¶The Kings Iniunctions.
FOrasmuch as the number of holy dayes is so excessiuely growen,* 1.1 and yet daily more and more by mens deuoti∣on yea rather superstition, was like further to encrease, that the same was and should be not onely preiudiciall to the common weale, by reason that it is occasion as well of much slouth and idlenes, the very nursse of theeues, vaga∣bunds: and of diuers other vnthriftines and inconuenien∣ces, as of decay of good misteries & Artes profitable & ne∣cessary for the common wealth, & losse of mans foode, many times being cleane destroied through the superstitious ob∣seruance of the said holydaies, in not taking the oportunity of good & serene weather, offered vpon the same in time of haruest, but also pernicious to the soules of many men, which (being entised by the licencious vacation & libertie of those holydaies, do vpon the same, commonly vse and practise more excesse, riot, and superfluitie, then vpon any other dayes. And sith the Sabboth day was vsed and or∣deined, but for mans vse, and therefore ought to geue place to the necessitie and behoofe of the same whensoeuer that shall occurre, much rather any other holyday institute by man: It is therefore by the Kings highnes authoritie as supreme head in earth of the Church of England, with the common assent and consent of the Prelates and Cleargie of this his Realme, in conuocation lawfully assembled and congregated, amongst other things decreed, ordeyned and established.
First, that the feast of dedication of Churches, shall in all places through out this Realme,* 1.2 be celebrate and kept on the first Sonday of the moneth of October, for euer, and vpon none other day.
Item, that the feast of the patron of euerye Churche within this Realme, called commonly the Churche holy∣day,* 1.3 shall not frō hencefoorth be kept or obserued as a holy day, as heretofore hath bene vsed, but that it shal be lawful to all & singular persons resident or dwelling within thys Realme, to go to their worke, occupation or mistery, & the same truely to exercise and occupy vpon the sayde feast, as vpon any other worke day: except the saide feast of Church holy day bee suche as must bee else vniuersally obserued and kept as a holyday by this ordinance following.
Also that all those feastes or holydayes, which shall hap∣pen to fall or occurre either in the haruest tyme, whiche is to be counted from the first daye of Iuly,* 1.4 vnto the xxix. day of September, or else in the tearme time at Westminster, shall not be kept, or obserued frō hencefoorth as holydaies, but that it may be lawfull for euery man to go to his work or occupation vpon the same, as vppon any other worke day: except alwaies the feastes of the Apostles, of the bles∣sed Uirgin, and of Saint George: and also such feastes as wherein the Kings highnes Iudges at Westminster doe not vse to sit in Iudgement. All whiche shall be kept holy and solemne of euery man, as in time past, haue bene accu∣stomed: Prouided alwaies, that it may be lawfull vnto all Priestes and Clerkes, as well secular as regular, in the foresaid holydaies now abrogate, to sing or say their accu∣stomed seruice for those holydayes, in their Churches: so as they do not the same solemnely, nor do ring to the same after the maner vsed in high holydayes, ne do commaund, or indict the same to be kept or obserued as holydayes.
Finally, that the feastes of the Natiuitie of our Lord, of Easter day, of the Natiuitie of S. Iohn the Baptist,* 1.5 and of S. Michaell the Archaungell, shall be from hencefoorth counted, accepted, and taken for the four generall offering dayes.
And for further declaration of the premisses, be it knowē that Easter tearme beginneth alwayes the xviij. day after Easter day, reckening Easter day for one,* 1.6 and endeth the Monday next folowing the Ascension day.
Trinitie terme beginneth alwaies the Wednesday next after the Octaues of Trinitie Sonday,* 1.7 and endeth the xj. or xij. day of Iuly.
Michaelmas terme beginneth the ix. or x. day of Octo∣ber, and endeth the xxviij. or xxix. day of Nouember.* 1.8
Hilary terme beginneth the xxiij. or xxiiij. day of Ianu∣ary, and endeth the xij. or xiij. day of February.* 1.9
In Easter terme, vpon the Ascension daye: in Trinitie terme, vppon the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist: in Mi∣chaelmas terme vpon Alhalow day: in Hilary Terme, vpon Candlemas day, the kings Iudges at Westminster do not vse to sit in iudgement, nor vpon any Sonday.
After these Articles and Iniunctions thus giuen out by the King & his Counsaile, thē folowed moreouer (as time serued) other Iniunctions moe, concerning Images, re∣liques, and blind miracles, and for abrogating of Pilgre∣mages deuised, by superstition, and mainteined for luker sake, also for the Pater noster, Creede, and Gods Comman∣dements, and the Bible to be had in English, with diuers other points moe necessary for Religion. The wordes of which Iniunctions heere also ensue.