ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY Considering the distracted state of the Church in London at this period, it is not surprising that the various Nonconformist bodies continued to increase in numbers and importance, in spite of the attempts made from time to time to suppress them."' The Brownists,*** Baptists,**^ and Anabaptists **° appear to have been the most numerous ; the Fifth-monarchy men began to come into prominence in 1653,**^ and other sects were the Vanists, Seekers, Ranters, FamiHsts,"' Behmenists, and Quakers.*" In May 1660 the London Anabap- tists appealed for protection, one of their meeting-houses having been broken into by the mob, and the lord mayor w^as ordered to see that they w^ere left unmolested so long as they ' lived quietly and gave no disturbance to the authority of the civil magistrate.' *^° The Restoration was undoubtedly hailed with joy by the majority of the London citizens for a variety of reasons. Some twenty London ministers presented to the king an address of congratulation, requesting restoration of the former happy ecclesiastical government ; *" but sad scenes ensued when the ' intruding ministers ' were ejected from their livings and forced to say farewell to the congregations who had chosen them."^ Certain reforms were at once carried out in the London churches under the super- intendence of Bishops Sheldon and Henchman. Numbers of ' sequestered ' clergy were restored to their benefices;*^' Communion rails were replaced by order of the bishop in 1662,*^* and fonts moved back into their former position.*^^ Churchwardens were told to reclaim any Books of Common Prayer or other things belonging to the Church from the hands of those who had them in keeping.*^^ Instructions were given for the maintenance of reverence and order in churches and churchyards,*" and a fine of is. for non- attendance at church was enforced. *^^ The royal arms were once more set up in the churches.*^' In 1661, for the first time for many years, Lent was kept as a fast.*^" The use of the surplice was not, however, insisted upon except in cathedrals, collegiate churches, and royal and college chapels, and even after the Act of 1662 it was by no means universally worn.*" The London ministers were for the most part much gratified by the king's declara- tion concerning ecclesiastical affairs ; and in November 1660 they presented to him a ' humble and grateful acknowledgment ' of the same, which he received very graciously.*^^ They professed themselves especially delighted with his care for the observance of the Lord's Day, and with various conces- sions as to episcopal jurisdiction, the reformation of the Liturgy, the oath of '" Corp. Rec. Letter Bk. QQ, fol. 218 ; Lords' Journ. viii, 332. *" Ibid. «5 W. Wilson, Hist, of Dissenting Ch. i, 242, 393, &c. "^ Bodl. Lib. Rawlinson MS. 828, fol. 75 ; Lords' Journ. xi, 13.
- " Rymer, Foedera, xx, 719-20 ; S.P. Dom. 1653, xlii, 59.
- " i.e. members of the Family of Love. "' Reliq. Baxterianae, 74—9.
"" Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. vii, App. 80 ; Lords' Journ. xi, 13. *" S.P. Dom. Chas. II, i, 36. '^' Hennessy gives a list of thirty-seven of these 'intruders,' who were ejected after the Rest ration ; Novum Repert. App. '" Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. vii, App. 104-8. For an example of the process see ibid. 141.
- " See Allhallows Barking Vest. Min. 1662.
- " St. Botolph Billingsgate Vest. Min. 1662 ; Christ Church Newgate Vest. Min. 1664.
"« St. Benet Paul's Wharf Vest. Min. 1660. "' St. Margaret Westminster Vest. Min. 1663 ; St. Bride Fleet Street Vest. Min. 1661 ; Pepys, Diary, 17 Nov. 1661.
- ^ St. Benet Paul's Wharf Vest. Min. 1664.
"° Par. Rec. gen. ; Pepys, Diary, 22 Apr. 1 660. *™ Ibid. 14, 27, 28 Feb. 1 660- 1.
- " Overton. Life in the Engl. Ch. 188-9. "' ^^^'i- Baxterianae, 284-5.
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