The dawn of the English Reformation : its friends and foes

Preface

This story of the Early English Reformation, biographically told, is partly in continuation of a plan formed now some years ago, and commenced by the biography of Martin Luther. The great Saxon reformer occupied among his German fellowcountrymen a position similar to that which was occupied by Zuingli and Calvin successively among the Swiss. These theologians, gifted with large mental capacity, and living amongst those who looked up to them for instruction and guidance, exerted and maintained an authority to which it is in vain to seek a parallel in the religious development of England at the period of the Reformation.

The English Reformation was not marked by the striking ascendency of any one individual. Bilney, ' the first framer of Cambridge in the knowledge of Christ,' as Foxe describes him, was the spiritual father of many who embraced a more Scriptural creed. He was the means of converting, besides others, Hugh Latimer ; and he was probably a source, at least of valuable assistance, to Tyndale. But ' little Bilney's ' warm heart was always much in advance of his somewhat clouded head. The most conspicuous figure in the ranks of the early English Reformers was Tyndale — the successful translator of Scripture, the author of the most useful religious tracts of the time, and the spiritual father of John Fryth. Inferior to none as a Christian hero, he did not possess the great powers or exalted viii PREFACE.

influence of the chief Continental reformers. He lived and laboured in compulsory exile from his own country. The career of Fryth was cut short at its highest promise by his martyrdom — an event, however, of infinite moment to the cause, at a crisis of hesitancy and danger. The consistent intrepidity of Latimer, only matured after some years of spiritual progress and experience, belongs to a later date.

Thus it has been judged most consonant to the genius of the English Reformation — in some important respects its peculiarly happy genius — instead of detailing the career of one individual, to interweave a series of biographies of the principal actors and writers in connection with that great religious and social revolution ; not neglecting to portray its virulent and able opponents, as well as the zealous champions of the movement. By this means the Reformation will be made the centre — as no doubt in real fact it was — of the stirrin g historical events of that memorable epoch whence modern history takes its rise.

The history of the religious struggle affords some insight into the condition of all ranks of society at a momentous crisis, the lowest as well as the highest. The English Reformation leavened with its influence the whole social structure. But its earliest partisans and sturdiest advocates issued from the obscure walks of life. Wealthy landowners, courtiers, statesmen, were concerned rather with the outward changes, the development into legal enactments, of the results of the new vital principles which had gained acceptance ; but these principles themselves were cherished and diffused chiefly by men and women belonging to the humbler grades. From such adherents to truth, too often down-trodden, despised and persecuted, the regeneration of society proceeded primarily ; and only secondarily from thrones, convocations, and senates. In all ages the Word of God, under Divine guidance, has been near the root of all that is best in human progress;

PREFACE. ix

but such was signally and manifestly the case at the era of the Reformation.

The biographical treatment of the subject is in accordance with the mode in which the Almighty Himself is generally pleased to carry out His designs on the great theatre of human life. Individuals raised up by God from time to time, and educated by His Providence to their appointed task, proclaim the truths they are commissioned to teach, and animate and train their contemporaries, inspiring them with their own convictions ; and thus stamp their impress, first on their own day, and then on posterity. History shows this by numerous examples, both in ancient and modern times. But especially does this rule hold good as regards religious systems, and the results which follow from them.

Moreover, such a method of individual treatment is after the highest model— the literary precedent of the Inspired Volume itself. The sacred account of the vicissitudes and progress of the chosen race, the germ and centre of true religion for the whole globe, starts with the personal careers of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. Subsequently Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and other appointed instruments take their places conspicuously upon the canvas. In the New Testament the biographical element appears yet more prominently. ' The Gospels,' says Archbishop Whately, ' are not merely historical, but strictly biographical.' The earliest ecclesiastical history also, the Acts of the Apostles, deals chiefly with individuals. Even after the astonishing growth and spread of Christianity in the world, which its earlier records imply chiefly by tracking individual careers, its latter pages trace with more exact detail the missionary labours of one eminent teacher.

It may be well to add that in other respects also the inspired writings are suggestive by their characteristic excellences. Not only are their pages made more emphatic by pregnant brevity and marvellous word-painting, but facts are x PREFACE.

never disguised, nor are characters ever misrepresented. The unvarnished plainness of truth is everywhere — truth in sovereign supremacy. The best men are depicted as they were : their infirmities not extenuated, their excellences not exaggerated. The good points — if such are far from amounting to redeeming qualities — of the worst, or most mistaken, are yet never denied, nor are they veiled in obscurity, or kept even partially out of sight.

The following pages have not been indited in any spirit of stinted attachment to our Protestant Reformation. With our Protestantism our national position of wealth, power, and influence is essentially bound up. But such a conviction, in its amplest strength, is no bar to the genuine and outspoken admiration of whatever was good and noble in the defenders of a long-established sacerdotal system, fast tottering to its fall at the touch of light and thought.

Of necessity the general history of the period has been succinctly presented to the reader — so far, at least, as its incidents have a bearing, more or less direct, upon the course of the Anglican Reformation. And here, too, in tracing the sequence of events of world-wide moment, the elucidation of personal character has been uniformly kept in prominent view.

It may be explained that the letters ' P.S.' and ' C.S.' denote respectively the publications of the Parker and Camden Societies, as the letters B.M. stand for the British Museum. The State Papers have been public property for many years, and their publication does honour to the memory ot Sir Robert Peel. To these a very important supplement has been added more recently. The initial ' B.' refers to this comprehensive series of Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII., which has been published under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, on a plan originated and pursued through several volumes by the

PREFACE. xi

late Rev. J. S. Brewer, and continued since his decease by Mr. James Gairdner. For faithful authentic history these calendared letters and documents possess a value beyond price. With the collateral help of the calendar of the Spanish Letters, Despatches, and State Papers — referred to under the abbreviation ' Sp.' — and of the calendar of the Venetian State Papers and Manuscripts — referred to under the abbreviation ' Ven.' — together with other contemporary writings, they serve to throw a new, vivid and real light both on transactions and on individual character.

It has not been deemed necessary to evidence the correctness of all the statements made by citing the numbers or pages of all the passages consulted in the papers and documents mentioned. Had this been done the notes must have become inordinately lengthy. Nor has it been judged necessary always to cite other authorities — such as Foxe or Hallam, or other well-known authors — for statements that may be verified with very little pains. The notes have not been relegated to the end of the book, but placed at the foot of the page, inasmuch as they often lend force or clearness to the text.

The descriptions of places, houses, churches, etc., are for the most part the jottings down on the spot, or the reminiscences of a visit or visits of exploration.

Grateful acknowledgments are rendered to those who have kindly contributed assistance — highly appreciated always — occasionally given at the cost of some time and trouble.

May the work, under God's blessing, prosper and be useful ; and may the reader derive from its perusal some portion, at least, of the pleasure which its composition has afforded to the writer !

Book I

THE NEED OF THE REFORMATION. — THE CHURCH IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

PAOE

One-sided sacramentalism — Presumptuous sacerdotalism — A priest only a man — The Scriptures in the bondage of an ancient tongue — Made nugatory by subtleties — Moral declension — Scandalous Pontiffs — Reginald Pecock — Clerical immunities — Money compensation for clerical crimes — Clerical and lay conflict — Hunne's case — Priestly celibacy — Degeneracy of the f riars— The monastic system — Pluralities and absenteeism — Venality — Papal pretensions— National safeguards — A revolution impending — The discovery of gunpowder — The invention of printing — Apparel of the period - - - - - - 1

Book II. Preparation

I. — THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL AT OXFORD.

Effects of the capture of Constantinople — Modern life opening — Influence of Greek literature — Grammar schools — Oxford Greek scholars — The old Latin Grammar — John Colet — Thomas More — Colet visits Italy — Colet and Erasmus — Colet founds St. Paul's School — Thomas Wolsey — -The Trojans — John Fisher — Erasmus at Cambridge - - - - - - 21

II.— CAMBRIDGE GOSPELLERS.

Thomas Bilney — George Stafford — The Augustine Priory and Robert Barnes — Hugh Latimer — The Cambridge Brethren — The White Horse — Richard Bayfield — John Lambert — Bilney's self-denying labours - - - - - - 37 xiv CONTENTS.

III. — THOMAS WOLSEY.

PAGE

The three great cardinals — Wolsey and Becket — Wolsey patronized by the court — A favourite with Prince Henry — Dean, bishop, cardinal, legate — Also lord chancellor — His appearanee and gifts — His national policy — His judicial improvements — His sense of Church needs — Sanguine aims — Beneficence to Oxford — Cardinal College — The Cambridge colony — Clerk and Dalaber — Wolsev's chief merit - - - - -44

Book III. The English New Testament

I. — "WILLIAM TYNDALE'S PREPARATION.

The supposed spot of his birth — Hunt's Court and the Tyndale memorial — Slimbridge probably his birthplace — His three brothers — His family Wycliffe's followers— The county of Gloucester — John de Trevisa — Tyndale at Magdalen Hall — His migration to Cambridge — His means of university maintenance — His ordination - - - - - 55

II. — TYNDALE AT LITTLE SODBURY.

The manor-house — Its dining-hall — Sir John and Lady Walsh — Tyndale's reason for translating Scripture — His patrons vexed by clerical complaints — The ' Enchiridion ' of Erasmus — Tyndale before the chancellor — Doctor Parker rates him finely— The familiar doctor's counsel — Tyndale defies the pope — The hubbub increases — The object of life settled — Tyndale leaves Sodbury for London - - - - - - 63

III.— TYNDALE IN LONDON.

Tyndale makes application to Tunstal — His rebuff a real blessing — Humphrey Monmouth— Tyndale's manner of life with Monmouth— His experience of London — The Christian Brotherhood — Wycliffe's efforts not lost — The Coiaman Street congregation — John Fryth — England barred against God's Word — Tyndale driven to a Free City of the Hanse League — He sails for Hamburg - - - - - - - 71

IV. — THE ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT PRINTING.

Tyndale at Hamburg — He proceeds to Wittenberg — Contemporary writers all agreed — Circumstances and Tyndale's character confirmatory— He employs the third edition of Erasmus's Testament— His helps for the work — The paramount influence of his version — William Roye — The Gospels of Matthew and Mark

CONTENTS. xv

PAGE

— Arrangement with Quentel — John Cochlseus — The flight to Worms — The octavo and quarto editions — The sailing of the vessel for England — The various editions and revisions of the work - - - - - - 79

V. — THE NEW TESTAMENT EXPECTED.

Warnings reach the King and hierarchy — The ' still Christmas ' — Wolsey fully employed — Indiscretion of Gospellers — West of Ely and Latimer — Christmas Eve, 1525, at Cambridge — Barnes succumbs — The auto-da-fe at St. Paul's — Sequel of the Cambridge disorders — Bilney recants— George Joye escapes — Latimer before Wolsey — Latimer licensed by the cardinal - DO

VI. — ENGLAND'S WELCOME TO HER NEW TESTAMENT.

The Flemish clothiers — The colporteurs — Fyshe and Necton — The popular welcome of God's Word — The episcopal meeting — The burning of Christ's Testament — The bonfire furthered truth — Episcopal injunctions — The royal warning — Blind Old Nixe — Mandate to seize Roye and Tyndale — More's pen in request — The persecution of 1528 — Maitland's strictures on the Puritan writers —Honey Lane Church and its Parson — Garratt visits Oxford — Cardinal College Testament distributors — Dalaber and Garratt — The three heads of colleges — Prior Dunstan — Dalaber's troubles — Astrology at fault — Garratt apprehended — Higdon and Longland suggest mercy — Wolsey unrelenting — Clerk's death — The commiseration of the townspeople— The future careers of some of those spared — God against the popish hierarchy - - - - - PG

VII. — THE 'WICKED MAMMON' AND THE 'OBEDIENCE.'

Tyndale and Roye separate — Jerome Barlow — The ' Burying of the Mass' — 'Railing rhymes' — Tyndale at Marburg — The Landgrave's university — The ' Wicked Mammon ' — Tyndale deeply influenced by Luther — The sum of Christianity — The 'True Obedience of a Christian Man ' — The ' passive obedience ' of Tyndale and the age — Change anticipated — Anne Boleyn and the ' Obedience ' — John Fryth joins Tyndale — Amendment of their Eucharistic views — More's statement incorrect — The Marburg Conference - - - - - 111

VIII. — MORE, HIS FAMILY AND MANOR-HOUSE.

The two champions — Chelsea manor-house — Sir Thomas and his

IX. — MORE'S EARLY AND LATER OPINIONS.

The ' Utopia ' — More's advanced speculations — His religious opinions change — More and Luther compared — The cause celebre — Collateral influences — More as a judge — His bitterness against

CONTENTS.

[•AGE heretics — His self-defence — Its omissions — Yet More gentler than many others - - - - - 128

X. — THE CONTROVERSY.

The ' Dialogue ' — More on Tyndale's version — His suggestions for an Authorized Version — Tyndale's ' Answer ' — Opposed definitions of the 'Church ' — Tyndale's 'juggling terms'— Our recent Revised Yersion — More's 'Confutation' — More and Tyndale compared as writers — Chelsea Old Church — More's cenotaph — The acerbity of religious differences — Tyndale's monuments and monument ------ 139

Book IV. Separation From Rome

I. — ENGLAND'S FOREIGN RELATIONS.

God's providence in behalf of England — The marriage of Arthur and Katharine — Arthur's decease — Isabella's fears — The dispensation granted — Prince Henry — Henry married to Katharine — Domestic bereavements — Henry's military ambition — The Holy League — Peace with France — Mary Tudor, bride to Louis XII. — The many crowns of Charles — Francis and Charles rivals — Wolsey's policy — Charles wins Henry and Wolsey — Henry's book — Wolsey tricked by Charles — Great danger of Francis— Bourbon's failure — The audacity of Francis — Secret negotiations — Francis made prisoner at Pa via — Charles revealed in success — Seizure of De Praet's despatches — Wolsey and Charles — The emperor's magnificent prospects— The 'amicable loan' — Charles declines the Princess Mary — Wolsey draws nearer to France — The Italian League — The true portrait of Francis — The fraternal alliance — The motives of the new brothers — The French alliance unpopular in England — The sack o£ Rome — Clement's flight — The imperial troops in their success without generals — The emperor's protestations — War declared by the allied sovereigns - 151

II. — THE KING'S CONSCIENCE.

Wolsey 's embassy into France — Its objects — His brilliant train — His instructions to his followers — His glory overcast — Henry's matrimonial scruples — Wolsey's crafty solicitations — The question submitted to authorities — The origin of the king's scruples — Henry's yearning for a male successor — Anne's person and antecedents — Henry's love-letters — Wolsey's opposition surmounted— Clement released — Knight's confidential mission — Wolsey resumes negotiations with Clement — The 'Commission' drawn up by him — The strange terms of the ' Dispensation ' — — Clement's perplexity — Gardiner and Fox at Orbieto— Wolsey's

CONTENTS.

PAGE commendation of Anne — Element and Gardiner — The 'Dispensation' and a 'General Commission' signed — Henry separates from Katharine— The character of Anne — The character of Henry - - - - - - 177

III. — PREPARATIONS FOR THE TRIAL.

The new Abbess of "Wilton — -Wolsey's forebodings — The legate Campeggio — Sickness at court — Campeggio procrastinates — Clement's policy determined by events — Henry and Katharine alike obstinate — Katharine 'confesses ' to Campeggio — The interposed Brief — Katharine's demeanour censured — Was the Brief genuine? — Reasons for believing it spurious— Clement will not openly repudiate it — Campano's mission — Rumour of Clement's death — Wolsey's unstable position — Discussions about the Brief superseded — Speed ! speed ! -

IV. — THE TRIAL.

Henry and Katharine before the legates — A scene oft doubted proved true — Fisher courts martyrdom — Katharine's procuration— Clement and Campeggio in secret understanding — Both Legates distrusted — Was Wolsey a traitor to Henry? — The sentence of prorogation — The 'Ladies' Peace' — Its terms — Henry's matrimonial hopes no brighter — The Barcelona compact— The year 1529 memorable — The advocation and suspension— Wolsey warns Clement — Campeggio departs — Roman insolence disgusts the English - - - - 215

V. — NEW MINISTERS.

The mysterious document— The cardinals at Grafton — Wolsey's downfall certain — Wolsey sued in the Court of King's Bench — His prudent submission — Francis endeavours his reinstatement in vain — The precautions of his enemies — Charles Suffolk — Thomas Norfolk — Stephen Gardiner — Eustace Cbapuys — Ecclesiastical promotions — Wolsey delivers up the seal — Retires to Esher — Henry's ' comfortable words ' — Sir Thomas More chancellor — Wolsey condemned — Surrenders everything - 227

VI. — THE REFORMING PARLIAMENT.

Parliament summoned — More's two speeches — The Reforming Parliament — The Commons' petition — The title accorded to the king — The 'Three Estates '—Fisher alone has the hardihood to defend the Church — Scanty enactments of the first session— Wolsey's impeachment — The forty-four Articles — The impeachment in the Commons languishes — Prorogation of

CONTENTS.

I'AOE

Parliament — Wolsey's legal pardon— York restored to hiui— Noble traits shining through misfortunes - - -241

VII.— Till: OBSCORE TO THE FRONT.

Wokey at Esher— Crumwell on ' Allhallowen-day'— Crumwell rides to London— His shrewdness relieves Wolsey— How Crumwell gained royal favour— His first interview wilh Henry — All the clergy in a praemunire — Their bargain with Henry- Crumwell's defence of Wolsey acceptable to the king — His rapid elevation — His fidelity in contrast to Gardiner— Crumwell's early life — Was he quite ignorant of Latin ?— The Italy of that age— Crumwell's career of prosperity — Gardiner and Fox meet Cranmer — Cranmer's suggestion — He is sent for by Henry — Was Cranmer Lord Rochford's priest ? — The embassy to Bologna — Cranmer at Rome— Cranmer ambassador to Charles — He is suddenlj' recalled — His reluctance to obey — He is consecrated archbishop — Cranmer and Crumwell — Their differences and agreements in character .... 252

VIII.— THE CROWN AND THE TIARA.

H my reluctant to break with Clement — Henry's embarrassments — The first papal Brief — Delay extorted — University sentences — Venality rife — Delays again — Henry indignantly refuses to be tried at Rome — His letter to Clement — Katharine's requests conceded by the pope — The second papal Brief — The king's citation a national insult — An ' Excusator ' sent — Who is not admitted — English pride wounded — The vehement struggle throughout England — Pulpit controversy — The Greenwich sermons — The Nun of Kent — Fruitless efforts with Katharine — God's watchful providence .... 275

IX. — THE CONFLICT DRAWING TO AN END.

The third papal Brief — Its influence neutralized — Cranmer's elevation encourages Henry — He secretly marries Anne — The archbishop's court at Dunstable — Cranmer gives sentence — The coronation — Katharine will not relinquish her title — Henry prepares for the concluding struggle — The royal supremacy — The Speaker of the Commons summoned — The Act in restraint of annates — The submission of the clergy — More's resignation — Audley keeper of the seal — More and Fisher — Spain and England contrasted : formerly and now — The obvious lesson - 291

X. — THE FINAL SEVERANCE.

The Statute of Appeals — Henry excommunicated — Clement and Francis at Marseilles — Bonner presents Henry's appeal — The

CONTENTS. xix

PACE

marriage with Katharine declared valid at Rome — The Act of Settlement— The Act of Royal Supremacy— Birth and baptism of Elizabeth ------ 304

Book V. Martyr Constancy

I. — ONE CONDITION TO SUCCESS WANTING.

Three conditions necessary to success — Heroic constancy still wanting— Tyndale on the divorce question— His right of private judgment — His interpretation of events in England — He removes from Marburg — The Packington bargain— The version of the Pentateuch — Jonah and its Prologue — The text at last found— The Treaty of Cambray— The king's May meeting— The proclamation - - - -310

II. — HUGH LATIMER.

Latimer's pulpit warfare— His noble letter to Henry for an open Bible— His labours at West Kington— Latimer as a preacher- He is tried, and fails— Scene in the Arras Chamber — Persecution triumphant — Crome yields — Latimer with Bainham - - 319

III. — AN EFFORT TO REPAIR FAILURE.

Bilney's shame for his recantation — His repentance and revived

courage — His martyrdom - 32o

IV. — THE SEAL OF SUCCESS.

TyDdale the chief stay among our early Reformers — Vaughan commissioned to draw him to England— Letters and interviews — Elyot's endeavours also in vain — Antwerp, and Tyndale's life there — Fryth returns to England — More aroused by Fryth's explanation of the Eucharist — Fryth apprehended — He is placed in the Tower — Tyndale's first epistle to Fryth— Fryth's treatment less severe — More's letter in reply to Fryth's explanation — Fryth's important answer to More — The plain offer of Fryth and Tyndale — Tyndale's second epistle to Fryth — Tyndale enters the Eucharistic controversy — His ' Supper of the Lord ' — More's answer to Tyndale — Curwen's sermon — Fryth tried and condemned — Fryth's unfaltering heroism — Fryth and Hewet burned — The New Act of Parliament — Fryth's constancy sealed the success of our Reformation — Tyndale and Fryth the heroes of its early stage — Their permanent memorials still with us - 331 xx CONTENTS.

Book VI. Medievalism Passing. — Wolsey's Last Days

^ PAGE

Wnlsey removes from Esher to Richmond — His progress' to his northern see — He becomes a model bishop — His zealous discharge of his duties — From Southwell he removes to Scrooby — Thence he journeys to Cawood — He resolves to walk to the Minster barefoot — His popularity alarms his rivals — Their accusations against him — His arrest determined on — Walshe and Northumberland at Cawood — Wolsey surrenders to Walshe — His abject despondency — The journey begun to London — The delay at Sheffield Park — Kingston arrives with the Guards — The cardinal's superstition — Leicester Abbey reached — Wolsey's last hours — His death and burial — -A system interred with him ------- 352

Appendix -.-.„. 3gg

THE

DAWN OF THE ENGLISH REFORMATION.

Book I

THE NEED OF THE REFORMATION. — THE CHURCH IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

The design of the Reformation, in Burnet's words, was ' to restore Christianity to what it was at first, and to purge it of those corruptions with which it was overrun in the later and darker ages.' No age was darker, at least morally, than that which immediately preceded the Reformation : the darkest hour was just before the new dawn. Corruption of doctrine and corruption of life had acted and reacted with aggravating influence on one another ; the circumstances of the times had contributed to augment evils ; and the result was appalling, as is allowed, without dispute, on all sides.

A brief account of the condition of the Church in the opening years of the sixteenth century may serve to show the imperative need of the Reformation, as regards both doctrine and manners.

The dogma that Christ, Divine and human, is actually present in the Eucharist, after consecration, in the elements themselves, although of comparatively recent introduction, had come to be accepted as of the very essence of the faith.

Although contradictory to reason, and opposed to Scripture, this doctrinal innovation, gradually gaining ground — fostered, no doubt, by unguarded enthusiastic expressions in muchadmired hymns — now held the central place in the Church system.

The teaching prevailed generally that the merits of Christ are applied chiefly, or even exclusively, through the sacraments. And the outward act of sacramental reception was too often regarded as all-sufficient, the necessity of repentance and faith being overlooked. Thus religion, robbed of its true life and spirit, was degraded into a decent formalism — a merely objective system of outside observances.

Sacramental views, thus fatal to the life of piety, were in strict accordance with that arrogant sacerdotalism which had superseded the primitive institution of the Christian ministry.* The Divine Head had founded His Church upon the model of a family — the twelve Apostles corresponding to Jacob's sons, the twelve Patriarchs. The twelve Christian Patriarchs, under the guidance of Divine illumination, according to the exigencies of circumstances, directed and developed the progress and the system of ' the household of faith.' But the Roman Church had contravened the Divine Founder's plan, and had drawn a clear and strong line of demarcation between the clergy and the laity. The idea of the Church became thus narrowed in general conception to the clergy alone.

There was another infringement of primitive institutions in the rule of priestly celibacy. This is contrary to the plain text of Scripture ; to Apostolic precedent ; and to the custom of ecclesiastics in early times,f as well as to nature itself. But it had been zealously enforced by Gregory VII. (Hildebrand), a second Dunstan, with ampler powers, and wider influence. And thus the dividing gulf between clergy and laity became widened. The clergy were isolated like a caste, at the same time that they were precluded from becoming an hereditary caste. The pride of the heart was thus intensely flattered ; and before long sacerdotal pretensions reached a portentous height. The priest trenched upon the inalienable prerogatives of the one Divine Priest. The merely human priest invaded the office of the one Mediator ; he claimed to be the appointed link between the Creator and His

* The lamented, learned, and able Dr. Lightfoot, Bishop of Durham, has clearly shown that sacerdotalism is unsupported by Scripture. See his ' Dissertation on the Christian Ministry ' appended to his ' Commentary on the Epistle to the Philippians.'

t See Milman's ' Lat. Christ.,' iv., p. 17, etc.

A PRIEST ONLY A MAN. 3

erring creatures. As such, the merely human priest conferred the Holy Ghost in baptism, and made his Maker in the sacrifice of the Mass. He listened to the acknowledgment of sin in act or word, or even motive and thought, from the trembling lips of the matron and the maiden, in the . unapproached secrecy of the confessional. It was his to sound the mysterious depths of the conscience. He delivered his authoritative censures ; imposed penalties ; and absolved from guilt. The keys of the invisible world were in his privileged and tenacious grasp.

To prerogatives so exaggerated, it was no feeble support that the learning of the age, and even too frequently the mere ability to read and write, were almost restricted to the sacerdotal order. It is true that our Anglican Church — for she was termed 'Anglican' in our Magna Charta — was less submissive to the Papacy than the Church in most other countries. The spirit of vigorous nationality, which not seldom animated the king and the baron, sometimes found a response even in the breasts of ecclesiastics. But for the most part the priest belonged to his order rather than to his nation. He did not fail commonly to assert to the full the supposed right of his privileged order and his sacred office, and exercised an authority over the individual, the family, and the district, similar to that which St. Peter's infallible successor claimed over kings and kingdoms.