52 THE LIFE OF 



CHAP, ther for some more solemn observation of a day ; or at 

 least that all things should be done, as much as might be, 

 to the capacity and edifying of the people. But the Bishop 

 in answer, first thanking God for this Lord s care of so im 

 portant a thing as the peopled spiritual benefit, did never 

 theless take leave to dissent from him for the keeping of a 

 national day; because the state of the time considered, toge 

 ther with the malice of the enemies, who commonly (though 

 falsely) upbraided the English Protestants, that they never 

 fasted, and seldom prayed ; he held it requisite, without 

 farther delay, to give some order and direction to stir up the 

 people to devotion, and to turn away God s wrath threat 

 ened by the earthquake. But the compiling of a new form 

 of prayer would ask a longer time ; and therefore he 

 thought it would do more good, if the form already fin 

 ished were followed ; especially for that the people was then 

 much moved with the present warning: but their nature 

 was such as commonly to make these things but a nine days 

 wonder : adding, Cito arescit lacryma ; i. e. A tear soon 

 dries up; and that he might say, multo citius indolescit ani 

 mus , i. e. much sooner does the mind wear off its grief : 

 that it were therefore necessary, that things of this nature 

 should be done out of hand : but yet concluding, that what 

 should seem best to his Lordship he was ready to follow. 

 But we return to his dealings with his Clergy. 



A visitation. In the year 1580 c he instituted an episcopal visitation, 

 which began August 16th, in London; and in the month of 

 November ensuing were divers articles exhibited by the 

 Archdeacon, to be inquired by the ministers, church-war 

 dens, and sworn men of every parish within the archdea 

 conry of London ; in all the diocese also, in places as well 

 exempt as not exempt, according to the special direction of 

 certain letters, sent to the Bishop from the Lords of the 

 Queen s Privy Council : which articles were as follow, and 

 respected chiefly the Laity, Sectaries, and Papists. 



Imprimis, Whether there be any in your parish that do 



, c See Additions, Numb. III. 



