23R 7he HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VI. ern " the church of God, (as you are one) to fee thefe diforders againft Elizabeth, " the honour of God, and the quietnefs of the church reformed, and ac woJ " that by the encreafe of thefe through fufferance, great danger may " arife, even to the decreafe of chriftian faith, whereof we are by God " appointed the defender; befides the other inconveniencies, to the di- " fìurbance of our peaceable government. " ° We therefore, according to the authority which we have, do charge " and command you, as bifhop of that diocefe, with all manner ofdill- " gence, to take order throughout your diocefe, as well in all places " exempt, or otherwife, that no manner of publick or divine fervice, " nor other form of miniftration of the holy facraments, or any other " rites and ceremonies, be inany fort ufed in the church, but direflly ac- cording to the order eftablifhed by our laws : neither that any manner of perfon be fuffered in your diocefe to teach, preach, read, or exer- " cite any fundtion in the church, but fuch as (hall be lawfully approved " and licenfed, as perfons able by their knowledge, and conformable to " ° the miniftrations, in the rites and ceremonies of this church of En- " land. And where there (hall not be fufficient able perlons for learn- " ing in any cure, to preach and inftruét their cures, as are requifite, " then (hall you limit the curates to read the publick homilies, according to the injunfions heretofore by us given for like caufe. " And furthermore, confidering the great abufes that have been in fundry places of our realm, by reafon of the aforefaid affemblies called t0 ExERE15ES; and for that thefe are not, nor have been appointed or " warranted by us or our laws; we will and ftraitly charge you, that " you do caufe the fame forthwith to ceafe, and not to be ufed ; but if " any (hall attempt to continue or renew the fame, we will you not only " to commit them to prifon, as maintainers ofdiforders, but alto to ad- " vertife us or our council of the names and qualities of them, and of " their maintainers and abetters; that thereupon for better example, their " punifhments may be made more (harp, for their reformation. And " ° in the( things we chargeyou to be fo careful and vigilant, as by your negligence (if we (hall hear of any perfon attempting to offend in the . prensiles, without your correFtion or information to us) we be notforced. to make force example in reforming ofyou, according to your deferts. " Given under our fignet at our manor of Greenwich, the 7th of May, " 1577, and in the 1gth year of our reign." MS. p.283. " CC << " Therefore I will and ftraitly charge you, in her majefty's name, that immediately upon the receipt hereof, you do diligentlyand care- fully .put in execution in every point, all fuch things as therein be con. tained; throughout and in every place within your whole archdeaconry fo that at my vifitation, which God willing (hall be fhortly, fufftcient account 4
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