abroad, on account of which they make apologies for her perfecuting fo many of her fubjects, appear to have been more imaginary than real, and feem rather to have been political contrivances of her court to cover certain defigns, than real attempts of her enemies against her life. The ftatutes made during her reign against Non-conformifts, for refufing to fubmit to her ecclefiaftical fupre macy, are lafting monuments of her tyranny. She feems to have thought that men's confciences were given them for no other reafon but to bend to the will of Princes, and to fubmit to every arbitrary dictate of a fuperior. Her fubjects rather admired her for the fuccefs which attended her government, than loved her in their hearts. They all agreed that he was a great Princefs, and venerated her royal perfon, but none have given fufficient reasons to prove that they thought her good. The high church allow that fhe was covetous when the plundered the church revenues, and the Non-conformists. have declared that he was a fevere perfecutor of honeft men for confcience fake. The glories of her reign are fo tarnished with bloodfhed and oppreffion, that none who understand and love the liberties of mankind, can read her hiftory but with difguft. Her taking away the life of Mary Queen of Scots was inhofpitable and barbarous, and every apology which her friends have made for her conduct in this particular, ferve only to demonftrate the aggravation of her guilt, and fhew their own partiality. The hiftory of her reign fufficiently declares, that these draughts of her character are just, and partizans may judge of them as they think proper. BOOK

BOOK V.

1603. W the throne of England, the hopes of

HEN King James the First afcended

the Puritans were raised to an high degree. He had expreffed himself warmly in their favour when he was only King of Scotland, and now they expected that they would feel the influence of his government in a benign manner. James had, in the general affembly of the church of Scotland, publicly thanked God that he was King of the pureft church in the world; and expreffed his difapprobation of the English form of worship, calling it an ill faid mass in English. This made the Nonconformists believe, that seeing he was now advanced to the crown of England, he would prtronize that form of worship which he had formerly fo highly commended. The Bishops were afraid that he would alter the established forms of religion, and fet up that of presbytery in the room thereof; they therefore addreffed him with great submission, and extolled his wifdom in the highest ftrains of flattery and adulation. James was fond of prerogative, and the Bishops encouraged his views, and affifted his claims; he found them a more tractable fort of creatures than the Scotch Presbyterians, and was highly pleased with their cringing and fubmiffion. He now began to repent that he had fo highly extolled the kirk of Scotland, and fhewed a manifeft inclination towards epifcopacy. This new

King, though he was called Solomon by his flatterers, was not poffeffed of fo much wifdom as to conceal his own propensity towards things which pleafed him; the Bishops foon perceived his incli-. nation, and had addrefs enough to make profitable improvements of his weakness. Archbishop Whitgift was in great fear of what he termed Scotch Mift, but the favour of James in lefs than nine months blew it all away, and his Lordship's fears were totally removed.

The Puritans, full of hopes that James would favour their intereft, prefented a petition to him, to have fundry articles of the church of England reformed. The Bishops oppofed this petition with

*The Humble Petition of the Minifters, &c. for relief in the following

particulars.

all

1. In the church fervice : That the cross in baptifm, the interrogatories to infants, baptifm by women, and confirmation may be taken away; that the cap and furplice may not be urged; that examination may go before the communion; that the ring in marriage may be difpenfed with; that the service may be abridg'd, church fongs and mufic moderated to better edification; that the Lord's day may not be profaned, nor the observation of other holydays strictly en joined; that minifters may not be charged to teach their people to bow at the name of Jefus; and that none but canonical fcriptures be read in the church.

2. Concerning minifters: That none may be admitted but able men; that they be obliged to preach on the Lord's day; that fuch as are not capable of preaching, may be removed or obliged to maintain preachers; that non-refidency be not permitted; that King Ed ́ward's statute for the lawfulness of the marriage of the clergy bẹ revived; and that ministers he not obliged to fubfcribe, but according to law, to the articles of religion and the King's fupremacy only. 3. For church livings: That Bishops leave their commendams; that impropriations, annexed to bishopricks and colleges, be given to preachers, incumbents only; and that lay-impropriations, be charged with a fixth or feventh part for the maintenance of a preacher.

4. For

all their influence, and entreated the King to fuffer religion to continue as he found it at his acceffion to the crown. James thought he could not do lefs to please a fet of men whom he perceived were great friends to arbitrary power, and the prerogative of Princes, than to grant their requeft concerning religion; he therefore not only permitted them to continue in their places, and allowed them to enjoy their own form of religion, but came to, tally over to their principles. The government of the church of England was more agreeable to his fentiments, and was more like monarchy, than the forms he had been accustomed to in Scotland; he began to find that the clergy of the church of England entered more into his views, and agreed better with his defigns, than the Scotch, who rather wanted to limit his authority than extend his power.*

King James, that he might not appear too partial, and to perfuade people that he would not determine any thing without hearing the arguments on both fides, appointed a conference between the

two

4. For church difcipline: That excommunication and church cenfures be not in the name of lay-chancellors, &c. that men be not excommunicated for twelve-penny matters, nor without confent of their pastors; that register's places, and others, having juridiction, do not put them out to farm; that fundry popish canons be reverfed, may be reftrained; that the oath ex officio be more fparing ly used; and licences for marriages without banns be more fparingly granted.

These things, fay they, we are able to fhew not to be agreeable to the word of God, if it fhall pleafe your Majesty to hear us, or by writing to be informed, or by conference among the learned to be refolved.

* Rapin, Collier, Neal,

two parties, wherein he himself would prefide as moderator. This conference is called by hittorians the Hampton-court conference. It was held for the space of three days, on the fourteenth, fixteenth, and eighteenth of January, one thousand fix hundred and four.*

1604.

This conference was held in the drawing-room within the privy chamber at Hampton-court: the difputants were appointed on both fides by the King: for the church there were nine Bishops, and as many Dignitaries; for the Puritans there were only four Minifters. The advocates for the church were the Bishops Whitgift, Bancroft, Matthew, Bilfon, Baffington, Rudd, Watson, Robinson, and Dove; the Doctors Andrews, Overal, Barlow, Bridges, Field, and King, befides the Deans of Worcester and Windfor. Those who were on the fide of the Puritans were the Doctors Raynolds and Sparks, and Meff. Chadderton and Knewftubs. The church divines appeared in the habits of their refpective diftinctions but those who appeared for the Puritans had fur gowns, like Turky merchants, or like the profeffors of the univerfities. This conference anfwered no good purpofe; the contest was unequal; for the puritan divines were not allowed freedom of fpeech. The King, who fat as prefident, acted the part of a difputant, and intimidated the minifters by his authority, while the Bishops looked on as fpectators of the triumph. James told them in fo many words

4

Fuller, Spotefwood, Collier, Calderwood, Neal.

S s

what