sufferers and of great names, were passed by in the designations to
Bishoprics. An instance in Dr. Peter Heylyn, who in 1660, upon His
Majesty's return to his kingdoms, was restored to his spiritualities,
but never rose higher than Sub-dean of Westminster, which was a wonder
to many and a great discontent to him and his; but the reason being
manifest to those that well knew the temper of the person, I shall
forbear to make mention of that matter any further. Such was the
case of Dr. Sibthorpe, who had suffered very great calamities in His
Majesty's cause, yet upon the return of King Charles II. he was only
restored to the small preferments from which he had been violently
ejected."--_Register_, 236.
[170] _Wood's Athen. Oxon._ (_Bliss_), iii. 613. Further notice of
these Bishops will be supplied hereafter.
[171] _D'Oyley's Life of Sancroft_, ii. 346.
[172] _Mant's History of the Church of Ireland_, i. 611. Taylor
preached a sermon on Episcopacy. _Works_, vi. 301.
[173] _Keble's Life of Bishop Wilson_, i. 132.
[174] _Canons_, 9-12, 72, 73.
[175] See also _3 Jac._, 4; _21 Jac._, 4.
[176] The letter is written by R. Ellsworth, "Bristol this 24th of
November, 1660," and is addressed to Sir E. Nicholas. STATE PAPERS,
DOM. CHARLES II.
[177] _Rees' Nonconformity in Wales_, 111. Powell speaks of himself
as if charged with "preaching sedition and rebellion." The specific
charges against these Welshmen do not appear. It seems to me very
probable that they were accused of political disaffection.
[178] _Lives of Philip, Howe, and Bunyan._
[179] It may seem strange to some that Charles II. should excite
so much enthusiasm. But it must be remembered that by letters from
abroad and other means, extraordinary ideas of his excellence had been
diffused throughout the country. Some amusing illustrations of this are
supplied in the _Worcester MS._:--
"June 6th.--Mr. Prinn coming to kiss His Majesty's hands, prayed God to
bless him--'and so also you, Mr. Prinn,' and smiling clapt him on the
shoulder."
"6th.--It is said that Mr. Calamy, a Presbyterian, and one of the
King's chaplains, desired His Majesty that he might not officiate
in these canonical habits, especially in a surplice, for it was
against his conscience, who answered he would not press it on him,
and as he refused to do in the one, so he would spare him in the
other. It is also said when His Majesty was at primal prayers in
his presence-chamber, and seeing all on their knees but the Earl
of Manchester, his chamberlain, who stood by him (a Presbyterian),
His Majesty suddenly took a cushion, and said, 'My Lord, there is a
cushion, you may now kneel;' which for shame he was glad patiently to
do. O meek, O zealous, O pious prince!"
"July.--The King going to swim one night in the Thames, there were
divers ladies and gentlemen looking out of the windows of Whitehall,
which he beholding, sent a message that either they should shut their
windows and pray for his safety, or begone out of court. O chaste and
good prince!"
"Oct. 23rd.--A settling of the King's household according as the book
was 6th Charles I.--wherein His Majesty declares that his officers
should collect out of the same all such wholesome orders, decrees,
and directions as may tend most to the planting, establishing,
and countenancing of virtue and piety in his family, and to the
discountenancing of all manner of disorder, debauchery, and vice in any
person of what degree or quality soever."
[180] _State Papers, Dom._ 1661, January 11th.
[181] The entry in the Council Book, and the subsequent Proclamation,
are printed in _Kennet's Register_, under dates January 2nd & 10th.
[182] _Neal_, iv. 311.
[183] _Crosby_, ii. 108.
[184] Sir John Maynard informed Lord Mordaunt that so many refused to
swear that he did not know what to do: some because they would not
swear at all; others because they would not enter into promissory
obligations; others because, as the King had taken no oath to obey the
laws, they would take no oath to obey the King.--_State Papers, Dom._
1661, January 19th.
[185] _Baxter's Life and Times_, ii. 301. No date is given--it is
only said that the circumstance occurred at the time of Venner's
insurrection.
[186] _Loyal Subject's Lamentation for London's perverseness in the
malignant choice of some rotten Members on Tuesday, 19th March, 1661._
[187] The Government monopoly of letter carrying was sometimes
invaded; and I notice in the Minute Book of Privy Council, 1661-2, a
curious order for taking into custody two persons, who obtained large
quantities of letters under the pretence of conveying them to their
proper destination, but who in fact threw them into the Thames, and
still worse places.
[188] Sir Thomas Browne, in a letter to his son, says--"Two Royalists
gained it here (Norwich) against all opposition that could possibly be
made; the voices in this number--Jaye, 1,070; Corie, 1,001; Barnham,
562; Church, 436. My Lord Richardson and Sir Ralph Hare carried it in
the county without opposition."--_Works_, i. 8.
[189] As instances of such purging, we may mention that on the
25th of February, just before the election, orders of that kind
were sent to Hull and Norwich.--_State Papers, Dom._, under date.
Oldfield's _History of the Original Constitution of Parliament_,
gives a very large number of instances in which members for boroughs
in the seventeenth century were returned by the Corporation. For
example:--Andover, votes 24; Banbury, votes 18; Bath, votes 18;
Beaumaris, votes 24.
[190] County of Devon.
[191] Their former history is remembered in _Hudibras_:--
"Was not the King, by proclamation, Declared a rebel o'er all the
nation? Did not the learned Glynne and Maynard, To make good subjects
traitors, sham hard?"
[192] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 383.
[193] _Ibid._, iv. 862.
[194] May 10th.--"Parliament assembled on the 8th [of May], the King
went on horseback, with a magnificent equipage. After a sermon in
Westminster Abbey, they went in the same order to the House of Peers,
&c."--_State Papers, Dom._ under date.
[195] _Lords' Journals_, 1661, May 8th and 10th.
[196] A Diarist states that Dr. Gunning, who officiated, refused the
bread to Mr. Prynne, because he did not kneel; and that Boscawen took
it standing.--_Lathbury's Convocation_, 297.
[197] _The Presbyterian Divines_ were Edward Reynolds, Bishop of
Norwich; Dr. Tuckney, Master of St. John's College, Cambridge; Dr.
Conant, Reg. Prof. Div. Oxford; Dr. Spurstow; Dr. Wallis, Sav. Prof.
Geom. Oxford; Dr. Manton; Mr. Calamy; Mr. Baxter; Mr. Jackson; Mr.
Case; Mr. Clarke; Mr. Newcomen.
_Coadjutors_:--Dr. Horton; Dr. Jacomb; Dr. Bates; Dr. Cooper; Dr.
Lightfoot; Dr. Collins; Mr. Woodbridge; Mr. Rawlinson; Mr. Drake.
The _Episcopal Divines_ were:--Accepted Frewen, Archbishop of York;
Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop of London, Master of the Savoy; John Cosin,
Bishop of Durham; John Warner, Bishop of Rochester; Henry King, Bishop
of Chichester; Humphrey Henchman, Bishop of Sarum; George Morley,
Bishop of Worcester; Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln; Benjamin
Laney, Bishop of Peterborough; Bryan Walton, Bishop of Chester; Richard
Sterne, Bishop of Carlisle; John Gauden, Bishop of Exeter.
With the following _Coadjutors_:--Dr. Earle, Dean of Westminster; Dr.
Heylyn; Dr. Hacket; Dr. Barwick; Dr. Gunning; Dr. Pearson; Dr. Pierce;
Dr. Sparrow; Mr. Thorndike.
No distinction is made between the two parties in the terms of the
Commission.
[198] _Life and Times_, ii. 302-304.
[199] _Life and Times_, ii. 305; _Kennet_, 398; _Cardwell Documents_.
[200] Two applicants are mentioned as anxious for the office--Dr.
Warmestry and Richard Braham--the latter writes to John Nicholas asking
his "influence with his father to get him recommended as an additional
Commissioner of the Excise, having relinquished the idea of the
Mastership of the Savoy in favour of Dr. Sheldon."--_State Papers, Cal.
1660-1_, 16, 113.
[201] The Declaration adopted at the Savoy will be noticed in the
next volume. The Independents have no authoritative standards, but a
Declaration of their Faith and Order was issued by the Congregational
Union of England and Wales some years ago.
[202] _Kennet_, 389.
[203] _Clarendon_, 1047.
[204] _Kennet_, 412, _et seq._
[205] The other two, built by Henry VII., were King's College,
Cambridge, and the Chapel, which bears his name at Westminster.
[206] _Strype's Stow_, ii. 103.
[207] See on Cosin and the other Bishops, vol. ii. of _Eccles. Hist._
(_Church of the Commonwealth_), chap. xii.
[208] _Baxter_, ii. 364.
[209] _Hallam's Literature of Europe_, iv. 179.
[210] For fuller notices of the Presbyterian Divines, who figured at
the Savoy, see _Eccles. Hist._ (_Church of the Commonwealth_), chap.
viii.
[211] _Clarendon's Continuation_, 1048. April 23rd. "This day," says
the _Worcester MS._, "was the solemn and most glorious Coronation of
Charles II., at Westminster, when did preach George Morley, Bishop of
Worcester.
"This day all the trained band, horse and foot, were up in arms in
several parts, to prevent insurrections and tumults of seditious
fanatics and schismatics, haters of Monarchy and Episcopacy.
"This morn also, at Worcester, about break of day, was posted up in
several places of the city a base, scurrilous, seditious, and facetious
libel, as followeth:--
"'A seasonable memento, April 23rd, 1661.
"'This day it is sayd the king shall sweare once more, Just contrary to
what he sware before. Great God, and can thy potent eies behold This
height of sin, and can thy vengeance hold? Nipp thou the bud, before
the bloome begins, And save our Sovereyne from presumptious sinns.
Lett him remember, Lord, in mercy grant, That, solemnly, he swore the
Covenant.'"
"May 2nd. The King's Coronation is now over, and was attended with so
many glories that the most curious beholders from foreign parts deem
it inferior in magnificence to none in Europe. The people received all
with loud acclamations and profuse expressions of joy. Twelve Knights
of the Garter, and six of the Bath, six Earls, and six Barons, were
created on the occasion."--_State Papers, Cal. Dom._ May 2, 1661.
[212] _Baxter_, ii. 342.
[213] _Ibid._, ii. 333. The Proctors of Convocation for the diocese of
London, are elected two for each Archdeaconry, the Bishop choosing two
out of the whole number--at that time ten. Baxter, speaking generally
of the Convocation, states that ministers who had not received
Episcopal ordination, "were in many counties denied any voice in the
election of Clerks for the Convocation. By which means, and by the
scruples of abundance of ministers, who thought it unlawful to have
anything to do in the choosing of such a kind of assembly, the diocesan
party wholly carried it in the choice." Burnet, of course dependent
on reports, says: "Such care was taken in the choice and returns of
the members of the Convocation, that everything went among them as was
directed by Sheldon and Morley."--_History of his own Times_, i. 184.
The author of the _Conformists' Plea_, p. 35, perhaps following Baxter,
observes, that men were got in and kept out by undue proceedings; and
"that protestations were made against all Incumbents not ordained by
Bishops."
[214] _Life and Times_, ii. 307. Baxter is our main authority for the
history of the Conference. It is to be regretted that we have no other
full account.
[215] What took place at the Savoy Conference is of great importance
in relation to the vestment controversy. An intelligent clergyman,
the Rev. R. W. Kennison, writing in the _Times_, of July 6th, 1867,
observes:--"In the last days of the Conference, when he (Baxter) summed
up all in a few leading points, he went over again his objections to
the surplice, but said not a word about the other vestments. And I have
looked into every book I have been able to lay my hands on relating
to that period, without being able to find one word more on the
subject. There is much discussion about surplices; but copes, albs, and
tunicles, are never mentioned."
[216] This resemblance is adverted to in the _Conformists' Plea for
Nonconformity_, 22. See _Eccles. Hist._ (_Civil Wars_), 124.
[217] _Baxter's Life and Times_, ii. 321; _Cardwell's Conf._, 303;
_Documents relating to the Act of Uniformity_.
[218] _Baxter's Life and Times_, ii. 334.
[219] _State Papers, Cal. Dom._, 1661, October 26.
[220] _Kennet_, 434.
[221] _Stanley's Memorials of Westminster_, 464.
[222] The following passage is found in one of Sancroft's MSS.:--"May
22nd. _Precibus peractis_, ordered, that each keep his place, that but
one speak at once, and that without interruption; none to use long
speeches; to have a constant verger."--_D'Oyley's Life of Sancroft_, i.
113.
[223] _Kennet_, 450.
[224] _Lathbury's Convocation_, 306; _Cardwell's Synodalia_, April
26th; _Robinson's Review of Liturgies_; _Kennet's Register_, 368-70.
_King Charles' Martyrdom_ was introduced into the Calendar 30th
January:--and it appears, there are six churches in England, named in
his honour, They are in Falmouth, Tonbridge Wells, Peak Forest, Wem,
and Plymouth; in the last town there are two.--_Interleaved Prayer
Book, by Campion and Beamont._
[225] _D'Oyley_ in his _Life of Sancroft_ (i. 114) says, in 1628;
_Procter_ (262) says, in 1625 (in an _Order of Fasting_); and again,
in 1628, Palmer remarks--that "the appellation of 'most religious and
gracious King,' corresponds with those high titles of respect and
veneration which the primitive Church gave to the Christian emperors
and kings"; thus, in the Liturgy of Basil, it is said, "Μνήσθητι κύριε
τῶν εὐσεβεστάτων καὶ πιστοτάτων ἡμῶν βασιλέων."--_Origines Lit._, i.
336.
[226] _Cardwell's Synodalia_, 687.
[227] _Ibid._, 645.
[228] _Ibid._, 649-51.
[229] The paper is not given by Baxter; it is printed in _Cardwell's
Conferences_, 335-363.
[230] The concessions which were offered in reference to the Prayer
Book will be noticed in the Appendix.
[231] The Liturgy is in _Baxter's Works_, vol. xv.
[232] _Life by Boswell_, vol. ix. 141.
[233] _Life and Times_, ii. 306.
[234] _Life and Times_, ii. 334.
[235] The document is not in _Cardwell_ or _Baxter_, but it is printed
in the _Documentary Annals relating to the Act of Uniformity_, 176.
[236] The rejoinder is neither in _Baxter_ nor _Cardwell_, but it is
printed at length in the _Documents relating to the Act of Uniformity_,
201.
[237] _Baxter_, ii. 336, 341.
[238] Given in _Life and Times_, ii. 341, but not in _Cardwell's
Conferences_. It is included in the _Documents relating to the Act of
Uniformity_, 346.
[239] _Life and Times_, ii. 346.
[240] These discussions are reported by _Baxter_, ii. 346. That
which relates to the sinfulness of the Liturgy, is alone included in
_Cardwell's Conferences_, 364. Both may be found in the _Documents
relating to the Act of Uniformity_.
[241] _Life and Times_, ii. 359.
[242] _Letter to a Friend in Vindication of Himself, &c._ (1683), p. 8.
See also _Calamy's Abridgment_, 169.
[243] See _Procter on the Prayer Book_, 136. Compare _Sanderson's
Sermons_, p. 12, with _Orme's Life of Baxter_, p. 589, for a lively
statement of arguments on each side.
[244] _Baxter_, ii. 357. He mixes up the two days together.
[245] _Froude's History of England_, vii. 75.
[246] _Life and Times_, ii. 363, 364. See p. 163 of this vol.
[247] _Life and Times_, ii. 338.
[248] _Protestant Peace Maker, by Bishop Rust_, 1682.
[249] _Burnet_, i. 180.
[250] _Life and Times_, ii. 364. "Aug. 13.--A facetious Divine being
commended to Lord Chancellor, Sir Edward Hyde, who loved witty men,
desired to converse with him: being come to him, the Chancellor
asked him his name; he said Bull; he replied he never saw a bull
without horns. It is true (was the answer), for the horns go with the
hide."--_Worcester MS._
[251] _Life and Times_, ii. 365.
[252] After the Act of Uniformity, Baxter shrewdly observes, "This is
worthy the noting by the way, that all that I can speak with of the
conforming party, do now justify only the _using_ and _obeying_, and
not the _imposing_ of these things with the penalty by which they are
imposed. From whence it is evident that most of their own party do now
justify our cause which we maintained at the Savoy, which was against
this imposition (whilst it might have been prevented), and for which
such an intemperate fury hath pursued me to this very day."--_Ibid._,
394.
[253] Baxter observes: men on both extremes were "offended with me, and
I found what enmity, charity, and peace are like to meet with in the
world."--_Life and Times_, 380. His experience in this respect is not
an uncommon one.
[254] _Clarendon_ (1076), says the Independents, at the Restoration,
had as free access to the King as the Presbyterians--"both that he
might hinder any conjunction between the other factions, and because
they seemed wholly to depend upon His Majesty's will and pleasure,
without resorting to the Parliament, in which they had no confidence,
and had rather that Episcopacy should flourish again, than that the
Presbyterians should govern." Clarendon is no authority for the policy
of the Congregationalists, and goes too far in the last remark. Nor
does their access to Court, which I apprehend he greatly exaggerates,
prove that they had anything like the political influence of the
Presbyterians.
[255] He was let off by Parliament with a simple disqualification
for exercising any office, ecclesiastical, military, or civil. In a
petition he humbly tendered in January, 1662, we find him representing
himself as a minister of forty years' standing, now become infirm,
with a wife and three children unprovided for, his present maintenance
depending on voluntary contributions, which if taken away would leave
him penniless and ruined.--_Kennet_, 269, 602.
[256] _Commons' Journals_, May 17.
[257] _Mercurius Publicus_, May 30.
[258] _Public Intelligencer_, June 6-13.
[259] _Commons' Journals_, June 17, 29, July 12, 16, 19. Read first
time in the Lords, July 23; after which no notice of it occurs. The
Lords were less intolerant than the Commons.
[260] _Clarendon's Continuation_, 1070.
[261] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 219. We may here mention, as an illustration
of the spirit for dishonouring the dead--and that too on the
anti-Episcopal as well as the anti-Puritan side--that there are
repeated references in the _Journals_ of the Lords during this Session,
to accusations brought against Matthew Hardy, for taking up the body
of Archbishop Parker, for selling the lead wherein he was wrapped, for
defacing his monument, for turning his tombstone into a table, and
for burying "the bones of that worthy person under a dunghill." The
delinquent was ordered to put the bones again in their old place, and
to restore the monument, but he neglected "the doing of these things."
At last Matthew Hardy "acknowledged his hearty sorrow," obeyed the
order of the House, and was discharged on payment of fees. (_Lords'
Journals_, 1661, July 24, Dec. 9, 13, Jan. 14, 28.
[262] See _Journals_. The Bill was read the first time in the House of
Lords the 17th of July.
[263] See _Journals and Statutes_, _13 Car._ ii., _St._ 1. cxii.
[264] Quoted in _Kennet_, 374.
[265] _Journals_, June 25.--The same Committee as I have just mentioned.
[266] _Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chief Justices._
[267] Cardwell says, "It is probable, as the book is not uncommon now,
that a copy of it was produced, and was not found to be sufficiently in
accordance with the higher tone of ordinances, which, since the days
of Elizabeth had more generally prevailed."--_Cardwell's Conferences_,
376. But it is more likely the reason might be that the _original_ or
MS. of the book could not be found. I have sought in vain for some
information to throw light on this circumstance.
[268] See _Journals_ under dates.
[269] _Mercurius Publicus._
[270] _Williams' Life of Philip Henry_, 91, 92.
[271] _The Cedar's sad and solemn fall._
[272] I may mention the _Presbyterian Lash or Noctroft's Maid whipt_--a
piece of coarse and filthy satire--and an _Antidote against Melancholy,
made up in Pills_; compounded of _witty ballads, and jovial and merry
catches_, in which there is the song of the _Hot-headed Zealot_, and
_The Schismatic Rotundos_.
[273] In none of the Nonconformist publications of that day, have
I ever seen anything like the scurrility poured upon them by their
opponents.
[274] _Lords' Journals._
[275] _Ibid._
[276] "At Court things are in a very ill condition, there being so much
emulation, poverty, and the vices of drinking, swearing, and loose
amours, that I know not what will be the end of it but confusion. And
the clergy so high, that all people that I meet with do protest against
their practice."--_Pepys' Diary_, 1661, August 31.
[277] The letter is dated December 25th, 1660. Endorsed by Secretary
Nicholas as received October 9th, 1661.--_State Papers, Dom. Charles
II._
The exposure of the fraud is in _Remarkable Passages in the Life of W.
Kiffin_, 29.
In that age of sham plots the fabrication of letters was common, of
which Captain Yarrington published an exposure in 1681. See _Calamy's
Abridgment_, 178. In the Record Office, under date, 1661, November
16th, in a letter from Sir John Packington to Sec. Nicholas, Yarrington
and Sparry are mentioned as disowning certain intercepted letters.
[278] _Commons' Journals_, January 10.
[279] Though the Lower House at York sent proxies to the Canterbury
Synod, we find the members had some discussion of their own. Dr.
Samwayes, Proctor for the clergy of Chester and Richmond, proposed some
queries, beginning with the question, "Whether, in case any alterations
in the Liturgy should be decided on, a public declaration should not
be made, stating that the grounds of such change are different from
those pretended by schismatics?" The last inquiries he suggested
were, "Whether those who persist in holding possession unjustly
gotten in the late rebellion be meet communicants? and whether some
addition ought not to be made to the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance
excluding all evasions?" The spirit of the proposals and the temper
of some in the Northern Convocation may be easily inferred from these
specimens.--_Joyce's Sacred Synods_, 712.
[280] Royal letters were issued to the province of York relative to
reviewing the Prayer Book.
[281] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II._, vol. xliii. _Entry Book_, vi.
p. 7.
[282] Palmer says, _Origines, Lit._ i. p. vi. preface, "The great
majority of our formularies are actually translated from Latin and
Greek rituals, which have been used for at least fourteen or fifteen
hundred years in the Christian Church; and there is scarcely a portion
of our Prayer Book which cannot in some way be traced to ancient
offices."
[283] He had succeeded Calvin as pastor at Strasburg, and was obliged
afterwards to seek refuge in England with some of his flock. They
settled at Glastonbury and turned a part of the Abbey into a worsted
manufactory, by grant from the Duke of Somerset. In 1552, Pullain
published an order of service in Latin, and dedicated it to Edward VI.
[284] It has been ascribed to Hilary of Poictiers, to Nicetius of
Trèves, and to Hilary of Arles.
[285] In the Sarum Breviary it is appointed to be sung at Prime, after
the psalms and before the prayers.
[286] The title of this book is very extended. It was first published
in German. The Latin copy, a very fine one, used by Cranmer,
printed 1555, is in the library of Chichester Cathedral. An English
translation, printed 1547, runs thus: "A simple and religious
consultation of us, Hermann, by the grace of God, Archbishop of
Cologne, and Prince Elector, etc." Hermann was assisted in his book by
Melancthon and Bucer, who largely used in their contributions, Luther's
service for Brandenburg and Nuremberg; and in Hermann's book may be
found the ground work of the forty-two Articles contained in Edward's
second Prayer Book. They present a close resemblance to the Augsburg
Confession. The influence of Luther on the English Prayer Book is
traceable here.--_Hook's Archbishops_, second series, ii. 289.
[287] See _King Edward's Liturgies_ (Parker Society), 89 and 280; also
compare p. 283, and _Elizabeth's Liturgies_ (Parker Society), p. 198.
I have adopted _Procter's History_ as an authority throughout.
[288] The old Gallic form ran thus: "_Domine Deus Omnipotens, famulos
tuos, quos jussisti renasci ex aqua et Spiritu Sancto, conserva in eis
baptismum sanctum quod acceperunt_," _etc._--_Palmer_, ii. 195.
[289] See _Joyce's Sacred Synods_, 714.
[290] _Cardwell's Synodalia_, 653.
[291] _Conferences_, 371.
[292] "In its original shape it is supposed to have been longer, and
to have brought into one prayer the petitions for the King, Royal
Family, Clergy, etc., which are scattered through several collects. The
Convocation, however, retained the collects, and therefore threw out
the corresponding clauses in this general prayer without altering the
word _finally_, which seems to be needlessly introduced in so short a
form."--_Procter_, 262.
[293] The services for January 30, and May 29, were not in the Book
sent to Parliament.
[294] See remarks of editor in _Cosin's Works_, v. p. xxi.
[295] Sess. xl. _Kennet_, 576. Calamy states that when Dr. Allen urged
Sheldon to meet the scruples of the Dissenters, he told him there was
no need to trouble himself about that, they had resolved upon their
measures.
[296] Pell was a singular character, with a continental reputation, and
had been sent by Cromwell as envoy to the Protestant Swiss Cantons.
After his return to England, at the Restoration, he took Holy Orders
and became Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. A deanery was
thought of for the illustrious scholar, "but being not a person of
activity, as others who mind not learning are, could never rise higher
than a Rector. The truth is, he was a shiftless man as to worldly
affairs, and his tenants and relations dealt so unkindly by him, that
they cozened him of the profits of his parsonage and kept him so
indigent, that he wanted necessaries, even paper and ink to his dying
day." Pell was "once or twice cast into prison for debt," and was at
last buried by charity.--_Kennet's Register_, 575. These are curious
biographical associations gathering round the Calendar in the Prayer
Book.
[297] _The Rehearsal Transposed_, 500.
[298] _Thorndike's Works_, vi. 233-235.
[299] The Bishops' form was: "_Unanimi assensu et consensu in
hanc formam redegimus, recepimus et approbavimus, eidemque
subscripsimus_."--_Kennet_, 584.
[300] A statement of the object and nature of the alterations as given
by the revisors themselves, may be found in the preface to the Prayer
Book of 1662.
[301] _Stanley._
[302] _Strype's Annals of the Reformation_, vol. ii. part 1, 105.
[303] These facts are brought together in the _Edinburgh Review_, vol.
cxv., and are presented in Dean Stanley's letter to the Bishop of
London, 1863.
[304] _Cardwell's Conferences_, 372. Cardwell has fallen into an
error in speaking of Walton as Bishop of Chester, in March, 1662. He
died November 29th, 1661. Ferne was consecrated Bishop of Chester in
February, 1662.
[305] _Synodalia_, 668.
[306] The book was republished in 1850, by Cardwell. It reflects the
doctrinal opinions of the period, and is most decidedly Calvinistic--p.
21. It subjects heretics, including persons not believing in
predestination, to the punishment of the civil magistrate--"_ad
extremum ad civiles magistratus ablegetur puniendus_," p. 25.
[307] Published in 1690, under the title of _Bishop Overall's
Convocation Book_. It was printed from a copy belonging to Overall.
[308] Thorndike considered that a Church which could not excommunicate
was no Church, and he pleaded for the revival of the discipline of
penance.
[309] Leighton told Burnet, "he was much struck with the feasting and
jollity of that day. It had not such an appearance of seriousness or
piety as became the new modelling of a Church."--_Own Times_, i. 140.
[310] _Evelyn's Diary._
[311] A letter by Henchman, Bishop of Salisbury, _State Papers, Dom.
Charles II._, 1661, October 17th, gives a long account of the trouble
and vexation he met with in striving to bring his diocese into order.
He says, addressing Secretary Nicholas: "At Wallingford, one Pinckney,
at Malmesbury, one Gowan (?) are busy turbulent men, I cannot with any
skill or power that I have, form these places into good order. In some
private villages irregular and schismatical men do mischief; I take
particular account of them, and know who in my whole diocese conform
not, which I shall report when I attend on your Honour."
[312] _State Papers. Entry Book._ February 24th. See also _Journals_
under dates.
[313] _Journals_, March 3, 1662.
[314] _Lords' Journals_, February 27, March 5, 6, and 7.
[315] There is a letter from Gauden, Bishop of Exeter, to the Earl of
Bristol concerning charity to Quakers, and indulgence to all sober
Dissenters, dated May Day, 1662, amongst the _Gibson MSS._, vol. ii.
177. Lambeth Library.
[316] _State Papers_, March 31, 1662.
[317] The amendments are gathered from papers in the House of Lords,
copies of which I have been permitted to obtain, and from a comparison
of the Journals with the Act as published.
[318] _Clarendon's Continuation_, 1077-1079.
[319] April 6th.
[320] I give a literal copy of a draft of amendment found among the
Papers of the House of Lords, connected with the Act, showing the
fruitless attempts made to modify the abjuration of the Covenant--
"I, A. B., doe declare That I hold that there lyes no obligation upon
mee or any other person from the oath commonly called the Solemn League
and Covenant
{ {otherwise than in such things only whereunto I or any
{ {other person other than what I or they were otherwise
{ {legally oblig'd unto before
{
Rejected. { were legally and expressly obliged before the taking of
{ y^e s^d Covenant, the taking of the Covenant,
{
{ and that the same was in itselfe an unlawfull oath," &c.
[321] A comparison of Clarendon's history with the Journals of the two
Houses, shows that in almost every paragraph of his narration there are
inaccuracies. It would require too much space to point them out. I have
abridged his report of the speeches delivered, but with much misgiving
as to its correctness; probably, however, the general tenor of the
debate was as the Chancellor represents; and in the arguments for the
Bill perhaps he gives his own orations.
[322] Clarendon intimates that the former part of the declaration
respecting war against the King was most obnoxious to the Presbyterian
Lords, yet that they durst not oppose it, because the principle of
non-resistance had already been recognized in the Corporation Act. He
adds, that they who were most solicitous that the House should concur
in this addition, "had field-room enough to expatiate upon the gross
iniquity of the Covenant."
[323] On the 7th of April "the Lord Bishop of Worcester" (appointed
to Winchester upon the death of Duppa on March 26th) "offered to the
consideration of this House an explanation in a paper, of the vote
of this House on Saturday last, concerning the words in the Act of
Uniformity which declared against the Solemn League and Covenant, which
he first opened, and afterwards, by permission of the House read." The
question was raised, Whether a debate on the paper was against the
orders of the House? and resolved in the negative, whereupon it was
ordered, that the paper should be taken into consideration the next
morning. A memorandum is entered in connection with this minute, "That,
before the putting of the aforesaid question, these Lords, whose names
are subscribed, desired leave to enter their dissents if the question
was carried in the negative." No names, however, are subscribed.
The day following, the House examined the paper which had been
brought in for an explanation of the clause in the Act of Uniformity
concerning the Covenant; and, after a long debate, the paper was laid
aside.--_Journals._
[324] The Lords appointed were the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of
Bristol, the Earl of Anglesey, the Bishop of Worcester, the Bishop of
Exeter, the Bishop of Hereford, and the Lords Wharton, Mohun, Lucas,
and Holles. The Earl of Anglesey reported the next day, "that the
Committee have considered of a proviso, that such persons as are put
out of their livings by virtue of the Act of Uniformity, may have such
allowances out of their livings for their subsistence as His Majesty
shall think fit." After some debate a few alterations were made, and
it was resolved that the "proviso, with the alterations, shall stand
in the Bill." The Lords having read the Bill a third time, April 9,
resolved "to send for a Conference with the House of Commons to-morrow
morning, and communicate this Bill with the alterations and amendments
to them." The next day they gave direction "to deliver the Book wherein
the alterations are made, out of which the other Book was fairly
written."
[325] _Commons_, April 10, 14, and 16.
[326] By 96 to 90.--_Journals_, April 16.
[327] _Ibid._
[328] Dr. Southey in his _History of the Church_, ii. 467, observes,
The ejected "were careful not to remember that the same day, and for
the same reason (because the tithes were commonly due at Michaelmas),
had been appointed for the former ejectment, when four times as many
of the loyal clergy were deprived for fidelity to their sovereign." To
say nothing of the latter part, a subject I have fully discussed in a
former volume, I would notice Mr. Hallam's question--"Where has Dr.
Southey found his precedent?" Not any one Parliamentary ordinance in
Husband's collection mentions St. Bartholomew's Day. Dr. Southey has,
no doubt, followed Walker in his _Sufferings of the Clergy_, who makes
the statement without any authority. Yet see quotation from _Farewell
Sermons_ in this volume, p. 278.
[329] Noticed in conferences with the Lords, May 7.
[330] _Commons' Journal_, April 21.
[331] _Ibid._, April 22.
[332] _Ibid._, April 26. The numbers were 94 to 87. It is curious to
notice Hallam's correction of Neal. Referring to the division on the
26th of April, he says, "This may perhaps have given rise to a mistake
we find in Neal, that the Act of Uniformity only passed by 186 to
180. There was no division at all upon the Bill, except that I have
mentioned."--_Constitutional History_, ii. 37. Neal is undoubtedly
incorrect, for there was no division on the Bill as a whole; but, Mr.
Hallam is also mistaken, for as to parts of the Bill there were at
least four divisions, according to the Journals. The neglect of the
Journals, more or less, by all historians, has been one main cause of
the inaccurate and confused accounts found in the best of them.
[333] _Lords' Journals_, May 7.
[334] _Lords' Journals_, May 8. _Cardwell's Synodalia_, 672.
[335] There is an anecdote touching the same rubric related by _Kennet_
(643). "Archbishop Tenison told me, by his bedside, on Monday, February
12, 1710, that the Convocation Book, intended to be the copy confirmed
by the Act of Uniformity, had a rash blunder in the rubric after
baptism which should have run 'It is certain, by God's word, that
children which are baptized dying before they commit actual sin, are
undoubtedly saved.' But the words 'which are baptized' were left out
till, Sir Cyril Wyche coming to see the Lord Chancellor Hyde, found the
Book brought home by His Lordship, and lying in his parlour window,
even after it had passed the two Houses, and happening to cast his
eye upon that place, told the Lord Chancellor of that gross omission,
who supplied it with his own hand." No sign of this particular error
occurs in the authorized text attached to the Act. Probably Tenison had
heard a story of the alteration which I have noticed, and related it
inaccurately.
[336] The entry in the _Lords' Journals_ runs thus--"Whereas it was
signified by the House of Commons, at the Conference yesterday, 'that
they found one mistake in the rubric of baptism, which they conceived
was a mistake of the writer [persons] being put instead of [children,]
the Lord Bishop of Durham acquainted the House that himself, and
the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, and the Lord Bishop of Carlisle, had
authority from the Convocation to mend the said word, averring it was
only a mistake of the scribe; and accordingly they came to the Clerks'
table, and amended the same!" This was on the 8th of May, but on the
previous 21st of April the rectification of the error is recorded in
the proceedings of Convocation.--_Synodalia_, 670. That the Commons
detected the clerical error in the copy of the Book which they had
received and examined, as noticed in their Journals, the 16th of April;
and that they called the attention of the Lords to it, appears from
a loose paper in the House of Lords, in which it is said--"That the
Lords be made acquainted that this House hath observed a mistake in the
rubric after public baptism of infants [persons] being inserted instead
of [children,] which they take to be but _vitium scriptoris_, and
desire the Lords will consider of a way how the same may be amended."
[337] An account of these books will be found in the Appendix to the
next volume.
[338] _Lords' Journals_, May 19.
[339] It is evident from the 13th of Elizabeth, cap. xii., "An Act
for the Ministers of the Church to be of Sound Religion," that a
particular form of ordination was not then requisite for ministration
in the Establishment. The words of the Act are, "That every person
under the degree of a Bishop, which doth or shall pretend _to be a
priest or minister of God's holy word and sacraments_ by reason of
any _other form_ of institution, consecration, or ordering, than the
form set forth by Parliament, in the time of the late King of most
worthy memory King Edward VI., or now used in the reign of our most
gracious Sovereign Lady before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
next following, shall, in the presence of the Bishop or guardian of
the spiritualities of some one diocese where he hath or shall have
ecclesiastical living, declare his assent and subscribe to all the
Articles of Religion," &c. This was the law till 1662.
[340] It is not meant that these men actually performed the work of
revision, but they were the guiding spirits of the Church; therefore
the character of the Book issued at the different periods may be
considered as reflecting their opinions.
[341] I have already noticed that the Puritans, in their exceptions
against the Prayer Book, at the Savoy Conference, urged on their
opponents the comprehensive policy of the Reformers.--_Baxter_, ii.
317; _Cardwell's Conferences_, 305.
[342] _Clarendon's Continuation_, 1078.
[343] This illustration was suggested to me by a distinguished Divine
of the Church of England.
[344] He speaks (1079) of the Upper House expunging some parts of that
subscription which had been annexed to the Bill. I find no trace of
this.
[345] It is curious that in one particular, uniformity exists beyond
the direction of the Prayer Book.
Lathbury says: "Both by _rubrical_ and _canonical_ authority, the table
may be placed in the body of the Church or in the chancel."--_Hist. of
Con._, 303. Yet the practice is to place it near the wall at the east
end.
[346] _Essays._ On _Unity_ and _Of Church Controversies_.
[347] _Forster_, iii., 209-240; _Own Time_, i. 164.
[348] _Noble's Regicides_, ii. 31.
[349] Orme's _Life of Baxter_, 454.
[350] _Isaiah_ xvi. 4.
[351] _Holmes' Annals of America_, and _Orme's Life of Baxter_, 454.
Sir Walter Scott has adopted the romantic story of the Indian War in
his _Peveril of the Peak_, but he has confounded Whalley with Gough.
Cooper has also used the story in one of his novels.
[352] The Book was so hastily printed, that the proofs were not
carefully compared with the written copy attached to the Act. At
Chichester there are two of these uncorrected copies. The _third_
or sealed copy is the one which passed through the hands of the
Commissioners, and is altered by their pens. The alterations are found
to be chiefly corrections of errors arising from a hasty copying of the
MS. Book for the press.
There does not appear to have been much care taken with the reprints,
even after the "Sealed Books" were distributed. An edition dated 1669,
perpetuates most of the errors of the printed copy of 1662. For this
information I am indebted to the kindness of the Rev. Dr. Swainson. See
further on this subject in Appendix.
[353] _Own Times_, i. 185.
[354] _Life of Philip Henry_, 100. See also _Calamy's Defence of
Moderate Nonconformists_, vol. ii. 357.
[355] Sir Edward Coke, in his _Institutes_, part ii., says that the
"word _Ordinary_ signifieth a Bishop, or he, or they, that have
ordinary jurisdiction, and is derived _ab ordine_."
[356] Dated the 17th of August, 1662. _Kennets Historical Register_,
743.
[357] In this form--"Ego A. B. prætensas meas ordinationis literas, a
quibusdam Presbyteris olim obtentas iam penitus renuncio, et demitto
pro vanis," &c.--_Life of P. Henry_, 97.
[358] _Life_, 98, _et seq._
[359] _Ibid._, 11.
[360] _Stanford's Life of Alleine_, 199; _Calamy's Account_, 558.
[361] _Rogers' Life of Howe_, 105, 118.
[362] "Some of the hungry expectants were bold enough to anticipate
the period of ejection, relying on the Incumbents' ultimately failing
to qualify: and that even the chicanery of the law was used to prevent
their recovery of profits which had actually accrued during their
incumbency. Mr. Meadows (Incumbent of Ousden), had as his patron one
of kindred opinions, who sympathized with his own feelings; and,
accordingly, it appears by his accounts, that he was allowed to receive
the year's revenue up to Michaelmas, 1662."--_Suffolk Bartholomeans_,
by _Taylor_, 49.
[363] _Calamy's Account_, 557; _Continuation_, 336.
[364] _Calamy's Continuation_, 143.
[365] _State Papers_, May 14th.
[366] _State Papers_, 1661-2.
[367] _Truth and Loyalty Vindicated_, 1662.
[368] _Harl. Misc._, vii. If the author of this tract was not a
Romanist he had strong Romanist sympathies.
[369] _A Compleat Collection of Farewell Sermons_, 142; _Pepys' Diary_,
i. 313.
[370] _Farewell Sermons_, 115.
[371] _Patrick MSS._ xliv. 11.
[372] _Stanford's Joseph Alleine_, 200.
[373] Calamy speaks of his holding this living in conjunction with
Kingston.--_Account_, 279.
[374] _Farewell Sermons_, 447.
[375] _State Papers_, August 22, 1662.
[376] _Fox's Journal_, ii. 7.
[377] "The eight years, from the death of Angélique Arnauld, in
1661, to the peace of the Church in 1669, were the agony of Port
Royal."--_Beard's Port Royal_, i. 344.
[378] _Farewell Sermons, etc._, 174, 187.
[379] _Palmer's Nonconformist Memorial_, i. 366.
[380] "A liberal attention to the convenience of the late Incumbent
must have been shown by Mr. Meadows's successor, as we find so late
as July 8, 1665, 'a note of things yet left at the parsonage.'" Mr.
Meadows was Incumbent of Ousden, Suffolk. _Suffolk Bartholomeans, by
Taylor_, 50.
[381] October, 1662, _Wilkins' Concilia_, iv. 577.
[382] Baxter informs us that he had resolved not to meddle in such
business any more, but says in the margin, "If I should at length
recite the story of this business, and what peremptory promises they
had, and how all was turned to their rebuke and scorn, it would more
increase the reader's astonishment."--_Life and Times_, ii. 429.
[383] Newcome notices the petition in his Diary, as if an unsuccessful
attempt had been made to present it before the 28th. "August 28.--I was
sent for to the ministers to Mr. Greene's. We perused Mr. Heyricke's
letter, whereby we understand that last Lord's Day was a very sad
and doleful day in London, in that ministers preached not; none but
Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Crofton, and Dr. Manton between the Tower and
Westminster, the Bishops having provided readers or preachers for every
place. And the ministers in the dark waited with their petition on
Monday, and could not get it delivered, and came away more dissatisfied
than they went; and what the issue of all this will be the Lord only
knows. I rose afore seven; we despatched duty. And the ministers came
in again, and we discoursed of matters, and got things done about
the petitions. Mr. Alsley dined with me and Mr. Haworth, we having a
venison pasty. After dinner, Mr. James Lightbourne was with me an hour
or more. I wrote letters to London, and then went to bowls; but, as if
it was not a time for me to take recreation in, I had no freedom of
spirit by a little accident about Mr. Constantine."--_Newcome's Diary_,
115.
The following entry indicates the interference of the King with
the operation of the Act:--"Nov., 1662.--The King to the Dean and
Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. They are to forbear execution of
any sentence against Thomas Severne, for not having subscribed to the
Act of Uniformity before his Bishop, though presented doing so before
the University, until the will of Parliament in such cases is more
distinctly known."--_Ent. Book_ x. 7. _Cal. Dom._, 1661-1662, 578.
[384] _Clarendon's Continuation_, 1081-1082.
[385] It is difficult to harmonize satisfactorily the accounts of
conferences and councils given by Burnet, Clarendon, and Bishop
Parker. The former two speak of the conferences occurring before St.
Bartholomew's Day. The last of these authorities gives a petition from
the ministers presented on the 27th, and a debate upon it in Council
on the 28th, agreeing, to a considerable extent, with Clarendon's
statements. Clarendon says nothing of a petition and a Council after
St. Bartholomew's Day, but leaves us to conclude all thought of
indulgence was dropped beforehand. In this respect we know he is wrong,
probably the matter of indulgence was frequently debated in Council.
Compare _Clarendon_, 1081; _Burnet_, i. 191; with _Parker_ in _Kennet's
Register_, 753.
[386] These illustrations are gathered from the newspapers of the day.
[387] _State Papers._ This letter is dated March 2, 1663. It is
anonymous; the reason for ascribing it to Hook will appear further on.
[388] _Joseph Alleine's Life_, by _Stanford_, 204. There is a glowing
account in the _Mercurius Publicus_, of an Episcopal service at St.
Mary's, on the 25th, when the church was so full that people fainted
with heat, and "the Mayor and Aldermen were all in their formalities,
and not a man in all the church had his hat on, either at service or
sermon."
[389] _Ashmole's Order of the Garter_, 176.
[390] _Tour in Derbyshire_, 1662. _Browne's Works_, i. 30. "At Buxton,"
he says, "we had the luck to meet with a sermon, which we could not
have done in half-a-year before, by relation. I think there is a true
Chapel of Ease indeed here, for they hardly ever go to Church," p. 34.
_Calamy_ gives the name of Mr. John Jackson as ejected from Buxton, but
supplies no account of him.--_Account_, 204.
[391] They occur at the end of the list for each county.
[392] See Ryle's account of Gurnal, prefixed to the new edition of his
works.
[393] _State Papers. Dom._, 1663, March 2. Letter from William Hook.
[394] For instances, see _Palmer_, i. 223, ii. 71.
[395] Appendix to Second Report of the Royal Commission on Ritual, p.
616. The articles of the Bishops there printed are from the collection
in the Bodleian Library.
[396] Appendix to second report of the Royal Commission on Ritual, pp.
601, 602.
[397] _Ibid._, 607, 611.
[398] _Ibid._, 619.
[399] They are published in the same Appendix, 624, _et seq._
[400] The authorities for these statements are _Calamy's Account_ and
_Continuation_, _Kennet's Register_, _Hunter's Life of Heywood_, and
_Aspland's History of Nonconformity in Duckinfield_. I could add more
instances. No doubt there were several which cannot now be ascertained.
[401] _Irenicum_, republished in 1662.
[402] _Lord King's Life of Locke_, 7, 8, 9.
[403] _State Papers, Cal. Dom._ Sept. 14 and Sept. 29, 1662.
[404] _Ibid._, Oct. 31, 1662.
[405] This reported number should be borne in mind in connection with
others already stated.
[406] _State Papers, Cal., Dom._, 1661-1662, 531, 567, 594.
[407] _Cal. Dom._, 1662, Jan. 31.
[408] _Ibid._, 1662, Oct. 10, Nov. 24.
[409] The following illustrations of the extent of persecution in the
autumn of 1662 are extracted from _State Papers_ under date:--
"Committed by Sir J. Robinson, Knt. and Bart., Lord Mayor, being taken
at an unlawful assembly, and denying to take the Oath of Allegiance,
dated 2nd November, 1662." [Names given. All males.]
"Committed by Sir R. Browne, Knt. and Bart., for being unlawfully
assembled together contrary to the laws, etc., the same day." [Other
names.]
"Anabaptists and Quakers, taken at unlawful meetings, and committed by
the Court, for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance, and some of
them fined."
[Eleven names, all males.]
"Committed by His Grace, the Duke of Albemarle, General of His
Majesty's forces, for assembling unlawfully together, contrary to a
late Act of Parliament, 28th October, 1662."
[Sixty-three names, all males, six under the heading "Quakers."]
"Committed 3rd November, 1662, for refusing to take the Oath of
Allegiance."
[Three males.]
"Committed for being at a private meeting in Wheeler's Street, dated
9th November, 1662."
[Three names.]
"Committed for being at an unlawful assembly in Spitalfields; dated
16th November, 1662."
[Three names.]
"Committed by John Smith, Esq., being taken in the house of the said
Mary Winch, upon pretence of a religious worship, and own no King but
King Jesus and own themselves to be Fifth Monarchy men. Dated 23rd
November, 1662."
These extracts have appeared in the _Baptist Magazine_. In others the
names of females occur.
[410] _Kennet_, 849.
[411] _Baxter's Life and Times_, ii. 430.
[412] _History of his Own Time_, i. 193.
[413] See on this subject, _Burnet's History of his Own Time_, i. 194;
_Lingard_, xi. 220; and _Butler's Memoirs_, iii. 44.
[414] See the _Lords' Journals_, February 23, 25, 27, 28. "After St.
Bartholomew's Day, the Dissenters, seeing both Court and Parliament
was so much set against them, had much consultation together what
to do. Many were for going over to Holland, and settling there
with their ministers; others proposed New England, and the other
plantations."--_Burnet_, i. 193.
[415] Clarendon cannot be relieved from a charge of duplicity in this
business.
[416] See _Lister's Life of Clarendon_, iii. 232, compared with
_Clarendon's Continuation_, 1129. The story is there wrongly dated. So
it is in _Parl. Hist._, iv. 311.
[417] _Continuation_, 1131.
[418] Under date April 21, 1663, there is a petition from Samuel
Wilson, who was seized in the Downs for ignorantly receiving a
seditious letter from Hook, a minister, which came wrapped up in a
bundle of books. This person, Mrs. Green, in the _Calendar of State
Papers_, 1663, suggests, is the writer of the remarkable letter here
referred to. No doubt of it. The letter is dated March 2, 1663,
addressed to Mr. Davenport, who was colleague with Hook at New Haven,
in New England. On Hook's return from America to England he became a
minister at Exmouth, and afterwards Master of the Savoy and Chaplain to
Cromwell.--_Palmer's Nonconformist Memorial._
[419] This writer attributes depression in trade to the Act of
Uniformity, and blames the Presbyterians for being ready to meet the
Prelates half way, and swallow the Liturgy.
[420] _Baxter's Life and Times_, ii. 433.
[421] See _Commons' Journals_, 1663, February 27, March 16.
[422] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 263-5.
[423] The Bill against Papists was committed March 17th; that against
Dissenters May 23rd. Several debates, amendments, and divisions took
place. At the beginning of July the Bills were carried up to the Lords.
The Bill against Sectaries was committed by the Upper House, July 22nd,
and there the matter ended. Parliament was prorogued on the 27th.
[424] _Lords' Journals_, July 25, 27.
[425] _Lords' Journals_, July 27, 1663. A curious incident occurred
during their sittings. The Bill for the better observance of the
Sabbath was lost off the table, and could not be found. The like had
never occurred before, and "every Lord was called by name, and those
present did make their purgation, and the assistants likewise did
particularly clear themselves." It was the last day of the session.
The Bills to receive the Royal assent had been taken out of a bag, and
opened on the table; but this Bill disappeared, and consequently did
not receive _le Roy le veult_.
[426] _Walton's Lives_, 424-427. He had left a list of ministers under
his eye designed for discipline, but when he saw death approaching, he
burnt the paper, and said he would die in peace.--_Conformists' Plea
for Nonconformity_, 35.
[427] _Works_, vi. 443.
[428] 31st August, 1663. _Evelyn's Diary_, i. 399.
[429] _State Papers, Dom., Charles II._, June 20, Sept. 22, Oct. 12.
I may add that a very affecting illustration of the sufferings of
an ejected minister through trial and imprisonment for preaching in
some retired place after the Act of Uniformity, is to be found in
_Stanford's Joseph Alleine_, chapters x. and xi.
[430] _State Papers_, Nov. 9, Dec. 31.
[431] _Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson_, 391.
[432] _Anderson's Hist. of the Colonial Church_, ii. 286.
[433] _Ibid._, 316-318.
[434] _Anderson's Hist. of the Colonial Church_, ii. 342.
[435] The letters in the State Paper Office, from which all these
particulars are taken, are abridged in the _Calendar_ for 1663. Any
one wishing to investigate the subject should study these letters in
connection with _Drake's Eboracum_ and _Whitaker's Loidis and Elmete_.
[436] Amongst the papers which belonged to the Secretary of State, and
which are now preserved in the Record Office, is an informer's notebook
belonging to this period. As it is a curiosity, and as it contains
allusions to well-known characters, I will give a few extracts in the
Appendix.
[437] These are all local traditions.
[438] _Aspland's History of the Old Nonconformists in Duckinfield._
Like stories are told of Bradley Wood near Newton Abbot, and of
Collier's Wood in Gloucestershire. Places of worship erected or
publicly used during times of indulgence or connivance, will be noticed
in the next Volume.
[439] _Life of Owen_ by _Orme_.
[440] _Nelson's Life of Bull_, 253. Other examples of the ejected
having married rich wives may be found in _Kennet_, 910. John Tombes
writing to Williamson, mentions a book on the anvil entitled,
_Theocratia, or a Treatise of the Kingdom of God_, to show that no
claim of coercive jurisdiction, either inferior or co-ordinate to the
King, is warranted by any ecclesiastical rulers, or by any office or
power in the kingdom of Christ in its militant state.... The Bishop of
Winchester, he goes on to say, has put him in hopes of a brotherhood
at the Savoy. Also has had hope from the Lord Keeper of a place at
Rochester in Bishop Warner's Hospital.--_State Papers_, 1668, May 8.
Tombes was a Baptist and therefore could not hold a living, but in
other respects he seems to have been a Conformist.
[441] _Kennet_, 905, 906, 908.
[442] _Life by Rogers_, 130, 140.
[443] _Palmer's Nonconformist Memorial_, i. 352.
[444] _Life and Times_, iii. 142.
[445] _Palmer_, ii. 503.
[446] _Wilkins' Concilia_, iv. 580.
[447] See _Commons' Journals_, April 27, 28; May 12, 14, 16.
[448] 16 _Car. II._, cap. iv.
[449] _Hist._, 1115.
[450] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II._, 1664, June 20.
[451] _Ibid._, June 24.
[452] _State Papers_, 1664, Sept. 30, Nov. 18, Sept. 5, June 2.
[453] _Broadmead Records_ (_Hanserd Knollys Society_), 76.
[454] _State Papers_, 1665, July 3 and 15.
[455] _Clarendon_, 1130.
[456] _Eccles. Hist._, ii. 89.
[457] _Cardwell's Synodalia_, ii. 680, _et seq._
[458] _Collier_, ii. 893.
[459] _Parry's Parliaments and Councils_, 551.
[460] Dated July 7, 1665; _Wilkins' Concilia_, iv. 582. Note in
_Cardwell's Documentary Annals_, ii. 321.
[461] In _Notes and Queries_ may be found a curious and interesting
collection of predictions of the Plague and Fire of London. See _Choice
Notes--History_, 236. "In delving among what may be termed the popular
religious literature of the latter end of the Commonwealth, and early
part of the reign of Charles, we become aware of the existence of
a kind of nightmare, which the public of that age were evidently
labouring under--a strong and vivid impression that some terrible
calamity was impending over the metropolis."
[462] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II._ London, August 14, 1665. See
also November 11.
[463] _Thucydides_, ii. 54.
[464] _Dom. Charles II._, 1665, July 6. It is interesting to observe
that, as in late visitations of cholera, sanitary regulations were
adopted. Amongst other things it may be noticed that the Bishop of
London would not consecrate any ground unless a perpetuity of the same
might be first obtained--graves were dug deep, and churchyards were
covered with lime.--_Calendar_, 1665-6, Pref. xiii.
[465] _Dom. Charles II._, 1665, August 15.
[466] _Ibid._, July 22.
[467] _Dom. Charles II._, August 19.
[468] "It is said, my Lord of London hath sent to those pastors that
have quitted their flocks, by reason of these times, that if they
return not speedily, others will be put into their places."--_Ellis'
Letters_, vol. iv.
[469] _Neal_, iv. 403. The returns dated 1665 from Exeter, St. David's,
and Bristol, are among the Tenison MSS. (Lambeth); also the Bishop of
Exeter's (Seth Ward's) certificate of the hospitals, and almshouses,
pluralists, lecturers, schoolmasters, physicians, and Nonconformists in
his diocese.
[470] _Wilkins' Concilia_, iv. 583.
[471] _Autobiography of Patrick, Bishop of Ely_, 52.
[472] His book, entitled _God's Terrible Voice in the City_, presents
some most graphic accounts of the effects of the pestilence.
[473] Feb. 4, 1666. Many affecting particulars relative to the Plague
may be found in the notes of this prince of diarists.
[474] _Blomefield's Hist. of Norwich_, i. 410.
[475] _Life of Owen Stockton_, 1681, p. 39.
[476] The story of Mompesson is fully told in _Histories of
Derbyshire_. Most of what is known has been collected in a little work
on the _History of Eyam_, by Mr. Wood, a resident in the village.
[477] For an account of Stanley and of Shaw, see _Calamy_.
[478] _Burnet's Hist._, i. 224.
[479] _Collier_, ii. 893.
[480] Clarendon, in his speech, at the opening of the Parliament in
Oxford, spoke of the horrid murderers of his late Royal master being
received into the secret counsels of Holland; and of other infamous
persons, admitted to a share in the conduct of their affairs. Some
persons, he said, had wantonly put themselves on board the enemy's
fleet, "purely out of appetite and delight to rebel against their
King."--_Parl. Hist._ iv. 326.
Burnet says that Algernon Sidney and others proposed to the United
Provinces that they should invade England.--_Hist._ i. 226.
Sir G. Downing, writing to Clarendon (_Lister's Life_, iii. 144),
remarks: "It is not to be believed what numbers of dissatisfied persons
come daily out of England into this country. They have settled at
Rotterdam, an Independent, an Anabaptist, and Quaker Church, and do
hire the best house, and have great bills of exchange come over from
England."
[481] July 7, 1665. _Wilkins_, iv. 582. See page 331 of this vol.
[482] 17 _Car._ ii. cap. 2.
[483] An anonymous correspondent writes on November 24, 1665 (_State
Papers_), to Lord Arlington, that "all are amazed at the late Act
against Nonconformity, judging it against the law of nature, and
therefore void, but that the Presbyterians will defeat its design, for
some of the chief incline to take the oath."
[484] _Eccles. Hist._, i. 500.
[485] He was present on each occasion of the Bill being read, Oct. 26,
27, and 30. See _Lords' Journals_.
[486] _Eccles. Hist._, ii. 112.
[487] _Burnet_, i. 224.
[488] _Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 3.
[489] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 328.
[490] _Ralph's Hist. of England._ "The providence by which it was
thrown out was very remarkable, for Mr. Peregrine Bertie, being newly
chosen, was that morning introduced into the house by his brother, the
now Earl of Lindsey, and Sir Thomas Osborne, now Lord Treasurer, who
all three gave their votes against the Bill, and the numbers were so
even upon that division that their three voices carried the question
against it."--_Locke's Letter from a Person of Quality._
[491] He was not made Lord Keeper until 1667.
[492] _Neal_, iv. 401, says it was moved that the word _unlawfully_
might be inserted in the oath, before the word endeavour, but all was
rejected. He refers for authority to _Baxter_, iii. 15, (it should be
13) but I find nothing there to that effect. If it was as Neal states,
it is difficult to understand how Bates could have argued as he did.
[493] This account is given by Bates himself.--_Baxter's Life_, iii. 14.
[494] For those who took the oath see _Baxter_, iii. 13. See also
_Calamy's Abridgment_, note 312.
[495] _Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 13. His inquiries respecting the
oath went far beyond the meaning of the word _endeavour_.
[496] _Hunter's Life of Heywood_, 173.
[497] _Life of Philip Henry_, 108.
[498] For his character by Burnet see _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 100.
[499] The following story is given in a letter written just after
the Duke's duel with the Earl of Shrewsbury. If the story be true,
it is one of evanescent religious impression, or of unparalleled
hypocrisy:--"The Duke of Buckingham is become a most eminent convert
from all the vanities he hath been reported to have been addicted to;
hath had a solemn day of prayer for the completing and confirming
the great work upon him. Dr. Owen, and others of the like persuasion
(Independents), were the carriers on of the work. He is said to keep
correspondence with the chief of those parties. He grows more and more
in favour and power."--_Hunter's Life of Heywood_, 198.
[500] February 28, _Cal. Dom._, 1665-66, pref. xxx.
[501] In the Record Office--besides many other papers under the year
1665 respecting plots in Yorkshire--there is a long one extending
to eighteen pages, full of minute particulars on the subject, dated
December 24th, entitled _Information given to Mr. Sheriff_.
[502] _James' Life of Louis XIV._, ii. 143.
[503] _State Papers, Cal._ 1665-66, _pref._ xix.-xxv. Historians have
given inaccurate or incomplete accounts of these naval battles. Ample
materials for a full description are afforded in these documents.
[504] _Essay on Dramatic Poesie._
[505] _State Papers, Dom. Cal._, 1666-67, _pref._ xxvii.
[506] The booksellers near St. Paul's conveyed their property to the
crypt for safety, but it was destroyed. The loss in books was estimated
at £150,000.--_Harl. Misc._ vii. 330.
[507] _Autobiography of William Taswell, D.D. Camden Miscellany_,
vol. ii. A bridge at Westminster, extending across the river, was not
erected until the year 1738--opened 1750. By Westminster Bridge is here
meant either a landing pier or a bridge over a creek.
[508] Compiled from _Strype's Stow_, _Pepys_, _Evelyn_, _Baxter_,
_Harl. Misc._, vii., _State Papers_, 1666-7 (see _Calendar_), and
_Notes and Queries_.
[509] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II., Cal._ 1666-67, _pref._ xii., xix.
[510] _Commons' Journal_, October 26, 1666.
[511] _State Papers, Cal._ 1666-67, _pref._ xiii.
[512] _Life_, ii. 396; iii. 165.
[513] _Hist. of his Own Times_, i. 270.
[514] _Life and Times_, iii. 162.
[515] _Ibid._, iii. 19.
[516] _Burnet_, i. 270.
[517] _State Papers, Cal._ 1666-7, _Pref._ xix.-xxiii., and references.
[518] _Dom. Charles II._ 1666, Dec. 3. Richard Browne to Williamson.
Same date, John Allen to Williamson.
[519] Dr. Basire to Williamson, 1666, Dec. 17.
[520] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II._, 1666, Dec. 14. A further
allusion is made to these strange people in a letter by Sanderson
to Williamson, Feb. 5, 1667, in which, also, reference is made to
Mr. Cocks, steward to Lady Vane, at Raby Castle, as a very dangerous
person. There is likewise a previous letter on the same subject (1666,
Nov. 6.) In another paper, attached to that of Feb. 5, allusions occur
to persons of quality as engaged in plots. "They will try to get up
Richard Cromwell as the only one who has a right to rule."
[521] _State Papers._ Letter by John Rushworth, 1667, June 15.
[522] "Chester, a stronghold of Nonconformity, was much perplexed.
Some said we were asleep, or should have fortified ourselves, knowing
the enemy near. All concluded there was treachery in the business, and
hoped the contrivers would receive the reward due to those who betray
King and country." Sir Geoffry Shakerley to Williamson, Chester, June
19, 1667.--_State Papers._
"At Yarmouth the Presbyterian party raised the cry of treachery because
there had been an attempt to leave the place in charge of Major
Markham, who was disliked as being a Papist; and because the trained
bands had been sent for to Newmarket, and none others sent in their
room, and, therefore the town left defenceless."--June 21, 1667.
[523] _State Papers._ Same date.
[524] The peace with Holland, which was proclaimed August 24th, 1667,
was very popular. At Weymouth "it, as it were, raised the dead to life,
and made them rich in thought, though their purses are empty. At Lynn
the bells have hardly lain still since the news of peace."--_State
Papers, Cal._, 1667-8, _pref._ lv.
[525] Of the disgrace of Lord Chancellor Clarendon, the notes in
the _State Papers_, as Mrs. Green says, are "provokingly few and
unimportant."
[526] _Hallam's Constit. Hist._, ii. 69.
[527] _Baxter_, iii. 26. Holles the Presbyterian protested against
the banishment of Clarendon--_Hallam_, ii. 69. The fall of Clarendon
comes but incidentally within the range of this history. For a legal
and constitutional view of his impeachment, I must refer the reader
to Mr. Hallam, and Lord Campbell. In the _Life of James II._ edited
by _Clarke_, vol. i. 431, it is stated that the Presbyterian party
made overtures to Clarendon, to stand by him, if he would stand by
himself, and join with the Duke in opposing his enemies; hoping thereby
to separate the Duke from his brother, and to "bring low the regal
authority." This is a very improbable story.
[528] _Clarendon's State Papers_, iii. _Sup._ xxxviii. _Lister's Life
of Clarendon_, ii. 483.
[529] _Historical Inquiries respecting the character of Edward Hyde,
Earl of Clarendon, by the Hon. George Agar Ellis_, has just come in my
way. He paints the Chancellor in very dark colours indeed: but adds
nothing to the facts of his history as given by popular historians. I
cannot adopt all Mr. Ellis' condemnatory conclusions.
[530] One great blot on Cecil's character was the perjury involved in
his signing the Device of Edward VI. To say he signed as a witness is a
subterfuge.
The following passage on Nonconformity from Clarendon's pen is equally
deficient in charity and wisdom:--"Their faction is their religion:
nor are those combinations ever entered into upon real and substantial
motives of conscience, how erroneous soever, but consist of many
glutinous materials, of will, and humour, and folly, and knavery,
and ambition, and malice, which make men inseparably cling together,
till they have satisfaction in all their pretences, _or till they are
absolutely broken and subdued, which may always be more easily done
than the other_."--_Life of Clarendon by Lister_, ii. 121.
[531] _State Papers, Dom._, under dates.
[532] _Discourse on the Religion of England_, 1667.
[533] _Wood's Athen. Ox._, iii. 1264.
[534] "It is said that an Act is preparing by some of the House for
the dispensing with the Act of Uniformity, which is clearly against
the Bishops' government,--another for the punishment of such as have
been the occasions of misfortunes befallen this land--as also against
those that counselled the dividing the fleet: so that all that find
themselves guilty do make interest in the Parliament House. Some
have recourse to the Presbyterian party, which they would not do if
they were not brought to the utmost extremity."--_State Papers, News
Letter_, Sept. 2/12, 1667.
[535] It is printed in _Thorndike's Works_, v. 302.
[536] _Pepys_, Jan. 20 and 31, 1668.
[537] _Ibid._, 5th Feb.
[538] The part taken by Hale is described in his _Life, by Burnet_.
[539] Made Bishop in 1675. Barlow's conduct as Bishop did not accord
with the liberality which he showed at this period. See in the next
volume a notice of his conduct in 1684.
[540] It is stated by _Burnet_, _Hist._ i. 259, that Tillotson and
Stillingfleet took part in the scheme, but Baxter does not say so,
though he alludes to them as friendly to the scheme of 1675. Perhaps
Burnet confounded the two attempts.
[541] He did not publish what he wrote, but it is inserted in the
Oxford Edition of his works, v. 309-344.
[542] _Pepys' Diary_, Feb. 10, 1668.
[543] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 404.
[544] Birch, as we have seen, informed Pepys that the King was for
toleration, but the Bishops were against it. The great difficulty was
about tolerating Papists.
[545] _Pepys' Diary_, Feb. 28, 1668.
[546] _Life of Philip Henry_, 112.
[547] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 413.
[548] _Ibid._, 414-422. These speakers were Colonel Sandys, Sir John
Earnly, Sir W. Hickman, Mr. Ratcliffe, Sir Walter Yonge, Sir J.
Littleton, Sir John Birkenhead, and Mr. Seymour.
[549] _Constitutional History_, ii. 70.
[550] _Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 37.
[551] _Concilia_, iv. 588. The returns are found among the Tenison
MSS., Lambeth, No. 639. They include accounts of Conventicles in the
dioceses of Canterbury, Chichester, Ely, Exeter, Llandaff, Lichfield
and Coventry, Lincoln, London, Norwich, Winchester, Worcester, York,
Chester, Carlisle, and St. Asaph. There were returns from some dioceses
in 1665.
[552] Sheldon complained that he could not obtain the returns that he
wanted. Lambeth MSS., August 16, 1669.
[553] _Own Times_, i. 258. "He told me he had a chaplain, that was a
very honest man, but a very great blockhead, to whom he had given a
living in Suffolk, that was full of that sort of people. He had gone
about among them from house to house, though he could not imagine what
he could say to them, for he said he was a very silly fellow; but that
he believed his nonsense suited their nonsense, for he had brought
them all to church; and in reward of his diligence, he had given him a
bishopric in Ireland." Burnet gives the other report on the authority
of a letter written by Sir Robert Murray. I may observe here, that
party writers on both sides treat Burnet according to their prejudices;
the one party believing implicitly everything he says to the
disadvantage of the Church; the other party rejecting his evidence on
this subject as utterly worthless. It appears to me that,--remembering
Burnet's gossiping habits, and that he was a strong party man, and
also noticing that he often tells his stories in a loose way, and,
like Clarendon, writes down his recollections long after the time when
the incidents he records had occurred--we ought to read him with great
care, and not place implicit reliance upon his unsupported testimony.
Yet, on the whole, Burnet appears to me to have been an honest man. His
character will come under review in a future volume of this history,
should I be permitted to complete it.
[554] _Life and Times_, iii. 46.
[555] _Lords' Journals_, March 26. Referring to a Royal journey at this
period, Dalrymple says:--"It was intended that the King and the Duke
should have gone to Dover together; but by an accident, Charles went
alone. For all the Conventicles were to be shut up in London upon the
ensuing Sunday, and the Duke was left behind to guard the City against
riots, which were dreaded upon that occasion."--_Dalrymple's Memoirs_,
vol. i. 31.
[556] 22 _Car. II._ cap. i. It appears from a letter written by Colbert
to Louis XIV. that Charles had a political end in view in connection
with the Act. "The King designs to make the last Act of Parliament
against the meetings of the sectaries be observed; and he hopes that
their disobedience will give him the easier means of increasing the
force of his troops and coming speedily to the end he proposes." 6th
June, 1670.--_Dalrymple's Memoirs_, vol. iii., App. 60.
[557] See _Wilkins Concilia_, iv. 589.
[558] See _Popes Life of Ward_, 67, 69.
[559] _Calamy_, ii. 333.
[560] The trial is given in _State Trials_; and in _Sewel's History of
Quakers_, ii. 195 _et seq._ There is a draft letter in the State Paper
Office. Entry Book, June 29th, 1670, addressed to Reynolds, Bishop
of Norwich, and another in the Lambeth Library, dated July 6th (No.
DCLXXIV. No. 24), which when brought together and compared show how the
Act of Uniformity was evaded, and how combined efforts were made after
the second Conventicle Act had passed to bring the Church of England
into correspondence with the laws. The letters relate to a case of
irregularity at Bury St. Edmunds, when fanatics were said to make use
of the Church.
[561] _State Papers._ Letter from James Douch, June 10, 1671.
[562] North calls it "a double-visaged Ministry, half Papist and half
Fanatic." _Lives_, i. 178.
[563] Lauderdale had once made a great profession of religion. On the
14th of December, 1658, he wrote to Baxter saying, "I wish I knew any
were fit to translate your books. I am sure they would take hugely
abroad, and I think it were not amiss to begin with the _Call to the
Unconverted_."--_Baxter MS._, Dr. Williams' Library.
[564] Clarendon says of Arlington that he knew no more of English
affairs than of those of China, and believed France the best pattern
in the world.--_Life_, 1095. I cannot enter into the political history
of the Cabal. I would only repeat what Earl Russell says: there were
two methods adopted of dealing with France--a sham treaty, and a
secret negotiation. The part taken by the Cabal in this was not equal.
Clifford and Arlington, the two Catholics, conducted the latter;
Buckingham managed the former, to which Lauderdale gave a ready, Ashley
a reluctant, consent. Clifford and Arlington were alone in the King's
confidence.--_Life of Lord William Russell_, 50.
To Clifford, not to Shaftesbury, as is commonly supposed, belongs
the disgrace of shutting the Exchequer. Evelyn settles the
question.--_Diary_, March 12, 1672.
[565] _Lords' Journal_, Feb. 11, 1674.
[566] The measure was, in Council, moved and seconded by Clifford and
Ashley.--_Lingard_, xii. 10.
[567] The catechism, says Cardwell (_Documentary Annals_, ii. 337) was
probably Dean Nowel's small catechism, which was printed originally
in 1570, and was generally used in schools down to the time of
Strype.--See his _Life of Parker_, ii. 18.
[568] _Burnet_, i. 307.
[569] It is dated March 15, and is printed in _Bunyan's Works_, iii.,
_Introduction_, 21.
[570] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 515.
[571] "An answer unto certain objections formed against the proceedings
of His Majesty to suspend the laws against Conventicles by His
declaration, March 15, 1672."--_State Papers, Dom. 1673, bundle 190,
fol. 164._
[572] These were the Bishop of Durham's queries.--_Cosin's Works_, iv.
384.
[573] _Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 99. _Life of Philip Henry_, 128.
[574] A short treatise on the lawfulness of the Oath of Supremacy and
the power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs, by Philip Nye, was
published in 1683. Nye died in 1672, and when this treatise was written
does not appear on the title page. He ascribes to the magistrate,
power "to send out preachers, to urge and constrain men to hear....
A coercive power of this nature is placed in no other hand but his."
It is strange indeed to find an Independent writing thus. After
exalting the civil power, and enforcing the duty of submitting to Royal
Supremacy, the author, in a postscript, speaks of His Majesty's most
gracious Declaration; and seemingly, without any idea that it could be
inconsistent to accept the indulgence, maintains that there is nothing
in the opinions of Independents that "should render us, in any sort,
incapable of receiving the fruit and benefit of the King's majesty's
favour and indulgence, promised to tender consciences." Probably
Nye wrote this piece just about the time when the indulgence was
issued--seven months before his death. Nye's tract (with many others,
which I have found very instructive) is preserved in Dr. Williams'
Library.
[575] _Burnet_, i. 308.
[576] _Orme's Life of Owen_, 272.
[577] _Wilson's Hist. of Dissenting Churches_, iii. 187.
[578] Bunyan's license is given in Offor's preface to _Bunyan's Works_.
Numbers of entries from the Register, and copies of applications and
licenses have been printed in local histories of Dissent. The original
documents are preserved in the Record Office.
[579] _State Papers_, 1672.
[580] _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 308.
[581] _Life of Calamy_, ii. 469, 470. I do not observe that Mr. Orme,
in his _Life of Owen_, notices this statement.
In the volume published by the Camden Society entitled _Moneys received
and paid for secret services of Charles II. and James II._, it appears
that a physician who was in the confidence of the Presbyterian party,
and who often represented them, was in the pay of the Court. For this
reference, and other valuable suggestions on the subject, I am indebted
to the Rev. R. B. Aspland.
[582] It is stated that the usual fees to certain officers in
connection with this business were in some cases remitted.
[583] The particulars respecting Carver and Moore are taken from
letters by Ellis Hookes written to the wife of George Fox, dated
January, 1670, and preserved in the Records of the Quakers' Meeting
House, Devonshire Square. The letters, or the substance of them,
with entries in the Council Books, are given by Mr. Offor, in his
introduction to the _Pilgrim's Progress_.
I have rested on the authority of so accurate a copyist without
inspecting the originals. The statement, often repeated, that Bunyan
owed his liberty to Bishop Barlow is quite a mistake.
[584] _Parl. Hist._ iv. 503, 506. The following letter in the State
Paper Office, _Dom. Charles II._, is curious:--
"Yesterday morning we had a very fair choice for a burgess, and Sir
Edward Spragg hath carried the day by 40 votes; but if my father and
the rest of the Jurates and Common Councilmen had not thought to have
made about 50 freemen the day before the election, the fanatic party
had been too much for us; but we hope we have done them down to all
intents and purposes; but still they threaten to have the Jurates up to
London, for making those freemen the day before the election.
"LAWSON CARLILE.
DOVER, _February 2, 1673_."
[585] The Country party consisted chiefly of Lords Russell and
Cavendish, Sir W. Coventry, Colonel Birch, Mr. Powle, and Mr.
Littleton. Lee and Garroway were suspected characters. Marvel says:
"Till Lee and Garroway shall bribes reject."
[586] _Wilson's Life of Defoe_, i. 58.
[587] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 517-526.
[588] _Journals_, February 10, 1672/3.
[589] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 527-533. Colbert, writing to Louis XIV., 9th
of March, 1673, says, "The Chancellor, the Treasurer, and the Dukes of
Buckingham and Lauderdale are of opinion to maintain this Declaration
of the King, their master, in favour of the Nonconformists; and that
if the Parliament persist in their remonstrances, as it is not doubted
they will, to dissolve it, and call another. They do not even want good
reasons to support their opinion. My Lord Arlington, who at present is
single in his sentiments, says, that the King his master, ought not to
do it."--_Dalrymple's Memoirs_, iii. 89.
[590] On the 18th of February the House resolved to go into Committee
on the following day.
[591] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 535-542. Kennet, Rapin, Burnet, and Neal
give very unsatisfactory accounts of the debate. Burnet's account is
inaccurate.
[592] The Commonwealth's-man, Colonel Birch, spoke on the subject, but
it does not appear that he advocated any broad measure of religious
liberty.
[593] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 552-553. The _Journals_ under date contain the
Resolutions.
[594] There are remarks on this Bill written by Mr. John Humphrey in
_Baxter's Life_, iii. 144.
[595] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 571-574.
[596] Parliament was adjourned on the 29th of March, to the 20th of
October; then prorogued to the 27th, and again on the 4th of November
to the 7th of January, 1674.
[597] _Parl. Hist._ iv. 553-6.
[598] _Lingard_ (xii. 27) states the fact on the authority of the
French Ambassador (_Dalrymple_, ii. App. 90), and the motives on the
authority of _Marvell_, i. 494.
[599] _Parl. Hist._ iv. 561, March 12.
[600] _Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors_, iv. 181.
[601] _Burnet_, i. 348.
[602] _Life of Calamy_, i. 102.
[603] _Journals_, Feb. 24, March 8. After the Declaration had been
withdrawn the old licenses gave much trouble. "The present favour which
I beg of you is, your sense about Conventicles and meetings, for I am
in the Commission of Peace for the University and Town of Cambridge,
and am threatened by some busy informers with the penalty of £100,
which you know the Act enjoins, if I grant not warrants upon complaint
against them. Now I beseech you to write by the first post, or let
Mr. Ball, or some of your people write to me what you know to be His
Majesty's sense in this particular, whether we should grant warrants
to suppress them, they having license to preach and meet."--_State
Papers_, April 5, 1673. Mr. Carr to Sir J. Williamson.
The mayor of Weymouth wrote to Sir J. Williamson (Nov. 21, 1674),
informing him that certain persons accused of keeping a Conventicle had
pleaded His Majesty's "License and Warrant." He asks for direction how
"to manage this affair."
[604] Dalrymple (_Memoirs_, iii. 92) remarks: "Charles' Declaration
of Indulgence has been commonly imputed to the intrigues of France
with Charles for the purpose of serving the interest of Popery.
But Colbert's despatches show that France had not the least hand
in it, that it was a scheme of Buckingham and Shaftesbury to gain
the Dissenters, and that France was the cause of Charles' recalling
it." The letters printed in _Dalrymple_ indicate that Buckingham
and Shaftesbury had strongly supported the Declaration, and show
further that Charles wished Louis XIV. to believe that to please him
he withdrew it. "He assured me," says Colbert, "that your Majesty's
sentiments had always more power over him than all the reasonings of
his most faithful Ministers." March 20, 1673.
[605] "All Sectaries," says Reresby (_Memoirs_, 174), "now publicly
repaired to their meetings and Conventicles, nor could all the laws
afterwards, and the most rigorous execution of them, ever suppress
these Separatists, or bring them to due conformity."
[606] Where Owen's Church met has been regarded as uncertain, but
the returns made in 1667 to Sheldon's inquiries specify the place of
meeting at that time as White's Alley.
[607] Afterwards Lord Haversham.
[608] See Anecdotes of Mrs. Bendish in _Noble's Memoirs of the
Protectoral House of Cromwell_, ii. 329.
[609] _Life_, by Sir H. Ashurst, 27.
[610] _Ibid._, 100.
[611] He wished to be made a Justice of the Peace; but his appointment
was opposed by Sir John Petties, a moderate Churchman, who remarks in
a letter dated January 4, 1674-5--there are a "sort of men in this
kingdom so hot and fiery, so active and inexperienced, who labour much
in those things which tend to the disquiet of the kingdom (of whom
we have a great share in our county), and are almost as dangerous as
the other two sorts of Dissenters (Romanists and Nonconformists), for
by their indiscreet and hot endeavours, instead of suppressing those
Dissenters, I dare say that they (though unwittingly and unwillingly)
give them the greatest animation and increase."
[612] There are numerous letters belonging to this period in the
State Paper Office, written by Bowen. Letters dated 1675, Jan. 15;
Feb. 17, 19, 24, furnish what I have said, and a great deal more. It
appears from the following extract, as well as from a former one,
that Nonconformists did not always meekly submit to their oppressors.
In reading the letter, however, it must be remembered that an enemy
writes it. "John Faucet had disturbed the Presbyterians at worship in
the Granary--and, in consequence, was violently assaulted, beaten, and
trodden upon by several rude persons, and in great danger of his life."
(Norwich, Dec. 11, 1674, Thomas Corie.)
A similar complaint is made by Bowen of the treatment of a constable
who disturbed a meeting at Yarmouth.
[613] Sheldon sent letters to the Bishops of his province making fresh
inquiries about Dissenters.--_Neal_, iv. 467.
[614] _Neal_, iv. 464.
[615] Baxter spent an immense amount of subtle casuistry upon the
subject of the declaration, and actually put such a forced meaning upon
it, that he said there was nothing in it to be refused!--_Life and
Times_, iii. 168.
[616] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 714. See Locke's Letter, _Ibid._, Appendix,
xlvii.; _Calamy's Life_, i. 79.
[617] _Life and Times_, iii. 109.
[618] _Life and Times_, 156.
[619] _Ibid._, 110, 131.
[620] _Ibid._, 156. For notices of Morley's character, see p. 477 of
this volume.
[621] The well-known letter of Tillotson to Baxter is an interesting
record of the result of their well-meant endeavours:--"I took the first
opportunity," he says, "after you were with us, to speak to the Bishop
of Salisbury, who promised to keep the matter private, and only to
acquaint the Bishop of Chester with it in order to a meeting; but, upon
some general discourse, I plainly perceived several things could not
be obtained. However, he promised to appoint a time of meeting, but I
have not heard from him since. I am unwilling my name should be used in
this matter; not but that I do most heartily desire an accommodation,
and shall always endeavour it, but I am sure it will be a prejudice
to me, and signify nothing to the effecting of the thing, which as
circumstances are, cannot pass in either House without the concurrence
of a considerable part of the Bishops, and the countenance of His
Majesty, which at present I see little reason to expect." Dated April
11, 1675. _Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 157.
[622] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 741.
[623] _State Papers_, November 8.
[624] _State Papers_, 1676. Bowen to Williamson. February 21.
[625] _State Papers_, 1676, July 7, 10. The following is a specimen
of the kind of stories which this man sent up to London:--"Last night
the three informers that have put by our meetings here were amongst
several of the passengers in a passage-boat going for Norwich, where
they were no sooner placed but some of our Independents called out to
the passengers and told them they had informing rogues amongst them,
and surely they would not take such rascals with them; upon which the
passengers began to leave the boat. So the boatmen, to keep their
passengers, turned the informers out upon the key [quay]--where, when
they were landed, they began to throw stones at them, but making their
escape, they came to my house, upon which I went down to the key
[quay], and there learned who some of them were, and gave the informers
their names, who are since bound over to the sessions." _State Papers_,
1676, July 12.
[626] _State Papers_, October 9.
[627] _Harl. Misc._, viii. 7. _Lives of the Norths_, i. 316, _et seq._,
see Notes. _Knight's Popular Hist._, iv. 326.
[628] _Wood_, iv. 226.
[629] Owen writes very guardedly in reply to Parker's doctrine of the
magistrates' power.--_Works_, xxi. 209, _et seq._
[630] _Life and Times_, iii. 42.
[631] _Anthony Wood._ There is plenty of satire in the two books by
Marvell; the second is more cutting than the first, but it is sometimes
coarser, and on the whole wearisome to modern readers.
[632] This tract is printed in _Somers' Collection_, iii. 329, 388. My
own judgment of it agrees with Mr. Hallam's:--"It is not written with
extraordinary ability; but it is very candid and well designed, though
conceding so much as to scandalize his brethren."--_Const. Hist._ ii.
93.
Marvell, in his _Mr. Smirke on the Divine in Mode_, speaks of the work
as having been originally printed only for members of Parliament, and
not published, but that a printer got hold of it, and "surreptitiously"
multiplied copies without the author's knowledge. Yet the published
edition, though commencing with the words, "An humble petition to
the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled,"
contains an address "to the reader" at the beginning, and another to
the Nonconformists at the end.
[633] _Mr. Smirke, or the Divine in Mode._ By Andrew Marvell.
[634] _Marvell's Mr. Smirke_, which was an answer to Turner's
animadversions.--_Baxter's Life and Times_, iii. 175. Three other
books, bearing the title of _Naked Truth_, headed respectively the
second, third, and fourth parts, were published afterwards, but not by
Bishop Croft.
[635] Numerous letters in the Record Office show the prevalence in
1667 of rumours respecting the King's design to bring in Popery. For
example:--
"Fanatics in the North, being disappointed of assistance from abroad by
the peace set up, then rest on their friends' behalf, that the King is
a Papist, and intends to set up the Popish religion, and have so far
possessed not only fanatics, but several of the ignorant common people
with this opinion, that it is publicly discoursed among them, that they
will rise in arms for defence of religion, and oppose the King and the
Popish party. They persuade their disciples that their friends in the
South are ready to appear in arms for defence of religion, and oppose
the King and the Popish party."--Sir P. Musgrave to Williamson, Aug.
22, 1667. _Cal._ 409.
[636] _Life of James II._, i. 441. _Dalrymple's Memoirs_, i. 70; iii.
1-68. The treaty is printed in _Lingard_, xi. 364. Rarely has anything
in diplomacy been so unprincipled and shameful as Article II. of this
document. Charles' pretexts were religious, his object political.
[637] See letters in _Phenix_, i. 566. _Calamy's Life_, i. 119.
[638] _G. P. R. James' Life of Louis XIV._, ii. 171.
[639] _Evelyn_, ii. 88.
[640] _Harris' Charles II._, ii. 81.
[641] _Lingard_, xi. 356. April 10, 1671. Wednesday. "This evening her
royal highness' body was privately conveyed from St. James' Palace,
where she died, to Westminster, where, till things could be put in
order, [she] was deposited in state in the painted chamber; and about
nine in the evening she was most solemnly attended to the Abbey by her
own, the King's, the Queen's, and the Duke's servants. A vast train of
the nobility, gentry, and many members of Parliament, in their blacks,
guarded by two companies of foot, and finally interred in the royal
vault of Henry VII.'s chapel. The ceremony [was] performed by the
Bishop of Rochester, the Dean of Westminster Cathedral, to the extreme
grief and disconsolation of all present. The Court, on this occasion,
are entered into solemn mourning, in which 'tis thought they may
continue for some months."--_State Papers._
[642] _Wood_, _Ath. Ox._, ii. 614. The article on Woodhead is copious
and interesting.
[643] _Chalmer's Biographical Dictionary._
[644] _Butler's English Catholics_, iv. 425.
[645] This account of the working of Roman Catholicism in England
is taken from the _MSS. Travels of Cosmo, the third Grand Duke of
Tuscany_, (1669), printed in Appendix to _Butler's English Cath._, iii.
513.
[646] Five editions of _Pascal_ were published between 1658 and 1688.
The _Protestant Almanack_ for 1668 is a disgraceful publication.
[647] _State Papers, Dom._ 1667, Sept. 6. (_Cal._)
[648] _State Papers, Dom._, 1667. October 28 (_Cal._).
[649] The following letter is addressed to Sir Joseph Williamson,
Whitehall.--"Worthy Sir,--This day came the proclamation against
Papists to Nottingham, being the last assize day. It was received with
so much joy that bells and bonfires rung and flamed at that rate as
they never did since His Majesty's restoration. The fanatics contended
with the conformists who should show most zeal in expressing their joy
for His Majesty's great grace. You may believe without swearing that
neither this news, nor what the King did in the house last Saturday,
was unwelcome to, Sir,
"Your most humble Servant,
"P. WHALLEY.
"_Martij 15, 1672._
"If one of your clerks would take notice on't in the next _Gazette_, it
would gratify the whole corporation."--_State Papers, Dom. Chas. II._
[650] _State Papers, Dom. Chas. II._ Letter from W. Aston, 1676, April
3.
[651] _State Papers_, June 6, Nov. 10-13.
[652] _State Papers_, 1674, Jan. 20. Connected with this communication
are papers containing drafts of advice for suppressing Popery. The
Bishops of Canterbury, Durham, Winchester, Salisbury, Peterborough,
Rochester, Chichester, and Chester, reply "that they observe with
sorrow the growth of profaneness, Romanism, and Dissent;" "that they
do not think any new laws are necessary for the purpose, but only the
removal of such obstructions as have hitherto hindered the execution of
them." What those obstructions were, the authors of this conclusion do
not specify. There is another paper in the same bundle, recommending
the Attorney-General to bestir himself in the matter, and that letters
should be written to the Justices of the Peace; that there be a new
general proclamation; that constables and churchwardens should be
enjoined to search for suspected persons; and that the orders against
priests, Popish seminaries, and resort of Papists to Court, should be
fixed at the Court Gate, St. James's, and Somerset House.
[653] This is Reresby's own account. Ralph follows him, but in the
imperfect reports of the debates in the _Parl. Hist._ (iv. 780), the
statement in the House is said to have been made by Mr. Russel.
[654] _Lingard_, xii. 72.
[655] _State Papers, Dom. Charles II._, 1676, Oct. 27.
[656] _Glanvill's Zealous and Impartial Protestant_, p. 46. This and
other instances of exaggeration are given in _The Happy Future State
of England_, p. 140. It should be stated that the author of this last
work endeavours to make out the Roman Catholics to have been as few
as possible. The population of England, and the relative proportion
of different classes of religionists, will be noticed in a subsequent
chapter.
[657] "The debate or arguments for dissolving this present Parliament,"
1675. Written by the Earl of Shaftesbury. _Parl. Hist._, IV. lxxviii.
[658] _Campbell's Lives_, iv. 185.
[659] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 801.
[660] _Life of James II._, i. 505. _Parl. Hist._, iv. 814, 824.
[661] _State Papers_, April, 1677.
[662] _Lingard_, xii. 96, 97. The Resolutions on which these Bills were
founded are contained in the _Lords' Journals_, 1677, February 21 & 22.
[663] March 20, _Parl. Hist._, iv. 853-7. The same History (iv. 858)
takes notice on the 29th of March of Marvell's boxing Sir Philip
Harcourt's ear for stumbling on his foot.
[664] _Parl. Hist._ iv. 862. _Journals_, 1677, April 4.
[665] _Ibid._, 863. _Lords' Journals_, April 13; May 26.
[666] _Lords' Journals_, April 12, 13, 14.
[667] The Act now noticed should be considered in connection with what
is said in a preceding part of this History, p. 96.
[668] _Commons' Journals_, April 29.
[669] _Parl. Hist._, iv. 980.
[670] June 12. _Parl. Hist._, iv. 990.
[671] _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 177.
[672] _Hook's Archbishops._ Second series, i. 173.
[673] Hammond, in 1654, speaks of Sheldon's being "very good company."
_Letter in Harl. MSS._, 21, printed in _Ecclesiastic_, April, 1853.
[674] See Pepys' account of a dinner party at Lambeth, _Diary_, May
14th, 1669. He tells disgraceful stories about Sheldon which were
current at the time; and, it should be remembered, that although
Sheldon at length rebuked Charles for his intimacy with Lady
Castlemaine, it does not appear that he had before broken silence as to
the shameful libertinism of the Court.
[675] Wood says (_Ath. Ox._, iv. 855) that Sheldon was not installed
at Canterbury, and never visited it during the time that he was
Archbishop; nor did he visit Oxford all the time he was Chancellor.
[676] The expression is Milman's, in reference to another character.
[677] In these sketches, I include all the notable members of the
Episcopal body down to the Revolution--but, though I anticipate the
period embraced in our subsequent narrative, the seven Bishops are
omitted, as they will require particular notice hereafter.
[678] _Aubrey's Letters_, iii. 574.
[679] _Pope's Life of Ward_, 57. This book abounds in amusing anecdotes.
[680] There is in the Lambeth Library, in addition to the returns
made to Sheldon, an account of the number and proportions of Popish
recusants, obstinate Separatists, and Conformists, inhabitants of
Wiltshire, and Berkshire, under the immediate jurisdiction of the
Bishop of Sarum, by Seth Ward, 1676. See as to Ward, _Baxter's Life and
Times_, iii. 86.
[681] Seth Ward told Aubrey a queer story respecting a theological
opponent. "One Mr. Hagger, a gentleman, and good mathematician, was
well acquainted with Mr. Th. Hariot, and was wont to say, that he did
not like (or valued it not) the old story of the creation of the world.
He could not believe the old position, he would say, _ex nihilo nihil
fit_. But, said Mr. Hagger, a _nahitú_ killed him at last; for in the
top of his nose came a little red speck (exceeding small), which grew
bigger and bigger, and at last killed him. I suppose it was that which
the chirurgeons call a _noli me tangere_." _Letters_, iii. 368.
[682] _Burnet_, i. 590.
[683] _Morley's Treatises._ Sermon before the King, p. 38.
[684] He had unfairly preached against Baxter, and blazed abroad his
marriage with all the odium he could cast upon it. _Life and Times_,
ii. 375, 384. I have noticed Baxter's opinion of Morley, and the
conduct of the latter, on p. 439 of this volume.
[685] _Life and Times_, iii. 84. The spirit of Morley is manifested in
the following passage, speaking of Kidderminster--"The truth is, that
Mr. Baxter was never either parson, vicar, or curate there, or anywhere
else in my diocese--for he never came in by the door--that is, by any
legal right, or lawful admission into that sheep-fold, but climbed up
some other way, namely, by violence and intrusion, and therefore, by
Christ's own inference, he was a thief and a robber."--_The Bishop of
Winchester's Vindication_, p. 2. At the time of writing the letter,
Morley was Bishop of Worcester, which diocese included Kidderminster.
Salmon, in his _Lives of the English Bishops_, p. 346, says of Morley,
"His strength is attributed to keeping up his College custom of rising
at five in the morning, sitting without a fire, and going to his bed
cold. He did indeed exceed in severity to himself, eating but once a
day, and not going to bed till eleven."
[686] Fuller, in his _Worthies_, i. 483, retracts some things which
he had advanced against Cosin in his _Church History_, and observes,
"It must be confessed, that a sort of fond people surmised, as if he
had once been declining to the Popish persuasion. Thus the dim-sighted
complain of the darkness of the room, when, alas, the fault is in their
own eyes; and the lame of the unevenness of the floor, when, indeed, it
lieth in their unsound legs."
[687] _Ibid._, 484.
[688] Life of Richard Gilpin, prefixed to his _Demonologia Sacra_,
xxxv. Also, I find in the Record Office, a letter from "John Bishop of
Durham" to Williamson, sending "the complaint received from Newcastle
about the seditious meetings of the Congregation of Saints." The
letter is dated November 23rd, 1668. The complaint refers to a public
meeting on the 1st of November, in Barber Surgeon's Hall, of 500 of the
Congregation of Saints, headed and led by Gilpin, notoriously known
to be disaffected to the Government. It is stated, that he caused the
149th Psalm to be sung--and a treasonable construction is put upon
the words. Three persons are named in connection with Gilpin--Durant,
Leaver, and Pringle.--November 23.
[689] _Conformist's Plea_, 35. There is a letter in the Record Office
(Sanderson to Williamson, 1667, Sept. 19), complaining of the laxity
of the Bishop of Durham, in not convicting John Cock, a notorious
Nonconformist--agent for Lady Vane, at Raby Castle, who was brought
before him.
[690] _Basire_, 89.
[691] _Life_, by Plume.
[692] Salmon says "the expense was £20,000, of which the Chapter
contributed £1,000. The rest was his own, or procured by him of other
pious persons."--_Lives_, 296.
[693] _Life_, by Plume. See Coleridge on Hacket's Sermons--_Remains_,
iii. 175.
[694] See notice of Wilkins, in Pope's _Life of Seth Ward_.
[695] Newcome, in his _Diary_, says--"November 22, 1672. I received
the sad news of the death of the learned, worthy, pious, and peaceable
Bishop of Chester, Dr. John Wilkins; he was my worthy friend."
John Angier, the Nonconformist minister at Denton, speaks of his
removal as a great loss.--_Heywood's Life of Angier_, 86. Martindale
(_Autobiography_, 196) also refers to the Bishop's moderation, and
adds--"But the Archbishop of York, by his visitation, took all power
out of his hands for a year, soon after which this honest Bishop
Wilkins died." I may be permitted to add that the good Bishop was a
wit. In reference to his idea of the possibility of a passage to the
moon, the Duchess of Newcastle said to him, "Doctor, where am I to find
a place for waiting in the way up to that planet?" "Madam," replied he,
"of all other people in the world, I never expected that question from
you, who have built so many castles in the air, that you may be every
night at one of your own."--_Stanley's Memorials of Westminster_, 234.
[696] Preached at the Guildhall Chapel, London, 1672, p. 46.
[697] _Own Time_, i. 187.
[698] _Wood_, _Athen. Ox._ iii. 969.
[699] _Wood's Athen. Ox._, iii. 1085.
[700] Norwich, April 13, 1670. Lambeth Library, Tenison MSS. 674.
[701] _Athen. Oxon._ iv. 309-317. There is a letter from Croft amongst
the _State Papers_ (Dec. 30, 1678), relative to his Library, &c.
[702] _Hist._ 42.
[703] He lay in state in a room under the Regent House. Over the hearse
was spread the coat of the King or Herald-at-arms, of crimson satin,
richly embroidered with gold. At the head of the hearse was standing
the Bishop's mitre, which was silver-gilt, the cap, or inpart whereof,
was crimson satin or silk; the mitre was plain, saving some little
flower wrought in the middle on each side thereof, and on the top of
each a little cross of about an inch in length and breadth. On one side
of the top of the hearse lay along the Bishop's crosier of silver,
somewhat in likeness to a shepherd's crook of about an ell long, and in
thickness round above two inches and a half.--_Ald. Newton's Diary_,
quoted in _Annals of Cambridge_, by Cooper, iii. 522.
[704] _Conformist's Plea_, 85.
[705] He allowed a considerable annuity to Dr. Tuckney, whom in the
Professorship of Divinity at Cambridge, and the Mastership of St.
John's College, he succeeded after the Restoration.
[706] _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 181. Temple, in his _Memoirs_,
says, "My election in the University proceeded with the most general
concurrence that could be there, and without any difficulties I could
observe from that side (the Duke of Monmouth's) those which were raised
coming from the Bishop of Ely, who owned the opposing me, from the
chapter of religion, in my _Observations on the Netherlands_, which
gave him an opinion that mine was for such a toleration of religion as
is there described to be in Holland."--_Temple's Works_, i. 433.
[707] _Fuller's Worthies_, ii. 421.
[708] _Athenæ Oxonienses_, iii. 717.
[709] _Conformists' Plea_, 35.
[710] _Nelson's Life of Bishop Bull_, 206.
[711] _Life and Times_, ii. 363.
[712] _Athen. Oxon._, iii. 1195.
[713] _Ibid._, 940. Bliss says he was Canon of York.
[714] The letter is written by Dr. Lampleugh, January 12, 1675. _State
Papers, Dom. Charles II._
[715] _Le Neve_, part ii. 238.
[716] The letter is dated, Ely House, October 9, 1643. _Le Neve's Lives
of the Bishops_, pt. ii. 247.
[717] See anecdote of Sterne in _Baxter_, ii. 338, quoted in the
account of the Savoy Conference in this History.
[718] _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 590.
[719] This corresponds with the eulogium on his tombstone.
[720] _Grainger's Biography_, iii. 232.
[721] _Le Neve's Bishops_, pt. ii. 258.
[722] _Hist. of his Own Time_, i. 590. Dolben was Dean of Westminster
at the time of Albemarle's funeral. Ward preached. "The Dean and
prebendaries wore copes. Offerings were made at the altar."--_Stanley's
Westminster_, 228.
The following notice occurs in _Thoresby's Diary_, i. 172:--"I rode
with most of the gentry in the neighbourhood, to meet Archbishop
Dolben, who was much honoured as a preaching bishop. May 1, 1684: he
gave us an excellent sermon at the parish church; see his remarkable
preliminary discourse concerning holydays, their institution, and abuse
in the Romish Church, which makes many good people (his own expression)
averse to them, even as celebrated in the Church of England, though
without superstition. In the whole he showed great temper and
moderation."
[723] In addition to the particular books which I have noticed, I may
state that my chief authorities for these notices of the Bishops are
_Wood_, _Le Neve_, and _Salmon_.
[724] I find amongst the State Papers the following, in a volume on
Ecclesiastical affairs, containing _Congé d'élires_, &c.:--
"Dean and Chapter of Lichfield
"Whereas upon the vacancy of that see by the death of Dr. Hackett the
late Bishop we did by our _Congé d'élire_ and our Great Seal of England
grant you our license to proceed to an election of a fit person to
succeed in the same, and at the same time did by our letter written
recommend to you our trusty &c. Dr. Wood Dean of that our cathedral
church to be by you chosen Bishop of the said see according to the
laws of this our realm. We have now thought fit hereby to signify our
pleasure to you that we do hereby will and require you to forbear to
proceed to the election of the said Dr. Wood until our pleasure shall
be further signified unto you--whereof you may not fail.
"June 11, 1671."
[725] _D'Oyley's Sancroft_, i. 194.
[726] Yet it is said in his epitaph, in St. George's Chapel,
Windsor,--"Exule Carolo II., bonis multatus, reverso, a sacris,
hujus Capellæ Canonicus, Decanus Sarisburiensis, postea Cicestrensis
Episcopus, φιλόξενος φιλάγαθος," &c., &c.
There is a curious account in _Kennet's Hist._ of Brideoake's visit
to Lenthall, the Speaker, when on his death-bed. He owed much to
Lenthall's influence during the Commonwealth. A letter in the State
Paper Office, 1678, Oct. 7, conveys intelligence of his death, and
asks, in consequence, for Church promotion.
[727] This Lloyd is to be distinguished from him of the same name who
was one of the Seven Bishops.
[728] In _Ichabod_; or, _Five Groans of the Church_, mention is made of
1,342 factious clergymen.
[729] _Dom. Chas. II._, 1677, Sept. 12.
[730] _Mystery and Iniquity of Nonconformity_, 1664. A curious tract
entitled _The Ceremony-Monger, his Character, in Six Chapters_,
describes "bowing to the altar, implicit faith, reading dons of the
pulpit, reading the Psalms, &c., alternately, bowing at the name of
Jesus, unlighted candles on the altar, organs, church music, and other
popishlike and foppish ceremonials," all of which are unmercifully
ridiculed. The author is E. Hickeringhill, Rector of the Rectory of
All Saints, in Colchester. There is no date to the publication, but
from abundant internal evidence, it must have been written after the
Act of Uniformity. Hickeringhill is justly described by Chalmers as "a
half crazy kind of writer." He was a pensioner of St. John's, Camb.,
in 1650; junior Bachelor of Gonville and Caius; Lieut. in the English
army in Scotland, and Captain in Fleetwood's Regiment. He took orders
in 1661 or 1662, being ordained by Bishop Sanderson; became Vicar of
Boxted, Essex, in October, 1662, and about the same time, Rector of
All Saints, Colchester. In reference to the Act of Uniformity, he says
it is an unnatural, impossible, irrational, wicked, and vain attempt.
"Go teach God," he says, "to make a new heaven, with uniformity of
stars and skies,--teach Him to make men uniform," &c. Hickeringhill
wrote _The Second Part of Naked Truth_, and _A Vindication_ of it. The
copy of it which I have seen is in the Library of Trinity College,
Cambridge. The Bishop of London brought an action against him, in
March, 1682, for slander. A report of the trial may be found in the
same Library, _Political Tracts_, Y 24. Hickeringhill held his Rectory
until his death in 1708.
[731] Quotation in _Vindication of the Clergy_, 82.
[732] _Chamberlayne_, part 1. 205, 207. The following entries indicate
the poverty of clergymen:--
"1669. Given to a poor minister who preached here, at the church, April
25, 3s. Bestowed on him in ale, 4d.
"Feb. 13, 1669. Collected then, by the churchwardens, in the church,
upon a testimonial, and at the request of the Lord Bishop of York, for
one Mr. Wilmot, a poor minister, 8s. 4d.
"1670, April 10. Given then by the neighbours, to a poor mendicant
minister, one Mr. John Rhodes, who then preached here, and after
the sermon _stood in the middle aisle to receive the charity of the
people_, the sum 12s. 3d.
"1670, July 3. Given then by the neighbours to a poor lame itinerary,
one Mr. Walker, who preached here, and after the sermon stood in the
middle aisle to receive the people's charity, which was 9s. 3d."--See
_History of Morley Old Chapel_, by the Rev. J. Wonnacott.
[733] _Hunter's Life of Heywood_, 336.
[734] _Grounds and Occasions_, 19. It is from this paragraph, and other
similar authorities, that Macaulay draws materials for his humorous
one-sided satire on the clergy--_Hist. of Eng._ i. 340.
[735] _Grounds and Occasions_, 107. North complains of his father's
chaplain being very illiterate.--_Lives_, iii. 312.
[736] _Evelyn's Diary_, 1684, February 23.
[737] _Vindication of the Clergy_ (1672), 122. The author of the
_Grounds and Occasions_ followed up his work by "Some observations upon
the answer."
[738] _Vindication_, 100, _et seq._ See _Answer to the Grounds and
Occasions_ (1671), 14. Another book was published--_Hieragonisticon_,
being an answer to the two books on the _Grounds and Occasions_ (1672).
Five additional letters were published by the author of the _Grounds
and Occasions_, &c. Through the kindness of my friend, Mr. John Rotton,
the whole of this curious collection has been placed at my service.
[739] _Vindication_, 108.
[740] _Appendix to Second Report of Commission on Ritual_, 628.
[741] "An account of the life and conversation of the reverend and
worthy Mr. Isaac Milles," quoted in _Ken's Life by a Layman_, 48-50.
[742] _Ichabod; or Five Groans of the Church_ (1663). Williams,
Bishop of Lincoln, says he "met with three debauched clergymen in
Hertfordshire, whom he shall deprive: the gentry are most kind
wherever he goes. Thinks the principles he goes upon will be
successful."--_State Papers_, July 18, 1668.
[743] _Life of Philip Henry_, 101. He made this remark at the close of
the year 1662. In _Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood_, p. 149, a wretched
account is given of the six ministers who succeeded him.
[744] _History of his Own Time_, i. 186.
[745] _Diary_, 1668, February 16.
[746] _Burnet_, i. 258.
[747] _Appendix to Second Report of Commission on Ritual_, 628.
Transcriber's Note:
1. Printer's errors have been silently corrected.
2. Obvious spelling and punctuation errors have been silently
corrected. Original spelling and hyphenated words have been retained
where appropriate.
3. Superscripts shown as ^x.
4. Bold script shown as =xxx=.