"continual prayer: yea, in the steeple, anthems and prayers CHAP. "were had at certain times. But consider how far now con

V.

trary, and it is no mervail, if God hath sent down fire to Anno 1561. "burn part of the church, as a sign of his wrath. And 94 "whereas a reverend Bishop [meaning he of Durham] at "Paul's Cross did exhort the people to take the burning "of Paul's to be a warning of a greater plague to follow to "the city of London, if amendment of life be not had in all "states Also, where the said preacher doth re"cite certain abuses of the said church, as talking, buying "and selling, fighting and brawling, although these be very "ill, and worthy much rebuke, yet there be [now] worse "abuses, as blaspheming God in lying sermons, polluting "the temple with schismatical service, destroying and pulling down holy altars, that were set up by God's blessed 66 men, and there the sacrifice of the blessed Mass minister"ed according to the word of Christ's Catholic Church. "Yea, where the altar stood of the Holy Ghost, they now by

66

66

shops have made a place to set their tails upon, and there "sit in the judgment of such as be Catholic, and live in the "fear of God. Some they do deprive from their livings;

66

some they do commit to prison, except they will forsake "the Catholic faith, and embrace a faith and religion, that "hath no foundation laid by general Councils, nor blessed "Fathers in times past, but invented by heretics, &c." Thus did Papists full of anger catch at opportunities, to vent their displeasure against the Reformation. But the said Bishop Pilkington wrote a learned answer to this libel, which he called a Confutation. Some account whereof is given in the Annals of the Reformation.

of the names and

all Clergy

Chap. xxii. The Archbishop, that he might have an account of the A certificate true state of the Clergy throughout his province, had in June or July writ to all the Bishops to send him a certifi- qualities of cate of the names and qualities of all their Churchmen. required. Some had sent up their certificates, others had not. The Park. Bishops that were thus behind were Sarum, Norwich, Bath and Wells, Coventry and Litchfield, Exeter, Chichester, and Lincoln. To all whom, September 18, the Arch

Regist.

II.

BOOK bishop again wrote, "That forasmuch as he had not receiv"ed any certificates from them according to his said letter, Anno 1561. as he could not but marvail thereat, so he thought good "to require them to certify him of those points on this side "Christmas next. And that their certificates in that behalf "be conceived and made according to a form there en"closed."

The Archbishop to the Archdeacon.

But to acquaint the reader with the issue of this business, I shall set it down as I take it from the Archbishop's own book, entitled, Certificatorium: which gave an account of all the churches in all the shires, or most of the shires, in England, procured by visitations, either of the respective Bishops and Archbishops or Archdeacons. And first let us read the Archbishop's letter to the Archdeacons, specially, there where the Bishops had been either backward or otherwise employed.

"After my hearty commendations; these shall be to de"sire and require you for certain urgent considerations to "certify me, so speedily as you may, of all and singular C.C. Cer- "Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, within your

MSS. C. C.

tificator.

95

and

"how many of them be resident; and where the absent do "dwell and remain; how many of them be neither Priests "nor Deacons; noting the names of all such as be learned "and able to preach; whether married or unmarried; of "what degree; and which of them, being already licensed "to preach, do preach accordingly; and finally, how many "of them do commonly keep hospitality: and that your "certificate in that behalf be conceived and made according "to the form herein enclosed. And thus trusting of your "diligence herein, I wish you well to fare. From my manor "of Lambeth, the 1st of October, 1561.

"Your loving friend,

"Matthue Cantuar."

What the form of the certificates sent in was, may be understood by this specimen.

So that in the certificate, information was given of these things, viz. 1. The name of the parish: 2. The name and surname, and degree of the incumbent: 3. Whether he were Priest or Deacon, married or unmarried: 4. Learned or unlearned: 5. Whether he resided: 6. Whether he kept hospitality: 7. Where he dwelt: 8. Whether he were licensed and preached: 9. How many benefices he had.

upon the

From the view of the archdeaconry of London, as it is set Some obdown in this table, I observe, that the Ministers were gene- servations rally married men; that they had many Curates; that some archdeaconheld three, four, and one five livings together. One Blage, don. Bachelor in Divinity, was Vicar of St. Dunstan's West, and had Whiston and Doncaster in Yorkshire, Rugby in Warwickshire, and Barnet in Middlesex. I observe moreover, that many of them had two livings in London: that few or none of the Curates were graduates: that many of the Vicars, nay, and Parsons, were non-graduates: that not above a third part of them were preachers: that as for their learning, thus it was commonly set down: Latinè aliquod verba intelligit. Latinè utcunque intelligit. Latinè pauca intelligit, &c.

In this visitation the parish of Hackney was found well Hackney. provided for, and so was not many other; for in the Certi

thereof.

BOOK ficatory I meet with the Rector and Vicar of Hackney. The II. Rector's name was John Spenlow, and the Vicar's, Robert Anno 1561. Stokes, both Priests, married, and each written doctus. Of The Vicar the Rector I have no more to say; but of the Vicar I have gathered some further knowledge. He was Bachelor of Divinity, of the University of Cambridge, and came into that vicarage not far from the beginning of King Edward's reign, viz. in the year 1548. He remained incumbent there two and twenty years: a man much respected both for his learning and good behaviour, and had the general love both of the gentle and simple in the parish. He was buried in the chancel of his church, and had a stone laid upon him, (but of late years removed from the true place where his body lay,) with his effigies in brass, and this inscription.

Bishop of Hereford to

ROBERTUS STOKES, vir doctrina et morum probitate insignis, Cantabrigia olim Theol. Bacchalaureus fuit, nec non hujus villa Hackneæ per duos et viginti annos Vicarius ; qui anno 1570. octavo calendas Aprilis naturæ concessit: a summis juxta atque ab infimis magnopere desydera

tus.

If this be thought by any too minute a matter to be remembered in this history, he must attribute this fault to the long relation and due respect I have to that parish.

Scory, Bishop of Hereford, with the certificate he returnthe Archbi-ed the Archbishop concerning his church and diocese, wrote shop. MSS. him this letter.

C. C. C. C.
Certificator.

"Right honourable and my very good Lord, I have now "sent unto your Grace a certificate, according to your "Grace's letter to me directed, of the cathedral church, and 96" "of all parsonages and vicarages within my diocese. There "are divers and many chapels, whereof your Grace's letter "made no mention, which be either unserved, or else served "with a Reader only. I beseech you help that the cathe"dral church may be reformed: that their light may lighten "the darkness of the rest. I am informed, that the copy

V.

"of their privileges is sent unto your Grace, the invalidity CHAP. "whereof I doubt not but that your Grace perceiveth. "Thus resting at your Grace's commandment, I commit Anno 1561. 66 you to the most mighty protection of the Almighty. "From my house at Whitborn, this first of February.

"Jo. Heref."

CHAP. VI.

An address of the Archbishop, and other Bishops, to the

Queen, against images. She is offended with a Common Prayer Book with cuts. Articles concerning the Clergy, agreed upon in the ecclesiastical Commission. An apology of the Church of England, now preparing, by the advice of the Archbishop. The honourable re-burial of Peter Martyr's wife.

images.

Now did the Archbishop and Bishops, to their great re- The Archnown, write an humble free letter to the Queen; being an- the Queen, bishop to other address to her (after sundry others) against erecting against images, and receiving them in the churches; which it seems the Queen had persuaded them to do. They wrote with exceeding deference and tenderness of displeasing her, whom they saw inclinable to allow them, for ornament and honour to Christ and his saints, and to make the way more fair to bring the Papists into the present constituted Church. They urged to her the necessity of the matter they had to move ; "Not in any respect, they said, of self-will, stoutness, or striv- MSS. c. c. "ing against her Majesty, (God they took to witness,) they "being in comparison with her, to use David's words, but "canes mortui aut pulices: but they did it only out of that fear ❝ and reverence which they bore to the majesty of Almighty “God; and lest in giving just offence to the little ones, and "setting a trap of error for the ignorant, and digging a pit "for the blind to fall into, they should be guilty of the "blood of their brethren, and deserve the wrathful venge"ance of God; and also procure to their reclaiming con

C. C. Miscellan. B.