VIII.

ANGLICANS AND PURITANS.

Early Puritanism, &c.

ACTS of supremacy and uniformity were passed on the accession of Elizabeth: the one declaring the Queen to be head of the Church; and the other enjoining the use of the Book of Common Prayer, as revised and made less ultra-protestant, and forbidding any to absent themselves, under severest penalties, from the place where it was used. In a Convocation of the clergy, held in 1562, the 42 Articles were reduced to 39, and it was decided by a majority of one vote, that the vestments which by the most advanced reformers were regarded as intimately associated with Roman Catholic doctrines, and other ceremonies-such as the use of godfathers and godmothers, the sign of the cross in baptism, kneeling at the sacrament, bowing at the name of Jesus, &c.-should be continued. Then first arose the name of Puritan, which was applied to those who desired a purer form of worship and discipline in the church; and soon a fierce conflict commenced, first on the vestments, then on church government, and finally on doctrine. The Puritans were greatly harassed by Archbishop Parker, but favored by

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his successor Grindal, who, for encouraging preaching, fell under the royal displeasure.* They were again harassed by Whitgift, who issued orders that none should be permitted to preach, unless they subscribed the three articles concerning the Queen's supremacy, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Articles. Aylmer, Bishop of London, then (1584) visited every parish of the diocese, with the view of enforcing these orders; and thirty-eight ministers in this county were silenced or suspended.

Among these was LAURENCE NEWMAN, M.A., vicar of Coggeshall. He had been presented to this vicarage 10th February, 1575, by Robert, Lord Rich, son of Lord Rich already mentioned. He refused to subscribe the three articles, and was suspended for half a year.† He died in 1599.

WILLIAM DYKE, a name still better known, was also suspended here at the same time. He was educated at Cambridge, and was preacher at Coggeshall at the time of Aylmer's visitation, and, refusing to subscribe the articles, was suspended along with Mr. Newman. How long he had been here previously is unknown.

* Queen Elizabeth is said to have stayed during one of her itineraries at Feering Bury, where there is a pane of glass marked with her initials. I find, however, nothing but a tradition to this effect. The account given of her journey is :

"1579. Sept. 1.-At Colchester, and there 2 days.

3.-To Layer Marney, Mrs. Tuke's, and there 2 days." She probably took Feering Bury in her way.

† Register in Dr. Williams's Library.

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1585, June 20.-Buried Rebecca, daughter of Laurence Newman. 1593.

1599, Mar. 18.

geshall."-Par. Reg.

Anne

-Mr. Lawrence Newman, vicar of Cog

He was at length obliged to leave the county, and then settled at St. Alban's, where his ministry was very useful. "He united with his brethren to promote a more pure reformation of the church, and with this object in view, assembled with them in their private associations. But in this, as in his former situation, the watchful eye of Aylmer was upon him, and he was involved in fresh troubles. Because he continued a deacon, and did not enter into priest's orders, which the bishop supposed he accounted popish; and because he refused to wear the surplice, and troubled his auditory, as his grace signified, with notions which thwarted the established religion, he was again suspended, and at last deprived in the year 1589. The distressed parishioners being concerned for the loss of their minister, petitioned the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, who had been Mr. Dyke's great friend, to intercede with the Bishop in their behalf. But all that the Treasurer could do proved ineffectual. He died about the year 1614."* He was the father of Daniel Dyke, B.D., who died 1620, and of Jeremiah Dyke,† of Epping, both of whom were eminent preachers.

Others of this neighbourhood likewise suffered from the same cause. Cornwell, minister of Mark's Tey,

* Brook's Lives of the Puritans. Where, however, Daniel is put for William Dyke. Neal i. 284.

"1584, Oct. 13.-Hieremy, son of Wm. Dike, preacher of Coggeshall."-Par. Register of Baptisms. He became minister at Epping, and after the decease of his brother, Daniel Dyke, published the treatise written by the latter "On the Deceitfulness of the Heart." He had also a son born at Epping, 1617, named after his uncle, who became chaplain to Oliver Cromwell-one of the Tryers-was ejected from Great Hadham in Hertfordshire-then co-pastor with William Kiffin-and died in 1688.

was suspended for not subscribing, and not wearing the surplice. He was openly reviled by the bishop at Witham, who called him a wretch and a dog, and committed him to his pursuivant. "You shall be white with me," said he, "or I will be black with you."

On the first attempts of Aylmer, an appeal was made to the Privy Council for protection:

"We are in great heaviness, and some of us already put to silence, and the rest living in fear, not that we have been or can be, (as we hope) charged with false doctrine or slanderous life; but for that we refuse to subscribe that there is nothing contained in the Book of Common Prayer, and of ordaining Bishops, priests and deacons, contrary to the word of God.

The Apostle teacheth that he which doth doubt is condemned if he eat. Then if a man be condemned for doing a sinful action, because he is in doubt whether it be lawful, and yet doth it, how much more should we incur the displeasure of the Lord, and procure his wrath unto our destruction, if we should subscribe, being certainly persuaded that there are some things in these books contrary to the word of God.

"WILLIAM DIKE.

"LAURENCE NEWMAN." (and 25 other names.)

The Privy Council remonstrated with Whitgift and Aylmer; but it was to no purpose.

The Puritans on the other hand, being refused freedom in ceremonials, advanced to other and higher ground, and many openly declared against the government of the church by Episcopacy, and advocated a Presbyterian rule.

Whilst some sought reformation in the church, others advanced still further, and separated themselves