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and not for worldli praise, profet, or pleasure, receive, refuse, BOOK or abuse religion corruptli: not to allow any such corruption amongst Protestants, being Gods servants, as sholde make Papists to joie and hope for a dai, being Gods ennemies; but rather cause such abolishing of inward Papistrie, and outward monuments of the same, as shold cause idolatrous traitors to greve, and faithful subjects to be glad : such casting forth of the unsaveri ministre and Ministers of Gods worde, as might make onli such as have the saverines of doctrine and edification to be allowed to that office. Seing such ministre onli mai preserve princes, and prestes, and people, from casting and treading under fote; and so not deceiving and leaving the godli in destresse, to perish with the ungodli thrugh ungodlines, but ever traveling to deliver, defend, and help the godli, be bi Gods providence and promise delivered and preserved from al danger, into continuance and incresse of godli honor. Which God, for his mercies in Christ, grant unto the Quenes Majestie, unto you, and al other of her honorable Counsel. Amen.

Scriblet at Sherborn House, bi Duresme, the 24th of Anno 1565. Februarii.

By yours at commandment,
Faithfulli in Christ,

Thomas Lever.

Number XLVIII.

79

The Archbishop to the Bishop of London: upon sending him the book of orders, and upon suspension of some noncompliers in his diocese.

Park.

RIGHT wel-beloved brother, after my harty commend- Archbishop ations in owr Saviour Christ. Wheras you do wel know Regist. what offence is taken, for that divers and sundry of the state ecclesiastical be so hardly induced to conformity in administration of public prayers and sacraments, and in other apparel, agreable in regard of order for them to wear, notwithstanding established, and other orders and ordinances prescribed in the same: in which disorder appeareth, as is com

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BOOK monly interpreted, a manifest violation and contempt of the Queens Majesties authority, and abusing her princely clemency in so long bearing with the same without execution of condigne severity for their due correction, if the laws were extended upon them: and wheras the whole state of the realm by act of Parlament openly published doth most earnestly in Gods name require us al to endeavour our selves, to the uttermost of our knowledg duely and truly to execute the said laws, as we wil answer before God: by the which we have also ful power and authority to reform and punish by censures of the Church, al and singular persons which shal offend: and wheras also the Queens most excellent Majesty, now a year past and more, addrest her Highnes letters, inforcing the same charge, the contents wherof I sent unto your Lordship in her name and authority, to admonish them to obedience; and so I doubt not but your Lordship have distributed the same unto others of our brethren within this province of Canterbury: wherupon hath ensued in the most part of the realm an humble and obedient conformity: and yet some few persons, I fear, more scrupulous than godly prudent, have not conformed themselves; peradventure some of them, for lack of particular description of orders to be followed, which, as your Lordship doth know, were agreed upon among us long ago, and yet in certain respects not published:

my

Now, for the speedy reformation of the same, as the Queens Highnes hath expresly charged both you and me of late, being therfore called to her presence, to se her laws executed, and good orders decreed and observed; I can no less do of obedience to Almighty God, and of my allegiance to her princely state, and of sincere zeal to the Church, and promotion of Christian religion now established, but require and charge you, as you will answer to God and her Majesty, to se her Majesties laws and injunctions performed within your dioces, and also these our convenient orders, described in these books, at this present sent unto your Lordship. And furthermore, to transmit the same books with your letters, according as hath been heretofore used, unto al other our

brethren within this province: to cause the same to be per- BOOK formed in their several jurisdictions and charges.

And where we have of late, the 26th day of this present month of March, called before us, according to the Queens Majesties command in this behalf signified, al maner of Parsons, Vicars, and Curats, serving within the city of London, and have commanded divers of them in their obedience, who have considered their duties in this behalf; so have we also from this day forth suspended al Ministers, expresly refusing conformity, from their public ministrations whatsoever; and have also denounced sequestration of al the fruits of their livings, so long time as they shal remain in this disobedience. Signifying further, that if, within the space of three months, from thence next ensuing this advertisement, either any of them do attempt to offend in the like disobedience, and be therfore convicted by the notorious evidence of the fact, or shal continue without reconciling of themselves, and promising and subscribing their conformity to the laws and orders agreable, to be then deprived ipso facto of al their spiritual promotions. In which case it may be lawful, in due order of law, to al patrons and donors of al and singular the 80 same spiritual promotions, or any of them, to present or collate to the same, as tho' the person or persons so offending were dead.

After which like sort al other Ordinaries, after notice given unto al persons within their jurisdictions, of the laws, injunctions, and other orders established for the same conformity, I think will follow in order the same example. Wherby, we trust, al contention and just offence among the Queens subjects may at the last be supprest; peace and quietnes in unity of doctrin, and uniformity of extern behaviour, recovered, the Queens Majesties authority reverenced, her laws obediently regarded; to the promotion of the truth of the Gospel, and to the glory of Almighty God. To whom for this time I commit you in al grace and vertue, as my self. From my house at Lambeth the XXVIII day of March, 1566. Your loving brother,

Matthue Cant.

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BOOK
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E Biblioth.

Rev. P. D.

Elien.

Number XLIX.

A brief and lamentable consideration of the apparel now used by the Clergy of England: set out by a faithful servant of God, for the instruction of the weak.

HAVING, gentle reader, now of late perused certain Joh. Episc. books, and the same set forth to shew that the apparel at this present time used by the Clergy of England is contrary unto the word of God; and therewithal perceiving what dissensions, what murmurings, and in a maner what hatred the authors, the books, or both, have procured in this Church of God against godlines; I thought it not to be inconvenient, if, until a further discourse were hereof made, this pamphlet should be put forth. Especially for that I see, that in so smal a matter the hearts of the people are diversly bent. For some judge in the same an holines; an opinion al wholly to be refused: some other affirm it to be wicked and intolerable; an assertion in that case no way to be tolerated: and some do take it as indifferent, and so serving by a commandment for decency and comlines; a judgment, as I think, not to be misliked, but of the wise, godly, and learned, to be harkned unto and approved. And that this may not only appear, but also be proved so to be, let us at this time consider two special things.

First, Of those books, let that which carrieth most shew of learning and probability be laid forth: and then let reasons be considered; that is, whether they make for the retaining of the said attyre or not. Many words are many times of smal force; and few reasons cannot but at al times be of much strength.

Touching the chiefest of those books, I find therin the shew of reasons: wherof some are general, and some particular. The general do seem first to prove, that the attyre doth not edify. Wherof they set three shadows of reason down. First, that they hinder the simple. Secondly, that they make obstinate the Papists. And thirdly, that they are monuments of idolatry.

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Herein let them tel me, who are the simple. Be they the BOOK preachers? Be they the ministers? Be they those that claim a knowledg, and that do vindicate unto themselves a perfection above their pastors? Let them take heed what they

answer.

As for the making obstinate the Papists, two things of them by experience I consider. For either they seek by these controversies to set us at strife; or els they endeavour that we should not use the ornaments. For if we agree, and do wear them, that doth not a little grieve them.

And in that they are said to be monuments of idolatry, 81 that cannot be. For if some of the attyre wherewith the mumbling Mass hath been said be put away and abolished, why term they the like form, and that which never served the like use, to be monuments of idolatry? They would reason again, and say, the precepts of men are not to be received. If they speak generally, it is an untrue proposition; if particularly, it may in some things be true, but not in this. Further, they say, that these orders offend. Let them shew whom they do offend, as before is said: and then the offence can never be proved. Yea, but they are contrary, wil they say, unto the Scriptures? That I deny, and wil put them to prove anon. In the mean time shal we view their particular reasons; if we shal, they be these:

The ministring garments, say they, ought not to be admitted. And why? Because they were taken from the Jews or Gentiles. And shal al things taken from the Jews or Gentiles be abolished? If not, why then these? Wel, they add, they have been abused. And shal al things abused be cast away? What, Scriptures and al? God forbid. What then further? Forsooth, as it is alledged, men have an ill opinion of them. And so have the Jews of Christ; and Christ the Son of God. So have the Papists of the Protestants, and yet the Protestants in a good way, and godly. Away therfore, not with reason, but with reasonless assertions.

Yea, but Samuel, say you, was not known by Saul; and therfore no difference ought to be in apparel. Alas! if I

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