faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgement and truth R. Edv. 6. Art 39. Resurrectio mortuorum nondum est facta REsurrectio mortuorum non adhuc facta est quasi tantum ad animum pertineat qui per Christi gratiam à morte peccatorum excitetur sed extremo die quoad omnes qui obieruut expectanda est tunc enim vita defunctis ut scripturae manifestissime testantur propria corpora carnes ossa restitnentur ut hemo integer prout vel recte vel perdite vixerit juxta sua opera sive praemia sive poenas reportet Art R. Ed. 6. R. Ed. 6. Art 40. Defunctorum animae neque cum corporibus intereunt neque otiose dormiunt QUi animas defunctorum praedicant usque ad diem judieii absque omni sensu dormire aut illas asserunt una cum corporibut mori et extrema die cum illis excitandas ab orthodoxa fide quae nobis in sacris literis traditur prorsus dissentiunt R. Edv. 6. Art 41. Millenarii QUi Millenariorum fabulam revocare conantur sacris literis adversantur in Judaica deliramenta sese praecipitant R. Edv. Art 42. Non omnes tandem servandi sunt HIi quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quod omnes quantum vis impii servandi sunt tandem cum definito tempore à justitia divina poenas de admissis flagitiis luerunt The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soveraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Arch-Bishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Cleargie in the neither house in their Convocation in the year of our Lord 1571. THE TABLE 1 OF faith in the Trinity 2 Of Christ the Son of God 3 Of his going down into hell 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the holy Ghost 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scripture 7 Of the old Testament 8 Of the three Creeds 9 Of the original sin 10 Of free-will 11 Of Iustification 12 Of good works 13 Of works before justification 14 Of works of supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptisme 17 Of Predestination and Election 18 Of obtaining salvation by Christ 19 Of the Church 20 Of the authority of the Church 21 Of the authority of the General councels 22 Of purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26. Of the worthinesse of Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kindes 31 Of Christs one oblation 32 Of the marriage of Priests 33 Of excommunicate Persons 34 Of traditions of the Church 35 Of Homilies 36 Of consecration of Ministers 37 Of civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens goods 39 Of a Christian mans oath 40 Of the Ratification Anno primo Reginae Eliz. cap. 2. There shall be Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments WHere at the death of our late Soveraign Lord King Edward the 6th there remained one uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rights and Ceremonies in the Church of England which was set forth in one Book entituled The Book of Common Prayer Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England authorized by Act of Parliament holden in the 5th and 6th years of our said late Sovereign Lord King Edward the 6th entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer Stat. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. and Administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by Act of Parliament in the first year of the reign of our late Soveraign Lady Queen Mary to the great decay of the due honour of God Stat. 1. M. 2. and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion A Repeal of the Statute 1 M. 2. the book of Common Prayer shall be of effect Be it therefore enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the said Statute of repeal and every thing therein contained only concerning the said Book and the Service Administration of the Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies contained or appointed in or by the said Book shall be void and of none effect from and after the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming And that the said Book with the Order of Service and of the administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies with the Alteration and Additions therein added and appointed by this Estatute shall stand and be from and after the said feast of the Nativity of St John Baptist in full force and effect according to the Tenour and effect of this Estatute any thing in the foresaid Estatute of repeal to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further enacted by the Queens Highnesse with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish or Church or other place within this Realm of England The Book of Common Prayer shall be used 8. Eliz. Wales the Marches of the same or other the Queens Dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattens Evensong Celebration of the Lords Supper and Administration of each of the Sacraments and all the Common and open Prayer in such order and form as is mentioned in the said Book so authorized by Parliament in the said 5. and 6. years of the reign of King Edward the 6th with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons The alteration of the book set forth 5 6. Ed. 6.1 to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letanie altered and corrected and two sentences onely added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise The forfeiture of those which use any other Service than the Book of Common Prayer And that if any manner of Parson Vicar or other whatsoever Minister that ought or should sing or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book or Minister the Sacraments from and after the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said Common Prayer or to Minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or Parish Church or other places as he should use to minister the same in such order or form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book or shall wilfully or obstinately standing in the same use any other Rite Ceremony Order
this Realm And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this book the Queens Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods Glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforsaid All Lawes Ordinances made for other service shall be void That all Laws statutes and ordinances wherein or whereby any other service administration of Sacraments or Common Prayer is limited established or set forth to be used within this Realm or any other the Queens Dominions or Countryes shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect Coke pla fol 352. A Clause Anno 8. Eliz. cap. 1. A confirmation of the Stat. of 1 Eliz. 2. touching the book of Common Prayer Administration of the Sacraments WHerefore for the plain declaration of all the premisses and to the intent that the same may the better be known to every of the Queens Majesties subjects whereby such evil speech as heretofore hath been used against the High state of Prelacy may hereafter cease Be it now declared and enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament that the said Act and Statute made in the first year of the reign of our said Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty whereby the said book of common-Common-prayer and the Administration of Sacraments with other Rites and Ceremonies is authorized and allowed to be used shall stand and remain good and perfect to all respects and purposes And that such order and form for the Consecrating of Archbishops A Confirmation of the Stat. of 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1 touching the form of consecrating Archbishops c. and Bishops and for the making of Priests Deacons and Ministers as was set forth in the time of the said late King Edward the sixth and added to the said Book of Common-prayer and authorised by Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of the said late King shall stand and be in full force and effect and shall from henceforth be used and observed in all places within this Realm and other the Queens Majesties Dominions and Countries Anno 13. Eliz. cap. 12. Reformation of Disorders in the Ministers of the Church c. THat the Churches of the Queens Majesties Dominions may be served with Pastors of sound Religion Be it enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That every person under the degree of a Bishop which doth or shall pretend to be a Priest or Minister of Gods holy Word and Sacraments by reason of any other form of Institution Consecration or ordering than the form set forth by Parliament in the time of the late King of most Worthy Memory King Edward the sixth 3. Edw. 6.12 5. Edw. 6.1 Dyer f. 377. or now used in the Reigne of our most gracious Soveraigne Lady before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ next following shall in the presence of the Bishop or Guardian of the Spiritualities of some one Diocesse where he hath or shall have Ecclesiastical living declare his assent Every Ecclesiastical person shall subscribe to the Articles touching the Confession of the Faith and declare his assent thereunto and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments comprised in a book imprinted entituled Articles Whereupon it was agreed by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God a thousand five hundred sixty and two according to the computation of the Church of England for the avoiding of the diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion put forth by the Queens Authority and shall bring from such Bishop or Guardian of Spiritualties in writing under his Seal Authentick a testimonial of such assent and subscription and openly on some Sunday in the time of some publick service afternoon Reading of the Articles testimonial in every Church where by reason of any Ecclesiastical living he ought to attend read both the said testimonial and the said Articles upon pain that every such person which shall not before the said Feast do as is above appointed shall be ipso facto deprived and all his Ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he were then naturally dead And that if any person Ecclesiastical or which shall have Ecclesiastical livings shall advisedly maintain or affirm any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles The penaltie of maintaining of Doctrine against the Articles and being convented before the Bishop of the Diocesse or the Ordinary or before the Queens Highnesse Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical shall persist therein or not revoke his error or after such revocation eftsoones affirm such untrue Doctrine such maintaining or affirming and persisting or such eftsoone affirming shall be just cause to deprive such person of his Ecclesiastical promotions And it shall be lawful to the Bishop of the Diocess or the Ordinary or the said Commissioners to deprive such persons so persisting or lawfully convicted of such eftsoones affirming and upon such sentence of deprivation pronounced he shall be indeed deprived Several things required in him which shall be admitted to a Benefice And that no person shall hereafter be admitted to any Benefice with Cure except he then be of the age of three and twenty years at the least and a Deacon and shall first have subscribed the said Articles in presence of the Ordinary and publickly read the same in the Parish Church of that Benefice with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And that every person after the end of this Session of Parliament to be admitted to a Benefice with Cure except that within two moneths after his Induction he do publickly read the said Articles in the same Church whereof he shall have Cure in the time of Common Prayer there with declaration of his unfeigned assent thereto and be admitted to minister the Sacraments within one year after his Induction if he be not so admitted before shall be upon every such default ipso facto immediately deprived And that no person now permitted by any dispensation or otherwise shall retain any Benefice with Cure being under the age of One and Twenty years or not being Deacon at the least or which shall not be admitted as is aforesaid within one year next after the making of this Act or within six moneths after he shall accomplish the age of twenty four years on pain that such his dispensation shall be meerly void The age of a Minister or Preacher and his testimoniall And that none shall be made Minister or admitted to
thabrogacion of certayne holy dayes accordyng to the transumpte late sent by the kyngs hyghnes to all bysshops with his graces strayght commaundement to signifie his farther pleasure to all Colleges religious houses and Curates within theyr diocesse for the publicacion and also effectuall vniuersall obsercion of the same Anno 1536. FOr as moch as the nombre of holy dayes is so excessyuely growen and yet dayly more and more by mens deuocyon yea rather supersticyon was lyke further to encrease that the same was sholde be not onely preiudiciall to the common weale by reason that it is occasion as well of moche slouth and ydelnes the very nouryshe of theues vacaboundes and of dyuers other unthryftynesse and inconuenyencies as of decaye of good mysteryes and artes vtyle and necessary fort the common welthe and losse of mans fode many tymes beynge clene destroyed through the supersticious obseruaunce of the said holydayes in not takynge thoportunitie of good serene wheather offered vpon the same in time of haruest but also pernicyous to the soules of many men whiche beyng entysed by the lycencyous vacacyon and libertye of those holy dayes do vpon the same commonly vse and practyse more excesse ryote and supersluite than upon any other dayes And sith the Sabboth day was ordeyned for mans vse and therefore ought to gyue place to the necessite and behoue of the same whan soever that shall occurre mouche rather any other holyday institute by man It is therefore by the kings hyghnes auctority as supreme head in earth of the Church of Englande with the Common assente and consent of the prelates and clergy of this his realme in Convocacyon laufully assembled and congregate among other thynges decreed ordeyned and establyshed ¶ Fyrst that the feest of Dedicacyon of the church shall in all places throughout this realm be celebrated and kepte on the fyrst sonday of the moneth of Octobre for ever and vpon none other day ¶ Item that the feest of the patrone of every church within this realm called commonly the Church holyday shall not from henceforth be kepte or obserued as a holyday as heretofore hath been vsed but that it shall be laufull to all and singular persons resydent or dwellynge within this realme to go to their work occupacyon or mystery and the same truely to excercyse and occupy upon the said feest as vpon any other workyeday excepte the said feest of the Church holyday be such as must be ells vniversally observed as a holy day by this ordynaunce following Also that all those feestes or holy days which shall happen to occurre eyther in the haruest time which is to be compted from the fiyst day of Iuly unto the xxix day of Septembre or elles in the terme time at westmynster shall not be kepte or obserued from henceforth as holydayes but that it may be laufull for every man to go to his work or occupacion vpon the same as vpon any other workyeday except alwayes the feestes of the apostles of our blessed lady and of saynt George And also such feesles as wherein the kings Iudges at westmynster hall do not vse to sytte in Iudgement all which shall be kepte holy and solempne of every man as in tyme past have been accustomed Prouyded alwayes that it may be laufull vnto all preestes and clerkes as well secular as regular in the foresayd holydayes now abrogate to synge or saye their accostomed seruyce for those holydayes in their churches so that they do not the same solempnely nor do rynge to the same after the maner vsed in hygh holydayes ne do commaunde or indict the same to be kepte or obserued as holydayes Finally that the feest of the Natiuitie of our lord of Easter of the Natiuitie of saynt Iohn the baptyste and of saynt Mychaell shall be frome henceforth compted and accepted and taken for the iiij generall offering dayes And for further declaracyon of the premysses be it knowen that Easter terme begyneth alwayes the xviii day after Easter reckenyng Easter day for one and endeth the monday next after thascencyon day Trinitie terme begynneth alwayes the wednesday next after thoctaues of Trinitie sonday and endeth the xi or xii day of Iuly Myhgelmas terme beginneth the ix or x. day of October and endeth the xxviii or xxix day of Nouember Hillary terme begynneth the xxiii or xxiiii day of Ianuary and endeth the xii or xiii day of February In Easter terme upon thascencyon daye In Trinite term upon the Nativity of saynt Iohn Baptyst In Myghelmas terme vpon Alhallon day In Hillary terme vpon Candelmas day The kyngs Iudges at westmynster do not use to syt in Iudgement nor vpon any sondayes ¶ Imprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne by me Iohn Byddell Cum priuilegio Anno 1536. By the Queen A Proclamation against the despisers or breakers of the orders prescribed in the book of Common prayer THE Queens Majesty being right sorry to understand that the order of common prayer set forth by the common consent of the Realm and by authority of Parliament in the first year of her reign wherein is nothing conteined but the Scripture of God and that which is consonant unto it is now of late of some men despised and spoken against both by open preachings and writings and of some bold and vain curious men new and other Rites found out and frequenced whereupon contentions sects and disquietnesse doth arise among her people and for one godly and uniform order diversity of Rites and Ceremonies disputations and contentions schismes and divisions already risen and more like to ensue The cause of which disorders Her Majesty doth plainly understand to be the negligence of the Bishops and other Magistrates who should cause the good Laws and Acts of Parliament made in this behalf to be better executed and not so dissembled and winked at as hitherto it may appear that they have been For speedy remedy whereof Her Majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all Archbyshops and Bishops and all Iustices of Assises and Oyer and Termyner and all Majors head officers of Cities and Towns corporate and all other who have any authority to put in execution the Act for the uniformity of common prayer and the administration of the Sacraments made in the first year of Her gracious reign with all diligence and severity neither favouring nor dissembling with one person nor other who doth neglect despise or seek to alter the godly Orders and Rites set forth in the said Book But if any person shall by publick preaching writing or printing contemn despise or dispraise the Orders contained in the said Book they shall immediately apprehend him and cause him to be imprisoned until he hath answered to the Law upon pain that the chief Officers being present at any such preaching and the whole Parish do answer for their contempt and negligence Likewise if any shall forbear to come to the Common prayer and receive the Sacraments of the Church according to the order in the said book allowed upon no just and lawful cause all such persons they shall enquire of present and see punished and ordered according as is prescribed in the said Act with more care and diligence then heretofore hath been done the which negligence hath been cause why such disorders have of late now so much and in so many places encreased and grown And if any persons shal either in private houses or in publick places make assemblies and therein use other Rites of Common prayer and
The Seales of ARMES of the Bishops of England etc. A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES Injunctions Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions Ecclesiastical with other Publick Records OF THE CHVRCH of ENGLAND Chiefly in the Times of K. EDWARD VIth Q. ELIZABETH and K. JAMES Published to Vindicate the Church of ENGLAND and to promote Uniformity and peace in the same And humbly presented to the CONVOCATION LONDON Printed by R. Norton for Timothy Garthwait at the Little North-doore of St. Pauls Church 1661. THE TABLE  Anno Domini Pag. KIng EDWARD'S Injunctions 1547. 1. Order of Communion Service 1547. 15. Arch Bp. CRANMERS Articles of visitation 1548. 25. Bp RIDLYES Articles of visitation 1550. 33. ARTICLES of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation 1552. 39. The Latin Edition of those Articles 1552. 51. Q. ELIZABETH'S Injunctions 1559. 63. The Queens Articles of visitation 1559. 235. An ACT for Vniformity of Common Prayer 1559. 75. Celebratio Coenae Dom. in Funebribus in the 2. yeer of the Queen 1560. 249. Book of ORDINATION 1559. 96. Commendatio Benefactorum 1560.  ARTICLES of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation c. and compared with King EDWARD the VI. Articles 1562. 86. The Latine Edition of those Articles 1562. * .1 ADVERTISEMENTS for Due order about Ministers Apparel the Communion c. 1564. 86. Liber quorundam CANONUM 1571. * 15. ARTICVLI Provinciae Cantuariensis 1584. 243. Capitula sive CONSTITUTIONES Ecclesiasticae 1597. 37. The OATHES of Supremacy Allegiance Canonical Obedience Residence  88. The Oath against Simony  90. Of Abrogate HOLYDAYES in K. HENRY the 8 ths time 1536. 225. Proclamation against the despisers of the COMMON PRAYER c. 1573. 227. Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of Love 1580. 229. Proclamation against Schismatical and seditious Books and Libels 1588. 231. Prayers at the Healing  223. In K. JAMES his time CANONS and Constitutions in Latine 1603. 303. PRoclamation declaring the proceedings in Ecelesiastical Courts to be according to the Laws of the Land  91 A PREFACE to the Reader OUR great Lord and Master Christ having purchased to himself by his precious blood a peculiar people his One mystical Body the Church sanctified it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church holy without spot Ephes 5.27 not without all spot there is a spot of Gods children of sins of frailty and infirmity which the Church as long as she is Militant will never be without but without spot of malice and wicked lewdness such spots and blemishes as were figured by the corporal blemishes forbidden to the Priests and their sacrifices Lev. 21. 22.20 spots that will make the Church as abhorred in the sight of God as those bodily spots made the Priests and their sacrifices unto the eyes of men without such scandalous spots mentioned Gal. 5.9 all the members of this one Body may and ought to be That the Church may preserve her self in this purity without spot and in this unity without division and continue one holy Church as it is in our Creed a double power and Authority is needful as to all other Bodies politick so likewise to this Society of Believers the Church one of jurisdiction to correct and reform those impure members by spiritual censures whom counsel will not win and if they be incorrigible to cast them out of this holy Society lest their leaven should leaven the whole lump 1 Cor. 5.6 thus to preserve the Churches purity and again to correct and reduce to unity the contentious troublers of the Churches peace if it may be by charitable admonitions if not to stop their mouths Titus 1.11 not by arguments alone for such will never prevail upon absurd unreasonable and obstinate men and such there alwayes will be but by spiritual Censures even to the casting them out of the Churches Society so to preserve peace and unity Besides this power of Jurisdiction there is necessary also for the obtaining of those two high ends a Legislative power to make Canons and Constitutions upon emergent occasions For though our great Lord hath already given to his Church most holy and wise rules and Laws for the same purposes yet because they are general not descending to every particularity of time and place and manner of performanee which yet are necessary to be determined for the preservation of publick peace and unity and because there may at least through the perversnesse of men of corrupt minds arise some doubts and controversies about the sense and meaning of those most holy rules of our Lord for the determining of which we are not now to expect any resolution from Prophet or Oracle or other immediate voice from heaven it doth hereupon necessarily follow that there must be Authority left to this Church and the Governours thereof to make new Laws upon these emergent occasions to determine these particularities to decide and compose these controversies whereby to preserve the unity of the spirit in the Bond of Peace Who soever shall think that all this may be done by friendly perswasion or learned disputes onely will finde himself deceived as experience of all Ages hath shown and will shew as long as there be men of perverse mindes and corrupt affections Without a definitive and Authoritative sentence controversies will be endless and the Churches peace unavoidably disturbed and therefore the voice of God and right Reason hath taught that in matters of Controversie the definitive sentence of Superiours should decide the doubt and whosoever should decline from that sentence and do presumptuously should be put to death that others might hear and fear and do no more presumptuously Deut. 17. which is to be understood mystically also of death spirituall by Excommunication by being cut off from the living body of Christs Church It being thus cleared by reason and Gods own rule that such power is necessary for the preserving Peace and unity it cannot be imagined with reason that our great Master should deny his dear bought body such necessaries But not to rest upon the reason why they should be given it may be made to appear that de facto He hath given such power to the Church and that by reciting his gracious Commissions granted to the Church with his Apostles practice and exercise of those powers who best knowing their Lords will and pleasure must be by their practice the best Interpreters of his minde and meaning See then how read we For the power of Jurisdiction we finde a large Commission St. John 20. As my father sent me so send I you and one particular of Jurisdiction there expressed Whosoever sins you binde in Earth they are bound in Heaven a sharp and dreadful sentence worse then that of the Sword by so much as the death of the Soul is worse then the death of the Body which in obstinate despisers of that correction doth too certainly follow This power of spiritual censures St. Paul calls
otherwise then for their honest necessity there to drink and riot or to play at unlawful games Whether your Ministers be common brawlers sowers of discord rather then charity among their parishioners haukers hunters or spending their time idlely or coming to their benefice by Simony Whether your Ministers or any other persons have committed adultery fornication incest baudry or to be vehemently suspected of the same common drunkards scolds or be common swearers and blasphemers of Gods holy name Whether your Parsons and Vicars do maintain their houses and Chancels in sufficient reparation or if their houses be in decay whether they bestow yearly the fift part of the fruits of the benefice untill the same be repaired Whether your Parsons and Vicars absent from their benefice do leave their Cure to an able Minister And if he may dispend yearly xx.l. or above in this Deanry or else where whether he doth distribute every year among his poor parishioners there at the least the fourty part of the fruits of the same And likewise spending yearly C.l. Whether he doth finde one scholar at either of the universities or some grammar School and so for every other hundred pound one Scholar Whether every Dean Archdeacon and Prebendary being Priest doth personally by himself Preach twice every year at the least either where he is intitled or where he hath jurisdiction or in some place united or appropriate to the same Whether your Minister having licence thereunto doth use to preach or not licenced doth diligently procure other to preach that are licenced or whether he refuseth those offering themselves that are licenced or absenteth himself or causeth other to be away from the Sermon or else admitteth any to preach that are not licenced Whether any by preaching writing word or deed hath or doth maintain the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome Whether any be a letter of the word of God to be preached or read in the English tongue Whether any do preach declare or speak any thing in derogation of the book of Common prayer or any thing therein contained or any part thereof Whether any do preach and defend that private persons may make insurrections stir sedition or compel men to give them their goods Whether the Curate doth admit any to the Communion before he be confirmed or any that ken not the Pater Noster the articles of the faith and ten Commandments in English Whether Curates do Minister the Communion for mony or use to have trentals of Communions Whether any of the Anabaptists sect or other use notoriously any unlawful or private conventicles wherein they do use Doctrine or administration of Sacraments separating themselves from the rest of the parish Whether there be any that privatly in their private house have their Masses contrary to the form and order of the book of Communion Whether any minister doth refuse to use the Common prayers or minister Sacraments in that order and form as is set forth in the book of Common prayer Whether baptisme be ministred out of necessity in any other time then on the Sunday or holy day or in an other tongue then english Whether any speaketh against baptisme of Infants Whether any be married within degrees prohibited by Gods law or separate without cause lawful or is married without banes thrice first asked 3. several holy dayes or Sundayes openly in the Church at service time Whether any curate doth marry them of other parishes without that curates licence and certificate from him of the banes thrice solemnly asked Whether any saith that the wickedesse of the Minister taketh away the effect of Christs Sacraments Whether any saith that Christian men cannot be allowed to repentance if they sin voluntarily after baptisme Whether your Curates be ready to Minister the Sacraments visit the sick and bury the dead being brought to the Church Whether any minister useth wilfully and obstinately any other Right Ceremony Order Form or manner of Communion Mattens or Evensong Ministration of Sacraments or open prayers then is set forth in the Book of Common prayer Whether your Curate once in six weeks at the least upon some Sunday or holy day before Even-song do openly in the Church instruct and examine children not confirmed in some part of the Catechisme and whether Parents and Masters do send them thither upon warning given by the Minister Whether any useth to keep abrogate holy dayes or private holy dayes as bakers shoomakers brewers smiths and such other Whether any useth to hallow water bread salt bells or candles upon Candlemas day ashes on Ashwenesday Palms on Palmsunday the Font on the Easter even fire on paschal or whether there was any sepulchre on Good-Fryday Whether the water in the Font be changed every moneth once and then any other praiers said then is in the book of Common prayer appointed Whether there be any images in your Church Tabernacles Shrines or covering of Shrines candles or trindels of wax or feigned Miracles in your Churches or private houses Whether your Church be kept in due and lawful reparation and whether there be a comly pulpit set up in the same and likewise a coffer for almes for the poor called the poor mans box or chest Whether any legacies given to the poor amending high wayes or marrying poor maides be undistributed and by whom God save the King ARTICLES agreed upon by the BISHOPS and other Learned and Godly men In the Last CONVOCATION at LONDON In the year of our Lord 1552. to root out the discord of Opinions and establish the Agreement of true Religion Published by the Kings Majesties Authority 1553. Imprinted at LONDON by John Day ARTICLES agreed upon in the CONVOCATION and published by the KINGS MAJESTY Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God and he is everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdom and goodnesse the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost That the word or Son of God was made very man THe Son which is the word of the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary of her substance so that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and manhood were joyned together into one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truely suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice for all sin of man both original and actual Of the going down of Christ into hell AS Christ died and was buried for us so also it is to be believed that he went down into hell for the body lay in the Sepulchre until the Resurrection but his Ghost departing from him was with the Ghosts that were in prison or in Hell and did preach to the same as the place of St.
Form or manner of Celebrating the Lords Supper openly or privily or Mattens Evensong Administration of the Sacraments or other open Prayers then is mentioned and set forth in the said Book open Prayer in and throughout this Act is meant that Prayer which is for others to come unto or hear either in Common Churches or private Chappels or Oratories Commonly called the Service of the Church or shall preach The penalty for depraving the Book of Common Prayer declare or speak any thing in the derogation or depraving of the said Book or any thing there in contained or of any part thereof and shall be thereof lawfully convicted according to the Laws of this Realm by verdict of 12. men or by his own Confession or by the Notorious evidence of the Fact shall lose and forfeit to the Queens Highnesse her Heirs and successors for his first offence the profit of all his spiritual Benefices or Promotions coming or arising in one whole year next after his conviction And also that the person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer imprisonment for the space of 6. months without Bail or mainprise And if any such person once convict of any offence concerning the premisses shall after this first conviction eftsoons offend The penalty for the second offence and be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convict that then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his spiritual Promotions and that it shall be lawful to all Patrons or Donors of all and singular the same spiritual Promotions or of any of them to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending were dead And that if any such person or persons The penalty for the third offence after he shall be twice convicted in form aforesaid shall offend against any of the premisses the third time and shall be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convicted that then the person so offending and convicted the third time shall be deprived ipso facto of all his spiritual Promotions and also shall suffer Imprisonment during his life And if the person that shall offend The penalty of an offender having no spiritual Promotion and be convicted in form aforesaid concerning any of the premisses shall not be Beneficed nor have any spiritual Promotion that then the same person so offending and convict shall for the first offence suffer Imprisonment during one whole year next after his said conviction without Baile or Mainprise And if any person not having any spiritual Promotion after his first conviction shall eftsoons offend in any thing concerning the premisses and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convicted that the same person shall for his second offence suffer Imprisonment during his life And it is ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid The forfeiture of them which do any thing or speak in the derogation of the book of Common Prayer That if any person or persons whatsoever after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming shall in any Enterludes Playes Songs Rymes or by other open words declare or speak any thing in the derogation depraving or despising of the same book or of any thing therein contained or any part thereof or shall by open fact deed or by open threatnings compel or cause or otherwise procure or maintain any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish Church or in Chappel or in any other place to sing or say any Common or open prayer or to minister any Sacrament otherwise Causing other Prayer to be said or sung Coke pla fol. 312. or in any other manner and form than is mentioned in the said book or that by any of the said means shall unlawfully interrupt or let any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish Church Chappel or any other place to sing or say common and open prayer or to Minister the Sacraments or any of them in such manner and form The forfeiture of an hundred Marks for the first offence Dyer fol. 203.231.323 The forfeiture of four hundred marks for the second offence as is mentioned in the said book That then every such person being thereof lawfully convicted in form above said shall forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady her Heires and Successors for the first offence an hundred marks And if any person or persons being once convict of any such offence eftsoones offend against any of the last recited offences and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convict That then the same person so offending and convict shall for the second offence forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady her Heirs and Successors four hundred marks And if any person after he in form aforesaid shall have been twice convict of any offence The forfeiture of the third offence concerning any of the last recited offences shall offend the third time and be thereof in form abovesaid lawfully convict That then every person so offending and convict shall for his third offence forfeit to our Sovereign Lady the Queen all his goods and Chattels and shall suffer Imprisonment during his life And if any person or persons that for his first offence concerning the premisses shall be convict in form aforesaid The penalties if the party convicted do not pay his forfeiture within the time limited do not pay the sum to be paid by vertue of his conviction in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid within six weeks next after his conviction That then every person so convict and so not paying the same shall for the same first offence in stead of the said sum suffer Imprisonment by the space of six monthes without Bayle or mainprize And if any person or persons that for his second offence concerning the premisses shal be convict in form aforesaid do not pay the said sum to be paid by vertue of his Conviction and this Estatute in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid within six weeks next after his said second conviction that then every person so convicted and not so paying the same shall for the same second offence in the stead of the said sum suffer Imprisonment during twelve months without bayle or mainprize And that from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming Every person shall resort to the Church upon the Holy dayes all and every person and persons inhabiting within this Realm or any other the Queens Majesties Dominions shall diligently and faithfully having no lawfull or reasonable excuse to be absent endeavour themselves to resott to their Parish Church or Chapel accustomed or upon reasonable let thereof to some usual place where Common Prayer and such service of God shall be used in such time of let upon every Sunday and other dayes ordained and
used to be kept as holy dayes and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the Common Prayer Preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred The forfeiture for not coming to Church 32. Eliz. 1. upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And also upon pain that every person so offending shall forfeit for such offence twelvepence to be levied by the Church-wardens of the Parish where such offence shall be done to the use of the poor of the same Parish of the goods lands and tenements of such offender by way of distresse And for due Execution hereof the Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled do in Gods name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true Execution hereof may be had throughout their Diocesse and Charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholsome Law And for their Authority in this behalf The Ordinary may punish Offenders by the Censures of the Church be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular the said Archbishops Bishops and all other their Officers exercising Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction as well in place exempt as not exempt within their Diocesse shall have full power and authority by this Act to reform correct and punish by Censures of the Church all and singular persons which shall offend within any their Iurisdictions or Diocesse after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming against this Act and Statute any other Law Statute Privilege Liberty or Provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding And it is Ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid Which Justices may punish their offences That all and every Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize shall have full power and Authority in every of their Open and general Sessions to enquire hear and determine all and all manner offences that shall be committed or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act within the limits of the Commission to them directed and to make Processe for the Execution of the same as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespasse or lawfully convicted thereof A Bishop may joyn with the Iustices to enquire of offenders Provided alwayes and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure joyn and associate himself by vertue of this Act to the said Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or to the said Iustices of Assize at every of the said open and General Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocesse for and to the enquiry hearing and determining of the offences aforesaid At whose charges the books of Common prayer shall be gotten Provided also and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the books concerning the said Services shall at the Costs and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish and Cathedral Church be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of St. Iohn Baptist next following and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches or other places where the said books shall be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint Iohn Baptist shall within three weeks next after the said books so attained and gotten use the said Service and put the same in Vre according to this Act. And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter Impeached Within what time offenders shall be Impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences above-mentioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unlesse he or they so offending be thereof Indicted at the next General Sessions to be holden before any such Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenour of this Act Trial of Peers Provided alwayes and be it ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence above mentioned shall be tryed by their Peers Chief Officers of Cities and Boroughs shall enquire of offenders Provided also and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Major of London and all the Majors Bayliffs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Towns Corporate within this Realm Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assize do not commonly repaire shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act to enquire hear and determine the offences abovefaid and every of them yearly within fifteen dayes after Easter and St. Michael the Archangel in like manner and form as Iustices of Assize and Oyer and Determiner may do The Ordinaries Iurisdiction in their Cases Provided alwayes and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all and singular Arch-bishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction shall have ful power and authority by vertue of this Act as well to enquire in their Visitation and elsewhere within their Iurisdiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and every the things above mentioned done committed or perpetrated within the Limits of their Iurisdictions and authority and to punish the same by Admonition Excommunication Sequestration or Deprivation and other Censures and Processe in like form as heretofore hath been used in like Cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws Provided alwayes and be it Enacted None shall be punished above once for one offence that whatsoever persons offending in the Premises shall for their offences first receive a punishment of the Ordinary having a Testimonial thereof under the said Ordinaries seal shall not for the same offence eftsoons be convicted before the Iustices And likewise receiving for the said first offence punishment by the Iustices shall not for the same offence eftsoones receive punishment of the Ordinary Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided alwayes and be it Enacted Ornamens of the Church and Ministers that such ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof shall be retained and be in use as was in this Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the sixt until other order shall be therein taken by the Authority of the Queenes Majesty with the advice of her Commissioners appointed and Authorized under tho Great Seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitan of
Preach or Administer the Sacraments being under the age of four and twenty years nor unlesse he first bring to the Bishop of that Diocess from men known to the Bishop to be of sound Religion a testimonial both of his honest life and of his professing the Doctrine expressed in the said Articles nor unless he be able to answer and render to the Ordinary an account of his faith in Latine accord-to the said Articles or have special gift and ability to be a Preacher nor shall be admitted to the Order of Deacon or Ministry unless he shall first subscribe to the said Articles And that none hereafter Who may have a Benefice of the yearly value of xxxl All Admissions Inductions Tolerations No Lapse upon deprivation but after notice Dyer fo 377. 346. 369. Cok. li. 6. fol 29. shall be admitted to any Benefice with Cure of or above the value of thirty pounds yearly in the Queens books unlesse he shall then be a Batchellour of Divinity or Preacher lawfully allowed by some Bishop within this Realm or by one of the Vniversities of Cambridge or Oxford And that all Admissions to Benefices Institutions and Inductions to be made of any person contrary to the form or any Provision of this Act and all tolerations dispensations qualifications and licences whatsoever to be made to the contrary hereof shall be meerly void in Law as if they never were Provided alway That no title to confer or present by a Lapse shall accrue upon any deprivation ipso facto but after six moneths notice of such deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron ADVERTISMENTS partly for due order IN THE PUBLICK ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SACRAMENTS AND Partly for the apparel of all persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queens Majesties letters commanding the same the 25. day of January in the seventh year of the reign of our Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. LONDINI Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno Dom. 1564. Anno 7. Eliz. R. The Preface THe Queens Majesty of her godly Zeal calling to remembrance how necessary it is to the advancement of Gods glory and to the establishment of Christs pure Religion for all her loving subjects especially the state Ecclesiastical to be knit together in one perfect unity of doctrine and to be conjoyned in one uniformity of Rites and manners in the ministration of Gods holy word in open prayer and ministration of Sacraments as also to be of one decent behaviour in their outward apparel to be known partly by their distinct habits to be of that vocation who should be reverenced the rather in their offices as Ministers of the holy things whereto they be called hath by her letters directed unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and metropolitane required enjoyned and straightly charged that with assistence and conference had with other Bishops namely such as be in commission for causes Ecclesiastical some orders might be taken whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the people as breeding nothing but contention offence and breach of common charity and he against the laws good usage and ordinances of the Realm might be reformed and repressed and brought to one manner of uniformity throughout the whole Realm that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve almighty God in truth concord unity peace and quietness as by her Majesties said letters more at large doth appeare Whereupon by diligent conference and communication in the same and at last by assent and consent of the persons beforesaid these orders and rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient to be used and followed not yet prescribing these rules as laws equivalent with the eternal word of God and as of necessity to binde the consciences of her subjects in the nature of them considered in themselves Or as they should adde any efficacy or more holinesse to the vertue of publick prayer and to the Sacraments but as temporal orders meer Ecclesiastical without any vain superstition and as rules in some part of discipline concerning decency distinction and order for the time Articles for Doctrine and preaching FIrst that all they which shall be admitted to preach shall be diligently examined for their conformity in unity of doctrine established by publick authority and admonished to use sobriety and discretion in teaching the people namely in matters of controversie and to consider the gravity of their office and to foresee with diligence the matters which they will speak to utter them to the edification of the audience Item That they set out in their preaching the reverent estimation of the holy Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper exciting the people to the often and devout receiving of the holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ in such form as is already prescribed in the book of Common Prayer and as it is further declared in an Homily concerning the vertue and efficacy of the said Sacraments Item That they move the people to all obedience as well in observation of the orders appointed in the book of Common service as in the Queens Majesties injunctions as also of all other civil duties due for subjects to do Item That all licences for preaching granted out by the Arch-Bishop and Bishops within the province of Canterbury bearing date before the first day of March 1564 be void of none effect and neverthelesse all such as shall be thought meet for the office to be admitted again without difficulty or charge paying no more but iiii pence for the writing parchment and wax Item If any Preacher or Parson Vicar or Curate so licensed shall fortune to preach any matter tending to dissention or to the derogation of the Religion and Doctrine received that the hearers denounce the same to the Ordinaries or the next Bishop of the same place but no man openly to contrary or to impugne the same speech so disorderly uttered whereby may grow offence and disquiet of the people but shall be convinced and reproved by the Ordinary after such agreeable order as shall be seen to him according to the gravity of the offence And that it be presented within one moneth after the words spoken Item That they use not to exact or receive unreasonable rewards or stipends of the poor Pastors coming to their Cures to preach whereby they might be noted as followers of filthy lucre rather then use the office of preaching of charity and good zeal to the salvation of mens souls Item If the Parson be able he shall preach in his own person every three moneths or else shall preach by an other so that his absence be approved by the Ordinary of the Dioces in respect of sickness service or study at the Vniversities Neverthelesse yet for want of able Preachers and Parsons to tolerate them without penalty so that they preach in their own persons or by a Learned substitute once in
should receive the blessed Sacrament of the Altar and admonish them to learn the said necessary things more perfectly or else they ought not to presume to come to Gods board without a perfect knowledge and will to observe the same and if they do it is to the great peril of their souls and also to the worldly rebuke that they might incur hereafter by the same Also that they shall admit no man to preach within any their Cures but such as shall appear unto them to be sufficiently licensed thereunto by the Kings Majeste the Lord Protectors grace the Archbishop of Canterbury the Archbishop of York in his Province or the Bishop of the Diocesse and such as shall be so licensed they shall gladly receive to declare the word of God without any resistence or contradiction Also if they have heretofore declared to their parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of pilgrimages relicks or Images or lighting of Candels kissing kneeling decking of the same Images or any such superstition they shall now openly before the same recant and reprove the same shewing them as the truth is that they did the same upon no ground of scripture but were led and seduced by a common errour and abuse crept into the Church through the sufference and avarice of such as felt profit by the same Also if they do or shall know any man within their parish or elsewhere that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached or of the execution of these the Kings Majesties Injunctions or a fautor of the Bishop of Romes pretensed power now by the laws of this Realm justly reiected extirpated and taken away utterly they shall detect and present the same to the King or his Council or to the Iustice of peace next adjoyning Also that the Parson Vicar or Curate and parishioners of every parish within this Realm shall in their Churches and Chapels keep one Book or Register wherein they shall write the day and year of every wedding Christning and Burial made within their Parish for their time and so every man succeeding them likewise And therein shall write every persons name that shall be so Wedded Christned or Buried And for the safe keeping of the same book the parish shall be bound to provide of their common charges one sure cofer with two locks and keyes whereof the one to remain with the Parson Vicar or Curate the other with the Wardens of every Parish church or chapel wherein the said book shall be laid up which book they shall every Sunday take forth and in the presence of the said Wardens or one of them write and record in the same all the Weddings Christnings and Burials made the whole week before and that done to lay up the book in the said cofer as afore And for every time that the same shall be omitted the party that shall be in the fault thereof shall forfeit to the said Church iii. s. iiii d. to be employed to the poor mens box of that parish Furthermore because the goods of the Church are called the goods of the poor and at these dayes nothing is less seen then the poor to be sustained with the same all Parsons Vicars Pencionaries Prebendaries and other beneficed men within this Deanery not being resident upon their benefices which may dispend yearly xx.l. or above either within this Deanery or elsewhere shall distribute hereafter among their poor parishioners or other inhabitants there in the presence of the Church-wardens or some other honest men of the parish the xl part of the fruits and revenues of their said benefices lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude which reserving so many parts to themselves cannot vouchsafe to impart the xl portion thereof among the poor people of that parish that is so fruitful and profitable unto them And to the intent that learned men may hereafter spring the more for the execution of the premisses ever Parson Vicar Clerk or beneficed man within this Deanery having yearly to dispend in benefices and other promotions of the Church an C.l. shall give competent exhibition to one Scholar and for so many C.l. more as he may dispend to so many Scholars more shall he give like exhibition in the Vniversity of Oxford or Cambridge or some Grammar schole which after they have profited in good learning may be partners of their patrons cure and charge as well in preaching as otherwise in the execution of their offices or may when need shall be otherwise profit the Common weale with their counsail and wisdom Also that the proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chapels or Mansions within this Deanery shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same Mansions or Chancels of their Churches being in decay the fift part of that their benefices till they be fully repaired and the same so repaired shall alwayes keep and maintain in good estate Also that the said Parsons Vicars and Clerks shall once every quarter of the year read these Injunctions given unto them openly and deliberately before all their parishioners to the intent that both they may be the better admonished of their duty and their said Parishioners the more moved to follow the same for their part Also for as much as by a law established every man is bound to pay his tithes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates detain their tithes and so redubbe and requite one wrong with another or be his own judge but shall truely pay the same as he hath been accustomed to their Parsons Vicars and Curates without any restraint or diminution And such lack and default as they can justly finde in their Parsons and Curates to call for reformation thereof at their ordinaries and other superiours hands who upon complaint and due proof thereof shall reform the same accordingly Also that no person shall from hence forth alter or change the order and manner of any fasting day that is commanded or of Common prayer or divine service otherwise then is specified in these Injunctions until such time as the same shall be otherwise ordered and transposed by the Kings authority Also that every Parson Vicar Curate Chauntery priest and Stipendary being under the degree of a Bacheler of Divinity shall provide and have of his own within three moneths after this visitation the New Testament both in Latine and in English with the Paraphrase upon the same of Erasmus and diligently study the same conferring the one with the other And the Bishops and other ordinaries by themselves or their officers in their Synods and visitations shall examine the said Ecclesiastical persons how they have profited in the studie of holy Scripture Also in the time of high Masse within every Church he that saith or singeth the same shall read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel of that Masse in English and not in Latine in the Pulpit or in such convenient place as the people
suffered to preach out of his own Cure or parish then such as shall be licensed as is above expressed Letters of the word 9. Also if they do or shall know any man within their Parish or else-where that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached Fautours of the usurped power or of the execution of these the Queens Majesties Injunctions or a fautor of any usurped and forreign power now by the laws of this Realm justly rejected and taken away they shall detect and present the same to the Queens Majesty or to her Councel or to the Ordinary or to the justice of peace next adjoyning 10. Also that the Parson Vicar or Curate and Parishioners of every Parish within this Realm shal in their Churches and Chappels keep one Book of Register wherein they shall write the day and year of every Wedding Christning and Burial made within their Parish for their time and so every man succeeding them likewise and also therein shall write every persons name that shall be so wedded christned and buried And for the safe keeping of the same Book the Parish shall be bound to provide of their common Charges one sure Coffer with two lockes and keyes whereof the one to remain with the Parson Vicar or curate and the other with the Wardens of every Parish Church or Chappel wherein the said Book shall be laid up Which Book they shall every Sunday take forth and in the presence of the said Wardens or one of them write and record in the same all the Weddings Christnings and Burials made the whole week before And that done to lay up the Book in the said Coffer as before and for every time that the same shall be omitted the party that shall be in the fault thereof shall forfeit to the said Church 3. s. 4. d. to be imployed the one half to the poor mens box of that Parish the other half towards the repairing of the Church Distribution of the fortieth part 11. Furthermore because the goods of the Church are called the goods of the poor at these dayes nothing less seen then the poor to be sustained with the same All Parsons Vicars Pensionaries Prebendaries other Beneficed men within this Deanry not being resident upon their benefices which may dispend yearly twenty pounds or above either within this Deanry or else-where shall distribute hereafter among their poor Parishioners or other inhabitants there in the presence of the Church wardens or some other honest man of the Parish the fourtieth part of the fruits and revenues of their said Benefice lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude which reserving so many parts to themselves cannot vouchsafe to impart the fortieth portion thereof among the poor people of that Parish that is so fruitful and profitable unto them 12. And to the intent that learned men may hereafter spring Exhibition for Scholars the more for the execution of the premisses every Parson Vicar Clerk or beneficed man within this Deauty having yearly to dispend in Benefices and other promotions of the Church an hundred pounds shall give 3. l. 6. s. 8. d. in exhibition to one Scholar in either of the Vniversities and for as many C. li. more as he may dispend to so many Scholars more shall give like exhibition in the Vniversity of Oxford or Cambridge or some Grammar-School which after they have profited in good learning may be partners of their Patrons Cure and charge as well in preaching as otherwise in executing of their offices or may when time shall be otherwise profit the Common-weal with their Counsel and wisdom 13 Also that all Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks The fift part for reparation having Churches Chappels or Mansions within this Deanry shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same Mansions or Chancels of their Churches being in decay the fift part of that their benefiâ—es till they be fully repaired and shall alwayes keep and maintain in good estate 14. Also that the said Parsons Vicars and Clerks Reading of the Injunctions shall once every quarter of the year read these Injunctions given unto them openly and deliberately before all their Parishioners at one time or at two several times in one day to the intent that both they may be the better admonished of their duty and their said Parishioners the more moved to follow the same for their part 15. Also For as much as by Laws established every man is bound to pay his Tythes Payment of Tythes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates detain their Tythes and so requite one wrong with another or be his own Iudge but shall truly pay the same as he hath been accustomed to their Parsons Vicars and Curates without any restraint or diminution and such lack and default as they can justly finde in their Parsons and Curates to call for reformation thereof at their Ordinaries and other Superiours who upon complaint and due proof thereof shall reform the same accordingly 16. Also that every Parson Vicar Curate and stipendary Priest being under the degree of a Master of Art shall provide and have of his own within 3. moneths after this visitation The New Testament Paraphrases the New Testament both in Latine and in English with Paraphrases upon the same conferring the one with the other And the Bishops and other Ordinaries by themselves or their officers in their Synods and visitations shall examine the said Ecclesiastical Persons how they have porfited in the study of holy Scripture Comfortable sentences for the sick 17. Also that the vice of damnable dispair may be clearly taken away and that firm belief and stedfast hope may be surely conceived of all their Parishioners being in any danger they shall learn and have alwayes in a readinesse such comfortable places sentences of Scripture as do set forth the mercy benefits goodness of Almighty God towards all penitent and beleiving persons that they may at all times when necessity shall require promptly comfort their flock with the lively word of God which is the only stay of mans conscience Procession to be left 18. Also to avoid all contention and strife which heretofore hath risen among the Queens Majesties Subjects in sundry places of her Realms and Dominions by reason of fond courtesie and challenging of places in the Procession and also that they may the more quietly hear that which is said or sung to their edifying they shall not from henceforth in any Parish Church at any time use any Procession about the Church or Church-yard or at any place but immediately before the time of Communion of the Sacrament the Priests with others of the Quire shall kneel in the midst of the Church The Letany and sing or say plainly and distinctly the Letanie which is set forth in English with all the suffrages following to the intent the people may hear and answer and none other
the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits 32. Of the marriage of Priests Non habentur haec notata in R. Edvard 6. Artic. BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods law either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage therefore it is lawful also for them as for all other Christian men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness 33. Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereunto 34. Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries times and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word Whosoever through his private judgement willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain Non habentur haec notata in Edv. 6. Artic. change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying 35. * Homiliae nuper Ecclesiae Anglicanae per injunctiones Regias editae atque commendatae piae sunt atque salutares doctrinamque ab omnibus amplectendam continent Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the several titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people Of the names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against peril of Idolatry 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the place and time of prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods Word 11 Of almes doing 12 Of the nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idleness 21 Against Rebellion De libro precationum ceremoniarum Ecclesiae Anglicanae LIber qui nuperrime authoritate Regis Parliamenti Ecclesiae Anglicanae traditus est continens modum formam orandi Sacramenta administrandi in Ecclesiâ similiter libellus eadem autoritate editus de ordinatione ministrorum Ecclesiae quoad doctrinae veritatem pii sunt salutari doctrinae Evangelii in nullo repugnant sed congruunt eandem non parum promovent illustrant atque ideo ab omnibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae fidelibus membris maxime à ministris verbi cum omni promptitudine animorum gratiarum actione recipiendi approbandi populo Dei commendandi sunt Artic. R. Edvard 6. 36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second year of the afore-named King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered 37. Of the civil Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions Rex Angliae est supremum caput in terris post Christum Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae Artic. Edv. 6. Haec notata non habentur in Artic. Edverd 6. unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreigne Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief government by which titles we understand the minds of some dangerous folkes to be offended we give not our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth out Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers Magistratus eivilis est à Deo ordinatus atque probatus quamobrem illi non solum propter iram sed etiam propter conscientiam obediendum est Artic. R. Edv. 6. The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars 38. Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability 39. Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of
THe Queens most excellent Majesty considering how within these few yeers past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and the Government established for causes Ecclesiastical within Her Majesties Dominions have divised written printed or caused to be seditiously and secretly published and dispersed sundry Schismatical and seditious books diffamatory Libels and other phantastical writings amongst her Majesties Subjects containing in them doctrine very erroneous and other matters notoriously untrue and slanderous to the State and against the godly reformation of Religion and Government Ecclesiastical established by Law and so quietly of long time continued and also against the persons of Bishops and others placed in authority Eccesiastical under Her Highnesse by her authority in rayling sort and beyond the bounds of all good humanity All which Books Libels and writings tend by their scope to perswade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innovation within Her Dominions and Countries of all manner of Ecclesiastical Government now in use and to the abâ—idging or rather to the overthrow of her Highnesse lawful Prerogative allowed by Gods Law and established by the Laws of the Realm and consequently to reverse dissolve and set at liberty the present Government of the Church and to make a dangerous change of the form of Doctrine and use of Divine service of God and the ministration of the Sacraments now also in use with a rash and malicious purpose also to dissolve the Estate of the Prelacy being one of the three ancient estates of this Realm under her Highnesse whereof her Majesty mindeth to have such a reverend regard as to their places in the Church and Common wealth appertaineth All which said lewd and seditious practises do directly tend to the manifest willful breach of great number of good Laws and Statutes of this Realm inconveniencies nothing regarded by such Innovations In consideration whereof her Highness graciously minding to provide some good and speedy remedy to withstand such notable dangerous and ungodly attemps and for that purpose to have such enormous malefactors discovered and condignely punished doth signifie this her Highnesse misliking and indignation of such dangerous and wicked enterprises and for that purpose doth hereby will and also straightly charge and command that all persons whatsoever within any her Majesties Realms and Dominions who have or hereafter shall have any of the said seditious Books Pamphlets Libels or Writings or any of like nature already published or hereafter to be published in his or their custody containing such matters as above are mentioned against the present Order and Government of the Church of England or the lawful Ministers thereof or against the Rites and Ceremonies used in the Church and allowed by the Laws of the Realm That they and every of them do presently after with convenient speed bring in and deliver up the same unto the Ordinary of the Diocesse or of the place where they inhabit to the intent they may be utterly defaced by the said Ordinary or otherwise used by them And that from henceforth no person or persons whatsoever be so hardy as to write contrive print or cause to be published or distributed or to keep any of the same or any other Books Libels or Writings of like nature and quality contrary to the true meaning and intent of this â—…er Majesties Proclamation And likewise that no man hereafter give any instruction direction favour or assistance to the contriving writing printing publishing or dispersing of the same or such like Books Libels or Writings whatsoever as they tender her Majesties good favour will avoid Her high displeasure and as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils and upon such pains and penalties as by the Law any way may be inflicted upon the offenders in any of these behalfs as persons maintaining such seditious actions which her Majesty mindeth to have severally executed And if any person have had knowledge of the Authors Writers Printers or dispersers thereof which shall within one moneth after the publication hereof discover the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledge or to any of her Majesties privie Councel the same person shall not for his former concealment be hereafter molested or troubled Given at her Majesties Palace at Westminster the xiii of February 1588. In the xxxi year of her Highnesse reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most excellent Majestie 1588. ARTICLES to be enquired in the VISITATION IN THE First year of the reign of our most dread Sovereign LADY ELIZABETH By the grace of God Of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. Anno Domini 1559. Articles c. Anno 1559. FIrst whether any Parson Residency Vicar or Curate be resident continually upon his Benefice doing his duty in preaching reading and duly ministring the holy Sacraments Item Whether in their Churches and Chappels all Images False miracles Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and rolls of Wax Pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned and false miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition be removed abolished and destroyed Item Whether they do not every holy day The Lords prayer when they have no Sermon immediatly after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Lords prayer the Belief and the ten Commandments in English Item Whether they do charge Fathers and Mothers Masters To bring up youth and Governours of youth to bring them up in some vertuous studie and Occupation Item Whether such beneficed men Curates as be lawfully absent from their Benefices do leave their cures to a rude and unlearned person and not to an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholesome doctrine Item Reading the Scriptures Whether they do discourage any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or English and do not rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same at convenient times as the very lively word of God and the special food of mans soul Item Whether Parsons Vicars Curates and other Ministers Taverns and games be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Alehouses giving themselves to drinking rioting and playing at undlawful games and do not occupie themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Preachers Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their cures not being lawfully licenced thereunto or have been licenced accordingly Item Whether they use to declare to their Parishioners Superstition any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain and supersticious Religion Pilgrimages Relicks or Images or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling or decking of the same Images Register Item Whether they have one book or register kept wherein they write the day of every Wedding Christning and Burying
Administration of the Sacraments then is prescribed in the said Book or shall maintain in their houses any persons being notoriously charged by Books or preachings to attempt the alteration of the said orders they shall see such persons punished with all severity according to the Laws of this Realm by paines appointed in the said Act. And because these matters do principally appertain to the persons Ecclesiastical and to the Ecclesiastical government her Majesty giveth a most special and earnest charge to all Arch-Bishops Byshops Archdeacons and Deans and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction in such causes to have a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the Orders and Rites in the said book prescribed throughout their cures and Diocesse and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as is granted thâ—m in the said Act with all celerity and severity against all persons who shall offend against any of the Orders in the said Book prescribed upon pain of her Majesties high displeasure for their negligence and deprivation from their dignities and benefices or other censures to follow according to their demerits Given at Grenewich the 20. day of October 1573. in the fifteenth year of the Queens Majesties reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Newgate Market next unto Christs Church by Richard Jugge Printer to the Queens Majesty Cum privilegio Regiae Majestatis By the Queen A Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of love WHereas by report of sundry of the Bishops of this Realm and others having cure of souls the Qeens Majesty is informed that in sundry places of Her said Realm in their several Diocesses there are certain persons which do secretly in corners make privie assemblies of divers simple unlearned people and after they have craftily and hypocritically assured them to esteem them to be more holy and perfect men then other are they do then teach them damnable heresies directly contrary to divers of the principal Articles of our Belief and Christian faith and in some parts so absurd and fanatical as by feigning to themselves a monstruous new kind of speech never found in the Scriptures nor in ancient Father or Writer of Christs Church by which they do move ignorant and simple people at the first rather to marvel at them then to understand them but yet to colour their sect withal they name themselves to be of the family of love and then as many as shall be allowed by them to be of that family to be elect and saved and all others of what Church soever they be to be rejected and damned And for that upon conventing of some of them before the Bishops and Ordinaries it is found that the ground of their sect is maintained by certain lewd heretical and seditious books first made in the Dutch tongue and lately translated into English and printed beyond the seas and secretly brought over into the Realm the author whereof they name H. N without yielding to him upon their examination any other name in whose name they have certain Books set forth called Evangelium Regni or a joyful Message of the Kingdom Documental sentences The prophecie of the spirit of love A publishing of the peace upon the earth and such like And considering also it is found that these Sectaries hold opinion that they may before any Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Temporal or any other person not being professed to be of their sect which they tearm the family of love by oath or otherwise deny any thing for their advantage so as though many of them are well known to be teachers and spreaders abroad of these dangerous and damnable sects yet by their own confession they cannot be condemned whereby they are more dangerous in any Christian Realm Therefore Her Majesty being very sorry to see so great an evil by the malice of the Devil first begun and practised in other countries to be now brought into this Her Realm and that by her Bishops and Ordinaries She understandeth it very requisite not onely to have these dangerous Hereticks and Sectaries to be severely punished but that also all other means be used by Her Majesties Royal authority which is given Her of God to defend Christs Church to root them out from further infecting of Her Realm She hath thought meet and convenient and so by this Her Proclamation She willeth and commandeth that all Her Officers and Ministers temporal shall in all their several vocations assist the Archbishops and Bishops of Her Realm and all other persons Ecclesiastical having cure of souls to search out all persons duely suspected to be either teachers or professors of the foresaid damnable Sects and by all good means to proceed severely against them being found culpable by order of the Laws either Ecclesiastical or Temporal and that also search be made in all places suspected for the books and writings maintaining the said Heresies and Sects and them to destroy and burn And wheresoever such books shall be found after the publication hereof in custody of any person other then such as the Ordinaries shall permit to the intent to peruse the same for confutation thereof the same persons to be attached and committed to close prison there to remain or otherwise by Law to be condemned until the same shall be purged and cleared of the same Heresies or shall recant the same and be thought meet by the Ordinary of the place to be delivered And that whosoever in this Realm shall either print or bring or cause to be brought into this Realm any of the said books the same persons to be attached and committed to prison and to receive such bodily punishment and other mulct as fautors of damnable Heresies And to the execution hereof Her Majesty chargeth all Her Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Temporal to have special regard as they will answer not onely afore God whose glory and truth is by these damnable Sects greatly sought to be defaced but also will avoid Her Majesties indignation which in such cases as these are they ought not escape if they shall be found negligent and carelesse in the Execution of their authorities Given at Our Manour of Richmond the third of October in the two and twentieth year of our Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most Excellent Majesty By the Queen A Proclamation against certain seditious and schismatical Books and Libels c.