The primitive rule of Reformation according to the first liturgy of K. Edward VI, 1549 containing an extract of the same, so far as it is Popishly affected : together with several honourable testimonials thereof from church and state, of that, and of succeeding ages : as also the wishes of several churches and chuchmen of the Reformation, for restoring the said liturgy in parts.

For Communions (or Masses) for the Dead.

A Latin Copy of the Service-Book Printed 2 Eliz. has in it an Office for Communions at Burials (Celebratio Caenae Domini in Fune∣b••ibus, &c.) And Offertories at Burials did lest to be Frequent (if they were Considerable Funerals) to the middle of K. James his Reign. Nor is the fore-mentioned Communion Office to be pass'd over, as a Celebration that stole out from a Private Hand without Authority. For that Common-Prayer-Book was done into Latine by Command, and Authorized by the Great Seal of Q. Elizabeth. So, Coal from the Altar, p. 23. Esteemed to be the work of Walter Haddon; and Recommended by the Queen to all the Colledges in

Oxford and Cambridge, the Colledges of Winchester and Eaton, &c. to be received into Use; for so run her Letters Patents. Quo∣niam Intelligimus Collegia utrius{que} Academiae, Collegium item Novum prope Wintoniam & Aetonenses, &c. Q. Letters Patents 6 April. Eliz. 2. And for what is Peculiar in the Obits and Exequies, and runs Counter to the Statute, it is warranted by the Queens special Non Obstante. Peculiaria quaedam in Funebribus & Exequiis decan∣tanda, quae Statuto non obstante, &c. say the same Letters Patents. Thus Holy Table, Name and Thing. pag. 56, 57. At Q. Elizabeths first coming to the Crown, a Proclamation was set forth, forbid∣ding any man to alter any Ceremonies, but according to the Rites of her own Chappel; which were indeed the entire Ceremonies of the Mass, but that the Lords Supper, Creed & Litany was in English, as was usual in her Fathers time, Camdens Eliz. p. 23. Stow p. 614. Litany with Suffrages, Printed 16 of June 1544. As therefore that Wise Princess made shift for a time with her Sisters Seal, so did she with Her Ceremonies, but forsook them Both as soon as she could otherwise be provided.* 1.1 So Holy Table, Name and Thing, pag. 34, 35. leaving the Colledges at more Liberty in their par∣ticular Obits and Exequies, as also in their Latine Service, and the Monkery of their Fellowes; by it all which should seem, that the Colledges in those days appear'd like the Remainder of the Latine Church, which stood out from the rest of their Fellows, as being not yet come over to the Reformation; in the same nature as the Kentish Men refused to Bow to the Conquerors Sword, until he had confirm'd to them their Antient Priviledges. For after all the Noise of the Queens Act of Ʋniformity, so distant was the Face of Worship in the Collegiate Churches of those Days, from that in the other Churches, as the Distance between the present Cathedral and Parochial Churches appears not greater; whose Modes are yet so different, as notwithstanding the late Kings like boasted Act of Ʋniformity; the Dissenters who are at fierce War with the One, want but a little of Closing with the Other.

To conclude, It appears upon a Review of the Premises, that the Exiled Cavaliers and Sequestred Clergy, upon the late Kings Re∣turn did not more earnestly-long for the Restoration of the New Liturgy, nor the Dissenters and Silenced Non-conformists, after the Bartholomew-Tide Suspencion thirst for No Liturgy more zea∣lously, than the fore-named Churches and Churchmen have renewed their Desires for the Old-Liturgy: Wishing no less passionately for the Antient Liturgy of the Primitive Reformation, than the Church of England does with one Voice in the Commination-Office on Ash-Wednesdays, cry out for the Antient Discipline of the Pri∣mitive Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  She had a Cru∣cifix on her Al∣tar in her Chappel. So Thuanus Hist. l. 13. p. 670.