The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 17 (1 of 2)
CENTURY XVII.
THe difference betwixt the Seculars and the Jeſuites ſtill continuing and encreaſing, Biſhop Bancroft afforded the Seculars countenance and maintenance in London-houſe, furniſhing them with neceſſaries to write againſt their Adverſaries, hoping the Proteſtants might aſſault the Romiſh cauſe with the greater advantage, by the breach made to their hands by the others own diſſentions.
Archbiſhop Whitgift founded and endowed an Hoſpital at Croydon in Surrey, for a Warden and twenty eight Brethren: as alſo a free School with liberal maintenance for the training up of Youth.
Sir Rich. Bakers Chron.The Queen and Her Council finding both the Jeſuites and the Secular Prieſts dangerous to this Common Wealth both the one and the other, commandeth them to depart out of the Kingdom preſently.
The laſt Parliament in this Queen's Reign was now begun at Weſtminſter, and diſſolved the MonethMonth next following. In this Parliament it was Enacted, That overſeers of the poor ſhould be nominated yearly in Eaſter-week under the Hand and Seal of two Juſtices of peace, and that theſe with the Church-wardens ſhould take care of the poor, binding out of Apprentices, &c. As alſo, That the Lord Chancellor ſhould award Commiſſions under the great Seal into any part of the Realm (as cauſe ſhould require) to the Biſhop of every Dioceſs, and his Chancellor, &c. to enquire by oathes of twelve men, into the miſemployment of any lands or goods given to pious uſes.
Francis Godwin, D. D. Subdean of Exeter, ſon of Thomas Godwin Biſhop of Bath and Wells, was made Biſhop of Landaff. He was born in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, and was made a Biſhop within Her Reign, Anno 1601.
Now came forth a notable book againſt the Jeſuites, written Scholaſtically by Watſon a ſecular Prieſt, conſiſting of ten Quodlibets, each whereof is ſubdivided into as many Articles, which diſcovereth the Jeſuites in their Colours.
Anno 1602. died Herbert Weſtphaling, Biſhop of Hereford, being the firſt Biſhop of that foundation, a man very pious, and of ſuch gravity, that he was ſcarce ever ſeen to laugh. There died alſo Alexander Nowel, D. D. and Dean of S. Paul's in London. He fled into Germany in the Reign of Queen Mary, and was the firſt of Engliſh exiles that returned in the days of Queen Elizabeth: an holy and Learned Man. He beſtowed two hundred pound a year rent on Brazen-noſe Colledge, wherein he was educated, for the maintenance of thirteen Students. He died at ninety years of age, a ſingle man, freſh in his youthful Learning; his eyes were not dim, nor did he ever make uſe of Spectacles.
Mr. William Perkins who was born in the firſt, died alſo in the laſt year of Queen Elizabeth. Gregory Sayer alſo, and William Harris, two Popiſh Writers, bred the one at Cambridge, the other at Oxford, died this year beyond the Seas.
At this time the City of Geneva was in a low eſtate; for the Duke of Savoy, addicted to the Spaniſh faction had baniſhed all Proteſtants of his Dominions. By the Liberal example of Archbiſhop Whitgift large ſummes of Money were Collected, and ſeaſonably ſent over for the Relief of Geneva.
Queen Elizabeth, the mirrour of her Sex and Age, died having Reigned over this Kingdom above fourty years. Her Corps were Solemnly interred under a fair Tomb in Weſtminſter Abbey.
Now the Defenders both of Epiſcopacy and Presbitery, with equal hopes of ſucceſs, make (beſides private and particular Addreſſes) publick and viſible Applications to King James, the firſt to continue, the laſt to ſet up their Government. Dr. Thomas Nevil, Dean of Canterbury ſent by Archbiſhop Whitgift to his Majeſty in the name of the Biſhops and Clergy of England, brought back a well-come anſwer, which was to uphold the Government of the Late Queen, as ſhe left it ſetled.
Then Watſon a Secular Prieſt with William Cleark another of his Profeſſion, having fancied a notional Treaſon, impart it to George Brook. Theſe break it to Brook's brother, the Lord Cobham, to the Lord Gray of Wilton, and Sir Walter Rawleigh beſides ſome other diſcontented Knights. Watſon deviſed an Oath of ſecrecy for them all. The ends they propounded to themſelves were to kill the King, raiſe Rebellion, alter Religion, and procure a Forreign invaſion, &c. The treaſon was diſcovered. The two Prieſts alone with G. Brook were executed, the reſt were pardoned.
No ſooner was King James ſetled on the Engliſh throne, but Mr. Cartwright preſented unto him his Latine Comment on Eccleſiaſtes: and died ſoon after. Mr. Dod Preached his funeral Sermon.
Now there being a general expectation of a Parliament to ſucceed; the Presbterian party went about to get hands of the Miniſters to a petition which they intended ſeaſonably to preſent to the King and Parliament. A conference was appointed at Hampton-Court, which began on January 14. 1603. The names of the Perſons which were employed therein, are as follow.
For Conformity.
Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Whitgift.
Biſhops of
London
Durham
Wincheſter
Worceſter
S. David's
Chicheſter
Carlile
Peterborow
Bancroft.
Mathew.
Bilſon.
Babington.
Rudd.
Watſon.
Robinſon.
Dove.
Deans of
The Chappel.
Chriſt-Church.
Worceſter.
Weſtminſter.
S. Paul's.
Cheſter.
Sarisbury.
Windſor.
Doctor
Field.
King.
Againſt Conformity.
Doctor
Reinolds.
Sparks.
Maſter
Knewſtubs.
Chadderton.
Moderator
Spectators
King James.
All the Lords of the Privy Council.
On the firſt dayes Conference the Biſhops and five of the Deans were called in ſeverally by themſelves, then the King reduceth ſome ſpecial points wherein he deſireth to be ſatisfied, to three Heads.
1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer, &c. uſed in the Church.
2. Excommunication in Eccleſiaſtical Courts.
3. The providing of fit and able Miniſters for Ireland.
In the Common-prayer-book he required ſatisfaction about three things,
1. About Confirmation.
2. Abſolution.
3. Private Baptiſm.
Touching Confirmation, he ſaid he abhorred the abuſe wherein it was made a Sacrament, or Corroboration to Baptiſm, As for Abſolution, he ſaid he had heard it likened to Pope's Pardons.
And Concerning Private Baptiſm, he would be ſatisfied, if called private from the place, or if ſo termed that any beſides a Lawful Miniſter may Baptize, which he diſliked.
Concerning excommunication he offered two things to be conſidered of,
1. The Matter.
2. The Perſons.
For the firſt, whether it were executed in light Caſes, which cauſeth the undervaluing thereof, For the perſons, he would be reſolved, why Chancellors and Commiſſaries being lay men ſhould do it, and not rather the Biſhops themſelves, &c. As for providing Miniſters for Ireland; he ſaid he would refer it in the laſt dayes Conference to a Conſultation.
The Archbiſhop of Canterbury anſwered, that Confirmation hath been uſed in the Catholick Church ever ſince the Apoſtles. The Biſhop of London. That it is an Apoſtolical Inſtitution, named in expreſs words. Heb. 6.2. The Biſhop of Carlile Learnedly urged the ſ…me. And the Biſhop of Durham urged ſomething out of S. Mathew, for the Impoſition of hands on Children.
The Concluſion was this, for the fuller explanation, that we make Confirmation neither a Sacrament, nor a Corroboration thereof, their Lordſhip ſhould conſider whether it might not without alteration, be entitled an Examination with a Confirmation.
As for Abſolution, the Archbiſhop told His Majeſty that it is clear from all Superſtition as it is uſed in the Church of England, as will appear on the Reading both of the Confeſſion and Abſolution following it, in the beginning of the Communion-book.
Here the King peruſed both, liked and approved them.
The Particular and Perſonal Abſolution in the Viſitation of the ſick, was alſo Read by the Dean of the Chappel, and approved by the King.
The Concluſion was this, That the Biſhops ſhould Conſult, whether unto the Rubrick of the General Abſolution, theſe words [Remiſſion of ſins] might not be added for explanation-ſake.
To the point of Private Baptiſm, the Archbiſhop of Canterbury ſaid, the Adminiſtration thereof by women and Lay-perſons is not allowed in the Practice of the Church, &c. The King anſwered, the words of the Book cannot but intend a permiſſion of ſuch perſons to Baptiſe. The Biſhop of Worceſter ſaid, that the Compilers of the book did not ſo intend them, as appeareth by their contrary practice. The Biſhop of London ſaid, thoſe men intended a permiſſion of private perſons to baptiſe but in caſe of neceſſity. Here he ſpake much of the neceſſity of Baptiſm. The King anſwered, this neceſſity of Baptiſm I ſo underſtand, that it is neceſſary to be had, if lawfully to be had, i. e. Miniſtred by lawful M…niſters, by whom alone, and no private perſon in any caſe it may be adminiſtred.
The reſult was this, To conſult, whether in the Rubrick of Private baptiſm; …eſe words [Curate, or lawful Miniſter] may not be inſerted.
For the point of Excommunication, His Majeſty propounded, whether in cauſes of leſſer moment the name might not be altered, and the ſame cenſure retained. Secondly, whether in place thereof another coertion equivalent thereunto might not be invented. Which all ſides yielded unto, and ſo was an end of the firſt dayes conference.
On Monday January 16. they all met in the ſame place with all the Deans and Doctors aforementioned (Patrick Galloway Miniſter of Perth in Scotland, admitted alſo to be there) and Prince Henry ſate on a Stool by his Father. After the King had made a pithy ſpeech to the four oppoſers of conformity. He willed them to begin.
Then Dr. Rainolds ſaid, All things diſliked, or queſtioned, may be reduced to theſe four heads.
I. That the Doctrine of the Church might be preſerved in purity according to God's word.
II. That good Paſtors might be planted in all Churches to preach the ſame.
III. That the Church-government might be ſincerely Miniſtred according to God's word.
IV. That the book of Common-prayer might be fitted to more encreaſe of Piety.
For the firſt, he deſired, that the book of Articles of Religion concluded on 1562. might be explained where obſcure, enlarged where defective, viz. Art. 16. where it is ſaid, After we have received the Holy Ghoſt, we may depart from Grace, Thoſe words may be explained, with this addition, yet neither totally nor finally.
He propounded alſo, that the nine Aſſertions concluded on at Lambeth, might be inſerted into the Book of Articles. Some other things alſo he added.
The Biſhop of London ſpeaks paſſionately againſt Dr. Rainolds: for which the King reproveth him.
As for Private Baptiſm, His Majeſty ſaid, he had already with the Biſhops taken order for the ſame.
Then came they to Confirmation. And after ſome debate thereon betwixt Dr. Rainolds, and the Biſhops of London and Wincheſter, his Majeſty ſaid, he intended not to take confirmation from the Biſhops which they had ſo long enjoyed; ſeeing as great reaſon that none ſhould confirm, as none ſhould Preach without the Biſhop's Licenſe.
Dr. Rainolds ſaid, It were well, if this propoſition might be added to the book of Articles; The Intention of the Miniſter is not of the Eſſence of the Sacrament. He urged again, that the nine Orthodoxal Aſſertions concluded at Lambeth may be generally received.
The King thought it unfit to thruſt into the book of Articles every poſition Negative, which would ſwell the book into too great a volume. And as to the nine Aſſertions, his Majeſty ſaid, he knew not what they were. The Biſhop of London told the King the occaſion of them. He anſwered, the better courſe would be to puniſh the broachers of falſe Doctrine than to multiply Articles.
Then Dr. Rainolds requeſted, that one Uniform Catechiſm may be made, and none other generally received.
His Majeſty thought the Doctor's requeſt very reaſonable, yet ſo, that the Catechiſm may be made in the feweſt, and plaineſt affirmative terms that may be: And herein (ſaid he) I would have two Rules to be obſerved. 1. That curious and deep queſtions be avoided in the fundamen…al inſtruction of a people. 2. That there ſhould not be ſo general a departure from the Papiſts, that every thing ſhould be accounted an errour wherein we agree with them.
Dr. Rainolds ſaid, Great is the profanation of the Sabbath day, and contempt of your Majeſtie's Proclamation which I earneſtly deſire may be Reformed.
This motion found an unanimous conſent.
Then the Doctor deſired that the Bible be New Tranſlated, &c. His Majeſty anſwered, that he never yet ſaw a Bible well-tranſlated in Engliſh; and he wiſhed ſome ſpecial pains were taken for an Uniform Tranſlation, which ſhould be done by the beſt Learned in both Univerſities; then reviewed by the Biſhops, preſented to the Privy Council, laſtly ratified by Royal Authority to be read in the Church, and none other.
Dr. Rainolds moved alſo, that unlawful and Seditious Books be ſuppreſſed. The Lord Cecil, that theſe had done much miſchief, but eſpecially one, called Speculum Tragicum. His Majeſty ſaid, that was a dangerous book indeed.
Concerning the planting of Learned Miniſters in every Pariſh, His Majeſty ſaid he had conſulted with his Biſhops about it; whom he found willing and ready herein.