certify me the names, surnames, degrees, and qualities of all practisers of physic within their respective dioceses; in what towns, villages, or places they live; whether licensed, and by whom; and how they appear affected to 5 his majesty's government, and the doctrine and discipline of the church of England. VI. Concerning non-conformist ministers. That before the feast of they and every of them particularly certify me the names, surnames, and degrees 10 of all non-conformist ministers, that within their respective dioceses have been ejected out of any ecclesiastical benefice, promotion, or charge for non-subscription, or non-conformity; and where, and how, and in what profession of life they now do live; and how they behave themselves in relation to the peace and quiet as well of the church, as of the state; and further, if any such like non-conformist shall have removed from any other diocese into any of their respective dioceses, that they certify the same things concerning them, as well as of the others, in this instruction mentioned. Given at my manor house at Lambeth in the county of Surrey, July the 7th, 15 20 MDCLXV. CLIII. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ The archbishop of Canterbury's letter to the commissary, the dean, and archdeacon of Canterbury concerning the king's directions to the clergy.-Ex autographo penes Thom. episc. Assaven. Right worshipful Mr. commissary, and right reverend Mr. dean, and Mr. archdeacon. IT having pleased his majesty and the two houses of parliament, out of their pious care for the welfare of this church and kingdom, by making and publishing the 5 late act for preventing and suppressing conventicles, to lay a hopeful way for the peace and settlement of the church, and the uniformity of God's service in the same; it becomes us the bishops, ecclesiastical judges, and clergy, as most particularly sensible of the good pro- 10 vidence of God, to endeavour, as much as in us lies, the promoting so blessed a work. And therefore having well considered what will be proper for me in my place to do, I have thought fit and do hereby recommend unto you, as my commissioners, jointly and severally these counsels 15 66 The archbishop of Canterbury's letter] An act had passed in the year 1664 (16 Charles II. c. 4.) To prevent and suppress seditious conventicles," but had expired in the year 1667; and the Oxford act of 1665 being supposed to be inoperative in that respect without it, there was no longer any sufficient restraint upon the holders and frequenters 20 of conventicles. The archbishop issued a letter to the commissary of his diocese in the year 1669 on the subject, which was soon followed by a royal proclamation for the suppression of such meetings, and for proceedings to be adopted against the preachers in them. (Wilkins, Conc. vol. iv. p. 588.) But under the guidance of such men as Baxter 25 and methods, which I desire, that in my stead, throughout my particular diocese of Cant. as well in places exempt as not exempt, you will pursue; and which I have also by my letters given in charge to all the rest of brethren, the bishops of my province, being thereunto encouraged by his majesty's approbation and express direction in this affair. 5 my ΙΟ In the first place therefore I advise and require you, that you will call before you not only all officials, registers, and other ecclesiastical officers within my diocese; but that also by such means, and at such places as you shall judge most convenient, you assemble before you or some one or more of you the several parsons, vicars, and curates of my diocese and jurisdiction within 15 their several deaneries; and that you impart unto them respectively, as they shall come before you, the tenor of these my letters, requiring them in my name, that in their several capacities and stations they all perform their duty towards God, the king, and the church, by an exemplary 20 conformity in their own persons and practice to his majesty's laws, and the rules of the church in this behalf. Secondly I advise, that you admonish and recommend to all and every of the parsons, vicars and curates within my said diocese and jurisdiction strictness and sobriety of 25 life and conversation, checking and punishing such as transgress, and encouraging such as live orderly; that so by their virtue and religious deportment they may shew themselves patterns of good living to the people under their charge. And next, that you require of them, as 30 they will answer the contrary, that in their own persons and Manton, and with the secret support of the king and his courtiers, the non-conformists persisted in holding their religious meetings, till the act for suppressing seditious conventicles was renewed in the year 1670 (22 Charles II. c. 1.) with additional restrictions. It is to this 35 act that the archbishop refers in the present letter. Baxter's Life, p. 328. Kennet, Hist. vol. iii. p. 305. Neal, Purit. vol. iii. p. 164. in their churches they do decently and solemnly perform the divine service by reading the prayers of the church, as they are appointed and ordered in and by the book of Common Prayer, without addition to or diminishing from the same, or varying, either in substance or ceremony, 5 from the order and method, which by the said book is set down, wherein I hear and am afraid, too many do offend; and that in the time of such their officiating, they ever make use of, and wear their priestly habit, the surplice and hood; that so by their due and reverent o performance of so holy a worship, they may give honour to God, and by their own example instruct the people of their parishes, what they ought to teach them in their doctrine. Thirdly, having thus counselled the ecclesiastical officers 15 and clergy of my diocese in their own particular duties, you are further desired to recommend unto them the care of the people under their respective jurisdictions and charges, that in their several places they do their best to persuade and win all non-conformists and dissenters to 20 obedience to his majesty's laws, and unity with the church; and such as shall be refractory, to endeavour to reduce by the censures of the church, or such other good means and ways as shall be most conducing thereunto. To which end, I advise that all and every of the said 25 ecclesiastical judges and officers, and all and every of the clergy of my diocese, and the churchwardens of every parish by their respective ministers be desired in their respective stations and places, that they take notice of all non-conformists, holders, frequenters, maintainers, 3o and abettors of conventicles and unlawful assemblies, under pretence of religious worship, especially of the preachers and teachers in them, and of the place wherein the same are held, ever keeping a most watchful eye over the cities and greater towns, from whence the mis- 35 chief is for the most part derived into the lesser villages and hamlets. And wherever they find such wilful offenders, that then with a hearty affection to the worship of God, the honour of the king and his laws, and the peace of the church and kingdom, they do address them5 selves to the civil magistrates, justices, and others concerned, imploring their help and assistance for the prevention or suppression of the same, according to the said late act made and set forth in that behalf. Lastly, for the better direction to all those who shall 10 be concerned in the advices given by this letter, I desire you will give out amongst ecclesiastical officers and clergy as many copies of the same, as you shall think most conducible to the ends for which it is designed. And now, what the success will be, we must leave to 15 God Almighty. Yet I have this confidence under God, that if we do our parts now at first diligently, by God's help and the assistance of the civil power (considering the abundant care and provisions this act contains for our advantages) we shall within a few months see so great an 20 alteration in the distractions of these times, as that the seduced people returning from their seditious and selfserving teachers to the unity of the church, and uniformity in God's service, it will be the glory of God, the welfare of the church, the praise of his majesty's government, and 25 the happiness of the whole kingdom. And so I bid you heartily farewell, and am, Your most affectionate friend, GILB. CANT. Lambeth house, |