Fathers of the English Church. By Frances Phillips. Second Series.
(Bemrose and Sons.)—This second series of " Short Sketches for Young Readers " contains the lives of St. Richard of Chichester, William of Wykeham, Matthew Parker, and Laud. These may be generally commended, the last and most difficult, the life of Laud, showing a candid appreciation of the Arch- bishop's merits and demerits. Many would not strike the balance so much in Land's favour; but Miss Phillips's view of him is intelligible and defensible. In the life of Parker she seems to say, but can hardly mean, that the doctrines for which the Marian. martyrs died were " violent and impious attacks?' on Mary's faith, which almost justified her acts. " Warm-hearted " is scarcely an epithet which we should apply to the Queen. As to Parker's consecration, Miss Phillips does not grapple with the real difficulty, that the form was inadequate. Dr. Lingard, who rejects the foolish ' Nag's Head' story, remarks that the words of consecration might have been addressed to anybody.
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