XII. therefore it is the less wonder, that this mild and patient CHAP. man was some years after provoked (observing also their unquiet dispositions) to express himself somewhat severely Anno 1567. against them: which we shall have occasion to speak more at large of under the year 1569. But here fell in a matter of another nature, which I shall now proceed to declare. intercedes to be sent land. The Archbishopric of Armagh in Ireland, the chief and 120 highest spiritual dignity in that kingdom, was now void. The Bishop Upon the sending of a fit man to fill that see, the wellfor a good being of religion there did mainly consist. Great friends Archbishop and interest were made by some, to obtain this high spiri- into Iretual dignity. Among the rest was Mr. Dorril, one, I think, of the Prebendaries of Canterbury, but corrupt in religion; though otherwise outwardly complying. He had been once complained of before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. A certain Irish scholar, but a hearty friend to religion, and zealous towards his country, dreading Dorril's coming into Ireland in the quality of Primate there, applied himself to our Bishop to put a stay, if possible, to it: who forthwith writes a letter to the Secretary, and makes this Irishman the bearer. Therein he shewed the Secretary, that the bringer had made suit to him against the foresaid man, and that it was his opinion he would hinder the course of religion in that country. And the Bishop added, that he was himself of the same opinion, Dorril having been a person that had heretofore been convented before him, and other Ecclesiastical Commissioners, for sundry misdemeanors. And that PaperOffice. therefore he knew him to be an unfit man for so high an office and prayed the Secretary to talk a little with the bringer, and to hear him. The Bishop proceeded to give his advice in this spiritual matter; viz. that he, the Secretary, would be a means, that some learned man of grave and godly disposition might be placed there; who, by doctrine and good example, might win people to Christ. He recommended one person as well qualified, whom he had once before recommended; namely, Dr. Spenser, Parson of Hadly. But that if it pleased the Queen, the Archbishop might be sent to, to bill three or four grave men, out of N 1. BOOK which she might take her choice. Adding withal this seasonable caution, that the men that sued for bishoprics, Anno 1567. did in that declare themselves unmeet for the room. And so referred the whole matter to his further consideration. This letter was dated Nov. the 19th. None to preach with It was shewn before how some Ministers, who, for their out licence, refusal of conformity, were not permitted any longer to preach or officiate publicly, did notwithstanding take the liberty to do both, and that in private assemblies; whereby a breach was made in Christian Communion. For the better preventing of this, it was thought fit to permit none to preach in London, without licences taken forth from the Archbishop of Canterbury, or Bishop of London. And all the Ministers in the city, who had benefices therein, were enjoined by letters from the Bishop, not to suffer any unlicensed preachers to come into their pulpits. But what the full import and meaning of these letters were, may be seen by that which one Earl, Minister of St. Mildred's in Breadstreet, (who it seems often suffered these unlicensed men to preach,) received from the Bishop. Which was as follows: The Bishop's 's letter to that intent. MSS. Jo 66 "Whereas we understand that divers disordered persons, "not regarding their due obedience to the Queen's Majesty "and her laws, have heretofore, and yet do presume to preach in the city of London, not being thereunto liEpisc. Eli-❝censed, neither by the most Reverend Father in God, "Matthew Archbishop of Canterbury, nor me, the Bishop 121" of London: notwithstanding also, that divers of the said han. D. en. 66 unruly preachers have been by us, the Queen's Majesty's "Commissioners for causes ecclesiastical, expressly com"manded in her Highness's name, to forbear the office of "preaching, until such time as they were thereunto licensed 66 by ordinary authority: forasmuch as this contemptuous "and licentious behaviour tendeth to a very evil example, "and also may breed division and tumults among her Highness's subjects; which appeareth to be specially sought by these disobedient persons: 66 XII. "We have therefore thought good by these presents, in CHAP. "her Majesty's name, straitly to charge and command you, "that from henceforth ye permit not any person to preach Anno 1567. "in your church, but such as shall have licence in writing "from the said most Reverend Father, or me, the Bishop "of London: and the same licence to be dated upon or "since the first day of March, 1564. as you and every of you will answer to the contrary. And that forthwith, upon the receipt hereof, you cause a vestry to be had in "the church, and then and there to give knowledge there"of among the rest of the parishioners. So as from time "to time, at any alteration of churchwardens, they may "have knowledge thereof; and the like charge given unto “them. And hereof fail ye not. Given the 10th day of "January. Your Friends, 66 Some Puritan Ministers go into Scotland. Inquiry after strangers affected with heresies or other crimes. The Bishop's advice therein. Stow's study searched for Popish books. The Bishop's concern with Corranus the Spanish Preacher. The case of Geneva. Propositions set forth by the Dutch Church, London. Colleges in Oxford popishly affected. The Bishop interposes for the strangers. Ministers By means of the Queen's Commissioners and the Secre- Anno 1568. tary, the Puritans, that would not be brought to any con- Puritan formity here in England, had been encouraged to go and repair to preach the Gospel in Scotland; sending with them, as it Scotland to seems, letters commendatory to the ruling men there. They went, but they were not long there. They liked not that preach. home again. The Bi shop's thoughts thereof. BOOK northern climate, but in May returned again: and being I. come home, they fell to holding their private assemblies, Anno 1568. and to pursue their former practices. This Bishop Grindal But come disliked of, and thought it advisable (and prayed the Se122 cretary to consider of it) to have them summoned before the Council again, to know their meaning, as they had been formerly. One of these was called Evans, (thought to be of more simplicity than the rest,) who reported that at Dunbar, on Good-Friday, he saw men going to the church barefoooted and barelegged, and creeping to the cross; making that an argument for their coming back, which indeed should rather have persuaded them to stay; viz. that by their better instruction of them, they might bring them off from those superstitions. But this occasioned these words of our Bishop to a friend of his; "If it be so, the Church "of Scotland will not be pure enough for our men." Adding, that they were a wilful company, praying God to grant them humble spirits. The Bishop makes Another part of our Bishop's labour was to guard the search for peace of the Church and the truth of religion from fostrangers, reigners, (as well as homeborn,) who infected with AnabapAnabaptists. tistical and other odd opinions, (besides others guilty of great crimes,) had in considerable numbers, from time to time, conveyed themselves into England from other parts, out of a pretence of a liberty of professing the Gospel, and had their secret conventicles here: by which means many English people, in London especially, had been corrupted in their principles. The Bishop therefore got divers searches to be made, by order from above, for strangers of this leaven. And for the better effecting this, he drew up Articles of Inquiry into the reasons of their coming into England, and concerning their opinions. There were so many of these strangers in London, even upon the first coming of the Queen to the crown, that in her second year she was fain to issue out a proclamation for the discovery of them, and a command to transport themselves out of her dominions; or else to expect to be proceeded against according to laws ecclesiastical, or others. And again, some years after, 19164 See XIII. another search for strangers was made; and this year, 1568, CHAP. a third: and this Grindal put Sir William Cecil upon. And to direct him how to proceed, he sent him the Articles Anno 1568. of Inquiry used in the former search for strangers, and a proclamation set forth in the second year of her Majesty's reign; which might minister occasion of matters to be thought upon at present: and by these he shewed the Secretary, that this was a thing that heretofore, and that from time to time, had been regarded. mation a gainst The proclamation ran to this tenor: "The Queen's Ma- The procla"jesty understanding that of late time sundry persons, being "infected with certayn dangerous and pernicious opinions, them; " in matters of religion, contrary to the fayth of the Church "of Chryst, as Anabaptists, and such lyke, are come from "sundry parts beyond the seas into this her realme, and speciallye into the citie of London, and other maritime "townes, under the colour and pretence of flying from per"secution against the professors of the Gospel of Chryst: 66 66 whereby if remedy be not speedily provided, the Church "of God in this realme shall susteyne great daunger of "corruption, and sects to encrease contrary to the unitie of "Chryst's Church here established. "For redresse whereof, her Majestie, by advice of her 123 "Counsayle, having commanded the Archbishop of Can 66 66 66 terbury, Byshop of London, and other Byshops to see "the parishes in London, and other places herewith suspected, to be severely visited, and all persons suspected "to be openly tried and examined, touching such phanati"cal and heretical opinions; willeth and chargeth all man"ner of persons born eyther in forreigne parts, or in her Majesties dominions, that have conceaved any manner of "such heretical opinion as the Anabaptists do hold, and "meaneth not by charitable teaching to be reconciled, to "depart out of this realme within twenty days after this "proclamation, upon payne of forfeiture of all their goods "and cattelles, and to be imprisoned, and further punyshed, as by the laws eyther ecclesiastical or temporal in such "case is provided. 66 |