it had been the likeliest way in all human forecast, to have procured us the most powerful assistances of our reestablishment, that should any of our subjects give but the least admission of that scandal unto their beliefs, we 5 should look upon it as the most unpardonable offence that they can be guilty of towards us. 'Tis true, that as we shall always according to justice retain, so we think it may become us to avow to the world, a due sense we have of the greatest part of our Roman catholic subjects 10 of this kingdom, having deserved well from our royal father, of blessed memory, and from us, and even from the protestant religion itself, in adhering to us with their lives and fortunes for the maintenance of our crown in the religion established, against those who, under the 15 name of zealous protestants, employed both fire and sword to overthrow them both. We shall with as much freedom profess unto the world, that it is not in our intention to exclude our Roman catholic subjects, who have so demeaned themselves, from all share in the benefit of 20 such an act, as in pursuance of our promises, the wisdom of our parliament shall think fit to offer unto us for the ease of tender consciences. It might appear no less than injustice, that those who deserved well, and continued to do so, should be denied some part of that mercy, which 25 we have obliged ourself to afford to ten times the number of such who have not done so. Besides, such are the capital laws in force against them, as though justified in their rigour by the times wherein they were made, we profess it would be grievous unto us to consent to the 30 execution of them, by putting any of our subjects to death for their opinions in matter of religion only. But at the same time that we declare our little liking of those sanguinary ones, and our gracious intentions already expressed to such of our Roman catholic subjects as shall 35 live peaceably, modestly, and without scandal; we would have them all know, that if for doing what their duties and loyalties obliged them to, or from our acknowledgment of their well-deserving, they shall have the presumption to hope for a toleration of their profession, or a taking away either those marks of distinction, or of our displeasure, which in a well-governed kingdom ought 5 always to be set upon dissenters from the religion of the state, or to obtain the least remission in the strictness of those laws, which either are or shall be made to hinder the spreading of their doctrine, to the prejudice of the true protestant religion; or that upon our expressing 10 (according to Christian charity) our dislike for bloodshed for religion only, priests shall take the boldness to appear and avow themselves to the offence and scandal of good protestants, and of the laws in force against them, they shall quickly find we know as well to be severe, when 15 wisdom requires, as indulgent when charity and sense of merit challenge it from us. With this we have thought fit to arm our good subjects' minds against the practices of our ill ones, by a true knowledge of our own; of which now rightly persuaded, 20 we make no question, but that whosoever they be from whom they can derive the spreading or fomenting of any of those wicked suggestions, they will look upon them with detestation, as the most dangerous enemies of our crown, and of the peace and happiness of the nation: and 25 that what we have here published will happily prepare them all to a cheerful expectation of the approaching sessions of parliament; an assembly so eminent in their loyalty, and their zeal for the peace and prosperity of our kingdoms, that having already made those happy settle- 30 ments for the maintenance of the religion established, and of our just rights, their full concurrence with us can no way be doubted in the performance of all our promises, and to the effecting of those gracious intentions which (God knows) our heart is full of, for the plenty, prospe- 35 rity, and universal satisfactions of the nation. In order to which, although it be foreign to the main scope of this our declaration, which is principally to prevent the mischiefs aimed at by the scandals therein mentioned, and that wherein we reserve the enlargement of 5 ourself till the opening of the next sessions of parliament, yet we cannot forbear hinting here unto our good subjects four particulars, wherein we think to give them the most important marks of our care. First, In punishing by severe laws that licentiousness and impiety, which since 10 the dissolution of government we find to our great grief hath overspread the nation. Secondly, As well by sumptuary laws, as by our own example of frugality, to restrain the excess in men's expenses, which is grown so general and so exorbitant, beyond all bounds either of their qualities or 15 fortunes. Thirdly, So to perfect what we have already industriously begun in the retrenching of all our own ordinary and extraordinary charges in navy, garrisons, household, and all their dependants, as to bring them within the compass of our settled revenue, that thereby our subjects 20 may have little cause to apprehend our frequent pressing them for new assistants. And lastly, So to improve the good consequences of these three particulars to the advancement of trade, that all our subjects finding (as well as other nations envying) the advantage this hath of them in that 25 prime foundation of plenty, they may all with minds happily composed by our clemency and indulgence (instead of taking up thoughts of deserting their professions, or transplanting) apply themselves comfortably and with redoubled industry to their several vocations, in such manner as the 30 private interest of every one in particular may encourage him to contribute cheerfully to the general prosperity. Given at our court at Whitehall, this twenty-sixth day of December, in the fourteenth year of our reign. 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. RI IGHT 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. ΤΟ 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. THAT all and every the said bishops within their 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 |