Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 6 · Floating text 1 – Floating text 3
Conſiderations for the better ſettling of the Church-Government.
That his Majeſty would be graciouſly pleaſed.
1. TO Command the Lords the Biſhops to their ſeverall ſeas; excepting thoſe which are in attendance at Court.
2. That none of them reſide upon his Land or Leaſe that he hath purchaſed; or on his Commendam if he hold any, but in one of his Epiſcopall Houſes. And that hee waſt not the woods where any are left.
3. That they give charge in their Tryenniall Viſitations; and at other times both by themſelves, and the Archdeacons, that the Declaration for ſettling the queſtions in difference be ſtrictly obſerved.Note.
4. That a ſpeciall Charge be given them againſt frequent and unworthy Ordinations.
5. That a ſpeciall Care be had over the Lecturers in every Dioceſſe: Which by Reaſon of their pay are the peoples creatures, and blow the Bellowes their way. Note.Sedition.
For the abating of whoſe power theſe wayes may be taken.
1. That the afternoon Sermons in all Pariſhes may be turned into Catechiſing by Queſtions and Anſwers, according to an Order ſet out by King Iames of bleſſed Note.Memory. If this cannot be, then:
2. That every Biſhop ordain in his Dioceſſe, that every Lecturer doe read Divine ſervice in his Surpliſſe before the Lecture.
3. That where a Lecture is ſet up in a Market Town it be read by a Combination of grave and orthodox Divines neer adjoyning.
4. That if an Incorporation do maintain a Lecturer he be not ſuffered to preach till he take upon him Curam Animarum within that Incorporation.
6. That the Biſhop do countenance and encourage the grave orthodox Divines of his Clergy, and gaine them in the ſeverall quarters of his Dioceſſe to be preſent at ſuch Lecturers Sermons as are neere them: That ſo the Biſhop may have knowledge.
7. That the Biſhop ſuffer none under Noble men, and men qualified by Law, to Note.have any private Chaplain in his houſe.
8. That his Majeſty may be graciouſly pleaſed that men of courage, gravity, and experience in Government be preferred to Biſhopricks.
9. That Emanuel and Sydny Colledge in Cambridge, which are the Nurſeries of Note.Puritaniſme; may from time to time be provided of grave and orthodox men for their governours.
10. That his Majeſties High Commiſſion be countenanced by the preſence of ſome of his Majeſties privy Councell, ſo oft at leaſt as any Matter of Moment is to be. Note.ſentenced.
11. That ſome courſe may be taken that the Judges may not ſend ſo many Prohibitions.Note.
12. That his Majeſtie would be graciouſly pleaſed once in halfe a yeare to Note.call for an Account of all, or ſo many of theſe as hee in wiſdome ſhall thinke fitt.
1. The generall Feoffees for Benefices and preferment.
2. A new authorizing of the Injunctions.
By this Originall Paper, the main ſcope whereof is only to ſuppreſſe Preaching, Lectures, and extirpate all Lecturers by Degrees; it is apparant. Firſt, that this Prelate was the prime Projector, Promoter of all the Jeſuiticall Devices conteined in theſe Conſiderations, and ſince put in Practiſe in every Dioceſſe to ſuppreſſe Preaching, Lectures and Lecturers. Secondly, that the ſpecious pretence of having the Afternoon Sermons in every Pariſh turned into catechiſing; ſo much preſſed and commended, was only a meer pretence and wicked policy of purpoſe to ſuppreſſe Lectures and undermine Lecturers; None being enjoyned to catechiſe but ſuch as preached; none being queſtioned for not catechiſing if they preached not; and thoſe that catechiſed and preached too, or expounded, or uſed any other Catechiſm but that in the Common-Prayer-Booke, being queſtioned and ſuſpended as Delinquents. Thirdly, that he not only recommends theſe Conſiderations to his Majeſty, but moves him to turne them into Injunctions, and to call for an Account every halfe year to ſee how they were obſerved. Fourthly, that to effect and further this wicked project, all his orthodox, grave Miniſters are required to be preſent at Lectures the better to turne informers againſt Lecturers that were honeſt and painfull. Fifthly, ſome Colledges muſt have new Governours appointed them to prevent the growth of Puritaniſm: No new Biſhops muſt be made but ſuch who would be active in putting this deſign in execution: The Kings own privy Councell muſt be ſpecially enjoyned to dance attendance at the High Commiſſion to puniſh ſuch who tranſgreſſed theſe Preſcriptions, and the Judges inhibited to grant Prohibitions for their releife.
This foundation being layd, theſe Conſiderations of the Biſhop were in a few weeks after, with very little alteration, transformed and hightned into the Title of Inſtructions from his Majeſty; the Originall Draught whereof we have here preſent, interlined, altered with this Biſhops own hand: and then in Decemb. 1629, they were ſent in the Kings own name, as his owne Regall Injunctions, to the Archbiſhops of Canterbury and Yorke, and by them to all the Biſhops in their particular Provinces to ſee them punctually obſerved and put in execution in every pariſh within their Dioceſſe. One Copy of them was ſent by Archbiſhop Abbot to B… Laude, then Biſhop duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page of London. In purſuite whereof he ſummoned in all the Miniſters and Lecturers within the City and Suburbs to attend him at London Houſe; where hee made a ſolemne Speech unto them; Wherein (as appears by the Notes of it under his own hand here produced) he preſſed obedience to theſe Inſtructions of his Majeſtie, which he ſaid, had been miſtaken by ſome of them before it was poſſible for them to ſee, much leſſe to weigh them; adding, that they were full of Religion and Juſtice: that much good would come to the Church and Commonweale by obedience to them; the want of which obedience hath loſt us more wayes then one. And profeſſing he was ſorry there was need of thoſe or any other; yet ſince there is need, and the Government hath found it ſo, hee was glad of this occaſion to knowe, and ſee them together.
What theſe Instructions were, and how conſonant to his own Conſiderations, We ſhall manifeſt by an exact Copy endorſed with his owne hand in this forme. Decemb. 30 1629. Inſtructions from his Majeſty concerning the Reſidence of Biſhops; and the Lecturers: with ſome Notes, exceptions, explanations upon them in the margin, written likewiſe by himſelfe.
CHARLES R.
Inſtructions for the moſt reverend Father in God, our right truſty and right entirely beloved Councellor, George L. Archbiſhop of Canterbury: Concerning certain Orders to be obſerved and put in execution by the ſeverall Biſhops in his Province.
1. THat the Lords the Biſhops be commanded to their ſeverall Seas, (a) there to keep reſidence, excepting thoſe wich are in neceſſary attendance at Court.
2. That none of them reſide upon his land or leaſe that he hath purchaſed, (b) nor on his Commendam if he hold any, but in one of his Epiſcopall houſes if he have any: And that he waſt not the woods where any are left.
3. That they give charge in their Trienniall Viſitations and at other convenient times, both by themſelves and the Archdeacons, that the Declaration for the ſettling all queſtions in difference, be strictly obſerved by all parties.
4. That there be a ſpeciall care taken by them all, that their Ordinations be ſolemn and not of unworthy perſons.
5. That they take great care concerning the Lecturers in their ſeverall Dioceſſes, for whom we give theſe ſpeciall directions following.
1. That in all Pariſhes the Afternoon Sermons (c) may be turned into Catechizing by Queſtion and Anſwer, where and whenſoever there is not ſome great cauſe apparant to breake this ancient and profitable Order.
2. That every Biſhop ordain in his Dioceſſe, (d) that every Lecturer doe read Divine Service according to the Liturgy printed by Authority, in his Surpliſſe and Hood before the Lecture.
3. That where a Lecture is ſet up in a Market Town, it may be read by a company of grave and orthodox Divines neer adjoyning and in the ſame Dioceſſe: And that they preach in Gownes and not in Cloakes, as too many doe uſe.
4. That if a Corporation do maintain a ſingle Lecturer, he be not ſuffered to preach till he profeſſe his willingneſſe to take upon him a Living with Cure of Soules, within that Incorporation: and that he do actually take ſuch (e) Benefice or Cure, ſo ſoon as it ſhall be fairly procured for him.
6. That the Biſhops doe countenance and encourage the grave and orthodox Divines of their Clergy, and that they uſe meanes by ſome of the Clergy or others, that they may have knowledge how both Lecturers and Preachers within their Dioceſſes behave themſelves in their Sermons, that ſo they may take order for any abuſe accordingly.
7. That the Biſhops ſuffer (f) none under Noblemen, and men qualified by Law, to have any private Chaplain in his houſe.
8. That they take ſpeciall care that Divine Service be diligently frequented as well for Prayers and Catechiſmes as Sermons, and take particular note of all ſuch as abſent themſelves as Recuſants or other waies.
9. That every Biſhop that by our grace and favour, and good opinion of his ſervice, ſhall be nominated by us to another Biſhopricke, ſhall from that day of nomination not preſume to make any Leaſe for three lives or one and twenty yeares, or concurrent Leaſe, or any way renew any Eſtate, or cut any wood or timber, but meerly receive the rents due and quit the place. For wee thinke it a hatefull thing that any mans leaving the Biſhoprick ſhould almoſt undoe the Succeſſor. And if any man ſhall preſume to breake this order, (g) we will refuſe at our Royall Aſſent, and keepe him at the place which he hath ſo abuſed.
10. And laſtly, we command you to give us an Account every yeare the ſecond of Ianuary, of the performance of theſe our Commands.
Exceptions taken.
(a) This is broken.
(b) And this.
(c) This Catechiſing muſt be by the Catechiſm in the Com prayer book and no other. Divers in London muſt preach too or looſe their means. They cannot agree upon the great Cauſe.
(d) Whether this bind the Parſon or Vicar if he read the Lecture? Or all the Miniſters where there is a combination Vnleſſe it be upon the uery edge of a Dioceſe &c,
(e) And execut by himſelfe: And whether it ſhall be ſufficient to conforme ſome times, ſo the reading of Prayer bee conſtant.
(f) Excepted againſt in regard of diſplacing many young men &c.
(g) What if he do not let them till the Royall Aſſent be paſt?
Dorchester.
How diligent he was to put theſe Inſtructions into execution within his own Dioceſſe, will appeare by this Letter of his to his ſeverall Archdeacons; the originall whereof was produced, interlined with his own hand.
SIR,
THeſe are to let you underſtand, that his Majeſtie out of his Royall and Princely Care that the Government of the Church may be carefully lookt unto by the Biſhops and others with whom it is truſted, hath lately ſent certain Inſtructions to my Lords Grace of Canterbury and of Yorke, to be by them diſperſt to the ſeverall Biſhops of each Dioceſſe within their Provinces, to the intent that whatſoever concernes any Biſhops perſonally, or otherwiſe, in reference to thoſe of the Clergy which they are to governe, may be by every of them readily and carefully performed. The Inſtructions which concern the Perſons to be governed, are only the third, for keeping the Kings Declaration, that ſo differences and queſtions may ceaſe, and the fifth about Lecturers, and the ſeventh concerning private Chaplaines in the Houſes of men not qualified, and the eighth about either Recuſants or any other Abſents from Church and Divine Service; all the reſt are Perſonall to the Biſhops: yet becauſe they are ſo full of Juſtice, Honour and Care of the Church, I ſend to you the whole Body of the Inſtructions as they came to me, praying and requiring you as Arch-Deacon of London, to ſend me at or before Wedneſday the third of February next, both the Chriſtian and Surnames of every Lecturer within your Archdeaconry, as well in places exempt as not exempt, and the place where he preacheth and his quality and Degree. As alſo the Names of ſuch men as being not qualified keep Chaplains in their Houſes. And theſe are farther to pray, and in his Majeſties name to require you that you leave with the Parſon or Vicar of the place a Copy not of all, but of the foure Inſtructions mentioned, with the foure ſeverall branches belonging to the Lecturers, with a Charge that the Perſon or Vicar deliver another Copy of them to the Churchwardens; and that you do not onelyonly call upon them for Performance, now preſently, but alſo take great care from time to time that at the End of your next Viſitation, and ſo forward at the End of every ſeverall Viſitation, I may by your ſelf or your Officialls have true notice how they are perform'd, and where and by whom they are diſobey'd. For ſo much my Lords Grace of Canterbury requires of me as you ſhall ſee by the Tenor of his Graces Letters to mee here incloſed. I pray you in any caſe not to faile in this, for if you ſhould, when I come to give up my Account I muſt diſcharge my ſelfe upon you, and that Neglect would make you go backward in his Majeſties favour beſides whatſoever elſe may follow; Thus not doubting of your care and fidelity in this behalfe I leave you to the Grace of God, and ſhall ſo reſt.
Your very loving Friend, Wil. London January 4. 1629.
Upon the publication of theſe Instructions (ſtrictly purſued till this preſent Parliament) Lecturers and Chaplaines in private Gentlemens houſes were generally queſtioned and ſuppreſſed in all places, with very great Rigor; eſpecially if they refuſed or neglected to read Common Prayers in their Surpliſſes and Hoods before they Lectured: all Sermons on the Lords dayes in the Afternoon were generally ſuppreſſed by degrees throughout the Kingdome: moſt ſingle, and many Combination Lectures were put downe in every place; All Catechiſmes, but that in the Common Prayer Book, prohibited; All Expoſitions of Chapters or of the Catechiſme forbidden and layd aſide; Wakes, Revels, Dancing, and all kind of Recreations introduced, authorized, commanded by a Regall Declaration, printed and publiſhed in the Kings name by this Prelate as we have already proved, (and preached for in Pulpits, inſtead of Afternoon Sermons and Catechiſmes on the Lords day) that people might go more merrily down to Hell, and baniſh the thoughts of God and heaven out of their minds, on that very day whereon they ſhould minde them moſt. And that theſe Inſtructions might be the better executed, this Prelate both before and after he was Archbiſhop, together with Biſhop Mountague, Biſhop Wren, Biſhop Peirce and others thruſt them into their Viſitation Articles, and every Church-Warden and Sideſman on their Oath, was to inquire after the Execution and Violation of them. If any doubt aroſe upon theſe Instructions how to proceed upon them, not Archbiſhop Abbot, but this Lording Prelate, was conſulted with as the only Oracle, who beſt knew their meaning, as being the contriver of them: Witneſſe the Biſhop of Briſtols Letter and Quaeres to him about his Majeſties late Inſtructions Febr. 12. 1629. the Originall whereof (indorſed with Mr Dells his Secretaries hand) found with the former Papers in his ſtudy, was produced. If any neglect or connivance at Lecturers was uſed in any place, information and complaint thereof was preſently ſent up unto him; witneſſe this one from Canterbury againſt Archbiſhop Abbot himſelfe: thus endorſed with this Prelates own hand Feb, 18. 1629. The Proceedings of the Dean and Arch-Deacon of Canterbury upon the Kings Inſtructions.
MAſter Deane and Archdeacon of Canterbury received from my Lords Grace a Commiſſion for the ſpeeding of his Majeſties Inſtructions enforced by theſe phraſes. (It is expected that you ſhould ſtrictly put in execution theſe matters which do concern either your ſelves, in your own perſons, or the Clergy that do remain within my Dioceſſe, and this to be done, not as a thing of forme, or perfunctorily, but ſo that an account be made and returned to his Majeſtie, what fruit there is of theſe Inſtructions, and how in the ſeverall Dioceſſes they are performed. And therefore I pray you, and in the name of his Highneſſe require you to advertiſe me what is done in theſe particulars, and whether there be due obedience unto theſe commands.)
Accordingly the Commiſſioners ſent for Mr Palmer, a Lecturer in Saint Alphage Canterbury on Sunday in the afternoone, who firſt denyed to ſhew any Licence; Secondly certified that he had no Licence to preach there. Thirdly againſt the Miniſters will, he read Prayers and catechized but not according to Canon. Fourthly, in that catechizing he undertook to declare the Kings minde in his Inſtructions. Fiftly, he hath never heretofore read Prayers or uſed the Surpliſſe in that Pariſh. Sixthly, the Incumbent, a man licenſed by three Archbiſhops, petitioned that he might performe his own miniſteriall duties in his own Pariſh. Seventhly, Mr Polmer preached a factious Sermon in the Cathedrall Church, and detracted from Divine Service there, Eighthly the Incumbent for not joyning with him is threatned to looſe his tithes. Ninthly, factious parties of all the Pariſhes in the Towne are his auditors, where they will not be forbidden to ſit vponupon the Communion table.
Hereupon the Commiſſioners, willed Maſter Palmer to deſiſt, and to give Maſter Platt the Miniſter of the ſaid-Church roome, to doe his duties himſelfe, vntill they might heare farther from my Lords Grace of Canterbury, and to him they remitted him, ſending up their reaſons wherefore they did it.
They likewiſe ſent for Maſter Vdnay Lecturer on Sunday in the after-noone at Aſhford, a Market towne and the moſt factious of all Kent. Where though there be a grave learned diligent Incumbent, and a Lecture beſide performed every Satturday by the grave neighbour Miniſters, yet Maſter Vdnay was invited thither by factious perſons, ſuch as are regiſtred in the high Commiſſion for Conventiclers, whereupon he obtained a recommendation from the King, directed to the Conſtable of Aſhford, who in the Kings name charging the Incumbent to admit him, thruſt him up into the Pulpit, where he hath ever ſince Lectured directly contrary to the third inſtruction for Lectures, it being a great diſcouragement to the Incumbent, Vdnay himſelfe having had a Benefice neere that Towne within eight miles, at which for this ten yeeres he hath never conſtantly reſided. For theſe reaſons the Commiſſioners wiſht him likewiſe to deſiſt, and referd him to my Lords Grace of Canterbury, who hath ſince replaced him in Aſhford by his Licence and Seale, and as we are informed hath likewiſe authoriſed Maſter Palmer.
By theſe proceedings the Commiſſioners are made the ſcorne of the factious. They and all other conformable Orthodoxe Miniſters are diſcomforted, his Note.Majeſties Inſtructions are annihilated, and Maſter Arch-deacon of Canterbury is inhibited his Iuriſdiction.
In his own Dioceſſe of London many Lectures were ſuppreſſed, many Lecturers and Miniſters queſtioned, ſuſpended by colour of theſe Inſtructions, eſpecially if they vſed the leaſt glances againſt Arminianiſme and Popiſh Innovations, by name Mr Iohn Rogers of Dedham, Mr Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield, Mr Hooker of Chemſford, Mr White of Knightsbridge; Mr Archer, M. William Martyn, M. Edwards, M. Iones, M. Ward, M. Saunders; M. Iames Gardner, M. Foxly, with ſundry others being likewiſe, ſome of them driven out of his Dioceſſe and the Kingdome too.
Biſhop Wren in purſuance of theſe inſtructions, preſcribed, printed and publiſhed theſe enſuing Viſitation Articles concerning Lecturers, in his Dioceſſe of Norwich, on which the Churchwardens were ſtrictly injoyned to enquire and preſent upon oath; as appears by his printed Articles, Anno. 1636. Which were reade in forme following.
Concerning the Ministers, Preachers and Lecturers.
44. Have you any Lecturer in your Pariſh, and on what day is your Lecture? If any ſuch be, doth he, twiſe at the leaſt every yeere, reade divine Service both Morning and Evening, two ſeverall Sundayes, publickly in his Surplice and Hood? and alſo twiſe in the yeere Adminiſter both Sacraments, with ſuch Rites and Ceremonies as are preſcribed by the Booke of Common Prayer?
45. Doth the Lecturer, (whoſoever he be) reade the Divine Service according to the Liturgy printed by Authority, in his Surplice and Hood before every Lecture?
46. Doth your Preacher or Lecturer behave himſelf in his Lectures and Sermons as he ought to do, teaching obedience and edifieing of his auditory in matters of faith and good life, without intermedling with matters of State, or newes, or other diſcourſes not fit for the Pulpit, and alſo without favouring or abetting Schiſmaticks or Separatiſts (that are at home or gone abroad) either by ſpeciall prayer for them, or by any other approbation of them?
47. Have you any Lecture of Combination ſet up in your Pariſh? And if ſo, is it read by a company of grave and orthodox Diuines, neer adjoyning, and in the ſame Dioceſſe? and doth every one of them Preach in a Gown, not in a Cloak? And when and by whom were they appointed? And what be their names?
48. Is any ſingle Lecturer (maintained by your Town or otherwiſe) ſuffered to preach, he not firſt profeſſing his willingneſſe to take upon him the cure of ſoules, nor actually taking a Benefice or Cure, ſo ſoon as it may be procured for him? What is his name? what licenſe hath he? And hath he a ſettled contribution affixed to the Lecturers place; or is it arbitrary, and for this Lecturer onelyonly? What ſumme doth it amount to ordinarily? By whom is it uſually payd or collected or of late years hath been?
49. If any Pſalmes do uſe to be ſung in your Church, before or after the morning and evening Prayer, or before or after Sermons (upon which occaſions onelyonly they are allowed to be ſung in Churches) is it done according to that grave manner (which firſt was in uſe) that ſuch doe ſinge as can read the Pſalmes and have learned them by heart? And not after that uncougth and undecent cuſtome of late taken up, to have every line firſt read, and then ſung by the people?
Concerning the Pariſhioners.
8. Is there within your Pariſh in any houſe or family, any one that is called or reputed a Chaplain, or that is known or ſuppoſed to have entred into holy Orders? Or any that live there in imployment as a Scholler? Preſent their names if there bee any ſuch, and how long they have been there.
Not long after, this Biſhop in his Dioceſſe of Norwich ſuppreſſed all Afternoon-Sermons on the Lordſday throughout his Dioceſſe; with moſt ſingle Lectures, Lecturers, and Combination Lectures too; which he permitted onelyonly unto ſome few places after much Petitioning upon theſe hard conditions, which he returned and certified to this Archbiſhop (from whom they originally proceeded) in theſe enſueing termes, as appears by the Originall under his own hand, (found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy and atteſted by Mr Prynne.)