VI. Edward that every man might try and examine his own conscience before he should come thereto; the said minister should not, without a lawful cause, deny the A. D. same to any person that would devoutly and humbly desire it: any law, 1547. statute, ordinance, or custom contrary thereunto in any wise notwithstanding.' Assembly held at Windsor. After which most godly consent of the parliament, the king, being, no less desirous to have the form of administration of the sacrament truly reduced to the right rule of the Scriptures, and first use of the primitive church, than he was to establish the same by the authority of his own regal laws, appointed certain of the most grave and best learned bishops, and others of his realm, to assemble together at his castle of Windsor, there to argue and treat upon this matter, and to conclude upon, and set forth, one perfect and uniform order, according to the rule and use aforesaid. And, in the mean time, while the learned were thus occupied about their conferences, the lord protector and the rest of the king's council, further remembering that that time of the year did then approach, wherein were practised many superstitious abuses and blasphemous ceremonies against the glory of God and truth of his word (determining the utter abolishing thereof), directed their letters unto the godly and reverend father Thomas Cranmer, then archbishop of Canterbury, and metropolitan of England, requiring him that, upon the receipt thereof, he should will every bishop within his province, Candless forthwith to give in charge unto all the curates of their dioceses, that forbidden neither candles should be any more borne upon Candlemas-day, nor yet ashes used in Lent, nor palms upon Palm-Sunday. to be borne. Bonner's contu macy. Whereupon the archbishop, zealously favouring the good and christianlike purpose of the king and his council, did immediately, in that behalf, write unto all the rest of the bishops of that province, and, amongst them, unto Edmund Bonner, then bishop of London; Edmund of whose rebellious and obstinate contumacy for that we have hereafter more to say, I thought not to stand now long thereupon, but only by the way somewhat to note his former dissimulation and cloked hypocrisy, in that he outwardly, at first, consented as well unto this, as also unto all other the king's proceedings; but whether for fear or for any other subtle fetch I know not; howbeit most like it is rather for one of them, or both, than for any true love. And therefore, receiving the archbishop's letters, as one of them seeming to allow the contents thereof, he did presently write unto the bishop of Westminster, and to others to whom he was appointed, requiring them to give such knowledge thereof in their dioceses, as thereunto appertained; as more plainly appeareth by these his own letters here inserted, which here do follow. A Letter missive of Edmund Bonner, sent to the Bishop of Westminster, with the tenor of the Archbishop's Letter for abolishing of Candles, Ashes, Palms, and other Ceremonies. My very good lord, after most hearty commendations, these be to advertise your good lordship, that my lord of Canterbury's grace, this present 28th day of January, sent unto me his letters missive, containing this, in effect: that my lord protector's grace, with the advice of other the king's majesty's most honourable council, for certain considerations them moving, are fully resolved that no candles shall be borne upon Candlemas-day, nor also from henceforth VI. A. D. ashes or palms used any longer: requiring me thereupon, by his said letters, to Edward Written in haste, at my house in London, the said twenty-eighth day of Your good lordship's to command, Edmund London. ing ple for Now, about that present time, credible and certain report was Contendmade unto the lords of the council, that great contention and strife amongst did daily arise among the common people, in divers parts of this the peorealm, for the pulling down and taking away of such images out of images. the churches, as had been idolatrously abused by pilgrimage, offerings, or otherwise (according to the tenor of one of the injunctions given by the king in his late visitation), some affirming that that image was abused, others that this, and, most, that neither of them both; so that, if speedy remedy were not had therein, it might turn to further inconvenience. Wherefore they, by one advice, thinking it best (of good experience), for avoiding of all discord and tumult, that all manner of images should be clean taken out of all churches, and none suffered to remain, did thereupon again write their letters unto the archbishop of Canterbury, requiring his ready aid therein, in manner following. Another Letter of the Council, sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the abolishing of Images.2 After our right hearty commendations to your good lordship: whereas now of late, in the king's majesty's visitations, among other godly injunctions commanded to be generally observed through all parts of this his highness's realm, one was set forth for the taking down of all such images as had at any time been abused with pilgrimages, offerings, or censings, albeit that this said injunction hath in many parts of this realm been quietly obeyed and executed, yet, in many other places, much strife and contention hath risen and daily riseth, and more and more increaseth, about the execution of the same (some men being so superstitious, or rather wilful, as they would, by their good will, retain all such images still, although they have been most manifestly abused); and in some places also the images, which by the said injunctions were taken down, be now restored and set up again; and almost in every place is contention for images, whether they have been abused or not: and while these men go on both sides contentiously to obtain their minds, contending whether this or that image hath been offered unto, kissed, censed, or otherwise abused, parts have, in some places, been taken in such sort, as further inconveniences be like to ensue, if remedy be not found in time. Considering therefore, that almost in no place of this realm is any sure quietness, but where all images be clean taken away and pulled down already, to the intent that all contention in every part of the realm, for this matter, may be clearly taken away, and that the lively image of Christ should not contend for the dead images, which be things not necessary, and without which the churches of Christ continued most godly many years; we have thought good to signify unto you, that his highness's pleasure, with the advice and consent of us the lord protector and the rest of the council, is, that immediately upon the sight hereof, with as conve(1) Mark here how Bonner, with his own letters, giveth his consent and admonition in abolishing these things.' See Edition 1563, p. 689.-ED. (2) See Wilkins's Concilia. Lond. 1737, fol. vol. iv. p. 22. Wilkins gives this document as copied from Cranmer's Registers, fol. 32, dating it Feb. 21, 1547 (that being the ecclesiastical year). He also gives the archbishop's own letter, dated Feb. 24, Anno Domini, juxta computationem Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, 1547, et nostræ consecrationis anno 15.' The historical year is 1548, agreeing with Bonner's dates before and after.-ED. VI. A. D. Edward nient diligence as you may, you shall not only give order, that all the images remaining in any church or chapel within your diocese be removed and taken away, but also, by your letters, signify unto the rest of the bishops within your 1548. province, his highness's pleasure, for the like order to be given by them and every of them, within their several dioceses. And in the execution hereof, we require both you and the rest of the said bishops, to use such foresight that the same may be quietly done, with as good satisfaction of the people as may be. Thus fare your good lordship heartily well. bishop From Somerset-place, the 11th of February, 1547. John Russell, The arch- When the archbishop had received these letters, he forthwith writeth to directed his precept unto Bonner, bishop of London, requiring, and Bonner. in the king's majesty's name commanding him, that, with all speed, he should as well give in charge unto the rest of the bishops within the province of Canterbury, to look immediately, without delay, unto the diligent and careful execution of the contents of the said letter through all places of their diocese; as also, that he himself should do the like within his own city and diocese of London. Whereupon he, seeming then, with like outward consent as before, to allow these doings, presently (by virtue of the said precept) did send out his mandatum' as well unto the rest of the bishops, as also again unto the bishop of Westminster, as is hereunder to be seen.' (1) The Letter of Edmund Bonner, sent with the Archbishop's Mandate, to the Bishop of Westminster, for the Abolishing of Images. Edmundus, permissione divina Londinensis episcopus, per illustrissimum in Christo principem et dominum nostrum, dominum Edwardum sextum, Dei gratia Angliæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ regem, fidei defensorem, et in terra ecclesiæ Anglicanæ et Hibernicæ supremum caput, sufficienter et legitime authoritatus, reverendo in Christo confratri nostro domino Thomæ, eadem permissione Westmonasteriensi Episcopo salutem et fraternam in Domino charitatem. Literas reverendissimi in Christo patris et domini, domini Thomæ, permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, totius Angliæ primatis et metropolitani-tenorem literarum missivarum clarissimorum et prudentissimorum dominorum (de privatis consiliis dicti illustr. dom. regis) in se continentes-nuper cum ea qua decuit reverentia humiliter recepimus exequendas: in hæc verba. • Thomas, permissione divina Cantuar. archiepiscopus totius Angliæ primas et metropolitanus, per illustrissimum in Christo principem et dominum nostrum, dominum Edwardum sextum, Dei gratia Angliæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ regem fidei defensorem, et in terra ecclesiæ Anglicana supremum caput, sufficienter et legitimè auctoritatus, venerabili confratri nostro domino Edmundo eadem permissione Londin. episcopo, vestrove vicario in spiritualibus generali et officiali principali, salutem et fraternam in Domino charitatem. Literas missivas clarissimorum et prudentissimorum dominorum (de privato consilio regiæ majestatis) manibus subscriptas, nobisque inscriptas et directas, nuper recepimus, tenorem subsequentem complectentes. [Then making a full recital of the council's letters above specified, page 717 he proceedeth with the archbishop's precept :] Quibus quidem literis (pro nostro erga suam regiam majestatem officio), uti decet, obtemperare summo opere cupientes, vestræ fraternitati tenore præsentium committimus et regiæ majestatis vice et nomine, quibus in hac parte fungimur, mandamus, quatenus attente et diligenter, literarum hujusmodi_tenore, omnibus et singulis confratribus coepiscopis nostris et ecclesiæ nostræ Christi Cant. suffrageneis, cum ea qua poteris celeritate accommoda, præcipiatis, ut ipsorum singuli (in suis cathedralibus necnon civitatum et diocesum suarum paroch, ecclesiis exposito publice literarum hujusmodi tenore), omnia et singula in literis præinsertis comprehensa deducta et descripta (quatenus eos concernunt) in omnibus et per omnia exequi et perimpleri sedulo et accurate curent et fieri non postponant: sicque a vobis (frater clarissime) in civitate et dioces. vestra Londin. per omnia fieri et perimpleri volumus et mandamus. Datum in manerio nostro de Lambehithe xxiv. die mens. Februarii, anno Domini, juxta computationem ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, 1547; et nostræ consecrationis anno decimo quinto. [Then Bonner proceedeth, to the bishop of Westminster, in these words :] Quocirca nos Edmundus episcopus antedictus, literis prædictis pro nostro officio obtemperare, uti decet, summopere cupientes, vestræ fraternitati (tam ex parte dicti excellentissimi domini nostri regis ac præfatorum clarissimorum dominorum de privatis suis consiliis, quam prædicti reverend. patris domini Cantuar. archiepiscopi), tenore præsentium committimus et mandamus, quatenus attentis et per vos diligenter consideratis literarum hujusmodi tenoribus, eas in omnibus et per omnia, juxta vim, formam, et effectum earundem, cuni omni qua poteris celeritate accommoda, per totam dioces. vestram West. debite et effectualiter exequi faciatis et procuretis. Datum in ædibus nostris London. vicesimo die Febr. A.D. 1548. et regni dicti illustrissimi domini nostri regis anno secundo. [The portion of this note distinguished with asterisks, is from Edition 1563, pp. 689, 690, where, upon the letter of Bonner to the bishop of Westminster, Foxe observes, Bonnerus hie mandat quam accurate fieri ab aliis, quæ nunc ipse obstinate recusat facere. Quando sibi ipsi constabit hie Proteus!' As the archbishop's mandate was dated Feb. 24, this date (Feb. 20) for Bonner's letter, must be incorrect.-ED.] der of the nion. Now, by the time that these things were thus determined, the Edward learned men whom the king had appointed (as ye have heard before) VI. to assemble together for the true and right manner of administering A. D. the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, according to the rule 1548. of the Scriptures of God, and first usage of the primitive church, after their long, learned, wise, and deliberate advices, did finally conclude and agree upon one godly and uniform order of receiving A unithe same, not much differing from the manner at this present used form or and authorized within this realm and church of England, commonly commu called, "The Communion." This agreement, being by them exhibited unto the king, and of him most gladly accepted, was thereupon publicly imprinted, and, by his majesty's council, particularly divided and sent unto every bishop of the realm, requiring and commanding them, by their letters on the king's majesty's behalf, that both they, in their own persons, should forthwith have diligent and careful respect to the due execution thereof, and also should, with all diligence, cause the books which they then sent them, to be delivered unto every parson, vicar, and curate within their diocese; that they, likewise, might well and sufficiently advise themselves for the better distribution of the same communion (according to the tenor of the said book), against the feast of Easter then next ensuing, as more fully appeareth by these their letters here following. Letters Missive from the Council, to the Bishops of the Realm, concerning the Communion to be ministered in both kinds. After our most hearty commendations unto your lordship: Whereas in the parliament late holden at Westminster, it was, amongst other things, most godly established, that, according to the first institution and use of the primitive church, the most holy sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ should be distributed to the people under the kinds of bread and wine : according to the effect whereof, the king's majesty, minding, with the advice and consent of the lord protector's grace, and the rest of the council, to have the said statute well executed in such sort, or like as is agreeable with the word of God (so the same may be also faithfully and reverently received of his most loving subjects, to their comforts and wealth), hath caused sundry of his majesty's most grave and well-learned prelates, and other learned men in the Scriptures, to assemble themselves for this matter; who, after long conference together, have, with deliberate advice, finally agreed upon such an order to be used in all places of the king's majesty's dominions, in the distribution of the said most holy sacrament, as may appear to you by the book thereof, which we send herewith unto you. Albeit, knowing your lordship's knowledge in the Scriptures, and earnest good will and zeal to the setting forth of all things according to the truth thereof, we be well assured, you will, of your own good will, and upon respect to your duty, diligently set forth this most godly order here agreed upon, and commanded to be used by the authority of the king's majesty: yet, remembering the crafty practice of the devil, who ceases not, by his members, to work by all ways and means the hinderance of all godliness; and considering furthermore, that a great number of the curates of the realm, either for lack of knowledge cannot, or for want of good mind will not, be so ready to set forth the same, as we would wish, and as the importance of the matter and their own bounden duties require-we have thought good to pray and require your lordship, and nevertheless, in the king's majesty's, our most dread sovereign lord's name, to command you, to have an earnest diligence, and careful respect, both in your own person, and by all your officers and ministers also, to cause these books to be delivered to every parson, vicar, and curate within your diocese, with such diligence as they may have sufficient VI. A. D. 1548. Edward time well to instruct and advise themselves, for the distribution of the most holy communion, according to the order of this book, before this Easter time; and that they may, by your good means, be well directed to use such good, gentle, and charitable instruction of their simple and unlearned parishioners, as may be to all their good satisfactions as much as may be; praying you to consider, that this order is set forth, to the intent there should be, in all parts of the realm, and among all men, one uniform manner quietly used. The execution whereof, like as it shall stand very much in the diligence of you and others of your vocation, so do we eftsoons require you to have a diligent respect thereunto, as ye tender the king's majesty's pleasure, and will answer for the contrary. And thus we bid your lordship right heartily farewell. From Westminster the 13th of March, 1548. Your lordship's loving friends, Privy hinderers of the gospel. By means as well of this letter, and the godly order of the learned, as also of the statute and act of parliament before mentioned, made for the establishing thereof, all private blasphemous masses were now, by just authority, fully abolished throughout this realm of England, and the right use of the sacrament of the most precious body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ truly restored instead of the same. But nevertheless, as at no time any thing can be so well done by the godly, but that the wicked will find some means subtilely to deface the same, so likewise, at this present, through the perverse obstinacy and dissembling frowardness of many of the inferior priests Division and ministers of the cathedrals, and other churches of this realm, there did arise a marvellous schism, and variety of fashions, in celebrating priests the common service and administration of the sacraments, and other king's rites and ceremonies of the church. For some, zealously allowing the king's proceedings, did gladly follow the order thereof; and others, though not so willingly admitting them, did yet dissemblingly and patchingly use some part of them; but many, carelessly contemning all, would still exercise their old wonted popery. amongst the about the proceed ings. Hereof the king and his council having good intelligence, and fearing the great inconveniences and dangers that might happen through this division, and being therewithal loth, at first, to use any great severity towards his subjects, but rather desirous, by some quiet and godly order, to bring them to some conformity, did, by their prudent advices, again appoint the archbishop of Canterbury, with certain of the best learned and discreet bishops and other learned men, diligently to consider and ponder the premises; and thereupon, having as well an eye and respect unto the most sincere and pure christian religion taught by the holy Scriptures, as also to the usages of the primitive church, to draw and make one convenient and meet order, rite, and fashion of Common Prayer, and administration of the sacraments, to be had and used within this his realm of England, and the dominions of the same; who, after most godly and learned conferences, through the aid of the Holy Ghost, with one uniform agreement did conclude, set forth, and deliver unto the king's highness, a book in English, entitled, "A Book of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other |