BOOK mises or practices soever be made unto them. For who can II. doubt, but that if the French be received to joyn with the Scots, then will the faction of the Scottish queen be set up? which must needs breed and bring the destruction of them that govern now, being her utter enemies. So as it may be concluded, that as the taking of your pensions, tending to their sureties, will be received, so the pensions already offered by the French, tending to their destruction, both of body and soul, will be by them refused.

The second remedy is by the Low-Countries. But because things stand there very uncertain to my knowledge, therefore for the better framing of a remedy that way, it were good your majesty did send some man of credit, both to confer with the prince of Orange, and otherwise also to understand in what case and condition all things be there; and what is thought there to be the best remedy to defend, and to meet with all danger, that may grow that way. And thereof to certify your majesty, to think that thereupon that way be devised, that best should serve for your majesties surety.

And as touching the third and last remedy to be had here in England against Rome, your majesties good countenance and credit to those your good subjects that be enemies to the usurped authority of Rome, and earnest, severe handling of the contrary part, is the readiest way to bring the matter to good effect. And it is high time thus to do; because of late years they have grown in number. And those that maintain the authority of Rome, must needs 111 maintain and defend the sentences and decrees made at Rome by the Romish authority, your highness right well knoweth. Besides, here at home your navy, your men, munition, and all other your martial provision, would be made in a readiness. For an end, that besides these remedies, it might be provided, that Cassimire might be prepared to be ready against all chances: then should all be done that I can devise.

Thus with all humbleness praying pardon of this my long and tedious letter, I commit your majesty to the tuition of

Almighty God; who may bless you and all your actions. BOOK The 20th of November, 1577.

II.

Number VIII.

Cox, bishop of Ely, to the lord treasurer Burghley: upon the queen's command for the suspension of Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury.

me.

SIR, I write unto you, non sine anxietate cordis ; her Litera Ep'al. pen. majesty adeo indignata suo primo sacerdoti: cujus indignatio mors est. Deus meliora. Sacerdotem vero tam clementem principem, et religionis sincera fautricem irritare, fontem lachrymarum merito ex oculis elicit.

Since the beginning of our acquaintance, both you and I (God's blessed name be glorified) have constantly, through many brunts, a dextris et a sinistris, persevered: and you especially. Now at this pinch, esto fortis, et viriliter age, et confortetur cor tuum.

I understand of late the matter is touching a conference, which hath been used, or rather abused, and not by publick authority established. And therefore not unworthily by authority abolished. Which, I trust, no man doth maintain. But, I trust, hereafter, the thing being deeply and considerately weighed, her majesty, seeking especially the glory of God, and the quiet and needful edifying of her people, may be moved to have further consideration of this matter. And when the great ignorance, idleness, and lewdness of the great number of poor and blind priests in the clergy, shall be deeply weighed and considered of, it will be thought most necessary to call them, and to drive them, to some travel and exercise of God's holy word: whereby they may be the better able to discharge their bounden duty towards their flock. I trust I shall not need either with words or reasons to move your righteous heart to mitigate her majesties displesure and indignation against her archbishop: who, I doubt not, will use himself with all dutiful submission.

BOOK

II.

I have written to her majesty after my humble maner. Absit, ut tam grave exemplum edatur in ecclesia Anglicana, quam tantopere Romana tyrannis infestare et devorare satagit, &c. Thus the Lord Jesus bless you with encrease of health, and with all goodness that your heart can desire. From my house at Dodington the 12th of June, 1577. Your lordship's assured, Richarde Ely.

MSS. Cecilian.

Number IX.

The queens letter to the bishop of Lincoln: to cause the exercises, called prophesyings, to cease in his dioces.

RIGHT Reverend, &c. Although we doubt not, but that you do well and effectually remember our speeches unto you, to continue and encrease your care and vigilancy 112 over your charge in Gods church, (a matter of no small weight,) warning you also of the dangerous presumptions of some in these days, who by singular exercises in public places, after their own fancies, have wrought no good in the minds of the multitude, easy to be carried with novelties: yet forasmuch as we have been sithence credibly informed, that in sundry places of your dioces, namely, in Hertfordshire, those exercises, or, as they term them, prophesyings, are yet, or were very lately continued, to the great offence of our orderly subjects; and therefore, and for divers good respects, we think requisite, that they shall be forborn to be used: Wee let you wit, that having in singular recommendation God's people under our government, whom we desire to have guided in an uniformity as neer as may be, wee charge and command you, as a person who by your function wee look should ease and satisfy us in this behalf, within your charge to have dutiful consideration hereof: and furthermore, to take express order through your dioces, that none other exercise be suffered to be publickly used, than preaching in fit times and places, by persons learned, discreet, conformable, and sound in religion, heard and allowed by you without partiality; reading of homilies, as

is set forth by public authority, by the Injunctions ap- BOOK pointed, and the order of the Book of Common Prayer.

And further, that ye signify unto us, or to some of our privy council, attending about our person, the names of all such gentlemen, and others, as have ben the setters forth and maintainers of those exercises; and in what places; and of such as shall impugne this order. And also, what you shall have done herein from time to time. Hereof not to fail, as you tender our plesure, and will avoid the contrary at your peril.

II.

Number X.

The order of the government of the colledge of Westminster, syns the last erection, begonne by D. Byll, and contynued by me [Dr. Goodman] with the assent of the chapiter: as appeareth by divers decrees, recorded in the chapiter book.

in the

DAILY prayer in king Henry the Sevenths chappel at The service six of the clock in the morning and a lecture there read church. upon the Wednesday and Friday.

MSS. ec

cles. pen.

Dayly service song in the chancel of the great church, me. according to the order of her majesties chappel, at the usual hours; that is, upon Sundays, from eight to eleven in the forenoon. Upon Wednesdays and Fridays, and other holydays, from nine to eleven. And on other days, to begin at nine until almost eleven. Or in the afternoon service to begin at four, and to continue until five, or after five.

A sermon every Sunday in the year, either by the dean, or one of the prebendaries, or some other for them. The dean to preach four times in the year in his own person, unless there be cause to the contrary: that is, upon Christmasday, Easter-day, Whitsunday, and Allhallown-day. Every prebendary to preach in their own persons upon the Sundays in their course of residence; or else some other for them.

A solemne communion ministred upon the great feasts,

II.

BOOK and every first Sunday of every month. Where by order there do communicate the dean and prebendaries present: the ministers and four of the clarks, and four of the almes

men.

Upon those days that the dean is bound to preach, either he himself doth minister the communion, or some one of the prebendaries.

Twelve almesmen of her majesties foundation are bound to be resident; and in the church daily at service, according to her majesties order. 113 Every Sunday in the year, there is 40 mess of meat, for 40 poor householders of the parish, by the oversight of the chaunter of the church. Every mess being allowed there in flesh, or fish, a peny loaf in bread, and a peny in

The diet.

mony.

Every Saturday the dean, or one of the prebendaries, whose course is to be resident, after the service, morning prayers being ended, they do call before them the ministers of their church, and the clarks of the the twelve almosemen; and whom other they see cause. the chaunter of the church, in the book of Perditions, doth shew the default of such as were absent, or negligent in the week before.

And there

Dr. Byll did appoint two square tables, and one mess to either of them: the one for himself, or whom he would call unto him. The ordinary allowance of the same for himself and six of his men, was 28s. The extraordinary as occasion served, he did further allow.

The other table, to serve the four prebendaries, whose course it was to be resident. And they bear each one for himself, and his man, 7s. a week. But shortly after, by decree in chapiter, it is encreased so, that every prebendary was to allow for himself and his man, in his course of residence weekly 10s. in toto. For four 40s.

In my time, for ease of charge, I and the four prebendaries have joyned together at one table, having one full mess, and sometimes more, as occasion serveth, I allowing