A brief Note of such Matters as were agreed on by the King's Majesty, the Lords of his Council, and the Clergy, to be reformed in the Government of the Church, January 18, 1603-4.

His majesty in an excellent oration reduced all the points to Paper-office. certain heads. The first was concerning the Book of Common Prayer, wherein four things were concluded to be amended.

First. The Absolution, which contained nothing amiss in the matter, and only quarrelled for the name, therefore hereafter it shall be called the Absolution or general Remission of Sins.

Secondly. The Confirmation, which being shewed to be no Sacrament with us, but of very good use for preparing of children to the Communion, it was concluded it should remain only with the alteration of the name; that it should be called the Confirmation, or rather the Examination of the said children.

Thirdly. That private Baptism now by laymen, or women, shall be called the private Baptism by the ministry and curacy only. And all the questions in that baptism, which insinuate it to be done by women, taken away.

Fourthly. The Apocrypha that has any repugnancy to the canonical Scripture, shall not be read, and other places chosen, which are either explanations of Scripture, or serve best for godliness and manners.

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The Second, was concerning Matters of Jurisdiction, concerning
Bishops and high Commissioners.

For bishops, it was concluded that their jurisdiction should be somewhat attenuated, so that they should either have the dean and chapter, or some grave ministry in ordination, suspension, degradation, &c., and not to exercise their authority alone.

For the high commissioners, it was concluded, that the court should be reformed, and to deal only in causes of a high nature, and to have no commissioners sit but men of high honour.

Excommunication by chancellors and commissaries, as is now used, shall be taken away, both in name and in nature; and a writ out of the Chancery, to punish the contumacious, shall be framed.

The Third Point, for preaching the Word, and maintaining the true Doctrine.

For preaching, that a more learned ministry and maintenance for them be provided in such places in England where there is want.

Then as few double beneficed men and pluralities as may be; where they have double benefices to maintain preaching, and to have their livings near one another.

And that the kingdom of Ireland, the country of Wales, and the borders of Scotland be planted with schools and preachers and for better effecting of this, commissioners best experienced in every of those countries are appointed.

For doctrine, that there be one uniform translation of the Bible to be made, and that only to be used in all the Churches of England, and that the articles of religion made primo Eliz. be explained and enlarged, and that no man do read or preach against any of them.

The Fourth Head to be reformed rather by care of good Magistrates than by straitness of Law.

As, that care be taken to inhibit popish and pestilent books, both at home and for coming over; and, if they do come over, to deliver them to persons only fit to have them.

Then, a care to be had who do not receive the communion

once a-year; the ministers to certify the bishops; the bishops, the archbishops; the archbishops, the king.

Lastly, for matter of ceremonies and order, being things indifferent, that the rule of the apostle be kept, that all things be done to edification; that so neither grave, sober, and peaceable persons be not too far urged at first, nor turbulent and unquiet persons and busy spirits to do what they list.

These are the conclusions of this conference, wherein his majesty sat as moderator, to the great admiration of all.

CI.

Pope Paul V.'s Brief to the English Roman Catholics, forbidding them going to the English Service, or taking the Oath of Allegiance.

A. D. 1606.

Dilecti Filii, salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem: magno Paper-office. cum animi mœrore nos semper affecerunt tribulationes et calamitates quas pro retinenda Catholica fide jugiter sustinuistis: sed cum intelligamus omnia hoc tempore magis exasperari, afflictio nostra mirum in modum aucta est: accepimus namque compelli vos gravissimis pœnis propositis templa hæreticorum adire, cœtus eorum frequentare, concionibus illorum interesse; profecto credimus, proculdubio eos qui tanta fortitudine atque constantia atrocissimas persecutiones, infinitas propemodum miserias perpessi sunt, ut immaculate ambularent in lege Domini, nunquam commissuros esse ut coinquinentur communione desertorum divinæ legis. Nihilominus zelo pastoralis officii nostri impulsi, ut pro paterna solicitudine, qua de salute animarum vestrarum assidue laboramus, cogimur monere vos, atque obtestari, ut nullo pacto ad hæreticorum templa accedatis, aut eorum conciones audiatis, vel cum ipsis in ritibus communicetis, ne Dei iram incurratis. Non enim licet vobis hoc facere, sine detrimento divini cultus et vestræ salutis. Quemadmodum etiam non potestis, absque evidentissima gravissimaque divini honoris injuria, obligare vos juramento, quod similiter cum maximo cordis nostri dolore audivimus propositum vobis fuisse præstandum infra scripti tenoris, viz. "Ego A. B. vere et sincere agnosco, profiteor, testificor, et declaro in conscientia mea coram Deo et mundo, quod supremus Dominus noster Jacobus rex," &c., prout sequitur in ipso juramento.

Quæ cum ita sint, vobis ex verbis ipsis perspicuum esse

debet, quod hujusmodi juramentum salva fide Catholica, et salute animarum vestrarum præstari non potest; cum multa contineat quæ fidei et saluti aperte adversentur. Propterea monemus vos ut ab hoc et similibus juramentis præstandis omnino caveatis. Quod quidem eo acrius exigimus a vobis, quia experti fidei vestræ constantiam, quæ tanquam aurum in fornace perpetuæ tribulationis igne probata est, pro comperto habemus, vos alacri animo subituros esse quæcunque atrociora tormenta, atque mortem denique ipsam constanter oppetituros, potius quam Dei majestatem ulla in re lædatis. Et fiducia nostra confirmatur ex his quæ quotidie nobis afferuntur, de egregia virtute atque fortitudine, quæ, non secus ac in Ecclesiæ primordiis, resplendet novissimis hisce temporibus in martyri- . bus vestris. "State ergo succincti lumbos vestros in virtute, et induti loricam justitiæ, sumentes scutum fidei, confortamini in Domino in potentia virtutis ejus," nec quicquam vos detineat: ipse enim qui coronat certamina vestra e cœlo intuetur, “bonum opus quod in vobis cœpit perficiet," nostis quia discipulis suis pollicitus est, "se nunquam eos relicturum esse orphanos, fidelis enim est qui se promisit.'

Retinete igitur disciplinam ejus, hoc est "radicati et fundati in charitate;" quicquid agitis, quicquid conamini, in simplicitate cordis, et in comitate Spiritus, sine murmuratione aut hæsitatione unanimes facite. Siquidem in hoc cognoscunt omnes quia discipuli Christi sumus "si dilectionem ad invicem habuerimus." Quæ quidem charitas cum sit omnibus Christi fidelibus maxime appetenda, vobis certe dilectissimi filii prorsus necessaria est: hac enim charitate vestra diaboli potentia infringitur, qui nunc adversus vos tantopere insurgit, cum ipsa contentionibus atque dissidiis nostrorum filiorum præcipue nitatur. Hortamur itaque vos per viscera Domini Jesu Christi, cujus charitate e faucibus æternæ mortis erepti sumus, ut ante omnia mutuam inter vos charitatem habeatis. Præscripsit sane vobis præcepta maxime utilia de fraterna charitate vicissim exercenda felicis recordationis Clemens Papa Octavus, suis litteris in forma Brevis ad dilectum filium magistrum Georgium archipresbyterum regni Angliæ dat. quinto Octobris 1600. Ea igitur diligenter exequimini, et ne ulla difficultate aut ambiguitate remoremini. Præcipimus vobis ut illarum litterarum verba ad ainussim servetis, et simpliciter prout sonant et jacent accipiatis, et intelligatis,

sublata omni facultate illa aliter interpretandi. Interim nos nunquam cessabimus Deum Patrem misericordiarum precari, ut afflictiones et labores vestros clementer respiciat, ac vos continua protectione custodiat atque defendat; quos Apostolica benedictione nostra clementer impartimur. Dat. Romæ apud Sanctum Marcum sub annulo piscatoris 10 Calend. Octobris 1606, pontificatus nostri anno secundo.

CII.

Cardinal Bellarmine's Letter to the Archpriest Blackwell against the Oath of Allegiance.

Admodum Reverendo Domino Georgio Blackwello Archipresbytero Anglorum, Robertus S. R. E. Cardinalis Bellarminus S. D.

Venerabilis in Christo Domino Frater. Anni sunt fere Paper-office. quadraginta quod invicem non viderimus, sed ego tum veteris 4.D. 1607. nostræ consuetudinis nunquam oblitus sum, "teque in vinea Domini strenue laborantem," quando aliter non potui, orationibus Deo commendare non destiti, me quoque in tua memoria toto hoc tempore vixisse, et in tuis orationibus ad altare Domini locum aliquem habuisse non dubito.

Ita igitur ad hoc usque tempus non verbis aut literis, “sed opere et veritate," ut Sanctus Joannes loquitur, alter in alterius dilectione permansimus. Sed hoc silentium rumpere coëgit nuncius, qui diebus istis de tuis vinculis et carcere ad nos venit, qui quidem nuncius etsi tristis videri poterat ob jacturam pastoralis tuæ solicitudinis quam Ecclesia ista fecit, tamen lætus quoque videbatur quoniam ad martyrii gloriam, quo dono Dei nullum est felicius, propinquabis, ut qui tot annis gregem tuum verbo et doctrina pavisses, nunc exemplo patientiæ gloriosus pasceres. Verum hanc lætitiam non mediocriter interturbavit ac fere corrupit tristis alius nuncius, qui de constantia tua in recusando illicito juramento ab adversariis tentata, forte etiam labefacta et prostrata, successit. Neque enim, frater charissime, juramentum illud ideo licitum esse potuit quod aliquo modo temperatum et modificatum offerebatur. Scis enim ejusmodi modificationes nihil esse aliud quam Satanæ dolos atque versutias, ut fides Catholica de primatu sedis Apostolicæ vel aperte vel obscure petatur, pro qua fide tot inclyti martyres in

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