Stephine, Bishop of Winchester, our Chancellor of England; Cuthbert, Bishop of Duresine; Edmond, Bishop of London; Robert, Bishop of Sainte Asaphe; George, Bishop of Chichester, our almoner; and Anthonye, Bishop of Landaff, greeting. Where John Taylor, Doctor of Divinity, naming himself Bishop of Lincolne; John Hoper, naming himself Bishop of Worcester and Glocester; John Harley, Bishop of Hereford; having their said several pretensed bishoprics given to them, by the letters patents of our late deceased brother. King Edward the Sixte, to have and to hold the same during their good behaviours, with the express clause (quamdiu se bene gesserint) have sithence, as hath been credibly brought to our knowledge, both by preaching, teaching, and setting forth of erroneous doctrine, and also by inordinate life and conversation, contrary both to the laws of Almighty God, and use of the universal Christian Church, declared themselves very unworthy of that vocation and dignity in the Church.
'We minding to have their several cases duly heard and considered, and thereupon such order taken with them, as may stand with justice, and the laws, have, for the special trust we have conceived of your wisdoms, learning and integrity of life, appointed you four, three, or two of you, to be our commissioners in this behalf: giving unto you four, three, or two of you, full power and authority to call before you, if you shall think so good, the said John Taylor, John Hoper, John Harley, and every of them; and thereupon, either by order of the ecclesiastical laws, or of the laws of our realm, or of both, proceed to the declaring of the said bishoprics to be void, as they be already indeed void. To the intent some such other meet personages may be elected thereunto, as for their godly life, learning, and sobriety, may be thought worthy the places.
'In witness, &c. Teste Reginâ apud Westm. 15 die Martii.'
Note VI. P. 233.
Orders in the Church of England.
It can be proved beyond reasonable doubt, that Episcopal orders were not insisted upon in practice, in the Church of England, as an indispensable condition to ministry, down to the great rebellion, or in one or two instances even after it.
1. In the answers of the Commission in the year 1540 to the questions raised in preparation for the issuing of the 'Erudition of a Christian man,' on the special subject of orders, the rest of
