[583] Account of the Consecration of an Altar at Wolverhampton.* 1635.] "In the Collegiate church of Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, the altar and cloths thereof were consecrated 11 October, 1635. As soon as the priests come to the church, each of them made a low congie at their first entering in at the church door, and after that three congies apiece towards the altar, so they went into the chancel where a basin with water and a towel was provided for the priests to wash in, where also was incense burning; after, they returned making three congies apiece. After the sermon every one of them had a paper in his hand which they termed a censer, and so they went up again to the altar: as they went they made three congies apiece. The Communion being ended they washed their hands, and returned giving congies as before."-A Large Supplement of the Canterburian's Self-Conviction, p. 87 (note), 4to. 1641.† [584] Extreme Unction practised temp. Charles X. 1641.] "Extreme unction, if report may be trusted, is already in practice among them."-Ibid. p. 79. [585] The Chrism offered at Churchings, temp. Charles E. "The woman that cometh to give her thanks must offer the accustomed offerings, &c. In the second of King Edward this rubrick was, The woman shall offer the chrism [the white vesture] which was put upon the child at his baptism, according as has been accustomed. Against which Bucer excepted, and therefore was it altered 5 Edw., though to this day they generally observe that custom in the north parts of this kingdom."-Cosin's Notes in Nicholls' Commentary, p. 66. [586] Lights on the Feast of Candlemas desired by the Caroline Divines. 1641.] "The Canterburians affirm.... that the old pious ceremony of burning wax candles in all the churches of England through the whole clear day of her purification ought to be renewed."—A Large Supplement, &c. p. 62. * See antè, p. 181.-EDD. This is the Second Edition of Bailie's infamous "Canterburian's Self-Conviction", lauded by Prynne.-EDD. [587] Portrait of a Puritan. "A Puritan is he who when he prays, His rolling eyes up to the heavens doth raise.... The help of angels to a Benefice.... That loves alike an organ in a Quire As th' elephant delights a swine to hear; That never in his life did kneel before The gate of a cathedral chancel door.” The Character of a Puritan. A Dialogue wherein is plainly laid open the tyrannical dealing of the Lord Bishops against GOD's Children. Reprint of 1640. * "The words 'decently apparelled' [in the rubrick in the Office of "The Churching of Women"], which were inserted in the last review, are interpreted to mean with a white covering or veil.' Such was the practice before the Reformation, and puritans complain of it as still prevailing in Elizabeth's time. (Burnet, Hist. Ref. iii., Records, p. 335.) In the following reign, the Chancellor of Norwich made an order that every woman should be veiled at her churching: a woman was excommunicated for contempt of this order, and prayed a prohibition, which was refused by the judges, as they were certified by the Bishops that the order was according to the ancient usage of the Church of England. (Gibson 451.) Archdeacon Pory, in 1662, inquires whether the veil be worn; but it is said that we have not a legal right to enforce it. (Hook, Ch. Dict. ed. 2nd, Art. Canon.)”—How shall we Conform, &c. pp. 262, 263, 2nd edit. Bishop Wren enjoins in 1636, "That women to be churched come and kneel near the Communion Table without the rail, being veiled according to the custom, and not covered with a hat."-Documentary Annals, vol. 11. p. 204. Bishop Montague enquires "Doth she come to church in her ordinary habit and wearing apparel, or with a fair veil dependent from her head, that she may be distinguished from her accompanying neighbours, and that such as take notice of it be thereby put in mind, for her and with her, to give Gop thanks for her deliverance?"-Visitation Articles, Camb. Edit. p. 78.-EDD. [588] “Points of Popery" (in the opinion of the Elizabethan Puritans) remaining in the Church of England. Temp. Eliz.] "13. The Epistler, that doth read some patch of the Epistle. 14. The Gospeller, that doth read some piece of the Gospel. 15. The Quirister. 16. The Quire or Cage wherein they do separate themselves from the congregation, and cause the word not to be understood of the people.... 41. Putting off the caps at the Name of JESUS. 42. Crossing the corpse with linen cloths and such like. 43. Ringing of hand-bells in many places. . . . 46. Ringing of curfew upon hallow evens.... 50. Offerings at burials, and the offering of the woman at her churching.”—A View of Antichrist, his laws and ceremonies in our English Church unreformed. A part of a Register, pp. 60–63. [589] Clerical Apparel. 1564, 7 Eliz.] "First, That all Archbishops and Bishops do use and continue their accustomed apparel. "Item, That all Deans of Cathedral churches, Masters of Colleges, Archdeacons, and other dignities in Cathedral churches, Doctors, Bachelors of Divinity and Law, having any ecclesiastical living, shall wear in their common apparel abroad, a side gown with sleeves straight at the hand, without any cuts in the same; and that also without any falling cape: and to wear tippets of sarcenet, as is lawful for them by that act of Parliament, anno 24 Henrici octavi. "Item, That all Doctors of Physick, or of any other faculty, having any living ecclesiastical, or any other that may dispend by the Church one hundred marks, so to be esteemed by the fruits or tenths of their promotions; and all Prebendaries whose promotions be valued at twenty pounds or upward; wear the like apparel. "Item, That they and all ecclesiastical persons, or other having any ecclesiastical living, do wear the cap appointed by the Injunctions.* And they to wear no hats but in their journeying. "Item, That they in their journeying do wear their cloaks with sleeves put on, and like in fashion to their gowns, without guards, welts, or cuts. * i. e. "such square caps as were most commonly and orderly received in the latter year of the reign of King Edward v1."-EDD. "Item, That in their private houses and studies they use their own liberty of comely apparel. "Item, That all inferior ecclesiastical persons shall wear long gowns of the fashion aforesaid, and caps as afore is prescribed. “Item, That all poor parsons, vicars, and curates do endeavour themselves to conform their apparel in like sort, so soon and as conveniently as their ability will serve to the same; provided that their ability be judged by the Bishop of the diocese. And if their ability will not suffer to buy them long gowns of the form afore prescribed, that then they shall wear their short gowns, agreeable to the form before expressed. "Item, That all such persons as have been or be ecclesiastical, and serve not the ministry, or have not accepted, or shall refuse to accept the oath of obedience to the Queen's Majesty, do from henceforth abroad wear none of the said apparel of the form and fashion aforesaid, but go as mere laymen, till they be reconciled to obedience and who shall obstinately refuse to do the same, that they be presented by the Ordinary to the Commissioners in causes ecclesiastical, and by them to be reformed accordingly."-Advertisements of 1564. [590] 1603.] "The true, ancient, and flourishing Churches of Christ, being ever desirous that their prelacy and clergy might be had as well in outward reverence, as otherwise regarded for the worthiness of their ministry, did think it fit, by a prescript form of decent and comely apparel, to have them known to the people, and thereby to receive the honour and estimation due to the special messengers and ministers of Almighty GoD: we therefore following their grave judgment, and the ancient custom of the Church of England, and hoping that in time newfangleness of apparel in some factious persons will die of itself, do constitute and appoint, That the Archbishops and Bishops shall not intermit to use the accustomed apparel of their degrees. Likewise all Deans, Masters of Colleges, Archdeacons, and Prebendaries, in Cathedral and Collegiate churches, (being priests or deacons), Doctors in divinity, law, and physic, Bachelors in divinity, Masters of arts, and Bachelors of law, having any ecclesiastical living, shall usually wear gowns with standing collars, and sleeves strait at the hands, or wide sleeves, as is used in the universities, with hoods or tippets of silk or sarcenet, and square caps. And that all other ministers admitted or to be admitted into that function shall also usually wear the like apparel as is aforesaid, except tippets only. We do further in like manner ordain, That all the said ecclesiastical persons above mentioned shall usually wear in their journeys cloaks with sleeves, commonly called priests' cloaks, without guards, welts, long buttons, or cuts. And no ecclesiastical person shall wear any coif or wrought nightcap, but only plain nightcaps of black silk, satin, or velvet. In all which particulars concerning the apparel here prescribed, our meaning is not to attribute any holiness or special worthiness to the said garments, but for decency, gravity, and order, as is before specified. In private houses, and in their studies, the said persons ecclesiastical may use any comely and scholar-like apparel, provided that it be not cut or pinkt; and that in publick they go not in their doublet and hose, without coats or cassocks; and that they wear not any light-coloured stockings. Likewise poor beneficed men and curates (not being able to provide themselves long gowns) may go in short gowns of the fashion aforesaid."-Canon LXXIV. [591] Crucifires and Emages in Churches, temp. Charles X. 1641.] "They [the Caroline Divines] tell us.... that the Church of England (they take that Church commonly, by a huge mistake, for their own prevalent faction therein) doth not only keep innumerable images of CHRIST and the Saints in the most eminent and conspicuous places of their Sanctuaries, but also daily erect a number of long and large ones, very curiously dressed; and that herein they have reason to rejoice and glory above all other reformed Churches."-A Large Supplement, &c. p. 56. [592] 1640.] "And when you so devoutly kneel before your altar at the receiving of the Sacrament.... what is it a sign of?.... of your adoring the crucifix upon or over your altar?"—A Reply to the Relation of the Conference between William Laud and Mr. Fisher the Jesuit, by a Witness of JESUS CHRIST, p. 106, 4to. 1640. [593] Ibid.] "Hoisting up of altars in all churches, setting up of images in many, and repairing of some old, as in Paul's and other cathedrals and chapels, adorations before, towards, and to them."Ibid. p. 341. |