"Had heard many of the clergy protest, that they could not acknowledge that they were represented by the bishops. However, we might presume that, if they could make that appear, that they were a third estate, the House of Peers, amongst whom they sat, and yet had their votes, would reject it."—Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, book iii.
That the Clergy in Convocation make statements to the House of Peers through the bishops, only proves that the latter were a medium of communication between the two; as does also, that on March 18th, 1662, "the President informed the Convocation that the Lord Chancellor had desired the Bishops to thank them in the name of the Peers." Canon. Ebor. admits that the bishops do not represent the clergy, except by a fiction; the Canons declare that Convocation does represent them. His position therefore falls at once to the ground.
I have set down the arguments necessary for maintaining my first position against Canon. Ebor., whether they be good or bad, with sufficient positiveness and distinctness to prevent their being again mistaken. I would close the subject with the words of Atterbury:
"If I should affirm that the Convocation attended the Parliament as One of the Three States of the Realm, I should say no more than the Rolls have in express terms said before me; where the King is mentioned as calling Tres status Regni ad Palatium suum Westm., viz. Prælatos et Clerum, Nobiles et Magnates, necnon Communitates dicti Regni."—Rot. Parl. 9 Henry V. n. 15.
William Fraser, B.C.L.
BURIALS IN WOOLLEN.
(Vol. v., p. 414.)
Your correspondent the Rev. E. S. Taylor is referred to 30 Car. II. c. 3., and 32 ejusdem c. 1., for an answer to his inquiry respecting burials in woollen. The former Act is entitled, "An Acte for the lessening the importation of linnen from beyond the seas, and the encouragement of the woollen and paper manufactures of the kingdome." It prescribes that the curate of every parish shall keep a register, to be provided at the charge of the parish, wherein to enter all burials, and affidavits of persons being buried in woollen; the affidavit to be taken by any justice of peace, mayor, or such like chief officer in the parish where the body was interred: and if there be no officer, then by any
curate within the county where the corpse was buried (except him in whose parish the corpse was buried), who must administer the oath and set his hand gratis. No affidavit to be necessary for a person dying of the plague. It imposes a fine of 5l. for every infringement; one half to go to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the parish.