sants throughout the realm be forthwith vigorously prosecuted, and the laws of the land made against them effectually put in execution, to the end that by such wholesome severity (so seasonable and necessary at this time) 5 they may by God's blessing upon his majesty's pious intentions, and the endeavours of his good subjects, in pursuance of the same, be either reduced into the bosom of the church, or driven out of the kingdom; I could not but immediately reflect how highly it concerns, and how 10 well it may beseem me and my brethren, and all that are intrusted with the manage of any jurisdiction under us, to contribute all we can; and particularly what the laws from a person of quality to his friend, "by the new style of his majesty in council,' is ordered to be read in all churches and chapels 15 throughout England; which no doubt the blind obedience of our clergy will see carefully performed. Yet if it be true that there is neither great seal, privy seal, nor order of council, nor any thing else but Mr. Gwyn's hand to authorize the publishing this paper, in such a case our officious clergymen will prove publishers of false news, and invec20 tives against a third estate of the kingdom; and will be liable to be questioned for it." (State Tracts, p. 187.) The order that the declaration should be read in churches is said to have been proposed by the archbishop himself, and has occasioned much remark and rebuke, as furnishing the precedent for a similar order, which was issued in the 25 reign of James II. and was nobly resisted by the same archbishop and by the great body of the clergy. (Burnet, O. T. vol. iii. p. 223. Calamy's Life, vol. i. p. 199.) Excommunication, which the lord keeper Williams had formerly called the "rusty sword of the church," (Cabala, p. 306,) was now found to 3o be an effective and formidable weapon. It was directed in this instance against recusants, but it was also employed by the court in the year following against non-conformists, for the purpose of disqualifying them for voting at elections, or exercising any direct influence in boroughs or corporations. Kennet's Hist. vol. iii. p. 388. Commons' Journals. 35 Neal, Purit. vol. iii. p. 228. Burnet, O. T. vol. ii. pp. 283. 337. North's Exam. p. 105. Hallam, vol. ii. p. 320. Clarke's Life of James II. vol. i. p. 672. Lingard, vol. viii. p. 210. This letter is taken from a copy signed by the archbishop and now preserved in the Tanner MSS. vol. cclxxxii. p. 120. of the land, and the canons of the church require of us, for the promoting and accomplishing (if it may be) so good a design, which tends so manifestly to the glory of God, the honour of his majesty's government, the prosperity and flourishing estate of that excellent religion by 5 the peculiar blessing of Heaven established among us, and the quiet and tranquillity of the whole realm. I have therefore thought fit at present (till other and further methods may be debated and resolved on) to require all the bishops within this province, and every of them, and 10 I do hereby require them, that those three canons against popish recusants, agreed upon in the synod begun at London A. D. MDCIII. namely the LXVth, LXvith, and the cxivth be by them, and all that hold or exercise any jurisdiction under them, forthwith exactly observed 15 and effectually put in ure; considering how acceptable a service it will be to Almighty God to assist his majesty's pious purpose herein, and on the other side, how severe a punishment the last canon of the three appoints to those, who shall neglect their duty herein, which will (I doubt 20 not) without partiality or connivance be inflicted on them. My lord, my request to your lordship is, that you will not only take notice of all this yourself, but cause a copy hereof, by you attested, to be transmitted to every bishop of this province, in the name of Your affectionate brother, 25 April 9, MDCLXXXI. W. CANT. CLX. Archiepisc. Cant. GUIL. SANCROFT 4. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ The king's warrant concerning ecclesiastical affairs.-Ex MS. penes Tho. episc. Assaven. CHARLES R. HAVING taken into our serious consideration, how much it will conduce to the glory of God, our own honour, and the welfare both of church and universities, 5 that the most worthy and deserving men be preferred The king's warrant] On the restoration, and after the passing of the act of uniformity, there were so many and such important ecclesiastical places vacant in the patronage of the crown, that trustees were appointed to nominate proper persons to succeed to them. "Dr. Shel10 don," says Isaac Walton, "was by his majesty made a chief trustee to commend to him fit men to supply the then vacant bishoprics." But that the warrant issued in 1681 was really serviceable to the best interests of the church, cannot be supposed, when we consider either the composition of the board who were to select the proper persons, or 15 the general prevalence of intrigue and duplicity among the courtiers of those unhappy times. And a case which bishop Burnet has recorded respecting himself, and which seems to have occurred a few months after the warrant was issued, shews, in a pregnant instance, the real value of the security that was afforded by it. Lord Halifax pressed 20 me vehemently to accept of preferment at court; and said if I would give him leave to make promises in my name, he could obtain for me any preferment I pleased... ... The mastership of the temple was like to fall, and I liked that better than any thing else. So both lord Halifax and lord Clarendon moved the king upon it. 25 should have it." The sequel of the narrative is an example of the strange method in which the king was accustomed to throw out in the same conversation, expressions of sincere attachment to the church of England, and of utter indifference respecting it; as though his memory had no more tenacity in it than his moral principles. Burnet, O. T. He promised I 30 vol. ii. p. 294. Walton's Lives by Zouch, p. 421. No. *CLXIX. Tanner, MSS. vol. cclxxxii. p. 121. and favoured according to their merit; and being satisfied that the lord archbishop of Canterbury, John earl of Radnor, George earl of Halifax, Lawrence viscount Hyde, the lord bishop of London, and Edward Seymour esq., are proper and competent judges in such cases; we have 5 thought fit, and do hereby declare our pleasure to be, that neither of our principal secretaries of state do at any time move us on the behalf of any person whatsoever, for any preferment in the church, or any favour, or dispensation in either of our universities, without having first 10 communicated both the person and the thing, by him desired, unto the said lord archbishop of Canterbury now, and for the time being, John earl of Radnor, George earl of Halifax, Lawrence viscount Hyde, the lord bishop of London, now, and for the time being, and Edward Sey-15 mour esq., and without having the opinion and attestation of them, or any four of them in the case. And if at any time we be moved in like manner by any other person whatsoever; our pleasure is, and we do hereby declare, that neither of our principal secretaries shall present any 20 warrant unto us for our royal signature in such a case, until the said lord archbishop of Canterbury, John earl of Radnor, George earl of Halifax, Lawrence viscount Hyde, the lord bishop of London, and Edward Seymour esq., have been acquainted therewith, and have given their 25 opinion and attestation as aforesaid. And to the end that this our declaration may stand as a lasting and inviolable rule for the future; our further pleasure is, that the same be entered not only in both the offices of our said principal secretaries, but also in the signet office, 30 there to remain as upon record. Given at our court at Windsor the 12th day of August, MDCLXXXI. in the XXXIII. year of our reign. By his majesty's command, L. JENKINS. 35 CLX*. Archiepisc. Cant. GUIL. SANCROFT 7. Anno Christi Reg. Angliæ Suspensio Thoma Wood, S. T. P. episcopi Lichf. et Covent. ab officiis ejus exequendis.-E Regist. Sancroft. IN Dei nomine amen. Cum coram venerabili et egre gio viro Dom. Ric. Lloyd milite et legum doctore surrogato venerabilis et egregii viri Dom. Rob. Wyseman militis et legum doctoris almæ curiæ Cantuariensis de 5 Arcubus Londin. officialis principalis legitime constituti, quoddam negotium officii promotum per Philippum Jacob. gen. contra reverendum in Christo patrem ac dominum dominum Thomam permissione divina Covent. et Litchf. episcopum nuper pendebat et vertebatur: cumque dictum Io negotium per præfatum Philippum Jacob promotorem officii prædicti et præfatum reverendum patremdominum Thomam episcopum antedictum commissum et relatum fuerit arbitrio reverendorum in Christo patrum ac dominorum dominorum Henrici permissione divina Londin. 15 episcopi ac domini Wilhmi. permissione divina Petrobur gensis episcopi arbitrorum hinc inde electorum per eos audiendum et terminandum, prout in actis hujus almæ Suspensio Thoma] "Thomas Wood, D. D., was consecrated bishop of Lichfield on the 2d of July 1671, and enjoyed that honour, though 20 a person of no merit, unless it was for his preaching, to the time of his death. But so it was, that he not caring to live at Lichfield or Eccleshall (where is a seat belonging to the see), either for not being beloved, or to save charges, he retired to Hackney, and lived in the house where he was born, in an ordinary condition; whereupon Dr. Sancroft, arch25 bishop of Canterbury, suspended him of his office. He died very wealthy at Astrop, near King's Sutton, in Northamptonshire, (where he had continued about two years for health's sake,) on the 18th of April, or thereabouts, in 1692." Ath. Oxon. vol. iv. P. 881. ed. Bliss. The suspension was removed in May 1686. D'Oyly's Life of Sancroft, 30 vol. i. p. 194. |