Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/117

 the throne, they came home again. They did not forget what they had learned abroad. Some of these men were in sympathy with Lutheran views, many more imbibed the teachings of Calvin. Some of these men managed to obtain important positions in England, so that they could influence our national religious life. It was in this way and through these causes that Puritanism began in our country.

The University of Cambridge became the centre of the movement.

In Elizabeth's time the Puritans were a strong party in the State. Many efforts were made to keep them at bay. The reformers returned from the Continent with a stronger spirit of opposition to the teaching of the Church than was ever shown before. They especially called attention to the subject of vestments in public worship. As they thought these to be relics of popery they succeeded in influencing many of the clergy of the Church to side with them. Ministers, therefore, began to please themselves as to whether they should use the surplice or not. This led the Archbishop to enforce the principle of uniformity.

In the year 1566, Parker published what was called "the Book of Advertisements," to accomplish this object. Many Churchmen refused to obey his orders. They were compelled to resign their livings. Thirty-seven of the clergy in London alone were deprived for disobedience. It was subsequent to this event that the non-subscribers were called Puritans or Precisians.

Another circumstance led the Puritans to form themselves into a separate party in the State. That was the Jesuit Mission to England. The Jesuits, as you know, were