of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this situation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called an Altar by us in that sense in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many placâ—â— some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communion Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuâ—â—s it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion Tables in all Chancells or Chappells be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence thereâ—ore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw neer c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw neer and approach to the holy Table there to receive the divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unlesse it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenienceâ— by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other Ordinaries respectively in theirs And lastly whereas the Church is the house of God dedicated to his holy worship and therefore ought to minde us both oâ— the greatnesse and goodnesse of his Divine Majestie certain it is that the acknowledgement thereof not onely inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly with our bodies must needs be pious in it self profitable unto us and edifying unto others We therefore think it very meet and behoovefull and heartily commend it to all good and well affected people members of this Church that they be ready to tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgement by doing reverence and obeisance both at their coming in and going out of the said Churches Chancels or Chappels according to the most ancient custome of the Primitive Church in the purest times and of this Church also for many yeers of the Reign of Quâ—en Elizabeth The reviving therefore of this ancient and laâ—dable custome we heartily commend to the serious considâ—ration of all good people not with any intention to exhibite any Religious worship to the Communion Table the East or Church or any thing therein contained in so doing or to perform the said gesture in the celebration of the holy Euchaâ—ist upon any opinion of a corporall pâ—esence of the body of Jesus Christ on the holy Table or in tâ—e mysticall elements but onely for the advancement of Gods Majestie and to give him alone that honour and glory that is due unto him and no otherwise and in the practise or omission of this Rite we desire that the rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is That they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it VIII Of Preaching for Conformity WHerâ—as the Preaching of Order and Decencie according to St Pauls rule doth conduce to edification it is required that all Preachers as well Beneficâ—d men as others shall positively and plainly Preach and Inâ—truct the people in their publike Sermons twice in the yeer at the least that the Rites and Ceremonies now established in the Church of England are lawfull and commendable and that they the said people and others ought to conform themselves in their practise to all the said Rites and Ceremonies and that the people and others ought willingly to submit themselves unto the authority and government of the Church as it is now established under the Kings Majestie And if any Preacher shall refuse or neglect to do according to this Canon let him be suspended by his Ordinary during the time of his refusall or wilfull forbearance to do thereafter IX One Book of Articles of inquiry to be used at all Parochiall Visitations FOr the better settling of an Uniformity in the outward government and administration of the Church and for the more preventing of just grievances which may be laid upon Church-wardens and other Sworn-men by any impertinâ—nt inconvenient or illegall enquiries in the Articles for Ecclesiasticall Visitations This Synode hath now causâ—d a Summary or Collection of Visiâ—â—tory Articles out of the Rubricks of the Service-Book and the Canons and warrantable Rules of the Church to be made and for future direction to be deposited in the Records of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and we do decree and ordain that from henceforth no Bishop or other person whatsoever having right to hold use or exercise any Parochiall Visitation shall under the pain of a Moneths suspension upon a Bishop and two Moneths upon any other Ordinary that is delinquent and this to be incurred ipso facto cause to be printed or published or otherwise to be given in charge to the Church-wardenâ— or to any other persons which shall be sworn to make Presentmâ—nts any other Articles or formes of enquiry upon oath then such onely as shal be approved and in terminis allowed unto him upon due request made by his Metropolitan under his Seal of Office Provided alwaies that after the end of three yeers next following the date of these presents the Metropolitan shal not either at the instance of those which have right to hold Parochiall Visitations oâ— upon any other occasion make any addition or diminution from that allowance to any Bishop of Visitatory Articles which he did last before in any Diocesse within his Province approve of But calling for the same shall hold and give that onely for a perpetual Rule and then eveâ—y Paâ—ish shal be bound onely to take the said Book from the Arch-deacons and other having a Peculiar or exempt Jurisdiction but once from that time in three yeers in case they do make it appear that they have the said Book remaining in their publike Châ—st for the use of the Parish And from evâ—ry Bishop they shall receive the said Articles at the Episcopall Visitation onely and in manner and form as formerly they have been accustomed to do and at no greater price then what hath bin usually paied in the said Diocesse respectively X. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergie THe sober graveâ— and exemplary Conversation of al those that are imployed in Administration of holy things being of great avail for the furtherance of pietieâ— It hath beâ—n the Religious care of the Church of England strictly to enjoyn to all every one of her Clergie a pious regular and inoffensive dâ—meanourâ— and to prohibit all loose and scandalous carriage by severe censures to be inflicted upon such delinquents as appeares by the 74. and 75. Canons Anno 1603. provided
when in the first times of Christs Church Prelates used this power 't was therefore onely because in those dayes they had no Christian Kings And it was then so onely used as in times of persecution that is with supposition in case it were requirâ—d of submitting their very lives unto the very Laws and Commands even of those Pagan Princes that they might not so much as seem to disturb their Civill Government which Christ came to confirm but by no means to undermine For any person or persons to set up maintain or avow in any their said Realms or Territories respectively under any pretence whatsoever any independent Coactive power either Papall or Popular whether directly or indirectly is to undermine their great Royall office and cunningly to overthrow that most Sacred ordinance which God himself hath established And so is treasonable against God as well as against the King For subjects to bear Arms against their Kings offensive or defensive upon any pretence whatsoever is 〈◊〉 the least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God And though they do not invâ—de but onely resist St. Paul tels them plainly Thâ—y shall receive to themselves damnation And although Tribute and Custome and Aide and Subsidie and all manner of necessary support and sâ—pply be respectively due to Kings from their subjects by the Law of God Nature and Nations for the publike defence care and protection of them yet nâ—verthelesse subjects have not onely possession of but a true and just right title and propertie to and in all their goods and estates and ought so to have And these two are so far from â—rossing one another that they mutually go together for the honourable and comfortable support of both For as it is the dutie of the subjects to supply their King so is it part of the Kingly office to support his subjects in the property and freedom of their estates And if any Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher shall voluntarily or carelesly neglect his duty in publishing the said explications and conclusions according to the Order above prescribed he shall be suspended by his Ordinary till such time as upon his penitence he shall give sufficient assurance or evidence of his amendment and in case he be of any exempt jurisdiction he shall be Censurable by his Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiasticall And we do also hereby require all Archbishops Bishops and all other inferiour Priesâ—s and Ministers that they preach teach and exhort their people to obey honour and serve their King and that they presume not to speak of his Majesties power in any other way then in this Canon is expressed And if any Parson Vicar Curate Preacher or any other Ecclesiasticall person whatsoever any Deane Canon or Prebendarie of any Collegiate or Cathedrall Church any member or Student of Colledge or Hall or any Reader of Divinity or Humanity in either of the Universities or elswhere shall in any Sermon Lecture Common place Determination or Disputation either by word or writing publikely maintain or abett any position or conclusion in opposition or impeachment of the aforesaid explications or any part or article of them he shall forthwith by the power of his Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiasticall be excommunicated till he repent and suspended two yeers from all the profits of his Benefice or other Ecclesiasticall Academicall or Scholasticall preferments And if he so offend a second time he shal be deprived from all his spirituall promotions of what nature or degree soever they be Provided alwayes that if the offence aforesaid be given in either of the Universities by men not having any Benefice or Ecclesiasticall preferment that then the delinquent shall be censured by the ordinary authority in such Cases of that University respectively where the said fault shall be committed II. For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration THe Synode taking into consideration the most inestimable benefits which this Church enjoyeth under the peaceable and blessed government of our dread Sovereign Lord King CHARLES And finding that aswell the godly Christian Emperours in the former times as our own most religious Princes since the Reformation have caused the dayes of their Inaugurations to be publikely celebrated by all their Subjects with Prayâ—rs and Thanksgiving to Almighty God and that there is a particular form of Prayer appointed by authority for that day and purpose And yet with all considering how negligent some people are in the observance of this day in many places of this Kingdomâ— Doth therefore decree and ordain that all manner of persons within the Church of Englanâ— shall from henceforth celebrate and keep the morning of the said day in coming diligently and reverently unto their Parish Church or Chappâ—ll at the time of Prayer and there continuing all the while that the prayers preaching or other service of the day endureth in testimony of their humble gratitude to God for so great a blessing and dutifull affections to so benigne and mercifull a Sovereign And for the better execution of this our Ordinance the holy Synode doth straitly require and charge and by authority hereof enableth all Archbishops Bishops Dâ—anes Deanes and Chapters Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiasticall persons having exempt or peculiar jurisdiction as also all Chancellors Commissaries and Officialls in the Church of England that they enquire into the keeping of the same in their Visitations and punish such as they shall finde to be delinquent â—ccording as by Law they are to censure and punish those who wilfully absent themselves from Church on Holy-dayes And that the said day may be the better observed We do enjoyn that all Church-wardens shall provide at the Parish charge two of those books at least appointed for that day and if there be any want of the said book in any Parish they shall present the same at all Visitations respectively III. For suppressing of the growth of Popery ALl and every Ecclâ—siasticall persons of what rankâ— or condition soever Arch-Bishops and Bishops Deanes Arch deacons all having exempt or pâ—culiar jurisdiction with their severall Chancellours Commissaries and Officials all pâ—rsons intrusted with cure of soules shall usâ— râ—spectivâ—ly all possible carâ— and diâ—igence by conferring privately with the parties and by â—ensures of the Church in inferiour and higher Courts as also by complaints unto the Sâ—cular power to reduce all such to the Church of England who are mislâ—d into Popish superstition And first these private Conferences shall be performed in each severall Diocesse either by the Bishop in person if his occasion will permit it or by some one or morâ— learned Ministers at his speciall appointment and the said Bishop shall also designe the time and place of the said severall Conferencâ—s and all such persons as shall be present therâ—atâ— which if Recusants refuse to observe they shall be taken for obstinate and so certified to the Bishop And if the said tiâ—e and place be not observed by the Minister
And all the said Complaints or Certificates shall be presented up to the Judges in their severall Circuits by the Bishops Register or some other of his Deputies immediately after the publishing of his Majesties Commission or at the end of the charge which shall bee then given by the Judge And this upon paine of Suspension for three moneths This sacred Synode doth earnestly intreat the said Reverend Justices of Assise to bee carefull in the execution of the said Lawes committed to their trust as they will answer to God for the daily encrease of this grosse kinde of superstition And further we doe also exhort all Judges whether Ecclesiastical or Tempoâ—all upon the like accompt that they would not admit in any of their Courts any vexatious Complaint Suit or Suits or Presentments against any Minister Churchwardens Questmen Sidemen or other Church-Officers for the making of any such Presentments And lastly we enjoyne that every Bishop shall once in every yeare send into his Majesties High Court of Chancery a Significavit of the names and sirnames of all such Recusants who have stood excommunicated beyond the time limited by the Law and shall desire that the Writ De excommunicato capâ—endo might bee at once sent out against them all Ex Officio And for the better execution of this Decree this present Synode doth most humbly beseech his most sacred Majesty that the Officers of the said High Court of Chancery whom it shall concerne may bee commanded to send out the aforesaid Writ from time to time as is desired for that it would much exhaust the particular estates of the Ordinaries to sue out severall Writs at their owne charge And that the like command also may be laid upon the Sheriffes and their Deputies for the due and faithfull execution of the said Writs as often as they shall be brought unto them And to the end that this Canon may take the better and speedier effect and not to be deluded or delayed We further decree and ordaine That no Popish Recusant who shall persist in the said sentence of Excommunication beyond the time prescribed by Law shall be absolved by vertue of any Appeale in any Ecclesiasticall Court unlesse the said partie shall first in his or her owne person and not by a Proctor take the usuall Oath De parendo Iuri stando mandatis Ecclesiae IV. Against Socinianisme WHEREAS much mischiefe is already done in the Church of God by the spreading of the damnable and cursed Heresie of SOCINIANISME as being a complication of many ancient Heresies condemned by the foure first generall Councels and contrariant to the Articles of Religion now established in the Church of England And whereas it is too apparent that the said wicked and blasphemous errours are unhappily dilated by the frequent divulgation and dispersion of dangerous Books written in favour and furtherance of the same whereby many especially of the younger or unsetled sort of people may be poysoned and infected It is therefore decreed by this present Synode That no Stationer Printer or Importer of the said Books or any other person whatsoever shall print buy sell or disperse any Booke broaching or maintaining of the said abominable Doctrine or Positions upon paine of Excommunication ipso facto to be thereupon incurred And wee require all Ordinaries upon paine of the Censures of the Church that beside the Excommunication aforesaid they doe certifie their names and offences under their Episcopall Seale to the Metropolitan by him to be delivered to his Majesties Attorney Generall for the time being to be proceeded withall according to the late Decree in the Honourable Court of Star-chamber against spreaders of prohibited Books And that no Preacher shall presume to vent any such Doctrine in any Sermon under paine of Excommunication for the first offence and Deprivation for the second And that no Student in either of the Universities of this Land nor any person in holy Orders excepting Graduates in Divinity or such as have Episcopall or Archidiaconall Jurisdiction or Doctors of Law in holy Orders shall be suffered to have or reade any such Socinian Booke or discourse under paine if the offender live in the University that he shal be punished according to the strictest Statutes provided there against the publishing reading or maintaining of false Doctrine or if he live in the City or Country abroad of a Suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the second and Deprivation for the third unlesse he will absolutely and in terminis abjure the same And if any Lay-man shall be seduced into this opinion and be convicted of it he shall be excommunicated and not absolved but upon due repentance and abjuration and that before the Metropolitane or his owne Bishop at the least And wee likewise enjoyne that such Bookes if they be found in any prohibited hand shall be immediately burned and that there be a diligent search made by the appointment of the Ordinary after all such Books in what hands soever except they be now in the hands of any Graduate in Divinity and such as have Episcopall or Archidiaconall Jurisdiction or any Doctor of Lawes in holy Orders as aforesaid and that all who now have them except before excepted be strictly commanded to bring in the said Books in the Universities to the Vice-chancellors and out of the Universities to the Bishops who shall returne them to such whom they dare trust with the reading of the said Books and shall cause the rest to be burned And we farther enjoyne that diligent enquiry be made after all such that shall maintaine and defend the aforesaid Socinianisme and when any such shall be detected that they be complained of to the severall Bishops respectively who are required by this Synode to represse them from any such propagation of the aforesaid wicked and detestable opinions V. Against Sectaries VVHEREAS there is a provision now made by a Canon for the suppressing of Poperie and the growth thereof by subjecting all Popish Recusants to the greatest severitie of Ecclesiasticall Censures in that behalfe This present Synode well knowing that there are other Sects which indeavour the subversion both of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England no lesse then Papists doe although by another way for the preventing thereof doth hereby decree and ordain That all those proceedings and penalties which are mentioned in the aforesaid Canon against Popish Recusants as far as they shall be appliable shall stand in full force and vigour against all Anabaptists Brownists Separatists Familists or other Sect or Sects person or persons whatsoever who do or shall either obstinately refuse or ordinarily not having a lawfull impediment that is for the space of a moneth neglect to repair to their Parish Churches or Chappels where they inhabit for the hearing of Divine Service established and receiving of the holy Communion according to Law And we do also further decree and ordain that the Clause contained in the Canon now made by this
Synod against the Books of Socinianisme shall also extend to the makers importers printers and publishers or dispersers of any Book writing or scandalous Pamphlet devised against the discipline and government of the Church of England and unto the maintainers and abettors of any opinion or doctrine against the same And further because there are sprung up among us a sort of factious people despisers and depravers of the Book of Common prayer who do not according to the Law resort to their parish Church or Chappel to joyn in the publique prayers service and worship of God with the congregation contenting themselves with the hearing of Sermons onely thinking thereby to avoid the penalties due to such as wholly absent themselves from the Church We therefore for the restraint of all such wilfull contemners or neglecters of the Service of God do ordain that the Church or Chappell Wardens and Questmen or Sidemen of every parish shall be carefull to enquire out all such disaffected pâ—rsons and shall present the names of all such dâ—linquents at all Visitations of Bishops and other Ordinaries And that the same proceedings and penalties mâ—ntioned in the Canon aforesaid respectively shall be used against them as against othâ—r Recusants unlesse within one whole moneth after they are â—irst denounced they shall make acknowledgement and reformation of that their fault Provided alwayes that this Canon shall not derogatâ— from any other Canon Law or Statute in that behalf provided against those Sectaries VI An Oath injoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government THis present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancie in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Poperie or any other superstition decrees that all Arch-bishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places â—xempt or not exempt shall before the second day of November next ensuingâ— take this Oath following against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline and this Oath shall be tendred them and every of them and all others named after in this Canon by the Bishop in person or his Chancelour or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under his seal and the said Oath shall be taken in the presence of a publique Notarie who is hereby râ—quired to make an Act of it leaving the Universities to the Provision which followes The Oath is I A. B. Do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavour by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to altâ—r the Government of this Church by Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes and Arch-deacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation oâ— mentall evasion or secret râ—servation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truely upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ And if any man Beneficâ—d or Dignified in the Church of England or any othâ—r Ecclesiasticall pâ—rson shall refuse to take this Oath the Bishop shall give him a moneths time to inform himsâ—lf and at the moneths end if he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab Officio and have a second moneth granted and if then he refuse to take it he shall bâ— suspended ab Oâ—fiâ—io Beneficio and have a third moneth granted him for his better information but if at the end of that moneth he refuse to take the Oath above-named he shall by the Bishop be deprived of all his Ecclâ—siasticall Promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England And we likewise Constitute and Ordain That all Masters of Arts the sons of Noble-men onely excepted all Bachelours and Doctors in Divinity Law or Physick all that are licenced to practise Physick all Registers Actuaries and Proctors all School-masters all such as being natives or naturalized do come to be incorporated into the Universities here having taken a Degree in any forraign Univeâ—sity shall be bound to take the said Oath And we command all Governours of Colledges and Halls in either of the Universities that they administer this said Oath to all persons resident in their severall Houses that have taken the degrees before mentioned in this Canon within six moneths after the publication hereof And we likewise Constitute That all Bishops shall be bound to give the said Oath unto all those to whom they give holy Orders at the time of their Ordination or to whomsoever they give Collation Institution or Licence to Preach or serve any Cure VII A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies BEcause it is generally to be wished that unity of Faith were accompanied with uniformity of practisâ— in the outward worship and service of God chiefly for the avoiding of groundlesse suspitâ—ons of those who are weak and the malicious aspersions of the professed enemies of our Religion the one fearing Innovations the other flattering themselves with a vain hope of our backslidings unto their Popish superstition by reason of the situation of the Communion Table and the approaches thereunto the Synod declareth as followethâ— That the standing of the Communion Table side-way under the East window of every Chancell or Chappell is in its own nature indifferent neither commanded nor condemned by the Word of God either expresly or by immediate deduction and therefore that no Religion is to be placed therein or scruple to be made thereon And albeit at the time of reforming this Church from that grosse superstition of Popery it was carefully provided that all meanes should be used to root out of the mindes of the people both the inclination thereunto and memory therof especially of the Idolatry committed in the Masse for which cause all Popish Altars were demolished yet notwithstanding it was then ordered by the Injunctions and Advertisements of Queen Elizabeth of blessâ—d memory that the holy Tables should stand in the place where the Altars stood and accordingly have been continued in the Royall Chappells of three famous and pious Princes and in most Cathedrall and some Parochiall Churches which doth sufficiently acquit the manner of placing the said Tables from any illegality or just suspition of Popish superstition or innovation And therefore we judge it fit and convenient that all Churches and Chappels do conform themselves in this particular to the example of the Cathedral or Mother Churches saving alwaies the generall liberty left to the Bishop by Law during the time
the space of one whole Moneth immediately before the said Licence be desired And if any Oâ—dinary shall offend herein and be sufficienâ—ly evinced thereof in any of the Lord Archbishops Courts he shall be liable to such censure as the Lord Archbishop shall thinke fit to inflict And we further decree That one of the Conditions in the Bond of securitie given by the parties taking such Licence shall be that the said partieâ— or one of them have or hath beene a Moneth commorant in the said Jurisdiction immediately before the said Licence granted And the Synod decrees That whatsoever is ordered in these six last Canons concerning the Jurisdiction of Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries shall so farre as by Law is applyable be in force concerning all Deanes Deanes and Chapters Collegiate Churches Archdeacons and all in holy Orders having exempt or peculiar Jurisdiction and their severall Officers respectively XVII Against vexatious Citations AND that this Synod may prevent all grievances which may fall upon the people by Citations into Ecclesiasticall Courts upon pretence only of the breach of Law without either Pâ—esentment or any other just ground This present Synod decrees That for all times to come no such Citation grounded only as aforesaid shall issue out of any Ecclesiasticall Court except the said Citation be sent forth under the hand and Seale of the Chancellor Commissarie Archdeacon or other competent Jâ—dge of the said Court within thirty dayes afâ—er the fault committed and returne thereof to be mâ—de the next or second Court day after the Citation served at the farthest and that the partie so cited unlâ—sse he be convinced by two witnesses shall upon the denyall of the fact upon Oath be forthwith freely dismissed without any payment of fees Provided that this Decree exâ—eâ—d not to any gâ—ievous crime as Schisme Incontinencie misbehaviour in the Church in time of Divine Service obstinate inconformitie or the like WEE of Our Princely inclination and Royall care for the maintenance of the present Estate and government of the Church of England by the Lawes of this Our Realme now setled and established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed And finding the same such as We are perswaded wil be very profitable not onely to Our Clergie but to the whole Church of this Our Kingdome and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for Vs Our Heires and lawfull Successours of Our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion given and by these presents doe give Our Royall Assent according to the forme of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and every thing in them contained as they are before written And furthermore We do not onely by Our said Prerogative Royall and supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie confirme and establish by these Our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and all and every thing in them contained as is aforesaid but do likewise propound publish and straightly injoyne and command by Our said Authority and by these Our Letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all Our loving Subjects of this Our Kingdome both within the Provinces of Canterbury and Yorke in all points wherein they do or may concern â—very or any of them according to this Our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what â—ame or title soever he be called shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge read all the said-Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions at all such times and in such manner as is prescribed in the said Canons or any of them The Book of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of S. Michael the Archangell next ensuing straightly charging and commanding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction within this Realme every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the â—ame Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church the tranquillity of the Kingdome and their duties and service to Vs their King and Sovereigne In witnesse whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witnesse Our Selfe at Westminster the thirtieth day of June in the sixteenth yeare of Our Reigne THE TABLE 1 COncerning the Regall power 2 For the better keeping of the day of His Majesties most happy Inauguration 3 For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4 Against Socinianisme 5 Against Sectaries 6 An Oath injoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7 A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8 Of Preaching for Conformiâ—y 9 One Book of Articles of inquirie to be used at all Parochiall Visitations 10 Concerning the Conversation of the Clergie 11 Chancellours Patents 12 Chancellours alone not to censure any of the Clergie in sundry Cases 13 Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14 Concerning Commutations and the disposing of them 15 Touching concurrent Iurisdictions 16 Concerning Licences to marrie 17 Against vexatious Citations FINIS