yeere and many notwithstanding doe not receiue that Sacrament once in a yeere We doe require euery Minister to giue warning to his Parishioners publikely in the Church at Morning prayer the Sunday before euery time of his administring that holy Sacrament for their better preparation of themselues Which said warning We enioyne the sayd Parishioners to accept and obey vnder the penaltie and danger of the Law XXIII Students in Colledges to receiue the Communion foure times a yeere IN all Colledges and Halles within both the Vniuersities the Masters and Fellowes such especially as haue any Pupils shall be carefull that all their said Pupils and the rest that remaine amongst them be wel brought vp and throughly instructed in poynts of Religion that they doe diligently frequent publike Seruice and Sermons and receiue the holy Communion which we ordaine to be administred in all such Colledges and Halles the first or second Sunday of euery Moneth Requiring all the sayd Masters Fellowes and Schollers and all the rest of the Students Officers and all other the seruants there so to be ordered that euery one of them shall Communicate foure times in the yeere at the least kneeling reuerently and decently vpon their knees according to the order of the Communion Booke prescribed in that behalfe XXIIII Copes to be worne in Cathedral Churches by those that administer the Communion IN all Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches the holy Communion shall bee administred vpon principall Feast-dayes sometimes by the Bishop if he be present and sometimes by the Deane and at some times by a Canon or Prebendarie the principall Minister vsing a decent Coape and being assisted with the Gospeller and Epistler agreeably according to the Aduertisements published Anno 7. Elizabethae the said Communion to bee administred at such times and with such limitation as is specified in the Booke of Common prayer Prouided that no such limitation by any construction shall bee allowed of but that all Deanes Wardens Masters or Heads of Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches Prebendaries Canons Vicars Petticannons Singing-men and all others of the Foundation shall receiue the Communion foure times yeerely at the least XXV Surplisses and Hoods to bee worne in Cathedrall Churches when there is no Communion IN the time of Diuine Seruice and Prayers in all Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches when there is no Communion it shall bee sufficient to weare Surplisses sauing that all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiat Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduats shal daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching weare with their Surplisses such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees XXVI Notorious offendours not to bee admitted to the Communion NO Minister shal in any wise admit to the receiuing of the holy Communion any of his Cure or Flocke which bee openly knowen to liue in sinne notorious without repentance Nor any who haue maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours vntill they shall be reconciled Nor any Church-wardens or Sidemen who hauing taken their oathes to present to their Ordinaries all such publike offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their seuerall Parishes shall notwithstanding their said oathes and that their faithfull discharging of them is the chiefe meanes whereby publike sinnes and offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of Periurie either in neglecting or in refusing to present such of the sayd enormities and publike offences as they know themselues to be committed in their sayd Parishes or are notoriously offensiue to the Congregation there although they bee vrged by some of their neighbours or by their Minister or by their Ordinary himselfe to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incurre so desperately the said horrible sinne of Periurie XXVII Schismaticks not to be admitted to the Cōmunion NO Minister when hee celebrateth the Communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but to such as kneele vnder paine of suspension nor vnder the like paine to any that refuse to bee present at publike Prayers according to the Orders of the Church of England nor to any that are common and notorious deprauers of the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments and of the Orders Rites and Ceremonies therein prescribed or of any thing that is conteined in any of the Articles agreed vpon in the Conuocation 1562. or of any thing conteined in the Book of ordering Priests and Bishops or to any that haue spoken against and depraued his Maiesties soueraigne Authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall Except euery such person shall first acknowledge to the Minister before the Churchwardens his repentance for the same and promise by word if he cannot write that hee will doe so no more and except if he can write he shall first do the same vnder his hand-writing to bee deliuered to the Minister and by him sent to the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place Prouided that euery Minister so repelling any as is specified either in this or in the next precedent Constitution shall vpon complaint or being required by the Ordinarie signifie the cause thereof vnto him and therein obey his Order and direction XXVIII Strangers not to be admitted to the Communion THe Churchwardens or Questmen and their Assistants shall marke aswell as the Minister whether all and euery of the Parishioners come so often euery yeere to the holy Communion as the Lawes and our Constitutions do require And whether any Strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Minister of them lest perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Table amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their owne parish Churches and Ministers there to receiue the Communion with the rest of their owne neighbours XXIX Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not Communicants NO Parent shall bee vrged to bee present nor bee admitted to answere as Godfather for his owne child nor any Godfather or Godmother shal be suffred to make any other answere or speech then by the Booke of Common prayer is prescribed in that behalfe Neither shall any person be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any child at Christning or Confirmation before the said person so vndertaking hath receiued the holy Cōmunion XXX The lawfull vse of the Crosse in Baptisme explaned WEe are sorie that his Maiesties most princely care and paines taken in the Conference at Hampton Court amongst many other points touching this one of the Crosse in Baptisme hath taken no better effect with many but that still the vse of it in Baptisme is so greatly stuck at and impugned For the further declaration therfore of the true vse of this Ceremonie and for the remouing of all such scruple as might any wayes trouble the consciences of them who are indeed rightly religious following the royall steps of our most worthy King because he therein followeth the rules of the Scriptures
and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct teach them the Catechisme set forth in the Booke of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children seruants and apprentices which haue not learned the Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed obediently to heare and to bee ordered by the Minister vntill they haue learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duetie herein let him bee sharpely reprooued vpon the first complaint and true notice thereof giuen to the Bishop or Ordinarie of the place If after submitting himselfe hee shall wilfully offend therein againe let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will bee therein reformed then Excommunicated and so remaine vntil he will be reformed And likewise if any of the saide Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses Children Seruants or Apprentices shall neglect their dueties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learne as aforesaid Let them bee suspended by their Ordinaries if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth then let them bee Excommunicated LX. Confirmation to be performed once in three yeeres FOrasmuch as it hath beene a solemne ancient laudable Custome in the Church of God continued from the Apostles times that all Bishops should lay their hands vpon children Baptized and instructed in the Catechisme of Christian Religion praying ouer them and blessing them which wee commonly call Confirmation and that this holy action hath beene accustomed in the Church in former ages to be performed in the Bishops Visitation euery third yeere We will and appoint that euery Bishop or his Suffragan in his accustomed Visitation do in his owne person carefully obserue the said Custome And if in that yeere by reason of some infirmitie he be not able personally to Visit then he shal not omit the execution of that duetie of Confirmation the next yeere after as he may conueniently LXI Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation EVery Minister that hath Cure and charge of soules for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer concerning Confirmation shall take such especiall care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hands vpon but such as can render an account of their Faith according to the Catechisme in the said Booke contained And when the Bishop shall assigne any time for the performance of that part of his duty euery such Minister shall vse his best endeuour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought and by the Bishop to be confirmed LXII Ministers not to marrie any persons without Bannes or Licence NO Minister vpon paine of suspension per triennium ipso facto shall celebrate Matrimonie betweene any persons without a Facultie or Licence granted by some of the persons in these our Constitutions expressed except the Bannes of Matrimonie haue bene first published three seueral Sundaies or Holy dayes in the time of diuine Seruice in the Parisâ—… churches and Chappels where the saide parties dwel according to the booke of Common prayer Neither shall any Minister vpon the like paine vnder any pretence whatsoeuer ioyne any persons so licenced in Marriage at any vnseasonable times but onely betweene the houres of eight and twelue in the forenoone nor in any priuate place but either in the said Churches or Chappels where one of them dwelleth and likewise in time of Diuine Seruice nor when Bannes are thrice asked and no Licence in that respect necessary before the Parents or Gouernours of the parties to be married being vnder the age of twentie and one yeeres shall either personally or by sufficient testimonie signifie to him their consents giuen to the said Marriage LXIII Ministers of exempt Churches not to Marry without Bannes or Licence EVery Minister who shal hereafter celebrate Marriage betwixt any persons contrary to our said Constitutions or any part of them vnder colour of any peculiar Libertie or Priuiledge claimed to appertaine to certaine Churches and Chappels shall be suspended per triennium by the Ordinarie of the place where the offence shal be committed And if any such Minister shall afterwards remooue from the place where he hath committed that fault before he be suspended as is aforesaid then shall the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place where he remaineth vpon Certificat vnder the Hand and Seale of the other Ordinarie from whose Iurisdiction hee remooued execute that censure vpon him LXIIII. Ministers solemnly to bid Holy dayes EVery Parson Vicar or Curate shall in his seuerall charge declare to the people euery Sunday at the time appointed in the Communion Booke whether there bee any Holy dayes or Fasting dayes the weeke following And if any doe hereafter wittingly offend herein and beeing once admonished thereof by his Ordinary shall againe omit that duetie let him be censured according to Law vntill hee submit himselfe to the due performance of it LXV Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicats ALl Ordinaries shall in their seuerall Iurisdictions carefully see giue order that aswell those who for obstinate refusing to frequent diuine Seruice established by publike authority within this Realme of England as those also especially of the better sort and condition who for notorious contumacie or other notable crimes stand lawfully excommunicate vnlesse within three moneths immediatly after the said sentence of Excommunication pronounced against them they reforme themselues and obtaine the benefit of Absolution bee euery sixe moneths ensuing aswell in the Parish Church as in the Cathedrall Church of the Diocesse in which they remaine by the Minister openly in time of Diuine Seruice vpon some Sunday denounced and declared Excommunicate that others may be thereby both admonished to refraine their company and society and excited the rather to procure out a Writ De excommunicate capiendo thereby to bring and reduce them into due order and obedience Likewise the Register of euery Ecclesiastical Court shal yeerely betweene Michaelmas and Christmas duely certifie the Archbishop of the Prouince of all and singuler the premisses aforesaid LXVI Miuisters to conferre with Recusants EVery Minister being a Preacher and hauing any Popish Recusant or Recusants in his Parish and thought fit by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall labour diligently wiâ—h them from time to time thereby to reclâ—ime them from their errours And if he be 〈◊〉 Preacher or not such a Preacher then hee shall procure if he can possibly some that are Preachers so qualified to take paines with them for that purpose If he can procure none then he shall informe the Bishop of the Diocesse thereof who shal not only appoint some neighbour Preacher or Preachers adioyning 〈…〉 labour vpon them but himselfe also 〈…〉 important affaires wil permit him shal 〈…〉 is best endeuour by instruction perswasion and all good meanes he
the auoyding of all ambiguities subscribe in this order fourme of words setting downe both his christen and surname viz. I N. N. doe willingly and ex animo subscribe to these three Articles aboue mentioned and to all things that are contained in them And if any bishop shall ordaine admit or license any as is aforesaid except hee first haue subscribed in maner and fourme as here we haue appointed he shall be suspended from giuing of Orders and Licences to preach for the space of twelue moneths But if either of the Vniuersities shall offend therein wee leaue them to the danger of the Lawe and his Maiesties censure XXXVII Subscription before the Diocesan NOne licensed as is aforesaid to Preach Reade Lecture or Catechize comming to reside in any Diocesse shal be permitted there to Preach Read Lecture Catechize or Minister the Sacraments or to execute any other Ecclesiasticall function by what authoritie soeuer he be thereunto admitted vnlesse he first consent and subscribe to the three Articles before mentioned in the presence of the Bishop of the Diocesse wherin he is to preach Read Lecture Cathechize or administer the Sacraments as aforesaid XXXVIII Reuolters after Subscription censured IF any Minister after he hath once subscribed to the said three Articles shal omit to vse the fourme of Prayer or any of the Orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion Booke let him be suspended and if after a moneth he doe not reforme and submit himselfe let him be excōmunicated and then if he shal not submit himself within the space of another moneth let him be deposed frō the Ministery XXXIX Cautions for Institution of Ministers into Benefices NO bishop shall institute any to a Benefice who hath bene ordained by any other Bishop except hee first shew vnto him his Letters of Orders and bring him a sufficient testimony of his former good life and behauiour if the Bishop shall require it and lastly shall appeare vpon due examination to be worthy of his Ministery XL. An Oath against Symonie at institution into Benefices TO auoid the detestable sinne of Symony because buying selling of Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Functions Offices Promotions Dignities and Liuings is execrable before God therefore the Archbishop and all and euery Bishop or Bishops or any other person or persons hauing authority to Admit Institute Collate Install or to confirme the election of any Archbishop Bishop or other person or persons to any Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall function Dignitie Promotion Title Office Iurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or to any Ecclesiastical liuing whatsoeuer shall before euery such Admission Institution Collation Installation or Confirmation of Election respectiuely minister to euery person hereafter to be admitted Instituted collated Installed or confirmed in or to any Archbishopricke Bishopricke or other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical function Dignitie Promotion Title office Iurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or in or to any Ecclesiasticall liuing whatsoeuer this Oath in maner and forme following the same to be taken by euery one whom it concerneth in his owne person and not by a Proctor I N. N. do sweare That I haue made no Symoniacall payment contract or promise directly or indirectly by my selfe or by any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoeuer for or concerning the procuring and obtaining of this Ecclesiasticall Dignity Place Preferment Office or Liuing respectiuely and particularly naming the same whereunto hee is to be Admitted Instituted Collated Installed or Confirmed nor will at any time hereafter perfourme or satisfie any such kind of paiment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So helpe me God through Iesus Christ XLI Licenses for plurality of Benefices limitted and Residence enioyned NO License or dispensation for the keeping of more Benefices with Cure then one shal be granted to any but such only as shall be thought very well worthy for his learning and very well able and sufficient to discharge his duety that is who shall haue taken the degree of a Master of Arts at the least in one of the Vniuersities of this Realme and bee a publike and sufficient Preacher licensed Prouided alwayes that he bee by a good and sufficient caution bound to make his personall Residence in each his sayd Benefices for some reasonable time in euery yeere and that the sayd Benefices bee not more then thirty miles distant sunder and lastly that he haue vnder him in the Benefice where he doeth not reside a Preacher lawfully allowed that is able sufficiently to teach and instruct the people XLII Residence of Deanes in their Churches EVery Deane Master or Warden or chiefe Gouernour of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedrall or Collegiate Church fourescore and ten dayes Coniunctim or Diuisim in euery yeere at the least and then shal continue there in preaching the word of God and keeping good hospitalitie except he shall be otherwise let with weighty and vrgent causes to bee approoued by the Bishop of the Diocesse or in any other lawfull sort dispensed with And when he is present he with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaries resident shall take speciall care that the Statutes and laudable Customes of their Church not being contrary to the word of God or Prerogatiue Royall the Statutes of this Realme being in force concerning Ecclesiasticall Order and all other Constitutions now set foorth and confirmed by his Maiesties Authoritie and such as shall bee lawfully enioyned by the Bishop of the Diocesse in his Visitation according to the Statutes and Customes of the same Church or the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme be diligently obserued and that the Pettie Canons Vicars chorall and other Ministers of their Church be vrged to the study of the holy Scriptures and euery one of them to haue the New Testament not onely in English but also in Latine XLIII Deanes and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence THe Deane Master Warden or chiefe Gouernour Prebendaries and Canons in euery Cathedral Collegiat Church shal not onely preach there in their owne persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or Custome but shall likewise Preach in other Churches of the same Diocesse where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their Church receiue any yeerely Rents or profits And in case they themselues bee sicke or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licensed Preachers to supplie their turnes as by the Bishop of the Diocesse shal be thought meete to Preach in Cathedrall Churches And if any otherwise neglect to omit or supply his course as is aforesaid the offendor shall be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whome the iurisdiction of that Church appertaineth according to the quality of the offence XLIIII Prebendaries to be resident vpon their Benefices NO Prebendaries nor Canons in Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches hauing one or
can deuise to reclaime both them and all other within his Diocesse so affected LXVII Ministers to visite the sicke WHen any person is dangerously sicke in any Parish the Minister or Curate hauing knowledge thereof shal resort vnto him or her if the disease bee not knowen or probably suspected to bee infectious to instruct and comfort them in their distresse according to the order of the Communion booke if he be no Preacher or if hee be a Preacher then as he shall thinke most needfull and conuenient And when any is passing out of this life a Bell shall bee tolled and the Minister shall not then slacke to doe his last duetie And after the parties death if it so fall out there shal be rung no more but one short peale and one other before the buriall and one other after the buriall LXVIII Ministers not to refuse to christen or bury NO Minister shal refuse or delay tâ— christen any child according to the forme of the booke of Common prayer that is brought to the Church to him vpon Sundayes or Holy-dayes to be christened or to bury any corps that is brought to the Church or Churchyard conuenient warning being giuen him thereof before in such manner and forme as is prescribed in the said booke of Common prayer And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated maiori excommunicatione for some grieuous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shal be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocesse from his Ministerie by the space of three moneths LXIX Ministers not to deferre Christening if the childe be in danger IF any Minister beeing duely without any maner of collusion informed of the weaknesse and danger of death of any Infant vnbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to go or come to the place where the said Infant remaineth to baptize the same shal either wilfully refuse so to doe or of purpose or of grosse negligence shall so deferre the time as when he might conueniently haue resorted to the place and haue baptized the said Infant it dieth through such his default vnbaptized the said Minister shall be suspended for three moneths and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinarie that hee will not wittingly incurre the like againe Prouided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this Constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himselfe but to the Curate or Substitute present LXX Ministers to keepe a Register of Christnings Weddings and Burials IN euery Parish Church and Chappell within this Realme shall be prouided one parchment Booke at the charge of the Parish wherein shall be written the day and yeere of euery Christning Wedding and Buriall which haue bene in that Parish since the time that the Law was first made in that behalfe so farre as the ancient Bookes thereof can be procured but especially since the beginning of the Raigne of the late Qneene And for the safe keeping of the said booke the Churchwardens at the charge of the Parish shall prouide one sure Coffer with three lockes keyes whereof the one to remaine with the Minister and the other two with the Churchwardens seuerally so that neither the Minister without the two Churchwardens nor the Churchwardens without the Minister shall at any time take that Booke out of the said Coffer And henceforth vpon euery Sabboth day immediatly after Morning or Euening prayer the Minister and Churchwardens shal take the said parchment Booke out of the said Coffer and the Minister in the presence of the Churchwardens shall write and record in the said Booke the names of all persons Christned together with the names and surnames of their Parents and also the names of all persons Married and Buried in that parish in the weeke before and the day and yeere of euery such Christning Marriage and Buriall And that done they shal lay vp that Booke in the Coffer as before and the Minister and Churchwardens vnto euery page of that Booke when it shall be filled with such inscriptions shall subscribe their names And the Churchwardens shall once euery yeere within one Moneth after the fiue and twentieth day of March transmit vnto the Bishop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor a true Copy of the names of al persons Christned Married or Buried in their Parish in the yeere before ended the said fiue and twentieth day of March and the certaine dayes and moneths in which euery such Christning Marriage and Buriall was had to be subscribed with the hands of the said Minister Churchwardens to the end the same may faithfully bee preserued in the Registrie of the said Bishop which Certificat shal be receiued without Fee And if the Minister or Churchwardens shall be negligent in performance of any thing herein contained it shall be lawfull for the Bishop or his Chancellor to conuent them and proceede against euery of them as contemners of this our Constitution LXXI Ministers not to Preach or administer the Communion in priuate houses NO Minister shall Preach or administer the holy Communion in any priuate house except it be in times of necessitie when any being either so impotent as hee cannot goe to the Church or very dangerously sicke are desirous to bee partakers of that holy Sacrament vnder paine of suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the second Prouided that houses are here reputed for Priuate houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme And prouided also vnder the paine before expressed that no Chapleins doe Preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they do the same very seldome vpon Sundayes and holy dayes So that both the Lords and Masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their owne Parish Churches and there receiue the holy Communion at the least once euery yeere LXXII Ministers not to appoint publike or priuate Fasts or Prophesies or to exorcize but by authority NO Minister or Ministers shall without the Licence and direction of the Bishop of the Diocesse first obtained and had vnder his Hand and Seale appoint or keepe any solemne Fasts either publikely or in any priuate houses other then such as by Law are or by publike authoritie shall be appointed nor shall be wittingly present at any of them vnder paine of Suspension for the first fault of Excommunication for the second and of Deposition from the Ministerie for the third Neither shall any Minister not licensed as is aforesaide presume to appoint or hold any meetings for Sermons commonly termed by some Prophesies or Exercises in Market townes or other places vnder the said paines Nor without such License to attempt vpon any pretence whatsoeuer either of Possession or Qbsession by fasting and prayer to cast out any deuill or deuils vnder