time in the due execution of the premisses, according to the purport and true intent hereof, as you will answer to the contrary at your peril.

Given under our signet at our palace of Westminster, the 23d day of July, in the 2d year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the 37th.

ORDER CONCERNING THE LITURGY.

LORD CRANBORne (sir robert cecil) to the heads.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 33 vo.

To my very lovinge ffriendes, the vice-chancellor and the rest of the heades of the University of Cambridge.

AFTER my very hearty comendations: how necessary it is that a good conformity be had and observed in all the members of the University, with the avoydinge both of distraction in opinion and diversity in practice (especially in matters appertayninge to religion), ther is no man of any upright judgment but will acknowledge: neyther can you be ignorant how carefully his majesty hath himselfe indeavoured, in a learned and very religious conference, to cleare the liturgy of our church from the injust imputation of popish superstition, and to yeeld sufficient satisfaction of the lawful use, conveinancy, nature, antiquity, and good construction of such things in the booke of Comon Prayre, as by some unquyett sperittes have beine pevishly carped at, to the greate scandall of the religion professed; and theruppon hath published his justification therof, with resolution to mayntayne the former constitutions soe long continued in the church, not permittinge innovation, but contrariwise requiringe all mens conformity to thinges established. Neverthelesse, havinge considered

well how smale benefitt will accrewe to the church of England by all his princely endeavours, yf eyther the dreggs of popery or intemperate humors of men (that canot submitt them selfes to any order with which their owne inventions concurr not) shall still remayne to corrupt that famous nursery of learninge from whence (as from a cleare fountayne) should dayly springe the sweete streames of peace and godliness, and havinge alwaies conceived that there can be no greater enimy to all good order then the liberty in the education of yonge gentlemen and schollers, without a due observation eyther of the statutes of the University, or of the publicke constitutions of the churche for conformity; I have resolved, not only out of my particular care and zeale to prevent all sinister interpretation, that our noble and vertuous society should geive any other then the best example to all good orders, but allso in dischardge of the duty of that place which I hold among you, moste ernestly and affectionately to require you, upon the receipt of these my letters, presently to assemble your selfes together, and take a vigilent survey of orderinge of every the colledges and halls in the University (in divinis officiis), accordinge to the statutes of the University, the constitution of the Church, and the orders prescribed in the booke of Common Prayre; and withall to take present order for the repressinge of all libertyes heretofore permitted in publishinge or doinge any thinge to the contrary; certifieinge me of the delinquents, except they shall assure you of present reformation, wherin as I have a greate regard on the one syde to have the University truly cleared of all abuses, and to become justifyable in all her courses, beseeminge her owne dignity and suche societyes, so on the other syde my care is such and so tender over all the priviledges and jurisdictions of the University, as I doe desire you that you doe advisedly (and yet with expedition) informe me how the state of the University standeth for

ecclesiasticall jurisdiction, how farr forth the same resteth in me, and by what charters or other good proufes the same may be avowed; that I may know both what powre is in our selves eyther to reforme the abuses or to remove the unconformable, especially in cause (which I hope shall not) there should any of your owne ranke be founde refractory, and allso may be furnished with good reasons to mayntayne the powre in your selves to performe this good worke, yf any other should goe about to interpose any jurisdiction derogatory from the ancient charters and priviledges we have in defence wherof, so it may not be to protect disorders, I will be as ready to joyne with you in all modest and honest courses as you shallbe to have me. I may not allso omitt to remember you that you be very vigilant agaynst private conventicles upon any pretence had in the University, neyther that any sermons be suffered to be preached by unconformable men, or at unseasonable tymes, contrary to the ancient orders of the University, eyther on Sondayes or holydayes in the tyme of ordinary prayres in colledges, or in the weeke dayes in tyme of lectures or other exercises. And for the better reducinge of men to conformity, and the avoydinge of further inconveniences noted in the University, I hold it necessary that the statutes of every colledge be putt in execution, that every one holdinge his place in his colledge as a minister doe exhibite his letters of orders to the master of the sayd colledge, and in his absence to the president, vice-master, or vice-provost; and every one obteyninge the benefitt of a preachershipp in his colledge shall alike exhibite his faculty for preachinge eyther from the University or some bishopp and in my opinion it should be a testimony of good conformity in the University to putt that in practice with you, which his majestie under his hand hath comaunded for his court, by determininge it in a congregation, that no man shall preach in St. Maryes church ex

cept he first subscribe to the three articles in presence of some publicke officer of the University. These thinges I comitt to your care, expectinge in you that execution which is the lyfe and vigour of all good admonitions and constitutions; wherin I doe allso require the diligence of every vice-master or vice-provost, in the absence of the master or provost. And so for this tyme I comitt you to Gods protection. From the court at Whythall, this 15 of December, 1604.

Your very loveinge friende and chancellor,

CRANBORNE.

THE BISHOP OF LONDON TO THE
UNIVERSITY.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 80 vo.]

Venerabilibus et doctissimis viris, domino procancellario et reliquo senatui Cantabrigiensi s. p.

MATRIS academiæ, cujus nomine (viri spectatissimi, et fratres in Domino plurimum observandi) tantopere mihi gratulamini, meminisse semper dulce fuit, maxime vero hoc tempore, in quo me alumnum suum et tantum non patronum libenter agnoscit. Nec vero hoc humanitatis officium ex more factum censeo, sed potius ex amore profectum, quo suos non solum adhuc in complexibus hærentes, sed quam diutissime ablactatos, variisque ecclesiæ ac reipublicæ stationibus destinatos, pro sua materna indulgentia prosequi non invita solet. Quum autem nihil magis secundum naturam est quam generosam prolem ἀντιπελαργεῖν, meum imprimis erit, non solum fundamentum, vitæ meæ incrementum, omnesque fortunas meas illi acceptas ferre, verum etiam quicquid ab ea hauserim, in eam pro facultate mea

refundere; et quoniam divina clementia et regia μeyaλoπрежеía ad hanc laboris potius quam honoris accessionem, splendidorem cathedram præter spem et supra meritum meum evocatus sum, in hoc potissimum incumbam, ut pientissima mater academia nec ingratum nec ignavum sentiat alumnum suum. Defuerant antea vires aliquid vestris virtutibus dignum præstandi, nunquam defuit animus in vos omnes effusissimus; nunc vero in ampliori theatro collocatus, ita præesse cupio, ut vobis cumprimis prodesse consilio, item auxilio et qualicunque patrocinio meo vestra studia et vota promovere possim. Atque ut id commodius fiat, hoc unum a vobis flagito, ut (quamprimum fieri possit) catalogus theologorum ad me transmittatur, quorum felicioribus ingeniis et maturiori judicio fruatur ecclesia, ipsi quoque suorum laborum fructum opportuno tempore consequantur. Interea gratias habeo vobis immortales ob eam quam de me pro vestro candore concepistis spem et opinionem, sanctissimeque polliceor (si mea opera vobis usui esse possit) me nunquam reipublicæ literariæ defuturum. Valete in Domino, egregia academiæ et ecclesiæ lumina, et mei miserrimi peccatoris in precibus vestris memineritis. Raptim e palatio nostro Londinensi, Decemb. 29, 1604.

Vester in Domino conservus et symmysta,

RIC. LONDON.

DECREES OF THE HEADS.

Oct. 20°, 1606. A sermon and speech on the 5th of Nov. To the end that the 5th day of November may yearly hereafter be the more solemnly observed and kept in this University of Cambridge, according to a statute made and enacted in the last session of parliament, we, Rich. Clayton, doctor in divinity, and vice-chancellor of the University