ABSTRACT
Before dealing with the practical side of disendowment, it is well to substantiate the position that the Church is the mere creature of Crown and Parliament, an ordinary department of the State which may be either modified in any convenient fashion, or entirely abolished. Two more fled the kingdom soon after Elizabeth's accession, leaving only sixteen prelates in tho country of these the Bishop of Sodor and Man does not appear to have taken active part in the struggle between the Crown and tho Roman Church, though ho also was later deprived. They argued and voted against the transference to the Crown of all abbejs, priories, nunneries, hospitals, and chantries, founded since the reign of Queen Mary. The revenues accruing to the ecclesiastical department were freely disposed of by Parliament; in October, 1647, it was voted by the Commons that the Presbyterian Government be established, till the end of the next Session of Parliament.
