28 the HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. I. King Thus the regal power was carried to the utmofl length. Here is no re- Hen. V6I ferve of privilege for convocations, councils, or colleges of bithops : The king may ask their advice, or call them in to his aid and affiflance, but his majefty has not only a negative voice upon their proceedings, but may himfelf by his letters patents, publifh injunctions in matters of religion, for correcting all errors in doctrine and worfhip. His proclamations have the force of a law, and all his fubje &s are obliged to believe, obey and profefs according thereto, under the highèft penalties. Thus matters flood, when this great and abfolute monarch died of an ulcer in his leg, being fo corpulent, that he was forced to be let up and down flairs with an engine. The humour in his leg made him fo peevifh, that fcarce any body durft fpeak to him of the affairs of his kingdom or of a future life. He figned his will Dec. 3o, 1546. and died Jan. 28. following, in the 38th year of his reign, and the 56th of his age. " He ought to be ranked (lays bifhop Burnet) among the ill princes, " but not among the worf ." C H A P. II. The Reign of King EDWARD VI. King HE foie right and authority of reforming the church of England Edward VI. T $ y $ g rS47 1 was now vefled in the crown; and by the at of fucceflion, in the t-i^".." king's council, if he were under age. This was preferable to a foreign ju- of the n- rifdietion ; it yet can hardly be proved, that either the king or his council gldh Rfor- have a right to judge for the whole nation, and impofe upon the people oration ar- what religion they think befl, without their confent. The reformation of Sn "t' the church of England had been begun and carried on by the king, aflift- ed by archbifhop Cranmer and a few felect divines. The clergy in convo- cation not moving in it, but as they were dire&ed and over-awed by their fuperiors; nor did they comply at all till they were modell'd to the defigns of the court. Vol Hi/1lI, . Riefen r. Our learned hiflorian bifhop .Burnet endeavours to juflify this conduct, Pref: by putting the following queftion, LPbat mull be done when the major part of
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