Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

148
HAMPTON COURT
diction, and one for the kingdom of Ireland. In the
Prayer-Book he named the general absolution, the confirmation
of children, and the office for private baptism.
These three were long disputed between the
King andbishops. In the conclusion the King was well
satisfied in the two former, so that the manner might
be changed and some things cleared. For the private
baptism,it held three hours at the least, theKing alone
disputing with the bishops so wisely, wittily, and
learnedly, with that pretty patience, asIthink no man
living ever heard the like." 1
James's learning surprised his new subjects. It was
indeed his hobby to study and enlarge upon the
Fathers and the old divines, and, like most lay
students of divinity, he was fascinated with the subject
and could never have enough of it. Bilson wrote
of his " sharpness of understanding, matureness of
knowledge, soundness of reason, firmness of memory,
and aptnessof speech." The result ofthe discussion of
the first day was the agreement upon certain changes
withregard toexcommunication, restricting private baptism,
marking off Confirmation as a separate sacrament
from Baptism, and inserting the words " or remission
of sins " in the title of the Absolutionat morning and
evening prayer.
On Monday the King assembled the whole body,
and addressed the " aggrieved sort," asking for
their objections. Dr. Reynolds pleaded for the
Lambeth Articles, and for alterations in the Thirty-
1 Montague in Nicholls " Progresses of King James I.," i. 314.