| Description | The subscriptions contained in these books are, in the main, those of beneficed clergy, curates, ordinands and licensed preachers. The early volumes include references to a number of clergy appointed to places outside the diocese. The 17th and 18th century volumes, except for D1/22/1 and D1/22/7, also include a large number of schoolmasters, surgeons and physicians, and a few midwives; even as late as 1849 two schoolmasters subscribed, though this was certainly unusual. Until 1865, when new provisions were brought in, the subscriptions required were mainly to the Three Articles, the Thirty Nine Articles and the declaration required under the Act of Uniformity of 1662 – non-resistance to the king, conformity to the liturgy of the Church of England and abjuration of the Solemn League and Covenant. The Thirty Nine Articles are printed at the beginning of vols. 1, 2 and 9; and other articles, oaths and declarations are written out in many of the volumes. For subscriptions 1599-1612, see under the Dean of Salisbury, D5/9/1 |