XII.

The effect

This visitation did much good, and brought forward the CHAP. religion very considerably throughout the nation. And of the clergy, (i. e. bishops, abbots, heads of colleges, pre- Anno 1559. bendaries, and rectors,) the commissioners brought in but 172 one hundred and eighty-nine, throughout the whole nation, of this vithat refused compliance. In this visitation it was, that all sitation. the beneficed clergymen were required to make a subscription with their hands to what the parliament, anno 1558, had enacted, concerning restoring the supremacy to the queen, and the book of divine service, to be according to the word of God: and that was done in this form, as I found it in the MS. library at the palace in Lambhith.

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sitation.

Lambethan.

"We do confess and acknowledge, the restoration again The subscription of "of the ancient jurisdiction over the state ecclesiastical and the clergy "temporal of this realm of England, and abolishing of all at this vi"foreign power repugnant to the same, according to an act Biblioth. “thereof made in the last parliament, begun at Westmin-superior. ster, January the 23d, in the first year of our sovereign "lady queen Elizabeth, and there continuing and kept to "the 8th day of May then next ensuing; the administration " of the sacraments, the use and order of the divine service, "in manner and form as it is set forth in a book commonly "called The Book of Common Prayer, &c. established by "the same act; and the orders and rules contained in the "Injunctions given by the queen's majesty, and exhibited "in this present visitation, to be according to the true "word of God, and agreeable with the doctrine and use of "the primitive and apostolic church. In witness whereof "hereunto we have subscribed our names."

This was writ at the top of a long scroll of parchment, with the names of the subscribing clergy, and their respective livings underwritten by themselves.

Several learned and dignified papists relenting, made their submissions and acknowledgments by their subscriptions before these visitors. Among which I met with this of Robert Paper Raynolds, who before had been an opposer of the queen's proceedings; which ran in these words:

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submission.

CHAP. "I, Robert Raynolds, clerk, do in my most humble ways "desire the queen's most excellent majesty to take these my Anno 1559. "former doings not to be of disobedience or contempt, but Raynolds' "of the persuading and leading of my poor and simple con"science: and yet do I in the like humble manner require and "ask her most gracious pardon and remission for the same. "And I shall be most willing to embrace, advance, and set "forth all such good and godly laws and ordinances as be "made and provided by her high court of parliament. And "will from henceforth be ready, with all obedience, to take "and receive the oath of me required; and will use the ser"vice of the church, which is by the said laws provided, as "to me shall appertain. For the testimony whereof I have "made this my humble submission, and thereunto set my "hand the 16th of August, 1559.

"Robert Raynold."

This Robert, it is like, was a brother or relation of Thomas, head of Merton college and dean of Exon, or of Hierom, William, and John Raynolds, eminent men of Oxford about this time, and several of them zealous of popery.

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One nomi

CHAP. XIII.

Ecclesiastical habits and other matters scrupled. P.Martyr applied to for his judgment thereof. The roods and crucifixes in churches. A crucifix in the queen's chapel. The bishop of Ely excuseth his ministering in the chapel by reason thereof. Ceremonies established. Complying popish priests. Readers. Some hinderers of the reformation. A slackness in discipline. Preaching useful.

Now let us take up some other matters before we pass to One of the new made bishops, whose name occurs not, (but one of the exiles, I make no doubt,) being nominated and elected, scrupled the habits and the cap so

nated for the next year.
bishop scru-
ples the

habits.

XIII.

letter to

far, that he was in doubt of accepting the preferment: but CHAP. for the better satisfying of himself, he wrote a letter, dated Aug. 27, to Peter Martyr, then at Zurick, for his advice Anno 1559. and judgment what he should do. To whom also the same divine wrote two other letters, in the months of October and December, upon the same inquiry. The sum of Martyr's P. Martyr's reply to his first letter was, "That indeed when himself was him. "at Oxon, and a canon of Christ-church there, he never P. Mart. Epist. wore the surplice in the choir: but his reason for it was, Shews his "not that it was unlawful in itself, but because, if he had judgment. "done it, he should, being such a public professor, seem to "have confirmed that which his conscience approved not "of. But as to the round cap and garments, to be worn "extra sacra, he thought there ought not to be much con"tention: for superstition seemed not properly to have any "place there. But of garments, as holy, to be used in the "ministry, when they carry the resemblance of the mass, "and are mere relics of popery, of these, he said, it was Bullinger's opinion that they were not to be used, lest by "his example that should wear them, things that were "scandalous might be confirmed." But P. Martyr himself told this English divine that writ to him, " that his judg❝ment was something differing from that of Bullinger; namely, that though he was always averse to the use of "these ornaments, yet because he saw the present danger, "lest they that refused them might be deprived of the li"berty of preaching; and because haply, as altars and "images were taken away, so these appurtenances of the

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mass might in time be taken away also, if he [whom he "now wrote to] and others that had taken bishoprics would "be intent upon it; (which matter perhaps might not so well

proceed, if another should succeed in his place, who would "not only not care that those relics might be abolished, but "rather would defend and cherish them;) therefore, to "keep out papists and Lutherans, as he said, he was not so "forward to persuade him rather to forego the bishopric "than to use the garments. But because he saw scandals

CHAP. "of that sort were by all means to be avoided, therefore he XIII. "easily gave his consent to that opinion."

Anno 1559.

His peace

able advice.

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In another letter he tells the same divine, "That he 174 thought it not worth much disputing of the square cap, and the external garments of bishops, when it was "without superstition, and might have a civil reason for it, " in this kingdom especially. He wished all things might "be most simply performed: but that if peace might be "obtained between the Saxon churches and theirs, [of Hel"vetia,] there should be no separation for such kind of garments: for although we should not at all approve "them, yet we would bear them. Therefore you may,” said he, "use those garments either in preaching or administer"ing the Lord's supper; yet so as to speak and teach

Etsi enim

illa minime probaremus, fere

mus tamen.

Certain scruples of the foresaid divine.

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against the superstitious use of them. And finally, he ad"vised him not to withdraw himself from the ministerial "function, because of the great need of ministers: whence "if he, and such as he, who were, as it were, pillars, should "decline to take ecclesiastical offices on them, they would "give way to wolves and antichrists."

But beside the habits, this divine (whether it were Grindal, or Parkhurst, or some one else) had made his observation of other things which he disliked in that degree, as to doubt the taking of the episcopal office upon him, lest in so doing he might seem to approve, and uphold, and countenance those things. And they were these: I. The spoils of the church, and impropriations. And he and others apprehended, that the queen intended to take away the whole revenue of bishoprics and parish ministers, and settle what livelihood and stipend she thought convenient upon them. II. The immunity of those that were papistical persecutors, or such as had turned from protestants to be papists. The good man did judge, that such ought not to have an indemnity granted them, but to be imprisoned, or enjoined penance, or the like. III. The enjoining unleavened bread to be used in the sacrament. IV. The processions in Rogation-week; which seemed to have been derived from the

XIII.

processions of the heathen, and the superstitions attending CHAP, thereon. V. The image of the crucifix on the communiontable in the administration of the supper.

VI. There were Anno 1559.

thoughts now of receiving the Augustan Confession; the better to join in league with the German protestants.

for the

Of these two last scruples I have something further to Some are observe. As to the Augustan Confession, and how willing Augsburgh many were here to entertain it, Bullinger wrote thus to Confession. Utenhovius, a learned man, that had lived in England in king Edward's reign, an assistant to John a Lasco in the German church in London, but now with him in Poland: "I see," said he, "no small disturbances like to rise in "England also, if the Augustan Confession be received, "which some would have; a thing very unworthy in many

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regards. This gives vexation to all the purer churches, and "would infect them all with its leaven. I pray God restrain "men otherwise pious, but sufficiently troublesome to godly "men and the purer religion. And you know what was "done in Poland. Beware, and lay to your helping hand, "that it be not received. King Edward's reformation satis"fieth the godly a."

fix.

Concerning the use of the crucifix to be still retained in the 175 churches, the divine before mentioned was so offended at it, The cruci(and such offence was taken at it by many more,) that in his letter to Dr. Martyr, he desired him and Bullinger and Bernardin [Ochin] to write to the queen against it. But Martyr excused himself by reason of his great business. Yet, as he said, he had wrote already certain public letters into England. But his own judgment was, that he could never approve of having the image of the crucifix upon the table in preaching or administration of the sacrament.

The queen indeed being used to these things, that is, The queen

■ Video et in Anglia non modicas oborituras turbas, si, quod quidam (rem indignissimam multis modis) postulant, recipiatur Augustana Confessio. Vexat hæc omnes ecclesias sinceriores, et cupit suo fermento inficere omnes. Deus coherceat homines satis alioquin pios, at pietati puriori molestos. Et tu scis quid factum sit in Polonia. Cave et adjuva ne recipiatur. Satisfacit piis Edvardi reformatio. Ex Epist. MSS. in Biblioth. Eccles. Belg. Lond.

retains it in her chapel.