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bishop a

gain at the

locutor.

whom he should appoint in his place. After this, he com- CHAP. missionated Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and Dr. Drury, his Commissary for the Faculties, to receive the Bishops' certifi- Auno 1562. catories, and to look into the proxies of the absents, and to examine the causes of their respective absences. And then pronounced all of the Clergy that appeared not by themselves, nor by their proxies, to be contumacious, reserving the punishment of their contumacies unto the next session. The next session being Saturday, Jan. the 16th, the Arch-The Archbishop came again to the Synod held at St. Paul's, between one and two in the afternoon, with the rest of the Bishops. Synod. There, in the chapter-house, first of all prayers were said by him, pronounced with a loud and intelligible voice, in Latin, with the usual Collects, and a new prayer proper to be said 122 in a provincial Synod. These prayers were responsed by the Bishops, the Prelates, the Clergy, and people present. After these things, the Clergy resorting to their own house, the Archbishop sent for them; who being come presented Nowel Prothe foresaid Nowel for their Prolocutor, being conducted between the Deans of Westminster and of Christ Church Oxon. The former in a short Latin speech shewed, how deservedly they had elected him, on the account of his virtues and endowments. But the venerable Elect in another speech disabled himself for various reasons for so great an office. Yet lest he should seem to decline a work so godly, he promised willingly to take it upon him. Then the most reverend having some discourse with the rest of the Bishops concerning his fitness for this place, all with one mind concluded and affirmed him most fit for the said office of Prolocutor. Then the said most reverend Father, with the common assent of the rest of the Fathers, in a handsome speech confirmed the election made of so worthy a person. And so dismissed the Lower House. The next thing he did, was to desire the Bishops, that each of them would bethink themselves of such things as in their several dioceses wanted reformation; and that they would propound them in the next session. And then the Archbishop and his brethren had secret communication among themselves, all others being

BOOK withdrawn. And so by their consent he continued and II. prorogued the Convocation to the Tuesday following, being Anno 1562. January the 19th, appointing that next meeting to be in King Henry VII.'s Chapel in Westminster.

His third presence at

When the Archbishop was there again in person. Bethe Synod. ginning the session with the prayer mentioned before. Now the most reverend Father, with the rest of his Suffragans, held a conference or disputation concerning some articles relating to the Christian faith. And afterwards sent for the Prolocutor; who with six others of the Lower House appeared before the Bishops; and certified them, that some of their house had exhibited certain sheets of paper concerning matters to be reformed; being respectively devised by them and reduced into writing. Which sheets by common consent were delivered to certain of the graver and learneder sort of that Lower House, whom they had pitched upon for this purpose, to take a careful view of them, and to consider them and that it was appointed them to reduce these sheets into chapters, and to exhibit them the next session before him, the Prolocutor. And he further proposed that the Articles in the London Synod, set forth, as he said, in the time of King Edward VI. might be delivered to some other of their company, chosen also for this purpose, to take a diligent view, examination, and consideration of them; and, as they thought good, to correct and reform them; and the next session also to exhibit them. All this the most reverend did approve and allow, and willed and commanded them to proceed in the same according to their determination. And then he continued and prorogued the Convocation to the next day, viz. Jan. the 20th.

Present again divers times.

The said day the Archbishop was again present, with the rest of his brethren, the Bishops. Where, after prayers begging the Divine assistance, being set, for three hours space they treated and held communication between themselves, upon certain articles touching Christ's holy religion: whereof mention was made in the acts yesterday. And so the Convocation was prorogued and continued to Friday, January the 22d: when the diligent Archbishop was pre

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sent again with the rest of the Bishops. And so he was CHAP. with them constantly every session after, for some time, viz. Jan. 25. 27. and 29. consulting with his brethren commonly Anno 1562. for three hours together before they brake up, upon the articles of doctrine, and matters to be reformed. On which 29th day they subscribed their names unanimously, to certain articles of orthodox faith, viz. the Thirty-nine Articles, and sent them down to the Lower House to be subscribed there. In this session also the most reverend, with the consent of his brethren, chose these Bishops following, viz. of London, Winchester, Lincoln, and Hereford, to devise certain heads for a discipline in the Church, the doctrine of it being now so well despatched.

He was present also in the session February the 3d, con- 123 sulting then with the rest of the Upper House in secret communication for about three hours. After which he committed his place to some of the Bishops. Because by this time, as it seems, they were come to a resolution concerning discipline, and matters that required reformation. But after three sessions, in the session Febr. the 13th, being Saturday, the Archbishop appeared again; the reason whereof was for the forwarding a subsidy to be raised by the Clergy as he was present the next session, Febr. the 15th, upon the same business: and likewise Febr. 22. when it was despatched and finished.

And though the most reverend Father was present divers times after, (for the knowledge of which, recourse may be had to the journal of this Convocation,) yet I shall mention only one of his comings more, which was on Friday the 19th of February, having then a weighty business to offer to the consideration of the Lower House; which declared his patriarchal care for the state of the poor Clergy, to stop (if possible) some severe counsels of laying heavier burdens upon them. For having now at this session The Archbishop desent for the Prolocutor; and he with six others of the said livers artiHouse appearing, the Archbishop gave him certain articles cles to the in writing; and bade them all diligently to inquire into the contents thereof: and whatsoever they should find, to re

Prolocutor,

BOOK duce into writing, and deliver and exhibit to him. The Articles were these:

Anno 1562.

The Arti

cles.

Conference

the Archbi

"First, Whether yf the writt De melius inquirendo be "sent forth, the likelyhod be, that yt will turne to the "Quenes commoditie.

"Item, Whether sum benefices ratable be not les then "they be alredie valued.

"Item, To enquire of the manner of dilapidations, and "other spoliations, that they can remembre to have passed upon theyr lyvinges; and by whom.

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"Item, How they have bene used for the levying of arrearages of tenths and subsidies: and for how many years past.

“Item, How many benefyces they fynd that are charged "with pensions of religious persons.

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"Item, To certify how many benefyces are vacant in every dyocese."

These inquiries, I make no doubt, were framed by the Archbishop, that the answers to them from the Clergy throughout the nation (which the Lower House represented) might declare their poverty and miserable harassed condition. Which, being offered and better known to the Court, might facilitate compassion to be shewn them, and prevent more rigours designed against them. But I do not find any answers brought in from the Lower House to this paper.

This Synod, after thirty-six sessions, by virtue of the Queen's writ to the Archbishop, was, on the 14th of April 1563, prorogued and continued to the third day of October ensuing, by Dr. Yale, commissioned thereto by the said most reverend Father.

The Synod being thus broke up, and the Bishops and inbetween ferior Clergy, the members thereof, departed and gone shop and home, our Archbishop and Secretary Cecil, in an evening Secretary concerning soon after, had a serious conference between themselves concerning the Bishops, their tempers, dispositions, discretions, abilities, qualifications, and fitness for their office. The Archbishop found many of them, by the late experi

the Bi

shops.

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ence he had of them in the Synod, to have had their frailties: CHAP. which chiefly consisted in their not proceeding with that prudent moderation with regard to Papists, as he reckoned Anno 1562. convenient which he still pressed upon them, as he wrote in a private letter to the Secretary about this time. The Queen on the other hand, as he proceeded to tell the Secretary, thought him too soft and easy. And indeed towards the Popish sort he acknowledged he carried himself affably, sparing punishment. Yet towards the wilful of them severe enough.

for assuring

But now happened another occasion for our Archbishop The statute to shew his wisdom and moderation. In this fifth year of the Queen's the Queen, Jan. 12. her second Parliament began to sit. power. Wherein an act was made for the assurance of the Queen's power over all estates. The chief intent was to fortify the Queen's power ecclesiastical, in her own dominions, against 124 the Papal pretences. By virtue of this act all people whatsoever, ecclesiastical as well as lay, that took any preferment upon them, whether in the Inns of Court, or University, or in the Church, were bound to take the oath framed in the Queen's first Parliament in the first year of her government. Which ran to this tenor:

“I A. B. do utterly testify and declare in my conscience, The oath of "that the Queen's Highness is the only supreme governor supremacy. "of this realm, and of all other her Highness' dominions "and countries, as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical "things or cases, as temporal; and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have,

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any jurisdiction, power, superiority, preeminence, or authority ecclesiastical or temporal within this realm. And "therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign "jurisdiction, powers, superiorities, and authorities; and do profess, that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true

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allegiance to the Queen's Highness, her heirs and lawful successors; and to my power shall assist and defend all "jurisdictions, privileges, preeminences, and authorities, granted or belonging unto the Queen's Highness, her "heirs and successors, or united or annexed to the imperial