at this reply, and their courage failed them, for they durft not proceed to deprive a man of fo much merit, who by his martyrology, had fet the afhes of Smithfield before their eyes.

The 26th of March being appointed for the appearance of the London clergy, the Archbishop requested the fecretary, with fome of the nobility and the Queen's council, to countenance the proceedings of the commiffioners with their prefence; but they refused to be concerned in fuch difgraceful work. When the London minifters appeared in court, Mr Thomas Cole, a clergyman, was placed by the fide of the commiffioners in priestly apparel, when the Bishop's Chancellor addreffed them from the bench in these words; my masters, and ye "minifters of London, the council's pleasure is, that "ye ftrickly keep the unity of apparel like this "man who ftands here canonically habited with a

fquare cap, a fcholar's gown prieft-like, a tippet, "and in the church, a linen furplice; ye who "will fubfcribe write volo, thofe who will not "fubfcribe write nolo: be brief, make no words." Some of the minifters attempted to fpeak, but were interrupted by the Chancellor, who cried, peace, peace, apparitor, call over the churches, and ye mafters answer presently fub pena contemptus. The minifters were in great diftrefs, knowing that they had only this alternative, either to polute their confciences, or ruin their families, and fome of them faid, that they should be killed in their fouls for fuch polution. After much perfuafion fixty out of a hundred fubfcribed, and thirty

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feven abfolutely refufed; among the laft, according to the Archbishop's own confeffion, were fome of the best preachers. The non-conformists were immediately fufpended, and laid afide from the office of their miniftry, with notice, that if they did not conform in the space of three months, they were to be deprived. Parker, by this fevere and uncourtly behaviour, imagined that he would have provoked the minifters to behave in a rough and unfeemingly manner, and have had fome fhadow of apology for his proceeding against them; but contrary to his expectations, they behaved foberly, gravely and modeftly. They afterwards gave a paper fignifying their reafons for refufing

the habits.

That they were the caufe of offence to many godly perfons. who could not in confcience use them. That it was contrary to chriftian liberty to impofe them. That it was contrary both to fcripture, and the practice of the ancient fathers of the church, all these they illuftrated by many paffages of fcripture, and quotations from the ancient writers in the church.

To this declaration the commiffioners made no other reply than, that it was not their business to difpute, but to execute the Queen's injunctions. The Archbishop was highly pleafed with the behaviour of his Chancellor, and faid that he did not doubt but when the minifters had felt the fmart of poverty and want, they would comply; for faid he, the wood is yet but green. And he further declared, that he was fully refolved to go

through with the work he had begun; and the rather, because the Queen would have him to try with his own authority, what he could do for order. This Archbishop's ambition was boundlefs, and made him proceed fo far as to folicit the fecretary with letters for his countenance. In one of his epiftles he makes ufe of very curious ftile; for, fays he "if we are not better backed, there will be fewer Winchesters as is defired. By this he referred to Stephen Gardner, the bloody Bishop of Winchefter, in the reign of Queen Mary; but for my part, fays he, fo that my prince may win honour, I will be gladly the rock, of offence, fince the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me, nor will I be amused or daunted, fremat mundus ruat cælum, though the world run into confufion, and the hea vens go to wreck. This was the merciful and chriftian ftile of the firft Archbishop, who was confecrated by proteftants. Stripe has endeavoured to glofs these paragraphs with a very favourable commen tary, and attempted to prove that Parker was a mild and gentle Archbishop; but it is very probable, that if Stripe and Parker had fuffered as many hardships as Parker inflicted upon many worthy honeft men, they would have had a different opinion of the matter. No perfon poffeffed of the fmallest degree of human feelings, whatever religion he may profefs, can read the history of Archbishop Parker's conduct and proceedings, without being fhocked at his cruelty and unrelenting mifanthropy who for the fake of things which

he

he himself confeffed to be indifferent, could profecute tender hearted men, to the utmost extremity. He even paid no regard to the laws of the land, but by a very fimple order from the Queen, trampled on the whole conftitution. The vestments were not as yet established by any act of the legislature, nor by any formal deed of convocation; the Queen's ecclefiaftical commiffioners, were law-givers to the whole nation in this particular, When regal commiffioners make, laws for their own private ends, and inforce them by perfecution, there is an end of all liberty, and the conftitution at once. Parker will never be confidered by any person who loves truth, and the laws of his country, in any other point of light than a fcourge, permitted by heaven, to punish a guilty people for their iniquities. It fignifies nothing whether he was papift, epifcoparian, or presbyterian; for while, his actions are contrary to the effential principles of christianity, and the natural rights of mankind, his memory must be handed down with disgrace to all future ages.

Every good man muft in his heart abhor all perfecutors of every perfuafion, however they may have been dignified with offices, and celebrated by the demagogues of a party. True religion in its own nature is oppofite to all perfecution, and teaches mercy, judgment, and faith, as the duty of all its profeffors.

Many of the Bishops relented, and refufed to proceed; but Parker was a perfon of more intrepidity. Other men's afflictions did not affect him;

his

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his heart was hardened againft feeling for any man's misfortunes, provided he could gain honour" with the Queen, and fupport his own interest. The queen might have been prevailed with to have abated of the rigour of thefe proceedings, and the Secretary, and the friends of the court declared they could not keep pace with Parker. Grindal and the Bishop of Durham, were particularly moved with the diftreffes of the non-conformifts; and the Bishop of Durham declared that he would rather lay down his Bishoprick, than fuffer fuch proceedings in his diocefe. All this made no impreffion upon Parker, he was above all reproach, and deftitute of feeling; and inftead of abating any thing of his rigour, he grew more intolerable, and compofed fuch injunctions for the clergy of London, as had never been heard of in any free ftate, or in a proteftant country. The commiffioners obliged every clergyman, who had the cure of fouls, to fwear obedience to all the Queen's injunctions, and letters patent. To all letters from the privy council. To the articles and injunctions of their metropolitan. To the articles and mandates of their Bishop, Archdeacon, Chancellors, Somners, Receivers, &c. and to be fubject to the commands of all their fuperiors with patience. To inforce thefe injunctions upon the puritans, there were four or eight cenfors, fpies, or jurats, appointed in every parish, to take notice of all offences which might be given or received. Thefe fpies were obliged by their oath, to take particular notice of the clergy, and all