1559.

Elizabeth.

the English liturgy, in opposition to the personal A. D. opposition of Knox, and the written attack of Calvin, entitled him to a high place in the church of England, and his merit was not more than adequately rewarded by the bishopric of Ely. In this station his conduct corresponded with that which he had throughout his life maintained; and in the fierce disputes which arose concerning the habits and other ceremonies of the church, he appears not to have participated. He rather lamented the decay of practical religion, and the neglect of the word of God, which generally prevailed; and these evils he assiduously laboured to correct.

Grindal was promoted to the important see of London: he had also distinguished himself in the troubles of Frankfort, and had been the coadjutor of Cox. No one more deeply lamented the controversies which had taken place among the reformers, and no one was better fitted, by the mildness of his temper, to reduce dissentients to conformity. He had been a diligent collector of documents relative to the sufferings of the protestant martyrs, and Fox received valuable assistance from Grindal in the compilation of his work. If friendship for his companions in exile induced him to connive at their irregularities, and even their total defection from ecclesiastical discipline, yet his lenity and forbearance, originating in such a motive, cannot but be regarded with respect.

Horn, the dean of Durham, in the reign of Edward, who had adhered to Cox during the troubles at Frankfort, and had finally seceded with him from the refractory congregation, was ap

XV.

CHAP. pointed to the see of Winchester; Pilkington, on the removal of Tonstal, succeeded in the bishopric of Durham; and the sees of Worcester and Rochester were conferred on Sandys and Guest.

And Jewel, “the ornament of his age for learning and piety," the glory of the reformation, was not forgotten. So high was his reputation, that immediately on his return from exile, he was selected as one of the protestant divines in the conference at Westminster-abbey. After this, he was appointed one of the commissioners for a general visitation, and was sent into the western district; and having discharged this important trust, the queen testified her approbation by his nomination to the bishopric of Salisbury.

Bishoprics were offered to other eminent divines, who refused to accept the charge; some from a dislike of the habits and ceremonies prescribed by the act of uniformity, others from a disinclination to episcopal government, and from an objection to acknowledge the regal supremacy. Among the recusants are found the names of Whitehead, Knox, and Bernard Gilpin. This last divine, often known by the title of the Apostle of the North, was a relative of Tonstal, and was sent by that prelate to "visit the foreign churches," during the reign of king Edward. While Gilpin was at Paris, Tonstal requested him to superintend the printing of a work written by himself on the doctrine of transubstantiation. This doctrine was candidly acknowledged by the bishop to be a novelty, and he expressed his free censure against Innocent the Third for declaring its belief to be essential to salvation.

A. D.

1560.

When Tonstal was restored by Mary to the see of Durham, of which he had been so unjustly deprived, Gilpin returned to England, and although Elizabeth. a zealous antipapist, rather than a decided protestant, lived during the Marian persecution, not indeed without hazard, but in the legal possession of a lucrative benefice, and in the unrestrained performance of his pastoral duties. He was indebted for his safety to the general lenity and the particular esteem of Tonstal, his relative and diocesan; and he was more than protected by this truly catholic prelate he was preferred; and in that situation in which he had been placed by his patron, he chose to pass the remainder of his life*.

Curiosity will be naturally directed to the condition of those prelates, who were deprived for their refusal to acknowledge the regal supremacy, or to conform to the church, as it was established under Elizabeth. As the name of Bernard Gilpin is so intimately associated with that of Tonstal, it should first be noticed, that both Tonstal and Thirlby were received under the hospitable roof of the primate, where they lived with freedom and comfort. Heath was solicited by every mode of application to continue in the archbishopric of York, and the see was kept vacant for two years, in the hope of his conformity; but his pertinacious refusal caused no abatement in the esteem of the queen; he lived and died quietly in his own house in Surrey †, and was often honoured by a visit from his sovereign.

The sanguinary Boner, respected by no party, because he had betrayed all, dragged on many

* Bishop Carleton's Life of Bernard Gilpin.
† At Cobham.

VOL. II.

D

XV.

CHAP. years in obscurity, and was confined, though without any severe restraints, in the Marshalsea, and at last died with general execration *. White and Watson, his companions, but not his equals in cruelty, were at first imprisoned, but were soon restored to liberty, and assigned competent pensions. Brookes, bishop of Gloucester, died soon after the accession of Elizabeth.

Of the remaining prelates three quitted the kingdom, and the rest were consigned, either to the eustody of their friends, or of some protestant bishop. The abbey of Westminster was again converted into a deanery and college; and Fecknam, its late abbot, "a charitable and generous man, lived in a private station with universal esteem †.' The religious houses being dissolved, most of the monks returned to a secular life; but the nuns withdrew themselves into foreign countries.

*He died Sept. 5, 1567. Godwin de præsulibus.
+ Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. ii. b. 3.

CHAPTER XVI.

Royal Visitation and Injunctions.-Articles of Religion agreed on by the Archbishop and Bishops till the Meeting of Parliament.-Jewel's Sermon at Saint Paul's Cross.-Conduct of the Popes Paul IV. and Pius IV-Second Parliament of Elizabeth.-Statute of Assurance.-Proceedings in Convocation. Thirty-nine Articles of Religion.-Proceedings of the Lower House with regard to Ceremonies.-Nowell's Catechism.-Jewel's Apology.-Genevan Bible.-Bishops'

Bible.

A. D. 1559.

Elizabeth.

THE act of supremacy having empowered the queen to establish the court of high commission, it was soon organized, and a royal visitation was June 24. instituted throughout England. To direct the inquiries of the commissioners, a body of injunctions was prepared, having some points of resemblance, but many more of difference, to the injunctions of king Edward.

In the celebration of divine worship it was ordered that the science of church music should be preserved, and that all lands settled for the maintenance of choirs should be appropriated to that purpose. A caution was given, that an affectation of skill in singing should not be carried so far as to make the use of the church service less significant; but that the common prayer should be sung or chanted so distinctly that the words might not be lost. For the satisfaction of those who had a predilection for sacred music, an anthem was