The British nation a history / by George MWrong . he was quite ineffective inpolitics. Though he could writeand talk he could not act withreal decision. His talk did muchmischief. He had come from acountry where the notions ofmonarchy were influenced by theabsolutism of France, and inEngland he boasted of his pre-rogative more than Elizabeth would have done. TheEnglish were not used to hearing that to question thekings will is like the atheism and blasphemy which dis-pute Gods decrees. James never won the hearts of hisEnglish subjects, nor did he understand the deep differ-ences between
The British nation a history / by George MWrong . he was quite ineffective inpolitics. Though he could writeand talk he could not act withreal decision. His talk did muchmischief. He had come from acountry where the notions ofmonarchy were influenced by theabsolutism of France, and inEngland he boasted of his pre-rogative more than Elizabeth would have done. TheEnglish were not used to hearing that to question thekings will is like the atheism and blasphemy which dis-pute Gods decrees. James never won the hearts of hisEnglish subjects, nor did he understand the deep differ-ences between England and Scotland, and the crown andnation drifted apart under liim beyond anything dreamedof under the equally despotic Tudors. The Puritans hoped much from a king reared amidPresbyterian surroundings, while the Roman Catholics whohad recently seen Henry IV of France abjure Protestant-ism, believed that the son of the martyred Mary Stuartwould return to the ancient Church. With systematicduplicity James had encouraged both parties, but they. Jajies I. 342 THE BRITISH NATION soon had their awakening. The Puritans brought hima })etition said to express the views of a thousand dis-The Hampton Contented clergy (the Millenary Petition).Court Con- Though willing to retain the surplice as a erence, 604, j)ermissible vestment, they demanded that thesign of the cross in baptism, and the terms priest and absolution should no longer be used. They desiredalso simpler music in the services, a stricter observance ofSunday, more and better preaching; and similar practicalreforms. Some of these changes were needed, but thePuritans stood with equal insistence upon trifles ; theChurch, on the other hand, would not make the smallestconcession; Bancroft, soon to be Archbishop of Canter-bury, even objected to the Puritan proposition for abetter,translation of the Bible, and was sharply rebuked by theking. James arranged a conference between the oppo-sing parties at the palace of Hampton Court.
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