Bicknell: Introduction

therein contained to be agreeable to the Word of God.’ In this way subscription was once more strictly enforced. In 1604 the Three Articles received the authority of Convocation, being embodied after small alteration in the 6 Canons of 1604 and ratified by the King. The actual form ran: ‘I… do willingly and ex anvmo subscribe to these three articles above mentioned and to all things that are contained in them.’ This form remamed in force in spite of various attempts to relax the stringency of it. In practice the form usually employed ran: ‘I… do willingly and from my heart subscribe to the 39 Articles of Religion of the United Church of England and Ireland, and to the three Articles in the 30th Canon, and to all things therein contained.’ In 1865, as the result of a Royal Commission, Convocation obtained leave from the Crown to revise the Canons, A new and simpler declaration of Assent was drawn up by the Convocations of Canterbury and York and confirmed by royal letters patent. To-day the candidate for ordination is required to subscribe to the followmg: ‘I…do solemnly make the following declaration, I assent to the 39 Articles of Religion