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The Advertisements (1559)
Gee, Henry, and
William John Hardy, ed.,
Documents Illustrative of English Church History
(New York: Macmillan, 1896), 467-75.
Hanover Historical Texts Project
Scanned and proofread by Heather Haralson, May 1998.
Posted by
Raluca Preotu, July 1999.
Proofread and pages added by Jonathan Perry, March
2001.
Editors' Introduction:
THE Advertisements is a later title
for Abp. Parker's Articles, which were drawn up by him probably at some time in
1564, in reference to the 'Vestiarian Controversy.' They were sent to Cecil for
the queen's signature, March 3, 1565. This was refused, and nothing more is
heard of them until March 12, 1566, when a second attempt to obtain the queen's
signature was made without success. Parker therefore issued them under the title
of Advertisements without royal sanction or authority. The difficult question of
their authority is discussed by Mr. Aubrey Moore, History of the Reformation,
p.266.
[Transcr. from a contemporary copy in the British Museum, printed by
Wolfe, C. 25, c. 6; cf Wilkins, iv. 247.]
The Preface.
The
queen's majesty, of her godly zeal, calling to remembrance how necessary it is
to the advancement of God's glory, and to the establishment of Christ's pure
religion for all her loving subjects, especially the state ecclesiastical, to be
knit together in one perfect unity of doctrine, and to be conjoined in one
uniformity of rites and manners in the ministration of God's holy word, in open
prayer and ministration of sacraments, as also to be of one decent behaviour in
their outward apparel, to be known partly by their distinct habits to be of that
vocation (who should be reverenced the rather in their offices, as ministers of
the holy things whereunto they be called), hath by her letters [Page 468]
directed unto the Archbishop of Canterbury and metropolitan, required, enjoined,
and straitly charged, that with assistance and conference had with other
bishops, namely, such as be in commission for causes ecclesiastical, some orders
might be taken, whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the clergy
and the people (as breeding nothing but contention, offence, and breach of
common charity, and be against the laws, good usage, and ordinances of the
realm) might be reformed and repressed, and brought to one manner of uniformity
throughout the whole realm, that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve
Almighty God in truth, concord, unity, peace, and quietness, as by her majesty's
said letters more at large doth appear. Whereupon, by diligent conference and
communication in the same, and at last by assent and consent of the persons
beforesaid, these orders and rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient
to be used and followed: not yet prescribing these rules as laws equivalent with
the eternal word of God, and as of necessity to bind the consciences of her
subjects in the nature of them considered in themselves; or as they should add
any efficacy or more holiness to the virtue of public prayer, and to the
sacraments, but as temporal orders mere ecclesiastical, without any vain
superstition, and as rules in some part of discipline concerning decency,
distinction, and order for the time.
Articles for doctrine and
preaching.
First, that all they, which shall be admitted to preach,
shall be diligently examined for their conformity in unity of doctrine,
established by public authority; and admonished to use sobriety and discretion
in teaching the people, namely, in matters of controversy; and to consider the
gravity of their office, and to foresee with diligence the [Page 469]
matters which they will speak, to utter them to the edification of the audience.
Item, that they set out in their preaching the reverent estimation of
the holy sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, exciting the people to the
often and devout receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of
Christ, in such form as is already prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer, and
as it is further declared in a Homily concerning the virtue and efficacy of the
said sacraments.
Item, that they move the people to all obedience, as
well in observation of the orders appointed in the book of common service, as in
the queen's majesty's Injunctions, as also of all other civil duties due for
subjects to do.
Item, that all licences for preaching granted out by the
archbishop and bishops within the province of Canterbury, bearing date before
the first day of March, 1564, be void and of none effect, and nevertheless all
such, as shall be thought meet for the office, to be admitted again without
difficulty or charge, paying no more but fourpence for the writing, parchment,
and wax.
Item, if any preacher or parson, vicar or curate, so licensed,
shall fortune to preach any matter tending to dissension, or to the derogation
of the religion and doctrine received, that the hearers denounce the same to the
ordinaries, or the next bishop of the same place; but no man openly to contrary
or to impugn the same speech so disorderly uttered, whereby may grow offence and
disquiet of the people; but shall be convinced and reproved by the ordinary
after such agreeable order, as shall be seen to him according to the gravity of
the offence. And that it be presented within one month after the words spoken.
Item, that they use not to exact or receive unreasonable rewards or
stipends of the poor pastors coming to their cures to preach, whereby they might
be noted as followers [Page 470] of filthy lucre, rather than use the
office of preaching of charity and good zeal to the salvation of men's souls.
Item, if the parson be able, he shall preach in his own person every
three months, or else shall preach by another, so that his absence be approved
by the ordinary of the diocese in respect of sickness, service, or study at the
universities. Nevertheless yet for want of able preachers and parsons to
tolerate them without penalty, so that they preach in their own persons, or by a
learned substitute once in every three months of the year.
Articles for
administration of prayer and sacraments.
First, that the common prayer
be said or sung decently and distinctly, in such place as the ordinary shall
think meet for the largeness and straitness of the church and choir, so that the
people may be most edified.
Item, that no parson or curate, not admitted
by the bishop of the diocese to preach, do expound in his own cure, or
elsewhere, any Scripture or matter of doctrine, or by the way of exhortation,
but only study to read gravely and aptly, without any glossing of the same, or
any additions, the Homilies already set out, or other such necessary doctrine as
is or shall be prescribed for the quiet instruction and edification of the
people.
Item, that in cathedral churches and colleges the Holy Communion
be administered upon the first or second Sunday of every month at the least. So
that both dean, prebendaries, priests, and clerks do receive, and all other of
discretion of the foundation do receive four times in the year at the least.
Item, in the ministration of the Holy Communion in cathedral and
collegiate churches, the principal minister shall use a cope with gospeller and
epistoler agreeably; and at all other prayers to be said at that Communion
Table, to use no copes but surplices.
[Page 471] Item, that the
dean and prebendaries wear a surplice with a silk hood in the choir; and when
they preach in the cathedral or collegiate church, to wear their hood.
Item, that every minister saying any public prayers, or ministering the
sacraments or other rites of the Church, shall wear a comely surplice with
sleeves, to be provided at the charges of the parish; and that the parish
provide a decent table standing on a frame for the Communion Table.
Item, that they shall decently cover with carpet, silk, or other decent
covering, and with a fair linen cloth (at the time of the ministration) the
Communion Table, and to set the Ten Commandments upon the east wall over the
said table.
Item, that all communicants do receive kneeling, and as is
appointed by the laws of the realm and the queen's majesty's Injunctions.
Item, that the font be not removed, nor that the curate do baptize in
parish churches in any basons, nor in any other form than is already prescribed,
without charging the parent to be present or absent at the christening of his
child, although the parent may be present or absent, but not to answer as
godfather for his child.
Item, that no child be admitted to answer as
godfather or godmother, except the child hath received the Communion.
Item, that there be none other holy days observed besides the Sundays,
but only such as be set out for holy days, as in the statute anno quinto et
sexto Edwardi sexti, and in the new calendar authorized by the queen's majesty.
Item, that when any Christian body is in passing, that the bell be
tolled; and that the curate be specially called for to comfort the sick person,
and after the time of his passing to ring no more but one short peal, and one
before the burial, and another short peal after the burial.
[Page
472] Item, that on Sundays there be no shops open, nor artificers commonly
going about their affairs worldly, and that in all fairs and common markets
falling upon the Sunday, there be no showing of any wares before the service be
done.
Item, that in the Rogation days of procession they sing or say in
English the two psalms beginning, Benedic anima mea, &c., with the litany
and suffrages thereunto, with one homily of thanksgiving to God, already devised
and divided into four parts, without addition of any superstitious ceremonies
heretofore used.
Articles for certain orders in ecclesiastical policy.
First, against the day of giving of orders appointed, the bishop shall
give open monitions to all men to except against such as they know not to be
worthy either for life or conversation. And there to give notice that none shall
sue for orders but within their own diocese where they were born, or had their
long time of dwelling, except such as shall be of degree in the universities.
Item, that young priests or ministers made or to be made, be so
instructed that they be able to make apt answers concerning the form of the
catechism prescribed.
Item, that no curate or minister be permitted to
serve without examination and admission of the ordinary or his deputy in
writing, having respect to the greatness of the cure and the meetness of the
party; and that the said ministers, if they remove from one diocese to another,
be by no means admitted to serve without testimony of the diocesan, from whence
they come, in writing of their honesty and ability.
Item, that the
bishop do call home once in the year any prebendary in his church, or beneficed
in the diocese, which [Page 473] studieth at the universities, to know
how he profiteth in learning, and that he be not suffered to be a serving or a
waiting man dissolutely.
Item, that at the archdeacon's visitation the
archdeacon shall appoint the curates to certain taxes [texts] of the New
Testament to be conned without book, and at their next synod to exact a
rehearsal of them.
Item, that the churchwardens once in the quarter
declare by their curates, in bills subscribed with their hands to the ordinary
or to the next officer under him, who they be which will not readily pay their
penalties for not coming to God's divine service accordingly.
Item, that
the ordinaries do use good diligent examination to foresee all simoniacal pacts
or covenants with the patrons or presenters for the spoil of their glebe,
tithes, or mansion houses.
Item, that no persons be suffered to marry
within the Levitical degrees mentioned in a table set forth by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, in that behalf, anno Domini 1563; and if any such be, to be
separated by order of law.
Articles for outward apparel of persons
ecclesiastical.
First, that all archbishops and bishops do use and
continue their accustomed apparel.
Item, that all deans of cathedral
churches, masters of colleges, all archdeacons, and other dignities in cathedral
churches, doctors, bachelors of divinity and law, having any ecclesiastical
living, shall wear in their common apparel abroad a side gown with sleeves
straight at the hand, without any cuts in the same; and that also without any
falling cape; and to wear tippets of sarcenet, as is lawful for them by the Act
of Parliament 24 Henry VIII.
Item, that all doctors of physic, or of any
other faculty, [Page 474] having any living ecclesiastical, or any other
that may dispend by the Church one hundred marks, so to be esteemed by the
fruits or tenths of their promotions; and all prebendaries, whose promotions be
valued at twenty pound or upward, wear the like apparel.
Item, that they
and all ecclesiastical persons or other, having any ecclesiastical living, do
wear the cap appointed by the Injunctions. And they to wear no hats but in their
journeying.
Item, that they in their journeying do wear their cloaks
with sleeves put on, and like in fashion to their gowns, without guards, welts,
or cuts.
Item, that in their private houses and studies they use their
own liberty of comely apparel.
Item, that all inferior ecclesiastical
persons shall wear long gowns of the fashion aforesaid, and caps as afore is
prescribed.
Item, that all poor parsons, vicars, and curates do
endeavour themselves to conform their apparel in like sort so soon and as
conveniently as their ability will serve to the same. Provided that their
ability be judged by the bishop of the diocese. And if their ability will not
suffer to buy their long gowns of the form afore prescribed, that then they
shall wear their short gowns agreeable to the form before expressed.
Item, that all such persons as have been or be ecclesiastical, and serve
not the ministry, or have not accepted, or shall refuse to accept the oath of
obedience to the queen's majesty, do from henceforth abroad wear none of the
said apparel of the form and fashion aforesaid, but to go as mere laymen, till
they be reconciled to obedience; and who shall obstinately refuse to do the
same, that they be presented by the ordinary to the commissioners in causes
ecclesiastical, and by them to be reformed accordingly.
[Page
475] Protestations to be made, promised, and subscribed by them that shall
hereafter be admitted to any office, room, or cure in any church or other place
ecclesiastical.
Imprimis, I shall not preach or publicly interpret, but
only read that which is appointed by public authority, without special licence
of the bishop under his seal.
I shall read the service appointed
plainly, distinctly, and audibly, that all the people may hear and understand.
I shall keep the register book according to the queen's majesty's
Injunctions.
I shall use sobriety in apparel, and especially in the
church at common prayers, according to order appointed.
I shall move the
parishioners to quiet and concord, and not give them cause of offence, and shall
help to reconcile them which be at variance, to my uttermost power.
I
shall read daily at the least one chapter of the Old Testament, and one other of
the New, with good advisement to the increase of my knowledge.
I do also
faithfully promise in my person to use and exercise my office and place to the
honour of God, to the quiet of the queen's subjects within my charge, in truth,
concord, and unity; and also to observe, keep, and maintain such order and
uniformity in all external policy, rites, and ceremonies of the Church, as by
the laws, good usages, and orders are already well provided and established.
I shall not openly intermeddle with any artificer's occupations, as
covetously to seek a gain thereby, having in ecclesiastical living to the sum of
twenty nobles or above by year.
Agreed upon, and subscribed
by
MATTHAEUS CANTUARIENSIS
EDMUNDUS LONDINENSIS
RICHARDUS
ELIENSIS
EDMUNDUS ROFFENSIS
ROBERTUS WINTONIENSIS
NICOLAUS
LINCOLNIENSIS, with others.
Commissioners in causes ecclesiastical.
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