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Frankfort to advocate more radical changes in government and
doctrine。 Popular enthusiasm was kindled； never afterwards to be
repressed。
The great ideas of the Reformation began now to agitate the mind of
England；not so much the logical doctrines of Calvin as the
emancipating ideas of Luther。 The Renaissance had begun； and the
two movements were incorporated；the religious one of Germany and
the Pagan one of Italy； both favoring liberality of mind； a freer
style of literature； restless inquiries； enterprise； the revival of
learning and art； an intense spirit of progress； and disgust for
the Dark Ages and all the dogmas of scholasticism。 With this
spirit of progress and moderate Protestantism Elizabeth herself；
the best educated woman in England； warmly sympathized； as did also
the illustrious men she drew to her court； to whom she gave the
great offices of state。 I cannot call her age a religious one： it
was a merry one； cheerful； inquiring； untrammelled in thought； bold
in speculation； eloquent； honest； fervid； courageous； hostile to
the Papacy and all the bigots of Europe。 It was still rough；
coarse； sensual； when money was scarce and industries in their
infancy； and material civilization not very attractive。 But it was
a great age； glorious； intellectual； brilliant； with such statesmen
as Burleigh and Walsingham to head off treason and conspiracy； when
great poets arose； like Jonson and Spenser and Shakspeare； and
philosophers； like Bacon and Sir Thomas Browne； and lawyers； like
Nicholas Bacon and Coke； and elegant courtiers； like Sidney and
Raleigh and Essex； men of wit； men of enterprise； who would explore
distant seas and colonize new countries； yea； great preachers； like
Jeremy Taylor and Hall； and great theologians； like Hooker and
Chillingworth；giving polish and； dignity to an uncouth language；
and planting religious truth in the minds of men。
Elizabeth； with such a constellation around her； had no great
difficulty in re…establishing Protestantism and giving it a new
impetus； although she adhered to liturgies and pomps； and loved
processions and fetes and banquets and balls and expensive
dresses；a worldly woman； but progressive and enlightened。
In the religious reforms of that age you see the work of princes
and statesmen still； rather than any great insurrection of human
intelligence or any great religious revival； although the germs of
it were springing up through the popular preachers and the
influence of Genevan reformers。 Calvin's writings were potent； and
John Knox was on his way to Scotland。
I pass by rapidly the reforms of Elizabeth's reign； effected by the
Queen and her ministers and the convocation of Protestant bishops
and clergy and learned men in the universities。 Oxford and
Cambridge were then in their glory；crowded with poor students
from all parts of England； who came to study Greek and Latin and
read theology； not to ride horses and row boats； to put on
dandified airs and sneer at lectures； running away to London to
attend theatres and flirt with girls and drink champagne； beggaring
their fathers and ruining their own expectations and their health。
In a very short time after the accession of Elizabeth； which was
hailed generally as a very auspicious event； things were restored
to nearly the state in which they were left by Cranmer in the
preceding reign。 This was not done by direct authority of the
Queen； but by acts of Parliament。 Even Henry VIII。 ruled through
the Parliament； only it was his tool and instrument。 Elizabeth
consulted its wishes as the representation of the nation； for she
aimed to rule by the affections of her people。 But she recommended
the Parliament to conciliatory measures； to avoid extremes； to drop
offensive epithets； like 〃papist〃 and 〃heretic；〃 to go as far as
the wants of the nation required； and no farther。 Though a zealous
Protestant； she seemed to have no great animosities。 Her
particular aversion was Bonner；the violent； blood…thirsty；
narrow…minded Bishop of London； who was deprived of his see and
shut up in the Tower； put out of harm's way； not cruelly treated；
he was not even deprived of his good dinners。 She appointed； as
her prerogative allowed； a very gentle； moderate； broad； kind…
hearted man to be Archbishop of Canterbury；Parker； who had been
chaplain to her mother； and who was highly esteemed by Burleigh and
Nicholas Bacon； her most influential ministers。 Parliament
confirmed the old act； passed during the reign of Henry VIII。；
making the sovereign the head of the English Church； although the
title of 〃supreme head〃 was left out in the oath of allegiance； to
conciliate the Catholic party。 To execute this supremacy； the
Court of High Commission was established；afterwards so abused by
Charles I。 The Church Service was modified； and the Act of
Uniformity was passed by Parliament； after considerable debate。
The changes were all made in the spirit of moderation； and few
suffered beyond a deprivation of their sees or livings for refusing
to take the oath of supremacy。
Then followed the Thirty…nine Articles； setting forth the creed of
the Established Church；substantially the creed which Cranmer had
made；and a new translation of the Bible； and the regulation of
ecclesiastical courts。
But whatever was done was in good taste；marked by good sense and
moderation；to preserve decency and decorum； and repress all
extremes of superstition and license。 The clergy preached in a
black gown and Genevan bands； using the surplice only in the
liturgy； we see no lace or millinery。 The churches were stripped
of images； the pulpits became high and prominent； the altars were
changed to communion…tables without candles and symbols。 There was
not much account made of singing； for the lyric version of the
Psalms was execrable。 For the first time since Chrysostom and
Gregory Nazianzen； preaching became the chief duty of the
clergyman； and his sermons were long； for the people were greedy of
instruction； and were not critical of artistic merits。 Among other
things of note； the exiles were recalled； who brought back with
them the learning of the Continent and the theology of Geneva； and
an intense hatred for all the old forms of superstition；images；
crucifixes； lighted candles； Catholic vestments；and a supreme
regard for the authority of the Scriptures； rather than the
authority of the Church。
These men； mostly learned and pious； were not contented with the
restoration as effected by Elizabeth's reformers；they wanted
greater simplicity of worship and a more definite and logical
creed； and they made a good deal of trouble； being very
conscientious and somewhat narrow and intolerant。 So that； after
the re…establishment of Protestantism； the religious history of the
reign is chiefly concerned with the quarrels and animosities within
the Church； particularly about vestments and modes of worship；
things unessential； minute； technical；which led to great acerbity
on both sides； and to some persecution； for these quarrels provoked
the Queen and her ministers； who wanted peace and uniformity。 To
the Government it seemed strange and absurd for these returned
exiles to make such a fuss about a few externals； to these
intensified Protestants it seemed harsh and cruel that Government
should insist on such a rigid uniformity； and punish them for not
doing as they were bidden by the bishops。
So they separated from the Established Church； and became what were
called Nonconformists；having not only disgust of the decent
ritualism of the Church； but great wrath for the bishops and
hierarchy and spiritual courts。 They also disapproved of the holy
days which the Church retained； and the prayers and the cathedral
style of worship； the use of the cross in baptism； godfathers and
godmothers； the confirmation of children； kneeling at the
sacrament； bowing at the name of Jesus； the ring in marriage； the
surplice； the divine right of bishops； and some other things which
reminded them of Rome； for which they had absolute detestation；
seeing in the old Catholic Church nothing but abominations and
usurpations； no religion at all； only superstition and anti…
Christian government and doctrine；the reign of the beast； the
mystic Babylon； the scarlet mother revelling in the sorceries of
ancient Paganism。 These terrible animosities against even the
shadows and resemblances of what was called Popery were increased
and intensified by the persecution and massacres which the
Catholics about this time were committing on the Protestants in
France and Germany and the Low Countries； and which filled the
people of England；especially the middle and lower classes； with
fear； alarm； anger； and detestation。
I will not enter upon the dissensions which so early crept into the
English Church； and led to a separation or a schism； whatever name
it goes by；to most people in these time