Chap. VI. The HI"STORY of the PURITANS. 26.1 majeíty's fupremacy in all cauls, would allow it only in civil. This the are n judges took holdof to aggravate their offence to the queen, after they had 1583.h, paffedfentence upon them, on the late ftatute of the z3d Eliz. againflfpread- J ing/editious libels, and for refufing the oath of fupremacy. Mr. Copping had fuffered as long and illegal imprifonment from the bifhop of his diocefe ; Strype's An- his wife being brought to bed while he was under confinement, he was nals, Vol. II. charged with not fuffering his child to be baptifed ; to which he anfwered, P. 532 that his confcience could not admit it to be done with godfathers and god-mothers; and he could get no preacher to do it without. He was ac- cufed further with faying, The queenwas perjured, becaufe the had fworn to let forth God's glory direéâly, as by thefcriptures are appointed, . and did not; but thefe were only circumftances, to fupport the grand charge ofE- dition, in fpreading Brown's book. However, it feemed a little hard to hang men for fpreading a feditious book, at a time when the author of that very book [Brown], was pardoned and let at liberty. Both the pri- foners died by their principles; for though Dr. Still the archbifhop's chaplain, and others, travailed and conferred with them, yet at the very hour of their death they remained immoveable: They were both found Strype's Ann. in the doctrinal articles of the church of England, and of unblemifhedP 533 lives. One LPilsforda layman fhould have fuffered with them, but upon conference with fecretary LIlilfn, who told him the queen's fupremacy might be underflood, only of her majefty's civil power over ecclefiaftical perlons, he took the oath and was difcharged. While the bishops were thus harraffing honeft and confcientious mi- Law (fate of niffers, for fcrupling the ceremonies of the church, practical religion was atpKoñDeal re- a "very low ebb; the fafhionablevices of the time were, prophanefvearing,. drunkennef, revelling, gaming, and prophanation of the Lord's day; yet- there was no difcspline for thefe offenders, nor do I find 'any loch, cited into the fpiritual courts, or fbut up in prifons. If men came to their pat ifh churches, and approved of the habits and ceremonies, other offences were overlooked, and the court was eafy. At Paris Gardens in South- wark, there were publick fports on the Lord'sday, for the entertainment of great numbers of people who retorted thither ; . on the 13th of January being Sunday, it happened that one of the fcaffolds, being crouded with people fell down, by which accident Tome were killed, and a great many wounded. This was thought to be a judgment from heaven ; for the lord mayor in the account he gives of it to the treafurer fays, That Strype'sAn- rr it gives great occafion to acknowledge the hand ofGod, for fuch abide nals, p. 140, of his fabbath-day, and rnoveth me in confcience to give order for redrefs of fuch contempt of God's fervice ; adding, that for this pur- ,' pofe he had treated with fotne juftices of peace in Surrey, who ex- " prefred a very good zeal, but alledged want of commiffion, which he referred
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