The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 17 (2 of 2)
The Biſhop of London moved, that there might be a praying Miniſtry among us, ſaying, that men now thought it is the onelyonly duty of Miniſters to ſpend their time in the Pulpit. His Majeſty well liked his motion. His ſecond motion was, that until Learned men may be planted in every Congregation, Godly Homilies may be read therein. The King liked this motion, eſpecially where the living is not ſufficient to maintain a Learned Preacher. Alſo where were multitudes of Sermons, he would have Homilies read divers times. The Plaintiffs confeſſed, A Preaching Miniſtry is beſt; but where it may not be had, Godly Prayers and exhortations do much good. The Biſhop's laſt motion was, that Pulpits may not be made paſquils, wherein every diſcontented perſon may traduce his Superiors. His Majeſty approved thereof.
Then Dr. Rainolds came to Subſcription, as a great impeachment to a Learned Miniſtry, and therefore entreated it might not be exacted as heretofore, for which many good men are kept out, though otherwiſe willing to ſubſcribe to the Statutes of the Realm, Articles of Religion, and the King's Supremacy. He objected againſt the enjoyning of the Apocrypha Books to be read in the Church, ſome Chapters therein containing manifeſt errours repugnant to Scripture.
His Majeſty ſaid, he would not have all Canonical books read in the Church, nor any Chapter out of the Apocrypha, wherein any errour is contained.
The next ſcruple againſt Subſcription was, becauſe it was twice ſet down in the Common-prayer-book, Jeſus ſaid to his Diſciples, when by the Text in the Original it is plain, that he ſpake to the Phariſees. His Majeſty anſwered, let the word [Diſciples] be omitted, and the words [Jeſus ſaid] be Printed in a different Character.
Mr. Knewſtubs took exceptions at the Croſs in baptiſm, and ſaid, it is queſtionable whether the Church hath power to inſtitute an outward ſignificant ſign. The Biſhop of London anſwered, The Croſs in Baptiſm is not uſed otherwiſe than a Ceremony.
His Majeſty deſired to be acquainted about the Antiquity of the uſe of Croſs. Dr. Rainolds ſaid, it hath been uſed ever ſince the Apoſtles time, but the queſtion is, how Ancient the uſe thereof hath been in Baptiſm. The Biſhop of Wincheſter ſaid, in Conſtantine's time it was uſed in Baptiſm. His Majeſty replied, if ſo, I ſee no reaſon but we may continue it.
Mr. Knewſtubs ſaid, put caſe the Church may add ſignificant ſigns, it may not add them where Chriſt hath already ordained them; which is as Derogatory to Chriſt's Inſtitution, as if one ſhould add to the great Seal of England. His Majeſty anſwered, the caſe is not alike, ſeeing the Sacrament is fully finiſhed, before the uſe of the Croſs.
Mr. Knewſtubs demanded then, how far the Ordinance of the Church bindeth without impeaching Chriſtian Liberty? The King anſwered, I will have one Doctrine, one Diſcipline, one Religion in ſubſtance, and in Ceremony. Never ſpeak more to that point, how far ye are bound to obey.
Doctor Rainolds wiſhed, that the Croſs (being Superſtitiouſly abuſed in Popery) were abandoned, as the Brazen-ſerpent was ſtamped to powder by Hezekiah, becauſe abuſed to Idolatry.
His Majeſty anſwered, Inaſmuch as the Croſs was abuſed to Superſtition in time of Propery, it doth plainly imply, that it was well uſed before. He ſaid, he deteſted their courſes, who peremptorily diſallow of all things which have been abuſed in Popery, and know not how to anſwer the Objections of the Papiſts, when they charge us with Novelties, but by telling them, we retain the Primitive uſe of things, and onelyonly forſake their Novel corruptions. Secondly, no reſemblance between the Brazen-Serpent (a material viſible thing) and the ſign of the Croſs made in the Air.
Thirdly, Papiſts did never aſcribe any ſpiritual grace to the Croſs in Baptiſm. Laſtly, material Croſſes to which people fell down in time of Popery (as the Idolatrous Jews to the Brazen-ſerpent) are already demoliſhed, as you deſire.
Mr. Knewſtubs proceeded, excepting at the wearing of the Surplice, a kind of garment (ſaid he) uſed by the Prieſts of Iſis. His Majeſty anſwered, he did not think till of late, it had been borrowed from the Heathen, becauſe commonly called a Rag of Popery. And ſeeing we border not upon Heathens, &c. I ſee no reaſon (ſaid he) but for comelineſs ſake it may be continued.
Dr. Rainolds ſaid, I take exception at theſe words in Marriage, With my body I thee worſhip. His Majeſty anſwered, I find it an uſual Engliſh Term, A Gentleman of Worſhip: and it agreeth with the Scriptures, Giving honour to the wife The Dean of Sarum ſaid, ſome take exception at the Ring in Marriage. Dr. Rainolds ſaid, he approved it well enough. Then ſaid he, ſome take exceptions at the Churching of women by the name of Purification. His Majeſty ſaid, I allow it very well.
Unto Doctor Rainolds his laſt exception againſt committing Eccleſiaſtical cenſures to Lay-chancellors, His Majeſty anſwered, that he had conferred with the Biſhops about that point, and ſuch order ſhould be taken therein as was Convenient.
Doctor Rainolds deſired, That according to certain Provin…ial Conſtituions the Clergy may have meetings every three weeks. 1. In Rural Deaneries, therein to have prophecying, as Archbiſhop Grindal, and other Biſhops, deſired of her late Majeſty. 2. That ſuch things as could not be reſolved on there, might be referred to the Archdeacons Viſitations. 3. And ſo to the Epiſcopal Synod, to determine ſuch points before not decided.
His Majeſty anſwered. If you aim at a Scottiſh Presbytery, it agreeth as well with Monarchy, as God and the Devil. Then Jack and Tom, &c. ſhall meet, and cenſure me and my Council.
Then the King asked the Doctor, whether they had any thing elſe to ſay?
He anſwered, No more, if it pleaſe your Majeſty.
If this be all your party have to ſay, ſaid the King, I will make them conform, or elſe I will harry them out of the Land, or do worſe.
Thus ended the ſecond dayes Conference.
The third began on the Wedneſday following, many Knights, Civilians, and Doctors of the Law, being admitted thereunto, becauſe the High-commiſſion was the principal matter in debate.
His Majeſty thus began I underſtand, that the parties named in the High-commiſſion are too many, and too mean, and the matters they deal with, baſe, ſuch as Ordinaries might cenſure in their Courts at home.
Archbiſhop of Canterbury.] Were not their number many, I ſhould oftentimes ſit alone. I have often complained of the meanneſs of matters handled therein, but cannot remedy it: for though the offence be ſmall, that the Ordinary may, yet the Offender oft-times is ſo great, that the Ordinary is forced to crave help at the High-commiſſion to puniſh him.
A nameleſs Lord ſaid, The proceedings in that Court are like the Spaniſh Inquiſition, wherein men are urged to ſubſcribe more than Law requireth; and by the Oath Ex officio, forced to accuſe themſelves, being examined upon many Articles on a ſudden, and for the moſt part againſt themſelves.
The Lord Chancellor ſaid, There is neceſſity, and uſe of the Oath Ex officio, in divers Courts and Cauſes.
His Majeſty ſaid, That it is requiſite that ſame and ſcandals be looked unto in Courts Eccleſiaſtical, and yet great moderation is to be uſed therein. And here he ſoundly deſcribed the Oath Ex officio for the ground thereof, the wiſdom of the Law therein, the manner of proceeding thereby, and profitable effect from the ſame.
After much diſcourſe between the King, the Biſhops, and the Lords, about the quality of the Perſons, and Cauſes, in the High-Commiſſion, rectifying Excommunications in matters of leſs moment, puniſhing Recuſants, providing Divines for Ireland, Wales, and the Northern borders, the four Preachers were called in, and ſuch alterations in the Liturgy were read unto them, which the Biſhops, by the King's advice, had made, unto which, by their ſilence, they ſeemed to conſent.
Then the King ſaid to Doctor Rainolds, and his Aſſociates, I expect obedience and humility from you (the marks of honeſt and good men) and that you would perſwade others abroad by your example.
Doctor Rainolds anſwered, We here do promiſe to perform all duties to Biſhops, as Reverend Fathers, and to joyn with them, againſt the common Adverſary, for the peace of the Church.
Thus ended the three dayes Conference. Doctor Sparks ſoon after ſet forth a Treatiſe of Unity and Uniformity.
This Conference produced ſome alterations in the Liturgy; Womens baptiſing formerly frequent, hereafter forbidden; in the Rubrick of Abſolution, Remiſſion of ſins inſerted, Confirmation termed alſo an Examination of Children, and ſome words altered in the Dominical Goſpels, with a reſolution for a new tranſlation of the Bible. Henceforward many, that wavered before, for the future quietly digeſted the Ceremonies of the Church.
About this time a Petition, called the Millenary Petition for Reformation, was ſolemnly preſented to his Majeſty, in the name of the Miniſters of the Church of England, deſiring Reformation of certain Ceremonies and abuſes of the Church. Subſcribed, Your Majeſties moſt humble Subjects, the Miniſters of the Goſpel, that deſire not a diſorderly Innovation, but a due and godly Reformation. The Epiſcopal party gave this Petition a laſh, ſome with their Pens, more with their Tongues. The Univerſities were juſtly netled thereat. Cambridge paſſed a Gr…ce in their Congregation, That whoſoever, in their Ʋniverſity, ſhould by word, or writing, oppoſe the received Doctrine, and Diſcipline, of England, or any part thereof, ſhould be ſuſpended from their former, and excluded from all future Degrees. Oxford followed, making a ſharp and ſtrong confutation of the Petition. After his Majeſty had diſcountenanced it, ſome of the oppoſite party maintained, That now the property thereof was altered, from a Petition to a Libel.
Soon after died Archbiſhop Whitgift of the Palſey, and was buried at Croidon, the Earl of Worceſter, and Lord Zouch, his Pupils attending his Herſe; and Biſhop Babington (his Pupil alſo) made his Funeral Sermon. Richard Bancroft, Biſhop of London, brought up in Jeſus colledge, ſucceeded him in the Archbiſhoprick.
Now a Parliament was aſſembled, in which it was enacted, That neither the King himſelf, nor his Succeſſors, ſhould be capable of any Churchland, to be conveyed unto them, otherwiſe than for three lives, or twenty one years. Thus the King was pleaſed to bind himſelf for the liberty of the Church: and hereby he eaſed himſelf of many troubleſome Suitors.
In the Convocation many Canons were made. A Book of Canons was compiled, not only being the ſum of the late Queens Articles, Orders of her Commiſſioners, Canons of 1571. and 1597. which were in uſe before, but alſo many more were added, the whole number amounting unto 141 An explanation was made in one of the Canons of the uſe of the Croſs in Baptiſm. Biſhop Rudd, of St. Davids, oppoſed the Oath of Simony.
Anno 1664. the Family of Love preſented a tedious Petition to King James, wherein, by fawning expreſſions, they ſeek to inſinuate themſelves into his Majeſties good opinion. We find not what effect this Petition produced.
This year died two Romaniſts beyond Sea much lamented, one Richard Hall, bred in Chriſt's-colledge in Cambridge, whence he ran over to Rome, and after died Canon and Official at St. Omers Cathedral. The other Humfrey Ely, born in Hereford-ſhire, Fellow of St. John's-colledge in Oxford; whence going beyond Sea, at Rome he commenced Doctor of Law, and afterwards died Profeſſor thereof, in the Univerſity of Ponta Mouſan in the Dutchy of Lorrain.
Now the Romiſh Cotholicks deſpairing of getting any free and publick exerciſe of their Religion, ſome of them entred into a deviliſh Conſpiracy to blow up the Parliament Houſe with Gunpowder.
In this Plot were engaged.
Robert Catesby.
Thomas Piercy.
Sir Everard Digby.
Francis Treſham.
Thomas Winter.
John Wright.
Christopher Wright.
Ambroſe Rookwood.
Robert Keys.
Robert Winter.
John Grant.
Thomas Bates, Catesbies man.
Guido Faux.
The principal Contriver of this Plot was Robert Catesby, a Gentleman of good account in Northampton-ſhire, who drew in many other Papiſts to aſſiſt him. Gerard tyeth them together with an Oath of ſecrecy. Garnet and Tiſmond encourage the deſign. But here an important ſcruple was injected, how to part their Friends from their Foes in the Parliament. Here Garnet, inſtead of untying, cut this knot aſunder. That in ſuch a caſe as this it was lawful to kill Friend and Foe together.
Now though theſe Plotters intended at laſt, with honour, to own the Action, when ſucceſs had ſecured all things; yet they purpoſed, when the blow was firſt given, to father the fact upon thoſe that were called Puritans. But for the diſcovery of this Plot, God's Providence ſo ordered it, that a Letter was framed, and ſent to the Lord Mounteagle, brought him by one of his Footmen, which he received from an unknown man in the ſtreet, in manner following