The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

❧An Acte for the vniformitie of Common prayer, and seruice in the Church, and administration of the Sacraments.

WHere at the death of our late So∣ueraigne Lorde King Edward the sixth, there remained one vniforme order of Common Seruice and prayer, and of the administration of Sacraments, Rites, and Ceremonies in the Church of Eng∣land which was set foorth in one booke, entituled, The booke of Common prayer, and administration of Sacraments, and other Rites & Ceremonies in the Church of England, authorised by Acte of Par∣liament, holden in the fifth and sixth yeeres of our saide late Soueraigne Lord king Edward the sixth, entituled, An Acte for the vniformitie of Common prayer, and administration of the Sacraments: the which was repea∣ted and taken away by Acte of Parliament, in the first yeere of the reigne of our late Soueraigne Lady Queene Mary, to the great decay of the due honour of God, and discomfort to the professors of the trueth of Christs Religion.

Bee it therefore enacted by the authoritie of this present Parliament, that the saide Statute of repeale, and euery thing therein contained, onely concerning the saide Booke, and the Seruice, administration of Sacra∣ments. Rites and Ceremonies, conteined or appointed in, or by the saide Booke, shalbe voyd and of none effect, from and after the feast of the Nati∣uitie of S Iohn Baptist next comming. And that the saide Booke with the order of Seruice, and of the administration of Sacraments, Rites, and Ceremonies, with the alteration and additions therein added, and appointed by this Statute, shall stand, and be from and after the said feast of the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist, in full force and effect, according to the tenour and effect of this Statute: any thing in the aforesaid Statute of repeale to the contrary, not withstanding.

And further be it enacted by the Queene Highnesse, with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authoritie of the same, that all and singular Ministers, in any Cathe∣drall or Parish Church, or other place within this Realme of England, Wales, and the Marches of the same, or other the Queenes dominions, shall from and after the feast of the Natiuitie of Saint Iohn Baptist next comming, be bounden to say and vse the Mattens, Euensong, celebration of the Lords Supper, and administration of eche of the Sacraments, and all other Common and open prayer, in such order and fourme as is men∣tioned

in the saide Booke, so authorized by Parliament in the sayde fifth and sixth yeere of the reigne of King Edwarde the sixth, with one altera∣tion or addition of certaine Lessons to bee vsed on euery Sunday in the yeere, and the forme of the Letanie altered and corrected, and two senten∣ces onely added in the deliuerie of the Sacrament to the communicants, and none other, or otherwise. And that if any maner of Parson, Vicar, or other whatsoeuer Minister, that ought or should sing or say Common Prayer mentioned in the saide Booke, or minister the Sacraments, from and after the feast of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next comming, re∣fuse to vse the saide Common Prayers, or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedrall or Parish Church, or other places, as hee should vse to minister the same, in such order and fourme as they bee mentioned and set foorth in the sayd Booke, or shall wilfully or obstinately standing in the same, vse any other Rite, Ceremony, Order, Fourme, or manner of celebrating of the Lordes Supper openly or priuily, or Mattens, Euen∣song, administration of the Sacraments, or other open Prayers, then is mentioned and set foorth in the sayde Booke (Open prayer in and through∣out this Acte, is meant that Prayer which is for other to come vnto or heare, ei∣ther in common Churches, or priuate Chappels, or Oratories, commonly cal∣led the Seruice of the Church) or shall preach, declare, or speake any thing in the derogation, or deprauing of the sayd Booke, or any thing therein conteined, or of any part thereof, and shall bee therof lawfully contuicted, according to the Lawes of this Realme, by verdict of twelue men, or by his owne confession, or by the notorious euidence of the fact: shall lose and forfaite to the Queenes highnesse, her heires and successours, for his first ofience, the profite of all his Spiritual Benefices or promotions, com∣ming or arising in one whole yeere next after his conuiction: And also that the person so conuicted, shall for the same offence suffer imprison∣ment by the space of sixe moneths, without Baile or maineprise. And if any such person, once conuict of any offence concerning the premisses, shall after his first conuiction eftsoones offende, and bee thereof in fourme aforesaide lawfully conuict: that then the same person shall for his se∣cond offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yeere, and al∣so shall therefore bee depriued ipso facto of all his Spirituall promotions. And that it shall bee lawfull to all Patrons or Donours of all and singu∣lar the same Spirituall promotions, or of any of them, to present or col∣late to the same, as though the person or persons so offending were dead. And that if any such person or persons, after hee shall bee twise conuicted in fourme aforesayd, shall offende against any of the premisses the thirde time, and shal be thereof in fourme aforesaid lawfully conuicted: that then the person so offending, and conuicted the thirde time, shall be depriued ip∣so facto of all his Spirituall promotions, and also shall suffer imprisonment during his life.

And if the person that shall offende and bee conuict in fourme afore∣sayd, concerning any of the premisses, shall not bee beneficed, nor haue

any Spitituall promotion: that then the same person so offending and conuict, shall for the first offence suffer imprisomnent during one whole yeere next after his said conuiction, without baile or maineprise. And if any such person not hauing any Spirituall promotion, after his first con∣uiction, shall eftsoones offende in any thing concerning the premisses, and shall in forme aforesaid bee thereof lawfully conuicted: that then the same person shall for his seconde offence suffer imprisonment during his life.

And it is ordained and enacted by the authoritie abouesaide, that if any person or persons whatsoeuer, after the said feast of the Natiuitie of Sanit Iohn Baptist next comming, shall in any Enterludes, Playes, Songs, Rimes, or by other open wordes, declare or speake any thing in the dero∣gation deprauing, or despising of the same Booke, or of any thing there∣in conteined, or any part thereof, or shall by open fact, deede, or by open threatnings, compell, or cause, or otherwise procure, or maintaine any Parson, Vicar, or other Minister, in any Cathedrall or Parish Church, or in Chappell, or in any other place, to sing or say any Common and open Prayer, or to minister any Sacrament, otherwise or in any other maner and forme then is mentioned in the said booke, or that by any of the sayde meanes, shall vnlawfully interrupt or let any Parson, Vicar, or other Minister, in any Cathedrall or Parish Church, Chappell, or any other place, to sing or say Common and open Prayer, or to minister the Sacra∣ments, or any of them, in such maner and fourme as is mentioned in the saide Booke: that then euery such person being thereof lawfully con∣uicted in fourme abouesayde, shall forfeite to the Queene our Soue∣raigne Lady, her heires, and successours, for the first offence an hundreth markes. And if any person or persons, being once conuict of any such offence, estsoones offende against any of the last recited offences, and shall in fourme aforesaid bee thereof lawfully conuict: that then the same per∣son so offending and conuict, shall for the seconde offence forfeite to the Queene our Soueraigne Lady, her heires, and successours, foure hun∣dreth markes. And if any person, after he, in fourme aforesayd shall haue bene twice conuict of any offence concerning any of the last recited offen∣ces, shall offend the thirde time, and bee thereof in fourme abouesaid law∣fully conuict: that then euery person so offending and conuict, shall for his thirde offence, forfeite to our Soueraigne Lady the Queene, all his goods and cattels and shall suffer imprisonment during his life. And if a∣ny person or persons, that for his first offence concerning tne premisses, shall be conuict in fourme aforesaide, doe not pay the summe to be payd by vertue of this conuiction, in such maner and fourme as the same ought to bee payed, within sixe weekes next after his conuiction: that then euery person so conuict, and so not paying the same, shal for the same first offence, in stead of the saide summe, suffer imprisonment by the space of sixe mo∣neths, without Barle or maineprise. And if any person or persons, that for his second offence concerning the premisses, shall bee conuict in fourme

aforesaide, doe not pay the saide summe to bee payde by vertue of his con∣uiction and this Eftatute, in such maner and fourme as the same ought to be payed, within sixe weekes next after his saide second conuiction: that then euery person so conuicted and not so paying the same, shall for the same second offence, in the stead of the saide summe, suffer impri∣sonment during twelue moneths, without baile or maineprise. And that from and after the saide feast of the Natiuitie of Saint Iohn Bap∣tist next comming, all and euery person and persons, inhabiting with∣in this Realme, or any other the Queenes Maiesties Dominions, shall diligently and faithfully, hauing no lawfull or reasonable excuse to bee absent, endeuour themselues to resort to their Parish Church or Chap∣pell accustomed, or vpon reasonable let thereof, to some vsuall place where Common prayer and such Seruice of God shall bee vsed in such time of let, vpon euery Sunday, and other dayes ordeined and vsed to bee keptas Holy dayes: and then and there to abide orderly and sober∣ly, during the time of Common prayer, Preacchigs, or other Seruice of God, there to bee vsed and ministred, vpon paine of punishment by the censures of the Church: and also vpon paine that euery person so offen∣ding, shall forfeite for euery such offence twelue pence to bee leuied by the Church wardens of the Parish, where such offcnce shall bee done, to the vse of the poore of the same Parish, of the Goods, Landes and tenements of such offendour, by may of distresse. And for due execution hereof, the Queenes most excellent Maiessie, the Lords Temporall, and an the Comnons in this present parliament assembled, doeth in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops, Bishops and other Or∣dinaries, that they shall endeuour themselues to the vtterimost of their knowledges, that the due and true execution hereof, may be had through∣out their Diocesse and charges, as they will answere before God, for such euils and plagues wherewith Almightie God may tustly punish his peo∣ple for neglecting his good and wholesome Lawe. And for the authoritie in this behalfe, he it further enacted by the authorite aforesaide, that all and singular the same Archbishops, Bishops, and all other their officers, exercising Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction, as well in place exempt, as not ex∣empt within their Diocesse, fuall haue full power and authoritie by this Acte, to reforme, correct, and punish by censures of the Church, all and sin∣gular persons, which shall offend within any their iurisdictions or Dio∣cesse after the said feast of the Natiuitie of Saint Iohn Baptist next com∣ming against this Acte and Statute: Any other Lawe, Statute Priui∣ledge, Libertie, or prouision heretofore made, had, or suffered to the contra∣ry, not withstanding.

And it is ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesaide, that all and euery Iustice of Oyer & Determiner, or Iustice of Assise, shall haue full power and authoritie in euery of their open & generall Sessions, to en∣quire heare, & determine all, & all maner of offences that shalbe commit∣ted or done contrary to any article conteined in this present Acte, within

the limits of the Commission to them directed, and to make processe for the execution of the same, as they may do against any person being indited be∣fore them of trespasse, or lawfully comucted thereof.

Priouided alwaies, and be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, that all and cuery Archbishop and Bishop, shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure, ioyne and associate himselfe, by vertue of this acte, to the Iustices of Oyer and Determiner, or to the saide Iustices of Assise, at euery of the said open & generall Sessions to be hosden in any place with∣in his Diocesse, for and to the inquirie, hearing and determining of the off∣ences aforesaid.

Prouided also, and be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaide, that the bookes concerning the saide seruice, shall at the costes and charges of the Parishioners of euery parish and Cathedrall Church, bee attayned and gotten before the feast of the said Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next fol∣lowing: and that all such Parish and Cathedrall Churches, or other places where the saide bookes shall be attained and gotten before the saide feast of the Natiuite of S. Iohn Baptist, shall within three weekes nert after the said bookes so attained and gotten, vse the said seruice, and put the same in vre according to this Act.

And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaide, that nopetson or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached, or otherwise: molested, of or for any of the offences aboue mentioned, hereafter to bee committed or done contrary to this Act, vnlesse he or they so offending be thereof indited at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Iustices of Oier and Determiner, or Iustices of Assise, next after any offence committed or done, contrary to the tenor of this Act

Prouided alwayes, and bee it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie a∣foresaid, that all and singular Lords of the parliament, for the third of∣fence aboue mentioned, shalbe tried by their peeres.

Prouided also, and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the Maior of London, and all other Maiors, Bailifs, and other head Officers, of all, and singular Cities, Boroughs and Cownes corporate, within this Realine, Wales, and the Marches of the same, to the which Iustices of Assise do not commonly repaire, shal haue full power & authori∣tie by vertue of this Acte, to inquire, heare, and determine the offences a∣bouesaid and euery of them, yeerely within fifteene dayes after the feastes of Easter and S. Michael the Archangel, in like maner and forme as Iu∣stices of Assise, and Oyer and Determiner may doe.

Prouided alwayes, and be it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie a∣foresaid, that all and singular Archbishops and Brishops, and euery of their Chancellors, Commitraries, Archdeacons, and other Ordimaries, hauing any peculiar Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction, shall haue full power and autho∣ritie by vertue of this Acte, as well to inquire in their visitation, synodes, or elsewhere within their iurisdiction, at any other time and place, to take accusations and informations of all and euery the things aboue mention∣ned,

done, committed, or perpetrated within the limits of their iurisdiction and authoritie, and to punish the fame by admonition, excommunication, sequessration, or depriuation, or other Censures & processes, in like forme as hereofore hath bene vsed in like cases by the Queenes Ecclesiasticall lawes.

Prouided alwayes, and be it enaeted, that whatfsoeuer petson offending in the premises, shal for the offence first receiue punishment of the Ordina∣rie hauing a testimoniall thereof vnder the said Ordinaries seale shal not for the same offence eftsoones bee conuicted before the Iustice: and like∣wise, receining for the said first offence, punishment by the Iustices, he shal not for the same offence eftsoones receiue punishment of the Ordinarte: a∣ny thing couteined in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

Prouided alwayes, & be it enacted that such ornaments of the Church, and of the ministers thereof shalbe reteined, and be in vse. as was in this Church of England by the authoritie of parliament in the second yeere of the reigne of king Edward the sirth, vntill other order shall bee therein taken by authority of the Queenes Maiestie, with the aduise of her Comm∣issioners appointed and authorised vnder the great seale of England, for causes Ecclesiastical, or of the Metropolitane of this Realme. And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreuerence to be vsed in the Ce∣remonies or rites of the Church, by the misusing of the orders appointed in this booke: the Queenes maiesty may by the like aduise of the saide Com∣missioners or Metropolitane, ordaine and publish such further Ceremo∣nies or rites, as may be most for the aduancement of Gods glory, the edisy∣ing of his Church, and the due reuerence of Christes holy mysteries and Sacraments.

And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, that all lawes, sta∣tutes and ordinances, where in or where by any other seruice, administra∣tion of Sacraments, or Common prayer is limited, established, or set foorth to be vsed within this Realme, or any other the Queenes dominions and countreys, shall from henceforth vtterly be voyde, and of none effect.