Articles for doctrine, & preaching.

Firſt, that al they which ſhalbe admitted to preache, ſhalbe diligentlie examined for their cōformytie in vnitie of doctrine, eſtabliſſhed by publique authoritie: and admoniſſhed to vſe ſobriety and diſcretion in teachinge the people, namlye in matters of controuerſy, and to conſider the grauity of theire office, & to foreſee with diligence the matters which they will ſpeake, to vtter them to the edification of the audience.

Item, that they ſett owte in theire preaching the reuerent eſtimation of the holie Sacramentes of Baptiſme and the Lordes ſupper, excitinge the people to thoften and deuoute receauing of the holy cō munion of the bodie and bloude of Chriſt, in ſuche forme as is already preſcribed in the booke of Common praier, and as it is further declared in an Homelye concernynge the vertue and efficacie of the ſaid Sacramentes.

Item, that they move the people to all obedience, aſwell in obſeruation of the orders appointed in the booke of Common ſeruice, as in the Queenes Mageſties iniunctions, as alſo of all other ciuil duetyes due for ſubiectes to doe.

Item, that allycences for preaching, graunted out by the archebyſhop & byſhopes within the prouince of Canterbury, bearing date before the firſte day of marche 1564 be voyde and of none effect: and neuertheleſſe all ſuch as ſhalbe thought meete for the office, to be admitted againe without difficultye or charge, paing no more but iiii. pens for the writing, parchement and waxe.

Item, yf anye Preacher or parſon, vicar or curate ſo licenſed, ſhall fortune to Preache any matter tendinge to diſſention, or to the derogation of the religion and doctrine receiuid, that the hearers denounce the ſame to the Ordinaries, or the nexte byſſhope of the ſame place: but no man openly to contrary or to impugne ye ſame ſpeache ſo diſorderly vttered: wherebye may growe offence and diſquiet of the people, but ſhalbe conuinced and reproued by the ordinarye after ſuche agreable order, as ſhall be ſeene to him according to the grauitie of the offence. And that it be preſentid within one moneth after the wordes ſpoken.

Item, that they vſe not to exact or receaue vnreſonable rewardes or ſtipendes of the poore Paſtors, comminge to theyre Cures to preache, wherbye they might be noted as folowers of filthi lucre, rather then vſe thoffice of preaching of Charitie and good zeale, to the ſaluation of mens ſoules.

Item, if the Parſon be able, he ſhall preache in his own perſon euery thre monethes, or els ſhal preache by an other, ſo that his abſence be approued by the Ordinarie of ye dioces in reſpecte of ſickenes, ſeruice or ſtudie at the Vniuerſities. Neuertheleſſe yet for wante of able Preachers and Parſons, to tolerate them without penaltye, ſo that they preache in theyre owne perſons, or by a Learned ſubſtitute, once in euerie thre monethes of the yeare.

¶ Articles for adminiſtration of prayer and Sacramentes.

FIrſt, that the Common praier be ſaid or ſong decently and diſtinctly, in ſuche place as the Ordinarie ſhall thinke meete for the largeneſſe and ſtreightnes of the Churche & quire, ſo that the people maye be moſte edified.

Item, that no Parſon or curate, not admitted by the byſſhoppe of the dioces to preache, do expounde in his owne Cure or other where, anye ſcripture or matter of doctrine or by the way of exhortacion, but onlye ſtudie to reade grauelie and aptlye, withoute any gloſing of the ſame, or anye additions, the homylies al readye ſett owte, or other ſuche neceſſarie doctrine as is or ſhalbe preſcribed for the quiet inſtruction and edification of the people.

Item, that in Cathedrall churches & colledges yt holye Communion be miniſtred vpon the firſt or ſeconde ſunday of euery monethe at the leaſte. So that both Deane, prebendaries, preiſtes and clerkes do receyue: and al other of diſcretion of the fundation, do receaue foure times in the yeare at the leaſt.

Item, in the miniſtration of the holy Communion in cathedrall and collegiat churches, the principal miniſter ſhall vſe a cope, with goſpeller and epiſtoler agreablye, and at all other praiers to be ſaid at that Communion table, to vſe no Copes but ſurpleſſes.

Item, that the Deane and Prebendaries weare a ſurples with a ſilke hoode in the quier: and when they preache in the Cathedrall or collegiate church, to weare theyre hoode.

Item, that everie miniſter ſayeng anye publique praiers or miniſtring the Sacramentes or other rites of the churche, ſhall weare a comely ſurples with ſleues, to be prouided at the charges of the pariſhe: and that the Pariſhe prouide a decent table ſtandinge on a frame, for the Communion table.

Item, they ſhall decentlie couer with Carpet, ſilke or other decent coueringe, and withe a fayre lynen cloth at the tyme of the miniſtration, the communyon table, and to ſett the tenne Commaundementes vppon the Eaſt wall ouer the ſaid table.

Item, that all communicates do receaue kneeling, and as is appointed by the lawes of the Realme, and the Quenes mageſtyes Iniunctions.

Item, that the fonte be not remoued, nor that the Curate do baptiſe in pariſhe Churches in any Baſons, nor in anye other forme then is alreadie preſcribed, without charginge the parent to be preſent or abſent at the Chriſtening of his childe, although the parent may bee preſent or abſent, but not to anſwere as Godfather for his childe.

Item, that no childe bee admitted to anſwer as Godfather or godmother, except the childe hath receaued the Communion.

Item, that there be none other holidayes obſerued beſides the Sundayes, but onely ſuche as be ſet out for holidayes, as in the Statute Anno quinto & ſexto Edwardi ſexti, & in the new kalender authoryſed by the Queenes maieſty.

Item, that when any Chriſtian bodye is in paſſing, that the bell be tolled, and that the Curate be ſpecially called for to comforte the ſicke perſon: and after the tyme of his paſſinge, to ringe no more but one ſhorte peale: and one before the buriall, and an other ſhorte peale after the buriall.

Item, that on Sundaies there be no ſhoppes opē, nor artificers commonlye goinge aboute theire affaires worldly. And that in all Faires and common markets, fallinge vppon the ſunday, there be no ſhewing of any wares before the Seruice be done.

Item, that in the Rogation dayes of proceſſion, they ſinge or ſaye in Engliſhe the twoo Pſalmes beginninge, Benedic anima mea. &c. with the Letanye and Suffrages there vnto, with one Homelye of thankes geuinge to God, already deuiſed and diuided into foure partes, without addition of any ſuperſtitiouſe ceremonyes heretofore vſed.

Articles for certayne orders in eccleſiaſticall policy.

FIrſt, againſte the day of giuing of orders appoynted, the Byſſhoppe ſhall geue open monitions to all men, to except agaynſte ſuche as they knowe not to be worthy, either for life or conuerſation. And there to giue notice that none ſhall ſewe for orders, but within theire owne Dioces where they weare borne, or had theire longe tyme of dwellinge, except ſuche, as ſhall bee of degree in the Vniuerſitees.

Item, that younge Preiſtes or Miniſters, made or to be made, be ſo inſtructed, that they bee able to make apte aunſweres concerninge the forme of the Catechiſme preſcribed.

Item, that no Curate or Miniſter bee permitted to ſerue without examination and admiſſion of ye Ordinary or his deputy, in writing, hauing reſpect to the greatnes of the Cure, and the meetenes of the party: and that the ſayde Miniſters if they remooue from one Dioces to an nother, bee by no meanes admitted to ſerue, without teſtimonye of the Dioceſan from whence they come, in writing, of theyre honeſty, and ability.

Item, that the Byſſhop doe call home once in the yeare any Prebendary in his Churche, or beneficed in the Dioces whiche ſtudieth at the Vniuerſities, to knowe how hee profiteth in learninge: and that he be not ſuffered to bee a ſeruinge or a waytinge man diſſolutely.

Item, that at the Archedeacons viſitation, the Archedeacon ſhall appoynte the Curates to certayne taxes of the newe Teſtamente, to bee conde without booke. And at theire nexte Synode to exacte a rehearſall of them.

Item, that the Churchewardens once in ye quarter declare by theyre Curates in billes ſubſcribed with their handes to the Ordinarye or to the nexte officer vnder him, who they bee whiche will not readyly paye theire penalties for not comminge to Goddes diuine ſeruice accordingly.

Item, that the Ordinaries doe vſe good diligente examination, to foreſee all Simoniacall pactes or couenaunts with the Patrons or preſenters, for the ſpoyle of their glebe, tithes, or manſion houſes.

Item, that no perſons be ſuffered to marye within the Leuiticall degrees mentioned in a Table ſet forthe by the Archebyſſhoppe of Caunterburye in that behalfe, Anno Domini 1563. and if any ſuche bee, to be ſeparated by order of lawe.

Articles for outwarde apparrell of perſons Eccleſiaſticall.

FIrſte, that all Archebyſhoppes & Byſhoppes do vſe and cōtineue their accuſtomed apparrell.

Item, that all Deanes of cathedrall churches, Maſters of Colledges, all Archedeacons, and other dignities in Cathedral churches: doctors, bachelers of Diuinitye and Lawe, hauing any Eccleſiaſticall liuinge, ſhall weare in their common apparrell abrode, a ſyde gowne with ſleeues ſtreyght at the hande, without any cuttes in the ſame. And that alſo without any fallinge cape: and to weare typpets of ſarcenet, as is lawfull for them by thact of parliament, Anno 24. Henrici octaui.

Item, that all doctors of Phyſick, or of any other facultye, hauinge any liuinge eccleſiaſticall, or any other that may diſpende by the churche one hūdred markes, ſo to bee eſtemed by the fruites or tenthes of their promotions: and all Prebendaries, whoſe promotions be valued at twēty pound or vpward, weare the like apparrell.

Item, that they and all eccleſiaſticall perſons, or other hauinge any eccleſiaſticall liuinge, doe weare the cappe appointed by the Iniunctions. And they to weare no hattes but in their iourneinge.

Item, that they in their iourneinge do weare theire clokes with ſleeues put on, and lyke in faſſhion to their gownes, without gards, welts, or cuts.

Item, that in their priuate howſes and Studies, they vſe their owne liberty of comely apparrell.

Item, that all inferiour Eccleſiaſticall perſons ſhall weare longe gownes of the faſſhion aforeſayde, and cappes as afore is preſcribed.

Item, that all poore Parſons, vicars and curates do endeuor themſelues to conforme their apparrell in like ſorte, ſo ſoone and as conuenientlye as theire abilitye will ſerue to the ſame. Prouided that their abilitye bee iudged by the Byſſhop of the Dioces. And yf theire abilitye will not ſuffer to buye them longe gownes of the forme afore preſcribed, that then they ſhall weare their ſhorte gownes, agreable to the forme before expreſſed.

Item, that al ſuche perſons as haue ben or be Eccleſiaſticall, and ſerue not the minyſterie, or haue not accepted or ſhall refuſe to accepte the othe of obedience to the Queenes Maieſty, doe from hencefourth abrode weare none of the ſayde apparrell of the forme & faſſhion aforeſayde, but to go as mere laye men, till they bee reconciled to obedience: and who ſhall obſtinately refuſe to do the ſame, yt they bee preſented by the Ordinarye to the Commiſſioners in cauſes Eccleſiaſticall, and by them to be reformed accordingly.

Proteſtations to be made, promiſed and ſubſcribed by them that ſhall hereafter bee admitted to any office, roome or cure in any Churche, or other place Eccleſiaſticall.

IN primis, I ſhall not preache or publiquely interprete, but onelye reade that whiche is appointed by publique authoritye, without ſpeciall licenſe of the Byſſhoppe vnder his ſeale.

I ſhall reade the ſeruice appoynted, plainly, diſtinctly and audibly, that all the people may heare and vnderſtande.

I ſhall keepe the Regiſter booke accordinge to the Queenes Maieſties Iniunctions.

I ſhall vſe ſobrietye in apparrell, and ſpecially in the Churche at Common prayers, accordinge to order appoynted.

I ſhall moue the pariſhioners to quiet and concorde, and not geue them cauſe of offence, and ſhall helpe to reconcile them whiche be at variaunce, to my vttermoſte power.

I ſhall reade dayly at the leaſte one chapter of the Olde Teſtament, and an other of the Newe with good aduiſement, to thincreaſe of my knowledge.

I do alſo faithfully promiſe in my perſon, to vſe & exerciſe my office and place to the honor of God, to the quiet of ye Qeenes ſubiects within my charge, in truth, concorde and vnitye. And alſo to obſerue, keepe and mentayne ſuche order and vniformity in all externall policye, Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, as by the lawes, good vſuages and orders are allready well prouided and eſtabliſhed.

I ſhall not openlye intermedle with any artificers occupacions, as couetouſlye to ſeeke a gayne thereby, hauinge in Eccleſiaſticall lyuinge to the ſomme of twenty Nobles or aboue by yeare.