126 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Mary. From this book, the archbishop, after so inane years, collecte4 'certain dangerous and seditious articles, as they are called ; and required Mr. Goodman to revoke his opinions.. Though he refused for some time, yet, before his release could be, procured, he was obliged to subscribe the following recantation : " For as much as the extremity of the time, wherein I did write my book, brought forth alteration of religion, setting up of idolatry, banishment of good men, murdering of saints, and violation of all promises made to the godly I was, upon consideration of present grief, moved to write many things therein, which may be, and are, offensively taken, and which also I do mislike, and wish they had not been written. And notwithstanding the book, by me so written, I do protest and confess, That good and godly women may lawfully govern whole realms and nations ; and do, from the bottom of my heart, allow the queen's majesty's most lawful government, and daily pray for the long Continuance of the same. Neither did lever mean to affirm, that anyperson or persons, of their own authority, ought or might lawfully have punished Queen Mary with death. Nor thatthe people, of their own authority, may lawfully punish their magistrates,transgressing the Lord's precepts. Nor that ordinarily God is the head of the people, and giveth the sword into their hands, though they seek the accomplishment of his laws.' Wherefore, as many of these assertions as may be rightly collected out of my said book, them I do utterly renounce and revoke, as none of mine, promising never to write, teach, nor preach, any such offensivedoctrine. Humbly desiring, thatit may please your lordships to give me your good and favourable allowance ; whereby I shall, by God's grace, endeavour to labour in furthering the true service of God, and obedience to her majesty, to the utmost of my power, during my whole life : to the satisfaction of all good men, and to thecontentment of her majesty and your good lordships. CHRISTOPHERGOODMAN."+ " This is a lame recantation," says one of our learned historians. " For Goodman founds the queen's title upon her moral, and not upon her civil qualifications. Godly women," he says, 4' may lawfully govern. By this doctrine, where there is no virtue, there canbe no claim to authority ; andwhen their godliness is at an end, their government must Strype's Parker, p. 325, 326. .1 Strype's Annals, vol. 1. p. 126.
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