parishes and towns shall lose and forfeit to the king's majesty for every month that they shall lack and want the said Bibles, after the same feast of All Saints, 40s., the one half of the same forfeit to be to the king's majesty, and the other half to him or them which shall first find and present the same to the king's majesty's council... And his highness straitly chargeth and commandeth that all and singular ordinaries, having ecclesiastical jurisdiction within this his church and realm of England, and dominion of Wales, that they and every of them shall put their effectual endeavours that the curates and parishioners shall obey and accomplish this his majesty's proclamation and commandment, as they tender the advancement of the king's most gracious and godly purpose in that behalf and as they will answer to his highness for the same. God save the king. (Collection of Records, Burnet, ed. cit., cvii.) 121. Church Services to be in English Records, Burnet This mandate produced a complete overturn of the old custom of using Latin in the services of the Church; and since its issue the services of the Church of England have been held in the English tongue. A MANDATE FOR PUBLISHING AND USING THE PRAYERS IN THE ENGLISH TONGUE. Mandatum Domino Episcopo London. direct. pro publicatione Regiarum Injunctionum. Most reverend father in God, right trusty and right wellbeloved, we greet you well, and let you wit, that calling to our remembrance the miserable state of all Christendom, being at this present, besides all other troubles, so plagued with most cruel wars, hatred, and dissensions, as no place of the same almost (being the whole reduced to a very narrow corner) remaineth in good peace, agreement, and concord; the help and remedy whereof far exceeding the power of any man, must be called for of Him who only is able to grant our petitions, and never forsaketh nor repelleth any that firmly believe and faithfully call on him; unto whom also the example of Scripture encourageth us, in all these and other our troubles and necessities, to fly and to cry for aid and succour; being therefore resolved to have continually from henceforth general processions, in all cities, towns, churches, and parishes in this our realm, said and sung, with such reverence and devotion as appertaineth. Forasmuch as heretofore the people, partly for lack of good instruction and calling, and partly for that they understood no part of such prayers or suffrages as were used to be sung and said, have used to come very slackly to the procession, when the same have been commanded heretofore; we have set forth certain godly prayers and suffrages in our native English tongue, which we send you herewith, signifying unto you, that for the special trust and confidence we have of your godly mind, and earnest desire, to the setting forward of the glory of God, and the true worshipping of his most holy name, within that province committed by us unto you, we have sent unto you these suffrages, not to be for a month or two observed, and after slenderly considered, as other our injunctions have, to our no little marvel, been used; but to the intent that as well the same, as other our injunctions, may be earnestly set forth by preaching good exhortations and otherwise to the people, in such sort as they feeling the godly taste thereof, may godly and joyously, with thanks, receive, embrace, and frequent the same, as appertaineth. Wherefore we will and command you, as you will answer unto us for the contrary, not only to cause these prayers and suffrages aforesaid to be published, frequented, and openly used in all towns, churches, villages, and parishes of your own diocess, but also to signify this our pleasure unto all other bishops of your province, willing and commanding them in our name, and by virtue hereof, to do and execute the same accordingly. Unto whose proceedings, in the execution of this our commandment, we will that you have a special respect, and make report unto us, if any shall not with good dexterity accomplish the same; not failing, as our special trust is in you. At St. James's, Junii Regni 36. Directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury. (Collection of Records, Burnet, ed. cit., cxiii. CHAPTER XVI THE REIGN OF EDWARD VI. 122. Regulations concerning the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (1 EDW. VI, 1547) Statutes at Large of England The following Act strikingly illustrates one of the results of the sudden overthrow of Catholicism. The sacrament, which had once been to all the most sacred of ceremonies, became a subject of blasphemy on both sides. So widespread was this evil that it was necessary to take legal measures to suppress it, lest religion should be utterly subverted by being brought into almost universal disrepute. AN ACT AGAINST SUCH PERSONS AS SHALL UNREVERENTLY SPEAK AGAINST THE SACRAMENT OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, COMMONLY CALLED THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR, AND FOR THE RECEIVING THEREOF IN BOTH KINDS. I. (PREAMBLE. This describes the nature and sanctity of the Sacrament, recites the abuses thereof, and provides against irreverent speaking thereof.) II. (Provides for the methods of examination of Accusers.) III. (Provides for process under this Act.) IV. (Provision that justices of the peace, before whom trial is held, shall summons bishop of diocese to trial.) V. (Provides that indictment must be laid within three months after committal of offense.) VI. (Method of proof of innocence.) VII. And forasmuch as it is more agreeable, both to the first institution of the said Sacrament of the most precious body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and also more conformable to the common use and practice both of the Apostles and the primitive Church by the space of 500 years and more after Christ's ascension, that the said blessed Sacrament should be administered to all Christian people under both the kinds of bread and wine, than under the form of bread only: And also it is more agreeable to the first institution of Christ, and to the usage of the Apostles and the primitive Church, that the people being present should receive the same with the priest than that the priest should receive it alone: Therefore be it enacted by our said sovereign lord the King, with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the said most blessed Sacrament be hereafter commonly delivered and administered unto the people within the Church of England and Ireland, and other the King's dominions, under both the kinds, that is to say, of bread and wine, except necessity otherwise require: And also the priest which shall administer the same shall, at the least one day before, exhort all persons which shall be present likewise to resort and prepare themselves to receive the same. And when the day prefixed cometh, after a godly exhortation by the minister made (wherein shall be further expressed the benefit and comfort promised to them which worthily receive the said Holy Sacrament, and danger and indignation of God threatened to them which shall presume to receive the same unworthily, to the end that every man may try and examine his own conscience before he shall receive the same), the said minister shall not without a lawful cause deny the same to any person that will devoutly and humbly desire it; any law, statute, ordinance, or custom contrary thereto in any wise notwithstanding: Not condemning hereby the usage of any church out of the King's Majesty's dominions. (Ed. from Statutes at Large, ed. cit., III, 478.) 123. The Act of Uniformity (2 EDW. VI, 1548) Statutes at Large of England Confusion in order and lack of reverence in religious services followed the innovations of Henry VIII. As Protestantism gained control, the disorder increased. The inevitable end was clearly foreseen by the advisers of Edward VI., and prompt action was taken by the following Act, which was designed to cause all the various forms of divine service to conform to one model, that of the Protestant Church of England. AN ACT FOR THE UNIFORMITY OF SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS THROUGHOUT THE REALM (The preamble recites the uses of various forms of service; the attempt of the King and Lord Protector to prevent innovations; the clemency of the King in not punishing offenders against his decrees; the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others to frame a common order of prayer and rites; the framing of the Book of Common Prayer; and the thanks of Parliament for the latter. It also asks amnesty for all offenders in the premises, and proceeds :) ... and that all and singular ministers in any cathedral or parish church or other place within this realm of England, Wales, Calais, and the marches of the same, or other the King's dominions, shall, from and after the feast of Pentecost next coming, be bounden to say and use the matins, evensong, celebration of the Lord's Supper, commonly called the Mass, and administration of each of the Sacraments, and all their common and open prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in the same book, and none other or otherwise. And albeit that the same be so godly and good that they give occasion to every honest and conformable man most willingly to embrace them, yet lest any obstinate person who willingly would disturb so godly order and quiet in this realm should not go unpunished, that it may also be ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any manner of parson, vicar, or other whatsoever ministers, that ought or should sing or say Common Prayer mentioned in the said Book, or administer the Sacraments, shall after the said feast of Pentecost next coming refuse to use the said Common Prayers, or to administer the Sacraments in such cathedral or parish church, or other places as he should use or administer the same, in such order and form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book; or shall use, wilfully and obstinately standing in the same, any other rite, ceremony, order, form, or manner of Mass openly or privily, or matins, evensong, administration of the Sacraments, or other open prayer than 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 and hear, either in common churches or private chapels 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 thereof; 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, shall lose and forfeit to the King's Highness, his heirs |