and other days ordained and used to be kept as holy-days and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the Common-prayer Preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And also upon pain that every person offending shall forfeit for such offence twelve pence to be levied by the Church-wardens of the Parish where such offence shall be done The forfeiture for not coming to Church 32 Eliz. 1. to the use of the poor of the same Parish of the goods lands and tenements of such offender by way of distress And for due execution hereof the Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled do in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Diocess and Charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholsom Law And for their Authority in this behalf be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid The Ordinary may punish Offenders by the Censures of the Church That all and singular the said Archbishops Bishops and all other their Officers exercising Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction as well in place exempt as not exempt within their Diocess shall have full power and Authority by this Act to reform correct and punish by Censures of the Church all and singular persons which shall offend within any their Iurisdictions or Diocess after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming against this Act and Statute any other Law Statute Priviledge Liberty or Provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding Which Justices may punish their offences And it is Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize shall have full power and Authority in every of their open and general Sessions to enquire hear and determine all and all manner offences that shall be committed or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act within the limits of the Commission to them directed and to make Process for the execution of the same as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespass or lawfully convicted thereof Provided always A Bishop may join with the Justices to enquire of offenders and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure join and associate himself by vertue of this Act to the said Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or to the said Iustices of Assize at every of the said open and general Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocess for and to the enquiry hearing and determining of the offences aforesaid Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Books concerning the said Services shall at the costs and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish and Cathedral Church be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next following At whose charges the Books of Common-prayer shall be gotten and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches or other places where the said Books shall be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist shall within three Weeks next after the said Books to attained and gotten use the said Service and put the same in ure according to this Act. Within what time offenders be impeached And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences abovementioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unless he or they so offending be thereof Indicted at the next General Session to be holden before any such Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenour of this Act. Trial of Peers Provided always and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence abovementioned shall be tried by their Peers Chief Officers of Cities and Boroughs shall enquire of offenders Provided also and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Mayor of London and all the Mayors Bayliffs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Towns Corporate within this Realm Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assize do not commonly repair shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act to enquire hear ad determine the offences abovesaid and every of them yearly within fifteen days after Easter and St. Michael the Archangel in like manner and form as Iustices of Assize and Oyer and Determiner may do The Ordinaries Jurisdiction in their cases Provided always and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Archbishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act as well to enquire in their Visitation and elsewhere within their Iurisdiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and every the things abovementioned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their Iurisdictions and Authority and to punish the same by Admonition Excommunication Sequestration or Deprivation and other Censures and Process in like form as heretofore hath been used in like cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws Provided always and be it Enacted None shall be punished above once for one offence That whatsoever persons offending in the premises shall for their offences first receive a punishment of the Ordinary having a Testimonial thereof under the said Ordinaries Seal shall not for the same offence eftsoons be convicted before the Iustices And likewise receiving for the said first offence punishment by the Iustices shall not for the same offence eftsoons receive punishment of the Ordinary Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided always and be it Enacted Ornaments of the Church and Ministers That such Ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof shall be retained and be in use as was in this Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth until other order shall be therein taken by the Authority of the Queens Majesty with the Advice of her Commissioners appointed and authorized under the Great Seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitan
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
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
Chauntery-Priest and Stipendary being under the degree of a Batcheler of Divinity shall provide and have of his own within three moneths after this Visitation the New Testament both in Latine and in English with the Paraphrase upon the same of Erasmus and diligently study the same conferring the one with the other And the Bishops and other Ordinaries by themselves or their Officers in their Synods and Visitations shall examine the said Ecclesiastical persons how they have profited in the study of holy Scripture Also In the time of High-Mass within every Church he that saith or singeth the same shall read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel of that Mass in English and not in Latine in the Pulpit or in such convenient place as the people may hear the same And every Sunday and holy-day they shall plainly and distinctly read or cause to be read one Chapter of the New Testament in English in the said place at Mattins immediately after the Lessons and at Even-song after Magnificat one Chapter of the Old Testament And to the intent the premises may be more conveniently done the Kings Majesties pleasure is that when ix Lessons should be read in the Church three of them shall be omitted and left out with the Responds and at Even-song time the Responds with all â—he memories shall be left off for that purpose Also Because those persons which be sick and in peril of death be oftentimes put in despair by the craft and subtilty of the Devil who is then most busie and especially with them that lack the knowledge sure perswasion and stedfast belief that they may be made partakers of the great and infinite mercy which Almighty God of his most bountiful goodness and meer liberality without our deserving hath offered freely to all persons that put their full trust and confidence in him Therefore that this damnable vice of despair may be clearly taken away and firm belief and fiedfast hope 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 Also To avoid all contention and strife which heretofore hath risen among the Kings Majesties Subjects in sundry places of his Realms and Dominions by reason of fond courtesie and challenging of places in procession and also that they may the more quietly hear that which is said or sung to their edifying they shall not from henceforth in any Parish Church at any time use any procession about the Church or Church-yard or other place but immediately before high Mass the Priests with other of the Quire shall kneel in the midst of the Church and sing or say plainly and distinctly the Litany which is set forth in English with all the Suffrages following and none other Procession or Letany to be had or used but the saie Litany in English adding nothing thereto but as the Kings Grace shall hereafter appoint and in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches the same shall be done in such places as our Commissaries in our Visitation shall appoint And in the time of the Litany of the Mass of the Sermon and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the Parishioners no manner of persons without a just and urgent cause shall depart out of the Church and all ringing and knolling of Bells shall be utterly forborn at that time except one Bell in convenient time to be rung or knowled before the Sermon Also Like as the people be commonly occupied the work-day with bodily labour for their bodily sustenance so was the holy-day at the first beginning godly instituted and ordained that the people should that day give themselves wholly to God And whereas in our time God is more offended than pleased more dishonored than honored upon the holy-day because of idleness pride drunkenness quarrelling and brawling which are most used in such days people nevertheless perswading themselves sufficiently to honor God on that day if they hear Mass and Service though they understand nothing to their edifying therefore all the Kings faithful and loving Subjects shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their holy-day according to Gods holy will and pleasure that is in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in knowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling their selves charitably to their neighbors where displeasure hath been in often times receiving the Communion of the very body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poor and sick in using all soberness and godly conversation Yet notwithstanding all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall teach and declare unto their Parishioners that they may with a safe and quiet conscience in the time of Harvest labour upon che holy-and festival days and save that thing which God hath sent And if for any scrupulosity or grudge of conscience men should superstitiously abstain from working upon those days that then they should grievously offend and displease God Also For as much as variance and contention is a thing which most displeaseth God and is most contrary to the blessed Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ Curates shail in no wise admit to the receiving thereof any of their Cure and flock who hath malitiously and openly contended with his Neighbor unless the same do first charitably and openly reconcile himself again remitting all rancour and malice whatsoever controversie hath been between them and nevertheless their just titles and rights they may charitably prosecute before such as have authority to hear the same Also That every Dean Arch deacon Master of Collegiate Church Master of Hospital and Prebendary being Priest shall Preach by himself personally twice every year at the least either in the place where he is intituled or in some Church where he hath jurisdiction or else which is to the said place appropriate or united Also That they shall instruct and teach in their Cures that no man ought obstinately and maliciously to break and violate the laudable ceremonies of the Church by the King commanded to be observed and as yet not abrogatted And on the other side that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them doth the same to the great peril and danger of his Souls health as in casting holy Water upon his Bed upon Images and other dead things or bearing about him holy Bread or Saint Johns Gospel or making of crosses of wood upon Palm-sunday in time of reading of the Passion or keeping of private holy-days as Bakers Brewers Smiths Shoe-makers and such other do or ringing of holy Bells or blessing with the holy Candle to the intent thereby to be discharged of the burden of sin or to drive away Devils or
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
the twelfth day of May then next following for the Province of Canterbury And by Our like Letters Patents dated the seven and twentieth day of the same month of April and the twentieth day of the month of May aforesaid for the Province of York did give and grant full free and lawful liberty license power and authority unto the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and unto the said Lord Archbishop of York President of the said Convocation for the Province of York and to the rest of the Bishops of the said Provinces and unto all Deans of Cathedral Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges and the whole Clergy of every several Diocess within the said several Provinces and either of them that they should and might from time to time during the Present Parliament and further during Our will and pleasure confer treat debate consider consult and agree of and upon Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should think necessary fit and convenient for the honor and service of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better Government thereof to be from time to time observed performed fulfilled and kept as well by the said Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Archbishop of York the Bishops and their Successors and the rest of the whole Clergy of the said several Provinces of Canterbury and York in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and Administrations As by all and every Dean of the Arches and other Iudges of the said several Archbishops of Courts Guardians of Spiritualties Chancellours Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and every other Ecclesiastical Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoever of the same respective Provinces of Canterbury and York in their and every of their distinct Courts and in the order and manner of their and every of their proceedings and by all other persons within this Realm as far as lawfully being members of the Church it may concern them as in our said Letters Patents amongst other clauses more at large doth appear Now forasmuch as the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and the said Archbishop of York President of the said Convocation for the Province of York and others the said Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergy having met together respectively at the time and places before mentioned respectively and then and there by vertue of Our said Authority granted unto them treated of concluded and agreed upon certain Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by Vs limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered and presented the same unto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to give Our Royal assent unto the same according to the form of a certain Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf in the five and twentieth year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and by Our said Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical to ratifie by Our Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England and to confirm the same the Title and Tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical treated upon by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Presidents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of those Provinces And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties License in their several Synods begun at London and York 1640. In the year of the Raign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland the Sixteenth I. Concerning the Regal Power WHereas sundry Laws Ordinances and Constitutions have been formerly made for the acknowledgment and profession of the most lawful and independent Authority of our dread Soveraign Lord the Kings most Excellent Majesty over the State Ecclesiastical and Civil We as our duty in the first place binds us and so far as to us appertaineth enjoyn them all to be carefully observed by all persons whom they concern upon the penalties of the said Laws and Constitutions expressed And for the fuller and clearer instruction and information of all Christian people within this Realm in their duties in this particular We do further ordain and decree That every Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher upon some one Sunday in every quarter of the year at Morning-prayer shall in the place where he serves treatably and audably read these Explanations of the Regal Power here inserted THE most High and Sacred Order of Kings is of Divine Right being the Ordinance of God Himself founded in the prime Laws of Nature and clearly established by express Texts both of the Old and New Testaments A supreme Power is given to this most excellent Order by God Himself in the Scriptures which is That Kings should Rule and Command in their several Dominions all persons of what rank or estate soever whether Ecclesiastical or Civil and that they should restrain and punish with the Temporal Sword all stubborn and wicked doers The care of Gods Church is so committed to Kings in the Scripture that they are commended when the Church keeps the right way and taxed when it runs amiss and therefore her Government belongs in chief unto Kings For otherwise one man would be commended for anothers care and taxed but for anothers negligence which is not Gods way The Power to call and dissolve Councils both National and Provincial is the true right of all Christian Kings within their own Realms and Territories And when in the first times of Christs Church Prelates used this Power 't was therefore only because in those days they had no Christian Kings And it was then so only used as in times of persecution that is with supposition in case it were required of submitting their very lives unto the very Laws and Commands even of those Pagan Princes thar they might not so much as seem to disturb their Civil Government which Christ came to confirm but by no means to undermine For any person or persons to set up maintain or avow in any their said Realms or Territorities respectively under any pretence whatsoever any independent Coactive Power either Papal or Popular whether directly or indirectly is to undermine their great Royal Office and cunningly to overthrow that most sacred Ordinance which God Himself hath established And so is treasonable against God as well as against the King For Subjects to bear Arms against their Kings Offensive or Defensive upon any pretence whatsoever is at least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God And though they do not invade but only resist St. Paul tells them plainly They shall receive to themselves damnation And although Tribute and Custom and Aid and Subsidy and all manner of necessary support and supply be respectively due to Kings from their Subjects by the Law of God
Nature and Nations for the publick defence care and protection of them yet nevertheless Subjects have not only possession of but a true and just right title and propriety to and in all their Goods and Estates and ought to have And these two are so far from crossing one another that they mutually go together for the honourable and comfortable support of both For as it is the duty of the Subjects to supply their King so is it part of the Kingly Office to support his Subjects in the property and freedom of their Estates And if any Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher shall voluntarily or carelesly neglect his duty in publishing the said Explications and Conclusions according to the Order above described he shall be suspended by his Ordinary till such time as upon his penitence he shall give sufficient assurance or evidence of his amendment and in case he be of any exempt jurisdiction he shall be censurable to his Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical And we do also hereby require all Archbishops Bishops and all other inferiour Priests and Ministers that they Preach Teach and Exhort their People to obey honor and serve their King and that they presume not to speak of His Majesties Power in any other way than in this Canon is expressed And if any Parson Vicar Curate Preacher or any other Ecclesiastical Person whatsoever any Dean Canon or Prebendary of any Collegiate or Cathedral Church any Member or Student of Colledge or Hall or any Reader of Divinity or Humanity in either of the Universities or elsewhere shall in any Sermon Lecture Common-place Determination or Disputation either by word or writing publickly maintain or abet any position or conclusion in opposition or impeachment of the aforesaid explications or any part or Article of them he shall forthwith by the Power of His Majesties Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical be excommunicated till he repent and suspended two years from all the profits of his Benefice or other Ecclesiastical Academical or Scholastical Preferments And if he so offend a second time he shall be deprived from all his Spiritual Promotions of what nature or degree soever they be Provided always that if the offence aforesaid be given in either of the Universities by Men not having any Benefice or Ecclesiastical Preferment that then the Delinquent shall be censured by the ordinary authority in such cases of that University respectivly where the said fault shall be committed II. For the better keeping of the day of His Majesties most happy Inauguration THe Synod taking into consideration the most inestimable benefits which this Church enjoyeth under the peaceable and blessed Government of our dread Sovereign Lord King CHARLES and finding that as well the godly Christian Emperors in the former times as our own most Religious Princes since the Reformation have caused the days of their Inaugurations to be publickly celebrated by all their Subjects with Prayers and Thanksgiving to Almighty God and that there is a particular form of Prayer appointed by Authority for that day and purpose and yet withal considering how negligent some people are in observance of this day in many places of this Kingdom Doth therefore decree and ordain That all manner of Persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keep the morning of the said day in coming diligently and reverently unto thei Parish Church or Chap. at the time of Prayer and there continuing all the while that the Prayers Preaching or other service of the day endureth in testimony of their humble gratitude to God for so great a blessing and dutiful affections to so benign and merciful a Soveraign And for the better execution of this our Ordinance the holy Synod doth straightly require and charge and by authority hereof enableth all Archbishops Bishops Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and other Ecclesiastical persons having exempt or peculiar jurisdiction as also all Chancellors Commissaries and Officials in the Church of England that they enquire into the keeping of the same in their Visitations and punish such as they shall find to be delinquent according as by Law they are to censure and punish those who wilfully absent themselves from Church on Holy-days And that the said day may be the better observed we do enjoyn that all Church-wardens shall provide at the Parish-charge two of those Books at least appointed for that day and if there be any want of the said Book in any Parish they shall present the same at all Visitations respectively III. For the suppressing of the growth of Popery ALL and every Ecclesiastical persons of what rank or condition soever Archbishops and Bishops Deans Archdeacons all having exempt or peculiar jurisdiction with their several Chancellors Commissaries and Officials all persons intrusted with cure of souls shall use respectively all possible care and diligence by conferring privately with the parties and by censures of the Church in inferiour and higher Courts as also by complaints unto the Secular Power to reduce all such to the Church of England who are misled into Popish Superstition And first These private Conferences shall be performed in each several Diocess either by the Bishop in person if his occasion will permit it or by some one or more learned Ministers at his special appointment and the said Bishop shall also defign the time and place of the said several Conferences and all such persons as shall be present thereat which if Recusants refuse to observe they shall be taken for obstinate and so certified to the Bishop And if the said time and place be not observed by the Minister or Ministers so appointed they shall be suspended by their Ordinary for the space of six months without a very reasonable cause alledged to the contrary Provided that they be not sent above ten miles from their dwelling If the said Conferences prevail not the Church must and shall come to her Censures and to make way for them the said Ecclesiastical persons shall carefully inform themselves in the places belonging to their several charges of all Recusants above the age of twelve years both of such as come not at all to Church as also of those who coming sometimes thither do yet refuse to receive the holy Eucharist with us as likewise of all those who shall either say or hear Mass and they shall in a more especial manner enquire out all those who are either dangerously active to seduce any Persons from the Communion of the Church of England or seditiously busie to disswade his Majesties Subjects from taking the Oath of Allegiance together with all them who abused by their Sophistry refuse to take the said Oath And we straightly command all Parsons Vicars and Curates that they carefully and severally present at all Visitations the names and sirnames of the Delinquents of these several kinds in their own Parishes under pain of suspension for six months And likewise we straightly enjoyn all Church-wardens and the like sworn Officers whatsoever that by
the next or second Court day after the Citation served at the farthest and that the party so cited unless he be convinced by two witnesses shall upon the denial of the fact upon Oath be forthwith freely dismissed without any payment of Fees provided that this Decree extend not to any grievous crime as Schism Incontinency mis-behaviour in the Church in time of Divine Service obstinate Inconformity or the like WE of Our Princely inclination and Royal care for the maintenance of the present Estate and Government of the Church of England by the Laws of this Our Realm now setled and established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed And finding the same such as We are persuaded will be very profitable not only to Our Clergy but to the whole Church of this Our Kingdom and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for Vs Our Heirs and lawful Successours of Our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion given and by these presents do give Our Royal Assent according to the form of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and every thing in them contained as they are before written And furthermore We do not only by Our said Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical ratifie confirm and establish by these Our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and all and every thing in them contained as is aforesaid but do likewise propound publish and straightly enjoine and command by Our said Authority and by these Our Letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all Our loving Subjects of this Our Kingdom both within the Provinces of Canterbury and York in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them according to this Our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever he be called shall in the Parish-Church or Chappel where he hath charge read all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions at all such times and in such manner as is prescribed in the said Canons or any of them The Book of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next ensuing straightly charging and commanding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction within this Realm every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lieth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church the tranquillity of the Kingdom and their duties and service to Vs their King and Sovereign In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the thirtieth day of June in the sixteenth year of Our Reign THE TABLE 1 COncerning the Regal Power 2 For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration 3 For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4 Against Socinianism 5 Against Sectaries 6 An Oath injoined for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7 A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8 Of Preaching for Conformity 9 One Book of Articles Of inquiry to be used at all Parochial Visitations 10 Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy 11 Chancellours Patents 12 Chancellours alone not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry cases 13 Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14 Concerning Commutations and the disposing of them 15 Touching concurrent Jurisdictions 16 Concerning Licenses to Marry 17 Against vexatious Citations FINIS The Form of CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH OR CHAPPEL And of the place of Christian Burial EXEMPLIFIED By the Right Reverend Father in God LANCELOT ANDREWS Late Lord Bishop of Winchester Bishop Andrews Notes upon the Liturgy It is not to be forgotten though it be forgotten that who ever gave any Lands or Endowments to the Service of God gave it in a Formal Writing as now adayes betwixt Man and Man Sealed and Witnessed and the tender of the Gift was Super Altare by the Donor on his Knees LONDON Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery Lane near Fleetstreet M.DC.LXXV BISHOP ANDREVVS Form of Consecration of a CHURCH or CHAPPEL c. Consecratio CAPELLÆ JESV ET COEMETERII Per LANCELOTVM Episcopum Winton JVxta Southamptoniensem villam Ecclesia Beatae Mariae collapsa cernitur solis Cancellis ad sacros usus superstitibus paucae aliquot aedes ibi in propinqua parte numerantur caetera Parochianorum multitudo hinc inde sparsim inhabitant in villis tum loci longinquo intervallo tum estuarie longe periculoso divisi ab Ecclesia Ex ea accedendi difficultate non profanae modò plebeculae animos facile invasit misera negligentia atque dispretio divini cultus sed viri probi sedulique pietatis cultores remoram in trajectu saepe experti sunt haud ipso quidem capitum discrimine eluctabilem consortem hujus infortunii cum se factum sentiret dum ibi loci familiam poneret Vir strenuus Richardus Smith Armiger heroicos plane animos gestans atque inspiratos de coelo commune hoc religionis dispendium privatis quingentarum aliquot librarum expensis aut plus eo redemit Capellam egregiam quam Deo divinisque officiis dicari supplex vovet in altera parte fluminis magnifice extruit Spectato probatoque Capellae hujus Jesu omni adparatu adest tandem Reverendissimus in Christo Pater Honorandissimus Lancelotus Episcopus Wintoniensis Septembris 17. Anno 1620. Hora octava matutina aut cireiter erat autem dies Dominicus Episcopus Capellam statim ingressus induit se pontificalibus quem secuti itidem qui ipsi à sacris domesticis aderant Matthaeus Christopherus Wren SS Theol. Bacc. Sacerdotalibus induuntur Egressus dein cum illis Episcopus convenarum magnastipante caterva Fundatorem afsari orditur in haec fere verba Captain Smith you have been an often earnest Suitor to me that I would come hither to you now that we are come hither to you what have you to say to us Tum illo praefata humillimè Reverentia schedulam porrigit quam suo nomine recitari cupit per Willielm Cole qui Episcopo à Registris erat eam ille ad nutum Episcopi clara voce sic perlegit IN the Name of Richard Smith of Peer-tree in the County of Southampton Esquire Right Reverend Father