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WHIT that which lies within the matter of the history, and improves Abp. Cant. the serviceableness of the work, may properly be called so 1.

GIFT,

A. D. 1588.

To proceed having mentioned what was enacted in the 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 done, excepting the March 19. grant of two subsidies, till the fifteenth session. And now the archbishop brought in certain orders to be observed through the whole province.

Regulations

made in con

First, That single beneficed men should be obliged to confor the clergy stant residence: but here was an exception of liberty for prevocation. bendaries, 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 catechise, are barred admission to any cure.

Sixthly, None shall be allowed to place or displace a curate without authority from the archbishop or bishop of the diocese. 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 archtracts from bishop's commission, on the 2nd of April following.

The Ex

Convocat. Journal. Seditious pamphlets

the Puri

tans.

This year some seditious, no less than heterodox pamphlets, were published by the Puritans. I shall mention some few of published by the assertions. It is therein 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

This digression respecting ecclesiastical orders is particularly elaborate and complete. The Presbyterians, however, are sufficiently hardy to contest all arguments in favour of episcopacy, and ingenious enough to evade the blows they cannot parry.

BETH.

ought not to tarry any longer, but must do it of themselves. ELIZAThat 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."

Heylin's
Hist. Pres-

I shall conclude this year with the death of Edwin Sandys, byt. lib. 8. 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.

September,

A.D. 1589.

Dissenters

bridge.

Bancroft's

lib. 3. p. 89.

The Puritans moved vigorously in their business, and held a synod in St. John's-college in Cambridge. And here they Assembly of made several corrections in their book of discipline: it was at Camlikewise 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. Dangerous After the defeat of the armada, some people misbehaved Positions, themselves upon the success, printed invectives against the Spanish 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 the treasurer to call Toby Cook, who printed it at London, to an account.

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 instance, he took care that those who were admitted to any

VOL. VII.

I

Strype's Life of Bp. Ailmer.

GIFT,

WHIT- degree, should be examined in points of belief, and pass a Abp. Cant. kind of reformed test. He likewise endeavoured to prevent the Roman Catholics carrying off the young students to their Wood, Hist. seminaries beyond sea. And lastly, he brought the university to a more unexceptionable conduct, and restrained their excesses in clothes.

621.

et Antiq.

Univers.
Oxon.

Earl Both-
well does

public

penance.

This Both

well's name

was Steward.

His father married the heir of Hepburn, earl of Bothwell.

Ch. Hist.

Some of the

ceremony of anointing princes.

To pass on, and look over the affairs of Scotland. Francis earl of Bothwell, being touched with remorse of conscience, offered to make a public acknowledgment of the scandal he had given by his licentiousness, and submit to any satisfaction the Church should appoint. This submission was received, and the nobleman did public penance in Mr. Robert Bruce's church, and promised a more regular behaviour.

In the beginning of the next year, the king of Scots, who Spotswood's had lately made a voyage to Norway and Denmark, returned A. D. 1591. 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 the bishops were out of town, and none of them would come in due time, Mr. Robert Bruce was pitched on to perform the ceremony. Some of the Edinburgh ministers, that had Scotch mimore scruples than discretion, excepted to the circumstance of nisters object against the 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 Iraelites, 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

:

BETH.

beneficial usages. Since therefore the function and authority ELIZAof princes is the same it was at first, and continues unaltered in all independent monarchies, why should the unction be quarrelled with 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 being 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 against a bishop's officiating at the coronation, dropped his opinion, and gained a majority for compliance. And thus, on the Sunday following, Idem. the queen was crowned by Mr. Robert Bruce, in the abbeychurch 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 petition the burgh, where the king was present. The moderator, Mr. king for Patrick Galaway, addressed his majesty for three things. First, three things. 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 petition, 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

WHIT-
GIFT,

with his council upon the best ways and means for making Abp. Cant. their request practicable.

The feuds suppressed by the king.

Idem.

An order of

for subscrib-
ing the
"Book of

Aug. 4, 1590.

After this, the king discoursing of the feuds kept up in the kingdom, and the murders and barbarities consequent 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 make 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 by calling the exasperated parties before the council, and obliging them to refer their quarrels: and partly by making strict laws against those who disturbed the public peace.

Before I take leave of this assembly, it will be necessary to mention an order passed there, viz. "That all such as then bore office in the Kirk, or from thencefore should bear any office in it, should subscribe the Book of Discipline." The act of the assembly, as it stands upon record, is as follows:

"Forasmuch as it is certain that the word of God cannot the assembly be kept in its own sincerity, without the holy discipline be had in observance, it is therefore, by the common consent of the Discipline." whole brethren and commissioners present, concluded, that whosoever hath borne office in the ministry of the Kirk within this realm, or that presently bears, or shall hereafter bear office therein, shall be charged by every particular presbytery, where their residence is, to subscribe the heads of the discipline of the Kirk of this realm, at length set down, and allowed by act of the whole assembly, in the book of polity, which is registrate in the assembly-books, and namely the heads controverted by enemies of the discipline of the reformed Kirk of this realm, betwixt this and the next synodal assemblies of the provinces, under the pain of excommunication to be executed against the non-subscribers: and the presbyteries which shall be found remiss and negligent herein, to receive public rebuke of the whole assembly. And to the effect the said discipline may be known as it ought to be, to the whole brethren,

622.

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