pain of the imputation of impofture or cofenage, and depofition from the ministry.

73. Minifters not to hold private Conventicles.

FORASMUCH as all conventicles, and fecret meetings of Priests and Minifters, have been ever juftly accounted very hurtful to the state of the Church wherein they live; we do now ordain and constitute, That no Priests, or Minifters of the Word of God, or any other perfons, fhall meet together in any private house, or elsewhere, to confult upon any matter or courfe to be taken by them, or upon their motion or direction by any other, which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the doctrine of the Church of England, or of the Book of Common Prayer, or of any part of the government and difcipline now established in the Church of England, under pain of excommunication ipfo facto.

74. Decency in Apparel enjoined to Ministers.

THE true, ancient, and flourishing Churches of Chrift, being ever defirous, that their Prelacy and Clergy might be had as well in outward reverence, as otherwife regarded for the worthiness of their ministry, did think it fit, by a prefcript form of decent and comely apparel, to have them known to the people, and thereby to receive the honour and eftimation due to the fpecial Meffengers and Minifters of Almighty God: we therefore following their grave judgment, and the ancient cuftom of the Church of England, and hoping that in time newfanglenefs of apparel in fome factious perfons will die of itself, do conftitute and appoint, That the Archbishops and Bithops fhall not intermit to ufe the accustomed apparel of their degrees. Likewife all Deans, Mafters of Colleges, Archdeacons, and Prebendaries, in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, (being Priefts or Deacons,) Doctors in Divinity, Law, and Phyfic, Bachelors in Divinity, Mafters of Arts, and Bachelors of Law, having any Ecclefiaftical Living, fhall ufually wear Gowns with ftanding Collars and Sleeves ftrait at the hands, or wide Sleeves, as is ufed in the Universities, with Hoods or Tippets of filk or farcenet, and fquare Caps. And that all other Minifters admitted or to be admitted into that function fhall alfo ufually wear the like apparel as is aforefaid, except Tippets only. We do further in like manner ordain, That

all

all the faid Ecclefiaftical Perfons above mentioned fhall ufually wear in their journeys Cloaks with Sleeves, commonly called Prieft's Cloaks, without guards, welts, long buttons, or cuts. And no Ecclefiaftical Perfon fhall wear any Coif or wrought Night-cap, but only plain Night-caps of black filk, fatten, or velvet. In all which particulars concerning the apparel here prescribed, our meaning is not to attribute any holinefs or fpecial worthinefs to the faid garments, but for decency, gravity, and order, as is before specified. In private houfes, and in their studies, the said Perfons Ecclefiaftical may use any comely and fcholar-like apparel, provided that it be not cut or pinkt; and that in public they go not in their Doublet and Hofe, without Coats or Calocks; and that they wear not any light-coloured Stockings. Likewife poor beneficed Men and Curates (not being able to provide themfelves long Gowns) may go in fhort Gowns of the fashion aforefaid.

75. Sober Converfation required in Minifters.

O Ecclefiaftical Perfon fhall at any time, other than for their honeft neceffities, refort to any taverns, or alehouses, neither fhall they board or lodge in any fuch places. Furthermore, they fhall not give themselves to any bafe or fervile labour, or to drinking or riot, spending their time idly by day or by night, playing at dice, cards, or tables, or any other unlawful games: but at all times convenient they fhall hear or read somewhat of the holy Scriptures, or fhall occupy themselves with fome other honeft ftudy or exercife, always doing the things which fhall appertain to honefty, and endeavouring to profit the Church of God; having always in mind, that they ought to excel all others in purity of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and chriftianly, under pain of Ecclefiaftical cenfures, to be inflicted with feverity, according to the qualities of their offences.

76. Minifters at no time to forfake their Calling.

No man being admitted a Deacon or Minister shall from

thenceforth voluntarily relinquifh the fame, nor afterward ufe himself in the courfe of his life as a Layman, upon pain of excommunication. And the names of all fuch men, fo forfaking their calling, the Church-wardens of the parish where they dwell shall present to the Bishop

of

of the diocefe, or to the Ordinary of the place, having epifcopal jurifdiction.

No

Schoolmafters.

77. None to teach School without Licence.

O man fhall teach either in public fchool, or private houfe, but fuch as fhall be allowed by the Bishop of the diocefe, or Ordinary of the place, under his hand and feal, being found meet as well for his learning and dexterity in teaching, as for fober and honeft converfation, and alfo for right understanding of God's true religion; and alfo except he fhall firft fubfcribe to the firft and third Articles afore-mentioned fimply, and to the two first claufes of the fecond Article.

78. Curates defirous to teach to be licensed before others.

IN

N what Parish-church or Chapel foever there is a Curate, which is a Master of Arts, or Bachelor of Arts, or is otherwise well able to teach youth, and will willingly fo do, for the better increase of his living, and training up of children in principles of true religion; we will and ordain, That a licence to teach youth of the parish where he ferveth be granted to none by the Ordinary of that place, but only to the faid Curate. Provided always, that this Conftitution fhall not extend to any Parish or Chapel in country towns, where there is a public fchool founded already; in which cafe we think it not meet to allow any to teach grammar, but only him that is allowed for the faid public school.

79. The Duty of Schoolmasters.

ALL Schoolmafters fhall teach in English or Latin, as the children are able to bear, the larger or fhorter Catechifm heretofore by public authority fet forth. And as often as any Sermon fhall be upon holy and festival days within the parish where they teach, they fhall bring their fcholars to the Church where fuch Sermon fhall be made, and there fee them quietly and foberly behave themselves; and fhall examine them at times convenient, after their return, what they have borne away of fuch Sermon. Upon other days, and at other times, they fhall train them up

if

with fuch fentences of holy Scripture, as fhall be most expedient to induce them to all godlinefs: and they fhall teach the Grammar fet forth by King Henry the Eighth, and continued in the times of King Edward the Sixth, and Queen Elizabeth of noble memory, and none other. And any Schoolmaster, being licensed, and having subscribed as aforefaid, fhall offend in any of the premises, or either fpeak, write, or teach against any thing whereunto he hath formerly fubfcribed, (if upon admonition by the Ordinary he do not amend and reform himself,) let him be fufpended from teaching School any longer.

Things appertaining to Churches.

80. The great Bible, and Book of Common Prayer, to be bad in every Church.

THE Church-wardens or Queft-men of every Church and Chapel fhall, at the charge of the parish, provide the Book of Common Prayer, lately explained in fome few points by his Majefty's authority, according to the laws and his Highnefs's prerogative in that behalf, and that with all convenient speed, but at the furtheft within two months after the publishing of these our Constitutions. And if any parifhes be yet unfurnished of the Bible of the largest volume, or of the Books of Homilies allowed by authority, the faid Church-wardens fhall within convenient time provide the fame at the like charge of the parish.

81. A Font of Stone for Baptifm in every Church..

ACCORDING to a former Conftitution, too much neg

lected in many places, we appoint, that there shall be a Font of Stone in every Church and Chapel where Baptifm is to be ministered; the fame to be fet in the ancient ufual places in which only Font the Minifter fhall baptize publicly.

82. A decent Communion-table in every Church. WHEREAS we have no doubt, but that in all Churches within the realm of England, convenient and decent Tables are provided and placed for the celebration of the holy Communion, we appoint, that the fame Tables fhall

from

from time to time be kept and repaired in fufficient and feemly manner, and covered, in time of Divine Service, with a carpet of filk or other decent ftuff, thought meet by the Ordinary of the place, if any queftion be made of it, and with a fair linen cloth at the time of the Miniftration, as becometh that Table, and fo ftand, faving when the faid holy Communion is to be adminiftered: at which time the same shall be placed in fo good fort within the Church or Chancel, as thereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his Prayer and Miniftration, and the Communicants alfo more conveniently, and in more number, may communicate with the faid Minifter; and that the Ten Commandments be fet up on the East end of every Church and Chapel, where the people may beft fee and read the fame, and other chofen fentences written upon the walls of the faid Churches and Chapels, in places convenient; and likewife that a convenient feat be made for the Minister to read service in. All these to be done at the charge of the parish.

THE

83. A Pulpit to be provided in every Church.

HE Church-wardens or Queft-men, at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church, fhall provide a comely and decent Pulpit to be fet in a convenient place within the fame, by the difcretion of the Ordinary of the place, if any queftion do arife, and to be there feemly kept for the preaching of God's Word.

THE

84. A Cheft for Alms in every Church.

HE Church-wardens fhall provide and have, within three months after the publishing of these Constitutions, a ftrong Cheft, with a hole in the upper part thereof, to be provided at the charge of the parish, (if there be none fuch already provided,) having three keys; of which one fhall remain in the cuftody of the Parfon, Vicar, or Curate, and the other two in the cuftody of the Church-wardens for the time being: which Chest they shall set and fasten in the moft convenient place, to the intent the Parishioners may put into it their alms for their poor neighbours. And the Parfon, Vicar, or Curate fhall diligently, from time to time, and especially when men make their teftaments, call upon, exhort, and move their neighbours to confer and give, as they may well fpare, to the faid

Cheft;