templers received it to this very time sitting. Travers would have introduced the posture of standing at the side of the table, but the benchers insisted upon their privilege, and would receive it in no other posture than sitting.* The archbishop, in order to put an end to this practice, would admit none but an high conformist, that they might be obliged to receive it kneeling, or not at all.

The harder the church pressed upon the puritans, the more were they disaffected to the national establishment, and the more resolute in their attempts for a reformation of discipline. There was a book in high esteem among them at this time, entitled, Disciplina Ecclesiae sacra ex Dei verbo descripta; that is, The Holy Discipline of the Church described in the word of God. It was drawn up in Latin by Mr. Travers, and printed at Geneva about the year 1574, but since that time had been diligently reviewed, corrected and perfected, by Mr. Cartwright, and other learned ministers at their synods. It was translated into English this year, with a preface by Mr. Cartwright, and designed to be published for more general use; but as it was printing at Cambridge it was seized at the press : The archbishop advised that all the copies should be burnt as factious and seditious, but one was found in Mr. Cartwright's study after his death, and reprinted in the year 1644, under this new title, A Directory of Government anciently contended for, and as far as the time would suffer, practised by the first non-conformists in the days of Queen Elizabeth, found in the study of the most accomplished divine Mr. Thomas Cartwright, after his disease, and reserved to be published for such a time as this. Published by authority. It contains the substance of those alterations in discipline, which the puritans of these times contended for, and was subscribed by the brethren hereafter named, as agreeable to the word of GOD, and to be promoted by all lawful means, that it may be established by the authority of the magistrate and of the church; and in the mean timeto be observed as far as lawfully they may, consistently with the laws of the land, and peace of the church. I have

therefore given it a place in the appendix, to which I refer the reader.*

Another treatise, dispersed privately about this time, against the discipline of the church, was entitled, An Abstract of certain Acts of Parliament, and of certain of her Majesty's Injunctions and Canons, &c. printed by H. Denham, 158k The author's designt was to shew, That the bishops in their ecclesiastical courts had exceeded their power, and broke through the laws and statutes of the realm; which was so notorious, that the answerer, instead of confuting the abstracter, blames him for exposing their father's nakedness, to the thrusting through of religion, by the sides of the bishops. But who was in fault? Shall the liberties and properties of mankind be trampled upon by a despotic power, and the poor sufferers not be allowed to hold up the laws and statutes of the land, to their oppressors, because of their great names or religious characters?

The affairs of the church were in this ferment when the parliament met Nov. 23, 1584, in which the puritants, despairing of all other relief, resolved to make their utmost efforts for a further reformation of church discipline. Fuller says, their agents were soliciting at the door of the House of Commons all day, and making interest in the ev ening at the chambers of parliament men; and if the Queen would have taken the advice of her two houses they had been made easy. Dec. 14th three petitions were offered to the house; one touching liberty for godly preachers; a second to exercise and continue their ministry; and a third for a speedy supply of able men for destitute places.§ The first was brought in by Sir Thomas Lucy; the second by Sir Edward Dymock; and the third by Mr. Gates. Soon after this Dr. Turner stood up, and put the house in remembrance of a bill and book which he had heretofore offered to the house; the bill was entitled, An Act concerning the Subscription of Ministers, and proposes, "That no other subscription but what is enjoined by the 13th of 'Queen Elizabeth, be required of any minister or preacher

* Appendix, No. iv.

B. ix. p. 173.

† Strype's Ann. vol. iii. p. 233, 283. § Life of Whitgift, p. 176, 177.

in the church of England; and that the refusing to subscribe any other articles, shall not be any cause for the archbishops or bishops, or any other persons having ec'clesiastical jurisdiction, to refuse any of the said minis'ters to any ecclesiastical office, function or dignity; but 'that the said archbishops,bishops, &c.shall institute,induct, ' admit and invest, or cause to be instituted, &c. such per'sons as shall be presented by the lawful patrons, notwithstanding their refusal to subscribe any other articles not 'set down in the statute 13 Eliz. And that no minister for 'the future shall be suspended, deprived or otherwise mo'lested in body or goods, by virtue of any ecclesiastical 'jurisdiction, but only in the case of obstinately and wilfully defending any heresies, condemned by the express word of GOD, or for their dissolute lives, which shall be 'proved by two credible witnesses, or by their own vo'luntary confession." The book consisted of 34 articles of complaint, but by advice of the house, the substance of the petitions was reduced by the ministers into sixteen articles, which he desired might be imparted to the House of lords, and they be requested to join with the Commons in exhibiting them by way of humble suit to the Queen. The five first were against insufficient ministers; then followed, 6. That all pastors be admitted to cures might be tried and allowed by the parishes.

7. That no oath or subscription might be tendered to any at their entrance into the ministry, but such as is expressly prescribed by the statutes of this realm, except the oath against corrupt entring.*

.8. That ministers may not be troubled for omission of some rites or portions prescribed in the book of common prayer.

9. That they may not be called and urged to answer before the officials and commissaries, but before the bishops themselves.

10. That such as has been suspended or deprived for no other offence, but only for not subscribing, might be restored.

11. That the bishops would forbear their excommunica* MS. p. 466. Fuller, b. ix. p. 189, 190.

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tion ex officio mero of godly and learned preachers, not detected for open offence of life, or apparent error in doctrine; and that they might not be called before the high commission, or out of the diocese where they lived, except for some notable offence.

12. That it might be permitted to them in every archdeaconry, to have some common exercises and conferences among themselves, to be limited and prescribed by the ordinaries.

13. That the high censure of excommunication may not be denounced or executed for small matters.

14. Nor by lay-chancellors, commissaries, or officials, but by the bishops themselves, with the assistance of grave persons.

15, 16. That non-residence and pluralities may be quite removed out of the church, or at least that according to the Queen's injunctions (Article 44.) no non-resident having already a licence or faculty may enjoy it, unless he depute an able curate, who may weekly preach and catechise, as is required in her majesty's injunctions.

This petition was attended with a moving supplication to the Queen and parliament, in the name of thousands of the poor untaught people of England, drawn up by Mr. Sampson, in which they complain, that in many of their congregations they had none to break the bread of life, nor the comfortable preaching of God's holy word :* That the bishops in their ordinations had no regard to such as were qualified to preach, provided they could only read, and did but conform to the ceremonies: That they deprived such as were capable of preaching on account of ceremonies which do not edify, but are rather unprofitable burthens to the church; and that they molest the people that go from their own parish churches to seek the bread of life, when they have no preaching at home. They complain, that there are thousands of parishes destitute of the necessary means of salvation, and therefore pray the Queen and parliament to provide a remedy.

In answer to the petition last mentioned, the bishop of Winchester, in the name of his brethren, drew up the following reply.

* Strype's Annals, p. 223.

The five first petitions tend to one thing, that is, the reformation of an unlearned and insufficient ministry; to which we answer, that though there are many such in the church, yet that there was never less reason to complain of them than at present, and that things are mending every day.

To the 6th article they answered, that it savored of popular elections long since abrogated; that it would breed divisions in parishes, and prejudice the patron's right.

To the 7th and four following articles they reply, that if they are granted the whole hierarchy will be unbraced; for the 7th article shakes the ground of all ecclesiastical government, by subverting the oath of canonical obedience to the bishop in omnibus licitis & honestis.* The 8th article requires a dispensation from the civil magistrate, to the subverting the act for uniformity of common prayer, &c. and confirmation of the rites and ceremonies of the

church.

The 9th desires a dispensation from the jurisdiction of our ecclesiastical courts, as chancellors, officials, &c. which will in the end subvert all episcopal authority. To the 10th they say, that the ministers who have been suspended are heady, rash and contentious; and it is a perilous example, to have sentences revoked that have been given acThe 11th pecording to law, except they would yield. tition cutteth off another considerable branch of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, viz. the oath ex officio, which is very necessary in some cases, where the parishioners are so perverse, that though the minister varies the service of the church as by law appointed, they will not complain, much less be witnesses against him.

The exercises mentioned in the 12th article are by the Queen's majesty suppressed.

To the 13th and 14th they answer, that they are willing to petition the Queen, that the sentence of excommunication may be pronounced by the bishop, with such assist. ance as he shall call in, or by some ecclesiastical person commissioned by him.

To the 15th and 16th articles they answer, that the

* Life of Whitgift, p. 189.