the Diocess of London Nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kind 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 aliter dispensatum fuerit à Diocesano meo By the KING A Proclamation declaring that the proceedings of his Majesties Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers are according to the Laws of the Realm WHereas in some of the Libellous Books and Pamphlets lately published the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop 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 Arms 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 unless they have express Commission or Patent under the great Seal of England to do it and that as his Majesties Visitors only and in his name and right alone Whereupon his Majesties said Judges having 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 Arms 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 usally 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 Star-chamber 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 Council 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 warrantable proceedings And hereof his Majesty admonisheth all his Subjects to take warning and as they shall answer the contrary at their perils Given at the Court at Lyndhurst the 18 day of August in the 13 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 Assigns of John Bill MDCXXXVII THE FORM and MANNER OF Making and 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 hand 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 crâ—me and after examination and trial finding him learned in the Latine Tongue and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may upon a Sunday or Holy-day 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 FIrst 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 persons present
at all times as they shall have leisure they shall hear and read somewhat of holy Scripture or shall occupy themselves with some other honest exercise and that they always do the things which appertain to honesty with endeavor to profit the Commonweal having always in mind that they ought to excel all other in purity of life and should be an example to the people to live well and Christianly Item That they shall in Confessions every Lent examine every person that cometh to Confession to them whether they can recite the Articles of their Faith the Pater Noster and the Ten Commandments in English and hear them say the same particularly wherein if they be not perfect they shall declare then that every Christian person ought to know the said things before they should receive the blessed Sacrament of the Altar and admonish them to learn the said necessary things more perfectly or else they ought not to presume to come to Gods Board without a perfect knowledge and will to observe the same and if they do it is to the great peril of their souls and also to the worldly rebuke that they might incur hereafter by the same Also That they shall admit no man to preach within any their Cures but such as shall appear unto them to be sufficiently licensed thereunto by the Kings Majesty the Lord Protectors Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury the Archbishop of York in his Province or the Bishop of the Diocess and such as thall be so licensed they shall gladly receive to declare the Word of God without any resistance or contradiction Also If they have heretofore declared to their Parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of Pilgrimages Relicks or Images or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling decking of the same Images or any such Superstition they shall now openly before the same recant and reprove the same shewing them as the truth is that they did the same upon no ground of Scripture but were led and seduced by a common error and abuse crept into the Church through the sufferance and avarice of such as felt profit by the same Also If they do or shall know any man within their Parish or elsewhere that is a letter of the Word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached or of the exocution of these the Kings Majesties Injunctions or a fautor of the Bishop of Rome's pretensed power now by the Laws of this Realm justly rejected extripated and taken away utterly they shall detect and present the same to the King or his Council or to the Iustice of Peace next adjoyning Also That the Parson Vicar or Curate and Parishioners of every Parish within this Realm hall in their Churches and Chappels keep one Book or Register wherein they shall write the day and year of every Wedding Christning and Burial made within their Parish for their time and so every man succeeding them likewise and therein thall write every persons name that shall be so Wedded Christned or Buried And for the safe keeping of the same Book the Parish shall be bound to provide of their common charges one sure Coffer with two Locks and Keys whereof the one to remain with the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other with the Wardens of every Parish-Church or Chappel wherein the said Book shall be laid up which Book they shall every Sunday take forth and in the presence of the said Wardens or one of them write and record in the same all the Weddings Chrisinings and Burials made the whole week before and that done to lay up the Book in the said Coffer as afore And for every time that the same shall be omitted the party that shall be in the fault thereof shall forfeit to the said Church iii. s iiii d. to be employed to the poor mens box of that Parish Furthermore Because the goods of the Church are called the goods of the poor and at these days nothing is less seen than the poor to be sustained with the same all Parsons Vicars Pentionaries Prebendaries and other beneficed men within this Deanery not being resident upon their Benefices which may dispend yearly xx.l. or above either within this Deanery or elsewhere shall distribute hereafter among their poor Parishioners or other inhabitants there in the presence of the Church-wardens or some other honest men of the Parish the xl part of the fruits and revenues of their said Benefices lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude which reserving so many parts to themselves cannot vouchsafe to impart the xl portion thereof among the poor people of that Parish that is so fruitful and profitable unto them And to the intent that learned men may hereafter spring the more for the execution of the premises every Parson Vicar Clerk or beneficed man within this Deanery having yearly to dispend in Benefices and other Promotions of the Church an C.l. shall give competent exhibition to one Scholar and for so many C. l. more as he may dispend to so many Scholars more shall he give like exhibition in the Vniversity of Oxford or Cambridge or some Grammar-School which after they have profited in good learning may be partners of their Patrons Cure and charge as well in Preaching as otherwise in the execution of their offices or may when need shall be otherwise profit the Commonweal with their Council and Wisdom Also That the Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chappels or Mansions within this Deanery shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same Mansions or Chancels of their Churches being in decay the fifth part of that their Benefices till they be fully repaired and the same so repaired shall always keep and maintain in good estate Also That the said Parsons Vicars and Clerks shall once every quarter of the year read these Injunctions given unto them openly and deliberately before all their Parishioners to the intent that both they may be the better admonished of their duty and their said Parishioners the more moved to follow the same for their part Also For as much as by a Law established every man is bound to pay his Tythes no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their Curates detain their Tythes and so redub and requite one wrong with another or be his own judge but shall truly pay the same as he hath been accustomed to their Parsons Vicars and Curates without any restraint or diminution And such lack and default as they can justly find in their Parsons and Curates to call for reformation thereof at their Ordinaries and other Superiours hands who upon complaint and due proof thereof shall reform the same accordingly Also That no person shall from henceforth alter or change the order and manner of any fasting-day that is commanded or of Common prayer or Divine Service otherwise then is specified in these Injunctions until such time as the same shall be otherwise ordered and transposed by the Kings Authority Also That every Parson Vicar Curate
Gods only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfall where by the Devil may thurst them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore although the decrees of Predestination are unknown unto us yet we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God We must trust to obtain eternal Salvation only by the. Name of Christ They also are to be had accursed and abhorred that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of Nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved All men are bound to keep the Moral Commandments of the Law THe Law which was given of God by Moses although it bind not Christian men as concerning the Ceremonies and Rites of the same neither is it required that the civil precepts and orders of it should of necessity be received in any Commonweal yet no man be he never so perfect a christian is exempt and loose from the obedience of those Commandments which are called Moral wherefore they are not to be hearkned unto who affirm that holy Scripture is given only to the weak and do boast themselves continually of the Spirit of whom they say they have learned such things as they teach although the same be most eminently repugnant to the holy Scripture Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch hath erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living but also in matters of faith Of the Authority of the Church IT is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another wherefore although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy of VVrit yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so beside the same ought not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may erre and sometimes have erred not only in worldly matters but also in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the holy Scripture Of Purgatory THe Doctrine of School-Authors concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration as well of Images as of Relicks and also invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly feigned and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God No man may Minister in the Congregation except he be called IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers in the Lords vineyard Men must speak in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is most seemly and most agreable to the Word of God that in the Congregation nothing be openly read spoken in a tongue unknown to the people the which thing St. Paul did forbid except some were present that should declare the same Of the Sacraments OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath knit together a company of new people with Sacraments most few in number most easie to be kept most excellent in signification as is Baptism and the Lords Supper The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should rightly use them And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholsom effect and operation and yet not that of the work wrought as some men speak which word as it is strange and unknown to holy Scripture so it engendreth no godly but a very superstitious sense but they that receive the Sacraments unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith Sacraments ordained by the Word of God be not only badges and tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signs of grace and Gods good will toward us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him The wickedness of the Ministers doth not take away the effectual operation of Gods Ordinances ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but do minister by Christs Commission and Authority we may use their Ministry both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Gods Ordinances taken away by their wickednes nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith rightly receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Nevertheless it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of such and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgment be deposed Of Baptism BAptism is not only a sign of profession and mark
defend all jurisdictions priviledges pre-eminences and authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his heirs and successours or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and the contents of this Book Then shall the Bishop examine every one of them that are to be ordered in the presence of the people after this manner following DO you trust that you are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon you this office and ministration to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people Answer I trust so The Bishop DO you think that ye be truly called according to the Will of the Lord Iâ—sus Christ and the due Order of this Realm to the Ministry of the Church Answer I think so The Bishop DO you unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and new Testament Answeâ— I do believe The Bishop WIâ—l you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve Answer I will The Bishop IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the Church where he shall be appointed to assist the Priest in Divine Service and specially when he ministreth the holy Communion and to help him in distribution thereof and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechism to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where provision is so made to search for the sick poor and impotent people of the Parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell unto the Curate that by his Exhortation they may be relieved by the Parish or other convenient alms will you do this gladly and willingly Answer I will do so by the help of God The Bishop WIll you apply all your diligence to frame the fashion your own lives and the lives of your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholsom examples of the flock of Christ Answer I will do so the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions Answer I will endeavor my self the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the Office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmighty God giver of all good things which of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the Offices of Deacons in the Church make them we beseech thee O Lord to be modest humble and constant in their ministration to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline that they having always the testimony of a good conscience and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ may so well use themselves in this inferiour office that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Son our Saviour Christ to whom be glory and honor world without end Amen And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year at the least except for reasonable causes it be otherwise seen to his Ordinary to the intent he may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical administration in executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood The form of Ordering of Priests When the Exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall be read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as followeth FRom Miâ—eto Paul sent Messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Congregation which when they were come to him be said unto them Ye know thaâ— from the first day that I came into Ana after what manner I have been with you at all seasons seâ—ving the Lord with all humbleness of mind and with many tears and temptations which happened unto me by the lying in wait of the Iews because I would keep back nothing that was profitable unto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout every house witnessing bâ—th to the Jews and also to the Greeks the repentance that is toward God and the Faith that is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bands and trouble abide me But none of these things prove me neither is my life dear unto my self that I might fulfil my course with joy and the ministration of the word which I have received of tâ—e Lord Ie us to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God Aâ—d now behâ—ld I am sure that henceforth ye all thâ—ough whom I â—ave gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more Wherefore I take â—oâ— to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men For I have spared no labour but have shewed you all the counsel of God Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the flock among whom the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to rule the Congregation of God which â—e hath purchased with his blood For I am sure of this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing â—he flock Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Therâ—fore awake and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn ev ry one of you night and day with tears And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I have desired no mans silver gold or vesture Yea you know your selves that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and unto them that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so labouring
of his dear beloved Son we may attain the sight And that with perfect faith also we may acknowledge thee The Spirit of them both alway one God in persons three Laud and praise be to the Father and to the Son equal And to the only Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the holy Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do profess his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione ut in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood for after due examination we find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they pe persons meet for the same But yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for which he ought not to be received into this holy ministery now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be objected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister unto every one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as is set forth in the Order of Deacons And that done he shall say unto them which are appointed to receive the said Office as hereafter followeth YOu have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye he called And how we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the Messengesrs and Watchmen the Pastors and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premouish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the midst of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have always therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serve is his Spouse and Body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence you know the greatness of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministery towards the children of God towards the Spouse and Body of Christ and see that you never cease your labour your care and diligence until you have done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge unto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of error in Religion or for viciousness of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellency and of so great difficulty ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to beware that neither you your selves offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and a will thereto of our selves for that power and ability is given of God alone Therefore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his holy Spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work pertaining to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scripture and with a life agreeable unto the same Ye perceive how studious ye ought to be in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the manners both of your selves and of them that specially pertain unto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this self-same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies We have good hope that you have well-weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time and that you have clearly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this vocation whereunto it hath pleased God to cal you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selves wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies this way and to this end And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavor your selves from time to time to sanctifie the lives of you and yours and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ and that ye may be wholsom and godly examples and patterns for the rest of the Congregation to follow and that this present Congregation of Christ here assembled may also understand your minds and wills in these things and that this your promise shall move you to do your duties ye shall answer plainly to these things which we in the name of the Congregation demand of you touching the same Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priest-hood Answer I think it The Bishop BE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Iesu Christ And are you determined with the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of
into rebuke and the snare of the evil speaker The Gospel JEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Johanna lovest thou me more than these He said unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him feed my lambs He said to him again the second time Simon Johanna lovest thou me He said to him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him Feed my sheep He said unto him the third time Simon Johanna lovest thou me Peter was sorry because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iesus said unto him Feed my sheep Or else out of the tenth Chapter of John as before in the order of Priests After the Gospel and Creed ended first the elected Bishop shall be presented by two Bishops unto the Archbishop of that Province or some other Bishop appointed by his Commission the Bishops that present him saying MOst reverend Father in God we present unto you this godly and well-learned man to be Consecrated Bishop Then shall the Archbishop demand the Kings Mandate for the Consecration and cause it to be read and the Oath touching the Knowledge of the Kings Supremacy shall be ministred to the persons elected as it is set out in the order of Deacons And then shall be ministred the Oath of due obedience unto the Archbishop as followeth The Oath of due obedience to the Archbishop IN the Name of God Amen I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church or See of N. do profess and promise all due reverence and obedience to the Archbishop and to the Metropolitan Church of N. and to their Successors So help me God through Jesus Christ This Oath shall not be made at the Consecration of an Archbishop Then the Archbishop shall move the Congregation present to pray saying thus to them BRethren it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the whole night in prayer or ever that he did chuse and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did fast and pray or ever the laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let us therefore follow the example of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that we admit and send forth this person presented unto us to the work whereunto we trust the holy Ghost hath called him And then shall be said the Litany as afore in the order of Deacons And after this place That it may please thee illuminate all Bishops c. That it may please thee to bless this our brother elected and to send thy grace upon him that he may duly execute the office whereunto he is called to the edifying of the Church and to the honour praise and glory of thy Name Answer We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Concluding the Letany in the end with this Prayer ALmighty God the giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders and Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the work and ministry of a Bishop and replenish him so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and deed he may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shall say to him that is to be Consecrated BRother forasmuch as holy Scripture and the old Canons commandeth that we should not be hasty in laying on hands and admitting of any person to the government of the Congregation of Christ which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood afore I admit you to this administration whereunto you are called I will examine you in certain Articles to the end the Congregation present may have a trial and bear witness how you be minded to behave your self in the Church of God Are you perswaded that you be truly called to this ministration according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the order of this Realm Answer I am so perswaded The Archbishop ARE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all Doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through the faith in Iesus Christ And are you determined with the same holy Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the same Answer I am so perswaded and determined by Gods grace The Achbishop WIll you then faithfully exercise your self in the said holy Scriptures and call upon God by prayer for the true understanding of the same so as ye may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholsome Doctrine and to withstand and convince the gainsayers Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop BE you ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange Doctrines contrary to Gods Word and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same Answer I am ready the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this world that you may shew your self in all things an example of good works unto others that the adversary may be ashamed having nothing to lay against you Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you maintain and set forwards as much as in you lieth quietness peace and love among all men and such as be unquiet disobedient and criminous within your Diocess correct and punish according to such authority as ye have by Gods Word as to you shall be committed by the ordinance of this Realm Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop WIll you shew your self gentle and be merciful for Christs sake to poor and needy people and to all strangers destitute of help Answer I will so shew my self by Gods help The Archbishop ALmighty God our heavenly Father who hath given you a good will to do all these things grant also unto you strength and power to performe the same that be accomplishing in you the good work which he hath begun ye may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the latter day through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then shall be sung or said Come holy Ghost c. As it is set out in the order of Priests That ended the Archbishop shall say Lord hear our prayer Answer And let our cry come unto thee ¶ Let us pray ALmighty God and most merciful Father which of thine infinite goodness hast given thy only and most dear beloved Son
Obedience afore and above all other Powers and Potentates in Earth Besides this to the intent that all Superstition and Hypocrisie crept into divers mens hearts may vanish away they shall not set forth or extol any Images Relicks or Miracles for any superstition or lucre nor allure the people by any inticements to the Pilgrimage of any Saint or Image but reproving the same they shall teach that all goodness health and grace ought to be both asked and looked for only of God as of the very author and giver of the same and of none other Item That they the persons above rehearsed shall make or cause to be made in their Churches and every other Cure they have one Sermon every quarter of the year at the least wherein they shall purely and sincerely declare the Word of God and in the same exhort their hearers to the works of Faith Mercy and Charity specially prescribed and commanded in Scripture and that works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wandring to Pilgrimages offering of Money Candles or Tapers or Relicks or Images or kissing and licking of the same praying upon Beads or such like superstition have not only no promise of reward in Scripture for doing of them but contrariwise great threats and maledictions of God for that they be things tending to Idolatry and Superstition which of all other offences God Almighty doth most detest and abhor for that the same diminish most his honor and glory Item That such Images as they know in any of their Cures to be or to have been abused with Pilgrimage or offering of any thing made thereunto or shall be hereafter censed unto they and none other private persons shall for the avoiding of that most detestable offence of Idolatry forthwith take down or cause to be taken down and destroy the same and shall suffer from henceforth no Torches nor Candles Tapers or Images of Wax to be set afore any Image or Picture but only two lights upon the High Altar before the Sacrament which for the signification that Christ is the very true light of the World they shall suffer to remain still admonishing their Parishioners that Images serve for no other purpose but to be a remembranâ—e whereby men may be admonished of the holy lives and conversation of them that the said Images do represent which Images if they do abuse for any other intent they commit Idolatry in the same to the great danger of their Souls Item That every holy day throughout the year when they have no Sermon they shall immediately after the Gospel openly and plainly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Cedo and Ten Commandments in English to the intent the people may learn the same by heart exhorting all Parents and Housholders to teach their children and servants the same as they are bound by the Law of God and in conscience to do Item That they shall charge Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governors to bestow their children and servants even from their childhood either to learning or to some honest exercise occupation or husbandry exhorting and counselling and by all the ways and means they may as well in their Sermons and Collations as otherwise perswading their said Fathers and Mothers Masters and other Governors diligently to provide and foresee that the Youth be in no manner or wise brought up in idleness lest at any time afterward for lack of some craft occupation or other honest means to live by they be driven to fall to begging stealing or some other unthriftiness Forasmuch as we may daily see through sloth and idleness divers valiant men fall some to begging and some to theft and murder which after brought to calamity and misery do blame their Parents Friends and Governors which suffered them to be brought up so idely in their youth where if they had been well brought up in learning some good occupation or craft they would being rulers of their own houshold have profited as well themselves as divers other persons to the great commodity and ornament of the Commonwealth Also That the said Parsons Vicars and other Curates shall diligently provide that the Sacraments be duly and reverently ministred in their Parishes And if at any time it happen them in any of the cases expressed in the Statutes of this Realm or of special license given by the Kings Majesty to be absent from their Benefices they shall leave their Cure not to a rude and unlearned person but to an honest well learned and expert Curate that can by his ability teach the rude and unlearned of their Cure wholsom Doctrine and reduce them to the right way that do erre which will also execute these Injunctions and do their duty otherwise as they are bound to do in every behalf and accordingly may and will profit their Cure no less with good example of living than with the Declaration of the Word of God or else their lack and default shall be imputed unto them who shall straightly answer for the same if they do otherwise And always let them see that neither they nor their Curates do seek more their own profit promotion or advantage than the profit of the souls they have under their Cure or the glory of God Also That they shall provide within three moneths next after this Visitation one Book of the whole Bible of the largest Volume in English And within one twelve moneths next after the said Visitation the Paraphrasis of Erasmus also in English upon the Gospels and the same set up in some convenient place within the said Church that they have Cure of whereas their Parishioners may most commodiously resort unto the same and read the same The charges of which Books shall be ratably born between the Parson and Approprietary and Parishioners aforesaid that is to say the one half by the Parson or Proprietary and the other half by the Parishioners And they shall discourage no man authorised and licensed thereto from the reading any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but shall rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same as the very lively Word of God and the special food of mans soul that all Christian persons are bound to embrace believe and follow if they look to be saved whereby they may the better know their duties to God to their Soveraign Lord the King and their Neighbor ever gently and charitably exhorting them and in his Majesties Name straightly charging and commanding them that in the reading thereof no man to reason or contend but quietly to hear the Reader Also The said Ecclesiastical person shall in no wise at any unlawful time nor for any other cause than for their honest necessity haunt or resort to any Taverns or Alehouses And after their Dinner or Supper they shall not give themselves to drinking or riot spending their time idely by day or by night at Dice Cards or Tables playing or any other unlawful game but
Trentals Masses satisfactory decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Friers and upon other like blind devotions Item whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Item whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit Item whether they have every Sunday when the people be most gathered read one of the Homilies in order as they stand in the book set forth by the Kings Majesty Item whether they do not omit prime and hours when they have any Sermon or Homily Item whether they have said or sung any Mass in any Oratory Chappel or any mans house not being hallowed Item whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners that they should not wear Beads nor pray upon them Item whether they have moved their Parishioners lying upon their death-beds or at any other time to bestow any part of their substance upon Trentals Masses satisfactory or any such blind devotions Item whether they take any Trentals or other Masses satisfactory to say or sing for the quick or the dead Item whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners to detect and present to their Ordinary all adulterers and fornicators and such men as have two wives living and such women as have two husbands living within their Parishes Item whether they have not monished their Parishoners openly that they should not sell give nor otherwise alineate any of their Churches goods Item whether they or any of them do keep more Benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions than they ought to do not having sufficient license and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item whether they minister the Communion any other ways then only after such form and manner as is set forth by the Kings Majesty in the book of the Communion Item whether they hallowed and delivered to the people any Candles upon Candlemas-day and Ashes upon Ash-Wednesday or any Palms uyon Palm-Sunday last past Item whether they had upon Good-Friday last past the Sepulchres with their lights having the Sacrament therein tem whether they upon Easter-even last past hallowed the Front Fire or Paschal or had any Paschal set up or burning in their Churches Item whether your Parsons and Vicars have admitted any Curates to serve their Cures which were not first examined and allowed either by my Lord of Canterbury Master-Archdeacon or their Officers Item whether you know any person within your Parish or elfewhere that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached or of the execution of the Kings Majesties Injunctions or other his Majesties proceedings in matters of Religion Item whether every Parish have provided a Chest with two locks and for the book of VVedding Christning and Burying Item whether in the time of the Letany or any other Common-prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the Parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without a just and necessary cause Item whether any Bells have been knowled or rung at the time of the premisses Item whether any person hath abused the Ceremonies as in casting holy water upon his bed or bearing about him holy-bread St. Johns Gospel ringing of holy Bells or keeping of private holy-days as Taylors Bakers Brewers Smiths Shoomakers and such other Item whether the money coming and rising of any Cattle or other moveable stocks of the Church and money given or bequeathed to the finding of Torches Lights Tapers or Lamps not paid out of any Lands have not been employed to the poor mens Chest Item who hath the said stocks and money in their hands and what be their names Item whether any undiscreet persons do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item whether they that understand not the Latine do pray upon any Primer but the English Primer set forth by the Kings Majesties Authority and whether they that understand Latine do use any other then the Latine Primer set forth by like Authority Item whether there be any other Grammar taught in any other School within this Diocess then that which is set forth by the Kings Majesty Item whether any person keep their Church holy-day and the Dedication day any otherwise or at any other time then is appointed by the Kings Majesty Item whether the service in the Church be done at due and convenient hours Item whether any have used to commune jangle and talk in the Church in the time of the Common-prayer reading of the Homily Preaching reading or declaring of the Scripture Item whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any Heresies Errours or false Opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Item whether any be common drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the Name of God Item whether any have committed adultery fornication or incest or be common Bawds and receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Item whether any be brawlers slanderers chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Item whether you know any that use Charms Sorcery Enchantments VVitchcraft Southsaying or any like craft invented by the Devil Item whether the Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired Item whether you know any that in contempt of your own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Item whether any Inholders or Alehouse-keepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of Common prayer Preaching or Reading of the Homilies or Scripture Item whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the Laws of God or that be separated or divorced without a just cause allowed by the Law of God and whether any such have married again Item whether you know any to have made privy contracts of matrimony not calling two or more thereunto Item whether they have married solemnly the Banns not first lawfully asked Item whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high-ways finding of poor Scholars or marrying of poor Maids or such other like charitable deeds Item whether any do contemn married Priests and for that they be married will not receive the Communion or other Sacraments at their hands Item whether you know any that keep in their houses undefaced any abused or feigned Images any Tables Pictures Paintings or other monuments of feigned miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry or Superstition ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED of IN THE VISITATION OF THE DIOCESS of LONDON By the Reverend Father in God NICOLAS BISHOP of LONDON In the fourth year of our Soveraign Lord King Edward the Sixth 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
in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgment yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit 13. Of Works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of this Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-Authors say deserve grace of Congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin 14. Of Works of Supererogation VOluntary Works besides over and above Gods Commandments which they call works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and iniquity For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that are commanded to you say We are unprofitable servants 15. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the World and sin as S. John saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptised and if born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Blasphemia in Spiritum Sanctum EST cum quis Verborum Dei manifestè perceptam veritatem ex malitia obfirmatione animi convitiis insectatur hostiliter insequitur Atque hujusmodi quia maledicto sunt obnoxii gravissimo sese astringunt scelere unde peccati hoc genus irremissibile à Domino appellatur affirmatur Artic. 16. Edward 6. 16. Of sin after Baptism NOt every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism After we have received the holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent 17. Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth frequently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfal whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God Omnes obligantur ad moralia legis praecepta servanda LEx à Deo data per Mosen licet quoad ceremonias ritus Christianos non astringat neque civilia eis praecepta in aliqua Repub. necessario recipi debeant nihilominus ab obedientia mandatorum quae moralia vocantur nullus quantumvis Christianus est solutus quare illi non sunt audiendi qui sacras literas tantum infirmis datas esse perhibent spiritum perpetuo jactant à quo sibi quae praedicant suggeri asserunt quamquam cum S. Scripturis apertissime pugnent Art Edward 6.19 18. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that aw and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved 19. Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacramencs be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies but also in matters of faith 20. Of the Authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies authority in Controversies of Faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation 21. Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and word of God they may erre and sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation
Item Whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ before they can say perfectly the Lords Prayer the Articles of the Faith and the Ten Commandments in English Hospitality Item Whether they be resident upon their Benefices and keep hospitality or no whether they do receive their Parishioners and what they give them Reparations Item Whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chappels and Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Prayers in English Item Whether they do counsel or move their Parishioners rather to pray in a Tongue not known than in English or put their trust in any certain number of Prayers as in saying over a number of Beads Beads or other like Defamed persons Item Whether they have received any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with their Neighbors or defamed with any notorious crime and not reformed Poor mens box Item Whether they have provided and have a strong Chest for the poor mens Box and set and fastned the same in a place of the Church most covenient Testament Item Whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their Parishioners and especially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens box and to bestow that upon the poor which they were wont to bestow upon Pilgrimages Pardons Trentals and upon other like blind devotions Sick Burial Item Whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury and dead being brought to the Church Simony Item Whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud guile deceit or Simony Adulterers Item Whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners to detect and present to their Ordinary all Adulterers and Fornicators and such men as have two wives living within their Parishes Item Church goods Whether they have monished their Parishioners openly that they should not sell give nor otherwise alienate any of their Church-goods Item Whether they or any of them Many Benefices do keep more Benefices and other Ecclesiastical Promotions than they ought to do not having sufficient Licenses and Dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item Communion Whether they minister the holy Communion any otherwise than only after such form and manner as it is set forth by the common authority of the Queens Majesty and the Parliament Item Letters of the word or preaching Whether you know any person within your Parish or elsewhere that is a letter of the Word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached in place and times convenient Item Whether in the time of the Litany Goers out of the Church or any other Common-prayer in time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scriptures to the Parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without just and necessary cause or disturbed the Minister otherwise Item Whether the mony coming and rising of any Cattel Church-mony or other moveable stocks of the Church and mony given and bequeathed to the finding Torches Lights Tapers or Lamps not paid out of any lands have not been employed to the poor mens Chest Item Who hath the said stocks and money in their hands Keepers of the Church-mony Contempt of Priests and what be their names Item Whether any undiscreet person do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item The Kings Grammar Whether there be any other Grammar taught in any School within this Diocess than that which is set forth by the Authority of King Henry the eighth Item The time of Service Whether the Service of the Church be done at due and convenient hours Item Whether any have used to commune jangle Talkers in the Church and talk in the Church in the time of prayer reading of the Homily preaching reading or declaring of the Scripture Item Heresies Whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any heresies errors or false opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Drunkards Item Whether any be common drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the Name of God Adulterers Item Whether any have committed adultery fornication or incest or be common Bawds or receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premises Brawlers Item Whether any be brawlers slanderers chiâ—ers scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Sorcerers Item Whether you know any that do use Charms Sorceries Inchantments Invocations Circles Witchcrafts Sooth-saying or any like crafts or imaginations invented by the Devil and especially in the time of womens travel Pulpits Item Whether Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired and if they be not in whose default the same is Resorters to other Churches Inholders Item Whether you know any that in contempt of their own Parish-Church do resort to any other Church Item Whether any Inholders or Ale-house-keepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of Common-prayer preaching reading of the Homilies or Scripture Divorce Item Whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the Laws of God or that be separated or divorced without the degrees prohibited by the Law of God and whether any such have married again Privy contracts Item Whether you know any to have made privy contracts of Matrimony not calling two or more witnesses thereunto nor having thereto the consent of their Parents Banns Item Whether they have married solemnly the Banns not first lawfully asked Executors Item Whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not only bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high-ways finding of poor Scholars or marrying of poor Maidens or such other like charitable deeds Item Whether you know any that keep in their houses any undefaced Images Images Tables Pictures Paintings or other Monuments of feigned and false Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition and do adore them and specially such as have been set up in Churches Chappels and Oratories Books Item What books of holy Scripture you have delivered to be burnt or otherwise destroyed and to whom you have delivered the same Item What bribes the accusers promoters persecutors Bribes Ecclesiastical Judges and other the Commissioners appointed within the several Diocesses of this Realm have received by themselves or other of those persons which were in trouble apprehended or imprisoned for Religion Item What goods moveable lands fees offices Loss of goods or promotions have been wrongfully taken away in the time of Queen Maries Reign from any person which favored the Religion now
contrahentis in Licentia exprimendae sunt ac Parochia ubi Matrimonium celebrabitur desiguanda Londini Anno Domini 1597. An Admonition to all such as shall intend hereafter to enter the state of Matrimony Godly and agreeable to Laws First That they contract not with such persons as be hereafter expressed nor with any of the like degree against the Law of God and the Laws of the Realm Secondly That they make no secret Contracts without consent and Counsel of their Parents or Elders under whose Authority they be contrary to Gods Laws and mans Ordinances Thirdly That they Contract not anew with any other upon Divorce and Separation made be the Judge for a time the Laws yet standing to the Contrary Marriage is honourable among all men and the bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 To avoid fornication let every man have his wife and let every woman have her husband He that cannot contain let him marry for better it is to marry then to burn 1 Cor. 7.2 9. Unto the Married I command not I but the Lord let not the wife depart from her husband But if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled unto her husband and let not the husband put away his wife 1 Cor. 7.10 11. 1st It is to be noted that those persons which be in the direct line assendent and cannot marry together although they be never so far asunder in degree 2d It is also to be noted that Consanguinity and Affinity letting and dissolving Matrimony is Contracted as well in them and by them which be of kindred by the one side as in and by them which be kindred by both sides 3d. Item That by the Laws Consanguinity and Affinity letting and dissolving Matrimony is contracted as well unlawful company of man and woman as by lawful marriage 4th Item In Contracting betwixt persons doubtful which be not exprest in this Table It is most sure first to consult men learned in the Law to understand what is lawful what honest and expedient before the finishing of their Contracts 5th That no Parson Vicar or Curate shall solemnize Matrimony out of his or their Cure or Parish Church or Chapel and shall not solemnize the same in private houses nor lawless exempt Churches under the pains of the law forbidding the same And that the Curate have their Certificates where the parties dwell in divers Parishes 6th Item The Bands of Matrimony ought to be openly denounced in the Church by the Minister three several Sundays or Festival dayes to the intent that who will and can alledge any Impediment may be heard and that stay may be made till further tryal if any exception be made there against it upon sufficient caution 7th Item Who shall maliciously object a frivolous impediment against the lawfull Matrimony to disturb the same is subject to the pains of the Law 8th Item Who shall presume to Contract in the degrees prohibited though he do it ignorantly besides that the fruit of such copulation may be judged unlawful Is also punishable at the Ordinaries discretion 9th Item If any Minister shall conjoyn any such or shall be present at such Contracts making he ought to be suspended from his Ministry for three years and otherwise to be punished according to the Laws 10th Item It is further ordained that no Parson Vicar or Curate do Preach Treat or expound of his own voluntaty invention any matter of Controversy in the Scriptures if he be under the degree of a Master of Arts except he be licensed by his Ordinary thereunto but only for instruction of the people read the Homilies already set forth and such other form of Doctrine as shall be hereafter by Authority published and shall not innovate or alter any thing in the Church or use any old Right or Ceremony which is not set forth by Publick Authority LEVITICUS 18.6 None shall come near to any of the kindred of his flesh to uncover their shame I am the Lord A Man may not Marry his A Woman may not Marry with her Con Secundus gradus in linea recta Ascend 1 Grandmother    Secundus gradus in linea recta Ascend Aff 2 Grandfath Wife    Aff. Avia   1 Grandfather Con Avus  Avi relicta 3 Wives Grandmoth 2 Grandmoth Husb. Aff. Aviae relictus  Prosocrus vel Socrus magna   3 Husb. Grandfathe Aff. Prosoc vel soc mag               Sec gra inaequalis in linea transvers Asc  Secund. gr in aequalis in linea transversali Ascend      Con 4 Fathers Sister 4 Fathers Brother Con Patruus Con 5 Mothers Sister 5 Mothers Brother Aff. Avunculus  Amita 6 Fath. Broth. Wifâ— 6 Fath. Sisters Husb. Aff.  Aff. Matertera   7 Moth. Sisters Husb.  Amitae relictus Aff Patrui relicta 7 Moth. Broth. Wife 8 Husb. Fath. Broth. Aff. Materterae relictus Aff. Avunculi relicta 8 Wives Fath. Sister 9 Husb. moth broth Aff. Patruus Mariti Aff. Amita uxoris 9 Wives Moth. Sister   Aff. Avunculus Mariti  Maâ—ertera uxoris      Primus gradus in linea recta Ascend  Primus grad in lin recta ascendente      Con 10 Mother 10 Father Con. Pater Aff. Mater 11 Stepmother 11 Stepfather Aff. Vitricus Aff Novercâ— 12 Wives mother 1â— Husbands Father Aff. Socer  Socrus        Primus rectus in lin recta descendente      Prim. gradus in linea recta Ascendente Con 13 Daughter    Aff. Filia 14 Wives daughter 13 Son Con Filius Con Privigna 15 Sons wife 14 Husbands son Aff. Privignus  Nurus   15 Daughters Husb. Aff. Gener.  Primus grad aequalis in linea transversali      Primus grad aequalis in linea tranvers        16 Sister 16 Brother Con Frater Con Soror 17 Wives Sister 17 Husbands Brother Aff. Levir Aff. Soror uxoris 18 Brothers Wife 18 Sisters Husband Aff. Sororis relictus Aff. Fratres relicta        Secundus gradus in linea recta descend      Secundus gradus in linea recta descen Con Neptis ex filio 19 Sons Daughter 19 Sons son Con Nepos ex filio Con Neptis ex filia 20 Daughters daught 20 Daughters son Con Nepos ex filia Aff. Pronurus i. relicta nepotes ex filio 21 Sons sons wife 21 Sons daught Husb Aff. Progener i relictus neptis ex filio Aff. Pronurus i. relicta nepotis ex filia 22 Daughters Wife 22 Daughters daught husband Aff. Progener i relictus neptis ex filia Aff. Privigni filia 23 Wives sons daught 23 Husbands sons son Aff.