the Lords but laid aside at that time assurance being given that the Owners of those Lands should be fully secured The Reason of laying it aside was that since by Law the Bishop of Rome had no Authority at all in England it was needless to pass an Act against his Power in that particular for that seemed to assert his Power in other things and since they were resolved to reconcile the Nation to him it was said that it would be indecent to pass an Act that should call him only Bishop of Rome which was the Compellation given him during the Schism and it was preposterous to begin with a Limitation of his Power before they had acknowledged his Authority So this was laid aside and the Parliament ended on the 25th of May. But the Matters of the Convocation are next to be related Those of the Reformation complained every-where that the Disputes of the last Convocation had not been fairly carried that the most eminent Men of their Persuasion were detained in Prison and not admitted to it that only a few of them that had a right to be in the House were admitted to speak and that these were much interrupted So that it was now resolved to adjourn the Convocation for some time and to send the Prolocutor with some of their number to Oxford that the Disputations might be in the presence of that whole University And since Cranmer and Ridley were esteemed the most Learned Men of that Persuasion they were by a Warrant from the Queen removed from the Tower of London to the Prisons at Oxford And though Latimer was never accounted very Learned and was then about eighty Years of Age yet he having been a celebrated Preacher who had done the Reformation no less Service by his Labours in the Pulpit than others had done by their abler Pens he was also sent thither to bear his share in the Debates Some sent to Oxford to disput with Reformeed Bishops Those who were sent from the Convocation came to Oxford on the 13th of April being Friday They sent for those Bishops on Saturday and assigned them Monday Tuesday and Wednesday every one of them his day for the defending of their Doctrine but ordered them to be kept apart And that all Books and Notes should be taken from them Three Questions were to be disputed 1. Whether the natural Body of Christ was really in the Sacrament 2. Whether any other Substance did remain but the Body and Blood of Christ 3. Whetter in the Mass there was a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the Sins of the Dead and Living When Cranmer was first brought before them the Prolocutor made an Exhortation to him to return to the Unity of the Church To which he answered with such gravity and modesty that many were observed to weep He said He was as much for Unity as any but it must be an Unity in Christ and according to the Truth The Articles being shewed him he asked Whether by the Body of Christ they meant an Organical Body They answering It was the Body that was born of the Virgin Then he said he would maintain the Negative of these Questions On the 16th when the Dispute with Cranmer Cranmer Disputes was to begin Weston that was Prolocutor made a stumble in the beginning of his Speech for he said Ye are this day assembled to confound the detestable Heresie of the Verity of the Body of Christ in the Sacrament This Mistake set the whole Assembly a laughing but he recovered himself and went on he said It was not lawful to call these things in doubt since Christ had so expresly affirmed them that to doubt of them vvas to deny the Truth and Power of God Then Chedsey urged Cranmer with the words This is my Body To vvhich he answered That the Sacrament vvas effectually Christ's Body as broken on the Cross that is His Passion effectually applyed For the explanation of this he offered a large Paper containing his Opinion of which I need say nothing since it is a short abstract of what he writ on that Head formerly and of that a full account was given in the former Book There followed a long Debate about these words Oglethorp Weston and others urged him much that Christ making his Testament must be supposed to speak Truth and plain Truth and they run out largely on that Cranmer answered That figurative Speeches are true and when the Figures are clearly understood they are then plain likewise Many of Chrysostom's high Expressions about the Sacrament were also cited vvhich Cranmer said vvere to be understood of the Spiritual Presence received by Faith Uponthis much time was spent the Prolocutor carrying himself very undecently towards him calling him an unlearned unskilful and impudent Man There were also many in the Assembly that often hissed him down so that he could not be heard at all which he seemed to take no notice of but went on as often as the noise ceased Then they cited Tertullian's words The Flesh is fed by the Body and Blood of Christ that so the Soul may be nourished by God But he turned this against them and said hereby it was plain the Body as well as the Soul received Food in the Sacrament therefore the Substance of Bread and Wine must remain since the Body could not be fed by that Spiritual Presence of the Body of Christ Tresham put this Argument to him Christ said as he lived by the Father so they that eat his Flesh should live by him but he is by his Substance united to his Father therefore Christians must be united to his Substance To this Cranmer answered That the Similitude did not import an equality but a likeness of some sort Christ is essentially united to his Father but Believers are united to him by Grace and that in Baptism as well as in the Eucharist Then they talked long of some words of Hilary's Ambrose's and Justin's Then they charged him as having mistranslated some of the Passages of the Fathers in his Book from which he vindicated himself saying that he had all his Life in all manner of things hated falshood After the Dispute had lasted from the Morning till two of the Clock it was broke up and there was no small Triumph as if Cranmer had been confounded in the Opinion of all the Hearers which they had expressed by their Laughter and Hissing There were Notaries that took every thing that was said from whose Books Fox did afterwards print the account of it that is in his great Volume The next day Ridley And Ridley was brought out and Smith who was spoke of in the former Book was now very zealous to redeem the prejudice which that compliance vvas like to be to him in his Preferment So he undertook to dispute this day Ridley began with a Protestation declaring That vvhereas he had been formerly of another mind from vvhat he vvas then to maintain he had changed upon no worldly consideration but
to give full answer of denial to those Suits that be not reasonable nor convenient Also to dispatch all Matters of Justice and to send to the common Courts those Suits that be for them The Calling of Forfeits done against the Laws for punishing the Offenders and breakers of Proclamations that now stand in force The Lord Privy-Seal The Earl of Pembrook The Lord Chamberlain Sir Thomas Wroth. Sir Robert Bowes Mr. Secretary Petre. Mr. Hobbey Mr. Wotton Sir John Baker Mr. Sollicitor Mr. Gosnald These shall first see what Laws Penal and what Proclamations standing now in force are most meet to be executed and shall bring a Certificate thereof Then they shall enquire in the Countries how they are disobeyed and first shall begin with the greatest Offenders and so afterward punish the rest according to the pains set forth They shall receive also the Letters out of the Shires of Disorders there done and punish the Offenders For the State The Bishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor The Lord Treasurer The Duke of Northumberland The Duke of Suffolk The Lord Privy-Seal The Marquess of Northampton The Earl of Shrewsbury The Earl of Pembrook The Earl of Westmoreland The Lord Admiral The Viscount Hereford The Lord Chamberlain Mr. Vicechamberlain Mr. Treasurer and Comptroller Mr. Cecil Mr. Petre. Mr. Wotton Sir Philip Hobbey Sir Robert Bowes These to attend the Matters of the State I will sit with them once a week to hear the debating of things of most importance These Persons under-written shall look to the state of all the Courts especially of the new erected Courts as the Augmentation the First Fruits and Tythes the Wards and shall see the Revenues answered at the half Years end and shall consider with what superfluous Charges they be burdened and thereof shall make a Certificate which they shall deliver The Lord Chamberlain The Bishop of Norwich Sir Thomas Wroth. Sir Robert Bowes Sir Richard Cotton Sir Walter Mildmay Mr. Gosnald I understand it is a Member of the Commission that followeth but yet those shall do well to do it for the present because the other shall have no leasure till they have called in the Debts after which done they may sit with them Those that now be in Commission for the Debts to take Accompts of all Paiments since the 35th of the King that dead is after that they have done this Commission they are now in hand with Likewise for the Bullwarks the Lord Chamberlain Mr. Treasurer and Mr. Comptroller to be in Commission in their several Jurisdictions The rest of the Council some go home to their Countries streight after the Parliament some be sore sick that they shall not be able to attend any thing which when they come they shall be admitted of the Council Also that these Councils that sit apart Also that those of the Council that have these several Commissions Desunt quedam 15. Jan. 1552. This seems not to be the King's Hand but is interlined in many places by him Certain Articles devised and delivered by the King's Majesty for the quicker better and more orderly dispatch of Causes by his Majesty's Privy-Council Cotton Libr. Nero. C. 10. 1. HIs Majesty willeth that all Suits Petitions and common Warrants delivered to his Privy-Council be considered by them on the Mundays in the Morning and answered also on the Saturdays at Afternoon and that that day and none others be assigned to that purpose 2. That in answering of these Suits and Bills of Petition heed be taken that so many of them as pertain to any Court of his Majesty's Laws be as much as may be referred to those Courts where by order they are triable such as cannot be ended without them be with expedition determined 3. That in making of those Warrants for Mony that pass by them it be foreseen that those Warrants be not such as may already be dispatcht by Warrant dormant lest by means of such Warrants the Accompts should be uncertain 4. His Majesty's pleasure is That on the * Provided that on Sundays they be present at Common-Prayer Sundays they intend the Publick Affairs of this Realm they dispatch Answers to Letters for the good order of the Realm and make full Dispatches of all Things concluded the Week before 5. That on the Sunday Night the Secretaries or one of them shall deliver to his Majesty a Memorial of such Things as are debated to be by his Privy-Council and then his Majesty to appoint certain of them to be debated on several days viz. Munday Afternoon Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Morning 6. That on Friday at Afternoon they shall make a Collection of such things as have been done the four days past how many of those Articles they have concluded how many they debated but not ended how many the time suffered not to peruse and also the principal Reasons that moved them to conclude on such Matters as seemeth doubtful 7. That on Saturday Morning they shall present this Collection to his Majesty and know his Pleasure upon such things as they have concluded and also upon all the private Suits 8. That on Sunday Night again his Majesty having received of the Secretaries such new Matters as hath arisen upon new occasion with such Matters as his Council have left some not determined and some not debated shall appoint what Matters and on which days shall be determined the next Week following 9. That none of them depart his Court for longer than two days without there be left here at the least eight of the Council and that not without giving notice thereof to the King's Majesty 10. That they shall make no manner of Assembly or Meeting in Council without there be to the number of four at the least 11. Furthermore if they be assembled to the number of four and under the number of six then they shall reason and debate things examine all Inconveniences and Dangers and also Commodities on each side make those things plain which seem diffuse at the first opening and if they agree amongst themselves then at the next full Assembly of six they shall make a perfect conclusion and end with them 12. Also if there rise such matter of weight as it shall please the King's Majesty himself to be at the debating of then warning shall be given whereby the more may be at the debating of it 13. If such Matter shall happen to rise as shall require long debating and reasoning or e're it come to a full conclusion or end then his Majesty's Council shall not intermeddle other Causes nor fall to other Matters for that day until they have brought it to some end 14. When Matters for lack of time be only debated and yet brought to no end then it shall be noted how far and to what point the Matter is brought and which have been the principal Reasons on each side to the intent when the Matter is treated or spoken of again it may the sooner and easilier come to
be found in the Collection In end Sentence was given allowing the second Marriage in that Case and by consequence confirming the Marquess of Northampton's Marriage to his second Wife who upon that was suffered to cohabit with him Yet four years after he was advised to have a special Act of Parliament for confirming this Sentence of which mention shall be made in its due time and Place Some further advance in the Reformation The next thing that came under consideration was the great contradiction that was in most of the Sermons over England Some were very earnest to justifie and maintain all the old Rites that yet remained and others were no less hot to have them laid aside So that in London especially the People were wonderfully distracted by this variety among their Teachers The Ceremonies of Candlemass and their observance of Lent with the Rites used on Palm-Sunday Good-Friday and Easter were now approaching Those that were against them condemned them as superstitious Additions to the Worship of God invented in the dark Ages when an outward Pageantry had been the chief thing that was looked after But others set out the good use that might be made of these things and taught that till they were abolished by the Kings Authority they ought to be still observed In a Visitation that had been made when I cannot learn only it seems to have been about the end of King Henry's Reign it had been declared that Fasting in Lent was only a Positive Law Several Directions were also given about the use of the Ceremonies and some hints as if they were not to be long continued and all Wakes and Plough-Mondays were suppressed since they drew great Assemblies of People together which ended in drinking and quarrelling These I have also inserted in the Collection Number 21. having had a Copy of the Articles left at the Visitation of the Deanry of Doncaster communicated to me by the favour of a most learned Physitian and curious Antiquary Dr. Nathaniel Johnston who sent me this with several other Papers out of his generous zeal for contributing every thing in his power to the perfecting of this Work The Country People generally loved all these Shews Processions and Assemblies as things of diversion and judged it a dull business only to come to Church for Divine Worship and the hearing of Sermons therefore they were much delighted with the gayity and cheerfulness of those Rites But others observing that they kept up all these things just as the Heathens did their Plays and Festivities for their Gods judged them contrary to the gravity and simplicity of the Christian Religion and therefore were earnest to have them removed This was so effectually represented to the Council by Cranmer that an Order was sent to him about it He sent it to Bonner who being Dean of the Colledge of Bishops in the Province of Canterbury was to transmit all such Orders over the whole Province By it the carrying of Candles on Candlemass day of Ashes on ash-Ash-Wednesday and Palms on Palm-Sunday were forbid to be used any longer And this was signified by Bonner to Thirleby Bishop of Westminster on the 28th of June as appears by the Register After this on the 6th of February A Proclamation against those who Innovated without Authority a Proclamation was issued out against such as should on the other hand rashly innovate or perswade the People from the old accustomed Rites under the Pains of Imprisonment and other Punishments at the Kings pleasure excepting only the formerly mentioned Rites to which are added the creeping to the Cross on Good-Friday taking Holy Bread and Water and any other that should be afterwards at any time certified by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury to the other Bishops in the Kings Name to be laid aside And for preventing the mischiefs occasioned by rash Preachers none were to preach without Licence from the King or his Visitors the Arch-bishop of Canterbury or the Bishop of the Diocess where they lived excepting only Incumbents preaching in their own Parishes Those who preached otherwise were to be imprisoned till Order were given for their punishment and the inferior Magistrates were required to see to the execution of these Orders This Proclamation which is in the Collection Number 22. was necessary for giving Authority to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury's Letters which were censured as a great presumption for him without any publick Order to appoint changes in Sacred Rites Some observed that the Council went on making Proclamations with arbitrary Punishments though the Act was repealed that had formerly given so great Authority to them To this it was answered That the King by his Supremacy might still in matters of Religion make new Orders and add Punishments upon the Transgressors yet this was much questioned though universally submitted to The general taking away of all Images Number 23. On the 11th of Feb. there was a Letter sent from the Council to the Arch-bishop for a more considerable Change There were every where great Heats about the removing of Images which had been abused to superstition Some affirming and others denying that their Images had been so abused There were in the Churches some Images of so strange a nature that it could not be denied that they had been abused Such was the Image of the Blessed Trinity which was to be censed on the day of the Innocents Processionale in Festo Innocentium by him that was made the Bishop of the Children This shews it was used on other days in which it is like it was censed by the Bishop where he was present How this Image was made can only be gathered from the Prints that were of it at that time In which the Father is represented sitting on the one hand as an old Man with a Triple Crown and Rayes about him the Son on the other hand as a young Man with a Crown and Rayes and the Blessed Virgin between them and the Emblem of the Holy Ghost a Dove spread over her Head So it is represented in a fair Book of the Hours according to the use of Sarum printed Anno 1526. The impiety of this did raise horror in most Mens Minds when that unconceivable Mystery was so grosly expressed Besides the taking the Virgin into it was done in pursuance to what had been said by some blasphemous Friars of her being assumed into the Trinity In another Edition of these it is represented by three Faces formed in one Head These things had not been set up by any publick Warrant but having been so long in practice they stood upon the general Plea that was for keeping the Traditions of the Church for it was said that the Promises made to the Church were the same in all Ages and that therefore every Age of the Church had an equal Right to them But for the other Images it was urged against them that they had been all consecrated with such Rites and Prayers that it was certain
repealed and it was Enacted That from the first of May none should eat Flesh on Fridays Saturdays ember-Ember-days in Lent or any other days that should be declared Fish-days under several Penalties A Proviso was added for excepting such as should obtain the Kings Licence or were sick or weak and that none should be indicted but within three Months after the Offence Christ had told his Disciples that when he should be taken from them then they should fast Accordingly the Primitive Christians used to fast oft more particularly before the Anniversary of the Passion of Christ which ended in a high Festivity at Easter Yet this was differently observed as to the number of days Some abstained 40 days in imitation of Christs Fast others only that Week and others had only an entire Fast from the time of Christs death till his Resurrection On these Fasts they eat nothing till the Evening and then they eat most commonly Herbs and Roots Afterwards the Fridays were kept as Fasts because on that day Christ suffered Saturdays were also added in the Roman Church but not without contradiction Ember-weeks came in afterwards being some days before those Sundays in which Orders were given And a General Rule being laid down that every Christian Festival should be preceded by a Fast thereupon the Vigils of Holy-days came though not so soon into the Number But this with the other good Institutions of the Primitive times became degenerate even in St. Austins time Religion came to be placed in these observances and anxious Rules were made about them Afterwards in the Church of Rome they were turned into a Mockery for as on Fast-days they dined which the Ancients did not so the use of the most delicious Fish drest in the most exquisite manner with the richest Wines that could be had was allowed which made it ridiculous So now they resolved to take off the severities of the former Laws and yet to keep up such Laws about Fasting and Abstinence as might be agreeable to its true end which is to subdue the Flesh to the Spirit and not to gratifie it by a change of one sort of diet into another which may be both more delicate and more inflaming So fond a thing is Superstition that it will help Men to deceive themselves by the slightest Pretences that can be imagined It was much lamented then and there is as much cause for it still that carnal Men have taken advantages from the abuses that were formerly practised to throw off good and profitable Institutions since the frequent use of Fasting with Prayer and true Devotion joyned to it is perhaps one of the greatest helps that can be devised to advance one to a spiritual temper of Mind and to promote a holy course of Life And the mockery that is discernable in the way of some Mens Fasting is a very slight excuse for any to lay aside the use of that which the Scriptures have so much recommended Some Bills were rejected There were other Bills put in into both Houses but did not pass One was for declaring it Treason to marry the Kings Sisters without consent of the King and his Council but it was thought that King Henry's Will disabling them from the Succession in that case would be a stronger restraint and so it was laid aside Another Bill was put in for Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Great Complaints were made of the abounding of Vices and Immoralities which the Clergy could neither restrain nor punish and so they had nothing left but to preach against them which was done by many with great freedom In some of these Sermons the Preachers expressed their apprehensions of signal and speedy Judgments from Heaven if the People did not repent but their Sermons had no great effect for the Nation grew very corrupt and this brought on them severe punishments The Temporal Lords were so jealous of putting power in Church-mens hands especially to correct those vices of which themselves perhaps were most guilty that the Bill was laid aside The pretence of opposing it was that the greatest part of the Bishops and Clergy were still Papists in their Hearts so that if Power were put into such Mens hands it was reasonable to expect they would employ it chiefly against those who favoured the Reformation and would vex them on that score though with Pretences fetched from other things A design for digesting the Common Law into a Body There was also put into the House of Commons a Bill for reforming of Processes at Common Law which was sent up by the Commons to the Lords but it fell in that House I have seen a large Discourse written then upon that Argument in which it is set forth that the Law of England was a barbarous kind of Study and did not lead Men into a finer sort of Learning which made the Common Lawyers to be generally so ignorant of Forreign Matters and so unable to negotiate in them therefore it was proposed that the Common and Statute Laws should be in imitation of the Roman Law digested into a Body under Titles and Heads and put in good Latin But this was too great a Design to be set on or finished under an Infant King If it was then necessary it will be readily acknowledged to be much more so now the Volume of our Statutes being so much swell'd since that time besides the vast number of Reports and Cases and the Pleadings growing much longer than formerly yet whether this is a thing to be much expected or desired I refer it to the learned and wise Men of that Robe The only Act that remains of this Session of Parliament The Admirals Attainder about which I shall inform the Reader is the Attainder of the Admiral The Queen Dowager that had married him died in September last not without suspition of Poison She was a good and vertuous Lady and in her whole Life had done nothing unseemly but the marrying him so indecently and so soon after the Kings death There was found among her Papers a Discourse written by her concerning her self entituled The Lamentation of a Sinner which was published by Cecil who writ a Preface to it In it she with great sincerity acknowledges the sinful course of her Life for many years in which she relying on External Performances such as Fasts and Pilgrimages was all that while a Stranger to the Internal and True Power of Religion which she came afterwards to feel by the study of the Scripture and the calling upon God for his Holy Spirit She explains clearly the Notion she had of Justification by Faith so that Holiness necessarily followed upon it but lamented the great scandal given by many Gospellers So were all these called who were given to the reading of the Scriptures She being thus dead The Queen Dowager dying he courted the Lady Eliz. the Admiral renewed his Addresses to the Lady Elizabeth but in vain for as he could not expect that his Brother and the Council
said Alms whereby they may buy some kind of Stuff by the working sale and gains whereof they may repay the Sum borrowed and also well relieve themselves or else the said Church-Wardens to buy the Stuff themselves and pay the Poor for their working thereof and after sale of the same to return the Sum with the Gain to the said Chest there to remain to such-like use Item Forasmuch as heretofore you have not by any means diligence or study advanced your selves unto knowledg in God's Word and his Scriptures condignly as appertaineth to Priests and Dispensators of God's Testament to the intent you may hereafter be of better ability to discharge your selves towards God and your Offices to the World you shall daily for your own study and knowledg read over diligently and weigh with judgment two Chapters of the New Testament and one of the Old in English and the same shall put in ure and practice as well in living as preaching at times convenient when occasion is given Item Forasmuch as Drunkenness Idleness Brawls Dissention and many other Inconveniences do chance between Neighbour and Neighbour by the assembly of People together at Wakes and on the Plough Mundays it is therefore ordered and enjoined That hereafter the People shall use make or observe no more such Wakes Plough Mundays or drawing of the same with any such Assembly or Rout of People or otherwise as hath been accustomed upon pain of forfeiting to the King's Highness 40 s. for every Default to be paid by the Owner of the Plough and Housholder whereunto the said Plough is drawn or Wakes are kept The Names of the Visitors Sir John Markham John Hearn Thomas Gragrave Roger Tongue William Moreton Edmund Farley Number 22. A Proclamation against those that do innovate alter or leave down any Rite or Ceremony in the Church of their private Authority and against them which Preach without License Set forth the 6th day of February in the Second Year of the King's Majesty's most gracious Reign Ex Reg. Cranmer Fol. 111. THe King's Majesty by the advice of his most entirely beloved Vncle the Duke of Somerset Governor of his most Royal Person and Protector of all his Realms Dominions and Subjects and others of his Counsel Considering nothing so much to tend to the disquieting of this Realm as diversity of Opinions and variety of Rites and Ceremonies concerning Religion and worshipping of Almighty God and therefore studying all the ways and means which can be to direct this Church and the Cure committed to his Highness in one and most true Doctrine Rite and Vsage yet is advertised That certain private Curats Preachers and other Lay-men contrary to their bounden Duties of Obedience do rashly attempt of their own and singular Wit and Mind in some Parish-Churches and otherwise not only to perswade the People from the old and accustomed Rites and Ceremonies but also themselves bringeth in new Orders every one in their Church according to their Phantasies the which as it is an evident token of Pride and Arrogance so it tendeth both to Confusion and Disorder and also to the high displeasure of Almighty God who loveth nothing so much as Order and Obedience Wherefore his Majesty straitly chargeth and commandeth That no manner of Person of what Estate Order or Degree soever he be of his private Mind Will or Phantasie do omit leave done change alter or innovate any Order Rite or Ceremony commonly used and frequented in the Church of England and not commanded to be left undone at any time in the Reign of Our late Soveraign Lord his Highness Father other than such as his Highness by the Advice aforesaid by his Majesty's Visitors Injunctions Statutes or Proclamations hath already or hereafter shall command to be omitted left innovated or changed but that they be observed after that sort as before they were accustomed or else now sith prescribed by the Authority of his Majesty or by the means aforesaid upon pain That whosoever shall offend contrary to this Proclamation shall injure his Highness Indignation and suffer Imprisonment and other gxievous Punishments at his Majesty's Will and Pleasure Provided always that for not bearing a Candle upon candlemass-Candlemass-day not taking Ashes upon ash-Ash-wednesday not bearing Palm upon Palm-Sunday not creeping to the Cross not taking Holy Bread or Holy Water or for omitting other such Rites and Ceremonies concerning Religion and the Vse of the Church which the most Reverend Father in God the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by his Majesty's Will and Commandment with the Advice aforesaid hath declared or hereafter shall declare to the other Bishops by his Writing under Seal as heretofore hath been accustomed to be omitted or changed no Man hereafter be imprisoned nor otherwise punished but all such things to be reputed for the observation and following of the same as though they were commanded by his Majesty's Injunctions And to the intent that rash and seditious Preachers should not abuse his Highness People it is his Majesty's Pleasure That whosoever shall take upon him to Preach openly in any Parish-Church Chappel or any other open place other than those which he licensed by the King's Majesty or his Highness Visitors the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury or the Bishops of the Diocess where he doth preach except it be Bishop Parson Vicar Dean Warden or Provost in his or their own Cure shall be forthwith upon such attempt and preaching contrary to this Proclamation be committed to Prison and there remain until such time as his Majesty by the advice aforesaid hath taken order for the further punishment of the same and that the Premises should be more speedily and diligently done and performed his Highness giveth straitly in Commandment to all Iustices of Peace Mayors Sheriffs Constables Headborroughs Church-wardens and all other his Majesty's Officers and Ministers and Rulers of Towns Parishes and Hamlets that they be diligent and attendent to the true and faithful execution of this Proclamation and every part thereof according to the intent purport and effect of the same And that they of their proceedings herein or if any Offender be after they have committed the same to Prison do certifie his Highness the Lord Protector or his Majesty's Council with all speed thereof accordingly as they tender his Majesty's Pleasure the Wealth of the Realm and will answer to the contrary at their uttermost perils God save the King Number 23. An Order of Council for the Removing of Images AFter our right hearty Commendations to your good Lordship Regist Cranmer Fol. 32. where now of late in the King's Majesty's Visitation among other Godly Injunctions commanded to be generally observed throughout all Parts of this his Highness Realm one was set forth for the taking down 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 the Realm been well and quietly obeyed and executed yet in many other places much strife and