vitality of the Christian Commonwealth. Consequently, the definition
and defense of the realm became the focus of Jewel’s debate: definition
since England’s polity – church and crown – stood on a completely
different theoretical basis than anything then entertained by the
Catholics, the Anabaptists, or Knox; defense, for while Jewel may not
wholly embrace every aspect of his monarch’s whim, this polity alone
could guarantee the continuance of the Protestant religion. In
commenting upon the 1569 Northern rebellion and its fomenters, in
language biblical in its form, and also reminiscent of that used by the
eleventh- and twelfth-century imperial apologists, Jewel describes both
the place of Elizabeth in her realm, as well as those who would oppose
it.
This was done not long sithence [since]. You cannot but remember
it: they were in arms, and had gathered a great company of
confederates: the banner was displayed in the field.^130 What think
you was their meaning? Or to what end did they rise? Among all
those that live within this realm, whose person sought they? against
whom bent they their spears? and against whose body drew they
their swords? But the Lord preserved his anointed: he hath placed
her upon his holy hill of Sion: no traitorous malice shall annoy her.
Consider now whence all this rebellion grew. There is not treason
without conference. There [Rome], even there began all our trouble.
The master of all this mischief sitteth at Rome, as I told you before:
the coals were kindled here; but the bellows were there; and there sat
he that blew the fire.^131
The new canonical categories which Jewel proffered necessitated not
merely a godly magistrate, but the godly prince; one whose unquestioned
authority guaranteed stability not only in the civil realm, but also in the
ecclesiastical. Jewel’s vision of the Christian Commonwealth, both his
public and private conception as shall be discussed, posited the peace of
the Church. The responsibility for this peace rested on the prince’s
shoulders: ‘the prince is the keeper of the law of God, and that of both
tables, as well as of the first, that pertaineth to religion, as of the second
that pertaineth to good order. For he is the head of the people, not only
of the commons and laity, but also of the ministers and clergy.’^132 It was
only after this Bull had been issued that those English Protestants who
questioned Elizabeth’s status within the ecclesiastical realm overtly
emerged, that is in the last year of Jewel’s life.
Wyndham Southgate ends his survey of Jewel’s life with a look at the
bishop’s activities regarding the Presbyterian controversy surrounding
A PRELATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 195
(^130) The banner displayed the five wounds of Christ, which is highly suggestive of an
altar cloth design common in Catholic churches.
(^131) Jewel,Seditious Bull,Works, IV, p. 1158.
(^132) Jewel. Sermon on Haggai 1:2–4, Works, II, p. 997.