¶ The declaration of the proceeding of a conference, begun at Westminster the last of March. 1559. concerning certain articles of religion and the breaking up of the said conference by default and contempt of certain bishops, parties of the said conference.  
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¶ Imprinted at London by Richard lug and john Cawood printers to the queens Majesty.  
Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis▪   

THE Queens most excellent Majesty, having hard of diversity of opinions in certain matters of religion amongst sundry of her loving subjects, and being very desirous to have the same reduced to some godly and Christian concord, thought it best by th'advise of the lords and others of her privy counsel, aswell for the satisfaction of persons doubtful, as also for the knowledge of the very truth in certain matter of difference: to have a convenient chosen number of the best learned of either part, and to confer together their opinions and reasons, and thereby to come to some good and chartable agreement.  
And hereupon by her majesties commandment, certain of her privy counsel, declared this purpose to th'archbishop of york (being also one of the same privy counsel) & required him that he would impart the same to some of the bishops, and to make choice of. viii. ix. or. x. of them, and that there should be the like number named of tother part: and further also declared to him (as than was supposed) what the matters should be: And as for the time, it was thought meet to be assoon as possible might be agreed upon. And than after certain days passed, it was signified by the said archbishop, that there was appointed by such of the bishops to whom he had imparted this matter. viii. persons, that is to say. iiii. bishops and. iiii. doctors, who were content at the queens majesties commandment to she we their opinions, and as he termed it, render account of their faith in those matters which were mentioned, and that specially in writing, although he said they thought the same so determined, as there was no cause to dispute upon them. It was hereupon fully resolved by the queens majesty with th'advise aforesaid, that according to their desire, it should be in writing on both parts, for avoiding of much altercation in words, and that the said bishops should because they were in authority, of degree superiors: first declare their minds and opinions to the matter, with their reasons in writing, and the other number being also. viii. men of good degree in schools, & some having been in dignity in the church of England, if they had any thing to say to the contrary, should the same day declare their opinions in like manner. And so each of them should deliver their writings to tother, to be considered what were to be improved therein, & the same to declare again in writing at some other convenient day, and the like order to be kept in all the rest of the matters: all this was fully agreed upon with th'archbishop of york and so also signified to both parties. And immediately hereupon, diverse of the nobility and states of the realm, understanding that such a meeting and conference should be, and that in certain matters whereupon the court of parliament consequently following some laws might be grounded: they made earnest means to her majesty, that the parties of this conference, might put and read their assertions in thenglish tongue, and that in the presence of them of the nobility and others of her parliament house, for the better satisfaction & enabling of their own judgements to treat and conclude of such laws as might depend hereupon. This also being thought very reasonable, was signified to both parties, and so fully agreed upon, and the day appointed for the first meeting to be the Friday in the forenoon being the last of March at Westminster church, where both for good order & for honour of the conference by the queens majesties commandment the lords and others of the privy counsel were present, and a great part of the nobility also, and notwithstanding the former order appointed and consented unto by both parts, yet the bishop of Winchester and his collegees alleging they had mistaken, that their assertions and reasons should be written, and so only recited out of the book, said their book was not ready then written, but they were ready to argue and dispute, and therefore they would for that time repeat in speech that which they had to say to the first proposition. This variation from the former order and specially from that which themselves had by the said archbishop in writing before required, adding thereto the reason of the apostle, that to contend with words is profitable to nothing, but to subversion of the hearer: seemed to the queens majesties counsel some what strange, & yet was it permitted without any great reprehension, because they excused themselves with mistaking the order, and agreed that they would not fail but put it in writing, and according to the former order, deliver it to the other part, and so the said bishop of Winchester and his collegees appointed Doctor Cole Deane of Paul's, to be the utterer of their minds, who partly by speech only, and partly by reading of authorities written, and at certain times being informed of his collegees what to say: made a declaration of their meanings and their reasons to their first proposition, which being ended, they were asked by the privy counsel if any of them had any more to be said: and they said no. So as then tother part was licensed to show their minds, which they did according to the first order, exhibiting all that which they meant to be propound, in a book written, which after a prayer & invocation made most humbly to almighty god for the enduing of them with his holy spirit, and a protestation also to stand to the Doctrine of the catholic Church builded upon the scriptures, and the doctrine of the prophets and th'apostles: was distynctlye read by one Roberte Horn bachelor in divinity, late Deane of Duresme. And the same being ended with some likelihood, as it seamed that the same was much allowable to the audience: certain of the Bishops began to say contrary to their former answer, that they had now much more to say to this matter, wherein although they might have been well reprehended for such manner of cavillation: yet for avoiding of any more mistaking of orders in this colloquy, or conference, and for that they should utter all that which they had to say: It was both ordered and thus openly agreed upon of both parts in the full audience, that upon the monday following, the Bishops should bring their minds and reasons in writing to the second assertion, and the last also if they could, and first read the same, and that done, tother part should bring likewise theirs to the same. And being read, each of them should deliver to other the same writings. And in the mean time the bishops should put in writing, not only all that which Doctor Cole had that day uttered: but all such other matters as they any otherwise could think of for the same, and as soon as they might possible, to send the same book touching that first assertion to the other part, and they should receive of them that writing which Master Horn had there read that day, & upon Monday it should be agreed what day they should exhibit their answers touching the first proposition. Thus both parts assented thereto, and the assembly quietly dismissed. And therefore upon monday, the like assembly began again at the place and hour appointed, and there upon what sinister or disordered meaning is not yet fully known (though in some part it be understanded) the bishop of Winchester and his colleges, and especially Lyncolne, refused to exhibit or read, according to the former notorious order on friday that which they had prepared for the second assertion. And thereupon by the Lord keeper of the great leale, they being first gently and favourable required to keep thor der appointed, & that taking no place, being secondly as it behoved, pressed with more earnest request: they neither regarding the authority of that place, nor their own reputation, nor the credit of the cause, utterly refused that to do. And finally being again particularly every of them a part distinctly by name required, to understand their opinions therein: they all saving one (which was the Abbot of Westminster, having some more consideration of order and his duty of obedience than tother) utterly & plainly denied to have their book read, some of them as more earnestly than other, some so also, some other more undiscreetly, and unreverentlye then others. When upon giving such example of disorder, stubbornness & self will, as hath not been seen and suffered in such an honourable assembly, being of the two estates of this Realm the nobility and the commons, beside the presence of t●● queens majesties most honourable privy counsel, y●e same assembly was dismissed, & the godly & most christian purpose of the queens majesty made frustrate. And afterward for the contempt so notoriously made, the Bishops of Wynchester & Lincoln, having most obstinately both disobeyed common authority and varied manifestly from their own order, & specially Lincoln, who showed more folly than tother: were condingely committed to the Tower of London, and the rest (saving the abbot of Westminster) stand bound to make daily their personal appearance before the counsel, and not to depart the city of London and Westminster, until further order be taken with them for their disobedience and contempt.  

¶ The three propositions where upon conference was determined to have been at westminster.  
1 It is against the word of god, and the custum of the ancient church, to use a tongue unknown to the people, in common prayer, and the administration of the sacraments.  
2 Every church hath authority to appoint take away & change ceremonies and ecclesiastical rites, so the same be to edification.  
3 It cannot be proved by the word of god, that there is in the Mass offered up a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead.    

The names of such as had conference in the propositions aforesaid.  

The B. of winch.  
The B. of Lych.  
The B. of Chest.  
The B. of Carlis.  
The B. of Linco.  
Doctor Cole.  
D. Harpesfolde.  
Doct. Langdall.  
Doctor Chedsey.  
D. Sco. B. of Chyc.  
Doctor Cox  
Master Whithed  
Master grindal  
Master Horn.  
Master D. Sands.  
Master Gest.  
Master Aylmer.  
Master jewel.   
God save the Queen.