BETH. the greater and common number to obey and observe the said ELIZAlaws; we have thought good to signify so much unto your lordship, that by the good assistance of you, and others under you, the matter might be furthered, and take such good success for the benefit of this realm, as we desire, and so we bid your good lordship right heartily well to fare. "From Hampton-court, the 13th of December, 1576. Your lordship's right-assured loving friends, 558. Codex Ca Primit. Idem. By this order, it appears that these days of abstinence are declared to be kept only for promoting the fishery, and the encouragement of seamen. Now, with submission, to lay the whole stress of embering and abstinence upon reasons of state, is somewhat singular. For, to say nothing of ember-weeks, the fasts of Lent, and those of Wednesdays and Fridays, reach up to the earliest ages of Christianity. Now this restraint of Beveridge's appetite was always imposed with a prospect upon the other non. Eccles. world: it was enjoined to reduce the senses, and make the Vindic. mind more absolute. And is it not somewhat a misfortune that the Apostles' canons, the authority of the Fathers, and the practice of the primitive Church, should be struck out of all consideration? And must all this discipline be only for the benefit of navigation? Have we not sins to fast for, and temperance to guard? Are we not bound to distinguish times upon spiritual motives, and prepare for the solemnities of religion? But when secular men prescribe for the Church, when those who are strangers in antiquity, give laws for discipline, it is no wonder if they mistake in their direction. And to make the matter less surprising, three of these privy counsellors, Leicester, Knowlis, and Walsingham, were either puritans, or abettors of that party. This year James Pilkington, bishop of Durham, departed this life. His connivance at non-conformity, and the rest of his character and fortune, have been related already. To look back a little upon Scotland: the reader may remember the Presbyterians made an attempt to introduce their parity, but failed of success as to the main But this disap GRINDAL pointment did not discourage them from making another effort Abp. Cant. at the next general assembly. Here they gave a new turn to April 24, the controversy, and put the question under a different state. 1576. A general Their motion was, "Whether bishops, as then settled in Scotassembly at Edinburgh. land, had their function warranted by the word of God?" But here they failed of their expectation: for after they had thoroughly debated every article of the six collocutors, or commissioners, the majority came to the same resolution with the former assembly: to the same resolution, only with this addition, that the bishops should fix upon some one church for their common residence and pastoral care. MS. Acts of the Assembly, fol. 747. p. 276. MS. Acts of the Assembly. Spotswood. tion disser viceable to It was farther resolved, that those who detained the patriSpotswood, mony of the Church, and gave notorious scandal by such remarkable injustice, might be proceeded against not only by preaching and admonition, but by ecclesiastical censures. And that the patrimony of the Church was held "jure divino.” The regent being informed of these proceedings, and disThe regent pleased with their deposing Patton bishop of Dunkeld, sent a makes a mo- gentleman to know whether they would abide by the polity agreed at Leith: and if not, they were desired to settle some other more acceptable form of government. If the regent was hearty for episcopacy, he made a wrong step, and disserved the cause through mistake. But it is improbable but this earl of Morton, notwithstanding his countenance, might be in the Presbyterian interest. He is marked in history for a covetous person, and one that was very forward in making seizure of the Church revenues. For when the regent Lenox refused him the estate belonging to the archbishopric of St. Andrew's, he quitted the court in a disgust; neither could he be prevailed with to return until his suit was granted. Morton therefore might probably abet the Presbyterian party behind the curtain: for when innovations were set on foot, when the Church was embroiled, and her government unhinged, there was some prospect of a new booty, and of finding his account in the confusion. But not to inquire any farther into his design, it is certain his proposal was what the Presbyterians wished for. And thus the parity-members of the assembly, catching at the advantage, sent him word they would immediately apply themselves to consider the motion: and over and above, that they would draw up a standing form of Churchpolity, and present it to the council for their approbation. Melvil's p. 110. Refutat. Libelli de Scotic. BETH. For this purpose they nominated Mr. Andrew Melvil, Mr. ELIZAAndrew Hay, Mr. David Cunningham, Mr. George Hay, Mr. A committee Alexander Arthbuthnet, Mr. David Lindsay, and several for drawing others. These gentlemen of the Church were pitched on for up a new form of a committee to draw the scheme. The archbishop of Glasgow Church polity. was likewised named amongst the rest; but being pressed to take the charge of a particular flock, he desired to be excused. He told them, he had entered upon his office pursuant to a order both of the Church and State: that he did not think it advisable to break through the public establishment: that such a liberty might bring him under the reproach of violating his oath, and doing his part in subverting the constitution. However, to show his inclination to serve the Church, he promised to preach at Glasgow when he lived there; and as often as he removed to the sheriffdom of Ayr, he engaged to exercise the same function in any church they would appoint him: but upon condition however, not to be tied to any particular place, nor do any thing in prejudice of his episcopal jurisdiction. This frank declaration gave disgust, and struck him out of the committee. The see of St. Andrew's falling void by the death of Mr. John Douglas, the regent recommended Mr. Patrick Adamson to the chapter. The chapter had made some progress in the election when the general assembly met. And here the question being put to Adamson, whether he would submit to be tried by a committee of the assembly, and receive his character upon the terms prescribed by the Church? His answer was, the regent enjoined him not to accept the bishopric any otherwise than upon the public establishment. And thus the assembly not receiving satisfaction, they forbid the chapter going on. However, upon fresh orders from the regent they met again, and elected Adamson. The Kirk being highly provoked with this freedom, ordered Mr. Robert Pont, superintendent of Lothian, Mr. James Lawson, and Mr. David Ferguson, to call Adamson before them, and prohibit him the exercise of any part of his jurisdiction until he was furnished with an authority from the assembly. In the mean time a form of Church polity was drawn and A new form presented to the regent by Mr. David Lindsay, Mr. James ch polity preLawson, and Mr. Robert Pont. In their preface they pro- sented to the tested, "to wish nothing more, than that as God had made regent. 559. GRINDAL him a serviceable instrument in exterminating popery, and Abp. Cant. settling the public repose, so he would honour him with the establishing of a godly polity in the Church. They entreated his grace to peruse the articles: and in case he excepted to any of them, that he would please to hear the committee sent to wait on him in their defence. Not that they looked upon the draught as perfect in all points: "for as God should farther reveal to them, they should be always ready to make This project amendinent." The regent, though not liking the undertaking, miscarries for some time. Spotswood, p. 266, &c. March 24, 1576-7. April 21, 1577. bishops for the exercises ing. dissembled his disgust, and ordered some of the council to treat with the assembly, and make their report of the heads upon which they agreed. But by the disturbances which happened in the state, this conference broke off before they had gone any length in it; and the next year Morton resigned the regency. To return to England: the latter end of this year, John Elmer, or Aylmer, doctor in divinity, was preferred to the see of London, and consecrated at Lambeth by archbishop Grindal, assisted by Edwin, archbishop of York, and John, bishop of Rochester. To mention the filling another see: Nicholas Bullingam, bishop of Worcester, being lately dead, the queen nominated Dr. Whitgift, master of Trinity-college, in Cambridge, for his successor. He was consecrated by the archbishop, assisted by John, bishop of London; Robert, bishop of Winchester; and Richard, bishop of Chichester. Upon the death of any bishop within the province of Canterbury, all the seals of the deceased prelate, and his best ring excepting one, belonged to the archbishop. In virtue of this privilege, Dr. Yate, Grindal's vicar-general, made the demand upon Mrs. Bullingam, the late bishop of Worcester's widow. Regist. Grindal. The queen's Grindal refusing to act in the suppressing of prophesyings, order to the the queen directed her letters to the other bishops, to put them suppressing down in their respective dioceses. Her majesty's letter sets of prophesy forth," that, in several parts of the kingdom, no small numbers presumed on the function of preaching, though neither lawfully called, nor qualified for that employment; that new forms of worship were offered to practise; that, by setting up unlawful assemblies, the people were drawn to places remote from their parishes, and entertained with disputations upon points of divinity very improper for a vulgar audience; that, by this means, many of her subjects were carried off to idleness BETH. and schism; that these innovations were an open breach of ELIZAher laws, disturbed the harmony of the government, and gave offence to those good subjects who were willing to serve God conformably to the order established. For these reasons, the bishops are commanded not to suffer any public divine service, any form of administering the sacraments, or any rites and ceremonies, but such as are settled and allowed by the constitution; and that no persons should be suffered to preach, teach, or exercise any function in the Church, but such as are licensed, and conform to the Church of England; and, where the incumbents were under-qualified for preaching, the reading the homilies, pursuant to the Injunctions,' should be enjoined them. "And, because of the great abuses consequent upon the exercises called 'Prophesyings,' they are strictly commanded not to suffer any of them for the future. And, if any person shall presume to continue these exercises, the bishops are ordered to commit them, and send up their names and qualities, their maintainers and abettors, to the council." The order concludes in these words : 1577. "And in these things we charge you to be careful and May 7, vigilant, as, by your negligence, if we should hear of any person attempting to offend in the premises without your correction, Cotton or information to us, we be not forced to make some example in reforming of you according to your deserts." Library, The arch- fined, and tion seques About a month forward, Grindal, continuing incompliant, was confined to his house, and sequestered from his jurisdiction for six months. This restraint was clapped upon him when he his jurisdicwas going on with his metropolitical visitation. It was done tered. by the lords in the Star-chamber, who, I suppose, passed this sentence in virtue of their ecclesiastic commission. acted for him during this suspension. Dr. Yate Idem. The Roman Catholic missionaries, sent from the seminaries beyond sea, made some progress in their undertaking, and drew off a great many people from going to church. To stop this defection from the Reformation, it was thought fit to impose a pecuniary penalty on such as absented themselves from divine service. But there being no provision by act of parliament, the legality of the method was debated. For this purpose, the secretary wrote in the queen's name to the lord keeper and lord treasurer, to require the judges' opinion. |