ELIZABETH. Clement VIII. Whitgift.

dissolve it. To attempt to convene a synod for the making of Canons without the permission of the crown would subject him to a præmunire. The Lower House elect their 'Prolocutor,' who after being presented to the Archbishop operates in securing the attendance of the members, collect their votes, and intimates their resolutions to the Upper House. The Convocation of York is of much smaller extent; here two proctors are returned by each archdeaconry, so that the proctors of the parochial clergy equal in number those of the chapters, or it would be too limited for business. On extraordinary occasions the two provinces can act together by Commissioners sitting in the Convocation of Canterbury with full power to act for the whole body of York. Members of the Lower House can vote by proxy, and have the important privilege of negativing any measure of the Upper House. See par. 292.

536. The Canon Law: which was confirmed by the Act of Submission (55 Hen. VIII.) is embodied in a volume entitled' Corpus Juris Canonici. It forms a body of rules for ecclesiastical government compiled by an Italian monk named Gratian in 1151, from Scripture, from the writings of the Latin Fathers, the decrees of General Councils, and the decretal Epistles and Bulls of the Holy See. It contains, however, later additions, and in imitation of the arrangement of the Roman Civil Law, it consists of (1) the Decrees of Gratian, (2) the Decretals of Gregory IX, and others, being canonical Epistles of several Popes, determining various questions; (3) the Clementine Constitutions, being the Epistles of Clement V; and (4) the Extravagants of John XXII. twenty in number, and so called because not methodically arranged to which may be added other Extravagants collected at a subsequent period by Gregory XIII. 1580: all which, together with the Institute of Canon Law drawn up by John Lancelot in the time of Pope Paul IV, form the present Canon Law of the Church of Rome. To adapt the Canon Law to England, selections were made from this Collection from time to time by various Archbishops and Papal legates. Lyndwood made a collection of the Constitutions thus drawn up from the Canon Law by fourteen Archbishops, (from Langton 1206, to Chichele 1443), which shows what portion was received by the English Church previous to the Reformation; and it bears the appellation of the Provincials of Lyndwood.

536. What is the Canon Law?

ELIZABETH. Clement VIII. Whitgift.

537. The Civil Law, known as the Corpus Juris Civilis,' was usually studied with the Canon Law as they mutually supported each other, the former is a collection of the laws, edicts, and imperial decrees of the Roman empire: first compiled by private individuals, afterwards by THEODOSIUS A. D. 438, and lastly by JUSTINIAN A. D. 533. It comprises (1) the Institutes or first principles of Roman Law; (2) the Digest or Pandects in fifty books, being the opinions of eminent lawyers; (3) a new Code or collection of Imperial Constitutions in twelve books; and (4) the Novels, or new Constitutions of succeeding Emperors. These were discovered at Amalfi in Italy in 1130. The Canon, and Civil Law, were gradually introduced into England from the time of Stephen, and as Ecclesiastics in that age were the repositories of learning it was usual to meet in one person the Canonist, the Civilian, and the Theologian. These laws under certain restrictions are still in the present day authorities in the Ecclesiastical, Admiralty, and University Courts.

CENTURY XVII.

ELIZABETH. (continued)—A. D. 1601-1603.

538. The Queen's death. — The declining years of ELIZABETH, and the consequent expectation of a change of policy by her death, produced a lull in religious matters, and afford consequently nothing worthy of record; for some time the Queen suffered from hypochondria, and refused all medicine; at length she grew worse and worse, and died on March 25th, 1603, at the age of 70, and in the 45th year of her reign. She was succeeded by her cousin James VI. King of Scotland, called James I. of England.

537. What is the Civil Law? 538. When did Elizabeth die? Who succeeded Elizabeth?

Summary of the Reign of Elizabeth.-45 years,
from A. D. 1558 to A. D. 1603.

ELIZABETH. Clement VIII. Whitgift.

539. ELIZABETH commenced her reign with moderation, but with a determined predilection for the Protestant doctrines. The Romanist party soon showed their apprehensions and opposition by refusing to assist in the Queen's coronation. The ceremony, however, was at last performed by Oglethorpe, bp. of Carlisle ; certain Injunctions were now issued by the Queen, and a new oath of Supremacy enjoined, but the refusal of the Romish bishops to obey the Injunctions, and to take the Oath, led them to be deprived; and on the appointment of Matthew Parker to the Primacy, their sees were filled by Protestant divines. (1559-60.). The Liturgy of Edward VI. having been revised (1559), the XXXIX Articles were next agreed upon (1562-3); and the Second Book of Homilies published (1563). At this period the Council of Trent closed its sittings. The Vestment Controversy was revived in London, which ended in the suspension of 37 clergymen for non-compliance. (1566). Shortly after appeared the Bishops' Bible (1568). The bull of excommunication of Pius V. against the Queen having been introduced into England by one Felton, the zeal of the Romanists was stirred up, which awakened a counter zeal in the Puritans. (1570). To ensure uniformity of doctrine the Convocation at this time enjoined subscription to the XXXIX Articles. (1571). A Presbytery was now first established at Wandsworth (1572), and 'Prophesyings' set on foot. ELIZABETH, however, directed Archbishop Grindal, who had succeeded Parker (1575), to suppress these 'Prophesyings' but his backwardness in complying, caused him to be suspended. (1577). The Papists, urged on by the Jesuits Campian and Persons, stirred up an ill-feeling against the Government (1580-1), which, however, was soon allayed. At this period the Calendar was reformed by Gregory XIII. (1582). Two years after, Whitgift succeeded Grindal in the Primacy (1584); in which year were established the first English Colonies in North America. (1584). The jealousy of ELIZABETH, increased by the conspiracy of Babington, led her to order the execution of

539. Give a summary of the reign of Elizabeth. What was her character? How many Papists suffered during her reign? What gave rise to the great dissensions in religious matters? What was the bias of the two

K K

ELIZABETH. Clement VIII. Whitgift.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1587), in the following year happened the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The Predestinarian Controversy' for some time disturbed the public mind; and many scurrilous writings appeared against the Queen, and Government, which ended in the Independents, Barrowe, Greenwood, Penry, and others, being executed (1593): and soon after appeared the Lambeth Articles' (1595), in order to stop the controversial spirit, but it was in vain. At length, Elizabeth died. 1603.

Queen Elizabeth was an able governor, fond of power, and jealous of her prerogatives, particularly in the matter of her supremacy, hence her rigorous measures against both Puritans, and Roman Catholics. The former she hated, probably, from so much of insubordination and political intrigue being mixed up with their proceedings. During her reign it is said that 204 Papists were put to death, 90 died in prison, and 105 were expeiled the kingdom. The great dissensions in religion sprung chiefly from Puritanical zeal, at first against the Habits simply, next Episcopacy, and lastly against the State itself. In respect of the bias of the two Universities, the guides in Theology, Oxford was Roman Catholic, and Cambridge Puritanical. The general assembly of the Scottish Church had now adopted the Presbyterian form of Church government, and Episcopacy was gradually set aside (1574-80), and the Church lands annexed to the crown. 1594.

Universities? What was the character and deportment of Queen Elizabeth, with respect to religious matters ? and what was the progress of the Reformation?

PART III.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AS BY LAW
ESTABLISHED.

James I.-A. D. 1603.

JAMES I. Clement VIII. Whitgift.

540. JAMES I., of the house of Stuart, being the son of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley), and Mary Queen of Scots, ascended the throne of England with a high reputation for wisdom and moderation, which inspired the nation with flattering hopes of an equitable administration, and the abandonment of that conflicting rivalry which long had divided the two nations of Scotland, and England; a prospect was also indulged of a legislative union of the two kingdoms. JAMES, having not long before declared himself publicly in favour of Presbyterianism, excited a few misgivings among the English prelates, but in answer to the congratulatory address of the Clergy, he engaged to uphold the Church as established by Queen Elizabeth. In the reign of Elizabeth the Reformation was completed; the Church was Erastian in principle, and made an engine of the State; its enemies were treated as traitors. We here euter on the second age of the Reformed Church-now made Anglo Catholic, and the hand-maid of the State, with the watch-word " no Bishop, no King": and her enemies were treated as heretics rather than traitors. Hitherto she had been ruled with despotic hand: the Hampton Court Conference inaugurated another regime.

541. Millenary Petition. The Puritans, however, entertained a hope that the new king would be disposed to make those changes in the establishment, which they had so long desired, and accordingly drew up a petition signed by a thousand ministers (only 750 or 800) of their party; whence it acquired the name of the Millenary

540. What were the expectations under which James I. ascended the throne? 541. What were the nature and contents of the Millenary Petition? What Conference was convened in consequence?