Chap. VII. The HIS TORY of the PuRSTANS. 307 " providing a (harp and fevere punifhment for loch as (hall:exaEt the fame ; ueen " befides an order alto, which we have at this time for the better per- E l'zaaetb, " formance thereof. 1584 " I therefore moft humbly befeech your majefty, to continue your " gracious goodnefs towards us, who with all humility fubmit ourlelves " to your highnefs, and ceafe not daily to pray for your happy Elate, and " long and profperous reign over us. From Lambeth, the 24th of March, 1584. Tour majejly's chaplain, and daily orator mo/t bound, Jo. CA"NTUAR. The queen was pleafed with the archbi(hop's advice, of making al- Her majefty terations by canon, and not by /Iatute, that (he might referve the powerPiosehi?oP to, in her own hands; and immediately fent a meffage to the commons by the lord treafurer, to reprimand them " for encroaching upon her fupre- " macy, and for attempting what the had forbidden, with which fhe " was highly offended ; and to command the fpeaker in her majefty's " name, to fee that no bills touching reformation in caufes ecclefiafti- <. cal, fhould be exhibited ; and if any fuck were exhibited, (he commands " him upon his allegiance not to read them." The commons now lawRemarks. their miftake, in vetting the whole power of reforming the policy of the church, in the tingle perfon of the queen, who knew how toad the fo- vereign, and difplay her prerogative as well as her father. Had it been referved to the whole legiflature, queen, lords and commons, with ad- vice of the reprefentative body of the clergy, it had been more equitable ; but now if the whole nation were diffatisfied, not an infignificant rite or ceremony muff be changed, or a bill brought into either houle of parlia- ment, without an infringement of the prerogative : No lay- perfon in the kingdom muff meddle with religion except the queen ; the hands of lords and commons are tied up, her majefty is ábfolute in the affairs of the church, and no motion for reformation muff arife from any but herfelf. The archbi(hop's reafons again(t the bill for marrying at any time of Whitgift's the year, are very extraordinary ; it is contrary (lays his grace) to the arguments c- old canons. But many of th% are contrary to the canon of fcripture ; gaán rsifry' and they who framed this, feem a little to refemble the charafter which t:mes of the the apoftle gives of an apoftate from the faith, I Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding year. to marry, and commanding to ab/lainfrommeats. He adds, It tendeth to the Antler of the church, AS .HAVING HITHERTO MAINTAINED AN R r 2 ERROR.
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