[68] Cal. Dom., 1633-4, p. 450.
[69] Heylyn's Life of Laud, p. 367.
[70] While quite indisposed to attempt defending in the Puritans what is indefensible, I would add, they inherited many of their faults from the early Protestants. On the whole, I should say, the Puritans of the seventeenth century will bear favourable comparison with their fathers of the sixteenth, some of whose worst failings arose from the bad education received in the Church of Rome before they abjured her errors.
[71] Irreverence in worship is often regarded as an offence characteristic of Puritanism. But popish priests, at the time of the Reformation, then loudly complained of irreverence in their congregations—irreverence such as their successors were not guilty of.—Strype's Memorials, i. 213
[72] Neal follows Clarendon in this respect.—History of Puritans, ii. 362.
[73] This is Rapin's view.—History of England, ii. 652, adopted by Godwin, in his Commonwealth, i. 64.
[74] Tanner MS., quoted by Sanford.—Studies and Illustrations of the Great Rebellion, p. 159.
[75] Strafford's Letters, Vol. i. 463, quoted in Forster's Life of Vane, p. 7, as written to the Lord Deputy. The letter is in the State Paper Office, calendared as if written to Lord Conway.—See Calendar of Colonial Papers, 1574-1660, p. 214. In the same Calendar, p. 211, there is notice of a letter by Vane to his father, in which he "requests his father to believe, though as the case stands he is judged a most unworthy son, that however jealous his father may be of circumventions and plots entertained and practised by him, yet he will never do anything that he may not justify or be content to suffer for. Is sure, as there is trust in God, that his innocence and integrity will be cleared to his father before he dies. Protests his father's jealousy of him would break his heart, but as he submits all other things to his good God, so does he his honesty. The intention of his heart is sincere, and hence flows the sweet peace he enjoys amidst his many heavy trials."
[76] Forster's Statesmen of the Commonwealth, Vol. iii. 49.
[77] Clarendon (Hist. 75) says of Vane's father and mother, "they were neither of them beautiful,"—a statement fully borne out by their portraits.