Chap. vr. 'lbe HIs T 0 R y of the PuRITANS .' 6r [ which means the city of London had no clerks in the convocation. The King author of the co?iformifls plea fays, " that to frame a convocation to their Cba6~es If. .. their mind, great care and pains were ufed to keep out, and to get men~ " in, by very undue proceedings; and that proteftations we~e made againft p. 35· " all incumbents not ordained by bilhops." The Savoy conference having ended without fuccefs, the king fent a let- 'Ibey are or– ter to the convocation Nov. 20, commanding them to review the book d~red to re· qf common-prayer, and make Jucb additions and amendments as they vzew the ft. thought necefi'ary. Letters to the fame purpofe were fent to the archbi- turgy. 1bop of York, to be communicated to the clergy of his province, who for the greater expedition, fent proxies with procuratorialletters to thofe of Canterbury, and obliged themfelves to abide by their votes under forfeiture of their goods and chattels. '' It is inconceivable, fays Dr. Nicbols, what difficulties the bifhops had Kennet, P• " to contend with, about making thefe alterations; they were not only 574· " to conquer their own former refentments, and the unreafonable de- " mands of the pre!byterians, but they had the court to deal with, who " pulhed them on to all aB:s of feverity." Whereas on the contrary, the tide was ftrong on their fide, the bilhops pulhed on the court, who were willing to give them the reins, that when the breach was made as wide as poflible, a door might be opened for the toleration of papifts. The review of the common-prayer book engaged the convocation a whole month; and on the 2oth of December it was figned, and approved by all the members of both houfes. The alterations were thefe, I, The rubric for jinging if ltjfons, &c. was omitted, the diftinct read- Alterations ing of them being thought more proper. in the liturgy,· 2. Several collects for fundays and holy days complained of, were omit- Kg Chr, P· ted, and others fubftituted in their room. 5 5· 3· Communicants at the Lord's {upper were enjoined to fignify their names to the curate fame time the day before. 4· The preface to the ten commandments was rdl:ored, 5· The exhortations to the holy communion were amended. 6. The general confeflion in the communion office was appointed to be read by one of the minifl:ers, 7· In. th~ office for Chriflmas day the words this day were changed for as at thts ttme. 8: In the prayer of confecration, the prieft is directed to break the bread. 9· The rubric for explaining the reafon of kneeling at the facrament was refiored, 4 I 2 to. Pri-
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