Of the Church of England THe Kings supremacie ouer the Church of England in causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained Impugners of the Kings Supremacie censured The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the gouernement of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured Authors of Schisme in the Church of England censured Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured Maintainers of Conuenticles censured Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured ¶ Of Diuine Seruice and Administration of the Sacraments DVe celebration of Sundayes Holy daies The prescript forme of Diuine Seruice to be vsed on Sundayes and Holy dayes The Letanie to bee read on Wednesdayes and Fridayes Colledges to vse the prescript forme of Diuine Seruice Students in Colledges to weare Surplisses in time of Diuine Seruice Reuerence and attention to bee vsed within the Church in time of Diuine Seruice Loyterers not to bee suffered neere the Church in time of Diuine Seruice Bread and VVine to bee prouided against euery Communion The Communion to be thrice a yeere receiued VVarning to be giuen beforehand for the Communion Students in alledges to receiue the Communion foure times a yeere Copes to be worne in Cathedral Churches by those that administer the Communion Surplisses and Hoods to bee worne in Cathedrall Churches when there is no Communion Notorious offendours not to bee admitted to the Communion Schismaticks not to bee admitted to the Communion Strangers not to bee admitted to the Communion Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not Communicants The lawfull vse of the Crosse in Baptisme explaned ¶ Ministers their Ordination Function and Charge FOure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers None to bee made Deacon and Minister both in one day The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers The qualitie of such as are to be made Ministers The examination of such as are to be made Ministers Subscription required of such as are to bee made Ministers The Articles of Subscription The forme of Subscription Subscription before the Diocesan Reuolters after Subscription censured Cautions for institution of Ministers into Benefices An oath against Symonie at institution into Benefices Licences for pluralitie of Benefices limited and Residence enioyned Residence of Deanes in their Churches Deanes and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence Prebendaries to be resident vpon their Benefices Beneficed Preachers being resident vpon their liuings to preach euery Sunday Beneficed men not Preachers to procure monethly Sermons Absence of Beneficed men to be supplied by Curates that are allowed Preachers None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop Ministers not allowed Preachers may not expound Strangers not admitted to Preach without shewing their Licence Strangers not admitted to preach in Cathedrall Churches without sufficient authoritie The names of strange Preachers to bee noted in a Booke No publike opposition betweene Preachers The Licences of Preachers refusing Conformitie to be voyd The forme of a Prayer to bee vsed by Preachers before their Sermons Preachers and Lecturers to reade diuine Seruice and administer the Sacraments twise a yeere at the least The Sacraments not to bee refused at the hands of vnpreaching Ministers Ministers reading Diuine Seruice and Administring the Sacraments to weare Surplisses and Graduats therewithall Hoods Ministers to Catechize euery Sunday Confirmation to bee perfourmed once in three yeeres Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation Ministers not to marrie any persons without Bannes or Licence Ministers of exempt Churches not to marry without Bannes or Licence Ministers solemnly to bid Holy dayes Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicats Ministers to conferre with Recusants Ministers to visite the sicke Ministers not to refuse to christen or bury Ministers not to deferre Christening if the childe be in danger Ministers to keepe a Register of Christnings Weddings and Burials Ministers not to Preach or administer the Communion in priuate houses Ministers not to appoint publike or priuate Fasts or Prophesies or to exorcize but by authority Ministers not to hold priuate Conuenticles Decencie in apparell enioyned to Ministers Sober conuersation required in Ministers Ministers at no time to forsake their Calling ¶ Schoolemasters NOne to teach Schoole without Licence Curats desirous to Teach to bee licenced before others The duetie of Schoolemasters ¶ Things appertaining to Churches THE great Bible and Booke of Common prayer to be had in euery Church A Font of stone for Baptisme in euery Church A decent Communion Table in euery Church A Pulpit to be prouided in euery Church A Chest for Almes in euery Church Churches to be kept in sufficient reparations Churches to be suruayed and the decayes certified to the high Commissioners A Terrier of Glebelands and other Possessions belonging to Churches Churches not to be prophaned ¶ Churchwardens Questmen and Sidemen THe choise of Churchwardens and their accompt The choise of Sidemen and their ioynt Office with Churchwardens ¶ Parish Clearks PArish Clearkes to bee chosen by the Minister ¶ Ecclesiasticall Courts belonging to the Archbishops Iurisdiction NOne to be Cited into diuers Courts for probate of the same Will The Rate of Bona notabilia liable to the Prerogatiue Court None to be Cited into the Arches or Audience but dwellers within the Archbishops Diocesse or Peculiars The restraint of double Quarrels Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Aduocate Inhibitions not to be graunted vntill the Appeale be exhibited to the Iudge Inhibitions not to bee granted to factious Appellants vnlesse they first subscribe None to marrie within the degrees prohibited None to marrie vnder xxj yeeres without their Parents consent By whom Licences to marrie without Bannes shal be granted and to what sort of persons Securitie to bee taken at the granting of such Licences and vnder what conditions Oathes to be taken for the Conditions An exception for those that are in Widowhood No Sentence for Diuorce to bee giuen vpon the sole confession of the parties No Sentence for Diuorce to be giuen but in open Court In all Sentences for Diuorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life The penaltie for Iudges offending in the premisses ¶ Ecclesiasticall Courts belonging to Bishops and inferior Ordinaries and the proceedings in them NOtorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiastical Courts by presentment Schismatickes to be presented Disturbers of diuine Seruice to be presented Not Communicants at Easter to be presented Ministers may present Ministers shall present Recusants Ministers and Churchwardens not to bee sued for presenting Churchwardens not bound to present oftner then twice a yeere Churchwardens not to be troubled
persons hauing cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Diuinitie lectures shall to the vttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times euery yeere at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and lectures That all vsurped and forren power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most iust causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions is due vnto any such forren power but that the Kings power within his Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreys is the highest power vnder God to whom all men aswell inhabitants as borne within the same do by Gods Lawes owe most loyalty and obedience afore and aboue all other Powers and Potentates in earth II. Impugners of the Kings supremacie censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Kings Maiesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperors in the Primitiue Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacie in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of those his wicked errours III. The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Lawe established vnder the Kings Maiestie is not a true and an Apostolical Church teaching maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of this his wicked errour IIII. Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall herafter affirme that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England established by Law and conteined in the booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments is a corrupt superstitious or vnlawfull worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Bishop of the place or Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors V. Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that any of the nine and thirtie Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargy in the Conuocation holden at LONDON in the yeere of our Lorde God one thousand fiue hundred sixty two for the auoiding of diuersities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as hee may not with a good conscience subscribe vnto let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors VI. Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Law established are wicked Antichristian or superstitious or such as beeing commanded by lawfull authoritie men who are zealously and godly affected may not with any good conscience approue them vse them or as occasion requireth subscribe vnto them let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours VII Impugners of the gouernment of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the gouernement of the Church of England vnder his Maiesty by Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errors VIII Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or teach that the fourme and maner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons conteineth any thing in it that is repugnant to the word of God or that they who are made Bishops Priestes or Deacons in that forme are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either by themselues or by others to be truly either Bishops Priests or Deacons vntil they haue some other calling to those diuine Offices let him bee excommunicated ipso facto not to bee restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours IX Authours of Schisme in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saints as it is approoued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Gouernment Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and vnmeete for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike reuocation of such their wicked errors X. Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall heerafter affirme That such Ministers as refuse to subscribe to the forme and maner of Gods worship in the Church of England prescribed in the Communion Booke and their adherents may truly take vnto them the name of another Church not established by Lawe and dare presume to publish it that this their pretended Church hath of long time groaned vnder the burden of certaine grieuances imposed vpon it and vpon the members thereof before mentioned by the Church of England and the Orders and Constitutions therein by Law established Let them be excommunicated and not restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke such their wicked errors XI Maintainers of Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or maintaine That there are within this Realme other meetings assemblies or congregations of the Kings borne Subiects then such as by the lawes of this land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselues the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored but by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors XII Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that it is lawfull for any sort of Ministers and Lay persons or either of them to ioyne together and make Rules Orders or Constitutions in causes Ecclesiasticall without the Kings authoritie and shall submit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by them let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke those their wicked and Anabaptisticall errors
the auoyding of all ambiguities subscribe in this order fourme of words setting downe both his christen and surname viz. I N. N. doe willingly and ex animo subscribe to these three Articles aboue mentioned and to all things that are contained in them And if any bishop shall ordaine admit or license any as is aforesaid except hee first haue subscribed in maner and fourme as here we haue appointed he shall be suspended from giuing of Orders and Licences to preach for the space of twelue moneths But if either of the Vniuersities shall offend therein wee leaue them to the danger of the Lawe and his Maiesties censure XXXVII Subscription before the Diocesan NOne licensed as is aforesaid to Preach Reade Lecture or Catechize comming to reside in any Diocesse shal be permitted there to Preach Read Lecture Catechize or Minister the Sacraments or to execute any other Ecclesiasticall function by what authoritie soeuer he be thereunto admitted vnlesse he first consent and subscribe to the three Articles before mentioned in the presence of the Bishop of the Diocesse wherin he is to preach Read Lecture Cathechize or administer the Sacraments as aforesaid XXXVIII Reuolters after Subscription censured IF any Minister after he hath once subscribed to the said three Articles shal omit to vse the fourme of Prayer or any of the Orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion Booke let him be suspended and if after a moneth he doe not reforme and submit himselfe let him be excōmunicated and then if he shal not submit himself within the space of another moneth let him be deposed frō the Ministery XXXIX Cautions for Institution of Ministers into Benefices NO bishop shall institute any to a Benefice who hath bene ordained by any other Bishop except hee first shew vnto him his Letters of Orders and bring him a sufficient testimony of his former good life and behauiour if the Bishop shall require it and lastly shall appeare vpon due examination to be worthy of his Ministery XL. An Oath against Symonie at institution into Benefices TO auoid the detestable sinne of Symony because buying selling of Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Functions Offices Promotions Dignities and Liuings is execrable before God therefore the Archbishop and all and euery Bishop or Bishops or any other person or persons hauing authority to Admit Institute Collate Install or to confirme the election of any Archbishop Bishop or other person or persons to any Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall function Dignitie Promotion Title Office Iurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or to any Ecclesiastical liuing whatsoeuer shall before euery such Admission Institution Collation Installation or Confirmation of Election respectiuely minister to euery person hereafter to be admitted Instituted collated Installed or confirmed in or to any Archbishopricke Bishopricke or other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical function Dignitie Promotion Title office Iurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or in or to any Ecclesiasticall liuing whatsoeuer this Oath in maner and forme following the same to be taken by euery one whom it concerneth in his owne person and not by a Proctor I N. N. do sweare That I haue made no Symoniacall payment contract or promise directly or indirectly by my selfe or by any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoeuer for or concerning the procuring and obtaining of this Ecclesiasticall Dignity Place Preferment Office or Liuing respectiuely and particularly naming the same whereunto hee is to be Admitted Instituted Collated Installed or Confirmed nor will at any time hereafter perfourme or satisfie any such kind of paiment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So helpe me God through Iesus Christ XLI Licenses for plurality of Benefices limitted and Residence enioyned NO License or dispensation for the keeping of more Benefices with Cure then one shal be granted to any but such only as shall be thought very well worthy for his learning and very well able and sufficient to discharge his duety that is who shall haue taken the degree of a Master of Arts at the least in one of the Vniuersities of this Realme and bee a publike and sufficient Preacher licensed Prouided alwayes that he bee by a good and sufficient caution bound to make his personall Residence in each his sayd Benefices for some reasonable time in euery yeere and that the sayd Benefices bee not more then thirty miles distant sunder and lastly that he haue vnder him in the Benefice where he doeth not reside a Preacher lawfully allowed that is able sufficiently to teach and instruct the people XLII Residence of Deanes in their Churches EVery Deane Master or Warden or chiefe Gouernour of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedrall or Collegiate Church fourescore and ten dayes Coniunctim or Diuisim in euery yeere at the least and then shal continue there in preaching the word of God and keeping good hospitalitie except he shall be otherwise let with weighty and vrgent causes to bee approoued by the Bishop of the Diocesse or in any other lawfull sort dispensed with And when he is present he with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaries resident shall take speciall care that the Statutes and laudable Customes of their Church not being contrary to the word of God or Prerogatiue Royall the Statutes of this Realme being in force concerning Ecclesiasticall Order and all other Constitutions now set foorth and confirmed by his Maiesties Authoritie and such as shall bee lawfully enioyned by the Bishop of the Diocesse in his Visitation according to the Statutes and Customes of the same Church or the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme be diligently obserued and that the Pettie Canons Vicars chorall and other Ministers of their Church be vrged to the study of the holy Scriptures and euery one of them to haue the New Testament not onely in English but also in Latine XLIII Deanes and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence THe Deane Master Warden or chiefe Gouernour Prebendaries and Canons in euery Cathedral Collegiat Church shal not onely preach there in their owne persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or Custome but shall likewise Preach in other Churches of the same Diocesse where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their Church receiue any yeerely Rents or profits And in case they themselues bee sicke or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licensed Preachers to supplie their turnes as by the Bishop of the Diocesse shal be thought meete to Preach in Cathedrall Churches And if any otherwise neglect to omit or supply his course as is aforesaid the offendor shall be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whome the iurisdiction of that Church appertaineth according to the quality of the offence XLIIII Prebendaries to be resident vpon their Benefices NO Prebendaries nor Canons in Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches hauing one or
for not presenting oftner then twice a yeere The olde Churchwardens to make their presentments before the new be sworne Conuenient time to bee assigned for framing Presentments None to bee Cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Processe of Quorum nomina None to be cited into seueral Courts for one crime No sentence of Depriuation or Deposition to bee pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop No Acte to be sped but in open Court No Court to haue more then one Seale Conuenient places to bee chosen for the keeping of Courts Peculier and inferior Courts to exhibite the originall copies of Wills into the Bishops Registry ¶ Iudges of Ecclesiasticall Courts THe Qualitie and oath of Iudges The Qualitie of Surrogats ¶ Proctors PRoctors not to retaine Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties Proctors not to retaine Causes without the counsell of an Aduocate Proctors not to conclude in any Cause without the knowledge of an Aduocate Proctors prohibited the oath In animam Domini sui Proctors not to be clamorous in Court ¶ Registers A Buses to be reformed in Registers A certaine rate of Fees due to all Ecclesiasticall Officers A Table of the rates of Fees to be set vp in Courts and Registries The whole Fees for shewing Letters of Orders and other Licences due but once in euery Bishops time ¶ Apparitors THE number of Apparitors restrained ¶ Authoritie of Synods A Nationall Synode the Church representatiue Synods conclude aswell the absent as the present Deprauers of the Synode censured IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges the other Cleargie of euery Diocesse within the Prouince of Canterbury being summoned called by vertue of our Writ directed to the most reuerend father in God IOHN late Archbishop of Canterbury and bearing date the 31. day of Ianuary in the first yeere of our Raigne of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the 37. to haue appeared before him in our Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London the 20. day of March then next ensuing or elsewhere as he should haue thought it most conuenient to treat consent and conclude vpon certaine difficult and vrgent affaires mentioned in the said Writte Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul aforesaid assemble themselues and appeare in Conuocation for that purpose according to our said Writte before the Right reuerend Father in God Richard Bishop of London duely vpon a second Writte of Ours dated the 9. day of March aforesaid authorized appointed and constituted by reason of the saide Archbishop of Canterbury his death President of the said Conuocation to execute those things which by vertue of our first Writ did appertaine to him the said Archbishop to haue executed if he had liued Wee for diuers vrgent and weighty causes and considerations vs thereunto especially mouing of our especial grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our Prerogatiue royal and supreme Authoritie in causes Ecclesiastical giue and grant by our seuerall Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England the one dated the 12. day of April last past and the other the 25. day of Iune then next following full free and lawfull libertie licence power and Authoritie vnto the said Bishop of London President of the said Conuocation and to the other Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges and the rest of the Cleargie before mentioned of the said Prouince That they from time to time during our first Parliament now prorogued might conferre treate debate consider consult and agree of and vpon such Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should thinke necessary fit conuenient for the honour and seruice of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better gouernement thereof to be from time to time obserued perfourmed fulfilled and kept aswel by the Archbishops of Canterbury the Bishops their Successours and the rest of the whole Clergie of the sayd Prouince of Canterbury in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and administrations as also by all and euery Deane of the Arches and other Iudge of the sayd Archbishops Courts Gardians of Spiritualties Chancellors Deanes and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and euery other Ecclesiasticall Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoeuer of the same Prouince of Canterburie in their and euery of their distinct Courts and in the order and maner of their and euery of their proceedings and by all other persons mthin this Realme as farre as lawfully being members of the Church it may concerne them as in our sayd Letters Patents amongst other clauses more at large doth appeare Forasmuch as the sayd Bishop of London President of the sayd Conuocation and others the sayd Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie hauing met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted vnto them treated of concluded and agreed vpon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by Vs limited and prescribed vnto them and haue thereupon offred and presented the same vnto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to giue our Royal assent vnto their sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Acte of Parliament made in that behalfe in the xxv yeere of the Reigne of King Henry the eight and by our sayd Prerogatiue Royall and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England and to confirme the same the title and tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated vpon by the Bishop of London President of the Conuocation for the Prouince of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops and Cleargie of the said Prouince and agreed vpon with the Kings Maiesties licence in their Synode begun at London An. Dom. 1603 And in the yeere of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland the first and of Scotland the 37. ⧠Of the Church of England I. The Kings supremacie ouer the Church of England in causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained AS our duety to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie requireth wee first decree and ordaine That the Archbishop of Canterbury from time to time all Bishops of this prouince all Deanes Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and all other Ecclesiasticall persons shall faithfully keepe and obserue and as much as in them lieth shall cause to bee obserued and kept of others all and singuler Lawes and statutes made for restoring to the Crowne of this kingdome the ancient Iurisdiction ouer the state Ecclesiastical and abolishing of all forren power-repugnant to the same Furthermore al Ecclesiastical
yeere and many notwithstanding doe not receiue that Sacrament once in a yeere We doe require euery Minister to giue warning to his Parishioners publikely in the Church at Morning prayer the Sunday before euery time of his administring that holy Sacrament for their better preparation of themselues Which said warning We enioyne the sayd Parishioners to accept and obey vnder the penaltie and danger of the Law XXIII Students in Colledges to receiue the Communion foure times a yeere IN all Colledges and Halles within both the Vniuersities the Masters and Fellowes such especially as haue any Pupils shall be carefull that all their said Pupils and the rest that remaine amongst them be wel brought vp and throughly instructed in poynts of Religion that they doe diligently frequent publike Seruice and Sermons and receiue the holy Communion which we ordaine to be administred in all such Colledges and Halles the first or second Sunday of euery Moneth Requiring all the sayd Masters Fellowes and Schollers and all the rest of the Students Officers and all other the seruants there so to be ordered that euery one of them shall Communicate foure times in the yeere at the least kneeling reuerently and decently vpon their knees according to the order of the Communion Booke prescribed in that behalfe XXIIII Copes to be worne in Cathedral Churches by those that administer the Communion IN all Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches the holy Communion shall bee administred vpon principall Feast-dayes sometimes by the Bishop if he be present and sometimes by the Deane and at some times by a Canon or Prebendarie the principall Minister vsing a decent Coape and being assisted with the Gospeller and Epistler agreeably according to the Aduertisements published Anno 7. Elizabethae the said Communion to bee administred at such times and with such limitation as is specified in the Booke of Common prayer Prouided that no such limitation by any construction shall bee allowed of but that all Deanes Wardens Masters or Heads of Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches Prebendaries Canons Vicars Petticannons Singing-men and all others of the Foundation shall receiue the Communion foure times yeerely at the least XXV Surplisses and Hoods to bee worne in Cathedrall Churches when there is no Communion IN the time of Diuine Seruice and Prayers in all Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches when there is no Communion it shall bee sufficient to weare Surplisses sauing that all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiat Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduats shal daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching weare with their Surplisses such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees XXVI Notorious offendours not to bee admitted to the Communion NO Minister shal in any wise admit to the receiuing of the holy Communion any of his Cure or Flocke which bee openly knowen to liue in sinne notorious without repentance Nor any who haue maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours vntill they shall be reconciled Nor any Church-wardens or Sidemen who hauing taken their oathes to present to their Ordinaries all such publike offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their seuerall Parishes shall notwithstanding their said oathes and that their faithfull discharging of them is the chiefe meanes whereby publike sinnes and offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of Periurie either in neglecting or in refusing to present such of the sayd enormities and publike offences as they know themselues to be committed in their sayd Parishes or are notoriously offensiue to the Congregation there although they bee vrged by some of their neighbours or by their Minister or by their Ordinary himselfe to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incurre so desperately the said horrible sinne of Periurie XXVII Schismaticks not to be admitted to the Cōmunion NO Minister when hee celebrateth the Communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but to such as kneele vnder paine of suspension nor vnder the like paine to any that refuse to bee present at publike Prayers according to the Orders of the Church of England nor to any that are common and notorious deprauers of the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments and of the Orders Rites and Ceremonies therein prescribed or of any thing that is conteined in any of the Articles agreed vpon in the Conuocation 1562. or of any thing conteined in the Book of ordering Priests and Bishops or to any that haue spoken against and depraued his Maiesties soueraigne Authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall Except euery such person shall first acknowledge to the Minister before the Churchwardens his repentance for the same and promise by word if he cannot write that hee will doe so no more and except if he can write he shall first do the same vnder his hand-writing to bee deliuered to the Minister and by him sent to the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place Prouided that euery Minister so repelling any as is specified either in this or in the next precedent Constitution shall vpon complaint or being required by the Ordinarie signifie the cause thereof vnto him and therein obey his Order and direction XXVIII Strangers not to be admitted to the Communion THe Churchwardens or Questmen and their Assistants shall marke aswell as the Minister whether all and euery of the Parishioners come so often euery yeere to the holy Communion as the Lawes and our Constitutions do require And whether any Strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Minister of them lest perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Table amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their owne parish Churches and Ministers there to receiue the Communion with the rest of their owne neighbours XXIX Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not Communicants NO Parent shall bee vrged to bee present nor bee admitted to answere as Godfather for his owne child nor any Godfather or Godmother shal be suffred to make any other answere or speech then by the Booke of Common prayer is prescribed in that behalfe Neither shall any person be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any child at Christning or Confirmation before the said person so vndertaking hath receiued the holy Cōmunion XXX The lawfull vse of the Crosse in Baptisme explaned WEe are sorie that his Maiesties most princely care and paines taken in the Conference at Hampton Court amongst many other points touching this one of the Crosse in Baptisme hath taken no better effect with many but that still the vse of it in Baptisme is so greatly stuck at and impugned For the further declaration therfore of the true vse of this Ceremonie and for the remouing of all such scruple as might any wayes trouble the consciences of them who are indeed rightly religious following the royall steps of our most worthy King because he therein followeth the rules of the Scriptures
can deuise to reclaime both them and all other within his Diocesse so affected LXVII Ministers to visite the sicke WHen any person is dangerously sicke in any Parish the Minister or Curate hauing knowledge thereof shal resort vnto him or her if the disease bee not knowen or probably suspected to bee infectious to instruct and comfort them in their distresse according to the order of the Communion booke if he be no Preacher or if hee be a Preacher then as he shall thinke most needfull and conuenient And when any is passing out of this life a Bell shall bee tolled and the Minister shall not then slacke to doe his last duetie And after the parties death if it so fall out there shal be rung no more but one short peale and one other before the buriall and one other after the buriall LXVIII Ministers not to refuse to christen or bury NO Minister shal refuse or delay tâ— christen any child according to the forme of the booke of Common prayer that is brought to the Church to him vpon Sundayes or Holy-dayes to be christened or to bury any corps that is brought to the Church or Churchyard conuenient warning being giuen him thereof before in such manner and forme as is prescribed in the said booke of Common prayer And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated maiori excommunicatione for some grieuous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shal be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocesse from his Ministerie by the space of three moneths LXIX Ministers not to deferre Christening if the childe be in danger IF any Minister beeing duely without any maner of collusion informed of the weaknesse and danger of death of any Infant vnbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to go or come to the place where the said Infant remaineth to baptize the same shal either wilfully refuse so to doe or of purpose or of grosse negligence shall so deferre the time as when he might conueniently haue resorted to the place and haue baptized the said Infant it dieth through such his default vnbaptized the said Minister shall be suspended for three moneths and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinarie that hee will not wittingly incurre the like againe Prouided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this Constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himselfe but to the Curate or Substitute present LXX Ministers to keepe a Register of Christnings Weddings and Burials IN euery Parish Church and Chappell within this Realme shall be prouided one parchment Booke at the charge of the Parish wherein shall be written the day and yeere of euery Christning Wedding and Buriall which haue bene in that Parish since the time that the Law was first made in that behalfe so farre as the ancient Bookes thereof can be procured but especially since the beginning of the Raigne of the late Qneene And for the safe keeping of the said booke the Churchwardens at the charge of the Parish shall prouide one sure Coffer with three lockes keyes whereof the one to remaine with the Minister and the other two with the Churchwardens seuerally so that neither the Minister without the two Churchwardens nor the Churchwardens without the Minister shall at any time take that Booke out of the said Coffer And henceforth vpon euery Sabboth day immediatly after Morning or Euening prayer the Minister and Churchwardens shal take the said parchment Booke out of the said Coffer and the Minister in the presence of the Churchwardens shall write and record in the said Booke the names of all persons Christned together with the names and surnames of their Parents and also the names of all persons Married and Buried in that parish in the weeke before and the day and yeere of euery such Christning Marriage and Buriall And that done they shal lay vp that Booke in the Coffer as before and the Minister and Churchwardens vnto euery page of that Booke when it shall be filled with such inscriptions shall subscribe their names And the Churchwardens shall once euery yeere within one Moneth after the fiue and twentieth day of March transmit vnto the Bishop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor a true Copy of the names of al persons Christned Married or Buried in their Parish in the yeere before ended the said fiue and twentieth day of March and the certaine dayes and moneths in which euery such Christning Marriage and Buriall was had to be subscribed with the hands of the said Minister Churchwardens to the end the same may faithfully bee preserued in the Registrie of the said Bishop which Certificat shal be receiued without Fee And if the Minister or Churchwardens shall be negligent in performance of any thing herein contained it shall be lawfull for the Bishop or his Chancellor to conuent them and proceede against euery of them as contemners of this our Constitution LXXI Ministers not to Preach or administer the Communion in priuate houses NO Minister shall Preach or administer the holy Communion in any priuate house except it be in times of necessitie when any being either so impotent as hee cannot goe to the Church or very dangerously sicke are desirous to bee partakers of that holy Sacrament vnder paine of suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the second Prouided that houses are here reputed for Priuate houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme And prouided also vnder the paine before expressed that no Chapleins doe Preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they do the same very seldome vpon Sundayes and holy dayes So that both the Lords and Masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their owne Parish Churches and there receiue the holy Communion at the least once euery yeere LXXII Ministers not to appoint publike or priuate Fasts or Prophesies or to exorcize but by authority NO Minister or Ministers shall without the Licence and direction of the Bishop of the Diocesse first obtained and had vnder his Hand and Seale appoint or keepe any solemne Fasts either publikely or in any priuate houses other then such as by Law are or by publike authoritie shall be appointed nor shall be wittingly present at any of them vnder paine of Suspension for the first fault of Excommunication for the second and of Deposition from the Ministerie for the third Neither shall any Minister not licensed as is aforesaide presume to appoint or hold any meetings for Sermons commonly termed by some Prophesies or Exercises in Market townes or other places vnder the said paines Nor without such License to attempt vpon any pretence whatsoeuer either of Possession or Qbsession by fasting and prayer to cast out any deuill or deuils vnder