to be gen- only the state of the dead, or the invisible world.,erally and universally taken and understood, be- It was farther debated whether Christ under-ing made as much to Judas as to Peter."  For went in his soul the wrath of God and the pains:these propositions he was summoned before the of hell, and finished all his sufferings upon the
vice-chancellor and heads of colleges, who ex- cross before he died.~  This was Calvin's senamined him by several interrogatories, and com- timent, and with him agreed all the Puritan di-marnded him peremptorily to abstain from those vines, who preached it in their sermons, and incontroversies in his lectures and sermons for serted it in their catechisms.  On the other
the future.                                    hand, Bishop Bilson, in his sermons at Paul's
They acquainted Secretary Cecil by letter with  Cross, maintained that no text of Scripture astheir proceedings, in which they call all doc- serted the death of Christ's soul, or the pains
trines popish, and say that for fourteen or fif- of the damned, to be requisite in the person of
teen years he has taught in his lectures, and  Christ before he could be our ransomer, and the
preached in his sermons, divers points of doc- Saviour of the world. II But still he maintained
trine contrary to those which have been taught the local descent of Christ into hell, or the terand read -over since her majesty's reign, and ritory of the damned; and that, by the course
agreeable to the errors of popery, by which  of the creed, the article must refer, not to Christ
means they fear the whole body of that religion living upon the cross, but to Christ dead; and
will break in upon them; they therefore pray that he went thither, not to suffer, but to wrest
his lordship's assistance for the suppressing  the keys of hell and death out of the hands of
them. Cambridge, March 8th, 1595.t             the devil.19  When these sermons were printed,
On the other hand, Baro wrote to the archbish-   Hence," remarks an able writer, 
lop to keep hin in his place, promising obedience   *t, " I-Ience," remarks an able writer, "it appears
op to keep him in his place, promising obedience what little latitude was then allowed to the freedom
to his grace's commands, and to keep the peace of thinking and debate, on subjects the most innocent,
of the University by dropping the controversy in and with regard to doctrines, the truth of which is
-silence.$  He also wrote to Secretary Cecil to now generally maintained by the clergy, and especiput a stop to the proceedings of the vice-chan- ally by those of them who stand the highest in dig-cellor, which he, together with the archbishop, nity, reputation, and learning. We must be sensible:accomplished; but the University not being sat- how narrow was the spirit, and how confined the,isfied with him, he was obliged next year to  true theological knowledge of the times, when the
quit his professorship and retire to London, Idogmas of Calvinism were maintained with such perwhere he died two or three years after tinacity by the governoris of the Church, and to call
*heren  he  died two or three years after, having them in question was looked upon as a criane."been Lady Margaret's professor at Cambridge  History of Knowledge in the New Annual Register for
1789, p. 9.           t Life of Whitgift, p. 473.
* Life of Whitgift, p. 462, 463.              1 Heyl., Hist. Presb.. p 349.'t Signed by Roger Goad, pro can., R. Some, Tho.   Q Life of Whitgift, p. 482.
Legge, John Jegon, Tho. Nevyle, Tho. Preston,  II Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 350.
Hump. Tyndal, James Montague, Edm. Barrel, Lawr.  ~T This controversy gave a celebrity, beyond his
Chadderton.                                   own time, to the name of Bishop Bilson he was an
t Strype's Annals, vol. nilt., p. 230       eminent divine, and the author of some doctrinal and




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  211
they were presently answered by Mr. Henry Ja- had dissembled and counterfeited all he did.
cob, a learned Brownist. Bilson, by the queen's Upon this he was carried before the commiscommand, defended his sermons in a treatise sion, where at first he owned himself a counterentitled " A Survey of Christ's Sufferings," feit, and then presently denied it again; but
which did not appear in the world till 1604. The being thoroughly frightened, he fell into fits becontroversy was warmly debated in both uni- fore the commissioners, which put an end to
versities; but when the learned combatants had his examination for the present. After some
spent their artillery, it dropped in silence, with- time, being still in custody, he returned to his
out any determination from authority, though it confessing, and charged Mr. Darrel with trainwas one of the articles usually objected to the ing him up in the art for four years. Upon this,
Puritans, for which they were suspended their Mr. Darrel was summoned before the commisministry.  [And the rational sentiment, that the sioners, and brought witnesses with him to prove
word hades signifies only the state of the dead, that Somers had declared, in a very solemn
or the invisible world, silently and universally manner, that he had not dissembled; upon which
took place.]                                 he was dismissed, and the commission dissolvAmong other reproaches cast upon their cler- ed; but, the affair making a great noise in the
gy, was one, that they deluded the people by country, Mr. Darrel was sent for to Lambeth,
claiming a power to exorcise the devil. " Some and after a long hearing before the archbishop,
of their ministers," says Mr. Strype, " pretend- and others of the High Commission, he was depoed to cast out devils, that so the amazed multi- sed from his ministry, and committed close pristude, having a great veneration for these exor- oner to the Gate-house, for being accessory to a
cisers of devils, by the power of their prayers vile imposture, where he continued many years.
and fastings, might the more readily and awful-   While Mr. Darrel was in the prison, he wrote
ly submit to their opinions and ways; a prac- an apology to show that people in these latter
tice borrowed from the then papists to make days may be possessed with devils, and that
their priests revered, and to confirm the laity in by prayer and fasting the unclean spirit may be
their superstitions." One would think here was cast out. In the end of which he makes this
a plot of some cunning, designing men, to con- protestation: " If what I am accused of be true
jure the people into the belief of discipline; but (viz., that I have been accessory to a vile imall vanishes in the peculiar principles of a weak posture, with a design to impose on mankind),
and (as Mr. Strype confesses) honest man, whose let me be registered to my perpetual infamy,
name was Darrel, a bachelor of arts and minis- not only for a notorious deceiver, but such a
ter of Nottingham.  This divine was of opinion, hypocrite as never trod on the earth before;
that by the power of prayer the devil might be yea, Lord! for to thee I convert my speech, who
cast out of persons possessed;* and having tried knowest all things, if' I have confederated more
the experiment upon one Darling of Burton, a or less with Somers, Darling, or any of the rest;
boy of about fourteen years old, with supposed if ever I set eye on them before they were possuccess, and upon some others, he was impor- sessed, then let me not only be made a laughtuned by one of the ministers, and several in- ing-stock and a by-word to all men, but rase my
habitants of the town of Nottingham, to visit name also out of the Book of I,ife, and let me
one William Somers, a boy that had such con- have my portion with hypocrites."
elusive agonies as were thought to be preter-   It has been observed that the bishops had
natural, inasmuch that when Mr. Darrel had now wisely transferred the prosecution of the
seen them, he concluded, with the rest of the Puritansfrom themselvesto the temporal courts,
spectators, that he was possessed, and advised so that, instead of being summoned before the
his friends to desire the help of godly and learn- High Commission, they were indicted at the ased ministers to endeavour his recovery, but ex- sizes, and tried at common law; this being
cused himself from being concerned, lest, if the thought more advisable, to take off the odium
devil should be dispossessed, the common peo- from the Church. Judge Anderson discovered
pie should attribute to him some special gift of his zeal against them this summer in an extracasting out devils;'but upon a second request ordinary manner, for in his charge to the jury
from the mayor of Nottingham, he agreed with at Lincoln, he told them that the country was
Mr. Aldridge and two other ministers, with about infested with Brownists, with disciplinarians and
one hundred and fifty neighbouring Christians, erectors of presbyteries, which he spoke with so
to set apart a day for fasting and prayer, to en- much wrath, with so many oaths, and such retreat the Lord to cast out Satan, and deliver the viling language, as offended the gentlemen upon
young man fiom his torments; and after some the bench.  He called the preachers knaves,time, the Lord, they say, was entreated, and they saying that they would start up into the pulpit
blessed God for the same: this was November, and speak against everybody.*   He was for
1597. A few days after, the mayor and some extending the statute of recusancy to such who
of the aldermen began to suspect that Somers went at any time to hear sermons from their
was a cheat; and to make him confess, they own parish churches, though they usually attook him from his parents, and committed him  tended in their places, and heard divine service
to the custody of two men, who with threaten- dutifully. When Lord Clinton, and the deputy
ings prevailed with him to acknowledge that he lieutenants and justices of those parts, obtained the bishop's allowance for a day of fasting
practical works, as well as some Latin poems and and prayer at Lowth, upon an extraordinary ocorations never published. In the reign of James I. casion, his lrdship urged the jury to find a bill
he was one of the two final correctors of the English against them, upon the statute of conventicles.
translation of the Bible, for which office his easy and   Mr. Allen, minister of that parish, being inharnonious style particularly qualified him.-History  dicted by means of a revengeful justice of peace
of Knowledge in the New Annual Register for 1789, p.
17. —ED.      * Life of Whitgift, p. 492, 494, 495.  k Strype's Ann., vol. ult., p. 264.




212                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
for not reading all the prayers at once (he using or dispense with at pleasure. The convocation
sometimes to omit part of them for the sermon), d-rew up some regulations upon these and other
was obliged to hold up his hand at the bar, when heads, relating to ecclesiastical courts, which
Judge Anderson standing up, spoke to him with the queen confirmed by her letters patent, Jana fierce countenance, and having insinuated uary 18, in the fortieth year of her reign. They
some grievous faults against the man (though  were printed the same year by her authority,
lie named none), called him oftentimes knave, and may be seen in Bishop Sparrow's collection
rebellious knave, with more such opprobrious of articles, injunctions, &c.
language, though it was known all over the   But still the ecclesiastical courts were an incountry that Mr. Allen was a good preacher; sufferable grievance: the oppressions which
that he had subscribed; was esteemed by the people underwent from the bottomless deep of
bishop; was conformable in his affections; and the canon law put them upon removing their
behaved upon this occasion with all humility causes into Westminster Hall, by getting prohiand submission.  But his lordship had said in bitions to stay proceedings in the bishops' courts,
his charge that he would hunt all the Puritans or in the High Commission. This awakened the
out of his circuit.  One thing was remarkable archbishop, who, in order to support the civilin Mr. Allen's arraignment, that when, upon ians, drew up certain.queries to be considered
some point wherein judgment in divinity was by the lords and judges of the land touching
required, Mr. Allen referred himself to the bish- prohibitions;  of which this was the principal,
op (his ordinary then sitting upon the bench), "that, seeing ecclesiastical authority is as truly
the judge took him up with marvellous indigna- vested in the crown as temporal, whether the
tion, and said he was both his ordinary and queen's temporal authority should any more rebishop in that place.*                       strain her ecclesiastical, than her ecclesiastical
Thus the Puritan clergy were put upon a lev- should her temporal. And seeing so many and
el with rogues and felons, and made to hold up so great personages, with some others, are trusttheir hands at the bar among the vilest crimi- ed to do her majesty service in her ecclesiastinals; there was hardly an assize in any county  cal commission, whether it be convenient that
in England, but one or more ministers, through  an offender, ready to be censured, should obtain,
thJ resentments of some of their parishioners, and publicly throw into court, a prohibition, to
appeared in this condition, to the disgrace of the delay of justice, and to the disgrace and distheir order, and the loss of their reputation and paragement of those who serve freely, without
usefulness, besides being exposed to the insults all fee therein."  The archbishop caused a list
of the rude multitude.  "But I would to God," to be made of divers cases, wherein the Chrissays my author, " that they which judge in re- tian court, as he called it, had been interrupted
ligious causes, though in the name of civil af- by the temporal jurisdiction; and of many causes
fairs, would either get some more knowledge in that had been taken out of the hands of the bishreligion and God's Word than my Lord Ander- ops' courts, the High Commission, and the court
son hath, or call in the assistance of those that of delegates; the former authorized by immedihave."t                                      ate commission from the queen, and the latter
Archbishop Whitgift was busy this summer by a special commission upon an appeal to her
about elections for the ensuing Parliament, court of chancery.*  But, notwithstanding all
which was to meet Oct. 24, 1597. Mr. Strype these efforts of Whitgift and his successor Bansays, his grace took what care he could to pre- croft, the number of prohibitions increased every
vent such as were disaffected to the constitution year; the nobility, gentry, and judges being too
of the Church, that is, all Puritans, from com- wise to subject their estates and liberties to a
ing into the House; but some thought it a little number of artful civilians, versed in a codex or
out of character for an archbishop to appear so body of laws of most uncertain authority, and
publicly in the choice of the people's represent- strangers to the common and statute law, withatives.t  The House being thus modelled, did out the check of a prohibition, when it was nonot meddle with the foundations of discipline, torious that the canon law had been always,
or form of public worship; but several bills were since the Reformation, controlled by the laws
brought in to regulate abuses in spiritual courts, and statutes of the realm. Thus the civilians
as against licenses to marry without bans, sunk in their business under the two next archagainst excessive fees, frivolous citations ex offi- bishops, till Laud governed the Church, who, tercio, and excommunications for little matters, as rifying the judges from granting prohibitions,
twopence or threepence. These and all other the spiritual courts, Star Chamber, council-tabills of this nature were, according to custom, ble, and high commissioners rode triumphant,
quashed by a message from the queen, forbid- fining, imprisoning, and banishing men at their
ding them to touch her prerogative, and assu- pleasure, till they became as terrible as the Spanring them that she would take the aforesaid ish Inquisition, and brought upon the nation all
grievances into her princely consideration. Ac- the confusions and desolations of a civil war.
cordingly, her majesty referred these matters to   From this time to the queen's death there
the convocation; it being her steady maxim, was a kind of cessation of arms between the
not to proceed in matters of the Church by stat- Church and Puritans; the combatants were out
utes, which the Parliament alone could repeal, of breath, or willing to wait for better times.
but rather by canons, which she could confirm  Some apprehended that the Puritans were vanquished, and their numbers lessened by the se* Strype's Ann., vol. ult., p. 267.        vere execution of the penal laws; whereas it
t These are not the words of Mr. Strype himself, will appear, by a survey in the beginning of the
as they may appear by the manner of quotation, but next reign, that the nonconforming clergy were
are part of a letter " from a person unknown of the about fifteen hundred. But the true reason was
clergy to a person of quality" on Judge Anderson's..
proceedings. —ED.    $ Life of Whitgift, p. 508.       * Life of Whitgift, p. 537.




HISTORY OF Thii PURITANS.                                    213
this: the queen was advanced in years, and years, and receive an exhortation from the archcould not live long in a course of nature, and  bishop to observe the canons passed in the last
the next heir to the crown being a Presbyterian, convocation.  They met October the 18th, and
the bishops were cautious of acting against a were dissolved, with-the Parliament, December
party for whom his majesty had declared, not. the 19th following.
knowing what revenge he might take when he    This year [1602] died the reverend and learnwas fixed on the throne; and the Puritans were ed Mr. William  Perkins, born at Marston, in
quiet, in hopes of great matters to be done for Warwickshire, in the first year of Queen Elizathem upon the expected change.                beth, and educated in Christ's College, CamNotwithstanding all former repulses from  bridge, of which he was fellow: he was one of
court, the queen's last Parliament, which sat in the most famous practical writers and preachthe year 1601, renewed their attacks upon the ec- ers of his age;'and being a strict Calvinist, he
clesiastical courts, a bill being brought in to ex- published several treatises in favour of those
amine into bishops' leases, and to disable them  doctrines, which involved him in a controversy
from  taking fines, another against pluralities with Arminius, then professor of divinity at
and nonresidents, and another against corn- Leyden, that continued to his death.  He was
missaries and archdeacons' courts. Multitudes a Puritan Nonconformist, and a favourer of the
of complaints came to the House against the discipline, for which he was once or twice
proceedings of tlie ordinaries ex mero officio, with- brought before the High Commission, but his
out due presentments preceding, and against peaceable behaviour, and great fame in the
the frequent keeping their courts, so that the learned world, procured him a dispensation from
church-wardens were sometimes cited to two  the persecutions of his brethren.  Mr. Perkins
or three spiritual courts at once;* complaint was a little man, and wrote with his left hand,
was made of their charging the country with  being lame of his right.  His works, which
quarterly bills; of the great number of appari- were printed in three volumes folio, show him
tors and petty summoners, who seized upon  to have been a most pious, holy, and industripeople for trifling offences; of the admission of ous divine, considering he lived only forty-four
curates by officials and commissaries, without years.*
the bishop's knowledge, and without testimo-   To sum up the state of religion throughout
nials of their conversation; of scandalous com- this long reign.  It is evident that the Parliamutations of penance, and divers abuses of the  ment, the people, and great numbers of the inlike kind; but the queen would not suffer the ferior clergy were for carrying the ReformaHouse to debate them, referring them to the tion farther than the present establishment.
archbishop, who wrote to his brethren the bish- The first bishops came into it with this view;
ops to endeavour, as much as possible, to reform  they declared against the Popish habits and
the above-mentioned grievances, which, says ceremonies, and promised to use all their inhe,t have produced multitudes of complaints in terest with the queen for their removal; but
Parliament; and had they not been prevented  how soon they forgot themselves, when they
by great circumspection, and promise of care- were warm in their chairs, the foregoing histoful reformation, there might perhaps have ensu- ry has discovered.t  Most of the first Reformed the taking away of the whole, or most of ers were of Erastian principles, looking upon
those courts.  " So prudently diligent was the the Church as a mere creature of the state;
archbishop," says Mr. Strype, "to keepup theju- they gave up everything to the crown, and
risdiction of the bishops' courts, and the wealthy  yielded to the supreme magistrate the absolute
estate of the clergy, by preserving nonresidences direction of the consciences, or, at least, the reto them."                                     ligious profession, of all his subjects. They acThere was another bill brought into the House knowledged only two orders of Divine instituto punish voluntary absence from church; the tion, viz., bishops or priests, and deacons. They
forfeiture was to be twelvepence each Sunday, admitted the ordination of foreign churches by
to be levied by distress, by a warrant from a mere presbyters till towards the middle of this
justice of peace; but the bill was opposed be- reign, when their validity began to be disputed
cause there was a severe law already against and denied.  Whitgift was the first who derecusants of ~20 per month, and because, if fended'the hierarchy from the practice of the
this bill should pass, a justice of peace's house third, fourth, and fifth centuries, when the Rowould, like a quarter sessions, be crowded with man Empire became Christian; but Bancroft
a multitude of informers; it was likewise divided off the bishops from the priesthood, and
against Magna Charta, which entitles every  advanced them into a superior order by Divine
man to be tried by his peers, whereas by this
act two witnesses before a justice of peace    E Many of his works were translated into Dutch,
were sufficient.t  The bill, however, was en- Spanish, French, and Italian, and are still in estigrossed, and being put to the question, the noes mation in Germany. Mr. Orton, who by his mother's
carried it by a single voice, upon which the side descended in a direct line from Mr. Perkins's
yeas said the speaker was with them, which  elder brother, speaks of him as an excellent writer,
made the number even. The question was then  clear and judicious, and recommends his works to
all ministers, especiallyyoung ones, as affording large.put.hethr tmaterials for composition.-Orton's Letters to a Young
ing carried in the negative, the bill miscar- Clergyman, p. 39, 40.-EnD.
ried.                                            t Bishop Warburton informs us, from Selden, de
The convocation did nothing but give the Synedriis, that Erastus's famous book, De Excomqueen four subsidies, to be collected in four municatione, was purchased byWhitgift of Erastus's
widow, in Germany, and put by him to the press in
* Life of Whitgift, p. 546, 547.       London, under fictitious names of the place and
t Ibid., p. 547, 549.                  printer.-Supplemental Volume to Warburton's Works,
t Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 667.     p. 473.-ED.




214                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
right, with the sole power of ordination and the  of mankind were narrow and confused, and dekeys of discipline; so that from this time there  rived too much from the theocracy of the Jews,
were reckoned three orders of clergy in the  which was now  at an end. Their behaviour
English hierarchy, viz., bishops, priests, and  was severe and rigid, far removed from  the
deacons.  Thus the Church advanced in her fashionable freedoms and vices of the age: and
claims, and removed by degrees to a greater possibly they might be too censorious, in not
distance from the foreign Protestants.         making those distinctions between youth and
The controversy with the Puritans had only  age, grandeur and mere decency, as the nature
a small beginning, viz., the imposing of the po- and circumstances of things would admit; but
pish habits and a few indifferent ceremonies; with all their faults, they were the most pious
but it opened by degrees into a reformation of  and devout people in the land; men of prayer,
discipline, which all confessed was wanting; both in secret and public, as well as in their
and at last the doctrinal articles were debated. families; their manner of devotion was fervent
The queen and the later bishops would not part and solemn, depending on the assistance of the
with a pin out of the hierarchy, nor leave a lat- Divine Spirit, not only to teach them  how to
itude in the most trifling ceremonies, but insist- pray, but what to pray for as they ought. They
ed upon an exact uniformity both in doctrine  had a profound reverence for the holy name of
and ceremonies, that all might unite in the pub- God, and were great enemies not only to prolie standard.  The Puritans, in their writings fane swearing, but to " foolish talking and jestand conferences, attempted to show the defects  ing, which are not convenient;" they were
of the establishment from Scripture, and from  strict observers of the Christian Sabbath or
the earliest ages of the Church; and what they  Lord's Day, spending the whole of it in acts of
suffered for it has been ih part related, the sus- public and private devotion and charity. It was
pensions and deprivations of this long reign  the distinguishing mark of a Puritan in these
amounting to several thousands; but when it times, to see him going to church twice a day
appeared that nothing would be abated, and that with his Bible under his arm: and while others
penal laws were multiplied and rigorously exe- were at plays and interludes, at revels, or walkcuted, they endeavoured to erect a sort of vol- ing in the fields, or at the diversions of bowling
untary discipline within the Church, for the ease  fencing, &c., on the evening of the Sabbath,
and satisfaction of their own consciences, being  these, with their families, were employed in
unwilling to separate; till at length the violence  reading the Scriptures, singing psalms, catechiof persecution drove some of them into the ex- zing their children, repeating sermons, and praytremes of Brownism, which divided the Puri- er: nor was this only the work of the Lord's
tans, and gave rise to a new controversy con- Day, but they had their hours of family devocerning the necessity of a separation from the  tion on the week days, esteeming it their duty
Established Church, of which we shall hear more  to take care of the souls as well as the bodies
hereafter; but under all their hardships, their of their servants.  They were circumspect as
loyalty to the queen was untainted, and their to all the excesses of eating, drinking, apparel,
behaviour peaceable; they addressed the queen, and lawful diversions, being frugal in house.
and Parliament, and bishops for relief at sundry  keeping, industrious in their particular callings,
times, and remonstrated against the arbitrary  honest and exact in their dealings, and solicitproceedings of the spiritual court, making use  ous to give to every one his own. These were
of no other weapons but prayers and tears, at- the people who were branded with the name
tended with Scripture and argument.            of Precisians, Puritans, Schismatics, enemies
The chief principles of the Puritans have  to God and their country, and throughout the
been already related: they were no enemies to  course of this reign underwent cruel mockings,
the name or: function of a bishop, provided he  bonds, and imprisonment.
was no more than 7rpoe'aT5c, or a stated presi-   Sir Francis Walsingham has given a summadent of the college of presbyters in his diocess, ry account of the queen's policy towards them,
and managed the affairs of it with their concur- in a letter to Monsieur Cretoy, which I shall
rence and assistance.  They did not object transcribe in his own words.*
against prescribed forms of prayer, provided a    "I find," says Sir Francis, " that the queen's
latitude was indulged the minister to alter or
vary some expressions, and to make use of a
vary some expressions, and to make use of a  Mr. Neal, in his Review, observes that Sir Franprayer of his own conception before and after cis wrote this letter as secretary of state and as the
sermon: nor had they an aversion to any de- queen's servant, endeavouring to vindicate her behacent and distinct habits for the clergy that were  viour towards Nonconformists to a foreign court; he
not derived from popery; but, upon the whole, must be allowed, therefore, to put the most favourathey were the most resolute Protestants in the  ble construction on his royal mistress's conduct, and
nation, zealous Calvinists, warm and affection- acquit her in the best manner he is able. It also deate preachers, and determined enemies to po- serves to be remarked, that Sir Francis, dying April,
1590, did not see the severities of the last thirteen
pery, and to everything that had a tendency to- years of Queen Elizabeth's reign, which were by
wards it.                                      years of Queen Elizabeth's reign, which were by
wards it.                              much the sharpest and most cruel.-Neal's Review,
It is not pretended that the Puritans were  4to edition, p. 875.-En.
without their failings; no, they were men of    Mr. Hallam says that this letter "is a very able
like passions and infirmities with their adversa-'apology for the queen's government, and if the readries; and while they endeavoured to avoid one er should detect, as he doubtless may, sophistry in
extreme, they might fall into another; their'reasoning and misstatement in fact, he will ascribe
zeal for their platform of discipline would, I fear; both one and the other to the narrow spirit of the
have betrayed them  into the imposition ofit age with respect to civil and religious freedom, or to
the circumstances of the writer-an advocate whose
upon others, if it had been established by law. sovereign was his client!"- Const. Hist., i., 309.
Their notions of the civil and religious rights -C. 




HI'STORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   215
proceedings, both against papists and Puritans, classes and subscriptions; when they descendare grounded upon these two principles;*    ed into that vile and base means of defacing of
"The one, that consciences are not to be the Church by ridiculous pasquils; when they
forced, but to be won, and reduced.by force of began to make many subjects in doubt to take
truth, with the aid of time and use of all good oaths, which is one of the fundamental parts of
means of instruction and persuasion.         justice in this land and in all places; when
" The other, that causes of conscience, when they began both to vaunt of their strength, and
they exceed their bounds, and grow to be mat- number of their partisans and followers, and to
ter of faction, lose their nature: and that sov- use comminations, that their cause would preereign princes ought distinctly to punish their vail through uproar and violence, then it appractices and contempt, though coloured with peared to be no more zeal, no more conscience,
the pretence of conscience and religion.     but mere faction and division; and, therefore,
"According to these principles, her'majesty though the state were compelled to hold somebehaved towards the papists with great mild- what a harder hand to restrain them than beness, not liking to make a window into their fore, yet was it with as great moderation as the
hearts, except the abundance of them overflow- peace of the State or Church could permit.
ed into overt acts of disobedience, in impugn- Thus her majesty has always observed the two
ing her supremacy.  When the pope excom- rules before mentioned, in dealing tenderly with
municated her, she only defended herself against consciences, and yet in discovering faction from
his bulls; but when she was threatened with conscience, and softness fiom singularity."
an invasion, and the papists were altered from    The false colourings of this letter are easily
being papists in conscience to being papists in discerned: it admits that the consciences of
faction, she was then obliged to provide severer men ought not to be forced but when they grow
laws for the security of her people.         into faction; that is, to an inconsistency with
" For the other party, which have been offen- the peace and safety of the civil government;
sive to the state, though in another degree, and was there anything like this in the petitions,
and which call themselves Reformers, and we addresses, and submissive behaviour of the Pucommonly call Puritans, this hath been by the ritans. but they did not attend the consent of
proceeding towards them: a great while, when the magistrate.  Let the reader judge by the
they inveighed against such abuses in the foregoing history whether they did not attend
Church as pluralities, non-residents, and the and apply for it several years; and if, after all,
like, their zeal was not condemned, only their the consent of the magistrate must be waited
violence was sometimes censured. When they for before we follow the dictates of our conrefused the use of some ceremonies and rites sciences, it is easy to see there would have
as superstitious, they were tolerated with much been no reformation in the Protestant world.
connivance and gentleness; yea, when they But the queen's worst maxim was, that while
called in question the superiority of bishops, she pretended not to force the consciences of
and pretended to a democracy in the Church, her subjects, she obliged them, under the setheir propositions were considered, and by con- verest penalties, to come to church, and make
trary writings debated and discussed; yet -all an outward profession of that way of worship
this while it was perceived that their course which they inwardly disallowed. This was to
was dangerous and very popular; as because establish hypocrisy by a law, and to force men
papistry was odious, therefore it was ever in to deal falsely with God and their own contheir mouths, that they sought to purge the sciences in matters of the most solemn imporChurch from the relies of papistry, a thing ac- tance.
ceptable to the people, who love ever to run    Practical religion was during all this reign at
from one extreme to another.                 a very low ebb, the greatest part of the clergy
"Because multitudes of rogues and poverty being barely capable of reading prayers and a
was an eyesore, and a dislike to every man, homily.  In the remoter countries and villages,
therefore they put into people's heads that, if the people were either papists, or no better
discipline were planted, there would be no vag- than heathens. " If any among the clergy or
abonds, no beggars, a thing very plausible; laity were remarkably pious, strict observers of
and in like manner they promised the people the Sabbath, and declared enemies of profanemany of the impossible wonders of their disci- ness and popery," says Mr. Osburn, "they were
pline; besides, they opened to the people a way either real Puritans, or branded with that into government by their consistories and pres- vidious name; and great numbers of the inferibyteries, a thing though in consequence no less or clergy and people, in cities and corporations,
prejudicial to the liberties of private men than were of this number;" the conforming clergy
to the sovereignty of princes, yet in first show  lost ground; and the order of bishops, by spendvery popular; nevertheless, this, except it were ing their zeal more about the external forms of
in some few that entered into extreme contempt, worship than in painful preaching and encourwas borne with, because they pretended in du- aging practical religion, grew into contempt;
tiful manner to make propositions, and to leave popery gained ground in the country by the
it to the providence of God and the authority of diligence of the missionaries, and the ignorance
the magistrate.                              and laziness of the established clergy, while
" But now, of late years, when there issued Puritanism prevailed in cities and corporations:
from them [some] that affirmed the consent of so that, as Archbishop Parker observed, the
the magistrate was not to be attended; when, queen was the only friend of the Church, and
under pretence of a confession to avoid slander supported it by a vigorous execution of the peand imputations, they combined themselves by nal laws, and by resolving to admit of no motion for Reformation but what should arise
* Burnet's Hist. Ref., vol iii., p. 419.  from herself.




216                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Thus things continued to the queen's death; the difficulties in which it was involved at her
her majesty was grown old and infirm, and un- accession; fbr preserving the Protestant Refder a visible decay of natural spirits, some say  ormation against the potent attempts of the
for the loss of the Earl of Essex, whom she had  pope, the emperor, and the King of Spain
lately beheaded, but others, from a just indigna- abroad, and the Queen of Scots and her popish
tion to see herself neglected by those who were  subjects at home, and for advancing the retoo ready to worship the rising sun. This threw  nown of the English nation beyond any of her
her into a melancholy state, attended with a predecessors. Her majesty held the balance of
drowsiness and heaviness in all her limbs, power in Europe, and was in high esteem with
which was followed with a loss of appetite, and  all foreign princes the greatest part of her reign;
all the marks of an approaching dissolution; and though her Protestant subjects were diviupon this she retired to Richmond; and having  ded about church affairs, they all discovered a
caused her inauguration ring, which was grown  high veneration for her royal person and govinto the flesh and become painful, to be filed off, ernment; on which accounts she was the glory
she languished till the 24th of March, and then  of the age in which she lived, and will be thr
died, in the seventieth year of her age, and  admiration of posterity.
forty-fifth of her reign.                      Considering the complexion of that series of
Queen Elizabeth was a great and successful events through which Mr. Neal's History conprincess at home, and the support of the Prot- ducts the reader, he must be allowed to have
estant interest abroad while it was in its in- drawn the character of Queen Elizabeth with
fancy; for without her assistance neither the  great fairness and candour. A later ecclesiasHuguenots in France nor the Dutch Reformers tical historian, a learned writer of our estabcould have stood their ground; she assisted  lishment, has described the leading features of
the Protestants of Scotland against their popish  her reign and principles in stronger and bolder
queen, and the princes of Germany against the  terms of reprobation. With Mr. Neal, he has
emperor, while at the same time she demanded  allowed her the merit of " being a wise and polan absolute submission from her own subjects, itic princess, for delivering the kingdom from
and would not tolerate that religion at home  the difficulties in which it was involved at her
which she countenanced and supported abroad. accession, for preserving the Protestant ReforAs to her own religion, she affected a middle mation against the potent enemies which atway between popery and Puritanism, though  tempted to destroy it, and for advancing the
her majesty was more inclined to the former; renown of the English nation beyond any of her
disliking the secular pretensions of the court of predecessors;" yet he taxes her with many
Rome over foreign states, though she was in flagrant instances of weakness and misrule in
love with the pomp and splendour of their wor- which her ministers had no share, and which
ship; on the other hand, she approved of the they had neither power nor interest enough to
doctrines of the foreign Reformed churches, but prevent. Having enumerated these, to them,
thought they had stripped religion too much of he observes, must be added, " the severity with
its ornaments, and made it look with an un- which she treated her Protestant subjects by
friendly aspect upon the sovereign power. of her High Commission Court, against law, against
princes.  She understood not the rights of con- liberty, and against the rights of human nature.
science in matters of religion, and is, therefore, If these are not," says he, " flagrant instances
justly chargeable with persecuting principles. of weakness and misrule to which her ministers
More sanguinary laws were made in her reign  never encouraged, but ofttimes dissuaded her
than in any of her predecessors'; her hands as far as they durst, and which were not owing
were stained with the blood of papists and Pu- to sudden starts of passion, but to her own tyritans; the former were executed for denying  rannical disposition, then all arbitrary power
her supremacy, and the latter for sedition or may be defended as just and lawful. The pasnonconformity. Her greatest admirers blame sion of Elizabeth was to preserve her crown
her for plundering the Church of its revenues, and prerogative; and every measure which she
and for keeping several sees vacant many years herself directed, or approved when projected by
together for- the sake of their profits; as the  her ministers, was subservient to these two
bishoprics of Ely, Oxford, and others, which  purposes."  To this account "we are to place
last was without a bishop for twenty-two years. all the measures which she directed, and she
The queen was devout at prayers, yet seldom  alone, against the disturbers of the uniformity
or never heard sermons except in Lent, and  which was established. To her alone it was
would often say that two or three preachers in  owing at first, and not to her bishops, that no
a county were sufficient. She had high notions concession or indulgence was granted to tender
of the sovereign authority of princes, and of her consciences. She understood her prerogative,
own absolute supremacy in church affairs; and  which was as dear to her as her crown and life;
being of opinion that methods of severity were but she understood nothing of the rights of conlawful to bring her subjects to an outward uni- science in matters of religion, and, like the abformity, she countenanced all the engines of surd king her father, she would have no opinion
persecution, such as spiritual courts, High Com- in religion acknowledged, at least, but her own.
mission, and Star Chamber, and stretched her She restored the Reformation, it is true, and, I
prerogative to support them  beyond the laws believe, restored it upon principle; she was
and against the sense of the nation.* However, likewise at the head of the Protestant religion
notwithstanding all these blemishes, Queen  abroad, in assisting those who professed it in
Elizabeth stands upon record as a wise and  France and the Netherlands, as well as Scotland,
politic princess, for delivering the kingdom from  and it was her interest to do so; but where her..-......interest called upon her to neglect the Reformed
* Fuller's Worthies, b. ii., p. 213.  religion, she did it without scruple. She differ



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  217
ed from her sister in this, that she would not a conscientious adherence to the dictates of their
part with her supremacy upon any terms; and, own minds, the integrity which would not allow
as she had much greater abilities for govern- them to adopt habits or ceremonies that they
ing, so she applied herself more to promote thought or suspected to be sinful, should not be
the strength and glory of her dominion than reproached, but applauded. An apostle would
Mary did; but she had as much of the bigot on such an occasion have said, that "Whatev.
and tyrant in her as her sister, though the ob- er is not of faith is sin;" and " Happy is he thai
ject of that bigotry was prerogative, and not condemneth not himself in that thing which he
religion."*                                alloweth."  Why should the rejection, or even
If facts have any meaning and force, those a hesitation about the use of habits, which had
which we have now reviewed abundantly con- no Divine authority, but a popish original, and
firm this representation of the spirit and princi- by the mystical signification affixed to them led
ples of Queen Elizabeth. Yet a celebrated mod- to superstition, be resolved into weakness and
ern writert has resolved her conduct to her Pu- want of judgment 1 It argued rather a true
ritan subjects into " her good taste, which gave discernment, a just estimate of things, and a
her a sense of order and decorum, and her sound comprehensive view of the tendency and progjudgment, which taught her to abhor innova- ress of superstition, when once admitted.
tions."  What! Can the severest acts of op-   The weakness, I should conceive, lay on the
pression and cruelty, can a series of arbitrary other side, where these things were held in such
and unfeeling outrages committed against the high account, and deemed of such essential im
property, lives, and rights of men, take shelter portance, as to be the ground of the severest
under the sanction of good taste and a sound laws to enforce the use of them. The cruelty
judgment?  "Nature and religion reclaim." of the imposition aside, the very imposition itself
If," says an accurate and judicious writer, " it was folly. For a mighty prince, a convocation
be once laid down as a maxim that a sound of the clergy, a bench of bishops, and the Legisjudgment will teach a monarch to abhor inno- lature of the nation, to give all their attention to
vations, and if his power be but little subject to support the reputation of the wearing of a hood
control, one does not know to what lengths it and a surplice; to employ all the earnestness
might proceed, so as to be extended not only in of their minds, the weight of their character,
matters of church government, but likewise, per- and the dignity of their rank, about such little
haps, against those who would introduce'en- things, this is a ridiculous transaction; it belarged,' or, rather, libertine' sentiments,' about trays the thoughts andpassions of a child. But
religion. Such persons, I doubt, would soon when to this impotence of judgment oppression
give up the wisdom and equity of this maxim  and tyranny are added, our indignation is raised!
concerning innovations, if they were in danger   It is an argument of the rationality and good
of having the concluding section of the 35th sense of the general principles by which the
of Elizabeth, cap. i., put in execution against Puritans professed to be governed, that " these
them."$                                    very principles," as a late writer observes,
Another writer has thrown the blame of the " were the same which rightly influenced the
separation from the Church of England, and of conduct of the Reformers in other instances;
the evils of which it was productive, on the Pu- for example, in their removing the altars out of
ritans. "' It was more owing to the weakness the churches and setting up tables in the place
and want of judgment in the Puritans, who could of them.*  Namely, that thb  retaining altars
think such things were sinful about which the would serve only to nourish in the people's
Scriptures were wholly silent, and who desired minds the superstitious opinion of a propitiatory
a great majority to give way to the humour of a mass, and would administer an occasion of offew, than to the superstition and want of tem- fence and division."  A like argument in relaper in the queen and the archbishop, who could tion to the ancient habits was argued by Bishop
press such indifferent rites with that severity, Hooper so early as the year 1550;t and it was
before the minds of men had time to be recon- thought of weight in 1562 by one half of the
ciled to them."~ To this representation it may House of Convocation.t
be replied, Was it anything unreasonable that   The conduct of the Puritans, it appears from
the few should desire the majority not to oppress hence, was wisely adapted to the times in which
and bind their consciences in matters about they lived: in which the habits had a tendencJ
which, it was allowed, the Scriptures were si- and influence that rendered the contest about
lent, and, of course, where Christ had left them  them far from being such a frivolous affair aa
free 1 Or could it be deemed weakness and many are now disposed to consider it. For
want of judgment, that they requested only to then a mystical signification was affixed to them
be permitted to stand fast in this liberty 1 Need by the Church of Rome, and there was a prea Protestant divine be reminded that to add to vailing notion of their necessity and efficacy in
the religion of Christ is sinful; and to enforce the administration of the clergy. It is also evthese additions, and by severe penalties, is to ident that they gave the queen and her courexercise a forbidden jurisdiction in his Church i tiers a handle to establish and exercise a despotCan it be deemed weakness and want of judg- ic power: they were the instruments by which
ment to see this criminality, and to resist this the Court of High Commission endeavoured to
yoke 1 But if to scruple the use of the habits rivet on the people the chains of tyranny. The
indicated weakness and want of judgment, yet opposition of the Puritans, therefore, may be
vindicated on the largest principles. It was a
* Warner's Ecclesiastical History of England, bold and vigorous stand against arbitrary powvol. ii., p. 474, 475.        t Mr. Hume.
$ Letters on Mr. Hume's History of Great Britain,   * See our author, p. 56, of this volume.
printed at Edinburgh, 1756, p. 226.          t See the same, p. 103.
~ Warner's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 431.   $ Letters on Mr. Hume's History, p. 212, 213.
VOL. I.-E E




218                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
er, which justly calls for resistance in its first as binding upon the subject as an act of Parlia.
outset and its most trivial demands, if men  ment, which the whole nation exclaimed against,
would not give it room  to place its foot and  as a mark of the vilest slavery."*
erect its banner. It is a pertinent and very sen-   Such oppression, such violent outrages against
sible remark of a great author, " that our ances- the security, the conscience, and the; lives of
tors, the old Puritans, had the same merit in  men, were sufficient to irritate their minds, and
opposing the imposition of the surplice that to provoke them to reviling and abuslive lanHampden had in opposing the levying of ship- guage. Much allowance should be lnade for
money.  In neither case was the thing itself  men who were galled and inflamed by severe
objected to so much as the authority that en- sufferings.  But, independently of this considjoined it, and the danger of the precedent. And  eration, we should judge of the strain and spirit
it appears to us that the man who is as tena- of their writings, not by the more polite mancious of his religious as he is of his civil liber- ners and liberal spirit of the present age, but by
ty, will oppose them both with equal firmness."'  the times in which they lived; when, on all
The reign of' Queen Elizabeth affords many  subjects, a coarse and rough, and even abusive
instances of the connexion between civil and  style, was common from authors of learning and
religious liberty, and furnishes striking docu- rank.  Bishop Aylmer, in a sermon at court,
ments of her disposition and endeavours to vio- speaking of the fair sex, said, "Women are of
late both.  In this view the behaviour of the  two sorts: some of them are wiser, better learnPuritans was eventually attended with the most ed, discreeter, and more constant, than a numimportant effects. Mr. Hume, who treats their ber of men; but another and a worse sort of
principles as frivolous and their conduct as ri- them, and the most part, are fond, foolish, wandiculous, has bestowed on them, at the same  ton -flibbergibs, tattlers, triflers, wavering, wittime, the highest eulogium his pen could well less, without counsel, feeble, careless, rash,
dictate.  " So absolute," says he, " was the au- proud, dainty, nice, talebearers, eavesdroppers,
thority of the crown, that the precious spark of rumour-raisers, evil-tongued, worse-minded, and
liberty had been kindled, and was preserved, by' in every wise doltified with the dregs of the devthe Puritans alone; and it was to this sect that il's dunghill."t  If a bishop, when preaching
the English owe the whole freedom of their Con- before the queen, could clothe his sentiment in
stitution."t                                   such words, on a subject where this age would
While it is not asserted that all the Puritans  study peculiar politeness of style, can we wonacted upon such enlarged views of things; while  der that reviling language should proceed, in the
it is granted that the " notions" of numbers, warmth of controversy, from those who were
probably of the majority, of them  concerning  suffering under the rod of oppressionS'
"' the civil and religious rights of mankind, were    The other side, who had not the same provodark and confused;" yet it should be allowed  cations, did not come behind the most abusive
that some of them, for instance, Fox the mar- of the Puritan writers in this kind of oratory.
tyrologist, acted upon liberal principles; and all In a tract ascribed to Archbishop Parker, the
of them felt the oppression of the day, so as, Nonconformists are described and condemned
by their own experience of its iniquity and evils, as " schismatics, bellie-gods, deceivers, flatterto be instigated to oppose them; though they  ers, fools, such as have been unlearnedlie brought
did not apply the principles, which were thus  up in profane occupations; puffed up in arrogenerated in the mind, to their full extent.   gancie of themselves, chargeable to vanities of
The charge brought against the Puritans for assertions: of whom it is feared that they make
satirical pamphlets, libels, and abusive language, posthaste to be Anabaptists and libertines, gone
was in some instances well founded, but it by  out from us, but belike never of us; differing
no means, justly, lay against the whole party. not much from Donatists, shrinking and refusing
"' The moderate Puritans publicly disowned the  ministers of London; disturbers, factious, wilful
libels for which they were accused, yet they  entanglers, and encumberers of the consciences
were brought before the Star Chamber.  The  of their herers, girdirs, nippers, scoffers, biters,
determinations of this court were not according  snappers at superiors, having the spirit of irony,
to any statute law of the land, but according to  like to Audiani, smelling of Donatistrie, or of
the queen's will and pleasure; yet they were  Papistrie, Rogatianes, Circumcellians, and Pelagians.":t
* Dr. Priestley's View of the Principles and Con-  agias
duct of the Protestant Dissenters, page 66.      * Warner's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 463.
t Hume's History of England, vol. v., p. 189, 8vo,   t British Biography, vol. iii., p. 239.
ed. 1763.                                        1 Pierce's Vindication of the Dissenters, p. 62.




P R E FAC E
TO VOL. II. OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION.
THE favourable acceptance of the first volume of this work has encouraged
me to publish a second, which carries the history forward to the beginning of
the civil war, when the two Houses of Parliament wrested the spiritual sword
out of the hands of the king and bishops, and assumed the supremacy to themselves.
There had been a cessation of controversy for some time before the death
of Queen Elizabeth, the Puritans being in hopes, upon the accession of a king
that had been educated in their own principles, to obtain an easy redress of
their grievances; and certainly no prince ever had so much in his power to
compromise the differences of the Church as King James I. at the conference
of Hampton Court; but, being an indolent and vainglorious monarch, he became a willing captive to the bishops, who flattered his vanity, and put that
maxim into his head, " No bishop, no king."  The creatures of the court, in
lieu of the vast sums of money they received out of the exchequer, gave him
the flattering title of an absolute sovereign, and, to supply his extravagances,
broke through the Constitution, and laid the foundation of all the calamities of
his son's reign; while himself, sunk into luxury and ease, became the contempt
of all the powers of Europe. If King James had any principles of religion besides what he called kingcraft or dissimulation, he changed them with the
climate, for from a rigid Calvinist he became a favourer of Arminianism in the
latter part of his reign; from a Protestant of the purest kirk upon earth, a doctrinal papist; and from a disgusted Puritan, the most implacable enemy of that
people, putting all the springs of the prerogative in motion to drive them out
of both kingdoms.
But, instead of accomplishing his designs, the number of Puritans increased
prodigiously in his reign, which was owing to one or other of these causes.
First. To the standing firm by the Constitution and laws of their country,
which brought over to them all those gentlemen in the House of Commons,
and in the several counties of England, who found it necessary, for the preservation of their properties, to oppose the court, and to insist upon being governed according to law; these were called State Puritans.
Secondly. To their steady adherence to the doctrines of Calvin and the Synod of Dort, in the points of predestination and grace, against the modern interpretations of Arminius and his followers. The court divines fell in with the
latter, and were thought not only to deviate from the principles of the first
Reformers, but to attempt a coalition with the Church of Rome; while most of
the country clergy, being stiff in their old opinions (though otherwise well
enough affected to the discipline and ceremonies of the Church), were, in a
manner, shut out from all preferment, and branded with the name of Doctrinal
Puritans.
Thirdly. To their pious and severe manner of life, which was at this time
very extraordinary.  If a man kept the Sabbath and frequented sermons; if he
maintained family religion, and would neither swear, nor be drunk, nor comply
with the fashionable vices of the times, he was called a Puritan; this, by degrees, procured them the compassion of the sober part of the nation, who began to think it very hard that a number of sober, industrious, and conscientious
people should be harassed out of the land for scrupling to comply with a few




220                            PREFACE.
indifferent ceremonies, which had no relation to the favour of God or the practice of virtue.
Fourthly. It has been thought by some that their increase was owing to the
mild and gentle government of Archbishop Abbot. While Bancroft lived, the Puritans were used with the utmost rigour; but Abbot, having a greater concern
for the doctrines of the Church than for its ceremonies, relaxed the penal laws,
and connived at their proselyting the people to Calvinism. Arminianism was
at this time both a Church and State faction; the divines of this persuasion,
apprehending their sentiments not very consistent with the received sense of
the Thirty-nine Articles, and being afraid of the censures of a parliament or a
convocation, took shelter under the prerogative, and went into all the slavish
measures of the court to gain the royal favour, and to secure to their friends
the chief preferments in the Church.  They persuaded his majesty to stifle the
predestinarian controversy, both in the pulpit and press, and would no doubt,
in a few years, have got the balance of numbers on their side, if, by grasping
at too much, they had not precipitated both Church and State into confusion.
It was no advantage to those divines that they were linked with the Roman
Catholics, for these being sensible they could not be protected by law, cried
up the prerogative, and joined the forces with the court divines, to support the
dispensing power; they declared for the unlimited authority of the sovereign
on the one hand, and the absolute obedience of the subject on the other; so
that, though there is no real connexion between Arminianism and popery, the
two parties were unhappily combined at this time to destroy the Puritans, and
to subvert the Constitution and laws of their country.
But if Abbot was too remiss, his successor, Laud, was as much too furious,
for in the first year of his government he introduced as many changes as a
wise and prudent statesman would have attempted in seven;I he prevailed with
his majesty to set up the English service at Edinburgh, and laid the foundation of the Scotch Liturgy; he obtained the revival of the Book of Sports; he
turned the communion-tables into altars; he sent out injunctions which broke
up the French and Dutch churches; and procured the repeal of the Irish Articles, and those of England to be received in their place. Such was his rigorous persecution of the Puritans, that he would neither suffer them to live peaceably in the land, nor remove quietly out of it! His grace was also the chief
mover in all those unbounded acts of power which were subversive of the rights
and liberties of the people; and while he had the reins in his hands, drove so
near the precipices of popery and tyranny, that the hearts of the most resolved
Protestants turned against him, and almost all England became Puritan.
I am sensible that no part of modern history has been examined with so much
critical exactness as that part of the reign of King Charles I. which relates to
the rise and progress of the civil war; here the writers on both sides have
blown up their passions into a flame, and, instead of history, have given us little else but panegyric or satire. I have endeavoured to avoid extremes, and
have represented things as they appeared to me, with modesty, and without
any personal reflections. The character I have given of the religious principles of the Long Parliament was designedly taken out of the Earl of Clarendon's History of the Grand Rebellion, that it might be without exception: and
I am of opinion that the want of due acquaintance with the principles of the
two houses with regard to Church discipline has misled our best historians,
who have represented some of them as zealous prelatists, and others as cunning Presbyterians, Independents, sectaries, &c., whereas, in truth, they had
these matters very little at heart. The king was hampered with notions of the
Divine right of diocesan episcopacy, but the two houses (excepting the bishops) were, almost to a man, of the principles of Erastus, who maintained that
Christ and his apostles had prescribed no particular form of discipline for his
Church in after ages, but had left the keys in the hands of the civil magistrate,
who had the sole power of punishing transgressors, and of appointing such par* Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 506.




PREFACE.                             221
ticular forms of Church government from time to time as were most subservient to the peace and welfare of the commonwealth. Indeed, these were the
sentiments of our Church-reformers from Archbishop Cranmer down to Bancroft. And though the Puritans, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, wrote with
great eagerness for the Divine right of their Book of Discipline, their posterity
in the next reigns were more cool upon that head, declaring their satisfaction,
if the present episcopacy might be reduced to a more primitive standard. This
was the substance of the ministers' petition in the year 1641, signed with seven hundred hands. And even those who were for root and branch were willing to submit to a parliamentary reformation, till the Scots revived the-notion
of Divine right in the assembly of divines. However, it is certain the two
houses had no attachment to Presbytery or Independency, but would have
compromised matters with the king upon the episcopal scheme as long as his
majesty was in the field; but when victory had declared on their side, they
complied in some measure with their Northern friends, who had assisted them
in the war, but would never part with the power of the keys out of their own
hands. If the reader will keep this in mind, he will easily account for the several revolutions of Church government in these unsettled times.
It is not to be expected that the most disinterested writer of these affairs
should escape the censures of different parties; I thought I had already suf
ficently expressed my intentions in publishing the History of the Puritans; but
because it has been insinuated in a late pamphlet that it looked like a plot
against the ecclesiastical constitution,* I think it proper to assure the world
once for all, that what I have written is with no ill spirit or design against the
peace of the Church or nation; that I have no private or party views; no patron; no associates; nor other prospects of reward than the pleasure of setting the English Reformation in a true light, and of beating down some of the
fences and enclosures of conscience. Nor can there be any inconvenience in
remembering the mistakes of our ancestors, when all the parties concerned are
gone off the stage, and their families reconciled by intermarriages; but it may
be of some use and benefit to mankind, by enabling them to avoid those rocks
on which their forefathers have split. When I am convinced of any mistakes
or unfair representations, I shall not be ashamed to retract them before the
world; but FACTS are stubborn things, and will not bend to the humours and
inclinations of artful and angry men: if these have been disguised or misreported, let them be set right in a decent manner, without the mean surmises
of plots and confederacies; and whoever does it shall have mine as well as
the thanks of the public.
I have no controversy with the present Church of England, which has abandoned, in a great measure, the persecuting principles of former times; for
though I am not unacquainted with the nature and defects of religious establishments, yet neither my principles nor inclinations will allow me to give them
the least disturbance, any farther than they impose upon conscience, or intrench
upon the rights of civil society. If the Presbyterians or Independents have
been guilty of such practices in their turns, I shall freely bear my testimony
against them, and think I may do it with a GOOD GRACE, since I have always declared against restraints upon conscience among all parties of Christians;t but
if men will vindicate the justice and equity of oaths ex officio, and of exorbitant fines, imprisonment, and banishment for things in their own nature indifferent; if they will call a relation of the illegal severities of council-tables,
star chambers, and high commissions a satire against the present establishment, they must use their liberty, as I shall mine, in appearing against ecclesiastical oppression, from what quarter soever it comes.
I have freely censured the mistakes of the Puritans in Queen Elizabeth's
reign; nor will I be their advocate any longer than they have Scripture, reason, and some degree of good manners on their side. If it shall at any time
appear that the body of them lived in contempt of all lawful authority, or bid
* Expostulatory Letter, p. 29, 30.              t Ibid., p. 12.




222                            PREFACE.
defiance to the laws of their country, except in such cases wherein their consciences told them it was their duty to obey God rather than man; if they
were guilty of rebellion, sedition, or of abandoning the queen and the Protestant religion when it was in danger, let them bear their own reproach; but as
yet I must be of opinion that they were the best friends of the Constitution
and liberties of their country; that they were neither unquiet nor restless, unless against tyranny in the state and oppression upon the conscience; that
they made use of no other weapons, during a course of fourscore years, but
prayers to God and petitions to the Legislature for redress of their grievances, it being an article of their belief that absolute submission was due to the
supreme magistrate in all things lawful, as will sufficiently appear by their protestations in the beginning of the reign of King James I. I have admitted
that the Puritans might be too stiff and rigid in their behaviour; that they
were unacquainted with the rights of conscience; and that their language to
their superiors, the bishops, was not always decent and mannerly: oppression
maketh wise men mad. But surely the depriving, imprisoning, and putting
men to death for these things will not be vindicated in our times.
In the preface to the first volume of this history, I mentioned with pleasure
the growing sentiments of religious liberty in the Church of England, but como
plained of the burden of subscriptions upon the clergy, and of the corporation
and test acts as prejudicial to the cause of religion and virtue among the laity;
for which reasons the Protestant Dissenters throughout England intended to
petition for a repeal or amendment of these acts the ensuing session of Parliament, if they had met with any encouragement from their superiors, or had
the least prospect of success. The sacramental test is, no doubt, a distinguishing mark of reproach which they have not deserved; and, I humbly conceive,
no very great security to the Church of England, unless it can be supposed that
one single act of occasional conformity can take off the edge of all their imagined aversion to the hierarchy, who worship all the rest of the year among
Nonconformists. Nor can the repeal of these acts be of any considerable advantage to the body of Dissenters, because not one in five hundred can expect
to reap any private benefit by it to himself or family; their zeal, therefore, in
this cause must arise principally from a regard to the liberties of their country, and a desire of rescuing one of the most sacred rights of Christianity from
the profanation to which it is exposed.
But it seems this will not be believed till the Dissenters propose some other
pledge and security by which the end and intent of the sacramental test may
be equally attained; for (says a late writer*) the Legislature never intended
them any share of trust or power in the government; and he hopes never will,
till they see better reasons for it than hath hitherto appeared. Must the Dissenters, then, furnish the Church with a law to exclude themselves from serving
their king and country. Let the disagreeable work be undertaken by men
that are better skilled in such unequal severities. I will not examine into the
intent of the Legislature in this place; but if Protestant Nonconformists are
to have no share of trust or power in the government, why are they chosen
into such offices, and subject to fines and penalties for declining them?  Is it
for not serving l-this, it seems, is what the Legislature never intended. Is it,
then, for not qualifying — surely this is a penalty upon conscience. I would ask
the warmest advocate for the sacramental test whether the appointing Protestant Dissenters for sheriffs of counties, and obliging them to qualify against
their consciences under the penalties of a premunire, without the liberty of
serving by a deputy or of commuting by a fine, is consistent with so full a
toleration and exemption from  penal laws as this writert says they enjoy!
It is true, a good government may take no advantage of this power, but in a
bad one men must qualify, or their liberties and estates lie at the king's mercy;
it seems, therefore, but reasonable (whatever the intent of the Legislature may
be), that Protestant Dissenters should be admitted to serve their country with
* History of the Test, p 16, 23, 25.      t History of the Test, p. 25.




PREFACE.                                  223
a good conscience in offices of trust as well as of burden, or be exempted from
all pains and penalties for not doing it.*
It is now pretty generally agreed, that receiving the holy sacrament merely
as a qualification for a place of civil profit or trust is contrary to the ends of
its institution, and a snare to the consciences of men;t for though the law is
open, and " they who obtain offices in the state know beforehand the conditions
of keeping them," yet when the bread of a numerous family depends upon a
qualification which a man cannot be satisfied to comply with, it is certainly a
snare; and though I agree with our author, that "if the minds of such per
sons are wicked, the law does not make them so," yet I am afraid it hardens
them, and makes them a great deal worse.  How many thousand come to the
sacrament of the Lord's Supper with reluctance! and, perhaps, eat and drink
judgment to themselves, the guilt of which must be chargeable either upon
the imposers or receivers, or upon both. Methinks, therefore, charity to the
souls of men, as well as a concern for the purity of our holy religion, should
engage all serious Christians to endeavour the removal of this grievance; and
since we are told that the appearing of the Dissenters at this time is unseasonable, and will be ineffectual, I would humbly move our right reverenc fathers
the bishops not to think it below their high stations and dignities to consider
of some expedient to roll away this reproach from the Church and nation, and
agree upon some security for the former (if needful) of a civil nature, that may
leave room (as King William expresses it in his speech to his first Parliament)
for the admission of all Protestants that are able and willing to serve their
country. The honour of Christ and the cause of public virtue seem to require
it; and forasmuch as the influence of these acts affects great numbers of the
laity in a very tender part, I should think it no dishonour for the several corporations in England, as well as for the officers of the army, navy, customs,
and excise, who are more peculiarly concerned, to join their interests in petitioning the Legislature for such relief.  And I flatter myself that the wise and
temperate behaviour of the Protestant Dissenters in their late general assembly
in London, with the dutiful regard that they have always shown to the peace
and welfare of his majesty's person, family, and government, will not fail to
recommend them to the royal protection and favour; and that his most excellent
majesty, in imitation of his glorious predecessor, King William  III., will, in a
proper time, recommend it to his Parliament to strengthen his administration,
by taking off those restraints which at present disable his Protestant Dissenting
subjects from showing their zeal in the service of their king and country.
DANIEL NEAL.
London, March 6, 1732-3.
* It should be mentioned to the honour of Bishop Warburton, who was an advocate for a test, though
not a sacramental test, that to this proposal, that i" Dissenters should be exempted from all pains and penalties for not serving their country in offices of trust," he gave his hearty assent by adding in the margin,
most certainly I-ED.
+ History of the Test, p. 22.








AD VE R TISE ME NT
TO VOL. II. OF DR. TOULMIN'S EDITION.
THE editor, in revising the first volume of Mr. Neal's " History of the Purl
tans," was greatly assisted by the author's "Review  of the principal factsob,jected to in that volume."  In,the volume which is now presented to the public, such aid fails him, as it will also in the succeeding ones, since Dr. Grey's
" Examination" did not make its appearance till the declining  state of Mr.
Neal's health prevented his farther vindication of his work.
The justice due to Mr. Neal's memory and to truth required the editor to
attempt what could have been done by the author himself with much greater
advantage than at this distance of time from the first statement of the facts,
by one who cannot come at all the authorities on which Mr. Neal spake. He
has endeavoured, however, to acquit himself with care and impartiality in the
examination of Dr. Grey's animadversions, and is not aware that he has passed
over any material strictures, extended through a volume of four hundred pages.
Though Dr. Grey's* "Examination" may be now little known or sought after, it received, at its first publication, the thanks of many divines of the first
eminence, particularly of Dr. Gibson, then Bishop of London, and of Dr. Sherlock, then Bishop of Salisbury. The latter prelate, writing to the doctor, said,
"It is happy that Mr. Neal's account appeared when there was one so well
versed in the history, and so able to correct the errors and prejudices. The
service you have done must be considered as a very important one by all the
friends of the constitution of the Church of England."t
From the notes in the following pages, the reader will be able to form a
judgment whether the encomium bestowed on Dr. Grey's work proceeded from
a careful investigation of his remarks, and a comparison  of them  with Mr.
Neal's History and vouchers, or from bias to a cause. In the editor's apprehensions, the value of Mr. Neal's history and its authorities is, so far as he has
proceeded, heightened by the comparison.
In his advertisement to the first volume, he made a great mistake in ascribing the quarto edition of" The History of the Puritans" to the author himself,
who died about twelve years before its appearance. ~It was given to the public
by his worthy son, Mr. Nathaniel Neal, of the Million Bank, and is generally
esteemed very correct.
There has been pointed out to the editor a slight error of Mr. Neal, vol. i.,
p. 183, who says that Bishop Jewel was educated in Christ's College, Oxford,
whereas, according to Fuller and Wood, he was of Corpus Christi.
The editor has been asked,J on what authority, in the biographical account
of Mr. Tomkins, subjoined to p. 17 of the "Memoirs of Mr. Neal," he charged
Mr, Asty,~ on making an exchange with Mr. Tomkins, one Lord's day, with
"alarming the people with the danger of pernicious errors and damnable heresies creeping in among the Dissenters, and particularly referring to errors
concerning the doctrine of Christ's divinity."
On examining the matter, he finds that he has used the very words, as well
as written on the authority, of Mr. Tomkins, who spoke on the information he
* Dr. Zachary Grey was of a Yorkshire family, originally from France; he was rector of Houghton
Conquest, in Bedfordshire, and vicar of St. Peter's and St. Giles's parishes in Cambridge, where he usually
passed all his winter, and the rest of his time at Ampthill, the neighbouring market-town to his living. He
died November 25, 1766, at Ampthill, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and was buried at Houghton
Conquest. He was of a most amiable, sweet, and communicative disposition, most friendly to his acquaintance, and never better pleased than when performing acts of friendship and benevolence. His publications were numerous.-Anecdotes of Bowyer, p. 354.  t See Anecdotes of Bowyer, p. 356, note.: By the Rev. Thomas Towle, a dissenting minister of eminence among the Independents, in an interview, at which the editor was very politely received, and which took place at Mr. Towle's desire, in consequence of a letter written to him by a friend on the subject of the above charge.
f Mr. Asty was grandson of Mr. Robert Asty, who was ejected from Stratford, in Suffolk. He had,
good natural parts, and by spiritual gifts, and considerable attainments in literature, was richly furnished
for his ministerial province. He was perceived to have drunk very much into the sentiments and spirit of
Dr. Owen, who was his favourite author. The amiable traits of his character were a sweetness of temper,
an affectionate sympathy in the afflictions and prosperity of others, a familiarity and condescension of deportment, and a disposition to cast a mantle over the failings of others, and to ask pardon for his own. He
died Jan. 20, 1729-30, aged 57.-Dr. Guyse'sfuneral sermon for him.
VOL. I.-F F




.%226                     ADVET I S E MENT.;had:'re.:i.vd'.d cnceriAin:g the tienour and strain, of Mr. Asty's serionr; and adds,'tht:.l M.r. Asty -himself' aft.erward    a clknowledged to him, " that the information
/ii;i.:.'fe'r.a] ~was true, viz., that he. spale of damnable heresies, ind applied those
tex:t's,2Pet., ii., l'; Jude, verse 4, or, at least, one, to the new doctrines about
the'de'ity of'Christ, that were now, as he apprehended, secretly spreading."
Mr.- Tomkins was also~told'that Mr. Asty was very warm upon these points;
6out he subjoins, "I must d6 Mr. Asty this justice, to acquaint qthers'that he
had. io particular view to mr'e, or suspicion. of me, when he brought down this
sermon, smbong others, to Newington.' As he had an; apprehension of the danger of those errors, and of the' spreading of them at that time, he thought it
might be'seasonable to preach'such a sermon anywhere."  When another gentleman, hgwever, put themnatter more closely to him, he could not denry that
he had some intimafion of a suspicion of Mr. Tomkins. But from the assurance
Mr, Asty gaie. Mr. Tomkins, candour will be ready to conclude that he did not
greatly credit the intimation.
Mr. Towle, who was a successor to Mr. Asty in the pastoral office, could
scarcely suppose that he could be guilty of a conduct so remote from the
amiable and pacific character he always bore, and from the delineation of it in
the funeral sermon for him by Dr. Guyse, who, I find, says of him, "I have
with pleasure observed a remarkable tenderness in his spirit, as judging the
state of those that differed from him, even in points which he took to be of
very great importance."
It will be right to add Mr. Toinkins's declaration with respect to Mr. Asty's
views: " I never had a thought that he preached his sermon out of any particular personal prejudice against me, but really believed that he did it from a
zeal for what he apprehended to be truth necessary to salvation. Though I
am persuaded, in my own mind, that this zeal of his in this matter is a mistaken zeal, I do nevertheless respect him as a Christian and a minister."
In the memoirs of Mr. Neal, we mentioned his letter to the Rev. Dr. Francis
Hare, dean of Worcester. The editor has lately met with this piece; it does
the author credit, for it is written with ability and temper. He is inclined to
give a passage from it, as a specimen of the force of argument it shows, and
as going to the foundation of our ecclesiastical establishment.
The dean contended for submission to the authority of the rightful governors of the Church, whom he defined to be "an ecclesiastical consistory of
presbyters, with their bishop at their head." Mr. Neal, to show that this definition does not apply to the Church of England, replies: "'Now, taking all this
for granted, what an argument have you put into the mouths of the Dissenters
to justify their separation from the present establishment!"
"For is there anything like this to be found there. Isi the Church of England governed by a bishop and his presbyters 1 Is not the king the fountain
of all ecclesiastical authority?  And has he not power to make ordinances
which shall bind the clergy without their consent, under the penalty of a premunire] Does not his majesty nominate the bishops, summon convocations,
and prorogue them at pleasure. When the convocations of Canterbury and
York are assembled, can they debate upon any subject without the king's license, or make any canons that can bind the people without an act of Parliament? The bishops, in their several courts, can determine nothing in a judicial
manner about the faith, there lying an appeal from them to the king, who decides it by his commissioners in the Court of Delegates.
"Now, though this may be a wise and prudent institution, yet it can lay no
claim to antiquity, because the civil magistrate was not Christian for three
hundred years after our Saviour; and, consequently, the Dissenters, who are
for reducing religion to the standard of the Bible, can be under no obligation
to conform to it. We have a divine precept to oblige us to do whatsoever
Christ and his apostles have commanded us, but I find no passage of Scripture
that obliges us to be of the religion of the state we happen to be born in. If
there be any such obligation on the English Dissenters, it must arise only from
the laws of their country, which can have no influence upon them at present,
those iaws having been iong since suspended by the Act of Indulgence."




PART II.
CHAPTER I.                     men, and barons, to stand to your purity, and to
exhort the people to do the sane.; and I, forFROM THE DEMISE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH TO THE sooth, as long as I brook my life, shall maintain
DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP BANCROFT.           the same."*  In his speech to the Parliament,
THE royal house of the Stuarts has not been  1598, he tells them  " that he minded not to bring
more calamitous to the Englis.h Church and na- in papistical or Anglicane bishops."t Nay, upon
tion in the male descendants, than. successful his leaving Scotland to take possession of the
and glorious in the female.  The four kings of crown of England, he gave public thanks to God
this line, while in power, were declared ene- in the kirk of Edinburgh, " that he had left both
mies of our civil constitution; they governed kirk and kingdom  in that state which he inwithout law, levied taxes by the prerogative, tended not to alter any ways, his subjects living
and endeavoured to put an end to the very being in peace."T  But all this was kingcraft, or else
of Parliaments.  With,-regard to religion, the his majesty changed his principles with the clifirst two were neither sound Protestants nor mate.  The Scots ministers did not approach
good Catholics, but were for reconciling the two him with the distant submission and reverence
religions, and meeting the papists half way; but of the English bishops, and therefore within nine
the last two went over entirely to the ChurCh of months after he ascended the throne of England
Rome, and died professedly in her communion. he renounced presbytery, and established it for
The female branches of this family being mar- a maxim, No bishop, no king. So soon did this
ried among foreign Protestants, were of a dif- pious monarch renounce his principles (if he
ferent stamp, being more inclined to Puritanism  had any), and break through the most solemn
than popery; one of them [Mary, eldest daugh- vows and obligations! When the Long Parlia.
ter of King Charles I.] was mother of the great ment addressed King Charles I. to set up presKing William III., the glorious deliverer of these bytery in the room of episcopacy, his majesty
kingdoms from popery and slavery; and another objected his coronation oath, in which he had
[Elizabeth, daughter of King James I.] was sworn to maintain the clergy in their rights and
grandmother of his late majesty King George I., privileges; but King James had no such scruin whom the Protestant succession took place, pies of conscience; for without so much as askand whose numerous descendants in the person  ing the consent of Parliament, General Assemand offspring of his present majesty, are the de- bly, or people, he entered upon the most effectfence and glory of the whole Protestant interest ual measures to subvert the kirk discipline
in Europe.                                     which he had sworn to'maintain with hands
King James was thirty-six years of age when lifted up to Heaven, at his coronation, and had
he came to the English throne, having reigned afterward solemnly subscribed, with his queen
in Scotland from his infancy. In the year 1589 and family, in the years 1581 and 1590.~
he married the Princess Anne, sister to the King   * Calderwood's Hist. of the Church of Scotland,
of Denmark, by whom he had three children liv- p. 256.
ing at this time: Henry, prince of Wales, who   f Ibid., p. 418. James, when settled on the Engdied beforehe was nineteen years of age [1612]; lish throne, talked a different language. Dr. Grey
Elizabeth, married to the elector palatine, 1613; quotes different passages to this purport, with a view
and Charles, who succeeded his father in his to invalidate Mr. Neal's authority. The fact is not
kingdoms. His majesty's behaviour in Scotland that Calderwood falsified, and Mr. N. through prejudice adopted, his representations, but that James was
raised the expectations and hopes of all parties; a dissemblm', and, when he wrote what Dr. Grey
the Puritans relied upon his majesty's educa- produces from his work, had thrown off the mask he
tion, upon his subscribing the solemn league wore in Scotland.-See Harris's Life of James I., p.
and covenant, and upon various solemn repeat- 25-29.-ED.                     $ Ibid., p. 473.
ed declarations; in particular, one made in the.  Bishop Warburton censures Mr. Neal for not
General Assembly at Edinburgh, 1590: when giving here the provocation which the king had restanding with his bonnet off, and his hands lifted  ceived from what he styles " the villanous and tyup to heaven, " he praised God that he was born rannical usage of the Kirk of Scotland to him." On
this censure it may be observed, that had Mr. Neal
in the time of the light of the Gospel, and in       to the detayl of thsetred that th e king had
such a place as to be king of such a church, the met with from the Scots clergy, besides the long disincerest [purest] kirk in the world. The Church gression into which it would.have led him, it would
of Geneva," says he, "keep Pasche and Yule not have eventually saved the reputation of the king;
[Easter and Christmas], what have they for for Mr. Neal must have related the causes of that
them?  They have no institution.  As for our behaviour. It arose from their jealousy, and their
neighbour Kirk of England, their service is an fears of his disposition to crush them and their relievil-said mass in English; they want nothing gion; founded on facts delivered to them by the Engo eisad mass butthlifinglsh; ch ey   m  lish ministry, and firom his favouring and employing
of the mass but the liftings. I charge you, my known papists. The violation of his solemn reiteragood ministers, doctors, elders, nobles, gentle- ted declarations, when he became King of England.




228                     HIST'ORY OF THE PURITANS.
The papists put the king in remembrance I pamphlet escaped without a speedyand effectu
tfiat he was born of Roman Catholic parents, al answer.
and had been baptized according to the rites and   While the king was in his progress to Lonceremonies of the Churchof Rome; that his I don [April, 1603] the Puritans presented their
mother, of whom he usually spoke with rever- millenary petition, so called, because it was said
ence, was a martyr for that church; and that he to be subscribed by a thousand hands, though
himself, upon sundry occasions, had expressed there were not more than eight hundred out of
no dislike to her doctrines, though he disallowed twenty-five counties.*  It is entitled " The
of the usurpations of the court of Rome over humble Petition of the Ministers of the Church
foreign princes; that he had called'the Church of England, desiring Reformation of certain
of Rome his mother-church; and, therefore, they Ceremonies and Abuses of the Church."  The
presumed to welcome his majesty into England preamble sets forth, " that neither as factious
with a petition for an open toleration.*      men affecting a popular parity in the Church,
But the bishops of the Church of England  nor as schismatics aiming at the dissolution of
made the earliest application for his majesty's the state ecclesiastical, but as the faithful minprotection and favour.  As soon as the queen isters of Christ, and loyal subjects to his majwas dead, Archbishop Whitgift sent Dr. Nevil, esty, they humbly desire the redress of some
dean of Canterbury, express into Scotland, in abuses."  And though divers of them had forthe name of all the bishops and clergy of Eng- merly subscribed to the service-book, some upon
land, to give his majesty assurance of their un- protestation, some upon an exposition given,
feigned duty and loyalty; to know what com- and some with condition, yet now they, to the
mands he had for them  with respect to the number of more than a thousand ministers,
ecclesiastical courts, and to recommend the groaned under the burden of human rites and
Church of England to his countenance and fa- ceremonies, and with one consent threw themvour.t  The king replied that he would uphold selves down at his royal feet for relief in the
the government of the' Church as the queen left following particulars:
it; which comforted the timorous archbishop,   1. In the Church service.  " That the cross
who had sometimes spoke with great uneasi- in baptism, the interrogatories to infants, bapness of the Scotch mist.                      tism  by women, and confirmation, may be taUpon his majesty's arrival all parties address- ken away; that the cap and surplice may not
ed him, and among others the Dutch and French be urged; that examination may go before the
churches, and the English Puritans; to the for- communion; that the ring in marriage may be
mer his majesty gave this answer: "I need not dispensed with; that the service may be abridguse many words to declare my good-will to you, ed; church songs and music moderated to betwho have taken sanctuary here for the sake of ter edification; that the Lord's Day may not be
religion; I am sensible you have enriched this profaned, nor the observation of other holydays
kingdom with several arts and manufactures; strictly enjoined; that ministers may not be
and I swear to you, that if any one shall give charged to teach their people to bow at the name
you disturbance in your churches, upon your of Jesus; and that none but canonical Scripapplication to me, I will revenge your cause; tures be read in the Church."
and though you are none of my proper subjects,   2. Concerning ministers.  "That none may
I will maintain and cherish you as much as any be admitted but able men; that they be obliged
prince in the world."  But the latter, whatever to preach on the Lord's Day; that such as are
they had reason to expect, met with very differ- not capable of preaching may be removed or
ent usage.                                    obliged to maintain preachers; that nonresiNotwithstanding all the precautions that were dency be not permitted; that King Edward's
taken to secure the elections of members for statute for the lawfulness of the marriage of
the next Parliament, the archbishop wished he the clergy be revived; and that ministers be
might not live to see it, for fear of some altera- not obliged to subscribe, but according to law, to
tion in the Church; for the Puritans were pre- the articles of religion, and the king's supremaparing petitions, and printing pamphlets in their cy only."
own vindication, though by the archbishop's   3. For Church livings.  "That bishops leave
vigilance, says Mr. Strype,$ not a petition or a their commendams; that impropriations annexed to bishoprics and colleges be given to preachshowed how just were those suspicions, and proved ing incumbents only; and that lay-impropriahim to have been a dissembler. To these remarks tions be charged with a sixth or seventh part
it may be added, What provocation constrained him  for the maintenance of a preacher."
to give the public thanks and promise, with which  for the maintenance of a preacher."
he left Scotland?-See Dr. Harris's Life of James I.,  4. For Church discipline.  "That excommup. 25-31, and Burnet's History of his Own Times, vol. nication and censures be not in the name of layi., p. 5, Edinburgh edition in 12mo.-ED.      chancellors, &c.; that men be not excommuni* That the expectations of the papists were not cated for twelvepenny matters, nor without
disappointed, though Dr. Grey controverts Mr. Neal's consent of their pastors; that registrars' places,
representation, there is ample proof given by Dr. and others having jurisdiction, do not put them
Harris in his Life of James I., p. 219, 226. " It isrm; that sundry poish canons be recertain," says Dr. Warner, " that he had on several out to farm; that sundry popish canons be reoccasions given great room to suspect that he was vised; that the oath ex oficio be more sparingly
fal from being an enemy to the Roman Catholics. used; and licenses for marriages without bans
Amid all their hopes," he adds, "each side had their be more sparingly granted."
fears; while James himself had, properly speaking,   "These things," say they, "we are able to
no other religion than what flowed from a principle show not to be agreeable to the Word of God,
which he called kingcraft." —Warner's Ecclesiastical if it shall please your majesty to hear us, or by
[-i story, vol. ii., p. 476, 477.-ED.
t Life of Whitgift, p. 559.                   * Clark's Life of Hildershamn, p. 116, annexed to
- Strype's Ann,, vol. ult., p. ]87.         the General Martyrology.




HISTORY  OF TiEi:E  PURITANS.                              229
writing to be informed, or by conference among plause is hardly to be met with. They must
the learned to be resolved."                 have a mean opinion of the king's acquaintance
The king met with sundry other petitions of with the learned world, to use him in this manthe like nature from most of the counties he ner, at a time when, though there were some
passed through; but the heads of the two uni- very considerable divines among ourselves,
versities having taken offence at the millenary there were as many learned men in the foreign
petition, for demising away the impropriations universities as had been known since the Refannexed to bishoprics and colleges, which, says ormation; witness the Bezas, Scaligers, CaFuller, would cut off more than the nipples of saubons, &c., whose works have transmitted
the breasts of both universities in point of main- their great names down to posterity.
tenance,* expressed their resentment different   And that the divines of Cambridge might not
ways: those of Cambridge passed a grace, June come behind their brethren of Oxford, the heads
9th, 1603, "That whosoever in the University of that university wrote a letter of thanks to the
should openly oppose by word or writing, or any Oxonians for their answer to the petition, in
other way, the doctrine or discipline of the which " they applaud and commend their weighChurch of England established by law, or any ty arguments, and threaten to battle the Puripart thereof, should be suspended ipso facto tans with numbers; for if Saul has his thoufrom any degree already taken, and be disabled sands (say they), David has his ten thousands.
from taking any degree for the future."  About They acquaint them with their decree of June
the same time the University of Oxford pub- 9, and bid the poor pitiful Puritans [homunciones
lished an answer to the ministers' petition, en- nziserrtii] answer their almost a thousand books
titled "An Answer of the Vice-chancellor, Doc- in defence of the hierarchy before they pretors, Proctors, and other Heads of Houses in the tend to dispute before so learned and wise a
University of Oxford, to the Petition of the Min- king."*  A mean and pitiful triumph over honisters of the Church of England, desiring Ref- est and virtuous men, who aimed at nothing
ormation; dedicated to the King, with a Pref- imore than to bring the discipline of the Church
ace to the Archbishop, the Chancellors of both a little nearer the standard of Scripture!
Universities, and the two Secretaries of State.'t   But that his majesty might part with his old
The answer shows the high spirit of the Univer- friends with some decency, and seem to answer
sity: it reproaches the ministers in very severe the request of the petitioners, he agreed to have
language for subscribing and then complaining; a conference with the two parties at Hampton
it reflects upon them as factious men, for affect- Court,t for which purpose he published a procing a parity in the Church, and then falls se- larnation from  Wilton, October 24th, 1603,
verely on the Scots Reformation, which his touching a meeting for the hearing and for the
majesty had so publicly commended before he determining things pretended to be amiss in
left that knigdom. It throws an odium upon the Church. In which he declares "that he
the petitioners, as being for a limited monarchy, *was already persuaded that the constitution of
and for subjecting the titles of kings to the ap- the Church of England was agreeable to God's
probation of the people. It then goes on to  Word, and near to the condition of the primivindicate all the grievances complained of, and tive Church; yet because he had received inconcludes with beseeching his majesty not to formation that some things in it were scandasuffer the peace of the state to be disturbed by lous, and gave offence, he had appointed a meetallowing these men to disturb its polity. "Look ing, to be had before himself and council, of diupon the Reformed churches abroad," say they: vers bishops and other learned men, at which
" wheresoever the desire of the petitioners takes consultation he hoped to be better informed of'
place, how ill it suits with the state of mon- the state of the Church, and whether there
archy; does it become the supereminent au- were any such enormities in it; in the mean
thority and regal person of a king to subject time, he commanded all his subjects not to pubhis sovereign power to the overswaying and all- lish anything against the state ecclesiastical, or
commanding power of a presbytery; that his to gather subscriptions, or make supplications,
meek and humble clergy should have power to being resolved to make it appear by their chasbind their king in chains, and their prince in tisement how far such a manner of proceeding
links of iron l that is, to censure him, and, if was displeasing to him, for he was determined
they see cause, to proceed against him as a ty- to preserve the ecclesiastical state in such form
rant. That the supreme magistrate should only as he found it established by the law, only to
be a maintainer of their proceedings, but not a reform such abuses as he should find apparently
commander in them; these are but petty abridg- proved."I
ments of the prerogative royal, while the king   The archbishop and his brethren had been insubmits his sceptre to the sceptre of Christ, and defatigable in possessing the king with the exlicks the dust of the Church's feet." They then cellence of the English hierarchy, as coming
commend the present Church government as near the practice of the primitive Church, and
the great support of the crown, and calculated best suited to a monarchical government; they
to promote unlimited subjection, and aver, " that represented the Puritans as turbulent and facthere are at this day more learned men in this tious, inconsiderable in number, and aiming at
land, in this one kingdom, than are to be found  Dr. Warner, with reason and judgment, supposes
among all the ministers of religion in France, that what determined James, more than anything
Flanders, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Geneva, else, to appoint the Hampton Court Conference, of
Scotland, or (to speak in a word) all Europe be- wlich he would be the moderator, was, that he
sides."T  Such a vainglorious piece of self-ap- might give his new subjects a taste of his talents for'b —. 2. disputation, of which he was extremely fond and
* Fuller's Church History, b. x., p. 23.  conceited.-Eccles. Hist., vol. i., p. 478.-ED.
t Life of Whitgift, p. 567.              t Life of Whitgift, b. iv., c. xxxi., p. 568
$ Strype's Ann., vol. iv., p. 137.       $ Ibid., p. 570.




230                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
confusion both in Church and State; and yet, letter of the Bishop of Durham to Hutton, arcrlafter all, the old archbishop was doubtful of the bishop of York, which agrees pretty much with
event, for in one of his letters to Cecil, after- Barlow;* but Mr. Patrick Galloway, a Scotsman,
ward Earl of Shrewsbury, he writes, " Though has set things in a different light; from all
our humorous and contentious brethren have these, and from  the king's own letter to Mr.
made many petitions and motions correspond- Blake, a Scotsman, we must form the best judgent to their natures, yet to my comfort they ment of it that we can.
have not much prevailed. Your lordship, I am    The conference continued three days, viz.,
sure, does imagine that I have not all this while January the 14th, 16th, and 18th; the first was
been idle, nor greatly quiet in mind, for who with the bishops and deans alone, January 14th,
can promise himself rest among so many vi- the Puritan ministers not being present, when
pers "V                                      the king made a speech in commendation of the
The place of conference was the drawing-  hierarchyofthe Church ofEngland, and congratroom  within the privy-chamber at Hampton ulated himself that "he was now come into the
Court; the disputants on both sides were nom- promised land; that he sat among grave and
inated by the king. For the Church there were reverend men, and was not a king, as formerly,
nine bishops, and about as many dignitaries, without state, nor in a place where beardless
viz., Dr. Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. boys would brave him to his face. He assured
Bancroft, bishop of London; Dr. Mathew, bishop them he had not called this assembly for any inof Durham; Bilson, bishop of Winchester; Bab- novation, for he acknowledged the government
ington, bishop of Worcester; Rudd, bishop of ecclesiastical, as now it is, to have been approSt. David's; Watson, bishopof Chichester; Rob- ved by manifold blessings from God himself;
inson, bishop of Carlisle; and Dove, bishop of but because he had received some complaints
Peterborough. Dr. Andrews, dean of the chapel; of disorders, he was willing to remove them if
Overal, dean of St. Paul's; Barlow, dean of scandalous, and to take notice of them if but
Chester; Bridges, dean of Salisbury; Field, dean trifling; that the reason of his consulting them
of Gloucester; and King, archdeacon of Notting- by themselves was to receive satisfaction from
ham; besides the deans of Worcester and Wind- them, (1.) About some things in the Common
sor.                                         Prayer Book; (2.) Concerning excommunicaFor the Puritans were only four ministers: tion in the ecclesiastical courts; (3.) About proDr. John Raynolds, Dr. Thomas Sparks, pro- viding some well-qualified ministers for Ireland;
fessors of divinity in Oxford; Mr. Chadderton that if anything should be found meet to be reand Mr. Knewstubs, of Cambridge. The di- dressed, it might be done without their being
vines of the Church appeared in the habits of confronted by their opponents."t
their respective distinctions; but those for the   In the Common Prayer Book his majesty had
Puritans in fur gowns, like the Turkey mer- some scruples about the confirmation of chil.
chants, or the professors in foreign universities. dren, as it imported a confirmation of baptism.
When the king conferred with the bishops, he But the archbishop on his knees replied, that the
behaved with softness, and a great regard to Church did not hold baptism imperfect without
their character; but when the Puritan ministers confirmation. Bancroft said it was of apostolistood before him, instead of being moderator, he cal institution, Heb., iv., 2, where it is called
took upon him the place of respondent, and bore " the doctrine of the laying on of hands."  But
them down with his majestic frowns and threat- to satisfy the king, it was agreed that the words
enings, in the midst of a numerous crowd of examination of children should be added to concourtiers, all the lords of the privy-council be- firmation.
ing prenset; while the bishops stood by, and   His majesty excepted to the absolution of the
were little more than spectators of the triumph. Church, as too nearly resembling the pope's parThe account of this conference was published don. But the archbishop is said to clear it up
at large only by Dr. Barlow, who, being a party, to the king's satisfaction; only to the rubric of
says Fuller,t set a sharp edge on his own, and the general absolution these words were to be
a blunt one on his adversaries' weapons. Dr. added, for explanation's sake, remission of sins.
Sparks and Raynolds complained that they were   He farther objected to private baptism, and
wronged by that relation,$ and Dr. Jackson de- baptism by women. It had been customary till
dared that Barlow himself repented, upon his this time for bishops to license midwives to
deathbed, of the injury he had done the Puritan their office, and to allow their right to baptize in
ministers in his relation of the Hampton Court cases of necessity, under the following oath:
Conference.~  Mr. Strype has lately published a   "I, Eleanor -, admitted to the office and
occupation of a midwife, will faithfully and dili* Life of Whitgift, Append., b. iv., no. 43.  gently exercise the said office, according to such
t Ch. Hist., b. x., p. 21.   t Pierce, p. 153, 154. cunning and knowledge as God has given me,
Q "The Puritans," Dr. Harris observes, "needed and that I will be ready to help and aid as well
not to have complained so much as they have done poor as rich women, being in labour and travail
of Barlow. If he has not represented their arguments with child, and will always be ready to execute
in as just a light, nor related what was done by the my said office. Also, I will not permit or suffer
ministers as advantageously as truth required, he has that any woman, being in labour or travail, shall
abundantly made it up to them by showing that the
bishops, their adversaries, were gross flatterers, and name any other to be the father of the child
had no regard to their sacred characters; and that than only he who is the right and true father
their mortal foe James had but a low understanding, thereof; and that I will not suffer any other
and was undeserving of the rank he assumed in the
republic of learning. This he has done effectually, set himself up as a decider of their controversies."and, therefore, whatever was his intention, the Puri- Harris's Life of James I., p. 87.-ED.
tans should have applauded his performance, and ap-   * Life of Whitgift, Append., b. iv., no. 45.
pealed to it for proof of the insufficiency of him who   t Fuller, b. x., p. 8,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   231
body's child to be set, brought, or laid before according to the testimony of Dr. Andrews,_
any woman delivered of child, in the place of dean of the chapel, who said that his majesty
her natural child, so far forth as I can know or did that day wonderfully play the Puritan.
understand. Also; I will not use any kind of   The second day's conference was on Monday,
sorcery or incantation in the time of travail of January 16th, when the four ministers were
any woman; and I will not destroy the child called in, with Mr. Galloway, minister of Perth
born of any woman, nor cut nor pull off the head in Scotland, on the one part, and two bishops
thereof, or otherwise dismember or hurt the and six or eight deans on the other, the rest
same, or suffer it to be so hurt, &c. Also, that being secluded. The king being seated in his
in the ministration of the sacrament of baptism, chair, with his nobles and privy counsellors
in the time of necessity, I will use the accus- around him, let them know he was now ready
tomed words of the same sacrament; that is to to hear their objections against the establishsay, these words following, or to the like effect, ment. Whereupon Dr. Raynolds, in the name' I christen thee in the name of the Father, the of his brethren, humbly requested,
Son, and the Holy Ghost,' and none other pro-   1. That the doctrine of the Church might be
fane words. And that, in baptizing any infant preserved pure, according to God's Word.
born, and pouring water on the head of the said   2. That good pastors might be planted in all
infant, I will use pure and clean water, and not churches to preach the same.
any rose or damask water, or water made of   3. That the Book of Common Prayer might
any confection or mixture. And that I will cer- be fitted to more increase of piety.
tify the curate of the parish church of every   4. That church government might be sinsuch baptizing."*                           cerely ministered according to God's Word.
Notwithstanding this oath, Whitgift assured   1. With regard to the doctrine of the Church,
-the king that baptism by women and lay per- he requested that to those words in the sixsons was not allowed by the Church. Others teenth article, "We may depart from grace,"
said it was a reasonable practice, the minister may be added, neither totally nor finally, to make
not being of the essence of the sacrament. But them consistent with the doctrine of predestithe king not being satisfied, it was referred to nation in the seventeenth article; and that (if
consideration whether the word curate, or law- his majesty pleased) the nine articles of Lamful minister, might not be inserted into the ru- beth might be inserted. That in the twentybric for private baptism.                   third article these words, "in the congregation,"
Concerning  excommunication  for lesser might be omitted, as implying a liberty for men
crimes in ecclesiastical courts, it was agreed to preach out of the congregation without a lawthat the name should be changed, but the same ful call. That in the twenty-fifth article the
censure retained, or an equivalent thereunto ground for confirmation might be examined;
appointed. These were all the alterations that one passage confessing it to be a depraved imiwere agreed upon between the king and bishops tation of the apostles, and another grounding it
in the first day's conference.              on their example; besides, that it was too much
NMr. Patrick Galloway, who was present at work for a bishopthe conference, gives this account of it to the   Here Bancroft, no longer able to contain himpresbytery of Edinburgh: " That on January 12 self, falling upon his knees, begged the king
the king commanded the bishops, as they would with great earnestness to stop the doctor's
answer it to God in conscience, and to himself mouth, according to an ancient canon that
upon their obedience, to advise among them- schismatics are not to be heard against their
selves of the corruptions of the Church in doe- bishops. It is not reasonable, says he, that
trine, ceremonies, and discipline, who, after men who have subscribed to these articles
consultation, reported that all was well; but should be allowed to plead against their own
when his majesty, with great fervency, brought act, contrary to the statute 1st Eliz. The king,
instances to the contrary, the bishops on their perceiving the bishop in a heat, said, My lord,
knees craved with great earnestness that no- you ought not to interrupt the doctor, but eithei
thing might be altered, lest popish recusants, let him proceed or answer what he has objectpunished by penal statutes for disobedience, ed. Upon which he replied, "that as to Dr.
and the Puritans, punished by deprivation from  Raynolds's first objection, the doctrine of pretheir callings and livings for nonconformity, destination was a desperate doctrine, and had
should say they had just cause to insult upon made many people libertines, who were apt to
them, as men who had travailed to bind them  say,' If I shall be saved, I shall be saved:' he
to that which by their own mouths now was therefore desired it might be left at large. That
confessed to be erroneous."t Mr. Strype calls his second objection was trifling, because, by
this an aspersion, but I am apt to think him  the practice of the Church, none but licensed
mistaken, because Mr. Galloway adds these ministers might preach or administer the sacrawords: "When sundry persons gave out copies ment. And as to the doctor's third objection,
of these actions, I myself took occasion, as I he said that the bishops had their chaplains
was an ear and eye witness, to set them down, and curates to examine such as were to be conand presented them to his majesty, who with firmed; and that in ancient time, none confirmhis own hand mended some things, and eked ed but bishops."  To which Raynolds replied,
out others that I had omitted."  It is very cer- in the words of St. Jerome, " that it was rather
tain that Bishop Barlow has cut off and con- a compliment to the order than from any reason
cealed all the speeches that his majesty made or necessity of the thing."  And whereas the
against the corruptions of the Church and the bishop had called him a schismatic, he desired
practices of the prelates, for five hours together, his majesty that that imputation might not lie
* Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 537.         upon him; which occasioned a great deal of
t Calderwood's Hist. Church of Scotland, p. 474. mirth and raillery between the king and his noa




232                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
bles about the unhappy Puritans. In conclusion, in marriage; to the churching of women by the
the king said he was against increasing the name of purification.  He urged that most of
number of articles or stuffing them with theo- these things were relics of popery; that they
logical niceties, because, were they never so had been abused to idolatry, and therefore ought,
explicit, there will be no preventing contrary like the brazen serpent, to be abolished. Mr.
opinions. As to confirmation, he thought it Knewstubs said these rights and ceremonies
not decent to refer the solemnity to a parish were at best but indifferent, and therefore doubtpriest, and closed his remarks with this maxim, ed whether the power of the Church could bind
No bishop, no king.                          the conscience without impeaching Christian
After a long interruption the doctor went on, liberty.
and desired a new catechism; to which the king   Here his majesty interrupted them, and said
consented, provided there might be no curious that he apprehended the surplice to be a very
questions in it, and that our agreement with the comely garment; that the cross was as old as
Roman Catholics in some points might not be Constantine, and must we charge him with poesteemed heterodoxy. He farther desired a new  pery? besides, it was no more a significant
translation of the Bible, to which his majesty sign than imposition of hands, which the petiagreed, provided it were without marginal notes, tioners allowed in ordination; and as for their
saying, that of all the translations, the Geneva other exceptions, they were capable of being
was the worst, because of the marginal notes, understood in a sober sense; "but as to the
which allowed disobedience to kings. The doc- power of the Church in things indifferent," says
tor complained of the printing and dispersing his majesty, " I will not argue that point with
popish pamphlets, which reflected on Bancroft's you, but answer as kings in Parliament, Le Roy
character: the king said, " What was done of s'avisera. This is like Mr. John Black, a beardthis kind was by warrant from the court, to less boy, who told me, the last conference in
nourish the schism between the seculars and Scotland, that he would hold conformity with
Jesuits, which was of great service. Doctor, me in doctrine, but that every man as to cereyou are a better collegeman than statesman." monies was to be left to his own liberty, but I
To which Raynolds replied, that he did not in- will have none of that; I will have one doetend such books as were printed in England, trine, one discipline, one religion in substance
but such as were imported from beyond sea; and ceremony: never speak more to that point,
and this several of the privy council owned to how far you are bound to obey."
be a grievance. The doctor having prayed that   4. Dr. Raynolds was going on to complain of
some effectual remedy might be provided against excommunication by lay-chancellors; but the
the profanation of the Lord's Day, declared he king having said that he should consult the
had no more to add on the first head.        bishops on that head, the doctor desired that the
2. With regard to preaching, the doctor com- clergy might have assemblies once in three
plained of pluralities in the Church, and pray- weeks; that in rural deaneries they might have
ed that all parishes might be furnished with the liberty of prophesyings, as in Archbishop
preaching ministers. Upon which Bancroft fell Grindal's time; that those cases which could
upon his knees, and petitioned his majesty that not be resolved there might be referred to the
all parishes might have a praying ministry; for archdeacon's visitation, and. from thence to the
preaching is grown so much in fashion, says diocesan synod, where the bishop with his preshe, that the service of the Church is neglected. byters should determine such points as were
Besides, pulpit harangues are very dangerous; too difficult for the other meetings. Here the
he therefore humbly moved that the number of king broke out into a flame, and instead of hearhomilies might be increased, and that the clergy ing the doctor's reasons, or commanding his
might be obliged to read them instead of ser- bishops to answer them, told the ministers that
mons, in which manyvented their spleen against he found they were aiming at a Scots presbytheir superiors. The king asked the plaintiffs tery, " which," says he, "agrees with monartheir opinion of the bishop's motion; who replied, chy as well as God and the devil; then Jack and
that a preaching minister was certainly best Tom, Will and Dick, shall meet, and at their
and most useful, though they allowed, where pleasure censure both me and my council.
preaching could not be had, godly prayers, horn- Therefore, pray stay one seven years before you
ilies, and exhortations might do much good. demand that of me, and if then you find me
The lord-chancellor [Egerton] said, there were pursy and fat, and my windpipe stuffed, I will
more livings that wanted learned men than perhaps hearken to you; for let that government
learned men living; let all, therefore, have single be up, and I am sure I shall be kept in breath;
coats before others have doublets. Upon which but till you find I grow lazy, pray let that alone.
Bancroft replied merrily, But a doublet is good I remember how they used the poor lady, my
in cold weather. The king put an end to the mother, in Scotland, and me in my minority."
debate by saying he would consult the bishops Then turning to the bishops, he put his hand to
upon this head.                              his hat and said, "My lords, I may thank you
3. But the doctor's chief objections were to that these Puritans plead for my supremacy, for
the service-book and church government. Here if once you are out and they in place, I know
he complained of the late subscriptions, by which what would become of my supremacy, for, No
many were deprived of their ministry who were bishop, no king. Well, doctor, have you anywilling to subscribe to the doctrinal articles of thing else to offer." Dr. Raynolds: " No more,
the Church, to the king's supremacy, and to the if it please your majesty."  Then rising from
statutes of the realm. He excepted to the read- his chair, the king said, " If this be all your party
ing theApocrypha; to the interrogatories in bap- have to say, I will make them conform, or I
tism, and to the sign of the cross; to the sur- will harry them out of this land, or else worse;"
plice, and other superstitious habits; to the ring and he was as good as his word.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     233
Thus ended the second day's conference, af- already mentioned; which not answering their
ter four hours' discourse, with a perfect triumph  expectations, Mr. Chadderton fell on his knees,
on the side of the Church; the Puritan minis- and humbly prayed that the surplice and cross
ters were insulted, ridiculed, and laughed to might not be urged on some godly ministers in
scorn, without either wit or good manners. Lancashire; and Mr. Knewstubs desired the
One of the council said he now saw that a Pu- same favour for some Suffolk ministers; which
ritan was a Protestant frighted out of his wits. the bishops were going to oppose, but the king'
Another, that the ministers looked more like replied, with a stern countenance, "We have.
Turks than Christians, as appeared by their taken pains here to conclude in.a resolution i)r
habits.  Sir Edward Peyton confessed that Dr. uniformity, and you will undo all by preferring
Raynolds and his brethren had not freedom of the credit of a few private men to the peace of
speech; but finding it to no purpose to reply, the Church; this is the Scots way, but I will
they held their peace.  On the other hand, the have none of this arguing; therefore let them
bishops and courtiers flattered the king's wis- conform, and that quickly, too, or they shall hear
dom and learning beyond measure, calling him  of it; the bishops will give them  some time,
the Solomon of the age.  Bancroft fell upon his but if they are of an obstinate and turbulent
knees, and said, "I protest my heart melteth spirit, I will have them  enforced to conformfor joy, that Almighty God, of his singular mer- ity."*
cy, has given us such a king as, since Christ's   Thus ended this mock conference,t for it detime, has not been."  Chancellor Egerton said serves no better name, all things being previ.
"he had never seen the king and priest so fully ously concluded between the king and the bishunited in one person."*  His majesty was no ops, before the Puritans were brought upon the
less, satisfied with his own conduct; for in his stage, to be made a spectacle to their enemies,
letter to Mr. Blake, a Scotsman, he told him  and borne down, not with calm reason and arthat he had soundly peppered off the Puritans, gument, but with the royal authority, I approve
that they had fled before him, and that their pe- or I dissent; the king making himself both
titions had turned him more earnestly against judge and party.$  No wonder, therefore, if
them.  " It were no reason," says his majesty, Dr. Raynolds fell below himself, and lost some
"that those who refuise the airy sign of the part of his esteem  with the Puritans, being
cross after baptism, should have their purses overawed by the place and company, and the
stuffed with any more solid and substantial arbitrary dictates of his sovereign opponent.
crosses. They fled me so from argument to
argument, without ever answering me directly   - "In this manner ended this conference; which,"
(Ut est corum moris), that I was forced to tell observes Dr. Warner, " convinced the Puritans they
them, that if any of them, when boys, had dis- w     er e mistaken  ineing dndtlattohe eking's protection;
which convinced the king that they were not to be
puted thus in the college, the moderator would won by a few insignificant concessions; and which,
have fetched them up, and applied the rod to if it did not convince the privy council and the bishtheir buttocks-I have a book of theirs that ops that they had got a Solomon for their king, yet
may convert infidels, but never shall convert they spoke of him as-though it did."-Eccles. Hist.,
me, except by turning me more earnestly against vol. iii., p. 482.
them."  This was the language of the Solomon   1"This conference," says another writer, " was but
of the age. I leave the reader to judge how  a blind to introduce episcopacy in Scotland; all the
Scotch noblemen then at court being designed to be
much superior the wise monarch was in the present, and others, both noblemen and ministers,
knowledge of antiquity, or'the art of syllogism, being called up fiom Scotland by the king's letter to
to Dr. Raynolds, who was the oracle of his time assist at it."-Dr. Welwood, as quoted by Crosby.
for acquaintance with ecclesiastical history, Hist. of Engl. Baptists, vol. i., p. 85.-ED.
councils, and fathers, and had lived in a college   t "The Hampton Court Conference," says Robert
all his days.                                 Robinson, of Cambridge, " was a ridiculous farce, a
T~he third day's conference was on Wednes- compound of kingcraft and priestcraft. The actors
in it forgot nothing but their masks. T'he Puritans
day, January 18th, vwhen the bishops and deans would not be gulled by it, but continued to dissent,
were first called into the privy chamber with and they were right."-Lectures on the Principles of
the civilians, to satisfy the king about the high Nonconformnity, Works, ii., 221.
commission and the oath ex officio, which they   " In the accounts that we read of this meeting,"
might easily do as being principal branches of remarks Mr. Hallam, "we are alternately struck
his prerogative. When the king said he appro- with wonder at the indecent and partial behaviour
ved of the wisdom  of the law in making the of the king, and at the abject baseness-of the bishops,
oath cx officio, the old archbishop was so trans- mixed, according to the customs of servile natures,
ported ards their opponents.  It was
M    easy for a monarch and eighteen churchmen to claim
esty speaks by the special assistance of God's the victory, be the merits of the dispute what they
Spirit."  A  committee of bishops and -privy might, over abashed and intimidated adversaries."counsellors was then appointed to consider of Const. Hist., i., 404.-C.
lessening the charges in the high commisson,   4 The conclusion of his address to the Puritan
and for planting schools, and proper ministers ministers, at this conference, as it was a curious spein the kingdom -of Ireland, and on the borders cimen of the king's logic, so it was a proof of the insolent and tyrannical spirit with which he aimed to
of England and Scotland.  After cadhich, nor. bear down all opposition. "If," said he, "this be all
Raynolds and his brethren were called in, not your party hath to say, I will make them conform
to dispute, but only to hear the few alterations themselves, or else I will harrie them out of the land,
or explanations in the Common Prayer Book or else do worse, only hang them, that's all." It is
very evident, from this, that he trusted more, as it
* A modern prelate has said, " Sancho Pancha has been observed by a modern writer, to the power
never made a better speech, nor more to the purpose, of hanging than of convincing his adversaries.-Secret
during his government."-Bishop Warburton's INotes History of the Court and Reign of Charles II., vol. i.
on Neal.-ED.                                  Introduction, p. 23, the note.-ED.
VoL I.-CG a




234                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
The Puritans refused to be concluded by this power that his majesty altered one article in
conference, for the following reasons: because, the liturgy, he might set aside the whole, every
1. "The ministers appointed to speak for sentence being equally established by act of
them were not of their nomination or choosing, Parliament: but this wise monarch made no
nor of one judgment ill the points of controver- scruple of dispensing with the laws. However,
sy; for being desired by their brethren to argue the force of all proclamations determining with
against the corruptions of the Church as simply  the king's life, and there being no subsequent
evil, they replied, they were not so persuaded. act of Parliament to establish these amendBeing farther desired to acquaint the king that ments, it was urged very justly in the next
some of their brethren thought them sinful, they  reign, that this was not the liturgy of the Church
refused that also. Lastly, being desired to give of England established by law, and, consequenttheir reasons in writing why they thought the ly, not binding upon the clergy.
ceremonies only indifferent, or to answer the    A fortnight before this conference was held,
reasons they had to offer to prove them sinful, the learned and reverend Mr. Thomas Cartthey would do neither one nor other.         wright, one of the chief of the Puritans, and a
2.' Because the points in controversy were great sufferer for nonconformity, died. He was
not thoroughly debated, but nakedly propounded, born in Hertfordshire, 1535, and entered into St.
and some not at all touched. Neither was there John's College, Cambridge, 1550, where he beany one argument to the purpose pursued and came a hard student, never sleeping above five
followed.                                    hours in a night. During the reign of Queen
3. " Because the prelates took the liberty of Mary he left the University, and became a lawinterrupting at their pleasure those of the other yer's clerk; but upon the accession of Queen
side, insomuch that they were checked for it by Elizabeth he resumed his theological studies,
the king himself."                           and was chosen fellow of Trinity College in the
They objected also to the account of the con- year 1563. The year following he bore a part
ference by Dean Barlow, as published without in the Philosophy Act before the queen. In the
the knowledge, advice, or consent of the other year 1567 he commenced bachelor of divinity,
side, and therefore deserving no credit; they and three years after was chosen Lady Margasaid that Dr. Moreton had called some part of ret's professor. He was so popular a preacher,
it in question, and rectified some speeches fa- that when his turn came at St. Mary's, the sexthered on the king; besides, that the prelates ton was obliged to take down the windows.
only were present at the first day's conference, But Mr. Cartwright Venturing in some of his
when the principal matters were determined.   lectures to show the defects of the discipline of
"Therefore the Puritan ministers offer (if the Church as it then stood, he was questioned
his majesty will give them leave) in one week's for it before the vice-chancellor, denied his docspace to deliver his majesty in writing a full tor's degree, and expelled the University, as has
answer to any argument or assertion propound- been related. He then travelled to Geneva,
ed in that conference by any prelate; and in and afterward became preacher to the English
the mean time they do aver them to be most merchants at Antwerp.  King James invited
vain and frivolous."                         him to be professor in his University of St. AnIf the bishops had been men of moderation, drew's, which he declined.  After his return
or if the king had discovered any part of that from Antwerp he was often in trouble by suswisdom he was flattered with, all parties might pensions, deprivations, and long imprisonment;
have been made easy at this time; for the bish- at length the great Earl of Leicester, who knew
ops, in such a crisis, would have complied with  his worth, made him governor of his hospital in
anything his majesty had insisted on; but the Warwick, where he ended his days, December
king's cowardice, his love of flattery, his high  27, 1603. He was certainly one of the most
and arbitrary principles, and his mortal hatred  learned and acute disputants of his age, but
of the Puritans, lost one of the fairest opportu- very ill used by the governing clergy. He wrote
nities that have ever offered to heal the divis- several books, besides his controversy with
ions of the Church.                          Archbishop Whitgift, as, his Latin comment on
On the 5th of March the king published a Ecclesiastes, dedicated to King James, in which
proclamation, in which he says, "That though  he thankfully acknowledges his being appointed
the doctrine and discipline, of the established  professor to a Scots university; his celebrated
Church were unexceptionable, and agreeable to  confutation of the Rhemist translation of the
primitive antiquity, nevertheless he had given New Testament, to which work he was solicitway to a conference, to hear the exceptions of ed not only by Sir Francis Walsingham, but by
the Nonconformists, which he had found very letter under the hands of the principal divines
slender; but that some few explanations of pas- of Cambridge, as, Roger Goad, Wm. Whitaker,
sages had been yielded to for their satisfaction; Thomas Crooke, John Ireton, Wm. Fulke, John
therefore he now requires and enjoins all his Field, Nicholas Crane, Gibs Seinthe, Richard
subjects to conform to it, as the only public  Gardiner, Wm. Clarke, &c. Such an opinion
form established in this realm; and admonishes had these great men of his learning and abilithem not to expect any farther alterations, for ties.*  He was a person of uncommon industry
that his resolutions were absolutely settled."
The Common Prayer Book was accordingly    * Dugdale calls him the standard-bearer of the Puprinted with the amendments, and the procla- ritans, and says he was the first in the Church of
Tnation prefixed.                           England who began to pray extempore before serIt was a high strain of the prerogative to al- i his onversa   a "he was most pious and strict
ter a form of worship established by law, mere- in his conversation, a pure Latinist, an accurate Greter a form of worship established by law, mere  cian, an exact Hebrean, and, in short, an excellent
ly by a royal proclamation, without consent of scholar." And yet Churton, in his Life of Nowell, p.
Parliament or convocation; for by the same 225, casts a slur upon his piety, learning, and good




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      235
and piety, fervent in prayer, a frequent preach- the laws, and even outgoing them in the cause
er, and of a meek and humble spirit. In his of uniformity.  Mr. Fuller says he would give
old age he was so troubled with the stone and fair words and good language, but would abate
gout by frequent lying in prisons, that he was nothing.  Sir G. Paul, the author of his uhe,
obliged always to study on his knees. His last says that choler was his chief infirmity,* which
sermon was on Eccles., xii., 7: "'Then shall has sufficiently appeared by the account already
the dust return to the earth, and the spirit shall given of the many persecutions, oppressions,
return to God who gave it."  The Tuesday fol- and unjustifiable hardships the Puritans sufferlowing he was two hours on his knees in pri- ed under his administration; notwithstanding
vate prayer, and a few hours after quietly re- which they increased prodigiously, insomuch,
signed his spirit to God, in the sixty-eighth year that towards the end of his life, his grace grew
of his age, and was buried in his own hospital. weary of the invidious employment, and being
The famous Mr. Dod preached his funeral ser- afraid of King James's first Parliament,t died,
mon.*                                          as it is said, with grief before it met, desiring
Six weeks after died his great antagonist, rather to give an account of his bishopric to
Dr. John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury, God than exercise it among men.$  He had
who was born at Great Grimsby, in Lincoln- been at court the first Sunday in Lent, and as
shire, in the year 1530, and educated in Pem- he was going to the council-chamber to dinner,
broke Hall, and was fellow  of Peter House. was seized with the dead palsy on the right
Cambridge.  He complied with the changes in  side, and with the loss of his speech; upon which
Queen Mary's reign, though he disapproved of he was carried first to the lord-treasurer's clhiamher religion. He commenced doctor of divinity  ber, and afterward to Lambeth, where the king
1569, and was afterward Margaret and queen's visited him' on Tuesday, but not being able to
professor,t and master of Trinity College. Hav- converse, lifted up his eyes and hand and said,
ing been a celebrated champion for the hierar- Pro ecclesia Dei, which were his last words.
chy, the queen advanced him first to the Bish- He would have written something, but could not
opric of Worcester, and then to the Archbishop- hold his pen.  His disease increasing, he exric of Canterbury.  He was a severe governor pired the next day, being the 29th of February,
of the Church, pressing conformity with the ut- 1603, aged seventy-three, and was buried at
most rigour,$ in which her majesty always gave Croydon on the 27th of March following, where
him her countenance and support.  He regard- he has a fair monument, with his effigies at
ed neither the entreaties of poor ministers nor length upon it.  He was an hospitable man, and
the intercessions of courtiers, being steady to  usually travelled with a great retinue; in the
sense. He charges Cartwright with saying, in a cor- year 1589 he came into Canterbury with a train
respondence, "that prayer was, as it were, a bunch of five hundred horse, of which one hundred
of keys, whereby we go to all the treasures and store- were his own servants.  He founded an hoshouses of the Lord; his butteries, his pantries, his pital and free school at Croydon, and though
cellars, his wardrobe."                        he was a cruel persecutor of the Puritans, yet,
All this, perhaps, did  enter into a famtliar letter. compared with his successor, Bancroft, he was
Well, what if it did? it was just in the taste of the
times; but Churton makes everything bad out of a valuable prelate.S
these few words. He exclaims, "Does fanaticism Before the meeting of the Parliament the
extinguish all taste and judgment? or is it only in   * Life of Whitgift, p. 108.
minds originally weak that the infection can fit it- t Fuller's Church History, book x., p. 25.
self? Which ever way the reader may solve the prob-   T Stype's words, Dr. Grey says, are, " Et nunc
lem, he will naturally ask, Was this the man that Doinine exaltata est inea anima, quod in eo tempore
was to improve what had been done by Cranmer and succubui, quando mallern, episcopatiis mei reddere
Ridley, by Parker and Nowell, and their coadjutors? rationem, quam inter homines exercere." —ED.
to give us a form of worship more pure and edifying,        The  character of Whitgift's administration apmore dignified and devout?" But, says Brookes, "this pears plain in the page of history. It imbodied the
eloquent calumniator does not stop here: he felt the worst passions of an intolerant state priest, and stood
poetic flame arise, and therefore immediately asks, out in the history of Protestant persecution as wor"' Is this the region, this the soil, the clime,  thy of special reprobation. It knew no mercy-it exThat we must change for heaven? this mournful gloom  ercised no compassion. It had but one object, and
F or that celestial light I'                that it pursued without compunction or remorse.
We do confess that so much bombast, scurrility, and The most conscientious of the queen's subjects were
barefaced misrepresentation were scarcely ever found mingled with the vilest of their race. Whatever was
within so small a compass. The reader will, at the noble in character, elevated in sentiment, or pure and
same time, easily perceive that the whole is design- ethereal in devotion, was confounded with the baser
ed to extol the Church of England. if not above per- elements of society, and proscribed and punished as
fection, at least beyond the possibility of amendment, an offence to God and treason against the state.
and to blacken the character and disgrace the mem- The legal institutions of the kingdom were convertory of that man, who was justly esteemed one of ed into means of oppression, and the dark recesses of
the most celebrated divines of the age in which he its prisons resounded at once with the sighs and
lived."-Brookes, Lives of Puritans, vol. i., p. 161.-C. prayers of men of whom the world was not worthy.
C* larke's Lives annexed to his General Martyr- It is in vain to defend the administration of Whittift
ology, p. 16.                                  on the ground of the excesses of the Puritans. Those
t For his sake the salary of Lady Margaret's pro- excesses were provoked by his cruelty. They grew
fessorship was raised from twenty marks to ~20. out of government, the unmitigated rigour of which
And it is observed to his honour, that this prelate exasperated the spirits and soured the temper of
was the great restorer of order and discipline in the his opponents. Neither can the archbishop be justiUniversity of Cambridge, when deeply wounded and fled on the plea that he acted on the commands of
almost sunk.-Granger's History of England, 8vo, the queen. His servility was, indeed, contemptible,
vol. i., p. 206.-ED.                           but his ecclesiastical measures had their origin in his
T " Even sometimes it may be," says Dr. Warner, own breast. He was the queen's adviser, to whose
"beyond all other law but that of her majesty's judgment she deferred, and of whose hearty concur.
pleasure."-ED.                                 rence in every measure of severity and intolerance




236                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
king issued out two proclamations, one corm- with this speech, because the king seemed re
manding all Jesuits and priests in orders to de- solved not to indulge the Puritans at any rate;
part the kingdom [February 22, 16031, wherein  the Catholics did not like his majesty's distinche was very careful to let the world know that tion between the laics and clerics; but the Puhe did not banish them  out of hatred to the ritans had most reason to complain, to see so
Catholic religion, but only for maintaining the much charity expressed towards papists, and
pope's temporalpower over princes.*  The other so little for themselves.*  All Protestants in
was against the Puritans, in which there was general heard with concern the king's offer to
no indulgence for tender consciences: all must meet the papists half way.  What does he
conform, or suffer the extremities of the law.t  mean? say they; is there no difference between
The king opened the first session of Parlia- popery and Protestantism but the pope's authorment with a long speech, in which there are ity over princes? Are all other doctrines to be
mnany strokes in fayour of tyranny and arbitrary  given up?  Are the religions the same?  And
power: " his majesty acknowledges the Roman  is this the only point upon which we separated
Church to be his mother-church, though defiled from the Church of Rome?  Thus, unhappily, did
with some infirmities and corruptions.  That this pretended Protestant prince set out with
his mind was ever free from persecution for laying the foundation of discontent among all
matters of conscience, as he hopes those of that ranks of his people.
religion have proved since his first coming. He    His majesty made frequent mention in his
pities tile laity among them, and would indulge speech of his hereditary right to the crown, and
their clergy if they would but renounce the of his lineal descent; that he was accountable
pope's supremacy and his pretended power to to none but God; and that the only difference
dispense with the murder of kings.  He wishes between a rightful king and a tyrant is, that the
that he might be a means of uniting the two re- one is ordained for preserving the prosperity of
ligions, for if they would but abandon their late his people, the other thinks his kingdom  and
corruptions, he would meet them  in the mid- people are ordained to satisfy his unreasonable
way, as having a great veneration for antiquity  appetites.t  Farther, his majesty altered the
in the points of ecclesiastical policy. But then, writs for electing members, and took upon him
as to the Puritans or Novelists, who do not dif- to prescribe what sort of representatives should
fer from us so much in points of religion as be elected, not by way of exhortation, but of
in their confused form  of policy and purity, command, and as indispensable conditions of
those," says he, " are discontented with the their being admitted into the House, and which
present church government; they are impatient were to be judged of and determined in the
to suffer any superiokrity, which makes their Court of Chancery.T  He threatened to fine and
sect insufferable in any well-governed common- disfranchise those corporations that did not
wealth."t                                     choose to his mind, and to fine and imprison
The bishops and their adherents were pleased  their representatives if they presumed to sit in
the House. When the House of Commons met,
she was fully assured. Several of her counsellors he interrupted their examinations of elections,
were opposed to his severity, "but secure of the and commanded the return of Sir Francis Goodqueen's support, Whitgift relented not a jot of his win, whose election they had set aside, to be
resolution, and went far greater lengths than Parker ought before him and his judges. Most of
had ever ventured, or perhaps had desired to proceed." brought befoe him  and his 
His administration involved an immense sacrifice of those who approached the king's person labourlife. It is easy to number the martyrs whom popery ed to inspire him with the design of making
led to the stake, but no other than an omniscient himself absolute, or, rather, to confirm him in
being is competent to reveal the secrets of his dark that resolution.s  The bishops were of this
and loathsome prison-houses. Many of his victims number; and from this time there has appeared
entered with a robust frame and a vigorous spirit, but among the clergy a party of men who have carthe one was wasted by disease and the other broken ried the obedience of the subject and the authordown by oppression, till the last enemy released them  ityofthe crown as high as in the most arbitrary
from the tyrant's grasp, and ushered them into the
presence of the King of kings.  The Protestant monarchies.
Church of England is deeply steeped in the blood of   But though the court and bishops were so
the saints. The martyrdom it inflicted was less vio- well agreed, the Parliament passed some acts
lent, and less calculated to shock the public mind, which gave them uneasiness; as the revival of
but it was not a jot less cruel or wicked than that the statute of Edward VI. which enacts that all
which Bonner and Gardiner practised. - See Dr. processes, citations, judgments, &c., in any ecPrice's History of Noezcozforniity, vol. i., p. 471. Con- clesiastical courts, shall be issued in the 
sult Hallam's Constitutional History, sol. i., p. 271.-C. clesiastical courts, shall be issued in the king's
sult.aUllem's Constitutioenil History, vol. i., p. 271. —C.; Rapin, vol. ii., p. 163, folio edition.   name, and under the king's seal of arms.  The
f " The Puritans about this time," says Mrs.
Macaulay, "suffered so severe a persecution, that   i Rapin, vol. ii., p. 167, 168, folio ed.
they were driven to offer a petition for relief to the   t Ibid., vol. ii., p. 252. Coke, p. 51.
king while he was taking the diversion of hunting.   $ " This," as Dr. Warner well observes, "was
James was something startled at this unexpected in- directly striking at the privileges of the Commons.'
trusion, and very graciously directed them to depute -ED.
ten of their members to declare their grievances to   Q We are told, in particular, that Cecil assured
the council. These deputies no sooner made their James, on his coming to the crown, " that he should
appearance before the council than they were sent find his English subjects like asses, on whom he
to jail, and Sir Francis Hastings, Sir Edward Mon- might lay any burden, and should need neither bit
tague, and Sir Valentine Knightly, under whose pro- nor bridle but their asses' ears." "His reign, howtection they had thus acted, were turned out of the ever, affords sufficient proof," observes a late writer,
lieutenancy of the county and the commission of the " that the king himself was the only ass, and that the
peace." —Winwood's Memorials, quoted by Mrs. Mac- English lions were not to be intimidated by his silly
aulay, Hist. of England, vol. i., p. 7, note, 8vo.-ED.  braying."-Secret History of the Court and Reign of
$ Rapin, vol. ii., p. 165, 166, folio ed.   Charles II., vol. i., Introduction, p. 30, note.-E-D.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    237
bishops were said to be asleep when they suffer- present relation, that the impungers of this cer
ed this clause to pass; but the Laudean clergy emony were heard at large in the conference at
broke through it afterward, as they did through Hampton Court, and having objected the exameverything else that stood in the way of their ple of Hezekiah, who broke in pieces the brazen
sovereignty.  It was farther enacted that all serpent, after it had been abused to idolatry,
leases or grants of Church lands to the king, or and therefore the sign of the cross (which was
his heirs, &c., for more than twenty-one years not brought into the Church by God's express
for the future, should be made void, which command, as the brazen serpent was, but was
put an effectual stop to the alienation of the from the beginning a mere invention of men)
Church's revenues. The marriages of the cler- ought now to be taken away by reason of the
gy were also legitimated, by reviving the stat- superstitious abuse which is sustained in poute of King Edward VI. for that purpose.*    pery; they received answer, That KingHezekiah
The convocation which sat with the Parlia- might have preserved it, abandoning the abuse
ment was very active against the Puritans. The of it, if it had pleased him, and, consequently,
see of Canterbury being vacant, Bancroft, bish- it is in the king's majesty's power to abolish
of London, presided, and produced the king's this ceremony, having been abused, or to retain
license to make canons.t May 2, 1603, he de- it in manner aforesaid. Hereunto I say, that I
livered a book of canons, of his own preparing, was one of the conference, yet I was not at that
to the lower house for their approbation. About part of the conference where those that stood
the same time, Mr. Egerton, Fleetwood, Wot- for reformation had access to the king's majeston, Clark, and other Puritan divines, presented ty's presence, and liberty to speak for thema petition for reformation of the Book of Corn- selves; for that I, and some other of my brethmon Prayer, but instead of receiving it, they ren the bishops, were secluded from that day's
admonished them  and their adherents to be assembly; but I suppose it to be true, as it has
obedient, and conform before midsummer-day, formerly been reported, and I for my own paror else they should undergo the censures of the ticular admit the consequence put down above.
Church. In the mean time the canons were Now, because I wish all others abroad as well
revising. May 23, there was a debate in the satisfied herein as ourselves that be here presupper house upon the cross in baptism, when ent, if any of the contrary opinion shall come to
Bancroft and some others spoke vehemently for me and say that the aforesaid answer does not
it, but Dr. Rudd, bishop of St. David's, stood up satisfy them, because they think there is as
and made the following speech for charity and great reason now to move them to become petimoderation:                                  tioners to his majesty for abolishing the cross
"For my part, I acknowledge the antiquity in baptism  as there was to move the godly
of the use of the cross, as mentioned in Tertul- zealous in Hezekiah's time to be petitioners for
lian, and after him in St. Cyprian, St. Chrysos- defacing the brazen serpent, because the churchtom, Austin, and others. I also confess the going papists now among us do superstitiously
original of the ceremony to have sprung by oc- abuse the one, as the Israelites did the other;
casion of the pagans, who reproached the an- what sound answer shall I make to them for
cient Christians for believing in Christ crucified; their better satisfaction l
and that in popery it has been superstitiously   "' Thirdly. Whereas it has been this day alabused; and I affirm that it is in the Church of leged that it is convenient and necessary to
England now admitted and entertained by us, preserve the memory of the cross of Christ by
and restored to its ancient integrity, all super- this means; if haply any of the other side shall
stition abandoned.                           come to me and say that the memory of the
" Likewise, I wish that, if the king's highness cross of Christ might be sufficiently and more
shall persist in imposing it, all would submit to safely preserved by preaching the doctrine of
it (as we do) rather than forego the ministry in the Gospel, the sum whereof is' Christ crucithat behalf. But I greatly fear, by the report fled;' which was so lively preached to the Gawhich I hear, that very many learned preachers, latians, as if his bodily image had been crucified
whose consciences are not in our custody, nor among them; and yet we know not of any mato be disposed of at our devotion, will not easily terial or signal cross that was in use in the
be drawn thereunto; of which number, if any Church at that time; I desire to know what
shall come in my walk, I desire to be furnished satisfaction or answer must be given to them 1
beforehand, by those that be present, with suffi-   "Moreover, I protest, that all my speeches
cient reasons to satisfy them (if it be possible) now are uttered by way of proposition, not by
concerning some points which have been now  way of opposition, and that they all tend to work
delivered.                                   pacification in the Church; for I put great dif" First. Whereas sundry passages of Scrip- ference between what is lawful and what is exture have been alleged for the cross; as,' God  pedient, and between them that are schismatical
forbid that I should rejoice save in the cross of and them that are scrupulous only upon some
Christ,' and divers others of the like sense; if ceremonies, being otherwise learned, studious,
any of the adverse opinion fall into my company, grave, and honest men.
and say that these scriptures are figurative, im-   " Concerning these last, I suppose, if, upon
plying the death and passion of our Saviour the urging them to absolute subscription, they
Christ, and that to draw an argument from  should be stiff, and choose rather to forego their
them to justify the sign of the cross in the fore- livings, and the exercise of their ministry, though
head is an insufficient kind of reasoning, and a I do not justify their doings herein, yet surely
fallacy, what answer shall I make unto them 1  their service will be missed at such a time, as
"Secondly. Whereas I have observed, upon need shall require us and them to give the right
hand of fellowship one to another, and to go
Srype's Annals, vol. ivPresb., p. 37596.  arm in arm against the common adversary.
t Strype's Annals, vol. iv., p. 396.




238                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"Likewise consider who must be the execu- ers to unity and conformity with himself, and
tioners of their deprivation; even we ourselves, the rest of his reverend brethren. And thus
the bishops, against whom there will be a great the debate ended.
clamour of them and their dependants, and many    The Book of Canons found an easy passage
others who are well affected towards them, through both houses of convocation, and was
whereby our persons will be in hazard to be afterward ratified by the king's letters patent
brought into extreme dislike or hatred.      under his great seal; but not being confirmed
" Also remember, that when the Benjamites by act of Parliament, it has several times been
were all destroyed, saving six hundred, and the adjudged in the courts of Westminster Hall that
men of Israel sware in their fury that none of they bind only the clergy, the laity not being
them would give his daughter to the Benjamites represented in convocation. The book contains
to wife, though they suffered for their just de- one hundred and forty-one articles, collected
serts, yet their brethren afterward lamented and out of the injunctions, and other episcopal and
said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this synodical acts of the reigns of King Edward
day; and they used all their wits, to the utter- VI. and Queen Elizabeth, and are the same that
most of their policy, to restore that tribe again. are now in force. By these we discern the
" In like sort, if these our brethren aforesaid spirit of the Church at this time, and how freeshall be deprived of their places for the matter ly she dispensed her anathemas against those
premised, I think we should find cause to bend who attempted a farther reformation. The canour wits to the utmost extent of our skill to ons that relate to the Puritans deserve a parprovide some cure of souls for them, that they ticular mention, because (however illegally) they
may exercise their talents.                  suffered severely under them.
"Furthermore, if these men, being divers   "Canon 3 says, that whosoever shall affirm
hundreds, should forsake their charges, who, that the Church of England by law established
I pray you, should succeed them l Verily, I is not a true and apostolical church, let him be
know not where to find so many able preachers excommunicated ipso facto, and not restored
in this realm unprovided for; but suppose there but only by the archbishop, after his repentance
were, yet they might more conveniently be set- and public revocation of his wicked error.
tled in the seats of unpreaching ministers. But   " Canon 4. Whosoever shall affirm the form
if they are put in the places of these men that of God's worship in the Church of England esare dispossessed, thereupon it will follow, 1. That tablished by law, and contained in the Book of
the number of preaching ministers will not be Common Prayer and administration of sacramultiplied. 2. The Church cannot be so well ments, is a corrupt, superstitious, and unlawful
furnished on a sudden; for though the new  worship, or contains anything repugnant to
supply may be of learned men from the univer- Scripture, let him be excommunicated ipso facto,
sities, yet will they not be such ready preachers and not restored, &c.
for a time, nor so experienced in pastoral gov-   "Canon 5. Whosoever shall affirm, that any
ernment, nor so well acquainted with the man- of the thirty-nine articles of the Church. agreed
ners of the people, nor so discreet in their car- upon in the year 1562, for avoiding diversity of
riage, as those who have already spent many opinions, and for establishing consent touching
years in their ministerial charge.           true religion, are in any part superstitious or
"Besides, forasmuch as in the time of the erroneous, or such as he may not with a good
late Archbishop of Canterbury these things conscience subscribe to, let him be excommuwere not so extremely urged, but that many nicated ipso facto. and not restored, &c.
learned preachers enjoyed their liberty condi-   "Canon 6. Whosoever shall affirm, that the
tionally, that they did not by word or deed rites and ceremonies of the Church of England
openly disturb the state established, I would by law  established are wicked, antichristian,
know a reason why they should now be so gen- superstitious, or such as, being commanded by
erally and exceedingly straitly called upon, es- lawful authority, good men may not with a good
pecially since there is a greater increase of pa- conscience approve, use, or, as occasion repists lately than heretofore.                quires, subscribe, let him  be excommunicated
"To conclude, I wish, that if by petition to ipso facto, and not restored, &c.
the king's majesty there cannot be obtained a    " Canon 7. Whosoever shall affirm the govquiet remove of the premises, nor yet a tolera- ernment of the Church of England, by archbishtion for them that are of more staid and temper- ops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons, and the
ate carriage, yet at least there might be procu- rest that bear office in the same, is antichristian,
red a mitigation of the penalty."*           or repugnant to the Word of God, let him be
The Bishops of London, Winchester, Ely, and excommunicated ipso facto, and not restored,
Lincoln, answered the Bishop of St. David's; &c.
but when his lordship would have replied, he   " Canon 8. Whosoever shall affirm, that the
was forbid by the president, and submitted; af- form and manner of making and consecrating
firming, that as nothing was more dear to him  bishops, priests, or deacons, contain anything
than the peace of the Church, he was determin- repugnant to the Word of God; or that persons
ed to use the best means he could to draw oth- so made and consecrated are not lawfully made,
or need any other calling or ordination to their
Dr. Grey also gives this speech of Bishop Rudd divine offices, let him be excommunicated ipso
at length, inserting in brackets some words and clauses both from Mr. Pierce and Mr. Thomas Baker's   "Canon  t restored, &c.
ISt., omitted by Mr. Neal, in order to convict hirn- Canon 9.   osoever shall separate from
self of inaccuracy; but friom the nature of them, it the comnmunion of the Church of England, as it
should seem that these omissions proceeded not is approved by the apostles' rules, and combine
from negligence, but design, as not essential to Bish- together in a new  brotherhood, accounting
op Rtudd's argument. —ED.                   those who conform to the doctrines, rites, and




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    239
ceremonies of the Church unmeet for their Canon 27 forbids giving the sacrament to schiscommunion, let him  be excommunicated ipso matics, or to any other but such as kneel, and
facto, and not restored, &c.                 allow of the rites, ceremonies, and orders of the
"Canon 10. Whosoever shall affirm that such Church. Canon 28 says that none shall be administers as refilse to subscribe to the form and mitted to the sacrament but in their own parish.
number of God's worship in the Church of Canon 29, That no parent shall be urged to be
England, and their adherents, may truly take to present, nor be admitted to answer as a godfathemselves the name of another church not es- ther for his own child in baptism. Canon 30
tablished by law, and shall publish that their declares the sign of the cross to be no part of
pretended church has groaned under the burden the substance of the sacrament of baptism, but
of certain grievances imposed on them by the that the ordinance is perfect without it. Canon
Church of England, let him be excommunicated 33 prohibits ordination without a presentation,
ipso facto, and not restored, &c.            and says, that if any bishop ordain without a
"Canon 11. Whosoever shall affirm  hat title, he shall maintain the person till he be prothere are within this realm other meetings, as- vided with a living. Canons 36 and 37 say that
semblies, or congregations, of the king's born no person shall be ordained, or suffered to preach,
subjects, than such as are established by law, or catechise in any place as a lecturer, or othwhich may rightly challenge to themselves the erwise, unless he first subscribe the three artiname of true and lawful churches, let him be cles following: 1. That the king's majesty is
excommunicated ipso facto, and not restored, &c. the supreme head and governor of this realm, as
"Canon 12. Whosoever shall affirm that it  well in all spiritual and ecclesiastical as temis lawful for any sort of ministers or lay persons poral causes. 2. That the Book of Common
to make rules, orders, and constitutions, in caus- Prayer, &c., contains nothing contrary to the
es ecclesiastical, without the king's authority, Word of God, and that he will use it, and none
and shall submit to be ruled and governed by other. 3. That he alloweth the thirty-nine arthem, let him be excommunicated ipso facto, and ticles of 1562 to be all and every one of them
not restored, &c.                            agreeable to the Word of God.  To these he
"' Canon 98. We decree and appoint, that af- shall subscribe in the following form of words:
ter any judge ecclesiastical hath proceeded ju-   I, N N, do willingly, and ex animo, subscribe
dicially against obstinate and factious persons, to these three articles above mentioned, and to
for not observing the rites and ceremonies of all things that are contained in them.
the Church, or for contempt of public prayer,   Canon 38 says, that if any minister, after
no judge ad quem shall admit or allow of an ap- subscription, shall disuse the ceremonies, he
peal, unless he having first seen the original shall be suspended; then, after a month, be exappeal, the party appellant do first personally communicated; and after another month, be depromise and vow that he will faithfully keep posed from  his ministry.  Canon 55 contains
and observe all the rites and ceremonies of the the form of bidding prayer before sermon: "Ye
Church of England, as also the prescript form  shall pray for Christ's holy Catholic Church,"
of common prayer; and do likewise subscribe &c., the original of which I have accounted for.
the three articles formerly by us specified and Canon 82 appoints, "that convenient and dedeclared."                                   cent tables shall be provided in all churches for
They who are acquainted with the terrible the celebration of the holy communion, and the
consequences of an excommunication in the same tables shall be covered in times of Divine
spiritual courts, must be sensible of the new  service with a carpet of silk, or other convenient
hardships put upon the Puritans by these can- stuff; and with a fair linen cloth at the time of
ons: suspensions and deprivations from their the administration, as becometh that table, and
livings were not now thought sufficient punish- so stand, saving when the said holy communion
ments for the sin of nonconformity; but the is to be administered; at which time the same
Puritans, both clergy and laity, must be turned shall be placed in so good sort within the church
out of the congregation of the faithful; they must or chancel, as thereby the minister may be more
be rendered incapable of suing for their lawful conveniently heard of the communicants in his
debts; they must be imprisoned for life by pro- prayer and administration; and the communicess out of the civil courts, or until they make cants also more conveniently, and in more numsatisfaction to the Church; and when they die, bhers, may communicate with the said minister;
they must be denied Christian burial; and, so and a convenient seat shall be made for the
far as lies in the power of the court, be excluded minister to read service in."
the kingdom of heaven.  0 uncharitableness!   The other canons relate to the particular duPapists excommunicate Protestants, because, by ties of ministers, lecturers, church-wardens, parrenouncing the Catholic faith, they apprehended ish-clerks; to the jurisdiction and business of
them guilty of heresy; but for Protestants of ecclesiastical courts, with their proper officers,
the same faith to excommunicate their fellow- as judges ecclesiastical, surrogates, proctors,
Christians and subjects, and deprive them of registrars, apparitors, &c. The book concludes
their liberties, properties, and estates, for a few  with denouncing the sentence of excommunicaceremonies, or because they have not the same tion, 1. Against such as shall affirm that this
veneration for the ecclesiastical constitution  synod, thus assembled, is not the true Church
with themselves, is hardly to be paralleled.  of England by representation.  2. Against such
To take notice of a few more of the canons: as shall affirm that persons not particularly ascanon 14- forbids the minister to add to, or leave sembled in this synod, either clergy or laity, are
out, any part of the prayers.  Canon 18 enjoins not subject to the decrees thereof, as not having
bowing at the name of Jesus. Canons 17, 24, given their voices to them. 3. Against such as
25, 58, 74, enjoin the wearing the habits in col- shall affirm this sacred synod was a company
leges, cathedrals, &o., as copes, surplices, hoods. of such persons as did conspire against godly




240                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
and religious professors of the Gospel, and, you, most dear brethren, for your kind address;
therefore, that they and their proceedings ought I am sensible of the merits of John Alasco,
to be despised and contemned, though ratified  Utenhovius, and Edmund Grindal, bishop of
and confirmed by the royal supremacy and au- London,* superintendents of your churches,
thority.                                       and of the rest of my predecessors in this bishThe king, in his ratification of these canons, opric, who had reason to take your churches,
commands them to be diligently observed and  which are of the same faith with our own, unexecuted, and for the better observation of the der their patronage, which I am also ready to
same, that every parish minister shall read them  do. I have known your churches twenty-five
over once every year in his church, on a Sun- years to have been beneficial to the kingdom,
day or holyday, before Divine service; and all and serviceable to the Church of England, in
archbishops, bishops, and others having eccle- which the devil, the author of discord, has kinsiastical jurisdiction, are commanded to see all dled the fire of dissension, into which I pray
and every the same put in execution, and not you not to pour oil, but to endeavour by your
spare to execute the penalties in them severally councils and prayers to extinguish."t  Thus
mentioned on those that wilfully break or neg- the foreign churches enjoyed full peace, while
lect them. I shall leave the reader to make his his majesty's own subjects, of the same faith
own comment on the proceedings of this synod, and discipline with them, were harassed out of
only observing that, when they had finished  the kingdom.
their decrees, they were prorogued to January,   Bancroft was a divine of a rough temper, a
1605-6, when, Dr. Overal being prolocutor, they perfect creature of the prerogative, and a degave the king four subsidies, but did no more dared enemy of the religious and civil liberties
church business till the time of their dissolution, of his country.  He was for advancing the prein the year 1610.                             rogative above law, and for enlarging the jurisDr. Bancroft, bishop of London, being trans- diction of the spiritual courts, by advising his
lated to the see of Canterbury* [December 1604j, majesty to take from the courts of Westminster
was succeeded by Vaughan, bishop of Chester, Hall to himself the whole right of granting proa corpulent man, and of little activity; upon his hibitions; for this purpose he framed twentyadvancement the Dutch and French ministers five grievances of the clergy, which he called
within his diocess presented him with an ad- articuli cleri, and presented them to the king for
dress for his protection and favour, wherein  his approbation; but the judges having declathey set forth " that their churches were grant- red them to be contrary to law, they were set
ed them  by charter from  pious King Edward  aside.
VI., in the year 1550; and that, though they    His grace revived the persecutions of the
were again dispersed by the Marian persecution, Puritans by enforcing the strict observance of
they were restored to their churches and privi- all the festivals of the Church; reviving the use
leges by Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1558, of copes, surplices, caps, hoods, &c., according
from which time they have been in the uninter- to the first service-book of King Edward, oblirupted possession of them.  It appears from  ging the clergy to subscribe over again to the
our records," say they, "how kind and friendly three articles of Whitgift, which by the late
the pious Grindal was to us; and what pains canon [No. 36] they were to declare they did
the prudent Bishop Sandys took in composing  willingly, and from the heart.  By these methour differences.  We promise ourselves the like ods of severity above three hundred Puritan
favour from your lordship, &c., for whom we ministersT were silenced or deprived, some of
shall always pray," &c.t  Monsieur de la Pon- whom were excommunicated and cast into pristaine delivered the address, with a short Latin  on, others were forced to leave their native
speech, to whom the bishop replied, "I thank  country and livelihood, and go into banishment
* The causes which led to Bancroft's elevation to preserve their consciences.  I say, says Mr.
are thus stated by Sir John Harrington: "His maj- Collyer, to preserve their consciences, for it is
isty had long since understanding of his writing a hard thing to bring everybody's understandagainst the Genevesing and Scottising ministers; and ing to a common standard, and to make all
though some imagined he had therein given the king honest men of the same mind.~
some distaste, yet finding him in the disputations at   To countenance and support the archbishop's
Hampton Court both learned and stout, he did more
and more increase his liking to him; so that al-   * Utenhovius and Edmund Grindal, as Dr. Grey
though in the common rumour Thoby Matthew was observes, are not mentioned in the bishop's answer,
likeliest to have carried it, so learned a man and so though they are in Fontaine's speech.-ED.
assiduous a preacher, qui in concionibus dominator, as   t Strype's Annals, vol. v., p. 395.
his emulous and bitter enemy wrote of him, yet his   $ This account is controverted by Dr. Grey on the
majesty, in his learning knowing, and in his wisdom  authority of Heylin's Aer. Rediviv., p. 376, who says
weighing, that this same strict charge,'pasce oves "that, by the rolls brought in by Bishop Bancroft
meos,' feed my sheep, requires as well a pastoral before his death, it appears that there had been but
courage of driving in the stray sheep and driving out forty-five deprived on all occasions, which, in a realm
the infectious, as of feeding the sound, made special containing nine thousand parishes, could be no great
choice of the Bishop of London, as a man more ex- matter. But it was that, by the punishment of some
ercised in the affairs of the state. I will add also of the principals, he struck such a general terror into
mine own conjecture out of some of his majesty's all the rest, that inconformity grew out of fashion in
own speeches, that in respect he was a single man, less time than could be easily imagined."-ED. Calhe supposed him the fitter, according to Queen Eliz- derwood says there were " three hundred," and he is
abeth's principles of state, upon whose wise founda- supported by the author of " A Short Dialogue," 1605,
tions his majesty doth daily erect more glorious who says "their names amounted, 1st November,
buildings." —luger Antiquo, vol. ii., p. 25. —C.  1605, to 270 and upward, yet there were eight bisht Address of the French and Dutch churches to oprics whereof it could not yet be learned what had
the Bishop of London, Strype's Annals, vol. iv., p. been done in them."-P. 58.-C.
390.                                          l    Eccles. Hist., p. 687.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   241
proceedings, the king summoned the twelve    Before the breaking up of the assembly, some
judges into the Star Chamber, and demanded of the lords declared that the Puritans had raised
their judgments upon three questions; there a false rumour of the king, as intending to grant
were present the Bishops of Canterbury and a toleration to papists; which offence thejudges
London, and about twelve lords of the privy conceived to be heinously finable by the rules oI
council                                      common law, either in the King's Bench, or by
The lord-chancellor opened the assembly with the king in council; or now, since the statute
a sharp speech against the Puritans, as disturb- of 3 Henry VII., in the Star Chamber. And the
ers of the peace, declaring that the king intend- lords severally declared that the king was disconed to suppress them by having the laws put in tented with the said false rumour, and had made
execution;* and then demanded, in his majesty's but the day before a protestation to them that
name, the opinion of the judges in three things: he never intended it, and that he would spend
Q. 1. ";' Whether the deprivation of Puritan  the last drop of blood in his body before he would
ministers by the high commissioners, for refu- do it; and prayed, that before any of his issue
sing to conform to the ceremonies appointed by should maintain any other religion than What he
the last canons, was lawful!"               truly possessed and maintained, God would take
The judges replied, " that they had conferred them out of the world. The reader will rememthereof before, and held it to be lawful, because her this solemn protestation hereafter.
the king had the supreme ecclesiastical power,   After these determinations the archbishop rewhich he has delegated to the commissioners, sumed fresh courage, and pursued the Puritans
whereby they have the power of deprivation, by without the least compassion. A more grievous
the canon law of the realm, and the statute Ist persecution of the orthodox faith, says my auEliz., which appoints commissioners to be made thor, is not to be met with in any prince's reign.
by the queen, but does not confer any new pow- Dr. John Burgess, rector of Sutton Colefield, in
er, but explain and declare the ancient power; one of his letters to King James, says the numand therefore they held it clear that the king ber of Nonconformists in the counties he menwithout Parliament might make orders and con- tions were six or seven hundred, agreeable to
stitutions for the government of the clergy, and the address of the Lincolnshire ministers, heremight deprive them if they obeyed not; and so after mentioned.*
the commissioners might deprive them, but that   The whole clergy of London being summoned
the commissioners could not make any new con- to Lambeth, in order to subscribe over again 
stitutions without the king. And the divulging many absconded, and such numbers refused,
such ordinances by proclamation is a most gra- that the Church was in danger of being disfurcious admonition.  And forasmuch as they [the nished, which awakened the court, who had
Puritans] have refused to obey, they are lawfully been told that the Nonconformists were an indeprived by the commissioners ex officio, without considerable body of men. Upon this surprising
libel, et ore tenus convocati."              appearance, the bishops were obliged to relax
Q. 2. " Whether a prohibition be grantable the rigour of the canons for a while, and to acagainst the commissioners upon the statute of cept of a promise from some to use the cross
2 Henry V., if they do not deliver the copy of and surplice; from others to use the surplice
the libel to the party I"                    only; and from others a verbal promise that they
The judges replied, "that that statute was might be used, not obliging themselves to the
intended where the ecclesiastical judge proceeds use of them at all; the design of which was to
ex officio, et ore tenus."                   serve the Church by them  at present, till the
Q. 3. " Whether it be an offence punishable, universities could supply them with new men;
and what punishment they deserved, who framed  for they had a strict eye upon those seminaries
petitions, and collected a multitude of hands of learning, and would admit no young scholar
thereto, to prefer to the king in a public cause, into orders without an absolute and full subas the Puritans had done, with an intimation to scription to all the articles and canons.
the king, that if he denied their suit, many thou-   Bancroft, in a letter to his brethren the bish.sands of his subjects would be discontented'l"  ops, dated December 18, 1604, gives the followThe judges replied, " that it was an offence ing directions: " As to such ministers as are
finable at discretion, and very near to treason  not already placed in the Church, the thirty-sixth
and felony in the punishment, for it tended to
the raising sedition, rebellion, and discontent the king absolute in all ecclesiastical affairs, without
among the people."  To which unaccountable anylimitation or redress; and it was intended, probaresolution all the lords agreed.t            bly, as a step to make him so in the state."-ED
By these determinations the whole body of the   * The number of nonsubscribers in
clergy are excluded the benefit of the common Oxfordshire, were.  9 Staffordshire... 14
and statute law; for the king without Parlia- Dorsetshire... 17 Hertfordshire... 17
ment may make what constitutions he pleases: Nottilghamshire.  20 Surrey...        21
Norfolk..28 Wiltshire..... 31
his majesty's high commissioners may proceed                    33 Sussex..  7
Buckinghamshire..33 Sussex              47
upon these constitutions ex officio; and the sub- Leicestershire.. 57 Cheshire..  12
ject may not open his complaints to the king, or Bedfordshire.. 16 Somersetshire.. 17
petition for relief, without being finable at pleas- Derbyshire....20 Lancashire... 21
ure, and coming within danger of treason or Kent... 23 London...... 30
felony.+                                     Lincolnshire..  33 Warwickshire.. 44
Devon and Cornwall. 51 N orthamptonshire   57
* Crook's Reports, Mich. term, 2 Jac., part ii., p. Suffolk..... 71 Essex.....   57
37, parag. 13.                               In the twenty-four counties above mentioned. 746
t The reader is referred to Vaughan's Stuart Dy. From whence it is reasonable to conclude, that in the
nasty, vol. i., p. 139. —C.                  fifty-two counties of England and Wales, there were
T$ his (as Dr. Warnerwell observes)wasmaking more than double the number.
VOL. I. —II H




242                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
and thirty-seventh canons are to be observed; Rotterdam, the Hague, Leyden, Utrecht, and
and none are to be admitted to execute any ec- other places of the Low Countries, where Engclesiastical function without subscription. Such lish churches were erected after the Preshyterias are already placed in the Church are of two  an model, and maintained by the States accord
sorts: 1. Some promise conformity, but are ing to treaty with Queen Elizabeth, as the
unwilling to subscribe again.  Of these, foras- French and Dutch churches were in England.
much as the near affinity between conformity  Besides, the English being yet iPr possession of
and subscription gives apparent hopes that, be- the cautionary towns, many wes.t over as chaping men of sincerity, they will in a short time lains to regiments, which, together with the
frame themselves to a more constant course, merchants that resided in, the trading cities,
and subscribe to that again, which by their prac- made a considerable body. The reverend and
tice they testify not to be repugnant to the Word learned Dr. William  Ames, one of the most
of God, your lordship may (an act remaining  acute controversial writers of his age, settled
upon record of such their offer and promise) re- with the English church at the Hague; the
spite their subscription for some short time.  2. learned Mr. Robert Parker, a Wiltshire divine,
Others, in their obstinacy, will yield neither to and author of the Ecclesiastical Policy, being
subscription nor promise of conformity; these disturbed by the High Commission, retired to
are either stipendiary curates, or stipendiary lec- Amsterdam, and afterward became chaplain to
turers, or men beneficed; the first two are to be the English regiment at Doesburgh, where he
silenced, and the third deprived."   He adds, died. The learned Mr. Forbes, a Scots divine,
"'that the king's proclamation of July 16, 1604, settled with the English church at Rotterdam,
admonishes them to conform to the Church, and  as Mr. Pots, Mr. Paget, and others did at Amobey the same, or else to dispose of themselves sterdam and other places.
and their families some other way, as being men    But the greatest number of those who left
unfit, for their obstinacy and contempt, to oc- their native country for religion were Browncupy such places; and besides, they are within  ists,* or rigid Separatists, of whom Mr. Johnthe compass of several laws."                  son, Ainsworth, Smith, and Robinson were the
The Puritans who separated from the Church, leaders.  Mr. Johnson erected a church at Amor inclined that way, were treated with yet sterdam after the model of the Brownists, havgreater rigour. Mr. Maunsel, minister of Yar- ing the learned Mr. Ainsworth for doctor or
mouth, and Mr. Lad, a merchant of that town, teacher.  These two published to the world a
were imprisoned by the High Commission, for a confession of faith of the people called Brownsupposed conventicle, because that on the Lord's ists, in the year 1602, not much different in docDay, after sermon, they joined with Mr. Jack- trine from " The Harmony of Confessions," but
ler, their late minister, in repeating the heads being men of warm  spirits, they fell to pieces
of the sermon preached on that day in the about points of discipline;t Johnson excommuchurch. Mr. Lad was obliged to answer upon
oath certain articles without being able to ob-    - These conscientious exiles, driven from their
tain a sight of them beforehand, and, after he own country by persecution, instead of meeting with
had answered before the chancellor, was cited  a hospitable reception or even a quiet refuge in Houp to:Lambeth to answer them again before the land, were there " loaded with reproaches, despised.
high comnmissioners upon a new  oath, which  and afflicted by all, and almost consumed with deep
poverty." The learned Ainsworth, we are told, lived
he refusing without a sight of his former an- upon ninepence a week and some boiled roots, anl
swer, was thrown into prison, where he contin- was reduced to the necessity of hiring himself as a
ued a long time without being admitted to bail. porter to a bookseller, who first of all discovered his
Mr. Maunsel, the minister, was charged farther skill in the Hebrew language, and made it known to
with signing a complaint to the lower house of his countrymen. The Dutch themselves, just emerParliament, and for refusing the oath ex o~fficio, ged from civil and religious oppression, looked with a
for which he also was shut tip in prison without jealous eye on these suffering refugees. And though
the civil power, commonly in every state more friend-'bail. At length, being brought to the bar upon a ly than the ecclesiastic to toleration, does not appear
writ of habeas corpus, and having prevailed with  to have oppressed them; the clergy would not afford
Nic. Fuller, Esq., a bencher of Gray's Inn, and a them an opportunity to refute the unfavourable re-'learned man in his profession, to be their coun- ports generally circulated against them on the ausel, he moved that the prisoners might be dis- thority of letters from England, nor receive their concharged, because the high commissioners were fession of faith, nor give them an audience on some,not empowered by law to imprison, or to ad- points on which they desired to lay their sentiments
mrninister the oath ecx oficio, or to fine any of his before them; but with a man at their head of no less
minister the oath cx ofcio, or to fine any of his eminence than James Arminius, judged that they
majesty's subjects. This was reckoned an un- ought to petition the magistrate for leave to held,pardonable crime, and, instead of serving his their assemblies for the worship of God, and informclients, brought the indignation of the commis- ed against them in such a way as might have render
sioners upon himself. Bancroft told the king  ed them the objects of suspicion. "They seemed evi
that he was the champion of the Nonconform- dently," it has been remarked, "to have considered
ists, and ought, therefore, to be made an exam- them in the same light in which serious and conscipie to terrify others from appearing for them; entious dissenters from the religious profession of the
majority will ever be viewed, as a set of discontentaccordingly, he was shut up in close prison, from  edority will ever be viewed, as a  se t of discontent
whence neither the intercession of his friends be safest for them to have no connexion."-Ains.
nor his own humble petitions could obtain his worth's two Treatises on The Communion of Saints,
release to the day of' his death.*            and An Arrow agaizst Idolatry, printed at Edinburgh,
This high abuse of Church power obliged  1789, pref., p. 15-17.-ED.
many learned ministers and their followers to   t A late writer, who appears to have accurately
leave the kingdom and retire to Amsterdam, investigated the history of the Brownists, represents
Mr. Neal as incorrect in his account of the debates
* Pierce's Vindication, p. 174.     which arose among them. The principal leaders of




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       243
nicated his own father and brother for trifling  acknowledgment he would desire; but Ainsmatters, after having rejected the mediation of worth, though poor, would accept of nothing but
the presbytery of Amsterdam. This divided the a conference with some of his rabbies upon the
congregation, insomuch that Mr. Ainsworth and prophecies of the Old Testament relating to the
half the congregation excommunicated Johnson, Messias, which the other promised, but not havwho, after some time, returned the same com- ing interest enough to obtain it, and Ainsworth
pliment to Ainsworth.  At length the contest being resolute, it is thought he was poisoned.*
grew  so hot that Amsterdam  could not hold  His congregation remained. without a pastor for
them; Johnson and his followers removed to  some yea'rs after his death, and then chose Mr.
Embden, where soon after dying, his congrega- Canne, author of the marginal references to the
tion dissolved.  Nor did Mr. Ainsworth and his Bible, and sundry other treatises.
followers live long in peace, upon which he left   Mr. Smith was a learned man, and of good
them and retired to Ireland, where he continued  abilities, but of an unsettled head, as appears
some time; but when the spirits of his people by the preface to one of his books, in which he
were quieted he returned to Amsterdam, and desires that his- last writings may always be tacontinued with them  to the day of his death. ken for his present judgment.  He was for refiThis Mr. Ainsworth was author of an excellent ning upon the Brownists' scheme, and at last
little treatise entitled " An Arrow against Idol- declared for the principles of the Baptists; upon
atry," and of a most learned commentary on the this he left Amsterdam, and settled with his
five books of Moses, by which he appears to have disciples at Ley; where, being at a loss for a
been a great master of the Oriental languages proper administrator of the ordinance of bapand of Jewish antiquities.  His death was sud- tism, he plunged himself, and then performed
den, and not without suspicion of violence, for it the ceremony upon others, which gained him
is reported that, having found a diamond of very  the name of a Se-Baptist.t  He afterward emgreat value in the streets of Amsterdam, he advertised it in print, and when the owner, who    * Others say that he obtained this conference, and
so confounded the Jews that from pique and malwas a Jew, came to demand it, he offered him any ice they in this manner put an end to his life. He
this party were the two brothers Francis and George died in 1622 or 1623, leaving an exemplary character
Johnson, Mr. Ainsworth, and Mr. John Smith, who for humility, sobriety, discretion, and unblamable virhad been a clergyman in England. Three principal tue.-See an account prefixed to his two treatises, p.
subjects of controversy, occasioned dissensions in the 60, 62.-ED.
Brownist churches. The first ground of dissension   t This is said on the authority of his opponents
was the marriage of Francis Johnson with a widow  only, who, from the acrimony with which they wrote
of a taste for living and dress, particularly unsuita- against him, it may be reasonably concluded, might
ble to times of persecution: his father and his broth- be ready to take up a report against him upon slerner opposed this connexion. This occasioned such a der evidence. His defences of himself and his opiadifference that the latter proceeded from admonitions ions have not been, for many years, to be met with;
and reproofs to bitter revilings and reproaches, and but the large quotations from them in the writings
Francis Johnson, his colleague Ainsworth, and the of his opponents afforded not the least intimation,
church at length passed a sentence of excommunica- either in the way of concession or justification, of
tion against the father and brother. Mr. Neal, it his having done such a thing; the contrary may be
seems, confounds this unhappy controversy with an- rather concluded from them. The first ground of
other that succeeded to it, but distinct from it, be- his separation from the Established Church was a
tween Francis Johnson and Ainsworth. It turned dislike of its ceremonies and prescribed forms of
upon a question of discipline; the former placing the prayer; he afterward doubted concerning the validigovernment of the Church in the eldership alone, the ty of baptism administered in a national church;
latter in the Church, of which the elders are a part. this paved the way for his rejecting the baptism of
This dispute was carried to an unchristian height, but, infants altogether, and adopting immersion as the
according to Mr. John Cotton, of New-England, who true and only meaning of the word baptism. His
was the contemporary of Johnson and Ainsworth, judgment on doctrinal points underwent similar
and had lived amid the partisans of each side, they changes. Hence, Mr. Neal has called him a man
did not, as Mr. Neal represents the matter, mutually "of an unsettled head." This language seems to inexcommunicate each other, but Ainsworth and his sinuate a reflection on Mr. Smith: whereas it is an
company withdrew, and worshipped by themselves honour to any man; it shows candour, ingenuousness.
after Johnson and those with him had denied the an openness to conviction, and sincerity, for one to
communion.  In the interim  of these debates, a change his sentiments on farther inquiry, and to avow
schism had taken place in the church, headed by it. A lover of truth, especially who has imbibed in
Mr. John Smith, who advanced and maintained opin- early life the principles of the corrupt establishments
ions similar to those afterward espoused by Armini- of Christianity, will continually find it his duty to
us; and besides his sentiments concerning baptism, recede from his first sentiments. Bishop Tillotson
to which Mr. Neal refers in the next paragraph, sev- justly commended his friend Dr. Whichcot; because
eral singular opinions were ascribed to him; as, that while it is customary with learned men at a certain
no translation of the Bible could be properly the age to make their unzderstandirngs, the doctor was so
Word of God, but the original only was so; that wise as to be willing to learn to the last; i. e., he
singing set words or verses to God was without any was of an unsettled head.-Crosby's History of the
proper authority; that flight in time of persecution English Baptists, vol. i., p. 65, &c. Account of qir.
was unlawful; that the new creature needed not the Ainsworth prefixed to his two treatises, p. 41.-ED.
support of Scriptures and ordinances, but is above   It seems that the accusers of Mr. Smith have forthem; that perfection is attainable in this life, &c. gotten the progressive nature of the changes he underThere arose against him a whole host of opponents; went. "For a man," he himself remarks, "if a Turk,
Johnson, Robinson, Clifton, Ainsworth, and Jessop. to become a Jew, if a Jew, to become a papist, if a
HIis character as well as his sentiments were attack- papist, to become a Protestant, are all commendable
ed with a virulence of spirit and an abusive language changes, though they all befall one and the same
that discredit the charges and expose the spirit of the person in one year, nay, if it were in one month; so
writers.-See some account of Mr. Ainsworth, pre- that not to change religion is evil simply; and, therefixed to a new edition of his two treatises, p. 27-42; fore, that we should fall from the profession of Puri
and Crosby's History of English Baptists, vol. i., p. 3., tanism to Brownism, and from Brownism to true
&c., and p. 265, &c.-ED.                       Christian baptism, is not simply evil, or reprovable




244                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
braced the tenets of Arminius, and published   This difference among the Puritans engaged
certain conclusions upon those points in the them in a warm controversy among themselves
year 1611, which Mr. Robinson answered; but about the lawfulness and necessity of separating
Smith died soon after, and his congregation from the Church of England, while the conformdissolved.                                   ing clergy stood by as spectators of the combat.
Mr. John Robinson was a Norfolk divine, Most of the Puritans were for keeping within
beneficed about Yarmouth, where being often the pale of the Church, apprehending it to be a
molested by the bishop's officers, and his friends true church in its doctrines and sacraments,
almost ruined in the ecclesiastical courts, he re- though defective in discipline, and corrupt in
moved to Leyden, and erected a congregation ceremonies; but being a true church, they
upon the model of the Brownists.*  He set out thought it not lawful to separate, though they
upon the most rigid principles, but by conver- could hardly continue in it with a good consing with Dr. Ames, and other learned men, he science. They submitted to suspensions and
became more moderate; and though he always deprivations; and when they were driven out
maintained the lawfulness and necessity of sep- of one diocess, took sanctuary in another, being
arating from those Reformed churches among afraid of incurring the guilt of schism by forming
which he lived, yet he did not deny them to be themselves into separate communions. Wheretrue churches, and admitted their members to as the Brownists maintained that the Church
occasional communion, allowing his own to of England, in its present constitution, was no
join with the Dutch churches in prayer and true Church of Christ, but a limb of antichrist,
hearing the Word, but not in the sacraments or at best a mere creature of the state; that
and discipline, which gained him the character their ministers were not rightly called and orof a semi-separatist; his words are these:t dained, nor the sacraments duly administered;
"We profess, before God and men, that we or, supposing it to be a true church, yet as it
agree so entirely with the Reformed Dutch was owned by their adversaries [the conformchurches in matters of religion, that we are ing Puritans] to be a very corrupt one, it must
willing to subscribe to all and every one of their be as lawful to separate from  it as for the
articles, as they are set down in' The Harmo- Church of England to separate fiom  Rome.
ny of Confession.' We acknowledge these Re-' The conforming Puritans evaded this conseformed churches for true and genuine: we hold quence by denying the Church of Rome to be
communion with them as far as we can; those a true church; nay, they affirmed it to be the
among us that understand the Dutch language very antichrist; but the argument remained in
frequent their sermons; and we administer the full force against the bishops, and that part of
Lord's Supper to such of their members as are the clergy who acknowledged the Church of
known to us, and desire it occasionally."  This Rome to be a true church.
Mr. Robinson was the father of the Independ-   It is certainly as lawful to separate from the
ents.                                        corruptions of one church as of another; and it
Mr. Henry Jacob was born in Kent, and edu- is necessary to do so, when those corruptions
cated in St. Mary's Hall, where he took the de- are imposed as terms of communion.  Let us
grees in arts, entered into holy orders, and be- hear Archbishop Laud, in his conference with
came precentor of Christ Church College, and the Jesuit Fisher.  " Another church," says his
afterward beneficed in his own country at Cher- grace, "' may separate from Rome, if Rome will
iton.T  He was a person thoroughly versed in separate from Christ; and so far as it separates
theological authors, but withal a most zealous from  him  and the faith, so far may another
Puritan. He wrote two treatises against Fr. church separate from it. I grant the Church
Johnson, the Brownist, in defence of the Church of Rome to be a true church in essence, though
of England's being a true church, printed at corrupt in manners and'doctrine.  And corMiddleburgh. 1599, and afterward published ruption of manners, attended with errors in the
"Reasons taken out of God's Word, and the doctrines of faith, is a just cause for one parbest Human Testimonies, proving a Necessity of ticular church to separate from another."  His
reforming our Churches of England, &c., 1604."   grace then adds, with regard to the Church of
But going to Leyden, and conversing with Mr. Rome: "The cause of the separation is yours,
Robinson, he embraced his sentiments of dis- for you thrust us from you, because we called
cipline and government, and transplanted it into for truth and redress of abuses; for a schism
England in the year 1616, as will be seen in its must needs be theirs whose the cause of it is;
proper place.                               the wo runs full out of the mouth of Christ,
even against him that gives the offence, not
in itself, except it be proved that we have fallen from  against him that takes it. It was ill done of
true religion."- The Character of the Beast, Epistle to those, whoever they were, who first made the
the Reader, p. 1.  * Boyle's Dissuasive, p. 177. separation [from Rome]; I mean not actual,
t " Profitemur coram Deo et hominibus adeo nobis but casual, for, as I said before, the schism is
convenire cum ecclesiis reformatis Belgicis in re re- theirs whose the cause of it is; and he makes
ligionis ut omnibus et singulis earundem ecclesiarum
fidei articulis, prout habentur in Harmonia Confes- the separation who gives the first just cause of
sionum Fidei, parati sumus subscribere. Ecclesias it, not he that makes an actual separation upon
reformlatas pro veris et genuinis habemus, cum iis- a just cause preceding."  Let the reader caredem in sacris Dei communionem profitemur, et quan- fully consider these concessions, and then judge
turn in nobis est, colimus. Conciones publicas ab how far they will justify the separation of the
illarum pastoribus habitas, ex nostris qui norunt lin- Brownists, or the Protestant Nonconformists at
guam Belgicam frequentant: sacram ccenam earum  this day
membris, si qua forte nostris ccetibus intersint nobis
cognita, participiamus.".                     This year [1605] was famous for the discov$ Life of Whitgift, p. 566.               ery of the Gunpowder Plot, which was a contri4 Ath. Ox., vol. i., p. 394.              vance of the papists to blow up the king and




HISTORY  OF' T1-fE  PURITANS.                            245
the whole royal family, with the chief of the Church as well as the State, and might thereProtestant nobility and gentry, November 5th, fore be taken by all such Roman Catholics as
the first day of their assembling in Parliament. did not believe the pope had power to depose
For this purpose a cellar was hired under the kings, and give away their dominions.  AcHouse of Lords, and stored with thirty-six bar- cordingly, Blackwell, their superior, and most
rels of gunpowder, covered over with coals and of the English Catholics, submitted to the oath,
fagots; but the plot was discovered the night though the pope absolutely forbade them on pain
before, by means of a letter sent to Lord Mont- of damnation; which occasioned a new debate,
eagle, advising him to absent himself from the concerning the extent of the pope's power in
house, because they were to receive a terrible temporals, between the learned of both religions.
blow, and not to know who hurt them. Mont- Cardinal Bellarmine, under the feigned name
eagle carrying the letter to court, the king or- of Tortus, wrote against the oath, which gave
dered the apartments about the Parliament occasion to King James's Apology to all ChrisHouse to be searched; the powder was found tian Princes; wherein, after clearing himself
under the House of Lords, and Guy Faux with from the charge of persecuting the papists, he
a dark lantern in the cellar, waiting to set fire reproaches his holiness with ingratitude, conto the train when the king should come to the sidering the free liberty of religion that he had
house the next morning. Faux being appre- granted the papists, the honours he had conferhended, confessed the plot, and impeached sev- red on them, the free access they had to his pereral of his accomplices, eight of whom were son at all times, the general jail delivery of all
tried and executed, and among them  Garnet, Jesuits and papists convict, and the strict orders
provincial of the English Jesuits, whom  the he had given his judges not to put the laws in
pope afterward canonized.                   execution against them for the future.*  All
The discovery of this murderous conspiracy which was true, while the.unhappy Puritans
was ascribed to the royal penetration;* but Mr. were imprisoned and fined, or forced into banOsborne,t and others, with great probability, say ishment. The Parliament, on occasion of this
that the first notice of it came from Henry IV., plot, appointed an annual thanksgiving on the
king of France, who heard of it from the Jes- 5th of November, and passed another law, oAiuits, and that the letter to Monteagle was an ging all persons to come to church under the
artifice of Cec.il's, who was acquainted before- penalty of twelve pence every Sunday they were
hand with the proceedings of the conspirators, absent, unless they gave such reasons as should
and suffered them to go to their full length. Even be satisfactory to a justice of the peace. This,
Heylin says that the king and his council mined like a two-edged sword, cut down all Separatists,
with them, and undermined them, and by so do- whether Protestants or papists.
ing blew up their whole inventions  But it is   To return to the Puritans; the more moderate
agreed on all hands, that if the plot had taken of whom, being willing to steer a middle course,
place, it was to have been fathered upon the between a total separation and absolute conPuritans; and, as if the king was in the secret, formity, were attacked by some of the bishops
his majesty, in his speech to the Parliament with this argument:
November 9th, takes particular care to bring   "All those who wilfully refuse to obey the,
thern into reproach; for, after having cleared king in all things indifferent, and to conform
the Roman Catholic religion from encouraging themselves to the orders of the Church authorsuch murderous practices, he adds, the cruelty ized by him, not contrary to the Word of God,
of the Puritans was worthy of fire, that would are schismatics, enemies to the king's supremnot allow salvation to any papists. So that, if acy and the state, and not to be tolerated in
these unhappy people had been blown up, his church or commonwealth.
majesty thinks they would have had their de-   "But you do soserts. Strange! that a Puritan should be so   "Therefore, you are not to be tolerated in
much worse than a papist, or deserve to be burn- church or commonwealth."
ed for uncharitableness, when his majesty knew    The Puritans denied the charge, and returned
that the papists were so much more criminal in this argument upon their accusers:
this respect than they, not only denying salva-   " All those who freely and willingly perform
tion to the Puritans, but to all who are without to the king and state all obedience, not only in
the pale of their own church. But what was things necessary, but indifferent, commanded by
all this to the plot except it was to turn off law, and that have been always ready to conform
the indignation of the people from the papists, themselves to every order of the Church authorwhom the king both feared and loved, to the ized by him, not contrary to the Word of God,
Puritans, who, in a course of forty years' suf- are free from all schism, friends to the king's
ferings, had never moved the least sedition supremacy, and to the state, and unworthy in
against the state, but who would not be the ad- this manner to be molested in church or comvocates or dupes of an unbounded prerogative! monwealth.
The discovery of this plot occasioned the   " But there are none of us that are deprived
drawing up the oath of allegiance, or of sub- or suspended from our ministry, but have been
mission and obedience to the king as a temporal ever ready to do all this; therefore we are free
sovereign, independent of any other power upon from schism, friends to the king's supremacy,
earth; which quickly passed both houses, and and most unworthy of such molestation as we
was appointed to be taken by all the king's sub- sustain."
jects; this oath is distinct from the oath of su-   This being the point of difference, the Puripremacy, which obliges the subject to acknowl- tans offered a public disputation upon the lawedge his majesty to be supreme head of the fulness of imposing ceremonies in general; and
* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 171.  t Osborne, p. 448. in particular upon the surplice, the cross in bapB History of Presbytery, p. 378.                  * King James's Apol., p. 253.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
tism, and kneeling at the communion; but were   With regard to the three ceremonies in quesrefused. Upon which, the Lincolnshire minis- tion, they allege they have all been abused by
ters drew up an apology for those ministers who the papists to superstition and idolatry.
are troubled for refusing of subscription and  1. "The surplice* has been thus abused, for
conformity, and presented it to the king, Decem- it is one of those vestments without which no.
ber 1, 1604, the abridgment of which is now  thing can be consecrated; all priests that are
before me, and begins with a declaration of their present at mass must wear it, and, therefore,
readiness to subscribe the first of the three arti- the use of it in the Church has been condemncles required by the thirty-sixth canon, concern- ed, not only by foreign divines, but by Bishop
ing the king's supremacy; but to the other two, Hooper, Farrar, Jewel, Pilkington, Rogers, and
say they, we cannot subscribe, because we are others among ourselves."
persuaded that both the Book of Common Prayer,   2. "The cross has been also abused to suand the other book [of Articles] to be subscribed perstition and idolatry, to drive away devils, to
by this canon (which yet, in some respects, we expel diseases, to break the force of witchcraft,
reverentlyesteem), contain inthemsundrythings &c. It is one of the images to which the pawhich are not agreeable, but contrary to, the pists give religious adoration.  The water in
Word of God.                                baptism has no spiritual virtue in it without the
They object to the Book of Common Prayer, cross, nor is any one rightly baptized (according
in general, That it appoints that order' for read- to the papists) without it."
ing the Holy Scriptures which in many respects   3. " Kneeling at the sacrament has been no
is contrary to the CWord of God. As,        less abused; it arose from the notion of the
1. " The greatest part of the canonical Scrip- transubstantiation of the elements, and is still
ture is left out in the public reading; whereas used by the papists in the worship of their'all Scripture is given by inspiration, and is breaden God; who admit they would be guilty
profitable,' &c., and sundry chapters that are, in of idolatry in kneeling before the elements if
their opinion, more edifying than some others they did not believe them to be the real body
thWt are read, are omitted.                  and blood of Christ. This ceremony was not.. "It does too much honour to the Apochry- introduced into the Church till antichrist was
phal writings, commanding many of them to be at its full height; and there is no action in the
read for first lessons, and under the name of whole service that looks so much like idolatry
Holy Scriptures, and in as great a proportion; as this."
for of the canonical chapters of the Old Testa-   Their second argumentt for the unlawfulness
ment (being in all seven hundred and seventy- of the ceremonies is taken from their mystical
nine) are read only five hundred and ninety-two, signification, which gives them the nature of a
and of the Apocryphal books (being one hundred sacrament. Now, no sacrament ought to be of
and seventy-two chapters) are read one hundred man's devising; the ceremonies, therefore, beand four. This they apprehend to be contrary ing affirmed in the Book of Common Prayer to
to the Word of God, forasmuch as the Apocry- be significant, are unlawful.
phal books contain sundry and manifest errors,   Their third argument$ is taken from the undivers of which are here produced.          lawfulness of imposing them as parts of God's
3, 4, 5, 6, 7. " The Book of Common Prayer worship, which they prove from hence, " That
appoints such a translation of the Holy Scrip- God is the only appointer of his own worship,
tures to be read in the churches as in some and condemns -all human inventions, so far
places is absurd, and in others takes from, per- forth as they are made parts of it. Now all the
verts, obscures, and falsifies the Word of God; ceremonies in question are thus imposed, for
examples of which are produced with the au- Divine service is supposed not to be rightly perthorities of the most considerable reformers."  formed without the surplice, nor baptism rightTheir next general objection against sub- ly administered without the cross, nor the Lord's
scribing the Book of Common Prayer is, be- Supper but to such as kneel; and, therefore, they
cause it enjoins the use of such ceremonies as are unlawful."'they apprehend contrary to the Word of God.   Their fourth is taken from hence, That no, To make good this assertion, they say,* " It rites or ecclesiastical orders should be ordained
is contrary to the Word of God to use (much or used but such as are needful and profitable,
more to command the use of) such ceremonies and for edification; and, especially, that none
in the worship of God as'man hath devised, if shall be ordained or used that cause offence
they be notoriously known to be abused to idol- and hinder edifications (Rom., xvi., 21; 1 Cor.,
atry and superstition by the papists, and are of x., 23, 32). " Now the ceremonies in question
no necessary use in the Church. Here they are neither needful nor profitable, nor do they
cite such passages of Scriptrue as command tend to edification; but, on the contrary, have
the Jews to abolish all instruments of idolatry, given great offence, as appears from hence,
and even to cast away such things as had a that very many of the learned and best experigood original, when once they are known to enced ministers in the land have chosen rather
have been abused to idolatry; as images, groves, to suffer any trouble than yield to the use of
and the brazen serpent, 2 Kings, xviii., 11. them; and we doubt not to affirm  that the
They produce, farther, the testimonies of sun- greatest number of resident, able, and godly
dry fathers, as Eusebius, St. Austin, &c., and ministers in the land at this day do in their
of the most considerable moderns, as Calvin, consciences dislike them, and judge them needBucer, Musculus, Peter Martyr, Beza, Zanchy; less and unfit, as appears by the list of nonBishop Jewel, Pilkington, Bilson; Dr. Hum- subscribers already mentioned [p. 44], besides
phreys, Fulk, Andrews, Sutcliffe, and others, many more who, though unwilling in some
against conformity with idolaters."             Abridgment, p. 28.        t Ibid., p. 31
A* —---— *                    * Abridgment, p. 2Ibid., p. 37.  t Ibid., p. 314
*t Abridgment, p. 17              $ Ibid., p. 37.             0 Ibid.. v. 45




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   247
other respects to Join in the petition, did pro- did at prayer, or else they received it in another
fess their hearty desire to have them removed.*  posture. Besides, it is said* that the ancient
And if the rest of the shires be esteemed ac- councils commanded that'no man should kneel
cording to this proportion, it will easily appear down at the communion, fearing it should be
that the greatest number of the resident, preach- an occasion of idolatry.' Mr. Fox,t speaking of
ing, and fruitful ministers of the land do dis- the usage of the primitive Church, says they had
like them. This may yet farther appear, by  the communion, not at an altar, but at a plain
their seldom using them for many years past, table of boards, when the whole congregation
and their great unwillingness to yield to the use together did communicate, with reverence and
of them now. If they thought them needful or thanksgiving; not lifting over the priest's head,
profitable, why do they neglect them in their nor worshipping, nor kneeling, norknocking their
public ministry, being commanded by lawful breasts, but either sitting at supper, or standing
authority? Besides, those very bishops that after supper. Eusebius,$ speaking of a man
have been most hot in urging the ceremonies that had been admitted to the communion, says
have declared that the Church might well be he stood at the table and put forth his hand to
without them, and have wished them  taken  receive the holy food. And Bishop Jewel says,
away; as Archbishop Whitgift, in his defence that in St. Basil's days [ann. 380] the commuof the answer to Cartwright's Admonition, p. nion-table was of boards, and so placed that men
259; Dr. Chadderton, bishop of Lincoln, in his might stand round it, and that every man was
speech before all the ministers, convened be- bound by an apostolical tradition to stand upright
fore him at Huntingdon, November 30th, 1604; at the communion.
and others in ecclesiastical dignities have spo-   " Besides, the gesture of kneeling is contrary
ken vehemently against them as things that do  to the very nature of the Lord's Supper, which
not edify, nor have any tendency to promote  is ordained to be a banquet and sign of that
decency or order.                            sweet familiarity that is between the faithful
" With regard to the surplice, they produce  and him, and of that spiritual nourishment we
the testimonials of the learned Bucer, Peter are to receive by feeding on his body and blood
Martyr, Beza, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and  by faith; and in what nation is it thought deothers, for the expediency of it, even though  cent to kneel at banquets 1 Where do men eat
they submitted to wear it. Bucer says he could  and drink upon their knees? Farther, the disbe content to suffer some grievous loss or pain  position of mind at the Lord's Table is not so
in his body, upon condition the surplice might much humility as assurance of faith, and cheerbe abolished.                                ful thankfulness for the; benefits of Christ's
" The like authorities are brought against the  death. For these reasons, and because kneelcross, and against kneeling at the communion, ing at the sacrament had an idolatrous original,
the former being a mere invention of man, nei- and has a tendency to lead men into that sin,
ther taught by Christ nor his apostles, and the  they think it unlawful, and to be laid aside."
latter being apparently different from the first   The Abridgment concludes with a short tainstitution, they receiving it in a table posture; blevof sundry other exceptions against the three
and it is gross hypocrisy (say they) for us to  books whereunto they are required to subscribe,
pretend more holiness, reverence, and devotion, which they purpose to justify and confirm in
in receiving the sacrament, than the apostles, the same manner as they have done in respect
who received it from the immediate hand and  of those contained in this book; a summary
person of Christ himself. They (to be sure) whereof we shall meet with hereafter.
had the corporeal presence of Christ, and yet did    The Abridgment was answered by Bishop
not kneel; why, then, should it be enjoined in  Moreton and Dr. Burges, who, after having sufthe Church, when the corporeal presence of fered himself to be deprived for nonconformity,
Christ is withdrawn 1 This has been thought June 19, 1604, was persuaded by King James to
an argument of great force by our chief divines, conform, and write in defence of his present
as Calvin, Bullinger, Beza, Chemnitius, Bishop  conduct against his former arguments. Bishop
Pilkington, Willet, and others, who declare  Moreton endeavours to defend the innocency of
strongly for the posture of sitting, or at most the three ceremonies from Scripture, antiquity,
standing, at the communion,                  the testimony of Protestant divines, and the
" Besides, kneeling at the sacrament is of very  practice of the Nonconformists themselves in
late antiquity, and was not introduced into the  other cases, and has said as much as can be
Church till antichrist was in his full height; the  said in favour of them; though it is hard to deprimitive Christians (according to Tertullian) fend the imposing them upon those who esteem
thought it unlawful to kneel at prayer on the  them unlawful, or who apprehend things indifLord's Day; and the first Council of Nice, Ann. ferent ought to be left in the state that Christ
Dom. 327, made a solemn decree that none left them. Dr. Downham, Sparkes, Covel, Hutmight pray kneeling, but only standing, on the  ton, Rogers, and Ball, wrote for the ceremonies;
Lord's Day, because on that day is celebrated  and were answered by Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Paul
the joyful remembrance of our Lord's resurrec- Baynes, Dr. Ames, and others.
tion. To kneel is a gesture of sorrow and huril-   From the arguments of these divines, it apiation; whereas, he that prays standing shows pears that the Puritans were removing toga
himself thankful for the obtaining some mercy  greater distance from the Church; for whereas,
or favour. So that either the primitive Church  says Dr. Burges, Mr. Cartwright and his brethused a gesture of greater reverence and humility  ren wrote sharply against the ceremonies as inat the sacrament, which is a feast, and a joyful convenient, now they are opposed as absolutely
remembrance of the death of Christ, than they  unlawful, neither to be imposed nor used. The'..A_.5.                    Abridgment, p. 59.   t Acts and Mon., p. 19.
~* Abridgment, p. 52.             t Hist. Eccl., lib. vii., cap. viii.




248                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
cruel severities of Bancroft and the high com-              CHAPTER i.
missioners were the occasion of this; for being    Concerning Religion in General.
pushed upon one of these extremes, either to a
constant and full conformity, or to lay down    1. "The Puritans hold and maintain the abtheir ministry in the Church, many of them, at solute perfection  of the Holy Scriptures, both
one of their conferences, came to this conclu- as to faith and  worship; and that what whatsoever
sion, that if they could not enjoy their livings is enjoined as a part of Divine service that canwithout subscribing over again the three arti- not be warranted by the said Scriptures, is un
cles above mentioned, and declaring, at the lawful.
same time, they did it willingly and from their   2. " That all inventions of men, especially
hearts, it was their duty to resign. These were such as have been abused to idolatry, are to be
called brethren of the second separation, who excluded out of the exercises of religion.
were content to join with the Church in her   3. " That all outward means instituted to exdoctrines and sacraments, though they appre- press and set forth the inward worship of God
hended it unlawful to declare their hearty ap- are parts of Divine worship, and ought, thereprobation of the ceremonies; and if their con- fore, evidently to be prescribed by the Word of
duct was grounded on a conviction that it was   od.
their duty as Christians to bear their testimony   4. "To institute and ordain any mystical
against all unscriptural impositions in the wor- rites or ceremonies of religion, and to mingle
the same with the Divine rites and ceremonies
ship of God, it must deserve the commendation the same with the Divine rites and ceremonies
of all impartial and consistent Protestants. No of God's ordinance, is gross superstition."
men could go greater lengths for the sake of                CHAPTER II.
peace than they were willing to do: for in their        Concerning the Church.
defence of the ministers' reasons for refusal of
subscription to the Book of Common Prayer   1. " They hold an maintain that every con
against the cavils of F. Hutton, B.D., Dr. Co- gregation or assembly of men, ordinarily joinvel, and Dr. Sparkes, published 1607, they be- ing together in the true worship of God, is a
gin thus: "4We protest before the Almighty true visible Church of Christ.
gin thus: "We protest before the Almighty   2. "That all such churches are in all ecclesiGod, that we acknowledge the churches of Eng-   2. a   That all such churches are in all eccesiland, as they be established by public authority, astical matters equalrs, adminis by the Word of God,
to be true visible churches of Christ; that we ought to have the same officers, administrations,
desire the continuance of our ministry in them  orders, and forms of worship.
above all earthly things, as that without which   3. " That Christ has not subjected any church
our whole life would be wearisome and bitter or congregation to any other superior ecclesiastical jurisdiction than to that which is within
to us; that we dislike not a set form of prayer itself, so that if a whole church or congregation
to be used in our churches; nor do we write should err in any matters of faith or worship,
with an evil mind to deprave the Book of Common Prayer, Ordination, or Book of Homilies; no other churches or spiritual officers have
but to show our reasons why we cannot soib- power to censure or punish them, but are only
but to show our reasons why we cannot suto counsel and advise them.
scribe to all things contained in them."       4. "That every church ought to have her
These extreme proceedings of the bishops   4. "That every church ought to have her
These extreme proceedings of the bishops own spiritual officers and ministers resident
strengthened the hands of the Brownists in  ith her; and those such as are enjoined by
Holland, who with great advantage declared Christ in the New Testament, and no other.
against the lawfulness of holding communion       "That in the New Testament, and o   have liber
with the Church of England at that time, not   5. "     That every churci ought to have liberty
Only because it was a corrupt church, but a per- to choose their own spiritual officers.
only because it was a corrupt church, but a per-   6. "That if particular churches err in this
secuting one. On the other hand, the younger chice, none but the civil magistrar hrhs err in this
divines in the Church, who preached for prefer- choice, none but the civil magistrate has power
ment, painted the Separatists in the most odi- to control them, and oblige ther to make a betous colours, as heretics, schismatics, fanatics, \ 7 "That ecclesiastical officers or ministers
precisians, enemies to God and the king, and in one church ought not to bear any ecclesiastiof unstable minds. The very same language    one church ought not to bear any ecclesiastiof unstable minds. The  v      ery same language cal office in another; and they are not to forReformers      t                             sake their calling without just cause,. and such
Reformer.. as may be approved by the congregation: but
To remove these reproaches, and to inform as may be approved by the congregation will not hearken to reason
the world of the real principles of the Puritans   the congregation will not hearken to reason,
of these times, the Reverend M. Bradshaw pub- they are then to appeal to the civil magistrate,
lished a small treatise, entitled " English Puri-    That a church having chosen its spirittanism, containing the main Opinions of the   8.' That a church having chosen its spcrotrigidest Sort of those that went by that Name ual governors, ought to live in all canonical
in the Realm  of England," which the learned obedience to themn, agreeably to the Word of
in the Realm of E        ngland," which the learned God; and if any of them be suspended, or unDr. Ames translated into Latin for the benefit God; and if any of them be suspended, or unof foreigners. The reader will learn by the  fo justy deprived, by other ecclesiastical officers,
of foreigners. The reader will learn by the fol- they are humbly to pray the magistrate to relowing abstract of it the true state of their store them; and if they cannot obtain it, they
case, as well as the near affinity between the are to own them to be their spiritual guides to
principles of the ancient and modern Noncon- the death, though they are rigorously deprived
of their ministry and service.
* Several things, considered as remarkable by Dr.  9. " That the laws and orders of the churches
Grey, are omitted by Mr. Neal. But this doth not warranted by the Word of God are not repug.
impeach Mr. Neal's fairness, as he avowedly lays
only an abstract before his readers; and the passa- ments repugnant to the principles exhibited in the
ges to which Dr. Grey alludes do not convey senti- above abstract,-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    249
nant to civil government, whether monarchical, and if he repent, they are not to proceed to cen
aristocratical, or democratical; and we renounce sure, but to accept his hearty sorrow and con
all jurisdiction that is repugnant or derogatory trition as a sufficient satisfaction to the church,
to any of these, especially to the monarchy of without imposing any fines, or taking fees, or
this kingdom."                               enjoining any outward mark of shame, as the
CHAP'TIER III.                white sheet, &c.
" But if the offender be obstinate, and show
Concerning the Ministers of tihe Word.  no signs of repentance, and if his crime be fully
1. "They hold that the pastors of particular proved upon him, and be of such a high nature
congregations are the highest spiritual officers as to deserve a censure according to the;voi/-mA.
in the church, over whom there is no superior of God, then the ecclesiastical officers, with the
pastor by Divine appointment but Jesus Christ. free consent of the whole congregation (and not
2. " That there are not by Divine institution, otherwise), are first to suspend him from the
in the Word, any ordinary, national, provincial, sacrament, praying for him, at the same time,
or diocesan pastors to whom the pastors of par- that God would give him repentance to the acticular churches are to be subject.          knowledgment of his fault; and if this does not
3. "That no pastor ought to exercise or ac- humble him, they are then to denounce him to
cept of any civil jurisdiction or authority, but be as yet no member of the kingdom of heaven,
ought to be wholly employed in spiritual offices and of that congregation, and so are to leave
and duties to that congregation over which he  him to God and the king. And this is all the
is set.                                      ecclesiastical jurisdiction that any spiritual offi4. " That the supreme office of the pastor is cers are to use against any man for the greatest
to preach the Word publicly to the congrega- crime that can be committed.
tion; and that the people of God ought not to    " If the party offending be a civil superior,
acknowledge any for their pastors that are not they are to behave towards him with all that
able, by preaching, to interpret and apply the reverence and civil subjection that his honour or
Word of God to them; and, consequently, all high office in the state may require. They are
ignorant and mere reading priests are to be re- not to presume to convene him  before them,
jected.                                      but are themselves to go to him in all civil and
5. " That in public worship the pastor only is humble manner, to stand bareheaded, to bow, to
to be the mouth of the congregation to God in  give him all his civil titles; and if it be a suprayer; and that the people are only to testify  preme governor or king, to kneel, and in most
their assent by the word Amen.               humble manner to acquaint him with his faults;
6. " That the Church has no power to impose  and if such or any other offenders will voluntaupon her pastors or officers any other ceremo- rily withdraw from the communion, they have
nies or injunctions than what Christ has ap- no farther concern with them.
pointed.                                       "They hold the oath ex officio on the imposer's
7. "That in every church there should also  part to be most damnable and tyrannous, against
be a doctor to instruct and catechise the igno- the very law of nature, devised by antichrist,
rant in the main principles of religion."    through the inspiration of the devil, to tempt
CHAPTER IV.                   weak Christians to perjure themselves, or be
drawn in to reveal to the enemies of ChristianiConcerning the Elders.           ty those secret religious acts which, though
1. "They hold that by God's ordinance the  done for the advancement of the Gospel, may
congregation should choose other officers as as- bring on themselves and their dearest friends
sistants to the ministers in the government of heavy sentences of condemnation from court."
the church, who are jointly with the ministers              CHAPTER VI.
to be overseers of the manners and conversa-e Civil Magistrate.
tion of all the congregation.
2. " That these are to be chosen out of the    1. "They hold that the civil magistrate ought
gravest and most discreet members, who are  to have supreme civil* power over all the churchalso of some note in the world, and able, if po   es within his dominions; but that, as he is a
ible, to matintain themselves."              Christian, he ought to be a member of some one
of them; which is not in the least derogatory
CHAPTER V.                    to his civil supremacy.
Of Church Censures.                2. "That all ecclesiastical officers are pun1. " They hold that the spiritual keys of tihe  ishable by the civil magistrate for the abuse of
Church are committed to the aforesaid spiritual their ecclesiastical offices; and much more if
officers and governors, and to none others.  they intrude upon the rights and prerogatives
2. " That by virtue of these keys they are not of the civil authority.
to examine and make inquisition into the hearts   3. " They hold the pope  to be antichrist, beof men, nor molest them  upon private suspi- caue he usurps the supremacy over kings and
cions or uncertain fame, but to proceed only  princes; and therefore all that defend the popish
upon open and notorious crimes. If the offend- faith, and that are for tolerating that religion,
er be convinced, they ought not to scorn, de- are secret enemies of the kings supremacy.
ride, taunt, and revile him  wvith contumelious    4. " That all archbishops, bishops, deans, oflanguage, nor procure proctors to make person- ficials, &c., hold their offices and functions at
al invectives against him, nor make him give the king's pleasure, merely Jure humano; and
attendance from  term to tern, and from one whosoever holdeth that the king may not recourt-day to another, of the manner of our ec-  Dr. Grey says that the word civil is added by Mr.
clesiastical courIts; but to use him brotherly, Neal, and that he has omitted, after "dominions,"
and, if possible, to move him to repentance; the clause " in all cases whatsoever."-ED.
VOL I.-I I




250                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
move them, and dispose of them at his pleasure, consciences, and to swear, if required, that we
is an enemy to his supremacy."              believe contrary to the Word of God. We deny
no ecclesiastical jurisdiction to the king but that
Let the reader now judge whether there was which Christ has appropriated to himself, who
sufficient ground for the calumny and reproach  is the sole doctor and legislator of his Church.
that were cast upon the Puritans of those times;   9. "W We are so far from claiming any suprembut theil adversaries having often charged them  acy to ourselves, that we exclude from ourselves
with den) ing the supremacy, and with claiming  all secular pomp and power, holding it a sin to
a sort of jurisdiction over the king himself, they punish men in their bodies, goods, liberties, or
published another pamphlet this summer, enti- lives, for any merely spiritual offence.
tiled "' A Protestation of the King's Supremacy,   10. " We confine all ecclesiastical jurisdicmade in the Name of the afflicted Ministers, and tion within one congregation, and that jurisdicopposed to the shameful Calumniations of the tion is not alone in the ministers, but also in the
Prelates."  To which was annexed an humble elders of the church; and their jurisdiction is
petition for liberty of conscience. In their prot- merely spiritual.
estation, they declare,                       "Therefore all that we crave of his majesty
1. ", We hold and maintain the king's suprern- and the state is, that, with his and their permisacy in all causes, and over all persons, civil and sion, it may be lawful for us to worship God acecclesiastical, as it was granted to Queen Eliz- cording to his revealed will; and' that we may
abeth, and explained in the Book of Injunctions; not be forced to the observance of any human
nor have any of us been unwilling to subscribe rites and ceremonies. We are ready to make
and swear to it. We believe it to be the king's an open confession of our faith and form of wornatural right without a statute law, and that the ship, and desire that we may not be obliged to
churches within his dominions would sin dam- worship God in corners, but that our religious
nably if they did not yield it to him. Nay, we and civil behaviour may be open to the obserbelieve that the king cannot alienate it from his vation and censure of the civil government, to
crown, or transfer it to any spiritual potentates whomn we profess all due subjection. So long
or rulers; and that it is not tied to his faith or as it shall please the king and Parliament to
Christianity, but to his very crown: so that if maintain the hierarchy or prelacy in this kinghe were an infidel, the supremacy is his due.    dom, we are content that they enjoy their state
2. "We hold that no church officers have and dignity; and we will live as brethren among
power to deprive the king of any branch of his those ministers that acknowledge spiritual homroyal prerogative, much less of his supremacy, age to their spiritual lordships, paying to them
which is inseparable from him.              all temporal duties of tithes, &c., and joining
3. " That no ecclesiastical officers have pow- with them in the service and worship of God,
er over the bodies, lives, goods, or liberties of so far as we may without our own particular
any person within the king's dominions.     communicating in those human traditions which
4. "That the king may make laws for the we judge unlawful. Only we pray that the prelgood ordering of the churches within his domin- ates and their ecclesiastical officers may not be
ions; and that the churches ought not to be dis- our judges, but that we may both of us stand at
obedient, unless they apprehend them contrary  the bar of the civil magistrate; and that if we
to the Word of God; and even in such case shall be openly vilified and slandered, it may be
they are not to resist, but peaceably to forbear lawful for us, without fear of punishment, to jus*obedience, and submit to the punishment, if tify ourselves to the world; and then we shall
mercy cannot be obtained.                   think our lives, and all that we have, too little
5. " That the king only hath power within his to spend in the service of our king and country."
dominions to convene synods or general assem-   Though the principles of submission are here
blies of ministers, and by his authority royal to  laid down with great latitude, and though the
ratify and give life to their canons and consti- practice of the Puritans was agreeable to them,
tutions, without whose ratification no man can  yet their enemies did not fail to charge them
force any subject to yield obedience to the same. with disloyalty, with sedition, and with disturb6. "That the king ought not to be subject to  ing the peace of the state.  Upon which the
the censures of any churches, church officers, or ministers of Devon and Cornwall published ansynods, whatsoever; but only to that church, other small treatise, entitled "A Removal of
and those officers of his own court and house- certain Imputations laid upon the Ministers,"
hold with whom he shall voluntarily join in  &c., in which they say, p. 21, " Let them [the
communion, where there can be no fear of un- bishops] sift well our courses since his majesty's
just usage.                                 happy entrance in among us, and let them name
7. " If a king, after he has held communion  wherein we have done aught that may justly be
with a Christian church, should turn apostate, said ill to become the ministers of Jesus Christ.
or live in a course of open defiance to the laws Have we drawn any sword 1 have we raised any
of God and religion, the church governors are tumult? have we used any threats? hath the
to give over their spiritual charge and tuition of state been put into any fear or hazard through
him, which, by calling from God and the king, us? Manifold disgraces have been cast upon us,
they did undertake; and more than this they  and we have endured them; the liberty of our
may not do, for the king still retains his supreme ministry hath been taken from us, and (though
-authority over the churches as entirely, and in with bleeding hearts) we have sustained it. We
as ample a manner, as if he were the most Chris- have been cast out of our houses, and deprived of
tian prince in the world.                   our ordinary maintenance, yet have we blown no
8. "We refuse no obedience to the king, nor trumpet of sedition. These things have gone
to any of the canons required by the prelates, very near us, and yet did we never so much as
but such as we are willing to take upon our entertain a thought of violence. The truth is,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     251
we have petitioned the king and state; and who parcels of the duchy of Normandy, the use of
hath reason to deny us that liberty! we have the government of the Reformed churches of
craved of the prelates to deal with us according the said duchy, whereof they have stood posto law; and is not this the common benefit of sessed till our coming to the crown; for this
every subjectS we have besought them to con- cause, as well as for the edification of the
vince our consciences by Scripture. Alas! what Church; we do will and ordain that our said
would they have us to do 1 will they have us isles shall quietly enjoy their said liberty in the
content ourselves with this only, that they are use of ecclesiastical discipline there now estabbishops, and therefore, for their greatness, ought lished, forbidding any one to give them  any
to be yielded to 3 the weight of episcopal power trouble or impeachment so long as they contain
may oppress us, but cannot convince us."      themselves in our obedience.
It appears from hence, that the Puritans were   "Given at Hampton Court, August 8th, in
the king's faithful subjects; that they complied  the first year of our reign, 1603."
to the utmost limit of their consciences; and that   But Bancroft, and some of his brethren the
when they could not obey, they were content to bishops, having possessed the king with the nesuffer.  Here are no principles inconsistent with cessity of a general uniformity throughout all
the public safety; no marks of heresy, impiety, his dominions, these islands were to be incluor sedition; no charges of ignorance or neglect ded; accordingly, Sir John Peyton, a zealous
of duty; how unreasonable, then, must it be to churchman, was appointed governor, with sesilence and deprive such men 3 to shut them up cret instructions to root out the Geneva disciin prison, or send them with their families a beg- pline, and plant the English liturgy and ceremoging, while their pulpit-doors were to be shut up, nies.*  This gentleman, taking advantage of
and there was a famine in many parts of the the synod's appointing a minister to a vacant
country, not of bread, but of the Word of the living, according to custom, protested against
Lord;t yet these honest men were not only per- it as injurious to the king's prerogative, and
secuted at home, but restrained from retiring  complained to court that the Jersey ministers
into his majesty's dominions abroad; for when  had usurped the patronage of the benefices of
the ecclesiastical courts had driven them from  the island; that they had admitted men to livtheir habitations and livelihoods, and were still ings without the form  of presentation, which
hunting them by their informers from one end was a loss to the crown in its first-fruits; that
of the land to the other, several families crossed by the connivance or allowance of former govthe ocean to Virginia, and invited their friends ernors, they exercised a kind of arbitrary juris.
to follow; but Bancroft, being informed that diction, and therefore prayed that his majesty
great numbers were preparing to embark, ob- would settle the English discipline among them.t
tained a proclamation prohibiting them to trans- The Jersey ministers alleged in their own deport themselves to Virginia without a special li- fence, that the presentation to livings was a
cense from the king; a severity hardly to be branch of their discipline, and that the payments
paralleled! nor was it ever imitated in this coun- of first-fruits and tenths had never been detry except by Archbishop Laud.                 manded since they were disengaged from the
The isles of Guernsey and Jersey having en- see of Constance.  They pleaded his majesty's
joyed the discipline of the French churches royal confirmation of their discipline, which
without disturbance all the reign of Queen Eliz- was read publicly in a synod of both islands in
abeth, upon the accession of the present king  the year 1605. But this pious king had very
addressed his majesty for a confirmation of it,$ little regard to promises, oaths, or charters,
which he was pleased to grant by a letter under when they stood in the way of his arbitrary dethe privy seal, in these words:                signs; he ordered, therefore, his ecclesiastical
" Whereas we have been given to understand  officers to pursue his instructions in the most
that our dear sister, Queen Elizabeth, did permit effectual manner.  Accordingly, they took the
and allow, to the isles of Jersey and Guernsey, presentations to vacant livings into their own
hands without consulting the presbytery; they
* Episcoporum auctoritas opprimere nos potest, do- annulled the oath, whereby all ecclesiastical and
Icere non potest.-ED.                          civil officers were obliged to swear to the maint Rapin, vol. ii., p. 176, 185, folio edition.  tenance of their discipline; and whereas all
$ Dr. Grey quotes here Collyer's Ecclesiastical who received the holy sacrament were requiHistory, vol. ii., p. 705, in contradiction to Mr. Neal, red to subscribe to the allowance of the general
and to charge the Puritans as " addressing King James form of church government in that island, the
with a false suggestion, that the discipline had been king's attorney-general and his friends now reallowed by Queen Elizabeth." Dr. Grey's stricture fused it. Their elders, likewise, were cited into
would have been superseded, if he had attended to
Mr. Neal's state of the business; who says only, that the temporal courts, and stripped of their privi"the discipline of the French churches had been en- leges; nor had they much better quarter in the
joyed without disturbance all the reign of Queen consistory, for the governor and jurats made
Elizabeth," without asserting whether this indulgence the decrees of that court ineffectual by reversing
were owing to connivance or to an express grant. them in the Town Hall.
Heylin, however, says that the" Genevian discipline Complaint being made to the court of these
had been settle  bys tauteehe~l~iebevtl  discpline Complaint being made to the court of these
had been settled by Queen Elizabeth"-Hist. of innovations, the king sent them word that, to
Presb., p. 395. And Collyer himself owns, that though
the queen allowed only one church to adopt the mod- avoid all disputes for the future, he was deel of Geneva, and enjoined the use of the English lit- termined to revive the office and authority of a
urgy in all others, yet it was soon laid aside by all dean, and to establish the English Common
the churches, and the Geneva plan adopted by the Prayer Book among them, which he did accorddecree of synods, held under the countenance of the
governors of Guernsey and the neighbouring isles.   * Heyl., Hist. Presb., p. 396, and Collyer's Eccles.
These authorities fully justify Mr. Neal's representa- Hist., p. 705.
tion. —E.                                        t Heylin's Hist. Presb., p. 396.




252                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.:ngly,* and ordered the Bishop of Winchester,   Soon after died the famous Mr. Thomas Br'ghtin whose diocess they were, to draw up some  man, author of a commentary upon the Song of
canons for the dean's direction in the exercise Solomon, and the Revelations: he was born at
of his government; which being done, and con- Nottingham, and bred in Queen's College, Camfirmed by the king, their former privileges were  bridge, where he became a champion for nonextinguished. Whereupon many left the islands conformity to the ceremonies.  He was afterand retired into France and Holland; however, ward presented by Sir John Osbourne to the reeothers made a shift to support their discipline tory of Haunes in Bedfordshire, where he spent
after a manner, in the island of Guernsey, the remainder of his days in hard study, and
where the episcopal regulations could not take constant application to his charge, as far as his
place.                                        conscience would admit.*  His life, says Mr.
Mr. Robert Parker, a Puritan minister al- Fuller, was angelical, his learning uncommon;
ready mentioned, published this year a very  he was a close student, of little stature, and
learned treatise "Of the Cross in Baptism." t such a master of himself, that he was never
But the bishops, instead of answering it, per- known to be moved with anger.  His daily dissuaded the king to issue a proclamation, with  course was against episcopal government, which
an offer of a reward for apprehending him, which  he prophesied would shortly be overthrown,t
obliged him to abscond. A treacherous servant and the government of the foreign Protestant
of the family having informed the officers where  churches be erected in its place.  He died sudhe had retired, they came and searched the denly upon the road, as he was riding with Sir
house, but, by the special providence of God, John Osbourne in his coach, by a sudden obhe was preserved, the only room they neglected  struction of the liver or gall, August 24, 1607,
to search being that in which he was concealed, aged fifty-one.
from  whence he heard them  quarrelling and    The king having given the reins of the Church
swearing at one another, one saying they had  into the hands of the prelates and their dependnot searched that room, and another confidently  ants, these, in return, became zealous champions
asserting the contrary, and refusing to suffer it for the prerogative, both in the pulpit and from
to be searched over again. Had he been taken, the press.  Two books were published this
he had been cast into prison, where, without year, which maintained the most extravagant
doubt, says my author, he must have died. maxims of arbitrary power: one written by
When he got into Holland he would have been  Cowel, LL.D., and vicar-general to the archchosen minister of the English church at Am- bishop, wherein he affirms, 1. That the king is
sterdamrn, but the magistrates being afraid of not bound by the laws, or by his coronation
disobliging King James, he went to Doesburgh, oath. 2. That he is not obliged to call parliaand became minister of that garrison, where he ments to make laws, but may do it without
departed this life, 1630.                     them.  3. That it is a great favour to admit
This year died the famous Dr. John Ray- the consent of the subject in giving subsidies.
nolds, king's professor in Oxford.  He was at The other, by Dr. Blackwood, a clergyman,
first a zealous papist, while his brother William  who maintained that the English were all slaves
was a Protestant, but, by conference and dispu- from the Norman Conquest. The Parliament
tation, the brothers converted each other, Will- would have brought the authors to justice, but
iam  dying an inveterate papist, and John an  the king protected them by proroguing the houseminent Protestant.S  He was born in Devon- es in displeasure;4 and, to supply his necessishire, 1549, and educated in Corpus Christi College, Oxford, of which he was afterward presi- ness his learned associates in Oxford met at his lodgdent. He was a prodigy for reading, his mem- ings once a week, to compare their notes. He was
ory being a living library.  Dr. Hall used to thus employed translating the Word of Life till he
say that his memory and reading were near a himself was translated to life everlasting.-Fuller's
miracle.  He had turned over all writers, pro- Al Redivivus, p. 487, 488.-C.
m e  Church Hist., b. x., p. 50.
fane and ecclesiastical, as councils, fathers,   t "How," asks Bishop Warburton, "would the
histories, &c. He was a critic in the lan- historian have us understand this?  As true propheguages,~ of a sharp wit and indefatigable indus- cy to be fulfilled, or a false prophet confuted?" The
try; his piety and sanctity of life were so emi- reply is, Mr. Neal is to be understood as his author
nent and conspicuous, that the learned Cracan- Mr. Fuller, from whom he quotes. Neither meant
thorp used to say, that to name Raynolds was to ascribe to Mr. Brightman a prophetic inspiration,
to commend virtue itself.  He was also pos- but only to relate his sentiments and apprehensions;
to which, however the bishop may sneer, the events
sessed of great modesty and humility. In short, to which, however the bishop may sneer, the events
says the Oxford historian, nothing can be spo-  "and the government of the foreign Protestant
ken against him but that he was the pillar of churches," &c., as Dr. Grey observes, is not in FulPuritanism, and the grand favourer of noncon- ler; who, however, says that Mr. Brightman gave
formity.  At length, after a severe and morti- offence by "resembling the Church of England to
fled life, he died in his college, May 21, 1607, lukewarm Laodicea, praising and preferring the puaged sixty-eight, and was buried with great fu- rity of foreign Protestant churches."  He always
neral solemnity in St. Mary's Church.l        carried about him a Greek Testament, which he
read through every fortnight. Cartwright used to
call him "the bright star in the Church of God."
* Collyer, vol. ii., p. 706. Heylin's Hist. Presb., -C.
p. 398, 399.                t Pierce, p. 171.   T Rapin says, as Dr. Grey observes, " the king inS Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 477.          terposed, and frustrated the Parliament's design, by. Wood's Ath., vol. i., p. 290.             publishing a proclamation, to forbid the reading of
11 In 1604 James appointed Dr. Raynolds, on ac- these books, and to order copies to be delivered to
count of his uncommon skill in Greek and Hebrew, the magistrates. But such proclamations are usualto be one of the translators of the Bible, but he did ly ill obeyed, especially when it is not the kinrg's innot live to see its completion. During his long ill- terest to see them strictly executed."  So that by




HISTORY  OF THE PURITANS.                                 253
ties, began to raise money by monopolies of di- which was always so used in England till the
vers manufactures, to the unspeakable prejudice second year of the reign of King Henry IV., at
of the trade of the kingdom.               which time the popish prelates got the temporal
This year died the famous Jacobus Arminius, sword into their hands, which statute was since
divinity-professor in the University of Leyden, by several acts of Parliament made void, yet,
who gave birth to the famous sect still called by by virtue of that temporal authority once for a
his name. He was born at Oudewater, 1560. short space by them used, some ecclesiastical
His parents dying in his infancy, he was edu- persons do use both swords, and with those two
cated at the public expense by the magistrates swords the oath ex officio, which began first in
of Amsterdam, and was afterward chosen one England by the statute of the second of King
of the ministers of that city in the year 1588. Henry IV., being contrary to the laws of EngBeing desired by one of the professors of Frane- land, and, as I verily think, contrary to the laws
quer to confute a treatise of Beza's upon the of God.
Supralapsarian scheme of predestination, he fell  "Wherefore, to reform these abuses, we made
himself into the contrary sentiment. In the year two good laws, one to abridge the force of the
1600 he was called to succeed Junius in the di- ecclesiastical commission in many points, the
vinity chair of Leyden, and was the first who other to abrogate and take away the power of
was solemnly created doctor of divinity in that ecclesiastical persons to administer the oath ex
university.  Here his notions concerning pre- oficio, being a very hateful thing, and unlawful.
destination and grace, and the extent of Christ's   "And forasmuch as among the canons lately
redemption, met with a powerful opposition made by the clergy of England in convocation,
from Gomarus and others. But though his dis- it was thought that some of their canons did exciples increased prodigiously in a few years, yet tend to charge the bodies, lands, and goods of
the troubles he met with from his adversaries, the subjects of this realm farther than was lawand the attacks made upon his character and ful and meet, we therefore made a good law to
reputation, broke his spirits, so that he sunk make void such canons, unless the same canons
into a melancholy disorder, attended with a were confirmed by Parliament.
complication of distempers, which hastened his  1" And as we had the care of the Church, so
end, after he had been professor six years, and likewise of the commonwealth; and, therefore,
had lived forty-nine. He is represented as a after searching the records of the Tower, and
divine of considerable learning, piety, and mod- after hearing the opinions of lawyers, we found
esty, far from going the lengths of his success- it clear that impositions laid upon merchandise
ors, Vorstius, Episcopius, and Curcelleeus; yet or other goods of the subject, by the king, withhis doctrines occasioned such confusion in that out consent of Parliament, were not lawful; and,
country as could not be terminated without a therefore, we passed a bill declaring that no imnational synod, and produced great distractions position laid upon goods is lawful without con.
in the Church of England, as will be seen here- sent of Parliament.
after.                                        "But God has not permitted these and sunIn the Parliament which met this summer, dry other good laws to take effect or pass into
the spirit of English liberty began to revive; statutes, though we earnestly desired them; if
one of the members made the following bold they had, both the king and his subjects would
speech in the House of Commons, containing a have been more happy than ever; what would
particular representation of the grievances of we not then have given to supply the king's
the nation, and of the attempts made for the wants. But as things now stand, and without
redress of them. " It begins with a complaint reformation of the aforementioned grievances,
against the bishops in their ecclesiastical courts, we cannot give much, because we have no cerfor depriving, disgracing, silencing, and impris- tainty of that which shall remain to us after our
oning such of God's messengers (being learned gift."
and godly preachers) as he has furnished with   To put a stop to such dangerous speeches, the
most heavenly graces to call us to repentance, king summoned both houses to Whitehall, and
for no other cause but for not conforming them- told them " that he did not intend to govern by
selves farther, and otherwise than by the sub- the absolute power of a king, though he knew
scription limited in the statute of the 13th Eliz- the power of kings was like the Divine power;
abeth they are bound to do, thereby making the for," says his majesty, " as God can create and
laws of the Church and commonwealth to jar; destroy, make and unmake, at his pleasure, so
which to reform," says he, "we made a law  kings can give life and death, judge all, and be
for subscription, agreeing to the intent of the judged by none; they can exalt and abase, and,
aforesaid statute, which would have established like men at chess, make a pawn take a bishop
the peace both of Church and State; and if it or a knight."  After this he tells the houses,
had received the royal assent, would have been that as it was blasphemy to dispute what God
an occasion that many subjects might be well might do, so it was sedition in subjects to distaught the means of their salvation, who now  pute what a king might do in the height of his
want sufficient knowledge of the Word of God power. He commanded them, therefore, not to
to ground their faith upon.                meddle with the main points of government,
"And whereas, by the laws of God and the which would be to lessen his craft, who had
land, ecclesiastical persons should use only the been thirty years at his trade in Scotland, and
spiritual sword, by exhortation, admonition, and served an apprenticeship of seven years in Engexcommunication, which are the keys of the land.
Church, to exclude impenitent sinners, and leave   The Parliament, not terrified with this high
the temporal sword to the civil magistrate, language, went on steadily in asserting their
these measures the king screened the persons of the rights; May 24th, 1610, twenty of the Lowel
authors.-ED.                               House presented a remonstrance, in which they




254                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
declare, " that whereas they had first received a ters patent grounded thereon, they do fine and
message, and since, by his majesty's speech, imprison, and exercise other authorities not behad been commanded to refrain from debating longingtotheecclesiastical jurisdiction,restored
upon things relating to the chief points of gov- to the crown bythis statute; for by the same rule
ernment, they do hold it their undoubted right your highness may by your letters patent authorto examine into the grievances of the subject, ize them to fine without stint, and imprison withand to inquire into their own rights and proper- out limitation of time; as, also, according to will
ties, as well as his majesty's prerogative;* and and discretion, without regard to any laws spirthey most humbly and instantly beseech his itual and temporal; they may impose utter congracious majesty that, without offence to the fiscation of goods, forfeiture of lands, yea, and
same, they may, according to the undoubted the taking away of limb and life itself, and this
right and liberty of Parliament, proceed in their for any matter appertaining to spiritual jurisdicintended course against the late new imposi- tion, which could never be the intent of the law.
tions."                                        " Thirdly. Because the king, by the same statIn another petition, they beseech his maj- ute, may set up an ecclesiastical commission in
esty to put the laws in execution against pa- every diocess, county, and parish of England,
pists; and with regard to the Puritans, they say, and thereby all jurisdiction may be taken from
Whereas divers learned and painful pastors bishops and transferred to laymen.
that have long travailed in the work of the min- " Fourthly. Because every petty offence apistry with good fruit and blessing of their la- pertaining to spiritual jurisdiction is, by colour
hour, who were ever ready to perform the le- of the said words and letters patent, made subgal subscription appointed by the 1.3th of E liza- ject to excommunication, whereby the smallest
beth, which only concerneth the profession of offenders may be obliged to travel from the most
the true Christian faith and doctrine of the sac- remote parts of the kingdom to London, to their
rarnents, yet for not conforming in some points utter ruin.
of ceremonies, and for refusing the subscription' Fifthly. Because it is very hard, if not imposdirected by the late canons, have been removed sible, to know what matters or offences are infrom  their ecclesiastical livings, being their eluded within their commission, as appertaining
freehold, and debarred from all means of main- to spiritual and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, it betenance, to the great erief of your majesty's ing unknown what ancient canons or laws spirsubjects, seeing the whole people that want in- itual are in force.
struction lie open to the seducement of popish   " As for the commission ecclesiastical itself,
and ill-affected persons; we, therefore, most grounded on the statute above mentioned, it is
humbly beseech your majesty that such depri- a very great grievance, because,
ved and silenced ministers may, by license or   " 1. The same men have both spiritual and
permission of the reverend fathers in their sev- temporal jurisdiction, and may force the party
eral diocesses, instruct and preach unto their by oath to accuse himself, and also inquire therepeople in such parishes and places where they of by a jury; and, lastly, may inflict for the same
may be employed, so as they apply themselves offence, and at the same time, by one and the
in their ministry to wholesome doctrine and ex- same sentence, both a spiritual and temporal
hortation, and live quietly and peaceably in their punishment.
callings, and shall not, by writing or preaching,   "2. VWhereas, upon sentences of deprivation
impugn things established by public authority. or other spiritual censures, given by force of orThey also pray that dispensations for pluralities dinary jurisdiction, an appeal lies for the party
of benefices with cure of souls may be prohibit- grieved: this is here excluded by express words
ed, and that toleration of nonresidency may be of the commission. Also, here is to be a trial
restrained. And forasmuch as excommunica- by a jury, but no remedy by traverse or attaint.
tion is exercised upon an incredible number of Nor can a man have any writ of error, though
the common people, by the subordinate officers judgment be given against him, amounting to
of the jurisdiction ecclesiastical, for small caus- the taking away all his goods, and imprisoning
es, by the sole information of a base apparitor, him for life, yea, to the adjudging him in the
so that the poor are driven to excessive expen- case of praemunire, whereby his lands are forses for matters of small moment, while the rich feited, and he put out of the protection of the
escape that censure by commutation of pen- law.
ance; they therefore most humbly pray for a   "3. Whereas penallaws, and offences against
reformation in the premises."               them, cannot be determined in other courts, or
In another petition, they represent to his by other persons, than those intrusted by Parmajesty the great grievance of the commission liament, yet the execution of many such statutes
ecclesiastical, and in all humility beseech his made since the 1st Elizabeth are committed to
majesty to ratify the law they had prepared for the ecclesiastical commissioners, who may inreducing it within reasonable and convenient fliet the punishments contained in the statutes,
limits; they say, " that the statute 1 Eliz., cap. being pramunire, and of other highi nature, and
i., by which the commission is authorized, has so enforce a man upon this oath to a; case himbeen found dangerous and inconvenient on many self, or else inflict other temporal punishments
accounts:                                    at pleasure; and after this, the party shall be' First. Because it enables the making such  subject in the courts mentioned in the acts to
commission to one subject born, as well as more. punishments by the same acts appointed and in" Secondly. Because, under colour of some flicted.
words in the statute, whereby the commissioners' 5. The commission gives authority to oblige
are authorized to act according to the tenour and men, not only to give recognisance for their apeffect of your highness's letters patent, and bylet- pearance from time to time, but also for per* Warner's Eccles. History, vol. ii., p. 495, 496.   formance of whatsoever shall be by the corn




HISTORY OF THE PURITAN S.-                                 255
missioners ordered, and to pay such fees as the red him he would be well accepted by my Lord
commissioners shall think fit.               of Canterbury's grace, and well rewarded if he
"The execution of the commission is no less came."* This Adamson was afterward excomgrievous to the subject; for, (1.) Laymen are municated, but, repenting of what he had done
punished for speaking of the simony and other against the Kirk, desired absolution ~ part of his
misdemeanors of spiritual men, though the confession runs thus: "I grant I was more
thing spoken be true, and tends to the inducing busy with some bishops in England, in prejusome condign punishment. (2.) These commis- dice of the discipline of our kirk, partlyXwhen I
sioners usually allot to women discontented and was there, and partly by intelligence since, than
unwilling to live with their husbands such por- became a good Christian, much less a faithful
tions and maintenance as they think fit, to the pastor; neither is there anything that more
great encouragement of wives to be disobedient ashameth me than my often deceiving and
to their husbands.  And (3.) Pursuivants and abusing the Kirk heretofore by confessions, subother ministers employed in apprehending sus- scriptions, and protestations."
pected offenders, or in searching for supposed   Upon his majesty's arrival in England, he took
scandalous books, break open men's houses, all occasions to discover his aversion to the
closets, and desks, rifling all corners and private Scots Presbyterians, taxing them with sauciplaces, as in cases of high treason.         ness, ill-manners, and an implacable enmity to
" A farther grievance is the stay of writs of kingly power; he nominated bishops to the
prohibition, habeas corpus, and de liomine repleg-i- thirteen Scots bishoprics which himself had forando, which are a considerable relief to the op- merly-abolished; but their revenues being anpressed subjects of the kingdom. His majesty, nexed to the crown, their dignities were little
in order to' support the inferior courts against more than titular. In the Parliament held at
the principal courts of common law, had ordered Perth, in the year 1606, his majesty obtained
things so, that writs had been more sparingly an act to restore the bishops to their temporaligranted, and with greater caution.  They there- ties, and to repeal the Act of Annexation; by
fore pray his majesty to require his judges in which they were restored to their votes in ParWestminster Hall to grant such writs in cases liament, and had the title of lords of Parliawherein they lie.                            ment, contrary to the sense both of clergy and
" But one of the greatest and most threaten- laity, as appears by the following protest of the
ing grievances was the king's granting letters General Assembly:
patent for monopolies, as licenses for wine, ale-   " In the name of Christ, and in the name of the
houses, selling sea-coal, &c., which they pray his Kirk in general, whereof the realm hath reaped
majesty to forbear for the future, that the dis- comfort this forty-six years; also in the name
ease may be cured, and others of like nature of our presbyteries, from  which we received
prevented."                                  our commission, and in our own names, as pasThe king, instead of concurring with his Par- tors and office-bearers within the same for the
liament, was so disgusted with their remon- discharging of our necessary duty, and for the
strance, that he dissolved them  [December 3, disburdening of our consciences, we except and
1610] without passing anyone act this session,* protest against the erection, confirmation, or
after they had continued about six years; and ratification of the said bishoprics and bishops
was so out of humour with the spirit of English by this present Parliament, and humbly pray
liberty that was growing in the houses, that he that this our protestation may be admitted and
resolved, if possible, to govern without parlia- registered among the records."
ments for the future..This was done by the   In the Convention at Linlithgow, December
advice of Bancroft, and other servile court flat- 12, consisting of noblemen, statesmen, and
terers, and was the beginning of that mischief, some court ministers, it was agreed that the
says Wilson,t which, when it came to a full bishops should be perpetual moderators of the
ripeness, made such a bloody tincture in both Kirk assemblies, under certain cautions, and
kingdoms as never will be got out of the bishops' with a declaration that they had no purpose to
lawn sleeves.                                subvert the discipline of the Kirk, or to exercise
From the time that King James came to the any tyrannous or unlawful jurisdiction ovel
English throne, and long before, if we may be- their brethren; but the body of the ministers
lieve Dr. Heylin, his majesty had projected the being uneasy at this, another convention was
restoring episcopacy in the Kirk of Scotland, held at Linlithgow, 1608, and a committee apand reducing the two kingdoms to one uniform  pointed to compromise the difference; the corngovernment and discipline: for this purpose mittee consisted of two earls and two lords, as
Archbishop Bancroft maintained a secret cor- his majesty's commissioners; five new bishops,
respondence with him, and corrupted one Nor- two university men, three ministers on one part,
ton, an English bookseller at Edinburgh [in the and ten for the other; they met at Falkland,
year 1589], to betray the Scots affairs to him, as May 4, 1609, and debated, (1.) Whether the
he confessed, with tears, at his examination. moderators of kirk assemblies should be con
The many curious articles he employed him to stant or circular; and (2.) Whether the caveats
search into are set down in Calderwood's His- should be observed. But coming to no agreetory, p. 246  In the month of January, 1591, his ment, they adjourned to Striveling, where the
letters to Mr. Patrick Adamson were intercepted, bishops with great difficulty carried their point.
wherein he advises himn "to give the Queen of Anti to increase their power, his majesty was
England more honourable titles, and to praise pleased next year [in the month of February,
the Church of England above all others. He mar- 1610], contrary to law, to put the high commisveiled why he came not to England, and assu- sion into their hands.
Still they wanted the sanction of a general
HiFuler'   s Church Hist., b. x., p. 56.
t Hist. of King James, p. 46.' Pierce, p. 166.




256                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
assembly, and a spiritual character: to obtain titles they sat uneasy in their chairs, being genthe former, an assembly was held at Glasgow, erally hated both by the ministers and people.
June 8, 1610, means having been used by the    About ten days after this consecration, Dr
courtiers to model it to their mind.  In that Richard Bancroft, archbishop of Canterbury,
costly assembly, says my author,* the bishops departed this life; he was born at Farnworth in
were declared moderators in every diocesan Lancashire, 1544, and educated in Jesus Col
asse nly, and they or their deputies moderators lege, Cambridge. He was first chaplain to Cox,
in thWr weekly exercises; ordination and dep- bishop of Ely, who gave him  the rectory of
rivation of ministers, visitation of kirks, ex- Teversham, near Cambridge. In the year 1585
communication and absolution, with presenta- he proceeded D.D., and being ambitious of pretion to benefices, were pinned to the lawn ferment, got into the service of Sir Christopher
sleeves; and it was farther voted, (1.) That Hatton, by whose recommendation he was made
every minister at his entry shall swear obedi- prebendary of Westminster.  Here he signalence to his ordinary.  (2.) That no minister ized himself by preaching against the Puritans,
shall preach or speak the acts of this assembly. a sure way to preferment in those times. He
(3.) That the question of the parity or imparity also wrote against their discipline, and was the
of pastors shall not be mentioned in the pulpit first in the Church of England who openly mainunder pain of deprivation. This was a vast ad- tained the Divine right of the order of bishops.
vance upon the constitution of the Kirk.      While he sat in the High Commission, he disTo obtain a spiritual character superior to tinguished himself by an uncommon zeal against
the order of presbyters, it was necessary that the Nonconformists, for which he was preferthe bishops elect should be consecrated by some red, first to the bishopric of London, and, upon
of the same order; for this purpose the king Whitgift's decease, to the see of Canterbury;
sent for three of them  into England, viz., Mr. how he behaved in that high station has been
Spotswood, archbishop of Glasgow, Mr. Lamb, sufficiently related. This prelate left behind him
bishop of Brechen, and Mr. Hamilton, bishop no extraordinary character for piety, learning,
of Galloway, and issued a commission under hospitality, or any other episcopal quality.  He
the great seal to the Bishops of London, Ely, was of a rough, inflexible temper, yet a tool of
Bath and Wells, and Rochester, requiring them  the prerogative, and an enemy to the laws and
to proceed to the consecration of the above-men- constitution of his country.  Some have repretioned bishops according to the English ordinal: sented him as inclined to popery because he
Andrews, bishop of Ely, was of opinion that be- maintained several secular priests in his own
fore the consecration they ought to be made house, but this was done, say his advocates, to
priests, because they had not been ordained by keep up the controversy between them and the
a bishop.  This the Scots divines were unwill- Jesuits.  Lord Clarendon says* "that he uning to admit, through fear of the consequences derstood the Church excellently well; that he
among their own countrymen; for what must had almost rescued it out of the hands of the
they conclude concerning the ministers of Scot- Calvinian party, and very much subdued the
land, if their ordination as presbyters was not unruly spirit of the Nonconformists; and that
valid l Bancroft, therefore, yielded, that where he countenanced men of learning."  His lordbishops could not be had, ordination by presby- ship might have added that he was covetous,t
ters must be valid, otherwise the character of passionate, ill-natured, and a cruel persecutor
the ministers in most of the Reformed church- of good men; that he laid aside the hospitality
es might be questioned.  Abbot, bishop of Lon- becoming a bishop, and lived without state or
don,t and others, were of opinion that there equipage, which gave occasion to the following
was no necessity of passing through the inferi- satire upon his death, which happened Novemor orders of deacon and priest, but that the ber 2, 1610, aged sixty-six:
episcopal character might be conveyed at once,       Here lies his grace in cold clay clad,
as appears from the example of St. Ambrose,          Who died for want of what lie had.
Nectarius, Eucherius, and others, who from
mere laymen were advanced at once into the
episcopal chair.T  But whether this supposition
does not rather weaken the arguments for bish-                CHAPTER II.
ops being a distinct order from  presbyters, I FROM THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP BANCROFT TO
leave with the reader.  However, the Scotch            THE DEATH OF KING JAMES I.
divines were consecrated in the chapel at LonBANCROFT was succeeded by Dr. George Abdon House [October 21, 1610], and upon their bot, bishop of London, a divine of a quite difreturn into Scotland conveyed their new char-     t         of London, a divne of a quite difacter in the same manner to their brethren.Q ferent spirit from his predecessor. A sound
Thus the king, by a usurped supremacy over   * Vol. i., p. 88, ed. 1707.
the Kirk of Scotland, and other violent and in-   t Fnller,'and after him Dr. Grey and Dr. Warner,
direct means, subverted their ecclesiastical con- vindicate the character of Archbishop Bancroft from
stitution; and contrary to the genius of the the charges of cruelty and covetousness, "which,
people, and the protestation of the General As- when they are examined into," says Dr. Warner,
"appear not to deserve those opprobrious names in
sembly, the bishops were made lords of council, the strictest acceptation " On the other hand, the
lords of Parliament, and lord-commissioners in author of the Confessional calls him the fiery Bancauses ecclesiastical; but with all their high croft, and Dr. Warner sums up his account of him in
~-                                           a manner not very honourable to his name. "In
* Course of Scots Conformity, p. 53.        short," says he, "there have been archbishops who
f Collyer, as Dr. Grey observes, mentions that as have been much worse than Bancroft, who by their
Bancroft's opinion, which Mr. Neat ascribes to Bishop good-humour and generosity have been more eskbbot.-ED. t Collyer'sEccles. Hist.,vol. i., p. 702. teemed when living, and more lamented at their
d Calderwood, p. 644                       death."-Ecclev Hist., vol. ii., p. 497.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   257
Protestant, a thorough Calvinist, an avowed  This Bible was reprinted in quarto, 1550, and
enemy to popery, and even suspected of Puri- again, with a new title, 1553.
tanism, because he relaxed the penal laws,   Two years after the Bible was reprinted in
whereby he unravelled all that his predecessor English, with this title, " The Holy Byble, which
had been doing for many years;" who, if he is all the Holy Scripture, in which are contaynnad lived a little longer," says Lord Clarendon,*  ed the Olde and Newe Testament, truelye and
"would have subdued the unruly spirit of the purelye translated into English by [a fictitious
Nonconformists, and extinguished that fire in  name] Thomas Matthew, 1537." It has a calenEngland which had been kindled at Geneva; dar with an almanac, and an exhortation to the
but Abbot," says his lordship, " considered the study of the Scripture, signed J. R. John RoChristian religion no otherwise than as it ab- gers, a table of contents and marriages, margihorred and reviled popery, and valued those  nal notes, a prologue, and in the Apocalypse
men most who did that most furiously. He in- some wooden cuts. At the beginning of the
quired but little after the strict observation of prophets are printed on the top of the page, R.
the discipline of the Church, or conformity to  G., Richard Grafton, and at the bottom, E. W.,
the articles or canons established, and did not Edward Whitchurch, who were the printers.
think so ill of the [Presbyterian] discipline  This translation, to the end of the book of
as he ought to have done; but if men prudent- Chronicles, and the book of Jonah, with all the
ly forbore a public reviling at the hierarchy  New Testament, was Tyndal's; the rest was
and ecclesiastical government, they were secure  Miles Coverdale's arid John Rogers's.
from any inquisition from him, and were equal-   In the year 1539, the above-mentioned translypreferred. His house was a sanctuary to the lation, having been revised and corrected by
most eminent of the factious party, and he li- Archbishop Cranmer, was reprinted by Grafton
censed their pernicious writings."  This is the  and Whitchurch, "cum privilegio ad imprimenheavy charge brought by the noble historian  dum solum."  It has this title: "The Bible in
against one of the most religious and venerable  Englyshe, that is to say, the Content of the
prelates of his age, and a steady friend of the  Holy Scriptures, both of the Olde and Newe
constitution in Church and State. If Abbot's Testament, truely translated after the veritie
moderate measures had been constantly pur- of the Hebrue and Greke Texts, by the diligent
sued, the liberties of England had been secured, study of divers excellent learned Men, expert
popery discountenanced, and the Church pre- in the foresayde Tongues."  In this edition
vented from running into those excesses which  Tyndal's prologue and marginal notes are omitfirst proved its reproach, and afterward its ted. It was reprinted the following year in a
ruin.                                        large folio, proper for churches, begun at Paris
The translation of the Bible now in use was and finished at London. In the year 1541 it
finished this year [1611]; it was undertaken at was printed again by Grafton, with a preface by
the request of the Puritan divines in the Hamp- Cranmer, having been revised by Tonstal and
ton Court Conference; and being the last, it Heath, bishops of Durhamr and Rochester. But
may not be unacceptable to set befbre the read- after this time, the popish party prevailing at
er, in one view, the various translations of the court, there were no more editions of the Bible
Bible into the English language.             in this reign.
The New Testament was first translated by    Soon after King Edward's accession [1548-9].,
Dr. Wickliffe out of the Vulgar Latin, about the  the Bible of 1541 had been reprinted, with Cranyear 1380, and is entitled "The New Testa- mer's prologue; and the liturgy of the Church
ment, with the Lessons taken out of the Old  of England, being first composed and establishLaw, read in Churches according to the Use of ed, the translation of the Psalter, commonly
Sarum."                                      called the old translation, in use at this day,
The next translation was by William Tyndal, was taken from this edition. Next year, Covprinted at Antwerp, 1526, in octavo, without a erdale's Testament of 1535 was reprinted, with
name, and -without either calendar, references  Erasmus's paraphrase, but there was no new
in the margin, or table at the end; it was cor- translation.
rected by the author, and printed in the years   In the reign of Queen Mary [15551, the exiles
1534 and 1536, having passed through five edi- at Geneva undertook a new translation, comtions in Holland.                            monly called the Geneva Bible; the names of
In the mean time, Tyndal was translating  the translators were Coverdale, Goodman, Gilseveral books of the Old Testament, as the Pen- by, Whittingham, Sampson, Cole, Knox, Bodtateuch and the book of Jonah, printed 1531; leigh, and Pullain, who published the New Testhe books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the four tament first in small twelves, 1557, by Conrad
books of Kings, the two books of Chronicles, Badius.  This is the first that was printed
and Nehemiah.  About the same time, George  with numerical verses. The whole Bible was
Joy, some time fellow of Peter College, Cam- published afterward with marginal notes, 1559,
bridge, translated the Psalter, the prophecy of dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. The translators
Jeremiah, and the song of Moses, and printed  say "they had been employed in this work
them beyond sea.                             night and day, with fear and trembling; and
In the year 1535 the whole Bible was printed  they protest, from  their consciences, that, in
the first time in folio, adorned with wooden every point and word, they had faithfully rencuts and Scripture references; it was done by dered the text to the best of their knowledge."
several hands, and dedicated to King Henry But the marginal notes having given offence, it
VIII. by Miles Coverdale. In the last page it was not suffered to be published in England*
is said to be printed in the year of our Lord
1535, and finished the fourth day of October.   * Here Mr. Neal, as Dr. Grey observes, appears to
be mistaken; as Lewis says "that the Geneva Bible
* Book i., p. 88.             was printed at London, in folio and quarto, in 1572."
VOL. I. —K K




258                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
till the death of Archbishop Parker, when it was may be set down. The other regulations relate
printed [1576] by Christopher Barker, in quarto, to the translators' comparing notes, and agree"cum  privilegio," and met with such accept- ing among themselves; they were to consult
ance that it passed through twenty or thirty  the modern translations of the French, Dutch,
editions in this reign.                        German,* &c., but to vary as little as possible
Cranmer's edition of the Bible had been re- from the Bishops' Bible.
printed in the years 1562 and 1566, for the use    The king's commission bears date 1604, bit
of the churches.  But complaint being made of the work was not begun till 1606, and finished
the incorrectness of it, Archbishop Parker pro- 1611. Fifty-four of the chief divines of both
jected a new translation, and assigned the sev- universities were originally nominated; some
eral books of the Old and New Testament to of whom dying soon after, the work was underabout fourteen dignitaries of the Church, most taken by forty-seven, who were divided into six
of whom being bishops, it was from them called companies; the first translated from Genesis to
the Bishops' Bible, and was printed in an elegant the First Book of Chronicles; the second to the
and pompous folio, in the year 1568, with maps prophecy of Isaiah; the third translated the four
and cuts.  In the year 1572 it was reprinted  greater prophets, with the Lamentations and
with some alterations and additions, and several twelve smaller prophets; the fourth had the
times afterward without any amendments.        Apocrypha; the fifth had the four Gospels, the
In the year 1582 the Roman Catholic exiles Acts, and the Revelations; and the sixth the
translated the New Testament for the use of canonical epistles.  The whole being finished
their people, and published it in quarto, with this and revised by learned men from both univer
title: "The New Testament of Jesus Christ, sities, the publishing it was committed to the
translated faithfully into English out of the au- care of Bishop Bilson and Dr. Miles Smith,
thentic Latin, according to the best corrected  which last wrote the preface that is now prefixcopies of the same, diligently conferred with the ed. It was printed in the year 1611, with a dedGreek and other Editions in divers Languages; ication to King James, and is the same that is
with arguments of Books and Chapters, Annota- still read in all the churches.
tions, and other necessary Helps for the better   Upon the death of Arminius, the curators of
understanding of the Text, and especially for the the University of Leyden chose Conradus VorsDiscovery of the Corruptions of divers late Trans- tius his successor.  This divine had published
lations, and for clearing the Controversies in Re- a very exceptionable treatiset concerning the
ligion of these Days.  In the English College of nature and properties of God, in which he mainRheims.  Printed by John Fogny."  The Old tained that God had a body; and denied his
Testament of this translation was first published proper immensity and omniscience, as they are
at Doway in two quarto volumes, the first in the commonly understood.  He maintained the Diyear 1609, the other 1610, by Lawrence Kellam, vine Being to be limited and restrained, and asat the sign of the Holy Lamb, with a preface cribedquantityand magnitudetohim. Theclerand tables; the authors are said to be Cardinal gy of Amsterdam remonstrated to the States
Allen, some time principal of St. Mary Hall, against his settlement at Leyden, the country,Oxford; Richard Bristow, fellow of Exeter Col- being already too much divided about the Arlege; and Gregory Martyn, of St. John's Col- minian tenets.  To strengthen their hands, they
lege.  The annotations were made by Thomas applied to the English ambassador to represent
Worthington, B.A., of Oxford; all of them ex- the case to King James; and prevailed with the
iles for their religion, and settled in popish sem- curators to defer his induction into the profesinaries beyond sea. The mistakes of this trans- sorship till his majesty had read over his book;t
lation, and the false glosses put upon the text, which having done, he declared Vorstius to be
were exposed by the learned Dr. Fulke and Mr. an arch heretic, a pest, a monster of blasphe*Cartwright.                                   mies; and to show his detestation of his book,
At the request of the Puritans in the Hampton  ordered it to be burned publicly in St. Paul's
CourtConference, King James appointed a new  churchyard, and at both universities; in the
translation to be executed by the most learned  conclusion of his letter to the States on this ocmen of both universities, under the following  casion, he says, " As God has honoured us with
regulations: (1.) That they keep as close as pos- the title of defender of the faith, so (if you insible to the Bishops' Bible. (2.) That the names dine to retain Vorstius any longer) we shall be
of the holy writers be retained according to vul- obliged not only to separate and cut ourselves
gar use. (3.) That the old ecclesiastical words                                         - T 
be kept, as church not to be translated congrega-            T      he translations pointed out by name, as Dr.
Grey remarks, were those of Tynndal, Matthew, Cov
tion, &c.  (&.) That when a word has divers erdale, Whitchurch, and Geneva.-ED.
-significations, that be kept which has been most   t It may be wished that Mr. Neal had rather said
comrmonly used by the fathers.*  (5.) That the " a treatise against which great exceptions were tadivision of -chapters be not altered.t  (6.) No ken." His mode of expression intimates that those
marginal notes but for the explication of a He- exceptions were justly grounded; this Vorstius him-brew or Greek word. (7.-) Marginal references self denied, and solemnly declared his belief of the
immensity and omniscience of the Divine Being, and
-Lewis's History of the Translation of the Bible, in ascribed the imputations cast on him to wresting his
8vo, p. 264, second edition, 1739.-Eu.         words to a meaning contrary to the scope and the
* Dr. Grey states more fully and accurately these connexion of the discourse. His abilities, learning,
r Yes from Lewis and Fuller, "used by the most em- and virtues were highly esteemed by those who difil.nt fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the fered from him.-Prwstantium ao Eruditorum Viroptlace, and the analogie of faith."-Eo.       Irm  Epistole, Amsterdam, 1660, p. 350, &c., and p.
t "The division of-the chapters to be altered either 385; and the Abridgment of Brandt's History, vol. ii.,
not at all, or as little as may be, if necessity so re. p. 727, 728.-ED.
quire."-Lewis, p. 317. Fuller's Church Hist., b. x.,   I Brandt's History, vol. ii., p. 97; or the Abridg
p. 46.-ED.                                    ment, vol. i., p. 318.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     259
off from such false and heretical churches, but a considerable time in Newgate, he was at
likewise to call upon all the rest of the Reformed  length convened before Bishop King, in his conchurches to enter upon the same common con- sistory at St. Paul's, who, with some other disultation, how we may best extinguish and send vines and lawyers there assembled, declared him
back to hell these cursed [Arminian] heresies a contumacious and obdurate heretic, and certithat have newly broken forth.  And as for our- flied the same into Chancery by a significavit,
selves, we shall be necessitated to forbid all the delivering him over to the secular power; whereyouth of our subjects to frequent a university  upon the king signed a writ* de heretico cornthat is so infected as that of Leyden."*  His burendo to the sheriffs of London, who brought
majesty also sent over sundry other memorials, him to Smithfield, March 18, and in the midst
in which he styles Vorstius a wicked atheist, of a vast concourse of people burned him  to
Arminius an enemy to God.  And Bertius hav- death.  A pardon was offered him at the stake
ing written that the saints might fall from grace, if he would recant, but he refused it.
he said the author was worthy of the fire.       Next month Edward Wightman, of BurtonAt length [1612] the king published his royal upon-Trent, was convicted of heresy by Dr.
declaration, in several languages,t containing  Nelle, bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, and
an account of all that he had done in the affair was burned at Litchfield, April 1lth.t  He was
of Vorstius, with his reasons; which were, his charged in the warrant with the heresies of Arizeal for the glory of God, his love for his friends us, Cerinthus, Manichaeus, and the Anabaptists.*
and allies [the States], and fear of the same, that he had prayed to Christ in the days of his ignocontagion in his own kingdom; but their high rance, but notnot for these last seven years.' Hereupon the
mightinesses did not like the King of England's king, in choler, spurned at him with his foot, saying,
intermeddling so far in their affairs. However,' Away, base fellow; it shall never be said that one stayVorstius was dismissed to Gouda, where he eth in my presence that hath never prayed to our Saviour
lived privately till the Synod of Dort, when he for seven years together.' "-Fller's Ch. History, b. x.,
was banished the Seven Provinces; he then re- P. 62.-C.
tired to Tonninghen, in the dukedom of Holstein,   * The reader will perhaps be curious to see the
tired to Tonninghen, in the dukedom of Holstein, form of the king's writ for burning Legate, the latter
where he died a professed Socinian, September part of which is as follows:
19, 16224.                                       "Whereas the holy mother-church hath not farHis majesty had a farther opportunity of dis- ther to do and to prosecute on this part; the same
covering his zeal against heresy this year, upon reverend father hath left the aforesaid Bartholomew
two of his own subjects. One was Bartholomew  Legate, as a blasphemous heretic, to our secular powLegate, an Arian:5 he was a comely person, of er, to be punished with condign punishment, as by
a black complexion, and about forty years of the letters patent of the same reverend father in
of a fluent tongue, excellently well versed  Christ, the Bishop of London, in this behalf above
age,'of a fluent tongue, excellently wellversed made, hath been certified to us in our Chancery. We,
in the Scriptures, and of an unblamable con- therefore, as a zealot of justice, and a defender of the
versation.  King James himself, and some of Catholic faith, and willing to maintain and defend
his bishops, in vain conferred with him, in hope the Holy Church, and the rights and liberties of the
of convincing him of his errors.ll  Having lain  same, and the Catholic faith; and such heresies and
errors everywhere what in us lieth, to root out and
X Nothing (it is well observed by Gerard Brandt) extirpate, and to punish with condign punishment,
can be less edifying than to see a Protestant prince, such heretics so convicted, and deeming that such a
who, not contented to persecute the heterodox in his heretic, in form aforesaid convicted and condemned,
own kingdom, exhorts the potentates of the same re- according to the laws and customs of this our kingligion to imitate his conduct."-Brandt Abridged, vol. dom of England in this part accustomed, ought to be
i., p. 319.-ED.                                burned with fire; we do command you, that the said
f It was printed in French, Latin, Dutch, and Eng- Bartholomew Legate, being in your custody, you do
lish; on which Dr. Harris well remarks, that " con- commit publicly to the fire, before the people, in a
sequently his monstrous zeal, his unprincely revilings, public and open place in West Smithfield, for the
and his weak and pitiful reasonings, were known cause aforesaid; and that you cause the said Barthroughout Europe." Yet it was not held in any tholomew Legate to be really burned in the same
high reputation; for Mr. Norton, who had the print- fire, in detestation of the said crime, for the manifest
ing of it in Latin, swore "he would not print it, un- example of other Christians, lest they slide into the
less he might have money to print it."-Harris's.LIfe same fault; and this that in nowise you omit, under
of James I., p. 120.                           the peril that shall follow thereon. Witness," &c.t His sickness was a short one, but long enough -A  Narration of the Burning of Bartholomew Legate,
to afford him an opportunity to teach his physician  &c., in Truth brought to Light, 1692, as quoted by Mr.
and other friends how a Christian ought to die. He Lindsey in his Conversations on Christian Idolatry, p.
was wholly intent upon prayer, and scarcely repeated  119, 120.-ED.      t Fuller, b. x., p. 64.
anything but passages out of the Scriptures. At his   $ Some of the opinions imputed to Wightman sarequest, Acts, ii., and 1 Cor., xv., as mentioning the voured of vanity and superstition, or, rather, enthusiresurrection, were read to him; and this doctrine was asm; such as his being the prophet foretold Deut.,
much the subject of his last discourses. He expired xviii., and by Isaiah; the Elijah to come, of whom
recommending his soul to God and Jesus Christ his Malachi speaks. " But," as Mr. Lindsey justly reS3viour. And it is said that the piety, holiness, faith,  marks, " we may well hesitate here whether such
and resignation which he showed, and the fervency were the man's real sentiments, or only those which
of his prayers, cannot be well expressed.-Brandt his adversaries would fix uponhim." These proceedAbridged, vol. ii., p. 722, 723.-ED.          ings show, as Brandt observes, it was high time to
Q lu[ler, b. x., p. 63.                     repeal the act de heretico comburendo. The sentiments
II "One time," says Fuller, " the king had a de- of Limborch on them deserve to be mentioned here:
sign to surprise him into a confession of Christ's "These things," says he in a letter to Mr. Locke,
deity (as his majesty afterward declared), by asking " are. a scandal to the Reformation. A court of inhim whether or no he did not daily pray to Jesus Christ? quisition into men's faith is alike contrary to Chris
which, had he acknowledged, the king would have tian charity, whether it be erected on the banks of
infallibly inferred that Legate tacitly consented to the Tiber, or the Lake of Geneva, or by the side of
Christ's divinity as searcher of-hearts. But herein his the River Thames: for it is the same iniquitous crumajesty failed of his expectation, Legate returning, elty, though exercised in another place, and on differ



260                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
There was another condemned to the fire for body being opened, his liver appeared white, and
the same heresies; but the constancy of the his spleen and diaphragm black, his gall without
above-mentioned sufferers moving pity in the choler, and his lungs spotted with much corrupspectators, it was thought better to suffer him  tion, and his head full of blood in some places,
to linger out a miserable life in Newgate, than to and in others full of water.  It is certain the.awaken too far the compassions of the people.* king was jealous of his son's popularity, and
Nothing was minded at court but luxury and  asked one day if he would bury him alive; and
diversions.  The affairs of the Church were upon his death commanded that no person
left to the bishops and the affairs of state to should appear at court in mourning for him.*
subordinate magistrates, or the chief ministers, This prince was one of the most accomplished
while the king himself sunk into a most indo- persons of his age, sober, chaste, temperate,
lent and voluptuous life, suffering himself to be religious, full of honour and probity, and never
governed by a favourite, in the choice of whom  heard to swear an oath; neither the example
he had no regard to virtue or merit, but to of the king his father, nor of the whole court,
youth, beauty, gracefulness of person, and fine was capable of corrupting him in these respects.
clothes, &c.  This exposed him  to the con- He had a great soul, full of noble and elevated
tempt of foreign powers, who from this time sentiments, and was as much displeased with
paid him very little regard.  At the same time, trifles as his father was fond of them. He had
he was lavish and profuse in his expenses and frequently said that, if ever he mounted the
grants to his hungry courtiers, whereby he ex- throne, his first care should be to try to reconhausted his exchequer, and was obliged to have cile the Puritans to the Church of England.
recourse to arbitrary and illegal methods of As this could not be done without each party's
raising money by the prerogative.  By these making some concessions, and as such a promeans he lost the hearts of his people, which  ceeding was directly contrary to the temper o1
all his kingcraft could never recover, and laid the court and clergy, he was suspected to counthe foundation of those calamities that in the tenance Puritanism.  To say all in one word,
next reign threw Church and State into such  Prince Henry was mild and affable, though of a
convulsions as threatened their final ruin.   warlike genius, the darling of the Puritans, and
But while the king and his ministers were of all good men; and, though he lived about
wounding the Protestant religion and the liber- eighteen years, no historian has taxed him with
ties of England, it pleased Almighty God to lay any vice.
the foundation of their recovery by the marriage    To furnish the exchequer with money, several
of the king's daughter, Elizabeth, to Frederic new projects were set on foot, as, (1.) His majV., elector palatine of the Rhine, from whom  esty created a new order of knights-baronets;
the present royal family is descended.  The the number not to exceed two hundred, and the
match was promoted by Archbishop Abbot, and  expense of the patent ~1095. (2.) His majesty
universally approved by all the Puritans in Eng- sold letters patent for monopolies.  (3.) He
land, as the grand security of the Protestant obliged such as were worth ~40 a year to comsuccession in case of failure of heirs from the pound for not being knights.  (4.) He set to sale
king's son. Mr. Echard says they foretold, by a the highest honours and dignities of the nation:
distant foresight, the succession of this family  the price for a baron was ~10,000, for a visto the crown; and it must be owned that they  count ~15,000, and ~20,000 for an earl.  (5.1
were always the delight of the Puritans, who  Those who had defective titles were obliged to
prayed heartily for them, and upon all occasions compound to set them  right.  And (6.) The
exerted themselves for the support of the family  Star Chamber raised their fines to an exin their lowest circumstances.
The solemnity of these nuptials was retarded the king had incurred from the behaviour of the
some months by the untimely death of Henry, court at the time the prince lay dead, and from the
prince of Wales, the king's eldest son, who died disappointment which the great expectations of the
November 6, 1612, and was buried the 7th of people from this prince suffered. There were insinNovember 6, 1612, and was buried the uth  of uations to this effect from respectable persons; and
December following, being eighteen years and  Colonel Titus assured Bishop Burnet that he had
eight months old.  Some have suspected that heard King Charles I. declare that the prince his
the king his father caused him to be poisoned, brother was poisoned by means of Viscount Rochesthough there is no sufficient proof of' it;t the ter. This evidence amounted to a kind of proof, yet,
as to these suggestions were opposed the opinions of
ent subjects." A fine observation of Brandt on this the physicians, and the appearances of the body
occasion shall close this note. "It is a very glorious when it was opened, and the presumptive evidence
thing for the United Provinces," says he, " that the did not come home to the king, it is to be wished
blood of no heretic has been shed in that country that Mr. Neal had used more guarded language, for
ever since the Reformation; which ought to be as- the words "no certain proof" seem to imply that
cribed to the moderation and great knowledge of the there was probable proof of it. Bishop Warburton
States.General, and the states of each of those prov- is therefore very angry, and says it "is abominainces." —Brandt Abridged, vol. i., p. 319. Lindsey's ble;" it is, indeed, a heavy charge to impute to a
Historical View of Unitarian Doctrine, &c., p. 294. parent his being accessory to the poisoning of a son.
-ED.                                           -See Dr. Birch's Life of Henry, Prince of Wales, p.
* Dr. Southey ascribes the preservation of the Span- 404-409. Dr. Grey, as well as the bishop, also cenish Arian to the benevolence of James, but Fuller sures our author, and refers to main authorities to
more correctly attributes it to his policy. " Such disprove, as he calls them, "Mr. Neal's unfair insinburning of heretics had much startled common people uations." These insinuations did not originate, it should
-being unable to distinguish between constancy and be observed, with Mr. Neal, but were sanctioned by
obstinacy, were ready to entertain good thoughts even the prevailing opinion of the times, and were counteof the opinions of those heretics who sealed them so nanced by the conduct of James, who showed himmanfully with their blood," &c.-Fuller's Ch. Hist., self quite unaffected with the death of his virtuous
b. x., p. 64.-C.                              and amiable son.-ED.
t These suspicions arose from the popular odium    * Rapin, vol. ii., p. 181, folio edit.




HISTORY OF TIlE PURITANS.                                  261
cessive degree.*  But these projects not an- into the churches where they settled; but beswering the king's necessities, he was obliged, ing of the Presbyterian persuasion, they formed
at last, to call a Parliament. When the houses their churches after their own model.  The
met they proceeded immediately to consider of London adventurers prevailed with several of
and redress grievances, upon which the king the English Puritans to remove, who, being
dissolved them, before they had enacted one persecuted at home, were willing to go anystatute, and committed some of the principal where within the king's dominions for the libmembers of the House of Commons to prison, erty of their consciences, and more would have
without admitting them to bail, resolving again gone, could they have been secure of a tolerato raise money without the aid of Parliament.  tion after they were settled. But their chief
This year the articles of the Church of Ire- resource was from the Scots; the first minister
land were ratified and confirmed; the reforma- of that persuasion that went over was Mr. Edtion of that kingdom had made a very slow prog- ward Bryce, who settled in Broad Island, in the
ress in the late reign, by reason of the wars county of Antrim, 1611; after him, Mr. Roberi
between the English and the natives, and the Cunningham, in Hollywood, in the county of
small proportion of the former to the latter. Down.  At the same time came over three
The natives had a strong prejudice against the English ministers, all Puritans trained up under
English, as coming into the country by con- Mr. Cartwright, viz., Mr. Ridges, of Antrim,
quest, and being bigoted papists, their preju- Mr. Henry Calvert, and Mr. Hubbard, of Cardices were inflamed by King Henry VIII. throw- rickfergus. After these, Mr. Robert Blair came
ing off the pope's supremacy, which threatened from Scotland to Bangor, Mr. Hamilton to Belthe loss of their religion, as well as their civil lywater, and Mr. Levingston to Killinshy, in
liberties.  In the reign of Philip and Mary they the county of Down, with Mr. Welsh, Dunbar,
were more quiet, when a law was passed against and others.*  Mr. Blair was a zealous Presbybringing in the Scots and marrying with them, terian, and scrupled episcopal ordination, but
which continued in force during the whole reign the bishop of the diocess compromised the difof Queen Elizabeth, and was a great hinderance ference, by agreeing that the other Scots presto the progress of the Protestant religion in that byters of Mr. Blair's persuasion should join with
country; however, a university was erected at him, and that such passages in the established
Dublin in the year 1593, and furnished with form of ordination as Mr. Blair and his brethlearned professors from Cambridge of the Cal- ren disliked, should be omitted or exchanged for
vinistical persuasion.'James Usher, who after- others of their own approbation.  Thus was
ward wasthe renowned Archbishop of Armagh, Mr. Blair ordained publicly in the Church of
was the first student who entered into the col- Bangor; the Bishop of Raphoe did the same
lege. The discipline of the Irish Church was for Mr. Levingston; and all the- Scots who were
according to the model of the English; bishops ordained in Ireland from this time to the year
were nominated to the popish diocesses, but 1642 were ordained after the same manner;
their revenues being alienated, or in the hands all of them enjoyed the churches and tithes,
of papists, or very much diminished by the though they remained Presbyterian, and used
wars, they were obliged to throw the revenues not the liturgy; nay, the bishops consulted
of several bishoprics together to make a toler- them about affairs of common concernment to
able subsistence for one. The case was the the Church, and some of them were members
same with the inferior clergy, 40s. a year being of the convocation in 1634. They had their
a common allowance for a vicar in the province monthly meetings at Antrim, for the promoting
of Connaught, and sometimes only sixteen. of piety and the extirpation of popery. They
Thus, says Mr. Collyer, the authority of the had also their quarterly communions, by which
bishops went off, and the people followed their means great numbers of the inhabitants were
own fancies in the choice of religion.       civilized, and many became serious Christians.
At the Hampton Court Conference the king Mr. Blair preached before the judges of assize
proposed sending preachers into Ireland, com- on the Lord's Day, at the desire of the Bishop
plaining that he was but half monarch of that of Down, and his curate administered the sackingdom, the bodies of the people being only rament to them the same day; so that there
subject to his authority, while their consciences was a sort of comprehension between the two
were at the command of the pope; yet it does parties, by the countenance and approbation of
not appear that any attempts were made to con- the great Archbishop Usher, who encouraged
vert them till after the year 1607, when the act the ministers in this good work.  And thus
of the third and fourth of Philip and Mary be- things continued till the administration of Arching repealed, the citizens of London undertook bishop Laud, who, by dividing the Protestants,
for the province of Ulster. These adventurers weakened them, and made way for that enorbuilt Londonderry, fortified Coleraine, and pur- mous growth of popery which ended in the
chased a great tract of land in the adjacent massacre of almost all the Protestants in the
parts. They sent over considerable numbers kingdom.
of planters, but were at a loss for ministers;   It appears, from hence, that the Reformation
for the beneficed clergy of the Church of Eng- of Ireland was built upon a Puritan foundation,
land, being at ease in the enjoyment of their though episcopacy was the legal establishment;
preferments, would not engage in such a haz- but it was impossible to make any considerable
ardous undertaking; it fell, therefore, to the lot progress in the conversion of the natives, beof the Scots and English Puritans; the Scots, cause of their bigotry and prejudice against the
by reason of their vicinity to the northern parts English nation, whose language they could not
of Ireland, transported numerous colonies; they be persuaded to learn.
improved the country, and brought preaching   The Protestant religion being pretty well es* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 185.                * Loyalty Presb., p. 161-163.




262                   HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
tablished, it was thought advisable to frame after he returned to England, and having impartsome articles of their common faith according ed his design of setting up a separate congregato the custom of other churches: some moved tion, like those in Holland, to the most learned
in convocation to adopt the articles of the Eng- Puritans of those times, as Mr. Throgmorton,
lish Church, but this was overruled, as not so Wring, Mansel, Dod, &c., it was not condemnhonourable to themselves, who were as much ed as unlawful, considering there was no prosa national church as England, nor so consistent pect of a national reformation. Mr. Jacob, therewith their independency; it was therefore vo- fore, having summoned several of his fiiends
ted to draw up a new confession of their own; together, as Mr. Staismore, Mr. Browne, Mr.
the draught was referred to the conduct of Dr. Prior, Almey, Throughton, Allen, Gibbet, Farre,
James Usher, provost of Dublin College, and Goodal, and others; and having obtained their
afterward lord-primate; it afterward passed consent to unite in church-fellowship, for obtainboth houses of Convocation and Parliament ing the ordinances of Christ in the purest manwith great unanimity, and being sent over to ner, they laid the foundation of the first Indethe English court, was approved in council, and pendent or Congregational Church in England,
ratified by the Lord-lieutenant Chichester this after the following manner: having observed a
year in the king's name.                   day of solemn fasting and prayer for a blessThese articles being rarely to be met with, I ing upon their undertaking, towards the close of
have given them a place in the Appendix,* be- the solemnity each of them made open confesing in a manner the same which the Puritans sion of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ;
requested at the Hampton Court Conference: and then standing together, they joined hands,
for, first, The nine articles of Lambeth are in- and solemnly covenanted with each other, in the
corporated into this confession. Secondly, The presence of Almighty God, to walk together in
morality of the Lord's Day is strongly asserted, all God's ways and ordinances, according as he
and the spending it wholly in religious exercises had already revealed, or should farther make
is required [art. 56]. Thirdly, The observation them known to them. Mr. Jacob was then choof Lent is declared not to be a religious fast, sen pastor by the suffrage of the brotherhood,
but grounded merely on political considerations, and others were appointed to the office of deafor provision of things tending to the better cons, with fasting and prayer, and imposition
preservation of the commonwealth [art. 50]. of hands.*  The same year (1616) Mr. Jacob
Fourthly, All clergymen are said to be lawfully published a protestation or confession in the
called and sent, who are chosen and called to name of certain Christians, showing how far
this work by men who have public authority they agreed with the Church of England, and
given them in the Church to call and send min- wherein they differed, with the reasons of their
isters into the Lord's vineyard (art. 71), which dissent drawn from Scripture; to which was
is an acknowledgment of the validity of the or- added a petition to the king for the toleration of
dinations of those churches which have no bigh- such Christians. And some time after he pubops. Fifthly, The power of the keys is said to lished " A Collection of sound Reasons, showing
be only declarative (art. 74). Sixthly, The pope how necessary it is for all Christians to walk in
is declared to be antichrist, or that man of sin the Ways and Ordinances of God in Purity, and
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of in a right Church Way."  Mr. Jacob continued
his mouth, and abolish with the brightness of with his people about eight years; but in the
his coming (art. 80). Seventhly, The conse- year 1624, being desirous to enlarge his usefulcration of archbishops, bishops, &c., is not so ness, he went, with their consent, to Virginia,
much as mentioned, as if done on purpose, says where he soon after died. Thus, according to
Mr. Collyer, to avoid maintaining the distinction the testimony of the Oxford historian, and some
between that order and that of priests. Lastly, others, Mr. Henry Jacob was the first IndependNo power is ascribed to the Church in making ent minister in England, and this the first Con,
canons, or censuring those who either carelessly gregational Church. Upon the departure of Mr.
or wilfully infringe the same. Upon the whole, Jacob his church chose Mr. Lathorp their pasthese articles seem to be contrived to compro- tor, whose history will be resumed in its proper
mise the difference between the Church and the place.
Puritans; and they had that effect till the year   The king was so full of his prerogative, that
1634, when, by the influence of Archbishop Laud he apprehended he could convince his subjects
and the Earl of Strafford, these articles were of its unlimited extent; for this purpose he
set aside, and those of the Church of England turned preacher in the Star Chamber, and took
received in their room.                    his text, Psalm lxii., 1: "Give the king thy
To return to England. Among the Puritans judgments, O God, and thy righteousness to the
who fled from the persecution of Bishop Ban- king's son.""  After dividing and subdividing,
croft was Mr. Henry Jacob, mentioned in the and giving the literal and mystical sense of his
year 1604. This divine, having conferred with text, he applied it to the judges and courts of
Mr. Robinson, pastor of an English church at judicature, telling them "that the king sitting
Leyden, embraced his peculiar sentiments of in the throne of God, all judgments centre in
church discipline, since known by the name of him, and therefore for inferior courts to deterIndependency. In the year 1619, Mr. Jacob pub- mine difficult questions without consulting him,
lished at Leyden a small treatise in octavo, en- was to encroach upon his prerogative, and to
titled "The Divine Beginning and Institution of limit his power, which it was not lawful for the
Christ's true Visible and Material Church;" and tongue of a lawyer nor any subject to dispute.
followed it next year with another from Middle- As it is atheism and blasphemy to dispute what
burgh, which he called "An Explication and
Confirmation of his former Treatise." Some time * Wilson's History of Dissenting Churches, vol.
i., p. 39.-iC.
Appendix, No. vi.             t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 192, 193, and note (9).




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      263
God can do," says he, " so it is presumption, and such a divine should be restrained, and in a mana high contempt, to dispute what kings can do ner starved!"*
or say; it is to take away that mystical rever-   The disputes in Holland between the Calvinence that belongs to them who sit in the throne ists and Arminians, upon the five points relaof God."*  Then addressing the auditory, he ting to election, redemption, original sin, effectadvises them "not to meddle with the king's ual grace, and perseverance, rose to such a
prerogative or honour. Plead not," says he, height as obliged the States-General to have re"upon Puritanical principles, which make all course to a national synod, which was convened
things popular, but keep within the ancient lim- at Dort, November 13, 1618. Each party had
its."                                         loaded the other with reproaches, and, in the
In speaking of recusants, there are three warmth of dispute, charged their opinions with
sorts: (1.) " Some that come now and then to the most invidious consequences, insomuch that
church; these [the Puritans] are formal to the all good neighbourhood was lost, the pulpits
laws, but false to God. (2.) Others that have were filled with unprofitable and angry disputes,
their consciences misled; some of these [the and as each party prevailed the other were turnpapists that swear allegiance] live as peaceable ed out of the churches.  The magistrates were
subjects.  (3.) Others are practising recusants, no less divided than the ministers, one city and
who oblige their servants and tenants to be of town being ready to take up arms against antheir opinion. These are men of pride and pre- other. At length it grew into a state faction,
sumption.  I am loath to hang a priest only for which endangered the dissolution of governhis religion and saying mass; but if they refuse ment. Maurice, prince of Orange, though a Rethe oath of allegiance I leave them to the law." monstrant, put himself at the head of the CalHe concludes with exhorting the judges to coun- vinists [or Contra-Remonstrants], because they
tenance the clergy against papists and Puritans; were for a stadtholder, and the magistrates who
adding, " God and the king will reward your were against a stadtholder sided with the [Rezeal."                                        monstrants, or] Arminians, among whom  the
It is easy to observe from hence that his maj- advocate of Holland, Oldenbarnevelt, and the
esty's implacable aversion to the Puritans was pensionaries of Leyden and Rotterdam, Hogerfounded not merely or principally on their refu- berts and Grotius, were the chief.  Several atsal of the ceremonies, but on the principles of tempts were made for an accommodation, or
civil liberty and enmity to absolute monarchy; toleration of the two parties; but this not sucfor all arguments against the extent of the pre- ceeding, the three heads of the Remonstrants
rogative are said to be founded on Puritan prin- [Arminians] were taken into custody, and the
ciples. A king with such maxims should have magistrates of several towns and cities chanbeen frugal of his revenues, that he might not ged, by authority of the prince, which made way
have stood in need of parliaments; but our, for the choosing such a synod as his highness
monarch was extravagantly profuse, and, to desired.  The classes of the several towns met
supply his wants, delivered back this year to first in a provincial synod, and these sent deputhe Dutch their cautionary towns, which were ties to the national one, with proper instructhe keys of their country, for less than a quar- tions. The Remonstrants were averse to the
ter part of the money that had been lent on calling a synod, because their numbers were as
them.                                         yet unequql to the Calvinists, and their leaders
This year [1617] died the learned and judicious Mr. Paul Baynes, born in London, and ed-    See Clarke's Lives, annexed to his General Marucated in Christ College, Cambridge, of which tyrology, p. 24, who tells us that Mr. Baynes, being
he was a fellow. He succeeded Mr. Perkins in summoned on a time before the privy council, on
the lecture at St. Andrew's Church, where he pretence of keeping conventicles, and called on to
behaved with that gravity and exemplary piety speak for himself, made such an excellent speech,
which rendered him universally acceptable to all that, in the midst of it, a nobleman stood up and said,
who had any taste for serious religion, till Arch- "dare speaks more toke an angel than a man, any sentence
dare not stay here to have a hand in any sentence
bishop Bancroft, sending Dr. Harsnet to visit against him." Upon which speech he was dismissed,
the University, called upon Mr. Baynes to sub- and never heard any more from them. The followscribe according to the canons, which he refu- ing anecdote is related of Mr. Baynes, showing the
sing, the doctor silenced him, and put down his warmth of his natural temper, with his readiness to
lecture. Mr. Baynes appealed to the archbish- receive reproof, and to make a proper use of it. A
op, but his grace stood by his chaplains, and religious gentleman placed his son under his care
threatened to lay the good old man by the heels and tuition, and Mr. Baynes, entertaining some
threatened to lay the good old man by the heels friends at supper, sent the boy into the town for
for appearing before him with a little black edg- something whch they wanted. Th the town for
ing upon his cuffs.  After this, Mr. Baynes longer than was proper. Mr. Baynes reproved him
preached only occasionally, as he could get op- with some sharpness, severely censuring his conportunity, and was reduced to such poverty and duct. The boy remained silent;,but the next day,
want, that he said " he had not where to lay his when his tutor was calm, he thus addressed him:
head " but at length death put an end to his " My father placed me under your care not only for
sufferings, in the year 1617.  He published " A  the benefit of human learning, but that by your pious
Commentary upon the Ephesians," " The Dio- counsel and example I might be brought up in the
fear of God; but you, sir, giving way to your passion
clesian's Trial" against Dr. Downham, and some the last night, gave me a very evil example, such as
other practical treatises.  Dr. Sibbes says " he I have never seen in my father's house." " Sayest
was a divine of uncommon learning, clear judg- thou so?" answered Mr. Baynes: " go to my tailor,
ment, ready wit, and of much communion with  and let him buy thee a suit of clothes, and make them
God and his own heart. What pity was it that for thee, which I will pay for, to make thee amends."
And it is added, that Mr. Baynes watched more nar* Mr. Neal abridges Rapin, and gives the sense rowly over his own spirit ever after.-Brookes's Lies,
rather than the exact words. -ED.             &c., vol. ii., p. 264.-C.




264                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
being in custody, it was easy to foretel their maintained agreeably to the Scriptures and the
approaching fate. They complained of injus- doctrine of the Church of England. (2.) To adtice in their summons to the provincial assem- vise the Dutch ministers not to insist in their
blies, but Trigland says that where the Remon- sermons upon scholastic points, but to abide by
strants [Arminians] were weakest they were their former confession of faith, and those of
equally regarded with the other party; but in their neighbour Reformed churches.  (3.) That
truth their deputies were angry and dissatis- they should consult the king's honour, the peace
flied, and in many places absented from their of the distracted churches, and behave in all
classes, and so yielded up their power into the things with gravity and moderation.
hands of their adversaries, who condemned their   When all the members of the synod Wvere asprinciples and deposed several of their ministers. sembled, they took the following oath, in the
The National Synod of Dort consisted of thir- twenty-third session, each person standing up
ty-eight Dutch and Walloon divines, five pro- in his place, and laying his hand upon his heart,
fessors of the universities, and twenty-one lay-   " I promise, before God, whom I believe and
elders, making together sixty-one persons, of worship, as here present, and as the searcher of
which not above three or four were Remon- the reins and heart, that during the whole course
strants. Besides these, there were twenty-eight of the transactions of this synod, in which there
foreign divines, from Great Britain, from the will be made an inquiry into, and judgment and
Palatinate, from Hessia, Switzerland, Geneva, decision of, not only the well-known five points,
Bremen, Embden, Nassau, and Wetteravia; the and all the difficulties resulting from thence, but
French king not admitting his Protestant divines likewise of all other sorts of doctrine, I will not
to appear.  Next to the States' deputies sat the make use of any kind of human writings, but
English divines; the second place was reserved  only of the Word of God, as a sure and infallible
for the French divines; the rest sat in the or- rule of faith. Neither will I have any other thing
der recited.  Upon the right and left hand of in view throughout this whole discussion but
the chair, next to the lay-deputies, sat the Neth- the honour of God, the peace of the Church, and,
erland professors of divinity, then the ministers above all, the preservation of the purity of docand elders, according to the rank of their prov- trine.  So help me my Saviour Jesus Christ,
inces; the Walloon churches sitting last.  Af- whom  I ardently beseech to assist me in this
ter the divines, as well domestic as foreign, had my design, by his Holy Spirit."*
produced their credentials, the Rev. Mr. John    This was all the oath that was taken, says
Bogerman, of Leewarden, was chosen president, Bishop Hall, as I hope to be saved.  It was
the Rev. Mr. Jacob Roland and Herman Fauke- therefore an unjust insinuation of Mr. John
lius, of Amsterdam and Middleburgh, assessors; Goodwin, who, in his " Redemption Redeemed,"
Heinsius was scribe, and the Rev. Mr. Dammon p. 395, charged them  with taking a previous
and Festius Hommius, secretaries; a general oath to condemn the opposite party on what
fast was then appointed, after which they pro- terms soever.  " It grieves my soul," says the
ceeded to business.                            bishop, " to see any learned divine raising such
The names of the English divines were, Dr. imaginary conjectures; but since I have seen
Carlton, bishop of Llandaff; Dr. Hall, dean of it, I bless my God that I yet live to vindicate
Worcester, afterward bishop of Norwich; Dr. them [1651] by this my knowing and clear atDavenant, afterward bishop of Salisbury; and  testation, which I am ready to second with the
Dr. Samuel Ward, master of Sidney College, solemnest oath, if required."
Cambridge;* but Dr. Hall not being able to    The synod continued to the 29th of May, in
bear the climate,t Dr. Goad, prebendary of Can- which time there were one hundred and eighty
terbury, was appointed in his room. Mr. Balcan- sessions.  In the hundred and forty-fifth sesqual, a Scotsman, but no friend to the Kirk, was sion, and 30th of April, the Belgic confession of
also commissioned by King James to represent faith was debated and put to the question, which
that church.  He was taken into consultation, the English divines agreed to, except the articles
and joined in suffrage with the English divines, relating to the parity of ministers and ecclesiso as to make one college; for the divines of astical discipline. They said they had carefully
each nation gave only one vote in the synod, as examined the said confession, and did not find
their united sense; and though Balcanqual did anything therein, with respect to faith and docnot wear the habits of the English divines, nor trine, but what was, in the main, conformable
sit with them in the synod, having a place by to the Word of God.t  They added, that they
himself as representative of the Scots Kirk, yet, had likewise considered the Remonstrants' [Arsays the Bishop of Llandaff, his apparel was minians] exceptions against the said confession,
decent, and in all respects he gave much satis- and declared that they were of such a nature as
faction.  His majesty's instructions to them  to be capable of being made against all the conwere, (1.) To agree among themselves about fessions of other Reformed churches. They did
the state of any question, and how far it may be not pretend to pass any judgment upon the articles relating to their church government, but
*Fuller's Worthies, p. 159.           only maintained that their own church governt Before Bishop Hall left the synod he delivered upon apostolic institution.
Latin sermon before the Assembly, who, by their   Mr. Jt w as  founded upon   apostolic i nstitution.
president and assistants, took a solemn leave of him Mr. John Hales, of Eton, chaplain to the Engand the deputies of the States dismissed him with lish ambassador Carlton, sat among the hearers
honourable rewards, and sent him a rich gold medal, for some weeks, and having taken minutes of the
bearing the portraiture of the synod. Dr. Hall was proceedings, transmitted them twice or thrice a
moderate upon the five poimnts controverted in that,
synod, as appears by the treatise which he soon after   * Brandt, vol. iii., p. 62; or the Abridgment of
wrote, and which is among his published works, un- Brandt, 8vo, vol. ii., p. 417.
der the title of "Via Media."-Hall's Life in Middle-   t Brandt, vol. iii., p. 288; or Abridgment, vol. ii.,
ton's Biography, vol. iii., p. 355.-C.        p. 508, 509.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  265
week to his excellency at the Hague. After his heresy to be sound and orthodox [i. e., an Armindeparture, Dr. Balcanqual, the Scots commis- ian] accordingto the Book ofArticles established
sioner, and Dr. Ames, carried on the correspond- by law in the Church of England."  He adds.
ence.  Mr. Hales observes that the Remon- "that King James did not appear for Calvinism
strants behaved on several occasions very im- out of judgment, but for reasons of state, and
prudently,* not only in the manner of their de- from a personal friendship to Prince Maurice,
bates, but in declining the authority of the synod, who had put himself at their head. He therethough summoned by the civil magistrate in the  fore sent such divines as had zeal enough to
most unexceptionable manner. The five points condemn the Remonstrants, though it was wet!
of difference between the Calvinists and Armin- known that he had disapproved the article o1':
ians, after a long hearing, were decided in fa- Lambeth, and the doctrine of predestination
vour of the former. After which the Remon- nor was it a secret what advice he had given
strant ministers were dismissed the assembly, Prince Maurice before he put himself at the
and banished the country within a limited time, head of the Calvinists."*
except they submitted to the new confession;   When the synod was risen, people spake of
on which occasion some very hard speeches it in a very different manner;t the States of
were mutually exchanged, and appeals made to  Holland were highly satisfied: they gave high
the final tribunal of God.                   rewards to the chief divines,+ and ordered the
When the opinion of the British divines was  original records of their proceedings to be pre.
read, upon the extent of Christ's redemption, served among their archives. The English di.
it was observed that they omitted the received  vines expressed full satisfaction in the proceeddistinction between the sufficiency and efficacy  ings of the synod. Mr. Baxter says the Chrisof it; nor did they touch upon the received lim- tian world, since the days of the apostles, never
itation of those passages which, speaking of had an assembly of more excellent divines.
Christ's dying for the whole world, are usually  The learned Jacobus Capellus, professor of Leyinterpreted of the world of the elect, Dr. Dave- den, declared that the equity of the fathers of
nant and some of his brethren inclining to the  this synod was such, that no instance can be
doctrine of universal redemption.t  In all oth- given, since the apostolic age, of any other syner points there was a perfect harmony; and  od in which the heretics were heard with more
even in this Balcanqual says King James and  patience, or which proceeded with a better temthe Archbishop of Canterbury desired them to  per or more sanctity.  P. du Moulin, Paulus
comply, though Heylin says their instructions  Servita, and the author of the life of Waleus,
were not to oppose the doctrine of universal re- speaks the same language.  But others poured
demption.  But Dr. Davenant and Ward were  contempt upon the synod, and burlesqued their
for a middle way between the two extremes: proceedings in the following lines:
they maintained the certainty of the salvation    Dordrechti synodus, nodus; chorus integer, reger;
of the elect, and that offers of pardon were sent    Conventus, ventus, sessio, stramen, Amen.
not only to all who should believe and repent, Lewis du Moulin, with all the favourers of the
but to all who heard the Gospel; and that grace Arminian doctrines, as Heylin, Womack, Brandt,
sufficient to convince and persuade the impeni- &c., charge them with partiality and unjustifiatent (so as to lay the blame of their condemna- ble severity. Upon the whole, in my judgment,
tion upon themselves) went along with these  they proceeded with as much discretion and
offers; that the redemption of Christ and his candour as most assemblies, ancient or modern,
merits were applicable to these, and, conse- have done, who have pretended to establish arquently, there was a possibility of their salva- ticles for other men's faith with penal sanctions.
tion. However, they complied with the synod, I shall take leave of this venerable body with
and declared their confession, in the main, this farther remark, that King James sending
agreeable to the Word of God; but this gave over divines to join this assembly was on open
rise to a report, some years after, that they had  acknowledgment of the validity of ordination
deserted the doctrine of the Church of England; by mere presbyters; here being a bishop of the
upon which Bishop Hall expressed his concern  Church of England sitting as a private member
to Doctor Davenant in these words: " I shall in a synod of divines of which a mere presbylive and die in suffrage'of that Synod of Dort; ter was the president.
and I do confidently avow that those other opin-   In the summer of the year 1617, King James
ions [of Arminius] cannot stand with the doctrine  made a progress into Scotland, to advance the
of the Church of England."  To which Bishop  episcopal cause in that country; the Chapel of
Davenant replied in these words: "I know that Edinburgh was adorned after the manner of
no man can embrace Arminianism in the doc- Whitehall, pictures being carried from hence,
trines of predestination and grace, but he must together with the statues of the twelve apostles,
desert the articles agreed upon by the Church  which were set up in the church. His majesty
of England; nor in the point of perseverance, treated his Scots subjects with a haughty disbut he must vary from the received opinions  tance; telling them, both in the Parliament and
of our best-approved doctors in the English  General Assembly, "that it was a power innate,
Church."  Yet Heylin has the assurance to  a princely special prerogative which Christian
say, "that though the Arminian controversy  kings have, to order and dispose external things
brought some trouble for the present to the
churches of Holland, it was of greater advan-   * Hist. Presb., p. 381.
tage to the Church of England, whose doctrine    t Brandt, p. 307, 308; or Abridgment, vol. ii., p.
in those points had been so overborne by the  531.
Calvinists, that it was almost reckoned for a   $ Each divine of the United Provinces received
four florins a day. The synod cost ten tons of gold,
* Hales's Remains. p. 507, 512, 526, 586, 587.   i. e., a million of florins. —Brandt Abridged, vol. ii., p,
t Brandt, p. 526.                        531.-ED.
VOL. I. —L L




266                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
in the outward polity of the Church, or as we  support it. Upon this, the king's commissioner,
with our bishops shall think fit; and, sirs, for by advice of the bishops and council, issued a
your approving or disproving, deceive not your-  proclamation, commanding all ministers to deselves: I will not have my reason opposed."  part out of Edinburgh within twenty hours, exTwo acts relating to the Church were passed  cept the settled ministers of the city, and such
this session; one concerning the choice of arch- as should have a license from the bishop. The
bishops and bishops, and another for the resti- ministers obeyed, leaving behind them a prottution of chapters; but the ministers protesting  estation against the articles, and an admoagainst both, several of them were suspended  nition to the members of Parliament not to ratand deprived, and others banished, as, the Mel- ify them, as they would answer it in the day
vins, Mr. Forbes, &c., and as the famous Mr. of judgment. They alleged that the assembly
Calderwood, author of the Altare Damascenum, of Perth was illegal, and that the articles were
had been before; which book, when one of the  against the privileges of the Kirk and the estabEnglish prelates promised to answer, the king  lished laws of the kingdom.  This bred a great
replied," What will you answer, man? There  deal of ill blood, and raised a new persecution
is nothing here than Scripture, reason, and fa- throughout the kingdom, many of the Presbythers."*                                       terian ministers being fined, imprisoned, and
Next year a convention or assembly was  banished by the High Commission, at a time
summoned to meet at Perth, August 25, 1618. when, by their interest with the people, it was
It consisted of some noblemen, statesmen, bar- in their power to have turned their taskmasters
ons, and burgesses, chosen on purpose to bear out of the kingdom.*
down the ministers; and with what violence    Thus far King James proceeded towards the
things were carried, God and all indifferent restitution of episcopacy in Scotland, but one
spectators, says my author, are witnesses.  In  thing was still wanting to complete the work,
this assembly the court and bishops made a  which was a public liturgy or Book of Common
shift to carry the following five articles:    Prayer. Several consultations were held upon
1. That the Holy Sacrament shall be received  this head, but the king, being assured it would
kneeling.                                     occasion an insurrection over the whole king2. That ministers shall be obliged to admin- dom, wisely dropped it, leaving that unhappy
ister the sacrament in private houses to the sick, work to be finished by his son, whose imposing it
if they desire it.                            upon the Kirk, without consent of Parliament or
3. That ministers may baptize children pri- General Assembly, set fire to the discontents of
vately at home, in cases of necessity, only cer- the people, which had been gathering for many
tifying it to the congregation the next Lord's  years.
Day.                                             To return to England. This year the learned
4. That ministers shall bring such children  Mr. Selden was summoned before the High
of their parish as can say their catechism, and  Commission for publishing his History of Tithes,
repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the  in which he proves them not to be of Divine,
Ten Commandments, to the bishops, to confirm  but human appointment; and, after many threatand give them their blessing.                  enings, was obliged to sign the following recan5. That the festivals of Christmas, Easter, tation:
Whitsuntide, and the Ascension of our Saviour,     " My good lords,
shall, for the future, be commemorated in the    "I most humbly acknowledge my error in
Kirk of Scotland.t                             publishing the History of Tithes, and especially
The king ordered these articles to be publish- in that I have at all (by showing any interpreed at the market-crosses of the several bor- tation of Holy Scriptures, by meddling with
oughs, and the ministers to read them in their councils, fathers, or canons, or by what else sopulpits, which the greatest number of the latter ever occurs in it) offered any occasion of argurefused, there being no penalty except the king's  ment against any right of maintenance, jure didispleasure; but the vote of the assembly at vino, of the ministers of the Gospel: beseeching
Perth not being sufficient to establish these ar- your lordships to receive this ingenuous and
ticles into a law, it was resolved to use all the  humble acknowledgment, together with the uninterest of the court to carry them through the  feigned protestation of my grief, for that I have
Parliament. This was not attempted till the  so incurred his majesty and your lordships' disyear 1621, when the Parliament meeting on the  pleasure conceived against me in behalf of the
1st of June, the ministers had prepared a sup- Church of England.
plication against the five articles, giving reasons    " January 28, 1618.  JOHN SELDEN."
why they should not be received or confirmed,   Notwithstanding this submission, Mr. Fuller
and came to Edinburgh in great numbers to  says it is certain that a fiercer storm never fell
upon all parsonage barnst since the Reforma* This Bishop Warburton understands as said
ironically.-ED.                                  * Bishop Warburton is not willing to allow them
t " A prince," observes a judicious historian, the praise of acting with this caution and temper,
"must be strangely infatuated and strongly preju- "for," he remarks, "soon after they used their interdiced to employ his power and influence in establish- est to this purpose, and I believe they began to use it
ing such matters as these! Let rites and ceremo- as soon as they got it." The bishop did not connies be deemed ever so decent, who will say they  sider that it is not in human nature, any more than
are fit to be imposed by methods of severity and con- it is consistent with wisdom and moderation, to prostraint'! Yet, by these ways, these matters were  ceed, though injured and provoked, to extremities at
introduced among the Scots, to the disgrace of hu- first. That the Scotch Presbyterian ministers should
manity and the eternal blemish of a prince who  have great interest with the people, was the necesboasted of his learning, and was forever displaying  sary consequence of their being sufferers for the prin.
his abilities."-Dr. HIarris's Life of James, p. 236, 237. ciples of the Kirk and the nation.-ED.
-En                                             t Bishop Warburton, because he himself appro



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      267
tion what was raised by this treatise; nor did severity of the times, was put under a bushMr. Selden quickly forget their stopping his el!*
mouth after this manner.*                       In order to put a stop to the growth of PuriThis year died the Rev. Mr. William Brad- tanism, and silence the objections of papists
shaw, born at Bosworth, in Leicestershire, 1571, against the strictness of the Reformed religion,
and educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge. his majesty this year published " A Declaration
He was afterward removed, and admitted fellow  to encourage Recreations and Sports on the
of Sidney College, where he got an easy admis- Lord's Day," contrary to his proclamation in
sion into the ministry, being dispensed with in the first year of his reign, and to the articles of
some things that he scrupled. He preached first the Church of Ireland, ratified under the great
as a lecturer at Abingdon, and then at Steeple- seal, 1615, in which the morality of the Lord's
Morton. At length, by the recommendation of Day is affirmed.  "But," says Heylin, "the PuriDr. Chadderton, he was settled at Chatham, in tans, by raising the Sabbath, took occasion to
Kent, in the year 1601; but before he had been depress the festivals, and introduced, by little
there a twelvemonth he was sent for by the and little, a general neglect of the weekly fasts,
archbishop to Shorne, a town situate between the holy time of Lent, and the Embering days,
Rochester and Gravesend, and commanded to reducing all acts of humiliation to solemn and
subscribe, which he refusing, was immediately  occasional fasts."*   Sad indeed!  "But this
suspended. The inhabitantsofChatham,in their was not all the mischief," says the doctor, " for
petition for his restoration, say that his doctrine several preachers and justices of the peace took
was most wholesome, true, and learned, void of occasion from hence to forbid all lawful sports
faction and contention, and his life so garnished  on the Lord's Day, by means whereof the priests
with unblemished virtues and graces, as malice and Jesuits persuaded the people in the northitself could not reprove him. But all interces- ern counties that the Reformed religion was insions were to no purpose; he therefore remo- compatible with that Christian liberty which
ved into another diocess, where he obtained a God and nature had indulged to the sons of
license, and at length was chosen lecturer of men; so that, to preserve the people from poChrist Church, in London. Here he published  pery, his majesty was brought under a necessia treatise against the ceremonies, for which he ty to publish the Book of Sports."
was obliged to leave the city, and retired to his   It was drawn up by Bishop Moreton, and dafriend Mr. Redriche's, at Newhall, in Leicester- ted from Greenwich, May 24, 1618, and it was
shire.  The. bishop's chancellor followed him  to this effect: " That for his good people's recthither with an inhibition to preach, but by the reation, his majesty's pleasure was that after the
mediation of a couple of good angels, says my  end of Divine service they should not be disauthor, the restraint was taken off.t  In this turbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful
silent and melancholy retirement he spent the recreations, such as dancing, either of men or
vigour and strength of his days. At length, as women, archery for men, vaulting, or any such
he was attending Mrs. Redriche on a visit to harmless recreations; nor having May-games,
Chelsea, he was seized with a violent fever, Whitson-ales, or morrice-dances, or setting up
which in a few days put an end to his life, in of Maypoles, or other sports therewith used, so
the forty-eighth year of his age. He was full as the same may be had in due and convenient.of heavenly expressions in his last sickness, and time, without impediment or let of Divine serdied with great satisfaction in his nonconform- vice; and that women should have leave to
ity. Dr. Hall, bishop of Norwich, gives him this carry rushes to the church for the decorating
character: "That he was of a strong brain, and  of it, according to their old customs; withal
of a free spirit, not suffering himself, for small prohibiting all unlawful games to be used on
differences of judgment, to be alienated from his Sundays only, as bear-baiting, bull-baiting, infriends, to whom, notwithstanding his seeming  terludes, and at all times (in the meaner sort of
austerity, he was very pleasing in conversation, people prohibited) bowling."  Two or three rebeing full of witty and harmless urbanity; he straints were annexed to the declaration, which
was very strong and eager in arguing, hearty in deserve the reader's notice: (1.) No recusant
friendship, regardless of the world, a despiser of [i. e., papist] was to have the benefit of this deccompliments, a lover of reality, full of digest- laration.  (2.) Nor such as were not present at
ed and excellent notions, a painful labourer in the whole of Divine service.  (3.) Nor such as
God's vineyard, and now, no doubt, gloriously  did not keep to their own parish churches, that
rewarded."  Such was this light, which, by the is, Puritans.
This declaration was ordered to be read in
ved of the principle of Mr. Selden's book, as placing    This declaration was ordered to be read in
the claim of tithes " on the sure foundation of law in-     the parish churches in Lancashire, which
stead of the feeble prop of an imaginary Divine abounded with papists; and Wilson adds. that
Tight," carps at this expression of Mr. Neal, though it was to be read in all the churches of Engthe words of Fuller, and asks, "Where was the land; but that Archbishop Abbot, being at Croystorm, except in the author's fanciful standish?" The don, flatly forbid its being read there.  It was
answer is, the storm was in the offence Mr. Selden's  certainly an imprudent project, as well as a
doctrine gave the clergy, and the indignation of the                                   king
court which it drew on him. The clergy published
angry animadversions on it, and the king threaten- insisted upon its being read throughout all the
ed to throw him into prison if he replied in his own churches at this time, I am apt to think it would
defence. —British Biography, vol. iv., p. 377.-ED.    have produced the same convulsions as it did
* Mr. Selden's writings continued to influence the about fifteen years afterward.
public mind, and to expose to merited contempt the
unfounded pretensions and exactions of the clergy. —    * Mr. Bradshaw's writings were numerous, and all
C.                                            are excellent, especially his treatise on Justification,
t Gataker's Life of Bradshaw, in Clarke's Lives, which was highly praised by Dr. Prideaux.-C
annexed to his General Martyrology.-C.          t Heylin's Hist. of Presb., p. 389, 390.




268                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
It is hard to account for the distinction be- erected a stately college, and put the papists on
tween lawful and unlawful sports on the Lord's a level with the Protestants.*  Matthias, the
Day: if any sports are lawful, why not all? present emperor, having adopted his cousin
what reason can be given why morrice-dances, Ferdinand of Austria, had a mind to get him
revels, AIay-games, Whitson-ales, wakes, &c., the crown of Bohemia; for which purpose he
should be more lawful than interludes, bull-bait- summoned an assembly of the States, without
ing, or bowls. It cannot arise from their mor- sending, as usual, to the Protestants of Silesia,
al nature, for the former have as great a ten- Moravia, and the Upper and Lower Alsatia;
dency to promote vice as the latter.  But the these, therefore, not attending (according to the
exceptions to the benefit of this declaration are emperor's wish), made the Catholics a majority,
more extraordinary: could his majesty think  who declared Ferdinand presumptive successor
that the Puritans, who were present at part of to Matthias; after which he was crowned at
Divine service, though not at the whole; or Prague, and resided at Gratz.  The defenders
that those who went to other parish churches taking notice of this breach of their constitution,
for their better edification, would lay hold of the and perceiving the design of the imperial court
liberty of his declaration, when he knew they  to extirpate the Protestant religion, summoned
believed the morality of the fourth command- an assembly of all the States, and among others,
ment, and that no ordinance of man could make those of Silesia, Moravia, and Alsatia, who
void the law of God? farther, his majesty de- drew up a petition to the emperor, to demand
bars recusants [i. e., papists] from this liberty, the execution of the laws, and a reasonable satwhich their religion had always indulged them; isfaction for the injuries they had received; afbut these are now to be restrained.  The pa- ter which they adjourned themselves to the
pist is to turn Puritan, with regard to the Sab- Monday after Rogation week, 1618. The embath, being forbid the use of lawful recreations peror, instead of granting their requests, orderon the Lord's Day; and Protestants are to ed his lieutenant to hinder the reassembling of
dance and revel, and go to their May-games on the States, as being called without his license;
that sacred day, to preserve them from popery! but the States assembled according to the adThis subject will return again in the next reign. journment, and being informed of the force that
This year and the next proved fatal to the was designed against them, went in a body to
Protestant interest in Germany, by the loss of the Chancery, and having seized the emperor's
the Palatinate into the hands of the papists, and chief-justice, the secretary, and another of his
the ruin of the elector Frederic V., king of Bo- council, they threw them out of the castle-winhemia, who had married the king's only daugh- dow, and then drove the Jesuits out of the city.
ter.  This being a remarkable period, relating  In order to justify their proceedings, they pubto the ancestors of his present majesty King lished to the world an apology, and having
George II., it will be no useless digression to signed a confederacy to stand by one another
place it in its proper light.  The kingdom of against all opposers, they chose twenty-four
Bohemia was elective, and because their king protectors, empowering them  to raise forces,
did not always reside with them, a certain num- and levy such taxes as they should find necesber of persons were chosen by the States, called sary.
defenders, to see the laws put'in execution.   In this situation of affairs, the emperor, who
There were two religions established by law:* was also King of Bohemia, died, and on the
one was called sub-una, the other sub-utraque; 18th of August, 1619, Ferdinand was chosen
the professors of the former were Roman Cath- his successor in the Empire; but the Bohemiolics, and communicated under one kind; of ans not only disowned him for their king, but
the latter, Hussites, and since the Reformation  declared the throne vacant, and on September
Protestants, who communicated under both 5th chose Frederic, elector palatine, KingJames's
kinds.  The Emperor Sigismund, in order to son-in-law, for their sovereign.  Deputies were
secure his election to this kingdom, granted the immediately sent to acquaint him  with the
Hlssites an edict in the year 1435, whereby it choice, and pray him to repair immediately to
was decreed that there should be no magistrate  Prague.  Frederic despatched an express to
or freeman of the city of Prague but what was England to desire the advice of his father-inof their religion. This was religiously observed law; but the affair not admitting of so long detill the year 1570, when, by order of the Em- lay, he accepted the kingdom, and was crown
peror Maximilian, a Catholic was made a citi- ed at Prague, November 4th.
zen of Prague, after which time, the edict was    All the Protestant electors rejoiced at this
frequently broken, till at length the Jesuits providence, and gave him the title of King of
Bohemia, as did most of the Protestant powers
* These are the words of Rapin; but Bishop War- of Europe, except the King of England. It was
burton says, "This is a mistake. There were not acceptable news to the English Puritans to hear
two religions, but one only, administering a single of a Protestant prince in Bohemia; and they
rite differently." This remark would be accurate, earnestly desired his majesty to support him, as
if the difference between the two parties had lain
only in this point; but this could not be the case be- known to speak the sense of that whole paty.
tween the Catholics and Hussites; the difference     to speak the sense of that whole party.
between whom extended to many essential heads, This prelate being asked his opinion as a privy
though they were, with respect to this matter, de- counsellor, while he was confined to his bed
nominated from one single point. But the bishop with the gout, wrote the folllowing letter to the
asserts that "the fancy of two established religions secretary of state: " That it was his opinion
in one state is an absurdity." But absurdities may that the elector should accept the crown; that
exist, and this very absurdity exists, and did exist at England should support him openly; and that,
the time his lordship wrote, in Great Britain: in onews of his coronation should ar
part of which episcopacy is the established religion,
and in the other, Scotland, Presbyterianism.-ED.    * Rapin, vol. ii., p. 197, folio edit.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   269
rive, the bells should be rung, guns fired, and    Among the Brownists in Holland, we have
bonfires made, to let all Europe see that the mentioned the Rev. Mr. John Robinson, of
king was determined to countenance him."*  Leyden, the father of the Independents, whose
The archbishop adds, " It is a great honour to  numerous congregations being on the decline,
our king to have such a son made a king; me- by their aged members dying off and their chil.thinks I foresee in this the work of God, that dren marrying into Dutch families, they conby degrees the kings of the earth shall leave sulted how to preserve their church and relithe whore to desolation.  Our striking in will gion; and at length, after several solemn adcomfort the Bohemians, and bring in the Dutch  dresses to Heaven for direction, the younger
and the Dane, and Hungary will run the same part of the congregation resolved to remove
fortune. As for money and means, let us trust into some part of America, under the protection
God and the Parliament, as the old and honour- of the King of England, where they might enjoy
able way of raising money. This from my bed," the liberty of their consciences, and be capable
says the brave old prelate, " September' 12, of encouraging their friends and countrymen
1619, and when I can stand I will do better to follow them. Accordingly, they sent over
service."                                    agents into England, who, having obtained a
But the king disliked the archbishop's letter, patent from  the crown, agreed with several
as built upon Puritan principles; he had an ill merchants to become adventurers in the unopinion of elective kingdoms, and of the people's dertaking. Several of Mr. Robinson's congrepower to dispose of crowns; besides, he was gation sold their estates and made a common
afraid of disobliging the Roman Catholic pow- bank, with which they purchased a small ship
ers, and, in particular, the King of Spain, a near of sixty tons, and hired another of one hundred
relation of the new emperor's, with whom he and eighty.  The agents sailed into Holland
was in treaty for a wife for his son; so that with their own ship; to take in as many of the
the elector's envoy, after long waiting, was congregation as were willing to embark, while
sent back with an admonition to his son-in-law  the other vessel was freighting with all the neto refuse the crown; but this being too late, he cessaries for the new plantation. All things
took it into his head to persuade him to resign being ready, Mr. Robinson observed a day of
it, and stood still, offering his mediation, and fasting and prayer with his congregation, and
sending ambassadors, while the emperor raised took his leave of the adventurers with the followa powerful army, not only to reduce the king- ing truly generous and Christian exhortation:
dom of Bohemia, but to dispossess the elector
of his hereditary dominions. Several princes       Bretre now quickly to part from one anof Europe gave King James notice of the design, "oWe  are now quickly to part from one anand exhorted him to support the Protestant re- other, an  whether I may ever live to see your
ligion in the empire, but his majesty was deaf faces  on earth any more the God of heaven
to all advice, and for the sake of a Spanish wife only knows;  but whether the Lord has apfor his son, suffered his own daughter, with a pointed that or no, I charge you, before God
numerous family of children, to be sent a begging, and  his blessed angels, that you follow me no
and the balance of Protestant power to be lost farther than you have seen me follow the Lord
in the empire; for the next summer the emperor Jesus Christ.
and his allies, having conquered the Palatinate,    i If God reveal anything to you, by any other
entered Bohemia, and about the middle of No- instrument of his, be as ready to receive it as
vember fought the decisive battle of Prague, ever you were to receive any truth by my minwherein Frederic's army was entirely routed  istry; for I am verily persuaded the Lord has
his hereditary dominions, which had been the more truth yet to break forth out of his holy
sanctuary of the Protestants in Queen Mary's Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently hesanctuary of the Protestants in Queen Mary's
reign, were given to the Duke of Bavaria, a wail the condition of the Reformed churches,
papist, the noble library of Heidelberg was who are come to a period in religion,* and will
carried off to the Vatican at Rome, and the go at present no farther than the instruments
elector himself, with his wife and children, for- of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be
ced to fly into Holland in a starving condition.  drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; whatHad the King of England had any remains of ever part of his will our God has revealed to
honour, courage, or esteem for the Protestant Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it;
religion, he might have preserved it in the Pa- and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where
latinate, and established it in Bohemia, by which they were left by that great man of God, who
the balance of power would have been on that yet saw not all things.
side; but this cowardly prince would not draw' This is a misery much to be lamented, for
his sword for the best cause in the world;   * The remarks of Acontius are pertinent here:
however, this noble family was the care of Di- "The cause," says he, " that the relics of error and
vine Providence during a long exile of twenty- superstition are perpetuated is, that as often as there
eight years, after which they were restored to is any reformation of religion, either in doctrine or
their dominions by the treaty of Munster, 1648, worship, men think that everything is not to be imand declared presumptive heirs of the crown of mediately reformed at first, but the most distinguishGreat Britain in the last year of King William  in'g errors only are to be done away; and that, when
some time has intervened, the reformation will be
III., of which they took possession upon the completed with less difficulty. But the event hath in.
death of Queen Anne, 1714, to the inexpressible many places shown that it is more diffcult to remove the
joy of the Protestant Dissenters, and of all who relics of false worship and opinions, than it was at first
loved the Reformed religion and the liberties of to subvert findamental errors. Hence it is better to
their country.                              correct everything at once." " Sed ex eo etiain fieri
potest, ut maneant errorum atque superstitionum re~ * Cabala, b. i., p. 12; or p. 18 of the edition in liquia," &c.-Acontii Statagematum Satanc, libri octo.
1663.                                       ed., 1652, p. 330.-ED.




270                     HISTORY OF THE: PURITANS.
though they were burning and shining lights in friends in England, they maintained their statheir times, yet they penetrated not into the tion, and laid the foundation of one of the nowhole counsel of God, but were they now living, blest settlements in America, which from that
would be as willing to embrace farther light as time has proved an asylum for the Protestant
that which they first received.  I beseech you Nonconformists under all their oppressions.*
remember, it is an article of your church-cove-   To return to England: though the king had
nant, that you be ready to receive whatever so lately expressed a zeal for the doctrines of
truth shall be made known to you from the Calvin at the Synod of Dort, it now appeared
written Word of God.  Remember that, and that he had shaken them off, by his advancing
every other article of your sacred covenant. the most zealous Arminians, as Buckeridge,
But I must here withal exhort you to take heed Neile, Harsnet, and Laud, to some of the best
what you receive as truth-examine it, consid- bishoprics in the kingdom.  These divines, aper it, and compare it with other Scriptures of prehending their principles hardly consistent
truth, before you receive it; for it is not possi- with the Thirty-nine Articles, fell in with the
ble the Christian world should come so lately prerogative, and covered themselves under the
out of such thick antichristian darkness, and wing of his majesty's pretensions to unlimited
that perfection of knowledge should break forth power, which gave rise to a new distinction at
at once.                                      court between Church and State Puritans., All
"I must also advise you to abandon, avoid, were Puritans with King James who stood by
and shake off the name of Brownists; it is a the laws of the land in opposition to his arbitramere nickname, and a brand for the making re- ry government, though otherwise never so good
ligion and the professors of it odious to the churchmen; these were Puritans in the State,
Christian world."                              as those who scrupled the ceremonies, and espoused the doctrines of Calvin, were in the
On July 1 (1620), the adventurers went from  Church.  The Church Puritans were comparaLeyden to Delfthaven, whither Mr. Robinson tively few, but being joined by those who stood
and the ancients of his congregation accompa- by the Constitution, they became the majority
nied them; they continued together all night, / of the nation.  To balance these, the king proand next morning, after mutual embraces, Mr.!tected and countenanced the Arminians and
Robinson kneeled down on the seashore, and lpapists, who joined heartily with the prerogawith a fervent prayer committed them to the tive, and became a state faction against the old
protection and blessing of Heaven. The adven- English Constitution.  The parties, being thus
turers  were about one hundred and twenty, formed, grew up into hatred of each other.  All
who, having joined their other ship, sailed for who opposed the king's arbitrary measures were
New-England, August 5; but one of their ves- called at court by the name of Puritans; and
sels proving leaky, they left it, and embarked in
one vessel, which arrived at Cape Cod Novem-   * This colony is honourably distinguished from
ber 9, 1620.  Sad was the condition of these all others in ancient or modern times. It was plantpoor men, who had the winter before them, and ed under the influence of Christian principles, and
was designed to be a refuge whither the persecuted
no accommodations at land for their entertain- in England might repair with safety. The parties
ment; most of them were in a weak and sickly who originated it were men of exalted piety; and the
condition with the voyage, but there was no rem- motives which swayed their conduct were of the
edy; they therefore manned their long-boat, highest and purest order of which human nature adand having coasted the shore, at length found a mits. Other colonies had been founded at the imtolerable harbour, where they landed their ef- I pulse of national glory, or of commercial enterprise,;
fects, and on the 25th of December began to h but this sprang from a sacred regard to the interests
f of religion, whose healthful tone and vigorous nature
build a storehouse, and some small cottages to it proclaimed to the communities of Europe. The
preserve them  from the weather.  Their corn- character of the colonists gave a religious complexion
pany was divided into nineteen families, each to their affairs, while their fortitude and piety revived
family having an allotment of land for lodging the hopes of theirbrethren at home, and gave promise
and gardens, in proportion to the number of of a better state of things than had yet been realized.
persons of which it consisted; and, to prevent The world which the enterprising genius of Columdisputes, the situation of each family was deci- bus had revealed to the European nations was a theaded by lot. They agreed, likewise, upon some  tre on which new maxims of government and new
ied by lot. They*  agreed, likewise, upon some forms of religion were to be subjected to the test of
laws for their civil and military government, and  experiment  Many of the settlements effected on its
having chosen a governor, they called the place shores were conducted by men of piety, who were
of their settlement by the name of New Plym-  more solicitous for the preservation of Christian
outh.                                         i truth than for the accumulationi of worldly gain.
Inexpressible were the hardships these new i The experiment was therefore made under the happlanters underwent the firist winter; a sad mor- piest auspices, and the rising communities of the New
tality raged among them, occasioned  by the fa - World were speedily in a condition to speak the lantigues of their late voyage, by the severity of the guage of freedom to the enfeebled and decrepit forms
tigues of their late voyage, by the severity of the of despotism in Europe. Their early history was
weather, and their want of necessaries.  The distinguished by some inconsistencies flowing from
country was full of woods and thickets; their the errors they had imbibed in infancy. The pecupoor cottages could not keep them warm; they liarity of their situation, and the perplexing and hazhad no physician, or wholesome food, so that ardous nature of the circumstances amid which they
within two or three months half their company were required to act, unhappily led themn to forget on
was dead, anod of  them  who remained alivey some occasions the tolerant and generous principles
which were about fifty not above six or seve.n which the noble Robinson had inculcated. But his
twhichm were cabout ifty, not above six or seven  spirit revived among them, and ultimately effected the
at a time were capable of helping the rest; blt::extinction of those laws and usages which were alike
as the spring came on they recovered, and hav- inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity and the
ing received some fresh supplies from  their professions of their fathers.-C.  See Price.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    271
those that stood by the crown in opposition to ing his government, or with his son's match;"
the Parliament went by the names of papists and to keep them in awe, his majesty declared,
and Arminians. These were the seeds of those " that he thinks himself at liberty to punish any
factions which occasioned all the disturbances man's misdemeanors in Parliament, as well duin the following reign.                      ring their sitting as after, which he means not
The Palatinate being lost, and the king's son- to spare hereafter upon occasion of any man's inin-law and daughter forced to take sanctuary in solent behaviour in the house."*  In answer to
Holland, the whole world murmured at his maj- this letter, the Commons drew up a petition to
esty's indolence, both as a father and a Protest- present with their remonstrance, in which they
ant: these murmurs obliged him, at length, to  insist upon the laws of their country, and the
have recourse to a Parliament, from whom he freedom of debates in Parliament. The king
hoped to squeeze a little money to spend upon returned them a long answer, which concludes
his pleasures; at the opening of the session, with denying them what they call their " ancient
January 20, 1620-1, his majesty told them, and undoubted right and inheritance."  The
"that they were no other than his council, to  Commons, in debate upon his majesty's answer,
give him advice as to what he should ask. It drew up a protestation in maintenance of their
is the king," says he, " that makes laws, and ye claim, and caused it to be entered in their jourare to advise him to make such as will be best nal-book. Upon this, the king being come to
for the commonwealth."  With regard to his London, declared in council the protestation to
tolerating popery, on the account of his son's be null, and with great indignation tore it out of
match, he professes " he will do nothing but the book with his own hand.'A few days after
what shall be for the good of religion."  With  he dissolved the Parliament, and issued a procregard to the Palatinate, he says, "If he cannot lamation forbidding his subjects to talk of state
get it restored by fair means, his crown, his affairs.t  He also committed the leading memblood, and his son's blood, shall be spent for its bers to prison, as Sir Edward Coke, Sir Robert
recovery."  He therefore commands them not Philips, Mr. Selden, Mr. Pym, and Mr. Mallery;
to hunt after grievances, but to be quick and others were sent into Ireland, and the Earls of
speedy in giving him money. Though the Par- Oxford and Southampton were confined in the
liament did not credit the king's speech, yet the Tower.t
occasion was so reasonable, that the Commons   The king having parted with his Parliament,
immediately voted him two entire subsidies, and was at liberty to gratify the Spaniards by indulthe clergy three; but finding his majesty awed ging the papists; for this purpose the lord-keepby the Spaniard, and making no preparation for er Williams, by his majesty's command, wrote
war, they began to inquire into grievances, upon to all the judges, " that in their several circuits
which the king adjourned the houses (a power they dischai: all prisoners for church recusannot claimed by any of his predecessors); but cy; or for refusing the oath of supremacy; or
upon the day of adjournment the Commons drew  for dispersing popish books; or hearing or sayup a declaration, wherein they say, " that being ing mass; or for any other point of recusancy
touched with a true sense and fellow-feeling of that concerned religion only."~ Accordingly, the
the sufferings of the king's children and of the Jesuits and popish recusants of all sorts were
true professors of the same Christian religion  enlarged, to the number, says Mr. Prynne, of four
professed by the Church of England in foreign  thousand;1l all prosecutions were stayed, and
parts, as members of the same body, they unan- the penal laws suspended.  Upon this great
imously declare that they will be ready, to the numbers of Jesuits and other missionaries flockutmost of their power, both with their lives and ed into England; mass was celebrated openly
fortunes, to assist his majesty, so as that he in the countries; and in London their private
may be able to do that with his sword which, assemblies were so crowded, that at a meeting
by a peaceable course, shall not be effected."   in Blackfriars [November 5, 1622, N. S.], the
Upon their reassembling in the month of No- floor sunk under them, and killed the preacher
vember, finding the king still amused by the and ninety-three of the hearers.
Spanish match, while the Protestant interest in    While the papists were countenanced, the
the Palatinate was expiring, the Commons drew  court and the new bishops bore hard upon the
up a large remonstrance, in which they repre- Puritans, filling the pulpits with men of arbitrasent the danger of the Protestant religion from  ry principles, and punishing those who dared
the growth of popery; from the open resort of to preach for the rights of the subject. The
papists to the ambassador's chapels; from the Rev. Mr. Knight, of Broadsgate Hall, in a serfrequent and numerous conventicles both in city mon before the UJniversity of Oxford, on 2
and country; from the interposing of foreign
ambassadors in their favour; from the com-       Rapin, vol. ii., p. 208, 211, folio edition.
pounding of their forfeitures for such small sums   t Wilson, p. 190, 191; Rapin, vol. ii., p. 212, and
of money as amount to little less than a tolera- note 4, folio edition.
tion; from the education of gentlemen's children    $ According to Tyndal, as observes Dr. Grey, the
Earl of Southampton was committed to the Dean of
in popish seminaries, and the licentious printing   estarl of inster. —pton was   Fuller, b. x., p. 101.
and publishing popish books; wherefore they   ii Dr. Grey quotes here the authority of Fuller
pray his majesty to take his sword in hand for against Prynne's account, who says that, according
the recovery of the Palatinate, to put the laws to John Gee's perfect list, all the Jesuits in England
in execution against papists, to break off the (lid not amount to more than two hundred and twenSpanish match, and to marry his son to a Prot- ty-five   But Prynne's account, which Mr. Neal
estant princess. The king, hearing of this re- adopts, is, on the other hand, confirmed by Tyndal,
who informs us, on the testimony of Wilson, that
monstrance, sent the speaker a letter from New- Gondamar used to boast that four thousand recusants
market to acquaint the house, " that lie absolute- had been released through his intercession.-Rapin's
ly forbid their meddling with anything concern- History, vol. ii., p. 215, note 7.-ED.




272                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Kings, xix., 9, advanced this proposition, that   6. "That the archbishop and bishops be
" subordinate magistrates might lawfully make more wary for the future in licensing preach.
use of force, and defend themselves, the cornm- ers; and that all lecturers throughout the kingmonwealth, and the true religion, in the field, dom be licensed in the court of faculties, by
against the chief magistrate, within the cases recommendation from the bishop of the diocess,
and conditions following: 1. When the chief with a fiat from the archbishop, and a confirmamagistrate turns tyrant. 2. When he forces his tion under the great seal of England.
subjects upon blasphemy or idolatry. 3. When   "' Those that offended against any of these
any intolerable burdens or pressures are laid injunctions were to be suspended ab officio et
upon them. 4. When resistance is the only ex- beneficio for a year and a day, till his majesty
pedient to secure their lives, their fortunes, and should prescribe some farther punishment, with
the liberty of their consciences."  The court advice of convocation."
being informed of this sermon, sent for the   Here is nothing that could affect papists or
preacher, and asked him what authority he had Arminians, but almost every article points at
for this assertion; he answered, Pareeus on Ro- the Puritans. The king had assisted in imainmans, xiii., but that his principal authority was taining these doctrines in Holland, but will not
King James himself, who was sending assist- have them propagated in England. The Thirtyance to the Rochellers against their natural nine Articles were established by law, and yet
prince.  Upon this bold answer, Mr. Knight was none under a bishop or dean may preach on the
confined in the Gate-house, Paraeus's comment- seventeenth, concerning predestination.  The
aries were burned at Oxford and London, his ministers of God's Word may not limit the preassertions were condemned as false and sedi- rogative, but they may preach concerning its
tious, and the University of Oxford, in full con- unlimited extent; and, though the second invocation, passed a decree that it was not law- junction admits of their expounding the cateful for subjects to appear offensively in arms chism, Fuller says, " The bishops' officials were
against their king on the score of religion, or on so active, that in many places they tied up
any other account, according to the Scripture. preachers in the afternoon to the very letter of
How this was reconcilable with the king's as- the catechism, allowing them no liberty to exsisting the French Huguenots, I must leave pound or enlarge upon any of the answers."*
with the reader. But to bind the nation down The Puritans had suffered hitherto only for the
forever in principles of slavery, all graduates of neglect of ceremonies, but now their very docthe University of Oxford were enjoined to sub- trine is an offence. From this time all Calvinscribe the above-mentioned decree, and to swear ists were in a manner excluded from court prethat they would always contin    f the same ferments. The way to rise in the Church was
opinion. Was there ever such   nreasonable to preach up the absolute power of the king, to
oath? for a man to swear he will always be of disclaim against the rigours of Calvinism, and to
the same mind! Yet such was the severity of speak favourably of popery. Those who scruthe times:                                   pled this were neglected, and distinguished by
But to distress the Puritans more effectually, the name of Doctrinal Puritans; but it was the
the king sent the following directions to the glory of this people that they stood together,
archbishop, to be communicated to all the cler- like a wall, against the arbitrary proceedings of
gy of his province, dated from Windsor, August the king; both in Church and State.
10, 1622:                                      Archbishop Abbot was at the head of the
1. "That no preacher, under a bishop or Doctrinal Puritans, and often advised the king
dean, shall make a set discourse, or fall into to return to the old parliamentary way of raisany commonplace of divinity in his sermons, ing money. This cost him his interest at court,
not comprehended in the Thirty-nine Articles.* and an accident happened this year which quite
2. "' That no parson, vicar, curate, or lectu- broke his spirits, and made him retire from the
rer shall preach any sermon hereafter on Sun- world.  Lord Zouch invited his grace to a
days or holydays in the afternoon, but expound buck-hunting in Bramshill Park, in Hampshire,
the Catechism, Creed, or Ten Commandments,t and while the keeper was running among the
and that those be most encouraged who cate- deer to bring them to a fairer mark, the archchise children only.                         bishop, sitting on horseback, let fly a barbed ar3. "That no preacher, under a bishop or dean, row, which shot him under the armpit and killpresume to preach in any popular auditory on ed him on the spot. His grace was so disthe deep points of predestination, election, rep- tressed in mind with the accident, that he rerobation; or of the universality, efficacy, resisti- tired to one of his own almshouses at Guilford;
bility, or irresistibility of God's grace.   and though upon examination of the case it
4. " That no preacher, of any degree soever, was judged casual homicide, he kept that day
shall henceforth presume in any auditory to as a fast as long as he lived, and allowed the
declare, limit, or set bounds to the prerogative, keeper's widow ~20 a year for her maintepower, or jurisdiction of sovereign princes, or nance. The king, also, being moved with com.
meddle with matters of state.                passion, sent for him to Lambeth, and gave him
5. "That no preacher shall use railing speech- a royal pardon and dispensation to prevent all
es against papists or Puritans, but endeavour to exceptions to his episcopal character; but he
free the doctrine and discipline of the. Church prudently withdrew  from  the council-board,
in a grave manner from the aspersions of both where his advice had been little regarded beadversaries.                                fore, as coming from a person of unfashionable
principles.
* Or, as Dr. Grey would add, " some of the homi-   The Puritans lost an eminent practical writer
lies ofr the wChurch of England "-E'. and preacher about this time, Nicholas Byfield,
t Or, as the same writer would subjoin, "the Lord's
Prayer" (funeral sermons alone excepted).-ED.              * Book x., p. 111.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    273
torn in Warwickshire, and educated in Exeter lengths his majesty went in favour of papists on
College, Oxford. After four years, he left the this occasion will appear by the following artiuniversity, and went for Ireland; but preaching  cles, which were inserted both into the Spanish
at Chester, the inhabitants gave him a unani- and French treaty which afterward took place.
mous invitation to St. Peter's Church in that   The articles of the intended Spanish match recity, where he resided seven years.  From  lating to religion were these:
thence he removed to Isleworth in Middlesex,   Art. 6. "The infanta herself, her men and
and remained there till his death. He was a maid servants, their children and descendants,
divine of a profound judgment, a strong memo- and all their families, of what sort soever, servry, quick invention, and unwearied industry, ing her highness, may freely and publicly pro.
which brought the stone upon him, which sent fess themselves Catholics.*
him to his grave, in the forty-fifth year of his age.   Art. 5, 7, and 8. " Provide a church, a chapel,
His body being opened, a stone was taken out and an oratory for her highness, with all popish
of his bladder that weighed thirty-three ounces, ornaments, utensils, and decorations.
and was in measure about the edge fifteen inch-   Art. 10, 11, and 12. "Allow her twenty-four
es and a half; about the length and breadth thir- priests and assistants, and over them a bishop,
teen inches, and solid like a flint; an almost in- with full authority and spiritual jurisdiction.
credible relation! But Dr. William Gouge, who    Art. 14. " Admits the infanta and her servants
drew up this account, was an eyewitness of it, to procure from Rome dispensations, indulgenwith many others. Mr. Byfield was a Calvinist, ces, jubilees, &c., and all graces, as shall seem
a nonconformist to the ceremonies, and a strict meet to them.
observer of the Sabbath. He published several    Art. 17. " Provides that the laws made
books in his lifetime;* and his commentaries  against Roman Catholics in England, or in any
upon the Colossians and St. Peter, published af- of the king's dominions, shall not extend to the
ter his death, show him to be a divine of great children of this marriage; nor shall they lose
piety, capacity, and learning.t              their succession to the crown, although they be
The archbishop being in disgrace, the council Roman Catholics.
were unanimous, and met with no interruption    Art. 18 and 21. "Authorize the infanta to
in their proceedings. The Puritans retired to  choose nurses for her children, and to bring
the new plantations in America, and popery  them up in her religion till they are ten years
came in like an armed man. This was occa- of age."  But the term was afterward enlarged
sioned partly by the new promotions at court, to twelve, and in the match with France, to
but chiefly by the Spanish match, which was thirteen.
begun about the year 1617, and drawn out to a    King James swore to the observation of these
length of seven years, till the Palatinate was articles, in the presence of the two Spanish amlost, and the Protestant religion in a manner bassadors, and twenty-four privy counsellors
extirpated out of the kingdom of Bohemia and  who set their hands to the treaty.  Besides
other parts of Germany; and then the match  which, his majesty and the Prince of Wales
itself was broke off.                        swore to the four following private ones: "(1.)
To trace this affair from its beginning, because That no laws against papists should hereafter
it was the source of the ensuing calamities of be put in execution. (2.) That no new laws
this and the following reign. Prince Charles shall be made against them; but that there shall
being arrived at the state of manhood, the king  be a perpetual toleration of the Roman Catholic
had thoughts of marrying him, but could find no religion in private houses, throughout all his
Protestant princess of an equal rank. He de- majesty's dominions, which his counsel shall
spised the princes of Germany, and would hear swear to. (3.) That he will never persuade the
of nothing beneath a king's daughter.  This infanta to change her religion. (4.) That he
put him upon seeking a wife for him out of the  will use all his authority and influence to have
house of Austria, sworn enemies to the Protest- these conditions ratified by Parliament, that so
ant religion; for which purpose he entered into  all penal laws against papists may not only be
a treaty with Spain for the infanta.  Under col- suspended, but legally disannulled."
our of this match, Gondamar, the Spanish am-    The words of the Prince of Wales's oath
bassador, made the king do whatever he pleased. were these: " I, Charles, prince of Wales, enIf he inclined to assist his son-in-law in recov- gage myself-that all things contained in the
ering the Palatinate, he was told he must keep  foregoing articles, which concern as well the
fair with the house of Austria, or the match was suspension as abrogation of all laws made
at an end. If he denied any favours to the pa- against Roman Catholics, shall within three
pists at home, the court of Rome, and all the years infallibly take effect, and sooner if possiRoman Catholic powers, were disobliged, and  ble; which we will have to lie upon our conthen it could never take place.  To obviate  science and royal honour: and I will intercede
these and other objections, his majesty prom- with my father that the ten years of education
ised, upon the word of a king, that no Roman  of the children that shall be born of this marCatholic should be proceeded against capitally; riage, which the Pope of Rome desires may be
and though he could not at present repeal the lengthened to twelve, shall be prolonged to the
pecuniary laws, that he would mitigate them to  said term. And I swear, that if the entire powthe satisfaction of the Catholic king; and the  er of disposing this matter be devolved upon
me, I will grant and approve of the said term.t
* Bishop Wilkins passes a high encomium on his Furthermore, as oft as the infanta shall desire
Sermons, classing them with the very best of the that I should give ear to divines and others,
day. His works which still exist, though very rare,
amount to fifteen.-C.                          * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 86; Rapin, vol. ii., 217, 218,
t Wood's Athen. Oxon., vol. i. p. 402; Fuller's folio edit.
Worthies, 1684, p. 833.                        t Rushworth, vol. i., p. 89.
V OL. I.-M M




274                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
whom her highness shall be pleased to employ churches;* for the attempting of which he atin matters of the Roman Catholic religion, I terward lost both his crown and life.t  It was
will hearken to them willingly, without all diffi- happy, after all, that the prince got safe out of
culties, and laying aside all excuses."       the Spanish territories, which, as Spanheim obUnder these advantages, the papists appeared serves, that politic court would not have peropenly, and behaved with an offensive inso- mitted, had they not considered that the Queen
lence; but the hearts of all true Protestants of Bohemia, next heir to the crown, was a greattrembled for themselves and their posterity. er eneny to popery than her brother.S  But, afAnd Archbishop Abbot, though under a cloud, ter all, when this memorable treaty of marriage
ventured to write to the king upon the subject, had been upon the carpet seven years, and
beseeching him to consider "whether, by the wanted nothing but celebration, the portion betoleration which his majesty proposes, he is not ing settled, the pope's dispensation obtained, the
setting up that most damnable and heretical marriage articles sworn to on both sides, and
doctrine of the Church of Rome, the whore of the very day of celebration by proxy appointed,
Babylon?  How hateful must this be to God, it was broke off by the influence of the Duke
and grievous to your good subjects," says he, of Buckingham upon the prince, who ordered
"that your majesty, who hath learnedly written  the Earl of Bristol not to deliver the proxy till
against these wicked heresies, should now show  the time limited by the dispensation was expiyourself a patron of those doctrines, which your red; the King of Spain, suspecting the design,
pen has told the world, and your conscience in order to throw all the blame upon the King
tells yourself, are superstitious, idolatrous, and
detestable.  Besides, this toleration, which you   * "This," says Bishop Warburton, "is an utter
endeavour to set up by proclamation, cannot be calumny; a coalition of the two churches was never
done without a Parliament, unless your majes- in the king's thoughts; happy for him if he had nevty will let your subjects see that you will take er had worse; what he aimed at was arbitrary power." It is strange how his lordship could give his
ure. And, above all, I beseech your majesty to pen a license to pass this unjust censure on Mr. Neal,
ure. And, above all, I beseech your majesty to when the conduct of Charles I. furnished so many
consider, lest by this toleration your majesty proofs of his wishes and endeavours to coalesce with
do not draw upon the kingdom in general, and the Church of Rome. His letter to the pope from
on yourself in particular, God's heavy wrath  Madrid, the articles of the marriage-treaty, to which
and indignation."*                            he solemnly signed and swore, and the private artiBut this wise king, instead of hearkening to cles to which he also swore, are witnesses to the
the remonstrances of his Protestant subjects, truth of Mr. Neal's assertion. If lie had not aimed
put the peaces of his kingdom, and the whole at this, why did he disown the foreign Protestants?
put the peace of his kingdom, and the whole Why did he restrain the press with respect to books
Protestant religion, into the hands of the Span- written against popery, and license publications in
iard, by sending his son with the Duke of Buck- favour of it? Why was popery not only tolerated,
dingham to Madrid, to fetch home the infanta; but countenanced and favoured?  See the facts to
-a piece of confidence that the " Solomon of the this purpose fully stated in Towgood's "Essay to-..age" should not have been guilty of. When  wards a true Idea of the Character of Charles I.,"..the prince was gone, it is said that Archy, the chap. ix. So far did he carry his views and endeavclapped his cap upon the king's ours on this business.  Whitelocke informs us a
klg'  fool, clapped his cap upon the kings scheme was in agitation to set up a new popish hiehead. The king asking him the reason, hle an- rarchy by the bishops in all the counties in England,
swered, because he had sent the prince into by the authority of the pope. - Memorials, p. 72.'Spain.. But, says his majesty, What if he And the Jesuit Franciscus a Clara, the queen's chap-.should come back safe?  Why, then, says Ar- lain, certainly thought things were in a train for such,chy, I will take my cap off from your head, and a coalition; for in one of his publications, he assert-,put it on the King of Spain's.t  The Spaniards ed, " that if any synod were held non intermixtis Pu-.gave out that the design of the prince's journey |ritanis, setting Puritans aside, our articles and their,was to reconcile himself to the Church of Rome. theParliament, p 74  Dr. Grey also aims to cotrothe Parliament, p. 74. Dr. Grey also aims to controIt is certain the pope wrote to the Bishop of vert this passage of Mr. Neal, and with this view reConchen to lay hold of this opportunity to con- fers us to Rushworth, Frankland, Hacket, and Burvert him,$ and directed. a most persuasive let- net; but the quotations he adduces from these writer to the prince himself to the same purpose, ters are not to the point, and prove only, as Mr. Neal
dated April 20, 1623, which the prince answer- allows, that Charles was not converted to popery.*ed June.20, in a very obliging manner, giving  — ED.See Dr. Grey's Examination of Neal, vol. ii., p. 71.
~the pope the title of the Most Holy Father, and -t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 226, vide note, folio edit.
encouraging him to expect that, when he came         Rapin, vol. ii.,e p. 226, vide note, for ot qoting
to the crown, there should be but one religion in Spanheim fairly; and this writer, as Tyndal and:his dominions, seeing, says he, that both Cath- Welwood, from whom he borrows the passage, rep-.olics and Protestants believe in one Jesus resent his words, does not, it is true, say that the
"Christ.:He was strongly solicited to change Queen of Bohemia was a greater enemy to popery
his religion by some of the first quality, and by than her brother, but only resolves the conduct of
the most learned priests and Jesuits, who ca- the court of Spain into the consideration of her and
her children being next heirs to the crown of England. Mr. Neal, therefore, is to be understood as
books to him, invited him to their processions, lasuggndesting the reason why the consideration of her
andl gave him a view of their most magnificent and her children had so much weight with the court
churches and relics; by which artifices, though of Spain. Few who reflect on the firm attachment
he was not converted, he was confirmed in his of that lady to the Protestant cause will suspect Mr.
resolution of attempting a coalition of the two Neal of mistaking the cause of the Spanish policy.
It would have been, however, more accurate in him
* Fuller, b. x., p. 106.                    to have quoted at large the words of Spanheim, and
t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 226, the note, folio edit.  then to have subjoined his own suggestion as ex: Wilson, p. 230; Rapin, vol. ii., p. 221, folio edit. planatory of them.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   275
of England, signed a promise with his own hand, It requires a good degree ofcharityto believe this
and delivered it to the ambassador, wherein he prince had either religion or conscience remainobliged himself to cause the Palatinate to be re- ing. For though he assured his Parliament
stored to the elector palatine, in case the marriage that his heart bled within him when he heard
took effect; but his highness was immovable, of the increase of popery, yet this very Parliaand obliged the king to recall his ambassador.  ment presented him with a list of fifty-seven
From this time the prince and duke seemed popish lords and knights who were in public
to turn Puritans, the latter having taken Dr. offices, none of whom were displaced, while the
John Preston, one of their chief ministers, into Puritan mninisters were driven out of the king.
his service, to consult him about alienating the dom, and hardly a gentleman of that character
dean and chapter lands to the purpose of preach- advanced to the dignity of a justice of peace.
ing. They also advised the king to convene a   The Parliament being prorogued, the king,
Parliament, which his majesty did, and made instead of going heartily into the war, or marsuch a speech to them as one would think im- lying his son to a Protestant princess, entered
possible to come from the same lips with the into a treaty with Louis XIII., king of France,
former.  " I assure you," says he, speaking of for his sister, Henrietta Maria.*  Upon this octhe Spanish match, " on the faith of a Christian casion the Archbishop of Ambrun was sent into
king, that it is res integra presented unto you, England, who told the king the best way to acand that I stand not bound nor either way en- complish the match for his son was to grant
gaged, but remain free to follow what shall be a full toleration to Catholics. The king rebest advised."  His majesty adds, " I can truly plied, that he intended to grant it, and was willsay, and will avouch it before the seat of God ing to have an assembly of divines to comproand angels, that never did king govern with a mise the difference between Protestants and
purer, sincerer, and more uncorrupt heart than papists, and promised to send a letter to the
I have done, far from ill-will and meaning of pope to bring him into the project. In this letthe least error and imperfection in my reign. ter, says Monsieur Deageant in his memoirs,
It has been talked of my remissness in mainte- the king styles the pope Christ's vicar, and
nance of religion, and suspicion of a tolera- head of the Church universal, and assures him
tion [of popery];* but, as God shall judge me, he would declare himself a Catholic as soon as
I never thought nor meant, nor ever in word he could provide against the inconveniences
expressed, anything that savoured of it. I nev- of such a declaration; but whether this was so
er, in all my treaties, agreed to anything to or not, it is certain he immediately relaxed the
the overthrow and disannulling of those laws, penal laws against papists, and permitted Ambut had in all a chief regard to the preservation  brun to administer confirmation to ten thousand
of that truth which I have ever professed." The Catholics at the door of the French ambassareader will remember how this agrees with the dor's house, in the presence of a great conmarriage articles above mentioned, to which the course of people. In the mean time the treaty
king had sworn.                              of marriage went forward, and was at last signBut the Parliament, taking things as the king ed, November 10, 1624, in the thirty-three pubhad represented them, advised his majesty to lie articles, and three secret ones, wherein the
break off the match, and to declare war for the very same or greater advantages were stipularecovery of the Palatinate; and, at the same ted for the Catholics than in those of Madrid;t
time, petitioned his majesty that all Jesuits but, before the dispensation from the pope could
and seminary priests might be commanded to be obtained, his majesty fell sick at Theodepart the realm; that the laws might be put bald's of a tertian ague, which put an end to
in execution against popish recusants; that all his life, not without suspicion of poison,T March
such might be removed from  court, and ten 27, 1625, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.~
miles from London.t To which the king made   To review the course of this reign. It is.evthis remarkable answer, which must strike the ident that both popery and Puritanism increased
reader with surprise and wonder: " What reli- prodigiously, while the friends of the hierarchy
gion I am of my books declare; I wish it may sunk into contempt; this was owing partly to
be written in marble, and remain to posterity as the spiritual promotions, and partly to the arbia mark upon me, when I shall swerve from my trary maxims of state that the king had advanreligion; for he that dissembles with God is ced. In promoting of bishops the king discovnot to be trusted with men. I protest before ered a greater regard to such as would yield a
God that my heart hath bled when I have heard servile compliance to his absolute commands
of the increase of popery. God is my judge, it than to such as would fill their sees with repuhath been such a grief to me, that it hath been tation, and be an example to the people of relias thorns in my eyes and pricks in my sides. gion and virtue, of which number were Bishop
It hath been my desire to hinder the growth of Neile, Buckeridge, Harsnet,ll Laud, &c. The
popery; and I could not be an honest man if.I had
dlone otherwise. I will order the laws to be put   * Rapin, vol. ii., p. 231, 232, folio edit.
in execution against popish recusants as they   t lbid., vol. ii., p. 233, 234.
were before these treaties, for the laws are still' Those who wish to have an enlarged and accuin being, and were never dispensed with by me; rate knowledge of the reign of James should conin  and were  dispensed with by  suit Jesse's Memoirs of the House of Stuart, a very
God is my judge, they were never so intended amusing work.-C.
Iby me."                                         Rapin, vol. ii. p. 235; Welwood's Memoirs, 9th
What solemn appeals to Heaven are these edit., p. 35; and Dr. Harris's Life of James I., p.
agaimit the clearest and most undeniable facts! 237-242.
I This prelate, Bishop Warburton says, "was a
1- Rapin, vol. ii., p. 227, 228, folio edit.  man of the greatest learning and parts of his time."
1- Rapin, vol. ii., p. 229, 230, folio edit.; Rush- This he might be, and yet advanced not on account
worth, p. 141-143.                           of his learning, but because his courtly dispositions




276                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
fashionable doctrines at court were such as the swered in such a manner as gave great offence
king had condemned at the Synod of Dort, and to the old clergy, yielding up all the points
which, in the opinion of the old English clergy, above mentioned, and not only declaring for Arwere subversive of the Reformation.  The new  minianism, but making dangerous advances tobishops admitted the Church of Rome to be a wards popery itself.  The book occasioning a
true church, and the pope the first bishop of great noise, Mr. Ward and Yates, two ministers
Christendom. They declared for the lawfulness at Ipswich, made a collection of the popish and
of images in churches; for the real presence; Arminian tenets it contained, in order to lay
and that the doctrine of transubstantiation was them before the next Parliament; but the aua school nicety. They pleaded for confession to thor, with the king's leave, took shelter under
a priest, for sacerdotal absolution, and the proper the royal wing, and prepared for the press his
merit of good works.  They gave up the moral- " Apello Cesarem," or a just appeal from two
ity of the Sabbath, and the five distinguishing unjust informers; which White, bishop of Carpoints of Calvinism, for which their predeces- lisle, licensed in these words, that " there was
sors had contended. They claimed an uninter- nothing contained in the same but what was
rupted succession of the episcopal character agreeable to the public faith, doctrine, and disfrom the apostles through the Church of Rome, cipline established in the Church of England."
which obliged them to maintain the validity of But before the book was published the king
her ordinations, when they denied the validity died.
of those of the foreign Protestants.  Farther,   These advances of the court divines towards
they began to imitate the Church of Rome in popery made most of the people fall in with the
her gaudy ceremonies, in the rich furniture of Puritans, who, being constant preachers, and
their chapels, and the pomp of their worship. of exemplary lives, wrought them up by their
They complimented the Roman Catholic priests awakening sermons to an abhorrence of everywith their dignitary titles, and spent all their thing that looked that way.*  Many of the nozeal in studying how to compromise matters bility and gentry favoured them.  Lady Bowes,
with Rome, while they turned their backs upon afterward Lady Darcy, gave ~1000 per annum
the old Protestant doctrines of the Reformation, to maintain preachers in the north, where there
and were remarkably negligent in preaching or were none, and all her preachers were silenced
instructing the people in Christian knowledge. Nonconformists.  Almost all the famous pracThings were come to such a pass, that Gonda- tical writers of this reign, except Bishop Anmar, the Spanish ambassador, wrote to Spain drews, were Puritans, and sufferers for nonthat there never were more hopes of England's conformity, as Dr. Willet, Mr. Jer. Dyke, Dr.
conversion, for "there are more prayers," says Preston, Sibbs, Byfield, Bolton, Hildersham,
he, "offered to the Mother than to the Son [of Dod, Ball, Whately, and others, whose works
God].'"*   The priests and Jesuits challenged have done great service to religion.  The charthe established clergy to public disputations; acter of these divines was the reverse of what
the Duke of Buckingham's mother being a pa- the learned Seldent gives of the clergyT of these
pist, a conference was held in her presence be- times in his "History of Tithes," where he
tween Fisher, a Jesuit, on the one part, and Drs. taxes them with ignorance and laziness; and
White, Williams, and Laud, on the other. adds, "that they had nothing to support their
Each of them disputed with the Jesuit a day credit but beard, title, and habit; and that their
before a great concourse of people, but not to learning reached no farther than the postils and
the countess's conversion, which was not at all the polyanthia."  Upon the whole, if we may
strange, upon their principles.  Among other believe Mr. Coke, the Puritan party had gatherpopish books that were published, one was en- ed so much strength, and was in such reputation
titled " A New Gag for the Old Gospel;" which with the people, that they were more in number
Dr. Montague, rector of Stamford-Rivers, an- than all the other parties in the kingdom put
recommended him to the royal taste. Fuller speaks together.
of him " as a zealous asserter of ceremonies, using to   * Rothwell, p. 69, annexed to his General Martyrcomplain of conformable Puritans." So that the just- ology.  t In Preface, p. 1, second edition, 1618.
ness of his claims to be considered as a man of eru-   $ Bishop Warburton severely censures Mr. Neal
dition being admitted, neither the candour nor veraci- for applying the words of Selden as if spoken of the
ty of the historian for classing him as he does is im- episcopal clergy. " Here," says he, "is another of
peached by it. Learning and soundness of mind are the historian's arts; Selden speaks of the Puritan
by no means inseparable.-ED.                  clergy." Not to urge, in reply, that Selden can be
* This is not a just or accurate representation of understood as speaking of those clergy only to whom
the words. As Rapin relates it, Gondamar, perceiv- his doctrine of tithes would be offensive, who could
ing most addresses for preferment were made first to not be the Puritan clergy, it is fortunate for our authe mother of the Marquis of Buckingham, and by thor that his interpretation of Selden's words is sancher conveyed to her son, who could deny her nothing, tioned by Heylin, who represents Selden's work as
among his other witty pranks, wrote merrily in his the execution of " a plot set on foot to subvert the
despatches to Spain, " that never was there more Church, in the undoing of the clergy. The author,"
hope of England's conversion to Rome than now; for he adds, "was highly magnified, the book held unthere are more prayers offered here to the mother than answerable, and all the clergy looked on but as pigto the son." The words "of God," as Bishop War- mies to that great Goliath." And then, to show that
burton and Dr. Grey observe, should be erased. It the reproach cast on the clergy was not well foundwas a mere joke of the Spanish ambassador, speak- ed, he appeals to the answers given to Selden by
ing of court corruption under the terms of religion. Nettles, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, Dr.
Mr. Neal, by not referring to his authority, appears to Montague, and Archdeacon Tillesly. " By which,"
quote it by recollection, and, indeed, to have mistaken says Heylin, "he found that some of the ignorant
the matter. Bishop Warburton is, however, very se- and lazy clergy were of as retired studies as himself;
vere in his reflections on him, calling his statement of and could not only match, but overmatch him, too, in
"t "' a vile perversion of facts." The reader will de- his philology." If Mr. Neal misrepresented Selden,
side -on his lordship's candour here.-ED.    so did Heylin.-Heylin's Hist. of Presb., p. 391.-ED




HISTORY OF 1il'E PURITANS.                                     277
With regard to King James himself, it is than a fourth part of the value, and suffered
hard to draw his just character, for no prince them  to dispossess us of our factories in the
was ever so much flattered who so little de- East Indies.  At home, he committed the diserved it. He was of a middle stature, not rection of all affairs in Church and State to two
very corpulent, but stuffed out with clothes, or three favourites, and cared not what they
which hung so loose, and being quilted, were did if they gave him  no trouble.  He broke
so thick as to resist a dagger.  His counte- through all the laws of the land, and was as
nance was homely, and his tongue too big for absolute a tyrant as his want of courage would
his mouth, so that he could not speak with de- admit.*  He revived the projects of monopcency.  While he was in Scotland he appeared  olies, loans, benevolences, &c., to supply his
sober and chaste, and acquired a good degree exchequer, which was exhausted by his proof learning,* but, upon his accession to the fuseness towards his favourites, and laid the
English crown, he threw off the mask, and by foundation of all the calamities of his son's
degrees gave himself up to luxury and ease, reign.  Upon the whole, though he was flatterand all kinds of licentiousness.  His language ed by hungry courtiers as the Solomon and
was obscene, and his actions very often lewd  phcenix of his age, he was, in the opinion of
and indecent.  He was a profane swearer, and  Bishop Burnet, "the scorn of the age, a mere
would often be drunk, and when he came to pedant, without true judgment, courage, or
himself would weep like a child, and say he steadiness, his reign being a continued course
hoped God would not impute his infirmities to of mean practices."
him.  He valued himself upon what he called    It is hard to make any judgment of his relikingcraft, which was nothing else but deep gion; for one while he was a Puritan, and then
hypocrisy and dissimulation in every character a zealous churchman; at first a Calvinist and
of life, resulting fiom the excessive timorous- Presbyterian, afterward a Remonstrant or Arness of his nature.  If we consider him  as a minian; and at last a half, if not an entire, docking, he never did a great or generous action  trinal papist.  Sir Ralph Winwood, in his Methroughout the course of his reign,t but prosti- moirs, says that, as long ago as the year 1596,
tuted the honour of the English nation beyond  he sent Mr. Ogilby, a Scots baron, to Spain, to
any of his predecessors.  He stood still while assure his Catholic majesty he was then ready
the  Protestant religion  was suppressed  in to turn papist, and to propose an alliance with
France, in Bohemia, in the Palatinate, and  that king and the pope against the Queen of
other parts of Germany.  He surrendered up  England, but for reasons of state the affair was
the cautionary townst to the Dutch for less hushed.t  Rapin says he was neither a sound
Protestant nor a good Catholic, but had formed
"* His learning," observes Dr. Warner, "was not a plan of uniting both churches, which must
that of a prince, but a pedant, and made him more fit effectually have ruined the Protestant interest,
to take the chair in public schools than to sit on the for which, indeed, he never expressed any real
throne of kings." He was one of those princes concern.  But I am rather of opinion that all
" who," as Bishop Shipley expresses it,' was so un- his religion was his boasted kingeraft. He was
wise as to write books." The only thing that does certainly the meanest prince that ever sat on
him honour as an author is, that Mr. Pope pro-            h nes England never sun  in its
nounced his version of the Psalms the very best in the British thr
the English language. —Warner's Eccles. Hist., vol.
ii., p. 508. —ED.                              without an equivalent, and without fee advice or
t To this Dr. Grey opposes his bounty to the consent of Parliament, to raise money to lavish on
Church of Ripon, in Yorkshire, in which he founded his favourites. And by this step he lost the dependa dean and chapter of seven prebendaries, and set- ance those provinces before had on the English
tiled c247 per annum of crown-lands for their main- crown.-See this matter fully stated in Rapin's [Histenance. The doctor also quotes from Fuller, Wil- tory, vol. ii., p. 122, and 191, 192; and by Dr. Harris
son, and Laud, warm encomiums of his liberality. in his Life of'James I., p. 162-167.-ED.
But it ought to be considered whether a liberality    t In this book, entitled " The True Law of Free
which did not, as Dr. Warner says, " flow from rea- Monarchy," he asserted that "the Parliament is noson or judgment, but from whim, or mere benignity thing else but the head court of the king and his
of humours," deserved such praises. Besides, Mr. vassals; that the laws are but craved by his subjects;
Neal evidently refers to " such great and generous and that, in short, he is above the law." This is a
actions" as advance the interest and prosperity of a proof that his speculative notions of regal power
kingdom, and add to the national honour.  This were, as Mr. Granger expresses it, i' as absolute as
cannot be said of favours bestowed on parasites and those of an Eastern monarch." — Secret History oJ
jovial companions, or on a provision made that a few  Charles II., vol. i., Introduc., p. 20., the note.-Eu.
clerical gentlemen may loll in stalls.-En.       t A copy of this infamous letter to Pope Gregory
t These were the Brill and Flushing, with some XV., under date September 30, 1.662, is to be found
other places of less note; and Dr. Grey, to screen the in a rare volume by the title of " Cabala, or Mystereputation of James from Mr. Neal's implied reflec- ries of State, in Letters of the Great Ministers of
tion, observes that the Dutch had pawned these King James and Charles; wherein much of the Pubtowns to Queen Elizabeth for sums of money which lique Manage of Affaires is related. Faithfully colshe lent them when they were distressed by the lected by a Noble hand," London, 1654.-C.
Spaniards. The sum borrowed on this security was: To Mr. Neal's character of James Dr. Grey par
eight millions of florins, and they were discharged ticularly opposes that drawn of him by the pen of
for ten millions seven hundred and twenty-eight Spotswood, who was preferred by him to the arch
thousand florins, though eighteen years' interest bishopric of St. Andrew's. "In this, Dr. Harris,'
was due. In equity and by stipulation, the Dutch says Grey, "did not quite so right. For court bishhad a right, on repaying the money, to reclaim the ops, by some fate or other, from the time of Constan
towns they had mortgaged. This Dr. Grey must be tine down, at least, to the death of James, and a lit
understood as insinuating by setting up the fact of tie after, have had the characters of flatterers, pane
the mortgage in defence of James's character. Yet, gyrists, and others of like import, and, therefore, are
in all just estimation, his character must ever suffer always to have great abatements made in the acby his surrender of these towns. He restored them  counts of their benefactors; it being well known




278                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
reputation, nor was so much exposed to the which they held in the greatest veneration.
scorn and ridicule of its neighbours, as in his As the court of King James leaned towards poreign.  How willing his majesty was to unite  pery* and arbitrary power, so did the prince,
with the papists, the foregoing history has dis- especially after his journey into Spain, where
covered; and yet, in the presence of many  he imbibed not only the pernicious maxims of
lords, and in a very remarkable manner, he that court, but their reserved and distant behamade a solemn protestation " that he would  viour.nt He assured the pope by letter, in order
spend the last drop of blood in his body before to obtain a dispensation to marry the infanta,
he would do it; and prayed that before any of
his issue should maintain any other religion  land, is entirely repugnant to the reasoning of Paul
than his own [the Protestant], that God would in 1 Cor., i., who, as Dr. Clarke expresses, " we find
take them out of the world."  How far this im- was very careful, was very solicitous, not to give any
occasion to have it thought that there was any such
precation took place on himself, or any of his thincs as the doctrine.f Paul, much less any such
posterity, I leave, with Mr. Archdeacon Echard, thing as the doctrine of the Church of Corinth or
to the determination of an Omniscient Being.*  Rome, or of any other than Christ only, in whose
name only we were baptized."-Clarke's Sermons, vol.
iv., p. 95, 8vo.-ED. (Toulmin).
* Dr. Grey controverts this assertion of Mr. Neal,
CHAPTER III.                     and calls it " groundless;" with a view to confute it,
he quotes Rymer, Clarendon, and Bishop Fleetwood.
FROM THE DEATH OF KING JAMES I. TO THE DISSO- The first and last authorities go to prove only the
LUTION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF KING  king's firm  adherence to Protestantism  and the
CHARLES I. IN THE YEAR 1628.                  Church of England, so far as concerned his own
personal profession of religion; the former alleges
BEFORE we enter upon this reign, it will be that the attempt of the court of Spain to convert him
proper to take a short view of the court, and of to popery was inefficient; the latter is only a pulpit
the most active ministers under the, king for eulogium to the memory of Charles on the 30th of
the fimost active   ministeyears    under the king for January. The quotation from Lord Clarendon apthe first fifteen years.                        parently proves more than these authorities, for it
King Charles I. came to the crown at the asserts "that no man was more averse fiom the Roage of twenty-five years, being born at Dum- mish Church than he [i. e., King Charles] was."
ferling, in Scotland, in the year 1600, and bap- But, to be consistent with himself, his lordship must
tized by a Presbyterian minister of that country. be understood with a limitation, as speaking of his
In his youth- he was of a weakly constitution  remoteness from a conformity to popery in his own
Iand stammering speech;f his legs were some- belief and practice, not of his disposition towards
a       nd stammering spe ech; his legs were some- that religion as professed by others. Dr. Harris has
what crooked, and he was suspected (says Mr. produced many proofs that the king was not a paEchard) to be of a perverse nature.  When his pist himself. But he has also evinced, by many
father [King James] came to the English crown, authorities, that professed papists were favoured,
he took him from his Scots tutors and placed  caressed, and preferred at court.  The articles of
him under those who gave him an early aver- the marriage-treaty, to which he signed and solsion to that kirk into which he had been bap- e.mnly swore, sanctioned the profession of that retized,+ and to those doctrines of Christianity  ligion in his kingdom. The clergy, who enjoyed the
smiles of the court, preached in favour of the prac--                                   tices and tenets of popery. And popish recusants
that such they endeavour to hand down to posterity  were not only tolerated, but protected by this prince.
under the notion of saints, as they always blacken  -See Harris's Life of Charles I., p. 198 to 204, and
and deface their adversaries."-Life of James I., p. from p. 204 to 208. The facts of this nature are also
246, 247.-ED.                                   amply stated in "An Essay towards attaining a true
* The reader will be pleased to hear the senti- Idea of the Character and Reign of King Charles
ments of a learned foreigner on the reignl and char- I.," chap. ix. On these grounds Mr. Neal is fully
acter of King James. The same bias will not be im- vindicated, for he speaks, it should be observed, not
puted to him as to Mr. Neal. " In the year 1625 died of the king's being a papist, but of his " leaning toJames I., the bitterest enemy of the doctrine and  wards popery."  But it might be sufficient to quote
discipline of the Puritans, to which he had been in against Dr. Grey even Lord Clarendon only, who
his youth most warmly attached; the most inflex- tells us;' that the papists were upon the matter abible and ardent friend of the Arminians, in whose solved from the severest parts of the law, and disruin and condemnation in Holland he had been sin- pensed with for the gentlest. They were looked
gularly instrumental; and the most zealous defender upon as good subjects at court, and as good neighof episcopal government, against which he had more bours in the country, all the restraints and reproachthan once expressed himself in the strongest terms. es of former times being forgotten."  His lordship
He left the Constitution of England, both ecclesias- expatiates largely on the favours they received and
tical and civil, in a very unsettled and fluctuating  on the boldness they assumed.-Historiy of the Rebelstate, languishing under intestine disorders of vari- lion, vol. i., p. 148, 8vo, edit. of 1707.-ED.
ous kinds."-Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, trans-   f In confutation or this assertion, Dr. Grey quotes
lated by Maclaine, second edition, vol. iv., p. 517, Rushworth, who says, that at the court of Spain
518.-ED.                                       "Prince Charles gained a universal love, and earned
t The expression here, whether it be Mr. Neal's it, from first to last, with the greatest affability."
own or that of any writer of the times, is inaccurate, The doctor did not observe that his authority was
improper, and proceeds upon a wrong notion of the not to the point, for Mr. Neal speaks of Charles's
design of baptism. This rite, resting solely on the deportment after he had been in Spain, and of his
authority of Christ, refers not to the peculiar senti- general temper: Rushworth's delineation is confined
ments of the Church, or the particular party of Chris- to his conduct at court, where he was treated with
tians among whom a person may happen to have it all imaginable respect, and when the object of his
administered to him. It expresseth a profession of visit would of course animate a youth to good-huChristianity only,'and refers exclusively to the au- mour, politeness, and gallantry. Mr. Neal is fully
thority of its Author, acting in the name of God the supported by many authorities, which the reader
Father, and having his ministry sealed by the gifts may see collected by Dr. Harris, p. 68-72, and "An
of the Holy Spirit. The notion of being baptized  Essay towards attaining a true Idea," &c., chap. i
into the Kirk of Scotland, or into the Church of Eng- -ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     279
is that he would Pot marry any morta. whose I the education of her children [till thirteen years
religion he hated; be might therefore depend of age], it was then easy to foresee it might
upon it that he wulvd always abstain from such  prove very fatal to our English prince and peoactions as might lestify a hatred to the Roman pie, and lay in a vengeance to future generaCatholic religion, and would endeavour that all tions."- The queen was a very great bigot to
sinister opinions might be taken away; that as her religion;* her conscience was directed by
we all profess one individual Trinity, we may her confessor, assisted by the pope's nuncio,
unanimously grow  up into one faith."  His and a secret cabal of priests and Jesuits.
majesty began his reign upon most arbitrqry  These controlled the queen, and she the king;
principles, and though he had good natural abil- so that in effect the nation was governed by
ities, was always under the direction of some popish counsels, till the Long Parliament.
favourite, to whose judgment and conduct he   The prime minister under the king was G.
was absolutely resigned.  Nor was he ever Villiers, duke of Buckingham, a graceful young
master of so niuch judgment in politics as to gentleman, but very unfit for his high station.
discern his own and the nation's true interest, He had full possession of the king's heart. inor to take the advice of those who did. With somuch that his majesty broke measures with
regard to the Church, he was a punctual ob- all his parliaments for his sake.  "Most men,'
server of its ceremonies, and had the highest says Lord Clarendon,t "imputed all the calamidislike and prejudice to that part of his sub- ties of the nation to his arbitrary councils; so
jects who were against the ecclesiastical con- that few were displeased at the news of his
stitution, "looking upon them  as a very dan- murder by Felton, in the year 1628, when he
gerous and seditious people, who would, under was not above thirty-four years of age."
pretence of conscience, which kept them from    Upon the duke's death, Dr. William  Laud,
submitting to the spiritual jurisdiction, take then Bishop of London, became the chief ministhe first opportunity they could find or make," ter both in Church and State.T  He was born at
says Lord Clarendon,* "to withdraw  them- Reading, and educated in St. John's College,
selves from  his temporal jurisdiction; and, Oxford, upon the charitable donation of Mr.
therefore, his majesty caused this people [the White, founder of Merchant Tailors' School.
Puritans] to be watched and provided against Here he continued till he was fifty years of age,
with the utmost vigilance."                   and behaved in such a manner that nobody
Upon his majesty's accession, and before the knew what to think of him. " I would I knew,"
solemnity of his father's funeral, he married  says the pious Bishop Hall in one of his letHenrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV., and ters, " where to find you: to-day you are with
sister of Louis XIII., then kingof France. The the Romanists, to-morrow with us; our advermarriage was solemnized by proxy; first at saries think you ours, and we theirs; your conParis, with all the ceremonies of the Romish  science finds you with both and neither: how
Church, and afterward at Canterbury, according long will you halt in this indifferency I"  Dr.
to the rites of the Church of England; and the Abbot says, " He spent his time in picking quararticles being in a manner the same with those rels with the lectures of public readers, and
already mentioned in the Spanish match.  Her giving advice to the then Bishop of Durham,
majesty arrived at Dover, June 13, 1625, and that he might fill the ears of the king [James I.]
brought with her a long train of priests and with prejudices against honest men, whom he
menial servants of the Romish religion; for called Puritans."Q   Heylin confesses it was
whose devotion a chapel was fitted up in the thought dangerous to keep him company.  By
king's house at St. James's.  "The queen was the interest of Bishop Williams, he was first
an agreeable and beautiful lady, and by degrees," advancedll to a Welsh  bishopric, and from
says Lord Clarendon, " obtained a plenitude of
power over the king. His majesty had her in   * As the demand to have the solemnity of the corpowerft over the king. His majesty had her in onation performed by the bishops of her own religion
perfect adoration,t and would do nothing with- was refused, and such was her bigotry it would not
out her, but was inexorable as to everything permit her to join in our church ceremonies, she
that he promised her."  Bishop Burnet says, appeared, therefore, as a spectator only on that occa" The queen was a lady of great vivacity, and sion. —Granger, as before, vol. ii., p. 96, note.-ED.
loved intrigues of all sorts, but was not secret   t Clarendon, vol. i., p. 837.
in them as she ought; she had no manner of   T "As to his preferments in the state," says Dr.
judgment, being bad at contrivance, but worse Grey, " I should be glad to know what they were."
Though the doctor, who was ignorant of them, is
execution. By the liveliness of her dis- now out of the reach of a reply, for the information of
course, she made great impressions upon the the reader they shall be mentioned. In 1635 he was
king; so that to the queen's little practice, and put into the great committee of trade; and on the
the king's own temper, the sequel of all his mis- death of the Earl of Portland, was made one of the
fortunes was owing."  Bishop Kennet adds, commissioners of the treasury and revenue; "which,"
"that the king's match with this lady was a says Lord Clarendon, " he had reason to be sorry
greater judgment to the nation than the plague, for, because it engaged him in civil business and
which then raged in the land; for, considering matters of state."-History of the Rebellion, vol. i., p.
the malignity of the popish religion, the impe- 98, 8vo, 1707. British Biography, vol. iv., p. 269.riousness of the French government, the influ-   11 T  refute this account of the causevof Laud's
ence of a stately queen over an affectionate preferment, Dr. Grey quotes Mr. Wharton.  The
husband, and the share she must needs have in circumstance in itself is of no importance to the
credit or design of Mr. Neal's history. And the pasClarendon, vol. i., p. 81.               sage even admits the fact that Laud owed his prefert "Whoever sees her charming portrait at Wind- ments to Bishop Williams's solicitations, on the ausor," says Mr. Granger, "will cease to admire at her thority of Laud's Diary and Bishop Hacket, Willgreat influence over the king."- The Biographical iams's biographer; but the drift of Mr. Wharton is
History of England, vol. ii., p. 96, 8vo.-EI.  to exculpate Laud from the charge of ingratitude to




280                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
thence by degrees to the highest preferments law, might be done by the rule of governin Church and State.  He was a little man, of a ment:* his lordship added, that no act of Parquick and rough temper, impatient of contradic- liament could bind the king not to command
tion even at the council-table, of arbitrary prin- away his subjects' goods and money.
ciples both in Church and State, always inclined    " The Star Chamber," says Lord Clarendon,t
to methods of severity, especially against the " was in a manner the same court with the courlPuritans; vastly fond of external pomp and cer- cil-table, being but the same persons in several
emony in Divine worship; and though he was rooms: they were both grown into courts of
not an absolute papist, he was ambitious of law, to determine right; and courts of rev-.
being the sovereign patriarch of three king- enue, to bring money into the treasury: the
doms. *                                      council-table by proclamations enjoining to the
Lord-chief-justice Finch was a man of little people what was not enjoined by law, and proknowledge in his profession, except it was for hibiting that which was not prohibited; and the
making the laws of the land give place to or- Star Chamber censuring the breach and disobeders of council.  Mr. Attorney-general Noyt dience to those proclamations, by very great
was a man of affected pride and morosity, who fines and imprisonment; so that any disrespect
valued himself (says Lord Clarendont) upon to any acts of state, or to the persons of statesmaking that to be law which all other men be- men, was in no time more penal, and those
lieved not to be so. Indeed, all the judges foundations of right by which men valued their
were of this stamp, who, instead of upholding security, were never in more danger of being
the law as the defence and security of the sub- destroyed.
jects' privileges, set it aside upon every little    "The High Commission also had very much
occasion, distinguishing between a rule of law  overflowed the banks that should have contained
and a rule of government: so that those whom  it, not only in meddling with things not within
they could not convict by statute law were their cognizance, but in extending their sensure to suffer by the rule of government, or a tences and judgments beyond that degree that
kind of political justice. The judges held their was justifiable, and grew to have so great a
places during the king's pleasure; and when contempt of the common law, and the profesthe prerogative was to be stretched in any par- sors of it, that prohibitions from the supreme
ticular instances, Laud would send for their courts of law, which have and must have the
opinions beforehand, to give the greater sanc- superintendency over all the inferior courts,
tion to the proceedings of the council and Star were not only neglected, but the judges were
Chamber, by whom they were often put in mind, reprehended for granting them, which, without
that if they did not do his majesty's business to perjury, they could not deny.t Besides, froln
satisfaction, they would be removed.  Upon an ecclesiastical court for reformation of manthe whole, they were mercenary men, and (ac- ners, it was grown to a court of revenue, and
cording to Lord Clarendon) scandalous to their imposed great fines upon those who were culprofession.                                  pable before them; sometimes above the deThe courts of Westminster Hall had little to gree of the offence, had the jurisdiction of fining
do between the crown and the subject; all bu- been unquestionable, which it was not; which
siness of this kind being transferred to the course of fining was much more frequent, and
council-table, the Star Chamber, and the Court the fines heavier, after the king had granted all
of High Commission.                         that revenue for the reparation of St. Paul's,
The council-table was the Legislature of the which made the grievance greater;" and gave
kingdom, their proclamations and orders being occasion to an unlucky observation, that the
made a rule of government, and the measure of church was built with the sins of the people.
the subject's obedience.  Though there was These commissioners, not content with the bunot one single law enacted in twelve years, siness that was brought before them, sent their
there were no less than two hundred and fifty commissaries over the whole kingdom to suproclamations; every one of which had the perintend the proceedings of the bishops' courts
force of a law, and bound the subject under the in their several diocesses, which of themselves
severest penalties. The Lord-keeper Finch, made sufficient havoc among the Puritans, and
upon a demurrer put into a bill that had no were under a general odium for the severe exother equity than an order of council, declared ercise of their power: but if the bishop or his
upon the bench, that while he was keeper, no officers were negligent in their citations, or
man should be so saucy as to dispute those showed any degree of favour to the Puritan
orders, but that the wisdom of that board should ministers, notice was immediately sent to Lamalways be ground good enough for him to make beth, and the accused persons were cited bea decree in Chancery. Judge Berkeley, upon a fore the High Commission, to their utter ruin.
like occasion, declared that there was a rule of They also detained men in prison many months,
law and a rule of government, that many without bringing them to a trial, or so much as
things that might not be done by the rule of acquainting them with the cause of their com~________ _ mitment.  Sir Edward  Deering  says, that
Bishop Williams on this ground; that the latter, in "their proceedings were in some sense worse
the service he rendered the former, was not actuated than the Romish Inquisition, because they do
by kindness, but by selfish and interested views. not punish men of their own religion establishThis does not confute, in any degree, Mr. Neal, ed by law; but with us," says he, "how many
who says nothing about the motives by which Bishop scores of poor distressed ministers, within a
Williams was governed.-C.                   few years, have been suspended, degraded, and
Clarendon, vol. i., p. 99.
t Bishop Warburton censures Mr. Neal for not
informing his reader that Noy was a great lawyer.    * Clarendon, vol. i., p. 74.
a Clarendon, vol. i., p. 71, 73, 74.       t Ibid., p. 68, 69.:       Ibid., p. 283.




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HISTORY  OF TH-E:P URITA NS.                             T
of any established law!" All which was so he would let the world see that none should4 e
much the worse, because. they knew that-,the more desirous to maintain' the religion he proicourt had no jurisdiction of fining at all; for fessed than himself.'The houses thanked the
the House of Commons, in the third and sev- king for his most gracious speech, but, before
enth of King James I., resolved that the Court they entered upon other business, joined in a
of High Commission's fining and imprisoning petition against popish recusants, which his
men for ecclesiastical offences was an intoler- majesty promised to examine, and give a satisable grievance, oppression, and vexation, not factory answer to the particulars.
warranted by the statute 1 Eliz., chap. i. And   The petition sets forth the causes of the inSir Edward Coke, with the rest of the judges, crease of popery, with the remedies: the causat a conference with the prelates, in the pres- es are,
ence of King James, gave it as their unanimous   The want of the due execution of the laws
opinion, that the High Commission could fine against them. The interposing of foreign powin no case, and imprison only in cases of heresy ers by their ambassadors and agents in their
and incontinence of a minister, and that only favour. The great concourse of papists to the
after conviction, but not by way of process be- city, and their frequent conferences and confore it, so-that the jurisdiction of the court to venticles there. Their open resort to the chapfine was not only questionable, but null and els of foreign ambassadors. The education of
void. Notwithstanding which, they hunted after their children in foreign seminaries. The want
their prey with full cry, " and brought in the of sufficient instruction in the Protestant reli
greatest and most splendid transgressors; per- gion in several places of the country. The lisons of honour and great quality," says the no- centious printing of popish books. The emrble historian, "were every day cited into the ployment of men ill affected to the Protestanf
High Commission, upon the fame of their in- religion in places of government.*
continency or scandal of life, and very heavy   They therefore pray that the youth of the
fines were levied upon them, and applied to the kingdom may be carefully educated under Protrepairing of St. Paul's Cathedral."       estant schoolmasters; which his majesty, in his
Upon the accession of King Charles to the answer to their petition, promised: That the
throne, the Duke of Buckingham threw off the ancient discipline of the universities may be remask, and shook hands with his old friend Dr. stored; which his majesty approved: That the
Preston, whom he never loved any farther than preaching of the Word of God may be enlarged;.
as a tool to promote his interest among the peo- and that to this purpose the bishops- be advised
pie. Laud was his confessor and privy-coun- to make use of the labours of such able minissellor for the Church, whose first care was to ters as have been formerly silenced, advising
have none but Arminian and anti-Puritanical and beseeching them  to behave themselves
chaplains about the king: for this purpose, he peaceably; and that pluralities, nonresidences,
drew up a small treatise and put it into the and commendams may be moderated. Answer.
duke's hand, proving the Arminian doctrines to " This his majesty approved, so far as the mrinbe orthodox, and showing, in ten particulars, isters would conform to church government.
that the anti-Arminian tenets were no better But he apprehends that pluralities, &c., are
than doctrinal Puritanism. Agreeably to the now so moderated that there is no room for
scheme, he presented the duke [April 9] with a complaint; and recommends it to the Parlialist of divines for his majesty's chaplains, dis- ment to take care that every parish allow a
tinguishing their characters by the two capital competent maintenance for an able-minister."
letters O. for orthodox [that is, Arminian], and That provision might be made against transP. for Puritans [that is, Calvinists]. At the porting children to popish seminaries, and for
same time, he received orders to consult Bish- recalling those that were there. Answ. " To
op Andrews how to manage, with respect to the this his majesty agreed."  That no popish refive distinguishing points of Calvinism, in the cusant be admitted to come to court but upon
ensuing convocation; but the wise bishop ad- special occasion, according to statute 3 Jac.
vised his brother by all means to be quiet, and Answ. " This also his majesty promised."
keep the controversy out of the house: " for," That the laws against papists be put in execusays he, " the truth in this point is not so gen- tion, and that a day be fixed for the departure
erally entertained among the clergy; nor is of all Jesuits and seminary-priests out of the
Archbishop Abbot, nor many of the prelates, so kingdom, and that no natural-born subject, nor
inclinable to it as to venture the deciding it in strange bishops, nor any other by authority fromn
convocation."  It was, therefore, wisely drop- the see of Rome, confer any ecclesiastical iOrped, the majority of the Lower House being ders, or exercise any ecclesiastical function,
zealous Calvinists; and forty-five of them (ac- upon your majesty's subjects. Answ. " It-shall
cording to Dr. Leo, who was one of the num- be so published by proclamation."  That your
ber) had made a covenant among themselves to majesty's learned council may have orders to
oppose everything that tended towards Pelagi- consider of all former grants of recusantlands,
anism or semi-Pelagianism: but the controversy that such may be avoided as are avoidable by
was warmly debated without doors, till the king law. Answ. " It shall be done according as is
put a stop to it by his royal declaration.  desired."  That your majesty give order to
Popery advanced hand in hand with Armini- your judges and all officers of justice to see
anism, and began the disputes between the king the laws against popish recusants duly execuand his first Parliament, which met June 16, ted. Answ. " His majesty leaves the laws to
16265. His maJesty, towards the close of his their course."  That your majesty will remove
speech, having asked their assistance for the from places of authority and government all
recovery of the Palatinate, assured them that, popish recusants.  Answ. "His majesty will
though he had been suspected as to his religion,     * Rushworth, p. 183-186.
VOL..-N N




282                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
give order accordingly."  That order be taken  in the year 1643;* and when the next Parliafor disarming all popish recusants convict ac- ment petitioned for the removal of papists from
cording to law, and that popish recusants be offices of trust, it appeared, by a list annexed
commanded to retire to their houses, and be  to their petition, that there were no less than
confined within five miles of home. Answ. fifty-nine of the nobility and gentry of that reii"The laws shall be put in execution."  That gion then in the commission.t
none of your majesty's natural-born subjects go    But the king not only connived at the Roman
to hear mass at the houses or chapels of foreign  Catholics at home, but, unhappily, contributed to
ambassadors.  Answ. "The king will give or- the ruin of the Protestant religion abroad. Carder accordingly."  That the statute of 1 Eliz., dinal Richelieu having formed a design to extirfor the payment of twelvepence every Sunday  pate the Huguenots of France, by securing all
by such as absent from Divine service in the  their places of strength, laid siege to Rochelle,
church without a lawful excuse, be put in exe- a seaport town with a good harbour and a numcution.  Answ. " The lking promises the pen- ber of ships sufficient for its defence. Richelieu,
alties shall not be dispensed with."  That your taking advantage of the king's late match with
majesty will extend your princely care to Ire- France, sent to borrow seven or eight ships,
land, that the like course may be taken there  to be employed as the King of France: should
for establishing the true religion. Answ. "His  direct, who appointed them  to block up the
majesty will do all that a religious king can do  harbour of Rochelle; but when the honest sailin that affair."*                             ors were told where they were going, they
It is surprising that the king should make  declared they would rather be thrown overthese promises to his Parliament within six  board, or hanged upon the top of the masts,
months after he had signed his marriage-arti- than fight against their Protestant brethren.
cles, in which he had agreed to set all Roman  Notwithstanding Admiral Pennington and the
Catholics at liberty, and to suffer no search or French officers used all their rhetoric to permolestation of them for their religion, and had, suade them, they remained inflexible. The adin consequence of it, pardoned twenty Romish  miral, therefore, acquainted the king, who sent
priests, and (in imitation of his royal father) giv- him a warrant to the following effect: " That
en orders to his lord-keeper to direct the judg- he should consign his own ship immediately
es and justices of peace all over England " to  into the hands of the French admiral, with all
forbear all manner of proceedings against his  her equipage, artillery, &c., and require the othRoman Catholic subjects, by information, in- er seven to put themselves into the service of
dictment, or otherwise; it being his royal pleas- our dear brother the French king; and in case
ure that there should be a cessation of all and  of backwardness or refusal, we command you
singular pains and penalties' whereunto they  to use all forcible means, even to their sinkwere liable by any laws, statutes, or ordinances  ing."  In pursuance of this warrant, the ships
of this realm."t  But, as a judicious writer ob- were delivered into the hands of the French,
serves,$ it seems to have been a maxim in this  but all the English sailors and officers desertand the last reign that no faith is to be kept ed except two.  The French, having got the
with parliaments.  The papists were apprized  ships and artillery, quickly manned them with
of the reasons of state that obliged the king to  sailors of their own religion, and, joining the
comply outwardly with what he did not really  rest of the French fleet, they blocked up the
intend; and, therefore, though his majesty di- harbour, destroyed the little fleet of the Rorected a letter to his archbishop [December 15, chellers, and cut off their communication by
1625] to proceed against popish recusants, and  sea with their Protestant friends, by which
a proclamation was published to recall the Eng- means they were reduced to all the hardships
lish youths from popish seminaries, little regard  of a most dreadful famine; and after a long
was paid to them.  The king himself released  blockade, both by sea and land, were forced to
eleven Romish priests out of prison, by special surrender the chief bulwark of the Protestant
warrant, the next day; the titular Bishop of interest in France into the hands of the papists.
Chalcedon, by letters dated June 1, 1625, ap-    To return to the Parliament.  It has been
pointed a popish vicar-general and archdeacons  remembered that Mr. Richard Montague, a
all over England,~ whose names were published  clergyman, and one of the king's chaplains, published a book in the year 1623, entitled " A new
Rushworth, p. 173.                         Gag for an old Goose," in answer to a popish
t The remark of Dr. Warner here is too pertinent
and forcible, especially considering from whose pen  is brought forward by Mr. Neal, whose candour in
it comes, to be omitted. " These gracious answers of this matter Dr. Grey impeaches, because he does not
his majesty," says he, " to the several articles of the  inform his reader that the king issued his proclamapetition presented to him by both houses of Parlia- tion for apprehending this Romish agent. But it
ment, wanted nothing but the performance of the seems to have escaped Dr. Grey's attention that a
promises which he made, to gain him the love of all proclamation not issued till the 11th of December,
his Protestant subjects. But if we may judge by the  1628, and not then till drawn from him by a petition
continual complaints of the Parliament throughout of both houses against recusants, can have little
this reign, about these very points on which the king  weight against the imputation on the king which
had given this satisfaction, we shall find reason to  this fact is alleged to support.-Rushworth's Collecthink that his promises were observed no better than  tions, vol. i., p. 511.-ED.
James his father observed his."-Warner's Eccles.   * Rushworth, p. 158, 159, and Fuller's Church
Hist., vol. ii., p. 513. —ED.      $ Rapin.   Hist., b. xi., p. 132, 133.
d Fuller tells us that this titular Bishop of Chal-   t See Rushworth's Collection, vol. i., p. 393, &c.
cedon, whose name was Smith, appeared in his pon- The names of some of these persons, perhaps, were retificabilus in Lancashire, with his mitre and crozier. turned only on the ground of suspicion, because their
This was an evident proof that the Catholics pre- wives and children were of the Romish communion,
sumed on the indulgence and connivance, if not the or did not come to church. " Mr. Neal," therefore,
protection, of the court. To show which, the fact according to Dr. Grey, " mistook Rushworth."-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     283
book, entitleO " A Gag for the new Gospel:."  his chaplain to their bar, and for alarming the
The book containing sundry propositions tend- nation-with the danger of popery. But these afing to the public disturbance, was complained  fairs, with the king's assisting at the siege of
of in the House of Commons, who, after having Rochelle, made such a noise at Oxford, where
examined the author at their bar, referred him  the Parliament was reassembled because of the
to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who dismiss- plague at London, that the king was obliged to
ed him with an express prohibition to write no dissolve them  [August 12] before they had
more about such matters.  But Montague, be- granted the supplies necessary for carrying on
ing encouraged from court, went on. and pub- the war.  Nor did his majesty pass any act
lished;"An Appeal to Caesar," designing it for relating to religion, except one, which was soon
King James; but he being dead before it was after suspended by his royal declaration; it
ready, it was dedicated to King Charles, and was to prevent unlawful pastimes on the Lord's
recommended at first by several court-bishops, Day. The preamble sets forth that the holy
who, upon better consideration, artfully with- keeping of the Lord's Day is a principal part of
drew their names from before it, and left Dr. the true service of God: "Therefore it is enFrancis White to appear by himself, as he com- acted that there shall be no assemblies of peoplained publicly. The appeal was calculated to ple out of their own parishes for any sports or
promote Arminianism, to attempt a reconcilia- pastimes whatsoever; nor any bear-baiting,
tion with Rome, and to advance the king's pre- bull-baiting, interludes, common plays, or any
rogative above law.  The House appointed a other unlawful exercises or pastimes, within
committee to examine into its errors; after their own parishes, on forfeiture of three shillwhich they voted it to be contrary to the Arti- ings and sixpence for every such offence to the
cles of the Church of England, and bound the poor."  However, this law was never put in
author in a recognisance of ~2000 for his ap- execution. Men were reproached and censupearance.                                     red for too strict an observation of the Lord's
Bishop Laud, apprehending this to be an in- Day, but none that I have met with for: the
vasion of the prerogative, and a dangerous pre- profanation of it.
cedent, joined with two other bishops in a let-   His majesty having dismissed his Parliament
ter to the Duke of Buckingham, to engage his before they had given him the necessary supmajesty to take the cause into his own hands: plies for the war with Spain, resolved to try his
the letter says,t " that the Church of England, credit in borrowing money, by way of loan, of
when it was reformed, would not be too busy  such persons as were best able to lend; for
with school-points of divinity; now the points this purpose gentlemen were taxed at a certain
for which Mr. Montague is brought into trouble sum, and had promissory letters under the privy
are of this kind: some are the resolved doc- seal to be repayed in eighteen months.*  With
trines of the Church of England, which he is this money the king fitted out a fleet against
bound to maintain; and others are fit only for Spain, which, after it had waited about two
schools, wherein men may abound in their own  months for the Plate fleet, returned without dosense. To make men subscribe school-opin- ing any action worth remembrance.
ions is hard, and was one great fault of the    The ceremony of the king's coronation,,
Council of Trent.  Besides, disputes about doc- which was not performed till the beginning of
trines in religion ought to be determined in a February, was another expense which his majnational synod or convocation, with the king's esty thought fit to provide for by issuing out a
lincense, and not in Parliament; if we submit proclamation that all such as had ~40 a year
to any, other judge, we shall depart from the or more, and were not yet knights, should come
ordinance of Christ, we shall derogate from the and receive the order of knighthood, or comhonour of the late king, who saw and approved  pound for it.J  This was a new grievance loudof all the opinions in that book; as well as ly complained of in the following Parliaments.
from his present majesty's royal prerogative, The coronation was performed by Archbishop
who has power and right to take this matter Abbot, assisted by Bishop Laud as Dean of
under his own care, and refer it in a right Westminster,~ who, besides the old regalia
course to church consideration.  Some of the which were in his custody, that is, the crown,
opinions which are opposite to Mr. Montague's
will prove fatal to the government, if publicly    * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 196, 197.
taught and maintained: when they had been    t Senhouse, bishop of Carlisle, who had been his
concluded upon at Lambeth, Queen Elizabeth  chaplain when Prince of Wales, was selected to
caused them to be suppressed, and so they con- preach his coronation sermon. The bishop took for
caused them to be suppressed, and so themy con- his text Rev., ii., 10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and
tinued, till of late some of them received coun- I will give thee a crown of life," a passage which
tenance from  the Synod of Dort; a synod was considered by the superstitious as far more suit
whose conclusions have no authority in this able for his funeral sermon than as adapted to the
country, and it is to be hoped never will." brilliant occasion on which it was delivered. Charles,
Signed, Jo. Roffensis, Jo. Oxon, and Gulielmus contrary to the custom of his ancestors, had select
Menevensis, August 2, 1625.                  ed a robe of white, instead of purple, as his corona
This letter had its effect, and procured Mon- tion dress. There were various portents of ill augu
tague his quietzus at present.  The king decla-ry which identified themselves with the inaugura
tion of the ill-fated monarch.-Court of the Stuarts
red he would bring the cause before the coun- by Jesse, vol. ii., p. 59, 60.-C.
cil, it being a branch of his supremacy to de-   $ Rapin, vol. ii., p. 235, 236, folio ed.
termine matters of religion.  He expressed his   Q Dr. Grey properly corrects Mr. Neal here: Laud
displeasure against the Commons for calling officiated in the place of the Dean of Westminster,
the Bishop of Lincoln, with whom the king was so
* Rushworth, vol. i., p. 177.              displeased, that he would not permit him to perform
t Cabala, p. 105; Rushworth, vol. i., p. 180, 181, any part of the coronation service.-Fuller's Church
or ]10, 111, of the edition in 1663.         Hist., b. x., p. 121.-ED.




284                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS
the sceptre, the spurs, &c., of King Edward the    6. " That in his' Appeal' he maintained
Confessor. brought forth an old crucifix, and that men justified may fall away from grace,
placed it upon. the altar. As soon as the arch- and may recover again, but not certainly nor
bishop had put the crown upon the king's head, necessarily,
and performed the other usual ceremonies,* his   7. " That the said R. Montague has endeav*majesty being seated on the throne, ready to oured to raise factions among the king's subreceive the homage of the lords, Bishop Laud jects, by casting the odious and scandalous
came up to him, and read the following extra- name of Puritans upon those who conform to
ordinary passage, which is not to be found in the doctrine and ceremonies of the Church.
former coronations: " Stand, and hold fast That he scoffed at preaching, at lectures, and
from  henceforth the place to which you have all shows of religion; and that the design of
been heir by the succession of your forefathers, his book was apparently to reconcile the Church
being now delivered to you by the authority of of England with the See of Rome."T
Almighty God, and by the hands of us, and all  In what manner the Commons designed to
the bishops and servants of God. And as you prosecute this impeachment is uncertain, for
see the clergy to come nearer to the altar than  Montague was not brought to his defence, the
others, so remember that in all places conveni- king having intimated again to the House that
ent you give them greater honour, that the Me- their proceeding against him without his leave
diator of God and man may establish you in  was displeasing to him; that as to their holdthe kingly throne, to be a mediator between the ing him to bail, he thought his servants might
clergy and the laity, and that you may reign  have the same protection as an ordinary burforever with Jesus Christ, the King of kings, gess, and, therefore, he would take the cause
and Lord of lords."t  This and sundry other into his own hands; and soon after dissolved
alterations were objected to the archbishop at the Parliament.t
his trial, which we shall mention hereafter.    Though the Arminian controversy was thus
The king's treasury being exhausted, and the wrested out of the hands of the Parliament, it
war continuing with Spain, his majesty was was warmly debated without doors; Montague
obliged to call a new Parliament; but to avoid  was attacked in print by Dr. Carleton, bishop
the choice of such members as had exclaimed  of Chichester; Dr. Sutcliffe, dean of Exeter;
against the Duke of Buckingham, and insisted  Dr. Featly, Dr. Goad, Mr. Ward, Burton, Yates,
upon redress of grievances, the court pricked  Wotton, Prynne, and Fran. Rouse, Esq., &c.
them down for sheriffs, which disqualified them  Conferences were appointed to debate the point
from being rechosen members of Parliament; of the possibility of the elects' falling fromn
of this number were Sir Edward Coke, Sir Rob- grace.$  One was at York House, February
ert Philips, and Sir Thomas Wentworth, after- 11, 1625-6, before the Duke of Buckingham,
ward Lord Strafford.  The houses met Febru- Earl of Warwick, and other lords; Dr. Buckeary 6, 1626, and fell immediately upon grievan- ridge, bishop of Rochester, and Dr. White, dean
ces. A committee for religion was appointed, of Carlisle, being on one side, and Dr. Moreton,
of which Mr. Pym was chairman, who examin- bishop of Coventry, and Dr. Preston, on the
ed Mr. Montague's writings, viz., his " Gag,"  other.  The success of the dispute is variously
his "; Appeal," and his treatise of the " Invoca- related; but the Earl of Pembroke said that
tion of the Saints;" out of which they collected  none went from thence Arminians, save those
several opinions contrary to the Book of Homi- who came thither with the same opinions.
lies and the Thirty-nine Articles, which they  Soon after, February 17, there was a second
reported to the House; as,                    conference in the same place, Dr. White and
1. "' That he maintained the Church of Rome Mr. Montague on one side, and Dr. Moreton and
is, and ever was, a true -church, contrary to  Preston on the other; Dr. Preston carried it
the sixteenth homily of the Church of England. clear at first, by dividing his adversaries, who
2. "' That the said Church had ever remain- quickly perceiving their error, united their fored firm upon the same foundation of sacraments ces, says my author, in a joint opposition to
and doctrine instituted by God.               him; but, upon the whole, these conferences
3. " That speaking of the doctrines of faith, served rather to increase the differences than
hope, and charity, he affirmed that none of abate them.  The king, therefore, issued out a
these are controverted between the papists and proclamation, containing very express comProtestants; but that the controverted points mands not to preach or dispute upon the conare of a lesser and inferior nature, of which a troverted points of Arminianism.  It was dated
man may be ignorant without any danger of his January 24, 1626, and sets forth " that the king
soul.                                         will admit of no innovation in the doctrine, dis-'4. " That he maintained the use of images,
for instruction of the ignorant, and exciting de-   * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 213-215.
votion.                                         t Dr. Grey adds here, "yet the king thought fit
5. " That in his treatise of the'Invocation  to call his book in." The doctor says this on the
authority of Rushworth, whose farther account of'
of Saints,' he affirmed that some saints have a authority of Rushworth, whose farther account of
of Saints,' pe affrmed that some saints have a the proceeding should be laid before the reader.
peculiar patronage, custody,  protection, and "Ere this proclamation was published," says he,
power (as angels have) over certain persons c"the books were for the most part vented and out
and countries.                                of danger of seizure, and the suppressing of all writing and preaching in answer thereunto was (it seems
* The ceremonial of the coronation is given at by some) the thing mainly intended; for the several
length by Fuller, b. xi., p. 121, &c.-ED.     answers were all suppressed, and divers of the print.
~ " The manuscript coronation-book, which the ers questioned by the Highl  Commission."-Rushking held in his hand, and which is still in being," worth, vol. ii., p. 647.-ED.
says Dr. Grey, "proves that the words were not   $ Prynne's Cant. Doom., p. 158, 159; Fuller, b.
spoken by Laud, but by the archbishop."-ED.  ix., p. 124.            ~ Fuller, b. xi., p. 125.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   285
cipline, or government of the Church, and, church, and everything tending to expose imatherefore, charges all his subjects, and especi- ges in churches, crucifixes, penance, auricular
ally the clergy, not to publish, or maintain in confession, and popish absolution, must be expreaching or writing, any new inventions or punged. Sir Edward Deering compares the liopinions contrary to the said doctrine and dis- censers of the press to the managers of the incipline established by law, assuring them that dex expurgatorius among the papists, "' who clip
his majesty will proceed against all offenders the tongues of such witnesses whose evidences
against this order with all that severity their they do not like; in like manner," says he,
contempt shall deserve, that by the exemplary  " our licensers suppress the truth, while popish
punishment of a few, others may be warned  pamphlets fly abroad cum privilegio; nay, they
against falling under the just indignation of are so bold as to deface the most learned latheir sovereign."*                           bours of our ancient and best divines.  But
One would have thought this proclamation to  herein the Roman index is better than ours, that
be in favour of Calvinism, but the execution of they approve of their own established doctrines;
it being in the hands of Laud and the bishops but our innovators alter our settled doctrines,
of his party, the edge was turned against the  and superinduce points repugnant and contrary.
Puritans, and it became, says Rushworth,t the  This I do affirm, and can take upon myself to
stopping of their mouths, and gave an uncon- prove."
trolled liberty to the tongues and pens of the    Terrible were the triumphs of arbitrary powArminian party. Others were of opinion that er over the liberty and property of the subject,
Laud and Neile procured this injunction, in or- in the intervals between this and the succeedder to have an opportunity to oppress the Cal- ing Parliament; gentlemen of birth and charvinists who should venture to break it, while  acter, who refused to lend what money the
the disobedience of the contrary party should  council was pleased to assess them, were taken
be winked at. The Puritans thought they might out of their houses and imprisoned at a great
still write in defence of the Thirty-nine Arti- distance from their habitations;* among these
cles; but the press being in the hands of their were Sir Thomas Wentworth, Sir Walter Earle,
adversaries, some of their books were suppress- Sir John Strangeways, Sir Thomas Grantham,
ed, some were castrated, and others that got Sir Harbottle Grimstone, John Hampden, Esq.,
abroad were called in,T and the authors and  and others; some were confined in the Fleet, the
publishers questioned in the Star Chamber and  Marshalsea, the Gate-house, and other prisons
High Commission for engaging in a controversy  about London, as Sir John Elliot, Mr. Selden.
prohibited by the government. By these meth- &c.
ods effectual care was taken that the Puritan    Upon the whole, there were imprisoned by
and Calvinian writers should do their adversa- order of council nineteen knights, thirteen esries no harm; Bishop Laud, with two or three  quires, and four gentlemen in the county jails;
of his chaplains, undertaking to judge of truth  three knights, one esquire, and four wealthy
ane error, civility and good manners, for all the  citizens in the Fleet, besides great numbers in
wise and great men of the nation; in doing of other places. Those of the lower sort who rewhich they were so shamefully partial, that fused to lend were pressed for the army, or
learning and industry were discouraged, men  had soldiers quartered on them, who, by their
of gravity and great experience not being able  insolent behaviour, disturbed the peace of famto persuade themselves to submit their labours ilies, and committed frequent felonies, burglato be mangled and torn in pieces by a few  ries, rapines, murders, and other barbarous
younger divines, who were both judges and  cruelties, insomuch that the highways were
partiesin the affair. At length, the booksellers dangerous to travel, and the markets unfriebeing almost ruined, preferred a petition to the  quented.  The king would have borrowed
next Parliaments [1628], complaining that the  ~100,000 of the city of London, but they exwritings of their best authors were stifled in the  cused themselves. However, his majesty got
press, while the books of their adversaries [pa- a round sum of money from the papists, by ispists and Arminians] were published and spread  suing a commission to the Archbishop of York
over the whole kingdom. Thus Cheney's "Col- to compound with them for all their forfeitures
lectiones Theologize," an Arminian and popish  that had been due for recusancy since the tenth
performance, was licensed, when the learned  of King James I., or that should be due hereafDr. Twisse's answer to Arminius, though writ- ter. By this fatal policy (says the noble histoten in Latin, was stopped in the press.ll Mr. rian) men well affected to the hierarchy, though
Montague's book, entitled " God's Love to Man- enemies to arbitrary power, were obliged to side
kind," was licensed and published, when Dr. with the Puritans to save the nation, and enaTwisse's reply to the same book was suppress- ble them to oppose the designs of the court.
ed. Many affidavits of this kind were made    To convince the people that it was their duty
against Laud at his trial by the most famous to submit to the loan, the clergy were employed
Calvinistical writers, as will be seen hereafter.  to preach up the doctrines of passive obedience
The case was just the same with regard to  and nonresistance, and to prove that the absobooks against popery; the queen and the Ro- lute submission of subjects to the royal will and
man Catholics must not be insulted, and, there- pleasure was the doctrine of Holy Scripture;t
fore, all offensive passages, such as calling the  among those was Dr. Sibthorp, a man of mean
pope antichrist, the Church of Rome no true  parts, but of sordid ambition, who, in his sermon at the Lent assizes at Northampton, from
* Rushworth, vol. i., p. 416, Bib. Regis.  Romans, xiii., 7, told the people, "that if print Rushworth, p. 417. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 258, folio ces commanded anything which subjects might
ed.                  $ Prynne, p. 158, 159.
~ Rushworth, vol. i., p. 667.                * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 426, 432, 435, 495.
1 Prynne, p. 166, 167, &c                    t Ibid., p. 426, 440.




286                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
not perform, because it is against the laws of patience to wait for the reverend old prelate s
God or of Nature, or impossible, yet subjects death, he was desirous to step into the archiare bound to undergo the punishment, without episcopal chair while he was yet alive; for no
resisting, or railing, or reviling; and so to yield sooner was Abbot suspended, than his jurisdica passive obedience where they cannot yield an tion was put into the hands of five bishops by
active one."  Dr. Manwaring went farther, in commission, of whom Laud was the chief.
two sermons preached before the king at Oat-   There was another prelate that gave the
lands, and published under the title of " Reli- court some uneasiness, viz., Dr. Williams, bishgion and Allegiance."  He says, " The king is op of Lincoln, late lord-keeper of the great seal,
not bound to observe the laws of the realm  who, being in disgrace, retired to his diocess,
concerning the subjects' rights and liberties, but and became very popular among his clergy.*
that his royal will and pleasure, in imposing He declared against the loan, and fell in with
taxes without consent of Parliament, doth the Puritans and country party, insomuch that
oblige the subjects' conscience on pain of dam- Sir John Lamb and Dr. Sibthorp informed the
nation; and that those who refuse obedience council that they were grieved to see the Bishtransgress the laws of God, insult the king's op of Lincoln give place to unconformable minsupreme authority, and are guilty of impiety, isters, when he turned his back upon those who
disloyalty, and rebellion. That the authority were conformable; that the Puritans ruled all
of both houses of Parliament is not necessary with him; and that divers of them in Leicesfor the raising aids and subsidies, as not suita- tershire being convened before the commissable to the exigencies of the state."  These ries, his lordship would not admit proceedings
were the doctrines of the court; " which," to be had against them. That they [the comsays the noble historian, " were very unfit for missaries for the High Commission] had informthe place and very scandalous for the persons, ed the bishop, then at Bugden, of several of the
who presumed often to determine things out of factious Puritans in his diocess who would not
the verge of their own profession, and in ordine come up to the table to receive the communion
ad spiritualia, gave unto Caesar that which did kneeling; of their keeping unlawful fasts and
not belong to him."                        meetings; that one fast held from eight in the
Sibthorp dedicated his sermon to the king, morning till nine at night; and that collections
and carried it to Archbishop Abbot to be li- for money were made without authority, upon
censed, which the honest old prelate refused, pretence for the Palatinate; that, therefore,
for which he was suspended from all archiepis- they had desired leave from the bishop to procopal functions, and ordered to retire to Can- ceed against them ex officio; but the bishop reterbury or Ford, a moorish, unhealthy place, plied that he would not meddle against the Pufive miles beyond Canterbury.  The sermon ritans; that, for his part, he expected not anothwas then carried to the Bishop ofLondon, who er bishopric; they might complain of them if
licensed and recommended it as a sermon they would to the council-table, for he was unlearnedly and discreetly preached, agreeable to der a cloud already. He had the Duke of Buckthe ancient doctrine of the primitive Church, ingham for his enemy, and, therefore, would
both for faith and good manners, and to the es- not draw the Puritans upon him, for he was
tablished doctrine of the Church of England.   sure they would carry all things at last. BeArchbishop Abbot had been out of favour sides, he said, the king, in the first year of his
for some time, because he would not give up reign, had given answer to a petition of the
the laws and liberties of his country, nor treat Lower House, at Oxford, in favour of the Purithe great Duke of Buckingham with that servile tans.
submission that he expected.*  Heylin says   It appeared by the information of others, that
the king was displeased with him for being too Lamb and Sibthorp pressed the bishop again to
favourable to the Puritans and too remiss in his proceed against the Puritans of Leicestershire;
government; and that, for this reason, he seiz- that the bishop then asked them, What sort of
ed his jurisdiction, and put it into hands more people they were, and of what condition? To
disposed to act with severity.  Fuller sayst which Sir John Lamb replied, in the presence
that a commission was granted to five bishops, of Dr. Sibthorp, " that they seemed to the world
whereof Laud was one, to suspend him for cas- to be such as would not swear, whore, nor be
ual homicide that he had committed seven years drunk, but yet they would lie, cozen, and debefore, and of which he had been cleared by ceive; that they would frequently hear two
commissioners appointed to examine into the sermons a day, and repeat the same again, too,
fact in the reign of King James; besides, his and afterward pray, and that sometimes they
grace had a royal dispensation to shelter him  would fast all day long."  Then the bishop
from the canons, and had ever since exercised asked whether the places where those Puritans
his jurisdiction without interruption, even to were did lend money freely upon the collection
the consecrating of Laud himself to a bishopric. for the loan. To which Sir John Lamb and Dr.
But the commission mentions no cause of his Sibthorp replied that they did. Then said the
suspension, and only takes notice that the arch- bishop, No man of discretion can say that that
bishop cannot at present, in his own person, at- place is a place of Puritans: for my part (said
tend the services which are otherwise proper the bishop), I am not satisfied to give way to
for his cognizance and jurisdiction. But why proceedings against them: at which Sibthorp
could he not attend them? Because his maj- was much discontented, and said he was troubesty had commanded him to retire, for refu- led to see that the Church was no better resing to license Sibthorp's sermon. The blame garded. This information being transmitted to
of this severity fell upon Laud, as if, not having the council, was sealed up for the present, but
* Rushworth, vol. i., p. 61, 435. Collyer, p. 742. was afterward, with some other matters prot Church History, b. xi., p. 12,                * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 424, 425.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     287
duced against his lordship in the Star Chamber,   But the Parliament not being awed by this
as will be seen hereafter.                    language, began with grievances; and though
Though the king was at war with Spain, and they voted five subsidies, they refilsed to carry
with the house of Austria, and (if I may be al- the bill through the House till they had obtainlowed to say it) with his own subjects; though  ed the royal assent to their petition of right,
he had no money in his exchequer, and was at which asserted, among others, the following
the greatest loss how to raise any; yet he suf- claims contained in Magna Charta:
fered himself to be prevailed with to enter into   I. That no freeman shall be detained in prisa new  war with France, under the colour of on by the king and privy council without the
maintaining the Protestant religion in that cause of commitment be expressed for which
country, without so much as thinking of ways by law he ought to be detained.
and means to support it. But when one con-   2. That a habeas corpus ought not to be desiders the character of this king and his minis- nied where the law allows it.
try, it is hard to believe that this could be the    3. That no tax, loan, or benevolence shall
real motive of the war, for his majesty and the  be imposed without act of Parliament.
whole court had a mortal aversion to the French    4. That no man shall be forejudged of life or
Huguenots.*   Buckingham had no religion at limb, or be exiled or destroyed, but by the judgall; Weston and Conway were Catholics; Laud ment of his peers, according to the laws of the
and Nreile thought there was no salvation for land, or by act of Parliament.
Protestants out of the Church of England; how,   The king gave the royal assent to this bill in
then, can it be supposed that they should make the most ample manner, which I mention that
war in defence of a religion for which they had  the reader may remember what regard his majthe utmost contempt?  Lord Clarendon says esty paid to it in the twelve succeeding years
the war was owing to Buckingham's disap- of his reign.
pointment in his amours at the French court;t   In the mean time, the House of Lords* went
but it is more likely he advised it to keep up  upon Manwaring's sermons, already mentioned,
the misunderstandings between the king and  and passed the following sentence upon the auhis parliaments, by continuing the necessity of thor: "That he be imprisoned during pleasure,
raising money by extraordinary methods, upon  and be fined one thousand pounds; that he
which his credit and reputation depended. War make his submission at the bar of the House,
being declared, the queen's domestics were sent and be suspended from his ministry for three
home, and a fleet was fitted out, which made a years; that he be disabled forever from preachfruitless descent upon the Isle of Rhee, under ing at court, be incapable of any ecclesiastical
the conduct of the Duke of Buckingham, with  or secular preferment, and that his sermons be
the loss of five thousand men. This raised a burned in London and both universities."t Pur.
world of complaints and murmurs against the
duke, and obliged the weak and unhappy king and were admirably qualified to meet it. I beg the
to try the experiment of another Parliament, reader to examine the character of the leaders of the
which was appointed to meet March 17, 1627-8. party; their intellectual endowments were of the
As soon as this resolution was taken in coun- highest order, and their moral standing gave weight
cil, orders Mwere despatched to all parts of the  and influence to their opinions. Look at Sir Edward
kindeom  to release the gentlemen  imprisoned  Coke, yet regarded as the oracle of English law;
kingdom to release the genJohn Selden, the most learned man of his time; Sir
for the loan, to the number of seventy-eight, John Eliot, one of the purest of patriots; and John
most of whom were chosen members for the Hampden, the glory of the land. Lingard says,the
ensuing Parliament.  In the mean time, his leaders of the country party conducted their promajesty went on with raising money by excise; ceedings with the most consummate address. They
and instead of palliating and softening the mis- advanced step by step, first resolving to grant a suptakes of -his government, put on an air of high  ply, then fixing it at the tempting amount of five
sovereignty, and told his Parliament, that if they  subsidies. But no art, no entreaty could prevail on
did not provide ford the necessities of the  state, them to pass their resolution in the shape of a bill.
did not provide for the necessities of the state  It was held out as a lure to the king, it was gradualhe should use those other means that God had ly brought nearer and nearer to his grasp, but they
put into his hands, to save that which the follies still refused to surrender their hold; they required,
of other men would hazard.' Take not this,"  as a previous condition, that he should give his assavs his majesty, "as a threatening, for I scorn  sent to those liberties which they claimed as the
to threaten my inferiors,$ but as an admonition  birthright of Englishmen. —C.
from  him, who by nature and duty has most   * A declaration against Manwaring was presented
care folr your preservation and prosperity."~    to the Lords by Pym, supported in one of those
lucid and masterly expositions of constitutional law
which rendered him so formidable an opponent to
* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 260, folio ed.        the court. "The circumstances of aggravation anf Ibid., vol. i., p. 38, 39.                nexed to this case," said Pyrm, "are these.'The
$ "Any but equals."-Rushworth. Dr. Grey, who first, from the place where those sermons were
gives this correction, quotes other passages from the preached; the court, the king's own family, where
king's speech with a view to soften Mr. Neal's such doctrine was before so well believed that no
representation of it; but with little propriety; for man needed to be converted, &c.'Ihe second was
though he expresses "'a hope of being laid under from the consideration of his holy functions: he is
such obligations as would tie him by way of thank- a preacher of God's Holy Word, and yet he had enfulness to meet them often," the whole wears the deavoured to make that, which was the only rule of
same air of sovereignty as the passage above. It is justice and goodness, to be the warrant for violence
more in the tone of an angry monarch to his offend- and oppression. He is a messenger of peace, but he
ing subjects, than of a constitutional king of Eng- had endeavoured to sow strife and dissension, not
land to his parliament.-ED.                   only among private persons, but even between the
Q Rushworth, vol. i., p. 480. The leaders of the king and his people, to the disturbance and danger
popular party were unmoved by this silly tirade. of the whole state."-C.
They were aware of the crisis which had arrived,   f Rushworth, vol. i., p. 601, 612, 613.




288                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
suant to this sentence, Manwaring appeared ted to lecture where there is no constant preachupon his knees at the bar of the House, June 23 ing. That their books are prohibited, when
[1628], and made ample acknowledgment and those of their adversaries are licensed and pubsubmission, craving pardon of God, the king, lished. That the Bishops Neile and Laud are
the Parliament, and the whole commonwealth, justly suspected of Arminianism and popish erin words drawn up by a committee; but the rors; and that this being the way to church
Houses were no sooner risen than his fine was preferment, many scholars bend the course of
remitted and himself preferred, first to the liv- their studies to maintain them.
ing of Stamford-Rivers, with a dispensation to   The answer denies the distressing or dishold St. Gile4's-in-the-fields, then to the dean- countenancing good preachers, if they be, as
ery of Worcester, and after some time to the they are called, good; but affirms that it was
bishopric of St. David's.*                   necessary to prohibit their books, because some
Within a month after this [August 22] Mon- whom the remonstrance calls orthodox had astague was promoted to the bishopric of Chi- sumed an insufferable license in printing. That
chester, while he lay under the censure of Par- great wrong was done to the two eminent prelliament. At his consecration at Bow Church, ates mentioned without any proof; for should
Mr. Jones, a stationer of London, stood up and they or any others attempt innovations of reliexcepted against his qualification for a bishop- gion, says his majesty, we should quickly take
ric, because the Parliament had voted him in- order with them, without staying for the recapable of any preferment in the Church; but monstrance; and as for church preferments,
his exceptions were overruled, not being deliv- we will always bestow them as the reward of
ered in by a proctor, though Jones averred that merit, but, as the preferments are ours, we
he could not prevail with any one to appear for will be judge, and not be taught by a remonhim, though he offered them their fees; so the strance.
consecration proceeded.                       3. The remonstrance complains of the growth
Sibthorp, the other incendiary, was made of Arminianism, as a cunning way to bring in
prebendary of Peterborough, and rector of Bur- popery.
ton-Latimer, in Wiltshire, though the Oxford The answer says, this is a great wrong to
historiant confesseth lie had nothing to recom- ourself and government, for our people must
mend him but forwardness and servile flattery. not be taught by a parliamentary remonstrance,
While the money bill was going through the or any other way, that we are so ignorant of
House of Lords, the Commons were busy in truth, or so careless of the profession of it, that
drawing up a remonstrance of the grievances any opinion or faction should thrust itself so
of the nation, with a petition for redress; but fast into our dominions without our knowledge.
as soon as the king had obtained his money he This is a mere dream, and would make our
came to the House, June 26th, and prorogued  loyal people believe we are asleep.
the Parliament, first to the 20th of October, and    But the following letter, written at this time
then to the 26th of January. The Commons by a Jesuit in England to the rector of the
being disappointed of presenting their remon- college at Brussels, sufficiently supports the
strance, dispersed it through the nation, but Parliament's charge, and shows how Arminianthe king called it in, and after some time pub- ism and popery, which have no natural conlished an answer drawn up by Bishop Laud, as nexion, came to be united at this time against
was proved against him at his trial.        the Protestant religion and the liberties of EngThe remonstrance was dated June 11, and land.
besides the civil grievances of billeting soldiers,   "Let not the damp of astonishment seize
&c., complains with regard to religion.     upon your ardent and zealous soul," says the
1. Of the great increase of popery by the Jesuit, "in apprehending the unexpected calllaws not being put in execution; by conferring ing of a Parliament; we [the papists] have not
honours and places of command upon papists; opposed, but rather furthered it.
by issuing out commissions to compound for   " You must know the council is engaged to
their recusancy, and by permitting mass to assist the king by way of prerogative, in case
be said openly at Denmark House and other the Parliament fail. You shall see this Parliaplaces.                                     ment will resemble the pelican, which takes
The answer denies any noted increase of pleasure to dig out with her beak her own bowpopery, or that there is any cause to fear it. els.
As for compositions, they are for the increase    "The elections have been in such confusion
of his majesty's profit, and for returning that of apparent faction, as that which we were
into his purse which the connivance of inferior wont to procure with much art and industry,
officers might perhaps divert another way.  when the Spanish match was in treaty.
2. The remonstrance complains of the dis-   "We have now many strings to our bow, and
countenancing orthodox and painful ministers, have strongly fortified our faction, and have
though conformable and peaceable in their be- added two bulwarks more; for when King
haviour, insomuch that they are hardly permit- James lived, he was very violent against ArT
minianism, and interrupted our strong designs
* In this manner did Charles express his con- minianism, and interrupted our strong designs
tempt for Parliament, and purchase the services of in Holland.
an unprincipled priesthood to his purposes of tyran    "Now we have planted that sovereign drug,
ny. And yet there are American citizens who see no Arminianism, which we hope will purge the
flaw in Charles, no blemish in Laud! We under- Protestants from their heresy, and it flourishes
stand their position, however, when we find them, and bears fruit in due season.
like that persecuting prelate, groping about amid   "The materials that build up our bulwark
the fooleries of popery. To escape from the testi-  rethe projectors aid beggars of all ranks and
mony of history, they term it "a tissue of les! "-C.s.t A-thenwe Oxon., vol. i., p. 180.        qualities; however, both these factions co-op



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     289
erate to destroy the Parliament, and to intro-   4. To go on with the Parliament's remon
duce a new species and form of government, strance, which complains farther of the misera
which is oligarchy.                           ble condition of Ireland, where the popish reli
"These serve as mediums and instruments gion is openly professed, and their ecclesiastito our end, which is the universal Catholic mon- cal discipline avowed, monasteries, nunperies,
archy; our foundation must be mutation, and and other religious houses re-edified, and filled
mutation will cause a relaxation.             with men and women of several orders, even in
" We proceed now by counsel and mature the city of Dublin itself.
deliberation, how and when to work upon the    The answer says that the Protestant religion
duke's [Buckingham's] jealousy and revenge; is not in a worse condition than Queen Eliza
and in this we give the honour to those that beth left it; and adds, that it is a disparagement
merit it, which are the church Catholics.     to the king's government to report the building
" There is another matter of consequence of religious houses in Dublin, and other places,
which we must take much into our considera- when the king himself had no account of it.
tion and tender care, which is, to stave off Pu-   But it seems the Parliament knew more of
ritans, that they hang not in the duke's ears: the affairs of Ireland than Bishop Laud; the
they are impudent, subtle people, and it is to agents for that kingdom had represented the
be feared lest they should negotiate a reconcili- Protestant religion in great danger, by the susation between the duke and the Parliament at pending all proceedings against the papists ever
Oxford and Westminster; but now we assure since the king came to the crown; by this
ourselves that we have so handled the matter means they were become so bold, that when
that both the duke and Parliament are irrecon- Lord Falkland summoned their chiefs to meet
cilable,                                      at Dublin, 1626, in order to a general contribu"For the better prevention of the Puritans, tion for defence of the kingdom against a forthe Arminians have already locked up the duke's eign invasion, they declared roundly that they
ears, and we have those of our own religion  would contribute nothing without a toleration,
that stand continually at the duke's chamber, and liberty to build religious houses; upon
to see who goes in and out. We cannot be too which the assembly was dismissed. This awacircumspect and careful in this regard.  I can- kened the Protestant bishops, who met togethnot choose but laugh to see how some of our er and signed the following protestation, Noown coat have accoutred themselves; and it is vember 26, 1626.
admirable how in speech and gesture they act   " The religion of papists is superstitious and
the Puritans. The Cambridge scholars, to their idolatrous, and their Church anti-apostolical;
woful experience, shall see we can act the Puri- to give them, therefore a toleration is a grievtan a little better than they have done the Jes- ous sin, because it makes ourselves accessory
uits.  They have abused our sacred patron in to all the abominations of popery,* and to the
jest, but we will make them smart for it in ear- perdition of those souls that perish thereby; and
nest.                                         because granting a toleration in respect of any
" But to return to the main fabric, our found- money to be given, or contribution to be made
ation is Arminianism; the Arminians and projectors affect mutation; this we second and en- are expressed strong apprehensions that impediments
force by probable arguments.  We show how  and obstructions to the views and schemes it unfolds
the king may free himself of his ward, and raise would arise from the Puritans. Nay, the justness
a vast. revenue without being beholden to his of the remark appears from the words which Dr.
subjects, which is by way of excise. Then our Grey produces as refuting it. For, if the Jesuits acted
church Catholics show the means how to settle the Puritan, could it be with a sincere desire to adthe excise, whicth must be by a mercenary army vance the influence of the Puritans, and promote
their wishes? could it be with any other design than
of foreigners and Germans; their horse will eat to turn against then the confidence into which by
up the country where they come, though they  this means they insinuated themselves, and to underbe well paid; much more if they be not paid. mine the Reformation by increasing divisions andfoThe army is to consist of twenty thousand foot, menting prejudices against it? of this the collection
and two thousand horse; so that if the country  of papers called " Foxes and Firebrands" furnishes
rise upon settling the excise, as probably they  evident proofs. Of this two curious letters, given by
will, the army will conquer them, and pay them- Dr. Grey from the MS. of Sir Robert Cotton, furselves out of the confiscation. Our design is nish convincing proofs. Yet the doctor again asks,
selves out of the confiscation      Can Mr. Neal, after all, be so weak as to imagine
to work the Protestants as well as the Catho- that the Jesuits would have put on the Puritan guise,
lies to welcome in a conqueror.  We hope to in order to have ruined the Constitution, had the Pudissolve trade, to hinder the building of ship- ritans been the only bulwark of the Constitution?"
ping, and to take away the merchant-ships, that Weak as it might be in Mr. Neal to imagine it, it is
they may not easily light upon the West India a fact, that they did assume the character of the Pufleet,"  &c.                                  ritans in order to carry those purposes to which the'It appears from  this letter that Puritanism  Puritans were inimical. Dr. Grey, probably, would
was the only bulwark of the Constitution, and sents it, had he recllhteted what is sweak a policyd of the lepre
of the Protestant religion, against the inroads teachers in the primitive Church, who 1"transformed
of popery and arbitrary power.*              themselves into the apostles of Christ." Had he recollected that it is said of Satan, that "he transform* Here Dr. Grey asks, " Whence does this appear? ed himself into an angel of light," and this to over
not from those words in the same letter, which show  turn those interests of truth and virtue, of which the
that the Puritans were the tools which the Jesuits former knew that the latter were the bulwark.-ED.
designed to make use of, in order to subvert the con-   * " From so silly a sophism, so gravely delivered,
stitution in the Church and State?" The reply to I conclude," says Bishop Warburton, "Usher was
the doctor is, that the truth of Mr. Neal's remark ap- not that great man he has been represented." —
pears fromn those paragraphs of the letter in which ED
VOL. I. —O o




290                      HISTORY OF THE PURIIANS.
by them, is to set religion to sale, and with it to the tenth part of the people, the rest are all
the souls that Christ has redeemed with his declared recusants.  In each diocess there are
blood; we therefore beseech the God of truth  about seven or eight of the Reformed clergy
to make those who are in authority zealous for well qualified, but these not understanding the
God's glory, and resolute against all popery, su- language of the natives, cannot perfcrm Divine
perstition, and idolatry."  Signed by Archbish- service, nor converse with their parishioners
op Usher and eleven of his brethren.            with advantage, and, consequently, are in no
But, notwithstanding this protestation, the  capacity to put a stop to superstition."'
papists gained their point, and in the fourth    Let the reader now judge whether the an.
year of the king's reign had a toleration granted  swer to the remonstrance be not very evasive.
them in consideration of the sum of ~120,000, Could this great statesman be ignorant of so
to be paid in three years.*                     many notorious facts? was the growth of ArWith regard to the building religious houses, minianism and arbitrary power a dream? was
it is wonderful that neither the king nor his any wrong done to himself, or his brother of
prime minister should know  anything of it, Winchester, by saying they countenanced these
when the Lord-deputy Falkland had this very  principles? was not the increase of popery both
summer issued out a proclamation with this in England and Ireland notorious, by suspendpreamble: " Forasmuch as we cannot but take  ing the penal laws, ever since the king came to
notice that the late intermission of the legal the crown, and granting the papists a toleration
proceeding against popish pretended or titular for a sum of money? where, then, was the polarchbishops, bishops, abbots, deans, vicars-gen- icy of lulling the nation asleep, while the eneeral, and others of that sort, that derive their my were increasing their numbers, and whetauthority and orders from Rome, hath bred such  ting their swords for a general massacre of the
an extraordinary insolence and presumption in  Protestants, which they accomplished in Irethem as that they have dared of late not only land about twelve years afterward?
to assemble themselves in public places, but   The bishop observes in his diary, that this
also have erected houses and buildings called  Parliament laboured his ruin, because they
public oratories, colleges, mass-houses, and con- charged him with unsoundness of opinion; but
vents of friars, monks, and nuns, in the eye and  his lordship had such an influence over the
open view of the state and elsewhere, and do king as rendered all their attempts fruitless;
frequently exercise jurisdiction against his maj- for the See of London becoming vacant this
esty's subjects, by authority derived from Rome,
and, by colour of teaching schools in their pre-   * "Here," says Dr. Grey, " we have a long trair
tended monasteries, to train up youth in their of mistakes." There are, it is true, several. Dr. Besuperstitious religion, contrary to the laws and  dell is called Dr. Beadle, and bishop elect of Kilecclesiastical government of this kingdom: we, more, whereas he had the contiguous sees of Kiltherefore, will and require them  to forbear to  more and Ardagh, and was the actual bishop of both
exercise their jurisdiction within this kingdom, when this letter was written, April 1, 1630, having
and to relinquish and break up their convents been consecrated 13th September, 1629. These misand religious houses," &c. Could such a proc. takes are imputed to Mr. Neal, but Dr. Grey should
have possessed the candour to have informed his
lamation be printed and dispersed over the king- readers that they belong to Mr. Collyer, firom whom
dom  of Ireland without being known to the the whole paragraph is taken. This he could not but
English court?                                have observed, for he immediately refers himself to
But farther, to show that Bishop Laud him- Collyer, to blame Mr. NYeal for not mentioning a reself was not long ignorant of the dangerous in- mark of that author, viz., that Bishop Bedell's accrease of popery in Ireland, the Bishop of Kil- count related to his own two diocesses only. This
more and Ardagh, Dr. Bedell, sent him the fol  the reader would of course understand to be the
Lowing account somore *nd Ardagh,  t him  the wo   case, and, even with this limitation, it is a proof of,lowing account soon afterward; it was dated  the increase of popery in Ireland, though it should
April 1, 1630.  " The popish clergy are more not be presumed to be a specimen of the state of,numerous than those of the Church of England; things in other diocesses. The bishop's letter was
athey have their officials and vicars-general for written, as we have said, in April, 1630, and Mr. Neal
ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and are so hardy as introduces it as sent about that time of which he
*to excommunicate those who appear at the was writing, i.e., about June, 1628. This is charged,courts of the Protestant bishops. Almost every  against him as an anachronism, but it is a small mistake, and even a blunder. But in a matter of this,pasish has a priest of the Romish communion; nature, where the existing state of things must have
masses are sometimes said in churches, and, been the result of causes that had been some time
excepting a few British planters, not amounting  operating, and shows a settled complexion of men
and manners, it may admit a question whether the
*.It is to be regretted that Mr. Neal did not refer space of a year and nine months can be deemed an
to his authority for this assertion. Dr. Grey quotes anachronism. The bishop's account certainly indiaagainst it Collyer, vol. ii., p. 739, who says, that the cates what had been the growing state of things for
*protestation of the bishops "prevailed with the gov- many months.
-ernment to waive the thoughts of a toleration, and   Mr. Neal, by quoting Collyer in the above para~pitch upon someother expedients." Thedoctor might graph, has missed the most striking clause in Bishop
have added, from Fuller, that the motion was crushed Bedell's letter. He concudes by saying, " His maj-by the bisWLps, and chiefly by Bishop Downham's ser- esty is now with the greatest part of this country, as
mon in Dublin, on Luke, i., 47.-Church History, b. to their hearts and consciences, king, but at the
xi., p. 128. Though we cannot ascertain the author- pope's discretion." Though it is not to the design
ity on which Mr. Neal speaks, the reader will observe of these notes. the editor is tempted here to give a
that he.s not contradicted by Collyer and Fuller, for trait in the character of this prelate's lady, who, it is
they;peak of the immediate effect of the opposition  said, " was singular in many excellent qualities, parof the bishops to the toleration of the Irish Catholics, ticularly in a very extraordinary reverence she paid
and ne writes of a measure adopted in repugnance to to her husband "-Bishop Burnet's Life of Bedell, p.
it, two years afterward.-ED.                  47, 230.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    291
summer, Laud was translated to it July 15;*   Surely there never was such a contused, unand the Duke of Buckingham being stabbed at intelligible declaration printed before; but the
Portsmouth by Felton, August 23 following, Calvinist divines understood the king's intenthis ambitious prelate became prime minister tion, and complained in a petition of "the rein all affairs both of Church and State.     straints they were laid under by his majesty's
One of the bishop's first enterprises, after forbidding them to preach the saving doctrines
his translation to London, was to stifle the pre- of God's free grace in election and predestinadestinarian controversy, for which purpose he tion to eternal life, according to the seventeenth
procured the Thirty-nine Articles to be reprint- article of the Church. That this had brought
ed, with the following declaration at the head them  under a very uncomfortable dilemma,
of them:t                                    either of falling under the Divine displeasure,
if they did not execute their commission, in deBy the King.               dclaring the whole counsel of God, or of being' Being by God's ordinance, and our just ti- censured for opposition to his majesty's authortle, defender of the faith, &c., within these do- ity, in case they preached the received doctrines
minions, we hold it agreeable to our kingly of- of the Church, and attacked the Pelagian and
fice, for the preservation of unity and peace, not Arminian heresies boldly published from  the
to suffer any unnecessary disputations which pulpit and the press, though censured by King
may nourish faction in the Church or common- James as arrogant and atheistical; and those
wealth; we, therefore, with the advice of our who avow them to be agreeable to the Church
bishops, declare that the Articles of the Church of England are called gross liars.  Therefore,
of England which the clergy generally have they humbly entreat that his majesty would be
subscribed do contain the true doctrine of the pleased to take the forementioned evils and
Church of England, agreeable to God's Word, grievances into his princely consideration, and,
which we do therefore ratify and confirm, re- as a wise physician, apply such speedy remequiring all our loving subjects to continue in dies as may both cure the present distemper,
the uniform profession thereof, and prohibiting and preserve the Church and State from those
the least difference from the said articles. We plagues with which their neighbours had not
take comfort in this, that all clergymen within been a little distressed."  But this address was
our realm have always most willingly subscribed stopped in its progress, and never reached the
the Articles, which is an argument that they all king's ears.
agree in the true usual literal meaning of them;   In pursuance of his majesty's declaration, all
and that in those curious points in which the books relating to the Arminian controversy
present differences lie, men of all sorts take the were called in by proclamation and suppressed,
Articles to be for them, which is an argument and among others, Montague's and Manwaragain, that none of them intend any desertion  ing's, which was only a feint to cover a more
of the Articles established: wherefore we will deadly blow to be reached at the Puritans; for,
that all curious search into these things be laid at the same time, Montague and Manwaring
aside, and these disputes be shut up in God's received the royal pardon, and were preferred
promises, as they be generally set forth to us to some of the best livings in the kingdom (as
in Holy Scriptures, and the general meaning of has been observed), while the answer to their
the Articles according to them; and that no books, by Dr. Featly, Dr. Goad, Mr. Burton,
man hereafter preach or print to draw the arti- Ward, Yates, and Rouse, were not only supcle aside any way, but shall submit to it, in pressed, but the publishers questioned in the
the plain and full manner thereof, and shall not Star Chamber.
put his own sense or comment to the meaning    The king put on the same thin disguise with
of the article, but shall take it in the literal and regard to papists; a proclamation was issued
grammatical sense; that if any public reader out against priests and Jesuits, and particularly
in the universities, or any other person, shall against the Bishop of Chalcedon; orders were
affix any new sense to any article, or shall pub- also sent to the Lord-mayor of London to make
licly read, or hold disputation on either side; search after them, and commit them to prison,
or if any divine in the universities shall preach but, at the same time, his majesty appointed
or print anything either way, they shall be lia- commissioners to compound with them for their
ble to censure in the ecclesiastical commission, recusancy; so that, instead of being suppressed,
and we will see there shall be due execution  they became a branch of the revenue, and Sir
upon them.":                                  Richard Weston, a notorious papist, was created Earl of Portland, and made lord-high-treas* Bib. Reg., sect. iii., No. 4; or Heylin's Life of urer of England.
Laud, p. 18t.                                   When the Parliament met according to prot Mr. Neal does not give the declaration at full                              a
length, but has omitted some clauses, and even two    ogation, January  20, they began again with
paragraphs; but in my opinion, without affecting the grievances of religion; Oliver Cromwell, Esq.,
sense and tenour of it; though Dr. Grey says, "he being of the committee, reported to the House
has by this altered and curtailed the sense of it, and the countenance that was given by Dr. Neile,
then charged it with blunders, which are of his own bishop of Winchester, to divines who preached
making."-ED.                                 Arminian and popish doctrine; he mentioned: This declaration, Dr. Harris observes, has been the favours that had been bestowed upon Monproduced and canvassed in the famous Bangorian tague and Manwaring, who had been censured
and Trinitarian controversies, which engaged the at- the last sessions of Parliament; and added,
tentionl of the public for a great number of years. the last sessions of Parliament; and added
-Lifr of C'harles I., p. 183-190. Dr. Blackburn has or departing, in the least degree, fi-om the doctrine
at large discussed the validity of it, and is disposed and discipline of the Church of England now estabto consider James I. as the first publisher of it. He lished;" a language, he justly observes, inconsistent
shows that it has been corrupted by the insertion of with the principles of our present constitution. —Con
the word n )w; as, " we will not endure any varying, fessional, p. 131-143, 3d edit.- ED.




292                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"If this be the way to church preferment, what sion; there are among our bishops such as
may we expect?"  Upon debating the king's are fit to be made examples for all ages, who
late declaration, the House voted "that the shine in virtue, and are firm for religion; but
main end of that declaration was to suppress the contrary faction I like not. I remember a
the Puritan party, and to give liberty to the character I have seen in a diary of King Edcontrary side."   Several warm  and  angry ward VI., where he says of the bishops, that
speeches were likewise made against the new'some for age, some for ignorance, some for
ceremonies that began now to be introduced luxury, and some for popery, were unfit for disinto the Church, as images of saints and angels, cipline and government.' We see there are
crucifixes, altars, lighted candles, &c.      some among our bishops that are not orthodox,
Mr. Rouse stood up and said, "I desire it nor sound in religion as they should be; witmay be considered what new paintings have ness the two bishops complained of the last
been laid upon the old face of the whore of meeting of this Parliament; should we be in
Babylon, to make her show more lovely.  I de- their power, I fear our religion would be oversire it may be considered how the See of Rome thrown.  Some of these are masters of ceredoth eat into our religion, and fret into the very monies, and labour to introduce new ceremobanks and walls of it, the:laws and statutes of nies into the Church.  Let us go to the ground
this realm. I desire we may consider the in- of our religion, and lay down a rule on which
crease of Arminianism an error that makes the all others may Test, and then inquire after ofgrace of God lackey after the will of man. I fenders."*
desire we may look into the belly and bowels   Mr. Secretary Cook said, "that the fathers
of this Trojan horse, to see if there be not men of the Church were asleep; but, a little to awain it ready to open the gates to Romish tyran- ken their zeal, it is fit," says he, "that they
ny, for an Arminian is the spawn of a papist, take notice of that hierarchy that is already esand, if the warmth of favour come upon him, tablished, in competition with their lordships,
you shall see him turn into one of those frogs for they [the papists] have a bishop consecrated
that rose out of the bottomless pit; these men by the pope; this bishop has his subaltern offihaving kindled a fire in our neighbour-country, cers of all kinds, as vicars-general, archdeacons,
are now endeavouring to set this kingdom in a rural deans, apparitors, &c.; neither are these
flame."*                                      nominal or titular officers only, but they all exMr. Pym said, "that, by the articles set forth ecute their jurisdictions, and make their ordi1562, by the catechism  set forth in King Ed- nary visitations throughout the kingdom, keep
ward Vi.'s days, by the writings of Martin Bu- courts, and determine ecclesiastical causes;
cer and Peter Martyr, by the constant profes- and, which is an argument of more consesions sealed with the blood of many martyrs, quence, they keep ordinary intelligence by their
as Cranmer, Ridley, and others, by the Thirty- agents in Rome, and hold correspondence with
six Articles of Queen Elizabeth, and by the a- the nuncios and cardinals both at Brussels and
tides agreed upon at Lambeth, as the doctrine France.  Neither are the seculars alone grown
of the Church of England, which King James to this height, but the regulars are more active
sent to Dort and to Ireland, it appears evident- and dangerous.  Even at this time they intend
ly what is the established religion of the realm. to hold a concurrent assembly with this ParliaLet us, therefore, show wherein these late opin- ment." After some other speeches of this kind,
ions differ from those truths; and what men the House of Commons entered into the followhave been since preferred who have professed  ing vow:
the contrary heresies; what pardons they have    " Wre, the Commons, in Parliament assemhad for false doctrine; what prohibiting of books bled, do claim, protest, and avow for truth, the
and writings against their doctrine, and permit- sense of the Articles of Religion which were
ting of such books as have been for them. Let established by Parliament in the thirteenth year
us inquire after the abetters, and after the par- of our late Queen Elizabeth, which, by the pubdons granted to them that preach the contrary lic act of the Church of England, and by the
truth before his majesty.  It belongs to parlia- general and current exposition of the writers
ments to establish true religion and to punish of our Church, have been delivered unto us.
false. We must know what parliaments have And we reject the sense of the Jesuits and Ardone formerly in religion.  Our parliaments minians, and all others that differ from us."t
have confirmed general councils. In the time   Bishop Laud, in his answer to this protestaof King Henry VIII., the Earl of Essex was tion, has several remarks.  "Is there by this
condemned [by Parliament] for countenancing act," says his lordship, " any interpretation of
books of heresy. The convocation is hbut a pro- the Articles or not? If none, to what end is
vincial synod of Canterbury, and cannot bind the act?  If a sense or interpretation be dethe whole kingdom. As for York, it is distant, clared, what authority have laymen to make it!
and cannot bind us or the laws; and as for the for interpretation of an article belongs to them
High Commission, it is derived from  Parlia- only that have power to make it."  To which
ment."t
Sir John Eliot said, " If there be any differ-   * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 660, 661.
ence in opinion concerning the interpretation   t "This protestation," Dr. Blackburne remarks,
of encthe Thin opirty-nine Articles, it is said the ish is equivalent at least to any other resolution of the
of the Thirty-nine Articles, it is said the bish- House. It is found among the most authentic records
ops and clergy in convocation have power to of Parliament. And whatever force or operation it
dispute it, and to order which way they please. had the moment it was published, the same it has
A slight thing, that the power of religion should to this hour; being never revoked or repealed in any
be left to these men! I honour their profes- succeeding Parliament, nor containing any one par-......   +           ticular which is not in perfect agreement with every
* Rushworth, vol. i., p. 657-668.   *part of our present Constitution, civil and religious."
t Ibid., vol. i., p. 659.           -Confessional, o. 142.




HISTORY OF T:i:E PURITANS.                                    293
it might be answered, that the Commons made  tonnage and poundage; but before it was passno new interpretation of the Articles, but avow- ed, the custom-house officers seized the goods
ed for truth the current sense of expositors be- of three eminent merchants, viz., Mr. Rolls, Mr.
fore that time, in opposition to the modern inter- Chambers, and Mr. Vassal, fbr non-payment. Mr.
pretation of Jesuits and Arminians.  But what Chambers was fined ~2000, besides the loss of
authority have laymen to make it? Answer. his goods, and suffered six years imprisonment:
The same that they had in the 13th of Elizabeth  Mr. Rolls's warehouses were locked up, and himto establish them as the doctrine of the Church  self taken out of the House of Commons and imof England; unless we will say, with Mr. Coll- prisoned. This occasioned some warm speeches
yer, that neither the sense of the Articles, nor against the custom-house officers and farmers of
the Articles themselves, were established in that the revenues; but the king took all the blame on
Parliament, or in any other. *  If so, they are  himself, and sent the House word, that what the
no part of the legal Constitution, and men may  officers had done was by his. special direction
e.4bscribe the words without putting any sense  and command, and that it was not so much
upon them at all: an admirable way to prevent their act as his own.  This was a new way of
diversity of opinions in matters of faith! But covering the unwarrantable proceedings of corhis lordship adds, " that it is against the king's  rupt ministers, and was said to be the advice of
declaration, which says, we must take the gen- the Bishops Laud and Neile; a contrivance that
eral meaning of them, and not draw aside any  laid the foundation of his majesty's ruin.  It is
way, but take them in the literal and grammat- a maxim in law, that the king can do no wrong,
ical sense."t Has the king, then, a power, with- and that all maladministrations are chargeable
out convocation or Parliament, to interpret and  upon his ministers; yet now, in order to screen
determine the sense of the Articles for the whole  his servants, his majesty will make himself anbody of the clergy? By the general meaning  swerable for their conduct.  So that if the Parof the Articles, the declaration seems to under- liament will defend their rights and properties,
stand no one determined sense at all. Strange! they must charge the king personally, who,in
that so learned and wise a body of clergy and  his own opinion was above law, and accountalaity, in convocation and Parliament, should  ble for his actions to none but God. It was
establish a number of articles with this title, moved in the House that, notwithstanding the
"For the avoiding-of diversity of opinions, and  king's answer, the officers of the customs should
for the establishing of consent touching true re- be proceeded against, by separating their interligion," without any one determined sense! ests from the king's; but when the speaker, Sir
The bishop goes on, and excepts against the  John Finch, was desired to put the question, he
current sense of expositors, "because they may, refused, saying the king had commanded the
and perhaps do, go against the literal sense."  contrary.* Upon which the House immediately
Will his lordship, then, abide by the literal and  adjourned to January 25, and were then adjourngrammatical sense! No; but " if an article bear ed by the king's order to March 2, when meetmore senses than one, a man may choose what ing again, and requiring the speaker to put the
sense his judgment directs him to, provided it former question, he again refused, and said he
be a sense according to the analogy of faith, had the king's order to adjourn them to March
till the Church determine a [particular] sense;  16; but they detained him in the chair, not withbut it is the wisdom of the Church to require  out some tumult and confusion, till they made
consent to articles in general as much as may  the following protestation:
be, and not require assent to particulars." His   1. "Whosoever shall, by favour or countelordship had better have spoken out, and said  nance, seem to extend or introduce popery or
that it would be the wisdom of the Church to  Arminianism, shall be reputed a capital enemy
require no subscriptions at all. To what straits  of the kingdom.
are men given to comply with the laws, when    2., "Whosoever shall advise the levying the
their sentiments differ from the literal and gram-  subsidies of tonnage and poundage, not being
matical sense of the Articles of the-Church! granted by Parliament, shall be reputed a capiNr. Collyer says they have no established sense; tal enemy.
King Charles, in his declaration, that they are   3. 4 "If any merchant shall voluntarily pay
to be understood in a general sense, but not to  those duties, he shall be reputed a betrayer of*
be drawn aside to a particular determined sense; the liberties of England, and an enemy to the
Bishop Laud thinks that if the words will bear same."t
more senses than one, a man may choose what   The next day warrants were directed to Densense his judgment directs him to, provided it zil Hollis, Sir John Eliot,$ William  Coriton,
be a sense according to the analogy of faith,
and all this for avoiding diversity of opinions!   * Whitelocke's Memorial, p. 12. Rushworth, vol.
But I am afraid this reasoning is too wonderful i., p. 669.      t Rushworth, vol. i., p. 670.
for the reader.                                 t The subsequent history of Sir John Eliot posWhile the Parliament were expressing their sesses all the interest of a romance. It is not exzeal against Arminianism  and popery, a new  ceeded, in the developments of high principle and
controvesrsy arose, which provolked: his majesty  heroic fortitude, by any tale in ancient or modern
times. He had evidently contemplated, from the
to dissolve them, and to resolve to govern with-times. He had evidently contemplated, from the
commencement of this reign, the probability of such
out parliaments for the future; for, though the  a termination of his patriotic life. He had read the
king had so lately signed the petition of right in  character of Charles from the first, and knew that
full Parliament, he went on with levying money  there was neither generosity nor justice in his heart.
by his royal prerogative. A bill was depending  Laud he had uniformly opposed, as the despoiler of
in the House to grant his majesty the duties of religio  and the enemy of his country; ard the.pseudo-patriotism of Wentworth, now a baron of the
* Eccles. Hist., p. 747.              realm and president of the North, had always been
t Prynne, Cant. Doom, p. 164.         regarded by him with more than suspicion. From




294                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Benjamin Valentine, John Selden, Esqrs., and  four of them  appeared accordingly, viz., MI.
four more of the principal members of the House, Hollis, Eliot, Coriton, and Valentine; who, reto appear before the council on the morrow: fusing to answer out of Parliament for what
such a monarch, aided by such counsellors, Eliot else, to do that office of delivering petitions for his
had nothing to expect. Yet he spurned with virtu- prisoners.
ous indignation the freedom  which was proffered    "And if Sir John, in a third petition, would humhim on condition of his tendering an acknowledg- ble himself to his majesty, in acknowledging his
ment of guilt. He was removed from one apartment fault, and craving pardon, he would willingly deliver
of the Tower to another, and the rigour of his im- it, and made no doubt but he should obtain his libprisonment was steadily increased. At length his erty. Unto this Sir John's answer was,'I thank
health rapidly declined; but his brutal oppressors, you, sir, for your friendly advice; but my spirits are
instead of being moved to pity, were solicitous to grown feeble and faint, which when it shall please
hasten the deadly malady which preyed on his frame. God to restore unto their former vigour, I will take
His friends were prohibited from visiting him; and it farther into my consideration.' -Life of Johni
though he was sinking in a consumption, and the Eliot, 119.
season was wintery, and his prison damp, he was   The following letter, addressed to Hampden, was
scarcely allowed the comfort of a fire.          probably the last which Eliot w rote. It is too charThis description of Eliot's treatment is fully borne acteristic of the man, and of his friend, to be omitout by the following letter of the dying patriot to his ted.  It reveals the secret of their character by
friend John Hampden, bearing the date Dec. 26, 1631. disclosing the religious impulse under which they
"That I write not to you anything of intelligence acted.
will be excused, when I do let you know that I am    " Besides the acknowledgment of your favour,
under a new restraint by warrant from the king, for a that have so much comnpassion on your friend, I have
supposed abuse of liberty in admitting a free resort little to return you from him that has nothing worof visitants, and under that colour, holding consulta- thy of your acceptance, but the contestation that 1
tions with my friends. My lodgings are removed, have between an ill body and the air, that quarrel
and I am now where candle-light may be suffered, and are friends, as the summer winds affect them.
but scarce fire. I hope you will think that this ex- I have these three days been abroad, and as often
change of places makes not a change of mind. The brought in new impressions of the cold; yet, in body,
same protection is still with me, and the same confi- and strength, and appetite, I find myself bettered by
dence; and these things can have end by Him that the motion. Cold at first was thle occasion of my
gives them being. None but my servants, hardly my sickness;heat and tenderness, by close keeping in
son, may have admittance to me. My friends I must my chamber, have since increased my weakness. Air
desire, for their own sakes, to forbear coming to the and exercise are thought most proper to repair it,
Tower. You among them arer chief, and have the which are the prescriptions of my doctors, though
first place in this intelligence."-Forster's Eliot, p. no physic. I thank God, other medicines I now take
115. Towards the close of 1632, a motion was made not but those catholicons, and do hope I shall not
to the judges of the King's Bench, that as his physi- need; as children learn to go, I shall get acquaint
cians were of opinion he could never recover from  ed with the air; practice and use will compass it;
his consumption, unless he breathed purer air, " they and now and then a fall is an instruction for the fu
could for some certain time grant him his enlarge- ture. These varieties He doth try us with, that will
ment for the purpose."  Richardson, the chief-jus- have us perfect at all parts; and, as he gives the
tice, -however, replied, "that although Sir John trial, he likewise gives the ability that will be neceswere brought low in body, yet was he as high and sary for the work; he will supply that doth comrn
lofty in mind as ever, for he would neither submit to mand the labour; whose delivering from the lion and
the king nor to the justice of that court."  He was, the bear, has the Philistines also at the dispensation
therefore, referred to the monarch; but) knowing that of his will, and those that trust him, under his pro
it was hopeless to petition without a confession of tection and defence. O infinite mercy of our Mas
guilt, Eliot resumed the occupation with which he ter, dear friend, how it abounds to us that are unwor
had long sought to relieve the dreariness of his pris- thy of his service! How broken, how imperfect,
on. This was the composition of a philosophical how perverse and crooked are our ways in obedience
treatise, entitled "The  Monarchy of Man," in to him!  How exactly straight is the line of his
which the independence of his mind, and its control providences to us, drawn out through all the occur
over the passions and infirmities of his nature, are rants and particulars to the whole length and measexhibited with an admirable combination of philo- ure of our time; how fearful is his hand, that has
sophical acuteness and strong practical sense. Hav- given his Son unto us, and with him hath promised
ing concluded this treatise, his health sank rapidly, likewise to give us all things, relieving our wants,
when the importunity of friends prevailed with him  sanctifying our necessities, preventing our dangers,
to petition the king. Mr. Forster has given the fol- freeing us from all extremities, and died himself for
lowing account of his applications in a letter from  us! What can we render? what retribution can we
Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering: "He first," says make worthy so great a majesty, worthy such love
the letter-writer, " presented a petition to his majes- and favour?  We have nothing but ourselves, who
ty, by the hand of the lieutenant his keeper, to this are unworthy above all; and yet that, as all other
effect:'Sir, your judges have committed me to things, is his; for us to offer up that, is but to give
prison here, in your Tower of London, where, by him his own, and that in far worse condition than
reason of the quality of the air, I am fallen into a we at first received it, which yet (for infinite is his
dangerous disease. I humbly beseech your majesty goodness for the merits of his Son) he is contented
you will command your judges to set me at liberty, to accept. This, dear friend, must be the comfort
that for recovery of my health I may take some fresh of his children; this is the physic we must use in all
air,' &c. Whereunto his majesty's answer was,'It our sickness and extremities; this is the strengthwas not humble enough.' Then Sir John sent an- ening of the weak, the enriching of the poor, the libother petition, by his own son, to the effect follow- erty of the captive, the health of the diseased, the
ing:' Sir, I am heartily sorry I have displeased your life of those that die the death of that wicked life,
majesty, and, having so said, do humbly beseech sin; and this happiness have his saints. The conyou once again to command your judges to set me templation of this happiness has led me almost beat liberty, that when I have recovered my health, I yond the compass of a letter; but the haste I use
may return back to my prison, there to undergo such unto my friends, and the affection that does move it,
punishmentasGod has allottedunto me,'&c. Upon will, I hope, excuse me. Friends should commu
this the lieutenant came and expostulated with him, nicate their joys; this, as the greatest, therefore, 
saying, It was proper to him, and common to none could not but impart unto my friends, being therein




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    295
was said in the House, were committed close  Sir John Eliot ~2000, Valentine ~500, and
prisoners to the Tower.  The studies of the  Long two thousand marks.
rest were ordered to be sealed up, and a proc-    Great were the murmurings of the people upon
lamation issued for apprehending them; though  this occasion; libels were dispersed against
the Parliament not being dissolved, they were  the Prime Minister Laud; one of which says,
actually members of the House.  On the 10th  " Laud, look to thyself; be assured thy life is
of March, the king came to the House of Lords, sought. As thou art the fountain of wickedand without sending for the Commons, or pass- ness, repent of thy monstrous sins before thou
ing one single act, dissolved the Parliament, be taken out of this world; and assure thyself,
with a very angry speech against the leading  neither God nor the world can endure such a
members of the Lower House, whom he called  vile counsellor or whisperer to live."*  But to
vipers, that cast a mist of undutifulness over justify these proceedings to the world, his majmost of their eyes; " and as those vipers,"  esty published "A Declaration of the Causes of
says his majesty, " must look for their reward  dissolving the last Parliament.",of punishment, so you, my lords, must justly    The declaration vindicates the king's taking
expect from me that favour that a good king  the duties of tonnage and poundage from the
oweth to his loving and faithful nobility."*  examples of some of his predecessors, and as
The undutifulness of the Commons was only  agreeable to his kingly honour. It justifies the
their keeping the speaker in the chair after he  silencing the predestinarian controversy, and
had signified that the king had adjourned them, lays the blame of not executing the laws against
which his majesty had no power of doing; and  papists upon subordinate officers and ministers
no king before King James I. pretended to ad- in the country: "We profess," says his majjourn Parliaments; and when he claimed that esty, "that as it is our duty, so it shall be our
power, it was complained of as a breach of  care, to command and direct well; but it is the
privilege.  It is one thing to prorogue or dis- part of the others to perform the ministerial ofsolve a Parliament, and another to adjourn it, fice; and when we have done our office, we
the latter being the act of the House itself, and  shall account ourself, and all charitable men
the consequence of vesting such a power in the  will account us, innocent, both to God and
crown might be very fatal; for if the king may  men; and those that are negligent, we will esadjourn the House in the midst of their debates, teem culpable, both to God and us."  The decor forbid the speaker to put a question when  laration concludes with a profession that " the
required, it is easy to foresee the whole busi- king will maintain the true religion of the
ness of Parliament must be under his direc- Church of England, without conniving at potion. f  The members above mentioned were  pery or schism: that he will maintain the
sentenced to be imprisoned during the king's  rights and liberties of his subjects, provided
pleasure; and were accordingly kept under they do not misuse their liberty, by turning it
close confinement many years, where Sir John  to licentiousness, wantonly and frowardly reEliot died a martyr to the liberties of his coun- sisting our lawful and necessary authority; for
try.$  Mr. Hollis was fined a thousand marks, we do expect our subjects should yield as much
submission to our royal prerogative, and as
moved by the present expectation of your letters, ready obedience to our authority and commandwhich always have the grace of much intelligence, ments, as has been performed to the greatest
and are happiness to him that is truly yours, J. E." of our predecessors.  We will not have our
of our predecessors.  We will not have our
— Vatughan's Stuart 1Memorials, 417.           ministers terrified by harsh proceedings against
Eliot was released from his sufferings and impris- ministers terrified by harsh proceedings against
onment on the 27th of November, 1632. His son  them; for as we expect our ministers should
requested permission to carry his body into Corn- obey us, they shall assure themselves we will
wall, his native county; but the king replied, with  protect them."t
his accustomed want of true nobility of feeling, "Let   This declaration not quieting the people, was
Sir John Eliot's body be buried in the church of followed by a proclamation, which put an end
that parish where he died." Such was the end of to all prospects of recovering the Constitution
one of tile purest, most enlightened, and devout of for the future. The proclamation declares his
English patriots. His character has risen in the estimation of his countrymen in exact proportion as majesty's royal pleasure "that spreaders of
his actions and the tenour of his life have become  false reports shall be severely punished; that
known. His fame has survived the slanders which  such as cheerfully go on with their trades shall
the malevolence of party writers has invented, and  have all good encouragement,; that he will not
is now regarded as the property of the nation, and  overcharge his subjects with any new burdens,
the honour of his age. His sufferings were. not fruit- but will satisfy himself with the duties received
less, nor was the triumph of his enemies forgotten- by his royal father, which he neither can nor
"Faithful and brave hearts," says his biographer, will dispense with. And whereas, for several
"were left to remember this; and the sufferings of will dispense with And whereas, for several
Eliot were not undergone in vain. They bore their ill ends, the calling of another Parliament is dipart in the heat and burden of the after struggle. vulged, his majesty declares that the late abuse
His name was one of its watchwords, and it had  having, for the present, driven his majesty unnone more glorious."-Forster's Life of Eliot, 223, willingly out of that course, he shall account it
and Price's Nonconformity, vol. ii., p. 44. Mr. Forster has vindicated Eliot from the base charges pre- finement, leaving the portrait as a legacy and meferred against him by Echard, the archdeacon, and mento to his posterity, and to mankind; who, in the
retailed with such industrious malice by Mr. D'Is- contemplation of such enormities, have reason to
raeli. —Life, p. 2-6.-C.  * Rushworth, vol. i., 672. rejoice
t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 279, folio edit.' When vengeance in the lucid air
t "An affecting portrait of this gentleman is now   Lifts her red arm exposed and bare."'
in the possession of Lord Eliot. He is drawn pale, -Belsham's Memoirs of the House - of Brunswick Iw.
languishing, and emaciated; but disdaining to make nenburgh, vol. i., p. 185, note.-ED.
the abject submission required of him by the tyrant,   * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 672.
he expired under the excessive rigours of his con-   t Rushworth, vol. ii., Appen., p. 3-10.




296                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
presumption for any to prescribe any time to the fellows came in, which created him envy.
his majesty for parliaments, the calling, con- Complaint was made to the vice-chancellor of
tinuing, and dissolving of which is always in this unusual way of catechising, and that it was
the king's own power."*  Here was an end of not: safe to suffer Dr. Preston to be thus adored,
the old English Constitution for twelve years. unless they had a mind to set up Puritanism
England was now an absolute monarchy: the and pull down the hierarchy; it was therefore
king's proclamations and orders of council were agreed in the convocation-house that no stranthe laws of the land; the ministers of state ger, neither townsman nor scholar, should,
sported themselves in the most wanton acts of upon any pretence, come to those lectures,
power; and the religion, laws, and liberties of which were only designed for the members of
this country lay prostrate and overwhelmed by the college.
an inundation of popery and oppression.        There was little preaching in the University
This year died the Reverend Dr. John Pres- at this time, except at St. Mary's, the lectures
ton, descended of the family of the Prestons in at Trinity and St. Andrew's being prohibited;
Lancashire. He was born at Heyford, in North- Mr. Preston, therefore, at the request of the,
amptonshire, in the parish of Bugbrook, 1587, townsmen and scholars of other colleges, atand was admitted of King's College, Cambridge, tempted to set up an evening sermon at St. Bo1604, from whence he was afterward removed tolph's, belonging to Queen's College; but
to Queen's College, and admitted fellow in the when Dr. Newcomb, commissary to the Bishop
year 1609.t He was an ambitious and aspiring of Ely, heard of it, he came to the church and
youth, till, having received some religious im- forbade it, commanding that evening prayers
pressions from Mr. Cotton, in a sermon preach- only should be read; there was a vast crowd,
ed by him at St. Mary's Church, he became re- and earnest entreaty that Mr. Preston might
markably serious, and bent all his studies to preach at least for that time; but the commisthe service of Christ in the ministry. When sary was inexorable, and, to prevent farther
the king came to Cambridge, Mr. Preston was importunities, went home with his family; afappointed to dispute before him: the question ter he was gone, Mr. Preston was prevailed
was, Whether brutes had reason, or could with to preach, and because much time had
make syllogisms l Mr. Preston maintained the been spent in debates, they adventured for once
affirmative; and instanced in a hound, who, to omit the service, that the scholars might be
coming to a place where three ways meet, present at their college prayers. Next day the
smells one way and the other, but not finding commissary went to Newmarket, and complainthe scent, runs down the third with full cry, ed both to the bishop and king; he represented
concluding that the hare, not being gone either the danger of the hierarchy, and the progress
of the first two ways, must necessarily be gone of nonconformity among the scholars, and asthe third. The argument had a wonderful ef- sured them that Mr. Preston was in such high
feet on the audience, and would have opened a esteem, that he would carry all before him if
door for Mr. Preston's preferment, had not his he was not thoroughly dealt with. Being callinclinations to Puritanism  been a bar in the ed before his superiors, he gave a plain narraway. He therefore resolved upon an academ- tive of the fact; and added, that he had no deical life, and took upon him the care of pupils, sign to affront the bishop or his commissary.
for which he was qualified beyond most in the The bishop said the king was informed that he
University. Many gentlemen's sons were com- was an enemy to forms of prayer, which Mr.
mitted to his care, who trained them up in the Preston denying, he was ordered to declare his
sentiments of the first Reformers, for he af- judgment upon that head, in a sermon at St.
fected the very style and language of Calvin. Botolph's Church, and so was dismissed.
When it came to his turn to be catechist, he   Some time after, King James being at Newwent through a whole body of divinity with market, Mr. Preston was appointed to preach
such general acceptance, that the outward chap- before him, which he performned with great apel was usually crowded with strangers before plause, having a fluent speech, a commanding
* Rushworth, vol. ii., p. 3.               voice, and a strong memory, to deliver what he
t Clarke's Life of Dr. Preston, annexed to his Gen- had prepared without the assistance of notes.
eral Martyrology, p. 75. Sir Fulke Greville, after- The king spoke familiarly to him; and, though
ward Lord Brook, was such an admirer of Dr. Pres- his majesty expressed a dislike to some of his
ton, that he settled fifty pounds a year upon him. Puritan notions, he commended his opposing
Lord Brook was a zealous patriot and an open advo- the Arminians. And the Duke of Buckingham,
cate for liberty. On account of the arbitrary meas- not knowing what friends he might want among
ures of Charles I., he determined to seek freedom in the populace, persuaded the king to admit him
New-England; and he and Lord Say actually de- one of the prince's chaplains in ordinary, and to
termined to transport themselves to Massachusetts;
but, upon the meeting of the Long Parliament, and wait two months in the year, which he did.
the sudden change of public affairs, they were hin- Soon after this he was chosen preacher of Lindered in the project. He was afterward commander coln's Inn, and, upon the resignation of Dr.
in the Parliamentary army, and having reduced War- Chadderton, master of Emanuel College, in the
wickshire, he advanced into Staffordshire, on the year 1622, at which time he took his degree of
festival of St. Chad, to whom the Cathedral of Litch- Doctor of Divinity. The doctor was a fine
field is dedicated; he ordered his men to storm the gentleman, a complete courtier, and in high esadjoining close, to which Lord Chesterfield had re-  e tle t   kean 
sired with a body of the king's forces. But before teem with the Duke of Buckingham, who
ais orders could be put in execution, he received a thought by his means to ingratiate himself
musket-shot in the eye, of which he instantly ex- with the Puritans,* whose power was growing
pired, in the year 1643. It was the opinion of the
papists that St. Chad directed the bullet. Archbish-   * "But Preston, who was as great a politician as
~p Laud made a particular memorial of this in his the duke," says Mr. Granger, "was not to be over
diary.-Prynne's Breviate of Laud, p. 27.-C.  reached."-ED.




HISTORY OF.THE PURITANS.                                     297
very formidable in Parliament.  The duke of- land, by king, lords, and commons, being now
fered him the bishopric of Gloucester, but the suspended by the royal will and pleasure, his
doctor refused, and chose rather the lecture- majesty resolved to supply the necessities of the
ship of Trinity Church, which he kept till his state by such other methods as his council should
death.  By his interest in the duke and prince  advise, who gave a loose to their actions, being
he did considerable service for many silenced  no longer afraid of a parliamentary inquiry, and
ministers; he was in waiting when King James  above the reach of ordinary justice.  Instead
died, and came up with the young king and  of the authority of king and Parliament, all pubduke in a close coach to London.  But some lie affairs were directed by proclamations of thle
time after, the duke, having changed measures, king and council, which had the force of;K.
and finding that he could neither gain over the  many laws, and were bound upon the subject
Puritans to his arbitrary designs nor separate  under the severest penalties.  They levied the
the doctor from their interests, he resolved to  duties of tonnage and poundage, and laid what
shake hands with his chaplain.  The doctor, other imposts they thought proper upon merforeseeing the storm, was content to retire qui- chandise, which they let out to farm to private
etly to his college, where, it is apprehended, he persons; the number of monopolies was inwould have felt some farther effects of the  credible; there was no branch of the subject's
duke's displeasure, if God, in his providence, property that the ministry could dispose of
had not cut him out work of a different nature, but was bought and sold. They raised above
which engaged all his thoughts to the time of  ~I1,000,000 a year by taxes on soap, salt, cani
his death.                                    dies, wine, cards, pins, leather, coals, &c., even
Dr. Preston lived a single life, being never to the sole gathering of rags. Grants were givmarried; nor had he any cure of souls: He had  en out for weighing hay and straw within three
a strong constitution, which he wore out in his  miles of London, for gauging red-herring-barstudy and in the pulpit.  His distemper was a  rels and butter-casks, for marking iron and sealconsumption in the lungs, for which, by the ad- ing lace,* with a great many others, which, bevice of physicians, he changed the air several ing purchased of the crown, must be paid for by
times; but the failure of his appetite, with oth- the subject. His majesty claimed a right, in caer symptoms of a general decay, prevailed with  ses of necessity (of which necessity himself was
him at length to leave off all medicine, and re- the sole judge), to raise money by ship-writs, or
sign himself to the will of God. And being de- royal mandates, directed to the sheriffs of the
sirous of dying in his native country, and among  several counties to levy on the subject the sevhis old friends, he retired into Northampton-  eral sums of money therein demanded, fbr the
shire, where he departed this life in a most pi- maintenance and support of the royal navy. The
ous and devout manner,* in the fifty-first year like was demanded for the royal army, by the
of his age, and was buried in Fawsley Church, name of coat and conduct money, when they
old Mr. Dod, minister of the place, preaching  were to march, and when they were in qual-ters
his funeral sermon to a numerous auditory, the men were billeted upon private houses. Many
July 20, 1628. Mr. Fullert says, " He was an  were put to death by martial law who ought to
excellent preacher, a subtle disputant, a great have.been tried by the laws of the land, and othpolitician; so that his foes must confess that ers, by the same martial law, were exempted
(if not having too little of the dove) he had  from the punishment which by law they deservenough of the serpent.  Soume will not stick to  ed. Large sums of money were raised by comsay he had parts sufficient to manage the broad- missions under the great seal, to compound for
seal, which was offered him, but the conditions  depopulations, for nuisances in building bedid not please.  He might have been the duke's  tween high and low water mark, for pretended
right hand, but his grace finding that he could  encroachments on the forests, &c., besides the
not bring him nor his party off to his side, he  exorbitant fines of the Star Chamber and High
would use him no longer," which shows hmn to  Commission Court, and the extraordinary projbe an honest man.  His practical works and  ectsofloans, benevolences, and freegifts. Such
sermons were printed by his own order, after was the calamity of the times, that no man
his decease.                                  could call anything his own longer than the
king pleased, or might speak or write against
CHAPTER IV.                     these proceedings without the utmost hazard
of his liberty and estate.
FROM THE DISSOLUTION OF THE THIRD PARLIA-        The Church was governed by the like arbirENT OF KING CHARLES I. TO THE DEATH OF trary and illegal methods; Dr. Laud, bishop of
ARCIH-BISHOP ABBOT.                         London, being prime minister, pursued his wild
THE ancient and legal government of Eng- scheme of uniting the two Churches of England
* As he felt the symptoms of death coming upon  and Rome,t without the least regard to the
him, he said, " I shall not change my company, for I
shall still converse with God and saints." A few    * Stevens's Historical Account of all Taxes, p.
hours previous to his departure, being told it was the  183, 184, 2d edit.
Lord's Day, he said,' A fit day to be sacrificed on!   t Dr. Grey is much displeased with Mr. Neal for
I have accompanied saints on earth, now I shall ac- this representation of Laud's views; but, without
company angels in heaven.  My dissolution is at bringing any direct evidence to refute it, he appeals to
hand. Let me go to my home, and to Jesus Christ, the answer of Fisher, and the testimonies of Sir Ed
who hath bought me with his precious blood."  He ward Deering and Limborch, to show that the arch.
soon added, " I feel death coming to my heart; my bishop was not a papist. This may be admitted, and
pain shall now be turned into joy."-Clarke's Lives, the proofs of it are also adduced by Dr. Harris [Life
p. 113  Echard styles Dr. Preston " the most cele- of Charles I., p. 207], yet it will not be so easy to acbrated of the Puritans, an exquisite preacher, a no- quit Laud of a partiality for the Church, though not
ble disputant, and a deep politician."-C.     the court, of Rome, according to the distinction May
t Book xi., p. 131.                         makes in his 1" Parliamentary History." It will not
VOL. I.-P P




298                    H-ISTORY  OF   IRE  PURITANS.
rights of conscience, of the laws of the land, preached, and their quality or degree ~ as aIso
and very seldom to the canlons of the Church, the names of such gentlemen who, not being
bearing downr all who opposed him with unre-  qualified, kept chaplains in their own houses.
lenting severity and rigour. To make way for His lordship required them, farther, to leave a
this union, tbe ch,.rches were not only to be  copy of the king's instructions concerning lecrepaired, bhr  ornamented with pictures, paint- turers with the parson of every parish, and to
ings, images, altar-pieces, &c., the forms of  see that they were duly observed.
public worship were to be decorated with a    These lecturers were chiefly Puritans, who,
number of pompous rites and ceremonies, in  not being satisfied with a full conformity so as
imitation of the Church of Rome, and the Pu- to take upon them a cure of souls, only preachritans, who were the professed enemies of eve- ed in the afternoon, being chosen and maintainrything that looked like popery, were to be  ed by the people.  They were strict Calvinists,
suppressed or driven out of the land. To ac- warm  and affectionate preachers, and distincomplish the latter, his lordship presented the  guished themselves by a religious observance
king with certain considerations for settling the  of the Lord's Day, by a bold opposition to poChurch, which were soon after published, with  pery and the new ceremonies, and by an unsome little variation, under the title of "In- common severity of life.  Their manner of
structions to the two Archbishops, concerning  preaching gave the bishop a distaste to sercertain Orders to be observed and put in exe- mons, who was already of opinion that they
cution by the several Bishops."               did more harm than good, insomuch that on a
Here his majesty commands them to see that fast-day for the plague, then in London, prayers
his declaration for silencing the predestinarian  were ordered to be read in all churches, but not
controversy be strictly observed; and that spe- a sermon to be preached, lest the people should
cial care be taken of the lectures and afternoon  wander from their own parishes.  The lectusermons, in their several diocesses, concerning  rers had very popular talents, and drew great
which he is pleased to give the following in- numbers of people after them.  Bishop Laud
structions:*                                 would often say "they were the most danger1. "That in all parishes the afternoon ser- ous enemies of the state, because by their
mons be turned into catechising by question  prayers and sermons they awakened the peoand answer, where there is not some great ple's disaffection, and, therefore, must be supcause to break this ancient and profitable order. pressed."
2. "That every lecturer read Divine service    Good old Archbishop Abbot was of another
before lectures in surplice and hood.         spirit, but the reins were taken out of his hands.
3. " That where there are lectures in market He had a good opinion of the lecturers, as men
towns, they be read by grave and orthodox di- who had the Protestant religion at heart, and
vines, and that they preach in gowns, and not would fortify their hearers against the return of
in cloaks, as too many do use.                popery.*  When Mr. Palmer, lecturer of St.
4. "That no lecturer be admitted that is not Alphage, in Canterbury, was commanded to
ready and willing to take upon him a living with  desist from preaching by the archdeacon, becure of souls..      cause he drew great numbers of factious peo..
5. 4 That the bishops take order that the ser- ple after him and did not wear the surplice, the
mons of the lecturers be observed.            archbishop authorized him  to continue: the
6. "That none under noblemen, and men  like he did by Mr. Udnay, of Ashford, for which
qualified by law, keep a private chaplain.    he was complained of as not enforcing the
7.' That care be taken that the prayers and  king's instructions, whereby the commissioncatechisings be frequented, as well as sermons."  ers, as they say, were made a scorn to the facOf all which his majesty requires an account tious, and the archdeacon's jurisdiction inhibitonce a year.                                  ed. But in the diocess of London Bishop Laud
By virtue of these instructions, the Bishop of proceeded with the utmost severity.  Many
London summoned before him all ministers and  lecturers were put down, and such as preached
lecturers in and about the city, and in a solemn  against Arminianism, or the new ceremonies,
speech insisted on their obedience.  He also  were suspended and silenced; among whom
sent letters to his archdeacons, requiring them  were the Reverend Mr. John Rogers, of Dedto send him lists of the several lecturers within  ham, Mr. Daniel Rogers, of Wethersfield, Mr.
their archdeaconries, as well in places exempt Hooker, of Chelmsford, Mr. White, of Knightsas not exempt, with the places where they  bridge, Mr. Archer, Mr. William  Martin, Mr.
be so easy to clear him of the charge of symbol- Edward, Mr. Jones, Mr. Dod, Mr. Hidersham,
izing with the Church of Rome in its two leading Mr. Ward, Mr. Saunders, Mr. James Gardiner,
features superstition and intolerance.  Under his Mr. Foxley, and many others.
primacy the Church of England, it is plain, assumed    The Rev. Mr. Bernard, lecturer of St. Sepula very popish appearance. " Not only the pomps of chre's, London, having used this expression in
ceremonies were daily increased, and innovations of his prayer before sermon, "Lord, open the eyes
great scandal brought into the Church, but, in point of the queen's majesty, that she may see Jesus
of doctrine, many fair approaches made towards  Christ, whom she has pierced with her infidelRome. Even Heylin says, the doctrines are altered 
in many things; as, for example, the pope not anti- ity, superstition, and idolatry,"t was summonchrist, pictures, fiee-will, &c.; the Thirty-nine Arti- ed before the High Commission, January 28,
cles seeming impatient, if not ambitious also, of some and upon his humble submission was dismissCatholic sense."-May's Parliamentary History, p. 22, ed; but some time after, in his sermon at St.
23, and Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 152.-ED.    Mary's, in Cambridge, speaking offensive words
* A liberal mind will reprobate these instructions                  -
as evading argument, preventing discussion and in-   i Prynne's Introd., p. 94, 361, 373.
quiry, breathing the spirit of intolerance and perse-   t Rushworth, vol. ii., p. 32, 140. Prynne, p. 365,
cution, and indicating timidity.-Er.          367




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     299
against Arminianism and the new ceremonies,   The king's instructions and the violent measBishop Laud sent for a copy of his sermon, and ures of the prime minister brought a great deal
having cited him before the High Commission, of business into the spiritual courts; one or
required him to make an open recantation of other of the Puritan ministers was every week
what he had said, which his conscience not suf- suspended or deprived, and their families driven
fering him to, he was suspended from his min- to distress; nor was there any prospect of reistry, excommunicated, fined ~1000, condemn- lief, the clouds gathering every day thicker over
ed in costs of suit, and committed to New  their heads, and threatening a violent storm
Prison, where he lay several months, being  This put them upon projecting a farther settle..
cruelly used, and almost starved for want of ment in New-England, where they might be
necessaries, of which he complained to the delivered from the hands of their oppressors,
bishop in sundry letters, but could get no relief and enjoy the free liberty of their consciences;
unless he would recant.  Mr. Bernard offered which gave birth to a second grand colony in
to confess his sorrow and penitence for any North America, commonly known by the name
oversights or unbecoming expressions in his of the Massachusetts Bay. Several persons of
sermons, which could not be accepted, so that quality and substance about the city of London
in conclusion he was utterly ruined.          engaging in the design, obtained a charter dated
Mr. Charles Chauncey, minister of Ware, hav- March 4, 1628-9, wherein the gentlemen and
ing said in a sermon " that the preaching of the merchants therein named, and all who should
Gospel would be suppressed, and that there thereafter join them, were constituted a body
was much atheism, popery, Arminianism, and corporate and politic, by the name of the Govheresy crept into the Church," was questioned  ernor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in
for it in the High Commission, and not dismiss- New-England.  They were empowered to elect
ed till he had made an open recantation, which their own governor, deputy-governor, and mawe shall meet with hereafter.                 gistrates, and tq make such laws as they should
Mr. Peter Smart, one of the prebendaries of think fit for the good of the plantation, not reDurham, and minister of that city, was impris- pugnant to the laws of England.  Free liberty
oned by the High Commission of York this of conscience was likewise granted to all who
summer, for a sermon preached from  these should settle in those parts, to worship God in
words, "I hate all those that love superstitious their own way.*  The new planters being all
vanities, but thy law do I love," in which he Puritans, made their application to the Revertook occasion to speak against images and pie- end Mr. Higginson, a silenced minister in Leitures, and the late pompous innovations.  He cestershire, and to Mr. Skelton, another silenwas confined four months before the commis- ced minister of Lincolnshire, to be their chapsioners exhibited any articles against him, and lains, desiring them to engage as many of their
five more before any proctor was allowed him. friends as were willing to embark with them.
From York he was carried up to Lambeth, and  The little fleet that went upon this expedition
from thence back again to York, and at length  consisted of six sail of transports, from four to
was deprived of his prebend, degraded, excom- twenty guns, with about three hundred and
municated, fined ~500, and committed close fifty passengers, men, women, and children.
prisoner, where he continued eleven years, till They carried with them one hundred and fifhe was set at liberty by the Long Parliament in teen head of cattle, as horses, mares, cows, &c.,
1640. He was a person of a grave and rever- forty-one goats, six pieces of cannon for a fort,
end aspect,* but died soon after his release, with muskets, pikes, drums, colours, and a large
the severity of a long imprisonment having con- quantity of ammunition and provisions.  The
tributed to the impairing his constitution.t  fleet sailed May 11, 1629, and arrived the 24th
of June following, at a place called by the na* Fuller's Church History, b. ii., p. 173.  tives Neumkeak, but by the new planters Sat "Here the historian," remarks Bishop Warbur- lem, which in the Hebrew language signifies
ton, "was much at a loss for his confessor's good
qualities, while he is forced to take up with his grave peace.
and reverend aspect." It might have screened this   Rellgion being the chief motive of their retreatpassage from his lordship's sneer and sarcasm, that ing into these parts,t that was settled in the first
these are the words of Fuller, whose history furnish- place. August the 6th being appointed for the
ed the whole paragraph, and whose description of solemnity of forming themselves into a religious
Mr. Smart goes into no other particulars. His lord- society, the day was spent in fasting and prayer;
ship certainly did not wish Nr. Neal to have drawn
a character from his own invention; not to urge that inveighed. He was afterward not only set at liberthe countenance is the index of the mind. It ap- ty, but by the order of the Lords, in 1642, was restopears, as Dr. Grey observes, that the proceedings red to his prebend in Durham, and was presented to
against Smart commenced in the High Commission the Vicarage of Aycliff in the same diocess -Nel
Court in Durham.- See Wood's Athene Oxon., vol. son's Collections, vol. ii., p. 406. The Puritans, by
ii., p. 11. The doctor, and Nelson in his Collec- whom he was esteemed a protomartyr, it is said,
tions, vol. i., p. 518, 519, produce some paragraphs raised ~400 a year for him by subscription.-GranfIom Smart's sermon to show the strain and spirit of ger's History of England, vol. ii., p. 177.-ED.
it. There was printed a virulent tract at Durham,   * This is a mistake: the charter did not once
1736, entitled " An Illustration of Mr. Neal's Histo- mention liberty of conscience or toleration.-See
ry of the Puritans, in the Article of Peter Smart, Gordon's History of the American War, vol. i., p. 19.
A.M." It is a cetail of the proceedings against -ED.
Smart, and of subsequent proceedings in Parliament   t What a commentary upon this statement does
against Dr. Cosins upon the complaint of Smart, the history of Salem afford! It is probable that no
whom the author aims to represent in a very unfa- community on the globe, of the same population, can
vourable point of view; but without necessity, as exhibit a finer harvest resulting from the cultivation
the very persecution of him shows that he must have of Gospel principles. The churches and the schools
been very offensive to those who were admirers of of Salem are demonstrations that, as men sow, they
the superstitions and ceremonies against which he shall also reap!-C.




300                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
and thirty persons who desired to be of the  several offices by the imposition of the hands
communion, severally, in the presence of the  of some of the brethren appointed by the Church
whole congregation, declared their consent to  to that service.*  The first winter proved a
a confession of faith which Mr. Higginson had  fatal one to the colony, carrying off above one
drawn up, and signed the following covenant hundred of their company, and among the rest
with their hands:                            Mr. Houghton, their elder, and Mr. Higginson,
"'We covenant with our Lord, and one an- their teacher; the latter of' whom, not being
other.  We bind ourselves, in the presence of capable of undergoing the fatigues of a new setGod, to walk together in all his ways, according  tlement, fell into a hectic, and died in the fortyas he is pleased to reveal himself' to us in his third year of his age. Mr. Higginson had been
blessed Word of truth, and do profess to walk  educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge, proas follows, through the power and grace of our ceeding M.A., being afterward parson of one of
Lord Jesus Christ.*                          the five churches in Leicester, where he con" We avouch the Lord to be our God, and  tinued for some years, till he was deprived for
ourselves to be his people, in the truth and sim- nonconformity; but such were his talents for
plicity of our spirits.                      the pulpit, that after his suspension, the town
" We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, obtained liberty from Bishop Williams to choose
and to the Word of his grace, for the teaching, him for their lecturer, and maintained him by
ruling, and sanctifying us in matters of wor- their voluntary contributions, till Laud, being
ship and conversation, resolving to reject all at the head of the Church affairs, he was articanons and constitutions of men in worship.   cled against in the High Commission, and ex" We promise to walk with our brethren with  pected every hour a sentence of perpetual imall watchfulness and tenderness, avoiding jeal- prisonment; this induced him to accept of an
ousies, suspicions, backbitings, censurings, pro- invitation to remove to New-England, which
vokings, secret risings of spirit against them; cost him his life. Mr. Skelton, the other minbut in all offences to follow the rule of our Lord  ister, was a Lincolnshire divine, who, being siJesus Christ, and to bear and forbear, give and  lenced for nonconformity, accepted of a like inforgive, as he hath taught us.               vitation, and died of the hardships of the coun"In public and private we will willingly do try, August 2, 1634. From this small beginning
nothing to the offence of the Church, but will is the Massachusetts province grown to the
be willing to take advice for ourselves and ours, figure it now makes in the American world.
as occasion shall be presented.                Next summer the governor went over with a
"We will not in the congregation be forward, fresh recruit of two hundred ministers, and
either to show our own gifts and parts in speak- others, who were forced out of their native
ing, or scrupling, or in discovering the weak- country by the heat of the Laudean persecution.
nesses or failings of our brethren; but attend  Upon embarcation they left behind them a paan ordinary call thereunto, knowing how much  per, which was soon after published, entitled,
the Lord may be dishonoured, and his Gospel, " The Humble Request of his Majesty's Loyal
and the profession of it, slighted by our distern- Subjects, the Governor and Company lately gone
pers and weaknesses in public.               for New-England, to the rest of their Brethren in
" We bind ourselves to study the advance- and of the Church of England, for the obtaining
ment of the Gospel in all truth and peace, both  of their Prayers, and removal of Suspicions and
in regard of those that are within or without, Misconstructions of their Intentions."  \Whereno way slighting our sister churches, but using  in theyentreated the reverend fathers and breththeir counsel as need shall be; not laying a ren of the Church of England to recommend
stumbling-block befobre any, no, not the Indians, them to the mercies of God in their constant
whose good we desire to promote, and so to  prayers, as a new church now springing out of
converse as we may avoid the very appearance  their bowels: "for you are not ignorant," say
of evil.                                     they, "that the Spirit of God stirred up the
" We do hereby promise to carry ourselves in  Apostle Paul to make a continued mention of
all lawful obedience to those that are over us the Church of Philippi, which was a colony frioml
in Church and commonwealth, knowing how  Rome. Let the same Spirit, we beseech you,
well-pleasing it will be to the Lord, that they  put you in mind, that are the Lord's remnemshould have encouragement in their places by  brancers, to pray for us without ceasing; and
our not grieving their spirits by our irregulari- what goodness shall extend to us, in this or any
ties.                                        other Christian kindness, we, your brethren in
"We resolve to approve ourselves to the  Christ, shall labour to repay in what duty we
Lord in our particular callings, shunning idle- are or shall be able to perform; promising, so
ness, as the bane of any state; nor will we deal far as God shall enable us, to give him no rest
hardly or oppressingly with any, wherein we on your behalf, wishing our heads and hearts
are the Lord's stewards.                     may be fountains of tears for your everlasting
" Promising, also, to the best of our ability, welfare, when we shall be in our poor cottages
to teach our children and servants the knowl- in the wilderness, overshadowed with the spirit
edge of God, and of his will, that they may  of supplication, through the manifold necessities
serve him also. And all this not by any strength  and tribulations which may not altogether unof our own, but by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose  expectedly, nor, we hope, unprofitably befall us."
blood we desire may sprinkle this our covenant   When it appeared that the planters could
made in his name."                          subsist in their new settlement, great numbers
After this, they chose Mr. Skelton their pastor, of their firiends, with their families, flocked after
Mr. Higginson their teacher, and Mr. Houghton  them every summer. In the succeeding twelve
their ruling elder, who were separated to their years of Archbishop Laud's administration,
* Neal's History of New-England, p. 126.  * Mather's Hist. of New-England, b. iii., p. 74, 76




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     30
there went over about four thousand planters,* of it.  It was replied that the doctrine was not
who laid the foundation of several little towns gainsaid, but the king had commanded these
and villages up and down the country, carrying questions should not be debated, and, therefore,
over with them, in materials, money, and cat- his majesty took it more offensively that any
tle, &c., not less than to the value of ~192,000, should do it in his own hearing. The bishop
besides the merchandise intended for traffic replied that he never understood that his majwith the Indians.  Upon the whole, it has been esty had forbidden the handling any doctrine
computed that the four settlements of New- comprised in the Articles of the Church, but
England, viz., Plymouth, the Massachusetts Bay, only the raising new questions, or putting a
Connecticut, and New-Haven, all which were new sense upon them, which he never should
accomplished before the beginning of the civil do; that in the king's declaration all the Thirwars, drained England of four or five hundred ty-nine Articles are confirmed, among which
thousand pounds in money (a very great sum in the seventeenth, of predestination, is one; that
those days); and if the persecution of thePuri- all ministers are obliged to subscribe to the
tans had continued twelve years longer, it is truth of this article, and to continue in the true
thought that a fourth part of the riches of the profession of that as well as the rest; the bishkingdom would siave passed out of it through op desired it might be shown wherein he had
this channel.                                 transgressed his majesty's commands, when he
The chief leaders of the people into these had kept himself within'the bounds of the artiparts were the Puritan ministers, who, being cle, and had moved no new or curious queshunted from  one diocess to another, at last tions. To which it was replied that it was-the
chose this wilderness for their retreat, which king's pleasure that, for the peace of the Church,
has proved (through the overruling providence these high questions might be forborne.  The
of God) a great accession to the strength and bishop then said he was very sorry he undercommerce of these kingdoms.  I have before stood not his majesty's intention, and that for
me a list of seventy-seven divines, who became the time to come he would conform to his compastors of sundry little churches and congrega- mands.*  Upon this he was dismissed without
tions in that country before the year 1640, all farther trouble, and was after some time admitof whom were in orders in the Church of Eng- ted to kiss the king's hand, who did not fail to
land. The reader will meet with an account remind him that the doctrine of predestination
of some of them in the course of this history; was too big for the people's understanding, and,
and I must say, though they were not all of the therefore, he was resolved not to give leave for
first rank for deep and extensive learning, yet discussing that controversy in the pulpit. Herethey had a better share of it than most of the upon the bishop retired, and was never afterneighbouring clergy; and, which is of more ward in favour at court.
consequence, they were men of strict sobriety   Soon after, Mr. Madye, lecturer of Christ
and virtue; plain, serious, affectionate preach- Church, London, was cited before the High
ers, exactly conformable in sentiment to the Commission, and [March 10, 1630] was, by act
doctrinal articles of the Church of England, and of court, prohibited to preach any more within
took a great deal of pains to promote Christian the diocess of London, because he had disobeyknowledge, and a reformation of manners in ed the king's declaration, by preaching on pretheir several parishes.                       destination.  Dr. Cornelius Burges, Mr. White,
To return to England.  Though Mr. Dave- the famous Dr. Prideaux, Mr. Hobbes, of Trinnant, the learned Bishop of Salisbury, had de- ity College, and Mr. Cook, of Brazen-nose, with
dared for the doctrine of universal redemption  others, suffered on the same account.
at the Synod of Dort, he was this year brought   But Dr. Alexander Leighton, a Scots divine,
into trouble for touching upon the point of pre- and father of the worthy and celebrated prelate
destination,t in his Lent sermon before the of that name, so highly commended by Bishop
king, on Romans, vi., 23, " The gift of God is Burnet in the " History of his Life and Times,"
eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." met with severe usage in the Star Chamber,
This was construed as a contempt of the king's for venturing to write against the hierarchy of
injunctions. for which his lordship was two the Church.t  This divine had published, dudays after summoned before the privy council, ring the last session of Parliament, an " Appeal
where he presented himself upon his knees, and to the Parliament; or, Zion's Plea against
so had continued, for any favour he received  Prelacy,"I wherein he speaks not only with
from any of his own function then present; but
the temporal lords bade him rise and stand to   t Rushworth,  p. 173, 876.
his defence.  The accusation was managed by   t Dr. Harris, who had read by far the greatest
Dr. Harsnet, archbishop of York; Laud walk- part of this piece, says that "it was written with
ing by all the while in silence, without speak- spirit, and more sense and learning than the writers
ing a word.  Harsnet put him in mind of his of that stamp usually showed in their productions;"
obligations to King James; of the piety of his and adds, " I cannot for my life see anything in it depresent majesty's instructions, and then aggra-  serving so heavy a censure."-Life of Charles I., p.
rated  his contempt of thenii, wiath great vehe- 225. His calling the queen "a daughter of Heth,"
rated his contempt of them with great vehe- as Mr. Pierce observes, meant no more than that she
mence and acrimony.  Bishop Davenant re- was a papist. Bishop Tillotson afterward used a
plied, with mildness, that he was sorry that an not much better expression concerning foreign popish
established doctrine of'the Church should be so princes, without giving any umbrage, in styling
distasted; that he had preached nothing but them "the people of these abominations." Such
what was expressly contained in the seven- language had much countenance from the taste and
teenth article, and was ready to justify the truth spirit of the age. Whitelocke, as well as Heylin,
represents Dr. Leighton as charged with exciting the
* Mather's Hist. N. E. b. i., p. 17, 23  Parliament to kill all the bishops, and smite them
t Fuller, b. xi., p. 138,              under the fifth rib; and other writers have repeated




302                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
freedom, but with very great rudeness and in- not yet cured, he was whipped again at the plldecency against bishops; calling them "men lory in Cheapside, and had the remainder of his
of blood," and saying " that we do not read of sentence executed upon him, by cutting off the
a greater persecution and higher indignities other ear, slitting the other side of the nose, and
done towards God's people in any nation than branding the other cheek."*  He was then carin this, since the death of Queen Elizabeth." ried back to prison, where he continued in close
He calls the prelacy of the Church " anti-Chris- confinement for ten years, till he was released
tian."  He declaims vehemently against the by the Long Parliament.t The doctor was becanons and ceremonies; and adds, that "the tween forty and fifty years of age, of a low statChurch has her laws from the Scripture, and ure, a fair complexion, and well known for his
that no king may make laws for the house learning and other abilities: but his long and
of God."  He styles the queen a daughter of close confinement had so impaired his health,
Heth, and concludes with saying what a pity it that when he was released he could hardly
is that so ingenious and tractable a king should walk, see, or hear. The sufferings of this learnbe so monstrously. abused by the bishops, to ed man moved the people's compassion; and, I
the undoing of himself and his subjects. Now, believe, the records of the Inquisition can hardthough the warmth of these expressions can no ly furnish an example of equal severity.
ways be justified, yet let the reader consider   To make the distance between the Church and
whether they bear any proportion to the sen- the Puritans yet wider, and the terms of contence of the court. The cause was tried June formity more difficult, Bishop Laud introduced
4, 1630. The defendant, in his answer, owned sundry pompous innovations in imitation of
the writing of the book, denying any ill inten- popery, that had no foundation in the laws of
tion, his design being only to lay these things the realm or the canons of the Church. These
before the next Parliament for their considera- were enforced both upon clergy and laity, with
tion. Nevertheless, the court adjudged unan- all the terrors of the High Commission, to the
imously that for this offence " the doctor should ruin of many families, and the raising very great
be committed to the prison of the Fleet for life, disturbances in all parts of the kingdom.
and pay a fine of ~10,000; that the High Com-   St. Katherine Creed Church, in the city of
mission should degrade him from his ministry; London, having been lately repaired, was susand that then he should be brought to the pil- pended from all Divine service till it was again
lory at Westminster, while the court was sit- consecrated; the formality of which being very
ting, and be whipped; after whipping, be set extraordinary, may give us an idea of the superupon the pillory a convenient time, and have stition of this prelate. On Sunday, January 16,
one of his ears cut off, one side of his nose slit, 1630, Bishop Laud came thither about nine in
and be branded in the face with a double S. S. the morning, attended with several of the High
for a sower of sedition: that then he should Commission, and some civilians.T  At his apbe carried back to prison, and after a few days proach to the west door of the church, which
be pilloried a second time in Cheapside, and be was shut and guarded by halberdiers, some, who
there likewise whipped, and have the other were appointed for that purpose, cried with a
side of his nose slit, and his other ear cut off, loud voice, "& Open, open, ye everlasting doors,
and then be shut up in close prison for the re- that the King of glory may come in;" and presmainder of his life."  Bishop Laud pulled off his ently, the doors being opened, the bishop, with
cap while this merciless sentence was pronouncing, some doctors and principal men, entered. As
and gave God thanks for it!                soon as they were come within the place, his
Between passing the sentence and execution, lordship fell down upon his knees, and with eyes
the doctor made his escape from  prison, but lifted up, and his arms spread abroad, said,
was retaken in Bedfordshire, and brought back " This place is holy; the ground is holy: in the
to the Fleet.  On Friday, November 6, part of name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I
the sentence was executed upon him, says Bish- pronounce it holy."  Then walking up the midop Laud in his diary, after this manner: " He dle aisle towards the chancel, he took up some
was severely whipped before he was put in the of the dust, and threw it into the air several
pillory. 2. Being set in the pillory, he had one times. When he approached near the rail of
of his ears cut off. 3. One side of his nose slit. the communion-table, he bowed towards it five
4. Branded on the cheek with a redhot iron with or six times, and returning, went round the
the letters S. S. On that day sevennight, his church with his attendants in procession, saying
sores upon his back, ear, nose, and face being first the hundredth, and then the nineteenth
the accusation; a circumstance not noticed by Mr. Psalm, as prescribed by the Roman pontificate.
Neal. It appears to be ungrounded, for Mr. Pierce He then read several collects, in one of which
could not find it in the books, but only a call on the he prays God to accept of that beautiful buildParliament utterly to root out the hierarchy. Nor did ing, and concludes thus: " We consecrate this
it form any one of the articles of information against church, and separate it unto thee as holy ground,
Dr. Leighton in the Star Chamber.-Pierce's Vindi- not to be profaned any more to common use."
cation, p. 177; and Rushworth, vol. i., p. 55. It great. In another he prays " that all that should herely aggravated the injustice and cruelty of the sen- after be buried within the circuit of this holy
tence passed on him, that his book was printed for and sacred place may rest in their sepulchres
the use of the Parliament only, and not in England,  ac
but in Holland. The heads were previously sane- in peace, till Christ's coming to judgment, and
tioned by the approbation of five hundred persons un- may then rise to eternal life and happiness."6
der their hands, whereof some were members of Par- After this, the bishop, sitting under a cloth of
liament. And when the Parliament was dissolved
he returned, without bringing any copies of it into   * Rushworth's Collections, vol. i., p. 57, 58.
the land, but made it his special care to suppress   t Pierce, p. 179-181.
them.-A Letter from General Ludlow to Dr. Holling    t Rushworth, vol. i., p. 77.
worth, printed at Amsterdam, 1692, p. 23.-ED.  ( Prynne's Complete History, p. 114.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    30.
state in the aisle of the chancel, near the cornm- dice a Divine presence or gloiy into the place,
munion-table, took a written book in his hand, as was in the temple of old: where is their
and pronounced curses upon those who should commission? or what example have we of this
thereafter profane that holy place by musters of kind in the New Testament?  The synagogues
soldiers, or keeping profane law-courts, or car- of the Jews were not consecrated in this manrying burdens through it, and at the end of every ner; nor was the temple of Solomon consecracurse he bowed to the east, and said, "Let all ted by a priest, but by a king. Our Saviour
the people say. Amen." When the curses were tells his disciples, "that wheresoever two or
ended, which were about twenty, he pronounced three of them should be gathered together in
a like number of blessings upon all who had any his name, he would be in the midst of them:"
hand in framing and building of that sacred and and the woman of Samaria, " that the hour was
beautiful edifice, and on those who had given, coming, when neither at that mountain, nor at
or should hereafter give, any chalices, plate, or- Jerusalem, they should worship the Father."
naments, or other utensils; and at the end of Besides, the changes made by time and various
every blessing he bowed to the east, and said, accidents in towns and cities render it impos-' "Let all the people say, Amen."  After this sible to prevent the alienation or profanation ol
followed the sermon, and then the sacrament, holy ground: for, to look no farther than the
which the bishop consecrated, and administered city of London, would it not be very hard if all
after the following manner:                 the curses that Bishop Laud pronounced in
As he approached the altar, he made five or Creed Church should rest upon those who live
six low bows, and coming up to the side of it, in houses built by act of Parliament, in places
where the bread and wine were covered, he where there were consecrated churches or
bowed seven times; then, after reading many churchyards before the fire of London? Archprayers, he came near the bread, and gently bishop Parker, therefore, in his "Antiquitates
lifting up the corner of the napkin, beheld it, Ecclesie Britan.," p. 85,86, condemns this pracand immediately letting fall the napkin, retreat- tice as superstitious; nor was there any form for
ed hastily a step or two, and made three low  it in the public offices of the Church. But this
obeisances. His lordship then advanced, and being objected to Archbishop Laud at his trial,
having uncovered the bread, bowed three times as an evidence of his inclination to popery, we
as before; then laid his hand on the cup, which shall there see his grace's defence, with the
was full of wine, with a cover upon it, which learned reply of the House of Commons, conhaving let go, he stepped back, and bowed three cerning the antiquity of consecrating churches.
times towards it; then came near again, and   A proclamation had been published last year,
lifting up the cover of the cup, looked into it, " commanding the archbishops and bishops to
and seeing the wine, he let fall the cover again, take special care that the parish churches in
retired back, and bowed as before: after which their several diocesses, being places consecrathe elements were consecrated, and the bishop, ted to the worship of God, be kept in decent
having first received, gave it to some principal repair, and to make use of the power of the ecmen in their surplices, hoods, and tippets; to- clesiastical court to oblige the parishioners to
wards the conclusion, many prayers being said, this part of their duty."* The judges were also
the solemnity of the consecration ended.    required not to interrupt this good work by
He consecrated St. Giles's Church in the too easily granting prohibitions from the spiritsame manner, which had been repaired, and ual courts.  It seems sundry churches since
part of it new built in his predecessor's (Bishop the Reformation were fallen to decay; and
Mountain) time.* Divine service had been per- some that had been defaced by the pulling down
formed, and the sacrament administered in it of images, and other popish relics, had not been
for three or four years since that time without decently repaired, the expense being too heavy
exception; but as soon as Laud was advanced  for the poorer country parishes; it was thereto the bishopric of London, he interdicted the fore thought necessary to oblige them to their
church, and prohibited Divine service therein, duty; and ounder colour of this proclamation,
till it should be reconsecrated, which is more Laud introduced many of the trappings and decthan even the canon law  requires.  Sundry orations of popery, and punished those minisother chapels and churche~, which had been ters in the High Commission Court that venbuilt long since, were, by the bishop's direction, tured to write or preach against them.
likewise shut up till they were consecrated in    His lordship began with his own Cathedral
this manner-as Immanuel Chapel, in Cam- of St. Paul's, for repairing and beautifying of
bridge, built 1584 Sidney College Chapel, built which a subscription and contribution were ap1596, and several others.                    pointed over the whole kingdom. Several housThis method of consecrating churches was es and shops adjoining the Cathedral were, by
new to the people of England, and in the opin- injunction of council, ordered to be pulled down
ion of the first Reformers, superstitious and and the owners to accept a reasonable satisfacabsurd; for though it is reasonable there should tion; but if they would not comply, the sheriff
be public buildings reserved and set apart for of London was required to see them demolished.
public worship, and that at the first opening of The Church of St. Gregory was pulled down.
them  prayers should be offered for a Divine and the inhabitants assigned to Christ Church,
blessing on the ordinances of Christ that may where they were to assemble for the future.
at any time be administered in them, yet have The bishop's heart was in this work, and to
we not the least ground to believe that bisph- support the expense, he gave way to many opops or other dignitaries of the Church can, by pressions and unjustifiable methods of raising
their declaration or form of prayer, hallow the money, by compositions with recusants, combuilding, or make the ground holy, or intro- mutation of penance, exorbitant fines in the
* Prynne, Cant. Doom, p. 117.                * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 86.




304                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Star (Jhamber and High Commission, insomuch oned among the beauties of the sanctuary. "BJut
that it became a proverb that St. Paul's was re- thesefopperies," says Bishop Kennet, " did not,
paired with the sins of the people. Before the perhaps, gain over one papist, but lost both the
year 1640, above ~113,000 were expended there- king and bishops the hearts and affections of
on, with which the body of the church was fin- the Protestant part of the nation, and were (as
ished, and the steeple scaffolded. There was his lordship observes) contrary to Queen Elizalso a stately portico built at the west end, sup- abeth's injunctions, 1559, which appoint that
ported with pillars of the Corinthian order, and all candlesticks, trentals, rolls of wax, pictures,
embellished with the statues of King James and paintings, &c., be removed out of churches."*
King Charles; but the rebuilding the spire and   However, Bishop Laud was mightily enamthe inside decorations miscarried by the break- oured with them, and as soon as he was transing out of the civil war.*                  lated to Lambeth, repaired the painting in the
What these decorations and ornaments of windows of that chapel, in one pane of which
paintings, carvings, altars, crucifixes, candle- had been the picture of Christ crucified, with a
sticks, images, vestments, &c., would have scull and dead men's bones under it, a basket
been, can only be guessed by the fashion of the full of tools and nails, with the high-priest and
times, and by the scheme that.was now formed his officers on horseback, and the two thieves
to recover and repair the broken relics of su- on foot. In the next were the two thieves on'perstition and idolatry which the Reformation crosses, Abraham  offering up his son Isaac,
had left, or to set up others in imitation of and the brazen serpent on a pole. In other
them; for though the Reformation of Queen panes were the pictures of Christ rising out of
Elizabeth had destroyed a great many monu- the grave and ascending up into heaven, with
ments of this kind, yet some were left entire, his disciples kneeling about him-the descent
and others very little defaced.t In the Cathe- of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles in the
dral of Canterbury, over the door of the choir, shape of cloven tongues-God, giving the law
remained thirteen images, or statues of stone, upon Mount Sinai; his coming down from
twelve of them representing the twelve apos- heaven at the prayer of Elisha - Christ and
tles, and the thirteenth, in the middle of them, his twelve apostles sitting in judgment on the
our Saviour Christ. Over these were twelve world. In other parts of the church were paintother images of popish saints. In the several ed the Virgin Mary, with the babe Christ suckwindows of the Cathedral were painted the pic- ing at her breast-the wise men of the East
ture of St. Austin the monk, the first bishop of coming to adore him-the history of the Anthat see, and seven large pictures of the Virgin nunciation, with the picture of the Virgin Mary,
Mary, with angels lifting her up to heaven, with and of the Holy Ghost overshadowing her, tothis inscription: " Gaude Maria, sponsa Dei." gether with the birth of Christ.  All which havUnder the Virgin Mary's feet were the sun, ing been defaced at the Reformation, were now
moon, and stars, and in the bottom  of the restored, according to the Roman missal, and
window this inscription:" In laudem & honor- beautified at the archbishop's cost. The like
em beatissimme Virginis."  Besides these were reparations of paintings, pictures, and crucifixmany pictures of God the Father, and of the es were made in the king's chapel at WhiteHoly Ghost, and of our Saviour lying in a man- hall, Westminster Abbey, and both the univerger, and a large image of Thomas Becket, and sities, as was objected to the archbishop at his
others, all which were taken away by the Long trial, where the reader will meet with his
Parliament.                                 grace's defence of their lawfulness and antiIn the Cathedral of Durham there was an al- quity. The Puritans apprehended these decotar of marble stone set upon columns decorated rations of churches tended to image-worship,
with cherubim, pictures, and images, which and were directly contrary to the homily of the
cost above ~2000. There were three statues peril of idolatry; their ministers, therefore,
of stone in the church; one standing in the preached and wrote against them, and in some
midst, representing Christ with a golden beard, places removed them, for which they were sea blue cap, and sun-rays upon his head, as the verely handled in the High Commission.
record of Parliament says, though Dr. Cosins,   Bishop Laud had been chosen Chancellor of
in his vindication, says it was mistaken for the Oxford last year (April 12th, 1630), where the
top of Bishop Hatfield's tomb. There was also Puritans soon gave him some disturbance. Mr.
an image of God the Father, and many other Hill, of Hart Hall, Mr. Ford, of Magdalen Hall,
carved images, pictures, &c., which the pres- Mr. Giles Thorne, of Baliol College, and Mr.
tint dignitaries of the Cathedral held in profound Giles Hodges, of Exeter College, were charged
admiration; and, to keep up the pomp, they with preaching against Arminianism and the
bought copes of mass priests, with crucifixes new ceremonies, in their sermons at St. Mary's.
and images of the Trinity embroidered upon Hill made a public recantation, and was quickthem. They had consecrated knives to cut the ly released; but the very texts of the others,
sacramental bread, and great numbers of light- says Mr. Fuller,t gave offence: one preached
ed candles upon the altars on Sundays and on Numbers, xiv., 4, " Let us make us a capsaints' days.  On Candlemas Day there were tain, and let us return into Egypt;" and anoth?no less than two hundred, whereof sixty were er on 1 Kings, xiii., 2, " And he cried against
upon and about the altar,T all which were reck- the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O
altar, altar," &c. These divines being con~ Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 751.        vened before the vice-chancellor, Dr. Smith, as
t Parl. Chron., p. 101.                   offenders against the king's instructions, apX The Puseyites of England, the glorifiers of pealed from the vice-chancellor to the proctors,
Laud, are faithfully treading in his'steps, and there
are now to be seen, in many of the churches, can-    * Cant. Doom, p. 59-61.
dies at the altar.-C.                                t Church Hist., b. xi., p. 141.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    305
who received their appeal.  Upon this the and inducted into that living soon after.*  But
chancellor complained to the king, and procured  here he was silenced for nonconformity, as in
the cause to be heard before his majesty at the year 1590, in the year 1605, and again in
WNoodstock, August 23, when the following the year 1611, under which last suspension he
sentence was passed upon them: "That Mr. continued many years.  In the year 1613 he
Ford, Thorne, and Hodges be expelled the was enjoined by the High Commission not to
University; that both the proctors be deprived  preach, or exercise any part of the ministerial
of their places for accepting the appeal; and function, till he should be restored. In the
that Dr. Prideaux, rector of Exeter College, year 1615 he was committed to the Fleet by
and Dr. Wilkinson, principal of Magdalen Hall, the High Commission for refusing the oath ex
receive a sharp admonition for their misbeha- officio, where he continued three months, and
viour in this business."*   Mr. Thorne and was then released upon bond. In November,
Hodges, after a year's deprivation, desiring to be  1616, the High Commission proceeded against
restored, preached a recantation sermon, and  him, and pronounced him refractory and disoread a written submission in the convocation- bedient to the orders, rites, and ceremonies of
house on their bended knees, before the doe- the Church; and because he refused to contors and regents;t but Mr. Ford, making no form, declared him  a schismatic, fined him
address to be restored, returned to his friends ~2000, excommunicated him, and ordered him
in Devonshire; and being like to be chosen  to be attached and committed to prison, that
lecturer or vicar of Plymouth, the inhabitants he might be degraded of *his ministry-; but
were required not to choose him, upon pain of Mr. Hildersham wisely absconded, and kept out
his majesty's high displeasure; and, in case he of the way. In the year 1625 he was restored
was chosen, the Bishop of Exeter was com- to his living; but when Laud had the ascendmanded not to admit him.                       ant, he was silenced again for not reading DiMr. Crowder, vicar of Vell, near Nonsuch, vine service in the surplice and hood, and was
was about this time committed close prisoner not restored till a few months before his death.
to Newgate for sixteen weeks, and then depri- Though he was a Nonconformist in principle,
ved by the High Commission, without any ar- as appears by his last will and testament, yet
tides exhibited against him, or any proof of a he was a person of great temper and moderacrime.  It was pretended that matters against tion:t he loved and respected all good men,
him were so foul, that they were not fit to be and opposed the separation of the Brownists
read in court; but then they ought to have been  and the semi-separation of Mr. Jacob. His leccertified to him, that he might have had an op- tures on the fifty-first Psalm, and his other printportunity to disprove or confess them, which  ed works, as well as the encomiums of Dr. Wilcould not be obtained. Mr. Crowder was a pi- let and Dr. Preston, show him to have been a
ous man, and preached twice a day, which was most excellent divine: what a pity was it that
an unpardonable crime so near the court.      his usefulness in the Church should be so long
Sundry eminent divines removed to New- interrupted! He died, March 4, 1631, in the
England this year; and, among others, the fa- sixty-ninth year of his age, having been minismous Dr. Eliot, the apostle of the Indians, who, ter of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, as the times would
not being allowed to teach school in his native  suffer him, above forty-three years.
country, retired to America, and spent a long    Mr. Robert Bolton was born at B1lackburn,
and useful life in converting the natives, and, in Lancashire, 1572, educated first in. Lincoln
with indefatigable pains, translated the Bible College, and afterward in Brazennose College,
into the Indian language.$                    Oxford, of which he was a fellow.  Here he
Two very considerable Puritan divines were became famous for his lectures in moral and
also removed into the other world by death, natural philosophy, being an excellent Grecian,T
viz., Mr. Arthur Hildersham, born at Stech- and well versed in school divinity, while he
worth, Cambridgeshire, October 6th, 1563, and  continued a profane, wicked man.  During his
educated in Christ's College, Cambridge, of an  residence at college he contracted an acquaintancient and honourable family; his mother, ance with one Anderton, a popish priest, who,
Anne Poole, being niece to the cardinal of that taking advantage of his mean circumstances,
name. His father educated him in the popish  would have persuaded him to reconcile himself
religion, and because he would not go to Rome to the Church of Rome, and go over to one of
at fourteen or fifteen years of age, disinherited  the popish seminaries in Flanders. -Mr. Bolhim: but the Earl of Huntingdon, his near kins- ton accepted the motion, and appointed a place
man, provided for him, sending him to Cam- of meeting to conclude the affair; but And'erbridge, where he proceeded M.A., and entered  ton disappointing him, he returned to the colinto holy orders.  In the year 1587 he was lege, and fell under strong convictions for his
placed by his honourable kinsman above men- former misspent life, so that he could neither
tioned at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, eat nor sleep, nor enjoy any peace of mind for
several months, till at length, by prayer and
* Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 110.     humiliation, he received comfort.  Upon this
t Prynne, Cant. Doom, p. 175.
$ For the interesting details connected with the    * Clarke's Life of Hildersham, annexed to his
labours of this apostolic minister of Christ, I would  General Martyrology, p. 114
refer to his life in my friend Dr. Sparks's admirable    t" He dissented not from the Church in any artiseries of American Biography, and to a memoirin the cle of faith, but only about wearing the surplice, bap-'Lives of EminentMissionaries, by John Carne, Esq." tizing with the cross, and kneeling at the sacraEliot's Bible is now become exceedingly rare; few  ment." —Granger's History of England, voI.:i., p. 371,
perfect copies are to be.met with. A fine copy was 8vo.-ED.
sold at the auction of the late Rev. Dr. Thaddeus   $ The Greek language was so familiar:to him,. that
Mason Harris's library, for thirty-nine dollars, to Mr. he could speak itwith almost as muchfacility as his
Winthrop, of Boston.-C.                       mother tongue.-ED.
VOL. I.-Q Q




306                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
he resolved to enter upon the ministry, in the and forty-five parish churches appropriated to
thirty-fifth year of this age. About two years cathedrals, or to colleges, or impropriated as
after he was presented to the living of Brough- lay fees to private persons, having formerly beton, in Northamptonshire, where he continued longed to abbeys. The gentlemen above mentill his death. He was a most awakening and tioned dealt only in the latter, and had already
authoritative preacher, having the most strong, bought in thirteen impropriations, which cost
masculine, and oratorical style of any of the between ~5000 and ~6000. Most people thought
age in which he lived. He preached twice this a very laudable design, and wished the feofevery Lord's Day, besides catechising. Upon fees good success; but Bishop Laud looked on
every holyday, and every Friday, before the them with an evil eye, and represented them to
sacrament, he expounded a chapter: his con- the king as in a conspiracy against the Church,
stant course was to pray six times a day, twice because, instead of restoring the impropriations
in secret, twice with his family, and twice they purchased to the several livings, they kept
with his wife, besides many days of private hu- them in their own hands for the encouragement
miliation that he observed for the Protestant of factious and seditious lecturers, who were to
churches in Germany.  He was of comely, depend upon their patrons as being liable to be
grave presence, which commanded respect in turned out if they neglected their duty.*  He
all companies; zealous in the cause of religion, added, farther, that the feoffees preferred chiefand yet so prudent as to escape being called in ly Nonconformist ministers, and placed them in
question all the time he lived in Northampton- the most popular market towns, where they did a
shire. At length he was seized with a tertian  great deal ofmischiefto the hierarchy. For these
ague, which, after fifteen weeks, put a period to reasons an information was brought against
his valuable and useful life, December 17, 1631, them in the exchequer by Mr. Attorney-general
in the sixtieth year of his age. He made a Noy, as an illicit society formed into a body
most devout and exemplary end, praying heart- corporate without a grant from the king, for
ily for all his friends that came to see him; the purchasing rectories, tithes, prebendaries,
bidding them make sure of heaven, and bear in &c., which were registered in a book, and the
mind what he had formerly told them in his profits not employed according to law.
ministry, protesting that what he had preached    The defendants appeared, and in their anto them for twenty years was the truth of God, swer declared that they apprehended improas he should answer it at the tribunal of Christ. priations in the hands of laymen, and not emHe then retired within himself, and said, Hold ployed for the maintenance of preachers, were
out faith and patience, your work will speedily a damage to the Church; that the purchasbe at an end. The Oxford historian* calls him  ing of them for the purposes of religion was a
a most religious and learned Puritan, a painful pious work, and not contrary to law, it being
and constant preacher, a person of great zeal notorious that impropriations are frequently
towards God, charitable and bountiful, but, bought and sold by private persons; that the
above all, an excellent casuist for afflicted con- donors of this money gave it for this and such
sciences; his eloquent and excellent writings other good uses as the defendants should think
will recommend his memory to the latest pos- meet, and not for the endowment of perpetual
terity.t                                    vicars; that they had not converted any of the
About the year 1627 there was a scheme money to their own use, nor erected themselves
formed by several gentlemen and ministers to into a body corporate; and that to their knowlpromote preaching in the country by setting up edge they had never presented any to a church,
lectures in the several market towns of Eng- or a place in their disposal, who was not conland, and to defray the expense a sum of money formable to the doctrine and discipline of the
was raised by voluntary contribution for the Church of England, and approved of by the orpurchasing such impropriations as were in the dinary of the place. But, notwithstanding all
hands of the laity, the profits of which were to they could say, the court was of opinion that
be parcelled out into salaries of ~40 or ~50 their proceedings were contrary to law, and deper annum for the subsistence of their lectu- creed that their feoffment should be cancelled;
rers; the money was deposited in the hands of that the impropriations they had purchased
the following ministers and gentlemen, in trust should be confiscated to the king, and the feoffor the aforesaid purposes, under the name and fees themselves fined in the Star Chamber;
character of feoffees, viz., Dr. William Gouge, however, the prosecution was dropped as too inDr. Sibbs, Dr. Offspring, and Mr. Davenport, of vidious, it appearing in court, by the receipts
the clergy; Ralph Eyre and Simon Brown, and disbursements, that the feoffees were out of
Esqrs., of Lincoln's Inn, and C. Sherman, of pocket already ~1000. The odium of this prosGray's Inn, and John White, of the Middle ecution fell upon Laud, whose chancellor told
Temple, Esqrs., lawyers; Mr. John Gearing, him upon this occasion, that he was miserably
Mr. Richard Davis, Mr. G. Harwood, and Mr. censured by the Separatists; upon which he
Francis Bridges, citizens of London. There made this reflection in his diary, " Pray God
were at this time three thousand eight hundred give me patience, and forgive them."
* Athenae Oon., vol. i., p. 479, see also Fuller's   But his lordship'had very little patience with
Abel      Oxon., vol. i. p. 479; see also Fuller's those who opposed his proceedings.  We have
t When he lay at the point of death, one of his seen his zeal for pictures and paintings in
friends, taking him by the hand, asked him if he churches, which some of the Puritans ventuwas not in great pain: " Truly," said he, "the great- ring to censure in their sermons and writings,
est pain I feel is your cold hand," and instantly ex- were exposed to the severest punishments:
pired. His book "On Happiness" was the most
celebrated of his works, and has gone through many   * Fuller's Church History, b. xi., p. 136. A ppea4l
editions.-Granger's History of England, vol.: i., p. p. 13. Prynne, p. 379, 385. Rushworth, vol. i., part
365. 8vo: and Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 591.-ED.  ii., p. 150.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   307
among these was the Rev. Mr. John Hayden, I fected to the discipline of the Church, he, with
of Devonshire, who, being forced to abscond, certain confederates, without consent of the
was apprehended in the diocess of Norwich by bishops, had defaced and pulled down a fair and
Bishop Harsnet, who, after he had taken from  costly window in the church, containing the
him his horse and money, and all his papers, history of the creation, which had stood there
caused him to be shut up in close prison for some hundred years, and was a great ornament
thirteen weeks,* after which, when the justices to it, which profane act might give encouragewould have admitted him to bail at the quarter- ment to other schismatical persons to commit
sessions, his lordship sent him up to the High the like outrages."
Commission, who deprived him of his ministry   Mr. Sherfield, in his defence, says that the
and orders, and set a fine upon him for preach- Church of St. Edmund's was a lay fee, and exing against decorations and images in churches. empted from the jurisdiction of the bishop of
In the year 1634, Mr. Hayden venturing to the diocess, and the defendant, with the rest of
preach occasionally without being restored, was the parishioners, had lawful power to take down
apprehended again, and sent to the Gate-house the glass; and that it was agreed by a vestry
by Archbishop Laud, and from thence to Bride- that the glass should be changed, and the winwell, where he was whipped and kept to hard dow made new, and that accordingly he took
labour; here he was confined in a cold, dark down a quarry or two in a quiet and peaceable
dungeon during a whole winter, being chained manner; but he avers that the true history of
to a post in the middle of the room, with irons the creation was not contained in that window,
on his hands and feet, having no other food but but a false and impious one: God the Father
bread and water, and a pad of straw to lie on. was painted like an old man with a blue coat,
Before his release, he was obliged to take an and a pair of compasses, to signify his compassoath, and give bond, that he would preach no ing the heavens and earth. In the fourth day's
more, but depart the kingdom in a month, and work there were fowls of the air flying up from
not return. Bishop Harsnet did not live to see God their maker, which should have been the
the execution of this part of the sentence,t fifth day. In the fifth day's work a naked matid
though for his zeal against the Puritans he was is lying upon the earth asleep, with so much of
promoted to the archbishopric of York, and a naked woman as from  the knees upward
made a privy-councillor.  Some time before his growing out of his side, which should have
decease he not only persecuted the Noncon- been the sixth day; so that the history is false.
formists, but complained of the conformable Pu-   Farther, this defendant holds it to be impious
ritans, as he called them, because they complied to make an image or picture of God the Father,
out of policy and not in judgment. How hard is which he undertakes to prove from Scripture,
the case when men shall be punished for not con- from canons and councils, from the mandates
forming, and be complained of if they conform! and decrees of sundry emperors, from the opinQueen Elizabeth used to say she would never ions of ancient doctors of the Church, and of
trouble herself about the consciences of her our most judicious divines since the Reformasubjects if they did but outwardly comply with tion. He adds, that his belief is agreeable to the
the laws, whereas this prelate would ransack doctrine of the Church of England and to the
the very heart.                             homilies, which say that pictures of God are
Henry Sherfield, Esq., a bencher of Lincoln's monuments of superstition, and ought to be deInn, and recorder of the city of Sarum, was stroyed; and to Queen Elizabeth's injunctions,
tried in the Star Chamber, May 20, 1632,$ for which command that all pictures and monutaking down some painted glass out of one of ments of idolatry should be removed out of
the windows of St. Edmund's Church, in Salis- churches, that no memory of them might remain
bury, in which were seven pictures of God the in walls, glass windows, or elsewhere; which inFather in form of a little old man in a blue and junction is confirmed by the canons of the 13th of
red coat, with a pouch by his side: one repre- Elizabeth. Mr. Sherfield concludes his defence
sents him creating the sun and moon with a with denying that he was disaffected to the
pair of compasses, others as working on the discipline of the Church of England, or had enbusiness of the six days' creation, and at last couraged any to oppose the government of it
he sits in an elbow-chair at rest.~ Many sim- under the reverend bishops.
ple people, at their going in and out of church,   Though it is hard to make a tolerable reply
did reverence to this window (as they say), be- to this defence, yet Bishop Laud stood up and
cause the Lord their God was there. This gave spake in excuse of the painter, saying, God the
such offence to the recorder, who was also a Father was called in Scripture the Ancient of
justice of peace, that he moved the parish at a Days; adding, however, that for his own part
vestry for leave to take it down, and set up a he did not so well approve of pictures of things
new window of white glass in the place, which invisible; but be the paintings better or worse,
was accordingly granted, six justices of the he insisted strongly that Mr. Sherfield had
peace being present.  Some time after, Mr. taken them down in contempt of the episcopal
Sherfield broke with his staff the pictures of authority, for which he moved that he might
God the Father, in order to new glaze the win- be fined ~1000 and removed from his recorderdow, an account of which being transmitted to ship of the city of Sarum; that he be com
London, an information was exhibited against mitted close prisoner to the Fleet till he pay
him in the Star Chamber, February 8, 1632-3. his fine, and then be bound to his good behaThe information sets forth, " that being evil af- viour. To all which the court agreed, except
to the fine, which was mitigated to ~500.
t Usurpation of Prelates, p. 161, 162.
t Fuller's Church History, b. xi., p. 144.  The Reverend Mr. John Workman, lecturer
t Rushworth, part ii., vol. i., p. 153-156.  of St. Stephen's Church, Gloucester, in one of
a Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 102.        his sermons, asserted that pictures or images




308                     HIS;TORXY  OF THE PURITANS.
were no ornaments to churches; that it was a standing nursery for Nonconformity and
unlawful to set up images of Christ or saints schism."  These proposals were despatched to
in. our houses, because it tended to idolatry, ac- the factories, and the bishop wrote in particular
cording to the homily.*  For this he was sus- to Delft, that it was his majesty's express
pended by. the High Commission, excommuni- command that their ministers should conform
cated, and obliged to an open recantation in the themselves in all things to the doctrine and
court at. Lamb eth, in the Cathedral of Glouces- discipline of the Church of England, and to all
ter, and;in the Church of St. Michael's; he the orders prescribed in the canons, rubric, and
was also condemned in costs of suit, and ima- liturgy, and that the names of such as were reprisoned. Mr. Workman was a man of great fractory should be sent over to him. But it
piety, wisdom, and moderation, and had served was not possible to succeed in the attempt, bethe Church of St. Stephen's fifteen years; in cause most of the English -cogregations, being
consideration whereof, and of his numerous supported by -the States, must, by so doing,
family, the city of Gloucester had given him an have run the hazard of losing their mainteannuity of ~20 per annum, under their common nance and of being dissolved, as was representseal, a little before his troubles, but for this act ed to the king by a petition in the name of all
of charity the mayor, town-clerk,'and several the English ministers in the Low Countries.
of the aldermen were cited before the High However, though the bishop could not accomCommission and put to ~100 charges, and the plish his designs abroad, we shall find him
annuity was.cancelled. After this Mr. Work-:hereafter retaliating his disappointment upon
man set uip a little school, of which Archbishop the French and Dutch churches at home.
Laud being informed, inhibited him, as he would    His lordship met with better success in Scotanswer the contrary at his peril. He then fell land for the present, as being part of his majesupon the practice of physic, which the arch- ty's own dominions. He had possessed the
bishop likewise absolutely forbid; so that, be- king with vast notions of glory in bringing the
ing deprived of all methods of subsistence, he Kirk of Scotland to an exact conformity with
fell into a melancholy disorder and died.    England; a work which his father had attemptOur bishop was no less watchful over the ed, but left imperfect.  The king readily fell ill
press than the pulpit, commanding his chap- with the bishop's motion, and determined to
lains to expunge out of all books that came to run all hazards for accomplishing this important
be licensed such passages as,disallowed of design, having no less veneration for the cerepaintings, carvings, drawings, gildings; erect- monies of the Church of England:than the bishop
ing, bowing, or praying before images and pic- himself. There had been bishops in Scotland
tures, ias appeared by the evidence of Dr. Feat- for some years, but they had little more than
ly;and lothers at his trial.                the name, being subject to an assembly that was
This great prelate would have stretched out purely Presbyterian. To advance their jurishis arm not only against the Puritans in Eng- diction, the king had already renewed the High
land,'but even to reach the factories beyond  Commission, and abolished all general assemsea, had it been in his power. The English  blies of the Kirk, not one:having been held in
churchat Hamburgh managed their affairs ac- his reign; yet still, says the noble historian,
cording to the-Geneva discipline, by elders and there was no form of religion, no liturgy, nor
deacons. In Holland they conformed to the the least appearance of any beauty of holiness.
discipline of -the States, and met them in their To redress these grievances, as well as to show
synods and assemblies with the consent of the Scots nation the pomp and grandeur of the
King James and of his present majesty, till Sec- English hierarchy, his majesty resolves upon a
retary-Widebank, at the instance of this prel- progress into his native country to be crowned,
ate, offered some proposals to the privy council and, accordingly, set out from London, May 13,
for their better:regulation;t the proposals con- attended by several noblemen and persons of
sisted of ten articles: "1. That all chaplains quality, and, among others, by Bishop Laud.
of English regiments in the Low Countries June 18 [1633] his majesty was crowned at
shall be exactly conformable to the Church of Edinburgh, the ceremony being managed by the
England. 2. That the merchants residing there direction of his favourite bishop, who thrust
shall admit of no minister to preach among away the Bishop of Glasgow  from his place
them but:one qualified as before. 3. That if because he appeared without the coat of his
any one, after his settlement among them, prove order, which, being an embroidered one, he scrua Nonconformist, he shall be discharged in three pled to wear, being a moderate churchman.*
months. 4. That the Scots factories shall be   On the 20th of June the Parliament met, and
obliged to the same conformity. 5. That no: voted the king a large sum of money. After
minister abroad shall speak, preach, or print which his majesty proposed to them two acts
anything'to the disadvantage of the English relating to religion; one was:concerning his
discipline and ceremonies. 6. That no Con- royal prerogative, and the apparel of kirkmen;
formist minister shall substitute a Nonconform- the other, a bill for the ratification;of former
ist to preach'for him in the factories. 7. That
the king's agents shall see the service of the   * Rushworth, part ii., vol. i., p. 182. "It was proposed that, during the ceremony, the king should
Church of England exactly performed in the bpored       on each side by the Archbishops of
factories. The last articles forbid the English  St.Andrew's and Glasgow. The latter prelatebeing
ministers in'Holland to hold any:classical as- inclined to the tenets of the Puritans, appeared in
semblies, and, especially, not to ordain minis- the procession without his episcopal robes. The
ters, because by so doing they would maintain'high churchman, -Laud, actually thrust him from
the king's side.' Are you a chrTchman,' he said,
* Prynne, p. 107, 109.' and want the coat of your order?' "-Jesse's Court
t Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 752, 753. Prynne's of the Stuarts, vol. ii., p. 381. See, also, Clareidon,
Cant. Doom, p. 389.                         vol. i., p. 81.-C.




HISTORY OF TAIE PURITANS.                                    309
acts touching religion.  It being the custom in the Scots clergy, and his high behavioariin fa
Scotland for kings, Lords, and Commons to sit vour of the English ceremonies.  His majesty
in one house, when the question was put for was attended throughout his whole progress by
the first bill, his majesty took a paper out of his Laud, bishop of London, which service his lordpocket and said, "Gentlemen, I have all your ship was not obliged to, and no doubt would
names here, and I will know who will do me have been excused from, if the design of introservice, and who will not, this day."  Never- ducing the English liturgy into Scotland had not
theless, it was carried in the negative; thirteen been in view.*  He preached before the king in
lords, and the majority of the Commons, voting the royal chapel at Edinburgh, which scarce any
against it. The Lords said they agreed to the Englishman had ever done before, and insisted
act as far as related to his majesty's preroga- principally upon the benefit of the ceremonies
tive, but dissented from that part of it which of the Church, which he himself observed to
referred to the apparel of kirkmen, fearing that the height.  It went against him  to own the
-under that cover the surplice might be intro- Scots presbyters for ministers of Christ; taking
duced.  But his majesty said he would have no all occasions to affront their character, which
distinction, and commanded them to say yes or created a high disgust in that nation, and laid
no to the whole bill. The king marked every the foundation of those resentments that they
man's vote, and upon casting them up the clerk expressed against him under his sufferings.
declared it was carried in the affirnative; which    When the king left Scotland, he erected a
some of the members denying, his majesty said new bishopric at Edinburgh; and, about two
the clerk's declaration must stand, unless any months after, Laud, being then newly advanced
would go to the bar and accuse him of falsify- to the province of Canterbury, framed articles
ing the record of Parliament, at the peril of his for the reformation of his majesty's royal chapel
life.*                                       in that city, which were sent into Scotland unThis manner of treating the whole repre- der his majesty's own hand, with a declaration
sentative body of the nation disgusted all ranks that they were intended as a pattern for all caand orders of his subjects.  A writing was im- thedrals, chapels, and parish churches in that
mediately dispersed abroad, setting forth how  kingdom.t  The articles appoint, " that prayers
grievous it was for a king to overawe and be read twice a day in the chair, according.to
threaten his Parliament in that manner; and the English liturgy, till some course be taken to
that the same was a breach of privilege; that make one that may fit the custom and constituParliaments were a mere pageantry if the clerk tion of that church. That all that receive the
might declare the votes as he pleased, and no sacrament in the chapel do it kneeling.  That
scrutiny allowed. Lord Balhnerino, in whose the dean of the chapel always come to church
custody this libel was found, was condemned to in his whites, and preach in them. That the
lose his head for it, but was afterward par- copes which are consecrated to our use be caredoned.                                        fully kept, and used at the celebration of the
After eight days the Parliament was dissolv- sacrament; and that all his majesty's officers
ed, but the king would not look upon the dis- and ministers of state be obliged,.-at least once
senting lords, or admit them to kiss his hand. a year, to receive the sacrament, at the royal
The act concerning the apparel of ministers chapel, kneeling, for an example to the rest of
says, that " Whereas it was agreed in the Par- the people."  Thus were the liberties of.the
liament of 1606, that what order soever his maj- Kirk of Scotland invaded by an English bishop,
esty's father, of blessed memory, should pre- under the wing of the supremacy, without conscribe for the apparel of kirkmen, and send in sent of Parliament or General Assembly.  The
writ to his clerk of register, should be a suffi- Scots ministers in their pulpits preached against
cient warrant for inserting the same in the the English hierarchy, and warned the people
books of Parliament, to have the strength of any against surrendering up the liberties of their
act thereof; the present Parliament agrees that kirk into the hands of a neighbouring nation,
the same power shall remain with our sovereign  that was undermining their discipline; so that
lord that now is, and his successors." The bill
touching religion ratifies and approves all acts aged with such magnificence that all was entertainand statutes made before about the liberty and ment and show: yet he adds, "that the king left
freedom of the true Kirk of God, and the reli- Scotland much discontented." The proceedings on
gion at present professed within this kingdom, the bill concerning the royal prerogative, &c., show
and ordains the same to stand in full force as that every proposal from the court was not pleasing.
if they were particularly tmoentioned.        Whitelocke (Memoirs, p. 18) tells us, that though
iTheyking were    his native country July 16, ba   the king was crowned with all show of affection and
The king left his native country July 16, hay- duty, and gratified many with new honours, yet, being lost a great deal of ground in the affections fore he left Scotland, some began to murmur, and
of his people,t by the contempt he poured upon afterward to mutiny; and he was in some danger
passing over Dumfi'ith. And such, in particular, was
* Rushworth, p. 183.                        the effect of the prosecution of Lord Balmerino on
t Dr. Grey confronts Mr. Neal here with a passage the public mind, that the ruin of the king's affairs in
from Lord Clarendon, to show that his account of Scotland was in a great measure owing to it. Dr.
the king's reception in Scotland differs widely from  Grey refers to the preambles to some acts passed in
this of our author. " The great civility of that peo- the Scotch Parliament, as proving the high degree
ple," says his lordship, "being so notorious and of esteem the king was then in among them; as if
universal, that they would not appear unconformable an argument were to be drawn from formularies
to his majesty's wish in any particular."  But this drawn up according to the routine of the occasion,
quotation has little or no force against Mr. Neal, and composed, probably, by a court lawyer: as if
who is not representing the reception the king met such formularies were proof against matter of fact.
with, but the impression left on the minds of the -Burnet's History of his Own Times, vol.- i., 24-31.
people by the time of his departure. The king's en- 12mo.-ED.     * Clarendon, vol. i., p. 81, 82,
try and coronation, Bishop Burnet says, was man-   t Rushworth, part ii., vol. ii., p. 205, 206.




310                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
when the new liturgy came to be introduced  an annual fast as long as he lived, and mainabout four years after, all the people as one man  taining the widow. Notwithstanding this misrose-up against it.                           fortune, if he would have betrayed the ProtestThe king was no sooner returned from Scot- ant religion and been the dupe of the prerogaland than Dr. Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, tive, he might have continued in high favour
died.  Hewas born at Guilford, in Surrey, 1562, with his prince; but for his steady opposition
and educated in Baliol College, Oxford, where to the arbitrary measures of Buckingham and
he was a celebrated preacher.  In the year Laud, and for not licensing Sibthorp's sermon,
1597 he proceeded doctor in divinity, and was he was suspended from his archiepiscopal juriselected master of University College: two years diction [1628],* whereupon he retired to Croyafter he was made Dean of Winchester, and don, having no more interest at court, or influwas one of those divines appointed by King ence in the government of the Church: here he
James to translate the New  Testament into died in his archiepiscopal palace, August 4,
English.  In the year 1609 he was consecrated  1633, aged seventy-one, and was buried in
Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry; from thence Trinity Church, in Guilford, the place of his nahe was translated to London, and upon the tivity, where he had erected and endowed a
death of Archbishop Bancroft, to Canterbury, hospital for men and women. There is a fine
April 9, 1611, having never been rector, vicar, monument over his grave, with his effigies in
or incumbent in any parish church in England. full proportion, supported by six pillars of the
Lord Clarendon* has lessened the character of Doric order of black marble, standing on six
this excellent prelate. contrary to almost all pedestals of piled books, with a large inscriDother historians, by saying that "' he was a man tion thereon to his memory.t
of very morose manners, and of a very sour aspect, which in that time was called gravity;
that he neither understood nor regarded the
constitution of the Church; that he knew very                 CHAPTER V
little of ancient divinity, but adhered stiffly to
the doctrine of Calvin, and did not think so ill FROM THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP ABBOT TO THE
of his discipline'as he ought to have done; but   BEGINNING OF THE COMMOTIONS IN SCOTLAND,
if men prudently forbore a public reviling and   IN THE YEAR 1637.
railing at the hierarchy, let their private prac-   DR. LAUD was now at the pinnacle of prefertice be as it would, he would give them no dis- ment, being translated to the see of Canterbury
turbance; that his house was a sanctuary to two days after Archbishop Abbot's death. His
disaffected persons, and that he licensed their grace was likewise chancellor of the Universiwritings, by which means his successor [Laud] ties of Oxford and Dublin, privypcouncillor for
had a very difficult task to reduce things to or- England and Scotland, first commissioner of the
der."  The Oxford historian,t who was no
friend to our archbishop's principles, confesses   * Rushworth, vol. i., p. 435.
that he was a pious, grave person, exemplary in   t In addition to our author's character of Archhis life and conversation, a plausible preacher, bishop Abbot, it may be observed that Dr. Warner
and that the many things he has written show  has entered largely into the description of it, "not
him tho be a man of parts, learning, and shgv only," he says, "in conformity to the rule he prehim to be a man of parts, learning, and vigi- scribed to himself in his work, but,". he adds, "to
lance; an able statesman, and of unwearied  rescue the memory of this prelate from the injury
study, though  overwhelmed  with  business. done to it by Lord Clarendon, with so notorious a
Fullert says he was an excellent preacher, and partiality as does no honour to his history." The
that his severity towards the clergy was only doctor sums up his view of Archbishop Abbot's charto prevent their being punished by lay judges to acter by saying, "that he was a man of good parts
their greater sharmre. SMr. Coke and Dr. Wel- and learning as a divine; that he was a prelate of a
wood  add  that hvery pious, exemplary conversation; and an archwood. add, that he was a prelate of primi- bishop who understood the constitution of his countive sanctity, who followed the true interests try in Church and State, to which he steadfastly adof his country, and of the Reformed churches at hered, without any regard to the favour or the
home and abroad; that he was a divine of good  frowns of princes." The learned translator of Molearning, great hospitality, and wonderful mod- sheim also censures Lord Clarendon's account of
eration, showing upon all occasions an unwill- this eminent prelate as most unjust and partial, and
ingness to stretch the king's prerogative or the in a long note ably and judiciously appreciates the
Act of Uniformity beyond what was consistent archbishop's merit and excellence. It was, he
shows, by the zeal and dexterity of Abbot that
with law  or necessary for the peace of the things were put into such a situation in SAbbcotland as
Church; this brought him into all his troubles, afterward produced the entire establishment of the
End has provoked the writers for the preroga- episcopal order in that nation. It was by the mild
tive to leave a blot upon his memory, which and prudent counsels of Abbot, when he was chapon this account will be reverenced by all true lain to the Lord-high-treasurer Dunbar, that there
lovers of the Protestant religion and the liber- was passed a famous act of the General Assembly of
ties of their country; and if the court had fol- Scotland, which gave the king the authority of calllowed his wise and prudent counsels, the mis- ing all general assemblies, and investing the bishops,
chiefs that befell the crown and Church some or their deputies, with various powers of interference
chiefs that befell the crown and Church some and influence over the Scotch ministers. These
years after his death would have been prevent- facts confute the charge of his disregarding the coned. We have mentioned his casual homicide stitution of the Church. It deserves to be mentionin the year 1621, which occasioned his keeping ed, that this prelate had a considerable hand in the
translation of the New Testament now in use.-Mo* Clarendon, vol. i., p. 88, 89.        sheim's Ecclesiastical History, vol. iv., p. 513, and
* Athena Oxon., vol. i., p. 499.        note (f.), 1768. Warner's Eccles. History, vol. ii., p.
t Church History, b. xi., p. 123.       522-524. Granger's Biogr. History of England, vol.
4 Welwood's Memoirs, p. 36, edit. 1718.  i., p. 341, 8vo.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  311
exchequer, and one of the committee for trade tice could allege, he received a sharp reprimand,
and for the king's revenues: he was also offer- and a peremptory injunction to revoke his ored a cardinal's cap [August 17], which he de- der at the next assizes, which he did in such a
clined, as he says, because there was some- manner, as lost him his credit at court for the
thing dwelt within him which would not suffer future; for he then declared to the justices
it till Rome was otherwise than it was.*  We  "that he thought he had done God, the king,
are now to see how he moved in this high and his country good service by that good orsphere. Lord Clarendon admits " that the arch- der that he and his brother Denham had made
bishop had all his life eminently opposed Cal- for suppressing unruly wakes and revels, but
vin's doctrine, for which reason he was called that it had been misreported to his majesty,
a papist; and it may be," says his lordship, who had expressly charged him to reverse it;
"tile Puritans found the more severe and rig- accordingly," says he,:" I do, as much as in me
orous usage for propagating the calumny. He lies, reverse it, declaring the same to be null
also intended that the discipline of the Church and void, and that all persons may use their
should be felt as well as spoken of."  The recreations at such meetings as before." This
truth of this observation has appeared in part reprimand and injunction almost broke the
already, and will receive stronger evidence from  judge's heart, for when he came out of the
the seven ensuing years of his government.    council-chamber he told the Earl of Dorset,
The archbishop's antipathy to Calvinism, and with tears in his eyes, that he had been miserzeal for the external beauty of the Church, car- ably shaken by the archbishop, and was like to
ried him to some very imprudent and unjustifia- be choked with his lawn-sleeves.
ble extremes; for if the Puritans were too strict   Laud having thus humbled the judge, and
in keeping holy the Sabbath, his grace was too recovered his episcopal authority from neglect,
lax in his indulgence, by encouraging revels, took the affair into his own hand, and wrote to
May-games, and sports on that sacred day.    the Bishop of Bath and Wells, October 4 [1663],
Complaint having been made to the Lord- for fuller information. In his letter he takes
chief-justice Richardson and Baron Denham, notice that there had been of late some noise in
in their western circuit, of great inconveniences Somersetshire about the wakes; that the judges
arising from revels, church-ales, and clerk-ales, had prohibited them  under pretence of some
on the Lord's Day, the two judges made an or- disorders, by which argument, says he, anyder at the assizes for suppressing them, and ap- thing that is abused may be quite taken away;
pointed the clerk to leave copies of the order but that his majesty was displeased with Richwith every parish minister, who was to give a ardson's behaviour at the last two assizes, and
note under his hand to publish it in his church  especially the last; being of opinion that the
yearly, the first Sunday in February and the feasts ought to be kept for the recreation of the
two Sundays before Easter.t Upon the return  people, of which he would not have them deof the circuit, the judges required an account of barred under any frivolous pretences, to the
the execution of their order, and punished some gratifying of the humorists, who were very
persons for the breach of it; whereupon the numerous in those parts, and united in crying
archbishop complained to the king of their in- down the feasts; his grace, therefore, requires
vading the episcopal jurisdiction, and prevail- the bishop to give him a speedy account how
ed with his majesty to summon them  before these feasts had been ordered.
the council. When they appeared, Richardson    Pierce, bishop of Bath and Wells, in answer
pleaded that the order was made at the request to this letter, acquaints the archbishop " that
of the justices of the peace, and with the unani- the late suppression of the revels was very unmous consent of the whole bench, and justified it acceptable, and that the restitution of them
from the following precedents: September 10, would be very grateful to the gentry, clergy,
Eliz. 38th, the justices assembled at Bridgewa- and common people;* for proof of which he
ter ordered that no church-ale, clerk-ale, or bid- had procured the hands of seventy-two of the
ale be suffered; signed by Popham, lord-chief- clergy, in whose parishes these feasts are kept,
justice, and ten others. The same order was and he believes that if he had sent for a hunrepeated 1599, and 41st of Eliz., and again at dred more he should have had the same answer
Exeter, 1615, and 13th of Jac., and even in the from them all; but these seventy-two," says
present king's reign, 1627, with an order for the his lordship, " are like the seventy-two interminister of every parish church to publish it preters that agreed so soon in the translation
yearly. But notwithstanding all the chief-jus- of the Old Testament in the Greek."  He then
* Arthur Wilson, in his life of himself, speaks of proceeds to explain the nature of these feasts:
an interview he Jahl with Dr. Weston, a Catholic, "There are," says he, "in Somersetshire, not
at Bruges, the particulars of which are interesting, only feasts of dedication [or revel days], but
"The little Archbishop of Canterbury," he says, also church-ales, clerk-ales, and bid-ales."
"Weston could not endure. I pulled a book out   " The feasts of dedication are in memory of:
of my pocket, written by the provincial of the Eng- the dedication of the several churches; those
lish friars, which tended to reconcile the Church
of England and thee ChurhfRme  t  churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity have
of England and the Church of Rome. II know  t~heir feasts on Trinity Sunday; and so all the
the man,' said Weston:'he is one of Canterbury's  feasts on Trinity Sunday; and so all the
trencher flies, and eats perpetually at his table; feasts are kept upon the Sunday before or after
a creature of his making.''Then,' said I,'you the saint's day to whom the churches are dedshould better approve of my Lord of Canterbury's icated, because the people have not leisure to
actions, seeing he tends so much to your way.' observe them on the week days; this," says'No,' replied he:' he is too subtle to be yoked, too am- his lordship, " is acceptable to the people, whc
bitious to have a superior. He will never submit to otherwise go into tippling-houses, or else tc
Rome. He means to frame a motley religion of his conventicles.
own, and be lord of it himself. "-Desid. Curiosa, lib.
xii., p. 22.-C.  t Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 153.         * Cant. Doom, p. 142.




312                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"Church-ales are when the people go from  of the dedication of churches, commonly called
afternoon prayers on Sundays, to their lawful wakes; it is therefore his will and pleasure
sports and pastimes in the churchyard, or in that these feasts, with others, shall be observed'
thie'neighbourhood:, insome public-house, where and that all neighbouhoo'd and fieedom with
they drink and make merry.  By the benevo- manlike and lawful exercises be used, and the
lence of the people at these pastimes many justices of the peace are commanded not to
poor parishes have cast their bells, and beauti- molest any in their recreations, having first
fled their churches, and raised stocks for the done their duty to God and continued in obedipoor, and there had not been observed so much ence to his majesty's laws." And he does far
disorder at them  as is commonly at fairs or ther will " that publication of this his command
markets.                                     be made by order from the bishops, through all
"Clerks-ales [or lesser church-ales] are so the parish churches of their several diocesses
called because they were for the better mainte- respectively."
nance of the parish clerk; and there is great   The declaration revived the controversy of
reason for them," says his lordship, " for in the morality of the Sabbath, which had slept for
poor parishes, where the wages of the clerk are many years; Mr. Theophilus Bradbourne, a Sufbut small, the people, thinking it unfit that the folk minister, had published, in the year 1628,
clerk should duly attend at church and gain by "A Defence of the most Ancient and Sacred
his office, send him  in provision, and then  Ordinance of God, the Sabbath Day," and dedicome on Sundays and feast with him, by which cated it to the king. But Mr. Fuller* observes,
means he sells more ale, and tastes more of the," that the poor man fell into the ambush of the
liberality of the people than their quarterly pay- High Commission, whose well-tempered severment would amount to in many years; and ity so prevailed with him, that he became a
since these have been put down, many minis- convert, and conformed quietly to the Church
ters have complained to me," says his lordship, of England."  Francis White, bishop of Ely,
that they are afraid they shall have no parish was commanded by the king to confute Bradclerks.                                      bourne; and after him appeared Dr. Pockling"A bid-ale is when a poor man, decayed in ton, with his " Sunday no Sabbath;" and after
his substance, is set up again by the liberal be- him Heylin the archbishop's chaplain, and othnevolence and contribution of his friends at a ers.  These divines, instead of softening some
Sunday's feast."                            rigours in Bradbourne's sabbatarian strinctness,
The people were fond of these recreations, ran into the contrary extreme, denying all manand the bishop recommends them as bringing ner of Divine right or moral obligation to the
the people more willingly to church; as tend- observance of the whole or any part of the Lord's
ing to civilize them, and to compose differences Day, making it depend entirely upon ecclesiasamong them; and as serving to increase love tical authority, and to oblige no farther than to
and unity, forasmuch as they were in the na- the few hours of public service; and that in the
ture of feasts of charity, the richer sort keep- intervals, not only walking (which the Sabbataing in a manner open house; for which, and rians admitted), but mixed dancing, masks, insome other reasons, his lordship thinks them  terludes, revels- &c., were lawful and expedient.
fit to be retained.                            Instead of convincing the sober part of the
But the justices of peace were of another nation, it struck them with a kind of horror, to
mind, and signed an humble petition to the see themselves invited, by the authority of the
king, in which they declare that these revels king and Church, to that which looked so like
had not only introduced a great profanation of a contradiction to the command of God. It was
the Lord's Day, but riotous tippling, contempt certainly out of character for bishops and clerof authority, quarrels, murders, &c., and were gymen, who should be the supports of religion,
very prejudicial to the peace, plenty, and good to draw men off from exercises of devotion in
government of the country, and, therefore, they their families and closets, by enticing them to
pray that they be suppressed.  Here we ob- public recreations.  People are forward enough
serve the laity petitioning for the religious ob- of themselves to indulge these liberties, and
servation of the Lord's Day, and the bishop, need a check rather than a sp'ur; but the wiswith his clergy, pleading for the profanation  dom of these times was different. The court
of it.                                       had their balls, masquerades, and plays on the
To encourage these disorderly assemblies Sunday evenings, while the youth of the counmore effectually, Archbishop Laud put the king try were at their morrice-dances, May-games,
upon republishing his father's declaration of church and clerk ales, and all such kinds of
the year 1618, concerning lawful sports to be revelling.t
used on Sundays after Divine service, which    The revival of this declaration was charged
was done accordingly, October 18, with this upon Archbishop Laud at his trial, but his grace
remarkable addition. After a recital of the would not admit the charge, though he confesswords of King James's declaration, his majesty ed his judgment was in favour of it.  It was
adds, " Out of a like pious care for the service to be published in all parish churches, either by
of God, and for suppressing of those humours the minister or any other person, at the discrethat oppose truth, and for the ease, comfort, tion of the bishop, and therefore the putting
and recreation of his majesty's well-deserving this hardship on the clergy was their act and
people, he doth ratify his blessed father's decla- deed; but Laud knew  it would distress the
ration, the rather, because of late, in some of Puritans, and purge the Church of a set of men
the counties of the kingdom, his majesty finds for whom he had a perfect aversion.  The reathat,- under the pretence of taking away anll son given for obliging them to this service was,
abuse, there hath been a general forbidding,      Book xi., p. 144
not only of ordinary meetings, but of the feasts  t Dr. Warner adops these renarks.-Em




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    313
because the two judges had enjoined the min- High Commission and articled against for thle
isters to read their order against revels in the same crime. Mr. Wrath and Mr. Erbery were.
churches; and, therefore, it was proper to have brought up from Wrales, Mr. William Jones from
it reversed by the same persons and in the same Gloucestershire, with divers others, and cenplace.*                                      sured by the High Commission (of which the
The severe pressing this declaration made archbishop was chief) for not reading the dec,
sad havoc among the Puritans for seven years. laration, and not bowing his body at the blessed
Many poor clergymen strained their consciences name of Jesus, &c.*  To these may be added,
in submission to their superiors.  Some, after Mr. Whitfield, of Ockley, Mr. Garth, of Woversh,
publishing it, immediately read the fourth com- Mr. Ward, of Pepper-Harrow, Mr. Farrol, ofc
mandment to the people, " Remember the Sab- Purbright, and Mr. Pegges, of Wexford, to who.qn
bath Day to keep it holy;" adding, "This is the archbishop said that he suspended him ex
the law of God; the other the injunction of nune prout ez tunc, in case he did not read the
man."  Some put it upon their curates, while king's declaration for sports on the Sunday
great numbers refused to comply upon any se'nnight following.
terms whatsoever. Fullert says, "that the arch-    The reverend and learned Mr. Lawrence
bishop's moderation in his own diocess was re- Snelling, rector of Paul's-Cray, was not only
markable, silencing but three, in whom  also suspended by the High Commission at Lamwas a concurrence of other nonconformities; beth for four years, but deprived and excommu.
but that his adversaries imputed it not to his nicated, for not reading the declaration, &c.i
charity, but policy, foxlike, preying farthest He pleaded in his own defence the laws of God
from his own den, and instigating other bishops and of the realm, and the authority of councils
to do more than he would appear in himself." and fathers; he added, that the king's declaraSir Nath. Brent, his grace's vicar-general, at- tion did not enjoin ministers to read it, nor autested upon oath at the archbishop's trial, that thorize the bishops or High Commissioners to
he gave him  a special charge to convene all suspend or punish ministers for not reading it;
ministers before him who would not read the that it being merely a civil, not an ecclesiastiBook of Sports on the Lord's Day, and to sus- cal declaration enjoined by any canons or aupend them for it; and that he gave particular thority of the Church, no ecclesiastical court
order to suspend the three following Kentish  could take cognizance of it.  All which Mr.
ministers by name, viz., Mr. Player, Mr. Hieron, Snelling offered to the commissioners in wriand Mr. Culmer.t  Whereupon he did, against ting, but the archbishop would not admit it, sayhis judgment, suspend them all ab officio et bene- ing, in open court, that " whosoever should
ficio, though the king's declaration, as has been make such a defence, it should be burned be.
observed, does not oblige the minister to read fore his face, and he laid by the heels."  Upon
it, nor authorize the bishops to inflict any pun- this he was personally and judicially admonishishment on the refusers. When the suspended ed to read the declaration within three weeks,
ministers repaired toLambeth, and petitioned to which he refusing, was suspended ab oJficio et
be restored, the archbishop told them, if they beneficio. About four months after he was ju.
did not know how to obey, he did not know how  dicially admonished again, and refusing to comto grant their petition.  So their suspension ply, was excommunicated, and told that unless
continued till the beginning of the commotions he conformed before the second day of next
in Scotland, to the ruin of their poor families, term he should be deprived, which was accordMr. Culmer having a wife and seven children ingly done, and he continued under the sento provide for.~                              tence many years, to his unspeakable damage.
Several clergymen of other diocesses were    " It were endless to go into more particulars;
also silenced, and deprived on the same ac- how many hundred godly ministers in this and
count; as, Mr. Thomas Wilson, of Otham, who other diocesses," says Mr. Prynne,$ "have been
being sent for to Lambeth, and asked whether suspended from  their ministry, sequestered,
he had read the Book of Sports in his church, driven from  their livings, excomnmunicated,
answered, No; whereupon the archbishop re- prosecuted in the High Commission, and forplied immediately, "I suspendyou forever from  ced to leave the kingdom  for not publishing
your office and benefice till you read it;" and this declaration, is experimentally known to all
so he continued four years, being cited into the men." Dr. Wren, bishop of Norwich, says that
great numbers in his diocess had declined it,
Fuller Church Histoyry, b. xi., p. 148.    and were suspended; that some had since comt Dr. Grey introduces here a lont quotation from  plied, but that still there were thirty who perAnthony Wood, and refers to a bad character of Mr. emptorily refused, and were excommunicated.
Culmer drawn by Mr. Lewis in Dr. Calamy's continuation of ejected ministers, to show what small   * Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 151.
reason Mr. Neal had to defend him. It should seem,   t Dr. Grey, to impeach the fairness of Mr. Neal,
from those authorities, that he was a man of warm  quotes here Rushworth to show that sentence was
and 7iolent temper, and some heavy charges are passed on Mr. Snelling for omitting to "read the litbrought against him. But not to say that prejudice any and wear the surplice, and for not bowing, or
appears to have drawn his picture, admitting the making any corporeal obeisance at hearing or readtruth of everything alleged against him, it is irrele- ing the name of Jesus." It is true, that on these
vant to the vindication of Archbishop Laud, whose premises also the sentence of deprivation was passseverity against Mr. Culmer had not for its object his ed; but it appears from Rushworth that he had been
general deportment, or any immorality, but his not previously suspended ab officio et beneficio, and exreading the Book of Sports, i. e., a royal invitation to communicated, solely on the ground of refusing to
men to give themselves up to dissipating, riotous, read the Book of Sports; and that this offence was
and intemperate diversions on a day sacred to sobri- the primary cause of the deprivation.-Rushworth's
ety.-See, on Mr. Culmer's character, Palmer's Non- Collections, vol. ii., part ii., p. 460, 461.-ED.
conformist's Memorial, vol. ii., p. 77.-ED.: Cant. Doom, p. 153.
VOL I.-R R




314                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
This the bishop thinks a small number, although, ter of St. Paul's without the consent of the paif there were as many in other diocesses, the rishioners, they opposed it, and appealed to the
whole would amount to near eight hundred.    Court of Arches, alleging that the Book of ComTo render the Common Prayer Book more mon Prayer, and eighty-second canon, gave
unexceptionable to the papists, and more dis- liberty to place the communion-table where it
tant from Puritanism, the archbishop made sun- might stand with most convenience. His majdry alterations* in the later editions, without esty being informed of the appeal, and acquaintthe sanction of convocation or Parliament. In  ed by the archbishop that it would be a leading
the collect for the royal family, the Princess case all over England, was pleased to order it
Elizabeth and her children were left out,T and  to be debated before himself in council, and, afthese words were expunged, " 0 God, who art ter hearing the arguments on both sides, dethe Father of thine elect and of their seed," as dared that the liberty given by the eighty-sectending towards particular election or predesti- ond canon was not to be understood so, as if it
nation.t In the prayer for the 5th of Novem- were to be left to the discretion of the parish,
ber were these words: "Root out that anti- much less to the fancies of a few humorous
christian and Babylonish sect which say of Je- persons, but to the judgment of the ordinary
rusalem, Down with it even to the ground. Cut [or bishop], to whose place it properly belonged
off those workers of iniquity, whose religion is to determine these points; he therefore conrebellion, whose faith is faction, whose prac- firmed the act of the ordinary, and gave comtice is murdering both soul and body;" which  mandment that if the parishioners went on with
in the last edition are thus changed: "Root their appeal, the dean of the Arches, who was
out the antichristian and Babylonish sect of then attending at the hearing, of the cause,
them, which say of Jerusalem, Down with it. should confirm the order of the dean and chapCut off those workers of iniquity, who turn reli- ter.*  This was a sovereign manner of putting
gion into rebellion," &c. The design of which  an end to a controversy, very agreeable to the
alteration was to relieve the papists, and to  archbishop.
turn the prayer against the Puritans, upon    When the sacrament was administered in
whom the popish plot was to have been father- parish churches the communion-table was usued. In the epistle for Palm-Sunday, instead of ally placed in the middle of the chancel, and
"in the name of Jesus," as it was heretofore, the people received round it, or ip their several
it is now, according to the last translation, "at places thereabout; but now all communionthe name-of Jesus every knee shall bow." But tables were ordered to be fixed under the east
it was certainly very high presumption for a wall of the chancel with the ends north and
single clergyman, or any number of them, to  south in form of an altar; they were to be rais.
altar a service-book established by act of Par- ed two or three steps above the floor, and enliament, and impose those alterations upon the  compassed with rails. Archbishop Laud orderwhole body of the clergy.                    ed his vicar-general to see this alteration made
The Puritans always excepted against bow- in all the churches and chapels of his province;
ing at the name of Jesus; it appeared to them  to accomplish which, it was necessary to take
very superstitious, as if worship was to be paid  down the galleries in some churches, and to reto a name, or to the name of Jesus, more than  move ancient monuments. This was resented
to that of Christ or Immanuel.  Nevertheless, by some considerable families, and complained
it was enjoined by the eighteenth canon, and in  of as an injury to the dead, and such an expense
compliance with that injunction our last trans- to the living as some country parishes could
lators inserted it into their text by rendering ev not bear; yet those who refused to pay the
rT) ovoIUart, "in the name of Jesus," as it was rates imposed by the archbishop for this purbefore, both in the Bible and Common Prayer pose were fined in the spiritual courts contrary
Book,':at the name of Jesus," as it now  to law.t  It is almost incredible what a ferstands; however, no penalty was annexed to  ment the making this alteration at once raised
the neglect of this ceremony, nor did any suf- among the common people all over England.
fer for it, till Bishop Laud was at the head of Many ministers and church-wardens were exthe Church, who pressed it equally with the  communicated, fined, and obliged to do penance,
rest, and caused above twenty ministers to be for neglecting the bishop's injunctions.  Great
fined, censured, and put by'their livings, for not numbers refused to come up to the rails and
bowing at the name of Jesus, or for preaching  receive the sacrament, for which some were
against it.~                                fined, and others excommunicated, to the numOn the 3d of November was debated, be- ber of some hundreds, say the committee of the
fore his majesty in council, the question of re- House of Commons at the archbishop's trial.
moving the communion-table at St. Gregory's   Books were written for and against this new
Church, near St. Paul's, from the middle of the practice, with the same earnestness and conchancel to the upper end of it, and placing it tention for victory as if the life of religion had
there in form of an altar. This being enjoined  been at stake. Dr. Williams, bishop of Linupon the church-wardens by the dean and chap- coln, published two treatises against it, one en* Dr. Grey says that the archbishop cleared him- titled "A Letter to the Vicar of Grantham:"
* Dr. Grey says that the archbishop cleared  the other, "The Holy Table, Name, and
self in this particular by informing us [Troubles and the other, f    The Holy Table, Name, and
Trial, p. 3573 " that the alterations were made ei- Thing;" filled with so much learning, and that
ther by the king himself, or some other about him, learning so closely and solidly applied, says
when he was not at court."-ED.              Lord Clarendon, as showed he had spent his
t The Queen of Bohemia, a thorough Protestant, time in his retirement with his books very
and on whose children the hopes of the nation had profitably. Dr. Heylin, who answered the bishrested, till the birth of Charles's son.-C.
X Cant. Doom, p. 111, 112.                     * Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 207.
6 Usurpation of Prelates, p. 165.              t Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 100, 101.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.,                                  315
op, argued from the words of Queen Elizabeth's Bishop Andrew's model, who took it from the
injunctions, 1559; from the orders and adver- Roman Missal, with two candlesticks and tatisements of 1562 and 1565; from the practice pers, a basin for oblations, a cushion for the
of the king's chapels and cathedrals; and, service-book, a silver-gilt canister for the wafinally, fromn the present king's declaration, rec- fers, like a wicker-basket lined with cambric
ommending a conformity of the parish church- lace, the tonne on a cradle; a chalice with the
es to their cathedrals. The bishop, and with image of Christ and the lost sheep, and of the
him all the Puritans, insisted upon the practice wise men and star, engraven on the sides and
of primitive antiquity, and upon the eighty-sec- on the cover. The chalice was covered with a
ond canon of 1603, which says, "We appoint, linen napkin, called the aire, embroidered with
that the table for the celebration of the holy coloured silk; two patins, the tricanale being a
communion shall be covered with a fair linen round ball with a screw cover, out of which iscloth at the time of administration, and shall sued three pipes for the water of mixture; a
then be placed in so good sort within the church credentia or side-table, with a basin and ewer
or chancel, as thereby the minister may more on napkins, and a towel to wash before the conconveniently be heard of the communicants in secration; three kneeling stools covered and
his prayer, and the communicants may more stuffed, the foot-pace, with three ascents, covconveniently and in more numbers communi- ered with a Turkey carpet; three chairs used
cate."  They urged the rubric in the Common at ordinations, and the septum or rail with two
Prayer Book; that altars in churches were a ascents. Upon some altars was a pot called
popish invention, of no greater antiquity in the the incense-pot, and a knife to cut the sacraChristian Church than the sacrifice of the mass; mental bread.
and insisted strenuously on the discontinuance   The consecration of this furniture was after
of them since the Reformation. But the arch- this manner: the archbishop in his cope, atbishop, being determined to carry his point, tended by two chaplains in their surplices, havprosecuted the affair with unjustifiable rigour ing bowed several times towards the altar, read
over all the kingdom, punishing those who op- a portion of Scripture; then the vessels to be
posed him, without regard to the laws of the consecrated were delivered into the hands of
land. This occasioned a sort of schism among the archbishop, who, after he had placed them
the bishops, and a great deal of uncharitable- upon the altar, read a form of prayer desiring
ness among the inferior clergy; for those bish- God to bless and accept of these vessels, which
ops who had not been beholden to Laud for he severally touched and elevated, offering them
their preferments, nor had any farther expect- up to God, after which they were not to be
ation, were very cool in the affair, while the put to common use. We have seen already
archbishop's creatures, in many places, took the manner of his grace's consecrating the sacupon them to make these alterations by their ramental elements at Creed Church; there was
own authority, without the injunctions or direc- a little more ceremony in cathedrals, where the
tions of their diocesans, which laid the founda- wafers and wine being first placed with great
tion of many lawsuits.  Those who opposed solemnity on the credentia or side-table, were
the alterations were called Doctrinal Puritans, to be removed from thence by one of the archand the promoters of them Doctrinal Papists.   bishop's chaplains, who, as soon as he turns
The court-clergy were of the latter sort, and about his face to the altar with the elements in
were vehemently suspected of an inclination to his hands, bows three times, and again when
3opery, because of their superstitious bowing to he comes to the foot of it, where he presents
the altar, not only in time of Divine service, but them upon his knees, and lays them upon the
at their going in and out of church.*  This was altar for consecration.  How far the bringing
a practice unknown to the laity of the Church these inventions of men into the worship ot
of England before this time, but Archbishop  God is chargeable with superstition, and with
Laud introduced it into the royal chapel at a departing from the simplicity of the Christian
Whitehall, and recommended it to all the cler- institution, I leave with the reader; but surely
gy by his example; for when he went in and the imposing them upon others under severe
out of chapel, a lane was always made for him  penalties, without the sanction of convocation,
to see the altar, and do reverence towards it. Parliament, or royal mandate, was not to be
All his majesty's chaplains, and even the com- justified.
mon people, were enjoined the same practice.   The lecturers, or afternoon preachers, giving
In the new body of statutes for the Cathedral of his grace some disturbance, notwithstanding
Canterbury, drlawn up by his grace, and confirm- the attempts already made to suppress them,
ed under the great seal, the dean and prebenda- the king sent the following injunctions to the
ries are obliged by oath to bow to the altar at bishops of his province:* 1.' That they ordain
coming in and going out of the church; which no clergyman without a presentation to some
could arise from no principle but a belief of the living. Or, 2. Without a certificate that he is
real presence of Christ in the sacrament or al- provided of some void church., Or, 3. Without
tar, or from a superstitious imitation of the some place in a cathedral or collegiate church.
pagans worshipping towards the east.t       Or, 4. Unless he be a fellow of some college.
To make the adoration more significant, the Or, 5. A master of arts of five years' standing,
altars in cathedrals were adorned with the living at his own charge.  Or, 6. Without the
most pompous furniture, and all the vessels intention of the bishop to provide for him."t
underwent a solemn consecration. The Cathedral of Canterbury was furnished according to   * Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 214.
t Dr. Grey truly observes, that none of these inThis, too, is now adopted in many of the English junctions were new, but only an enforcement of the
churches, and has its imitators in the United States. thirty-third canon of 1603. He refers the reader to
— C.    t Collyer's Ecclesiastical History, p. 762. Bishop Gibson's Codex, p. 162, and might have re



316                      HISTORY  OF  THE: P-UR:ITANS.
By virtue of these injunctions no chaplainship  famous trial of William Prynne, Esq., barrister
to a nobleman's family, or any invitation to a at law, and member of Lincoln's Inn, for his
lecture, could qualify a person for ordination  Histriomastix,* a book written against plays,
without a living.                              masks, dancing, &c.  The information sets
In the annual account the archbishop gave forth, that though the author knew  that the
the king of the state of his province this year, queen and lords of council were frequently preswe may observe how much the suppressing of ent at those diversions, yet he had railed against
these popular preachers lay upon his mind. these and several others, as Maypoles, Christ"The Bishop of Bath and Wells," says his mas keeping, dressing houses with ivy, festigrace, "has taken a great deal of pains in  vals, &c.; that he had aspersed the queen, and
his late visitations to have all the king's in- commended factious persons; which things are
structions observed, and particularly he has of dangerous consequence to the realm  and
put down several lecturers in market towns, state.t  The cause was heard in the StarChamwho were beneficed in other diocesses, because  ber, February 7, 1633. The counsel for Mr..he found, when they had preached factious ser- Prynne were Mr. Atkyns, afterward a judge
mons, they retired without the reach of his of the Common Pleas, Mr. Jenkins, Holbourne,
jurisdiction.                                  Herne, and Lightfoot.  For the king was Mr.
"And whereas his majesty's instructions re- Attorney-general Noy.  The counsel for the
quire that lecturers should turn their afternoon  defendant pleaded that he had handled the arsermons into catechisings, some parsons or gument of stage-plays in a learned manner,
vicars object against their being included, be- without designing to reflect on his superiors;T:
cause lecturers are only mentioned; but the that the book had been licensed according to
bishops will take care to clear their doubts and  law; and that if any passages may be consettle their practice.                         strued to reflect on his majesty, or any branch
e" The Bishop of Peterborough* had suppress-   * This book is a thick quarto, containing one
ed a seditious lecture at Repon, and put down  thousand and six pages. It abounded with learning,
several monthly lectures kept with a fast, and  and had some curious quotations, but it was a very
managed by a moderator.  He had also sup- tedious and heavy performance; so that it was not
pressed a meeting called the running lecture, calculated to invite many to read it. This circumbecause the lecturer went from village to vil- stance exposes the weakness, as the severity of the
lage.                                          sentence against him does the wickedness, of those
4The Bishop, of St. Asaph says that his dio- who pursued the author with such barbarity. He
cess is, without exception, abating the increase  was a man of sour and austere principles, of great
reading, and most assiduous application to study. It
of Romish recusants in some places, by their was supposed that, fssom the time of his alrival at
superstitious concourse to St. Winifred's Well. man's estate, he wrote a sheet for every day of his
"'The Bishop of Landaff certifies that he has life. " His custom," Mr. Wood informs us, " was,
not one stubborn Nonconformist, or schismat- when he studied, to put on a long quilted cap, which
ical minister, within his diocess, and but two  came an inch over his eyes, serving as an unbrella to
lecturers.                                     defend them from too much light; and seldom eat
c"i All the bishops declare that they take speing a dinner, would every three hours or more be
l  are that  maunching a roll of bread, and now and then refresh
cial care of that branch of his majesty's instruc- his exhausted spirits with ale." To this Butler seems
tions relating to Calvinism, or preaching upon  to allude in his address to his muse:
the predestinarian points; and the archbishop       Thou that with ale orviler liquors
prays his majesty that no layman whatsoever,        Didst inspire Withers, Prynne, and Vicars;
and least of all the companies of the city of       And teach them, though it were in spite
London, or corporations, should, under any pre-     Of nature and their stars, to write.
tence, have power to put in or turn out any    His works amounted to forty volumes, folio and
lecturer or other minister."                   quarto. The most valuable, and a very useful perIn this account the reader will observe very  formance, is his " Collection of Records," in four large
little complaint of the growth of popery which  volumes. —Harris's life of Charles I., p. 226, 227..little complaint of t.te growth of popery, w Wood's Athenae Oxon., vol. ii., p. 315; and Granger's
we shall see presently was at a prodigious Biog. Hist., vol. ii., p. 230, 8vo. The prosecution of
height; but all the archbishop's artillery is Mr. Prynne originated with Archbishop Laud, who
pointed against the Puritan clergy, who were  on a Sunday morning went to Noy, the attorney-genthe most determined and resolved Protestants eral, with the charges against him. Prynne had inin the nation.                                 stigated the resentment of Laud and other prelates
Towards the close of this year came on the  by his writings against Arminianism and the jurisdiction of the bishops, and by some prohibitions he
ferred to his own work, entitled "A System of Eng- had moved and got to the High Commission Court.
lish Ecclesiastical Law," extracted from the Codex, " Tantmene animis ccelestibus ire."- Whitelocke's Mep. 43, 44. But though these injunctions were not moirs, p. 18. A fine copy of Histriomastix is in the
formed for the occasion, the application of them at library of Yale College.-C.
that time was particularly directed against the lec-   t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 221.
turers, who were pointed at in the king's letter which    T A passage quoted by Dr. Grey from Lord Cotaccompanied the injunctions, as persons "wander- tington's speech, at the trial of Mr. Prynne, will afing up and down to the scandal of their calling, ford a specimen of the spirit and style of the Histrioand to get a maintenance falling upon such courses mastix: " Our English ladies," he writes, " shorn
as were most unfit for them, both by humouring their and frizzled madams, have lost their modesty; that
auditors and otherways altogether unsufferable." It the devil is only honoured in dancing; that they that
is easy to perceive what dictated this representation. frequent plays are damned; and so are all that do
"By reason of these strict rules," says Rushworth, not concur with him, in his opinion, whores, panders,
"no lecture whatsoever was admitted to be a canon- foul, incarnate devils, Judases to their Lord and Masical title."-ED.                               ter." But this way of speaking was in the taste of
* It should be of Litchfield and Coventry, says the times; and the speech of Lord Dorset, given
Dr. Grey, from Laud's Trials and Troubles, p. 527. above, shows that a nobleman did not come behind
-ED.                                           aim in severe and foul language -En.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    317
of his government, he humbly begs pardon. New-England, for fear of falling into the hands
But Mr. Attorney aggravated the charge in very of men whose tender mercies were cruelty.*
severe language, and pronounced it a malicious   Among others who went over this year was
and dangerous libel. After a full hearing, he the reverend and learned Mr. John Cotton, B.D.,
was sentenced to have his book burned by the fellowof Emanuel College, Cambridge, and minhands of the common hangman, to be put from  ister of Boston, in Lincolnshire, where he was
the bar, and to be forever incapable of his pro- in such repute that Dr. Preston and others from
fession, to be turned out of the society of Lin- Cambridge frequently visited him; he was an
coln's Inn, to be degraded at Oxford, to stand admired preacher, and of a most meek and genin the pillory at Westminster and Cheapside, tle disposition; he became a Nonconformist
to lose both his ears, one in each place, to pay upon this principle, That no church had power
a fine of ~5000, and to suffer perpetual impris- to impose indifferent ceremonies, not commandonnment.  Remarkable was the speech of the ed by Christ, on the consciences of men.t He
Earl of Dorset on this occasion: "Mr. Prynne," therefore omitted some of the ceremonies, and
says he, " I declare you to be a schism-maker administered the sacrament to such as dein the Church, a sedition-sower in the common- sired it without kneeling, for which he was inwealth, a wolf in sheep's clothing; in a word, formed against in the High Commission, and
omnium malorum nequissimus. I shall fine him  Laud being now at the head of affairs, the Bish~10,000, which is more than he is worth, yet op of Lincoln, his diocesan, could not protect
less than he deserves. I will not set him at him. Mr. Cotton applied to the Earl of Dorset
liberty, no more than a plagued man or mad for his interest with the archbishop, but the
dog, who, though he can't bite, will foam: he earl sent him word that " if he had been guilty
is so far from being a social soul, that he is not a of drunkenness, uncleanness, or any such lessrational soul. He is fit to live in dens with such er fault, he could have got his pardon; but the
beasts of prey as wolves and tigers, like himself; sin of Puritanism and Nonconformity," says his
therefore I condemn him to perpetual imprison- lordship, " is unpardonable, and, therefore, you
ment; and for corporeal punishment I would must fly for your safety."  Upon this he travelhave him branded in the forehead, slit in the led to Iondon in disguise, and took passage for
nose, and have his ears chopped off."*   A  New-England, where he arrived September 3,
speech more fit for an American savage than  1633, and spent the remainder of his days, to
an English nobleman!                         the year 1652.
A few months after, Dr. Bastwick, a physi-   Mr. John Davenport, B.D., and vicar of Colecian at Colchester,:having published a book en- man-street, London, resigned his living and retitled "Elenchus Religionis Papisticee," with an tired to Holland this summer, 1633..t  He had
appendix called " Flagellum Pontificis et Epis- fallen under the resentments of his diocesan,
coporum Latialium," which gave offence to the Bishop Laud, for being concerned in the feoffEnglish bishops, because it denied the Divine ments, which, together with some notices he
right of the order of bishops above presbyters, received of being prosecuted;for;nonconformity,
was cited before the High Commission, who dis- induced him to embark for Amsterdam, where
carded him from his profession [1634], excom- he continued about three years, and then remunicated him, fined him ~1000, and imprison- turning to England, he shipped himself, with
ed him till.he recanted.t                     some other families, for New-England, where
Mr. Burton, B.D., minister of Friday-street, he began the settlement of New-Haven, in the
having published two exceptionable sermons, year 1637.  He was a good scholar and an adfrom Prov., xxiv., 21, 22, entitled, " For God mired preacher, but underwent great hardships
and the King," against the late innovations, had in the infant colony, with whom he continued
his house and study broken open by a sergeant- till about the year 1670, when he died.
at-arms, and himself committed close prisoner   The Rev. Mr. Thomas Hooker, fellow of
to the Gate-house, where:he was confined sev- Emanuel College, Cambridge, and lecturer of
eral years.                                   Chelmsford, in Essex, after four years' exerThese terrible proceedingst of the commis- cise of his ministry, was obliged to lay it down
sioners made many conscientious Nonconform- for nonconformity, though twenty-seven conists retire with their families to Holland and formable ministers in the neighbourhood subRshworth, vol. I, part ii., p. 233, 240.'scribed a petition to the bishop [Laud], in which
t Dr. Grey's remark here, as doing credit to him- they declare tht Mr. Hooker was, for doctrine,
self, deserves to be quoted: "The severity of the orthodox; for life and conversation, honest;
sentence," says the doctor, " I am far from justify- for disposition, peaceable; and in no wise turing."-ED.                                     bulent or factious.~  Notwithstanding which,
"The punishment of these men, who were of he was silenced by the spiritual court, 1630, and
three great professions," says Mr. Granger, " was ig- bound in a recognisance of ~50 to appear benominious and severe: though they were never ob- fore the High Commission; but by the advice
Jects of esteem, they soon became obiects of pity. of his friends he forfeited his recognisance and
The indignity and severity of their punishment gave fled to Holland; here he continued about two
general offence, and they were no longer regarded as
criminals, but confessors." While these persecutions
were carried on with unrelenting severity, Chowney,   * Is it any matter of surprise that our pilgrim faa fierce papist, who wrote a book in defence of the thers in New-England had "prejudices against epispopish religion and of the Church of Rome, averring copacy," after they witnessed these prelatical pranks
it to be the true Church, was not only not punished,:from the head of the Church? Ought not their posor even questioned for his performance, but was per- terity to be alarmed when ministers of the Episcomitted to dedicate it to the archbishop,:and it was pal Church, in New-England at the present time,
favoured with his patronage.-Granger's Biogr. Hist., eulogize this tormentor-general?-C.
vol. ii., p. 192; and Whitelocke's Memoirs, p. 211.   t Mather's Hist. N. E., b. iii., p. 18, &c.
— ED.                                          $ Ibid., b. iii., p. 52.  ~ Ibid., b. iii., p. 60




318                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
years fellow-labourer with old Mr. Forbes, a dom, resolving to bring the Church of Ireland
Scotsman, at Delft, from whence he was called to adopt the articles of the Church of England.
to assist Dr. Ames at Rotterdam, upon whose Archbishop Usher, and some of his brethren,
death he returned to England, and being pur- being informed of his design, moved in convosued by the bishop's officers from place to place, cation that their own articles, ratified by King
he embarked this summer for New-England, James in the year 1615, might be confirmed;
and settled with his friends upon the banks of but the motion was rejected, because it was
the Connecticut River, where he died in the said they were already fortified with all the auyear 1647. He was an awakening preacher, thority the Church could give them, and that a
and a considerable practical writer, as appears farther confirmation would imply a defect. It
by his books of Preparation for Christ, Contri- was then moved on the other side, that for
tion, Humiliation, &c.                      silencing the popish objections of a disagreeThe reverend and learned Dr. William Ames, ment among Protestants, a canon should be
educated at Cambridge, under the famous Mr. passed for approving the articles of the Church
Perkins, fled from the persecution of Archbish- of England, which was done only with one
op Bancroft, and became minister of the Eng- dissenting voice; one Calvinist, says Mr. Colllish church at the Hague, from whence he was yer, having looked deeper into the matter than
invited by the states of Friesland to the divini- the rest.
ty-chair in the University of Franeker, which   The canon was in these words: "For the
he filled with universal reputation for twelve manifestation of our agreement with the Church
years.- He was in the Synod of Dort, and in- of England, in the confession of the same
formed King James's ambassador at the Hague, Christian faith and doctrine of the sacrament,
from time to time, of the debates of that ven- we do receive and approve the book of articles
erable assembly.  He wrote several treatises of religion agreed upon by the archbishops and
in Latin against the Arminians, which, for bishops, &c., in the year 1562, for the avoiding
their conciseness and perspicuity, were not diversity of opinions, and for establishing conequalled by any of his time. His other works sent touching true religion; and, therefore, if
are Manuductio Logica, Medulla Theologie, any hereafter shall affirm that any of these arCases of Conscience, Analysis on the Book of tides are in any part superstitious or erroneous,
Psalms, Notes on the First and Second Epistles or such as he may not with a good conscience
of Peter, and upon the Catechistical Heads. subscribe unto, let him be excommunicated."*
After twelve years Dr. Ames resigned his pro-   The Irish bishops thought they had lost nofessorship, and accepted of an invitation-to the thing by this canon, because they had saved
English:congregation at Rotterdam, the air of their own articles, but Laud took advantage of
Franeker being too sharp for himn, he being it during the time of his chancellorship; for
troubled with such a difficulty of breathing that hereby the Church of Ireland denounced the
he concluded every winter would be his last; sentence of excommunication against all that
besides, he had a desire to be employed in the affirmed any of the Thirty-nine Articles to be
delightful work of preaching to his own coun- superstitious or erroneous, that is, against the
trymen, which he had disused for many years. whole body of the Puritans; and Fullert adds,
Upon his removal to Rotterdam  he wrote his that their own articles, which condemned Ar-: "Fresh Suit against Ceremonies;" but his minianism, and maintained the morality of the
constitution was so shattered that the air of Sabbath, were utterly excluded.
Holland did him no service; upon which he   This summer the Reverend Mr. Thomas
determined to remove to New-England, but his Sheppard,+ A.M., fled to New-England. He had
asthma returning at the beginning of the win- been lecturer at Earl's-CoIn, in Essex, several
ter before he sailed, put an end to his life at years, but when Laud became Bishop of London
Rotterdam, where he was buried November 14, his lecture was put down, and himself silenced;
N.S., 1633. Next spring his wife and children he then retired into the family of a private genembarked for New-England, and carried with tleman, but the bishop's officers following him
them his valuable library of books, which was thither, he travelled into Yorkshire, where
a rich treasure to the country at that time. Neile, archbishop of that province, commanded
The doctor was a very learned divine, a strict him to subscribe or depart the country; upon
Calvinist in doctrine, and of the persuasion of this he went to Hedon, in Northumberland,
the Independents, with regard to the subordi- where his labours were prospered to the connation and power of classes and synods.*    version of some souls, but the Bishop of DurArchbishop Laud, being now chancellor of ham, by the direction of Archbishop Laud, forthe University of Dublin, and having a new  bade his preaching in any part of his diocess,
vice-chancellor [Wentworth] disposed to serve which obliged him  to take shipping at Yarthe purposes of the prerogative, turned his mouth for New-England, where he continued
thoughts against the Calvinists of that king- pastor of the church at Cambridge till his death,
which happened August 25, 1649, in the fortye' He filled the divinity-chair with admirable abili- fourth year of his age.  He was a hard stuties. His fame was so great that many came from  dent, exemplary Chistian, and an eminent pracremote nations to be educated under him. In "An dent, exemplary Christian, and an eminent peHistorical and Critical Account of Hugh Peters," tical writer, as appears by his "Sincere ConLondon, 1751, is a quotation from a piece of his in vert," and other practical works that go under
these words: "Learned Amesius breathed his last his name. l
breath into my bosom, who left his professorship in
Friezland to live with me, because of my church's   * Bib. Reg., Q xiii., p. 13.
independency at Rotterdam. Ile was my colleague,   t Church History, b. xi., p. 149.
and chosen brother to the church, where I was an: The family papers give the name Shelpard.-C.
unworthy pastor."-Granger's History of England,       Mather's Hist. New-England, b. iii., p. 86, &c.
vol. ii., p. 198, 199, 8vo-ED.,   1 When the Antinomian and Familistic errors




HISTORIY OF THE PURITANS.                                      319
The Reverend Mr. John Norton went over in  tion till this time; yet Laud, without any rethe same ship with Mr. Sheppard,* being driven gard to their charter, sent them the two followout of Hertfordshire by the severity of the ing injunctions by his vicar-general:
times.  He settled at Ipswich, in New-Eng-    1. "That all that were born in England of
land, and was afterward removed to Boston, the Dutch and Walloon congregations should
where he died in the year 1665.t  Mr. Fuller repair to their parish churches.
says he was a divine of no less learning than    2. "That those who were not natives, but
modesty, as appears sufficiently by his numer- came from abroad, while they remained stran..
ous writings.                                  gers, might use their own discipline as forHis grace of Canterbury, having made some merly."
powerful efforts to bring the churches of Scot-   In this emergency the Dutch and Walloon
land and Ireland to a uniformity with England, churches petitioned for a toleration, and showresolved, in his metropolitan visitation this sum- ed the inconveniences that would arise from
mer, to reduce the Dutch and French churches the archbishop's injunctions; as, that if all their
(which were ten in number, having between  children born in England were taken from their
five and six thousand communicants) to the  communion, their churches must break up and
same conformity; for this purpose he tendered  return home; for as they came into England
them these three articles of' inquiry.          for the liberty of their consciences, they would
1. " Whether do you use the Dutch or French  not continue here after it was taken from them.*
liturgy?                                       They desired, therefore, it might be considered
2. i" Of how many descents are you since you  what damages would arise to the -kingdom by
came into England?                              driving away the foreigners with their manu3. "Do such as are born here in England  factures, and discouraging others from settling
conform to the English ceremonies?"           in their room.  The mayor and corporation ot
The ministers and elders demurred  upon  Canterbury assured his grace that above twelve
these questions, and insisted upon their charter hundred of their poor were maintained by the
of privileges granted by King Edward VI., and  foreigners, and others interceded with'the king
confirmed no less than five times in the reign  in their favour; but his majesty answered, " We
of King James, and twice by King Charles him- must believe our Archbishop of Canterbury,"
self, by virtue of which they had been exempt who used their deputies very roughly, calling
from  all archiepiscopal and episcopal jurisdic- them a nest of schismatics, and telling them it
were better to have no foreign churches than
broke out in Boston and its vicinity, Mr. Shepard, to indulge their nonconformity. In conclusion,
by his exertions, was the happy means of stopping he assured them, by a letter dated August 19,
this infectious malady. He was an excellent preach- 1635 that his majesty was resolved his ijuncer, and took great pains in his preparations for the
pulpit. He used to say, "God will curse that man's tions should be observed, viz., That all their
laboulrs who goes idly up and down all the week, and children of the second descent, born in England,
thel. goes into his study on a Saturday afternoon. should resort to their parish churches;t " and,"
God knows that we have not too much time to pray says his grace, " I do expect all obedience and
in, and weep in, and get our hearts into a fit frame conformity from you, and'if you refuse, I shall
for the duties of the Sabbath." His most celebrated  proceed against the natives according to the
production is on the " Parable of the Ten Virgins," laws and canons ecclesiastical."  Accordingly,
which contains a rich fund of experimental and prac- soe of teir curcesere intericte, others
tical divinity.  Fuller gives Mr. Shepard a place some of their churches were interdicted, others
among the learned writers who were fellows of shut up and'the assemblies dissolved; their
Emanuel College, Cambridge. His son and grand- ministers being suspended, many of their peoson were, in succession, pastors of the church at pie left the kingdom, especially in the diocess
Charlestown.-C.                                 of Norwich, where Bishop Wren drove away
* Mather's Hist. of New-England, p. 34.       three thousand manufacturers in wool, cloth,
t Mr. Norton and Simon Bradstreet, Esq., were &c. some of whom employed a hundred poor
sent to England as agents of the colony, on the res-  people at work, to the unspeakable damage o
toration of Charles II., with an address to his majesty soliciting the continuance of their privileges. This the kingdom.
address contains the following passage: "To enjoy    As a farther mark of disregard to the foreign
our liberty, and to walk according to the faith and  Protestants, the king's ambassador in France
order of the Gospel, was the cause of us transplanting  was forbidden to frequent their religious assemourselves, with our wives, our little ones, and our blies.'' It had been customary," says Lord
substance; choosing the pure Scripture worship, Clarendon, " for the ambassadors employed in
with a good conscience, in this remote wilderness, a
rather than the pleasures of England, with submis-    parts where the reformed religion was exsion to the impositions of the hierarchy, to which  e]ised, to frequent their churches, and to hold
we could not yield without an evil conscience. We correspondence with the most powerful persons
are not seditious to the interests of Caesar, nor of that religion, particularly the English ambasschismatical in matters of religion. We distinguish  sadors at Paris constantly frequented the church
between churches and their impurities. We could at Charenton; but the contrary to this was now
not live without the public worship of God, but were practised, and soime advertisements, if not innot allowed to observe it without such a yoke of su- structions, given to the anbassador, to forbear
pegstition and conformity as we could not consent to any commerce with the men of that religion.
without sin."-Massachusetts Papers, p. 345-371. I
hope the reader will compare this serious statement,   * It is said that Richelieu made the following
at the foot of the throne, with the flagrant misrepre- speech on this exacted conformity:'If a king of
sentations and deliberate perversions of history to be England, who is a Protestant, will not permit two
found on pages 337-8-9 of the " Double Witness of disciplines in his kingdom, why should a king of
the Church," by the Rev. W. I. Kipp, 1843, than  France, who is a papist, admit two religions."which, a more specious yet audacious attack on the Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, vol. ii., p. 145,
large majority of professing Christians in this coun- note, 8vo.-En.
try, has never appeared.-C.                      t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 273.




320                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Lord Scudamore, who was the last ambassador he was indicted for high treason, because he
before the beginning of the Long Parliament, had prayed "that God would forgive the queen
instead of going to Charenton, furnished his [Elizabeth] her sins,"* but was acquitted.  He
chapel after the new fashion, with candles upon was an awakening preacher, of a warm spirit,
the altar, &c., and took care to publish, upon and a robust constitution, which he wore out
all occasions, that the Church of England look- with preaching twice every Lord's Day, and
ed not on the Huguenots as a part of their coin- frequently on the week days.  His ministry
munion, which was likewise industriously dis- met with great success even to his death, which
coursed at home. This made a great many for- happened November 6, 1634, in the seventyeign Protestants leave the kingdom, and trans- second year of his age.t
port themselves into foreign parts." The Church   About the same time died the reverend and
of England by this means lost the esteem of the pious Mr. John Carter, a man that feared God
Reformed churches abroad, who could hardly from his youth, and was always employed in
pity her, when a few years after she sunk down acts of devotion and charity.  He was born in
into the deepest distress.                    Kent, 1554, and educated in Clare Hall, CamTo give another instance of the archbishop's bridge. He was first minister of Bramford, in
disaffection to the foreign Protestants, the Queen  Suffolk, for thirty-four years, and then rector
of Bohemia, the king's sister, solicited the king, of Bedstead, in the same county; and though
in the most pressing manner, to admit of a pIub- often in trouble for his nonconformity, he made
lic collection over England for the poor perse- a shift, by the assistance of friends, to maintain
cuted ministers of the Palatinate, who were ban- his liberty without any sinful comnpliance.1  He
ished their country for their religiop.  Accord- was mighty in prayer, frequent and fervent in
ingly, the king granted them a brief to go through preaching, and a resolute champion against
the kingdom; but when it was brought to the  popery, Arminianism, and the new ceremonies.
archbishop he excepted against the following He lived to a good old age, and died suddenly,
clause: "Whose cases are the more to be de- as he was lying down to sleep, in the eightieth
plored, because this extremity has fallen upon year of his age, greatly lamented by all who
them for their sincerity and constancy in the   t Here Bishop Warburton censures Mr. Neal as
true religion, which we together with them pro- guilty of "an unfair representation." His lordship
fessed, and which we are all bound in con- adds, "that they were the sins of persecuting the
science to maintain to the utmost of our powers. holy discipline which he prayed for the remission of;
WMhereas these religious and godly persons, be- and that reflecting on her administration was the
ing involved anm~ong others their countrymen,  thing which gave offence." The bishop is certainly
might have enjoyed their estates and fortunes, right in this construction of Mr. Clarke's prayer; but
there is no occasion, inethinks, for the charge he
if with other backsliders in the times of trial brings against Mr. Neal, who does hot refer the exthey would have submitted themselves to the pression, or insinuate that it was to be referred, to
anti-Christian yoke, and have renounced or dis- the personal vices of the queen, but rather the consembled the profession of their religion."  His trary, for he speaks of it as the ground on which Mr.
grace had two exceptions to this passage: 1. Clarke was indicted for high treason. He might as
The religion of the Palatine churches is affirm- well suppose that his reader would understand the
ed to be the same with ours, which he denied, language as pointing to the oppressions of her govbecause they were Calvinists, and because their ernment, and the severities which the Puritans suffered under it. This would have been perfectly clear,
ministers had not episcopal ordination. 2. He had Mr. Ncal added from his author, that this prayer,
objected to the Church of Rome's being called though in modest expressions, was offered up when
an anti-Christian yoke, because it would then  the persecution of the Nonconformists was becoming
follow that she was in no capacity to convey hot.-En.
sacerdotal power in ordinations, and, conse-   t Clarke's Lives annexed to his General Martyrquently, the benefit of the priesthood, and the ology, p. 127. He was the father of Rev. Samuel
force of holy ministrations, would be lost in the Clarke, of Bennet Fink, the author of the General
Martyrology, and the biographer of the Puritans.
English Church, forasmuch as she has no or- Almost allwe know of some of the best men of that
ders but what she derives from the Church of age we have received from his voluminous biograRome. Laud having acquainted the king with  phies. He has great claims on our gratitude.-C.
his exceptions, they were expunged in another   $ Mr. Carter's chief trials proceeded from Bishop
draught. But the collection not succeeding in Wren, who was successively Bishop of Hereford,
this way, Dr. Sibbes, Gouge, and other divines Norwich, and Ely, a prelate of most intolerant prinof th     e P  u ritan party, signed a private recvin- ciples, and too much inclined to the oppressions and
of the Puritan party, signed a private recom- ell
mendatory letter, desiring their friends to en- superstitions of popery. While he sat in the chair
of Norwich, he proceeded, according to Clarendon,
large their charity, as to men of the same faith,, so warmly and passionately against the dissenting
and profession with themselves, and promising  congregations, that many left the kingdom," to the
to see to the right distribution of the money; unspeakable injury of the manufactories of this counbut as soon as Laud heard of it, he cited the try. His portrait was published and prefixed to a
divines before the High Commission, and put a book entitled " Wren's Anatomy, discovering his nostop to the collection.                       torious Pranks, &c., printed in the year when Wren
This year [1634] put an erd to the life of the ceased to domineer," ]641. In this portrait the
bishop is represented sitting at a table, with two laRev. Mr. Hugh Clarke, born at Burton-upon- bels proceeding frm  his m athone of which is inTrent, 1563, and educated partly at Cambridge scribed "Canonical Prayers," the other, "No Afand partly at Oxford.  He was first minister ternoon Sermons."  On one side stand several clerof Oundle, in Northamptonshire, and then of gymen, over whose heads is written "Altar CrinWoolston, in Warwickshire, firom whence he ging Priests." On the other side, two men in lay habwas suspended, and afterward excommlunicated  its, above whom is this inscription, "Church-wardens for Articles." —Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 531.
Clarendon's.Hist., vol. ii., p. 74. Granger's Biog. BIist..
* Cyp. Ang., Collyer, vol. ii., p. 764, 765.  vol. ii., p. 157.-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   321
had a taste for practical religion and undissem- they had remained excommunicated for a year.
bled piety.*  His funeral sermon was preached they were cast into the common jail, where they
iefore a vast concourse of people, from these continued till the year 1637, and were then obliwords, " My father, my father, the chariots of ged to do public penance in the parish church of
Israel, and the horsemen thereof!"         Beckington, and two others, the shame of which
Conformity to the new ceremonies and the broke their hearts; one of them declaring upon
king's injunctions was now pressed with the his death-bed soon after, that the penance and
utmost rigour. The Rev. Mr. Crook, of Brazen- submission, so much against his conscience,
nose College, and Mr. Hobbes, of Trinity Col- had sunk his spirits, and was one principal cause
lege, Oxford, were enjoined a public recantation of his death.*
for reflecting upon the Arminians.            In the archbishop's metropolitical visitation
Mr. Samuel Ward, of Ipswich, having preach- this summer, Mr. Lee, one of the prebendaries
ed against the Book of Sports, and bowing at of Litchfield, was suspended for churching rethe name of Jesus, added, that the Church of fractory women in private, for being averse to
England was ready to ring changes in religion; the good orders of the Church, and for ordering
and that the Gospel stood a tiptoe, really to be the bellman to give notice in open market of a
gone to America;t for which he was suspended, sermon.t  Mr. Randal, of Tuddington, near
and enjoined a public recantation.  Another Hampton Court, Middlesex, was suspended for
underwent the same censure for saying it was preaching a sermon above an hour long on Sunsuspicious that the night was approaching, be- day in the afternoon, though it was a farewell
cause the shadows were so much longer than  sermon to the exercise of catechising.  His
the body, and ceremonies more enforced than grace's account of his province this year gives
the power of godliness.                     a farther relation of the sufferings of the PuriThe Rev. Mr. Chauncey, late minister of tans:T he acquaints his majesty that the French
Ware, but now of Marston Lawrence, in the and Dutch churches had not as yet thoroughly
diocess of Peterborough, was imprisoned, con- complied with his injunctions. That in the diodemned in cost of suit, and obliged to read the cess of London, Dr. Houghton, rector of Alderfollowing recantation for opposing the railing manbury, Mr. Simpson, curate and lecturer of
in the communion-table:                     St. Margaret, Fish-street, Mr. John Goodwin,
" Whereas I, Charles Chauncey, clerk, late vicar of Coleman-street, and Mr. Viner of St.
Vicar of Ware, stand convicted for opposing Lawrence, Old Jewry, had been convened for
the setting up a rail round the communion-ta- breach of canons. and had submitted; to whom
ble, and for saying it was an innovation, a snare his grace might have added, Dr. Sibbes, Dr.
to men's consciences, a breach of the second Taylor, Dr. Gouge, Mr. White, of Dorsetshire,
commandment, an addition to God's worship, and about twenty more; some of whom fled
and that which drove me from the place, I do into Holland, and others retired into New-Engnow, before this honourable court, acknowledge land. The Bishop of Bath and Wells certified
my great offence, and protest I am ready to de- that he had not one single lecture in any corpoclare upon oath, that I am now persuaded in ration town, and that all afternoon sermons
my conscience, that kneeling at the communion  were turned into catechisings in all parishes.
is a lawful and commendable gesture; that the In the diocess of Norwich were many Puritans,
rail is a decent and convenient ornament, and  but that Mr. Ward of Yarmouth was in the
that I was much to blame for opposing it; and High Commission. From the diocess of Lalndo promise from henceforth, never by word or daff, Mr. Wroth and Mr. Erbury, two noted
deed to oppose that, or any other laudable rites schismatics, were brought before the High Comnand ceremonies used in the Church of Eng- mission. And that in the diocess of Gloucesland."$                                      ter were several popular and factious minisAfter this he was judicially admonished and ters.
discharged; but the recantation went so much   It must be confessed that the zeal of the Puagainst his conscience, that he could enjoy no ritans was not always well regulated, nor were
peace till he had quitted the Church of England, their ministers so much on their guard in the
and retired to New-England, where he made pulpit or conversation as they ought, consideran open acknowledgment of his sin.           ing the number of informers that entered all
The church-wardens of Beckington, in Som- their churches, that insinuated themselves into
ersetshire, were excommunicated by the Bishop all public conversation, and, like so many loof Bath and Wells, for refusing to remove the custs, covered the land.  These were so nucommunion-table from the middle of the chancel merous and corrupt that the king was obliged
to the east end, and not pulling down the seats to bring them under certain regulations; for no
to make room for it. They produced a certifi- man was safe in public company, nor even in
cate that their communion-table had stood time conversing with his friends and neighbours.
out of mind in the midst of the chancel; that Many broke up housekeeping, that they might
the ground on which it Nwas placed was raised  breathe in a freer air, which the council being
a foot, and enclosed with a decent wainscot bor- informed of, a proclamation was published [July
der, and that none went within it but the min- 21, 1635], forbidding all persons except soldiers,
ister, and such as he required.  This not avail- mariners, merchants and their factors, to depart
ing, they appealed to the Arches, and at last to the kingdom without his majesty's license.
the king; but their appeal was rejected. After   But, notwithstanding this prohibition, numbers went to New-England this summer, and
Ut supra, p. 132.                        among others the Rev. Mr. Peter Bulkley, B D.,
t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 285. Prynne, p.    i,
285.                                            * Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 300.
t Prynne, p. 95, 97, 100. Rushworth, vol. ii., part  t Prynne, p. 381-.
ii., p. 301, 316.:                   Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 763.
VOL. I.-S s




322                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
and fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. new bishops to prepare draughts of both, and reHe was son of Dr. Edward Bulkley, of Bedford- mit them to London, to be revised by the Bishshire, and succeeded him at Woodhill, or Odel, ops Laud, Juxon, and Wren. The book of canons
in that county. Here he continued above twen- being first finished, was presented to the king,
ty years, the Bishop of Lincoln conniving at and by him delivered to Laud and Juxon to exhis nonconformity: but when Dr. Laud was at amine, alter, and reform  at pleasure, and to
the helm of the Church, and the Bishop of Lin- bring it as near as possible to a conformity with
coin in disgrace, Bulkley was silenced by the the English canons. The bishops having exevicar-general, Sir Nathaniel Brent, upon which cuted their commission, and prepared it for
he sold a very plentiful estate, and transported  press, the king confirmed it under the great
himself' and his effects to New-England, where seal by letters patent, dated at Greenwich, May
he died in the year 1658-9, and the seventy- 23, 1635. The instrument sets forth, " that his
seventh of his age.  He was a thundering majesty, by his royal and supreme authority in
preacher, and a judicious divine, as appears by causes ecclesiastical, ratifies and confirms the
his treatise'" Of the Covenant," which passed said canons, orders, and constitutions, and all
through several editions, and was one of the and everything in them contained, and strictly
first books published in that country.*     commands all archbishops, bishops, and others
Mr. Richard Mather, educated in Brazen-nose exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction, to see
College, Oxon, and minister of Toxteth, near them punctually observed."
Liverpool, for about fifteen years, a diligent and   To give the reader a specimen of these cansuccessful preacher, was suspended for non- ons, which were subversive of the whole Scots
conformity in the year 1633, but by the inter- constitution both in Kirk and State:
cession of friends, after six months he was re-   1. " The first canon excommunicates all
stored. Next summer, the Archbishop of York those who affirm the power and prerogative of
sending his visiters into Lancashire, this good the king not to be equal with the Jewish kings,
man was again suspended by Dr: Cosins, upon that is, absolute and unlimited.
an information that he had not worn the sur-   2. " The second excommunicates those who
plice for fifteen years. After this no interces- shall affirm the worship contained in the Book
sion could obtain the liberty of his ministry; of Common Prayer [which was not yet pubupon which he took shipping at Bristol, and ar- lished], or the government of the Kirk by archrived at Boston, in New-England, August 17, bishops, bishops, &c., to be corrupt, supersti1635. He settled at Dorchester, and continued tious, or unlawful.
with his people, a plain and profitable preacher,   3. " The third restrains ordinations to the
to the year 1669, when he died. This was the qualuor tempora, that is, the first weeks of March,
grandfather of the famous Dr. Cotton Mather.  June, September, and December.
In Scotland the fire was kindling apace which   5. " The fifth obliges all presbyters to read,
in three years' time set both kingdoms in a or cause to be read, Divine service, according
flame. The restoring episcopacy, by the vio- to the form of the Book of the Scottish Comlent methods already mentioned, did not sit mon Prayer, and to conform to all the offices,
easy upon the people; the new Scots bishops parts, and rubrics of it [though not yet pubwere of Bishop Laud's principles; they spoke lished."]
very favourably of popery in their sermons, and    The book decrees farther, " that no assemcast some invidious reflections on the Reform- bly of the clergy shall be called but by the king.
ers: they declared openly ior the doctrines of   "; That none shall receive the sacrament but
Arminius, for sports on the Sabbath, and for the upon their knees.
liturgy of the English Church, which was ima-   "That every ecclesiastical person dying withgined to be little better than the mass.t  This out children shall give part of his estate to the
lost them  their esteem with the people, who Church.
had been trained up in the doctrines and disci-   " That the clergy shall have no private meetpline of Calvin, and in the strict observation of ings for expounding Scripture.
the Lord's Day. But the king, to support them,   "That no clergyman shall conceive prayer,
cherished them with expressions of the great- but pray only by the printed form, to be preest respect and confidence; he made eleven of scribed in the Book of Common Prayer.
them privy-councillors; the Archbishop of St.   "That no man shall teach school without a
Andrew's was lord-chancellor, and the Bishop license from the bishop; nor any censures oi
of Ross was in nomination to be lord-high-treas- the Church be pronounced but by the approbaurer; divers of them were of the exchequer, tion of the bishop.;and had engrossed the best secular prefer-   " That no presbyter shall reveal anything in
ments, which made them the envy of the no- confession, except his own life should by the'bility and gentry of that nation. The bishops concealment be forfeited."
were so sensible of this, that they advised the   After sundry other canons of this nature, as
king not to trust the intended alterations in re- appointing fonts for baptism, church ornaments,
ligion to parliaments or general assemblies, but communion-tables, or altars, &c., the book deto introduce them by his regal authority.    crees, that no person shall be admitted to holy
When the king was last in Scotland, it was orders, or to preach, or administer the sacra-,taken notice of as a great blemish in the Kirk, ments, without first subscribing the foremen-,that it had no liturgy or book of canons. To tloned canons.:supply this defect, the king gave orders to the   This book was no sooner published than the
*Rapin,  p. 3 oSedit. Mr.  Scots presbyters declared peremptorily against
Rapin, vol. ii., p. 394, folio edit.  Mr. Bulkley  it;* their objections were of two sorts: they
made additions to Fox's Acts and Monuments of the disliked the matter of the canons, as inconsistMartyrs.-See vol. ilii, p. 861-86;3.-C.     disliked the matter of the canons, as inconsistMartyrs.-See vol. iii., p. 861-863.-,C.
f Burnet.'s Memoirs of D. Hamilton, p. 29, 30.    * Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 764.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     323
ent with their kirk government, and severer in  courts.  The civilians had boldly and unwarsome particulars than those of the Church of rantably opposed and protested against prohiEngland: they protested also against the man- bitions and other proceedings at law, in rener of imposing them, without consent of Par- straint of their spiritual courts, and had proliament or General Assembly.  It was,thought cured some privileges and orders from the king
intolerable vassalage, by a people who had as- in favour of the ecclesiastical courts, which had
serted the independent power of the Church to  greatly offended the gentlemen of the law.
convene assemblies of the clergy, and who had  But the archbishop now went a step farther, and
maintained  that their decrees were binding prevailed with the king to direct that half the
without the confirmation of the crown, to have masters in chancery should always be civil
the king and a few foreign bishops dictate can- lawyers; and to declare that no others, of what
ons to them, without so much as asking their condition soever, should serve him as masters
advice and consent.  Such a high display of of request; these were more akin to the Church
the supremacy could not fail of being highly re- than the common lawyers, their places being in
sented by a church that had never yielded it to  the bishop's disposal (as chancellors, commisthe king in the latitude in which it had been  saries, &c.), and, therefore, it was supposed
claimed and exercised in England. Besides, their persons would be so too; but this was
it was very preposterous to publish the book of false policy, says the noble historian, * because
canons before the Book of Common Prayer, it disgusted a whole learned profession, who
and to require submission and subscription to  were more capable of disserving the Church
things that had no existence; for who could  in their estates, inheritances, and stewardships,
foretel what might be inserted in the Com- than the Church could hurt them in their pracmon Prayer Book. or what kind of service  tice. Besides, it was wrong in itself; for I have
might be imposed upon the Kirk? This looked  never yet spoken with one clergyman, says his
too much like pinning the faith of a whole na- lordship, who hath had experience of both litition on the lawn sleeves.                     gations, that has not ingenuously confessed,
To return to England. Towards the end of that he had rather, in respect of his trouble,
this year it pleased God to remove out of this charge, and satisfaction to his understanding,
world the Reverend Dr. Richard Sibbes, one of have three suits depending in Westminster Hall
the most celebrated preachers of his time. He  than one in the Arches, or any ecclesiastical
was born at Sudbury, 1579, and educated in St. court.
John's College, Cambridge, where he went   As a farther step towards the sovereign powthrough all the degrees.  Having entered into  er of the Church, his grace prevailed with the
the ministry, he was first chosen lecturer of king to allow the bishops to hold their ecclesiTrinity Church, in Cambridge, where his min- astical courts in their own names, and by their
istry was very successful to the conversion and  own seals, without the king's letters patent unreformation of his hearers. About the year der the great seal; the judges having given it
1618 he was appointed preacher to the honour- as their opinion that a patent under the great
able society of Gray's Inn, London, in which  seal was not necessary for examinations, susstation he became so famous, that, besides the  pensions, and other church censures. This was
lawyers of the house, many of the nobility and  undoubtedly contrary to law, for by the statute
gentry frequented his sermons.  In the year  I Edw. VI., cap ii., it is declared "that all ec1625 he was chosen master of Katherine Hall, clesiastical jurisdiction is immediately front the
in the University of Cambridge, the government crown, and that all persons exercising such juof which he made a shift to continue to his death, risdiction shall have in their seal the king's
though-he was turned out of his fellowship and  arms, and shall use no other seal of jurisdiclecture in the university for nonconformity, and  tion on pain of imprisonment."t  This statute
often cited before the High Commission.  He  being repealed, I Mariae, cap. ii., was again rewas a divine of good learning, thoroughly ac- vived by 1 Jac., cap. xxv., as has been observquainted with the Scriptures, a burning and  ed.$  Hereupon, in the Parliaments of the 3d
shining light, and of a most humble and chari-  and 7th of King James I., the bishops were
table disposition; but all these talents could  proceeded against, and two of them, in a mannot screen him  from  the fury of the times. ner, attainted in a premunire by the House of
His works* discover him  to have been of a  Commons, for making citations and processes
heavenly, evangelical spirit, the comforts of in their own names, and using their own seals,
which he enjoyed at his death, which happened  contrary to this statute and to the common
the latter end of this summer, in the fifty-ninth  law, and in derogation of the prerogative.  So
year.of his age.+                             that by this concession the king dispensed with
To aggrandize the Church yet farther, the  the laws, and yielded away the ancient and unarchbishop resolved to bring part of the busi- doubted right of his crown, and the bishops
ness of Westminster Hall-into the ecclesiastical were brought under a premunire for exercising
spiritual jurisdiction without any special com* Of these, the most noted was his " Bruised  mission, patent, or grant from, by, or under
Reed," to which, Mr. Baxter tells us, he in a great his majesty, whereas all jurisdiction of this
measure owed his conversion. This circumstance kind ought to have been exercised in the  ing'
alone, observes Mr. Granger, would have rendered
his name memorable.-History of EnglanLd, vol. ii., name, and by virtue of his authority only, sigp. 176, 8vo. Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part i., p. 4. nified by letters patent under his majesty's seal.
This interesting memoir was one of the favour-   The archbishop was no less intent upon enite volumes of Coleridge, who always kept it by larging his own jurisdiction, claiming a right to
him. No minister should lose an opportunity to obtain this very scarce and valuable work.-C.         * Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 305, 306.
t Clarke's Lives, annexed to his General Martyr-  t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 450.
ology, p. 143.                                      t Usurpation of Prelates, p.,92, 115




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS
visit the two universities jure metropolitico, which  not subject to a prohibition firom the courts of
being referred to the king and council, his maj- Westminster Hall, was setting up imperium in
esty was pleased to give judgment against imperio, and going a great way towards re-eshimself. As chancellor of Oxford, his grace  tablishing one of the heaviest grievances of the
caused a new body of statutes to be drawn up. papacy; but the bishops presumed upon the fefor that university, with a preface, in which are  licity of the times and the indulgence of the
some severe reflections on good King Edward crown, which at another time might have inand his government; it says that the discipline volved them in a premunire.
of the university was discgmposed and troubled    The articles of visitation differed in the sevby that king's injunctions and the flattering  eral diocesses; the church-wardens' oath was
novelty of the age.  It then commends the generally the same, viz.:
reign of his sister, the bloody Queen Mary, and    "You shall swear, that you, and every of
says that the discipline of the Church revived  you, shall duly consider and diligently inquire
and flourished again in her days under Cardinal of all and every of these articles given you in
Pole, when, by the much-desired felicity of charge; and that all affection, favour, hope of
those times, an inbred candour supplied the de- reward and gain, or fear of displeasure, or malfeet of statutes.*  Was this spoken like a Prot- ice set aside, you shall present all and every such
estant prelate, whose predecessors in the sees person that now is, or of late was, within your
of London and Canterbury were burned at Ox- parish, or hath committed any offence, or made
ford by Queen Mary, in a most barbarous man- any default mentioned in any of these articles,
ner 1 Or, rather, like one who was aiming at or which are vehemently suspected, or defamed
the return of those happy times              of any such offence or default, wherein you
The last and most extravagant stretch of shall deal uprightly and fully, neither presentepiscopal power that I shall mention was the  ing nor daring to present any contrary to truth,
bishops framing new articles of visitation in  having in this action God before your eyes, with
their own names, without the king's seal and  an earnest zeal to maintain truth, and to supauthority, and administering an oath of inquiry  press vice. So help you God, and the holy conto the church-wardens concerning them.t This  tents of this book."
was an outrage upon the laws, contrary to the    By virtue of this oath, some, out of conscience,
Act of Submission, 25 Hen. VIII., cap. xxv., thought themselves obliged to present their minand even to the twelfth canon of 1603, which  isters, their neighbours, and their near relasays, " that whosoever shall affirm it lawful for tions, not for immorality or neglect of the worany sort of ministers or lay persons to assern- ship of God, but for omitting some superstible together and make rules, orders, and con- tious injunctions.  Others acted from revenge,
stitutions, in causes ecclesiastical, without the having an opportunity put into their hands to
king's authority, and shall submit themselves ruin their conscientious neighbours.  Many
to be ruled and governed by them, let him be church-wardens refused to take the oath, and
excommunicated;" which includes the fiamers  were imprisoned, and forced to do penance.
of the orders as well as those who act under But, to prevent this for the future, it was dethem. The administering an oath to church- clared, "that if any man affirmed it was not
wardens, without a royal commission, had no lawful to take the oath of a church-warden, or
foundation in law, for by the common law no  that it was. not lawfully administered, or that
ecclesiastical judge can administer an oath (ex- the oath did not bind, or that the church-wardcept. in cases of matrimony and- testaments) ens need not inquire, or, after inquiry, need not
without letters patent, or a special commission  answer, or might leave out part of their anunder the great seal. It was also declared con- swers,"* such persons should be presented and
trary to the laws and statutes of the land, by  punished.
Sir Edward Coke and the rest of the judges,   Several of the bishops published their pri3 James, in the case of Mr. Wharton, who, be- mary articles of visitation about this time. as
ing church-warden of Blackfriars, London, was the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Winexcomimiunicated and imprisoned on a capias chester, and Bath and Wells; but the most
excomn'nicatum, for refusing to take an oath to  remarkable and curious were Dr. Wren's, bishpresentupon visitation articles; but bringing  op of Norwich, entitled, "Articles to be in.
his habeas corpus, he was discharged by the  quired of within the Diocess of Norwich, in the
whole court, both from his imprisonment and  first Visitation of Matthew, Lord-bishop of Norexcommunication, for this reason, because the  wich."t  The book contains one hundred and
oath and articles were against the laws and  thirty-nine articles, in which are eight hundred
statutes of' -is realm, and so might and ought and ninety-seven questions, some very insignifito be refused. Upon the whole, the making  cant, others highly superstitious, and several
the mitrs. thus independent of the crown, and  impossible to be answered. To give the reader
* An,.*            >a specimen of them: Have you the book of
answer  Mr. Neal, it is urged by Dr. Grey, constitutions or canons ecclesiastical, and a
may be supplied from Frankland's Annals of King parchmentregisterbook BookofCommonPrayCharles I., accordig to whom, what is applied above er, and a book of homilies I Is your commuto. Queen Mary's time only, relates to all former
times as well as hers, during which the uncertainty  nion-table so placed within the chancel as the
of the statutes lasted, and put the university to an in- canon directs?  Doth your minister read the
convenience; and who asserts that the preface men- canons once every year?   Doth he pray for the
tioned by Mr. Neal was written by Dr. Peter Turner, king with his whole title?  Doth he pray for
of Merton College, a doctor of civil law. The read- the archbishops and bishops.   Doth he observe
er, however, will probably apprehend that it expressed the sentiments of Archbishop Laud, and was vir-   * Visit. Art., chap. vi., O 9.
tually his.-En.                               t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 186, 187. Prynne,
t Usurpation of Prelates, p. 229, 240.    p. 374. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 289, 290, folio edit.




HISTORY  OF  i'tHE  PURITANS                              325
all the orders, rites, and ceremonies prescribed    Bishop Montague, who succeeded Wren in
in the Book of Common Prayer, and adminis- the diocess of Norwich, 1638, imitated his suctering the sacrament  Doth he receive the  cessor in his visitation-articles; it being now
sacrament kneeling himself, and administer to  fashionable for every new bishop to frame sepnone but such as kneel?  Doth he admit to the  arate articles of inquiry for the visitation of his
sacrament any notorious offenders or schismat- own diocess. Montague pointed his inquiries
ics?  Do the strangers of other parishes come against the Puritan lecturers, of which he oboften, or frequently to your church?  Doth your serves three sorts.*
minister baptize with the sign of the cross 1 Is   " 1. Such as were superinducted into another
your minister licensed, and by whom?  Doth  man's cure; concerning which he enjoins his
he wear the surplice while he is reading pray- visiters to inquire, Whether the lecturer's serers and administering the sacrament?. Doth he mons in the afternoons are popular or catecatechise and instruct the youth in the Ten  chistical?  Whether he be admitted with conCommandments?  Doth he solemnize marriage  sent of the incumbent and bishop?  Whether
without the bans? Doth he, in Rogation-days, he read prayers in his surplice and hood 1  Of
use the perambulation round the parish?  Doth  what length his sermons are, and upon what
he every six months denounce in the parish [or subject?  Whether he bids prayer, according to
publicly declare the names of] all such as per- the fifty-fifth canon?
severe in the sentence of excommunication, not   "2. The second sort of lecturers are those of
seeking to be absolved?  Doth he admit any  combination, when the neighbouring ministers
excommunicate persons into the church with- agreed to preach by turns at an adjoining marout a certificate of absolution?  Is your minis- ket town on market days; inquire who the
ter a favourer of recusants?  Is he noted to be combiners are, and whether they conform as
an incontinent person; a frequenter of taverns, above?
alehouses; a common gamester, or a player at   " 3. A third sort are running lecturers, when
dice? Hath your minister read the Book of neighbouring Christians agree upon such a day
Sports in his church or chapel?  Doth he read  to meet at a certain church in some country
the second service at the communion-table'! town or village, and after sermon and dinner to
Doth he use conceived prayers before or after meet at the house of one of their disciples to
sermon? With regard to churchyards, are they  repeat, censure, and explain the sermon; then
consecrated? Are the graves dug east and  to discourse of some points proposed at a forewest, and the bodies buried with their heads to  going meeting by the moderator of the assemthe west? Do your parishioners, at going in  bly, derogatory to the doctrine or discipline of
and out of the church, do reverence towards the Church; and, in conclusion, to appoint anthe chancel? Do they kneel at confession, other place for their next meeting. If you have
Stand up at the creed, and bow at the glorious any such lecturers, present them."
name of Jesus?* &c., with divers articles of the    Dr. Pierce, bishop of Bath and Wells, suplike nature.-                                pressed all lecturers in market towns, and elseThe weight of these inquiries fell chiefly upon  where throughout his diocess, alleging that he
the Puritans, for within the compass of two  saw no such need of preaching now, as was in
years and four months no less than fifty able  the apostles' days. He suspended Mi. Devenand pious ministers were suspended, silenced, ish, minister of Bridgewater, for preaching a
and otherwise censured, to the ruin of their poor lecture in his own church on a market day,
families, for not obeying one or other of these  which had continued ever since the days of
articles; among whom were the Rev. Mr. John  Queen Elizabeth; and afterward, when he abAllen,. Mr. John TWard, Mr. William Powell, Mr. solved him upon his promise to preach it no
John Carter, Mr. Ashe, Mr. William  Bridges, more, he said to him, "Go thy way, sin no
Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, Mr. Greenhill, Mr. Ed- more, lest a worse thing befall thee."t  His
mund Calamy, Mr. Hudson, Peck, Raymond, lordship put down all afternoon sermons on
Green, Mott, Kent, Allen, Scott, Beard, Moth, Lord's Days, and suspended Mr. Cornish for
Manning, Warren, Kirrington, and others, in  preaching a funeral sermon in the evening. And
the diocess of Norwich.  In other diocesses whereas some ministers used to explain the
were Mr. Jonathan Burre, Mr. William Leigh, questions and answers in the catechism, and
Mr. Matthew Brownrigge, Mr. G. Huntley, Vic- make a short prayer before and after, the bishop
ars, Proud, Workman, Crowder, Snelling, &c., reproved them sharply for it, saying that was
some of whom spent their days in silence, oth- as bad as preaching, and charged them to ask
ers departed their country into parts beyond  no questions, nor receive any answers but such
sea, and none were released without a promise  as were in the Book of Common Prayer; and
to conform to the bishops' injunctions editis et for not complying with this injunction, Mr.
edendis, i. e., already published, or hereafter to  Barret, rector of Berwick, and some others,
be published.                                were enjoined public penance. The Bishop of
Peterborough, and all the new bishops, went in
* Cant. Doom, p. 96.                       the same track; and some of them upon this
t One article, which Mr. Neal has omitted, requi- sad principle, That afternoon sermons on Sunred "that the church-wardens in every parish of his d
diocess should inquire whether any persons presumed ays were an impediment to the revels in the
to talk of religion at their tables and in their families." evening.
Not to say the gross ignorance which this restraint   The Church was now in the height of its triwould cause, it showed the extreme of jealousy and umphs, and grasped not only at all spiritual juintolerance, was subversive of the influence and en- risdiction, but at the capital preferments of state.
dearments of domestic life, and converted each pri- This year Dr. Juxon, bishop of London, was
vate house into a court of inquisition.-Pillars of declared Lord-high-treasurer of England, which
Priestcraft and Orthodoxy Shaken, 1768, vol. iii., p.
107 308.-ED.                                   * P-vnne, p. 376.          t Ibid., p. 377.




326                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
is the first office of profit and power in the  girdle, and upon their priestly character dependkingdom, and has precedence next to the arch- ed the efficacy of all Gospel institutions.  This
bishop. Juxon's name had hardly been known  made some of them  remarkably negligent of
at court above two years;* till then he was no  their cures up and down the country; others
more than a private chaplain to the king, and  lost the little learning they had acquired at the
head of a poor college at Oxford.  Besides, no  university, and many became very scandalous
churchman had held this post since the darkest in their lives; though Lord Clarendon* says that
times of popery, in the reign of King Henry  there was not one churchman in any degree of
VII.; but Laud valued himself upon this nomina- favour or acceptance [at court] of a scandalous
tion: " Now," says he, in his diary, " if the  insufficiency in learning, or of a more scandaChurch will not hold up themselves, under God, lous condition of life; but, on the contrary, most
I can do no more."t  When the staff of treas- of them of confessed eminent parts in knowlurer was put into the hands of Juxon, Lord  edge, and of virtuous and unblemished lives.
Clarendon observes, " that the nobility were in-    Great numbers of the most useful and laboflamed, and began to look upon the Church as  rious preachers in all parts of the country were
a gulf ready to swallow all the great offices of buried in silence, and forced to abscond from
state, there being other churchmen in view  the fury of the High Commission; among whom
who were ambitious enough to expect the rest. were the famous Mr. John Dod, Mr. Whatley,
The inferior clergy took advantage of this situ- Iir. Harris, Mr. Capel, and Mr. John Rogers, of
ation of their affairs, and did not live towards  Dedham, one of the most awakening preachers
their neighbours of quality, or patrons, with that of his age, of whom Bishop Brownrigge used
civility and good manners as they used to do, to say, "that he did more good with his wild
which disposed others to withdraw their counte- notes than we [the bishops] with our set munance and good neighbourhood from them, espe- sic."  Yet his great usefulness could not screen
cially after they were put into the commissions  him from those suspensions and deprivations
of peace in most counties of England."  One of which were the portion of the Puritans in these
the members of the House of Commons said, times.t  His resolutions about subscribing I
" That the clergy were so exalted that a gentle- will relate in his own words: "If I come into
man might not come near the tail of their mules; trouble for nonconformity, I resolve, by God's
and that one of them had declared openly, that assistance, to come away with a clear conhe hoped to see the day when a clergyman should  science; for, though the liberty of my ministry
be as good a man as any upstart Jack gentleman  be dear to me, I dare not buy it at such a rate.
in the kingdom."  It is certain the favourable  I am troubled at my former subscription, but I
aspect of the court had very much exalted their saw men of good gifts, and of good hearts (as I
behaviour, and their new  notions had made  thought), go before me; and I could not prove
them  conceive themselves an order of men  that there was anything contrary to the Word
above the rank of the laity, forasmuch as they  of God, though I disliked the ceremonies, and
had the keys of the kingdom of heaven at their knew them  to be iunprofitable burdens to the
Church of God; but if I am urged again I will
Dr. Juxon, having been elected to the See of never yield; it was my weakness before, as
Hereford before he was consecrated, was translated  I now conceive, which I beseech God to paron the 19th of September, 1633, to that of London. don   Written in the year  627."  But after
His first preferment was, in 1627, to the Deanery of this the good man was overtaken again, and
Worcester: but his constant connexion with the
court was not formed till the 10th of July, 1632, when  yielded, which almost broke his heart; he adds,
he was, at the suit of Archbishop Laud, sworn clerk  "For this I smarted, 1631. If I had read over
of his majesty's closet, two years and eight months this [my former resolution], it may be I had not
before he was declared lord-high-treasurer. So that done what I did."  How severe are such trials
Mr. Neal's expression, that his name had hardly  to a poor man with a numerous family of chilbeen known at court above two years, at which Dr. dren! And how sore the distresses of a woundGrey carps, does not greatly deviate from the exact ed conscience!
fact. The doctor quotes, also, many testimonies to
the amiable temper and virtues of Bishop Juxon. But,   Others continued to leave their country, acthough they justly reflect honour on his memory, the  cording to our blessed Saviour's advice, Matt..
personal virtues of the bishop did not render the in- x., 23, " When they persecute you in this city,
vesting a clergyman with the high office to which he flee ye into another."  Among these were Mr.
was exalted a measure more politic in itself, or less Nathaniel Rogers, son of Mr. John Rogers, of
obnoxious to the people. And the shorter was the  Dedham, educated in Emanuel College, Camtime during which he had been known at court, the bridge, and settled at Assington in Suffolk, where
fewer opportunities he had enjoyed to display his virtues, and the more probable it was that he owed his he continued five years; but seeing the storm
dignity, not to the excellence of his own character, that had driven his neighbours from their anbut to the influence and views of Laud. This circumstance, together with the vast power connected    * Vol. i., p. 77.
with the office, and the exaltation supposed to be   t Mr. Rogers was a thorough Puritan, but of an
thus given to the clerical order, created jealousy and humble and peaceable behaviour. He loved all wh(
gave offence. In this light Mr. Neal places the mat- loved Christ, and was greatly beloved by them
ter, without impeaching the merit of Bishop Juxon. When Laud suppressed his lecture, he said, "La
-ED.                                           them take me, and hang me up by the neck if the)
t Bishop Warburton's remarks here deserve atten- will, but remove those stumbling-blocks out of the.
tion: "Had he been content," says his lordship, Church." Mr. Giles Firmin, one of the ejected Non"to do nothing, the Church had stood. Suppose him  conformists, was converted, when a boy at school,
to have been an honest man and sincere, which I under his ministry. His works are valuable, and the
think must be granted, it would follow that he knew  chief that are extant are, The Doctrine of Faith, 1627;
nothing of the constitution either of civil or religious soci- Exposition on First Epistle of Peter, 1659; A Trea
ety, and was as poor a churchman as he was a politician." tise on Love; and Sixty Memorials of a Godly Life.
-ED.                                         -C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   327
chor, and being fearful of his own steadfastness anny, and injustice."  Mr. Prynne's answer rein the hour of temptation, he resigned his living fleeted upon the hierarchy, though in more modinto the hands of his patron, and forsaking the erate and cautious terms. All the defendants
neighbourhood of his father, and all prospects offered to maintain their several answers at the
of worldly advantage, cast himself and his fai- perilof their lives; but the court finding them not
ily upon the providence of God, and embarked filed upon record, would not receive them. The
for New-England, where he arrived about the prisoners at the bar cried aloud for justice, and
middle of November, 1636, and settled with Mr. that their answers might be read; but it was
Norton, at Ipswich, with whom he continued peremptorily denied, and the following sentence
to his death, which happened in the year 1655.* passed upon them: that "Mr. Burton be deAbout the same time went over Mr. Lambert prived of his living, and degraded from his minWThiteing, M.A., a Lincolnshire divine, who con- istry, as Prynne and Bastwick had been from
tinued at Shirbeck, near Boston, unmolested, their professions of law and physic; that each
till Bishop Williams's disgrace, after which he of them be fined ~5000; that they stand in the
was silenced by the spiritual courts, and forced pillory at Westminster, and have their ears cut
into New-England, where he arrived with his off; and because Mr. Prynne had already lost
family this summer, and continued a useful his ears by sentence of the court, 1633, it was
preacher to a little flock at Lynn till the year ordered that the remainder of his stumps should
1679, when he died, in the eighty-third year of be cut off, and that he should be stigmatized on
his age.                                    both cheeks with the letters S. L., and then all
The Star Chamber and High Commission ex- three were to suffer perpetual imprisonment in
ceeded all the bounds, not only of law and equi- the remotest prisons of the kingdom."  This
ty, but even of humanity itself.t We have re- sentence was executed upon them June 30,1637,
lated the sufferings of Mr. Prynne, Burton, and the hangman rather sawing the remainder of
Bastwick, in the year 1633. These gentlemen, Prynne's ears than cutting them off; after which
being shut up in prison, were supposed to em- they were sent, under a strong guard, one to
ploy their time in writing against the bishops the Castle of Launceston, in Cornwall, another
and their spiritual courts; Bastwick was char- to the Castle of Lancaster, and a third to Carged with a book, published 1636, entitled "Apolo- narvon Castle, in Wales;* but these prisoners
geticus ad praesules Anglicanos;" and with a not being thought distant enough, they were afpamphlet called "The New Litany:" the others, terward removed to the islands of Scilly, Guernwith two anonymous books, one entitled "A  sey, and Jersey, where they were kept without
Divine Tragedy, containing a Catalogue of God's the use of pen, ink, or paper, or the access of
Judgments against Sabbath Breakers;" the oth- friends, till they were released by the Long
er, "News from Ipswich;" which last was a Parliament.
satire upon the severe proceedings of Dr. Wren,   At passing this sentence, Archbishop Laud
bishop of that diocess.  For these they were made a laboured speech to clear himself from
cited a second time into the Star Chamber, by the charge of innovations with which the Purivirtue of an information laid against them by tans loaded him. He begins with retorting the
the attorney-general, for writing and publishing crime upon the Puritans, who were for setseditious, schismatical, and libellous books ting aside the order of bishops, whereas in all
against the hierarchy of the Church, and to the ages since the apostles' time the Church had
scandal of the government.  When the defend- been governed by bishops, whose calling and
ants had prepared their answers, they could not order, in his grace's opinion, was by Divine
get counsel to sign them; upon which they pe- right, the office of lay-elders having never been
titioned the court to receive them from them- heard of before Calvin.  -Ie then vindicates
selves, which would not be admitted; however, the particular innovations complained of, as,
Prynne and Bastwick,'having no other remedy, 1. Bowing towards the altar, or at coming into
left their answers at the office, signed with their the church. This, he says, was the practice in
own hands, but were nevertheless proceeded Jewish times: Psalm xcv., 6, " 0 come, let us
against pro confesso. Burton prevailed with Mr. worship and bow down, let us kneel before the
Holt, a bencher of Gray's Inn, to sign his an- Lord our maker;" and yet the government is
swer; but the court ordered the two chief-jus- so moderate that no man is forced to it, but
tices to expunge what they thought unfit to be only religiously called upon. " For my own
brought into court, and they struck out the part," says his grace, " I shall always think
whole answer, except six lines at the beginning, myself bound to worship God with my body as
and three or four at the end; and because Mr. well as soul, in what consecrated place soever
Burton would not acknowledge it thus purged, I come to pray. You, my honoured lords of
he was also taken pro confesso.              the Garter, do reverence towards the altar as
In Bastwick's answer the prelates are called the greatest place of God's residence upon
"invaders of the king's prerogative, conteniners
and despisers of the Holy Scriptures, advancers   * The archbishop's revenge, not glutted by the seof popery, superstition, idolatry, and profane- vere sentence obtained against Mr. Prynne, pursued
tess; t;hey are charged with oppressing the those who, at Chester and other places, as he was
ness;  hey are charged  ith   oppressing the carryingto prison, showed him civilities. For, though
king's loyal subjects, and with great cruelty, tyr- his keepers were not forbidden to let any visit
* He was an eminently holy man, an admirable him, some were fined ~500, some ~300, and others
preacher, and an incomparable master of the Latin ~250.-Rushworth Abridged, vol. ii., p. 295, &c., as
tongue. " I shall do an injury to his memory," says quoted in the Pillars of Priestcraft and Orthodoxy,
Cotton Mather, "if I do not declare that he was one vol. iii., p. 272. And the servant of Mr. Prynne was
of the greatest men, and one of the best ministers, proceeded against in the High Commission, and sent
that ever set his foot on the American shore."-His- from prison to prison, only for refusing to accuse his
tory of New-England, b. iii., p. 106-108.-C.  master.-Id., p. 273. Neither fidelity nor humanity
t R lshworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 380, &c.  had merit with this prelate. —ED.




328                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
earth; greater than the pulpit, for there is only  upon the acccession of King Charles he turned
the Word of God, but upon the altar is his upon his benefactor, and got him removed from
body; and a greater reverence is due to the  all his preferments at court; upon which Blshbody than to the Word of the Lord; and this is op Williams retired to his diocess,* and spent
no innovation, for you are bound to it by your his time in reading and the good government
order, which is no new thing.'"               of his diocess; here he became popular, enterHis grace proceeds to consider the altera- tailling the clergy at his table, and discoursing
tions in the collects and prayers, which he says  freely about affairs of Church and State.t  He
the archbishops and bishops, to whom the or- spoke with some smartness against the new
dering of the fast-book was committed, had  ceremonies, and said once, in conversation,
power under the king to make, provided nothing  "that the Puritans were the king's best subwas inserted contrary to the doctrine or dis- jects, and he was sure would carry all at last;
cipline of the Church of England; he then jus- and that the king had told him that he would
tifies the several amendments, and concludes  treat the Puritans more mildly for the future."
most of his articles with showing that there is Laud, being informed of this expression, caused
no connexion between the charge and the pop. an information to be lodged against him in the
ular clamour raised against him, of an intent to  Star Chamber for revealing the king's secrets;
bring in popery., But the several innovations  but the charge not being well supported, a new
here mentioned being objected to the arch- bill was exhibited against him for tampering
bishop at his trial, we shall defer our remarks  with the king's witnesses, and, though there
to that place.                                 was very little ground for the charge, his lordHis grace concludes with a protestation that ship was suspended in the High Commission
he had no design to alter the religion estab- Court from  all his offices and benefices; he
lished by law, but that his care to reduce the  was'fined ~10,000 to the king, ~1000 to Sir
Church to order, to uphold the external decency  John Mounson, and to be imprisoned in the
of it, and to settle it to the rules of the first Ref- Tower during the king's pleasure. The bishop
ormation, had brought upon him and his breth- was accordingly sent from the bar to the Towren all that malicious storm that had lowered  er; all his rich goods and chattels, to an imso black over their heads. He then thanks the  mense value, were plundered and sold to pay
court for their just and honourable censure of the fine; his library seized, and all his papers
these men, and for their defence of the Church; and letters examined. Among his papers were
but because the business had some reference  found two or three letters, written to him by
to himself, he forbears to censure them, leaving  Mr. Osbaldeston about five years before, in
them to God's mercy and the king's justice.    which were some dark and obscure expresNotwithstanding this plausible speech, which  sions, which the jealous archbishop interpreted
the king ordered to be printed, the barbarous  against himself and the Lord-treasurer Weston.
sentence passed upon these gentlemen moved  Upon the foot of these letters a new bill was
the compassion of the whole nation. The three  exhibited against the bishop for divulging scan
learned faculties of law, physic, and divinity  dalous libels against the king's privy counciltook it to heart, as thinking their educations and  lors.  His lordship replied that he did not reprofessions might have secured them from such  member his having received the letters, and
infamous punishment,* proper enough for the  was sure he had never divulged them, because
poorest and most mechanic malefactors, who
could make no other satisfaction to the public  into a compliance, exclaimed passionately, as he quitfor their offences, but very improper for persons ted the apartment, " Then take him to you, but, on my
of education, degrees, or quality. Nay, the re- soul, you will repent it."-Jesse's Court of the Stuarts,
port of this censure, and the smart execution  vol. ii., p. 394.-C.
of it, flew into Scotland, and the discourse was    * The remarks of Bishop Warburton on the proceedings against Dr. Williams are just, though severe,
there that they must also expect a Star Cham- and, by their impartiality and spirit, do honour to his
ber to strengthen the hands of their bishops, as lordship. "This prosecution," says he, " must needs
well as a High Commission:   No doubt," says give every one a bad idea of Laud's heart and temper.
Archbishop Laud, " but there is a concurrence  You might resolve his high acts of power in the
between them and the Puritan party in England, state into reverence and gratitude to his master;
to destroy me in the king's opinion."t        his tyranny in the Church, to his zeal for and love of
what he called religion; but the outrageous proseb    ishop of Lincln, and the Reverend Mr. W Os- cution of these two men can be resolved into nothing
bishop of incohifn, and the Reverend Mr. Os- but envy and revenge; and actions like these they
baldeston, chief master of Westminster School, were which occasioned all that bitter, but, indeed,
met with no less hardship.t The bishop had  just exclamation against the bishops in the speeches
been Laud's very good friend in persuading  of Lord Falkland and Lord Digby."-ED.
King James to advance him to a bishopric;  but   t Rushworth, p. 417.
Here he was kept in close imprisonment about
* Clarendon, vol. i., p. 94.                 four years. During his confinement, in order to det Rushworth, p. 385.                         prive him of his bishopric, he was examined upon a
t Clarendon, vol. ii., part ii., p. 81.      book of articles of twenty-four sheets. Among which
Q The insight of King James into Laud's charac- were such frivolous charges as these, viz., that he
ter is remarkable, and does credit to the penetration  had called a book, entitled "A Coal from the Altar,'
of that monarch. When pressed by Buckingham  a pamphlet; that he had said that all flesh in Frig.
and Bishop Williams to consent to Laud's advance- land had corrupted their ways; that he had wicked
ment, "Laud," he said, "is a restless spirit, to be ly jested on St. Martin's hood. What must be
kept back from all places of authority, for he can- thought of the temper of those who could think of
not see when matters are well, but loves to toss and depriving a bishop of his see on such grounds! The
change, and bring things to a reformation floating in bishop was, however, so wary in his answers, thai
his own brain." Phillips tells us, in his Life of Lord- they could take no advantage against him. —Fuller's
keeper Williams, that the king having been wearied  #church History, b. xi., p. 157.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  329
they were still among his private papers; but, Dr. Cornelius Burges, in a Latin sermon before
notwithstanding all he could say, he was con- the clergy of London, preached against the sedemned in a fine of ~8000, ~5000 to the king verities of the bishops, and, refusing to give his
and ~3000 to the archbishop, for the nonpay- diocesan a copy of his sermon, was put into the.
ment of which he was kept close prisoner in High Commission.  Mr. Wharton, of Essex,
the Tower till the meeting of the Long Parlia- preached with the same freedom at Chelmsford,
ment.                                       for which, it is said, he made his submission.
The Rev. Mr. Osbaldeston was charged with Several pamphlets were dispersed against the
plotting with the Bishop of Lincoln to divulge proceedings of the ecclesiastical courts, which
false news, and to breed a difference between the the Bishop of London declared he had reaesv;_
Lord-treasurer Weston and the Archbishop of to believe were written or countenanced by the
Canterbury, as long ago as the year 1634.* The clergy of his own dioress. Many private gen.
information was grounded upon the two letters tlemen in Suffolk maintained lecturers at their
already mentioned, in which he reports a mis- own expense, without consulting the bishop,
understanding between the great leviathan and who complained that they were factious, and
the little urchin. And though the counsel for did not govern themselves according to the
the defendant absolutely denied any reference canons; but, says his lordship [Wren], " What
to the archbishop, and named the persons meant shall I do with such scholars, some in orders
in the letter, yet "the court fined him ~5000 and others not, which gentlemen of figure en,
to the king and ~5000 to the archbishop, to be tertain in their houses under pretence of teach
deprived of all his spiritual dignities and promo- ing their children? and Mwith those beneficed ditions, to be imprisoned during the king's pleas- vines who take shelter in the houses of the
ure, and to stand in the pillory in the dean's yard rich laity, and do not live upon their cures?",
before his own school, and have his ears nailed to Here was the Puritans' last retreat; those who
it." Mr. Osbaldeston being among the crowd in were not willing to go abroad found entertainthe court when this sentence was pronounced, ment in gentlemen's families, and from thence
immediately went home to his study at West- annoyed the enemy with their pamphlets. Even
minster School, and, having burned some pa- the populace, who were not capable of writing,
pers, absconded, leaving a note upon his desk expressed their resentments against the archwith these words: "If the archbishop inquire bishop by dispersing libels about the town, in
after me, tell him I am gone beyond Canterbu- which they threatened his destruction. His
* ry."  The messengers were soon at his house, grace has entered some of them in his diary.
and finding this note, sent immediately to the   "Wednesday, August 23.  My lord-mayor
seaports to apprehend him; but he lay hid in a sent me a libel found by the watch at the south
private house in Drury Lane till the search was gate of St. Paul's, that the devil had left that
over, and then concealed himself till the meet- house to me.
ing of the Long Parliament; however, all his   "Aug. 25. Another libel was brought me by
goods and chattels were seized and confisca- an officer of the High Commission, fastened to
ted. This Mr. Osbaldeston was M.A. of Christ the north gate of St. Paul's, that the governChurch College, Oxford, and Prebendary of ment of the Church of England is a candle in a
Westminster; he was an admirable master, snuff, going out in a stench.
and had eighty doctors in the two universities   "The same night the lord-mayor sent me
that had been his scholars before the year another libel, hanged upon the standard in
1640;t lie was afterward restored by the Long Cheapside, which was my speech in the Star
Parliament; but when he apprehended they  Chamber set in the pillory.
went beyond the bounds of their duty and alle-   "   few days after, another short libel was
giance, he laid down his school and favoured sent me in verse."
the royal cause.                               Yet none of these things abated his zeal or
Mr. Lilburne, afterward a colonel in the ar- relaxed his rigour against those who censured
my, for refusing to take an oath to answer all his arbitrary proceedings.
interrogatories concerning his importing and   It was impossible to debate things fairly in
publishing seditious libels, was fined ~500, and public, because the press was absolutely at his
to be whipped through the streets from  the grace's disposal, according to a new decree of
Fleet to the pillory before Westminster Hall the Star Chamber, made this summer, which
gate, April 8, 1638. While he was in the pillo- ordains that "no book be printed unless it be
ryhe uttered many bold and passionate speeches first licensed, with all its titles,.epistles, and
against the tyranny of the bishops; whereupon prefaces, by the archbishop, or Bishop of Lonthe Court of Star Chamber, then sitting, order- don for the time being, or by their appointment;
ed him to be gagged, which was done accord- and within the limits of the university, by the
ingly, and that, when he was carried back to chancellor or vice-chancellor, on pain of the
prison, he should be laid alone, with irons on his printer's being disabled from his profession for
hands and legs, in the wards of the Fleet, where the future, and to suffer such other punishment
the basest of the prisoners used to be put, and as the High Commission shall think fit. That
that no person should be admitted to see him. before any books imported from abroad be sold,
Here he continued, in a most forlorn and mis- a catalogue of them shall be delivered to the
erable condition, till the meeting of the Long archbishop, or Bishop of London, to be perused
Parliament.                                 by themselves or their chaplains.  And if there
In the midst of all these dangers the Puritan be any schismatical or offensive books, they
clergy spoke freely against their oppressors.t shall be delivered up to the bishop, or to the.._   us rtvoiipaiip.0-7           High Commission, that the offenders may be
Aushworthen  Ox vol ii., pat ii, p. 803817.  punished. It was farther ordained that no pert Athen.T, Oxon., vol. i., p. 833.
t Wood's Athena Oxon., vol. ii., p. 235.             * Rushworth, p. 467.
VoL. I.-T T




330                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS
son shall print beyond sea any English book or lished a book, wherein he endeavoured to acbooks whereof the greatest part is English, commodate the articles of the Church of Engwhether formerly printed or not; nor shall any land to the sense of the Church of Rome, so
book be reprinted, though formerly licensed, that both parties might subscribe them.  The
without a new license.  And, finally, if any book was dedicated to the king, and the friar
person that is not an allowed printer shall set admitted to an acquaintance with the archup a printing-press, he shall be set in the pillo- bishop.*
ry, and be whipped through the streets of Lon-   Great stress was laid upon the uninterrupted
don."                                         succession of the episcopal character through
These terrible proceedings, instead of serving the Church of Rome; for " miserable were we,"
the interests of the Church or State, awakened says Dr. Pocklington, " if he that now sits Archthe resentments of all ranks and professions of bishop of Canterbury could not derive his sucmen against those in power: the laity were as cession fromn  St. Austin, St. Austin from  St.
uneasy as the clergy, many of whom sold their Gregory, and St. Gregory from St. Peter." Dr.
effects, and removed with their families and Heylin, in his moderate answer to Mr. Burton,
trades into Holland or New-England.  This has these words: "That my Lord of Canteralarmed the king and council. who issued out a bury that now is, is lineally descended from St.
proclamaticn, April 30th, 1637, to the following Peter in a most fair and constant tenour of sucpurpose:* "The king being informed that great cession, you shall easily find if you consult the
numbers of his subjects were yearly transport- learned labours of Mason,' De Ministerio Aned into New-England, with their families and glicano.'"
whole estates, that they might be out of the   Bishop Montague published a treatise, "Of
reach of ecclesiastical authority, his majesty the Invocation of Saints," in which he says
therefore commands that his officers of the sev- that " departed saints have not only a memory,
eral ports should suffer none to pass without but a more peculiar charge of their friends;
license from the commissioners of the planta- and that some saints have a peculiar patronage,
tions, and a testimonial from their minister of custody, protection, and power, as angels have
their conformity to the orders and discipline of also, over certain persons and countries by spethe Church."  And to bar the ministers, the cial deputation; and that it is not impiety so to
following order of council was published:     believe."t Dr. Cosins says, in one of his ser" Whereas it is observed that such ministers mons, that " when our Reformers took away the
who are not conformable to the discipline and mass, they marred all 1religion; but that the mass
ceremonies of the Church do frequently trans- was not taken away, inasmuch as the real presport themselves to the plantations, where they ence of Christ remained still, otherwise it were
take liberty to nourish their factious and schis- not a reformed, but a deformed religion."  And
matical humours, to the hinderance of the good in order to persuade a papist to come to church,
conformity and unity of the Church, we there- he told him that the body of Christ was substanfore expressly command you, in his majesty's tially and really in the sacrament.t  This divine
name, to suffer no clergyman to transport him- printed a collection of private devotions, in imself without a testimonial from the Archbishop itation of the Roman Horary. The frontispiece
of Canterbury and Bishop of London."t         had three capital letters, J. H. S.; upon these
This was a degree of severity hardly to be there was a cross encircled with the sun, supparalleled in the Christian world.  When the ported by two angels, with two devout women
edict of Nantes was revoked, the French king praying towards it.  The book contains the
allowed his Protestant subjects a convenient Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer divided into
time to dispose of their effects and depart the seven petitions, the precepts of charity, the sevkingdom; but our Protestant archbishop will en sacraments, the three theological virtues,
neither let the Puritans live peaceably at home, the eight beatitudes, the seven deadly sins,
nor take sanctuary in foreign countries; a conduct with forms of prayer for the first, third, sixth,
hardly consistent with the laws of humanity, and ninth hours, and for the vespers and commuch less with the character of a Christian pline, formerly called the canonical hours; then
bishop; but while his grace was running things
to these extremities, the people (as has been'  Grey quotes a passage from the trial of Laud,
observed) took a general disgust, and almost all by which it appears that he denied having given any
England became Puritan.                       encouragement to the publication of this book, and
The bishops and courtiers being not insensi- had absolutely prohibited its being printed in Engble of the number and weight of their enemies land; that Clara was never with him till the book
among the more resolved Protestants, deter- was ready for the press, nor afterward above twice
or thrice at most, when he made great friends to obmined to balance their power by joining the pa- tain the archbishop's sanction to his printing another
pists; for which purpose the differences be- book, to prove that bishops are by Divine right; and
tween the two Churches were said to be tri- his request was again refused. For the archbishop
fling, and the peculiar doctrinesofpopery printed  replied, "that he did not like the way which the
and preached up as proper to be received by the Church of Rome went in the case of episcopacy,
Church of England.  Bishop Montague, speak- would never consent to the printing of any such
ing of the points of faith and morality, affirmed book here from the pen of a Romanist, and that the
that none of these are controverted between us, bishops of England were able to defend their own
that none of these are controverted between us, cause without calling in the aid of the Church of
but that "the points in dispute were of a lesser Rome, and would in due time."-ED.
nature, of which a man might be ignorant   t Rushworth, vol. i., p. 214.
without any danger of salvation."'  Francis-   $ Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 742. This divine, of
cus de Clara, an eminent Franciscan friar, pub- course, is in high esteem with the Oxford Tractarians. It is tolerably clear that our Puritan fathers
* Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 409.  t Ib., p. 410. took precisely the same views of truth as those now
t lb., part i., p. 214.                     entertained by the opposers of Puseyism in 1843.-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      331
followed the litany, with prayers for the sacra-  without prejudice to truth, the controversies
ment, in time of sickness, and at the approach  might be composed, it is most probable that
of death.  This book was licensed by the Bishop  other Protestant churches would have sued to
of London, and publicly sold when the books of  be included in the peace; if not, the Church of
the most resolved Protestants were suppressed.    England will lose nothing by it, as being hated
Mr. Adams, in a sermon at St. Mary's, in  by the Calvinists, and not loved by the LutherCambridge, asserted the expedience of auricu-  ans."  This was the ridiculous court scheme
lar confession, saying it was as necessary to  which Archbishop Laud used all his interest to
salvation as meat is to the body.*  Others  accomplish; and it is no impertinent story to
preached up the doctrine of penance, and of au- our present purpose, because it is well attested,
thoritative priestly absolution from sin. Some  that a certain countess (whose husband's father
maintained the proper merit of good works, in  the archbishop had married, and thereby brought
opposition to the received doctrine of justifica- himself into trouble) having turned papist, was
tion by faith alone.  Others, that in the sacra- asked by the archbishop the cause of her chanment of the Lord's Supper there was a full and  ging, to whom she replied, it was because she
proper sacrifice for sin.  Some declared for always hated to go in a crowd.  Being asked
images, crucifixes, and pictures in churches, for again the reason of that expression, she anpurgatory, and for preserving, reverencing, and  swered, that she perceived his grace and many
even praying to, the relics of saints.  The au- others were making haste to Rome, and, therethor of the English Pope, printed 1643, says  fore, to prevent going in a press, she had gone
that Sparrow paved the way for auricular con- before them.*
fession, Watts for penance, Heylin for altar   It is certain the papists were in high reputaworship, Montague for saint worship, and Laud  tion at court; the king counted them his best subfor the mass.                                 jects, and relaxed his penal laws, on pretence
It was a very just observation of a Venitian  that hereby foreign Catholic princes might be
gentleman, in his travels to England about this  induced to show favour to their subjects of
time,t " that the universities, bishops, and di- the Reformed religion. Within the compass of
vines of England daily embraced Catholic doc- four years, seventy-four letters of grace were
trines, though they professed them not with open  signed by the king's own hand; sixty-four priests
mouth: they held that the Church of Rome  were dismissed from the Gate-house, and twenwas a true church; that the pope was superior ty-nine by warrant from the secretary of state,
to all bishops; that to him it pertained to call at the instance of the queen, the queen-mother,
general councils; that it was lawful to pray for or some foreign ambassador. Protections were
souls departed; and that altars ought to be  frequently granted, to put a stop to the proceederected, in all churches: in sum, they believed  ings of the court of justice against them.t  I
all that was taught by the Church of Rome, but have before me a list of popish recusants, connot by the court of Rome."  Remarkable are the  victed in the twenty-nine English counties of
words of Heylin to the same purpose: " The  the southern division, from  the first of King
greatest part of the controversy between us  Charles to the sixteenth, which amounts to no
and the Church of Rome," says he, " not being  less than eleven thousand nine hundred and
in fundamentals, or in any essential points of seventyt (as the account was brought into the
the Christian religion, I cannot otherwise look  Long Parliament by Mr. John Pulford, employed
upon it but as a most Christian and pious work Lo  in their prosecution by the king himself), all of
endeavour an agreement in the superstructure; whom  were released and pardoned.  And if
as to the lawfulness of it, I could never see any  their numbers were so great in the south, how
reason produced against it: against the impossi-  must they abound in the northern and Welsh
bility of it, it has been objected that the Church  counties, where they are computed three to one!
of Rome will yield nothing; if, therefore, there    Many of them were promoted to places of the
be an agreement, it must not be their meeting  highest honour and trust; Sir Richard Weston
us, but our going to them; but that all in the  was lord-high-treasurer, Sir Francis WindeChurch of Rome are not so stiff, appears from  bank secretary of state, Lord Cottington was
the testimony of the Archbishop of Spalato, chancellor of the exchequer, and Mr. Porter of
who acknowledged that the articles of the  the bedchamber; besides these, there were
Church of England were not heretical, and by  Lord Conway, Sir Kenelm  Digby, Sir Toby
the treatise of Franciscus de Clara.Q  Now, if, Mathews, Mr. Montague, Jr., the Duchess of
Rushworth,. 137.                          Montague, the Countess of Newport, and many
t May's Hist p. 13of7. Prynne,   95, &.   others, all papists, who were in high favour,~
t Fuller's Appeal, part iii., p. 63, 65.    and had the king and queen's ear whensoever
~ His real name was Christopher Davenport. He  they pleased.  The pope had a nuncio in Engwas the son of an alderman of Coventry, and, with
nis brother John, was sent to Merton College, in  pleased neither party." The Spanish Inquisition put
Oxford, in the year 1613. John became afterward a it into the Index Expurgatorius; and it would have
noted Puritan, and then an Independent. Christo- been condemned at Rome had not the king and
pher,by the invitation of some Romish priests living  Archbishop Laud pressed Penzani, the pope's agent
in or near Oxford, went to study at Douay in 1616. at London, to stop the prosecution. He died the
He afterward spent some time in the University of 31st of May, 1680.- TVarbtrton's supplemental volume,
Salamanca, from whence he returned to Douay, and  p. 483; and Wood's Athente Oxon., vol. ii., p. 415,
read first philosophy and then divinity there. At &c.-ED.
length be became a missionary into England, and a    3 Fuller's Appeal, p. 61. It was the daughter of
chaplain to Queen Henrietta Maria, under the name  William, earl of Devonshire. —e.sse's Court of the
of Franciscus a Sancta Clara. Among many learned  Stuarts, vol. ii., p. 385.-C.
works of which he was the author, was': An Expo-   t Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 284.
sition of the Thirty-nine Articles in the most favour-   t Foxes and Firebrands, part iii., p,75.
able Sense."  "But," says Bishop Warburton, "it   ~ Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 780.




332                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
land, and the queen an agent at Rome; Cardi- made a sacrifice to the law. They were looked
nal Barberini was made protector of the Eng- upon as good subjects at court, and good neighlish nation, and a society was erected under the bours in the country, all the restraints and retitle of " The Congregation for Propagating the proaches of former times being forgotten: but
Faith."* RichardrSmith, tutelar bishop of Chal- they Were not prudent managers of their proscedon, exercised episcopal jurisdiction over the  perity, being elated with the connivance and
English Catholics by commission friom the pope; protection they received; and though I am perhe conferred orders, and appeared in Lincoln- suaded their numbers increased not, their pomp
shire with his mitre and crosier;t Seignior Con  and boldness did to that degree, that, as if they
or Cunaeus, the pope's legate, gained over sev- affected to be thought dangerous to the state,
eral of the gentry, and attempted the king him- they appeared more publicly, entertained and
self by presents of little popish toys and pic- urged conferences more avowedly, than had betures, with which his majesty was wonderfully  fore been known.  They resorted at common
delighted.T The papists had a common purse,9 hours to mass to Somerset House, and returned
with which they purchased several monopolies, thence in great multitudes with the same bareand bestowed the profits upon their best friends; facedness as others come from the Savoy, or
several of their military men were put into  other neighbouring churches. They attempted,
commission, and great numbers were listed in  and sometimes gained proselytes, of weak, unhis majesty's armies against the Scots.ll     informed ladies, with such circumstances as
But let the reader form his judgment of the provoked the rage, and destroyed the charity,
number and strength of the Roman Catholics of great and powerful families, which longed
from Lord Clarendon,q[ who says, "The pa- for their suppression; they grew not only secret
pists had for many years enjoyed a great calm, contrivers, but public professed promoters of,
being on the matter absolved from the severest and ministers in, the most odious and most
parts- of the law, and dispensed with for the grievous projects, as in that of soap, formed,
gentlest.  They were grown to be a part of the framed, and executed by almost a corporation
revenue, without any probable danger of being of that religion, which under that license and
notion might be, and were suspected to be, qual* Fuller's Church History, b. xi., p. 137. Prynne, ified for other agitations. The priests and such
p. 198.    t Foxes and Firebrands, part iii., p. 124. as were in orders (orders that in themselves
$ Mr. Neal here goes beyond his author, who says, were punishable with death) were departed from
which yet could prevail nothing with the king.  their former modesty and fear, and were as willBut then he remarks in the margin, that it " was
strange that the king did not send Cunseus packing, ing to be known as to be hearkened to; insowhen he thus tempted and assaulted him."  On the much that a Jesuit at Paris, who was coming
truth and force of this remark, it may be presumed that for England, had the boldness to visit the amMr. Neal grounded his representation of the king's bassador there, who knew him to be such, and
being delighted with the legate's presents; for, in- offered him his service, acquainted him  with
stead of dismissing him, he often received him at his journey, as if there had been no laws there
Hampton Court, and solicited his services for the for his reception; and for the most invidious
Palatinate, which certainly indicated no displeasure
at his gifts.-Eu.   -                         protection and countenance of that whole party,
Q Foxes and Firebrands, part iii., pv,134.  a public agent from  Rome (first Mr. Con, a
I Dr. Grey properly observes, th-fi the place in Scottish man, and after him the Count of RoCollyer to which Mr. Neal here refers mentions not setti, an Italian) resided in London in great
one syllable of this. The truth it, that Collyer is al- pomp, publicly visited the court, and was avowleged only to prove the influence which the papists edly resorted to by the Catholics of all condihad at court.  I have therefore annexed the refer- tions over whom he assumed a particular juence to a preceding sentence.  The doctor adds,    ion  and was caressed an presented ma"Nor do I believe that he (i. e., Mr. Neal) can produce
the least authority for his assertion, that great num- nificently by the ladies of honour who inclined
bers of papists were listed in his majesty's armies to that profession.  They had likewise, with
against the Scots." It is to be wished that Mr. Neal more noise and vanity than prudence would
had referred here exactly to his authority. But to have admitted, made public collections of monsupply this omission, it may be observed that the ey to a considerable sum, upon some recomqueen employed Sir Kenelmn Digby and Mr. Walter mendations fiom the queen, and to be by her
Montague to raise liberal contributions for the war majesty presented, as a
from the papists, whose clergy vied with the English maesty pr        free-will ofering from
on this occasion; on this ground some styled the for- his Roman Catholic subjects to the king, for the
ces raised the popish army. The circumstance ren- carrying on the war against the Scots; which
ders it, to say the least, exceedingly probable that drew upon them the rage of that nation, with
papists were enlisted. It was afterward charged on little devotion and reverence to the queen herthe king that he employed them in his armies; the self, as if she desired to surpress the Protestant
Earl of Newcastle did not deny it; and the Parlia- religion in one kingdom as well as the other, by
ment produced lists of popish officers in the king's th   of the Roman Catholics."
service, with their names, quality, and employs. I the arms of this account, compared with the forewas also urged against the Parliament, that there
were great numbers of papists, both commanders and going relation, it is evident there never was a
others, in their army.  Dr. Grey quotes Dugdale to stronger combination in favour of popery, nor
prove this. Rapin observes on this charge, that not was the Protestant religion at any time in a
a single Catholic was named by those who brought more dangerous crisis, being deserted by its
the charge, nor were the muster-rolls to which the pretended friends, while it was secretly underappeal was made ever published. —Whitelocke's Me- mining by its most powerful enemies.
moirs, p. 31. Mrs. Macauley's History, vol. ii.,              the same with the civil liber270, 8vo. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 462, 468, folio. An Essay towards a True Idea of the Character and Reign of ties and properties of the people: no man had
Charles I., p. 69; and Dugdale's Short View of the anything that he could call his own any longer
Troubles, &c., p. 105, 56a, —ED.   ~ Vol. i., p. 148. than the king pleased; for in the famous trial of




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   333
Mr. Hampden, of B.uckinghamshire, in the case man had worn a mourning-gown through his
of ship-money,all thejudges of England, except occasion.' In a word, many wise men thought
Crook and Hutton,* gave it for law " that the it a time wherein those two adjuncts, imperium
king might levy taxes on the subject by writ and libertas, were as well reconciled as posunder the great seal, without grant of Parlia- sible."*
ment, in cases of necessity; or when the king-   Not a line of this panegyric will bear exarnidom was in danger, of which danger and neces- nation. When his lordship says " that no peosity his majesty was the sole and final judge; ple in any age had been blessed with so great
and that by law his majesty might compel the a calm, and such a full measure of felicity for
doing thereof in case of refusal or refractori- so long a time together [twelve years]," he
ness."  This determination was entered in all seems to have undervalued the long and pacific
the courts of Westminster Hall, and the judges reign of his majesty's royal fattier, King James,
were commanded to declare it in their circuits who was distinguished by the title of Blessed.
throughout the kingdom, to the end that no man But where was the liberty or safety of the submight plead ignorance.  "The damage and ject, when Magna Charta and the Petition of
mischief cannot be expressed," says Lord Clar- Right, which the king had signed in full Parliaendon,t " that the crown sustained by the de- ment, were swallowed up in the gulf of arbiserved reproach and infamy that attended this trary power? and the statute laws of the land
behaviour of the judges, who, out of their court- were exchanged for a rule of government deship, submitted the grand questions of law to pending upon the soverign will and pleasure of
be measured by what they call the standard of the crown? If the court was in excess and
general reason and necessity."  While these luxury, it was with the plunder of the people,
extraordinary methods of raising money were arising from loans, benevolences, ship-money,
built only upon the prerogative, people were monopolies, and other illegal taxes on mermore patient, hoping that some time or other chandise. The country was so far from growthe law would recover its power; but when they ing rich and wealthy, that it was every year
were declared by all the judges to be the very draining off its inhabitants and substance, as
law itself, and a rule for determining suits be- appears not only by the loss of the foreign
tween the king and subject, they were struck manufacturers, but by his majesty's proclamawith despair, and concluded, very justly, that tions, forbidding any of his subjects to transMagna Charta and the old English Constitution port themselves and their effects to New-Engwere at an end.                             land without his special license. Was it posLet the reader now recollect himself, and sible that trade could flourish when almost
then judge of the candour of the noble historian, every branch of it was engrossed, and sold by
who, notwithstanding the cruel persecutions the crown for large sums of money, and when
and oppressions already mentioned, celebrates the property of the subject was so precarious
the felicity of these times in the following that the king might call for it upon any occasion,
words: " Now, after all this, I must be so just and, in case of refusal, ruin the proprietor by exas to say, that firom the dissolution of the Par- orbitant fines and imprisonment. Did no Engliament in the fourth year of the king, to the lishman wear a mourning-gown in these times,
beginning of the Long Parliament, which was when the Seldens, the Hollises, the Elliots, the
about twelve years, this kingdom, and all his Strouds, the Hobarts, the Valentines, the Corimajesty's dominions, enjoyed the greatest caln, tons, and other patriots were taken out of the
and the fullest measure of felicity, that any Parliament House and shut up for many years
people, in any age, for so long time together, in close prisons, where some of them perished 1
have been blessed with, to the wonder and envy How many of the nobility and gentry were
of all other parts of Christendom: the court punished with exorbitant fines in the Star
was in great plenty, or, rather, excess and lux- Chamber? How many hundred ministers and
ury; the country rich and full, enjoying the i others were ruined in the High Commission, or
pleasure of its own wealth; the Church flour- forced from their native country into banishished with learned and extraordinary men; and ment, contrary to lawl The jails in the several
the Protestant religion was more advanced counties were never free from State or Church
against the Church of Rome by the writings prisoners during the past twelve years of his
of Archbishop Laud and Chillingworth than it majesty's reign, and yet it seems no Englishhad been since the Reformation. Trade in- man wore a mourning gown through his occacreased to that degree that we were the ex- sion. Is it possible to believe that the reputachange of Christendom, foreign merchants look- tion of the greatness and power of King Charles
ing upon nothing so much. their own as what I. with foreign princes (however harmless, pithey had laid up in the warehouses of this king- ous, sober, chaste, and merciful he might be)
dom. The reputation of the greatness and was equal to that of Queen Elizabeth or King
power of the king with foreign princes was Henry VIII. 3 What service did he do by his
much more than any of his progenitors. And arms or counsels for the Protestant religion, or
lastly, for a complement of all these blessings, for the liberties or tranquillity of Europe i
they were enjoyed under the protection of a When his majesty's affairs were in the greatking of the most harmless disposition, the most est distress, what credit had he abroad. or
exemplary piety, and the greatest sobriety, chas- where was the foreign prince (except his own
tity, and mercy that any prince had been en- son-in-law) that would lend him either men or
dowed with, and who might have said that money?  If the Protestant religion was ad
which Pericles was proud of upon his death- vanced in speculation by the writings of Archbed, concerning his citizens,'that no English- bishop Laud and Chillingworth, is it not suffi* Rapin, vol. ii. p. 295, 296, folio edit.  ~ Lord Clarendon's Representation of the Times,
t Vol. i., p. 70.                      vol. i., p. 74, 76.




334                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ciently evident that the Roman Catholics were to stand, and when to sit or kneel: to all which
prodigiously increased in numbers, reputation, the Scots had hitherto been strangers.  The
and influence? Upon the whole, the people of main parts of the liturgy were the same with
England were so far from enjoying a full meas- the English, that there might be an appearance
ure of felicity, that they groaned under a yoke of uniformity; it was revised, corrected, and
of the heaviest oppression, and were prepared  altered by Archbishop Laud and Bishop Wren,
to lay hold of any opportunity to assert their as appeared by the original found in the archliberties; so that to make his lordship's repre- bishop's chamber in the Tower, in which the
sentation of the times consistent with truth, alterations were inserted with his own hand.
or with his own behaviour at the beginning of   The liturgy, thus modelled, was sent into
the Long Parliament, one is almost tempted  Scotland, with a royal proclamation, dated Deto suspect it must have received some amend- cember 20, 1636, commanding all his majesty's
ments or colourings from the hands of his ed- loving subjects of that kingdom to receive it
itors.  This was the state of affairs at the end with reverence, as the only form his majesty
of the pacific part of his reign, and forward to thinks fit to be used in that Kirk, without so
the beginning of the Long Parliament.         much as laying it before a convocation, synod,
general assembly, or Parliament of that nation.
It was appointed to be read first on Easter Sunday, 1637, against which time all parishes were
CHAPTER. VI.                   to be provided with two books at least; but the
outcries of the people against it were so veheFROMI     TO THE OBEGNNING OF THIE COMMOTIONS IN  ment, that it was thought advisable to delay it
SCOTLAND TO THE LONG PARLIAMENT IN THE
YEAR 1640.                                  to the 23d of July, that the lords of the session
[or judges] might see the success of it before
WE are now entering upon a scene of ca- the end of the term, which always ends the 1st
lamity which opened in the north, and in a few  of August, in order to report in their several
years, like a rising tempest, overspread both  counties. the peaceable receiving the book at
kingdoms, and involved them in all the mis- Edinburgh and parts adjacent.  The Archbishcries of a civil war. If Archbishop Laud could  op of St. Andrew's, with some of his more pruhave been content with being metropolitan of dent brethren, foreseeing the disorders that
the Church of England alone, he might have would arise, advised the deferring it yet longgone to his grave in peace; but grasping at er; but Archbishop Laud was so sanguine of
the jurisdiction of another church, founded upon success, that he procured a warrant from the
different principles, he pulled both down upon  king, commanding the Scots bishops to go forhis head, and was buiied in the ruins.        ward at all events. threatening that if they moWe have mentioned the preposterous pub- ved heavily, or threw in unnecessary delays,
lishinog the Scots book of canons a year before the king would remove them, and fill their sees
their liturgy, which was not finished till the with churchmen of more zeal and resolution.*
month of October, 1636. His majesty's rea-   In obedience, therefore, to the royal comsons fbr compiling it were, that " his royal father mand, notice having been given in all the pulhad intended it, and made a considerable prog- pits of Edinburgh that the Sunday following
ress in the work, in order to curb such of his sub- [July 23, 1637] the new service-book would be
jects in Scotland as were inclined to Puritan- read in all the churches, there was a vast conism; that his present majesty resolved to pur- course of people at St. Giles's, or the great
sue the same design, and therefore consented to church, where both the archbishops and divers
the publication of this book, which was in sub- bishops, together with the lords of the session,
stance the same with the English liturgy, that the magistrates of Edinburgh, and many of the
the Roman party might not upbraid us with council were assembled; but as soon as the
any material differences, and yet was so far dean began to read, the service was interrupted
distinct that it might be truly reputed a book by clapping of hands, and a hideous noise among
of that Church's composing, and established by the meaner sort of people at the lower end of
his royal authority as King of Scotland."*    the church; which the Bishop of Edinburgh obThe compilers of this liturgy were chiefly serving, stepped into the pulpit and endeavoured
Dr. Wederburne, a Scots divine, beneficed in  to quiet them, but the disturbance increasing,
England, but now Bishop of Dunblain, and Dr. a stool was thrown towards the desk; upon
Maxwell, bishop of Ross.  Their instructions which the provost and bailiffs of the city came
from England were to keep such Catholic saints from  their places, and with much difficulty
in.their calendar as were in the English, andl * "s This," says Dr. Grey, "is not very likely; and
that such new saints as were added should be as he [i. e., Mr. Neal] produces no vouchers for what
the most approved, but in no case to omit St. he says, he cannot reasonably take it amiss if we do
George and St. Patrick; that in the book of or- not readily assent to it." To this it is sufficient to
ders those words in the English book be not reply, that the fact is stated by Collyer in his Ecclechanged, " Receive ye the Holy Ghost;" and  siastical HIistory, vol. ii., p. 770, whose words Mr.
that sundry lessons out of the Apocr"pha be Neal uses. The eagerness of Laud to carry this
that sundry lessons out of the Apocrypha be
point was stimulated by the Earl of Traquair, who
inserted; besides these, the word presbyter be
inserted i d of pris   ad te      carried a letter to him from some of the lately-pre
inserted instead of priest; and the water in the  ferred Scotch bishops, who had an overbalance ot
font for baptism was to be consecrated. There heat and spirits, urging execution and despatch in
was a benediction or thanksgiving for departed  the business. In this instance the archbishop was
saints; some passages in the communion were the dupe of the insidious policy of the Earl of Traaltered in favour of the real presence; the, ru- qair, whose aim was, by pushing things to extremibrics contained instructions to the people when ty, to ruin the older Scotch bishops, who, as he
thought, stood in the'way of his ambitious views,
* Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 386.  and "might grow too big for his interest." —ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     335
thrust out the populace, and shut the church  and a third, for calling in and burning a sedi
doors; yet such were the clamours from with- tious pamphlet, called a " Discourse against the
out, rapping at the doors, and throwing stones English Popish Ceremonies, obtruded on the
at the windows, that it was with much difficul- Kirk of Scotland;"* all dated October 17, 1637.
ty that the dean went through the service; and  These proclamations inflamed the people to such
when he and the bishop came out of church in a degree, that the very next day the Bishop of
their habits, they were in danger of being torn  Galloway would have been torn in pieces by the
in pieces by the mob, who followed them, cry- mob, as he was going to the council-house, it
ing out, " Pull them down; a pape, a pape, an- he had not been rescued by Mr. Steward; but,
tichrist," &c.                                missing of his lordship, they beset the councilBetween the two sermons the magistrates house, and threatened to break open the door,
took proper measures for keeping the peace in insomuch that the lords who were assembled
the afternoon, but after evening prayer the tu- were obliged to send for some of the popular
mult was greater than in the morning; for the nobility in town to their relief; however, the
Earl of Roxburgh, returning to his lodgings people would not disperse till the council had
with the bishop in his coach, was so pelted promised to join with the other lords in petiwith stones and pressed upon by the multitude, tioning the king against the service-book, and
that both were in danger of their lives. The to restore the silenced ministers.
clergy who read the liturgy in the other church-   Soon after this, two petitions were presented
es met with the like usage, insomuch that the to the lord-chancellor and council against the
whole city was in an uproar, thougli it did not liturgy and canons; one in the name of all the
yet appear that any besides the meaner people men, women, children, and servants of Edinwere concerned in it;* however, the lords of burgh, and the other in the name of the noblethe council thought proper to dispense with men, barons, gentry, ministers, and burgesses.
reading the service next Sunday, till their ex- Their objections against them were the same
press returned from England with farther in- with those already mentioned.  The petitions
structions, which Laud despatched with all ex- were transmitted to the king, who, instead of
pedition, telling them it was the king's firm res- returning a soft answer, ordered a proclamation
olution that they should go on with their work, to be published from  Stirling [Feb. 19, 1637]
and blaming them highly for suspending it.    against the late disorderly tumults, in which,
Among the ministers who opposed reading after having declared his abhorrence of all suthe liturgy were the Rev. Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Rol- perstition and popery, he expressed his displeaslock, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. ure against the petitioners; and, to prevent any
Bruce, who were charged with letters of horn- farther riots, his majesty ordered the term or
ing for their disobedience.  But they stood by session to be removed from Linlithgow to Stirwhat they had done, and in their petition to the ling,f twenty-four miles from Edinburgh, with
council gave the following reasons for their a strict injunction that no stranger should re
conduct: "(I.) Because the service-book had sort thither without special license.  His majnot been warranted by a general assembly, esty also forbade all assemblies or convocations
which is the representative body of the Kirk, of people to frame or sign petitions upon pain of
nor by any act of Parliament.  (2.) Because high treason,T and yet declared, at the same
the liberties of the Scots Kirk, and the form of time, that he would not shut his ears against
worship received at the Reformation, and uni- them, if neither the form nor matter were prejiu.
versally practised, stood still warranted by acts dicial to his royal authority.
of the General Assembly and acts of Parliament.   Upon publishing this proclamation, sundry no(3.) Because the Kirk of Scotland is a free and blemen, barons, ministers, and burghers met
independent Kirk, and, therefore, her own pas- together, and signed the following protest: " 1.
tors are the proper judges what is most for her That it is the undoubted right of the subjects
benefit. (4.) Some of the ceremonies contained  of Scotland to have immediate recourse to the
in this book have occasioned great divisions in king by petition. 2. That archbishops and bishthe Kirk, forasmuch as they are inconsistent ops ought not to sit in any judicatory in this
with the form of worship practised in it, and   * Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 400.
symbolize with the Kirk of Rome, which is   t "There is no order given in this proclamation
antichristian.  (5.) Because the people, having  (I will take upon me to say, having perused it carebeen otherwise taught, are unwilling to receive fully) for the removal of the session or term from
the new book till they are better convinced." Linlithgow to Stirling, as Mr. Neal affirms," says
These reasons were of weigtht \with the coun- Dr. Grey. This is true; and Mr. Neal's inaccuracy
cil, but they durst not show favour to the pris- here lies in representing the removal of the session,oners witheout allowancet  f vrom  England, which from Linlithgow to Stirling, as directed by this proconers without allowance from England, which lamation; whereas it was the act of the council,
could not be obtained; the zealous archbishop after the Earl of' Roxburgh arrived in Scotland with
stopping his ears against all gentle methods of certain instructions from the king to the council,
accommodation, hoping to bear down all oppo- who were to meet at Dalkeith, to consider of the dissition with the royal authority.              ordered affairs of the kingdom. It should seem that
While the country people were busy at bar- this removal was in consequence of those instrucvest things were pretty quiet, but when that tions; especially as the proclamation expressly inhibited the resort of the people to Stirling, " where,
was over they came to Edinburgh in great num- says his majesty, "our council sits, without a warbers, and raised new disturbances, upon which rant.-Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 730. Guthry, as
the council issued out three proclamations: one, quoted by Dr. Harris, expressly says that the king's
for the people that came out of the country to proclamation ordained that the council and sessions
return home; a second, for removing the ses- should remove from Edinburgh, first to Lithgow,
sion or terra  from  Edinburgh to Linlithigow; and afterward to Stirling.-Life, 4c., of Charles I.,
_  Ruston vorter.   f rom E   d.        Xnb   usrg    h t iltho;p. 282.-ED.
* Rushworth's Collection, vol. ii., p. 388.  T Rushworth, vol. ii., part ii., p. 731, 732




336                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
kingdom, civil or ecclesiastical, till they have and calling the Searcher of all hearts to witpurged themselves of those crimes which are ness that their minds and hearts do fully agree
ready to be proved against them. 3. That no with this their confession, promises, oath, and
proclamation of council, in presence of the arch- subscriptions. They protest and promise, unbishops and bishops, shall be prejudicial to any der the same oath, handwriting, and pains, to
of our proceedings. 4. That neither we, nor any defend the king's royal person and authority
that adhere to us, shall incur any damages for with their goods, bodies, and lives, in defence
not observing the liturgy or book of canons, as of Christ's Gospel, the liberties of their country,
long as it is not established by General Assem- the administration of justice, the punishment
bly or act of Parliament. 5. That if any incon- of iniquity, against all his enemies within the
venience fall out (which God prevent) upon realm and without; and this they do from theil
pressing the late innovations, we declare the very hearts, as they hope God will be their desame is not to be imputed to us. 6. That all fence in the day of death, and the coming of
our proceedings in this affair have no other the Lord Jesus Christ. To whom, with the Fatendency but the -preservation of the true Re- ther and Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory
formed religion, and the laws and liberties of eternally."
the kingdom."                                  Then follows a recital of the acts of ParliaThe council, being apprehensive of danger ment by which the Reformed religion was esfrom these large assemblies and combinations tablished among them.  But instead of the
of people, agreed that, if they would return band of defence annexed to the covenant of
peaceably to their houses, they might appoint 1580, they framed a new one suited to the pressome of their number of all ranks and orders to ent time, in which, after reciting the king's
represent the rest, till his majesty's pleasure con- coronation oath, they declare "that, as they
cerning their protest should be farther known.* will defend the king's royal person and authorAccordingly, four tables, as they were called, ity, they will also support the authority of parwere erected at Edinburgh; one of the nobility, liaments, upon which the security of the lands,
another of the gentry, a third of the burroughs, livings, rights, and properties depend, and withand a fourth of the ministers. These prepared out which neither any law or lawful judicatory
and digested matters for the general table, can be established. They declare the late informed of commissioners from the other four, novations brought into the Kirk to be contrary
where the last and binding resolutions were to the covenant above mentioned, and, theretaken.                                       fore, they will forbear the practice of them till
One of the first things concluded upon by the they are tried and allowed in a free assembly,
tables was the renewing their confession of an(l in Parliament; and not only so, but they
faith, and the solemn league and covenant sub- promise and swear, by the great name of God,
scribed by King James and his royal household, to resist all these errors and corruptions to the
March 2, 1580-1, and by the whole Scots nation utmost of their power all the days of their lives.
in the year 1590, with a general band for main- They then promise and swear over again to detenance of true religion and the king's person. fend the king's person and authority in the
To this covenant was now added a narrative of preservation of the aforesaid true religion, laws,
sundry acts of Parliament, by which the Re-. and liberties of the kingdom, and to assist and
formed religion had been ratified since that stand by one another at all adventures, withtime, with an admonition wherein the late in- out suffering themselves to be divided by any
novations were renounced, and a band of de- allurement or terror firom this blessed and loyal
fence for adhering to each other in the present conjunction, and without being afraid of the
cause.t                                      odious aspersions of rebellion or combination
In their covenant they declare, in the most which their adversaries may cast upon them.
solemn manner, " that they believe with their And they conclude with calling the Searcher of
hearts, confess with their mouths, and sub- hearts to witness to their sincerity, as they
scribe with their hands, that the confession of shall answer it to Christ in the day of account,
faith then established by act of Parliament is and under pain of the loss of all honours and
the true Christian faith and religion, and the only respect in this world, and God's everlasting
ground of their salvation. They farther declare wrath in the next." All this was sworn to and
their abhorrence of all kinds of papistry in gen- subscribed with great seriousness and devotion,
eral, and then enumerate sundry particulars of first at Edinburgh, in the month of February,
popish doctrine, discipline, and ceremonies, as 1637-8, and afterward in the several counties
the pope's pretended primacy over the Christian  and shires, where it was received by the comChurch; his five bastard sacraments, the doc- mon people as a sacred oracle, and subscribed
trine of transubstantiation, the mass, purgatory, by all such as were thought to have any zeal
prayers for the dead, and in 4n unknown lan- for the Protestant religion and the liberties of
guage, justification by works, auricular confes- their country.  The privy counsellors, the
sion, crosses, images, altars, dedicating of kirks, judges, the bishops, and the friends of arbiwith all other rites, signs, and traditions brought trary power, were the principal persons who
into the Kirk without or contrary to the Word refused. The Universities of St. Andrew's and
of God. All which they promise to oppose to Aberdeen were said to oppose it, and those ot
the utmost of their power, and to defend the Glasgow did not subscribe without some limitancient doctrine and discipline of their Kirk all ations.
the days of their lives, under the pains contain-   There cannot be a more solemn and awful
ed in the law, and danger both of body and soul engagement to God and each other than this!
in the day of God's fearful judgment, protesting  what the reasons were that induced King James
* Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 734.  and the whole Scots nation to enter into it in
t Nalson's Collection, p. 20.        the years 1580 and. 1590, are not necessary to




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     337
be determined; but certainly such a combinsa- and reflected some disgrace upon the archbish.
tion of subjects without the consent of their op; for, as his grace was going to council, Archi.
sovereign, in a well-settled government, is un- bald, the king's jester, said to him, " Whae's
warrantable, especially when it is confirmed by feule now? Does not your grace hear the news
an oath, as no oath ought to be administered  from Striveling about the liturgy?"* His grace
but by commission from the chief magistrate. complaining of this usage to the council, ArchiThe only foundation, therefore, upon which this bald Armstrong, the king's fool, was ordered to
covevant can be vindicated is, that the Scots have his coat pulled over his ears, to be disapprehended that their legal church establish- charged the king's service, and banished the
ment, had been broken in pieces by the king's court.
assuming the supremacy, by his erecting a High   After some time Hamilton was sent back, with
Commission, and by his imposing upon them a instructions (if necessity required) to revoke the
book of canons and liturgy without consent of liturgy, the canons, the High Commisrsion, and
Parliament or General Assembly.               the five articles of Perth; and with authority
The council sent advice of the proceedings to subscribe the confession of faith of 1580, with
of the covenanters from time to time, and ac- the band thereunto annexed, and to take orders
quainted his majesty that the cause of all the that all his majesty's subjects subscribed the
commotions was the fear of innovations in the same.t  He might also promise the calling a
doctrine and discipline of the Kirk, by introdu- General Assembly and Parliament within a comcing the liturgy, canons, and High Commission; petent time, but was to endeavour to exclude
that it was, therefore, their humble opinion, the laity from the assembly. The design of
that the reading the service-book should not be subscribing the band of the old covenant of 1580
urged at present.  Upon this the king sent the was to secure the continuance of episcopacy,
Marquis of Hamilton, his high commissioner, because that band obliges them to maintain the
into Scotland, with instructions to consent to religion at that time professed, which the king
the suspending the use of the service-book for would interpret of prelatical government, as bethe present, but at the same time to dissolve ing not then legally discharged by Parliament,
the tables, and to require the covenant to be and because it contained no promise of mutual
delivered up within six weeks.  His majesty  defence and assistance against all persons whatadds, " that if there be not sufficient strength  soever, which might include the king himself.
in the kingdom to oblige the covenanters to However, the covenanters did not think fit to
return to their duty, he will come in person  subscribe over again, and therefore only thankfrom  England at the head of a sufficient power ed the king for discharging the liturgy, the canto force them;" and, in the mean time, the ons, and High Commission.
marquis is empowered to use all hostile acts   At length the marquis published a proclamaagainst them as a rebellious people.          tion for a General Assembly to meet at Glasgow,
Upon the marquis's arrival at Holyrood House, November 21 [1638J.  The choice of members
he was welcomed by great numbers of the coyv- went everywhere in favour of the covenanters;
enanters of all ranks and qualities, in hopes that thle 1tev. Mr. Henderson, one of the silenced
he would call a General Assembly and a free ministers, was chosen moderator, and Mr. JohnParliament; but when he told them  this was ston clerk-registrar;T but the bishops presented
not in his instructions, they went home full of a declinator, " declaring the assembly to be unresentments.  The people nailed up the organ- lawful, and the members of it not qualified to
loft in the church, and admonished the marquis represent the clergy of the nation: (1.) Because
not to read the liturgy. The ministers caution- they were chosen before the presbyteries had
ed their hearers against consenting to ensnaring received the royal mandate to make election.
propositions; and a letter was sent to the mar- (2.) Because most of them had not subscribed
quis and council, exhorting them to subscribe the Articles of religion, nor sworn to the king's
the covenant.  His lordship sent advice of these supremacy in presence of the bishops, for negthings to court, and moved his majesty either lect of which they were ipso facto deprived.
to yield to the people or hasten his royal arms. (3.) Because they had excluded the bishops,
The king replied that he would rather die than  who, by the act of Assembly at Glasgow, 1610,
yield to their impertinent and damnable de- were to be perpetual moderators.  (4.) Because
mands, but admitted of the marquis's flattering  there were lay-elders among them who had no
them to gain time,* provided he did inot consent right to be there, nor had ordinarily sat in presto the calling a General Assembly or Parliament byteries for above forty years.  (5.) Because
till they had disavowed or given up the cove- they apprehended it absurd, as well as contrary
nant.t  When this was known, both ministers to the practice of the Christian Church, that
and people declared with one voice that they  archbishops and bishops should be judged by a
would as soon renounce their baptism as their mixed assembly of clergy and laics."  Signed
covenant; but withal avowed their duty and by the Archbishop of St. Andrew's, the Bishops
allegiance to the king, and their resolutions to
stand by his majesty, in defence of the true re-   * On the stool being thrown at the dean's head,
ligion, laws, and liberties of the kingdom.''he who first read it in the cathedral at Edinburgh, Archy
uis,  being able to make any  pression said it was "the stool of repentance." He had a
marquis, riot beimpression particular spleen against Bishop Laud, and the grayon the covenanters, r~etumned  to Et~ng and  with1 ity of' history will be relieved by another stroke of
an account of the melancholy state of affairs in his humour pointed at this prelate. Once, when the
that kingdom, which surprised the English court, bishop was present, he asked.dteave to say grace,
which being granted hin, he said, " Great praise be
* l)r. Grey would supply from the original, "by given to God, and little Laud to the devil."-Gran
all the honest means you can, without forsaking your ger's Biog. History, vol. ii., p. 400.-ED.
ground." ED.                                    t Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 767, &c.
t Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 752, 762.: Rushworth, p. 865-867.
VoL. I. —U u




338                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Galloway, Ross, and for the king to dissolve or break up the assemBrechin.                                    bly of this Kirk, or to stay their proceedings, for
The force of these objections, how strong then it would follow that religion and church
soever in themselves, was taken off by the government should depend absolutely upon the
king's owning the Assembly, and sitting in it by pleasure of the prince.  4. That there is no
his commissioner seven days, though at the pretence by act of Assembly, or Parliament, or
dissolution he declared their proceedings to be any preceding practice, whereby the king's mnajutterly destructive of the name and nature of a esty, or his commissioner, may lawfully disfree assembly.                               solve the General Assembly of the Church of
The bishops' declinator being read, was unan- Scotland without their consent.  5. 1 Lat the
imously rejected, and a committee appointed to assemblies of the Kirk have continued sitting,
draw up an answer.  In the mean time the notwithstanding any contramand, as it is eviAssembly was busy in examining elections, in dent by all the records thereof; and in particuwhich the covenanters carried everything before lar, by the General Assembly of 1582. And,
them; the marquis, therefore, despairing of any lastly, to dissolve the Assembly before anygrievgood issue, determined, according to his instruc- ances are redressed, is to throw back the whole
tions, to dissolve them; and accordingly went nation into confusion, and to make every man
to the great church where they sat, and read despair hereafter ever to see innovations reover his majesty's concessions; as, (I.)'That moved, the subjects' complaints regarded, or
his majesty was willing to discharge the ser- offenders punished.  For these reasons they
vice-book and the book of canons. (2.) To dis- declare it lawful and necessary to continue the
solve the High Commission. (3.) That the ar- present Assembly till they have tried and centicles of Perth should not be urged. (4.) That sured all the bygone evils, and the introductors
no oath should be required of any minister at of them, and have provided a solid course for
his entrance into the ministry but what is re- continuing God's truth in this land with purity
quired by act of Parliament. (5.) That for the and liberty; they declare, farther, that the said
future there should be general assemblies as oft- Assembly is and shall be esteemed and obeyed
en as the affairs of the Kirk shall require; and as a most lawful, full, and free General Assemthat the bishops should be censurable by the bly of this kingdom, and that the acts, sentenAssembly, according to their merits. (6.) That ces, censures, and proceedings of it shall be
the confession of faith of 1580 should be sub- obeyed and observed by all the subjects of this
scribed by all his majesty's subjects of Scot- kingdom."*
land." These, although very considerable abate-   Archbishop Laud was vexed at these bold
ments, did not reach the requirements of the and desperate proceedings of the Assembly, and
covenanters, which were, the dissolution of the thought of nothing but dispersing them by arms.
order of the bishops, and of the above-mention- " I will be bold to say," says his grace, " never.ed grievances, by a statute law. The marquis were there more gross absurdities, nor half so'went on, and in a long speech declaimed against many, in so short a time, committed in any
lay-elders, "an office," as he said, " unknown public meeting; and for a national assembly,;in the Church for fifteen hundred years, such never did the Church of Christ see the like."'persons being very unfit to judge of the high " I am as sorry as your grace [the Marquis of,mysteries of predestination, effectual grace, ante Hamilton] can be that the king's preparations:and post lapsarian doctrines, or to pass sentence can make no more haste; I hope you think I;upon their superiors in learning and office." have called upon his majesty, and by his comHe therefore advised them  to break up and mand upon some others, to hasten all that may
choose another assembly of all clergymen; but be, and more than this I cannot do; I have
his motion striking at the very being and law- done, and do daily call upon his majesty for his:fulness of their present constitution, was unan- preparations; he protests he makes all the haste
imously rejected; whereupon the marquis dis- he can, and I believe him, but the jealousies of
solved them, after they had sat only seven days, giving the covenanters umbrage too soon have
forbidding them to continue their sessions upon made preparations here so late."
pain of high treason; and next morning the    The Assembly, according to their resoludissolution was published by proclamation at the tion, continued sitting several weeks, till they
-market-cross.                               had passed the following acts: an act for disBut the Assembly, instead of submitting to annulling six late assemblies therein mentioned,:the royal command, continued sitting, and the held in the years 1606, 1608, 1610, 1616, 1617,,very:next day [November 29] published a prot- 1618, with the reasons; an act for abjuring and
estation to justify their proceedings, wherein abolishing episcopacy; an act for condemning
"they affirm, "1. That ruling elders have con- the five articles of Perth; an act for condemn-stantly sat in their assemblies befbre the late ing the service-book, book of canons, book:times of corruption.  2. That his majesty's of ordination, and the High Commission; an
presence in their assemblies, either in his own act for condemning archdeacons, chapters, and
person or by his commissioners, is not for vo- preaching deacons; an act for restoring presting. but as princes and emperors of old, in a byteries, provincial and national assemblies, to
princely manner, to countenance their meet- their constitution of ministers and elders, and
ings, and preside in them for external order. to their power and jurisdiction contained in the
3. That it is clear, by the doctrine and disci- book of policy,t with many others of the like
pline of the Kirk, contained in the book of poli- nature.  They then pronounced sentence of
cy, and registered in the book of the Assembly, deposition against the bishops, eight of whom
and subscribed by the presbyteries of this Kirk, were excommunicated, four excluded from the
that it is unlawful in itself, and prejudicial to  * Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 863-865.
the privileges that Christ has left his Church,  t Ibid., p. 873.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     339
ministerial function, and two only allowed to tion, and money, there not being above three
officiate as pastors or presbyters.  Upon this, thousand arms to be found in the whole kingDr. Spotswood, bishop of St. Andrew's, and lord- dom; and having no money, their soldiers made
high-chancellor of Scotland, retired to London, such a ragged appearance, that when the king
where he died the next year.  Most of his saw them, he said, "'they would certainly fight
brethren the bishops took the same method; the English if it were only to get their fine
only four remained in the country, three of clothes."  But the success of this war will fall
whom  renounced their episcopal orders, viz., within the compass of the next year.
Alexander Ramsey, bishop of Dunkeld, George   To return to England: the Star Chamber and
Graham, bishop of Orkney, and James Fairby, High Commission went on with their oppresbishop of Argyle; but the fourth, George Guth- sions as if they were under no apprehensions
rey, bishop. of Murray, kept his ground and from the storm that was gathering in the North.
weathered the storm. At the close of the ses- Many ministers were suspended and shut up in
sion, the Assembly drew up a letter to the king, prison, as Mr. Henry Wilkinson, B.D., of Magcomplaining of his majesty's commissioner, who  dalen College, Oxford; Mr. George Walker,
had proclaimed them  traitors, and forbade the Mr. Smith, Mr. Small, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Brewer,
people to pay any regard to their acts, and praying a Baptist preacher,* who lay in prison fourteen
the king to look upon them still as his good and years; Mr. Foxley, of St. Martin's in the Fields,
faithful subjects.  They also published another who was confined in a chamber in the Gatedeclaration to the good people of England, in house not four yards square for twenty months,
vindication of their proceedings, which his maj- without pen, ink, or paper, or the access of
esty took care to suppress, and issued out a any friends, even in his extreme sickness; and
proclamation against the seditious behaviour of all this without knowing his crime, or so much
the covenanters, which he commanded to be as guessing at it, unless it was for speaking in
read in all the churches in England.*         favour of the feoffees.t
It was easy to foresee that these warm pro-   Great numbers of Puritans continued to flock
ceedings must issue in a war, especially when it into New-England, notwithstanding the prois remembered that his majesty consulted with hibition of the council last year, insomuch that
none but the declared enemies of their Kirk, the Massachusetts Bay began to be too strait
viz., Laud, Hamilton, and Wentworth. On the for them; in the latter end of the year 1636
26th of January the king published his resolu- about one hundred families travelled farther
tion to go in person against the Scots Covenant- into the country, and settled on the banks of
ers at the head of an army; for this purpose the River Connecticut, with the Reverend Mr.
the nobility were summoned to attend his maj- Hooker at their head; another detachment
esty, and all the wheels of the prerogative went from  Dorchester, a third from  Waterwere put in motion to raise men and money.t town, and a fourth from  Roxbury, and built
Dr. Pierce, bishop of Bath and Wells, in his
letter to his clergy, calls it " bellum episcopale,"   * It does not appear whether he was ever benea war for the support of episcopacy, that they ficed in the Established Church. The first account
should therefore stir up their clergy to a liberal of him we meet with is, that in the year 1626 he was
contribution after the rate of three shillings and a preacher among the Separatists in and about Athford, in Kent. In that year, through the instigation
tenpence in the pound, according to the valua- of Laud, he was prosecuted and censured in the
tion of their livings in the king's books.  The  High Commission Court, and committed to prison,
archbishop also wrote to his commissary, Sir where he remained no less than fourteen years.
John Lamb, for a contribution in the civil courts The archbishop, afterward speaking of the mischief
of Doctors' Commons, requiring him to send done by the nonconformity of Mr. Brewer and Mr.
the names of such as refused to himself at Turner, says, "The hurt which they have done is
Lambeth. The queen and her friends under- so deeply rooted that it is impossible to be plucked
Caethi  T  eher cries up on a sudden, but I must crave time to work it off
took for the Roman Catholics; the courtiers by little and little." His grace, however, fixed upon
and the country gentlemen were applied to to the most direct and effectual method of doing this;
lend money on this occasion, which the former for in his account of his province, addressed to the
readily complied with, but of the latter forty only king in the year 1637, he says, "I must give your
contributed together about ~1400. With these, majesty to understand, that at and about Athford,
and some other assistances, the king fitted out in Kent, the Separatists continue to hold their
a fleet of sixteen men-of-war, and raised a conventicles, notwithstanding the excommunication
splendid army of twenty-one thousand horse of so many of them as have been discovered. Two
splendid army of twenty-one thousand horse or three of their principal ringleaders, Brewer, Fenand foot.                                     ner, and Turner, have long been kept-in prison, and
The Scots, being informed of the prepara- it was once thought fit to proceed against them by
tions that were making against them in Eng- the statute of abjuration. Not long since Brewer
land, secured the important castles of Edin- slipped out of prison, and went to Rochester and
burgh, Dumbritton, and Frith, and raised an other parts of Kent, and held conventicles, and put
army of such volunteers as had the cause of a great many people into great distemper against the
the Kirk at heart, and were determined to  Church. He is taken again, and was called before
the Kirk at tieart, and  were determined to the High Commission, where he stood silent, but in
sacrifice their lives in defence of it; they sent the High Commission, where he stood silent, but in
fo r the ir old general, Lesley, from  Germany, sentsuch a jeering, scornful manner as I scarcely ever
for their old general, Lesley, from  Germany, saw the like. So in prison he remains." This was,w ho upon this occasion quitted the emper- a short and certain method of stopping their mouths.
or's service, and brought over with him sev- Mr. Brewer having been confined in prison fourteen
elral experienced officers. But their greatest years, even till the meeting of the Long Parliament,
distress was thhe want of firearms, ammuni- he was then set at liberty by an order from the
House of Commons, November 23, 1640, upon his
*Rushworth, vol. i, part ii., p. 876.     promise to be forthcoming when called, and this is
t Prynne's introd., 177, 178, 196.  Rushworth, all we know of him. —Nalson's Collec., vol. i., p. 570.
vol. i., part ii., p..791.                  -C.                           Pryr, p. 388




340                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the towns of Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, student, a lively preacher, and of a heavenly
and Springfield, in that colony.  Next year conversation.*
[1637] the passengers from  England were so    Mr. Charles Chauncey,t B.D., educated in
numerous that they projected a new settlement Cambridge, and Greek lecturer of his own colon the southwest part of Connecticut River, in lege in that university. He was afterward seta large bay near the confines of New-York; tled at Ware, and was an admired and useful
the leaders of this colony were Theophilus preacher, till he was driven from thence, as has
Eaton, Esq., and the Reverend Mr. Davenport, been related.  When the Book of Sports was
who came from England with a large retinue published, and the drums beat about the town
of acquaintance and followers; they spread to summon the people to their (lances and revalong the coast, and first built the town of New- els on the Lord's Day evening, he preached
Haven, which gives name to the colony; and, against it, for which he was suspended, and
after some time, the towns of Guilford, Milford, soon after totally silenced.t Few suffered more
Stamford, Brentford, &c.  Notwithstanding for nonconformity, says my author, by fines, by
these detachments, the Massachusetts Bay imprisonment, and by necessities, than Mr.
had such frequent recruits from England, that Chauncey: at length he determined to remove
they were continually building new towns or to New-England, where he arrived in the year
enlarging their settlements in the neighbour- 1638, and became president of Harvard Colhood.                                         lege, in Cambridge.  Here he continued a most
Among the divines who went over this sum- learned, laborious, and use.fl governor, till the
mer was the Reverend Mr. Ezekiel RQgers, year 1671, when he died, in the eighty-second
M.A., some time chaplain in the family of Sir year of his age; he left behind him  six sons,
Francis Barrington, of Hatfield Broad Oak, in the eldest of which was Dr. Isaac Chauncey,
Essex, and afterward vicar of Rowley, in York- well known heretofore among the Nonconformshire, where he continued a successful preach- ist ministers of London.
er to a numerous congregation almost twenty    I pass over the lives of many other divines
years.*  The archbishop of that diocess [Dr. and substantial gentlemen who deserted their
Matthews] being a moderate divine, permitted  native country for the peace of their conscienthe use of those lectures or prophesyings which ces; but it deserves a particular notice that
Queen Elizabeth had put down; the ministers there were eight sail of ships at once this spring
within certain districts had their monthly ex- in the River Thames bound for New-England,
ercises, in which one or two preached, and oth- and filled with Puritan families, among whom
ers prayed, before a numerous and attentive (if we may believe Dr. George Bates and Mr.
audience.  One of the hearers that bore an ill- Dugdale, two famous royalists) were, Oliver
will to the exercises told the archbishop that Cromwell, afterward protector of the Common-,he ministers prayed against him; but his grace, wealth of England, John Hampden, Esq., and
instead of giving credit to the informer, answer- Mr. Arthur Haselrigge, who, seeing no end of
ed, with a smile, that he could hardly believe the oppressions of their native country, deterhim, because "those good men know," says he, mined to spend the remainder of-their days in
"that if I were gone to heaven, their exercises America; but the council, being informed of
would soon be put down;" which came to pass their design, issuedout an order, dated May 1,
accordingly, for no sooner was his successor       Mr. Newman arrived in 1638, and spent oneyear
[Mr. Neile] in his chair, but he put a period to and a half at Dorchester, five years at Weymouth,
them, and urged subscription with so much se- and nineteen at Rehoboth.-C.
verity that many of the clergy were suspended    t He received his grammar education at Westminand silenced, among whom was Mr. Rogers, ster School, and was at school at the time the Gunwho, having no farther prospect of usefulness powder Plot was to have taken effect, and must have
in his own country, embarked with several of perished if it had succeeded. He was an accurate
his Yorkshire friends for New-England, where Hebrecian and Grecian, and admirably skilled in all
the learned languages. Latin and Greek verses of
he arrived in the summer of the year 1638, his appeared in the collections of poetical compliand settled at a place which he called Rowley. ments of condolence or congratulation offered by the
Here he spent the remainder of his days, amid university on different occasions to the courts of
a variety of afflictions and sorrows till the year James I. and Charles I. He was at Boston in order
1660, when he died, in the seventieth year of to take passage for England, in consequence of an
his age.                                      invitation to settle again with his old people at Ware,
Mr. Samuel Newman, author of that concord- when the importunities of the overseers of Harvard.ance  of the Biblew that   ears his nae d was College prevailed with him to accept the presidentante of the Bible that bears his namne, was ship of that seminary, in which place he continued.
born at Banbury, educated at Oxford, and hav- highly honoured for his learning and piety. A granding finished his studies, entered into holy or- son of his son Isaac, also named Charles, minister of
ders, and became minister of a small living in the first church in Boston, died the 10th of February,
that county; but the severe prosecutions of the 1787, in the eighty-third year of his age; having been
spiritual courts obliged him to no less than sev- an ornament to his profession, distinguished by his
en removals, till at length he resolved to get~ extensive benevolence and invincible integrity, a
out of their reach, and remove with their friends warm and virtuous patriot, for nearly six years the
out of tN   heir    reah, and remove with th eir friends able, faithful instructer and friend of his flock, and
to New-England, where he arrived this summer, the author of many works, which remain monuand settled at Rehoboth, in the colony of New- ments of his abilities, application, and excellent temrn
Plymouth, where he spent the remainder of his per. The most valuable and laboured were, " The
days to the year 1663, when he died, in the Salvation of all Men," a treatise; *" Five Dissertasixty-third year of his age.t  He was a hard tions on the Fall and its Consequences;" and a tract
on the " Benevolence of the Deity," all published in
London.-See Dr. Grey, and Clarke's Funeral Sermon
* Mather's History of New-England, b. iii., p. 101 for Dr. Charles Chauncey, 1787.-ED.
4 Mather's Hist., p. 113.                    t Mather's History of New-England, p. 134.




HISTORY OF TtiLE PURITANS.                                   341
1638, to make stay of those ships, and to put on hours of the day, with the liberty of ringing a
shore all the provisions intended for the voyage. bell for public worship, though they did not apAnd to prevent the like for the future, his maj- prove of the Dutch discipline, or join in cowe\
esty prohibited all masters and owners of ships munion with their churches.
to set forth any ships for New-England with    Great was the damage the nation sustained
passengers without special license from  the by these removals: Heylip observes,- "The
privy council; and gives this remarkable reason severe pressing of the ceremonies made the
for it, " Because the people of New-England people in many trading towns tremble at a viswere factious, and unworthy of any support from  itation; but when they found their striving in
hence, in regard of the great disorders and want vain, and that they had lost the comfort of the
of government among them, whereby many that lecturers, who were turned out for not reading
have been well affected to the Church of Eng- the second service at the communion-table in
land have been prejudiced in their estates by their hoods and surplices, and for using other
them."*                                       prayers besides that of the fifty-fifth canon, it
When the Puritans might not transport them- was no hard matter for those ministers to perselves to New-England, they removed with their suade them to transport themselves into for-'families into the Low Countries; among the di- eign parts:'The sun,' said they,'shines as
vines who went thither about this time were Dr. comfortably in other places, and the Sun of
Thomas Goodwin, educated in Cambridge, and righteousness much brighter; it is better to go
a great admirer of Dr. Preston.  In the year and dwell in Goshen, find it where we can, than
1628 he was chosA  to preach the lecture in tarry in the midst of such Egyptian bondage as
Trinity Church, and held it till the year 1634, is among us; the sinful corruptions of the
when he left the university and all his prefer- Church are now grown so general that there is
ments, through dissatisfaction with the terms no place free from  the contagion; therefore,
of conformity; having lived in retirement till  " go out of her, my people, and be not partakers
this time, he withdrew with some select friends of her sins."'"  And hereunto they were ento Holland, and settled at Arnheim, in Gelder- couraged by the Dutch, who chose rather to
land, where he continued till the beginning of carry their manufactures home than be obliged
the Long Parliament.                         to resort to their parish churches, as, by the
Philip Nye, M.A., educated in Magdalen Hall, archbishop's injunctions, they were obliged.
Oxon, and a popular preacher at St. Bartholo-   The eyes of all England were now towards
mew Exchange, London.                         the North, whither the king went, March 27, to
Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, a most candid and  put himself at the head of his army raised
moderate divine,t educated in Cambridge, and against the Scots, the Earls of Arundel, Essex,
afterward a famous preacher to two of the lar- and Holland being the chief commanding offigest congregations about London, viz., Stepney cers under his majesty.  The Scots, under the
and Cripplegate.                              command of' General Lesley, received them
Mr. William  Bridge, M.A., and fellow  of upon the borders; but when the two armies
Emanuel College, Cambridge; he was first min- had faced each other for some time, the king,
ister in Essex, and afterward settled in the city perceiving that his Protestant nobility and solof Norwich, in the parish of St. George Tom- diers were not hearty in his cause, gave way to
bland, where he continued till he was silenced  a treaty -at the petition of the Scots, which
for nonconformity by Bishop Wren, in the year ended in a pacification, June 17, by which all
1637, and excommunicated.                     points of difference were referred to a General
Mr. Sydrach Syrnpson, educated in Cam- Assembly, to be held at Edinburgh, August 12,
bridge, and afterward a celebrated preacher in and to a Parliament which was to meet about
London. These were afterward the five pillars a fortnight after.  In the mean time both arof the Independent or Con regational party, and  mies were to be disbanded,t the tables to be
were distinguished by the n:ime of the Dissent- broken up, and no meetings held except such
ing Brethren in the assembly of divines.      as are warranted by act of Parliament. AcSeveral gentlemen and merchants of figure cordingly, the king dismissed his army, but with
disposed of their effects, and went after them  very disobliging circumstances, not giving the
into exile, as Sir Matthew Poynton, Sir William  nobility and gentry so much as thanks for
Constable, Sir Richard Saltington, Mr. Law- their affection, loyalty, and personal attendrence, afterward lord-president of the council, ance, which they resented so highly that few
Mr. Andrews, afterward lord-mayor of London, or none of them appeared upon the next sumMr. Aske, since a judge, Mr. Bouchier, Mr. mons; the Scots delivered back theking's forts
James, Mr. White, and others.  The States re- and castles into his majesty's hands, and disceived them with great humanity, granting
them  the use of their churches at different   * Life of Laud, p. 367.
t Dr. Grey quotes Lord Clarendon as stating " that
* Rushworth, vol. i., part ii., p. 409.     the king's army, by the very words of the agreement,
t He steered a middle course*between Presbyte- was not to be disbanded until all should be executed
rianism and Brownism, and seems to have been much on the part of the Scots."  But not to say that the
of an Independent, or Congregationalist of the pres- accounts of this treaty in the Memoirs of the Marent day.-Biog. Britan., vol. ii., p. 620. Mr. Baxter,,quis of Hamilton, p. 142, and in Guthry, as quoted
who knew his great worth, said, " If all the Episco- by Dr. Harris, p. 288, mention no such limitation,
palians had been like Archbis'hop Usher, all the Pres- Lord Clarendon himself undermines his own authorbyterians like Stephen Marshall, and all the Inde- ity on this matter, by telling his reader that "no two
pendents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of who were present at the treaty agreed in the same
the Church would have been sooner healed." Mr. relation of what was said and done; and, which was
Burroughs's Exposition of Hosea, in four quarto vol- worse, not in the same interpretation of the meaning
umes, will perpetuate his reputation as one of the of what was comprehended in the writing."-Cla-e't
ablest divines and soundest expositors of the age.-C. don's History, vol. i., p. 123.-En.




342                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
banded the soldiery, wisely keeping their offi- majesty may be heard for redress thereof in his
cers in pay till they saw the effect of the pacifi- own time and place."
cation.*                                      The Scots Parliament met August 31 [1639],
The General Assembly met at Edinburgh ac- and having first subscribed the solemn league
cording to the treaty, but being of the same and covenant with the king's consent, they conconstitution with the last, the bishops present- firmed all the acts of the General Assembly,
ed another declinator to his majesty's commis- concluding with the utter extirpation of episcosioner [the Earl of Traquair], and were excused  pacy as unlawful.*  But the king having by
giving their attendance by express letter from  letter to his commissioner forbidden him to conthe king, his majesty, in his instructions to his sent to the word unlawful, lest it should be incommissioner, having yielded them the point of terpreted absolutely, though it seems to have a
lay-elders. The Assembly, therefore, without reference only to the Kirk of Scotland, his lordany opposition, confirmed the proceedings of ship prorogued the Parliament, first for fourteen
that at Glasgow, which was of very dubious days, and then, by the king's express command,t
authority. They appointed the covenant to be for nine months, without ratifying any of their
taken throughout the kingdom, and explained  acts. The Earl of Dunfermlin and Lord Louthe bond of mutual defence to a consistency  don were despatched to London, to beseech his
with their late conduct. They voted away the majesty to consent to their ratification; but
new service-book, the book of canons, the five they were sent back with a reprimand for their
articles of Perth, the High Commission, and misbehaviour, being hardly admitted into the
with one consent determined that diocesan  king's presence. It seems too apparent that
episcopacy was unlawful, and not to be allowed  his majesty meant little or nothing by his conin their Kirk.t This the Earl of Traquair did  cessions but to gain time; for in his declaration
not apprehend inconsistent with his private in- before the next war, about six months forward,
structions from the king, which were these: he says, " Concerning our promise of a free
" We allow episcopacy to be abolished for the  Parliament, no man can imagine we intended
reasons contained in the articles, and that the it should be so free as not to be limited by the
covenant of 1580, for satisfaction of our people, enjoyment of their religion and liberties, accordbe subscribed. Again, if they require episcopacy  ing to the ecclesiastical and civil laws of that
to be abjured, as contrary to the constitution of kingdom; but if they pass these bounds, we are
the Church of Scotland, you are to give way to  disobliged, and theyleft at-libertytoflyat our moit, but not as a point of popery, or as contrary to  narchical government without control, to wrest.God's law or the Protestant religion. Again, in the sceptre out of our hands, and to rob the
giving way to the abolishing episcopacy, be care- crown of the fairest flower belonging to it."::
ful it be done without the appearing of any war- The king, therefore, did not really intend the
rant from the bishops in prejudice of episcopacy  alteration of any of the civil or ecclesiastical
as unlawful, but only in satisfaction to the people laws of that kingdom, and by his majesty's not
for settling the present disorders, and such other ratifying any of their acts, it was evident that
reasons of state; but herein you must be care- the English court had resumed their courage,
ful that our intentions appear not to any."  It and were determined once more to try the foris evident from hence that his majesty's usage tune of war.
of the Scots was neither frank nor sincere; he   In the mean time, to balance the declarahad no design to abolish episcopacy, and only  tion of the Scots Assembly, Bishop Hall, at the
consented to suspend it because he was told  request of Laud, composed a treatise of the
that the bishops being one of the three estates  "' Divine Right of Episcopacy," which the archof Parliament, no law made in their absence  bishop revised. The propositions which he adcould be of force, much less an act for abolish- vances are these: (1.) 1 nat form of government
ing their whole order, after they had entered  which is of apostoli al institution ought to b6
their protest in form. When his majesty gave  esteemed of Divine right. (2.) That form which
way to the subscribing the covenant, it was was practised and recommended by the aposwith another reserve,'"as far as may stand  ties, though not expressly commanded, is of
with our future intentions well known to you. apostolical institution. (3.) The government set
For though we have discharged the service- up by the apostles was designed for perpetuity.
book and canons, we will never consent that (4.) The universal practice of the primitive
they be condemned as popish and supersti- Church is the best rule to judge of the apostolitious;t not will we acknowledge that the High  cal practice.  (5.) We ought not to suppose the
Commission was without law, nor that the five primitive fathers would change the form of govarticles of Perth be condemned as contrary to  ernment they had received from  the apostles.
the confession of faith; it is enough that they  (6.) The accession of privilege and honourable
be laid aside."  His majesty's instructions con- titles does not affect the substance of the episelude, " that if anything be yielded in the pres- copal function. (7.) The Presbyterian governent Assembly prejudicial to his majesty's ser- ment, though challenging the glorious title of
vice, his commissioner shall protest, that his Christ's kingdom and ordinance, had no found.
* Mrs. Macaulay, in her detail of this treaty, men- atioa in Scripture, or in the practice of the
tions as a memorable circumstance, unnoticed by Church for fifteen hundred years, and is altohistorians, and very expressive of the pacific disposi- gether incongruous and unjustifiable.
tion of the Scots, that they told the king, that if he   The bishop's book was altered in many plawould give them leave to enjoy their religion and ces, contrary to his own inclinations, by the':heir laws, they would, at their own expense, transport their army to assist the recovery of the Palati-   i Nalson's Collection, p. 256.
nate.-History of England, vol. ii., p. 283, note, 8vo   t The term of prorogation, as Mr. Grey points i*
edit.- ED.    t Nalson's Collection, p. 246, 247. out, is expressed in Nalson thus: "till the next
Nalson's Collection, p. 254, 255.        spring."-ED.       X Nalson's Collection, p. 273




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   343
archbishop, and particularly in those wherein  with Laud, advised the king to set aside the
he had called the pope antichrist, or spoke too  pacification, and to push the Scots war with
favourably of the morality of the Sabbath, and  vigour, offering his. majesty eight thousand Irish
said that presbytery was of use where episco- and a large sum of money for his assistance;
pacy could not be obtained. His grace disap- but this not being sufficient, the war was
proved of his lordship's waiving the question  thought so reasonable and necessary to the
whether episcopacy was a distinct order, or only king's honour that it might be ventured with
a higher degree of the same order; and of his an English Parliament, which being laid before
advancing the Divine right of episcopacy no the council, was cheerfully agreed to, and, after
higher than the apostles, whereas he would have twelve years' interval, a Parliament was sumit derived from Christ himself. Upon the whole, moned to meet April 13, 1640.
his lordship's book was so modelled by his met-   The Scots, foreseeing the impending storm,
ropolitan, that, in the debate hereafter mention- consulted where to fly for succour; some were
ed, he could hardly go the lengths of his own  for throwing themselves into the hands of the
performance.                                 French, and, accordingly, wrote a very submisThe bishops still kept a strict hand over the sive letter to that monarch, signed by the hands
Puritans: not a sermon was to be heard on the  of seven Scots peers, but never sent; for, upon
distinguishing points of Calvinism all over Eng- application to their friends at London, they were
land. In some diocesses great complaints were assured, by a letter drawn up by Lord Saville,
made of Puritan justices of peace for being too  and signed by himself, with the names of Bedstrict in putting the laws in execution against ford, Essex, Brook, Warwick, Say and Seal,
profaneness. At Ashford, in Kent, the arch- and Mandeville (who agreed to the letter, though
bishop said he must have recourse to the stat- they were so cautious as not to write their own
utes of abjuration, and call in the assistance of names), " that the hearts of the people of Engthe temporal courts to reduce the Separatists, land were with them; that they were convinthe censures of the Church not being sufficient. ced the liberties of both nations were at stake,
Upon the whole, there was no abatement of the  and, therefore, they might depend upon their
height of conformity, even to the end of this year, assistance as soon as a fair opportunity offerthough the flames that were kindled in Scotland  ed."  Upon this encouragement the Scots laid
began to disturb the tranquillity of the Church.  aside their design of applying to France, and
Mr. Bagshaw, a lawyer of some standing in  resolved to raise another army from  among
the Middle Temple, being chosen reader in that themselves, and march into England.
house for the Lent vacation, began to attack    "The Parliament that met at Westminster,"
the power of the bishops. In his lectures on  says the noble historian,* "was made up cf
the 25th Edw. III., cap. vii., he maintained that sober and dispassionate men, exceedingly disacts of Parliament were valid without the as- posed to do the king service;" and yet his majsent -of the lords spiritual. 2. That no bene- esty would not condescend to speak to them
ficed clerk was capable of temporal jurisdiction  from  the throne,t ordering the Lord-keeper
at the making that law. And, 3. That no bish- Finch to acquaint them with the undutiful beop, without calling a synod, had power as a di- haviour of the Scots, whom he was determined
ocesan to convict a heretic. Laud, being in- to reduce, and therefore would not admit of the
formed of these positions, told the king that mediation of the two houses, but expected their
Bagshaw had justified the Scots covenanters immediate assistance, after which he would
in decrying the temporal jurisdiction of church- give them time to consider of any just grievmen, and the undoubted right of the bishops to  ance to be redressed.  But the Commons, intheir seats in Parliament; upon which he was stead of beginning with the supply, appointed
immediately interdicted all farther reading on  committees for religion and grievances, which
those points; and though Bagshaw humbly pe- disobliged the king so much, that, after several
titioned the lord-keeper and the archbishop for fruitless attempts to persuade them to begin
liberty to proceed, he could get no other an- with the Subsidy Bill, he dissolved them in answer, after long attendance, than that it had  ger, without passing a single act, after they
been better for him not to have meddled with  had sat about three weeks. The blame of this
that argument, which should stick closer to him
than he was aware of.* Whereupon he retired    " Clarendon's Hist., vol. i., p. 139.
into the country.                              t Lord Clarendon says, " After the king had
The resolution of the English court to renew  shortly mentioned his desire to be again acquainted
the war with Scotland was owing to the TLord- with Parliaments after so long an intermission," &c.,
deputy Wentworth, whom  Archbishop Laud he referred the cause to be enlarged on by the speaker. "i It is plain from hence," Dr. Grey adds, "that
had sent for from Ireland for this purpose. his majesty did condescend to speak to them from
This nobleman, from being an eminent patriot, the throne." This is observed to impeach Mr. Neal's
was become a petty tyrant, and had governed  veracity. But when the reader has laid before him
Ireland in a most arbitrary and sovereign man- the short speech delivered from the throne, he will
ner for about seven years, discountenancing the judge whether Mr. Neal stands charged with more
Protestants because they were Calvinists, and  than an inaccuracy. It is given us by Nalson, vol. i..
inclined to Puritanism, and giving all imagin-.  My Lords and Gentlemen
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
able encouragement to the Roman Catholics as   "There never was a king that had a more great
friends to the prerogative, whereby he suffered  and weighty cause to call his people together than
the balance of power in that kingdom to fall into  myself; I will not trouble you with the particulars;
the hands of the papists. Wentworth, being I have informed my lord-keeper, and command him
come to court, was immediately created Earl of to speak, and to desire your attention." This was
Strafford and knight of the Garter, and, in concert not properly a  speech from the  throne, but, as Mrs.
Macaulay calls it, "a short preface" to the lord* Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 407.     keeper's speech.-ED.




344                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
hasty dissolution was by some cast upon Laud,   The convocation that sat with this Parliaby others on Sir Harry Vane, while the king ment was opened April 14, with more splendour
laid it on the misbehaviour of the House of and magnificence than the situation of affairs
Commons, who would not take his royal word for required. The sermon was preached by Dr.
redress of grievances, after they had voted the Turner, canon residentiary of St. Paul's, from
necessarysupplies; he therefore senttheleading St. Matt., xvi., 16, "Behold, I send you forth as
members of the House into custody, and commit- sheep among wolves."  After which they adted them prisoners to the Fleet and other prisons. journed to the Chapter-house, where the king's
His majesty having failed of a parliamentary writ of summons being read, the archbishop, in
supply at the time he demanded it, was told a Latin speech, recommended to the Lowei
by Lord Strafford, and others of the council, House the choosing a prolocutor, to be presentthat he was now absolved from all rules of gov- ed to himself or his commissary in the chapel of
ernment, and might take what his necessities Henry VII. on Friday following, to which time
required, and his power could obtain. This, and place the convocation was adjourned.
indeed, was no moreathan his majesty had been   On the 17th of April, after Divine service, Dr.
doing for twelve years before; but some people Steward, dean of Chichester and clerk of the
drew an unhappy conclusion from this maxim, closet, was presented to the archbishop as proviz., that if' the king was absolved from all rules locutor in the chapel of Henry VII., whom his
of governnment, the people were absolved from  grace approved, and then produced his majesall rules of obedience.                    ty's commission under the great seal, authoriHowever, all the engines of arbitrary power zing them " to make and ordain certain canons
were set at work to raise money for the war, and constitutions for the established true relias loans, benevolences, ship-money, coat and gion, and the profit of the state of the Church
conduct money, knighthood, monopolies, and of England."   The commission was to remain
other springs of the prerogative, some of which, in force during the present session of Parliasays Lord Clarendon, were ridiculous, and oth- ment, and no longer; and by a remarkable
ers scandalous, but all very grievous to the clause, " nothing was to be concluded without
subject.  Those who refused payment were the archbishop's being a party in the consultafined and imprisoned by the Star Chamber or tion."  It was intended also to draw up an Engcouncil-table, among whom were some of the lish pontifical, which was to contain the form
aldermen of London, and sheriffs of several of and manner of royal coronations; a form for
the counties. The courtiers advanced ~300,000 consecrating churches, churchyards, and chapin three weeks, the clergy in convocation gave els; a form for reconciling penitents and apossix subsidies, the papists were very generous; tates; a book of articles, to be used by all bishStrafford went over to Ireland, and obtained four ops at their visitation; and a short form of
subsidies of the Parliament of that kingdom; prayer for before sermon, comprehending the
soldiers were pressed into the service in all substance of the fifty-fifth canon. But most of
counties, few listing themselves voluntarily ex- these projects were interrupted by the sudden
cept papists, many of whom had commissions dissolution of the Parliament.
in the army, which gave rise to a common say-   The convocation, according to ancient cusing among the people, that the queen's army of tom, should have broken up at the same time;
papists were going to establish the Protestant but one of the Lower House having acquainted
religion in Scotland.                      the archbishop with a precedent in the-27th year
The people groaned under these oppressions, of Queen Elizabeth, of the clergy's granting a
the odium whereof fell upon Laud and Strafford, subsidy or benevolence of two shillings in the
who were libelled, and threatened with the fury pound, to be raised upon all the clergy, after
of the populace. May9, 1640, a paper was fixed the Parliament was risen, and levying it by
upon the old Exchange, animating the appren- their own synodical act only, under the penalty
tices to pull the archbishop out of his palace at of ecclesiastical censures, it was concluded from
Lambeth; upon this the trained bands were or- thence that the convocation might sit independdered into St. George's Fields; nevertheless, ent of the Parliament, and therefore, instead
the mob rose and broke his windows, for which of dissolving, they only adjourned for a few
one of them, being apprehended, suffered death days to take farther advice.t
as a traitor, though he could not be guilty of   The zealous archbishop, relying upon this
more than a breach of the peace. From Lam- single precedent, applied to the king for a combeth the mob went to the house of the pope's mission to continue the convocation during his
agent, where they were dispersed by the king's majesty's pleasure, in order to finish the canons
guards, and some of them sent to the White Lion and constitutions, and to grant the subsidies alprison; but the following week [May 15] they ready voted.  The case being referred to the
rose again, and rescued their friends. The coun- judges, the majority gave it as their opinion,
try was in the same mutinous posture, there "that the convocation being called by the king's
being frequent skirmishes between them  and writ under the great seal, doth continue till it
the new-raised soldiers, even to bloodshed. The be dissolved by writ or commission under the
city train-bands were in arms all the summer, great seal, notwithstanding the Parliament be
but the campaign proving unsuccessful, there dissolved."
was no keeping the people within bounds after-   Signed, May 14, 1640, by
ward; for while the High Commission was sit-                John Finch, Custos, M. S.
ting at St. Paul's, October 22, near two thou-   H. Manchester,      John Bramston,
sand Brownists, as the archbishop calls them,    Ralph Whitfield,    Rob. Heath,
raised a disturbance, and broke up the court,    Edw. Littleton,     John Banks.
crying out, "No  bishops-no High Commis-.crying out, "No bishops-no High Commis- * Collyer's Eccles. Hist., p. 793. Heylin's Life of
sion." Such were the distempers of the times. Laud, p. 423.    t Fuller's Appeal, p. 67, 69.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  345
Upon this, a commission under the great seal Henry VIII., except in the single instance of
was granted, and the convocation reassembled; Queen Elizabeth.
however, notwithstanding the opinion of these    The canons of this synod, consisting of sevgentlemen of the long robe, Dr. Hacket, Brown- enteen articles, were published June 30, and
rigge, Holdisworth, and others, to the number entitled " Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasti.
of thirty-six, protested earnestly against it, cal, treated upon by the Archbishops of Canter,
though, because the session was warranted by bury and York, Presidents of the Convocation
so many considerable persons, they did not for their respective Provinces, and the rest o$
withdraw, nor enter their protest in form of law, the Bishops and Clergy of those Provinces, -aTi
as they ought to have done.*  They were far- agreed upon with the King's Majesty's Licene~.,
ther so influenced by his majesty's message, in their several Synods begun at London and
sent by Sir H. Vane, secretary of state, to ac- York, 1640."*
quaint them  "that it was his royal pleasure
that none of the prelates or clergy should withdraw from the synod or convocation till the    "We ordain and decree that every parson,
affairs they had in command from the king were  vicar, curate, or preacher, upon one Sunday in
perfected and finished."                     every quarter of the year, in the place where he
Upon this dubious foundation the convocation  serves, shall read the following explanation of
was continued, and a committee of twenty-six the regal power:
appointed to prepare matters for the debate of   "That the most high and sacred order o
the House; but the mob being so inflamed as to  kings is of Divine right, being the ordinance oI
threaten to pull down the Convocation-house, God himself, founded in the prime laws of nathe king appointed them a guard of the militia  ture and revelation, by which the supreme powof Middlesex, commanded by Endymion Porter, er over all persons civil and ecclesiastical is
groom of the bedchamber, a papist, under whose given to them.
protection the synod was continued till the can-    "That they have the care of God's Church,
ons were perfected, and six subsidies granted  and the power of calling and dissolving councils,
by way of supply for the exigence of his majes- both national and provincial.
ty's affairs, to be collected in six years, after   "That for any person to set up in the king's
the rate of four shillings in the pound, amount- realms any independent coercive power, either
ing to about ~120,000, after which it was dis- papal or popular, is treasonable against God
solved [May 29] by a special mandate or writ and the king. And for subjects to bear arms
from his majesty, after it had continued twenty- against their king, either offensive or defensive,
five sessions. The canons having been appro- upon any pretence whatsoever, is at least to reved by the privy-council, were subscribed by as sist the powers ordained of God;. and though
many of both houses of convocation as were  they do not invade, but only resist, St. Paul
present, and then transmitted to the provincial says, they shall receive damnation.
Synod of York, by whom they were subscribed    "And though tribute and custom, aid and subat once, without so much as debating either sidy, be due to the king by the law of God, namatter or form. Dr. John Williams, bishop of ture, and nations, yet subjects have a right and
Lincoln, was in the Tower, and had no concern  property in their goods and estates; and these
with the canons. Dr. Goodman, bishop of Glou- two are so far from crossing one another, that
cester, a concealed papist, was the only prelate  they mutually go together for the honourable
who declined the subscription, till the archbish- and comfortable support of both.
op threatened him with deprivation, and the    " If any clergyman shall voluntarily and carerest of the brethren pressing him to comply, he lessly neglect to publish these explications, he
was persuaded to put his name to the book; shall be suspended; or if, in any sermon or pubbut several of the members of the lower House lic lecture, he shall maintain any position conavoided the test by withdrawing before the day  trary hereunto, he shall be forthwith excommuof subscription; for, out of above one hundred  nicated and suspended for two years; and if
and sixty, of which both houses of convocation  he offend a second time, he shall be deprived."
consisted, there were not many more than one
hundred names to the book.                   CANON 2.-For the better observing the Day of his
hundred names to the book.
The unreasonableness of continuing the syn-           Majesty's Inauguraton.
od after the dissolution of Parliament appears    "The synod decrees and ordains that all perfrom hence, that the convocation, consisting of sons shall come to Church the morning of the
bishops, deans, archdeacons, and clerks, the said day, and continue there till prayers and
three former act in their personal capacities preaching are ended, upon pain of such punishonly, and may give for themselves what subsi- ment as'the law inflicts on those who wilfully
dies they please; but the clerks being chosen  absent themselves from church on holydays."
for their respective cathedrals and diocesses, CANON 3.-For suppressing the Growth of Popery.
legally to sit as long as the Parliament continues,desist from being public persons as soon as    "All ecclesiastical persons, within their sevit is dissolved, and lose the character of repre- eral parishes or jurisdictions, shall confer prisentatives; they are then no more than private  vately with popish recusants; but if private conclergymen, who, though they may give the king  ference prevail not, the Church must and shall
what sums of money they please for themselves, come to her censures; and to make way for
cannot vote away the estates of their brethren, them, such persons shall be presented at the
unless they are re-elected.  Besides, it was next visitation who came not to church, and
contrary to all law and custom, both before and refuse to receive the holy Eucharist, or who
since the act of submission of the clergy to King  either say or hear mass; and if they remain
* Fuller's Church History, b. ix., p. 168.       * Nalson's Collection, p. 545.
VoL. I. —X x




346                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
obstinate after citation, they shall be excom- contrary to that which is so established; nor
municated.                                    will I ever consent to alter the government of
" But if neither conference nor censure pre- this Church by archbishops, bishops, deans, and
vail, the Church shall then complain of them to archdeacons, &c., as it stands now established,
the civil power; and this sacred synod does and as by right it ought to stand, nor yet ever
earnestly entreat the reverend justices of as- to subject it to the usurpations and superstisize to be careful in executing the laws, as they tions of the See of Rome. And all these things
will answer it to God. And every bishop shall I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and
once a year send into the Court of Chancery a swear, according to the plain and common
significavit of the names of those who have stood sense understanding of the same words, without
excommunicated beyond the time limited by any equivocation, or mental evasion, or secret
law, an(l shall desire that a writ de excommuni- reservation whatsoever; and this I do heartily,
cato capiendo may be at once sent out against willingly, and truly, upon the faith of a Christhem all,                                     tian.  So help me God in Jesus Christ."
" Care is likewise to be taken that no person    " If any beneficed person in the Church shall
be admitted to teach school but who has sub- refuse this oath, he shall, after one month,* be
scribed to the Church as the law directs; and suspended ab offi.cio; after a second month, he
that no excommunicate person be absolved by shall be suspended hb Oicio et beneficio; and afany appeal, unless he first take the oath de pa- ter a third month,t if he continue to refuse, he
rendo juri et stando mandatis eccIesie."      shall be deprived.
"It is likewise ordained, that all that are in- CANON 4.-Against Socinianism.        corporated in either of the universities, or take
" It is decreed that no persons shall import, any degree, whether lawyers, divines, or phyprint, or disperse any of{their books, on pain of sicians, shall take the same oath;$ and all govexcommunication, and of being farther punished ernors of halls and colleges in the universities;
in the Star Chamber. No minister shall preach all schoolmasters, and, in general, all that enter
any such doctrines in his sermons, nor student into holy orders, or have license to preach."
have any such books in his study, except he be
a graduate in divinity;* and if any layman em- CANON 7.-A   Declaration concerning some Rites
brace their opinions, he shall be excommunica-               and Ceremonies.
ted, and not absolved without repentance and    "The synod declares that the standing of
abjuration."                                 the communion-table sideways, under the east
[N.B. None of the doctrines of Socinus, nor window of the chancel or chapel, is in its own
any of his peculiar sentiments, are men- nature indifferent; but forasmuch as Queen
tioned in this canon.]                    Elizabeth's injunctions order it to be placed
where the altar was, we therefore judge it propCANON 5.-Against Sectccries.er that all churches and chapels do conform
"The synod decrees that the canon above themselves to the cathedral or mother-churchmentioned against papists shall be in full force es.  And we declare that the situation of the
against all Anabaptists, Brownists, Separatists, holy table does not imply that it is or ought to
and other sectaries, as far as they are applica- be esteemed a true and proper altar, whereon
ble; and farther, the clause against the books Christ is again sacrificed; but it may be called
of Socinians above mentioned shall be in force an altar in the sense of the primitive Church;
against all books written against the discipline and because it has been observed that some
and government of the Church of England.      people in time of Divine service have irrever" It is also ordained, that such persons who ently leaned, cast their hats, or sat upon or unresort to their parish churches to hear the der the communion-table, therefore the synod
sermon, but do not join in the public prayers, thinks meet that the table be railed round.
shall be subject to the same penalties with oth-   "It is farther recommended to all good peoer sectaries and recusants."                  pile, that they do reverence at their entering in
and going olut of the church; and that all comCANON 6.-An Oath for prcventing Innovations municants do approach the holy table to receive
in Doctrine and Government.          the communion at the rails,~ which has hereto"The synod decrees that all archbishops, fore been unfitly carried up and down by the
bishops, priests, and deacons shall, before the minister, unless the bishop shall dispense with
2d of November next, take the following oath, it."
which shall be tendered by the bishop in person,
or some grave divine deputed by him, and shall    CANON 8.-Of Preaching for Conformity.
be taken in presence of a public notary."       "All public preachers shall twice a year
THE OATH.                   preach positively and plainly, that the rites and
ceremonies of the Church of England are law"I, A. B., do swear that I do approve the ful, and that it is the duty of all people to condoctrine, discipline, and government establish- form to them."
ed in the Church of England, as containing all
things necessary to salvation; and that I will
things necessar, by  myto salvation  any other, directly is omitted, as it is in the duplicate sent to the Vicenot endeavour, by myself or any other, directly chancellor of Cambridge, and several others.
or indirectly, to bring in any popisht doctrine   * Allowed   to inform himself."
t " For his better information."
* Dr. Grey supplies here, from Nalson, " or such   X The sons of noblemen are expressly excepted.as have episcopal or archidiaconal ordination, or any DR. GREY.
doctor of laws in order as aforesaid."-ED.       " At the rails" is not in the original, but appears
t In his majesty's duplicate of this canon, sent by to be implied by the order to rail round the commuthe archbishop to the Bishop of Ely, the word popish nion-table.-ED.




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.                                347
CANON 9.-A Book of Articles for Parochial Vis- &c. All who loved the old English Constitution
itation.                  were dissatisfied with the first canon, because it
No other book of articles of inquiry shall declares for the absolute power of kings, and
be used in parochial visitation but that which for the unlawfulness of defensive arms on any
is drawn up by the synod."                   pretence whatsoever. The Puritans disapproved the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth canons;
CANON 10.-Of the Conversation of the Clergy.  but the whole body of the clergy were nearly
"The clergy are enjoined to avoid all excess- concerned in the sixth, being obliged by the 2d
es and disorders, and by their Christian conver- of November to take the oath therein mentionsation to adorn their holy profession."     ed, on pain of suspension and deprivation. The
C(ANON 11.-Chancellors' Patents.     London clergy, among whom were Dr. Westfield, Downham, Burges, Mr. Calamy, Jackson,
"No bishop shall grant any patent to any John Goodwin, Offspring, and others, drew up
chancellor, or official, for any longer term than a petition against it to the privy council; and,
the life of the grantees, and the bishop shall to give it the more weight, procured a great
keep in his own hands the power of instituting many hands.  The ministers, schoolmasters,
to benefices and of licensing to preach."   and physicians in Kent, Devonshire, DorsetCANON 12.- Chancellors' Censures.     shire, Northamptonshire, and in most counties
"No chancellor, commissary, or official, not of England, took the same methoda; some obbeing in holy orders, shall inflict any censure supemay; ng to the oath, as contrary to the oath of
on the clergy in criminal causes, other than for suprema cy;  s   ome complaining of the et cterof
neglect of appearing; but all such causes shall  the synod to impose an oath, and many conbe heard by the bishop, or some dignified cler- fessed that they wished some things in the disgyman with the chancellor."                 cipline of the Church might be altered, and,
CANON 13.-Excommunication and Absolution.  therefore, could not swear never to attempt it
" No sentence of excommunication or abso- in a proper way. Some of the bishops endeavloution shall be pronounced but by a priest, and oured to satisfy their clergy by giving the most
in open consistory, or at least in the church or favourable interpretation to the oath. Bishop
chapel, having first received it under the seal Hall told them that it meant no more than this,
of an ecclesiastical j udge, from whom it comes."' "That I do so far approve of the discipline and
doctrine of the Church, as that I do believe there
CANON 14.-Of Commutations.          is nothing in any other pretended discipline or
"No commutation of penance to be admitted doctrine necessary to salvation besides that
without consent of the bishop, and the money which is contained in the doctrine and discito be disposed of to charitable uses."       pline of the Church of England. And as I do
allow the government by archbishops, bishops,
CANON 15. —0f Jurisdictions.        deans, archdeacons, so I will not, upon the sug"No executor shall be cited into any court gestion of any factious persons, go about to
or office for the space of ten days after the death altar the same as it now stands, and as by due
of the testator, though the executor may prove right (being so established) it ought to stand in
the will within such time."                 the Church of England."*  But most of the
bishops pressed the oath absolutely on their clergy, and to my certain knowledge, says Mr.
~' No license to marry shall be granted to any Fuller,t obliged them to take it kneeling, a cerparty, unless one of the parties have been corm- emony never required in taking the oath of almorant in the jurisdiction of the ordinary to legiance and supremacy: to such extravagance
whom he applies for the space of one month of power did these prelates aspire upon the wing
before the said license be desired. The archi- of the prerogative!
episcopal prerogative is excepted."            The archbishop was advised of these difficulCANON 17.-Against vexatious Citations.    ties by Dr. Sanderson, afterward Bishop of Lincoln, who assured his grace, by letter,$ "that
"No citation into any ecclesiastical court multitudes of churchmen, not only of the preshall be issued out but under the hand and seal ciser sort, but of such as were regular and conof one of the judges of those courts, and within formable, would utterly refuse to take the oath,
thirty days after committing the crime; and un- or be brought to it with much difficulty and relucless the party be convicted by two witnesses, tance, so that, unless by his majesty's special
he shall be allowed to purge himself by oath, direction, the pressing the oath may be forwithout paying any fee; provided that this can- borne for a time, or that a short explanation of
on extend not to any grievous crime, as schism, some passages in it most liable to exception be
incontinence, misbehaviour in the church in the sent to the several persons who are to admintime of Divine service, obstinate inconformity, ister the same, to be publicly read before the
or the like."                               tender of the said oath, the peace of this Church
When these canons were made public, they is apparently in danger to be more disquieted
were generally disliked; several pamphlets were by this one occasion than by anything that
printed against them, and dispersed among the has happened within our memories." However,
people; as, "England's Complaint to Jesus this resolute prelate, as if he had been deterChrist against the Bishops' Canons; wherein mined to ruin his own and his majesty's affairs,
the Nakedness of them is exposed in a solemn would relax nothing to the times, but would
Application to Jesus Christ as the Saviour of have broken the king's interest among the conhis Church;" " Queries relating to the several   * Nalson's Collection, p. 496, 498.
Articles and Determinations of the late Synod,"   t Book xi., p. 171.     $ Nalson, p. 497.




348                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
formable clergy, if the nobility and gentry, with armies were raised to reduce Scotland under
the king at York, had not prevailed with his the arbitrary power of the prerogative (as Lord
majesty to lay him under a restraint by the fol- Clarendon confesses), what could be expected
lowing letter, under the hand of the principal but that afterward they should march back
secretary of state:                          into England and establish the same despotic
" May it please your grace,              power here, with a standing army, beyond all
" I am, by his majesty's command, to let you recovery 1
know, that, upon several petitions presented by    Sad and melancholy was the condition of the
divers churchmen, as well in the diocess of prime ministers when they saw themselves reCanterbury as York, to which many hands are duced to the necessity of submitting their consubscribed, as the mode of petitions now are, duct to the examination of an English Parliaagainst the oath in the canons made in the last ment, supported by an army from Scotland, and
synod, his majesty's pleasure is, that as he the general discontents of the people! Sevcral
took order, before his coming into these parts, of the courtiers began to shift for themselves;
that the execution of neither should be pressed some, withdrew from the storm, and others,
on those that were already beneficed in the having been concerned in various illegal projChurch, which was ordered at the council-board ects, deserted their masters, and made their
in your grace's presence, hut that it should be peace by discovering the king's councils to the
administered to those who were to receive or- leading members of Parliament, which disabled
ders and to be admitted, it is his majesty's the junto from making any considerable efforts
pleasure that those should be dispensed ~with for their safety. All men had a veneration for
also, and that there be no prosecution thereof the person of the king, though his majesty had
till the meeting of the convocation.         lost ground in their affections by his ill usage of
"York, Sept. 30, 1640.      H. VANE."*    Parliaments, and by taking the faults of his
ministers upon himself. But the queen was in
We have mentioned the secret correspond-  ministers upon himself.  But the queen was in
to no manner of esteem  with any who had the
ence between the English and Scots nobility to Protestant religion and the liberties of their
recover the liberties of both kingdoms, which country at heart. The bishops had sunk their
encouraged the Scots to march a second time country at heart. The behaviour in the sunk their
to their border, where the king met them with character by their behaviour in the spiritual
o their bormder, where the king met ofthem with courts, so that they had nothing to expect but
his army, commanded by the Earls of Nor- that their wings should be clipped. And the
thumberland and Strafford; but it soon appeared judges were despised and hated for betraying
that the English nobility were not for conquer- the laws of their country, and giving a sanction
ing the Scots, nor had the Protestant soldiers  the llega l proceedings of the coun cil and
any zeal in his majesty's cause, so that after to the illegal proceedings of the council and
any zeal in his majesty's cause, so  that after Star Chamber. As his majesty had few friends
a small skirmish the Scots army passed the of credit or interest among the people at home,
Tweed, August 21, and on the 30th took pos- so he had nothing to expect from abroad;
session of the important town of Newcastle, the France and Spain were pleased with his disroyal army retreating before them as far as York, tress; the foreign Protestants wished well to
and leaving them masters of the three northern the oppressed people of England; they publishcounties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and their resentments against the bishops for their
Durham, where they subsisted their army and hard usage of the Dutch and French congregations, and gave it as their opinion that a Protsoon as the Scots entered Newcastle, they sent estant ing who countenanced papists, and at
an er ttl-yaestant king who countenanced papists, and at
an express to the lord-mayor and aldermen of the same time drove his Protestant subjects out
London  to assure them them  they would not inter- of the kingdom, was not worthy the assistance
rupt the trade between that town and the city of the Reformed churches, especially after he
of London, but would cultivate all manner of had renounced communion with them, and defriendship and brotherly correspondence. They dared openly that the religion of the Church of
also sent messengers to the king, with an hum- England was not the same with that of the forble petition that his majesty would please " to England was not the same with that of the forconfirm their late acts of Parliament, restore eign  rotestan s.
Three considerable divines of a very different
their ships and merchandise, recall his procla- character died about this time: Mr. John Ballo
mation which styles them rebels, and call an educated in Brazen-nose College, Oxon and afEnglish Parliament to settle the peace between  terward minister of Whitmore, a small village
both kingdoms." This was followed by another, near Newcastle in Staffordshire, where he lived
signed by twelve peers, with his majesty, at upon ~20 a year, and the profits of a little
York, and by a third from the city of London. school. He was a learned and pious man, deThe king, finding it impossible to carry on the serving as high esteem, says Mr. Baxter, as the
war, appointed commissioners to treat with the best bishop in England, though he was content
best bishop in England, though he was content
Scots at Rippon, who agreed to a cessation of with a poor house, a mean habit, and a small
arms for two months from the 26th of October, maintenance. Being dissatisfied with the terms
the Scots to have ~850 a day for maintenance of conformity, it was some tine before he could
of their army, and the treaty to be adjourned to meet with al opportunity to be ordained withLondon, where a free Parliament was immeldi- out subscription, but at last he obtained it from
ately to be convened.  The calling an English the hands of an Irish bishop, then occasionally
Parliament was the grand affair that had been in London; though he lived and died a Nonconcerted with the Scots before their coming conformist, he was an enemy to a separation,
into England, and it was high time, because, to and wrote against Mr. Can and Mr. Robinson
all appearance, this was the last crisis for sa- on that head. His last work, entitled " A Stay
riing the Constitution. If the Irish and English against Straying," was subscribed by five most
Nalson, p. 500.     noted Presbyterian divines, who all testified that




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     349
he died abundantly satisfied in the cause of Non-  [To the divines to whose memory Mr. Neal
conformity, which he distinguished from separ- pays the just tribute of respect in this chapter,
ation.  His other works were very numerous, may be added the great Mr. Joseph Mede. He
and of great reputation in those times.*  He  was descended from a good family, and born in
died October 20, 1640, in the fifty-sixth year of October, 1586, at Berden, in Essex.  He re-,
his age. t                                    ceived his grammar learning first at Hoddesdon,
Dr. Lawrence Chadderton, born in Lanca- in Hertfordshire, and finished it at Weathersshire, 1546, of popish parents, who, when they  field, in Essex.  While he was at this last
heard their son had changed his religion, disin- school, he bought Bellarmine's Hebrew Gramherited him; he was first fellow of Christ's Col- rmar, and, without the assistance of a master,
lege, and afterward minister of Emanuel Col- attained considerable skill in the Hebrew tongue.
lege, Cambridge. King James'nominated him  In 1602 he was sent to Christ's College, in Camone of the four representatives of the Puritans *bridge.  In 1612 he took the degree of master
in the Hampton Court Conference, and after-  of arts, and in 1618 that of bachelor in divinity;
ward one of the translators of the Bible.t  He  but his modesty and humility restrained him
commenced D.D. 1612, and governed his col- from taking the degree of doctor. After taking
lege with great reputation many years, being  the first degree, by the influence of Bishop Anremarkable for gravity, learning, and piety; he  drews he was chosen fellow of his college, havhad a plain but effectual way of preaching, says  ing been passed over at several elections as
Fuller,~ having a strict regard for the Sabbath, one suspected of favouring Puritanical princiand a great aversion toArminianism.  He was ples. In 1627, at the recommendation of Archa fine, grayheaded old gentleman, and could  bishop Usher, he was elected provost of Trinity
read without spectacles to his death, which  College, Dublin, but declined accepting this prehappened in the hundred and third year of his ferment, as he did also when it was offered him
age. Being advanced in years, and afraid of a second time in 1630.  On the small income
being succeeded by an Arminian divine, he re- of his fellowship and a college-lecture he was
signed his mastership to Dr. Preston, whom he extremely generous and charitable, and consurvived, and saw Dr. Sancroft, and after him  stantly appropriated a tenth of it to charitable
Dr. Holdisworth, succeed him, which last at- uses.  Temperance, frugality, and a care to
tended his funeral, at St. Andrew's Church, and  avoid unnecessary expenses enabled him to do
gave him a large and deserved commendation  this.  His thoughts were much employed on
in a funeral sermon.ll                        the generous design of effecting a universal paDr. Richard Neile, archbishop of Yqrk, born  cification among Protestants. It was a favourin -King-street; Westminster, of mean parents, ite saying with him, " that he never found himhis father being a tallow-chandler. He was ed- self prone to change his hearty affections to any
ucated in St. John's College, Cambridge, and  one for mere difference in opinion."  He was
passed through all the degrees and orders of  a fiiend to free inquiry: "I cannot believe,"
preferment in the Church of England, having  said he, "that truth can be prejudiced by the
been a schoolmaster, curate, vicar, parson, chap- discovery of truth; but I fear that the rnaintelain, master of the Savoy, Dean of Westminster, nance thereof by tfallacy or falsehood may not
clerk of the closet to two kings, Bishop of Roch- end with a blessing."  He was an eminent and
ester, Litchfield, Lincoln, Durham, Winchester. faithful tutor. It was his custom to require the
and, lastly, Archbishop of York.  The Oxford  attendance of his pupils in the evening, to exhistorian says he was an affectionate subject to  amine them on the studies of the day; the first
his prince, an indulgent father to his clergy, a  question he then proposed to every one in his
bountiful patron to his chaplains, and a true  order was, "Quid dubitas." What doubts have
friend to all that relied upon him.  Dr. Heylin  you met with in your studies to-day?  For he
confesses that he was not very eminent either supposed that to doubt nothing, and to underfor parts or learning; Mr. Prynne says he was  stand nothing, was nearly the same thing. Bea popish Arminian prelate, and a persecutor of  fore he dismissed them to their lodgings, after
all orthodox and godly ministers.  It is certain  having solved their questions, he commended
he had few or none of the qualifications of a  them and their studies to God's protection and
primitive bishop; he hardly preached a sermon  blessing by prayer.  He was anxious and laboin twelve years, and gained his preferments by  rious in his study of history and antiquities, and
flattery and servile court compliances. He was  diligently applied every branch of knowledge to
a zealous advocate for pompous innovations in  increase his skill in the sacred writings.  He
the Church, and oppressive projects in the state, led the way in showing that papal Rome was
for which he would have felt the resentments  one principal object of the Apocalyptic visof the House of Commons had he lived a little  ions; and was the first who suggested the senlonger; but he died very seasonably for him- timents since espoused and defended by the
self, in an advanced age, October 31, 1640, three  pens of Lardner, Sykes, and Farmer, that the
days before the meeting of the Long Parliament. demoniacs in the New Testiment were not real
possessions, but persons afflicted with a lunacy
* His " Grounds of the Christian Religion" passed  and epilepsy.  His days were spent in studious
through fourteen editions, and was translated into  retirement.  He died on the Ist of October,
the Turkish language. Mr. Ball's treatise on Faith,  1638, in the fifty-second year of his age.  In
and on "The Power of Godliness," are works of  1677, a complete edition of his works was pubgreat merit, and are still eagerly sought after.-C.
t Clarke's Lives, annexed to his General Martyr- lished in folio by Dr. Worthington.-British Biology, p. 147.   1 lb., p. 146.    ~ Book ii., p. 118. ography, vol. iv., p. 446-452, and his Life, pre.
11 Clarke's Lives, annexed to the Martyrology, p. fixed to his Works.]-ED.
146, 147. Dr. Chadderton has a monument at the
entrance of Emanuel College Chapel.-C.  




350                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
CHAPTER VII.                  that inclined towards Rome."  This is farther
KING CHARLES I., 1640.            evident from their order of November 20, 1640,
that none should sit in their House but such as
rHE CHARACTFR OF THE LONG PARLIAMENT.-  would receive the communion according to the usage
THEIR ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE LATE CONVO- of the Church of England.  The Commons, in
CATION AND CANONS. -THE IMPEACHMENT OF their grand remonstrance of December 1, 1641,
DR. WILLIAM LAUD, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBU- declared to the world, " that it was far from
RY. —VOTES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AGAINST their purpose to let loose the golden reins of
THE PROMOTERS OF THE LATE INNOVATIONS.    discipline and government in the Church, to
WE are now entering upon the proceedings leave private persons or particular congregaof the Long Parliament, which continued sitting tions to take up what form of Divine, service
with some little intermission for above eighteen they pleased; for we hold it requisite," say they,
years, and occasioned such prodigious revolu- "that there should be throughout the whole
tions in Church and State, as were the surprise realm a conformity to that order which the law
and wonder of all Europe. The House of Com- enjoins according to the Word of God."  The
mons have been severely censured for the ill noble historian adds, farther, " that even after
success of their endeavours to recover and se- the battle of Edgehill, the design against the
cure the Constitution of the country; but the Church was not grown popular in the House;
attempt was glorious, though a train of unfore- that in the years 1642 and 1643 the Lords and
seen accidents rendered it fatal in the event. Commons were in perfect conformity to the
The members consisted chiefly of country gen- Church of England, and so was their army, the
tlemen, who had no attachment to the court; general and officers both by sea and land being
for, as Whitelocke observes, "Though the court neither Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaplaboured to bring in their friends, yet those who tists, nor Conventiclers; and that, when they
had most favour with them  had least in the cast their eyes upon Scotland, there were, in
country; and it was not a little strange to see truth, very few in the two houses who desired
what a spirit of opposition to the court proceed- the extirpation Qf episcopacy. Nay, his lordings was in the hearts and actions of the most ship is of opinion that the nation in general
of the people, so that very few of that party had was less inclined to the Puritans than to the
the favour of being chosen members of this Par- papists; at least, that they were for the Establiament."*  Mr. Echard insinuates some unfair lishment; for when the king went to Scotland
methods of election, which might be true on [1641], the Common Prayer was much reverboth sides; but both he and Lord Clarendon  enced throughout the kingdom, and was a genadmit that there were many great and worthy eral object of veneration to the people. There
prtriots in the House, and as eminent as any was a full submission and love to the establishage had ever produced; men of gravity, of wis- ed government of the Church and State, espedom, and of great and plentiful fortunes, who cially to that part of the Church which concernwould have been satisfied with some few amend- ed the liturgy and Book of Common Prayer;"
ments in Church and State.                   which, though it be hardly credible, as will apBefore the opening of the session, the princi- pear hereafter by the numbers of petitions from
pal members consulted measures for securing several counties against the hierarchy, yet may
the frequency of Parliaments; for redressing serve to silence those of his lordship's admirers
the grievances in Church and State; and for who, through ignorance and ill will, have reprebringing the king's arbitrary ministers to jus- sented the Long Parliament, and the body of
tice; to accomplish which, it was thought ne- the Puritans at their first sitting down, as in a
cessary to set some bounds to the prerogative, plot against the whole ecclesiastical establishand to lessen the power of the bishops; but it ment.
never entered into their thoughts to overturn   If we may believe his lordship's character of
the civil or ecclesiastical constitution, as will the leading members of both houses, even of
appear from the concurrent testimony of the those who were most active in the war against
most unexceptionable historians.             the king, we shall find even they were true
"As to their religion," says the noble histo- churchmen according to law, and that they had
rian,t " theywere all members of the Establish- no designs against episcopacy, nor any inclied Church, and almost to a man for episcopal nations to presbytery or the separation.*
government.  Though they were undevoted    The Earl of Essex was captain-general and
enough to the court, they had all imaginable commander-in-chief of the Parliamentary army,
duty for the king, and affection for the govern- and so great was his reputation, that his very
ment established by law or ancient custom; name commanded thousands into their service.
and without doubt the majority of that body It had been impossible for the Parliament to
were persons of gravity and wisdom, who, be- have raised an army, in Lord Clarendon's opining possessed of great and plentiful fortunes, ion, if the Earl of Essex had not consented to
had no mind to break the peace of the kingdom, be their general; and "yet this nobleman,"
or to make any considerable alterations in the says he,t " was not indevoted to the filllction
government of the Church or State." Dr. Lewis of bishops, but was as much devoted as any
du Moulin, who lived through these times, says
" that both Lords and Commons were most, if   * It is very important for the reader to bear these
not all, peaceable, orthodox Church of England facts in recollection. The exactions and overbearmen, all conforming to the rites and ceremonies ing tyranny of the Church led these men to their- fuof episcopacy, but greatly averse to popery and tare course, as the only means of self-preservation.
tyranny, and to the corrupt part of the Church  The laity saved the kingdom from the doom which
threatened it.-C.
* Memorials, p. 35.                  t Clarendon, vol. i., p. 182,185, 189, 211, 213, 233,
t Clarendon, vol. i., p. 184, &c.  507; and vo' ii., p. 211, 212, 214, 462, 597, &c.




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.                               351
man to the Book of Common Prayer, and obli- Church and State; nay, he not only appeared
ged all his servants to be present with him at highly conformable himself, but exceeding sharp
it; his household chaplain being always a con- against those that were not."
formable man and a good scholar."            Sir John Hotham was the gentleman who
The Earl of Bedford was general of the horse shut the gates of Hull against the king, and in
under the Earl of Essex, but "he had no desire a sally that he made upon the king's forces
that there should be any alteration in the gov- shed the first blood that was spilled in the civil
ernment of the Church; he had always lived war, and was the first his majesty proclaimed
towards my Lord of Canterbury himself with all a traitor; and yet his lordship declares "he
respect and reverence; he frequently visited was very well affected to the government."
and dined with him, subscribed liberally to the   His lordship is a little more dubious about
repairing of St. Paul's, and seconded all pious the famous Mr. Hampden, but says that most
undertakings."                             people believed " his dislike was rather to some
Lord Kimbolton, afterward Earl of Manches- churchmen than to the ecclesiastical governter, was a man of great generosity and good- ment of the Church."
breeding, and no man was more in the confi-   I might mention Mr. Whitelocke, Selden,
dence of the discontented party, or more trust- Langhorne, and others, who are represented
ed; he was commander of part of the Par- without the least inclination to Presbytery; but
liament forces, and rather complied with the it is sufficient to observe, from his lordship,
changes of the times than otherwise; lie had a "that all the Earl of Essex's party, in both
considerable share in the restoration of King houses, were men of such principles that they
Charles II., and was in high favour with him  desired no alteration in the court or governtill his death.                            ment, but only of the persons that acted in it;
The Earl of Warwick was admiral of the nay, the chief officers of his army were so zealParliament fleet; he was the person who seiz- ous for the liturgy, that they would not hear a
ed on the king's ships, and employed them  man as a minister that had not episcopal ordiagainst him during the whole course of the war; nation."
he was looked upon as the greatest patron of   Nathaniel Fiennes, Esq., Sir H. Vane, jun.,
the Puritans, and "yet this nobleman," says and, shortly after, Mr. Hampden, were beLord Clarendon, " never discovered any aver- lieved to be for root and branch; yet, says his
sion to episcopacy, but much professed the con- lordship, Mr. Pym was not of that mind, nor
trary."                                    Mr. Hollis, nor any of the northern men, nor
In truth, says the noble historian, when the any of those lawyers who drove on most furibill was brought into the House to'deprive the ously with them, all of whom were well pleasbishops of their votes in Parliament, there were ed with the government of the Church; for
only at that time taken notice of in the House though it was in the hearts of some few to reof Peers the Lords Say and Brook, as positive move foundations, they had not the courage
enemies to the whole fabric of the Church, and and confidence to communicate it."
to desire a dissolution of the government.   This was the present temper and constituAmong the leading members in the House of tion of both houses; from which his lordship
Commons we may reckon William Lenthall, justly concludes that, "as they were all of
Esq., their speaker, " who was of no ill reputa- them, almost to a man, conformists to the
tion for his affection to the government both of Church of England, they had all imaginable
Church and State," says his lordship, and de- duty for the king and affection for the governclared on his deathbed, afterthe Restoration, that ment established by law; and as for the Church,
he had always esteemed the episcopal govern- the major part even of these persons would
ment to be the best government of the Church, have been willing to satisfy the king; the rath.
and accordingly died a dutiful- son'of the Church er, because they had no reason to think the
of England.                                two houses, or, indeed, either of them, could
Mr. Pyin had the leading influence in the have been induced to pursue the contrary."
House of Commons, and was, in truth, the most How injurious, then, are the characters of those
popular man, and most able to do hurt of any Church historians, and others, who have reprewho lived in his time; and yet, Lord Clarendon sented the members of this Parliament, even at
says, " though he was an enemy to the Armin- their first session, as men of the new religion,
ians, he professed to be very entirely for the or of no religion, fanatics, men deeply engaged
doctrine and discipline of the Church of Eng- in a design against the whole Constitution in
land, and was never thought to be for violent Church and State!
measures till the king came to the House of   The Parliament was opened November 3,
Commons and attempted to seize him among with a most gracious speech from the throne,
the five members."                         wherein his majesty declares he would concur
Denzil Hollis, Esq., after the Restoration pro- with them in satisfying their just grievances,
moted to the dignity of a baron, was at the leaving it with them  where to begin. Only
head of all the Parliament's councils till the some offence was taken at styling the Scots
year 1647.  "He had an indignation," says rebels at a time when there was a pacification
Lord Clarendon, " against the Independents, subsisting; upon which his majesty came to
nor was he affected to the Presbyterians any the House, and, instead of softening his lanotherwise than as they constituted a party to guage, very imprudently avowed the expresoppose the others, but was well pleased with sion, saying he could call them neither better
the government of the Church."             nor worse. The houses petitioned his majesty
Sir H. Vane, the elder, did the king's af- to appoint a fast for a Divine blessing upon
fairs an unspeakable prejudice, and yet, " in his their councils, which was observed November
judgment, he liked the government both of 17; the Rev. Mr. Marshal and Mr. Burges




352                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
preached before the Commons, the former on 2    Sir B. Rudyard, Sir. J. Culpeper, Sir Edward
Chron., xv., 2, " The Lord is with you while Deering, Sir Harbottle Grimstone, spoke with
you are with him; if you seek him he will be the same warmth and satirical wit for discharfound of you, but if you forsake him he will for- ging the canons, dismounting them, and meltsake you;" the latter on Jer., i., 5, " They shall ing them down; nor did any gentleman stand
ask the way to Zion with their faces thither- up in their behalf but Mr. Holbourn, who is said
ward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to make a speech of two hours in their vindicato the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall tion; but his arguments made no impression
not be forgotten."  The sermons were long, on the House, for at the close of the debate a
but delivered with a great deal of caution: the committee of twelve gentlemen, among whom
House gave them thanks and a piece of plate were Mr. Selden, Maynard, and Coke, was apfor their labours.  The Bishops of Durham and pointed to search for the warrants by which
Carlisle preached before the Lords in the Abbey the convocation was held, after the Parliament
Church of Westminster; the one a courtier, broke up, and for the letters patent of the beand the other a favourer of the Puritans. The nevolence, and for such other materials as might
Lord's Day following, all the members in a assist the House in their next debate upon this
body received the sacrament from the hands of argument, which was appointed for December
Bishop Williams, dean of Westminster, not at 14, when some of the members would have agthe rails about the altar, but at a communion-'gravated the crime of the convocation to high
table, placed, by order of the House, in the mid- treason, but Sergeant Maynard and Mr. Bagdle of the church on that occasion.           shaw moderated their resentments, by convinAt their first entrance upon business they  uing them that they were only in a praemunire.
appointed four grand committees; the first to  At the close of the debate the House came to
receive, petitions about grievances of religion, the following resolutions:
which was afterward subdivided into twenty or   Resolved nem. contradicente, " That the clerthirty; the second for the affairs of Scotland  gy of England, convened in any convocation or
and Ireland; the third for civil grievances, as synod, or otherwise, have no power to make
ship-money, judges, courts of justice, monopo- any constitutions, canons, or acts whatsoever,
lies, &c.; the fourth concerning popery, and in matters of doctrine, discipline, or otherwise,
plots relating thereunto.  Among the grievan- to bind the clergy or laity of the land, without
ces of religion, one of the first things that came consent of Parliament.
before the House was the acts and canons of the    Resolved, "That the several constitutions
late convocation: several warm speeches were and canons ecclesiastical, treated upon by the
made against the compilers of them, November Archbishops of Canterbury and York, presidents
9; and, among others, Lord Digby, who was as of the convocations for their respective provyet with the country party, stood up and said, inces, and the rest of the bishops and clergy ot
"Does not every Parliament-man's heart rise those provinces, and agreed upon with the
to see the prelates usurping to themselves the king's majesty's license, in their several synods
grand pre-eminence of Parliament? the grant- begun at London and York, 1640, do not bind
ing subsidies under the name of a benevolence, the clergy or laity of the land, or either of them.
under no less a penalty to themn that refuse it   Resolved,'"That the several constitutions
than the loss of heaven and earth-of heaven  and canons made and agreed to in the convoby excommunication, and of earth by depriva- cations or synods above mentioned, do contain
tion, and this without redemption by appeal? in them  many matters contrary to the king's
What good man can think with patience of prerogative, to the fundamental laws and statsuch an ensnaring oath as that which the new  utes of this realm, to the rights of Parliament,
canons enjoin to be taken by ministers, law- to the property and liberty of the subject, and
yers, physicians, and graduates in the Universi- matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous
ty, where, besides the swearing such an imper- consequence.
tinence as that things necessary to salvation    Resolved, "That the several grants of benevare contained in discipline; besides the swear- olences or contributions, granted to his most
ing those to be of Divine right which among the excellent majesty by the clergy of the provinces
learned was never pretended to, as the arch  of Canterbury and York, in the several convothings in our hierarchy; besides the swearing  cations or synods holden at London and York
not to consent to the change of that which the in the year 1640, are contrary to the laws, and
state may, upon great reasons, think fit to al- ought not to bind the clergy."
ter; besides the bottomless perjury of an et ccet —
ter; besides the bottomless perjury of an et cat-  in this point, is no farther concerned than as he faithera; besides all this, men must swear that they  fully represents Lord Digby's speech. This Dr. Grey
swear freely and voluntarily what they are does not dispute. Yet it may be proper to observe,
compelled to; and, lastly, that they swear to that a great lawyer says' that the grants of the clerthe oath in the literal sense, whereof no two of gy were illegal, and not binding, unless they were
the makers themselves, that I have heard of, confirmed in Parliament;" and that Lord Clarendon,
could ever agree in the understanding.""*'speaking of this convocation giving subsidies out of
Parliament, censures it as doing that " which it cer* Dr. Grey contrasts this speech of Lord Digby's, tainly might not do." The last subsidies granted by
as far as it censures the convocation for taxing the the clergy were those confirmed by the statute 15
clergy, with some reflections on it from Collyer, who Car. I., cap. x. Since which, this practice of grant.
asserts that the clergy had always the privilege of ing ecclesiastical subsidies has given way to another
taxing their own body; that from Magna Charta to method of taxation, comprehending the clergy as
the 37th of Henry VIII. there is no parliamentary well as the laity; and in recompense for it, the benconfirma ion of subsidies given by the clergy; and eficed clergy are allowed to vote for knights of the
that in 1585 there is an instance of the convocation shire.-Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 795. Black.granting and levying a subsidy or benevolence by sy- stone's Commentaries, vol. i., p. 311, Svo, 1778; and
nodical authority. The credit o' Mr. Neal's history, Lord Clarendon's Hist., vol. i., p. 148.-ED.




-HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    353
If the first of these resolutions be agreeable binding without the royal assent; and that the
to law, I apprehend there were then no canons clergy in convocation should not so much as
subsisting, for-those of 1603 were not brought consult about any without the king's special
into Parliament, but, being made in a parlia- license.  But Sergeant Maynard delivered it as
mentary convocatidn, were ratified by the king his opinion in the House, that it did not follow,
under the great seal, and so became binding on that because the clergy might not make canons
the clergy, according to the statute of the 25th without the king's license, that therefore they
of King Henry VIII. In the Saxon times, all might make them and bind them on the clergy
ecclesiastical laws and constitutions were con- by his license alone; for this were to take
firmed by the peers, and by the representatives away the ancient rights of Parliament before
of the people;* but those great councils, to the pope's usurpation, which they never yielded
which our Parliaments succeed, being made up up, nor does the act of submission of the clergy
of laics and ecclesiastics, were afterward separ- take away.  Upon this reasoning the Commons
ated, and then the clergy did their business by voted their first resolution, the strength of
themselves, and enacted laws without confirm- which I leave to the reader's consideration.
ation of king or Parliament, during the reign    The arguments upon which the other resoluof popery, till the act of the submission of the tions are founded will be laid together, after we
clergy to King Henry VIII., so that the claim  have related the proceedings of the convocaof making canons without the sanction of Par- — tion.
liament seemed to stand upon no other founda-   The convocation was opened November 4,
tion than the usurped power of the pope: nor 1640.' Dr. Bargrave, dean  of Canterbury,
did the Parliaments of those times yield up their preached the sermon, and Dr. Steward, clean
right; for in the 51st of Edward III. the Com- of Chichester, was chosen prolocutor, and premons passed a bill that no act or ordinance sented to the archbishop's acceptance in King
should be made for the future upon the petition  Henry VII.'s chapel, when his'grace made a
of the clergy, without the consent of the Coin- pathetic speech, lamenting the danger of the
mons; "and that the said Commons should  Church, and exhorting every one present to
not be bound for the future by any constitu- perform the duty of their places with resolutions of the clergy to which they had not given tion, and not to be wanting to themselves or
their consent in Parliament."  But the bill.be- the cause of religion; but nothing of moment
ing dropped, things went on upon the formier -was transacted, there being no commission
footing till the reign of King Henry VIII.,,  from the king; only Mr. Warmistre, one of the
when the pope's usurped power being abolish- clerks for the' diocess of Worcester, being coned, both Parliament and clergy agreed, by the vinced of the invalidity of the late canons,
Act of Submission, that no canons should be moved the House that they might cover the pit
which they had opened, and prevent a parliaDr. Grey controverts, and says, "I should be mentary inquisition, by petitioning the king for
glad to know what authority he has for this asser- leave to review them; but his motion was retion." It is not for the editor to give the authority d, the House being 
when Mr. Neal has not himself referred to it; but he  ected, the Huse being of opinion that the cancan supply the want of it by an authority which, if ons were justifiable; nor would they appear so
Dr. Grey were living, would command his respect, mean as to condemn themselves before they
viz., that of Dr. Burn, who tells us that, "even in the were accused.  Mr. Warmistre suffered in the
Saxon times, if the subject of any laws was for the opinion of his brethren within doors for his
outward peace and temporal government of t he cowardly speech, and was reproached firom
Church, such laws were properly ordained by the without as an enemy to the Church and a turnking and his great council of clergy and laity inter- coat, because he had subscribed those articles
mixed, as our acts of Parliament are still made.
But if there was any doctrine to be tried, or any exercise of pure discipline to be reformed, then the to publish his speech to the world, wherein,
clergy of the great council departed into a separate after having declared his satisfaction in the
synod, and there acted as the proper judges. Only doctrine, discipline, and government of the
when they had. thus provided for the state of religion, Church of England, as far as it is established
they brought their canons from the synod to the by law, he goes on to wish there had been no
great council, to be ratified by the king, with the ad- private innovations introduced   for though he
vice of his great men, and so made the constitutions aproves of an outward reverence in the worof the Church to be laws of the realm. And the approves of an  outward reverence in the worNorman revolution made no change in this respect." ship of God, he is against directing it to altars
This author farther says, "that the convocation-tax and images.  He apprehends it reasonable that
did always pass both houses of Parliament, since it such innocent ceremonies as have a proper tencould not bind as a law till it had the consent of the dency to decency and order should be retained,
Legislature." Judge Foster, in his examination of but wishes the removal of crosses and images
Bishop Gibson's Codex, appeals to the laws of Eth- out of churches, as scandalous and sqpersti
elbert and Withred, kings of Kent, and of Ina of us having an apparent tendency towards
Wessex; to the laws of Alfred, Edward the Elder, tous having an appaent tendency towards
Athelstan, Edmund, Edgar, and Canute, as proofs idolatry; and that there might be no lighted
that the ecclesiastical and civil concerns of the king-  candles in the daytime; he then gives his readom were not, in the times of the Saxons, under the sons against the oath in the sixth canon, and
care of two separate legislatures, and subject to dif- concludes with these words: " If my subseripferent admninistrations, but blended together, and tion be urged against what I have said, I was
directed by one and the same Legislature, the great persuaded it was the practice of synods and
councils, or, in mnodern style, the Parliaments, of the councils that the whole body should subscribe
respective kin-dotns during the heptarchy, and of the to those acts which are passed by the  ajor
United Kingdom  afterward.-Burn's Ecclesiastical
Law, vol. ii., p. 22, 26, 8vo. An Examination of the part as synodical acts, notwithstanding their
Schemte of Chiurch Power laid down in the Codex, p. private dissent; if my subscription implied any
120, &c.-EDi.        t Fuller's Appeal, p. 42.   more, I do so far recant and condemn it in myVOL. I. —Y Y




354                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
self, and desire pardon both of God and the and synod are convertible terms, signifying the
Church, resolving, by God's grace, to be more same thing, and it is essential to both that they
cautious hereafter."  Mr. Warmistre's behav- be chosen by (if they are to make constitutions
iour showed him to be a wise and discreet cler- and canons to bind) the clergy.  Some, indeed,
gyman; and his being sequestered from his liv- have thought of a small distinction, as that a
ings some time after, for not submitting to the convocation must begin and end with the ParParliament, shows him to have been a man of liament, whereas a synod may be called by
principle, not to be moved from his integrity by the king out of Parliament; but then such
the resentments of his friends or the flatteries an assembly cannot give subsidies for their
of his enemies.  And though the convocation  brethren, nor make laws by which they will be
was so sanguine at their first coming togeth- bound.
er as to despise Mr. Warmistre's motion, yet   The objections to the particular canons were
when they saw the vigorous resolutions of the these:
House of Commons against the canons, and the    1. Against the first canon it was argued, that
articles of impeachment against the metropoli- the compilers of it had invaded the rights and
tan for high treason, one of which was for prerogatives of Parliament, by pretending to
compiling the late canons, they were dispirited, settle and declare the extent of the king's powand in a few weeks deserted their stations in er, and the subjects' obedience.
the Convocation-house; the bishops also dis-   By declaring the sacred order of kings to be
continued their meetings, and in a few weeks of Divine right, founded in the prime laws of
both houses dwindled to nothing, and broke up  nature and revelation, by which they condemnwithout either adjournment or prorogation.     ed all other governments.
To return to the Parliament.  It was argued    By affirming that the king had an absolute
against the late convocation, that they were no power over all his subjects, and a right to the
legal assembly after the dissolution of the Par- subsidies and aids of his people without consent
liament; that his majesty had no more power of Parliament.
to continue them than to recall his Parliament;*    By affirming that subjects may not bear arms
nor could he, by his letters patent, convert them  against their king, either offensive or defensive,
into a national or provincial synod, because the upon any pretence whatsoever, upon pain of
right of their election ceasing at the expiration receiving to themselves damnation.
of the convocation, they ought to have been re-:   By taking upon themselves to define some
chosen before they could act in the name of the things to be treason not included in the statute
clergy whom they represented, or bind them by of treasons.
their decrees.  It is contrary to all law and    And, lastly, by inflicting a penalty on such
reason in the world, that a number of men, met of the king's subjects as shall dare to disobey
together in a convocation, upon a summons lim- them, in not reading and publishing the aboveited to a certain time, should, after the expira- mentioned particulars; in all which cases it
tion of that time, by a new  commission, be was averred that they had "invaded the rights
changed into a national or provincial synod, of Parliament, destroyed the liberty of the subwithout the voice or election of any one person ject, and subverted the very fundamental laws
concerned.  The Commons were therefore at a and constitutions of England."
loss by what name to call this extraordinary    2. It was objected against the second canon,
assembly, being in their opinion neither convo- that they had assumed the legislative power, in
cation nor synod, because no representative  appointing a new holyday contrary to the statbody of the clergy. The words convocation ute, which says that there shall be such and
such holydays; and no more.
4. It was objected against the fourth canon,
Archbhishop Laud, to exculpate himself from  that whereas the determination of heresy is exblame in this matter, declared that "this sitting ofeserved to Parliament the convocathe convocation was not by his advice or desire, but pressly reserved to Parliament, the convocathat he humbly desired a writ to dissolve it." It was tion had declared that to be heresy which the law
set up in defence of this measure (and the argument takes no notice of, and had condemned Socinhas since been adopted by Dr. Warner), that the Par- ianisml in general, without declaring what was
liament and convocation, being separate bodies, and included under that denomination, so that after
convened by different writs, the dissolution of the all it was left in their own breasts whom they
former does not necessarily infer the dissolution of would condemn and censure under that charthe latter, which could not rise till discharged by acter.
another writ. Dr. Burn has advanced this reason     It was objected against the sixth canon,
into a general principle, but on no other authority   6. It was ob ed against the  sixth canon,
than that of Dr. Warner in this case. The lord- that it imposed a new oath upon the subject,
keeper, the judges, and king's council assured the which is a power equal, if not superior, to the
king that the clergy might legally continue their sit- -making a new law.*  It was argued likewise
ting. But much allowance is to be made for the in- against the oath itself, that in some parts it was
fluence under which the opinion of court-lawyers is
given; as in the case of ship-money.  Mr. Neal's   * The archbishop, in reply to this objection, referreasoning on this point carries great weight with it. red to various canons made in King James's time, and
Lord Clarendon speaks of the continued sitting of the appointing different oaths, merely by the authority
convocation as rather unprecedented; forhe says that of convocation, viz., canons 40, 118, 103, and 127, as
this assembling of the clergy customarily began and precedents, which had never been declared illegal,
ended with Parliaments. It was evidently impolitic, nor the makers of them censured by Parliaments;
in such a conjuncture of time, to deviate from the and which justified, therefore, the power assumed
custom, and to stretch the prerogative. Dr. Grey's by this convocation. His lordship in urging, and Dr.
Examination in loc.  Nalson's Collection, vol. i, p. Grey in repeating, this defence. did not perceive that
365. Warner's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 535. Burn's it is a bad and insufficient plea for doing wrong, that
Eccles. Law, vol. ii., p. 27; and Lord Clarendon's Hist., others had escaped the censure and punishment due
vol. i., p. 148.-ED.                          to illegal conduct.-Grey's Extrmination in loc.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   355
very ambiguous and doubtful, and in others di-   Archbishop Laud, in his answer to the imrectly false and illegal.                    peachment of the House of Commons against
We are to swear in the oath that " we ap- himself, boldly' undertakes to refute all these
prove the doctrine, discipline, or government' objectiops, and to justify the whole, and every
established in the Church of England," and yet branch of the canons; his words are these: "I
we are not told wherein that doctrine and dis- hope I am able to make it good in any learned
cipline are. contained; whether by the doctrines assembly in Christendom, that this oath, and
of the Church we are to understand only the  all those canons (then made, and here before
Thirty-nine Articles, or likewise the Homilies recited), and every branch in them, are just and
and Church catechism; and by the discipline, orthodox, and moderate, and most necessary
only the Book of Canons, or likewise all other for the present condition of the Church of Engecclesiastical orders not repealed by statute; land, how unwelcome soever to the present disfor it is obsct:vable that the words of the oath  tempers."*  Lord Clarendon expresses himself
are, "as it is estaL;ished," and not as it is es- modestly on the other side; he doubts whether
tablished by law. And the ambiguity is farther the convocation. was a legal assembly after the
increased by that remarkable et ccetera, inserted  dissolution of the Parliament, and is very sure
in the body of the oath; for whereas oaths that their proceedings are not to be justified.
ought to be explicit, anld the sense of the words "The Convocation liouse," says he, "which is
as clear and determined as possible, we are  the regular and legal assembling of the clergy,
here to swear' to we know not what, to some- was, after the determination of the Parliament,
thing that is not expressed; by which means continued by a now writ under the proper title of
we are left to the arbitrary interpretation of the  a synod; made canons, which it was thought
judge, and may be involved in the guilt of per- it might do; and gave subsidies out of Parliajury before we are aware.                    ment, and enjoined oaths, which certainly it
But, besides the ambiguity of the oatlh' it con- might not do; in a word, did many things
tains some things false and illegal; for it. af- which in the best of times might have been
firms the government of the Church by arch- questioned, and, therefore, were sure to be conbishops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons, to be demned in the worst."  The Parliament that
of Divine right; for after we have sworn to the  sat after the Restoration was of the same mind
hierarchy as established by the law of the land, with his lordship, forasmuch. as these canons
we are to swear farther, that " by right it ought were excepted out of the act of 13 Car. II., cap.
so to stand:" which words are a mere tautolo- xii., and declared of no validity. Mr. Echard is
gy, or else must infer some farther right than  of opinion that the synod that framed these
that which is included in the legal establishment, canons was not a legal representative of the
which can be no other than a Divine right. clergy after the dissolution of the two houses.
Now, though it should be allowed that the gov- But Bishop Kennet, in his complete history,
ernment of the Church by bishops is of Divine  says that these public censures of the canons
right, yet certainly archbishops, deans, and arch- were grounded upon prejudice and faction; that
deacons can have no pretence to that claim.    it is hard to find any defect of legality in the
Besides, to swear " never to give our consent making of them; and that, if these canons were
to alter the government of this Church by arch- not binding, we have no proper canons since
bishops, bishops, &c., as it stands now estab- the Reformation; he therefore wishes them; or
lished," is directly contrary to the oath of su- some others like them, revived, because " in
premacy, for in that oath we are sworn to as- very much of doctrine and discipline they are a
sist his majesty in the exercise of his ecclesias- good example to any future convocation; and
tical jurisdiction or government, by his con- that we can hardly hope for unity, or any
mission under the great seal, directed to such  tolerable regularity, without some constitutions
persons as he shall think meet; so that if his of the like nature."  Strange! that a dignified
majesty should think fit at any time to commis- clergyman, who held his bishopric upon revosion other persons to exercise ecclesiastical lution principles, should wish the subversion of
jurisdiction than at present, we are sworn by  the Constitution of his country, and declare for
the oath of supremacy not only to consent, but principles of persecution. If I might have libto aid and assist him in it, whereas in this erty to wish, it should be that neither we nor'new oath we swear never to consent to any  our posterity may ever enjoy the blessings of
such alteration.                             unity and regularity upon the footing of such
Nothing is more evident than that the disci- canons.
pline of the Church is alterable; the Church    Upon the same day that the House passed the ~
itself laments the want of godly discipline, and  above-mentioned resolutions against the canmany of the' clergy and laity wish and desire an  ons, several warm speeches were made against
amendment; it is therefore very unreasonable
that all who take degrees  in the universities,  Dr. Grey asks here,  here does the achbishwhoes, op say this? Our historian quotes no authority; and
nny of  om may e members of Parliament, as he is often faulty when he quotes chapter and
shall be sworn beforehand "never to consent verse, so without it I am unwilling wholly to depend
to any alteration."  And though it is known to  upon his bare ipse dixit." The editor is not able, at
all the world that many of the conforming cler- present, to supply here Mr. Neal's omission; but ho
gy are dissatisfied with some branches of the  finds the same words of Archbishop Laud quoted by
present establishment, yet they are to swear Dr. Warner (who never refers to his authorities), as
that they take this oath'1 heartily and willing- spoken in the House of Lords. And the doctor ex7ly," though they are compelledto it under the  presses on them his belief that, as to many of the
elalt eslofg h spension anld0 drivat on.  Some,articles contained in the canons, the archbishop here
penalties of suspension and deprivation. Some undertook to dowhat he would have found it diffiobjections were made to the seventh and other cult to make good.-Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii.,'lp
canons, but these were the chief.           535.-ED.




356                      HISTORY OF THE PIJRITANS.
the Archbishop of Canterbury as the chief au- taining warrants for the sitting of a High Cornthor of' them; and a committee was appointed  mission Court once a week, at Edinburgh (5),
to inquire more particularly how far his grace  and his directing the taking down of galleries
had been concerned in the proceedings of the and stone walls in the kirks of Edinburgh and St.
convocation, and in the treasonable design of Andrew's, to make way for altars and adoration
subverting the religion and laws-of his country, towards the east (6).
in order to draw up articles against him. Next   The second branch of their charge was, " his
day the Earl of Bristol acquainted the House'obtruding upon them a book of canons and conof Lords that the Scots commissioners had stitutions ecclesiastical, devised for the estabpresented some papers against the Archbishop  lishing a tyrannical power in  ne persons of
of Canterbury,* which were read by the Lord  their prelates, over the cons.ences, liberties,
Paget, and then reported to the House of Com- and goods of the people (7); and for abolishing
mons, at a conference between the two houses. that' discipline and government of their Kirk,
Their charge consisted of divers grievances which was settled by law, and had obtained
(which had occasioned great disturbances in  among them ever since the Reformation."  For
the kingdom of Scotland), ranged under three  proof of this, they alleged that the Book of Canheads, of all which they challenged the arch- ons was corrected, altered, and enlarged by
bishop to be the chief author upon earth..     him at his pleasure, as appears by the interlineThe -first branch of the charge consisted of ations and marginal notes in the book; written
C" divers alterations in religion, imposed upon  with the archbishop's own hand; that he had
them without order and against law, contrary  added some entire new canons, and altered othto the form established in their Kirk;" as, his ers in favour of superstition and popery; and,.
-enjoining the bishops to appear in the chapel in  in several instances relating to the censures of
their whites (1), contrary to the custom of their the Church, had lodged an unbounded power in
Kirk and the archbishop's own promise; his di- the prelates over the consciences of men.
recting the English service to be read in the    The third and great innovation with which
chapel twice a day (2); his ordering a list of they charged the archbishop was, "the Book
those counsellors and senators of the College of of Common Prayer, administration of the sacJustice who did not communicate in the chapel, raments, and other parts of Divine worship,.according to a form received in their Kirk, to be brought in without warrant from their Kirk, to
sent up to him, in order to their being punish- be universally received as the only' form  of Di-' ed (3); his presumptuous censuring the practice vine service, under the highest pains, both civil.of the Kirk in fasting sometimes on the Lord's and ecclesiastical (1); which book contained
Day, as opposite to Christianity itself (4); his oband it gave the archbishop a ground of arguing with
* "Mr. Neal," says Dr. Grey, "has given us all the Church of Scotland on their practice: but would
-the objections of the Scots against the archbishop; it justify the asperity of censure towards weaker
and [ am so oldfashioned a person as to think that Christians, or the exercise of authority where every
the archbishop's answers to their objections should one ought to be persuaded in his own mind t-ED.
likewise have been produced by an impartial histo-   (5.) His grace answers to this charge, that the
rnan." He renews the same complaint against our warrants were not procured by him, but by a Scotch
author in his second volume, p. 173. Mr. Neal's rea- man of' good place, employed about it by the bish
sGn for passing over the archbishop's answer appears ops; and that the High Commission Court was setto have been, that his grace evaded the whole charge tied, and in full execution in the Church of Scotland,
at his trial by pleading the Act of Oblivion at the pa- in 1610, before ever he appeared in public life.-ED.
cification of the Scots troubles. But, as Dr. Grey   (6.) The archbishop absolutely denies, to the best
has endeavoured to supply Mr. Neal's deficiency, the of his memory, giving command or direction for tasubstance of the archbishop's defences shall be given king down the galleries of St. Andrew's; and urges,
in the following notes; and the reader will judge of that it was very improbable that he should issue such
their importance, and of Nr. Neal's conduct in omit- commands where he had nothing, who in London,
ting them.-ED.                                 and other parts of his province, permitted the galler(1.) His grace replies to this charge, " that he un- ies of the churches to stand. As to the galleries and
derstood himself a great deal better than to. enjoin  stone walls in the kirks of Edinburgh, they were rewhere he had no power; and perhaps he might ex- moved by the king's command; not to make way for
press his majesty's command, as dean of his chapel altars and adoration towards the east, but to convert
in England, that the service in Scotland should be the two churches into a cathedral.-ED.
kept answerable to it here as much as might be."-   (7.) The term "obtruding" the archbishop thinks
ED.                                            bold, especially as pointing at the king's authority,
(2.) Here his grace pleads his majesty's command, whose command enjoined the Book of Canons on the
and his hope that it was no crime for a bishop in Church of Scotland, and who, in this, exercised no
England to signify to one in Scotland the king's other power than that which King James challenged
pleasure concerning the service of his own chapel.- as belonging to him in right of his crown. His grace
ED.                                            does not allow the imputations cast on the Book of
(3.) The defence set up on this head by the arch- Canons; and if they did not belong to them, he pleads:bishop was, the king's command; and that the form  that it was owing to invincible ignorance and the
prescribed, which was kneeling, was an article of the Scotch bishops, who would not tell wherein the canSynod of Perth, made in a General Assembly, and ons went against their laws, if they did. As to himconfirmed by act of Parliament. As to the requisition self, it was his constant advice, in the whole busiitself, he pleaded that it amounted to no more than ness, that nothing against law should be attempted.
if his majesty should command all his judges and -ED.
counsellors in England, once in the year, to receive   (1.) "That the liturgy was brought in without
the communion in his chapel at Whitehall.-ED.    warrant of the Kirk," if it were true, the archbishop
(4.) The archbishop vindicates himself, in this in- pleads was the fault of the Scotch prelates, whom
stance, by ample testimonies from the fathers, and he had, on all occasions, urged to do nothing, in this'by decrees of ancient councils, to prove that, in the particular, without warrant of law; and to whom,
andient Church, it was held unlawful to fast on the though he approved the liturgy and obeyed his majtord's Day. The fact, there is no doubt, was so, esty's command in helping to ord er that book, he




HISTORY  OF THilE PURITANS.                                357
many popish errors and ceremonies repugnant scended so low as to deal in tobacco, liy which
to their confession of faith, constitutions of thousands of poor people had been turned out
their General Assemblies, and to acts of Parlia- of their trades, for which they served an apment."  Several of these errors are mentioned  prenticeship; that he had been charged in this
in the article, and they declare themselves house, upon very strong proof, with designs to
ready, when desired, to discover a great many  subvert the government, and alter the Protestmore of the same kind; all which were im- ant religion in this kingdom as well as in Scotposed upon the kingdom, contrary to their ear- land; and there is scarce any grievance or
nest supplications; and, upon their refusal to  complaint comes before the House wherein he
receive the service-book, they were, by his is not mentioned, like an angry wasp, leaving
grace's instigation, declared rebels and trai- his sting in the bottom  of everything."  He
tors (2); an army was raised to subdue them, therefore moved that the charge of the Scots
and a prayer, composed and printed by his di- commissioners might be supported by an imrection, to be read in all the parish churches in  peachment of their own, and that the quesEngland, in time of, Divine service, wherein  tion might now be put, whether the archbishop
they are called " traitorous subjects, having cast had been guilty of high treason l which being
off all obedience to their sovereign;" and sup- voted, Mr. Hollis* was immediately sent up to
plication is made to the Almighty to cover their the bar of the House of Lords to impeach him
faces with shame, as enemies to God and the in the name of all the commons of England,
king. They therefore pray that the archlibish- and to desire that his person might be sequeso.p* may be immediately removed from his maj- tered, and that, in convenient time, they would
esty's presence, and that he may be brought to  bring up the particulars of their charge; upon
a trial, and receive such censure as he has de- which, his grace, being commanded to withserved, according to the laws of the kingdom.   draw, stood.up in his place and said, "that he
The archbishop has left behind him a partic- was heartily sorry fobr the offence taken against
ular answer to these articles in his diary,t which  him, but humbly desired their lordships to look
is written with peculiar sharpness of style, and  upon the whole course of his life, which was
discovers a great opinion of his own abilities, such as that, he was persuaded, not one man
and a contempt of his adversaries; but, either in the House of Commons did believe in his
from a distrust of the strength of his reply or heart that he was a traitor."  To which the
for some other reasons, his grace was pleased  Earl of Essex replied, " that it was a high rewisely to evade the whole charge at his trial, flection upon the whole House of Commons to
by pleading the Act of Oblivion (3) at the pacifi- suppose that they would charge him with a
cation of the Scots troubles.+               crime which themselves did not believe."  AfWhen the report of these articles was made  ter this his grace withdrew, and being called in
to the Commons, the resentments of the House  again, was delivered to the usher of the black
against the archbishop immediately broke out rod, to be kept in safe custody till the House of
into a flame; many severe speeches were made  Commons should deliver in their articles of iraagainst his late conduct; and, among others, peachment.
one was by Sir Harbottle Grimstone, speaker   Upon the 26th of February, Mr. Pym, Mr.
of that Parliament which restored King Charles Hampden, and Mr. Maynard, by order of the'I., who stood up and said, " that this great man, Commons, went up to the Lords, and at the
the Archbishop of Canterbury, was the very sty, bar of that house presented their lordships with
of all that pestilential filth that had infested the  fourteen articles, in maintenance of their forgovernment; that he was the only man that mer charge of high treason against the archbishhad advanced those who, together with him- op, which were read, his grace being present.
self, had been the authors of all the miseries   In the first, he is charged with endeavouring
the nation now groaned under; that he had  to subvert the Constitution, by introducing an
managed all the projects that had been set on  arbitrary power of government, without any
foot for these ten years past, and had conde- limitation or rule of law.  In the second, he is
charged with procuring sermons to be preached,
wholly left the manner of introducing it, because he and other pamphlets to be printed, in which the
was ignorant of the laws of Scotland.-ED.    authority of Parliaments is denied, and the ab(2.) His grace contends that they deserved these solute power of the king asserted to be agreeatitles, but he did not procure that they should be de- ble to the law of God. The third article charclared such; but the proclamation fixing these names
on them went out by the common advice of the lords ges him with interrupting the course ofjustice,
of the council.-ED.                          by messages, threatenings, and promises to the
3 In the original, " this great firebrand."-Dr. Grey. judges. The fourth, with selling justice in his
t In the History of his Troubles and Trial.-Dr. own person, under colour of his ecclesiastical
Grey.                                        jurisdiction, and with advising his majesty to
(3.) This Dr. Grey denies, and adds, "that he sell places of judicature, contrary to law. In
pleaded the king's special pardon." The doctor con- the fifth, he is charged with the canons and oath
founds here two different matters. The Act of Oblivion was pleaded by his grace before tha trial came imposed on the subject by the subect by the late convocation.
on, to cover himself from the charge of the Scots In the sixth, with robbing the king of supremacommissioners; the king's pardon was produced  cy, by denying the ecclesiastical jurisdiction to
when the trial was over, in bar of the ordinance be derived from the crown.  In the seventh,
passed for his execution  Mr. Neal, in which he is with bringing in popish doctrines, opinions, and
supported by the authority of Collyer, speaks of the ceremonies, contrary to the Articles of the
former. Lord Clarendon, whom Dr. Grey quotes, Church, and cruelly persecuting those who opexpressly speaks of the latter. The reader will not
deem it generous in the doctor to impeach Mr. Neal's
veracity on the ground of his own mistake.-ED.  * Denzil Hollis was brother-in-law to the Earl of
- Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. i., p. 380.  Strafford.-'C.




358-                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
promoting persons to the highest and best pre- dean. When he resumed his seat in the House
ferments in the Church who are corrupt in doc- of Lords, he behaved, with more temper than
trine and manners.  In the ninth, with employ- either the king or the archbishop could expect;
ing such for his domestic chaplains as he knew  whereupon his majesty sent for him, and ento be popishly affected, and committed to them  deavoured to gain him over to the court, by
the licensing of books, whereby such writings  promising to make him full satisfaction for his
have been published as have been scandalous past sufferings; in order to which, his majesty
to the Protestant religion.  The tenth article  commanded all the judgments that were entered
charges him with sundry attempts to reconcile  against him  to be discharged, and within a
the Church of England with the Church of twelvemonth translated him  to the ArchbishRome. The eleventh, with discountenancing  opric of York, with leave to hold his deanery
of preaching, and with silencing, depriving, im- of Westminster in commendam for three years;
prisoning, and banishing sundry godly and or- the bishop, therefore, never complained to the
thodox ministers.  The twelfth, with dividing  House of his sufferings, nor petitioned for satisthe Church of England from the foreign Prot- faction.
estant churches.  The thirteenth, with being    Mr. Prynne, Mr. Burton, and Dr. Bastwick,
the author of all the late disturbances between  being remanded from the several islands to
Englan'd and Scotland. And the last, with en- which they had been confined upon their humdeavouring to bereave the kingdom of the legis-  ble. petition to the House of Commons, were
lative power, by alienating the king's mind from  met some miles out of town by great numbers
his Parliaments.                              of people on horseback, with rosemaries and
At the delivery of these articles, Mr. Pym de- bays in their hats, and escorted into the city in a
clared that the Commons reserved to themselves  sort of triumph, with loud acclamations for their
the liberty of presenting some additional arti-' deliverance;* and a few weeks after, the House
cles, by which they intended to make their came to the following resolutions: "That the
charge more particular and certain as to the  several judgments against them were illegal,
time and other circumstances, and prayed their unjust, and against the liberty of the subject;
lordships to put the cause into as quick a for- that their several fines be.rernitted; that they
wardness as they could.                       be restored to their several professions; and
When the archbishop had heard the articles  that, for reparation of their losses, Mr. Burton
read, he made his obeisance to the. House, and  ought to have ~6000, and Mr. Prynne and Dr.
said "that it was a great and heavy charge, and  Bastwick ~5000 each, out of the estates of the
that he was unworthy to live if it could be made    * Prynne gives the following account of his own
good; however, it was yet but in generals, and  and Burton's entranceintoLondon: "The next morngenerals made a great noise, but were no proof. ing, early, multitudes of' their friends from London
For human frailties he could not excuse him- and elsewhere met them at Stanes, and came flockself, but for corruption in the least degree he ing into them afresh every foot, till they came to
feared no accuser that would speak truth. But Brainford, where they dined.  All the  ay from
that which went nearest him was, that he was  Stanes to Brainford was very full of people, which
came to meet them and welcome them into England,
thought false in his religion, as if he should  some in coaches, others on horseback, others on foot.
profess with the Church of England, and have  After dinner they took horse for London, riding both
his heart at Rome."  He then besought their together; but the way between Brainford and Lonlordships that he might enlarge himself, and so  don, though broad, was full of coaches, horses, and
made a short reply to each article, which con- people, to congratulate their return, that they were
sisted in an absolute denial of the whole.  The  forced to make stops, and could ride scarcely one
Lords voted him to the Tower, whither lie was mile an hour, so that it was almost night ere they'
came to Charing Cross, when they encountered such
carried in Mr. Maxwell's coach through the city, cae to  f people in thenstreets  they could hard-on Monday, March 1. It was designed he should  ly pass them; the city marshal, when they came into
have passed incognito; but an apprentice in  the Old Bailey, being forced to make way for them
Newgate-street happening to know him, raised  with his horse troops; the crowd of people was so
the mob, which surrounded the coach, and fol- great that they were near three hours in passing from
lowed him with huzzas and insults till he got Charing Cross to their lodgings in the city, having
within the Tower gate. Indeed, such was the  torches to light them when it grew dark. The peouniversal hatred of all ranks and orders of men  ple were so extraordinarily joyful of their return, that
they rang the bells in most places they passed for
against this insolent prelate, for his cruel usage  they ran to salute them, and shake them by the hands
of those who had fallen into his hands in the  crying out with one unanimous shout,' Welcome
time of his prosperity, that no man's fall in the  home! welcome home!'' God bless you! God bless
whole kingdom was so unlamented as his. His you!''Goddbethanked for yourreturn!' and the ilke;
grace being lodged in the Tower, thought it his yea, they strewed the ways where they rode with
interest to be quiet, without so much as moving  herbs and flowers, and, running to their gardens,
the Lords to be brought to a trial, or putting in  brought rosemaries andbays thence, which they gaye
to them, and the company that rode with them into
his answer to the articles of impeachment, till London, who were estimated to be about one hunthe Commons, after'two or three years, exhib- dred coaches, many of them having six horses apiece,
ited their additional articles, and moved the'and at least two thousand horse; those on foot being
peers to appoint a day for his trial.         innumerable. The day they came from Egham into
Before the archbishop was confined, he had  London, the sun arose most gloriously upon them
the mortification to see most of the Church and  as soon as they came out of their inn, without ally
State prisoners released.  November 16, the  cloud (which they both observed), and so continued
Bishop of Lincoln was discharged from his im- shining all the day, without interposition of any obstacle to eclipse its rays, so as heaven and earth
prisonment in the Tower, and his fine remitted. conspired together to smile upon them, and to con
Next day being a public fast, he appeared in the  gratulate their safe return from their bonds and es
-Abbey Church at Westminster, and officiated as iles."-Prelates' Tyranny, p. 113-115.-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    359
Archbishop of Canterbury, the high cornmis- 1638, at St. John the Evangelist's, London, and
sioners, and those lords who had voted against detained four weeks in the hands of a messenthem in the Star Chamber;" but the confusion ger, to whom he paid ~20 fees.* This gentleman,
of the times prevented the payment of the after his prosecution in the Star Chamber, had
money.                                       been shut up ten weeks in the Gate-house, and
Dr. Leighton was released about the same at last compelled to enter into a bond of ~1000
time, and his fine of ~10,000 remitted: the to confine himself in his brother's house at
reading his petition drew tears from the House, Chiswick, where he continued till this time, his
being to this effect:                        parsonage being sequestered; and, ill general,
"The humble petition of Alexander Leighton, all who were confined by the High Commission
prisoner in the Fleet,                       were released, passing their words to be forth" Humbly showeth,                        coming whenever they should be called for.
"That on February 17, 1630, he was appre-   The imprisonment of the above-mentioned
hended coming from sermon by a High Corn- gentlemen being declared illegal, it is natural
mission warrant, and dragged along the streets to imagine the House would make some inquiwith bills and staves to London House. That ry after their prosecutors. About the latter
the jailer of Newgate being sent for, clapped end of January, Dr. Cosins, prebendary of Durhim  in irons, and carried him with a strong ham, and afterward bishop of the diocess, wvias
power into a loathsome and ruinous dog-hole, sent for into custody on account of the superfull of rats and mice, that had no light but a stitious innovations which he had introduced
small grate, and the roof being uncovered, the into that cathedral.t The doctor, in his ansnow and rain beat in upon him, having no swer, denied the whole charge, and as to the
bedding, nor place to make a fire but the ruins particulars, he replied, that the marble altar
of an old smoky chimney. In this woful place with cherubim was set up before he was prebhe was shut up for fifteen weeks, nobody being endary of the church;+ that he did not approve
suffered to come near him, till at length his of the image of God the Father, and that to his
wife only was admitted.                      knowledge there was no such representation in
"That the fourth day after his commitment, the church at Durham; that the crucifix with
the pursuivant, with a mighty multitude, came a blue cap and golden beard was mistaken for
to his house to search for Jesuits' books, and the top of Bishop Hatfield's tomb, which had
used his wife in such a barbarous and inhuman  been erected many years before; that there
manner as he is ashamed to express; that they  were but two candles on the communion-table,
rifled every person and place, holding a pistol and that no more were used on Candlemas
-to the breast of a child of five years old, threat- night than in the Christmas holydays; that he
ening to kill him if he did not discover the did not forbid the singing the psalms in metre,~
books; that they broke open chests, presses, nor'direct the singing of the anthem to the
boxes, and carried away everything, even house- three kings of Colen,ll nor use a consecrated
hold stuff, apparel, arms, and other things; knife at the sacrament.  The Lords were so
that at the end of fifteen weeks he was served far satisfied with the doctor's answer as not to
with a subpoena, on an information laid against commit him at present;~ but the Commons havhim  by Sir Robert Heath, attorney-general, ing voted him unfit to hold any ecclesiastical
whose dealing with him was full of cruelty and promotion, the doctor, foreseeing the storm was
deceit; but he was then sick, and, in the opin- coming upon the Church, wisely withdrew into
ion of four physicians, thought to be poisoned, France,** where he behaved discreetly and prubecause all his hair and skin came off; that in
the height of this sickness the cruel sentence    - Nalson's Col., p. 570.   t Ibid., p. 273.
was passed upon him mentioned in the year   t But when Smart was one of the chapter; and
1630, and executed November 26 following, that many of the things objected to himself were introduced while his accuser was prebendary. —Dr.
when he received thirty-six stripes upon his Groduced while his accuser was preendary.-Dr.
naked back with a threefold cord, his hands be-     Bt used to sing them himself with the people
ing tied to a stake, and then stood almost two.at morning prayer. —ED.
hours in the pillory, in.the frost and snow, be-  II But ordered it, on his first coming to the cathefore he was branded in the face, his nose slit, dral, to be cut out of the old song-book belonging to
and his ears cut off; that after this he was car- the choristers; and no such anthem had been sung
ried tby water to the Fleet, and shut up in such in the choir during his being there, nor, as far as his
a room that he was never well, and, after eight inquiry could reach, for threescore years before.years, was turned into the common jail."  The Dr. Grey,from Collyer.-ED
yrears, was  ~.rned into the commo ".5.   The doctor's answer was entered on the rolls of
House voted him satisfaction for his sufferings; Parliament, and made good before the Lords by himbut it does not appear that he actually received self, and by the witness that Smart and his son-inany, except being keeper of Lambeth House as law produced against him. Upon this, Smart's lawa prison, for which he must be very unfit, being yer told him, at the bar of the House of Lords, that
now in the seventy-second year of his age, and he was ashamed of the complaint, and refused to
worn out with poverty, weakness, -and pain.    proceed in the support of it. Collyer also says that
Besides those afore named, there were like- many of the lords declared that Smart had abused
wise set at liberty Dr. Osbaldeston, one of the the House of Coons   by a  groundless complaint
prebendaries ofWestinstertheRveren against Cosins, who, by an order from the Lords, deprebendaries of Westminster; the Reverend livered to him by the Earl of Warwick, had liberty
Mr. Henry Wilkinson, B.D., of Magdalen Hall, to go where he pleased.-Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 798.
Oxford, Mr. Smith, Wilson, Small, Cooper, and -ED.
Brewer, who had been in prison fourteen           He fixed his residence in Paris, where he was
years;* Mr. George Walker, who had been appointed chaplain to the Protestant part of Queen
committed for preaching a sermon, October 14, Henrietta's family. Many advantageous offers were
cmtfpeiatr, made to him to tempt him over to the communion
* Nalson's Col., p. 571.        of the Church of Rome, and he was also attacked




360                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
dently till the Restoration, being softened in his i of the sergeant-at-arms; Dr. Pocklington, canprinciples by age and sufferings.             on of Windsor and prebendary of Peterborough,
Dr. Matthew Wren, late Bishop of Norwich, was complained of for two books, one entitled
and now of Ely, having been remarkably severe  the Christian Altar, the other Sunday no Sabagainst the Puritan clergy in his diocesses, the bath, which had been licensed by Dr. Bray, one
inhabitants of Ipswich drew up a petition against of the archbishop's chaplains.' The doctor achim, and presented it to the House, December knowledged his offence at the bar of the House,
22, 1640,* upon which the committee of Parlia- confessed that he had not examined the books
tnent exhibited a charge against him, consisting  with that caution that he ought, and made a
of twenty-five articles, relating to the late inno- public recantation in the Church of Westminvations. It was carried up to the Lords by Sir ster; but Pocklington, refusing to recant about
Thomas Widdrington, and sets forth, that du- thirty false propositions which the Bishop of
ring the time of his being Bishop of Norwich, Lincoln had collected out of his books, was senwhich was about two years, fifty ministers had tenced by the lord-keeper " to be deprived of
been excommunicated, suspended, and deprived his ecclesiastical preferments, to be forever disa"' for not reading the second service at the bled to hold any place or dignity in the Church or
communion-table; for not reading the Book of commonwealth, never to come within the verge
Sports; for using conceived prayers before the of his majesty's court, and his books to be burned
afternoon sermon," &c.; and that, by his rigor- by the hands of the common hangman, in the city
ous severities, many of his majesty's subjects, of London and the two universities."  Both the
to the number of three thousand, had removed doctors died soon after.  The number of petithemselves, their families, and their estates to tions that were sent up to the committee of reHolland. and set up their manufactories there, ligion from all parts of the country against their
to the great prejudice of the trade of this king- clergy is incredible;* some complaining of their
dom. I do not find that the bishop put in a par- superstitious impositions, and others of the imticular answer to these articles, nor was he ta- morality of their lives and neglect of their
ken into custody, but only gave bond for his ap- cures, which shows the little esteem they had
pearance. Some time after, the Commons voted among the people, who were weary of their
him unfit to hold any ecclesiastical preferment yoke, regarding them no longer than they were
in the Church, and both Lords and Commons under the terror of their excommunications.
joined in a petition to the king to remove the    Such was the spirit of the populace that it'said bishop from his person and service; after was difficult to prevent their outrunning auwhich he was imprisoned, with the rest of the thority, and tearing down in a tumultuous manprotesting bishops.  Upon his release, he reti- ner what they were told had been illegally set
red to his house at Downham, in the Isle of up.  At St. Saviour's, Southwark, the mob
Ely, from whence he was taken by a party of pulled down the rails about the communion-taParliament soldiers, and conveyed to the Tow- ble. At Halstead, in Essex, they tore the surer, where he continued a patient prisoner till plice, and abused the service-book; nay, when
the end of the year 1659, without being brought the House of Commons was assembled at St.
to his trial or admitted to bail.             Margaret's, Westminster, as the priest was beComplaints were made against several other ginning his second service at the communionbishops and clergymen, as Dr. Pierce, bishop of table, some at the lower end of the church beBath and Wells, Dr. Montague, bishop of Nor- gan a psalm, which was followed by the conwich, Dr. Owen, bishop of Landaff, and Dr. gregation, so that the minister was forced to
Manwaring, bishop of St. David's; but the desist.  But, to prevent these seditious practiHouse had too many affairs upon their hands to ces for the future, the Lords and Commons passattend to their prosecutions.  Of the inferior ed a very severe sentence on the rioters, and
clergy, Dr. Stone, Chaffin, Aston, Jones, and published the following order, bearing date Jansome others, who had been instruments of se- uary 16, 1640-1, appointing it to be read in all
verity in the late times,' were voted unfit for the'parish churches in London, Westminster,
ecclesiastical promotions.  Dr. Layfield, arch-, and the borough of Southwark, viz.: "That
deacon of Essex, pleaded his privilege as a Divine service shall be performed as it is apmember of convocation, according to an old po- pointed by the acts of Parliament of this realm,
pish statute of Henry VI.,t but the committee  and that all such as disturb that wholesome oroverruled it, and voted the doctor into custody  der shall be severely punished by law."  But
then it was added, "that the parsons, vicars,
by threats of assassination, but continued an un- and curates of the several parishes shall forshaken Protestant. The arts of the papists succeed- bear to introduce any rites or ceremonies that
ed with his only son, whom they prevailed with to may give offence, otherwise than those which
embrace the Catholic faith, and to take upon him
religious orders. This was a very heavy affliction   * Dr. Grey judges it not at all incredible; because,
to his father, who, on this ground, left his estate on the authority of Lord Clarendon, he adds, unfair
from him.-Granger's History of Eunland, vol. iii., p. methods of obtaining petitions were used in those
234, 8vo; and AeTalson's Collections, vol. i., p. 519.-ED. times of iniquity and confusion. The disingenuous
* Nalson's Collections, p. 692.             art of which his lordship complains was procuring
t There was no particular propriety, rather it was, signatures to a petition drawn up in modest and duas Dr. Grey intimates, somewhat invidious in Mr. tiful terms, and then cutting it off and substituting
Neal thus to characterize this statute, relative to the another of a different strain and spirit, and annexing
privilege of the clergy coming to convocation, as it it to the list of subscribers. This practice, if his
must, being of so ancient a date, necessarily be po- lordship asserted it on good evidence, deserves to be
pish, as is one fourth part of the statute law; and censured in the strongest terms. A virtuous mind
there are various instances of its being enforced since has too often occasion to be surprised and shocked
the Reformation, and even in the present century, of at the arts which' party prejudice and views can
which Dr. Grey gives ample proof.-ED.         adopt.-History of the Rebellion, vol. i., p. 203.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                         361
are established by the laws of the land."  The  be rebaptized by the parish minister, some of
design of this proviso was to guard against the the congregation insisting that it should be
late innovations, and particularly against the baptized, because the other administration was
clergy's refusing the sacrament to such as not valid; but when the question was put, it
would not receive it kneeling at the rails.     was carried in the negative, and resolved by the
There was such a violent clamour against majority not to make any declaration at presthe high clergy, that they could hardly officiate ent whether or no parish churches were true
according to the late injunctions without being churches.  Upon this, some of the more rigid,
affronted, nor walk the streets in their habits, and others who were dissatisfied about the!Ird
says Nalson, without being reproached as po- fulness of infant baptism, desired their dismi;::
pish priests, Caesar's friends, &c.  The reputa- sion, which was granted them; these set up by'
tion of the liturgy began to sink; reading pray- themselves, and chose Mr. Jesse their minister,
ers was called a lifeless form of worship, and a who laid the foundation of the first Baptist conquenching the Holy Spirit, whose assistances gregation* that I have met with in England.
are promised in the matter as well as the man- But the rest renewed their covenant " to walk
ner of our prayers; besides, the nation being in together in the ways of God, so far as he had
a crisis, it was thought impossible that the old made them known or should make them known
forms should be suitable to the exigency of the to them, and to forsake all false ways."  And.
times, or to the circumstances of particular so steady were they to their vows, that hardly
persons, who might desire a share in the devo- an instance can be produced of one that de
tions of the Church.  Those ministers, there- serted to the Church by the severest prosecufore, who prayed with fervency and devotion,* tions.
in words of their own conception, suitable ei-    Upon Mr. Lathorp's retiring into New-Eng
ther to the sermon that was preached or to the land, the congregationt chose for their pastor
present urgency of affairs, had crowded and at- the famous Mr. Canne,$ author of the marginal
tentive auditories, while the ordinary service of references in  the Bible, who, after he  had
the Church was deserted as cold, formal, and  preached to them  in private houses for a year
without spirit.                                 or two, was driven by the severity of the times
The discipline of the Church being relaxed, into Holland, and became pastor of the Brownthe Brownists or Independents, who had as- ist congregation at Amsterdam.
sembled in private, and shifted from house to    After Mr. Canne, Mr. Samuel Howe underhouse for twenty or thirty years, resumed their took the pastoral care of this little flock; he was
courage, and showed themselves in public. We  a man of learning, and printed a small treatise,
have given an account of their origin, from Mr.   * According to Crosby, this is a mistake, for there
Robinson and Mr. Jacob, in the year 1616, the were three Baptist churches in England before that
last of whom  was succeeded by Mr. John La- of Mr. Jesse. One formed by the separation of many
thorp, formerly a clergyman in Kent, but hav- persons from Mr. Lathorp's in 1633, before he left
ing renounced his orders, he became pastor of England. Another by a second separation from the
this little society.  In his time the congregation  same church in 1638, the members of which joined
was discovered by Tomnlinson, the bishop's themselves to Mr. Spilsbury. And a third, which originated in 1639 with Mr. Green and Captain Spencer,
pursuivant, April 29, 1632, at the house of Mr. whom Mr. Paul Hobson joined-Crosby's History oJ
Humphry Barnet, a brewer's clerk, in Black- the EnAglish Baptists, vol. iii., p. 41, 42.-ED.
friars, where forty-two of whom  were appre-   t This was the Church meeting in Deadman's
hended and only eighteen escaped: of those Place; it all along acted on the principle of mixed
that were taken, some were confined in the communion, and chose their pastors indifferently
C(link. others in New  Prison  and the Gate- from among the Baptists or PEdobaptists.  If this
lhonlse, where' they continued about two years, Church weathered through the period of the comandue werethen rel ueduo abai e ers, monwealth, it must have been scattered by persecuand were then released upon bail, except Mr. tion soon after the Restoration.- Wilson's DissentLathorp, for whom  no favour could be obtain- ing Churches, vol. iv., p. 124.-C.
ed; hie therefore petitioned the. king for liberty    $ Crosby says that the church of which Mr.
to depart the kingdomn, which being granted, he  Canne, Mr. Samuel Howe, and Mr. Stephen More
went, in the year 1634, to New-England, with  were successively pastors, was constituted and plantabout thirty of his followers.  Mr. Lathorp was ed by Mr. Hubbard. And it is not certain whether
a man of learning, and of' a meek and quiet Mr. Canne was a Baptist or not. He was the author of three sets of notes on the Bible, which accompanied three different editions of it. One printcasion of one of his people carrying his child to  ed by him at Amsterdam, 1647, which refers to a
former one, and professes to add "many Hebraisms,
* Dr. Grey gives some specimens of this, which diversitie of readings, with consonancie of parallel
are very much in the style of those in the piece en- Scriptures, taken out of the last annotation, and all
titled " Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence."  The im- set in due order and place."  Another is commonly
proved taste of this age, and rational devotion, revolt known, and has been often reprinted. There was
at them. But Dr. Grey did not reflect that the of- also an impression of it at Amsterdam, 1664. A new
fensive improprieties which he exposes were not pe- edition of the Bible of 1664 is a desideratum. — Two
culiar to extemporary prayer, nor to the Puritans; Treatises of lHelzmy Ainsworth, pref., p. 35, note; and
they were agreeable to the fashion of the age, and incor- Crosby, vol. iii., p. 40.-ED.  Mr. Canne was, beyond
porated themselves with the precomposed prayers pub- all doubt, a Baptist, for the records of the church at
lished by royal command. The thanksgiving for vic- Broadmead, Bristol, which separated from the Estabtory in the north, 1643, affords an instance of this. lishment in 1640, mention Mr. Canne as having first
"Lord! look tothe righteousness of ourcause. See settled them in the order of a Christian C(hurch.
the seamless coat of thy Son torn, the throne of thine The minutes run thus: "The Providence of God
Anointed trampled on, thy Church invaded by sac- brought to this city one Mr. Canne, a baptized man.
rilege, and thy people miserably deceived with lies." It was that Mr. Canne that made notes and refer-Robinson's Translation of Claude's Essay on the ences upon the Bible," &c.- Wilson's Hist. of lis
Composition of a Sermnon, vol. ii., p. 84.-ED.  senting Churches, vol. iv., p. 128-9.-C.
VoL. I.-Z z




362                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
called " The Sufficiency of the Spirit's Teach-  preaching in separate congregations, contrary
rng."*  But not being enough upon his guard  to the statute of the 35thEliz. The latter they
in conversation, he laid himself open to the in-  confessed, and as to the former, they declared
formers, by whose means he was cited into the  to the House that "they could acknowledge no
spiritual courts and excommunicated; hereup-  other head of the Church but Christ; that they
on he absconded, till, being at last taken, he  apprehended no prince on earth had power to
was shut up in close prison, where he died. make laws to bind the conscience  and that
His friends would have buried him in Shore-  such laws as were contrary to the laws of God
ditch churchyard, but, being excommunicated, ought not to be obeyed; but that they disowned
the officers of the parish would not admit it, so  all foreign power and jurisdiction."  Such a
they buried him in a piece of ground at Anni- declaration a twelvemonth ago might have cost
seed Clear, where many of his congregation  them their ears; but the House, instead of rewere buried after him.t                        mitting them  to the ecclesiastical courts, disUpon Mr. Howe's death, the little church was missed them with a gentle reprimand, and three
forced to take up with a layman, Mr. Stephen  or four of the members came, out of curiosity,
More, a citizen of London, of good natural parts, to their assembly next Lord's Day, to hear their
and of considerable substance in the world: he  minister preach, and to see him administer the
had been their deacon for some years, and, in  sacrament, and were so well satisfied that they
the present exigency, accepted of the pastoral contributed to their collection for the poor.
office, to the apparent hazard of his estate and    To return to the Parliament.  It has been
liberty.  However, the face of affairs beginning  observed that one of their first resolutions was
now to change, this poor congregation, which  to reduce the powers of the spiritual courts.
had subsisted almost by a miracle for above  The old popish canons, which were the laws by
twenty-four years, shifting from place to place  which they proceeded (as far as they had not
to avoid the notice of the public, ventured to  been controlled by the common law or particuopen their doors in Deadman's Place, in South- lar statutes), were such a labyrinth, that when
wark, January 18, 1640-1.  Mr. Fuller calls  the subject was got into the Commons, he knew
them a congregation of Anabaptists, who were  not how to defend himself, nor which way to
met together to the number of eighty; but by  get out. The kings of England had always detheir journal or church-book, an abstract of dined a reformation of the ecclesiastical laws,
which is now before me, it appears to be Mr. though a plan had been laid before them ever
More's congregation of Independents, who, be- since the reign of King Edward VI. But the
ing assembled in Deadman's Place on the Lord's grievance was now become insufferable, by the
Day, were disturbed by the marshal of the  numbers of illegal imprisonments, deprivations,
King's Bench, and most of them committed to  and fines levied upon the subject in the late
the Clink Prison.  Next morning, six or seven  times, for crimes not actionable in the courts of
of the men were carried before the House of Westminster Hall; it was necessary, therefore,
Lords, and charged with denying the king's su- to bring the jurisdiction of these courts to a
premacy in ecclesiastical matters, and with  parliamentary standard; but, till this could be
accomplished by a new law, all that could be
The treatise here mentioned, we are informed, done was to vote down the late innovations,
displayed strength of genius, but was written by a  which had very little effect; and, therefore, on
cobbler, as appears by the following recommendatory lines prefixed to it: -the 23d of January, the House of Commons
ordered conmmissioners to be sent into all
"What How? how tow? hath HIow such learning found, the counties to demolish, and remove out of
To throw art's curious image to the groundi  churches and chapels all "images, altars, or
Cambridge and Oxford iimay their glory now
Veil to a cobbler, if they knew but hIow."  tables turned altarwise, crucifixes, superstitious
This treatise was founded on 2 Peter, iii., 16, and  pictures, or other monuments and relics of idoldesigned to show, not the insufficiency only of human  atry," agreeably to the injunctions of King Edlearning to the purposes of religion, but that it was ward VI. and Queen Elizabeth.  How far the
dangerous and hurtful. So that Mr. Neal was mis- House of Commons, who are but one branch of
taken in speaking of its author as a man of learning. the Legislature, may appoint commissioners to
-Crosby, vol. iii., p. 39, note. —ED.         put the laws in execution, without the concurt Crosby's History of the English Baptists, vol. i., rence of the other two, is so very questionable,
p. 165. The following honourable testimony was that I will not take upon me to determine.
borne to Mr. Howe's memory by Roger Williams:
"Among so many instances,,:cad and living, to the    The University of Cambridge having com~
everlasting praise of Christ Jesus, and of his Holy  plained of the oaths and subscriptions imposed
Spirit, breathing a blessing where he listeth, I can- upon young students at their matriculation, as
not but with honourable testimony remember that subscribing to the Book of Common Prayer
eminent Christian witness and prophet of Christ, and to the Thirty-nine Articles, the House of
even that despised and yet beloved Samuel Howe, Commons voted " that the statute made twenwho being by calling a cobbler, and without human  ty-seven years ago in the University of Camlearning, which yet in its sphere and place he hon- bridge, impusing upon young scholars a suboured-who yet, I say, by searching the Holy Scrip- scription, according to the thirty-sixth canon of
tures, grew so excellent a textuary or Scripturelearned man, that few of those high rabbies that 1603, is against law and the liberty of the subscorn to mend or make a shoe could aptly or readi- ject, and ought not to be imposed upon any stuly, from the Holy Scriptures, outgo him. * * * * dents or graduates whatsoever."  About five
however he was forced to seek a grave or bed in the months forward they passed the same resoluhighway, yet was his life, and death, and burial, being  tion for Oxford, which was not unreasonable,
attended with many hundreds of God's people, hon- because the universities had not an unlimited
ourse, and how Tuch more on his rising Maaini, power, by the thirty-sixth canon, to call upon
glorious."- The Hireling Ministry none of Christ's, 
gloriou"   ring Misis   nn of     all their students to subscribe, but only upon
London, 1652, p. lt, 12.-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     363
such lecturers or readers of divinity whom they I ship understood no more than a slated president
had a privilege of licensing; and to this I con- over an assembly of presbyters, which the Puriceive the last words of the canon refer: "If tans of these times were willing to admit.  The
either of the universities offend therein, we most celebrated writer on the side of the Estableave them to the danger of the law and his lishment was the learned and pious Bishop
majesty's censure."                           Hall, who, at the request of Archbishop Laud,
And it ought to be remembered, that all the had published a treatise entitled "Episcopacy
proceedings of the HIouse of Commons this of Divine Right," as has been related.*  This
year. in punishing delinquents, and all their reverend prelate, upon the gathering of the
votes and resolutions about the circumstances present storm, appeared a second time in its
of public worship, had no other view than the defence, in "An humble Remonstrance to the
cutting off those illegal additions and innova- High Court of Parliament;" and some time aftions which the superstition of the late times ter, in "A Defence of that Remonstrance," in
had introduced, and reducing the discipline of vindication of the antiquity of liturgies and of
the Church to the standard of the statute law. diocesan episcopacy.
No man was punished for acting according to    Thle bishop's remonstrance was answered by
law; but the displeasure of the House ran high a celebrated treatise under the title of" Smecagainst those who, in their public ministrations, tymnuus," a fictitious word made up of the inior iu their ecclesiastical courts, had bound those tial letters of the names of the authors, viz.,
things upon the subject which were either con- Stephen Marshal, Edmund Calamy, Thomas
trary to the laws of the land, or about which the Young, Matthew Newcomen, and William Spurlaws were altogether silent.                  stow.  When the bishop had replied to their
book, these divines published a vindication of
~~ —-~~~ —        Itheir answer to the'" HumbIe Remonstrance;"
which, being an appeal to the Legislature on
CHAPTER VIII.                   both sides, may be supposed to contain the
nferits of the controversy, and will therefore
THE ANTIQUITY OF LITURGIES, AND OF THE EPIS- dse          the ra  rsat n
deserve the reader's attention.
COPAL ORDER, DEBATED BETWEEN BISHOP HALL   The debate was upon these two heads:
AND  SeMECTYvMNUUS. - PETITJONS  FOR  AND    1. Of the antiquity of liturgies, or forms of
AGAINST THE HIERARCHY. —ROOT AND BRANCH
PETITION.-THE  MINISTERS' PETITION FOR REF- prayer.
PETITION.-THE MINISTERSP PETITION FOE RE-   2. Of the apostolical institution of diocesan
ORMATION.-SVPEECHES UPON THE PETITIONS.-  episcopacy.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PAPISTS.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PAPISTS.       1. The bishop begins with liturgies, by which
THE debates in Parliament concerning the he understands "certain prescribed and limited
English liturgy and hierarchy engaged the at- forms of prayer, composed for the public sertention of the whole nation, and revived the vice of the Church, and appointed to be read at
controversy without doors.  The press being all times of public worship."  The antiquity of
open, great numbers of anonymous pamphlets these his lordship derives down from Moses, by
appeared against the Establishment, not with- an uninterrupted succession, to the present
out indecent and provoking language, under time.  "God's people," says he, "ever since
these and the like titles: Prelatical Episcopacy Moses's day, constantly practised a set form,
not from the Apostles; Lord-bishops not the and put it ever to the times of the Gospel.
Lord's Bishops; Short View of the Prelatical Our blessed Saviour, and his gracious forerunChurch of England; A Comparison between  ner, taught a direct form of prayer.  When Pcthe Liturgy and the Mass Book; Service Book ter and John went up to the temple at the ninth
no better than a Mess of Pottage, &c.  Lord  hour of prayer, we know the prayer wherein
Brook attacked the order of bishops in a trea- they joined was not of an extempore and sudtise of the "Nature of Episcopacy," wherein  den conception, but of a regular prescription;
he reflects in an ungenerous manner upon the and the evangelical Church ever since thought
low pedigree of the present bench, as if nothing it could never better improve her peace and
except a noble descent could qualify men to sit happiness than in composing those religious
among the peers.  Several of the bishops vin- models of invocation and thanksgiving, which
dicated their pedigree and families, as Bishop they have traduced unto us, as the liturgies of
Williams, Moreton, Curie, Cooke, Owen, &c., St. James, Basil, and Chrysostom, and which,
and Archbishop Usher defended the order, in a though in some places corrupted, serve to prove
treatise entitled "The Apostolical Institution  the thing itself"
of Episcopacy4;"* but then by a bishop his lord- Smectymnuos replies, that if there had been
Nalson, in his Collections, vol. ii., p. 279, 280, any liturgies in the times of the first and most
and after him, Collyer, Ecclesiastical History, vol. veherable antiquity, the great inquiries after
ii., p. 808, have abridged the arguments of this piece; them would have produced them to the world
but these abstracts do not show, as Dr. Grey would before this time; but that there were none in
intimate, the extent ofjurisdiction, or the nature of the Christian Church is evident from Tertullian'the power, according to Bishop Usher's idea, exer- in his Apology, cap. xxx., where he says the
cised by the primitive bishops. They go to prove
only a superiority to eldlers  and by a quotation from  Christians of those times, in their public assem~
Beza, it should seem that this prelate, as Mr. Neal blies, prayed "sine monitore quia de pectore,"
says, meant by a bishop only a president of the pres- without any prompter except their own hearts.
bytery of a place or district. The Presbyterians are
charged with misrepresenting the bishop's opinion,   * Laud objected to some of his positions, and
and with printing a faulty and surreptitious copy of some involving important principles, and Hall was
his book. If this were done knowingly and design- compliant enough to adopt his suggestions.-Heylin's
edly, it must rank with such pious arts as deserve Laud, 398-402. Jones's Life ofBishop Hall, 153-166.
censure. —Dr. Grey.-ED.                       -C.




364                   - HISTORY' OF THE PURITANS.
And in his treatise of prayer, he adds, there are liturgy used in the Christian Church for three
some things to be asked "according to the oc- hundred years after Christ.*
casions of every man."  St. Austin says the    Fromn the antiquity of liturgies in general, the
same thing, ep. 121: "It is free to ask the  bishop descends to a nore particular commendsame things that are desired in the Lord's Pray- ation of that which is established in the Church
er, aliis atque aliis verbis, sometimes in one of England, as that it was drawn up by wise
manner of expression, and sometimes in anoth- and good men with great deliberation; that it
er."  And before this, Justin Martyr, in his had been sealed with the blood of martyrs, and
Apology, says, O irpoe7C5if, the president, or he was selected out of ancient models, not Roman,
that instructed the people, prayed according to but Christian.
his ability, or as well as he could. Nor was. In answer to which, these divines appeal to
this liberty of prayer taken away till the times the proclamation of Edward VI., wherein the
when the Arian and Pelagian heresies invaded  original of it is published to the world.  The
the Church; it was then first ordained that statute mentions four different forms then in
none should pray "pro arbitrio, sed semper use, out of which a uniform office was to be
easdem preces;" that they should not use the collected, viz., the use of Sarum, of Bangor, of
liberty which they had hitherto practised, but York, and of Lincoln, all which were Roman
should always keep to one form of prayer.-  rather than Christian; they admit his lordship's
Concil. Load., can. 18.  Still, this was a form  other encomiums of the English liturgy, but
of their own composing, as appears by a canon  affirm that it was still imperfect, and in many
of the Council of Carthage, anno 397, which  places offensive to tender consciences.
gives this reason for it: "Ut nemo in precibus    The good bishop, after all, seems willing to'
yel patrem  pro filio, veI filium pro patre nomi- compromise the difference about prayer. " Far
net, et cum altari adsistitur semper ad patrem  be it from me," says his lordship, " to disheartdirigatur oratio; et quicunque sibi preces ali- en any good Christian from the use of conceived
unde describit, non iis utatur nisi prius eas cum  prayer in his private devotions, and upon occafratribus instructioribus contulerit;" i. e., "that sion also in the public.  I would hate to be
none in their prayers might mistake the Father guilty of pouring so much water upon the spirit,
for the Son, or the Son for the Father; and to which I should gladly add oil rather.  No;
that, wvhen they assist at the altar, prayer might let the full soul freely pour out itself in gracious
be always directed to the Father; and whoso- expressions of its holy thoughts into the bosom
ever composes any different forms, let him not of the Almighty; let both the sudden flashes of
make use orf them till he has first consulted with  our quick ejaculations, and the constant flames
his more learned brethren."  It appears from  of our more fixed conceptions, mount up from
hence that there was no uniform  prescribed  the altar of a zealous heart unto the throne of
liturgy at this time in the Church, but that the grace; and if there be some stops or solecisms
more ignorant priests might make use of forms in the fervent utterance of our private wants,
of their own composing, provided they consult- these are so far from being offensive, that they
ed their more learned brethren; till at length it are the most pleasing music to the ears of that
was ordained at the Council of Milan, anno  God unto whom  our prayers come; let them
416, that none should use set forms of prayer be broken off with sobs.and sighs, and inconexcept such as'were approved in a synod. gruities of our delivery; our good God is no
They go on to transcribe, fiom  Justin Martyr otherways affected to this imperfect elocution
and Tertullian, the manner of public worship in than an indulgent parent is to the clipped and
their times, which was this: first the Scriptures broken language of his dear child, which is
were read; after reading followed an exhorta- more delightful to him than any other's smooth
tion to the practice and imitation of what was oratory.  This is not to be opposed in another
read; then all rose up and joined in prayer;
after this they went to the sacrament, in the    * Bishop Burnet says [Hist. Ref., part ii., p. 72]
beginning whereof the president of the assena- that it was in the fourth century that the liturgies of
bly poured out prayers and thanksgivings, ac- St. James, St. Basil, &c., were first mentioned; that
cording to his ability, and thepeople said A men, the Council of Laodicea appointed the same prayers
then followed the distribution of the elements, to be used mornings and evenings, but that these forms
and a collection of alms.  This was Justin  were left to the discretion of every bishop; nor was
it made the subject of any public consultation till
Martyr's liturgy or service, and Tertullian's is St. Austin's time, when, in their dealing with herethe same, only he mentions their beginning with  ties, they found they took advantage from some of
prayer before reading the Scriptures, and their the prayers that were in some churches; upon which
love-feasts, which only opened and concluded  it was ordered that there should be no public prayers
with prayer, and were celebrated with singing used but by common advice. Formerly, says the
of psalms. Althourgh thpe Smectymnuans admit bishop, the worship of God was a pure and simple
that our blessed Saviour taught his disciples a thing, and so it continued till superstition had so infected the Church that those forms were thought too
form of prayer, yet they deny that he designed  naked,     they   thoe form  were thought too
naked, unless they were put under more artificial
to confine them to the use of those words only, rules, and dressed up with much ceremony.  In
nor did the primitive Church so understand it, every age there were notable additions made, and all
as has been proved from St. Austin. The pre- the writers almost in the eighth and ninth centuries
tended liturgies of St. James, Basil, and St. employed theirfancies to find out mystical significaChrysostom are of little weight in this argu- tions for every rite that was then used, till at length
mlent, as being  allowed by the bishop, and the there were so many missals, breviaries, rituals, ponmost learned critics, both Protestants and pa- tificals, pontoises, pies, graduals, antiphonals, psal*pists, to e full of forgeries and spurious inser- teries, hours, and a great many more, that the understanding how to officiate was become so hard a piece
tions.  Upon the whole, therefore, they chal- of trade, that it was not to be learned without long
lenge his lordship to produce any one genuine practice.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.'         365
by any man that hath found the true operations claimed hierarchy be fatever rooted out of the
of this grace in himself-" " What I have pro- Church."*
fessed concerning conceived prayers is what I   The bishop admitst that, in the language of
have ever allowed, ever practised, both in pri- Scripture, bishops and presbyters are the same;
vate and public.  God is a free spirit, and so that there is a plain identity in their denominashould ours be, in pouring out our voluntary de- tion, and that we never find these three orders
votions upon all occasions; nothing hinders mentioned together, bishops, presbyters, and
but that this liberty and a public liturgy should  deacons; but though there be no distinction of
be good friends, and go hand in hand together; names, his lordship apprehends there is a real
and whosoever would forcibly separate them, distinction and specification of powers, which
let them bear their own blame: the over-rigor- are,
ous pressing of the liturgy, to the justling out   1. The sole right of ordination.
of preaching or conceived prayers, was never   2. The sole right of spiritual jurisdiction.
intended by the lawmakers or moderate gov-   1. The sole right of ordination his lordship
ernors of the Church." If the bishops, while in proves from the words of Paul, 2 Tim., i., 6:
power, had practised according to these pious " Stir up' the gift of God which is in thee by
and generous principles, their affairs could not the laying on of my hands;" and that this
have been brought to such a dangerous crisis at power was never communicated to presbyters
this time.                                    from the words of St. Jerome, by whom ordina2. The other point in debate between the tion is excepted from the office of a presbyter:
bishop and his adversaries related to the supe- "quid facit episcopus, quod non facit presbyter
rior order of bishops. And here the controversy ordinatione."  And yet (says his lordship) our
was not about the name, which signifies in the English bishops do not appropriate this power
Greek no more than an overseer, but about the to themselves: " Say, brethren, I beseech you,
office and character; the Smectymnnuan divines after all this noise, what bishop ever undertook
contended that a primitive bishop was no other to ordain a presbyter alone, or without the conthan a parochial pastor or preaching presbyter, current imposition of many hands. This is
without pre-eminence or any proper rule over perpetually and infallibly done by us."
his brethren.  His lordship, on the other hand,   The Smectymnuan divines contend, on the
affirms that bishops were originally a "distinct other hand, that bishops and presbyters were
order from presbyters, instituted by the apos- originally the same; that ordination to the
tles themselves, and invested with the sole office of a bishop does not differ from the ordipower of ordination and ecclesiastical jurisdic- nation of a presbyter; that there are no powers
tion;" that in this sense they are of Divine in- conveyed to a bishop from  which presbyters
stitution, and have continued in tile Church by are excluded, nor any qualification required in
an.uninterrupted succession to the present time. one more than in the other; that, admitting
The bishop enters upon this argument with un- Timothy was a proper bishop, which they deny,
usual assurance, bearing down his adversaries yet that he was ordained by the laying on of
with a torrent of bold and unguarded expres- the hands of the presbytery as well as that of
sions.  His words are these: "This holy call- St. Paul's, 1 Tim., iv., 14; that the original of
ing (meaning the order of bishops as distinct the order of bishops was from the presbyters
from presbyters) fetches its pedigree from no choosing one from  among themselves to be
less than apostolical, and, therefore, Divine in- stated president in their assemblies, in the secstitution.  Except all histories, all authors fail ond or third century; that St. Jerome declares,
us,'nothing can be more plain than this; out once and again, that in the days of the apostles
of them  we can and do show on whom  the bishops and presbyters were the same; that as
apostles of Christ laid their hands, with an ac- low as his time they had gained nothing but
knowledgment and conveyance of imparity and ordination; and that St. Chrysostom and Thejurisdiction.  We show what bishops, so or- ophylact affirm, that while the apostles lived,
dained, lived in the time of the apostles, and and for some ages after, the name of bishops
succeeded each other in their several charges and presbyters were not distinguished.  This,
under the eyes and hands of the then living say they, is the voice of the most primitive anapostles. We show who immediately succeed- tiquity.T  But the Smectymnuans are amazed
ed those immediate successors in their several at his lordship's assertion that the bishops of
sees, throughout all the regions of the Christian  the Church of England never ordained without
Church, and deduce their uninterrupted- line presbyters, and that this was so constant a
through all the following ages to this present practice that no instance can be produced of its
day; and if there can be better evidence under being done without them.  "Strange!" say
heaven for any matter of fact (and in this
cause matter of fact so derived evinceth mat-   * Remonstrance, p. 21.    t Defence, p. 47.
ter of right), let episcopacy be forever aban- t In the debate of the House on this head, the
doned out of God's Church. Again, if we do authority of that very ancient parchment copy of
the Bible in St. James's library, sent by Cyrillus, panot show, out of the genuine and undeniable triarch of Alexandria, to King Charles I., being all
writings of those holy men who lived both in written in great capital Greek letters, was vouched
the times of the apostles and some years after and asserted by Sir Simon d'Ewes, a great antiquathem, and conversed with them as their bless- ry, wherein the postscripts to the Epistles to Timoed fellow-labourers, a clear and received dis- thy and Titus are only this: " This first to Timothy,
tinction both of the names and offices of bish-  written from Laodicea; to Titus, written from Niops, presbyters, and deacons, as three dis- cupolis;" whence he inferred that the styling of
Timothy and Titus first bishops of Ephesus and
tinct subordinate callings in God's Church, Crete were the spurious additions of some Eastern
with an evident specification of the duty and bishop or monk, at least five hundred years aftei
charge belonging to each of them, let this Christ. —Rushworth, vol. iv., p. 284.




366                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
they, "when some of us have been eyewit-   2. The other branch of power annexed to the
nesses of many scores who have been ordain- episcopal offide is the sole right of spiritual jued by a bishop in his private chapel, without risdiction; this. the bishop seems in some sort
the presence of any presbyter except his do- to disclaim: "Whoever," says he, "challenged
mestic chaplain, who only read prayers.  Be- a sole jurisdiction 1  We willingly grant that
sides, the bishop's letters of orders make no presbyters have, and ought to have, jurisdiction
mention of the assistance of presbyters, but within their own charge, and that in all great
challenge the whole power to themselves, as affairs of the Church they ought to be consulthis lordship had done in his book entitled Epis- ed. We admit that bishops of old had their eccopacy of Divine Right, the fifteenth section of clesiastical council of presbyters, and we still
which has this title,'The Power of Ordination  have the same in our deans and chapters; but
is only in Bishops.'"                          we say that the superiority of jurisdiction is so
But the main point upon which the bishop in the bishop, that presbyters may not exercise
lays the whole stress of the cause is, Whether it without him, and that the exercise of exterpresbyters may ordain without a bishop?  For nal jurisdiction is derived from, by, and under
the proof of this, the Smectymnuans produced  him, to those who exercise it within his diothe author of the comment on the Ephesians, cess."  This his lordship proves from several
which goes under the name of St. Ambrose, testimonies out of the fathers.
who says that in Egypt the presbyters ordain if   The Smectymnuans agree with his lordship,
the bishop be not present; so also St. Augus- that in the ancient Church bishops could do notine, in the same words; and the chorepiscopus, thing without the consent of the clergy; nor in
who was only a presbyter, had power to impose cases of excommunication and absolution withhands, and to ordain within his precincts with  out the allowance of the whole body of the
the bishop's license; nay, farther, the presbyter Church to which the delinquent belonged, as
of the city of Alexandria, with the bishop's appears from the testimonies of Tertullian and
leave, might ordain, as appears from Con. Ancyr. St. Cyprian; but they aver, upon their certain
Carit., 3, where it is said, "' It is not lawful for knowledge, that ou'r English bishops have exerchorepiscopi to ordain presbyters or deacons; cised several parts of ecclesiastical jurisdiction
nor for the presbyters of the city, without the without their presbyters.  And farther (say
bishop's letter, in another parish;" which im- they), where, in all antiquity, do we meet with
plies they might do it with the bishop's letter, such delegates as lay-chancellors, commissaor perhaps without it, in their own; and Fir- ries, and others as never received imposition
milianus says of them who rule in the Church, of hands   These offices were not known in
whom he calls " seniores et.proepositi," that those times, nor can any instance be produced
is, presbyters as well as bishops, that they had of laity or clergy who had them for above four
the power of baptizing and of laying on of hands hundred years after Christ.
in ordaining.*                                   Upon the whole, allowing that, in the third
or fourth century, bishops were a distinct order
It may be some satisfaction to the reader to see from  presbyters, yet, say these divines, our
the judgment of other learned men upon this argu- modern bishops of the Church of England differ
rnent, which has hrokleatlrlnedanm no1fp l1 a modern bishops of the Church of England differ
ment, which has broken the bands of brotherly love
and charity between the Church of Englaild and all very wildely from them;  the  primitive bishops
the foreign Protestants that have no bishops.  were elected by a free suffrage of the presbyThe learned prelate of Ireland, Archbishop Usher, ters, but ours by a congg d'elire from the king.
in his letter to Dr. Bernard, says, " I have ever de- They did not proceed against criminals but with
dared my opinion to be, that'episcopus et presbyter the consent of their presbyters, and upon the
gradu tantum differunt, non ordine,' and, consequent- testimony of several Witnesses; whereas ours
ly, that in places where bishops cannot be had, the proceed by an oath ex offiio, by which men are
ordination by presbyters stands valid; but the ordination made by such presbyters as have severed them- obliged to accuse thelselves; the primitive
selves from those bishops to whom they have swornd no lordly titles and dignities, no
canonical obedience, I cannot excuse from being lay-chancellors, commissaries, and other offischismatical. I think that churches that have no cials, nor did they engage in secular affairs, &c.
bishops are defective in their government; yet, for the After several comparisons of this kind, they rejustifying my communion with them (which I do love capitulate the late severities of the bishops in
and honour as true members of the Church univer- their ecclesiastical courts, and conclude with
sal), I do profess, if I were in Holland, I should re- an humble petition to the high curt of Parliaceive the blessed sacrament at the hands of the Dutch,    humbl  e petition to the high court of Pa rliawith the like affection as I should from the hands of ment, " that if episcopacy be retained in the
the French ministers were I at Charenton."  The the said bishop concurred in their consecration. And
same most reverend prelate, in his answer to Mr. yet lower, when the Archbishop of Spalato was in
Baxter, says, " that the king having asked him at the England, he desired Bishop Moreton to reordain a
Isle of Wight whether he found in antiquity that person that had been ordained beyond sea, that he
presbyters alone ordained any, he replied yes, and might be more capable of preferment; to which the
that he could show his majesty more, even where bishop replied, that it could not be done but to the
presbyters alone successively ordained bishops, and scandal of the Reformed churches, wherein he would
instanced in Jerome's words (Epist. ad Evagrium), have no hand. The same reverend prelate adds, in
of the presbyters of Alexandria choosing and making his Apol. Cathol., that to ordain was the jus aotiquemn
their own bishops from the days of Mark till He- of presbyters. To these may be added the testimony
raclus and Dionysius.-Baxter's Life, p. 206.   of Bishop Burnet, whose words are these:'"As for
This was the constant sense of our first Reform- the riotion of distinct offices of bishop and presbyter,
ers, Cranmer, Pilkington, Jewel, Grindal, Whitgift, I confess it is not so clear to mne, and therefore, since
&c., and even of Bancroft himself; for when Dr. I look upon the sacramental actions as the highest
Andrews, bishop of Ely, moved that the Scots bish- of sacred performances, I cannot but acknowledge
ops elect might first be ordained presbyters in the those who are empowered for them must be of the
year 1610, Bancroft replied there was no need of' it, highest office in the Church."-Vindication of th
since ordination by presbyters was valid; upon which  Church of Scotland, p. 336.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     367
Church, it may be reduced to its primitive sim- tion was filled with very few hands, but tha%
plicity; and if they must have a liturgy, that many other sheets were annexed, for the recep.
there may be a consultation of divines to alter tion of numbers that gave credit to the underand reform the present; and that even then it taking; but that, when their names were submay not be imposed upon the clergy, but left scribed, the petition itself was cut off, and a
to the discretion of the minister how much of it new one of a very different nature annexed to
to read, when there is a sermon."             the long list of names; and when some of the
By this representation it appears that the  ministers complained to the Rev. Mr. Marshall,
controversy between these divines might have  with whom the petition was lodged, that they
been compromised if the rest of the clergy had  never. saw the petition to which their hands
been of the same spirit and temper with Bishop  were annexed, but had signed another against
Hall; but the court-bishops.would abate nothing  the canons, Mr. Marshall is said to reply that it
as long as the crown could support them; and  was thought fit by those that understood buas the Parliament increased in power, the Puri- siness better than they, that the latter petitan divines stiffened in their demands, till meth- tion should be rather preferred than the forods of accommodation were impracticable.      mer."  This is a charge of a very high nature,*
While this controversy was debating at home, and ought to be well supported: if it had'been
letters were sent from both sides to obtain the  true, why did they not complain to the commitjudgment of foreign divines, but most of them  tee which the House of Commons appointed to
were so wise as to be silent. Dr. Plume, in the  inquire into the irregular methods of procuring
Life of Bishop Hacket, writes that Blondel, Vos- hands to petitions? His lordship angwers, that
sius, Hornbeck, and Salmasius were sent to by  they were prevailed with to sit still and pass it
the king's friends in vain; Blondel published a  by; for which we have only his lordship's
very learned treatise on the Puritan side; but word, nothing of this kind being to be found in
Deodate, from Geneva, and Amyraldus, from  Rushworth, Whitelocke, or any disinterested
France, wished an accommodation, and, as writer of those times.
Plume says, were for episcopal government.    However, it cannot be denied that there was
The papists triumphed, and had raised expecta- a great deal of art and persuasion used to get
tions from these differences, as appears by a  hands to petitions on both sides, and many subletter of T. White, a Roman Catholic, to the  scribed their names who were not capable to
Lord-viscount Gage, at Dublin, dated February  judge of the merits of the cause. The petitions
12, 1639, in which are these words: "We are  against the hierarchy were of two sorts: some
in a fair way to assuage heresy and her episco- desiring that the whole fabric might be destroypacy, for Exeter's book has done more for the  ed; of these the chief was the root and branch
Catholics than they could have done them- petition, signed by the hands of about fifteen
selves, he having written that episcopacy in of- thousand citizens and inhabitants of London:
fice and jurisdiction is absolutely jure divino others aiming only at a reformation of the hie(which was the old quarrel between our bish- rarchy; of these the chief was the ministers'
ops and King Henry VIII., during his heresy), petition, signed with the names of seven hunwhich book does not a little trouble our adver- dred beneficed clergymen, and followed by othsaries, who declare this tenet of Exeter's to be  ers, with an incredible number of hands, from
contrary to the laws of this land. All is like to  Kent, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Nottingham,
prosper here, so I hope with you there."  How- and other counties.  The petitions in favour of
ever, it is certain the body of foreign Protest- the present Establishment were not less nuants were against the bishops, for this reason, merous, for within the compass of this and the
among others, because they had disowned their next year there were presented to the king and
ordinations; and could it be supposed they  House of Lords no less than nineteen from the
should compliment away the validity of their ad- two universities, from Wales, Lancashire, Stafministrations to a set of men that had disowned  fordshire, and other counties, subscribed with
their communion, and turned the French and  about one hundred thousand hands, whereof,
Dutch congregations out of the land?  No: according to Dr. Walker, six thousand were nothey wished they might be humbled by the Par- bility, gentry, and dignified clergy.  One would
liament.  Lord Clarendon adds, "They were  think by this account that the whole nation had
glad of an occasion to publish their resentments  been with them; but can it be supposed that
against the Church, and to enter into the same  the honest fireeholders of Lancashire and Wales
conspiracy against the crown, without which  could be proper judges of such allegations in
they could have done little hurt."            their petitions as these: That there can be no
But the cause of the hierarchy being to be  Church without bishops; that no ordination
decided at another tribunal, no applications  was ever performed without bishops; that withwere wanting on either side to make friends in  out bishops there can be no presbyters, and, by
the Parliament-house, and to get hands to peti- consequence, no consecration of the Lord's
tions. The industry of the several parties on  Supper; that it has never been customary for
this occasion is almost incredible; and it being  presbyters to lay hands upon bishops, from
the fashion of the time to judge of the sense of'
the nation this way, messengers were sent all     rhis charge we have seen brought forward by
en Engan th   mee    wr    l   Dr. Grey to discredit what Mr. Neal had reported
over England to promote the work. Lord Clar- concerning the number of petitions sent up from all
endon, and after him Dr. Nalson and others of  parts of the country against the clergy. When, as
that party, complain of great disingenuity on the  he proceeded in his review of Mr. Neal's history, he
side of the Puritans: his lordship says,t "that saw that our author had himself laid before his readthe paper which contained the ministers' peti- ers this charge of Lord Clarendon's, it would have
been candid in him to have cancelled his own stric* Foxes and Firebrands, part ii., p. 81.  tures on this point, or to have exposed the futility of
+ Clarendon, vol. i., p. 204.           Mr. Neal's reply to his lordship.-ED.




368,HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
whence the disparity of their function is evi- names are underwritten, to show there be many,
dent; that a bishop has a character that cannot and those of the better sort of the inhabitants
be communicated but by one of the same dis- of this city, otherwise and better minded, do
tinction; and that the Church has been gov- humbly represent unto this honourable House
erned by bishops, without interruption, for fif- these considerations following:
teen hundred years 1 These are topics fit to be   1. " That episcopacy is as ancient as Chrisdebated in a synod of learned divines; but the tianity itself in this kingdom.
tacking a hundred thousand names of freehold-   2. " That bishops were the chief instruments
ers on either side could prove no more than  in the reformation of the Church against pothat the honest countrymen acted too much by pery, and afterward the most eminent martyrs
an implicit faith in their clergy. Loud com- for the Protestant religion, and since, the best
plaints being made to the Parliament of unfair and ablest champions for the defence of it.
methods of procuring names to petitions, the   3. "That, since the Reformation, the times
House appointed a committee to examine into  have been very peaceable, happy, and glorious,
the matter; but there being great faults, as I notwithstanding the episcopal government in
apprehend, on both sides, the affair was dropped. the Church, and, therefore, that this governThe root and branch petition was presented  ment can be no cause of our unhappiness.
to the House December 11, 1640, by Alderman    4. "We conceive that not only many learned,
Pennington and others, in the name of his maj- but divers other godly persons, would be much
esty's subjects in and about the city of London  scandalized and troubled in conscience if the
and adjacent counties. It was thought to be government of episcopacy, conceived by them
the contrivance of the Scots commissioners, to be an apostolical institution, were altered;
who were become very popular at this time. and since there is so much care taken that no
The petition showeth, "that whereas the gov- man should be offended in the least ceremony,
ei nment of archbishops and lord-bishops, deans we hope there will be some that such men's
and archdeacons, &c., with their courts and consciences may not be pressed upon in a matministrations in them, have proved prejudicial, ter of a higher nature and consequence, espeand very dangerous to the Church and Com- cially considering that this government by epismonwealth; they themselves having formerly  copacy is not only lawful and convenient for
held that they have their jurisdiction or power edification, but likewise suitable to, and agreeof human authority, till of late they have claim- able with, the civil policy and government of
ed their calling immediately from Christ, which  this state.
is against the laws of this kingdom, and deroga-   5. " That this government is lawful, it ap
tory to his majesty's state royal. And where- pears by the immediate, universal, and constant
as the said government is found, by woful ex- practice of all the Christian world, grounded
perience, to be a main cause and occasion of upon Scripture, from the apostles' time to this
many foul evils, pressures, and grievances of a last age, for above fifteen hundred years togethvery high nature to his majesty's subjects, in er, it being utterly incredible, if not impossible,
their consciences, liberties, and estates, as in a that the whole Church, for so long a time, should
schedule of particulars hereunto annexed may  not discover, by God's Word, this government
in part appear:                            to be unlawful, if it had been so; to which may
"We therefore most humbly pray and be- be added, that the most learned Protestants,
seech this honourable assembly, the premises even in those very churches which now are
considered, that the said government, with all not governed by bishops, do not only hold the
its dependances, roots, and branches, may be government by episcopacy to be lawfill, but
abolished, and all the laws in their behalf made wish that they themselves might enjoy it.
void, and that the government, according to   "Again, That the government by episcopacy
God's Word, may be rightly placed among us; is not only lawful, but convenient for edification,
and we, your humble supplicants, as in duty and as much or more conducing to piety and
bound, shall ever pray," &c.                devotion than any other, it appears, because no
The schedule annexed to the petition con- modest man denies that the primitive times
tained twenty-eight grievances and pressures, were most famous for piety, constancy, and
the chief of which were, thie bishops suspend- perseverance in the faith, notwithstanding more
ing and depriving ministers for nonconformity  frequent and more cruel persecutions than ever
to certain rites and ceremonies; their discoun- have been since; and yet it is confessed that
tenancing  preaching; their claim of jits divi- the Church in those times was governed by
nhm; their administering the oath ex officio; bishops.
the exorbitant power of the High Commission,   " Lastly, That the government of the Church
with the other innovations already mentioned.  by episcopacy is most suitable to the form and
The firiends of the Establishment opposed this frame of the civil government here in this kingpetition, with one of their own in favour of the dom, it appears by the happy and flourishing
hierarchy, in the following words:          union of them both for so long a time together;'
"To the honourable the knights, citizens, whereas no man can give us an assurance how
&c., the petition of, &c., humbly showeth,  any church government besides this (whereof
"That whereas, of late, a petition, subscribed  we have had so long experience) will suit and,
by many who pretend to be inhabitants of this agree with the civil policy of this state. And
city, hath been delivered, received, and read in we conceive it may be of dangerous consethis honourable House, against the ancient, quence for men of settled fortunes to hazard
present, and by law established government of their estates by making so great an alteration,
the (Church, and that not so much for the ref- and venturing upon a new form of government,
ormation of bishops as for the utter subversion whereof neither we nor our ancestors have had
and extirpation of episcopacy itself-we, whose any trial or experience, especially considering




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  369
that those who would have episcopacy to be established government, in the names of divers
abolished have not yet agreed, nor (as we are  counties, with threatenings against the bishops
verily persuaded) ever will or can agree upon  that they will make them but ciphers. Now I
any other common forml of government to suc- must tell you that I make a great difhirence
ceed in the room of it, as appears by the many  between reformation and alteration of governdifferent and contrary draughts and platforms ment; though I am for the first, I cannot give
they have made and published, according to the  way to the latter.  If some of them  have
several humours and sects of those that made overstretched their power, and encroached too
them; whereas, seeing every great alteration much on their temporality, I shall not be unin a church or state must needs be dangerous, willing that these things should be redressed
it is just and reasonable that whosoever would  and reformed; nay, farther, if you can show
introduce a new form instead of an old one, me that the bishops have some temporal aushould be obliged to demonstrate and make it thority inconvenient for the state, and not neevidently appear aforehand that the govern- ces.sary for the government of Church and upment he would introduce is proportionably so  holding episcopal jurisdiction, I shall not be unmuch better than that he would abolish, as may  willing to desire them to lay it down; but this
recompense the loss we may sustain, and may  must not be understood that I shall any ways
be worthy of the hazard we must run in abol- consent that their voices in Parliament should
ishing the one, and introducing and settling of be taken away, for in all the times of my predthe other; but this we are confident can never ecessors, since the Conquest and before, they
be done in regard of this particular.        have enjoyed it as one of the fundamental con"And therefore our humble and earnest re- stitutions of the kingdom."  This unhappy
quest to this honourable House is, that as well method of the king's coming to the House and
in this consideration as all the other aforesaid, declaring his resolutions beforehand was cerwe may still enjoy that government which  tainly unparliaimientary, and did the Church no
most probably holds its institution from the  service; nor was there any occasion for it at
apostles, and most certainly its plantation with  this time, the Hosuse being in no disposition as
our Christian faith itself in this kingdomr where  yet to order a bill to be brought in for subvertit hath ever since flourished, and continued for ing the hierarchy.
many ages without any interruption or altera-   In the months of February and March, sevtion; whereby it plainly appears, that as it is eral days were appointed for the consideration
the most excellent government in itself, so it is of these petitions; and when the bill for the
the most suitable, most agreeable, and every  utter extirpating  the episcopal order was
way most proportionable to the civil constitu- brought into the House in the months of May
tion and temper of this state; and therefore  and June, several warm speeches were made
we pray and hope will always be continued  on both sides: I will set the chief of them beand preserved in it and by it, notwithstanding  fore the reader at one view, though they were
the abuses and corruptions which in so long a spoken at different times.
tract of time, through the errors or negligence    Among those who were for root and branch,
of men, have crept into it; which abuses and  or the total extirpating of episcopacy, was Sir
corruptions being all of them (what and how  Henry Vane, who stood up and argued that,
many soever there may be) but merely acci- "since the House had voted episcopal governdental to episcopacy, w.e conceive and hope  ment a great impediment to the reformation
there may he a reformation of the one without and growth of religion, it ought to be taken
a destruction of the other.                  away; for'it is so corrupt in tie foundation,"' Which is the humble suit of, &c., &c."   says he, " that if we pull it not down, it will
A third petition was presented to the House, fall about the ears of those that endeavour it
January 23, by ten or twelve clergymen, in the  within a few years.  This government was
name of seven hundred of their brethren who  brought in by antichrist, and has let in all
had signed it, called the ministers' petition, kinds of superstition in the Church: it has
praying for a reformation of certain grievances  been the instrument of displacing the most
in the hierarchy, but not an entire subversion  godly andt conscientious ministers, of vexing,
of it; a schedule of these grievances was an- punishing, and banishing out of the kingdom
nexed, which being referred to the committee, the most religious of -all sorts and conditions,
Mr. Crew reported the three following as prop- that would not' comply with their superstitious
er for the debate of the House:; 1. The secu- inventions and cerermonies.  In a word, it has
lar employments of the clergy.  2. The sole turned the edge of the government against the
power of the bishops in ecclesiastical affairs, very life and power of godliness, and the favour
and particularly in ordinations and church cen- and protection of it towards all profane, scansures.  3. The large revenues of deans and  dalous, and superstitious persons that would
chapters, with the inconveniences that attend  uphold their party: it has divided us from the
the application of them."                   foreign Protestant churches, and has done what
Two (lays after the delivery of this petition  it could to bind the nation in perpetual slavery
[January 251 his majesty camie to the House, to themselves and their superstitious invenand very unadvisedly interrupted their debates tions by the late canons.  Farther, this govby the following speech: "There are some  ernment has been no less prejudicial to the civil
men tuat more mnaiiciously than ignorantly will liberties of our country, as appears by the bishput no) difference between reforamation and al- ops preaching up the doctrine of arbitrary powteration iof governlmelt; hence it comes to  er, by their encouraging the late illegal projects
pass tlhat Divine service is irreverently inter- to raise money without Parliament, by their
ruptel, and petitions in an ill way given in, kindling a war between England andl Scotland,
neithler disputed nor denied, against the present and falling in with the plots and combinations
Vim,. I.-AA A 




370                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
that have been entered into against this pres-   "By the bishop's spiritualities I mean those
ent Parliament."  Sir Harry concludes from  spiritual powers which raise him above the orthese premises, "that the Protestant religion  der of a presbyter; and here I consider, first,
must always be in danger as long as it is in the his authority over presbyters by the oath of
hands of such governors; nor can there be any  canonical obedience, by which he may comhopes of reformation in the state while the bish- mand them to collect tenths granted in convoops have votes in Parliament; that the fruit cation, according to 20 Henry VTI., cap. xiii.
being so bad, the tree must be bad. Let us not, Secondly, his office, which is partly judicial and
then, halt between two opinions," says he, " but partly ministerial; by the former he judges in
with one heart and voice give glory to God by his courts of all matters ecclesiastical and spircomplying with his providence, and with the itual within his diocess, and of the fitness of
safety and peace of the Church and State, such as are presented to him to be instituted
which is by passing the Root and Branch Bill."* into benefices; by the latter he is to consecrate
Mr. Sergeant Thomas gave the House a long places dedicated to Divine service. 9 Henry
historical narration of the viciousness and mis- VI., cap. xvii., he is to provide for the officiating
behaviour of the bishops in the times of popery; of cures in the avoidance of churches, on negof their treasonable and rebellious conduct to- lect of the patron's presenting thereunto. He
wards their sovereigns; of their antipathy to is to certify loyal [or lawful] matrimony, genthe laws and liberties of their country; of their eral bastardy, and excommunication.  He is to
ignorance, pride, and addictedness to the pomp execute judgments given in quare impedit, upon
of this world, to the apparent neglect of their the writ ad admittenduzr clericurn.  He is to atspiritual functions; and of their enmity to all tend upon trials for life, to report the sufficiency
methods of reformation to this day.t         or insufficiency of such as demand clergy; and,
Mr. Bagshaw stood up to reply to the objec- lastly, lie is to ordain deacons and presbyters.
tions made against abolishing the order of bish-   " Now all these things being given to these
ops.                                         bishops jure humano," says Mr. White, " I con" It is asserted," says he, " that it is of Di- ceive may, for just reasons, be taken away. He
vine right, which is contrary to the statute 37 affirms that, according to Scripture, a bishop
of Henry VIII., cap. xvii., which says they have and presbyter is one and the same person: (1.)
their episcopal authority, and all other ecclesi- Their duties are mentioned as the same, the
astical jurisdiction whatsoever, solely and only bishop being to teach and rule his church, 1
by, from, and under the king.                Tim., iii., 2, 5; and the presbyter being to do
" It is argued that episcopacy is inseparable the very same, I Pet., v., 2, 3. (2.) Presbyters
from the crown, and therefore it is commonly in Scripture are said to be bishops of tile Holy
said, No bishop, no king; which is very ridicu- Ghost, Acts, xx., 28. And St. Paul charges the
Ious, because the lings of England were long presbyters of Ephesus to take heed to the flock
before bishops, and may still depose them.   over which the Holy Ghost had made them
" It is said that episcopacy is a third state in bishops or overseers; and other bishops the
Parliament; but this I deny, for the three states Holy Ghost never made. (3.) Among the enuare the king, the lords temporal, and the com- meration of church officers, Eph., iv., 11, wheremons.  Kings of England have held several of the three former are extraordinary, and are
Parliaments without bishops; King Edward I., ceased, there- remains only the pastor and
in the 24th of his reign, held a Parliament ex- teacher, which is the very same with the prescluso clcro; and in the Parliament of the 7th byter.  The bishop, as he is more than this, is
Richard II. there is mention made of the con- no officer given by God; and it is an encroachsent of the lords temporal and the commons, ment on the kingly office of Christ to admit
but not a word of the clergy; since, therefore, other officers into the Church than he himself
the present hierarchy was of mere human in- has appointed.
stitution, and had been found a very great griev-   "Seeing, then, episcopacy may be taken away
ance to the subject, he inclined to the root and in all wherein it exceeds the presbyter's office,
branch petition."                            which is certainly jure divino, we ought to reMr. White entered more fully into the merits store the presbyters to their rights which the
of the cause, and considered the present bishops bishops have, taken from them, as particularly
of the Church with regard to their baronies, to the right of ordination, excommunication,
their temporalities, and their spiritualities.  and liberty to preach the whole counsel of God
"The foimer," says he, "are merely of the without restraint from a bishop: they should
king's favour, and began in this kingdom the have their share in the discipline and govern4th of William the Conqueror, by virtue where- ment of the Church; and, in a word, all superi*of they have had place in the House of Peers in ority of order between bishops and presbyters'Parliament; but in the 7th Henry VIII. (1648, should be taken away."  Mr. White is farther
K'el.) it was resolved by all the judges of Eng- of opinion that the bishops should be deprived
land that the king may hold his Parliament by of their baronies, and all iritermeddling with:himself, his temporal lords, and commons, with- civil affairs; that institution and induction, the
oiut any bishop; for a bishop has not any place jurisdiction of tithes, causes matrimionial and:in Parliament by-reason of his spiritualities, but testamentary, and other usurpations of the ecmerely by reason of his barony, and according- clesiastical courts, should be restored to the
ly acts of Parliament have been made without civil judicature, and be determined by the laws
them, as 2 Richard II., cap. iii., and at other of'the land.
times; nor were they ever called spiritual lords   In order to take off the force of' these arguin our statutes till 16 Richard II., cap. i.  ments in favour of the root and branch petiNalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 276.  tion, the friends of the hierarchy said that the
t Ibid., vol. ii., p. 211.            very best things might be corrupted; that to




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.                               371
take away the order of bishops was -to change men as Dr. Beal and Manwaring; by appearthe whole Constitution for they knew not what; ing for monopolies and ship-money; some of
they therefore urged the ministers' petition for them have laboured to exclude all persons and
reformation, and declaimed with vehemence causes of the clergy from the temporal magisagainst the corruptions of the late times.  trate, and, by hindering prohibitions, to have ta
Lord Falkland, who, in the judgment of the ken away the only legal bounds to their arbinoble historian, was the most extraordinary trary power; they have encouraged all the
person of his age, stood up and said,      clergy to suits, and have brought all suits to the
" Mr. Speaker,                         council-table, that, having all power in ecclesi"He is a great stranger in our Israel who astical matters, they might have an equal powknows not that this kingdom has long laboured er in temporals; they have both kindled and
under many and great oppressions, both in reli-' blown the common fire of both nations, and
gion and liberty, and that a principal cause of have been the first and principal cause of the
both has been some bishops and their adhe- breach since the pacification at Berwick.
rents, who, under pretence of uniformity, have   " Mr. Speaker, I have represented no srhall
brought in superstition and scandal under the quantity, and. no mean degree of guilt; but this
title of decency; who have defiled our churches charge does not lie against episcopacy, but
by adorning them, and slackened the strictness against the persons who have abused that sacred
of that union that was between us and those of function; for if we consider that the first spreadour religion beyond sea: an action both impol- ers of Christianity, the first defenders of it, both
itic and ungodly.*                         with their ink and blood, as well as our late Re" They have been less eager on those who formers, were all bishops'; and even now, in this
damn our Church than on those who, on weak great defection of the order, there are some
conscience, and perhaps as weak reason, only that have been neither proud nor ambitious;
abstain from it. Nay, it has been more dan- some that have been learned opposers of popery
gerous for men to go to a neighbouring parish and zealous suppressers of Arminianism, bewhen they had no sermon in their own, than to tween whom and their inferior clergy there has
be obstinate and perpetual recusants. While been no distinction in firequent preaching;
mass has been said in security, a conventicle whose lives are untouched, not only by guilt,
has been a crime; and, which is yet more, the but by malice; I say, if we consider this, we
conforming to ceremonies has been more ex- shall conclude that bishops may be good men;
acted than the conforming to Christianity; and *and let us but give good men good rules, and
while men for scruples have been undone, for we shall have good government and good times.
attempts of sodomy they have only been ad-   " I am content to take away from them all
monished.                                  those things which may, in any degree of pos"Mr. Speaker, they have resembled the dog sibility, occasion the like mischiefs with those
inithe fable: they have neither practised them- I have mentioned: I am sure neither their lordselves, nor employed those that should, nor ships, judging of tithes, wills, and marriages,
suffered those that would. They have brought no, nor their voices in Parliament, are jure diin catechising only to thrust out preaching; vino. If their revenues are too great, let us
cried down lectures by the name of faction, leave them only such proportion as may serve,
either because other men's industry in that duty in some degree, for the support of the dignity
appeared a reproof to their neglect, or with in- of learning and encouragement of students.
tent to have brought in darkness, that they If it be found they will employ their laws against
might the easier sow their tares while it was their weaker brethren, let us take away those
night.                                     laws, and let no ceremonies, which any number
"In this they have abused his majesty as well count unlawful and no man counts necessary,
as his people; for when he had with great wis- be imposed upon them; but let us not abolish,
dom silenced on both parts those opinions that upon a few days' debate, an order that has lastwill always trouble the schools, they made use ed in most churches these sixteen hundred
of this declaration to tie -up one side and let the years. I do not believe the order of bishops to
other loose. The truth is, Mr. Speaker, as some be jure divino, nor do I think them unlawful;
ministers in our state first took away our mon- but, since all great changes in government are
ey, and afterward endeavoured to make our dangerous, I am for trying if we cannot take
money not worth taking, by depraving it, so away the inconveniences of bishops and the inthese men first depressed the power of preach- conveniences of no bishops. Let us, therefore,
ing, and then laboured to make it such, as the go upon the debate of grievances, and if the
harm had not been much if it had been depress- grievances may be taken away and the order
ed; the chief subjects of the sermons being the stand, we shall not need to commit the London
jus divinum of bishops and tithes; the sacred- petition at all; but if it shall appear that the
ness of the clergy; the sacrilege of impropria- abolition of the one cannot be but by the detions; the demolishing of Puritanism; the build- struction of the other, then let us not commit
ing up of the prerogative, &c. In short, their the London petition, but grant it."
work has been to try how much of the papist   Lord George Digby, an- eminent Royalist,
might be brought in without popery, and to de- spoke with great warmth against the root and
stroy as much as they could of the Gospel, with- branch petition, and with no less zeal for a ref:
out hringing themselves in danger of being de- ormation of grievances.
stroyed by the law.' If the London petition," says his lordship,
" Mr. Speaker, these men have been betrayers " may be considered only as an index of grievof our rights and liberties, by encouraging such ances, I should wink at the faults of it, for no
man within these walls is more sensible of the
* R tshworth, vol. iv., p. 184, or part iii., vol. i.   heavy grievances of church government than




372                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
myself, nor whose affections are keener for shall be given with more zeal for redressing
the clipping those wings of the prelates, where- them than mine."
by they have mounted to such insolence; but,   Surely the bishops must have behaved very
having reason to believe that some aim at the ill in the late times, that their very best fiiends
total extirpation of bishops, I cannot restrain  could load them  with such reproaches!  Sir
myself from labouring to divert it.           Benjamin Rudyard, surveyor of the Court of'
" I look upon the petition with terror, as on Wards, Sir Harbottle Grimstone, with a great
a comet or a blazing star, raised and kindled many others of unqulestionable duty and loyalty
out of the poisonous exhalations of a corrupted  to the king, spoke the same language; and it dehierarchy: methought the comet had a terrible serves to be remembered, says Lord Clarentail, and pointed to the north; and I fear all the don,* that, in the midst of these complaints, the
prudence of this House will have a hard work king was never mentioned but with great honto hinder this meteor from causing such distem- our; all the grievances being laid at the door
pers and combustions as it portends by its ap- -of his ministers, and all hopes of redress being
pearance: whatever the event be, I shall dis- placed in his majesty alone.  At the close of
charge my conscience freely, unbiased both the debate, it was ordered that the root and
from popularity and court respect."*          branch petition should remain in the hands of
His lordship then goes on to argue the un- the clerk of. the House of Commons, with direcreasonableness of abolishing a thing because tion that no copy should be delivered out  but,
of some abuses that attend it; he complains after the throwing out of the bill to deprive' the
of the presumption of the petitioners in desiring bishops of theii votes in Parliament, it was rethe repeal of so many laws at once, and not ap- vived, and a bill brough. in by Sir Edward
plying in a more modest manner for a redress Deering [May 20, 1641] for the utter extirpaof grievances, as the ministers have done. On ting of the whole order, as will be seen here
the other hand, he allows the behaviour of the after.
prelates had given too just an occasion for it;   It was in this debate that some smart reparthat no people had been so insulted as the peo- tees passed between the members: Mr. Grimple of England had lately been, by the insolen- stone argued thus: that bishops are jure divineo
ces of the prelates: " Their vengeance has been  is a question; that archbishops are not ju1re diso laid, as, if it were meant no generation, no vine is out of question; now that bishops which
degree, no complexion of mankind should es- are questioned whether jure divine, or archbishcape it.  Was there a'man of tender con- ops which out of question are not jure divino,
science," says his lordship,' him they loaded should suspend ministers which are jure divine,
with unnecessary impositions; was there a I leave to you to be considered.  To which Mr.
man of legal conscience, him they nettled with  Selden answered, that the convocation is jure
innovations and fresh introductions to popery; divino is a question; that Parliaments are not
was there a man of an humble spirit, him they  jure divine is out of the question; that religion
trampled to dirt in their pride; was there a is jure divineo is no question; now that the conman of proud spirit, him  they have bereft of vocation which is questionable whether jure direason, with indignation at their superlative in- vine, and Parliaments which out of the question
solence; was there a man faithfully attached  are not jure divine, should meddle with religion
to the rights of the crown, how has he been which questionless is juire divine, I leave to your
galled by their new oath! was there a man that consideration. In both which I apprehend there
durst mutter against their insolences, he may is more of a jingle of words than strength of
inquire for his lugs.  They have been within  argument.t
the bishops' visitation as if they would not only    But the House was unanimous for a reformaderive their brandishment of the spiritual sword  tion of the hierarchy, which was all that the
from St. Peter, but of the material one too, and body of the Puritans as yet wished for or desithe. right to cut off ears; for my part, I am so red.  The ministers' petition was therefore
inflamed with these things, that I am ready to committed to a committee of the whole House,
cry, with the loudest of the fifteen thousand, and on March 9 they'came to this resolution:'
Down with them to the ground.                 "That the legislative and judicial power of bish"But, Mr. Speaker, we must divest ourselves ops in the House of Peers is a great hinderance
of passion: we all agree a reformation of Church  to the discharge of their spiritual function, prejgovernment is necessary; but, before I can udicial to the commonwealth, and fit to be taken
Strike at the root and agree to a total extirpa- away by bill; and that a bill be drawn up to
tion of episcopacy, it must be made manifest to this purpose."  March 11, it was resolved farme, (1.) That the mischiefs we have felt arise ther, " that for bishops or any other clergyman
from the nature of episcopacy, and not from its to be in the commission of peace, or to have
abuse.  (2.) Such a form of government must any judicial power in the Star Chamber or in
be set before us as is not liable to proportionable  any civil court, is a'great hinderance to their
inconveniences.  (3.) It must appear that the spiritual function, and fit to be taken away by
Utopia is practicable.  Let us, therefore, lay bill."  And not many days after it was resolvaside the thoughts of extirpating bishops, and  ed that they should not be privy councillors or
reduce them to their primitive standard; let us in any temporal offices.
retrench their diocesses; let them govern'by    While the House of Commons were thus preassemblies of their clergy; let us exclude them  paring to clip the wings of the bishops, they
from intermeddling in secular affairs, and ap- were not unmindful of the Roman Catholics;
point a standing committee to collect all the
grievances of the Church, and no man's votes  Clarendon, vol. i., p. 203.
t Selden's argument is considered by Bishop Warburton as a thorough confutation of Grirnstone's.Rushworth, p. 172.             ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    373
these were criminals of a higher nature, and Gunpowder Plot, took Guy Faux with his dark
had a deep share in the present calamities; lantern in his hand, which lantern is preserved
their numbers were growing, and their pride among the archives of Oxford, with Mr. Heyand insolence insufferable: they flocked in great wood's name upon it in letters of gold..
numbers about the court, and insulted the very    The Parliament, alarmed at this  aring atcourts of judicature; the queen protected then, tempt, sent orders to all the justices of peace of
and the king and  archbishop countenanced  Westminster, London, and Middlesex, requiring
them  as friends of the prerogative.  Andreas them to command the church-wardens to make
ab Harbensfield, the Queen of Bohemia's chap- a return of the names of all recusants within
lain, advised his grace of a popish confederacy their parishes, in order to their being proceeded
against the king and the Church of England; against according to law; a felw days after, the
but ywhen the names of Montague, Sir Kenelm  like orders were sent to the justices in the reDigby, Winter, Windehank, and Porter, all pa- mnoter counties. The houses petitioned his majpists, and officers aboutthe court, were men- esty to discharge all popish officers in garrisons
tioned as parties, the whole was discredited  or in the army who refuised to take the oaths
and stifled.  When the House of Commons pe- of allegiance and supremacy, and to fill up their
titioned the king to issue out a proclamation places with Protestants.  March 16, they petifor putting the laws in execution against pa- tioned his majesty to remove all papists from
pists, it was done in so defective a manner that court, and particularly Sir Kenelm  Digby, Sir
the committee reported it would avail nothing; Toby Matthews, Sir John Winter, and Mr. Monfor in the clause which enjoins all popish recu- tague, and that the whole body of Roman Cathsants to depart the city in fifteen days, it is ad- olics might be disarmed. The answer returned
ded, "without special license had thereunto;" was, that his majesty would take care that the
so that if they could obtain a license firom his papists about the court should give no jus.t cause
majesty, or firom the lords of the council, the of scandal; and as for disarming them, he was
bishop, the lieutenant, or deputy-lieutenant of content it should be done according to law.
the county, then they were not within the pen- So that their addresses had no other effect than
alty.  Besides, the disarming of all popish re- to exasperate the papists, the king and queen
cusants was limited to recusants convicted; so being determined to protect them as long as
that if they were not convicted, a justice of they were able.
peace could not disarm them.  They observed,   There was at this time one Goodman, a semfarther, that many recusants had letters of grace inary priest, under condemnation in Newgate,
to protect their persons and estates; that, in- whom the king, instead of leaving to the senstead of departing from  London, there was a tence of the law, reprieved in the face of his
greater resort of papists at present than hereto- Parliament; wher-eupon both houses [January
fore; and that their insolence and threatening 29, 1640] agreed upon the following remonlanguage were insufferable and dangerous.  A  strance:
gentleman having given information in open    "That, considering the present juncture, they
court to one of the judges of the King's Bench, conceived the strict execution of the laws
that in one parish in the city of Westminster against recusants more necessary than formerly,
there were above six thousand recusants, the    1. "' Because, by divers petitions from severcommittee appointed Mr. Heywood, an active al parts of the kingdom, complaints are made of
justice of peace, to collect and bring in a the great increase of popery and superstition;
list of the names of' all recusants within that priests and Jesuits swarm in great abundance
city and liberties; for which purpose all the in- in this kingdom, and appear as boldly as if there
habitants were summoned to appear and take were no laws against them.
the oaths in Westminster Hall: but while the    2. "It appears to the House that of late
justice was in the execution of his office, and years many priests and Jesuits condemned for
pressing one James, a papist, to take them, the high treason have been discharged out of prison.
wretch drew out his knife and stabbed the jus-   3. "That at this time the pope has a nuncio
tice in the open court, telling him, " he gave or agent in this city, and papists go as publicly
him that for persecuting poor Catholics."  The to mass at Denmark House, and at St. James's
old gentleman sunk down with the wound, but and the ambassadors' chapels, as others do to
by the care of the surgeons was recovered, and their parish churches.
the criminal taken into custody.*  This Mr.   4. "That the putting the laws in execution
Heywood was the very person who, being corm- against papists is for the preservation and ad.
manded by King James I. to search the cellars vancement of the true religion established in
uinder the Parliament house at the time of the this kingdom, for the safety of their majesties'
* Dr. Grey is displeased with Mr. Neal for not in-persons, and the security of government.
forming his reader how the king acted on this occa-   5. " It is found that Goodman the priest has
sion; especially as he says, according to the first been twice folmelly committed anidischarged;
edition, "the king favours them," i. e., the. papists. that his residence now in London was in absoThis is the marginal contents of the following para- lute contempt of his majesty's proclamation;
graph, and the fact is there fully established. With that he was formerly a minister of the Church
respect to the attempt made on the life of Mr. Hey- of England; and, therefore, they humbly desire
wood, his majesty, it should be acknowledged, ex- he may be left to the justice of the law.
pressed a proper abhorrence of it, and "recommenc-   To this remonstrance the king replied,
ed it to Parliament to take course for a speedy and  That the increase of popery and superstiexemplary punishment" of it. For which the House
returned their humble thanks. But this instance of tion, if any such thing had happened, was conroyal justice is not sufficient to wipe off the charge trary to his inclination; but to take off all occaof general and great partiality towards the Catholics. sions of complaint, he would order the laws to
-Rushworth's Collections, part iii., vol. i., p. 57.-ED. be put in execution.




374                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"That he would set forth a proclamation to Jonah the prophet, to be thrown overboartd to
command Jesuits and priests to depart the king- allay the tempest between the king and his subdom within a month; and in case they either jects.  Such was his majesty's attachment to
failed or returned, they should be proceeded  this people! to the apparent hazard of the Protagainst according to law.                    estant religion and the peace of his kingdoms,
"As touching the pope's nuncio, Rosetti, his and to the sacrificing all good correspondence
commission reached only to keep up a corre- between himself and his Parliament.
spondence between the queen and pope, in things
relative to the exercise of religion'; that this
correspondence came within the compass of the
full liberty of conscience secured her by the                CHAPTER IX.
articles of marriage; however, since Rosetti's FROM THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE EARL OF STRAFcharacter happened to be misunderstood and    FORD TO THE RECESS OF THE PARLIAMENT UPON
gave offence, he had persuaded the queen to    TE  TNO'  ROCESS  IN  T LAND..onsent to his being recalled.       THE KING'S PROGRESS IN SCOTLAND.
consent to his being recalled.
"Farther, his majesty promised to take care   IT is impossible to account for the prodigious
to restrain his subjects from going to mass at changes of this and the years immediately sucDenmark House, St. James's, and the chapels of ceeding, without taking a short view of some
the ambassadors.                              civil occurrences that paved the way for them.
"Lastly, touching Goodman, he was content In pursuance of the design of bringing corrupt
to remit him to the pleasure of the House; but ministers* to justice, the Parliament began with
he puts them in mind that neither Queen Eliza- Thomas Wentworth, earl of Strafford, an able
beth nor King James ever put any to death statesman, but a most dangerous enemy of the
merely for religion; and desired them to con- laws and liberties of his country, whom they imsider the inconveniences that such a conduct peached of high treason November 11, 1640, and
might draw upon his subjects and other Prot- brought to his trial the 22d of March following.
estants in foreign countries."                The grand article of his impeachmentt was, "for
How strange this assertion! Let the reader endeavouring to subvert the fundamental laws
recollect the many executions of papists for dle- of England and Ireland, and to introduce an arnying the supremacy; the burning the Dutch  bitrary and tyrannical government." This was
Anabaptists, for whom Mr. Fox, the martyrolo- subdivided into several branches, supported by
gist, interceded in vain; and the hanging of a multiplicity of facts, none of which were diBarrow, Greenwood, Penry, &c., in the reign rectly treason by law, but. being put together,
of Queen Elizabeth; let him also remember the were construed to be such by accumulation.
burning of Bartholomew Legate and Edward  The earl's reply to the facts consisted partly in
Wightman for the Arian heresy by King James excuses and evasions, with an humble acknowlI. (of all which, and some others, the Commons, edgment that in some things he had been misin their reply, put his majesty in mind), and taken; but his principal defence rested upon
then judge of the truth of this part of his dec- a point of law, "Whether an endeavour to sublaration. Nor did the Jesuits regard the other vert the fundamental form of government, and
parts of it, for they knew that they had a friend the laws of the land, was high treason at comin the king's bosom that would protect them, mon law, or by any statute in force?"  Mr.
and therefore, instead of removing out of the Lane, the counsel for the prisoner, maintained,
land, they lay concealed within the verge of the (1.) That all treasons were to be reduced to
court.  Even Goodman himself was not execu- the particulars specified in the 25th Edw. III.,
ted,* though the king promised to leave him to cap. ii.  (2.) That nothing else was or could be
the law, and though he himself petitioned, like treason, and that it was so enacted by the 1st
Henry IV., cap. x.  (3.) That there had been'* Whitelocke informs us that the king left him to Henry IV., cap. x. (3.) That there had been
the Parliament, " and they," says Bishop Warburton,,,would not order his execution. The truth of the   * They were a remarkable party who assembled
matter was this: each party was desirous of throw: round the council-table of Charles I. Beside the uning the odium of Goodman's execution on the other, fortunate monarch there sat the magnificent Buckso between both the manescaped." On this ground, ingham, the loyal Hamilton, the severe Strafford,
his lordship exclaims, " How prejudiced is the rep- the high-churchman Laud, the melancholy Falkland.
resentation of our historian!" In reply to this reflec- and the gay and graceful Holland. In the midst of
tion, it may.be asked, Did it not show the king's par- these high and haughty councils, and high resolves,
tiality and reluctance to have the law executed against how little did they foresee the wretched fate which
Goodman, that he remitted the matter to the House? awaited them! There was not one of that assembly
Did not the inflicting the sentence of the law lie whose death was not violent. Charles, Hamilton,
solely with himself, as invested with the executive Strafford, Laud, and Holland died on the scaffold,
power? and yet he did not inflict it. Doth not this Buckingham fell by the hand of al assassin, and
conduct justify Mr. Neal's representation? nay, that Falkland, under circumstances of peculiar bitterness,
representation is just and candid if it pointed to the on the battle-field.-Jesse's Court of the Stuarts, vol.
reprieve only, whichproduced the remonstrance of the ii., p. 348, 349.-C.
Parliament. There would not have been any pcca-   f When the Earl of Strafford was impeached, the
sion for that remonstrance had it not been for his king came into the House of Lords and desired that
majesty's attachment to men of that description.    the articles against him might be read, which the
The advocates of the king have considered his con- lord-keeper ordered to be done, while many lords
duct towards Goodman as an amiable act of humanity; cried out, Privilege! privilege! When the king was
nay, as proceeding from a mind most sensibly touch- departed, the House ordered that no entry should be
ed with the " gallantry," as it is called, of this man made of the king's demand of hearing the articles
in petitioning to be made a sacrifice to the justice of read, or of the keeper's compliance with it.-A MS.
the law, to serve his majesty's interests and affairs. 1M'emoranduzm of Dr. Birch in the British Museum, and
-Dr. Grey, and Nalson's Collections, vol. i., p. 746. quoted in the Curiosities of Literature, vol. ii., p. 186.
-E~F.                                        — ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      375
A.nd (4.) That by 1 Mary, cap. xii., an endeav- of Commons May 2, 1641,* and acquainted them
our to subvert the fundamental laws of the land that, among other branches of the plot, one was
is declared to be no more than felony.         to seize the Tower, to put the Earl of Stratford
The Commons felt the weight of these argu-, at the head of the Irish army of papists, who
ments, and, not being willing to enter into de- were to be transported into England, and to se,
bate with a private barrister, changed their im- cure the important town of Portsmouth, in orpeachment to a bill of attainder, which they  der to receive succours from France; Sir Willhad a right to do by virtue of a clause in the iam Balfour, lieutenant of the Tower, confess25th Edw. III., cap. ii.,* which refers the decis- ed that the king had sent him express orders to
ion of what is treason, in all doubtful cases, receive a hundred men into that garrison under
to the king and Parliament.t  The attainder the command of Captain Billingsly, to favour
passed the Commons April 19, yeas two hun- the earl's escape; and that the earl himself ofdred and four, noes fifty-nine; but it is thought fered him ~20,000 in money, and to advance his
would have been lost in the House of Lords son in marriage to one of the best fortunes in
had it not been for the following accident, which  the kingdom.  Lord Clarendon has used all his
put it out of the power of the earl's friends to rhetoric to cover over this conspiracy, and to
save him.                                      make posterity believe it was little more than
The king being weary of his Parliament, and the idle chat of some officers at a tavern; but
desirous to protect his servant, consented to a they who will compare the depositions in Rushproject of some persons in the greatest trust worth with his lordship's account of that matabout the court to bring the army that was ter, says Bishop Burnet, will find that there is a
raised against the Scots up to London, in order great deal more in the one than the other is willto awe the two houses, to rescue the earl, and  ing to believe.t Mr. Echard confesses that the
to take possession of the city of London. Lord  plot was not wholly without foundation. The
Clarendon says: the last motion was rejected  court would have disowned it, but their keeping
with -abhorrence, and that the gentleman who  the conspirators in their places made the Parliamade it was the person who discovered the ment believe that there was a great deal more
whole plot. The conspirators met in the queen's in it than was yet discovered; they therefore
lodgings at Whitehall, where a petition was sent orders immediately to secure the town and
drawn up for the officers of the army to sign, haven of Portsmouth, and to disband the Irish
and to present to his majesty, with a tender of army; they voted that all papists should be retheir readiness to wait upon him in defence of moved fiom about the court, and directed lethis prerogative against the turbulent spirits of ters to Sii Jacob Ashley to induce the army to
the House of Commons; the draught was shown  a dutiful behaviour, and to assure them of their
to the king, and signed, " In testimony of his full pay.
majesty's approbation, C. R.," but the plot be-   The consequences of this plot were infinitely
ing discovered to the Earl of Bedford, to the prejudicial to the king's affairs; the court lost
Lords Say and Kimbolton, and to Mr. Pym, its reputation; the reverence due to the king
with the names of the conspirators, all of them  and queen was lessened; and the House of
absconded, and  some fled immediately into  Commons began to be esteemed the only barFrance.                                        rier of the people's liberties; for which purpose
Mr. Pym opened the conspiracy to the House they entered into a solemn protestation to stand
by each other with their lives and fortunes; the
* The words of the statute are,              Scots army was continued for their security; a' And because that many other like cases of trea- bill for the continuance of the present Parliason may happen in time to come, which a man can- ment was brought in and urged with great adnot think or declare at this present time, it is accord- vantage; and, last of all, by the discovery of
ed that if any other case, supposed treason, which is this plot the fate of the Earl of Strafford was
not above specified, doth happen before any justice, determined; great numbers of people crowded
the justices shall tarry without any going to judgment
of the treason till the cause be showed and declared in a tumultuous manner to Westminster, crybefore the king and his Parliament whether it ought
to be judged treason or felony."                 * Rapin, vol. ii., p. 369, folio. Strafford, as is well
t The bill of attainder against the Earl of Straf- known, had been long distinguished among the pop
ford being formed on this principle and authority, ular leaders of the House of Commons for his vio
there was a great propriety in the following clause lent opposition to the court. Whether his defection
of it, viz.: "That no judge or judges, justice or jus- was owing to ambition. the love of power, or to an
tices whatsoever, shall adjudge or interpret any act or awakened dread for the Constitution of his country;
thing to be treason, nor hear or determine treason, whether it was the splendid promises of Charles, eain any other manner than he or they should or ought ger to gain over so powerful a mind, or a fear that his
to have done before the passing of this act." This associates were proceeding to too great lengths, it is
clause has been considered as a reflection on the now impossible to determine. However, his sudden
bill itself, and as an acknowledgment that the case leap from a patriot to a courtier was as severe a blow
was too hard,' and the proceedings too irregular, to to his own party as it was a triumph to the court.
be drawn into a precedent. But this is a miscon- To the astonishment of all men, he was created sudstruction of the clause, which did not intimate any denly, July 22, 1628, Baron Wentworth, Newmarsh
consciousness of wrong In those who passed it; but and Oversley. Shortly after his elevation he met his
was meant to preserve to Parliament the right, old friend Pym. "You see," said Strafford, "that I
in future, which i. exercised in this instance, of de- have left you." " So I perceive," was Pym's reply;
terminilig what is treason in all doubtful cases, and "but we shall never leave you as long as you have a
was intended to restrain the operation of the bill to head on your shoulders."  If this be true, it is certain
this single case. It showed, observes Mrs. Macau- that Pym kept his word, and never lost sight of
lay, a very laudable attention to the preservation of Strafford till he had brought him to the block.-Jespublic liberty.-Marcaulay's History, vol. ii., 8vo, p. se's Court of the Stuarts, vol. ii., p 353.-C.
144, note (f); and Dr. Harris's Life of Charles I., p.!t May's Hist., p. 97-99. Rushworth, part iii., vol.
324, 325.-ED.        t Clarendon, vol. i. p. 248, I i. p. 291.




376                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ing, Justice! justice! and threatening violence sufferably proud and haughty, having a soverto those members of the House of Commons eign contempt of the people, whom he never
who had voted against his attainder.  In this studied to gratify in anything; the ancient nosituation of affairs, and in the absence of the bility looked upon his sudden rise and univerbench of bishops (as being a case of blood), the sal influence in public affairs with envy, so that
bill passed with the dissent only of eleven peers. he had but few friends, and a great many eneThe king had some scruples about giving it the mies."
royal assent, because, though he was convinced    Lord Digby, in his famous speech* against
the earl had been guilty of "high crimes and the Bill of Attainder, wherein he washes his
misdemeanors," he did not apprehend that an hands of the blood of the Earl. of Strafford, has,
"endeavour to subvert the fundamental form  nevertheless, these expressions: ".I confidentof government, and to introduce an arbitrary ly believe him the most dangerous minister, and
power, was high treason;" his majesty con- the most insupportable to free subjects, that
sulted his bishops and judges, but was not sat- can be charactered.  I believe his practices in
isfied till he received a letter from the earl him- themselves have been as high and tyrannical as
self, beseeching his majesty to sign the bill, in any subject ever ventured upon; and the maorder to make way for a happy agreement be- lignity of them is greatly aggravated by those
tween him and his subjects.  Mr. Whitelocke abilities of his, whereof God has given him the
insinuates* that this letter was but a feint of use, but the devil the application. In a word,
the earl's, for when Secretary Carlton acquaint- I believe him still that grand apostate to the
ed him with what the king had done, and with commonwealth, who must not expect to be parthe motive, which was his own consent, he rose doned in this world till he be despatched to the
up in a great surprise, and lifting up his eyes to other."
heaven, said, " Put not your trust in princes,   Lord Falkland says, " That he committed so
nor in the sons of men, for in them there is no many mighty and so manifest enormities and
salvation."-  Twd days after this [May 12], lie oppressions'in the kingdom of Ireland, that the
was executed on Tower Hill, and submitted to like have not been committed by any governor
the axe with a Roman bravery and courage; in any government since Verres left Sicily; and
but at the restoration of King Charles II. his at- after his lordship was called over from  being
tainder was reversed, and the articles of accu- deputy of Ireland, to be in a manner deputy of
mulative treason declared null, because what is England, he and the junctillo gave such counnot treason in the several parts cannot amount sels and pursued such courses as it is hard- to
to treason in the whole.$                     say whether they were more unwise, more unThis was the unhappy fate of Thomas Went- just, or more unfortunate."
worth, earl of Strafford, once an eminent patri-   Lord Clarendon says,t " That he had been
ot and asserter of the liberties of his country, compelled, for reasons of state, to exercise
but after he was called to court, one of the most many acts of power, and had indulged some to
~ arbitrary ministers that this nation ever pro- his own appetite and passion, as in the case of
duced.  He was certainly a gentleman of dis- the Lord-chancellor of Ireland and the Lord
tinguished abilities, as appears by the incom- Mount Norris, the former of which was satis
parable defence he made on his trial, which pro imperio, but the latter the most extravagant
gained him more reputation and esteem  with  piece of sovereignty that, in a time of peace,
the people than all the latter actions of his life had been executed by any subject."  From
put together; but still he was a public enemy  whence the reader may conclude, that whatevof his country, and had as great a share in er encomiums the earl might deserve as a genthose fatal counsels that brought on the civil tleman and a soldier, yet, as a statesman, ihe
war as any man then living.  "The earl," says deserved the fate he underwent.
Mr. Echard, " was of a severe countenance, in-'The execution of this great personage struck
terror into all the king's late ministers; some
* Memorials, p. 44..                    of them resigned their places, and others ret While the trial was in progress, the earl received tired into France; among the latter was the
the following remarkable letter from Charles:  Lord-keeper Finch and Secretary Windebank.
"Strafford-The misfortune that is fallen upon Six of the judges were impeached of high
you by the strange mistaking and conjunction of crimes and misdemeanors, for " interpreting
these timesbeing such that I must lay by the thought away the laws of their country;" but the Parof employing you hereafter in my affairs, yet I can- liament had too much business upon their hands
not satisfy in honour or conscience without assuring to attend to their prosecution at present. Thus
you now, in the midst of all our troubles, that, po attend to their p rosecution  at pre sent. Thus
the word of a king, you shall not suffer in life,  this unhappy prince was deprived of those counorfortune. This is but justice, and, therefore, a very sellors who were in his own arbitrary sentimean reward from a master to so faithful and able a ments, and left as in a manner to himself, and
servant as you have shown yourself to be; yet it is. the powerful influence of his bigoted queen and
as much as I conceive the present times will permit, her cabal of papists: for the new ministers who
thoough none shall hinder me from being
though none shall hinder me from being    succeeded were such in whom the king would
"Your constant, faithful friend,
" cCHARLES R."   place no confidence. So that most men expect—'trafford's Letters, vol. ii., p. 416.     ed that these vigorous proceedings would n..
"The world," remarks a modern writer, "will more duce him to put a speedy end to the session.
readily forgive the faults of Strafford than they will   But that which prevented it was the want of
acquit Charles for having consented to his death." money to pay off the armies in the north; his
Charles, in his last moments on the scaffold, observed, "I -will only observe this-that an unjust sen-   * This is one of the most splendid orations of the
tence, that I suffered to take effect, is punished by an English Parliament. It is worthy of close study, and
unjust sentence on me."-King Charles's Works, p. may be found at length in Baker's Chronicles.-C.
208. —C.    2 Nalson's Collections. vol. ii., p. 203. t - Vol. i., p. 250.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    377
majesty pressed the houses to despatch this af- and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve
fair, and relieve the country from the burden  the union and peace between the three kingof contribution; on the other hand, the Com- doms of' England, Scotland, and Ireland; an(
mons looked upon the Scots as their security, neither for hope, fear, nor any other respect,
and that, if they were sent home, they should  shall relinquish this promise, vow, and protestagain be at the mercy of the prerogative, sup- ation."*
ported by a standing army.  However, they    May 4, this protestation was made by ail the
had begun to borrow money of the city of Lon- peers present in Parliament, except the Earl of
don towards the expense; but when the plot to  Southampton and Lord Roberts;t even by the
dissolve the Parliament broke out, the citizens bishops themselves, though (as Lord Clarendeclared they would lend nothing upon parlia- dons observes) it comes little short of the Scots
mentary security, because their sitting was so covenant.  Their lordships, indeed, would have
very precarious.  This gave rise to a motion  interpreted those words, " the true Reformed
for the continuance of the present Parliament Protestant religion, expressed in the doctrine
till they should dissolve themselves, which was of the Church of England," to have included the
presently turned into a short bill, and passed  government or hierarchy of the Church; but it
both houses with very little opposition, as the was resolved and declared by the House,~ that
only expedient that could be thought of to sup- by those words was and is meant only the pubport the public credit: it enacts, "that this lic doctrine professed in the said Church, sc,
present Parliament shall not be adjourned, pro- far as it is opposite to popery and popish inno
rogued, or dissolved, without their own con- vations; and that the said words are not to exsent," and was signed by commission with the tend to the maintenance of any form of worship,
Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford.  discipline, or government, nor of rites and cerAll men stood amazed at the king's weakness emonies.lI Within two days the protestation
on this occasion; for, by this hasty and unad- was taken by eighty temporal lords, seventeen
vised measure, he concurred in a change of the bishops, nine judges, and four hundred and thirwhole Constitution, giving the two houses a co- ty-eight of the House of Commons.  Next day
ordinate power in the Legislature with himself, it was printed, and sent to the sheriffs and jusfor as long time as they pleased: if his majesty  tices of peace in the several counties of Enghad fixed their continuance to a limited time, land, to be taken by the whole nation, with the
it might have satisfied the people and saved the following directions:r
prerogative; but, by maling them perpetual, he    "-     That it be taken in the afternoon of
paited with the sceptre out of his own hands, some Lord's Day after sermon, before the conand put it into the hands of his Parliament. gregation be dismissed, by all masters of fami"' This?," says Mr. Echard, "has made some lies, their sons that are of a proper age, and mnenwriters doubt whether those who afterward  servants, in the manner following.  First,'That
took uparms against the king could be legally  notice be given to the minister by the churchtermed rebels. For bypassing this act his maj- wardens of the intention.  Secondly, That the
esty made the two houses so far independent minister acquaint the people in his sermon of
upon himself, that they immediately acquired *the nature of the protestation.  Thirdly, That
an uncommon authority, and a sort of natural the minister first take it himself, reading it disright to inspect and censure his actions, and to  tinctly with an audible voice, that all present
provide for the safety of the kingdom."        may hear it; then the assembly shall take the
While the Commons were alarmed with the  writing in their hands, saying with a distinct and
discovery of the plot and the flight of the con- audible voice,' I, A. B.: do, in the presence of
spirators, Mr. Pym  moved that both houses Almighty God, vow and protest the same, which
might join in some band of defence for the se- the leading person that reads it did,' naming
curity of their liberties and of the Protestant re- the person.  Fourthly, The names of all that
ligion; accordingly, the following protestation  take it shall be subscribed in a register; and
was drawn up, and subscribed the very next the names of those that refuse shall be enday by the whole House [May 3]:               tered."
"I, A. B., do, in the presence of Almighty
God, vow and protest to maintain and defend,
as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power,        "Alleging that there was no law that enjoined
and estate, the true Reformed Protestant reli- it, and that the consequence of such voluntary engion, expressed in the doctrine of the Church  gagements. might produce effects that were not inof England, against all popery and popish inno- tended."-Lord Clarendon, as quoted by Dr. Grey.vations in this realm, contrary to the said doc- ED.                      $ Vol. i., p. 253.
trinle; and according to the duty of my alle-   ~ Mr. Neal, according to Lord Clarendon, has misgiance, I Twill maintain and defend his majesty's represented this matter. For he says, that this exroyal person, honour, and estate; also the pow- planation was procured in the Iouse of Comions,
without ever advising with the House of Peers. The
er and privilege of Parliament, the lawful rights peers had previously taken the protestation-Hist.
and liberties of the subject, and of every person  of the Rebellion, vol. ii., p. 252. Mr. Neal is properly
who shall make this protestation in whatsoever corrected here by Dr. Grey.-ED.
he shall do, in the lawful pursuance of the   II Rushworth, part iii., vol. i.
same.  And to my power, as far as lawfully I   ~r The English House of Commons was nominally
may, I will oppose, and by all good ways and  made up of Episcopalians, and it is not quite fair to
means endeavour to bring to condign punish- hold up the enforcement of tlj[s protestation, and othment, all such who shall by force, practice, er measures of the. Long Parliament, as Presbyterian
counsel, plot, conspiracy or otherwise, do any- intolerance. It was two years after before the Solcounsel, plot, conspiracy, or otherwise, do any-   leaaue and Covenant was established.-See thB
emn League and Covenant was established.-See the
thing to the contrary in this protestation con- History of the Westminster Assembly, by Rev. W. M.
tained.  And farther, that I shall, in all just Hetherington.-C.
VOL. I.-B B B




378                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
The cities of London and Westminster ob- ly with the bishops on the same head; but
served these directions, but the remoter coun- they rejected all overtures of accommodation,
ties were complained of for neglect; upon  resolving to make their utmost efforts, and to
which the House of Commons passed a bill to keep possession of their seats till a superior
oblige all persons to take it throughout the king- strength should dispossess them; accordingly,
dom; which was lost in the House of Lords, the bill met with a vigorous opposition in the
the whole bench of bishops opposing it; where- Upper House, and after a second reading was
upon the Commons came to this resolution, thrown out, without so much as being committhat "  whosoever would not take the protesta- ted (a countenance frequently given to bills
Lion was unfit to bear offices in the Church or they never intend to pass); but the whole
commonwealth."                                bench of bishops voting for themselves, it is no
This was carrying matters to a very extraor- wonder it was lost by a considerable majority.
dinary length. There had been a parliament- Mr. Fuller says it would have been thrown out
ary association in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, if the bishops had not voted at all; for though
which her majesty confirmed, and a solemn  the temporal lords were content to exclude
league and covenant in Scotland, which the them from all secular offices and employments
king had complied with; but the entborcing a in the state, they were in no disposition to take
protestation or vow upon his majesty's subjects away their suffrages in the House of Peers.
without his consent was assuming a power   Many learned speeches were made in both
which even this dangerous crisis of affairs, and houses upon this occasion; the reasons of the
the uncommon authority with which this Par- Commons for passing the bill were these: (1.)
liament was invested by the late Act of Contin- Because their attendance on secular affairs, not
uance, can by no means support or justify. relating to the Church, is a great hinderance to
The odium of putting a stop to the protestation  their spiritual function.*  "No man that warfell upon the bench of bishops, who were al- reth," saith St. Paul to Timothy, " entangleth
-ready sinking under their own weight; and his himself with the affairs of this life."  (2.) Bemajesty's not interposing in this affair at all cause it is contrary to their ordination-vow,
was afterward made use of as a precedent for fdr when they enter into holy orders they promimposing the solemn league and covenant upon  ise to give themselves wholly to that vocation.
the whole kingdom without his concurrence.*  (3.) Because councils and canons in several
The Puritans had also objected to the lordly  ages have forbid their meddling in secular aftitles and dignities of the bishops; but their fairs.  (4.) Because the twenty-four bishops devotes in the House of Peers were now esteem- pend on the two archbishops, and take an oath
ed a very great grievance, and an effectual bar of canonical obedience to them.  (5.) Because
to the proceedings of Parliament.  It was re- their peerage is not of the same nature with the
membered that they had' been always averse to  temporal lords, being but for life. (6.) Because
refiormation; that they had voted unanimously  they depend on the crown for translation to
against the supremacy in King Henry VIII.'s greater bishoprics.  (7.) Because it is not fit
reign, and against the Act of Uniformity in that twenty-six of them should sit as judges
Queen Elizabeth's.  It was now observed that upon complaints brought against themselves
they were the creatures of the court, and a dead and their order.f
weight against all reformation in Church or    Bishop Williams published an answer to
State; twenty-six votes being sufficient at any these reasons, entitled the Abstract, to which
time to turn the scale in that House, whose full there presently came out a reply.  The chief
number was not above a hundred; it was there- speakers on behalf of the bishops, in the House
fore moved that a bill might be brought in to of Peers, were the Lord-viscount Newark, aftake away their seats in Parliament, which was terward Earl of Kingston, Dr. Williams, lordreadily agreed to.  The bill, says Lord Claren.. bishop of Lincoln, afterward Archbishop of
don,t was drawn up with great deliberation, York, the Marquis of Hereford, the Earls of
and was entitled, "An Act for restraining  Southampton, Bath, and Bristol.  But instead
Bishops, and others of thile Clergy in Holy Or- of transcribing their speeches, I will give the
ders, from intermeddling in Secular Affairs." reader a summary of their arguments, and of
It consisted of several branches; as, "that no their adversaries' reply.
bishop should have a vote in Parliament, nor   First, It was argued that "bishops had voted
any judicial power in the Star Chamber, nor be in Parliament almost ever since the Conquest,
a privy councillor, nor a judge in any temporal according to Matthew Paris, Sir Henry Spelcourts; nor should any clergyman be in the
commission of peace."  To make way for the   * Rushworth, p. 281. Nalson's Collections, vol.
passing of this bill, it was alleged that if this ii., p. 260.
were granted the Commons would be satisfied,   f On these reasons, Dr. Harris observes, "That,
and little or nothing farther attempted to the whatever might have been thought of them at that
prejudice of the Church.  It therefore passed  time, we are to suppose that they have long been of
the House of Commons without opposition, and  no force. The zeal for the Constitution in Church
and State, the abhorrenue of all ministerial measures
wasMr. Fuller sayst thate House of Peers May 1, 1641.would inconsistent therewith, the opposition to everything
Mr. Fuller says  that Lrd Kimbolton wuld  contrary to liberty and the public good; and, above
have persuaded the bishops to resign their votes all, the self-denial and contempt of the world, huin Parliament, adding, that then the temporal mility, and constant discharge of episcopal duties,
lords would be obliged in honour to preserve required in the New Testament: I say all these
their jurisdiction and revenues. - The Earl of things show how much the bishops since the ReforEssex also employed somebody to treat private- mation are altered, and how much those are mistaNken who represent them as a dead weight in the
Nalson's Col., vol. ii., p. 414.         House of Lords, and a useless expense to the pubt Vol. i., p. 234.      1 Book ix., p. 185.  lic."-Life of Charles I., p. 330, 331.,




HI STORY  OF THE  P UR ICTAN S.                            379
man, and others."  To which it was replied,* more reason that the bishops, as bishops, should
that time and usage ought to be of no weight be a part of the Legislature, than the judges or
with lawmakers, on the behalf of things which the lawyers, as such, or any other incorporated
are allowed to be inconvenient: abbots had vo- profession of learned men.
ted as anciently in Parliament as bishops, and    But. the principal argument that was urged
yet their votes were taken away.             in favour of bishops was, that' they were one
Secondly, It was said that "the bishops vo- of the three estates in Parliament; that as such
ting was no considerable hinderance in their they were the representatives of the whole body
spiritual function; for Parliaments were to sit of the clergy, and, therefore, to turn them out
hut once in three years, and then but for a would be to alter the Constitution, and to take
month or two together; but though no clergy- away one whole branch of the Legislature: the
man should entangle himself with the affairs of Parliament would not then be the complete repthis life, the apostle does not exclude him from  resentative body of the nation, nor would the
intermeddling."  To which it was answered, laws which were enacted in their absence be
that the episcopal function, if well discharged, valid. To support this assertion it was said,
was enough for all their time and thoughts; (1.) That the clergy in all other Christian kingand that their diocesses were large enough to doms of these northern parts make up a third
employ all their labours, in visitation, confirma- estate, as in Germany, France, Spain, Poland,
tion, preaching, &c. The design of the Apos- Denmark, Scotland; and, therefore, why not in
tle Paul was certainly to exhort Timothy to England? (2.) When King Henry V. was buwithdraw himself as much as possible from the ried, it is said the three estates assembled, and
affairs of this life, that his thoughts might be declared his son Henry VI. his successor. The
more entire for his evangelical work; and, petition to Richard, duke of Gloucester, to actherefore, in another place, he exhorts him to cept the crown, runs in the name of the three
give himself wholly to these things.        estates; and in his Parliament it is said exThirdly, It was said that " clergymen had al- pressly, that at the request of the three estates
ways been in the commission of the peace, from  (i. e., the lords spiritual and temporal, and
the first planting of Christianity, and that they commons in Parliament assembled), he was
were best qualified for it."  To which it was declared undoubted king of these realms; to
answered, that they were most unfit for this em- which may be added, the statute of 1 Eliz., cap.
ployment, because it had a direct tendency to iii., where the lords spiritual and temporal, and
hinder their usefulness in their pulpits; and to commons, are said to represent the three esthe fact it was replied, that the first clergymen  tates of this realm.
that were made justices of the peace, or had   It was replied to this, that the bishops did
power in temporal jurisdiction, were the Bish- not sit in the House as a third estate, nor as
ops of Durham and York, 34 Edw. III. That bishops, but only in the right of their baronies
before the Act of Conformity, 1 Edw: VI., the annexed to their bishoprics, 5 Will. I.  All
clergy were not put in commission for the the bishops have baronies except the Bishop of
peace; and that the reason of their being then Man, who is as much a bishop, to all intents
admitted was, that they might persuade the and purposes of jurisdiction and ordination, as
people to conformrlity; but if in conscience they the others, but has no place in Parliament, beheld it not consistent with their spiritual call- cause he does not hold per integram baronium.
ing, they might refuse.                      It must be admitted, that in ancient times the
It was farther said, that the taking away one lords spiritual are sometimes mentioned as a
whole bench out of the House of Peers was an third estate of the realm, but it could not be inill precedent, and might encourage the Coin- tended by this that the clergy, much less the
mons one time or other to cut off the barons, or bishops, were an essential part of the Legissome other -degree of the nobility. To which  lature; for if so, it would then follow that no
it was replied, that the peerage of the bishops act of Parliament could be valid without their
did not stand upon the same footing with the consent; whereas divers acts are now in force,
rest of the nobility, because their honour does from which the whole bench of bishops have
not descend to their posterity, and because they  dissented, as the Act of Conformity, 1 Edw. VI.,
have no right to vote in cases of blood; if they and the Act of Supremacy, 1 Eliz.*  If the mahad the same right of peerage with the tempo- jor part of the barons agree, and the House of
ral lords, no canon of the Church could deprive Commons concur, any bill may pass into an
them of it; for it was never known that the act with the consent of the king, though all the
canons of the Church pretended to deprive the bishops dissent, because their votes are overbarons of England of any part of their inherent ruled by the major part of the peers. In the
jurisdiction.                                Parliament of Northampton, under Henry II.,
It was argued farther, that if the bench of when;the bishops challenged their peerage,t
bishops were deprived of their votes, they would they said, " Non sedemus hic episcopi sed barbe left under very great disadvantages; for ones," We sit not here as bishops, but as barwhereas the meanest commoner is represented  ons; we are barons, and you are barons-here,
in the Lower House, the bishops will be thrown therefore, we are peers. Nor did King Charles
out of this common benefit; and if they have himself apprehend the bishops to be one of the
no share in consenting to the laws, neither in three estates, for in his declaration of June 16,
their persons nor representatives, what justice  1642, he calls himself one, and the lords spiritcan oblige them to keep those laws 1         ual and temporal, and commons, the other two.
To which it was replied, that they have the In ancient times the prelates were sometimes
same share in the Legislature with the rest of excluded the Parliament, as in 25 King Edw. I.,
the freeholders of England; nor is there any, v._                    Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 502, &c&.    Fuller's Appeal.
* Nalson's Collectious, vol. ii., p. 251, &c.  t Fuller's Appeal.




380                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
when they would not agree to grant an aid to  with a short speech, in which he took notice of
nis majesty in the Parliament at Carlisle; and the moderation of the House in the late bill,
Defore that time several acts had passed against hopihg that, by pruning and taking off a few
the oppressions of the clergy, in which the entry  unnecessary branches from the bishops, the tree
in the records stands thus:" The king having might prosper the better! but that this soft
consulted with the earls, barons, and the other method having proved ineffectual, by reason of
nobles; or by the assent of the earls, barons, their incorrigible obstinacy, it was now necesand other lay people;" which shows the bish- sary to put the " axe to the root of the tree."ops did not consent, for if they had they would "I never was for ruin," says he, "as long. as
nave been first named, the order of the nobility. there was any hope of reforming;and now I
in all ancient records being prelates, earls, and profess, that if those hopes revive and prosper,
barons.*  When the convocation had cited Dr. I will divide my sense upon this bill, and yield
Standish before them, for speaking words against my shoulders to underprop the primitive, lawtheir power and privilege, in the 7th Henry VIII., ful, and just episcopacy."  He concluded with
it was determined by all the judges of the land, a sentence in Ovid:
in presence of the king, that his majesty might " Cuncta prins tentanda, sed immedicabile vulnus
hold his Parliament without calling the bishops   Ense recidendum est, ne pars sincera trahatur."t
at all. It appears, therefore, from  hence, that   The reading of this bill was very much opthe bishops never weie accounted a third estate posed, because it was brought in contrary to
of the realm, in such a sense as to make them  the usage of Parliament, without first asking
an essential branch of the Legislature; nor are leave; however, it was once read, and then
they the representatives of the clergy, because adjourned for almost two months: a little bethen the clergy would be twice represented, fore the king went to Scotland, it was carried
for as many of them  as are freeholders are by a majority of thirty-one voices to read it a
represented with their fellow-subjects in the second time, and commit it to a committee of the
House'of Commons; and as clergymen they are whole House, of which Mr. Hyde [Lord Clarenrepresented in convocation, the writ of election don] was chairman, who made use of so much
to convocation being to send two clerks (id con-'art and industry to embarrass the affair, that
sentiendunz, &c.  Besides, none can properly be after twenty days the bill was dropped.
called representatives of others but such as are   Sir Edward Deering's speech in the commitchosen by them; the bishops, therefore, not be- tee will give light into the sentiments of the
ing chosen for this purpose, cannot properly be Puritans of these times:4 " The ambition of
the representatives of the clergy in Parliament; some prelates," says he, " will not let them
they sit there not in their spiritual character, see how inconsistent two contrary functions are
but by virtue of the baronies annexed to their in one and the same person, and, therefore,
bishoprics; and if the king, with consent of there is left neither root nor branch of that so
Parliament, should annex baronies to the courts good and necessary a bill which we lately sent
of justice in Westminster tHall, or to the su-  up, and, consequently, no hope of such a refpreme magistracy of the city of London, the ormation as we all aim at; what hopes, then,
judges and the lord-mayor, for the time being, can we have that this bill, which strikes at root
would have the same right of peerage.  But and branch, both of their seats of justice, and
none of these arguments were deemed of suffi- of their episcopal chairs in the Church, will
cient weight with the lords to deprive them of pass as it is, and without a tender of some
their seats in Parliament.                    othergovernment in lieu of this, since the voices
The loss of this bill, with the resolute behav- are still the same which threw out your former
iour of the bishops, who were determined to bill l?"   Sir Edward, therefore, proposed anothpart with nothing they were in possession of, er form  of government, if the House should
inflamed the Commons, and made them con- think fit to abolish the present, which was, in
elude that there was no hope of reformation  a manner, the same with Archbishop UTsher's,
while they were a branch of the Legislature. It hereafter mentioned; as, "First, That every
was observed that the bishops were unusually shire should be a distinct diocess or church.
diligent in giving their attendance upon the Secondly, That in every shire or church twelve
House at this time, and always voted with the or more able divines should be appointed, in the
court. Some of the leading members, therefore, nature of an old primitive constant presbytery.
in the warmth of their resentments, brought in Thirdly, That over every  presbytery  there
a bill in pursuance of the root and branch peti- should be a president, let him be called bishop,
tion, which had been laid aside for some tinle, or overseer, or moderate, or superintendent, or
for the utter extirpation of all bishops, deans, by what other name you please, provided there
and chapters, archdeacons, prependaries, chant- be one in every shire, for the government and
ers, with all chancellors, officials, and officers direction of the presbytery, in the nature of the
belonging to them; and for the disposing of their Speaker of the House of Commons, or chairlands, manors, &c., as the Parliament shall appoint.t A rash and inconsiderate attempt! For   * Clarendon, vol. i., p. 237.  Nalson, ut ante, p.
could they expect that the bishops should abol- 248.
ish themselves?~  Or that the temporal     -od t Lord Clarendon represents Sir Edward Deering
lords as a man of levity and vanity, earsily flattered by beshould consent to the utter extirpating an order ing commended; and says, " that the application of
of churchmen, when they would not so much the above lines was his greatest motive to deliver
as give up one branch of their privilege? The the speech which they close." Dr. Harris (Life of
bill being drawn up by Mr. St. John, was deliv- Charles I., p. 327) says " he could not be actuated
ered to the speaker by Sir Edward Deering, by so mean a motive; and that he was a man of
R   sense, virtue, and learning, perhaps not inferior to
Rushworth, part iii., vol. i;,, p. 396.  his lordship, and of a family vastly superior." —En.
t Ilalson's Collections, vol ii., p. 248, 295, 300.  $ Nalson's Colt., vol. ii., p. 295, &c.  O Ibid




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   381
man of a committee."  Accordingly, it was re- vocate, who, being admitted to the bar of the
solved, July 10, " That ecclesiastical power for House, May 12, after the petitions from the two
the government of the Church be exercised by universities had been read, made a laboured
commissioners."  July 31, resolved, "That the speech in their behalf, insisting chiefly on the
members for every county bring in the names topics of the,Oxford address.
of nine persons to be ecclesiastical commission-   He recommended cathedrals, " as fit to supers, on whom the power of church government ply the defects of private prayer," the public
shall be devolved; but that no clergyman be of performance whereof should be in some place
the commission."  This was designed as a of distinction.*  And whereas the exquisitetemporary provision, and shows that the Puri- ness of the music gave offence to some ears,
tans of these times did not intend the Presby- as hindering their devotion, he requested, in
terian government, but only -a reduction of the name of his brethren, that it might be modEpiscopacy to what they apprehended a more erated to edification, and reduced to the form
primitive standard; and if the bishops, would that'Athanasius recommends, " ut legentibus
have relinquished some part of their jurisdic- sint quam cantantibus similiores."
tion, the mischiefs that befell them afterward    He alleged that " at the Reformation preachmight have been prevented; however, for.the ing began in cathedrals;" and whereas some
present, the prosecution of it was laid aside.   have said that lecture-preachers were an upBut the House went more readily into the start corporation, the doctor observed that the
debate for abolishing deans and chapters, and local statutes of all the cathedrals required lecapplying their revenues to better purposes.* tures on the week-days; and he requested, in
This alarmed the cathedral-men, and put them  the name of his brethren, that the godly and
upon consulting how to ward off the danger profitable performance of preaching mightt be
that threatened them; for this. purpose, one more exacted.
divine was deputed from  every cathedral in   He urged that " cathedrals were serviceable
England to solicit their friends'in the houses for the advancement of learning, and training
on behalf of their several foundations; and it up persons for the defence of the Church;" and
must be owned they did all that men could do, that the taking them away would disserve the
leaving no stone unturned that might be for cause of religion, and'be a pleasure to their adtheir advantage.  Addresses were presented versaries.
from both universities in their favour:t the ad-   He added, that " the ancient and genuine use
dress from Oxford prays " for the continuance of deans and chapters Was a senatus episcopi,"
of the present form of church government as to assist the bishop in his jurisdiction; and
the most ancient and apostolical; and for the whereas some of his reverend brethren had
continuance of cathedral-churches, with their complained that bishops had for many years
lands and revenues, as dedicated to the service usurped the sole government to themselves and
of God soon after the first plantation of Chris- their consistories, the continuing of chapters
tianity here; as foundations thought fit to be rightly used would bring it to a plurality of aspreserved, when the nurseries of superstition sistants.
were demolished at the Reformation; as con-   He then put them in mind of " the antiquity
firmed by the laws of the land; as nurseries of of the structures, and the number of persons
students and learned men in divinity; as the maintained by them,'" amounting to many thouupholders of divers schools, hospitals, high- sands; he instanced their tenants, who by their
ways, bridges, and other pious works; as ben- leases enjoyed six parts in seven pure gain, and
eficial to those cities where they are situate, had therefore petitioned for their landlords;
by hospitality, by relief of the poor,. and by oc- and showed that the cities in which cathedrals
casioning the resort of many strangers, to the were built were enriched by the hospitality of
benefit of the tradesmen and inhabitants of the the clergy and the resort of strangers.
places where they are built; as the chief sup-   He enlarged farther "upon their endowport of many thousand faihilies of the laity, who ments, as encouragements to industry and virenjoy estates from them in a free way; and as tue:" that several famous Protestants of foryielding an ample revenue to the crown, and a eign parts had been maintained by being installmaintenance to many learned professors in the ed prebendaries, as Casaubon, Saravia, Dr. Peuniversity."  The address from the University ter du Moulin, Vossius, and others; that the
of Cambridge was to the same purpose, and, crown had great benefit from  these foundatherefore, prays, " that the religious bounty of tions, paying greater sums into the exchequer
their ancestors, for the advancement of learn- for first-fruits and tenths, according to propor.
ing; and of learned men, may be preserved from  tion, than other corporations.
ruin and alienation; but, withal, to take or-   And, lastly, he puts them in mind that " these
der that they may be reduced to the due ob- structures and estates were consecrated to Diservation of their statutes, and that all innova- vine service, and barred all alienation with the
tions and abuses may be reformed." The dep- most dreadful imprecations."
uties from the several cathedrals drew up a pe-   In the afternoon Dr. Cornelius Burges aptition to the Lords and Commons to be heard peared on the other side of the question, and
by their counsel; but.being informed that the made a long speech concerning the unprofit:.!hleHouse would not allow them that benefit, and ness of those corporations; he complaine<c of
that if they had anything to offer they must ap- the " debauchery of singing-men," and of their
pear and plead their own cause, they nmade vicious conversation; he spoke against" music
choice of Dr. John Hackiet, prebendary of St. in churches" as useless and. hurtful. He made
Paul's and archdeacon of Bedford, as their ad- a distinct-answer to the particulars of Dr. Hack* Fuller's Church History, b. xi., p. 176.
t Nalson's Coll., vol. ii., p. 305, 306.            * Fuller, b. xi., p. 177.




382                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
et's speech; and in conclusion said, "Though which ordained " that the said deans, prebends,
he apprehended it necessary to apply these and canons, shall always reside and dwell in
foundations to better purposes, it was by no the houses of the said cathedrals, and there
means lawful to alienate them from public and keep a family, with good hospitality to feed the
pious uses, or to convert them to any private poor, and to distribute alms. That they should
persons' profit."'preach the Word in season and.out of season,'
The farther debate of this bill was adjourned especially in the cathedral church, and have
for a week, and then committed to a commit- youth profitably taught there. To this end they
tee of the whole House, when the two follow- are to have a common table in the common hall
ing remarkable speeches were made against of the cathedral, where the canons, scholars,
these foundations.*                          choristers, and officers are to eat together.
The first by Mr. Sergeant Thomas, who ad- The said dean and chapter are to give yearly
mits "that there were deans in St. Austin's ~20 to the poor, besides what is given to their
time, but that they were not officers of the own poor alms-men; and ~20 more to the reChurch until some centuries after.  St. Austin pairing bridges and highways thereabout. For
gives this account of their original: that the the performance of the said statutes and premmonks, for their more convenient retirement ises, the deans, prebendaries, canons, and other
and contemplation, appointed officers, whom  ministers of the cathedral, are obliged to take
they called deans,' eo quod denis sunt pruepos- oath, and every one of them doth swear that, to
iti;' because every man had the care of ten the utmost of his power, he will observe them
monks, and was to provide them all necessaries inviolably."
of life, that their devotions might not be inter-   The alderman observes from hence, " that
rupted with worldly cares.  In the following not one of'the above-mentioned statutes are, or
ages of darkness and superstition, princes and have been kept, or the matters in any of them
others bestowed large revenues upon these contained, performed by any of the deans or
monks from the opinion they had of the aus- prebendaries of the said cathedral in his memterity and sanctity of their lives; and as the ory. That they come once a year to receive
monks grew rich, the office of the dean, who the rents and profits of the lands, but do not
was the'prepositus' or steward, grew more distribute to the poor their proportion; nor do
considerable, till in St. Bernard's time it was they mend the highways and bridges; nor do
ordained that none but a presbyter should be a they keep any common table; and instead of
dean:'Ne sit decanus nisi presbyter.' At the preaching'in season and out of season,' they
reformation of religion, when many other reli- neither practise it themselves, nor encourage
gious foundations were broke up, these were it in others.  Infinite are the pressures that
preserved, and in the constitutions of King many cities near unto deans and chapters have
Henry VIII. and Edward VI. it is ordained that endured by them  and their procurement; so
all deans should be presbyters, men of gravity, far have they been from a common benefit.
learning, and prudence; that they should govern Since, then, the said deans and chapters are but
the cathedral churches according to their stat- trustees, and the profits of the said lands have
utes; that they should preserve discipline, and  been so ill employed, contrary to the trust in
see that the holy rites be performed in a grave them  reposed, the alderman was of opinion
and decent manner; that they be assistants to that, by a legislative power in Parliament, it
the bishops within their several cathedrals, as was fit to take them away and put them into
the archdeacons are abroad, for which reason  the hands of feoffees, to be disposed of to such
they should not be absent fiom their cathedrals pious and charitable uses as they were first inwithout the most urgent necessity, to be allow- tended f'or; by which means the preaching of
ed by the bishop, but one or other of them is to the Gospel might be effectually encouraged,
preach in their cathedrals every Lord's Day." smaller livings augmented, and the necessities
The sergeant then observed how unlike our of the poor better supplied."
present deans were to their predecessors, how    These speeches made such an impression
little they observed the statutes of their insti- upon the House, that, after a long debate, they
tution, and gave it as his opinion that it was came to these resolutions: "That all deans,
not reasonable that such vast revenues should deans and chapters, archdeacons, prebendaries,
be allowed to persons who were of' so little use chanters, canons, and petty canons, and their
to the Church or commonwealth.               officers, shall be utterly abolished and taken
Mr. Pury, alderman of Gloucester, pursued away out of the Church; and that all the lands
the same argument; he produced a copy of the taken by this bill from deans and chapters shall
statutes of the dean and chapter of Gloucester, be put into the hands of feoffees, to be employwith their original grant about the time of the ed for the support of a fit number of preaching
Reformation.' "We have erected," says the ministers for the service of every church, and
king,' cathedrals and colleges in the place of for the reparation of the said churches, provismonasteries, that where ignorance and super- ion being made that his majesty be no loser in
stit ion reigned the sincere worship of God might his rents, first-friuits, and other duties; and that
flourish, and the Gospel of Christ Jesus be pure- a competent maintenance shall be made to the
ly preached; and, farther, that the increase of several persons concerned, if they appear not
the Christian faith and piety, the instruction of delinquents to this house."  But none of these
youth in good learning, and the sustentation of votes passed into a law, nor was there the least
the poor, may be forever kept, maintained and prospect of their being confirmed by the Lords
eont.inue(l."t He then produced the statutes, as long as the bishops were in that house, who
* Rushwo-th, part iii., vol. i., p. 285  Nalson's stood together like a wall against every attempt
Coll.. vol. ii., p. 282.                    of the Commons for alterations in the Church,
+ lalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 289.  till, by an unexpected providence, they were




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   383
broken in pieces, and made way for their own          1. Inzovations in Doctrine.
ruin.
The firmness of the bishops against all abate-   1. " Quaere, whether in the twentieth article
ments or relaxations in favour of the Puritans these words are not inserted,'the Church has
exasperated the people, and put an end to all authority in controversies of faith 1'
prospect of agreement.  A committee of ac-   2. "Several false doctrines have been preachcommodation had been appointed by the House ed, even all the doctrines of the Council of
of Lords, March 12, to consider of such innova- Trent, abating only such points of state popery
tions in religion as were proper to be taken against the king's supremacy as were made
away, which, by the plot of the court to bring treason by the statute; for example, some
up the army, and the loss of the late bills for have preached justification by works; others,
reformation of the hierarchy, was now broken that works of penance are satisfactory before
up.*  It consisted often earls, ten bishops, and God; that private confession is necessary to
ten barons. "This committee," says Archbish- salvation, necessitate medii; that absolution of a
op Laud in his Diary, "will meddle with doc- priest is more thandeclaratory; that the Lord's
trine as well as ceremony, and will call some Supper is a true and proper sacrifice.  Some
divines to them to consider of the business, as have defended prayer for the dead, and the lawappears by a letter hereunto annexed, sent by fulness of monastic vows; some have denied
the Lord-bishop of Lincoln to some divines to the morality of the Sabbath; some have preachattend this service. Upon the whole, I believe ed that subjects are bound to pay taxes contrathis committee will prove the national synod of ry to the laws of the realm; some have defendEngland, to the great dishonour of the Church, ed the whole substance of Arminianism; and
and what else may follow upon it God knows." others have given just occasion of being susAt their first meeting they appointed a sub- pected of Socinianism.
committee of bishops, and divines of different:3. " Several dangerous and reprovable books
persuasions, to prepare matters fbr their debate; have been printed," which are mentioned in the
the Bishop of Lincoln was chairman of both, copy of their proceedings now before me.
and was ordered to call together the sub-committee with all convenient speed, which he did        2. Innovations in Discipline.
by a letter directed to each of them in the fol-   As, 1. " Turning the holy table into an altar.
lowing words:                                  2. " Bowing towards it or to the east many
" I am commanded by the lords of the com- times, with three congees, at access or recess
mittee for the innovations in matters of reli- in the church.
gion, to let you know that their said lordships   3. " Placing candlesticks on altars in parohave assigned and appointed you to attend them  chial churches in the daytime, and making canas assistants in that committee, and to let you opies ovel; them with curtains, in imitation of
know, in general, that their lordships intend to the veil of the temple; advancing crucifixes and
examine all innovations in doctrine and disci- images upon the parafront or altar-cloth, and
pline introduced'into the Church without law  compelling all communicants to come up before
since the Reformation; and (if their lordships the rails.
shall find it behooveful for the good of the Church   4. " Reading the litany in the body of the
and State) to examine after that the degrees church, and some part of the morning-prayer at
and perfection of the Reformation itself, which the altar when there is no communion; and
I am directed to intimate to you, that you may the minister's turning his face to the east when
prepare your thoughts, studies, and meditations he pronounces the creed or reads prayers.
accordingly, expecting their lordships' pleasure   5. " Offering bread and wine by the hands of
for the particular points as they shall arise. the church-wardens, or others, before the conDated March 12, 1640-1."                     secretion of the elements.  Having a credentia,
Their names were these:or side-table for the Lord's Supper. IntroduDr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln,        cing an offertory before the communion, besides
Dr. Usher, archbishop of Arim-agh,       the giving alms to the poor afterward.
Dr. IMorton, bishop of Durham,             6. " Prohibiting ministers to expound the
Dr. Hall, bishop of Exeterm,             catechism; suppressing lectures on the weekDr. Samuel Ward,       Dr. Twisse,         day, and sermons on Sunday afternoon. ProDr. Jonu Prideaux,     Dr. Burges,         hibiting a direct prayer before sermon, and
Dr. Sanderson,         Mr. White,          bidding of prayer.
Dr. Featly,            Mr. Marsthall,        7. "Singing Te Deum  in prose in parish
Dr. Brownrigge,        Mr. Calamny,        churclies.  Standing up at the hymns of the
Dr. Holdsworthe,       Mr. Hill.          |church; and always at Gloria Patri. Carrying
Dr. Hacket,                                children from baptism to the altar, to offer them
to God; and prohibiting the building galleries
Some others were named, but these were all in churches, where the parishes are very popuwho appeared: they consulted together six sev- lous.
eral days in the Jerusalem Chamber, at West-   8. "Introducing Latin service in the comminster, the dean entertaining: them  all the munion at Oxford; and into morning and evenwhile at his table. The result of their confer- ing prayer in Cambridge.
ences was drawn up for the  debate of the    9. "Pretending for their innovations the incommittee in certain propositions and queries, junctions and advertise:nents of Queen Elizaunder the following heads:                   beth, which are not in force, but appertain to
the liturgy printed in the second and third ot
* Laud's Diary, p. 61. History of his Troubles, I Edward VI., whic: the Parliament had reformp. 174.                                       ed and laid aside.




384                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
it 7nmorandum for Reforrmation.     pacy, because their chairman, the Bishop of Lin.
1. "ThAt in all cathedral and collegiate coln, had undertaken that province, and accordchurches two sermons be preached every Sun- ingly presented the House of Lords with a recday, and likewise every holyday; and one lee- onciling scheme, which was dropped after the
ture at least on working days every week in first reading. It consisted of tel articles.
the year.                                      1. " That every bishop, being within his dio-, 2.' That the music used in cathedral and cess, and not disabled by ill health, shall preach
collegiate churches be framed with less curios- once every Lord's Day, or pay ~5 to the poor,
ity; and that no hymns or anthems be used to be levied by the next justice of the peace.
where ditties are framed by private men, but   2. " That no bishop shall be justice of the
such as are contained in the Holy Scriptures, peace except the Dean of Westminster, in Westor in our liturgy or prayers, or have public al- minster and St. Martin's.  [This seems to be a
lowance.                                     proviso for himself.]
3. " That the reading-desk be placed in the   3. " That every bishop shall have twelve aschurch, where Divine service may be best heard sistants besides the dean and chapter.; four to
of the people."                              be chosen by the. king, four by the Lords, and
four by the Commons, for jurisdiction and ordi3. Considerations upon the Book of Common  nation.
Prayer.                     4. "That in all vacancies, these assistants,
I. "Whether the names of some departed  with the dean and chapter. shall present to the
saints should not be struck out of the calendar 1 king three of the ablest divines in the diocess,
2. "Whether the rubric should not be mend- who shall choose one to be bishop.
ed, where all' those vestments are commanded   5. " That deans and prebendaries shall not be
which were used in the second year of Edward nonresidents at their cathedrals above sixty
VI.?                                         days.
3. "Whether lessons of canonical Scripture   6. "That sermons shall be preached in the
should not be inserted into the calendar instead cathedrals twice every Lord's Day, once every
of Apocrypha?                               holyday, and a lecture on Wednesdays, with a
4. "In  the rubric for the Lord's Supper, salary of one hundred marks per annum.
whether it should not be inserted, that such as   7. " That all archbishops, bishops, and colleintend to communicate shall signify their names giate churches, &c., shall be obliged to give a
to the curate over night, or in the morning be- fourth part of their fines and improved rents to
fore prayers?                               buy in impropriations.
5. " The next rubric to be explained, how far   8. "' That all double-beneficed men shall pay
a minister may repulse a scandalous and noto- the value of half their living to the curate.
rious sinner from the communion?              9. " No appeal shall be made to the Court of
6. "Whether it be not fit to insert a rubric, Arches or Court of Audience.
touching kneeling at the communion, that it is   10. "It is proposed that canons and ecclesito comply, in all humility, with the prayer which astical constitutions shall be drawn up, and suitthe minister makes, when he delivers the ele- ed to the laws of the realm by sixteen learned
ments?                                      persons, six to be nominated by the king, five
7.' "Whether there should not be a' rubric to by the Lords, and five by the Commons."
take away all offence fi-om the cross in baptism?' Archbishop Usher offered another scheme for
Or, whether it be more expedient that it he the reduction of episcopacy into the form of sywholly disused?  And, whether this reason nodical government, received in the ancient
shall be published, that in ancient liturgies no Church; in which his grace supposes, that of
cross was signed upon the party but where oil the many elters that ruled the Church of Ephalso was used, and therefore, oil being now  esus, there was one stated president, whom our
omitted, so may that which was concomitant Saviour calls the angel; and whom Ignatius, in
with it, the sign of the cross?              one of his epistles, calls the bishop, to whom,
8. "Whether the catechism may not receive in conjunction with the elders or presbyters,
a little more enlargement?                  the whole government of the Church, both as
9. 1 "Whether the times prohibited for mar- to doctrine and discipline, was committed. He
riages are quite to be taken away.?  Whether therefore proposes that these be continued; and'
those words in the office,' With my body I for a regulation of their jurisdiction, that suffrathee worship,' should not be thus altered: I gans should be appointed to hold monthly syngive thee power over my body? And, whether ods of presbyters, from whom there should be
that part of the rubric which obliges the new- an appeal to diocesan, provincial, and national
married persons to receive the communion the ones; and more particularly,
same day of their marriage, might not be chan-   1. "That the rector of every parish, with the
ged for the next Sunday when the communion church-wardens, should admonish and reprove
is celebrated?                              such as live scandalously, according to the qual10. "/ Whether, in the absolution for the sick, ity of their offence; and if by this means they
it were not better to say, I pronounce thee ab- are not reclaimnied, to present them to the next
solved? And in the office for the dead, instead monthly synod, and in the mean time debar
of those words,' In sure and certain hope of them the Lord's Table.
the resurrection, to eternal life",' whether it were   2. "'Whereas, by a statute of 26 Henry
not better to say, Knowing, assuredly, that the VIII., suffragans are appointed to be erected in
dead shall rise again?"   -                 twenty-six several places of this kingdom, the
Some other amendments of smaller moment number of them may be conformed to the numwere proposed, but these were the chief.  No ber of the several rural deaneries into which
mention was made of a reformation of episco-  ever) hiocess is subdivided; which being done,




HISTORY OF TlHE PURITANS.                                  385
the suffragan may every month assemble a syn- es, upon which the committee broke up about
od of the several rectors or incumbent pastors the middle of May, without bringing anything
within the precinct, and according to the major to perfection. Mr. Fuller has observed very
part of their votes conclude all matters that justly, " that the moderation and mutual complishould be brought into debate before them.  ance of these divines might have saved the body
3. " A diocesan synod might be held once or of episcopacy, and prevented the civil war; but
twice a year, wherein all the suffragans, and the court bishops expected no good from them,
the rest of the rectors or incumbent pastors, or suspecting the Doctrinal Puritans (as they nicka certain select number out of svery deanery named those bishops and Episcopal divines),
within that diocess, might meet, with whose joined with the Disciplinary Puritans, would
consent all things might be concluded by the betray the Church between them.  Some hot
bishop or superintendent; or in his absence, by spirits would abate nothing of Episcopal power
one of his suffragans, whom he should appoint or profit, but maintained that the yielding anyas moderator in his room; and here the trans- thing was granting the day to the opposite paractions of tile monthly synods may be revised ty."  It is the observation of another learned
and reformed.                               writer, upon the committee's agreeing to have
4. "The provincial synod may consist of all the Psalms in the liturgy printed according to
the bishops and suffragans, and such of the cler- the new translation; to expunge all Apocryphal
gy as should be elected out of every diocess lessons; to alter certain passages in the Book
within the province; the primate of either prov- of Common Prayer; and some other things,
ince might be moderator, or, in his room, one of with which divers of the Presbyterians said
the bishops appointed by him. This synod might they were satisfied, " that if the Episcopal men
be held every third year, and if the Parliament had made these concessions when they were in
be sitting, both the primates and provincial syn- full power, they had prevented the mischiefs
ods might join together, and make up one na- that were coming upon them; but as things
tional synod, wherein all appeals from inferior were at present, neither side appeared very well
synods might be received, all their acts exam- satisfied."
ined, and all ecclesiastical affairs relating to the   There were deep resentments in the breasts
state of the Church in general established."    of both parties; the bishops were incensed at
Several other' proposals were made to the the bold attacks of the House of Commons upon
House of Commons by those Puritans who their peerage and spiritual jurisdiction; and
were for revising and altering some things in the Puritans had a quick sense of their former
the Church, but not for root and branch;* as, sufferings, which made them restless till they
that his majesty should be moved to call a na- had abridged their power. It is very remarkational synod,. or a select number of divines of ble, and looks like an appearance of Divine disthe three nations under his majesty's govern- pleasure against the spirit of these times, that
ment, with an intimation  to all Reformed Archbishop Usher's scheme for the reduction
churches to.send their deputies, to settle a uni-  of Episcopacy, which at this time would have
form  model of government for the Church of satisfied the chief body of the Puritans, could
England, to be confirmed by Parliament, leaving not be obtained from the Icing and bishops; that
to other nations a Christian liberty in those afterward, when the kling offered this very
forms of discipline which are most agreeable to scheme at the treaty of the Isle of Wight, the
their civil government.                      Parliament and Puritan divines would not acOthers proposed "that the present liturgy cept it, for fear of breaking with their Scots
might be continued, but that the Apocryphal brethren. Again, when the Presbyterian minislessons be entirely omitted; that all sentences ters, at the restoration of King Charles II., preof Holy Scripture be according to the last trans- sented it to his majesty as a model with which
lation; that the word minister be used instead they were satisfied, and which would compreof priest; with some other amendments. That, fend, in a manner, their whole body, both the
with regard to Episcopal government, bishops Icing and bishops rejected it with contempt, and
be obliged to constant preaching in their metro- would not suffer it to be debated.
politan or parochial churches; that they never   It may not be improper in this place to make
ordain without consent of' three or four presby- a few remarks upon this part of Mr. Rapin's acters at least; that they do not suspend by their. curate and judicious History of England, who,
sole authority, but with consent of presbyters, in his account of these times, seems to repre
and that for weighty causes; that none may be sent the body of the Puritans to be Presbyteriexcommunicated but by the bishop himself, ans, and as having formed a conspiracy against
with consent of the pastor in whose parish the the whole fabrie of the Church, from the very
lelinquent dwells, and that.for heinous and beginning of this Parliament, whereas the
very scandalous crimes only. That the fees of state of the controversy between the Church
ecclesiastical courts be regulated, and that bish- and the Puritans was now changed. In the
ops, chancellors, and their officials, may be sub- reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I.,
ject. to the censure of provincial synods and the Puritans were for the most part Presbyteconvocations."                              rians, though even then there were many EpisBut all these attempts for accommodation  copalians among them; but, fiom the time that
were blasted by the stiffness of the bishops, Armninianism prevailed in the Church, and the
and by the discovery of the plot to bring the whole body of the Calvinists came to be distinarmy to London to dissolve the Parliament;  guished by the name of Doctrinal Puritans, both
this put the nation into a ferment, and widened parties seemed to unite in a moderate episcopathe distance between the king and the two hous- cy, there being little or no mention of the old
-  book of discipline for twenty years before the
* Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 203.  commencement of the civil war, and all the
VOL. I.-C c C




386                      HISTORY OFTHE PURITANS.
controversy turning upon points of Calvinism;  of the Puritan clergy, who wanted only to get rid
upon a reduction of the exorbitant power of the  of the tyranny of the bishops, and were willing to
bishops; or upon innovations, as they were  leave the Parliament to model the government of
called, and ceremonies. There were few either the Church as they pleased. And although, as
among the clergy or laity who had a zeal for the influence of the Scots over the two houses
presbytery, or desired any more than to be rid  increased, presbytery prevailed, and when the
of their oppressions. Mr: Rapin, however, is Parliament were at their mercy, and forced to
of opinion* that " among the members of Par- submit to what conditions they would impose
liament there were real Presbyterians, who  upon them for their assistance, the Kirk discithought, no doubt, of altering the whole gov- pline gained the ascendant, and at length ademinment of the Church. These are represented  vanced into a Divine right in the assembly of
as deep politicians, as working under ground, divines, yet the Parliament would never come
and making use of all kinds of artifices to ac- into it, and when the Scots were gone home it
complish their designs, which they took care  dwindled by degrees, till it was almost totally
not to discover."  He owns, indeed, that " the eclipsed by the rising greatness of the IndependPresbyterians were not very numerous in the ents.
House, but that they were supported by a pretty   It appears, therefore, to me, that there was
great party in the kingdom, and particularly by  no formal design as yet, either in the House of
the Scots;" which assertion seems to me to  Commons or among the Puritan clergy, to subrequire stronger evidence than he has thought vert the hierarchy, and erect the Presbyterian
fit to produce. I have shown, from Lord Clar- government upon its ruins; there were no conendon, that both houses of Parliament, at their siderable number of Presbyterian ministers in
first sitting down, were almost to a man for the  the nation; and the leading members in both
constitution of the Church; that they aimed at houses were known to be of another stamp.
no more than a redress of grievances; and that " We are confident," says the king, in his letter
there were not above two or three in both hous- to the Council of Scotland, A ugust 26, " that the
es that were for root and branch.  That all most considerable persons in both houses of
the members received the communion accord- Parliament, and those who make the fairest preing to the usage of the Church of England, at tensions to you of uniformity in church governtheir first sitting down, and brought a certifi- ment, will no sooner embrace a presbyterial
cate of their having so done. That the peti- than you an episcopal."*  And Bishop Burnet
tion of the Puritan ministers was not for setting  speaks the same language.  So that what was
up presbytery, but only for reforming the griev- done in the House of Commons afterward was
ances of the hierarchy;t the controversy be- the result of the situation of their affairs, and
tween Bishop Hall and the Smectymnuan di- not of any formed design: as that changed, so
vines proceeded on the same footing, as did the  did their councils and measures. The contrary
Committee of Accommodation. In short, when  to this ought not to be supposed, but proved by
the Parliament was obliged to fly to the Scots incontestable matters of fact, which neither Mr.:for assistance in the war, and to receive their Rapin, nor any other historian whom  I have
covenant; and when, afterward, they found it read, has yet done. And I will venture to say,
necessary to pay the utmost deference to their that if there were such invisible Presbyterians
advices, lest they should withdraw their army, behind the curtain, who planned the subversion
and leave them  to the mercy of an enraged  of the hierarcliy, ani blew it up, as it were, withking, they could never, in the worst of times, out hands, they must have been abler statesbe induced to establish their discipline in the  men, and masters of much more worldly poliChurch of Ehgland, without reserve of the ec-. ties, than their posterity have ever been reclesiastical power to themselves. And as to  mlarkable for.
the ministers who composed the assembly of   To return to the Parliament. There were
divines at Westminster, though in a course of two bills which affected the prerogative now
time they carried things very high, yet I am of ready for the royal assent: one to abolish the
opinion, with Mr. Fuller,T that at first " they  Court of High Commission, and regulate the
rather favoured the Presbyterian discipline, or were privy council; the other, to take away the Star
brought over to embrace it by the Scots," than that Chamber. To induce the king to pass them
they cae.thither possessed with sentiments of its more readily, the Commons sent up a moaneyDivine authority. However, it is certain that at bill with them; but when the king came to the
the Restoration these very divines ofered to give House [July 3, 1641] he passed the money-bill,
it up for Archbishop Usher's model of primitive  and told the houses he must take some time to
episcopacy.                                  consider of the others, which disgusted the
It must be confessed, that soon after the be- Commons so much that they returned to their
ginning of'the Parliament there were many  house and immediately adjourned.  At their
among the common people who were enemies  next meeting they fell into new heats, which
to the whole ecclesiastical constitution, being  his majesty being informed of, came to the
supported by the Scots commissioners, who had  House of Peers, and, having sent for the.Comconceived an implacable antipathy against the  mons, reprimanded them for their jealousies, and
order of bishops, which they had voted contrary  then passed the bills; he also put them in mind
to the Mord of God. But this was not the case  what he had done this session; ~tlhat he had
yielded that the judges should hold their places
* Vol. ii, p. 359, 447, folio edition.     quamidiu se bene gesserint; that he had given
t The history of the Church of England shows away his right to ship-money; granted a law
the stern resistance which it has ever made to re- for triennial Parliaments, and for securing the
form. If ever it be reformed from its papistical appenalages, it must be from without.-C.      money: Book xi., p. 193.                            * Hamilton's Memoirs, book iv., p. 197.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    387
in a word, that he had hitherto given way to    The act for taking away the Star Chamber,
everything, and, therefore, they should not won- and regulating the privy council, dissolves the
der if in some things he began now to refuse."*  said court from the 1st of August, 1641, " and
Lord Clarendon insinuates that the king passed repeals all those acts, or clauses of acts of Parthese bills with reluctance; from whence an- liament, by which any jurisdiction, power, or
other ingenious writer concludes, that if ever authority is given to the said court, or to any
the ministry had regained their power, it was of the officers or ministers thereof.  And it orlikely they would advise his majesty to declare dains farther, that neither his majesty, nor his
them void, as being extorted from him by force privy council, have, or ought to have, any jurisand violence.                                 diction, power, or authority, by English bill, peThe act for abolishing the High Commission tition, articles, libel, or other arbitrary way, to
Court repeals that branch of the statute I Eliz., examine or draw in question, determine or discap. i., upon which this court was founded, and pose of, the lands, tenements, hereditaments,
then enacts, " that no archbishops, bishops, vic- goods, or chattels of any of the.subjects of this
ars-general, chancellor, or official, nor commis- kingdom."
sary of any archbishop, bishop, or vicar-gener-   Thus fell the two chief engines of the late aral, or any other spiritual or ecclesiastical offi- bitrary proceedings in Church and State, which
cer, shall, by any grant, license, or commission had the liberties and estates of many worthy
from the king, his heirs or successors, after the and pious families to answer for.  By the proIst of August, 1641, award, impose, or inflict viso in the act for abolishing the High Commisany pain, penalty, fine, amercement, imprison- sion, that " no new court shall be erected with
ment, or other corporeal punishment, upon any like powers for the filture," it appears how odiof the king's subjects, for any contempt, misde- ous their proceedings were in the eyes of the
meanor, crime, matter, or thing whatsoever be- nation.  Lord Clarendon admits* that the talonging to spiritual or ecclesiastical jurisdic- king away the Star Chamber at this time was
tion, or shall ex officio tender or administer to very popular; but is of opinion that it would be
any person any corporeal oath, to make any no less politic in the crown to revive it when
presentment of any crime, or to confess or ac- the present distempers are expired; however, I
cuse himself of any crime, offence, delinquency, rely on the wisdom  of a British Parliament,
or misdemeanor, whereby he or she may be that they will never consent to it.
liable to any punishment whatsoever, under   When the king had signed the two bills, he
penalty of treble charges, and ~100 to him or desired the advice of his Parliament concernthem  who shall first demand or sue for the ing a manifesto which he intended to send to
same. And it is farther enacted, that after the the Diet of Ratisbon in favour of the Palatine
said 1st of August, 1641, no new court shall be family, wherein he declares that he will not
erected, or deemed, or. appointed, that shall abandon the interests of his sister and nephew,
have the like power, jurisdiction, or authority  but will employ all his force and power in their
as the High Commission Court had, or pretend- behalf until they are restored.  This was high-'ed to have, but all such commissions, letters ly acceptable to the Puritans, who had always
patent, &c., from  the king, or his successors, the interest of that house at heart.  The maniand all acts, sentences, and decrees made by festo was read July 7,t when the Commons devirtue thereof, shall be utterly void."       clared their approbation of it, and resolved. to
By passing this act, all coercive power of give his majesty such assistance therein as
church consistories was taken away, and the shall stand with the honour of his majesty, and
spiritual sword, that had done such terrible ex- the interest and affections of his kingdom, if
ecution in the hands of some bishops, was put the present treaty does not succeed.  The
into the scabbard.  It was very extraordinary  peers concurred in the same vote, and both
that the bishops, who were then in the House houses desired the king to recommend it to the
of Lords, should so supinely suffer themselves Parliament of Scotland, which his majesty
to be surprised out of their power.  Some were promised. Many warm speeches were made on
ready to observe a hand of justice, says Mr. this occasion in favour of the Queen of BoheFuller, t that seeing many simple souls, by cap- mia, by Sir Simon d'Ewes, Mr. Denzil Hollis,
tious interrogatories, had been circumvented  and Sir Benjamin Rudyard.]:  "The restoring
by the High Commission Court into a self-ac- the prince to his electorate," says Sir Benjacusation, an unsuspected clause in this statute min, "will restore the Protestant religion there;
should abolish all their lawful authority: for it will strengthen and increase it in Germany,
there is no proviso in the act to confine it only which is of great and vast consequence.  It
to the High Commission, but it extends to all will likewise refresh and comfort the heart of
archbishops, bishops, and all spiritual or eccle- that most noble, virtuous, and magnanimouslysiastical officers in any of their courts.  Lord suffering Queen of Bohemia his majesty's sisClarendon sayst that the king was apprehen- ter, and his highness's mother, who is ever to
sive that the body of the bill exceeded the title, be highly and tenderly regarded by this house,
and, therefore, made a pause in consenting to and by this klingdom."  Mr. Denzil Hollis said,
pass it, but that some bishops prevailed with  "' i'he HIouse of Commons looks upon those dishis mnajesty to sign it, to take off the odium  tressed princes, of so glorious an extraction,
froin that bench, of their being enemies to all with an eye of tenderness, wishing every drop
reflorniation; for it was insinuated, says the of that princely blood may ever be illustrated
noble historian, that since they opposed a due with honour and happiness.  To hear that these
regulation of their power, there would be no  princes should have their patrimony taken from
way but to cut them off root and branch.
* Vol. i, p. 285.
* Nalson's Collections, vol. i., p. 327.          t Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 310.
t Book xi.. n. 181.   $ Clarendon, vol. i., p. 284.  ] Nalson's Collections, p. 326-328, 378




388                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
them, and suffer things so unworthy their birth accordingly, they were allowed three months'
and relation, is a thing that makes our ears to time to put in their answer, and counsel of
tingle, and our hearts to rise within us. But their own nomination, viz., Sergeant Jermin, Mr.
there is another motive which has an irresisti- Chute, Mr. Herne, and Mr. Hales.*
ble operation with us, which is the advance-   From. this time the bishops fell under a genlment of Protestant religion. The Protestant eral disregard; the cry of the populace was
religion and this kingdom must live and die to- against them, as the chief impediments of all
gether; and it is madness to suppose the Prot- reformation in Church and State; and even the
estant religion can continue here, if we suffer temporal peers treated them with neglect, exit to be destroyed and eradicated out of the pressing their dislike at the Bishop of London
neighbouring countries. Religion is the heart being styled Right Honourable.  Besides, the
of England, and England is the heart of the lords spiritual were not distinctly mentioned.in
Protestant religion in all the other parts of the bills that passed this session, according to
Christendom; let us, therefore, like wise men, ancient usage; the clerk of the Parliament, in
that foresee the evil afar off, rather meet it at reading the bills to the House, turned his back
a distance, than stay till the Austrian ambition upon the bench of bishops; and when the housand popish power come to our door."*  These es went in a body to church on a fast-day, the
were the sentiments of the Puritans in this Par- temporal barons gave themselves precedence of
liament with respect to the ancestors of his. the bishops. These were the preludes to their
present majesty and the Protestant religion. downfall, which happened about six months
The Queen of Bohemia was so sensible of their forward, though from thiis time they were little
particular regards for her family, that she re- bbtter than ciphers in the House.
turned them  her thanks; but the manifesto   These resolute proceedings against the bishended in nothing.t                          ops put the court upon forming new projects to
The Commons not being able to come at their break up the Parliament. It was observed that
intended alterations in the Church while the the strength and courage of the House of Comnbench of bishops remained united in the House mons rose from  their confederacy with the
of Peers, formed several schemes to divide Scots, whose army in the north was entirely in
them: it was first proposed to set large fines their interest; it was therefore resolved in counupon both houses of convocation for compiling cil to detach that nation, if possible, from the
the late canons, and a bill was brought in for Parliament, and to bring them over to the king,
that purpose; but, upon better consideration, it by yielding everything they should desire; for
was thought more effectual for the present to this purpose his majesty declared his resolution
make examples of those bishops only who had to the two houses to visit his native country in
been the principal movers in that affair; agree- person within fourteen days, and desired them
ably to this resolution, a committee was appoint- to finish the bills which were before them by
ed, July 31, to draw up an impeachment against that time. The Commons being aware of the
one half of the bench, viz., Dr. Laud, archbish- design, and apprehensive of danger, if the king
op of Canterbury; Dr. Curle, bishop of Win- should put himself at the head of the English
chester; Dr. Wright, bishop of Coventry and army in the north, sent away the Earl of HolLitchfield; Dr. Goodman, bishop of Gloucester;  land immediately with money to pay off, which
Dr. Hall, bishop of Exeter; Dr. Owen, bishop was done without mutiny or disturbance; but
of St. Asaph; Dr. Pierce, bishop of Bath and the business of the houses being very urgent,
Wells; Dr. Wren, bishop of Ely; Dr. Roberts, and the time short, they voted, that in this case
bishop of Bangor; Dr. Skinner, bishop of Bris- of great necessity, concerning the peace of the
tol; Dr. Warner, bishop of Rochester; Dr. Tow-i kingdom, they would sit the next day, being
ers, bishop of Peterborough; Dr. Owen, bishop Sunday, by six o'clock in the morning; which
of Landaff.$  The impeachment was of high they did, and having heard a sermon, returned
crimes and misdemeanors: "for making and to the House about nine, and sat all day long
publishing the late canons, contrary to the king's on the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday
prerogative, to the fundamental laws of the [August 8, 1641].  But, lest this might be misrealm, to the rights of Parliament, and to the construed as a profanation, or be drawn into
property and liberty of the subject; and con- example, they published the following declarataining matters tending to sedition, and of dan- tion:f
gerous consequence; and for granting a benev-   " Whereas, both houses of Parliament found
olence or contribution to his majesty, to be paid it fit to sit in Parliament upon the 8th of Auby the clergy of that province, contrary to law." gust, being Lord's Day, for many. urgent occaIt was carried up to the Lords, August 4, by Ser- sions, being straitened in time by his majesgeant Wild, who demanded, in the name of all ty's resolution to go within a (lay or two to
the Commons of England, that the bishops might Scotland, they think fit to declare, that they
be forthwith put to answer the crimes and mis- would not have done this but upon inevitaderneanors above mentioned, in the presence ble necessity; the peace and safety of both
of the House of Commons; and that such far- Church and State being so deeply concerned,
ther proceedings might be had against them as which they do hereby declare, to this end, that
to law and justice appertained. The Commons neither any other interior court or council, or
were in hopes that the bishops would have quitted any other person, may draw this into example,
their votes in Parliament to be discharged of the - or make use of it for their encouragement, in
proemunire; but they resolved to abide by their neglecting the due observation of the Lord's
right, and therefore only desired time to prepare Day."
their answer, and counsel for their assistance;......_'~~~~.   ~ Fuller's Church History, book xi., p. 183.
* Rushworth, p. 316.    - t Ibid., p. 357.  t Rushworth, p. 362. Nalson's Collections, vol. ii.,
I Ibid.. part iii., vol. i., p: 359.     p. 436.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    389
The same vote passed the House of Lords time, as shall'best conduce to the glory of God,
nemine contradicente, and was ordered to be the peace of the Church, and both kingdoms.
printed.'That the Prince of Wales shall be permitted
August 10, his majesty came to the House to repair into Scotland, and reside there, as
and gave his assent to a bill concerning knight- there shall be occasion.
hood; against the oppressions of the stannary' That his majesty will give ear to the inforcourts; for regulating the clerks of markets; mations of Parliament, and when that is not
and for confirming or ratifying the peace [or sitting, to the council and college of justice, so
pacification] with the Scots. This last being far as to make choice of some one of such as
an affair of great consequence, I shall give the they, by common consent, shall recommend to
reader an abstract of the treaty, which had been places of trust in the council, the session, and
depending ever since November 23, 1640, be- other judicatures. Or, if his majesty shall think
tween the commissioners of both nations, who any other person fit, he shall acquaint his Paragreed to the following conclusions [August 7], liament, to the intent, that if by their informawhich the king ratified and confirmed the very tion a:ny just exception shall be made to the
day he set out for Scotland.                 said person, his majesty may nominate another.
"That the acts of Parliament held at Edin- "' That some noblemen, &c., of the Scots
burgh, June 2, be published by his majesty's nation shall be placed about the king, and that
authority, and have in all time to come the full his majesty will endeavour to give just satisstrength of laws.                            faction to his people with regard to his placing
" That the Castle of Edinburgh, and other none but persons of the Reformed religion about
forts of Scotland, should be furnished and used his own and the prince's person."
for the defence of the kingdom, with the advice   Then follows an act of oblivion, with excepof the states of Parliament.                tion to the Scots prelates and four others; and
" That all those who in England or Ireland  in the close the ratification of the whole in these
hlave been imprisoned, or otherwise censured  words:
for subscribing the covenant, and for refusing    " Be it enacted by his majesty, with the asto take the oath contrary to the same, shall be sent of the Lords and Commons in this present
released and freed from such censures; and Parlianment assembled, that the said treaty, and
for the time to come the subjects of Scotland, all the articles thereof, be and stand forever
living in Scotland, shall not be obliged to any ratified and established, and have the force,
oaths contrary to the laws or religion of that vigour, strength, and authority of a law, slatkingdom; but if they come to reside in England  ute,' and act of Parliament.  And his majesty,
or Ireland, they shall be subject to the laws as for himself and his successors, promises, in verbo
others are.                                  principis, never to come in the con'trair of this
" That all his majesty's courts of justice statute and sanction, nor anything therein conshall be free and open against all evil counsel- tained, but to hold the same in all points firm
lors and delinquents; that the Parliament of and stable, and cause it to be truly observed,
Scotland shall have liberty to proceed against according to the tenour and intent thereof, notw
such;. and that his majesty will not employ and forever.  And the Parliaments of. both
any person, in any office or place, who shall be kingdoms respectively give full assurance, and
judged incapable by sentence of Parliament; make public faith, for the true and faithful obnor make use of their service, nor grant them  servation of this treaty, &c., hinc inde, in all'
access to his royal person, without consent of times to come."
Parliament.                                    Bishop Burnet very justly observes a collu1" That all ships and goods on both sides be sion in the king's approving the desire of his
restored, and that ~300,000 be given to the Scots subjects for uniformity of church governScots by the English, for their friendly assist- merit. His majesty wished it as much as they,
ance and relief.                             but with a very different view; the king was
"That all declarations, proclamations, &c., for bringing them  to the English standard,
that have been published against the loyalty whereas the Scots intended to bring the Engand dutifulness of his majesty's subjects of lish to theirs. However, his.majesty was reScotland, be recalled and suppressed; and that solved to contradict them  in nothing, that he
at the close of the treaty of peace the loyalty of might break the confederacy between the two
his majesty's said subjects shall be made known  nations; for Lord Saville had now informed
at the time of public thanksgiving in all places, him of the correspondence of some of the Engand particularly in all parish churches of his lish nobility with the Scots, which encouraged
majesty's dominions.                         them to raise an army and march to the bor"That the garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle ders. He had shown him a copy of the letter
be removed, and all things be reduced to the with the forged names of Essex, Bedford, Manstate they were in before the late troubles.  deville, and others, exciting them to assert the
"Whereas, unity in religion and uniformity liberties of their Church and nation, and promin church government have been desired by the ising all the assistance they could give with
Scots as a special means for preserving the safety to themselves.  His majesty, therefore,
peace between both. kingdoms, his majesty, resolved to gain over the Scots, that he might
with the advice of both houses of Parliament, be at liberty to prosecute the inviters and redoth approve of the affection of his subjects in cover his prerogative in England, which he
Scotland, in their desire of having a conformity knew he could accomplish by the assistance of
of church government between the two nations. the Irish, if the English Puritans were left to
And as the Parliament hath already taken into themselves. The Parliament was aware of the
consideration the reformation of church gov- design, and therefore appointed one lord and
ernment, so they will proceed therein in due two commoners to follow his majesty to Scot



390                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
land, in order to keep up a good correspondence takes; and how little dependance was to be
with the Parliament of that nation, and to ex- had upon his promises and declarations; that
hort them, since they had gained their own even in the year 1648, when the necessity of
liberties by the assistance of the English Parlia: his affairs obliged him to consent to a uniformment, not to desert them till the English also ity of Presbyterian government in both nations,
had recovered theirs.                        he could declare in private to his chaplain that
The king set out post, August 11, 1641, and  "if he was ever restored to his throne, he
arrived at Edinburgh in three or four days. The would do public penance for abolishing episcoParliament met August 19, when his majesty  pacy in Scotland."  Upon the whole, the king's
acquainted them, in a most gracious speech, journey into his native country did him no serthat the end of his coming into his native coun- vice; for, though the Scots were pleased with
try was to quiet the distractions of the king- his majesty's concessions, they durst not dedom; "and this I mind," says his majesty, pend upon them so long as he was under the
"fully and cheerfully to perform, for I assure direction of the queen and the English bishops,
you I can do nothing with more cheerfulness and they continued to think themselves obliged,
than to give my people general satisfaction; fiom gratitude, affection, and interest, to cultiwherefore, not offering to endear himself to you vate a good understanding with the English
in words, which is not my way, I desire, in the Parliament, and to assist them in recovering
first place, to settle that which concerns reli- their religion and liberties.
gion, and the just liberties of this my native   Upon the day of thanksgiving for the pacificouyatry, before I proceed to any other act."* cation between the two nations [September 7],
Accordingly, his majesty allowed of their late Bishop Williams, dean of Westminster, without
proceedings in opposing the English liturgy, and any direction from his superiors, composed a
erecting tables in defence of their liberties; he form of prayer for the service of the day, with
confirmed the acts of their Assembly at Glas- which the House of Commons was offended,
gow, which declared that'" the government of the and came to this resolution: "That the Bishop
Church by archbishops and bishops was contra- of Lincoln had no power to set forth any prayer
ry to the Word of God, and was, therefore, abol- to be read on the public thanksgiving; and that
ished."  The Rev. Mr. Henderson waited on no minister is obliged to read the said prayer;
the king as his chaplain, and was appointed to and the House is of opinion, and doth order,
provide preachers for him while he was in that that the said prayer be not read in the liberties
country, his majesty having declared that he of Westminster, or elsewhere."*  Dr. Burges
would conform to their manner of worship while and Mr. Marshall preached before the Comhe was among them. Mr. Henderson had the mons, and read the following order, appointed
rent of the royal chapel; Mr. Gillespie had a by both houses to be published in all the
pension, and the professors of the several uni- churches throughout England, with his majesversities had their provisions augmented by the ty's consent.
revenues formerly belonging to the bishops.   " Whereas, according to the act of this presHis majesty conferred titles of honour upon ent Parliament for confirmation of the treaty
many of their gentry; and all parties were so of pacification, it was desired by the commiswell pleased, that it was said, when his majesty  sioners of Scotland that the loyalty and faithleft the kingdom, that he departed a contented  fulness of his majesty's subjects [of Scotland]
king from a contented people.                might be made known at the time of thanksgivNo sooner was the king returned but -the ing, in all places, and particularly in all parish
English bishops reproached his majesty with  churches of his majesty's dominions; which
his concessions, especially for admitting " the request was graciously condescended to by his
English hierarchy to be contrary to the Word  majesty, and confirmed by the said act: it is
of' God."  They told him he had unravelled the now ordered and commanded by both houses of
web which his father and himself had been Parliament, that the same be effectually done
weaving in that country for above forty years, in all parish churches throughout this kingdom,
and, instead of making the Scots his friends, he on Tuesday, September 7, at the time of the
had only created a new thirst in the English public thanksgiving, by the respective ministers
Parliament to follow their example. These re- of each parish, or their curates, who are heremonstrances had such an influence upon the by required to read this present order in the
unhappy king, that he repented heartily of what church."
he had done, and told Dr. Saunderson, after-   The order being read, the ministers declared
ward Bishop of Lincoln, when he was in the that, notwithstanding all which had passed in
Isle of Wight, that two errors did much afflict the late commotions, the Scots nation were still
him,' his consenting to the Earl of Strafford's his majesty's faithful and loyal subjects. Thus,
death, and his abolishing episcopacy in Scot- as the calling and continuance of an English
land; and that if Gbd should ever restore him  Parliament, after twelve years' interval, was
to the peaceable possession of his crown, he owing to the marching of the Scots army into
would demonstrate his repentance by a public the north of England, it was by the powerful
confession and a voluntary penance (I think, support and assistance of that Parliament, and
says the doctor), by going barefoot from the the expense of a million of money, that the
Tower of London, or Whitehall, to St. Paul's,' Scots obtained the present pacification, with
and desiring the people to intercede with God the full recovery of their kirk discipline and
for him. This shows how much superstition  civil liberties.
still remained in his majesty's make and con-   In the midst of this ferment of the spirit o
stitution, when he could imagine the going bare- men, the workings of opposite counsels, and ti
foot through the streets could atone for his mis- taking the sword out of the hands of the spirit* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 382.  * Nalson's Collections,, v1. ii., p. 476, 477.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     39i
ual courts, it is not to be wondered that the    The day before the recess of the Parliament
state of religion was unsettled, and that men  [September 8, 1641], it was resolved by the
began to practise with some latitude in points Commons, " That the Lord's Day should be
of ceremony and forms of worship. It has been duly observed and sanctified; that all dancing,
observed that in the beginning of the year the or other sports either before or after Divine serHouse of Commons had ordered commissioners vice, be forborne and restrained; and that the
to be sent into all the counties of England, for preaching God's Word be promoted in the afremoving the late innovations. June 28, it was ternoon, in the several churches and chapels of
farther ordered, " that neither university should this kingdom; and that ministers and preachdo reverence to the communion-table."  And, ers be encouraged thereunto.  The chancellors
August 31, " that the church-wardens of the of the two universities, the heads of colleges,
several parishes shall forthwith remove the all patrons, vicars, and church-wardens, are to
comlmunion-table from  the east end of the make certificate of the performance of these
churches where they stand altarwise, and take orders; and all defaulters to be returned to
away the rails and level the chancels, as before Parliament before the 30th of October next.
the late innovations."  Upon complaint of the Ordered farther, that all crucifixes, scandalous
want of sermons, and that the incumbents'in pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinmany places would not admit preachers into ity, and all images of the Virgin Mary, shall be
their pulpits, though the parish maintained  taken away and abolished; and that all tapers,
them, it was ordered, June 14, " That the deans candlesticks, and basins be removed' from the
and chapters of all cathedrals be required, and communion-table.  That all corporeal reverenenjoined, to suffer the inhabitants to have free ces at,the name of Jesus, or towards the east
liberty to have a sermon preached in their ca- end of the church, chapel, or chancel, or tothedrals every Sunday in the afternoon " July wards the communion-table, be forborne."*
12, ordered, "That in all parochial churches These orders to be observed in all cathedral
where there is no preaching in the afternoon, if and collegiate churches and chapels, in the two
the parishioners will not maintain a conforma- universities, by the respective officers and minble lecturer at their own charge, the parson or isters of these places, and by the readers and
vicar shall give way to it, unless he will preach benchers of the inns of court.t
himself."  September 6, ordered, "That it be   The House of Lords consented to some of
lawful for. the parishioners of any parish to set these resolutions, but not to all. They agreed
up a lecture, and to maintain an orthodox min- in their committee, " that no rails should be
ister at their own charge, to preach every placed about the communion-table where there
Lord's Day where there is no preaching, and to were none already, but not to the pulling down
preach one day every week where there is no all that were set up; and that all chancels
weekly lecture."*  But, notwithstanding these raised within fifteen years past shall be levelvotes, some bishops inhibited preaching on led; that images of the Trinity should be abolSundays in the afternoon; and in particular ished, without limitation of time, and all images
Dr. Montague, bishop of Norwich, upon which of the Virgin Mary erected within twenty years
the Commons voted, " That his Iordship's inhi- past."t  But as for bowing at the name of Jebition of the Reverend Mr. Carter to preach sus, they insisted that it should be left indifferin his own parish church was void;'and that ent.  So that when the question was put to
every minister may preach in his own parish agree or not to agree with the resolutions of the
church as often as he pleases."
Many petitions being sent from divers coun- their affection' to the king's cause merely, and many
ties for preaching ministers, a committee of were charged with delivering false doctrines, whose
forty members of the House, called the Corn- positions were found at the least disputable; and
mittee for Preaching Ministers, was appointed urges that many of the complainers were factious
people, and the witnesses against the clergy seldom
to send ministers where there ere vacancies, deposed on oath; yet, after these deductions, he aland to provide for their maintenance.;  These lows that many were outed for their misdemeanors;
gentlemen recommended many of the late si- and adds, " some of their offences were so foul, it is
lenced ministers, as the Reverend Mr. Case, a shamle to report them, crying to justice for punish
Mr. Marshall, Sedgwick, Burroughs, whom  ment."  He appears, indeed, to have his doubts
somne of the vicars refused to admit into their whether their crimes were sufficiently proved; for
pulpits, or at least dissuaded their parishioners if the proof were perfect, the persons ought to have
lost their lives, and not their livings only. This is,
from hearing them,  upon which some oethem  however, a proof against Dr. Grey's unlimited asserwere required to attend the committee; and tion, that in many instances the imputation of scanbecause great complaints were made to the dalous crimes, supported by considerable evidence
House of the idleness and viciousness of the at least, was the ground of proceeding. Mr. Baxter
country clergy, another committee was appoint- tells us that it was no sooner understood that the
ed to examine into such complaints, and was committee was formed, than multitudes in all councalled the Committee for Scandalous Ministers.t ties came up with petitions against their ministers.
Two hundred of the names of scandalous ministers,
their places, and articles proved against them, were
* Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 288, 383, 457.   published by Mr. White, the chairman of the comt Clarendon, vol. i., p. 295.               mittee; and moderate men were grieved to see so
$ "By'scandalous ministers,"' says Dr. Grey, much ignorance and such gross immoralities ex"no more was meant than the beiing truly orthodox, posed to the derision of the world. And yet Dr.
truly conformable to the rules and orders of the Grey could say, that scandalous ministers meant no
Church, and faithful and obedient subjects to his more than the loyal and orthodox.-Baxter's Life,
majesty." It is sufficient to oppose to this round as- part i., p. 19, folio.-ED.
sertion of Dr. Grey an authority not to be contro- * Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 482.
verted, that of Fuller,' Church History, b. xi., p. 207.   t Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 386.
He informs us that some of the clergy were outed for   T Ibid., p. 482, 483.




392                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Commons, it passed in the negative, eleven  if they were apparently contrary to law, I do
against nine. The Commons, therefore, pub- not see why either house of Parliament, or
lished their resolutions apart, and desired the  even the parishioners themselves, by a vote of
people to wait patiently for the intended refor- their vestry, might not order them to be taken
mation, without any disturbance of the worship  away. Remarkable are the words of Sir Edof God and of the peace of the kingdom. Upon  ward Deering to this purpose: " The orders of
which the Lords, in a heat, appointed their or- the House," says he, "are, doubtless, powerful,
der of January 19, 1640-1, already mentioned, if grounded upon the laws of the land; upon
to be reprinted,* "that Divine service should be this warrant we may, by an order, enforce anyperformed, as it is appointed by act of Parlia- thing that is undoubtedly so grounded; and, by
ment, and that all who disturb that wholesome  the same rule, we may abrogate whatsoever is
order shall be severely punished according to  introduced contrary to the undoubted foundalaw.  That all parsons, vicars, and curates, in  tion of your laws; but we may not rule and govtheir several parishes, do forbear to introduce  ern by arbitrary and disputable orders, espeany rites or ceremonies that may give offence, cially in matters of religion."*
otherwise than those that are established by the    The Lords disapproved of the tumultuous atlaws of the land."  This was voted by twelve of tempts of private persons, and punished them
the lords present, the other six entering their severely. Complaint being made by the inhabprotest;t after which both houses adjourned for itants of St. Saviour's, Southwark, of certain
six weeks. Mr. Rapin observes,: that there  persons who had pulled down the rails of the
seems no necessity for the Lords to renew this communion-table in an insolent and riotous
order; and that it was done out of spleen and  manner, they were sent into custody, and havrevenge because the Commons had made a ing been heard by their counsel at the bar of
declaration against innovations, and it was not the House, the church-wardens of the parish
doubted but the bishops were the chief authors  were ordered to set up new rails at the costs
of it.                                       and charges of the offenders, in the manner
Lord Clarendon represents the putting these  they had stood for fifty years before, but not
orders of the House of Commons in execution  according to the model of the four or five last
as a transcendent presumption, and a breach of years.t The rioters also were enjoined tomake
the privilege of the House of Lords; and though  a public confession of their fault in the body of
in one place his lordship acknowledges that lit- the church, on a Sabbath day when the contle or nothing of moment was done in pursu- gregation should be present, and to stand comance of the order of the two houses, yet upon  mitted to the Fleet during the pleasure of the
this occasion he says,9 " that seditious and fac- House.t Upon another complaint of the patious persons caused the windows to be broken  rishioners of St. Olave's, Southwark, against
down in churches, tore away the rails, removed  others that had made a tumult in their church,
the communion-tables, and committed many  and used irreverent speeches during the admininsolent and scandalous disorders, and that if istration of the sacrament, the delinquents
any opposed them  they were sent for before  were sent into custody, and, after hearing, they
the committee."  But the fairest account of were committed to the King's Bench fobr six
this matter may be gathered from Mr. Pym's months, without bail ot mainprize, and ordered
report to the House at their first meeting after to stand upon a high stool in Cheapside and in
the-recess.                                  Southwark, for two hours on a market day, and
" The committee of religion," says he, "have  to acknowledge their fault publicly; they were
sent down divers of your declarations into the  also fined ~20, and to find sureties for their
country, and have found that in some places, good behaviour; but when they had been imwhere there -were good ministers, they were  prisoned about a month, upon their humble
retained, and in other places neglected. We  petition, and acknowledgment of their misdecannot say there have been any great tumults, meanors, they were released.~
though the execution of the orders of the House   If we may give credit to the petition from
has occasioned something tendingthat way. In  Canterbury, things were everywhere in great
some parishes they came to blows, and in others  confusion; for it says, c" that the religion and
they would have done the like if care had not government by law established has been of late
been taken to prevent it. At St. Giles's, Cripple- most miserably distracted by ill-affected pergate, the parishioners were almost at daggers sons, by whose means the houses of God are
drawing about the rails of the communion-table, profamed, and in part defaced; the ministers of
which they would not suffer to be removed. Christ are contemned and despised; the ornaThe like opposition was made to the orders of ments and many utensils of the church are
the House at St. George's, Southwark, St. Ma- abused; the liturgy and Book of Common Prayry's, Woolnoth, St. Botolph's, Aldersgate, and  er depraved and neglected; that absolute model
a few other places, but in most places they  of prayer, the Lord's Prayer, vilified; the sacwere quiet."                                 raments of the Gospel, in some places, rudely
If the innovations complained of were ac- administered, in other places omitted; solemn
cording to law, neither Lords nor Commons days of fasting observed, and appointed by prihad authority to remove them, for in a time of' vate persons; marriages illegally solemnized;
public peace and tranquillity a vote of Parlia- burials uncharitably performed; and the very
ment cannot suspend or set aside the laws; but fundamentals of religion subverted by the publication of a new creed, and teaching the abro* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 387. Clarendon,
vol. i., p. 293.                                 * Rushworth, vol. i., part iii., p. 391.
t Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 485.     t- Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 271, 322.
T Vol. ii., p. 382, folio.: Ibid., vol. ii., p. 291, 292.
0 Clarendon, vol. i., p. 29.                   ~ Ibid., vol ii., p. 395.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     393
gation of the moral law; many offensive ser- hereafter that the complaints of the royalists
mons are preached, and many impious pam-  are very much exaggerated.  It was certainly
phlets printed."  Lord Clarendon says,* "that a great disadvantage to the Parliament's cause
the pulpits were supplied with seditious and  that they could not get a good supply of learned
schismatical preachers.  That in order to poi- and able preachers, the keys of admission into
son the hearts of the king's subjects, care was  holy orders being at this time in the hands of
taken to place such ministers and lecturers in  the bishops, who were very strict in their exthe most populous towns and parishes as abhor- arnination into the political principles of those
red the present government and temperature of they ordained; this reduced the committee to
the Church and State;" and then adds, " I am  the necessity of admitting some few who came
confident there was not, from  the beginning of well recommended from New-England or Scotthis Parliament, one orthodox or learned man  land, and had been only ordained by presbyters,
recommended by them to any church in Eng-  and such young students who, by producing
land."   Strange! when scarce one was rec- their testimonials from the universities, were
omrmended who had not been educated in our  allowed to preach for some time as candidates.
universities, and subscribed all the doctrinal ar- They were under the like disadvantages as to
ticles of the Church of England! But his maj- presentations or inductions, most of them being
esty's language is more severe in his declara- in the hands of the king and the bishops.
tion of August 12, 1642.  "Under pretence of    The Archbishop of Canterbury continued tP:.
encouraging preaching," says he, "they have  ordain clergymen of his own principles in th(
erected lectures in several parishes, and con- Tower, whereupon the House of Lords ordered
mended such lecturers as were men of no learn-  [October 28] that his jurisdiction should be seing nor conscience, but furious promoters of the  questered, and administered by his inferior offimost dangerous innovations; many have taken  cers, till he should be acquitted of the charge
no orders, yet were recommended by members of high treason that was against him.  His
of either house to parishes; and when mechan- grace often admitted such clergymen to livings
ic persons have been brought before them for as were obnoxious to the two houses, insomuch
preaching in churches, and have confessed the  that the Lords'found it necessary to enjoin him
same, they have been dismissed without pun- to acquaint their house with the names of such
ishment, and hardly with reprehension.  All persons as he nominated to any ecclesiastical
persons of learning and eminency in preaching, benefice, promotion, or dignity within his disand of sober and virtuous conversation, of great posal, to be approved of first by the House, beexamples in their lives, and even such as among  fore they were collated or instituted.  On the
these men had been of greatest estimation, and  other hand, when a minister was chosen by the
suffered somewhat for them, were discounte- parishioners, and recommended to his grace for
nanced, and such men cherished who boldly  admission, if he did not like his principles and
preached against the government of the Church, character, he would either except against him,
against the Book of Common Prayer, against or suffer the living to lapse to the crown. This
our kingly lawful power, and against our per- created him new enemies, and kept alive the
son. Farther, a license even to treason is ad- resentments of the Commons.  At length the
mitted in pulpits, and persons ignorant in learn- archbishop acquainted the king with his case,
ing and understanding, turbulent and seditious  who sent him  a peremptory letter, requiring
in disposition, scandalous in life, and uncon- him "that as often as any benefice, or other
formable in opinion to the laws of the land, are  spiritual promotion, should become void in his
imposed upon parishes to infect and poison the  gift, to dispose of it only to such persons as his
minds of our people."                         majesty should nominate; and that if either or
What character the Parliament divines had  both houses should command him otherwise, he
for learning, for orthodoxy of doctrine, and so- should then let it fall in lapse to the crown."
briety of manners, will appear hereafter.  The  As soon as the houses were acquainted with
Commons, in their reply to his majesty's decla- this, they published an older of their own, reration, denied the whole of this charge, and  quiring the archbishop to dispose of no benefice
averred, " that they were careful in their inqui- or spiritual promotion that should become void
ries into the learning and morality of those  at any time before his trial, without the leave
whom they recommended; that they were not and order of the two houses at Westminster.
for encouraging faction and schism, but for pre- Such was the struggle between the king and
ferring those who were for a parliamentary ref- Parliament for the pulpits! It being thought
ormation in the Church and State; that they  of great consequence on both sides to fill them
had shown their resentments against mobs and  with men of their own principles, who would
tumults, and against the preaching of laymen;"t be zealous in the cause in which they were sevfor when they were informed that Mr. Robin- erally engaged.
son, Spencer, Banks, Durant, and Green, being    All the bishops were under a cloud, and in
mere laymen, had presumed to preach publicly, no degree of favour either with the Parliament
they sent for them [June 7], and reprimanded  or people, except the Bishop of Lincoln, who,
them by their speaker in these words: " The  having some years been in prison, had no share
House has a great distaste of your proceedings, in the late innovations.  This prelate, in the
and if you offend at any time in the like kind  recess of Parliament, visited his diocess, and
again, this House will take care you shall be  exhorted the people in his sermons to keep to
severely punished."                           their lawful minister, and not go after tubFar be it from me to apologize for the furious preachers in conventicles. He acquainted them
preachers of these times, though it will appear with the laws, and told them  that no power
* Vol. i., p. 295.                       could protect them fi:om the penalty of statutes
t Nalson's Collections, vol. ii., p. 265, 270.  unrepealed.  " Look back," says his lordship.
VOL. 1.-D D D




394                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
"from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth. Can ciples, and was likely to be in the same hands
the Gospel stand better against the Church of upon the dissolution of this Parliament. BeRome, than it has done under the bishops, 1.it- sides, it was said that these laws had been exurgy, and canons   Therefore, don't abandon torted from him by force, and, therefore, were
the good old way, for another which you do not not binding; and if a Parliament should be
know how much evil may be in it."  But his called after three years, that it was dissolvable
rhetoric had very little effect; nor did the Par- at pleasure; so that in all probability things
liarnent approve of his conduct, at a time when would have returned to the old channel if the
his majesty was out of the kingdnim, and when Parliament had nowdissolved themselves. Supit was resolved to attempt some considerable posing, therefore, but not admitting, that the
alterations in the hierarchy.                principal grievances of Church and State had
The distractions in the State were no less been redressed, I leave it with the reader wheththreatening than those of the Church. The er, in the present situation of affairs, a mere replague was in the city of London, which dis- dress of past grievances was sufficient without
persed the members, so that they could hardly some security against the return of the like in
make a house.  The disbanding the army in- time to come.
fested the roads with highwaymen, insomuch    Among the remarkable divines who died
that it was hardly safe to travel from one town about this time, was Dr. John Davenant, bishop
to another: The officers (many of whom were of Salisbury, born in London, and educated a
papists) crowded to London, and took lodgings fellow-commoner in Queen's College, Camabout Covent Garden and Whitehall, under pre- bridge, of which he was afterward master, and
tence of receiving the remainder of their pay; Lady Margaret professor in the same universithese behaved with unusual insolence, and ty. He was a celebrated Calvinist, and one of
struck terror into the minds of the people. The those divines appointed by King James to repmob was frequently up in one part of the town resent the Church of England at the Synod of
oranother; one while they threatened the pope's Dort, where he behaved with great prudence
nuncio, and another while the queen-mother, and moderation; and upon his return to Engupon which they retired out of the kingdom; land was preferred to the bishopric of Salisbut the queen herself stood by her friends; she, bury; but in the beginning of the reign of King
had a convent of Capuchins in her court, and  Charles, he became obnoxious to the court for
protected great numbers of the king's subjects venturing to preach on the doctrine of predesand others front the sentence of the laws. The tination, contrary to his majesty's declaration,
lord-mayor was commanded to bring in a list of and was forced to make his submission before
popish recusants about London, and all the the privy council. He was a quiet and peaceapapists in the several counties were ordered to ble prelate, humble and charitable, a strict obbe disarmed; "which, though it had little or server of the Sabbath, an enemy to the pomp
no effect," says Lord Clarendon,* "served to and' luxury of the clergy, and one who lamented
keep up fears and apprehensions in the people the high proceedings of the court.  He had a
of dangers and designs;" which will appear great reputation in foreign parts for profound
presently not to have been groundless.  This learning and an unblemished life; and after he
was the melancholy state of the nation, when  had enjoyed his bishopric about twenty years,
on a sudden it was thunderstruck with the sur- ended his days in peace and honour, April 20,
prising news of one of the most barbarous mas- 1641, a little before the beginning of the troubsacres of the Protestants in Ireland that the les that afterward came upon the Church and
records of any age.or nation can produce.    kingdom.*  He died of a consumption, and a
Lord Clarendon is of opinion that the Parlia- few hours before his death prayed pathetically
ment, instead of adjourning, should now have. for a quarter of an hour, "blessing God for his
broken up and returned hone, since the princi- fatherly correction, forasmuch as his whole life
pal grievance of Church and State had been re- having been full of mercy, he had been ready to
dressed, and the Constitution secured by the doubt whether he was a true child of God till
act for triennial parliamnents. But not to trouble this last sickness."t
the reader with affairs of state, what religious   Dr. Rlichard Montague, bishop of Norwich,
grievances were actually redressed? except the was a divine of a different character; he was
shortening the power of the spiritual courts, by born in Westminster, educated in Eaton Colthe acts for abolishing the Court of High Com- lege, and afterward fellow of King's College.
mission and Star Chamber, not one of the late Mr. Fullei says he was a celebrated Grecian
innovations was abolished by law; nor was and church antiquary, well read in the fathers,
there any alteration in the liturgy or form of but a superstitious admirer of church cerernochurch government.  The sole power of the nies.l  He was a thorough Arminian, a creabishops in ordination and jurisdiction remained
to be regulated; nor was there any reformation    * Fuller's Worthies, b. ii., p. 207; and Church
of deans and chapters; all which the Puritans Hist., b. xi., 176.
hoped for and expected. In short, the whole   t This eminent and worthy prelate was a benegovernent of the Church remained entire, factor to Queen's College, in Cambridge, giving to
governient  theiereatackofh      it the perpetual advowsons of the rectories of Chevnotwithstanding the fierce attacks of the Comi- erel-Magna and Newton-Tony, in Wiltshire, and a
mons against it. The act for triennial parlia- rent charge of ~31 10s. per annum for the founding
ments will appear not to have been a sufficient of two Bible clerks, and buying books for the library
security to the Constitution, if we consider how  in the same college.-Biogr. Britan., vol. iv., second
many acts of Parliament the king and -his arbi- edition, p. 631.-ED.
trary ministers had broke through the last fifteen   $ Fuller's words, as Dr. Grey observes, are, " But
years; that his majesty had still the same prin- all his diocess being not so well skilled in antiquity
as himself, some charged him with superstitious
* Vol i., p. 290.             urging of ceremonies.". He is allowed to have urged




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     395
tuim  of Archbishop Laud's, and an ill instru- was formed in the months of March and April,
ment between the king. and Parliament in the  1641, not without the privity of the English
late times, and, therefore, voted unfit for any court, and executed October 23 following; no
church preferment; but when the king resolved  information of it having been given to the Protto  govern without Parliaments, his majesty  estants till the very night before it was to take
preferred him first to the bishopric of Chiches- place, when it was too late to prevent the efter, and then to Norwich, where he showed his fects of it in the country, and almost to save
zeal for the Church by a vigorous and illegal the city of Dublin itself. When the express
prosecution of the Puritans.  He was accused  that brought the nws was read in the House,
by the present Parliament for superstitious in- it produced a general silence for a time, all
novations; and would, no doubt, have felt their men being struck with horror.  When it was
resentments, if he had not gone, as Mr. Fuller told without doors, it flew like flashes of lightexpresses it,* a more compendious way, to an- ning, and spread  universal terror over the
swer for all his proceedings in the high court of whole kingdom. Every day, anmid almost every
heaven. He died April 12, 1641.               hour, produced new messengers of misery, who
The Rev. Mr. John Eaton, M.A., and vicar brought farther intelligence of the merciless
of WTickham Market, was born in Kent, 1575, cruelty of the papists towards the poor Protestand of a'peculiar mould, says Mr. Echard,t ants, whose very name they threatened to exvery paradoxical in his opinions, and reckoned  tirpate out of the kingdom.
a great Antinomian, and one of'the founders of   On the appointed day between twenty and
that sect, for which he more than once suffered thirty thousand of the native Irish appeared in
imprisonment. His chief performance was a arms in the northern counties, and having sebook entitled " The Honeycomb of free Justifi- cured the principal gentlemen, and seized their
cation by Christ alone," for which he was im- effects, they murdered the common people in
prisoned in the Gate-house at Westminster. cold blood, forcing many thousands to fly from
Mr. Echard admits that by means of his zeal, their houses and settlements naked, into the
his exemplary patience, and piety, he was ex- bogs and woods, where they perished with hunceedingly admired in the neighbourhood where ger and cold. No ties of friendship, neighbourhe lived, and strangely valued for many years hood, or consanguinity were capable of softenafter his death. In truth, though he commit- ing their obdurate hearts, in a cause which they
ted some mistakes in his assertions about the called " the cause of loyalty and religion." Some
doctrine of grace, he was, nevertheless, says they whipped to death, others they stripped naMr. Archdeacon, a pattern of faith, holiness, ked and exposed to shame, and then drove them,
and cheerfulness, in his sufferings, to succeed- like herds of swine, to perish in the mountains:
ing generations.  He died in the sixty-seventh  many hundreds were drowned in rivers; some
year of his age.                              had their throats cut; others were dismembered. With some the execrable villains made
themselves sport, trying who could hack deepest into an Englishman's flesh. Husbands were
CHAPTER X.                     cut in pieces in the presence of their wives;
wives and young virgins abused in the sight of
FROM THE REASSEMBLING OF THE PARLIAMENT TO  their nearest relations; nay, they taught their
THE KING'S LEAVING HIS PALACE OF WHITE- children to strip and kill the children of the EngHALL, JANUARY 10, 1641-2.                   lish, and dash out their brains against the stones.
BEFORE  his majesty left Scotland, advice Forty or fifty thousand were massacred after this
came to London [November 1] of a general in- manner in a few days, without distinction ofage,
surrection of the papists in Ireland, and a most sex, or quality, before they suspected their dancruel and bloody massacre of the Protestants of ger, or had time to provide for their defence.
that kingdom.:  The project of an insurrection  In a few weeks the insurrection was so general
that they took possession of whole counties, murceremonies; but, according to Fuller and Dr. Grey, dering the inhabitants, plundering their houses,
that is not superstition, though they may be unau- and killing or driving away their cattle. Multithorized by Scripture, if they be sanctioned by antiqui- tudes of poor. distressed creatures and families
ty.-ED. How strange that men who are so anxious fled, naked and half starved, first to Dublin, and
for the sanction of antiquity, do not fall back upon the from thence to England, with death and despair
simple usages of the apostolic age! Error stalked
into the Church at the very heels of the apostles, and    their counteances.  At length the Irish arwe owe some of the Epistles themselves to the early my, having ravaged all the northern counties,
appearance of error.-C.                       blocked up the city of Dublin itself, with all the
* Book i., p. 194.  t Ath. Ox., vol. ii., p. 1-6. poor distressed Protestants who had taken sanct A fair judgment of this horrid affair, it may be tuary in it; but not being masters of the sea,
observed, cannot be formed without consideringit in the city was relieved, and part of the country
connexion with the causes that ledto it. It should be secured, till the Parliament was at leisure to
viewed as the result of various circumstances, which,
for a course of years, had irritated the minds of the exercise of their religion.  Their application to
Irish, and at last raised them to a pitch of phrensy and Charles I. for a toleration had been scornfully rejectcruelty, of which we cannot read withoutbeing shock-'ed, in consequence of a protestation against it, drawn
ed at the recital. The Irish had been pursued with up by the Primate Usher and twelve bishops. The
a constant, rigorous, and unremitting persecution. detail of their sufferings may be seen in "Jones's
They had suffered extortions,.imprisonments, and ex- Letter to the United Societies of Belfast."  By
communications. Their estates had been seized un- which it will appear that from the Reformation they
der the pretext of a judicial inquiry into defective ti- had been the victims of religious persecution and
tles, in which inquiry verdicts against them were ex- civil devastation; as, to use the author's words, altorted from jurors. They had been heavily taxed most to justify, but certainly tc extenuate, the dreadfor their superstitions, and totally precluded the ful ensuing period of 1641. —ED.




396                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
pour out all their vengeance upon the heads of   They called themselves tne queen's army,
the murderers, by the hands of the victorious and published a proclamation from their camp
and terrible Oliver Cromwell.                 at Newry, declaring that they acted by the
The frequent expresses which pressed one king's commission, under the great seal of Scotafter another to England, with the multitudes land, dated at Edinburgh, October 1, 1641, and
of distressed creatures that got passage into  by letters under his sign-manual, of the same
several parts of the kingdom, filled the hearts date with the commission; which I believe, with
of all true Protestants with infinite conjectures Lord Clarendon, was a forgery; though it is a
and prodigious imaginations of treasonable de- little unaccountable that his majesty should
signs against this as well as the neighbouring never, by any public act or declaration of his
kingdom.  They were afraid, and not without own, clear himself of so vile a calumny. How..
reason, that a second part of this tragedy might ever, though the king gave out no commission,
be acted on themselves; the Parliament, there- there is too much reason to believe* that the
fore, ordered themselves aguard of train-bands, queen and her popish council, and even the
and entered immediately into measures to se- king himself, were not unacquainted with the
cure the nation from the impending storm.     design of an insurrection before it took place,
But before we dismiss the Irish insurrection  and that her majesty gave it all the countenance
and massacre, it will not be improper to trace she could with safety; but when these bloody
it from the original, and inquire into the au- butchers overacted their parts to such a degree
thors, and the several parties concerned in it. as to massacre near two hundred thousand ProtThe Earl of Antrim, and Sir Phelim  O'Neal, estants in cold blood, to make way for their
who were at the head of the Irish Catholics, tyranny, it was time for all parties to disown
having acquainted the pope's nuncio and some them.
of the priests about the queen how easily they    Bishop Burnet observes, " That in the first
could assume the government of Ireland, and design of an insurrection there was no thought
assist the king against the English Puritans, of a massacre; this came into their heads as
letters were written in the queen's name, and  they were contriving methods of executing it;
perhaps in the king's,* authorizing them to tale and as the people were governed by the priests,
up arms and seize the government.S  The Irish  these were the men that set on the Irish to all
received the orders with pleasure; and conclu- the blood and cruelty that followed."  There
ded farther among themselves, that it was ne- was a consultation at the Abbey of Multifernan,
cessary at the same time to extirpate the Prot- in the county of West-Meath, where it was deestants out of that kingdom  before they could bated what course should betaken with the Protwith safety transport their army into England. estants; some were for expelling them  as the
That this was their design appears from  their King of Spain did the Moors'; others pressed
remonstrance, published upon the very day of to have them universally cut off; but not corn-.
the insurrection, in which they say, " that hav- ing to a conclusion, they left the army to act at
ing some liberty of religion granted them by the discretion.t  How  far the pope's nuncio and
king, they perceived the Parliament was wrest- the queen's council might be consulted about
ing his majesty's prerogative from him, in order the massacre is a secret: if we distinguish beto extinguish their religion; therefore, to sup- tween the insurrection, in order to assume the
port his majesty's prerogative, and to confirm  government into the hands of the Irish papists,
his royal and ever happy love to them, they had  and the massacre which attended it, we may
taken up arms; and accordingly bound them- conclude, without any breach of charity, that
selves to one another by the following oath:   the English court admitted of the former,
"That they would maintain the Roman Cath- though they might wash their hands of the
olic religion; that they would bear true faith latter.
and allegiance to the king and his heirs, and    The Parliament, in their declaration of March
defend him and them with their lives and es- 9, 1641, say that the rebellion in Ireland was
tates against all persons that should endeavour framed and contrived in England, and that they
to suppress the prerogative, or do any acts con- had taken several depositions, proving that the
trary to regal government, to the power and English papists were to rise about the same
privilege of Parliaments, and to the rights and
privileges of the subject."                     * Bishop Warburton taxes the following insinuations against the king as being " certainly very unDr. Grey is severe in his animadversions on Mr. just and groundless." The reader will observe that
Neal's insinuation, that the Englist court, and even Mr. Neal's insinuations go no farther than that the
the king, were privy to the Irish insurrection. Bish- king was acquainted with, if he did not encourage,
op Warburton, on the same ground, has impeached  the design of the Irish to appear in arms. He by no
our author's candour and impartiality: our reply to means charges him with consenting or being privy to
whom, in the two following notes, will serve as an the massacre. As to the hand he had in the rebellion,
answer to Dr. Grey. I will add here, that Mr. Bax- two modern historians have, with great candour, fulter says " that the soberer part could not believe that ly stated the evidence pro and con. Dr. Harris, in his
the Irish rebels had the king's commission."-His Life of Charles I., p. 336, 351; and lMrs. MJacaulay,
Life, p. 29, folio. A deed was passed on the credu- vol. iii., p. 84-93, the note. From the arguments stalous with that name, by affixing to it the great seal ted by these writers, it will appear that there were
taken off from some grant or patent. The distinction. certain grounds for Mr. Neal's insinuations, and if so,
which Mir. Neal afterward makes between the insur- they cannot be very unjust.-ED.
tection and the massacre is justified by what Bishop   t Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 633.
Burnet asserts. in a passage quoted in the beginning   t If by the court here be meant the king, Bishop
of the paragraph, where the distinction occurs.-  Warburton condemns Mr. Neal as'scandalously unlRushworth's Collectionas, part iii., vol. i., p. 402.-ED.  charitable." It is more reasonable to explain Mr.
t Prynne's Introduction, p. 220-252. Burnet's His- Neal by himself; and the parties whom he particutory, Life, and Times, vol. i., p. 55, Edinburgh edit. larized in this very sentence are the queen and the
Rushworth, vol. iv., p. 398, &.c.             pope's nuncio, —ED,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      397
time;* that the rebels said they acted by the think that they ought to serve his turn, for he
king's authlority; that they called themselves did not believe that any warrant fi-om the king
the queen's army, and declared that " their pur- or queen could justify so much bloodshed, in
pose was to come to England after they had  so many black instances as were laid against
done in Ireland, to recover the royal preroga- him."  Upon the earl's refilsing to sign the retive, wrested from him by the Puritan faction  port, the rest of the committee declined it, and
in the House of Commons."  Mr. Pym declared  there it dropped; whereupon the king himself
in Parliament that several disbanded officers wrote over to the Duke of Ormond that he had
and soldiers of the king's army went over to  so vindicated himself that he must get him inIreland, and listed'among the rebels by the eluded in the Act of Indemnity; but the Lord
king's express warrant, which his majesty de- Mazarine and others not being satisfied to give
nied; but when the matter was examined, it their vote in favour of such a criminal, notappeared that his authority had been abused by withstanding the instructions they had receivsome who were very near his person.'ed from England, the marquis was obliged, in
The concern of the court in this dark affair is his own defence, to produce in the House of
evident from the relation of the Earl of Essex, Commons a letter from King Charles I., wrote
who told Bishop Burnet " that he had taken all with his own hand, giving him express orders
the pains he could to inquire into the original to take up arms;* upon which he was pardonof the Irish massacre, but could not see reason  ed, and his estate restored.
to believe the king was accessory to it; but he   In the letter of King Charles II. to the Duke
did believe that the queen did hearken to the of Ormond above mentioned, under his majespropositions made by the Irish, who undertook  ty's own hand, and entered in the signet office
to take the government of Ireland into their July 13, 1663,+ there is this remarkable passage:
own hands, which they thought they could easi- "That the referees who had examined the marly perform, and then they promised to assist the quis [of Antrim's] case, had declared to him,
king against the hot spirits of Westminster." they had seen'several letters, all of them  of
With this the insurrection began, and all the the handwriting of our royal father to the said
Irish believed the queen encouraged it.       marquis,' and several instructions concerning
There was farther discovery of this fact at his treating with the Irish in order to the king's
the restoration of King Charles II., when the service, by reducing them to their obedience,
Marquis of Antrim, who had been at the head  and by drawing some forces from them for the.of the rebellion, and whose estate had been con-  Here Dr. Grey asks, "And what is all this to the
fiscated, finding himself likely to be excluded    x Here Dr. Grey asks, " And what is all this to the
fiscated, finding himself likely to be excluded  Irish massacre'? The letter, it is plain, related to his
the Act of' Indemnity, came to London to peti-'Iri   sacin    Thletterditisplain-relatedtohis
the Act of Indemnity, came to London to peti- joining Montrose in Scotland." To prove this, the
tion his majesty to examine the warrants he doctor appeals to the letter of King Charles II., quohad acted upon.  Accordingly, a committee of ted in the next paragraph, in.which his majesty excouncil was appointed, and the marquis pro- pressly allows that the marquis.was instructed to
duced some letters fiom  the king, which did draw some forces from Ireland for the'service of
not amount to a fuill proof; but in one of them  Scotland. And, on the authority of Mr. Cart, he rethe king says that he was not then at leisure, fers to an act of Parliament, anno 1617, 1618, Car.
but referr-ed himself to the queen's letter, and ii., in which the king, speaking of his letter to the
Duke of Ormond, says, "It was ofily to declare that
the Marquis of Antrim was employed in Ireland to
Upon this foundation the marquis produced a procure what forces he could firom thence, to be
series of his own letters to the queen, in which  transported into Scotland for his late majesty's serhe gave her an account of every one of those vice, under the late Marquis of Montrose." Whoevparticulars that were laid to his charge, and er reads King Charles Il.'s letter, which is given at
showed the grounds he went upon, and desired  full length in Ludlow's'" Truth brought to Light,"a
her majesty's direction to every one of these-; pamphlet printed in 1693, in answer to Dr. Hollings ordering him to do as he worth, will not think the limitation of his majesty's
dering him to do as h eaning, here offered, consistent with the strain and
did. This affair, says the bishop,T the queen  tenour of that letter, which refers to the Irish rebellherself, who was then at court, espoused with  ion in the most general terms, as well as speaks of
great zeal, and said she was bound to save  "drawing some forces from the Irish for the service
him.  So a report was drawn up by the com- of Scotland," and alludes to various other actings
mittee, declaring that he had fully justified him- of the' marquis with the Irish confederates. It was
self in everything; but the Earl of Northumber- proved,on the trial of the marquis's claim to be included in the Act of Indemnity, that he wa.J to have
land, who was chairman, refused to set his had a hand in surprising the castle of Dublin, in
hand to it, saying, " He was sorry the marquis had a; and sn other charges wereo substantiated
had produced such warrants; but he did not against him. After a trial of seven hours, the king's
letter being opened and read in court, Rainford, one
* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 419, 420, folio edition.  of the commissioners, said " that the king's letter on
t To invalidate the argument drawn from the de- his behalf was evidence without exception;" and
fence which the Marquis of Antrimr set up, Dr. Grey thereupon he was declared an innocent papist.urges that the marquis had not the least concern in WTruth brought to Light, p. 15. The plea of this letthe massacre or first insurrection, and refers to the ter was the instructions given to the marquis by
evidence of this produced by the Rev. Thomas Cart, Charles I., and, as Mr. Neal's quotation states, it apin a piece entitled " The Irish Massacre set in a true plied to every transaction with the Irish Catholics.
Light," 1715. Dr. Harris notices the same argument Ludlow avers it as a well-known fact, that the maras advanced by Mr. Hume: but he denies the rnat- quis had his head and hands deeply and early enter, and says, that "nothing is more certain than  gaged in the bloody work of the rebellion, and was
that Antrim had a hand ini the first rebellion in Ire- among the first in it.-Memoirs, 4to, p. 423, edition of
land."  Of this he brings various proofs.-Life of 1771. As to the act of Parlianlent, to which Mr.
Charles I., p. 350.-ED.                       Cart refers, it is not to be found in the statutes at
$ Burnet's Hist., Life and Times, vol. i., p. 54, 55, large, 4to, nor in Pickering's statutes.-ED.
&idin. ed.                                      1- Ludlow's Memoirs, vol. iii., p. 353.




398                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
service of Scotland.  That, besides letters and  with the acclamations of the citizens of Lon
orders under his majesty's own hand, there  don,* he was prevailed with by the: queen and
was sufficient evidence and testimony of sev-  her faction to check the proceedings of the two
eral messages and directions sent from our roy- houses, since the Scots were easy, and the
al father and our royal mother, with the privity  hearts of the English nation seemed to be with
and direction of the king our father, by which  him; his majesty had recommended the supit appears, that whatever correspondence or pressing the Irish rebellion to the Scots repreactings the said marquis had with the confed- sentatives, and. by letter had committed the
erate Irish Catholics, was directed and allowed  care of it also to the English Parliament;
by the said letters and instructions; and that whereupon the House of Commons, in the
the king himself was well pleased with what king's absence, authorized the Earl of Leicester,
the marquis did after he had done it, and ap- by an ordinance of their own, to raise forces,
proved of the same."                           and the lord-high admiral to provide shipping
I have been more particular in accounting for for their transportation from Chester, and oththhis insurrection, because whoever were the er ports; but when the king came to Whitehall
authors of it, they are, in the judgment of Lord  he seemed so unwilling to act against the paClarendon, answerable for all the calamities of pists, that the Parliament were afraid of sending
the civil war.  " It was Ireland," says his lord- Protestant soldiers out of the kingdom, lest his
ship,* "that drew the first blood.  If they had  majesty should take advantage of their abnot at that time rebelled, and in that manner, sence, and break up the Constitution;t for he
it is very probable all the miseries which after- had already commanded away the Parliament's
ward befell the king and his dominions had  guard, telling them  they had nothing to fear
been prevented." At whose door, then, the guilt from the papists, and that their jealousies of
of all this blood must be laid, I freely leave with  plots and massacres were imaginary.t  He
the reader.                                    pardoned seven popish priests who were under
Upon the first news of the Irish massacre, the  sentence of condemnation, contrary to the peCommons turned themselves into a committee  tition of the House of Commons.  He turned
of the whole House, and came to the following  out the Earl of Leicester, lord-lieutenant of
resolutions: " That all Roman Catholics of' Ireland, and Sir William  Parsons, one of the
quality in the several counties of England be  most active Protestant justices in that kingsecured, and that all papists depart fiomn  Lon- dom.  He intercepted the parliamentary supdon to their respective places of abode in the  plies in their way to Chester, and received a
country; that the House of Lords be desired to  deputation from the Irish Catholics with great:
join with the Commons in a petition for dissolv- er ceremony and respect than from his Protesting the convent of Capuchins, and sending them  ant subjects.  Nor could his majesty be preout of the kingdom; that the foreign ambassa- vailed with to issue out a proclamation decladors be desired to deliver up such priests of the  ring the Irish rebels, till the beginning of Januaking's subjects as are in their houses; that a  ry, and even then only forty copies were printlist be brought in of the queen's servants; and  ed, and not one to be dispersed till farther orthat a proclamation be issued out for, all stran- ders.,  Indeed, the king proclaimed a monthly
gers that are not Protestants to give an account fast, and offered to raise an army of English for
of their names and places of abode, or depart the relief of Ireland, which the Commons dethe kingdom."  They also despatched a mes- dlined; and instead thereof, appointed a comsenger to the king, beseeching him to concur rnittee to treat fior ten thousand Scots, which
with them in securing the nation, against any  the House of Lords, by direction from the king,
farther attempts of the papists; and not to em- put a stop to;11 so that between both, the relief
ploy any in his councils who were favourers of of Ireland was neglected.  The king would
popery, superstition, or innovation in religion. have persuaded the Parliament to send over ten
They voted ~200,000 to be borrowed immedi- thousand English, that they might find it more
ately for the service of Ireland, and appointed  difficult to raise forces in case of a breach with
the train-bands of Westminster to guard them  him; but the Commons prevailed with the Scots
from the insolence and affronts of vagrant sol- to offer ten thousand of their nation, that they
diers about the court, and to secure them fiom  might not be obliged to leave themselves naked
other designs which they had reason to sus- and defenceless in so critical a juncture.
peet. The Lords ordered all Romish recusants    Upon the whole, it seems to me that this barto remove-out of the inns of court and chan- barous insurrection and massacre was formed
cery. The Commons ordered the oaths of alle- either here or in Ireland, to distress the Parliagiance and supremacy to be tendered to all'ment, after the failure of the design of doing it
Irish gentlemen within those courts; "' for it by the English army. The king seems to have
now appears," says Mr. Pym, "that the religion of the papists is incompatible with any    * Nalson's Collection, p. 675, &C.
other religion; it is destructive to all others, and    t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 386, 387, folio.
will endure nothing that opposes it. There are   4: Rapin, p. 388, folio. Nalson, vol. ii., p. 400, 684.
other religions that are not right, but not so de-   Q Rapin, vol. i., p. 401, folio edition.
II "The king," says Dr. Grey, "was not concerned
structive as popery, for the principles of popery  - -
for the principles  of popey   in it, as appears from Rapin, the author he (i. e., Mr.
are subversive of all states aid persons that Neal) refers to." The doctorthen relates, in Raoppose it."t                                 Ipin's words, the three questions on this point debaWhen the king returned from Scotland the  ted by the Lords, In which statement there is, it is
latter end of November, and had been received  true, an entire silence about the king's interference.
But the doctor had overlooked the preceding paragraph, which establishes Mr. Neal's assertions; in
* Vol. i., p. 299.                      which Rapin says, " the king had found means to
t Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 620.  gain the Peers."-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     399
been willingly ignorant* of the progress of the Most of these divines stood well in the opinion
affair, having intrusted the correspondence with  of the people, but their accepting bishoprics in
the queen and her council; but when he heard  this crisis did neither the king nor themselves
how. the Irish had overacted their part he was any service.  After this his majesty nominated
surprised, and thought it necessary to declare but two bishops throughout the course of his
against them; yet, when he came to his queen, reign; one was Dr. Frewen, dean of Gloucester
he appeared too favourable to their persons and  and president of Magdalen College, Oxon, to
conduct, and instead of going briskly into the the bishopric of Coventry and Litchfield, 1644,
measures that were proposed to subdue theme and Dr. Howel, prebendary of Windsor, to Brishis majesty played the politician, and would tol, about ten months after.
have made use of the Irish rebellion to put him-   A committee had been appointed above a
self at the head of an army to break up his Eng- twelvemonth ago, at the motion of Lord Digby,
Uish Parliament.                               "to draw out of all the grievances of the nation
While the king was in Scotland, it was given  such a remonstrance as might be a faithful and
out by some ill-designing people that, since his lively representation to his majesty of the demajesty had yielded so much to the Scots, he plorable state of the kingdom;"* but was laid
might be persuaded to introduce presbytery into  aside till this time, when the prospect of an
England at his return; upon which his majesty  agreement between him and his Parliament besent the following letter to Mr. Nichols, clerk ing almost at an end, after the breaking out of
of the council:                               the Irish insurrection and massacre, it was per" I hear it is reported that, at my return, I fected and read in the House of Commons Nointend to alter the government of the Church vember 22, when it met with so strong an opof England, and to bring it to that form it is in position that it was carried only by nine voices,t
here; therefore, I command you to assure all after a long debate from three in the afternoon
my servants, that I will be constant to the dis- till three in the morning, which made one: say
cipline and doctrine of the Church of England, "it looked like the verdict of a starved jury."
established by Queen Elizabeth and my father; Many were of opinion that those grievances
and that I resolve, by the grace of God, to die which had been redressed by the late acts of
in the maintenance of it. Edinburgh, October Parliament ought to have been covered, lest
18, 1641."*                           -       the reviving them should make the breach wider
Accordingly, his majesty resolved to fill up between the king and Parliament, while others
the vacant sees, and ordered five conga d'elires thought the mentioning them could do no harm
to be drawn, for five clergymen therein named; if it was done with respect, and that it was in
but the two houses joining in a petition to his a manner necessary in order to introduce the
majesty to suspend his commands till he came intended limitation of the royal power.  Howhome, the matter was delayed; however, soon ever, this was the crisis that discovered the
after his return, he made the following removes strength of the two parties, and was managed
and promotions.                               with such warmth, that Oliver Cromwell is said
Dr. Williams, bishop of Lincoln, was transla- to tell Lord Falkland that, " if the remonstrance
ted to the province of York, in the room of Dr. had been rejected, he would have sold all he
Neile, deceased, and Dr. Winniffe, dean of St. had next morning, and never have seen England
Paul's, a grave and moderate divine, was made more."
Bishop of Lincoln; Dr. Duppa, bishop of Chi-   It is difficult to say which side of the question
chester, was translated to Salisbury, vacant by was right.Q  Mr. Rapinll will not take upon him
the death of Dr. Davenant; and Dr. King, dean
of Rochester, was promoted to Chichester. Dr.   * Bishop Warburton asks here, " Why are we
Hall was translated from Exeter to Nforwich, told this but to mislead us? A year ago, before the
in the room  of Bislhop Montague; and Dr. king had made full satisfaction for his misgovernBrownrigge, master of Catharine Hall, Cam- nment, such a remonstrance was seasonable; now he
had made full satisfaction, it was factious and sedibridge, aneeminent and learned divine, was ad- tious." To this question of his lordship's it may be
vanced to Exeter.  Dr. Skinner was translated  retorted, Why should a design to mislead be insinufiom Bristol to Oxford, vacant by the death of ated against Mr. Neal? Has he not, in the same
Dr. Bancroft; and Dr. Westfield, archdeacon of paragraph, informed his readers that " many were oJ
St. Alban's, a very popular preacher, was pro- opinion that those grievances which had been remoted to Bristol; Dr. Prideaux, king's professor dressed olght to have been covered 1" Doth he not
of divinity in Oxford, was made Bishop of WVor- fairly state the whole business? And doth he not,
with candour and impartiality, avoid biasing his'cester,.n,he.oom.f.ishop Thornborou, )reader, while he waives giving a decided opinion on
deceased. The bishopric of Carlisle being va- the conduct of the Parliament in this affair'. All
cant by the death of Dr. Barnabas Potter, a this appears, in the hurry of his remarks at breakfastPuritan bishop, commonly called the penitential time, to have escaped his lordship's notice. Had he
preacher, was given in commendam to the most read on, before he wrote.in the margin of his book,
reverend Dr. Usher, archbishop and primate of it would have precluded his censure.-En.
Ireland, during the commotion in that kingdom.     This is a mistake copied from Clarendon.'I'he
numbers for passing the remonstrance was one hun*"This," says Bishop Warbulrton, "is a villa- dred and fifty-nine against one hundred and fortynoos accusation, destitute of all proof and likelihood." eight, so it was carried by eleven voices.-Harris's
His lordship might have spared some of his warmth  Life of Oliver Crolmwell, p. 74.-ED.
and bitterness. For if it be an accusation, it comes   t Dr. Harris supposes this was Sir Benjamin
forward as a conclusion arising from the facts and Rudyard, who, according to Willis, was in three
authorities stated in the preced-ing pages. It is prop- Parliaments the representative of Portsmouth, and
erly the opinion of the author, and the reader will was afterward returned for Old Sarum  once, for
judge how far it justly flows from the evidence laid Dowton once, and for Wilton twice.-EDn.
before him.-En..       Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 312.
t Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 683.     11 Rapir; vol ii., p.'388, fol. edit.




400                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS
to determine whether it was necessary for the land. The advancing those to ecclesiastical
welfare of the kingdom  to put it out of the preferments who were most officious in promoking's power to govern for the future in the ting superstition, and most virulent in railing
same arbitrary manner as he had done for fif- against godliness and honesty.
teen years; but he thinks the reason for it very   4. The design of reconciling the Church of
plausible, and does not well see what security  England with Rome, and imposing upon the
they could have who were for leaving the king  Church of Scotland such popish superstitions
in possession of the same power he had before and innovations as might dispose them to join
enjoyed; especially if it be considered that his with England in the intended reconciliation.
majesty had still the same arbitrary principles,   5. The late canons and oath imposed upon
and the same inviolable attachment to his queen the clergy under the severest.penalties, and
and the popish faction, besides the current re- the continuance of the convocation by a new
port that the court had fomented the Irish in- commission, after the dissolution of the Parliasurrection, which had filled the minds of the ment, wherein they raised taxes upon the subpeople with distracting terrors.  It is certain ject for the maintenance of what was called
the king had conceived an implacable aversion  "bellum episcopale."  The rooting out of the
to the leading members of the Puritanical party kingdom by force, or driving away by fear, the
in both houses, and having quieted the Scots, Puritans; tinder which name they include all
was determined to make them  examples, of that desire to preserve the laws and liberties'
which they were ignorant. After all, whether of the kingdom, and to maintain religion in the
these and the like reasons were sufficient to power of it.
justify the whole of the Paliament's conduct in   6. The exempting papists from penal laws,
this affair, I will not presume to determine.    so far as amounted to a toleration, besides conThe remonstrance was presented to the king ferring upon them many other privileges and
at I-Iampton Court [December 1, 1641], about court favours; these, say they, have had a
a week after his majesty's return from  Scot- secretary of state of their own religion, and a
land, with a petition for redress of grievances nuncio from the pope, by whose authority the
therein contained. It is easy to suppose it was popish nobility, clergy, and gentry have been
not very acceptable, but the king gave the com- convocated after the manner of a Parliament;
mittee his hand to kiss, and took time to return  new jurisdictions have been erected of popish
an answer.* Theremonstrance enumerates the archbishops; taxes have been levied; another
several grievances, oppressions, and unbounded  state moulded within this state, independent in
acts of the prerogative, since his majesty's ac  government, and secretly corrupting the ignocession, to the number of almost two hundred, rant professors of our religion, &c. The paand charges their rise and progress, (1.) On pists have been furnished with arms and ammuthe Jesuited papists. (2.) On the court, bish- nition, listed in the king's service, and encourops, and corrupt part of the clergy. (3.) On aged by the weekly prayers of their priests for
such corrupt counsellors and courtiers as for the prosperity of their designs, to promote the
private ends had engaged themselves in the in- Catholic cause. They complain, farther, of a
terest of some foreign princes, to the prejudice party of bishops and popish lords in the House
of the king and state. Thiese ministers are said  of Peers, who have caused much opposition and
to carry on their designs, (1.) By suppressing  delay in the prosecution of delinquents, an'd
the power and purity of religion, and of such hindered the passing some good bills for the repersons as were best affected to it. (2.) By forming abuses and corruptions in Church and
cherishing the Arminian party in those points State; and of a malignant party that has counwherein they agree with the papists, in order to tenanced the rebellion in Ireland.
awiden the difference between the common Prot-   After the recital of these grievances, they acestants and those called Puritans; and by in- knowledge with thankfulness the many acts
troducing such opinions and ceremonies as tend  that his majesty has passed this session for the
to an accommodation with popery. (3.) By fo- public good, and put his majesty in mind of the
menting differences and discontent between the large sums of money they had raised for his
king and his Parliament, and by putting himn  service, amounting to no less than a million
upon arbitrary and illegal methods of raising and a half. They declare, " that it is far fromn
supplies.                                    their purpose or desire to let loose the golden
I omit the grievances of the State; those reins of discipline and government in the
which related to the Church were such as fol- Church, to leave private persons or particular
low:                                         congregations to take up what form of Divine
1. The suspensions, excommunications, dep- service-they please; for we hold it requisite,"
rivations, and degradations of divers painful, say they, "that there should be throughout the
learned, and pious ministers of the Gospel by whole realm a conformity to that order which
the bishops, and the grievous oppression of the laws enjoin, according to the Word of God;
great numbers of his majesty's faithful subjects  and we desire to unburden the consciences of
2. The sharpness and severity of the High men from needless and superstitious ceremnoCommission, assisted by the council-table, not nies, to suppress innovations, and to take away
much less grievous than the Romish Inquisition. the monuments of idolatry.  To effect this in3. The rigour of the bishops' courts in the tended reformation, we desire there may be a
country, whereby great numbers of the meaner general synod of the most grave, pious, learned,
tradesmen have been impoverished and driven  and judicious divines of this island, assisted
out of the kingdom' to Holland anda New-Eng.. with some from  foreign parts professing the
same religion with us, who may consider of all
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 438. Nalson's things necessary for the peace and good gov'Collection, p. 694.                         ernment of the Church, and represent the re



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    401
suit of their consultations to the Parliament, to of the clergy, if there remain any.xcesses or
be allowed and confirmed, and to receive the usurpations in their jurisdictions, we neither
stamp of authority.  It is our chief care to ad- have nor will protect them.
vance and promote learning, and to provide a    "Concerning  church corruptions, as you
competent maintenance for conscionable and style them, and removing unnecessary ceremopreaching ministers throughout the kingdom. nies, we are willing to concur in the removal'We intend, likewise, to reform and purge the of any illegal innovations which may have crept
fountains of learning - the two universities, in; and if our Parliament advise us to call a
that the streams flowing thence may be clear national synod for that purpose, we shall take
and pure, and an honour and comfort to the it into consideration.
whole land.  And seeing that the religion of   "But we are very sorry to hear, in such genpapists has such principles as certainly tend to eral terms, corruption in religion objected, since
the destruction and extirpation of all Protest- we are persuaded in our own conscience that
ants, when they have opportunity to effect it, no church can be found upon earth that proit is necessary to keep them in such a condition  fesseth the'true religion with more purity of
that they may not be able to do us any hurt."   doctrine than the Church of England doth; nor
In the petition that attended this remon- where the government and discipline are jointly
strance, after having assured his majesty that more beautified, and free from superstition, than
they had not the least intention to lay any blem- as they are here established by law, which, by
ish upon his royal person by the foregoing dec- the grace of God, we will with constancy mainlaration, but only to represent how his royal tain while we live, in their purity',nd glory, not
authority and trust had been abused, they hum- only against all invasions of  pery, but also
bly beseech his majesty to concur with his peo- from the irreverence of those if ny schismatics
pie in a parliamentary way, (I.) " For the de- and separatists wherewith of late this kingdom
privipg the bishops of their votes in Parliament, and this city abound, to the great dishonour
and abridging their immoderate power,.usurped and hazard both of Church and State; for the
over the clergy and other your good subjects, suppression of whom  we require your timely
to the hazard of religion and prejudice of the aid and active assistance."
just liberties of your people.  (2.) For the ta-   Some time after [December 15, 1641] his
king away such oppressions in religion, church  majesty published his answer to the rernongovernment., and discipline, as have been brought strance,* with a declaration to all his loving
in and fomented by them.  (3.) For uniting all subjects, in which he professes himself fully
such your loyal subjects as agree in fundament- satisfied "that the religion of the Church of
als against papists, by removing some oppres- England is most agreeable to the Word of God,
sions and unnecessary ceremonies, by which and that he should be ready to seal it with his
divers weak consciences have been offended, blood if God should call hirm to it. That as for
and seem to be divided ~roin the rest."  (4.) ceremonies in religion, which are in their own
They conclude "with beseeching his majesty  nature indifferent, he is willing, in tenderness
to. remove from his counsels all favourers of to any number of his subjects, that a law should
popery and arbitrary power, and promoters of be made for the exemption of tender conscienthe above-mentioned pressures and corruptions, ces from punishment, or prosecution for such
and to employ such as his Parliament might ceremonies as by the judgment of most men
confide in; and that, in his princely goodness, are held to be indifferent, and of some to be abhe would reject all solicitations to the contrary, solutely unlawful, provided the peace of the
now powerful and near soever."                 kingdom be not disturbed, nor the present deHis majesty, in his answer to this petition, cency and comeliness of God's service estababout a week after, complains very justly of the lished in the Church discountenanced; nor the
disrespect.of the Commons in printing their re- pious, sober, and devout actions of those revmonstrance before he had time to return an an- erend persons who were the first labourers in
swer. To the preamble and conclusion of the the blessed Reformation be scandalized and
petition, he says, that "he knows of no wicked, defamed.  His majesty then adds, that he canarbitrary, and malignant party prevalent in the not, without grief of heart and some tax upon
government, or near himself and his children;" himself and his ministers for not executing the
and assures them  that the mediation of the laws, look upon the bold license of some men,
nearest to him has always concurred in such in printing pamphlets and sernimons so full of bitpersons, against whom  there can be no just terness and malice against the present governcause of exception.  To the several articles ment and the law established, so full of sedition
his majesty replies: first, concerning religion, against himself and the peace of the kingdom,
"that he is willing to concur with all the just that he is many times amazed to consider by
desires of his people, in a parliamentary way, what eyes these things are seen, and by what
for preserving the peace of the kingdom from  ears they are heard; he therefore commands
the designs of the popish party.              again all his officers and ministers of justice to
"That for depriving the bishops of. their proceed against them  with' all speed, and put
votes in Parliament, he thought their right was the laws in execution."t  Agreeably to this
grounded on the findamental laws of the king- declaration, his majesty issued out his royal
dom and constitution of Parliament, but since proclamation December 10, requiring obedience
you desire our concurrence in a parliamentary  to.the laws and statutes ordained for the estabway," says the king, "we will give no farther lishing true religion in this kingdom, and cornanswer at present.                            manding that Divine service be performed as
"As for abridging the extraordinary power heretofore; and that all officers and ministers,. Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 647, &c.
* Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 692     f Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 456.
VOL. I.-E E SE




402                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ecclesiastical and temporal, do put the said  their own walls. The aldermen and comrmon
laws in due execution against all wilful con- council immediately assembled, and drew up a
temners and disturbers of Divine worship, con- petition to support the courage of the Comtrary to the said laws and statutes.          trons, and went with it to Westminster in sixty
Thus matters stood between the king and  coaches, attended by a great number of the
Parliament when all men expected the court lower people.*  The petition prays, " that the
interest in the House of Peers would be broken, House of Commons would still be a means to
by the issue of the impeachment of thirteen  the king and the House of Peers, to concur
bishops, for compiling the late canons, which  with them  [the Commons] in redressing the
was now approaching.  The Lords had resolv- grievances of Church and State, and for the
ed that such bishops as were impeached should  better effecting hereof, that the popish lords
not sit in the House when the merits of their and bishops may be removed out of the House
cause was in debate, but that when the manner of Peers."  The speaker returned them thanks
of proceeding was to be settled, they might be in the name of the House, and promised to take
present, but not vote. To enable them the bet- their address into consideration in due time. A
ter to make their defence, it was resolved, far- few days after, great numbers of people assemther, that the Bishop of Rochester, with one bled at Blackheath to sign a petition to the
other bishop, might have access twice to the same purpose; and within a fortnight the apArchbishop of Canterbury in the Tower to con- prentices of London went up with a petition
sult with him about their answer to the irn- signed with a multitude of names, complaining
peachment; and that all the lords-bishops may  of the decay of trade, occasioned by papists and
have access to and have copies of any acts and prelates, and by a malignant party that adhered
records in any of his majesty's courts of jus- to them; and praying that the popish lords, and
tice that may serve for their defence.  On the other eminent persons of that religion, might be
10th of November the bishops put in their an- secured, and that prelacy might be rooted out,
swer, consisting of a plea and demurrer, in according to their former petition, commonly
which they neither confess nor deny the fact, called the root and branch.  The Commons re:but endeavour to show that the offence of ma- ceived their petition favourably, but the king
king canons could not amount to a premunire; instead of calming the citizens, increased their
which was certainly true, provided they had jealousies and suspicions by removing, at this
been made in a legal convocation, and that the very time, Sir William  Belfour from the lieucanons themselves had not been contrary to tenancy of the Tower, and putting Colonel
the king's prerogative and the fundamental Lunsford into his place, a suspected papist, of
laws of the land.  The answer was signed with  no fortune, who had been once outlawed, and
all their hands except the Bishop of Glouces- was fit for any desperate attempt; this unseater's, who pleaded not guilty modo et forma.*  sonable promotion occasioned petitions to his
The Commons were dissatisfied with the bish- majesty for his removal, which with much diffi.
ops for not pleading directly to their charge; culty, after some time, was obtained, but the
and with the Lords for receiving a demurrer jealousies of the people still remained.
when they were not present, contrary to the    The petitions above mentioned against the
request which they sent up with the impeach- bishops were confronted with others out of the
ment, especially when the nature of the case, country in their favour.  November 18, the
being a mere matter of fact, could not require  humble petition of the knights, esquires, gentleit; they therefore prayed the Lords by Ser- men, parsons,t vicars, curates, &c., of Rutlandgeant Glyn to set aside the demurrer, and to shire, was presented to the House, signed by
admit them to make proof' of their charge with- about eight hundred and forty hands, praying
out any farther delay; or if they were satisfied for the continuance of episcopacy, as the only
with the charge, and the bishops would not governmentofapostolical institution sealed with
plead to it, to proceed immediately to judg- the blood of martyrs, admirably suited to the civil
ment; but the Lords, instead  of complying government of this kingdom, and affirming that
with the Commons, gave the bishops their op- no presbyter ever laid on hands without a bishtion, and ordered them to declare by Saturday  op. Decenmber 8, a petition of the like nature
whether they would plead to the impeachment was presented from Huntingdonshire, and two
or abide by their demurrer, when they declared  days after another fiomn Somersetshire, signed
they would abide by their demurrer; upon  with above fourteen thousand names $
which the Lords appointed Monday following          lson's Collection, vol. 
[December 11] to hear them by their counsel in    - "And householders in the county of Rutland, in
presence of the Commons; but the House, re- behalf of themselves and families:" omitted.-Dr.
senting this dilatory method of proceeding in a  Grey.
case which they allege was so apparent and'I'There were also petitions from the counties of
rmanifest to the whole world, would not appear; Cheshire, Nottingham, Devonshire, Stafford, Kent.
the most active members declaring among  the six shires of North Wales, the counties of Lantheir friends, with' a sort of despair, that they  caster, Cornwall, and Hereford. Of these petitionis
would be concerned n(o fartiher against the hbish~- that from Devon had eight thousand signatures, that
opsr they now saf it was n vain to attac rom Stafford three thousand, and those fiom the six
ops, for they now saw it was in vain to attack  shires of North Wales thirty thousand. Among the
shires of North Wales thirty thousand. Amnong the
a number of men whom  the court and the  petitioners were computed, where the different ranks
Hlouse of Lords were resolved to protect.     of the petitioners were classed, to be five peers, two
When this was rumloured in the city, it hundred and twenty-five knights, three hundred and
alarmed the people, whose fears were alleady  ninety-nine divines, one thousand five hundred and
suthiciently awakened with the apprehensions eighty-eight gentlemen, and twenty-eight thousand
of a popish massacre ant insurrection within  three hundred and thirty-six freeholders.-Dr. Grey s.Examination, vol. i., p. 312, 314.
* Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 715, 731.  ~ Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 726, 727.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   403
On the other hand, the ministers appointed synod of a different constitution from the cono
to solicit their remonstrance formerly mention- vocation now in being, when they shall be reed, addressed the House, December 20, 1641, quired."*
acknowledging "their piety and zeal for the   The carrying up these petitions to Westtrue religion, against popery and superstition; minster, and especially that of the London apin countenancing  the sacred ordinance of prentices, occasioned great tumults about the
preaching; in encouraging painful and godly Parliament-house.  The king was at his palace
ministers, formerly set aside, but now profita- at Whitehall, attended by a great number of
bly employed in many congregations; in dis- disbanded officers, whom his majesty received
countenancing of bold intruders, who, without with great ceremony, and employed as a guard
a sufficient call, have thrust themselves into to his royal person. These officers insulted the
the sacred office; as also, of all unworthy and common people, and gave them ill language as
scandalous ministers; in freeing divers godly they passed by the court to the Parliamentministers from prison and exile, and others from  house, crying out, No bishops-no popish lords!
heavy censures; in preventing the utter ruin of If the people ventured to reply, the officers folthe petitioners, by setting aside the late oath and lowed their reproaches with cuts and lashes,
canons, the High Commission, and other illegal which, says Lord Clarendon,t produced some
pressures of ecclesiastical courts; in making wounds, and drew  blood.  Mr. Baxter says
an order to take away all superstitious rites and they came out of Whitehall, and catched some
ceremonies, images, pictures, and other inno- of them, and cut off their ears. From these
vations out of churches; in conducting the late skirmishes, and from the shortness of the appeace with Scotland to a happy conclusion, and prentices' hair, which was cut close about their
in their vigorous endeavours for the relief of ears, thd two parties began first to be distinIreland, &c. But whereas there still remain a guished by the names of Roundhead and Cavegreat many grievances to be removed, they are lier. David Hyde, one of the reformades, first
necessitated to renew their former suit for re- drew his sword in the palace-yard, and swore
dress of the aforesaid evils, and for taking away he would cut the throats of those roundheaded
whatever shall appear to be the root and cause dogs that bawled against the bishops. Dr.
of them. And whereas the petitioners, and Williams, bishop of Lincoln, lately promoted to
many others, are desirous in all things to sub- the see of York, going by land to the House of
mit to the laws, so far as possible they may, Peers, in company with the Earl of Dover, and
yet, merely out of tenderness and scruple of hearing a youth cry out louder than the rest, No
conscience, they dare not continue, as formerly bishops-no popish lords! stepped froin the earl
they did, the exercise of some things enjoined; and laid hands on him, but his companions resnot only because they have more seriously cued him, and about a hundred of them surweighed the nature and scandal of them, and rounded the bishop, hemmed him in, and with
because sundry bishops, and other grave di- a universal shout cried out, No bishops! after
vines, called to their assistance by order of the which they opened a passage and let his grace
House of Peers, have, as they are informed, dis- go forward to the House.:  The same day, Colocovered divers particulars which need altera- nel Lunsford, coming through Westminster Hall
tion in the liturgy; and because there is not, as in company with thirty or forty officers, drew
they humbly conceive, at this day, commonly his sword and wounded about twenty apprentiextant, any Book of Common Prayer without so ces and citizens: others, walking in the abbey
many alterations and additions as render it in while their friends were waiting for an answer
many parts another thing from that which is by to their petition, were ordered by the vergers to
law established; but chiefly, because the House, clear the church, lest the ornaments of the cafrom a sense of its defects, has taken the ref- thedral should suffer damage; upon which most
ormation thereof under consideration, which of them went out, and the doors were shut, but
they hoped would be some shelter against the some few remaining behind, were apprehended
strict pressing the use of it, till their pleasure and carried before the bishop, which occasioned
was declared in a parliamentary way. But, another skirmish, in which Sir Richard Wisethough the petitioners have been comfortably man was killed by a stone from the battlements;
assured of some ease herein, yet now, to their after which the officers and soldiers sallied out
great sorrow, they apprehend that the same upon the mob with sword in hand, and obliged
things are anew enforced, which may occasion them to retire. The news of this being reported
much trouble and vexation to sundry peaceable in the city, the whole populace was in armas
and worthy ministers, some of whom have been and resolved to go next morning to Westminindicted upon the statute of 1 Eliz., cap. ii., ster with swords and staves. The lord-mayor
since the beginning of this present Parliament, and sheriffs raised the train-bands, and having
and others threatened for omissions of some ordered the city gates to be kept shut, thtv rode
things complained of to this high court, and about. all night to keep the peace; but it was
still depending before'you.  The petitioners, impossible to hinder the people's going out in
therefore, pray the House to resume the consid- the day.  On the other hand, the king comeration of their former petition, and to commit manded the militia of Westminster and Midthe same to the debate of a free synod, and, in dlesex to be raised by turns, as a guard to his
the mean time, to be mediators to his majesty royal person and family; upon which several
for some relaxation in matters of ceremony, gentlemen of the inns of court offered their serand of reading the whole liturgy. They farther vice, in case his majesty apprehended any (an.
pray, that a monthly fast may be appointed and
religiously observed during the present sessions   * Nalson's Collection, vol. ii., p. 764.
Of Parliament, and they will be ready at any       t Vol i., p. 339.
time to offel reasons why there should be a        t Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 463.




404                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ger.*  The House of Commons, being no less mas; but this looking too much like cowardice,
afraid of themselves, petitioned for a guard out their lordships determined to do their duty; and
of the city of London, under the command of because the streets were crowded with unruly
the Earl of Essex, which his majesty refused, people, they agreed to go by water in their
but told them he. would take as much care of barges; but as soon as they came near to the
them as of his own children; and if this would  shore, the mob saluted them with a volley of
not suffice, hp would command such a guard to  stones, so that, being afraid to land, they rowed
-wait upon them as he would be answerable to  back-and returned to their own houses. Upon
God for; but the House, not being willing to  this repulse, twelve of them  met privately at
trust to the king's guard, declined his majesty's  the Archbishop of York's lodgings in Westminoffer, and not prevailing for one of their own  ster, to consult what measures' were to be tachoosing, they ordered halberds to be brought ken. The archbishop advised them to go no
into the House, and resolved, in case of an as- more to the House, and immediately, in a heat,
sault, to defend themselves.      -          drew up the following protestation against whatThe Lords exerted themselves to disperse the  soever the two houses should do in their abtumults, by sending their gentleman-usher of the  sence, which all present signed with their hands,
black rod to command the people to depart to  except the Bishop of Winchester.
their homes, and by appointing a committee tost excellent majesty and the
inquire into the causes of them.  His majesty    lords an  peers now assembled in Paraalso published a'proclamation [December 28,     ment.
1641] forbidding all tumultuous assemblies of
the people. But the Commons, being unwilling    The humble petition and protestation of all
to affront the citizens, were not so vigorous in   the bishops and prelates now called by his
suppressing them as it is thought the circum-   majesty's writs to attend the Parliament, and
stances of things required; for as the king relied    present about London and Westminster for
upon his guard of officers, the Commons had   that service.
their dependance upon the good-will of the cit-    "Whereas the petitioners are called up by
izens. Not that the House can be charged with  several and respective writs, and under great
encouraging tumults,t for the very next day  penalties, to attend the Parliament; and have a
after the king's proclamation' they sent a mes- clear and indubitable right to vote in bills, and
sage to the Lords, declaring their readiness to  other matters whatsoever debatable in Parliaconcur in all lawful methods to appease them;  ment, by the ancient customs, laws, and statbut being sensible their strength was among the utes of this realm, and ought to be protected by
inhabitants of London, without whose counte- your majesty quietly to attend and prosecute
nance and support everything must have been  that great service: they humbly remonstrate
given back into the hands of the court, they  and protest, before God, your majesty, and the
were tender of entering upon vigorous meas- noble lords and peers now assembled in Parliaures.                                        ment, that as they have an indubitate right to
While these tumults continued, the bishops sit and vote in the House of Lords, so are they,
were advised to forbear their attendance upon  if they may be protected from force and viothe House, at least till after the recess of Christ- lence, most ready and willing to perform their
duties accordingly. And that they do abomi* Rushworth, part iii.,,vol. i., p. 456, 471.  nate all actions or opinions tending to popery
f Bishop Warburton is very warm on this asser-  the maintenance thereof; as also all protion, and calls it "a notorious falsehood." The
tiHouse, heand calls it "a notorous falsehood." The mankind pension and inclination to any malignant party,
House, he says, "has been charged by all mankind
with encouraging the tumults, though not with pub- or any other side or party whatsoever, to the
licly avowing that they did encourage them." The  which their own reasons and conscience shall
truth or falsehood of Mr. Neal's assertion willdepend  not move them to adhere.  But whereas they
on the explanation of the word "encourage;" if it have been at several times violently menaced,
means connivance at, and giving countenance to, the affronted, and assaulted by multitudes of people
tumults, its veracity may be impeached. For when  in their coming to perform their services in that
the Lords desired, on December 27, the House to honourable house, and lately chased away and
join in publishing a declaration, against the tumults, t in danger of their lives, and can find no reand in petitioning the king for a guard, they waived
taking the request into consideration, on the plea dress or protection, upon sundry complaints
that the hour was too late for it. When the next day  made to both houses in these particulars: they
came, they adjourned the matter to the succeeding. humbly protest before your majesty, and the
The mob being again assembled on the 29th, they  noble House of Peers', that saving unto themsent their message to the Lords. Mr. Neal does not selves all their rights and interest of sitting and
immediately state these circumstances, but he repre- voting in that house at other times, they dare
sents the Commons as not acting with vigour in sup- not sit or vote in the House of Peers, until your
pressing the riots and as placing some dependance    shall farther secue them  from all afon the spirit wlilch the people showed. Mr. Neal, majest
therefore, by encouraging the tumults, must be un- fronts, indignities, and dangers in the premises.
derstood to mean, as Rapin expresses it, "taking any  Lastly, whereas their fears are not built upon
resolution to encourage these tumults," or avowing  fantasies and conceits, but upon such grounds
an approbation of them: then his assertion is, in the and objections as may well terrify men of resojudgment of.even Bishop Warburton, just and true. lution and much constancy, they do, in all huThe reader cannot but observe, that Mr. Neal thought mility and duty, protest before your majesty,
that the tumults were not, at first at least, disagree- and the peers of that most honourable House
able to the. Comnions. Yet it should be observed, of Parliament, against all laws, orders, votes,
that Whitelocke, speaking of them, says, "it was al laws, orders, votes,
dismal thing to all sober men, especially members of resolutions, and determinations, as in themParliament, to see and hear them." —Memorials, p. selves null, and of none effect, which in their
51. —ED.                                     absence, since the 27th of this month of Decem



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    405
ber, 1641, have already passed; as likewise he is certain there could be nothing of high
against all such as shall hereafter pass in that treason in it. However, their behaviour gave
most honourable house, during the time of this such scandal and offence, even to those who
their forced and violent absence from the said passionately desired to preserve their function,
most honourable house; not denying, but if that they had no compassion or regard for their
their absenting of themselves were wilful and persons.
voluntary, that most. honourable house might   The objections that I have met with against
proceed in all the premises, their absence, or the protestation are these: First, That it tendthis protestation, notwithstanding. And hum- ed to destroy the very being of parliaments, bebly beseeching your most excellent majesty to cause it put a stop to all laws, orders,- otes,
command the clerk of that House of Peers to and resolutions made in the absence of the
enter this their petition and protestation among bishops. Secondly, The presence of the bishops
their records,                              is hereby made so essential that no act can pass
"And they will ever pray God to bless, &c.  without them, which is claiming a negative
6 John Eborac,          George Hereford,   voice, like the king's. Thirdly, The bishops
Tho. Duresme,          Rob. Oxon,         desiring the king to command the clerk of the
Ro. Cov. Lichf.        Mat. Ely,          House of Peers to enter their protestation on
Jos. Norwich,          Godfiey Gloucester, record was derogatory to the rights of ParliaJo. Asaph,             Jo. Peterborough,   ment, as though the king by his command
Gul. Bath and Wells,   Morice Landaff."   could make a record of Parliament. Fourthly,
This protestation was presented to the king The annulling all laws that might be made at
by Arclibishop Williams,* who undertook to tlis time, when Ireland was in so much danger
justify the lawfulness of it; but his majesty de- fi'om the breaking out of the Irlsh massacre,
clining to appear in so nice an affair, delivered was a sort of conspiring with the rebels to deit into the hands of the Lord-keeper Littleton, stroy that kingdom.  Fifthly,. It was said that,
who by his majesty's command read it in the besides the unwarrantable expressions in the
House of Lords the next morning. After some protestation, the form of presenting and transdebate the Lords desired a conference with the mitting it was unjustifiable.
Commons, when the keeper, in the name of the   On the other hand, it was said, on behalf ot
House of Peers, declared, that " the protesta- the bishops, that there was a manifest force put
tion of the bishops contained matters of high and upon them; and a violence offered to the fireedangerous consequence, extending to the in- dom of one member of Parliament is a violence
trenching upon the fundamental privileges and offered to the whole; that, therefore, they had
being of Parliaments, and, therefore, the Lords a right to protest, and guard their privileges,
thought fit to communicate it to the Com- without being accountable for the ill consequenmons."t  The protestation being communica- ces that might follow. Yet surely this manner
ted to the House of Commons, they resolved, of asserting their privilege was irregular; should
within half an hour, to accuse the twelve bish- they not have petitioned the Lords to secure
ops of high treason,' for endeavouring to sub- their passage to Parliament, rather than have
vert the fundamental laws and being of Parlia- put a negative upon all their proceedings? I
ments," and sent u.p their impeachment by Mr. have met with only one learned writer who
Glyn, who, having delivered it at the bar of the commends the bishops upon this occasion, and
House of Lords, the usher of the black rod was he advances them, in romantic language, to the
ordered to go immediately in search of the bish- rank of heroes: his words are these: "Had
ops, and bring them to the House; the.bishops the bishops done less, they had fallen short of
appearing the same evening [December 30], that fortitude which might justly be expected
were sequestered from Parliament, ten of them from them. They had reason to conclude the
being sent to the Tower, the Bishops of Dur- rdot and branch work would certainly go forham and Norwich,$ by reason of their great age ward, and, therefore, to be silent under such an
and the service they had done the Church of outrage would look like cowardice.  When the
God by their writing and preaching, being com- prospect is thus menacing, and a man is almost
mitted to the custody of the black rod, with an certain to be undone, the most creditable expeallowance of ~5 a day for their'expenses.~  dient is to spend himself in a blaze, and flash to
The adversaries of the bishops in both hous- the last grain of powder. To go out in a smoke
es were extremely pleased with their unadvised and smother is but a mean way of coming to
conduct; one said it was the finger of God, to nothing. To creep and crawl to a misfortune
bring that-to pass which otherwise could not is to suffer like an insect. A man ought to fall
have been compassed. There was but one gen- with dignity and honour, and to keep his mind
tleman in the whole debate that spoke in their erect, though his fortune happens to be crushed.
behalf, and he said "he did not believe they This was the bishops' meaning, and ior making
were guilty of high treason, but that they were so handsome a retreat they ought to stand
stark mad, and, therefore, desired they may be commended upon record."*  But, with due resent to Bedlam."  Lord Clarendonll censures gard to this reverend divine, was there no methis protestation, as proceeding from the pride dium between being silent, and taking upon
and passion of Archbishop Williams; he admits them, in such a crisis, to stop all the business
that the eleven bishops were ill advised in going of Parliament.  For, if the proceedings of the
into his measures, and suffering themselves to House of Peers are null without the bishops, it
be precipitated into so hasty a resolution, though is no less certain that those of the House of
Commons are null without the Peers: from
Clarendon, pvol. i., p. 351.            whence it.must follow that the whole Parliat Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 467.
Motrton and Hall.
g Fuller, b. xi., p. 188.   11 Vo i., p. 355.   - Collyer's Eccles. Hist., vol. ii., p. 819.




406                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ment was incapable of acting.  Mr. Rapin* is he would continue to the end of his life.*  But
of opinion that the king hoped " that this affair though his majesty was nobly entertained by
might occasion the dissolution of the Parlia- the sheriffs, he now perceived that this rash and
ment."  But if he did, his majesty was much  unadvised action had lost him the hearts of the
mistaken, for the bishops and popish lords be- citizens, there being no acclamations or huzing now  absent, the majority of the whole zas, as usual; only here and there a voice, as
House of Peers was against the court;  which  he went along in his coach, crying out, Privivexed the queen and her faction, and put them  lege of Parliament! privilege of Parliament!
upon such an extravagant piece of revenge as However, he persisted in his resolution, and
effectually broke the peace of the kingdom, and  January 8 published a proclamation, commandrendered the king's affairs irretrievable.    ing all magistrates and officers of justice to apHis majesty having been assured that the prehend the accused members and carry them to
Lord Kimbolton, and five of the most active the Tower.
members in the House of Commons, viz., Denzil   It is hard to say with any certainty who put
Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerigge, John Pym, John  the king upon this unparalleled act of violence,
Hampden, and William Stroud, Esqrs., had in- a species of tyranny which the most arbitrary
vited the Scots into England, and were now the  of his predecessors had never attempted. If
chief encouragers of those tumults that had  his majesty deliberated at all upon what he
kept the bishops and popish lords from the was going about, we must conclude that he inHouse; that they had aspersed his government, tended to dissolve the Parliament, and to reand were endeavouring to deprive him of his turn to his former methods of arbitrary governroyal power; in a word, that they were con- ment; because by the same rule that the king
spiring to levy war against him, resolved to  might take five members out of the House, he
impeach them of high treason; accordingly, his might take five hundred; besides, several of the
majesty sent his attorney-general to the House  articles laid against them were equally chargeawith the articles [January 3, 1642], and at the ble on the majority of the House.  It now apsame time despatched officers to their houses peared, says Rapin,t that the king was resolved
to seal up their trunks, papers, and doors; but to be revenged on those that had offended him;
the members not being ordered into custody, as and that there was no farther room to confide
his majesty expected, the king went himself to  in his royal word.  Some say that this was
the House next day in the afternoon [January  Lord Digby's mad project, who, when he found
4] to seize them, attended with about two hun- his majesty, after his return out of the city,
dred officers and soldiers, armed with swords vexed at his disappointment, offered to go with
and pistols; the gentlemen of the inns of court, a select company and bring them dead or alive;
who had offered their service to defend the but the lcing was afraid of the consequences of
king's person, having had notice to be ready at such an enterprise; and Digby, being ordered
an hour's warnihg.t  The king having entered  to attend in his place in the House, thought fit
the House, went directly to the speaker's chair, to withdraw out of the kingdom. Mr. Echard,$
and looking about him, said, with a frown, "I with greater probability, lays it upon the queen
perceive the birds have fled, but I will have and her cabal of papists; and adds, that when
them wheresoever I can find them, for as long  the king expressed his distrust of the affair, her
as these persons are here this House will never majesty broke out into a violent passion, and
be in the right way that I heartily wish it; I said, "Allez, poltron," &c., " Go, coward, and
expect, therefore, that as soon as they come to pull those rogues out by the ears, or never see
the House, that you send them to me."  Having my face any more;" which it seems, says the
then assured the members that he designed no archdeacon, determined the whole matter.
force upon them, nor breach of privilege, after   The citizens of London were so far from dea little while he withdrew; but as his majesty  livering up the five members, that they petitionwas going out, many members cried aloud, so       Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 479.
as he might hear them, Privilege! privilege!$   f Vol. ii., p. 408, 409, folio edition.
The House was in a terrible panic while the   $ Bishop Warburton is much displeased with Mr.
king was in the chair, the door of the House, Neal for quoting the authority, and giving in to the
with all the avenues, being crowded with offi- opinion of Echard. For he says, "it was a known
cers and soldiers: as soon, therefore, as his anduncontroverted fact that the advice was Dlgby's.
majesty was gone they adjourned till the next To invalidate the supposition that the measure proceeded from the queen's counsels, his lordship urges
day, and then for a week. It was happy that                                             b
that the queen was not capable of any vigorous
the five members had notice of the king's corn- steps, being intimidated with the fear of an impeaching, just time enough to withdraw into the city, ment, and actually projecting her escape: as if danotherwise it might have occasioned the effusion  ger and alarm were incompatible with concerting
of blood, for, without doubt, the armed soldiers and adopting the means of avoiding the threatening
at the door waited only for the word to carry  evil; as if Digby might not be the ostensible adviser
them  away by force. Next day his majesty  of measures which others suggested and instigated.
went into the city [January 5] and demanded  That he was the sole author of this measure, is not
so uncontroverted a fact as the bishop conceived it
them of the lord-mayor and court of aldermen  to be; and it may be alleged in favour of Mr. Neal
then assembled by his order at Guildhall, pro- and Echard, that among the divers excuses made for
fessing, at the same time, his resolution to pros- this action, some imputed it to the irritation and
ecute all who opposed the laws, whether papists counsel of the women; telling the king, " that if he
or Separatists, and to defend the true Protestant were King of England, he would not suffer himself
religion which his father professed, and in which  to be baffled about such persons." The notice of
this intended step was given to these five gentlemen
by a great court lady, their friend, who overheard
* Vol. i., p. 405, folio.                  some discourse about it.-Whitelocke's Memorial! p.
Whitelocke's Memorials, p. 50.:'bid., p. 5. 50, 51.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS                                     407
ed the king that they might be at liberty and    To return to the bishops: about a fortnight
proceeded against according to the methods of after their commitment [January 17, 1642] they
Parliament. At the same time, they acquainted  pleaded to the impeachment of the House of
his majesty with their apprehensions of the ruin  Commons, "Not guilty in manner and form,"
of trade, and of the danger of the Protestant re- and petitioned the Lords for a speedy trial,
ligion, by reason of the progress of the rebellion  which was appointed for the 25th instant, but
in Ireland, and the number of papists and other was put off from time to time, till the whole
disbanded officers about the court. His majes- bench of bishops was voted out of the House,
ty, finding he had lost the city, fortified WhSite- and then entirely dropped; for the very next
hall with men and ammunition, and sent can- day after their commitment, the Commons denoniers into the Tower to defend it if there  sired the Lords to resume the consideration of
should be occasion.*   When the citizens com- the bill that had been sent up some months ago,
plained of this, his majesty replied, " that it was for taking away all temporal jurisdiction from
done with an eye to their safety and advantage; those in holy orders, which the Lords promisthat his fortifying Whitehall was not before it ed: it had passed the Commons without any
was necessary; and that if any citizens had  difficulty about the time of the Irish insurrecbeen wounded, it was undoubtedly for their tion, and was laid aside in the House of Lords,
evil and corrupt demeano'ur." But they had no  as being thought impossible to pass while the
confidence in the king's protection. A thou- bishops' votes were entire: when it was resand mariners and sailors offered to guard the  vived at this juncture, the Earl of Bedford and
five members to Westminster by water upon  the Bishop of Rochester made a vigorous stand
the dayof their adjournment [January ll], and  against it.*  His lordship urged that it was
the train-bands offered the committee at Guild- contrary to the usage of Parliament when a bill
hall to do the same by land, which was accept- had been once rejected to bring it in a second
ed, and the offer of the apprentices refused. time the'same session. To which it was reThings being come to this extremity, his maj- plied that it was not the same bill [having a
esty, to avoid the hazard of an affiont from the new title], though it was to accomplish the
populace, took afatal resolution to leave White- same end. Besides, the distress of the times
hall, and accordingly, January 10, the day be- required some extraordinary measures for thei
fore the Parliament was to meet, he removed  iedress; and, farther, since the king had been
with his queen and the whole royal family to  graciously pleased to pass an act for the conHampton Court, and two days after to Wind- tinuance of this Parliament as long as they
sor, from whence he travelled by easy stages thought fit to sit, and thereby parted with his
to York; never returningto London till he was right of proroguing or dissolving them, the nabrought thither as a criminal to execution.  ture of things was altered, and, therefore, theyBy the king's deserting his capital in this were not to be tied down to the ordinary forms
manner, and not returning when the ferment in other cases. The question being put whethwas over, he left the strength and riches of the  er the bill should be read, it passed in the afkingdom in the hands of his Parliament; for firmative; upon which the consideration of it
the next day, the five members were conducted  was resumed, and after some few debates the
by water in triumph to Westmrinster, the train- bill was passed by a very great majority, Febbands of the city marching at the same time by ruary 6, 1641-2, the citizens of London exland, who, after they had received the thanks  pressing their satisfaction by ringing of bells
of the House, were dismissed; and Sergeant and bonfires. ~ But it was still apprehended that
Skippon, with a company of the city militia, the king would refuse his assent, because, when
was appointed to guard the Parliament-house; he had been pressed to it, his majesty had said
"from  this day," says Lord Clarendon,t "we it was matter of great concernment, and theremay reasonably date the levying war in England, fore he would take time to consider; however,
whatsoever has been since done being but.the  the Commons, not content with this delay, sent
superstructures upon these foundations."  It again to Windsor to press his compliance upon
must be considered that two days after [Janua- the following reasons: "Because the subjects
ry 12] the king sent a message to the House  suffered by the bishops exercising temporal juwaiving his proceedings with respect to the  risdiction, and making a party in the House of
five members, and promising to be as careful of Lords; because it was apprehended that there
their privileges as of his life or crown; and a  would be a happy conjunction of both houses
little after offered a general pardon; but the  upon the exclusion of the bishops; and the
Commons had too much reason at this time not signing of this bill would be a comfortable
to depend upon his royal promise; they insist- pledge of his majesty's gracious assent to the
ed that the accused members should be brought future remedies of those evils which were to be
to their trial in a legal and parliamentary way; presented to him."t
in order to which, they desired his majesty to    This message from the House of Commons
inform  them  what proof there was against was seconded by those of greatest trust about
them; it being the undoubted right and privi- the king, who argued, "that the combination
lege of Parliament that no member can be pro- against the bishops was irresistible; that the
ceeded against without the consent of the  passing this bill was the only way to preserve
House; which his majesty refusing to comply  the Church; and that if the Parliament was
with, removed farther off to WMindsor, and en- gratified in this, so many persons in both houstered upon measures very inconsistent with the es would be fully satisfied that they would join
peace of the kingdom.$                       in no farther alterations; but if they were
* Rapi, vol. i., p. 408, folio edition.  crossed in this, they would endeavour an extirt      Vol i., 4p 383.           pation of the bishops and a demolishing of the
t V         ol. i., p. 383.
$ Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 492..     Clarendon, vol. i., p. 302, 416.  t Ibid., p. 427.




408.HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.,
whole fabric of the Church."  They argued far- them  or any of them, or other thing done by
ther, " that force or indirect means having been them  or any of them, contrary to the purport
made use of to obtain the bill, the king might and true meaning of this act, shall be utterly
by his power bring the bishops in again when  void to all intents, constructions, and purposes."
the present distempers were composed;" an    Thus the peerage of the bishops and the
argument by which his majesty might have set whole secular power of the clergy ceased for
aside all his concessions, or acts of grace (as about twenty years; how far they contributed
he pleased to call them), to his Parliament at to it bytheir pride and ambition, their sovereign
once.  But none of these reasons would have contempt of the laity, and indiscreet behaviour
prevailed, had not the queen made use of her towards th'eir Protestant brethren, has been alsovereign influence over the king. Her majes- ready observed.  Their enemies said the hand
ty was made to believe, by Sir J. Culpeper, that of God was against them, because they had
her own preservation depended upon the king's given too much countenance to the ridiculing
consent to the bill; that if his majesty refused of true devotion and piety, under the name of
it, her journey into Holland would be stopped, godly Puritanism;- because they had silenced
and her person possibly endangered by some great numbers of ministers, eminent for learnmutiny or insurrection; whereas the using her ing and religion, for not complying with certain
interest with the king would lay a popular obli- indifferent rites and ceremonies, while others,
gation upon the kingdom, and make her accept- who were vicious and insufficient for their ofable to the Parliament. These arguments car- fice, were encouraged; because they made a
rying a face of probability, her majesty wrested stricter inquiry after those who fasted  and
the king's resolution from him, so that the bill prayed, and joined together in religious exerciwas signed by commission, February 14, to- ses, than after those who were guilty of sweargether with another against pressing soldiers, ing, drunkenness, and other kinds of debauchhis majesty being then at Canterbury, accom- cry; because they discouraged afternoon serpanying the queen in her passage to Holland. mons and lectures, and encouraged sports and
But his majesty's signing them with so much pastimes on the Lord's Day; because they had
reluctance did him  a disservice.*  All men driven many hundred families out of the land;
took notice of his discontent; and Lord Clar- and were, upon the whole, enemies to the civil
endon sayst he has cause to believe that the interests of their country.  Others observed,
king was prevailed with to sign them, " be- that most of them verged too much towards the
cause he was told that there being violence and See of Rome, and gave ground to suspect that
force used to obtain them, they were therefore they were designing a union between the two
in themselves null, and in quieter times might churches,t which, at a time when the Roman
easily be revoked and disannulled."  A dan- Catholics in Ireland had imbrued their hands in
gerous doctrine, as it may tend to overthrow  the blood of almost two hundred thousand Protthe most established laws of a country! To  estants, and were. so numerous at home as to
give the reader the act itself:               make large and public collections of money to
" Whereas bishops and other persons in holy support the king in his war against the Scots,
orders ought not to be entangled with secular was sufficient to make every sincere Protestant
jurisdiction, the office of the ministry being of jealous of their power. Besides, the bishops
such great importance that it will take up the themselves had been guilty of many oppreswhole man. And for that it is found, by long sions; they had, in a manner, laid aside the
experience, that their intermeddling with secu- practice of preaching, that they might be the
lar jurisdictions hath occasioned great mischiefs more at leisure for the governing part of their
and scandals both to Church and State, his function; though even here they devolved the
majesty, out of his religious care of the Church  whole of their jurisdiction upon their chanceland souls of his people, is graciously pleased lors and under-officers.T  They did not sit in
that it be enacted, and by authority of this pres- their consistories to hear complaints, or' do jusent Parliament be it enacted, that no archbish- tice either to clergy or laity, but turned over
op or bishop, or other person that now is, or the people to registrars, proctors, and apparihereafter shall be, in holy orders, shall at any tors, who drew their money from them against
time after the 15th day of February, in the year equity and law, and used them  at discretion.
of our Lord 1642, have any seat or place, suf- Few or none of them made their visitations in
frage or vote, or use or execute any power or person, or lived in their Episcopal cities; by
authority in the Parliaments of this realm, nor which means there was no kind of hospitality
shall be of the privy council of his majesty, his or liberality to the poor. Divine service in the
heirs or successors, or justices of the peace, of cathedrals was neglected or ill performed, for
oyer and terminer or jail delivery, or execute want of their presence and inspection. Instead
any temporal authority, by virtue of any cornm- of conferring orders at the mother-church, they
mission; but shall be wholly disabled, and be made use of the chapels of their private houses,
incapable to have, receive, use, or execute, any without requiring the assistance of their deans
of the said offices, places, powers, authorities, and chapters upon such solemn occasions; they
and things aforesaid.                         pronounced the censures of deprivation and
" And be it farther enacted, by the authority degradation in a monarchal and absolute manaforesaid, that all acts from and after the said
15th of February, which shall be done or exe-   * Baxter's History, Life, and Times, p. 33.
cuted by any archbishop or bishop, or other   t There is a remarkable resemblance between
person whatsoever in holy orders; and all and many of these church dignitaries and some of our
every suffrage or voice given or delivered by modern prelates. A thoughtful man cannot avoid
alarm when he marks the sympathy of the present
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 552.  day for these persecutors of the saints.-C.
t Vol. i., p. 429, 430.                   T Collyer's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii., p. 820.




'HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    409
ner, not calling in the deans and chapters to sent to secure the magazine at Hull, and a
any share of the administration.  And, upon guard was placed about the Tower of London, to
the whole, they did little else but receive their prevent the carrying out any ordnance or amrents, indulge their ease, consult their grandeur, munition without consent of Parliament. Lord
and lord it over their brethren.  These were Clarendon, and after him Mr. Echard, censure
the popular complaints against them, which the two houses for exercising these first acts
made the citizens rejoice at their downfall, and of sovereignty; how far they were necessary
attend the passing the bill with bonfires and for their own and the public safety, after what
illuminations.  However, if all these things had passed, and the resolutions of the councils
had not concurred in a nice and critical june- at Windsor, I leave with the reader.
ture of affairs, the attempts of the House of   The command of the militia had been usualCommons would have been in vain, neither ly in the crown, though the law had not posithe king nor peers being heartily willing to de- tively determined in whom  that great power
prive them of their seats in Parliament. This was lodged, as Mr. Whitelocke undertook to
was one of the last bills the king passed, and  prove before the commissioners at Uxbridge;*
the only law which he enacted in prejudice of the king claimed the sole disposal of it, wherethe Established Church.*  Here his majesty  as the Parliament insisted that it was not in
made a stand, and, by a message sent to both the king alone, but in the king and Parliament
houses, desired not to be pressed to any one jointly; and that when the kingdom is in immisingle act farther, till the whole affair of church  nent danger, if the royal power be not exertec
government and the liturgy was so digested  in its defence, the military force may be raised
and settled that he might see clearly what was without it.  But waiving the question of right,
fit to remain, as well as what was fit to be the Parliament desired the commanfid of tie
taken away.                                   militia might be put into such hands as they
could confide in only for two years, till the
present disorders were quieted. This the king
CHAPTER XI.                    refused, unless the House would first give up
FROM THE, KING'S LEAVING WHITEHALL TO THE the question of right, and vest the sole comE COMMENCEMENT  OF THE CIVIL WAR. HITEHALmand of the militia in the crown by form of
law; which the Parliament declined, and voted
ALL things now tended to a rupture between the advisers of that answer enemies of the
the Iking and Parliament, the Legislature being kingdom.
divided, and the Constitution broken. While the   Multitudes of petitions were presented to the
royal family was at Hampton Court, the officers houses from the city of London, and from the
and soldiers who were quartered about Kings- counties of Middlesex, Iertford, Essex, &c.,t
ton, to the number of two hundred, made such  _
disturbances that the militia of the country was   * "In the treaty at Uxbridge, printed in King
raised to disperse them.  After a few days the Charles's works, and in Dugdale's Short View of
king removed to Windsor, where a cabinet the Troubles of England, and separate by itself, in
council was held in presence of the queen, in quarto, by Litchfield, 1645, 1 can find," says Dr. Grey,
which, besides the resolution of passing no "no such offer of proof made by Mr. Whitelocke."
more'bills, already mentioned, it was farther This is true, and the reason may be assigned; the
agreed that her majesty, being to accotmpany the piece referred to exhibits only the requisitions on one
princess her daughterst Holland, in order to her side and the answers on the other, without going
marriage wi th the Prince of Orllange, shin order tako her into the detail of the matters that were the subjects
marriage with the Prince of Orange, should take of conversation merely; but because the assertion
with her the crown.jewels and pledge them for of Mr. Neal be not found in the Relation of the
ready money, with which she should purchase Treaty of Uxbridge, and he subjoins no authority for
arms and ammunition, &c., for the king's ser- it, Dr. Grey adds, "he will not, I hope, take it amiss
vice.  Shoe was also to treat fwith the Kings of if we do not implicitly take his word." The reader
France and Spain for four thousand soldiers, will judge of the candour and liberality of this insinby the mediation of the pope's nuncio.  It was uation when he is informed that Mr. Neal spoke on
the best authority, that of Mr. Whitelocke himself,
farther resolved, that his majesty should come Memorials, p. 124; who farther tells us that a moto an agreement with the Parliament till he on- tion was made to appoint a day to hear him and Sir
derstood the success of her negotiations, but Edward Hyde (who advanced the doctrine of the
should endeavour to get possession of the irm- king's absolute power over the militia) debate the
portant fortresses of Portsmouth  and Hull,. point; but by the interference of the Earl of Southwhere the arms and artillery of the late army ampton, and some other gentlemen, the debate was
in tile north were deposited.  Mr. Echalrd says declined. But the commaissioners of both kingdoms,
on their return to their quarters, gave Whitelocke
it was resolved that the queen should remove thanks, and said "the honour of Parliament was
to Portsmouth, and the king to Hull; that be- concerned therein, and hoindicated   y hPariament  as
ing possessed of those places of strength, where   f Dr. Grey observes, -with a sneer, that among
his friends might resort to him with safety, he these petitions were some remarkable ones; nameshould sit still till the hot spirits at Westminster ly, one from the porters, fifteen thousand in number;
could be brought to reason;t but this important another in the name of many thousands of the pool
secret being discovered, the Parliament entered  people; and a third from the tradesmen's wives in
upon lmore effectual measures for their safety: edand about the city of London, delivered by Mrs. Anne
they sent to Colonel Goring, governor of Ports- Stagge, a brewer's wife.. These petitions," says
the doctor, "would have been worthy a place in Mr.
mouth, not to receive any forces into the town  Neal's curious collection." The contePiPt which
but by authority of the king, signed by both  Dr. Grey casts on these petitions; will not appear
houses of Parliament.  Sir John Hotham w\as  generous or just to one who reflects on the object of
these petitions, which were highly interesting; who
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 554.  estimates thingss not by the fluctuation and factitiouis
t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 433, folio edition,  claims of rankl and wealth, but by the standarrd 61
VOL. I. —F F F




410                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
beseeching them to provide for the safety of the  easy the way is to happiness, greatness, and
nation, by disarming papists, by taking care of honour, if you will join with your Parliament;
the Protestants in Ireland, by bringing evil this is all we expect, and for this we will return
counsellors to punishment, by putting the king- to you our lives and fortunes, and do evelydorn into a posture of defence, and by commit-  thing we can to support your just sovereignty
ting the forts and castles of the kingdorn to such  and power.  But it is not words alone that
persons as both houses could confide in; but will secure us; that which we desire is some
their hands were tied, because the king, who  real effect in granting those things that the
has the sole execution of the laws, would act present necessities of the kingdom  require."
no longer in concert with his Parliament. The  They add, farther, " that his majesty's removal
Commons, encouraged by the spirit of the peo- to so great a distance not only obstructed the
ple, petitioned a second time for the militia, and  proceedings of Parliament, but looked like an
framed an ordinance with a list of the names  alienation of the kingdom  from  himself and.of such persons in whom they could confide. family."'   His majesty's best friends advised
His majesty, in order to amuse the House and  him to take this opportunity of returning to
gain time, told them " that he could not divest London, 1" and it.must be solely imptted to his
himself of that just power that God and the  majesty's own resolution," says Lord Clarenlaws of the kingdom had placed in him for the  don, "' that he took not that course;" but indefence of his people, for any indefinite time."  stead of this he broke out into a passion, and
After this they presented' a third petition to  told them lie had his fears for the true Protestthe king, at Theobald's. [March 1], in which  ant profession and the laws as well as they:
they protest, " that if his majesty persists in  "What would you have?" says his majesty.
that denial, the dangers and distempers of the  " Have I violated your laws, or denied to pass
kingdom were such as would endure no longer any bill for the ease of my subjects?  I do not
delay; and, therefore, if his majesty will not ask what you have done for me.  God so deal
satisfy their desires, they shall be enforced, fori with me and mine, as my intentions are upright
the safety of the kingdom, to dispose of the  for maintaining the true Protestant profession
militia by authority of' both houses of Parlia- and the laws of the land."  Being asked by the,
ment, and they resolve to do it accordingly;"*  Earl of Pembroke whether he would not grant
beseeching his majesty, at the same titie, to  the militia for a little time, his majesty swore
reside near his Parliament.  The king was so  by God, "No, not for an hour."  When he
inflamed with this protestation, that he told  was put in mind of his frequent violations of
them  "he was amazed at their message, but the laws, his majesty replied, "that he had
should not alter his resolution in any point."t made ample reparation, and did not expect to
And instead of residing near his Parliament, be reproached with the actions of. his minishe removed to Newmarket, and, by degrees, to  ters."t
York. Upon this the Commons voted, March    As his majesty insisted upon the militia, he
4, "' that the kingdom be forthwith put into a  claimed also an inalienable right to all the forts
posture of defence by authority of both houses, and garrisons of the kingdom, with an unconin such a way as is already agreed upon by both  trollable power to dispose of the arms and amhouses of Parliament;"j and next day they  munition laid up in them, as his proper goods.
published an ordinance for that purpose. March  This the Parliament disputed, and maintained
9, both houses presented a declaration to the  that they were his majesty's only in trust for
king at Newmarket, " expressing the causes of the public, and that in discharge of this trust
their fears and jealousies, and their earnest de- the Parliamept sitting are'his counsellors; for
sires that his majesty would put from him those  if the king had such property in the forts and
wicked and mischievous counsellors that have  magazines as he claimed, he might then sell or
caused these differences between him and his  transfer them into the enlemy's hand as absoParliament; that he would come to Whitehall, lutely as a private person may his lands and
and continue his own and the prince's resi- goods; which is a strange maxim, and contradence near his Parliament, which he may do  ry to the act of 40 Edw. III.
with more honour and safety than in any other    Many declarations passed between the king
place.  We beseech your majesty," say they, and his Parliament on this argument, while
"to consider in what state you are, and how  each party were getting possession of all that
reason and rectitude; and who respects the rights of they could.  The king was contriving to make
sure of the rmagazine of Hull, but the Parliament
property, how small soever that property be, of secu- eforehand wit
rity, and of conscience, which attach themselves to  wee beforehand with his majesty, and not only
every class and order of men. With respect to the  secured that important fortress, but got the
petition of the virtuous matrons, and the respect with  command of the fleet [March 31], which subwhich it was treated by Parliament, who commission- mitted to the Earl of Warwick, whom the Pared Mr. Pym to return an answer in person, both are  liament appointed to be their admiral.
sanctioned by the Roman History: the Legislature of   The ordinance of March 5, fordisposing of
that great empire, when towering to its utmost splen- the m
dour, received and encouraged the petitions of worn-ithen.-aclay's History of ngland, vol. iii., p. 187, out the king, in case of extreme danger to the
183, the note. The female petitioners, in the in- nation, of which danger the two houses were
stance before us, by their public spirit, and the share  the proper judges, with the subsequent resolufthey took in the common calamities produced by  tion of March 16, were the grand crises which
oppression, did honour to themselves and their sex; divided the House into two parties. Mr. Hyde,
and the conduct of the House towards them was not afterward Lord Clarendon, Mr. Bridgeman, Mr.
less politic than conmplaisant.-ED,.         Palmer, and other eminent lawyers and gentleRushworth, part iii., ~ol. i., p. 523.
t Ibid., p. 524.                                  * Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 528.
t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 419, folio edit.            f Ibid., p. 533.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   411
men, having given their opinion against the or- I of his people in Parliament, to ordain remedy
dinance, quitted their seats, and retired to the for removing thereof.' "}
king.  On the other hand, Sergeant Maynard,   Resolved, " That if in such a time of danger
Whitelocke, Glyn, Selden, the Lord-keeper Lit- his majesty deserts his Parliament, or refuses
tleton, Mr. Lee, St. John, Grimston, and divers to concur with them in ordaining such remedies
others of no less judgment in law, and of a su- as are absolutely necessary for the common
perior interest in their country, accepted of safety, then the two houses ought to look upon
commissions in the militia, and continued in themselves as the guardians of the people, and
the service of the Parliament.  Many retired to provide for their defence.
their country-seats, and were for standing neu-   Resolved  " That when the Lords and Conmter in this nice conjuncture; but those that re- mons, which is the supreme court of judicature
mained in the House were about three hundred, in the kingdom, shall declare what the law of
besides fifty that were employed in the country, the land is, to have this not only questioned,
and about fifty more absent with leave; the but contradicted, and a command that it should
rest went over to the king, and were some time not be obeyed, is a high breach of privilege of
after expelled the House. But from this time Parliament."
the sitting members were more resolute, and    His majesty, on the other hand, averred, "that
met with less opposition.                    the kingdom was in no danger, but from the ar
March 15, his majesty acquainted the houses bitrary proceedings of the Parliament, who were
from Huntingdon, with his design to reside for invading the royal prerogative, and subverting
some time at York; and adds, that he expected  the Constitution in Church and State.
"they should pay a due regard to his preroga-   "That if the kingdom was' really in danger,
tive, and to the laws established; and that none he was the guardian and protecter of his people,
of his subjects should presume, under colour of and was answerable to God only for his conany order or ordinance of Parliament to which  duct; but that Parliaments were temporary, and
his majesty is not a party, to do or execute what dissolvable at his pleasure; that he should, thereis not warrantable by the laws." His majesty's fore, consider them as his counsellors and adintention, by this message, was to put a stop visers, but not his commanders or dictators."
to all farther proceedings of the Parliament, for   His majesty admitted "that in some doubttheir own and the nation's security, till they had ful cases the Parliament were judges of the law,
digested all their grievances into a body. Upon but he did not think himself bound to renounce
receiving this declaration both HQuses came to his own judgment and understanding, by passing
these resolutions, among others:             laws that might separate from his crown that
March 16, Resolved, "That those who ad- which was in a manner essential to it, viz., a
vise his majesty to absent himself from the Par- power to protect his subjects."
liament are enemies' to the peace of the king-   To which the Commons replied, "that the
doml, and justly suspected to be favourers of the king alone could not be judge in this case, for
rebellion in Ireland."*                      the king judges not matters of law but by his
Resolved, " That the ordinance of Parliament courts; nor can the courts of law be judges of
for the militia is not inconsistent with the oath the state of the kingdom against the Parliament,
of allegiance; but that the several commissions because they are inferior; but as the law is degranted by his majesty under the great seal to termnined by the judges, who are the king's counthe lieutenants of the several counties, are ille- cil, so the state of the nation is to be determined
gal and void."t                              by the two houses of Parliament, who are the
Resolved, " That in cases of extreme danger, proper judges of the Constitution. If, therefore,
and of his majesty's refusal to act in concert the Lords and Commons in Parliament assemwith his Parliament, the people ought, by the bled declare this or the other matter to be acfundamental laws of the kingdom, to obey the cording to law, or according to the Constitution
ordinances of both houses concerning the mili- of the kingdom, it is not lawful for any single
tia; anld that such persons as shall be appoint- person, or inferior court, to contradict it."t
ed deputy-lieutenants, and are approved by both    But instead of tiring the reader with a long
houses, ought to take upon them  to execute paper war in support of these propositions, I
their offices."                              will make one general remark, which may
It was resolved farther, "That-the two hous- serve as a key to the whole controversy. If
es of Parliament, being the representative body we suppose the kingdom  to be in its natural
of the whole nation, and two parts in three of state, after the king had withdrawn from  his
~ the Legislature, were the proper judges of the Parliament, and would act no longer in concert
state and condition of it."                  with them; if the Constitution was then enResolved, "' That when both houses agreed tire, and the most considerable grievances rethat the nation was in extreme danger, as they dressed; if the laws in being were a sufficient
now did, the king was obliged, by the laws of security against the return of popery and arthe land, to agree to those remedies which they  bitrary power, and there was good reason to
who are his great council should advise him to. believe those laws would have fiee course,
This -seems evident fi-om the statute of 25 Edw. then the king's arguments are strong and con
III., entitled, the Statute of Provisors of Bene- elusive; for in all ordinary cases, the adminisfices, which says,' that the right of the crown tration of justice, and the due execution of the
of England, and the laws of the realm, are such laws, is vested in the crown; nor may the Lords
that, upon the mischiefs and damages that hap- and Commons in Parliament make new laws,
pen to this realm, our sovereign lord the king or suspend and alter old ones, without his maj
ought, and is bound by his oath, with the accord esty's consent. But, on the other hand, if, in
* Rushworth, p. 534.                   * Rushworth, p. 669.
t Rapin. vol. ii., p. 422, folio edit.  i Rushworth,partiii., vol. i., p. 698. Rapin,p. 477.




412                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the opinions of the Lords and Commons in I the plots of the papists and prelates, whose aim
Parliament assembled, who are the representa- I has been not only to prevent any farther reformtives of the whole nation, the Constitution is ation, but to subvert the purity and truth of rebroken, by the king's' deserting his two houses, ligion; they offer their. service to compose the
and resolving to act no longer in concert with  differences, and beseech his majesty' to have
them, or by any other overt acts of his majes- recourse to the faithful advice of both houses of
ty's council inconsistent with the Constitution; Parliament, which will not only quiet the minds
or if both houses shall declarer the.religion and of his English subjects, but remove the jealouliberties of the nation to be in imminent danger, sies and fears that may possess the hearts of his
either from foreign or domestic enernies, and subjects in his other kingdoms."  In their pathe king will not concur with his Parliament to per of the same date, to both houses of Parliaapply such remedies as the wisdom of his two ment, January 15, " they return thanks to the
houses shall think necessary; then, certainly, Parliament of England for the assistance given
after proper petitions and remonstrances, they to the kingdom of Scotland in settling their late
may, from the necessity of the case, provide troubles; and, next to the providence of God
for the public safety, as much as in the case of and his majesty's goodness, they acknowledge
nonage or captivity of the prince. In order, their obligations to the mediation and brotherly
therefore, to decide in the present controversy, kindness of the English Parliament; and now,
we must make an estimate of the true condi- by way of return, and to discharge the trust retion of the nation; whether it was in its natu- posed in them, they offer their mediation beral state; or whether the Constitution, being tween them and the king, beseeching the housdivided and broken by the king's deserting his es to consider of the fairest and most likely
Parliament, the legal form of government was methods to compose the differences in Church
not dissolved. In the former case, I appre- and State."  Bishop Burnet says their design
hend the king was in the right; in the latter, was to get episcopacy brought down and presthe Parliament.                              bytery set up, to the first of which most of the
This unhappy controversy  was managed members were willing to consent, but few were
with great warmth and mutual reproaches, cordial fobr the latter.
though with this decency, that the king did not   The king was highly displeased with the
charge his Parliament with criminal designs, Scots mediation, and sent them word that the
but only a malignant party in both houses; nor case of England and Scotland was different; in
did the Parliament reproach the person of the Scotland, says his majesty, episcopacy was
king, but laid all their grievances upon his evil never settled by law, and is found to be contracounsellors; however, it is easy to observe ry to the genius of the people; but in England,
that it was impossible the parties should agree, it is rooted in the very Constitution, and has
because they reasoned upon'a different princi- flourished without interruption for eighty years;
ple; the king supposing the nation was in a he therefore commands them not to transact
sound state, and that, therefore, the laws ought between him and his Parliament, without first
to take their natural course; the Parliament communicating their propositions to him  in
apprehending the Constitution broken, and that, private.' At the same time, his majesty sent lettherefore, it was their duty to provide for the ters into Scotland, and ordered the chancellor
public safety, even without the king's concur- to use his utmost efforts to keep that kingdom
rence. But we shall have more light into this to a neutrality.  On the other hand, the Parliaconnroversy hereafter.                       ment threw themselves into the arms of the
To return to the history. Though the Scots Scots; they thanked the commissioners for
were made easy at home, being in full posses- their kind and seasonable interposition, and
sion of their civil and religious rights, yet they prayed them to continue their endeavours to
could not remain unconcerned spectators of the remove the present distractions, and to preruin of the English Plarliament, partly out of serve the union between' the two kingdoms.
gratitude for the favours they had received, and They wrote likewise into Scotland to the same
partly from an apprehension that the security purpose, the effects of which will appear at
of their own settlement, as well as the introdu- the next meeting of Parliament.
cing their kirk discipline into England, depend-   In the mean time, the Lords and Commons,
ed upon it. While the king was at Windsor, in order to encourage the expectations of their
the Scots commissioners at London offered friends inboth kingdoms, published the followtheir mediation between his majesty and his ing declaration of their intentions:
two houses: in their. petition, they tell his majesty. " that the liberties of England and Scot-      "Die Sabbati, April 9, 1642.
land must stand and fall together;" and after   "The Lords and Commons declare, that they
some expressions of grief for the distractions intend a due and necessary reformation of the
of England, which they conceive to arise from  government and discipline of the Church, and
to take away nothing in the one but what will
It should rather be-if, according to the opinion be evil and justly offensive, or at least unneces-of the Lords and Commons, &c. —ED.         sary and burdensome;~ and for the better effect-f Rather-if, as-both houses shall declare, the re- ing thereof, speedily to have consultation with
ligion and liberties of the nation be in imminent godly and learned divines; and because this
danger, &c.  The controversy turns not on the will never of itself attain the ends sought thereopinion and declaration of the two houses, but on in, they will use their utmost endeavours to esthe truth of the facts stated. And these amendments   learned and preaching 
preserve the contrast between the opposite parts of tablis learne  and preaching  inisters, with a
Mr. Neal's proposition, which he is very politely good and sufficient maintenance, throughout
represented by Bishor Warburton as not knowing the whole kingdom, wherein many dark corners
how to state.-ED.                           are miserably destitute of the means of salva



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   413
tion, and many poor ministers want necessary him; nor would he grant them anything farther
provision."                                  than the law had put into his hands."*  At the
This declaration was ordered to be published same time, his majesty attempted to seize apon
by the sheriffs of the several counties, for the the magazine at Hull, pursuant to the scheme
satisfaction of the people.                 formed at Windsor in January last; and acThe distance between London and York in- cordingly appeared before the town with three
creased the misunderstanding between the king hundred horse, April 23d, but was denied enand his Parliament; numbers of persons trav- trance with more than twelve attendants;
elling between the two places with secret in- whereupon, after an hour's time allowed for detelligence, the Parliament appointed the follow- liberation, his majesty caused Sir John Hotham
ing oath to be taken by all who came from the the governor to be proclaimed a traitor, by two
king's quarters:                            heralds at arms, and then retired to York, full
"I, A. B., do swear from my heart, that I of resentment for the affront he had,received,
will not, directly or indirectly, adhere unto or which he did not fail to communicate to the
willingly assist the king in this war, or in this Parliament, demanding justice against Sir John
cause against the Parliament, nor any forces Hotham according to law; however, the Parraised without consent of the two houses of liament stood by their governor, and ordered
Parliament, in this cause or war. And I do the arms and ammunition in Hull to be remolikewise swear, that my coming, and submit- ved to the Tower of London, except what was
ting myself under the power and protection of necessary for the defence of the place.
Parliament, is without any manner or design    Upon his majesty's return to York, he comwhatsoever to the prejudice of theproceedings meanded the committee of Parliament, which
of this present Parliament, and without direc- were spies upon his actions, to retire to Lontion, privity, or advice of the king, or any of his don, but they excused themselves, as being orcouncil or officers, other than I have made dered to continue by those who emplcyed them.
known. So help me God and the contents of His majesty also summoned the nobility and
this book."                                 gentry of the northern counties to meet him at
This was called the negative oath, and was York [May 12], when he acquainted them with
voted April 5, 1642.                        his reasons for refusing the Militia Bill, and
As soon as the correspondence was thus in- with the treasonable behaviour of Sir John Hotterrupted, numbers of libellous newspapers, ham in keeping him out of Hull, and depriving
mercuries, and weekly intelligencers, began to him  of his magazine, being his own proper
appear full of scandal and reproach, whereby goods.  " Since treason is countenanced so
the conduct of great and wise men was asper- near me," says his majesty, " it is time t) look
sed, innumerable false reports s'pread through  to my safety; none can blame me to apprehend
the nation, and the spirits of the people sharp- danger.  I am  therefore resolved to ha-re a
ened for war. On the side of the king was guard-."  The gentry were divided in their
Mercurius Aulicus, and on the side of the Par- sentiments about the king's conduct, and gave
liament Mercurius Britannicus. When the ing  answers as *they were differently affected,
fixed his court at Oxford, the learned garrison  though all were willing to serve his majesty
drew their pens for the king, as the politicians according to law. After several other assem
of London did for the Parliament; and while blies of the nobility, gentry, freeholders, anc
the armies were in the field, these gentlemen  ministers of York had been held by his majesemployed themselves in celebrating their won- ty's command, in all which he declared that
derful exploits to the people; so that, beside "he was resolved to defend the true Protestant
the above-mentioned weekly papers, there ap- religion established in the reign of Queen Eliz.
peared Mercurius Rusticus, Pragmaticus, Pub- abeth, to govern by law for the future, and
licus, diurnals and intelligencers without num- that he had no intention to make war with his
her. The pulpits, also, were employed in the Parliament, except it were in way of defence,"t
same work; the preachers dealt too much in a regiment of horse was raised for the security
politics, and made free with the characters and  of his majesty's person, and the command given
actions of their superiors: there were incendi- to the Prince of.Wales. This was the first levy
aries on both sides: the king's preachers en- of troops in the civil war, his majesty having
hanced his majesty's character, and treated the as yet only a regiment of the militia of six hunParliament as rebels and traitors;* and the dred men, besides the reformadoes that attendParliament ministers were no less culpable, for ed the court.
though they avoided speaking disrespectfully of   About the same time [May 17] the king orthe person of the king, they declaimed against dered the courts of justice to remove fiom
the hierarchy, against evil and popish counsel- Westminster to York, and sent for Sergeantlors, and glanced at the queen herself, as pre- major Skippon, an old experienced officer, to
venting the harmony between his majesty and attend him  in person, which the Parliament
the Parliament, and pushing him upon measures prevented; but were not so successfill in relathat were destructive to the Protestant religion tion to the great seal, which the keeper sent
and the Constitution of their country; which, privatelyto the king by the messenger that
how true soever in itself, was a subject very came for it [May 22], and next (lay followed
unfit for the pulpit.                       himself. This was a sensible disappointment
The great resort of the nobility and gentry to to the Parliament, especially as it was attended
the court at York gave his majesty new life, with the loss of nine other peers, who deserted
and encouraged him to treat his Parliament with their stations in the House about the same
very.sovereign language; he sent them word,
that "he would have nothing extorted from          Rapin, p. 354.
t Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 615, 624. Rapin
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 760.  vol. ii., p. 434, 435, fol. ed.




414                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
time, and went over to the king, as did consid- reaved his majesty of any just, necessary, or
erable numbers of the Commons, his majesty  profitable prerogative of the crown. They dehaving now given orders to all his friends to dare their disallowance of all seditious libels,
leave the House and repair to him, which, in- but complain of many mutinous petitions that
stead of breaking up the Parliament, as intend- have been presented to the king' to divide him
ed, strengthened the hands of the country party, from his Parliament; and whereas the king had
and gave them an opportunity, after some time, insinuated that the Church was to be destroyed
of expelling the deserters.                  to make way for presbytery, they aver that they
Things being come to this crisis, the'Parlia- desire no more than to encourage piety and
ment voted, May 20, " that it was now appa- learning, and to place learned and pious preachrent that the king, seduced by wicked counsel, ers in all parishes, with a sufficient mainteintended to make war upon the Parliament. nance. Upon the whole, they aver the kingThat wheynsoever the kIing maketh such war it dom to be in imminent danger from enemies
is a breach of trust, contrary to his coronation *abroad, and a popish and discontented party at
oath, and tending to the dissolution of the gov- home, and that in such a case the kingdom
ernment.  That whosoever shall serve or as- must not be without means to preserve itself.
sist his majesty in such war are traitors, and They aver that the ordinary means of providing
have been so adjudged by two acts of Parlia- for the public safety is in the king and Parliamerit, 11 Rich. II., and 1 Henry IV: May 28 ment;* but because the king, being only a sinthey ordered all sheriffs and justices of peace, gle person, may be liable to many accidents,
&c., to make stay of all arms and ammunition  the wisdom of' the state in such cases has incarrying to York, and to disperse all forces trusted the two houses of Parliament to supply
coming together by the king's commission."    what shall be wanting on the part of the prince,
To justify their respective proceedings, both as in cases of captivity, nonage, or where the
parties published their reasons to the world; a royal trust is not discharged; which the Lords
summary of which being contained in the Par- and Commons having declared to be the pres-'
liament's memorial of May 19, and the king's ent case, there needs no farther authority to
answer, I shall give the reader an abstract of confirm it, nor is it in the power of any person
them.                                        at court to revoke that judgment.  They then
The Parliament, in their memorial, avow, in mention some proofs of the nation's danger,
the presence of the all-seeing Deity, "' that the and conclude by praying for the protection of
sincerity of their endeavours has been directed  Almighty God upon the king, and beseech his
only by the king's honour and the public peace, majesty to cast from him his evil counsellors,
fiee from'all private aims, personal respects, assuring him and the whole kingdom that they
and passions whatsoever. They complain of desire nothing more than'to preserve the purity
his majesty's being drawn into the north, far and power of religion, to honour the king in all
from his Parliament, which has given occasion his just prerogatives, and to endeavour, to the
to many false rumours and scandalous reports, utmost of their power, that all parishes may
to the interrupting the good understanding be- have learned and pious preachers, and those
tween the king and his Parliament. They take preachers competent livings.  And they doubt
notice of those evil counsellors which have pre- not to overcome all difficulties, if the people do
vailed with his majesty to make infractions not desert them  to their own undoing; and
upon his royal word, as that,' On the word of even in this cause they declare they will not
a king, and as I am a gentleman, I will redress betray their trust, but look beyond their own
the grievances of my people. I am resolved to lives and estates, as thinking nothing worth
put myself on the love and affection of my Eng- enjoying without the liberty, peace, and safety
lish subjects.  We do engage solemnly, on the of the kingdom, nor anything too much to be
word of a king, that the security of all and eve- hazarded for the obtaining of it."t
ry one of you from violence is and shall be as   His majesty, in his answer, is not willing to
much my care as the preservation of us and our charge his Parliament with misbehaviour, but
children.'  Since which time the studies and only a malignant party in both houses.  He
chambers of some of the members had been denies the several plots and conspiracies menbroken open, and six of them attempted to be tioned in their declaration, and takes notice of
seized in the Parliament House, the blame of their misapplying the word " Parliament" to the
which they are willing to impute to his evil vote of both houses, whereas the king is an escounsellors.  And though the king disavows sential part of the Parliament.  His majesty
such counsellors, we hold it our- duty," say confesses that his going to the House of Comthey, "humbly to avow there are such, else we mons to seize the five members was an error
must say, that all the ill things done in his maj- in form, but maintains the mnatter of the accuesty's name have been done by himself, where- sation to be just, and therefore thinks he ought
in we should neither follow the direction of the not to be reproached with it. He neither aft
law, which says the king can do no wrong; nor firms nor denies the design of bringing the army
the affections of our own hearts, which is to to London, but quibbles with the words " declear his majesty as much as may be of all inis- sign"' and "resolution," as Rapin observes, King
government, and to lay the fault upon his min- Chlarles I. being very skilful in such sort of amisters.*  If any ill be done in matters of state, biguities.  His majesty made no reply to the
the council are to answer for it; and if any mat- Parliament's reasoning upon the head of the
ters of the law, judges. They acknowledge the king's neglecting to discharge his trust, but
many excellent acts that his majesty had lately  seems to insinuate that the Parliament should
passed for the advantage of his subjects," but in no case meddle with the government without
then add, " that in none of them have they be* R     ushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 699.
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. i. p. 693.  t Ibid., vol. i., p. 704. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 442, folio.




HISTORY O'F THE PURITANS.                                   415
an express law. He denies his knowledge of any effectually cleared by act of Parliament, and
evil counsellors about him, and declares that he that his majesty would enter into alliances with
did not willingly leave his Parliament, but was foreign princes for the support of the Protestant
driven away by the tumults at Whitehall; and religion," &c. It is hard to express his majesadds, that, by the help of God and the laws of ty's resentment against all these- propositions
the land, he would have justice for those tu- (except the last two), which he says were fit
mnults; nor does his majesty own the promoting only to be offered to a vanquished prisoner;
or retaining in his service any who are disaffect- that he were unworthy of his noble descent if
ed to the laws of the kingdom; but he will not. he should part with such flowers of the crown
take a vote of Parliament for his guide, till it is as are worth all the rest of the garland: " If
evident they are without passion or affection. these things are granted,'" says he, " we may
The king charges them home with the greatest have the title of a king, and be waited upon
violation of the laws and liberties of the subject. bareheaded; we may have our hand kissed, and
" What is become of the law that man was born have swords and maces carried before us, but
to." says he.  "And where is Magna Charta, as to real power, we should remain but the outif the vote of Parliament may make a law!" side, the picture, the sign of a king." His majHis majesty concludes with a severe remark on esty, therefore, rejected them in the gross, with
the Parliament's calling the petitions presented this sovereign reply: "Nolumus leges Angline
to him "mutinous." "Hath a multitude of mean, mutari."
inconsiderable people about the city of London   The propositions relating to religion are
had liberty to petition against the government these:
of the Church, against the Book of Common    Prop. 4. "That he or they to whom the govPrayer, &c., and been thanked for it?  And ernment and education of the king's children
shall it be called mutiny in the gravest and best shall be committed be approved by both houses
citizens in London, and gentry of Kent, to frame of Parliament, and in the intervals of Parliapetitions to be governed by the known laws of ment by the majority of the privy council; and
the land, and not by votes of Parliament! Is that such servants against whom the houses
not this evidently the work of a faction X Let have any just exception be removed.*
heaven and earth, God and man, judge between    Prop. 5. " That the marriages of the king's
us and these men!"                          children be with consent of Parliament, under
The reader will judge of the weight of these penalty of a pr-emunire on such as shall condeclarations according to a former remark. The edude them otherwise, and not to be pardoned
Parliament supposes the " nation in imminent but by Parliament.
danger, and the royal power not exerted in its   Prop. 6. "That the laws in force against
defence;" in which case, they, as guardians of Jesuits, priests, and popish recusants be strictthe people, apprehend themselves empowered ly put in execution, without any toleration or
to act in its defence. The king supposes the dispensation to the contrary; and that some
nation to be in its natural state, and in no man- more effectual course may be enacted by auner of danger, but from a malignant party with- thority of Parliament to disable them from main the two houses, and that, therefore, the laws king any disturbance in the state, or eluding the
should have their free and ordinary course. laws by trusts or otherwise.
Upon these contrary suppositions the arguments   Prop. 7. " That the votes of popish lords in
on both sides are invincible: but (as has been the House of Peers be taken away, so long as
already observed) it was impossible they should they continue papists; and that your majesty
produce any good effect, till it was first agreed will consent to such a bill as shall be drawn
whether the nation was in danger, or whether for the education of the children of papists by
the royal promise might be relied upon with Protestants in the Protestant religion.
safety.                                        Prop. 8. " That your majesty will be pleased
On the 2d of June the Parliamenl presented to consent that such a reformation be made of
the king with the sum of all their desires for the church government and liturgy as both
the reformation and security of Church and houses of Parliament shall advise, wherein
State, in nineteen propositions, according to his they intend to have consultation with divines,
majesty's command in January last. Those as is expressed in their declaration for that purwhich relate to the state are built upon the sup- pose; and that your majesty will contribute
position above mentioned, that the nation was in your best assistance for the raising of a sufimminent (ldanger; and that, after so many infrac- ficient maintenance for preaching ministers
tions of the royal word, it was not to be relied through the kingdomn; and that your majesty
upon for the execution of the laws but in con- will be pleased to give your consent to the laws
junction with the Parliament. They therefore for the taking away of innovations and superpray "that his majesty's privy councillors, corn- stitions, and of pluralities, and against scandamanders of forts and garrisons, and all the great lous uministers."
officers of state, may be approved by the two    I'o these propositions his majesty replied as
houses; that the judges may hold their places follows:
quam die se beve gesserint; that the militia may    To the fourth and fifth, concerning the edube in the hands of the Parliament for the pres- cation and disposal of' his children, " that he
ent; that all public business may be determined  had committed them to the care of persons of
by a majority of the council; and that they may quality, integrity, and piety; with special regard
take an oath to maintain the petition of right, to their education in the principles of the true
and such other laws as shall he enacted this Protestant religion, but -that he would never
present session. They pray that the justice of part with that trust, which*God, nature, antl
Parliament may pass upon delinquents; that the
Lord Kimbolton and the five members may be         * Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 793




416                      HISTORY  OF THEt PURITANS.
the laws of the land had placed in him; nor of the Parliament, but desired he might not be
would he suffer any to share with him in his pressed to any single act on his part,'till the
power of treaties; but he assured them that whole be so digested and settled by both houses,
he would not entertain any treaty of marriage that his majesty may clearly see what is fit to
for his children without due regard to the Prot- be left as well as what is fit to be taken away.
estant religion and the honour of his family; His majesty observes with satisfaction that
and that he would take such care of the Prince they desire only a reformation, and not, as is
of Wales, and his other children, as should daily preached in conventicles, a destruction of
justify him to God as a father, and to his do- the present discipline and liturgy, and promises
minions as a king."                           to concur with his Parliament in raising a sufTo the sixth proposition, concerning popish ficient maintenance for preaching ministers, in
recusants, his majesty admitted, " that if they such manner as shall be most for the advancecould find any more effectual course to disable ment of piety and learning; but as for the other
them from disturbing the state, or eluding the bills, against superstitious innovations and plulaws, by trust or otherwise, he ought to give ralities, his majesty can say nothing to them
his consent to it."                           till he sees them."
To the seventh, concerning the votes of po-   It was now apparent to all men that this
pish lords, his majesty replied, " that he was controversy, which had hitherto been debated
informed those lords had prudently withdrawn  by the pen, must be decided by the sword; for
from the House of Peers, but he did not con- this purpose the queen was all this while in
ceive that a law  against the votes of any, Holland negotiatingforeign supplies. Her majwhere blood gave them  their right, was so esty pledged the crown jewels; and, with the
proper in regard of the privilege of Parliament; money arising from thence, purchased a small
however, his majesty was content that, as long frigate of thirty-two guns, called the Provias they did not conform  to the doctrine and dence, and freighted it with two hundred bardiscipline of the Church of England, they should rels of powder, two' or three thousand arms,
not sit in the House of Peers, but only vote by seven or eight fieldpieces, and somre ready
proxy. As for a bill for the educating the chil- money for the king's service; all which were
dren of papists in the Protestant religion, he safely conveyed to his majesty at York, about
should be very glad of it, and would encourage the beginning of June.'Tile Parliament had
it."                                          been advertised of the queen's proceedings, and
To the eighth proposition, touching reforma- acquainted the king with their advices, which
tion of church government and liturgy, his maj- at first he was pleased to disown, for in his decesty refers them to his declaration of Decem- laration of March 9, lie tells the Parliament,
ber 1, in which he had declared " that he was "Whatsoever you are advertised from  Paris,
willing to remove illegal innovations; thl-at if &c., of foreign aids, we are confident no sober,
his Parliament advised him to call a synod to honest man in our kingdom can believe that we
examine into such ceremonies as gave offence, are so desperate, or so senseless, as to enterhe would take it into consideration, and apply tain such designs, as would not only bury this
himself to give due satisfaction therein; but he our kingdom in certain destruction and ruin,
was persuaded in his conscience that no'church' but our name and posterity in perpetual scorn
could be found upon earth that professed the and infamy."*  One would think by this that
true religion with more purity of doctrine than  the king did not know what was doing with the
the Church of England; nor where the govern- crown jewels, though they were carried over
ment and discipline are -more beautified, and with his leave, and, as Mr. Whitelocket says,
free from superstition, than as they are here es- that with them and the assistance of the Prince
tablished by law; which his majesty is deter- of Orange, a sufficient party might be raised for
mined with constancy to maintain as long as the king. But in this answer, as in most others,
he lives, in their purity and glory, not only his majesty had his ambiguities and reservaagainst all innovations of popery, but from the tions.irreverence of those many schismatics and separatists wherewith of late this kingdom and the   * Clarendon, pol. i., part ii., p. 445, 462.
city of London abound, for the suppression of   t Memorials p. 52.
whom his majesty requires the assistance of     Bishop Warurton contends that by foreign
aids" the king understood, what the Parliament cerhis Parliament.  As for such matters in reli- tainly meant, foreign troops. His lordship, therefore,
gion which were in their own nature indifferent, asserts, "there is no ambiguity here; but there is
iis majesty refers them to his first declaration, neither end nor measure," he adds, "to this histoprinted by advice of his privy council, in which  rian's prejudices and false representations." The
he had declared that he was willing, in tender- exact state of the matter is, that the Parliament, in
ness to any number of his loving sibjeets, to their declaration, do use the words "foreign force,"
admit that some law might be made for the ex- and explicitly mention the loan of four thousand mlen
apiece by the Kings of France and Spain. The king
einltion of tender consciences from punishment in his answer says, only in general, "that whatever
or prosecution for such ceremonies; provided their advertisements from Rome, &c., were, he was
it be attempted and pursued with that modesty, confident no sober, honest man," &c., without using,
temper, and submission, that the peace and as Mr. Neal inaccurately represents him doing, the
quiet of the kingdom be not disturbed, the de- terms "'foreign aids." But will it follow from hence
cency and comelines   of God's service discoiun- that the king's answer was free fromli ambiguity and
tenanced, nor the pious, sober, devout actions reservation, or Mr. Neal's charge false? If what Mir.
of the first Reformers scandalized and defamed. Whitelocke says were true, there was a duplicity
and ambiguity in the king's reply; and it consisted
Hiss rlajesty addsthat lhe had formerly referred in this, not in the use of an' equivocal term, but in
the composing the present distractions about censuring the measures of which he was suspected,
church government and liturgy to the wisdom  as senseless, desperate, and pernicious; at tile same








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HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    417
It was the king's great misfortune never to the public faith at eight per cent. interest, alget possession of a convenient place of strength lowing the full value of the plate, besides one
upon the coast. The governor of Portsmouth  shilling per ounce consideration for the fashion.
declaring for him, the Parliament immediately Upon information of this, the king immediately
ordered the militia of the county to block up the wrote to the Lord-mayor of London to forbid the
place by land, while the Earl of Warwick did citizens lending their money or plate, upon pain
the same by sea, so that it was forced to sur- of high treason; notwithstanding which, such
render for want of provisions, before the king vast quantities were brought into Guildhall
could relieve it. The like disappointment be- within ten days, that there were hardly officers
fell his majesty at Hull, which he besieged a enough to receive it. Mr. Echard computes-the
second time, July 4,* with three thousand foot plate at ~11,000,000, which is monstrous, for
and about one thousand horse, while Sir J. Pen- in reality it was but ~1,267,326; the gentry of
nington, the king's admiral, blocked it up by London and Middlesex brought in the best of
sea; but the governor, drawing up the sluices, their plate, and the meaner sort their gold rings,
laid the country under water, and obliged the thimbles, and bodkins. Lord Clarendon says,
army to retire. This was a severe disappoint- this zeal of the people arose from the influence
ment; because his majesty had sent word to and industry of their preachers; which might
the Parliament, June 14, that, "by the help of be true in part, though it was rather owing to a
God and the law, he would have justice upon quick and feeling apprehension of the danger of
those that kept him out of Hull, or lose his life their liberties and religion, by an inundation of
in requiring it."t- popery and arbitrarypower.
On the other hand, the Commons, upon the   The king also tried his credit with the peodesertion of the king's friends, ordered a gen- pIe, by publishing a declaration inviting his
eral call of the House, June 16, and that every subjects to bring in their money, plate, horses,
member should answer to his name on forfeit- and arms to York, upon the security of his forure of ~100. The Lords ordered the nine peers ests and parks for the principal, and eight per
that went after the great seal to appear at their cent. interest, with very little success, except
bar, June 8, and for their non-appearance [June among the courtiers and the two universities.
27], deprived them of their privilege of voting   July 7, his majesty sent letters to the vicein the House during the present Parliament. chancellor and heads of colleges in Oxford, deAs the Commons had taken all imaginable pre- siring them to lend him their public stock, engacautions to hinder the king from getting the ging, upon the word of a king, to allow them eight
forts and magazines of the kingdom into his per cent. for that and all other sums of money
possession, they ordered all suspected places to that any private gentleman or scholar should
be searched for arms and ammunition. In the advance. Hereupon it was unanimously agreed
archbishop's palace at Lambeth they seized in convocation to intrust his majesty with their
arms for about five hundred men, and lodged  public stock, amounting to ~860, which was
them in the Tower of London; in Cobham Hall immediately delivered to Mr. Chawortl, his
they seized five cart-loads of arms; and below  majesty's messenger.  The several colleges
Gravesend about one hundred pieces of cannon. also sent his majesty their plate; and private
As soon as they heard the king had receiv- gentlemen contributed considerable sums of
ed supplies from beyond sea and was preparing money to the value of above ~10,000.* The two
to besiege Hull, they ordered their ordinance houses of Westminster being informed of these
for raising the militia to be put in execution in proceedings, published an ordinance, declaring
Essex [June 7], when all the regiments appear- this act of the university "a breach of trust,
ed full, besides a great number of volunteers, and an alienation of the public money, contrary
who declared they would stand by the Parlia- to the intent of the pious donors, and, therefore,
ment in this cause with their lives and fortunes. not to be justified by the laws of God or man;"
The king forbade the militia's appearing in arms that it was also contrary to their engagements,
without his consent, according to the statute 7 for the university being yet in the hands of the
Eliz., cap. i., and issued out commissions of ar- Parliament, the Lord Say and his deputy-lieuray, according to an old statute of 5 Henry IV., tenants had been with the several masters and
appointing several persons of quality to array, heads of houses, and obtained a solemn promise
muster, and train the people in the several from each of them that their plate should be
counties; but the Parliament, by a declaration, forthcoming, and should not be made use of by
endeavoured to prove these commissions to be the king against the Parliament; and yet, conillegal, contrary to the petition of right, and to trary to their engagement, they sent: it away
a statute of this present Parliament; and went privately to York, where it arrived July 18, as
on with mustering the militia in several other appeared by his majesty's most gracious letter
counties, where the spirit of the people appear- of thanks.t  As soon as the two houses were
ed to be with them. The execution of these informed of this, they sent for the four princicounter- commnissionsoccasioned someskirmish- pal managers of this affair into custody, viz.,
es wherever the two parties happened to meet. Dr. Prideaux, bishop of Worcester, Dr. Samuel
On the 10th of June, 1642, the Parliament Fell, dean of Christ Church, Dr. Frewen, and
published proposals for borrowing money upon Dr. Potter, who absconded; and the scholars,
encouraged by their principals, bought arms,
time he was actually taking such or similar steps.- formed themselves into companies, and, laying
ED.                                         aside their academical studies, were instructed
* According to Dr. Grey, thero is an error in this in the art of war, and performed the military
date; for the king issued a proclamation of his intention to besiege Hull upon the 11th of July, so
could not lay siege to it upon the 4th.-ED.        * Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 88.
t Rushworth, p. 601.                             f Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 759.
VOL. I.-G G G




418-                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
exercises under their respective captains and the peace and security of this place, and for the
leaders. Such was the zeal of the vice-chan- staying of our students, a great part of whom
cellor, Dr. Pink, that, not content with marshal- (such stout and hardy men are they), upon
ling the university, he promoted the king's cor- alarms and frights, such as have been hourly
mission of array among the townsmen, and re- here of late, are fled away from us home to
ceived one of his majesty's troops of horse their mothers. The disciples, when in danger
into garrison, for which he was afterward ap- of drowning, clamoured our Saviour,' Master,
prehended and committed to the Gate-house at carest thou not that we perish.' But I am
Westminster. The Parliament, provoked with bold to assume for your honour, and to assure
this behaviour of the university, threatened to all of this university under your happy governquarter some of their own regiments upon ment, that you will not suffer us to perish, and
them, which frightened away half the scholars, that you will at this time give us a clear and
and put the rest into such a terrible panic that real evidence of it, having this representation
the vice-chancellor thought proper to write the of the peril we are now in, made to your honfollowing submissive letter to the Earl of Pem- our by me,
broke, their chancellor:                         "Your lordship's humble servant,
Right Honorabe,  "Provost, vice-chancellor of Oxford.
"Right Honourable,                                   1
"May it please your lordship to know, that    Sept. 12, 164
this university is now in extreme danger of suf-   This letter being sent two months after the
fering all the calamities that warlike forces may university had conveyed their plate and money
bring upon it.*  Such forces, we hear for cer- to the king; after they had refused to send up
tain, are some of them already on their march, such principal managers of that affair as the
and others are raising to assault us, and, if they Parliament had demanded; after they had tamay have their wills, to destroy us!'My lord, ken up arms, and received a regiment of his
you have been solicitous whom to appoint your majesty's forces into garrison, the Earl of Pemchancellor for next year, but if these forces broke only returned the following angry answer:
come forward, and do that execution upon us
that we fear they intend, there will be no use at  "Sir,
all for a vice-chancellor, for what will be here    " If you had desired my advice and assistance
for him to do, where there will be no scholars in time, I should willingly have contributed my
for him to govern l  Or what should scholars best endeavours for your safety and protection,
do here, having no libraries left them to study but your unadvised counsels and actions have
in, no schools to dispute in, chapels to serve reduced you to the straits you are now in; and in
God in, colleges or halls to live or lodge in, but discretion you might have foreseen, that the adhave all these ransacked, defaced, demolished, mitting cavaliers, and taking up arms, could not
so as posterity may have to say, See! here was but make the university a notorious mark of opfor a long time, and till such a year, a univer- position against the Parliament, and, therefore,
sity of great renown and eminence in all man- to be opposed by it. If you had contained yourner of learning and virtue, but now laid utterly  selves within the decent, modest bounds of a
waste, and buried in her own ruins. And then university, you might justly have challenged
the question will be, What! had we no lord me, if I had not performed the duty of a chanchancellor? or was he not able to protect us 1 cellor. The best counsel I now can give you
We are all confident that if your lordship would is, that you presently dismiss the cavaliers, and
interpose for us to the honourable houses of yield up to the Parliament such delinquents as
Parliament for our safety and security, all would are among you; then, the cause being taken
be well with us. The delinquents that were away, the effect will follow.  When you have
sent for are not one of them here at this time. put yourselves into the right posture of a uniSir John Byron, with his regiment of troopers, versity, I will be a faithful servant to you, and
we shall soon prevail with to withdraw from  ready to do you all the good offices I can with
us, if he may with safety march back to the the Parliament, as i am now sorry you have
king, who, of his own gracious care of' us, sent brought upon yourselves these troubles.
him hither. And if your lordship shall be se-    *I rest your very true friend,
cured, that no other forces shall be here im-             "PEMBROIzE and MONTGOMERY.
posed upon us, that will take the liberty to ex-   " Sept. 13, 1642."
ercise that barbarous insolence with which the
illiterately rude and ruffianly rabble of the vul- Cambridge University followed the example
gar threaten us; against such only our young of Oxford, for upon reading his majesty's letter
men.have lately taken in hand the arms we of June 29 to the vice-chancellor, Dr. Holdshave (a very few, God knows, and in weak worth, they readily agreed also to intrust the
hands enough) to save themselves and us from king with their public money: what the whole
having our libraries fired, our colleges pillaged, sum amounted to does not appear, but may be
and our throats cut by them, if they should sud- guessed by the particulars of one college, a
denly break in upon us. And this, my lord, is receipt fbr which is preserved among the arall the sinfuld intent we have had in permitting  chives, and is as follows:
them to train in a voluntary and peaceable manner so as they have done. Good my lord, that    ReceivedJuly 2   6.
which I most earnestly beg of your honour is,ea above written,
that at tle humble request of the university  of Win. Beale, doctor in divinity, master oft St.
you would put in action with all speed what Johnrs Ct llege, in tihe Uiversity of Cambridge,
for the king's use (acording to the intendment
may be most prevalent with the Parliament for
_   and directiomi of his umajesty's letters of the 29th
* Rushworth, part iii., vol. ii., p. 11.  of June last, to the vice-chancellor of the said




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     419
university), the sum of ~150. I say, received  it to be contrary to religion and a good confrom the treasury of the said college by me,*   science; the houses, therefore, ordered Dr. Bleal,
"JOHN POLEY."   Dr. Martin, and Dr. Sterne, masters of St. John's,
This Mr. Pole was fellow of Pembroke Hall, Jesus', and Queen's -College, into custody;"
andThis  ofthe proctors ofthe university When upon which many of the scholars deserted their
and one of the proctors of the university. When stations, and listed in the king's service.
the king had secured their money, he sent to    Besides the two iuniversities, the king apborrow their plate, under pretence of preserving plied underhand to the papists, who were firm
it from the Parliament; for this purpose he wrote to his interest, though he durst not as yet avow
another letter to the vice-chancellor, with direc- his correspondence with them; for in his dections to take an exact account, not only of' the laration of June 3, he assures the ministers and
weight, but also of the form of every piece, to- fireeholders of Yorkshire that he would not
gether with the names, arms, and mottoes of make use of foreigners, or of persons disaffectthe respective donors, that if his mlajesty should  ed to the Protestant religion.  Again, we have
not preserve it as entire as it was, he might taken order that the power of the sword shall
restore it hereafter in the same weight and form, not come into the hands of papists.t August
and with the same marks, all which he ensured 10, his majesty commands that no papist should
upon his royal word. There is no account re- be listed as a soldier in his army; which was
maining of what plate the colleges delivered up expedient, to avoid as much as possible the refor his majesty's use, though many wished, says proach of an alliance with those people, who
Mr. Fuller, that every ounce had been a pound were at this time become infamous by the Irish
for his sake; but in the treasury of St. John's massacre.  Though his majesty had but few
College there are the particulars of what that Roman Catholics among his own forces, the
college delivered in, together with the weight, Duke of Newcastle's army was filled with them,
forms, and names of the chief benefactors, which and popery was countenanced to that degree
amounts, in the whole, according to avoirdupois at York that mass was said in every corner of
weight, to two thousand sixty-five ounces and the street, and the Protestants so affronted that
a half, as expressed in the following receipt:   they were almost afraid to go to churchJ.
"August 8, 1642.   The king applied to his Roman Catholic sub" I do acknowledge that there has been de- jects to advance two or three years of the rent
livered to me, in the name and on behalf of the that they paid as composition for their estates
master,. fellows, and scholars of St. John's Col- as recusants, which they not only complied
lege, in Cambridge, two fir boxes, marked with  with, but wrote to their friends abroad to borthese three letters, S. J. C., containing in them  row more; proclamation was made at Bruges,
all the several pieces of plate above written, and other parts of Flanders, that all people
which said plate weigheth, as appears by the who would loan any money to maintain the Roparticulars, two thousand sixty-five ounces and  man Catholics in England,. should have it repaid
a half, more or less, which they deposited into  in a year's time, with many thanks.
the king's hands for the security thereof and    The Lancashire papists, having been lately
his majesty's service, according to the tenour of disarmed by order of Parliament, petitioned his
his majesty's letters, written and directed to
the vice-chancellor of the university.*         * They were immediately after carried to London
" JOHN POLEY."   by Cromwell, and confined in the Tower and other
prisons for some years, particularly in the noisome
Acc(rding to this calculation, the, Iking might hold of a ship. —Dr. Grey; Barwick's Life, p. 32, note
receive from all the colleges together about ~8 or (t); and Fuller's' History of Cambridge, p. 168.-ED.
~E10,000 in plate, besides money.  Colonel Oli-   t Rushworth, part iii., vol. i., p. 625.
ver Cromwell, with his company of soldiers, en-   T Dr. Grey would impeach the truth of this detail,
deavoured to intercept the convoy, but under and says, that as Mr. Neal " quotes no authority for
the conduct of Mr. Barnaby Oley, their guide, these particulars, I am willing to believe that they
who was acquainted with all the by-roads, they  are not all of them true." As for the first particular,
escaped thed enemy  and delivered up their I can'refer for Mr. Neal to Rapin, vol. ii., p. 468, and
es   the' eneniy, and delivered u the matter has been, within these few years, stated
charge to the king about the time when he was and discussed by Mrs. Macaulay, vol. iii., p. 377, 378,
setting up his royal standard at Nottingham. Svo. The fact was admitted by the Earl of NewCromwell having missed the convoy, returned  castle himself, and he published a long declaration,
to Cambridge and took possession of the town  partly to vindicate himself on this head, which ia
and university for the Parliament, who, being preserved in Rushworth, part iii., vol. ii., p. 78, &e.
acquainted with what was done, sent them an  Though I am not able to ascertain the authorities on
angry message, as they had done to Oxford, which my author states the other particulars, a letn, o..   1.' Zter of inteliigence of the affairs in Yorkshire, which
full of resentments for their disposing of the the Parliament received, and which has been given
public money, contrary to the trust reposed in to the public since Mr. Neal's history appeared, afthemn. The masters and fellows excused them- fords a general confirmation to his account. It repselves by alleging the royal mandate; where- resents that the papists, after the king's proclamnaupon the two houses sent a mandate of their tion for raising his standard, flocked from Ireland,
owvn to the vice-chancellor~ and heads of colle- Lancashire, and all parts of Yorkshire, to York; that
ges in convocation assembled, desiring them to  there were great rejoicings along them, and a greao
contribute their assistance to the cause in which  forwardness to assist the service shown. The cii
[the Parliament] were engaged   ut though, cUinstances represented by our author were not un
they [the Parlament] were engaged; hut though, natural or improbable consequences of such a con.
as Dr. Barwick observes, the commander of the fluence and exultation of the papists. And it appears
garrison kept them  sitting till midnight, they  from this letter that the cavaliers in general were
would lend nothing, because they apprehended  guilty of tumults, outrages, and depradation.-Parliarmentary History, vol. xi., p. 335, 381, 405, quoted by
* Dr. Barwick's Life, p. 22.  t Ibid., p. 24.   AlMrs. llacaulay, vol. iii., p. 343, 344, 8vo.-ED.




420                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
majesty that, since the war was begun, their ring in any other remedies which his two
arms might be redelivered, that they might be houses should think proper.
in a capacity to defend his majesty's royal per-    As the king was reduced to the necessity of
son and their own families. To which his maj- accepting the service and affection of the paesty consented in the following words:      pists, so, on the other hand, the Parliament
1"1-The laws for disarming recusants being  took all imaginable care to cultivate a good
to prevent dangers in a time of peace, but not correspondence with the Scots, and to secure
intended to bar you from the.use of arms in  that nation in their interests.  We have retime of war for your own safety, or the defence  membered that the Scots commissioners at
of our person-Our will and command, there-  London offered their mediation in the beginfore, is, and we charge and require you upon  ning of the year, which the Parliament acceptyour allegiance, that with all possible speed  ed; but the king, from his extreme hatred of
you provide sufficient arms for yourselves, your Athe Presbyterian discipline, refused, commandservants, and your tenants, which we authorize  ing them to be content with their own settleand require you to keep and use for the defence  ment, and not to meddle in the affairs of anof us, yourselves, and your country, against other nation. But the breach between the king
all forces raised against us, under colour of any  and his two houses growing wider, the council
order or ordinance of Parliament, and we shall of Scotland sent their chancellor, in the month
use our utmost power to protect you and yours of May, to renew their offers of a mediation
against all injuries and violence.*         between the two parties, which the king reject"Given under our signet at Chester, Septem- ed as before;* and the rather, because they
ber 27, in the eighteenth year of our reign." still insisted upon the abolishing of episcopacy,
Agreeablywhich his majesty believed to be of Divine inAgreeably to this, Mr. George Tempest, a stitution, and upon a uniformity of Presbytepriest, writes to his brother in the king's army, stitution, and upon a uniformity of Pwheresbyte1" Our priests at Lancaster are at liberty; Cath- tean g overnment in the tw o nations; whereas
the majority of both houses, being of Erastian
oic commanders are admitted, and all well principles, were under no difficulties about a
enough that way; God Almighty, as I hope, change
will better prosper the cause."  And another
civil magistrate might set up what  form of
adds, "that there is no prosecution of priest or  magistrate might    up what form of
papist in Northumberland."       government was most conducive to the good
epapist in Northeumberland.t objctdtistoiof the state. The Parliament, therefore, treatjWhent the Parliament objected this to his ed the chancellor with great respect, and not
majesty, and named the very officers, he was only accepted the mediation, but wrote to the
highly displeased, and in his answer makes use  General Assenbly, which was to meet in July,
of these solemn expressions: "For that continof thued dishonest accusation of our thinclinat con to acquainting them with the crisis of their affairs,
ued dishonest accusation of our inclination to
the papists, which the authors of it in their and desiring their advice and assistance in
own consciences know to be most unjust and bringing about such a reformation as was deown consciences know to be most unjust and
sired. To which the Assembly returned an
groundless, we can say no more, and we can  answer, dated August 3, 1642, to the following
do no more, to the satisfaction of the world. — s
That any priests or Jesuits imprisoned have  pupose
beenI ~ ~     ~' r"After giving God thanks for the Parliabeen released by us out of the jail at Lancaster, ment's desire of a reformation of religion, and
or any other jail,' is as false as the thther of expressing their grief that it moves so slowly,
lies can invent. Neither are the persons named xpressing their grief that it moves so slowly,
they observe, that their commissioners, far from
in that declaration, to whom commissions are
supposed to be granted for places of command  arrog a  nd presumption, had, with great rein this war, so much as known to us; nor spect and reverence, expressedl their desires for
have they any command, or to our knowled~ge  unity of religion, that there might be one confession of faith, one directory of worship, one
are present in our army. And it is strange that  aession of faith,  one d ory of church govour oaths and protestations before Almighty  public catechism, and one form of church goGod, for the  maintenance of the Protestant enment.t TheAssembly,"saytheynowenreligion, should he so slighted  We Pdesire to  ter upon the labours of the commissioners, being
religion, should be so slighted. —We  desire to
have our; protestations believed by the evidencencouraged by the zeal of former times, when
of our actions."t  Surely this solemn appeal their predecessors sent a letter into England
fto Almightyod   Surely Gbthigs solemn  appeal against the surplice, tippet, and corner-cap, in
to Almighty God was ambiguous and evasive! t
or else we must conclude that his majesty was the year 1566 and again in ther encouraged by
very little acquainted with what was done in
his nae, and by his commission   the king's late answer to their commissioners
in their treaty for Ireland, wherein his majesty
It was, only five days after this that the mask     their treaty for Ireland, wherein his majesty
was thrown off, for his majesty confesses, in approves of the affection of his subjects of
his- declaration of October 27, that the maliceScotland,    in their desire s of  conformity of
and fury of his enemies had reduced him to the church government; by his majesty's late practice while he was in Scotland, in resorting to
necessity of accepting the service and affection
their worship, and establishing it by act of Parof any of his good subjects, whatsoever their their worship, and establishing it by act of Parreligion was; that he did know of some few  liament. They are also encouraged by a letter
religion was; that he did know of some few
sent from manyrreverend brethren of the Church
papists whose eminent abilities in command
and conduct had moved him to employ them in  of England, expressing their prayers and enhis service; but he assures his good subjects deavours against everything that shall be prejudicial to the establishment of the kingdom of
that he would always use his  ndeavours to  Christ. They therefore advise to begin with
suppress their religion, by executing the laws
already in.orce against papists, and in concur-'-Rushwo IY,vol. ii., part iii., p.50   Ibid., p. 31.   * Duke of Hamilton's Memoirs, book iii., p. 194
* Rushwor:, vol. ii., part iii., p. 50.   t Ibid., p. 31.   t Rushworth, vol. ii., part iii., p. 387




HISTOR.Y  OF 1'T:-E  PURITANS.                             421
hope can there be," say they, " of one confession firom desiring such a thing, that we are confiof faith, one fortm of worship and catechism, dent the most considerable persons, and those
till prelacy be plucked up root and branch, as a who make the fairest pretensions to you of that
plant which God had not planted?  Indeed, kind, will not sooner embrace a presbyterial
the Reformed kirks hold their form of govern- than you an episcopal.*  And truly it seems,
ment by presbyters to be jure divino, and per- notwithstanding whatsoever profession they
petual, but prelacy is almost universally held by have made to the contrary, that nothing has
the prelates themselves to be a human ordi- been less in their minds than settling the true
nance, and may, therefore, be altered or abol- religion, and reforming such abuses in the
ished, in cases of necessity, without wronging Church as possibly may have crept in contrary
any man's conscience; for the accomplishing to the established laws of the land, to which we
of which they promise their best assistance."   have been so far from being averse, that we
In the Parliament's answer to this letter, have pressed them to it. And Whenever any
" they acknowlege the friendship of their breth- proposition shall be made to us by them, which
ren in Scotland, and express their desires of we shall conceive may advance the unity of the
unity in religion, that in all his majesty's dornin- Protestant religion, according to the Word of
ions there might be but one confession of faith God, or establish church government according
and form of church government;- and though to the known laws of the kingdom, we shall let
th.s is hardly to be expected punctually and ex- the world see that nothing can be more agreeactly, yet they hope, since they are guided by able to us than the advancing so good a work."
the same spirit, they shall be so directed as to   Here his majesty explains the uniformity he
cast out everything that is offensive to God, all along intended, and very justly observes,
and so far agree with the Scots, and other Re- that the Parliament no more believed the Divine
formed churches, in the substantials of doc- institution of presbytery than others (lid of diotrine, worship, and discipline, that there may cesan prelacy; for though they were content,
be a free communion in all holy exercises and in order to secure the assistance of the Scots
duties of public worship, for the attaining nation, to vote away the power of archbishops
whereof they intend an assembly of godly and and bishops, yet when they had conquered the
learned divines, as soon as they can obtain the king, and had nothing to fear from their neighroyal assent.  We have entered into a serious bours, they could not be prevailed with to esconsideration," say they, " what'good we have tablish the Scots presbytery without reserving
received from the government of bishops, and the power of the keys to themselves.
do perceive it has been the occasion of many in-   Lord Clarendon very justly observes, " that
tolerable burdens and grievances, by their usurp- the Parliament were sensible they could not
ing a pre-eminence and power not given them  carry on the war but by the help of the Scots,
by the Word of God, &c. We find it has also which they were not to expect without an albden pernicious to our civil government, inso -teration of the government of the Church, to
much as the bishops have ever been forward to  which that nation was violently inclined: but
fill the minds of our princes with notions. of ar- that very much the major part of the members
bitrary power over the lives and liberties of the that continued in the Parliament-house were
subject, by their counsels and in their sermons. cordially affected to the established government,
Upon which accounts, and many others, we do at least not affected to any other."t But then,
declare, that this government, by archbishops, to induce them to consent to such an alteration,
bishops, their chancellors and commissaries, it was said the Scots would not take up arms.deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ec- without it; so that they must lose all, and let
clesiastical officers depending upon the hierar- the king return as a conqueror, or submit to the
chy, is evil, and justly offensive. and burden- change. If it should be said this would make,
some to the kingdom, a great impediment to a peace with the king impracticable, whose afreformation, and very prejudicial to the civil fection to the hierarchy all men knew, it was
government, and that we are resolved the same answered, that it was usual in treaties to ask
shall be taken away. And we desire our breth- more than was expected to be granted; and, it
ren of Scotland to concur with us in petitioning might be, that their departing from their propohis majesty that we may have an assembly of sition concerning the Church might prevail with
divines; and to send some of their own minis- the king to give them the militia. Upon these
ters to the said assembly, in order to obtain motives'the bill to abolish episcopacy was
uniformity in church government, that so a more brought into the House, and passed the Comeasy passage may be made for settling one con- mons September 1, and on the 10th of the same
fession of faith, and directory of public worship, month it passed the Lords. The noble histofor the three kingdoms."                    rian says that marvellous art and industry were
The kling, being alarmed with the harmony  used to obtain it; that the majority of the
between the two kingdoms, sent a warm re- Commons was really against it, and that it was
monstrance to the Council of Scotland, August very hardly submitted to by the House of Peers.
26, the very week he set up his standard at Not- But the writer of the Parliamentary Chronicle,
tingham, in which he declares,              who was then at London, says, the bill passed
" That he desired uniformity as much as they, nullo contrradicente, not a negative vote being
in such a way as he in his conscience thought heard among them all, and that there were bonmost serviceable to the true Protestant religion; fires and ringing of bells for joy all over the
but that his two houses of Parliament had nev- city.t
er made any proposition to him  since their   The bill was entitled, "An Act for the utter
meeting concerning uniformity of church government; so far," says his majesty, " are they    * Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 117.
* Rushworth, vol. ii. part iii., p. 390.  j Parliamentary Chronicle. p. 150.




422                      HISTORY OF. THE PURITANS.
abolishing and taking away of all archbishops, but as the bill for extirpating episcopacy was
bishops, their chancellors and commissaries," not to take place till above a year forward, it
&c.                                           is apparent they were willing it should not take
It ordains, that " after the fifth of November, place at all, if in that time they could come to
1643, there shall be no archbishop, bishop, chan- an accommodation with the king; and if the
cellor, or commissary of any archbishop or breach should then remain, they proposed to
bishop, nor any dean, sub-dean, dean and chap- consult with an assembly of divines what form
ter, archdeacon, nor any chancellor, chanter, to erect in its stead.  Thus the old English hietreasurer, sub-treasurer, succentor, or sacrist, rarchy lay prostrate for about eighteen years,
of any cathedral or collegiate church, nor any  although never legally abolished for want of the
prebendary, canon, canon-residentiary, petty  royal assent; and therefore, at the restoration
canon, vicar choral, chorister, old vicars or new  of King Charles II., it took place again, without
vicars, of or within any cathedral or collegiate any new law to restore it; which the Presbychurches in England or Wales.-That their terians, who were then in the saddle, not undernames, titles, jurisdictions, offices, and func- standing, did not provide against as they might.
tions, and the having or using any jurisdiction    While the king and Parliament were thus
or power, by reason or colour of any such  strengthening themselves, and calling in severnames and titles, shall cease, determine, and  ally all the succours they could get, the scene
become absolutely void.                        of the war began to open; his majesty travelled
"That all the manors, lordships, castles, with a large retinue into several of the northern
messuages, lands, tenements, rents, and all and western counties, summoning the people
other possessions and hereditaments whatso- together, and in set speeches endeavouring to
ever, belonging to any archbishopric or bishop- possess them of the justice of his cause, promric, shall be in the real and actual possession  ising, upon the word of a king, that for the fuand seisin of the king's majesty, his heirs and  ture he would govern by law.  Upon this assusuccessors, to hold and enjoy in as ample a rance, about forty lords, and several members
manner as they were held by any archbishop or who had deserted* the House of Commons, signbishop within two years last past, except im- ed an engagement to defend his majesty's perpropriations, parsonages, appropriate tithes, ob- son and prerogative, to support the Protestant
lations, obventions, pensions, portions of tithes, religion established by law, and not to submit
parsonages, vicarages, churches, chapels, ad- to any ordinance of Parliament concerning the
vowsons, nominations, collations, rights of pat- militia that had not the royal assent.  Great
ronage and presentation.                       numbers listed in his majesty's service, whereby
"That all impropriations, parsonages, tithes, an army was formed, which marched a second
&c., and all other hereditaments and posses- time to the siege of Hull.
sions whatsoever, belonging to any dean, sub-   * Bishop Warburton censures Mr. Neal for using
dean and chapter, archdeacon, or any of their the word "deserted," "which." he says, "is a party
officers, be put into the hands of trustees, to pay word, and implies betraying their trust." His lordto all and every archbishop, bishop, dean, sub- ship owns that the conduct of the members, who left
dean, archdeacon, and all other officers belong- the House and retired to the king, was so called by
ing to collegiate and cathedral churches, such  the Parliament; but an historian's adopting, in this
yearly stipends and pensions as shall be appoint- case, the term which impeaches their fidelity, he
considers "taking for granted the thing in dispute."
ed by Parliament.  And they shall disposeof But, with his lordship's leave, his stricture confounds
all the aforesaid manors, lands, tithes, appropri- the province of the historian with that of the mere
ations, advowsons, &c., for a competent main- chronologist. The former does not merely detail
tenance for the support of such a number of events, but investigates their causes, and represents
preaching ministers in every cathedral and col- their connexion and influence. It is not easy to say
legiate church as shall be appointed by Parlia- how he can do this, without forming and expressing
nent; and for the maintenance of preaching  a decided opinion on them. That opinion does not
ministers in other places of the country where bind the reader, nor is the impartiality of the histomiisters i other places of the coutry where rian violated, if facts are fairly and fully stated. In
such maintenance is wanting; and for such  the case before us, it may be farther urged, that the
other good uses, to the advancement of religion, word " deserted" not only conveyed Mr. Neal's idea
piety, and learning, as shall be directed by Par- of the conduct of the members who left the Parlialiament.                                       ment, but truly represented it. They forsook the
"Provided, that all revenues and rents as seats to which they were elected; they left the post,have been, and now ought to be, paid for the which was assigned to them; and they withdrew
maintenance of grammar-schools or scholars, or from the stage of debate and action, to which the
maintenance of grama-schools or scholars, or king's writ had called, and to which the voice
for the repairing any church, chapel, highway, of their constituents had sent them. They were
causeway, bridges, schoolhouse, almshouse, or representatives, chosen to act in conjunction with
other charitable uses, payable by any of the per- the other representatives: instead of proceeding on
sons whose offices are taken away by this act, this principle, they formed a separate junto and facshall be continued. Provided, also, that this act tion. The first duty of a representative is to fulfil
shall not extend to any college, church, corpo- the trust repose il him. The word "deserted,"
ration, foundation, or house of learning in either says his lordship, is a party word: grant it. Yet the
of the universities."                          use of it was not inconsistent with the impartiality
of the historian: for though it should not give the
It may seem  strange that the Parliament most. favourable idea of the conduct of these memshould abolish the present establishment before bers, it conveys the judgment which the Parliament
they had agreed on another, but the Scots had of it; and of the rectitude of this judgment the
would not declare for them till they had done it. reader is still left to form his own smtiments. The
Had the two houses been inclined to presbytery matter at the time was considered in the most seri
(as some have maintained), it would have been  ous light, and greatly alarmed and distressed all who
easy to aave adopted the Scots model at once; loved the peace of the nation.-See Mays Parlia
mentary History, p. 58, &c.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.'423
A week after the king was set down before sword was drawn which was drenched in the
this fortress, and not before [July 121 the two blood of the inhabitants of this island for severhouses, after long debates, came to this resolu- al years, to the loss of as many Protestant lives
tion, that an army should be raised for the de- as perished by the insurrection and massacre of
fence of the king and Parliament, that the Earl Ireland.
of Essex should be captain-general, and the
Earl of Bedford general of the horse., who were
empowered to resist and oppose with force all             CHAPTER XII.
such whom they should find in arms, putting in
THE STATE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.~-TH
execution the king's commission of array. The THE STATE OF THE CHUCH OF ENHLAN.THE
reasons of this resolution arising from the king's EELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF BOTH PAETIES,
extraordinary preparations for war, were pub-   WITH A SUMMARY OF THE GROUNDS OF THE
lished at the same time; and in their declaration of August 4, they say, " that they would   WE have already seen the unsettled state of
have yielded up everything to the king, could religion upon the king's progress into Scotland,
they have been assured that by disarming them- with the complaints of the Royalists for want of
selves they should not have been left naked, decency and uniformity. The hierarchy had
while the military sword was in the hands of for some time been a dead weight, the springs
those evil counsellors who, they had reason to that moved it being stopped by the imprisonfear, had vowed the destruction of the two hous- ment of the bishops and the check that was
es, and, through their sides, of the Protestant given to the spiritual courts; but now the whole
religion; but, being well acquainted with their fabric was taken down after a year, though
designs, they apprehend that their duty to God when that was expired no other discipline was
and their country obliges them to hazard every- erected in its room; nor was the name, style,
thing for the maintenance of Ve true religion, and dignity of archbishops and bishops taken
the king's person, honour, and estate, and the away by ordinance of Parliament till Septemliberties of England."  On the 9th of August ber 5, 1646, that is, till the war was over, and
the king proclaimed the Earl of Essex and all the king a prisoner:  In this interval there
his adherents traitors, unless they laid down was properly no established form  of governtheir arms within six days; and in another ment, the clergy being permitted to read more
manifesto declared both houses of Parliament or less of the liturgy as they pleased,* and to
guilty of high treason, and forbid all his subjects govern their parishes according to their disto yield obedience to them. The Parliament, cretion. T'lhe vestments were left indifferent,
also, on their part, proclaimed all who adhered  some wearing them, and others, in imitation of
to the king in this cause traitors against the. the foreign Protestants, making use of a cloak.
Parliament and the kingdorn.*  August 12, the February 2, 1642-3, the Commons ordered that
king by proclamation commanded all his sub- the statute of the University of Cambridge,
jects on the north of Trent, and within twenty  which imposes the use of the surplice upon all
miles south of it, to appear in arms for the sup- students and graduates, should not be pressed,
pressing the rebels that were marching against as being against the law and liberty of the subhim; and about the same time issued out an- ject; and three days after, they made the same
other proclamation, requiring all men who could order for the schools of Westminster, Eton,
bear arms to repair to him at Nottingham, where and Winchester.  Bishop Kennet says that
he intended to set up his standard on Monday, tithes were denied to those who read common
August 22. In the mean time, his majesty gave prayer; and it is as true, that they were without new commissions to augment his forces, held from those that did not read it; for many,
and marching through Lincoln, took away the taking advantage of the confusion of the times,
arms of the train-bands for the use of his'troops. eased themselves of a burden for which some
At length, being arrived at the appointed place, few pleaded conscience, and others the uncerhe caused his standard to be erected in the open tain title of those that claimed them.
field, on the outside of the castle wall, at Not-   Though the Parliament and Puritan clergy
tingham, but very few canle to attend it; and were averse to cathedral-worship, that is, to a
the weather proving stormy and tempestuous, it variety of musical instruments, choristers, singwas blown down the same evening, and could ing of prayers, anthems, &c., as unsuitable to
not be fixed again in two days. Three weeks the solemnity and simplicity of Divine service,
after this [Septetiiber 9], the Earl of Essex, the yet was it not prohibited; and though the revParliament's general, left London, to put him- enues of prebendaries and deans, &c., had been
self at the head of their army of fifteen thousand voted useless, and more fit to be applied to the
men at St. Alban's. The Icing, with an army of maintenance of preaching ministers, yet the
equal strength, marched from  Nottingham  to stipends of those who did not take part with
Shrewsbury, and having refreshed his forces the king were not sequestered till the latter
there for some time, broke up Ootober 12, in or- end of the year 1645, when it was ordained,
der to march directly for London; but the Earl " that the deans and prebendaries of Westmrinof Essex putting himself in the way, both ster who absented themselves, or were delinarmies engaged at Edgehill, near Keinton, in
Warwickshire, on Sunday, October 23, the very   * Here, as Dr. Grey observes, is an inaccuracy.
same day twelvemonth after the breaking out The use of the liturgy was not permitted during the
of the Irish massacre; the battle continued from  whole of this interval, as appears by Mr. Neal's own
three in- the afternoon'till night, with almost account, vol. iii.; for it was prohibited, and the diequal advantage, the number of slain on both rectory established in its room, previously to the
sides  being about four thousand.  Thus the abolition of the episcopal titles and dignity, by ordinances of Parliament on the 3d of January, 1644-5,
~ Rapin, vol. ii., 1). 457, folio edition.  and 23d of August, 1645. -E.




424                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
quents, or had not taken the covenant, should 1  The set times of humiliation mentioned in
be suspended from  their several offices and the ordinance refers to the monthly fast applaces, except Mr. Osbaldeston;"  but the pointed by the king at the request of the Parnames, titles, and offices of deans and chapters liament [January 8, 1641], on account of the
were not abolished till after the king's death, in Irish insurrection and massacre, to be observed
the year 1649, the Parliament proceeding with every last Wednesday in the month as long as
some caution as long as there was any pros- the calamities of that nation should require it.
pect of an accommodation with the king. In- But when the king set up his standard at Notdeed, the beauty of the cathedrals was in some tingham, the two houses, apprehending that
measure defaced about this time, by the ordi- England was now to be the seat of war, pubnance for the removing crucifixes, images, pic- lished an ordinance for the more strict obsertures, and other monuments of superstition, out vation of this fast, in order to implore a Divine
of churches.  Many fine paintings in the win- blessing upon the consultations of Parliament,
dows and on the walls were broken and de- and to deprecate the calamities that threatened
stroyed, without a decent repair of the damage. this nation. All preachers were enjoined to
In Lambeth Chapel the organ was taken down give notice of it from the pulpit the preceding
[November 25].  The following summer, the Lord's Day, and to exhort their hearers to a
paintings, pictures, superstitious ornaments, solemn and religious observation of the whole
and images were defaced or removed out of day, by a devout attendance on the service of
the Cathedrals of Canterbury, Rochester, Chi- God in some church or chapel, by abstinence,
chester, Winchester, Worcester, Lincoln, Litch- i and by refraining from  worldly business and
field, Salisbury, Gloucester, St. Paul's in Lon- diversions: all public-houses are likewise fordon, the Collegiate Church of Westminster,  bid to sell any sorts of liquors (except in cases
&c. "But," says my author, "I do not find of necessity) till the public exercises and relithat they then seized the revenues and estates gious duties of.the day were ended; which
of the cathedrals, but contented themselves continued with little or no intermission firom
with plundering and imprisoning- some of the nine in the morning till four in the afternoon,
principal members, and dispersing many of the during which time the people were at their derest; and several of those places coming after- votions, and the ministers engaged in one part
ward into his majesty's hands, the service did or other of Divine worship.
not wholly cease, nor were the doors of those    But, besides the monthly fast, the opening of
stately fabrics finally closed at that time."  the war gave rise to another exercise of prayer
Though the discipline of the Chusth was at and exhortation to repentance for an hour
an end, there was, nevertheless, an uncommon every morning in the week.  Most of the citispirit of devotion among the people in the Par- zens of London having some near relation or
liament quarters; the Lord's Day was observed  friend in the army of the Earl of Essex, so
with remarkable strictness, the churches being many bills were sent up to the pulpit every
crowded with numerous and attentive hearers Lord's Day for their preservation, that tlhe rainthree or four times in the day; the officers of ister had neither time to read them nor to recthe peace patrolled the streets and shut up all ormmend their cases to God in prayer; it was
public-houses; there was no travelling on the therefore agreed, by some London divines, to
road, or walking in the fields, except in cases separate an hour for this purpose every mornof absolute necessity. Religious exercises were ing, one half to be spent in prayer, and the
set up in private families, as reading the Scrip- other in a suitable exhortation to the people.
tures, family prayer, repeating sermons, and The Reverend Mr. Case, minister of St. Mary
singing of psalms, which was so universal that Magdalen, Milk-street, began it in his church
you might walk through the city of London on at seven in the morning, and when it had conthe evening of the Lord's Day without seeing tinued there a month, it was removed by turns
an idle person, or hearing anything but the voice to other churches at a distance, for the accomof prayer or praise from churches and private modation of the several parts of the city, and
houses.                                       was called the morning exercise. The service
As is usual in times of public calamity, so at was performed by divers ministers, and earnest
the breaking out of the civil war, all public di- intercessions were made, in the presence of a
versions and recreations were laid aside.  By numerous and crowded audience, for the welan ordinance of September 2, 1642, it was de- fare of the public as well as particular cases.
clared, that " whereas public sports do not agree When the heat of the war was over it became
with public calamities, nor public stage-plays a casuistical lecture, and was carried on by
with the seasons of humiliation, this being an the most learned and able divines till the resexercise of sad and pious solemnity, the other toration of King Charles II.  Their sermons
being spectacles of pleasure too commonly ex- were afterward published in several volumes
pressing lascivious mirth and levity, it is there- quarto, under the title of the Morning Exerfore ordained that, while these sad causes cises,* each sermon being the resolution of
and set times of humiliation continue, public some practical case of conscience. This leestage-plays shall cease and be forborne; in-  -  These Morning Exercises are now to be procured
stead of which are recommended to the people but rarely; they consist of seven small quarto volof this land the profitable duties of repentance, simes, including a supplemental one, and are in great
and making their peace with God."*           demand. They are regarded as furnishing one of
the best compends of theology in the English lan* Rushworth, vol. ii., part iii., p. 1. It is worthy guage. No library of any pretensions should be
uo notice how decorous and truly respectable are all without this admirable work; and although it is
the public acts of the Parliament, and how little they very expensive, it will repay the owner. The unriappear like the productions of enthusiasts or fanat- valled volume on Popery is about to be republished
ics. —C.                                     at Boston.-C.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    425
ture, though in a different form, is continued  tintied, none of the enthusiastic follies, that
among the Protestant Dissenters to this day.   were afterward a reproach to the army, discovSome time after, another morning lecture was  ered themselves.  There were among them
set up in the abbey-church of Westminster, be- some who afterward-joined the sectaries; some
tween the hours of six and eight, for the bene- who were mercenaries, and (if we may believe
fit of that part of the town, and especially of his majesty's declaration after the battle of
the members of Parliament; it was carried on  Edgehill) some who were disguised papists;
by Dr. Staunton, Mr. Nye, Marshal, Palmer, but, upon the whole, Lord Clarendon confesses,
Herle, Whitaker, and Hill, all members of the  there was an exact discipline in the army; that
Assembly of Divines.  In short, there were  they neither plundered nor robbed the country;
lectures and sermons every day in the week in  all complaints of this kind being redressed in
one church or another, which were well at- the best manner, and the offenders punished.
tended, and with great appearance of zeal and  The Rev. Mr. Baxter, who was himself in the
affection. Men were not backward to rise be- army, gives this account of them:* " The genfore day, and go to places of worship at a great erality of those people throughout England who
distance, for the benefit of hearing the Word of went by the name of Puritans, Precisians, PresGod. Such was the devotion ofthe cityof Lon- byterians, who followed sermons, prayed in
don and parts adjacent in these dangerous times! their families, read books of devotion, and were
Nor was the reformation of manners less re- strict observers of the Sabbath, being avowed
markable; the laws against vice and profane- enemies to swearing, drunkenness, and al'
ness were so strict, and so rigorously put in  kinds of profaneness, adhered to the Parliaexecution, that wickedness was forced to hide  ment: with these were mixed some young
itself in corners.  There were no gaming- persons of warm heads and enthusiastic prinhouses, or houses of pleasure; ne profane  ciples, who laid the foundation of those sects
swearing, drunkenness, or any kind of debauch- and divisions which afterward spread over the
ery, to be seen or heard in the streets.  It is whole nation, and were a disgrace to the cause
commonly said that the religion of these times  which the Parliament had espoused. Of the
was no better than hypocrisy and dissimula- clergy, those who were of the sentiments of
tion; and, without all doubt, there were num- Calvin, who were constant preachers of the
bers of men who made the form of godliness a  Word of God themselves, and encouragers of it
cloak to dishonesty; nay, it is probable that in others; who were zealous against popery,
hypocrisy, and other secret immoralities, might and wished for a reformation of the discipline
be the prevailing sins of the age, all open vices  of the Church, were on the Parliament's side.
being suppressed; but still I am persuadedmthat Among these were some of the elder clergy,
the body of the people were sincerely religious, who were preferred before the rise of Archand, with all their faults, I should rejoice to  bishop Laud; all the deprived and silenced
see, in our days, such an appearance of religion, ministers, with the whole body of lecturers and
and all kinds of vice and profaneness so effect- warm  popular preachers both in town and
ually discountenanced.                        country; these drew after them great numbers
If we go from  the city to the camp of the  of the more serious and devout people, who
Earl of Essex, we shall find no less probity of were not capable of judging between the king
manners among them, most of his soldiers be- and Parliament, but followed their spiritual
ing men who did not fight so much for pay as guides from a veneration that they had for their
for religion and the liberties of their country. integrity and piety. Many went unto the ParMr. Whitelocke observes,* "that Colonel Crom- liament, and filled up their armies afterward,
well's regiment of horse were most of them   merely because they heard men swear for the
freeholders' sons, who engaged in the war upon  common prayer and bishops, and heard others
principles of conscience; and that, being well pray that were against them: because they
armed within by the satisfaction of their con- heard the king's soldiers, with horrid oaths,
sciences, and without with good iron arms, they  abuse the name of God, and saw them  live in
would as one man stand firmly and charge des- debauchery, while the Parliament soldiers flockperately."  The same authort adds, " that Col- ed to sermons, talked of religion, and prayed
onel Wilson, who was heir to an estate of and sung psalms together on their guards. And
~2000 a year, and was the only son of his fa- all the sober men that I was acquainted with,
ther, put himself at the head of a gallant regi- who were against the Parliament," says Mr.
ment of citizens, who listed themselves in the  Baxter, " used to say the king had the better
Parliament's service purely upon conscience;  cause, but the Parliament had the better men."t
this," says he, "was the condition of many    The  Puritarn  [or Parliament] clergy were
others also of like quality and fortune in those  zealous Calvinists, and having been prohibited
times, who had such an affection for their reli- for some years from preaching against the Argion, and the rights and liberties of their coun- minians, they now pointed all their artillery
try, that pro earis et focis they were willing to  against them, insisting upon little else in their
undergo any hardships or dangers, and tlhought     Baxter's Lif   26 31 33, c., fl.
no service too much or too great for their coun-      To the  uthoritpies  od  by Mr. N, Bishop
try."  The most eminent divines served as Warburton opposes that of Oliver Cromwell, who, in
chaplains to the several regiments; Dr. Bur- his speech to his Parliament, represented the Presbyges and Mr. Marshall were chaplains to the  terian armies of the Parliament as chiefly made up,
Earl of Essex's regiment; Dr. Downing to  before the self-denying ordinance, of decayed" servLord Roberts's; Mr. Sedgwick to Colonel Hol- ing-men, broken tapsters, and men without any sense
lis's; Dr. Spurstow to Mr. Hamprde's; Mr. of religion; and that it was his business to inspire
Aske to Lord Brooks's, &c. While these con- that spirit of religion into his troops"on the reform, to
oppose the principle of honour in the king's troops,
* Memorials, p. 68.           t Ibid., p. 72.   made up of gentlemen."-ED.
VOL. 1.-H H H




426                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
sermons but the doctrines of predestination, l lers both of Church and State, and preachers ol
justification by faith alone, salvation by free sedition and treason itself."  Lord Clarendon
grace, and the inability of man to do that which' says, " that under the notion of reformation,
is good. The duties of the second table were too i and extirpating popery, they infused seditious
much neglected; from a strong aversion to Ar- I inclinations into the hearts of men against the
minianismn, these divines, unhappily, made way present government of the Church and State;
for Antinomianism, verging from one extreme that when the army was raised they contained
to another, till, at length, some of the weaker themselves within no bounds, and inveighed as
sort were lost in the wild mazes of enthusias- freely against the person of the king as they
tic dreams and visions, and others, from false had before against the worse malignants, proprinciples, pretended to justify the hidden works fanely and blasphemously applying what had
of dishonesty.  The Assembly of Divines did been spoken by the prophets against the most
what they could to put a stop to the growth of wicked and impious kings, to stir up the people
these pernicious errors; but the great scarcity  against their most gracious sovereign."  His
of preachers of a learned education, who took lordship adds, " that the Puritan clergy were
part with the Parliament, ieft some pulpits in  the chief incendiaries, and had the chief influthe country empty, and the people to be led ence in promoting the civil war. The Kirk
aside, in many places, by every bold pretender reformation in Scotland and in this kingdom,"
to inspiration.                             says his lordship, " was driven on by no men
" The generality of the stricter and more dil- so much as those of their clergy; and, without
igent sort of preachers," says Mr. Baxter, "join- doubt, the Archbishop of Canterbury never had
ed the Parliament, and took shelter in their such an influence over the councils at court as
garrisons; but they were almost all conforma- Dr. Burges and Mr. Marshal had then on the
ble ministers; the laws and the bishops having houses; nor did all the bishops of Scotland tocast out the Nonconformists long enough be- gether so much meddle in temporal affairs as
fore, and not left above two in a county: Mr. Henderson had done."*
those who made up the Assembly of Divines,   Strange! when the Scots bishops were adand who, through the land, were the honour of vanced to the highest posts of honour and civil
the Parliament party, were almost all such as trust in that kingdom, and when Archbishop
till then had conformed, and took the ceremo- Laud had the direction of all public affairs in
nies to be lawful in cases of necessity, but England for twelve years together.  Wras not
longed to have that necessity removed."  He the archbishop at the head of the council-table,
admits " that the younger and less experienced the Star Chamber, and the Court of High Comministers in the country were against amend- mission? Was not his grace the contriver or
ing the bishops and liturgy, apprehending this promoter of all the monopolies and oppressions
was but gilding over their danger; but that that brought on the civil war? What could the
this was not the sense of the Parliament, nor Puritan clergy do like this? Had they any plaof their principal divines. The matter of bish- ces of profit or trust under the government, or
ops or no bishops," says he, " was not the any commissions in the ecclesiastical courts i
main thing, except with the Scots, for thou- Did they amass to themselves great riches or
sands that wished for good bishops were on the large estates?  No; they renounced all civil
Parliament side. Almost all those afterward power and jurisdiction, as well as lordly titles
called Presbyterians, and all that learned and and dignities, and were, for the most part, conpious synod at Westminster, except a very few, tent with a very moderate share of the world.
had been Conformists, and kept up an honour- If they served the Parliament cause, it was in
able esteem for those bishops that they thought visiting their parishioners, and by their sermons
religious, as Archbishop Usher, Bishop Dave- from the pulpits: here they spent their zeal,
nant, Hall, Moreton, &c.  These would have praying and preaching as men who were in
been conterit with an amendment of the hierar- earnest for what they apprehended the cause
chy, and went into the Parliament because of God and their country. But it is easy to
they apprehended the interests of religion and remark, that the noble historian observes no
civil liberty were on that side."*          measure with the Puritan clergy when they fall
But the political principles of these divines in his way.
gave the greatest disgust to the Royalists; they   Nor were the Parliament divines the chief
encouraged the people to stand by the Parlia- incendiaries between the king and people, if we
ment, and preached up the lawfulness of de- may believe Mr. Baxter, who knew the Purifending their religion and liberties against the tans of those times much better than his lordking's evil counsellors. They were for a limit- ship. " It is not true," says this divine,t "that
ed monarchy, agreeable to our present happy they stirred up the people to war; there was
Constitution, for which, and for what they ap- hardly one such man in a county, though they
prehended the purity of the Protestant religion, disliked the late innovations, and were glad the
they contended, and for nothing more; but for Parliament were attempting a reformation."
this they have suffered in their moral charac- They might inveigh too freely in their sermons
ter, and have been left upon record as rebels, against the vices of the clergy and the severin
traitors, enemies to God and their king, &c.t ties of the late times, but in all the first serHIis majesty, in one of his declarations, calls mons that I have read,$ for some years after
them " ignorant in learning, turbulent and seditious in disposition, scandalous in life, uncon-  Vol. i., p. 302.    t Baxter's Life, p. 34.
formable to the laws of the land, libellers, revi-   t Dr. Grey, who mistakes this for the assertion of,   Baxter instead of Mr. Neal, opposes to it his own remark on the fast-sermons between the year 1640 and
* Baxter's Life, p 33, 35, 37.       I the death of the king: from which, he says, he could
f Husband's Collections, p. 514, &c.  I produce hundreds of instances for the disproof of




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     427
the beginning of the war, I have met with no into their hands, managed it very little better
reflections upon the person of the king, but a than their predecessors the bishops.*
religious observation of that political maxim,   The clergy who. espoused the king's cause
The king can do no wrong.                     were the bench of bishops, the whole body of
Hs lordship adds, that "they profanely and  the cathedral, and the major part of the paroblasphemously applied what had been spoken  chial clergy, with the heads and most of the felby the prophets against the most wicked and lows of both universities, among whom were
most impious kings, to stir up the people against men of the first rank for learning, politeness,
their most gracious sovereign.  If this were piety, and probity. of manners, as Archbishop
really the case, yet the king's divines came not Usher, Bishop Hall, Moreton, Westfield, Brownbehind them in applying the absolute dominion  rigge, Prideaux, Dr. Hammond, Saunderson,
of the kings'of Judah in support of the unbound- &c., who joined the king, not merely for the
ed prerogatives of the kings of England, and in sake of their preferments, but because they becursing the Parliament, and pronouncing dam- lieved the unlawfulness of subjects resisting
nation upon all who died in their service.  I their sovereign in any case whatsoever. Among
could produce a large catalogue of shocking ex- the parochial clergy weri mpn of no less name
pressions to this purpose, but I wish such of- and character.  Lord Clarendont says, "that
fences buried in oblivion, and we ought not to if the sermons of those times preached at court
form our judgments of great bodies of men from  were collected together and published, the world
the excesses of a few.                        would receive the best bulk of orthodox divinWe shall have an opportunity hereafter to  ity, profound learning, convincing reason, natcompare the learning of the Puritan divines* ural, powerfili eloqience, and admirable devo
with the Royalists, when it will appear that tion, that hath been communicated in any age
there were men of no less eminence for litera- since the apostles' time." And yet, in the very
ture with the Parliament than with the king, as same page, he adds, " There was sometimes
the Seldens, the Lightfoots, the Cudworths, the preached there matter very unfit for the place,
Pococks, the Whichcotes, the Arrowsmiths, and scandalous for the persons." I submit this
&c.; but as to their morals, their very adver- paragraph to the reader's judgment; for I must
saries will witness for them.  Dr. G. Bates, an confess, that after having read over several of
eminent Royalist, in his Elenchus, gives them  these court-sermons, I have not been able to
this character: 1"Moribus severis essent, in discover all that learning and persuasive eloconcionibus vehementes, precibus et piis officiis quence which his lordship admires; nor can
prompti, uno verbo ad caetera boni," i. e., " They  much be said for their orthodoxy, if the Thirtywere men of severe and strict morals, warm  nine Articles be the. standard.  But whatever
and affectionate preachers, fervent in prayer, decency was observed at court, there was hardready to all pious offices, and, in a word, other- Ily a sermon preached by the inferior clergy
wise [that is, abating their political principles] within the king's quarters, wherein the Parliagood men."  And yet, with all their goodness, ment divines were not severely exposed and
they were unacquainted with the rights of con- ridiculed under the character of Puritans, Prescience, and when they got the spiritual sword  cisians, Formalists, Sabbatarians, canting hypocrites, &c.  Such was the sharpness of men's
what is said above. As a specimen, he quotes many spirits on both sides!
passages from sermons of the most popular and lead-    Among the count  ry c there was great
ing men of those times. Some of these passages, it room for complaints, many of them being pluappears to me, point strongly at the king, and go to ralists, nonresidents, ignorant and illiterate,
prove that royal personages are amenable for evil negligent of their cures, seldom or never visitconduct. But, besides that they are given detached  ing their parishioners, or discharging any more
from their connexion, it is to be considered, that if of their function than would barely satisfy the
Mr. Neal had read the same discourses, they would la   They took advantage of the Book of Sprts
affect his mind differently from what they did Dr.
Grey, who, through all his animadversions, appears to attend their parishioners to their wakes and
to have looked upon Charles as an immaculate revels, by which means many of them became
prince, and to have been a disciple to the advocates scandalously immoral in their conversations.
for passive obedience and nonresistance.-ED.  Even Dr. Walker admits that there were among
M r. Neal is here charged with contradicting them men of wicked lives, and such as were a
what he had said p. 159, where he speaks of "the reproach and scandal to their function; the pargreat scarcity of preachers of a learned education." ticulars of which bad better have been buried
This is said when Mr. Neal is representing the difficulty the Assembly of Divines had to supply the pulpits through the country. This might be the case   The common people that filled up the king's
when speaking of the kingdom atlarge, and yet there army were of the looser sort; and even the
might be some of no less eminence for literature than chief officers, as Lord Goring, Granville, Wilany who sided with the king. Mr. Neal gives the mot, and others, were men of profligate lives,
names of such; but Bishop Warburton will not allow  and made a jest of religion; the private sentithat they were of the Parliament party: " the most nels were soldiers of fortune, and not, having
that can be said of them is," he adds, " that they sub-  their regular pay, lived for the most part upon
mitted to the power." But their acting with the Assembly of Divines was certainly more than a sub- fiee plunder.  When they took possession of a
mission to power-it was taking a lead in the affairs town, they rifled the houses of all who were
of the Parliament; this, if the cause had been repug- called Puritans, and turned their families out of
nant to their principles, they might, and as honest doors.  Mr. Baxter says, "that when he lived
men would, have declined doing, as did Bishop Ush- at Coventry, after the battle of Edgehill, there
er, Dr. Holdsworth, and the other Episcopalian di.wines, who were also chosen to attend the assembly,   * See also the testimony of Wood and others.-C
but who stayed away from it, because it was not, in   t Vol. i., p. 77.
their opinion, a legal convocation.-ED.         t Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 72.




428                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
were above thirty worthy ministers in that city  farmers, and, -in general, the middle ranks cJ
who had fled thither for refuge from the soldiers people, siding with the Parliament.
and popular fury, as he himself also had done,   It is of little consequence to inquire who bethough they had never meddled in the wars. gan this unnatural and bloody war. None will
Among these were the Reverend Mr. Vines, blame them, on whose part it was just arid unaMr. Anthony Burgess, Mr. Burdal, Mr. Brom- voidable, for taking all necessary precautions in
shil, Dr. Bryan, Grew, Craddock, and others. their defence, and making use of such advanAnd here," says he, " I must repeat the great tages as Providence put into their hands to decause of the Parliament's strength and of the  feat the designs of the enemy, and nothing can
king's ruin: the debauched rabble, encouraged  excuse the other. His majesty professed before
by the gentry, and seconded by the common  God to his nobles at York, that he had no insoldiers of his army, took all that were called  tention to make war upon his Parliament. And
Puritans for their enemies; so that if any man  in his last speech upon the scaffold, he affirms
was noted for a strict and famous preacher, or "' that he did not begin a war with the two housfor a man of a precise and pious life, he was es of Parliament, but that they began with him
plundered, abused and put in danger of his life; upon the point of the militia; and if anybody
if a man prayed in his family, or was heard to  will look upon the dates of the commissions,"
repeat a sermon or sing a psalm, they present- says his majesty, "theirs and mine, they will
ly cried out rebels, roundheads, and all their see clearly that they began these unhappy troubmoney and goods proved guilty, however inno- les, and not I."  Yet, with all due submission
cent they were themselves. Upon my certain  to so great an authority, were the dates of comknowledge, it was this that filled the armies missionsifor raising the militia the beginning of
and garrisons of the Parliament with sober and  the war   Were not the crown-jewels first
pious men. Thousands had no mind to meddle pawned in Holland, and arms, ammunition, and
in the wars, but to live peaceably at home, if artillery sent over to the king at York? Did
the rage of the soldiers and drunkards would  not his majesty summon the gentlemen  and
have suffered them.  Some stayed at home till freeholders to attend him as'an extraordinary
they had been imprisoned; some till they had  guard, in his progress in the North, and appear
been plundered twice or thrice over, and had  before Hull in a warlike manner, before the raisnothing left; others were quite tired out with  ing the militia 1  Were not these warlike prepthe insolence of their neighbours, with being  arations?  Dr. Welwood says. and I think all
quartered upon, and put in continual danger otf impartial judges must allow, that they look very
their lives, and so they sought refuge in the  much that way. Mr. Echard is surprised that
Parliament garrisons."'                      "the king did not put himself into a posture of
This was so notorious, that at length it came  defence sooner;"* but he would have ceased
to the king's ear, who, out of mere compassion  to wonder if he had remembered the words of
to his distressed subjects, issued out a procla- Lord Clarendon: "' The reason why the king did
mation, bearing date November 25, 1642, for not raise forces sooner was, because he had neithe better government of his army; the pream- ther arms nor ammunition, and till these could
ble of' which sets forth, "' that his majesty, hav- be procured from Holland, let his provocations
ing taken into his princely consideration the and sufferings be what they would, he was to
great misery and ruin of his subjects, by the submit and bear it patiently." It was, therefore,
plundering, robbing, and spoiling of their hous- no want of will, but mere necessity, that hines, and taking from'them their money, plate, dered the king's appearing in arms sooner than
householi-stuff, cattle, and other goods, under he did. Father Orleans confesses that it was
pretence of their being disaffected to us and our agreed with the queen, in the cabinet-council
service, and these unlawful and unjust actions at Windsor, that while her majesty was negotidone by divers soldiers of our army, and others ating in Holland, the king should retire to York,
sheltering themselves under that title; his maj- and there make his first levies.  He adds,  that
esty, detesting such barbarous proceedings, for- all mankind believed that his majesty was underbids his officers and soldiers to make any such  hand preparing for war, that the sword might cut
seizures for the future without his warrant. asunder those knots he had made with his pen."
And if they go on to plunder and spoil the peo-   In order to excuse the unhappy king, who was
ple, by taking away their money, plate, house- sacrificed in the house of his friends, a load of
hold goods, oxen, sheep, or other cattle, or any  guilt is with great justice laid upon the queen,
victuals, corn, hay, or other provisions, going to  who had a plenitude of power over his majesty,
or firom  any market, without making satisfac- and could turn him about which way she pleased.
tion, his majesty orders them to be proceeded  Bishop Burnet says, " that by the liveliness of
against by martial law."  This was as much as her discourse she made great impressions upon
the king could do in his present circumstances; the king; so that to the queen's want of judgyet it had very little effect, for his majesty hav- ment, and the king's own temper, the sequel of
ing neither money nor stores for his army, tle all his misfortunes was owing."t Bishop Kenofficers could maintain no discipline, and were  net adds, that " the king's match with the lady
forced to connive at their living at fiee quarter was a greater judgment upon the nation than
upon the people.                             the plague which then raged in the land; and
TI'hus this unhappy nation was miserably har- that the influence of a stately queen over an afassed, and thrown into terrible convulsions by  fectionate husband proved very fatal both to
an unnatural civil war-the nobility and gentry, prince and people, and laid in a vengeance for
with their dependants, being chiefly with the future generations."  The queen was a great
king; the merchants, tradesmen, substantial   * Memoirs, p. 64.
t History of his Life and Times, vol. i., p. 39,
* Baxter's Life, p. 44.         Scotch edition.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      429
bigot to her religion, and was directed by her dissolved, even to the present, which would,
father confessor to protect the Roman Catho- undoubtedly, have been treated in the same
lies, even to the hazard of the king's crown and  manner, had it not been for the Act of Contindignity. Though his majesty usually consulted  nation.*
her in all affairs of state, yet she sometimes    On the other hand, a spirit of English liberty
presumed to act without him, and to make use of had been growing in the nation for some years,
his name without his knowledge.  " It was the  and the late oppressions, instead of extinguishqueen that made all the great officers of state,"  ing it, had only kept it underground, till, having
says Lord Clarendon: "no preferments were  collected more strength, it burst out with the
bestowed without her allowance."  She was  greater violence; the patriots of the Constituan enemy to Parliaments, and pushed the king  tion watched all opportunities to recover it:
upon the most arbitrary and unpopular actions, yet, when they.had obtained a Parliament by
to raise the English government to a level with  the interposition of the Scots, they were disthe French.  It was the queen that countenan-  posed to take a severe revenge upon their late
ced the Irish insurrection; that obliged the king  oppressors, and to enter upon too violent meas
to go to the House of Commons and seize the  ures in order to prevent the return of power
five members; and that was at. the head of the  into those hands that had so shamefully abused
council at Windsor, in which it was determined  it. The five members of the House of Comto break with the Parliament and prepare for mons, and their friends who were concerned in
war: "This," says the noble historian, viz., inviting the Scots into England, saw their danthe king's perfect adoration of his queen, his ger long before the king came to the House to
resolution to do nothing without her, "and his seize them, which put them  upon concerting
being inexorable as to everything he promised  measures not only to restore the Constitution,
her, were the root and cause of all other griev- but to lay farther limitations upon the royal
ances. The two houses often petitioned the  power for a time, that they might not be expoking not to admit her majesty into his councils, sed to the mercy of an incensed prince, so soon
or to follow her advice in matters of state; as he should be delivered from the present Parbut he was not to be moved from his too servile  liament.  It is true, his majesty offered a genregards to her dictates, even to the day of his eral pardon at the breaking up of the session,
death."*                                      but these members were afraid to rely upon it,
Sundry others of his majesty's privy council because, as was said, there was no appearance
had their s4iare in bringing on the calamities of that his majesty would govern by law for the
the war, though when it broke out they were  future, any more than he had done before.
either dead, dispersed, or imprisoned; as the    The king, being made sensible of the designs
Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Strafford, Arch- and spirit of the Commons, watched all opporbishop Laud, Finch, Windebank, Noy, &c. tunities to disperse them, and not being able to
These had been the most busy actors at the  gain his point, resolved to leave the two houses,
council-table, the Star Chamber, and Court of arid act no longer in concert with them, which
High Commission, and were at the head of all was, in effect, to determine their power; for to
the monopolies and illegal projects that ensla- what purpose'should they sit, if the king will
ved the nation for above twelve years, and  pass none of their bills, and forbid his subjects
might have done it forever, had they been good  to obey any of their votes or ordinances till
husbands of the public treasure, and not brought they had received the royal assent?  It was
upon'themselves the armed force of a neigh- this that dismembered and broke the Constitubouring nation. The politics of these statesmen  tion, and reduced the Parliament to this dilemwere very unaccountable, for as long as they  ma, either to return home, and leave all things
could subsist without a parliamentary supply, in the hands of the king and queen and their
they went on with their ship-money, court and  late ministry, or to act by themselves, as the
conduct money, monopolies, and suchlike re- guardians of the people, in a time of imminent
sources of the prerogative; as soon as the Par- danger: had they dissolved themselves, or stood
liamnent sat, these were suspended, in expecta- still while his majesty had garrisoned the strong
tion of a supply from the two houses, before  fortresses of Portsmouth and Hull, and got posthey had inquired into the late inroads upon the  session of all the arms, artillery, and arrmuniConstitution; but when they found this could  tion of the kingdom; had they suffered the fleet
not be obtained, they broke up the Parliament to fall into his majesty's hands, and gone on
in disgust, fined and imprisoned the members meekly petitioning for the militia, or for his majfor their freedom  of speech, and returned to  esty's return to his two houses of Parliament,
their former methods of arbitrary government. till the queen was returned with foreign recruits,
All King Charles's Parliaments had been thus or the Irish at liberty to send his majesty succours, both they and we must, in all probability,
* " Many passages have been quoted from his letters
to his queen, as proofs of his spiritless submission.    f This act has been called "a violent breach of
It was Charles's great misfortune, that he was too the Constitution of this government:" but the author
easily wrought upon to follow the advice of others, who has cast this reproach on it also observes,
and frequently of persons less gifted than himself. that " if this act had not been obtained, perhaps it
Milton says of him, in his panegyric on Cromwell, would have been impossible to oppose the king's at-'Whether with his enemies or his friends, in the  tempts with effect." On this ground, the " Act of
court or in the camp, he was always in the hands of Continuation" has been called "an act of fidelity of
another; now of his wife, then of the bishops; now  the representatives of the people to their constituof the peers, then of the soldiery; and last, of his en- ents; an instance of the expedience and righteousemies: that for the most part he followed the worser ness of recovering the violated Constitution, by
counsels, and almost always of the worser men.' means not strictly justifiable when the timles are
There is as much justice as acrimony in this remark."  peaceable, and the curators of government just and
-Jesse's Court of the Stuarts, vol. ii.?. 69-70.-C.   upright."-Memoirs of Hollis, vol. ii., p. 591.-ED.




430                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
have been buried in the ruins of the liberties of Were not some of them extorted from him by
our country. The two houses were not insen- such arguments as these: " that his consent to
sible of the risk they ran in crossing the meas- them being forced, they were in themselves intures of their sovereign, under whose govern- valid, and might be avoided in better times s"
ment they thought they were to live, and who Lord Clarendon says* he had reason to believe
had counsellors about him who would not fail this; and if his lordship believed it, I cannot
to put him upon the severest reprisals, as soon see how it can reasonably be called in quesas the sword of the kingdom should return into tion. Bishop Burnet is of the same mind, and
his hands; but they apprehended that their declares, in the History of his Life and Times,
own and the public safety was at stake; and  " that his majesty never came into his concesthat the king was preparing to act against them, sions seasonably, nor with a good grace; all
by raising extraordinary guards to his person, appeared to be extorted from him; and there
and sending for arms and ammunition from  were grounds to believe that he intended not
abroad; therefore they ventured to make a to stand to them any longer than he lay under
stand in their own defence, and to perform such   a that force that visibly drew them upon him,
acts of sovereignty as were necessary to put it contrary to his own inclinations." To all whicht
out of the power of the court to make them a we may may add the words of Father Orleans,
sacrifice to the resentments of their enemies.  the Jesuit, who says, " that all mankind beBut though in a just and necessary war it is lieved at that time that the king did not grant
of little moment to inquire who began it, it is, so much but in order to revoke all."t
nevertheless, of great consequence to consider   3. It was said "that the king had seen his
on which side the justice of it lies. Let us, mistake, and had since vowed and protested, in
therefore, take a short view of the arguments the most solemn manner, that for the future he
on the king's side, with the Parliament's reply. would govern according to law."
1. It was argued by the Royalists,  that all   To this it was replied, that if the petition of
grievances, both real and imaginary, were re- right, so solemnly ratified from the throne in
moved by the king's giving up ship-money, by presence of both houses of Parliament, was so
his abolishing the Court of Honour, the Star ofquicly broke through, what dependance could
Chamber, and High Commission, and by his be had upon the royal promise? For though
giving up the bishops' votes in Parliament."*   the king himself might be a prince of virtue
The Parliament writers own these to be very and honour, yet his speeches, says Mr. Rapin,
important concessions, though far from coi- were full of ambiguities and secret reserves,
prehending all the real grievances of the na- that left room for different interpretations; betion. The queen was still at the head of his sides, many things were transacted without his
majesty's councils, without whose approbation knowledge, and, therefore, so long as the queen
no considerable affairs of government were was at the head of his counsels, they looked
transacted. None of the authors of the late upon his royal word only as the promise of a
oppressions had been brought to justice except minor, or of a man under superior direction,
the Earl of Strafford, and it is more than prob- which was the most favourable interpretation
able, if the Parliament had been dissolved, they that could be made of the many violations of it
would not only have been pardoned, but re- in the course of fifteen years.  " The queen,
stored to favour: Though bishops were de- who was directed by popish counsels," says
prived of their seats in Parliament, yet the de- Bishop Birnet, " could, by her sovereign power,
fects in the public service, of which the Puri- make the king do whatsoever she pleased."
tans complained, were almost untouched, nor   4. It was farther urge(d, that the Parliament
were any effectual measures taken to prevent had invaded the royal prerogative, and usurped
the growth ofpopery, which threatened the ruin the legislative power, without his majesty's
of the Protestant relion.consent, by claiming the militia, and the appro2. It was argued foigther, " that the king had bation of the chief officers, both civil and miliprovicled against any future oppressions of the tary, and by requiring obedience to their votes
subjects by consenting to the act for triennial and ordinances."
Parliaments."                              i  This the two houses admitted, and insisted
To this it was replied, that the Triennial Act, upon it as their right, ill cases of necessity and
in the present situation of the court, was not a extreme danger, of which necessity and dansufficient security of our laws and liberties; for ger they, as the guardians of the nation, and
suppose at the end of three years, when the two parts in three of Legislature, were the
king was in full possession of the'regal power, proper judges: "The question is not," say
having all the forts and garrisons, arms and they,"whether the king be the fountain of jusammunition of the kingdom  at his disposal, tice and protection, or whether the execution
with his old ministry about hin, the council of thee laws belongs primarily to him t But if
should declare that the necessity of his majes- the king shall refuse to discharge that duty and
ty's affairs obliged him to dispense with the trust, and shall desert his Parliament, and. in a
Triennial Act, what sheriff of a county, or manner, abdicate the government, whetherthere
other officer, would venture to put it in esecu- be not a power in the two houses to provide for
tion'3 Besides, had not the king, from  this  the safety anl peace of the kingdomn3 or, if
very principle, suspended and broke thromwgh there be no Parliarnent sitting, whether the nathe laws of the land for twelve years together  tion does not return to a state of nature, antd is
hefore the meeting of this Parliament l And not at liberty to provide for its own defence by
did not his majesty yield to the new laws I extraordinary methods?"  This seems to have
with a manifest reluctance! -Did he not affect
to call them acts of grace, and not of justice  X Clarernon, vol. i., p. 430.
to cal- t Histor) of his Own Times, vol. i., p. 40, Edin* Clarendon, vol. i., p. 262.      burgh.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   431
been the case in the late glorious revolution torted from him by force or violence; but it
of King William and Queen Mary, when the was very much in the king's power, even at the
Constitution being broken, a convention of the treaty of Uxbridge in 1644-5, to have removed
nobility and commonalty was summoned with- these distrusts, and thereby have saved both
out the king's writ, to restore the religion and himself, the Church, and the nation; for, as
liberties of the people, and place the crown the noble historian observes, "the Parliament
upon another head.                          took none of the points of controversy less to
5. The king, on his part, maintained that heart, or were less united in anything, than in
"there was no danger from him, but that all what concerned the Church."*  And with rethe danger was from a malignant party in the gard to the State, that " many of them were for
Parliament, who were subverting the constitu- peace, provided they might have indemnity for
tion in Church and State. I-is majesty averred what was past, and security for time to come."
that God and the laws had intrusted him with Why, then, were not this indemnity and secuthe guardianship and protection of his people, rity offered l which must necessarily have diand that he would take such care of them as vided the Parliamentarians, and obliged the
he should be capable of answering for it to most rigorous and violent to recede from their
God."                                       high and exorbitant demands, and, by conseWith regard to dangers and fears, the Parlia- quence, have restored the king to the peaceament appealed to the whole world whether there ble possession of his throne.
were not just grounds for them, after his maj-   Upon the whole, if we believe with the noble
esty had violated the petition of right, and at- historian, and the writers on his side, " that the
tempted to break up the present Parliament, by king was driven by violence fiom his palace at
bringing his army to London; after he had en- Whitehall, and could not return with safety;
tered their house with an armed,-force to seize that all real and imaginary grievances of Church
five of their members; after he had deserted and State were redressed; and that the kinghis Parliament, and resolved to act no longer in dom was sufficiently secured from all future inconcert with them; after his majesty had be- roads of popery and arbitrary power by the
gun to raise forces under pretence of an extra- laws in being," then the justice and equity of
ordinary guard to his person, and endeavoured  the war were most certainly with the king.
to get the forts and ammunition of the kingdom  Whereas, if we believe " that the king voluntainto his possession, against the time when he rily deserted his Parliament, and that it was
should receive supplies from abroad; after they owing alone to his majesty's own peremptory
had seen the dreadful effects of a bloody and resolution that lie would not return (as Lord
unparalleled insurrection and massacre of the Clarendon admits); if by this means the ConProtestants in Ireland, and were continually stitution was broken, and the ordinary courts
alarmed with the increase and insolent beha- of justice necessarily interrupted; if there were
viour of the papists at home; and, lastly, after sundry grievances still to be redressed, and the
they had found it impracticable, by their most king resolved to shelter himself under the laws
humble petitions and remonstrances, to remove in being, and to make no farther concessions ~
the queen and her cabal of papists from the di- if there were just reasons to fear," with Bishop
rection of the king's councils; after all these Burnet and Father Orleans, that the king " would
things (say they), " we must maintain the abide by the late laws no longer than he was
grounds of our fears to be of that moment, that under that force that brought them upon him;"
we cannot discharge the trust and duty which in a word, "if, in the judgment of the Lords and
lie upon us, unless we do apply ourselves to the Commons, the kingdom was in imminent danuse of those means which God and the laws ger of the return of popery and arbitrary power,
have put into our hands fior the necessary de- and his majesty would 1iot condescend so much
fence and safety of the kingdom."*          as to a temporary security for their satisfacThere were certainly strong, and perhaps tion," then we must conclude that the cause
unreasonable jealousies and apprehensions bf of the Parliament at the commencement of the
danger on both sides. The king complained  war, and for some years after, was not only
that he was driven from Whitehall by popular justifiable, but commendable and glorious; estumults, where neither his person nor family pecially if we believe their own most solemn
could remain in safety.  He was jealous (as he protestation,t in the presence of Almighty God,
said) for the laws and liberties of his people, to the kingdom and to the world, "'that no priand was apprehensive that his Parliament in- vate passion or respect, no evil intention to his
tended to change the Constitution, and wrest majesty's person, no designs to the prejudice
the sceptre and sword out of his royal hands. of his just honour or authority, had engaged
On the other side, the two houses had their them to raise forces, and take up arms against
fears and distrusts of their own and the public the authors of this war in which the kingdom
safety; they were apprehensive that if they put is inflamed."T
the forts and garrisons, and all the strength of
the kingdoml, into his rmajesty's power as soon   x Vol. ii., p. 581, 594.
as they were dissolved, he, by the influence of   t Rushworth, vol. ii., pat iii., p. 26.
steweredissolvedheby thei Bishop Warburton grants that " Charles owas a
his queen and his old counsellors, would return man of iso farh;" frcm whence arose the cqestion,
man of ill faith;" fi'om whence arose the question.
to his maxims of arbitrary government, and "Whether he was to be trusted?  Here," he adds,
never call another Parliament; that he would  " we must begin to distinguish. It was one thing
take a severe revenge upon those members whether those particulars, who had personally of
who had exposed his measures and disgraced fended the king, in the manner by which they exhis ministers; and, in a word, that he would torted this amends from himl; and another whether
break through the late laws, as having been ex- the public, on all principles of civil govemrnent,
ought not to have sat down satisfied. I think par= Rapin, p. 468.            ticulars could not safely take his word, and that the




432                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
public could not honestly refuse it. You will say, ceived them, and, in deceiving them, had deceived
then, the leaders in Parliament were justified in their the public? If they could not safely take his word
mistrust. Here, again, we must distinguish. Had for themselves, how could they do it for their conthey been private men, we should not dispute it. But stituents? In all their negotiations with him, they
they bore another character; they were representa- had been acting, not for themselves only, but for the
tives of the public, and should, therefore, have acted nation. It was inconsistent with the trust invested
in that capacity."  Some will consider these distinc- in them to sacrifice or risk the national welfare bT
tions, set up by his lordship, as savouring more of easy credulity; a credulity which, in their private
chicanery than solid reasoning. The simple ques- concerns, wisdom  and prudence would have contion is, Was Charles worthy to be trusted?  No! demned.  Besides, the insincerity of Charles had
His lordship grants that he was a man of ill faith. been so notorious, they had no ground to suppose
How, then, could the representatives of the people that the public would expect or approve of their doing
nonestly commit the national interest to a man it, to whom the proofs of his insincerity offered themwhose duplicity and insincerity had repeatedly de- selves immediately, and with all their force.-ED.




PREFACE
TO VOL. III. OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION.
No period of civil history has undergone a more critical examination than the last
seven years of King Charles I., which was a scene of such confusion and inconsistent management between the king and Parliament, that it is very difficult to discover
the motives of action on either side. The king seems to have been directed by secret springs from the queen and her council of papists, who were for advancing the
prerogative above the laws, and vesting his majesty with such an absolute sovereignty as might rival his brother of France, and enable him to establish the Roman
Catholic religion in England, or some how or other blend it with the Protestant.
This gave rise to the unparalleled severities of the Star Chamber and High Commission, which, after twelve years' triumph over the laws and liberties of the subject,
brought on a fibrce and bloody war, and after the loss of above a hundred thousand
lives, ended in the sacrifice of the king himself, and the subversion of the whole Constitution.
Though all men had a veneration for the person of the king, his ministers had rendered themselves justly obnoxious, not only by setting up a new form of government
at home, but by extending their jurisdiction to a neighbouring kingdom, under the
government of distinct laws, and inclined to a form of church discipline very different from the English: this raised such a storm in the north, as distressed his majesty's administration, exhausted his treasure, drained all his arbitrary springs of supply, and (after an intermission of twelve years) reduced him to the necessity of returning to the Constitution, and calling a- Parliament; but when the public grievances
came to be opened, there appeared such a collection of ill-humours, and so general
a distrust between the king and his two Houses, as threatened all the mischief and
desolation that followed.  Each party laid the blame on the other, and agreed in
nothing but in throwing off the odium of the civil war from themselves.
The affairs of the Church had a very considerable influence on the welfare of the
State: the Episcopal character was grown into contempt, not from any defect of
learning in the bishops, but from their close attachment to the prerogative, and their
own insatiable thirst of power, which they strained to the utmost in their spiritual
courts, by reviving old and obsolete customs, levying large fines on the people for contempt of their canons, and prosecuting good men and zealous Protestants for rites and
ceremonies tending to superstition, and not warranted by the laws of the land. The
king supported them to the utmost; but was' obliged, after some time, to give way,
first, to an act for abolishing the High Commission, by a clause in which the power of
the bishops' spiritual courts was in a manner destroyed; and, at last, to an act depriving them of their seats in Parliament. If at this time any methods could have
been thought of to restore a mutual confidence between the king and his two Houses,
the remaining differences in the Church might easily have been compromised; but
the spirits of men were heated, and as the flames of the civil war grew fiercer, and
spread wider, the wounds of the Church were enlarged, till the distress of the Parliament's affairs obliging them to call in the Scots, with their solemn league and covenant, they became incurable.
When the king had lost his cause in the field, he put himself at the head of his divines, and drew his learned pen in defence of his prerogative and the Church of
England; but his arguments were no more successful than his sword. I have brought
the debates between the king and Mr. Henderson, and between the divines of both
sides at the treaties of Uxbridge and Newport upon the head of Episcopacy, into as
narrow a compass as possible; my chief design being to trace the proceedings of the
VOL. I.-I I I




434                              PREFACE.
Parliament and their assembly at Westminster, which (whether justifiable or not)
ought to be placed in open view, though none of the historians of those times have
ventured to do it.
The Westminster assembly was the Parliament's grand council in matters of religion, and made a very considerable -figure, both at home and abroad, through the
course of the civil war, till they disputed the power of the keys with their superiors,
and split upon the rocks of Divine right and covenant-uniformity. The records of this
venerable assembly were lost in the fire of London; but I have given a large and
just account of their proceedings, from a manuscript of one of their members, and
some other papers that have fallen into my hands, and have entered as far into their
debates with the Erastians, Independents, and others, as was consistent with the life
and spirit of the history.
Whatever views the Scots might have from the beginning of the war, the Parliament would certainly have agreed with the ~ing upon the foot of a limited Episcopacy till the calling the assembly of divines, after which the solemn league and covenant became the standard of all their treaties, and was designed to introduce the Presbyterian government in its full extent, as the established religion of both kingdoms.
This tied up the Parliament's hands from yielding in time to the king's most reasonable concessions at Newport, and rendered an accommodation impracticable; I
have therefore transcribed the covenant at large, with the reasons for and against it.
Whether such obligations upon the consciences of men are justifiable from the necessity of affairs, or binding in all events and revolutions of government, I shall not
determine; but the imposing them upon others was certainly a very great hardship.
The remarkable trial of Archbishop Laud, in which the antiquity and use of the
several innovations complained of by the Puritans are stated and argued, has never
been published entire to the world. The archbishop left in his diary a summary of
his answer to the charge of the Commons, and Mr. Prynne, in his Canterbury's Doom,
has published the first part of his grace's trial, relating principally to points of religion; but all is imperfect and immethodical. I have therefore compared both accounts together, and supplied the defects of one with the other; the whole is brought
into a narrow compass, and thrown into such a method as will give the reader a
clear and distinct view of the equity of the charge, and how far the archbishop deserved the usage he met with.
I have drawn out abstracts of the several ordinances relating to the rise. and progress of Presbytery, and traced the proceedings of the committee for plundered and
scandalous ministers, as far as was necessary to my general design, without descending too far into particulars, or attempting to justify the whole of their conduct; and
though I am of opinion that the number of clergy who suffered purely on the ground
of religion was not very considerable, it is certain that many able and learned divines,
who were contented to live quietly and mind the duty of their places, had very hard
measure from the violence of parties, and deserve the compassionate regards of posterity; some being discharged their livings for refusing the covenant, and others plundered of everything the unruly soldiers could lay their hands upon, for not complying
with the change of the times.
In the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, Dr. Walker, of Exeter, published " An
Attempt to recover the Number and Sufferings of the Clergy of the Church of England;"
but with notorious partiality, and in language not fit for the lips of a clergyman, a
scholar, or a Christian; every page or paragraph, almost, labours with the cry of " rebellion, treason, parricide, faction, stupid ignorance, hypocrisy, cant, and downright
knavery and wickedness," on one side; and " loyalty, learning, primitive sanctity,
and the glorious spirit of martyrdom," on the other. One must conclude, from the
doctor, that there was hardly a wise or honest patriot with the Parliament, nor a weak
or dishonest gentleman with the king.  His preface* is one of the most furious invectives against the seven most glorious years of Queen Anne that ever was published; it blackens the memory of the late King William III., to whom he applies that
passage of Scripture, "I gave them a king in my anger, and took him away in my
wrath;" it arraigns the great Duke of Marlborough, the glory of the English nation.
* Preface, page 8-11




PREFACE.                                   435
and both houses of Parliament, as in a confederacy to destroy the Church of England, and dethrone the queen.  "Rebellion," says the doctor, " was esteemed the most
necessary requisite to qualify any one for being intrusted with the government, and
disobedience the principal recommendation for her majesty's service. Those were
thought the mmost proper persons to guard the throne, who, on the first dislike, were
every whit as ready to guard the scaffold; yea, her majesty was in effect told all this
to her face, in the greatest assembly of the nation. And to say all that can be said
of this matter, all the principles of 1641, and even those of 1648, have been plainly
and openly revived."
Thus has this obscure clergyman dared to affront the great author, under God, of all
our present blessings; and to stigmatize the Marlboroughs, the Godolphins, the Stanhopes, the Sunderlands, the Cowpers, and others, the most renowned heroes and
statesmen of the age.
It must be confessed, that the tumults and riotous assemblies of the lower sort of
people are insufferable in a well-regulated government; and without all question,
some of the leading members of the Long Parliament made an ill use of the populace,
as tools to support their secret designs: but how easy were it to turn all this part of
the doctor's artillery against himself and his friends; for Prynne, Burton, and Bastwick, in their return from their several prisons, were not attended with such a numerous cavalcade as waited upon the late Dr. Sacheverel, in his triumphant progress
through the western counties of England and Wales; nor did they give themselves
up to the same excess of licentiousness and rage. If the mob of 1641 insulted the
bishops, and awed the Parliament, so did the doctor's retinue in 1710; nay, their zeal
outwent their predecessors', when they pulled down the meeting-houses of Protestant
Dissenters, and burned the materials in the open streets, in maintenance of the doctrines of passive obedience and nonresistance, which their pious confessor had been
preaching up;'; a bold, insolent man," says Bishop Burnet, " with a very small measure of religion, virtue, learning, or good sense:" but to such extremes do men's passions carry them when' they write to serve a cause! I have had occasion to make
some use of Dr. Walker's confused heap of materials, but have endeavoured carefully
to avoid his spirit and language.
No man has declaimed so bitterly against the proceedings of Parliament upon all
occasions as this clergyman; nor complained more loudly of the unspeakable damage the liberal arts and sciences sustained by their purging the two universities; the
new heads and fellows of Oxford are called " a colony of Presbyterian and Independent novices from  Cambridge; a tribe of ignorant enthusiasts and schismatics;
an illiterate' rabble, swept from the plough-tail, from shops and grammar-schools,"~ &c.
The University of Cambridge is reported by the same author " to be reduced to a
mere Munster by the knipper-dolings of the age, who broke the heart-strings of learned men, who thrust out one of the eyes of the kingdom, and made eloquence dumb,
philosophy sottish, widowed the arts, drove away the muses from their ancient habitation, and plucked the reverend and orthodox professors out of their chairs.  They
turned religion into rebellion, and changed the apostolical chair into a desk for blasphemy.  They took the garland fromn off the head of learning, arid placed it on the
dull brows of ignorance.  And having unhived a numerous swarm of labouring bees,
they placed in their room swarms of senseless drones."t  Such is the language of
our historian, transcribed from Dr. Berwick! I have carefully looked into this affair, and collected the characters of the old and new professors from the most approved
writers, that the -disinterested reader may judge how far religion and learning suffered by the exchange.
The close of' this volume, which relates the disputes between the Parliament and
army; the ill success of his majesty's arms and treaties; the seizure of his royal person a second time by the army; his trial before a pretended high court of justice,
and his unparalleled execution before the gates of his royal palace by the military
power, is a most melancholy and affecting scene; in which, next to the all-disposing
providence of God, one cannot but remark the king's inflexible temper, together with
the indiscretion of his friends, especially his divines, at a time when his crown was
Walker's Introduct., p. 139, 140.            t Walker's Introd.,p. 115, Querela Cant,




436                              PREFACE.
lost by the fortune of war, and his very life at the mercy of his enemies.  Nol is the
unwarrantable stiffness of the Parliament less unaccountable, when they saw the victorious army drawing towards London, flushed with the defeat of the Scots and English loyalists, and determined to set aside that very uniformity they were contending
for. If his majesty had yielded at first what he did at last, with an appearance of
sincerity; or if the two Houses had complied with his concessions while Cromwell
was in Scotland; or if the army had been made easy by a general indulgence and
toleration, with the distribution of some honours and bounty-money among the officers, the crown and Constitution might have been saved; "' but so many miraculous
circumstances contributed to his majesty's ruin," says Lord Clarendon,* "that men
might well think that heaven and earth conspired it."
T'he objections to the first volume of the History of the Puritans, by the author of
"The Vindication of the Government, Doctrine, and Worship of the Church of England," obliged me to review the principal facts in a small pamphlet, wherein I have
endeavoured to discharge myself as an historian, without undertaking the defence of
their several principles, or making myself an advocate for the whole of their conduct.
I took the liberty to point out the mistakes of our first Reformers as I passed along,
but with no design to blacken their memories; for, with all their foibles, they were
glorious instruments in the hand of Providence to deliver this nation from anti-Christian bondage; but they were free to confess the work was left imperfect; that they
had gone as far as the times would admit, and hoped their successors would bring
the Reformation to a greater perfection.
But the state of the controversy was entirely changed in the time of the civil wars;
for after the coming in of the Scots, the Puritans did not fight for a reformation of
the hierarchy, nor for the generous principles of religious liberty to all peaceable
subjects, but for the same spiritual power the bishops had exercised; for when they
had got rid of the oppression of the spiritual courts, under which they had groaned
almost fourscore years, they were for setting up a number of Presbyterian consistories in all the parishes of England, equally burdensome and oppressive. Unhappy
extreme! that wise and good men should not discover the beautiful consistency of
truth and liberty! Dr. Barrow and others have observed, that in the first and purest
ages of Christianity, the Church had no coercive power, and apprehend that it may
still subsist very well without it.
The body of Protestant Dissenters of the present age have a just abhorrence of the
persecuting spirit of their predecessors, and are content that their actions be set in a
fair light, as a warning to posterity., They have no less a dread of returning into the
hands of'spiritual courts, founded on the bottomless deep of the canon law, and see
no reason why they should not be equally exposed, till they are put upon a better foot;
though it is an unpardonable crime, in the opinion of some churchmen, to take notice',
even in the most respectful manner, of the least blemish in our present establishment,
which, how valuable soever in itself, is allowed by all to be capable of amendments.
Some little essays of this kind have fired the zeal of the Bishop of Litchfield arind
Coventry,t who, in a late charge to the clergy of his diocess, is pleased to lament over
the times in the following mournful language: "At so critical a juncture," says his
lordship, "when common Christianity is treated with an avowed contempt and open
profaneness; when an undisguised immorality prevails so very generally; when there
is scarce honesty enough to save the nation from ruin; when, with regard to the Established Church in particular, the royal supremacy is professedly exposed, as inconsistent with the rights of conscience, even that supremacy, wVhich- was the groundwork of the Reformation among us from popery, which was acknowledged and sworn
to by the old Puritans, though now, inconsistently enough, disowned arid condemned
in the new history'and vindication of them and their principles; when so destructive
an attempt has been made on the legal maintenance of the clergy by the late'rithe
Bill, and, consequently, ofi the fate of the Christian religion among us; when an attempt has been lately made on the imnportant outworks of our ecclesiastical establishment, thle Corporation and Test Acts, with the greatest insolences towards the Church,
and most undutiful menaces to the civil government; when the Episcopal authority
* Vol. v., p. 258.                                 t Dr. Smallbrook.




PREFACE.                                  437
has been wellnigh undermined, under a pretence of reforming the ecclesiastical
courts-; and if that order had been rendered useless, as it must have been when it
had lost its authority, then the revenues would have been soon thought useless; and
in the result of things, the order itself might have been considered as superfluous,
and perhaps, in due time, thought fit to be abolished; when churches have been.
put into such a method of repair as would end in their ruin in a little time; and when
the correction of the abuses of the matrimonial licenses has been laboured in so absurd a manner.;as to permit the marriage of minors without consent of their parents or
guardians; when these melancholy circumstances have so lately concurred, it is
natural to infer our zeal for the Church should be in proportion to its danger; and if
these are not proper occasions for zeal for our ecclesiastical constitution, it is not easy
to assign circumstances that may justly demand it."*  How fine and subtle are these
speculations! I have not observed any insolences towards the Church, or undutiful
menaces to the civil government in the late writings of the Dissenters; but if one pin
of the hierarchy be removed by the wisdom of the Legislature, the whole building is
supposed to fall, and all religion along with it. His lordship, therefore, advises his
clergy to study the Bishopt of London's Codex, in order to defend it; and it can do
them no real prejudice to examine, at the same time, the principles of law and equity
on which it is founded.J As to the Dissenters, his lordship adds, " However, it will
become us of the clergy, in point of prudence, not to give any just suspicions of our
disgust to the legal toleration of them, while they keep within due bounds; that is,
while they do not break in upon the privileges and rights of the Established Church,
by declaring against all legal establishments, or the legal establishment of the Church
of England in particular, or by not being quiet with the present limits of their toleration, or by affecting posts of authority, and thereby breaking down the fences of the
Church, and placing themselves on a level with it."~ But whether this would remain
a point of prudence with his lordship, if the boundaries of his episcopal power were
enlarged, is not very difficult to determine.
The Dissenters have no envy nor ill-will to the Churches of England or Scotland,
established by law (attended with a toleration of all peaceable Dissenters), any farther than they encroach on the natural or social rights of mankind; nor are they so
weak as not to distinguish between high dignities, great authority, and large revenues
secured by law, and a poor maintenance arising from the voluntary contributions of
the people, that is, between an establishment and a toleration.
But I am to attend to the charge of inconsistency brought against myself.  I had
observed, upon the reign of the bloody Queen Mary,ll that an absolute supremacy over
the consciences of men, lodged with a single person, might as well be prejudicial as
serviceable to true religion; and in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth,~T
that the powers then claimed by the kings and queens of England were in a manner
the same with those claimed by the popes in the times preceding the Reformation,
except the administration of the spiritual offices ofrthe Church.  This was that supremacy which was the groundwork of the Reformation  of which I say, let the
reader judge how far these high powers are agreeable or consistent with the natural
rights of mankind.  His lordship calls this a professed exposing the royal supremacy, and the rather, because " that supremacy was acknowledged and sworn to by the
old Puritans themselves, though now, inconsistently enough, disowned and condemned
by their historian." But surely his lordship should have informed his clergy, at the
same time, in what sense the Puritans took' the oath, when it was before his eyes in
the same page; and my words are these: " The whole body of the papists refused
the oath of supremacy, as inconsistent with their allegiance to the pope; but the Puritans took it under all these disadvantages, with the queen's explication in her injunctions, that is, that no more was intended than that her majesty, under God, had
the sovereignty and rule over all persons born in her realm, either ecclesiastical or
temporal, so as no foreign power had, or ought to have, any superiority over them."**
Where is the inconsistency of this conduct of the old Puritans, or their new histo* Charge, p. 41, 42, 44.                        ~         t Dr. Gibson.
$ See a late excellent examination of the Codex Juris Eccl. Angl.
~ Charge, p. 46.             11 Hist. Pur., vol. i., p. 58.  ~ Ibid., p. 99, 100.
*k Hist. Pur., vol. i., p. 93.  See Strype's Ann., vol. i., p. 159.




438                             PREFACE.
rian?  Or, where is the Dissenter in England who is not ready to swear to it with
this explication?
But his lordship is pleased to reason upon this head; and in order to support that
absolute supremacy which was the groundwork of the Reformation, affirms, that " all
Christian kings and emperors have the same power of reforming religion, and are under the same obligations as the Jewish kings were in cases of the like nature,"* without producing the least evidence or proof; whereas his lordship knows that the government of the Jews was a theocracy; that God himself was their king, and the laws
of that nation strictly and properly the laws of God, who is Lord of conscience, and
may annex what sanctions he pleases.  Their judges and kings were chosen and
appointed by God, not to make a new codex or book of laws either for Church or
State, but to keep the people to the strict observation of those laws and statutes that
he himself had given them by the hand of Moses.
His lordship is pleased to ask, "If any high pretender to spiritual liberty and the
rights of conscience should inquire what authority the respective Jewish and C1 ristian powers had to interpose in matters that regarded the rights of conscience, si, ce,
in fact, their assumed supremacy was a usurpation of those natural rights?"t  I answer, that with regard to the Jews, it was no usurpation, for the reasons before mentioned; and when his lordship shall prove a transfer of the same power to all Christian princes, the controversy will be brought to a short issue.  " But will it not be
replied," says the bishop, "that those kings and emperors were intrusted by God
with the care of the ecclesiastical as well as civil constitution?":.  If by the care
of the constitution he meant no more than the preserving their subjects in the enjoymerit of their inalienable rights, nobody denies it; but if, under this pretence, they
assume a sovereign and arbitrary power of modelling the ecclesiastical constitution
according to their pleasure, and of enforcing their subjects' obedience by canons
and penal laws, I should doubt whether they are obliged to comply, even in things
not absolutely sinful in themselves, because it may derogate from the kingly office of
Christ, who is sole king and lawgiver in his own kingdom, and has not delegated
this branch of his authority to any vicar-general upon earth. But I readily agree with
his lordship, that if any high pretender to the rights of conscience should have asked
the first Christian emperors by what authority they took on themselves the alteration
or change of religion, they would have thought the question unreasonable, and worthy of censure; they would have affirmed their own sovereignty, and have taught
the bold inquirers as Gideon did the men. of Succoth, with briers and thorns of the
wilderness.
The bishop goes on: " Let us now transfer this power of Jewish kings and Christian emperors to our own kings, and the case will admit of an easy decision."~ If,
indeed, an absolute supremacy in matters of religion be the natural and inalienable
right of every Christian king and emperor, the dispute is at an end; but if it depend
upon a transfer, we must beg parrdon if we desire his lordship to produce his commission for transferring the same powers that Almighty God gave the Jewish kings
of his own appointment to the first Christian emperors, who were neither chosen by
God, nor the people, nor the Senate of Rome, but usurped the supreme authority by
the assistance of the military arm, and were some of them the greatest tyrants and
scourges of mankind.
His lordship adds, "Have not the English kings since the Reformation actually
been invested with the same supremacy as the Jewish kings and Christian emperors
were?"'I I answer, such a supremacy is, in my judgment, inconsistent with our present Constitution and the laws in being.  The supremacy claimed by King Henry
VIII. and his successors, at the Reformation, was found by experience too excessive,
and therefore abridged in the reigns of King Charles I. and King William III.  No
one doubts but that the kings of England are obliged to p.rotect religion and defend
the establishment as long as the Legislature think fit to continue it; but as they may
not suspend or change it by their sovereign pleasure, so neither may they:publish
edicts of their own to enforce it, as was the case of the first Christian emperors. The
reader will excuse this digression, as necessary to support a principal fact of my
history.
* Charge, p. 20.  t Ibid., p. 21.  t Ibid., p. 22.  O Id. ibid.  U Ibid.




PREFACE.                                  439
I am sufficiently aware of the delicacy of the affairs treated of in this volume, and of
the tenderness of the ground I go over; and though I have been very careful of my
temper and language, and have endeavoured to look into the mysterious conduct of
the several parties with all the indifference of a spectator, I find it very difficult to
form an exact judgment of the most important events, or to speak freely without of-'fence; therefore, if any passionate or angry writer should appear against this, or any
of the former volumes, I humbly request the reader to pay no regard to personal reflections, or to any insinuations of any ill designs against the established religion or
the public peace, which are entirely groundless.  I am as far from vindicating the
spirit and conduct of the warmer Puritans as of the governing prelates of those
times; there was hard measure on both sides, though, if we separate politics from
principles of pure religion, the balance will be very much in favour of the Puritans.
In historical debates nothing is to be received upon trust, but.facts are to be examined, and a judgment formed upon the authority by which those facts are supported;
by this method we shall arrive at truth; and if it shall appear that in the course of
this long history there are any considerable mistakes, the world may be assured I
will take the first opportunity to retract or amend them, having no private er party
views, no prospect of preferment or other reward for my labours than the satisfaction
of doing some service to truth, and to the religious and civil liberties of mankind,
and yet, after all, I must bespeak the indulgence and candour of my readers, which
those who are sensible of the labour and toil of collecting so many materials, and
ranging them in their proper order, will readily allow to one who sincerely wishes
the prosperity and welfare of all good men, and that the violen'ce and outrage of these
unhappy times, which brought such confusion and misery both on'king and people,
may never be imitated by the present or any future age.
DANIEL NEAL.
London, Nov. 4, 1735.








PART II.
CHAPTER I.                    the two houses, who immediately gave orders
FROM THE BATTLE OF EDGEHILL TO T~HE CALLING  to forbear all acts of hostility, and sent a mesTHIE ASSEM2BLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.   senger to the king to desire the like forbearance on his part; but the committee had no
THE king having recruited his army at Ox- sooner left Colnbrook than his majesty, taking
ford, after the battle of Edgehill, by the assist- the advantage of a thick mist, advanced to
ance of the University, who now gave his maj- Brentford, about seven miles from  London,*
esty all their money, as they had before done which he attacked with his whole army, Notheir plate, resolved to pursue his march to  vember 13, and after a fierce and bloody renLondon, in order to break up the Parliament counter with the Parliament garrison, wherein
and surprise the city; while the Earl of Essex, considerable numbers were driven into the
imagining the campaign was ended, lay quiet Thames and slain, he got possession of the
about Warwick, till, being informed of the king's town, and took a great many prisoners.  The
designs, he posted to London, and ordered his consternation of the citizens on this'occasion
forces to follow with all expedition.  The earl was inexpressible; imagining the king would
arrived November 7, 1642, and was honourably  be the next morning at their gates; upon which
received by both houses of Parliament, who  the lord-mayor ordered the trained-bands impresented him with a gratuity of ~5000, and, to mediately to join the Earl of Essex's forces,
strengthen his army, passed an ordinance that which were just arrived at Turnham  Green,
such apprentices as would list in their service under the command of Major-general Skippon,
should be entitled to a freedom of the city at and there being no farther thoughts of peace,
the expiration of their apprenticeship, equally  every one spirited up his neighbour, and all rewith those who continued with their masters. solved, as one man, to live and die together.
In the beginning of November, the king took  Major Skippon went from regiment to regiment,
possession of Reading without the least resist- and encouraged his troops with such short, solance, the Parliament garrison having abandon- dierlike speeches as these: " Come, my boys!
ed it, which alarmed both houses, and made my brave boys! I will run the same hazards with
them send an express to desire a safe-contluct you; remember, the cause is for God and the
for a committee of Lords and Commons to at- defence of yourselves, your wives, and children.
tend his majesty with a petition for peace;* Come, my honest, brave boys! let us pray heartthe committee waited on his majesty at Coln- ily, and fight heartily, and God will bless us."
brook, fifteen miles from London, and, having When they were drawn up, they made a body
received a favourable answer,t reported it to  of about twenty-folur thousand men eager for
battle; but their orders were only to be on the'* Rushworth, vol. i., p. 58.                defensive, and prevent the king's breaking
t1  "He seemed to receive the petition with great through to the city. The two armies having
willingness, and called God to witness, with many faced each other all day, his majesty retreated
protestations, that he was tenderly compassionate of in the night to Kingston and from  thence to
his bleeding people, and more desirous of nothing  eading, where having left a small garrison, he
than a speedy peace." —May's Parliamentary History,
b. iii., p. 33. The immediate subsequent conduct of returned to Oxford about the beginning of Dethe king was certainly not consistent with such pro- cember with his Brentford prisoners, the chief
fessions; yet Dr. Grey is displeased with Mr. Neal of whom  were condemned to die,t and had
for insinuating that it was a breach of promise, and
accuses him of not giving the fairest account of this would immediately have withdrawn their garrison
action, which, he says, the king sufficiently justified. from Windsor, and delivered that castle to his maiBut when the doctor passed this censure, it seems esty for his accommodation, to have carried on the
that he had not looked forward to the next para- treaty he had proposed.-History, vol. ii., p. 73. The
graph, where the motives of the king's behaviour motives on which the king acted in the action at
are stated. The committee deputed by the Parlia- Brentford, which Mr. Neal has compressed into one
ment to Colnbrook consisted of the Earls 6f Nor- paragraph, Dr. Grey, by large quotations on different
thumberland and Pembroke, Lord Wainman, Mr. authorities, has extended through four pages, which
Pierpont, Sir John Ipsley, and Sir John Evelyn  affords a parade of confuting Mr. Neal.-ED.
when the king refused to admit the last gentleman,. Whitelocke, p. 62.
because he had named him a traitor the day before,   t Rushworth, vol. v., p. 93.
the Parliament, though extremely displeased with   The persons named by Rushworth, whom Mr.,
the exception, so as to vote it a breach of privilege, Neal quotes, were Clifton Catesby, John Lilburne,
yet, from their ardent desire of accommodation, per- and Robet Vivers. Dr. Grey says that " it does not
mitted the petition to be presented without Sir John appear that these three were taken prisoners at
Evelyn.-May, b. iii., p. 32. This yielding conduct Brentford." He should have added, from this place
leaves the king more inexcusable, as it serves to in Rushworth, to which the reference is here made;
show the sincerity of the Parliament in their over- for in p. 83 Rushworth informs his readers, with re,
tures; and Lord Clarendon says that it was believed spect to Lilburne in particular, that he owned that
by many, that had the king retired to Reading, and he was at Brentford; and by the others being incluwaited there for the answer of Parliament, they ded in the same sentence, it is probable that they
VOL. I.-K K E




442                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
been executed for high treason, if the two letter to Duke Hamilton, dated December 2,
houses had not threatened to make reprisals.*  1642, he says, "he had set up his rest upon the
The Parliament, to prevent a like surprise of justice of his cause, being resolved that no exthe city for the future, empowered the lord- tremity or misfortune should make him yield;
mayor to cause lines of circumvallation to be fobr," says his majesty, "I will be either a glodrawn around it, and all the avenues fortified.  rious king or a patient martyr; and as yet not
It was not without reason that the two  being the first, nor at this present apprehending
houses complained of the king's extraordinary  the other, I think it no unfit time to express this
conduct on this occasion, which was owing to  my resolution to you:". The justice of the
the violent counsels of Prince Rupert and Lord  cause upon which his majesty had set up his
Digby, animated by some of his majesty's rest was his declaration and promise to govern
friends in the city, who imagined that if the  for the future according to the laws of the land;
royal army appeared in the neighbourhood of but the point was to know whether this might
London, the Parliament would accept of his be relied upon.  The two houses admitted the
majesty's pardon and break up, or else the con- laws of the land to be the rule of government,t
fusions would be so great that he might enter and that the executive power in time of peace
and carry all before him; but the project hav- was with the king;$ but his majesty had so ofting failed, his majesty endeavoured to excuse it en dispensed with the laws by the advice of a
in the best manner he could: he alleged that, corrupt ministry, after repeated assurances to
there being no cessation of arms agreed upon, the contrary thereof, that they durst not conhe might justly take all advantages against his fide in his royal word, and insisted upon some
enemies.  He insisted, farther, upon his fears additional security for themselves and for the
of being hemmed in by the Parliament's forces Constitution.~ On the other hand, his majesty
about Colnbrook, to prevent which, it seems, averred the Constitution was in no danger from
he marched seven miles nearer the city. Lord  him, but from themselves, who were acting evClarendon says,t Prince Rupert having ad- ery day in defiance of it. To which it was anvanced to Hounslow without order, his majes- swered, that it was impossible the laws should
ty, at the desire of the prince, marched for- have their due course in time of war as in the
ward to disengage him from the danger of the height of peace, because this must effectually
forces quartered in that neighbourhood; which  tie up their hands. Neither party by law could
is so very improbable, that, in the opinion of raise money upon the subject without each
Mr. Rapin, it is needless to refute it.$  Upon  other's consent; the king could not do it withthe whole, it is extremely probable the king out consent of Parliament, nor the Parliament
came from Oxford with a design of surprising  without the royal. assent, and yet both had practhe city of London before the Earl of Essex's tised it since the opening of the war.  To have
army could arrive; but, having missed his aim, recourse, therefore, to the laws of a well-settled
he framed the best pretences to persuade the government in times of general confusion, was
people that his marching to Brentford was only  weak and impracticable.  Besides, his majesty
in his own defence.                            refused to give up any of his late ministers to
Though his majesty took all occasions toct with this consiste
make offers of peace to' his Parliament, in hopes firmness! Did Charles 1. act with this consistency?
Let them who are acquainted with the history of his
the nation would compel them to an agreement, reign answer the question. Even Lord Clarendon
reign answer the question. Even Lord Clareudon
by leaving him in possession of all his preroga- owns his belief that, in matters of great moment, an
tives, it is sufficiently evident he had no inten- opinion that the violence and force used in procuring
tions to yield anything to obtain it;S for in his bills rendered them absolutely void, influenced the
king to confirm them.-History, vol. i., p. 430. What
were involved in the same charge of acting against confidence could be placed in the professions and
the king at Brentford..                        sincerity of a man who could be displeased with the
* On the authority of Lord Clarendon and Mr. Earl of Northumberland because he would not perEchard, Dr. Grey charges the chaplains of the Par- jure himself for Lord-lieutenant Strafford?-Sydney's
liament army, Dr. Downing and Mr. Marshal, with  State Papers, quoted by Dr. Harris, Life of Charles I.,
publicly avowing." that the soldiers lately taken at p. 79, who has fully stated the evidence of Charles's
Brentford, and discharged by the king upon their dissimulation and want of faith. See also An Essay
oaths that they would never again bear arms against towards a True Idea of the Character and Reign of
him, were not obliged by that oath," and with ab- Charles I., p. 94, &c.-ED.
solving them from it. The doctor is also displeased    * Duke of Hamilton's Memoirs, b. iv., p. 203.
with Mr. Oldmixon for treating this account as a   t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 466.
falsehood, but he suppresses the grounds of Mr.: "Our laws have nowhere, that I know of, disOldmixon's censure of it, which are these: in the tinguished," says Dr. Grey, " between times of peace
first place, that there was no occasion to use these or war, with regard to the king's executive power.,"
arts, when the prisoners amounted4to but one hun- This is true; but it was the infelicity of the times of
dred and fifty men, which could not be wanted when which Mr. Neal writes, that there arose new questhe city of London was pouring out recruits; and, tions out of the present emergency for which the
then, priestly absolution was not the practice, nor the standing laws had made no provision, and difficulties
power of it the claim, of Puritan divines.-Rush- to which they did not apply.-ED.
worth, vol. v., p. 59. Oldmixon's History of the Stu-   ~ " Mr. Neal,"'? says Dr. Grey, " has not produced
arts, p. 214.-ED.            t History, p. 74.   one single proof in support of this assertion, and I
t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 465, folio edition.    challenge him to instance in particulars." This may
~ Without controverting Mr. Neal's authority, Dr. appear a bold challenge from a writer who professed
Grey calls this a bold assertion, and appeals to va- to be conversant in the history of those times. But
rious messages for an accommodation which the as the doctor has thrown it out, we will produce an
king sent to the Parliament. But of what avail to instance of the king's violation of his word. He
prove a yielding and accommodating temper are gave his assent to the Petition of Right, a kind of
speeches without actions? or softening overtures, second Magna Charta, which he immediately violaunless they be followed up by mild and pacific meas- ted, and continued to do for twelve years together.
ares, adopted with sincerity, and adhered to with -Essay towards a' True Idea, &c., p. 94.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   t43
the Justice of Parliament; for in his letter to  authority, and appointed generals to command
Duke Hamilton, he says, that "his abandoning their troops; the chief of which was the eastthe Earl of Strafford had gone so near him, that ern association of Essex, Cambridgeshire, the
he was resolved no consideration should make isle of Ely, IHertford, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the
him do the like again." Upon these resolutions city of Norwich, whose militia were trained
he declined the mediation of the Scots commis- and ready to march where necessity should resioners, which gave the several parties engaged  quire within their several limits. In some parts
against him a fair opportunity of uhiting their of England the inhabitants resolved to stand
interests with that nation.                   neuter, and not be concerned on either side;
This was a nice and curious affair. The but the Parliament condemned and disannulled
friends of the Parliament, who were agreed in all such agreements.
the cause of civil liberty, were far from being    As the two houses depended upon the assistof one mind in points of church discipline; the ance of the Scots, his majesty had expectations
major part were for episcopacy, and desired no of foreign aids from the queen, who had endeavmore than to secure the Constitution and re- oured, by the influence of her son-in-law the
form a few exorbitances of the bishops; some Prince of Orange, to engage the states of Holwere Erastians, and would be content with any land in the king's interest, but they wisely deform of government the magistrate should ap- clared for a neutrality; however, they connived
point; the real Presbyterians, who were for an  at her private negotiations, and gave her a genentire change of the hierarchy upon the foot of eral passport, by virtue whereof she transportDivine right, were as yet but few, and could ed a very large quantity of arms and ammunicarry nothing in the House. It was necessary, tion to Burlington Bay, and conveyed them to
therefore, in treating with the Scots, who con- the king at York. His majesty, also, in order
tended earnestly for their kirk government, to to bring over the Irish forces under the comdeliver themselves in such general expressions mand of the Duke of Ormond, consented to a
hat each party might interpret them as they truce with the Irish rebels [signed September
were inclined, or as should be expedient. This 15, 1643], in which he allowed the Catholics to
contented the Scots for the present, and left the remain in possession of what they had conquerParliament at full liberty, till they saw what ed since the Rebellion, to the great grief of the
terms they could make with the king. Nor Protestants, who by this means were legally
could the churchmen be dissatisfied, because dispossessed of their estates; a most unpoputhey knew if they could put a period to the war lar action, in favour of a people who, by their
without the Scots, the two houses would not late massacre, were become the very reproach
call in their assistance, much less submit to a and infamy of human nature!* Thus the who'le
kirk discipline with which they had no manner kingdom was marshalled into parties, with their
of acquaintance; and therefore Lord Clarendon  drawn swords, eager to plunge them into each
was of opinion,* that even at the treaty of Ux- other's breasts.t
bridge, if the Parliament could have obtained    The Parliament's cause having a dark and
an act of oblivion for what was past, and good threatening aspect, the Lords and Commons
security for the king's government by law, the were not forgetful to implore the Divine blessaffair of religion might easily have been com- ing upon their counsels and arms; for which
promised; but it required all the prudence and  purpose they published an ordinance, February
sagacity the two houses were masters'of to  15, 1642-3, exhorting to the duty of repentance,
keep so many different interests in points of re- as the only remedy to prevent public calamities,
ligion united in one common cause of liberty  It was drawn up bysome of the Puritan divines.
and the Constitution, at a time when great num- and because Bishop Kennet has branded it with
hers of the king's friends, in the very city of the reproachful characters of' cant, broad hypocLondon, were forming conspiracies to restore risy, and a libel against the Church, I will transhim without any terms at all.                 cribe the substance of it in their own words:
The king's affairs had a promising aspect this    " That flourishing kingdoms have been ruinwinter. His forces in the North, under the Earl ed by impenitent going on in a course of sin,
of Newcastle, were superior to those of Lord
Ferdinando Fairfax.  In the western and mid-      To wipe off the reflections which this transacland counties there were several sieges and tion brings on the character of Charles I., Dr. Grey is
rencounters, with various success, but nothing large in producing authorities to show that the situdecisive.  Divers counties entered into associ- ation of the Protestants and of the army in Ireland,
ations for their mutual defence on both sides.tthrough the length of the war and the falure of supThe four northern counties of Northumberland, plies from England, required a cessation of arms.
But if the reader would see a full investigation of
Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham asso- this business, he should consult Mrs. Macaulay's
ciated for the king;t after which the two houses History, vol. iv., 8vo, p. 63-90.' Two circumstances
encouraged the like in those that owned their will afford a clew into the policy and design of this
truce. To prevent opposition to it. in the Irish coun* Dr. Grey asks, "Where does Lord Clarendon cil, the members who were suspected of an attachdiscover this opinion? As he (i. e., Mr. Neal) is faulty ment to the Parliament of England were committed
even when he quotes his authorities, I am unwilling close prisoners to the castle; and the king derived
to take his word when he makes no reference at all." from it, as the price of granting it, ~38,000, to assist
What will the reader think of the candour of this in- him to carry on the war against his Protestant subsinuation, when he is told that the passages to which jects in England. I will only add, that the main
Mr. Neal refers are to be found in p. 581 and 594 of point aimed at by the rebels, and which the king enthe second volume of Lord Clarendon's History, and couraged them to expect, was a new Parliament;
that they are expressly quoted, and the references which, as the kingdom was circumstanced, would
are pointed out in Mr. Neal's account of the treaty at have put the whole power of government into their
Uxbridge?-ED.                                hands.-Mrs. Macaulay, p. 845.
t Rushworth, vol v., p. 66.  t Ibid., r 64.   t Rushworth, vol. v., p. 537-539, 548.




444                    HISTORY O.F THE PURITANS.
the sacred story plainly tells us; and how near ford, who, being admitted to an audience in one
to ruin our sinful nation now is, the present lam- of the colleges, produced the following propoentable face of it does too plainly show. And  sals, which were read by the Earl of Northumthoughwe should feel the heavy stroke of God's berland:
judgments yet seven times more, it is our duty   1. "That the armies may be disbanded on
to accept the punishment of our iniquities, and  both sides, and the king return to his Parliament.
to say, Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, and just   2. " That delinquents may submit to a legal
are thy judgments.  Yet, because the Lord, trial, and jhdgment. of Parliament.
who is just, is also merciful, and in his infinite   3. " That all papists be disbanded and dismercy has left the excellent and successful rem- armed.
edy of' repentance to nationq brought near the    4. "That his majesty will please to give his
gates of destruction and despair, oh! let not consent to the five bills hereafter mentioned.
England be negligent in the application of it.   5. "That an oath may be established by act
Humble addresses of a penitent people to a mer- of Parliament, wherein the papists shall abjure
ciful God have prevailed with him: they have and renounce the pope's supremacy, transub-.
prevailed for Nineveh when sentence seemed to stantiation, purgatory, worshipping the consebe gone out against her, and may also prevail crated host, crucifixes, and images; and the refor England.                                fusing such oath lawfully tendered shall be a
" It is therefore thought necessary, by the sufficient conviction of recusancy. That your
Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, majesty will graciously please to consent to a
that all his majesty's subjects be stirred tip  bill for the education of papists in the Protestant
to lay hold of this only and unfailing remedy of religion. And to another bill for the better putrepentance, freely acknowledging, and hearti- ting the laws in execution against them.
ly bewailing with deepest humiliation, both   6. "That the Earl of Bristol and Loi'd Hertheir own personal sins and those of the na- bert may be removed from your majesty's countion; a confession.of national sins being most cils, and from the court.
agreeable to the national j udgments under which    7. " That the militia may be settled in such
the land groans, and most likely to be effectual manner as shall be agreed upon by both houses.
for the removing of them.                      8. " That the chief-justices and judges of the'Among the national sins are to be reckoned  several courts of law may hold their place qualm
the contempt of God's ordinances, and of holi- diu se bene gesserint.
ness itself; gross ignorance, and unfruitfulness   9. " That such persons as have been put out
under the means of grace; multitudes of oaths, of the commissions of the peace since April 1,
blasphemies, profanation of the Sabbath by sports  1642, may be restored, and that those whom the
and games; luxury, pride, prodigality in apparel, Parliament shall except against be removed.
oppression, fraud, violence, &c.;, a connivance,   10. " That your majesty will please to pass
and almost a toleration of the idolatry of popery, the bill now presented, to secure the privileges
the massacre of Ireland, and the bloodshed of of Parliament from the ill consequences of the
the martyrs in Queen Mary's time, which, hav- late proceedings against the Lord Kimbolton and
ing been a national sin, still calls for a national the five members.
confession.                                    11. " That an act may be passed for satisfy" Now, that all the sin and misery of this ing such public debts as the Parliament has enpolluted and afflicted nation may be bitterly sor- gaged the public faith for.
rowed for, with such grief of heart and prepa-   12. "That your majesty will please to enter
redness for a thorough reformation as God may  into alliances with foreign Protestant powers
be pleased graciously to accept, it is ordained  for the defence of the Protestant religion, and
that all preachers of God's Word do earnestly  recovering the Palatinate.
inculcate these duties on their hearers, that at   13. "That in the general pardon, all offences
length we may obtain a firm and happy peace committed before the 10th of January, 1641,
both with God and man; that glory may dwell which have been or shall be questioned in the
in our land; and the prosperity of the Gospel, House of Commons before the 10th of January,
with all the privileges accompanying it, may  1643, be excepted.  That all persons concerned
crown this nation unto all succeeding ages."*   in the Irish rebellion be excepted, as likewise
The reverend prelate above mentioned makes  William  earl of Newcastle, and George lord
the following remark upon this ordinance: Digby.
"When once the two houses could descend to   14. "That such members of'Parliament as
have such fulsome penitential forms put upon  have been turned out of their places since the
them, to adopt and to obtrude in their name upon  beginning of this Parliament may be restored,
the nation, it was a sure sign that all that was and may have some reparation upon the petition
sound and decent in faith and worship was now  of both houses."'*
to be commanded into enthusiasm and endless   These things being granted and performed,
schisms." I leave the reader to examine wheth- we shall be enabled, say they, to make it our
er he can find any ground for so severe a cen- hopeful endeavour that your majesty and your'sure.                                       people may enjoy the blessings of peace, truth,
Though the king had rejected the Scots' me- and justice.
diation, and set up his rest upon the justice of   The bills mentioned in the fourth proposition
his cause, he was pleased, before the beginning  were these:
of the campaign, to admit of a treaty with his   The first is entitled, " An act for the supprestwo houses, for which purpose he sent a safe- sion of divers innovations in churches and
conduct of six lords, and as many commoners, chapels in and about the worship of God, and
with their attendants, to repair to him at Ox- for the due observation of the Lord's Day, and
Rushworth, vol. v., p. 141.              * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 165, 166.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    445
the netter advancement of preaching God's Holy    The fourth is entitled, " An act against the
Word in all parts of this kingdom."           enjoying pluralities of benefices by spiritual perIt enacts, "That all altars and rails be taken sons, and nonresidence."
away out of churches and chapels before April   It enacts, " That all persons that have two
18, 1643, and that the communion-table be fixed or more- benefices with cure of souls, of what
in some convenient place in the body of the yearly value soever they be, shall resign them
church. That all tapers, candlesticks, basins, all but one before April 1, 1643, any license,
crucifixes, crosses, images, pictures of saints, toleration, faculty, or dispensation to the conand superstitious inscriptions in'churches or trary notwithstanding.
churchyards, be taken away or defaced.          "That if any spiritual person, having cure of
"That all damages done to the churches, or souls, shall be absent from his cure above ten
windows of churches, by the removal of any of Sundays, or eighty days in a year, except in
the aforesaid innovations, be repaired by the case of sickness-, imprisonment, or except he be
proper officers of the parish or chapel.      a reader in either university, or be summoned
"This act is not to extend to any image, pic- to convocation, and be thereof lawfully conture, or monument for the dead."              victed in any court of justice, that his living
It enacts farther, "That all bowing towards shall be deemed void, and the patron hbve powthe altar, or at the name of Jesus, shall be for- er to nominate another person, as if the former
borne; and for the better observation of the incumbent was dead.",
Sabbath, that all dancing, gaming, sports and    The fifth, for calling an assembly of learned
pastimes, shall be laid aside. That every min- and godly divines, to he consulted with by the
ister that has cure of souls shall preach, or ex- Parliament for the settling of the government
pound the Scriptures, or procure some other and liturgy of the Church, and for the vindicaable divine to preach to his congregation every tion and clearing of the doctrine of the Church
Lord's Day in the forenoon; and it shall be law- of England from false aspersions and interpretful for the parishioners to provide for a sermon ations, will be inserted at large when we come
in the afternoon, and a lecture on the week-day, to the sitting of the Assembly.
where there is no other lecture or preaching at   To the forementioned propositions and bills,
the same tilne; and if any person oppose or hin- his majesty, after a sharp reply* to the preamder tlem, he shall forfeit 40s. to the poor."'    ble, returned the following answer: that though
The second, entitled, " An act for the utter many of them were destructive of his just powabolishing and taking away of all archbishops, er and prerogative, yet because they might be
bishops, their chancellors, and commissaries," mollified and explained upon debates, he is
&c., has been already inserted in the former pleased to agree that a time and place be appart of this history.t:'                     pointed for the meeting of commissioners on
The third iS entitled, "An act for punishing  both sides to discuss them,.and to consider the
scandalous clergymen, and others."            following proposals of his own:t
It ordains, "That the lord-chancellor, or lord-   1. "That his majesty's revenues, magazines,
keeper, for the time being, shall award com- towns, forts, and ships may be forthwith restomissions under the great seal to persons of red.
worth and credit in every county of England    2. "That whatsoever has been done or puband Wales;.which commissioners, or any three lished contrary to the known laws of the land,
or more of them, shall have power to inquire by and his majesty's legal rights, may be renounced
the oaths of twelve lawful men of the said coun- and recalled.
ty of the following offences in the clergy, viz.,   3. "That whatever illegal power over his
not preaching six times at least in a year, by majesty's subjects has been exercised by either,
any ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls or both houses, or any committee, may be disunder the age of sixty, and not hindered by claimned, and all persons that have been imprissickness or imprisonment; of blasphemy, per- oned by virtue thereof be forthwith discharged.
jury, or subornation of perjury, ilrnication, adul-   4. " That a good bill may be framed for the
tery, conmmlon alehouse or tavern haunting, better preserving the Book of Common Prayer
drunkenness, profane swearing or cursing, done fiorn the scorn and violence of Brownists, Anaor committed within three years past, by any baptists, and other sectaries, with such clauses
parson or vicar, or other person having cure of for the ease of tender consciences as his majessouls, or by any lecturer, curate, stipendiary, ty has formerly offered.T
schoolmaster, or usher of any school. The    5. "That all persons to be excepted out of
commissioners shall take information by articles the general pardon shall be tried per pares, acin writing: the party complaining to be bound cording to common course of law, and that it
in a recognizance of ~10 to prosecute at a time be left to that to acquit or condemn them.
appointed; tile articles of complaint being first   6. " That in the mean time there be a cessadelivered to the party complained of twenty days tion of arms, and free trade for all his majesty's
before the trial, that he may prepare for his de- subjects for twenty days."
fence.  Upon conviction, by tile verdict of   His majesty desired the last article might be
twelve men,. the party complained of shall be first settled, by which he proposed not only to
deprived of' his spiritual promotions, and be ad- gain time, but to provide himself with several
judged a disabled person in law, to have and en- necessaries from London, and to convoy safely
joy the same incumbency or ecclesiastical pro
motion. This act to continue till November 1,   * Dr. Grey disputes the propriety of this epithet,
1645, and no longer ":                       applied to the king's reply. The reader may judge
of it by referrin, to Lord Clarendon's History, vol. Xi.,
* Husband's Collections, fol., 119.   p. 123, &c.-ED.     t Rushworth, vol. v., p. 169.
t Vol. ii., p. 498, 499.                t The king had never made any offer of this kind' Husband's Collections, fol., 140.   but in general terms. —~Mrs. Macaulay.-En.




446                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
to Oxford the ammunition and other stores the tending that this should extend either to the
queen had lately latded at Burlington Bay,* but bishops, whose votes have been taken away by
the Parliament were too sensible of his designs bill, or to such in whose places, upon new
to consent to it.  They therefore empowered writs, new elections have been made:
their commissioners to begin with the first pr op-   "As soon as his majesty and both houses
osition, concerning restoring the revenues l;i the may be secured from such tumultuous assemcrown, and the delivery of his majesty's maga- blies as, to the great breach of the privileges
zipes, towns, forts, and ships, &c.  &ll which and the high dishonour of Parliaments, have
they were authorized to agree to, oal condition formerly assembled about both houses, and
the persons with whom he would intrust them  awed the members of the same, and occasionwere such as they could confide in. To which ed two several complaints from  the House of
the king replied, that the oaths of the officers Lords, and two several desires of that house to
were a sufficient. security, and if they abused the House of Commons, to join in a declaration
their trust he would leave them to the law. The against them, the complying with which desire
commissioners then went upon the other arti- might have prevented all the miserable distraccles, and spun out the treaty till the 12th of tions which have ensued; which security his
April without concluding one single point.  The majesty conceives can be only settled by adking would be restored to the condition he was journing the Parliament to some other place, at
in befobre the war, upon a bare promise that he the least twenty miles from London, the choice
would govern for the future according to law; of which his majesty leaves to both houses,
but the Parliament were resolved not to trust   "His majesty will then most cheerfully and
themselves nor the Constitution in his hands readily consent that both armies be immediwithout the redress of some grievances and a ately disbanded, and give a present meeting to
better security. Mr. Whitelocke says, that the both houses of Parliament, at the same time and
commissioners (of which he was one) having place, at and to which the Parliament shall
been with the king one evening till midnight, agree to be adjourned:
gave his majesty such reasons to consent to a    "His majesty beingconfident that the law will
very material point, which would have much then recover its due credit and estimation, and
conduced to a happy issue and success of the that upon a free debate, in a full and peaceable
treaty, that he told them he was fully satisfied, convention of Parliament, such provisions will
and promised —.to let them have his answer in be made against seditious preaching and printwriting, according to their desire, next morn- ing against his majesty, and the established
ing.t But when the commissioners were with- laws, which hath been one of the chief causes
-drawn, some of the king's bedchamber, and they of the present distractions; and such care will
went higher, fearing the king's concessions be taken concerning the legal and known rights
would tend to peace, never left persuading him  of his majesty, and the property, and liberty of
till he had altered his resolution, and gave orders his subjects, that whatsoever hath been pubfor the following answer to be drawn up, direct- lished or done in, or by colour of, any illegal.ly contrary to what he had promised the com- declarations, ordinances, or order of one or.missioners.                                  both houses, or any committee of either of
"' As soon as his majesty is satisfied concern- theml, and particularly the power to raise arms.ing his own revenue, magazines, ships, and forts, without his majesty's consent, will be in such
in which he desires nothing but that the just manner  recalled, disclaimed, and  provided
known legal rights of his majesty, devolved to against, and no seed will remain for the like to
him  from  his progenitors, and of the persons spring out of for the future, to disturb the peace
trusted by him, which have violently been taken of the kingdom, and to endanger the very being
from both, be restored to him and them-       of it."*
" As soon as all the members of both houses   This resolute answer broke off the treaty,
shall be restored to the same capacity of sitting and left the quarrel to be decided by the sword;
and voting in Parliament as they had on the upon which Bishop Kennet makes the following
Ist of January, 1641, the same right belonging remark: "It is to be lamented that some of
unto them  by their birthrights, and the free the king's most intimate friends were against
elections of those that sent them; and having his concluding a peace, and others were against
been voted from them for adhering to his maj- his obtaining an absolute victory. They were.esty in these distractions; his majesty not in- afraid he should comply; lest his prerogative
* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 476, folio,           might not be great enough to protect him; and
t  Whitelocke's Memoirs, p.. 65.            yet afraid he should conquer, lest he might be
1 Dr. Grey censures Mr. Neal for not giving his tempted to assume an arbitrary power."t  It is,reader Mr. Whitelocke's account of the king's great plain from hence, that by peace the king meant:civility to the Parliament commissioners. We will nothing but being restored to all the prerogasupply the omission. "The conmmissionerswere al- tives of his crown as belbore the war, without.lowed by his majesty a very free debate with him, an) additional security; and that there was no
and had access to him at all times. He used them  room fo         te previous question was
~with great favour and civility; and his general, Ru-  oot  for a treatyi tile prevous questn was
nthen, and divers of his lords and officers, came fre- dete, " Whether  there was just reason
-quently to their table. The kinghimself did them the to confide in the king, and restore him  to his
honour sometimes to accept of part of their wine and rights upon mis bare promise of government by
provisions, which the earl (viz., of Northumberland) law for the future l"  For all the propositions
sent to him when they had anything extraordinary." necessarily led to this point, and till this was
Whitelocke adds, "in this treaty the king manifest- decided it was in vain to lose time upon tilhe
ed his great parts and abilities, strength of reason, others
and quickness of apprehension, with much patience
in hearing what was objected against him, wherein   * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 259, 260.
he allowed all freedom." —Memorials, p. 65.-ED.     t Compl. Hist., p. 135.




HISTORY. OF THE PURITANS.                                   447
Thus ended the year 1642, in which died the  " the most noble, and ever-to-be-honoured and
famous Tobias Crisp, D.D., third son of Ellis renowned pious Lord Brooke, whose most illusCrisp, of London, Esq. He was born in Bread- trious name and memory, both for his piety,
street, London, 1600, educated at Eton School, prudence, incomparable magnanimity, and heand hav.ng taken the degree of bachelor of arts roic martial spirit, for his loyalty to the king,
at Cambridge, retired to Oxford, and was in. and fidelity to the country, deserves to remain
corporated into Baliol College in the beginning deeply engraven in letters of gold on high-erectof February, 1626. In theyear 1627 hebecame ed pillars of marble."*  On the other hand,
Rector of Brinkworth, in Wiltshire, and a few  Archbishop Laud, in his Diary,t has some very
years after proceeded D.D. At Brinkworth he remarkable observations upon his death, which
was much followed for his edifying manner of show the superstition of that prelate.  " First,"
preaching, and for his great hospitality. Upon says his grace, " I observe that this great and
the breaking out of the war, he was obliged to  known enemy to cathedral churches died thus
fly to London to avoid the insolences of the fearfully in the assault of a cathedral; a fearking's soldiers, where, his peculiar sentiments ful manner of death in such a quarrel!  Secabout the doctrines of grace being discovered, ondly, that this happened upon St. Chad's Day,
he met with a vigorous opposition from the city of which saint the cathedral bears the name.
divineq.  The doctor in his younger years had Thirdly, that this lord, coming from  dinner,
been a favourer of Arminianism, but changing about two years since, from the Lord Herbert's
his opinions, he ran into the contrary extreme house in Lambeth, upon some discourse of St.
of Antinomianism. He was certainly a learn- Paul's Church, then in their eye upon the waed and religious person, modest and humble in ter, said to some young lords that were with
his behaviour, fervent and laborious in his min- him, that he hoped to live to see that one stone
isterial work, and exact in his morals.  Mr. of that building should not be left upon another;
Lancaster, the publisher of his works, says but that church stands yet, and that eye is put
i' that his life was so innocent and harmless out that hoped to see the ruins of it."t
from all evil, so zealous and fervent in all good,   While the treaty of Oxford was depending,
that it seemed to be designed as a practical con- his majesty's friends in the city were contriving
futation of the slander of those who would in- to bring him to London, and deliver the Parliasinuate that his doctrine tended to licentious- ment into his hands.~  Mr. Tomkins, Chalonness."  The doctor was possessed of a very er, and Waller, a member of the House of Comlarge estate, with which he did a great deal of mons, in conjunction with some others, were to
good; but being engaged in a grand dispute carry off the king's children, to secure the most
against several opponents (if we may believe active members of the House of Commons, as
Mr. Wood) he overheated himself, and fell sick  Mr. Pym, Hampden, Strode, &c., to seize the
of the smallpox, of which he died February 27, Tower and the gates of the city, with the mag1642, and was buried in the family vault in azines, and to let in a party of the royal forces,
Bread-street, London.*  In his last sickness he who were to be at hand; for all which they had
was in a most comfortable and resigned frame the king's commission, dated March 16, 1643.
of mind, and declared to them that stood by his The day of rising was to be the last Wednesfirm adherence, to the doctrines he had preach- day in May: but the plot being discovered by a
ed; that as he had lived in the belief of the free servant of Tomkins's before it was ripe for exgrace of God through Christ, so he did now, ecution, the conspirators were apprehended and
with confidence and great joy, even as much as tried; Tomkins and Chaloner confessed. the
his present condition was capable of, resign his facts, and were executed; but Waller purchased
life and soul into the hands of his heavenly Fa- his life for ~10,000, and was banished.ll
ther.  He published nothing in his lifetime, but   Upon this discovery, both houses resolved to
after his death his sermons were published, in strengthen themselves by a new covenant or
three volumes, fiom his own notes, which, with vow, which was tendered first to their own
some additions, were reprinted by his son, in members, then to the army, and such of the
one volume quarto, about the year 1689, and  people as were willing to take it.~5  In it they
gave occasion to some intemperate heats among declare their abhorrence of the late plot, and
the Nonconformist ministers of those times.    engage not to lay down their arms as long as
Towards the end of this year died Robert the papists were protected fromin justice, but to
Lord Brooke, a virtuous and religious gentle- assist the Parliament according to their abiliman, a good scholar, and an eminent patriot, ties in the just defence of the Protestant relibut a determined enemy of the hierarchy.  In gion and the liberties of the subject, against
the beginning of the war he took part with the
Parliament, and being made lord-lieutenant of   * Parliamentary Chronicle, p. 272.  t P. 211.
the counties of Warwick and Stafford, put him-   $ It was the opinion of some of the Royalists, and
self at the head of twelve hundred men, aiqd especially of the Roman Catholics, that the bullet
marched against the Earl of Chesterfield, at was directed by St. Chad. It is observable that the
Ltchfield,  whoCm he dislodged from the town, same man who was by one.party looked upon as a
March i, but next day, as he was looking out monument of Divine vengeance (see South's Sermons,
of a window with hi beaver up, and giving di- serm. i., p. 270), was by the other reverenced as a
of a window with his beaver up, and giving di-   i. Ba         has paced him in heaven (Saints'
saint. Baxter has placed him in heaven (Saints'
rection to his soldiers to assault St. Chad's Everlasting Rest, p. 82, 83, edit. 1649), together with
Church, adjoining to the close where the Earl White, Pym, and Hlampden. —Granger's History of
of Chesterfield's torces lay, a musket-ball struck England, vol. ii., p. 144, 8vo. See also Mrs. Macauhim  near the left eye, of which he instantly  lay's History, vol. iii., p. 417, 418, note, 8vo.-EDo
died.  The Parliamentary Chroniclet calls him  Baxter's opinion of a man's spiritual state is likely to
be regarded as a good authority. —C.
* Wood's Athen. Oxon., vol. ii., p. 12, 13.  ~ Roshworth, vol. v., p. 322. Rapin, vol. ii., p.
t P. 272,                                487, folio.  It Ibid., p. 326, 327.   ~ Ibid., p. 32?fl




448                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the forces raised by the king without their con- recruiting in the winter, the queen furnished
sent. Nevertheless, the king's friends were him with foreign money, and with two thounot disheartened from  entering into several sand foot, a thousand horse, a hundred wagons
other combinations against the Parliament; laden with ammunition of all sorts, six pieces
one was discovered in August, and another to- of cannon, and two mortars; upon which the
wards the latter end of the year: even the House of Commons impeached her of high trealower sort of women, to the number of two or son, for levying forces without consent of Parthree thousand, with white silk ribands in their liament  In the month of April the Earl of Eshats, went in a body to Westminster with a sex besieged and took the town of Reading,
petition for peace upon the king's terms, and from whence he marched within ten miles of
could not be dispersed without the military Oxford, where Prince Rupert, with a party of
arm:* all which was occasioned by the corre- horse, beat up his quarters, and killed the faspondence the king held in London, notwith- mous Mr. Hampden in Chalgrave-field; after
standing the ordinance the Parliament had pub- which Essex retired, and put his sickly forces
lished in April last, to prevent spies and intel- into quarters of refreshment.*. In the North the
ligences from Oxford or the royal army coming king's armies had a train of successes.  Lord
to any part of the Parliament's quarters.    Fairfax was defeated by the Earl of Newcastle,
The king having failed in his designs of sur- at Atherstone Moor, June 30, and Sir William
prising the city, resolved at last to starve the Waller at the battles of Lansdown and koundcitizens into their duty; for which purpose he away-down, July 5 and 13, which was followed
issued a proclamation, July 17, prohibiting all with the loss of Weymouth, Dorchester, Portintercourse of trade and commerce with them, land Castle, Exeter, and almost all the West.
and expressly forbidding all persons to travel to About the latter end of July, Prince Rupert beLondon, or to carry any goods, merchandise, or sieged and took the city of Bristol, and the
provisions thither without special license from  king himself sat down before Gloucester [Auhimself.t  By another proclamation [Oct. 17], gust 10], which so alarmed the two houses that.
his majesty forbids his subjects of Scotland, the shops in London were ordered to be shut
and all foreign kingdoms and states in amity till the siege was raised, and a strong body of
with him, to bring any ammunition, provision, the train-bands despatched to join the Earl of
goods, or merchandise of any sort, to London, Essex's broken troops, who, by this means,
or any other town or city in rebellion against were in a condition, in fifteen days, to march
him.  The prohibiting foreign merchandises to the relief of that important city; upon the
had very little influence upon the trade of the earl's approach the king raised the siegei and
city, because the Parliament were masters of Essex entered the town when reduced to the
the seas; but the town of Newcastle being gar- last extremity; and having supplied it with
risoned by the king, the Londoners were dis- necessaries, after three days returned towards
tressed the following winter for coals, which London. The king being joined by Prince Ruobliged them  to have recourse to the digging pert with five thousand horse, got before him
turf, and cutting down all fell wood on the es- to Newbury, where both armies engaged with
tates of delinquents within sixty miles of Lon- pretty equal success, till night parted them,
don.  By another proclamation, his majesty when his majesty retired to Oxford, and left the
forbade all his subjects, upon pain of high trea- way open fbr the earl to pursue his march.t In
son, to obey the orders of Parliament; and all this battle the city trained-bands, by their untenants to pay their rents to such landlords as daunted bravery, are said to have gained imadhered to the rebellion, but to reserve them  mortal honour. But it is the opinion of most
for his majesty's use.                       historians that if, instead of sitting down before
After this account of things, it is reasonable Gloucester, the king had marched his victorito suppose that very extraordinary burdens ous army directly to London, after the taking
must be laid upon the people on both sides to of Bristol, he might have put an end to the war,
support the expenses of the war. The Parlia- the Parliament being in no readiness to oppose
ment at Westminster excised everything, even him; however, it is certain that about this
the necessaries of life: all butchers' meat paid time the royal cause was in the height of its
one shilling in twenty; every rabbit a half-pen- prosperity, and the Parliament's at so low an
ny; and pigeons one penny in the dozen. The ebb that they were obliged to throw themselves
king's Parliament at Oxford did the like in his into the hands of the Scots. It is no part of my
majesty's quarters; and by an ordinance of design to give a particular description of sieges
March 26 following, all persons within the cit- and battles, or a recital of the military exploits
ies of London and Westminister, and the bills of the heroes of these times, any farther than
of mortality, were to pay the weekly value of to inform the reader of the true situation of afone meal a week, on every Tuesday, for the fairs, and to enable him to form a just idea of
public, service, which they were supposed to the grounds and reasons of those extraordinary
abate in their families.1  Such were the hard- measures that each party took for the support
ships of the times!                         of their cause. Let us now, therefore, attend
The king's'affairs this summer were very the affairs of the Church.
prosperous, and threatened the ruin of his ene-'The clergy on both sides had a deep share in
mies; for, besides his army, which had been the calamities of the times, being plundered,
-.'                harassed, imprisoned, and their livings seques* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 357, folio.         tered, as they fell into the hands of the enemy.
t Husband's Collections, folio, 237, 366.  The king's party were greatly incensed against
$ For a more minute detail of the ways by which the Puritan clergy, as the chief incendiaries of
the Parliament raised money, see Dr. Grey, vol. ii., p.
42, &c., and Historical Account of all Taxes, p. 296,  * Rapin, vol. ii., p. 477, folio..'97.                                               t Rushworth, vol. v., p. 293, 294.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     449
the people and trumpeters of rebellion.  Such several of their lordships so far countenance the
as refused to read the king's proclamations and votes of the houses as to apply for it.
orders against the Parliament were apprehend-   In order to account for these things, it will
ed, and shut up in the common jails of York, be necessary to set before the reader the proand other places within his majesty's quarters. ceedings of the several committees of religion
When any parties of the royal army got pos- from the beginning of the present Parliament.
session of a town that adhered to the Parlia- It has been remembered that a grand commitment, they inquired presently for the minister's tee, consisting of the whole House of Commons,
house, which was rifled and plundered of every- was appointed November 6, 1640, to inquire
thing that was valuable, and himself imprison- into the scandalous immoralities of the clergy,*
ed, if he could be found; but the incumbents of which the famous Mr. White, member of
usually took care to avoid the danger by flying Parliament for Southwark, a good lawyer, and,
to the next Parliament garrison.  Above thirty according to Mr. Whitelocke, an honest, a learnPuritan ministers took shelter in the city of ed, and faithful servant of the public, was chairCoventry after the fight dfEdgehill. Great num- man.  Great numbers of petitions, with articles
bers came to London with their families in a of misbehaviour, were brought before them, renaked and starving condition, leaving their lating to superstition, heresy, or the immorality
books, and everything they could not bring of their ministers, insomuch that the House was
away, to the mercy of the king's soldiers. The forced to branch the committee into several
prisoners underwent uncommon hardships, and subdivisions for the quicker despatch of busiwould have been executed as rebels if the Par- ness.  November 19, 1640, a sub-committee
liamen; had not threatened reprisals.         was appointed " to consider how there may be
On the other hand, the Episcopal clergy were preaching ministers set up where there are
no less harassed by the Parliament soldiers; none; how they may be maintained where
these being in possession of the best livings in there is no maintenance, and all other things of
the Church, were liable to suffer the greatest that nature; also to inquire into the true
damage; multitudes of them left their cures grounds and causes of the scarcity of preaching
and took sanctuary in the king's armies or gar- ministers throughout the kingdom, and to conrisons, having disposed of their goods and chat- sider of sJrme way of removing scandalous mintels in the best manner,they could.  Others, isters, and putting others in their places;" for
who had rendered themselves obnoxious by which purposes tihe knights of shires and burtheir sermons or declarations for the king, were gesses of the several corporations were ordered
put under confinement in l,ambeth, Winchester, to bring informations, within six weeks, of the
Ely, and most of the bishops' houses about Lon- state of religion in their respective counties.
don; and for want of room, about twenty, ac- The sub-committee consisted of sixty-one meaicording to Dr. Walker, were imprisoned on bers, together with the knights and burgesses
board of ships in the River Thames, and shut of Northumberland, Wales, Lancashire, Curndown under decks, no friend being suffered to berland, and the burgesses of Canterbury.  Mr.
come to them.*  The same writer observes, White was chairman of this, as well as of the
that about one hundred and ten of the London grand committee; they h!ad their regular meetclergy were turned out of their livings in the ings in the Court of Wards, and from the powers
years 1642 and 1643, and that as many more above mentioned, were sometimes called the
fled to prevent imprisonment; yet it ought to committee for preaching ministers, but more
be remembered, that none were turned out or usually for scandalous ministers. They had the
inimprisoned for their adhering to the doctrine inspection of all hospitals and freeschools, and
or discipline of the Church of England till afterm  were authorized to consider of the expediency
the imposing of the Scots covenant, but for im- of sending commissions into the several counmorality, false doctrine, nonresidence, or for ties to examine such clergymen as were accutaking part with the king against the Parlia- sed, and could not with convenience be brought
ment  However, it is to be lamented that sev- up to London.
eral pious and worthy bishops, and other cler-   But presentments against the clergy came in
gymen, who withdrew from the world, and were so fast, that, for tile despatch of business, they
desirous to live peaceably without joining either were obliged to divide again info several smaller
side, suffered afterward in common with the committees, which, from the names of the genrest of their brethren; theii estates and livings tiemen in the respective chairs, were called Mr.
being sequestered, their houses and go.ods plun- White's, Corbet's, Sir Robert Harlow's, and Sii
dered by ungovernable soldiers, and themselves Edward Deering's committees, &c.t  Within a
reduced to live upon the fifths, or a small pension  short space above two thousand petitions were
from the Parliament, either because they could brought before them, of which Mr. Corbet's comnot take the covenant, or comply with the new  mittee had no less than nine hundred.  Great
directory for public worship.  Atmong these we complaints have been made of their severity by
may reckonthe most Reverend Archbishop Ush- those who will riot believe tile clergy were so
er, Bishop Morton,  Hall, and many others. corrupt as really they were, nor remember the
When the bishops'. lainds were seized for the political principles for which most of them sufservice of the war, which was called Bellum  fered.  The forms of proceeding in the commllitEpiscopale, or the Bishops' War, it was not tee were certainly unexceptionable, for they
possible to show favour to any under that char- were obliged to give proper notice to the party
acter; and though the two houses voted very accused to make his appearance; the witnesses
considerable pensions to some of the bishops in were usually examined upon oath in his preslieu of their lands that were sequestered, due ence; a copy of the articles was given hlit ii
care was not taken of the payment; nor would desired, and a reasonable time assigned to pet+ Walker's SufiHrilng Clergy, part ii., p. 180.'*. Walker's Attempt, p. f3.  t Ibid., p. 65.
Voi.O. I-L  i. T,




450                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
pare for his defence.*  The articles of inquiry  bled ordered [March 3, 1642] his living to be
on which they proceeded were, 1. Scandalous sequestered into the hands of Robert Atkins,
immoralities of life, as drunkenness, swearing, M.A., who was appointed to  preach every
incontinency, and sometimes blasphemy and  Lord's Day till farther order. Mr. Symmonds
sodomy. 2. False or scandalous doctrine, i. e., endeavoured to discredit the evidence, but was
popish and Arminian, these being understood to  so far from disowning the charge, that he afterbe inconsistent with the Articles of the Church  ward vindicated it in a pamphlet, entitled' The
of'England.  3. Profanation of the Sabbath by Loyal Subject's Belief:"
reading and countenancing the Book of Sports.   A second gentleman, who has left an ac4. Practising and pressing the late innova- count of his sufferings, is the Rev. Mr. Squire,
tions after they had been censured by the Par- of Shoreditch; he was articled against for
liament as illegal.  5. Neglect of their cures by  " practising and pressing the late innovations,
not preaching according to their duty.  6. Ma- for saying the papists were the king's best sublignancy and dlisaffection to the Parliament, dis- jects, because of their loyalty and liberality; for
covered by their assisting his majesty with  declaring that none should come to the sacramoney, and persuading others to do so; by ment unless they were as well affected to the
reading the king's declarations, and refusing to  king as the papists; for comparing his majesread the Parliament's; by not observing the ty to the man that fell among thieves,, being
Parliament's fasts, but calling them rebels, trai- wounded in his honour, and robbed of his castors, and wishing the curse of God upon them  tles and the hearts of his people; that the
and their cause.  These were apprehended rea- priest passing by was the Protestant, the forsonable matters of inquiry, and just grounds of ward professor the Levite, but the papist was
exception, as matters stood between the king the good Samaritan; and for affirming that the
and the two houses.  And, after all, the final king's subjects, and all that they had, were at
determination was not with the committee; his command."*  Mr. Squire denied some of
their opinion, with the evidence, was first laid  these articles, and extenuated others; he probefore the grand committee, then it was report- cured a certificate from several of his parished to the whole House, and finally referred to loners of his diligence in preaching, in cateclithe House of Lords before it was decisive. sing, and in beating down popery for thirty
One would think here should be little room for years past, all which might be true; but Dr.
complaint, and yet there was too much passion  Walker admitst that from the beginning of the
and prejudice on both sides, which was owing  war he was a most strenuous champion for alto the confusion of the times and the violent legiance, that is, for passive obedience and
resentments of each party.  The commission- nonresistance, and most earnestly exhorted his
ers were too forward in exposing the failings of people to the practice of it, which, as the times
the clergy, and encouraging witnesses of slender then were, might be a sufficient reason for the
credit; on the other hand, the clergy were in- Parliament to silence him.
sufferably rude to the committee, defamining their   The other clergyman is Mr. Finch, of Christ
witnesses, and threatening revenge, for being  Church, who was articled against for extortion,
obliged to plead their cause befobre laymen. superstition, nonresidence, and neglect of his
However, few clergymen were sequestered by cure, and for being a common swearer, tavernthe committee for scandalous ministers before hunter, and drunkard, which was proved by
it was joined with that for plundered ministers; very substantial evidence.  Dr. Walker's dean account ol' which I slall lay before the reader, fence of this gentleman is very remarkable:
after I have given two or three examples of the "Common charity," says he, " will oblige every
proceedings of the present committee, from the one to give more credit to the bare word of a
relations of those clergymen who have left be- clergyman, though in his own vindication, than
hind them an account of their sufferings.     to that of his known and professed enenries."T
Tile first is Mr. Symmonds, of IRayne, in Es- And yet, in the next page,9 he owns he was
sex, who acknowledges that he was sequester- not satisfied with Mr. Finch's character, nor in
ed for preaching and publishing that " the king, some parts of his defence, in which he thinks
being the supreme magistrate, hath immediate  he does by no means acquit himself from havdepenrdance on God, to whom alone he is ac- ing been a man of an ill life.  His case was
countable. —'hat authority is a sacred thing, reported by the grand committee to the House
aiid essential to the klng's person.-That re- of Commons, and by them to the Lords, who
sistance is against the way of God, destructive all agreed lie was unfit to hold any ecclesiastito the whole law of God, inconsistent with the cal living.
spirit of the Gospel, the perpetual practice of'  It must be left with the impartial world to
Christianity, the calling of ministers, common judge %whether the Parliament had reason to
prudence, the rule of humanity, nature itself, sequester these clergymen in their own defence.
reason, the oath of allegiance, and even the The last was a mall of an immoral life, and the
late protestation."t Besides, he had notorious- two former, allowing them to be otherwise good
ly defamed thte Parliament, and pressed his au- men, were certainly incendiaries against the
dtitrs to believe the king's declarations, " be- two houses, and preached- up those doctrines
-cause a Divine sentence was in his mouth, and  which were inconsistent with the Constitution
he cannot err.  And tlhat, if David's heart and freedom of this country, as most of the pasitmote him obr ciuttilng off Saul's garment, what rochial clergy at that time did.
would it have done if lie had kept him from his   The cominmittee for plundered ministers took
castles, townis, anll ships'" For which reasons, its rise froin those  Puritan clergymen who,
the Lords and Commons in Parliament assernWalker's Suffering Clergy, p. 67.
* Walker's Attempt, p. 81.                  lbiil, p. 176.   $ Walker's Attempt, p. 71.
t Walker's Suffering Clergy, p. 67.      ~ Ibid., p. 72.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      451
being driven from their cures in the country by hide themselve under falsehood, and make lies
the king's soldiers, fled to London with their their refuge." And then adds, " that the grossfamilies, leaving their substance and house- est faults which were charged on the clergy
hold furniture to the mercy of the enemy; these were proved by many witnesses, seldom less
being reduced to very great exigencies, applied than six."  The whole century were convicted
to the Parliament for relief; the Commons first of malignity, or disaffection to the Parliament;
ordered a charitable collection for them at their and about eighty of them of scandalous immomonthly fast, and four days after, viz., Decem- ralities in their lives.  Dr. Walker has endeavher 31, 1642, appointed a committee to consider oured to recover the reputation of seven or eight,
of the fittest way " for the relief of such godly and would insinuate that the rest were conand well-affected ministers as have been plun- victed upon too slender evidence, the witnesses
dered; and what malignant clergymen have not being always upon oath, nor, in his opinion,
benefices in and about the town, whose benefices of sufficient credit to impeach a clergyman;
being sequestered, may be supplied by others that some of the crimes were capital, and therewho may receive their profits."  The commit- fore, if they had been proved, must have touched
tee consisted of Mr. Solicitor-general, Mr. Mar- not only the livings, but the lives of the crimityn, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir William Armyn, nals; and that the Parliament, who set up for
Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Holland, Mr. Rouse, Mr. precise morals, accepted the mere verbal eviCase, Mr. Knightly, Sir William  Hayman, Mr. dence of the most infamous people.  However,
Wentworth, Mr. Ruthen, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. the doctor himself has admitted and confirmed
Spurstow, to whom were afterward added some the centurist's account of many of the scanda-~
others; among whom, Dr. Walker supposes, lous ministers, by the inquiries he has made
was the famous Mr. White, who sat in the chair into their characters in the places from whence
of this committee, March 2, 1642-3. The com- they were ejected. Mr. Fuller confesses " that
missioners were upon their oath; any four had several of the offences of the clergy were so
a power to act; they were distinguished by the foul, that it is a shame to report them, crying
name of the "committee for plundered minis- to justice for punishment."  But then adds, in
ters;" but the Royalists, by way of reproach, favour of others, " that witnesses against them
called them the "' committee for plunlderring min- were seldom examined on oath. That many of
isters." They began their meetings in the Court the complainers were factious people. That
of Exchequer, January 2, in the afternoon; some of the clergy were convicted for delivertwo days after, they were ordered to examine ing doctrines that were disputable, and others
the complaints against Dr. Soam, minister of only for their loyalty."*  Bishop Kennet says,
Twittenham and Stains, to send for parties and that several of them were vicious to a scandal.
witnesses, to consider of proper persons to sup- And Mr. Archdeacon Echard is of the same
ply their cures, to apply the revenues to their mind.  But Mr. Baxter's testimony is more
use if they found it necessary, and to report particular and decisive, who says, "that in all
the proceedings to the House. July 27, 1643, the countries where he was acquainted, six to
they were empowered to consider of informa- one at least, if not many more, that were setions against scandalous ministers, though questered by the committees, were bythe oaths
there were no malignancy proved against them, of witnesses proved insufficient or scandalous,
and to put out such whose scandal was suffi- or especially guilty of drunkenness and swearciently proved; from which time the committee ing.  This I know," says the reverend author,
for scandalous and plundered ministers were, "1 will displease the party, but I am sure that
in a sort, united, and so continued to the end this is true."t
of the Long Parliament.*                        It is impossible to account for the particular
In order to silence the clamours of the Roy- proceedings of all the committees, of which
alists, and justify the severe proceedings of great outcries have been made by the friends
these committees, it was resolved to print the of the sufferers. " If the meanest and most vicases of those whom they ejected, and submit cious parishioners could be brought to prefer a.
their conduct to the public censure; according- petition against their parson to the House of
ly, towards the latter end of the year, Mr. White, Commons, how falsely soever," says Lord Clarthe chairman, published a pamphlet, entitled endon, " he was sure to be prosecuted for a
"' The first Century of scandalous malignant scandalous minister."t   His lordship adds,
Priests, made and admitted into Benefices by I' that the committees accepted of the evidence
the Prelate in whose Hands the Ordination of not only of mean people, but of them  who
Ministers and Government of the Church had were professed enemies of the discipline of the
been; or, a Narration of the Causes for which Church; that they baited the clergy with rude
the Parliament has ordered the Sequestration of and uncivil language; that they obliged them
the Benefices of several Ministers complained to a long and tedious attendance, and were very
of before them for Viciousness of Life, Errors partial in voting them out of their livings, right
in Doctrine, contrary to the Articles of our Reli- or wrong."  In another place he says, " that
gion, and for practising and pressing supersti- these complaints were frequently exhibited by
tiouslnnovations against Law, and for Malignan- a few of the meanest of the people against the
cy agaiusL the Parlialnent." Th'le author, in his judgment of the parish."'lhe like representaprefdce, says, the reason of his appearing in tion is made by most of the Royalists; but the
l)print was,'that the Parliament might appear Writers on the side of the Parliament deny tife
just in their doings, that the mouth of iniquity charge, and complain as loudly of the contemptmight be stopped; that all the world might see uous behaviour of the king's clergy to the comthat the tongues of them that speak evil of the
* Church History, b. xi., p. 207.
Parliament are set on fire of hell; that they           Baxter's Life,.  i., p. 207,Waker's Attempt, p. 37.t Baxter's oife,      p. 74.
i- Walker's Attempt, p. 37. -              $ Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 65.




452                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
amissioners, treating them as a combination of mation given to both,houses of Parliament, or
illiterate laymen, who had nothing to do with to the committee-of Lords and Commons aforethe Church —nay, as rebels and traitors. Some mentioned, such farther order shall be taken
refused to obey their summons, and others who therein as shall be agreeable to justice."* Here
appeared took their time in examining the spell- was an appeal from a lower to a higher court;
ing of words, the propriety of grammar, and and to prevent a scrutiny into the lives and
other little evasions, foreign to the purpose. manners of the clergy, when their witnesses
They declared roundly they did not own the might be dead, they were limited to such crimes
tribunal before which they stood; they insulted as had been committed within three years bethe witnesses, and threatened reprisals out of fore the beginning of the present Parliament;
court, when things should revert to their former so that, if the committees observed their orders,
channel; and, upon the whole, behaved as if they  there could be little cause of complaint; yet,
had engrossed all the law, learning, and good as no one will undertake to vindicate all their
sense of the nation to themselves. The com- proceedings, we must not, on the other hand,
missioners, provoked at this usage, were obliged give ear to the petulant and angry complaints
to behave with some sharpness, in order to sup- of every discontented clergyman.t  I shall only
port their own authority; they would not in- observe, farther, that these country committees
dulge them the peculiar privilege they claimed  hardly began to sit till the latter end of the year
as clergymen, nor allow them, as scholars, to  1643 or the beginning of 1644; that they exerdebate the truth of those doctrines of which cised their power very sparingly while the war.they were accused, but confined them to mat- was in suspense, but when the royal forces had
ters of fact. When they excepted against the been beat out of the field, and victory declared
witnesses as ignorant mechanics, factious, schis- on their side, they proceeded with more freematical, enemies to the Church, &c., they over- dom, especially against those who had made
ruled their exceptions, as long as there were no themselves parties in the war.
legal objections to their competency or credi-   Very different accounts are given of the numbility.                    b. ers and quality of the ejected clergy by their
With regard to the country committees, the several friends.  Lord Clarendon says that all
commissioners were chosen out of the deputy- the learned and orthodox divines of England
lieutenants and the best country gentlemen in were deemed scandalous.  And Dr. Walker
the Parliament interest.  Most of the crimes has taken a great deal of pains to increase their
for which the clergy were sequestered were numbers and vindicate their characters.  By
confessed by themselves; superstition or false this account one would think most of them
doctrine were hardly ever objected, far the  wvere of the first rank and character; but Mr.
greatest part being cast out for malignity; and Baxter,$ who was much better acquainted with
yet the proceedings of the sequestrators were them, says, "that when the Parliament purged
not always justifiable, for whereas a court of the ministry, they cast out the grosser sort of
judicature should rather be counsel for the pris- insufficient and scandalous ones, and also some
oner than the prosecutor, the commissioners few civil men who had assisted in the wars
considered the king's clergy as their most dan- against the Parliament, or set up bowing to algerous enemies, and were ready to lay hold of tars, and such innovations, but they left in near
all opportunities to discharge them their pulpits. one half of the ministers that were not good
But, whatever might be the excesses or par- enough to do much service, for bad enough to
t-iality of particular committees, no reasonable be utterly intolerable.  These were a company
blame can be laid upon the two houses, whose of poor, weak preachers, who had no great skill
instructions were, in my opinion, unexception- in divinity nor zeal for godliness, but preached
able; the words of the ordinance are these: weekly that that was true, and were fiee from
"And to the end that those who will appear notorious sins."  This seems a pretty fair rebefore the committee may have the witnesses lation of the matter; however, we shall have
examined in their presence, it is farther ordain- occasion to consider it more fully hereafter.
ed, that summonses, with sufficient warning    Besides the sequestration of benefices, the
of the time and place when and where the Parliament considered the king's clergy as parcharge against them shall be proved, be either ties in the war, and seized their estates, both.
given to their persons or left at their houses; real and personal, under that character, towards
and, if they desire it, they shall have a copy of defraying the expenses of it; for this purpose
the articles against them, with a convenient they passed the following ordinance, April 1,
time to give in their answer under their hands, 1643, the preamble to which sets forth,9 " that
which, together with their charge, and the it is most agreeable to common justice that the
proofs upon every particular of it, the said dep- estates of such notorious delinquents as have
uty-lieutenants and committees of Parliament been the causes or instruments of the public
shall send up to the committee of this House calamities, which have hitherto been employed
appointed to provide for plundered ministers, to the fomenting and nourishing of this rliswhich committee shall, from  time to time, erable distraction, should be converted and
transmit them to this House."*  And, farther, applied towards the support of the commonto prevent all abuses, it is ordained, in the or- wealth.
dinance for sequestration, " that if any person    "Be it therefore enacted, that the estates, as
&1 persons find themselves aggrieved with any well real as personal, of all such bishops, (leans,
acts done by the sequestrators, their agents, or deans and chapters, prebends, archdeacons, and
deputies, and shall not therein be relieved by of all other persons, ecclesiastical or temporal,
the sequestrators, upon complaint made to them,
or any two or more of them, then, upon infor-    Husband's Collections, p. 15.
t Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 81.:..ife, p. 95.
* Husband's Collections, p. 311.      Q Husband's Collections, fol. 13.




HISTORY  OF T'i:E  PURITANS.                               453
who have or shall raise arms against the Par- reservation, or secret evasion whatsoever, taliament, or have been or shall be in actual war king the words by me spoken according to the
against the same; or who have or shall volun- common meaning of them,.
tarily contribute money, horse, plate, arms, am-                    "; So help me God."
munition, or other aid or assistance, towards   Divers clergymen of considerable learning
the maintenance of any force raised against the and blameless lives, sound Protestants and
Parliament, or for the plundering the king's sub- good preachers, lost their estates and liveli;jects who have willingly contributed or yielded hoods by falling within the compass of this o.
obedience to the commands of both houses of dinance.  How far such severities are justifiParliamnent, and of all such who have joined or able by the law of arms, in a time of civil war
shall join in any oath or association against the and conlfusion, I shall not determine.  It ha:
Parliament, &c., shall be seized into the hands been well if those who would have given secuof sequestrators, to be named by both houses rity for their peaceable behaviour could have
of Parliament, which sequestrators, or their been distinguished.  But what could the Pardeputies, are to seize into their hands, as well liament do in their circumstances with men
all the money, goods, chattels, debts, and per- who were always dealing in politics, privately
sonal estates, and all the manors, lands, tene- sending the king money, preaching publicly that
ments, hereditaments, rents, revenues, and prof- he was above law, and stirring up the people to
its of all the said delinquents before specified, sedition and disaffection to those powers by
and also two parts of all the personal and real whom they were protected? If others suffered
estates of every papist; and to let, set, and in this manner, it was a very hard measure.
demise the same from year to year, as the re- Their estates might have been double taxed, as
spective landlords or owners thereof might have those of papists and nonjurors have since been;
done. And the authority of both houses is en- but to take away their whole property, and regaged to save them harmless from paying any duce them to a fifth, and this at the mercy of se
rents to their landlords, being delinquents; and questrators, was extremely rigorous and severe.
all the moneys, rents, and revenues that shall   However,. his majesty pursued the same
arise from this ordinance, shall be applied to measures, and gave directions to seize the
the maintenance of the army and forces raised lands and goods of the Parliamentarians, as apby the Parliament, and such other uses as shall pears by his proclamation of April 7 and May 8,
be directed by both houses of Parliament for wherein he forbids all his subjects to submit to
the benefit of the commonwealth."           their orders; and by another, dated May 15,
August 19, 1643, this ordinance was farther 1643, complains " that divers of his clergy, emexplained, as including in the number of delin- inent for piety and learning, because they pubquents such as absented fiom their usual places lish his royal and just commands and declaraof abode or betook themselves to the king's tions, and will not (against the known laws of
forces, such as should embezzle or conceal any the land and their own consciences) submit to
of their effects to avoid payment of taxes and contributions, nor publicly pray against us and
assessments to the Parliament, or who kept our assistants, but conform to the Book of Comout of the way so that no tax could be levied mon Prayer established by law, and preach
upon' them, or who concealed or harboured the God's Word according to the purity of it, and
goods or persons of delinquents, or who should in their sermons will not teach sedition, nor
seize or molest any persons for obeying or exe- publish illegal commands and orders for focuting any of the Parliament's orders.*  A  menting the unnatural war levied against us,
clause was then added to the ordinance, em- are some of them driven from their cures and
powering the commissioners to allow to the habitations, others silenced and discharged from
wives and children of such delinquents, for their cures, and persecuted, and their curates,
their maintenance, any portion of their goods, if orthodox, displaced, in whose places factious
provided it did not exceed one fifth part. This and seditious persons are introduced. His majclause was construed to extend to the wives esty, therefore, forbids all his subjects to hinder
and children of all clergymen who were ejected any of his clergy from exercising their funetheir livings on any account whatsoever. The tions, or to displace them; and if any transcommissioners were also to seize two thirds of gress this command, his majesty declares them
the estates of papists, both real and personal, assistants of the rebellion, and will proceed
and for the discovering of them, were to tender against them according to law, as soon as he
to such as they suspected the following oath:  can apprehend them, and, in the mean time, will
" I, A. B., do abjure and renounce the pope's give direction for taking their lands and goods
supremacy and authority over the Catholic into safe custody."*  Such were the extremChurch in general, and over myself in particu- ities on both sides!
lar. And I do believe that there is not any    The silencing so many clergymen at once
transubstantiation  in the sacrament of the made it very difficult to find persons qualified
Lord's Supper, or in the elements of bread and to fill the vacant pulpits. This was an inconwine, after consecration thereof by any person venience that attended the reformation of Queen
whatsoever.  And I do also believe that there Elizabeth, and was the case of the Established
is not any purgatory, or that the consecrated  Church again in the year 1662, when near two
Host, crucifixes, or images ought to be wor- thousand ministers were ejected on account of
shipped, or that any worship is due to any of their nonconformity. Lord Clarendon, with his
them.  And I also believe that salvation can- usual candour, says, " that from the beginning
not he merited by works; and all doctrines in of this Parliament he is confident not one learnaffirmation of the said points I do abjure and ed or orthodox man was recommended by them
renounce, without any equivocation, mental to the Church of England;" and yet some of
* Scobel's Collections, p. 49.             * IHusband's Collections, p. 177.




454                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the greatest ornaments of the Church for learn- I tion the statutes for the due observation ai tnhe
ing and good sense, in the reign of King Charles I Lord's Day; his lordship, accordingly, issued his
II., were of their promotion, as Bishop Rey- precept the very next day to the aldermen,-* renolds, Bishop Wilkins, Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Cud- quiring them to give strict charge to the churchworth, Dr. Wallis, and others. Mr. Baxter, who  wardens and constables within their several
was a more competent judge in this respect, wards, that from henceforth "they do not persays,* " that though now and then an unwor- mit or suffer any person or persons, in time of
thy person, by sinister means, crept into the  Divine service, or at any time on the Lord's
places of the ejected ministers, yet commonly  Day, to be tippling in any tavern, inn, tobacco
those whom they put in were such as set them- shop, alehouse, or other victualling-house whatselves laboriously to seek the saving of souls. soever; nor suffer any fruiterers or herb-womIndeed, the one half of them were very young; en to stand with fruit, herbs, or other victuals
but that could not be helped, because there  or wares, in any streets, lanes, or alleys, or any
were no others to be had; the Parliament could  other ways to put things for sale, at any time o.
not make men learned or godly, but only put that day, or in the evening of it; or any milkin the learnedest and ablest they could have; woman to cry milk; nor to suffer any persons
and though it had been to be wished that they  to unlade any vessels of fruit, or other goods,
might have had leisure to ripen in the universi- and carry them on shore; or to use any unlaw
ties, yet many of them did, as Ambrose, teach  ful exercises or pastimes; and to give express
and learn at once so successfully, as that they  charge to all innkeepers, taverns, cook-shops,
much increased in learning themselves while  alehouses, &c., within their wards, not to enthey profited others, and proportionably more  tertain any guests to tipple, eat, drink, or take
than many in the universities do." Those cler- tobacco, in their houses on the Lord's Day, exgymen who had been silenced and imprisoned  cept innkeepers, who may receive their ordiby Archbishop Laud were set at liberty and  nary guests or travellers, who come for the
promoted; soine who had fled to Holland and  despatch of their necessary business; and ii
New-England, on account of nonconformity, re- any persons offend in the premises, they are to
turned home, and were preferred to consider- be brought before the lord-mayor, or one of his
able lectures in the city, or to livings that had  majesty's justices of the peace, to be punished
been sequestered. The Parliament entertained  as the law directs."  This order had a very
and promoted several Scots divines, and yet, considerable influence upon the city, which beafter all, wanted a supply for several vacant gan to wear a different face of religion to what
benefices, which obliged them to admit of some  it had formerly done.t  May 5 the book toleraunlearned persons and pluralists, not of choice, ting sports upon the Lord's Day was ordered to
but through necessity; for when things were  be burned by the hands of the common hangmore settled, the Assembly of Divines declared  man in Cheapside, and other usual places; and
against both; and it deserves to be remember- all persolns having any copies in their hands
ed, that the Parliament, instead of giving their were required to deliver thelm to one of the
divines an absolute and full possession of the  sheriffs of London to be burned.
sequestered livings, reserved to themselves a    Next to the Lord's Day, they had a particular
right in their warrants to displace thein if they  regard to their monthly fast: April 24, all consaw occasion, which shows their great pru- stables, or their deputies, were ordered to redence and caution, for by this means it was in  pair to every house within their respective libtheir power, upon the conclusion of peace, to  erties, the day before every public fast, and
restore those who had been ejected merely for charge- all persons strictly to observe it accordtheir attachment to the king, without any in- ing to the said ordinances. And upon the day
justice to the present possessor.  To put some  of the public fast, they were enjoined to walk
stop to the clamours of the Royalists at Oxford, through their said liberties, to search for perwho gave out that the Parliament admitted  sons who, either by following the work of their
butchers, cobblers, bricklayers, and those who  calling, or sitting in taverns, victualling, or alehad no call from God or man, they ordained, houses, or any other ways, should not duly ohJuly 27, 1643, "that the committees should not serve the same,; and to return their names to
nominate any person to vacant benefices but the committee for examination, that they might
such as should be examined and approved by  be proceeded against for contempt. The fast
the Assembly of Divines then sitting at West- was observed the last Wednesday in every
minster."  Upon the whole, it is evident that month, the public devotions continued with litthe two houses did the best they could in their tle or no intermission from nine in the morning
present circumlstances, and perhaps better than  till four in the afternoon,+ and (as has been althe Royalists did at the Restoration, 1660, when, ready observed) with uncommon strictness and
according to Dr. Walker, all the sequestered  rigour.
clergy who survived were restored to their livings, even those who had been convicted of.  Husband's Collections, p. 7.    t Ibid., p. 159.
the most scandalous immoralities, without any    $ These services were protracted, undoubtedly, to
marks of repentance or amendment.            a tiresome and unreasonable length, and became the
The Parliament's affairs being low, and their subject of ridicule to the royal party; of which this
counsels divided, tey not only applie to f-eav- proposal, in a pamphlet entitled." New Orders New,"
is a proof: viz., " that every year there shall be the
en, by extraordinary fastings and prayers, but Roundheads' feast celebrated, a well-lunged, long-.
went on vigorously with their intended refor- breathed cobbler shall preach a sermon six hours, and
mation. They began with the Sabbath, and on  his prayers two hours long, and at every mess in this
March 22, 1642-3, sent to the lord-mayor of the feast shall be presented a godly dish of turnips, becity of London to desire him to put in execu- cause it is very agreeable to our natures: for a turnip
hath a round head, and the anagram of a Puritan is a
~ Hist. of Life and Times, p. 74.   turnip."-Dr. Grey, p. 76, note. —ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURi FANS.                                     455
Besides the stated fasts, it was usual, upon fast on Wednesday, the Royalists were obliged
extraordinary emergencies, to appoint occasional to an open separation, by changing it to Friday.
ones; as when the army was going upon any Thus the devotions of the kingdom were divihazardous enterprise, or were within sight of ded, and Almighty God called into the quarrel
the enemy, or under very disadvantageous cir- on both sides.
cumstances.  When the Earl of Essex was shut   The next thing the Parliament undertook
up in Cornwall, the two houses appointed a day was the removal of those monuments of superof fasting and prayer in six churches within  stition out of churches, &c., which had been
the lines of communication, and in such other voted down the last year, but without any conchurches where it should be desired; and the siderable effect, because of the dissent of the
crowds of serious, attentive hearers on such oc- House of Lords.  In the beginning of May, Sir
casions was almost incredible.                Robert Harlow, by order of the two houses, took
The  king, apprehending  the Parliament's down the crosses in Cheapside, Charing Cross,
monthly fast was perverted from its original de- and St. Paul's Cross,* which was a pulpit of
sign, and turned into a nursery of rebellion, wood covered with lead in form of a cross, and.
was pleased to dissolve it, and appoint another, mounted on several steps of stone about the
for the reasons contained in the following proc- middle of St. Paul's churchyard, where the first
lamation from Oxford, dated October 5, 1643: Reformers used to preach frequently to the peoI"When a general fast was first propounded to. ple; and upon a farther representation of the
us in contemplation of the miseries of our king- Assembly of Divines, they passed the following
domn of Ireland, we readily consented to it. ordinance: " That before- the 1st of November
But when we observe what ill use has been all altars and tables of stone shall be utterly tamlade of these public meetings, in pulpits, in len away and demolished; and all communionprayers, and in the sermons of many seditious tables removed from  the east end of every
lecturers, to stir up and continue the rebellion  church, chapel, or place of public worship, and
raised against us within this kingdom, we be set in some other fit and convenient place or
thought fit to command that such a hypocritical places of the body of the church or chapel; and
fast, to the dishonour of God, and slander of all rails whatsoever which have been erected
true religion, be no longer continued and coun- near to, or before, or about, any altar or commutenanced by our authority.  And yet we, being nion-table, in any of the said churches or chapdesirous to express our own humiliation and the els, shall before the said day be taken away,
humiliation of our people, for our own sins, and and the chancel-ground of every such church,
the sins of the nation, are resolved to continue or chapel, or other place of public prayer, which
a monthly fast, but not on the day formerly ap- has been within these.twenty years raised for
pointed.  We do, therefore, hereby command, any altar or communion-table to stand upon,
that from henceforth no fast be held on the last shall before the said day be laid down and levWednesday in the month, as for many months elled as it was before; and all tapers, candleit has been; nor on any other day than is here- sticks, and basins shall before the said day be
by appointed by us. But we do expressly charge removed and taken away from the communionand command, that in all churches and chapels, table in every church, chapel, or place of pub&c., there be a solemn fast religiously observed lie prayer, and not to be used again afterward.
on the second Friday in every month, with pub- And all crucifixes, crosses, images, and pictures,
lie prayers and preaching where it may be had, of any one or more persons of the Trinity, or of
that as one man we may pour out our prayers the Virgin Mary; and all other images, and pieto God, for the continuance of his gracious pres- tures of saints, or superstitious inscriptions in
ence and blessing upon us, and for establishing  or upon any of the said churches, churchyards,
a happy peace; for which purpose we have or other places belonging to the said churches
caused devout forms of prayer to be composed  or churchyards, or in any other open place,
and printed, and intend to disperse them, that shall, before the said 1st of November, be taken
they may be used in all parts of our kingdom."*    Th zea showed for pullingd        t
Agreeably to this proclamation, the king's friends    occasion for the publication of a humorous
in the counties of Cornwall and Devonshire took  iece, entitled " A Dialogue betwixt the Cross in
an oath, and entered into an association upon Cheap and.Charing Cross, comforting each other, as
sundry articles, of which this was one: That if fearing their Fall in these uncertain Times." It was
any minister shall refuse, or wilfully neglect, to  also bantered in a pamphlet, with this title, "New
observe the fast appointed by his majesty, or Orders New, agreed upon by the Parliament of
shall not read the service and prayers appointed  Roundheads, confirmed by the Brethren of the new
for that fast, and being carried before a justice  Separation, assembled at Roundheads'Hall without
of peace, shall not promise and protest for their CLonripplegateh, with thuprightnew inspired Cobbler
future conformity, he shall be forthwith secured, Ln   of the  House. Avowed by Ananias DulSpeaker of the House. Avowed by Ananias Duland his estates sequestered; the like course to man, alias Prick Ears." Of the strain of this piece,
be taken with such ministers as absent them- the following passage is a specimen: "' That we have
selves that day, unless upon sickness, or other no crosses, for they are mere popery, and tend to the
cause allowed by two justices of peace; and confusion and opposition of Scripture; especially let
with those that will not read such books as shall the sight of Cheapside Cross be a detestation unto
be appointed to be readl by his majesty; and the you all, and let these streets that are called Crosses,
as Red Cross-street, and White Cross-street, &c.,
constables are to certify their defaults to the be turned otherwise, and called after the name of
next justice of the peace.t  This was a new  some of our own family, as Green, Spencer, &c., and
hardship upon clergy and people, for the Parlia- call it rather Green-street, than Red Cross-street,
ment having enjoined the continuance of the &c. That thus, all profaueness being rooted and extirpated from our conventions, nothing but holiness
* Husband's Collections, p. 353.      may remain among us."-Dr. Grey,'vol. ii., p. 80, 81L
- Rushworth, vol. ii., p. 381, 382.   note.-ED.




456                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
away and defaced by the proper officers that killed in pulling down the cross in Cheapside,
have the care of such churches.  And it is far- and another hanged soon after he had pulled
ther ordained, that the walls, windows, grounds, down the rich cross in Abingdon.  But without
and other places that shall be broken, impaired, remarking on the doctor's prognostications, it
or altered, by any the means aforesaid, shall be might be very proper to remove these images
made up and repaired in good and sufficient and crosses, because of the superstitious resort
manner, in all and every the said parish church- of great numbers of people to them; though it
es, chapels, or places of public prayer belonging ought to have been done in a peaceable manner,
to the parish, by the church-wardens for the without any damage to the truly venerable retime being, and in any cathedral or collegiate mains of antiquity.
church or chapel by the deans or sub-deans;   The paper combat between the two parties at
and in the inns of court, by the benchers and Oxford and London was carried on with no less
readers of the same, at the cost and charge of fury than the war itself; numberless pamphlets
all and every such person or persons, bodies- were scattered up and down the kingdom, big
politic, or corporations, to whom the charge of with disaffection and scandal against the two
repair does usually belong, upon penalty of 4s. houses; to put a stop to which, the Commons,
to the use of the poor, for the space of twenty  by an order of March 6, 1642-3, had empowered
days after such default; and if default be made the Committee of Examinations to search for
after December 1, the justice of peace of the printing-presses in such places where they had
county or city shall have power to perform it. cause to suspect they were employed against
Provided that this ordinance shall not extend  the Parliament, and to break them  in pieces,
to any image, picture, or coat of arms, in glass, and destroy the materials.  They were also to
stone, or otherwise, in any church, chapel, or seize the pamphlets, and to commit the printer
churchyard, set up by, or engraven for a monu- and vender to prison.  But this order not being
ment of, any king, prince, nobleman, or other effectual, another was published, June 14, 1643,
dead person, which has not been commonly re- the preamble to which sets forth, " that the
puted or taken for a saint."*                 former orders of Parliament to prevent the
This ordinance is of the same tenour with the printing and dispersing scandalous pamphlets
bill against innovations, presented to the king having been ineffectual, it is ordained that no
at the treaty of Oxford, and does not much dif- person or persons shall print any book or pamfer from Queen Elizabeth's injunctions at the phlet without license under the hands of such
Reformation: there were some disorders and persons as shall be appointed by Parliatnent,
tumults in putting it in execution, and great nor shall any book be reprinted without the lineglect of repairs; but if the reader will look cense and consent of the owner, and the printer
back to the superstitious decorations and orna- to put his name to it; the Company of Stationments of the cathedrals mentioned in the for- ers and the Committee of Examinations are remer volume of this work, he will see there was quired to make strict inquiry after private press-'
some need of a reformation.  December 14, the es, and to search all suspected shops and warecommissioners cleared the Cathedral of Canter- houses for unlicensed books and pamphlets, and
bury of all the images, and paintings in the to commit the offenders against this order to
windows.  Heylin says the rabble violated the prison, to be punished as the Parliament shall
monuments of the dead, spoiled the organs, took direct."*  The names of the licensers appointed
down the rails, &c., and affronted the statue of by this ordinance were these:
our blessed Saviour.t  December 30, they re-                For books of divinity.
moved the pictures, images, and crucifixes in         The Rev. Mr. Thomas Gataker.
Henry VII.'s chapel; and about Lady Day the           The Rev. Mr. J. Downhamn.
paintings about the walls and windows were            The Rev. Mr. Callicut Downing.
defaced, and the organs taken down in presence        The Rev. Dr. Thomas Temple.
of the committee of the House. The Cathedral          The Rev. Mr. Joseph Caryl.
The Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy.
of St. Paul's was stripped about the same time,       The Rev. Mr. Carter, of Yorlshire.
the candlesticks, crucifixes, and plate being         The Rev. Mr. Charles Herle.
sold for the service of the war; and within a         The Rev. Mr. James Crauford.
few months most of the cathedrals throughout          The Rev. Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick.
England underwent the same fate.  -If the             The Rev. Mr. Batchelor.
Parlianment, instead of leaving this work to the      The Rev. Mr. John Ellis, Jun.
officers of every parish, had put it into the hands            For law-books.
of some discreet persons, to give directions   Sir John Brampston.    Mr. Serg. Phesant.
what might remain and what was fit to be re-   Mr. Serg. Rolls.        Mr. Serg. Jermyn.
moved, all the mischiefs that have been com-   For physic and surgery-The president and four
plained of might have been prevented; the censors of the College of Physicians for the time bemonuments of  the dead might have    remained    ing.
fmonuments of the dead might have remained   For civil and canoi law.-Sir Nath. Brent, or any
entire, and a great many fine paintings been  three doctors of the civil law.
preserved. Dr. Heylin charges the officers with   For heraldry, titles of honour, and arms.-One of the
sacrilege, and fixes the Divine vengeance upon  three kings at arms.
them as a terror to others, one of them being   For philosophy, history, poetry, morality, ad arts.Sir Nath. Brent, Mr. Langley, and Mr. Farnaby,
* Husband's Collections, fol. 307.         schoolmasters of St. Paul's.
t Hist. Presbytery, p. 450.                  For small pamphlets, pictures, F-c.- The clerk of the
$ Dr. Grey gives various examples of the rude vio- Company of Stationers for the time being; and
lence and indiscriminate destruction with.which this   For mathematics, almanacs, and pro,nostications.was done. His authorities are, Bishops Hall, Heylin, The reader of. Gresham College for the time being.
Dugdale, and a work entitled Mercurius Rusticus.
— ED.                                                  *   Rushworth, vol. v., p. 335.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     457
But neither this nor any other regulation of of Almighty God upon this nation, none is or
the press could restrain the Oxonians from dis- can be more dear to us than the purity of oul
persing their mercuries and diurnals over the religion; and forasmuch as many things as yet
whole kingdom, as long as the university was remain in the discipline, liturgy, and governm the king's hands.                           ment of the Church, which necessarily require
a more perfect refblrmation.  And whereas, it
has been declared and resolved, by the Lords
and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the
CHAPTER II.                    present church government by archbishops,
FIOM THE CALLING THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT. bishops, their chancellors, commissaries, deans,
WESTIM\INSTER TO TIIE OXFORD PARLIAnMENT.   deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ec-.clesiastical officers depending on the hierarchy,
IT has been observed, that at the setting is evil, and justly offensive and burdensome to
down of this Parliament, the resolution of the the kingdom, and a great impediment to reforleading members was to remove the grievances mation and growth of religion, and very prejuof the Church as well as State, and for this pur- dicial to the state and government of this kingpose to address the king to call an assembly of dom, that therefore they are resolved the same
divines to reform  the liturgy and discipline. shall be taken awvay, and that such a governTo forward this design, the London ministers, ment shall be settled in the Church as may beh
in their petitions in the year 1641, prayed the agreeable to God's holy Word, and most apt t(
houses to be mediators to his majesty for a free procure and  preserve the  peace of the Church
synod, and the Commons accordingly mention- at home, a   nearer agreement with the Church
ed it in their grand remonstrance of December of Scotland, and  other Reformed churches
1, 1641.  "We desire," say they, "that there abroad.  And for the better effecting hereof, and
may be a general synod of the grave, pious, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine
learned, and judicious divines of this island, as- of the Church of England friom all false calumsisted with some fiom foreign parts professing nies and aspersions, it is thought fit to call an
the same religion with us, who may consider of assembly of learned; godly, and judicious. diall things necessary for the peace and good gov- vines, to consult and advise of such matters
erminent of the Church, and to represent the re- and things touching  the premises as shall be
sult of their consultations to be allowed and con- proposed to then by both houses of Parliament
firmed, and to receive the stamp of authority." and to give their advice and counsel therein to
In the treaty of Oxford a bill was presented to both, or either of the said houses, when atd as
the same purpose, and rejected; some time af- often as they shall be thereunto required.
ter, Dr. Burges, at the head of the Puritan cler-       Be it therefore ordained by the Lords and
gy, applied again to Parliament, but tile houses Commons in this present Parliament assembled,
were unwilling to take this step without the that all and every the persons hereafter in this
king's concurrence, till they were reduced to ordinance named [the ordinance here names
the necessity of calling in the Scots, who insist- the persons], and such other persons as shall
ed that "there should be a uniformity of doe- be noninated by hoth houses of Parliarent, or
trine and discipline between the two nations." so many of them as shall not be letted by sicTo make way for which, the houses turned their ness or other necessary impediment, shall meet
bill into an ordinance, and convened the assem- and assemble, and are hereby required and enbly by their own authority.-*                 joined, upon summons signed by the clerks of
The ordinance bears date June 12, 1643, and both houses of Parliament, left at their several
is the very same with the Oxford bill, except in respective dwellings, to meet and assemble at
the point of lay-assessors, and of restraining the Westminster, in the chapel called King Henry
assembly from  exercising ally jurisdiction or the Seventh's Chapel, on the first of July, 16433
authority ecclesiastical whatsoever.  It is enti- and after the first meeting, being at least ofthe
tled,                                          number of forty, shall from time to time sit, and
" An ordinance of the Lords and Commons in be removed from place to place; and also that
Parliament, for the calling of an assembly of the said assembly shall be dissolved in such
learned and godly divines, and others, to be manner as by both houses of Parliament shall
consulted with by the Parliament, for settling be directed.  And the said assembly shall have
the government and liturgy of the Church of power and authority, and are hereby enjoined,
England, and for vindicating and clearing of friim time to time, during this present Parliathe doctrine  of the said Church  from false as- ment, or till farther order be taken by both the
persions and interpretations."h                said houses, to confer and treat among themThe preamble sets forth,                     selves of such matters and things concerning
"That whereas among the infinite.blessings the liturgy, discipline, and government of the
-  Church of England, or the vindicating and clearIt is a just remark of Mr. Palmer, that the As-.  
sembly of Divines at Westminster was not a convo- ig of the doctrine of the same from  al false
cation according to the diocesan way of govern- aspersions and misconstructions, as shall be
ment, nor was it called by the votes of the ministers proposed by either or both houses of Parliament,
according to the Presbyterian way; but the Parlia- and no other; and to deliver their advices and
nent chose all the members themselves, merely with opinions touching the matters aforesaid as shall
a view to have their opinion and advice for settling be most agreeable to the Word of God, to both
the government, liturgy, and doctrine of the Churchor either houses from  time to time in such
of England. And they were confined in their de-uired, and not to
bates to such things as the Parliament proposed.- manner as.hall e required, and not to divulge
Nononformists'  emorial vol. i. ItotiOn. the same by printing, writing, or otherwise,
~ Nonconformists' Memorial, vol. i., Introduction, p. 7.En.'                         without consent of Parliament."
t Rushworth, vol. ii., part iii., or vol. v., p. 337.  If any difference of opinion arose, they were
VoL. I.-M M M




i58                           HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
to represent it to Parliament with their reasons, *.Mr. Simeon Ash, of St. Bride's, or Basingsnaw
that the houses might give farther direction.  ** Mr Theodore Backhurst, of Overton, Waterville.
* Mr. Thomas Bayly, B.D., of Manningford-Bruce.
Four shillings per day were allowed for each  ** Mr. John Bond, a superadded divine.
one during his attendance. Dr. William Twisse,   * Mr. Boulton, superadded.
of Newbury, was appointed prolocutor, and in                Mr. Oliver Bowler, B.D., of 5ullon.
0* Mr. William Bridge, A.M., of Yarmouth.
case of his sickness or death, the Parliament               The Right Reverend Dr. Ralph Brownrigge, bis-hop r
reserved to themselves the choice of another.                Exon.
The  ordinance concludes with  the  following               Mr. Richard Buckley.
that this ordinace  Mr. Anthony Burges, A.M., of Sutton-Colefiell.
proviso: "Provided, always, that this ordinance** Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, A.M., of Stepney.
shall not. give them, nor shall they in this as-?* Mr. Richard Byfield, A.M., superadded.
sembly  assume  or exercise, any jurisdiction,  *0 Edmund Calamy, B.D., Aldermanbury.
orat yecclesiastical whatsoever,  Mr. Thomas Case, Milk-street.
power, or authority ecclesiastical whatsoever,              Mr. Richard Capel, of Pitchcombe, A.M.
or any other power than is herein particularly  ** Mr. Joseph Caryl, A.M., Lincoln's Inn.
expressed."                                                 Mr. William Carter, of London.
* Mr. Thomas Carter, of Oxon.
Then  follow  the names of thirty lay-asses-  * Mr. ThoWillia  carter, of Dyntn, Bcks.
sors, viz., ten lords and twenty commoners, and  ** Mr. John Cawdrey, A.M., St. Martin's Fields.
one hundred and twenty-one divines.                      ** Humphrey Chambers, D.D., of Claverton.
N.B. The lay-assessors had an equal liberty ** Francis Clheyel, D.D., of Petworth.
** Mr. Peter Clarke, A.M., of carnaby.
of debating  and voting with the divines, and  ** Mr. Richard Clayton, of Showel.
were these:                                              ** Mr. Francis Coke, of'Yoxhall.
** Mr. Tholnas Coleman, A.M., of Btiton.
Peers.                          S John Conant, of Lymington, D.D., afterward Archdea
Algernon, earl of Nortlsumberland..                          con of Norwich, and Prebendary of Worcester.
William, earl of Bedfortd. * l                              Mr. Edwvard Corbet, AIM., Merton College, Oxon.
William, earl of Penmbroke and Montgomery.                  Robert Crosse, D.D., afterward Vicar of Chew, SomerWilliam, earl of Salisbury.                                  set.
Henry, earl of Hollalnd.                                "** Mr. Philip Delme, superadded.
Edward, earl of Manchester.                                  Mr. Thomas Dillingham, of Dean.
William, lord-viscount Say and Seal.                      * Calibute Downing, D.D., of Hackney.
Edward, lord-viscount Conay.i                               Mr. William Dunning, of Godalston.
Philip, lord Wharton.                                    * The Reverend Mr. John Drury, superadded.
Edward, lord Howard, of Escrick.                            Mr. Edward Ellis, B.D, Gilfield.
Mr. John Erle, of Bishopstone.
Commoners.                         *0 Daniel Featley, D.D., of Lambeth.
John Selden, Esq.                                        ** Mr. Thomas Ford, A.M., superadded.
Francis Rouise, Esq.                                     ** Mr. Johin Foxcroft, of Gotham.
Edmund Prideaux, Esq.                                       Mr. I-amilton Gammon, A.M., of Cornwall
Sir Henry Vane, knight senior.                           ** Thomas Gataker, B.D., Rotherhithe.
Sir Henry Vane, knight junior.                          *e Mr. Samuel Gibson, of Burleigh.
John Glynne, Esq., recorder of London.                   ** Mr. John Gibbon, of Waltham.
John White, Esq.                                         ** Mr. Geor('a Gippes, of Aylston.
Bulstrode Whitelocke, Esq.                               ** Thomas Goodwin, D.D., of London, afterward President
Ilumphry Salway, Esq.                                        of Magdalen College, Oxon.
Oliver St. John, Esq.                                    ** Mr. William Goad, superadded.
Sir Benjamin Rudyard, knight.                            ** Mr. Stanley Gower, of Branmpton-Bryan.
John Pyrl, Esq.'                                         ** Williamn  Gouge, D.D., of Blackfriars.
Sir John Clotworthy, knight.                             ** Mr. William  Greenhill, of Stepney.
Sir Thomas Barrington, knight.                           ** Mr. Green, of Pentecomb.
William Wheeler, Esq.                                       John Hiacket, D.D., of St. Andrew's, Holborn, afterWilliam Pierpoint, Esq.                                      ward Bishop of Litchfield.
Sir John Evelyn, knight.                                    Henry Hammond, D.D., of Penshurst, Kent.
John Maynard, Esq.                                       0* Mr. Henry Hall, B.D., Norwich.
Mr. Serg]eant Wild.                                      ** Mr. Humphrey Hardwiclke, superadded.
Mr. Young.                                                * John Harris, D.D., prebendary of Winchester, warden
Sir Matthew  Itale, afterward lord-chief-justice of the      of Wickham.
King's Bench [appeared, says Anthony Wood, among  **  Robert Harris, D.D., of Hanwell, President of Trinity
the lay-assessors].                                        College, Oxon.
** Mr. Charles Herle. A.M., Winwick, afterward prolocuLay-assessorsfraom Scotland.                   tor.
Lord iMaitland, aftersvard BDuke Lauderdale.                Mr. Richard Heyrick, A.M., of Manchester.
Earl Lothsi~mand. 0fterward Dulie Ljauder~la** Thorras Hill, D.D., of Tichmarsh, afterward Master of
A. Johnston, called Warriston.                              Trinity College, Cambridge.
Samuel Hildersham, B.D., of Felton.
The divines were chosen out of such lists as  hi Mr. Jasper Hc kes, A.M., of Lawrick.
the knights and burgesses brought in, of per-   * Mr. Thomas Hodges, M.D., of Kensington.
* Richard Holdsworth, D.D., master of Emanuel College,
sons best qualified in their several counties, out           Cambridge.
of which  the Parliament agreed  upon  two;  *0 Joshua I-loyle, D.D., of Dublin, Ireland.
though, according to Dr. Calamy, some counties              Mr. Henry Hutton.
ha  Mr. John Jackson, A.M., of Queen's College, Cambridge.
had only one.                                             * Mr. Johnson.
A list of the Assembly of Divines at Westmin-            Mr. Lance, Harrow, Middlesex.
ster, in alphabetical order:                             ** Mr. John Langley, of \West Tuderley, prebendary, Gloucester.
Those with ** gave constant attendance; those with *  ** Mr. John Ley, A.M., Great Budworth.
sat in the Assembly and took the protestation, but with-  ** The Reverend John Lightfoot, D.D., of Ashby, master
drew, or seldom appeared: those with no star did not ap-     of Catharine bIouse.
pear at all.                                              * Richard Love, D.D., of Ekinton.
To supply the vacancies that happened by death, seces-   * Mr. Christopher Love, A.M., superadded.
sion, or otherwise, the Parliament named others from time   Mr. William Lyford, A.M., Sherbourne.
to time, who were called superadded divines.             * Mr. John de la March, minister of the French Church
** The Reverend Dr. WILLIAM  TwISSE, of Nevvbury, *A Mr. Stephen Marshal, B.D., of Finchingfield.
was appointed by Parliament prolocutor.                  * Mr. William Massam, superadded.
** The Reverend Dr. Cornelius Burges, of Watford, Mr.    Mr. John Maynard, A.M., superadded.
John White, of Dorchester, A.M., assessors.              ** Mr. William Mew, B.D., of Essington.
I The Reverend Mr. Henry Roborough, Mr. Adoniram  ** Mr. Thomas Micklethwait, Cheriburton.
Byfield, A.M., scribes, but had no. votes.                 George Morley, D.D., afterward Bishop of Winchester.
*t The Rev. John Arrowsmith, of Lynn, afterward D.D.,    Mr. William Moreton, Newcastle.
and master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.                 * Mr. Moore.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                              4$.
** Mr. Matthew Newcomen, Dedham.                    Few  of the Episcopal divines appeared, and
* Mr. William Newscore, superadded.                those who did after some time withdrew, for
William Nicholson, D.D., afterward Bishop of Gloucester.''the following reasons 
Mr. Henry Nye, of Clapham.
** Mr. Philip Nye, of Kimbolton.                    dure, given by Baillie, is so graphic and! complete,
Mr. Herbert Palmer, B.D., Ashwell, afterward asses- that I cannot do better than. extract the entire passor.
Mr. Henry Painter, of Exeter.                    sage.
Mr. Christopher Parkly, of HIawarden.               " The like of that Assembly I never did see", and,
** Mr. Edward Peal, of Compton.                     as we hear say, the like was never in England, nor'* Mr. Andrew Pern, of Wilby. Northampton.          anywhere is shortly like to be.  They did sit in
*" Mr. John Philips, Wrentham.                      Henry the VII.'s Chapel, in the place of the Convo-'*' Mr. Benjamin Pickering, East-Hoatly.            cation; but, since the weather grew cold, they did
** Mr. Samuel de la Place,minister of the French Church.
00 Mr. William Price, of St Paul's, Covent Garden.  go to the Jerusalem  Chamber, a fair room in the
John Prideaux, D.D., bishop of Worcester.        Abbey of Westminster, about the size of the college
0* Nicholas Proffet, of Marlborough.                front-hall, but wider.  At the one end, nearest the
Mr. John Pyne, of Bereferrars.                   door, and along both sides, are stages of seats, as in
0* Mr. William Rathband, of Highgate.               the new Assembly House at Edinburgh, but not so
*0 Mr. William Reyner, B.D., Eghamn.                high; for there will be room but for five or six score.
* iEdward Reynolds, of Brampton, DID., afterward Bish- At the uppermost end there is a chair set on a frame,
op of Norwich.                                    foot from  the earth for the Mr. Prolocutor Dr.
M4 Mr. Arthur Salway, Severn Stoke.om  the earth, for the Mr. Proloctor, Dr.
Robert Saunderson, D.D.. afterward Bishop of Lincoln. Twisse.  Before it, on the ground, stand two chairs
** Mr. Henry Scudder, of Colingbourne.              for the two Mr. Assessors, Dr. Burgess and Mr.
** Lazarus Seaman, B.D., of London, Master of Peter- White. Before these two chairs, through the length
house, Cambridge.                               of the room, stands a table, at which sit the two
* Mr. Obadiah Sedgwickl, B.D., Coggeshall.       scribes, Mr. Byfield and Mr. Roborough.   The
Mr. Josias Shute, B.D., Lombard-street.               *
Mr..Josias She,,SDa., Lombard-street.         house is well hung (with tapestry), and has a good
** The Reterend Mr. Sydacth, DD.   of Barkway.     fire, which is some dainties at London.  Opposite
** Williain Spurstow,.DD., of Hampden.             the table, upon the prolocutor's right hand, there are
** EWdmund Staunton, ID.. of Kingston.              three or four ranks of benches.  On the lowest we
0. Mr. Peter Sterry, London.                        five do sit. Upon the other, at our backs, the mem** Mr. John Strickland, B.D., New Sarum, superadded.   bers of Parliament deputed to the Assembly.  On
*  rMatthew Styles, D.Dn., Eastcheap.               the benches oppositd to us, on the prolocutor's left
** Mr. Strong, Westminster, supsradded.             hand, going from the upper end of the house to the
~ Mr. Francis Taylor, A.M., Yalding.
00 Thomas Temple, D.D., of Battersey.               chimney, and at the other end of the house and back
** Mr. Thomas Thoroughgood, Massingham.             of the table, till it come about to our seats, are four
** Mr Christopher Tisdale, Uphurstbourne.           or five stages of benches, upon which their divines
Mr Henry Tozer, B.D., Oxon.                      sit as they please; albeit, commonly they keep the
** An.hony Tsucley, D.D, of Boston, afterward Master same place.  From  the chimney to the door there
of St. John's College, Oxon, and Regius professor.  are no seats but a void space for passage. The
** Mr. Thomas Valentine, B.D., Chalfort, Saint Giles's.
Mr. Richard Valentine, B.D., of Calfort, Ma ster of Pem- lords of the Parliament use to sit on chairs, in that
*'~ Mr. Richard Vines, A.M., of Calcot, Master of Pembroke House, Cambridge.                         void, about the fire.  We meet every day of the
The most Reverend Dr. James Usher, archbishop of Ar- week but Saturday. We sit commonly from  nine
magh.                                           till one or two afternoon. The prolocutor, at the
ii Mr. George Walker. B.D., St. John the Evangelist.    beginning and end, has a short prayer. The man,
Samuel Ward, DID;, master of Sidney College, Cam- as the world knows, is very learned in the questions
Mbridge.                                        he has studied, and very good, beloved of all, and
*" Mr. John Wallis, afterward ].D., and scribe.
** Mr. John Ward, superadded.                       highly esteemed; but merely bookish, not much, as
Mr. James Welby, Sylatdten.                      it seems, acquainted with conceived prayer, and
* Thomas Westfield, D.D., bishop of Bristol.       among the unfittest of all the company for any ac-'* Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker, A.M., Stretton.           tion; so after the prayer he sits mute.  It was the
Mr. Francis Whiddon, Moreton.                     canny convoyance (skilful management) of those
*0 Henry Wilkinson, Senior, D.D., Waddeson, afterward  who guide most matters for their own interest, to
Margaret professor, Oxon.                                                                 
Mr. Henry Wilkieson, Jnoior, BD., St. Duntan's.  plant such a man of purpose in the chair.  The one
** Mr. Thomas Wilson, Otham.                        assessor, our good friend Mr. White, has keeped in
* Thomas Wincop, D.D., Elesworth.                  of the gout since our coming; the other, Dr. Bur** John Wincop, D.I)D., St. Martin's in the Fields.  gess, a very active and sharp man, supplies, so far
00 Mr. Francis Woodcock, proctor of the University of as is decent, the prolocutor's place.   Ordinarily
Cambridge.                                      there will be present above threescore of their di00 Mr. Thomas Young, Stow Malrket.                  vines. These are divided into three committees, in
Ministers from Scotland.              one of which every man- is a member. No man is
** Mr. Alexander Henderson.                         excluded who pleases to come to any of the three.
** Mr. George Gillespie.                            Every committee, as the Parliament gives order in
** Mr. Samuel Rutherford.                           writing to take any purpose to consideration, takes
** Mr. Robert Bayly.                                a portion, and in their afternoon meeting prepares
Before the Assembly sat, the Iking, by his roy- matters for the Assembly, sets down their minds in
al proclamation of June 22, forbade their meet- distinct propositions, backing their propositions with
ing for the purposes therein mentioned, and  texts of Scripture.  After the prayer, Mr. Byfield,
declared that no act done by them  ought to be the scribe, reads the proposition and Scriptures,
whereupon the Assembly debates in a most grave
received by his subjects: he also threatened to  and orderly way.
and orderly way.
proceed against them  with the utmost severity   i" No man is called up to speak; but whosoeves
of the law;* nevertheless, sixty-nine assem- stands up of his own accord, speaks so long as he
bled in King Henry the Seventh's Chapel the  will, without interruption.  If two or three stand up
first day, according to summons, not in their at once, then the divines confusedly call on his
canonical habits, but chiefly in black coats and  name whom they desire to hear first: on whom the
bands, in imitation of the foreign Protestants.t  loudest and maniest voices call, he speaks. No mas
speaks to any but to the prolocutor. They harangue
long, aqd very learnedlie. They study the questions
* Dr. Grey refers to the 25th of Henry VIII., cap. well beforehand, and prepare their speeches; but
xix., or the Act of Submission of the Clergy, to prove withal the men are exceeding prompt and well-spothis assembly illegal.-ED.                          ken. I do marvel at the very accurate and extemf The account of the Assembly's order of proce- poral'replies  that many of them  usually make.




460                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Obj. 1. "Because the Assembly was plrohi)- business which they had to transact; there
ited  by the royal proclamation; whichl  Dr. was a mixture of laity with the clergy; the
Twisse, in his sermon at the opening the As- divines were, for the most part, of a Puritanical
sembly, lamented, but hoped in due time his stamp, and enemies to the hierarchy; and their
majesty's consent might be obtained."           business (they apprehended) was to pull down
Answ. To which it was replied, 6 "That the  that which they would uphlold."
Constitution at present was dissolved; that   Answ. "This being not designed for a legal
there were two sovereign contending powers convocation, but for a council to the Parliament
in the nation, and if the war in which the Par- in the reformation of the Church, they appreliament was engaged was just and necessary, hended they had a power to join some of their
they might assume this branch of the prerog- own members with such a committee or counative, till the nation was settled, as well as any  cil, without intrenching upon the rights of conother."                                         vocation.  The divines, except the Scots and
Obj. 2. "Because the members of the As- French, were in Episcopal orders, educated in
sembly were not chosen by the clergy, and, our own universities, and most of them gradutherefore, could not appear as their representa- ates; their business was only to advise about
tives."                                         such points of doctrine and church discipline as
Arnsw. To which it was answered, "That should be laid before them, in which the Episthe Assembly was not designed for a national copal divines might have been of service, if
synodl, or representative body of the clergy, but they had continued with the Assembly, to which
only as a committee, or council to the Parlia- they were most earnestly invited."
ment, to give their opinion touching such church    I believe no set of clergy, since the beginmatters as the houses should lay before them; ning of ChristIanity, have suffered so much in
they had no power of themselves to make laws their characters and reputations- as these, for
or canons, or determine controversies in mat- their advices to the two houses of Parliament.
ters of faith. They were to enter upon no busi- In his majesty's proclamation of June 22, the
ness but what the Parliament appointed, and  far greater part of them are said to be men of
when they had done they were to offer it to the  no learning or reputation.  Lord Clarendon adtwo houses only as their humble advice; and  mitsf "about twenty of them  were reverend
surely the Parliament might choose their own  and worthy persons, and episcopal in: their
council, without being obliged to depend upon judgments; but as to the remainder, they were
the nomination of the clergy."                  but pretenders to divinity; some were infaOhj.:3. " But as great an exception as any  Imons in their lives and conversations, and most
was their dislike of the company, and of the of them of very mean parts and learning, if not
Wieiin, upon every proposition by itself, and on every of scandalous ignorance, and of no other reputexrc of Scripture that is brought to confirm it, every. tation than of malice to the Church of Engman who will has said his whole mind, andl the re- land."  His lordship would insinuate that they
plies, duplies, and triplies are heard, then the most  inderstood not the original text, because the
part call,'To the question.' Byfield, the scribe, rl-learned Mr. Selden sometimes corrected the
ses from the table, and comes to the prolocutor's   lish  translation of their little pocket Bibles,
chair, who, from the scribe's book, reads the proposition, and says,' As many as are of opinion that the and put them  into confusion by his uncommon
question is well stated in the proposition, let them  a('quaintance with Jewish antiquities; as if that
say, Ay;' when ay is heard, he says,'As many as great rnran would have treated a convocation
think otherwise, say, No.' If the difference of with more decency and respect.$  But Arch-' Ays' and' Nos' be clear, as usually it is, then the
question is ordered by the scribes, and they go on to    * "And no set of clergy," says Dr. Grey, " ever
debate the first Scripture alleged for proof of the deserved it more;" and to show this, he quotes a
proposition.  If the sound of Ay and No be near virulent invective against them -by Gregory Williams,
equal, then says the prolocutor,' As many as say bishop of Ossory. "You may judge of them by their
Ay, stand up;' while they stand, the scribe and comnpeers, Goodwin, Burroughs, Arrowsmith, and
others number them in their minds; when they sit the rest of their ignorlart, factious, anzd schismratial
down, the Nos are bidden stand, and they likewise rie.iisters, that, together with those intruding nrechanare numbered. This way is clear enough, and saves ics (who, without any calling fromn God or man, do
a great deal of time, which we spend in reading our step from' their butcher's board, or horse's stable,
catalogue. When a question is once ordered, there into the preacher's pulpit), are the bellows which
is no more debate of that matter; but if a man will blow up this fire, that threatened the destruction of
wander fromn the subject, he is quickly taken up by orir land; like Sheba's trumpet, to surmmon the peoMr. Assessor, or many others, confusedly crying, pie to rebellion, and like the dragon in the Revela-'Speak to order, to order.' No man contradicts an- tions, which gave them all his poison, and made
other expressly by name, but most discreetly speaks themi eloquent to disgorge their malice, and cast forth
to the prolocutor, and, at most, holds to general floods of slander after those that keep loyally to their
terms:'The reverend brother who lately, or last, sovereign, belch forth their unsavory reproaches
spoke, on this hand, on that side, above, or below.' against those that discovered their affected ignoI thought meet, once for all, to give you a taste of rance and seditious wickedness in defence of truth."
the outward form of their Assembly. They follow  - Grey's. Exam. of Neal, vol. ii., p. 91.-C.
the way of their Parliament. Much of their way is  t- Clarendon, vol. i., p. 530.
good, and worthy of our imitation; only their lon-      Bishop Warburton has no doubt but Mr. SelsointlmLess is woful at this time, when their Church  den would have treated a convocation with more deandt kingdom lie under a most lamentable anarchy  cency and respect. For his lordship adds, " he had
and'confusion. They see the hurt of their length, infinitely more esteem for the learning of the Episcobut cannot get it helped; for being to establish a new  pal clergy, though, perhaps, no more love for their
platform of worship and discipline to their nation  persons."  In what estimation Mr. Selden held the
for all tinle to come, they think they cannot be an- learning of the Episcopal clergy, has been shown vol.
swerable, if solidly, and at leisure, they do not ex- ii., p. 128, note. With what respect he was likely to
amine every point thereof" —Baillie, vol. ii., p. 108, speak -of a convocation, the reader will judge from
109.-C                                         the following passage in his Table Talk, p. 37, in




HISTORY  OF THE P U RITANS.                                      461
bishop Laud's account is still more extrava-    The Assembly was opened on Saturday, July
gant, for though it is notorious the Assembly  1, 16-143, with a sermon preached by Dr. Tiwsse
would not allow a toleration to those whom they
called sectaries, yet his grace says, " The great- the divines there congregated were men of eminent
learning, and godliness, and ministerial abilities, and
est part'of them were Brownists or Independ-  fidelity, and being not worthy to be one of them myents, or New-England ministers, if not worse, self, I may the more freely speak that truth which I
or, at best, enemies to the doctrine and disci- know, even in the face of malice and envy, that, as
pline of the Church of England;" whereas, in  far as I am able to judge by the information of all
truth, there was not above six Independents in  history of that kind, and by any other evidences left
the Assembly, and not one New-England minis-  us, the Christian world, since the days of the aposter that I know of.  If the reader will carefiully  ties, had never a synod of more excellent divines
(taking one thing with another) than this synod and
peruse the list, he will find in it some of the            o            A- * *
considerablePlawyers and ablest divines  the Synod of Dort were.
most considerable lawyers and ablest divines    "For my own part, as highly as I honour the men,
of the last age; and though they might have  I am not of their mind in every point of the govern
mistaken notions of church discipline, and were  ment which they would have set up; and some
no better acquainted with the rights of con- words il their catechism I could wish had been more
science and private judgment than their prede- clear; and, above all, I could wish that the Parlia
cessors the bishops, yet, with all their faults, ment, uld their more skilful hand, had done more
than was done to heal our breaches, and had hit upon
impartial posterity must acnowledge  the far  the right way either to unite with the Episcopal and
greater number were men of exemplary piety  independents (which was possible, as distant as they
and devotion, who had a real zeal for the glory  are), or, at least, had pitched on the terms that are
of God and the purity of the Christian faith  fit for universal concord, and left allto come in upon
and practice.  Mr. Echard confesses that Lord  those terms.that would. But, for all this dissent, I
Clarendon had, perhaps, with too much sever- must testify my love and honour to the persons of
ity, said that some of these divines were infa-such glrat sicerty  and eminent ministerial suf
mous in their lives and characters; but Mr. ciency as were Gataker, Vines, Burgess, White, and
the greater part of that Assembly."-Sylvester's Bax
Baxter, who was better acquainted with them  the greater part of that Asembly."-Sylvester's Ba
than his lordship or any of his followers, af- t   disliked," says the honest Puritan, "the course
firms " that they were men i f eminent learning, of some of the more rigid of them that drew too near
godliness, ministerial abilities, and fidelity."*    the way of prelacy, by grasping at a kind of secular
power; not using it themselves, but binding the ma.
the edition of 1777, under the word Clergy: "The  gistrates  to confiscate or imprison men, merely beclergy and laity together are," says he, "never like cause they were excommunicated, and so corrupting
to do well; it is as if a man were to make an excel- the true discipline of the Church, and turning the
lent feast, and should have his apothecary and his communion of saints into the communionl of the mul
physician come into the kitchen: the cooks, if they  titude, that must keep in the Church against their
were let alone, would make excellent meat, but then  wills, for fear of [eing undone in the world; when,
comes the apothecary, and he puts rhubarb into one  as a man, whose conscience cannot feel a just exsauce, and a/garic into another sauce. Chain up the  communication unless it be backed with confiscation
clergy on both sides." That he had no high opinion  or imprisonment, is no fitter to be a member of a
of the power and authority of a convocation, may. be Christian Church in the communion of saints, than
concluded from his comparing it to "'a court leet, a corpse is to be a member of a corporation. It's
where they have a power to make by-laws, as they  true, they claim not this power as jure divino (though
call them; as that a man shall put so many cows or some say that the magistrate is bound to execute:
sheep in the common; but they'can make nothing  these penalties on men, merely as excommunicate),
that is contrary to the laws of the kingdom."-Un- nor no more do the prelates, when yet the writ de exder the word Convocation, p. 45.-ED.             comnmunicato capiendo is the life of all their censures.
* "This synod," he says, " was not a convocation  But both parties too much debase the magistrate, by
according to the diocesan way of government, nor making him their mere ex.ecutioner; whereas he is the
was it called by the votes of the ministers, accord- judge wherever he is the executiolner, and is to try
ing to the Presbyterian way; but the Parliament, each cause at his own bar before he be obliged to
not intending to call an assembly which should pre- punish any; and they corrupt the discipline of Christ
tend a Divine right to make obliging laws or canons by mixing it with secular force, and they reproach
to bind their brethren, but an ecclesiastical council, the keys, or ministerial power, as if it were a leaden
to be advisers to themselves, did think that they best sword, and not worth a straw, unless the magisknew who were the fittest to give them advice, and, trate's sword enforce it (and what, then, did the primtherefore, chose them all themselves. Two were to  itive Church for three hundred years?). And, worst
be chosen out of each county; but some few coun- of all, they corrupt the Church by forcing in the tabties (I know not upon what reason) had but one. ble of the unfit and unwilling, and thereby tempt
*  * And because they would seem impartial, and  many godly Christians to schisms and dangeyous
have' each party to have liberty to -speak, they, over separations.
and above the number, chose many Episcopal divines,   " In all this I deny not but that the magistrate must
even the learnedest of them in the land, as Arch- restrain all sorts of vice; but not as a hangman only,
bishop Usher, primate of Ireland, Dr. Holdsworth, that executeth the judgment of another, nor eo n.omiDr. Hammond, Dr. Wincop, Bishop Westford, Bish- ne, to punish a man because he is excommunicate
op Prideaux, and many more. But they would not (that is most heavily punished already by others),
come, because it was not a legal convocation, and  till magistrates keep the sword themselves, and learn
because the king declared himself against it; Dr. to qeny it to every angry clergyman that would do
Van Fealty, andt very few more of that party, came  his own work by it, and leave them to theis own
(but at last he was charged with sending intelligence  weapons, the Word and spiritual keys; valeant qultnto the king's quarters, at Oxford, of what was done tmrn valere possunt, the Church shall never have unity
in the synod and Parliament, and was imprisoned, and peace."-Sylvester's Baxter, part ii., p. 142.
which much reflected oii the Parlliament, because,   Dr. Price remarks that, " Happily for the interests
whatever his facts were, he was so learned a man  of religion, there was another party in the Assembly,
as was sufficient to dishonour those he suffered by). the members of which added to the personal virtues
The prolocutor, or moderator, was Dr. William  and ministerial diligence of the Presbyterians, more
Twisse (a man very famous for his scholastic wit expansive views and a more liberal creed. They
and writings, in a very smooth, triumphant style); were known by the name of Independents, and had




462                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
in King Henry VII.'s Chapel, both houses of sion to sit and vote, do take the following vow
Parliament being present.  The ordinance for or protestation:
their convention was then read, and the names    "I, A. B., do seriously and solemnly, in the
of the members called over, after which they  presence of Almighty God, declare that, in this
adjourned to Monday, and agreed on the follow- Assembly whereof I am a member, I will not
ing rules:                                     maintain anything in matter of doctrine but
(1.) " That every session begin and end with  what I believe in my conscience to be most
a prayer.                                      agreeable to the Word of God; or in point of
(2.) " That after the first prayer, the names discipline, but what I shall conceive to conduce
of the Assembly be called over, and those that most to the glory of God, and the good and
are absent marked; but if any member comes peace of his Church."
in afterward, he shall have liberty to give in his    And, to refresh their memories, this protestaname to the scribes.                           tion was read in the Assembly every Monday
(3.) "That every member, before his admis- morning.
(4.) "That the appointed hour of meeting be
for some time a very arduous and perplexing duty to ten in the morning; the afternoon to be reperform. Their numbers were at first so limited as served for committees.
to present but little ground to hope that they would  " Tat tree of the members of the Asbe able successfully to resist the scheme of theat three of the membes of the As
Presbyterians; but what they wanted in numerical sembly be appointed weekly as chaplains; one
strength was supplied by the consummate skill and to the House of Lords, another to the House of
first-rate ability of their leaders. They were distin- Commons, and a third to the committee of both
guished from the Presbyterians by maintaining the kingdoms.' The usual method was to take it
absolute independence of each church, So far.as ju- by turns, and every Friday the chaplains were
risdiction and discipline are concerned, and by deny- appointed for the following week.
ing the communication of spiritual power in ordina-      hat all the members of the Assembly
tion. They not only rejected the jus divinurm of prel-l the members of the Assembly
acy, but discarded, as equally papistical, the theory have liberty to be covered, except the scribes,"
which vested ecclesiastical authority in the synodi- who some time after had also this liberty incal meetings of church officers. The number of In- dulged them.
dependent ministers in the Assembly did not exceed    Besides these, the Parliament, on the Thursten or twelve, of whom Goodwin, Nye, Burroughs, day following, sent them some farther regulaSimpson, and Bridges were the chief. These men tions.  As,
had been trained amid the privations of exile, and    (1.) "That two assessors be appointed with
their characters had hence assumed a firmness and
determination, which qualified them fearlessly to re-the prolocutor, to supply his place in case of
sist the now dominant Presbyterians.  During the absence or sickness, viz., Dr. Cornelius Burges,
supremacy of Laud, they had sought refuge in Hol- and the Rev. Mr. John White, of Dorchester.
land, where their minds were braced and their scrip-   (2.) " That scribes be appointed, who are not
tural views confirmed. It was not, therefore, to be to vote in the Assembly, viz., the Rev. Mr. Roexpected that, in returning to their native country, borough and Mr. Byfield.
they would acquiesce in the tyranny of those breth-   (3.) " That every member, on his first enren who had contrived to escape the vigilant and re-menmorseless usurpations of that primate. They con- tioned protestation.
sequently demanded for themselves and others the
right of private judgment, and of unrestricted liberty   (4.) " That no resolution be given upon any
of worship. They were the honest and consistent question the same day wherein it was first proexpounders of the principles of religious liberty, when  posed.
a large body of the Puritans showed themselves to   (5.) "What any man undertakes to prove as
be unworthy of their high vocation. The reasonings a necessary truth in religion, he shall make
of the Independents were broader and more compre-ood froy Scriptures
hensive than those of their predecessors.  They   (6.) "No man shall proceed in any dispute
were founded on the acknowledged principles of human nature, and were equally applicable to all the after the prolocutor has enjoined him silence,
diversified cases which could arise. Abandoning the unless the Assembly desire he may go on.
partial and unsatisfactory ground which had been   (7.) "No man shall be denied the liberty of
taken by the Puritans, they intrenched themselves entering his dissent from  the Assembly, with
behind the nature of man and the character of Chris- his reasons for it, after the point has been detianity, and would enter into no compromise which  bated; from whence it shall be transmitted to
endangered the highest and best interests of the hu- Parliament, when either house shall require it.
man family. They became, in consequence, the rat-     "Al
lying-point of the minor sects, whom the Presbyteri-   (8.)  A    things agreed upon and prepared
ans sought to repress. Against many of their dog-        the Parliament shall be openly rea, and
mas they, protested as strongly as the more power- allowed in the Assembly, and then offered as
ful party; but for their right to form and propagate their judgment, if the majority assent; provitheir, opinions, they honestly contended.  Hence ded that the opinions of the persons dissenting,
their claims on the gratitude and admiration of pos- with their reasons, be annexed, if they desire
terity. The principles for which Locke and suc- it, and the solution of those reasons by th( Asceeding philosophers triumphantly pleaded were sebly."
brought forth to public view, arind instilled into the e proceedings being thus settled, the Par
national mind by the despised sectaries of the West-   The p seedings being thus settled, the Parminster Assembly."                             liament sent the Assembly an order to review
For the other side of this subject at large, I refer.:he Thirty-nine Articles of the Church; but betihe reader to Wetherington's History of the West- fbre they entered upon business, viz., July 7,
minster Assembly, where he will find the cause of they petitioned the two houses for a fast, on a
the Presbyterian party zealously advocated. I have, day when the Rev. Mr. Bowles and Matthew
in loco, quoted his representation of the characters Newcomen preached before them. IJpon which
of the four Scotch commissioners, and if that volume petition Bishop  enet passes the following sehad not been reprinted at a cheap price, would t try ptiti  B  ishop Kennet passes the foll owing   secheerfully insert his entire view of the subject.-  vere censure: " Imtaltially speaking, it is stuff



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   463
ed with schism, sedition, and cruelty." I will,   6. " That the laws may be quickened against
therefore, set the substance of the petition be- swearing and drunkenness, with which the land
fore the reader in their own language, that he  is filled and defiled, and under which it mourns.
may form his own judgment upon it, and upon    7. "That some severe course be taken
the state of the nation.                     against fornication, adultery, and incest, which
"To the Right Honourable the Lords and  do greatly abound.
Commons assembled in Parliament: The hum-   8. " That all monuments of idolatry and suble petition of divers ministers of Christ, in the  perstition, but more especially the whole body
name of themselves, and sundry others, hum- and practice of popery, may be totally abolished.
bly showeth,                                   9. " That justice may be executed on all de"That your petitioners, upon serious consid- linquents, according to your religious vow and
eration, and deep sense of God's heavy wrath  protestation to that purpose.
lying upon us, and hanging over our heads, and    10. " That all possible means may be used for
the whole nation, manifested particularly by  the speedy relief and release of our miserable
the two late sad and unexpected defeats of our and extremely distressed brethren, who are
forces in the north and in the west, do appre- prisoners in Oxford, York, and elsewhere, whose
hend it to be our duty, as watchmen for the  hieavy sufferings cry aloud in the ears of our
good of the Church and kingdom, to present to  God; and it would lie very heavy on the kingyour religious and prudent consideration these  dom should they miscarry, suffering as they do
ensuing requests, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the cause of God.
your Lord and ours.                            " That so God, who is now by the sword
First, " That you will be pleased to command  avenging the quarrel of his covenant, beholding
a public and extraordinary day of humiliation  your integrity and zeal, may turn firom  the
this week, throughout the cities of London, fierceness of his wrath, hear our prayers, go
Westminster, the suburbs of both, and places forth with our armies, perfect the work of refadjacent within the weekly bills of mortality, ormation, forgive our sins, and settle truth and
that every one may bitterly bewail his own  peace throughout the kingdom.
sins, and cry mightily to God, for Christ's sake.   "And your petitioners shall ever pray," &c.*
to remove his wrath, and to heal' the land;    Pursuant to this petition, Friday, July21,t was
with professedly new resolution of more fuill appointed for a fast, when the Reverend Mr.
performance ofthe late covenant, forthe amend-  Hill, Mr. Spurstow, and Mr. Vines preached
ment of our ways.                            before both houses of Parliament and the AsSecondly, "That you would vouchsafe in- sembly together; and the fast was observed
stantly to take into your most serious consid- with great solemnity in all the churches within
eration how you may more speedily set up  the limits above mentioned.
Christ more gloriously in all his ordinances    Next day a committee of divines was appointwithin this kingdom, and reform  all things ed to consider what amendments were proper
amiss throughout the land, wherein God is to be made in the doctrinal articles of the
more specially and more immediately dishon- Church of England, and report them to the Asoured, among which we humbly lay before you  sembly, who were ten weeks in debating upon
these particulars:                          the first fifteen, before the arrival of the Scots
i. "That the brutish ignorance and palpable  commissioners; the design was to render their
darkness possessing the greatest part of the  sense more express and determinate in favour
people in all places of the kingdom  may be of Calvinism. It is not necessary to trouble
remedied, by a speedy and strict charge to all the reader with the theological debates; but
ministers constantly to catechise all the youth  the articles, as they were new-modelled, being
and ignorant people within their parishes.   rarely to be met with, I have placed them in
2. " That the grievous and heinous pollution  the Appendix, with the original articles of the
of the Lord's Supper, by those who are grossly  Church in opposite columns, that the reader, by
ignorant and notoriously profane, may be hence-  comparing them, may judge whether the alterforth, with all Christian care and due circum- ations are real improvements t
spection, prevented.                           As the Assembly were for strengthening the
3. "That the bold venting of corrupt doc- doctrines of the Church against Arminianism,
trines, directly contrary to the sacred law of they were equally solicitous to guard against
God, may be speedily suppressed.             the opposite extreme of Antinomianism, for
4. " That the profanation of any part of the  which purpose they appointed a committee to
Lord's Day, and the days of solemn fasting, peruse the writings of Dr. Crisp, Eaton, Saltby buying, selling, working, sporting, travel- marsh, and others; who, having drawn out some
ling, or neglecting of God's ordinances, may be of their most dangerous positions, reported
remedied, by appointing special officers in eve- them to the Assembly, where they were not
ry place for the due execution of all good laws only condemned, but confuted in their public
and ordinances against the same.             sermons and writings.
5. "That there may he a thorough and speedy    At this time the interest of the Parliament
proceeding against blind guides and scandalous  was so reduced, they were obliged to call in the
ministers; and that your wisdom  would find  assistance of the Scots. The conservators of
out some way to admit into the ministry such  the peace of that kingdom had appointe1l a congodly and hopeful men as have prepared them- vention of the states June 22, under pretence
selves and are willing thereunto, without which  of securing their country against the power of
there will suddenly be such a scarcity of able
and faithful ministers, that it will be to little   + Rushworth, vol. v., p. 344.
purpo  to cast ott such as arte unable, idle, or  "July 7," Dr. Grey says," was the day on which
purpose to cast out such as are unable, idle, or Mr. Bowvles and Newcomen preached." —En.
scantlaloous                                      Appendix, No. 7.




464                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the royal army in the north,* and a general as-   The instructions of the commissioners sent
sembly, August 2, to consider the state of reli- to the Assembly at Westminster were, to progion. His majesty would have prevented their mote the extirpation of popery, prelacy, heresy,
meeting, but that being impracticable, he gave schism, skepticism, and idolatry, and to enorders to limit their consultations to the con- deavour.a unionbetween the two kingdoms in
cerns of their own country; but the Parliament one confession of faith, one form of church govof England sent the Earl of Rutland, Sir Will- ernment, and one directory of worship.
iam  Armyn, Sir H. Vane, Mr. Hatcher, Mr.   The committee fobr drawing up the solemn
Darley, and two divines from  Westminster, League and Covenant delivered it into the Asviz., Mr. Marshal and Mr. Nye, with letters to sembly August 17, where it was read and higheach of these assemblies, desiring their assist- ly applauded by the ministers and lay-elders,
ance in the war, and the assistance of some of none opposing it except the king's commissiontheir divines with those at Westminster, to set- ers; so that it passed both the Assembly and
tle a uniformity of religion and church govern- convention in one day,* and was despatched
ment between the tvxo nations.  To enforce next morning to Westminster, with a letter to the
these requests, they delivered a letter from the two houses, wishing that it might be confirmed
Assembly,' setting forth the deplorable condi- and solemnly sworn and subscribed in both
tion of the kingdom of England, which was upon kingdoms, as the surest and strictest obligation
the edge of a most desperate precipice, ready to make them  stand and fall together in the
to be swallowed up by Satan and his instru- cause of religion and liberty.
ments.  They represent the cruelty of their   Mr. Marshal and Nye, in the letter to the Asenemies against such as fall into their hands, sembly of August 18, assure their brethren the
being armed against them not only as men, but Scots clergy were entirely on the side of the Paras Christians, as Protestants, and as reformers, liament in this quarrel against the popish and
and that it' they should be given up to their Episcopal faction; that there were between
rage, they fear it will endanger the safety of all twenty and thirty of the prime nobility present
the Protestant churches. In a deeper sense of when the Covenant passed the Convention; and
this danger," say they,'than we can express, I that even the king's commissioners confessed
we address you in the bowels of Christ for your that in their private capacity they were for it,
most fervent prayers and advice, what farther though as his majesty's commissioners they
to do for the making our own and the king- were bound to oppose it.  So that if the English
dom's peace with God, and for the uniting the Parliament (say they) comply with the form of
Protestant party more firmly, that we may all this covenant, we are persuaded the whole body
serve God with one consent, and stand up of the Scots kingdom  will live and die with
against antichrist as one man."t              them, and speedily come to their assistance.
The commissioners arrived at Edinburgh Au-   When their commissioners arrived at Longust 9, and were favourably received by tile don, they presented the Covenant to the two
Assembly, who proposed, as a preliminary, that houses, who referred it to the Assembly of Dithe two nations should enter into a perpetual vines, where it met with some little opposition:
covenant for themselves and their posterity, Dr. Featly declared he durst not abjure prelacy
that all things might be done in God's house absolutely, because he had sworn to obey his
according to his will; and having appointed  bishop in all things lawfiul and honest, and,
some of their number to consult with the Eng-  therefore, proposed to'qualify the second article
lish commissioners about a proper form, they thus:    I will endeavour the extirpation of pochose delegates for the Westminster Assembly, pery and all antichristian, tyrannical, or indeand unanimously advised the convention of pendent prelacy;" but it was carried against
states to assist the Parliament in the war, for him.  Dr. Burgess objected to several articles,
the bollowing reasons.:                      I and was not without some difficulty persuaded
1. "'Because they apprehend the war was for to subscribe after he had been suspended. The
religion.  2. Because the Protestant faith was prolocutor, Mr. Gataker, and many others, dein danger.  3. Gratitude for former assistances clared for primitive episcopacy, or for one staat the time of the Scots reformation required a ted president, with his presbyters, to govern evsuitable return.  4. Because the Churches of ery church; and refused to subscribe till a paScotland and England being embarked in one renthesis was inserted, declaring what sort of
bottom, if one be ruined the other cannot sub-  prelacy was to be abjured, viz., "[church govsist.  5. The prospect of uniformity between  ernment by archbishops, bishops, deans and
the two kingdoms in discipline and worship chapters, archdeacons, and all other officers
will str6ngthen the Protestant interest at home depending upon theim]."t The Scots, who had
and abroad.  6. The present Parliament had  been introduced into the Assembly September
been friendly to the Scots, and might be so  1.5, were for abjuring episcopacy as simply unagain. 7. Though the king had so lately established their religion according to their desires,   * " Wise observers," Bishop Burnet adds, "wonyet they could not confide in his royal declara I dered to see a matter of that importance carried, havig  o  through upon so little deliberation or debate. It was
trons, haria"ttese   |ften foud  aca erbthought strange to see all their consciences of such.____________________ ______ia________."J:____   a size, so exactly to agree as the several wheels
* Yet these (conservators issued out, in the king's of a clock; which made all apprehend there was
name, a proclamnation for all persons from sixteen to some first mover that directed all those other ntJosixty years old to appear in arms. "At which," says tions: this, by the one party, was imputed to God's
Rushworth, "the king was much incensed."-Dr. extraordinary providence, but, by others, to the powGrey. Who will not own that he had great reason er and policy of the leaders, and the simplicity and
to resent his name being used against himself? —ED. fear of the rest."-Memoirs of the Duke of Hamilton,
t Rushworth, vol. v.. p. 463, 466, 469.    p. 239.-ED.
A Ibid., p. 472, &c.  t Calamy's Abridgment, p. 81.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   465
lawful, but the English divines were generally                   I.
against it.                                    "That we shall sincerely, really, and conBishop Burnet says our commissioners press- stantly, through the grace of God, endeavour, in
ed chiefly for a civil league, but the Scots would our several places and callings, the preservation
have a' religious one, to which the English of the Reformed religion in the Church of Scotwere obliged to yield, taking care, at the same land, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and govtime, to leave a door open for a latitude of in- ernment, against our common enemies; the
terpretation.*  Sir Henry Vane put the word reformation of religion in the kingdoms of
"league" into the title, as thinking that might England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, disbe broken sooner than a covenant; and in the cipline, and government, according to the Word
first article he inserted that general phrase of of God, and  the example of the best Reformed
reforming "according to the Word of God," by churches; and we shall endeavour to bring the
which ihe English thought themselves secure  Church of God in the three kingdoms to the
from the inroads of presbytery; but the Scots nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion,
relied upon the next words, "and according to confessing of faith, form of church government,
the practice of the best Reformed churches," in directory for worship, and catechising, that we,
which they were confident their discipline must and our posterity after us, may, as brethren,
be included. When Mr. Colman read the Cove- live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight
nant before the House of Lords, in order to to dwell in the midst of us.
their subscribing it, he declared, that by prelacy all sorts of episcopacy was not intended,                    II.
but only the sort therein described.  Thus the   "That we shall in like manner, without rewise men on both sides eardeavoured to outwit spect of persons, endeavour the extirpation of
each other in wording the articles, and with popery, prelacy (that is, church government by
these slight amendments the Covenant passed archbishops, bishops, their chancellors and comthe Assembly and both houses of Parliament; missaries, deans, deans and chapters, ar(chdeaand by an order, dated September 21, was cons, and all other ecclesiastical officers de.
printed and published as follows:            pending on that hierarchy), superstition, here"A solemn League and Covenant for Refoirma- sy, schism, profaneness, and whatsoever shall
tion and Defence of Religion, the Honour and be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and
Happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety the power of godliness, lest we partake in other
of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, men's sins, and thereby ie in danger to receive
and Ireland.                                 of their plagues; and that the Lord may be
"We, noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, one, and his name one, in the three kingdoms.
citizens, burgesses, ministers of the Gospel, and
commons of all sorts, in the kifigdoms of Eng-                   IT.
land, Scotland, and Ireland, by the providence    "We shall, with the same reality, sincerity,
of God living under one king, and being of one and constancy, in our several vocations. enreformed religion, having before our eyes the deavour with our estates and lives, mutually to
glory of God, and the advancement of the king- preserve the rights and privileges of the Parliadom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the ments, and the liberties of the kingdoms, and
honour and happiness of the king's majesty, to preserve the king's majesty's person and aun.
and his posterity, and the true public liberty, thority, in the preservation and defence of the
safety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein true religion and liberties of the kingdoms, that
every one's private condition is included; and the world may bear witness with our consciencalling to mind the treacherous and bloody ces of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts
plots, conspiracies, attempts, and practices of or intentions to diminish his msjesty's just
the enemies of God against the true religion, power and greatness.
and the professors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever since the
reformation of religion; and how much their   "We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavrage, power, and presumption are of late and our the discovery of all such as have been or
at this time increased and exercised, whereof shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruthe deplorable estate of the Church and king-. ments, by hindering the reformation of religion,
dom of Ireland, the distressed estate of the dividing the king firom his people, or one of the
Church and kingdom of England, and the dan- kingdomts from another, or making any factions
gerous estate of the Church and kingdom of or parties among the people, contrary to the
Scotland, are present and public testimonies; league and covenant, that they may be brought
we have (now at last), after other means of sup- to public trial, and receive condign punishment,
plication, remonstrance, protestations, and suf-  as the degree of their offences shall require or
ferings, for the preservation of our lives and deserve, or the supreme judicatories of both
our religion fiom utter ruin and destruction, kingdoms respectively, or others having power
accor'ding to the commendable practice of these from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.
Kingdoms in former times, and the example of
God's people in other nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter   "And whereas the happiness of a blessed
into a mutual and solemn league and covenant, peace between these kingdoms, denied in forwherein we all subscribe, and each one of us mer times to our progenitors, is, by the good
for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most providence of God, granted'unto us, an( hias
high Go], do swear,                         been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments, we shall, each one of us according to
Duke of Hamilton's Memoirs, p. 237, 240.    our places and interests, endeavour that we.
VOL. I.-N N N




466                      HIISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
may remain conjoined in a firm  peace and ofDorchester, openedthe solemnity with prayer;
union to all posterity, and that justice may be after him, Mr. Henderson and Mr. Nye spoke in
done on all the wilful opposers thereof, in man- justification of taking the Covenant from Scripner expressed in the precedent articles.       ture precedents, and displayed the advantage
the Church had received from such sacred combinations.  Mr. Henderson spoke next,u and de"W Ve shall also, according to our places and
callings, in this common cause of religion, lib-. The four Scottish divines-were, in every respect,
erty, and peace of the kingdom, assist and de- distinguished men, and would have been so regarded
fend all those that enter into this league and in any age or country. Alexander Henderson was,
covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing'there- however, cheerfully admitted to be, beyond coinparof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or in- ison, the most eminent. His learning was extensive
directly, by whatsoever coml)ination,persuasion, rather than minute, corresponding to the character
persuasion,  f his mind, of which the distinguishing elements
or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this were dignity and comprehensiveness. When called
blessed union and conjunction, whether to make  to quit the calm seclusion of the country parish
defection to the contrary part, or give ourselves where he had spent so many years, and to come to
to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this the rescue of the Church of Scotland in her hour of
cause, which so much concerneth the glory  need, he at once proved himself able to conduct and
of God, the good of the kingdoms, and hon- control the complicated movements of an awakening
our of the king; but shall all the days of our empire. Statesmen sought his counsel; but, with
lives zealously and constantly continue therein  equal propriety and disinterestedness, he refused to
concern himself with anything beyond what belonged
against all opposition, and promote the same, to the Church, although the very reverse has often
according to our power, against all lets and im- been asserted by his prelatic caluimniators. Though
pediments whatsoever; and what we are not long and incessantly engaged in the most stirrin.
able ourselves to suppress or overcome, we events of a remarkably momentous period, his a.
shall reveal or make known, that it may be tions, his writings, his speeches, are all charactetimely prevented or removed.                   ized by calmness and ease, without the slightest at.
" And because these kingdoms are guilty of pearance of heat. or agitation, resulting, unquestion
ably, from, that aspect of character generally termed:many sins and  provocations against God, and greatness of mind but which would, in him, be more
~his'son Jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our properly characterized by describing it as a rare com-;present distresses and dangers, the fruits there- bination of intellectual power, moral dignity, and
of, we profess and declare, before God and the  spiritual elevation. It was the condition of a mighty
world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for mind, enjoying the peace of God which passeth unour own sins, and for the sins of these kling-  derstanding, a peace which the world had not given,
and conn d  nso  thke away.
doms;  especially that we have not as we ought an  could not take away.
valued t   inestimable benefit of the Gospel    George Gillespie was one of that peculiar class of
inestimable benefit of the Gospel en who start,-like meteors, into sudden splendour,'that we have not laboured for the purity and  shine with dazzling brilliancy, then suddenly set bepower thereof; and that we have not endeav- hiud the tomb, leaving their compeers equally to adoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to Imire and to deplore.'When but in his twenty-fifth
walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the year, he published a book against' what he termed
cause of other sins and transgressions so much  the "English Popish Ceremonies," which Charles
abounding among us; and our true and unfeign- and Laud were attempting to force upon the Church
purposedesire, and endeavour, foours s  of Scotland. This work, though the production of
nd purpose, desire, and endeavour, fo ourselve,  a youth, displayed an amount and accuracy of learnand, all others under our charge, both in public ing which would have done honour to any man of
and private, in all duties we owe to God and the most mature years and scholarship. In the Asman, to amend our lives, end each one to go sembly of Divines, though much the youngest mermbefore another in the example of a real reforma- her there, he proved himself one of the most able
tion, that the Lord may turn away his wrath  and ready debaters, encountering, not only on equal
and heavy  indignation, and  establish  these  terms, but often with triumphant success, each with
churches and kingdoms in truth and peace. his own weapons, the most learned, subtle, and profound of his antagonists. He must have been no
And this covenant we make in the presence of common man who was ready, on ay emergency, to
Al t God, the searchr of all harts, witcommon man who was ready, on any emergency, to
Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with  meet, and frequently to foil, by their own acknowla true intention to perform  the samie, as we edgment, such men as Selden, Lightfoot, and Coleshall answer at that great day When the secrets man, in the Erastian controversy, and Goodwin and
of all hearts shall be disclosed; most humbly  Nye in their argument for Independency.  But the
beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his excessive activity of his ardent and energetic mind
Holy Spirit for this end, and to bless our desires wore out his frame; and he returned from his labours
and proceedings with such success as may be intheWestnster Assembly to see once  ore the
an5 7.oceedings with such success as may Church and the land of his fathers, and to die.
a dmliverance.and safety to his people, and en-   Samuel Rutherford gained, and still holds, an excomuragenimet to the Christian churches, groan- tensive reputation by his religious works; but he
ing munder, or in danger of, the yoke of the anti- was not less eminent, in his own day, as an acute
Ch.istian tyranny, to join with the same or like and able controversialist. The characteristics of his
attestation and covenant, to the glory of God, mind were clearness of intellect, warmth and ear-:tlhe emnlargement  of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, nestness of affection, and loftiness and spirituality of
atdl the peace and tranquillity of Christian king- devotona feeling.  tIe could ani did write vigor4Is and -comfminon wealths."   t          ously against the. Independent system, and, at the
*doomrrs.ntl~ornmo  wesame time, love and esteem the men who held it.
Moniday, September 25, 1643, was appointed  In his celebrated work, " Lex Rex," he not only cn
fer subscribing this Covenant, when both htous- tered the regions of constitutional jurists, but even
es, with the'Scots commissioners and Asserm- produced a treatise unrivalled yet as an exposition
bly of Divines, being met in the Church of St. of the true principles of civil and religious liberty.
Margaret's, Westminster, the Rev. Mr. White, His "Religious Lettels" have been long #dmired by
all who could understand and feel what true religion
* Rushworth, vol. v., p. 478.        is, though grovelling and impure minds have striven




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      467
elared that the States of Scotland had resolved persons above the age of eighteen years; and
to assist the Parliament of England in carrying the Assembly were commanded to draw up an
on the ends and designs of this covenant; then  exhortation to dispose people to it, which being
Mr. Nye read it from the pulpit, with an audible approved by both houses, was published, under
voice, article by article, each person standing the title of
uncovered, with his right hand lifted up bare to    " An Exhortation to the taking of the solemn
heaven, worshipping the great name of God, League and Covenant for Reformation and Deand swearing to the performance of it.*  Dr. fence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of
Gouge concluded the solemnity with prayer, after the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three
which the House of Commons went up into the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland,
chancel, and subscribed their names in one roll and for satisfying such Scruples as may arise
of parchment, and the Assembly in another, in in the taking of it; assented to by the House,
both which the Covenant was fairly transcribed. and ordered to be printed."
Lord's Day following it was tendered to all persons within the bills of mortality, being read in  If th  e power of religion, or solid reason; if
the several churches to their congregations, as loyalty to the king,  and piety to their native
above.                                        loyalty to the  ing, and pety to their native
October 15, it was taken by the House of country, or love to themselves, and natural afLords, after a sermon preached by Dr. Temple, fection to their posterityn; if the example of
from Nehemiah, x., 29, and an exhortation by extraordinary success from God thereupon, can
Mr. Colman. October 29, it was ordered by the extraordinary success from God thereupon, can
Committee of States in Scotland to be sworn to, awaken an embroiled, bleeding remnant to embrace the sovereign and only means of their
and subscribed all over that kingdom, on pen- recovery thee can be no doubt but this solemn
recovery,. there can be no doubt but this solemn
alty of the confiscation of goods and  rents, and League and Covenant will find, wheresoever it
such other punishment as his majesty and the shall be tendered, a people ready to entertain it
Parliament should inflict on the refusers.t  All with all cheerfulness and duty.
the lords of the council were summoned to sign    "And were  it not commended to the king
the Covenant November 2, and those who did  dom  by  the  concurret  nco  uragement o  f theing
not, to appear again the 14th of the same month, honourable houses of Parliament, the Assembly
under the severest penalties, when some of the of Divines, the renowned city of London, multiking's party, not attending, were declared ene- tudes of other persons of eminent rank and qualmies to religion, and to their king and country; ity of this nation, and the whole body of ScotNovember 18, their goods were ordered to be land, who have all willingly sworn and subseized, and their persons apprehended; upon scribed it with rejoicing at the oath, so grawhich they fled into England.  Such was the ciouslyseconded from heaven already by blastunbounded zeal of that nation  Februarfrom heaven already, by blastunboundedwzealf thCoant nasdtion    February 2t ing the counsels, and breaking the power, of the
following, the Covenant was ordered to be ta-                            
enemy more than ever, yet it goeth forth in its
ken throughout the kingdom of England, by all
en throughout the kingdom of Enand, by alown strength with such convincing evidence of
equity, truth, and righteousness, as may raise in
to blight their'reputation by dwelling on occasional all (not wilfully ignorant or miserably seduced)
forms of expression, not necessarily unseemly in the inflamed affections to join with their brethren
homeliness of phrase used in familiar letters, and in this happy bond, for putting an end to the
conveying nothing offensive according to the lan-      miseries and for saving both king and
guage of the times. His powers of debate were very
considerable, being characterized by clearness of dis- kingdom fiom utter ruin, now so strongly and
tinction in stating his opinions, and a close, syllogis- openly laboured by the popish faction, and such
tic style of reasoning, both the result of his remarka- as have been bewitched by that viperous and
ble precision of thought.                     bloody generation."*
Robert Baillie, so well known by his " Letters and   It then proceeds to answer objections against
Journals," was a man of extensive and varied learn- taking the Covenant; as,
ing, both in languages and in systematic theology.   Obj 1. That it obliges to the extirpation of
He rarely mingled in debate; but his sagacity was
vatuable'in deliberation, and his great acquirements, prelacy, which stands as yet by the known
studious habits, arid ready use of his pen, rendered laws of the land..:m an important member of such an assembly. The    Answ. The life and soul of the hierarchy is alsingular ease and readiness of Baillie in composition ready taken away, nothing of jurisdiction reenabled him to maintain what seems like a universal maining; and since it is but a human constitucorrespondence; and, at the same time, to present tion, if it be found a grievance, we may certainin a vivid, picturesque, and exquisitely natural style, ly endeavour its extirpation in a lawful way.
the very form and impress of the period in which he   Obj. 2. It is said to be inconsistent with the
lived, and the great events in which he bore a part.
And when it was necessary to refute errors by exhibiting them in their real aspect. the vast reading    Answ. If men have sworn obedience to the
and retentive memory of B3aillle enabled him to pro- laws of the land, may they not endeavour by
duce what was needed with marvellous rapidity and lawful means the repealing those laws, if they
correctness. Scarcely ever was any man more qual- are found inconvenient!  or if any ministers
ified to "catch the manners living as they rise," and, have taken oaths not warranted by the laws of
at the same time, to point out with instinctive saga- God and the land, ought they not to repent of
city what in them was wrong and dangerous.    them 
Such were the Scottish commissioners; and it
tnay easily be believed that they acted a very Im-   3  But the Covenant crosses the oath of
portant and influential part in the Westminster As- supremacy and allegiance.
sembly of Divines. — Iistory of the WestminsterAssem-   Answ. This is false, for it binds to the presbly of Divines, by Rev. W. M. Hetherington, p. 125-7.
-C.                x- Rushworth, vol. v., p. 475.  * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 475. Husbar-d's (.;illaf Duke of Hamilton's Memoirs, p. 240.       tions, p. 424.




468                     HISTORIY OF THE PURITANS.
ervation of the king's person and authority, in received the copies, and then disperse themthe defence of the religion and liberties of the selves throughout their counties, so as three or
kingdom.                                      four of them may be together at the several
Obj. 4. But it is done without the king's con- places appointed for the people to take it.'That
sent.,                                        they summon all the ministers, church wardAnsw. So was the protestation of May 5, ens, constables, and other officers to that place,
which went through the whole kingdom, his and after a sermon preached by a minister
majesty not excepting against it, though he whom they shall appoint, they shall cause the
was then at Whitehall. The same has been said minister to tender the Covenant to all
done by the united Netherlands under King such ministers and other officers, to be taken
Philip, and more lately in Scotland, his maj- and subscribed in the presence of the coinesty himself declaring, by act of Parliament, mittee.
that they had done nothing but what became    "The said ministers are then to be required
loyal and obedient subjects.                  to tender the Covenant to all the rest of their
Dr. Barwick says* that some persons in the parishioners next Lord's Day; and if any min-'University of Cambridge published an answer ister refuse or neglect to appear at the said
to this exhortation, which I have not seen; summons, or refuse to take the said Covenant,
but if the reader will look forward to the year the committee shall appoint another minister to
1647, he will find the reasons of the University  do it in his place.
of Oxford against it, confirmed in convocation,   "If any minister refilse to take or tender the
the validity of which he will judge of for him- Covenant, or if any other person refuse to take
self.  It is certain most of the religioust part it after a second tender, upon two Lord's Days,
of the nation, who apprehended the Protestant their names shall be returned to the commitreligion in danger, and were desirous of redu- tee, and by them to the House of Commons;
cing the hierarchy of the Church, were zealous and all persons that absent themselves after nofor the Covenant. Others took it only in obe- tice given, shall be returned as refusers."
dience of the Parliament, being sensible of the    The English in foreign parts were not exdistressed circumstances of their affairs, and empted firom this test; directions were sent to
that the assistance of the Scots was to be ob- Mr. Strickland, the Parliament's agent at the
tained on no other terms.1'But as it was a Hague, to tender it to all the English in those
test of a mixed nature, and contained some ob- countries, and to certify the names of such as
ligations upon conscience, which wise and hon- refused.*  Here the elector-palatine took it,
est men might reasonably scruple, who were and, after some time, came into England, and
otherwise well affected to the Protestant reli- condescended to sit in the Assembly of Divines.
gion and the liberties of their country, the im- December 20, 164'3, it was ordered by the Lords
posing it as a test can never be justified, and Commons. that no person should be capathough it appears most of the Episcopal di- ble of being elected a common councilman of
vines who made the greatest figure in the the city of London, or so much as a voice in
Church after the Restoration did not refuse it.  such elections, who has not taken the CoveTogether with the Exhortation of the Assem- nant.t  On the 29th of January, 1644, it was
bly, the following orders9 and instructions were ordered by the Commons, that the solemn
dispersed over the kingdom:                   League and Covenant he, upon every day of fastOrdered, "That copies of the Covenant be ing and public humiliation, publicly read in evsent to all commanders-in-chief, and governors ery church and congregation within the kingof towns, forts, garrisons, and soldiers, that it *dom; and every congregation is enjoined to
may be taken by all soldiers under their com- have one fairly printed in a large letter, in a tamand.                                         ble fitted to be hung up in a public place of the
" That copies be sent to the committees of church or congregation, to be read by the peoParliament, in the several counties that are ple. All young ministers were required to take
under the power of the Parliament, and that the the Covenant at their ordination; none of the
committees, within six days, disperse the said laity were continued in any office of trust, eicopies, and cause them to be delivered to the ther civil or military, who refused it. When the
ministers, church-wardens, or constables of the war was ended, all the noblemen, knights, genseveral parishes.                             tlernen, and officers who had opposed the Par"That the several ministers be required to liament, were obliged to submit to it before
read the Covenant to the people the next Lord's they were admitted to composition. NotwithDay after they have prepared the people to standingall this severity, Dr. Calamy says, Mr.
take it.                                      Baxter kept his people from taking the Cove"That the committees of Parliament take it nant, as fearing it might be a snare to their
themselves within seven days after they. have consciences; nay, he prevented its being much
taken in the county lie lived in, by keeping the
That Life of Barwick, p. 35.                ministers from offering it to their people, ext "That is," says Bishop Warburton, "the Puritan: for Puritanism  and religion are convertible cept the city of Worcester, where he had no
terms with this historian." This evidently appears great interest.
to be remarked with a sneer, and to impeach the ir-   The king could not be unacquainted with
partiality of Mr. Neal. But, in answer to the remark, these proceedings, for the Covenant lay before
it may be observed, that it is not candid to interpret the Parliament and Assembly almost a month,
Mr. Neal's words as if he limited all seriousness of during which time his majesty took no public
character to the Puritans; and then the question is,
whether the fact was not as Mr. Neal states it?'! if it
were, his language is irreprehensible.-ED.      * Whitelocke, p. 79. Parliamentary Chronicle,
R ]apin, vol. xii., p. 133.                 p. 172.          t Husband's Collections, p. 404.
Q Husband's Collections, p. 420.           i   Abridgment, p. 104.




HISTORY OF ThliEi PURITANS.                                   469
notice of it; but a fortnight after it had been  certainly have refused it. It has been observed
subscribed by both houses, and by all the cler- already, that Mr. Baxter prevented its being
gy and laity within the bills of mortality, he is- much taken in Worcestershire; and no doubt
sued out the following proclamation, dated from  there were men of moderation and influence
Oxford, October 9, in the nineteenth year of who did the same in other counties.  Those
his reign.                                    clergymen who had declared for the king were
usually put to the trial; but reputed Calvinists,
of sober lives, who had stood neuter, were fire"Whereas there is a printed paper, entitled  quently overlooked; so that the beneficed clerA solemn League and Covenant for Reforma- gy suffered by the Covenant, rather as parties
tion and Defence of Religion,' &c., pretended  in the war, than as friends of the hierarchy.
to be printed by order of the House of Com- However, it being a religious test, the imposing
mons, September 21, which Covenant, though it it was, in my opinion, unwarrantable, and a very
seems to make specious expressions of piety  great hardship, especially as it was for some
and religion, is in truth nothing else but a trai- time a door of entrance into ecclesiastical preftorous and seditious combination against us erments for such young divines as had no conand the established religion and laws of this cern in the war. A test of a civil nature would
kingdom, in pursuance of a traitorous design  have answered all the ends of civil government,
and endeavour to bring in foreign force to in- withoutshacklingtheconsciencesofmen, which
vade this kingdom; we do, therefore, straitly  ought always to be left free, and open to concharge and command all our loving subjects, of viction.  But if the Puritan powers bore hard
what degree or quality soever, upon their alle- upon the Loyalists in imposing the Covenant,
giance, that they presume not to take the said  the king's clergy were even with them at the
seditious and traitorous Covenant.  And we do Restoration, when they obliged them  publicly
likewise hereby farther inhibit and forbid all to abjure it, or quit their preferments.
our subjects to impose, administer, or tender   The necessity of the king's affairs having
the said Covenant, as they, and every one of obliged him to arm the papists, and commission
them, will answer the contrary at their utmost the Duke of Ormond to agree to a cessation of
and extremest perils."*                       arms with the Irish Catholics, in order to draw
His majesty sent the like declaration into  off his forces from thence, his majesty fell unScotland, to which the states of that kingdom  der the suspicion of favouring that religion, espaid no farther regard than to send him the  pecially when it appeared that not only the
reasons of their conduct, with their advice to  Protestant soldiers, but the Jrish rebels, were
his majesty to take the Covenant himself.     transported with them.  Mr. Whitelocke* says
Great complaints have been made, and not several of their officers and soldiers came over
without reason, of the execution this test did  with the king's army; that a month or two afupon the king's clergy throughout the kingdom. ter, eight hundred native Irish rebels landed
It was a new weapon put into the hands of the at Weymouth, under the Lord Inchequin, and
committees, which enabled them  with mnore  another party at Beaurnaris, which committed
ease and certainty to detect malignant or dis- great spoils, destroying with fire what they
affected ministers; for instead of producing a could not carry off.  Another party landed near
number of witnesses, as had been the method  Chester, under the Earl of Cork, and fifteen
hitherto, they  now  tendered the Covenant, hundred were cast away at sea: these wretchiwhich the others refusing, gave occasion to es brought hither the same savage disposition
the. general report that the clergy were turned  which they had discovered in their own counout of their livings only for refusing the Cove- try; they plundered and killed people in cold
nant, whereas their sequestration was ground- blood, observing neither the rules of honour
ed upon other causes; or, at least, the articles nor the law of arms.f  The Scotch forces in
of immorality or disaffection to the Parliament the north of Ireland entered into a confederawere almost always joined with it.  When the cy to stand by each other against the cessaCovenant passed through the Parliament quar- tion; the Parliament of England protested
ters, in sonie towns it was neglected, in others against it, and published a declaration informthe incumbent avoided it by withdrawing for a ing the world that his majesty had broke
few weeks, and getting another to officiate. through his royal promise, of leaving the Irish
Some who refused were displaced, and the
names of those who absented were returned to  C   P. 75, 76, 78, 79. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 486, folio.
the Parliament, but little or nothing came of Clarendon, vol. ii., part i., p. 439.
it. The writer of the life of Bishop Saunderson    t Dr. Grey contrasts this charge against the Irish
rebels with instances of the conduct of the English
says that in the associated counties of Cam- adherents to the Parliament.  He brings forward
bridgeshire, &n., all were ejected who refused  with this view the murder of Dr. Walter Raleigh,
the Covenant, that is, all to whom it was ten- dean of Windsor, by the man to whose custody he
dered; for though it was pressed pretty closely  was committed; and of Colonel Bulkley, by Major
in some places notorious for disaffection, in  Cheadle: the perpetrators in each case were acquit
others that had been quiet it was little regard-. The doctor also refers to the petition of the;ed(. Thes Earl of Manchester had particular in- Irish Catholics to the lting in 1642, complaining of
the violences and cruelties of which they were the
structions to tender the Covenant to the Cam- objects. It is sufficient to observe, that the cruelty
bridge scholars, and yet the commissioners im- of one party does not exculpate the other. On whichposed it only upon such who had adhered to the ever side acts of injustice and cruelty are committed,
king, or of whose disaffection they had suffi- humanity will lament it, and eulity will reprobate it.
cient evidence, several who behaved peaceably  Such is the nature of war, such is the envenomed
being permitted to keep their places, who would  spirit that irritates civil contests, each party is, generally, very guilty;' and it may not be often easy to
* Rushworth, vol. v., p. 482.       ascertain the proportion of guilt.-ED.




470                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
war to them; they forbade all masters of ships   How consonant was this with his majesty's
to bring over any officers or soldiers, on penal- actions, when within a few days he agreed to a
ty of the forfeiture of their vessels, and gave cessation with the Irish papists for a year, an(l
letters of marque to merchants and others, who a toleration of their religion! All men knew
would fit out ships at their own expense, em- that his majesty not only connived at popery,
powering them to take to their own profit all but indulged it as far as was in his power; hissuch ships and goods as' they should meet cornm- torians, therefore, are at a loss to reconcile this
ing over with soldiers or warlike stores:for the solemn appeal to Heaven with the king's piety
king. Next year an ordinance was published, and sincerity.  The Parliament was so appre.
that no quarters should be given to any Irish hensive of the consequences of bringing ovel
papist taken in arms against the Parliament; the Irish papists, that, by an order of Novembei
all officers were to except them out of their 22, they desired the Assembly of Divines to
capitulations, and upon making them prisoners, write letters to the foreign churches of Holland,
were immediately to put them to death.       France, and Switzerland, and other places, to
This unhappy management of the king alien- inform  them  of the artifices of his majesty's
ated the affections of great numbers of hisfriends agents; of the constant employment of Irish
who had the Protestant religion at heart; many rebels, and other papists, to be governors, comwho wished well to his person deserted him upon manders, and soldiers in his armies; of the
this occasion, and made their peace. with the many evidences of their intentions to introduce
Parliament, as the Earls of Holland, Bedford, popery, to hinder the intended reformation, and
Clare, Carlisle, SirEdward Deering, and others; to condemn other Protestant churches as unthis last gentleman published the reasons of sound because not prelatical; and that the
his conduct to the world, the principal of which Scots commissioners be desired to join with
were, the Irish cessation, his majesty preferring them. In pursuance of this order, the Assempopish officers to chief places of trust and hon- bly wrote the following letter, dated November
our, and the language of the Oxford clergy and 30, 1643:
others that the king should come no other way,To the Belgic, French, Helvetian, and other
to his palace but by conquest.*  There was               Reformed Churches.
certainly a very malignant spirit among those
gentlemen at this time, as appears by their form " Rght reverend and dearly beloved in our Lord
of thanksgiving, or, rather, imprecation, for the Jesus Christ,
taking of Bristol, and the success of the Earl   "We, the Assembly of Divines, and others,
of Newcastle's army in the north: " 0 ILord," convened by the authority of both houses of
say they, " though our sins cry aloud, hear them  Parliament, with the commissioners fiom  the
not, but look to the righteousness of our cause; General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, do
see the seamless coat of thy son torn; the heartily salute you in the Lord. We doubt not
throne of thine anointed trampled upon; thy but the sad reports of the miseries under which
Church invaded by sacrilege, and thy people the Church and kingdom of England do bleed,
miserably deceived by lies; see it, O God, as and wherewith we are ready to he swallowed
see it thou dost, and vindicate what thou seestup, is long since come to your ears; and it is
on the heads of those who lead these wretch- probable the same instruments of Satan and
es."  Many of the Earl of Newcastle's soldiers, Antichrist have, by their emissaries, endeavourin the north, upon news of the Irish cessation, ed to represent us as black as may be among
threw down their arms and offered a composi- yourselves.o And we sotimes doubt whether
tion; and, if we maybelieve the Parliamentary we have not been wanting to our own innoChronicle,t this single action lost the king all cence, and your satisfaction, in being thus long
the northern counties. To put a stop to the  silent; but pardon us, dear brethren, if this cup
clamours of the people, and prevent any farther of trembling wherewith our spirits have been
desertions, his majesty resolved to support his filled to amazement, and our wrestling with exown character as a Protestant, and accordingly treme difficulties ever since our meeting, has
made the following protestation in presence of hindered from that which was our duty; an
the congregation at Christ Church, Oxford, icm- give us leave now a little to ease our grief, while
mediately before his receiving the sacrament we relate the desolation made by the antifrom the hands of Archbishop Usher:          Christian faction, who are for hindering the
work of reformation, and for introducing and
"My Lord,                               cherishing popery; and are now arrived to that
"I espy here many resolved Protestants, who strength, that if the Lord do not speedily help
may declare to the world the declaration I do us, we shall be altogether laid waste by them.
now make. I have, to the utmost of my pow-   " How great a hand they [the prelates] have
er, prepared my soul to be a worthy receiver, had in the miseries of other Reformed churchand may I so receive comfort from the blessed es, in the destruction of the Palatinate, in the
sacrament as I do intend the establishment of loss of Rochelle, are so fully known and felt by
the true Reformed Protestant religion, as it you all, that we need not speak anything of them.
stood in its beauty in the happy days of Queen  And we suppose their inveterate hatred against
Elizabeth, without any connivance at poppery. you all is sufficiently manifest, in that multiI bless God that, in the midst of these public tudes of them have refused to acknowledge any
distractions, I have still liberty to communicate. of you for churches of Christ because you are
And may this sacrament be my damnation if not prelatical, and thereby, as they conceive,
my heart do not join with my lips in this prot-want a lawful vocation of ministers. Sure we
estation."$                                  are, that among ourselves, scarce one thing
can be thought of which may be supposed an
* Rushworth, vol. v., p. 383.   t Part iii., p. 86.
~ Rushworth, p. 346. Rapin, vol. ii., p. 490, folio.    * Rushworth, p. 371.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                 471
argument of their design to advance popery, that them are already) to act the same butchery upon
has not been attempted. The laws against po- us.
pery have been suspended; judges forbid to'In the midst Of these troublesome times the
proceed against condemned priests; Jesuits set two houses of Parliament have called this Asfree; houses of superstition in Ireland and Eng- sembly, to give them our best counsel for the
land have been set up, and not discountenanced; reformation of the Church, requiring us to make
notorious papists harboured about the court and God's Word only our rule, and to endeavour
preferred; many released from legal penalties, the nearest conformity to the best Reformed
and their prosecutors discountenanced; agents churches, and uniformity to all the churches of
have been sent into Italy, and nuncios firom  the three kingdoms.
Rome received, while the most zealous Prot-   " The Church and kingdom of Scotland have
estants have been persecuted; many prelates made offer of their humble mediation to the king
and clergymen have publicly preached, and en- for a pacification, Which being rejected, both
deavoured to leaven the people with all points nations have entered into a mutual league and
of popery, except the supremacy, and introdu- covenant; and the Scots have resolved to join
ced abundance of corrupt innovations into the in arms with their brethren in England, for
worship of God; for noncompliance with which their mutual preservation from the common
many have been forced to fly for refuge to the enemy, and, so far as in them lieth, for the
remote parts of the world.                 safety of their. native king. They have also
" They imposed upon the kingdom of Scot- sent their commissioners hither, for uniformity
land a new popish service-book and canons, to of religion in the churches of both kingdoms.
which when that nation would not submit, they   "And we, their commissioners, do exceedprevailed with his majesty to proclaim them  ingly rejoice to behold the foundation of the
rebels, and raise an army against them, to which house of God, not only in doctrine, but in church
all the papists, and those who were popishly af- government, laid before our eyes in a reverend
fected, contributed; and had not the Lord, by assembly of so wise, learned, and godly divines.
his blessing on the Scots' arms, and by the call- And we find ourselves bound, in all Christian
ing of this Parliament, prevented it, the two duty, as well as by our late Covenant, to join in
nations had been imbruing their hands in each representing to the Reformed churches abroad
other's blood.                             the true condition of affairs here against all
" But though we hoped, through the goodness mistakes and misinformations.
of God, and his blessing upon this Parliament,   "And now, dear brethren,- we beg of you,
whose hearts were inclined to a mire perfect first, to judge aright of our innocence and inreformation, that our winter had been passed, tegrity in this our just defence; if our enemies
yet, alas! we find it to be quite otherwise. We say that we are risen up in rebellion to deknow our sins have deserved all, and if we die prive the king of his just power and greatness,
and perish, the Lord is righteous; to his hand and to bring anarchy and confusion into the
we submit, and to him alone we look for healing. Church of Christ, we doubt not but our solemn
The same anti-Christian faction not being dis- Covenant (a copy of which we humbly present
couraged by their want of success in Scotland, you herewith) will sufficiently clear us. Let
have stirred up a bloody rebellion in Ireland, the righteous Lord judge between us, whom we
wherein above one hundred thousand Protest- implore to help us no farther than we can plead
ants have been destroyed in one province with- these things in sincerity.
in a few months. They have alienated the heart   " Secondly, That you would sympathize with
of' his majesty from his Parliament, and pre- us as brethren, who suffer in and for the same
vailed with him to withdraw and raise an army, cause wherein yourselves have been oppressed.
which at first pretended only to be made up of   " Thirdly, That you would conceive of our
Protestants, but soon after papists were armed condition as your own' common cause, which,
by commission from the king; many great pa- if it be lost with us, yourselves are not like
pists were put into places of public command, long to escape, the quarrel being not so much
and the body of all the papists have joined his against men's persons as against the power of
majesty with all their might; they profess and godliness and the purity of God's Word. The
exercise their religion publicly in several parts way and manner of your owning us we leave to
of the kingdom, and go up and down plunder- yourselves, only we importunately crave your
ing, murdering, and spoiling of their goods all fervent prayers, both public and private, that
such as adhere to the Parliament, and to the God would bring salvation to us; that the
cause of religion. Nor has the Parliament been blessings of truth and peace may rest upon us;
able, by their petitions and remrnonstrances, to that these three nations may be joined as one
recover his majesty out of their hands, or bring stick in the hands of the Lord; and that we
these men to deserved punishment, but the ourselves, contemptible. builders, called to resword rages almost in every corner. of this wo- pair the house of God in a troublesome time,
ful land..                               may see the pattern of this house, and cora"And to complete our miseries, they have mend such a platform to our Zerubbabels as
prevailed with his majesty so far to own the may be most agreeable to his sacred Word,
rebels in Ireland, as not only to call them his nearest in conformity to the best Reformed
Roman Catholic subjects now in arms, but to churches, and to establish uniformity among
grant them a cessation of arms for a year, and ourselves; that all mountains may become
to hold what they had gotten, with liberty to plains before them and us, that then all who
strengthen themselves with men, money, arms,. ndw see the plummet in our hands, may also
ammunition, &c., whereby they m'e enabled not behold the top-stone set upon the head of the
only to destroy the remnant of Protestants in Lord's house among us, and may help us with
Ireland, but to come over hither (as many of shouting to cry, Grace, grace to it.




t72                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
" Thus much we have been commanded to the whole course of our life to this moment;
inform you of, reverend brethren (and by you and that we intend to give way to the introducall faithful Christians under your charge), by tion and public exercise of popery again into
the honourable House of Commons, in whose our dominions, which most detestable calunny,
name, and in our own, we bid you heartily fare- being grounded upon no imaginable foundation,
well in the Lord.                           hath raised these horrid tumults, and more than
"Your most affectionately devoted brethren  barbarous wars, throughout this flourishing
in Christ,                                  island, under pretence of a kind of reforniation
William Twisse, Prolocutor.              which is incompatible with the fundamental
Cornelius Burges, John White, Assessors.  laws and government of this kingdom; we deHenry Roborough, Adoniram Byfield,       sire that the whole Christian world should rest.
Scribes.   assured that we never entertained the least
John Maitland, A. Johnston, Alexander' thought to attempt such a thing, or to depart a
Henderson, Samuel Rutherford, Robert jot from that holy religion, which, when we reBailie, George Gillespie, Commissioners ceived the crown. and sceptre of this kingdom,
of the Church of Scotland."           we took a most solemn sacramental oath to
The inscription was, " To the reverend and profess and protect. Nor does our constant
learned Pastors and Elders of the Classes and practice, and daily presence in the exercise of
Churches of the Province of Zealand, our much- this religion, with so many asseverations at the
honoured Brethren."                          head of our armies, and the public attestation
Letters of the same import were sent to the of our barons, with the circumspection used in
several churches of the Seven Provinces; to the education of our royal offspring, besides
the churches of Geneva; the Protestant Can- divers other undeniable arguments, only detons of Switzerland;* the churches of Hesse, monstrate this, but also that happy alliance of
Hanau, and Hainault; anid to the Protestant marriage we contracted. between our eldest
congregation at Paris; all which were received  daughter and the illustrious Prince of Orange
with respect, and answered by the several most closely confirms the reality of our intenclasses.*  But the churches of Bohemia, Tran- tions herein; by which it appears that our
sylvania, Poland, Silesia, and Austria, and other endeavours are, not only to make a profession
cities and principalities of German~y, swere not thereof in our own dominions, but to strengthen
written to.  The answer from  the French  it abroad as much as lieth in our powerl.*
church at Paris was read in the Assembly the   "This most holy religion of the Anglican
beginning of March; from Switzerland June 12, Church, ordained by so many convocations of
1644; and from Genevat at the same time, learned divines, confirmed by so many acts of.
from the classes of Amsterdam  and Guelder- Parliament, and strengthened by so many royal
land June 29;- and Mr. Whitelocke observes, proclamations, together with the ecclesiastical
that the Netherland divines expressed not only discipline and liturgy, which the most eminent
their approbation of the proceedings of the Protestant authors, as well as Germans, French,
Parliament and Assembly touching the Cove- Danes and Swedes, Dutch and Bohemians, do
nant, but desired to join with the two kingdoms with many eulogies, and not without a kind- of
therein.                                     envy, approve and applaud in their public wri.
The king, apprehending himself misrepre- tings, particularly in the transactions of the
sented to the foreign churches in that part of Synod of Dort, wherein (besides others of our
the Assembly's letter which insinuates a design  divines who were afterward  prelates) one of
to introduce popery, and being advised to vin-our bishops assisted, to whose dignity all due
dicate his character from that imputation, caus- respect and precedency were given; this relied a manifesto to be drawn up in Latin and gion, we say, which our royal father, of blessed
Emglish, to all foreign  Protestants, which, memory, doth publicly assert in his famous conthough not published till the beginning of next fession addressed to all Christian princes, with
year, may be properly inserted in this place.   the hierarchy and liturgy thereof, we solemnly
protest, that, by the help of God, we will en"Charles, by the special providence of Al- deavour, to our utmost power and last period
mighty God, King of England, Scotland, France, of our lifle, to keep entire and inviolable; and
and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all will be careful, according to our duty to heaven
those who profess the true Reformed Protest- and the tenour of our oath at our coronation,
ant religion, of what nation, degree, or con- that all ecclesiastics, in their several degrees
dition soever they be, to whom this present and incumbencies, shall preach and practise.
declaration shall come, greeting.            Wherefore we command all our ministers of
"WThereas we are given to understand that state beyond the seas, as well ambassadors as
many false rumours and scandalous letters are residents, agents, and messengers; and we despread up and down among the Reformed sire all the rest of our loving subjects that sochurches in foreign parts by the politic, or, journ in foreign parts, to communicate and asrather, the pernicious industry of some ill-af- sert this our solemn and sincere protestation,
fected persons, that we have an inclination to when opportunity of time and place shall be of.
recede from that orthodox religion which we fered.
were born, baptized, and bred in, and which we    "Given in our University and city of Oxford
have firmly professed and practised throughout                    "May 14, 1644."
This declaration did the king little service
~ History of the Stuarts, p. 232.          among foreign Potestants,  for thoug  it as
1 "Diodati, the prince of divinity there," Bishop among foreign Protestants, for though it as.
Warburton says, " returned a very temperate answer, sured them his'majesty would not turn papist,
noway inconsistent with the re-establishment of
Episcopacy."-ED.                                      * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 752.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      47'
it convinced them that no alteration in the Eng- house, in Aldersgate-street, as a spy: the arch.
lish hierarchy was to be expected.  His mar-  bishop, at the same time, being declared incapa.,
rying his daughter to the Prince of Orange was, ble of sitting in the Assembly for the like reaperhaps, the only evidence of his charity for the  son.  And here was an end of all the publir
Dutch reformation; but his appeal to the edu- concern the Episcopal party had in the govern
cation of his children was trifling, when all the  ment of the Church till the Restoration.
world knew they were under popish instructers,    From  the time of taking the Covenant, we
in pursuance of a marriage contract, till twelve  may date the entire dissolution of the hierarchy,
or fourteen years of age, and had received im- though it was not as yet abolished by an ord.ipressions not to be easily effaced.  His insinu-  nance of Parliament.  There were no ecclesi:
ating to the foreign churches that their most astical courts, no visitations, no wearing the
learned divines preferred the English hierarchy  habits, no regard paid to the canons or cereto the government of their owli countries, con- monies, or even to the common prayer itself.
vinced them they ought to be more sparing of  The Archbishop of Canterbury, by an ordinance
their compliments for the future to persons  of May 16, had been forbid to collate any benewho would draw such. conclusions from them. fices in his gift but to persons nominated by
As to the Synod of Itort, no precedency was  Parliament; for disobedience to which he was,
given to the bishop on account of his Episcopal by another ordinance of June 10, "suspended
character, but as a baron of the English Parlia-  abh officio et beneficio, and from all archiepiscopa.
ment.*  -Nor is there anything in the declara- jurisdiction, till he should be acquitted or con'tion that might encourage the foreign clergy to  victed of the high treason of which he was imhope his majesty would own their churches, peached; and as to such livings, dignities, proministers, or sacraments, or unite with them  motions, &c., in the said archbishop's gift or
against the common enemy of the Reformation, collation, as are, or shall hereafter, become void,
any more than before these unhappy troubles  institution or induction shall henceforward be
began.                                         given by the archbishop's vicar-general, or any
All the Episcopal divines left the Assembly  other having authority on his behalf, upon the
before the bringing in of the Covenant, except nomination and recommendation of both houses
Dr. Featly, who was expelled for holding cor- of Parliament."   By this extraordinary method
respondence with Archbishop Usher at Oxford,  the Rev. Mr. Corbet was inducted into the livand for revealing their proceedings, contrary to  ing of Chatham, " ratione suspensionis dom.
the express words of the ordinance, which obli- Guil. Archiepiscopi Cant. et sequestrationis temges them  " not to divulge, by printing, or wri-  poraliurn archiepiscopatus in manibus supreme
ting, or otherwise, their opinions or advices, curioe Parliamenti, jam existentis," " by reason
touching the matters proposed to them by Par- of the suspension of the Archbishop of' Canterliament, without the consent of both or either bury, and'the sequestration of the temporalities
house."  The doctor was a learned man, and  of his archbishopric into the hands of the presa Calvinist, upon which account the Assembly  ent high court of Parliament, the same belongpaid him a high regard, and indulged him in all ing to their gift."  But this ordinance was ot
his speeches in favour of Episcopacy, and  no long continuance, for upon the sitting of the
against the Covenant, some of which were af- Assembly of Divines, church business went
terward published to the world. They appoint- through their hands; the parishes elected their
ed him to answer to a popish pamphlet, called  ministers, the Assembly examined and appro
the Safeguard; and he bore a part in the anno-  ved of them, and the Parliament confirmed them
tations on the Bible, which go under the name  in their btenefices without any regard to the
of the Assembly.  Lord Clarendon says the  archbishop or his vicar. Thus the Earl of Manking sent him a letter forbidding him to sit any  chester filled the vacant pulpits in the associa.
longer, but that the doctor excused it in a letter ted counties; and when Lord Fairfax was auto Archbishop Usher, which, being intercepted, thorized to supply those in the north, by an orhe was committed prisonert to Lord Peter's  dinance of February 27, the preamble says,
"The  houses being credibly informed that
* Dr. Grey will have it that the contrary was the  many ministers in the county of. York were not
fact, and quotes Bishop Carleton. But the quota- only of a scandalous life, hut, having left their
tion goes to prove no more than that the foreign di- churches and cures, had withdrawn themselves
vines at the synod, in their conversations with him, wilfully from the same, and joined such forces
expressed their approbation of the Episcopal govern- as had been rised against the Parliament, and
ment of the English Church, and their wishes to  assisteh   them   with  len,   money, horses, and
have the same order established arnong themselves.
But Mr. Neal's representation does not seemi to be arms; therefore it is ordained that Lord Fairaccurate.  The case of precedency, according to  fax be authorized to fill up their places with
Brandt, appears to have stood thus: when the synod  such learned and godly divines as he shall think
met, the two commissioners of the States took place  fit, with advice of the Assembly."*
near the chimney, on the right hand. The English    This created a great deal of business; for
divines sat on the left. An empty seat was kept for though the Assembly had riot a palliarnentary
the French. The third place was appointed for the             d           
deputies of the Palatinate, and so on. Next to the  authority to odain, yet th  examination an
commissioners on the right the professors of divinity  approbation of such clesgymell alleady in orders
took place, and then the ministers -and elders of the  as petitioned for sequestered livings, being by
country, according to the rank of each province. So  express order of the two houses referred to
that the precedency which the English bishop had
naturally arose from his rank among the English di- serves, "much reflected on the Parliament; because,
vines; to whom, in general, was assigned the first whatever the facts were, he was so learned a man,
seat on the left hand.-History of the Reformation, as was sufficient to dishonour those he suffered by,"
abridged, vol. ii., p. 397.-Ei).               -Baxter's Life and Times, p. 75.-ED.
t The imprisonment of Dr. Featly, Mr. Baxter ob-  Parliamentary Chronicle, part iv., p, 128
Voa. I.-0O  o




474                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
them, they were obliged to choose a select cornm- could not read the common prayer. He objected
mittee for this work; their names were,       also to the twentieth article,' of the Church's
Rev. Dr. Gouge.     Rev. Mr. Conant.       power to decree rites and ceremonies;" to the
Dr. Stanton.        Mr. Gower.        nineteenth article, "' that works done before the'
Dr. Lightfoot.      Mr. Colman..      grace of Christ, &c., are not pleasing to God;"
Dr.. Smith.         Mr. Hill.         and, indeed, says the writer of his life, to the
Dr. Temple.         Mr. Corbet.       articles in general, as an imposition on men's
Dr. Tuckney.        Mr. Gataker.      consciences, much like the authority which the
Dr. Hoyle.          Mr. Herle.
Dr. Bulrges.        Mr. Hall..Church of Rome assumes.*
Dr. Spurstow        Mr. Whitaker.       Mr. Chillingworth blesses God, that when he
Mr. Ley.            Mr. Bathurst.     had entertained some thoughts of subscription,
Mr. Reynolds.       Mr. Cheynel.      two unexpected impediments diverted him from
The method of examination was this: the it; "for," says he, "I profess since I enternames of the ministers who petitioned for liv- taied it I never enjoyed quiett,
ings, or were recommended by either house of. till now that I have rid myself of it again; arid
Parliament, being published in the Assembly two  I plainly perceive, that if. I had swallowed this
or three days before the examination,liberty was pill, howsoever gilded over with glosses and
given in that time to make exceptions to their reservations, and wrapped up in conserves of
characters; if nothing was objected, they were good intentions and purposes, yet it would nevexamined by the committee, or any five of er have agreed nor stayed with me; but I
them, who reported their qualifications to the should have cast it up again, and with it whatHouse, upon which each candidate received a soever preferment I should have gained as the
certificate from the Assembly to the following  wages of unrighteousness; but now, I thank
effect:' God, I am resolved that I will never do that' According to an order bearing date  —, while I am living and in. health, which I would
from the committee of the House of Commons "not do if I was dying; and this I am sure I
for plundered ministers, to the committee of di- wo   not do, and, therefore, whenever  I ak
vines for the examinatian of A. B., concerning such a preposterous choice, I will give you
his fitness to be admitted to the benefit of the leave to believe that I am out of my wits, or do
sequestration of the Church of -, in the coun- not believe in God."t  Notwithstanding these
ty of —, and so to officiate in the cure there- resolutions, he was prevailed with to subscribe
of, these are to certify the said committee of by his godfather, Archbishop laud, to qualify
plundered ministers, that, upon examination of him for the above-mentioned preferients. How
the said A. B., and some trial of his gifts and  the pill was gilded over, is not certain; the
abilities, we conceive him fit to officiate in the writer of his life says he subscribed as articles
cure of -, in the county aforesaid.  In wit- of peace, not of belief. Mr. Chillingworth was
ness wvhereof swe have hereunto subscribe~d our a quick disputant, and of very high principles,
names."                                       for in one of his sermons before the king he
The scribes of the Assembly were ordered to says, that "the most unjust and tyrannical viokeep a record of all orders and certificates con- lence of princes may not be rejected; this becerning ministers recommended to sequestra- ing unlawfil, even though princes b'e most imtors, and to enter them in a register-book. This pious, tyrannical, and idolatrous.  But though
continued for about a year, till the new direc- his political principles were high, he was low
tory and form of chuych government took place  enough with regard to the authority of councils,
Towards the latter end of this year died Will- fathers, and convocations in matters of faith:
iam Chillingworth, A M., whom I mention, not adhering steadfastly to that celebrated declaraas a Puritan, but as a witness against some of ton, that the Bible alone is the religion of a
those hardships the present Dissenters complain
of; lie was born at Oxford, 1602, and educated cian, and served as engineer in Arundel Castle,
in Magdalen College, of which he became fellow  in Sussex, in which he was taken prisoner, and
in June, 1628.  He afterward turned Roman  when indisposed, had the favourof beinglodged
Catholic, and went to the Jesuits' College at i.n the bishop's house at Chichester, where he
St. Omer's, where  not being thoroughly satis- died, January 20, 1643-4.  It is surprising that
fied in some of their principles, he returned to Lord Clarendon should say, "The Parlianent
England in 1631, and having embraced the reli- c      prosecuted him with all the inhumanity
g~ion of the rChurch of England, published an  imaginable, so that by their barbarous usage
excellent treatise, entitled " The Religion of he died within a few days,"1 when, as he himProtestants a safe Way to Salvation," for which  self acknowledged, he wanted for nothing, and
he was preferred to the chancellorship of the by the interest of Dr. Cheynel, who attended
Church of Sarum, and made master of Wyg- him  in his sickness, was courteously used.~
ston Hospital, in Leicester.  He was inserted  
in the list with other Loyalists to be created. 273.     t Ibid.,  p. 79.
D.D. in the year 1642, but came not thither to      Dr. Cheynel's kindness extended t the procu
receive that honour.  It was the general opinion ring a commodious lodging for Mr. Chillingworth, to
of the times that he was a Socinian, but in his engaging the physician, as his symptoms grew worse,
last letter, at the end of his works, he appears to renew his visits, and to securing for him the rites
an Arian.  It is very certain he refused to sub- of burial, which some would have denied him. Yet
scribe the Thirty-nine Articles, for some years he held the opinions of Mr. Chillingworth in the
after his conversion, (1.) Because lhe did not be- greatest detestation, and treated his name and memory with virulence and asperity, as appears from the
lieve the morality of the fourth commandment. above speech at the interment of this great man, and
(2.) Because he did not agree to the damnatory  by a pamphlet he published, entitled " Chillingclauses io. the Athanasian creed, and, therefore, worthi Novissima; or, the Sickness, Heresy, Death,




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                        475
The doctor would have reasoned him  out of  countable in one whomn his lordship had comsome of his principles, but could not prevail, mended as a person not only of cheerfulness
and, therefore, at his interment, after a reflect-  and affability, but of extraordinary sobriety and
ing speech upon his character, threw his book, strictness of life. Mr. Hampden was certainly
entitled " The Religion of Protestants a safe  in all respects, one of the greatest and best men
Way to Salvation," into the grave, saying," Get of his age, and the Parliament sustained an irthee gone, thou cursed book, which has seduced  reparable loss in his death, which happened
so many precious souls; earth to earth, dust to  June 24, about a week after his shoulder-bone
dust; get thee into the place of rottenness, that had been broken by a musket-ball, in a skirmish
thou mayest rot with thy author, and see cor- with Prince Rupert's forces in Calgrave Field.*
ruption." A most unchristian and uncharitaruption."  A  most unchristian and uncharita-.of this passage by a large quotation from the Week-.
*ble imprecation!  ly Miscellany, by Richard Hooker, of the Temple,
Among the considerable statesmen who died  Esq. To Mr. Neal's account of Hampden it may be
this year may be justly reckoned John Hamp-  added, that he was born in the year 1594, and died
den, Esq., of Buckinghamshire, a gentleman of  the 24th of June, 1643, leaving ten children behind
good extraction, and one of the greatest patri-  him. The Parliament, as a testimony of his service
ots of his age, as appears by his standing trial to the public, ordered the sum of ~5000 to be paid
with the king in the case of ship-money, which  to his assignees out of the excise. Mr. Baxter has
raised his reputation to a very great height placed him with the saints in heaven (Everlasting
Rest, p. 82, 83); and Lord Cobham  with the worthroughout the kingdom. He was not a man  thies in his elysium at Stow. Under his bust is this
of many words, but a very weighty speaker;  inscription:
his reputation for integrity universal, and his              "JOHN HAMPDEN,
affections so publicly guided, that no corrupt or " Who, with great spirit and consummate abilities, beprivate ends could bias them.  He was, indeed, gan an opposition to an arbitrary court, in defencC of
a very wise man, of great parts and modesty, the liberties of his country; supported them in Parand possessed of the most absolute spirit of  liament, and died for them in the field."
He argued the case of ship-money with the judges
for twelve days together, in the Exchequer ChamHe was one of the impeached members of the  ber; and "had more reason to triumph," says Mr.
House of Commons, and, in the beginning of  Granger, "from his superiority in the argument, than
the war, took the command of a reginlent, and  the crown had for its victory in the cause."-Bioperformed the duty of a colonel on all occasions  graphical History of England, vol. ii., p. 212,. vo, and
punctually, being a man of great personal cour-  iVfs. Mlcaulay's History, 8vo, vol. iii., p. 432, 433,
not,  tbetrdubytemtlbronote, in which work the character of this great man
age, not to be tired out by the most laborious,  is flly delineated.-ED.
and of parts not to be imposed upon by the           The dying language of Hampden  a "  Lord
most subtle, but because he fought against the  save my bleeding country. Have these realms in
court, Lord Clarendon says (if this be not an in-  thy special keeping.  Confound and level in the
terpolation of the editors) that he had a head to  dust those who would rob the people of their liberty
contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a hand to  and lawful prerogative. Let the king see his error,
execute any mischief;* which is very uiac- and turn the hearts of his wicked counsellors from,
the malice and wickedness of their designs. Lord
and Burial of William Chillingworth," &c., which  Jesus, receive my soul!" Again, recurring to his
Bishop Warburton calls " a villanous book;" and tells  native land, he prayed, " O Lord, save my country!
us that " Mr. Locke speaks of it in the harshest terms, O Lord, be merciful to-" here his speech failed him,
but not more severely than it deserves."  The fact and, falling back on his bed, he expired.-Lord lVNis, as Bishop Hoadley states it, " Dr. Cheynel'was a gent's hlanprldeez, vol. ii., p. 438. Little need be said
rigid, zealous Presbyterian; exactly orthodox; very  respecting the character of John Hampden. It is
unwilling that any should be supposed to go to heav- sufficiently apparent throughout his history, and has
en but in the right way. And this was that one way  uniformly commanded the respect and admiration
in which he himself was settled; and in which he  of impartial men.  His fearless resistance of the
seems to be as sincere, as honest, and charitable as tyranny of Charles, when that tyranny was both powhis bigotry and his cramped notions of God's peculi- erful and merciless; the calm and dignified tone in
um could permit him to be." Years after this, Dr. which he ruled the early deliberations of the Long
Snape, a clergyman of name in the Church of Eng-  Parliament; and the energy and decision with which
land, displayed the like temper and spirit to Dr. he sought to bring the struggle to an issue when an
Cheynel, in the Bangorian controversy, which I men- appeal to arms was inevitable, all prove him to have
tion to introduce Bishop Hoadley's excellent conclu- been as consummate a statesman as he was an insion from both these instances of bigotry, namely, flexibly upright man.  Even Clarendon, while en
" that an intemperate heat scorches up charity in one  deavouring to injure his' reputation, is compelled to
church as well as in another, and everywhere equal- do homage to his transcendent abilities and sui-pass
ly lays waste the most amiable duties of Chris- ing prudence of address.' He was, indeed," remarks
tianity; and that men of the most opposite persua-  the party historian, " a very wise man, and of great
sions, agreeing in the same narrowness of principles  parts, and possessed with the most absolute spirit
and notions of zeal, though differing from one anoth- of popularity, and the most absolute faculties to gover iu many particulars, even to a degree of mutual ern the people, of any man I ever knew."  To a redestruction, can kindly and lovingly unite in con- markably equable temper he united a self-control and
demning the best principles of all religion as subtle  clearness of perception, which rendered him an emiatheism, or indifference, or infidelity, and in declaring  nently successful parliamentary speaker, while his
them to be the principles of all irreligion when their unspotted integrity and firm adherence to principle
several schemes and systems are likely to suffer from  constituted him the most formidable opponent of the
them."'  So the sentiments on toleration, charity, court.  With the eye of a skilful tactician he surand free inquiry, as they were defended by Chilling- veyed the forces arrayed against him; allowed them
worth and by Hoadley's friend, were condemned by  to expend their strength, to pour forth the vials of
Cheynel and Snape. —Hoadley's Works, vol. ii., p. their wratlh, or to justify themselves behind the pre622, folio; and Palmner's Nonconsformists' Memorial, cedents of a former age; and then, when their vicvol. ii', p. 466. —E.                           tory was supposed to be won, and tokens of exulta* Oldmixon's History of the Stuarts, p. 227.  tion were displayed, the matchless power of HlampDr. Grey endeavours to establish the authenticity  den's eloquence was felt. " He had so subtle a way




476                     HISTORY OF- THE PURITANS.
John Pym, Esq., member for Tavistock in  souls, were banishing their bodies into the most
all the Parliaments of King Charles I.,.was a desolate places; bringing in new canons, Arman of the greatest experience in parliamenta- minian and Pelagian errors, and such a number
ry affairs of any man of his time.  He was an  of rites and ceremonies as the people were not
admirable speaker, and by the gravity of his able to bear.  When since that time they had,
countenance and graceful behaviour, could turn  as much as in them lay, fomented the civil difthe House which way he pleased; he was a ferences between the king and his Parliament,
man of business and for moderate measures, abetting and encouraging malignants with large
according to Lord Clarendon, till the king im- suppli'es of men and money, and stirring up the
peached him  of high treason.  In his private people to tumults by their seditious sermons.
life he was eminent for true piety and exactness For these reasons," says he, " I gave my opinof manners; and though inclined to the Puri- ion for abolishing their functions, which I contan party, not averse to the hierarchy with some ceive may as well be done as the dissolution of
emendatiouns.  He was one of the lay-members monasteries, monks, and friars was in King
of the Assembly of Divines, and at the head of Henry the Eighth's time.  He concludes with
all public business, the fatigue of which wore declaring that he was not the author of the
out his constitution, and put an end to his life, present distractions; with acknowledging the
December 8, 1643, in the sixtieth year of his king for his lawful sovereign, but thinks, when
age.  The news of no man's death was more he was proscribed for a traitor, Inerely for the
welcome to the Royalists than his, who spread  service of his country, n'o man can blame him
a report that he died of the nmobus pediculosus;*  for taking care of his own safety, by flying for
to confute which aspersion, his body was expo- refuge to the protection of Parliament, who
sed to public view for many days, and at last were pleased to make his case their own.":~
interred, in the most honourable manner, in
Westminster Abbey.  A little before his death,
he published his own vindication to the world
against the many slanders that went abroad                    CHAPTER III.
concerning him, wherein i' he declares himself
it faithful son of the Protestant religion, and of    WAR. —FSITATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAM
the orthodox doctrine of the Church of Eng-   wEA-vISITATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF    -
land.  He confesses he had been for reforming    B SIDOR BY THE EARL OF MANCHESTER-COMabuses in the government of the Church, when    IITTES  FOR PLUNDERED, SEQUESTERED, AND
the bishops, instead of taking care of men's   SCANDALOUS MINISTERS.
THE campaign being ended without any prosof interrogating, and, under the notion of doubts, in-   THE campaign being ended without any pross.inuating his objections, that he infused his own opin-pets of peace, both parties endeavoured to
ions into those from whom he pretended to learn and strengthen themselves by new and sovereign
receive themn. And even with them who were able to acts of power.  The Parliament experiencing
preserve themselves from his infusions, and discern- the want of a great seal, for many purposes,
ed those opinions to be fixed in him with which they gave orders that one should be made.t  They
could not comply, he always left the character of an continued to list soldiers, to levy taxes, and to
ingenious and conscientious person."           use        methodheir cause,
To his profound sagacity as a statesman, and his
skill as a parliamentary leader, he added an enlighten-' * John.Pym, who died in December of the same
ed patriotism, and the sterling virtues of Christianity. year, was cast in a different mould from Hampden.
On the whole, it may be pronounced with safety, He was more moderate in his ecclesiastical views,
that English history records no purer or brighter ex- and would probably have preferred a reduced episample of public virtue and of private excellence than copacy, such as Usher advocated, to any other form
was exhibited in the career of John Hampden. Con- of church government. But the efforts of the bishsistent from the first, that career was happily termi- ops to widen the misunderstanding0 between the king
nated before its lustre had been dimmed, or its beau- and his Parliament, and their zeal in aiding the arms
ty impaired by the mists of human passion; and he of the former, induced him to concur in the abolition
now shines forth the idol and the pattern of all suc- of their functions.
ceeding worthies. -Dr. Price's History of NVoncon:   His intimate acquaintance with the forms of parfornm.ity, vol. ii., p. 303-4.-C.              liamentary procedure, combined with unwearied
Dr. Grey has the candour to discredit this re- diligence, extensive researches, matchless skill in
port; and says, frbmn the funeral sermon for Mr. Pym  the arrangement of public business, and an unspotby Mr. Marshal, that it was confuted by the testimo- ted integrity, secured' him great influence in the
ny of near a thousand people who saw the corps, House.  His style of oratory was masculine and
and of eight physicians who were present at the nervous, and effected its purpose by a straightforopening of the body. Yet the doctor' repeats, from  wardness and honesty, rather than by any brilliancy
Clarendon, the calumnies of those who accused him  of conception or loftiness of intellectual range. "' He
of raising considerable sums by dishonest practices, had a very comely and grave way of expressing himof corrupting witnesses, and selling his protection  self," says Clarendon, "with great volubility of
for bribes; though he was exculpated before the tri- words, natural and proper; and understood the tembunal of Parliament, vindicated his conduct by his per and affections of the kingdom as will as any
own pen, and left his private fortune at so low an man; and had observed the errors and mistakes in
ebb, that the Parliament expended a considerable government, and knew well how to make them ap3um in the payment of his debts; an evidence suffi- pear greater than they were." —Dr. Price's -list. of
qient of itself to confute his enemies. Mr. Pyin was Nrncornformity, vol. ii., p. 305, 306. —C.'alled, In early life, Phoebi delicice, lepos puellce. He't Rushworth, vol. v., p. 56)0.
rvas commonly called " King Pym;" and from his   t "What was all this," says Dr. Grey, "but high:xperience in the forms of Parliament, his knowledge treason?" To confirm his opinion, he refers to Dr.
)f the law and Constitution, his powers of argument Wood's Institute of the Laws of England, and to the
mud elocution, and his known honesty and integrity, 25th of Edward Ill., cap. ii.. as authorities to show
ise enjoyed an unrivalled authority in the Lower that the acts of Parliament were acts of treason.
House. —Mrs. Mcacaulay, vol. iv., p. 92, 94; and As if laws formed to preserve the allegiance of the
Granger's Biographical History, vol. ii., p. 211.-EDo.  subjects to a king acting constitutionally, and fulfill



HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     477
which their policy suggested and their necessi-  considerable sums of money for support of the
ty urged.  On the other hand, the king raised  war; they declared the Scots then entering
contributions without form  of law;"  ordered  England with an army traitors; and the Lords
the removal of the courts of justice fi-om  West- and Commons at Westminster, guilty of high
minster; and that he might seem to act in a  treason for inviting them, as well as for ckimn
parliamentary way, summoned the members  terfeiting the great seal.  On the other hand,
who had been expelled the houses, and all oth- the Parliament at Westminster would not acers willing to withdraw from the rebellious city  knowledge the Oxford members, or receive a
of London, to meet him at Oxford,t January 22-  message from them  under the character of a
1643-4, which was, in effect, disannulling the  Parliament, but expelled them their house, txact for continuing of the present Parliament. cept they returned to their seats within a linIn obedience to the proclamation, there appear-  ited time.*  April 16, 1644, the king prorogued
ed forty-nine peers, and one hundred and forty-  his Oxford members to November following,
one of the House of Commons, not reckoning  when they fell under his displeasure, for advithose employed in his majesty's service, or ab- sing to pacific measures at the treaty of Uxsent with leave.  Lord Clarendon sayst the ap. bridge, which was then upon the carpet, and in
pearance of both houses with the king was su-  a fair way of producing an accommodation.
perior in number, as well as quality, to those  This was so disagreeable to the queen and her
at Westminster; which must be a mistake; Roman Catholic counsellors, that they never
for though the majority of peers were on that left off teazing the unhappy king, till he had
sidle, Mr. WhitelockeS assures us, that upon a  dismissed them, and broke off the treaty; an
call of the House of Commons, the very day  account of which he sent her in the following
the others were to meet at Oxford, there were  letter, which seems to breathe an air of too
present two hundred and eighty members, not great satisfaction.
reckoning one hundred more, who were enga-         IDear heart,
ged in their service in the several counties.    "What I told thee last week concerning a
This is a very considerable majority; though  good parting with our Lords and Commons
if there had been only forty, the king could not here, was on Monday last handsomely perform
have prorogued or dissolved them  without ed: now if I do anything unhandsome, or distheir own  consent.   However, the Oxford  advantageous to myself or friends, in order to a
memlbers st~yledl themselves the Parliament, treaty, it will be merely my own fault.  Now I.
Lord Littleton being speaker for the peers, and promise thee if the treaty be renewed (which
Sergeant Evers for the Commons.ll   Their I believe it will not) without some eminent good
first step was to satisfy the world they desired  success on my. side, it shall be to my honour
peace, such a peace, to use the king's own  and advantage, I being now as well free from
words,~[ "wherein God's true religion may be  the place of base and mutinous motiont (that
secured from the danger of popery, sectaries, is to say, our mungrel Parliament here) as of
and innovations: the crown may possess those  the-chief causers, for whom  I may justly exjust prerogatives, which may enable me to gov- pect to be children by thee, for having suffered
ern my people according to law, and the sub- thee to be vexed by them."t
jects be confirmed in those rights wh'ih I have
granted them in Parliament, to which I slall    Mr. Whitelocke says this Assembly sat again
be ready to add such new graces as I shall find  at Oxford in the year 1645, and  voted against
may most conduce to their happiness."  They  the directory, and for the common prayer; but
laid an excise upon tobacco, wine, strong wa- the  ing's cause being gruzn  desperate, they
ters, ale, cider, grocery and mercery wares, soon after shifted for themselves, and made
soap, salt, and butcher's meat, and  subscribed  their peace at Westminster, upon the best terms'__ _ _ __   ~they could obtain.
On the 19th of January, 1643-4, the Scots
ing faithfully his part of the political contract, appli- army, consisting of twenty-one thousand men,
ed to extraordinary emergencies, and to a sovereign  under the command of General Leven crossed
who had violated the Constitution. As if laws made  the Tweed at Berwick, and entered England.
to restrain individuals bound the majority of the rep- the Tweed at Berwek, and entered  ngland.
resentative body of the nation.-See also Rapin, vol. The two houses sent a committee to meet
ii., p. 495, folio. —ED.                      them, which being joined by another of that
"And pray," asks Dr. Grey, " what form of law  nation, was called the Committee of both Kinghad the rebels for raising contributions?"  That doms,~ and were a sort of camp Parliamnent, to
form of law, our readers will probably reply, and  direct the motions of the army, which after
that spirit of the Constitution, which invest the rep- some time united with the Lord Fairfax's forresentatives of the people with the power and right ces, and with those under the command of the
of appointing the taxes.-ED.
t The impolicy of this step is forcibly, though  Earl of Manchester and Lieutenant-general
somewhat jocularly, represented by Mr. Selden:  Cromwell, fior   the associated counties.  The
"The king calling his friends from the Parliament,"  united armies laid siege to the city of York,
said this great Inan, " because he had use of them at
Oxford, is as if a man should have use of a little    * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 383. Rapin, vol. ii., p.
piece of wood, and he runs down into the cellar, and  497, 506, folio.
takes the spigot: in the mean time all the beer runs   t "'here is no circumstance," observes Bishop
about the house: when his friends are absent the  Warburton, " that bears harder on the king's conking will be lost."- Table- Talk on the Wrord Kilg.-  duct than this  It is not to be conceived that these
ED.          $ Clarendon's Remains, p. 165    men, who hazarded all to support the king's right,
~ Memoirs, p. 76.                           could advise him to anything base in a mutinous
II Rushworth, p. 567, 688. Rapin, p. 496, 502, manner. I doubt that this is too strong a proof that
folio. Oldmixon's History of the Stuarts, p. 246.   nothing less than arbitrary government would heart~[ On another occasion, in his speech to the in- ily satisfy him."-Eu.  t ltapin, p. 512, folio
habitants of Somersetshire, July 13,1644.-ED.   ~ Rushworth, vol. vi., p. 603.




478                       HISTORY OF T'HE PURITANS.
which Prince Rupert having relieved, occasion- the king's general of the horse, was one of the
ed the battle of Marston Moor, wherein the  most finished debauchees of the age, and wantprince was rollted, with the loss of three thou- ed nothing but industry to make him  as emisand men and his whole train of artillery; and  nent and successful in the highest attempts of
thereupon the Marquis of Newcastle, leaving  wickedness as ever any man was. Wilmot,
the royal army, embarked with divers lords and  the lieutenant-general, was as great a debaugentlemen for Hamburgh, Prince Rupert reti- chee as the other, and had no more regard to
ring towards Chester, and deserting all the  his promises, or any rules of honour and integnorthern garrisons to the mercy of the enemy, rity."*  Sir Richard Grenville, who commandwhich, falling into their hands next summer, ed the army before Plymouth, is represented
concluded the war in those parts.              by the noble historian as having been exceedHis majesty, however, had better success in  ing barbarous and cruel in Ireland, hanging up
the west, where, being strengthened by Prince old men and women of quality, even though
Maurice, he followed the Earl of Essex, and  they were bed-rid, if he did not find the plunder
shut up his army within the narrow parts of he expected; when he came into the west, he
Cornwall, so that he could neither engage nor exercised all kinds of cruelty, and would someretreat.*  Here the king invited the earl to times mnake one of the company hang all the
make his peace, but he choosing rather to re- rest, contrary to the law of arms. t
tire in a boat to Plymouth, left his men to the    The licentiousness of the king's soldiers was
fortune of war.  As soon as the general was not inferior to that of their officers: for having
gone, the horse, under the command of Sir no regular pay, they committed rapines and
William  Balfour, bravely forced  their way  plunders, without distinction of friends or fo'es;
through the royal quarters by night; but the and were infamous for the most execrable
foot, under the command  of Major-general oaths, and allkinds of impiety. "Lord Goring's
Skippon, were obliged to surrender their arms, horse," says the noble historian, "committed
artillery, ammunition, and baggage., consisting  horrid outrages and barbarities in Hampshire,
of forty brass cannon, two hundred barrels of and infested the borders of Dorsetshire, Somerpowder, match and ball proportionable, seven
hundred carriages, and between eight antd nine prince upon quarter, yet were all put to the sword.ugh, but
",this, indeed," says Dr. Grey, "was bad enough, but
hundred arms, and to swear not to bear arms not quite so bad as Mr. Neal has represented it. Not
against the king till they came into Hampshire. one word of stripping aged and unarmed people naThis was the greatest disgrace the Parliament's ked, or murdering people in cold blood, or of half
forces underwent in the course of the war, the  hanging or burning others. A dismal character of
foot being forced to travel in a naked and starv-  Prince Rupert this, indeed, had we not reason to
ingl condition to Portsmouth, where they were call the truth of it in question."  The references
supplied with new clothes and arms. And now   which we have now supplied will showv that the.supplied withnewclothes d arms. -Andow, truth of this character ought not to have been quesagain, the king made offers of such a peace as, tioned, and that it was drawn from facts stated by
he says, he had been labouring for, that is, to  Mr. Whitelocke; from whom we will give another
be restored to his prerogatives as before the instance of the severity with which Prince Rupert,
war, but the houses would not submit.          at the commencement of his military career, pursued
Upon the defeat of the Earl of Essex, his his conquests, and of the cruelty of the royal party
majesty resolved to march directly for London, from the beinnin, before mutual provocations had
and upon time road issued a proclinflamed their passions, or they had been familiarized
and~ upnteras darcaaine to scenes of blood. When the prince had taken the
ternber 30, 1644, requiring all his loving sub- tna-azine  of the county, at Cirencester, and one
jects to appear in arms, and accompany him  thousand one hundred prisoners, he sent these capin his present expeditiont  This gave rise to  tives, tied together with cords, almost naked, beaten
a combination of men, distinguished by the  and driven along like dogs, in triumph to Oxford,
name of Clubmen, who associated in Worces- where the king and the lords looked on them, and
tershire and Dorsetshire, agreeing to defend too many smiled at their misery.-Memoirs, p. 64.themselves against the orders both of king and  En.
Parliament.  Their increase was owing to the    * The reader will be surprised when he is told
Parliament. Their increase was owing to t that Dr. Grey discredits this character of the Lieutenprodigious ravages of the king's forces in their ant-general Wilmot, though it is given from Lord
march.  Prince Rupert was a fiery youth, and, Clarendon, and opposes to it a narrative of his lordwith his flying squadrons of horse, burned  ship,* in which he relates, that Wilmot, when he
towns and villages, destroying the countries was before Marlborough, gave, not only his life, but
where he came, and indulging his soldiers in  his liberty, to a spy whom he had apprehended.
plunder and blood.  In Wales, he drove a~w~ay?This Dr. Grey extols as a generous act, when, acthe people's cattle, rifled  their holuses, ansd  cording to the statement he himself gives of it from
spiled  stan gcorn,   a   unarm- Clarendon, it was to be ascribed to Wilmot's policy
spoiled their standing crn.   Aged and unarm-and generalship. For, before he dismissed the spy,
ed people were stripped naked, some murdered  he ordered his forces to be drawn up before him in
in cool blood, and others half hanged, and burn- the most convenient place, and bid the fellow to look
ed, and yet suffered to live.t "Lord Goring, well upon them, and observe, and return to the town
and report what he had seen, with' a threat to the
* Rishworth,vol. v., p.691, 701, 705,,10.  magistrates if the garrison did not surrender, and a
Rapin, vol. O ii., p. 504, folio,         pro.m'ise of security if it submitted. T'he representVbitelocke, p*. 62, 87, 103.                 ations which the man made were of some advantage
The reference here, in the former editions of M1. to the views of the royal party. Yet this conduct
Neal, is to p. 87 of Whitelocke's Memoirs, where all of Wilmot, which seems to have been a rnancevre
that is said concerning Prince Rupert is," that he only, in order to disparage Mr. Neal's delineation of
took in Liverpool a garrison of the Parliament's    his geneal character, is porpously represented by
Lancashire, but they first shipped all their arms, Dr. Grey as a singular instance of honour and gener.
anmmunition, and portable goods, and most of' the of- osity.-ED.  t Clrendon, vol ii. p 534.
ficers and soldiers went on ship-board, while a few
made good the fort, which they rendered to the           * Clarendon, vol ii., p. 537, 555.




h'I'TU1RY  O ~' THE  PURITANS.                                  419
setshire, and Devon with unheard-of rapines, men of religion;* their soldiers possessed with
so that the people, who were well devoted to the  a belief that their cause was the cause of God,t
king, wished for the accession of any force to  and that they fought for the Protestant religion
redeem  them."*   They raised vast contribu- and Magna Charta; however, there were among
tions in several counties, without any other them  men of dissolute lives, who fought only.
pretence but the king's sovereign pleasure.  In  for pay and plunder; strange complaints being
Cornwall they levied ~700 a week; in Devon- sent up from  Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire,
shire ~2200 a week, and proportionablyin other and Sussex, of the disorders of the common
parts.t  As the army marched along the coun- soldiers, the Parliament appointed a comrmittee
try they seized the farmers' horses, and carried  to inquire into the facts, and make examples of
them  away without any consideration.  At the offenders, which put an effectual stop to
Barnstable they plundered the town and hang- the growing mischief.  And as the Parliament
ed the mayor, though it was surrendered upon  was enabled, by the inexhaustible treasure of
articles. At; Evesham, the king sent the mayor the city of London, to give ttieir soldiers reguand aldermen prisoners to Oxford.  At Wood- lar pay, they had them under such strict govhouse, in Devonshire, they seized fourteen sub- ernment that they were little or no burden to
stantial west-country clothiers, who were not the towns and villages where they were quarin arms, and hanged them, by way of reprisal tered.T
for some Irish rebels that had been executed    Upon the whole, the Parliament affairs were
according to the ordinance of Parliament.  In  low at the end of this year, and their counsels
short, wherever they. came they lived at firee  divided by reason of the length of the war, and
quarter, and took but everything they could, the king's were much worse; for though he
and, therefore, no wonder the Clubmen united  had triumphed over the Earl of Essex in Cornin their own defence.                           wall, and was master of the open country in
The king thought to have reached London  the west, he had no accession of real strength,
before the Parliament could recruit their army, nor had taken any considerable garrisons; the
but the two houses sent immediately six thou- entrance of the Scots broke his army in the
sand arms and a train of artillery to Ports- north, and lost him that part of the kingdom,
mouth, with new clothing for the Cornish sol- whereby the Parliament were enabled to draw
diers.  They ordered Sir William  Waller and  off their forces to the west; and the worst cirthe Earl of Manchester to join them, and de- cumstance of all was, that his majesty, having
spatched thither five thousand of the city train- exhausted his treasure, had no way of raising
bands, under the command of Sir Jams Har- a supply, which obliged him to connive at his
rington, by which accession they were enabled  soldiers' living at fiee quarter; his officers, beto face his majesty's army at Newbury, Octo- ing poor, quarrelled in the royal presence, and
her 27; and having forced the town, which the  carried their resentments to such a height that
king had fortified, after a smart engagement, the king himself could not reconcile them,
they took nine of his cannon and several colours; but, under covert of the night, his maj- ined the passage to which Mr. Neal refers; by which
esty  secured the rest of his artillery in Den- it appears that both the king's and the Parliament's
nington Castle, and  retreated with his broken  army, at different periods, were of different characters; and the description which they deserved at one
army to Oxford.  The Parliament generals left time did not apply to another. The passage which
a body of troops to block up the castle, being  Mr. Neal now quotes referred to a later, and the
assured it must -surrender in the winter for passage below, to which Dr. Grey directs his reader,
want of provisions, when, on a sudden, a party  refers to a former period. His lordship says, "'I'Those
of the king's horse raised the blockade and car- under the king's commanders grew insensibly into
ied off the artillelry to Oxford. Tthis oceasioi- "all the license, disorder, and impiety with which
ried  off great murmuring at London, and quarrels  they had reproached the rebels; and they into great
ed great murmuring at London, and quarrels discipline, diligence, and sobriety. -ED.
among the generals, Essex, Manchester, and  discipline, diligene, and sobiety"s  r. Gre, "in
Cromwell, which ended in the new-modelling  which none could exceed thlem.  They were praying
of the army, as will be seen under the next and preaching when the enemy was at a distance,
year.                                           and literally Inade long prayers to devour widows'
While the royal army was little better than  houses."  He refers, then, to his own appendix for
a company of banditti, or public robbers, the  an instance of their fanatical humour; but the auParliament's were kept under the strictest dis- thorities which he here produces relate to the Scotcipline, and grew up, for the most part, intoish not the English army. ED.
t This representation, Dr. Grey thinks, is contragreat diligence and sobriety, which, says.o d  ry to Mr. Neal's character of them in chap. vii., from
Clarendon, begot courage and resolution  in  Mr. Baxter, who says, "that the greatest part of the
them, and notable dexterity in achievements common soldiers were ignorant men, of little reliand exercises.T  Most of their officers were  gion."  But the doctor neither reverts to the time
when this was said, namely, in 1646, after the army
i Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 631.  t Ibid., p. 643. had been new-modelled, nor observes what follows
T Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 348. This, Dr. Grdy ar- in Mr. Baxter, which shows that these ignorant, irregnes, does not agree with what Lord Clarendon  ligious men were many of them such as had belonged
says in another place, viz., in his History, vol. ii., p. to the royal corps; "' abundance of them such," says
46 and 55, and he insinuates that it is not true. As he, " as had( been taken prisoners, or turned out of
if what Mr. Neal advances must be false, even when  garrisons under the king, and had been soldiers in
he quotes Lord Clarendon for his assertions, because his army." —Batcr's Life, p. 53.-EDn.
it is apparently repugnant to the representations else-   $ Dr. Grey, to confute these assertions of Mr.
where given by his lordship's pen; as if it were in- Neal, refers to papers which he has given in the apcumbent on Mr. Neal to reconcile this noble writer pendix to his second volume.; but the complaints
to himself. But the veracity of Mr. Neal, and the brought forward in these papers are made of the
consistency of Lord Clarendon with himself, would  Scottish army, and to transactions of the following
not have been impeached by Dr. Grey had he exam- 1 year, viz., 1645.-ED.




480                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
which had a very ill aspect on the succeeding rents and revenues, &c., are ordered( to be ap.
campaign.*  The Parliament generals, also, proved of by the Earl of Manchester, and to be
were censuring each other's conduct in the applied to their proper uses as heretofore.  But
House, on occasion of the escape of the king's if any of the heads, fellows, scholars, or other
artillery from Dennington Castle. The Earl of officers were convicted of delinquency, the reEssex's party was charged with a design of ceiver was to pay their dividend into the hands
protracting the war, in order to an accommo- of the committee of sequestrations."*
dation, while others, being weary, were for put-   This committee was founded upon an orditing it to a decisive issue.  In short, both par- nance of January 22, for regulating the Univerties were in confusion and distress; they were sity of Cambridge, and for removing scandalous
divided among themselves, some being for ministers in the seven associated counties: the
peace, and others for carrying on the war to preamble sets forth, "that the service of the
the last extremity. All property was in a man- Parliament was retarded, the people's souls
ner lost, the farmers paying no rent to their starved, by the idle,, ill-affected, and scandalous
landlords; nor could any man be secure of clergy of the University of Cambridge, and the
what he possessed, except he buried it under associated counties; and that many who were
ground. The spirits of the contending parties willing to give evidence against them, not bewere as much exasperated as ever, and there ing able to bear the charges of a journey to
was no seeing the end of their troubles.      London, the Earl of Manchester was therefore
To return -to the Church.  The state of the empowered to appoint committees in all the ascontroversy about ecclesiastical discipline was sociated counties, to consist of ten persons, benow changed; for whereas before the entrance ing deputy-lieutenants, or such as had been
of the Scots the Parliament insisted only upon  nominated to committees by some former ordia reformation of the hierarchy, now they were inance of Parliament; five of these were a quoengaged to attempt the total extirpation of it, rum, and they were empowered to call before
and to establish another scheme for both king- them all provosts, masters, and fellows of coldoms in its room; though it was a considerable leges, all students and members of the univertime before this could be perfected.  In the sity, all ministers in any of the counties of the
mean while, they resolved to purge the Univer- association, all schoolmasters that were scansity of Cambridge, which was the headquarters dalous in their lives, or ill affected to the Parof their forces, that they might have a succes- liament, or fomenters of this unnatural war, or
sion of clergymen training up in the principles that shall wilfully refuse obedience to the orders
they had espoused.                            of Parliament, or that have deserted their ordi
The town of Cambridge was in the interest nary places of residence, not being employed in
of the Parliament, but the colleges were so the service of the king and Parliament.  The
many little garrisons for the king, and sanctua- said committee was also empowered to send
ries of disaffection; the university press was at for witnesses, and to examine any complaints
his majesty's disposal, and their sermons filled against the forementioned delinquents upon
with invectives against the two houses.  Fre- oath, and to certify the names of the persons
quent quarrels happened between the townsmen  accused to the Earl of Manchester, with clharge
and scholars, which would have ended in the and proof, who shall have power to eject such
ruin of the university, had not the Parliament as he shall judge unfit for their places; to seforbid the offering any violence to the colleges, quester their estates, means, and revenues, and
chapels, libraries, and schools, under severe to dispose of them  as he shall think fit, and
penalties.t Indeed, the committee enjoined the place others in their room, being first approved
proper officers of the parish to put in execution by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westthe ordinance for destroying the relics of super- minster.  He had also power to order the Covstition, whereby the paintings in windows, im- enant to be administered where he thought fit,
ages of the Deity, and a great deal of carved and to assign the fifths of sequestered estates
work, were demolished; at which the masters for the benefit of their wives and children."t
and fellows were so incensed, that when they  The ordinance makes no mention of the docwere ordered to repair the damages, they per- trine or discipline of the Church, seeming to be
emptorily refused, and were fined 40s. a college, levelled only against those who tools part with
as the ordinance directed.T                   the king in the war.
The heads of the university raised a great   The Earlof. Manchester, who was at the head
clamour at this pretended invasion of their of these sequestrations, was styled, in the lifeAights, as if the Parliament intended to seize all time of his father, Lord Kimmibolton, and was
their revenues, and destroy the very fountains of one of the impeached members of the House.ot
learning; whereupon the houses published the Commons: Lord Clarendon observes,$ that "he
following ordinance, January 6, 1643-4, decla- was of a genteel and generous nature; that his
ring " that none of the estates, rents, and reve- natural civility and good manners flowed to all
nues of the university, or of the colleges and  men, and that he was never guilty of any rude.
halls respectively, shall be sequestered or seized  ness, even to those whom lie was obliged to
upon, or in any wise disposed of, by virtue of oppress; that he longed and heartily wished for
the ordinance for sequestering the estates, rents, the restoration, and never forleited that grace
and revenues of delinquents, but shall remain  and favour to which his majesty received hirnm
to the university, and the respective halls and after his return."  The earl repaired in person
colleges, to all intents and. purposes as if the to Canbridge, about the middle of February,
said ordinance had not been made; and the with his two chaplains, Mir. Ashe and Mr. G(ood,
* Clarendon, lvol. ii., 389-39_____1.    ~-~ --     /anid by his warrant of the 24th instant, requilred
Clarendon, vol. ii., 389-391.
t Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 168.         * Husband's Collections, p. 409.  t Ibid., p. 415
t Ibid., p. 111; and Dr. Grey, vol. ii., p. 141.:    Clarendon, vol. i., p. 183; vol. ii., p. 211, 212.




HISTORY  OF THE  PURITANS.                                  481
the heads of the several colleges and halls to  they had sufficient evidence. Archbishop Tilsend him their statutes, with the names of all lotson says, the greatest part of the fellows of
their members, and to certify who were present King's College were exempted, by the interest
and who absent, with the express time of their I of Dr. Whichcote; and no doubt others who
discontinuance.*  Two days after, the officers I had behaved peaceably obtained the same faof each college and hall were ordered to give vour.-.  Dr. Berwick, author' of the Querela
speedy advertisement to the masters, fellows, Cantabrigiensis, a famous loyalist, mentions an
scholars, &c., to repair to Cambridge by the 10th oath of discovery for the university, like that of
of March, in order to answer such inquiries as the oath ex fficio; but Mr. Fuller, the historian,
should be made by himself or his commission- about the year 1653, having requested an acers. But the earl being informed that this no- count of this oath from  Mr. Ashe, the earl's
tice was too short, the time was prolonged to chaplain, he returned for answer, that he lethe 3d of April, when the earl summoned Mr. membered no such thing. Mr. Fuller adds, that
Tunstal and Mr. Palgrave, fellows of Corpus- he is upon just grounds daily confirmed in his
Christi College, to appear before the commnis- confidence,.that neither the Earl of Manchester,
sioners at the Bear Inn, in Cambridge, on pen- nor any other under him, by his command or
alty of ejectment.  Warrants of the same na- consent, enforced such an oath.t
ture were sent to several of the fellows of   The whole number of graduates expelled the
Caius, St. John's, Queen's, Peterhouse, Sidney, university in this and the following years, by
Trinity, Christ's, Magdalen, and Jesus Colleges; the Earl of Manchester and his commissioners,
and to Pembroke and Clare Hall; who, not ap- including masters and fellows of colleges, were,
pearing according to the summons, were, by a according to Dr. Walker, near two hundred, bewarrant of April 8, ejected, to the number of sides inferior scholars, which were something
sixty-five.  The reasons assigned for their ex- more than one half;T for the same author tells
pulsion were, nonresidence, and not returning  us in another place,S there were about three
upon due summons, and several other political hundred and seventy-five fellowships in the
misdemeanors.t  If the parties ejected return- several houses of the university; above one
ed after this, they were required not to continue  hundred and fifty kept their places, and far the
in the university above three days, on pain of greatest part of the rest had deserted their staimprisonment, and confiscation of their goods; tions, and fled to the king.  There were six
their names were put out of the butreries, and  heads of colleges out of sixteen that complied,
the profits of their places reserved for their suc- viz., Dr. Bainbrigge, of Christ's College; Dr.
cessors.  Not one fellow or student in Trinity  Eden, of Trinity Hall; Dr. Richard Love, of
Hall or Katherine Hall was turned out, but all Ben'et College; Dr. Brownrigge, of Katherine
Queen's College was evacuated.                Hall, ejected in the yea.r 1645; Dr. Bacheroft,
The Covenant, which was read March 18, of Caius College; and Dr. Rainbow, of Magda1644, in the churches and chapels of the town  len College.  The ten who were ejected by the
and university, and tendered to the inhabitants Earl of Manchester, March 13, or some little
and soldiers, was not offered to the whole uni- time after, with the names of their successors,
versity, but only to such of whose disaffection  are contained in the following table:
Masters tuzrned out.        Colleges.             Succeeded by
Dr. John Cosins, from     Peter House,          Dr. Lazarus Seaman.
Dr. Thomas Pask,          Clare Hall,            Dr. Ralph Cudworth.
Dr. Benjamin Laney,       Pembroke Hall,        Mr. Richard Vines.
Dr. Samuel Collins,       King's College,       Dr. Benjamin Whichcote.
Dr. Edward Martin,        Queen's College,      Mr. Herb. Palmer.
Dr. Richard Stern,        Jesus College,        Dr. T. Young.
Dr. William Beale,        St. John's College,   Dr. J. Arrowsmith.
Dr. Thomas Comber,        Trinity Hall,          Dr. Thomas Hill.
Dr. R. Holdsworth,        Emanuel College,      Dr. Ant. Tuckney.
Dr. Samuel Ward,          Sidney College,       Dr. Richard Minshull.
Amno 1645.                                 i Dr. W. Spurstow, and afterward
Dr. Ralph Brownrigne,     Katherine Hall,       Dr. Lightfoot.Il
It has been objected to the proceedings of the j Had this been true, it is no sufficient reason for
~commissioners, that they were not according to keeping them in their places, in a time of war,
the statutes of the university; to which he re- i if they were enemies to the Constitution and
plied, that the nation was in a state of war; that liberties of their country.  But the best way of
these gentlemen were declared enemies to the determining the question as to their learning is
proceedings of Parliament: that they instilled  by comparing their respective characters.
into their pupils the unlawfulness of resisting    Dr. Cosins had been sequestered by the Parthe king upon any pretence whatsoever, and liament in the year 1640, for his high principles,:
preached upon these subjects to the people. It and was retired to France, where he continued
was therefore necessary to take the education  till the Restoration, and was then preferred to
of the youth out of their hands, which could nout 
be done any other way at present; hut in all   * Introduction to the Sufferings of the Clergy, p.
future elections they returned to the statutes. 113.                        t Appeal, p. 72.
It has been said, farther, that it was a great: Introduction to the Sufferings of the Clergy, p.
loss to learning, because those who succeeded.         6 Sufferings  of the Clergy, p. 163.
ere  ot equal to those who were ejected  (II Dr. Barwick, in the life of his brother, com— __________________________________________  plains, that when the most learned men were displaced from their professorships, they "put block* Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 112.   heads, for the most part, and senseless scoundrels in their
J Ibid., p. 131, 160.                 places." Let the reader examine this list, and esti: Walker's Attempt, p. 114.           mate the justness of this allegation.-Life, p. 32 --
Vor. I.-P P P




482                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the rich bishopric of Durham: he was a learn- largement he retired to Oxford, and was one of
ed n.,n, of an open, frank, and generous temper, the preachers before the court, but upon the
and well versed in the canons, councils, and  declining of the king's cause he retired to Mafathurs.*                                     drid, where he died, about the year 1651.  He
Dr. Paske lived peaceably and cheerfully un- was a man of very high principles, though, ii
der the Parliament, and was reinstated in all we may believe the Querela, a person of such
his livings at the Restoration, except the mas- worth as rendered him above the reach of camtership of his college, which he quitted to his mendation.*
son. The Querela Cantab. says he was emi-   Dr. Comber was another of the king's chapnent for learning; but I do not remember that lains, though imprisoned and deprived, for sendhe has given any specimens of it to the  ing the university plate to the king; after his
world.t                                        enlargement he lived privately till the year
Dr. Laney was first chaplain to Dr. Neil, and  1654, when he died; he was a learned man,
afterward Prebendary of Westminster; he was and of great piety and charity.
one of the king's divines at the treaty of Ux-   Dr. Holdsworth had been a celebrated preachbridge, and attended upon King Charles II. in er in the city of London, and divinity professor
his exile; after the Restoration he was sue- in Gresham College; he was afterward chosen
cessively Bishop of Peterborough, Lincoln, and master of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and
Ely, and was more favourable to the Noncon- was a zealous advocate for the king, for which
formists than most of his brethren.  He has he was some time under confinement.  He at —
some sermons extant, and a small treatise tended his majesty at Hampton Court and the
against Hobbes.                               Isle of Wight, and soon after died with grief.
Dr. Collins was regius professor, Provost of He was a pious and charitable man, but high in
King's College, and Rector of Fenny-Ditton; his principles, and of a hasty, passionate temof which last he was deprived by the Earl of per.  He published one sermon in his lifetime,
Manchester, for his steady adherence to the and after his death his friends published his
royal cause.  He kept his provostship till the  Prele-ctiones and a volume of sermons.
year 1645, and his professorship much longer.   Dr. Ward was one of the English divines at
He died in the year 1651, and had the reputa- the Synod of Dort, and nominated of the comtion of a great scholar, says Dr. Barwick, and mittee of divines that sat in the Jerusalem
his name was famous in foreign universities, Chamber, and of the Assembly at Westminthough he has transmitted very little down to ster, though he never sat; he was a very learnposterity.t'                                  ed man, and died soon after his ejectment.
Dr. Martin was one of Archbishop Laud's    Dr. Brownrigge was installed Bishop of Exechaplains, and one of Mr. White's scandalous ter 1642, and deprived of his mastership in the
ministers; he was accused not only of prac- year 1645, for some expressions in his sermon
tising the late innovations,. and of being in the upon the king's inauguration.  He was an exscheme of reconciling the Church of England  cellent man, and of a peaceable and quiet diswith Rome, but of stealing wheatsheaves out position; after the -war he was allowed the.
of the field in harvest, on the Sabbath day, and liberty of the pulpit, and was chosen master
in laying them to his tithe stock. He was very of the Temple, where he died about the year
high in his principles, and was imprisoned for 1659.*
sending the university plate to the king. After   Far be it from. me to detract fiom the perhis enlargement lie retired to France, and at sonal merit of any of these sufferers, or from
the Restoration was preferred to the deanery  their rank in the commonwealth of learning;
of Ely. Lloyd says he was a godly man, and  but their political principles, like those of Archexcellently well skilled in the canon, civil, and  bishop Laud, were certainly inconsistent with
common law; but Mr. Prynne gives him  a the Constitution and liberties of England, and
very indifferent character, and Bishop Kennet exposed them, very naturally, to the resentacknowledges his principles were rigid, and his ments of the Parliament in these boisterous
temper sour.~                                 times.
Dr. Stern was another of Archbishop Laud's   Those who succeeded the ejected masters,
chaplains, and imprisoned for the same reason  having been first examined and approved by
as the former. He afterward assisted the arch- the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, were
bishop on the scaffold, and lived retired till the  these:
Restoration, when he was made Bishop of Car-   Dr. Lazarus Seaman, a very considerable dilisle, and, in 1664, Archbishop of York. I He had vine, according to Mr. Wood, a completi masa sober, honest, mortified aspect, but was of ter of the Oriental languages, an excellent casuvery arbitrary principles and a very unchari- ist, and a judicious, moving preacher.  He was
table temper; fir when Mr. Baxter, at the Sa- well versed in the controversy of church govvoy conference, was entreating the bishops not ernnent, which made the Parliament send him
to cast out so many ministers in the nation, he with their co)nmmissioners to the Isle of Wight,.made this mean remark to his brethren, that where his majesty was pleased to take particuMr. Baxter would not use the word kingdom  lar notice of his abilities.t  He was ejected out
lest he should own a king.~                    of his mastership of Peterhouse in 1662, and
Dr. Beale was also imprisoned for sending'the university plate to the king; after his en-   * Bishop Brownrigge was one of the ablest preach
ers in the kingdonm. His Sermons, in two volumes,
Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 68.          folio, 1674. are exceedingly valuable; they are emit Ibid., p. 153. Calamy's Abridgment, p. 173.    nently suggestive to a thinking mind, and there are
$ Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 150.         few richer storehouses to which a young minister
( Kennet's Chronicle, p. 670.               can repair for finle Illustration of Gospel truth.-C,
iI Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 146.  ~ Ibid., p. 148.   t Calamy's Abridgment vol. ii., p. 16.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      483
died in 1675.*  He printed several sermons, ter.*  He was very careful to appoint such perand " A-Vindication of the Judgment of the Re- sons for tutors of youth as were eminent the
formed Churches concerning Ordination."       learning and piety; and, being possessed of a
Dr. Ralph Cudworth is so universally known. good paternal estate, was unbounded in his libin the learned world for his great learning, erality.  He was a polite gentleman, a com-'
which he discovered in his Intellectual System,t plete master of the French language, in which'
that I shall only observe, he conformed at the he could preach as well as in English; but his'
Restoration, and a little before resigned his constitution being infirm, he died in the year
mastership of Clare Hall into the hands of Dr..1647, when he was only forty-seven years of
Dillingham, who continued in it to his death.   age.t
Mr. Ric(hard Vines was a very learned and    Dr. T. Young was an eminent member of the;
excellent divine, a popular and laborious preach- Assembly of Divines, says Mr. Clarke,j a man'
er, one of the Parliament divines at the treaty  of great learning, of much prudence arfd piety,
of the Isle of Wight, and a most industrious and  and of great ability and fidelity in the work of
useful man in his college.  He was turned out the ministry.  He was a preacher at Duke's
of his mastership for refusing the engagement, Place, in London, from whence he was preferand died before the Restoration.              red to the mastership of Jesus College, where
Dr. Benjamin Whichcote was fellow of Eman- he behaved with great prudence and piety, tillt
uel College, and, upon the ejectment of Dr. he was turned out for refusing the engagement':
Collins, preferred to the mastership of King's He was one of the authors of the pamphlet,
College, in which he continued till the Restora- called Smectymnnuus.
tion, and then conformed.  The account Arch-   Dr. John Arrowsmith was fellow of Kathebishop Tillotson gives of him is this: " that he rine Hall, and of an unexceptionable charactei
was an excellent tutor and'instructer of youth, for learning and piety. He was an acute dispu-'
and bred up many persons of quality and oth- taent, and a judicious divine, as appears by his.
ers, who afterward proved useful and eminent; Tactica Sacra, a book of great reputation in,
that he contributed more to the forming the those times.  He died before the Restoration.
students to a sober sense of religion than any    Dr. Thomas Hill was fellow of Emanuel CoI,
man of that age. He never took the Covenant; lege, and one of the Assembly of Divines at
and, by his particular friendship and interest Westminster. He was first constituted masterl
with some of the chief visiters, prevailed to  of Emanuel, and afterward removed to Trinity
have the greatest part of the fellows of his col- College, where he employed all his zeal in the
lege exempted from that imposition."T         advancement of knowledge and virtue, and in
Mr. Herbert Palmer, B.D.,.was one of the uni- keeping up the college exercises. He was twice
versity preachers in 1632, and clerk in convo- vice-chancellor, and as solicitous to preserve
cation lbfor the diocess of Lincoln at the begin- the honour and privilege of the university as
ning of this Parliament; he was one of the as- any of his predecessors.  He was a zealous'
sessors of the Assembly of Divines at West- Calvinist, and, after about ten years' govern-.
minster, and on April 11, 1644, constituted mas- ment of his college, died in the year 1653.~
ter of Queen's College by the Earl of Manches-   Dr. A nthony Tuckney had been vicar of Bos-.
ton, in Lincolnshire, from whence he was call.*He always carried about with him a small Plan- ed up to sit in the Assembly of Divines at
tin Hebrew Bible without points. He had a deep Westminster.  In the year 1645, he was con-'
and piercing judgment in all points of controversial stituted master of Emanuel College..ll In 1653;
divinity: nor was he less able' to defend than find' he was chosen master of St. John's, and upon
out the truth. Upon the invitation of an honourable
lady, who was the head of a noble family, and was the death of Dr. Arrowsmc th, regn us professr
often solicited by Romnish priests to change her of Oxford, which place he enjoyed till the Resreligion, he engaged two of the most able priests toration, when King Charles II., by letter unthey could pick out, in a dispute, in the presence of der the hand of Secretary Nicholas, ordered him'
the lord and lady, for their satisfaction; and, by si- to resign, promising him, in consideration of his!
lencing them upon the head of transubstantiation, great pains and diligence in discharge of his'
was instrumental to preserve that whole family stead- duty, ~100 per annum, which was paid by his'
fast in the Protestant religion. Dr. Grey acknowl- successor till is death, in the yar 1671.  H
edges, on Mr. Wood's authority, that he was a learn- left behind him  the character of a pious and
ed man, and died much lamented by the brethren.-l
Palmer's Nonconformists' Memorial, vol. i., p. 77.-ED. learned man, an indefatigable student, a candid
t This work, distinguished by the excellence of its disputant, and a zealous promoter of truth and':easoning and the variety of its learning, was pub- piety.  He published some practical treatises
lished to stemn the torrent of irreligion and atheism  in his life; and his Prelectiones Thec'logica,
that prevailed, in the reign of Charles II. The au- with a volume of sermons, were printbd after:
thor, who was superior to all his contemporaries in his death.
metaphysics, was father to the learned and accomplished Lady Masham, of Oates, in Essex, in whose  t~ Clarke's Lives. p. 183, annexed to his General}
house Mr. Locke spent the last fourteen years of his Martyrology.
life.-Granger's History of England, vol. iii., p. 283,   t What Archbishop Land urged in his defence
8vo.-eDo.                                    at his trial, as an instance of his impartiality, ought
1: "Hlis notions of religion were, like his charity," to be mentioned here to his credit, namely, that he
says Mr. Granger, " exalted and diffusive, and never presented Mr. Palmer, though professedly of Puritan
limited by the narrow prejudices of sects and par- principles, on account of his excellent character, to
ties. He was disgusted with the dryness and fool- the vicarage of Ashwell, in Hertfordshire, in 1632.-.
ishness of preaching that prevailed in his time, and  Granger's History of England, vol. ii., p. 183, 8vy.entouraged the young students of his college to form  ED.             $ Clarke's Lives, p. l94
themselves after the best models of Greece and   Q Ibid., p. 130, at ante.
Romne." —HistoWr of England, vol, iii., p. 283, 284,  11 Calamy's Abridgment, p. 77.
Svao                                           4~ Dr. Tuckney was also vice chancellor of the




084                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Dr. Richard Minshull was fellow of Sidney  to be a precedent for their successors, as apCollege, and, upon the death of Dr. Ward, cho- pears by the manner of their investiture, which
sen regularly, according. to the statutes, into  was this: Mr. Lazarus Seaman having been
the vacant mastership, and continued therein  examined and approved by the Assembly of Ditill the Restoration, when he conformed, and  vines at Westminster, the Earl of Manchester
was confirmed in his place, which he filled with  came in person into the Chapel of Peterhonse,
reputation till his death.                     April 11, and did there declare and publish MIr.
Dr. William  Spurstow, one of the Assembly  Lazarus Seaman to be constituted master of
of Divines, and one of the commissioners at the said Peterhouse, in the room of Dr. Cosins,
the Savoy in the year 1662,'- was a person of late master, who had been justly and lawfully
good learning, of a peaceable and quiet disposi- ejected; requiring Mr. Seaman to take' upon
tion, and of great humility and charity.  He him that office, putting him into the master's
was turned out of his mastership of Katherine  seat, and delivering to him the statutes of the
Hall for refusing the engagement, and was.suc- college in token of his investiture, straitly
ceeded by the famous                          charging the fellows, &c., to acknowledge and
Dr. Lightfoot, the most complete master of yield obedience to him, "notwithstanding he
Oriental learning of his age; the doctor enjoyed  was not elected, nor admitted according to the
this mastership, with the sequestered living of ordinary course prescribed by the said statutes
Muchmunden, given him  by the Assembly of in this time of distraction and war, there being
Divines, till the Restoration, when he would a necessity of reforming, as well the, statutes
have resigned it back into the hands of Dr. themselves as the members of the said house."t
Spurstow, but he declining it, Lightfoot con- The earl then gave him an instrument under
formed, and, upon his application to the king, his hand and seal to the same effect, and adwas confirmed in both his preferments till his ministered him an oath or protestation, which
death. His works were published by Mr. Strype, he took, in the following words:
in two volumes, folio.                          "I do solemnly and seriously promise, in the
If it should be granted that the new profes- presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all
sors were not at first so expert in the learning hearts, that, (luring the time of my continuance
of the schools as their predecessors, that defect in this charge, I shall faithfully labour to prowas abundantly supplied by their application  mote learning and piety in myself, the fellows,
and diligence in their places, and by their ob- scholars, and students that do or shall belong
serving a very strict and severe discipline; the to the said college, agreeably to the late solemn
tutors were constant in reading lectures, not national League and Covenant, by me sworn
only in term-time, but out of it; the proctors and subscribed, with respect to all the good
and other officers had a strict eye over the stu- and wholesome statutes of the said college and
dents to keep themn within bounds, and oblige of the university, correspondent to the said
them  to -be present at morning and evening  Covenant; and, by all means, to procure the
prayer.  The Lord's Day was observed with  good, welfare, and perfect reformation, both of
uncommon rigour; there were sermons and the college and university, so far as to me apprayers in all the churches and chapels both pertaineth."
morning and afternoon.  Vice and profaneness    The other masters were introduced into their
were banished, insomuch that an oath was not several chairs after the same solemn manner,
to be heard within the walls of the University; their warrants bearing date the 11th. 15th, or
and, if it may be said without offence, the col- 13th of April, 1644;'tut the clause of the Covleges never appeared more like nurseries of re- enant was omitted by those who did not take
ligion and virtue than at this period.t The no- it, as in the case of Dr. Whichcote, and others.
ble historian confesses the University of Ox-   The vacant fellowships being more numerous,
ford flourished as much in learning and learned  were not so quickly filled, though the earl took
men at the Restoration as before the civil wars, the most prudent method in that affair; April
which is equally true of Cambridge.  And it 10, he directed a paper to the several colleges,
ought to be remembered, that most of the con- declaring that " his purpose was forthwith to
siderable divines and philosophers who flour- supply the vacant fellowships, and desiring that
ished in the reigns of King Gharles II. and if there were any in the respective colleges.King William III., owed their education to the who, in regard of degree, learning, and piety,
tutors of those times, for whom they always re- should be found fit for such preferment, they
tained a,great veneration.                    would, upon receipt of that paper, return him
Though the form of inducting the new mas- their names, in order to their being examined
ters was not according to the statutes (as has by the Assembly, and invested in them."  The
been observed), because of the distraction of persons thus examined and presented were
the times,, it is evident this was not designed constituted fellows by warrant under the hand
and seal of the Earl of Manchester, to the
University of ambridge, and, after the Restoration, heads of the several colleges, in the following
was appointed one of the commissioners at the con- form:
frence at the Savoy. His modesty was as distin-   Whereas A. B. has been ejected out of his
guished as his learning. He presided over his college, which never flourished more than under his fellowship in this college; and whereas C. D.
government, with great prudence and ability, and is has been examined and approved by the Assaid to have shown more courage in maintaining the sembly of Divines, these are, therefore, to rerights and privileges of the university in the lawless quire you to receive the said C. D. as fellow in
time in which he lived, than any of the heads of hou- the room of A. B., and to give him place acses at Cambridge. - Gran.ger's History of England,     to his seniority in the university  in
vol. iii, p. 305, 306. 8vo.-ED.
* Calamy's Abridgment, vol. ii., p. 471.' Ibid., vol, iii., p. 74.                        * Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 114,115.




HISTORY OF TIE PURITANS.                                     485
preference to all those that are, or shall here- Parliament, with full power and liberty to send
after be, put in by me."*                     for any witnesses, and to examine complaints
I have before me the names of fifty-five per- upon oath.  And you are to certify the names
sons,t who, after they had been examined by of ministers, with the charge and proof against
the Assembly, were presented to the vacant them, to me."*
fellowships, in the compass of the year 1644;   It is to be observed, that the warrant is point.
and within six months more all the vacancies ed only against those who are immoral, or diswere in a manner supplied, with men of appro- affected to the Parliament, or had deserted
ved learning and piety.                       their cures; and was accompanied with instrucFrom this time the University of Cambridge tions, and a letter, exhorting them to the faitllenjoyed a happy tranquillity; learning flourish- ful and effectual discharge of the trust.  The
ed, religion and good manners were promoted, instructions were to this effect:
at a time when the rest of the nation was in    First, " That they should be speedy and efblood and confusion.  And though this altera- fectual in executing the ordinances, and sit in
tion was effected by a mixture of the civil and such places within the county that all parties,
military power, yet in a little time things re- by the easiness of access, may be encouraged
vefted to their former channel, and the stat- to address themselves to them with their comutes of the university were as regularly observ- plaints.
ed as ever. Let the reader now judge the can-   Secondly, " That they should issue their wardour and impartiality of the famous Dr. Bar- rants, to summon before them such ministers
wick, author of the Querela Cantabrigiensis, and witnesses as the articles preferred against
whose words are these: "Thus the knipperdo- them should require.
lings of the age reduced a glorious and renown-   Thirdly, "That the party accused should not
ed university almost to a mere Munster, and he present at the taking the depositions, bedid more in less than three years than the cause of discountenancing the witnesses, and
apostate Julian could effect in his reign, viz., disturbing the service;t but when the deposibroke the heartstrings of' learning and all learn- tions were taken upon oath, the party accused
ed lpen, and thereby luxated all the joints should have a copy, and have a day given him
of Christianity in this kingdom.  We are not to return his answer in writing, and to make
afraid to appeal to any impartial judge, whether his defence \within fourteen days, or thereabout,
if the Goths and Vandals, or even the Turks   Fourthly, "They were to return both the acthemselves, had overrun this nation, they would  cusation and defence to Mr. Good and Mr.
have more inhumanly abused a flourishing uni- Ashe, the earl's chaplains, and upon such reversity, than these pretended advancers of re- ceipts they should have farther directions.
ligion have done?  Having thrust out one of    Fifthly, "If the party accused would not'
the eyes of this kingdom, made eloquence dumb, appear to make his defence, they were to cerphilosophy sottish; widowed the arts, drove tify the cause of his absence, becausd, if they
the muses from their ancient habitation, pluck- were nonresidents, or in arms against the Pared the reverend'and orthodox professors out of liament, the earl would proceed against them.n
the chairs, and silenced them in prison or their   Sixthly, "It being found, by experience, that.graves; turned religion into rebellion; chan- parishioners were not forward to complain of
ged the apostolical chair into a desk for blas- their ministers, though very scandalous-some
phemy; tore the garland from off the head of being enemies to the intended reformation, and
learning to place it on the dull brows of disloyal others sparing their ministers, because they faignorance, and unhived those numerous swarms voured them in their tithes, and were therefore
of labouring bees, which used to drop honey- esteemed quiet men -therefore they were redews over all this kingdom, to place in their quired to call unto them some well-affected men
room swarms of senseless drones."T Such was within every hundred, who, having no private
the rant of this reverend clergyman; and such engagements, were to be encouraged by the
the language and the spirit of the ejected Loy- committees to inquire after the doctrines, lives,
alists!                                      and conversations of all ministers and schoolWhile the earl was securing the university masters, and to give information what could
to the Parliament, he appointed commissioners be deposed, and who could depose the same.
fobr removing scandalous ministers in the seven    Seventhly, "Each commissioner shall have
associated counties, empowering them to act five shillings for every day he sirs; and the
by the following warrant:                     clerk to receive some pay, that he might not
" March 15, 1644.   have occasion to demand fees for every war"By virtue of an ordinance of both houses rant or copy, unless the writings were very
of Parliament, bearing date January 22, 1643-4, large.
I do authorize and appoint you, —, or any    Eighthly, " Upon the ejecting of any scandafive of you, to call before you all ministers or Ious or malignant ministers, they were to reschoolmasters within the counties of —-, that quire the parishioners to make choice of some
are scandalous in their lives, or ill-affected to fit and able person to succeed, who was to have
the Parliament, or fomenters of this unnatural a testimonial from the well-affected gentry and
war; or that shall wilfully refuse obedience to   *t Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 117.
the ordinances of Parliament; or that have de-   t This was owing to the insolent and unmannerserted their ordinary places of residence, not ly behaviour of some of the clergy before the combeing employed in the service of the king and missioners; for the ordinance of September 6, 1643,
appoints that the witnesses shall be examined in their
* Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 114, 115.    presence, and that sufficient warning shall be given
- MS. penes me.                             of the time and place where the charge against them
t Querela, Pref., p. 2, 26,27. Walker's Attempt, should be proved.
p. 115.. Husband's Collections, p. 311.




486                     HISTORY OF THE PURITAN S.
ministry, and to take particular care that no  farther order concerning the same, requiring all
Anabaptist or Antinomian be recommended.    officers to aid and assist him for that purpose."
Ninthly, " They were to certify the true value    If the committees observed these articles
*of each living; as also the estate, livelihood, there could be no reasonable ground of conand charge of children, which the accused per- plaint, except of the sixth, which may be conson had, for his lordship's direction in the as- strued as giving too much encouragement to
signment of the fifths. And,                 informers; but the methods of conviction were
Lastly, "They were to use all other proper unexceptionable.  The persons to be called beways and methods for speeding the service."   fore the commissioners were scandalous, or enWith these instructions the earl sent an ex- emies to the Parliament; the depositions were
hortation by letter, in the following words;  upon oath; a copy of them was allowed the de"Gentlemen,                              fendant, with time to give in his answer in wri"I send you, by this bearer, a commission, ting; then a day appointed to make his defence
with instructions for executing the ordinance, in presence of the witnesses, to whom he might
&c., within your county.  I neither doubt of take exceptions; and, after all, the final judgyour abilities nor affections to flurther this ser- ment not left with the commissioners, but with
vice, yet, according to the great trust reposed  the earl. The filling the vacant benefice was
in me herein by the Parliament, I must be ear- no less prudent; the parishioners were to choose
nest with you to be diligent therein. You know  their own minister, who was to produce testihow much the people of this kingdom  have  monials of his sobriety and virtue; the Assemformerly suffered in: their persons, souls, and bly were then to examine into his learning and
estates, under an idle, ill-affected, scandalous, ministerial qualifications; and, after all, the new
and insolent clergy, upheld by the bishops; and  incumbent to hold his living only during pleasyou cannot but foresee that their pressures and  ure; the Parliament being willing to leave open
burdens will still continue, though the form of a door, at the conclusion of a peace, for restogovernment be altered, unless great care be ta- ring such Royalists as were displaced merely
ken to displace such ministers, and to place or- for adhering to the king, without prejudice to
thodox and holy men in every parish; for, let the present possessor.  One cannot answer for
the government be what it will for the form  particulars under such uncommon distractions
thereof, yet it will never be good unless the and violence of parties; but the orders were, in
parties employed therein be good themselves. my opinion, not only reasonable, but expedient
By the providence of God, it now lies in your for the support of the cause in which the Parpower to reform the former abuses, and to re- liament was engaged.
move these offenders. Your power is great,   The committees for the associated counties
and so is your trust. If a general reformation  acted, I apprehend, no longer than the year
follows not within your county, assuredly the  1644, the last warrant of ejectment mentioned
blame Will be laid upon you, and you must ex- by Dr. Nalson, bearing date March 17, 1644-5,
pect to be called to an account for it both here  in which time affairs were brought to such a
and hereafter. For my part, I am resolved to  settlement in those parts, that the Royalists
employ the utmost of my power given to me by  could give tbi m no disturbance.*  The associthe ordinance for procuring a general reforma- ated counties'says Mr. Fuller, escaped the' best
tion in all the associated counties, expecting  of all parts in  -is civil war, the smoke thereof:your forwardness, and heartily joining with me  only offending  em, while the fire was felt in
herein.*                     "I rest," &c.   other places.  ('he chief ejectments by the
When a clergyman was convicted according  commissioners il; other parts of England were
to the instructions above mentioned, report.was in the years 1644, 1645, and till the change of
made to the earl, who directed a warrant to the  government in the year 1649, when the Cove-'
church-wardens of the parish to eject him out nant itself was set aside, and changed into an
of his parsonage, and all the profits thereof; engagement to the new commonwealth.
and another to receive the tithes and all the    It is hard to compute the number of clergybenefits into their own hands, and to keep them  men that might lose their livings by the several
in safe custody till they should receive farther committees during the war, nor is it of any
orders from himself.t  At the same time he di- great importance, for the law  is the same
rected the parishioners.to choose a proper min- whether more or fewer suffer by it; and the
ister for the vacant place, and, upon their pre- not putting it in execution might be owing to
sentation, his lordship sent him to the Assem- want of power or opportunity.  Dr. Nalson
bly of Divines at Westminster, with an account says that in five of the associated counties one
of his character, for their trial and examination. hundred and fifty-six clergymen were ejected
And upon a certificate from the Assembly that in little more than a year; namely, in Norfolk
they approved of him as an orthodox divine, fifty-one, Suffolk thirty-seven, Cambridgeshire
and qualified to officiate in the pastoral func- thirty-one, Essex twenty-one, Lincolnshire sixtion, his lordship issued out his last warrant, teen; and if we allow a proportionable numsetting forth that "such a one having been ap- ber for the other two, the whole will amount
proved by the Assembly, &c., he did therefore  to two hundred and eighteen; and if in seven
authorize and appoint him, the said -, to  counties there were two hundred and eighteen
officiate as minister, to preach, teach, and cate- sufferers, the fifty-two counties of England, by a
chise in such a parish during his (the earl's) like proportion, will produce upward of sixteen
pleasure, and then empower him to take pos- hundred. Dr. Walker has fallaciously increased
session of the church, parsonage-houses, glebe- the number of suffering clergymen to eight thoulands, and to receive the tithes and profits, and  sand, even though the list at the end of his book
enjoy the same until his lordship should take  makes out little more than a fifth part. Among
e Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 118. t Ibid., p. 119.   Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 119.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     487
his cathedral clergy he reckons up several pre- sufferings of the Dissenters bear any tolerabends and canonries, in which he supposes suf- ble proportion to those of the ejected Loyalferers without any evidence.  Of this sort Dr. ists, in number, degrees, or circumstances, he
Calamy has reckoned about two hundred.*  If will be gladly deemed not only to have lost all
one clergyman was possessed of three or four his labour, but to have revived a great and undignities, there appear to be as many sufferers. answerable scandal on the cause he has underThe like is observable in the case of pluralists; taken to defend."  I shall leave the reader to
for example, Richard Stuart, IL.D., is set down pass his own judgment upon this declaration,
as a sufferer in the deanery of St. Paul's, as after I have produced the testimony of one or
prebendary of St. Pancras,'and residentiary; two divines of the Church of England. "V Who
in the deanery and prebend of the third stall in can answer," says one, " for the violence and
Westminster; in the deanery of the royal chap- injustice of actions in a civil war?  Those sufel; in the provostship of Eton College, and pre- ferings were in a time of general calamity, but
bend of Norshalton in the Church of Salisbury; these [in 1662] were ejected not only in a time
all which preferments he enjoyed, says Dr. of peace, but a time of joy to all the land, and
Walker, or was entitled to, together, and his after an act of oblivion, to which common rename is repeated in the several places. By joicing these suffering ministers had contribu-.
such a calculation it is easy to deceive the ted their earnest prayers and great endeavreader, and swell the account beyond measure. ours."'   "I must own," says another of the.
The Reverend Mr. Withers,t a late Noncon- doctor's.correspondents, " that though both
formist minister at Exeter, has taken care to sides have been excessively to blame, yet that
make an exact computation in the associated  the severities used by the Church to the Discounties of Suffolk, Norlolk, and Cambridge- senters are less excusable than those used by
shire, in which are one thousand three hundred the Dissenters to the Church; my reason is,,
and ninety-eight parishes, and two hundred and that the former were used in time of peace
fifty-three sequestrations; so that if these may and a settled government, whereas the latter
be reckoned as a standard for the whole king- were inflicted in a time of tumult and confusion,
dom, the whole number will be reduced consid- so that the plundering and ravaging endured by
erably under two thousand.  He has also made the church ministers were owing, many of them.
another computation from the county of Devon, at least, to the rudeness of the soldiers and the
in which are three hundred and ninety-four par- chances of war; they were plundered not beishes, and one hundred and thirty-nine seques- cause they were Conformists, but cavaliers, and
trations, out of which thirty-nine are deducted of the king's party."t  The case of those who
for pluralities, &c.; and then-by comparingthis weresober and virtuous seems to be much the
county, in which both Dr. Walker and Mr. same with the nonjurors at the late revolution
Withers lived, with the rest of the kingdom, of King William III.; and I readily agree with
the amount of sufferers, according to him, is Mr. Fuller, that " moderate men bemoaned
one thousand seven hundred and twenty-six; these severities, for, as much corruption was
but admitting they should arise to the number let out by these ejectments (many scandalous
of the doctor's names in his index, which are ministers being deservedly punished), so at the.
about two thousand four hundred, yet when  same time the veins of the English Church
such were deducted as were fairly convicted, were also emptied of much good blood."t
upon oatlh of immoralities of life, &c. (which    We have already observed, that a fifth part
were a fourth in the associated counties), and of the revenues of these ejected clergymen was
all such as took part with the king in the war, reserved for the maintenance of their poor farnor disowned the authority of the Parliament; ilies, " which was a Christian act, and which I.
preaching up doctrines inconsistent with the should have been glad," says the divine above
cause for which they had taken arms, and ex- mentioned, " to have seen imitated at the Resciting the people to an absolute submission to toration."S  Upon this, the cavaliers sent their
the authority of the crown, the remainder that wives and children to be maintained by the Parwere displaced only for refusing the Covenant liament ministers, while themselves were fightmust be very inconsiderable.  Mr. Baxter says ing for their king. The houses, therefore, orthey cast out the grosser sort of insufficient dained, September 8, 1645, that the fifths should
and scandalous clergy, and some few civil men not be paid to the wives and children of those
that had acted in the wars.for the king, and set who came into the Parliament quarters without,
up the late innovations, but left in near one their husbands or fathers; or who were not bred
half of those that were but barely tolerable. in the Protestant religion.ll'Yet, when the war
He adds, farther, " that in all the counties in was over, all were allowed their fifths, though
which he was acquainted six to one at least, in some places they were ill paid, the incumif not more, that were sequestered by the com- bent being hardly able to allow them, by reason
mrittees, were by the oaths'of witnesses proved of the smallness of his living, and the devastainsufficient, or scandalous, or both."t       tion of the war.'When some pretended to exBut admitting their numbers to be equal to cuse themselves on the forementioned excepthose Puritan ministers ejected at the Restora- tions, the two houses published the following
tion, yet the cause of their ejectment, and the explanation, November 11, 1647, viz., "that the
circumstances of the times, being.very differ- wives and children of all such persons whose
ent, the sufferings of the former ought not to estates and livings are, have been, or shall be,
be compared to the latter; though Dr. Walker
is pleased to.say in his preface, that "if the   * Conform. First Plea, p. 12, 13.
t Calamy's Church and Dissenters compared, p.
* Church and Dissenters compared, p. 52.    23, 24.              [ Church History, p. 207.
t Appendix to his Reply to Mr. Agate, p. 27, 28.    Q Calamy's Ch. and Diss. comp., p. 24.
$ History of Life and Times, p. 74.          11 Husband's Collections, p. 726.




488                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
sequestered by order of either house of Parlia- stituted.*  The Episcopal clergy had entirely
ment, shall be comprehended within the ordi- deserted it before the bringing in of the Covenance which allows a fifth part for wives and
children, and shall have their fifth part allowed  light of history, although the entire work is a pretty
them; and the committee of Lords and Cornm- close abridgment of Neal, allowing for the needed
mons for sequestrations, and the committees additions.
mons fr sequestrations, and the committees Before proceeding to relate the discussions of the
for plundered ministers, and all other ministers, Westminster Assembly of Divines, thus finally conare required to take notice hereof, and yield stituted and prepared for its duties, it may be expeobedience hereunto."* Afterward, when it was dient to give a brief view of the parties, by the comquestioned whether the fifths should pay their bination of which it was from the first composed, by
proportion of the public taxes, it was ordained  whose jarring contentions its progress was retarded,
that the incumbent only should pay them.  Un- and by whose divisions and mutual hostilities its lader the government of the Protector Cromwell,  bours were at length frcstrated and prevented from
if the ejected minister left obtaining their due result.
it was ordained that, if the ejected minister left   When the Parliament issued the ordinance for
the quiet possession of his house and glebe to calling together an Assembly of Divines for consulthis successor within a certain time, he should  ation and advice, there was, it will be remembered,
rece'ive his fifths, and all his arrears, provided  actually no legalized form of church government in
he had not a real estate of his own of ~30 per England, so far as depended on the Legislature.
annum, or ~500 in money.                        Even Charles himself had consented to the bill reAfter all, it was a hard case on both sides * moving the prelates fiom the House of Lords; and
the inumbents thought it ar to be obliged to though the bill abolishing the hierarchy had not obthe incumbents thought it         htained the royal sanction, yet the greater part of the
all the duties of their place, and another to go kingdom regarded it as conclusive on that point.
away with a fifth of the profit, at a time when  The chief object of the Parliament, therefore, was
the value of church lands was considerably les- to determine what form of church government was
sened by the neglect of tillage, and exorbitant to be established by law, in the room of that which
taxes laid upon all the necessaries of life.  To had been abolished. And as their desire was to sewhich may be adrled, an opinion that began to  cure a form which should both be generally acceptprevail among the farmers, of the unlawfulness able, and should also bear, at least, a close resemblance to the form most prevalent in other Reformed
of paying tithes: Mr. Selden had led the way churches, they attempted to act impartially, and, in
to this in his Book of Tithes, whereupon the Par- their ordinance, they selected some of each denomi1iament, by an ordinance of November 8, 1644, nation, appointing bishops, untitled Episcopalians,
" strictly enjoined all persons fully, truly, and  Puritans, and Independents. Several Episcopalians,
effectually, to set out, yield, and pay respective- and at least one bishop, were present in the first
ly, all and singular tithes, offerings, oblations, meeting of the Assembly. Butwhen the Solemn
obventions, rates for tithes. and all other duties League and Covenant was proposed and taken, and
commonly  rnow                       nbynamtes for tithes. " andallothdutieswhen the king issued his condemnation of it, all the
commonly known by the name of tithes."  Oth- decided Episcopalians left, with the exception of
ers, who had no scruple about the payment of Dr. Featly. He remained a member of the Assemtithes, refiused to pay them  to the new incum- bly for some time; till, being detected corresponding
bent, because the ejected minister had the legal with Archbishop Usher, and revealing the proceedright; insomuch that the Presbyterian minis- irngs of the Assembly, he was cut off from that venters were obliged in many places to sue their erable body and committed to prison.*  From that
parishioners, which created disturbances and time forward there were no direct supporters of preldivisions, and at length gave rise to several acy in the Assembly, and the protracted controveretitions from the countiessial discussions which arose were on other subjects,
petitions from the counties of Buckingham, Ox- on which account we have nothing to do with the
ford, Hertford, &c., praying that their ministers Episcopalian controversy, beyond what has been al
might be provided for some other way.  The ready stated in our preliminary pages.
Parliament referred them to a committee,.which    There can be no doubt that the close alliance
produced no redress, because they could not fix which the English Parliament sought with Scotland,
upon another fund, nor provide for the lay-im-. and the ground taken by the Scottish Convention of
Estates and General Assembly, in requiring not only
an international league, but also a religious covenant,
tended greatly to direct the mind of the Enlglish
statesmen and divines towards the Presbyterian form
of church government, and exercised a powerful inCHAPTER IV.                      fluence in the deliberations of the Westminster Assembly. But let it be also remembered, that in evOF TIE SEVERAL PARTIES IN THE ASSEMBLY OF DI- ery one of the Reformed Continental churches. either
VINES-PRESBYTERIANS, ERASTIANS, INDEPEND- the Presbyterian form, or one very closely resemENTS. THEIR PROCEEDINGS ABOUT ORDINATION, bling it, had been adopted; and that the Puritans
AND TIE DIRECTORY FOR DIVINE A WORSHIP. THE had already formed themselves into presbyteries,
held presbyterial meetings, and endeavoured to exRISE, PROGRESS, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE ENC- ercise Presbyterian discipline in the reception, susSLISIH ANTIP.ADOBAPTI5TS5.                    pension, and rejection of members. Both the exam
BEFORE we proceed to the debates of the As- pie of other churches, therefore, and their own already liegun practice, had led them so far onward to
sembly of Divines, it will be proper to distin-  dhe Pesbyterian mode, hatle they would almost int
guish the several partiest of which it was con- evitably have assumed it altogether apart from the
influence of Scotland. In truth, that influence was
Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 100.. ] That the reader may enjoy the amplest oppor-      The name of Puritans is from-this time to be
tunity to form an enlarged and impartial view of this sunk; and they are for the future to be spoken of unmatter, I shall insert the entire account of the par- der the distinction of Presbyterians; Erastians, and
ties which composed the Assembly, as it is given by Independents, who had all theirdifferent views.-Dr.
the Presbyvterian historian Hetherington, in his His- Waener's Ecclesiastical History vol. ii. p 561.-ED.
tory of the Westminster Assembly. This is done                            X         X  _ _
that I may escape the charge of having withheld any         * Netll, vol. ii.,. p. 234, 235




HISTORY OF THF PURITANS.                                           489
nant, so that the establishment was left with- for taking down the main pillars of the hierai:
out a single advocate.  All who remained were  chy, before they had agreed what sort of building to erect in its room.
exerted and felt almost solely in the way of instruction from a church already formed to one in the pro- ejected Puritan, having about the same time retirea
cess of formation; and none would have been more to Holland, came to Rotterdam, and having joined
ready than the Scottish commissioners themselves Mr. Bridge's church, was appointed his colleague in
to have repudiated the very idea of any other kind of the pastoral office. He, too, wished for additional
influence.  It may be said, therefore, with the most improvements; and as he did not retire, like Simpstrict propriety, that the native aim and tendency of son, but continued the struggle, Bridge thought it
the Westminster Assembly was, to establisli the necessary to depose him from the ministry, whicl:
Presbyterian form of chulch government in England, i his superior influence in the congregation enabled
the great body of English Puritans having gradually  him to accomplish. To prevent the evil consequen.
become Presbyterians. There is reason to believe Ices which might have resulted from these unhappy
that both Pymr  and Hampden favoured the Presby- divisions, Goodwin and Nye came from  Arnheim,
terian system; but their early and lamented death instituted an investigation of the whole matter, andi
deprived that cause of their powerful support, and induced the two contending brethren and their adhethe House of Coomrnons of their able and steady gui- rents to acknowledge their mutual faults, and to be'dance. The chief promoters of presbytery in the reconciled..- The reconciliation, however, appears
House of Commons were, Sir William Waller, Sir to have been but supetficial, and to have required the
Philip Stapleton, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir Benja- interposition of the magistracy ere it could be ever.
min Rudyard, Colonel Massey, Colonel Harley, Ser- plausibly effected. Such divisions might have cause&
geant Maynard, Denzil Hollis, John Glynn, and a these divines to entertain some suspicion that the
few more of less influential character.            model of church government which they had adoptThe Independents, or Congregationalists, formed  ed was not altogether so perfect as they wished it
another party, few in point of number, but men of to be thought; but so far as their subsequent conconsiderable talent and learning, of undoubted piety, duct, as members of the Westminster Assembly, is
of great pertinacity in adhering to their own opin- concerned, this does not seem to have been the case
ions, and, we are constrained to say, well skilled in in even the slightest degree.  When the contest bethe artifices of intriguing policy. Independency was, tween the king and the Parlia nent had become so exaccording to the statement of its adherents, a me- treme that the Parliamnent declared its own continudium between the Brownist and the Presbyterian  ationl as permanent as it might itself think necessary,
systemns. They, did not, with the Brownists, con- and began to threaten the abolition of the whole predemnn every other church as too corrupt and anti- latical hierarchy, the above-named five Independent
christian for intercommunion, for they professed to divines returned to England, prepared to assist in the
agree in doctrine both with the Church of England  long-sought reformation of religion, and to avail tkemnin its articles, and with the other Reformed churches; selves of every opportunity which might occur to
but they held the entire power of government to be- promote their favourite system. And admitting them
long to each separate congregation; and they prac- to be conscientiously convinced of its superior exceltically admitted no church censure but admonition, lence, they deserve no censure for desiring to see it
for that cannot properly be called excommunication  universally received. In every such case, all that
which consisted not in expelling from their body an  can be wished is, that each party should prosecute
obstinate and impenitent offender, but in withdraw- its purpose holnourably and openly, in the fair field of
ing themselves fiom, him.  With regard to their frank and manly argument, with Christian candour
boast of being the first advocates of toleration and and integrity, and not by factious opposition, or with
liberty of conscience, that will come to be examined the dark and insidious craft too characteristic of
hereafter; this only need be said at present, that worldly politicians.
toleration is naturally the plea of the weaker party;   Of these five leading Independents, often te rmed
that the term was then, has been since, and still is, i" The Five Dissenting Brethren," Goodwin appears
much misunderstood and misused; and that, wher- to have been the deepest theologian, and perhaps altoever the Independents possessed power, as in New- gether the ablest man; Nye, the most acute and subEngland, they showed themselves to be as intolerant tie, and the best skilled in holding intercourse with
as any of their opponents.                         worldly politicians; Burroughs, the most gentle and
The leading Independents in the Westminster As- pacific in temper and character;Bridge is said to have
sembly were, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, Jer- been a man of considerable attainments, and a very laemiah Burroughs, William Bridge, and Sidrach Simp- borious student; and Simpson bears also arespectable
son. These men had at first been silenced by the character as a preacher, though not peculiarly disviolent persecutions of Laud and Wren, and had  tinguished in public debate. To these Baillie adds,
then retired to Holland, where they continued ex- as Independents, Joseph Caryl, William  Carter, of
ercising their ministry among their expatriated coun- London, John Philips, and -Peter Sterry - naming
trymen for several years. Goodwin and Nye resided  nine, but saying that there were " some ten or elevat Arnheim, where they were highly esteemed for en."t  Neal adds Anthony Burges and William
their piety and talents. Bridge went to Rotterdam, Greenhill.t  Some of the views of the Independents
where he became pastor of an English congrega- were occasionally supported by Herle, Marshall, and
tion, previously formed by the notorious Hugh Pe- Vines, and some few others; but none of these men
ters.  Burroughs went also to Rotterdam, and be- are to be included in the number of the decided Incame connected with a congregation then under the dependents.
pastoral care of Bridge, in what was termed the dif-   The third party in the Assembly were the Erasferent but co-ordinate office of teacher.  Simpson  tians; so called front Erastus, a physician at Heidelsubsequently joined himself to the two preceding  berg, who wrote on the subject of church governbrethren, having, according to their system, given an ment, especially in respect of excommunication, in
account of his faith.  But, though at first highly ap- the year 1568.  His theory was, That the pastoproving the order of the church under tile care of ral office is only persuasive, like that of a professor
Mr. Bridge, he subsequently proposed some altera- over his students, without any direct power; that
tions, which would, as he thought, pronote its welfare  baptism, the Lordl's Supper, aitd al-l other Gospel or-particularly the revival of the prophesyings used  dinances, were free antd open to all; and that thew
by the old Puritans. This Mr. Bridge opposed, and minister might state and explain what were the propMr. SimpsdoA withdrew from communion with him, er qualifications, and might dissuade the vicious and
and formed a church for himself.*  The quarrel,
however, did not so terminate. Mr. Ward, another   - Brook, vol. ii., p. 454; Edwaruds'sAutopologia, p. 115117; Baillie's Dissuasive, p 75-77.
* Brook's Lives of the Puritans, vol. iii. p. 312.  B Baillie, vol. ii., p. 110.   $ Neal, vol. ii., p. 275, 16mm
VoL. I.-Q q Q




490                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
The majority at first intended only the redu- second age, but, for the sake of the Scots allicing.episcopacy to the standard of the first or ance, they were prevailed with to lay aside the
unqualified from the communion, but had no power jurisdictions, separate and independent. But, indeed,
to refuse it, or to inflict any kind of censure. The  this is a truth which has yet to be learned by civil
punishment of all offences, whether of a civil or a reli- governments-a truth unknown to ancient times, in
gious nature, belonged, according to this theory, ex- which religion was either an engine of the State or
elusively to the civil magistrate. The tendency of the object of persecution-a truth unknown during
this theory was, to destroy entirely all ecclesiastical the period of papal ascendency, in which the Romish
and spiritual jurisdiction, to deprive the Church of priesthood usurped dominion over civil governments,
all power of government, and to make it completely  and exercised its tyranny alike over the persons anl
the mere " creature of the State."  The pretended  the conscience of mankind-a truth first brought to
advantage of this theory was. that it prevented the light in the great religious reformation of the sixexistence of an ir.perium in imperio, or one govern- teenth century-but not then, nor even yet, fully
ment within another, of a distinct and independent developed, rightly understood, and permitted to ex
nature.  But the real disadyantage, in the most mit- ercise its free and sacred supremacy. That it will
igated view that can be taken, was, that it reprodu- finally assume its due dominion over the minds and
ced what may be termed a civil popery, by combining.actions of all bodies of men, both civil and ecclesiascivil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and giving both  tical, we cannot doubt; and then, but not till then,
into the possession of one irresponsible power, there- will the two dread counterpart elements of human.
by destroying both civil and religious liberty, and degradation, tyranny and slavery, become alike imsubjecting men to an absolute and irremediable des- possible.
potism. -In another point of view, the Erastian the-   Into these three great parties, Presbyterian, Tndeory assumes a still darker and more formidable as- pendent, and Erastian, was the Westminster Aspect. It necessarily denies the mediatorial sover- sembly of Divines divided, even when first it met;
eignty of the Lord Jesus Christ over his'Church; and it was inevitable that a contest should be waged
takes the power of the keys from his office-bearers among them for the ascendency, ending most probaand gives them to the civil magistrate; destroys lib- bly either in increased hostility and absolute disruperty of conscience, by making. spiritual matters sub- tion, or in some mutual compromise, to which all
iect to the same coercive power as temporal affairs might assent, though perhaps with the cordial appronaturally and properly are; and thus involves both bation of rnone. The strength of these parties was
State anid Church in reciprocal and mutually de- more evenly balanced at first than might have been
structive sin: the State, in usurping a power which  expected. The Puritans, though all of them had reGod has not given; and the Church, in yielding  cdived Episcopal ordination, and had been exercising
what she is not at liberty to yield-the sacred crown- their ministry in the Church of England under the
rights of the Divine Redeemer, her only Head and hierarchy, were nearly all Presbyterians, or at least
King.                                            quite willing to adopt that form of church governBut as the Erastian controversy will come fully ment, though many of them would have consented
befbre us in the debates of the Assembly, it is urine- to a modified Episcopacy on the Usserian model.
cessary to enter upon it here. There were only two  Their influence in the city of London was paramount,
divines in the Assembly who advocated the Erastian and throughout the country was very considerable;
theory; and of these, one alone was decidedly and  and as they formed the most natural connecting link
thoroughly Erastian. The divine to whom this un- with Scotland, they occupied a position of very great
enviable pre-eminence must be assigned was Thorn- importance. Although the Independents were but a
as Coleman, minister at Bliton, in Lincolnshire. He small minority in the Assembly, yet various circumwas aided generally, but not always, by Lightfoot, in stances combined to render them by no means a weak
the various discussions that arose involving Erastian  or insignificant party. They were. supported in the
opinions. Both of these divines were eminently dis- House of Peers by Lords Say and Sele, and frequenttinguished by their attainments in Oriental literature, ly, also, by Lords Brooks and Kimbolton, the latter
particularly in rabbinical lore; and their attachment of whom is better known by his subsequent title of
to the study of Hebrew literature and customs led  Lord Manchester. Philip Nye, one of the leading
them to the conclusion that the Christian Church  Independents, had been appointed to Kimbolton by
was to be in every respect constituted according to the influence of Lord Kimbolton. and continued to
the model of the Jewish Church; and having formed maintain a constant intercourse with him, both while
the opinion that there was but one jurisdiction in Is- he was acting as a legislator, and when leading the
rael, combining both civil and ecclesiastical, and that armies of the Parliament. It is even asserted by
this was held by the Hebrew monarchs, they con- Palmer, in his " Nonconformists' Memorial," that
eluded that the same blended government ought to Nye's advice was sought anrid followed in tie nominaprevail under the Christian dispensation.  Of the tion of the divines who were called to the Assembly. t
lay-assessors in the Assembly the chief Erastians And when, farther, it is borne in mind that Oliver
were the learned Selden, Mr. Whitelocke, and Mr. Cromwell was an Independent, and acted as lieutenSt. John; but though Selden was the only one of ant-general under Lord Manchester, it will easily be
them whose arguments were influential in the As- perceived that Nye's intercourse with the army was
sernbly itself, yet nearly all the Parliament held senti- direct and influential, and that thus the Five Disments decidedly Erastian, and having seized the pow- senting Brethren were able to employ a mighty poer -of church government, were not disposed to yield it litical influence. Nor can the Erastian party be justup, be the opinion of the assembled divines what it ly termed feeble, though formed by not more than
might. Hence, though the Erastian divines were two divines, and a few of thelay-assessors, who were
only two, yet their opinions, supported by the whole not always present; for both Coleman and Lightfoot
civil authority in the kingdom, were almost sure to  were influential men, on account of their reputation
triumph in the end. This, in one point of view, was for learning, in which they were scarcely inferior to
not strange. The kingdom had suffered so much se- Selden himself in the department of Hebrew literavere and protracted injury from the usurped authori- ture. So high was Selden's fame, that any cause
ty and power of the prelates, that the asserters of might be deemed strong which he supported; and
civil liberty almost instinctively shrunk from even Whitelocke and St. John possessed'so much politithe shadow of any kind of power in the hands of ec- cal influence in Parliament that they could not fail
clesiastics. A little less passion and fear, and a lit- to exercise great power in every matter which they
tle more judgment and discrimination, might have promoted or opposed. BDlt the main strength of the
rescueed them from this groundless apprehension; Erastian theory consisted in the combination of three
and they might have perceived that freedom, both potent elements-the natural love of holding and ex
civil and ecclesiastical, would be best secured by the
full and authoritative recognition of their respective    * Palmer's Noncoformists' Memorial, vol. i., p. 96.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     491
name and function of bishops, and attempt the now, nor can, nor ought to he observed, either
establishing a Presbyterial form, which at length  touching persons or functions. The charge of
they advanced into jus divinum, or a Divine in- this is left to the magistrate, so that nothing be
stitution, derived expressly from Christ and his contrary to the Word of God.  The governapostles.  This engaged them in so many con- ment of the Church must be according to the
troversies as prevented their laying the top form of government in the commonwealth."
stone of the building, so that it fell to pieces The chief patrons of this scheme in the Assembefore it was perfected.  The chief patrons of bly were Dr. Lightfoot, Mr. Colman, Mr. Selpresbytery, in the House of Commons, were den, Mr. Whitelocke; and in the House of ComDenzil Hollis, Esq., Sir William  Waller, Sir mons, besides Selden and Whitelocke, Oliver
Philip Stapleton, Sir John Clotworthy,. Sir Ben- St. John, Esq., Sir Thomas Widdrington, John
jamin  Rudyard, Sergeant Maynard, Colonel Crew, Esq., Sir John Hipsley, and others of the
Massey, Colonel Harley, John Glynn, Esq., and greatest names.
a few others.                                   The Independents, or Congregational brethThe Erastians formed another branch of the ren, composed a third party, and madb a bold
Assembly, so called from Erastus, a German' stand against the proceedings of the High Presdivine of the sixteenth century. The pastor- byterians; their numbers were small at first,
al office, according to him, was only persua- though they increased prodigiously in a few
sive, like a professor of the sciences over his years, and grew to a considerable figure under
students, without any power of the keys an- the protectorship of Olivei Cromwell.*
nexed.*  The Lord's Supper, and other ordi-   We have already related their original, and
nances of the Gospel, were to be free and open carried on their history till they appeared in
to all. The minister might dissuade the vi- public, about the latter end of the year 1640.
cious and unqualified from the communion, but The divines who passed under this denominamight not refuse it, or inflict any kind of cen- tion in the Assembly had fled their country in
sure; the punishment of all offences, either of the late times, and formed societies according to
a civil or religious nature, being reserved to the their own model in Holland, upon the States almagistrate.  The pretended advantage of this lowing them the use of their churches, after their
scheme was, that it avoided the erecting impe- own service was ended, with liberty of ringing
rium in imperio, or two different powers in the a bell to public worship. Here, as they declare,
same civil government; it effectually destroyed  they set themselves to consult the Holy Scripall that spiritual jurisdiction and coercive pow- tures as impartially as they could, in order to
er over the consciences of men, which had been find out the discipline that the apostles themchallenged by popes, prelates, presbyteries, &c., selves practised in the very first age of the
and made the government of the Church a Church; the condition they were in, and the
creature of the State. Most of our first Reform- melancholy prospect of their affairs affording no
ers were so far in these sentiments as to main- temptation to any particular bias. The rest of
tain that no one form of church government is their history, with their distinguishing opinprescribed in Scripture as an invariable rule for ions, I shall draw from their Apologetical Narfuture ages, as Cranmer, Redmayn, Cox, &c.;  ration, published in 1643, and presented to the
and Archbishop Whitgift, in his controversy  House of Commons.
with Cartwright, delivers the same opinion:   "As to the Church of England," say they,
"I deny," says he, "that the Scripture has set "we profess, before God and the world, that
down any one certain form of church govern- we do apprehend a great deal of defilement in
ment to be perpetual."  Again: "It is well their way of worship, and a great deal of unknown that the manner and form of govern- warranted power exercised by their churcli
ment expressed in the Scriptures neither is governors, yet we allow multitudes of their paercising power, which is common to all men and par- ministers true ministers. In the late times,
ties, tending to render the Parliament reluctant to
relinquish that ecclesiastical supremacy which they when we had no hopes of returning to our own
had with such difficulty wrested from the sovereign; country, we held communion with them, and
their want of acquaintance with the true nature of offered to receive to the Lord's Supper some
Presbyterian church governiment, which led them to that came to visit us in our exile, whom we
dread that, if allowed free scope, it might prove as knew to be godly, upon that relation and memoppressive as even'the prelatical, beneath whose bership they held in their parish churches in
weighty and galling yoke the nation was still down- Engla nd they professing themselves to be mem
bent and bleeding; and the strong instinctive antipathy which fallen human nature feels against the bers thereof, and belonging thereto. The same
spirituality and the power of vital godliness. It is charitable disposition we maintained towards
easy to perceive that the theory which was support- the Dutch churches among whom  we lived.
ed by these three elements in thorough and. vigorous We mutually gave and received the right hand
union, was one which it would be no easy matter-to of fellowship, holding a brotherly correspondencounter and defeat; or, rather,.was one over which ence with their divines, and admitting some of
nothing but Divine power could possibly gain the
victory.
The Scottish commissioners cannot with propriety   * "The Independents," remnarks Dr. Lingard, "were
be regarded as forming a party in the Westminster few, and could only compensate the paucity of theil
Assembly, as they and the English Presbyterians numbers by the energy and talent of their leaders.
were in all important matters completely identified. They never exceeded a dozen in the Assembly; but
Still, it may be expedient to give a very brief account these were veteran disputants, eager. fearless, and
of men who occupied a position so important, and persevering, whose attachment to their favourite docexercised for a time so great an influence on the af- trines had been riveted by persecution and exile, and
fairs of both kingdoms. Their names have been al- who had not escaped from the intolerance. of one
ready mentioned.-Hetheririgton, p. 116-124.-C.  church to submit tamely to the control of another."
Baxter's Life, p. 139.                    -History of England, vol. x., p. 274.-C.




49-2                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the members of their churches to communion ent Assembly of Divines, though they are senin the sacramc.nt, and other ordinances,' by vir- sible they shall have the disadvantage with retue of their relation to those churches."*  gard to numbers, learning, and the stream of
The scheme they embraced was a middle public interest; however, they are determined,
way between Brownismn and Presbytery, viz., in all debates, to yield to the utmost latitude of
that " every particular congregation of Chris- their consciences, professing it to be as high a
tians has an entire and complete power of ju- point of religion to acknowledge their mistakes
risdiction over its members, to be exercised by when they are convinced of them, as to hold
the elders thereof, within itself. This, they are fast the truth; and when matters are brought
sure, must have been the form of government to the nearest agreement, to promote such a
in the primitive Church, before the numbers of temper as may tend to union as well as truth.*
Christians in any city were multiplied so far as   " They therefore beseech the honourable
to divide into many congregations, which it.is houses of Parliament not to look upon them as
dubious whether it was the fact in the apostles' disturbers of the public peace, but to consider
times.tf                                    them as persons that differ but little from their
" Not that they claim an entire independency  brethren, yea, far less than they do from what
with regard to other churches, for they agree themselves practised three years ago. They
that, in all cases of offence, the offending church  beseech them likewise to have some regard to
is to submit to an open examination by other their past exile and present sufferings, and upon
neighbouring churches, and, on their persisting these accounts to allow them to continue in
in their error of miscarriage, they then are to their native country, with the enjoyment of the
renounce all Christian communion with them  ordinances of Christ, and an indulgence in some
till they repent, which is all the authority or lesser differences, as long as they continue
ecclesiastical power that one church may exer- peaceable subjects.
cise over another, unless they call in the civil  " Signed by
magistrate, for which they find no authority in    " Thos..Goodwin, Sydrach Simpson, Philip
Scripture.T                                      Nye, Jer. Burroughs, William Bridge."t
" Their method of public worship in Holland    The Reverend Mr. Herle, afterward prolocuwas the same with other Protestants: they tor of the Assembly, in his imprinatur to this
read the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- Apology, calls it a performance full of peace'
ment in their assemblies, and expounded them  ableness, modesty, and candour; and, though
on proper occasions; they offered up public and he wrote against it, yet, in his preface to his
solemn prayers for Itings, and all in authority; book, entitled "The Independency upon Scripand though they did not approye of a prescribed  ture of the Independency of Churches," says,
form, they admitted that public prayer in their "The difference between us and our brethren
assemblies ought to be framed by the medita- who are for independency is nothing so great
tion and study of their ministers, as well as as some may conceive; at most, it does but
their sermons; the Word of God was constant- ruffle the fringe, not any way rend the garment
ly preached; the two sacraments, of baptism  of Christ; it is so far from being a fundamental,
to infants and the Lord's Supper, were frequent- that it is scarce a material difference."  The
ly administered; to which was added singing more rigid Presbyterians attacked the Apology
of psalms, and a collection for the poor every  with greater severity; swarms of pamphlets
Lord's Day.                                  were published against it in a few months, some'They profess their agreement in doctrine reflecting on the persons of the apologists, and
with the articles of the Church of England and others on their principles, as tending to break
other Reformed churches.                    the uniformity of the Church under the pretence'Their officers and public rulers in the of liberty of conscience.  The most furious adChurch were pastors, teachers, ruling elders versaries were Dr. Bastwick, old Mr. Vicars,
(not lay, but ecclesiastical persons, separated  and Mr. Edwards, minister of Christ Church,
to that service), and deacons.               London, who printed an Antapologia of three
" They practised no church censures but ad- hundred pages in quarto, full of such bitter inmonition, and excommunication upon obstinate vectives, that the pacific Mr. Burroughs said,
and impenitent offenders; which latter, they "he questioned whether any good man ever
apprehended, should not be pronounced but for vented so much malice against others, whom
crimes of the last importance, and which may he acknowledged to be pious and religious perbe reasonably supposed to be committed con- sons."  But we shall have occasion to rememtrary to the light and conviction of the person's her this gentleman hereafter.
conscience.                                    Lord Clarendon and Mr. Echard represent
"In conclusion, they call God anid man to the Independents as ignorant and illiterate enwitness that, out of a regard to the public thusiasts; and though Mr. Rapin confessest he
peace, they had forbore to publish their peculiar knew nothing of their rise and progress, he has
opinions, either fiom the pulpit or press, or to painted them out in the most disadvantageous
improve the present disposition of the people to colours, affirming " that their principles were
the increase of their party; nor should they exceeding proper to put the kingdom  into a
have published that apology to the world, had flame; that they abhorred monarchy, and apnot their silence been interpreted as an ac- proved of none but a Republican government,
knowledgmrent of those reproaches and calum- and that, as to religion, their principles were
nies that have been cast upon them by their contrary to all the rest of the world; that they
adversaries, but should have waited"for a free would not endure ordinary ministers in the
and open debate of their sentiments in the pres- Church, but every one among them  prayed,
* Apologet. Nar. of the Independents, p. 78.  ~ Apologet. Narr. of the Independents, p. 24, 25, 27
+ Ibid., p. 12, 15.         $ Ibid., p. 18.  t Ibid., p. 30.. Vol. ii., p. 514. folio.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   493
preached, admonished, and interpreted Scrip- It is necessary the reader should make these
ture, without any other call than what himself remarks, to rectify a train of mistakes which
drew from his supposed gifts and the approba- runs through this part of Mr. Rapin's history,
tion of his hearers."                       and to convince him that the king's death was
It is surprising so accurate an historian  not. owing to the distinguishing tenets of any
should take such liberties with men whose sect or party of Christians. There were, inprinciples he was so little acquainted with as deed, some Republicans and Levellers in the
to say the Independents abhorred monarchy, army, whose numbers increased after they deand approved of none but a Republican govern- spaired of bringing the king into their measures,
ment; whereas they assure the world, in their and it is well known that at their first appearApology, that they prayed publicly for kings, ance Cromwell, by his personal valour, supand all in authority. This was no point of pressed them with the hazard of his life. These
controversy between them and the Presbyte- were chiefly Anabaptists, and proved as great
rians, for when they had the king in their cus- enemies to the protector as they had been to
tody they served him on the knee, and, in all the king. But there is nothing in the principles
probability, would have restored him to the of the Presbyterians, Independents, or Anabaphonours of his crown, if he had complied with tists, as far as I can learn, inconsistent with
their proposals. When they were reproached monarchy, or that had a natural tendency to
with being enemies to magistracy, a declara- put the kingdom into a flame.
tion was published by the Congregational socie-   Mr. Baxter, who was no friend to the Indeties in and about London, in the year 1647, pendents, and knew them much better than the
wherein they declare, "that as magistracy and above-mentioned writers, admits " that most
government in general are the ordinance of of them were zealous, and very many learned,
God, they do not disapprove of any form of discreet, and pious, capable of being very sercivil government, but do freely acknowledge viceable to the. Church, and,.searchers into
that a kingly government, bounded by just and Scripture and antiquity;"* though he blames
wholesome laws, is both allowed by God, and them, on other occasions, for making too light
a good accommodation unto men."*  And if of ordination; for their too great strictness in
we may believe Dr. Welwood,t when the army the qualification of church members; for their
resolved to set aside the present king, the gov- popular form of church government, and their
erning party would have advanced the Duke of too much exploding of synods and councils; and
Gloucester to the throne, if they could have done then adds, " I saw commendable care of seriit with safety. With regard to religion, Rapin ous holiness and discipline in most of the Indeadds, their principles were contrary to: all the pendent churches; and I found that some Episrest of the world; and yet they gave their con- copal men, of whom Archbishop Usher was one,
sent to all the doctrinal articles of the Assem- agreed with them in this, that every bishop 7was
bly's Confession of Faith, and declared, in their zndependent, and that synods and councils were
Apology, their agreement with the doctrinal not so much for government as concord."  And
articles of the Church of England, and with all I may venture to declare that these are the
the Protestant Reformed churches in their HIar- sentiments of almost all the Protestant Nonmony of Confessions, differing only about the conformists in England at this day.
jurisdiction of classes, synods, and convoca-   There was not one professed Antipaedobaptions, and the point of liberty of conscience. tist in the Assembly, though their sentiments
Our historian adds, that "they were not only began to spread wonderiully without doors.
averse to Episcopacy, but would not endure so Their teachers were for the most part illiterate,
much as ordinary ministers in the Church. yet Mr. Baxter says,t "he found many of them
They maintained that every man might pray in sober, godly, and zealous, vnot differing from their
public, exhort his brethern, and interpret Scrip- brethren butt as to infant baptism."  These jointure, without any other call than what himself ing with the Independents in the points of disdrew  from his zeal and supposed gifts, and cipline and toleration, made them  the more
without any other authority than the approba- considerable, and encouraged their opposition
tion of his hearers."  Here his annotator, Mr. to the Presbyterians, who were for establishing
Tindal, rightly observes, that he has mistaken their own discipline, without regard to such as
the Independents for the Brownists; the Inde- differed from them.
pendents had their stated officers in the Church   It is not to be wondered that so many parfor public prayer, preaching, and administering ties with different views should entangle the
the sacraments, as, pastors, teachers, and el- proceedings of this venerable body, and protract
ders (who were ecclesiastics), and deacons to the intended union with the Scots; though, as
take care of the poor; nor did they admit of soon as the Covenant was taken, they entered
persons unordained to any office to exercise upon that affair, the Parliament having sent
their gifts publicly, except as probationers, in them  the following order, dated October 12,
order to their devoting themselves to the minis- 1643.
try. The words of their confession are, " The    "Upon serious consideration of the present
work of preaching is not so peculiarly confined state of affairs, the Lords and Commons assem
to pastors and teachers, but that others also bled in this present Parliament do order, that
gifted, and fitted by the H91y Ghost for it, and the Assembly of Divines and others do forth.
approved (being by lawful ways and means, by with conter, and treat am6ng themselves, of
the providence of God, called thereunto), may such a discipline and government as may be
publicly, ordinarily, and constantly perform it, most agreeable to God's holy Word, and most
so that they give themselves up thereunto.".t apt to procure and preserve the peace of the
Church at home, and a nearer agreement with
SPaoye 8.            Memoirs, p. 90, 1718.
Savoy Conference, 4to, p. 24, art. 14. 14. Baxter's Life, p. 140, 143.   t Life, p. 40.




494                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the Church of Scotland, &c., to be settled in not their intention to let loose the golden reins
this Church instead of the present church gov- of discipline; and of their national Covenant,
ernlent by archbishops, bishops, &c., which it wherein they had engaged to the most high God
is resolved to take away; and to deliver their to settle a uniformity in the Church; they add,
advice touching the same to both houses of Par- " Give us leave, we beseeeh you, in pursuance
liament with all convenient speed."         of our national Covenant, to sigh out our sorHereupon the Assembly set themselves to rows at the foot of this honourable senate.
inquire into the constitution of the primitive Through many erroneous opinions, ruinating
Church, in the days of the apostles, which, be- schisms, and damnable heresies, unhappily foing founded upon the model of the Jewish syn- mented in this city and country, the orthodox
agogues, gave the Lightfoots, the Seldens, the ministry is neglected, the people are seduced,
Colrtans, and other masters of Jewish antiqui- congregations torn asunder, families distracted,
ties, an opportunity of displaying their superior rights and duties of relations, national, civil,
learning, by new and unheard-of interpretations and spiritual, scandalously violated, the power
of Scripture, whereby they frequently discon- of godliness decayed; parliamentary authority
certed the warmer Presbyterians, whose plan underinined, fearful confusions introduced, imof discipline they had no mind should receive minent destruction threatened, and in part inthe stamp of an apostolic sanction in the Church flicted upon us lately in the west. May it thereof England.*                                fore please your wisdoms, as a sovereign remIt was undoubtedly a capital mistake in the edy for the removal of our present miseries, and
proceedings of Parliament to destroy one build- preventing their farther progress, to expedite a
ing before they were agreed upon another. The directory for public worship, to accelerate the
ancient order of worship and discipline in the establishment of a pure discipline and governChurch of England was set aside above twelve ment, according to the Word of God and the
months before any other form was appointed; example of the best Reformed churches, and to
during which time, no wonder sects and divis- take away all obstructions that may impede and
ions arrived to such a pitch, that it was not in retard our humble desires."*  Upon this the
their power afterward to destroy them. Com- Assembly were ordered to send up their humble
mittees, indeed, were appointed to prepare mda- advice upon this head: which was to the folterials for the debate of the Assembly, some for lowing effect [September 22], viz., that in this
discipline, and others for worship, which were de- present exigency, while threre were no Presbybated in order, and then laid aside without being te ians, yet it being necessary that ministers
perfected, or sent up to Parllament to be framed should be ordained for the army and navy, and
into a law. Nothing can be alleged in excuse for the service of many destitute congregations,
of this, but their backwardness to unite with  by some who, having been ordained themselves,
the Scots, or the prospect the Parliament might have power to join in the setting apart of' othyet have of an agreement with the king.      ers: they advise,
The first point that came upon the carpet was   (1.) That an association of some godly min
the ordination of ministers; which was the more isters in and about the city of London be apnecessary, because the bishops refilsed to ordain  pointed by public authority, to ordain ministers
any who were nott in the interest of the crown: for the city and the neighbouring parts, keeping
this gave occasion to inquire into the ancient as near to the rule as may be.
right of presbyters to ordain without a bishop,.(2.) That the like associations be made by
which meeting with some opposition, the cor- the same authority in great towns and neighmittee proposed a temporary provision till the Iouring parishes in the several counties, which
matter should be settled, and offered these two  are at present quiet and undisturbed.
queries:                                       (3 ) That such as are chosen, or appointed
First, " Whether, in extraordinary cases, for the service of the army or navy, being well
something extraordinary may not be admitted, recommended, be ordained as aforesaid, by the
till a settled order can be fixed, yet keeping as associated ministers of London, or some others
near to the rule as possible'!"             in the country, and the like for any other conSecondly, "Whether certain ministers of this gregations that want a minister.t
city may not be appointed to ordain ministers   According to this advice, the two houses
in the city and neighbourhood, for a certain passed an ordinance, October 2, for the ordinatime, jure fraternitatis?"                  tion of ministers pro tempore, which appoints the
To the last of which the Independents enter- following ten persons, being presbyters, and
ed their dissent, unless the ordination was at- members of the Assembly, to examine and ortended with the previous election of some (lain, by imposition of hands, all those whom
church. New difficulties being continually start- they shall judge qualified to be admitted into
ed, upon this and some other heads, the Scots the sacred ministry, viz.,
commissioners were out of all patience, and ap- Dr. Cornelius Burgess,  Mr. Edmund Calary.
plied to the city ministers to petition the Parlia-   assess,      Mr. l-Iumphre Chamber
mernt to call for the advice of the Assembly. Mr. George Walker.'Mr. John Ley.
The petition was presented September 18, 1644, Mr. John Conant.   Mr. Starkey Gower.
in which, having reminded the Commons of MJr. Daniel Cawdry.    Mr. Henry Roborough.
their remonstrance, wherein they declare it was Dr. William Gouge.
And the following thirteen, being presbyters
Lightfoot's Remains, in Pref.. p. 8.
* I0 ghtfoot's Remains, in Pref., p. 8.   of the city of London, but not members  of the
~ Bishop Hall complained that he was violently
restrained in his power of ordination. On this sin- Assembly, viz.,
gle instance Dr. Grey grounds a general assertion, -
that the bishops were prevented from ordaining by    * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 780.
the rabble.-ED.                                      t Vol. Pamp., penes rme, No. 68.




HI-STORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     495
Rev. Mr. John Downham. Rev. Mr. Sam. Clarke.    exercise of their ministry, to the ruin of them
Mr. Tim. Dodd.        Mr. Fulk Billers.    and their families.  The prelates and their facMr. Tho. Clendon.     Mr. Leon. Cooke.   tion have raised their estimation of it to such a
Mr. Em. Bourne.       Mr. Richard Lee.
Mr. Fr. Roberts.      Mr. Tho. Horton.   iheight, as if God could be worshipped no other
Mr. Cha. Offspring.   Mr. Arthur Jackson.  way but by the.service-book; in consequence
Mr. James Cranford.                       of which the preaching of the Word has been
And seven or more to be a quorum, and all depreciated, and in some places entirely negpersons so ordained to be reputed ministers of lected.
the Church of England, sufficiently authorized    "In the  mean time, the papists have made
for any office or employment therein, and capa- ther advantage  this way, boasting that the
ble of all advantages appertaining to the same.                          up to a compliance
Their rules for examination and trial of candi- with a great part of their service, by which
dates will be seen the next'year, when this af- means they were not a little confirmed in their
fair was fully settled.  In the mean time an- idolatry and superstition, especially of late,
other ordinance passed the houses for the ben- when new ceremonies were daily obtruded upon
efit of the county of Lancaster, whereby the the Church.
Rev. Mr. Charles HI-erle, MRr. Richard IH-errick,; "Besides, the liturgy has given great encourMr. Hyet, Mrl. Bradshar, Mr. Isaac Alllbrose  agement to an idle and unedifying ministry,
who choose rather to confine themselves  to
and others, to the number of twenty-one, hadfo          e rther              to  them
full power given them to ordain pro lempore in  forms made their hands than to exert th
the county of Lancaster.  And to obviate the  selves in the exercise of the gift of prayer, with
reproaches of the Oxford divines, the following  which our Saviour furnishes all those whom he
clause was added: " That if any person do pub- calls to that office.
licly preach, or otherwise exercise any minis     For these and many other weighty considterial office, who shall not be ordained, or there- erations, relating to the hook in general, beunto allowed by           the said  inisters,  sides divers particulars which are a just ground,
their names shall be returned to both houses of of offence it is thought advisable to set aside
Parliament, to be dealt with as they in their the former litulgy, with the many rites and cerwisdom shall think fit."  It was voted farther, emonies formerly used in the worship of God,
that " no minister be allowed to preach unless not out of any affectation of novelty, nor with
an intention to disparage our first Reformers,
he has a certificate of his ordination, or at least an intention to disparage our first Reformers,
of his being examined and approved by the Assembly."* Antd February 16, at a conference gracious providence of God which now calls
between the two houses, it was agreed that the upon us for a farther reformation; that we iay
Assembly of Divines'be desired to admit none satisfy  our own consciences, answer tie ex
into their pulpits except such whose doctrine pectations of other Reformed churches, ease
they would be answerable for.  Such was the the consciences of many godly persons among
concern of the Parliament in these distracted  ourselves, and give a public testimony of our
times, to have a sober and well-regulated clergy.
Next to the providing for a succession of ship, pursuant to what we had promised in our
ministers by ordination, the Assembly consult- solemn League and Covenant."
ed about a form of devotion.  The old liturgy    It has been olserved that the.Direetory is
being laid aside, there were no pblic officers not an absolute form of devotion, bhut, agreeably
in the aChurchd: a comittee was therefore ap- to its title, contains only some general direcin the Church:~ a committee was therefore ap- tions, taken partly from the Word of God, and
pointed, October 17, 1643, to agree upon cer-t,    n partly from  the Word of God, and
tain general heads for the direction of the min- partly fom  rules of Cprudence; it
ister in the discharge of his office, which, hav- points out the heads of public prayer, of preaching passed through the Assembly, were sent into  in  and other parts of the pastoral function,
Scotland  for the approbation of the General As- leaving the ministers a discretionary latitude to
sembly, and then established by an ordinance  fill ip the vacancies according to his ailidies
of Parliament  bearing date January 3, 1644-,  It is divided-into several chapters, and being a
under the title of" A Directory for Public Wor- book of a public nature, comprehending all the
ship "                                        peculiarities of the Presbyterian reformation, I
The reasons which induced the Parliamient  have given it a place in the.Appendix.    Mr
to discard the old liturgy, and form a new plan AFllei oblervest that the Intdeendents in the
for the' devotion of the Church, I shall tran- Assembly were hardly persuaded to consent to
scribe from their own preface. " It is evident," it, for fear of infringing the liberty of prayer,
say they, " after lorng and sad experience, that yet being admitted to qualify some things in the
the litturgy used in the Church of England, not- preface, they complied. The committee who
withestanding  all the pais and religious inte- cornpos-ed the preface were Mr. Nye, Mr. Bridgtions of the cornpilers, has proved an offence to es, Mr. Burges, Mr. Thomas Goodwin, all Indemany of the godly at home, and to the Reform- pendents; Mr. Vines, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Mared churches abroad  The enjoining the reading sal, and Dr. Temple, with the Scots commisall the prayers theighitened the grievances, and  sioners
the many unprofitable and burdensome ceremo-    The  irectory passed the Assembly with
The Directoryy Passed the Assembly with
tnies have occasiotaed and  mischief, nsome   cersq- great unanimity; those who were for set forms
nies have occasioned mnuch mischief, by disquieting the conscienc es of many who could not of prayer resolving to confine themselves to the
yield to them.  Suciilr y good people have by very words of the Directory, while others made
yield to them. Sundry good peotoe have by         of them  only as heagos for their enlargethis means been kept from  the Lord's table, use
mert.
and many faithfuill ministers debarred firom the
* Appendix, No. 8.
* Parliamentary Chronicle, p. 152             t Church History, b. xi., p. 222.




496                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
It may not be improper in this place to ad- worship, it being apprehended more proper for
vise the reader of the following variations intro- a confession of faith; and accordingly the Creed
duced into the service of the Church upon this and Ten Commandments were added to the
occasion.  Instead of one prescribed form of Assembly's confession, published a year or two
prayer, the Directory only points out certain  forward.  The ordinance for establishing the
topics on which the minister might enlarge. Directory repeals and makes void the acts of
The whole Apocrypha is rejected; private and  Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, by which the
lay baptism, with the use of godfathers and god- old liturgy was established, and forbids the use
mothers, and the sign of the cross, are discon- of it within any church, chapel, or place of pubtinued.*  In the sacrament of the Lord's Sup- lie worship in England or Wales, appointing
per no mention is made of private communion, the use of the Directory in its room; and thus
or administering it to the sick.  The altar with  it continued till the restoration of King Charles
rails is changed into a communion-table, to be II., when the Constitution being restored, the
placed in the body of the church, about which  old liturgy took place again, the ordinance for
the people might stand or sit, kneeling not be- its repeal having never obtained the royal asing thought so proper a posture.  The Presby- sent.
terians were for giving the power of the keys    It was a considerable time before this great
into the hands of the ministers and elders, as revolution in the form of public worship took
the Independents were to the whole brother- place over the whole kingdom.  In some parts
hood; but Lightfoot, Selden, Colman, and oth- of the country the church-wardens could not
ers were for an open communion, to whom the procure a Directory, and in others they despiParliament were most inclinable, for all they  sed it, and continued the old Common Prayer
would yield was, that " the minister, immedi- Book; some would read no form, and others
ately before the communion, should warn, in the would use one of their own.  In order, therename of Christ, all such as are ignorant, scan- fore, to give life to the Directory, the Parlia-,dalous, profane, or that live in any sin or of- ment next summer called in all Common Prayfence against their knowledge or conscience, er Books, and imposed a fine upon those ministhat they presume not to come to that holy  ters who should read any other form than that
table, showing them  that he that eateth and  contained in the Directory.*  The ordinance is
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judg- dated August 23, 1645, and enacts that "the
ment to himself."  The prohibition of marriage  knights and burgesses of the several counties
in Lent, and the use of the ring, are laid aside. of' England and Wales shall send printed books
In the visitation of the sick, no mention is made  of the Directory, fairly bound, to the committee
of private confession, or authoritative absolu- of Parliament in their several counties, who
tion.  No service is appointed for the burial of shall deliver them to the officers of the several
the dead. All particular vestments for priests parishes in England and Wales, by whom they
or ministers, and all saints' days, are discarded. shall be delivered to the several ministers of
It has been reckoned a c onsiderable omission, each parish.  It ordains farther, that the severthat the Directory does not enjoin reading the al ministers, next Lord's Day after receiving
Apostles' Creed and the Ten Commandments; the Book of Directory, shall read it openly in
Lord Clarendon reportst that, when this was their respective churches before morning serobserved in private conversation at the treaty  mon.  It then forbids the use of the Common
of Uxbridge, the Earl of' Pembroke said he was  Prayer Book in any church, chapel, or place of
sorry fobr the omission, but that, upon a debate public worship, or in any private place or farniin the House of Commiions, it was carried in the ly, under penalty of ~5 f(r the first offence, ~10
negative by eight or nine voices.  Which made  fir the second, and for the third a vear's immany smile, says his lordship; but the jest will prisonment.  Such ministers as do not observe
be lost, when the reader is informed that the the Directory in all exercises of public worship
question in the House was not whether the shall forfeit 40s.; and they who, with a design
Creed should be received or rejected, but wheth- to bring the Directory into contempt, or to raise
er it shoul'd be printed with the Directory for opposition to it, shall preach, write, or print
anything in derogation of it, shall forfeit a sum
Another variation, not noticed by Mr. Neal, was of money not under ~5, nor more than  ~50, to
the exclusion of dipping, and declaring sprinlling to be given to the poor.  All Common Prayer
be sufficient.  This was owing to Dr. Lightfoot. Books remaining in paish churches o chapels
When the Assemnby came to the vote whether the  Books rei
Directory should run thus, "The minister shall e ordered    hin a month to  e carried to the
take water, and sprinkle or pour it with his hand  committee of the several counties, to be dispoupon the face or forehead of the child," some were sed of as the Parliamrient shall direct."+
unwilling to have dipping excluded, so that the vote    These were the first-fruits of Presbyterian
came to an equality within one; for the one side there uniformity, and are equally to be condemned
being twventy-four, and for the other tent.y-fJve. Next with the severities and oppressions of the late
day the afahir was resumed, when the doctor insisted  times; for though it should be admitted that
on hearing the reasons of those who were for dip- the Parliament or Legislature  ad a rit to
ping. At length it was proposed that it should bent or Legislature 
expressed thus: that " pouring on of water, or sprink- ab ogate the use of thle Common    Prayer Book
ling, in the administration of baptism, is lawful and in churches, was it not highly unreasonable to
sufficient."  Lightfoot excepted against the word forbid the reading it iii private families or clos-'lawful," it being the same as if it should be deter- ets?  Surely the devotion of a private ftamily
mined lawful to use bread and wine in the Lord's
Supper; and he moved that it might be expressed    * Who does not see the spirit of persecution
thus: " It is not only lawful, but also sufficient;" which invariably accompanies all attempts of a
and it was put down so accordingly. - Robinson's church or nation at uniformity? Independency has
History of Baptism., p. 450, 451. —E. (Tolmlein).    not this sin to answer for.-C.
t Ciarendon, vol. ii., p. 588.                 t Rushworth, part iv., vol. i., p. 205.




I31STORY OF THE  PURITANS.                                    497
could be no disturbance to the public; nor is it of particular election, redemption, &c.  They
any excuse to say that very few suffered by it, separated from  the Independent congregatior
because the law is still the same, and equally about the year 1638, and set up for themselves,
injurious to the natural rights of mankind.   under the pastoral care of Mr. Jesse, as has been
Though his majesty's affairs were very des- related; and having renounced their former
perate after the battle of iNaseby, yet he had baptism, they sent over one of their numbet
the courage to forbid the use of the new Direct- [Mr. Blunt] to be immersed by one of the Dutch
ory, and enjoin the continuance of the Common Anabaptists of Amsterdam, that lie might be
Prayer, by a proclamation from  Oxford, dated qualified to baptize his friends in England after
November 13, 1645, in which his majesty takes the same manner.*  A strange and unaccountnotice, that "the Book of Common Prayer, be- able conduct! for, unless the Dutch Anabaping a most excellent form of worship, grounded tists could derive their pedigree in an uninteron the Holy Scriptures, is a great help to devo- rupted line from tile apostles, the first reviver
tion, and tends to preserve a uniformity in the of this usage must have been unbaptized, and,
Church of England; whereas the Directory consequently, not capable of communicating the
gives liberty to ignorant, factious, and evil men ordinance to others.  Upon Mr. Blunt's return
to broach their own fancies and conceits, and he baptized Mr. Blackldck, a teacher, and Mr.
utter those things in their long prayers which  Blacklock dipped the rest of the society, to the
no conscientious man can assent to; and be number of fifty-three,'in this present year, 1644.
the minister never so pious, it breaks in upon "Presuming upon the patience of the state,"
the uniformity of public service.  And whereas says Dr. Featly, "they have rebaptized one hunthis alteration is introduced by an ordinance dred men and women together, in the twilight,
of Parliament, inflicting penalties on offenders, in rivulets, and some arms of the Thames, and
which was never pretended to be in their pow- elsewhere, dipping them  over head and ears.
er without our consent: now, lest our silence They have printed divers pamphlets in defence
should be interpreted as a connivance in a mat- of their heresy," says the same author, "and
ter so highly concerning the.worship of God, challenged.sofme of our preachers to a disputaand the established laws of the kingdom, we do tion."t  Nay, so wonderfully did this opinion
therefore require and command all ministers in prevail, that there were no less than forty-seven
all cathedral and parish churches, and all other congregations in the country; and seven in
places of public worship, that the said Book of London at this time, who published a confesCommon Prayer be kept and used in all chiu.ch-  sion of their faith, signed in the name of their
es, chapels, &c., according to the statute primo congregations, by William  Kiffin, Thomas PaEliz., and that the Directory be in no sort ad- tience,' George Tipping, John Spilsbury, Thomas
mitted, received, or used; and whensoever it Sheppard, Thomas Munden, Thomas Gun, John
shall please God to restore us to peace, and the Mabbet, John Wrebb, Thomas Kilcop, Paul Hoblaws to their due course, we shall require a strict son, Thomas Gore, John Philips, and Edward
account, and prosecution' against the breakers Heath. In the year 1646 it was reprinted. with
of the said law. And, in the miean time, in such the additional narmes of Dennis le Barbier and
places where we shall come and find the Book Christopher Durell, minister of the French conof Common Prayer suppressed and laid aside, gregation in London; of the same judgment.
and the Directory introduced, we shall account   Their confession consisted of fifty-two artiall those that are aiders, actors, or contrivers cles, and is strictly Calvinistical in the doctritherein, to be persons disaffected to the religion  nal.art, and according to the Independent d:isand laws established."-'                      cipline; it confines the subject of baptism. to
His majesty likewise issued out warrants grown Christians, and the mode to immersion;
under his own hand, to the heads of the univer- it admits of gifted lay-preachers, and acknowlsity, commanding them to read Divine service edges a due subjection to the civil magistrateo
as usual, morning and evening; and asstired  in all things lakwful, and concludes thus: "We
his peers at Oxford that he was still determin- desire to live quietly and peaceably, as becomes
ed to live and die for the privileges of his crown, saints, endeavouring, in all things, to keep a
his friends, and church government.           good conscience, and to do to every man, of
About this time the Anabaptists [or, more what judgment soever, as we would they shilOild
properly, Antipadobaptists] began to make a do to us; that, as our practice is, so. it may
considerable figure, and spread themselves into  prove us to be a conscionable, quiet, and harmseveral separate congregations.  We have al- less people (no way dangerous or troublesomeready distinguished the German Anabaptists to human society), and to labour to work with,
from the English, who differed only firom their
Protestant brethren about the subject and mode   * MS. penes.
Of baptism; these were divided into general   t Dr. Featly was the author of the famous pam.
and particular, fromn their different sentiments phlet entitled "Tlhe Dippers Dipped." Its tone and
upon the Arminian controversy; the former ap- t      are non   he milest, as ay bejudgd from
pearled in Holland, where Mr. Smith,. their lead. this extract. Rarely has more gall and mialice been.
concentratedI than in this now obsolete production.
er, published a confession of faith,i the year confcentrated than in this now obsolete production.
er, publishedtl  a confession of faith, in the year In wonderful contrast is the spirit of " the Confession161 1, which Mr Robinson, the minister of the of Faith" referred to. T'he superscription is, " T( all
Independent congregation at Leyden, answered  that desire the lifting up of the naine of the L4 ird,
in 1614; but the severity of those times would  Jesus in sincerity, the poor despised: churches of
not admit them to venture into England.  The God in London send greeting with prayers for their
particular Baptists were strict Calvinists, and farther increase in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.'7
were so called froint their belief of the doctrines This Confession is an admirable compeud of sound
doctrine, and appeared in 1C44.  A fac-simile edition.
is now in the press of W. D. Tickinor & C.c.. tIos' Rushworth. part iv., vol. i., p. 207.  toln.-C.
VOL. I.-R R R




498                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Jar hands, that' we may not be chargeable to  parable parts, well versed in the Greei and
any, but to give to him that needeth, both friend  Hebrew languages, and a most excellent dispuand enemy, accounting it more excellent to  tant.  He wrote several letters to Mr. Selden
give than to receive.  Also we confess that we  against infant baptism, and published a Latin
know but in part: to show us from the WTord  exercitation upon the same subject, containing
of God that which we see not, we shall have  several arguments, which he represented to the
cause to be thankful to God and them.  But if' committee appointed by the Assembly to put a
any man shall impose upon us anything that we  stop to the progress of this opinion.  The exsee not to be commanded by our Lord Jesus  ercitation being translated into English, brought
Christ, we should, in his strength, rather em-  upon him a whole army of adversaries, among
brace all reproaches and tortures of men; to be  whom were the Reverend Dr. Hammond, Dr.
stripped of all our outward comforts, and, if it Holmes, Mr. Marshal, Fuller, Geree, Baxter, and
were possible, to die a thousand deaths, rather  others. The people of this persuasion were more
than to do anything against the truth of God, exposed to the public.resentments, because they
or against the light of our own consciences.  would hold communion with none but such as
And if any shall call what we have said heresy, had been dipped.  All must pass under this
then do we with the apostle acknowledge, that cloud before they could be received into their
after the way they call heresy so worship we  churches; and the same narrow spirit prevails
the God of our fathers; disclaiming all heresies  too generally among them even at this day.*
(rightly so called) because they are against    Besides the above-mentioned  writers, the
Christ; and in desiring to be steadfast and im- most eminent divines in the City of London, as
movable, always abounding in obedience to  Mr. Vines, Calamy, and others, preached vigorChrist, as knowing our labour shall not be in  ously against these doctrines, which they had a
vain in the Lord."                              right to do, though it was most unjustifiable to
When Dr. Featly had read this confession, fight them at the same time with the sword' of
he owned they were neither heretics nor schis-  the civil magistrate,t and shtut them up in prismatics, but tender-hearted  Christians, upon  on, as was the case of several in this and the
whom, through false'suggestions, the hand of  following year, among whom are reckoned the
authority had fallen heavy while the hierarchy. Reverend Mr. Henry Denn, formerly ordained
stood.                                          by the Bishop of St. David's, and possessed of
The advocates of this doctrine were, for the  the living of Pyeton, in Hertfordshire; Mr.
most part, of the meanest of the people; their  Coppt, minister in Warwickshire, and some
preachers were generally illiterate, and went time preacher to  the garrison  in Compton
about the country making proselytes of all who  House; Mr. H-anserd Knollys, who was several
would submit to immersion, without a due re-  times before the committee for preaching Antigard to their acquaintance with the principles  nomianismi and Antip11dobaptism; and being
of religion, or their moral characters. Tlhe wri- forbid to preach in the public churches, he openters of these times represent them as tinctured  ed a separate meeting in Great St. Helen's,
with a kind of enthusiastic fury against all that firom whence he was quickly dislodged and his
opposed them. Mr. Baxter says,* "There were  followers dispersed.  Mr. Andrew. Wyke, in the
but few of them that had not been the opposers  county of Suffolk, was imprisoned on the same
and troublers of faithful ministers; that in this  account, and Mr. Oates, in Essex, tried for his
they strengthened the hands of the profane, and  life, in Chelmsford Assizes, for the murder of
that, in general, reproach of ministers, faction,  Anne Martin, because she died a few days after
pride, and scandalous practices, were fomented  her immersion, of a cold that seized her at that
in their way."t  But still there were among  time.  Lawrence Clarkson was imprisoned by
them some learned, and a great many sober and  the committee of Suffolk, and having lain in jail
devout Christians, who disallowed of the im- six months, signed a recantation, and was reprudence of their country friends.  The two  leased.  The recantation,$ as entered in the
most learned divines that espoused their cause  committee's books, was in these words:
were Mr. Francis Cornwall, M.A., of Emanuel
College, and Mr. John Tombes, B.D., educated    * On this opinion the editor would say nothing,
in the University of Oxford, a person of incorn- though he could say much; he would refer his readers to the Acts of the Apostles.-C.
* Baxter's Life, p. 102, 144.                   t Nothillg, it is justly observed by Mr. Crosby, is
t We refer the reader, for a more full account of  more evident than that the most distinguished of the
the Baptists of this period, to the Supplement in vol. Presbyterian divines preached and wrote against tot
iii., where their history will be given in greater de- eration, and were strenuous advocates for the intertail, and continued without interruption. Suffice it ference of' the civil power to suppress what they
to say here, that Mr. Baxter, great and excellent as deemed error. Mr. Baxter always freely avowed
he was. had his weaknesses and prejudices, for which  that " he abhorred unlimited liberty, or toleration of
much allowance must be made. Severe as is what all." Dr. Lightfoot informed the iHouse of Commions,
he says above of the Baptists, he speaks of them, at in a sermon at St. Margaret's, Westminster, that.other times, with more candour and respect. As p. though " he would not go about to (tetermine wheth140 of his Life: "For the Anabaptists themselves er conscience might be bound or not, yet, certainly,
(though I have written and said so much against the devii in the conscience might be, yea, must be;theim), as I found most of' them were persons of zeal bound by the civil magistrate."-Crosb.y's History of
in religion, so mainy of them were sober, godly peo- the English Baptists, vol. i., p. 176, 178. Robinson's
pie, anld differed from others but in the point of in-  History of Baptism, p. 151. —E. (Toulmin).
fant baptism; or, at most, in the Doimits of predesti-   $ Every instance of a recantation which ecclesi
nation, and free-will, and perseverance."  It is to be  astical history furnishes moves our pity arid excites
regretted, on the ground of' the justice due to this  our indignation; our pity of the weakness arid timidpeople, and even to Mr. Baxter, that Mr. Neal should  ity from which it flows, and our indignation at the
have overlooked or omitted this testimony, so hol- spirit of intolerance which can demand the sacrifice
ourable to both — JD. (Toulmin).                of principle and integrity. " Mr. Clarkson had not




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     499
"July 15, 1645.   served the king in his army, but the elector
"This day Lawrence Clarkson, formerly cor- himself being in Holland, took the Covenant,
mnitted for an Anabaptist, and for dipping, does and by a letter to the Parliament testified his
now, before the committee, disclaim his errors. approbation of the cause in which they were
And whereas formerly he said he durst not leave engaged. This summer he made a tour to Enghis dipping, if lie might gain all the committee's land, and was welcomed by a committee of the
estates, now he says that he by the Holy Scrip- two houses, who promised him  their best adtures is convinced that his said opinions were  vice and assistance; to whom the prince made
erroneous, and that he will not, nor dares not the following reply:
practice it again, if he might gain all the cornm-   "I hold myself much obliged to the Parliamittee's estates by doing it; And that he makes ment for their favours, and my coming is to exthis recantation not for fear, or to gain his lib- press in person what I have often done by leterty, but merely out of a sense of his error; ter, my sincere affections to them, and to take
wherein he will endeavour to reform others."   off such jealousies as either the actions of some
It must be granted that the imprudent behav- of my relations, or the ill effects of what my eniour'of the Baptist lay-preachers, who declaim- emies might by my absence cast upon me. My
ed against human literature and hireling priests, wishes-e are constant for the good success of
crying down magistracy and a regular ministry, thegreat work you have undertaken, for a thorand talking in the most exalted strains of a fifth ough reformation; and my desires are to be
monarchy, and King Jesus, prejudiced the minds ruled and governed by your grave counsels."t
of many sober people against them; but still   The Parliament ordered an apartment to be
the imprisoning men merely on account of reli- fitted up for the prince at Whitehall, and voted
gious principles, not inconsistent with the pub- him ~8000;t a year for his maintenance, and
lic peace, nor propagated in a riotous and tu-. ~10,000 for his royal mother, till he should be
multuous manner, is not to be justified on any  restored to his electorate.    While he stayed
pretence whatsoever; and it was the more in- here, he frequently attended the Assembly in
excusable in this case, because Mr. Baxter their debates, and after some time had a pass
admits- that the Presbyterian zeal was in a for himself and forty horse into the Low Coungreat measure the occasion of it.             tries.  His sister, Princess Sophia, afterward
Before we leave the Assembly for this year, married the Duke of Brunswick and Hanover,
it will be proper to take notice, that it was hon- whose son, upon the decease of Queen Anne,
oured with the presence of Charles Lewis, elec- succeeded to the crown of Great Britain, by the
tor palatine of the Rhine, eldest son of Fred- name of George I.; the numerous posterity ol
eric, &c., king of Bohemia, who married King  King Charles I. being set aside as papists, and
James's daughter, and lost his territories by the  thus the descendants of the Queen of Bohemia,
fatal battle of Prague in 1619.  The unhap- electress-palatine, and daughter of King James
py Frederic died in 1632, and left behind him  I., cafme to inherit the imperial crown of these
six sons and five daughters, among whom were  kingdoms, as a reward for their firmness to the
Prince Rupert, Prince Maurice, and the Prin- Protestant religion; and may the same illuscess Sophia.  The young elector and his moth- trious family continue to be the guardians of
er often solicited the English court for assist- our liberties, both sacred and civil, to the end of
ance to recover their dominions, and were as time!
often complimented with empty promises. All   Religion was the fashion of the age: the Asthe Parliaments of this reign mention with con- sembly was often turned into a house of prayer,
cern the calamitous condition of the Queen of and hardly a week passed without solemn fastBohemia and her children, and offer to Venture ing and humiliation in several of the churches
their lives and fortunes for the recovery of the  of London and Westminster; the laws against
Palatinate; but King Charles I. did not approve profaneness were carefully executed; and behis sister's principles, who, being a resolved  cause the former ordinances for the observation
Protestant, had been heard to say, if we may  of the Lord's Day had proved ineffectual, it was:elieve L'Estrange, that rather than have her ordained, April 6, that all persons should apply
son bred up in idolatry at the emperor's court, themselves to the exercise of piety and religion
she had rather be his executioner.  And Mr. on the Lord's Day, " that no wares, fruits, herbs,
Echard adds,t that the birth of King Charles or goods of any sort be exposed to sale, or cried
[I., in the year 1630, gave no great joy to the  about the streets, upon penalty of forfeiting the
Puritans, because, as one of them  declared, goods.  That no person without cause shal
"God had already provided for them in the fai- travel, or carry a burden, or do any worldly laily of the Queen of Bohemia, who were bred up  bour, upon penalty of ten shillings for the travin the Protestant religion, while it was uncer- eller, and five shillings for every burden.ll That
tain what religion King Charles's children would  no person shall on the Lord's Day use, or'be
follow, being to be brought up by a mother de- present at, any wrestling, shooting, fowling, ringvoted to the Church of Rome."  When the war ing of bells for pleasure, markets, wakes, church
broke out between the king and Parliament, the
elector's younger brothers, Ru pert and Maurice,' Bishop Warburton thinks it apparent. fromn mrany
circumstances, that the elector had his eye onr the
only been imprisoned six months, but all the inter- crown, matters being gone too far for the king and
cession of his friends, though he had several, could Parliament ever to agree.-ED.
not procure his release. The committee were unre-  f4 Oldmixon's History of the Stuarts, p. 268
lenting. Nay, though an order came down, either   * It was ordered October, 1645, but Dr. Grey quotes
fonom a committee of Parliament or the chairman of authority to prove that it was ill paid. —Vol. ii., A~p
it, to discharge him, yet they refused to obey it."-  pen.dix, No. 50.-ED.
Crosby's History of English Baptists, vol. i., preface,   Q Oldmixon's History of the Stuarts, p. 279.
p. 16.-El). (T'oulmis).                         H "And for every offence in doing any worldly 1u
* Baxter's Life, p. 103.    t History, p. 449. bour or work."-ED.




500                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
ales, dancing, games, or sports whatsoever, upon  by giving liberty to carnal and sensual delights,
penalty of live shillings to every one above four- being contrary to the life which Christ led here
teen years of age.  And if children are found  on earth, and to the spiritual life of Christ in
offending in the premises, their parents or guar- our souls, for the sanctifying and saving wheredians to forfeit twelvepence for every offence. of Christ was pleased both to take a human
That all May-poles be pulled down, and none  life, and to lay it down again."*
others erected. That if the several fines above   The Royalists raised loud clarnours on account
mentioned cannot be levied, the offending party  of the supposed impiety and profaneness of this
shall be set in the stocks for the space of' three  transaction, as what had never before been heard
hours. That the king's declaration concerning  of in the Christian world, though they could not
lawful sports on the Lord's Day be called in, but know that this, as well as other festivals,
suppressed, and burned.                      is of ecclesiastical appointment;t that th re is
This ordinance shall not extend to. prohibit rio mention of the observation of Christmas in
dressing meat in private families, or selling vic- the first or second age of Christianity; that the
tuals in a moderate way in inns or victualling  Kirk of Scotland never observed it since the
houses, for the use of such who cannot other- Reformation, except during the short reign of
wise be provided for; nor to the crying of milk  the bishops, and do not regard it at this day.
before nine in the morning, or after four in the  Some of the most learned divines among the
afternoon."*                                 Presbyterians, as well as Independents, were in
The solemn League and Covenant was in such  this sentiment.  Mr. Edmund Calarriy, in his
high repute at. this time,t that by an order of sermon before the House of Lords on this day,
the House of Commons, January 29, 1634, it has these'expressions: "This day is commonly
was appointed "that, on every fast-day and  called Christmas Day, a day that has heretoday of public humiliation, the Covenant should  fore been much abused to superstition and probe publicly read in every church and congrega- faneness. It is not easy to say whether the
tion within the kingdorh; and that every con- superstition has been greater, or the profanegregation be enjoined to have one of the said  ness. I have known some that have preferred
Covenants fairly printed, in a fair letter, in a Christmas Day before the Lord's Day; some
table fitted to hang up in some public place of that would be sure to receive the sacrament on
the church to be read."  Which was done ac- Christmas Day, though they did not receive all
cordingly, and they continued there till the Res- the year after.  Some thought though they did
toration.t                                   not play at cards all the year long. yet they
But that which occasioned'the greatest dis- must play at Christmas, thereby, it seems, to
turbance over the whole nation, was an order keep in memory the birth of Christ. This, and
of both houses relating to Christmas Day. -Dr. much more, hath been the profanation of this
Lightfoot says, the London ministers met to- feast; and truly, I think the superstition and
gether'last year to consult whether they should  profaneness of this day are so rooted into it,
preach on that day; and one of considerable  that there is- no way to reform it but by dealing
name and authority opposed it, and was near with it as Hezekiah did with the brazen serpent.
prevailing with the rest, when the doctor con- This year God, by his providence, has buried
vinced them so far of the lawfulness and expe- this feast in a fhst, and I hope it will never rise
diency of it, that the question being put, it was again. You have set out, right honourable, a
carried in the affirmative, with only four or five strict order for keeping of it, and you are here
dissenting voices. But- this year -it happening  this day to observe your own order, and I hope
to fall on the monthly fast, so that either the you will do it strictly. The necessities of the
fast or the festival must be omitted, the Par- times are great, never more need of prayer and
liament, after some debate, thought it most fasting. The Lord give us grace to be humbled
agreeable to the present circumstances of.the  in this day of humiliation, for all our own and
nation to go on with fasting and prayer; and, England's sins, and especially fin' the old supertherefore, published the following order-    stition and profaneness of this feast."
"Die Jovis, 19 Dec., 1644.        About midsummer this year died Dr. Thomas
Westfield, bishop of Bristol, born in the Isle of'Wehereas some doubts  have been raised  Ely, 1573, educated in Jesus College, Camwlhether the next fast shall be celebrated, be- bridge, and afterward Rector of Hornsey, and of
cause it falls on the day which heretofore was St. Bartholomew the Great London, and Archusually called the feast of the nativity of our deacon ofSt. Alban's. In the year 1641 he vas
~Savuiour;  the lords and commons, in Parlia- advanced to the see of Bristol, which he acment assenibled, do.ordler and ordain that pub-. cepted, though he had refused it, as is said,
lie notice be given, that the fast appointed to be twenty-five years before.4  He was a gentlekept the last Wednesday in every month ought man of great modesty a good preacher, an cxto be observed, till it be otherwise ordered by cellent orator. The Parliament had such an
both houses; and that this day in particular esteem for him that they named him one of the
is to be kept with the.more solemn- humnil- Assembly of Divines, and he had the goodness
iation, because it may call to remembrance our to appear among them for some time: Upon
sins and the sins of our forefathers, who have the bishop's complaint that the profits of his
turned this feast, pretending the memory of bishopric were detained, the committee ordered
Christ, into an extreme forgetfulness of him, them to be restored, and gave him a pass to go to
* Srbell's Collect., p. 68.
t Dr. Grey gives various passages from the ser-   * Rushworth, vol. v., p. 817.
inons of the day to prove in what extravaganit esti-   t'Dr. Grey says that the observation of Christmas
mation it was -held, and to show what high encomi- was appointed by statute 5 and 6 Edward VI, iii.
nams were passed upon it.-ED.                -ED.
t Loud. Min. Test. to the Truth of Jesus, p. 26.    $ Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 3.




HISTORY  OF TAiiE PURITANS.                                501
Bristol to receive them, wherein they style him    5. "' That judgment having been given in the
a person of great learning and merit.  He (lied Court of King's Bench against Mr. Burley, a
in possession of his bishopric, June 25, 1644, clergyman ofa bad character, for nonresidence,
aged seventy-one, and composed his own epi- hie had caused the judgment to be stayed, saytaph, one line of which was,                 ing he would never suffer judgment -to pass
Senio et m&rrore confectus.        upon any clergyman by nihil dicrit.
Worn out with age and grief.         6.' That large sums of money having been
contributed for buying in impropriations, the
And'copor~.nfimus  peccator i. atrarchbishop had caused the feoffments to be
Episcoporum infimus, peccatorum primus.  o~verthrown into his majesty's exchequer, and
The least of bishops, the greatest of sinners.  ley th at means suppressed the design..y that means suppressed the design.
Dr. Calibute Downing wxas born of an ancient   7. "That he had harboured and relieved difamily in Gloucestershire, about 1616; he was vets popish priests, contrary to law.
educated in Oriel College, Oxford, and at length   8.   hat he had said at Westminster there
became Vicar. of Hackney, near London, by the most be a blow givee i to the Church, such as
procurement of Arclhbishop Laud, which is very  had not been given, before it could be brought
strange, if, as Mr. Wood says, he always looked to conformity, declaring thereby his intention
awry on the Church. In his sermon before the to alter the true Protestant religion established
Artillery Company, September 1, 1640, he main- in it
tained that, for the defence of religion and ref-'    "That after the dissolution of the last
ormation of the Church, it was lawful to take Parliament, he had caused a convocation to be
tip arms against the king,. if it could be obtaine d inwhich sundry canons were made conno other way.  For this he was. forced to abtrato the rights andprivilegesofParliament
trary to the rights and privileges of Parliament,
scond till the beginning of the present Parlia- and an illegal oath imposed upon the clergy
ment. He was afterward chaplain in the Earl  ith certain penalties, comonly known by the
with certain penalties, commonly known by the
of Essex's army, and a member of the Assem- et CrtCer oath.
bly of Divines, but died before he was. forty   10. "That upon the abrupt dissolving of the
years of age, having the character of a pious Short Parliament, 1640, he had told the king he
man, a warm preacher, and very zealous in the was now absolved fiom all rules of government,
interest of his country.
and at liberty to make use of extraordinary
methods for supply."*
I omit the charge of the Scots commissioners, because the archbishop pleaded the Act of
CHAPTER V.                    Oblivion.
ABSTRACT OF'THE TRIAL OF ARCHBISHOP LAOD,   The Lords ordered the archbishop to deliver
AND OF THE TREATY OF UXBRIDGE.         in his answer in writing to the above-mentioned
article in three weeks, which he did, taking no
NEXT day, after the establishment of the Di- notice of the original ones.t  The trial was put
rectory, Dr. William Laud, archbishop of Can- off firom time to time, at the request of the pristerbury, received sentence of death. He had oner, till September 16, when the archbishop
been a prisoner in the Tower almost three  appearing at the bar, and having kneeled some
years,* upon an impeachment of high treason  time, was ordered to stand, and one of the manby the House of Commons, without once peti- agers for the Commons moved the Lords that
tioning for a trial, or so much as putting in his their articles of impeachment, with the archanswer to the articles; however, as soon as bishop's answer, might be read; but when the
the Parliament had united with the Scots, it clerk of the House had read the articles, there
was resolved to gratify that nation by bringing  was no answer to the original ones.  Upon
him  to the bar; accordingly, Sergeant Wild which Sergeant Maynard rose up and observed.
was sent up to the House of Lords, October 23, ", how unjust the archbishop's complaints of his
with ten additional articles of high treason, and long imprisonment, and of the delay of his hearother crimes and misdemeanors, and to pray  ing must be, when in all this time he had not
that his grace might be brought to a speedy  put in his answer to their original articles,
trial.  We have already recited the fourteen  though he had long since counsel assigned him
original articles, under the year 1640. The ad- for that purpose. That it would be absurd in
ditional ones were to the following purpose:   them to proceed on the additional articles, when
1. "That the archbishop had endeavoured  there was no issue joined on the original ones;
to destroy the use of' Parliaments, and to intro- he therefore prayed that the archbishop might
duce an arbitrary government.                forthwith put in his answer to all their articles,
2.' "That for ten years before the present and then they should be ready to confirm their
Parliament, he had endeavoured to advance the charge whenever their lordships should apcouncil-table, the canons of the Church, and point."
the king'A prerogative, above law.             The archbishop says the Lords looked hard
3. " That he had stopped writs of prohibition  one upon another, as if they would ask where
to stay proceedings in the ecclesiastical courts, the mistake was, he himself saying nothing, but
when the same ought to have been granted.    that his answer had not been called for.t  His
4. "That he had caused Sir John Corbet to  grace would have embarrassed them  farther,
be committed to the Fleet for six months, only by desiring them to hear his counsel, whether
for causing the petition of right to be read at the articles were certain and particular enough
the sessions.
_    * Prynne's Complete History of the Trial of Arch* Laud had become almost unthought of, and it bishop Laud, p: 38.        t Ibid., p. 45.
would have been wise in the Long Parliament to   $ Wharton's History of Archbishop Laud's Troubhave left him in seclusion.-C.              les, p. 214, 215.




502                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
to receive an answer.  He moved, likewise, managers replied, and the archlishop returned
that if lie must put in a new answer, his former to the Tower between seven and eight of the
might be taken off the file; and that they would clock in the evening.
please to distinguish which articles were trea-   It is unhappy that this remarkable trial, which
son, and which misdemeanor. But the Lords contains the chief heads of controversy between
rejected all his motions, and ordered him to- put the Puritans and the hierarchy, was not pubin his peremptory answer to the original articles lished by order of the House of Peers, that the
of the Commons by the 22d instant, which he world might have seen the arguments on both
did accordingly, to this effect:             sides in their full strength. Mr. Prynne, by or"As to the 13th article, concerning the troub- der of the House of Comrmons, has given us
les in Scotland, and all actions, attempts, as- their evidence to that branch of the charge
sistance, counsel, or device relating thereto, which relates to religion, and the archbishop
this defendant pleadeth the late Act of Oblivion, has left behind him his own defence on every
he being none of the persons excepted by the day's hearing, mixed with keen and satirical
said act, nor are any of the offences charged reflections on his adversaries; but these being
upon this defendant excepted by the said act.  detached performances, I have endeavoured to
"And as to all the other articles, both origi- reduce the most material passages into a propnal and additional, this defendant, saving to er method, without confining myself to the exhimself all advantages of exception to the said act order of time in which the articles were dearticles, humbly saith that he is not guilty of bated.
all or any the matters, by the said articles   All the articles may be reduced to these three
charged, in such manner and form as the same general heads.
are by the said articles charged against him."  First, "That the archbishop had traitorously
The trial was deferred all the month or Feb-.itempted and endeavoured to subvert the
Tuary, as the archbishop insinuates, because rights of Parliament, and to exalt the king's
Mr. Prynne was not ready with his witnesses. power above law.
When it carne on, Lord Grey, of Werk, speaker   Secondly, "That he had traitorously endeavof the House of Lords, was appoinied president; oured to subvert the fundamental tr mporal laws
but the archbishop complains that there were and government of the realm of England, and
seldom  more than sixteen or eighteen peers to introduce an arbitrary government against
at a time.  The managers for the Commons law and the liberties of the subject.
were Mr. Sergeant Wild, and Mr. Maynard, Mr.   Thirdly, "That he had traitorously endeavBrown, Mr. Nicolas, and Mr. Hill, whom the oured and practised- to alter and subvert God's
archbishop calls consul bibulus, because he said true religion by law established in this realm,
nothing; their solicitor was Mr. Prynne, the and instead thereof, to set up popish superstiarchbishop's grand enemy. His grace's coun- tion ahd idolatry, and to reconcile us to the
sul were Mr. Hern, Mr. Hales, Mr. Chute, Mr. Church of Rome."
Gerard; and his solicitor was his own secreta-   The trial began March 12, 1643-4, when Mr.
ry, Mr. Dell. The trial was depending almost Sergeant Wild, one of the managers of the
five months, in which time the archbishop was House of Commons, opened the impeachment
heard twenty days, with as much liberty and with a smart speech, in which he stated and
freedom of speech as could be reasonably desi- aggravated the several crimes charged upon
red.  When he complained of the seizure df his the archbishop, and concluded with comparing
papers,* the Lords ordered him a copy of all him to Naaman the Syrian, who was a great
such as were necessary for his defence; and man, but a leper.
when he acquainted them that, by reason of the' The archbishop, in his reply, endeavours to
sequestration of his estate, he was incapable wipe off the aspersions that were cast apon
of feeing his counsel, they moved the commit-, him, in a laboured speech which he held in his
tee of sequestrations in his favour, who ordered hand. He says, "It was no less than a torhim ~200. His counsel had free access to him  ment to him to appear in that place, and-plead
at all times, and stood by to advise him during for himself on that occasion, because he was
the whole of his trial.                      not only a Christian, but a clergyman, and, by
The method of proceeding was this: the God's grace, advanced to the greatest place
archbishop had three or four days' notice of the this Church affords.  He blessed God that he
day of his appearance, and of the articles they was neither ashamed to live nor afraid to die;
designed to proceed on; he was brought to the that he had been as strict an observer of the
bar about ten in the morning, and the managers laws of his country, both in public and private,
were till one making good their charge; the as any man whatsoever; and as for religion,
House then adjourned till four, when the arch- that he had been a steady member of the Church
bishop made his defence, after which one of the of England as established by law, which he had
* Laud, on hisfirstsentthe ofendeavoured to reduce to decency, uniformity,
Laud, on his first committal, had sent the keyof and beauty in the outward face of it; but he
his cabinet to Warner, bishop of Rochester, desiring had been as far from attempting any alterations
him to burn or conceal such papers as might be pre n   vor of popery as when his mother first
udicial to his own interest or those of his friends. in favour of popery as when  his mother first
Warner was engaged for three hours at the task, and bore him into the world; and let nothing be
had only just completed it, when a messenger from  spoken but truth," says he, "and I do here
the House of Lords came to seal up the cabinet. challenge whatsoever is between heaven and
Among the documents carried off by Warner was hell, that can be said against me in point of my
the original Magna Charta. This valuable relic of religion, in which I have ever hated dissimulaantiquity was found among Warner's papers at his tion."* He then concludes with a list of twendeath. It was afterward presented to Bishop Burnet, and is now in the British Museum.-Jesse's   * Wharton's History of Archbishop Laud's Troub6
House of Stuart, vol. ii., p. 389.-C.       les, p.. 223.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                    503
by-one persons whom he had converted from  men the falsehood and malice of their oaths,"
popery to the Protestant religion.           says he; "but as to the allusion to the stone
It was observed by some, that if the passion- in the Scripture, if I did apply it to the king, it
ate expressions in this speech had been a lit- was far enough from treason; and let them and
tie qualified, they would have obtained more their like take care, lest it prove true upon
credit with his grace's judges;* but, as they themselves, for Solomon says,' The anger of a
were pronounced, were thought hardly fit for king is death.' "*
the mouth of one who lay under the weight of   4. In farther maintenance of this part ol
so many accusations from the representative their charge, the managers produced " two
body of the nation. i                        speeches which his grace framed for the king
The next day [March 13] the managers for to be spoken to the Parliament; and his majesthe Commons began to make good the first ty's answer to the remonstrance of the House
branch of their charge, to the following purpose, of Commons in the year 1628, which was all
viz.:                                        written with the archbishop's own hand, and
"That the archbishop had traitorously at- these words endorsed by himself,'My answer
tempted to subvert the rights of Parliament, to the Parliament's remonstrance.' In which
and to exalt the king's power above the laws."  papers were sundry passages tending to set up
In support of which they produced, (1.) a an absolute power in the king, and to make the
passage out of his own diary, December 5, 1639. calling of Parliaments in a manner useless.
"A resolution was voted at the board to assist The king is made to say that his power is only
the king in extraordinary ways, if," says he, from God, and to him only he is accountable
" the Parliament should prove peevish and re- for his actions; that never king was more jealfiuse."                                      ous of his honour, or more sensible of the negThe archbishop replied, that this was the lect and contempt of his royal rights.  His
vote of the whole council-table, of which he majesty bids the Commons remember, that Parwas only a single member, and therefore could liaments are altogether in his power, for their
not be called his counsel. Besides, the words calling, sitting, and dissolution; and that, achad relation to the troubles of Scotland, and are cording as they behaved themselves, they should
therefore included in the Act of Oblivion.   continue, or not be. When some of the mem2. "They produced another expression in one hers of Parliament had spoken freely against
of the archbishop's papers under his own hand, the Duke of Buckingham, they were by the
in the beginning of which he says that Magna king's command sent to tle Tower; and his
Charta had an obscure birth, and was fostered  majesty coming to the House of Peers, tells
by an ill nurse."  them  that he had thought fit to punish some
The archbishop replied, that it was no dis- insolent speeches lately spoken against the
grace to Magna Charta to say it had an obscure duke, for I am so sensible of all your honours,
birth; our histories confirm the truth of it, and (says he), that he that touches any of you,
some of our law-books of good account use al- touches me in a very great measure. Farther,
most the same expressions; and shall the same when the Parliament was dissolved in the year
words be history and law in them, and treason  1628, a proclamation was published, together
in me?(                                      with the above-mentioned remonstrance, in
3. They averred, "That he had said in coun- which his majesty declares, that since his Parcil, that the king's proclamation was of as great liament was not so dutiful as they ought to be,
force as an act of Parliament; and that he had he was resolved to live without them, till those
compared the king to the stone spoken of in who had interrupted his proceedings should rethe Gospel, that whosoever falls upon it shall ceive condign punishment, and his people come
be broken, but upon whomsoever it falls it will to a better temper; and that in the mean time,
grind him to powder."                        he would exact the duties that were received
The archbishop replied, that this was in the by his -father, which his now majesty neither
case of the soap business, twelve years ago, could nor would dispense with."t
and thinks it impossible those words should be   The archbishop replied, that he did indeed
spoken by him; nor does he Apprehend the gen- make the above mentioned speeches, being comtlemen who press this evidence can believe it manded to the service, and followed his in
themselves, considering they are accusing him  structions as close as he could. As fbr the
as a cunning delinquent. " So God forgive these smart passages complained of; he hopes they
will not be thought such when it is considered
* Dr. Grey thinks that the severest expressions whose mouth was to utter them, and upon what
were justifiable in answer to so foul-mouthed an im- occasion. However, if they be, he is heartily
peacher as Sergeant Wild, and that there was no- sorry for them, and humbly desires they may
thing in the bishop's speech unbecoming that great be passed by. The answer to the remonstrance
prelate to speak, or that assembly to hear.-ED.  was drawn by his majesty's command, as apt- "To give him his due," says Prynne, " he made pears by the endorsement; and the severe pasas full, as gallant, as pithy a defence of so bad a ges objected to were in his instructions
cause, and spoke as much for himself as was possible for the wit of man to invent, and that with so      liament errs, may not their king
much art, sophistry, vivacity, oratory, audacity, and tell them of it 1 Or must every passage in his
confidence, without the least blush or acknowledg- answer be sour that pleases not $t
ment of guilt in anything (animated by his sealed   The managers proceeded to produce some
pardon lying by him), as argued him rather obstinate other passages tending more immediately to
than innocent, impudent than penitent, a far better
orator, sophister, than Protestant or Christian, yea,
truer son of the Church of Rome than of the Church   * Laud's History, p. 234.
of England."-Canterbury's Doomn, p. 462.-C.    t King's Speeches, March 27, 29, and May 11.
$ Laud's History, p. 229-231.    $ Ibid., p. 409.  X. Laud's Hist., p. 2.30, 403, 404, 406.




504                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
subvert the rights of Parliament; and among regard at all to the canons of the Church; but
others, they insisted on these three:       I will rescind all acts that are against the can1. "That the archbishop had said at the ons, and I hope shortly to see the canons and
council-table, after the ending of the late Par- the king's prerogative of equal force with an
liamentj that'now the king might make use of act of Parliament.'"
his own power.' This was attested by Sir Har-   The archbishop was so provoked with the
ry Vane the elder, who was a privy councillor, oath of the witness who gave. this in evidence
and then present."                          [Mr. Samuel Blood], that he was going. to bind
The archbishop replied, that he did not re- his sin on his soul, not to be forgiven him till
member the words; that if he did speak them, he should ask him forgiveness;* but he conthey were not treasonable; or if they were, he quered his passion, and replied, that since, by
ought to have been tried within six months, a canon,t no person is allowed to teach school
according to the statute 1 Eliz., cap. vi. That without the bishop's license, and that, in case
Sir Henry Vane was only a single witness, of offence, he is liable to admonition and suswhereas the law requires two witnesses for pension, it stands good, that he may not be
treason: besides, he. conceived that this advice turned out without the said bishop's ]knowledge
relating to the Scottish troubles was within the and approbation. As for the words, " that he
Act of Oblivion, which he had pleaded. But saw nothing would down with them but an act
last of all, let it be remembered, says the arch- of Parliament, and that no regard was had to
bishop, for Sir Harry's honour, that he being a the canons," he conceived them  to be no ofman in years, has so good a memory, that he fence; for though the superiority belongs to
alone can remember words spoken at a full acts of Parliament in this kingdom, yet certaincouncil-table, which no person of honour re- ly some regard is due to the canons; and
members save himself; but I would not have therefore he says again, that "if nothing will
him brag of it, for I have read in St. Austin, down with men but acts of Parliament, the govthat some, even the worst of men, have great ernment, in many particulars, cannot subsist.
memories, and so much the worse for having As to the last words, of his rescinding those
them.  God bless Sir Henry!*               acts that were against the canons,.he is moral2. The archbishop had affirmed, "that the ly certain he could not utter them; nor does
Parliament might not meddle with religion, he believe any man that knows him will believe
without the assent of the clergy in convocation. him such a fool as to say he hoped to see the
Now if this were so, say the managers, we canons and the king's prerogative of equal force
should have had no reformation, for the bishops with an act of Parliament, since he has lived
and clergy dissented."                      to see sundry canons rejected, and the king's
The archbishop in his reply cited the statute  prerogative discussed. by law, neither of which
1 Eliz,, cap. i., which says, that "what is her- can be done by any judges to an act of Parliaesy shall be determined by the Parliament, with  ment. However, if such words should have
the assent of the clergy in convocation," from  escaped him, he observes there is only one witwhence he concluded, the Parliament could not ness to the charge; and if they be within the
by law determine the truth of doctrine without danger of the statute, then to that statute which
the assent of the clergy; and to this the man- requires his trial within six months he refers
agers agreed, as to the point of heresy, but no himself."
farther. The archbishop added, that, in his   The managers went on to the second charge
opinion, it was the prerogative of the Church against the archbishop, which was his design
alone to determine truth and falsehood, though  "to subvert the fundamental temporal laws of
the power of making laws for the punishment the kingdom, and to introduce an arbitrary govof erroneous persons was in the Parliament, ernment against law and the liberty of the subwith the assent of the clergy.t Indeed, the ject."  In maintenance whereof, they alleged
king and Parliament may, by their absolute "his illegal pressures of tonnage and poundage
power, change Christianity into Turkism  if without act of Parliament, ship-money, coat
they please, and the subjects that cannot obey and conduct money, soap-money, &c., and his
must fly, or endure the penalty of the law; but commitment of divers persons to prison for
of right they cannot do this without the Church. nonpayment; for a proof of which there apThus the Parliament, in the beginning of Queen peared, among others, three aldermen, viz., AlElizabeth's reign, by absolute power abolished dermen Atkins, Chambers, and Adams."
Popish superstition; but when the clergy were   The archbishop confessed that, as to the busettled, and a form of doctrine was to be agreed siness of ship-money, he was zealous in that
on, a synod was called, 1562, and the articles affair, yet not with an intent to violate the law,
of religion were confirmed by Parliament, with for though this wa's before judgment given fior
the assent of the clergy, which gave all parties the king, it was after the judges had declared
their just right, as is so evident, that the hea- the legality of it under their hands, and lihe
thens could see the justice of it, for Lucullus thought he might safely follow such guides.
says in Tully, that the priests were judges of He was likewise of opinion that tonnage and
religion, and the Senate of the law.        poundage, coat and conduct money, were lawful
3. " At a reference between Dr. Gill, school- on the king's part; that he was led into this
master of St. Paul's, and the Mercers' Company, opinion by the express judgment of some lor Is
the archbishop had said, that the company could present, and by the silence of others, none of
not turn him out of the school without consent the great lawyers at the table contradicting it;
of his ordinary; and that, upon mention of an however, that it was the common act of te
act of Parliament, he replied,' I see nothing council-table, and, therefore, all were as culpawill down with you but acts of Parliament, no ble as himself; and he was sure this could not
* Laud's History, p. 231.  t Ibid., p. 401.  * Laud's History, p. 236, 937.    t Can., 77, 79.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   505
amount to treason, except it were against the council had a right to command in things ( f de,
three aldermen, Atkins, Chambers, and Adams.* cency, and for the safety of the subject. and
They objected, farther, " sundry depopula- where there was no law to the contrary.  As
tions and pulling down houses; that, for the re- to the words which he spoke to Mr. Talboys,
pair of St. Paul's, above sixty dwelling-houses they were not designed to  ecrogate from the
had been pulled down, by order of council, with- law, but to show that we sat not there as judges
out any satisfaction to the tenants, because of the law, but to offer his majesty's grace by
they did not accept of the committee's compo- way of composition to them who would accept
sition. That he had obliged a brewer near the it, and, therefore. he had his option whether he
court not to burn sea-coal, under penalty of would agree to the fine we imposed upon him.,
having his brewhouse pulled down; and that, or take his trial elsewhere.  Tlhe Commons reby a li-ke order of council, many shopkeepers plied, with great reason, that no commission
were forcibly turned out of their *houses in from the king could justify the pulling down
Cheapside, to make way foir goldsmiths, who men's houses, or oblige them to part with their
were forbid to open shop in any other places of estates without act of Parliament.
the city. Whe'n a commission was issued un-   The managers objected farther to the archder the broad seal to himself, to compound with bishop, "several illegal commitments, and exdelinquents of this kind, Mr. Talboys was fined orbitant fines and censures in the Star Chaniber
~50 for noncompliance; and when he pleaded and High Corrmissior; Court, as in the cases of
the statute of the 39th of Elizabeth, the archbish- Prynne, Burton, Bastwick, Huntley, and others,
op replied,'Do you plead law here? either abide and that when the persons aggrieved brought
the order, or take your trial at the Star Cham- prohibitions, he threatened to lay them  by the
her.' When Mr. Wakern had ~100 allowed him  heels, saying,' Does fhe king grant us power,
for the pulling down his house, he was soon af- and are we then prohibited l  Let us go and
ter fined ~100 in the High Commission Court complain: I will break the back of prohibitions,
for profanation, of which he paid thirty."t  or they shall break mine.' Accordingly, severThis the archbishop admitted, and replied to al persons were actually imprisoned for deliverthe rest, that lie humbly and heartily thanked ing prohibitions, as was testified by many wvitGod that he was counted worthy to suffer for nesses; nay, Mr. Wheeler swore he heard the
the repair of St. Paul's, which had cost him out archbishop in a sermon say, that they which
of his own purse above ~1200.  As to the granted.prohibitions to the disturbance of the
grievances complained of, there was a coinpo- Church's right, God will prohibit their entrance
sition allotted for the sufferers, by a committee into the kingdom of heaven."
named by the Lords, not by him, which amount-   The archbishop replied, that the fines, impris
ed to 8 or ~9000 before they could come at the onments, and other censures complained of
church to repair it; so that, if anything was were the acts of the several courts that direct
amiss, it must be imputed to the lords of the ed them, and not his.  That the reason wih
council, who are one body, and whatsoever is several persons were imprisoned for prohibi
done by the major part is the act of the whole; tions, was because they delivered them in court
that, however, here was some recompense in an unmannerly way, throwing them on the
made thern, whereas, in King James's time; table, or handing them over the heads of others
when a commission was issued for demolishing on a stick, to the affront of the court; notwiththese very houses, no care was taken for satis- standing which, as many prohibitions had been
faction of any private man's interest; and I admitted in his time as in his predecessors';
cannot forbear to add, says the archbishop, that and after all, he apprehended these prohibitions
the bishop, and dean, and chapter did ill in were a very great grievance to the Church; nor
giving way to these buildings, to increase their was there the same reason for them now as berents by a sacrilegious revenue, there being no fore the Reformation, while the bishops' courts
law to build on consecrated ground.  When it were kept under a foreign power, whereas now
was replied to this, "that the khing's commis- all power exercised in spiritual courts, as well
sion was no legal warrant for pulling down as in temporal, is for the king. As to the words
houses without authority of Parliament," he in his sermon, though he did not remember
answered, that houses more remote from the them, yet he saw no great harm in them. And
Church of St. Paul's had been pulled down by here the archbishop put the lords in mind that
the king's commission, only in King Edward nothing had been done of late in the Star ChamIIT.'s time. As to the brewhouse, the arch- her or council-table, more than had been dons
bishop owned that he had said to the proprietor in King James and Queen Elizabeth's times
that he must seal a bond of ~3000 to brew no. Nor is there any one witness that says wha.
more with sea-coal-; but it was at the council- he did was with a design to overthrow the laws
table, when he was delivering the sense of the or introduce arbitrary government; no, that i;
board, which office was usually put upon him if only the construction of the managers, "fopresent; so that this, or any other hardship he which, and something else in their proceedings.
might suffer, ought not to be imputed to him, I am confident," says he, "they shall answor
but to the whole council; and he was very sure at another bar.'"it could not amount to treason, except it were   The managers objected farther, "the arch.
treason against a brewhouse. The like answer bishop's taking undue gifts, and, amnong others,
he made to the charge about the goldsmiths' his receiving two butts of sack, in a cause of
shops, namely, that it was the order of council, some Chester. men, whom it. was in his power
anti it was thought to be for the beauty and to relieve, by mitigating the fine set on them in
grandeur of the city, and he did apprehend the the High Commission, and taking several large
sums of nmoney by way of componition for fines
O  Laud's History, p. 232-234.
f Ibid., p. 2a5, 24-4, 246, 265.          * Laud's History, D. 270, 271, 27.1 274
VOL. I.-S S s




506                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
in the High Commission Court, making use of the-offering up the regalia on the altar, without
the method of conmrutal ion, by virtue of a pat- any rubric or direction for these things, and inent obtained from the king, which took away serting the following charge, taken verbatim out
all opportunity from his majesty of doing justice of the Roman pontifical' Stand, and hold fast,
and showing mercy to his poor subjects, and in- from henceforth, the place to which you have
vested the archbishop with the final determina- been heir by the succession of your forefathers,
tion."                                       being now delivered to you by the authority of
His grace heard this part of his charge with Almighty God, and by the hands of us, and all
great resentment and impatience. "If I would the bishops and servants of God; and as you
have had anything to do in the base, dirty busi- see the clergy come nearer the altar than othness of bribery," says he, " I needed not be in ers, so remember, that in place convenient you
such want as I am now."  As to the sack,* he give them greater honour, that the Mediator of
protested, as he should answer it to God. that God and man may establish you in the kingly
he knew nothing of it, and offered to confirm it throne, to be the mediator between the clergy
by his oath, if it might be admitted.  He de- and the laity, and that you may reign forever
dared that, when his.steward told him of Mr. with Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and,Lord
Stone's design, he absolutely forbade his receiv- of lords, who, with the Father and the Holy
ing it, or anything from any man who had busi-. Ghost, liveth and reigneth forever.  Amen.'"
ness before him; but Mr. Stone watching a time   The archbishop replied, that he did not insert
when his steward was out of town, and the the words above mentioned into the coronation
archbishop at court, brought the sack, tell- oath, they being first added in King Edward
ing the yeoman of the wine-cellar that he had VI. or Queen IElizabeth's time, and had no releave to lay it in. Afterward, when his steward lation to the laws of the kingdom, mentioned
acquainted him that the sack was brought in, before in the beginning of the oath, but to the
he commanded it should be carried back; but profession of the Gospel, whereby the king
Mr. Stone entreated that he might not be so dis- swears to maintain his prerogative against all
graced, and protested he did not do it -on the foreign jurisdictions; and if this be not the
account of the Chester business, though after meaning, yet he avers, that the clause was in
this he went home and put it on their account; the coronation oath of King James.  As to the
for which they complained to the House of other alterations, they were admitted not to be
Commons, and produced Mr. Stone for their material; but his grace confesses, that when they
witness.  The archbishop observes, that Mr. met in the committee, they were forced to mend
Browne, in summing up his charge, did him jus- many slips of the pen in some places, and to
tice in this particular, for neither to the Lords make sense and good English in others; and
nor Commons did he so much as mention it.  the book being intrusted with him, he -did it
As to the other sunms of money which he re- with his own hand, openly in the committee,
ceived, by way of composition or otherwise, for and with their approbation. As to the ceremofines in the High Commission, he said that he nies of the coronation, they are nothing to him,
had the broad seal from the king for applying since his predecessor crowned and anointed the
them to the repairing the west end of St. Paul's, king; indeed, he supplied the place of the Dean
for the space of ten years, which broad seal of Westiminster, and was obliged to look after
was then in the hands of Mr. Holford, and was the regalia, and conceives the offering them at
on record to be seen. And all fines in the the altar could be no offence.  He does not reHigh Commission belonging to the crown, his member the crucifix was brought out [though
majesty had a right to give them to what use Heylin says it was]; and as to the prayer, it
he pleased; that as for himself, he thought it was not taken from the pontifical by him, for it
his duty to get as much money for so good a was used at King James's coronation, and being
work as he could, even by way of commutation a good one, it is no matter whence it was taken.
for certain crimes; which method of pecuniary To all which the managers replied, that it apcommutations was according to law, and the pealed by his own Diary that he had the chief
ancient custom and practice of this kingdom, direction of all these innovations.*
especially where men of quality were offenders,   The managers went on, and charged the
and he had applied no part of them to his own archbishop " with endeavouring to set up an
benefit or advantage.                        independent power in the Church, by attemptIt was next objected, "that he had made di- ing to exempt the clergy firom the jurisdiction
vers alterations in the king's coronation oath, of the civil magistrate; of which they produced
and introduced several unwarrantable innova- several examples; one was, the archbishop's
tions with relation to that august ceremony; as forbidding the lord-mayor of the city of London
particularly, that he had inserted those words to carry the sword upright in the Church, and
into the oath,'agreeable to the king's preroga- then obtaining an order of council for submittive,' with about twenty other alterations of ting it in time and place of Divine service. Anless moment, which they apprehended to be a other was taken out of the archbishop's Diary:
matter of most dangerous consequence. That upon making the Bishop of London lord-treashe had revived certain old popish ceremonies, urer, he says,' No churchman had it since Hendisused since the Reformation, as the placing ry VII., and now, if the Church will not hold
a crucifix on the altar, the consecrating the holy up themselves, under God, I can do no m.,re.'
oil, the anointing the king in form of a cross, A third. was, his saying in the High Commrission that no constable should meddle with men
i Dr. Grey charges Mi. Neal with not giving the in holy orders.  A fourth was, his calling some
whole truth here, and with being cautious not to pro- justices of peace into the High Commission, for
(uce too many things in favour of the archbishop. holding the sessions at Tewkesbury in the
T'he editor, not having Laud's History, cannot ascer -_
tairl the truth or candour of this charge.-ED.'  * Laud's Hist., p. 318. Prynne, p. 475.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   507
churchyard, being consecrated ground, though the canons made in King James's time, there
they had license from the bishop, and though  was an oath against simony, and an oath for lithe eighty-eighth canon of the Church of Eng- censes fbr marriages, and an oath for judges in
land gives leave that temporal courts or leets ecclesiastical courts, and all these established
may be kept in the church or churchyard. And by no other authority than the late one. As to
a fifth was, that he had caused certain church- the vote of both houses, which condemned the
wardens to be prosecuted for executing the canons, since their lordships would not suffer
warrant of a justice of peace upon an alehouse- him to debate the justice and equity of it, he
keeper."*                                    could, only reply, that all these canons were
The archbishop replied in general, that he made in open and full convocations,'and are
never attempted to bring the temporal power acts of that body, and cannot be ascribed to him,
under the clergy, nor to free the clergy from  though president of that.synod, so by me (says
being under it; but this he confessed, that he the archbishop) they were not made.*
had laboured to preserve the clergy from some   These were the principal evidences produced
laymen's oppressions, for vis laica has been an by the Commons, in maintenance of' the first
old and a. just complaint; and this I took to be branch of their charge, viz., his grace's endeavmy duty, says he, assuring myself that God did ours to subvert the rights of Parliament, and
not raise me to that place of eminence to sit the fundamental temporal laws of the kingdom.
still, and see his ministers discountenanced and From whence it is easy to observe that, besides
trampled upon. To the first particular he re- the sharpness of the archbishop's temper, there
plied, that it was an order of council, and there- are three capital mistakes which run through
fore not his: but it was.a reasonable one, for this part of his defence.
the sword was not submitted to any foreign or   1. A groundless supposition, that where the
home power, but to God only, and that in the law is silent, the prerogative takes place; and
place and at the performance of his holy wor- that, in all such cases, a proclamation, or order
ship, at which time and place kings submit of council, or a decree of the Star Chamber, &c.,
themselves, and therefore cannot, insist upon is binding upon the.subject; and that disobedithe emblems of their power. To the second ence to such proclamations or orders might be
and third examples he replied, that he saw no punished at discretion. This gave rise to most
treason or crime in them. To the fourth he re- of the uhwarrantable orders by which the subplied, that no temporal courts ought to be kept ject was insufferably oppressed in the former
upon consecrated ground; and that though some part of this reign, and to the exorbitant fines
such might, upon urgent occasions, be kept in that were levied for disobedience, in which the
the Church, with leave, yet that is no warrant archbishop himself was notoriously active.
for a sessions, where there might be a trial for.2. The false conclusions drawn firom his beblood; and certainly it can be no crime to ing but a single member of the'council or High
keep off profanation from churches: but be it Commission, viz., that therefore he was not annever so criminal, it was the act of the High swerable for their votes or orders, even though
Commission, and not his: nor is there anything he had set his hand to them; because what is
in it that looks towards treason. To the pros- carried by a majority is supposed to be the act
ecuting the church-wardens he answered, that of the whole body, and not of any particular
those statutes concerned alehouse-keepers only, member.t  According to which way of reasonand the reason why they were prosecuted was, ing, the Constitution might be destroyed, withbecause, being church-officers,' they did not out a possibility of punishing the authors.
complain of it to the chancellor of the diocess;   3. His wilfull misconstruction of the manafor certainly, standing in such.a relation to the gers' reasonings; as when he replies with an air
Church, they ought to have been- as ready to of satisfaction and triumph, he hopes this or the
inform the bishop as to obey the justice of the'other particular will not be construed treason,
peace.                                       unless it be against a brewhouse or an alderLastly, The managers objected to the arch- man, or the like; though he was told over and
bishop, "the convocation's sitting after the Par- over, by the managers for the Commons, that
liament was dissolved, contrary to law; their.they did not object these things to him as so
imposing an oath on the subject, and their ma- many treasonable acts, but as proofs and eviking sundry canons, which had since been voted dences of one general charge, which was, a
by both houses of Parliament contrary to the traitorous attempt and endeavour to subvert
king's prerogative, to the fundamental laws of the fundamental temporal laws, government,
the realm, to the rights otf Parliament, to the and liberties of the realm; and how far they
property and liberty of the subject, and contain- have made good this part of their charge must
ing matters tending to sedition, and of danger- be left with the reader.
ois consequence."t                             The Commons proceeded next to the third
The archbishop replied, that the sitting of the general charge, relating to religion, in which
convocation after the dissolution of the Parlia- our history requires us to be more particular;
ment was, in' the opinion both of judges and and here they aver, " that the archbishop had
other lawyers, according to law; that, as they traitorously endeavoured' and practised to alter
were called to sit in convocation by a different and subvert God's true religion b) law estabwrit from that which called them as bishops to Iished in this realm, and, instead thereof;, to set
sit in Parliament, so they could not rise till up popish superstition and idolatry, and to recthey had a writ to discharge them. A's for the oncile us to the Church of Rome."
oath so much complained of, it was according    This was divided into two branches:
to law, or else they were misled by such prece-   1st. " His introducing and practising certain
dents as were never excepted'against; for in popish innovations and superstitious ceremo* Laud's Hist., p. 293.' t Ibid., p. 287, 292.' -  Laud's History, p. 282.  t Ibid., p. 437.




s08                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
nies, not warranted by law, nor agreeable to of God the Father, though some will justlIy.
the practice of the Church of England since the them fiom Dan, vii., 22; but as for the images
Reformation.                                  of things visible, they are of use, not only for
2dly. "His countenancing and encouraging  the beautifying and adorning the places of Disundry doctrinal errors in favour of Arminian- vine worship, but for admonition and instrucism and popery."                              tion, and can be an offence to none but such
The managers began with popish innovations as would have God served slovenly and meanly,
and ceremonies, in maintenance of which, they under a pretence of avoiding superstition.*
insisted on the following proofs:               As to the particulars, ttie archbishop allowed
(1.) ".His countenancing the setting up of his repairing the windows of his cha4pel at Lamimages in churches, church-windows, and. other beth, and making out the history as well as he
places of religious worship.  That, in his own could, but not from the Roman missal, since he
chapel at Lambeth, he had repaired the popish did not know  the particulars were in it, but
paintings on the windows, that had been de- from the fragments of what remained in the
stroyed at the Reformation, and made up the windows since the Reformation; but if they
history of Christ crucified between two thieves; had been originally painted by his order, as in
of his rising out of the grave; of his ascension  the case of the new chapel of Westminster, he
into heaven; of the Holy Ghost' descending in knows no crime in it.t  The image of the Virform of a dove; of Christ raising Lazarus out gin Mary, in Oxford, was set up by Bishop
of the grave; and of God himself raining down  Owen, and there is no evidence that I countemanna from heaven; of God's giving the Law  nanced the setting it up, noir that any cornto Moses on Mount Sinai; of fire descendingo plaint was made to me of any abuse of it.$ As
from  heaven at the prayer of Elisha; of tihe to Mr. Sherfield's case, one of the witnesses
Holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin, &c., all says it was the picture of an old man with a
taken from the Roman missal, with several su- budget by his side, pulling out Adam and Eve;
perstitious mottoes and inscriptions.  That he it is not, therefore, certain that it was the iamhad caused divers crucifixes to be set up in age of God the Father; but if it was, yet Mr.
churches over the communion-table, in his Sherfield ought not to have defaced it but by
chapel at Lambeth, at Whitehall, and at the command of authority, though it had been an
University at, Oxford, of which he was chancel- idol of Jupiter; the orders of the vestry, which
lor. That in the parish of St. Mary's there was, Mr. Sherfield pleads, being nothing at all withsince his time, erected a statue of the Virgin  out the bishop of the diocess.~  The statute of
Mary cut in stone, with a child in. her arms, to Edward VI. has nothing to do with images in
which (livers people bowed and did reverence glass windows; the words of the statute are,
as they went along the streets; w'hich could "Any images of stone, timber, alabaster, or
not be done without his allowance; nay, so earth, graven, carved, or painted, taken out of
zealous was this prelate," say the managers, any church, &c., shall be destroyed."  So here
" ill defence of images,' that he procured Mr. is not a word of glass windows, nor images in
Sherfield to be sentenced in the Star Chamber, them.
for defacing a church-window in or near Salis-   The managers for the Commons replied, that
burv, because there was an image in it of God it was notoriously false that the primitive Christhe Father; all of which is contraly to the stat- tians approved of images, for Justin Martyr,
ute of the 3d and 4thlof Edward VI., and the in- Clemens Alexandrinus, Irenaenls, and all the anjunctions of Queen Elizabeth, which enjoin all cient fathers agree that they had none in their
pictures, paintings, images, and other monu-  churches.ll Lactantius says there can be no
ments of idolatry and superstition to be de- religion in a place where any image is. Epistroyed, so as that there remain no memory of phanius rent in pieces an image painted on
them  in walls, glass windows, or elsewhere, cloth, which he found in a church, out of holy
within any church or house."*                 indignation. All the ancient coumicils are against
The archbishop answered in general, that images in churches; and many godly emperors
crucifixes and images in churches were not cast them out after they began to be in use in
simply unlawful; that they were in use in Con- latter times, as our own homilies expressly destantine's time, and long before, and therefore clare, Peril of Idolatry, part ii., p. 38. As for
there could be no popery in them.  Tertullian  Tertullian, all that can be proved from himn is,
says they had the picture of Christ engraven' that those heretics against whom he wrote had
on their chalice in form of a shepherd carrying  such a chalice, not that the orthodox Chrishome a lost sheep; and even Mr. Calvin al- tians allowed of'it.  Calvin only says that
lows an historical use of images, Instit., lib. i., he is not so superstitious as to think it altocap. xi., sect. xii. " Neque tamen ea supersti- gether unlawful to make images of men or
tione teneor ut nullas prorsus imagines ferandas beasts for a civil use, because painting is the
censeam, sed quia sculptura et pictura, Dei dona gift of God.  But he affirms, in the very next
sunt, purum  et legitimum -itriusque usum re- section, that there were no images in churches
quiro."  The archbishop appealed likewise to  for five hundred years after Christ; and says
the Homilies, p. 64, 65, for an historical use of expressly, that they were not in use till the
images; but if it should be granted, says he, Christian religion was corrupted and depraved.
that they are condemnued by the homilies, yet He then adds, that he accounts it unlawful and
certainly one may subscribe to the homilies as wicked to paint the image of God, because he
containing a godly and wholesome doctrine, ne- has forbidden it. But the homilies are so exeessary for those times, without approving ev- press that they wonder the archbishop can menery passage or sentence, or supposing it necessary for all times. I do not approve of images   * Laud's Hist., p. 311. Prynne, p. 462, 463, 479....   t Prynne, p. 462.     X Laud's History, p. 329
* Prynne's Cant. Doom, p. 157, 462, &c.   ~ Ibid., p. 434.     It Prynne, p. 463-465.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      509,tlon trim without blushing; as well as his not against popish consecrations, which mine were
knowing that the paintings were according to the  not, says the archbishop, for I had them firom
mass-book, when his own mass-book is marked  Bishop Andrews.*
in those places with his own hand.*  The irn-   As to the manner of consecrating Creed
ages in those windows were broken and demol- Church, St. Giles's, &c., his grace confessed
ished at the Reformation, by virtue of our stat- that when he came to the church door, that
utes, homilies, and injunctions, and remained as passage in the Psalms was read, "Lift up your
monuments of our indignation against Romish  heads, 0 yd gates, even lift them up, ye everidolatry,.till the archbishop repaired them. The lasting doors, that the King of glory may come
managers observed farther, that the archbishop  in;"t that he kneeled and bowed at his entrance
had confessed the particulars of this part of into the church, as Moses and Aaron did at the
their charge, and had only excused himself as door of the tabernacle;' that he declared the
to the University of Oxford, though they con- place holy, and made use of a prayer like one
ceive it impossible he could be ignorant of in the Roman pontifical; that afterward he pro-,hose innovations. being chancellor and visiter,'nounced divers curses on such as should proand having entertained the king, queen, and  fane it, but denied his throwing dust into the
elector-palatine there for many days. As for air, in which he said the witnesses had forMr. Sherfield's case, they apprehend the author- sworn themselves, for the Roman pontifical
ity'of the vestry was sufficient in a place ex- does not prescribe throwing dust into the air,
erupt from the jurisdiction of the bishop, as St. hut ashes; and he conceives there is no harm,
Edmund's Church was. And the managers are much less treason, in it.t  The practice of givstill of opinion that the statute of Edward VI. ing the names of angels and saints to churches
extends to images in glass windows; and that at their dedication, for distinction's sake, and
which confirms them in it is, that the injunc- for the honour of their memories, says his grace,
tions of Queen Elizabeth, made in pursuance of has been very ancient, as appears in St. Austin,
this law, extend in direct terms to images in and divers others of the fathers; but the dediglass windows'; and the practice of those times cation, strictly speaking, is only to God; nor is
in defacing them infallibly proves it.        the observing the annual feasts of dedication
(2.) Another popish innovation charged on less ancient; the feast of the dedication of
the archbishop was "his superstitious manner the temple was observed in our Saviour's time,
of consecrating chapels, churches, and church- and though, no doubt, it was abused by some
yards; they instanced in Creed Church, of arriong the Jews, yet our Saviour honoured it
which the reader has had an account before; with his presence. Judge Richardson, indeed,
and in St. Giles's in the Fields, which, being  had made an order in his circuit for putting
fallen to decay, was in part re-edified and fin- down these wakes, but he was obliged to reished in Bishop Mountaine's time, Divine ser- voke it by authority; and, under favour, says
vice and administration of sacraments having  the archbishop, I am of opinion that the feasts
been performed in it three or four years before ought not to be put dovyn for some abuses, any
his death; but no sooner was the archbishop  more than all vines ought to be rooted up betranslated to the See of London, than he inter- cause some will be drunk with the juice of
dicted the church, and shut up the doors for them.9  The feasts are convenient for keeping
several weeks, till he had reconsecrated it, after up hospitality and good neighbourhood; nor
the manner of Creed Church, to the very great can there be a more proper time for observing
cost and charge of the parish, and contrary to them than on Sundays, after Divine service is
the judgment of Bishop Parker an(l our first ended.
Reformers."t                                    And as the consecrating of churches, and
"They objected, farther, his consecrating of dedicating them  to God, has been of ancient
altars with all their furniture, as pattens, chali- usage, so has the consecration of altars and
ces, altar-cloths, &c., even to the knife that their furniture, and such consecrations are newas to cut the sacramental bread; and his ded- cessary, for else the Lord's Table could not be
icating the churches'to certain saints, together called holy, nor the vessels belonging t6 it holy,
with his promoting annual revels, or feasts as they usually are; yea, there is a holiness in
of dedication, on the Lord's Day, in several the altar which sanctifies the gift, which it
parts of the country, whereby that holyday was could not do, except itself were holy; if' there
profaned, and the people encouraged in super- be no dedication of these things to God, no sepstition and ignorance."                       aration of themr from common use, then there
The archbishop answered to the consecra- can be no such thing as sacrilege, or difference
tion of churches, that the practice was as an- between a holy table and a common one. II And
cient as Moses, who consecrated the tabernacle, as to the form of consecrating these things, I
with all its vessels and ornaments; that the  had them  not from the Roman pontifical, but
temple was afterward  consecrated by King from Bishop Andrews.
Solomon; that as soon as Christian churches   The managers for the Commons replied, that
began to be built, in the reign of Constantine  if the temple was consecrated, it was by the
the Great, they were consecrated, as Eusebius king himself, and not by the high-priest; and
testifies concerning the Church of Tyre, in his if the tabernacle'was consecrated, it was by
Ecclesiastical History, lib. x., cap. iii., and so it Moses the civil magistrate, and not by Aaron
has continued down to the present time.  Besides, if churches were not consecrated, they   * Laud's History, p. 339, 340. Prynne, p. 115.
would not be holy; nor does Archbishop Par-   t The archbishop alleged that this place of Scripker speak against consecrations in general, but ture had been anciently used in consecrations, and
that it referred not to the bishop, but to the t:rue
* Peril of Idol., p. 41-43.        King of glory.-Dr. Grey.-ED.  $ Prynne, p. 498.
t Prynle, p. 113, 114, 497.          ~ Laud's Hist., p. 269.   11 Laud's Hist., p. 313.




510                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the high-priest; but we read of no other conse- is nothing else but a separating them from cotrn
orating the tabernacle and its utensils, but mon use to a religious and sacred one, which
anointing them  with oil, for which Moses had  may be done without the superstitious method
an express command; nor of any other conse- above mentioned; and though the archbishop
crating the temple, but of Solomon's making an  avers he had not his form of consecration from
excellent'prayer in the outward court, not in the Roman pontifical, he acknowledges he had it
the temple itself, and of his hallowing the mid- from Bishop Andrews, who could have it nodie court by offerings and peace-offerings; and  where else.*
it is observable that the cloud and glory of the    As for consecrating altars, pattens, chalices,
Lord filled the temple,.so as the priests could  altar cloths, and other altar furniture, their orinot'stand to minister before Solomon made his ginal is no higher than the Roman missal and ponprayer, which some call his consecration.  But tifical, in both which there are particular chapters
if it should be allowed that the temple was con- and set forms of prayer for this purpose; but to
secrated in an extraordinary manner, we have imagine that these vessels may not be reputed
no mention, either in Scripture or Jewish wri- holy, though separated to a holy use, unless thus
ters, of the consecration of tlieir synagogues, consecrated, is without any foundation in reato which our churches properly succeed.* And  son or Scripture, and contrary to the practice
after all, it is no conclusive way of arguing, to  of the Church of England, and the opinionfof our
derive a Christian institution fiom the practice  first Reformers.t
of the Jewish Church, because many of their   To the archbishop's account of feasts of dediordinances were temporary, ceremonial, and  cation we answer, as before, that an example
abolished by the coming of Christ.            out of the Jewish law is no rule for the ChrisFrom the beginning of Christianity we have tian Church.   Ezra kept a feast at the dedicano credible authority for consecrating churches tion of the temple, when it was rebuilt, and offor three hundred years.t  Eusebius, in his life fered a great many burnt-offerings (Ezra, vi.,
of Constantine the Great, indeed mentions his  16, 17), but it was not made an annual solemconsecrating a temple that he built over our nity; fbr the feast of dedication, mentioned John,
Saviour's sepulchre at Jerusalem; but hlow? x., 22, was not of the dedication of the temple,
with prayers, disputations, preaching, and expo- but of the altars, instituted by Judas Maccabeus,
sition of Scripture, as he expressly defines it, to' be kept annually by the space of eight days
cap. xlv. Here were no processions, no knock- (I Mace., iv., 56, 59), which being of no Divine
ing at the doors by the bishop, crying "Open, institution, but kept~ only by the superstitious
ye everlasting doors;" nor casting dust or ashes Jews, not by Christ or his apostles (who are
into the air, and pronouncing the ground holy; only said to be at Jerusalem  at that time),
no reverencing towards the altar, nor a great can be no precedent for our modern consecramany other inventions of latter ages: no, these tions.t
were not known in the Christian Church till   Pope Felix and Gregory are the first that dethe very darkest times of popery; nay, in those creed the annual observation of the dedication
very dark times, we are told by Otho, the pope's of churches since our Saviour's time, which
legate, in his Ecclesiastical Constitutions, that were observed in England under the names of
in the reign of King Henry III. there were not wakes or revels,.but were the occasion of so
only divers parish ch urches, but some cathedrals much idleness and debauchery, that King Henin England, which had been used for many ry VIII., anno  1536, restrained them all to the
years, and yet never consecrated by a bishop. first Sunday in October, not to be kept on any
But it is plain to a demonstration, that the other day; and afterward, by the statute 5 and
archbishop's method of' consecrating churches 6 Edward VI., cap. iii., of holydays, they were
is a modern popish invention; for it is agreed  totally abolished. But thesefeasts beingrevived
by Gratian, Platina, the centuriators, and oth- again by degrees, in sundry places of this realm,
ers, that Pope Hyginus, Gelasius, Sylvester, and particularly in Sotnersetshire, Judge RichFelix, and Gregory, were the first inventors and  ardson, when he Was on the circuit, at the reproumoters of it; and it is nowhere to be found  quest of the justices of the peace for the counbut in the Roman pontifical, published by com- ty, published an order for suppressing them;
mand of Pope Clement VIII., De Ecclesiia Ded- but was obliged the next year as publicly to reicatione, p. 209, 280; for which reasons it was voke it, and to declare such recreations to be
exploded and condemned by our first Reformers, lawful; and as a farther punishment on the
and particularly by Bishop Pilkington, in his judge, tie archbishop obtained his removal from
comment upon Haggai, chap. i.,- ver. 7, 8, and  that circuit.  It is very certain that at these
Archbishop Parker, who, in his Antiq. Britan., revels there were a great many disorders, as
expressly condemns the archbishop's method of drunkenness, quarrelling, fornication, and murconsecration as popish and superstitious, p. 85 der; it is therefbre very unlikely they should an-87.1:                                        swer any good purpose, and how fit they were
But the archbishop says, if churches are not to succeed the public devotions of tile Lord's
consecrated they cannot be holy, whereas many  Day, we shall leave to your lordships' considplaces that were never consecrated are styled  eration.
holy, as " the most holy place," and the " holy    (3 ) The managers charged the archbishop
city Jerusalem;' and our homilies say, that the farther " with giving orders to Sir Nath. Brent,
Church is called holy, not of itself, but because his vicar-general, to enjoin the chiurch-wardelns
God's people resorting thilther are holy, and ex- of all parish churches within his diocess, tlhat
ercise themselves in holy things; and it is evi- they should remove the comnunlion-table fromr
dent that sanctification, when applied to places, the middle of the chapel to the upper etnd, and
- Prynne, p. 115, 499, &c.  t Ibid., p. 501.    -* Prynne, p. 502.    f Ibid., p. 65, &c., 467, 470.
XIbid., p. 115-117.                         $ Ibid., p. 128.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     511
place it in form of an altar, close to the wall, of arras that was hung up over the altar in
with the ends north and south, and encompass Passion-week he apprehended was very propit with rails, according to the model of cathe- er for the place and occasion, such representadrals.  They objected likewise to his furnish- tions being approved by the Lutherans, and
ing the altar in his own chapel, and the king's even by Calvin himself, as had been already
at Whitehall, with basins, candlesticks, -tapers, shown.
and other silver vessels, not used in his prede-   The managers replied to the antiquity of alcessor's time; and to the credentia, or side-table, tars, that though the name is often mentioned
in conformity to the Roman'ceremonial, on in Scripture, yet it is never applied to the Lord's
which the elements were to be placed on a Table; but altars and priests are put in opposiclean linen cloth before they were brought to  tion to the.Lord's Table and ministers of' the
the altar to be consecrated; and to the hang- New Testament, 1 Cor., ix., 13, 14.  Christ
ing over the altar a piece of arras with a large himself celebrated the sacrament at a table, not
crucifix." -                                   at an altar, and he calls it a supper, not a sacThe archbishop answered, that the placing  rifice; nor can it be pretended by any law or
the communion-table at the east end of the canon of the Church of England, that it is callchancel was commanded by Queen Elizabeth's  ed an altar more than once, stat. 1, Edw. VI.,
injunctions, which say, that the holy table shall cap. i., which statute was repealed within three
be set in the place where the altar stood, which  years, and another made, in which the word
all who are acquainted with antiquity know  altar is changed into table.  It is evident from
was at the east end of the chancel, with the the unanimous suffrage of most of the fathers
ends north and south, close to the wall, and  that lived within  three hundred years after
thus they were usually placed both in this and  Christ, and by our most learned reformers,
other churches of Christendom; the innovation, that for' above two hundred and fifty years after
therefore, was theirs who departed from the  Christ, there were no altars'in churches, but
injunctions, and not mine, who have kept to  only tables, Pope Sixtus II. being the first that
them.  Besides, altars, both name and thing, introduced them;* and the canons of the popish
were in use in the primitive churches long be- Council of Aix, 1583, being the only ones that
fore popery began; yea, they are to be found  can be produced for railing them  in; one ot
both in the Old and New Testament; and that which prescribes thus, "' Unumquodque altare
there can be no popery in railing them  in, I sepiatur omnino septo ferreo, vel lapideo, vel
have proved in my speech in the Star Chamber. ligneo."tr " Let every altar be encompassed
However, I aver that I gave no orders nor di- with a rail of iron, stone, or wood."  The text,
rections to Sir Nath. Brent, my vicar-general, Heb., xiii., 10,. "We have an altar whereof
neither by letter nor otherwise, to remove or they have no right to eat which serve the tabrail in communion-tables in all parish church- ernacle," is certainly meant of Christ himself,
es; and I desire Sir Nath. may be called to  and not of the altar of wood or stone, as our
testify the truth upon his oath. Sir Nath. be- Protestant writers have proved at large; agreeing sworn, the archbishop asked him upon his ably to which all altars in churches were comoath, whether he had ever given him such or- manded to be taken away and removed, as suders.  To which he replied, " My lords, upon  perstitious and popish, by public laws and inthe oath I have taken, I received an express di- junctions at the Reformation, and tables were
rection and command from the archbishop him- set up in their stead, which continued till the
self to do what I did of this kind, otherwise I archbishop was pleased to turn them again into
durst never have done it."t  The archbishop  altars.
insisting that he never gave him such orders,   But the archbishop is pleased to maintain
and wondering he should be so unworthy as to  that the queen's injunctions prescribe the comaffirm it upon oath, Sir Nath. produced the fol- inunion-table to be set in the place where the
lowing letter, under the archbishop's own hand, altar stood, and that this was anciently at the
directed to himself at Maidstone              east end of the choir; whereas, we affirm that
" She i not able to produce one precedent or au-;'"I require you to command the commlunion- thority in all antiquity for this assertion; on the
" I require you to command the C01,111union- contrary,  we are able to demonstrate to your
table at Maidstone to be placed at the east or ordships, that altars able to demonstrables, among
upper end of the chancel, and there railed in, lordships, that altars and Lord's tables, among
and that the communicants there come up to  Jdws and Christians, stood anciently in the
the rail to receive the blessed sacrament; and  midst of their churches or choirs,$ where the
the like you are required to do in all churches, people might sit, stand,. and go conveniently
and in all other places where you visit metro- round then.. So it was certainly in the Jewish
Church, as every one allows; and it was so in
politically.                        CAN       the Christian Church till the very darkest times
" "W. CANT."
of popery, when private masses were introduTo which the archbishop, being out of coun- ced.~  Eusebius, Dionysius Areopagita, Chrytenance, made no other reply but that hle had  sostom, Athanasius, Augustine, &c., affirm that
forgot it.t
As to the furniture upon the altar, he added    Plynne, p. 480, 481.          f Ibid., p. 62.
that it was o  ther than was used in the    Choir or chorus has its denomination froim the
that it was no other than was used ine. wlnfls  mutitude standinf  round nbout the aktar [in'  sodm
k s multitude standing round about the altar [in modum
chapel at Whitehall before his time, and was corona] in the form of a ring orcircle. In the ancient
both niccessary antd decent; as is likewise the liturgies they prayed for all those that stood round
credenti a, or side-table, the form of which he took about the altar. The priest and deacons stood round
firomn Bishop Andrews's model; and the piece about the altar when they officiated, and so did the
bishops when they consecrated it. -
* Prynne, p. 62, 91, &c.   t Laud's Hist., p. 310.   6 Prynne, p. 482, 484. Vide Bishop Williams's
J Prynne, p. 89.                            Life, p. 109.




512                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
the table of the Lord stood in the middle of the  et epeciosior, ubi intextie sint D.N. Jesu Chri-sti,
chancel, so that they might compass it about; aut g]oriosm Virginis, vel sanctorum imagines."
nay, Durandus, a popish writer, informs us, that "' If the altar be fixed to the wall, let there be
when a bishop consecrates a new altar, he must hangings more noble and beautiful than the rest
go round about it seven times; by which it is  fastened upon the wall over the altar, in which
evident it could not stand against a wall; but. are wrought the images of Christ, the blessed
our most, eminent writers against popery, as  Virgin, or the saints."  Besides, these things
Bucer, Bishop Jewel, Bishop Babington, Bishop  being condemned by our statutes, homilies, and
Morton, and Archbishop Williams, have proved  injunctions, as we have already proved, ought
this so evidently, that there is no room to call not certainly to have been introduced by a prelit in question; and we are able to produce sev-  ate, who challenges all that is between heaven
eral authorities fromVenerable Bede, St. Austin, and hell justly to tax him in any one particular
the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and others, of favoiu'ring popish superstition or idolatry.
that they stood thus in England i.n their times.  "Another innovation charged on the archNor do Queen Elizabeth's injunctions in the  bishop was his introducing divers superstitions
least favour the archbishop's practice of fixing  into Divine worship, as bowing towards the althe communion-table to the east wall with rails. tar, bowing at the name of Jesus, enjoining peoabout it, for they order the table to be removed  ple to do reverence at their entrance into-church,
when the sacrament is to be.distributed, and  reading the sacred service at the communionplaced in such sort within the chancel, as where- table, standing up at the Gloria Patri,* and inby the minister may be more conveniently heard  troducing the use of copes and church music.
of the communicants, and the communicants  They objected, farther, his repairing old crucimay more conveniently, and in greater num- fixes, his new statutes of the University of Oxbers, communicate with him.  Now, if it be to  ford, among which some were arbitrary, and
be removed at the time of communion, it is ab- others were superstitious: of the former sort are
surd to suppose it to be fixed to the wall, and  the imposing new oaths; the statbte of banniencompassed with rails.  Besides, the rubric of tion; referring some misdemeanors to arbitrary
the Common Prayer Book, and the eighty-sec-  penalties, and obliging students to go to prison
ond canon of 1603, appoint the comniunion-ta-. on the vice-chancellor's or proctor's command.
ble to be placed in the body of the church, where  Of the latter sort; are bowing to the altar, singthe chancel is too small, or near the middle of ing the litany, and reading Latin prayers in
the chancel, where it is large enough; and thus  Lent; together with the above-mentioned suthey generally stood in all churches, chapels, perstitions in the manner of Divine worship."t
and in Lambeth Chapel itself, till the archbish-    The archbishop answered, that bowing in
op's time, which puts the matter out of ques-  Divine worship was practised among the Jews
tion.*  And if it be remembered that the say-  (2 Chron., xxix., 29); and the Psalmist says,
ing of private masses brought in this situation  " 0 come, let us worship and bow down; let
of altars into the Church of Rome, contrary to  us kneel -before the Lord our Maker" (Psalm
all antiquity, the archbishops imitating them in  xev., 6): thiat it was usual in Queen Elizabeth's
that particular must certainly be a popish inno- time.  and that the knights of the garter were
vation.                                        obliged to this practice by the orders of their
The furniture upon the altar, which the arch- chapter.  Besides, the altar is the chief pllace
bishop pleads for, is exactly copied from  the  of God's residence on earth, for there it is,
Roman pontifical and the popish Council of Aix,'. This is my body;" whereas  in the pulpit it
and is condemned by our homilies and Queen  is only, This is my word.  And shall I bow to
Elizabeth's injunctions, which  censure, con- men in cachti house of Parliament, and not bow
demn, and abolish, as superstitious, ethnical, to God in his house, whither I comen to worship
and popish, all candlesticks, trindals, rolls of him!. Surely I niust worship God and bow to
wax, and setting up of tapers, as tending to  him, though neither altar nor cominunion-table.
idolatry and superstition, injunet. 2, 23, 25. be in the church.t
Therefore, instead of conforming to the clhapel    Bowing at the name of Jesus is prescribed in
at Whitehall, he ought, as dean of that chapel, direct terms by Queen Elizabeth's injunctions,
to have reformrned it to our laws, homilies, and  No. 12, and by the eighteenth canon of our
injunctions.                              -    Church; and, though standing lip at the Gloria'I'he like may be said of the credentian[or side- - Patti is not prescribed by any canons of the
table], which is taken expressly out of the Ro-  Church, it is nevertheless of great antiquity;
inan Ceremoniale and Pontifical, and is used  nor is the reading the second service at the
among the papists only in their most solemn  communion-table ai innovation, it being the
masses.  It'was never heard of in any Protest-  constant practice in cathedrals, and warranted
ant Church, or in the Church of England, till by the rubric.
the archbishop's time; and as for the stale pre-    The use of copes is prescribed by the twentext of his having it from Bishop Andrews, if it ty-fourth canon of 160i3, which says, "' that in
be true, we are certain that bishop could have  all cathedrals and collegiate churchles, the comit nowhere else but from the Roilian missal.tf
Tile arras hangZings, with the picture of Chiist; that the most obnoxious of those ceremonies which
at his last supper, with a crucifix, are no less  Land so'childishly insisted on were established at
popish than the former, being enjoined by the  the Restoration, and have been ever since regularly
Roman Cerernmoniale, edit. Par.. 1633  lib. i., practised in the Church; and that many of his most
cap. xii., p. 69, 70, in these words: "Quod si offensive measures have been adopted by revolution
altare parieti adhaereat, applicari poterit ipsi pa- ministers, such as the nominating clergymen to be
rieti sUpra alt~arse panntus aliquis catieris nohiitr Sjustices of peace, with restraints laid on inarriale."
— THistorlq of Eng'land, vol. iv., p. 135, the note. —Ei.' Prvnne, p. 467, 481.   t Prynne, p. 63, 468.   t Prynne, p. 72, dc.  J: Laud's Hist., p. 313, 361.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       513
munion shall be administered on principal feast our best Protestant writers have condemned
days, sometimes by the bishop, if present, the practice.
sometimes by the dean, and sometimes by the    Reading the second service at the altar, when
canpn or prebendary, the principal minister there is no communion, is contrary to the canusing a decent cope;" so that here is no inno- ons of 1571 and 1603, contrary to the queen's
vation, any more than in the use of organs, injunctions, the homilies, the rubric in tile Coinwhich our Church has generally approved and mon Prayer Book, and was never practised in
use of.                                       parish churches till of late, though used in some
As to the statutes of the University of Ox- cathedrals, where the rubric enjoins the comford, it is honour, more than enough for me, munion to be administered every Sunday in the
that I have finished and settled them  nor did *year, which, being omitted, the second service
I anything in them but by the consent of the  at the table was left to supply it. The Lord's
convocation; and as to the particulars, there Table was ordained only to administer the sacis nothing but what is agreeable to their char- rament, but the Epistle and Gospel, which are
ters, and the ancient custom and usage of the the chief parts of the second service, are apuniversity.*                                  pointed to be read with the two lessons in the
The managers replied, that bowing to the al- reading pew.*
tar is popish, superstitious, and idolatrous, be-   As for copes, neither the Common Prayer
ing prescribed only by popish canons, and in- Book, nor Book of Ordination, nor homilies controduced on purpose to support the doctrine of firmed by Parliament, nor Queen Elizabeth's
transubstantiation, which.the archbishop's prac- injunctions in her first year, make any mention
tice seems very much to countenance, when, of them, though they are evidently derived from
at his coming -up to the altar to consecrate the the.popish wardrobe, and the last Common
bread, he makes three low bows, and at his go- Prayer Book of King Edward VI. expressly proing away three more, giving this reason for it, hibits them.t  The twenty-fourth canon of' "Quia hoc est corpus meum," " Because this is 1603 enjoins only the chief minister to wear a
my body;" whereas he does not bow to the cope at the administration of the sacrament,
pulpit, because a greater reverence is due to the whereas the archbishop prescribed them to be
body than to the Word of the Lord.t  Besides, worn by others besides the chief minister, and
it has no foundation in antiquity, nor has it been as well when the sacrament was not adminisapproved by any Protestant writers, except the tered as when it was. But, as we observed
archbishop's creatures, such as Dr. Heylin, before, those canons not being confirmed by
Pocklington, &c., and has been condemned by Parliament, expired with.King James, and there
the best writers, as popish and superstitious. can be no warrant for their present use. Nor
The black book of the knights of the garter, at is the use of music in churches, or chanting of
Windsor, is a sorry precedent for a Protestant prayers, of any great antiquity, being first introarchbishop to follow, being made in the darkest duced by Pope Vitalian, A.D. 666, and encourtimes of popery, viz., in the reign of Henry V.; aged only by popish prelates.T
and if they bow, Deo et altari, to God and to his   And though the archbishop pleads that the
altar, as the archbishop in the' Star Chamber is statutes of Oxford are agreeable to ancient cusof opinion Christians ought to do, we cannot torn and usage, we affirm they contain sundry
but think it both popish and idolatrous.  His innovations, not only with regard to the liberty
passages of Scripture are nothing to the pur- of the subject, but with regard to religion, for
pose, for kneeling before the Lord our maker Latin prayers were formerly said only on Ashhas no relation to bowing to the altar; nor is Wednesdays  before the  bachelors of arts,
there any canon or injunction of the Church to whereas now  none others are to be said
support the practice.                         throughout all Lent; the statute for singing in
The archbishop confesses that there is nei- solemn processions was made in time of popery,
ther canon nor injunction for standing up at the and renewed in these statutes to keep up the
Gloria Patri, which must therefore be ani nno- practice of such superstitious perambulatlicns;
vation, and is of no greater antiquity than the and though the arGihbishop with his wonted asoffice of the mass, for it is derived from the surance wonders what these things have to do
Ordo Roma.nus, as appears from the works of' with treason, we apprehend that if they appear
Cassander, p. 98.T  And, though bowing at the so many proofs of a design to subverts the esname of Jesus be mentioned in the canons, yet
these canons are not binding, not being con-        Pryn, p..          Ibid., p. 64, 4
$ Ibid., p. 65.
firmed by Parliament,~ especially since the   ~ Mrs. Macaulay thinks that to the charge of enhomilies, the Common Praver Book, the Arti- deavouring to subvert. the established religion, and
cles of Religion, anda the Book of Ordination, to set' up popish superstition and idolatry, the arch
which are the only authentic rules of the Church, bishop was particularly strong in his defence, and
make no mention of it; nor was it ever intro- the allegations to sopport the charge were particuducrd before the time of Pope Gregory X., who  larly vague and trifling. "The truth is," as that author observes, "those superstitious ceremonies which
first prescribed it ~ and fi'om the. Councils of
Basil, Sennes, and Augusta, it was afterward  vive, and which were so justly ridiculed and abhorinserted in the Roman Ceremoniale; besides, red by the more enlightened Protestants, were the
discipline of the first Reforrners in this country, and
* Laud's History, p. 304.                   had the sanction both of the civil and ecclesiastical
t Prynne, p. 63, 64, 474, 477, 487.  $ Ibid.,p. 64. power: reformation had begun in England at the
I)r. Grey contends here, that the canons of a wrong end; it was first adopted and modelled by
convocation duly licensed by the king, when con- government, instead of being forced upon governfirmed by royal authority, are properly the ecclesias- ment by the general sense of the people; and tlhus,
tical laws of the Church of England, and are as to further the ambitious views of the monarch. and
binding as the statutes of Parliament.-ED.    to gratify the pride of the prelacy, a great part ol the
VoI,. I. -TT T




514                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
tablished religion of the Church of England, part of the archbishop's trial, that those rites
they will be judged so in the highest degree."*  and ceremonies which have bred such ill blood,
Farther, they charged the archbishop with  and been contended for with so much fierceness
advising the king "to publish his declaration  as to disturb the peace of the Church and difor the use of sports on the Lord's Day, in or- vide its communion, have no foundation in
der to suppress afternoon sermons; with obli- Scripture or primitive antiquity, taking their
ging the clergy of his diocess to read it in their rise, for the most part, in the darkest and most
pulpits, and punishing those that refused."t  corrupt times of the papacy.  I speak not here
The archbishop answered, that he had the of such rites as are established by law, as the
king's warrant for printing the Book of Sports; cross in baptism, and kneeling at the commuthat there is no proof that it was by his pro- nion, &c., because the Commons could not
curement, nor that it was done on purpose to  charge these on the archbishop as criminal.
take away afternoon sermons, since these rec- An'd it will be observed farther, that when men
treations are not allowed till they are over; be- claim a right to introduce ceremonies for desides, the declaration allows only lawful recre- cency of worship, and impose them upon the
ations, which is no more than is practised at people, there can be no bounds to a fruitful inGeneva, though, for his own part, he always vention.  Archbishop Laud would, no doubt,
observed strictly the Lord's Day. What he en- by degrees, have introduced all the follies of the
joined about reading the declaration was by his Roman Church; and admitting his authority to
majesty's command, and he did not punish  impose rites and ceremonies not mentioned in
above three or four for not reading it.t      Scripture, it is not easy to give a reason why
The Commons replied, that it was evident, fifty should not be enjoined as well as five.
by the archbishop's letter to the Bishop of Bath    The managers went on next to the second
and Wells, that the declaration was printed by branch of their charge, to prove the archbishop's
his procurement, the warrant for printing it be- design to subvert the Protestant religion by
ing written all with his own hand, and without countenancingandencouraging sundrydoctrinal.date, and, therefore, might probably be obtained errors in favour of Arminianism* and popery.
afterward;9 moreover, some of the recreations   And here they charged him, first, " with bementioned in it are unlawful on the Lord's Day, ing the great patron of that part of the clergy
according to the opinion of the fathers, coun- who had declared themselves in favour of these
cils, and imperial laws; and though Calvin dif- errors, and with procuring their advancement
fers from our Protestant writers about the mo- to. the highest stations in the Church, even
rality of the Sabbath, yet he expressly condemns though they were under censure of Parliament,
dancing and pastimes on that day. As for his as Dr. Manlwaring, Montague, &c. They avergrace's own strict observation of the Lord's Day, red that the best preferments in his majesty's
it is an averment without truth, for he sat con- gift, ever since the archbishop's administration
stantly at the council-table on that day; and it in 1627, had, by his advice, been bestowed on
was his ordinary practice to go to bowls in the persons of the same principles; and that he had
summer-time, and use other recreations upon  advised the kingto publish a declaration, prohibit; nor is it probable that the archbishop would iting the clergy to preach on the five controverthave punished conscientious ministers for not ed points, by virtue of which the mouths of the
reading the Book of Sports, if the thing had been  orthodox preachers were stopped, and some
disagreeable to his practice, especially when  that ventured to transgress the king's declarathere is no warrant at all in the declaration  tion were punished in the High Commission,
that ministers should publish it, or be punished when their adversaries were left at large to
for refusing it; and that he punished no more, spread their opinions at their pleasure."
was not owing to his clemency who gave com-   The archbishop answered, that he had not
mand to suspend all that refused, but the clermn  The reader has seen, in the preceding part of this
gy's compliance: for so zealous was this arch-       and in that of James, how Ainianlsm  bereigon, and in that of James I., how Anninianlsm bebishop and some of his brethren in this affair, came connected with the politics of the time. There
that it was inserted as an article of inquiry in is no natural or necessary union between Arminiantheir visitations, whether the king's declaration  ism and despotism. And at the same time that the
for sports has been read and published by the court in England protected and patronised the Ar-.minister; and defaulters were to be presented  minians, and in return received from them a sanction
upon oath. Now wve appeal to the wthole Chris- to its arbitrary views, the reverse took place in Holtian world, whether ever it has been known land: where the Arininians, favoured by the magiswthat any who have been called fathers of tlie  trates of the States, opposed the aspiring designs on
the Stadtholder Maurice; and the Calvinists, on the
Church have taken so much pains to have the contrary, who were there called Goinarists, espoused
Lord's Day profaned, as first to advise the king his interest, and seconded his ambitious and arbltrato publish a declaration to warrant it, then to ry measures against the liberty of their country.
enjoin the clergy to, read it in their pulpits, and  These have continued the dominant party to this dayto suspend, sequester, and deprive all whose and the most violent of them have not only the sway
consciences would not allow them  to comply, in the Church, but their favour is courted by the;antd this not only contrary to the laws of God, prince, who finds his interest advanced by a connexion with them. In this instance the Dutch Calvinbut to the laws of the land.                  ists, while they maintain all the rigour of his- theoThe reader will, no doubt, remark upon this logical system, have greatlv and ignorniniously deviated from the political principles of their illustrious
mystery of popery was retained- in the doctrine, and founder; whose charac er as a legislator, more than
a great part of the puppet-shows of the papists in the as a divine, displayed the strength of his genius; and
discipline, of'the Church of England."-History of whose wise edicts were dictated by genuine patriotEngla,.d, vol. iv., p. 135.-EDu.              ism and the spirit of liberty.-Appendix to the 12th
E Prynne, p. 478.     t lbid., p. 128, 154, 382. vol. of the Monthly Revrieve, enlarged, p. 523; and't Laud's Hist., p. 343, 344.    ~ Prynne, p. 505. Rousseau's Social Compact p. 112, note.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     515
defended any points of Arminianism, though he other side have been persecuted, so as to be
heartily wished, for the peace of Christendom,: forced to abandon their native country at a time
that these differences were not pursued with' when the most notorious and declared Arminisuch heat and animosity.*  He confessed that ans were advanced to the.best preferments in
he had been taxed in a declaration of the House the Church, as Montague made a bishop, Harsof Commons as a favourer of Arminians, but. net an archbishop, Lindsey promoted to two
without proof, and he took it as a very great bishoprics, Potter to a deanery, and Duppa to
slander.  Nor had he, to the bestof his remem- a deanery and bishopric, and made tutor to
brance, advanced any such to ecclesiastical liv-! the prince, &c.*
ings; if they proved so afterward, it was more   The managers objected farther to the archthan he could foresee; but he had preferred di- bishop, "1that having obtained the sole licensing
vers orthodox ministers, against whom  there of the press, by a declaration of the Star Chamwas no exception.  He denied that he had any ber in the year 1637, he had prohibited the rehand in the preferment of Dr. Manwaring or: printing sundry orthodox books formerly printMontague, who were under censure'of Parlia- ed and sold by authority; as the Geneva Bible
ment, nor is the Pocket-book a sufficient proof with notes, Gellibrand's Protestant Almanac,
of it; he was of opinion that Neal, Lindsey, in which the popish saints were left out of the
Wren, Bancroft, Curle, and others mentioned calendar and Protestant martyrs put in their
in the charge, were worthy men, and every way  places; that his chaplains had refused to license
qualified for their preferments, though it does the Confession of Faith of the Palatine churchnot appear he had any liand in bestowing them. es, Fox's Book of Martyrs; Bishop Jewel's
As'for the king's declaration prohibiting the Works, some part of Dr. Willet's, and the Hisclergy to preach the five points, it was his maj- tory of the Gunpowder Treason, as was attestesty's own, and not his; and,,since the publish- ed by the clerks of Stationers' Hall; and this
ing of it he had endeavoured to carry it with an reason given for the refusal, that we were not
equal hand, and to punish the transgressors of now so angry with the papists as formerly, and
it on one side as well as the other.t         therefore it was not proper to exasperate them,
The Commons replied, that they wondered there being a design on foot to win them by
at the archbishop's assurance in denying his mildness. That the archbishop had suppressed
endeavours to promote Arminianism  in the sundry new books written against Arminianism
Church; that the remonstrance of the Com- and popery, and had castrated others, expunging
mons was a sufficient evidence of his guilt, be- such passages as reflected upon the superstition
ing confirmed by many proofs, though his an- and idolatry of that Church,"t a large catalogue
swer to itproved so full of bitterness and sauci- of which the Commons produced; many auness, as throwing scandal on the whole repre- thors appeared in maintenance of this part of
sentative body of the nation.t                the charge, and among others, Dr. Featly, Dr.
As to the particulars, they say that his pre- Clarke, Dr. Jones, Mr. Ward,. &c.. It was
ferring Mr. Downham  and Taylor, orthodox said in particular, "that he had expunged dimen, to some benefices, was only a blind to vers passages, which bore hard upon the pacover his advancing so many popishly-affected pists, out of the collection of public prayers for
clergymen.  It is known to all the world that a general fast against the plague; and that in
Montague and Manwaring were his creatures; the prayer-book appointed by authority for the
the Pocket-book says that his majesty's royal 5th of November, instead of'Root out that
assent to their preferment was signed by order Babylonish and antichristian sect, whose reliof this prelate (when only Bishop of London), gion is rebellion, whose faith is faction, and
and himself was the person that consecrated  whose practice is murdering of soul and body,'
them.  It would be too long to go into particu- he had altered that passage, and artfully turned
lars, but everybody knows that the disposal of it against the Puritans, thus:' Root out the anall or most of the bishoprics, deaneries, and tichristian sect of them, who turn religion into
considerable benefices since the year 1627, have rebellion, and faith into faction.'
been under the direction of this archbishop;   "And as the archbishop had castrated some
and what sort of persons have been preferred books, because they refuted the doctrines he
is apparent to all men, by the present distract- would countenance, so he gave full license to
ed c.ondition of the Church and universities.    others, wherein the grossest points of ArminiThe king's declaration for prohibiting preach- anism  and popery were openly asserted; as
ing on the five controverted points was an ar- Cosins's Hours of Prayer, Sale's Introduction to
tifice of the archbishop's to introduce the Ar- a Devout Life, Christ's Epistle to a Devout
minian errors, by preventing orthodox minis- Soul, and others, in which the following doeters from awakening the minds of people against trines were maintained: (1.) The necessity Qf
them.  And whereas he avers that he has car- auricular confession, and the power of priests
ried it with an even hand, and could bring wit- to forgive'sins.  (2.) The lawfulness and benenesses from Oxford to prove it, we challenge fit of popish penance, as wearing hair-cloth, and
him to name one scholar or minister that was other corporeal punishments. (3.) Absolute subever imprisonedl, deprived, silenced, prosecuted  mission to the commands of priests as directors
in the High Commission, or cast out of favour of conscience.  (4.) That in the sacrament, the
on this account; there was, indeed, one Rains- body and blood of Christ is a true and proper
ford, an Arminian, who, in the year 1632, was sacrifice; that the natural body and blood of
obliged publicly to confess his error in disobey- Christ is really and substantially present in the
ing his majesty's declaration, and that was all eucharist; and that there can be no true sachis punishment; whereas great numbers of the rament or consecration of it where there-,is no
* Laud's Hist., p. 352. Prynne, p. 529.       * Prynne,p. 172,511. t Ibid.,p. 179, 180,182, &c.
t Prynne o. 508.            $ Ibid., p. 529.  1 Ibid., p. 254, 255, 257, 258, &c.




516                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
altar. (5.) That crucifixes, images, and pictures   The Commons replied, that the decree for
may be lawfillly set up in churches, and ought regulating the press was procured by him'with
not to be removed. (6.) That the pope is not a design to enlarge his jurisdicLion; and though
antichrist. (7.) That there are venial sins. (8.) some things in it might deserve the thanks of
That there is a purgatory, or limbus patrum. (9.) the stationers, they complain loudly that books
That the relics of saints are to be preserved and formerly printed by authority might not be rereverenced. (10.) That the'Virgin Mary and printed without a new license from himself.*
saints are to be invoked and prayed to. (11.) As to particulars, they affirm that the Geneva
That the Church of Rome is the mother-church, Bible was printed by authority of Queen Elizaand never erred in fundamentals.  (12.) That beth and King James, cum privilegio; and in
there were written traditions of equal authority the 15th Jacob. there was an impression by
with the Word of God."* To which were add- the king's own printer, notwithstanding the
ed, sundry articles of Arminian doctrine, as of note upon Exodus, which is warranted both by
free-will, total and final apostacy from grace; fathers and canonists.  Gellibrand's Almanac
examples of which the managers produced from  was certainly no offence, and therefore did not
the several authors.                         deserve that the author should be tried before
And as a farther encouragement to popery, the High Commission; and if the queen and
they objected his grace's "' conniving at the im- the papists were offended at it, it was to be liked
portation of popish books, and restoring them to never the worse by all good Protestants. The
the owners when seized by the searchers, con- archbishop is pleased, indeed, to cast the whole
trary to the statute of 3 Jacob. I., by which blame of the press on his chaplains; but we
means many thousands of them were dispersed  are of opinion (say the managers) that the
over the whole kingdom; whereas he gave archbishop is answerable for what his chapthe strictest commanids to his officers to seize lains do in this, case; the trust of licensing
all imported Bibles with notes, and all books books being originally invested in him, his chapagainst Arminian and popish innovations.  All lains being his deputies, he must answer for
which put together amounted to no less than a them  at his peril. When the Archbishop of
demonstration of the archbishop's design to sub- York, in the reign of Edward I., was questioned
vert our established religion, by introducing doc- in Parliament for excommunicating two sertrinal Arminianism and popery."t             vants of the Bishop of Durham, employed in
The.archbishop answered, that the decree of the king's service, the archbishop threw the
the Star Chamber for regulating the press was blaime on his commissary, who was the person
the act of the whole court, and not his; and he that excommunicated themn; but it was then
is still of' opinion that it was both a necessary resolved in Parliament that the' commissary's
and useful act, being designed to suppress sedi- act *was his own, and he was fined four thoutious, schismatical, and mutinous books.t As sand marks to the king. Now the commissary
to the particulars, he replied that the Geneva was an officer established by law; but the
Bible was only tolerated, not allowed by author- archbishop's chaplains are not officers by law,
ity, and deserved to be suppressed for the mnar- and, therefore, dare not license anything withginal note on Exod., i., 17, which allows diso- out his privity and command.
bedience to the king's command.  Gellibrand's   Besides, it is apparent these books were casAlmanac had left out all the saints and apos- trated by the archbishop's approbation, for othtiles, and put in those named by Mr. Fox, and. erwise he would have punished the licensers,
therefore, deserved to be censured. As to the printers, and. publishers, as he always did wheir
Book of Martyrs, it was an abridgment of that information was given of any new books pubbook I opposed (says his grace), lest the book lished against the late innovations.  His grace
itself should be brought into disuse, and lest has forgot his refusing t.o license the Palatine
anything material should be left out. But the Confession of Faith, which is his peculiar haplicensing of books was left in general to my piness when he can make no answer; and it
chaplains, for an archbishop had better grind, looks a little undutiful in him to cast the alterathan take that work into his own hands; and tion of the prayers for November 5 on the king,
whereas it had been inferred that what is done when everybody knows by whom  the king's
by my chaplain must be taken as my act, I con- conscience was directed.t
ceive no man can. by law be punished criminally    And whereas the archbishop denies his confor his servant's act, unless it be proved that niving at the importation of popish books, he
he had a hand in it.                        does not so much as allege that he ordered
The like answer the archbishop gave to the such books to be seized, as he ought to have
castrating and licensing books-his chaplains done; he confesses that such books as were
did it; and since it was not proved they did it seized had been restored by order of the High
by his express command, they must answer for Commission, whereas it has been sworn to be
it. He admits that he altered the prayers for done by his own order; but if it had not; yet
the 5th of November, and for the general fast, he, being president of that court, ought to have
by his majesty's command; and he isof opinion crossed those orders, that court not daring to
the expressions were too harsh, and therefore have made any such restitutions without his
ought to be changed.                         consent; so that we cannot but be of opinion
He denied that he ever connived at the im- that the whole of this charge, which shows a
portation of popish books; and if any such were manifest partiality on the side of Arminianism
restored to the owners, it was by order of the and popery, and the strongest and most artifiHigh Commission, and therefore he is not an- cial attempts to propagate these errors in the
swerable for it..     nation, still remains in its full strength.
*" Prynne, p. 188, 202I      ~ Ibid., p. 349.   The managers went on to charge the arch
t Laud's History, p. 350.                     * Prynne, p. 515.       f Ibid., p. 52?




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                   517
bishop with his severe prosecution of those person that gives his vote for it, and every inclergymen who had dared to preach against dividual member is accountable. Many instanthe dangerous increase of Aiminianism and po- ces of this might be produced; but there has
pery, or the late innovations; they instanced been one very lately, in the case of ship-money,
in Mr. Chauncy, Mr. Workman, Mr. Davenport, which is fresh in the memory of all men; and
and others, some of whom  were punished in we do aver, that the sermons or bools for which
the High Commission for not railing in the the above-mentioned persons suffered so severecommunion-table, and for preaching against ly, were neither factious nor seditious, but neimages; and when Mr. Davenport fled to New- cessary for these times, wherein the Protestant
England to avoid the storm, the archbishop said religion runs so very low, and superstition and
his arm should reach him there. They object- popery are coming in like a flood.*
ed, farther, " his suppressing afternoon sermons   As to the instructions for suppressing afteron the Lord's Day, and the laudable design of noon sermons, whensoever they were drawn
buying in imrpropriations, which was designed up, it is evident he was the man that put them
for the encouraging such lecturers."*        in execution, and levelled them against those
The archbishop answered, that the censures conscientious persons.who scrupled reading the
passed on the ministers above mentioned was prayers in their surplice and hood, or taking a
the act of the High Commission, and not his; living with cure of souls; all such persons, how
and. he confesses their sentences appeared just orthodox soever.in doctrine, how diligent soevand reasonable, inasmuch as the passages that er in their callings and pious in their lives, beoccasioned them were against the laudable cer- ing reputed factious, schismatical, and unworemonies of the Church, against the king's dec- thy of the least employment in the Church.t
laration. tending to infuse into the minds of the   As to the imnpropriations, there was no design
people groundless fears and jealousies of po- in the feoffees to render the clergy independent
pery, and to cast aspersions on the governors on the bishops, for none were presented but
of the Church; that therefore, if he did say his conformable men, nor did any preach but such
arm should reach Mr. Davenport in New-Eng- as were licensed by the bishop; indeed, the deland, he sees no harm in it, for there is no rea- sign being to encourage the preaching of the
son that the plantations should secure offenders Word of God, the feoffees were careful to emagainst the Church of England fiom the edge ploy such persons as would not be idle"p; and
of the law; and he meddled with none except when they perceived 4he archbishop was bent
such as were Puritanical, factious, schismatical, on their ruin, Mr. White went to his grace, and
and enemies to the good orders of the Church.i promised to rectify anything that was amiss, if
As to the suppressing afternoon sermons, the the thing itself might stand. But he was deinstructions for turning them into catechising termined to destroy it, and by his mighty influwas before his time, and he could not but ap- ence obtained a decree that the money should
prove of the design, as a proper expedient for be paid into the king's exchequer, by which an
preserving peace between ministers and people, end was put to one of the most charitable dethe lecturers being for the most part factious, signs for the good of the Church that has been
and the occasion of great contentions in the formed these many years.T
parishes where they preached t                 The last charge of the managers was, " his
He confessed that he overthrewi the design grace's open attempts to reconcile the Church
of buying up impropriations, and thanked God of England with the Church of Rome, as aphe had destroyed, it, because he conceived it a pears, first, by the papal titles he suffered the
plot against the Church, for if it had succeed- universities to give him  in their letters, as
ed, more clergymen would have depended on' sanctitas vestra,' your holiness;' sanctissime
these feoffees than on the king, and on all the pater,' most holy father;'Spiritus Sancti, effupeers and bishops besides; but he proceeded sissime plenus,' full of the Holy Ghost;'sumagainst them according to law, and if the sen- mus pontifex, optimrnus maximusque interris,'
tence was not just, it must be the judges' fault, &c. Agreeably to this, he assumed to himself
and not his.                                 the title of patriarch, or Pope of Great Britain,
The Commons replied, that it was notorious' alterius orbus papa;' which gave the Romanto all men how cruel he had been towards all ists such an opinion of him, that they offered
those who had dared to make a stand against him twice a cardinal's hat; though, as things
his. proceedings.  They put him  in mind of then stopd, he did not think it prudent to rePrynne, Burton, and Bastwick, and of great ceive it.i  But SirH. Mildmay and Sir N. Brent
numbers whom he had forced into Holland and swore that, both at Rome and elsewhere, he
into the plantations of America, to avoid the was reputed a papist in his heart;11 which opinruin of themselves and families; yea, so im- ion was not a little confirmed, (1.) By his forplacable was this prelate, that he would neither bidding the clergy to pray for the conversion
suffer them to live in the land or out of it, an of the queen to the Protestant faith. (2.) By
embargo being laid on all ministers going to his owning the Church of Rome to be a true
New-England; and if any such got over clan- church; by denying the pope to be antichrist,
destinely, he threatened his arm should reach and wishing a reconciliation with her; and afthem there. In vain does he shelter his severe firming that she never erred in findamentals,
proceedings under the authority of the court, no, not in the worst of times. (3.) By his sowfor if this plea be admitted, no corrupt judges ing discord between the Church of England and
or counsellors can be brought to justice for the foreign Protestants, not only by taking away
most arbitrary proceedings,; but, in reality, the the privileges and immunities of the French and
act of the court is the act of every particular
- Prynne, p. 335, &c.   f Ibid., p. 370, 537, 538.
Prynne, p. 361, 362, &c.                   l Ibid., p. 537.      Q Ibid., p. 441.
t Laud's Hist., p. 332, 348.    t Prynne, p. 537.   1 Ibid., p. 409, &c.




M18                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Dutch churches in these kingdoms, but by de- hope I shall not be answerable for their unchar.
nying their ministers to be true ministers, and itableness.  Sir Henry' Mildmay will witness
their churches true churches. (4.) By main- how much I am hated and spoken against at
taining an intimate correspondence with the Rome. It does not appear that I forbade ruinpope's nuncio and with divers priests and Jesu- isters praying for the queen's conversion; but
its, conniving at the liberties they took in the  when I was told the queen was prayed for in
Clink and elsewhere, and threatening those a factious and seditious manner, I referred the
pursuivants who were diligent in apprehending matter to my visiters, and do acknowledge
them; to all which they added, the influence that Mr. Jones was punished in the High Comthe archbishop had in marrying the king to a mission on this account.*
papist, and his concealment of a late plot to re-   To the objection of the Church of Rome's
duce these kingdoms to popery and slavery."*   being a true church, I confess myself of that
To this long charge the archbishop gave opinion, and do still believe that she never erred
some general answers, in satirical and provo- in fundamentals, for the foundations of the
king language: My lords (says he), I am char- Christian religion are in the articles of the
ged with an endeavour to reconcile the Church creed, and she denies' none of them; and it
of England to the Church of Rome; I shall re.- would be sad if she should, for "it is through
cite the sum of the evidence, and of the argu- her that the bishops of the Church of England,
ments to prove it. (1.) I have reduced several who have the honour to be capable of deriving
persons from popery, whom I have named in their calling from St. Peter, must deduce their
my speech; ergo, I have endeavoured to bring succession."t  She is therefore a true church,
in popery. (2.) I have made a canon against though not an orthodox one; our religion and
popery, and an oath to abjure it; ergo, I have theirs is one in essentials, and people may be
endeavoured to introduce it. (3.) I have been saved in either.  It has not been proved that I
twice offered a cardinalship and refused it, be- deny the pope to be antichrist, though many
cause I would not be subject to the pope; ergo, learned men have denied it; nor do I conceive
I have endeavoured to subject the Church of that our homilies affirm it; and if they did, I
England to him. (4.) I wrote a book against do not conceive myself bound to believe every
popery; ergo, I am inclinable to it.'(5.) 1 have phrase that is in them. I confess 1 have often
been in danger of my life from a popish plot; wished a reconciliation between the Churches
ergo, I cherished it, and endeavoured to accom- of England and Rome in a just and Christian
plish it. (6.) I endeavoured to reconcile the way, and was in hopes in due time to effect it;
Lutherans and Calvinists; ergo, I laboured. to but a reconciliation without truth and piety I
bring in popery.t                            never desired.1
To the particulars he replied, that whatever   To the objection of the foreign Protestant
papal power he had assumed, he'had assumed  churches, I deny that I have endeavoured to
it not in his own right, as the popes did, but sow discord between them, but I have endeavfrom the king. That the style of holiness was oured to unite the Calvinists and Lutherans; nor
given to St. Augustine and others, and there- have I absolutely unchurched them. I say, infore not peculiar to the pope; why, then, should deed, in my' book against Fisher, according to
so grave a man as Mr. Brown (says he) dispar- St. Jerome, No bishop, no church; and that
age his own nation, as if it were impossible for none but a bishop can ordain, except in cases
an English bishop to deserve as good a title as of inevitable necessity; and whether that be
another? As for the other titles, they must be the case with the foreign churches,.the world
taken as compliments for my having deserved must judge.s.The judgment of the Church of
well of the university; but, after all, it is one England is, that church government by bishops
thing to assume papal titles, and another to as- is unalterable, for the preface to the Book of
sume papal power. As to the title of patriarch or Ordination says, that from the apostle's time
pope of the other world, it is the title that An- there have been three orders of ministers in the
selm says belongs to the Archbishop of Canter- Church, bishops, priests, and deacons; now, if
bury, and not so great a one as St. Jerome gave bishops are the apostles' successors, and have
St. Augustine, when he wrote to him with this continued in the Church above sixteen hundred
title, Beatissimo papee Augustino. I confess I years, what'authority have any Christian states
have been offered a cardinal's hat, but refused to deprive them of that right which Christ has
it, saying, I could not accept it till Rome was given there. As to the French and Dutch
otherwise than it now is. If, after this, others churches in this kingdom, I did not question
will repute me a papist, I cannot help it.: I them for their ancient privileges, but for their
new encroachments, for it was not the design
* Prynne, p. 539.. of the queen [Elizabeth] to harbour them, unt Laud's Hist., p. 285, 286, 325, &c. Prynne, p. less they conformed to the English liturgy; now
543. Laud's Hist., p. 418, 419.              I insisted on this only with respect to those
$ It may be pertinent to observe here, that, though who were of, the second descent, and' born in
Laud did not approve the doctrinal articles of the England, and if all such had been obliged to
Church of Rome, "it is possible that one who dislikes many points of the Romish faith may yet be go to their parish churches as they ought, they
very fond of introducing her tyrannical government, would not have done the Church of England so
and, in order to it, of amusing the poor laity with much harm as they have since done.11
the long train of her gaudy and mysterious ceremo-   To the fourth objection, I answer that I had
nies; that while they stand fondly gazing at this
lure and are busied about impertinences, they may only they are inferior to Laud in talent and energy oi
the more easily be circumvented in irrecoverable character.-C.    * Laud's History, p. 383.
bondage, by men of deeper but more mischievous de-   t Ibid., p. 392.  $ Prynne, p. 556.
sigls." —Memoirs of Hollis, vol. ii., p. 578. —ED.   Q Laud's Hist., p. 374. Prynne, p. 540.
There are just such prelates at the present moment, I 11 Ibid., p. 378.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                  519
no intimate correspondence with priests or Jes- no doubt he would have had his reward. Sir
uits, nor entertained them at my table, know- Henry Mildmay being summoned, at the arching them to be such. I never put my hand to bishop's request, to give in evidence how much
the releasing any priest out of prison, nor have he was hated and spoken against at Rome, swore
I connived at the liberties they assumed'; the that when he was at Rome some of the Jesuitical
witnesses who pretended to prove this are faction spoke against the archbishop, because
either mean persons, ar strongly prejudiced; they apprehended he aimed at too great an ecand to most of the facts there is but one wit- clesiastical jurisdiction for himself; but the secness. As to the nuncios from Rome, it was ultrs commended and applauded him, because
not ii my power to hinder their coming, the of the near approaches he made to their church,
king having condescended to it, at the earnest and showed himself favourable to their party.
request of the queen; nor had I any particular The like evidence was given by Mr. Challoner
intimacy with them while they were here; nor and others.*
do I remember my checking the pursuivants   And whereas the archbishop had said that it
in doing their duty. But if it could be supposed was not proved that he forbid ministers to pray
that I said I will have nothing to do with any for the queen's conversion, the managers propriest-catching knaves, I hope the words are duced Mr. Hugh Radcliffe, of St. Martin's, Ludrinot treason; nor is it any offence not to be a gate, who swore that Sir Nathaniel Brent, his
persecutor, or not to give ill language to Jesuits; vicar-general, at a visitation at Bow Church,
and I do affirm that I never persecuted any gave in charge to the clergy, in his hearing,
orthodox ministers or Puritans, though I may these words: " Whereas divers of you, in your
have persecuted some for their schisms and prayers before sermon, used to pray for the
misdemeanors.*                              queen's conversion, you are to do so no more,
As to the king's marrying, it is not proved for the queen does not doubt of her converthat I had any hand in it, though I acknowledge sion."t And both before and after, the archthe Duke of Buckingham did nie the honour to bishop himself caused Mr. Bernard, Mr. Peters,
make me his confessor. Nor did I conceal the and Mr. Jones, to be prosecuted in the High
late plot to bring in popery, but discovered it Commission on this account.$ The archbishop
to the king as soon as I had intelligence of it; having said that he never put his hand to the
for the truth of which I appeal not only to my releasing any priest out of prison, the managers
letters, but to the Earl of Northumberland here produced a warrant under his own hand, dated
present; who stood up and said he remember- January 31, 1633, for the release of William
no such thing.                              Walgrave, deposed to be a dangerous, seducing
The Commons replied to the archbishop's priest, in these words:
general defence, that he had been fighting with   "These are to will and command you to set
his own shadow, for they never objected those at full liberty the person of William Walgrave,
things to him for the purposes which hlie men- formerly committed to your custody, and for
tions; they never objected his reducing any formerly committed to your custody, and for
popery, butions; that many never objected his ardeneducing any your so doing this shall be your sufficient warfrom popery, hut that many were hardened in rant.                W. Cant. R. Ebor."
it by his means. Nor did they object the canons or oath to prove him guilty of introducing   But the archbishop's memory frequently failpopery, but to quite different purposes.  So ed him on such occasions.
that the archbishop in these, and the other par-   His grace confesses the Church of Rome to
ticulars above mentioned, has given us a speci- be a true church, whereas we aver her to be a
men of his sophistry and Jesuitism, transform- false and anti-Christian one, for she has no
ing his own defence into our charge and evi- sure foundation, no true head, no ordinances,
dence, and making our objections stand as sacraments, or worship, no true ministry, nor
proofs of a fact which they were not in the government of Christ's institution; she yields
least intended to support.t                no true subjection to Christ's laws, word, or
To the particulars they replied, that the titles spirit, but is overspread with damnable errors
he had assumed were peculiar to the papacy; in doctrine, and corruptions in manners and
that they were never assumed by any Protest- worship, and is therefore defined by our homiant archbishop before himself; nay, that in the lies to be a false church. Must she not err in
times of popery there are hardly any examples fundamentals, when she: affirms the Church to
of their being given to English bishops, and that be built on Peter, not upon Christ, and resolves
it is blasphemy to give the title of holiness in our faith into the Church, and not into the
the abstract to any but God himself: the arch- Scriptures 1 When she deifies the Virgin Mary
bishop, therefore, ought, in his answers to the and other saints by giving them Divine worship,
letters of the university, to have checked them, and obliges us to adore the consecrated bread
whereas he does not so much as mention these in the sacrament as the very body and blood of
exorbitances, nor find the least fault with them. Christ; when she denies the cup to the laity,
And though there be a difference between pa- obliges people to pray in an unknown tongue,
pal title and papal power, yet certainly  his and sets up a new head of the Church instead of
claiming the title of " alterius orbis papa," pope Christ, with the keys of the kingdom of heaven
of the other world, is a demonstration that he at his girdle 1 What are these but fundamental
was grasping at the same power in Great Brit- errors, which nullify the Church that maintains
ain as the pope had in Italy; and though, for them! The religion of the Church of Rome and
prudent reasons, he refused the cardinal's hat ours is not one and the same, for theirs is no
when it was offered, yet when he had made his Christian religion, but a heap of superstition and
terms, and accomplished that reconciliation be- idolatry; and his affirming salvation may, be
tween the two churches that he was contriving,
*  Prynnre p. 413..+ Ibid., p. 418.
Laud's Hist., p. 394.   t Prynne, p. 543.  $ Ibid., p. 444.




520                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
had in that church is contrary to the opinion priests, when the evidence of hIlls knowledge of
of our best Protestant writers, who make her some of them has been produced under his own
damnable errors the foundation of our separation hand; and the witnesses for the others were no
from her. And though the archbishop makes Imeaner persons than the lords of the council
light of his not believing the pope to be anti- and the high commissioners (among which was
christ, we do aver that our statutes and homi- himself), employed to apprehend priests and delies do either in direct or equivalent expressions linquents; fiom whence we conclude, that all
define him to be antichrist, and particularly in the archbishop's predecessors, since the Reforthe Subsidy Act, 3 Jac., penned by the convoca- mation, had not half the intimacy with popish
tion.                                        priests and Jesuits as himself, and his harbour-,But can anything more fully demonstrate the ing some of them that were native Englishmen
archbishop's design to reconcile the Church of is within the statutes of 23 Eliz., cap. i., and 27
England with Rome than his own confession  Eliz., cap. ii. It is very certain that the liberty
He says he has laboured this matter with a the Jesuits have enjoyed in prison and elsefaithful and single heart (Reply to Fisher, p. where was owing to hisconnivance.; and though
388), though not to the prejudice of truth and the archbishop is so happy as not to remember
piety. But it must be observed, that the arch- his checking the officers for their diligence in
bishop's design was not to bring over the Church apprehending popish priests, yet his distinction
of Rome to us, but to carry us over to them; between not persecuting papists and prosecuand what large advances he has made that way ting Puritans, besides the quibble, is an unanappears by his setting up altars, crucifixes, im- swerable argument of his affection to the one
ages, and other innovations. What advance beyond the other.*
has the Church of Rome made towards us?   The managers produced six or eight witnesswhy, none at all; nor is it possible she should, es to prove the archbishop's discountenancing
till she lays aside her infallibility. The pretence, and threatening such as were active in appretherefore, of the Church of Rome's meeting us hending priests and Jesuits. And though he
half way, was a mere blind to deceive the people would wash his hands of the affair of the pope's
of England, till he had carried them wholly over nuncio residing here in character, and holding
into her territories.*                       an intimate correspondence with the court, beThe archbishop has denied his endeavours to cause himself did not appear in it, yet it is evisow discord among foreign Protestants, and as- dent that Secretary Windebank, wVho was the
serted his endeavours to reconcile the Luther- archbishop's creature and confidant, held an
ans and Calvinists, though he has produced no avowed correspondence with them. If he had
evidence of it; but his late behaviour towards no concern in this affair, should he not, out of
the Scots, on the account of their having no regard to the Protestant religion and Church
bishops, and to the foreign settlements among of England, even to the hazard of his archbishourselves, is a sufficient proof of the contrary. opric, have made some open protestation, when
The maxim that he cites from St. Jerome, No Gregorio Panzani resided here in character two
bishop, no church, is a plain perverting of his years; Gregory Con, a Scot, for three years and
sense, for his words are, " Ubi non est sacer- two months; and, last of all, Count Rosetti, till
dos, non est ecclesia;" but it is well known driven away by the present Parliament lt
that, according to St. Jerome, bishops and pres-   It has been sufficiently proved that the archbyters are one and the same in jurisdiction and bishop was concerned in the Spanish and French
office, and presbyters have the power of ordina- matches, and in the instructions given to the
tion as well as bishops; and therefore this is a prince at his going to Spain, to satisfy the
conclusion of the archbishop's framing, which, pope's nuncio about King James having declaif it be true, must necessarily, unchurch all the red the pope to be antichrist; for the Duke of
foreign Reformed churches, and render all the Buckingham was the prince's director, and himordinations of their ministers invalid, which is self acknowledged that he was the duke's cona sufficient evidence of his enmity to them.t   fessor.
As to the French and Dutch churches, who   And as to the late plot of Habernfield, we
were settled by charter in the reign of King Ed- have owned, in our evidences, that at first he
ward VI., Mr. Bulteel's book, of the manifold discovered it to the king, because he imagined
troubles of those churches by this archbishop's it to be a plot of the Puritans; but when he
prosecutions, evidently proves that he invaded found the parties engaged in it to be papists, and,
and diminished their ancient immunities and among others, Secretary Windebeck and Sir Toprivileges in all parts; and that he was so far by Mathew, his own creatures, he then concealed
from being their friend, that they accounteddhim  his papers, called it a sham plot, and browbeat
their greatest enemy.                       the informers, whereas he ought at least to have
To the fourth objection; relating to the arch- laid it before the Parliament, that they might
bishop's correspondence with popish priests, we have sifted it to the bran. But that it was a
reply, that the archbishop's intimacy with Sir real plot, his own Diary, together with our latToby Mathew, the most active Jesuit in the ter discoveries, fully prove; and his concealkingdom, has been fully proved; that he was ment of it we conceive to be a high and treasometimes with him in his barge, sometimes in sonable offence, tending to subvert the Protesthis coach, sometimes in private with him in his ant religion, and subject us to the Church ot.
garden, and frequently at his table.$  The like Rome.t
has been proved of Sancta Clara, St. Giles Le-   Thus, we humbly conceive, we have made a
ander, Smith, and Price, and we cannot but satisfactory reply to all the archbishop's anwonder at his denying that he knew them to be swers, and have fully made good the whole of
* Prynne, p. 552, &c.        + l.' si., p. 541.   * Prynne, p. 448,458.   t Ibid., a 446
4 Ibid., p. 448, 456, 559, 561:           Ibid., p. 564, &c.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      521
our charge, namely, that the archbishop has Lords sent down the queries to the Commons,
traitorously endeavoured to destroy our civil who, after they had referred them to a commitliberties, and to introduce tyranny and arbitrary  tee of lawyers, agreed that the archbishop's
power; and, secondly, that he has endeavoured  counsel might be heard to the first query, but
to subvert the Protestant religion established  not to the second.  Accordingly, October 11,
by law in these kingdoms, and to subject us to  the archbishop being present at the bar, Mr.
the Church of Rome; wherefore we do, in the Hearn proposed to argue these two general
name of all the commons of England, pray questions:e
udgment against him as a traitor.               (1.) "' Whether there be, at this day, any othBefore the archbishop withdrew from the bar, er treason than what is enacted by the statute
hle moved the Lords that, considering the length  25 Edward III., cap. ii., or enacted by some
of his trial,* and the distance of time between  other subsequent statute'!"
the several days of hearing, they would allow    (2.) "W' hether any of the matters, in any of
himl a (lay that he might set before their lord- the articles charged against the archbishop,
ships in one view the whole of the Commons' contain any of the treasons declared by that
charge, and his defence; to which they conde- law, or enacted by any subsequent law I"
scended, and appointed September 2, which was   And for the clearing of both these he humbly
five weeks from the last day of his trial.4t  When  insisted that an " endeavour to subvert the
the archbishop appeared at the bar, he began laws, the Protestant religion, and the rights oW
with a moving address, beseeching their lord- Parliament, which are the three general char.
ships to consider his calling, his age, his long ges to which all the particulars alleged against
imprisonment, his sufferings, his patience, and  the archbishop may be reduced, is not treason
the sequestration of his estate.  He then com- within the statute of 25 Edward III., nor any
plained, (1.) Of the uncertainty and generality  other particular statute."t
of the Commons' charge. (2.) Of the short time    In maintenance of this proposition, he conthat was allowed him for his answer. (3.) That tended, first, ", That the particulars alleged
he had been sifted to the bran, and had his pa- against the archblshop were not within the letpers taken from him. (4.) That the things he ter of the statute of the 25th Edward III, and
had taken most pains in were for the public thbn argued that the statutes of this land ought
good, and done at his own great expense, as the not to be construed by equity or inference, berepair of St. Paul's, and the statutes of Oxford. cause they are declarative laws, and were de-'
(5.) That many of the witnesses were sectaries signed for the security of the subject in his life,
and schisinatics, whereas, by the canon law, no liberty, and estate; and because since the time
schismatic should be heard against his bishop. of Henry IV. no judgment has been given in
He complained, also, of the number of witnesses Parliament for any treason not expressly conproduced against him, which were above one tained or declared in that or some other stathundred and fifty; whereas the civil law says ute, but by bill; from  whence it will follow,
that the judges should moderate things so as that the particulars charged against the archno man should be oppressed with the multitude  bishop, being only an endeavour to subvert funof witnesses.  (6..) That he had been charged  damental laws, are of so great latitude and unwith passionate and hasty words, which he hopes certainty, that every action not warranted by
their lordships will pardon as human frailties: law may be extended to treason, ttiough' there
(7.) That other men's actions had been laid to is no particular statute to make it so.  If it be
his charge, as those of his chaplains, and the replied that the statute of 25 Edward III. takes
actions of the High Commission and Star Chanm- notice of compassing or imagining, we answer,
ber, which, he insists, cannot by any law be put it confines it to the death of the king; but an
upon him, it being a known rule, " Refertur ad endeavour to subvert the laws of the realm is
universes quod publice fit per majorem partem." no determinate crinme by the laws of England,
He then went over the particular charges above but has been esteemed an aggravation of a
mentioned, and concluded with a request, that crime, and has been usually joined as the rewhen the Commons had replied to the facts, his sult of some other offence below treason."T
counsel might be heard as to matters of law.   " The like may be observed to the second
The Commons replied  to  the  archbishop's charge, of endeavouring to subvert religion; it
speech, September 11, and the same day his is not treason by the letter of any law estabcounsel delivered in these two queries: "(.) lished in this kingdom, for the statute of 1 EdWhether, in all or any of the articles charged  ward VI., cap. xii., makes it but felony to atagainst the archbishop, there be contained any  tempt an alteration of religion by force, which
treason by the established laws of the kingdom l is the worst kind of attempt. 
(2.) Whether the impeachment and articles did    " As to the third charge, of endeavouring to
contain such certainties and particularities as subvert the rights of Parliament.  We insist on
are required by law in cases of treason?"t The the same reply that was mlade under the first
head.  We allow that, by the statute of 5 Jac.,
It had been drawn out throug more than three cap. iv., it is provided that if any man shall
months, and he had been often, when summoned be-  put in practice to reconcile any of his majesty's
fore the Lords, sent back unheard. This had, need- put n practice to reconcile any of his majesty's
lessly, exposed him to the scorns and revilings of the subjects to the Pope or See of Rome, it shall be
people, and to an expense which he could ill bear; deemed treason; but we conceive this does not
for henever appeared but it cost him ~6G or ~7 per day. reach the archbishop, because, (1.) He is charHis estate and goods had been sequestered; and it ged only wsith an endeavour, whereas ini the
was not until towards the end of his trial, and after statute it is putting in practice.  (2.) Because
repeated solicitations, that the Commons allowed  the archbishop is charged with reconciling the
him. ~200 to support his necessary expenses.-Macaulay's History of E.egland, vol. iv., p. 138, note.-ED.   * Laud's History, p. 423.    t Ibid., p. 424, 425
t Laud's History, p. 412, 419.:   Ibid., p. 422.   $ Ibid.; p. 427.    Q Ibid., p. 429.
VOL. I.-U u u




522                      HISTORY  OF  THE  PURITANS.
Church of England with the Church of Rome, 1 boldness to the king's pardon, which he had in
whereas in the statute it is reconciling any of his pocket.
his majesty's subjects to the See of Rorne; now    Bishop Burnet is of' opinion that'" in most of
reconciling'  with may as well be construed a the particulars the archbishop made but frivoreducing Rome to  England, as England to lous excuses; as, that he was but one of many,*
Rome.                                          who, either in council, Star Chamber, or High
" Thus," says Mr. Hearn, " we have endeav- Commission, voted illegal things. Now, though
oured to make it appear that none of the mat- this was true, yet a chief minister, and one in
ters, in any of the articles charged, are treason  high favour, determines the rest so much, that
within the letter of the law; indeed, the crimes, they are little better than machines acted by
as they are laid in the charge, are many and  him.  On other occasions he says, the thing
great, but their number cannot make them ex- was proved but by one witness.  Now, how
ceed their nature; and if they be but crimes strong soever this defence may be in law, it is
and misdemeanors apart, below treason, they  of no force in an appeal to the world; for if a
cannot be made treason by putting them togeth- thing be true, it is no matter how full or defecter."*                                          ive the proof is."t
These arguments of the archbishop's counsel   The archbishop himself has informed us of
staggered the House of Lords, nor could the his great patience under the hard usage he met
managers for the Commons satisfy them i n  with at his trial; but his Diary furnishes too
their reply; they had no doubts about the truth  many examples to the contrary, for it appears
of the facts, but whether any of them were from'thence that he sometimes gave the wittreason by the laws of the land.t this the nesses very rude language at the bar, insinuajudges very much questioned, and, therefore, tifig to the court that many of them  were perthe Lords deferred giving judgment till the jured; that their evidence was the effect of
Commons thought fit to take another method to  malice, envy, and  a thirst after his blood.
obtain it.                                     Sometimes he threatened them with the judgVarious are the accounts of the archbishop's mrnents of God, and once he was going to bind
behaviour on his trial; his friends and' adri- his sin upon one of them, not to be forgiven till
rers flatter him  beyond measure, and said he he asked pardon; but he recovered himself.
perfectly triumphed over his accusers; and his He is pleased sometimes to observe that his
grace seems to be of the same mnind,'when he crimes were proved only by one witness;t and
tells us that all men magnified his answer to yet, at last, he complains that he was oppressthe House of Commons, but he forbore to set ed with numbers, no less than one hundred and
down in what language, because it was high.$ fifty,~ and calls them "a pack of such witnessMr. Prynne allows that " he made as fiull, as es as were never produced against any man of
gallant, and pithy a defence, and spoke as much  his place and calling; pursuivants, messengers,
for himself, as was possible for the wit of man pillory-men, bawds, and such as had shifted
to invent: and that with so much art, sophis- their religion to and again."ll And yet there
try, vivacity, oratory, audacity, and confidence, were anmong them men of the best fashion and
without the least blush, or acknowledgment of quality in the kingdom, as Sir H. Vane, Sen.,
guilt in anything, as argued him  rather obsti- Sir H. Mildmay, Sir Win. Balfore, Sir Nath.
nate ttian innocenlt,'impudent than penitent, and  Brent, vicar-general; sundry aldermen of the
a far better orator and sophister than Protest- city of London, and many excellent divines, as
ant or Christian."{  But then he imputes his Dr. Featly, Dr. Haywood, the archbishop's
chaplain, Mr. Dell, his secretary, Mr. Osbaldes* Laud's HI-st., p. 430.                     ton, and others of an equal, if not superior chart We cannot allow ourselves to withhold here acter. When his grace was checked at the bar
from our reader the just and important remarks of a for reflecting upon the witnesses, and put in
late biographer of the archbishop. "It appears a mind by the managers that some of them were
great defect in the laws of a fiee and limited govern- mind by the managers that some of them were
meit, thatan attempt to subvert the Constitution and aldermen, some gentlemen, and solme men ot
mode of government should not be judicially deemed quality, he replied, smartly, "That is nothing;
a capital offence, punishable as such. For, in a just there is not an active separatist in England but
and political sense, the man who endeavours to en- his hand is against me: both gentlemen, alderslave his countrymen, to deprive them of their nat- men, and men of all conditions, are separated
ural and legal rights and privileges, and instead of a
free constitution of government, to introduce one
that is arbitrary and despotic; such a man is, un-   * To  what Bishop Burnet observes on this plea,
doubtedly, guilty of as high a crime, and is as much it is pertinent to add the remarks of a late writer'
a traitor to his-country, as he who attempts to de- " that if it were admitted, it would always be im
prive the prince of the crown, and ought to be pun- practicable to bring a wicked minister of state to jus
ished with equal severity."-British Biography, vol. tice, for any proceedings in the privy council, to
iv., p. 286. Nav, it may be added, that the severity which the rest concurred; and that it would not be
of the punishment ought to be regulated by the more thought a proper justification of criminals of an infeheinous guilt, which attaches itself rather to the rior order, in any court of justice, if they were to al
former than to the latter conduct: by the latter con- lege that there were other persons accomplices in
duct, the blow is aimed at the rights and prosperity the crirnes with which they were accused."-British
of one person, or, at most, of one family only; but Biography, vol. iv., p. 285.-ED.
the former conduct robs millions of their rights, and   t History of his Life, p. 50, or p. 68, edition in
involves, in its effects, generations to come. Nor 12mo, at Edinburgh.
does it lessen the guilt, if men, instead of being the: Laud's History, p. 237.
agents of prerogative, are the tools of influence; if,   Q He also charged Prynne with keeping a school
instead of being awed into a subserviency to the of instruction for the witnesses, and tampering with
views of despotism, they are brought over to meas- them in a most shameful manner.-Macaulay's Hisures inimical to the liberties of the people.-ED.    tory of England. vol. iv., p. 137, note.-ED.
$ Laud's Hist., p. 441.    6 Prynne, p. 462.   ii Laud's Hist., p. 417.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                       523
from  the (hurch of England, and I would to dence which concerned religion, May 20, 27;
God some of my judges were not."*              June 6, 11, 17, 20, and 27; July 20 and 24; but
After this, it can hardly be expected that the'" this gentleman," says the archbishop, " though
managers for the Commons should escape his he had language good enough sometimes, he
grace's censure; it must be admitted that, in the had little or no sense.  I had a character given
course of their arguments, they made use of some me before of him, which I forbear to express,
harsh expressions, which nothing but the charac- but, by his proceedings with me, I found it
ter they sustained could excuse;t but it was no exactly true."'*
argument of the archbishop's patience and dis-   Samuel Browne, Esq., was an able and grave
cretion to fight them at their own weapons. The lawyer. In the reign of King Charles II. he was
managers were, Sergeant Maynard, one of the knighted, and made Lord-chief-justice of the
ablest lawyers of his age; he lived to be the Common Pleas; he summed up the whole evifather of his profession; and when the Prince dence at the Lords' bar.  " His behaviour toof Orange [afterward King William III.] con- wards the archbishop was decent and civil, but
plimented him upon his having outlived all his his pleadings (according to his grace) very unbrethren of the law, he made this handsome re- fair."t
ply, that, if it had not' been for the wonderful   Robert Nicolas, Esq., pressed the archbishop
revolution that his highness had brought about, very hard, and, therefore, no, wonder that he
he should have outlived the law  itself.  He was displeased with him. The archbishop almanaged the first part of the evidence March lows that he had some sense, but extreme viru13, 16, 18, and 28.  "This gentleman," says lent and foul language.  He managed the secthe archbishop, "pleaded, though strongly, yet ond and fourth branches of the evidence. April
fairly, against me."$                          16, May 14, July 29. This gentleman happenSergeant Wild was the son of Sergeant George ing to call the archbishop pander to the whore
Wild, of Droitwich, in Worcestershire; he was of Babylon, the archbishop bids him remember,
afterward reader of the Inner Temple, a great " that one of his zealous witnesses against the
lawyer, of unblemished morals.  After the res- whore of Babylon got all his means by being a
toration of King Charles II. he was made lord- pander to other lewd women, and was, not long
chief-baron, and esteemed a grave and venera- since, taken in bed with one of his wife's maids.
ble judge.~  He managed that part of the evi- Good Mr. Nicolas," says he, "do not dispense
Laud's Hist. 434with all whores but the whore of Babylon!"$
" ~Laud's Hist., p. 434. lawyers,;' says Mrs. "theyAs for Mr. Hill, the other manager, he is callt "Like true lawyers," says Mrs. Macaulay, "they" ed Consul Bibulus, because he said nothing.
played their parts in baiting the unhappy prisoner
with the most acrimonious and insulting language;  Upon the whole, the archbishop is of opinion
like true lawyers, they took all the unfair advantages that the managers for the Commons sought his
which their offices and other opportunities procured  blood, " and  made false constructions; for
them; and, like true lawyers, they put a forced and which," says he, " I am confident they shall
unwarrantable construction on all the facts which answer at another bar, and for something else
they cited against him."-History of England, vol. in these proceedings."iv., p. 137, 8vo.-cED.    Laud's History, p. 330.   Such was the unhappy spirit of this prelate,
Q The character of Sergeant Wild is impeached, who,   though he had seen the violent effects
and the above account of his preferment is shown to, "though he had seen the  violent effects
be inaccurate by Dr. Grey.  HIe was made lord- of his ill counsels, and had been so long shut up,
chief-baron of the exchequer (see Whitelocke's Me- and so much at leisure to reflect upon what had
morials, p. 337), 12th October, 1648. In the protec- passed in the hurry of passion, and in the ex..
torate of Cromwell he retired, and did not act. Du- altation of his prosperity, yet," as Bishop Burring the Rump Parliament, he was restored to the net observes, " he does not, in any one point of
exchequer. After King Charles II. returned, he lived his Diary, acknowledge his own errors, nor mix
nine years in a retired condition. —Wood's Athen   any    r pious reflectios upo  the  a
Oxon., Vol. i., p. 808. On the authority of Wood, Dr. e o    d         tis upon the unhappy
Grey charges him with having received ~1000 out of steps he had made."  It was, no doubt, a great
the privy purse at Derby House, for the condemna- mortification to his spirit to be exposed to the
tion of Captain Burley, at Winchester, for causing a people, and to wait sometimes an hour or two
drum to beat up for God and King Charles, in the before he was called to the bar; but as for his
Isle of Wight, in order. to rescue his captive king.
The reader will judge what credit is due to this conference with the lords about Mr. Rolfe, the Comcharge, when he is informed that Captain Burley mons alleged that Mr. Rolfe was committed by their
was convicted, sentenced, and executed, according lordships without any cause in'he warrant, and they
both to Wood and Whitelocke [Memorials, p. 290], found reason to clear him. Auag:st 31. The grand
in 1647, some months before Sergeant Wild was made jury, at Southampton, found the bail against Major
a judge. Another charge brought against him, from'Rolfe ignoramus. September 9. There was an order
Lord Clarendon and Wood, is, that he received an- for ~150 for Mr. Rolfe for his unjust imprisonment.
other ~1000 for the acquittance of Major Rolfe, who -Memoirs, p. 310. All these transactions appear to
had a design to murder or poison the king. That have taken place independently of Sergeant Wild,
the reader may form his judgment on this charge, and before he was preferred to be a judge. To these
we will state the proceedings on the affair of Major particulars it may be added, that the king himself
Rolfe, as they are chronologically given by White- acquitted Colonel Hammond, involved in the same
locke.-1648, June 23. A charge by Osborne against accusation with Rolfe, and professed a perfect conColonel Hammond and Captain Rolfe was ordered fidence in him as a man of honour and trust.-Meto be printed. July 11. A letter was received from Col- moirs, p. 315. The stress which Lord Clarendon, and
onel Hammond, desiring that Osborne's charge against after him Mr. Echard and Dr. Grey, have laid on this
Mr. Rolfe may come to a speedy hearing, it reflect- charge against Sergeant Wild, will apologize for so
ing so highly upon the army and upon him; and he- minute an investigation of a matter not essentially
ing a horrid scandal, whereof he clears his own in- connected with the general truth of Mr. Neal's hisnocency, and the officers of the army, and Mr. Rolfe. tory.-ED.
Accommodations were ordered for Mr. Rolfe. Au-   * Laud's History, p. 320, 330.  f Ibid., p. 390.
gust 1. Major Rolfe was bailed. August 12. At a   $ Ibid.                       Q Ibid.. p. Q




524                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
charity and patience under his sufferings, I must I case of treason, they argued that the king could
leave it with the reader to form his own judg- not pardon a judgment of Parliament, especialment.                                         ly as the nation was in a state of war; for if'While the proceedings against the archbishop  the king's pardon was a protection, not a dewere at a stand by reason of thie Lords being  serter, nor a spy, nor an incendiary of any kind
dissatisfied whether thie facts proved against against the Parliament, would have suffered in
him wvere treason by' statute law, the citizens his life or liberty.*
of London assembled, and presented a petition    All the favour, therefore, the archbishop could
to the House ofCommons, October 28th, signed  obtain was, upon his petition, to have his senwith a great number of hands, praying for tence altered from hanging to being beheaded
speedy justice against delinquents, and particu- on Tower Hill, which was appointed to be on
larly against the archbishop; which was no Friday, January 10, when the archbishop being
doubt an artful contrivance of his enemies. The conducted to the scaffold, attended by his chapCommons, to prevent all farther delays, deter- lain, Dr. Stern, and Mr. Marshal and Palmer,
mined not to press the Lords for judgment upon  sent by the Parliament,t read his last speech to
the trial, but ordered a bill of attainder to be the people,: which was a sort of sermon from
brought in; anti when it had been twice read  Heb., xii., 2: "Let us'run with patience the
the archbishop was brought to the bar of the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus
House of Commons, to hear the evidence on the author and finisher of our faith, who, for
which it proceeded, and to make what farther the joy that was set before him, endured the
defence he thought proper. Mr. Browne shm- cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
med up the charge, November 2, and the arch- the right hand of the throne of God." In which
bishop had nine days given him to prepare his lhe acknowledges himself to have been a great
defence.  Novemher 11 he spoke for himself sinner; but, having ransacked every corner of
some hours at the bar of the House of Com- his heart, he thanks God that he has not fouind
mons, and Mr. Browne replied before the arch- any of his sins deserving death by any of the
bishop withdrew; after which the bill of attain- known laws of the kingdom, though he does
der passed the House the very same day with  not charge his judges, because they are to probut one dissenting voice, and that not upon the ceed according to evidence.  He thanks God
substance of the charge, but upon the manner that he is as quiet within as ever he was in his
of proceeding.*  The bill being sent up to the life, and hopes that his cause in heaven will
Lords, they made an order, December 4, "that look of another colour than it does here.;It
all books, writings, &c., concerning the arch- is clamoured against me," says he, " that I debishol's trial should be brought in to the clerk signed to bring in popery, but I pray God that
of the Parliament,"  which being done, they ex- the pope do not cofme in by.rneans of' these
arnined over again all the heads and principal sectaries which clamour so much against me."
parts of the evidence, and voted each particular As for the king, he assured the world that he
as they went forward; so ternder were they of was as sound a Protestant as any man in the
the life of this prelate, and so careful to main- kingdom,. and would venture as fireely for it.
tain the honour and justice of their proceedings. He complains of the citizens for gathering hands
When they had gone through the whole, they  to petitions, and particularly against himself,
voted him  guilty of all facts charged against whereby they were bringing the guilt of innohim, in three branches, namely, " guilty of en- cent blood upon themselves and their city. lIe
deavouring to subvert the laws; of endeavour- laments the ruin of the hierarchy, and concludes
ing to overthrow the Protestant religion, and  with declaring himself a true Protestant, acthe rights of Parliaments."  After this they sent cording to the Church of England established
a message to the Commons, to desire them to by law, and takes it upon his death, that " he
answer the argument of the archbishop's coun- never endeavoured. the subversion of the laws
sel as to the point of law, which they according- of the realm, nor any change of the Protestant
ly did at a conference, January 2, when Sergeant religion into popish superstition; nor was he
Wild, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Nicolas, having an enemy to Parliaments."
given the reasons of the Commons for their at-   In his last prayer he desires that God would
tainder, the Lords were satisfied, and January  give him patience to die for his honour, for the
4 passed the bill,t whereby it was ordained that king's happiness, and the Church of England.
he should suffer death as in cases of high trea- He then prays for the preservation of the king
son.  To stop the consequence of this attainder,   * Whitelocke's Memoirs, p. 117.
the archbishop produced' the king's pardon un-   t It marks a virulent and bitter spirit in the con
der the great seal, signed'April 19, 12th Car., duct of this execution, that of the three clergymen,
but it was overruled by both houses.  1. Be- whose consolatory attendance and service at his exit
cause it was granted before conviction.  And, Laud petitioned for, but one was allowed him; and
2. If it had been subsequent, yet, in the present this under the restraint of the inspection of two mninisters appointed by Parliament.-.iacaulay's History,
It was greatly against the archbishop that the vol. iv., p. 144.-ED.
management of the trial was assigned to Prynne, a   $ "In this very performance," observes Mrs. Macman of sour and austere principles; whom Laud had aulay, " which was executed with great art of commnade his enemy by the severe sentence of the Star position, and likewise in his remarks on the charge
Chamber; and who, by his behaviour on this occa- which the Scots brought against him, he plainly
sion, showed that he remembered and resented the shows that his adversity had not altered his opinions,
share Laud had in inflicting his past sufferings.-ED. nor corrected any one of his most mischievous prejt Dr. Grey will not allow the decree of the Com- udices; and that, had accident re-established him in
mons to be called "a bill." It was, in his opinion, his former plenitude of power, he would have run, to
an ordinance only, and that an imperfect one; be- the end of his days, the same persecuting course for
rause it was not supported by the royal assent, and, which he now suffered."-History of Egland, vol. iv.,
therefore, he says, had no legal force at all.-ED.   p. 140.-ED.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                        525
in his just rights; for the Parliament in their a coffin, and, by the permission of Parliament,
ancient and just power; for the Church, that it buried in Barking Church, with the service of
may be settled in truth and peace, and in its the Church read over him.  The inscription
patrimony; and for the people, that they may  upon the coffin was this: "In hac cistula conenjoy their ancient laws, and other liberties; duntur exuvime Gulielmi Laud, archiepscopi
and then, having forgiven his enemies, he con- Cantuariensis, qui securi percussus immortalieluded with the Lord's Prayer. After which he tatem  adiit, die x~ Januarii, wetatis suafm  72,
gave his paper to D.r. Stern, saying, " Doctor, I archiepiscopatus xii."  But after the Restoragive you this, to show  your fellow-chaplains tion his body was removed to Oxford, and dethat they may see how I am  gone out of the  posited with great solemnity in a brick vault,
world, and God's blessing and his mercy be according to his last will and testament, near
upon them."  When the scaffold was cleared, the altar of the chapel of St. John the Baptist
he pulled offhis doublet, and said, "God's will College, July 24, 1663.
be done: I am willing to go out of the world;   Thus died Dr. William  Laud, archbishop of
no man can be more willing to send me out."  Canterbury, primate of all England, and metroThen, turning to the executioner, he gave him  politan; some time chancellor of the Universisome money, and bid him do his office in mer- ties of Oxford and Dublin, one of the commiscy; he then kneeled down, and after a short sioners ofl his majesty's exchequer, and privy
prayer, laid his head on the block, and said; counsellor to the king, in the seventy-second
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;" which.being year of his age, and twelfth of his archiepiscothe sign, the executioner did his office at one pal translation.  He was of low stature, and a
blow.*  The archbishop's corpse was put into  ruddy countenance; his natural temper was
severe and uncourtly, his spirit active and restM* rs. Macaulay's reflections on this event appear less which pushed him on to the most hazardto carry weight and pertinence with them. "As the                       on
justice of the country had been something satisfied  ous enterprises  His conduct was rash  and
by the death of the criminal Strafford, it would have precipitate,  r, according to Dr. Heylin, he atdone honour to the Parliament to have left this aged tempted more alterations in the Church in one
prelate the example of their mercy, rather than to year than a prudent man would have done in
have mnade him the monument of their justice. Per- a great many.  His counsels in state affairs
petual imprisonment, with no more than a decent were high and arbitrary, for he was at the head
maintenance, and the deprivation of his archiepis- of all the illegal projects, of ship-money, loans,
copal function (which, of course, followed the abol- monopolies, Star Chamber fines, &c.  which
ishment of that kind of church government), would  wee the ruin of the king and Constitution.
have taken away his abilities of doing farther mis- His maxims in the Church were no less sechief; and the present prosperous state of the Parliament affairs rendered his death a circumstance  vere, for he sharpened the spiritual sword, and
of no importance to the public. It is plain that he drew it against all sorts of offenders, intending,
fell a sacrifice to the intolerant principle of the Pres- as Lord Clarendon expresses it, that the discibyterians, a sect who breathed as fiery a spirit of pline of the Church should be felt as well as
persecution as himself. It is farther to be observed  spoken ot;  There had not been such a crowd
of this prelate, that he is the only individual of that
high office in the Church of England (Cranmer, the of business  n the High Commission Court
martyr, excepted) who ever suffered death by the since the Reformation, nor so many large fines
hands of the executioner; though the turbulent am- i-posed, as under this prelate's administration,
bition of his order has disturbed the peace of societ;y  with little or no abatement, because they were
from the first period of the Church power to the pres- assigned to the repair of St. Paul's, which gave
ent day." —tistory of England, vol. iv., p. 143, 144.-  occasion to an unlucky proverb, that the church
ED. (Toulmin).-No enlightened friend of civil and  was repaired with the sins of the people.
religious liberty will allow his sympathy with the    As t  the arcbisop's  religion, e declared
sufferer to blind his judgment to the obliquities of   As to tl e u p on the scaffold, a Protestant, ac
his administration.  A medium course between the     lf, upon the scaffold, a Protestant, ac
absurd eulogies of Heylen and the fierce denuncia- dording to the constitution of the Church of
tions of Prynne is best accordant with the facts of England, but with more charity to the Church of
his history and the claims of truth. He met with
the same harsh and cruel treatment which he had  united with ecclesiastical pride, and political servidealt out to others, and is mainly indebted to this tude was promoted as a means to clerical doniinafact for the interest with which he has subsequent- tion. Had he been brought to trial when first arly been regarded. Utterly estranged from the spirit rested, it would have been difficult to establish any
of the English Constitution, he sought to level all material distinction between his case and that of
the safeguards of freedom, and to expose its citadel Strafford. They had been co-workers in the service
to the occupation of a despotic monarch. Amid the of an unprincipled tyranny; and if the lord-lieuten
slavish minions of the court of Charles, he shone un- ant deserved his doom, no less a penalty might justly
rivalled-exulting in the severity of his measures, have been inflicted on the primate. But the state
and deriving from past defeat fresh hostility against necessity, which was pleaded in the case of Straf
the liberties of his country. His dark and scheming ford, was wholly absent from that of Laud. I-Ie had
spirit disburdened itself only to the listened ear of sunk into contempt, and was, therefore, incapable of
Strafford, from whose loftier genius and more ex- mischief. Perpetual imprisonment might have been
pansive views Laud anticipated the accomplishment inflicted, but to take away his life was a gratuitous
of his designs. In the Church, he ruled with a rod violation of the letter and forms of the Constitution.
of iron. Inaccessible alike to pity and remorse, he It savoured more of private vengeance than of public
sought to crush the spirit of the Puritans, and to justice, and betokened the departure of those masrestore the departed glories of his Church. Incapa- ter-spirits who had presided over the earlier deliber
ble of infusing into it the vigour of a healthful piety, ations of Parliament. Laud's patronage of literature
it was his aim to increase the splendour and to mul- and learned men constitutes the only redeeming featiply. the ceremnonies of the Church. He was too ture of his administration. It is the splitary virtue
proud and despotic to be a subordinate of Itomne, yet which sheds a partial lustre over an otherwise un
he would gladly have assimilated his Church to the broken course of misrule,-Dr. Price's Hist. Non
external fi)rm of the papacy. Personal ambition was cnfornmity, vol. ii., p. 301.-C.




526                      HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
Rome thlin to the foreign Protestants;*  and  his own life, and humble in his private dethoughll he was an avowed enemy to sectaries portment, but hot and indiscreet, eagerly purand ianatics of all sorts, yet he had a great deal suing such matters as were either very inc'onof superstition in his make, as appears from  siderable or mischievous; such as setting the
those passages in his Diary in which he takes communion table by the east wall of the church,
notice of his dreams, of the falling down of pic- bowing to it, and calling it an altar, suppressing
tures, of the bleeding of his nose, of auspicious the Walloon privileges, breaking of lectures,
and inauspicious days of the year, and of the  and encouraging of-sports on the Lord's Day,
position of the stars; a variety of which may  &c.  His severity in the Star Chamber, and in
be collected out of that performance.          the High Commission Court; but, above all,
His grace must be allowed to have had a con- his violent, and, indeed, inexcusable injustice,
siderable share of knowledge, and to have been  in the prosecution of Bishop Williams, were
a learned man, though he was more a man of such visible blemishes, that nothing but the
business than of letters.t  He was a great ben- putting him to death in so unjust a manner
efactor to the college in which he was educated, could have raised his character.  His Diary
enriching it with a variety of valuable man- represents him as an abject fawner upon the
uscripts,$ besides ~500 in money.~  He gave  Duke of Buckingham, and as a superstitious re~800 to the repair of the Cathedral of St. Paul's, garder of dreams;` his defence of himself,
and sundry other legacies of the like nature. written with so much care when he was in the
But, with all his accomplishments, he was a Tower, is a very mean performance; and his
cruel persecutor as long as he was in power, and  fiiends have really lessened him-Heylin by
the chief incendiary in the war between the writing his life, and Wharton by publishing his
king and Parliament, the calamities of which  vindication of himself."  Mr. Rapin adds, "Let
are, in a great measure, chargeable upon him. the archbishop's favourers say what they please,
"That which gave me the strongest prejudices he was one of the chief authors of the troubles
against him," says Bishop Burnet, "is, that in that afflicted England: 1. By supporting with
his Diary, after he had seen the ill effects of his all his might the principles of that arbitrary
violent counsels, and had been so long shut up, power which the court strove for several years
and so long at leisure to reflect on,what had  to establish.  2. By using too much strictness
passed in the hurry of passion, in the exalta- and rigidness in the observance of trifles in Dition of his prosperity, he does not, in any one part vine service, and in compelling everybody to
of that great work, acknouledge his own errors, conform  themselves thereto."t   To which I
nor mix.any wise or serious reflections on the ill would beg leave to add, that since nothing reiesage he met with, or the unhappy steps he had lating to the doctrine or discipline of the Church
made." The bishop adds, withal,ll " that he was of England established by law was objected to
a learned, sincere, and zealous man, regular in  him at his trial, but only certain innovations in
the Church, without or contrary to law, I can* One of the daughters of William, earl of Devon- not conceive with what propriety of language
shire, having turned Catholic, she was, questioned   friends and admirers have canonized  him
by Laud upon the subject of her conversion, and the as the blessed martyr of the Church of Engmotives by which she had been actuated. She replied, that her principal reason was a dislike'to land. "
travel in a crowd.'I'he meaning being obscure, the
archbishop asked her what she meant. "I perceive,"   * "His superstitions," says Mrs. Macaulay, "were
she said, "your grace and many others are making as contemptible as those that belonged to the weakhaste to Rome, and, therefore, to prevent being est of women." His, Diary fell into the hands of
crowded, I have gone before you."-C.           Prynne, in the search of the archbishop's papers, and
t "Just the contrary," says Bishop Warburton: was published by him during his trial. This his
"he did not understand business at all, as fully ap- grace complained of, as done to abash and disgrace
pears from the historian's account of his civil admin- him. The publication of it certainly did not tend to
istration, and was a great master of religious contro- soften the prejudices against him, or to raise hiln in
versy." Mr. Hume, speaking of Laud's learning and the opinion of the public. It was done by an order
morals, expresses himself in the following manner: of a committee of the House of Commons.-ED.
"This man was virtuous, if severity of manners   t Rapin, vol. i., p. 507, folio.
alone, and abstinence from pleasure, could deserve   t Dr. Grey calls Mr. Neal's delineation of Archthat name. He was learned, if-polemical knowledge bishop Laud's character "a long invective," and opcould entitle him to that praise."-History of Great poses to it Lord Clarendon's character of this prelate.
Britain, vol. v., p. 193.-ED.                  Facts will show who has drawn it with truth; and
$ These manuscripts, which he had purchased at by facts we may decide concerning a more recent dea prodigious expense, were in Hebrew, Syriac, Chal- lineation of it by the pen of Mrs. Macaulay. " Laud,
dee, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Arminian, Arabic, Persian, a superstitious churchman, who had studied little
Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Latin, else than canon law and the doting opinions of the
Italian, French, Saxon, English, and Irish. The fathers, was entirely ignorant of the utility, equity,
archbishop also founded an Arabic lecture in the and beauty of civil and eligious liberty, was himself
University of Oxford, which began to be read in 1636. imposed on before he endeavoured to impose on othHe obtained the advowson of the living of St. Law- ers; and became a zealous instrument of tyranly,
rence, in Reading, for St. John's College. He pro- even for conscience' sake. The principles of religion
cured a charter for Reading, and founded, and en- on which he uniformly acted were as noxious to the
dowed with ~200 per annum, anhospital in that town. peace of society as were the principles of the paOxford owed also to his influence a large charter, pists; the same want of charity, the same exercise
confirmning its ancient, and investing it with new  of cruelty, the same arrogance of dominion, were
privileges. It is but justice due to his memory to re- common to both. Utterly unacquainted with the
cord, to the honour of Laud, these acts of munifi- simplicity, charity, and meekness of the Gospel, hlis
cence and public utility.-British Biography, vol. iv., character was void of humility and forgiveness; nor
p. 289, 290.-ED.              { Diary, p. 56.   had he other rules to judge of nlen's deservings, but
II History of his Life, vol. i., p. 49, 50; or Scotch as they were more or less attached to the power of
edit., p. 68.                                  the Church. Upon the whole, his character serves




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      527
The last and most memorable transaction of letter to the queen, dated January 2, in which
this year was the treaty of Uxbridge.  His he says, " that his calling them  a Parliament
majesty had sent the two houses sundry propo- did not imply his acknowledging them as such;
sitions for peace last summer, which took them  upon which construction, and no other," says
up a great deal of time to form into propositions he,* "I called them  as it is registered in the
for his majesty's assent.  The commissioners  council-books; and if there had been but two of
were, two lords, four commoners, and those of my opinion," says the king, " I would-not have
the Scots commissioners; they arrived at Ox- done it."t  In another intercepted letter to the
ford November 26, but though the king had  queen, he tells her, " he could not prevail with
given them a safe-conduct, Mr. Whitelocke ob- his Parliament at Oxtbord to vote those at Westserves, they met with very rude treatment from  minster no Parliament, but assures her he would
the populace, who saluted them as they passed  not make peace without her approbation, nor go
along the streets with the names of traitors, one iot beyond the paper she sent hirn."t  In
rogues, and rebels, throwing stones and dirt into  another, the king informs the queen, " that the
their coaches; when they came to their inn, they  Parliament were sending him propositions for
were insulted by the soldiers, so that they were peace, which, it' she likes, he thinks may be the
obliged to shut up the doors till the king order- best way for settlement as things stand;" so
ed them  a guard.  When they delivered their that the fate of England was.to be determined
propositions, his majesty received them coldly;* by the queen and her popish council.  Besides,
and because they were only to receive his an- his majesty was, unhappily, elevated at this time
swer, told them  a letter carrier might have by the divisions at Westminster, which produdone as well.t  Next day his majesty gave ced the new modelling thearmy; and with a
them  his answer in writing sealed up; and  false and romantic account of the successes of
when they desired to see it, he replied, with a the Marquis of Montrose in Scotland, which
frown, " What is it to you, who are but to car- were so magnified that it was expected the
rv what I send. If I will send the song of Rob- Scots must immediately march back into their
in Hood, or Little John, you must carry it." own country; whereas, in reality, they were
But at length they obtained a copy, which was not so considerable as to oblige them to draw
only to desire a safe-conduct for the Duke of off a single regiment.
Lenox and Earl of Southampton to come to   In this situation of affairs, it was agreed, acLondon with his majesty's answer; but the let- cording to the proposals of the king's commister not being directed to the Parliament of Eng- sioners, that there should be a treaty of peace
land, the houses would not consent but upon  at Uxbridge, to commence January 30, 1645, and
that condition. The king's council advised him  to continue twenty (lays.
to yield, which did not prevail till his majesty    There were sixteen commissioners for the
had forid out an evasion, and entered it upon  king, viz., n-ine lords, six commoners, and one
record in the council-books, as appears by his divine; twelve for the Parliament, and ten for
the Scots, and one divine, viz., Mr. Henderson;
as an eminent example, to show that extensive learn- the king's divine was Dr. Steward, who was
ing and abilities are not incompatible with a narrow  assisted by Dr. Sheldon, Laney, Fern, Potter,
judgment; and that, in all the catalogue of human and Hammond.  Assistant divines for the Parfirailties, there are none which more corrupt the
heart, or deprave the understanding, than the follies liamneit were, Mr. Vines, Marshal, Cheynel. and
of religion."-History of England, vol. iv., p. 134, 142, Chiesly.  These, with their retinue, to the numn143. Were it necessary for the editor of Mr. Neal to ber of one hundred and eight persons, wevere insubjoin his idea of Laud's character, he would be in- eluded in the safe-conduct.
dined to give it-in three words; as formed of super-   The propositions to be treated of were, relistition, tyranny, and intolerance. - En.  His old
friend, Judge Whitelocke, described his character in   * Whiteloclre, p. 277.
a few words: "HI-e was too full of fire, though a   t Dr. Grey aims here to impeach, not the accurajust and good man. His want of experience in state cy only, but the veracity of Mr. Neal, whose account
matters, and his too much heat and zeal for the of the matter does, indeed, seem to imply that the
Church, had he proceeded in the way he was then king was at length prevailed on to direct his answer
in, would have set'the nation on fire.l'-C.    to the Parliament at Westminster; whereas Dr. Grey
* This, as Dr. Grev observes, is not expressly said shows, from Rapin and Rushworth, that his majesty
by Whitelocke; whose words are, " The next day  put no direction at all on it, and the commissioners
they," i. e.,. the commissioners, "had access to his accepted it without a direction; and that, therefore,
majesty, who used them civilly, and gave to every the charge of evasion against the king was without
one of them his hand to kiss; but he seemed to show  ground. But Dr. Grey contents himself with a parmore disdain to the Scots commissioners than to any tial account and view of this'matter, and does not apothers of their company.'  On the evening of the prize his reader that Rapin also mentions the expesame day, as Hollis and Whitelocke were paying a dient by which the king reconciled to himself a comvisit to the Earl of Lindsey, the king came into the pliance with the requisition of the Parliament: the
chamber, and treated those gentlemen with extraor- fact, in its full extent, was, that the commissioners,
dinary respect, entered into a free conversation with  though they objected to the form and the want of dithemn, an(l asked their advice as friends;-Memorials, rection to the king's message, yet did deliver it to
p. 108. Rushworth savs that "the king received  the Parliament at Westminster, and were thanked
the commissioners very obligingly, but seemed more for their services. But, then, the like exceptions were
to slight the Scots commissioners than any of the made by both houses, and it was resolved not to grant
rest."-Vol. v., p. 841. Even here, though the lan- the safe-conduct it asked, nor to receive his majesty's
guage of Rushworth is more descriptive of a courte- answer, unless lie should send to the Parliament of
ous and complaisant reception than is that of White- England assembled at Westminster. The trumpeter
loae, there is yet an intimation of something in the went away with the letter to this effect December 3,
king's ianner to all the commissioners that indicated and returned on the 7th with an answer fromn the
coldness and indiffereince, and it justifies Mr. Neal's king, acknowledging those at Westminster to be the
representation of it.-ED.                      Parliament.-Rushworth, vol. v., p. 843, 844.
t Whitelocke, p. 106, 107, 109, 11.           4 Rushworth, vol. v., p. 943.




528                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
gion, the militia, and Ireland; each of which  manner of confidence in his majesty's promises,
was to be debated three days successively, till nor abate a tittle of the fullest security fi)r themthe twenty days were expired.                   selves and the Constitution.* The king, thereThe treaty was preceded by a day of fasting  fore, in his letter to the queen of January 22,
and prayer on both sides for a blessing, but was assures her of the utter improbability that this
interrupted  the very first, day by a sermon  present treaty should produce a peace, "considpreached occasionally in the church of Uxbridge ering the great and strange difference, if not conby Mr. Love, then preacher to the garrison of trariety, of grounds that was between the rebels'
Windsor, wherein he had said that they [his  propositions and his; and that I cannot alter
majesty's commissioners] came thither with  mine, nor will they ever theirs, but by force."t
hearts full of blooud, and that there was as great   We shall only just mention the propositions
a distance bet*een this treaty and peace as be- relating to the militia and Ireland, our principal
tween  heaven and hell.  The commissioners view being to religion.  The king's conimmishaving complained of him next day, the Parlia- sioners proposed to put the militia into the
ment commissioners laid it before the two hous- hands of trustees for three years, halt' to be
es, who sent for him to London, where he gave named by the king, and half by the Parliament,
this account of the affair: that the people being  and then to revert absolutely to the crown, on
under a disappointment at their lecture, he was pain of high treason.  But the Parliament comdesired unexpectedly to give them a sermon, missioners replied, that by the king's naming
which was the same he had preached at WVind- half the commissioners, the militia. would be
sor the day before.*  He admits that he cau- rendered inactive, and that after three years
tioned the people not to have too great a de- they should be in a worse condition than before
pendance upon the treaty, because, "while our the war; they therefore proposed'that "the
enemies," says he, "go on in their wicked  Parliament should name the commissioners for
practices, and we keep to our principles, we seven years, and then to be settled as the king
may as soon make fire and water to agree; and, awl Parliament should agree, or else to limit
I had almost said, reconcile heaven and hell, as their nomination to three years after the king
their spirits and ours. They must grow better, and Parliament should declare the kingdom to
or we must grow worse, before it is possible for be in a settled peace."$  It had been easy to
us to agree."  He added, farther, "that there  form this proposition, so as both parties might
was a generation of men that carried blood and  have complied with honour and safety,. if they
revenge in their hearts against the well-affected  had been in earnest for an accommodation; but
in the nation, who hated not only their bodies, his majesty's commissioners could yield no farbut their souls, and in their cups would drink  ther.
a health to their damnation."  Though there    As to Ireland, the king's commissioners jusmight be some truth in what the preacher said, tified his majesty's proceedings in the cessation,
yet these expressions were unbecoming any and in sending for the rebels over to fill up his
private man in so nice a conjuncture; he was almies; and when the commissioners on the
therefore confined to his house duringthe treaty, other side put them  in mind of his majesty's
and then discharged.t                           solemn promises to leave that affair to the ParIt was too evident that neither party came to  liament, and to have those rebels punished acthe treaty with a healing spirit.  The king's cording to law, the others replied, "they wished
commissioners were under such restraints, that it was in his majesty's po.wer to' punish all relittle good was to be expected from them; and  bellion according as it deserved; but since it
the Parliament commissioners would place no  was otherwise, he must condescend to treaties,
and to all other expedients necessary to reduce
* Dugdale's Treaty of Uxbridge, p. 764.       his rebellious subjects to their duity and obet Dr. Grey opposes to the account which Mr. Neal  dience."Q  Admirable arguments to heal divisgives of the proceedings against Mr. Love, Lord  ions
Clarendon's representation. which states only, that   n   induce the Pa    ent to put thesword
the commissioners seemed troubled at the charge
against hiim, promised to examine it, and engaged   Rapin, vol. ii., p. 510, folio.
that he should be severely punished; but afterward    t The quotation from Rapin, as Dr. Grey intimates,
confessed that they had no authority to punish hin, is not exact or full. The passage stands thus: "I
but that they had caused him to be sharply repre- cannot alter mine, nor will they ever theirs, till they
hended and sent out of town: " This," his lordship be out of hope to prevail with force, which a little
adds, "was all that could be obtained, so unwilling assistance, by thy means, will soon make them be;
vrere they to discountenance any man whowas will- for I am confident, if ever I could put them to a deing to serve themn."-History of the Rebellion, vol. ii., fensive- (which a reasonable sum of money would
p. 579. Dr. Grey remarks here, " This is Lord Clar- do), they would be easily brought to reason."-Rlushendon's account, who himself was a commissioner of worth, vol. vii., p. 944. As the passage now appears
that treaty."  The remark is evidently made to inti- at its full length, though the reader should judge Mr.
mate that Mfr. Neal's account is not true. It is to be Neal's manner of quoting it inaccurate. he will perregretted that he has not, in this instance, referred ceive that he has truly given the idea and meaning
to his authority. But it is certain that Lord Claren- of the king, who thought of nothing but of putting
don does not relate the whole of the commissioners' the Parliament out of hope of prevailing by force, by
answer or conduct The former, according to Rush- carrying against them a superior force. -ED.
worth, vol. v., p. 865, and Dugdale, p. 765, was a   $ Rapin, p. 513.  Q Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 5')2.
promise "to represent the complaint against Mr.  II Bishop Warburton treats this with contmun't,
Love to the Parliament, who would proceed therein calling it'' a foolish declamation. The subject here
according to justice;" and the latter, it appears by was Ireland, not the militia."  So Mr. Neal repreWhiterocke, was correspondent to this engagement: sents it: but the -force of his remark turns onthe
" Fot the Parliament, having notice of Mr. Love's propriety of putting the sword into the king's hands;
sermon from the comnmissioners, sent for him, and re- and whether the sword was worn by the English miferred the business to an examination." —1emorials, litia or the Irish rebels, in either case it was an obp. 123.-En.                                    ject of fear and jealousy to the Parliament. The




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                     529
The article of religion was, in the opinion of and the propositions concerning church governLord Clarendon, of less consequence with many ment, hereunto annexed, be confirmed as a part
in the Parliament house, for if they could have of reformation of religion and uniformity; that
obtained a security for their lives and fortunes, his majesty take the solemn League and Covehe apprehends this might have been accommo- nant; and that an act of Parliament be passed,
dated, though, considering the influence of the enjoining the taking it by all the subjects of the
Scots, and the growing strength of the Presby- three kingdoms.*
terian and Independent parties, it is very much    The propositions annexed to these demands
to be doubted.  However, this being the first were these, viz.: "That tl-,e ordinary way of
point debated in the treaty, and a Church con- dividing Christians into distinct congregations,
troversy, it will be proper to represent the in- as most expedient for edification, be by the restructions on both sides. While this was upon spective bounds of their dwellings.
the carpet, Dr Steward, clerk of the closet, and    " That the ministers and other church offia commissioner for the king, sat covered with- cers, in each particular congregation, shall join
out the bar, behind the commissioners, as did in the government of the Church in such manMr. Hendlerson behind those of the Parliamenlt. ner as shall be established by Parliament.
The assistant divines were present in places   "That many congregations shall be under
appointed for them, opposite to each other.   one presbyterial government.
His majesty's instructions to his commission-   " That the Church be governed by congregaers on the head of religion were these: " Here," tional, classical, and synodical assemblies, in
says the king, " the government of the Chorch such manner as shall be established by Parliawill be the chief question, wherein two things iment.
are to be considered, conscience and policy;   "That synodical assemblies shall consist
for the first, I must declare, that I cannot yield  both of provinci. and national assemblies."
to the change of the government by bishops, not   One may easily observe the distance between
only because I fully concur, with the most gen- the instructions of the two parties, one being
eral opinion of Christians in all ages, in Episco- deterrrined to maintain Episcopacy, and the
pacy's being the best government, but likewise other no less resolute for establishing PresbyI hold myself particularly bound, by the oath I tery  Aft er several papers had passed between
took at my coronation, not to alter the govern- the commissioners about the bill for taking
ment of this Church from what I found it; and  away Episcopacy, it was debated by the divines
as for the church patrimony, I cannot sufferl any for two days together.
diminution or alienation of it, it being, without   Mr. Henderson, in a laboured speech, endeavperadventure, sacrilege, and likewise contrary  oured to show the necessity of changing the
to mny coronation oath; but whatsoever shall be government of the Church for the preservation
offered for rectifying abuses, if any have crept of the State.  "That now the question was
in, or for the ease of tender consciences (provi- not whether the government of the Church by
ded the foundation be not damaged), I am con- bishops was lawful, hut whether it was so netent to hear, and willing to return a gracious cessary that Christianity could not subsist withanswer. Touching the second, that is, the point out it.  That this latter position could not be
of policy, as it is the king's duty to protect the maintained in the affirmative without condemnChurch, so the Church is reciprocally bound to ing all other Reformed churches in Europe.
assist the king in the maintenance of his just That the Parliament of England had found
authority.  Upon these views my predecessors Episcopacy a very inconvenient and corrupt
have been always careful (especially since the government; that the hierarchy had been a
Reformation) to keep the dependlance of the public grievance from the Reformation downclergy entirely upon the crown, without which  ward; that the bishops had always abetted poit will scarce set fast on the king's head; there- pery, had retained many superstitious rites and
fore, you must do nothing to change or lessen  customs in their worship and government; and,
this natural dependance "                     over and above, had lately brought in a great
The commissioners from the two houses of many novelties into the Church, and made a
Parlianment at Westminster, instead of being in- nearer approach to the Roman communion, to
structed to treat about a reformation of the hie- the great scandal of the Protestant churches of
rarchy, were ordered to demand the passing of Germany, France, Scotland, and Holland. That
a bill for abolishing and taking away Episcopal the prelates had embroiled the British island,
government; for confirming the ordinance for and made the two nations of England and Scotthe calling and sitting of the Assembly of Di- land fall foul upon each other. That the revines; that the Directory for public worship, bellion in Ireland, and the civil war in England,
may be charged upon them; that for these reareader will not be displeased to see how the bishop sons the Parliament had resolved to change
becomes advocate for the king on the charge here this inconvenient, mischievous government, and
alleged, of breaking his promise to leave the Irish
Z3     s answer, i. e., the Irin's et up another in the    room, of it, more naturally
war to the Parliament. His answer,. e., the kin,'s,
says his grace, is to this effect, and I think it very formed for the adanceent f piety; that this
pertinent: "It is true I made this promise, but it was       the best expedient to u.nitet all
when the Parliament was my friend, not my enemy. Protestant churches, and ext.inguish the remains
They might be then intrusted with my quarrel; but of popery; he hoped, therefore, the king would
it would be madness to think they now can. To pre- concur in so commendable and godly an undervent, therefore, their making a treaty with the Irish, taking; and conceived his majesty's conseience
and in their distresses bringing over their troops   not be urged against such a compliance,
against ove, I have trpated with them, and have because he had already done it in Scotland; nor
brounnght over the troops against them." This was
speaking like a wise and able prince.-ED.
-* Roshworth, vol. v., p. 945.,              * Dugdale, p. 766.
Vor,. I.-X x x




530                    HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
necessary to the support of the Christian reli- commendation of Presbyterial government, as
gion."                                      that which had the only claim to a Divine right.*
Dr. Steward, clerk of the king's closet, ad- Upon which the Marquis of Hertfordt spoke to
dressing himself to the commissioners, replied, this effect:
"he knew their lordships were too well ac-       "My Lords,
quainted with the constitution of the Church of   " Here is much said concerning church govEngland, and the basis upon which it stood, to ernment in the general; the reverend doctors
imagine it could be shaken by the force of Mr. on the king's part affirm that Episcopacy is jure
Henderson's rhetoric; that he was firmly of divino; the reverend ministers on the other
opinion that a government which, from  the part affirm that presbytery is jure divino; for
planting of Christianity in England, had contin- my part, I think neither the one nor the other,$
ued without interruption. that a government nor any government whatsoever to be jure diviunder which Christianity had spread and flour- no; and I desire we may leave this argument,
ished to a remarkable degree, could have no- and proceed to debate on the particular propothing vicious or antichristian in its frame; that sals."~
he expected that those who had sworn them-   Dr. Steward desired they might dispute sylselves to an abolition of this primitive constitu- logistically, as became scholars, to which Mr.
tion, and came hither to persuade their lord- Henderson readily agreed; in that way they
ships and his majesty to a concurrence, would proceeded about two days; the points urged
have endeavoured to prove the unlawfulness of by the king's doctors were strongly opposed by
that government they pressed so strongly to Mr. Henderson, Mr. Marshal, and Mr. Vines,
remove; but though in their sermons and prints and very learnedly replied to by his majesty's
they gave Episcopacy an antichristian addition, divines, who severally declared their judgments
Mr. Henderson had prudently declined charging upon the apostolical institution of Episcopacy;
so deep, and only argued from the inconveni- but neither party were convinced or satisfied.
ences of that government, and the advantages   When the debate concerning religion came
which would be consequent on an alteration. on a second time, his majesty's commissioners
Forasmuch as a union with the Protestant delivered in their answer to the Parliament's
churches abroad was the chief reason for his demands in writing, with their reasons why
change, the doctor desired to know what for- they could not consent to the bill for abolishing
eign church they designed for a pattern; that Episcopacy, and establishing the Directory in
he was sure the model in the Directory had no the room of the Common Prayer, nor advise his
great resemblance to any foreign Reformed  majesty to take the Covenant: but for the unichurch; and though he would not enter upon ting and reconciling all differences in matters of
a censure of those communions, yet it was religion, and procuring a blessed peace, they
well known that the most learned men of those were willing to consent,
churches had lamented a defect in their reform-   (1.) " That freedom be left to all persons, of
ation, and that the want of Episcopacy was an what opinion soever, in matters of ceremony;
unhappy circumstance; that they had always and that all the penalties of the laws and cuspaid a particular reverence to the Church of toms which enjoin these ceremonies be susEngland, and looked upon it as the most per- pended.ll
feet constitution, upon the score of its having   (2.) " That the bishop shall exercise no act
retained all that was venerable in antiquity. of jurisdiction or ordination without the conFrom hence he proceeded to enlarge upon the sent of the presbyters, who shall be chosen by
apostolical institution of Episcopacy, and en- the clergy of each diocess, out of the most
deavoured to prove, that without bishops the learned and grave ministers of the diocess.~T
sacerdotal character could not be conveyed,   (3.) " That the bishop keep his constant resinor the sacraments administered to any signifi- dence in his diocess, except when he shall be
cancy.                                      required by his majesty to attend him on any
" As to his majesty's consenting to put down occasion, and that (if he be not hindered by the
episcopacy in Scotland, he would say nothing, infirmities of old age or sickness) he preach
though he knew his majesty's present thoughts every Sunday in some church within his dioupon that subject.  But he observed that the cess.
king was farther obliged in this kingdom than   (4.) " That the ordination of ministers shall
in the other; that in England he was tied by
his-coronation oath to maintain the rights of byterian way of government, and that Episcopacy
the Church, and that this single engagement was not so suitable to the Word of God as Presby
tery, which they argued to be jure divino." See also
was a restraint upon his majesty's conscience, Whitelocke's Memorials, p. 123.  Dr. Grey fills sev
not to consent to the abolition of Episcopacy, or ral pages with quotations from Calvin, Beza, and
the alienation of church-lands."             other foreign divines, in favour of Episcopacy.-ED.
Mr. Henderson and Mr. Marshal declared it   * Rushworth, p. 848.
to be false in fact, and a downright imposition   t Rushworth and Whitelocke add, that the Earupon the commissioners, that the foreign Prot- of Pembroke and many of the commissioners, be-estants lamented the want of Episcopacy, and sides these two lords, were of the same judgment,
esteemed our constitution more perfect than and wished, passing over this point, to come to the
particulars.- Rushworth's Collection, vol. v., p. 849
their own.t They then ran out into a high  Whitelocke's Memorials, p. 123.-ED.
f "The Marquis of Hertford," says Bishop War
* Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 584.             burton, " seems to have read Hooker to more advan
t These assertions of Mr. Henderson and Mr. Mar- tage than the king his master, who fancied that great
shal are not to be found, as Dr. Grey remarks, in the men contended for the jus divinumn of Episcopacy in
place to which'Mr. Neal refers. Rushworth says his E. P., in which he has been followed by many
there only in general, " that Mr. Henderson and Mr. divines since."-ED.  { Whitelocke, p. 123.
Marshal answered the doctor, commending the Pres-  11 Rushworth, p. 872.  ~T Dugdale, p. 780.




HISTORY OF THIE PURITANS.                                   531
be always in a public and solemn manner, and present hierarchy, arising from conscience, law,
very strict rules observed concerning the suffi- or reason, being fully answered, they must now
ciency and other qualifications of those men press for a determinate answer to their proposiwho shall be received into holy orders; and the tion concerning religion.
bishops shall not receive any into holy orders   The king's commissioners deny that their obwithout the approbation and consent of the jections against passing the bill for abolishing
presbyters, or the major part of them.       Episcopacy have been answered, or that they
(5.) " That a competent maintenance and pro- had received any satisfaction in those particuvision be established, by act of Parliament, to lars, and therefore cannot consent.to it.
such vicarages as belong to bishops, deans, and    The Parliament commissioners add, that
chapters, out of the impropriations, and accord- after so many days' debate, and their making
ing to the value of those impropriations of the it appear how great a hinderance Episcopal govseveral parishes.                            ernment is and has been to a perfect reforma(6.) "'That for time to come no man shall be tion, and to the growth of religion, and how
capable of two parsonages or vicarages, with prejudicial it has been to the state, they hoped
cure of souls.                               their lordships would have been ready to an(7.) " That, towards settling the public peace, swer their expectations.*
~100,000 shall be raised by act of Parliament,   The king's commissioners replied, "It is eviout of the estates of bishops, deans, and chap- dent, and we conceive consented to on all sides,
ters, in such manner as shall be thought fit by that Episcopacy has continued from the aposthe king and two houses of Parliament, with- ties' time, by a continued succession, in the
out the alienation of any of the said lands.  Church of Christ, without intermission or in(8.) "That the jurisdiction in causes testa- terruption, and is therefore juro divino."
mentary, decimal, matrimonial, be settled in   The Parliament commissioners answer, "So
such manner as shall seem most convenient by far were we filoin consenting that Episcopacy
the king and two houses of Parliament.       has continued from the apostles' time, by a con(9.) "That one or more acts of Parliament tinued succession. that the contrary was made
be passed for regulating of visitations, and evident to your lordships, and the unlawfulness
against immoderate fees in ecclesiastical courts, of it filly proved.'t
and abuses by frivolous excommunication, and    The king's commissioners replied, that they
all other abuses in the exercise of ecclesiastical conceived the succession of Episcopacy from
jurisdiction, in such manner as shall be agreed the apostles was consented to on all sides, and
upon by the king and both houses of Parlia- (lid not remember that the unlawfulness of it
ment.                                        had been asserted and proved.t  However,' And if your lordships shall insist upon any they apprehend all the inconveniences of that
other thing which your lordships shall think ne- government are remedied by the alterations
cessary for reformation, we shall very willingly which they had offered. Nor had the Parliaapply ourselves to the consideration thereof." ment commissioners given them a view in parBut they absolutely refused their consent to the ticular of the government they would substitute
main points, viz., the abolishing Episcopacy, es- in place of the present; if, therefore, the altertablishing the Directory, confirming the Assern- ations proposed do not satisfy, they desire the
bly of Divines, and taking the Covenant.     matter may be suspended till after the disbandMr. Rapin observes, upon the first of these ing the armies, and both king and Parliament
concessions, that since the penal laws were can agree in calling a National Synod.
not to be abolished, but only suspended, it   The above-mentioned  concessions  would
would be in the king's power to take off the surely have been a sufficient foundation for
suspension whensoever he pleased. Upon the peace, if they had been made twelve months
third, fourth, and fifth, that they were so rea- sooner, before the Scots had been called in
sonable and necessary, that it was not for the with their solemn League and Covenant, and
king's honour to let them  be considered as a sufficient security had been given for their percondescension to promote the peace; and the formance; but the commissioners' hands were
remainder, depending upon the joint consent of now tied, the Parliament apprehending themking and Parliament, after a peace, it would selves obliged by the Covenant to abolish the
always be in the king's breast to give or with- hierarchy; and yet, if the commissioners could
hold his assent, as he thought fit.x*        have agreed about the militia, and the punishThe commissioners for the Parliament repli- ment of evil counsellors, the affair of religion
ed to these concessions, that they were so many would not, in the opinion of Ilord Clarendon,
new propositions, wholly different from  what have hindered the success of the treaty; his
they had proposed; that they contained little or words are these: "The Parliament took none
nothing but what they were already in posses- of the points of controversy less to heart, or
sion of by the laws of the land; that they were were less united in anything, than in what connoway satisfactory to their desires, nor consist- cerned the Church;~ the Scots would have
ing with that reformation to which both na- given up everything into the hands of the king
tions are obliged by the solemn League and  for their beloved Presbytery; but many of the
Covenant; therefore they can give no other Parliament were for peace, provided they might
answer to them, but insist to desire their lord- have indemnity for what was passed, and secuships that the bill may be passed, and their rity for time to come."ll And were not these
other demands concerning religion granted.t reasonable requests 1 Why, then, did not the
The Parliament commissioners, in their last commissioners prevail with the king to give
papers, say, that all objections in favour of the
* Dugdale, p. 787.  f Ibid., p. 788.
* History, vol. ii., p. 512, 513.    $ Ibid., p. 790, 878.  ~ Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 581.
t Dugdale, p. 783.                   II Ibid., p. 594.




532                     HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
them  security, and divide the Parliament, or   But there was something more in the affair
put an end to the war?                        than this: Lord Clarendon* is of opinion, that
The last day of the treaty the Parliament if the king had yielded some things to the decontinued sitting till nine of the clock at night, mands of the Parliament relating to religion,
in hopes of hearing something from their corin- the militia, and Ireland, there were still other
missioners that might encourage them to pro- articles in reserve that would have broken off
long the treaty; but when an express brought the treaty; in which I cannot but agree with
word that the king's commissioners would not his lordship; for, not to mention the giving up
yield to one of their propositions, they broke delinquents to the justice of Parliament, of
up without doing anything in the business. which himself was one, there had been as yet
Each party laid the blame upon the other; no debate about the Roman Catholics, whom
the king's commissioners complained that the  the Parliament wvould not tolerate, and the king
Parliament would not consent to prolong the was determined not to give up, as appears friom
treaty;* and the others, that after twenty days' the correspondence between himself and the
conference not one proposition had been yield- queen at this time.  In the queen's letter, Janed.  All sober men, and even sonme of the uary fi, 1644-5, she desires his majesty "to
king's commissioners, were troubled  at the  have a care of his honour, and not to abandon
event; but, considering the state of' the king's those who had served him; for if you agree
affairs, and his servile attachment to the coun- upon strictness against Roman  Catholics, it
sels of a popish queen, it was easy to foresee  will discourage them  from  serving you; nor
it could not be otherwise.                     can you expect relief fromn any Roman Catholic
Bishop Burnet, in the History of his Life  prince."t  In her letter of January 27, she
and Tiines,t says that Lord Hollis, who was adds,;i"Above all, have a care not to abandon
one of the commissioners, told him "that the those who have served you, as well the bishops
king's affairs were now at a crisis, for the treaty  as the poor Catholics."  In answer to which
of UJxbridge gave him an opportunity of making  the king writes, January 30, " I desire thee to
peace with the Parliament, but all was undone  be confident that I shall never make peace by
by the unhappy success of the Marquis of Mont- abandoning my friends."  And, February 15,
rose at this time in Scotland, which being mag-  " Be confident that, in making peace, I shall
nified to the king far beyond what it really was, ever show  roy confidence in adhering to the
prevailed with his majesty to put such limita- hishops, and all our friends."  March 5, "I give
tions on his commissioners as made the whole thee power, in my name, to declare to whom
design miscarry."                              thou thinkest fit, that I will take away all the
Most of the king's commissioners, who were  penal laws against the Roman Catholics in
not excepted out of the Article of Indemnity, England as soon as God shall make me able to
were for accommodating matters before they  do it, so as by their means I may have so powleft Uxbridge.  Tile Earl of Southampton rode  erful assistance as may deserve so great a
post from Uxbridge to Oxford, to entreat the  favour, and enable me to do it."T  As for Ireking to yield something to the necessity of the  land, his majesty had already commanded the
times; several of his council pressed him to it Duke of Ormond, by his letter of February 27,
on their knees; and it is said his majesty was to make peace with the papists, cost what it
at length prevailed with, and appointed next would.  " If the suspending Poynings's act will
morning to sign a warrant to that purpose, but do it," says he, "and taking away the penal
that Montrose's romantic letter, of his conquest laws, r shall not think it a hard bargain.  When
in Scotland, coming in the mean time, made the  the Irish give me that assistance they have
unhappy king alter his resolution.t            promised, I will consent to the repeal by law."9
* See a proofof othis in Dr. Grey.-ED.      It appeals from hence that the peace which
Vol. i proof  this inr. Grey-Edition.      the king seemed so much to desire was an
s Vol. i., p. 51, Edinburgh edition.
X Dr. Grey attempts to convict Mr. Neal of false- empty sound.  The queen was afraid he might
hood in each part of this paragraph. For the first be prevailed with to yield too fat'; but his majpart, the doctor says, " That, as far as he could learn, esty bids her be confident of the contrary, for
there was not so much as the shadow of an au- i' his commissioners would not be disputed
thority." In reply, it may be observed, that though  frotn their ground, which was according to the
Mr. Neal has not, as it is to be wished he had, re- note she remembers, and which he would not
ferred to his authority, yet the doctor's assertion is alter."  When the treaty was ended, he writes
not well supported, for Whitelocke informs us, that thus to the queen, Mach 13: "Now is come
" on the 19th o, February the Earl of' Southampton and others of the king's commissioners went to pass what I foresaw, the fruitless end of this
from Uxbrido'e to Oxford, to the king, about the busi- treaty.  Now if I do anything unhandsome to
ness of the treaty, to receive some farther directions myself or my firiends, it will be my own fault;
from his majesty therein."-Memorials, p. 127. As I was afraid of being pressed to make some
the treaty closed on the 22d, the reader will judge
whether Mr. Neal, speaking of the object and expe- Of course the doctor means to conclude that the
dition of his journey, had not so much as the shadow  king could not be influenced to obstruct the operaof an authority. With respect to the latter part of' tion of the treaty by'a letter which was never rethe paragraph concerning Montrose, Dr. Grey will ceived. But it escaped Dr. Grey's attention, that
have it, that Bishop Burnet's authority makes direct- the letter which he quotes was written more than a
ly against Mr. Neal; and then he quotes from him  year after the treaty was broken off; and Mr. Neal
as follows: " Montrose wrote to the king that he speaks, on the authority of Bishop Burnet, of' anhad gone over the land from Dan to Beersheba, and other letter, or expresses received, while the treaty
that he prayed the king to come down in these was pending: so that there is no contradiction inl the
words, Come thou and take the city, lest I take it, case.-En.               * Vol. ii., p. 594
and it be called by my name."  This letter was   t Rapin, vol. ii., p. 511, 512, folio edition.
written, but never sent, for he was routed, and his   t Rushworth, vol. v., p. 942, 944, 946, 947.
papers taken before he had despatched the courier.   ~ Ibid., p. 978, 979.




HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.                                      5a3
mean overtures to renew the treaty, but now if I warrant is remarkable, as it was at a time whe:t
it be renewed, it shall be to my honour and ad- his majesty's affairs were far from  being des
vantage.'"  Such was the queen's ascendant perate; when he thought the divisions in the
over the king, and his majesty's servile submis- Parliament house would quickly be their ruin;
sion to her imperious dictates;t the fate of and that he had little more to do than to sit
three kingdoms was at her disposal; no place still and be restored upon his own terms, ibt
at court or in the army must be disposed of which reason he was so unyielding at the treatj
without her approbation; no peace must be of Uxbridge; and yet the earl, by his majesty' 
made but upon her terms; the Oxford mongrel commission, granted everything to the Irish,
Parliament, as his majesty calls it, must be even to the establishing the Roman Catholi-c
dismissed' with disgrace, because they voted for religion, and putting it on a level with thie
peace; the Irish Protestants must be abandon- Protestant: he gave thelm all the churches and
ed to destruction; and a civil war permitted to revenues they were possessed of since the Recontinue its ravages throughout England and bellion, and not only exempted them  from the
Scotland, that a popish religion and arbitrary jurisdiction of the Protestant clergy, tbut allowgovernment might be encouraged and upheld $  ed them jurisdiction over their several flocks, su
As a f:arther demonstration of this melancholy that the Reformed religion in that kingdom wa::
remark, his majesty authorized the Earl of Gla- in a manner sold for ten thousand Irish papists,
morgan, by a warrant under his royal signet, to be transported into England and mraintaineLd
dated March 12, 1644, to conclude privately a for three years. Let the reader now judge whafl
peace with the Irish papists upon the best terms prospect there could be of a well-grounded peace
he could, though they were such as his lieuten- by the treaty of Uxbridge! What security there
ant, the Duke of Ormond, might not well be was for the Protestant religion!  How little
seen in, nor his majesty himself think fit to own  ground of reliance on the king's promises! and,
publicly at present, engaging, upon the word of consequently, to whose account the calamities-,
a king and a Christian, to ratify and perform  of the war, and the misery and confusions whichl
whatsoever he should grant under his hand and followed after this period, ought to be placed.
seal, on condition they would send over into Eng-   The day before the commencement of thei
land a body of ten thousand men, under the treaty of Uxbridge, the members of the 1-fouse
command of the said earl.~  The date of this of Commons attended the funeral of Mr. John
White, chairman of the grand committee of Xreo
* Rapin, vol. ii., p. 512, folio edition.    ligion, and publisher of the " Century of Scant We will leave with our readers Bishop Warbur  dalous Ministers;" he was a grave lawyer, says
ton's remarks on this reflection of Mr. Neal. "Never Lord Clarendon, and made a considerable figure
was the observation of the king's unhappy attach- Lord Clarendon, and made a considerble 
ment made in a worse place. His honour required in his profession. He had been one of the feoffees
him not to give up his friends; and his religion, viz., for buying in impropriations, for which he wa$s
the true principles of Christianity, to take off the censured in the Star Chamber.  He was reprepenal laws from peaceable papists; and common sentative in Parliament for theborough of Southhumanity called upon him to favour those who had wark; having been a Puritan firom his youth,
served him at the hazard of their lives and fortunes." and in the opinion of Mr. Whitelocke,* an honIt maybe properly added, that religion, in the liberal est, learned, and faithful servant of the pulio,
sense in which his lordship explains the term, re-st l earned, and faithful servant of the publi
quired the king to take off the penal laws from peace- though somewhat severe at the committee fo:.
able Puritans as well as papists. But in his majes- plundered ministers.  He died January 29  antd
ty's dictionary the word does not appear to have was buried in the Temple Church with great
borne so generous and just a meaning.-ED.      funeral solemnity.+: Clarendon, vol. ii., p. 364.
O Dr. Grey treats this account of the Earl of Gla- a good prince, or a good Protestant. Mr. Walpole
morgan's commission as a fine piece of slander, fur- has some candid and lively reflections on it:'1 It n-rnished by a tribe of Republican writers: and to con- quires," he observes,'"very primitive resignation iTn
fute it, he produces a letter from the king to the lord- a monarch to sacrifice his crown and his life, when
lieutenant and council of Ireland, one from Colonel persecuted by subjects of his own sect, rather than
King, in Ireland, and another from Secretary Nich- preserve both by the assistance of others of his subolas to the Marquis of Ormond. There is no occa- jects who differ from him in ceremonials or articles
sion here to enter into a discussion of the question of belief. His fault was not in proposing to bringa
concerning the authority under which the Earl of over the Irish, but in having made them necessary to
Glamorgan acted; for, since Mr. Neal and Dr. Grey his affairs. Everybody knew that he wanted to do
wrote, the point has been most carefully and ably in- without them all that he could have done with them."
vestigated by Dr. Birch, in "An Inquiry into the -Biographia Britannica, second edition, vol. ii., p. 321,
Share which King Charles I. had in the Transactions note. - ED.  See Rushworthl, vol. vi., p. 239, &C.
of the Earl of Glamorgan," published in 1747. And Rapin, p. 330. Ilist. Stuarts, p. 305.
the fact has been put out of all doubt by a letter of   5 Memorials, p. 122.
that nobleman to the Lord-chancellor Hyde, written.+ Dr. Grey, on the authority of Walker, "charges
a few days after King Charles  I.'s restoration, which Mr. White with corrupt practices by the way of brlihas appeared in the Clarendon State Papers, vol. ii., bery; says that Dr. Bruno Ryves called him a for
p. 20-203, and has been republished in the second nicating Brownist, and that the author of Persec.
edition of the Biographia Britannica. vol. ii., p. 320, Undec. suggests much worse against him; and, omn
under the life of Dr. Birch. The general fact having the testimony of an anonymous author, represents
been ascertained beyond all contradiction, the ques- him as dying distracted, crying out how many cle.is
tion which offers is, how far the king acted crimi- gymen, their wives and children, he had undone
nally in this transaction. Mrs. Macaulay represents raving and condemning himself at his dying hou.
him as violating every principle of honour and con- for his undoing so many guiltless ministers." SUch
science. Mr. Hume, on the contrary, speaks of it as representations carry little weight with them against
a very innocent transaction, in which the king was the testimony of Clarendon and Whitelocke, especiengaged by the most violent necessity. Dr. Birch ally when it is considered that the obnoxious partconsiders it with temper, though he appears to think which Mr. White acted would necessarily create
it not easily reconcilable to the idea of a good man, many enemies; some of whom would invents and




ral,                       HISTORY OF THE PURITANS.
others easily credit, the most reproachful calumnies looked, as a strong presumption at least of the purity
against him. Dr. Calamy and Mr. Withers, whom  of Mr. White's character and the integrity of his proDir. Grey never notices, having sufficiently exposed  ceedings, that he appealed to the.public by his Cent
tho partiality and credulity of Dr. Walker to render tury of Scandalous Ministers.-ED.
his assertions suspicious. And it should not be overEND OF VOL. L.