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Archbishop Parker by William Paul McClure Kennedy (London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., 1908).
Part Four. 106ff.
Observations:
1. The Elizabethan policy is illustrated by Waad: “…handling religion warily…for it requires great cunning and circumspection both to reform and to make unity.”
2. One paper was Divers points of Religion contrary to the Church of Rome. Another was: The Device for the alteration of Religion. 106.
3. The latter document has four sections. First, alteration should be made at the next Parliament. Second, deal with the issue that the bishop of Rome will excommunicate England and that France and Scotland will be encouraged. (Elizabeth will be excommunicated in fact in 1572, "damned to hell.") Many unreformed or recusant bishops in both countries, being discredited, will oppose reform. Third, be peaceable to France and Scotland, giving no clemency to the Marian party before they accept the law; penal enactments must be ratified and brought to bear on recusant bishops and clergy to abjure the Pope and embrace the new regime. Fourth, a revised Book of Common Prayer to be put before the Queen.
4. Parker’s name was suggested as a reviser.
5. The Divers Points by Richard Gooderick notes:
a. Bishops should be threatened with “praemunire.”
b. The next Parliament would be too soon for reform.
c. Repeal the heresy laws of Mary.
d. Changes should be slow.
e. The “English Litany” should be far enough.
f. The Royal Chapel should be moderate, omit the “Elevation” and should communicate in both kinds.
g. Only certain clergy should be ordained to preach, not those that are likely to fractious and unwilling to preserve peaceful reform.
h. Repeal laws against clerical marriage. Elizabeth never endorsed clerical marriages, it should be noted.
6. Some of the above were acted upon, but England’s agent to Rome was to proceed “warily” and was to “refuse” any invitation to see the Pope.
7. At Christmas, Bishop Oglethorpe was ordered to omit the “Elevation” in the Royal Chapel service, but he defied that. Elizabeth departed immediately, leaving orders that on subsequent days this be stopped. This suggests her view re: the Black Rubric, which would be pulled in the 1559 BCP. This event, its excision in 1559, ought be carefully weighed. This excision does not appear to favour Elizabeth's view.
8. Recusant Bishops, Marian Bishops, presented a united front, noting that the Reforms had not gone beyond the Council and that they hoped for a renewed and repaired relationship with Rome.
9. The Roman agent, Feria, complained that accurate information was difficult to get due to the secrecy and inhouse nature of the reform-discussion; it was in the hands of Parry, Cecil, and Bedford, three largely responsible for governance of the kingdom.
10. Our author, McClure, thinks this political hegemony at the top essentially correct. 109.
11. Wotton, Dean of Canterbury, in Flanders, was the hope of the Romanists and their hope was that he would be the Archbishop of Canterbury.
12. However, when that difficult decision came, Elizabeth, Cecil and Bacon turned “aside from papists and exiles to choose their early associate—Matthew Parker.” (109) McClure calls Parker an "associate" with Elizabeth, Cecil and Bacon.
Observations on the observations:
1. There were political considerations with France, Scotland, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain and Italy that have a role on the English Reformation.
2. Connections to Cecil, Bacon and Parry are not developed.
3. Parker, who retired and resigned his role in England, was not an exile.
4. Parker was chosen over Reformers who fled to the Continent. What does this mean?
5. “Elevation” of the host and cup were opposed by Elizabeth. It's too early to tell if Elizabeth favoured the claims to a higher liturgical piety and disfavoured the "Black Rubric."
Correlations:
1. Studies in hegemonism and corporate behaviours, e.g. social psychologists.
2. The theological commitments of Cecil, Bacon and Parry.
3. Studies on the Recusant bishops still at work in England.
Interpretation:
There are greater complexities in this period as Elizabeth pursues her religious, national and foreign policies.
Application:
1. Ascertain Parker’s theology.
2. Ascertain Parker’s relationship to Grindal, other Reformers, and Recusant Bishops.
3. Attempt to understand the theological competencies of Elizabeth and her royal councilors.
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