1661.
According to the terms of the Commission, they met together to "advise" and to "consult," and the professed character and object of the Commission implied that there was to be friendly conference and mutual concession. But the Bishops manifested no disposition to concede anything; they assumed the port and bearing of persons who were in the ascendant, and who had to do with troublesome people, asking disagreeable favours. They had made up their minds not to speak freely,—and as men of business, and as stern conservators bent upon keeping up the ancient restrictions of their Church, the course which they pursued could be plausibly defended. Perhaps it would have mattered little in the end if Baxter's colleagues had persevered in their objections; yet his falling at once into the trap, and his so eagerly adopting the method of written communications, especially of the kind which he contemplated, showed how little he had of the wisdom of the serpent. The Bishops required the Presbyterian exceptions and additions to the Prayer Book to be presented at once; but Baxter succeeded so far as to obtain permission for bringing in exceptions at one time, and additions at another; and it was arranged that his brethren should prepare the former, and that he should prepare the latter. The two parties separated, the Presbyters to prepare for the future Conference, the Prelates for the Coronation. The Coronation was very magnificent.
SAVOY CONFERENCE.
Clarendon informs us:—"The King went early in the morning to the Tower of London, in his coach, most of the Lords being there before; and about ten of the clock they set forward towards Whitehall, ranged in that order as the Heralds had appointed; those of the Long Robe, the King's Council-at-law, the Masters of the Chancery and Judges going first; and so the Lords in their order, very splendidly habited, on rich footcloths; the number of their footmen being limited, to the Dukes ten, to the Earls eight, and to the Viscounts six, and the Barons four, all richly clad, as their other servants were. The whole show was the most glorious in the order and expense that had been ever seen in England; they who rode first being in Fleet Street when the King issued out of the Tower, as was known by the discharge of the ordnance; and it was near three of the clock in the afternoon when the King alighted at Whitehall. The next morning the King rode in the same state in his robes, and with his crown on his head, and all the Lords in their robes, to Westminster Hall, where all the ensigns for the Coronation were delivered to those who were appointed to carry them, the Earl of Northumberland being made High Constable, and the Earl of Suffolk Earl Marshal for the day; and then all the Lords in their order, and the King himself walked on foot upon blue cloth from Westminster Hall to the Abbey Church, where, after a sermon preached by Dr. Morley (then Bishop of Worcester), in Henry VII.'s Chapel, the King was sworn, crowned, and anointed by Dr. Juxon, Archbishop of Canterbury, with all the solemnity that in those cases had been used. All which being done, the King returned in the same manner on foot to Westminster Hall, which was adorned with rich hangings and statues; and there the King dined, and the Lords on either side, at tables provided for them; and all other ceremonies were performed with great order and magnificence."[211]
1661.
In the beginning of May the elections occurred for members of Convocation. The two theories already noticed, regarding the Church of England at that juncture, came into collision in these elections. The Presbyterians maintained that the existing establishment was the Church of England, that they were legally members of that Establishment, that they held their maintenances by a claim as valid as that of any of their brethren. The new Act of Uniformity had not yet been passed, and, therefore, there was no flaw in their title to be considered part of the English clergy. But the High Church party fell back upon their favourite idea that the Church of England was the Episcopal Church. Then, as always, they could plead laws, as good arguments when in their favour; then, as always, they set aside laws when against them. Even allowing that the Church of England might be exclusively an Episcopal Church de jure, it was not so at that time, de lege, or de facto. But the Episcopalian party managed to get the power into their hands, and to exercise it. Presbyterians accordingly were pronounced unfit to be elected, and Episcopalians were returned.
SAVOY CONFERENCE.
There were Presbyterians who disapproved of the constitution of Convocation; Baxter, Bates, and Jacomb distinctly said,—not only many hundreds of their ministerial brethren were displaced or removed before the meeting of the Convocation and others denied their votes, because they were not ordained by Diocesans; but there were others who disapproved of the way in which Convocation was constituted, and, therefore, would not meddle in the choice of its members; whether such persons would feel themselves bound by its determination it was impossible to predict.[212]
1661.