EDWARD VI. AND THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.
[TO TB! EDITOS Or THE "SrBOTATOR."
Sill,With reference to the "synodical approval of Edward's First Book," dealt with in your review of Father Gasquet's work, I would draw attention to the following from the late Prebendary Joyce's "Acts of the Church." It says (p. 119 et seq) :—" But we have not only the foregoing evidence of King Edward VI. on two occasions, and of his Council on two occasions also, but we have further the evidence of two Arch- bishops that the Prayer-Book before us was synodicaIly authorised. Archbishop Bancroft, who was born before this book was compiled and promulgated, thus writes : The
first Liturgy set forth in the beginning of King Edward's reign was carefully compiled and confirmed by a Synod.'" " Dr. George Abbott, Archbishop of Canterbury next in succession, also contributes the clearest evidence on the sub- ject. Thus he wrote : The religion which was then and is now established in England is drawn out of the fountains of the Word of God, and from the purest orders of the Primitive Church, which for the ordinary exercise thereof, when it bad been collected into the Book of Common Prayer by the pains and labour of ' many learned men and of mature judgment, it was afterwards confirmed by the Upper and Lower House, Yet not so but that the more material points were disputed and debated in the Convocation House by men of both parties.
And then, it being intended to add to Ecclesiastical decision the corroboration of Civil Government, according to the ancient custom of this Kingdom (as appeareth by records from the time of King Edward III.), the Parliament, which is the most honourable Court of Christendom, did ratify the same.'" Prebendary Joyce produces also other evidence and argu- ments in favour of his contention.—I am, Sir, &c., J. A.
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