JUXON, other things, of this we have an instance, in their order for Abp. Cant. burning the "National Vow and Covenant," by the common hangman.

May 22.

A new parliament meets at Westmin

ster.

Dr. Heylin's letter to a minister of

state.

At the summoning this parliament, the Church was not perfectly re-established; and the king, as has been observed, had granted a commission to a certain number of Episcopal and Presbyterian divines, to treat an union at the Savoy for these reasons, it was once almost resolved by the court, not to call a convocation with the parliament. Before this matter was fully settled, Dr. Heylin wrote a letter to a principal minister of state, to solicit the king that the clergy might be continued in their ancient privilege of holding synods. I shall give the reader only some part of this application:

"MY LORD,

"If it is objected," says the doctor, "that the commission, now on foot, for altering and explaining certain passages in the public liturgy, may either pass instead of a convocation, or else is thought to be neither compatible nor consistent with it; I hope far better in the one, and must profess, that I can see no reason in the other. For, first, I hope that the selecting some few bishops, and other learned men of the lower clergy, to debate on certain points contained in the Common Prayer-book, is not intended for a representation of the Church of England, which is a body more diffused, and cannot legally stand bound by their acts and counsels. And if this conference be for no other purpose, but only to prepare matters for a convocation, (as some say it is not) why may not such a conference and convocation be held at once? For neither the selecting of some learned men, out of both orders, for the composing and reviewing of the two liturgies digested in the reign of king Edward VI., proved any hinderance in the calling of those convocations which were held, both in the second and third, and in the fifth and sixth, of the said king's reign. Nor was it found that the holding of a convocation, together with the first parliament, under queen Elizabeth, proved any hinderance to that conference, or disputation which was designed between the bishops and some learned men of the opposite parties; all which considered, I do most humbly beg your lordship to put his majesty in mind of sending out his mandates to the two archbishops for summoning a

II.

convocation (according to the usual form) in their several pro- CHARLES vinces; that this poor Church may be held with some degree of veneration, both at home and abroad.

"Your lordship's," &c.

Upon the strength and seasonableness of this application, the king, it is probable, dispatched his mandate for a convocation in each province; the writs for summoning the parliament having been issued some unusual time before. His majesty's writ to William, archbishop of Canterbury, for meeting his suffragans and clergy at St. Paul's, London, was dated April the 11th.

cation meets.

At the time appointed the convocation was opened with The convoDivine service, and a sermon was preached in Latin, by Dr. Session 2. Thomas Pierce, on Acts xv. 28. And the archbishop, being somewhat disabled by age and ill health, the bishop of London presided. On the 16th of May the convocation met upon prorogation, in the collegiate church at Westminster. And Acta Supehere Dr. Fearn, dean of Ely, elected prolocutor in the former rioris Dosession, was presented to Sheldon, and confirmed. After this Vid. Synod. Anglic, in the clergy of the lower house being dismissed, the bishops Append. consulted for a form of prayer to be used on the 29th of May, inc. and another for the 30th of January. The drawing these forms was referred to two several committees, each consisting of four bishops, and eight of the inferior clergy.

mus Convoc.

p. 60. et

Id.

After the next prorogation, the president delivered the form Sess. 3. of prayer for May 29, to the prolecutor, who was to lay it before the lower house for their consent. And now this precedent suggested the want of a particular "form for the ministration of baptism to those of riper years," and referred it to a committee of three bishops, and six of the lower clergy. July the 17th, the bishop of Sarum brought in a draught of Sess. 18. some canons, which were read, amended, and recommitted. Id. p. 80. At the second meeting of the parliament, Nov. 20, the con- Id. p. 84. vocation met the day following, when the king's letters were read for the review of the Common Prayer, and a committee was appointed for that purpose. This weighty business en- Sess. 48. gaged the whole synod till December 20, when the Book of Common Prayer, revised and amended, was approved and

JUXON, signed by all the members of each house. In the fifty-sixth sesAbp. Cant. sion, the upper house consulted about the " Act for Uniformity of Public Prayers."

Id. P. 95. March, A. D. 1661-2.

In the seventieth session, the president sent for the lower house, and told them," that the Book of Common Prayer, Id. p. 106. and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England, together with the Form of Ordaining and Consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, as revised by the convocation, had been well received by the house of lords; and that all the temporal peers returned thanks to both houses of convocation, for their great care and industry in that matter."

887. Sess. 71.

Id. p. 107.

The convocation at York send proxies to

London to transact

with the pro

On Saturday, March the 22d, the president and bishops consulted about a form for consecrating parish churches and chapels, and referred that business solely to the management of John lord bishop of Durham.

:

Upon the tenth of June, this summer, the king directed his writ to Accepted Frewen, archbishop of York, to summon a convocation for that province. And upon the 22d of November following, his majesty, in a letter to the said archbishop, vince of empowered this synod to review the Common Prayer and the Canterbury. ordinal, and to make such additions or alterations as they thought proper. But his majesty requiring all possible expedition, and this northern synod considering they were too far distant for consulting with the Canterbury convocation; and that the sending dispatches to London, and receiving them from thence, would take up too much time for this reason the upper and lower house agreed to make proxies to transact in their names, with the province of Canterbury; obliging themselves to abide by their vote, under the forfeiture of all their goods and chattels. Their representatives, furnished with procuratorial letters for this purpose, were: John Berwick, D.D. and dean of St. Paul's, London; John Earles, D.D. and dean of Westminster; Henry Fearn, D.D. and dean of Bishop Ely; Henry Bridgeman, D.D. and dean of Chester; Robert Wake's Appendix to Hich, D.D., archdeacon of Leicester; Matthew Smalwood, the State of D.D., convocation-man for the archdeaconry of Chester and transcribed Lichfield; Andrew Sandiland, clerk, rector of Skeringham, Convocation and proxy for the clergy of the archdeaconry of the EastYork, p.240, riding in the county of York; Humphry Floyd, clerk, proxy

the Church,

from the

Book at

II.

for the chapter of York. And here we are to observe, that CHARLES the commission of these gentlemen was limited to the business of reviewing the Common Prayer, and book for ordination.

restored in

A recital of the acts re

Church

In the beginning of this year, a parliament was held at Episcopacy Edinburgh in Scotland, where, amongst other things relating Scotland. to religion, it is expressly declared, "That there is no obligation upon this kingdom (of Scotland) by covenant, treaties or otherwise, to endeavour by arms, a reformation of religion in the kingdom of England, or to meddle with the government And farther, and public administration of that kingdom. his majesty, with advice and consent of the estates of parlia- lating to the ment, does discharge and inhibit all his majesty's subjects there. within this kingdom, that none of them presume upon any pretext of any authority whatsoever, to require a renewing or swearing of the said league and covenant, or of any other covenants, or public oaths concerning the government of the Church or kingdom, without his majesty's special warrant and approbation. About this time, Mr. James Sharp, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. cap. 7. Barwell, and Mr. Loghton, all in Presbyterian orders, came to P. 140, London; where, after being ordained deacons and priests, they were consecrated bishops by the bishop of Winchester, with the assistance of two other English prelates. At this solemnity, they expressly disclaimed the validity of their former ordination: they likewise procured a proclamation, declaring the king's pleasure for restoring the government of the Church by archbishops and bishops, as it was settled in the year 1637. It was likewise farther signified in this instrument, that his majesty had nominated and presented archbishops and bishops to their respective sees, to exercise and enjoy the same authority, with which the prelates governed that Church in the reign of his royal grandfather.

Charles 2.

parl. 1.

Sept. 6.

Pursuant to this proclamation, the privy council of Scotland strictly discharged all ecclesiastical meetings at synods, presbyteries, &c. till they should be authorized for that purpose by January 9, the archbishop and bishops.

A. D. 1662, according to

computation,

year begins on the 1st of

At the second session, begun at Edinburgh upon the 8th of the Scotch May 1662, the restitution of episcopacy was confirmed by act where the of parliament. The statute sets forth; "That his majesty and his estates of parliament, taking to their serious considera- January. tion, that in the beginning of, and by the late rebellion within

JUXON, this kingdom, in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty Abp. Cant. seven, the ancient and sacred order of bishops was cast off; their persons and rights were injured and overturned, and a seeming parity among the clergy factiously and violently brought in, to the great disturbance of the public peace, the reproach of the reformed religion, and violation of the excellent laws of the realm, for preserving an orderly subordination in the Church and therewithal considering what disorders and exorbitances have been in the Church, what encroachments upon the prerogative and right of the crown, what usurpations upon the authority of parliaments, and what prejudice the liberty of the subject hath suffered by the invasion made upon the bishops and episcopal government which they find to be the Church government, most agreeable to the word of God, most convenient and effectual for the preservation of truth, order, and unity, and most suitable to monarchy, and the peace and quiet of the State; therefore his majesty, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, hath thought it necessary, and accordingly doth hereby redintegrate the state of bishops to their ancient places and undoubted privileges in parliament, and to all their other accustomed dignities, privileges, and jurisdictions, and doth hereby restore them to the exercise of their episcopal function, presidence in the Church, power of ordination, inflicting of censures, and all other acts of Church discipline, which they are to perform, with advice and assistance of such of the clergy as they shall find to be of known Charles 2. loyalty and prudence."

parl. 1. sess. 2. act 1.

By another statute it is enacted, "That whatsoever minister shall, without a lawful excuse to be admitted by his ordinary, absent himself from the visitations of the diocese, which are to be performed by the bishop, or some of the ministers to be appointed by him, or from the diocesan assembly; or who shall not according to his duty concur therein, or who shall not give them assistance in all the acts of Church discipline, as they shall be required thereunto by the archbishop or bishop of the diocese, every such minister so offending shall, for the first fault, be suspended from his office and benefice till the next diocesan meeting; and if he amend not, shall be deprived, and the Church and benefice to be provided for as the law alloweth in other cases of vacancies."

By this act likewise, all meetings or conventicles in houses