II. BOOK priest to the communicant, at the reception of the bread, gave scruple, as though the adoration of the host were inAnno 1552. tended: therefore, to take off this, and to declare the contrary to be the doctrine of this church, October 27, a letter was sent from the council to the Lord Chancellor, to cause to be joined to the book of Common Prayer, lately set forth, a declaration, signed by the King, touching the kneeling at the receiving of the communion. Which in all probability was done by the motion of the Archbishop, who, in his late book, had taken such pains to confute the adoration; and now thought it necessary, that some public declaration should be made in the church-service against it. So now, the first of November being come, Dr. Ridley, the Bishop of London, was the first that celebrated the new service in St. Paul's church; which he did in the forenoon: and then, in his rochet only, without cope or vestment, preached in the 290 choir. And in the afternoon he preached at Paul's Cross, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and citizens, present. His sermon tended to the setting forth this new edition of the Common Prayer. He continued preaching till almost five a clock; so that the Mayor and the rest went home by torch-light. By this book of Common Prayer, all copes and vestments were forbidden throughout England. The prebendaries of St. Paul's left off their hoods, and the bishops their crosses, &c. as by act of parliament is more at large set forth. Stow's This book put into Provision also was made for the King's French dominions, French for that this book, with the amendments, should be used there. the King's And the Bishop of Ely, Lord Chancellor, (a great forwarder of good reformation,) procured a learned Frenchman, who French sub jects. was a doctor of divinity, carefully to correct the former French book by this English new one, in all the alterations, additions, and omissions thereof. For the first Common Prayer-Book also was in French, for the use of the King's French subjects: being translated by commandment of Sir Hugh Paulet, Governor of Calais: and that translation overseen by the Lord Chancellor and others at his appointment. The benefit of this last book was such, that one of the French congregation in London sought, by the means of A Lasco's interest with Secretary Cecyl, for a license under the King's letters patents, to translate this Common CHAP. Prayer, and the Administration of Sacraments, and to print XXXIII. it, for the use of the French Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. Anno 1552. But Cecyl, after a letter received from A Lasco in August to that effect, not willing to do this of his own head, and reckoning it a proper matter to be considered by the Archbishop, who were to be entrusted with the translating of sucha book, desired him, being now at Ford, to give him his advice and judgment herein, both as to the work and as to the benefit. To whom the Archbishop gave this answer; "That the commodity that might arise by printing of the "book was meet to come to them who had already taken "the pains in translating the same." Informing the Secretary who they were; namely, those formerly and now of late employed by Sir Hugh Paulet, and the Lord Chancellor. But I find this book was not presently finished, being not printed till the year 1553, for the use of Jersey and Guernsey. Notwithstanding this cleansing of the church from super- The age stition and idolatry, and bringing in the knowledge of the still vicious. Gospel, by the Archbishop's constant pains and study, the people generally, even the professors themselves, were bad enough as to their morals; and religion had yet got but little hold of them. A clear sight of the behaviour of these times may be seen by what Tho. Becon, a chaplain of Cranmer's, writ in his preface to a book put forth in those days: "What a nomber of fals christians lyve ther at thys present Jewel of 66 66 day, unto the excedynge dishonour of the christen profes- Joy. sion, which with theyr mouth confesse that they know God, but with theyr dedes they utterly denye hym, and "are abhominable, disobedient to the word of God, and "utterlye estranged from al good works? What a swarm of "grosse gospellers have we also among us, which can prattle "of the Gospel very fynely, talk much of the justification of “faith, crake very stoutly of the free remissyon of all theyr 291 "sins by Christ's blood, avaunce themselves to be of the "number of those, which are predestinate unto eternal glory? "But how far do theyr life differ from al true christianitie? They are puffed up with al kynd of pryde: they swel with "al kynd of envy, malice, hatred, and enmity against theyr 66 66 BOOK II. 66 neghbour, they brenne with unquencheable lusts of carnal concupiscence, they walowe and tumble in al kynd of Anno 1552, "beastly pleasures: theyr gredy covetous affects are insa"tiable: thenlarging of theyr lordshipps, thencreasyng of A new sect in Kent. Council- 66 66 66 theyr substance, the scrapyng together of theyr worldly possessions infynite, and knoweth no end. In fyne, all "theyr endeavours tend unto thys end, to shew themselves very ethnycks, and utterly estraunged from God in theyr "conversation, although in words they otherwise pretend. "As for theyr almes-dedes, theyr praying, theyr watchyng, theyr fastyng, and such other godly exercises of the Spirit, "they are utterly banished from these rude and gross gospellers. All theyr religion consisteth in words and disputations; in christen acts and godly dedes nothyng at "all." These evil manners of the professors themselves looked with so sad a face, that it made the best men assuredly expect a change, and woful times to follow. 66 66 September 27, a letter was sent from the council to the Archbishop to examine a sect newly sprung up in Kent. Whereof there was now a book of examinations sent him: and to commune with a man and a woman, (the informers,) bearers of the letter, who could inform him somewhat of the matter. And to take such order in the same according to the commission, that these errors might not be suffered thus to overspread the King's faithful subjects. What this sect was, appeareth not. The Anabaptists were taken notice of, and a cominission issued out against them, some years before. These were sectaries more new, and whereof the council very lately was informed. It may be they were of the family of Love, or David George his sect, who made himself sometime Christ, and sometime the Holy Ghost. For a little before these times, divers sects sprang up under the profession of the Gospel, in High and Low Germany; some whereof dispersed themselves into England. Which sects began to do so much hurt to the reformation among us, that the author before mentioned laments it in these words: "What wicked and ungodly opinions are there sown now"a-days of the Anabaptists, Davidians, Libertines, and such "other pestilent sects, in the hearts of the people, unto the great disquietness of Christ's church, moving rather unto 66 "sedition, than unto pure religion; unto heresy, than unto CHAP. "things godly!" XXXIII. The Arch bishop's bu Kent. The examination of this new sect was one of the busi- Anno 1552, nesses the Archbishop was employed in while he was in his retirement at his house near Canterbury. Another was, the siness in sitting upon a commission to him, and other gentlemen of Kent, for inquiry after such as had embezzled the plate and goods belonging to chauntries, &c. given by the parliament to the King, and converting them to their own uses. But this being somewhat an odious work, he was not very forward to enter upon, especially because he thought, whatsoever he and the other commissioners should recover, would be but swallowed up by the Duke of Northumberland and 292 his friends, and the King be little the better. But, because he did not make more haste, he was charged by his enemies at court as a neglecter of the King's business. Which cost him a letter in excuse of himself to the said Duke: signifying, that he omitted this business awhile till the gentlemen and justices of peace of Kent, who were then mostly at London, were come home. installing Bishop Ho December 2, a letter was sent from the council to the A letter for Archbishop, to grant out a warrant, ad installandum, for the Bishop of Worcester and Glocester, without paying any per. fees for the same; because he paid fees for another mandate, Book which served to no purpose. Council Council February 20, an order was sent to the Archbishop from The Vicar the council to examine the Vicar of Beden in the county of of Beden. Berks, according to an information enclosed, and to adver- Book. tise the lords of his proceedings therein. What this Vicar's crime was, I know not; but I observe about these times the priests and curates were very busy men, and would take liberty, sometimes to speak against the King's proceedings, or his Archbishop, with bitterness enough, and sometimes to vent fond opinions, so that oftentimes they were fetched up to the council-board; and, after an appearance or two, referred to the Archbishop to examine and punish: as being matters relating to religion; and so proper for his cognizance. About the latter end of this year, Thomas Sampson was Sampson preferred to the deanery of Chichester, having been Parson and Knox. II. BOOK of Alhallowes, Bread-street, London. February the 2d, a letter was sent from the privy-council to the Archbishop, to Anno 1552. bestow the said living upon Mr. Knox, who was one of the King's chaplains, and in good esteem in the court for his gift of preaching. The coun cil favour Knox. Council. This Knox was the man whose name was so dashed in the King's Journal, where the names of the King's six chaplains Collect. vol, were inserted, that Bishop Burnet could not read it. The ii. p. 42. council bare a great favour to him, as appears by those several letters they wrote in his behalf. One was mentioned before, sent to the Archbishop for a living in London; but in that Knox succeeded not, the Archbishop preferring Laurence Saunders (afterwards a martyr) thereunto. Knox being sent this year into the north one of the King's itinerary preachers, a warrant, dated October 27, was granted from the council to four gentlemen, to pay to him, his Majesty's Preacher in the north, (so he is styled,) forty pounds, as his Majesty's reward. And again, December 9, a letter was sent from the council to the Lord Wharton (who was Lord Warden in the northern borders) in commendation of Mr. Knox. And the next year, viz. 1553, being returned out of the north, and being then in Buckinghamshire, that he might find the more acceptance and respect there, the council wrote a letter to the great men in those parts, viz. the Lord Russel, Lord Windsor, to the justices of the peace, and the rest of the gentlemen within that county, in favour of the said Knox the preacher. 293 John Tay lor. A Bishop consecrated. June 26, John Taylor, S. Th. P. Dean of Lincoln, a learned and pious man, was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln, at Croyden chapel, by the Archbishop; assistedby Nicolas Bishop of London, and John Bishop of Rochester. |