their examples as their doctrines, to the practice of such religious and moral duties, as are the proper results of the said doctrines, as selfdenial, contempt of the world, humility, patience, meekness, temperance, justice, mercy, 5 obedience, and the like; and to a detestation and shunning of sin, especially such sins as are so rife among us, and common to the age we live in; such are those usually stiled the seven deadly ones; in short, all kind of debauchery, sensuality, rebellion, profaneness, atheism, and 10 the like. And because these licentious times have corrupted religion even in the very roots and foundations, that where there is an afternoon's exercise, it be especially spent either in explaining some part of the church catechism, or in preaching upon some such text of scripture, 15 as will properly and naturally lead to the handling of something contained in it, or may conduce to the exposition of the liturgy, and prayers of the church, (as occasion shall be offered,) the only cause they grew into contempt amongst the people being this, that they were not 20 understood. That also the minister, as often as conveniently he can, read the prayers himself; and when he cannot so do, he procure or provide some fit person in holy orders, who may do it with that gravity, distinctness, devotion, and reverence, as becomes so holy an action: 25 and whensoever by reason of his infirmity, or the concurrence of other offices, the time may seem too short, or he unable to perform the office of both prayers and sermon at length, he rather shorten his discourse or sermon, than omit any thing of the prayers, lest he incur 30 the penalty of the act for uniformity, requiring them to be read according as the book directs.

V. And further our will and pleasure is, that all ministers within their several cures, be enjoined publicly to read over unto the people such canons, as are or shall 35 be in force, at least once, and the thirty-nine articles

twice every year, to the end they may the better understand and be more throughly acquainted with the doctrine and discipline of the church of England, and not so easily drawn away from it as formerly they have been.

VI. Since preaching was not anciently the work of 5 every priest, but was restrained to the choicest persons for gravity, prudence, and learning; the archbishops and bishops of this kingdom are to take great care whom they license to preach, and that all grants and licenses of this kind heretofore made by any chancellor, official, 10 commissary, or other secular person (who are presumed not to be so competent judges in matters of this nature) be accounted void and null, unless the same shall likewise be allowed by the archbishop or the bishop of the diocese; and that all licenses of preachers hereafter to be 15 made or granted by any archbishop or bishop, shall be only during pleasure, otherwise to be void to all intents and purposes, as if the same had never been made nor granted.

VII. Lastly, That for the better observing of the 20 Lord's day, too much neglected of late, they shall, as by often and serious admonitions, and sharp reproofs, endeavour to draw off people from such idle, debauched, and profane courses, as dishonour God, bring a scandal on religion, and contempt on the laws and authority ec- 25 clesiastical and civil; so shall they very earnestly persuade them to frequent divine service on the Lord's day, and other festivals appointed by the church to be kept solemn; and in case any person shall resort unto any tavern, alehouses, or use any unlawful sports and exer- 30 cises on such days, the minister shall exhort those, which are in authority in their several parishes and congregations, carefully to look after all such offenders in any kind whatsoever, together with all those that abet, receive, or entertain them, that they may be proceeded 35

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against according to the laws and quality of their of fences, that all such disorders may for the time to come be prevented. Given at our court at Whitehall October the 14th, in the 14th year of our reign, MDCLXII.

By his majesty's command.

ED. NICHOLAS.

The lord archbp. of Cant.'s letter to the lords the bishops

within his grace's province.

AFTER my hearty commendations.

I have lately

received letters from his majesty, wherein he takes notice of the continuance and increase of some bold 10 abuses and extravagancies in the church, especially in preachers, notwithstanding his great indulgence used towards them; and foreseeing the mischief and inconveniences likely to ensue thereupon, if not timely prevented and repressed, hath, out of his princely and tender 15 care of the peace of the church, sent withal certain direc

tions to be strictly observed by the bishops in their several dioceses, (as by the copies thereof, which I have sent here enclosed, your lordship will more fully understand,) and for the more speedy dispatch and ease in the communi20 cation hath been graciously pleased to command so many copies thereof to be printed as shall be needful, a proportionable number whereof will be forthwith sent unto your lordship for your diocese. Now as we cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge his majesty's affec25 tionate care and zeal in this his providing for the good and welfare of the church by all means, which he finds may be conducible thereunto; so my earnest desire and hope is, we shall not be so much wanting to our own good, as not to second those his majesty's commands with the utmost of our endeavours; but that your lordship, when you shall have given order for the careful dispersing

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and communicating those copies, as is required, will by your diligent inspection and serious admonitions to your clergy, as occasion shall be offered, be able in due time to return an account of the success in the observation, answerable to his majesty's expectation and pious desires 5 in this his injunction. And so with my prayers to God for a blessing upon your endeavours herein, I commit you to his holy protection, and rest

Your lordship's very loving friend and brother,

His majesty's declaration to all his loving subjects.—From an original in the Bodleian library.

As

CHARLES R.

S it hath pleased Almighty God so wonderfully to restore us to the throne of our ancestors, and our subjects to happy peace and tranquillity without the least bloodshed by the military sword; so having still earnestly 15

His majesty's declaration] The act of uniformity (13 and 14 Charles II. c. 4.) had passed May 19, and was to take effect on the 24th of August following, that day being fixed upon, says bishop Burnet, (although it was manifestly too early,) for the purpose of anticipating the period at which the principal tithes of the year would become due. 20 The act itself was exceedingly stringent, and so earnest were the commons in its favour, that the house of lords vainly endeavoured to introduce more lenient provisions in behalf of schoolmasters, and in respect to the use of the surplice and the sign of the cross. The king was frequently and strongly importuned by the non-conformists to grant 25

wished that both might be secured and maintained with the least effusion possible of the same by the sword of justice, as desiring much rather to cure the ill intentions of the disaffected by our clemency, than to punish the 5 effects by rigour of law: we cannot but express our great grief and trouble, that the unpardonable as well as incurable malignity of some should have carried them anew to such traitorous practices against our person and government, as have necessitated us to make fresh examples by the death of any more of our subjects. But as the publicness of their trial in the ordinary course of law, hath by their conviction sufficiently satisfied the world of the enormity of their crimes, so we have thought fit, at the same time that we are forced to punish, to endeavour, 15 as much as in us lieth, the preventing all occasions of the like for the future by this declaration; wherein our

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them his protection; and partly from the facility of his nature, and partly from other considerations, private as well as public, he was induced to promise them that their prayer should be granted. His 20 intention was to dispense, by his royal supremacy, with the execution of the act for a limited period; but being told that its provisions would nevertheless take effect, and being earnestly entreated to consider the perilous condition of the church, he again yielded, and promised acquiescence in the wishes of his present advisers as readily as he had pre25 viously done in those of their opponents. The measure finally adopted was his declaration of the 26th of December, in which he endeavours to satisfy the non-conformists by assuring them that he would incline the wisdom of parliament to the mitigation of all penal statutes in matters of religion. By this method the king hoped to gain the repu30 tation of openness and generosity, whilst he was at the same time preparing the way for the accomplishment of his own secret projects. He was willing to obtain some further indulgences for the non-conformists, but he intended to make use of the same opportunity in favour of the Romanists. It appears that the presbyterians saw through his stra35 tagem, and would not give him their assistance in the prosecution of it. Burnet, Own Times, vol. i. p. 335. Neal, Purit. vol. iii. p. III. Clarend. Life, vol. ii. p. 143. Baxter's Life, p. 305. North's Examen, p. 431. Hallam, vol. ii. p. 208. Lingard, vol. vii. p. 421.