enough that they had a good design, but they must pursue it by prudent methods.'

Bullinger and Gualter, seeing the division like to be carried much further than the matter of the vestments, thought the best office that they could do their friends was to write to the earl of Bedford; being well assured of his zeal in the matters of religion. They wrote to him on the 11th of September. that year: the letter will be found in the Collection (No. lxxxi). They tell him, "that when they first heard of the contention raised about the vestments, they were afraid it might have a further progress. They, being desired, did give their opinion freely in the matter; and thought, that, for things of so little importance, it was not fit for the clergy to desert their stations, and to leave them to be filled, perhaps, by wolves and deceivers. They were sorry to find, that their fears of the mischief that might follow on this contention were but too well grounded. They hear, that not only the vestments are complained of, but that many other things are excepted to, that plainly savour of popery. They are also sorry, that the private letter which they wrote should have been printed; and that their judg ment of the vestments was extended to other things, of which they could in no sort approve so that their opinion in one particular is made use of to cast a load on persons, for whom they should rather have compassion in their sufferings, than study to aggravate them. It gave them a very sensible grief, to see the church of England scarce got out of the hands of their bloody enemies, now like to be pulled down by their intestine broils. So, having an entire confidence in his good affection to the gospel, they pray him to intercede with the queen and the nobility, in the parliament that was soon to meet, for their brethren that were then suffering; who deserved that great regard should be had to them, and that their faults should be forgiven them. It had appeared what true zeal they had for religion; since the only thing, about which they were so solicitous, was, that religion should be purged from all the dregs of popery. This cause in general was such, that those who promoted it proved themselves to be worthy of the highest dignity. Princes were to be nursing fathers to the church: then they perform that office truly, when they not only rescue her out of the hands of her enemies, but take care that the spouse of Christ be not any way stained with the false paint of superstition, or render herself suspected, by having any rites unbecoming the Christian simplicity. They do therefore earnestly pray him, that as he has hitherto showed his zeal in the cause of the gospel, so he will at this time exert himself; and employ

all the interest he has in the queen, and in the nobility, that the church of England, so happily reformed to the admiration of the whole world, may not be stained with any of the defilements or remnants of popery. This will look like a giddiness in them: it will offend the weak among them, and give great scandal to their neighbours, both in France and in Scotland, who are yet under the cross. The very papists will justify their tyrannical impositions, by what is done now among them. They lay all this before him with the more confidence, knowing his zeal as they do." They also wrote in the same strain to Grindal and Horn, as will be found in the Collection (No. lxxxii).

When Grindal and Horn understood that those of Zurick were not pleased with the printing of their letter, of which they wrote to them, and sent with it the paper, in which were put the heads of those other things in the constitution of this church, to which they excepted; they both, jointly, wrote answer to them, in one letter to Bullinger and Gualter, on the 6th of February, which will be found in the Collection (No. lxxxiii).

They tell them, they had printed their letter, but had suppressed the names of those to whom it was directed. It had the good effect that they expected from it: for it had satisfied and settled the minds of many who were upon the point of leaving their churches; and even the most troublesome were so far wrought on by it, that they were silent, and less violent in their opposition than they had formerly been. Some few were turned out, but they were not of the most learned sort; except Sampson, who, they acknowledge, was both pious and learned. Humphreys, and other learned men, were still continued in their stations. The letter that they had printed related only to that particular upon which it was written, and could not be applied to any thing else: nor was there any other question then on foot; so that it was a calumny to say, that their opinion was asked about any other matter. The noise and the complaints that some had made, had very much provoked the queen and many of the nobility against them. The papists triumphed upon it, and hoped to come in again, and to fill the places, which were made void upon their deserting their stations. They do solemnly attest the great God, that this dissension was not raised by any fault of theirs; and that it did not lie at their door, that those vestments were not quite taken away. They may take their oaths upon it, that they had used all possible means in that matter; and had, with the utmost earnestness, and the most sincere diligence, laboured to

obtain that which their brethren desired, and which they themselves wished for. But since they could not do what willingly they would do, they must be content with doing what they could do.

"As to the other particulars complained of, they plainly write, they did not approve of that figured music, together with the use of organs, that was continued in cathedrals. They enlarge on many other particulars, and set forth the method of convocations. They did in no sort approve of women's baptizing. They gave way till God should send better times, to the form of making the sponsors in baptism answer in the child's name; for which St. Austin's authority was pretended but they did openly declare, that they thought it was not convenient. Nor did they approve of using the cross in baptism; though the words spoken when it was made did plainly show, there was no superstitious conceit kept up by the use of it. They also suffered the posture of kneeling in the sacrament, with the due caution with which it was enjoined, that was set down in King Edward's book, declaring the reason for which that posture was still continued. For the abuses of their courts, though they cannot correct them entirely, yet they did openly inveigh against them; which they would continue still to do, till they should be sent back to hell, from whence they came. Every man had full freedom to declare his mind as to all these abuses: they had laboured in the last parliament all they could to purge out all errors and abuses; which, though it had not then the desired effect, yet they would not give over their endeavours to bring it to a happy conclusion and this they would do, as they desired the continuance of their friendship and brotherly love."

:

The others still insisted; and Sampson, in a letter from Oxford, the 9th of February 1565-6, to Bullinger, reduces the questions concerning the habits to seven heads. 1st, If a habit different in form and colour from the laity ought to be enjoined to the clergy? 2dly, If the Mosaical ceremonies may be brought into the Christian church? 3dly, If it is lawful to conform to papists in habits and outward rites, and if it is fitting to borrow ceremonies from that corrupt church? 4thly, If the using a peculiar habit is merely a civil matter, and if it does not savour of monkery, popery, and Judaism? 5thly, If those who have hitherto used their liberty, may with a good conscience, upon the account of the queen's, mandate, involve themselves and the church again in a yoke of bondage? 6thly, If the popish clerical habit can be called a thing that is indifferent? And the 7th is, If they

ought to use these habits, rather than desert their stations? To these he begs him to send as soon as may be a full and copious answer.

A few days after this, Jewel wrote to Bullinger (in the letter that is in the Collection, No. lxxxiv), "that he was so attacked by many different hands, that it took him wholly up to prepare answers to them. He was not in the house of lords during the last parliament, in which there was great heat for a whole month concerning the succession to the crown but the queen would suffer no declaration to be made in that matter, though it was most vehemently pressed, there appearing on both sides a great deal of earnestness. The queen thought any such declaration would turn the eyes of the nation too much towards the rising sun. He says, the controversy about the vestments had raised great heats. The queen was fixed, and could not be wrought on to let any change be made. Some of their brethren were so eager in disputing about that matter, as if the whole business of religion was concerned in it. They leave their stations and churches rather than yield a little. Nor were they at all moved from their stiffness by the most learned letters, that he and Gualter had written to them on that subject, nor by all the advices of their friends. He thanks God that they had no other nor more important debates then , among them. Cheyney, bishop of Gloucester, did indeed in parliament profess himself openly to be a Lutheran; but he was not like to have many followers."

In a letter of his, that is also in the Collection (No. lxxxv), written to Bullinger on the 1st of March 1565, he writes, "that he was overwhelmed with the books that the papists had written against him, and was by that means engaged in a profound course of study. He tells him how Cardinal Grandvell had intended to cut off the intercourse between England and the Netherlands; hoping by that means to provoke the English to break out into tumults: but the design turned upon himself; for the English resolving to settle their trade and staple at Embden, the people of Flanders could not bear that. The pope had sent one to Ireland to raise a flame in that island. But the pope's agent, who was an Irishman, was taken and sent over a prisoner to England. In Scotland the queen only had her mass, all the nation being averse to it."

By Grindal and Horn's letters it appears, that they had no other zeal in this matter, but to preserve the church in the queen's favour, and in obedience to the laws yet in letters that were upon this occasion written to Zurick (a part of one is in the Collection, No. lxxxvi), by some others that

adhered to Sampson, they let them know, that both Parker the archbishop, and Grindal and Horn, were too much sharpened in this matter; therefore they pray them to use their endeavours to soften them more towards their brethren: but they acknowledge that Pilkington of Duresme, Sands of Worcester, and Parkhurst of Norwich, had by their moderation made good all their promises; so they deserved that thanks should be given them: they desire further, that they would write to them all to proceed more mildly, and to endeavour to get those dregs of popery to be removed; and that they would tolerate, at least connive at, those who did not approve them. I find Pilkington complains in a letter to Gualter, "that the disputes which began about the vestments, were carried much further, even to the whole constitution. Pious persons lamented this; atheists laughed at it; and the papists blew the coals, and were full of hopes upon it. The blame of all was cast on the bishops. He adds, I confess we suffer many things against our hearts, groaning under them: we cannot take them away, though we were ever so much set on it. We are under authority, and can innovate nothing without the queen; nor can we alter the laws: the only thing that is left to our choice is, whether we will bear these things, or break the peace of the church."

Parkhurst in one letter writes, "Many good people are pleased with all that is done; but there are some things that do not please me." And in another he writes, "Matters of religion go on well: there are but a very few things that I dare find fault with. That which grieved him most was, that the lives of those who professed the gospel were so very contrary to it. The gospel was never preached among them more faithfully, and with more zeal: he prays, God grant us his Spirit, that we may walk in his Spirit, and mor tify the works of the flesh." The last letter that those of Zurick wrote on this subject was on the 26th of August 1567 (Collection, No. lxxxvii), directed to the bishops of London, Winchester, and Norwich. They express their grief that some learned men were deprived: they hear daily that some of those, that had given good proots of themselves in the Marian persecution, were now not only turned out, but imprisoned: they hear that in Ireland many that have the same scruples are yet kept out of all trouble by the queen's order, upon the intercession of their bishops: which makes it probable that the like favour might be obtained in England, if the bishops would intercede with her majesty for it; which may the rather be expected, since the bishops themselves acknowledge, that it were better for the church that