ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



Laud and Juxon, Bishops of London, and Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, must 

 have led to a questioning of episcopal jurisdiction that could not fail to be 

 disturbing, while the faihngs and misfortunes of Williams were matters of 

 common knowledge.*^ By 1640 it was evident that it was useless to look to 

 the Crown for reform in the desired direction, while the episcopal reforms 

 were regarded rather as confirmations of abuses. The whole trend of public 

 events pointed to the Parliament as the only way of escape from what many 

 regarded as an impossible situation, and Parliament was ready to undertake 

 the work. The religious policy of the Commonwealth was the direct 

 outcome of the policy of Henry VIII. Thus to the Parliament of 1 640 were 

 presented petitions which may be compared with those addressed to King 

 James in 1 604.*' The petition from the diocese of Lincoln asked for action 

 against the increase of Popery, idle and frivolous ceremonies and the profana- 

 tion of the Lord's Day ; it further objected to the canons, and prayed that 

 no canon might be made without consent of Parliament, while a further 

 clause was directed against the restrictions on the periods within which 

 marriages might be legally celebrated.'" Besides this a further petition was 

 presented from Hertfordshire, and this boldly demanded the abolition of 

 episcopacy. It is noteworthy that the petition was brought into the House 

 by Arthur Capell," who for many years had represented the county of 

 Hertford and was well known for the- moderation of his views. The most 

 important of the petitions thus presented was that of 700 to 800 ministers. 

 A committee was appointed to consider the points raised by this and to 

 report heads for debate by the House. The committee referred as suitable 

 for discussion the questions of the secular employment of bishops, the large 

 revenues of deans and chapters and the sole power of the episcopate in 

 ecclesiastical matters.^' Feeling itself in need of expert assistance, the House 

 gave audience to certain chosen divines. The spokesman of those called in 

 to defend the existing state of affairs was Ralph Brownrigg,'' rector of Barley 

 and a scholar whose ' great wit was not forced, frothy or affected, but native, 

 apt and free.' " Essentially a moderate man, he had ' a particular esteem for 

 the Liturgy,' while, according to his biographer, ' if against anything (next 

 sin and gross errors) he had an antipathy and impatience, it was against those 

 unquiet and pragmatick spirits which affect endless controversies, varieties 

 and novelties in Religion, that hereby they may carry on that study of sides 

 and parties in which they glory ; and under which skreen they hope to 

 advance their private interests and politick designs.' " To him was opposed 

 another Hertfordshire divine, Cornelius Burgess, who had been vicar of 

 Watford since 161 8" and from 1626 also rector of the City living of. 

 St. Magnus." Though one of the chaplains in ordinary to Charles I, he 

 had been brought into the High Commission Court for a sermon preached 

 in 1635 containing aspersions against the bishops, and was charged with being 



^* Laurence Osbaldeston, who was found guilty with Williams of slandering Laud, was collated by 

 Williams to the living of Wheathampstead in 1635. After the trial he absconded. Laud presented to the 

 living thus vacant and succeeded in establishing his nominee after some opposition from Williams. 

 Osbaldeston was restored by the Long Parliament in 1642, but was ejected in 1655 (Urwick, op. cit. 472 ; 

 Clutterbuck, op. cit. i, 517). *' See above. ^^ D'Ewes, Diary, i, 8. 



5' Rushworth, Hiil. Coll. ii, 1 127-8. " Shaw, op. cit. i, 47. " D'Ewes, Journal, iii, 937. 



" Gauden, A Sermon preached . . . at the Funeral of ... Dr. Brownrig, 147. Brownrigg was made 

 Bishop of Exeter inl 64 1. " Ibid. 166, 169. ^e ^ewcourt, i?^/^r/. i, 906. ^^ Void.. ■J,')') ; Diet. Nat. Biog. 



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