Church Wardens at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church shall provide a comely and honest pulpit to be set in a convenient place within the same for the preaching of Gods word ALSO they shall provide and have within three moneths after this visitation a strong Chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the cost and charge of the parish having three keyes whereof one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other two in the custody of the Church wardens or any other two honest men to be appointed by the parish from year to year which Chest you shall set and fasten near unto the high altar to the intent the parishioners should put into it their Oblation and almes for their poor neighbours And the Parson Vicar or Curate shall diligently from time to time and specially when men make their testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbours to confer and give as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring unto them whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise then God commanded upon Pardons Pilgrimages Trentalles decking of Images offering of Candels giving to Friers and upon other like blinde devotions they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a true worshiping of God required earnestly upon pain of everlasting damnation and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and so is accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same with everlasting life the which almes and devotion of the People the keepers of the keyes shall at times convenient take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of the whole Parish or six of them to be truely and faithfully delivered to their most needy neighbours and if they be provided for then to the reparation of high wayes next adjoyning And also the money which riseth of Fraternities guilds and other stocks of the Church except by the Kings majesties authority it be otherwise appointed shall be put into the said chest and converted to tâ—… said use and also the rents of lands the profit of cattle and mony given or bequeathed to the studing of Torches Lights Tapers Lampes shalt be converted to the said use saving that it shall be lawful for them to bestow part of the said profits upon the reparation of the Church if great need require and whereas the parish is very poor and not able otherwise to repaire the same And forasmuch as priests be publick ministers of the Church and upon the holydayes ought to apply themselves to the common administration of the whole Parish they shall not be bound to go to women lying in childbed except in time of dangerous sickness and not to fetch any corse before it be brought to the Churchyard and if the woman be sick or the corse brought to the Church the priest shall do his duty accordingly in visiting the woman and burying the dead person ALSO to avoid the detestable sin of symony because buying and selling of benefices is execrable before God therefore all such persons as buy any benefices or coine to them by fraud or deceit shall be deprived of such benefices and be made unable at any time after to receive any other spiritual promotion And such as do sell them or by any colour do bestow them for their own gain and profit shall lose the right and title of patronage and presentment for that time and the gift thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the Kings Maiesty ALSO because through lack of Preachers in many places of the Kings Realms and Dominions the people continue in ignorance and blindnesse all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall read in their Churches every Sunday one of the Homilies which are and shall be set forth for the same purpose by the Kings authority in such sort as they shall be appointed to do in the Preface of the same ALSO whereas many indiscrete persons do at this day uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church because some of them having smal learning have of long time favoured phansies rather then Gods truth yet forasmuch as their office and function is appointed of God The Kings Majesty willeth and chargeth all his loving subjects that from henceforth they shall use them charitably and reverently for their office and administrations sake and especially such as labour in the seting forth of Gods holy word ALSO that all manner of persons which understand not the Latine tongue shall pray upon none other Primer but upon that which was lately set forth in English by authority of King Henry the VIII of most famous memory And that no teachers of youth shall teach any other then the said Primer And all those which have knowledge of the Latine tongue shall pray upon none other Latine Primer but upon that which is likewise set forth by the said authority And that all graces to be said at dinner and supper shall be alwayes said in the English tongue And that none other grammar shall be taught in any schoole or other place within the Kings Realms and Dominions but onely that which is set forth by the said authority ITEM that all Chauntery Priests shall exercise themselves in teaching youth to read and write and bring them up in good manners and other vertuous exercises ITEM when any Sermon or Homily shall be had the Prime and houres shall be omitted ⧠The form of bidding the Common Prayers YOU shall pray for the whole congregation of Christs Church and specially for this Church of England and Ireland wherein first I commend to your devout prayers the Kings most excellent Majesty supreme head immediately under God of the spirituality and temporality of the same Church and for Queen Katharine dowager and also for my lady Mary and my lady Elizabeth the Kings sisters Secondly you shall pray for my Lord Protectors grace with all the rest of the Kings Majestes Councel for all the Lords of this Realm and for the Clergy and the commons of the same beseeching almighty God to give every of them in his degree grace to use themselves in such wise as may be to Gods glory the Kings honour and the weal of this Realm Thirdly ye shall pray for all them that be departed out of this world in the faith of Christ thath they with us and we with them at the day of Iudgement may rest both body and soul with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdom of heaven ALL which and singular Iniunctions the Kings Maiesty ministreth unto his Clergy and their successours and to all his loving subiects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits of benefices suspension excommunication and such other coertion as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical jurisdiction whom his
to him COme unto me all that travel and be heavy laden and I shall refresh you So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have life everlasting Heare also what S. Paul saith THis is a true saying and worthy of all men to be embraced and received that Iesus Christ came into this world to save sinners Heare also what St. John saith IF any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he it is that obtained grace for our sins Then shall the Priest kneel down and say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this prayer following WE do not presume to come to this thy table O merciful Lord trusting in our own righteousnesse but in thy manifold and great mercies we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crombs under thy table but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Iesus Christ and to drink his blood in these holy Mysteries that we may continually dwell in him and he in us that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most pretious blood Amen Then shall the Priest rise the people still reverently kneeling and the Priest shall deliver the Communion first to the Ministers if any be there present that they may be ready to help the Priest and after to the other And when he doth deliver the Sacrament of the body of Christ he shall say to every one these words following THe body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body unto everlasting life And the Priest delivering the Sacrament of the blood and giving every one to drink once and no more shall say THe blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy soul unto everlasting life If there be a Deacon or other Priest then shall he follow with the Chalice and as the Priest Ministreth the bread so shall he for more expedition Minister the wine in form before written Then shall the priest turning him to the people let the people depart with this blessing THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Iesus Christ our Lord. To the which the people shall answer Amen Note that the bread that shall be consecrated shall be such as heretofore hath been accustomed And every of the said consecrated breads shall be broken into two pieces at the least or more by the discretion of the Minister and so distributed And men must not think lesse to be received in part then in the whole but in each of them the whole body of our Saviour Iesus Christ Note that if it doth so chance that the wine hallowed and consecrate doth not suffice or be enough for them that do take the Communion the Priest after the first Cup or Chalice be emptied may go again to the altar and reverently and devoutly prepare and consecrate an other and so the third or more likewise beginning at these words Simili modo postquam coenatum est and ending at these words qui pro vobis pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum and without any levation or lifting up Articles to be enquired of in visitations to be had within the Diocesse of Canterbury in the second year of the Reign of our Dread Sovereign Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the Faith and in earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the supreme head FIrst Whether Parsons Vicars and Curates and every of them have purely and sincerely without colour or dissimulation four times in the year at the least preached against the usurped power pretensed authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Item Whether they have preached declared likewise 4. times of the year at the least that the Kings Majesties power authority and preheminence within his Realms and dominions is the highest power under God Item whether any person hath by writing ciphring preaching or teaching deed or act obstinately holden and stand with to extol set forth maintain or defend the authority jurisdiction or power of the Bishop of Rome or of his sea heretofore claimed and usurped or by any pretense obstinately or maliciously invented any thing for the extolling of the fame or any part thereof Item Whether in their common prayers they use not the Collects made for the King and make not special mention of his Majesties name in the same Item Whether they do not every Sunday and Holy day with the collects of the English procession say the prayer set forth by the Kings Majesty for peace between England and Scotland Item Whether they have not removed taken away and utterly extincted and destroyed in their Churches Chappels and houses all images all shrines coverings of shrines all tables candelsticks trindels or rolles of wax pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glaswindowes or elsewhere Item Whether they have exhorted moved and stirred their parishoners to do the like in every of their houses Item Whether they have declared to their Parishoners the Articles concerning the abrogation of certain superfluous holy dayes and done their indeavour to perswade the said parishioners to keep and observe the same Articles inviolably and whether any of those abrogate dayes hath been kept as holy dayes and by whose occasion they were so kept Item Whether they have diligently duly and reverently ministred the Sacraments in their Cures Item Whether they have preached or caused to be preached purely and sincerely the word of God in every of their Cures every quatter of the year once at the least exhorting their parishioners to the works commanded by Scriptures and not to works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wearing or praying upon beads or such like Item Whether they suffer any Torches Candles Tapers or any other lights to be in your Churches but only two lights upon the 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 Commandements 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 Commandements in English Item Whether they have charged fathers and mothers masters and governours of youth to bring them up in some vertuous study or occupation Item Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their benefices do leave their Cure to a rude and unlearned
used to be kept as holy dayes 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 The forfeiture for not coming to Church 32. Eliz. 1. upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And also upon pain that every person so offending shall forfeit for such offence twelvepence to be levied by the Church-wardens of the Parish where such offence shall be done to the use of the poor of the same Parish of the goods lands and tenements of such offender by way of distresse 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 Diocesse 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 wholsome Law And for their Authority in this behalf The Ordinary may punish Offenders by the Censures of the Church be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid 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 Diocesse 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 Diocesse after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming against this Act and Statute any other Law Statute Privilege Liberty or Provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding And it is Ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid Which Justices may punish their offences 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 Processe for the Execution of the same as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespasse or lawfully convicted thereof A Bishop may joyn with the Iustices to enquire of offenders Provided alwayes 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 joyn 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 Diocesse for and to the enquiry hearing and determining of the offences aforesaid At whose charges the books of Common prayer shall be gotten 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. Iohn Baptist next following 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 Saint Iohn Baptist shall within three weeks next after the said books so attained and gotten use the said Service and put the same in Vre according to this Act. And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter Impeached Within what time offenders shall be Impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences above-mentioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unlesse he or they so offending be thereof Indicted at the next General Sessions 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 alwayes and be it ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence above mentioned shall be tryed 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 Major of London and all the Majors 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 repaire shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act to enquire hear and determine the offences abovefaid and every of them yearly within fifteen dayes after Easter and St. Michael the Archangel in like manner and form as Iustices of Assize and Oyer and Determiner may do The Ordinaries Iurisdiction in their Cases Provided alwayes and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all and singular Arch-bishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction shall have ful 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 above mentioned 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 Processe in like form as heretofore hath been used in like Cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws Provided alwayes 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 eftsoones receive punishment of the Ordinary Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided alwayes and be it Enacted Ornamens 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 sixt until other order shall be therein taken by the Authority of the Queenes Majesty with the advice of her Commissioners appointed and Authorized under tho Great Seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitan of
Preach or Administer the Sacraments being under the age of four and twenty years nor unlesse he first bring to the Bishop of that Diocess from men known to the Bishop to be of sound Religion a testimonial both of his honest life and of his professing the Doctrine expressed in the said Articles nor unless he be able to answer and render to the Ordinary an account of his faith in Latine accord-to the said Articles or have special gift and ability to be a Preacher nor shall be admitted to the Order of Deacon or Ministry unless he shall first subscribe to the said Articles And that none hereafter Who may have a Benefice of the yearly value of xxxl All Admissions Inductions Tolerations No Lapse upon deprivation but after notice Dyer fo 377. 346. 369. Cok. li. 6. fol 29. shall be admitted to any Benefice with Cure of or above the value of thirty pounds yearly in the Queens books unlesse he shall then be a Batchellour of Divinity or Preacher lawfully allowed by some Bishop within this Realm or by one of the Vniversities of Cambridge or Oxford And that all Admissions to Benefices Institutions and Inductions to be made of any person contrary to the form or any Provision of this Act and all tolerations dispensations qualifications and licences whatsoever to be made to the contrary hereof shall be meerly void in Law as if they never were Provided alway That no title to confer or present by a Lapse shall accrue upon any deprivation ipso facto but after six moneths notice of such deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron ADVERTISMENTS partly for due order IN THE PUBLICK ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SACRAMENTS AND Partly for the apparel of all persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queens Majesties letters commanding the same the 25. day of January in the seventh year of the reign of our Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. LONDINI Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno Dom. 1564. Anno 7. Eliz. R. The Preface THe Queens Majesty of her godly Zeal calling to remembrance how necessary it is to the advancement of Gods glory and to the establishment of Christs pure Religion for all her loving subjects especially the state Ecclesiastical to be knit together in one perfect unity of doctrine and to be conjoyned in one uniformity of Rites and manners in the ministration of Gods holy word in open prayer and ministration of Sacraments as also to be of one decent behaviour in their outward apparel to be known partly by their distinct habits to be of that vocation who should be reverenced the rather in their offices as Ministers of the holy things whereto they be called hath by her letters directed unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and metropolitane required enjoyned and straightly charged that with assistence and conference had with other Bishops namely such as be in commission for causes Ecclesiastical some orders might be taken whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the people as breeding nothing but contention offence and breach of common charity and he against the laws good usage and ordinances of the Realm might be reformed and repressed and brought to one manner of uniformity throughout the whole Realm that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve almighty God in truth concord unity peace and quietness as by her Majesties said letters more at large doth appeare Whereupon by diligent conference and communication in the same and at last by assent and consent of the persons beforesaid these orders and rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient to be used and followed not yet prescribing these rules as laws equivalent with the eternal word of God and as of necessity to binde the consciences of her subjects in the nature of them considered in themselves Or as they should adde any efficacy or more holinesse to the vertue of publick prayer and to the Sacraments but as temporal orders meer Ecclesiastical without any vain superstition and as rules in some part of discipline concerning decency distinction and order for the time Articles for Doctrine and preaching FIrst that all they which shall be admitted to preach shall be diligently examined for their conformity in unity of doctrine established by publick authority and admonished to use sobriety and discretion in teaching the people namely in matters of controversie and to consider the gravity of their office and to foresee with diligence the matters which they will speak to utter them to the edification of the audience Item That they set out in their preaching the reverent estimation of the holy Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper exciting the people to the often and devout receiving of the holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ in such form as is already prescribed in the book of Common Prayer and as it is further declared in an Homily concerning the vertue and efficacy of the said Sacraments Item That they move the people to all obedience as well in observation of the orders appointed in the book of Common service as in the Queens Majesties injunctions as also of all other civil duties due for subjects to do Item That all licences for preaching granted out by the Arch-Bishop and Bishops within the province of Canterbury bearing date before the first day of March 1564 be void of none effect and neverthelesse all such as shall be thought meet for the office to be admitted again without difficulty or charge paying no more but iiii pence for the writing parchment and wax Item If any Preacher or Parson Vicar or Curate so licensed shall fortune to preach any matter tending to dissention or to the derogation of the Religion and Doctrine received that the hearers denounce the same to the Ordinaries or the next Bishop of the same place but no man openly to contrary or to impugne the same speech so disorderly uttered whereby may grow offence and disquiet of the people but shall be convinced and reproved by the Ordinary after such agreeable order as shall be seen to him according to the gravity of the offence And that it be presented within one moneth after the words spoken Item That they use not to exact or receive unreasonable rewards or stipends of the poor Pastors coming to their Cures to preach whereby they might be noted as followers of filthy lucre rather then use the office of preaching of charity and good zeal to the salvation of mens souls Item If the Parson be able he shall preach in his own person every three moneths or else shall preach by an other so that his absence be approved by the Ordinary of the Dioces in respect of sickness service or study at the Vniversities Neverthelesse yet for want of able Preachers and Parsons to tolerate them without penalty so that they preach in their own persons or by a Learned substitute once in
V. of A in the Dioces of London Nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kinde of payment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So help me God through Jesus Christ Juramentum de CANONICA OBEDIENTIA EGO A. B. juro quod praestabo veram Canonicam Obedientiam Episcopo Londinensi ejusque successoribus in omnibus Licitis honestis Sic me Deus adjuvet Juramentum de continuâ Residentiâ in Vicariâ EGO A. B. Juro quod ero residens in Vicariâ meâ nisi alitèr dispensatum fuerit a Diocesano meo By the KING A PROCLAMATION Declaring That the proceedings of his Majesties Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers are according to the Lawes of the Realm WHereas in some of the Libellous books and Pamphlets lately published The most Reverend Father in God the Lord Arch-bishop and Bishops of this Realm are said to have usurped upon his Majesties Prerogative Royal and to have proceeded in the high Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts contrary to the Laws and statutes of this Realm It was ordered by his Majesties high Court of Star-Chamber the Twelfth day of June last that the opinion of the two Lords chief Justices the Lord chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons should be had and certified in those particulars viz. Whether Processes may not issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops Whether a Patent under the great Seal be necessary for the keeping of the Ecclesiastical Courts and enabling Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church And whether Citations ought to be in the Kings name and under his Seal of Armes and the like for Institutions and Inductions to Benefices and correction of Ecclesiastical offences Whether Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may or ought to keep any visitation at any time unlesse they have expresse Commission or Patent under the great Seal of England to do it and that as his Majesties Visitors onely and in his name and Right alone Whereupon his Majesties said Judges haveing taken the same into their serious consideration did unanimously concur and agree in opinion and the first day of July last certified under their hands as followeth That processes may issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the name of the Bishops and that a Patent under the great Seal is not necessary for the keeping of the said Ecclesiastical Courts or for enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other Censures of the Church And that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or correction of Ecclesiastical offences by Censure in those Courts be in the Kings name or with the style of the King or under the Kings Seal or that their Seals of office have in them the Kings Armes And that the statute of Primo Edvardi sexti cap. secundo which enacted the Contrary is not now in force And that the Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical persons may keep their Visitations as usually they have done without Commission under the great Seal of England so to do which opinions and resolutions being declared under the hands of all his Majesties said Judges and so certified into his Court of Starchamber were there recorded and it was by that Court further ordered the fourth day of the said month of July that the said certificate should be enrolled in all other his Majesties Courts at Westminster and in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts for the satisfaction of all men That the proceedings in the high Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts are agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm And his Royal Majesty hath thought fit with advice of his Councel that a publick Declaration of these the opinions and resolutions of his Reverend and Learned Judges being agreeable to the Judgment and resolutions of former times should be made known to all his Subjects as well to vindicate the legal proceedings of His Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers from the Unjust and scandalous imputation of Invading or entrenching on his Royal prerogative as to settle the minds and stop the mouths of all unquiet Spirits that for the future they presume not to censure His Ecclesiastical Courts or Ministers in these their Just and warranted proceedings And hereof his Majesty admonisheth all his Subjects to take warning as they shall answer the contrary at their perils Given at the Court at Lyndhurst the 18th day of August in the 13th year of his Majesties Reign God save the King Imprinted at London by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and by the Assignes of John Bill 1637. THE FORM and MANNER OF MAKING CONSECRATING BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS According to the APPOINTMENT OF THE Church of England LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1629. THE PREFACE IT is evident unto all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there hath been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons which Offices were evermore had in such reverent estimation that no man by his own private authority might presume to execute any of them except he were first called tried examined and known to have such qualities as were requisite for the same and also by publick prayer with imposition of hands approved and admitted thereunto And therefore to the intent these orders should be continued and reverently used and esteemed in this Church of England it is requisite that no man not being at this present Bishop Priest nor Deacon shall execute any of them except he be called tried examined and admitted according to the Form hereafter following And none shall be admitted a Deacon except he be twenty one years of age at the least And every man which is to be admitted a Priest shall be full four and twenty years old And every man which is to be consecrated a Bishop shall be fully thirty years of age And the Bishop knowing either by himself or by sufficient testimony any person to be a man of vertuous conversation and without crime and after examination and trial finding him learned in the Latine tongue and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may upon a Sunday or Holiday in the face of the Church admit him a Deacon in such manner and form as hereafter followeth The form and manner of ordering DEACONS FIft When the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an Exhortation declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessary such Orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteem them in their Vocation After the Exhortation ended the Archdeacon or his Deputy shall present such as shall come to the Bishop to be admitted saying these words REverend Father in God I present unto you these
thabrogacion of certayne holy dayes accordyng to the transumpte late sent by the kyngs hyghnes to all bysshops with his graces strayght commaundement to signifie his farther pleasure to all Colleges religious houses and Curates within theyr diocesse for the publicacion and also effectuall vniuersall obsercion of the same Anno 1536. FOr as moch as the nombre of holy dayes is so excessyuely growen and yet dayly more and more by mens deuocyon yea rather supersticyon was lyke further to encrease that the same was sholde be not onely preiudiciall to the common weale by reason that it is occasion as well of moche slouth and ydelnes the very nouryshe of theues vacaboundes and of dyuers other unthryftynesse and inconuenyencies as of decaye of good mysteryes and artes vtyle and necessary fort the common welthe and losse of mans fode many tymes beynge clene destroyed through the supersticious obseruaunce of the said holydayes in not takynge thoportunitie of good serene wheather offered vpon the same in time of haruest but also pernicyous to the soules of many men whiche beyng entysed by the lycencyous vacacyon and libertye of those holy dayes do vpon the same commonly vse and practyse more excesse ryote and supersluite than upon any other dayes And sith the Sabboth day was ordeyned for mans vse and therefore ought to gyue place to the necessite and behoue of the same whan soever that shall occurre mouche rather any other holyday institute by man It is therefore by the kings hyghnes auctority as supreme head in earth of the Church of Englande with the Common assente and consent of the prelates and clergy of this his realme in Convocacyon laufully assembled and congregate among other thynges decreed ordeyned and establyshed ¶ Fyrst that the feest of Dedicacyon of the church shall in all places throughout this realm be celebrated and kepte on the fyrst sonday of the moneth of Octobre for ever and vpon none other day ¶ Item that the feest of the patrone of every church within this realm called commonly the Church holyday shall not from henceforth be kepte or obserued as a holyday as heretofore hath been vsed but that it shall be laufull to all and singular persons resydent or dwellynge within this realme to go to their work occupacyon or mystery and the same truely to excercyse and occupy upon the said feest as vpon any other workyeday excepte the said feest of the Church holyday be such as must be ells vniversally observed as a holy day by this ordynaunce following Also that all those feestes or holy days which shall happen to occurre eyther in the haruest time which is to be compted from the fiyst day of Iuly unto the xxix day of Septembre or elles in the terme time at westmynster shall not be kepte or obserued from henceforth as holydayes but that it may be laufull for every man to go to his work or occupacion vpon the same as vpon any other workyeday except alwayes the feestes of the apostles of our blessed lady and of saynt George And also such feesles as wherein the kings Iudges at westmynster hall do not vse to sytte in Iudgement all which shall be kepte holy and solempne of every man as in tyme past have been accustomed Prouyded alwayes that it may be laufull vnto all preestes and clerkes as well secular as regular in the foresayd holydayes now abrogate to synge or saye their accostomed seruyce for those holydayes in their churches so that they do not the same solempnely nor do rynge to the same after the maner vsed in hygh holydayes ne do commaunde or indict the same to be kepte or obserued as holydayes Finally that the feest of the Natiuitie of our lord of Easter of the Natiuitie of saynt Iohn the baptyste and of saynt Mychaell shall be frome henceforth compted and accepted and taken for the iiij generall offering dayes And for further declaracyon of the premysses be it knowen that Easter terme begyneth alwayes the xviii day after Easter reckenyng Easter day for one and endeth the monday next after thascencyon day Trinitie terme begynneth alwayes the wednesday next after thoctaues of Trinitie sonday and endeth the xi or xii day of Iuly Myhgelmas terme beginneth the ix or x. day of October and endeth the xxviii or xxix day of Nouember Hillary terme begynneth the xxiii or xxiiii day of Ianuary and endeth the xii or xiii day of February In Easter terme upon thascencyon daye In Trinite term upon the Nativity of saynt Iohn Baptyst In Myghelmas terme vpon Alhallon day In Hillary terme vpon Candelmas day The kyngs Iudges at westmynster do not use to syt in Iudgement nor vpon any sondayes ¶ Imprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne by me Iohn Byddell Cum priuilegio Anno 1536. By the Queen A Proclamation against the despisers or breakers of the orders prescribed in the book of Common prayer THE Queens Majesty being right sorry to understand that the order of common prayer set forth by the common consent of the Realm and by authority of Parliament in the first year of her reign wherein is nothing conteined but the Scripture of God and that which is consonant unto it is now of late of some men despised and spoken against both by open preachings and writings and of some bold and vain curious men new and other Rites found out and frequenced whereupon contentions sects and disquietnesse doth arise among her people and for one godly and uniform order diversity of Rites and Ceremonies disputations and contentions schismes and divisions already risen and more like to ensue The cause of which disorders Her Majesty doth plainly understand to be the negligence of the Bishops and other Magistrates who should cause the good Laws and Acts of Parliament made in this behalf to be better executed and not so dissembled and winked at as hitherto it may appear that they have been For speedy remedy whereof Her Majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all Archbyshops and Bishops and all Iustices of Assises and Oyer and Termyner and all Majors head officers of Cities and Towns corporate and all other who have any authority to put in execution the Act for the uniformity of common prayer and the administration of the Sacraments made in the first year of Her gracious reign with all diligence and severity neither favouring nor dissembling with one person nor other who doth neglect despise or seek to alter the godly Orders and Rites set forth in the said Book But if any person shall by publick preaching writing or printing contemn despise or dispraise the Orders contained in the said Book they shall immediately apprehend him and cause him to be imprisoned until he hath answered to the Law upon pain that the chief Officers being present at any such preaching and the whole Parish do answer for their contempt and negligence Likewise if any shall forbear to come to the Common prayer and receive the Sacraments of the Church according to
the Seas or on the other side because the diversity of them is great and that there needeth good consideration to be had of the particularities thereof her Majesty referreth the prohibition or remission thereof to the order which her said Commissioners within the City of London shall take and notifie According to the which her Majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all manner of her Subjects and especially the Wardens and Company of Stationers to be obedient Provided that these orders do not extend to any prophane Authors and Workes in any Language that have been heretofore commonly received or allowed in any of the Vniversities and Schools but the same may be printed and used as by good order they were accustomed 52. Item Reverence of Prayers Although Almighty God is al times to be honoured withal manner of reverence that may be devised yet of all other times in time of Common prayer the same is most to be regarded Therefore it is to be necessarily received that in time of the Letanie and all other Collects and common Supplications to Almighty God all manner of people shall devoutly and humbly kneel upon their knees and give ear thereunto and that whensoever the name of Iesus shall be in any Lesson Sermon Honour to the name of Iesus or other wise in the Church pronounced that due reverence be made of all persons young and old with lownesse of courtesie and uncovering of heads of the menkinde as thereunto doth necessarily belong and heretofore hath been accustomed 53. Item That all Ministers and Readers of publick Prayers Curates to read distinctly Chapters and Homilies shall be charged to read leasurely plainly and distinctly and also such as are but mean Readers shall peruse over before once or twice the Chapters and homilies to the intent they may read to the better understanding of the people and the more encouragement of godlinesse An Admonition to simple men deceived by malitious THE Queens Majesty being informed that in certain places of the Realm sundry of her native Subjects being called to Ecclesiastical Ministery of the Church be by sinister perswasion and perverse construction induced to finde some scruple in the form of an Oath which by an Act of the last Parliament is prescribed to be required of divers persons for the recognition of their Allegeance to her Majesty which certainly never was ever meant nor by any equity of words or good sense can be thereof gathered would that all her loving Subjects should understand that nothing was is or shall be meant or intended by the same Oath to have any other duty allegeance or bond required by the same Oath then was acknowledged to be due to the most noble Kings of famous memory K. Henry the 8. her Majesties Father or K. Edward the sixt her Majesties Brother And further her Majesty forbiddeth all manner her Subjects to give ear or credit to such perverse and malicious persons which most sinisterly and maliciously labour to notifie to her loving Subjects how by words of the said Oath it may be collected that the Kings or Queens of this Realm possessors of the Crown may challenge authority and power of Ministery of divine service in the Church wherein her said Subjects be much abused by such evil disposed persons For certainly her Majesty â—…n either doth nor ever will challenge any authority then that was challenged and lately used by the said noble Kings of famous memory K. Henry the 8. and K. Edward the sixt which is and was of ancient time due to the Imperial Crown of this Realm that is under God to have the Soveraignty and rule over all manner of persons born within these her Realms Dominions and Countries of what estate either Ecclesiastical or Temporal soever they be so as no other forraign power shall or ought to have any superiority over them And if any person that hath conceived any other sence of the form of the said Oath shall accept the same Oath with this interpretation sense or meaning her Majesty is well pleased to accept every such in that behalf as her good and obedient Subjects and shall acquit them of all manner of penalties contained in the said Act against such as shall peremptorily or obstinately take the same Oath For Tables in the Church WHereas her Majesty understandeth that in many and sundry parts of the Realm the Altars of the Churches be removed and Tables placed for the administration of the holy Sacrament according to the form of the Law therefore provided And in some other places the Altars be not yet removed upon opinion conceived of some other order therein to be taken by her Majesties Visitors In the other whereof saving for an uniformity there seemeth no matter of great moment so that the Sacrament be duely and reverently ministred Yet for observation of one uniformity through the whole Realm and for the better imitation of the Law in that behalf it is ordered that no Altar be taken down but by oversight of the Curate of the Church and the Church-wardens or one of them at the least wherein no riotous or disordered manner to be used And that the holy Table in every Church he decently made and set in the place where the Altar stood and there commonly Covered as thereto belongeth and as shall vs appointed by the Visitors and so to stand saving when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be distributed at which time the same shall be so placed in good sort within the Chancel as whereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and ministration and the Communicants also more conveniently and in more number Communicate with the said Minister And after the Communion done from time to time the same holy Table to be placed where it stood before Item The Sacramental bread Where also it was in the time of K. Edward the sixt used to have the Sacramental bread of common fine bread it is ordered for the more reverence to be given to this holy Mysteries being the Sacraments of the body and Blood of our Saviour Iesus Christ that the same Sacramental bread be made and formed plain without any figure thereupon of the same finenesse and fashion round though somewhat bigger in compasse and thicknesse as the usuall bread and water heretofore named singing Cakes which served for the use of the private Masse The form of bidding the prayers to be used generally in this uniform sort YE shall pray for Christs holy Catholick Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world and specially for the Church of England and Ireland And herein I require you most specially to pray for the Queens most excellent Majesty our soveraign Lady Elizabeth Queen of England France and Ireland defender of the Faith and Supreme governour of this Realm as well in Causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal You shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word and
faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgement and truth R. Edv. 6. Art 39. Resurrectio mortuorum nondum est facta REsurrectio mortuorum non adhuc facta est quasi tantum ad animum pertineat qui per Christi gratiam à morte peccatorum excitetur sed extremo die quoad omnes qui obieruut expectanda est tunc enim vita defunctis ut scripturae manifestissime testantur propria corpora carnes ossa restitnentur ut hemo 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 otiose dormiunt QUi animas defunctorum praedicant usque ad diem judieii absque omni sensu dormire aut illas asserunt una cum corporibut mori et 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 HIi quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quod omnes quantum vis 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 Arch-Bishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Cleargie in the neither 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 Iustification 12 Of good works 13 Of works before justification 14 Of works of supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptisme 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 councels 22 Of purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26. Of the worthinesse of Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kindes 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 6th 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 Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England authorized by Act of Parliament holden in the 5th and 6th years of our said late Sovereign Lord King Edward the 6th entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer Stat. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. and Administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by Act of Parliament in the first year of the reign of our late Soveraign Lady Queen Mary to the great decay of the due honour of God Stat. 1. M. 2. and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion A Repeal of the Statute 1 M. 2. 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 Highnesse with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish or Church or other place within this Realm of England The Book of Common Prayer shall be used 8. Eliz. Wales the Marches of the same or other the Queens Dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattens Evensong 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 authorized by Parliament in the said 5. and 6. years of the reign of King Edward the 6th with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons The alteration of the book set forth 5 6. Ed. 6.1 to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letanie altered and corrected and two sentences onely added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise The forfeiture of those which use any other Service than the Book of Common Prayer And that if any manner of Parson Vicar 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 St. John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said Common Prayer or to Minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or 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 shall wilfully or obstinately standing in the same use any other Rite Ceremony Order
this Realm And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this book the Queens Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods Glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforsaid All Lawes Ordinances made for other service shall be void That all Laws statutes and ordinances wherein or whereby any other service administration of Sacraments or Common Prayer is limited established or set forth to be used within this Realm or any other the Queens Dominions or Countryes shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect Coke pla fol 352. A Clause Anno 8. Eliz. cap. 1. A confirmation of the Stat. of 1 Eliz. 2. touching the book of Common Prayer Administration of the Sacraments WHerefore for the plain declaration of all the premisses and to the intent that the same may the better be known to every of the Queens Majesties subjects whereby such evil speech as heretofore hath been used against the High state of Prelacy may hereafter cease Be it now declared and enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament that the said Act and Statute made in the first year of the reign of our said Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty whereby the said book of Common-prayer and the Administration of Sacraments with other Rites and Ceremonies is authorized and allowed to be used shall stand and remain good and perfect to all respects and purposes And that such order and form for the Consecrating of Archbishops A Confirmation of the Stat. of 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1 touching the form of consecrating Archbishops c. and Bishops and for the making of Priests Deacons and Ministers as was set forth in the time of the said late King Edward the sixth and added to the said Book of Common-prayer and authorised by Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of the said late King shall stand and be in full force and effect and shall from henceforth be used and observed in all places within this Realm and other the Queens Majesties Dominions and Countries Anno 13. Eliz. cap. 12. Reformation of Disorders in the Ministers of the Church c. THat the Churches of the Queens Majesties Dominions may be served with Pastors of sound Religion Be it enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That every person under the degree of a Bishop which doth or shall pretend to be a Priest or Minister of Gods holy Word and Sacraments by reason of any other form of Institution Consecration or ordering than the form set forth by Parliament in the time of the late King of most Worthy Memory King Edward the sixth 3. Edw. 6.12 5. Edw. 6.1 Dyer f. 377. or now used in the Reigne of our most gracious Soveraigne Lady before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ next following shall in the presence of the Bishop or Guardian of the Spiritualities of some one Diocesse where he hath or shall have Ecclesiastical living declare his assent Every Ecclesiastical person shall subscribe to the Articles touching the Confession of the Faith and declare his assent thereunto and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments comprised in a book imprinted entituled Articles Whereupon it was agreed by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God a thousand five hundred sixty and two according to the computation of the Church of England for the avoiding of the diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion put forth by the Queens Authority and shall bring from such Bishop or Guardian of Spiritualties in writing under his Seal Authentick a testimonial of such assent and subscription and openly on some Sunday in the time of some publick service afternoon Reading of the Articles testimonial in every Church where by reason of any Ecclesiastical living he ought to attend read both the said testimonial and the said Articles upon pain that every such person which shall not before the said Feast do as is above appointed shall be ipso facto deprived and all his Ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he were then naturally dead And that if any person Ecclesiastical or which shall have Ecclesiastical livings shall advisedly maintain or affirm any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles The penaltie of maintaining of Doctrine against the Articles and being convented before the Bishop of the Diocesse or the Ordinary or before the Queens Highnesse Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical shall persist therein or not revoke his error or after such revocation eftsoones affirm such untrue Doctrine such maintaining or affirming and persisting or such eftsoone affirming shall be just cause to deprive such person of his Ecclesiastical promotions And it shall be lawful to the Bishop of the Diocess or the Ordinary or the said Commissioners to deprive such persons so persisting or lawfully convicted of such eftsoones affirming and upon such sentence of deprivation pronounced he shall be indeed deprived Several things required in him which shall be admitted to a Benefice And that no person shall hereafter be admitted to any Benefice with Cure except he then be of the age of three and twenty years at the least and a Deacon and shall first have subscribed the said Articles in presence of the Ordinary and publickly read the same in the Parish Church of that Benefice with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And that every person after the end of this Session of Parliament to be admitted to a Benefice with Cure except that within two moneths after his Induction he do publickly read the said Articles in the same Church whereof he shall have Cure in the time of Common Prayer there with declaration of his unfeigned assent thereto and be admitted to minister the Sacraments within one year after his Induction if he be not so admitted before shall be upon every such default ipso facto immediately deprived And that no person now permitted by any dispensation or otherwise shall retain any Benefice with Cure being under the age of One and Twenty years or not being Deacon at the least or which shall not be admitted as is aforesaid within one year next after the making of this Act or within six moneths after he shall accomplish the age of twenty four years on pain that such his dispensation shall be meerly void The age of a Minister or Preacher and his testimoniall And that none shall be made Minister or admitted to
THe Queens most excellent Majesty considering how within these few yeers past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and the Government established for causes Ecclesiastical within Her Majesties Dominions have divised written printed or caused to be seditiously and secretly published and dispersed sundry Schismatical and seditious books diffamatory Libels and other phantastical writings amongst her Majesties Subjects containing in them doctrine very erroneous and other matters notoriously untrue and slanderous to the State and against the godly reformation of Religion and Government Ecclesiastical established by Law and so quietly of long time continued and also against the persons of Bishops and others placed in authority Eccesiastical under Her Highnesse by her authority in rayling sort and beyond the bounds of all good humanity All which Books Libels and writings tend by their scope to perswade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innovation within Her Dominions and Countries of all manner of Ecclesiastical Government now in use and to the abâ—idging or rather to the overthrow of her Highnesse lawful Prerogative allowed by Gods Law and established by the Laws of the Realm and consequently to reverse dissolve and set at liberty the present Government of the Church and to make a dangerous change of the form of Doctrine and use of Divine service of God and the ministration of the Sacraments now also in use with a rash and malicious purpose also to dissolve the Estate of the Prelacy being one of the three ancient estates of this Realm under her Highnesse whereof her Majesty mindeth to have such a reverend regard as to their places in the Church and Common wealth appertaineth All which said lewd and seditious practises do directly tend to the manifest willful breach of great number of good Laws and Statutes of this Realm inconveniencies nothing regarded by such Innovations In consideration whereof her Highness graciously minding to provide some good and speedy remedy to withstand such notable dangerous and ungodly attemps and for that purpose to have such enormous malefactors discovered and condignely punished doth signifie this her Highnesse misliking and indignation of such dangerous and wicked enterprises and for that purpose doth hereby will and also straightly charge and command that all persons whatsoever within any her Majesties Realms and Dominions who have or hereafter shall have any of the said seditious Books Pamphlets Libels or Writings or any of like nature already published or hereafter to be published in his or their custody containing such matters as above are mentioned against the present Order and Government of the Church of England or the lawful Ministers thereof or against the Rites and Ceremonies used in the Church and allowed by the Laws of the Realm That they and every of them do presently after with convenient speed bring in and deliver up the same unto the Ordinary of the Diocesse or of the place where they inhabit to the intent they may be utterly defaced by the said Ordinary or otherwise used by them And that from henceforth no person or persons whatsoever be so hardy as to write contrive print or cause to be published or distributed or to keep any of the same or any other Books Libels or Writings of like nature and quality contrary to the true meaning and intent of this â—…er Majesties Proclamation And likewise that no man hereafter give any instruction direction favour or assistance to the contriving writing printing publishing or dispersing of the same or such like Books Libels or Writings whatsoever as they tender her Majesties good favour will avoid Her high displeasure and as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils and upon such pains and penalties as by the Law any way may be inflicted upon the offenders in any of these behalfs as persons maintaining such seditious actions which her Majesty mindeth to have severally executed And if any person have had knowledge of the Authors Writers Printers or dispersers thereof which shall within one moneth after the publication hereof discover the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledge or to any of her Majesties privie Councel the same person shall not for his former concealment be hereafter molested or troubled Given at her Majesties Palace at Westminster the xiii of February 1588. In the xxxi year of her Highnesse reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most excellent Majestie 1588. ARTICLES to be enquired in the VISITATION IN THE First year of the reign of our most dread Sovereign LADY ELIZABETH By the grace of God Of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. Anno Domini 1559. Articles c. Anno 1559. FIrst whether any Parson Residency Vicar or Curate be resident continually upon his Benefice doing his duty in preaching reading and duly ministring the holy Sacraments Item Whether in their Churches and Chappels all Images False miracles Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and rolls of Wax Pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned and false miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition be removed abolished and destroyed Item Whether they do not every holy day The Lords prayer when they have no Sermon immediatly after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Lords prayer the Belief and the ten Commandments in English Item Whether they do charge Fathers and Mothers Masters To bring up youth and Governours of youth to bring them up in some vertuous studie and Occupation Item Whether such beneficed men Curates as be lawfully absent from their Benefices do leave their cures to a rude and unlearned person and not to an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholesome doctrine Item Reading the Scriptures Whether they do discourage any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or English and do not rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same at convenient times as the very lively word of God and the special food of mans soul Item Whether Parsons Vicars Curates and other Ministers Taverns and games be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Alehouses giving themselves to drinking rioting and playing at undlawful games and do not occupie themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Preachers Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their cures not being lawfully licenced thereunto or have been licenced accordingly Item Whether they use to declare to their Parishioners Superstition any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain and supersticious Religion Pilgrimages Relicks or Images or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling or decking of the same Images Register Item Whether they have one book or register kept wherein they write the day of every Wedding Christning and Burying
Sacraments as well Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastors and Curates You shall also pray for the Queens most honorable Counsel and for all the Nobility of this Realm that all and every of these in their calling may serve truely and painfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true faith and fear of God in humble obedience and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those that are departed out of this life in the faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace for to direct our lives after their good example that after this life we with them may be made partakers of the glorious Resurrection in the life everlasting And this done shew the holy dayes and fasting dayes ALL and singular which Injunctions the Queens Majesty ministreth unto her Clergy and to all other her loving Subjects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits and benefices suspension excommunication and such other correction as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction whom her Majesty hath appointed or shall appoint for the due execution of the same shall be seen convenient charging and commanding them to see these Injunctions observed and kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction as they will answer to her Majesty for the contrary And her highnesse pleasure is that every Iustice of peace being required shall assist the Ordinaries and every of them for the due execution of the said Injunctions ARTICLES AGREED UPON By the ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS of both Provinces and the whole CLERGIE In the Convocation holden at LONDON in the year 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching true RELIGION Reprinted by His MAJESTIES Commandment with His Royal Declaration prefixed thereunto LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellcnt Majestie 1630. HIS MAJESTIES DECLARATION BEing by Gods Ordinance according to Our just Title Defender of the Faith and supream Governour of the Church within these Our Dominions We hold it most agreeable to this Our Kingly Office and Our own Religious zeal to conserve and maintain the Church committed to Our charge in the unity of true Religion and in the bond of peace and not to suffer unnecessary Disputations altercations or questions to be raised which may nourish faction both in the Church and Common-wealth We have therefore upon mature deliberation and with the advice of so many of Our Bishops as might conveniently be called together thought fit to make this Declaration following That the Articles of the Church of England which have been allowed and authorized heretofore and which our Clergy generally have subscribed unto do contain the true Doctrine of the Church of England agreeable to Gods word which We do therefore ratifie and confirm requiring all our loving Subjects to continue in the uniform profession thereof and prohibiting the least difference from the said Articles which to that end We command to be new printed and this Our Declaration to be published therewith That we are supream Governour of the Church of England and that if any difference arise about the external policy concerning Injunctions Canons or other Constitutions whatsoever there to belonging the Clergy in their Convocation is to order and settle them having first obtained leave under Our broad Seal so to do and We approving their said Ordinances and Constitutions providing that none be made contrary to the Laws and Customes of the Land That out of Our Princely care that the Church-men may do the work which is proper unto them the Bishops and Clergy from time to time in Convocation upon their humble desire shall have licence under Our broad Seal to deliberate of and to do all such things as being made plain by them and assented unto by Us shall concern the setled continuance of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established from which We will not endure any varying or departing in the least degree That for the present though some Differences have been ill raised yet we take comfort in this that all Clergy-men within our Realm have alwayes most willingly subscribed to the Articles established which is an Argument to Us that they all agree in the true usual literal meaning of the said Articles and that even in those curious points in which the present differences lie men of all sorts take the Articles of the Church of England to be for them which is an argument again that none of them intend any desertion of the Articles established That therefore in these both curious and unhappy differences which have for so many hundred years in different times and places excercised the Church of Christ We will that all further curious search be laid aside and these disputes shut up in Gods promises as they be generally set forth to Us in the holy Scriptures and the general meaning of the Articles of the Church of England according to them And that no man hereafter shall either print or preach to draw the Article aside any way but shall submit to it in the plain and full meaning thereof And shall not put his own sense or Comment to be the meaning of the Article but shall take it in the literal and Grammatical sense That if any publick Reader in either Our Universities or any Head or Master of a Colledge or any other person respectively in either of them shall affix any new sense to any Article or shall publickly read determine or hold any publick disputation or suffer any such to be held either way in either the Universities or Colledges respectively or if any Divine in the Universities shall preach or print any thing either way other then is already established in Convocation with Our Royal assent he or they the offenders shall be liable to Our displeasure and the Churches censure in our Commission Ecclesiastical as well as any other and We will see there shall be due execution upon them ARTICLES OF RELIGION Of faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdome and goodness the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 2. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of the Father Haec notata non habentur in Edw. 6. begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and manhood