We have to notice that the Church tried to weaken the influence of the party now formed in England. As long as Parker was alive he made strong efforts to keep the Puritans under control. But his successor, Grindal, who was consecrated in 1576, relaxed his predecessor's severity. In fact this Primate had much sympathy with Puritan conceptions. At first he refused the Primacy because he looked upon consecration as being, to use his own word, only "mummery." Much of this man's time had been spent on the Continent, under the influence of the reformers. He was a friend of Bucer, one of the leaders of the reforming movement. Because of his influence over him he did not disapprove of many of the principles of the Puritans. He allowed them to hold what they called their meetings for "prophesying," which were meetings really for Bible reading. Queen Elizabeth ordered the Archbishop to suppress these meetings, but Grindal objected to her dictating to him as to what his spiritual duties should be. Instead of obeying her he told her what her duties were. He first advised her [1]"to refer all those ecclesiastical questions which touch religion or the doctrine and discipline of the Church unto the Bishops or divines of the realm, according to the example of all godly Christian emperors and princes of all ages." He continued: "I have a second petition to make to your Majesty. When you deal in matters of faith and religion, or matters that touch the Church of Christ, which is His Spouse, bought at so dear a price, you will not use to pronounce so peremptorily or resolutely quasi ex auctoritate, as ye may do in civil and external matters, but always remembering that
- ↑ Hore, p. 313.
