630 ?he HISTÓRY of the PURITANS. Chap. VI. K. Charles I. be concluded without the archbiJbop's being a party in the confultation. It 164o. was intended alto to draw up an Englifh pontifical, which was 'to con- tain the form and manner of royal coronations. A formfir confe- crating churches, church-yards, and chapels. A form for reconciling penitents and Apojiates. A book of articles to be uled by all bops at their vifitation. And a fbort form of prayer fir beforefermon, 'com- prehending the fubflance of the fifty -fifth canon. But molt of thefe projeéls were interrupted by the fudden diffolution of the parliament. Continued The convocation, according to ancient cuflom, fhould have broke up after the d=f- at the fame time, but one of the lower houfe having acquainted the Jolution of archbifhc.p with a precedent in the 27th year of qúeen Elizabeth, of the par ment. the clergy's granting a fubfidy or benevolence, of two fhillings in the F'ullee'sap pound, to be raifed upon all the clergy, after the parliament was rifen, peal, p. 67, and levying it by their own f nodical at l only, under the penalty of ec- 69. clefiaftical,cenfures, it was concluded from thence that the convocation might fit independent of the parliament, and therefore inftead of dif- folving, they only adjourned for a few days, to take further advice. The zealous archbifhop relying upon this fingle,precedent applied to the king for a commiffion, to continue the convocation during his majef- ty's pleafure, in order to finifh the canons and conflitutions, and to grant the fubfidies already voted. The cafe being referred to the judges, the majority gave it as their opinion, that the convocation being called by the king's writ under the great Peal, doth continue till it be diglved by writ or common under the greatfoal, notwithftanding the parliament be dif folved. Signed May tq.. 164o. by Opinion of the judges. Several of the members diatisfted. Fuller, B. IX, p. rra. .7obn Finch, Cuflos, M. S. H. Manchefter, Rob. Heath., yahn Bramfton, Edw. Littleton. Ralph Whitfield, lohn Banks. Upon this a commiffion under the great Peal was granted, and the convocation re-affembled ; however notwithftanding the opinion of thefe gentlemen of the long robe, Dr. Hackett, Brownrigge, Holdifworth, and others, to the number of thirty-fix, protefted earneftly againfi it, though in regard the feffion was warranted by fo many confiderable perlons, they did not withdraw, nor enter their proteft in form of law, as they ought to have done. They were further fo influenced by his màjefty's meff'age Pent by Sir H. Vane fecretary of frate, to acquaint them, that it was his royal pleafure, that none of the prelates or clergy, " thòuld
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