of the public determinations of states; for that such is the unquietness and unsteadfastness of some dispositions, affecting every year new forms of things, as, if they should be followed in their inconstancy, would make all actions of states ridiculous and contemptible: whereas the stead- 5 fast maintaining of things by good advice established, is the weal of all common wealths. Given at our palace of Westminster the fifth day of March, in the first year of our reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth, anno Domini, MDCIII. CXX. Sede Cant. vacante. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ A proclamation enjoining conformity to the form of the service of God established. THE care, which we have had, and pains, which we 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- 15 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 in England, and appears at the time of this proclamation to have 20 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 of the convocation or the parliament; and in his speech before parlia- 25 ment (March 22d) he denounced the puritans as "fond of levelling," and " scarcely to be endured in a well-regulated commonweath." He tofore established for those matters in this realm, may 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 5 assembly, but we held at our honour of Hampton court 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 Io 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 15 arguments, greatly insist upon it, but seemed to be satisfied 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 20 of that conference, hoping that when the same should be 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. Notwith25 standing at the late assembly of our parliament there found however, notwithstanding his injunction to the contrary, that petitions were proposed, both in the house of commons and in the lower house of convocation, for further alterations in the book of Common Prayer, and in the established order of church-government; and 30 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 November next ensuing as the limit of time allowed them. The test of conformity was doubtless subscription willingly and ex animo to the 35 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. 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 5 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 prosecu- 10 tion thereof; finding that of all things that might any way tend to the furtherance of religion, and establishment 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 15 the same should be prosecuted by such means, as might be used without any public disturbance or innovation: 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 20 grounded reason was shewed, why either the book of Common Prayer, or the church discipline here by law established, should be changed, which were unreasonable, considering that particular and personal abuses are remediable otherwise, than by making general alterations; we 25 have thought good once again to give notice thereof to all our subjects by public declaration, who we doubt not 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 30 have been nourished so many years, should be changed; and consequently to admonish them all in general to conform themselves thereunto, without listening to the troublesome spirits of some persons, who never receive contentment, either in civil or ecclesiastical matters, but in 35 their own fantasies, especially of certain ministers, who under pretended zeal of reformation, are the chief authors 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 5 trial so weakly grounded, as deserve not admittance, they will out of their own judgment conform themselves to 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 To one end, that is the establishing of the gospel, and recovering of our people seduced out of the hands of the 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 adver15 tise them, that our duty towards God requireth at our hands, that what untractable men do not perform upon 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 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 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 last of November now next ensuing, to bethink themselves of the course they will hold therein. 20 25 30 35 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 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 5 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 10 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 15 gentleness to reclaim all that be in the ministry, to the obedience of our church laws: for which purpose only we 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 20 and by weight of reason, and not by rigour of law. And the like advertisement do we give to all civil magistrates, 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 25 such factious ministers in their obstinacy; of whose endeavours we doubt not but so good success may follow, 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 30 service of Almighty God. Given at our manor of Otelands the 16th day of July, in the second year of our reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth, anno Domini MDCIV. 35 |