Page:VCH London 1.djvu/386

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A HISTORY OF LONDON dignitaries of St. Paul's, except the Archdeacon of Essex and the chancellor, resigned or were deprived. The parson of St. Leonard Eastcheap, being an ex-friar, in addition to deprivation was sentenced to make a public confession before the congregation, bearing a lighted taper in his hand.^°' The failure of Wyatt's rebellion in February 1553—4 was followed by a proclamation ordering all strangers to leave the realm, on the ground that they spread false doctrines amongst the queen's subjects,^^' and the citizens were warned to behave themselves dutifully in matters of religion.^**' The clergy of the London diocese were bidden to certify to the bishop the names of any of their parishioners who failed to communicate during Lent,*" and warnings were issued in March to those parishes which had not yet provided the books and ornaments necessary for the celebration of mass.**" An inquiry was made as to the names, condition (whether married or single), and where- abouts of religious persons in receipt of pensions."' At Easter all the old ceremonies were once more observed.*** The restoration of 'the old religion' apparently met with the approval of the citizens as a whole, though there were instances of opposition here and there. For example, various per- sons were charged with speaking against the queen ; *" a priest bearing the Sacrament on Corpus Christi Day was attacked by a joiner ; "' and some unknown offender hung up on a gallows in Cheapside a dead cat dressed as a priest with a mock wafer between its paws. A large reward was offered for the discovery of the perpetrator of this last outrage, but apparently without success.*" In May the parish clerks ' kept their mass in Guildhall Chapel in their procession according to the old usage ' with much state and ceremony;*" and other civic processions took place.*" On 24 May Bishop Bonner received a letter from the king and queen urging him to deal severely with heretics.*'" A month later a priest was imprisoned for singing the English Litany in his church at Charing Cross. *^* John Hill, a cutler, was brought before Dr. Feckenham in July for heresy, but recanted.* In September Bonner held a visitation of his diocese. He commanded the clergy not only to restore the old ceremonies, but to explain them fully to the people, that all might understand the inner meaning. The clergy were to wear their proper dress, and to be pure and honest in speech and action. Churchwardens were ordered to supply their churches with the necessary books and ornaments, a list of which was given. Confession and regular attendance at church were enjoined on the laity.*" Shortly afterwards the bishop issued a special mandate for the removal of passages of Scripture from the church walls. *^* '" Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. ix, App. i, loi ; also Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 347^, 348^ ; Machyn, Diary, 69, 73 ; Mcnum. Franc, ii, 254. '^ Corp. Rec. Joum. xvi, fol. 283 ; Letter Bk. R, fol. 288. '*" Corp. Rec. Repert. xlii (i), fol. 13 I. '" Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 341. '" Ibid. fol. 345 ; Cardwell, Doc. Annals, , 115. '^ Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 363. '" Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 113-14. '" Machyn, Diary, 60, 64, 69, 71. '^ Ibid. 64. '" Ibid. 59 ; Corp. Rec. Repert. xiii (l), fol. 147, &c. '*' Ibid, xiii, fol. 156^ ; Machyn, Diary, 62 ; Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 1 15. "* Machyn, Diary, 62-5, 75. '" Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 363 ; Wilkins, Cone, iv, 102. '" Narratives of the Reformation (Camd. Soc), 288. "' Monum. Franc, ii, 252. '^ Injunctions giten at tie Visitation, Sec, 1555 (B.M.). * Cardwell, Doc. Annals, i, 135 ; Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 357^. 300