328 the HISTORY of the PuRtTANs. "Chap. VII. Queen " ft.1e, Woe be to us ifwe preach not the gofpel, we begin to think it our Elizabeth, " duty to preach to our people as we have opportunity, notwithftanding 158w " ourfufpenfion, and to commit our lives and whole eftates to almighty " God, as to a faithful creator ; and under God to the gracious clemency " of the queen, and of this honourable houfe." Many fufpended preachers came out of the countries and took fhelter in the.city. But to prevent as much as poffible their getting into anyofthe pulpits ofLondon, the follow- ing commiffion was .fent.to all the miniflers and church-wardens of the city. F11gb cam- " T Hereas fundry preachers have lately come into the city of Lon- mianers «. 'Y V don, and fuburbs of the fame; dome .of them not being mini- prohibit all flers, others fuch ashave no fufl-icient warrant for their callin Band o- thecitywith- " thers fuch as have been Bete hed in other countries, and havenotwith- out licence. s' ftanding in the city taken upon them to preach publickly, to the infamy " of their calling; others have in their preaching rather flirred up the peo- " pie to innovation, than fought the peace of the church. Thefe are there - " : fore in her majefly's name, by virtue of her high commiflion for caufes " ecclèfiaftical, to us and others direâed, ttraightly to enjoin, command, " and charge all parfons, vicars, curates, and church-wardens, of all chur- " e ches in the city ofLondon, and the fuburbs thereof, as well in places ex- " empt as not exempt, that they .nor any of them do fuffer any to preach " in their churches, or to read any ledures, they not being in their own " cures, but only fuch whole licences they (hall firft have Peen and read, " and whom they (hall find to be licenced thereto, either by the queen's " ° majefty, or by one of the univerfities ofCambridge or Oxford, or by the " lord archbifhop ofCanterbury, or the bifhop of London for the time be- " ing, under feal. M. S. " And that this may be publifhed and take the better effe&, we will P. 835. " that_a true copy thereof (hall be taken and delivered to every curate and " church-warden of every of the churches aforefaid. The 16th day of 4uguft, 1587." Subfcribed, John Canterbury, John London, Val. Dale, EdwardStanhope, Rich, Cozin. Proceedings Under all thefe difcouragements the puritanskept dole together, hoping fansinihei, one time or other that providence would make way for their relief. They elapes. maintained their clais and affociations, wherein they agreed upon certain general
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