what persons they receive into the ministry; and that none be admitted into holy orders, unless he bring with him letters dimissory, according to the 34th canon; and that no bishop, being not within his own proper diocese, do at any time hereafter confer orders upon any person 5 without license first from us obtained; and that in all things the canons concerning ordination be duly and punctually observed; and that once every year, videlicet within thirty days after the feast of the annunciation of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, every bishop do 10 certify unto us the names, degrees, titles, and orders of every person by him ordained, within the year before, ending at Christmas then last past. II. Concerning pluralists and their curates. That before the feast day of the annunciation of our 15 blessed lady St. Mary the virgin next coming, they and every of them certify to me particularly the names, surnames, and degrees of all clergymen, that, together with any benefice with cure, do hold also any prebend, or ecclesiastical dignity, or promotion, or sinecure with the 20 names and places of the said benefices, prebends, dignities, promotions, and sinecures; and also the names, surnames, and degrees of all clergymen, that hold two or more ecclesiastical benefices, with or without cure, whether within the same diocese, or in several dioceses, and 25 the names and places wherein the said benefices are, and these instructions, it was a point of no little importance at this period to obtain accurate knowledge of the numbers and the residence of the non-conformists. They had given offence to the government by opposing the war which was then carried on against the Dutch, and it 30 was determined to subject them to new and effectual restraints. The parliament had assembled in the month of March; but owing to the breaking out of the plague, had been several times prorogued, and met eventually for the dispatch of business at Oxford, in the month of October. On the 14th of that month was brought in the bill "for 35 within what distance, or commonly reputed distance of miles; and whether they hold the same by lawful qualification and dispensation; and upon which of their benefices, prebends, dignities, or promotions they do reside; 5 and whether they keep and maintain able, orthodox, and conformable curates upon the said benefices, where they do not reside; and whether any of them keep any curate, where they themselves do usually reside; and what are the names, surnames, and degrees of the said curates, 10 and whether they be licensed and approved by the bishop, as they ought. III. Concerning lectures and lecturers. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly 15 certify unto me, what lectures are set up, and lecturers maintained within their respective dioceses; in what towns, places, and churches the same are set up; what allowances are made and established for any such lectures; what are the names, surnames, degrees, and qualities of all and every such lecturers; and whether such lectures be set up by and with the consent of the bishop of the diocese; and whether the said lecturers be lawfully licensed preachers, and by whom; and how they appear affected to the government of his majesty, and the doc25 trine and discipline of the church of England. 20 suppressing unconforming ministers and schoolmasters," which imposed a strict oath upon them, and such limitations respecting residence, as have since given it the name of "the five-mile act." The archbishop's instructions as to non-conformists bearing date on the 7th of July, 30 would seem to have been given in anticipation of this memorable act, and for the purpose of making it effectual as soon as it was passed. Commons' Journals. Kennet's Hist. vol. iii. p. 280. Baxter's Life, p. 311. Hallam, vol. ii. p. 212. Tanner MSS. vol. cclxxxii. p. 93. Lingard, vol. vii. p.451. IV. Concerning schoolmasters and instructors of youth. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly certify me, how many, and what free schools are within their respective dioceses, and where, and by whom founded, 5 and how endowed, and the names, surnames, and degrees of the schoolmasters and ushers in the said free schools; and also the names, surnames, and degrees of all other public schoolmasters, and ushers, or instructors, and teachers of youth in reading, writing, grammar, or other 10 literature, and whether they be licensed, and by whom; as also of all public mistsesses of schools and instructors and teachers of young maids or women; and of all other men and women, that keep scholars in their houses to board or sojourn, and privately teach them or others 15 within their houses; and whether the said schoolmasters, ushers, schoolmistresses, and instructors, or teachers of youth publicly or privately, do themselves frequent the public prayers of the church, and cause their scholars to do the same; and whether they appear well affected to 20 the government of his majesty and the doctrine and discipline of the church of England. V. Concerning practisers of physic. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly 25 IV. Concerning schoolmasters] The power of the ordinary in granting license to schoolmasters had been declared in the Injunctions of queen Elizabeth (No. XLIII.), in the canons of 1603, in the statutes 23 Eliz. c. 1. and I James i. c. 4; but the further power of requiring such schoolmasters to subscribe a declaration of conformity to the liturgy of the 30 church of England, was given for the first time in the act of uniformity, 13 and 14 Charles II. c. 4. The house of lords remonstrated against this clause, but was overcome by the pertinacity of the commons. V. Concerning practisers of physic] By statute 3 Henry VIII. c. 11, bishops and their vicars general had the right of licensing physicians 35 and surgeons in their respective dioceses. 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. те CLIII. Archiepisc. Cant. GILB. SHELDON 8. 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 ΙΟ 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 |