Iniunctions Geuen by the Quenes Maiestie Anno Domini 1.5.5.9 The first yere of the raigne of our soueraigne Lady Quene Elizabeth Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis R.I. OMNIA DESVPER Iniunctions geuen by the Quenes Maiestie aswell to the Clergie as to the laitie of this Realme THe Queenes moste Royall Maiestie by thaduise of her most honorable counsayle intendyng thaduauncement of the true honour of almyghtye God the suppression of supersticion through all her hyghnesse Realme and dominions and to plant true religion to thertirpation of al hipocrisie enormities and abuses as to her duetie apperteineth doth minister vnto her louing subiectes these Godly iniunctions hereafter folowyng All which Iniunctions her highnesse wylleth and commaundeth her louyng subiectes obediently to receaue and truely to obserue and kepe euery man in theyr offices degrees and states as they wyll auoyde her hyghnesse displeasure and the paynes of the same hereafter expressed THe first is that all Deanes Archedeacons Persons Vicars and all other ecclesiasticall persons shal faith fully kepe obserue and as farre as in them may lye shal cause to be obserued and kept of other all and singuler lawes statutes made for the restoring to the crowne the auncient iurisdiction ouer the state ecclesiasticall and abolyshyng of all forrayne power repugnaunt to the same And furthermore all ecclesiasticall persons hauing cure of soule shal to thuttermost of theyr wytte knowledge and learnyng purely sincerely and without anye colour or dissimulation declare manifest open foure tymes euery yere at the least in their Sermons and other collations that al vsurped and forraine power hauyng no establyshement nor grounde by the lawe of God is for moste iuste causes taken awaye and abolyshed And that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within her highnesse Realmes and dominions is due vnto any such forrayne power And that the Quenes power within her Realmes and dominions is the hyghest power vnder God to whom all men within the same Realmes and dominions by Gods lawes owe moste loyaltie and obedience afore and aboue al other powers and potentates in earth Besydes this to thintent that all superstition and hypocrysye crepte into dyuers mennes heartes may vanyshe away they shall not sette foorth or extoll the dignitie of any Images Reliques or miracles but declaryng the abuse of the same they shall teache that all goodnesse health and grace ought to be both asked and loked for onely of God as of the verye aucthour and geuer of the same and of none other Item that they the persons aboue rehearsed shall preach in theyr Churches and euery other cure they haue one Sermon euery moneth of the yere at the least wherein they shall purelye and sincerely declare the worde of God and in the same exhorte theyr hearers to the workes of fayth as mercye and charitie specially prescrybed and commaūded in scripture and that workes deuysed by mans phantasies besydes scripture As wandryng of Pylgrimages settynge vp of Candels praying vpon bedes or such like superstition haue not onely no promyse of rewarde in scripture for doing of them but contrarywyse greate threatnynges and maledictions of God for that they be thynges tendyng to Idolatry and superstition which of al other offences God almyghty doth most detest and abhorre for that the same diminishe moste his honour and glory Item that they the persons aboue rehearsed shall preach in theyr owne persons once in euery quarter of the yere at the least one Sermon beyng licenced specially therunto as is specified hereafter or els shall reade some Homelye prescribed to be vsed by the Quenes aucthoritie euery Sundaye at the least vnlesse some other preacher sufficiētly lycensed as hereafter chaūce to come to the paryshe for the same purpose of preachyng Item that euery holy day through the yere when they haue no Sermon they shal immediatly after the Gospell openly and playnely resyte to theyr paryshioners in the Pulpitte the Pater noster the Crede and the ten commaundementes in Englyshe to thintent the people may learne the same by heart exhortyng all parentes and householders to teach their children and seruauntes the same as they are bound by the lawe of God and conscience to do Also that they shall prouide within three monethes next after this visitacion at the charges of the paryshe one booke of the whole Byble of the largest volume in Englishe And within one xii monethes next after the saide visitacion the Paraphrases of Erasmus also in Englyshe vpon the Gospels and the same set vp in some conuenient place within the sayde Churche that they haue cure of where as theyr paryshioners may most commodiously resort vnto the same and reade the same out of the tyme of common seruice The charges of the Paraphrases shal be by the person or proprietarie and paryshioners borne by equall portions And they shall discorage no man frō the readyng of any part of the Byble eyther in Latin or in Englyshe but shal rather exhorte euery person to reade the same with great humilitie and reuerence as the very lyuely worde of God and the speciall foode of mans soule whiche all Chrystian persons are bounde to embrace beleue and followe yf they looke to be saued Whereby they maye the better knowe theyr dueties to God to theyr Soueraigne Lady the Quene and their neyghbour euer gentely and charitably exhortyng them in her Maiesties name strayghtly chargynge and commaundyng them that in the readynge therof no man to reason or contende but quietly to heare the reader Also the sayde Ecclesiasticall persons shall in no wyse at any vnlawefull tyme nor for any other cause then for theyr honeste necessities haunt or resort to any Tauernes or Alehouses And after theyr meates they shal not geue them selues to drynkyng or ryot spendyng their time idelly by daye or by nyght at dyse cardes or tables playing or any other vnlawfull game But at al tymes as they shall haue leysure they shall heare or reade somewhat of holy scripture or shall occupye them selues with some other honest studye or exercyse and that they alwayes do the thynges whiche apperteyne to honestie and endeuour to profyte the common wealth hauyng alwayes in mynde that they ought to excell all other in puritie of lyfe and shoulde be examples to the people to lyue well and Christianly Also that they shall admitte no manne to preache within any theyr cures but suche as shall appeare vnto them to be sufficientlye lycensed thereunto by the Quenes Maiestie or the Archebyshoppe of Caunterburye or the Archebishoppe of Yorke in eyther theyr prouinces or the Byshoppe of the Diocese or by the Quenes Maiesties visitours and such as shall be so lycensed they shall gladlye receaue to declare the worde of God at conuenient tymes without any resystaunce or contradiction And that no other be suffred to preache out of his owne cure or paryshe than such as shal be licensed as is aboue expressed Also yf
or incest or be common baudes or receiuers of such euil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Item whether any be brawlers sclaunderers chyders scoldes and sowers of discorde betwene one person and another Item whether you knowe any that doe vse charmes sorcery enchauntmentes inuocations circles witchcraftes southsayinge or any lyke craftes or imaginacions inuented by the deuill and specyally in the tyme of womens trauayle Item whether the Churches Pulpittes and other necessaries apperteyninge to the same be sufficiently repayred yf they be not in whose default the same is Item whether you knowe any that in contempt of theyr owne paryshe Churche do resort to any other Church Item whether anye Inholders or ale house kepers do vse commonly to sel meate and drinke in the time of common prayer preachinge readyng of the Homelies or Scripture Item whether you knowe any to be maryed within the degrees prohibited by the lawes of God or that be separated or dyuorsed withoute the degrees prohibited by the lawe of God and whether any such haue maryed agayne Item whether you knowe any to haue made priuie contractes of matrymonye not callynge two or mo wytnesses thereunto nor hauynge therto the consent of theyr parentes Item whether they haue maryed solempnely the banes not first lawefully asked Item whether you know any executours or administratours of dead mens goods which do not duely bestowe suche of the sayde goodes as were geuen and bequethed or appoynted to bee distributed amonge the poore people repayring of high wayes fyndyng of poore scolers or marying of poore maydens or suche other lyke charitable dedes Item whether you knowe any that kepe in theyr houses vndefaced any Images tables pictures paintynges or other monumentes of fayned and false miracles pilgrimages Idolatry or supersticion and do adore them and specially such as haue ben set vp in Churches chapelles or oratories Item what bokes of Goddes Scripture you haue deliuered to be burnt or otherwise destroied and to whom ye haue deliuered the same Item what brybes the accusers promoters persecutors ecclesiasticall iudges and other the commissioners appointed within the seueral diocesse of this Realme haue receiued by them selues or other of those persons whiche were in trouble apprehēded or imprisoned for Religion Item what goodes moueable landes fees offyces or promocions hath ben wrongfully taken away in the time of Quene Maries raigne from any person which fauoured the Religion nowe set forth Item howe many persons for religion haue dyed by fyre famine or otherwise or haue bene imprysoned for the same Item that you make a true presentment of the nomber of al the persons whiche died within your parishes sithen the feast of Saint Iohn the Baptist which was in the yeare of our lorde God a thousande fyue hundred fiftie and eight vnto the same feast last past Makynge therein a playne distynct declaracion howe many men women and men chyldren the same were And the names of the men Item whether ye knowe any man in youre paryshe secretely or in vnlawfull conuenticles say or heare masse or any other seruyce prohibited by the lawe Item whether you knowe anye person in youre paryshe to be a slaunderer of hys neyghbours or a fower of dyscorde betwene partye and partie man and wyfe parentes and theyr chyldren or that hath inuented bruted or sette foorth any rumours false and sedicious tales sclaunders or makers bryngers byers sellers kepers or conueyers of any vnlawfull bookes which might styrre or prouoke sedicion or maintaine supersticious seruice within this Realme or anye aydours counsaylours procurers or mayntayners therunto Item whether the Churche of your paryshe be nowe vacant or no who is the Patrone therof howe longe it hath ben vacant who doth receyue the tythes oblations and other commodities duringe the tyme of the vacation and by what aucthoritie and in what estate the sayde Church is at this time and howe longe the person or vycar hath had that benefice Item whether any mynstrelles or any other persons do vse to synge or say any songes or ditties that be vyle or vncleane and especiallye in derision of any godly order nowe set forth and establyshed Item whether the Letanye in Englyshe with the Epistle and Gospell which was by the Quenes hyghnesse Proclamation wylled to be readde to the people were putte in vse in youre Churches and yf not who were the letters therof Item whether the Curates and ministers do leasurely plainely and distinctly reade the publique prayers Chapters and Homelies as they ought to do ¶ GOD SAVE THE QVENE Imprinted at LonDON IN POVVLES CHVRCH yarde by Rycharde Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Quenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis Vsurped and forrayne auctoritie Images A sermō euery moneth VVorkes of fayth vvorks of mans deuice Quarter sermon or Homyly The pater noster Crede and ten commaundementes The Bible and paraphrases Haunting of alehouses hy Ecclesiastical persons preachers not lycensed Letters of the vvord Favvtors of the vsurped povver A regester Distributiō of the xl part Exhibition for scollers The fyft part for reparaciō Reading of the Iniunctions payment of Tithes The nevv Testamēt and paraphrasis Comfortable sentences for the sicke procession to be left The Letany Let hearinge of diuine seruice perambulation of parishes Spending all the holy day Open cōtenders to be reconciled openlye Contemners of laudable ceremonies The abolishment of thinges supersticious The pulpit The chest for the poore The distribution of the almes Symony Homelies to be read Cōtempt of ministers Of apparell of ministers Heresies Charmes Absence from common prayer Inholders and ale-houses Images in houses Disturbers of sermons or seruice Rashe talkers of scripture Attendaunt to the seruice The gramer of king Henry theight Allovvaunce of scolemasters Duetie of scolemasters sentences of scripture for scollers vnlearned priestes The Cathechisme The boke of the afflictions for religiō Ouerseers for seruice on the holy dayes Inuētories of Church goodes Seruice on vvednesdayes and frydayes Continuaunce of synginge in the church Against slaūderus and infamus vvordes Againste heriticall and sedicious bokes Reuerēce at praiers Honor to the name of Iesus Curats to reade dystinctly The sacramentall bread Residenci False miracles Lordes prayer To bring vp youth Curates Readyng the scriptures Tauernes games prechers Superstition regester Obedien◠The sacrament Hospitalitie reparations prayer in Englyshe Beades Diffamed persons poore mens box Testamētes poore mens box Sycke Buryall symony Adultrers Church goodes Many benefices Communion Letters of the vvord or preachyng goers out of the Church Church money Kepers of the churche mony Contēpte of priests The kings Grāmer The tyme of seruice Talkers in the church Heresies Dronkardes Adulterers Bravvlers Sorcerers pulpittes Resorters to other Churches Inholders Diuorse priuie contractes Banes. Executors Images Bookes Bribes Losse of goodes Hovv many burnt Certificat of the dead Secrete masses False rumours Vnlavvfull bokes patron Tithes Vacacion Minstrels Letany in Englishe Distinct readinge
and olde with lowlynesse of cursye and vncoueryng of heades of the men kynde as thereunto doth necessarely belong and heretofore hath ben accustomed Item that all ministers and readers of publique prayers Chapiters and Homylies shal be charged to reade leysurely playnly distinctly and also such as are but meane readers shall peruse ouer before once or twyse the Chapiters and Homylies to thintent they may reade to the better vnderstandyng of the people and the more encoragement to godlynesse An admonition to simple men deceaued by malicious THe Quenes maiestie being informed that in certein places of this Realm sundry of her natiue subiectes being called to Ecclesiasticall ministerye in the Churche be by sinister perswasion and peruerse construction induced to fynde some scruple in the fourme of an othe whiche by an Act of the last Parliament is prescribed to be required of diuers persons for the recognitiō of theyr allegiaunce to her Maiestie which certeinly neither was euer meant ne by any equitie of wordes or good sence can be therof gathered Would that all her louyng subiectes shoulde vnderstande that nothyng was is or shal be meant or intended by the same oth to haue any other duetie allegiaunce or bonde required by the same othe then was acknowleged to be due to the most noble kynges of famous memory kyng Henry theyght her Maiesties father or king Edward the .vi. her Maiesties brother And further her Maiestie forbyddeth all maner her subiectes to geue eare or credite to such peruerse and malicious persons which most sinisterly and maliciously labour to notifie to her louyng subiectes how by the wordes of the said othe it may be collected that the kynges or quenes of this Realme possessours of the crowne maye chalenge aucthoritie and power of ministery of diuine offices in the Church wherein her sayde subiectes be much abused by such euyll disposed persons For certeinly her Maiestie neyther doth ne euer wyll chalenge any other aucthoritie than that was chalenged and lately vsed by the sayde noble kynges of famous memory king Henry the .viii. and king Edward the .vi. which is and was of auncient tyme due to the Imperial crowne of this Realme That is vnder god to haue the soueraintie and rule ouer all maner persons borne within these her Realmes dominions and countreys of what estate eyther Ecclesiasticall or temporall soeuer they be so as no other forraigne power shall or ought to haue any superioritie ouer them And yf any person that hath cōceaued any other sence of the forme of the said othe shall accept the same othe with this interpretation sence or meaning her Maiestie is well pleased to accept euery such in that behalfe as her good and obedient subiectes and shal acquite them of al maner penalties conteyned in the said act against such as shall peremptoryly or obstinatly refuse to take the same oth For the tables in the Church WHereas her Maiestie vnderstandeth that in manye and sundrye partes of the Realme the Alters of the Churches be remoued and tables placed for ministration of the holy Sacrament accordyng to the fourme of the law therfore prouided and in some other places the Alters be not yet remoued vpon opinion conceaued of some other order therin to be takē by her Maiesties visitours In thorder wherof sauing for an vniformitie ther semeth no matter of great moment so that the Sacrament be duely and reuerently ministred Yet for obseruation of one vniformitie through the whole Realme and for the better imitacion of the lawe in that behalfe it is ordered that no alter be taken downe but by ouersyght of the Curate of the Churche and the Churchwardens or one of them at the leaste wherein no riotous or disordred maner to be vsed and that the holy table in euery Church be decently made and sette in the place where the Alter stoode and there commonly couered as thereto belongeth and as shal be appoynted by the visitours and so to stand sauyng when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be distributed at which tyme the same shal be so placed in good sort within the Chauncell as whereby the minister may be more conueniently hearde of the communicantes in his prayer and ministration and the communicantes also more conuenientlye and in more nomber communicate with the sayde minister and after the Communion done from tyme to tyme the same holy table to be placed where it stode before Item where also it was in the tyme of kyng Edwarde the .vi. vsed to haue the sacramentall breade of common fine breade It is ordered for the more reuerence to be geuen to these holy misteries being the Sacramentes of the body and bloud of our sauior Iesus Christ that the fame sacramentall bread be made and fourmed plain without any figure therupon of the same finenesse and fashion rounde though somwhat bigger in compasse and thickenesse as the vsuall breade and wafer heretofore named syngyng cakes whiche serued for the vse of the priuate masse The fourme of byddyng the prayers to be vsed generally in this vniforme sort YE shall pray for Christes holy Catholyke Churche that is for the whole congregation of Christen people dispersed throughout the whole world and specially for the Church of Englande and Irelande And herein I require you moste specially to pray for the Quenes most excellent Maiestie our soueraigne lady Elizabeth Quene of Englande Fraunce and Ireland defendour of the fayth and supreme gouernour of this Realme aswell in causes Ecclesiasticall as Temporall You shal also pray for the ministers of gods holy word and Sacramentes aswel Archbyshops and Byshops as other pastours and curates You shall also pray for the Quenes moste honorable counsayle and for all the nobilitie of this Realme that all and euery of these in their callyng may serue truely and paynfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembryng th accompt that they must make Also you shal pray for the whole commons of this Realme that they may lyue in true fayth and feare of God in humble obedience and brotherly charitie one to another Finally let vs prayse God for all those whiche are departed out of this life in the faith of christ and pray vnto God that we may haue grace so to direct our liues after their good example that after this lyfe we with them may be made partakers of the glorious resurrection in the lyfe euerlastyng ¶ And this done shewe the holy dayes and fastyng dayes ALl whiche and singuler Iniunctions the Quenes Maiestie ministreth vnto her clergie and to all other her louyng subiectes straightly charging and commaunding them to obserue and kepe the same vpon payne of depriuation sequestration of fruites and benefices suspention excommunication and suche other cohertion as to Ordinaries or other hauynge Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction whom her Maiestie hath apoynted or shall appoynt for the due executiō of the same shal be sene conuenient Chargyng and commaundyng them to see these Iniunctions obserued and kepte of all