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
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.
Church Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a communion of the body of Christ likewise the Cup of blessing is a Communion of the blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the Substance of Bread and wine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy Writ but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture and hath given occasion to many superstitions For as much as the truth of mans nature requireth that the body of one and the self same man cannot be at one time in divers places but must needs be in some one certain place therefore the body of Christ cannot be present at one time in many and divers places and because as holy Scripture doth teach Christ was taken up into heaven and there shall continue unto the end of the World a faithful man ought not either to believe or openly to confesse the real and bodily presence as they tearm it of Christs flesh and blood in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not commanded by Christs ordinance to be kept carried about lifted up nor worshipped Of the perfect oblation of Christ made upon the Cross THe offering of Christ made once for ever is the perfect redemption the pacifying of Gods displeasure and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or sin were forged fables and dangerous deceits The state of single life is commanded to no man by the word of God BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded to vow the state of single life without marriage neither by Gods Law are they compelled to abstain from matrimony Excommunicate persons are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicate ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican until he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereto 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 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 one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren Of Homilies THe Homilies of late given and set out by the Kings authority be godly and wholsome containing Doctrine to be received of all men and therefore are to be read to the people diligently distinctly and plainly Of the book of Prayers and Ceremonies of the Church of England THe Book which of very late time was given to the Church of England by the Kings authority and the Parliament containing the manner form of praying and ministring the Sacraments in the Church of England likewise also the book of ordering Ministers of the Church set forth by the foresaid authority are Godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel but agreeable thereunto furthering and beautifying the same not a little and therefore of all faithful members of the Church of England and chiefly of the Ministers of the word they ought to be received allowed with all readinesse of minde and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is Supream head in earth next under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Civil Magistrate is ordained and allowed of God wherefore we must obey him not onely for fear of punishment but also for conscience sake The Civil Laws may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christians at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars Christian mens goods are not common THe riches and goods af 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 Christian men may take an oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle Iames So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgement and truth The Resurrection of the dead is not yet brought to passe THe Resurrection of the Dead is not as yet brought to passe as though it onely belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is raised from the death of sin but it is to be lookt for at the last day For then as Scripture doth most manifestly testifie to all that be dead their own bodies flesh and bone shall be restored that the whole man may according to his works have either reward or punishment as he hath lived vertuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither dye with the bodies nor sleep idly THey which say that the Souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving untill the day of judgement or affirm that the souls dye with the bodies and at the last day shall be raised up with the same do utterly dissent from the right belief declared to us in holy Scripture Hereticks called Millenarii THey that go about to renew the Fable of the Hereticks called Millenarii be repugnant to holy Scripture and cast them selves headlong into a Iewish dotage All men shall not be saved at the length THey also are worthy of Condemnation who endeavour at this time to restore the dangerous opinion that all men be they never so ungodly shall at length be saved when they have suffered paines for their sins a certain time appointed by Gods Iustice The End of the Articles Imprinted by John Day 1553. ARTICULI de quibus in
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
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
being hallowed Item Whether they have given open monition to their Parishoners that they should not wear beads nor pray upon them Item Whether they have moved their Parishoners lying upon their death-beds or at any other time to bestow any part of their substance upon Trentals Masses Satisfactory or any such blinde devotions Item Whether they take any Trentals or other Masses Satisfactory to say or sing for the quick or the dead Item Whether they have given open monition to their parishioners to detect and present to their Ordinary all adulterers and fornicators and such men as have two wives living and such women as haue two husbands living within their parishes Item Whether they haue not monished their Parishoners openly that they should not sell giue nor otherwise alienate any of their Churche goods Item Whether they or any of them do keep more benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions then they ought to do not having sufficient licence and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item Whether they minister the Communion any otherwise then only after such form and manner as is set forth by the Kings Majesty in the book of the Communion Item Whether they hallowed and delivered to the people any Candles upon Candlemas-day and Ashes upon Ashe-Wednesday or any Palms upon Palm Sunday last past Item Whether they had upon Good-Friday last-past the Sepulchres with their lights having the Sacrament therein Item Whether they upon Easier-Even last past hallowed the Font Fire or Paschal or had any Paschal set up or burning in their Churches Item Whether your Parsons and Vicars have admitted any Curates to serve their Cures which were not first examined and allowed either by my Lord of Canterbury Master Arch-Deacon or their officers Item Whether you know any person within your parish or else where that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached or of the execution of the Kings Majesties Injunctions or other his Majesties proceedings in matters of religion Item Whether every parish have provided a Chest with two locks and keyes for the book of Wedding Christining and Burying Item Whether in the time of the Letany or any other Common prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without a just and necessary cause Item Whether any bells have been knowled or rung at the time of the premisses Item Whether any person hath abused the Ceremonies as in casting holy water upon his bed or bearing about him holy bread St. Iohns Gospel ringing of holy bells or keeping of private holy dayes as Taylors Bakers Brewers Smithes Shoomakers and such other Item Whether the money coming and rising of any cattle or other movable stocks of the Church and mony given or bequethed to the finding of Torches lights tapers or lamps not paid out of any lands have not been employed to the poor mens Chest Item Who hath the said stocks and money in their hands and what be their names Item Whether any undiscreet persons do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item Whether they that understand not the Latine do pray upon any Primer but the English Primer set forth by the Kings Majesties authority and whether they that understand Latine do use any other then the Latine Primer set forth by like authority Item Whether there be any other Grammar taught in any other school within this Diocesse then that which is set forth by the Kings Majesty Item Whether any person keep their Church holy day and the dedication day any otherwise or at any other time then is appointed by the Kings Majesty Item Whether the service in the Church be done at due and convenient houres Item Whether any have used to commune jangle and talk in the Church in the time of the Common prayer reading of the Homily Preaching Reading or declaring of the Scripture Item Whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any Heresies Errors or false opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Item Whether any be common drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the name of God Item Whether any have committed adultery fornication or incest or be common bands and receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premises Item Whether any be braulers slanderers chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Item Whether you know any that use Charmes Sorcery Enchantments Witchcraft Southsaying or any like craft invented by the Devil Item Whether the Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired Item Whether you know any that in contempt of their own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Item Whether any Inholders or Alehousekeepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of Common prayer Preaching or Reading of the Homilies or Scripture Item Whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the Laws of God or that be separated or divorced without a just cause allowed by the Law of God and whether any such have married again Item Whether you know any to have made privie contratts of matrimony not calling two or more thereunto Item Whether they have married solemnly the banes not first lawfully asked Item Whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not duely bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high wayes finding of poor Scholars or marrying of poor Maids or such other like charitable deeds Item Whether any do contemn married Priests and for that they be married will not receive the Communion or other Sacraments at their hands Item Whether you know any that keep in their houses undefaced any abused or feigned Images any Tables Pictures Paintings or other monuments of feigned miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry or Superstition ARTICLES to be enquired of IN THE VISITATION OF THE DIOCES of LONDON By the reverend Father in God NICOLAS BISHOP of LONDON In the fourth year of our Soveraign Lord King Edward the 6. by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith and in earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the supreme head next and immediatly under our Saviour CHRIST Imprinted at LONDON by Reynold Wolfe M.DL St. PAUL I Testifie therefore before God and before the Lord Jesus Christ which shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing in his Kingdom preach thou the word be fervent in season or out of season Improve rebuke exhort withal long suffering and Doctrine 2. Tim. 4. Articles of Visitation by Bishop Ridley Anno 1550. WHether your Curates and ministers be of that cdnversation of living that worthily they can be reprehended of no man Whether your Curates and Ministers do haunt and resort to Taverus or Alesouses
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-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
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 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.