Of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments XIII Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy dayes ALl maner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalfe that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in priuate and publike prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendement of the same in reconciling themselues charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath bene in oftentimes receiuing the Communion of the body blood of Christ in visiting of the poore and sicke vsing all godly and sober conuersation XIIII The prescript forme of Diuine Seruice to bee vsed on Sundayes and Holy dayes THe Common prayer shal be said or sung distinctly and reuerently vpon such daies as are appointed to be kept holy by the Booke of Common prayer and their Eeues and at conuenient and vsuall times of those daies and in such place of euery Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meete for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may bee most edified All Ministers likewise shall obserue the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer aswell in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof XV. The Letanie to bee read on Wednesdayes and Fridayes THe Letany shal be said or sung when and as it is set downe in the Booke of Common prayer by the Parsons Vicars Ministers or Curats in all Cathedrall Collegiat Parish Churches and Chappels in some conuenient place according to the discretion of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinarie of the place And that wee may speake more particularly vpon Wednesdayes and Fridayes weekely though they bee not Holy dayes the Minister at the accustomed houres of Seruice shall resort to the Church and Chappel and warning being giuen to the people by tolling of a Bell shall say the Letanie prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer whereunto wee wish euery Housholder dwelling within halfe a mile of the Church to come or send one at the least of his Houshold fit to ioyne with the Minister in prayers XVI Colledges to vse the prescript forme of Diuine Seruice IN the whole Diuine Seruice and Administration of the holy Communion in all Colledges and Halles in both Vniuersities the Order Forme and Ceremonies shall be duely obserued as they are set downe and prescribed in the booke of Common prayer without any omission or alteration XVII Students in Colledges to weare Surplisses in time of Diuine Seruice ALl Masters and Fellowes of Colledges or Halles and al the Schollers and Students in either of the Vniuersities shall in their Churches and Chappels vpon all Sundayes Holy dayes and their Eues at the time of Diuine Seruice weare Surplisses according to the order of the Church of England and such as are Graduats shall agreeably were with their Surplisses such Hoods as doe seuerally appertaine to their Degrees XVIII A reuerence and attention to bee vsed within the Church in time of Diuine Seruice IN the time of Diuine Seruice and of euery part thereof all due reuerence is to be vsed For it is according to the Apostles Rule Let all things bee done decently and according to Order Answerable to which Decencie and Order We iudge these our directions following No man shall couer his head in the Church or Chappel in the time of Diuine Seruice except he haue some infirmitie In which case let him weare a Nightcap or Coife All maner of persons then present shall reuerently kneele vpon their knees when the Generall Confession Letanie and other Prayers are read and shall stand vp at the saying of the Beleefe according to the Rules in that behalfe prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer And likewise when in time of Diuine Seruice the Lord IESVS shal be mentioned due and lowly reuerence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath bene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humilitie Christian resolution and due acknowledgement that the Lord Iesus Christ the true and eternal Sonne of God is the onely Sauiour of the world in whom alone all the Mercies Graces and Promises of God to mankinde for this life and the life to come are fully and wholly comprised None either man woman or childe of what calling soeuer shall be otherwise at such times busied in the Church then in quiet attendance to heare marke and vnderstand that which is read preached or ministred Saying in their due places audibly with the Minister the Confession the Lords Prayer and the Creed and making such other answeres to the publique Prayers as are appointed in the Booke of Common prayer neither shall they disturbe the Seruice or Sermon by walking or Talking or any other way nor depart out of the Church during the time of Seruice and Sermon without some vrgent or reasonable cause XIX Loyterers not to bee suffered neere the Church in time of Diuine Seruice THe Churchwardens or Questmen and their assistants shall not suffer any idle persons to abide either in the Churchyard or Church porch during the time of Diuine Seruice or preaching but shall cause them either to come in or to depart XX. Bread and Wine to be prouided against euery Communion THe Churchwardens of euery Parish against the time of euery Communion shal at the charge of the Parish with the aduice and direction of the Minister prouide a sufficient quantitie of fine white Bread and of good and wholesome Wine for the number of Communicants that shall from time to time receiue there which Wine we require to bee brought to the Communion Table in a cleane and sweete standing Pot or Stoope of Pewter if not of purer mettall XXI The Communion to be thrice a yeere receiued IN euery Parish Church and Chappel where Sacraments are to bee administred within this Realme the holy Communion shall bee ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as euery Parishioner may Communicate at the least thrise in the yeere whereof the Feast of Easter to bee one according as they are appointed by the booke of Common Prayer Prouided that euery Minister as oft as hee administreth the Communion shall first receiue the Sacrament himselfe Furthermore no Bread or Wine newly brought shal be vsed but first the words of Institution shal be rehearsed when the said Bread and Wine bee present vpon the Communion Table Likewise the Minister shal deliuer both the Bread and the Wine to euery Communicant seuerally XXII Warning to be giuen beforehand for the Communion WHereas euery Lay person is bound to receiue the holy Communion thrice euery
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
Archdeacon but of the Deane and two Prebendaries at the least or if they shall happen by any lawful cause to be let or hindered in the presence of foure other graue persons being masters of Arts at the least and allowed for publike Preachers XXXII None to bee made Deacon and Minister both in one day THe Office of a Deacon being a step or degree to the Ministery according to the iudgment of the ancient Fathers and the practise of the Primitiue Church We doe ordaine and appoint that hereafter no Bishop shall make any person of what qualities or gifts soeuer a Deacon and a Minister both together vpon one day but that the order in that behalfe prescribed in the Booke of making and consecrating Bishops Priestes and Deacons be strictly obserued Not that alwayes euery Deacon should be kept from the Ministerie for a whole yeere when the Bishop shall find good cause to the contrary but that there being now foure times appointed in euery yeere for the ordination of Deacons and Ministers there may euer be some time of trial of their behauiour in the office of Deacon before they bee admitted to the Order of Priesthood XXXIII The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers IT hath beene long since prouided by many decrees of the ancient Fathers that none should be admitted either Deacon or Priest who had not first some certain place where he might vse his Function According to which examples we doe ordaine that henceforth no person shall be admitted into sacred Orders except he shall at that time exhibite to the Bishop of whome hee desireth Imposition of hands a presentation of himselfe to some Ecclesiasticall preferment then voyd in that Diocesse or shal bring to the said Bishop a true vndoubted Certificate that either he is prouided of some Church within the said Diocesse where he may attend the Cure of soules or of some Ministers place vacant either in the Cathedral Church of that Diocesse or in some other Collegiat Church therein also scituate where he may execute his Ministerie or that he is a Fellow or in right as a Fellow or to bee a Conduct or Chapleine in some Colledge in Cambridge or Oxford or except he be a Master of Arts of fiue yeeres standing that liueth of his owne charge in either of the Vniuersities or except by the Bishop himselfe that doth ordaine him Minister he be shortly after to be admitted either to some Benefice or Curateship then voyd And if any Bishop shall admit any person into the Ministery that hath none of these Titles as is aforesaid then he shal keepe and maintaine him with all things necessary till he doe preferre him to some Ecclesiastical liuing And if the said Bishop shall refuse so to doe hee shall bee suspended by the Archbishop being assisted with another Bishop from giuing of Orders by the space of a yeere XXXIIII The qualitie of such as are to bee made Ministers NO Bishop shall hencefoorth admit any person into sacred Orders which is not of his owne Diocesse except he be either of one of the Vniuersities of this Realme or except hee shall bring letters Dimissory so tearmed from the Bishop of whose Diocesse he is and desiring to be a Deacon is three and twentie yeeres olde and to bee a Priest foure and twenty yeeres complete and hath taken some degree of Schoole in either of the saide Vniuersities or at the least except hee be able to yeeld an accompt of his Faith in Latine according to the Articles of Religion approoued in the Synode of the Bishops and Cleargie of this Realme 1562 and to confirme the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy Scriptures and except moreouer he shall then exhibite letters Testimoniall of his good life and conuersation vnder the Seale of some College in Cambridge or Oxford where before he remained or of three or foure graue Ministers together with the subscription and testimonie of other credible persons who haue knowen his life and behauiour by the space of three yeeres next before XXXV The examination of such as are to bee made Ministers THe Bishop before hee admit any person to holy Orders shall diligently examine him in the presence of those Ministers that shal assist him at the Imposition of hands And if the said Bishop haue any lawfull impediment he shall cause the said Ministers carefully to examine euery such person so to bee ordered Prouided that they who shall assist the Bishop in examining and laying on of handes shall bee of his Cathedrall Church if they may conueniently bee had or other sufficient Preachers of the same Diocesse to the number of three at the least And if any bishop or Suffragan shal admit any to sacred Orders who is not so qualified examined as before we haue ordeined the Archbishop of this prouince hauing notice thereof being assisted therein by one Bishop shall suspend the said Bishop or Suffragan so offending from making either Deacons or Priests for the space of two yeeres XXXVI Subscription required of such as are to bee made Ministers NO person shall hereafter be receiued into the Ministery nor either by Institution or Collation admitted to any Ecclesiastical liuing nor suffered to Preach to Catechize or to be a Lecturer or Reader of Diuinitie in either Vniuersity or in any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church City or market Towne parish Church Chappel or in any other place within this Realme except hee be licensed either by the Archbishop or by the Bishop of the Diocesse where he is to be placed vnder their handes and seales or by one of the two Vniuersities vnder their seale likewise and except he shall first subscribe to these three Articles following in such maner and sort as wee haue here appointed 1 That the Kings Maiestie vnder God is the onely supreme Gouernour of this Realme and of all other his Highnesse Dominions and Countreys aswell in all Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes as Temporall and that no forraine Prince person prelate State or potentate hath or ought to haue any Iurisdiction power superioritie preheminence or authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within his Maiesties said Realmes Dominions and Countreys 2 That the Booke of Common prayer and of ordering of Bishops priests and deacons containeth in it nothing contrary to the word of God and that it may lawfully so be vsed and that he himselfe will vse the forme in the said Booke prescribed in publike prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other 3 That he alloweth the booke of Articles of Religion agreed vpon oy the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargie in the Conuocation holden at London in the yeere of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred sixtie and two and that he acknowledgeth all euery the Articles therein contained being in number nine and thirty besides the ratification to be agreeable to the word of God To these three Articles whosoeuer will subscribe he shal for
and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct teach them the Catechisme set forth in the Booke of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children seruants and apprentices which haue not learned the Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed obediently to heare and to bee ordered by the Minister vntill they haue learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duetie herein let him bee sharpely reprooued vpon the first complaint and true notice thereof giuen to the Bishop or Ordinarie of the place If after submitting himselfe hee shall wilfully offend therein againe let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will bee therein reformed then Excommunicated and so remaine vntil he will be reformed And likewise if any of the saide Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses Children Seruants or Apprentices shall neglect their dueties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learne as aforesaid Let them bee suspended by their Ordinaries if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth then let them bee Excommunicated LX. Confirmation to be performed once in three yeeres FOrasmuch as it hath beene a solemne ancient laudable Custome in the Church of God continued from the Apostles times that all Bishops should lay their hands vpon children Baptized and instructed in the Catechisme of Christian Religion praying ouer them and blessing them which wee commonly call Confirmation and that this holy action hath beene accustomed in the Church in former ages to be performed in the Bishops Visitation euery third yeere We will and appoint that euery Bishop or his Suffragan in his accustomed Visitation do in his owne person carefully obserue the said Custome And if in that yeere by reason of some infirmitie he be not able personally to Visit then he shal not omit the execution of that duetie of Confirmation the next yeere after as he may conueniently LXI Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation EVery Minister that hath Cure and charge of soules for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer concerning Confirmation shall take such especiall care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hands vpon but such as can render an account of their Faith according to the Catechisme in the said Booke contained And when the Bishop shall assigne any time for the performance of that part of his duty euery such Minister shall vse his best endeuour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought and by the Bishop to be confirmed LXII Ministers not to marrie any persons without Bannes or Licence NO Minister vpon paine of suspension per triennium ipso facto shall celebrate Matrimonie betweene any persons without a Facultie or Licence granted by some of the persons in these our Constitutions expressed except the Bannes of Matrimonie haue bene first published three seueral Sundaies or Holy dayes in the time of diuine Seruice in the Parisâ—… churches and Chappels where the saide parties dwel according to the booke of Common prayer Neither shall any Minister vpon the like paine vnder any pretence whatsoeuer ioyne any persons so licenced in Marriage at any vnseasonable times but onely betweene the houres of eight and twelue in the forenoone nor in any priuate place but either in the said Churches or Chappels where one of them dwelleth and likewise in time of Diuine Seruice nor when Bannes are thrice asked and no Licence in that respect necessary before the Parents or Gouernours of the parties to be married being vnder the age of twentie and one yeeres shall either personally or by sufficient testimonie signifie to him their consents giuen to the said Marriage LXIII Ministers of exempt Churches not to Marry without Bannes or Licence EVery Minister who shal hereafter celebrate Marriage betwixt any persons contrary to our said Constitutions or any part of them vnder colour of any peculiar Libertie or Priuiledge claimed to appertaine to certaine Churches and Chappels shall be suspended per triennium by the Ordinarie of the place where the offence shal be committed And if any such Minister shall afterwards remooue from the place where he hath committed that fault before he be suspended as is aforesaid then shall the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place where he remaineth vpon Certificat vnder the Hand and Seale of the other Ordinarie from whose Iurisdiction hee remooued execute that censure vpon him LXIIII. Ministers solemnly to bid Holy dayes EVery Parson Vicar or Curate shall in his seuerall charge declare to the people euery Sunday at the time appointed in the Communion Booke whether there bee any Holy dayes or Fasting dayes the weeke following And if any doe hereafter wittingly offend herein and beeing once admonished thereof by his Ordinary shall againe omit that duetie let him be censured according to Law vntill hee submit himselfe to the due performance of it LXV Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicats ALl Ordinaries shall in their seuerall Iurisdictions carefully see giue order that aswell those who for obstinate refusing to frequent diuine Seruice established by publike authority within this Realme of England as those also especially of the better sort and condition who for notorious contumacie or other notable crimes stand lawfully excommunicate vnlesse within three moneths immediatly after the said sentence of Excommunication pronounced against them they reforme themselues and obtaine the benefit of Absolution bee euery sixe moneths ensuing aswell in the Parish Church as in the Cathedrall Church of the Diocesse in which they remaine by the Minister openly in time of Diuine Seruice vpon some Sunday denounced and declared Excommunicate that others may be thereby both admonished to refraine their company and society and excited the rather to procure out a Writ De excommunicate capiendo thereby to bring and reduce them into due order and obedience Likewise the Register of euery Ecclesiastical Court shal yeerely betweene Michaelmas and Christmas duely certifie the Archbishop of the Prouince of all and singuler the premisses aforesaid LXVI Miuisters to conferre with Recusants EVery Minister being a Preacher and hauing any Popish Recusant or Recusants in his Parish and thought fit by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall labour diligently wiâ—h them from time to time thereby to reclâ—ime them from their errours And if he be 〈◊〉 Preacher or not such a Preacher then hee shall procure if he can possibly some that are Preachers so qualified to take paines with them for that purpose If he can procure none then he shall informe the Bishop of the Diocesse thereof who shal not only appoint some neighbour Preacher or Preachers adioyning 〈…〉 labour vpon them but himselfe also 〈…〉 important affaires wil permit him shal 〈…〉 is best endeuour by instruction perswasion and all good meanes he
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
formerly subscribed if vpon admonition by the Ordinary he do not amend and reforme himselfe let him bee suspended from teaching Schoole any longer ¶ Things appertaining to Churches LXXX The great Bible and Booke of Common prayer to be had in euery Church THe Church-wardens or Questmen of euery Church Chappell shall at the charge of the Parish prouide the Booke of Common prayer lately explaned in some few points by his Maiesties authoritie according to the Lawes and his Highnesse prerogatiue in that behalfe and that with all conuenient speed but at the furthest within two moneths after the publishing of these our Constitutions And if any Parishes bee yet vnfurnished of the Bible of the largest volume or of the Bookes of Homilies allowed by Authoritie the said Church-wardens shall within conuenient time prouide the same at the like charge of the Parish LXXXI A Font of stone for Baptisme in euery Church ACcording to a former Constitution too much neglected in many places wee appoint That there shal be a Font of stone in euery Church and Chappell where Baptisme is to be ministred the same to bee set in the ancient vsuall places In which onely Font the Minister shall baptize publikely LXXXII A decent Communion Table in euery Church WHereas we haue no doubt but that in all Churches within the Realme of England conuenient and decent Tables are prouided and placed for the celebration of the holy Communion we appoint that the same Tables shall from time to time bee kept and repaired in sufficient and seemely manner and couered in time of diuine Seruice with a Carpet of Silke or other decent stuffe thought meet by the Ordinarie of the place if any question be made of it and with a faire Linnen cloth at the time of the ministration as becommeth that Table and so stand sauing when the said holy Communion is to bee administred At which time the same shall bee placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancell as thereby the Minister may be more conueniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and ministration and the Communicants also more conueniently and in more number may communicate with the said Minister and that the ten Commandements be set vpon the East ende of euery Church and Chappell where the people may best see and reade the same and other chosen Sentences written vpon the walles of the said Churches and Chappels in places conuenient and likewise that a conuenient seate bee made for the Minister to reade Seruice in All these to bee done at the charge of the Parish LXXXIII A pulpit to be prouided in euery Church THe Churchwardens or Questmen at the common charge of the Parishioners in euery Church shall prouide a comely and decent Pulpit to bee set in a conuenient place within the same by the discretion of the Ordinarie of the place if any question doe arise and to be there seemely kept for the preaching of Gods word LXXXIIII A Chest for Almes in euery Church THe Churchwardens shall prouide and haue within three moneths after the publishing of these constitutions a strong Chest with a hole in the vpper part thereof to be prouided at the charge of the Parish if there be none such already prouided hauing three keyes Of which one shall remaine in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curat and the other two in the custody of the Churchwardens for the time beeing which Chest they shall set and fasten in the most conuenient place to the intent the Parishioners may put into it their Almes for their poore neighbours And the Parson Vicar or Curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call vpon exhort and mooue their neighbours to conferre and giue as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring vnto them that whereas heretofore they haue bene diligent to bestow much substance otherwise then God commaunded vpon superstitious vses now they ought at this time to be much more ready to helpe the poore and needy knowing that to relieue the poore is a sacrifice which pleaseth God and that also whatsoeuer is giuen for their comfort is giuen to Christ himselfe is so accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same The which Almes and deuotion of the people the Keepers of the keyes shall yeerely quarterly or oftner as need requireth take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the Parish or sixe of the chiefe of them to bee truely and faithfully deliuered to their most poore and needy neighbours LXXXV Churches to be kept in sufficient reparations THe Churchwardens or questmen shall take care and prouide that the Churches bee well and sufficiently repaired and so from time to time kept and maintained that the Windowes bee well glazed and that the Floores be kept paued plaine and euen and all things there in such an orderly and decent sort without dust or any thing that may bee either noisome or vnseemely as best becommeth the house of God and is prescribed in an Homily to that effect The like care they shall take that the Churchyards bee well and sufficiently repaired fenced and maintained with Walles Railes or Pales as haue beene in each place accustomed at their charges vnto whom by Lawe the same appertaineth but especially they shall see that in euery meeting of the Congregation peace be well kept and that all persons Excommunicated and so denounced be kept out of the Church LXXXVI Churches to be suruayed and the decayes certified to the high Commissioners EVery Deane Deane and Chapter Archdeacon and others which haue authoritie to holde Ecclesiasticall Visitations by Composition Law or Prescription shall suruay the Churches of his or their Iurisdiction once in euery three yeeres in his owne person or cause the same to bee done and shall from time to time within the said three yeeres certifie the high Commissioners for causes Ecclesiasticall euery yeere of such defects in any the said Churches as hee or they doe finde to remaine vnrepaired and the names and surnames of the parties faultie therein Vpon which Certificat we desire that the sayd high Commissioners will Ex Officio mero send for such parties and compel them to obey the iust and lawfull Decrees of such Ecclesiasticall Ordinaries making such Certificates LXXXVII A Terrier of Glebelands and other Possessions belonging to Churches WE ordaine that the Archbishop and all Bishops within their seuerall Diocesses shall procure as much as in them lieth that a true note and Terrier of all the Glebes Lands Meadowes Gardens Orchards Houses Stockes Implements Tenements portions of Tithes lying out of their Parishes which belong to any Parsonage or Vicarage or rurall Prebend bee taken by the view of honest men in euery Parish by the appointment of the Bishop whereof the Minister to bee one and bee laid vp in the Bishops Registrie there to be for a perpetuall memorie thereof LXXXVIII Churches not to be prophaned THe Churchwardens