BISHOP AYLMER. 51 



CHAP. V. 



An earthquake occasions the Bishop to compose certain 

 prayers. He visits. His business with, the Lord Rich. 

 His device about appointment of preachers. His counsel 

 for filing the see of Bath and Wells, and other sees. 



J. HERE happened, April the 6th, in the year 1580, an An earth 

 earthquake in London and the parts adjacent, and farther tL &quot; li 

 off. Camden, in his History of Queen Elizabeth, writes 

 of it, that it was about six in the even, the air clear and 

 calm, in England on this side York, and in the Nether 

 lands, almost as high as Colen ; when the earth in a mo 

 ment fell a trembling in such a manner, that in some places 

 stones fell down from buildings, and the bells in the steeples 

 struck against the clappers, and the sea, that was then calm, 

 vehemently tossed and moved to and fro ; and the night 

 following the ground in Kent trembled two or three days : 

 and the like again happened May the 1st, in the dead time of 

 the night. The Bishop of London was piously sensible of 

 this, and willing to take this opportunity to call the people 

 to repentance, that such a terrible providence might have a 

 due effect upon them. And indeed this earthquake, together 

 with the present apprehension of the nations enemies, made 

 a mighty impression upon men s hearts. The Bishop speed- Frames 

 ily upon this, while the matter was warm, and the people 

 affected with fear and horror, framed prayers to be used in sion - 

 public through his diocese on this occasion; having also 

 some instructions from the Lord Treasurer, by the Queen s 

 order, for the same ; who signified, that she would not have 

 any solemn matter made of it ; meaning not to have a day 

 set apart through the kingdom for it ; but yet some serious 

 notice to be taken of it in the public devotions. In com 

 pliance with which, the Bishop had composed the prayers 

 aforesaid without any special psalms ; but the psalms to be 

 read according to the common order. The Lord Treasurer, 

 a grave and pious man, signified his mind to the Bishop ra- 



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