Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 4—The Church of the Restoration [part 2]

by John Stoughton

14 C. 2, Chap 4.

An Act for the Uniformity of Publique Prayers and Administration of Sacraments other Rites Ceremonies and for establishing the form of making ordaining and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons in the Church of England.

I. Recital of Act of Uniformity under Elizabeth.

Whereas in the first yeare of the late Queene Elizabeth there was one uniforme Order of Comon 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 Bishopps and Clergy set forth in one Booke entituled the Booke of Comon prayer and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and enjoyned to be used by Act of Parliament holden in the said first yeare of the said late Queene entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Comon 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 Realme upon the which the Mercy Favour and Blessing of Almighty God is in no wise so readily and plentifully poured as by Comon prayers due useing of the Sacraments and often preaching of the Gospell with Devotion of the Hearers And yet this notwithstanding a great number of people in divers parts of this Realm following their own sensualitie and liveing without knowledge and due feare of God do willfully and schismatically abstaine and refuse to come to theire Parish Churches and other publique places where Comon Prayer Administration of the Sacraments and preaching of the word of God is used upon the Sundayes and other dayes ordained and appointed to be kept and observed as Holy dayes. 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 mischeefs inconveniences during the times of the late unhappy troubles have arisen and grown and many people have been led into Factions and Schismes to the great decay and scandall of the Reformed Religion of the Church of England and to the hazard of many souls [For prevention whereof in time to Amendment. come for setling the Peace of the Church and for allaying the present distempers which the indisposition of the time hath contracted. The The King’s declaration 25th October 1660.King’s Majestie according to His Declaration of the five and twentieth of October One thousand six hundred and sixty granted Commission for Conference.His Comission under the Great Seale of England to severall Bishopps and other Divines to review the Booke of Comon prayer and to prepare such alterations and additions as they thought fitt to offer. And afterwards the Convocations of both the provinces of Convocation.Canterbury and Yorke being by His Majesty called and assembled and now sitting His Majestie hath beene pleased to authorize and require the presidents of the said Convocations and other the Bishopps and Clergy of the same to review the said Booke of Comon prayer and the booke of the forme and manner of the making and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons. And that after mature consideration they should make such additions and alterations in the said Bookes respectively as to them should seem meet and convenient and should exhibit and present the same to His Majesty in writing for his further allowance or confirmation since which time upon full and mature deliberation they the said President Bishops and Clergy of both provinces have accordingly reviewed the said Bookes and have made some alterations which they thinke fitt to be inserted to the same and some additionall prayers to the said booke of Comon prayer to be used upon proper and emergent occasions. And have exhibited and presented the same unto His Majestie in writing in one Booke entituled the Booke of Comon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and (the) forme and manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishopps Preists and Deacons All which His Majesty haveing duly considered hath fully approved and allowed the same and recomended to this present Parliament that the said bookes of Comon prayer and of the forme of ordination and consecration of Bishops priests and Deacons with the alterations and additions which have beene soe made and psented to His Majesty by the said Convocations be the Booke which shall be appointed to be used by all that officiate in all Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches and Chappells and in all Chappells of Colledges and Halls in both the Universities and the Colledges of Eaton and Winchester and in all Parish Churches and Chappells within the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Toune of Berwick upon Tweed and by all that make or consecrate Bishops Preists or Deacons in any of the said places under such sanctions and penalties as the Houses of parliament shall thinke fitt] II. Religion advanced by Uniform worship.Now in regard that nothing conduceth more to the setling of the Peace of this Nation (which is desired of all good men) nor to the honour of our Religion and the propagation thereof than an universall agreement in the publique worshipp of Almighty God and to the intent that every person within this Realme may certainely knowe the rule in which he is to comforme in publique worship and administration of Sacraments [and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England and the manner how and by whom Bishops Preists and Deacons are and ought to be made ordained and consecrated]. Be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by the advice and with the consent of the Lords [Spirituall and Temporall and of the] Comons in this present parliament assembled and by the authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedrall Collegiate or Parish Church or Chappell or other place of publique worship within this Realme of England Dominion of Wales and Toun of Berwick upon Tweed shall be bound to say and use the morning prayer Evening prayer Celebracon and administracon of both the Sacraments and all other the publique and Comon prayer in such order and forme as is menconed in the [said] booke annexed and joyned in this present Act and intituled The Booke of Comon prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other rites and Ceremonies of the Church [according to the use of the Church] of England [togeather with the psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and (the) forme or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishops Preists & Deacons] And that the Morning and Evening prayers therein contained shall upon every Lords day and upon all other [dayes and] occasions and att the times therein appointed be openly and solemnly read by all and every minister or Curate in every Church Chappell or other place of publique worshipp within this Realme of England and places aforesaid III. All ministers to declare assent to Book of Common Prayer.And to the end that uniformity in the publique worshipp of God (which is so much desired) may be speedily effected bee it farther Enacted by the authority aforesaid That every parson vicar or other Minister whatsoever who now hath and enjoyeth any Ecclesiasticall Benefice or promotion within this Realme of England or places aforesaid shall in the Church Chappell or place of publique worshipp belonging to his said benefice or promotion upon some Lords day before the Feast of Saint Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty and two openly publiquely and solemnly read the morning and Evening prayer appointed to be read by and according to the said Booke of Comon prayer att the times thereby appointed and after such reading thereof shall openly and publiquely before the congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent & consent to the use of all things in the said booke contained and prescribed Amendment.[in these words and no other. I, A. B doe declare my unfaigned assent and IV. Form of Declaration.consent to all and everything contained and prescribed in and by the booke intituled The booke of Comon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the psalter or psalmes of David poynted as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of V. Penalty of refusing.Bishops Preists and Deacons] And that all and every such person who shall (without some lawfull impediment to be allowed and approved of by the Ordinary of the place) neglect or refuse to doe the same within the time aforesaid (or in case of such impediment) within one moneth after such impediment removed shall (ipso facto) be deprived of all his spirituall promotions And that from thenceforth it shall be lawfull to and for all patrons and donors of all and singuler the said Spiritual promotions or of any of them according to theire respective rights and titles to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending or neglecting were dead. VI. Declaration to be made in all cases of promotion.And bee it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that every person whoe shall hereafter be presented or collated or put into any Ecclesiastical Benefice or promotion within this Realme of England and places aforesaid shall in the Church Chappell or place of publiq worshipp belonging to his said benefice or promotion within two moneths next after that he shall be in the actuall possession of the said Ecclesiastical benefice or promotion upon some Lords day openly publiquely and solemnly read the morning and Evening prayers appointed to be read by and according to the said booke of Comon prayer att the times thereby appointed and after such reading thereof shall openly and publiquely before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things therein contained and prescribed [according to the forme before appointed] And that all and every such person who shall (without some lawful impediment to be allowed and approved by the ordinary of the place) neglect or refuse to doe the same within the time aforesaid (or in case of such impediment within one moneth after such impediment removed) shall [ipso facto] be deprived of all his said Ecclesiasticall Benefices and promotions And that from thenceforth it shall and may be lawfull to and for all patrons and Donors of all and singuler the said Ecclesiastical Benefices and promotions or any of them (according to theire respective rights and titles) to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending or neglecting were dead VII. Amendment Incumbents to read the Common Prayer once a month.[And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that in all places where the proper Incumbent of any parsonage or vicaridge or Benefice with Cure doth reside on his living and keepe a Curate the Incumbent himselfe in person (not haveing some lawful impediment to be allowed by the Ordinary of the place) shall once (at the least) in every moneth openly and publiquely read the Comon prayers and service in and by the said Booke prescribed and (if there be occasion) administer each of the sacraments and other rites of the Church in the parish Church or Chappell of or belonging to the same parsonage vicarage or benefice in such order manner and forme as in and by the said booke is appointed upon pain to forfeit the sum of five pounds to the use of the poore of the Parish for every offence upon conviction by confession or proofe of two credible witnesses upon Oath before two Justices of the peace of the County City or Toun Corporate where the offence shall be comitted (which Oath the said Justices are hereby impowered to administer) and in default of payment within ten dayes to be levied by distresse and sale of the goods and chattells of the offender by the warrant of the said Justices by the Church Wardens or Overseers of the poore of the said Parish rendring the surplusage to the party VIII. Deans and Canons, &c., shall subscribe declaration following.And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that every Deane Canon and prebendary of every Cathedrall or Collegiate Church and all Masters and other Heads Fellowes Chaplaines and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall House of Learning or Hospitall and every publique professor and Reader in either of the Universities and in every Colledge elsewhere and every parson viccar curate lecturer and every other person in Holy Orders and every Schoolmaster keeping any publique or private Schools and every person instructing or teaching any youth in any House or private family as a Tutor or Schoolmaster who upon the first day of May which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty two or at any time thereafter shall be Incumbent or have possession of any Deanry Canonry Prebend Mastershipp Headshipp Fellowshipp Professors place or Readers place Parsonage vicarage or any other Ecclesiasticall Dignity or promotion or of any Curates place Lecture or School or shall instruct or teach any youth as Tutor or Schoolmaster shall before the Feast day of St. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty two or at or before his or theire respective admission to the Incumbent or have possession aforesaid subscribe the Declaration or acknowledgement following scilicet.—I, A, B, do declare that it is not lawfull upon any pretence whatsoever to take Armes against the King and that I do abhorr that traiterous position of taking IX. The declaration of non-resistance and repudiating the Covenant.Armes by his Authority against his person or against those that are commissionated by him And that I will conforme to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established And I do declare that I do hold there lies no obligacon upon me or on any other person from the Oath comonly called the Solemne League and Covenant [to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State] And that the same was in itselfe an unlawfull Oath and imposed upon the subjects of this Realme against the knowne lawes and liberties of this X. Penalty for not subscribing.Kingdome.—Which said Declaration and acknowledgment shall be subscribed by every of the said Masters and other Heads fellowes Chaplaines and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall or House of Learning and by every publique professor and Reader in either of the Universities before the Vice-Chancellor of the respective Universities for the time being, or his Deputy And the said Declaration or acknowledgment shall he subscribed before the respective Archbishopp Bishopp or Ordinary of the Diocesse by every other person hereby enjoyned to subscribe the same upon pain that all and every of the persons aforesaid failing in such subscription shall loose and forfeit such respective Deanery Canonry Prebend Mastershipp headshipp fellowshipp Professors place Readers place parsonage viccarage Ecclesiasticall Dignity or promotion Curates place Lecture and School and shall be utterly disabled and (ipso facto) deprived of the same And that every such respective Deanry Canonry Prebend Mastership headship fellowship Professors place Readers place parsonage viccarage Ecclesiasticall Dignity or promotion Curates place lecture and schools shall be void as if such person so failing were naturally XI. Schoolmasters in private houses included.dead.—And if any Schoolmaster or other person instructing or teaching youth in any private House or family as a Tutor or Schoolmaster shall instruct or teach any youth as a Tutor or Schoolmaster before licence obtained from his respective Archbishop Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocesse according to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme (for which he shall pay twelve pence onely) and before such subscription and acknowledgement made as aforesaid then every such Schoolmaster and other instructing and teaching as aforesaid shall for the first offence suffer three moneth imprisonment without baile or mainprize and for every second and other such offence shall suffer three months imprisonment without baile or mainprize and alsoe forfeit to his Majesty the sume of five pounds And after such subscription made every such Parson Viccar Curate and Lecturer shall procure a Certificate under the hand and seal of the respective Archbishop Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocese (whoe are hereby enjoyned and required upon demaund to make and deliver the same) and shall publickly and openly read the same togeather with the declaration or acknowledgement aforesaid upon some Lords day within three moneths then next following in his Parish Church where he is to officiate in the presence of the Congregation there assembled in the time of Divine Service upon pain that every person failing therein shall loose such Parsonage Viccarage or Benefice Curates place or Lecturers place respectively and shall be utterly disabled (ipso facto) deprived of the same And that the said Parsonage Viccarage or Benefice Curates place or Lecturers place shall be void as if he was naturally dead Provided alwaies that from and XII. Omissions in declaration after 25 March, 1682.after the twenty fifth day of March which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty two there shall be omitted in the said Declaration or Acknowledg^t. so to be subscribed and read these words following scilicet.—And I do declare that I do hold there lies no obligacon on me or any other person from the Oath comonly called the Solemne League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in itselfe an unlawfull Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realme against the knowne lawes and liberties of this Kingdome So as none of the persons aforesaid shall from thence forth be at all obliged to subscribe or read that part of the said declaration or acknowledgement XIII. Persons not episcopally ordained incapable of ecclesiastical referment.Provided alwaies and be it Enacted that from and after the feast of St. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two no person who now is Incumbent and in possession of any Parsonage Vicarage or Benefice and who is not already in Holy Orders by Episcopall Ordination or shall not before the said feast day of St. Bartholomew be ordained Preist or Deacon according to the forme of Episcopall Ordination shall have hold or enjoye the said Parsonage Vicarage Benefice with Cure or other Ecclesiasticall Promotion within this Kingdome of England or the Dominion of Wales [or town of Berwick upon Tweed] but shall be utterly disabled and (ipso facto) deprived of the same And all his Ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he was naturally dead. And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that no person whatsoever shall thenceforth XIV. And of administering sacraments.(be capable to bee admitted to any parsonage vicarage benefice or other Ecclesiastical Promotion or Dignity whatsoever nor shall) presume to consecrate and administer the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper before such time as he shall be ordained Preist according to the forme and manner in and by the said booke prescribed unlesse he have formerly beene made Preist by Episcopall Ordination upon pain to forfeit for every offence the sum of one hundred pounds one moyety thereof to the Kings Majesty the other moyety thereof to be equally divided betweene the poore of the parish where the offence shall be comitted and such person or persons as shall sue for the same by Action of debt bill plaint or information in any of His Majesties Courts of Record wherein no essoine protection or wager of law shall be allowed and to be disabled from taking or being admitted into the order of Preist by the space of one whole yeare then next following XV. Exception on behalf of foreigners.Provided that the penalties in this Act shall not extend to the forreiners or aliens of the forrein Reformed Churches allowed or to be allowed by the Kings Majestie his heires and successors in England XVI. Cases of voidance or deprivation.Provided alwaies that no title to conferre or present by lapse shall accrewe by any avoydance or deprivation (ipso facto) by vertue of this Statute but after six moneths after notice of such voidance or deprivation given by the Ordinary to the patron or such sentence of deprivation openly and publiquely read in the Parish Church of the Benefice Parsonage or Vicarage becomeing void or whereof the Incumbent shall be deprived by vertue of this Act. XVII. No other form of prayer to be publicly used.And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid that no form or order of Comon prayers administracon of Sacraments rites or Ceremonies shall be openly used in any Church Chappell or other publique place of or in any Colledge or Hall in either of the Universities the Colledges of Westminster Winchester or Eaton or any of them other than what is pscribed and appointed to be used in and by the said booke And that the present Governour or Head of every Colledge or Hall in the said Universities and of the said Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton within one moneth after the feast of S^t. Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two And every Governour or Head of any of the said Colledges or Halls hereafter to be elected or appointed within one moneth next after his Election or Collation and admission into the same Government or Headship shall openly and publiquely in the Church Chappell or other publique place of the same College or Hall and in the psence of the fellowes and Sckolars of the same or the greater part of them then resident subscribe Subscription to Articles.unto the nine and thirty Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute made in the thirteenth yeare of the Reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth And unto the said booke and declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto and approbation of the said Articles and of the same booke and to the use of all the prayers rites and ceremonies formes and orders in the said Booke prescribed and contained according to the form aforesaid And that all such Governours or Heads of the said Colledges and Halls or any of them as are or shall be in Holy Orders shall once (at least) in every quarter of the yeare (not having a lawfull impediment) openly and publiquely read the Morning prayer and service in and by the said booke appointed to be read in the Church Chappell or other publique place of the same Colledge or Hall upon pain to loose and be suspended of and from all (the) benefitts and profitts belonging to the same Government or headshipp by the space of six moneths by the Visitor or visitors of the same Colledge or hall And if any Governour or head of any Colledge or Hall suspended for not subscribing unto the said Articles and booke or for not reading of the Morning prayer and service as aforesaid shall not att or before the end of six moneths next after such suspension subscribe unto the said Articles and booke and declare his consent thereunto as aforesaid or read the Morning prayer and service as aforesaid then such Government or headshipp shall be (ipso facto) void. XVIII. Who may use the service in Latin.Provided alwaies that it shall and may be lawful to use the Morning and Evening prayer and all other prayers and service prescribed in and by the said booke in the Chappells or other publique places of the respective Colledges and Halls in both the Universities in the Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton and in the Convocations of the Clergies of either province in Latine any thing in this Act contained to the contrary notwithstanding.]

XIX. Amendment Lecturers.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid [that no person shall be or be received as a Lecturer or permitted suffered or allowed to preach as a Lecturer or to preach or read any Sermon or Lecture in any Church Chappell or other place of publique worshipp within this Realme of England or the Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed unless he be first approved and thereunto licensed by the Archbishopp of the province or Bishopp of the Diocesse or (in case the See be void) by the Guardian of the Spiritualities under his Seale and shall in the psence of the same Archbishop or Bishop or Guardian read the nine and thirty Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute of the thirteenth yeare of the late Queene Elizabeth with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And] that every person and persons whoe nowe is or hereafter shall bee (licensed) assigned (or) appointed or received as a Lecturer to preach upon any day of the weeke in any Church Chappell or place of publique worship within this Realme of England or places aforesaid the first time he preacheth (before his Sermon) shall openly publiquely and solemnly read the Comon prayers and service in and by the said booke appointed to be read for that time of the day and then and there publiquely and openly declare his assent unto and approbation of the said booke and to the use of all the prayers rites and ceremonies formes and orders therein contained and prescribed according to the forme before appointed in this Act Amendment.And alsoe shall upon the first lecture day [of every moneth afterwards so long as he continues lecturer or preacher there at the place appointed for his said lecture or sermon before his said Lecture or Sermon openly publiquely and solemnly read the Common prayers and service in and by the said booke appointed to be read for that time of the day at which the said lecture or sermon is to be preached and after such reading thereof shall openly and publiquely before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto and approbation of the said booke and to the use of all the prayers rites and ceremonies forms and orders therein contained and prescribed according to the forme aforesaid] and that all and every such person and persons who shall neglect or refuse to do the same shall from thenceforth be disabled to preach the said or any other lecture or sermon in the said or any other Church Chappell or place of publique worshipp untill such time as he (and they) shall openly publiquely and solemnly read the (Common) prayers (and service appointed) by the said booke and conform in all points to the things therein appointed and prescribed (according to the purport true intent and meaning of this Act) XX. Amendment. In Cathedral or Collegiate Churches.[Provided alwaies that if the said Sermon or Lecture be to be preached or read in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church or Chappell it shall be sufficient for the said Lecturer openly at the time aforesaid to declare his assent and consent to all things contained in the said booke according to the form aforesaid] XXI. Penalty for preaching by persons disabled.And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid That if any person who is by this Act disabled to preach any Lecture or Sermon shall during the time that he shall continue and remaine so disabled preach any Sermon or Lecture that then for every such offence the person and persons so offending shall suffer three monthes imprisonment in the Comon Goal without baile or mainprize and that any two Justices of the Peace of any County of this Kingdome and places aforesaid and the Maior or other Cheife Magistrate of any City or Town Corporate within the same upon Certificate from the Ordinary of the place made to him or them of the offence committed (shall and are hereby required) to committ the person or persons so offending to the Gaol of the same County City or Town Corporate accordingly [Provided alwaies and be it further XXII. Amendment. Common Prayer to be read before every lecture.Enacted by the authority aforesaid that at all and every time and times when any Sermon or Lecture is to be preached the Comon Prayers and Service in and by the said Booke appointed to be read for that time of the day shall be openly publiquely and solemnely read by some Preist or Deacon in the Church Chappell or place of publique Worship where the said Sermon or Lecture is to be preached before such Sermon or Lecture be preached and that the Lecturer then to preach shall be present at the reading thereof XXIII. Proviso touching Universities.Provided neverthelesse that this Act shall not extend to the University-Churches in the Universities of this Realme or either of them when or at such times as any Sermon or Lecture is preached or read in the same Churches or any of them for or as the publique University-Sermon or Lecture but that the same Sermons and Lectures may be preached or read in such sort and manner as the same have been heretofore preached or read this Act or anything herein conteyned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.] XXIV. Former laws for uniformity confirmed.And bee it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid That the severall good Lawes and Statutes of this Realme which have been formerly made and are now in force for the uniformity of Prayer and administration of the Sacraments within this Realme of England and places aforesaid shall stand in full force and strength to all intents and purposes whatsoever for the establishing and confirming of the [said booke entitled the] booke of Comon Prayer and administration of the Sacraments [and other rites and ceremonies of the Church according to y^e use of y^e Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the forme or manner of making ordeyning and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons] herein before menconed to bee joyned and annexed to this Act And shall be applyed practised and put in use for the punishing of all offences contrary to the said Lawes with relation to the Booke aforesaid and no other Provided alwayes XXV. Prayers for the King, &c.And bee it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid That in all those Prayers Letanyes and Collects which doe any way relate to the King Queene or Royal Progeny the names be altered and changed from time to time and fitted to the present occasion according to the direccon of lawfull authority. XXVI. Copies of Prayer Book to be provided in all parishes &c.Provided also and be it Enacted by the authority aforesaid that a true printed Copy of the said Booke entituled the Booke of Comon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonyes of the Church according to the use of the Church of England togeather with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the forme [and manner] of making ordeyning and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons shall at the costs and charges of the parishioners of every parish church and chappelry cathedrall church colledge and hall be attained and gotten before the Feast day of Saint Bartholomew in the yeare of our Lord one thousand Sixe hundred sixty and two upon paine of forfeiture of three pounds by the moneth for so long time as they shall thenafter be unprovided thereof by every Parish or Chappelry Cathedrall Church Colledge and Hall making default therein. XXVII. Translation of Common Prayer into Welsh.Provided alwayes and bee it Enacted by the authority aforesaid That the Bishops of Hereford St. David’s Asaph Bangor and Landaph and their successors shall take such order among themselves for the soules health of the flocks comitted to their charge within Wales That the Booke hereunto annexed be truly and exactly translated [into the British or Welsh Tongue and that the same so translated] and being by them or any three of them at the least viewed perused and allowed bee imprinted to such number at least so that one of the said Books so translated and imprinted may be had for every Cathedrall Collegiate and Parish Church and Chappell of Ease in the said respective Diocesses and places in Wales where the Welsh is comonly spoken or used before the first day of May one thousand six hundred sixty five And that from and after the imprinting and publishing of the said Booke so translated the whole Divine Service shall be used and said by the Ministers and Curates throughout all Wales within the said Diocesses where the Welsh Tongue is comonly used in the Brittish or Welsh Tongue in such manner and forme as is prescribed according to the Booke hereunto annexed to be used in the English Tongue differing nothing in any order or forme from the said English Booke For which Booke so translated and imprinted the Churchwardens of every of the said Parishes shall pay out of the parish money in their hands for the use of the respective Churches and be allowed the same on their account And that the said Bishops and their successors or any three of them at the least shall sett and appoynt the price for which the said Booke shall be sold And one other Booke of Comon Prayer in the English tongue shall be bought and had in every Church throughout Wales in which the Booke of Comon Prayer in which is to bee had by force of this Act before the first day of May one thousand six hundred sixty and fower and the same Booke to remaine in such convenient places within the said Churches that such as understand them may resort at all convenient tymes to read and peruse the same. And alsoe such as doe not understand the sayd language may by conferring both tongues together the sooner attaine to the knowledge of the English Tongue Any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding And untill printed Copies of the said booke soe to bee translated may bee had and provided The forme of Comon Prayer established by Parlyament before the making of this Act shall be used as formerly in such parts of Wales where the English Tongue is not comonly understood XXVIII. “Sealed books” to be obtained and kept.And to the end that the true and perfect copies of this Act and the said booke hereunto annexed may be safely kept and perpetually preserved and for the avoyding of all disputes for the tyme to come Bee it therefore Enacted by the authority aforesaid that the respective Deanes and Chapters of every Cathedrall or Collegiate Church within England and Wales shall at their proper costs and charges before the Twentie fifth day of December one thousand six hundred sixty and two obtaine under the Greate Seale of England a true and perfect printed Copie of this Act and of the said booke annexed hereunto to bee by the said Deanes and Chapters and their successors kept and preserved in safety for ever and to bee allso produced and shewed forth in any Court of Record as often as they shall bee thereunto lawfully required and also there shall bee delivered true and perfect Copies of this Act and of the same booke into the respective Courts at Westminster and into the Tower of London to be kept and preserved for ever among the Records of the said Courts and the Records of the Tower to be alsoe produced and shewed forth in any Court as neede shall require which sayd books soe to be exemplyfied under the Great Seale of England shall be examined by such persons as the King’s Majestie shall appoint under the Great Seale of England for that purpose and shall bee compared with the originall booke hereunto annexed and shall have power to correct and amend in writing any error comitted by the Printer in the printing of the same booke or of any thing therein conteyned and shall certifie in writing under their hands and seales or the hands and seales of any three of them at the end of the same booke that they have examined and compared the same booke and finde it to bee a true and perfect copie which said bookes and every one of them so exemplyfied under the Greate Seale of England as aforesaid shall be deemed taken adjudged and expounded to bee good and available in the law to all intents and purposes whatsoever and shall be accounted as good Records as this booke it selfe hereunto annexed any law or custome to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding XXIX. Proviso for King’s Professor of Law at Oxford.Provided also that this Act or any thing therein conteyned shall not be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto the King’s Professor of the Law within the University of Oxford for or concerning the Prebend of Shipton within the Cathedrall Church of Sarum united and annexed unto the place of the same King’s Professor for the time being by the late King James of blessed memory Provided alwaies that whereas the sixe and thirtieth Article of the XXX. Proviso concerning Art. 36.nine and thirty Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Cleargy in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord One thousand five hundred sixty two for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and for establishing of consent touching true Religion is in these words following (vizt.) “That the Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordeyning of Preistes and Deacons lately set forth in the time of King Edward the Sixth and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth conteyne althings necessary to such Consecration and ordeyning Neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly: And therefore whosoever are consecrated or Ordered according to the Rites of that Booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same rites. Wee decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered.” XXXI. Subscription to extend to form of Consecrating Bishops, &c.It be Enacted And Be it therefore Enacted by the authority aforesaid That all subscriptions hereafter to be had or made unto the said Articles by any Deacon Preist or Ecclesiasticall person or other person whatsoever who by this Act or any other Law now in force is required to subscribe unto the said Articles shall be construed and taken to extend and shalbe applyed (for and touching the s^d sixe and thirtieth Article) unto the Booke conteyning the forme and manner of making ordeyning and consecrating of Bishops Preists and Deacons in this Act mentioned in such sort and manner as the same did heretofore extend unto the Booke set forth in the time of King Edward the Sixth mentioned in the said six and thirtieth Article anything in the s^d Article or in any Statute Act or Canon heretofore had or made to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding XXXII. Form to be used till Bartholomew’s Day, 1662.Provided also that the Booke of Comon Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonyes of this Church of England together with the forme and manner of ordeyning and consecrating Bishops Preists and Deacons heretofore in use and respectively established by Act of Parliament in the first and eighth years of Queen Elizabeth shalbe still used and observed in the Church of England untill the Feast of Saint Bartholomew which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred sixty and two.

No. V.—Vol. I., p. 261.

Letters patent on parchment are attached to the sealed books. A copy of the letter is given in Stephens’ edition of the Prayer Book, published by the Ecclesiastical History Society.

After reciting the Act of Uniformity, it is said, “And whereas the printed copy of the Act of Parliament, and Book aforesaid hereunto annexed, hath been duly examined by the persons, whose names are thereunto subscribed, in pursuance of our Commission to them and others in that behalf directed. Now know ye, that, we according to the form and effect of the said Act of Parliament, and in accomplishment of the intent thereof, in this behalf, have inspected the said examined copy of the Act of Parliament and Book aforesaid, and have caused the same to be hereunto annexed, and to be exemplified under the Great Seal of England. In witness, &c.,——; signed Barker.” No copy of the Commission is supplied, nor the names of the Commissioners.

In the sealed books alterations are made by the pen of the Commissioners to bring them into accordance with the copy of the book attached to the Act. Most of these are quite unimportant. For example:—