Upon this a commission under the great seal was granted and the convocation re-assembled; however, notwithstanding the opinion of these gentlemen of the long robe, Dr. Hacket, Brownrigge, Holdisworth, and others, to the number of thirty-six, protested earnestly against it, though in regard the session was warranted by so many considerable persons, they did not withdraw, nor enter their protest in form of law, as they ought to have done. They were further so influenced by his majesty's message sent by Sir H. Vane, secretary of state, to acquaint them, "that it was his royal pleasure, that none of the prelates or 'clergy should withdraw from the synod or convocation, 'till the affairs they had in command from the king were 'perfected and finished."

Upon this dubious foundation the convocation was continued, and a committee of twenty-six appointed to prepare matters for the debate of the house; but the mob being so inflamed as to threaten to pull down the convocation-house, the king appointed them a guard of the militia of Middlesex, commanded by Endymion Porter, groom of the bed-chamber, a papist, under whose protection the synod was continued till the canons were perfected, and six subsides granted by way of supply for the exigence of his majesty's affairs, to be collected in six years, after the rate of four shillings in the pound, amounting to about one hundred and twenty thousand pounds; after which it was dissolved [May 29,] by a special mandate or writ from his majesty, after it had continued twenty-five sessions. The canons, having been approved by the privy council, were subscribed by as many of both houses of convocation as were present, and then transmitted to the provincial synod of York, by whom they were subscribed at once, without so much as debating either matter or form. Dr. John Williams, bishop of Lincoln, was in the tower, and had no concern with the canons. Dr. Goodman, bishop of Gloucester, a concealed papist, was the only prelate who declined the subscription; till the archbishop threatened him with deprivation, and the rest of his brethren pressing him to comply, he was persuaded to put his name to the book; but several of the members of the lower house avoided the test, by withdrawing

* Fuller's Church History, b. ix. P. 168.

before the day of subscription; for of above one hundred and sixty, of which both houses of convocation consisted, there were not many more than one hundred names to the book.

The unreasonableness of continuing the synod after the dissolution of parliament appears from hence, that the convocation consisting of bishops, deans, archdeacons, and clerks, the three former act in their personal capacities only, and may give for themselves what subsidies they please; but the clerks being chosen for their respective cathedrals and dioceses, legally to sit as long as the parliament continues, desist from being public persons as soon as it is dissolved, and lose the character of representatives; they are then no more than private clergymen, who, though they may give the king what sums of money they please for themselves, cannot vote away the estates of their brethren, unless they are re-elected. Besides, it was contrary to all law and custom, both before and since the act of submission of the clergy to king Henry VIII. except in the single instance of queen Elizabeth.

The canons of this synod, consisting of seventeen articles, were published June 30, and entitled, Constitutions and canons ecclesiastical, treated upon by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, presidents of the convocation for their respective provinces, and the rest of the bishops and clergy of those provinces, and agreed upon with the king's majesty's licence, in their several synods begun at London and York, 1640.*

CANON I. Concerning the Regal Power.

"We ordain and decree, that every parson, vicar, cu'rate, or preacher, upon one Sunday in every quarter of the year, in the place where he serves, shall read the following explanation of the regal power:

"That the most high and sacred order of kings is of DIVINE RIGHT, being the ordinance of God himself, founded in the prime laws of nature and revelation, by which the supreme power over all persons civil and ecclesiastical is 'given to them.

"That they have the care of God's church, and the

*Nalson's Collection, p. 545.

power of calling and dissolving councils, both national and provincial.

"That for any persons to set up in the king's realms any independent, coercive power, either papal or popular, is treasonable against God and the king. And for subjects 'to bear arms against their king, either offensive or defensive, upon any pretence whatsoever, is at least to resist the powers ordained of God; and though they do not invade, but only resist, St. Paul says, They shall receive • damnation.

"And though tribute and custom, aid and subsidy, be 'due to the king, by the law of God, nature and nations, 'yet subjects have a right and property in their goods and 'estates; and these two are so far from crossing one an. other, that they mutually go together for the honorable and comfortable support of both.

"If any clergyman shall voluntarily and carelessly neg'lect to publish these explications, he shall be suspended; or if in any sermon, or public lecture, he shall maintain any position contrary hereunto, he shall be forthwith ex'communicated and suspended for two years; and if he 'offend a second time he shall be deprived."

CANON II. For the better observing the Day of his Majesty's Inauguration.

"The synod decrees and ordains, that all persons shall 'come to church the morning of the said day, and continue there till prayers and preaching are ended, upon pain of such punishment as the law inflicts on those who wilfully 'absent themselves from church on holy days."

CANON III. For suppressing the Growth of Popery.

"All ecclesiastical persons within their several parishes 'or jurisdictions, shall confer privately with popish recusants, but if private conference prevail not, the church must and shall come to her censures, and to make way for them, such persons shall be presented at the next visitation, who come not to church, and refuse to receive the holy eucharist; or who either say or hear mass; and if they remain obstinate after citation, they shall be excom. municated,

"But if neither conference nor censures prevail, the church shall then complain of them to the civil power; and this sacred synod does earnestly intreat the reverend 'justices of assize, to be careful in executing the laws, as they will answer it to God. And every bishop shall once 'a year send into the court of chancery, a significavit of 'the names of those who have stood excommunicated beyond the time limited by law, and shall desire, that a writ 'de excommunicato capiendo may be at once sent out 'against them all.

"Care is likewise to be taken, that no person be admitted to teach school, but who has subscribed to the church as the law directs; and that no excommunicate person be absoived by any appeal, unless he first take the oath de parendo juri & stando mandatis ecclesiæ."

CANON IV. Against Socinianism.

"It is decreed, that no person shall import, print, or 'disperse any of their books, on pain of excommunication, and of being further punished in the star-chamber. No minister shall preach any such doctrines in his sermons, 'nor student have any such books in his study, except he be a graduate in divinity ;* and if any layman embrace 'their opinions, he shall be excommunicated, and not absolved without repentance and abjuration.”

[N. B. None of the doctrines of Socinus, nor any of his peculiar sentiments, are mentioned in this canon.]

CANON V. Against Sectaries.

"The synod decrees, that the canon abovementioned 'against papists shall be in full force against all anabap'tists, brownists, separatists, and other sectaries, as far as they are applicable; and further, the clause against the 'books of Socinians abovementioned, shall be in force ' against all books written against the discipline and gov'ernment of the church of England.

"It is also ordained, that such persons who resort to "their parish churches to hear the sermon, but do not join

Dr.Grey supplies here from Nalson; "or such as have episcopal or archidiaconal ordination, or any doctor of laws in order, as is aforesaid." Ed.

in the public prayers, shall be subject to the same pen'alties with other sectaries and recusants."

CANON VI. An Oath for preventing Innovations in Doctrine and Government.

"The synod decrees, that all archbishops, bishops, 'priests and deacons, shall, before the 2d of November 'next, take the following oath, which shall be tendered by the bishop in person, or some grave divine, deputed by him, and shall be taken in presense of a public notary."

The OATH.

"I, A. B. do swear, That I do approve the doctrine, 'discipline, or government, established in the church of England, as containing all things necessary to salvation; and that I will not endeavor by myself or any other, directly or indirectly, to bring in any Popish doctrine, 'contrary to that which is so established; nor will I ever 'give my consent to alter the government of this church by archbishops, bishops, deans and archdeacons, &c. as it 'stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand, 'nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and super'stitions of the see of Rome. And all these things I do 'plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according 'to the plain and common sense and understanding of the 'same words, without any equivocation, or mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever; and this I do heartily, • willingly, and truly, upon the faith of a christian. So help me God in Jesus Christ."

"If any beneficed person in the church shall refuse this oath, he shall after one month be suspended ab officio; after a second month he shall be suspended ab officio & benficio; and after a third month,‡ if he continue to re'fuse, he shall be deprived.

"It is likewise ordained, That all that are incorporated in either of the universities, or take any degree, whether

In his majesty's duplicate of this canon, sent by the archbishop to the bishop of Ely, the word [Popish] is omitted, as it is in the duplieate sent to the vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and several others.

† Allowed "to inform himself." "For his better information.”