CHAPTER IV.

1606-1616.

Archbishop Bancroft-His prudent conduct-Laud's preferments-His generosity-Bishop Neile-Hatred of Abbot towards Laud-Friendship of Bishop Neile-Laud is chosen President of St. John's-His election disputed-Decided in his favour by the King-His conduct-Death of Archbishop Bancroft-His character-Inconsistencies of the Puritans— Their inveterate prejudices-Danger and evil of sectarianism -Promotion of Archbishop Abbot-His enthusiasm-Encouragement of the Puritans-Effects of his primacy-His opposition to Laud-Laud's promotion-Dr. Robert AbbotHis sermon against Laud-Gloucester Cathedral-Instructions of the King to the University of Oxford.

DR. RICHARD BANCROFT Succeeded the venerable Whitgift in the See of Canterbury,—a prelate worthy of the government of the Church. His progress at the University of Cambridge, while a student, marked his great abilities; and his preferments, after he left the University, enabled him to display his assiduity in defending the Church against the attacks of enthusiasm 1. While he was prebendary of Westminster, he had distinguished himself by a sermon preached in 1593, at

'Newcourt, Repertorium, &c. Le Neve's Lives and Characters of Protestant Bishops.

St. Paul's Cross, against the Puritans, in which in glowing colours he exhibited their extravagance, their ambition, and the tendency of their principles to mutiny and disorder'. In 1597, he had been advanced to the See of London, when he was Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and from this period he in reality managed the archiepiscopal see, and governed the Church, as Whitgift's declining health had rendered him unfit for business, and his advanced age required an active and efficient coadjutor 3.

Many important events had in the mean time occurred. Religious disputes ran high in that age, and required all the vigilance and activity of the Church to restrain the inciters of them within due bounds. Sufficient indications were given that the reign of fanaticism was fast approaching, when the sectaries, determined no longer to be peaceful members of the state, were resolved to obtain the ascendancy. The turbulence of the Scots had been a source of annoyance to the government, and, stimulated by the furious zeal of the Melvilles and their associates, their conduct had become intolerable, their spirit that of factious demagogues, their seditious principles had been widely diffused throughout the nation. The laws for Episcopacy, I have

2

'Collier's Eccles. History, vol. ii. p. 609, 610.

* Strype's Lives, p. 515.

* Fuller's Worthies of England, Lancashire, p. 112. 'Spottiswoode's History of the Church of Scotland, book vii.

already observed, had never been repealed in that kingdom, not even in those Parliaments in which the influence of Knox preponderated, nor was the nation at all favourable to Presbyterianism, till Andrew Melville practised in the General Assembly, and induced that ecclesiastical court to legislate on civil affairs. The violent opposition which James experienced, made him summon to London the Melvilles, and others of their associates, that they might answer for their conduct and opposition towards the Episcopal Church. They obeyed the summons, and proceeded to Hampton Court, in September, 1609, when four distinguished men, namely, Dr. Andrews, Bishop of Chichester; Dr. Barlow, Bishop of Rochester; Dr. King, then Dean of Christ Church, and Dr. Buckeridge, already mentioned, were appointed to preach before the King, that they might the more fully explain the doctrine and principles of the Church of England, of which the Scottish Presbyterians were utterly ignorant. Buckeridge, on this occasion, discoursed from Rom. xiii. 1. and discussed in a masterly manner the point of the king's supremacy in ecclesiastical matters. "He handled it," says Archbishop Spottiswoode, who was present at the sermon, "both learnedly and soundly, to the satisfaction of all the hearers; but that the Scottish ministers seemed very much grieved to hear the Pope and the Presbytery

Sanderson's Life of King James. Collier's Eccles. Hist. vol. ii. Kirkton's Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland, Introd. Law's Memorials, edited by C. K. Sharp, Esq.

so often equalled in their opposition to sovereign princes'." Buckeridge, however, and his able coadjutors, discoursed to men who were above the reach of argument or reason: they made no impression on the Scots, who had resolved, before they set out, to continue in their opposition. The condescension of the king, too, was, of course, repaid by the insolence of Andrew Melville, who, hurried along by his violent temper, forgot that respect which was due to his superiors, and seemed to believe that every man who was not a follower of Calvin was an enemy to the Reformation. For his republican fanaticism, his contempt of the king's authority, and his insolence to Archbishop Bancroft, he was shortly afterwards punished by imprisonment and exile: but though Scotland was deprived of that great apostle of Presbytery, it was not before he had infused his principles among his associates, and taught them the tenets of opposition 2.

Laud was now thirty-four years of age, and he had as yet resided almost constantly at the University. But in this year, 1607, being then Bachelor of Divinity, he received his first preferment, which was the vicarage of Stamford, in Northamptonshire3,

1

Spottiswoode's History of the Church of Scotland, book vii. p. 497.

2 Dr. M'Crie's Life of Andrew Melville, vol. i.

3" 6th Nov. 1607, Will. Laud, cler. institutus S. T. B. ad vic. perpet. eccl. paroch. de Stamford, ad pres. Tho. Cave, nul, per resign. Robt. Walker, ult. incumb. resign, ante 2 Dec. 1609." Reg. Dove. ep. Petrib.

into which he was inducted on the 13th of Novem ber; and in the following April he received the advowson of North Kilworth, in Leicestershire. In the summer of this year he proceeded Doctor of Divinity. While engaged in his parochial duties, he was recommended by Dr. Buckeridge, his former tutor, to Dr. Neile, Bishop of Rochester, a prelate who was well instructed in the history and constitution of the Church, and knew how to distinguish its zealous and sincere defenders. Laud was appointed one of his chaplains, August 5, 1608, and was received into his confidence, on which occasion he exchanged his living of North Kilworth for the rectory of West Tilbury, in Essex, into which he was inducted on the 28th of October, 16091, that he might be near his friend and patron 2. He had, however, previous to this, on the 17th of September, preached his first sermon before King James at Theobalds. Next year, on the 25th of May, he was presented by Bishop Neile to the living of Cuckstone, in Kent; on account of which, on the 2d of October, he re

1" 1609, 26 Oct. Will. Laud, cler. admiss. ad ecclesiam de West Tilbury, per resign. Joh. Boake, S. T. B. ad pres. regis.” Reg. Bancroft, Ep. London.

Diary, p. 2. Lloyd's Memoires, p. 226, and State Worthies of England, Lond. 12mo. edit. 1670. Fuller's Church History, book x. Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. iii. col. 121. Heylin, p. 55. Prynne's Life and Trial of Laud, p. 2.-Prynne says, Laud was inducted into Stamford on Nov. 16. Laud, in his own Diary, says Nov. 13.