A HISTORY OF LONDON give some account of the taking of the Covenant in different London parishes. A copy of it was hung up in some churches, and hsts were made of those parishioners who had taken it, as well as of those who refused.'" A temporary scheme was devised for the ordination of clergy, with a view to supplying the many vacant posts. Committees of ministers in London and elsewhere were appointed to examine candidates and to ordain them by the imposition of hands.'*' In January i 644-5 ^^^ "^^ °^ ^^^ Book of Common Prayer was forbidden, and the Directory for Public Worship enacted for use in its stead.'" This did not, however, solve all problems. In March 1644—5 ^ number of well-known Puritan ministers presented to Parliament a petition describing the lamentable state of confusion and evil in the disorganized Church, and begging that with the Directory there might also be published ' some effectual course to keep back ignorant and scandalous persons from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.'"" They proposed that elders should be appointed in every parish to join with the minister in examining intending communicants."^ The petition was granted, the Lords passing an order accordingly, which was sent down to the Commons.'" At the same time the London ministers laid before the mayor and aldermen a statement of ' the imminent danger of the city,' pointing out the general slighting of the public ministry of the Word, the prevalence of divisions and party spirit, the abound- ing of heretical opinions, and other evils ; and proposing by way of remedy
- a settled uniform method of worship, discipline, and government according
to our late solemn covenant." In August 1645 Parliament issued prelimi- nary directions for the election of elders according to the Presbyterian plan, dividing ' the province of London ' into twelve classical elderships.* Certain persons were to be appointed in each Classis ' to be triers and judges of such as are to be chosen elders.' '" The matter was discussed at great length by the mayor, aldermen, commoners, and ministers of London, and arrangements made to carry out the scheme.* In October Parliament issued an ordinance with rules and directions concerning suspension from the Lord's Supper ; '" but neither the London ministers nor their parishioners were altogether pleased. Their wish was that Parliament should have no control over the Church in matters purely ecclesiastical, but that the governing power in such matters should reside in the ministers and elders.'"* During November and December they presented to Parliament a number of petitions, all tending in this direction.'^' So many London citizens refused to pay tithes at this time that several ministers were forced to abandon their livings and leave the "' See St. Margaret Westm. Chwdns.' Accts. 1642-6; St. Mary Magdalen Milk Street Vest. Min. 1643 ; St. Stephen Walbrook Accts. 1643 ; St. Michael Crooked Lane Accts. 1645-6 ; St. Peter VVestcheap Vest. Min. 1644 ; St. Margaret New Fish Street Accts. 1645 ; St. John Walbrook Accts. 1643-4 ; St. Gregory by St. Paul's Vest. Min. note at end ; St. Helen, Vest. Min. 1643. '^ Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. vi, App. 25 ; Commons' Journ. iii, 617. "' See St. Ethelburga Chwdns.' Accts. 1644-5. A few days later Archbishop Laud was put to death ; his body was buried in Allhallows Barking, and the Church seriice was read .it his grave. " Lords' Journ. vii, 268. '" Mercurius C'tvicus, 13 Mar. 1644-5. '" Ibid. ; Diary of P roc. in Pari I 3 Mar. 1644-5 ; Weekly Intelligencer, 1 1 Mar. 1644-5. '" Certain Considerations, &c. (B.M. Pamphlets, E. 273, no. 18). '" Lords' "Journ. vii, 544 ; see also p. 558. '" Directions of Lords and Commons (B.M. Pamphlets, E. 297, no. 6). '" Corp. Rec. Letter Bk. QQ, fol. 180-8 ; Journ. xl, fol. 149-50. '" An Ordinance of Pari. (B.M. Pamphlets, E. 305, no. 13). '" Sharpe, Lond. and the Kingdom, ii, 223-4. '■' Lords' Journ. vii, 714-18 ; Commons' Journ. iv, 348, 365 ; Corp. Rec. Journ. xl, fol. 148, 153.^, 154^.
