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WHIT

GIFT,

661. 1 Edw. 6. cap. 8.

ornamental addition; granting all this, it was unanimously Abp. Cant. agreed, that the above-mentioned Act of Confirmation made the king's grant good, notwithstanding such misnomer. And, thirdly, it was resolved by the lord-keeper and justices, that the ancient corporation of the dean and chapter continued in being notwithstanding their surrender of the Church, and all the estates belonging to it. And here, as the learned attorney-general observes, though the cathedral of Norwich was principally concerned in these resolutions, yet, by parity of reason, and force of consequence, they et Chapter may very well serve for securing the titles both in other de Norwich. cathedrals, and several colleges in Cambridge and Oxford. And, for this reason, as well as for the learning of the argument, I have given it the reader.

Coke's Reports, lib. 3.

fol. 73. Le Case del Dean

D'Ewes, 561.

Collections,

p. 107.

To return to the parliament: and here I shall only obTownsend's serve that a bill for relieving the poor out of impropriations Historical was twice read in the house of Commons, and after some speeches with and against it, it was thrown out. This parliament was dissolved on the 9th of February following. There was nothing done by the convocation this session, excepting their granting subsidies.

An assembly at Dundee.

In March the next year a general assembly was held at Dundee in Scotland. The king being present, told them he had anticipated the time of meeting, to know their opinion concerning their sitting in parliament; and that they might come to a resolution upon all the circumstances. His majesty desired them to debate this matter through the whole extent.

The question was accordingly considered, first by a committee for that purpose and afterwards it was resolved in the assembly, "that it was lawful for ministers to vote in parliament, and other public meetings of the estates; and that it was expedient to have always some of their body at such conventions, to represent the Church."

Secondly. Another question being put for adjusting the number of those that were to vote for the ministry, it was agreed that the Church representatives should come up to the number made use of in ancient times; that is, one-andfifty members, or thereabouts.

BETH.

Thirdly. Touching the election of those who were to ELIZAserve in parliament, it was resolved the choosing these members belonged partly to the king, and partly to the Church. And because the time would not serve for discussing the remaining points, a commission was given to some members of the presbyteries and doctors of the universities, to attend his majesty when and where they were appointed. This com- a. D. 1598. mittee were empowered to treat all the heads of this question. And in case they could not come to an agreement, the matter was to be referred to the next general assembly.

Further, it was found some synods sent over-proportioned numbers to the general assembly. To bar this encroachment, and bring things to a balance, it was decreed, that for the time to come no presbytery should send above two or three representative ministers, at most, to the general assembly to these, with one baron of the bounds, one commissioner from every borough was only to be added, Edinburgh excepted, which in all public meetings was allowed

two.

parliament

About three months forward the doctors of the university, The right, and the commissioners of the Church, waited on the king at ministers Falkland; where, after a long debate, the business of the voting in ministers voting in parliament was unanimously agreed. settled. The circumstances adjusted were ranged under ten articles. I shall mention some of them :

1. With reference to the election, it was agreed, that for each prelacy that was void the Church should name six of their body, out of which the king should choose one to serve in parliament; or if his majesty liked none of this number, the Church was to recommend six others, of which number his majesty obliged himself to accept one.

2. That the general assemblies should nominate the person with the advice of the synods and presbyteries.

ministers

3. For settling a revenue to support his character, it was The cond agreed, that when the churches of the precinct or diocese on the were sufficiently provided for, the remainder of the estate who sat in belonging to the prelacy or bishopric should be assigned are laged

him.

4. For fear his title, revenues, and representing distinction

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WHIT should tempt him to affect dominion, and break through GIFT, the established parity, there were several restraints thrown in to check him from acting like a bishop. As,——

Abp. Cant.

1. He was not to propose anything by way of representation at the council-board, convention, or parliament, without express instructions from the Church; neither was he to be passive and silent when any motion was made prejudicial to the interest of his body; and in case of mismanagement in this article, he was to be deprived.

2. He was tied to give an account of the discharging his trust to every general assembly, and to procure their approbation of his proceedings: and here he was to submit to their award without making any appeal, under the penalty of infamy and excommunication.

3. He was to acquiesce in such proportions of revenue as should be assigned him, without encroaching upon the livings of the ministers within his precinct.

4. He was not to commit any waste, or dilapidate his benefice, nor make any leases without the consent of his majesty and the general assembly.

5. He was obliged to discharge every part of the pastoral office in the congregation where he was fixed and to prevent his rising to any episcopal privilege, his behaviour was to lie under the cognizance of his own presbytery, or provincial assembly: and to their censure he was obliged to resign himself no less than any other minister that carried no commission.

6. In the administration of discipline, collation of benefices, visitations, and other branches of ecclesiastical government, he was not to pretend to any more jurisdiction than the rest of his brethren. No claim of this nature was to be made without a particular commission, under the penalty of deprivation. And in case any usurpation of this kind should happen in opposition to the presbytery, synod, or general assembly, whatever was done should be void and signify nothing.

7. At his admission to his representing office, he was to swear and sign these articles, and any other that should be thought necessary.

8. In case he should happen to be deposed from the

ministry by the presbytery, synod, or general assembly, he ELIZAwas to lose his benefice, and sit no longer in parliament.

BETH.

9. That the name of his office might be inoffensive, and 662. put him in mind of his dependence, he was to be called a commissioner of such a place or precinct, provided the parliament and his majesty were willing to pass that title: if not, the general assembly would give him some other distinction. They would likewise determine whether he was to hold his office during life, in case of unexceptionable management, or that he was only to continue for a shorter term at the pleasure of the Church.

Notwithstanding the singularity of these conditions, the king gave way to them at present, foreseeing that time would probably bring some remedy, knock off the chains, and give a freer motion.

Spotswood's
Ch. Hist.

marrying

To return to England: this year, Edward Coke, esq., Attorneyafterwards Sir Edward, and the lady Hatton, relict of Sir general Coke prosecuted William Hatton, marrying without banns or licence, Henry in the archbishop's Bothwell, priest, rector of Oakover, who married them, and court for several persons of condition, present at the wedding, were without prosecuted in the archbishop's court, and, upon their sub-banns or mission by their proxies, absolved from the censures incurred. The instrument sets forth," that by their overlooking the authority of the Church, they had all of them fallen under the greater excommunication, and the consequent penalties.”

There is another absolution in the same form, granted to Sir Thomas Egerton, lord keeper, and Alice, countess dowager of Derby; and another to the earl of Hertford; not to mention the rest in the same register. The registers of the succeeding archbishops have likewise instances of the same kind.

licence.

See Records, num. 96.

treason.

About this time, Edward Squire was tried for treason. Squire tried To say something of him in a word or two: he was bred an for high attorney's clerk; afterwards turning soldier, he went to sea in Drake's last expedition, was taken by the enemy, and carried prisoner into Spain. Here one Walpole, an English Jesuit, got him prosecuted for heresy in the Inquisition. After a great deal of harsh usage and further menacing, he

WHIT- reconciled himself to the Church of Rome. And now, GIFT, Abp. Cant. Walpole, as Squire confessed, pushed him upon a desperate enterprise, told him, that the killing of the earl of Essex and the queen would be of great service to religion; that this might be compassed without danger, only by dropping a little poison on the pummel of the queen's saddle where she rested her hand. Squire consented to this villanous motion, and bound himself, under the most solemn engagements, to secrecy and business. Walpole, as Squire confessed, put the poison in his hands; and to prevent suspicion, procured him and another a commission, to be sent into England for the ransoming some Spanish prisoners. Soon after his arrival, he practised the directions given him both upon the queen's saddle and the earl of Essex's chair; but, by the providence of God, the barbarity miscarried. Walpole, as Squire's narrative goes on, suspecting his convert had broken his promise, is supposed to have contrived a revenge. In short, a person was privately despatched into England, to charge Squire with high treason. Being closely examined, and fancying his confessor had betrayed him, he confessed Walpole's suggestion, that he consented to the villany, and made use of the poison pursuant to the directions above-mentioned. However, both at his trial and at the place of execution, he protested, though he had been instigated by Walpole and others to commit the fact, yet he could never master his conscience so far as to do it. Soon after Walpole printed a vindication of himself, in which he denied, with all imaginable abhorrence, every part of Squire's confession.

Cambden,
Eliz.

Oct. 1598.

This year, Thomas Stapleton, doctor in divinity, departed Dr. Staple- this life. He was descended of a gentleman's family in

ton's death

and cha

racter.

Pitts de

Illust. Angl.
Scriptor.

Dr. Cosins's
death, &c.

Sussex, bred in New-college in Oxford, and was afterwards divinity professor at Douay. Pitts is very large in his commendation, describes him a man of great penetration and judgment, and a master almost in all sorts of learning. At the king of Spain's invitation, he removed from Douay to Louvain, where he had the divinity chair and several other considerable preferments. He was a famous controversialist, and wrote against Horne, bishop of Winchester, and Jewel, bishop of Salisbury, besides several other tracts.

Richard Cosins, no less eminent in the Reformation, died

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