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    ( Concluded from p . 377 . ) ¦ . . Is the midst of graver matter , we may step aside to notice Laud ' s scheme for gratifying : his own tyrannous appetite , and at the same time putting money into the King ' s pocket , by prosecuting the persons who had , in their zeal , ( like the evangelicals of the present day , } made a stock-purse to buy

    up impropriations—a species of commodity whichi ^ 't aritb ^ honour of the Church of England , is always open to the beat bidder . Mr . Lawson chooses to say this was " an illegal association . " In so asserting , he only says what the worthy Noy said before him , but on what authority neither of them has shewn . Laud , to justify his robbery , says /' ' 4 ' * I was clearl y of opinion that this was a cunning way to overthrow the church by getting into their power more dependency of the clergy , than the king , the peers , and

    all the bishops in the kingdom had . " Their design , Mr . Lawson says , " succeeded to the utmost extent ; " and then but a few lines further on , when it is expedient to diminish the amount of the robbery , comes this wonderful confirmation of Laud ' s " opinion , " and of his biographer's assertion , that this dreaded association , at its dissolution , was found to be possessed of thirteen impropriations , purchased with a capital of £ 5000- We

    were not surprised at meeting with a denunciation of this confiscation as " a measure which I confess can hardly be justified . " We read on , and , as usual , found it in the same breath declared to be " a measure highly expedient and salutary for the cAtercA . " Laud ' s share in it was " in pursuance of the designs he had formed for the advancement of learning and religion ;" and " it required a man of his vigorous and active mind to govern with firmness and decision . "

    The prosecution of the King's printers for their sins of omission in dropping the little word " not , " from the seventh commandment , is but a trifling interlude of the great drama . The unfortunate offenders were severely fined—a happy contrivance for preventing the necessity for lists of errata , which we admit to be very unsightly . This prosecution , " Mr . Lawson musters courage to assert , " could be liable to no just objection . " Printers must suffer and submit , and that not always , as in this case , for their own offences .

    We then follow the story to the perverse interference with the worship of those English Protestant residents at Hamburgh who were so unreasonable as to beg < c not to be troubled with Common Prayer . " * Christianity , " however , Jlr . Lawson says , " is a religion of authority , and if men are permitted to reject that authority at will , there is no barrier to heresy or schism . " Laud , therefore , was prepared to display this " authority , " ( how he came to fancy his particular scheme to be the Christianity of " authority" is not shewn , ) and he was ready with his " Regulations , " which were followed up

    by equally wise and impartial regulations for abolishing the liberties of all foreign Protestants resident in England ; a most politic and just proceeding truly , considering the position in which the Church of England stood to-% wards all other re formed churches . This device was followed up ^ after Laud assumed the Archbishopric , by compelling all members of the ? French and Dutch churches , born in England , to attend the parish churoh « tf , ° and all foreigners to use the English liturgy . " It is neediest to mince the matter , " Mr . Lawson is obliged to own ; this " was enforcing a test ; it was in-

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    ( 4 * 5 )

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    THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ARCHBISHOP LAU D *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1829, page 485, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2574/page/37/