In a volume requiring references to a considerable number and variety of authors, errors will doubtless be detected, but it is hoped that, in the main, accuracy of statement and arrangement has been preserved.

The writer desires to thank the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln for the free use which they have allowed him of their excellent Library.

Waddington, June, 1861.

Contents of Vol. I.

CHAPTER I.-INTRODUCTORY.

The death of Elizabeth an epoch-Providential overruling

in the English Reformation-Its conservative character-

Importance of this- Personal character of the rulers in the

Reformation-era not favourable to it-Great services of Arch-

bishop Whitgift-Poverty of parochial clergy-Church

dragged into persecution by State; but in some points deserving

blame-Horrible treatment of the fanatics-Guilt of the

Queen-Arbitrariness of her rule-The Church affected by

it-Great advantage to the Church of the reign of Edward

VI. Want of popular sympathy with the Established

Church-The Puritans-Change in the ground of contro-

versy between them and the Church-Beginning of the

assertion of Episcopacy by divine right-Opinions on the

Predestinarian doctrines-Doctrine of the Eucharist-Of

the observance of the Lord's Day-State kept by the Bishops

-Adulation used by Bishops-Court of High Commission

-Difficulties of all parties-Puritan expectations from

James-His real views of the Puritans-Importance of the

character of the king-A review of King James's writings:

Paraphrase on Apocalypse; Treatise on Demonology; Basi-

licon Doron; True law of free Monarchies; Counterblast to

Tobacco; Apology for Oath of Allegiance; Treatise against

Vorstius; Against Cardinal Perron; Meditations on Lord's

Prayer Character of his writings-His opinions and cha-

racter-Chief divines at this period-Bilson's Treatise on

Church Government - Field Of the Church-Contro-

versy forced upon our divines-Bishop Andrewes's Sermons

-Want of earnestness prevalent in the Church-Strange

doctrines in Bishop Andrewes's sermons-Controversial and

Political character of the Church gives great advantage to

Puritans-The Romanists-Hardships of their condition—

Difficulties through which the Church had to pass-Danger

of power to the Church

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Death of Queen Elizabeth-The bearers of the news to

King James-His progress to London-The Millenary Peti-

tion-Character of the Petition-Excites the Universities-

The King Crowned-A great Plague raging-Raleigh's Plot

-Proclamation of October 24-The Hampton Court Con-

ference-Insincerity of the parties-The Divines who took

part in the Conference-The Advocates of the Puritans-

Objections afterwards made by the Puritans to them-The

first day's Conference - Matters agreed upon the first day—

Meeting of the second day's Conference-The heads of objec-

tions-The first head-Angry outbreak of Bishop Bancroft

-He answers Dr. Reynolds's first objections-Dr. Reynolds

continues his first head of objections-The King interrupts

him-Dr. Reynolds continues-The King in favour of a

new translation of the Bible-The second head of objections

-Mr. Knewstubbs's objections-The cross in Baptism—

The King angry-Dr. Reynolds takes up the objections-

The third head of objections-The King very angry-

third day's conference-Court of High Commission-The

King argues for it; Whitgift and Bancroft applaud him—

The decisions of the conference announced-Requests made

by Mr. Chaderton and Mr. Knewstubbs-Conference ended

-Remarks of Neal and Fuller-The alterations made in the

Prayer Book
Page 67

-The

CHAPTER III.

Inauguration of a new period in Church history-King

James's view of the Church differs from that of Elizabeth

-General change of views on this subject-Death of

Cartwright and Whitgift-Cartwright-Archbishop Whit-

gift-King's Proclamation authorizing the new Prayer Book

-Puritans see that they have no hope of gaining any more

concessions-King's Speech to the Parliament-Spirit of

opposition in the Commons-Act to restrain the Crown

from receiving Church lands-Act for Processes in Eccle-

siastical courts to run in the King's name-Meeting of

Convocation of the Province of Canterbury-Bancroft's

Book of Canons-Foundation of Ripon Chapter-Petition

of the Family of Love-Disquiet of the Scotch Kirk-Ap-

pointment of Bancroft to be Archbishop-His prompt mea-

sures-The judges consulted on the law-Deprivation of

Dr. Burgess-The Abridgment of the Lincolnshire ministers

-Some of the Puritan ministers determine to secede―The

Brownists in Holland-But most of them think it un-

lawful-General discontent-Persecution of the Papists-

The Gunpowder Plot-Oath of allegiance-Blackwell the

arch-priest-Severe laws against Papists-Prohibitions issued

by the judges-Bancroft's Articuli Cleri- Answer of the

judges.
. Page 108

CHAPTER IV.

King's design of introducing Episcopacy into Scotland—

Scotch ministers at Hampton Court-The Pope condemns.

the Oath of Allegiance-The Venetian dispute with the

Pope-Complaint of the ministers in the west-Translators

of the Bible-King's letter about their preferment-Direc-

tions for their work-Death of Lively and Reynolds-Cha-

racter of Dr. Reynolds-Dr. Laifield and Miles Smith-

King's Treatise on Oath of Allegiance-The Epistle Dedi-

catory-Blackwell's moderation-Church discipline in the

Channel Islands-Mr. Molle's sufferings at Rome-Effects

of Bancroft's administration-Views of the Puritans on

toleration-Arminius in Holland-Chelsea College for con-

troversial divinity-Queen Elizabeth's rapaciousness-Dis-

putes between the Church and the lawyers-Case of

Nicholas Fuller-Anger in Parliament at the ecclesiastical

power-Cowell's Interpreter-Dr. Cowell imprisoned and

his book called in-Bancroft's proposal for improving

revenues of the clergy-Parliament busy with their griev-

ances Archbishop's letter to the bishops-Work of the

Convocation-Overall's Convocation Book-King's letter to

Dr. Abbot-Progress of the design for restoring Scotch

episcopacy-Consecration of the Scotch bishops at London

House-Court of High Commission established for Scotland

-Death of Bancroft-His character-Unpopularity of the

Church with the laity begins under him.

CHAPTER V.

Bishops desire Andrewes for Primate-Abbot appointed

by influence of Lord Dunbar-His character-Puritanism at

Oxford-Laud first comes into notice-Williams at Cam-

bridge; Puritanism there-Promotion heaped on Laud and

Williams-Wretched state of the Country clergy-The King

writes against Vorstius -The new translation of the Bible-

Burning of Legate and Wightman-Character of Bishop

b

. 143

Neile-Foundation of the Charter House-Reappearance of

the Puritans-Death of Prince Henry-Marriage of Princess

Elizabeth-Divorce case of Lady Essex-Characters of

Bishops Bilson and Neile affected-Founding of Wadham

College at Oxford-A new Parliament-The court divines

offend the Commons-Case of Edmund Peacham-The

Comedy of Ignoramus at Cambridge-Selden's treatise on

Tithes-Death and character of Bishop Rudde, of St. David's

-Death of Isaac Casaubon
. Page 188

CHAPTER VI.

The Church in Ireland-Devastation of Church property

-Uniformity enforced-Spiritual destitution of the country

-Bishop of Clogher-Bishop Draper-Plantation of Ulster

—Puritanical clergy-No progress in converting Romanists

-The Irish Articles of 1615-Folly of the compromise-

Doubtful whether the King intended to remove Abbot-

Mischief of translations-Montagu moved to Winchester-

Inconsistency in promotion of prelates-Their eager seeking

for preferment-The legality of Commendams questioned-

King's directions for study of divinity at Oxford-Com-

pendiums and bodies of divinity-Their discountenancing

a blow to Calvinism-State of the Universities as schools-

Witchcraft-Case of Mary Smith-King's Sermon in the

Star-Chamber to the judges-Sir Edward Coke-Preaching

before the King-Mr. Edward Sympson's censure—Dr.

Mocket's censure-Mr. Selden's censure-Mr. Montagu's

answer to Selden-Dr. Tillesley-Mr. Nettles-Mr. Selden

reads his recantation-King publishes Book of Sports for the

Lord's Day-Excitement of the Puritan clergy-Sabbatarian

controversy

232

CHAPTER VII.

Disputes between Calvinists and Arminians in Holland-

The Five Points of the Arminians-Quarrel between Mau-

rice, Prince of Orange, Barneveldt, and Grotius-Synod

summoned to meet at Dort-The English Deputies—Their

instructions-They are handsomely treated by the States-

Late arrival of the Arminian divines Preliminary dis-

cussions in the Synod-Speech of Episcopius-Reproof by

the President-A crafty design of the Calvinists-Calvinists

wish to avoid the discussion of "Reprobation”—Violence

of Gomarus-Foreign divines unfairly made use of in the

dismissal of Arminians-The Arminian opinions con-