Iniunctions giuen by the most reuerende father in Christ, Edmonde by the prouidence of God, Archbishop of Yorke primate of England, and Metropolitane, in his Metropoliticall visitation of the prouince of Yorke, aswell to the clergie, as to the laytie of the same prouince. Anno do. 1571.

¶ For the Laytie.

FIrst wée doe enioyne and straitly commaunde, that from hencefoorth no parish Clerke nor any other par∣son, not being ordered at the least for a Deacon, shall presume to solemnize Matrimonie, or to Minister the Sacrament of Baptisme, or to deliuer to the Communicantes the Lordes Cuppe at the celebration of the holy Communion. And that no person not being a Minister, Deacon, or at the least tollerated by the Ordinarie in writing, doe attempt to sup∣plie thoffice of the Minister in saying of Diuine seruice openly in any Church or Chappell.

2 Item, to thintent that the people may the better heare the Morninge and Eueninge Prayer, when the same by the Minister is saide, & be the more edified thereby, we doe enioyne that the Churchwardens of euery parishe, in places aswell ex∣empt as not exempt at the charges of the Parishe, shall procure a decent low Pulpit to be erected and made in the body of the Church out of hande, wherein the Minister shall stande with his face towardes the people, when he readeth Morninge and Euening prayer. Prouided alwaies that where the Churches are very small, it shall suffise that the Minister stande in his ac∣customed stall in the Quéere: So that a conuenient deske or lecterne with a rowme to turne his face towardes the people be there prouided by the saide Churchwardens at the charges of the parishe. The iudgement and order whereof and also the forme and order of the Pulpit or seate aforesaide in greater Churches, wée doe referre vnto the Archdeacon of the place or to his Officiall. Prouided also that the prayers and other ser∣uice appointed for the Ministration of the holy Communion, be saide and done at the Commūion table, except the Epistle and Gospell, which shalbe read in the saide pulpit or stall, and also the tenne commaundementes when there is no Communion.

3 Item, that the Churchwardens according to the custome of euery parishe shalbe chosen by the consent aswell of the Par∣son, Uicare, or Curate, as of the Parishioners, otherwise they

shall not be Churchwardens, neyther shall they continue anye lenger, than one yeare in that office, except perhappes they shal be chosen againe: They shall not sell or alienate any Belles or other church goodes, without consent of the Ordinarie, in wri∣ting first had, nor shal put the money that shall come of any such sale, to any other vse than to the reparations of their Churches or Chappelles, or for prouiding of necessaries for the same Churches or Chappels. And all Churchwardens at the ende of euery yeare shall give vp to the Parson, Uicare, or Curate, and their Parishioners a iuste accompte written in a booke to be prouided at the charges of the Parishe for that purpose, of al suche money, ornamentes, stocke, rentes, or other Churche goodes, as they haue receiued, during the time they were in of∣fice, and also shall particulerly shewe, what coste they haue be∣stowed in reparations & other thinges for the vse of the Church. And going out of their offices they shall truely deliuer vp in the sight of the Parishioners to the next Churchwardens, and note in the saide Churche booke, whatsoeuer money, ornamentes, stocke, or other Church goodes shall remaine and be in their handes at the time of giuing vp of their accomptes.

4 Item, that the Churchwardens in euery Parishe shall at the costes and charges of the Parishe prouide (if the same be not already prouided) all thinges necessary & requisite for com∣mon Prayer and Administration of the holy Sacramentes, on this side the .xx. day of next ensuyng, specially the booke of Common prayer, with the newe Kalender and a Psal∣ter to the same, the English Bible in the largest volume, the two Tomes of the Homelies, with the Homelies lately written against Rebellion, the table of the tenne Commaundementes, a conuenient Pulpitte well placed, a comely and decent table, standing on a framefor the holy Communion, with a faire lin∣nen clothe to lay vpon the same, and some couering of Silke, Buckram, or other such like, for the cleane kéeping thereof, a fayre and comely Communion cuppe of siluer, and a couer of siluer for the same, which may serue also for the ministration of

the Communion bread, a decent large Surplesse with sléeues, a sure Coffer with two lockes and keyes, for kéeping of the Re∣gister booke, and a strong chest or Boxe for the almose of the paire, with thrée lockes and keyes to the same, and all other things necessarie in and to the premisses. And shall also prouide before the sayde day, the Paraphrases of Erasmus in English vpon the Gospels, and the same set vp in some conuenient place within their church or chappell, the charges whereof, the person or proprietarie and Parishioners shall by equall portions beare according to the Quéenes Maiesties Iniunctions, all which bookes must be whole and not torne or vnperfit in any wise. And the Churchwardens also shal from time to time, at the charges of the Parish, prouide bread and wine for the Communion. And for that purpose shal take some order among the Parishioners, that euery one may pay such a reasonable summe towards the same, as may suffice for the finding of breade and wine for the Communion throughout the whole yeare, so as no Communi∣on at any tyme be disappoynted for want of bread and wine.

5 Item, that the Churchwardens shall sée that in theyr churches and chappels, all Aultars be vtterly taken downe and cléere remooued euen vnto the foundation, and the place where they stoode paued, and the wall wherevnto they ioyned, whited ouer, and made vniforme with the reast, so as no breach or rup∣ture appeare. And that the Aulterstones be broken, defaced, and bestewed to some common vse. And that the Roode loftes be ta∣ken downe, and altered so, that the vpper bordes and timber thereof both behinde and aboue, where the Rood lately did hang, and also the soller or loft be quite taken downe vnto the crosse beame, wherevnto the particion betwéene the Quéere and the bodie of the church is fastened, and that the sayde beame haue some conuenient creast put vpon the same. And that all the bordes, beames, and other stuffe of the Roode loftes, be solde by the churchwardens to the vse of the church, so as no part there∣of be kept and reserued.

6 Item that the churchwardens shall from time to time, sée

that their churches and chappels, and the stéeples thereof be di∣ligently and well repayred, with leade, tyle, slate, or shingle, lyme, stone, tymber, glasse, and all other necessaries, and that their churches and chappels be kept cleane and decently, that they be not lothsome to any, eyther by dust, sande, grauell, or anye filth, and that there bée no feastes, dinners, or common drinkings kept in the church, and that the churchyardes be well fenced and clenly kept, and that no folkes be suffered to daunce in the same.

7 Item, that the Churchwardens and Minister shall sée, that Antiphoners, Masse bookes, Grayles, Portesses, Proces∣sionals, Manualles, Legendaries, and all other bookes of late belonging to their church or chappell, which serued for the su∣persticious latine seruice, be vtterly defaced, rent, & abolished. And that all Uestments, Albes, Tunicles, Stoles, Phanons, Pixes, Paxes, Handbelles, Sacringbelles, Senscers, Crisma∣tories, Crosses, Candlestickes, Holy water stocks or Fattes, Images, and all other reliques and monuments of supersti∣tion & ydolatrie be vtterly defaced, broken & destroyed, & if they cannot come by any of the same, they shall present to the Ordi∣nary what they cannot come by, and in whose custodie the same is, to y^e intent further order may bée taken for y^e defacing therof.

8 Item, when anye man or woman dwelling néere to the church in any Citie, Borough, or great towne, is in passing out of this life, the Parishe clarke or Sextan shall knoll the bell to mooue the people to pray for the sicke person. And after the time of the departing of any christian bodie out of this life, the churchwardens shall sée, that neyther there be any more ring∣ing, but one short peale before the buriall, and another short peale after the buriall without ringing of any handbels or other superfluous or supersticious ringing, eyther before or at the time of the buriall or at any time after the same, nor any o∣ther forme of seruicesayde or song, or other ceremonies vsed at any buriall, than are appointed by the booke of common prayer. And also that neyther on all Saints day after Euening prayer,

nor the day next after, of late called all Soules day, there be any ringing at all other then to common prayer, when the same shall happen to fall vpon the Sunday. And that no Moneth myndes or yearely commemorations of the dead, nor any other supersticious ceremonies be obserued or vsed which tende to the maintenaunce eyther of prayer for the deade, or of the Popishe Purgatorie.

9 Item, that the Churchwardens shall not suffer any ring∣ing or tolling of Belles to be on Sundayes or holydayes vsed, betwéene the morning prayer, Letanie, and Communion, nor in any other tyme of common prayer, reading of the Homelies, or of preaching, except it be one Bell in conuenient time to bée rong, or knolled before a Sermon, nor shall suffer any other ringing to be vsed vpon Saintes euens or festiuall dayes, sa∣uing to common prayer, and that moderately and without ex∣cesse, nor the Minister shall pawse or stay betweene the morning prayer, Letanie and Communion, but shall continue and saye the morning prayer, Letanie, and communion, or the seruice appoynted to be sayde, when there is no Communion, togither without any intermission, to the intent the people may conti∣nue togither in prayer, and hearing the worde of God, and not depart out of the church, during all the time of the whole di∣uine seruice.

10 Item that all fathers, mothers, maysters and other go∣uerners of youth, shall in euery parish, cause their children and seruaunts both menkinde and womenkinde, being aboue seuen yeares of age, and vnder twentie yeares, which haue not lear∣ned the Catechisme, or at the least such and so many of them as the Minister shall appoynt, diligently to come to the church, euery Sunday, and euery holy day at the time appoynted, and there diligently & obediently to heare, learne, and be ordered by the Minister, vntill such time as they haue learned all the sayde Catechisme by heart, and shall giue to the Minister the names of all their children and seruauntes both men kinde and women kinde, being aboue seuen yeares, and vnder twentie yeares of

age, to the intent he may call for them to be examined and in∣structed in the sayde Cathechisme. And if any of the sayde fa∣thers, mothers, maysters, or other gouernours of youth shall re∣fuse or neglect so to sende their children or seruauntes vnto the Minister to be examined, and instructed at the tymes appoyn∣ted, or to giue theyr names, as is aforesayd, or if any of the sayd yong folkes shall refuse to be examined and instructed, that then the Minister and Churchwardens shall present such negligent persons, and refusers, to the Ordinarie, to be by him punished accordingly.

11 Item, that all men and women of fourtene yeares of age, and vpwardes, shall (as by the lawes of this realme they are bounde) receyue in their owne parishe Churches or Chappels, the holy communion thrise at the least euery yeare, and namely at Easter, or there aboutes for once, and yearely before Easter at conuenient times (and namely on Sundaies in Lent at after noone, or in some of the workedayes next before Easter) as the person, vicare, or curate, shall appoynt, they shall, before they re∣ceyue, come to the Minister, and recite to him, such of them as be of fouretene yeares or aboue, and vnder .xxiiij. yeares of age, the whole Catechisme by heart, and such of them as be of .xxiiij. yeares of age and vpwardes, the Catechisme, or at the least, the Lordes prayer, the articles of the fayth, and the tenne com∣maundements, likewise by heart in Englishe, and whosoeuer eyther cannot, or wilfully and stubburnely shall refuse to recite and say the same by heart before their Minister, shall be repel∣led and put back from the Communion Table. And the church∣wardens and Minister shall present all such refusers, and all o∣thers that shall not receyue thrise a yeare the holy Communi∣on, vnto the Ordinarie yearely at the next visitation after Easter.

12 Item, the Churchwardens shall not suffer any Pedler or others whatsoeuer, to set out any wares so sale, eyther in the Porches of Churches, or in the Churchyardes, nor any where else on holy dayes or Sundayes, whiles any part of diuine ser∣uice

is in doyng, or whiles any sermon is in preaching.

13 Item, that no Inkéeper, Alehousekéeper, Uictualer, or Typler shall admit or suffer any person or persons in his house or backeside, to eate, drinke, or play at cardes, Tables, Bowles, or other games in tyme of common prayer, preachings, or rea∣ding of Homelyes on the Sundayes, or holy dayes, and that there be no shoppes set open on Sundayes or holydayes, nor a∣ny Butchers or others suffered to sell meate or other thinges vppon the Sundayes or holy dayes in lyke time of common prayer, preaching, or reading of the Homelyes. And that in a∣ny fayres or common Markets, falling vpon the Sunday, there be no shewing of any wares before all the Morning seruice and the Sermon (if there be any) be done. And if any shall offend in this behalfe, the Churchwardens and sworne men, after once warning giuen vnto them, shall present them by name vnto the Ordinarie.

14 Item, that the laye people of euery Parish (as they bée bounde by the lawes of this Realme) and especially housholders hauing no lawfull excuse to be absent, shall faythfully and dili∣gently endeuour themselues, to resort with their children and seruaunts to their parishe Church or Chappell on the holye dayes, & chiefly vpon the Sundayes, both to Morning and Eue∣ning prayer, and other diuine seruice, and vpon reasonable let therof, to some other vsuall place where common praier is vsed, and then and there abide orderly and soberly during all the time of common prayer, Homelies, Sermons, and other seruice of God there vsed, reuerently and deuoutly giuing themselues to prayer, and hearing of the worde of God. And that the church∣wardens and sworne men, aboue all others, shall be diligent in frequenting and resorting to their parishe churches or chap∣pels vpon Sundayes and holy dayes, to the intent they maye note and marke all such persons as vpon any such dayes shall absent themselues from the Church, and vppon such absence shall exami ne them of the cause thereof.

15 Item, that the churchwardens and sworne men shall not

suffer any persons to walke, talke or otherwise vnreuerently to behaue themselues in any church or chappell, nor to vse any ga∣ming, or to sitt abrode in the stréetes or churchyardes, or in any Tauerne or Alehouse, vpon the Sundayes or other holy dayes, in the time of diuine seruice, or of any Sermon, whether it bée before noone or after noone, but after warning once giuen, shall punishe both them and all others that negligently, or wilfully shall absent themselues from diuine seruice, or come very late to the church vpon Sundayes or holy dayes, hauing no lawfull let or hinderaunce, and those also that without any iust cause shall depart out of the Church before the diuine seruice or ser∣mon be done: according to a statute made in the first yeare of the Quéenes Maiesties reigne, printed and set forth in the be∣ginning of the booke of common prayer: that is to saye, the Churchwardens shall leuie and take of euery one that wilfully or negligently so shall offend, the forteyfure of xij▪ pence for eue∣rie such offence, and shall also present them to the Ordinarie: which forfeytures they shall leuie, according to the same statute by distrayning the goodes, landes and tenements of such offen∣ders, and shall (as by the same statute they are appoynted) deli∣uer the money that commeth thereof to the Collectors, for the vse of the poore people of the same parishe.

16 Item, that no person or persons whatsoeuer, shall weare Beades, or pray eyther in Latine or in English vpon Beades or knottes, or any other like supersticious thing, nor shall pray vpon any popish Latine or English Primer, or other like booke, nor shall burne any candels in the church superstitiously vpon the feast of the purification of the virgin Marie, commonly cal∣led Candlemasse day, nor shall resort to anye popishe priest for shrift or auriculer confession in Lent, or at any other time, nor shal worship any crosse, or any Image or picture vpon the same, nor giue any reuerence therevnto, nor supersticiously shal make vpon themselues the signe of the crosse, when they first enter into any church to pray, nor shall say De profundis for the dead, or rest at any crosse in carying any corps to burying, nor shall

leaue any little crosses of wood there.

17 Item that yearely at Midsommer, the person, vicar, or curate, and churchwardens, shall choose two Collectors or more for the reliefe of the poore of euery Parishe, according to a sta∣tute made in that behalfe, in the fift yeare of the Quéenes Ma∣iesties reigne, intituled an art for the reliefe of the poore, and re∣newed in the last Parliament, which collectors shall wéekely ga∣ther the charitable almose of the Parishioners, and destribute the same to the poore where most néede shall be, without fraude or partialitie, and shall quarterly make vnto the person, vicar, or curate, and churchwardens, a iust account thereof in wri∣ting. And if any person of habilitie shall obstinately or froward∣ly refuse to giue reasonably towardes the reliefe of the poore, or shall wilfully discourage others from so charitable a déede, or shall withdrawe his accustomed almose without iust cause, the churchwardens and sworne men shall present to the Ordinarie euery such person so refusing to giue, discouraging others, or withdrawing his accustomed almose, that reformation may be had therein.

18 Item, that for the retayning of the Perambulation of the circuite of euerie Parishe yearely, the person, vicar, or curate, and churchwardens, with certaine of the substanciall men of euerie Parishe, such as the Minister and Churchwardens shall thinke méete to require, shall in the dayes of the Rogations commonly called the crosse wéeke, or gang dayes, walke the ac∣customed boundes of euerie Parishe, and in the same peram∣bulation, or going aboute, the Minister shall vse none other ce∣remonie, than to say in Englishe the two Psalmes beginning Benedic anima mea domine: that is to say, the Ciij. Psalme, and the .Ciiij. Psalme, and such sentences of scripture as be ap∣poynted by the Quéenes Maiesties Iniunctions, with the Le∣tanie and Suffrages following the same, and reading one Ho∣melie alreadie deuised & set forth for that purpose, without wea∣ring anye Surplesses, carying of Banners, or Handbels, or staying at Crosses, or such like popish ceremonies.

19 Item, that the Minister & churchwardens shall not suffer any Lordes of misrule, or Sommer Lordes, or Ladies, or any disguised persons, or othexs in Christmasse, or at May games, or any Minstrels, Morice dauncers, or others, at Rishbearings or at any other times, to come vnreuerently into any Church, or Chappell, or Churchyarde, and there daunce, or play anye vnseemely partes, with scoffes, ieastes, wanton iestures, or ry∣baulde talke, namely, in the time of diuine seruice, or of anye sermon.

20 Item that no schoolmayster shall teach either openly or priuately in any Gentlemans house, or in any other place, vn∣lesse he be of good and sincere Religion and conuersation, and be first examined, allowed, and licenced by the Ordinarie in wry∣ting vnder his seale: he shall not teach any thing contrarie to the order of Religion nowe set forth by publike authoritie, hée shall teach his schollers the Catechisme in Latine lately sette forth, and such sentences of scripture (besides prophane chaste Authours) as shall be most méete to mooue them to the loue and due reuerence of Gods true Religion nowe truely set forth by the Quéenes Maiestie, and to induce them to all godlinesse and honest conuersation.

21 Item, that no parishe Clarke be appoynted agaynst the good will, or without the consent of the person, vicar, or curate, in any Parishe, and that he be obedient to the person, vicar, and curate, especially in the time of celebration of diuine seruice, or of the Sacraments, or in any preparation therevnto. And that he be able also to reade the first Lesson, the Epistle, and the Psalmes, with aunsweares to the Suffrages as is vsed, and that he kéepe the bookes and ornaments of the church fayre and cleane, and cause the Church and Quiere, the Communion ta∣ble, the Pulpet, and the Font, to be kept decent, and made cleane agaynst seruice time, the Communion, Sermon, and Bap∣tisme, and also that he endeuour himselfe to teache yong chil∣dren to reade, if he be able so to doe.

22 Item, that the Churchwardens and sworne men of eue∣rie

Parishe shall halfeyearely from time to time present to the Ordinarie the names of all such persons of their Parishe, as be eyther blasphemers of the name of God, great or often swea∣rers, adulterers, fornicators, incestuous persons, bawdes, or receyuers of naughtie and incontinent persons, or harbourers of women with childe, which be vnmaryed, conueying or suffe∣ring them to go away before they do any penaunce, or make sa∣tisfaction to the Congregation, or that be vehemently suspected of such faultes, or that be not of good name and fame, touching such faultes and crimes, or that be drunkardes, or rybauldes, or that be malicious, contentious, or vncharitable persons, com∣mon slaunderers of their neighbours, raylers, scolders, or sow∣ers of discorde betwéene neighbours. And also all such as be Usurers, that is to say, all those, that lend money, corne, ware, or other thing, and receyue gaine therfore, ouer and aboue that which they lende.

23 Item, that the Churchwardens, and sworne men of eue∣rie Parishe, shall likewise halfeyearly present to the Ordinarie all such persons as eyther heretofore haue maryed, and bée not diuorced, or hereafter shall marie within the degrées of affinitie, or consanguinitie, by the lawes of God forbidden, so set out for an admonition in a Table lately appointed to be affixed in eue∣rie Parishe church of this prouince, or that being diuorced or seperated for the same, do yet notwithstanding cohabite, and kéepe companie still togither. And also all persons being mary∣ed without those degrées, that haue vnlawfully forsaken theyr wiues, or husbands, and maryed others, and if any man haue two wiues at once, or any woman two husbands at once, or if any being diuorced or seperated asunder, have maried againe: If any be maried that haue made a precontract. If any haue maryed without banes thrise solemnely asked in the Church. If any cooples be maryed that liue not togither, but slaunderously liue apart, or if any haue maryed out of the parish church where they ought to haue solemnised mariage, the churchwardens and sworne men shall likewise present the same halfeyearely to

the Ordinarie.

24 Item, the Churchwardens and sworne men of euerie parish shall likewise halfeyearely present to the Ordinarie the names of all such persons whatsoeuer, eyther of the Clergie or Laytie, that be fauourers of the Romishe and forreyne power, letters of true Religion; hearers or sayers of Masse, or of any Latine seruice, Preachers or setters forth of corrupt and popish doctrine, mainteyners of sectaryes, disturbers of diuine seruice, kéepers of any secrete conuenticles, preachings or lectures, re∣ceyuers of any vacabonde popishe priestes, or other notorious mislikers of true Religion, or mainteyners of the vnlearned people in ignorance and error, encouraging and moouing them rather to pray in an vnknowne tongue than in English, or that stubburnely refuse to conforme themselues to vnitie and godly Religion nowe established by publike authoritie.

25 And finally, the Churchwardens and sworne men of euery Parish shall likewise halfeyearely present to the Ordina∣rie, whether all these Iniunctions giuen as is aboue, aswell to the Clergie, as to the Laytie, be duely obserued and kept, and if they be not, then which and howe many of the sayd Iniunctions be not kept, and by whom, and in what poynt any person or per∣sons doe violate and breake the same.

All which Iniunctions we doe charge and commaund to be inuiolably performed and obserued of all persons whome they shall concerne within our prouince of Yorke, vpon paine of con∣tempt, and of excomunication, and other censures of the church by the ecclesiasticall lawes of this Realme in such like cases li∣mitted and appoynted.