INTRODUCTION. 31 and the convictions of their own minds, renounced the popish relict, and used the loaf bread. This gave great offence and much trouble to Archbishop Parker, who, with the assistance of Bishop Grindal, laboured much to bring all the clergy to anexact uniformity.. The above proceedings having excited considerable alarm in the nation, some attempts were made in the parliament of 1571, to obtain a reformation of the ecclesiastical laws. The motion was warmly supported by some of the ablest statesmen ; but was no sooner become the subject of public discussion, than the queen took great offence, and forbad the house to concern itself about such matters.+ The commons ventured, however, to present a supplication to her majesty, in which they observe, that for want of true ecclesiastical discipline, there were great numbers of minis- ters of infamous lives, while those possessed of abilities for the sacred fiinctionwere cast aside as useless. They com- plain of the great increase of popery, atheismand licen- tiousness, by which the protestant religion was in imminent danger. " And," say they, " being moved with pity towards so many thousands of your majesty's subjects, daily in danger of being lost for want of the food of the word, and true discipline ; we, the commons in this present parliament assembled, are humbly bold to open the griefs, and to seek the salving of the sores of our country; and to beseech your majesty, seeing the same is ofso great import- ance, that the parliament at this time may be so long continued, as that by good and godly laws, provision may be made for a reformation of these great and grievouswants and abuses, and by such other means as to your majesty shall seem meet, a perfect redress of the same may be obtained ; by which the number of your majesty's faithful subjects will be increased, popery will be destroyed, the glory of God will be promoted, and your majesty's renown will be recommended to all posterity."+ But the queen broke up the parliament without taking the least notice of the supplication. These proceedings occasioned an act to pass, during this parliament, requiring all ministers " to declare their assent to all the articles of religion, which only concern the confession of the true christian faith, and the doctrine of the sacraments." This was a great alleviation to the non- Strype's Parker, p. 308-310. + D. Ewes's Journal, p. 157, 185.-Strype's Parker, p. 324. MS. Register,p. S2, 93.
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