for not presenting oftner then twice a yeere The olde Churchwardens to make their presentments before the new be sworne Conuenient time to bee assigned for framing Presentments None to bee Cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Processe of Quorum nomina None to be cited into seueral Courts for one crime No sentence of Depriuation or Deposition to bee pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop No Acte to be sped but in open Court No Court to haue more then one Seale Conuenient places to bee chosen for the keeping of Courts Peculier and inferior Courts to exhibite the originall copies of Wills into the Bishops Registry ¶ Iudges of Ecclesiasticall Courts THe Qualitie and oath of Iudges The Qualitie of Surrogats ¶ Proctors PRoctors not to retaine Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties Proctors not to retaine Causes without the counsell of an Aduocate Proctors not to conclude in any Cause without the knowledge of an Aduocate Proctors prohibited the oath In animam Domini sui Proctors not to be clamorous in Court ¶ Registers A Buses to be reformed in Registers A certaine rate of Fees due to all Ecclesiasticall Officers A Table of the rates of Fees to be set vp in Courts and Registries The whole Fees for shewing Letters of Orders and other Licences due but once in euery Bishops time ¶ Apparitors THE number of Apparitors restrained ¶ Authoritie of Synods A Nationall Synode the Church representatiue Synods conclude aswell the absent as the present Deprauers of the Synode censured IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges the other Cleargie of euery Diocesse within the Prouince of Canterbury being summoned called by vertue of our Writ directed to the most reuerend father in God IOHN late Archbishop of Canterbury and bearing date the 31. day of Ianuary in the first yeere of our Raigne of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the 37. to haue appeared before him in our Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London the 20. day of March then next ensuing or elsewhere as he should haue thought it most conuenient to treat consent and conclude vpon certaine difficult and vrgent affaires mentioned in the said Writte Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul aforesaid assemble themselues and appeare in Conuocation for that purpose according to our said Writte before the Right reuerend Father in God Richard Bishop of London duely vpon a second Writte of Ours dated the 9. day of March aforesaid authorized appointed and constituted by reason of the saide Archbishop of Canterbury his death President of the said Conuocation to execute those things which by vertue of our first Writ did appertaine to him the said Archbishop to haue executed if he had liued Wee for diuers vrgent and weighty causes and considerations vs thereunto especially mouing of our especial grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our Prerogatiue royal and supreme Authoritie in causes Ecclesiastical giue and grant by our seuerall Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England the one dated the 12. day of April last past and the other the 25. day of Iune then next following full free and lawfull libertie licence power and Authoritie vnto the said Bishop of London President of the said Conuocation and to the other Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges and the rest of the Cleargie before mentioned of the said Prouince That they from time to time during our first Parliament now prorogued might conferre treate debate consider consult and agree of and vpon such Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should thinke necessary fit conuenient for the honour and seruice of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better gouernement thereof to be from time to time obserued perfourmed fulfilled and kept aswel by the Archbishops of Canterbury the Bishops their Successours and the rest of the whole Clergie of the sayd Prouince of Canterbury in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and administrations as also by all and euery Deane of the Arches and other Iudge of the sayd Archbishops Courts Gardians of Spiritualties Chancellors Deanes and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and euery other Ecclesiasticall Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoeuer of the same Prouince of Canterburie in their and euery of their distinct Courts and in the order and maner of their and euery of their proceedings and by all other persons mthin this Realme as farre as lawfully being members of the Church it may concerne them as in our sayd Letters Patents amongst other clauses more at large doth appeare Forasmuch as the sayd Bishop of London President of the sayd Conuocation and others the sayd Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie hauing met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted vnto them treated of concluded and agreed vpon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by Vs limited and prescribed vnto them and haue thereupon offred and presented the same vnto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to giue our Royal assent vnto their sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Acte of Parliament made in that behalfe in the xxv yeere of the Reigne of King Henry the eight and by our sayd Prerogatiue Royall and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England and to confirme the same the title and tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated vpon by the Bishop of London President of the Conuocation for the Prouince of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops and Cleargie of the said Prouince and agreed vpon with the Kings Maiesties licence in their Synode begun at London An. Dom. 1603 And in the yeere of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland the first and of Scotland the 37. ⧠Of the Church of England I. The Kings supremacie ouer the Church of England in causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained AS our duety to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie requireth wee first decree and ordaine That the Archbishop of Canterbury from time to time all Bishops of this prouince all Deanes Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and all other Ecclesiasticall persons shall faithfully keepe and obserue and as much as in them lieth shall cause to bee obserued and kept of others all and singuler Lawes and statutes made for restoring to the Crowne of this kingdome the ancient Iurisdiction ouer the state Ecclesiastical and abolishing of all forren power-repugnant to the same Furthermore al Ecclesiastical
and the practise of the Primitiue Church we do commend to al the true members of the Church of England these our directions obseruations ensuing First it is to be obserued that although the Iewes Ethnicks derided both the Apostles and the rest of the Christians for preaching and beleeuing in him who was crucified vpon the Crosse yet all both Apostles and Christians were so farre from beeing discouraged from their profession by the ignominie of the Crosse as they rather reioyced and triumphed in it Yea the holy Ghost by the mouthes of the Apostles did honour the Name of the Crosse being hatefull among the Iewes so farre that vnder it he comprehended not onely Christ crucified but the force effects and merits of his Death and Passion with all the comforts fruits and promises which wee receiue or expect thereby Secondlly the honour and dignitie of the Name of the Crosse begat a reuerend estimation euen in the Apostles times for ought that is knowen to the contrary of the signe of the Crosse which the Christians shortly after vsed in all their actions thereby making an outward shew profession euen to the astonishment of the Iewes that they were not ashamed to acknowledge him for their Lord and Sauiour who died for them vpon the Crosse And this signe they did not onely vse themselues with a kinde of glory when they met with any Iewes but signed therewith their children when they were Christned to dedicate them by that badge to his seruice whose benefits bestowed vpon them in Baptisme the name of the Crosse did represent And this vse of the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme was held in the Primitiue Church as well by the Greekes as the Latines with one consent and great applause At what time if any had opposed themselues against it they would certainely haue beene censured as enemies of the name of the Crosse consequently of Christs merits the signe whereof they could no better endure This continuall and generall vse of the signe of the Crosse is euident by many testimonies of the ancient Fathers Thirdly it must be confessed that in processe of time the signe of the Crosse was greatly abused in the Church of Rome especially after that corruption of Popery had once possessed it But the abuse of a thing doth not take away the lawfull vse of it Nay so farre was it from the purpose of the Church of England to forsake and reiect the Churches of Italie France Spaine Germany or any such like Churches in all things which they helde and practised that as the Apologie of the Church of England confesseth it doth with reuerence retaine those Ceremonies which doe neither endammage the Church of God nor offende the minds of sober men and onely departed from them in those particular points wherein they were fallen both from themselues in their ancient integritie from the Apostolicall Churches which were their first founders In which respect amongst some other very ancient Ceremonies the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme hath bene retained in this Church both by the iudgement and practise of those reuerend Fathers and great Diuines in the dayes of King Edward the sixth of whom some constantly suffered for the profession of the trueth and others being exiled in the time of Queene Mary did after their returne in the beginning of the Reigne of our late dread Soueraigne continually defend and vse the same This resolution and practise of our Church hath beene allowed and approoued by the censure vpon the Communion Booke in King Edward the sixt his dayes and by the harmonie of confessions of latter yeeres because in deede the vse of this signe in Baptisme was euer accompanied here with such sufficient cautions and exceptions against all Popish Superstition and errour as in the like cases are either fit or conuenient First the Church of England since the abolishing of Poperie hath euer held and taught and so doth hold and teach still that the signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme is no part of the substance of that Sacrament For when the Minister dipping the Infant in Water or laying Water vpon the face of it as the maner also is hath pronounced these wordes I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost the Infant is fully and perfectly baptized So as the signe of the Crosse being afterwards vsed doeth neither adde any thing to the vertue or perfection of Baptisme nor being omitted doeth detract any thing from the effect and substance of it Secondly it is apparant in the Communion Booke that the Infant baptized is by vertue of Baptisme before it be signed with the signe of the Crosse receiued into the Congregation of Christs flocke as a perfect member thereof and not by any power ascribed vnto the signe of the Crosse So that for the very remembrance of the Crosse which is very precious to all them that rightly beleeue in Iesu Christ and in the other respects mentioned the Church of England hath reteined still the signe of it in Baptisme following therein the Primitiue and Apostolicall Churches accounting it a lawful outward Ceremony honourable Badge whereby the Infant is dedicated to the seruice of him that died vpon the Crosse as by the words vsed in the Booke of Common prayer it may appeare Lastly the vse of the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme beeing thus purged from all Popish superstition and errour and reduced in the Church of England to the primary Institution of it vpon those true rules of Doctrine concerning things indifferent which are consonant to the word of God and the iudgements of all the ancient Fathers Wee hold it the part of euery priuate man both Minister and other reuerently to reteine the true vse of it prescribed by publike Authoritie considering that things of themselues indifferent doe in some sort alter their natures when they are either commanded or forbidden by a lawfull Magistrate and may not be omitted at euery mans pleasure contrary to the Law when they bee cōmanded nor vsed when they are prohibited ¶ Ministers their Ordination function and charge XXXI Foure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers FOrasmuch as the ancient Fathers of the Church led by example of the Apostles appointed Prayers and Fasts to bee vsed at the solemne ordering of Ministers to that purpose allotted certaine times in which onely sacred Orders might be giuen or conferred We following their holy and Religious example doe constitute decree That no Deacons or Ministers be made and ordained but onely vpon the Sundayes immediatly following Ieiunia quatuor temporum commonly called Ember weekes appointed in ancient time for Prayer and Fasting purposely for this cause at their first Institution and so continued at this day in the Church of England and that this bee done in the Cathedrall or Parish Church where the Bishop resideth and in the time of diuine Seruice in the presence not onely of the
persons hauing cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Diuinitie lectures shall to the vttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times euery yeere at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and lectures That all vsurped and forren power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most iust causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions is due vnto any such forren power but that the Kings power within his Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreys is the highest power vnder God to whom all men aswell inhabitants as borne within the same do by Gods Lawes owe most loyalty and obedience afore and aboue all other Powers and Potentates in earth II. Impugners of the Kings supremacie censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Kings Maiesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperors in the Primitiue Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacie in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of those his wicked errours III. The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Lawe established vnder the Kings Maiestie is not a true and an Apostolical Church teaching maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of this his wicked errour IIII. Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall herafter affirme that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England established by Law and conteined in the booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments is a corrupt superstitious or vnlawfull worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Bishop of the place or Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors V. Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that any of the nine and thirtie Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargy in the Conuocation holden at LONDON in the yeere of our Lorde God one thousand fiue hundred sixty two for the auoiding of diuersities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as hee may not with a good conscience subscribe vnto let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors VI. Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Law established are wicked Antichristian or superstitious or such as beeing commanded by lawfull authoritie men who are zealously and godly affected may not with any good conscience approue them vse them or as occasion requireth subscribe vnto them let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours VII Impugners of the gouernment of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the gouernement of the Church of England vnder his Maiesty by Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errors VIII Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or teach that the fourme and maner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons conteineth any thing in it that is repugnant to the word of God or that they who are made Bishops Priestes or Deacons in that forme are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either by themselues or by others to be truly either Bishops Priests or Deacons vntil they haue some other calling to those diuine Offices let him bee excommunicated ipso facto not to bee restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours IX Authours of Schisme in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saints as it is approoued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Gouernment Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and vnmeete for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike reuocation of such their wicked errors X. Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall heerafter affirme That such Ministers as refuse to subscribe to the forme and maner of Gods worship in the Church of England prescribed in the Communion Booke and their adherents may truly take vnto them the name of another Church not established by Lawe and dare presume to publish it that this their pretended Church hath of long time groaned vnder the burden of certaine grieuances imposed vpon it and vpon the members thereof before mentioned by the Church of England and the Orders and Constitutions therein by Law established Let them be excommunicated and not restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke such their wicked errors XI Maintainers of Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or maintaine That there are within this Realme other meetings assemblies or congregations of the Kings borne Subiects then such as by the lawes of this land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselues the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored but by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors XII Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that it is lawfull for any sort of Ministers and Lay persons or either of them to ioyne together and make Rules Orders or Constitutions in causes Ecclesiasticall without the Kings authoritie and shall submit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by them let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke those their wicked and Anabaptisticall errors
Of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments XIII Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy dayes ALl maner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalfe that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in priuate and publike prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendement of the same in reconciling themselues charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath bene in oftentimes receiuing the Communion of the body blood of Christ in visiting of the poore and sicke vsing all godly and sober conuersation XIIII The prescript forme of Diuine Seruice to bee vsed on Sundayes and Holy dayes THe Common prayer shal be said or sung distinctly and reuerently vpon such daies as are appointed to be kept holy by the Booke of Common prayer and their Eeues and at conuenient and vsuall times of those daies and in such place of euery Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meete for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may bee most edified All Ministers likewise shall obserue the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer aswell in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof XV. The Letanie to bee read on Wednesdayes and Fridayes THe Letany shal be said or sung when and as it is set downe in the Booke of Common prayer by the Parsons Vicars Ministers or Curats in all Cathedrall Collegiat Parish Churches and Chappels in some conuenient place according to the discretion of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinarie of the place And that wee may speake more particularly vpon Wednesdayes and Fridayes weekely though they bee not Holy dayes the Minister at the accustomed houres of Seruice shall resort to the Church and Chappel and warning being giuen to the people by tolling of a Bell shall say the Letanie prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer whereunto wee wish euery Housholder dwelling within halfe a mile of the Church to come or send one at the least of his Houshold fit to ioyne with the Minister in prayers XVI Colledges to vse the prescript forme of Diuine Seruice IN the whole Diuine Seruice and Administration of the holy Communion in all Colledges and Halles in both Vniuersities the Order Forme and Ceremonies shall be duely obserued as they are set downe and prescribed in the booke of Common prayer without any omission or alteration XVII Students in Colledges to weare Surplisses in time of Diuine Seruice ALl Masters and Fellowes of Colledges or Halles and al the Schollers and Students in either of the Vniuersities shall in their Churches and Chappels vpon all Sundayes Holy dayes and their Eues at the time of Diuine Seruice weare Surplisses according to the order of the Church of England and such as are Graduats shall agreeably were with their Surplisses such Hoods as doe seuerally appertaine to their Degrees XVIII A reuerence and attention to bee vsed within the Church in time of Diuine Seruice IN the time of Diuine Seruice and of euery part thereof all due reuerence is to be vsed For it is according to the Apostles Rule Let all things bee done decently and according to Order Answerable to which Decencie and Order We iudge these our directions following No man shall couer his head in the Church or Chappel in the time of Diuine Seruice except he haue some infirmitie In which case let him weare a Nightcap or Coife All maner of persons then present shall reuerently kneele vpon their knees when the Generall Confession Letanie and other Prayers are read and shall stand vp at the saying of the Beleefe according to the Rules in that behalfe prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer And likewise when in time of Diuine Seruice the Lord IESVS shal be mentioned due and lowly reuerence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath bene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humilitie Christian resolution and due acknowledgement that the Lord Iesus Christ the true and eternal Sonne of God is the onely Sauiour of the world in whom alone all the Mercies Graces and Promises of God to mankinde for this life and the life to come are fully and wholly comprised None either man woman or childe of what calling soeuer shall be otherwise at such times busied in the Church then in quiet attendance to heare marke and vnderstand that which is read preached or ministred Saying in their due places audibly with the Minister the Confession the Lords Prayer and the Creed and making such other answeres to the publique Prayers as are appointed in the Booke of Common prayer neither shall they disturbe the Seruice or Sermon by walking or Talking or any other way nor depart out of the Church during the time of Seruice and Sermon without some vrgent or reasonable cause XIX Loyterers not to bee suffered neere the Church in time of Diuine Seruice THe Churchwardens or Questmen and their assistants shall not suffer any idle persons to abide either in the Churchyard or Church porch during the time of Diuine Seruice or preaching but shall cause them either to come in or to depart XX. Bread and Wine to be prouided against euery Communion THe Churchwardens of euery Parish against the time of euery Communion shal at the charge of the Parish with the aduice and direction of the Minister prouide a sufficient quantitie of fine white Bread and of good and wholesome Wine for the number of Communicants that shall from time to time receiue there which Wine we require to bee brought to the Communion Table in a cleane and sweete standing Pot or Stoope of Pewter if not of purer mettall XXI The Communion to be thrice a yeere receiued IN euery Parish Church and Chappel where Sacraments are to bee administred within this Realme the holy Communion shall bee ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as euery Parishioner may Communicate at the least thrise in the yeere whereof the Feast of Easter to bee one according as they are appointed by the booke of Common Prayer Prouided that euery Minister as oft as hee administreth the Communion shall first receiue the Sacrament himselfe Furthermore no Bread or Wine newly brought shal be vsed but first the words of Institution shal be rehearsed when the said Bread and Wine bee present vpon the Communion Table Likewise the Minister shal deliuer both the Bread and the Wine to euery Communicant seuerally XXII Warning to be giuen beforehand for the Communion WHereas euery Lay person is bound to receiue the holy Communion thrice euery
paine of the imputation of Imposture or Cosenage and Deposition from the Ministerie LXXIII Ministers not to hold priuate Conuenticles FOrasmuch as all Conuenticles and secret meetings of Priestes and Ministers haue bene euer iustly accompted very hurtfull to the State of the Church wherein they liue We doe now ordaine and constitute That no Priests or Ministers of the word of God nor any other persons shall meete together in any priuate house or elsewhere to consult vpon any matter or course to bee taken by them or vpon their motion or direction by any other which may any way tend to the impeaching or deprauing of the doctrine of the Church of England or of the Booke of Common praier or of any part of the gouernment and Discipline now established in the Church of England vnder pain of Excōmunication ipso facto LXXIIII Decencie in apparell enioyned to Ministers THe true ancient and flourishing Churches of Christ being euer desirous that their Prelacie and Cleargie might be had as well in outward reuerence as otherwise regarded for the worthinesse of their Ministery did thinke it fit by a prescript forme of decent and comely Apparell to haue them knowen to the people and thereby to receiue the honor and estimation due to the special Messengers and Ministers of Almighty God Wee therefore following their graue iudgement and the ancient Custome of the Church of England and hoping that in time new fanglenesse of Apparell in some factious persons will die of it selfe do constitute and appoint That the Archbishop and Bishops shall not intermit to vse the accustomed Apparel of their degrees Likewise all Deanes Masters of Colledges Archdeacons and Prebendaries in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches beeing Priests or Deacons Doctors in Diuinitie Law and Phisicke Bachelers in Diuinitie Masters of Arts and Bachelers of Lawe hauing any Ecclesiasticall liuing shall vsually weare Gownes with standing collers and sleeues streight at the hands or wide sleeues as is vsed in the Vniuersities with Hoods or Tippets of Silke or Sarcenet and square Caps And that all other Ministers admitted or to be admitted into that Function shall also vsually weare the like Apparell as is aforesaid except Tippets onely We doe further in like maner ordaine That all the said Ecclesiasticall persons aboue mentioned shall vsually weare in their iourneys Cloakes with sleeues commonly called Priests Cloaks without gards welts long Buttons or cuts And no Ecclesiastical person shall weare any Coife or wrought Nightcap but onely plaine Nightcaps of blacke silke Satten or Veluet In all which particulars concerning the Apparell here prescribed our meaning is not to attribute any holinesse or speciall worthinesse to the said garments but for decencie grauitie and order as is before specified In priuate houses and in their Studies the said persons Ecclesiasticall may vse any comely and Schollerlike Apparel Prouided that it be not cut or pinckt and that in publike they goe not in their Dublet and Hose without Coats or Cassocks and also that they weare not any light coloured Stockins Likewise poore beneficed men and Curats not being able to prouide themselues long Gownes may goe in short Gownes of the fashion aforesaid LXXV Sober conuersation required in Ministers NO Ecclesiastical persons shal at any time other then for their honest necessities resort to any Tauernes or Alehouses neither shall they board or lodge in any such places Furthermore they shal not giue themselues to any base or seruile labour or to drinking or riot spending their time idlely by day or by night playing at Dice Cardes or Tables or any other vnlawfull game but at all times conuenient they shall heare or reade somewhat of the holy Scriptures or shall occupie themselues with some other honest studie or exercise alwayes doing the things which shall appertaine to honestie and endeuouring to profit the Church of God hauing alwayes in minde that they ought to excell all others in puritie of life and should bee examples to the people to liue well and Christianly vnder paine of Ecclesiasticall censures to be inflicted with seueritie according to the qualities of their offences LXXVI Ministers at no time to forsake their Calling NO man being admitted a Deacon or Minister shall from thenceforth voluntarily relinquish the same nor afterward vse himselfe in the course of his life as a Lay man vpon paine of Excommunication And the names of all such men so forsaking ther calling the Church-wardens of the Parish where they dwell shall present to the Bishop of the Diocesse or to the Ordinarie of the place hauing Episcopall Iurisdiction ⧠Schoolemasters LXXVII None to teach Schoole without Licence NO man shal teach either in publike Schoole or priuate house but such as shall bee allowed by the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place vnder his Hand and Seale being found meete aswell for his learning and dexteritie in teaching as for sober and honest conuersation and also for right vnderstanding of Gods true Religion and also except he shall first subscribe to the first and third Articles afore mentioned simply and to the two first clauses of the second Article LXXVIII Curats desirous to teach to bee licenced before others IN what Parish Church or Chappell soeuer there is a Curate which is a Master of Arts or Bacheler of Arts or is otherwise well able to teach youth and will willingly so doe for the better increase of his liuing and trayning vp of children in Principles of true Religion We will and ordaine That a Licence to teach youth of the Parish where he serueth be granted to none by the Ordinarie of that place but onely to the saide Curate Prouided alwayes That this Constitution shall not extend to any Parish or Chappell in countrey Townes where there is a publike Schoole founded already In which case wee thinke it not meete to allow any to teach Grammer but onely him that is allowed for the said publike Schoole LXXIX The duetie of Schoolemasters ALl Schoolemasters shall teach in English or Latine as the children are able to beare the larger or shorter Catechisme heretofore by publike authoritie set foorth And as often as any Sermon shall bee vpon Holy and Festiuall dayes within the Parish where they teach they shall bring their Schollers to the Church where such Sermon shall bee made and there see them quietly and soberly behaue themselues and shall examine them at times conuenient after their returne what they haue borne away of such Sermons Vpon other dayes and at other times they shal traine them vp with such sentences of holy Scripture as shall bee most expedient to induce them to all godlinesse and they shall teach the Grammer set forth by King HENRY the eight and continued in the times of King EDVVARD the sixt and Queene ELIZABETH of noble memory and none other And if any Schoolemaster being licenced and hauing subscribed as aforesaid shall offend in any of the premisses or either speake write or teach against any thing whereunto he hath
formerly subscribed if vpon admonition by the Ordinary he do not amend and reforme himselfe let him bee suspended from teaching Schoole any longer ¶ Things appertaining to Churches LXXX The great Bible and Booke of Common prayer to be had in euery Church THe Church-wardens or Questmen of euery Church Chappell shall at the charge of the Parish prouide the Booke of Common prayer lately explaned in some few points by his Maiesties authoritie according to the Lawes and his Highnesse prerogatiue in that behalfe and that with all conuenient speed but at the furthest within two moneths after the publishing of these our Constitutions And if any Parishes bee yet vnfurnished of the Bible of the largest volume or of the Bookes of Homilies allowed by Authoritie the said Church-wardens shall within conuenient time prouide the same at the like charge of the Parish LXXXI A Font of stone for Baptisme in euery Church ACcording to a former Constitution too much neglected in many places wee appoint That there shal be a Font of stone in euery Church and Chappell where Baptisme is to be ministred the same to bee set in the ancient vsuall places In which onely Font the Minister shall baptize publikely LXXXII A decent Communion Table in euery Church WHereas we haue no doubt but that in all Churches within the Realme of England conuenient and decent Tables are prouided and placed for the celebration of the holy Communion we appoint that the same Tables shall from time to time bee kept and repaired in sufficient and seemely manner and couered in time of diuine Seruice with a Carpet of Silke or other decent stuffe thought meet by the Ordinarie of the place if any question be made of it and with a faire Linnen cloth at the time of the ministration as becommeth that Table and so stand sauing when the said holy Communion is to bee administred At which time the same shall bee placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancell as thereby the Minister may be more conueniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and ministration and the Communicants also more conueniently and in more number may communicate with the said Minister and that the ten Commandements be set vpon the East ende of euery Church and Chappell where the people may best see and reade the same and other chosen Sentences written vpon the walles of the said Churches and Chappels in places conuenient and likewise that a conuenient seate bee made for the Minister to reade Seruice in All these to bee done at the charge of the Parish LXXXIII A pulpit to be prouided in euery Church THe Churchwardens or Questmen at the common charge of the Parishioners in euery Church shall prouide a comely and decent Pulpit to bee set in a conuenient place within the same by the discretion of the Ordinarie of the place if any question doe arise and to be there seemely kept for the preaching of Gods word LXXXIIII A Chest for Almes in euery Church THe Churchwardens shall prouide and haue within three moneths after the publishing of these constitutions a strong Chest with a hole in the vpper part thereof to be prouided at the charge of the Parish if there be none such already prouided hauing three keyes Of which one shall remaine in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curat and the other two in the custody of the Churchwardens for the time beeing which Chest they shall set and fasten in the most conuenient place to the intent the Parishioners may put into it their Almes for their poore neighbours And the Parson Vicar or Curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call vpon exhort and mooue their neighbours to conferre and giue as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring vnto them that whereas heretofore they haue bene diligent to bestow much substance otherwise then God commaunded vpon superstitious vses now they ought at this time to be much more ready to helpe the poore and needy knowing that to relieue the poore is a sacrifice which pleaseth God and that also whatsoeuer is giuen for their comfort is giuen to Christ himselfe is so accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same The which Almes and deuotion of the people the Keepers of the keyes shall yeerely quarterly or oftner as need requireth take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the Parish or sixe of the chiefe of them to bee truely and faithfully deliuered to their most poore and needy neighbours LXXXV Churches to be kept in sufficient reparations THe Churchwardens or questmen shall take care and prouide that the Churches bee well and sufficiently repaired and so from time to time kept and maintained that the Windowes bee well glazed and that the Floores be kept paued plaine and euen and all things there in such an orderly and decent sort without dust or any thing that may bee either noisome or vnseemely as best becommeth the house of God and is prescribed in an Homily to that effect The like care they shall take that the Churchyards bee well and sufficiently repaired fenced and maintained with Walles Railes or Pales as haue beene in each place accustomed at their charges vnto whom by Lawe the same appertaineth but especially they shall see that in euery meeting of the Congregation peace be well kept and that all persons Excommunicated and so denounced be kept out of the Church LXXXVI Churches to be suruayed and the decayes certified to the high Commissioners EVery Deane Deane and Chapter Archdeacon and others which haue authoritie to holde Ecclesiasticall Visitations by Composition Law or Prescription shall suruay the Churches of his or their Iurisdiction once in euery three yeeres in his owne person or cause the same to bee done and shall from time to time within the said three yeeres certifie the high Commissioners for causes Ecclesiasticall euery yeere of such defects in any the said Churches as hee or they doe finde to remaine vnrepaired and the names and surnames of the parties faultie therein Vpon which Certificat we desire that the sayd high Commissioners will Ex Officio mero send for such parties and compel them to obey the iust and lawfull Decrees of such Ecclesiasticall Ordinaries making such Certificates LXXXVII A Terrier of Glebelands and other Possessions belonging to Churches WE ordaine that the Archbishop and all Bishops within their seuerall Diocesses shall procure as much as in them lieth that a true note and Terrier of all the Glebes Lands Meadowes Gardens Orchards Houses Stockes Implements Tenements portions of Tithes lying out of their Parishes which belong to any Parsonage or Vicarage or rurall Prebend bee taken by the view of honest men in euery Parish by the appointment of the Bishop whereof the Minister to bee one and bee laid vp in the Bishops Registrie there to be for a perpetuall memorie thereof LXXXVIII Churches not to be prophaned THe Churchwardens