From this time, Jewell was wholly occupied in the advancement of the work of reformation, and the settlement of the doctrines and worship of the Church of England upon a firm and solid basis.

In April, he joined with other leading divines in presenting to the queen a set of articles containing an account of their faith, drawn up, according to his own representation to Peter Martyr, in close adherence to the confession of the Reformers of Zurich.h

In the following month, after the dissolution of Parliament, it was resolved to set on foot a visitation of all parts of the kingdom by special commissions, for the purpose of discovering and rectifying ecclesiastical errors and abuses: the vacancy of a majority of the bishoprics, by death, and the determined opposition of all the surviving occupants of sees to the reformation, rendering such a measure absolutely necessary. The preparation of instructions for the commissioners was a work of no small importance, as it involved, in a measure, the settlement of the plan upon which all subsequent proceedings were to be conducted. It accordingly excited much discussion, in which we find from Jewell's correspondence that he was both deeply interested and actively engaged. He warmly opposed, both the use of images, which the queen was inclined to retain, with certain restrictions and explanations; and the enforcement of the use of the surplice, and of the cape and hood, according to their respective degrees, upon the officiating clergy. With relation to the former point, the strenuous and firm remonstrances of the leading Protestant divines prevailed so far that the 'Articles and Injunctions' were silent upon the subject. As to the other, the result was different.

The exiles during Mary's reign had, without exception, returned to England indisposed for the use of the distinctions in habit, which it was proposed to enjoin.

"Ne minimo quidem apice discessimus a Confessione Tigurina." Ep. in STRYPE, Annals, I. 114, ss.

It does not appear that in the beginning of the differences, any objection was taken to the use of the surplice alone. Hooper, one of the earliest, if not the first, who expressed conscientious scruples on the score of dress, objected to the episcopal robes: and if they were such as described by STRYPE (Annals, I. 255,) as "scarlet lined, and VOL. III.-E

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Some among them had imbibed conscientious scruples, grounded on a supposed connexion with Popery and contrariety to the simplicity of the Gospel. Jewell, and many others, while they had no such scruples, were equally strenuous against the enforcement of the habits; partly out of regard for their weaker brethren, but principally on the score of the manifest impropriety of tithing mint and cumin' by rigidly exacting conformity in matters of so little real importance, while the 'weightier matters of the law' so imperiously required undivided attention and the combination of the energies and zeal of all. But these salutary counsels did not prevail. Conformity with prescribed rules of dressk was one of the requisitions which the commissioners were directed to enforce; and Jewell indignantly complained to his German friends, that, while he and those who agreed with him in opinion were excluded from the queen's counsels, matters hardly worthy of discussion except in jest, were seriously and gravely pondered; as if the religion of CHRIST could not stand without a parcel of rags." "We," he concludes, 66 are not so free from more important cares, as to be able to set such value on these trifles." It is, indeed, no wonder that men filled with distracting anxiety relative both to the event of the proceedings on religious matters and to their own concerns, should have felt vexed at petty enactments about hoods and capes which hardly deserve a milder epithet than superlatively ridiculous!'

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Yet, however little respect may have been paid to Jewell's opinions in the preparation for the approaching visitation, his honourable standing in the estimation

hoods down their backs of miniver," his dislike is not surprising. In the articles brought into the lower house of Convocation, in 1562-3, by those who were afterwards the Puritans, the surplice is declared 'sufficient,' evidently on the ground that the objections lay against the additions-the cape and hood; and ministers are forbidden to say service except 'in a comely garment or habit.' STRYPE, Annals, I. 299 s.

The vestments enjoined were: 1, a long gown, close at the hands, with no cape-to be worn on all occasions: 2, a sarcenet tippet, to be assumed by dignitaries, on going abroad: 3, a square cap, to be worn except when travelling. So worthless was the cause of the dispute !

1 Letter No. 50 in the Appendix to BURNET's History of the Reformation, Vol. III.

of men in power was evinced by his appointment to a principal share in the execution; and, on the other hand, his acceptance of the appointment proved that his opposition to the injunction concerning vestments had arisen from dislike to the measure, and fear of its consequences, rather than principle or conscientious scruple.m

The commissioners intrusted with the visitation were chiefly laymen. The kingdom was apportioned among several committees, in each of which there was one elerical member. Jewell held this place in the committee appointed to visit the dioceses of Sarum, Bristol, Bath and Wells, and Gloucester-a district including Devonshire, his own native county." The method of visitation was by progress through the district, holding sittings at every principal town, and making the requisite examinations and inquiries relative to the neighbouring parishes, both in writing, and by personal inspection. Jewell's committee began this progress on the 1st of August, 1559, and were occupied in its prosecution until the 30th of October; travelling more than seven hundred miles in the interval.

Before undertaking this laborious task, Jewell preached at Paul's cross on the 18th of June,—a duty

m Not only Sandys (like Jewell, an exile,) but even Parker, seems, by an expression in a letter of the former to him, to have been inclined to oppose the distinctions in the habits; at least, to wish them not imposed. STRYPE, Annals, I. 84. From the same passage appears that the order to retain them until the queen's further pleasure, was the work of the queen's lay-counsellors; no doubt, in subservience to the inclinations of their mistress.

FEATLY quaintly remarks, that "it fell out fitly that he presented the first-born of his labours in the ministry, after his return from exile, in Devonshire, and parts adjacent; there first breaking the bread of life, where he first received the breath of life." Life, prefixed to JEWELL'S Works, fol. 1611, p. 8.

This was a pulpit cross of timber, mounted upon steps of stone,' in the churchyard of St. Paul's. It had been a custom, almost from time immemorial, to have a sermon preached there every Sunday morning by some eminent divine; 'at which the court and magistrates of the city, beside a vast concourse of people, usually attended.' It was a place of great resort for persons of every class and character; to such a degree, that the crowd and bustle were sometimes complained of, as disturbing the preacher, and making him forget his matter.

Of course, in the progress of the reformation, an opportunity such as this afforded for gaining the popular ear, was not to be neglected; and

at the time considered as the very championship of the reformation, and committed to none but the most learned and eloquent divines. The appointment was, therefore, no small honour, and an evidence of his growing reputation. Parkhurst had long before remarked, when struck with the acuteness of some observation made by Jewell during one of their collations of the English versions of the New Testament, Surely, Paul's cross will one day ring of this boy!' He little thought how literally he should live to see his prediction verified!

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A still higher testimony to Jewell's worth was given him, just before the commencement of the visitation, by his nomination to the vacant bishopric of Salisbury. There is no evidence in his correspondence, or in the records of his life, that he had any intimacy with the leading men at court. On the contrary, the frequent intimations in his letters of discontent with their measures, and exclusion from their counsels, seem to show that for some months after his return, at least, he had very little direct intercourse with the court and counsellors of Elizabeth. Yet his merits forced their way to notice and trust. Duty after duty was committed to him, until six short months saw the homelessTM wanderer exalted to one of the highest dignities of his calling.

This burthensome and responsible office was not accepted without some hesitation. In a letter dated the first of August, mentioning the fact of his nomination, he adds, which burthen I am utterly determined to throw off.' Possibly the delay of his election by

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either party, as they alternately came in power, were careful to provide their ablest men, to promulgate and defend their opinions at Paul's Cross.

p On his return from exile, he was three months indebted for an asylum to Nicholas Culverwell, a citizen, living in Thames-street, London: he was then sent for by Lord Williams, of Thame, who was sick, and wished the benefit of his company; there he staid until the visitation commenced. STRYPE, Annals. I. 131.

a "Quod ego onus prorsus decrevi excutere." Ep. ad. P. Mart.HUMPHREY relates that while hesitating, he more than once expressed himself, in one of the serious puns then so fashionable-that whoever desires the episcopal office desires opus (a work) not operatum (already wrought), but operantis (of a labourer)—alluding to the Latin

the chapter until the 21st of August is to be attributed to this hesitancy on his part.-There was, indeed, little to be desired in the station offered him. A clergy almost wholly opposed to the Reformation, even to the extent of abstaining from their public functions rather than comply with the queen's injunctions ;-the people, though well disposed to the Reformation, ignorant in the extreme, and prone to rash violence, or fanatical excesses; the discharge of his office shackled with conditions distressing to his conscience and his zeal, and burthened with uncongenial duties, and the enforcement of prescriptions obnoxious in the extreme to some in other respects agreeing with him in opinion, and enjoying his affection and esteem;-the affairs of his diocese distracted by the successive changes of the last twenty years;-the revenues of his see, and livings in his diocese, embezzled to glut the rapacity of the last incumbent, and still further diminished by the greedy avarice of the queen and her minions, intent upon plundering the ecclesiastical state to the utmost of their power:-these were circumstances sufficient to produce in any man a disinclination for the promotion of which they were to be accompaniments. Jewell's objections were overcome, does not appear: but the manner in which the arduous duties of the office, once undertaken, were discharged, affords sufficient ground for judgment of the motives which induced his

assent.

How

The visitation begun while yet in doubt concerning this momentous question, was regarded by Jewell himself, in prospect, as a long and difficult business,' and fully realized his anticipations. Inured as he was to

version of 1 Tim. iii. 1, and to the Romish doctrine of 'opus operatum' in the Sacraments. The apothegm shows his sense of the high office which he ultimately accepted-a post of labour, not of 'otium cum dignitate.'

JEWELL, Lett. to P. Martyr, Aug. 1, 1559.

In reply to a letter of advice from Humphrey, urging him to gather around himself a band of learned and able assistants in the work of spreading gospel-truth, Jewell declared that he would most gladly do so, but wanted the means; the Capon (that was the name of his predecessor) having devoured all, by either giving away or selling the dignities and benefices of his diocese, and leaving it entirely bare. HUMFREDI Vita Juelli, p. 109.