WALWARD. 315 affair, attested by the hand of Abraham Hartwell, notary public, is now before me, it will be proper to tran- scribe it. The above commissioners decreed, " That the said John Walward shall, upon some Sunday in the afternoon, deliver a sermon in theparish church of Alhallowsin Oxford, wherein he shall not in any way, either covertly or openly, impugn any part of the government ecclesiastical now received and used in the church of England; but shall stir up all his hearers to unity, peace, obedience, and the good liking of the laws, orders, and present government of this church; and shall, also, in such his sermon publicly and distinctly read, without any addition, diminution, or alteration, the form of words following, signifying that he is so enjoined by authority for his demerits." Then follows the form of his recantation, expressed in these words : " Whereas I, John Walward, the 22d of February last, " preaching in this place. amongst other things, did utter, " That the order of a Jewish synagogue governedby an " eldership, which I untruly affirmed to be still observed in " Germany and Spain, was established by Jesus Christ and " his apostles to continue for ever, to admonish, to suspend, " to interdict, and to excommunicate in every congregation: " that the same was practised by the apostles, and long after " in the better times of the church : that those who are put " in authority, according to the laws of this land, by the " bishops and other ecclesiastical persons, to see such " censures executed, are not sufficiently warranted thereto, " but are in danger of God's heavy judgment; therefore, " the pastor of the congregationwhere theoffender dwelleth, " hath an interest, and ought to have a dealing therein.' " And, whereas, I did then also affirm matter to the cle- "praying of the officeof archdeacons, and thecanons agreed " upon in the last convocation, and confirmed by her " majesty's authority : and did avouch a necessary, sub- " stantial, and unalterable platform of government and dis- " cipline to have been left by Christ, for hearing, ordering, and determining all cases and causes of censure, which I " then said ought of necessity to be by the ministry and " presbytery of the congregation where the offender " dwelleth, to the impeaching of her majesty's authority " in causes ecclesiastical, to the discredit of the present " government of the church of England wherein I live, to " the breach of the unity and peace of it, and to an ill " example and offence to others. And further, whereas I
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