of the place having episcopal jurisdiction, in writing under his hand and seal, having respect to the greatness of the cure, and meetness of the party. And the said Curates and Ministers, if they remove from one Diocese to another, shall not be by any means admitted to serve without testimony of the Bishop of the Diocese, or Ordinary of the place as aforesaid, whence they came, in writing, of their honesty, ability, and conformity to the Ecclesiastical Laws of the Church of England. Nor any shall serve more then one Church or Chapel upon one day, except that Chapel be a member of the Parish Church, or united thereunto: and unless the said Church or Chapel where such a Minister shall serve in two places, be not able in the judgment of the Bishop or Ordinary as aforesaid, to maintain a Curate.

XLIX.-Ministers not allowed Preachers, may not expound.

No person whatsoever not examined and approved by the Bishop of the Diocese, or not licensed as is aforesaid, for a sufficient or convenient Preacher, shall take upon him to expound in his own cure or elsewhere, any Scripture or matter of doctrine, but shall only study to read plainly and aptly (without glossing or adding)` the Homilies already set forth, or hereafter to be published by lawful authority, for the confirmation of the true faith, and for the good instruction and edification of the people.

L.-Strangers not admitted to Preach without showing their Licence. Neither the Minister, Churchwardens, nor any other of the officers of the Church, shall suffer any man to preach within their Churches or Chapels, but such as by showing their license to preach shall appear unto them to be sufficiently authorised thereunto, as is aforesaid.

LI.-Strangers not admitted to Preach in Cathedral Churches without sufficient Authority.

The Deans, Presidents, and Residentiaries of any Cathedral or collegiate Church, shall suffer no Stranger to preach unto the people in their Churches, except they be allowed by the Archbishop of the Province, or by the Bishop of the same Diocese, or by either of the Universities. And if any in his Sermon shall publish any doctrine, either strange or disagreeing from the word of God, or from any of the Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation House Anno 1562, or from the Book of Common Prayers, the Dean or the Residents shall by their letters subscribed with some of their hands that heard him, so soon as may be, give notice of the same to the Bishop of the Diocese, that he may determine the matter, and take such order therein as he shall think convenient.

LII.-The Names of Strange Preachers to be noted in a Book.

That the Bishop may understand (if occasion so require) what Sermons are made in every Church of his Diocese, and who presume to preach without licence, the Churchwardens and Sidemen shall see that the names of all Preachers which come to their Church from any other place, be noted in a book, which they shall have ready for that purpose: wherein every Preacher shall subscribe his name, the day when he

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preached, and the name of the Bishop of whom he had licence to preach.

LIII.-No public opposition between Preachers.

If any Preacher shall in the pulpit particularly, or namely of purpose, impugn or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church, or in any Church near adjoining, before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocese therewith, and received order from him what to do in that case, because upon such public dissenting and contradicting, there may grow much offence and disquietness unto the people: the Churchwardens or party grieved shall forthwith signify the same to the said Bishop, and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he hath once abused, except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the Church, until the Bishop hath taken further order therein: who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein, that public satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given. Provided, that if either of the parties offending do appeal, he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite.

LIV.--The Licence of Preachers refusing Conformity to be void.

If any man licensed heretofore to preach, by any Archbishop, Bishop, or by either of the Universities, shall at any time from henceforth refuse to conform himself to the laws, ordinances, and rites ecclesiastical established in the Church of England, he shall be admonished by the Bishop of the Diocese, or Ordinary of the place, to submit himself to the use and due exercise of the same, and if after such admonition, he do not conform himself within the space of one month, we determine and decree, that the licence of every such preacher shall thereupon be utterly void and of none effect.

LV.-The form of a Prayer to be used by Preachers before their Sermons.

Before all Sermons, Lectures and Homilies, the Preachers and Ministers shall move the people to join with them in prayer, in this form or to this effect, as briefly as they conveniently may. Ye shall pray for Christ's holy Catholic Church, that is for the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world, and especially for the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And herein I require you most especially to pray for the King's most excellent Majesty, our Sovereign Lord JAMES, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and supreme Governor in these his realms, and all other his dominions and countries, over all persons, in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as temporal. Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queen ANNE, the noble Prince HENRY, and the rest of the King and Queen's royal issue. Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of God's holy word and sacraments, as well Archbishops and Bishops, as other Pastors and Curates. Ye shall also pray for the King's most honourable council, and for all the Nobility and Magistrates of this realm, that all and every of these in their several callings, may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God, and the edifying and well governing his people, remembering the account that they must make. Also ye

shall pray for the whole Commons of this realm, that they may live in true faith and fear of God, in humble obedience to the King, and brotherly charity one to another. Finally, let us praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the faith of Christ, and pray unto God that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good example: that this life ended, we may be made partakers with them of the glorious resurrection in the life everlasting; always concluding with the Lord's Prayer.

LVI.-Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service, and administer the Sacraments twice a year at the least.

Every Minister being possessed of a benefice that hath cure and charge of souls, although he chiefly attend to preaching, and hath a Curate under him to execute the other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church, and likewise every other stipendiary Preacher that readeth any Lecture, or catechiseth or preacheth in any church or chapel, shall twice at the least every year read himself the Divine Service, upon two several Sundays publicly, and at the usual times, both in the forenoon and afternoon in the Church which he so possesseth, or where he readeth, catechiseth, or preacheth as is aforesaid, and shall likewise as often in every year administer the Sacraments of Baptism, (if there be any to be baptized,) and of the Lord's Supper, in such manner and form, and with the observation of all such rites and ceremonies as are prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer in that behalf; which if he do not accordingly perform, then shall he that is possessed of a benefice (as before) be suspended: and he that is but a Reader, Preacher, or Catechiser, be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocese, until he or they shall submit themselves to perform all the said duties, in such manner and sort as before is prescribed.

LVII.-The Sacraments not to be refused at the hands of unpreaching Ministers.

Whereas divers persons seduced by false teachers, do refuse to have their children baptized by a Minister that is no Preacher, and to receive the Holy Communion at his hands in the same respect, as though the virtue of those Sacraments did depend upon his ability to preach; Forasmuch as the doctrine both of Baptism, and of the Lord's Supper is so sufficiently set down in the Book of Common Prayer to be used at the administration of the said Sacraments, as nothing can be added unto it that is material and necessary: We do require and charge every such person seduced as aforesaid, to reform that their wilfulness, and to submit himself to the order of the Church in that behalf, both the said Sacraments being equally effectual, whether they be ministered by a Minister that is no Preacher, or by one that is a Preacher. And if any hereafter shall offend herein, or leave their own parish churches in that respect, and communicate, or cause their children to be baptized in other parishes abroad, and will not be moved thereby to reform that their error and unlawful course: let them be presented to the Ordinary of the place by the Minister, Churchwardens, and Side-men or Quest-men of the parishes where they dwell, and there receive such punishment by ecclesiastical censures, as such obstinacy doth worthily deserve: that is, let them (persisting in their wilfulness) be suspended, and then after a

month's further obstinacy, excommunicated. And likewise if any Parson, Vicar, or Curate, shall after the publishing hereof, either receive to the communion any such persons which are not of his own Church and parish, or shall baptize any of their children, thereby strengthening them in their said errors: let him be suspended, and not released thereof, until he do faithfully promise that he will not afterwards offend therein.

LVIII.—Ministers reading Divine Service, and administering the Sacraments, to wear Surplices, and Graduates therewithal Hoods.

Every Minister saying the public prayers, or ministering the Sacraments, or other rites of the Church, shall wear a decent and comely surplice with sleeves, to be provided at the charge of the parish. And if any question arise touching the matter, decency, or comeliness thereof, the same shall be decided by the discretion of the Ordinary. Furthermore, such Ministers as are Graduates, shall wear upon their surplices at such times, such hoods as by the orders of the Universities are agreeable to their degrees, which no Minister shall wear (being no Graduate) under pain of suspension. Notwithstanding, it shall be lawful for such Ministers as are not Graduates, to wear upon their surplices, instead of hoods, some decent tippet of black, so it be not silk.

LIX.-Ministers to Catechize every Sunday.

Every Parson, Vicar or Curate, upon every Sunday and holyday before Evening Prayer, shall for half an hour or more, examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish, in the Ten Commandments, the Articles of the Belief, and in the Lord's Prayer: and shall diligently hear, instruct, and teach them the Catechism set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. And all fathers, mothers, masters and mistresses, shall cause their children, servants, and apprentices, which have not learned the Catechism, to come to the Church at the time appointed, obediently to hear, and to be ordered by the Minister, until they have learned the same. And if any minister neglect his duty herein, let him be sharply reproved upon the first complaint, and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place. If after submitting himself, he shall willingly offend therein again, let him be suspended. If so the third time, there being little hope that he will be therein reformed, then excommunicated, and so remain until he will be reformed. And likewise, if any of the said fathers, mothers, masters, or mistresses, children, servants, or apprentices shall neglect their duties, as the one sort in not causing them to come, and the other in refusing to learn as aforesaid: let them be suspended by their Ordinaries (if they be not children) and if they so persist by the space of a month, then let them be excommunicated.

LX. Confirmation to be performed once in three years.

Forasmuch as it hath been a solemn, ancient, and laudable custom in the Church of God, continued from the Apostles' times, that all Bishops should lay their hands upon children baptized and instructed in the Catechism of Christian religion, praying over them, and blessing them, which we commonly call Confirmation, and that this holy action hath been accustomed in the Church in former ages, to be performed in the

Bishop's visitation every third year: we will and appoint, that every Bishop, or his Suffragan in his accustomed visitation, do in his own person carefully observe the said custom. And if in that year by reason of some infirmity, he be not able personally to visit, then he shall not omit the execution of that duty of Confirmation the next year after, as he may conveniently.

LXI. Ministers to prepare Children for Confirmation.

Every Minister that hath cure and charge of souls, for the better accomplishing of the orders prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer concerning Confirmation, shall take especial care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hands upon, but such as can render an account of their faith according to the Catechism in the said book contained. And when the Bishop shall assign any time for the performance of that part of his duty, every such Minister shall use his best endeavour to prepare and make able, and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought, and by the Bishop to be confirmed.

LXII.-Ministers not to marry any persons without Banns or Licence. No Minister upon pain of suspension per triennium ipso facto, shall celebrate matrimony between any persons without a Faculty or Licence granted by some of the persons in these our Constitutions expressed, except the Banns of Matrimony have been first published three several Sundays or holydays in the time of Divine Service in the Parish Churches and Chapels where the said parties dwell, according to the Book of Common Prayer. Neither shall any Minister upon the like pain, under any pretence whatsoever, join any persons so licenced in marriage at any unreasonable times, but only between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon, nor in any private place, but either in the said Churches or Chapels where one of them dwelleth, and likewise in time of Divine Service: nor when banns are thrice asked (and no licence in that respect necessary) before the Parents or Governors of the parties to be married, being under the age of twenty and one years, shall either personally, or by sufficient testimony, signify to him their consents given to the said marriage.

LXIII.—Ministers of exempt Churches, not to Marry without Banns or Licence.

Every Minister who shall hereafter celebrate Marriage betwixt any persons contrary to our said Constitutions, or any part of them, under colour of any peculiar liberty or privilege claimed to appertain to certain Churches and Chapels, shall be suspended per triennium, by the Ordinary of the place where the offence shall be committed. And if any such Minister shall afterwards remove from the place where he hath committed that fault before he be suspended, as is aforesaid, then shall the Bishop of the Diocese, or Ordinary of the place where he remaineth, upon certificate under the hand and seal of the other Ordinary from whose jurisdiction he removed, execute that censure upon him.