at all times as they shall have leisure they shall hear and read somewhat of holy Scripture or shall occupy themselves with some other honest exercise and that they always do the things which appertain to honesty with endeavor to profit the Commonweal having always in mind that they ought to excel all other in purity of life and should be an example to the people to live well and Christianly Item That they shall in Confessions every Lent examine every person that cometh to Confession to them whether they can recite the Articles of their Faith the Pater Noster and the Ten Commandments in English and hear them say the same particularly wherein if they be not perfect they shall declare then that every Christian person ought to know the said things before they 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 Majesty the Lord Protectors Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury the Archbishop of York in his Province or the Bishop of the Diocess and such as thall be so licensed they shall gladly receive to declare the Word of God without any resistance 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 Candles 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 error and abuse crept into the Church through the sufferance 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 exocution of these the Kings Majesties Injunctions or a fautor of the Bishop of Rome's pretensed power now by the Laws of this Realm justly rejected extripated 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 hall in their Churches and Chappels 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 thall 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 Coffer with two Locks and Keys 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 Chrisinings and Burials made the whole week before and that done to lay up the Book in the said Coffer 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 days nothing is less seen than the poor to be sustained with the same all Parsons Vicars Pentionaries 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 premises every 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-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 the execution of their offices or may when need shall be otherwise profit the Commonweal with their Council and Wisdom Also That the Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chappels or Mansions within this Deanery shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same Mansions or Chancels of their Churches being in decay the fifth part of that their Benefices till they be fully repaired and the same so repaired shall always 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 Tythes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates detain their Tythes and so redub and requite one wrong with another or be his own judge 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 find 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 henceforth 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
Trentals Masses satisfactory decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Friers and upon other like blind devotions Item whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Item whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit Item whether they have every Sunday when the people be most gathered read one of the Homilies in order as they stand in the book set forth by the Kings Majesty Item whether they do not omit prime and hours when they have any Sermon or Homily Item whether they have said or sung any Mass in any Oratory Chappel or any mans house not being hallowed Item whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners that they should not wear Beads nor pray upon them Item whether they have moved their Parishioners lying upon their death-beds or at any other time to bestow any part of their substance upon Trentals Masses satisfactory or any such blind 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 have two husbands living within their Parishes Item whether they have not monished their Parishoners openly that they should not sell give nor otherwise alineate any of their Churches goods Item whether they or any of them do keep more Benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions than they ought to do not having sufficient license and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item whether they minister the Communion any other ways 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 Ash-Wednesday or any Palms uyon Palm-Sunday last past Item whether they had upon Good-Friday last past the Sepulchres with their lights having the Sacrament therein tem whether they upon Easter-even last past hallowed the Front 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-Archdeacon or their Officers Item whether you know any person within your Parish or elfewhere 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 for the book of VVedding Christning 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. Johns Gospel ringing of holy Bells or keeping of private holy-days as Taylors Bakers Brewers Smiths Shoomakers and such other Item whether the money coming and rising of any Cattle or other moveable stocks of the Church and money given or bequeathed 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 Diocess 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 hours 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 Errours 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 Bawds and receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Item whether any be brawlers slanderers chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Item whether you know any that use Charms Sorcery Enchantments VVitchcraft 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 your own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Item whether any Inholders or Alehouse-keepers 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 privy contracts of matrimony not calling two or more thereunto Item whether they have married solemnly the Banns not first lawfully asked Item whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high-ways 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 DIOCESS of LONDON By the Reverend Father in God NICOLAS BISHOP of LONDON In the fourth year of our Soveraign Lord King Edward the Sixth 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
of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a sign and seal of our new-birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of forgiveness of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The Custom of the Church to Christen young Children is to be commended and in any wise to be retained in the Church Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not only a sign 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 VVine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy VVrit 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 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 confess the real and bodily presence as they term 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 VVherefore 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 aginst Gods VVord VVhosoever through his private judgment 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 wholsom 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 and 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 aforesaid Authority are godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsom Doctrine of the Gospel but agreable 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 and allowed with all readiness of mind and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is supreme 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 only 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 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 alms to the poor according to his ability Christian men may take an Oath AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle James 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 Porphets teaching in justice judgment and truth The Resurrection of the Dead is not yet brought to pass THe Resurrection of the dead is not as yet brought to pass as though it only belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is called 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 virtuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither die with the bodies nor sleep idlely THey which say that the souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving until the day of judgment or affirm that the souls die 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
The Seales of ARMES of the Bishops of England Sedes Cantuar Sedes Eboracens Sedes Londi Se Winton Se Dunelin Se Eliensis Se Sarum Se Lincoln Se Wigorn. S Lich et Cov Sed Exon. Se Norvic S Bath Wel Se Hereford Se Roffens S Cicestrens Se Petroburg Se Carliol Se Oxon Se Glocest Se Cestrens Se Bristol Se Meneven Se Landav Se Bangor S S Assaph Se Sodorens Printed For Robert Pawlet at the Bible In Chancery Lane F. H. Van Houe fe A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES Injunctions Canons ORDERS ORDINANCES And Constitutions ECCLESIASTICAL With other PUBLICK RECORDS OF THE Church of England Chiefly in the Times of K. Edward VI. Q. Elizabeth K. James K. Charles I. Published to Vindicate the Church of England and to Promote Uniformity and Peace in the same With a Learned PREFACE By ANTHONY SPARROW D. D. Lord Bishop of NORWICH The Third Impression with Additions And Two TABLES LONDON Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street Anno Domini MDCLXXVI THE Principal Heads Contained in this BOOK Â Page An. D. KIng Edwards Injunctions 1 1547. Order of Communion-Service 13 1547. Archbishop Cranmers Articles of Visitation 25 1548. Bishop Ridleys Artices of Visitation 33 1550. Articles of Religion ageed upon in the Convocation 39 1552. The Latin Edition of hose Articles 53 1552. Queen Elizabeths Iijunctions 65 1559. Articles of Religion agreed on in Convocation c. and compared with Edw. 6. Articles 87 1562. An Act for Vniformity of Prayer c. Anno 1 Eliz. 110 with a Clause Anno 8. Eliz. Cap. 1. Reformation of Disorders in Ministers of the Church Anno 13 Eliz. cap. 12. 118 1559. Advertisements for the due order about Ministers Apparel at the Communion c. 121 1564. The Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy Simony Canonical Obedience Continuâ—l Residence 129 Â A Proclamation declaring the proceedings in Ecclesiastical Courts to be according to the Law of the Land 132 Â A Table of Degrees of Marriages set fort by Bishop Parker 262 1563. The Form and Manner of Making and Consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons 135 1559. Prayers at the Healing of the Kings Evil 165 Â Of Abrogation of Holy-days in King Hen. 8. time 167 1536. A Proclamation of Queen Eliz. against the Despisers or Breakers of the Orders prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer 169 1573. A Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of Love 171 1580. A Proclamation against Schismatical and Seditious Books and Libels 173 1588. Articles of Visitation in the first year of Queen Elizabeth 175 1559. Articuli pro Clero in Synodo Londin 191 1584. Celebratio Coenae Domini in Funebribus in the second year of Queen Elizabeth 199 1560. Articuli Religionis in Synodo Londin 207 1562. Liber Quorundam Canonum Disciplinae Ecclesiae Anglicanae 223 1571. Capitula sive Constitutiones Ecclesiasticae in Synodo Londin 243 1597. Constitutiones sive Canones Ecclesiastici per Epis Lond. Anno 1603. 1 Jac. 263 1603. Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical agreed on n the Convocations at London and York in the Sixteenh year of King Charles the First 335 1640. The Form of Consecration of a Church or Chappel and of the Place of Christian Burial Exemplified by the â— R. Father in God Lancelot Andrews late Lord Bishop of Winchester 171 Â A PREEACE to the Reader OVR 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 spot 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 always will be but by spiritual censure 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 performance which yet are necessary to be determined for the preservation of publick peace and unity and because there may at least through the perversness 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 Governors 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 Whosoever shall think that all this may be done by friendly persuasion or learned disputes only will find himself deceived as experience of all Ages hath shown and will shew as long as there be men of perverse minds 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 Superiors 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.
Sentence shall bind to submission though the Superiours may err in the sentence Thus God ordered it Deut. 17. that in doubts the Inferiour were to stand to the decision and sentence of the Priests and the Judge and yet their judgement was not infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole Assembly the chiefest Senate might err and sin through Ignorance and a sacrifice is appointed for the expiation of their errour Lev. 4.13 Better that Inferiours be bound to stand to such fallible judgment as to quiet submission in such kind of controversies as afore-mentioned than that every man be suffered to interpret Laws and determine controversies which will bring into the Church certain confusion Nor will such submission in the Inferiours be damnable seeing in this submission to Authority they follow Gods method obeying them that have the oversight over them Heb. 13. and keep order of which God is the Author 1 Cor. 14.33 God is not the Author of Confusion but of order and peace as in all Churches of the Saints This Authority in determining doubts and controversies the Church hath practised in all Ages and her constant practice is the best interpreter of her right We read not only of St. Pauls determining controversies about rites and circumstances 1 Cor. 14. but also of the Churches determining controversies of Doctrines and matters of belief in a full Council Act. 15. and requiring submission to those determinations from inferiour members The like did the Church afterwards in her general Councils of NICE CONSTANTINOPLE EPHESUS CHALCEDON And not only the General Councils have exercised this Authority but particular Churches also in National Councils in the Council of ORANGE MILEVIS and others have used the same power over their children whom they were bound to teach and govern and for whose souls they were to account to God and they did no more than was their right so long as they did it with submission to the general Church to whom they are subject Christ said to the Apostles and by this to all the guides of souls that should succeed them in a lawful Ordination he that hears you hears me and he that despises you despises me St. Cypr. Ep. 69. From these premises it plainly follows that our dear Mother the Church of England in makeing these Canons and Articles for determining the controversies in matters of belief which you may see in the ensuing Collection did no more than what was both her right and her duty to do both for the preservation of her peace and the guidance and conduct of the souls committed to her charge and what her care hath been in the exercise of this power for the good of her members ever since the Reformation will evidently to her honour appear by this following Collection made up not without great care and industry of the Publisher By which he hath done our Mother this farther right that now whosoever will may easily see the notorious slander which some of the Roman perswasion have endeavoured to cast upon her That her Reformation hath been altogether Lay and Parliamentary for by the Canons and Articles following which were formerly scattered and hard to be seen by every one now gathered together into a body it easily appears to any that will but open their eyes and read that the Reformation of this Church was orderly and Synodical by the Guides and Governors of souls and confirmed by Supreme Authority and so in every particular as legal as any Reformation could or ought to be Anth. Sparrow Books newly Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery Lane 1675. AN Historical Vindication of the Church of England in point of Schisme as it stands separated from the Roman and was Reformed I. Elizabeth Written by Sir Robert Twisden Knight and Baronet XIX Sermons Preached by that Eminent Divine Henry Hammond D. D. Published by the Authors own Copies Golden Remains of the ever Memorable Mr. John Hales of Eaton Colledge Also Letters and Expresses concerning the Synod of Dort with many new Additions from an Authentick hand INJUNCTIONS Given by the most Excellent Prince EDWARD VI. By the Grace of God KING of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith And in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland the Supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity Imprinted at London by Richard Grafton MDXLVII Injunctions given by the most Excellent Prince Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and of Ireland the supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity THE Kings most Royal Majesty by the advice of his most dear Vncle the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector of all his Realms Dominions and Subjects and Governor of his most Royal Person and residue of his most honourable Council intending the advancement of the true honor of Almighty God the suppression of Idolatry and Superstition throughout all his Realms and Dominions and to plant true Religion to the extirpation of all Hypocrisie Enormities and Abuses as to his duty appertaineth doth minister unto his loving Subjects these godly Injunctions hereafter following whereof part were given unto them heretofore by the Authority of his most dear beloved Father King Henry the Eighth of most famous memory and part are now ministred and given by His Majesty All which Injunctions his Highness willeth and commandeth his said loving Subjects by his supreme Authority obediently to receive and truly to observe and keep every man in their offices degrees and states as they will avoid his displeasure and the pains in the same Injunctions hereafter expressed 1. The first is That all Deans Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and other Ecclesiastical persons shall faithfully keep and observe and as far as in them may lie shall cause to be kept and observed of other all and singular Laws and Statutes made as well for the abolishing and extirpation of the Bishop of Rome his pretensed and usurped power and jurisdiction as for the establishment and confirmation of the Kings authority jurisdiction and supremacy of the Church of England and Ireland And furthermore all Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely sincerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other Collations that the Bishop of Rome's usurped power and jurisdiction having no establishment nor ground by the Laws of God was of most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Realms and Dominions is due unto him And that the Kings power within his Realms and Dominons is the highest power under God to whom all men within the same Realms and Dominions by Gods Laws owe most Loyalty and
high Altar Item Whether they have not every Holy-day when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recited to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Creed and the ten commandments in English Item whether every Lent they examine such persons as come to confession to them whether they can recite the Pater Noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandments in English Item Whether they have charged Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governors of Youth to bring them up in some vertuous study and occupation Item Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their benefices do leave their Cure to a rude and unlearned person and not an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholsom Doctrine Item Whether in every Cure they have the have provided one book of the whole Bible of the largest Volume in English and the Paraphrasis of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospels and set up the same in some convenient place in the Church where their Parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same Item whether they have discouraged any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but rather comforted and exhorted every person to read the same as the very lively word of God and the special food of mans soul Item whether Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Ale-houses giving themselves to drinking rioting or playing at unlawful games and do not occupie themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item whether they have admitted any man to preach in their Cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have refused or denied such to preach as have been licensed accordingly Item whether they which have heretofore declared to their Parishoners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of Pilgrimages Relicks or Images or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling decking of the same Images or any such superstition have not openly recanted and reproved the same Item whether they have one book or register safely kept wherein they write the day of every VVedding Christning and Burying Item whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Kings Majesty and his Ministers and to charity and love one to another Item whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ before they can perfectly rehearse the Pater Noster the Articles of the Faith and the Ten Commandments in English Item whether they have declared and to their wits and power have persuaded the people that the manner and kind of fasting in Lent and other days in the year is but a meer positive Law and that therefore all persons having just cause of sickness or other necessity or being licensed by the Kings Majesty may moderately eat all kind of meats without grudge or scruple of conscience Item whether they be resident upon their Benefices and keep hospitality or no and if they be absent or keep no hospitality whether they do make due distributions among the poor Parishoners or not Item whether Parsons Vicars Clerks and other beneficed men having yearly to dispend an hundred pound do not find competently one Scholar in the Vniversity of Cambridge or Oxford or some Grammar School and for as many hundred pounds as every of them may dispend so many Scholars likewise to be found by them and what be their names that they so find Item whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chappels or Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Item whether they have counselled or moved their Parishioners rather to pray in a tongue not known then in English or to put their trust in a prescribed number of prayers as in saying over a number of Beads or other like Item whether they have read the Kings Majesties Injunctions every quarter of the year the first Holy-day of the same quarter Item whether the Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests being under the degree of a Batcheler of Divinity have of their own the New Testament both in Latine and English and the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the same Item whether within every Church he that ministreth hath read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel in English and not in Latine either in the Pulpit or some other mete place so as the people may hear the same Item whether every Sunday and Holy-day at Matins they have read or cause to be read plainly and distinctly in the said place one Chapter of the New Testament in English immediately after the Lessons and at Even-song after Magnificat one Chapter of the Old Testament Item whether they have not at Matins omitted three Lessons when ix should have been read in the Church and at Even-song the Responds with all the Memories Item whether they have declared to their Parishioners that Saint Marks day and the Evens of the abrogate Holy-days should not be fasted Item whether they have the Procession-book in English and have said or sung the said Litany in any other place but upon their knees in the midst of their Church and whether they use any other Procession or omit the said Litany at any time or say it or sing it in such sort as the people cannot understand the same Item whether they have put out of their Church-books this word Papa and the name and service of Thomas Becket and prayers having rubricks containing pardons or indulgences and all other superstitious legends and prayers Item whether they bid not the beads according to the order appointed by the Kings Majesty Item whether they have opened and declared unto you the true use of Ceremonies that is to say that they be no workers nor works of salvation but only outward signs and tokens to put us in remembrance of things of higher perfection Item whether they have taught and declared to their Parishioners that they may with a safe and quiet conscience in the time of Harvest labour upon the holy and festival days and if superstitiously they abstain from working upon those days that then they do grievously offend and displease God Item whether they have admitted any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with the Neighbors Item whether the Deans Archdeacons Masters of Hospitals and Prebendaries have preached by themselves personally twice every year at the least Item whether they have provided and have a strong Chest for the poor mens box and set and fastned the same near to the high Altar Item whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their Parishioners and specially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens box and to bestow that upon the poor Chest which they were wont to bestow upon Pardons Pilgrimages
christianly 8. Also Preachers not licensed 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 Queens Majesty or the Archbishop of Canterbury or York in either their Provinces or by the Bishop of the Diocess or by the Queens Majesties Visitors And such as shall be so licensed they shall gladly receive to declare the Word of God at convenient times without resistance or contradiction And that no other be suffered to preach out of his own cure or parish than such as shall be licensed as is above expressed 9. Also Letters of the Word 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 Fautors of the usurped power or of the execution of these Queens the Majesties injunctions or a fautor of any usurped and forraign 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 Council or to the Ordinary or to the Iustice of Peace next adjoyning 10. Also That the Parson Vicar or Curate and Parishioners of every Parish within this Realm shall 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 Locks and Keys 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 employed 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 and at these days nothing less seen than the poor to be sustained with the same All Parsons Vicars Pensionaries Prebendaries and 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 elsewhere 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 fortieth part of the fruits and revenues of the 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 Exhibition for Scholars to the intent that learned men may hereafter spring the more for the execution of the premises every Parson Vicar Clerk or beneficed man within this Deanry having yearly to dispend in Benefices and other promotions of the Church an hundred pounds shall give 3 l. 6 s. 8. 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 Patrous Cure and charge as well in preaching as otherwise in executing of their offices or may when time shall be otherwise profit the Commonweal with their counsel and wisdom 13. Also That all Proprietaries Parsons The fifth part for reparation Vicars and Clerks 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 fifth part of that their Benefices till they be fully repaired and shall always 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 Forasmuch as by Laws established Payment of Tythes every man is bound to pay his 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 hath been accustomed to their Parsons Vicars and Curates without any restraint or diminution and such lack and default as they can justly find 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 three months after this Visitation the New Testament both in Latine and in English The New Testament and Paraphrases 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 profited in the study of holy Scripture Comfortable sentences for the sick 17. Also That the vice of damnable despair 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 always in a readiness such comfortable places and Sentences of Scripture as do set forth the mercy benefits and goodness of Almighty God towards all penitent and believing 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
the Father Haec notata non habentur in Edw. 6. begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect Natures that is say the Godhead and Manhood were joyned together in one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men 3. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died for us and was buried Nam Corpus usque ad resurrectionem in Sepulchro jacuit spiritus ab illo emissus cum spiritibus qui in carcere sive in inferno detinebantur fuit illisque praedicavit quemadmodum testatur Petri locus Sic Artic Edw. 6. so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell 4. Of the Resurrection of Christ CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day 5. Of the holy Ghost Non habentur in R. Edw. 6. Artic. THE holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one Substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God 6. Of the sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for Salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein †Licet intetdum a fidelibus ut pium conducibile ad ordinem decorum admittatur nor may be proved thereby * is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the Names and numbers of the Canonical Books Non habetur in R Edw 6. Artic. GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numeri Deuteronomium Josue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or Songs of Salom. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets theless And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and insturction of manners but yet doth not apply them to establish any Doctrine Such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdom Jesus the Son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The Prayer of Manasses The 1. Book of Maccabees The 2. Book of Maccabees All the Books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical 7. Of the Old Testament THe Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testamentum vetus quasi novo contrarium sit non est repudiendum ed retisnendum for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the Law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not bind Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common-wealth Vid. haec Art 18. notata ex R. Edw. yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral 8. Of the three Creeds THE three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrant of holy Scripture 9. Of Original or Birth-sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk †Et hodie Anabaptistae repetunt but is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature inclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin De Gratia GRatia Christi seu S. Spiritus qui per eundem datur cor lapideum aufert dat cor carneum Atque licet ex nolentibus quae recta sunt volentes faciat ex volentibus prava nolentes reddat voluntati nihilominus violentiam nullam infert nemo hâc de causâ cum peccaverit sâ—ipsum excusare potest quasi nolens aut coactus peccaverit ut eam ob causam accusare non mereatur aut damnari Artic. Edwardi 6. decimus 10. Of Free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the Grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will 11. Of the Justification of Man WE are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith Haec non habentur in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. Justificatio ex sola Fide Jesu Christi eo sensu quo in Homilia de Justificatione explicatur est certissima saluberrima Christianorum doctrina Sic in Reg. Edward 6. Artic. 11. and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsom Doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification 12. Of good works ALbeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after Iustification Hic Artic non habetur
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 judgment and truth R. Edv. 6. Art 39. Resurrectio mortuorum nondum est facta REsurre Aio mortuorum non adhuc facta est quasi tantum ad animum pertineat qui per Christi Gratiam à morte peccatorum excitetur sed extremo die quoad omnes qui obierunt expectanda est tunc enim vita defunctis ut scripturae manifestissimè testantur propria corpora earnes ossa restituentur ut homo 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 etiose dormiunt QUi animas defunctorum p rdicant usque ad diem judicii absque omni sensu dormire aut illas asserunt una cum corporibus mori 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 HI quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quod omnes quâ—ntumvis 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 Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the nether 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 Justification 12 Of good works 13 Of Works before Justification 14 Of Works of Supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptism 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 Councils 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the worthiness of Ministers 27 Of Baptism 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kinds 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 sixth 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 and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England authorised by Act of Parliament Stat. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. holden in the fifth and sixth years of our said late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by Act of Parliament in the first year of the raign of our late Soveraign Lady Queen Mary Stat. 1. M. 2. to the great decay of the due honor of God and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion A Repeal of the Satute 1. M. 2. and 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 Highness with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled the authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish-Church The book of Common-prayer shall be used 8. Eliz. or other place within this Realm of England Wales and the Marches of the same or other the Queens Dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattens Even-song 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 authorised by Parliament The alteration of the Book set forth 5 6. Ed. 6. 1. in the said 5. and 6. years of the Reign of King Edward the sixth with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letany altered and corrected and two sentences only added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise And that if any manner of Parson Vicar The forfeiture of those which use any other Service than the Book of Common-prayer 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 S. 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
Gowns of the fashion aforesaid and Caps as afore is prescribed Item That all poor Parsons Vicars and Curates do endeavor themselves to conform their apparel in like sort so soon and as conveniently as their ability will serve to the same Provided that their ability be judged by the Bishop of the Diocess And if their ability will not suffer to buy them long Gowns of the form afore prescribed that then they shall wear their short Gowns agreeable to the form before expressed Item That all such persons as have been or be Ecclesiastical and serve not the Ministery or have not accepted or shall refuse to accept the Oath of obedience to the Queens Majesty do from henceforth abroad wear none of the said apparel of the form and fashion aforesaid but to go as meer lay-men till they be reconciled to obedience and who shall obstinately refuse to do the same that they be presented by the Ordinary to the Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical and by them to be reformed accordingly Protestations to be made promised and subscribed by them that shaâ—l hereafter be admitted to any Office Room or Cure in any Church or other place Ecclesiastical INprimis I shall not preach or publickly interpret but only read that which is apppointed by publick Authority without special license of the Bishop under his Seal I shall read the Service appointed plainly distinctly and audibly that all the people may hear and understand I shall keep the Register-book according to the Queens Majesties Injunctions I shall use sobriety in apparel and specially in the Church at common prayers according to order appointed I shall move the Parishioners to quiet and concord and not give them cause of offence and shall help to reconcile them which be at variance to my uttermost power I shall read daily at the least one Chapter of the Old Testament and another of the New with good advisement to the increase of my knowledge I do also faithfully promise in my person to use and exercise my office and place to the honor of God to the quiet of the Queens subjects within my charge in truth concord and unity And also to observe keep and maintain such order and uniformity in all external Policy Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as by the Laws good Vsages and Orders are already well provided and established I shall not openly intermeddle with any Artificers occupations as covetously to seek a gain thereby having in Ecclesiastical Living to the sum of twenty nobles or above by year Agreed upon and subscribed by Matthaeus Cantuariensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Edmondus Londoniensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Richardus Eliensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Edmondus Roffensis Commissioners in Causes Ecclesiastical Robertus Wintoniensis Nicholus Lincolniensis With others Imprinted at London by Reginald Wolfe The Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy and Canonical Obedience The Oath of Allegiance I A. B. Do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World That our Soveraign Lord King CHARLES is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any Foreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give license or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or to any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or sentence of Excommunication or Deprivatition made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successours or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his heirs and Successours and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successours all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear That I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in Conscience am resolved That neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully administred unto me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God c. The Oath of Supremacy I A. B. Do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience That the Kings Highness is the only supreme Governor of this Realm and of all other his Highness Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal And that no Foraign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Pre-eminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all Foraign Jurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise from henceforth I shall bear faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawful Successours and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Pre-eminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successours or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and the Contents of this Book The Oath of Simony I A. B. Do swear that I have made no Simoniacal payment contract or promise directly or indirectly by my self or by any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoever for or concerning the procuring or obtaining of the R. or V. of A. in
the Diocess of London Nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kind of payment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So help me God through Jesus Christ Juramentum de Canonica Obedientia EGo A. B juro quod praestabo veram Canonicam Obedientiam Episcopo Londinensi ejusque successoribus in omnibus Licitis honestis Sic me Deus adjuvet Juramentum de continuâ Residentiâ in Vicariâ EGo A. B. juro Quod ero residens in Vicariâ meâ nisi aliter dispensatum fuerit à Diocesano meo By the KING A Proclamation declaring that the proceedings of his Majesties Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers are according to the Laws of the Realm WHereas in some of the Libellous Books and Pamphlets lately published the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop and Bishops of this Realm are said to have usurped upon his Majesties Prerogative Royal and to have proceeded in the high Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm It was ordered by his Majesties high Court of Star-Chamber the twelfth day of June last that the opinion of the two Lords chief Justices the Lord chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons should be had and certified in those particulars viz. Whether Processes may not issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops Whether a Patent under the great Seal be necessary for the keeping of the Ecclesiastical Courts and enabling Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church And whether Citations ought to be in the Kings Name and under his Seal of Arms and the like for Institutions and Inductions to Benefices and Correction of Ecclesiastical offences Whether Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may or ought to keep any Visitation at any time unless they have express Commission or Patent under the great Seal of England to do it and that as his Majesties Visitors only and in his name and right alone Whereupon his Majesties said Judges having taken the same into their serious consideration did unanimously concur and agree in opinion and the first day of July last certified under their hands as followeth That Processes may issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the name of the Bishops and that a Patent under the great Seal is not necessary for the keeping of the said Ecclesiastical Courts or for enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church And that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or correction of Ecclesiastical offences by censure in those Courts be in the Kings name or with the style of the King or under the Kings Seal or that their Seals of office have in them the Kings Arms And that the Statute of Primo Edvardi sexti cap. secundo which enacted the contrary is not now in force And that the Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may keep their Visitations as usally they have done without Commission under the great Seal of England so to do Which Opinions and Resolutions being declared under the hands of all his Majesties said Judges and so certified into his Court of Star-chamber were there recorded And it was by that Court further ordered the fourth day of the said month of July that the said Certificate should be enrolled in all other his Majesties Courts at Westminster and in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts for the satisfaction of all men that the proceedings in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts are agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm And his Royal Majesty hath thought fit with advice of his Council that a publick Declaration of these the Opinions and Resolutions of his Reverend and Learned Judges being agreeable to the Judgment and Resolutions of former times should be made known to all his Subjects as well to vindicate the legal proceedings of his Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers from the unjust and scandalous imputation of invading or entrenching on his Royal Prerogative as to settle the minds and stop the mouths of all unquiet spirits that for the future they presume not to censure his Ecclesiastical Courts or Ministers in these their just and warrantable proceedings And hereof his Majesty admonisheth all his Subjects to take warning and as they shall answer the contrary at their perils Given at the Court at Lyndhurst the 18 day of August in the 13 year of his Majesties Reign God save the KING Imprinted at London by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty and by the Assigns of John Bill MDCXXXVII THE FORM and MANNER OF Making and Consecrating Bishops Priests AND DEACONS According to the Appointment of the CHURCH OF England LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty 1629. The PREFACE IT is evident unto all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there hath been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons which Offices were evermore had in such reverent estimation that no man by his own private authority might presume to execute any of them except he were first called tried examined and known to have such qualities as were requisite for the same and also by publick prayer with imposition of hand approved and admitted thereunto And therefore to the intent these Orders should be continued and reverently used and esteemed in this Church of England it is requisite that no man not being at this present Bishop Priest nor Deacon shall execute any of them except he be called tried examined and admitted according to the form hereafter following And none shall be admitted a Deacon except he be twenty one years of age at the least And every man which is to be admitted a Priest shall be full four and twenty years old And every man which is to be consecrated a Bishop shall be fully thirty years of age And the Bishop knowing either by himself or by sufficient testimony any person to be a man of vertuous conversation and without crâ—me and after examination and trial finding him learned in the Latine Tongue and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may upon a Sunday or Holy-day in the face of the Church admit him a Deacon in such manner and form as hereafter followeth The form and manner of Ordering DEACONS FIrst When the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an Exhortation declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessary such Orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteem them in their Vocation After the Exhortation ended the Archdeacon or his Deputy shall present such as shall come to the Bishop to be admitted saying these words REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present
defend all jurisdictions priviledges pre-eminences and authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his heirs and successours or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and the contents of this Book Then shall the Bishop examine every one of them that are to be ordered in the presence of the people after this manner following DO you trust that you are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon you this office and ministration to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people Answer I trust so The Bishop DO you think that ye be truly called according to the Will of the Lord Iâ—sus Christ and the due Order of this Realm to the Ministry of the Church Answer I think so The Bishop DO you unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and new Testament Answeâ— I do believe The Bishop WIâ—l you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve Answer I will The Bishop IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the Church where he shall be appointed to assist the Priest in Divine Service and specially when he ministreth the holy Communion and to help him in distribution thereof and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechism to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where provision is so made to search for the sick poor and impotent people of the Parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell unto the Curate that by his Exhortation they may be relieved by the Parish or other convenient alms will you do this gladly and willingly Answer I will do so by the help of God The Bishop WIll you apply all your diligence to frame the fashion your own lives and the lives of your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholsom examples of the flock of Christ Answer I will do so the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions Answer I will endeavor my self the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the Office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmighty God giver of all good things which of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the Offices of Deacons in the Church make them we beseech thee O Lord to be modest humble and constant in their ministration to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline that they having always the testimony of a good conscience and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ may so well use themselves in this inferiour office that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Son our Saviour Christ to whom be glory and honor world without end Amen And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year at the least except for reasonable causes it be otherwise seen to his Ordinary to the intent he may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical administration in executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood The form of Ordering of Priests When the Exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall be read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as followeth FRom Miâ—eto Paul sent Messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Congregation which when they were come to him be said unto them Ye know thaâ— from the first day that I came into Ana after what manner I have been with you at all seasons seâ—ving the Lord with all humbleness of mind and with many tears and temptations which happened unto me by the lying in wait of the Iews because I would keep back nothing that was profitable unto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout every house witnessing bâ—th to the Jews and also to the Greeks the repentance that is toward God and the Faith that is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bands and trouble abide me But none of these things prove me neither is my life dear unto my self that I might fulfil my course with joy and the ministration of the word which I have received of tâ—e Lord Ie us to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God Aâ—d now behâ—ld I am sure that henceforth ye all thâ—ough whom I â—ave gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more Wherefore I take â—oâ— to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men For I have spared no labour but have shewed you all the counsel of God Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the flock among whom the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to rule the Congregation of God which â—e hath purchased with his blood For I am sure of this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing â—he flock Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Therâ—fore awake and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn ev ry one of you night and day with tears And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I have desired no mans silver gold or vesture Yea you know your selves that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and unto them that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so labouring
the Government established for causes Ecclesiastical within her Majesties Dominions have devised 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 Ecclesiastical under her Highness by her authority in railing sort and beyond the bounds of all good humanity All which Books Libels and Writings tend by their scope to persuade 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 abridging or rather to the overthrow of her Highness 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 Highness whereof her Majesty mindeth to have such 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 wilful breach of great number of good Laws and Statutes of this Realm inconveniences 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 attempts and for that purpose to have such enormous male factors discovered and condignly punished doth signifie this her Highness 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 Diocess 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 her 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 severely executed And if any person have had knowledge of the Authors Writers Printers or despersers thereof which shall within one month after the publicacyon hereof discover the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledg or to any of her Majesties Privy Council 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 Highness Reign God Save the Queen Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens Most Excellent Majesty 1588. ARTICLES To be Enquired in the VISITATION IN THE First year of the Reign of our most dread Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH By the Grace of God Of England France and Ireland QUEEN Defender of the Faith 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 False miracles Whether in their Churches and Chappels all Images Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and all oher 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 immediately 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 To bring up youth Masters and Governors of Youth to bring them up in some vertuous study and occupation Item Curates Whether such beneficed men 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 wholsom Doctrine Item Whether they do discourage any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or English Reading the Scriptures 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 Taverns and games Curates and other Ministers be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Ale-houses giving themselves to drinking rioting and playing at unlawful games and do not occupy themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of the holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Preachers Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their Cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have been licensed accordingly Item Whether they use to declare to their Parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain and usperstitious Religion Pilgrimages Relicks or Images Superstition 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 Obedience Item Whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Queens Majesty and Ministers and to charity and love one to another The Sacrament
trusty and well-beloved Councellor Richard by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England respectively directed bearing date the twentieth day of February in the fifteenth year of Our Reign to appear before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London and before the said Lord Archbâ—shop of York in the Metropolitan Church of St. Peter in York the fourteenth day of April then next ensuing or elsewhere as they respectively should think it most convenient to treat consent and conclude upon certain difficult and urgent affairs contained in the said Writs Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedral Church of S. Paul and the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter aforesaid assemble themselves respectively together and appear in several Convocations for that purpose according to the said several Writs before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Lord Archbishop of York respectively And forasmuch as We are given to understand that many of Our Subjects being misled against the Rites and Ceremonies now used in the Church of England have lately taken offence at the same upon an unjust supposal that they are not only contrary to Our Laws but also introductive unto Popish Superstitions whereas it well appeareth unto Vs upon mature consideration that the said Rites and Ceremonis which are now so much quarrelled at were not onely approved of and used by those learned and godly Divines to whom at the time of Reformation under King Edward the sixth the compiling of the Book of of Common-Prayer was committed divers of which suffered Martyrdom in Queen Maries days but also again taken up by this whole Church under Queen Elizabeth and so duly and ordinarily practised for a great part of her Reign within the memory of divers yet living as that it could not then be imagined that there would need any Rule or Law for the observation of the same or that they could be thought to savour of Popery And albeit since those times for want of an express Rule therein and by subtile practises the said Rites and Ceremonies began to fall into disuse and in place thereof other forraign and unfitting usages by little and little to creep in Yet forasmuch as in our own Royal Chappels and in many other Churches most of them have been ever constantly used and observed We cannot now but be very sensible of this matter and have cause to conceive that the Authors and Fomentors of these jealousies though they colour the same with a pretence of Zeal and would seem to strike only at some supposed iniquity in the said Ceremonies Yet as we have cause to fear aim at Our own Royal Person and would fain have Our good Subjects imagine that we Our Self are perverted and doe worship God in a Superstitious way and that we intend to bring in some alteration of the Religion here established Now how far we are from that and how utterly We detest every thought thereof We have by many publick Declaracions and otherwise upon sundry occasions given such assurance to the World as that from thence We also assure Our Self that no man of wisdom and discretion could ever be so beguiled as to give any serious entertainment to such brain-sick jealousies and for the weaker sort who are prone to be misled by crafty seducers We rest no less confident that even of them as many as are of loyal or indeed but of charitable hearts will from henceforth utterly banish all such causeless fears and surmises upon these our sacred professions so often made by Vs a Christian Defender of the Faith their King and Soveraign And therefore if yet any person under whatsoever mask of Zeal or counterfeit Holiness shall henceforth by speech or writing or any other way notwithstanding these Our right hearty faithful and solemn Protestations made before Him whose Deputy We are against all and every intention of any Popish Innovation be so ungracious and presumptuous as to vent any poisoned conceits tending to such a purpose and to cast these develish aspersions and jealousies upon Our Royal and Godly proceedings We require all Our loyal Subjects that they forthwith make the same known to some Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Civil And We straightly charge all Ordinaries and every other person in any Authority under Vs as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril that they use no palliation connivance or delay therein but that taking particular information of all the passages they do forthwith certifie the same unto Our Court of Commission for causes Ecclesiastical to be there examined and proceeded in with all fidelity and tenderness of Our Royal Majesty as is due to Vs their Soveraign Lord and Governour But forasmuch as we well percieve that the misleaders of Our well-minded people do make the more advantage for the nourishing of this distemper among them from hence that the foresaid Rites and Ceremonies or some of them are now insisted upon but only in some Diocesses and are not generally revived in all places nor constantly and uniformly practised thorowout all the Churches of Our Realm and thereupon have been liable to be quarrelled and opposed by them who use them not We therefore out of Our Princely inclination to Vniformity and Peace in matters especially that concern the holy worship of God proposing to Our Self herein the pious examples of King Edward the sixth and of Queen Elizabeth who sent forth Injunctions and Orders about the Divine Service and other Ecclesiastical matters and of Our dear Father of blessed memory King James who published a Book of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical and according to the Act of Parliament in this behalf having fully advised herein with Our Metropolitan and with Our Commissioners authorised under Our great Seal for causes Ecclesiastical have thought good to give them free leave to treat in Convocation and agree upon certain other Canons necessary for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his holy Church and the due reverence of his blessed Mysteries and Sacraments that as We ever have been and by Gods assistance by whom alone We Reign shall ever so continue careful and ready to cut off Superstition with one hand so We may no less expel Irreverence and Profaneness with the other whereby it may please Almighty God so to bless Vs and this Church committed to Our Government that it may at once return unto the true former splendour of Vniformity Devotion and holy Order the lustre whereof for some years by-past hath been overmuch obscured through the devices of some ill-affected to that sacred Order wherein it had long stood from the very beginning of the Reformation and through inadvertency of some in Authority in the Church under Vs We therefore by vertue of Our Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical by Our several and respective Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England dated the fifteenth day of April now last past and
said High Court of Chancery whom it shall concern may be commanded to send out the aforesaid Writ from time to time as is desired for that it would much exhaust the particular estates of the Ordinaries to sue out several Writs at their own charge And that the like command also may be laid upon the Sheriffs and their Deputies for the due and faithful execution of the said Writs as often as they shall be brought unto them And to the end that this Canon may take the better and speedier effect and not to be deluded or delayed We further Decree and Ordain That no Popish Recusant who shall persist in the said sentence of Excommunication beyond the time prescribed by Law shall be absolved by vertue of any Appeal in any Ecclesiastical Court unless the said party shall first in his or her own Person and not by a Proctor take the usual Oath De parendo Juri stando mandatis Ecclesiae IV. Against Socinianism WHereas much mischief is already done in the Church of God by the spreading of the damnable and Cursed Heresie of Socinianism as being a complication of many ancient Heresies condemned by the four first general Councils and contrariant to the Articles of Religion now established in the Church of England And whereas it is too apparent that the said wicked and blasphemous errors are unhappily dilated by the frequent divulgation and dispersion of dangerous Books written in favor and furtherance of the same whereby many especially of the younger or unsetled sort of People may be poysoned and infected It is therefore decreed by this present Synod that no Stationer Printer or Importer of the said Books or any other person whatsoever shall print buy sell or disperse any Book hroaching or maintaining of the said abominable Doctrine or Positions upon pain of Excommunication ipso facto to be thereupon incurred And we require all Ordinaries upon pain of the Censures of the Church that beside the Excommunication aforesaid they do certifie their names and offenses under their Episcopal Seal to the Metropolitan by him to be delivered to his Majesties Attorney-General for the time being to be proceeded withal according to the late Decree in the Honorable Court of Star-Chamber against the spreaders of prohibited Books And that no Preacher shall presume to vent any such Doctrine in any Sermon under pain of Excommunication for the first offence and Deprivation for the second And that no Student in either of the Universities of this Land nor any person in holy Orders excepting Graduates in Divinity or such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or Doctors of Law in holy Orders shall be suffered to have or read any such Socinian Book or Discourse under pain if the offendor live in the University that he shall be punished according to the strictest Statutes provided there against the publishing reading or maintaining of false Doctrine or if he live in the City or Country abroad of a Suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the Second and Deprivation for the third unless he will absolutely and in terminis abjure the same And if any Lay-man shall be seduced into this Opinion and be convicted of it he shall be Excommunicated and not absolved but upon due repentance and abjuration and that before the Metropolitan or his own Bishop at the least And we likewise enjoyn that such Books if they be found in any prohibited hand shall be immediately burned and that there be a diligent search made by the appointment of the Ordinary after all such Books in what hands soever except they be now in the hands of any Graduate in Divinity and such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or any Doctor of Laws in holy Orders as aforesaid and that all who now have them except before excepted be strictly commanded to bring in the said Books in the Universities to the Vicechancellors and out of the Universities to the Bishops who shall return them to such whom they dare trust with the reading of the said Books and shall cause the rest to be burned And we farther enjoyn that diligent enquiry be made after all such that shall maintain and defend the aforesaid Socinianism and when any such shall be detected that they be complained of to the several Bishops respectively who are required by this Synod to repress them from any such propagation of the aforesaid wicked and detestable Opinions V. Against Sectaries WHereas there is a provision now made by a Canon for the suppressing of Popery and the growth thereof by subjecting all Popish Recusants to the greatest severity of Ecclesiastical Censures in that behalf This present Synod well knowing that there are other Sects which endeavor the subversion both of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England no less than Papists do although by another way for the preventing thereof doth hereby decree and Ordain that all those proceedings and penalties which are mentioned in the aforesaid Canon against Popish Recusants as far as they shall be appliable shall stand in full force and vigour against all Anabaptists Brownists Separatists Familists or other Sect or Sects person or persons whatsoever who do or shall either obstinately refuse or ordinarily not having a lawful impediment that is for the space of a month neglect to repair to their Parish Churches or Chappels where they inhabit for the hearing of Divine Service established and receiving of the holy Communion according to Law And we do also further decree and ordain That the Clause contained in the Canon now made by this Synod against the Books of Socinianism shall also extend to the Makers Importers Printers and Publishers or Dispersers of any Book Writing or scandalous Pamphlet devised against the Discipline and Government of the Church of England and unto the maintainers and Abettors of any Opinion or Doctrine against the same And further because there are sprung up among us a sort factious of people Despisers and Depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer who do not according to the Law resort to their Parish-Church or Chappel to joyn in Publick Prayers Service and Worship of God with the Congregation contenting themselves with the hearing of Sermons only thinking thereby to avoid the penalties due to such as wholly absent themselves from the Church We therefore for the restraint of all such wilful contemners or neglecters of the Service of God do ordain That the Church or Chappel-Wardens and Questmen or Side-men of every Parish shall be careful to enquire out all such disaffected persons and shall present the names of all such Delinquents at all Visitations of Bishops and other Ordinaries And that the same proceedings and penalties mentioned in the Canon aforesaid respectively shall be used against them as against other Recusants unless within one whole month after they are first denounced they shall make acknowledgment and reformation of that their fault Provided always that this Canon shall not derogate from any other Canon Law or
Ordinaries respectively in theirs And lastly Whereas the Church is the house of God dedicated to his holy Worship and therefore ought to mind us both of the greatness and goodness of his Divine Majesty certain it is that the acknowledgment thereof not only inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly with our bodies must needs be pious in it self profitable unto us and edifying unto others We therefore think it very meet and behoveful and heartily commend it to all good and well-affected people members of this Church that they be ready to tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgment by doing reverence and obeysance both at their coming in and going out of the said Churches Chancels or Chappels according to the most ancient custom of the primitive Chuch in the purest times and of this Church also for many years of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The reviving therefore of this ancient and laudable Custom we heartily commend to the serious consideration of all good people not with any intention to exhibit any Religious Worship to the Communion-Table the East or Church or any thing therein contained in so doing or to perform the said gesture in the celebration of the holy Eucharist upon any opinion of a corporal presence of the bodyo Jesus Christ on the holy Table or in mystical Elements but only for the advancement of Gods Majesty and to give him alone that honor and glory that is due unto him and no otherwise and in the practise or omission of this Rite we desire that the Rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is That they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it VIII of Preaching for Conformity WHereas the Preaching of Order and Decency according to St. Pauls Rule doth conduce to edification it is required that all Preacheâ—s as well Beneficed men as others shall positively and plainly Preach and Instruct the People in their publick Sermons twice in the year at least that the Rites and Ceremonies now established in the Church of England are lawful and commendable and that they the said people and others ought to conform themselves in their practice to all the said Rites and Ceremonies and that the people and othe s ought willingly to submit themselves unto the Authority and Government of the Church as it it is now established under the Kings Majesty And if any Preacher shall refuse or neglect to do according to this Canon let him be suspended by his Ordinary during the time of his refusal or wilful forbearance to do thereafter IX One Book of Articles of Enquiry to be used at all Parochial Visitations FOr the better setling of an Uniformity in the outward Government and Administration of the Church and for the more preventing of just grievances which may be laid upon Church-wardens and other Sworn-men by any impertinent inconvenient or illegal Enquiries in the Articles for Ecclesiastical Visitations This Synod hath now caused a Summary or Collection of Visitory Articles out of the Rubricks of the Service-Book and the Canons and warrantable rules of the Church to be made and for future Direction to be deposited in the Records of the Archbishop of Canterbury and we do decree and ordain That from henceforth no Bishop or other person whatsoever having right to hold use or exercise any Parochial Visitation shall under the pain of a months suspension upon a Bishop and two months upon any other Ordinary that is delinquent and this to be incurred ipso facto cause to be printed or published or otherwise to be given in charge to the Church-wardens or to any other persons which shall be sworn to make Presentments any other Articles or forms of enquiry upon Oath then such only as shall be approved and in terminis allowed unto him upon due request made by his Metropolitan under his Seal of Office Provided always that after the end of three years next following the date of these presents the Metropolitan shall not either at the instance of those which have right to hold Parochial Visitations or upon any other occasion make any addition or dimnuition from that allowance to any Bishop of Visitory Articles which he did last before in any Diocess within this Province approve of But calling for the same shall hold and give that only for a perpetual Rule and then every Parish shall be bound only to take the said Book from the Archdeacons and other having a peculiar or exempt Jurisdiction but once from that time in three years in case they do make it appear they have the said Book remaining in their publick Chest for the use of the Parish And from every Bishop they shall receive the said Articles at the Episcopal Visitation only and in manner and form as formerly they have been accustomed to do and at no greater price then what hath been usually paid in the said Diocess respectively X. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy THe sober grave and exemplary Conversation of all those that are imployed in Administration of holy things being of great avail for the furtherance of Piety It hath been the religious care of the Church of England strictly to enjoyn to all and every one of her Clergy a pious regular and inoffensive demeanour and to prohibit all loose and scandalous carriage by severe censures to be inflicted upon such Delinquents as appears by the 74 and 75 Canons Anno 1603. provided to this purpose For the more effectual success of which pious and necessary care this present Synod straightly charges all Clergy-men in this Church that setting before their eyes the Glory of God the holiness of their calling and the edification of the people committed to them they carefully avoid all excess and disorder and that by their Christian and religious conversation they shine forth as lights unto others in all Godliness and honesty And we also require all those to whom the Goverment of the Clergy of this Church is committed that they set themselves to countenance and encourage godliness gravity sobriety and all unblameable conversation in the Ministers of this Church and that according to the power with which they are intrusted they diligently labor by the due execution of the above-named Canons and all other Ecclesiastical provisions made for this end to reform all offensive and scandalous persons if any be in the Ministery as they tender the welfare and prospering of Piety and Religion and as they will answerâ— to God for those scandals which through their remisness and neglect shall arise and grow in this Church of Christ XI Chancellours Patents FOr the better remedying and redress of such abuses as are complained of in the Ecclesiastical Courts the Synod doth decree and ordain That hereafter no Bishop shall grant any Patent to any Chancellor Commissary or Official for any longer term than the life of the Grantee only nor otherwise than with express reservation to himself
ordered according as is prescribed in the said Act with more care and diligence than 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 shall either in private houses or in publick places make assemblies and therein use other Rites of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments than 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 pains 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 Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and Deans and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction in such cases to have a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the Orders and Rites in the said Book prescribed throughout their Cures and Diocess and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as is granted them 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 Greenwich 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 Queens Majesty is informed that in sundry places of her said Realm in their several Diocesses there are certain persons who do secretly in corners make privy assemblies of divers simple unlearned people and after they have craftily and hypocritically allured them to esteem them to be more holy and perfect men than 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 monstrous 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 than 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 certainly 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 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 teame 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 only 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 only 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 may 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 than 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 only 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 careless in the execution of their authorities Given at our Mannour 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. THe Queens most Excellent Majesty considering how within these few years past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and