cathedral, and observe the solemn fast, and join in the solemn prayers, which are at that time to be put up to God in their behalf. X. Lastly, That some time in the week, after every 5 ordination, whether "intra," or "extra tempora," the bishop ordaining shall send a certificate under his hand. and seal, attested by the archdeacon, and such other clergymen, as assisted at the ordination, containing the names and surnames of all the persons then ordained, the place of their birth, their age, the college where they were educated, with the degree they have taken in the university, the title upon which they are ordained, and upon whose letters dimissory, if they came out of another diocese; to which shall be subjoined a particular account 15 of all such as then offered themselves to ordination, and were refused, as also of the reasons for which the bishop refused them. All which the archbishop doth undertake and promise to cause to be entered into a lieger book for that purpose, to the end that it may be, as it were 20" ecclesiæ matricula" for this province. W. Asaph. W. Cant. William Norwich. Fran. Ely. Tho. Bath et Wells. CLXII. Archiepisc. Cant. GUIL. SANCROFT IO. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ JACOB. II. 3. King James the Second his gracious declaration to all his loving subjects for liberty of conscience. IT JAMES R. T having pleased Almighty God not only to bring us to the imperial crown of these kingdoms through the greatest difficulties, but to preserve us by a more than ordinary providence upon the throne of our royal an-5 cestors; there is nothing now that we so earnestly desire, as to establish our government on such a foundation, as may make our subjects happy, and unite them to us by inclination as well as duty. Which we think can be done by no means so effectually, as by granting to them the 10 free exercise of their religion for the time to come, and add that to the perfect enjoyment of their property; King James the Second] The first open rupture between king James II. and the established clergy was occasioned by the energy and ability they displayed in opposing the growth of popery. The king had re- 15 published in the year 1686 the directions concerning preachers which had been issued by king Charles II. in 1662 (see No. CLI.), but under circumstances so different from those of the preceding reign, and with a purpose so hostile to the cause of protestantism, that no attention was paid to his directions, and sermons were preached and treatises 20 published, carrying the war against the church of Rome into every quarter of the controversy. The wrath of the king fell in the first instance on the bishop of London, for refusing to suspend Dr. Sharp, on account of some controversial sermons preached at St. Giles'; and the bishop was summoned before the court of ecclesiastical commission, 25 which had recently been restored in direct opposition to the law, and was himself suspended from his episcopal office. But having once de which has never been in any case invaded by us since our coming to the crown. Which being the two things men value most, shall ever be preserved in these kingdoms, during our reign over them, as the truest methods 5 of their peace and our glory. We cannot but heartily wish, as it will easily be believed, that all the people of our dominions were members of the catholic church; yet we humbly thank Almighty God, it is, and hath of long time been our constant sense and opinion, (which 10 upon divers occasions we have declared,) that conscience ought not to be constrained, nor people forced in matters of mere religion: it has ever been directly contrary to our inclination, as we think it is to the interest of government, which it destroys by spoiling trade, depopulating 15 countries, and discouraging strangers, and finally, that it never obtained the end for which it was employed. And in this we are the more confirmed by the reflections we have made upon the conduct of the four last reigns. For after all the frequent and pressing endeavours that were 20 used in each of them, to reduce this kingdom to an exact conformity in religion, it is visible the success has not answered the design, and that the difficulty is invincible. We therefore out of our princely care and affection unto clared his hostility to the established church, the king took measures 25 for increasing the number and strength of his supporters. He opened offices for granting dispensations and licenses to dissenters, in the hope that as they had obtained independence through his assistance, they would be induced by a sense of gratitude to promote his wishes; and to attach them to him the more completely, he determined to release 30 them altogether from the operation of the test and the penal laws. He accordingly issued his declaration for liberty of conscience, a measure, which, though it professed to have arisen from the most paternal and patriotic feeling, had slavery for its object, and made use of revolutionary methods in order to accomplish it. Kennet, vol. iii. 35 p. 486. Neal, Purit. vol. iii. p. 266. Burnet, O. T. vol. iii. p. 161. Baxter's Life, p. 375. Clarke's James II. vol. ii. pp. 91. 112. Lingard, vol. viii. p. 303. all our loving subjects, that they may live at ease and quiet, and for the increase of trade, and encouragement of strangers, have thought fit by virtue of our royal prerogative to issue forth this our declaration of indulgence; making no doubt of the concurrence of our two houses 5 of parliament, when we shall think it convenient for them to meet. In the first place we do declare, that we will protect and maintain our archbishops, bishops, and clergy, and all other our subjects of the church of England in the free 10 exercise of their religion as by law established, and in the quiet and full enjoyment of all their possessions without any molestation or disturbance whatsoever. We do likewise declare, that it is our royal will and pleasure, that from henceforth the execution of all, and 15 all manner of penal laws in matters ecclesiastical, for not coming to church, or not receiving the sacrament, or for any other non-conformity to the religion established, or for, or by reason of the exercise of religion in any manner whatsoever, be immediately suspended; and the further 20 execution of the said penal laws and every of them is hereby suspended. And to the end, that by the liberty hereby granted, the peace and security of our government in the practice thereof may not be endangered, we have thought fit, and 25 do hereby straitly charge and command all our loving subjects, that as we do freely give them leave to meet and serve God after their own way and manner, be it in private houses or places purposely hired or built for that use; so that they take especial care, that nothing be 30 preached or taught amongst them, which may any ways tend to alienate the hearts of our people from us or our government; and that their meetings and assemblies be peaceably, openly, and publicly held, and all persons freely admitted to them; and that they do signify and 35 make known to some one or more of the next justices ན of the peace, what place or places they set apart for those uses. And that all our subjects may enjoy such their religious assemblies with greater assurance and protection, 5 we have thought it requisite and do hereby command, that no disturbance of any kind be made or given unto them, under pain of our displeasure, and to be further proceeded against with the utmost severity. And forasmuch as we are desirous to have the benefit to of the service of all our loving subjects, which by the law of nature is inseparably annexed to, and inherent in our royal person; and that none of our subjects may for the future be under any discouragement or disability (who are otherwise well inclined and fit to serve us) by reason 15 of some oaths or tests, that have been usually administered on such occasions; we do hereby further declare, that it is our royal will and pleasure, that the oaths commonly called "The oaths of supremacy and allegiance," and also the several tests and declarations mentioned in the acts 20 of parliament made in the 25th and 30th years of the reign of our late royal brother king Charles II. shall not at any time hereafter be required to be taken, declared, or subscribed by any person or persons whatsoever, who is or shall be employed in any office or place of trust 25 either civil or military under us, or in our government. And we do further declare it to be our pleasure and intention from time to time hereafter, to grant our royal dispensations under our great seal to all our loving subjects so to be employed; who shall not take the said 30 oaths, or subscribe or declare the said tests or declarations in the above mentioned acts, and every of them. And to the end that all our loving subjects may receive and enjoy the full benefit and advantage of our gracious indulgence hereby intended, and may be acquitted and 35 discharged from all pains, penalties, forfeitures, and disabilities by them or any of them incurred, or forfeited, or |