Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #11: Act of Uniformity ©2007

The English Prayer Book, which had been the object of Puritan attack for three-quarters of a century, was "abolished" by parliament in 1645. On the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Prayer Book was also restored and in the year following a conference between bishops and Presbyterian divines was held at the Savoy palace in London to consider Presbyterian wishes for revision. The conference failed and the work of revision was committed to the convocations. Some of the new features met the wishes of the Presbyterians; e.g. the use of the Authorized Version for all lessons and biblical quotations, the attachment of the doxology to the Lord's Prayer on several occasions, the restoration of the black rubric in slightly amended form and the reintroduction of a blessing of the water at baptism. The revised book was enacted by the fourth Act of Uniformity in 1662.–Encyclopedia Britannica, p164, vol.1 Services, Inc.

THIS INFAMOUS ACT THAT CHANGED AMERICA. The beginning of the end of religious tyranny and the seed bed of religious freedom.

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e it therefore Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That the said Statute of Repeal, and every thing therein contained, onely concerning the said Book, and the Service, Administration of Sacraments, Rites and Ceremonies contained or appointed in, or by the said Book, shall be void and of none effect, from and after the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming: and, That the said Book, with the order of Service, 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 Nativity of Saint John Baptist, in full force and effect, according to the tenour and effect of this Statute: Any thing in the foresaid Statute of Repeal to the contrary notwithstanding.

And further be it Enacted by the Queens highness, with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament, assembled, and by Authority of the same, That all, and singular Ministers in any Cathedral, or Parish-Church, or other place within this Realm of England, Wales, and the Marches of the same, or other the Queens Dominions, shall from and after the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, be bounden to say and use the Mattens, Evenlong, celebration of the Lords Supper, and administration of each of the Sacraments, and all their Common and open Prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in the said Book, so Authorized by Parliament in the said fifth and first year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth: with one alteration, or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year, And the form of the Litany altered, and corrected, and two sentences onely added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants, and none other, or otherwise: and, That if any manner of Parson, Vicar, or other whatsoever Minister, that ought or should sing, or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book, or minister the Sacraments, from, and after the Feast of the nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, refuse to use the said Common Prayers, or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral, or Parish-Church, or other places, as he should use to minister the same, in such order and form, as they be mentioned, and set forth in the said Book, or shall wilfully, or obstinately standing in the same, use any other Rite, Ceremony, Order, Form, or manner of celebrating of the Lords Supper openly, or privily, or Mattens, Evensong, Administration of the Sacraments, or other open Prayers, then is mentioned and set forth in the said Book, [Open Prayer in, and throughout this Act, is meant that Prayer which is for other to come unto, or hear, either in Common Churches, or private Chappels, or Oratories, commonly called the Service of the Church] or shall preach, declare, or speak any thing in the derogation, or depraving of the said Book, or any thing therein contained, or of any part therof, and shall be thereof lawfully convicted, according to the Laws of this Realm, by verdict of twelve men, or by his own confession, or by the notorious evidence of the fact; he shall lose, and forfeit to the Queens Highness, Her Heirs, and Successors, for his first offence, the profit of all his Spiritual Benefices, or Promotions, coming, or arising in one whole year next after this conviction: And also that the person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer imprisonment by the space of six moneths, withithout Bail, or Mainprise: And if any such person, once convict of any offence concerning the premisses, shall after his first conviction, ________ offend, and be thereof inform aforesaid lawfully convict; That then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year, and also shall therefore be deprived ipso facto of all his Spiritual Promotions; and, That it shall be lawful to all Patrons, or Donors, of all and singular the sante Spiritual Promotions, or of any of them, to present, or collate to the same, as though the person and persons, so offending were dead: and, That if any such person or persons, after he shall be twice convicted in form aforesaid, shall offend against any of the premisses the third time, and shall be thereof, in form aforesaid, lawfully convicted; That then the person so offending, and convicted the third time, shall be deprived ipso facto of all his Spiritual Promotions; amd also shall suffer imprisonment during his life: And if the person that shall offend, and be convicted in form aforesaid, concerning any of the premisses, shall not be Beneficed, nor have any Spiritual Promotions; that then the same person so offending, and convict, shall, for the first offence suffer imprisonment during one whole year next after his said conviction, without Bail or Mainprise: And if any such person, not having any Spiritual Promotion, after his first conviction, shall _________ offend in any thing concerning the premisses, and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convicted; That then the same person shall for his second offence suffer imprisonment during his life.

And it is Ordained, and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons whatsoever, after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, shall in any Enterludes, Plays, Songs, Rimes, or by other open words declare, or speak any thing in the derogation, depraving, or despising of the same Book, or of any thing therein contained, or any part thereof, or shall by open fact, deed, or by open threatnings compel, or cause, or otherwise procure, or maintain any Parson, Vicar, or other Minister in any Cathedral, or Parish-Church, or in Chappel, or in any other place, to sing, or say any Common or open Prayer, or to minister any Sacrament otherwise, or in any other manner and form then is mentioned in the said Book; or by any of the said means shall unlawfully interrupt, or let any Parson, Vicar or other Minister in any Cathedral, or Parish-Church, or Chappel, or any other place to sing or say Common and open Prayer, or to minister the Sacraments, or any of them, in such manner and form as is mentioned in the said Book; that then every such person, being thereof lawfully convicted in form abovesaid, shall forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady, Her Heirs and Successors, for the first offence an hundred marks: And if any person or persons, being once convict of any such offence, ______ offend again any of the last recited offences, and shall in form aforesaid be thereof lawfully convict; That then the same person so offending and convict, shall for the second offence forfeit to the Queen our Sovereign Lady, Her Heirs and Successors, four hundred marks: And if any person, after he in form aforesaid shall have been twice convict of any offence concerning any of the last recited offences, shall offend the third time, and be thereof in form abovesaid lawfully convict; That then every person so offending and convict, shall for his third offence forfeit to our Sovereign Lady the Queen all his Goods and Chattels, and shall suffer imprisonment during his life: And if any person or persons that for his first offence concerning the premisses, shall be convict in form aforesaid, do not pay the sum to be paid by virtue of his conviction, in such manner and form as the same ought to be paid, within six weeks next after his conviction; That then every person to convict, and so not paying the same, shall for the same first offence, in stead of the said sum, suffer imprisonment by the space of six moneths without Bail or Mainprise: And if any person or persons, that for his second offence concerning the premisses shall be convict in form aforesaid, do not pay the said sum to be paid by vertue of his conviction, and this _______, in such manner and form as the same ought to be payed, within ____ weeks next after his said second conviction; That then every person so convicted, and not so paying the same, shall for the same second offence in the _____ of the said sum, suffer imprisonment during twelve moneths without Bail or mainprise: and That from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, all, and every person and persons, inhabiting within this Realm, or any other the Queens Majesties Dominions, shall diligently and faithfully, having no lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent, endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish-Church, or Chappel accustomed, or upon reasonable set thereof, to some usual place where Common Prayer, and such service of God shall be used in such time of set, upon every Sunday and other days ordained and used to be kept as holy days, and then, and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the Common Prayer, Preachings, or other Service of God there to be used and ministred, upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church; and also upon pain, that every person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence twelve pence, to be levied by the Church-wardens of the Parish where such offence shall be done, to the use of the poor of the same Parish, of the Goods, Lands, and Tenements of such offender, by way of Distress.

And for due execution hereof, the Queens most excellent Majesty, the Lords Temporal, and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, do in Gods name earnestly require, and charge all the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries, that they shall endeavor themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges, that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Diocesses and Charges, as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues, wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholsom law. And for their Authority in this behalf, Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singular the same Arch-bishops, Bishops, and all other their officers, Exercising Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as well in places exempt as not exempt, within their Diocesses, shall have full power and Authority by this Act, to reform, correct and punish by censures of the Church, all and singular persons, which shall offend within any of their jurisdictions or Diocesses, afther the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming, against this Act and Statute; Any other Law, Statute, Priviledge, Liberty, or Provision heretofore made, had, or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding.

And it is Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Justice of Order and Determiner, or Justices of Assise, shall have full power and Authority in every of their open and general Sessions, to enquire, hear and determine all and all manner of offences, that shall be committed, or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act, within the limits of the Commission to them directed, and to make Process for the execution of the same, as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespass, or lawfully convicted thereof.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall and may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure, joyn & associate himself by vertue of this Act to the said Justices of Order and Determiner, or to the said Justices of Assise, at every of the said open and general Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocess, for and to the enquiry, hearing, and determining of the offences aforesaid.

Provided also, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, shall at the costs and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish, and Cathedral Church, be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next following; and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches, or other places, where the said Books shall be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist, shall within three weeks next after the said Books so attained and gotten, use the said Service, and put the same in use according to this Act.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached, or otherwise molested of or for any the offences above mentioned, hereafter to be committed, or done contrary to this Act, unless he or they so offending be thereof indicted at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Justices of Order and Determiner, or Justices, of Assise, next after any offence committed or done, contrary to the tenour of this Act.

Provided always, and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singular Lords of the Parliament, for the third offence above mentioned, shall be tried by their Peers.

Provided always, and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Mayor of London, and all other Mayors, Bayliffs, and other head-officers of all and singular Cities, Boroughs, and Towns corporate, within this Realm, Wales, and the Marches of the same, to the which Justices of Assise do not commonly repair, shall have full power and Authority by vertue of this Act, to enquire, hear, and determine the offences abovesaid, and every of them yearly, within fifteen days after the Feast of Easter and St. Michael the Archangel, in like manner and form, as Justuces of Assise, and Order and Determiner may do.

Provided always, and be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and singluar Archbishops and Bishops, and every of their Chancellors, Commissaries, Archdeacons, and other Divinaries, having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, shall have full power and Authority by vertue of this Act, as well to enquire in their Visitation, Synods, and else where within their jurisdiction, at any other time and place, to take accusations and informations of all and every the things above mentioned, done, committed, or perpetrated within the limits of their Jurisdictions and Authority, as to punish the same by admonition, excommunication, sequestration, or deprivation, and other censures, and process, in like form as heretofore hath been used in like cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws.

Provided always, and be it Enacted, That whatsoever, person offending in the premises shall for the offence first receive punishment of the Ordinary, having a testimonial therof under the said Ordinaries Seal, shall not for the same offence _______ be convicted before the Justices, and likewise receiving for the said offence punishment first by the Justices, he shall not for the same offence ______ receive punishment of the Ordinary; Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, and be it Enacted, That such Ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof, shall be retained and be in use, as were in this Church of England by the Authority of Parliament in the second year of the reign of King Edward the Sixth, until other order shall be therein taken by the authority of the Queens Majesty, with the advice of her Commissioners, appointed and Authorized under the great Seal of England for Causes Ecclesiastical, or of the Metropolitan of this Realm: And also, That if there shall happen and contempt, or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies of Rites of the Church, by the Misusuing of the Orders appointed in this Book; the Queens Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners, or Metropolitan, ordain and publish such further Ceremonies, or Rites, as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory, the edifying of his Church, and the due reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances, wherein or whereby any other Service, Administration of Sacraments, or Common Prayer is limited, established, or set forth to be used within this Realm, or any other the Queens Dominions or Countreys, shall from henceforth be utterly void, and of none effect.

AN ACT FOR THE UNIFORMITY OF PUBLICK PRAYERS AND Administration of Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies: And for establishing the Form of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in the Church of England.

XIV. CAROL. II.

Whereas in the first year of the late Queen Elizabeth there was one Uniform Order of Common 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 Bishops and Clergy, set forth in one Book, intituled, The Book of Common 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 year of the said late Queen, intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of Common 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 Realm, upon which the Mercy, Favour and Blessing of Almighty God is, in no wise so readily and plentifully poured as by Common Prayers, due using of the Sacraments, and often Preaching of the Gospel, with devotion of the hearers: And yet this notwithstanding, a great nember of people in divers parts of this Realm, following their own sensuality, and living without knowledge, and due fear of God, do wilfully and with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all and singular Ministers, in any Cathedral, Collegiate, or Parish-Church or Chappel, or other place of Publick Worship within this Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, shall be bound to say and use the Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Celebration and Administration of both the Sacraments, and all other the Publick and Common Prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in the said Book annexed and joyned to this present Act, and intituled, The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches; and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons: and, That the Morning and Evening Prayers therein contained, shall upon every Lords day, and upon all other days and occassions, and at the times therein appointed, be openly and solemnly read by all and every Minister or Curate in every Church, Chappel, or other place of Publick Worship within this Realm of England, and places aforesaid.

And to the end that Uniformity in the Publick Worship of God (which is so much desired) may be speedily effected, Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Parson, Vicar, or other Minister whatsoever, who now hath and enjoyeth and Ecclesiastical Benefice of Promotion within this Realm of England, or places aforesaid, shall in the Church, Chappel, or place of Publick Worship belonging to his said Benefice of Promotion, upon some Lords day before the Feast of Saint Batholomew, which shall be in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred sixty and two, openly, publickly, and solemnly read the Morning and Evening Prayer appointed to be read by, and according to the said Book of Common Prayer, at the times thereby appointed, and after such reading thereof shall openly and publickly, before the Congregation there assembled, declare his unfeigned assent, and consent to the use of all things in the said Book contained and prescribed, in these words, and no other;

I A.B. Do here declare my unfeigned assent, and consent to all, and everything contained and prescribed in, and by the Book intituled, The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacrament and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung, or said in Churches; and the form and manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons; And, That all and every such person, who shall (without some lawful Impediment, to be allowed and approved of by the Ordinary of the place) neglect or refuse to do 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 Spiritual Promotions; And that from thenceforth it shall be lawful to, and for all Patrons, and Donors of all and singular the said Spiritual Promotions, or of any of them, according to their respective Rights and Cities, to present, or collate to the same; as though the person, or persons so offending or neglecting were dead.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every person, who shall hereafter be presented, or collated, or put into any Ecclesiastical Benefice, or Promotion, withis the Realm of England and places aforesaid,

I A.B. Do declare, That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King, and that I do abhor that Traiterous Position of taking Arms by his Authority against His Person, or against those that are Commissioned by him; And that I will conform 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 Obligation upon me, or on any other person from the Oath, commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant, to endeavor any change, or alteration of Government, either in Church, or State; and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath, and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom.

Which said Declaration and Acknowledgment shall be subscribed by every of the said Masters and other Heads, fellows, Chaplains, and Tutors of, or in any Colledge, Hall, or House of Learning, and by every publick 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 Acknowledgement shall be subscribed before the respective Arch-bishop, Bishop, or Ordinary of the Diocess, 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 lose and forfeit such respective Deanry, Canonry, Prebend, Mastership, Headship, Fellowship, Professors place, Readers place, Parsonage, Vicarage, Ecclesiastical 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, Vicarage, Ecclesiastical Dignity, or Promotion, Curates place, Lecture, and School, shall be void, as if such person so failing were naturally 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 License obtained from his respective Arch-bishop, Bishop, or Ordinary of the Diocess, according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, (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 months Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprise; and for everysecond and other such offence shall suffer three moneths Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprise, and also forfeit to His Majesty the sum of Five pounds.

And after such Subscription made, every such Parson, Vicar, Curate and Lecturer, shall procure a Certificate under the Hand and Seal of the respective Arch-bishop, Bishop, or Ordinary of the Diocess, (who are hereby enjoyned and required upon demand to make and deliver the same) and shall publickly and openly Read the same, together with the Declaration, or Acknowldgment 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 lose such Parsonage, Vicarage or Benefice, Curates place, or Lecturers place respectively, and shall be utterly disabled, and ipso facto deprived of the same; and, That the said Parsonage, Vicarage, or Benefice, Curates place, or Lecturers place shall be void, as if he were naturally dead.

Provided always, That from and after the twentyfifth day of March, which shall be in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred eigthy two, there shall be omitted in the said Declaration, or Acknowledgment so to be Subscribed and Read, these words following, scilicet,

And I do declare that I do hold there lies no Obligation upon me, or any other person from the Oath, commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant, to endeavor any change, or alteration of Government, either in Church or State; and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath, and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom;

So as none of the persons aforesaid shall from thenceforth be at all obliged to Subscribe or Read that part of the said Declaration or Acknowledgment.

Provided always, and be it Enacted, That from and after the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, which shall be in the year 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 Episcopel Divination, or shall not before the said Feast day of Saint Bartholomew be ordained Priest, or Deacon, according to the form of Episcopal Ordination, shall have, hold, or enjoy the said Parsonage, Vicarage, Benefice with Cure, or other Ecclesiastical Promotion within this kingdom 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 were naturally dead.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no person whatsoever shall thenceforth be capable to be 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 Priest, according to the form and manner in and by the said Book prescribed, unless he have formerly been made Priest by Episcopal Ordination, upon pain to forfeit for every offence the sum of One hundred pounds; (one money thereof to the Kings Majesty, the other money thereof to be equally divided between the poor of the Parish where the offence shall be committed, 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 or Record, wherein no _________, Protection, or Wager of Law shall be allowed) and to be disabled from taking or being admitted into the Order of Priest, by the space of one whole year next following.

Provided, That the Penalties in this Act shall not extend to the Foreigners or Aliens of the Forein Reformed Churches allowed, or to be allowed by the Kings Majesty, His Heirs and Successors in England.

Provided always, That no Title to confer, or present by lapse, shall accrue by any avoidance, or deprivation ipso facto by vertue of this Statute, but after six months after notice of such voidance, or deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron, or such sentence or deprivation openly and publickly Read in the Parish-Church of the Benefice, Parsonage, or Vicarage becoming void, or whereof the Incumbent shall be deprived by vertue of this Act.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no form, or Order of Common Prayers, Administration of Sacraments, Rites or Ceremonies shall be openly used in any Church, Chappel, or other Publick 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 then what is prescribed and appointed to be used in and by the said Book; and, That the present Governour, or Head of every Colledge and Hall in the said Universities, and of the said Colledges of Westminster, Winchester, and Eaton, within one moneth after the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, which shall be in the year 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 publickly in the Church, Chappel, or other Publick place of the same Colledge, or Hall, and in the presence of the Fellows and Scholars of the same, or the greater part of them then resident, Subscribe unto the Nine and thirty Articles of Religion, mentioned in the Statute made in the Thirteenth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, and unto the said Book, and declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto, and approbation of the said Articles, and of the same Book, and to the use of all the Prayers, Rites, and Ceremonies, Forms and Orders in the said Book prescribed and contained, according to the Form aforesaid, and, That all such Governours, or Heads or 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 year (not having a lawful impediment) openly and publickly Read the Morning Prayer, and Service in and by the said Book appointed to be Read in the Church, Chappel, or other Publick place of the same Colledge or Hall, upon pain to lose, and be suspended of, and form all the Benefits and Profits belonging to the same Government or Headship, 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 Book, or for not Reading of the Morning Prayer and Service as aforesaid, shall not at, or before the end of six moneths next after such Suspension, Subscribe unto the said Articles and Book, and declare his consent thereunto as aforesaid, or Read the Morning Prayer and Service as aforesaid, then such Government or Headship shall be ipso facto void.

Provided always, 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 Book, in the Chappels or other Publick 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.

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, Chappel, or other place of Publick Worship, within this Realm of England, or the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, unless be be first approved and thereunto Licensed by the Arch-bishop of the Province, or Bishop of the Diocess, or (in case the _______ be void) by the Guardian of the Spiritualities, under his Seal, and shall in the presence of the same Archbishop, or Bishop, or Guardian, Read the Nine and thirty Articles of Religion, mentioned in the Statute of the Thirteenth year of the late Queen Elizabeth, with Declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same; and, That every person, and persons who now is, or hereafter shall be Licensed, Assigned, Appointed, or Received as a Lecturer, to Preach upon any day of the week in any Church, Chappel, or place of Publick Worship within this Realm of England, in places aforesaid, the first time he preacheth (before his Sermon) shall openly, publickly, and solemnly Read the Common Prayers and Service in and by the said Book appointed to be Read for that time of the day, and then and there publickly and openly declare his assent unto, and approbation of the said Book, and to the use of all the Prayers, Rites and Ceremonies, Forms and Orders therein contained and prescribed, according to the Form before appointed in this Act; and also 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, publickly, and solemnly Read the Common Prayers and Service in and by the said Book 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 publickly, before the Congregation there assembled, declare his unfeigned assent and consent unto, and approbation of the said Book, and to the use of all the Prayers, Rites and Ceremonies, Forms and Orders therein contained and prescribed, according to the Form 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, Chappel or place of Publick Worship, until such time as he and they shall openly, publickly, and solemnly Read the Common Prayers and Service appointed by the said Book, and conform in all points to the things therein appointed and prescribed, according to the purpose, true intent and meaning of this Act.

Provided always, That if the said Sermon or Lecture be to be Preached or Read in any Cathedral, or Collegiate Church or Chappel, 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 Book, according to the Form aforesaid.

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 remain so disabled, Preach any Sermon or Lecture; That then for every such offence the person and persons so offending shall suffer three moneths imprisonement in the Common Goal without Bail or Mainprise, and that any two Justices of the Peace of the County of this Kingdom and places aforesaid, and the Mayor or other chief Magistrate of any City, or Town-corporate, within the same, upon Certificate from the Ordinary of theplace made to him or them of the offence committed, shall, and are hereby required to commit the person or persons so offending to the Goal of the County, City, or Town-corporate accordingly. Provided always, and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That at all and every time an times, when any Sermon or Lecture is to be preached, the Common Prayers and Service in and by the said Book appointed to be Read for that time of the day, shall be openly, publickly, and solemnly Read by some Priest or Deacon, in the Church, Chappel, or place of Publick Worship, where the said Sermon or Lecture is to be Preached; before such Sermon or Lecture is to be Preqached; and That the Lecturer then to Preach shall be present at the Reading thereof.

Provided nevertheless, That this Act shall not extend to the University Churches in the Universities of this Realm, 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 publick 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 any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the several good Laws, and Statutes of this Realm, which have been formerly made, and are now in force for the Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, within this Realm 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 Book, Entituled, The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung in Churches; and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, herein before mentioned to be joyned and annexed to this Act; and shall be applied, practised, and put in use for the punishing of all offences contrary to the said Laws, with relation to the Book aforesaid, and no other.

Provided always, and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in all those Prayers, Litanies and Collects, which do any way relate to the King, Queen, or Royal Progeny, the Names be altered and changed from time to time, and fitted to the present occasion, according to the direction of lawful Authority.

Provided also, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That a true Printed Copy of the said Book, Entituled, The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches; and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, shall at the cost and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish-church and Chappelry, Cathedral Church, Colledge, and Hall, be attained and gotten before the Feast-day of Saint Bartholomew, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred sixty and two, upon pain of forfeiture of Three pounds by the moneth, for so long time as they shall then after be unprovided thereof, by every Parish, or Chappelry, Cathedral Church, Colledge, and Hall, making default therein.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Bishops of Hereford, Saint Davids, Asaph, Bangor, and Landaff, and their Successors, shall take such order among themselves, for the souls health of the Flocks committed to their Charge within Wales, that the Book 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, be Imprinted to such number at least, so that one of the said Books so Translated and Imprinted, may be had for every Cathedral, Collegiate, and Parish-Church, and Chappel of Case in the said respective Diocesses, and places in Wales, where the Welsh is commonly 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 Book 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 commonly used, in the British or Welsh Tongue, in such manner and form as is prescribed according to the Book hereunto annexed to be used in the English Tongue, differing nothing in any Order or Form from the said English Book; for which Book, so Translated and Imprinted, the Church-wardens of every 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 set and appoint the price for which the said Book shall be sold; And one other Book of Common Prayer in the English Tongue shall be bought and had in every Church throughout Wales, in which the Book of Common Prayer in Welsh is to be had, by force of this Act, before the First day of May, One thousand six hundred sixty and four, and the same Book to remain in such convenient places within the said Churches, that such as understand them, may resort at all convenient times to read and peruse the same, and also such as do not understand the said Language, may be conferring both Tongues together, the sooner attain to the knowledge of the English Tongue; Any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding. And until Printed Copies of the said Book so to be Translated may be had and provided, the Form of Common Prayer, established by Parliament before the making of this Act, shall be used as formerly in such parts of Wales, where the English Tongue is not commonly understood.

And to the end that the true and perfect Copies of this Act, and the said Book hereunto annexed, may be safely kept, and perpetually preserved, and for the avoiding of all disputes for the time to come; Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the respective Deans and Chapters of every Cathedral or Collegiate Church, within England and Wales, shall at their proper costs and charges, before the Twenty fifth day of December, One thousand six hundred sixty and two, obtain under the Great Seal of England, a true and perfect Copy of this Act, and of the said Book annexed hereunto, to be by the said Deans and Chapters, and their Successors, kept and preserved in safety for ever, and to be also produced and shewed forth in any Court of Record, as often as they shall be thereunto lawfully required; And also there shall be delivered true and perfect Copies of this Act, and of the same Book, 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 also produced and shewed forth in any Court as need shall require; Which said Books so to be exemplified under the Great Seal of England, shall be examined by such persons as the Kings Majesty shall appoint under the Great Seal of England for that purpose, and shall be compared with the Original Book hereunto annexed, and shall have power to correct and amend in writing any Error committed by the Printer, in the Printing of the same Book, or of any thing therein contained, and shall certifie in writing under their Hands and Seals, or the Hands and Seals of any three of them, at the end of the same Book, that they have examined and compared the same Book, and find it to be a true and perfect Copy; Which said Books, and every one of them so exemplified under the Great Seal of England, as aforesaid, shall be deemed, taken, adjudged, and expounded to be good, an available in the Law to all intents and purposes whatsoever, and shall be accounted as good Records as this Book it self hereunto annexed; Any Law or Custom to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Provided also, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not be prejudicial or hurtful unto the Kings Professor of the Law within the University of Oxford, for, or concerning the Prebend of Shipton, within the Cathedral Church of Sarum, united and annexed unto the place of the same Kings Professor for the time being, by the late King James of blessed memory.

Provided always, That whereas the Six and thirtieth Article of the Nine and thirty Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces, and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London, in the year of our Lord, One thousand five hundred sixty two, for the avoiding of diversities of Opinions, and for establishing of Consent touching true Religion, is in these words following, viz.

That the Book of Consecration of Archbishops, and Bishops, and Ordaining of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of King Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordaining, neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly; And therefore whosoever are Consecrated or Ordered according to the Rites of that Book, since the second year of the afore-named King Edward unto this time, or hereafter shall be Consecrated or Ordered according to the same Rites; We decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully Consecrated and Ordered;

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, Priest, or Ecclesiastical 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 shall be applied (for and touching the said Six and thirtieth Article) unto the Book containing the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in this Act mentioned, in such sort and manner as the same did heretofore extend unto the Book set forth in the time of King Edward the Sixth, mentioned in the said Six and thirtieth Article; Any thing in the said Article, or in any Statute, Act, or Canon heretofore had or made, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

Provided also, That the Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of this Church of England, together with the form and manner of Ordaining, and Consecrating Bishops, Priests and Deacons, heretofore in use, and respectively established by Act of Parliament in the First and Eighth years of Queen Elizabeth, shall be still used and observed in the Church of England, until the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, which shall be in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred sixty and two.

THE END

As taken from the original King’s English. Transcribed by Joyce A. Sobczak, Designer Graphics.