REPORT of PROCEEDINGS for Reformation of Religion and Church Government by virtue...

Upon receipt of the said letters, I sent for the archbishops of this realm and imparted to them the contents thereof, whereupon they, with the said Bishop of Raphoe and two other bishops being then in Dublin, entered into consultation how his Majesty's directions might be put in execution, and in their conference submitted themselves, and undertook for themselves and their suffragan bishops, to perform and obey all and singular the articles and directions contained in the said letters. To this their submission they added some collections of their own and presented them to me declaring: 1. The present state of the Church. 2. Their advices for reformation of abuses. 3. Their humble petition to be enabled by the King's authority to perform such services as by their ordinary jurisdiction they cannot effect. This submission and collections were soon after sent into England from me to the Council.

I caused the proclamation sent hither from the King in the year 1605, for banishing priests, &c., to be once more published, with some additions declaring the cause of reviving it. By virtue whereof the titular Bishop of Downe and some few other Popish priests of note within the pale have been apprehended.

I required the archbishops and bishops to look into their several dioceses, and to cause the material churches also to be rebuilt; and to remove the priests placed in them by the Pope, or by his authority, and to bring in and establish ministers everywhere conformable to the King's injunctions.

Also, when any priests established by foreign authority should conform themselves and take the oath of supremacy and apply themselves to the service of God in the Church, according to the King's injunctions, I arranged that they should not be removed but continued in their livings and countenanced in all their lawful carriages and endeavours.

Likewise if any priest made by foreign authority should not consent to come so near, and yet be desirous notwithstanding to stay within the realm without any danger, I have given order that it shall be lawful for them so to do, on condition that they shall abjure and renounce the exercise of their function and betake themselves to some other course of life, as to the plough or other husbandry, without using their said function any more, and entering into good bonds with like sureties for their so doing.

And as by the articles annexed to the King's letters we were directed to minister the oath of allegiance to all his subjects of this realm, and as we considered that they were not so compellable thereto by law, as [that] those who should refuse the same, could be conveniently punished, without stretching authority further than law or example here would warrant, I did nothing at all in that point, but recommended the further consideration thereof again to the Lords of the Council, having received their answer by their late letters of the 20th of August, it shall be our direction in that behalf.

Only we will not omit to tender the oath of supremacy to all mayors, sheriffs, and others bearing office within this kingdom, and such as refuse shall be deprived of their authority and punished as they by law may be.

We will proceed against the said titular Bishop of Downe, and some of the priests now in prison, by course of law, this next term in the King's Bench.

This is all in substance that we have yet done, or intend to do in this behalf without further directions and warranty from the King and the Lords of the Council.

Signed: Arthur Chichester.

Tho. Dublin Canc.

Endorsed.