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THERE at the death of our late Sovereign Lord King Edward the Sixth, there remained one uniform order of Common Service, and Prayer, and of the Administration of Sacraments, Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England, which was set forth in one Book, Intituled, The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England, authorized by Act of Parliament holden in the fifth and sixth years of our said late Sovereign Lord King Edward the Sixth, Intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments; The which was repealed, and taken away by Act of Parliament, in the first year of the Reign of our late Sovereign Lady Queen Mary, to the great decay of the due honour of God, and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christ's Religion:

Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That the said Statute of Repeal, and every thing therein contained, only concerning the said Book, and the Service, Administration of Sacraments, Rites, and Ceremonies contained or appointed in, or by the said Book, shall be void and of none effect, from and after the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming: and That the said Book, with the order of Service, and of the Administration of Sacraments, Rites and Ceremonies, with the alterations and additions therein added and appointed by this Statute, shall stand, and be, from, and after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist, in full force and effect, according to the tenour and effect of this Statute: Any thing in the foresaid Statute of Repeal to the contrary notwithstanding.

And further be it Enacted by the Queen's Highness, with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all, and singular Ministers in any Cathedral, or ParishChurch, or other place within this Realm of England, Wales, and the Marches of the same, or other the Queen's Dominions, shall from and after the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist, next coming, be bounden to say and use the Mattins, Evensong, celebration of the Lord's Supper, and Administration of each of the Sacraments, and all the Common and open Prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned fn the said Book, so Authorized by Parliament in the said fifth and sixth years of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth; with one alteration, or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year, and the form of the Litany altered, and corrected, and two sentences only added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants, and none other, or otherwise: and, That if any manner of Parson, Vicar, or other whatsoever Minister that ought or should sing, or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book, or minister the Sacraments, from, and after the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, refuse to use the said Common Prayer, or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or Parish-Church, or other places, as he should use to minister the same, in such order and form, as they be men

tioned, and set forth in the said Book, or shall wilfully, or obstinately standing in the same, use any other Rite, Ceremony, Order, Form, or manner of celebrating of the Lord's Supper openly, or privily, or Mattins, Evensong, Administration of the Sacraments, or other open Prayers, than is mentioned, and set forth in the said Book, [Open Prayer in, and throughout this Act, is meant that Prayer, which is for others to come unto, or hear, either in Common Churches, or private Chapels, or Oratories, commonly called the Service of the Church] or shall preach, declare, or speak any thing in the derogation, or depraving of the said Book, or any thing therein contained, or of any part thereof, and shall be thereof lawfully convicted, according to the Laws of this Realm, by verdict of twelve men, or by his own confession, or by the notorious evidence of the fact, shall lose, and forfeit to the Queen's Highness, Her Heirs, and Successors, for his first offence, the profit of all his Spiritual Benefices, or Promotions, coming, or arising in one whole year next after his conviction: And also that the person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer imprisonment by the space of six months, without Bail or Mainprise: And if any such person, once convict of any offence concerning the premisses, shall after his first Conviction eftsoons offend, and be thereof in form aforesaid lawfully convict; That then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year, and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his Spiritual Promotions; and, That it shall be lawful to all Patrons, or Donors of all and singular the same Spiritual Promotions, or of any of them, to present, or collate to the same, as though the person, or persons so offending were dead: and That, if any such person or persons, after he shall be twice convicted in form aforesaid, shall offend against any of the premisses the third time, and shall be thereof, in form aforesaid, lawfully convicted; That then the person so offending, and convicted the third time shall be deprived ipso facto of all his Spiritual Promotions, and also shall suffer imprisonment during his life: And if the person, that shall offend, and be convicted in form aforesaid, concerning any of the premisses, shall not be Beneficed, nor have any Spiritual Promotion; That then the saine person so offending, and convict, shall for the first offence suffer imprisonment during one whole year next after his said conviction, without Bail or Mainprise: And if any such person not having any Spiritual Promotion, after his first conviction, shall eftsoons offend in any thing concerning the premisses, and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convicted; That then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment during his life.

And it is Ordained, and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person, or persons whatsoever, after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, shall in any Enterludes, Plays, Songs, Rhimes, or by other open words declare, or speak any thing in the derogation, depraving, or despising of the same Book, or of any thing therein contained, or any part thereof, or shall by open fact, deed, or by

Realm should not go unpunished, that it may also be ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that if any Manner of Parson, Vicar, or other whatsoever Minister, that ought or should sing or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book, or minister the Sacraments, shall after the said Feast of Pentecost next coming refuse to use the said Common Prayers, or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or Parish Church, or other Places as he should use or minister the same, in such Order and Form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book; or shall use, wilfully and obstinately standing in the same, any other Rite, Ceremony, Order, Form or Manner of Mass openly or privily, or Mattens, Evensong, Administration of the Sacraments, or other open Prayer than is mentioned and set forth in the said Book: (Open Prayer, in and throughout this Act, is meant that Prayer which is for other to come unto or hear, either in common Churches or private Chapels or Oratories, commonly called the Service of the Church); or shall preach, declare, or speak any Thing in the Derogation or Depraving of the said Book, or any Thing therein contained, or of any Part thereof; and shall be thereof lawfully convicted according to the Laws of this Realm, by Verdict of Twelve Men, or by his own Confession, or by the notorious Evidence of the Fact, shall lose and forfeit to the King's Highness, his Heirs and Successors, for his first Offence, the Profit of such one of his Spiritual Benefices or Promotions as it shall please the King's Highness to assign or appoint, coming and arising in one whole Year next after his Conviction: And also that the same

Person so convicted shall for the same Offence suffer Imprisonment by the Space of Six Months, without Bail or Mainprise: And if any such Person once convict of any such Offence concerning the Premisses, shall after his first conviction eftsoons offend and be thereof in Form aforesaid lawfully convict, that then the same Person shall for his second Offence suffer Imprisonment by the Space of One whole Year, and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his Spiritual Promotions; and that it shall be lawful to all Patrons, Donors, and Grantees of all and singular the same Spiritual Promotions, to present to the same any other able Clerk, in like Manner and Form as though the Party so offending were dead: And that if any such Person or Persons, after he shall be twice convicted in Form aforesaid, shall offend against any of the Premisses the third Time, and shall be thereof in Form aforesaid lawfully convicted, that then the Person so offending and convicted the third Time, shall suffer Imprisonment during his Life: And if the Person that shall offend and be convict in Form aforesaid concerning any of the Premisses, shall not be beneficed, nor have any Spiritual Promotion, that then the same Person so offending and convict shall for the first Offence suffer Imprisonment during Six Months, without Bail or Mainprise: And if any such Person not having any Spiritual Promotion, after his first Conviction shall eftsoons offend in any Thing concerning the Premisses, and shall in Form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convicted, that then the same Person shall for his second Offence suffer Imprisonment during his Life.

'Almighty God is in no wise so readily 'and plenteously poured as by Common and often preaching of the Gospel, with Prayers, due using of the Sacraments, 'the Devotion of the Hearers: And yet 'this notwithstanding, a great Number 'of People in divers Parts of this Realm, following their own Sensuality, and 'living either without Knowledge or due Fear of God, do willingly and damnably before Almighty God abstain and refuse to come to their Parish Churches and 'other Places where Common Prayer, 'Administration of the Sacraments, and 'Preaching of the Word of God, is used 'upon Sundays and other days ordained 'to be Holydays.'

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open threatenings compel, or cause, or other wise procure, or maintain any Parson, Vicar, or other Minister in any Cathedral, or Parish Church, or in Chapel, or in any other place, to sing, or say any Common, or open Prayer, or to minister any Sacrament otherwise, or in any other manner, and form, than is mentioned in the said Book; or that by any of the said means. shall unlawfully interrupt, or let any Parson, Vicar, or other Minister in any Cathedral, or Parish-Church, Chapel, or any other place to sing or say Common and open Prayer, or to minister the Sacraments, or any of them, in such manner, and form, as is mentioned in the said Book; That then every such person, being thereof lawfully convicted in forin abovesaid, shall forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady, Her Heirs, and Successors, for the first offence an Hundred marks: And if any person, or persons, being once convict of any such offence, eftsoons offend against any of the last recited offences, and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convict; That then the same person, so offending and convict, shall for the second offence forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady, Her Heirs, and Successors, Four hundred marks: And if any person, after he in forin aforesaid shall have been twice convict of any offence concerning any of the last recited offences, shall offend the third time, and be thereof in form abovesaid lawfully convict; That then every person, so offending and convict, shall for his third offence forfeit to our Sovereign Lady the Queen all his Goods and Chattels, and shall suffer imprisonment during his life: And if any person, or persons, that for his first offence concerning the premisses, shall be convict in form aforesaid, do not pay the sum to be paid by virtue of his conviction, in such manner and form, as the same ought to be paid, within six weeks next after his conviction; That then every person so convict, and so not paying the same, shall for the same first offence, instead of the said sum, suffer imprisonment by the space of six months without Bail or Mainprise: And if any person, or persons, that for his second offence concerning the premisses, shall be convict in form aforesaid, do not pay the said sum to be paid by virtue of his conviction, and this estatute, in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid, within six weeks next after his said second conviction; That then every person so convicted, and not paying the same, shall for the same second offence, in the stead of the said sum, suffer imprisonment during twelve months without Bail or Mainprise: and, 14 That from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, all, and every person and persons, inhabiting within this Realm, or any other the Queen's Majesty's Dominions, shall diligently, and faithfully, having no lawful, or reasonable excuse to be absent, endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish-Church, or Chapel accustomed, or upon reasonable let thereof, to some usual place, where Common Prayer, and such Service of God shall be used in such time of let, upon every Sunday, and other days ordained and used to be kept as holy days, and then, and there to abide orderly and soberly, during the time of Common Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there to be used and ministered, upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church; and also upon pain, that every person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence, twelve pence, to be levied by the Churchwardens of the Parish, where such offence shall be done, to the use of the poor of the same Parish, of the goods, lands, and tenements of such offender, by way of distress.

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And for due execution hereof, the Queen's most excellent Majesty, the Lords Temporal, and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, do in God's name earnestly require, and charge all the Archbishops, Bishops, and

other Ordinaries, that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges, that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Dioceses and Charges, as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholesome law. And for their Authority in this behalf, Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singular the said Archbishops, Bishops, and all other their officers, exercising Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as well in place exempt, as not exempt, within their Diocese shall have full power and Authority by this Act to reform, correct and punish by censures of the Church, all, and singular persons, which shall offend within any of their Jurisdic tions, or Diocese, after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, against this Act and Statute: Any other Law, Statute, Privilege, Liberty, or Provision heretofore made, had, or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding.

And it is Ordained, and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Justice of Oyer and Determiner, or Justices of Assize shall have full power and Authority in every of their open and general Sessions to inquire, hear and determine all and all manner of offences, that shall be committed, or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act, within the limits of the Commission to them directed, and to make process for the execution of the same, as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespass, or lawfully convicted thereof.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure, join and associate himself by virtue of this Act to the said Justices of Oyer and Determiner, or to the said Justices of Assize, at every of the said open and general Sessions, to be holden in any place within his Diocese for and to the inquiry, hearing, and determining of the offences aforesaid.

Provided also, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Books concerning the said Services shall at the costs and charges. of the Parishioners of every Parish, and Cathedral Church be attained, and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next following, and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches, or other places, where the said Books shall be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist, shall within three weeks next after the said Books so attained and gotten, use the said Service, and put the same in use according to this Act.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached, or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences above mentioned, hereafter to be committed, or done contrary to this Act, unless he or they so offending be thereof indicted at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Justices of Oyer and Determiner, or Justices of Assize, next after any offence committed or done, contrary to the tenour of this Act.

Provided always, and be it Ordained, and Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singular Lords of the Parliament, for the third offence above mentioned, shall be tried by their Peers.

Provided also, and be it Ordained, and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Mayor of London, and all other Mayors, Bailiffs, and other Head-officers of all, and singular Cities, Boroughs, and Towns-corporate within this Realm, Wales, and the Marches of the same, to the which Justices of Assize do not commonly repair, shall have full power and Authority by virtue of this Act, to inquire,

'V. And because there hath arisen in 'the Use and Exercise of the aforesaid Common Service in the Church hereto'fore set forth, divers Doubts for the 'Fashion and Manner of the Ministration of the same, rather by the Curiosity of 'the Minister and Mistakers, than of any 'other worthy Cause; therefore as well 'for the more plain and manifest Ex'planation hereof, as for the more Per'fection of the said Order of Common 'Service, in some places where it is 'necessary to make the same Prayers ' and Fashion of Service more earnest 'and fit to stir Christian People to the 'true honouring of Almighty God;' the King's most excellent Majesty, with the Assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, hath caused the aforesaid order of Common Service, entitled The Book of Common Prayer, to be faithfully and godly perused, explained and made fully perfect, and by the aforesaid Authority hath annexed and joined it, so explained and perfected, to this present Statute: Adding also a

Declaration of Assent.

Form and Manner of making and consecrating of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and Deacons, to be of like Force, Authority and Value as the same like foresaid Book, intituled The Book of Common Prayer, was before, and to be accepted, received, used and esteemed in like Sort and Manner, and with the same Clauses of Provisions and Exceptions, to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes, as by the Act of Parliament made in the second Year of the King's Majesty's Reign was ordained, limited, expressed and appointed for the Uniformity of Service and Administration of the Sacraments throughout the Realm, upon such several Pains as in the said Act of Parliament is expressed. And the said former Act to stand in full Force and Strength, to all Intents and Constructions, and to be applied, practised and put in Use, to and for the establishing of the Book of Common Prayer, now explained and hereunto annexed, and also the said Form of making of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and Deacons hereunto annexed, as it was for the former Book.

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hear, and determine the offences abovesaid, and every of them yearly, within fifteen days after the Feast of Easter, and Saint Michael the Archangel, in like manner and form as Justices of Assize and Oyer, and Determiner may do.

Provided always, and be it Ordained, and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singular Archbishops, and Bishops, and every of their Chancellors, Commissaries, Archdeacons, and other Ordinaries, having any peculiar Ecclesiastical jurisdiction shall have full power and Authority by virtue of this Act, as well to inquire in their Visitation, Synods, and elsewhere within their jurisdiction, at any other time, and place, to take accusations, and informations of all, and every the things above mentioned, done, committed, or perpetrated within the limits of their jurisdiction and Authority, and to punish the same by admonition, excommunication, sequestration, or deprivation, and other censures and process, in like form, as heretofore hath been used in like cases by the Queen's Ecclesiastical Laws.

Provided always, and be it Enacted, That whatsoever person offending in the premisses shall for the first offence receive punishment of the Ordinary, having a testimonial thereof under the said Ordinary's seal, shall not for the same offence eftsoons be convicted before the Justices; and likewise receiving for the said offence punishment first by the Justices, shall

not for the same offence eftsoons receive punishment of the Ordinary: Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary not withstanding.

Provided always, and be it Enacted, That such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof shall be retained, and be in use, as was in this Church of England by the Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, until other order shall be therein taken by Authority of the Queen's Majesty, with the advice of her Commissioners, appointed and Authorized under the great seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical, or of the Metropolitan of this Realm: And also, That if there shall happen any contempt, or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies, or Rites of the Church, by the misusing of the Orders appointed in this Book; the Queen's Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners, or Metropolitan, ordain and publish such further Ceremonies, or Rites, as may be most for the advancement of God's glory, the edifying of his Church, and the due reverence of Christ's holy Mysteries and Sacraments.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances, wherein, or whereby any other service, Administration of Sacraments, or Common Prayer is limited, established, or set forth to be used within this Realm, or any other the Queen's Dominions, or Countries, shall from henceforth utterly be void and of none effect.

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THEREAS in the first year of the late, Queen Elizabeth, there was one Uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer, and of the Administration of Sacraments, Rites and Ceremonies, in the Church of England, (agreeable to the Word of God, and usage of the Primitive Church) compiled by the Reverend Bishops and Clergy, set forth in one Book, Entituled, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England, and enjoined to be used by Act of Parliament, holden in the said first year of the said late Queen, Entituled, An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church, and Administration of the Sacraments, very comfortable to all good people desirous to live in Christian conversation, and most profitable to the estate of this Realm; upon the which the Mercy, Favour and Blessing of Almighty God is in no wise so readily and plentifully poured, as by Common Prayers, due using of the Sacraments, and often Preaching of the Gospel, with devotion of the hearers; And yet this notwithstanding, a great number of people in divers parts of this Realm, following their own sensuality, and living without knowledge and due fear of God, do wilfully and Schismatically abstain and refuse to come to the Parish-Churches and other Publick places where Common Prayer, Administration of the Sacraments, and Preaching of the Word of God is used upon the Sundays and other days ordained and appointed to be kept

and observed as Holy days: And whereas by the great and scandalous neglect of Ministers in using the said Order or Liturgy so set forth and enjoined as aforesaid, great inischiefs and inconveniences, during the times of the late unhappy troubles, have arisen and grown, and many people have been led into Factions and Schisms, to the great decay and scandal of the Reformed Religion of the Church of England, and to the hazard of many souls: for prevention whereof in time to come, for settling the Peace of the Church, and for allaying the present distempers which the indisposition of the time hath contracted, The King's Majesty, (according to His Declaration of the Five and twentieth of October One thousand six hundred and sixty) granted His Commission under the great Seal of England to several Bishops and other Divines, to review the Book of Coinmon Prayer, and to prepare such Alterations and Additions as they thought fit to offer: and afterwards the Convocations of both the Provinces of Canterbury and York being by His Majesty called and assembled, and now sitting, His Majesty hath been pleased to authorize and require the Presidents of the said Convocations, and other the Bishops and Clergy of the same, to review the said Book of Common Prayer, and the Book of the Form and Manner of the Making and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons: And that after mature consideration they should make such Additions and Alterations in the said Books respectively, as to them should seem