shadows and pretences of those that are obstinate, as by all good means to reclaim those, who may possibly be won to conformity: letting all men know, that we cannot think well of any, that having place and authority in the 5 church, do permit such persons to pass with impunity, much less if they give any countenance to the emboldening of them and their adherents. And because we understand, that the number of recusants is much more increased in some dioceses, than in others, we shall impute 10 the same to the negligence of those bishops, who have the same means and power of restraint, unless they can shew us some particular reason, by which that contagion is become greater under them than others, and not by their defaults: and we do hereby require you to send 15 transcripts of these our letters to all the bishops and ordinaries within your province, for the present execution of this our general direction, and also to transmit the same our letters to the lord archbishop of York, that he may take the like course within his charge and jurisdic20 tion. Given under our signet at our castle of Windsor the 15th day of December, in the first year of our reign.

By this you see the royal and Christian care which his majesty hath for the advancing of true religion within this kingdom, and the suppressing of the contrary. I

25 but it is not surprising that his subjects at the beginning of his reign should have had a different impression, derived from the strange duplicity of his father, and from the negociations that had taken place respecting his own marriage at the two popish courts of Spain and France. Charles himself in writing to the pope in the year 1623, on 30 the subject of the Spanish marriage, had expressed himself in the following manner: It is most certain I would never so earnestly procure to tie myself with that strait band of marriage with a person whose religion I never could endure. Wherefore let your holiness be persuaded that my mind now is, and always shall be, far from plotting 35 any thing contrary to the Roman catholic religion. Tanner MSS. vol. lxxxii. p. 349.

doubt not but your lordship will take into serious consideration, and by your officers and ministers give execution thereunto, so that presentments be duly made, and excommunications against the obstinate be issued forth, as some few years past was accustomed; and his majesty 5 doth expect, that, to shew your diligence and zeal herein, your lordship will soon after Easter return unto me the list and number of all recusant papists within your diocese, which without fail I do expect. And so I leave you to the Almighty, and remain

Your lordship's loving brother,

10

The king's letter to the archbishop of Canterbury to excite the people to unity, and to contribute towards the support of the king of Denmark.—Reg. II. Abbot, fol. 218. a.

MY very good lord. I have received from the king's

majesty both pious and prudent instructions neces

The king's letter] This able paper was drawn up by Laud, then bishop 15 of Bath and Wells, at the command of the king, and was occasioned by the following circumstances. The commons had introduced a bill for granting three subsidies and three fifteenths, but refused to pass it, until the king should have listened to their petitions and remonstrances. It continued therefore still imperfect on the 15th day of June 1626, 20 when the king felt himself compelled by the disobedience of the commons to dissolve the parliament; but as it was already adopted in principle, his majesty was advised that he had good grounds for requiring the payment of those subsidies from his subjects by way of loan, til the measure should be completed in the ensuing parliament. This 25 advice was too readily adopted, and methods, now become familiar to the court, were taken for carrying it into effect. The king was per

sary for this time, the particulars whereof do here follow: Most reverend father in God, right trusty and right well beloved counsellor, we greet you well. We have observed that the church and the state are so near united and 5 knit together, that though they may seem two bodies, yet indeed in some relation they may be accounted but as one; inasmuch as they both are made up of the same men, which are differenced only in relation to spiritual or civil ends: this nearness makes the church call in the help of the state to succour and support her, whensoever she is pressed beyond herself; and the same nearness makes the state call in for the service of the church, both to teach that duty, which her members know not, and to exhort them to it, and encourage them in that duty, 15 which they know. It is not long since we ordered the

10

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state to serve the church, and by a timely proclamation settled the peace of it; and now the state looks for the like assistance from the church, that she and all her ministers may serve God and us, by preaching peace and unity at home, that it may be the better able to resist foreign force, uniting and multiplying against it. And to the end that they, to whom we have committed the government of the church under us, may be the better

suaded, as he stated in his Declaration when he dissolved the parlia25 ment, that he had the strongest claims in reason and good faith on the ready cooperation of the commons; but all doubt or hesitation as to his own proceedings was completely removed, when he received tidings of the defeat sustained by the king of Bohemia and his ally the king of Denmark in the disastrous battle of the 27th of August. It was during 3o the collection of this loan, and for the purpose of promoting it, that Dr. Sibthorp preached his memorable sermon on apostolical obedience, and Dr. Manwaring his equally memorable discourses entitled Religion and Allegiance, which led to the suspension of archbishop Abbot, to the exasperation of the ensuing house of commons, and to an increased 35 and fixed hostility between the sovereign and his parliaments. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 421. Heylin's Laud, p. 166. Collier, vol. ii. p. 739. Hallam, vol. i. P. 412.

able to dispose of the present occasions, we have, with the advice of the council, thought fit to send unto you these instructions following, to be sent by you to the bishops of your province, and such others, whom it may concern, and by them and their officers directed to all 5 the ministers throughout the several dioceses, that according to these punctually they may instruct and exhort the people to serve God and us, and labour by their prayers to divert the dangers which hang over us. The danger in which we are at this time is great; it is in- 10 creased by the late blow given our good uncle the king of Denmark, who is the chief person in those parts that opposed the spreading forces of Spain; if he cannot subsist, there is little or nothing left to hinder the house of Austria from being lord and master of Germany; and that 15 is a large and mighty territory, as should it be gotten would make an open way for Spain to do what they please in all the west parts of Christendom. For besides the great strength which Germany, once possessed, would bring to them, which are too strong already, you are to 20 consider first, how it will enable them by land, in that it will join all, or the most parts of the Spaniard's now distracted territories, and be a means for him safely and speedily to draw down forces against any other kingdom, that shall stand in his way; nor can it be thought the 25 Low Countries can hold out longer against him, if he once become lord of the upper parts. And secondly, you are to weigh how it will advantage him by sea, and make him strong against us in our particular, which is of easy apprehension to all men and besides, if he once get 30 Germany, he will be able, though he had no gold from India, to supply the necessity of those wars, and to hinder all trade and traffic of the greatest staple commodities of this kingdom, cloth and wool, and so make them of little or no value. You are to know therefore, that to prevent 35 this is the present care of the king and the state, and

there is no probable way left, but by sending forces and other supplies to the said king of Denmark our dear uncle, to enable him to keep the field, that our enemies be not masters of all on the sudden. You are further to 5 take notice, how that we and this whole state stand bound in honour and conscience to supply the present necessity of the king of Denmark; for this quarrel is more nearly ours, the recovery of the ancient inheritance of our dear sister and her children. The king of Den10 mark stands not so near in blood unto her as we do, yet for her and our sakes that brave and valiant king hath adventured into the field, and in that engagement hath not only hazarded his person, but as things go now, it may turn to some danger to his own kingdom and poste15 rity, should he not receive aid and succour from us without delay; which should it happen, as God forbid, will be one of the greatest dishonours, that ever this kingdom was stained withal. Nor is danger and dishonour all the mischief that is like to follow this disaster; 20 for if he be not presently relieved, the cause of religion is not only likely to suffer by it in some one part, as it hath already in a fearful manner in the Palatinate, but in all places, where it hath gotten any footing; so that if we supply not presently our allies and confederates in this 25 case, it is likely to prove the extirpation of true religion, and the replanting of Romish superstition in all the neighbouring parts of Christendom; and the colonies of this state shall suffer in all places as the betrayer of that religion elsewhere, which it professeth and honoureth at 30 home; which will be an imputation never to be washed off; and God forbid this state should suffer under it. Neither may you forget rightly to inform the people committed to your charge, that this war which now grows full of danger, was not entered upon rashly and 35 without advice, but you are to acquaint them, that all former treaties by a peaceable way were in the latter end