Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 1 · Floating text 7 – Letter 16

Canterburys Doom · Branch 1 · Evidence 1 · Floating text 7 – Letter 16

p. 96Chap. 3. Sect. 2. Have you ïn your Church or Chappell a Font of ſtone ſet in the ancient uſuall place, whole and cleane, and fit to hold water? a conuenient and decent Communion-Table, with a Carpet of ſilke, or ſome other decent ſtuffe continually layd upon the Table, at the time of Divine Service, and a faire linnen cloth thereon layd, at the time of Adminiſtring the Communion? and is the ſame Table placed conveniently ſo as the Miniſter may beſt be heard in his Adminiſtration, and the greateſt number may reverently communicate? to that end, doth it ordinarily ſtand up at the Eaſt end of the Chancell, where the Altar in former times ſtood, the ends thereof being placed NOTE.North and South? is it any time uſed unreverently,, by leauing or ſitting on it, throwing hats or any thing elſe upon it, or writing on it? or is it abuſed to any other prophane or common uſe? and are the Ten Commandements ſet up in your Church or Chappell, where the people may ſee and read them, and other choſen ſentences alſo written upon the walls in your ſaid Church or Chappell, in places convenient for the ſame purpoſe?

p. 97Sect. 12. Are all the Pewes and Seats in the Church ſo ordered, that they which are in them, may all conveniently kneele downe in the time of Prayer, and have their faces up Eaſt-ward toward the holy Table? Are there alſo any kinde of Seats at the Eaſt-end of the Chancell, above the Communion-table, NOTE.or on either ſide even with it?

Sect. 14. Hath any in your Pariſh defaced, or cauſed to be defaced, or purloined any Monumen…s, (that is Crucifixes and old Images) or Ornaments in the Church.

Chap. 4. Sect. 7. Doth every Prieſt and Deacon in your Pariſh daily ſay the Morning and Evening Prayer, either privately, or openly? Doth the Curate ſay the ſame daily in the Church or Chappell, with the tolling of a Bell before he begins? At the end of every Pſalme, doe they ſtand and ſay, Glory be to the Father, &c.

Chap. 4. Sect. 8. Doth your Miniſter and Curate at all times, as well in Preaching or Reading the Homilies, as in reading the Prayers and Lerany, in Adminiſtring the holy Sacraments, Solemnization of Marriage, Burying the Dead, Churching of Women, and all other Offices of the Church, duly obſerve the Rites preſcribed, without omiſſion, alteration, or addition of any thing? And doth he in performing all and every of theſe, weare the Surplice duly, and NEVER OMIT THE WEARING OF THE SAME nor of his Hood, if he be a Graduate?

Chap. 7. Sect. 4. Have you in your Pariſh, that doe not reverently behave themſelves, entring into the Church? (that is, by bowing towards the Altar) Doe all uſe due and lowly reverence, when the bleſſed name of the Lord Jeſus is mentioned, and ſtand up when the Articles of the Creed are read?

Sect. 17. Doe all your Pariſhioners of what ſort ſoever, according as the Church expreſly them commandeth, draw neere, and with all Chriſtian humility and reverence, come to the Lords-Table, when they are to receive the holy Communion? and not (after the moſt contemptuous and unholy uſage of ſome, if men did rightly conſider) ſit ſtill in their Seats or Pewes, to have the bleſſed Body and bloud of our Saviour, go up and down to ſeeke them all the Church over.

Chap. 9. Sect. 11. Were there any particular or ſpeciall Injunctions given (as you know, or have heard) by the Vicar Generall, or any other Commiſſioner, at the laſt Metropoliticall Viſitation of the moſt Reverend the Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury his Grace? and how have the ſame beene performed or obſerved by the Miniſter, or any other of the Pariſh, whom they concern?

Sect. 12. Laſtly, have you, and every of you, by your ſelves read, or have cauſed to be read to you all theſe Articles? have you well examined and inquired into every particular therein intended? have you ſincerely, uprightly, and without any partiall affection or concealement, preſented and made known all and every of the offenders, in any of the particulars, either as they are taken in truth, to be, or by common fame reported?

To theſe Articles, this Biſhop annexed divers particular Injunctions, preſcribing, Rayling in of Communion-Tables Altar-wiſe, bowing towards them, reading ſecond Service at them, that every Combination Lecturer, ſhould in his Surplice and Hood, begin the ſecond Service at the Communion Table before he went up into the Pulpit, into which he ſhould aſcend, after the reading of the Nicene Creed, uſing no other prayer than that preſcribed in the 55. Canon, nor Preaching above one houre; that hee ſhould not give the bleſſing out of the Pulpit, but ſhould deſcend againe to the Table, and read the Prayer for the univerſall Church, and ſo diſmiſſe the Congregation with the Peace of God, &c. That all Communicants ſhould come up by files, and receive the Sacrament at the new Rayles, kneeling, &c. p. 98As appears by his Injunctions, annexed to his Articles in writing, and his Account to the Archbiſhop, for the yeare 1636. both found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy, and atteſted by Mr. Prynne.

In this Dioceſſe of Norwich (by meanes of theſe Viſitation Articles.) Biſhop Mountague, in his Account to the Archbiſhop for the yeare, 1638. informes him under his owne hand, That all Courches were furniſhed with the ALTAR, ſtanding cloſe to the East-wall, all Rayled about the Altar: But withall he certifies him, that many of the people complained they were troubled, and Excommunicated by his Predeceſſor (Biſhop Wren) for not comming up to receive at the Rayls, about the Altar, in this manner. 19.As many as can well kneele cloſe unto the Rayles, come up out of the Church, and then upon their knees receive from the Prieſt ſtanding within the Rayles, the Bread and Wine, who being thus Communicated, riſe and depart into the Church, and as many moe as can likewiſe kneele, ſucceed, and being Communicated, likewiſe depart, which courſe is obſerved till all have received. Againſt this, they ſay, it is a new, un-neceſſary troubleſome courſe, not enjoyned by Law, not required by Canon, nor impoſed by His Majeſty, or my Lord of Canterbury, whoſe Injunctions they profeſſe they will obey; nor in the Articles or Injunctions of any Biſhop.

20.This, as it perplexeth them, ſo I muſt profeſſe, it troubleth me, wherein I deſire reſolution and direction. For if this be the caſe as they pretend, in my poore opinion, it is inter minutiora Legis, to make the beſt of it, and happily in theſe times of oppoſition; it were not amiſſe to follow that wiſe direction of the greateſt Councel of Chriſtendom, the firſt of Nice, Let ancient cuſtoms be obſerved.

21.If I may be bold to deliver my owne poore private opinion concerning this caſe, as they relate it, not otherwiſe; I hold it a meere un-neceſſary, inconvenient, comberſome, or irregular courſe. I know it hath no velam nor veſtigum NOTE.in Antiquity, who as it appeares by Saint Chriſostome, communicated Communicants kneeling in the Chancell in their diſtinct rankes, the doores ſhut, none permitted to depart till the bleſſing pronounced, and Ite in peace.

22.I know of no Law, Articles, Advertiſements, Canons, Injunctions, that require it; I cannot tell where, when, by whom it came up: This I know, it is NOTE.the practiſe of the Roman Church; at leaſt in Italy and Rome, and yet drawes neere upon the Lees of the Geneva Diſcipline, in their running Banquet, as it is rightly named.

23.I humbly crave pardon, for this my free, but private opinion of that courſe upon which ſo many in my Dioceſſe doe ſtand,24. who otherwiſe do profeſſe all obedience to the Church orders; and I doubt not but to bring them thereto, and ſettle them therein, almoſt I durſt undertake it.

This Account of Biſhop Mountague being ſhewed Biſhop Wren, by the Arch-Biſhop, he returned this Anſwer in writing thereunto, which hee delivered to the Archbiſhop, in whoſe Study Mr. Prynne ſeized it.

18.The number of them that ſtood excommunicated for this which is alleadged, were not 13, in above 1300. Pariſhes.

19.When they had received both the bread and wine (two rankes of them) they quietly withdrew, and remained in the Chancell (if it would hold them) and others kneeled downe in their roomes.

20.No marvell if it like not thoſe, that will pronounce it new, unneceſſary and troubleſome. The Service booke enjoynes it, by requiring all to draw neer. The King Himſelfe does it, and His whole Houſhold in effect.

21.It had bin neither perplexity nor trouble in that Dioceſſe ere now, if it had not (unawares) bin declaimed againſt by his Lordſhip, before hee came into p. 99the Dioceſſe. Many of his Faction prickt up their eares at that, and then his Lordſhip had plunged himſelfe to openly to get back hanſomely. Now hee is come into the Dioceſſe, and findes it ſo generally practiſed and deſired by the beſt of all ſorts; It is hoped that upon this private narration, either my Lords Grace, of the King will gain-ſay it.21.

It were fit, that what he reputed an irregular cuſtome had bin expreſt, And whether to carry the holy Sacrament up and down to their Seats be it? Where the Chancells will not receive all the Communicants, what more trouble, of ſucceſſive comming before the Rayle, then into the Chancell? Many Chancells are ſo ſeated, that it cannot appeare how the Communicants kneels and for this (in truth) the Faction hath the greateſt ſticke at it: Many Pariſhes are populous, and the Chancels large, but the Chalices very ſmall, while the Prieſt then goes to and againe, ſo far to renew the Cup, much time and labour is loſt.

22.This ſuppoſition holds not, for very many Chancells will not hold all the Communicants, much leſſe to kneele conveniently all at once: To come before the Rayle hath more analogy with Antiquity, then ſome men have ſeene, or others will. In England they came but to the Chancell doores, till our Lawes brought them into the Chancell. So now the Rayle ſerves to diſtinguiſh the Presbyterian from the Chorus, and that place in Saint Chryſoſtome, (I believe) will otherwiſe prove to be miſtaken.

23.That it is like the practiſe of the Roman Church, I ſuppoſe is the better, ſeeing NOTE.we never found fault with them for it till now. As for Geneva, tis not ſo like to theirs, or theirs to it, as an Ape is to a man; and yet is farre enough from being a man.

This is ſpoken unto in the precedents.24.

After which, Biſhop Mountague in a Synod at Ipſwitch, Octob. 8. 1639. gave theſe enſuing directions to his Clergie, concerning the peoples comming up to the Rayles to receive. A Copy whereof he ſent to the Archbiſhop, who received it the 21th. of the ſame MonethMonth, as appeares by his endorſement thereof.

When I came firſt into this Dioceſſe, I was much and often troubled by many in many parts thereof, about comming up to the Rayles, as they called it, in time of the holy Communion.

This was a novelty unto me as it ſeemed it was in it ſelfe; for I had never NOTE.heard of it, nor did I know what it meant. But I underſtood at length it was this; Thoſe that intend to receive the holy Sacrament, are to come up out of the Church, and to draw neere unto the Rayles, which incloſe the Altar, or Communion Table, and there to kneele as many as can, and to receive in both kindes at the Miniſters hands; when this company at the Rayles have received in both kindes, they are to riſe up, to withdraw, and another company to ſucceed in their places; and after them, a third, and ſo till all bee in that ſort Communicated.

In this courſe thus obſerved, I do not underſtand whether all at once that intend to Communicate, do together come up out of the Church into the Chancell, and being there diſpoſed, ſitting or ſtanding, doe in courſe repaire unto the Rayles, and returne from thence; Or whether onelyonly ſo many doe together come up out of the Church, as can kneele at the Rayles, the other remaining in the Church behinde, untill their courſe come to goe up? Nor do I know, whether they repaire, being riſen from the Rayles, whether into ſome place in the Chancell, or out of the Chancell into the Church, which may bee comberſome, and is inconvenient, it being for any thing I p. 100know to the contrary, an ancient Tradition of the Church, for no man to go out of the Chancel, or from his place, having received it untill the Ite miſſa or diſmiſſive bleſſing upon them, which we call the Peace of God. Therefore to give that ſatisfaction which I can in this cauſe; becauſe yet never any Recuſant of comming up to the Rayles, did unto mee refuſe to come into the Chancell, to receive upon their knees, to obſerve the Service Booke in all points, onelyonly they cannot digeſt the going up, and comming downe, and diſquieting the Aſſembly, which neither doe I my ſelfe approve of, untill His Majeſty, or my Lords Grace of Canterbury appoint otherwiſe; to whom I NOTE.doe, and they muſt, and I hope will ſubmit themſelves. Theſe orders I have thought good for quiet, peace and conformity to direct.

Firſt, after the words or Exhortation pronounced aloud by the Miniſter, ſtanding at the Communion-Table, to the Pariſhioners as yet in the Church, draw neere, &c.

All intending to Communicate, are to come up out of the Church into the Chancell; and as in courſe of Civility and good order, it is ſeemely the beſt in the Pariſh to come up firſt.

All being come in, the Chancell doore is to be ſhut, and not to be opened till the Communion is done; that no Communicant departtill the dimiſſion, no non-Communicant come in amongſt them, no Boyes, Girles or gaſers be ſuffered to looke in as to a Play.

The Communicants being entred, to be diſpoſed into ſeverall ſtations, rankes, or formes; the firſt ranke to ſtand, ſit, or kneele, neere or cloſe unto the Rayles, which being the moſt eminent place, the beſt in the Pariſh may fitly be diſpoſed there.

And for order and decency though all bee Communicants alike, in that holy Communion, yet confuſion is to bee avoyded.

The firſt ranke being thus diſpoſed, behinde them a ſecond, behinde them a third ranke may be diſpoſed, leaving a ſufficient ſpace for the Prieſt to goe betweene, in giving firſt the Bread to all the ſeverall Communicants, and then the Wine afterwards, if he be ſole, and if he have an aſſiſtant, the chiefe Miniſter to give the Bread, and the Aſſiſtant to follow him with the Cup, or Challice, both going out from the Altar, when the firſt ranke is ſerved; and whereas in many Chancells, if not in all, there be Seats built up, the more is the pitty, to peſter the Chancell; it is not fit that any ſhould go into them, untill the ſeverall rankes have filled the whole Chancell.

But becauſe peradventure ſome out of zeale without knowledge or diſcretion, have ſtubbornly refuſed to come unto the Rayles neere them, as if it were impious, at leaſt ſuperſtitious to come there, as by name one Mr. Daye of Ipſwich; I doe require him to receive at the Rayles, the next Communion, ſub paena juris, and for the reſt of the refuſers, who have promiſed conformity in all things, but in riſing up, and going up and downe, which I neither will, nor do require of them; let them manifeſt their conformity by once coming up, and afterwards as it happeneth, diſpoſe themſelves in the Chancell.

As theſe Popiſh Innovations, Ceremonies were thus ſet on and preſcribed in the Dioceſſe of Chicheſter, and Norwich, by Mountague, and Wren: ſo were they by Doctor Divenant Biſhop of Salisbury, (of whoſe direction and determination concerning the placing of the Communion Table, the Archbiſhop tooke much advantage in his Star-chamber ſpeech, pag. 13, 14.) by the Biſhop of Lincolne, Williams, and his Officers in his Dioceſſe, notwithſtanding he ſeemed afterwards to oppoſe them, and Canterburies proceedings herein, in his Holy Table, name, and thing.

p. 89This is undeniably evident by the enſuing Acts, for railing in all Lords Tables in every Church and Chappel made, in his Viſitation, 1635.

Acta habita facta, &c. in Eccleſia Parochiali Beatae Mariae Leic' die Martis. 25. Aug. 1635. per reverend. in Christo Patrē & Dom: Dom. Johannē Providentia Divina Lincoln. Epiſc. pro tribunali ſedentem tunc & ibid. in Viſitatione ſua triennali, praeſente me Edwardo Lake in legibus Bac. & Notario publico Regiſt. ſuo in hac parte aſſumpt.

Quibus, &c. Dict. Reverend. Pater palam & publicè enjunnie & admonuit omnes & ſingulos gardianos corumque aſſiſtent. infra Decanat. de Goodlaxton, Akley & villam Leiceſtr. infra Arch. Leiceſt. una cum gard. ſanctae Margaretae infra villam Leic. quatenus Menſam illam ſacram pro ſanctae Euchariſtiae adminiſtratione in qualibet Eccleſia et Capella infra Decanat. et loca praerecitat. reſpectivè vacerris vel C…ncellis decenter muniri procurarent, et inde ad proximam Viſitationem dom. Archidiaconi Note.Leic. pro Decanat. et locis pred. infra Arch. Leic. pred. tenend. debitè certificand.

Similiter in omnibus acta &c. die Mercurii 26 Auguſt. 1635. in Eccleſia beate Mariae Leic. praed. quoad Menſas ſacras, &c. infra Docanat. de Sparken hoc et Gartrie Arch. Leic. praed.

Similiter in omnibus acta, &c. die Jovis 27. die. Auguſti 1635. in Eccleſia de Meltonmobrey infra Archidiac. Leic. pred. quoad Menſas ſaeras, &c. infra Decanat. de Frū landet Goſcot Archidiac. Leic. pred.

Acta habita, &c. in Synodo fine Viſitatatione veneralis viri Willielmi Warye ſacrae Theologiae profeſs. Archidiac. Leic. tent…in Capella in Markatharborow die Martis 13. Octobris 1635. per Magistrum Reginald Burdin, Clericum in artibus Magiſtrum Surrogatū venerabilis viri Johannis Farmeris legū Dacteris praefati Reverend. P…ris Dom. Epiſcopi Lincolnien. Vicarij generalis, &c. preſente me Edwarde Lake Regiſt. antedicio.

Quibus, &c. dictus magiſter Burdin Com. Certificat… pro omnibus Gard. et aſſiſtent infra Decanat. de Gartree et Goodlaxton quoad ſepta Menſarum ſacrarum, &c. … vacerris juxta monitionē reverend. Pairi…dom. Epiſc. …irdolnien. pred in prox. poſt feſtum Omnium Sanctorum, prox. futur. pro Commiſſ. or offic. Archid. Leic. in Ecclaeſia beata Mariae Leic. tenend.

Similiter in omnibus acta, &c. dis Jovis 14 Octobris 1635. in Ecclaeſia paroch. de Meltonmowbrey quoad Menſas facrat, &c. infra Decanat. Framland et Goſcot.

Similiter in omnibus acta, &c. die Veueris 15▪ Octobris 1635. in Ecclaeſia beata Mariae Leiceſt. quoad Menſat ſacras, &c. infra … Sparken hoc, Akley et Ʋillae Leiceſt.

Concord. … original. penes reg. reman…d. facta collatione per me Jo. Fowler Notar publicum Regiſt. deput,

And by Articles to be enquired of within the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, (in the Dioceſſe of Lincolne) at the Viſitation of the Archdeacon there, this preſent year 1637. Printed at London 1637.

Artic. 5. Have you ad…cent Table, on a frame for the holy Communion, placed at the Note.Eaſt end of the Chancell? Is it rayled in or incloſed, ſo as Men or Boyes cannot ſit upon it, or throw their hats upon it? Is the ſaid raile or … with ſ…ttles or kneeling h…nches, at … or bottome thereof, no the Communicants way fitly kneele there at the receiving of the holy Communion?

Artic. 38. Whether any in your Pariſh have covered his head in time of Divine Service, contrary to the … Canon; any that do not kneele at the ſaying of the generall Confeſſion, Letany, ten Commandements, and other prayers read in the ſaid Church … any that do not ſtand up at the ſaying the Beliefe, or not how or uſe reverenc… when (in time of Divine ſervice) the name of Ieſus is read or …? &c.

p. 90Moreover Dr. Pierce Biſhop of Bath and Wels, not only preſcribes the rayling in of Communion Tables Altarwiſe, under penalties and fines in his Viſitation Articles and Courts, but likewiſe appoints Miniſters in every Diviſion to ſee it executed, and preſents theſe reaſons for it to the Archbiſhop, who endorſed them thus with his own hand. Recepi. March 9. 1633. L. Biſhop of Bath and Wels about placing the Communion Table.

Reaſons why the Communion Table in every Church ſhould be ſet cloſe under the Eaſt-window or wall, with the ends North and South, and be rayled in.

1. It was ordered in Queen Elizabeths Injunctions, That the Communion Table ſhould ſtand where the Altar did.

2. There ſhould be ſome difference between the placing of the Lords Table in the Church, and the placing of a mans Table in his houſe.

3. It is not ſit the people ſhould ſit above Gods Table, or he above the Prieſt when he conſecrateth.

4. If it ſtand not thus, and he not rayled in, it will be ſubject to many prophanations and abuſes; Church-wardens will keep their accounts at the Lords Table, Pariſhioners will ſit round about it, and talk of their Pariſh buſineſſes (whereas the Lords Table is for no other uſe but only for the Communion; and the ſervice and prayers of the Church) Schoolmaſters will teach their Boyes to write upon this Table, and the Boyes will …ay their Hats, Sachels, and Books upon it, and in their Maſters abſence ſit upon the ſame; and many will ſit or learn irreverently againſt the Lords Table in Sermon time. Glaſiers will knock it full of mile holes (as it is found by experience they have done in many places) and Dogs will defile the Lords Table.

5. When the Communion Table ſtands thus, the Chancell is the fairer, and there … more … for the Communicants.

6. Where the Communion Table ſtands thus, the face of the Prieſt is ſeen of all, and his voice is … heard of all which ſit on the North ſide of the Chancel.

7. It is ſit the Daughters ſhould be like their Mother, the Patochiall Churches ſhould be … the C…thedrall Churches, that ſo there may be an uniformity in this reſpect Note.in every Church.

At Coventry … Biſhop of that Dioceſſe by his Chancellour preſcribed theſe Innovations following in the Churches of that City.

Thurſday the 15 of August 1636. at Coventry.

It is ordered by Mr. Chancellour in the preſence of me Henry Archbold, principall Regiſter, being … by my Lord Biſhop to that purpoſe.

1. That the Communion Tables with in S. Michaels and Trinity Churches, ſhould be removed up … of the Chancels.

2. That the ground at the upper end of the Chancels be handſomely raiſed by three ſteps, that the … be conſpicuous to all the Church.

3. That in … which almoſt ſtopped up the middle Ile, be removed according … the Church-wardens in preſence.

4. That in both Churches, all new additions of Seats in the Chancels be taken away, … be to the ancient forme.

5. … the … of Trinity ſhall hereafter have any Seat to himſelf within the Church of S. Michael, nor any pariſhioner of S. Michael have any … ſuch no have ſufficient intereſt by Land in the other ….

6. … the Churchyard of S. Trinity may be … reſtored to the Churchyard. And the doores opening into the Churchyard be ſt…pped up, and the ſink and other ….

7. That the … wives being in both Churches ſufficiently accommodated … hence forth content themſelves … …e diſpoſed of to theſe Gentlemen of quality within ….

p. 91The Church-wardens of both Pariſhes are admoniſhed to certifie the performance of the precedent Articles to M. Chancelour, by the next Court-day at Lichfield, being the 27 of September next.

And that the Desk in the Chancell in Trinity Church whereon the Books lye, be removed to the upper end of the North Iſle next the Chancell; and a Rayle made with a door in the middle thereof to keep out children from tearing the Books.

Charles Twysden.

Henry Archbold, Regiſters.

After which, this Biſhop in a better mood, Ordering the Communion Table only at the time of adminiſtring the Sacrament to be brought into the midſt of the Chancell (being large) without the precincts of its impounding rayles, thereupon the Archbiſhops Creatures gave preſent ſecret notice thereof by way of complaint to Sir Iohn Lambe, and he to the Archbiſhop in theſe enſuing Letters (found among Sir Iohn Lambs papers by Mr. Prynne) endorſed with Mr. Dels, the Archbiſhops Secretaries hand upon the Archbiſhops peruſall of them. The firſt was this Letter from Mr. Bird to Mr. Latham.

Good Maſter Latham,

Being at Mr. Leſſons my Lord Biſhops accuſtomed Inne, I was there called and ſent for to a private room before Mr. Major, and ſome others of the Fraternity; the buſineſſe was concerning the removall of the Communion Table fromits aſcent of 3 ſteps, Note.unto the body of the Chancel, during the adminiſtration of that bleſſed Sacrament: and they fearing me and my thwarting it, moved my Lord to command me from either troubling them, or altering that. But how this can be effected, without a great deale of inconveniency both to Miniſter and people, I know not; the Table and all other ceremonies neceſſary then to be uſed, being by this means obſcured, and taken away from the eares and eyes of the people. This is all (except his Sermon) that his Lordſhip hath done here, and ſo much I thought good to certifie you; deſiring you to make what uſe you can of it, provided you ever conceale the name of

Your aſſured loving friend Tho. Byrd. Covent. 21 March. juxta compt. Aug. 1636.

The ſecond, this Letter from Mr. Latham to Sir Iohn Lambe.

Moſt worthy Sir,

Our Lord Biſhop at his departure from hence left ſuch a terrible noiſe behind him of threatning, againſt his Chancelour, Mr. Ieffraye Archdeacon of Salop, and my Selfe, as would make men that were any thing obnoxious, much afraid; but for mine own part I thank God I fear him not, but will and ſhall be ready to juſtifie my ſelfe in any thing I have done, and whatſoever hath paſſed betwixt your worſhip and my ſelf concerning his Lordſhip, can well prove if need require, with much more; which upon the leaſt notice, I will be ready to wait upon my Lords Grace and yourſelfe to Note.perform. S. Michaels in Coventry have rayſed their ſteps up to the Altar with curious workmanſhip and ſtone, and have been at great charge in making a Septum about the Table; yet hath his Lordſhip, as you may perceive by this incloſed Letter, commanded the Table to be brought down into the middle of the Chancel for this holy time; perhaps his Lordſhip will ſay, the Cancels are not fully finiſhed, but they were ſo much up at his being at Coventry, as that they might well come up and receive the holy Communion, and are now finiſhed, and the Table hath been at the upper end ever ſince his Majeſties commands. Mr. Byrd would not be knowne of this if it may be, yet he will juſtifie it, and others alſo if it muſt be.

Your Worſhips to be commanded ever, Edward Latham. Lichf. 27 Martii 1637.

By this it appears, the Archbiſhop had his Spies and Informers in all places to certifie him of the very leaſt oppoſitions againſt his Innovations, by Biſhops or others: which will be further manifeſted by three other Letters. The firſt is a Copy of the Biſhop of Lincolns Letter to his Surrogate Mr. Burdin, about S. Martins Communion p. 92Table in Leiceſter, and the placing of it; the copie whereof was preſently ſent to Sir Iohn Lambe, and by him conveyed to the Archbiſhop, who endorſed it with his own hand.

After my very heartieſt commendations unto you,

Whereas I have appointed the pariſhioners of S. Martins in Leiceſter to remove their common Library from the Quire of their Church into another room, provided by the Major, Aldermen, and Corporation of Leiceſter for that purpoſe, and have perſwaded them to trim up and prepare their foreſaid Quire with Railes and other ornaments to place therein their Communion Table, all the which they have accordingly performed. And whereas upon a Certificate made unto me by the Vicar, the Churchwardens, divers of the Aldermen, and others the better ſort of that Pariſh, That the place where their Table ſtood before is far more fit, by the reaſon of the more capacity to receive the Communicants, & the more audibleneſſe of the Miniſters voice, & the proximity to that place where Morning and Evening prayer are appointed to be ſaid, then this Chancell is. I have therefore, according to the Lyturgie confirmed by Act of Parliament, the ſeverall Injunctions of our Princes heretofore, & the 82 Canon now Notein force (as I hope I ſhould as rightly underſtand them as any of my ſaid ſubordinate Officers can do) given the ſaid Vicar, Churchwardens, and pariſhioners, leave to remove the ſaid Communion Table to the aforeſaid place where it formerly ſtood, at ſuch times as they are to receive the Communiō. Theſe are to require you not to be troubleſome or moleſtfull to the ſaid parties in any thing concerning the premiſes, untill you ſhall legally diſprove unto me the truth of the aforeſaid Certificate; and ſo I commend you to God, and am

Your very loving friend and Biſhop, Ioh. Lincolne. Buckden this 19 of December, 1633.

The ſecond, is a clauſe in Dr. Aylets Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe, about rayling in Communion Tables.

Good Sir, &c. I have cauſed many of the Communion Tables within my Officiary to be rayled in, and the people to come up and kneel and receive at the Rayle, (though with much oppoſition, eſpecially in great clothing Townes, becauſe they ſee no ſuch thing, as they ſay in the Churches of London;) but ſince our Article Books for the Metropoliticall viſitation were delivered, they have found an Article, which as they conceive, gives them leave to remove their Table at the time of celebration, and place it as it may be moſt convenient for the pariſhioners to come about it and receive; w^th in ſome places where the Miniſter is willing to pleaſe his people, undoes all which I have done, and layes on me an imputation, as if it were mine own invention, croſſing that Article delivered by his Graces Viſitor in his ſeverall Viſitations: Note.for this I humbly deſire to know his Graces pleaſure and your beſt direction. You will be pleaſed to excuſe the length of my ſeldome Letters, and to remember my humble ſervice to his Grace.

Your ever obliged ſervant and affectionate Kinſman, Robert Aylet. Farly 29 June 1636.

Here we ſee the Archbiſhop made the only common rule and directory of all theſe Innovations.

The third is a clauſe in D. Clerks Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe concerning the removall of the Rayle and Communion Table at Northampton during the plague there.

Worthy Sir, &c. They now do what they liſt in the Church ſervice at All-Saints in Northampton, and ſome very lately have (as I am informed) cut the Raile or Cancel that was about the Lords Board in Pieces, and have brought down the Lords Table into the middle of the Church: I long ſince adviſed the Mayor and ſome of his diſcreet Brethren, that the Tueſday Lecture and Sermon on Sundayes in the afternoon ſhould be forborne in theſe infections and dangerous times; they then raiſed a report of me, that I went about to ſtarve their ſoules: you may do well to acquaint my Lords Grace with ſo much of this as you pleaſe. The ſchiſmaticall Puritans now p. 93Note.bring their Appeals from the Audience, as namely the Churchwardens of Towceſter, who are queſtioned for not preſenting ſome 80 or an hundred of their Pariſh who refuſed to receive the bleſſed Sacrament at the CANCEL at Eaſter laſt, &c.

Yours unfeined to love and ſerve you, Sam. Clerke. Kingsth 17 June 1638.

This Archbiſhop having thus introduced by ſucceſſive degrees theſe ſeverall popiſh Innovations, ſo far as to inforce them generally upon all Miniſters, Churchwardens, Pariſhioners, Cathedrals, Pariſh-Churches, Chappels, and to receive Informations againſt thoſe who were oppoſite to his deſignes herein; proceeded at laſt to the higheſt pitch of tyranny and arbitrary government in this kinde, even to queſtion, perſecute, cenſure, ruine Miniſters, Churchwardens, and others in the High-Commiſſion, Star-chamber, and elſewhere; who out of conſcience refuſed to ſubmit, or adventured to oppoſe theſe his illegall Romiſh Innovations; for proof whereof were produced ſeverall ſad and tragicall inſtances, not to be paralleld in any age. We ſhall begin with Preſidents in the High Commiſſion.

The firſt in this kinde, which we ſhall but name (becauſe ſo publickly knowne and fully proved before both Houſes this preſent Parliament) is the caſe of Maſter Peter Smart, the ancienteſt Prebend in the Cathedrall at Durham; who for preaching a Sermon in that Cathedral againſt the ſeverall popiſh Innovations brought into that Church by Dr. Coſens and his confederates, as Images, Copes, Tapers, Crucifixes, bowing to the Altar, praying towards the Eaſt, turning the Cōmunion Table of wood ſtanding in the middeſt of the Quire into an Altar of ſtone, rayled in at the Eaſt end of the Quire Altarwiſe, & adorned after the popiſh manner with all kind of Romiſh furniture, was by this Archbiſhops means (as appears by divers letters between D. Coſens and him found in his Study at Lambeth) firſt queſtioned in the High-commiſſion Court at Durham, then brought into the High-commiſſion Court at Lambeth; after that tranſmitted thence to the High-commiſſion at York; and there for this Sermon of his alone againſt theſe illegall Innovations, though a reverend grave Divine, every way conformable to the eſtabliſhed doctrine and ceremonies of the Church, deprived of his Prebendary Benefice in Durham, and all his Eccleſiaſticall preferments, degraded from his Miniſtery, fined 500 li. and impriſoned divers years, till this preſent Parliament, to his utter ruine, and above ten thouſand pound dammage, the Archbiſhop diſpoſing of his Livings to his own Creatures.

This ſentence of his in the High-commiſſion at York, was ſeconded with another (though not of ſo high a nature) in the High-commiſſion at Lambeth.

Mr. Charles Chaucy, Miniſter of Ware in Hertfordſhire, within the Dioceſſe of London, was articled againſt in the High-commiſſion by the Archbiſhops procurement (when Biſhop of London) together w^th one Humphrey Parker, only for oppoſing the rayling in of the Communion Table at Ware, and ſpeaking againſt it as an innovation. Mr. Gellibrand teſtified upon his oath, that at the hearing of this cauſe, Doctor Merick of councell with Mr. Chaucy, endeavoured to excuſe and juſtifie this his oppoſition, & diſlike of the new Rayle, becauſe it was firſt ſet up by ſome few of the pariſhioners without any warrant from the Biſhop of the Dioces or his Chancellour, as was proved: whereupon the Archbiſhop grew exceeding angry, and threatned to ſuſpend the Doctor from his practiſe, for pleading thus in his Cliants behalfe: whereupon the Doctor not daring to make any further defence, Mr. Chaucey was ſuſpended from his Miniſtery, & both he and Parker ſentenced to make a publick ſubmiſſion and recantation in open Court, condemned in coſts of ſuit (taxed at 40 li.) which they were enforced to pay, & impriſoned till they had performed the order of the Court, or put in bond to do it. This was further manifeſted by the ſentence and recantation it ſelfe, 4 Ian. 1635. recorded in the High Commiſſion Regiſter, Lib. A. f. 264. 266. 331. & lib. C. which ſentence was read at the Lords Barre, in forme enſuing.