The month of December, which saw the revisionary labours of Convocation completed, also witnessed within the walls of Westminster Abbey two remarkable solemnities connected with the revival of Episcopacy. Upon the 12th of December, Sharp, Archbishop of St. Andrew's, Fairfull, Archbishop of Glasgow, Leighton, Bishop of Dunblaine, and Hamilton, Bishop of Galloway, were consecrated by the Bishops of London and Worcester;[309] and upon the 20th, the day when the Prayer Book was being subscribed by the members of the two Houses of Convocation, the Bishop of Hereford, brother to the Duke of Albemarle, was buried,—a silver mitre, with his Episcopal robes, being borne by the Herald before the hearse, which was followed by the Duke, by several noblemen, and by all the Bishops.[310]
1661.
The Bishops, this year, had other business besides that of Convocation to occupy time, and to create anxiety. Prior to the passing of the Act of Uniformity, their dioceses could not but be in a state of confusion. Many clergymen who were disaffected to the restored system and its Episcopal administrators, retained incumbencies, and gave considerable trouble to the ecclesiastical superiors. It was as if, after the suppression of a long-continued and successful mutiny, and the re-instatement of old officers in command, a number of soldiers in the ranks, or of sailors on board ship, should still remain opposed to the colonel or the captain.[311]
CHAPTER X.
As there had been only an adjournment, and not a prorogation in the summer of 1661, the Bill of Uniformity, carried by the Commons before that period, remained eligible for consideration from the Lords in the following January. They read the Bill a first time, on the 14th, the Spiritual Peers before that date having taken their seats, and the revision of the Prayer Book by Convocation having also been completed. The Bill was read a second time, and referred upon the 17th of January to a Select Committee. Upon the 13th of February, this Committee requested to know whether they should proceed with the old Prayer Book sent up to them by the Commons, or wait for the copy revised by Convocation. That copy had been handed to the King for examination—a thing not suited to his taste—but whether teased to the performance of a task, or taking the whole matter on trust, it is certain, that before the end of the month of February, he formally sanctioned the alterations.[312]
The volume having been, by the two Archbishops presented to the Lords, the Earl of Northumberland proposed that the old Prayer Book should be adopted, in connection with Queen Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity—a proposition which, however feasible at an earlier period, came now too late.
1662.
The slow progress made by the Lords had dissatisfied the Lower House, and complaints from that quarter had reached the Royal ears; hence, when the King gave audience to the Commons at Whitehall, on the 3rd of March, respecting his revenues, he, having before that time sent the revised Prayer Book to the Peers, could boldly speak as follows: "I hear you are very zealous for the Church, and very solicitous, and even jealous, that there is not expedition enough used in that affair; I thank you for it, since, I presume, it proceeds from a good root of piety and devotion; but I must tell you I have the worst luck in the world, if, after all the reproaches of being a Papist, whilst I was abroad, I am suspected of being a Presbyterian now I am come home."[313] This strange kind of talk was followed by a declaration of zeal for the interests of the Church of England. The Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Wharton, and other Peers, were added to the Committee of the Upper House for considering the contents of the Bill.[314]