wherein the said book shall be laid up: which book they shall every Sunday take forth, and in the presence of the said wardens, or one of them, write and record in the same all the weddings, christenings, and burials made the whole week before; and that done to lay up the book in the said coffer as afore. And for every time that the same shall be omitted, the party that shall be in the fault thereof, shall forfeit to the said church 3s. 4d., to be employed to the poor men's box of that parish.

Furthermore, Because the goods of the Church are called the goods of the poor, and at these days nothing is less seen than the poor to be sustained with the same, all parsons, vicars, pensionaries, prebendaries, and other beneficed men within this deanery, not being resident upon their benefices, which may dispend yearly 201. or above, either within this deanery or elsewhere, shall distribute hereafter among their poor parishioners, or other inhabitants there, in the presence of the churchwardens, or some other honest men of the parish, the fortieth part of the fruits and revenues of their said benefices, lest they be worthily noted of ingratitude, which reserving so many parts to themselves, cannot vouchsafe to impart the fortieth portion thereof among the poor people of that parish, that is so fruitful and profitable unto them.

And to the intent that learned men may hereafter spring the more for the execution of the premises, every parson, vicar, clerk, or beneficed man within this deanery, having yearly to dispend in benefices and other promotions of the Church an hundred pounds, shall give competent exhibition to one scholar: and for so many hundred pounds more as he may dispend, to so many scholars more shall he give like exhibition in the university of Oxford or Cambridge, or some grammar school; which after they have profited in good learning may be partners of their patron's cure and charge, as well in preaching as otherwise, in the execution of their offices, or may, when need shall be, otherwise profit the commonweal with their counsel and wisdom.

Also, That the proprietaries, parsons, vicars, and clerks, having churches, chapels, or mansions within this deanery, shall bestow yearly hereafter upon the same mansions or chancels of their churches being in decay, the fifth part of that their benefices, till they be fully repaired; and the same so repaired, shall always keep and maintain in good estate.

Also, That the said parsons, vicars, and clerks shall, once every quarter of the year, read these Injunctions given unto them, openly and deliberately before all their parishioners, to the intent that both they may be the better admonished of their duty, and their said parishioners the more moved to follow the same for their part.

Also, Forasmuch as by a law established, every man is bound to pay his tithes, no man shall by colour of duty omitted by their curates, detain their tithes, and so redub and requite one wrong with another, or be his own judge; but shall truly pay the same, as he hath been accustomed, to their parsons, vicars, and curates, without any restraint or diminution. And such lack and default as they can justly find in their parsons and curates, to call for reformation thereof at their ordinaries and other superiors' hands, who, upon complaint and due proof thereof, shall reform the same accordingly.

Also, That no person shall from henceforth alter or change the order and manner of any fasting day that is commanded, or of common prayer or divine service, otherwise than is specified in these Injunctions, until such time as the same shall be otherwise ordered and transposed by the King's authority.

Also, That every parson, vicar, curate, chauntry-priest, and stipendiary, being under the degree of a bachelor of divinity, shall provide and have of his own, within three months after this visitation, the New Testament both in Latin and in English, with the Paraphrase upon the same of Erasmus, and diligently study the same, conferring the one with the other. And the bishops and other ordinaries by themselves or their officers, in their synods and visitations, shall examine the said ecclesiastical persons how they have profited in the study of holy Scripture.

Also, In the time of high mass, within every church, he that saith or singeth the same, shall read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel of that mass in English, and not in Latin, in the pulpit, or in such convenient place as the people may hear the same. And every Sunday and holy day they shall plainly and distinctly read, or cause to be read, one chapter of the New Testament in English in the said place at Matins immediately after the lessons: and at Evensong, after Magnificat, one chapter of the Old Testament. And to the intent the premises may be more conveniently done, the King's Majesty's pleasure is, that

when nine lessons should be read in the church, three of them shall be omitted and left out with the responds: and at Evensong-time the responds, with all the memories, shall be left off for

that purpose.

Also, Because those persons which be sick and in peril of death, be oftentimes put in despair by the craft and subtlety of the Devil, who is then most busy, and especially with them that lack the knowledge, sure persuasion, and stedfast belief that they may be made partakers of the great and infinite mercy which Almighty God of his most bountiful goodness and mere liberality, without our deserving, hath offered freely to all persons that put their full trust and confidence in Him: therefore that this damnable vice of despair may be clearly taken away, and firm belief and stedfast hope surely conceived of all their parishioners, being in any danger, they shall learn and have always in a readiness, such comfortable places and sentences of Scripture as do set forth the mercy, benefits, and goodness of Almighty God towards all penitent and believing persons, that they may at all times, when necessity shall require, promptly comfort their flock with the lively word of God, which is the only stay of man's conscience.

Also, To avoid all contention and strife, which heretofore hath risen among the King's Majesty's subjects in sundry places of his realms and dominions, by reason of fond courtesy, and challenging of places in Procession, and also that they may the more quietly hear that which is said or sung to their edifying, they shall not from henceforth, in any parish church at any time use any Procession about the church or churchyard, or other place, but immediately before high mass, the priests, with other of the quire, shall kneel in the midst of the church, and sing or say plainly and distinctly, the Litany which is set forth in English, with all the suffrages following, and none other Procession or Litany to be had or used but the said Litany in English, adding nothing thereto, but as the King's Grace shall hereafter appoint; and in cathedral or collegiate churches, the same shall be done in such places as our commissaries in our visitation shall appoint. And in the time of the Litany, of the mass, of the sermon, and when the priest readeth the Scripture to the parishioners, no manner of persons, without a just and urgent cause, shall depart out of the church; and all ringing and knoll

ing of bells, shall be utterly forborne at that time, except one bell in convenient time to be rung or knolled before the sermon.

Also, Like as the people be commonly occupied the work day with bodily labour, for their bodily sustenance, so was the holy day at the first beginning godly instituted and ordained, that the people should that day give themselves wholly to God. And whereas in our time God is more offended than pleased, more dishonoured than honoured upon the holy day, because of idleness, pride, drunkenness, quarrelling, and brawling, which are most used in such days, people nevertheless persuading themselves sufficiently to honour God on that day, if they hear mass and service, though they understand nothing to their edifying: therefore all the King's faithful and loving subjects shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their holy day according to God's holy will and pleasure, that is, in hearing the word of God read and taught, in private and public prayers, in knowledging their offences to God, and amendment of the same, in reconciling their selves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been, in oftentimes receiving the communion of the very body and blood of Christ, in visiting of the poor and sick, in using all soberness and godly conversation. Yet notwithstanding all parsons, vicars, and curates shall teach and declare unto their parishioners, that they may with a safe and quiet conscience, in the time of harvest, labour upon the holy and festival days, and save that thing which God hath sent. And if for any scrupulosity, or grudge of conscience, men should superstitiously abstain from working upon those days, that then they should grievously offend and displease God.

Also, Forasmuch as variance and contention is a thing which most displeaseth God, and is most contrary to the blessed communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ; curates shall in no wise admit to the receiving thereof any of their cure and flock, who hath maliciously and openly contended with his neighbour, unless the same do first charitably and openly reconcile himself again, remitting all rancour and malice, whatsoever controversy hath been between them; and nevertheless their just titles and rights they may charitably prosecute before such as have authority to hear the same.

Also, That every dean, archdeacon, master of collegiate church, master of hospital, and prebendary being priest, shall preach by

1

himself personally twice every year at the least, either in the place where he is intituled, or in some church where he hath jurisdiction, or else which is to the said place appropriate or

united.

Also, That they shall instruct and teach in their cures, that no man ought obstinately and maliciously to break and violate the laudable ceremonies of the Church, by the King commanded to be observed, and as yet not abrogated. And on the other side, that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them, doth the same to the great peril and danger of his soul's health: as in casting holy water upon his bed, upon images, and other dead things, or bearing about him holy bread or St. John's Gospel, or making of crosses of wood upon Palm Sunday, in time of reading of the passion, or keeping of private holy days, as bakers, brewers, smiths, shoemakers, and such other do; or ringing of holy bells, or blessing with the holy candle, to the intent thereby to be discharged of the burden of sin, or to drive away devils, or to put away dreams and phantasies; or in putting trust and confidence of health and salvation in the same ceremonies, when they be only ordained, instituted, and made to put us in remembrance of the benefits which we have received by Christ. And if he use them for any other purpose, he griev ously offendeth God.

Also, That they shall take away, utterly extinct, and destroy all shrines, covering of shrines, all tables, candlesticks, trindles or rolls of wax, pictures, paintings, and all other monuments of feigned miracles, pilgrimages, idolatry, and superstition: so that there remain no memory of the same in walls, glass windows, or elsewhere within their churches or houses. And they shall exhort all their parishioners to do the like, within their several houses. And that the churchwardens, at the common charge of the parishioners in every church, shall provide a comely and honest pulpit, to be set in a convenient place within the same, for the preaching of God's word.

Also, They shall provide and have within three months after this visitation, a strong chest, with a hole in the upper part thereof, to be provided at the cost and charge of the parish, having three keys; whereof one shall remain in the custody of the parson, vicar, or curate, and the other two in the custody of the churchwardens, or any other two honest men, to be appointed