Life of Matthew Parker (Strype, 1821)/Book II/Chapter III
This is the enhanced reading edition of Book II, Chapter III, prepared according to the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. It adds descriptive section headings, English translations of Latin passages (with the original preserved), verified internal links, and editorial notes clearly distinguished from Strype's text. Strype's wording, historical spelling, and substance are preserved.
Divers dioceses visited. Some difference between the Archbishop and Bishop Sandys. The Archbishop makes statutes. Lands of the see of Canterbury exchanged. Regulates his courts, and other matters in his church. Moves the Queen to marry. The Archbishop in ecclesiastical commission; makes a reformation of divers matters in the Church. Alteration of the Lessons in the Calendar. Book of Homilies. Bucer and Fagius restored. The Queen dines at Lambeth.
Commissions for Visitation
OUR Archbishop, pursuant to this his metropolitical visitation, gave out divers commissions this year, and appointed divers commissioners for other dioceses. As namely;
An Oath and Subscription Enjoined
A commission, dated August the 8th, to Robert Weston, LL.D. to visit the city and diocese of Coventry and Litchfield, vice et authoritate reverendissimi Patris Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis ("by the authority of the most reverend Father the Archbishop of Canterbury, as his vicegerent"). A commission of the date above, to Thomas Bishop of St. David's, to visit the cathedral church, city, and diocese of St. David's, vice et authoritate reverendissimi Patris, &c. A commission of the date above, to Richard Bishop of St. Asaph, to visit the diocese of St. Asaph, vice et authoritate, &c. A commission to Roland Bishop of Bangor, of the date above, to visit that diocese, vice et authoritate, &c. A commission to Gilbert Bishop of Bath and Wells, of the date above, to visit that diocese, vice et authoritate, &c. A commission to John Bishop of Sarum, dated September 8, to visit the cities and dioceses of Sarum and Bristol, jure metropolitico ("by metropolitical right"). A commission to Thomas Powel, LL.D. dated December 3, to visit the city and diocese of Gloucester. A commission, dated November 9, to John Cottrel, LL.D. to visit the cathedral church of Sarum. The visitation of this cathedral the Archbishop prudently declined to commit to the Bishop of the said diocese, that all occasion of contest between the Bishop and the Dean and Chapter might be avoided. Because the Archbishop was informed, that if the Bishop of Sarum should visit that church, the rites, liberties, privileges, and immunities of the said church by such visitation, though in the Archbishop's name, might be hurt, by reason of the example of it: therefore, because he was tender of doing any prejudice to their pretended liberties and privileges, and to keep all fair between the Bishop and them, he issued his commission to this Dr. Cottrel to be visitor of that cathedral. A commission to Yale and Leeds, bearing date December 19, to visit the church, city, and diocese of Peterborough. To which two commissioners, Gunton, in his History of Peterborough, addeth John Pory, D.D. This visitation was held January the 9th, when they gave injunctions and ordinations, in number nine, to the Dean and Chapter, published in the chapter-house. Another commission, dated February 19, to William Bynsley, Bachelor of Law, and Anthony Burton, Clerk, ad reformandum detecta ("for reforming things detected"); that is, to punish, censure, and correct what crimes had been detected in the diocese of Peterborough, in the late visitation of it. In this visitation the Archbishop drew up two forms to be made use of: the one was an oath to be exhibited to the enjoined the Clergy, and to such as were to make presentments; the Clergy. other, a subscription to be made by all such as had any ecclesiastical preferments; which consisted in a declaration of the Queen's supremacy, owning the Book of Common Prayer, and the Queen's injunctions. The oath ran in this tenor: "You shall swear that you shall be faithful and obedient unto the Queen's Majesty,› "her heirs and successors, to the uttermost of your power, " understanding, and learning. You shall maintain and " set forth all statutes and laws, and the religion received by her Grace, or her heirs or successors, and the injunctions at this present time exhibited by her Grace, her " officers and commissioners: and that you shall make true presentment of all such things as are to be presented in "this visitation. So help you God, and by the contents of " the book." The subscription was thus: "We acknowledge and confess the restoring again of the ancient jurisdiction over "the state ecclesiastical and spiritual of this realm of Eng" land, to the crown of this realm; the abolishing of all foreign power repugnant to the same, according to an " act thereof made in the late Parliament begun at West" minster the 23d day of January, in the first year of the " reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, and there " continued and kept to the 8th of May next ensuing; the "administration of the Sacraments, the use and order of "divine service, in manner and form as it is set forth in the " book commonly called, The Book of Common Prayer, &c.
" established by the same; and the order and rules conII. " tained in the injunctions given by the Queen's Majesty, " and exhibited unto us in this present visitation; to be " according to the true word of God, and agreeable to the " doctrine and use of the primitive and apostolic Church. " In witness of the premises to be true, we have unfeign" edly hereunto subscribed our names. " The original of this, with the numerous subscriptions of the Clergy in divers parchment rolls, remain yet in the Lambeth library. And Dr. Cottrel. the first subscriber was Dr. Cottrel, who thus subscribed; Ego Joannes Cottrel volens subscripsi ("I, John Cottrel, have willingly subscribed"): according to which form the rest followed. He was Doctor of Laws, Archdeacon of Derby, and one of the members of the famous Synod anno 1562, and of whom the Archbishop made much use afterwards. Among some of the first subscribers was Henry Syddal, a thorough-paced man, who being a Canon dal. of Christ's Church, Oxon, had complied in the beginning of King Edward's reign, and was a great zealot the other way under Queen Mary, and one of those that were much about Archbishop Cranmer at Oxford, when he was induced to recant. His subscription I find again as Vicar of Walthamstow in Essex. And many such temporizing Priests there were among these subscribers; some whereof got others to subscribe for them, eorum vice et nomine ("in their stead and name"). And some of the volens are so written, as if they were nolens rather. (volens, "willing"; nolens, "unwilling".) Some also there were that chose in their subscriptions to signify their good-will to the reformed religion. Such was one Edward Walker, at Woodstock, who subscribed in these words; Ego Edwardus Walker, hic nomen meum volens et non coactus subscribo, veram in sacra Dei religione a superis reformationem implorans ("I, Edward Walker, here willingly and uncoerced subscribe my name, imploring from above a true reformation in the holy religion of God"). This metropolitical visitation thus begun this year, continued on the next year, and the next to that, as we shall see when we come so far. I do not find as yet what was detected in these dioceses abovesaid in this visitation: nor if I had, would it be convenient here to set all down, for the avoiding prolixity. But for a taste; the Bishop of Bath and Wells had many
Popish Priests in Bath and Wells
a stiff Papist in his diocese, and many others that being incumbents of livings went abroad, absenting themselves, and left proxies to take their benefices for their advantage. Whereupon the Archbishop gave him this instruction, at Popish Priests in his going upon this visitation: namely, to deprive all Popish the diocese of Bath and Priests that refused conformity, or were absent, with what Wells. speed he might, and to put others in their rooms. So in his visitation he intended to proceed to deprive them in eighteen days, if they appeared not. Some of these Priests went over the seas. One particularly went with Count * De * Perhaps De Feria. Verio, a Spaniard. These left proxies in their livings, and they made leases of them for one and twenty years. And one of these proxies boldly told the Bishop, that unless he would give him institution, he would wage law against him. So the Archbishop bade him proceed roundly with them: whose order I suppose he followed in his visitation. Sandys also, Bishop of Worcester, visited his diocese for the Archbishop. And his method in his visiting, was to Bishop of Worcester send process in writing for the appearances of the respective visits that Parsons, Vicars, or Curates of the parishes; the churchdiocese. wardens, and six others of each parish, to be sworn to make true presentments upon articles of inquiry. Among other things informed of in Worcester, in the parish where Sir John Bourn (late Secretary to Queen Mary) lived, information was made by these sworn men, of an altar stone standing in that church. Which the Bishop commanded to be pulled down and defaced, according to the Queen's injunctions. But the said Knight commanded the contrary, and that it should not be broken and defaced, but reserved; and in contempt of the Bishop, caused it to be borne out of the church, and carried home to his own house, and there it remained. Thus it was informed the Bishop, and the Bishop had, in some difference afterwards between them, so informed the Queen's Council. But Sir John Bourn in his answer made this favourable pretence for himself; that the altar stone was taken down a year before the Bishop came to the church, and that it was reserved and laid aside towards the pavement of one of the aisles; nor was ever brought to his house, nor carried out of the church. There were also in this visitation of the city of Worcester five or six Priests of that city present- ed, for keeping of five or six whores apiece. Which was so notoriously scandalous, that the said Bishop in a sermon at * the cathedral a few days after spake of it: and took occasion thence to shew, how necessary it was to allow Priests marriage. Difference After each visitation was despatched, the respective Bishops, between the Archbishop or others the Archbishop's Commissioners appointed to visit, and Bishop sent him their accounts thereof. And so did the said Bishop Sandys. of Worcester, by a letter which his Chancellor, then at London, delivered. This Bishop soon after visited again, as Ordinary: which gave the Archbishop some disgust. In this his visitation, (which was anno 1561,) he deprived two persons; which, as savouring of too much rigour, the Archbishop disliked, and surmised that he had covetous ends thereby, as in a letter which he sent to the said Bishop he hinted: and therein spake of Germanical natures, as though Germanical natures. that Bishop, who had been an exile in Germany, with divers others now Bishops, had sucked in some principles of Germany, more than were good; as that of pride for one. But Bishop Sandys replied bluntly to that point, as touching somewhat close the Archbishop himself; viz. that Germany had brought forth as good natures as England: and that there were some of them that had been exiles there, that were neither big-hearted nor proud-minded. The Archbishop told him moreover, " That he knew whence Canter" bury was disliked; [as though the dislike that some con" ceived against him arose from some of the exiles and " their principles. ] He suspected, that Bishop Sandys had " sent his own letter to Grindal, Bishop of London, another " exile, to be overlooked by him, before he sent it to the " Archbishop. The Archbishop spake in his letter of some, " [as though he meant Bishop Sandys, ] that were such as " could not bear vulnera amantis ("wounds of a lover"). And he blamed him for visiting so soon, before he was scarce warm in his seat; " as though he had thereby sought chiefly his own commo46 dity." To which the Bishop thus replied in his own vindication; “ That it was with the Archbishop's consent; that " it was orderly, according to laws and injunctions; that he " redressed disorders, and punished sin; that after he had done, instead of being a gainer, he was 24l. out of purse." The Archbishop, making some further reflection upon him, said; " Some men did some things to win a favour against " another day, and bade him live, and leave off talking." To which Sandys replied, " That he had the testimony of his " conscience; that his chief study was, that his life hindered " not his preaching; and he trusted his adversaries could " not be so impudent as to open their mouths against him." The Archbishop still further threw in some words about the going of the Clergy, as though their habit was not as Churchmen's ought to be. To which Sandys said, " how it was with others he could not tell; his own Clergy's was soberly and decently, so as they offended none of the " Queen's injunctions." The Archbishop called in question some of his Clergy's preachings. He said, " That his preach66 ing and theirs was to win and edify, not to command. " And that as to himself, his people heard him and believed him, and universally favoured him: which was his chief " comfort." And then for his housekeeping, he said, “ That for the " better utterance of his food for the soul, he was fain large66 ly to feed the body; because that without loaves, people " did not use to follow the word. That he spent all, and more. And that were it not God's cause, he would soon be " at a point, [meaning, to be no longer a Bishop. ] In short, " he prayed the Archbishop not to mislike or cut off a " hearty well-wisher without cause, but to continue his good " lord and friend, as he was wont. That for his part he had " ever borne a great love to him, and that he had spoken " much for him. That he was his, and that most unfeignedly. " And that though he, the Archbishop, had put him to << sore pinches, and danger of too heavy displeasure, [mean" ing of the Queen's, ] yet he could never be persuaded his good-will was alienated from him. And that if he had " been earnest in matters of conscience, he trusted his Grace
" would not mislike him. That when God's cause came in " hand, he forgat what displeasure might follow. In all “ other things he could ever have been guided by the Arch66 bishop." This letter of Bishop Sandys to Archbishop Parker was writ in October; and the whole, whereof this is Number the sum, deserves to be recorded. Thus did differences arise among these grave Fathers, of the same mind and judgment as to the main points of religion.
And though they
Statutes for Christ Church, Oxford
did expostulate and argue with one another, yet it was done with all Christian meekness and condescension, not to the breach of love and union. To which we will here add the Archbishop's concern with the college of Christ's Church, Oxon. For this year Sir For this year Sir William Petre, one of the Queen's Secretaries, sent a commission to our Archbishop and others, for the considering of for the considering of the statutes of that college. Another of these Commissioners Another of these Commissioners was Cox, Bishop of Ely, who, the Secretary said, understood well this matter: for indeed he had been divers years Dean of this college, and at the same time Chancellor of that University. And Petre added, that he understood this work was necessary, and a good deed. About this the Archbishop took great pains, and drew that college a body of statutes, as we may hear afterwards.
Statutes for Westminster
Such a work was Dr. Bill, the Queen's Almoner, now upon for Westminster church, when she had founded that monastery anew, and changed it into a collegiate church: of which she appointed him the first Dean. For which that learned man drew out statutes and rules the first year of the said erection, viz. 1560.
Which were to be seen many years
after writ by his own hand. Among the which, there is one special statute for the good estate of the revenues: which was, that as the farms of the rectories, and all the commodities unto them belonging, grew void, and the term ended, the Dean and Chapter should let and demise them for not above the space and term of ten years, under the pain of perjury, and the loss of their places for ever. And another statute in the end of the chapter, that no revention, as they call it, of any possession of whatsoever sort, should be granted or allowed,
Exchange of Lands with the Queen
but two years, or at furthest three years, before the expiration expressed in the indentures, under pain of perjury. In this third of the Queen, July 12, the Queen made an exchange of lands with the Archbishop, whatever his will An exchange was thereunto; when she had several good manors made over with the to her, that had belonged to the see: and she in recompense Queen. gave other things to the Archbishop: the chief whereof were the tenths of the diocese of Canterbury.
The rest of what
then came to the archbishopric from the Queen is set down in a MS. belonging to the library of Christ's Church, Can-MS. Eccles. Christ. terbury. Cant. I will set down here a list of the lands situate in Kent, 80
and their values, which once belonged to this archbishopric, but come now into the Crown; some made over in exchange by this Archbishop, and some by his predecessors, Cranmer especially: as I transcribe them out of an authentic MS. Lands, Rents, &c. Marsh lands, called Sherlemoor Court at Wyke - } 76 Certain marsh lands
Woods called Beech Site of the manor of Westwel 22 - 10 The park there
-
0 13 Certain lands there Rent of assize and moveables
Rent of assize
-
·
A mill there
Values per Ann. Lands beto 23 0 0 longing the archbishopric, now in the 91 0 0 Crown. MSS. Burghlian. · 184 0 0
68 14
there
The manor of Temple Waltham Site of the manor of Hort on 20 0 4 5 The farm there Rent of assize Site ofthe manor of Padlesworth
-
The farm there Rent of assize and moveables
there
-
4ob.. · -
38 13
1 10 0
6 16
8ob.
Lands Rents, &c. The manor of Tynton The manor of Blakehose, alias Cannow Court, viz. 66 8 The site of the manor
Values per Ann. 42 6 8
0 16 8
Divers farms Rent of assize there -
Site of the manor of Enbroke 9 Rent of assize
6 8 0 11
The manor of West Langdon. Divers lands there Farm and rent there Farm called Appleton lands Site of the manor of Riple Rent of assize
20 0 7 6 -
Sob. -
37 17
25 18 58 11
18 15
-
The farm called St. Radigunds
16 12
}
Site of the manor of Northborn Divers farms there Rent of assize there Site and divers lands of the manor of Down Barton
Rent of assize there
Manor of Wingham Barton Rectory of Goodneston Manor of Wingham
A mill with the appertenances
24 13 4 6
Divers parcels of divers - 23 lands there - 140 Rent of assize there -
4 13
9ob. S
Site of the manor of Tenham
Certain lands and great orchards there
·
49 19
Rent of assize there
192 16
108 12
Site ofthe manor of Petham Rent of assize there ·
Divers farms
Lands, Rents, &c. Values per Ann. A certain wood called Okenfoldwood and · 4 4 0 ' King's Acre The manor of Milton (which was parcel of ❤ 120 6 the old inheritance of the Crown) Woods called Chest on Woods 16 18
Site of the manor of Gillingham Certain
wood - lands
and
woods there Farms Rent of assize
10 13
-
·
1 16 18 1
- 100
From the manor of Grange there
The manor with the abbey of Malling
Regulating the Courts of Arches and Audience
Our Archbishop now took some order with his Courts of the Arches and the Audience.
Which began about this
time to be complained of by the Bishops of the dioceses; who, in the execution of their office in discipline and correction of evil manners, were commonly stopped by inhibitions obtained from those courts of the Archbishop, and enjoined by the officers thereof to bring matters from them into those their courts. Which when they had done by appeals, upon pretence of injuries done to the parties appealing, they used to dismiss the matter, and proceed no further, having obtained their purpose; which was, to stop the proceeding of the Bishops. Whereupon his Grace, hearing these inhibitions thus complained of, forthwith issued out his letters dated Nov. 20. to Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and Judge of his Court of Audience; and to Dr. West on, Dean of his Arches, for the preventing of this mischief. in this tenor:
That to Dr. Yale ran
" I commend me unto you. And being informed that divers " malicious persons, abusing as well their Bishops and their " officers, as other their Ordinaries, do surmise untrue griefs " and injuries to be done to them by their Bishops and other " Ordinaries; and thereupon do appeal and get from you
The Faculties and Marriage Licences
" inhibitions and citations, to the great vexation and trouble 11. " both of their Ordinaries, and also of their neighbours, the “ Queen's Majesty's poor subjects: and especially in cases of " correction and reformation of their evil lives and manners: " for the redress whereof, we will and charge you, that upon your acceptation of any appeal, you cause an act to be " made of it in the records of your courts, specifying all " circumstances thereof; and withal, you take a corporal " oath of all such Proctors as shall exhibit the same, that as " far as he doth know or believe, the grief or cause pretend" ed is true and just'; causing also the same Proctor to exhibit " his proxy, and to make himself party to prosecute the same " cause, as well as to appeal. So as if the party be cited, " and do appeal at day and place appointed, that forth" with he be dismissed with such charges as the law in that " case doth bear, unless the party appealing do then pre" sently prosecute the appeal with effect. And that in every " one of your inhibitions you do appoint a reasonable day " certain to the party appealing, to prosecute his appeal. " Which if he then do not effectually, you to remit the cause " again to the first court with charges reasonable; cutting " off all matters frivolous and frustratory delays, and finish" ing all causes with such expedition, as in any wise the laws " will suffer any style or usage in any of your courts used "to the contrary notwithstanding. And if these notes prac" tised shall seem sufficient remedies for the said abuses after " a trial, I would have you to frame the effect thereof in " form oflaw to me, to be authorized for a perpetual rule to " be observed in your courts. And thus fare you well. " From my manor of Lambeth, 20. Nov. 1560. " To Mr. Dr. Yale, my Chancellor, and Judge " of my Court of Audience." A letter of the like tenor and date was sent to Dr. West on, Dean of the Arches. A difference A difference being now arisen between the Vicar General between the and Master of the Faculties, about licences to marry in times Vicar General and Masprohibited, was determined by his Grace. The case was, ter of the
that Dr. Yale, the Archbishop's Chancellor and Vicar General, granted licences to marry in times prohibited, which the Master ofthe Faculties complained of to the Archbishop; asserting, that the Archbishop could not do this as Arch-Faculties, decided by bishop, but that it belonged to the Court of the Faculties the Archbishop. only. But it was proved that this information was false; and instances were shewn of the three former Archbishops that granted such licences. Whereupon the Archbishop caused this memorandum to be made, and entered into his register, to stand upon record. " Memorandum. That the 29th day of November, anno His memorandum " Dom. 1560, information was given to the most reverend thereof. " Father in God Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, by Park. Regist. " William Cook, the Queen's Majesty's Clerk of the Faculties, " and William Lark, Clerk of the Faculties to the most
" reverend father; that Mr. Dr. Yale, Chancellor to the " said Archbishop, did, by the authority of the same Arch66 bishop, grant licences to marry in the time by the law pro" hibited; which as the said Cook and Lark affirmed, the said Archbishop could not grant as Archbishop of Canter" bury; but that the same appertained only to the office of " the Faculty. Whereupon the Archbishop the day and year " abovesaid called before him, at his manor of Lambeth, the “ said Dr. Yale, his Chancellor, and John In cent, his princi66 pal Register. Where and when, in the presence of the " said Cook and Lark, records were shewed by the said Dr. " Yale and John In cent, that the predecessors of the said " Archbishop, viz. Warham, Cranmer, and Cardinal Pole, " late Archbishops of Canterbury, had from time to time " granted licences to marry in the time prohibited. 66 Upon the sight whereof, the said Cook and Lark had " nothing to say or allege for themselves.
Whereupon it
" was for that time permitted by the said Archbishop, that " the Chancellor for the time being might and should here" after grant licences for marriage in the time prohibited, by "the Archbishop's archiepiscopal authority as before; until " the said Cook and Lark can shew further matter to the " contrary."
The Archbishop Moves the Queen to Marry
The Queen having now settled the true religion in her kingdom, the hearts of all good men were exceedingly at ease. But still they were very solicitous for fear of a Popish succes The Archbishop and sor, the religion depending so much upon the Queen's single other Bilife which consideration moved the Parliament the last year shops incite the Queen to urge her to marry. The Bishops were of the same mind. to marry. And therefore those of them that were of the greatest authority with her, namely, our Archbishop, and the Bishops of London and Ely, did privately make an humble address to her: wherein they extolled her for establishing of the true religion; imploring God's blessing to fall on her, to enable her to proceed in her godly enterprise as she had begun, and that she might proceed therein with constancy. They promised for themselves to endeavour, that this Christian liberty which her subjects enjoyed, might not be turned into carnal liberty. And then they prayed God, that they might see that happy day of her wedlock, whereby the Queen's establishment and the people's assurance would be so fully concluded: and added, that they advised her hereunto as Christ's Ministers; it being a cause incident to their ministry, to regard the safety of the realm by her succession in blood, as well as sincere doctrine and unity.
This letter came
the more seasonable, the Queen being at this present sought to by so many noble suitors. For she was courted almost at the same time by Charles, Duke of Austria; James, Earl of Arran; Erick, King of Sweden; Adolph, Duke of Holstein; Sir William Pickering, a brave, wise, comely English gentleman; the Earl of A rundel, of very ancient nobility; and the Lord Robert Dudley, the late Duke of Northumberland's son, and the Queen's especial favourite. But the Queen was averse from the motion, and cared not to take an husband, which might be some abatement of her power and authority. But the foresaid letter well deserves to be preserved, being composed by the Archbishop's head and hand. It may be Num. XIV. read in the Appendix. The Queen's The Archbishop, sitting with the rest of the ecclesiastical orders for Commission, which was now on foot, found some chapters
of the Common of several things in appointed to be read in the ordinary course the Church.
Prayer, to be less profitable for vulgar auditors; and therefore thought fit they should be changed for others tending more to edification. He found also great neglect in many churches, and especially chancels, in keeping them decent. Which betrayed much want of reverence towards the places where God was served. Many of the churches also were sadly out of repair, and ran into decay, and were kept slovenly, with unseemly communion tables, and foul cloths for the communion, and want of ornaments for the place of prayer. Now for the amendment of these disorders and inconveniences, the Archbishop procured letters under the Queen's Great Seal, dated Jan. 22. to the Commissioners for their greater authority; and particularly to himself, with the Bishop of London, Dr. Bill, the Queen's Almoner, and Dr. Haddon, or any two of them, for the redressing and correcting of these matters; viz. to peruse the Order of the Lessons throughout the whole year, and to cause new calendars to be printed, and to take some remedies about decays of churches, and the unseemly keeping of chancels, and for the comely adorning of the east parts of the churches, and that the Tables of the Commandments be set or hung up at the east end of the chancels; and to prescribe some good order for collegiate churches, in the use of the Latin service, that the Queen's allowance thereof might not be abused: and that their order and reformation of these things should be of one sort and fashion, that, as near as might be, one form and manner might be observed everywhere. A commandment was added to the Archbishop, to see these things so ordered, to be put in execution through his province; and he, with the Commissioners, were to prescribe the same to the Archbishop of York; and finally, to do all quietly, without any shew of innovation. A draught of this letter was written by the Archbishop's Secretary, as I meet with it among his papers: which makes me conclude it ofthe Archbishop's own inditing, and recommended by him to Secretary Cécil, to get it made authentic, and of authority by the Queen's Seal. This her Majesty's letter may be found in the
Appendix, as I meet with Archbishop's it in the Bene't college library; register. and is also recorded in the In pursuance of this order from the Queen, the next
Numb. XV month the Archbishop directed his mandate to the Bishop of The Archbishop's London, to publish the Queen's letters through the province mandate thereupon. of Canterbury, to this tenor: " Mattheus permissione Divina Cant. Archiepiscopus, " venerabili confratri nostro D. Edmundo eadem permissi" one London. Episcopo salutem & fraternam in Domino " charitatem. Cum serenissima Domina, &c. In English " thus; Whereas our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, &c. by her letters mis" sive, dated at Westminster the 22d day of January last past, in the third year of her reign, gave in command" ment to us and your brotherhood, and other her Commis" sioners, deputed and assigned for deciding of ecclesiastical " causes by her royal letters patents, sealed with the Great Seal of England, among other things, that we, for the illustrating of the glory of God, and the honour of the " Church of England, and to take away dissensions and "controversies between her subjects, and to establish con" sent of truth, according to the tenor of a certain statute " set forth in the Parliament of England, holden at West" minster in the first year of the reign of our said Queen; " should conceive and make certain decrees, or ordinances, " corrections, interpretations, or reformations; and firmly " enjoining us, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, as " aforesaid, by her said letters missive commanded, that we " should cause the foresaid decrees, ordinances, corrections, or reformations, to be published in and through our whole " province of Canterbury, and to be commanded to be exe" cuted, as in the said letters missive, (the tenor of which we " were willing should be here enclosed, ) among other things more largely is contained and set down: now we, desiring heartily to obey the letters and commands of our said Lady " and Queen; and willing, according to our duty towards " her Highness, to give all care and diligence to the businesses committed and intrusted to us by her Highness; firmly command your brotherhood in behalf of her Ma"jesty, that with the receipt of these presents, with all the " celerity and mature diligence you can, you publish and " declare the ordinances, corrections, or reformations of the " calendar, together with the Tables of the Commandments " made, conceived, and established by us and other the " Queen's Commissioners, by authority and vigour of the " said letters missive, according to the form of the statute" aforesaid, (the copies whereof imprinted in paper annexed " to these presents we send to you, ) to all and singular our " venerable brethren of our province of Canterbury, Fel" low-Bishops and Suffragans of our Church of Christ in " Canterbury and to them and every of them, on the part " of our Lady the Queen, you firmly command that each of " them in their cathedral churches, and in the parochial " churches of their concerns and dioceses, the ordinances, " reformations of the calendar, and the Tables of the Com" mandments of God aforesaid, be inviolably observed, in " all and by all, according to the prescript of the Queen's " letters, and be accomplished: and that they diligently and " exactly take care thereof with effect; and do not delay to " have them done: and so to be done and observed by you, " dear brother, in your cathedral church, and in London, and through your diocese. Given at our manor of Lambhith "the 15th of February 1560, and the second year of our " consecration." The Bishop of London accordingly sent his letters to the Registr. Grind. Bishop Suffragans, ult. Feb. the said year. Before this reformation of the Lessons, it was recommend-Allowed to
ed to the discretion of the Ministers, to change the chapters Ministers to change the for some others more proper. For so it is in the Admonition Lessons. to the ecclesiastical Ministers set before the Second Book of Homilies, (but I suppose erroneously, belonging rather to the First Book, which was printed this year 1560,) where it is said, “ And where it may, so chance, some one or other " chapter of the Old Testament to fall in order to be read upon the Sundays or holydays, which were better to be
" changed with some other of the New Testament of more " edification, it shall be well done to spend your time to " consider well of such chapters beforehand: whereby your " prudence and diligence in your office may appear. So that " your people may have cause to glorify God for you, and "be the readier to embrace your labours, to your greater " commendation, to the discharge of your consciences and their own." But when the abovementioned Commissioners had altered the Lessons, and made a new calendar, and tables directing the chapters to be read, this liberty was no longer indulged every private Minister. The reform The reformation that was made in the Lessons was ation in the Lessons. this: that whereas in King Edward's First Book there were no peculiar Lessons for the holydays and Sundays of the year, but the chapters of the Old and New Testament were read on in course without any interruption or variation so I have seen it in a Common Prayer Book in folio, printed 1549: and in the second edition of that book under that King, there were Proper Lessons for some holydays, but not for Sundays. Now (as I have observed in a Common Prayer Book in quarto, printed this year 1560. ) there was a table of Proper Lessons thus entitled, Proper Lessons to be read for the First Lesson, both at Morning and Evening Prayer, on the Sundays throughout the Year: and for some also the Second Lessons. And it begins with the Sundays of Advent. On the first whereof is appointed to be read, Esay i. for mattins, and Esay ii. for evensong. There is another table for Proper Lessons on holydays, beginning with St. Andrew. Wherein the first Lesson is Prov. xx. and for evensong Prov. xxi. And yet a third table for Proper Psalms on certain days: which are Christmas-day, Easter-day, Ascension-day, and Whit-sunday. But these Proper Psalms indeed were not now first appointed, having been used ever since the first Common Prayer Book was en-Private prayers printed with the Common Prayer.
joined. At the end of this Common Prayer Book (viz. that in quarto, put forth this year, and printed by Jug and Cawood) were divers very good prayers added for private and family
use: entitled, Certain godly Prayers to be used for sundry Purposes. Which I cannot think otherwise but to be inserted by the order of the Archbishop; and they were the same that were printed in the former Common Prayer Books under King Edward. But in our latter editions of the Common Prayer Book, they are either shortened, or wholly omitted: which, whatever was the reason, to me is great pity, being so proper to be used for various occasions and emergencies. I will but mention what the subject and matter of these prayers were. The first was a general confession of sin, to be said every morning, beginning, " O Almighty God " our heavenly Father, I confess and knowledge," &c. Then followed prayers to be said in the morning, four in number. Besides these, there was a prayer against temptation: a prayer for obtaining of wisdom, Sapien. ix. beginning, " O God of our fathers, and Lord of mercy," &c. This prayer is also set at the beginning of the Bishops' Bible, put forth by Archbishop Parker; who, we may conclude, ordered the setting of that prayer there, as proper to be used before the reading of any portions of the holy Scripture. The next is a prayer against worldly-carefulness: beginning, " O most " dear and tender Father," &c. A prayer necessary for all persons, " O merciful God, I a wretched sinner," &c. A prayer necessary to be said at all times, " O bountiful Jesu," &c. Then there follow certain prayers taken out of the service daily used in the Queen's house. The first whereof beginneth, " Almighty God, the Father of mercies, and God " of all comfort," &c.
These prayers are nine in number.
Then follows a prayer for trust in God, " The beginning of " the fall of man was trust in himself; the beginning of the " restoring man was distrust in himself, and trust in God," &c.
A prayer for concord of Christ's Church.
A prayer
The Book of Homilies Reprinted
against the enemies of Christ's truth. A prayer for patience in trouble. A prayer to be said at night going to bed. A prayer to be said at the hour of death. In this year was the First Book of Homilies first reprinted, Homilies containing twelve sermons, after they had been by the ed. first reprintQueen's order diligently looked over and perused by her
Bucer and Fagius Restored
Divines: and added at the end of the said quarto edition of the Book of Common Prayer. These homilies bore this title, Certain Sermons appointed by the Queen's Majesty to be declared and read by all Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, every Sunday and Holyday in their Churches. And by her Grace's advice, perused and overseen for the better understanding ofthe Simple People. Newly imprinted in Parts according as is mentioned in the Book of Common Prayers. Anno M.D.LX. Bucer and Among other things done this summer by the ecclesiastiFagius reCommission aforesaid, which was appointed for settling cal stored. ofthe Church, and inspecting matters of religion, and correcting of abuses, according to the power the Parliament had lately given the Queen, as having the supremacy of the Church in her own dominions; our Archbishop, Bishop Grindal, and Dr. Haddon, Master of the Requests, among many others, were three in the Commission; who, by virtue of the power committed to them by the Queen, wrote letters to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Andrew Pern, and the rest of the University of Cambridge, to restore Martin Bucer and Paul Fagius, deceased in that University, to their due honour. Whose dead bodies had been in the late reign so inhumanly dealt with by Cardinal Pole's order, as to be digged out of their graves, and publicly burnt in the market-place. The said letters being read in the senate, Dr. Pern being then Vice-Chancellor, it was asked, Placetne vobis, ut gradus et honoris titulus, quæ olim Martino Bucero et P. Fagio publicis hujus Academiæ suffragiis adempta erant, eisdem in integrum restituantur, et omnes actus contra eos aut eorum doctrinam rescindantur: ("Is it your pleasure that the degree and title of honour, which were formerly taken from Martin Bucer and P. Fagius by the public votes of this University, be restored to them in full, and that all acts against them or their doctrine be rescinded?") which they all agreed to. This was done July 22. And the 30th of July Dr. Ackworth, the Public Orator, made an oration publicly in St. Mary's in honour of these two learned men, at an assembly of the University appointed for that purpose. And the oration done, Dr. James Pilkinton, the Public Professor of Divinity, went up the pulpit, and made a sermon upon the cxith Psalm, beginning, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, &c. The entrance and walls of the church were
And an account of this restitution the University on the 3d of August sent up to the Archbishop and the Commissioners; all hung with verses in the praises of these men.
acquainting them with what great joy and triumph and applause it was generally done; and that as soon as their letters were read to the Senate, and the injuries offered to the dead bodies by them mentioned, they were all presently on fire to honour them. About the time this was in doing, the Queen honoured The with dinesQueen the Archbishop with a visit at his palace. For on the 29th the Arch of July she set out on her progress from Greenwich westbishop. ward, and coming to Lambeth she dined with my Lord of Canterbury, together with her Privy Council. And thence took her journey towards Richmond: where she rested five days; and then removed to Oatlands, to Sutton, and other places on that side.
Notes
Editorial Notes
Source: John Strype, The Life and Acts of Matthew Parker, the First Archbishop of Canterbury in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1821), Vol. I. Enhanced reading edition: section headings, Latin translations, verified internal links, and editorial notes added per the AnglicanWiki Editorial Guidelines for Historical Texts. Strype's text faithfully transcribed from the Google Books scan; spelling and substance as in the original.