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
with the grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Son of God we beseech the to hear us Son of God we beseech the to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us O Christ hear us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Amen The Versicle O Lord deal not with us after our sins Answer Neither reward us after our iniquities ¶ Let us pray Ood merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppress us and graciously hear us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed thar we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thy names sake O God we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their days and in the old time before them O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. From our Enemies defend us O Christ Graciously look upon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people Favourably with mercy hear our prayers O Son of David have mercy upon us Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us O Christ Graciously hear us O Christ graciously hear us O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed upon us Answer As we do put our trust in thee Let us pray WE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living to thy honour and glory through our only Mediator and Advocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God which hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and dost promis that when two or three be gathered together in thy Name thou wile grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy servanta as may be most expedient for them granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting Amen ¶ Then shall be said also this that followeth ALmighty God which by thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church and didst inspire thine holy Apostles to chuse unto this Order of Deacons the first Martyr St. Stephen with other mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the like office and administration replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of the Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesu Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Then shall be sung or said the Communion of the day saving the Epistle shall be read out of Timothy as followeth LIkewise must the Ministers be honest not double-tongued not given unto much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first be proved and then let them minister so that no man be able to reprove them Even so must theâ—r wives be honest not evil speakers but sober and faithful in all things Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their own housholds for they that minister well get themselves a good degree and a great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu These things write I unto thee trusting to come shortly unto thee but and if I tarry long that then thou mayest yet have knowledge how thou oughest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the congregation of the living God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that mystery of godliness God was shewed in the flesh was justified in the spirit was seen among the angels was preached unto the Gentiles was believed in on the world and received up into glory Or else this out of the sixth of the Acts. THen the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve tables wherefore brethren look you out among you seven men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost and wisdom to whom we may commit this business but we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the administration of the word And that saying pleased the whole multitude And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and full of the holy Ghost and Philip and Brochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas a convert of Antioch These they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great number of the Priests were obedient unto the faith And before the Gospel the Bishop setting in a chair shall cause the Oath of the Kings Supremacy and against the power and authority of all foreign Potentates to be ministred unto every of them that are to be ordered ¶ The Oath of the Kings Soveraignty I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highness is the only supreme Governour 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 foreign 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 foreign jurisdictions powers superiorities and au horities and do promise that 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
Christ once made is that perfect redemption propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain and guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits 32. Of the marriage of Priests BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods Law Non habentur haec notata in R. Edv. 6. Artic. either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage Therefore it is lawful also for them as for all other Christian men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness 33. Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and 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 thereunto 34. Of the Traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of Countries and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word Whosoever 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 Non habentur haec notata in Edv. 6. Artic. Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mens authority so that all things be done to edifying 35. †Homiliae nuper Ecclesiae Anglicanae per injunctiones Regias editae atque commendatae piae sunt atque salutares doctrinamque ab omnibus amplectendam continent Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the several titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsom Doctrine necessary for these times as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people Of the Names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against peril of Idolatry 3 Of Repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkenness 6 Against excess of apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known Tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods Word 11 Of â—lms doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation-days 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idleness 21 Against Rebellion De libro precationum ceremoniarum Ecclesiae Anglicanae LIber qui nuperrime authoritate Regis Parliamenti Ecclesiae Anglicanae traditus est continens modum formam orandi Sacramenta administrandi in Ecclesiâ Anglicanâ similiter libellus eadem authoritate editus de ordinatione ministrorum Ecclesiae quoad doctrinae veritatem pii sunt salutari doctrinae Evangelii in nullo repugnant sed congruunt eandem non parum promovent illustrant atque ideo ab omnibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae fidelibus membris à maximè ministris verbi cum omni prompitudine animorum gratiarum actione recipiendi approbandi populo Dei commendandi sunt Artic. R. Edvard 6. 36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according the Rites of that Book since the second year of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered 37. Of Civil Magistrates Rex Angliae est supremum caput in terris post Christum Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae Artic Edv. 6. Haec notata non habentur in Artic. Edvard 6. THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief Government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any foreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief Government by which titles we understand the minds of some dangerous folks to be offended we give not our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that only prerogative which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England Magistratus civilis est à Deo ordinatus atque probitus quamobrem illi non solum propter iram sed etiam propter conscientiam obediendum est Artic. R. Ed. 6. The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars 38. Of Christian mens Goods which are not common THe Riches and Goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability 39. Of a Christian mans Oath AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and James his Apostle So we judge
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
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
Statute in that behalf provided against those Sectaries VI. An Oath enjoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government THis present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancy in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Popery or any other superstition decrees That all Archbishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places exempt or not exempt shall before the second day of November next ensuing take this Oath following against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline and this Oath shall be tendred them and every of them and all others named after in this Canon by the Bishop in person or his Chancellour or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under the Seal and the said Oath shall be taken in the presence of a publick Notary who is hereby required to make an Act of it leaving the Universities to the Provision which follows The Oath is I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England a containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavor by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ And if any man Beneficed or Dignified in the Church of England or any other Ecclesiastical person shall refuse to take this Oath the Bishop shall give him a months time to inform himself and at the months end if he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab Officio and have a second month granted and if then he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab officio beneficio and have a third month granted him for his better information but if at the end of that month he refuse to take the Oath above-named he shall by the Bishop be deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England We likewise Constitute and Ordain That all Masters of Arts the sons of Noble-men only excepted all Batchelors and Doctors in Divinity Law or Physick all that are licensed to practice Physick all Registers Actuaries and Proctors all School-masters all such as being Natives or naturalized do come to be incorporated into the Universities here having taken a Degree in any foreign University shall be bound to take the said Oath And we command all Governors of Colledges and Halls in either of the Universities that they administer the said Oath to all persons resident in their several Houses that have taken the Degrees before-mentioned in this Canon within six months after the publication hereof And we likewise Constitute That all Bishops shall be bound to give the said Oath unto all those to whom they give holy Orders at the time of their Ordination or to whomsoever they give Collation Institution or License to Preach or serve any Cure VII A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies BEcause it is generally to be wished that unity of Faith were accompanied with uniformity of practice in the outward worship and service of God chiefly for the avoiding of groundless suspitions of those who are weak and the malitious aspersions of the professed Enemies of our Religion the one fearing the Innnovations the other flattering themselves with the vain hope of our backslidings unto their Popish superstition by reason of the situation of the Communion-Table and the approaches thereunto the Synod declareth as followeth That the standing of the Communion-Table side-way under the East-window of every Chancel or Chappel is in its own nature indifferent neither commanded nor condemned by the Word of God either expresly or by immediate deduction and therefore that no Religion is to be placed therein or scruple to be made thereon And albeit at the time of Reforming this Church from that gross superstition of Popery it was carefully provided that all means should be used to root out of the minds of the people both the inclination thereunto and memory thereof especially of the Idolatry committed in the Mass for which cause all Popish Altars were demolished yet notwithstanding it was then ordered by the Injunctions and Advertisements of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory that the holy Tables should stand in the place where the Altars stood and accordingly have been continued in the Royal Chappels of three famous and pious Princes and in most Cathedral and some Parochial Churches which doth sufficiently acquit the manner of placing the said Tables from any allegality or just suspition of Popish su-superstition or innovation And therefore we judge it fit and convenient that all Churches and Chappels do conform themselves in this particular to the example of the Cathedral or Mother Churthes saving always the general liberty left to the Bishop by Law during the time of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this scituation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called and Altar by us in that sence in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many places some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communinion-Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuses it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion-Tables in all Chancells or Chappels be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence therefore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw near c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw near and approach to the holy Table there to receive the Divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unless it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenience by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other
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