"haste I end. From the Court at Nonsuch, primo Julii CHAP. "1580." And thus much for University matters. XI. Backsliders notice of. The state was awakened 'at this time by reports con- Anno 1580. cerning a great many in the nation that formerly came to from relichurch, and were conformable to the laws of the realm in gion taken matters of religion; but now fell off, and forbore any more to resort to the public service. Whereat the Queen admired, and was apt to lay the blame upon the Bishops; to whom she had granted an ecclesiastical commission for the taking cognizance, and punishment of such things. Wherefore the Lords issued out their letters to the Arch-254 bishop, for to have all such backsliders and neglectors of religion punished by such as attended the execution of the said commission. And that inquiry should be made concerning such as had been before convented, how they stood as to conformity. And if they were at liberty, and still remained obstinate, to be again taken up. That especial notice should be taken of such as had the education of children; that they should be chiefly looked unto: lest, if their principles were not sound, they might do much harm in their influence upon those that were under them. But I had rather set down the letter of the Lords to our Archbishop, whereby this affair will appear more clear and plain. cil to the some that fell off, "After our hearty commendations: whereas the Queen The Coun"hath been informed, that divers persons within the pro-Archbishop "vince of Canterbury, both of the common and better concerning "sort, who of late time have been conformable to the laws "of this realm concerning religion, are now fallen away, " and have withdrawn themselves from coming to church, "to the evil example of other her Majesty's good subjects, "and to the great offence of her Highness, who doth not a "little marvel by what means this relapse should happen; sion Eccle having delivered sufficient authority unto your Lordship, "and others joined unto you, by virtue of her Commission Commis"Ecclesiastical, warranted by the laws of this realm, where- siastical. "by you might at all times have repressed the insolency " and corrected the disobediency of such as therein should BOOK "have presumed to offend, if such care and vigilancy had II. "been used within your charge as appertaineth. Anno 1580. Schoolmasters. "Her Highness's pleasure therefore is, that for the pre"sent reforming and punishing those that have, and do "herein disobey the laws, you give order to have them "forthwith convented before such as do attend the execu"tion of her Majesty's High Commission, and proceeded "withal according to the direction of the said High Com"mission. And first, that consideration being had of such "as have been heretofore convented before the High Com"missioners, in what terms they stand for their conformity; "how many of them are at liberty; and in what sort; "and how many do remain committed, and where. And "such of them as shall be found at liberty, and do con"tinue obstinate, to be returned to prison, and such fur"ther order to be taken with them and the rest, as is pre"scribed in the said Commission. "And for as much as a great deal of the corruption in "religion grown throughout the realm, proceedeth of lewd "schoolmasters, that teach and instruct children as well publicly as privately in men's houses; infecting each"where the youth without regard had thereunto, (a matter "of no small moment, and chiefly to be looked unto by every Bishop within his diocese,) it is thought meet for "redress thereof, that you cause all such schoolmasters as "have charge of children, and do instruct them either in 66 66 public schools or in private houses, to be by the Bishop "of the diocese, or such as he shall appoint, examined "touching their religion: and if any shall be found cor255" rupt and unworthy, to be displaced, and proceeded withal as other recusants; and fit and sound persons placed in "their rooms. 66 "And to the end her Majesty may understand what "shall be from time to time done in the execution of the " said Commission, to give order, that certificate be made "of the proceedings in the said Commission unto us of her Majesty's Privy Council. Wherein not doubting but you will answer her Majesty's good expectation, accord 66 66 XI. "ing to the trust reposed in you, we bid your Lordship CHAP. "heartily farewell. From the Court at Nonsuch, 18th 66 June, 1580." In obedience to which, the Archbishop issued out his mandate to his officers, June the 21st, to make diligent inquisition throughout his diocese of the contents of the Council's letters. And for the more effectual doing whereof, he sent withal Articles of Inquiry enclosed; which were as follow: 66 66 66 Anno 1580. bishop's Articles of Imprimis, Diligently to inquire what persons within The Archyour parish or charge, of what degree or calling soever they be, do absent themselves from their parish church Inquiry for "upon pretence of conscience or religion; and how long Grind. Reg. they have so done. 66 2. "Item, What persons have of late absented them"selves from their parish church upon contempt or pre"tence aforesaid, that heretofore resorted thereunto. 66 3. "Item, What persons do you know within your pa"rish that have been heretofore convented before the Queen's Majesty's High Commissioners for causes ecclesiastical, for religion; and especially for not coming to church, that "are at liberty, and yet have not conformed themselves. 66 4." Item, What schoolmasters are within your parish, "and what their names are that teach publicly, or privately "within any man's house within your parish, of what state, calling, or condition soever he or they be; in whose "house or houses any such schoolmaster or teacher is. 66 5. "Item, Whether any such schoolmaster, or school"masters, is reported, known, or suspected to be backward "in the religion now established by the laws of this realm, "that are thought any way to be secret hinderers thereof." recusants. for the exe cution of the Council's letter. The Archbishop wrote also to the Bishop of London, Writes to signifying the foresaid message from above; desiring him the Bishop with all convenient speed to see the contents of the letter duly executed; and also to send his letters to all the rest of the Bishops of his province where the sees were full: and that he himself minded by his officers to take order for the sees vacant; and to send to every of them several co II. BOOK pies of the Council's said letters; requiring them, and every of them, carefully and effectually, as they would answer Anno 1580. the contrary, to see all the same executed in every of their dioceses, and to certify him of their proceedings. That he might return certificates thereof to the Lords of the Council. Sees vacant. of this The sees vacant, which the Archbishop himself by his officers took care of, as was mentioned before, were Oxford, Winton, Coventry and Litchfield, Glocester and Bristol. 256 The ground of all this trouble was the secret coming in The ground of emissaries from the Pope (being English youth bred up in seminaries abroad) with instructions to pervert the people from their allegiance to the Queen and the religion established; by persuading them of the damnable danger they ran themselves into by casting off the Bishop of Rome. The Parsons and chief of these were Parsons and Campion, Jesuits. The Campion. latter whereof came into England this year. And after he trouble. Overton Bi had been scouting up and down the nation to do mischief, was taken, committed to the Tower, and executed the year ensuing. By his, and his fellow's labours, backed with the Pope's bulls and indulgences, to such as they could deceive, grew a considerable defection from religion. Hence the state began to be awakened, and called again into question those of the Roman persuasion, to whom it had before granted much favour; in setting free those of them that had been imprisoned, and winking at the rest, while they remained quiet. We have the Archbishop employed again in another business, pertaining to his archiepiscopal office. Consecrates For John Watson, Dean of Winchester, the see being Watson and void by the death of Horne, late Bishop, succeeded, and was shops. confirmed, Sept. 16, 1580. and consecrated, Sunday the 18th following, in the chapel of Croyden, by the Archbishop, John Bishop of London and John Bishop of Rochester assisting these being present, David Lewis, William Clark, Bartholomew Clark, William Lewen, LL. DD. William Wilson and John Sapcotts, the Archbishop's Chaplains, with others. Also William Overton, a learned and a pious XI. man, D.D. a dignitary in the churches of Chichester and CHAP. Salisbury, was, upon the death of Bentham, the last Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, appointed to succeed in the Anno 1580., see; and was confirmed, Friday the 16th of December, [September I suppose,] in Bow church, and consecrated Sept. 18. following, by the Archbishop, John Bishop of London and John Bishop of Rochester assisting. But Goes on such sitation. with his vi rough visit ed. The metropolitical visitation, which the Archbishop had begun, upon his entrance into the archbishopric, was for some years intermitted by reason of his troubles. now in this year it revived again. For there was a visitation for the church of Peterborough instituted May Peterbothe 13th. For that was the date of the Commission; which was issued out, not from the Archbishop, but from William Aubrey and William Clark, LL. DD. exercising the office of Vicar General and Principal Official, to John Dey of the University of Oxford, James Ellis, LL. D. and Richard Bancroft, B.D. And so from this year 1580. onward in the years 1581, 1582, 1583. the visitations of several churches were on foot, the Commission for them all issuing out from Aubrey; as though the Archbishop still remained under sequestration, as we shall relate in due place. tion. A Convocation was held this year, meeting at St. Paul's; A Convocawherein (though Fuller call it a silent convocation) were Church various weighty matters treated of, and laboured to be rati-Hist. book ix. p. 135. fied. As concerning making of Ministers; concerning Faculties; concerning commutation of penance and excommunication. Wherein our good Archbishop, though under 257 this cloud, and not appearing, (but Elmer, Bishop of London, being in his room at the head of this Synod,) yet had a great hand: labouring for some good reformation of things still amiss in the Church. petition for But the Synod wanting their head, the Archbishop, (who The Synod by reason of his being sequestered or confined came not to it,) the Archbiat their first meeting together drew up an humble petition shop. to the Queen to restore him to his place. And it was done by the elegant pen of Toby Matthew, Dean of Christ's |