Of Byshoppes.
¶ Here foloweth in this booke some certayne ar­ticles of the holy ministerie, and of the offices of the Church, fully agreed vpon by Matthew Archbyshoppe of Caunterburie, Primate of all England, and Metropolitane, and all other By­shops of the same Prouince, which were part­ly present in person, and partly subscribed by the handes of their Proctors, in a Synode be­gonne at London in the Church of S. Paule, the thirde day of April. 1571.

ALl Byshoppes shall diligently teach the Gospell, not one­ly in their Cathedrall Churches which they [...]uerne, but also in­differently in all the Churches of euery of their Dioces, where they shall thynke it most needfull.

[...] [...]pally they shall exhort their peo­ple [...] the reading & hearing of the holy scrip­tures, and that they come together in times ap­poynted, euery man to his owne Church, and that they geue eare diligently to the preachers of the Gospell, and that both they do heare re­uerently the godly prayers, which shall be spo­ken by the Minister, and also pray them selues with hym, and that they be partakers of the heauenly misteries, as they be now godly or­deined [Page 4] and lawfully in our churches by the au­thoritie and commaundemente of the whole Realme.

Euery Byshop before the fyrst day of Sep­tember next, shall call vnto him the publique preachers, such as shall be in his owne diocesse, and shall require againe of them, their licences of preaching, which they haue signed with any autenticall seale, which they shall retaine with themselues, or els abolish. After prudent choise made of them, he shall geue readilye agayne new licences to them whom he shall finde able to that great office, in respect of they [...]res, doctrine, iudgement, honestie of lyfe▪ [...]ie, and grauitie: and yet so that they [...]he to the articles of Christian religion, [...]ly approued in the Synode, and that [...] [...]ake promise willingly to mayntayne [...] [...]hat doctrine, which is contayned in the [...] most agreeable to the veritie of Gods w [...]

The Bishop must very diligently [...] what maner of men he do admit into hys housholde: for it chaunceth sometymes where thys fore­sight is not vsed, that wicked men, & enemies to the true religion, vicious men, and corrupte in all theyr life, yea, and men voyde of grace, be admitted. Whereby the aduersary wyll soone take occasion to speake euill.

The Byshops seruauntes shal so modestly & orderly apparel thēselues, in euery part of their garments, that they do not offend their brethrē whom Paule calleth of the housholde of fayth.

[Page 5]The Byshop shall lay his handes on none henceforward, but such as haue bene trayned vp in good letters, eyther in the vniuersitie, or some other inferior schole, or that doth vnder­stande the Latine tongue competently, and hath bene well exercised in the holy scriptures: nor yet on any, except he be of that lawfull age which is appoynted by the statute and lawe: nor except hys lyfe & honest behauiour, be com­mended by the testimony of graue and godly men, and such as are well knowne vnto the byshop: nor on any that hath bene brought vp in husbandrie, or some other base and handi­craft labour: nor on any, but such as haue some title (as they call it) whereby he may liue, if by Gods sufferaunce, he become blinde, or fall into greeuous sicknesse of the body, or into a continuall & languishing disease: nor except he will exercise the holy ministery wythin hys owne diocesse: nor at any other time, but when it shal chaunce, that some place of ministration is voyde in the same diocesse. And he shall ad­mitte no straunger, nor any that he knoweth not, eyther to the profites of any benifice, or to ecclesiasticall ministerie, except he bring wyth him that Byshops letters of commendations, which they cal letters dimissories, out of whose diocesse he came.

The byshop shal not graunt vnto any man the next, or second, or thirde aduouson (as they cal it) of any prebend or benefice belonging vn­to him: for those aduousons are far from good [Page 6] doynges and christian charitie: neyther shall he ratifie and confirme the leases of any pro­fites or reuenewes of any parsonage, or eccle­siasticall benefice, for terme of many yeares, in any wise.

The Byshop shall suffer no man to be occu­pyed in the ministration of the Church, which calleth himselfe by the idle name of a Reader, not hauing receiued imposition of handes.

Euery Archbishop and Bishop shal haue in hys house The holy Bible in the largest volume, as it was lately printed at London, and also that full and perfect history, which is intituled Monumentes of Martyres, and other such lyke bokes, fit for the setting forth of religion. These bookes must be placed eyther in the hall, or in the great chamber, that they may serue to the vse of their seruauntes, and of straingers.

Deanes of Cathedrall Churches.

THe very same bookes, which we spake of last, euery Deane shall cause to be bought, and to be be­stowed in his Cathedrall Church, in such conuenient place, that the vicares and peticanons, and other ministers of the Church, as also straungers and forrieners may easely come vnto them, and read thereon.

The Deane, and euery chiefe Residentarie, [Page 7] whome they call the dignities of the Church, shall buye the same bookes euery one for hys owne family, and shall lay them in some fitte place, eyther in hall, or in the chamber.

The Deane & his prebendaries shall preach the worde of God diligently, not onely in the cathedrall Church where they liue, but in other Churches also of the same Dioces, and especi­ally in the same places whence they receaue yearely reuenewes and profites. Which if they do not, they shall be punished according to the discretion of the Byshop.

No Deane, nor Archdeacon, nor Residen­tarie, nor master, nor warden, nor head of any colledge, or cathedrall church, neither president nor rector, nor any of that order, by what name soeuer they be called, shall hereafter weare the Graye Amice, nor any other garment which hath bene defiled with y^e like superstition. But euery one of them in their churches shall weare onely that linnen garment, which is as yet re­teined by the Queenes commaundement, and also hys Schollers hoode, according to euery mans calling, and degree in schole.

Euery Deane shalbe resident in hys cathe­drall Church, foure tymes a yeare at the least. And shall continue there, by the space of a moneth euery time (if he may possibly) in prea­ching the worde of God, and keeping good ho­spitalitie, except he shall be otherwyse letted with weighty, and vrgent causes. Which cau­ses he shall at euery such time, declare vnto hys [Page 8] Ordinary. When he is come to the Church, he together with hys prebendaries resident, shall foresee that the statutes of his church, if they be not contrary to the woorde of God (as many are) and that the statutes of this realme what­soeuer, concerning ecclesiasticall order, and all Iniunctions, eyther set foorth by the Queenes Maiestie, or enioyned by the bishop in his visi­tation of the same Church, be diligently obser­ued. Moreouer the Deane and Residentaries shall endeuour as much as lyeth in thē, that the peticanons or vicares, and other ministers of their Church, (lest they lyue idlely and vnprofi­tably in slouthfulnes, and geue themselues to vnlawfull gaming) be constrayned to the stu­dye of the holy Scriptures, and that euery one of them haue the new Testament, not onely in Latine, but also in English.

The Deanes and Residentaries shall see that there be no other forme obserued in sing­ing, or saying prayers, or in the administrati­on of the Sacramentes, but onely that which is sette foorth, and prescribed in the booke of Common Prayers: neyther shall they suffer a­ny straunger to preach vnto the people, except the Queenes Maiestie, or the Archbishop of the same Prouince, or the Byshop of the same Dioces, haue graunted him licence thereunto. And if such a Preacher so allowed, eyther by the Queenes Maiestie, or by the Archbishop, or Byshop, shall in hys Sermon publish any do­ctrine eyther straunge, wicked, or disagree­able [Page 9] wyth the worde of God: or with the Arti­cles of our Religion, agreed vpon in the Con­uocation house (which no doubt are consonant to the Scriptures,) or with the booke of com­mon Prayers: the Deane, or the Residentes, shall assone as may be, geue notice of the same to the Byshop, by theyr letters, subscribed also with some of theyr handes, which hearde him preach: that he may determine on the matter, as he shall see good.

Archedeacons.

EVery Archedeacon shall haue in hys house, both the other bookes, and namely those which are enti­tuled, Monumentes of Martyrs.

Euery Archedeacon whiche hath authoritie to visite, eyther by common law, or by prescription, shall visite hys territo­ry once euery yeare in hys owne person: and he shall not substitute any to be his Officiall, but such a one as hath bene brought vp in the vni­uersities, and hath studyed the ciuill law, and is of the full age of xxiiij. yeares, beyng able not onely in learnyng, but also in grauety, and mo­desty to discharge that office.

Archedeacons and theyr substitutes (whom they call Officialles) shall call the clergie to ac­compt in theyr visitations, how much euery one of them hath profited in the study of Scri­pture, and shall geue vnto so many of them, as [Page 10] haue not taken the degree of a maister of Arte vpon them in the vniuersitie, some parte of the new Testament to be learned without booke, and at the next Synode shall compell them to make repetition thereof: and they shall detecte vnto the Bishop, such as are eyther stubburne, or negligent herein.

When the visitation is finished, the Arche­deacon shall signifie vnto the Byshop, whome he hath founde in euery Deanery, so furnished with learnyng and iudgement, that they may be thought worthy to enstruct the people in ser­mōs, and to rule and gouerne others. Of these the bishop may chuse some, whome he wil haue rural Deanes.

Archdeacons shall straightly and seuerely pu­nish all offenders; & not winke at their faultes, or suffer any man to escape vnpunished, who is knowen to haue offended.

Archedeacons shall haue a speciall care, that the monumentes of theyr actes, and do­inges be faythfully and safely preserued: and shall once euery yeare bryng to theyr bishop, all the originall copies of such testamentes, which shalbe proued before them the yeare before, that they may be preserued by the Bishops Re­gister. They shall write out the copies of the same Testa­mentes to their owne vse, if they wyll.

Chauncellors, Commissaries. and their Officials.

EVery Chauncellor, Commissary and officiall, shalbe learned in the ecclesi­asticall and ciuil lawes, and such one as is twenty and sixe yeres olde, and hath taken some degrée in the scholes for lear­ninges sake, and is reasonably well practised in course of law, touching whose lyfe and ma­ners, no euill reporte be heard. Besides, euery one of these either shall be in the ministerie, or if he be not, yet shall he be well affected, and zea­lously bent toward religion, and such he shall openly and freely shew himselfe, and before he enter his office, he shall take an othe of the au­thoritie and supremacy of the Prince, and also shall subscribe to the articles of religion allow­ed in the conuocation of Bishops.

None of these, neyther Chauncellor, Com­missary nor Officiall shal proceede in examina­tion of matters vnto the sentence of excommu­nication, but onely in causes of instances. In matters of correction, they shall doe all other things which lawfully they may and are wont to be done.

But the sentence of excommunication they shall leaue onely to the Byshoppe, which either he himselfe shall pronounce, or shall commit the pronouncing therof to some graue man, which is in the ministerie. After that he hath geuen sentence, he shall also adde, for a warning and terror to the people, a certaine order of wordes [...] [Page 14] vpon in the conuocation, and wheresoeuer the Byshop shall commaunde, shall declare hys conscience to the people, what he thynketh of those articles, and the whole doctrine. And he beyng once admitted into the holy ministery, shall from thencefoorth neuer departe from it, nor shall vse himselfe as a laye man, eyther in apparell, or in any part of his lyfe.

Euery Parson, Vicar, or Curate shall year­ly before twenty dayes after Easter, exhibite to the Bishop, or to his Chaūcellor or Commis­sary, the names and surnames of his parisho­ners, as well men, as women, (of those I say) which beyng fourtene yeares of age, come not to the holy Communion (as by the statutes and ecclesiasticall lawes of thys Realme, they are bound) & such as refuse to be examined by the minister of the church, in learnyng the Cate­chisme, and articles of christian religion, and what parentes or maisters thincke scorne to sende theyr children or seruauntes to churche, at the tymes appoynted, to heare and learne the same Catechisme. They shall suffer none to vndertake for an Infante at Baptisme, except he haue receiued the Communion, and haue bene partaker of the holy misteries, and he shal admit none to the partaking of the sacramēts, which hath not learned the Catechisme, and articles of the fayth.

Euery sonday and holiday, the parsons, vi­cars, and curates, shall come to the churche so timely and conueniently in due season, that the [Page 15] parishioners hauyng done theyr busines, may come thether w^t their children & seruantes. And there they shall reuerently, (as it is fit) & god­ly say or sing the holy seruice, so plainly, so ma­nifestly, & distinctly, that the people may heare & vnderstand, what is sayd or song, & therof re­ceaue comfort and commoditie. The lyke re­uerence and godlynes they shall obserue in ce­lebratyng the most holy Sacramentes, so that they turne not to superstition, or worshipping, or Idolatrie. But if that in tyme of the holy Communion there shalbe no sermon, they shall on the booke in the pulpit read some one, or o­ther of those homelies, which we haue to that end set foorth before. In the meane tyme they shall exhorte the people, to come diligently to Church, that they attentiuely heare that which is read and sayd, and that all the tyme there­of, they vse themselues reuerently and modest­ly: and least the godly may be offended tho­rough wantonnes and lightnes, voyde of reli­gion, they shall take heede that young men, especially contreymen, (whose nature is more prone to the contempt of godlines, and to disor­der) neyther ryng belles, neyther walke in the churches, nor haue idle talke together, nor by laughing, or noyse, or vnhonest iesting, eyther let the minister, or offend the people.

They shall admonish the people to come oftner to y^e holy Cōmunion, & that before, they prepare themselues w^t a perfect minde, as it is fit. And that all may vnderstand, what duty they owe [Page 16] to God: what dutie to the Prince whome they ought to loue & reuerence as the vicar of God: what they owe to the lawes, what to the ma­gistrates, what to their brethren, what to the people of God: they shall be ready in the church straight after noone, euery sonday & holyday, & there at the least, they shall read two houres, and teach the catechisme, and therein shall in­struct all theyr flocke, of what age or degree so­euer, not onely maydens and children, but also the elder, if neede be. But especially they shall warne young folkes, not onely men, but also women, that it is prouided by the lawes, that none of them may either receiue the holy com­munion, or be maried, or vndertake for a childe in Baptisme, except before, they haue learned the principles of Christen religion, and can fit­ly and aptly aunswere to all the partes of the Catechisme.

But if the parsons, vicars, or curates, either can not preache, or haue not receiued licence to preach of the Byshop, yet they shall teach chil­dren to read, to write, and know theyr duty to­ward God, toward theyr parentes, and also o­thers: and if they perceaue any of them to be of that disposition, that by teachyng and instruc­tion, they may attayne to the knowledge of learnyng, they shall counsell theyr parentes, to set them to schole, that beyng endewed wyth learnyng, they may one day become fit for the holy ministery of the mighty God: but whome they perceaue to be duller, and not disposed to [Page 17] learnyng, to see them set to some other science, or to husbandrie.

They shall also warne their parishioners, that for great and weightie causes it was ap­pointed in the cōuocation by the Reuerend fa­ther in God, Matthew Archbyshop of Canter­burie, and the other bishops, that children mary not, without consent of the parentes, and that no young man hath power in hymselfe to con­tract mariage, before he be xvj. yeares of age, and no mayde before she be xiiij. yeares olde.

Churchewardens and and syde men.

CHurchewardens according to the cu­stome of euery parishe, shalbe chosen by the consent of theyr parishioners, and theyr minister: otherwise they shall not be churchwardens: neyther shall they continew any lenger then one yeare in that office, except perhaps they be chosen againe. And all church­wardens once euery yeare shal geue vp iust ac­counte of such money, as they haue receaued: and also particularly shall shewe, what coste they haue bestowed in reparations, and for the vse of the Church. Last of all goyng out of their offices, they shall truly deliuer vp to the parishioners, whatsoeuer money, or other ec­clesiasticall thinges shall remayne, & be in their handes, that it may be redeliuered by them to the next churchwardens.

[Page 18]The Churchewardens shall see, that the churches be diligently and well repayred, with lead, tyle, lyme, and glasse, that neyther the mi­nister, nor the people, either in the holy ministe­rie and worshippyng of God, or in celebratyng the heauēly misteries, or in receauing and hea­ring the Communion, be troubled wyth tem­pestuous weather. But especially they shall looke vnto, that in euery meting of the congre­gation peace be well kept: and in all visitati­ons of byshops and archdeacons, they shal tru­ly and personally presente, and name all those, which rudely behaue themselues in the church, or whiche by vntymely ringing of belles, by walkyng, by talking, or noyse, shall let the mi­nister or preacher.

Churchwardens shall see, that the churches be kept cleane & reuerently, y^t they be not loth­some to any, either by dust, sande, or any filthy­nes. They shall also see, that the holy Bibles be in euery church in the largest volume (if it may conueniently be) such as were lately imprinted at London: that the booke of common prayers, that the holy homelies, and the homelies which lately were written against rebelliō, be in euery church. It is meete that these bookes be whole and cleane, not torne or foule in any wise, lest it breede irksomnes or contempte amongest the people. They shall see, there be a fayre ioyned table, which may serue for the administration of the holy Communion, and à cleane clothe to couer it: à conuenient pulpit, whence the hea­uenly [Page 19] doctrine may be taught. Moreouer they shall see, that all roodloftes, in which woodden crosses stood, & all other reliques of superstitiō be cleane takē away, that the walles of y^e chur­ches be new whited, and decked with chosen sentences of the holy Scripture, that by the reading and warning thereof, the people may be moued to godlines. Last of all they shall see, that in euery church there be à holy founte, not a basen, wherein Baptisme may be ministred, and it be kept comely and cleane.

They shall also warn tauerners, alehouseke­pers & victualers, which sel meat or drink, that they receiue none into their tauern or alehouse, all y^e time, wherin either is preaching, or cōmon seruice. If any do contrary, vpon contempte or stubbernes, they shall present both him, & them whome he receaued, by name in the next visi­tation. If any offend theyr brethren, eyther by manifest adultery, or whoredome, or incest, or drunkennes, or much swearing, or baudry, or vsurie, or any other vncleanes and wickednes of life, let the churchwardens warne them bro­therly and freendly, to amende. Which except they do, they shall by name shewe them to the parson, vicar, or curate, that they may be war­ned more sharply and vehemently of them: and if they continue so still, let them be driuen from the holy Communion, till they be reformed: And that all which liue vnchastly and loosely, be punished by the seueritie of the lawes, ac­cording to their desertes. The same Church­wardens [Page 20] shall present those adulterers, whore­mongers, incestuous, drunkardes, swearers, baudes, and vsurers in the Bishops, and Arch­deacons visitations.

Churchwardens shall suffer no feasts, ban­kets, suppers, or common drinkings to be kept, in the church, neyther the belles to be rong su­perstitiously, either in the feast of all soules, or y^e day after all saintes (which day not long since was kept holy for the soules of the dead) ney­ther at any tyme at all, whereas the custome of ringing shall seeme to encline to superstition. They shall suffer ringing onely at those tymes, which are appoynted in the booke of aduertise­mentes, and to that onely vse, and after that onely order.

It shall not be lawfull to keepe fayres, and common markets vpon the sonday: neyther on that day to put to death, and openly punish of­fenders cōdemned by the sentence of y^e Iudge.

They shall not suffer, that any of these light wanderers in markettes, and pelting sellers, which carry about, and sell pinnes, points, and other small trifles, whom they call pedlars, to set out their wares to sale, either in the church­yeardes, or in the porches of churches, or any where els, on holidayes or sondayes, whilest a­ny part of the holy ministery is in doing, or any sermon is preached, neyther that beggars, or vagabondes, which haue no certain dwelling, abyde eyther in the churchyearde, or in the church porch, all the time of seruice, or prea­ching: [Page] but shall commaunde them, either to come in, or to depart.

They shall also search, and diligently en­quire, if any of the parishioners eyther come not at all to church, or come later or slower at y^e times appointed by the lawes: and whom they shall finde so to offende, they shall punish them, according to the appointing of the lawe. They shall marke whether al & euery of the parishio­ners come so often euery yeare to the holy com­munion, as the lawes & statutes do cōmaund: and whether any straingers from other pari­shes, come more often and commonly to their church, and shall shew their curate of them, lest perhaps he admit them to the Lordes table a­mongst others, but shall sende them rather to their owne curates.

They shall receiue no parson, nor vicar, to the ministery of theyr church, but whome the Bishop shall allow by his institution, and by hys mandate shall put in possession of that church. They shall receyue no curate, but him that by the letters, and seale of the Byshop, is specially appointed for that church. But if the Parson, Vicar, or Curate, behaue hymselfe o­therwise in hys ministery, or that he read ill, darckly, and confusedly, or that he lyue more losely and licentiously then is fitte for à man of that calling, and therby great offence be taken: the churchwardens shall spedely present him to the Bishop, that by and by he may be punished, and amendment of his fault may follow.

[Page 22]And that the Byshop may vnderstande, what sermons are made in euery church of hys dioces: the Churchwardens shall see, that the names of all preachers, which come to them from any other place, be noted in a boke, which they shall haue ready for that purpose, and that euery preacher subscribe his name in that boke, and the name of the Byshop, of whom he had licence to preach.

Last of all, the Churchwardens shall see, that all thinges be diligently obserued, which pertayne to theyr offices, and that are contay­ned in the Queenes iniunctions, and the boke of aduertisementes, and that shall be set foorth by the Archbishop or Bishop in euery their visi­tations, for the vse of the Churches. But if any do rayle vpon them, or goe to law with them, for doing theyr dutie, and detecting of offen­ders, that also they shall presente vnto the Bi­shop, that by his meanes and trauaill they may more easely be deliuered from that trouble.

Preachers.

NO man shal openly preach in his pa­rish, but being licenced by y^e Bishop, neyther hereafter shall be so bold, as preach out of his own cure & church, except he haue obtayned licence so to preach, eyther of the Queenes Maiestie, ouer all her realme: eyther of the Archbishop, through hys prouince: or of the Bishop, in his dioces. And [Page 23] no licence to preach, shall hereafter stande in force, but that which hath bene obtayned after the last day of Aprill, which was in the yeare, 1571. Preachers shall behaue them selues modestly and soberly in all their life.

But chiefly they shall take heede, that they teach nothing in their preaching, which they would haue the people religiously to obserue, and beleue, but that which is agreeable to the doctrine of the olde Testament, or the newe, and that which the catholike fathers, and aun­cient Bishops haue gathered out of that doc­trine. And because those articles of Christian religion, agreed vpon by the Bishoppes, in the lawfull, and godly conuocation, and by the commaundement, and aucthoritie of our noble princesse Elizabeth assembled and holden, vn­doubtedly are gathered out of the holy bookes of the olde, and newe Testamente, and in all pointes agree with the heauenly doctrine con­tayned in them: because also the booke of com­mon prayers, and the booke of the consecration of Archbishops, Bishops, Ministers and Dea­cons containe nothing repugnant to the same doctrine, whosoeuer shall be sent to teach the people, shall not onely in theyr preaching, but also by subscription confirm the authoritie, and truth of those articles. He that doth otherwise, or troubleth the people with contrary doctrine shall be excommunicated.

In preaching they shall weare à very mo­dest and graue garment, which may becomme [Page 24] and set foorth the minister of God, and such as is prescribed in the booke of aduertisementes. They shall require no money or rewarde for theyr preaching, but shall be content with meat and drincke, and playne prouision, and one nightes lodging.

They shall teach no vayne, and olde wiues opiniōs, no heresies, nor popish errors, disagree­ing from the doctrine and fayth of Christ: ney­ther any thing at all, whereby the rude people may be stirred vp to the desire of nouelties, or contention. But they shall alwayes teach that, which may make for edifying, and may vnite the hearers in Christian peace and loue.

Residences.

THe absence of the shepheard from the Lords flocke, and that careles negligence, which we doe see in many, and forsakyng of the mini­sterie, is à thing in it selfe to be ab­horred & odious to the people, and pernitious to the Church of God. Therefore we exhort all pastors of Churches, in the Lorde Iesu, that foorthwith they returne euery one to theyr pa­rishes, and diligently teach the Gospell, accor­ding to their liuing to keep house, to helpe the poore by hospitalitie, and there to be resident euery yeare no lesse then lx. dayes.

Pluralitie.

IT shall be lawfull for no man, of what degree, or order so euer he be, to haue at one time, any more then two ecclesiastical benefices: neither shal it be lawful for any man at all, to obtain two benifices, if they be distant more then xxvj. miles.

Of Scholemasters.

IT shall not be lawfull for any to teach the Latine tongue, or to in­structe children, neyther openly in the scholes, neyther priuately in a­ny mans house, but whome the By­shop of that dioces hath alowed, and to whom he hath geuen licence to teach vnder the seale of hys office. And here we except (for honours sake) the Lordes of the Parliament: but the Bishop shall allow no Scholemaister, nor ac­compt him worthy of y^t office, but whom he shal finde in his iudgement to be learned, and wor­thy of that place, and whome he shall see com­mended by the testimonie of godly men, tou­ching hys life and manners, and especially hys religion.

Scholemaisters shall teach no Grammer, but onely that, which the Queenes Maiestie hath commaunded to be read in all Scholes, through the whole Realme, neyther any other Latine Catachisme, then that which was sette [Page 26] forth, in the yeare. 1570. The whiche also, that is translated into English, we wil haue taught vnto children that are ignoraunt of the Latine tongue.

All other bookes they shall teach, whereby the fulnes and finenes of the Latine & Greeke toung may be learned, & those especially, which profite to the knowledge of Christ and godly­nes. And once euery yeare they shall signifie to the Byshop, what chosen scholers they haue of all their number, which are of that aptnes, and so forward in learning, that there may be good hope they will become fitte, either for the com­mon wealth, or for the holy ministerie. By this hope the parents beyng allured, will more wil­lingly keepe them at schole.

But chiefly they shal so order and frame the tongues of children, that they may pronounce openly, plainly, and distinctly. And as often as any sermon shalbe, they shall either send them, or bring them to church, that from their child­hode they may be brought vp in godlines: & lest they should heare it negligently: at their return to schole, they shall call and examine euery one, what they haue learned out of that sermon: and that the myndes of chil­dren, may be the more styrred vp to vertue and diligence: they shall rebuke the idle and sluggish, and shall prayse the atten­tiue and diligent.

Patrones and Proprietaries.

THe Bishop shall earnestly and dili­gently exhorte patrones of benefi­ces, to consider the necessities of the churches, and to haue before theyr eyes the last day, and iudgement, & the tribunall seat of God. Therefore that they preferre no man to any ecclesiastical liuing, but him whiche by doctrine, iudgement, godlynes, honestie, & innocencie of life, is able to beare so heauy a burthen, y^t they do nothing therin, but vprightly, vncorruptly & truly: & he shal professe that he will vse all honest, & lawfull meanes to search out the truth. But if, either in the pre [...]ē ­tation, or els after he shall perceiue any corrup­tiō, or simony to be committed any way, either closely, either directly, or indirectly, by him, or any other, either that money, or moneyworth, or that any commoditie, or any part of the pro­fites should come vnto him: y^t he then wil pub­lish and declare this wicked deed and simonie, not onely in the cathedrall Church, but also els where, to his shame & perpetuall reproch, & also thrust out that minister, whom he so wickedly presented, not onely from the office of a Priest, which he vnlawfully entred: but also from all ministery, and out of the whole Dioces.

Humble petition must be made to the Queenes maiestie, that some way by her leaue and commaundement may be found, that the [...] [Page 30] our byshop, by the name and autho­ritie of the most mightie God, hath excommunicated him from all com­pany of the churche of God, & hath cut him of as a dead member, from the body of Christ: In this state, & in so great daūger of his soule is he at this time. S. Paule being taught by the inspiration of the holy ghost, commaundeth that we eschue the fellowship, & company of such men, least we be partakers of the same wickednesse. Yet, as christian chari­tie warneth vs, because he will not pray for himself, neither vnderstan­deth hys daunger, let vs all in hys name pray vnto God, that once he may acknowledge his miserye and filthines of life, and may repent, and turne vnto God. For our God is mercifull, and can cal them from death, that were fallen.