Appendix to a Vindication of Free Admission to the Lords Supper, Letter
To our loving Friends, the Antients and Benchers of Lincolns Inne,
VVHereas of late time knowledge hath been given to us of her Majeſties Council, and the ſame alſo manifeſtly and orderly declared this day in the Starred Chamber at VVeſtminſter, being then accompanied with the moſt Reverend Father in God the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and other Biſhops of the Realm, and certain of her Majeſties Iuſtices, and others of her learned Counſel, that theſe perſons hereafter named, that is to ſay, Roger Corham, Gerrard Lother, Henry Harper, John Brown, and Thomas Egerton, being Fellows of Lincolns Inne, have of long time miſuſed themſelves, in contempt of the Lawes of this Realm, and contrary to the Laws eccleſiaſtical; partly in not reſorting to the Church, or other place of Common Prayers at accuſtomed times; partly in not receiving the bleſſed Communion at times convenient, but contrariwiſe, uſing other Rites and Services, which are by the Laws of the Land prohibited, and in theſe diſorders, have lived and continued a long time, to the evil example of others in their Society. We have upon good deliberation ordered and decreed, and by theſe preſents do ordain and decree in the Queens Majeſties name, that every of the ſaid perſons ſhall immediately for theſe their former long and manifeſt contempts and offences, be excluded out of Commons in that Houſe, and ſhall forbear to give any Counſel in the Law, or to reſort to any barr or place of Iuſtice, there to plead by Plaint, Defence, or Demand, in any Sute or Cauſe belonging to the Law, other than for themſelves, if they ſhall be by ordinary Proceſſe thereto called; And that they and every of them ſhall obey this Order, untill they ſhall by Gods goodneſſe reconcile themſelves, and amend thoſe their defaults; which is a thing more deſired, than any puniſhment of them: & the ſame their reconciliation to be teſtified by the Biſhop of London their Ordinary: Whereupon they ſhall be received again into Commons, and allowed to give Counſel, and plead to all purpoſes, as before this Order they might have done. And otherwiſe upon continuance in their obſtinacy▪ to be utterly excluded for ever from the Society, with ſuch further puniſhment as ſhall thereto belong.
Furthermore, to avoid the increaſe of theſe contempts in that Houſe, we have thought meet, and ſo we doe by theſe preſents command, that no perſon of your Society being commonly or wittingly known or vehemently ſuſpected to miſlike of the Rites and Orders eſtabliſhed in this Realm for Religion, be called, or allowed from henceforth, to any degree in that houſe until the ſame have ſufficiently purged himſelf of the ſaid ſuſpſtion.
And to the intent that this our Order and Decree may be duely executed, we will and ſtraitly command you with all convenient ſpeed openly in the accuſtomed place of your Aſſembly, to notifie the ſame to the parties above-named, and to all others of that Fellowſhip, to the end they may thereof take knowledge, and avoid all occaſions of offence in the like on their own part, or otherwiſe they muſt look to be ordered, according to their deſerts. At Weſtminster the 20th of May, 1569.
Your loving Friends,
Nicholas Bacon, C. S.
J. Pembrook.
W. Northampton,
E. Bedford.
R. Leicester.
G. Clinton.
William Howard,
F. Knowels,
W. Cicill,
R. Sadler.
After this Letter: Lincolns Inne.
cLib. Niger 5. f. 151. b.Ad Concilium ibidem tentum 4 die Junii, Anno(b) Lib. Niger 5. f. 113. b. Regni Elizabethae Reginae 12. in the preſence of 14. Benchers.
It is Ordered, that for as much as Mr. Cortham, Mr. Gerrard Lother, and Mr. Brown have been out of Commons, and ſequeſtred from practiſe by the Councils Letters for Eccleſiaſticall cauſes, by the ſpace of one year and more, that unleſs they bring certificate of their Reconciliation in Religion from the Biſhop, before the laſt day of this term, that then they three ſhall be utterly expulſed the Houſe, without all hope of readmiſſion. And that all others which have been called before the ſaid Biſhop, and other Judges in cauſes eccleſiaſtical, for ſuſpition of their ſincerity in Religion, or their Offences in theſe matters, ſhall be likewiſe expulſed the Fellowſhip, unleſſe they bring certificate of their Reconciliation from the ſaid Biſhop, before Quindena Michaelis. And if Mr. Egerton ſhall bring Certificate from the Biſhop that he is reconciled in Religion before the end of this term, then he likewiſe to be called to the barre at the next Moote.
One chief cauſe of theſe Gentlemens ſuſpenſion from Commons, Practice, and Final expulſion, is expreſſed to be, Their not receiving the bleſſed Communion at times convenient. Which was ſeconded with other ſucceeding Preſidents of Expulſion for this very cauſe.
(d) Ad Concilium ibidem tentum 28 die Octobris, Anno Regni Elizabethae 14. in praeſentia Gubernatorum (being 13. in Number, whereof three were not long after made Judges under the Queen.)
Inprimis it is ordered, that if Mr. Blackwell upon Saturday next be not at Service in the Chappel here, and upon Sunday next at the Service and Sermon in the Chapel here, and there decently behave himſelf all the Service while, and receive the Communion here upon Sunday next, that then he ſhall ſtand out of Commons and forbear the benefit of his Chamber. And unleſſe he receive the Communion here openly ſome Sunday this Term … He ſhall be no fellow of this Houſe, and ſtand expulſed from thenceforth.
dLib Niger 5. f. 200.Ad Concilium ibidem tentum 17. die Novembr. Anno Regni Dom. R. Elizabethae 18. at which 11 Benchers were preſent, Richard King ſmell Attorney of the Queens Court of Wards and Liveries, being the firſt.
Mr. Vicars is expulſed the Fellowſhip of this Houſe, for that he hath obſtinately refuſed to receive the Communion according to the Orders of this Houſe.
eLib. Niger 5. f. 248. b.Ad Concilium ibidem tentum: die Jovis 8. die Maii Anno Regni Dom. Reginae Elizabethae, &c. 2c. in the preſence of 13 Benchers.
It is ordered, that Every Man of the Houſe ſhall at the leaſt once in the year (… be in Commons receive the Holy Communion in ſome Term time, within the Chapel of Lincolns Inne.
fIbidem, f. 358. b.Ad Concilium ibidem tentum 28 die Maii, Anno Regni Elizabethae, &c. 26. in praeſentia Thomae Egerton, then Sollicitor, and ten more Benchers.
Mr. Henry Stephens ſometimes a Gent. of this Fellowſhip for not Communicating by the ſpace of two years, being alſo moved, to communicate, he refuſed; and therefore it is ordered, that for thoſe cauſes he ſhall be expelled out of this Fellowſhip.
Theſe Preſidents I find in Queen Elizabeths Reign; from which I deſcend to King James. The Benchers of the Society taking Notice of the Paucity of thoſe who reſorted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper when adminiſtred every term, thereupon made this enſuing Order.
gLib. Niger 6. p. 308. 2.Ad Concilium ibidem tentum, 2 die Maii Anno Lincolns Inne.Regni Regis Jacobi, &c. 3. in the preſence of 15 Maſters of the Bench preſen….
For as much as it appeareth at this Council, that there is in Commons in this Houſe of Benchers, Barreſters, and young Gentlemen every Term to the number of 140 perſons and above; but there having been in every Term a Communion in the Chapel of this Houſe; that of the ſaid 140. perſons there communicateth not uſually above the number of Forty. Thereupon Sir John Tindal Knight Dean of the Chapel, Mr. Irbie, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Winch, four of the Maſters of the Bench, are intreated to call before them all ſuch as have ſo neglected to receive, and to examine their Religion, and life, and of their Opinions and proceedings in this behalf to certifie the Bench, ſo ſoon as conveniently they may.
Further, at this Council it was ordered; That all ſuch as are now in Commons in this Houſe every one of them ſhall communicate in our Chapel on Sunday next, or on Thurſday following, …ing …cenſion …ay, A… if any ſhall refuſe or neglect ſo to Receive, he ſhall be expelled this Houſe and Fellowſhip, unl… ſhall ſhew good … the Bench of ſuch his refuſal, or forbearing to communicate.
hLib. Niger 7. f. 46At a Council held in Lincolns Inne, 30 Januar. Anno 18. Jacobi Regis. Mr. Clinton a Popiſh Recuſant; who would not conform himſelf (in repairing to the Chapel, and receiving the Sacrament) was declared, not to be called to the barr, and likewiſe expelled the Society: And at a Council there held, 23 Aprilis 19 Jacobi▪ Mr. Anthony Hunt for the ſelf-ſame cauſe; was expelled the Houſe, by a ſpecial Order.
After this, during the reign of King Charls, Mr. Andrew Brown. and Mr. Richard Minſhaw were both by ſeveral Orders of the Council of Benchers in Lincolns Inn, firſt ſuſpended the Houſe, for not repairing to the Chapel, and Receiving the Communion of the Lords Supper, and continuing ſtill obſtinate (notwithſtanding the Queens Letter and interceſſion) finally expelled the Society, as appears by the iLib. Niger 7. f. 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 190, 191, 199, 294.Orders of 29 Julii, & 30 Octobris Anno 2. Caroli Regis, entred in the Black Book.
kLib. Niger 7. f. 493.Novembr. 18. 1641. at a Council held in Lincolns Inne before Mr. Oliver Saint-John, then Sollicitor to the King, Sir Rowland Wainsford, Attorney of the Court of Wards and Liveries, and the reſt of the Benchers, the Butler was ordered, to deliver the Names of ſuch to the Bench as had not received the Communion in the Chapel of this Houſe, within one year laſt paſt; to the end that they might tender the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to them, by a ſpecial Commiſſion then directed to them to adminiſter theſe Oaths to all Members of the Houſe, and of the Innes of Chancery thereto belonging, who were ſuſpected in their Religion. The not receiving the Sacrament at leaſt once a year in the Chapel of the Houſe, being then and in all former times, reputed a ſufficient badge of ſuſpition in Religion, and inclination to Popery. How then it can be now reputed a Character of Saints, or Proteſtants of the higheſt Form, and of the moſt refined ſublimated orthodox Chriſtians, tranſcends my Capacity to comprehend.
By theſe Preſidents (omitting lSee Lib. Niger 5. f. 181, 182.others of like Nature,) it is apparent, That Queen Elizabeth, with her Council, Judges, & the Maſters of the Bench of the Honorable Society of Lincolns Inne, during hers, King James, and King Charles ſucceſſive reigns, reputed all thoſe admitted into it, of what quality ſoever, unworthy to be called to the Barr, Bench, or permitted to reſide in, or continue Members of the Society; who neglected or peremptorily refuſed to repair conſtantly to the Chapel to Gods publike Ordinances, or to receive the Lords Supper there with the reſt of the Society, at leaſt once every year: Whereupon after due admonition and perſeverance in this their irreligious neglect, they finally expelled them the Houſe, as putrid Members, ſuſpected, tainted in their religion, leſt they ſhould corrupt and leven others; even as the Primitive Church, and Chriſtians conſtantly excommunicated, expelled all thoſe from their Church, Society, who neglected or refuſed to communicate conſtantly with them in the Lords Supper, when it was adminiſtred. Which Godly Diſcipline, I heartily wiſh may now be carefully revived, ſeverely executed in all our Innes of Court, and all Churches throughout the Realm, as well on refractory Miniſters, who obſtinately refuſe to adminiſter the Sacrament to their people, as on negligent or obſtinate Non-Communicants, who repair not to the Communion, when and where it is adminiſtred; All of them forgetting that memorable ſaying of St. Bernard, recorded by mIn his Catechiſm, Vol. 1. f. 463.Thomas Beacon; He that hath a wound, ſeeketh a Medicine: We have a wound whiles we are under ſinne; The Medicine is The Sacrament, Daily receive, daily thou ſhalt be healed; nBernard. in Coena Domini Ser. f. 38.Duo enim illud Sacramentum operatur in nobis; ut videlicet ita ſenſum minuat in minimis, et in gravioribus peccatis tollat omnino conſenſum: Si quis vestrum, non tam ſaepe modo, non tam acerbos ſentit iracundiae motus, invidiae, luxuriae, aut ceterorum hujuſmodi, gratias agat Corpori & Sanguini Domini, quoniam virtus Sacramenti operatur in eo; et gaudeat quod peſſimum ulcus accedat ad Sanitatem. Tanta ſiquidem est vis Sacramentorum qui diebus iſtis recoluntur, ut poſſint ipſa quoque lapidia ſcindere cordae, & pectus omne licet ferreum emollire ſufficiant: as the ſame Bernard elegantly reſolves. Thoſe Miniſters then may juſtly fear their hearts are harder than ſtone, and breſts more obdurate than iron, who oSi lucri ſpiritualis gratia hoc faciunt, laudandus eſt zelus, ſed praeſumptio corrigenda, Bern. Epiſt. 42.neglect or refuſe diligently, frequently, conſtantly to adminiſter this Sacrament to their people to break their ſtony hearts, ſoften their iron breſts, abate the power of their greateſt ſinnes, cloſe up and cure their wounded ſouls; and thoſe Chriſtians doubtleſſe are the greateſt Enemies to their own Salvation and Spiritual Cure, who make the greatneſs, heinouſneſs of their ſinnes, the only Argument to keep them from the conſtant uſe of this holy Sacrament, which ſhould be the ſtrongeſt motive to invite them thereunto, that they might be healed and reformed by it. It is' acknowledged by all Divines, that this Sacrament is both a ſpecial means of Grace, and Soveraign Balſom to cure all wounded ſin-ſick Souls. Therfore for any Miniſters, or Spiritual Phyſicians to ſuſpend their people, or for any viſible Churchmembers to ſeclude themſelves totally from this means of Grace, and Soveraign Medicament, till the work of ſaving Grace be viſibly wrought in them, and their Spiritual wounds and maladies perfectly cured, is profeſſedly to keep them from the means, till they have attained the end therof without them, and diametrically to contradict both our Saviours Doctrine and Practice, Mat. 9. 12, 13. They that be whole need not the Phyſician, but thoſe that are ſick: For I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance. Wherefore pBernard Epiſt. 42.Nolite illorum acquieſcere conſiliis qui cum ſint Christiani, Chriſti tamen vel ſequi facta, vel obſequi dict is opprobrio ducunt.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Appendix to a Vindication of Free Admission to the Lords Supper (1657)