Hutton archbishop of York, which agrees pretty much with Barlow; but Mr. Patrick Galloway, a Scotsman, has set things in a different light; from all these, and from the king's own letter to Mr. Blake a Scotsman, we must form the best judgment of it that we can.

The conference continued three days, (viz.) Jan. 14th, 16th, and 18th; the first was with the bishops and deans alone, Jan. 14th, the puritan ministers not being present; when the king made a speech in commendation of the hierarchy of the church of England, and congratulated himself that “he was now come into the promised land; that ' he sat among grave and reverend men, and was not a king, as formerly, without state; nor in a place where beard'less boys would brave him to his face. He assured them, 'he had not called this assembly for any innovation, for 'he acknowledged the government ecclesiastical, as now it 'is, to have been approved by manifold blessings from GoD 'himself; but because he had received some complaints of 'disorders, he was willing to remove them if scandalous, and to take notice of them if but trifling; that the reason of his consulting them by themselves, was to receive satisfaction from them, (1.) About some things in the com'mon prayer-book. (2.) Concerning excommunication in 'the ecclesiastical courts. (3.) About providing some well 'qualified ministers for Ireland; that if any thing should 'be found meet to be redressed, it might be done without. 'their being confronted by their opponents."+

In the common prayer-book, his majesty had some scruples about the confirmation of children, as if it imported a confirmation of baptism. But the archbishop on his knees replied, that the church did not hold baptism imperfect without confirmation. Bancroft said it was of apostolical institution, Heb. vi. 2, where it is called the doctrine of the

saries, were gross flatterers, and had no regard to their sacred char'acters; and that their mortal foe James had but a low understanding, and was undeserving of the rank he assumed in the republic of learning. This he has done effectually, and therefore, whatever was his intention, the puritans should have applauded his performance, and 'appealed to it for proof of the insufficiency of him, who set himself up as a decider of their controversies." Harris' Life of James I.p.87. Ed.

'Life of Whitg. Append. b. iv. No. 45.

Fuller, b. x. p. 8.

laying on of hands. But to satisfy the king, it was agreed that the words examination of children should be added to confirmation.

His majesty excepted to the absolution of the church, as too nearly resembling the pope's pardon. But the archbishop is said to clear it up to the kings satisfaction, only to the rubrick of the general absolution these words were to be added for explanation sake, Remission of sins.

He further objected to private baptism, and baptism by women. It had been customary till this time for bishops to license midwives to their office, and to allow their right to baptize in cases of necessity, under the following oath : "1 Eleanor admitted to the office and occupation of a midwife, will faithfully and diligently exercise the 'said office, according to such cunning and knowledge as 'GOD has given me, and that I will be ready to help and aid as well poor as rich women, being in labor and travail with child, and will always be ready to execute my said 'office. Also, I will not permit or suffer, that any woman, being in labor or travail, shall name any other to be the 'father of the child, than only he who is the right and true father thereof; and that I will not suffer any other body's 'child to be set, brought, or laid before any woman deliv❝ered of child, in the place of her natural child, so far forth as I can know or understand. Also, I will not use any kind of sorcery or incantation in the time of travail of any 'woman; and I will not destroy the child born of any woman, nor cut, nor pull off the head thereof, or otherwise 'dismember or hurt the same, or suffer it to be so hurt, &c. Also, that in the ministration of the sacrament of baptism, in the time of necessity, I will use the accustomed words of the same sacrament; that is to say, these words following, or to the like effect, I christen thee in the name of the Fa'ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and none other profane 'words. And that in baptizing any infant born, and pouring 'water on the head of the said infant, I will use pure and 'clean water, and not any rose or damask water, or water 'made of any confection or mixture. And that I will certify 'the curate of the parish church of every such baptizing."*

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* Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 587.

Notwithstanding this oath, Whitgift assured the king, that baptism by women and lay-persons was not allowed by the church. Others said it was a reasonable practice, the minister not being of the essence of the sacrament. But the king not being satisfied, it was referred to consideration, whether the word curate, or lawful minister, might not be inserted into the rubrick for private baptism.

Concerning excommunication for lesser crimes in ecclesiastical courts, it was agreed, That the name should be changed, but the same censure retained, or an equivalent thereunto appointed. These were all the alterations that were agreed upon between the king and bishops in the first day's conference.

Mr. Patrick Galloway, who was present at the conference, gives this account of it to the presbytery of Edinburgh. "That on Jan. 12th, the king commanded the 'bishops, as they would answer it to God in conscience, and to himself upon their obedience, to advise among 'themselves, of the corruptions of the church in doctrine, 'ceremonies, and discipline; who after consultation re'ported, that all was well; but when his majesty with 'great fervency brought instances to the contrary, the 'bishops on their knees craved with great earnestness, That nothing might be altered, lest popish recusants, 'punished by penal statutes for their disobedience, and the puritans punished by deprivation from their callings ‘and livings for non-conformity, should say, they had just 'cause to insult upon them, as men who had travailed to 'bind them to that which by their own mouths now was con'fessed to be erroneous." "* Mr. Strype calls this an aspersion; but I am apt to think him mistaken, because Mr. Galloway adds these words, "When sundry persons gave 'out copies of these actions, I myself took occasion, as I 'was an ear and eye-witness, to set them down, and pre'sented them to his majesty, who with his own hand men'ded some things, and eked out others that I had omitted." It is very certain, that bishop Barlow has cut off and concealed all the speeches that his majesty made against the corruptions of the church, and the practices of the pre

* Calderwood's Hist. Ch. of Scotland, p. 474.

lates, for five hours together, according to the testimony of Dr. Andrews dean of the chapel, who said, That his majesty did that day wonderfully play the puritan.

The second day's conference was on Monday, Jan. 16, when the four ministers were called in, with Mr. Galloway minister of Perth in Scotland, on the one part, and two bishops and six or eight deans on the other, the rest being secluded. The king being seated in his chair, with his nobles and privy counsellors around him, let them know, he was now ready to hear their objections against the establishment. Whereupon Dr. Raynolds, in the name of his brethren, humbly requested,

1. That the doctrine of the church might be preserved pure, according to God's word.

2. That good pastors might be planted in all the churches, to preach the same.

3. That the book of common-prayer might be fitted to more increase of piety.

4. That church government might be sincerely ministered according to God's word.

1. With regard to the doctrine of the church he requested, that to those words in the 16th article, We may depart from grace, may be added, neither totally nor finally, to make them consistent with the doctrine of predestination in the 17th article; and that (if his majesty pleased) the nine articles of Lambeth might be inserted. That in the 23d article these words, In the congregation, might be omitted, as implying a liberty for men to preach out of the congregation without a lawful call. That in the 25th article the ground for confirmation might be examined; ona passage confessing it to be a depraved imitation of the Apostles, and another grounding it on their example; besides that it was too much work for a bishop

Here Bancroft, no longer able to contain himself, falling upon his knees, begged the king with great earnestness to stop the doctor's mouth, according to an ancient canon, that SCHISMATICS are not to be heard against their bishops. It is not reasonable (says he) that men who have subscribed to these articles, should be allowed to plead against their own act, contrary to the statute 1st. Eliz. The king, per

ceiving the bishop in a heat, said, 'My lord, you ought not to interrupt the doctor, but either let him proceed, or answer what he has objected.' Upon which he replied, That as to Dr. Raynolds' first objection, the doctrine of 'predestination was a desperate doctrine; and had many 'people libertines, who were apt to say, If I shall be saved, I shall be saved; he therefore desired it might be left 'at large. That his second objection was trifling, because 'by the practice of the church, none but licensed minis'ters might preach or administer the sacrament. And as 'to the doctor's third objection, he said, that the bishops 'had their chaplains and curates to examine such as were 'to be confirmed; and that in ancient time, none confirm'ed but bishops.” To which Raynolds replied in the words of St. Jerom, That it was rather a compliment to the order, than from any reason or necessity of the thing. And whereas the bishop had called him a SCHISMATIC, he desired his majesty, that that imputation might not lie upon him; which occasioned a great deal of mirth and raillery between the king and his nobles, about the unhappy puritans. In conclusion the king said, he was against increasing the number of articles, or stuffing them with theological nicities; because, were they never so explicit, there will be no preventing contrary opinions. As to confirmation, he thought it not decent to refer the solemnity to a parish priest, and closed his remarks with this maxim, No bishop,no king.

After a long interruption the doctor went on, and desired a new catechism, to which the king consented, provided there might be no curious questions in it, and that our agreement with the Roman catholics in some points might not be esteemed heterodoxy. He further desired a new translation of the Bible, to which his majesty agreed, provided it were without marginal notes, saying, that of all the translations, the Geneva was the worst, because of the marginal notes, which allowed disobedience to kings. The doctor complained of the printing and dispersing popish pamphlets, which reflecting on Bancroft's character, the king said, "What was done of this kind was by warrant 'from the court, to nourish the schism between the seculars ' and jesuits, which was of great service. Doctor, you are a better college-man than states-man." To which Ray

VOL. II.

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