of thy great mercye, didste promise neuer to destroy it so agayn: We hubly beseche thee, that although we for oure iniquities haue woorthelye deserued this plague of rayne and waters, yet vpon our true repentaunce, thou wilt sende vs suche wether wherby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season, and learne both by thy punishment to amende our liues, and by the graunting of our peticion, to geue thee prayse and glory; Through Jesu Christ our Lorde.

Upon wednesdaies & frydaies, the English Letany shalbe said or song in all places, after suche forme as is appoynted by the kynges maiesties Iniunccions: Or as is or shal bee otherwyse appoynted by his highnes.. And thoughe there be none to communicate with the Prieste, yet these dayes (after the Letany ended) the Priest shall put vpon hym a playn Albe or surplesse, with a cope, and say al thinges at the Altar (appoynted to bee sayde at the celebracyon of the lordes supper) vntill after the offertory. And then shall adde one or two of the Collectes afore written, as occasion shall serue by his discrecion. And then turning him to the people shall let them depart, with the accustomed blessing.

And the same order shall be vsed all other dayes, whensoeuer the people be customably assembled to pray in the churche, and none disposed to communicate with the Priest.

Lykewyse in Chapelles annexed, and all other places, there shalbe no celebracion of the Lordes supper, except there be some to communicate with the Priest. And in suche Chapelles annexed where ye people hath not bene accustomed to pay any holy bread, there they must either make some charitable provision for the bering of the charges of the Communion, or elles (for receyuyng of thesame) resort to theyr Parish Churche.

For aduoyding of all matters and occasyon of dyscencyon, it is

mete that the breade prepared for the Communion, bee made through all thys realme, after one sort and fashion: that is to say, vnleauened, and rounde, as it was afore, but without all maner of printe, and some thyng more larger and thicker then it was, so that it may be aptly deuided in diuers pieces: and euery one shall be deuided in two pieces, at the leaste, or more, by the discrecion of the minister, and so distributed. And menne muste not thynke lesse to be receyued in parte, then in

: the whole, but in eache of them the whole body of our saviour Jesu Christ.

And forsomuche as the Pastours and Curates within thys realme, shal continually fynd at theyr costes and charges in theyr cures, sufficient Breade and Wyne for the holy Communion (as oft as theyr Parishioners shalbe disposed for theyr spiritual comfort to receyue the same) it is therefore ordred, that in recompence of suche costes and charges, the Parishoners of euerye Parishe shall offer euery Sonday, at the tyme of the Offertory, the iuste valour and price of the holy lofe (with all suche money, and other thinges as were wont to be offered with the same) to the vse of theyr Pastours and Curates, and that in suche ordre and course, as they were woont to fynde and pay the sayd holy lofe.

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Also, that the receiving of the Sacrament of the blessed body and bloud of Christ, may be most agreable to the institucion therof, and to the usage of the primatiue Churche: In all Cathederall and Collegiate Churches, there shal alwaies some Communicate with the Prieste that ministreth. And that the same may also obserued every where abrode in the country! Some one at the least of that house in euery Parishe, to whome by course after the ordinaunce herein made, it apperteyneth to offer for the charges of the Communion, or some other whom they shall prouide to offer for them, shall receive the holye Communion with the Prieste: the whiche may be the better doen, for that they knowe before, when theyr course commeth, and maie therfore dispose themselues to the worthie receiuyng of the Sacramente. And with hym or them who doeth so offre the charges of the Communion: all other, who be then Godly disposed thereunto, shall lykewyse receive the Communion. And by this meanes the Minister hauyng alwaies some to communicate with him, maie accordingly solempnise so high and holy misteries, with all the suffrages and due ordre appoynted for thesame. And the Priest on the weke daie, shall forbeare to celebrate the Communion, excepte he haue some that will communicate with hym.

Furthermore, euery man and woman to be bound to heare and be at the diuine seruice, in the Parishe churche where they be resident, and there with deuout prayer, or Godlye silence and meditacion, to occupie themselues. There to paie their dueties,

to communicate once in the yeare at the least, and there to receyue, and take all other Sacramentes and rites, in this booke appoynted. And whosoeuer willyngly vpon no iust cause, doeth absent themselues, or doeth ongodly in the Parishe churche occupie themselues: vpon proffe therof, by the Ecclesiasticall lawes of the Realme to bee excomunicate, or suffre other punishement, as shall to the Ecclesiastical iudge (accordyng to his discrecion) seme conuenient.

And although it bee redde in aunciente writers, that the people many yeares past, received at the priestes handes, the Sacrament of the body of Christ in theyr owne handes and no commaundement of Christ to the contrary: Yet forasmuche as they many tymes conueyghed the same secretelye awaye, kept it with them, and diuersly abused it to supersticion and wickednes: lest any suche thyng hereafter should be attempted, and that an vniformitie might be used, throughoute the whole Realme; it is thought conuenient the people commonly receiue the Sacrament of Christes body, in their mouthes, at the Priestes hande.

From the Edition of the first Common Prayer Book, "Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Edward Whitchurche, the seventh daye of Marche, 1549." Folio.

THE END.

C. Whittingham, Chiswick.