History of English nonconformity from Wiclif to the close of the nineteenth century

Front matter

Strata, Sitm fath

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND

Introduction

THE NONCONFORMIST SPIRIT

(i) Every movement only a partial expression of the spirit behind it, i. Therefore the profitable study of any historic movement passes behind the external facts, 2. (2) The Nonconformist spirit exalts life above organisation, and declares that the first must make the second, 3. Distinction between Conformist and Nonconformist schools, 3. (3) Why the tendency to subordinate life to organisation arises, 5- The Nonconformist spirit must always appear as a protesting and corrective influence, 6. (4) Some things implied in the given characterisation of the Nonconformist spirit, 7. The Nonconformist spirit a very positive thing, 7. Toleration implicit in the Nonconformist spirit, 8. Incompatibility with a " State establishment" of religion, 10. (5) No antecedent assumption is made that historic Nonconformity has enabled the Nonconformist spirit to come to perfect self-revelation, 13. Certain considerations compel an open mind in studying the question, 16. To ascertain the degree of correspondence between historic Nonconformity and the true Nonconformist spirit is the aim to be kept in view, 18.

Section 2. The England of Wiclif's Time

The period one of restlessness, 27. Condition of the Papacy, 28. The "Babylonian Captivity," 29. The Church at home, 31. Political affairs, 33. Decay of English greatness, 33. John of Gaunt, 33. State of the poorer classes, 34. Statute of labourers, 34. Relevancy of these matters, 35.

Section 3. Wiclif's Early Years

Birth, 36. University career, 37. Balliol, 37. Canterbury Hall, 37. Luttervirorth, 38. Wiclif a scholar of the first rank, 38. Explanation of attempts to declare him otherwise, 38. Parsons and Varillas, 39. Knighton's testimony, 39.

Section 4. Wiclif's Earlier Teaching

Characterisation of the early period, 40. Wiclifs reply to the Pope's demand for arrears of tribute, 41. "The King's Chaplain," 41. Wiclif's treatment of the question, 41. Arnold Gamier, 42. Pre-eminently religious character of Wiclif's early paper, 43. Anticipation of doctrine of the " De Dominio," 43. WicUf as plenipotentiary at Bruges, 44. The doctrine of "Dominion," 45. An individual relation of man to God the starting-point, 45. Religious and ecclesiastical implications of the doctrine, 46. Every man a priest, 46. Authority of the Pope, 46. Revolutionary character of Wiclif's ideas, 47. Social and political implications, 48. Wiclif painted only an ideal picture, 49. Wiclif's application of his doctrine on a lower plane, 50. "Dominion" in the hands of rulers of men, 50. How all this brought Wiclif into conflict with the existing condition of afifairs, 52. Degradation of the Church, 52. The clergy and secular posts, S3- The Church and temporal wealth, 53. Relations between State and Church, 53. The State can correct the Church, 54. Wiclif and John of Gaunt, 56. Wiclif preaches disendowment in London, 56. Possible reasons for his alliance with John of Gaunt, 57. Wiclif summoned to appear at St. Paul's, 57. The riot, 58. Probable effect of the scene upon Wiclif himself, 59.

Section 5. Wiclif's Later Years

A period in which the earlier principles were extended and applied, 60. Wiclif again summoned at the Pope's command, 6i. The trial, 6i. Strengthening of Wiclif's tone, 6i. The "Summa in Theologia" and the "Poor Priests," 6i. The Papal schism, 62. Wiclif and the Papacy, 62. The " Twelve Theses on the Eucharist," 62. The lecture-room at Oxford, 63. Wiclif's appeal to the secular power, 63. The "Synod of the Earthquake," 63. Persecution of Wiclifs followers, 64. WicUf at Lutterworth, 64. Summoned to Rome, 64. Death, 65. Wiclif's activities, 65. Unity of spirit in earlier and later periods, 65. Transubstantiation, 65. The Bible, 66. Comparison with other reformers, 67.

Section 6. The Later Lollardy

Distinction between Wicliffism and Lollardy, 69. Explanation of this, 69. Nevertheless Lollardy preserved something of Wiclif's thought and spirit, 70. Leicestershire Lollardy, 70. The West, 71. London, 71.

CONTENTS ix

Richard's persecution, 72. The " Statute of Heretics," 72. Recantations and martyrdoms, 72. Henry the Fifth, 72. Oldcastle, 72. Henry the Sixth, 73. Henry the Seventh, 73. Lollardy and Lutheranism, 73.

Section 7. Final Estimate of Wichf

Wiclif's absolute loneliness, 75. His intellectual originality, 75. This accounts for his comparative failure, 76. What might have been, 77. Wiclif in advance of his own time, but also in advance of ours, 78. So he becomes the standard vifhereby the manifestations of the Nonconformist spirit must be judged, 78.

Chapter II

the quasi-reformation under henry viii.

Section i. The Sixteenth Century and the Modern Age

Familiar look of events and ideas in this period, 79. Historic movement continuous from this time onward, 79. Influence of printing, 79, Beginning of new movements which have persisted till now, 80.

Section 2. The Revival of Learning

A different intellectual world, 81. The coming of humanism, 82. The start of the movement in England, 82. Manuel Chrysoloras, Tiptoft, etc., 82. The Universities, 83. Sir Thomas More, 84. St. Paul's School, 85. The religious side of the movement, 85. Rise of critical method, 85. Erasmus' edition of the New Testament, 85. Dorpius, 86. Erasmus on the Church and the Sacrament,' 87. Colet's preaching, 87. Colet accused of heresy, 88. The opportunity lost, 89. Hypersensitiveness of Erasmus, 89. Erasmus and Luther, 89. Erasmus' attitude toward the Papacy, 90. Erasmus inconsistent with himself, 91. Loss through severance of religion and literature, 92.

Section 3. The Religious Movement

The future of English religion not made by a religious movement, though this is what would have been expected, 92. A distinct religious movement in England at this time, 93. But no real religious crisis, 94, The trials for heresy, 94. People not specially hostile to the clergy, 96. No specially outstanding Protestant name, 98. Had Protestantism been a stronger force, the Nonconformist movement would still have been necessary, but would have found fewer difficulties, 100. Protestantism largely negative, 10 1. In its affirmations chiefly concerned with means, loi.

Section 4. The Politico-Religious Movement

Henry's desire for self-aggrandisement the determining force, 103. Henry's character, 104. Its mixture of strength and weakness, 104. He was arbitrary, but must hide his arbitrariness, 105. His early orthodoxy, 106. His book, 106. The divorce question, 107. The jurisdiction of the Pope in judicial affairs disavowed, 108. Henry Head of the Church, 108. Cranmer Archbishop, 108. The final breach with Rome, 109. Henry's subsequent seeming inconsistency, no. Thomas

Cromwell's policy, no. Catholic martyrs, in. Suppression of the monasteries. III. The Articles of Religion, III. Henry and Continental Protestants, 112. Protestant excesses, 113. The Law of the Six Articles, 113. The "Great Bible,' 114. Henry's final leanings, 115. The net result of Henry's changes, 115. Spite of appearances, they really made the task of the Nonconformist spirit more difficult, 116.

Chapter III

edward the sixth and marv

Section i. The Period as Parenthesis

Between Henry and Elizabeth more specifically religious forces were at work, 118. Apparent strangeness of linking together the reigns of Edward and Mary, 119. In both reigns religion plays a principal part in the politico-religious alliance, 119. Connection of this point with the controversy as to how far the Church of England came into being through " arrangement " with the State, 121. Lasting effects of religion's temporary superior place, 123.

Section 2. The Settlement under Edward the Sixth

No definite plan in view, 124. Cranmer's position, 124. Somerset's character, 125. Repeal of the Law of the Six Articles, 125. The foreign theologians, 126. Anabaptists and Socinians, 126. Charges against the Protestant clergy, 126. The Anabaptists, 127. Distinct from the Baptists, 127. Socinianism, 130. The early changes under Somerset, 131. But reform not allowed to become riotous, 131. The Book of Common Prayer, 131. The Communion service, 132. Catholic reaction, 133. The swifter Protestant advance under Warwick, 133. The Universities, 134. Commission for revision of ecclesiastical laws, 134. The Second Prayer- Book, 135. Calvin writes to Cranmer, 135. Measures for uniformity, 136. Severity towards heretics, 136. Joan Bocher and George Van Parris, 136. The Acts of Uniformity, 1 36. Gardiner and Bonner, 137. Pressure rather than persecution a true description, 137. Cranmer's ideal, 137. Hooper, 138. John k Lasco and the Church at Austin Friars, 138. The Nonconformist spirit showed itself just when the settlement was made, 139. The sectaries of Essex and Kent, 140.

Section 3. The Catholic Reaction under Mary

Mary's reign an episode, 142. Reversal of ecclesiastical legislation of Edward's reign, 143. Secret congregations, martyrs, Cranmer, 143. Mary really actuated by religious zeal, 144. Her earlier faithfulness, 144. The title of " Supreme Head of the Church," 144, Not inclined to persecution at first, 145. Gardiner and Pole and their influence, 145. Effect of Mary's marriage with Philip of Spain, 146. Spain's quarrel with France, and the resulting attitude of the Pope towards England, 146. We see Mary as Catholicism made her, 147. Effect of the lesson on England, 147. Summary of the fate of the Nonconformist spirit till this time, 148. The "might-have-beens," 148. The movement of events both called for the Nonconformist spirit and resisted it, 150.

CONTENTS xi

Chapter I

nonconformist beginnings

Section i. The Elizabethan Settlement

Permanent settlement of the Church of England reached in Elizabeth's reign, 153. The Queen's primary consideration was the safety of her throne, 154. No strong religious conviction in her, 154. Bering, 154. Dangers of opposing Catholicism too markedly, 154. Elizabeth's love of order, 155. The gradual hardening of the ecclesiastical system, 155' The desire for quietude had to be realised by means of compulsion, 155. Changes in the Council, 156. Commission for revision of the Prayer Book, 156. The temporary procedure to be adopted, 156. The "Device for alteration of religion," 157. The Queen's private service, 157. Her treatment of Bonner, 157. Protestant uncertainty, 157. Burnet on the Queen's view as to transubstantiation, 157. Neither Romanists nor Protestants content, 158. Bishop White's funeral sermon for Mary, 158. The "gospellers," 158. Restoration of the Royal Supremacy, 159. Origin of the Court of High Commission, 160. The Act of Uniformity, 160. The " Injunctions" and the "Visitation," 161. Elizabeth's purpose becoming clear,

161. Compliance of the clergy, 162. Non-compliance of the Bishops,

162. Parker becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, 163. The new episcopal bench, 163. The Bishops remonstrate with the Queen as to her private service, 164. The Queen's growing antagonism to Romanism, 165. The Pope's Bull of deposition, 165. His efforts to convert the Queen, 165. The "Interpretations and Considerations," and the "Eleven Articles,"

166. The second Supremacy Act, 166. The Puritan activity, 167. Puritan tinge in some of the Bishops, 167. Sandys of Worcester, 167. The condition of things in 1564, 167. The Queen's letter to Parker,

167. The "Book of Articles," 167. Commencement of pressure on the Puritans, 168. The "Book of Advertisements," 168. The doctrinal settlement, 169. Convocation and Articles, i6g. The Parliament of 157 1 requires subscription to the Articles, 170. The whole process organisation and nothing else, 170. The Queen's motive, 171.

Section 2. The Rise of the Independents

The Nonconformist spirit protests, 172. The rise of Independency a gradual thing, 172. The birth-period of Independency, 173. Unknown Separatist congregations probable, 174. Robinson's statement, 1 74. The Plumbers' Hall assembly, 174. The examination before Grindal, 175. Richard Fytz, 175. This was not a regularly-organised Independent Church, 175. Another congregation spoken of by Grindal, 175. No utter lack of continuity between these and later congregations, 176. Robert Browne, xii ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY

177. The Independent Church established in Norwich by Browne and Harrison, 178. Browne's earlier experience, 178. Browne and "discipline," 179. Browne's crusade, 179. Migration of the Church to Middelburg, 179. Browne's writings, 179. Dissensions in the Middelburg Church, 180. Browne's withdrawal and apostasy, 180. Possible explanation of his action, 180. The "Ancient Church," and Barrow and Greenwood, 181. Their imprisonment and interview with Burleigh, 182. Whitgift's spirit, 183. Death of Barrow, Greenwood, and Penry, 183. Formal Constitution of the "Ancient Church," 184. Francis Johnson,

184. Migration of the Church, 184. The Act of 1593, 184. Raleigh on the number of Brownists, 184. The " Ancient Church " at Amsterdam,

185. Henry Ainsworth, 185. Dissensions at Amsterdam, 185. Later history of the Church, 186. Two other Churches leaving England for Holland, 187. Puritanism in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire passing into Independency, 187. Church at Gainsborough, 187. At Scrooby,

187. John Smyth and John Robinson, 187. Emigration of the Churches,

188. Helwys, 188. William Bradford, 188. The destination of the two Churches, 188. Smyth's Church, 188. Smyth's views on worship, etc.,

189. He becomes a Baptist, 189. His Arminianism.^ l8Q. Smyth expelled, 189. Helwys returns to England, and establishes a Baptist Church in London, 190. Henry Jacob returns to England from Ley den, 190. His earlier life, 190. The condition of things at home on his return, 191. Abbot as Primate, 191. Jacob founds the Southwark Independent Church, 191. A new I ndependent .C hurch founded at Rotterdam, 191. The "Pilgrim Fathers," 192. Independency's hold on England, 192. The Baptists at first increase more quickly, 192. Reasons for this, 192. These first Baptist Churches were Arminian in theology, 193. Leonard Busher and toleration, 193. Increase of Congregationalism , 194. The silent growth while the majority had been m exile, 194. The "Ancient Church," 194. Churches formed elsewhere, 195. Bishop Hall's complaint, 195. The principal Independent contention, 196. The early Independents not entirely true to their own theory, 197. Unity of general plan in all its exponents, 197. Browne's system, 197. Barrow, 198. Smyth, 199. Robinson, 199. Relations between the State and religion as conceived by Independents, 199. Dr. Dexter's claim for Robert Browne, 200. The degree in which early Independents embodied the Nonconformist spirit, 200. The significance of Independency, 200. The Nonconformist theory held in its fulness, but not altogether exemplified, 201. The flaw,

202. Neal on the Brownists, 202. The fault really a theological one,

203. The Independents did not reach the level of Wicliffism, 203. Nevertheless, early Independency was a great thing, 204. Contemporary contempt, 204. Modern writers, 204. The age one in which the spirit of men cast off many of its trammels, 205. The manifestation of this tendency in the religious sphere, 205. Independency's first protagonists were men of culture, 206. In these lie the instances and illustrations of evolution, 206.

Section 3. NoNCONroRMiTv within the Church

A Nonconformist movement inside the Church, 207. Runs from Elizabeth's time to 1662, 208. Extent of the present treatment, 208. More than one element in the movement, 208. The term " Puritan," 208. Strands in the cord of internal Nonconformity, 209. The two parties, 209. "Puritan" and "Presbyterian," 210. Confusion between the two, 210. Need of remembering the distinction if we are to measure the degree in which the two parties manifested the Nonconformist spirit, 212. Presbyterianism contended for organisation, 212. Puritanism for "goodness in

CONTENTS xiii

itself," 213. A forward glance at the later history of internal Nonconformity, 214. Puritanism, 214. Presbyterianism, 214. The actual history of Elizabeth's time begins, 216. At first the two elements mingled, 216. Some minds were dissatisfied from the beginning, 217. The exiles, 217. Troubles abroad, 217. Controversies at home, 2 1 8. Worcester Cathedral,

218. Puritan tinge in some of the Bishops, 218. Sandys and Jewel, 218. Grindal, 219. The true Puritan spirit appears in Humphrey and Sampson,

219. Their objection to prescribed clerical dress, 219. Parker's first action, 220. Humphrey and Sampson summoned, 220. The ultimatum,

220. Parker's friendliness, 220. The controversy carried on for the sake of religion on both sides, 221. Views of Humphrey and Sampson, 221. The ministry, 222. Other Puritans, 223. Turner, 223. Cambridge University, 223. Coverdale, 224. Leicester and Cecil friendly at first, 224. The ultimatum of 1566, 224. The refusals, 224. The Uterary battles of the expelled ministers, 225. The Star Chamber edict, 226. Remonstrances from influential men, 226. The " Northampton Model," 226. The " Prophesyings," 227. Presbyterianism, 228. Difference between prospects of Puritanism and Presbyterianism, 229. The " Admonition to Parliament," 230. Cartwright, 230. The plan of the " Admonition," 231, The one Church to be supreme, 231. Cartwright's intolerance, 231. The Wandsworth presbytery, 232. The twenty years' conflict, 233. Cartwright and Travers, 233. The " Directory of Church Government," 234. Cartwright's withdrawal, 235. The spread of Puritanism, 235. The Parliament of 1571, 235. Strickland and Wentworth, 235. The Commission of 1 573 to search out Nonconformity, 236. The Primacy of Whitgift, 236. Whitgift's views on Church order, 237. The " Whitgift Articles," 237. The oath, 237. The Council and the Archbishop, 238. The remonstrance from Puritanism, 239. The Presbyterian counter-stroke, 239. Spread of the "classes," 239. Whitgift's temper rising, 240. The Marprelate Tracts, 240. Cartwright re-arrested, 240. The Act of 1593, Whitgift's crowning stroke, 241. Effect on all kinds of Nonconformity, 241.

Independency, 242. Presbyterianism, 242. Puritanism, 242. Better chance of the last-named, 242. Puritanism in Elizabeth's closing years, 243. Expectations in regard to James, 243. The Catholic hope in him, 243. Change in tone of controversy, 243. Hooker's " Ecclesiastical Polity," 243. The Sabbath controversy, and Bound's book, 244. Puritanism in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, 244. Sir Edmund Anderson, 244. Puritan petitions to James, 245. The Hampton Court Conference, 246. Bancroft as Primate, 247. His work for the Church, 247. The Canons, 247. Sympathy with Puritanism among the laity, 249. Mingling of political and religious affairs, 249. Suspicion of the King's Protestantism, 250. Respite for Puritanism among the clergy, 252. Abbot's Primacy, 252. His ideal, 252. Change of Puritan feeling towards Separatism, 252. Spread of Puritanism, 253. Lectureships, 253. Abbot and heresy, 254. Legate and Wightman, 254. Accession of Charles, 254. Laud and his ideals, 254. Laud and the Puritans, 256. Charles suspected of Romanism, 257. The High Church clergy, 257. The Puritans turn their eyes across the sea, 258. Reasons for this, 258. The emigration of 1630, 259. Higginson, 260. The plan for founding of Massachusetts, 260. Charges against Nonconformity within the Church of England, 261. No trace of hypocrisy or unctuousness, 262. Baxter's account of the Puritans, 262. Wallington, 263. Puritanism not hostile to culture, 264. Extremists, 264. Professor Dowden on the Puritan gentleman, 265. Colonel Hutchinson, 265. Puritan preachers, 265. Puritanism not hostile to business, 266. Sir John Eliot, 266. How far this internal Nonconformity manifested the Nonconformist spirit, 267. The Puritans in the grip of a spirit they did not fully understand, 268.

xiv ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY

Chapter II The Laudian Decade

Justification of the title, 270. Laud really supreme throughout the entire period, 271. Laud's aim, 272. His character, 272. The story of Laud's action when Leighton was sentenced, 272. Laud a truly religious man, 272. Concentration upon one aim made all other things unreal, 273. Laud and political intrigue, 274. Laud's influence on the future, 275. Laud's policy towards Puritanism, 277. Need for reform in many places, 278. Laud's steps against Lectureships, 278. The foreign congregations, 279. The Book of Sports, 280. Laud's method of investigation, 280. The episcopal bench, 280. The "Visitation Articles," 280. Continued Puritan emigration, 282. Disintegration of Puritanism at home, 283. The Puritan clergy, 283. John Goodwin, 2S3. Puritanism growing still more tolerant of Separatism, 284. Ames, 285. Yet Puritanism was reluctant to become Independency, 286. Correspondence between English and American Puritans, 286. Secularisation of lay Puritanism, 287. Reasons for this, 287. Laud behind Charles, 288. High Commission Court and Star Chamber, 288. Prynne, 289. Changes in the personnel of the reform party, 289. Falkland, 289, The approximation to Presbyterianism, 290. Presbyterianism among the clergy, 290. Stephen Marshall and Edmund Calamy, 290. Presbyterianism in London, 291. Circumstances brought Presbyterianism into prominence, 291. Leighton, 291. Laud's attempt to force Episcopacy upon Scotland, 291. The " Solemn League and Covenant," 292. The destinies of the two kingdoms becoming intertwined, 293. Hobbes' view, 293. War imminent, 293. The Scotch Commissioners in London, 293. Concurrent events in the south, 294. Ship-money, 294. Hampden, 294. The Canons of 1 640 and the et cetera oath, 294. Laud and Strafford sent to the Tower, 295. Laud's treatmt^nt of Independenc y 295. The general position, 295. Bishop Hall, 296. Ihe growth ot Independency, 296. Testimony of Cheynells, 296. Various Separatist congregations, 296. Independency in the west, 297. Wroth, 297. The Broadmead Baptist Church at Bristol, 297. TheJB ner life of the Indepen dent communities, 298. The call of the Southwark uhurcn to Jessey, 298. JullU Caime, 299. Jessey's personal fortunes, 299. The Southwark Church, 299. The rise of the Calvinistic Baptists, 300. Various secessions and developments from the Southwark Church, 301. How far the establishment of a denomination on a Baptist basis helped the Nonconformist spirit, 302. Independency preparing for a great part rather than playing it, 306. Independent forces preparing, 306. Oliver Cromwell, 306. His first two letters, 306. Milton, 307. Bunyan, 308. Some non-independent forces, 308. . Chillingworth, 308. Cheynells and Chillingworth, 309. Baxter, 310. Fox, 310. The outstanding facts at the close of the decade, 310.

Chapter III

the civil war and the commonwealth Section i. The Presbyterian Ascendancy.

Division of the whole period covered by the chapter, 312. The Presbyterian ascendancy, 314. Three periods discernible in this,- 314.

( CONTENTS XV

"Reform" rather than "revolution" the word in the first, 315. Pym

and his colleagues, 315. tk^ <<r'p)m.vi;n-fp fm l^i H^j " 316. Various

resolutions of Parliament, 316. The meeting of the Long Parliament looked on as the opening of a new era, 317. Special opportunity of Presbyterianism, 318. The Scotch Commissioners, 318. " Smectymnuus,"

319. The " Root - and - Branch Petition," 319. Extremists in the Commons, 320. Bill based on the Petition, 320. Sir Edward Dering,

320. Events on the political side, 321. The "Grand Remonstrance,"

321. The Bishops and the Lords, 321. The attempted arrest of the five members by the King, 322. The war, 322. Alliance with the Scots,

322. The Commons take the Covenant, 322. A defeat for the true Nonconformist spirit, 323. English Presbyterianism, 323. The laity, 324. The clergy, 324. Baillie's uncertainties, 324. The Independent prospect, 325. Puritans and Independent s, 326. The "Five Brethren," 326. The Independent position still', illegal, 326. Henry Burton, 326. Jessey's arrest, 327. The Deadman's Place congregation and the Peers, 327. Baillie on Independency, 328. The I ndepen dent communities . 328. The Baptists, 329. The literary conlrovefMy, 'iiC). John Cotton, 330. John Owen, 331. The Westminster Assembly, 331. Its constitution, 331. The Presbyterian majority, 332. First instructions to the Assembly, 332. The Independents in the Assembly, 333. Relations between these and the majority, 334. Discussions on Church polity, 335. The " Directory for Ordination," 335. Orders for everybody to take the Covenant, 336. Ordinance for the destruction of altars, etc., 336. The question of toleration, 337. Cromwell's influence on the side of toleration, 338. The Order of the Commons to the Assembly for liberty to tender consciences, 338. Hesitancy of the House, 338. Controversy on appeal in cases of excommunication, 338. Execution of Laud, 339. Surrender of the Parliament and reasons for it, 339. The Presbyterians and the King, 339. Order for setting up the Presbyterian polity, 340. The Presbyterian victory far less complete outside the Assembly, 340. The literary controversy, 340. Independent preachers, 341. Cromwell and Milton become Independents, 342.

Growth of idea of toleration, 343. Jeremy Taylor, 343. New Churches founded, 344. The Baptists, 344. The Baptist " Confession of Faith," 344. John Toombes, 345. Baptist conversions, 345. The Presbyterian establishment, 345. London and Lancashire, 346. In other places schemes only partially carried through, 346. The "Confession of Faith" and the "Catechisms," 346. The lack of ministers, 346. Action of the Committees for Religion, 346. Walker on the " Sufferings of the Clergy," 346. Committees fair on the whole, but perhaps unconsciously swayed by prejudice, 347. Burton and Goodwin, 347. Difficulty in filling vacant places, 348. Time insufficient for completely establishing the Presbyterian system, 348. The army, 349. Charles and the Scotch, 349. The army seizes the King, 349. Charles and the Presbyterians, 350. The climax of Presbyterian intolerance, 350. Cromwell defeats the Scotch, 350. Pride's Purge, 350. The supineness of the Rump, 351. Execution of the King, 351. Reasons for the Rump's feebleness of action, 351. Difficulties in applying the idea of toleration, 351. Quasi-religious sects, 352. The republican idea, 352. Fifth-Monarchy men, 352. John Canne, 353 The Levellers, 353. The Diggers, 353. Socinianism, 353. John Biddle, 353. Cromwell unprepared for autocracy as yet, 354. Cromwell's development, 354. The Parliament's religious legislation, 355. Destructive enactments, 355. Attitude towards toleration, 355. The "Petition for the Propagation of the Gospel," 356. Cromwell's patience exhausted, 356. The House determined not to dissolve, 357. The plan for the new representative Assembly, 357. Cromwell expels the Rump, 357. The hour of Independency's triumph, 358. Yet Independency became less true xvi ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY

to the Nonconformist spirit, 358. Intertwining of political and religious interests, 358. The meaning of this and its consequences, 358.

Section 2. The Rise of the Quakers.

Quaker beginnings, 360. A new protest of the Nonconformist spirit, 360. Treatment of Quakerism , by many historians, 360. Really, Quakerism was the clearest testimony to the Nonconformist ideal since Wiclif's day, 361. Quakerism's rise is the story of George Fox, 361. Suggested sources, 361. Fox's early days, 362. His spiritual crisis, 362. The coming of the light, 363. Fox's reading of the phrase " bom of God," 363. A genuine mystical experience, 364. The charge of making himself equal with God, 364. The Headship of Christ, 365. Why did not the Quaker witness prove more powerful? 365. Fox not a thinker in the strict sense, 365. Only partially understood the principle which was working within him, 365. Did not see the need for organisation, 365. Result of this on Quakerism as a whole, 366. The coming of organisation inevitable, 366. The new experience came to be looked upon too exclusively as a contradiction of the current religion, 366. "Inner light" came to be taken as referring merely to a method of spiritual knowledge, 366. The protesting attitude easily loses its balance, 367. Fox's travels, 368. Spread of Quaker ideas, 368. The preachers, 369. Fox's hardships and arrests, 369. His imprisonment at Derby, 369. Swarthmore Hall, 370. Fox's mistakes, 370. Interruptions at Church services, 370. Fox at Lichfield, 371. Nevertheless the original affirmation as to Quakerism remains unaffected, 371.

Section 3. The Independent Ascendancy.

Cromwell's absolute supremacy, 372. The " Little Parliament," 372. Method of its constitution, 372. Cromwell's hopes from it, 373. How it failed, 373. The mood in which it worked, 374. "Voluntaryism" of the majority of its members, 374. Growth of this idea among Independents, 374. Measures of the Little Parliament, 374. Tithes, 374. Cromwell's attitude on this question, 374. The Report of the Parliament's Committee, 375. Resignation of the "Little Parliament," 376. A memorable Assembly, 376. It made the first attempt at disestablishment, 376. Cromwell's action under the " Instrument of Government," 376. Change in Cromwell's mood, 377. His developed autocracy, 377. His settlement of ecclesiastical affairs, 377- Comprehension the distinguishing sign of it, 378. The Committees for "Triers" and "for scandalous ministers," 379. Outside religious associations, 380. Limits of toleration, 380. Attempted changes in the settlement, 380. Vagueness about "fundamentals," 380. The Fifth-Monarchy men, 381. The Blackfriars meeting, 381. John Biddle, 381. His publications, 381. Cromwell on liberty, 382. The " Humble Petition and Advice," 382. The projected " Confession of Faith," 382. Cromwell's intentions in this matter, 383. A weapon in reserve, 383. Picturesqueness in the settlement, 384. Congregational ministers, 384. Two different kinds of Congregational Churches, 384. Common usage of buildings, 384. Owen, Goodwin, Howe, 384. The Congregational statement of belief, 385. Appendix on Church Government, 385. The Baptists and Cromwell's scheme, 385. Jessey, 386. Special position of the Baptists, 386. Presbyterianism, 387. Many Presbyterian ministers retained their posts, 387. No Presbyferian system possible, 387. Baxter and the voluntary Associations, 388. The

CONTENTS xvii

Episcopalians, 389. The number of ejected Episcopalian clergy, 389. Difficulty of an Episcopalian clergyman in accepting Cromwell's scheme, 389. Reason for Cromwell's suspicion of Episcopalians, 389. Kennett, 389. Evelyn, 390. Episcopalianism finds its chief home abroad, 390. Cromwell, Juxon, Ussher, 390. Wilkins' suggestion as to Cromwell, 390. Clergy who compromised, 391. The Quakers, 392. Impossibility of their inclusion in Cromwell's plan, 392. Inevitable conflict between the Friends and other religious bodies, 392. The spread of Quakerism, 392. Fox's itinerancies, 392. The Quaker martyr, James Pamell, 392. Quakerism in London, 393. Fox's imprisonment at Carlisle, 394. Extravagances of some of the Quaker disciples, 394. Popular dislike of Quakers, 394. James Nayler, 395. Cromwell's personal leanings in regard to the Quakers,

396. Desire to be lenient, 396. Fox and soldiers, 396. Edward Burrough's letters to Cromwell, 396. Meeting between Fox and Cromwell,

397. Practical difficulties in working Cromwell's scheme, 398. Mr. Brookes of Fish Street Church, and his parishioners, 398. The " Triers,"

398. John Goodwin, 398. Walker on the "Triers," 398. Anthony Sadler, 399. Probable spirit of the " Triers," 399. Fuller, 399. Other points of friction, 400. The " gathered " congregations at a disadvant^e, 400. The question of the Sacrament, 400. Inconsistency of Independents who accepted posts under the scheme, 401. Milton on the question, 401. Religious arrangements quite under secular control, 402. Contradiction of the doctrine of the Headship of Christ, 402. The Independent theory and the Church idea thrown over, 402. The details of the scheme rather Presbyterian than Independent, 402. Reason of Independency's failure to grasp the position, 403. The previous linking of political and religious interests, 403. Independency had lost its own sense of spiritual identity, 403. Cromwell's death, 404. Probable strong royalist feeling in the country, 404. No successor arose, 405. Richard Cromwell, 405. His quarrel with the Army, 405. Sentiment of the Independents, 405. Richard Cromwell's abdication, 405. The return of the Rump, 406. Quarrel between the Rump and the Army, 406. General Monck, 406. His motives, 406. The royalist sentiment makes itself felt, 407. Recall of the expelled members, 407. Re-establishment of Presbyterianism, 408. Probable Presbyterian expectations, 408. The Independent fears, 409. Charles and his promises, 409. The Restoration, 409. The Nonconformist spirit had been poorly served through the years from the Elizabethan period, 409. Recapitulation, 410. Effect of all this on the fiiture, 411. The representatives of the Nonconformist spirit not equipped for what they had to face, 411.

INTRODUCTION

THE NONCONFORMIST SPIRIT

This book is concerned, as its title indicates, with concrete Nonconformity, with the actual Nonconformist movements whereof history has to tell. But historic Nonconformity is not necessarily — is not, it may. as well be said at once, actually — a perfect manifestation of the Nonconformist spirit. Every movement, be it in the realm of politics, or in that of sociology, or in that of religion, is but the partial expression of a spirit or a force which, if it had its way unhindered, would drive the movement further than it actually reaches, preserve to the movement some elements which in actual working are but half accentuated or perhaps wholly lost, safeguard the movement from alien intrusions which creep into the actual drama as it is played out on history's stage. It is as though every spirit, so soon as it seeks to transfer itself from the region of abstract being to the region of embodiment and application and reality, finds that something of its purity is lost, that its singleness of being, so to call it, is somewhat impaired — partly because the existing circumstances, into the midst of which the new spirit is projected, compel a compromise between the new spirit and themselves, and partly because the new spirit is but imperfectly understood even by the men whom it sways. The new spirit enters the world, seizes hold upon the world and endeavours to realise itself there ; but the world in its turn seizes hold upon the new spirit, wrests it as it were out of its original shape, and insists that the adjustment between the world and the new spirit shall be made from both sides and not VOL. II B alone from one. In the end, no historical movement is an unadulterated product of the spirit to which it mainly owes its birth ; and of the Nonconformist movements recorded in the history of our land, no less than of all others, does this saying hold good.