of certain offices, which are stated in a copy formerly belonging to Dr. Brett, and in his handwriting, to have been made "by Henry Gandy, M.A," a nonjuror. From this copy, by the kindness of J. H. Markland, Esq., in whose possession it is, the present edition has been furnished with the additional offices.

The following are the editions which have been generally consulted in verifying the quotations.

то

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHRISTOPHER LORD HATTON,

COMPTROLLER OF THE HOUSEHOLD TO KING CHARLES THE FIRST, AND ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL.

MY LORD,

Ir is not long since you gave an honourable reception to the History of St. Paul's Cathedrala; behold here the history (for so it is in truth) of that cathedral's liturgy humbly presents itself to you. That address, indeed, created this. For God's house, and His worship, being twins of so indissoluble relation, why should their histories be separated in their dedication; and where could they find a fitter patron than yourself, who inherit, as an heir-loom of your noble family for many descents, so high a value for any thing whose concernment is religion? Such is the subject of both these histories, if I speak not improperly to call them two, which are of so similary argument, that this may rather be said the second part of that.

It is true this work had not (as that of my learned friend) the honour to result originally from your Honour's immediate command; yet this I can say, that long before I had finished it, I understood you had many years since recommended the same design to the endeavour of a learned pen, but understanding withal, that, for reasons unknown to me, the work was laid aside, I proceeded with no small alacrity, being glad

I had made choice of an undertaking which your lordship honoured with such approbation. More glad shall I be, if, in the performance thereof, I have administered any thing available to the public good, or which may be a valuable consideration for you to own me, as you do, in the quality of

MY LORD,

Your Honour's most humbly devoted servant,

HAMON L'ESTRANGE.

AN

ADDRESS PROEMIAL.

THE fatal pique between parties oppositely persuaded, concerning the liturgy and ceremonies of our Church, drawing nigh to its akun and highest pitch about twenty years since, the noise of those clashings roused me up seriously to consider, that this was not a controversy, like many others, about trifling niceties, admitting a safe neutrality; but a controversy about a practical fundamental, wherein to err was to hazard the main. For if (as the non-conformists urged) the liturgy and ceremonies of our Church were absolutely and simply unlawful; first, as being of man's device; and secondly, because extracted out of the Mass-Book, Breviary, and other rituals of the Church of Rome; then did the ordinances of our Church betray me all the while to an abominable compliance, no longer to be endured. But if, on the contrary, her religious rites and appointments had no such impious quality, if they were elemented of materials, not only lawful, but highly decent, then to withdraw my obedience to her sanctions would prove as dangerous on the other side. Being then necessitated to an election of one of these two, (for they admit no medium,) conformity, or separation, resolved I was to do it as it should be, that is, by examining what was said pro and con, for and against it, on both sides,

and then to follow the dictates of an impartial judgment. That I might stand the more erect, and behold both opponents with equal angles, resolved I was also to move some prejudice I had conceived against some persons disaffected to our ceremonies, in regard by former subscriptions they had allowed what was since of so hard concoction to them; this I considered was argumentative only ad homines, not ad rem; for if any did comply in order to their temporal interest, their failings must not be urged to the disadvantage of the cause. Personal reflections therefore set aside, I fixed my mind only upon a disquisition of the truth. All in effect that at that time had been, or since hath been, said on the complainants' behalf, was drawn up into one body by Mr. Cartwright, the magazine that stores all that party with a panoply, complete armour for these polemics and all that Mr. Cartwright did urge was faithfully summed up by Dr. Whitgift and Mr. Hooker, who replied upon him. So that my study was reduced to a narrow scantling, viz. a perusal only of those learned authors. This I did, from point to point, with all possible diligence, and that more than once: having seriously weighed the arguments on both sides, I sincerely profess, my judgment did clearly acquiesce in this, That our liturgy and ceremonies were no way guilty of that foul charge of unlawful and if so, I had enough whereon to establish my obedience.

:

Necessity and consideration of my eternal state having brought me thus far, curiosity had a further journey for whereas one part cried down our service and ceremonies as a popish, and the other cried them up as a primitive model, and both with equal confidence; I had a mind to bestow some labour in the research of this truth also, and to consult the very fountains themselves, I mean those precious records of the first six centuries. With Clemens Romanus, Ignatius,