event seems to show that Longland was still trying to check the spread of heresy by definite teaching. An Act Book of his dated 1544,[1] though a mere fragment, is of great interest, as it shows the working of the later legislation of the reign of Henry VIII. , and in particular the effects of the ' Bishop's Book ' and ' King's Book' of 1536 and 1544 those last efforts to secure a reformation of life and practice amongst clergy and people without change of doctrine. It may be worth while to give some details from this book, as original records of these few years are not common.
It appears that in 1544 an inquiry was made or at least begun in the diocese of Lincoln, with the intention of finding out whether the clergy really were instructing their people in accordance with the royal injunctions of 1536, and on the lines laid down by the ' Institution of a Christian Man ' issued a year later. In the archdeaconry of Bucking- ham, the curate of Horton was excommunicated for neglect of his cure, in that he had not registered the names of children brought to him for baptism, nor yet explained to his parishioners the Creed, Our Father and Hail Mary. His rectory-house was noticed to be in great ruin. After confession of his fault and promise of amendment, he was absolved.[2] The rector of Leckhampstead, the vicar of Dorney and the curate of Wyrardisbury were similarly dealt with, for similar reasons. The vicar of Upton, being called to account, confessed that he had not taught his flock ' the book of the Articles of Convocation ' and did not even know what was in it ; but as he had made some efforts to instruct his parish- ioners in the Creed and the Ten Commandments he was dismissed with a warning. The rector of Farnham Royal had failed to read the royal injunctions, though he had done the rest of his duty.
In the same book there are a few cases of church discipline enforced upon the laity, some for moral offences, and some for acts which very nearly brought them under the charge of heresy. A tailor of Colnbrook, examined in the parochial chapel, confessed that he had eaten fish, [3] and caused others to do the like, on one of the Ember days, ' against the laudable custom of the Church of England ' ; that he had read the English Bible belonging to Horton church, for the edification of him- self and others, in such a loud voice that the curate, after vainly trying to get him to be quieter, had sent him about his business [4]; and that he had in his possession certain evil and corrupt books. He was
- ↑ In one of the portfolios of ' Visitations of Monasteries ' in the Alnwick Tower at Lincoln.
- ↑ He said he had declared the articles of our faith and ten commandments three years running ; but not this year. He did summon certain servants sixteen years of age, who could not say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Commandments in their mother tongue, and made them promise to learn these. He did examine in the faith those who came to him in confession. But he had not read the ' King's Book ' for a year.
- ↑ ' viz. flounders and a little barbill ' : almost as incorrect, of course, upon an Ember Day as flesh meat.
- ↑ After the first remonstrance ' the curate, who was then in making holy water, bade him go about such things as he had to do.'
pray for him, for I will not. ... He saith that the sacrament of the altar is the flesh and blood of God and it is not so ; it is but wine. . . . Look now upon my book, and I will shew thee the very truth.'
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