Dearest Sir,
Yours of the 4th I showed to Mr. Baker, who desires me to tell you, that
the Canons of 1571, with the subscriptions, are (as the Articles) in
paper bound up in the same volume of the _Synodalia_, and stand there
next to the "Articles of 1571" subscribed by the Archbishop and ten
Bishops.
I agree with you that the MS. of 1562 was designed to be subscribed
without alterations; but your reasons do not satisfy me that the
alterations were posterior to the subscription, for notwithstanding the
alterations it appeared very plain to the subscribers what they
subscribed to, and there needed no memorandum to them that the lines of
minium were designed to exclude all that was scored; and the care that
was taken to alter the account of the number of lines and Articles of
the several pages conformably to the alterations made by the lines of
minium was wholly unnecessary, and to no purpose, except the
subscriptions were to follow, in the middle of which the subscribers own
the exact number of Articles and lines in every page, and therefore this
care was necessary that their subscription might be true; but supposing
they subscribed before the alterations, the lines of minium were
sufficient to show what alterations were to be made in the new copy of
the Articles, and not the least occasion for adjusting the number of
Articles and lines at the end to the foregoing pages. But both these are
but conjectures on your and my part, and the main point does not depend
upon them, which is in my opinion, whether this MS. could be designed
for the _Publick Record_, and that it was not I think the want of such a
memorandum as you speak of, as well as the Archbishop leaving it to C.
C. C. as his own property, is a sufficient evidence: though I must
confess I am apt to think the postscript in the _Publick Record_ (which
I take to be printed from the record in Renald Wolfe's edition of 1563
referred to by your adversary) refers to this MS., and the subscriptions
to it of both houses.
Mr. Baker nor I had Gibson's _Synod. Anglicana_; but this morning I got
a sight of it from the booksellers, and have sent it to Mr. Baker, who I
hope will make a better use of it than I am able to do; the passage you
refer to favours an opinion that I have had, that the subscriptions were
left in the keeping of the President of the Convocation, the Archbishop
or Bishop of London; but that a _Publick Record_ (different from that
with the subscriptions, and left with the President) was engrossed in
parchment, and preserved in its proper place, the Registry of the
Convocation; and thus that which Archbishop Laud found at Lambeth might
be left there.
I cannot tell exactly the number of blank pages (whether three or more)
between the subscription of the Bishops and of the Lower House in 1562.
Both Mr. Baker and I omitted to take so much notice of it; but we both
remember that there might be room in the MS. for the clause in the
beginning of the twentieth Article, partly in the space between the
nineteenth and the twentieth Article, and partly in the margin; or in
the margin there might be room enough for the whole clause.
Rogers' first edition was 1579, under this title: "The English Creed,
wherein is contained in tables an Exposition on the Articles, which
every one is to subscribe unto. Where the Article is expounded by
Scriptures and Confessions of all the Reformed Churches and Heresies
displayed, by Thomas Rogers. Printed for Andrew Mansell, 1579, in fol."
This title I transcribe from Andrew Mansell's printed Catalogue of
Books, published 1595. I mentioned to you another edition in 1585, the
first part, and 1587, the second part, with a new title and pretty great
additions; and I think I told you the second part began with the
twentieth Article. It may seem from thence that his first edition in
1579 was not upon all the Articles; but I believe it was, and that the
other edition came not out both parts together, because of the
additions. I am sorry you find it not among Mr. Anstey's books, nor can
I find it here. With my humble service to your good lady, I am, dearest
sir, your most affectionate humble servant,