I.—P. 107.

The following is a copy of the Bill after certain omissions and additions had been made, and the subjoined paper will give an idea of the extent of the latter:—

A Bill for uniting their Majesties’ Protestant Subjects. First reading, March 11, 1688; second reading, March 14, 1688.

Whereas the peace of the State is highly concerned in the peace of the Church, which therefore at all times, but especially in this conjuncture, is most necessary to be preserved: In order therefore to remove occasions of differences and dissatisfaccons which may arise amongst Protestants, Be it Enacted by the King and Queen’s most excellent Maties, By and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons in this present Parliamt assembled, and by the authority of the same, That in order to ye being a Minister of this Church, or the taking, holding, and enjoying any Ecclesiastical Benefice or promotion in the same, noe other subscripcon or declaracons shall from henceforward be required of any person, but onely the Declaracon menconed in a Statute made in the thirtieth year of the Reigne of the late King Charles the Second, Intituled, An Act for the more effectual preserving the King’s person and Governmt by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliamt, and also the Declaration following, vizt: I, A. B., doe submit to the prnt Constitucon of the Church of Engl. I acknowledge that the doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary to Salvation, and I will conforme myself to the worship and the government thereof, as established by Law; And I solemnly promise, in ye exercise of my Ministry, to Preach and practice according thereunto.

And Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in order to the being Collated or Instituted into any Benefice or promotion noe more or other Oaths shall be required to be taken of any person than onely the two Oaths menconed in the late Statute made in the first year of the Reigne of King William and Queen Mary, Intituled, an Act for removing and preventing all questions and disputes concerning the assembling and sitting of this present Parliament, and alsoe the Oath of Simony, and the Oath of Residence, any Statute or Canon to the contrary notwithstanding.

And Be it further Enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the Two Declaracons aforesaid shall be made and subscribed in ye said Oaths menconed in the sd Stat, made in the first yeare of the Reigne of King William and Queene Mary, shall be taken in the presence of the Bishop or his Chancellor, or the Guardian of the Spiritualities, by every person that is to receive any Holy orders, or keepe any public Schoole, and alsoe the pr Oathes and Declaracon, together with the said Oathes of Simony and residence by every person that is to have a Lycence to preach any Lecture or that is to be Collated or Instituted into any Benefice, or that is to be admitted into any Ecclesiastical dignity or promotion before such his Ordination, Lycencing, Collation, Institution, or Admission, respectively.

And be it further Enacted, that every person that shall from henceforward take any Degree in either of the Universities, or any fellowship, headship, or professors place in the same, shall, before his admission to that degree, or fellowship, or headship, or professors place, subscribe the aforesaid Declaracons and take the said Oaths mentioned in the said Statute, made in the first yeare of the Reigne of King William and Queen Mary, in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor or his Deputy. Provided that if any of the persons herein before required to make and subscribe the said Declaracons be not in Holy orders, such person shall not be obliged to make and subscribe all the Declaracon hereinbefore expressed, but onely this part thereof, viz.: I, A. B., doe submitt to the psent Constitucon of the Church of Engld. I acknowledge that the doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary to Salvacon, and I will conforme myselfe to the worship and the Governmt thereof, as established by law, together with the other Declaracon aforesaid menconed in said Statute, made in the Thirtieth year of the Reigne of the late King Charles the Second.

And be it further Enacted, that the making and subscribing the said Declaracons, and taking the said Oaths as aforesaid, shall be as sufficient to all intents and purposes aforesaid as if the parties had made all other Declaracons and subscripcons, and taken all other oaths which they should have taken by vertue of any law, Statute, or Canon, whatsoever.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from henceforth noe Minister shall be obliged to wear a surplice in the time of reading prayers or performing any other Religious Office—Except onely in the King and Queen’s Maties Chappells, and in all Cathedral or Collegiate Churches and Chappells of this Realme of England and Dominion of Wales. Provided alsoe that every Minister that shall not think fitt to wear a surplice as aforesaid shall nevertheless be obliged to performe all ye Publick Offices of his Ministry in the Church in a Black Gowne, suitable to his Degree. And if it be in a place where a Gowne is not the dayly constant habit of the Minister, in every such parish the parish shall provide a Gowne for him, to be worne by him dureing the time of his officiating in the Church.

And be it further Enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that no Minister from henceforward shall be obliged to use the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme, nor any parent obliged to have his Child Christned by the Minister of the Parish if the said Minister will not use or omitt the signe of the Cross, according to the desire of the parent, who in that case may procure some other Minister of the Church of Engld to doe it.

And be it further Enacted, by ye authority aforesaid, that noe Minister or Ecclesiastical person shall oblige any person to find Godfathers or Godmothers for any child to be baptized, soe as the parents or parent or other friend of such Child shall present the same to be Baptized, and shall answer for such child in like manner as the Godfathers and Godmothers are now required to doe.

And be it further Enacted, by ye authority aforesaid, that noe Minister that shall officiate in the administracon of the Sacramt of the Lord’s Supper shall deny or refuse to any person that desires to be admitted to the same, in a pew or seate in the Church, altho’ such person shall not receive it kneeling.

And whereas the Liturgie of ye Church of England is capable of sevell alteracons and additions, which may free it from exception, and may conduce to ye Glory of God and ye better Edefication of the people, And whereas the Book of Canons is fitt to be reviewed and made suitable to the present state of the Church, And whereas there are divers abuses and defects in ye Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdiction, and particularly for reformacon or removeing of scandalous Ministers, And whereas it is very fitt and profitable that Confirmacon be administred with such due preparacon and solemnity as is directed in the late King Charles the Second’s Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical affairs, issued in the yeare of our Lord 1660, And a strict care be used in the Examinacon of such persons as desire to be admitted into Holy Orders, both as to their learning and manners:

Wee, your Maties most dutifull and Loyall Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliamt assembled, doe most humbly beseech your Majesties to issue out a Comission under yor Great Seale, directed to the Arch Bishops, and such Bishops, and such others of the Clergy of the Church of England, not exceeding the number of thirty in ye whole, impowering and requiring them, or any twelve of them, to meet from time to time, and as often as shall be needfull, and to make such alteracons in the Liturgie and reformacon of the Canons and Ecclesiastical Courts as may conduce to the Establishmt of the Church in peace and Tranquility, and to present such alteracons and reformacons to the Convocation and to the Parliamt that the same may be approved and established in due forme of Law.

Alterations made in Committee.

COMPREHENSION.

1 sh.6 l.—For (of) Reade (in).
„14 l.—Instead of (as containing) reade (wch I doe acknowledge to containe), and before (promise) add (solemnely).
„18 l.—Before (Oathes) insert (two), and leave out (of fidelity).
„21 l.—After (Symony) Add (And the Oath of Residence).
„24 l.—Leave out (of fidelitye), and add (mentioned in the sd Stat, made in the first yeare of the Raigne of King William and Queene Mary shall be).
2 sh.2 l.—After the first (or) insert (keepe any publiq schoole, and alsoe the sd oathes and declaracon, together with the sd oathes of Symony and Residence by every pson).
„4 l.—After (admission) add (respectively).
„8 l.—Leave out (of fidelity) and reade (mentioned in the sd Stat made in the first yeare of the Raigne of King William and Queene Mary).
„9 l.—Leave out from (Deputy) to (Provided) in the 11th l.
„15 l.—For (as containing) reade (wch I doe acknowledge to containe).
2 sh.22 l.—Leave out from (And Bee it) inclusive to (And Bee it) in the 5th l. of the 3rd sheet.
3 sh.11 l.—Leave out from (degree) to (And) in the 14th line.
„18 l.—After (Ministers) add (of the Church of Engld).
„1 l.—Leave out from (And) in the   to (And) in 4th l.
4 sh.4 l.—For (improvements) reade (additions).
„5 l.—For (if) Reade (is).
„5 l.—Before (edificacon) reade (better).
„16 l.—For (twenty) reade (thirty).
„20 l.—After (Reformacon) reade (to the Convocacon and).
1 sh.14 l.—I, A. B., doe submit to the present Constitution of the Church of England. I acknowledge that the Doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary to Salvation, and that I will conform my selfe to the worship and the government thereof as established by law.
And I solemnely pmise, in the exercise of my ministry, to preach and practice according thereunto.
Agreed to.
2 sh.14a 15 l.—Instead of the 14th and 15th l. reade (I, A. B., doe submit to the prsent constitucon of the Church of Engld. I acknowledge that the doctrine of it contains in it all things necessary for Salvacon, and I will conforme my selfe to the worship and the government thereof as established by Law).
4 sh.3 l.—After (same) add (in a Pew or Seate in the Church).