CXX. Sede Cant. vacante. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ A proclamation enjoining conformity to the form of the service of God established.—(Bodl. 4to. CC. 25. Med.) HE care, which we have had, and pains, which we THE have taken to settle the affairs of this church of England in an uniformity as well of doctrine, as of government, both of them agreeable to the word of God, the doctrine of the primitive church, and the laws here-5 tofore established for those matters in this realm, may A proclamation] See Nos. CXVIII. CXIX. The feeling, which king James had brought from Scotland, of respect for a monarchical form of church-government, and dislike and irritation against republican platforms, had been constantly acquiring strength and consistency 10 in England, and appears at the time of this proclamation to have amounted to the strictest views of supremacy and obedience, and a personal disgust and offence against the puritans. In his proclamation of the 5th of March (No. CXIX.) he enjoined the use of the new book of Common Prayer on his own authority, without waiting for the sanction 15 of the convocation or the parliament; and in his speech before parliament (March 22d) he denounced the puritans as "fond of levelling," and "scarcely to be endured in a well-regulated commonwealth." He found however, notwithstanding his injunction to the contrary, that petitions were proposed, both in the house of commons and in the 20 lower house of convocation, for further alterations in the book of Common Prayer, and in the established order of church-government; and that many ministers retained their appointments who were favourable to the ritual and discipline of Geneva. This proclamation therefore was issued, requiring them to conform, and fixing the last day of No- 25 vember next ensuing as the limit of time allowed them. The test of conformity was doubtless subscription willingly and ex animo to the three articles of the thirty-sixth canon, and observance of the other canons, which had been approved by the recent convocation and ratified by the king. Collier, vol. ii. p. 686. Neal, Purit. vol. i. p. 416. 30 -10 sufficiently appear by our former actions. For no sooner did the infection of the plague, reigning immediately after our entry into this kingdom, give us leave to have any assembly, but we held at our honour of Hampton Court 5 for that purpose a conference between some principal bishops and deans of this church, and such other learned men as understood or favoured the opinions of those that seek alteration, before ourself and our council. Of which conference the issue was, that no well grounded matter appeared to us or our said council, why the state of the church here by law established, should in any material point be altered. Nor did those that before had seemed to affect such alteration, when they heard the contrary arguments, greatly insist upon it, but seemed to be satis15 fied themselves, and to undertake within reasonable time to satisfy all others, that were misled with opinion that there was any just cause of alteration. Whereupon we published by our proclamation what had been the issue of that conference, hoping that when the same should be 20 made known, all reasonable men would have rested satisfied with that which had been done, and not have moved further trouble or speech of matters, whereof so solemn and advised determination had been made. Notwithstanding at the late assembly of our parliament there 25 wanted not many, that renewed with no little earnestness the questions before determined, and many more as well about the book of Common Prayer, as other matters of church-government, and importuned us for our assent to many alterations therein; but yet with such success, as 30 when they had heard both our own speeches made unto them at sundry times, shewing the reasons of our former proceedings in those matters, and likewise had had conference with some bishops and other lords of the upper house about the same, they desisted from further prosecu35 tion thereof; finding that of all things that might any way tend to the furtherance of religion, and establish ment of a ministry fit for the same, we had before with the advice of our council had such consideration, as the present state of things would bear, and taken order how the same should be prosecuted by such means, as might be used without any public disturbance or innovation: 5 and so the end of all their motions and overtures falling out to be none other in substance, than was before at the conference at Hampton Court, that is, that no apparent or grounded reason was shewed, why either the book of Common Prayer, or the church discipline here by law 10 established, should be changed, which were unreasonable, considering that particular and personal abuses are remediable otherwise, than by making general alterations; we have thought good once again to give notice thereof to all our subjects by public declaration, who we doubt not 15 but will receive great satisfaction, when they shall understand that after so much impugning, there appeareth no cause, why the form of the service of God, wherein they have been nourished so many years, should be changed; and consequently to admonish them all in general to con- 20. form themselves thereunto, without listening to the troublesome spirits of some persons, who never receive contentment, either in civil or ecclesiastical matters, but in their own fantasies, especially of certain ministers, who under pretended zeal of reformation, are the chief authors 25 of divisions and sects among our people. Of many of which, we hope that now, when they shall see that such things, as they have proposed for alteration, prove upon trial so weakly grounded, as deserve not admittance, they will out of their own judgment conform themselves to 30. better advice, and not omit the principal and substantial parts of their duties, for shadows and semblances of zeal, but rather bend their strength with our intent to join in one end, that is the establishing of the gospel, and recovering of our people seduced out of the hands of the 35 common adversaries of our religion, which shall never be well performed but by an uniformity of our endeavours therein. But if our hope herein fail us, we must advertise them, that our duty towards God requireth at our hands, that what untractable men do not perform upon 5 admonition, they must be compelled unto by authority; whereof the supreme power resting in our hands, by God's ordinance, we are bound to use the same in nothing more, than in preservation of the church's tranquillity, which by God's grace we are fully purposed to 10 do. And yet by advice of our council, and opinion of the bishops, although our former proclamations, both before the conference and since, ought to be a sufficient warning and admonition to all men who are within the danger of them, we have thought good to give time to all ministers 15 disobedient to the orders of the church, and to ecclesiastical authority here by law established, and who for such disobedience, either in the days of the queen our sister of famous memory deceased, or since our reign have incurred any censures of the church, or penalties of laws, until the 20 last of November now next ensuing, to bethink themselves of the course they will hold therein. In which mean time both they may resolve either to conform themselves to the church of England, and obey the same, or else to dispose of themselves and their 25 families some other ways, as to them shall seem meet: and the bishops and others whom it concerneth, provide meet persons to be substitutes in the place of those, who shall wilfully abandon their charges upon so slight causes; assuring them, that after that day, we shall not fail to do 30 that, which princely providence requireth at our hands; that is, to put in execution all ways and means that may take from among our people all grounds and occasions of sects, divisions, and unquietness: whereof as we wish there may never be occasion given us to make proof, but 35 that this our admonition may have equal force in all men's hearts, to work an universal conformity; so we do require all archbishops, bishops, and other ecclesiastical persons, to do their uttermost endeavours by conferences, arguments, persuasions, and by all other ways of love and gentleness to reclaim all that be in the ministry, to the obedience of our church laws: for which purpose only we 5 have enlarged the time formerly prefixed for their remove or reformation, to the end that if it be possible, that uniformity, which we desire, may be wrought by clemency and by weight of reason, and not by rigour of law. And the like advertisement do we give to all civil magistrates, 10 gentlemen, and others of understanding, as well abroad in the counties, as in cities and towns, requiring them also, not in any sort to support, favour, or countenance, any such factious ministers in their obstinacy; of whose endeavours we doubt not but so good success may follow, 15 as this our admonition, with their endeavours, may prevent the use of any other means to retain our people in their due obedience to us, and in unity of mind, to the service of Almighty God. Given at our manor of Otelands the 16th day of 20 July, in the second year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth, anno Domini MDCIV. The king's letter to the bishop of London about translating the Bible.-Reg. III. Whitgift, fol. 155. A FTER my hearty commendations unto your lordship. I have received letters from his most excellent ma- 25 The king's letter] The determination to make a new translation of the Bible grew out of the proceedings at Hampton Court, in the 2nd day's |