(1) Ibid. p. 17.

Iland is that of Verulam, A. D. 446. where was a vaft multitude affembled: Immenfa Multitudo as Bede has it: In which Germanus and Lupus, two French Bishops prefided. The fecond was againft King Vortiger who had married his own Daughter, fummoned by Germanus, who came thither with all the Clergy of Britain to reprove that King for his foul Crime: Cum omni clero Britonum are the Words. "Tis afterwards called the Great Council of the Clergy and Laity, Magna Synodus Clericorum & LaicoThe following Councils are described

rum.

in the fame manner. And we may be fatisfied that under the name Clergy as well Priefts as Bishops are comprehended, from two Accounts we have of the Synod of Wales about the year 520. (t) Giraldus Cambrenfis calls it a Council of all the Clergy of Wales, Totius Cambria Clero. But Ricemarcbus in his life of St. David calls it an Affembly of Bishops, Priefts and Abbots. Collecta Epifcoporum, Sacerdotum, (#) Ibid. p. 18. Abbatum turba. (u) When Austin the firft Archbishop of Canterbury defired a meeting with the British Bishops they brought their Pres byters with them to that Synod. Septem Britonum Epifcopi, & plures viri Doctiffimi. Seven British Bishops and many very learned Men. (x) Bede tells us that these very learned Men he fpeaks of were chiefly taken out of the Monaftery of Bancor, and in the fame Chapter he calls them Sacerdotes Priests.

(x) Lib. 11. c. 2.

The Saxon Synods were held after the fame manner. Theodorus who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury that we find to have convened Synods of his Suffragans, called to his firft Council not only the Bishops but the Ma(7) Hift. of fters or Rectors of the Church. (y) Cogit conci

Convoc. p. 23.

lium Epifcoporum una cum Magiftris Ecclefia Pluribus.(z) In that he held feven years after(z) Ibid. p. 24; (A. D. 680.) befides the Bishops a great many learned Men were prefent. Collecto Venerabilium Sacerdotum, Doctorumq; plurimorum Cœtu. (a) In the Synod of Calchuth A. D. 787. after (4) Ibid. p. 41;' the Subfcriptions of the King, Archbishops and 42. Bishops, this follows, To these wholesome Admonitions, the Presbyters and Deacons of the Churches, the Abbots, Judges, Great Men and Nobles alfo Subfcribed. And much of the fame kind were all the Synods which we find in the Saxon times. Indeed during thefe times it is very difficult to diftinguish the Ecclefiaftical Synods from the State Affemblies. However as to thefe I have mentioned they were Councils called to confider of Ecclefiaftical Matters, and whether they are to be called Ecclefiaftical Synods or not, it is plain the Presbyters and Deacons made a part of them: And what makes them appear to have been Ecclefiaftical rather than State Meetings, is, that the Presbyters and Deacons are named before the Abbots, Judges and Nobles. But after the Conqueft thefe Affemblies were more diftinct, the Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction being then in a more particular manner diftinguished from the Temporal.. Yet even for fome of the firft Reigns after the Conqueft as well as before (b) Dr. Hody ob-(6) Hift. of ferves that State Councils and Synods were fo Convocat, part 37 much alike that he knew not how to diftinguish between fome of them.

P. I.

The first real Synod that was held here after Ibid. p. 6. the Conqueft, was that of Eafter 1070, held at Winchester. In which Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury was deprived. It does not evidently appear from any of the feveral Hiftorians

that

13.

that have given any Account of it, that Presbyters fat and Voted in it, except the two Cardinal Legats which came from Rome and prefided there. But as I have obferved this was a Synod called to judge an Archbishop in which it is allowed Presbyters could not give a Definitive Sentence. Yet it looks as if the Presbyters were prefent to be confulted with, for Matthew Westminster calls it a Council of the whole Church of England; and fo does Rudborn. d) old.p. 12, (d) The next Council we meet with was at Windfor, A. D. 1072. to decide the Controverfy between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York about their Primacy where were prefent the King with the Bishops and Abbots of diverfe Orders, and the Pope's Legats prefided. But this was alfo a Synod called to determine a Controverfy between two Archbifhops, and was a National, not a Provincial Sy(e) Ibid. p. 1s, nod. (e) The next which was also a National Synod was held by Archbishop Lanfranc, A. D. 1075. To which Subfcribed two Archbishops, twelve Bishops, Anfchitil Archdeacon of Canterbury, and Twenty one Abbots. In this Synod, It was decreed in Order to fupprefs the indifcreet Infolence of fome Perfons, that none should speak in Council, without leave firft obtained from the Metropolitan, except Bishops and Abbots. Which is an Evidence that there were others befides the Bifhops and Abbots at that time allowed to fit in Council, and that they did fpeak there till they were restrained by this Canon, which yet did not altogether restrain them, but only obliged them first to ask leave of the MetroIbid. p. 24. politan. (f) An. 1100 Anfelm Archbishop of Canterbury held a Synod at Lambeth to confider the Cafe of Mand the King of Scotland's Daugh

16.

ter

33, 34.

ter whether she should be obliged to profefs her felf a Nun, because she had declared that the took the Veil only to fecure her felf from the Violence of the Normans. Which Caufe was determined in her favour, and fhe had leave given her to be Married, as fhe was foon after to King Henry 1. At this Synod (as Eadmerus fays, who was Living at that time) were affembled, the Bishops, Abbots, Nobles and Men of the Religious Order. Which muft imply that diverfe other Clergymen were prefent befide the Bishops and Abbots. And the matter was determined per Epifcopos Religiofas Perfonas, by the Bishops and Religious Perfons. Which muft imply that all the Religious Perfons (which it is evident were not all Bishops or Abbots) Voted in this Synod. (g) A. D. 1125, a Sy- (g) Ibid. p. 32.] nod was held by the Pope's Legat wherein befides the Archbishops. Bishops and Abbots we find the other Clergy and alfo the chief of the Laity to have been prefent, tho' from the Summons (which is the most ancient we have extant) itappears that only the Bishops, Abbots and Archdeacons were called to it, and therefore we may reasonably fuppofe no others Voted in it. However it is to be confidered that Abbots and Archdeacons were not more than Presbyters. (b) And Bishop Wake fays that the Archdeacons (b) State of the came with Procuratorial Letters to act for the Church, &c. Clergy of the whole Diocefs. This Council condemned the Marriage of the Clergy; but it was not obeyed by the Inferior Clergy, and it feems as if they did not think themselves obliged to obedience, becaufe they were not Summoned and had not given their confent to the Decree, otherwife I cannot fee the Reafon why they fhould be all univerfally Summoned

P. 107.

to appear four years after, when this Decree

(i) Hift of Conv. was renewed. (i) For A. D. 1129. the ArchPart 3. p. 38, 39. bishop called another Council, to which he Summoned not only those who were called to

to 53 61, 62.

5.67 73, 74. 76. &c.

the former, but alfo all Perfons whatfoever that (b) Ibid. p.42, were concerned about Religion. (k) And in the Councils held after this we generally find the Inferior Clergy to have made a part of them. Thus Councils of this Church were held Originally, fometimes the Diocefan Clergy came to Council with their Bishops, and sometimes they empowered the Archdeacons to act for them, till about the latter end of the Reign of King Henry 3. (at which time our State-Affemblies or Parliaments were fetled in their prefent Form) our Convocations began to be held in the Form which has been fince continued.

Thus I truft I have fhewn to unprejudiced Perfons, that it is no Novelty for Presbyters to fit in Synod, to Vote there and Subfcribe to the Acts as well as the Bishops. I do not say that they have always or conftantly done fo, that no Synods have been held without them, or that they have at all times and in all places been thought to make an Authoritative Part of Provincial Synods: And tho' I have fhewn that they did come to Synods, were called thither, and frequently Voted in them, and Subscribed to their Acts, yet I will not fay but it may be alfo proved that many Synods have been held without them, tho' I believe not many in this Realm, however fome few may have been held fo even here. But what I trust I have proved, is that in the Apoftolical Synod the Presbyters made an Authoritative Part as well as the Bishops, that in St. Cyprian's time they generally did the like both in Rome and Africa;

only