and his Successours of the power to execute the said place either alone or with the Chancellour if the Bishop shall please to do the same saving always to the said Chancellours c. the Fees accustomably taken for executing the said jurisdiction And that in all such Patents the Bishop shall keep in his own hands the power of Institution unto Benefices as also of giving Licenses to preach or keep school And further that no Dean and Chapter confirm any Patent of any Chancellour Commissaries or Officials place wherein the said conditions are not expressed sub poena suspensionis to the Dean or his locum tenens if he pass the Act in his absence and to every Canon or Prebendary voting to the confirmation of the said Act to be inflicted by the Archbishop of the Province And further the holy Synod doth decree and ordain That no reward shall be taken for any Chancellours Commissaries or Officials place under the heaviest Censures of the Church XII Chancellours alone not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry Cases THat no Chancellour Commissary or Official unless he be in holy Orders shall proceed to Suspension or any higher censure against any of the Clergy in any criminal cause other than neglect of appearance upon legal citing but that all such causes shall be heard by the Bishop in person or with the assistance of his Chancellour or Commissary or if the Bishops occasions will not permit then by his Chancellour or Commissary and two grave dignified or beneficed Ministers of the Diocess to be assigned by the Bishop under his Episcopal Seal who shall hear and censure the said cause in the Consistory XIII Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest THat no Excommunications or Absolutions shall be good or valid in Law except they be pronounced either by the Bishop in person or by some other in holy Orders having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction or by some grave Minister beneficed in the Diocess being a Master of Arts at least and appointed by the Bishop and the Priests name pronouncing such sentence of Excommunication or Absolution to be expressed in the Instrument issuing under Seal out of the Court. And that no such Minister shall pronounce any sentence of Absolution but in open Consistory or at the least in a Church or Chappel the penitent humbly craving and taking Absolution upon his knees and having first taken the Oath De parendo juri stando mandatis Ecclesiae And that no Parson Vicar or Curate sub poena suspensionis shall declare any of his or their Parishioners to be Excommunicate or shall admit any of them so Excommunicate into the Church and there declare them to be absolved except they first receive such Excommunications and Absolutions under the Seal of the Ecclesiastical Judge from whom it cometh XIV Concerning Commutations and the disposing of them THat no Chancellour Commissary or Official shall have power to commute any penance in whole or in part but either together with the Bishop in person or with his privity in writing or if by himself there he shall give up a full and just account of all such Commutations once every year at Michaelmas to the Bishop who shall with his Chancellour see that all such moneys be disposed of to charitable and publick uses according to Law And if any Chancellour or other having Jurisdiction as aforesaid shall not make such a just account to the Bishop and be found guilty of it he shall be suspended from all exercise of his Jurisdiction for the space of one whole year Always provided that if the crime be publickly complained of and do appear notorious that then the Office shall signifie to the place from whence the complaint came that the Delinquent hath satisfied the Church for his offence And the Minister shall signifie it as he shall be directed saving alwayes to all Chancellours and other Ecclesiastical Officers their due and accustomable Fees if he or they be not so suspended as aforesaid XV. Touching concurrent Jurisdiction THat in such places wherein there is concurrent Jurisdiction no Executor be cited into any Court or office for the space of ten days after the death of the Testator And that as well every Apparitor herein as every Register or Clarek that giveth or carrieth out any Citation or Process to such intent before that the said ten days be expired shall for the first offence herein be suspended from the execution of his Office for the space of three months and for the second offence in this kind be and stand excommunicated ipso facto not to be restored but by the Metropolitan of the Province or his lawful Surrogate And that yet nevertheless it be lawful for any Executor to prove such Wills when they thinck good within the said ten days before any Ecclesiastical Judge respectively to whose Jurisdiction the same may or doth appertain XVI Concerning Licenses to Marry WHereas divers Licenses to Marry are granted by Ordinaries in whose Jurisdiction neither of the parties desiring such License is resident to the prejudice of the Archiepiscopal Prorogative to whom only the power of granting such Licenses to parties of any Jurisdiction per totam provinciam by Law belongeth and for other great inconveniences thereupon ensuing It is therefore decreed That no License of Marriage shall be granted by any Ordinary to any Parties unless one of the said parties have been commorant in the Jurisdiction of the said Ordinary for the space of one whole month immediately before the said License be desired And if any Ordinary shall offend herein and be sufficiently evinced thereof in any of the Lord Archbishops Courts he shall be liable to such censure as the Lord Archbishop shall think fit to inflict And we further decree That one of the Conditions in the Bond of Security given by the parties taking such License shall be that the said parties or one of them have or hath been a month commorant in the said Jurisdiction immediately before the said License granted And the Synod decrees That whatsoever is ordered in these six last Canons concerning the Jurisdiction of Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries shall so far as by Law is appliable be in force concerning all Deans Deans and Chapters Collegiate Churches Archdeacons and all in holy Orders having exempt or peculiar Jurisdiction and their several Officers respectively XVII Against vexatious Citations ANd that this Synod may prevent all grievances which may fall upon the people by Citations into Ecclesiastical Courts upon pretence only of the breach of Law without either presentment or any other just ground This present Synod decrees That for all times to come no such Citation grounded only as aforesaid shall issue out of any Ecclesiastical Court except the said Citation be sent forth under the hand and seal of the Chancellour Commissary Archdeacon or other competent Judge of the said Court within thirty dayes after the fault committed and return thereof to be made
edifying they shall not from henceforth in any Parish-Church at any time use any Procession about the Church or Church-yard or at any place but immediately before the time of Communion of the Sacrament the Priests with other of the Quire shall kneel in the midst of the Church and sing or say plainly and distinctly the Letany which is set forth in English The Letany with all the suffrages following to the intent the people may hear and answer and none other procession or Letany to be had or used but the said Letany English adding nothing thereto but as it is now appointed And in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches the same shall be done in such places and in such sort as our Commissioners in our Visitation shall appoint And in the time of the Letany of the Common-prayer of the Sermon Let of hearing of Divine Service and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the Parishioners no manner of persons without a just and urgent cause shall use any walking in the Church nor shall depart out of the Church and all ringing and knolling of Bells shall be utterly forborn at that time except one Bell at convenient time to be rung or knolled before the Sermon But yet for retaining of the Perambulation of the Circuits of Parishes they shall once in the year at the time accustomed with the Curate and substantial men of the Parish walk about the Parishes as they were accustomed and at their return to the Church make their Common-prayers 19. Provided Perambulation of Parishes That the Curate in their said common Perambulations used heretofore in the days of Rogations at certain convenient places shall admonish the people to give thanks to God in the beholding of Gods benefits for the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the face of the Earth with the saying of the Ciii Psalm Benedic anima mea c. At which time also the same Minister shall inculcate these or such sentences Cursed be he which translateth the bounds and dolles of his Neighbor Or such other order of prayers as shall be hereafter appointed 20. Item holy- Spending of the holy-holy-dayes All the Queens faithful and loving Subjects shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their holy-day according to Gods will and pleasure that is in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in knowledging their offences unto God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbors where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the communion of the very body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poor and sick 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 after their Common-prayer in the time of Harvest labor upon the 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 Open contenders to be reconciled openly 21. Also For as much as variance and contention is a thing that most displeaseth God and is most contrary to the blessed Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ Curates shall in no wise admit to the receiving thereof any of their cure and flock which be openly known to live in sin without repentance or who hath maliciously 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 the just titles and rights they may charitably prosecute before such as have authority to hear the same Contemners of laudable Ceremonies 22. 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 commanded by publick authority to be observed The abolishment of all things superstitious 23. Also That they shall take away utterly extinct and destroy all Shrines coverings of Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and all other Monuments of feigned Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glass-windows or elsewhere within their Churches and Houses preserving nevertheless or repairing both the walls and glass-windows and they shall exhort all their Parishioners to do the like within their several Houses The Pulpit 24 And that the Church-wardens at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church shall provide a comely and honest Pulpit to be set in a convenient place within the same and to be there seemly kept for the Preaching of Gods Word The chest of the poor 25. Also They shall provide and have within three months after this Visitation a strong Chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the cost and charge of the Parish having three Keys whereof one shall remain with the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other two in the custody of the Church-wardens or any other two honest men to be appointed by the Parish from year to year which Chest you shall set and fasten in a most convenient place to the intent the Parishioners should put into it their oblations and alms for their poor neighbors And the Parson Vicar and Curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbors to confer and give as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring unto them whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise than God commanded upon Pardons Pilgrimages Trentals decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Fryers and upon other like blind devotions they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a true worshipping of God required earnestly upon pain of everlasting damnation and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and so is accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same with everlasting life The which alms and devotions of the people The distribution of alms the keepers of the keys shall at all times convenient take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of the whole Parish or six of them to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most needy neighbors And if they be provided for then to the reparation of high-ways next adjoyning or to the poor people of such Parishes near as shall be thought best to the said keepers of the keys And also the moneys which riseth of Fraternities Guilds and other stocks of the Church except by the Queens Majesties Authority it be otherwise appointed shall be put in the said Chest and converted to the said
use and also the rents of Lands the profit of Cattle and mony given or bequeathed to Obits and Dirges and to the finding of Torches Lights Tapers and Lamps shall be converted to the said use saving that it shall be lawful for them to bestow part of the said profits upon the reparation of the said Church if great need require and whereas the Parish is very poor and not able otherwise to repair the same 26. Also To avoid the detestable sin of Simony Simony because buying and selling of Benefices is execrable before God therefore all such persons as buy any Benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit shall be deprived of such Benefices and be made unable at any time after to receive any other spiritual promotion and such as do sell them or by any colour do be stow them for their own gain and profit shall use their right and title of Patronage and presentment for that time and the gift thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the Queens Majesty Homilies to be read 27. Also Because through lack of Preachers in many places of the Queens Realms and Dominions the people continue in ignorance and blindness all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall read in their Churches every Sunday one of the Homilies which are and shall be set forth for the same purpose by the Queens Authority in such sort as they shall be appointed to do in the Preface of the same Contempt of Ministers 28. Item Whereas many undiscreet persons do at this day uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church because some of them having small learning have of long time favored fond fances rather then Gods truth yet forasmuch as their office and function is appointed of God the Queens Majesty willeth and chardgeth all her loving Subjects that from henceforth they shall use them charitably and reverently for their Office and Ministration sake and especially such as labor in the setting forth of Gods holy Word 29. Item Although there be no prohibition by the Word of God nor any example of the Primitive Church but that the Priests and Ministers of the Church may lawfully for the avoiding of fornication have an honest and sober Wife and that for the same purpose the same was by Act of Parliament in the time of our dear brother King Edward the sixth made lawful whereupon a great number of the clergy of this Realm were then married and so continue Yet because there hath grown offence and some slander to the Church by lack of discreet sober behaviour in many Ministers of the church both in chosing of their wives undiscreet living with them the remedy whereof is necessary to be sought It is thought therefore very necessary that no manner of Priest or Deacon shall hereafter take to his Wife any manner of Woman without the advice and allowance first had upon good examination by the Bishop of the same Diocess and two Iustices of the Peace of the same Shire dwelling next to the place where the same Woman hath made her most abode before her marriage nor without the good will of the Parents of the said Woman if she have any living or two of the next of her kinsfolks or for lack of knowledg of such of her Master or Mictris where she serveth And before she shall be contracted in any place he shall make a good and certain proof thereof to the Minister or to the Congregation assembled for that purpose which shall be upon some holy-day where divers may be present And if any shall do otherwise that then they shall not be permitted to minister either the word or the Sacraments of the Church nor shall be capable of any Ecclesiastical Benefice and for the manner of Marriages of any Bishops the same shall be allowed and approved by the Metropolitan of the Province and also by such Commissioners as the Queens Majesty thereunto shall appoint And if any Master or Dean or any Head of any Colledge shall purpose to marry the same shall not be allowed but by such to whom the Visitation of the same doth properly belong who shall in any wise provide that the same tend not to the hindrance of their house 30 Item Of Apparel of Ministers Her Majesty being desirous to have the Prelacy Clergy of this Realm to be had as well in outward reverence as otherwise regarded for the worthiness their Ministries and thinking it necessary to have them known to the people in all places and assemblies both in the Church and without and thereby to receive the honour and estimation due to the special Messengers and Ministers of Almighty God willeth and commandeth that all Archbishops and Bishops and all other that be called or admitted to Preaching or Ministery of the Sacraments or that be admitted into vocation Ecclesiastical or into any society of Learning in either of the Vniversities or elsewhere shall use and wear soch seemly habits garments and such square Caps as were most commonly and orderly received in the latter year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth not thereby meaning to attribute any holiness or special worthiness to the said garments but as St. Paul writeth omnia decenter secundum ordinem fiant 1 Cor. 14. cap. Heresies 31. Item That no man shall wilfully and obstinately defend or maintain any Heresies Errors or false Doctrine contrary to the Faith of Christ and his holy Spirit Charmers 32. Item That no persons shall use Charms Sorceries Enchantments Witchcraft Soothsaying or any such like devilish device nor shall resort at any time to the same for counsel or help Absent from Common-prayer 33. Item That no person shall neglecting their own Parish-Church resort to any other Church in time of Common-prayer or Preaching except it be by the occasion of some extraordinary Sermon in some Parish of the same Town Inholders and Ale-houses Images in houses 34. Item That no Inholders or Ale-house keepers shall use to sell meat or drink in the time of Common-prayer Preaching reading of the Homilies or Scriptures 35. Item That no persons keep in their Houses any abused Images Tables Pictures Paintings and other Monuments of feigned Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition Disturbers of Sermon or Service 36. Item That no man shall willingly let or disturb the Preacher in the time of his Sermon or let or discourage any Curate or Minister to sing or say the Divine Service now set forth nor mock or jeast at the Ministers of such Service Rash talkers of Scripture 37. Item That no man shall talk or reason of the holy Scriptures rashly or contentiously nor maintain any false Doctrine or Error but shall commune of the same when occasion is given reverently humbly and in the fear of God for his comfort and better understanding Attendant to the Service 38. Item That no man woman or child shall be otherwise busied in the time of the
and Ireland And herein I require you most specially to pray for the Queens most Excellent Majesty our Soveraign Lady Elizabeth Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and supreme Governor of this Realm as well in causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal You shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments as well Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastors and Curates You shall also pray for the Queens most honourable Council and for all the Nobility of this Realm that all and every of these in their calling may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true faith and fear of God in humble obedience and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those that are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace for to direct our lives after their good examâ—le that after this life we with them may be made partakers of the glorious Resurrection in the life everlasting And this done shew the holy-days and fasting days ALL and singular which Injunctions the Queens Majesty ministreth unto her Clergy and to all other her loving subjects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits and Benefices suspension excommunication and such other correction as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction whom her Majesty hath appointed or shall appoint for the due execution of the same shall be seen convenient charging and commanding them to see these Injunctions observed and kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction as they will answer to her Majesty for the contrary And her Highness pleasure is that every Iustice of Peace being required shall assist the Ordinaries and every of them for the due execution of the said Injunctions ARTICLES Agreed upon by the ARCHBISHOPS and BISHOPS OF BOTH PROVINCES And the whole CLERGY IN THE CONVOCATION Holden at LONDON in the year 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching True Religion Reprinted by his Majesties Commandment With his Royal Declaration prefixed thereunto LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1630. His Majesties Declaration BEing by Gods Ordinance according to Our just Title Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church within these Our Dominions We hold it most agreable to this Our Kingly Office and Our own Religious Zeal to conserve and maintain the Church committed to Our Charge in Unity of True Religion and in the Bond of Peace and not to suffer unnecessary Disputations Altercations or Questions to be raised which may nourish Faction both in the Church and Commonwealth We have therefore upon Mature Deliberation and with the Advice of so many of Our Bishops as might conveniently be called together thought fit to make this Declaration following That the Articles of the Church of England which have been allowed and authorised heretofore and which Our Clergy generally have subscribed unto do contain the true Doctrine of the Church of England agreable to Gods Word which We do therefore Ratifie and Confirm requiring all Our loving Subjects to continue in the Uniform Profession thereof and prohibiting the least difference from the said Articles which to that end We Command to be new Printed and this Our Declaration to be Published therewith That We are Supreme Governor of the Church of England and that if any difference arise about the External Policy concerning the Injunctions Canons or other Constitutions whatsoever thereto belonging the Clergy in their Convocation is to Order and Settle them having first obtained leave under Our Broad Seal so to do and We approving their said Ordinances and Constitutions providing that none be made contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Land That out of our Princely Care that the Church-men may do the work which is proper unto them the Bishops and Clergy from time to time in Convocation upon their Humble desire shall have License under Our Broad Seal to deliberate of and to do all such things as being made plain by them and assented unto by Us shall concern the setled continuance of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established from which We will not endure any varying or departing in the least Degree That for the present though some differences have been ill raised yet We take Comfort in this that all Clergy-men within Our Realm have always most willingly subscribed to the Articles established which is an Argument to Us that they all agree in the True usual literal meaning of the said Articles and that even in those curious points in which the present Differences lie Men of all sorts take the Articles of the Church of England to be for them which is an Argument again that none of them intend any Desertion of the Articles established That therefore in these both curious and unhappy Differences which have for so many hundred years in different times and places exercised the Church of Christ We will that all further curious search be laid aside and these Disputes shut up in Gods Promises as they be generally set forth to us in the Holy Scriptures and the general meaning of the Articles of the Church of England according to them And that no Man hereafter shall either Print or Preach to draw the Article aside any way but shall submit to it in the plain and full meaning thereof And shall not put his own sense or Comment to be the meaning of the Article but shall take it in the Literal and Grammatical Sense That if any publick Reader in either Our Universities or any Head or Master of a Colledge or any other person respectively in either of them shall affix any new sense to any Article or shall publickly read determine or hold any publick Disputation or suffer any such to be held either way in either the Universities or Colledges respectively or if any Divine in the Universities shall Preach or Print any thing either way other than is already established in Convocation with our Royal Assent he or they the Offenders shall be liable to our Displeasure and the Churches censure in Our Commission Ecclesiastical as well as any other and We will see there shall be due execution upon them ARTICLES OF RELIGION Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdom and goodness the Maker Preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost 2. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of
men known to the Bishop to be of sound Religion a testimonial both of his honest life and of his professing the Doctrine expressed in the said Articles nor unless he be able to answer and tender to the Ordinary an account of his faith in Latine according to the said Articles or have special gift and ability to be a Preacher nor shall be admitted to the Order of Deacon or Ministry Who may have a Benefice of the yearly value of xxxl al Admissions Inductions Tolerations No Lapse upon deprivation but after notice Dyer fo 377. 346. 369. Cok. li. 6. fol. 9 unless he shall first subscribe to the said Articles And that none hereafter shall be admitted to any Benefice with Cure of or above the value of thirty pounds yearly in the Queens Books unless he shall then be a Batchelour of Divinity or Preacher lawfully allowed by some Bishop within this Realm or by one of the Vniversities of Cambridge or Oxford And that all Admissions to Benefices Institutions and Inductions to be made of any person contrary to the form or any Provision of this Act and all tolerations dispensations qualifications and licences whatsoever to be made to the contrary hereof shall be meerly void in Law as if they never were Provided always That no title to confer or present by a Lapse shall accrue upon any deprivation ipso facto but after nx months notice of such deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron ADVERTISEMENTS Partly for the due Order in the PUBLICK ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SACRAMENTS And partly for the Apparel of all Persons Ecclesiastical By virtue of the Queens Majesties Letters commanding the same the Twenty fifth day of January in the seventh year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. LONDINI Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno Dom. 1594. Anno 7. Eliz. R. The PREFACE THE Queens Majesty of her godly Zeal calling to remembrance how necessary it is to the advancement of Gods glory and to the establishment of Christs pure Religion for all her loving Subjects especially the state Ecclesiastical to knit together in one perfect unity of Doctrine and to be conjoined in one Uniformity of Rites and manners in the ministration of Gods holy Word in open prayer and ministration of Sacraments as also to be of one decent behaviour in their outward apparel to be known partly by their distinct habits to be of that vocation who should be reverenced the rather in their offices as Ministers of the holy things whereto they be called hath by her Letters directed unto the Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan required enjoined and straightly charged that with assistance and conferences had with other Bishops namely such as be in commission for causes Ecclesiastical some orders might be taken whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the people as breeding nothing but contention offence and breach of common charity and be against the Laws good Usage and Ordinances of the Realm might be reformed and repressed and brought to one manner of Uniformity throughout the whole Realm that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve Almighty God in truth concord unity peace and quietness as by her Majesties said Letters more at large doth appear Whereupon by diligent conference and communication in the same and at last by assent and consent of the persons aforesaid these Orders and Rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient to be used and followed not yet prescribing these Rules as Laws equivalent with the Eternall Word of God and as of necessity to bind the consciences of her Subjects in the nature of them considered in themselves Or as they should add any efficacy or more holiness to the vertue of publick prayer and to the Sacraments but as temporal orders meer Ecclesiastical without any vain superstition and as rules in some part of Discipline concerning decency distinction and order for the time Articles for Doctrine and Preaching FIrst That all they which shall be admitted to Preach shall be diligently examined for their conformity in unity of doctrine established by publick authority and admonished to use sobriety and discretion in teaching the people namely in matters of controversie and to consider the gravity of their office and to foresee with diligence the matters which they will speak to utter them to the edification of the audience Item That they set out in their preaching the reverent estimation of the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper exciting the people to the often and devout receiving of the holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ in such form as is already prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer and as it is further declared in an Homily concerning the vertue and efficacy of the said Sacraments Item That they move the people to all obedience as well in observation of the orders appointed in the Book of common service as in the Queens Majesties injunctions as also of all other civil duties due for Subjects to do Item That all licenses for preaching granted out by the Archbishop and Bishops within the Province of Canterbury bearing date before the first day of March 1564. be void and of none effect and nevertheless all such as shall be thought meet for the office to be admitted again without difficulty or charge paying no more but iiii pence for the Writing Parchment and Wax Item If any Preacher or Parson Vicar or Curate so licensed shall fortune to preach any matter tending to dissention or to the derogation of the Religion and Doctrine received that the hearers denounce the same to the Ordinaries or the next Bishop of the same place but no man openly to contrary or to impugn the same speech so disorderly uttered whereby may grow offence and disquiet of the people but shall be convinced and reproved by the Ordinary after such agreeable order as shall be seen to him according to the gravity of the offence An that it be presented within one month after the words spoken Item That they use not to exact or receive unreasonable rewards or stipends of the poor Pastors coming to their Cures to preach whereby they might be noted as followers of filthy lucre rather than use the office of preaching of charity and good zeal to the salvation of mens souls Item If the Parson be able he shall preach in his own person every three Months or else shall preach by another so that his absence be approved by the Ordinary of the Diocess in respect of sickness service or study at the Vniversity Nevertheless yet for want of able Preachers and Parsons to tolerate them without penalty so that they preach in their own persons or by a learned Substitute once in every three months of the year Articles for Administration of Prayer and Sacraments FIrst That the Common-prayer be said or sung decently and
graces strayght commaundment to signifie his farther pleasure to all Colleges Religious houses and Curates within theyr diocesse for the publicacyon and also effectual and universal observacion of the same An. 1536. FOr as moch as the nombre of holy-dayes is so excessyuely grown and yet dayly more and more by mens deuocyen yea rather supersticyon was like further to encrease that the same was and sholde be not onely preiudiciall to the common weale by reason that it is occasion as well of moche slouth and ydleness the very nourishe of theues vacaboundes and of dyuers other unthriftynesse and inconuenyences as of decaye of good mysteryes and artes utyle and necessary fort the common welthe and losse of mans fode many tymes beynge clene destroyed through the supersticious obseruance of the said holy-dayes in not taking thoportunitie of good and serene wheather offered upon the same in time of harvest but also pernicyous to the soules of many men whiche beyng entysed by the lycencyous vacacyon and lybertye of those holy-dayes do upon the same commonly vse and practise more excesse ryote and superfluitie than upon any other dayes And sith the Sabboth-day was ordeyned for mans use and therefore ought to gyue place to the necessitie and behove of the same whan soever that shall occurre mouch rather any other holy day institute by man It is therefore by the kyngs hyghnes auctority as supreme head in earth of the Church of Englande with the Common assent and consent of the prelates and clergy of this his realme in Convocacyon laufully assembled and congregate among other thyngs decreed ordeyned and established ¶ Fyrst that the feest of Dedicacyon of the church shall in all places throughout this realm be celebrated and kepte on the fyrst sonday of the moneth of Octobre for ever and upon none other day ¶ Item that the feest of the patrone of every church within this Realm called commonly the Church-holy-day shall not from henceforth be kepte or observed as a holy-day as heretofore hath been used but that it shall be lauful to all and singular persons resydent or dwelliynge within this realme to go to their work occupacyon or mystery and the same truely to exercyse and occupy upon the said feest as upon any other workeyday excepte the said feest of the Church-holy day be such as must be ells universally observed as a holy-day by this ordynance following Also that all those feests or day holy-days which shall happen to occurre eyther in the harvest time which is to be compted from the fyrst day of Iuly unto the xxix day of Septembre or elles in the terme time at Westmynster shall not be kepte or observed from henceforth as holy dayes but that it may be lauful for every man to go to his work or occupacyon upon the same as upon any other workyeday excepte alwayes the feests of the apostles of our blessed lady and of saynt George And also such feestes as wherein the Kings Iudges as Westminster-hall do not use to sytte in Iudgment all which shall be kepte holy and solempne of every man as in tyme past have been accustomed Prouyded alwayes that it may be laufull unto all preests and clerkes as well secular as regular in the foresayd holy-dayes now abrogate to synge or saye their accustomed seruyce for those holy dayes in their churches so that they do not the same solempnely nor do rynge to the same after the manner vsed in hygh holy-dayes ne do commaunde or indict the same to be kepte or observed as holy-dayes Finally That the feest of the Nativitie of our lord of Easter of the Nativitie of saynt Iohn the baptiste and of Saynt Michaell shall be from henceforth compted and accepted and taken for the iiii general offering days And for further declaracyon of the premysses be it known that Easter terme begyneth alwayes the xviii day after Easter reckoning Easter-day for one and endeth the monday next after thascencyon day Trinitie terme begynneth alwayes the wednesday next after thoctaues of Trinitie sonday and endeth the xi or xii day of Iuly Myghelmas terme beginneth the ix or x. day of October and endeth the xxviii or xxix day of Nouember Hillary terme begynneth the xxiii or xxiiii day of Ianuary and endeth the xii or xiii day of February In Easter terme upon the tascension daye In Trinitie terme upon the Nativity of saynt Iohn Baptist In Mighelmas terme upon Alhollen day In Hillary terme upon Candlemas day The Kings Iudges at Westminster do not use to syt in Iudgment nor upon any sondayes ¶ Imprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne by me Iohn Byddel Cum priuilegio Anno 1536. By the Queen A Proclamation against the Despisers or Breakers of the Orders prescribed in the Book of Common-prayer THe Queens Majesty being right sorry to understand that the order of Common-prayer set forth by the common consent of the Realm and by authority of Parliament in the first year of her Reign wherein is nothing contained but the Scripture of God and that which is consonant unto it is now of late of some men despised and spoken against both by open preachings and writings and of some bold and vain curious men new and other Rites found out and frequented whereupon contentions sects and disquietness doth arise among her people and for one godly and uniform order diversity of Rites and Ceremonies Disputations and Contentions Schisms and Divisions already risen and more like to ensue The cause of which disorders her Majesty doth plainly understand to be the negligence of the Bishops and other Magistrates who should cause the good Laws and Acts of Parliament made in this behalf to be better executed and not so dissembled and winked at as hitherto it may appear that they have been For speedy remedy whereof her Majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops and Bishops and all Iustices of Assises and Oyer and Terminer and all Mayors head Officers of Cities and Towns Corporate and all other who have any authority to put in execution the Act for the Vniformity of Common-prayer and the Administration of the Sacraments made in the first year of her gracious Reign withal diligence and severity neither favouring nor dissembling with one person nor other who doth neglect despise or seek to alter the godly Orders and Rites set forth in the said Book But if any person shall by publick preaching writing or printing contemn despise or dispraise the Orders contained in the said Book they shall immediately apprehend him and cause him to be imprisoned until he hath answered to the Law upon pain that the chief Officers being present at any such preaching and the whole Parish do answer for their contempt and negligence Likewise if any shall forbear to come to the Common-prayer and receive the Sacraments of the Church according to the Order in the said Book allowed upon no just and lawful cause all such persons they shall enquire of present and see punished and
ordered according as is prescribed in the said Act with more care and diligence than heretofore hath been done the which negligence hath been cause why such disorders have of late now so much and in so many places encreased and grown And if any persons shall either in private houses or in publick places make assemblies and therein use other Rites of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments than is prescribed in the said Book or shall maintain in their houses any persons being notoriously charged by Books or Preachings to attempt the alteration of the said Orders they shall see such persons punished with all severity according to the Laws of this Realm by pains appointed in the said Act. And because these matters do principally appertain to the persons Ecclesiastical and to the Ecclesiastical Government her Majesty giveth a most special and earnest charge to all Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and Deans and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction in such cases to have a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the Orders and Rites in the said Book prescribed throughout their Cures and Diocess and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as is granted them in the said Act with all celerity and severity against all persons who shall offend against any of the Orders in the said Book prescribed upon pain of her Majesties high displeasure for their negligence and deprivation from their Dignities and Benefices or other Censures to follow according to their demerits Given at Greenwich the 20 day of October 1573 In the fifteenth year of the Queens Majesties Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Newgate-Market next unto Christs Church by Richard Jugge Printer to the Queens Majesty Cum privilegio Regiae Majestatis By the Queen A Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of Love WHereas by report of sundry of the Bishops of this Realm and others having cure of souls the Queens Majesty is informed that in sundry places of her said Realm in their several Diocesses there are certain persons who do secretly in corners make privy assemblies of divers simple unlearned people and after they have craftily and hypocritically allured them to esteem them to be more holy and perfect men than other are they do then teach them damnable Heresies directly contrary to divers of the principal Articles of our Belief and Christian Faith and in some parts so absurd and fanatical as by feigning to themselves a monstrous new kind of speech never found in the Scriptures nor in ancient Father or Writer of Christs Church by which they do move ignorant and simple people at the first rather to marvel at them than to understand them but yet to colour their sect withal they name themselves to be of the Family of Love and then as many as shall be allowed by them to be of that Family to be elect and saved and all others of what Church soever they be to be rejected and damned and for that upon conventing of some of them before the Bishops and Ordinaries it is found that the ground of their sect is maintained by certain lewd heretical and seditious books first made in the Dutch tongue and lately translated into English and printed beyond the seas and secretly brought over into the Realm the author whereof they name H. N. without yielding to him upon their examination any other name in whose name they have certainly books set forth called Evangelium Regni or a joyful Message of the Kingdom Documental Sentences The prophecie of the spirit of love a publishing of peace upon the earth and such like And considering also it is found that these Sectaries hold opinion that they may before any Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Temporal or any other person not being professed to be of their sect which they teame the Family of Love by oath or otherwise deny any thing for their advantage so as though many of them are well known to be teachers and spreaders abroad of these dangerous and damnable sects yet by their own confession they cannot be condemned whereby they are more dangerous in any Christian Realm Therefore her Majesty being very sorry to see so great an evil by the malice of the Devil first begun and practised in other Countries to be now brought into this her Realm and that by her Bishops and Ordinaries she understandeth it very requisite not only to have these dangerous Hereticks and Sectaries to be severely punished but that also all other means be used by her Majesties Royal authority which is given her of God to defend Christs Church to root them out from further infecting of her Realm she hath thought meet and convenient and so by this her Proclamation she willeth and commandeth that all her Officers and Ministers temporal shall in all their several vocations assist the Archbishops and Bishops of her Realm and all other persons Ecclesiastical having cure of Souls to search out all persons only suspected to be either teachers or professors of the foresaid damnable sects and by all good means to proceed severely against them being found culpable by order of the Laws either Ecclesiastical or Temporal and that also search may be made in all places suspected for the Books and Writings maintaining the said Heresies and Sects and them to destroy and burn And wheresoever such Books shall be found after the publication hereof in custody of any person other than such as the Ordinaries shall permit to the intent to peruse the same for confutation thereof the same persons to be attached and committed to close prison there to remain or otherwise by Law to be condemned until the same shall be purged and cleared of the same Heresies or shall recant the same and be thought meet by the Ordinary of the place to be delivered And that whosoever in this Realm shall either print or bring or cause to be brought into this Realm any of the said Books the same persons to be attached and committed to prison and to receive such bodily punishment and other mulct as fautors of damnable Heresies And to the execution hereof her Majesty chargeth all her Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Temporal to have special regard as they will answer not only afore God whose glory and truth is by these damnable Sects greatly sought to be defaced but also will avoid her Majesties indignation which in such cases as these are they ought not escape if they shall be found negligent and careless in the execution of their authorities Given at our Mannour of Richmond the third of October in the two and twentieth year of our Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most Excellent Majesty By the Queen A Proclamation against certain seditious and schismatical Books and Libels c. THe Queens most Excellent Majesty considering how within these few years past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and
the Government established for causes Ecclesiastical within her Majesties Dominions have devised written printed or caused to be seditiously and secretly published and dispersed sundry schismatical and seditious Books diffamatory Libels and other phantastical writings amongst her Majesties subjects containing in them Doctrine very erroneous and other matters notoriously untrue and slanderous to the State and against the godly reformation of Religion and Government Ecclesiastical established by Law and so quietly of long time continued and also against the persons of Bishops and others placed in authority Ecclesiastical under her Highness by her authority in railing sort and beyond the bounds of all good humanity All which Books Libels and Writings tend by their scope to persuade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innovation within her Dominions and Countries of all manner of Ecclesiastical Government now in use and to the abridging or rather to the overthrow of her Highness lawful Prerogative allowed by Gods Law and established by the Laws of the Realm and consequently to reverse dissolve and set at Liberty the present Government of the Church and to make a dangerous change of the form of Doctrine and use of Divine Service of God and the ministration of the Sacraments now also in use with a rash and malicious purpose also to dissolve the Estate of the Prelacy being one of the three ancient Estates of this Realm under her Highness whereof her Majesty mindeth to have such reverend regard as to their places in the Church and Common wealth appertaineth All which said lewd and seditious practises do directly tend to the manifest wilful breach of great number of good Laws and Statutes of this Realm inconveniences nothing regarded by such Innovations In consideration whereof her Highness graciously minding to provide some good and speedy remedy to withstand such notable dangerous and ungodly attempts and for that purpose to have such enormous male factors discovered and condignly punished doth signifie this her Highness misliking and indignation of such dangerous and wicked enterprises and for that purpose doth hereby will and also straightly charge and command that all persons whatsoever within any her Majesties Realms and Dominions who have or hereafter shall have any of the said seditious Books Pamphlets Libels or Writings or any of like nature already published or hereafter to be published in his or their custody containing such matters as above are mentioned against the present Order and Government of the Church of England or the lawful Ministers thereof or against the Rites and Ceremonies used in the Church and allowed by the Laws of the Realm That they and every of them do presently after with convenient speed bring in and deliver up the same unto the Ordinary of the Diocess or of the place where they inhabit to the intent they may be utterly defaced by the said Ordinary or otherwise used by them And that from henceforth no person or persons whatsoever be so hardy as to write contrive print or cause to be published or distributed or to keep any of the same or any other Books Libels or Writings of like nature and quality contrary to the true meaning and intent of this her Majesties Proclamation And likewise that no man hereafter give any instruction direction favour or assistance to the contriving writing printing publishing or dispersing of the same or such like Books Libels or Writings whatsoever as they tender her Majesties good favour will avoid her high displeasure and as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils and upon such pains and penalties as by the Law any way may be inflicted upon the offenders in any of these behalfs as persons maintaining such seditious actions which her Majesty mindeth to have severely executed And if any person have had knowledge of the Authors Writers Printers or despersers thereof which shall within one month after the publicacyon hereof discover the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledg or to any of her Majesties Privy Council the same person shall not for his former concealment be hereafter molested or troubled Given at her Majesties Palace at Westminster the xiii of February 1588. In the xxxi year of her Highness Reign God Save the Queen Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens Most Excellent Majesty 1588. ARTICLES To be Enquired in the VISITATION IN THE First year of the Reign of our most dread Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH By the Grace of God Of England France and Ireland QUEEN Defender of the Faith Anno Domini 1559. Articles c. Anno 1559. FIrst Whether any Parson Residency Vicar or Curate be resident continually upon his Benefice doing his duty in preaching reading and duly ministring the holy Sacraments Item False miracles Whether in their Churches and Chappels all Images Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and all oher monuments of feigned and false Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition be removed abolished and destroyed Item Whether they do not every holy-day The Lords prayer when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Lords Prayer the Belief and the Ten Commandments in English Item Whether they do charge Fathers and Mothers To bring up youth Masters and Governors of Youth to bring them up in some vertuous study and occupation Item Curates Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their Benefices do leave their Cures to a rude and unlearned person and not to an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholsom Doctrine Item Whether they do discourage any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or English Reading the Scriptures and do not rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same at convenient times as the very lively word of God and the sPecial food of mans soul Item Whether Parsons Vicars Taverns and games Curates and other Ministers be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Ale-houses giving themselves to drinking rioting and playing at unlawful games and do not occupy themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of the holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Preachers Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their Cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have been licensed accordingly Item Whether they use to declare to their Parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain and usperstitious Religion Pilgrimages Relicks or Images Superstition or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling or decking of the same Images Register Item Whether they have one Book or Register kept wherein they write the day of every Wedding Christning and Burying Obedience Item Whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Queens Majesty and Ministers and to charity and love one to another The Sacrament
trusty and well-beloved Councellor Richard by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England respectively directed bearing date the twentieth day of February in the fifteenth year of Our Reign to appear before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London and before the said Lord Archbâ—shop of York in the Metropolitan Church of St. Peter in York the fourteenth day of April then next ensuing or elsewhere as they respectively should think it most convenient to treat consent and conclude upon certain difficult and urgent affairs contained in the said Writs Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedral Church of S. Paul and the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter aforesaid assemble themselves respectively together and appear in several Convocations for that purpose according to the said several Writs before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Lord Archbishop of York respectively And forasmuch as We are given to understand that many of Our Subjects being misled against the Rites and Ceremonies now used in the Church of England have lately taken offence at the same upon an unjust supposal that they are not only contrary to Our Laws but also introductive unto Popish Superstitions whereas it well appeareth unto Vs upon mature consideration that the said Rites and Ceremonis which are now so much quarrelled at were not onely approved of and used by those learned and godly Divines to whom at the time of Reformation under King Edward the sixth the compiling of the Book of of Common-Prayer was committed divers of which suffered Martyrdom in Queen Maries days but also again taken up by this whole Church under Queen Elizabeth and so duly and ordinarily practised for a great part of her Reign within the memory of divers yet living as that it could not then be imagined that there would need any Rule or Law for the observation of the same or that they could be thought to savour of Popery And albeit since those times for want of an express Rule therein and by subtile practises the said Rites and Ceremonies began to fall into disuse and in place thereof other forraign and unfitting usages by little and little to creep in Yet forasmuch as in our own Royal Chappels and in many other Churches most of them have been ever constantly used and observed We cannot now but be very sensible of this matter and have cause to conceive that the Authors and Fomentors of these jealousies though they colour the same with a pretence of Zeal and would seem to strike only at some supposed iniquity in the said Ceremonies Yet as we have cause to fear aim at Our own Royal Person and would fain have Our good Subjects imagine that we Our Self are perverted and doe worship God in a Superstitious way and that we intend to bring in some alteration of the Religion here established Now how far we are from that and how utterly We detest every thought thereof We have by many publick Declaracions and otherwise upon sundry occasions given such assurance to the World as that from thence We also assure Our Self that no man of wisdom and discretion could ever be so beguiled as to give any serious entertainment to such brain-sick jealousies and for the weaker sort who are prone to be misled by crafty seducers We rest no less confident that even of them as many as are of loyal or indeed but of charitable hearts will from henceforth utterly banish all such causeless fears and surmises upon these our sacred professions so often made by Vs a Christian Defender of the Faith their King and Soveraign And therefore if yet any person under whatsoever mask of Zeal or counterfeit Holiness shall henceforth by speech or writing or any other way notwithstanding these Our right hearty faithful and solemn Protestations made before Him whose Deputy We are against all and every intention of any Popish Innovation be so ungracious and presumptuous as to vent any poisoned conceits tending to such a purpose and to cast these develish aspersions and jealousies upon Our Royal and Godly proceedings We require all Our loyal Subjects that they forthwith make the same known to some Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Civil And We straightly charge all Ordinaries and every other person in any Authority under Vs as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril that they use no palliation connivance or delay therein but that taking particular information of all the passages they do forthwith certifie the same unto Our Court of Commission for causes Ecclesiastical to be there examined and proceeded in with all fidelity and tenderness of Our Royal Majesty as is due to Vs their Soveraign Lord and Governour But forasmuch as we well percieve that the misleaders of Our well-minded people do make the more advantage for the nourishing of this distemper among them from hence that the foresaid Rites and Ceremonies or some of them are now insisted upon but only in some Diocesses and are not generally revived in all places nor constantly and uniformly practised thorowout all the Churches of Our Realm and thereupon have been liable to be quarrelled and opposed by them who use them not We therefore out of Our Princely inclination to Vniformity and Peace in matters especially that concern the holy worship of God proposing to Our Self herein the pious examples of King Edward the sixth and of Queen Elizabeth who sent forth Injunctions and Orders about the Divine Service and other Ecclesiastical matters and of Our dear Father of blessed memory King James who published a Book of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical and according to the Act of Parliament in this behalf having fully advised herein with Our Metropolitan and with Our Commissioners authorised under Our great Seal for causes Ecclesiastical have thought good to give them free leave to treat in Convocation and agree upon certain other Canons necessary for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his holy Church and the due reverence of his blessed Mysteries and Sacraments that as We ever have been and by Gods assistance by whom alone We Reign shall ever so continue careful and ready to cut off Superstition with one hand so We may no less expel Irreverence and Profaneness with the other whereby it may please Almighty God so to bless Vs and this Church committed to Our Government that it may at once return unto the true former splendour of Vniformity Devotion and holy Order the lustre whereof for some years by-past hath been overmuch obscured through the devices of some ill-affected to that sacred Order wherein it had long stood from the very beginning of the Reformation and through inadvertency of some in Authority in the Church under Vs We therefore by vertue of Our Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical by Our several and respective Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England dated the fifteenth day of April now last past and
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
Porta clauditur Prior Sacellanus pergit legendo sententias illas hortatorias ad Eleemosynas interea dum alter Sacellanus singulos Communicaturos adit atque in patinam argenteam oblationes colligit Collecta est summa 4. l. 12 s. 2. d. quam Dominus Episcopus convertandam in Calicem huic Capellae donandum decernit Caeteris rebus ordine gestis demum Episcopus sacram Mensam redit Sacellanis utrisque ad aliquantulum recedentibus lotisque manibus pane fracto vino in Calicem effuso aqua admista stans ait ALmighty God our Heavenly Father c. Eucharistiam ipse primo loco accipit sub utraque specie proximo loco tradit Fundatori quem jam coram sacra Mensa in genua supplicem collocarant dein utrique Sacellano Ad caeteros vero pergentem Episcopum atque panem iis tradentem prior Sacellanus subsequitur Calicem ordine porrigit Cum vinum quod prius effuderat non sufficeret Episcopus de novo in Calicem ex poculo quod in sacra Mensa stabat effundit admistaque aqua recitat clare verba illa consecratoria Finita tandem exhibitione Dominus Episcopus ad Sacrae Mensae Septentrionem in genibus recitante quoque populo ait OUr Father c. O Lord our Heavenly Father c. GLory be to God on high c. Concludit denique cum hac precatione BLessed be thy name O Lord that it hath pleased thee to put into the heart of this thy servant to erect an house to thy worship and service by whose Pains Care and Cost this work was begun and finished Bless O Lord his substance and accept the work of his hands Remember him O our God concerning this wipe not out this kindness of his that he hath shewed for the house of his God and the offices thereof and make them truly thankful to thee that shall injoy the benefit thereof and the ease of it and what is by him well intended make them rightly to use it which will be the best fruit and to God most acceptable Post haec vota populum stans dimitit cum Benedictione hac THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and Minds in the Knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the Blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always Amen Consecratio COEMETERII STatim à prandio quod in aedibus suis vicinis Fundator Capellae satis lante appararat Domino Episcopo atque convenarum magnae frequentiae ad rem divinam reversis alter Sacellanorum praeit OUr Father c. Post Responsas Psalmus 90. recitatur alternis Post Psalmum Episcopus cum universa multitudine egreditur Capella atque ad Orientalem Coemeterii partem stans denuo sciscitatur Captain Smith for what have you called us hither again Ille schedulam ut prius humillime porrigit quam praefatus à Registris recitat in haec verba IN the name of Richard Smith of Peer-tree in the County of Southampton Esquire R. Reverend Father in God I present unto you the state of the Village of Weston c. ut prius usque ad the River cannot be passed whereby it often cometh to pass that they have been constrained to bury their dead in the open fields the water not being passable or if they durst venture over yet the dead body was followed with so little Company as was no way seemly And thus much formerly having been presented to your Predecessor the R.R.F. in God James late Bishop of Winton and Petition to him made to give and to grant leave unto the said Richard Smith to enclose a piece of ground for a Burial-place on the east side of the said River he favorably gave licence and granted power unto the said Richard Smith so to do as may appear by an instrument under his Episcopal Seal bearing date the 23 of February in the year of our Lord God according to the Computation of the Church of England 1617. Which place of Burial being now enclosed with a decent Rail of Timber at the only proper cost and charges of him the said Richard Smith with intent and purpose that it might be dedicated and consecrated only and wholly for Christian burial for him the said Richard Smith and his Family and the said inhabitants and none other In which respect I beseech God to accept of this sincere intent and purpose and both he and they are together humble Suiters to your Lordship as Gods Minister the Bishop and Ordinary of this Diocess in Gods stead to accept this his free-will offering and to decree this ground severed from all former common and profane uses and to sever it as by the Word of God and prayer and other special Religious duties to dedicate and consecrate it to be a Coemeterie or place of christian burial as aforesaid wherein their bodies may be laid up until the day of general Resurrection promising that they will ever so hold it for holy ground and use it accordingly applying it to no other use but that only and that they will from time to time and ever hereafter as need shall be see it conveniently repaired and fenced in such sort as a Coemetery or Burying-place ought to be Hoc ipsum vero ab Episcopo paucis interrogatis viva voce confirmant Fundator qui è vicinia Lectio prima desumitur è 23. Gen. Secunda Lectio destinabatur è prima Epist ad Cor. cap. 15. à vers 15. ad finem propter angustias temporis omissa Tum Dominus Episcopus in genua ibi submissus precatur O Lord God thou hast been pleased to teach us in thy holy Word as to put a difference between the soul of a Beast and the spirit of a Man for the soul of a Beast goes down to the earth from whence it came and the spirit of a Man returneth unto God that gave it so to make diverse accompts of the Bodies of Mankind and the Bodies of other living creatures in so much as the Body of Adam was resolved on and afterwards the workmanship of thine own hands and endued with a soul from thine own breath But much more since the second Adam thy blessed Son by taking upon him our nature exalted this flesh of ours to be flesh of his flesh whose flesh thou sufferedst not to see Corruption so that the Body returns to the earth and the soul to him that gave it It shall from thence return again it is but a rest and a rest in hope as saith the Psalmist for it is a righteous thing with God that the Body which was partaker with the soul both in doing and suffering should be raised again from the Earth to be partaker also with the soul of the reward or punishment which God in Mercy or Justice shall reward not to one of them alone but joyntly to them both There being then so
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