1553. the Clergy also was fitted with a Prolocutor of the same affec- AN. REG. 1, tions; Dr Hugh Weston, then newly substituted Dean of Westminster in the place of Cox, being elected to that office1. On Wednesday, the 18th of October, it was signified by the Prolocutor that it was the Queen's pleasure that they of the house should debate of matters of religion, and proceed to the making of such constitutions as should be found necessary in that case. But there was no equality in number between the parties, and reason was of no authority where the major part had formerly resolved upon the points. So partially had the elections been returned from the several dioceses, that we find none of King Edward's Clergy amongst the clerks2; and such an alteration had been made in the Deans and dignitaries, that we find but six of that rank neither to have suffrage in it, that is to say, James Haddon, Dean of Exeter; Walter Philips, Dean of Rochester; John Philpot, Archdeacon of Winchester; John Elmer, Archdeacon of Stow, in the diocese of Lincoln; Richard Cheny, Archdeacon of Hereford3. One more I find, but without any name in the "Acts and Mon.," who joined himself to the other five in the disputation. Nor would the Prolocutor admit of more, though earnestly desired by Philpot that some of the divines which had the passing of the Book of Articles in King Edward's time might be associated with them in the defence thereof. Which motion he the rather made, because two or three in the instrument for this purpose: and thus it happened [in the first convocation under Elizabeth, (see below, Eliz. i. 20)], the Bishops of Worcester and Coventry being joined in commission with Bonner."-Collier, vi. 205. Comp. Cardwell, Synodalia, 496. 1 Fox, vi. 395. 2 i. e. the proctors for the capitular and parochial Clergy. 3 These are the persons mentioned as dissentient from the articles agreed on by the convocation concerning the Eucharistic Presence and Transubstantiation.-Wilkins, iv. 88. Philips recanted in the following year (ib. 94), but retained his preferment under Elizabeth.-Fox, vi. 398. 4 Thomas Young, precentor of St David's, preferred under Elizabeth to the bishoprick of St David's and the archbishoprick of York.— Burnet, II. 527. Pollanus, in his Latin translation of the "Disputation," observes that, though Young took no part in the argument, yet he was one of those who refused to subscribe the acts of the Synod.N. in Philpot's Works, ed. Park. Soc. 171. 5 Fox, vi. 396, seqq. The disputation is also reprinted in Philpot's Works. 1553. AN.REG.1, one of the points proposed by the Prolocutor related to a catechism set forth in the said King's time, intituled to the said convocation in the year 1552. Of which it was to be inquired whether or no it was the work of that convocation1. But that matter being passed lightly over, the main point in debate concerned the manner of Christ's presence in the blessed Sacrament. It was not denied by Philpot and the rest of the protestant party that Christ was present in his Sacrament, rightly ministered according to his institution; but only that he was not present after the gross and carnal manner which they of the popish party had before subscribed to. Six days the disputation lasted, but to little purpose; for on the one side it was said by Weston and his associates that their adversaries were sufficiently confuted, and all their arguments fully answered; and on the other side it was affirmed by the divines of King Edward's time, that neither any satisfaction had been given to 30 their arguments, nor that any right judgment could be made in 200 the points disputed, where the adverse party sat as judges in their own concernments. Many checks had been given by Weston to the six divines, but especially to the Archdeacon of Winchester2; and there was much disorder otherwise in the disputation (though certain great Lords were present at it) which hindered it from producing any good effect: so that, being weary at the last of their own confusions, it was thought fit to put an end to the dispute. Which Weston did accordingly in these following words "It is not," saith he, "the Queen's pleasure that we should spend any longer time in these debates, and ye are well enough already. For you," saith he, "have the word, and we have the swords." So powerful is the truth-that many times it will find some means to vent itself when we least intend it, and sometimes also when we most labour to suppress it. Zealous proceedings of Bonner. 21. The parliament and convocation had thus concluded on the point, and little question would be made but that such Bishops as disliked the alterations in the time of King Edward 1 Sup. i. 257-8. 2 "Penultimo die Octobris Mag. Philpot propter ignorantiam, arrogantiam, insolentiam ac pertinacitatem ad disputandum non est ulterius admissus nisi in causis civilibus."-Registr. Lambeth, ap. Wilkins, iv. 88. 3 Holinshed, iv. 9. 1553. will be sufficiently active in advancing the results of both. But AN.REG.1, Bonner will not stay long: he is resolved to go along with the parliament, if not before it. For after the ending of the Evensong on St Katherine's day, before the consultations of the parliament had been confirmed by the royal assent, he caused the quire of St Paul's to go about the steeple, singing with lights after the old custom1. And on St Andrew's day next following he began the procession in Latin himself, with many parsons and curates and the whole quire, together with the Lord Mayor and divers of the Aldermen, the Prebendaries of the church attired in their old gray amises (as they used to call them); in which manner they continued it for three days after3. In setting up the mass with all the pomps and rites thereof at the time appointed, it is not to be thought that he could be backward who shewed himself so forward in the rest of his actings. And therefore it can be no news to hear that, on the 14th of January, he restored the solemn Sundays-procession about the church, with the Mayor and Aldermen in their cloaks; the Preacher taking his benediction in the midst of the church, according to the ancient custom; or that he should send out his mandates to all Parsons and Curates within his diocese, for taking the names of all such as would not come the Lent following to auricular confession, and receive at Easter: or, finally, that he should issue out the like commands to all Priests and Curates which lived within the compass of his jurisdiction, for the abolishing of such paintings and sentences of holy Scripture as had been pencilled on the church-walls in King Edward's days". He knew full well, that as the actions of the mother church would easily become exemplary to the rest of the city, so the proceedings of that city and the parts about it would in time give the law to the rest of the kingdom; 1 Nov. 25.-Strype, Eccl. Mem. iii. 52. Machyn, 49. 2 Edd. 1, 2, "Prebends." 3 Fox, vi. 413. 4 i. e. the Bishop's. See Gavanti, Thes. Sacr. Rit. i. 209, ed. Aug. Vindel. 1763. 5 Fox, vi. 426. 6 Oct. 25, 1554.-Fox, vi. 565; Wilkins, iv. 108. The texts had been chosen with a controversial intention, as is declared in Bonner's order. Stow, relating the pulling down of images in the preceding reign, adds that "texts of scriptures were written on the walls of the churches, against images."-Chron. 595. 1553. AN.REG.1, and that there was no speedier way to advance a general conformity over all the kingdom, than to take beginning at the head, from whence both sense and motion is derived to the rest of the body. Which makes it seem the greater wonder that he should be so backward in advancing images (if at the least his actings in that kind have not been misplaced) as not to go about it till the year next following; unless it were that he began to be so wise as to stay until the Queen's affairs were better settled. But no sooner was her marriage past, when we find him at it. For having by that time prepared a fair and large image of our Saviour, which they called the Rood, he caused it to be laid along upon the pavement of St Paul's quire, and all the doors of the church to be kept close shut, whilst he, together with the Prebendaries1, sung and said divers prayers by it. Which done, they anointed it with oil in divers places, and after the anointing of it, crept unto it and kissed it, and after weighed it up, and set it in its accustomed place; the whole quire in the mean time singing Te Deum, and the bells publishing their joy at the end of the pageant2. After which a command is given to Dr Story (who was then Chancellor of his diocese, and afterwards a most active instrument in all his butcheries) to visit every parish-church in London 31 and Middlesex, to see their rood-lofts repaired, and the image 201 of the crucifix with Mary and John to be placed on them3. A match between the Queen and Philip, Prince of Spain. 22. But it is time that we return to the former parliament; during the sitting whereof the Queen had been desired to marry, and three husbands had been nominated, of several qualities, that she might please herself in the choice of one: that is to say, Edward Lord Courtney, whom she had lately restored to the title of Earl of Devon1; Reginald Pole, a Cardinal of the Church of Rome, descended from George Duke of Clarence; and Philip, the eldest son of Charles the Emperor. It is affirmed that she had carried some good affections to the Earl of Devonshire ever since she first saw him in the Tower, as being of a lovely personage and royal extraction, the grandson of a daughter of King Edward the Fourth; but he, being sounded afar off, had declined the matter. Concerning which there goes a story, that the young Earl petitioning her for leave 1 Edd. 1, 2, "Prebends." 2 Fox, vi. 558. 4 Sept. 3, 1553.—Stow, 616. 1553. to travel, she advised him to marry and stay at home, assuring AN.REG.1, him that no lady in the land, how high soever, would refuse to accept him for an husband. By which words, though she pointed out herself unto him, as plainly as might either stand with the modesty or majesty of a maiden Queen, yet the young gentleman, not daring to look so high as a crown, or being better affected to the person of the Princess Elizabeth, desired the Queen to give him leave to marry her sister. Which gave the Queen so much displeasure that she looked with an evil eye upon them both for ever after;-upon the Earl for not accepting that love which she seemed to offer, and on her sister as her rival in the Earl's affections'. It was supposed also that she might have some inclinations to Cardinal Pole, as having been brought up with him in the house of his mother, the late Countess of Salisbury2. But against him it was objected that he began to grow in years, and was so given to his book that he seemed fitter for a cowl than to wear a crown; that he had few dependences at home, and fewer alliances abroad; and that the Queen's affairs did require a man both stout and active, well backed with friends, and able at all points to carry on the great concernments of the kingdom. And then what fitter husband could be found out for her than Philip Prince of Spain? a Prince in the verdure of his years, and eldest son to the most mighty Emperor Charles the Fifth; by whom, the Netherlands being laid to England, and both secured by the assistance and power of Spain, this nation might be rendered more considerable both by sea and land than any people in the world'. 23. To this last match the Queen was carefully solicited 1 Dr Lingard, (vii. 128) shews, from the dispatches of Noailles, the French Ambassador, that Courtenay forfeited the Queen's regard by misconduct; that while "in public she observed that it was not for her honour to marry a subject...to her confidential friends she attributed the cause to the immorality of Courtenay." (Comp. Tytler, Edw. and Mary, ii. 259.) Dr Lingard has, however, done wrong to Hume in saying that he "could have had no better authority than his own imagination" for his "very romantic statement" as to the cause of Courtenay's rejection; for Hume only followed Heylyn. On the subject of Courtenay, see the British Magazine, xviii. 256-60. 2 Sup. p. 50. 3 He was born in 1500.-Life by Philips, i. 4. 4 Godwin, 167. [HEYLYN, II.] I |