CLII. Archiepisc. Cant. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ The archbishop of Canterbury's letter to the bishop of London about non-conformists.-Reg. Sheldon fol. 205. RIGHT reverend, and my very good lord. After my hearty commendations, etc. Having heard frequent complaints from many parts of my province, not only of great disorders and disturbances caused by the crafty insinuations and turbulent practices of factious non-con- 5 formist ministers, and other disaffected to the government of the church, but also of divers unworthy persons, that even of late years have crept into the ministry, to the scandal of the church, and dissatisfaction of good men, a great part of which miscarriages are imputed to 10 the easiness, or inadvertency at least, of the bishops, who ought to have a watchful eye against such growing mischiefs; I have therefore thought good, as in like cases hath often been done by my predecessors, to recommend to your lordship, and the rest of my brethren, the bishops 15 of my province, the orders and instructions herewithal sent, desiring and requiring your lordship and them duly to observe the same, and to give unto me such account The archbishop of Canterbury's letter] The orders and instructions which accompanied this letter had evidently two distinct objects in 20 view, the improvement of the orthodox clergy, and the suppression of non-conformity. The discipline of the church appears at this time, as indeed might be expected from the recent disorders, to have been in a worse condition than at any other period. However eminent may have been some of the prelates at the time of the Restoration, the 25 church had to contend with these cumulative difficulties, that its opponents among the laity were for the most part men of moral character, and religious profession, and its friends were the members and ad and certificates, as are thereby required. Which that it may be performed, I desire your lordship, that you will impart the tenor of this my letter, together with a true copy of the said orders and instructions, to every one of 5 my brethren, the bishops of my province, with all convenient speed. And so I bid your lordship heartily farewell. Your lordship's very affectionate friend and brother, Lambeth, July 7. MDCLXV. GILB. CANT. 10 Postscript. I desire that your lordship, in your letters to my brethren the bishops, will quicken them to make a speedy return to his majesty's instructions, for inquiries concerning hospitals, by me lately sent, and recommended to your lordship and them by his majesty's command. 15 Orders and instructions by the most reverend father in God Gilbert, lord archbishop of Cant. his grace, primate of all England and metropolitan, given to all the bishops of his province, and required to be observed and certified as followeth ; videlicet [Ibid. fol. 205.] 20 I. Concerning ordinations. 'HAT all and every the said bishops within their THA several dioceses and jurisdictions be very careful herents of a dissolute and irreligious court. A pamphlet printed at Cambridge in 1663, and entitled, "Ichabod or five groans of the 25 church," complains heavily of undue ordination, loose profaneness, unconscionable simony, careless non-residence, and encroaching pluralities. It is at this period that the word curate obtained its modern meaning; and it is now introduced by the archbishop into his instructions, as the title of a distinct and subordinate office, having previously 30 been applied generally to all pastors and ministers. But though the improvement of the regular clergy is made the prominent object of what persons they receive into the ministry; and that none be admitted into holy orders, unless he bring with him letters dimissory, according to the 34th canon; and that no bishop, being not within his own proper diocese, do at any time hereafter confer orders upon any person 5 without license first from us obtained; and that in all things the canons concerning ordination be duly and punctually observed; and that once every year, videlicet within thirty days after the feast of the annunciation of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, every bishop do 10 certify unto us the names, degrees, titles, and orders of every person by him ordained, within the year before, ending at Christmas then last past. II. Concerning pluralists and their curates. That before the feast day of the annunciation of our 15 blessed lady St. Mary the virgin next coming, they and every of them certify to me particularly the names, surnames, and degrees of all clergymen, that, together with any benefice with cure, do hold also any prebend, or ecclesiastical dignity, or promotion, or sinecure with the 20 names and places of the said benefices, prebends, dignities, promotions, and sinecures; and also the names, surnames, and degrees of all clergymen, that hold two or more ecclesiastical benefices, with or without cure, whether within the same diocese, or in several dioceses, and 25 the names and places wherein the said benefices are, and these instructions, it was a point of no little importance at this period to obtain accurate knowledge of the numbers and the residence of the non-conformists. They had given offence to the government by opposing the war which was then carried on against the Dutch, and it 30 was determined to subject them to new and effectual restraints. The parliament had assembled in the month of March; but owing to the breaking out of the plague, had been several times prorogued, and met eventually for the dispatch of business at Oxford, in the month of October. On the 14th of that month was brought in the bill "for 35 within what distance, or commonly reputed distance of miles; and whether they hold the same by lawful qualification and dispensation; and upon which of their benefices, prebends, dignities, or promotions they do reside; 5, and whether they keep and maintain able, orthodox, and conformable curates upon the said benefices, where they do not reside; and whether any of them keep any curate, where they themselves do usually reside; and what are the names, surnames, and degrees of the said curates, 10 and whether they be licensed and approved by the bishop, as they ought. III. Concerning lectures and lecturers. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly 15 certify unto me, what lectures are set up, and lecturers maintained within their respective dioceses; in what towns, places, and churches the same are set up; what allowances are made and established for any such lectures; what are the names, surnames, degrees, and quali20 ties of all and every such lecturers; and whether such lectures be set up by and with the consent of the bishop of the diocese; and whether the said lecturers be lawfully licensed preachers, and by whom; and how they appear affected to the government of his majesty, and the doc25 trine and discipline of the church of England. suppressing unconforming ministers and schoolmasters," which imposed a strict oath upon them, and such limitations respecting residence, as have since given it the name of "the five-mile act." The archbishop's instructions as to non-conformists bearing date on the 7th of July, 30 would seem to have been given in anticipation of this memorable act, and for the purpose of making it effectual as soon as it was passed. Commons' Journals. Kennet's Hist. vol. iii. p. 280. Baxter's Life, p. 311. Hallam, vol. ii. p. 212. Tanner MSS. vol. cclxxxii. p. 93. Lingard, vol. vii. p.451. IV. Concerning schoolmasters and instructors of youth. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly certify me, how many, and what free schools are within their respective dioceses, and where, and by whom founded, 5 and how endowed, and the names, surnames, and degrees of the schoolmasters and ushers in the said free schools; and also the names, surnames, and degrees of all other public schoolmasters, and ushers, or instructors, and teachers of youth in reading, writing, grammar, or other 10 literature, and whether they be licensed, and by whom; as also of all public mistsesses of schools and instructors and teachers of young maids or women; and of all other men and women, that keep scholars in their houses to board or sojourn, and privately teach them or others 15 within their houses; and whether the said schoolmasters, ushers, schoolmistresses, and instructors, or teachers of youth publicly or privately, do themselves frequent the public prayers of the church, and cause their scholars to do the same; and whether they appear well affected to 20 the government of his majesty and the doctrine and discipline of the church of England. V. Concerning practisers of physic. That before the said feast day of our blessed lady St. Mary the virgin, they and every of them particularly 25 IV. Concerning schoolmasters] The power of the ordinary in granting license to schoolmasters had been declared in the Injunctions of queen Elizabeth (No. XLIII.), in the canons of 1603, in the statutes 23 Eliz. c. 1. and 1 James i. c. 4; but the further power of requiring such schoolmasters to subscribe a declaration of conformity to the liturgy of the 30 church of England, was given for the first time in the act of uniformity, 13 and 14 Charles II. c. 4. The house of lords remonstrated against this clause, but was overcome by the pertinacity of the commons. V. Concerning practisers of physic] By statute 3 Henry VIII. c. 11, bishops and their vicars general had the right of licensing physicians 35 and surgeons in their respective dioceses. |