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sufficiently furnished with Bibles, but some have either none at all, or such as be torn and defaced, and yet not of the translation authorized by the synods of bishops: these are therefore to require you strictly in your visitations, or otherwise, to see that all and every the said 5 churches and chapels in your diocese be provided of one

printed the two editions described by archbishop Whitgift in this letter as "extant and ready." During the same interval the Genevan translation had been republished at least fifteen times. The feeling in its favour seems to have been created by archbishop Grindal; for though 10 it had not been reprinted for several years previously, five different editions of it made their appearance within two years after his removal from York to Canterbury. Notwithstanding this letter, it still continued throughout the reign of queen Elizabeth to be the more popular translation, and is computed to have been published by the queen's 15 printers alone more than thirty times. Archbishop Whitgift, who in the year 1595 approved the Nine Lambeth Articles, cannot reasonably be supposed to have objected at this period to the Genevan translation from any supposed tendency it had to favour the peculiar opinions of Calvin. His objections doubtless were the following: that it was not 20 the translation enjoined to be used by the authority of the church; and that many of the notes which accompanied it were adverse to the principles of government, civil as well as ecclesiastical, established in England. The original epistles dedicatory which were offensive to the queen had been omitted; but it still contained such notes as these; 25 Exod.i. 19, "Their disobedience herein was lawful." Exod. x. 26, “The ministers of God ought not to yield one iota to the wicked as touching their charge." 2 Chron. xv. 16, " Herein he shewed that he lacked zeal; for she ought to have died, both by the covenant as verse 13, and by the law of God: but he gave place to foolish pity." And Rev. ix. 3, 30 where, under the word "locusts" are included not merely monks, friars and cardinals, but also bishops, doctors, bachelors and masters. It was owing to its evil reputation in this respect that at a subsequent period, during the conference at Hampton Court, king James pronounced it the worst of translations, adding that some of the notes 35 annexed to it were very partial, untrue, seditious and savouring too much of dangerous and traitorous conceits." See Cotton's List of Bibles. Lewis, Hist. of Transl. p. 257, &c. 308. Neal, Purit. vol. i. p. 110. Strype, Whitg. vol. ii. p. 28o. Collier, vol. ii. p. 504. Barlow's Conference, p. 45. Newcome's Hist. of Transl. p. 68. Todd's Vindic. App. 40 No. 3. Wood's Ann. vol. ii. p. 312.

Bible, or more, at your discretion, of the translation allowed as aforesaid, and one book of Common Prayer, as by the laws of this realm is appointed. And for the performance thereof, I have caused her highness's printer to 5 imprint two volumes of the said translation of the Bible aforesaid, a bigger, and a less, the largest for such parishes as are of ability, and the lesser for chapels and very small parishes; both which are now extant and ready. And so I commit you to the tuition of Almighty God. From 10 my house at Lambeth the 16th day of July, MDLXXXVII. Your loving friend,

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Articles to be enquired of by the churchwardens and sworne men in the ordinary visitation of the lord archbishop of Cant. within the diocese of Sarum.-Reg. Whitgift, fol. 400. a.

I.

INPRIMIS, Whether your church be void, and if it be, who gathereth the fruictes thereof; and if it be 15 full, whether the incumbent hath any moe benefices then one; and whether he be a preacher, yea or noe; and what degree of schole he hath taken?

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II. Item, Whether your minister doth reverently say service, and minister the sacraments according to the

Articles to be enquired of] Strype, Whitg. vol. i. p. 549. The see of Sarum continued vacant for three years after the translation of bishop Piers in the year 1588 to the province of York. (Le Neve, Fasti, p. 260.) The same articles appear to have been employed by the archbishop in other visitations, as of Canterbury and Rochester, which he made about 25 this time. Strype, Whitg. vol. i. p. 593.

book of common prayers: and whether doth he use in his ministration the ornaments appointed by the lawes now in force?

III. Item, Whether have you in your church all things necessary for the common prayer, and due administration 5 of the sacramentes, according to her majesties lawes and injunctions?

IV. Item, Whether have you had monethlie sermons in your parish church at the least, or noe; and whether are the homilies read, when there is no sermon.

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V. Item, Whether any person, being not deacon at the least, is suffered to say service in your church, to minister the sacraments, or bury the dead; and whether doth any take upon him to preach, not being sufficiently licensed; and whether doth any use to preach, that doth not 15 once in the year at least administer one of the sacraments?

VI. Item, Whether your parson or vicar be resident upon his benefice; and whether he be an incontinent person, or suspected thereof, or faulty of any other kind 20 of lewdness?

VII. Item, Whether your parson, vicar or curate have publickly, or otherwise, spoken against the order or government of the church of England, or the book of common prayer, established by law?

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VIII. Item, Whether your ministers used to pray for the quenes majestie, queen Elizabeth, by the title and style due to her majestie, appointed by the statutes of this realme, and her highness injunctions, and exhort the people to obedience to her highness, and other magis- 30 trates being in authority under her?

IX. Item, Whether your minister doth not openly in your church catechise such as be of convenient age, according to the ordres set forth in the book of common prayer?

X. Item, Whether all persons of convenient age doth

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not repaire to the church upon Sundays and holydaies, and receave the communion thrise yearly?

XI. Item, Whether you do know any persons, that withhold any church-stock, or hathe not made their ac5 compts duly, according to the law, having byn churchwardens?

XII. Item, Whether you do know any common swearer, drunkarde or blasphemer, any symonical person, usurer, witch, conjurer, southsayer, charmer, fornicator, 10 adulterer, incestuous person, or any that harboreth incontinent persons, or any vehementlie suspected of any of those crimes?

XIII. Item, Whether you do know any scholemaster that doth teach within your parish without license of his 15 ordinarie under his seal or no?

XIV. Item, Whether you do know in your parish any man that hath two wiefes living, or anie woman that hath two husbands living?

XV. Item, Whether you do know anie that doth ob20 stinately defende papistrye, heresies, errors, or false doctrine?

XVI. Item, Whether do you know any person excommunicate in your parish, and whether any such doth repaire to the church?

25 XVII. Item, Whether your parish church or chauncell be ruinous or decayed, and by whose defaulte?

XVIII. Item, Whether you know any receivors of jesuites, seminaries, or massing priestes, or any other fugitive persons, or reconcyled to the church of Rome? 30 XIX. Item, Whether you knowe any that use conventycles, or meetings, for expounding scriptures, or saying of prayers in private houses or places?

XX. Item, Whether there be any hospitals, or almeshowses in your parish; and whether the same be used 35 according to the foundations and ordinances thereof?

XXI. Item, Whether you knowe any person ordered

by the law to do penance, or excommunicate for not doing the same, do still so continue unreformed?

XXII. Item, Whether you doe knowe any other matter worthey of presentment above not expressyd, yea or noe, which you shall likewise present by virtue of your oathes? 5

CVII.

Archiepisc. Cant. JOH. WHITGIFT 6.

Anno Christi
1588.

Reg. Angliæ
ELIZAB. 30.

Orders agreed upon by the archbishopps and byshopps, etc. at the parliament MDLXXXVIII. and commanded by her majestie exactlie and diligentlie to be observed and put in execution.-E MS. col. Caj. Cantab. D. 37. fol. 170.

THAT all such as have one benefyce with cure shal be

compelled by his ordinarie absolutely and continuallie to be resydent thereupon accordinge to the lawe, unlesse he be absent by occasion of residence in any cathedral churche, or of any service or attendance al- 10

Orders agreed upon] In every session of parliament for some time previously endeavours had been made by the commons to improve the state of the law respecting pluralities and non-residence. On a me

morable occasion in the year 1584 the archbishop, who was opposed to such a measure, pressed the following consideration in a letter which he 15 wrote to the queen ; if it pass by parliament, it cannot hereafter but in parliament be altered, what necessity soever shall urge thereunto. Whereas if it is but as a canon from us by your majesty's authority, it may be observed or altered at your pleasure." (Strype, Whitg. vol. i. p. 391.) This was an appeal to some of the strongest 20 prepossessions of the queen, and too powerful to be unsuccessful. In the session of 1588 a bill connected with church matters was brought, as in former instances, into the house of lords without effect, and the orders before us were considered a sufficient substitute, although very different from the severer provisions of the bill. Strype, Ann. vol. iii. 25 P. 2. p. 53. Collier, vol. ii. pp. 595. 620.

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