BETH. disclaimed in their respective pretensions." And this may ELIZAserve for the proof of this point. From hence the reader may conclude, that if Calvin, Beza, or any other abettors of Presbyterian parity, had lived in the time of the Fathers, they would have been very indifferently received. This may easily be collected from the principles and practice of the universal Church. To give another intance; what was it that marked Arius and his party for heretics? Was it not their confounding the character of bishops and priests, and setting them on the level? I do not speak this to reproach the Dissenters, or suggest any methods of rigour; my intention is only to rescue them from their prejudices, to bring them to recollection, and awaken them out of their schism. But now it is time to come off the digression; if that which lies within the matter of the history, and improves the serviceableness of the work, may properly be called so. To proceed having mentioned what was enacted in the a. D. 1588. last parliament, with reference to the Church, I shall observe what was done in convocation. This assembly met at St. Paul's on the 13th of November; there was nothing March 19. done, excepting the grant of two subsidies, till the fifteenth session. And now the archbishop brought in certain orders to be observed through the whole province. vocation. First, That single beneficed men should be obliged to Regulations for the clergy constant residence: but here was an exception of liberty for made in conprebendaries, and chaplains to the king or some peer. There was likewise a saving for those who were allowed non-residence by act of parliament. However, in these cases they should be compelled to keep a licensed preaching curate. Secondly, Double beneficed men were to reside equal proportions of time upon their respective livings, and to provide a licensed curate where they are absent. Thirdly, Beneficed men absent an hundred and twenty days, were to keep licensed curates. Fourthly, Scandalous ministers, guilty of notorious crimes, must be removed, and never admitted to any cure. Fifthly, Unlearned ministers, underqualified to catechize, are barred admission to any cure. WHIT GIFT, Sixthly, None shall be allowed to place or displace a cuAbp. Cant. rate without authority from the archbishop or bishop of the diocese. The Extracts from Convocat. Journal. Seditious pamphlets published by the Puritans. Heylin's Hist. Presbyt. lib. 8. September, senters at These orders, drawn by the archbishop, were agreed to by both houses, who promised to obey and execute them. This convocation was dissolved by the queen's writ and the archbishop's commission, on the 2nd of April following. This year some seditious, no less than heterodox pamphlets were published by the Puritans. I shall mention some few of the assertions. It is here affirmed, "that if princes hinder them that seek for this discipline, they are tyrants both to the Church and ministers; and being so, may be deposed by their subjects. That they which are no elders of the Church, have nothing to do with the government of it. That if their reformation be not hastened by the magistrate, the subjects ought not to tarry any longer, but must do it of themselves. That there were many thousands which desired the discipline; and that great troubles would ensue if it were denied them. That their presbyteries must prevail and that if it be brought about by such ways and means as would make the bishops' hearts ache, let them blame themselves." Martin Mar-Prelate, in his second book, may explain this passage; for this author advises the parliament then assembled, "to put down lord bishops, and bring in the reformation which they looked for, whether her majesty would or not." I shall conclude this year with the death of Edwin Sandys, archbishop of York: he was descended from a gentleman's family at St. Bees, in Cumberland, bred in Cambridge, and one of the exiles in queen Mary's reign; the rest of his character and preferments has been touched already. The Puritans moved vigorously in their business, and held An assembly a synod in St. John's College in Cambridge. And here of the Dis- they made several corrections in their book of discipline: it Cambridge, was likewise agreed, that as many as were willing should subscribe it. Cartwright, Snape, Allen, Gifford, Perkins, Barber, Harrison, and the deponent Stone, made part of this assembly. About the same time another synod was held at Ipswich. Bancroft's Dangerous Positions, book 3. p. 89. After the defeat of the armada, some people misbehaved BETH. themselves upon the success, printed invectives against the ELIZASpanish nation, and outraged king Philip himself. The queen was displeased at this buffooning license; for though this prince was an enemy, a regard was due to the royal character. The press being more particularly the bishop of London's care, the lord treasurer sent to him to complain of a doggrel pamphlet upon this subject. The bishop was of the treasurer's opinion, and said, "it had been much better to have returned thanks to God Almighty for the deliverance, than spent their satire and scurrility upon the Spaniards, and insulted crowned heads. This libel, it seems, was first printed at Oxford, which made the bishop surprised at the conduct of that university. In short, he promised Strype's the treasurer to call Toby Cook, who printed it at London, Bishop to an account. Life of Ailmer. After the death of the earl of Leicester, Sir Christopher Hatton was chosen chancellor of Oxford. This gentleman. endeavoured to supply the omissions of his predecessor. For the purpose, he took care that those who were admitted to any degree, should be examined in points of belief, and pass a kind of reformed test. He likewise endeavoured to prevent the Roman Catholics carrying off the young students to their seminaries beyond sea. And lastly, he brought the 621. university to a more unexceptionable conduct, and restrained Wood, their excesses in clothes. Hist. et Antiq. Univers. well does penance. To pass on, and look over the affairs in Scotland. Oxon. Francis, earl of Bothwell, being touched with remorse of Earl Bothconscience, offered to make a public acknowledgment of the public scandal he had given by his licentiousness, and submit to This Bothany satisfaction the Church should appoint. This submis- well's name sion was received, and the nobleman did public penance in ard. Mr. Robert Bruce's church, and promised a more regular married behaviour. was Stew His father the heir of Hephburn, Bothwell. Ch. Hist. In the beginning of the next year, the king of Scots, who earl of had lately made a voyage to Norway and Denmark, returned Spotswood's with his queen to Leith. This princess was Ann, daughter to Frederick II., king of Denmark. The next day after the king's coming to Edinburgh, the council met to settle the form for the queen's coronation; the king resolved to have it done with all imaginable solemnity. And because all Some of the Scotch ministers object against the ceremony of anointing princes. 1590. WHIT- the bishops were out of town, and none of them could come GIFT, Abp. Cant. up against the time, Mr. Robert Bruce was pitched on to perform the ceremony. Some of the Edinburgh ministers, that had more scruples than discretion, excepted to the circumstance of anointing; they said it was a Jewish ceremony, and abolished at the coming of Christ; that this custom was since brought into Christian countries by the pope, and therefore not to be continued. To these objections it was answered, "That the ceremony of unction had no Jewish original, neither was it used by that nation only; that it was practised in other kingdoms besides that of Judea, was evident from Scripture. For Hazael was anointed king of Syria by Elijah, and Cyrus, king of Persia, is called the Lord's anointed, by the prophet Isaiah: that since both these princes, who were foreign to the law and nation of the Israelites, were anointed, it is plain the ceremony was no ways peculiar to the Jews. And whereas they pretended it was introduced by the court of Rome, that was more than could be proved; and supposing the objection true, it was foreign to the point for no man of common sense would stand off from a custom merely because it was used by the Papists; for at this rate we must part with a great many commendable and beneficial usages. Since therefore the function and authority of princes is the same it was at first, and continues unaltered in all independent monarchies, why should the unction be quarrelled any more than the rest of the solemnity? Why should this circumstance be scrupled more than the carrying the sword and sceptre before them?" This answer, one would have thought, would have been sufficient to have disentangled the matter; but no arguments bring strong enough to strike through the ministers' prejudices, the king sent for them, and finding their obstinacy unmanageable, he told them, "he would by no means dispense with the omission of this ceremony and if Mr. Robert Bruce refused to use it (for it seems they had threatened this gentleman with Church censures), he would postpone the coronation till some of the bishops could come to town." This unexpected resolve put them upon a second debate; and Mr. Andrew Melvil being wholly averse against a bishop's officiating at the coronation, dropped his opinion, and gained ELIZA BETH. a majority for compliance. And thus, on the Sunday follow- Idem. ing, the queen was crowned by Mr. Robert Bruce, in the abbey-church of Holyrood-house; and here all the customary usages were observed in the solemnity. In June, this summer, a general assembly met at Edin- The assembly burgh, where the king was present. The moderator, Mr. petition the king for Patrick Galaway, addressed his majesty for three things. three things. First, That the Church's jurisdiction might have a firmer settlement: and that all acts prejudicial to the same might be rescinded. The next was for clearing the country of Jesuits, seminary priests, and all excommunicated persons that disturbed the established religion. Thirdly, to make a competent provision for the ministers out of the parish tithes where they officiated; and to apply the surplusage to the encouragement of public schools, for the maintenance of the poor, and the reparation of churches. To the first his majesty answered, That in all parliaments the first act was to guard the liberty of the church; and that he would take care this custom should be observed as formerly. In return to their second petion, he told them, It was well known how earnestly he had pursued that matter before his voyage to Denmark, and that he should still continue to put the laws in execution. As to the third, he advised them to select a committee out of the assembly to consult with his council upon the best ways and means for making their request practicable. suppressed After this, the king discoursing of the feuds kept up in The feuds the kingdom, and the murders and barbarities consequent by the king. to those quarrels, recommended putting a stop to this mischief. He put the assembly in mind their character obliged them to be particularly solicitous in promoting friendship and peace. He desired them therefore to press that point in their sermons, and dilate upon the sin and scandal of such desperate revenge; and that they should employ some of the most discreet of their body to reconcile families, and take up differences in the country. This motion of the king's was much commended, as it deserved. In short, this prince never gave over, till he broke the barbarous custom, and got the feuds wholly suppressed. This was done partly Idem. |