shall wilfully or obstinately standing in the same use any other Rite Ceremony Order form or manner of celebrating the Lords Supper openly or privily or Mattens Even-song Administration of the Sacraments or other open Prayers than is mentioned and set forth in the said Book open Prayer in and throughout this Act is meant that Prayer which is for others to come unto or hear The penalty for depraving the Book of Common-prayer either in common Churches or private Chappels or Oratories commonly called the Service of the Church or shall preach declare or speak any thing in the derogation or depravation of the said Book or any thing therein contained or any part thereof and shall be thereof lawfully convicted according to the Laws of this Realm by verdict of twelve men or by his own confession or by the notorious evidence of the Fact shall lose and forfeit to the Queens Highness her heirs and successors for his first offence the profit of all his spiritual Benefices or Promotions coming or arising in one whole year next after his conviction And also that the person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer imprisonment for the space of six months without Bail or Mainprise And if any such person once convict of any offence concerning the premises The penalty for the second offence shall after his first conviction eftsoons offend and be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convict that then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his spiritual Promotions and that it shall be lawful to all Patrons or Donors of all and singular the same spiritual Promotions or any of them to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending were dead The penalty for the third offence And that if any such person or persons after he shall be twice convicted in form aforesaid shall offend against any of the premises the third time and shall be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convicted that then the person so offending and convicted the third time shall be deprived ipso facto of all his spiritual Promotions and also shall suffer imprisonment during his life And if the person that shall offend and be convicted in form aforesaid The penalty of an offender having no spiritual Promotion concerning any of the premises shall not be Beneficed nor have any spiritual Promotion that then the same person so offending and convict shall for the first offence suffer Imprisonment during one whole year next after his said conviction without Bail or Mainprise And if any person not having any spiritual Promotion after his first conviction shall eftsoons offend in any thing concerning the premises and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convicted that the same person shall for his second offence suffer Imprisonment during his life And it is ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid That if any person or persons whatsoever after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming shall in any Enterludes Plays Songs Rhimes or by other open words The forfeiture of them which do anything or speak in derogation of the Book of Common Prayer Causing other prayer to be said or sung Coke pla fol. 312. The forfeiture of an hundred Marks for the first offence Dyer fol 203 231 323. The forfeiture of four hundred Marks for the second offence The forfeiture of the third offence declare or speak any thing in the derogation depraving or despising of the same Book or of any thing therein contained or any part thereof or shall by open fact deed or by open threatnings compel or cause or otherwise procure or maintain any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish Church or Chappel or in any other place to sing or say any common or open prayer or to minister any Sacrament otherwise or in any other manner and form than is mentioned in the said Book or that by any of the said means shall unlawfully interrupt or let any Parson Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral or Parish Church Chappel or any other place to sing or say common and open prayer or to Minister the Sacraments or any of them in such manner and form as is mentioned in the said Book That then every such person being thereof lawfully convicted in form abovesaid shall forfeit to the Queen our Soveraign Lady her heirs and successors for the first offence an hundred marks And if any person or persons being once convict of any such offence eftsoons offend against any of the last recited offences and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convict That then the same person so offending and convict shall for the second offence forfeit to the Queen our Soveraign Lady her heirs and successors four hundred marks And if any person after he in form aforesaid shall have been twice convict of any offence concerning any of the last recited offences shall offend the third time and be thereof in form abovesaid lawfully convict That then every person so offending and convict shall for his third offence forfeit to our Soveraign Lady the Queen The penalties if the party convicted do not pay his forfeiture within the time limited all his Goods and Chattels and shall suffer Imprisonment during his life And if any person or persons that for his first offence concerning the premises shall be convict in form aforesaid do not pay the sum to be paid by vertue of his conviction in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid within six weeks next after his conviction That then every person so convict and so not paying the same shall for the same first offence in stead of the said sum suffer imprisonment by the space of six months without Bail or Mainprize And if any person or persons that for his second offence concerning the premises shall be convict in form aforesaid do not pay the said sum to be paid by vertue of his Conviction and this Estatute in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid within six weeks next after his said second Conviction that then every person so convicted and not so paying the same shall for the same second offence in stead of the said sum suffer imprisonment during twelve Months without Bail or Mainprize And that from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming all and every person and persons Every person shall resort to the Church upon the holy-days inhabiting within this Realm or any other the Queens Majesties Dominions shall diligently and faithfully having no lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent endeavor themselves to resort to their Parish-Church or Chappel accustomed or upon reasonable let thereof to some usual place where Common-prayer and such service of God shall be used in such time of let upon every Sunday
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-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
Obedience afore and above all other Powers and Potentates in Earth Besides this to the intent that all Superstition and Hypocrisie crept into divers mens hearts may vanish away they shall not set forth or extol any Images Relicks or Miracles for any superstition or lucre nor allure the people by any inticements to the Pilgrimage of any Saint or Image but reproving the same they shall teach that all goodness health and grace ought to be both asked and looked for only of God as of the very author and giver of the same and of none other Item That they the persons above rehearsed shall make or cause to be made in their Churches and every other Cure they have one Sermon every quarter of the year at the least wherein they shall purely and sincerely declare the Word of God and in the same exhort their hearers to the works of Faith Mercy and Charity specially prescribed and commanded in Scripture and that works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wandring to Pilgrimages offering of Money Candles or Tapers or Relicks or Images or kissing and licking of the same praying upon Beads or such like superstition have not only no promise of reward in Scripture for doing of them but contrariwise great threats and maledictions of God for that they be things tending to Idolatry and Superstition which of all other offences God Almighty doth most detest and abhor for that the same diminish most his honor and glory Item That such Images as they know in any of their Cures to be or to have been abused with Pilgrimage or offering of any thing made thereunto or shall be hereafter censed unto they and none other private persons shall for the avoiding of that most detestable offence of Idolatry forthwith take down or cause to be taken down and destroy the same and shall suffer from henceforth no Torches nor Candles Tapers or Images of Wax to be set afore any Image or Picture but only two lights upon the High Altar before the Sacrament which for the signification that Christ is the very true light of the World they shall suffer to remain still admonishing their Parishioners that Images serve for no other purpose but to be a remembranâ—e whereby men may be admonished of the holy lives and conversation of them that the said Images do represent which Images if they do abuse for any other intent they commit Idolatry in the same to the great danger of their Souls Item That every holy day throughout the year when they have no Sermon they shall immediately after the Gospel openly and plainly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Cedo and Ten Commandments in English to the intent the people may learn the same by heart exhorting all Parents and Housholders to teach their children and servants the same as they are bound by the Law of God and in conscience to do Item That they shall charge Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governors to bestow their children and servants even from their childhood either to learning or to some honest exercise occupation or husbandry exhorting and counselling and by all the ways and means they may as well in their Sermons and Collations as otherwise perswading their said Fathers and Mothers Masters and other Governors diligently to provide and foresee that the Youth be in no manner or wise brought up in idleness lest at any time afterward for lack of some craft occupation or other honest means to live by they be driven to fall to begging stealing or some other unthriftiness Forasmuch as we may daily see through sloth and idleness divers valiant men fall some to begging and some to theft and murder which after brought to calamity and misery do blame their Parents Friends and Governors which suffered them to be brought up so idely in their youth where if they had been well brought up in learning some good occupation or craft they would being rulers of their own houshold have profited as well themselves as divers other persons to the great commodity and ornament of the Commonwealth Also That the said Parsons Vicars and other Curates shall diligently provide that the Sacraments be duly and reverently ministred in their Parishes And if at any time it happen them in any of the cases expressed in the Statutes of this Realm or of special license given by the Kings Majesty to be absent from their Benefices they shall leave their Cure not to a rude and unlearned person but to an honest well learned and expert Curate that can by his ability teach the rude and unlearned of their Cure wholsom Doctrine and reduce them to the right way that do erre which will also execute these Injunctions and do their duty otherwise as they are bound to do in every behalf and accordingly may and will profit their Cure no less with good example of living than with the Declaration of the Word of God or else their lack and default shall be imputed unto them who shall straightly answer for the same if they do otherwise And always let them see that neither they nor their Curates do seek more their own profit promotion or advantage than the profit of the souls they have under their Cure or the glory of God Also That they shall provide within three moneths next after this Visitation one Book of the whole Bible of the largest Volume in English And within one twelve moneths next after the said Visitation the Paraphrasis of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospels and the same set up in some convenient place within the said Church that they have Cure of whereas their Parishioners may most commodiously resort unto the same and read the same The charges of which Books shall be ratably born between the Parson and Approprietary and Parishioners aforesaid that is to say the one half by the Parson or Proprietary and the other half by the Parishioners And they shall discourage no man authorised and licensed thereto from the reading any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but shall rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same as the very lively Word of God and the special food of mans soul that all Christian persons are bound to embrace believe and follow if they look to be saved whereby they may the better know their duties to God to their Soveraign Lord the King and their Neighbor ever gently and charitably exhorting them and in his Majesties Name straightly charging and commanding them that in the reading thereof no man to reason or contend but quietly to hear the Reader Also The said Ecclesiastical person shall in no wise at any unlawful time nor for any other cause than for their honest necessity haunt or resort to any Taverns or Alehouses And after their Dinner or Supper they shall not give themselves to drinking or riot spending their time idely by day or by night at Dice Cards or Tables playing or any other unlawful game but
high Altar Item Whether they have not every Holy-day when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recited to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Creed and the ten commandments in English Item whether every Lent they examine such persons as come to confession to them whether they can recite the Pater Noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandments in English Item Whether they have charged Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governors of Youth to bring them up in some vertuous study and occupation Item Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their benefices do leave their Cure to a rude and unlearned person and not an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholsom Doctrine Item Whether in every Cure they have the have provided one book of the whole Bible of the largest Volume in English and the Paraphrasis of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospels and set up the same in some convenient place in the Church where their Parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same Item whether they have discouraged any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but rather comforted and exhorted every person to read the same as the very lively word of God and the special food of mans soul Item whether Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Ale-houses giving themselves to drinking rioting or playing at unlawful games and do not occupie themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item whether they have admitted any man to preach in their Cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have refused or denied such to preach as have been licensed accordingly Item whether they which have heretofore declared to their Parishoners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of Pilgrimages Relicks or Images or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling decking of the same Images or any such superstition have not openly recanted and reproved the same Item whether they have one book or register safely kept wherein they write the day of every VVedding Christning and Burying Item whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Kings Majesty and his Ministers and to charity and love one to another Item whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ before they can perfectly rehearse the Pater Noster the Articles of the Faith and the Ten Commandments in English Item whether they have declared and to their wits and power have persuaded the people that the manner and kind of fasting in Lent and other days in the year is but a meer positive Law and that therefore all persons having just cause of sickness or other necessity or being licensed by the Kings Majesty may moderately eat all kind of meats without grudge or scruple of conscience Item whether they be resident upon their Benefices and keep hospitality or no and if they be absent or keep no hospitality whether they do make due distributions among the poor Parishoners or not Item whether Parsons Vicars Clerks and other beneficed men having yearly to dispend an hundred pound do not find competently one Scholar in the Vniversity of Cambridge or Oxford or some Grammar School and for as many hundred pounds as every of them may dispend so many Scholars likewise to be found by them and what be their names that they so find Item whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chappels or Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Item whether they have counselled or moved their Parishioners rather to pray in a tongue not known then in English or to put their trust in a prescribed number of prayers as in saying over a number of Beads or other like Item whether they have read the Kings Majesties Injunctions every quarter of the year the first Holy-day of the same quarter Item whether the Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests being under the degree of a Batcheler of Divinity have of their own the New Testament both in Latine and English and the Paraphrase of Erasmus upon the same Item whether within every Church he that ministreth hath read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel in English and not in Latine either in the Pulpit or some other mete place so as the people may hear the same Item whether every Sunday and Holy-day at Matins they have read or cause to be read plainly and distinctly in the said place one Chapter of the New Testament in English immediately after the Lessons and at Even-song after Magnificat one Chapter of the Old Testament Item whether they have not at Matins omitted three Lessons when ix should have been read in the Church and at Even-song the Responds with all the Memories Item whether they have declared to their Parishioners that Saint Marks day and the Evens of the abrogate Holy-days should not be fasted Item whether they have the procession-Procession-book in English and have said or sung the said Litany in any other place but upon their knees in the midst of their Church and whether they use any other Procession or omit the said Litany at any time or say it or sing it in such sort as the people cannot understand the same Item whether they have put out of their Church-books this word Papa and the name and service of Thomas Becket and prayers having rubricks containing pardons or indulgences and all other superstitious legends and prayers Item whether they bid not the beads according to the order appointed by the Kings Majesty Item whether they have opened and declared unto you the true use of Ceremonies that is to say that they be no workers nor works of salvation but only outward signs and tokens to put us in remembrance of things of higher perfection Item whether they have taught and declared to their Parishioners that they may with a safe and quiet conscience in the time of Harvest labour upon the holy and festival days and if superstitiously they abstain from working upon those days that then they do grievously offend and displease God Item whether they have admitted any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with the Neighbors Item whether the Deans Archdeacons Masters of Hospitals and Prebendaries have preached by themselves personally twice every year at the least Item whether they have provided and have a strong Chest for the poor mens box and set and fastned the same near to the high Altar Item whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their Parishioners and specially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens box and to bestow that upon the poor Chest which they were wont to bestow upon Pardons Pilgrimages
praecipitant Non omnes tandem servandi sunt HI quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quòd omnes quantumvis impii servandi sunt tandem cum definito tempore à justitia divina poenas de admissis flagitiis luerun Excusum Londini apud Reginaldum Wolfium Regiae Majestatis in Latinis Typographum Anno Dom. 1553. INJUNCTIONS Given by the Queens Majesty Concerning both The CLERGY and LAITY of this REALM Published Anno Domini MDLIX Being the first year of the Raign of our Soveraign Lady Queen ELIZABETH LONDON Printed MDLIX INJUNCTIONS Given by the QVEENS MAJESTY As well to the CLERGY as to the LAITY of this Realm The QUEENS most Royal Majesty by the advice of her most honourable Council intending the advancement of the true honour of Almighty God the suppression of superstition throughout all her Higness Realms and Dominions and to plant true Religion to the extirpation of all Hypocrisie enormities and abuses as to her duty appertaineth doth minister unto her loving Subjects these godly Injunctions hereafter following All which Injunctions her Highness willeth and commandeth her loving Subjects obediently to receive and truly to observe and keep every man in their offices degrees and states as they will avoid her Highness's displeasure and pains of the same hereafter expressed 1. THe first is That all Deans Archdeacons Parsons Vicars Usurped and forraign authority and all other Ecclesiastical persons shall faithfully keep and observe and as far as in them may lie shall cause to be observed and kept of other all and singular Laws and Statutes made for the restoring of the Crown the ancient Iurisdiction over the state Ecclesiastical and abolishing of all forraign power repugnant to the same And furthermore all Ecclesiastical persons having Cure of Souls shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other Collations that all usurped and forraign power having no establishment nor ground by the Law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience and subjection within her Highness Realms and Dominions is due unto any such forraign power And that the Queens power within her Realms and Dominions is the highest power under God to whom all men within the same Realms and Dominions by Gods Law owe most loyalty and obedience afore and above all other powers and potentates in earth 2. Besides this Images to the intent that all superstition and hypocrysie crept into divers mens hearts may vanish away they shall not set forth or extol the dignity of any Images Relicks or Miracles but declaring the abuse of the same they shall teach that all goodness health and grace ought to be both asked and looked for only of God as of the very author and giver of the same and of none other 3. Item That they the Parsons above rehearsed A Sermon every month shall preach in their Churches and every other cure they have one Sermon every month of the year at the least wherein they shall purely and sincerely declare the Word of God Works of faith and in the same exhort their hearers to the works of Faith as mercy and charity especially prescribed and commanded in Scripture and that the works devised by mans fantasies besides Scripture as wandring of pilgrimages setting up of candles praying upon beads or such like superstion have not only no promise of reward in Scripture for doing of them Works of mans device but contrariwise great threatnings and maledictions of God for that they being things tending to Idolatry and Superstition which of all other offences God Almighty doth most detest and abhor for that the same most diminish his honour and glory Quarter Sermon or Homily 4. Item That they the Parsons above rehearsed shall preach in their own persons once in every quarter of the year at least one Sermon being licensed especially thereunto as is specified hereafter or else shall read some Homily prescribed to be used by the Queens authority every Sunday at the least unless some other Preacher sufficiently licensed as hereafter chance to come to the Parish for the same purpose of Preaching The Pater Noster 5. Item That every holy-day through the year when they have no Sermon they shall immediately after the Gospel openly and plainly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Creed and Ten Commandments in English to the intent the people may learn the same by heart exhorting all parents and housholders to teach their children and servants the same Creed and ten Commandments as they are bound by the Law of God and conscience to do 6. Also That they shall provide within three months next after this Visitation at the charges of the Parish one book of the whole Bible of the largest Volume in English and within one twelve months next after the said Visitation the Paraphrases of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospel and the same set up in some convenient place within the said Church that they have cure of whereas the Parishioners may most commodiously resort unto the same and read the same out of the time of common Service The charges of the Paraphrases shall be by the Parsonor Propriatory and Parishioners born by equal portions and they shall discourage no man from the reading any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but shall rather exhort every person to tead the same with great humility and reverence as the very lively word of God and the especial food of mans soul which all Christian persons are bound to embrace believe and follow if they look to be saved whereby they may the better know their duties to God to their Soveraign Lady the Queen and their Neighbors ever gently and charitably exhorting them and in her Majesties name straigthly charging and commanding them that in the reading thereof no man to reason or contend but quietly to hear the Reader 7. Also Haunting of Ale-houses by Ecclstsiastical persons The said Ecclesiastical persons shall in no wise at any unlawful time nor for any other cause than for their honest necessities haunt or resort to any Taverns or Ale-houses And after their meats they shall not give themselves to drinking or riot spending their time idely by day and by night at dice cards or tables playing or any other unlawful game but at all times as they shall have leisure they shall hear or read somewhat of the holy Scripture or shall busie themselves with some other honest study or exercise and that they always do the things which appertain to honesty and endeavor to profit the Commonwealth having always in mind that they ought to excel all other in purity of life and should be examples to the people to live well and
Service than in quiet attendance to hear mark and understand that is read preached and ministred 39 Item The Grammar of King Henry 8. That every Schoolmaster and Teacher shall teach the Grammar set forth by King Henry 8. of noble memory and continued in the time of King Edward 6. and none other 40. Item Allowance of Schoolmasters That no man shall take upon him to teach but such as shall be allowed by the Ordinary and found meet as well for his learning and dexterity in teaching as for sober and honest conversation and also for right understanding of Gods true Religion 41. Item Duty of Schoolmasters That all teachers of children shall stir and move them to love and do reverence to Gods true Religion now truly set forth by publick Authority 42. Item Sentences of Scripture for Scholars Unlearned Priests That they shall accustom their Scholars reverently to learn such sentences of Scriptures as shall be most expedient to induce them to all godliness 43. Item Forasmuch as in these latter days many have been made Priests being children and otherwise utterly unlearned so that they could read to say Mattens or Mass the Ordinaries shall not admit any such to any Cure or spiritual Function 44. Item Every Parson Vicar and Curate The Catechism shall upon every holy-day and every second Sunday in the year hear and instruct the youth of the Parish for half an hour at the least before Evening-prayer in the ten Commandments the Articles of the belief and the Lords Prayer and diligently examine them and teach the Catechism set forth in the book of publick prayer The Book of the afflictions for Religion 45. Item That the Ordinary do exhibit unto our Visitors their books or a true copy of the same containing the causes why any person was imprisoned famished or put to death for Religion 46. Item Overseers for service on the holy-days That in every Parish three or four discreet men which tender Gods glory and his true Religion shall be appointed by the Ordinaries diligently to see that all the Parishioners duly resort to their Church upon all Sundays and holy-dyas and there to continue the whole time of the godly service and all such as shall be found slack and negligent in resorting to the Church having no great or urgent cause of absence they shall straightly call upon them and after due admonition if they amend not they shall denounce them to the Ordinary Inventories of Church goods 47. Item That the Church-wardens of every Parish shall deliver unto our Visitors the Inventories of Vestments Copes and other Ornaments Plate Books and specially of Grayles Couchers Legends Processionals Manuals Hymnals Portuesses and such like appertaining to the Church Service on Wednesdays and Fridays 48. Item That weekly upon Wednesdays and Fridays not being holy days the Curate at the accustomed hours of Service shall resort to Church and cause warning to be given to the people by knolling of a Bell and say the Letany and prayers Continuance of singing in the Church 49. Item Because in divers Collegiate and also some Parish-Churches heretofore there have been Livings appointed for the maintenance of men and children to use singing in the Church by means whereof the laudable service of Musick hath been had in estimation and preserved in knowledge the Queens Majesty neither meaning in any wise the decay of any thing that might conveniently tend to the use and continuance of the said science neither to have the fame in any part so abused in the Church that thereby the Common-prayer should be the worse understanded of the hearers willeth and commandeth that first no alterations be made of such assignments of Living as heretofore hath been appointed to the use of singing or Musick in the Church but that the same so remain And that there be a modest and distinct song so used in all parts of the Common-prayers in the Church that the same may be as plainly understanded as if it were read without singing and yet nevertheless for the comforting of such that delight in Musick it may be permitted that in the beginning or in the end of the Common-prayers either at Morning or Evening there may be sung an Hymn or such like song to the praise of Almighty God in the best sort of melody and Musick that may be conveniently devised having respect that the sentence of Hymn may be understanded and perceived 50. Item Because in all alterations and specially in Rites and Ceremonies Against slanderous and infamous words their happen discord amongst the people thereuâ—on slanderous words and railings whereby charity the knot of all christian society is loosed the Queens Majesty being most desirous of all other earthly things that her people should live in charity both towards God and man and therein abound in good works willeth and straightly commandeth all manner of her Subjects to forbear all vain and contentious disputations in matters of Religion and not to use in despight or rebuke of any person these convitious words Papist or Papistical Heretick Schismatick or Sacramentary or any such like words of reproach But if any manner of person shall deserve the accusation of any such that first he be charitably admonished thereof and if that shall not amend him then to denounce the offender to the Ordinary or to some higher Power having Authority to correct the same 51. Item Because there is a great abuse in the Printers of Books which for covetousness chiefly regard not what they Print so they may have gain whereby ariseth the great disorder by publication of unfruitful vain infamous books papers the Queens Majesty straitly chargeth commandeth that no manner of person shall print any manner of book or paper of what sort nature or in what Language soever it be except the same be first licensed by her Majesty by express words in writing or by six of her Privy Council or be perused and licensed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York the Bishop of London the Chancellors of both Vniversities the Bishop being Ordinary and the Archdeacon also of the place where any such shall be Printed or by two of them whereof the Ordinary of the place to be always one And that the names of such as shall allow the same to be added in the end of every such work for testimony of the allowance thereof And because many Pamphlets Plays and Ballads be oftentimes Printted wherein regard would be had that nothing therein should be either heretical seditious or unseemly for Christian ears her Majesty likewise commandeth that no manner of person shall enterprise to print any such except the same be to him licensed by such her Majesties Commissioners or three of them as be appointed in the City of London to hear and determine divers causes Ecclesiastical tending to the execution of certain Statutes made the last Parliament for Vniformity of order in Religion And if
that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth R. Edv. 6. Art 39. Resurrectio mortuorum nondum est facta REsurre Aio mortuorum non adhuc facta est quasi tantum ad animum pertineat qui per Christi Gratiam à morte peccatorum excitetur sed extremo die quoad omnes qui obierunt expectanda est tunc enim vita defunctis ut scripturae manifestissimè testantur propria corpora earnes ossa restituentur ut homo integer prout vel recte vel perdite vixerit juxta sua opera sive praemia sive poenas reportet Art R. Ed. 6. R. Ed. 6. Art 40. Defunctorum animae neque cum corporibus intereunt neque etiose dormiunt QUi animas defunctorum p rdicant usque ad diem judicii absque omni sensu dormire aut illas asserunt una cum corporibus mori extrema die cum illis excitandas ab orthodoxa fide quae nobis in sacris literis traditur prorsus dissentiunt R. Edv. 6. Art 41. Millenarii QUi Millenariorum fabulam revocare conantur sacris literis adversantur in Judaica deliramenta sese praecipitant R. Edv. Art 42. Non omnes tandem servandi sunt HI quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quod omnes quâ—ntumvis impii servandi sunt tandem cum definito tempore à justitia divina poenas de admissis flagitiis luerunt The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soveraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the nether House in their Convocation in the year of our Lord 1571. THE TABLE 1 OF Faith in the Trinity 2 Of Christ the Son of God 3 Of his going down into Hell 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the holy Ghost 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scripture 7 Of the Old Testament 8 Of the three Creeds 9 Of the original sin 10 Of free-will 11 Of Justification 12 Of good works 13 Of Works before Justification 14 Of Works of Supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptism 17 Of Predestination and Election 18 Of obtaining salvation by Christ 19 Of the Church 20 Of the Authority of the Church 21 Of the Authority of the General Councils 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the worthiness of Ministers 27 Of Baptism 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kinds 31 Of Christs one Oblation 32 Of the marriage of Priests 33 Of Excommunicate persons 34 Of Traditions of the Church 35 Of Homilies 36 Of Consecration of Ministers 37 Of Civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens Goods 39 Of a Christian mans Oath 40 Of the Ratification Anno primo Reginae Eliz. cap. 2. There shall be Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments WHere at the death of our late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth there remained one uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rights and Ceremonies in the Church of England which was set forth in one Book entituled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England authorised by Act of Parliament Stat. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. holden in the fifth and sixth years of our said late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by Act of Parliament in the first year of the raign of our late Soveraign Lady Queen Mary Stat. 1. M. 2. to the great decay of the due honor of God and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion A Repeal of the Satute 1. M. 2. and the Book of Common prayer shall be of effect Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the said Statute of Repeal and every thing therein contained only concerning the said Book and the Service Administration of the Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies contained or appointed in or by the said Book shall be void and of none effect from and after the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming And that the said Book with the Order of Service and of the Administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies with the Alteration and Additions therein added and appointed by this Estatute shall stand and be from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist in full force and effect according to the tenour and effect of this Estatute any thing in the foresaid Estatute of Repeal to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted by the Queens Highness with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled the authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish-Church The book of Common-prayer shall be used 8. Eliz. or other place within this Realm of England Wales and the Marches of the same or other the Queens Dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattens Even-song Celebration of the Lords Supper and Administration of each of the Sacraments and all the Common and open Prayer in such order and form as is mentioned in the said Book so authorised by Parliament The alteration of the Book set forth 5 6. Ed. 6. 1. in the said 5. and 6. years of the Reign of King Edward the sixth with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letany altered and corrected and two sentences only added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise And that if any manner of Parson Vicar The forfeiture of those which use any other Service than the Book of Common-prayer or other whatsoever Minister that ought or should sing or say Common-Prayer mentioned in the said Book or minister the Sacraments from and after the feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said Common-prayer or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or parish-Parish-Church or other places as he should use to minister the same in such order or form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book or
and other days ordained and used to be kept as holy-days and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the Common-prayer Preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And also upon pain that every person offending shall forfeit for such offence twelve pence to be levied by the Church-wardens of the Parish where such offence shall be done The forfeiture for not coming to Church 32 Eliz. 1. to the use of the poor of the same Parish of the goods lands and tenements of such offender by way of distress And for due execution hereof the Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled do in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Diocess and Charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholsom Law And for their Authority in this behalf be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid The Ordinary may punish Offenders by the Censures of the Church That all and singular the said Archbishops Bishops and all other their Officers exercising Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction as well in place exempt as not exempt within their Diocess shall have full power and Authority by this Act to reform correct and punish by Censures of the Church all and singular persons which shall offend within any their Iurisdictions or Diocess after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming against this Act and Statute any other Law Statute Priviledge Liberty or Provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding Which Justices may punish their offences And it is Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize shall have full power and Authority in every of their open and general Sessions to enquire hear and determine all and all manner offences that shall be committed or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act within the limits of the Commission to them directed and to make Process for the execution of the same as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespass or lawfully convicted thereof Provided always A Bishop may join with the Justices to enquire of offenders and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure join and associate himself by vertue of this Act to the said Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or to the said Iustices of Assize at every of the said open and general Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocess for and to the enquiry hearing and determining of the offences aforesaid Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Books concerning the said Services shall at the costs and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish and Cathedral Church be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next following At whose charges the Books of Common-prayer shall be gotten and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches or other places where the said Books shall be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist shall within three Weeks next after the said Books to attained and gotten use the said Service and put the same in ure according to this Act. Within what time offenders be impeached And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences abovementioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unless he or they so offending be thereof Indicted at the next General Session to be holden before any such Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenour of this Act. Trial of Peers Provided always and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence abovementioned shall be tried by their Peers Chief Officers of Cities and Boroughs shall enquire of offenders Provided also and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Mayor of London and all the Mayors Bayliffs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Towns Corporate within this Realm Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assize do not commonly repair shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act to enquire hear ad determine the offences abovesaid and every of them yearly within fifteen days after Easter and St. Michael the Archangel in like manner and form as Iustices of Assize and Oyer and Determiner may do The Ordinaries Jurisdiction in their cases Provided always and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Archbishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act as well to enquire in their Visitation and elsewhere within their Iurisdiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and every the things abovementioned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their Iurisdictions and Authority and to punish the same by Admonition Excommunication Sequestration or Deprivation and other Censures and Process in like form as heretofore hath been used in like cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws Provided always and be it Enacted None shall be punished above once for one offence That whatsoever persons offending in the premises shall for their offences first receive a punishment of the Ordinary having a Testimonial thereof under the said Ordinaries Seal shall not for the same offence eftsoons be convicted before the Iustices And likewise receiving for the said first offence punishment by the Iustices shall not for the same offence eftsoons receive punishment of the Ordinary Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided always and be it Enacted Ornaments of the Church and Ministers That such Ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof shall be retained and be in use as was in this Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth until other order shall be therein taken by the Authority of the Queens Majesty with the Advice of her Commissioners appointed and authorized under the Great Seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitan
Statute in that behalf provided against those Sectaries VI. An Oath enjoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government THis present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancy in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Popery or any other superstition decrees That all Archbishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places exempt or not exempt shall before the second day of November next ensuing take this Oath following against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline and this Oath shall be tendred them and every of them and all others named after in this Canon by the Bishop in person or his Chancellour or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under the Seal and the said Oath shall be taken in the presence of a publick Notary who is hereby required to make an Act of it leaving the Universities to the Provision which follows The Oath is I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England a containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavor by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ And if any man Beneficed or Dignified in the Church of England or any other Ecclesiastical person shall refuse to take this Oath the Bishop shall give him a months time to inform himself and at the months end if he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab Officio and have a second month granted and if then he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab officio beneficio and have a third month granted him for his better information but if at the end of that month he refuse to take the Oath above-named he shall by the Bishop be deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England We likewise Constitute and Ordain That all Masters of Arts the sons of Noble-men only excepted all Batchelors and Doctors in Divinity Law or Physick all that are licensed to practice Physick all Registers Actuaries and Proctors all School-masters all such as being Natives or naturalized do come to be incorporated into the Universities here having taken a Degree in any foreign University shall be bound to take the said Oath And we command all Governors of Colledges and Halls in either of the Universities that they administer the said Oath to all persons resident in their several Houses that have taken the Degrees before-mentioned in this Canon within six months after the publication hereof And we likewise Constitute That all Bishops shall be bound to give the said Oath unto all those to whom they give holy Orders at the time of their Ordination or to whomsoever they give Collation Institution or License to Preach or serve any Cure VII A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies BEcause it is generally to be wished that unity of Faith were accompanied with uniformity of practice in the outward worship and service of God chiefly for the avoiding of groundless suspitions of those who are weak and the malitious aspersions of the professed Enemies of our Religion the one fearing the Innnovations the other flattering themselves with the vain hope of our backslidings unto their Popish superstition by reason of the situation of the Communion-Table and the approaches thereunto the Synod declareth as followeth That the standing of the Communion-Table side-way under the East-window of every Chancel or Chappel is in its own nature indifferent neither commanded nor condemned by the Word of God either expresly or by immediate deduction and therefore that no Religion is to be placed therein or scruple to be made thereon And albeit at the time of Reforming this Church from that gross superstition of Popery it was carefully provided that all means should be used to root out of the minds of the people both the inclination thereunto and memory thereof especially of the Idolatry committed in the Mass for which cause all Popish Altars were demolished yet notwithstanding it was then ordered by the Injunctions and Advertisements of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory that the holy Tables should stand in the place where the Altars stood and accordingly have been continued in the Royal Chappels of three famous and pious Princes and in most Cathedral and some Parochial Churches which doth sufficiently acquit the manner of placing the said Tables from any allegality or just suspition of Popish su-superstition or innovation And therefore we judge it fit and convenient that all Churches and Chappels do conform themselves in this particular to the example of the Cathedral or Mother Churthes saving always the general liberty left to the Bishop by Law during the time of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this scituation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called and Altar by us in that sence in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many places some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communinion-Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuses it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion-Tables in all Chancells or Chappels be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence therefore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the service-Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw near c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw near and approach to the holy Table there to receive the Divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unless it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenience by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other
Ordinaries respectively in theirs And lastly Whereas the Church is the house of God dedicated to his holy Worship and therefore ought to mind us both of the greatness and goodness of his Divine Majesty certain it is that the acknowledgment thereof not only inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly with our bodies must needs be pious in it self profitable unto us and edifying unto others We therefore think it very meet and behoveful and heartily commend it to all good and well-affected people members of this Church that they be ready to tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgment by doing reverence and obeysance both at their coming in and going out of the said Churches Chancels or Chappels according to the most ancient custom of the primitive Chuch in the purest times and of this Church also for many years of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The reviving therefore of this ancient and laudable Custom we heartily commend to the serious consideration of all good people not with any intention to exhibit any Religious Worship to the Communion-Table the East or Church or any thing therein contained in so doing or to perform the said gesture in the celebration of the holy Eucharist upon any opinion of a corporal presence of the bodyo Jesus Christ on the holy Table or in mystical Elements but only for the advancement of Gods Majesty and to give him alone that honor and glory that is due unto him and no otherwise and in the practise or omission of this Rite we desire that the Rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is That they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it VIII of Preaching for Conformity WHereas the Preaching of Order and Decency according to St. Pauls Rule doth conduce to edification it is required that all Preacheâ—s as well Beneficed men as others shall positively and plainly Preach and Instruct the People in their publick Sermons twice in the year at least that the Rites and Ceremonies now established in the Church of England are lawful and commendable and that they the said people and others ought to conform themselves in their practice to all the said Rites and Ceremonies and that the people and othe s ought willingly to submit themselves unto the Authority and Government of the Church as it it is now established under the Kings Majesty And if any Preacher shall refuse or neglect to do according to this Canon let him be suspended by his Ordinary during the time of his refusal or wilful forbearance to do thereafter IX One Book of Articles of Enquiry to be used at all Parochial Visitations FOr the better setling of an Uniformity in the outward Government and Administration of the Church and for the more preventing of just grievances which may be laid upon Church-wardens and other Sworn-men by any impertinent inconvenient or illegal Enquiries in the Articles for Ecclesiastical Visitations This Synod hath now caused a Summary or Collection of Visitory Articles out of the Rubricks of the Service-Book and the Canons and warrantable rules of the Church to be made and for future Direction to be deposited in the Records of the Archbishop of Canterbury and we do decree and ordain That from henceforth no Bishop or other person whatsoever having right to hold use or exercise any Parochial Visitation shall under the pain of a months suspension upon a Bishop and two months upon any other Ordinary that is delinquent and this to be incurred ipso facto cause to be printed or published or otherwise to be given in charge to the Church-wardens or to any other persons which shall be sworn to make Presentments any other Articles or forms of enquiry upon Oath then such only as shall be approved and in terminis allowed unto him upon due request made by his Metropolitan under his Seal of Office Provided always that after the end of three years next following the date of these presents the Metropolitan shall not either at the instance of those which have right to hold Parochial Visitations or upon any other occasion make any addition or dimnuition from that allowance to any Bishop of Visitory Articles which he did last before in any Diocess within this Province approve of But calling for the same shall hold and give that only for a perpetual Rule and then every Parish shall be bound only to take the said Book from the Archdeacons and other having a peculiar or exempt Jurisdiction but once from that time in three years in case they do make it appear they have the said Book remaining in their publick Chest for the use of the Parish And from every Bishop they shall receive the said Articles at the Episcopal Visitation only and in manner and form as formerly they have been accustomed to do and at no greater price then what hath been usually paid in the said Diocess respectively X. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy THe sober grave and exemplary Conversation of all those that are imployed in Administration of holy things being of great avail for the furtherance of Piety It hath been the religious care of the Church of England strictly to enjoyn to all and every one of her Clergy a pious regular and inoffensive demeanour and to prohibit all loose and scandalous carriage by severe censures to be inflicted upon such Delinquents as appears by the 74 and 75 Canons Anno 1603. provided to this purpose For the more effectual success of which pious and necessary care this present Synod straightly charges all Clergy-men in this Church that setting before their eyes the Glory of God the holiness of their calling and the edification of the people committed to them they carefully avoid all excess and disorder and that by their Christian and religious conversation they shine forth as lights unto others in all Godliness and honesty And we also require all those to whom the Goverment of the Clergy of this Church is committed that they set themselves to countenance and encourage godliness gravity sobriety and all unblameable conversation in the Ministers of this Church and that according to the power with which they are intrusted they diligently labor by the due execution of the above-named Canons and all other Ecclesiastical provisions made for this end to reform all offensive and scandalous persons if any be in the Ministery as they tender the welfare and prospering of Piety and Religion and as they will answerâ— to God for those scandals which through their remisness and neglect shall arise and grow in this Church of Christ XI Chancellours Patents FOr the better remedying and redress of such abuses as are complained of in the Ecclesiastical Courts the Synod doth decree and ordain That hereafter no Bishop shall grant any Patent to any Chancellor Commissary or Official for any longer term than the life of the Grantee only nor otherwise than with express reservation to himself