attribute any holiness or special worthiness to the said garments, but for decency, gravity, and order, as is before specified. In private houses, and in their studies, the said persons ecclesiastical may use any comely and scholar-like apparel, provided that it be not cut or pinkt; and that in public they go not in their doublet and hose, without coats or cassocks; and that they wear not any light-colored stockings. Likewise poor beneficed men and curates (not being able to provide themselves long gowns), may go in short gowns of the fashion aforesaid.

LXXV Sober conversation required in Ministers.

No ecclesiastical person shall, at any time, other than for their honest necessities, resort to any taverns or ale-houses, neither shall they board or lodge in any such places. Furthermore, they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labor, 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 shall hear or read somewhat of the holy scriptures, or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise, always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty, and endeavoring 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 Christianly, under pain of ecclesiastical censures, to be inflicted with severity, according to the qualities of their offences. LXXVI Ministers at no time to forsake their Calling.

No man being admitted a deacon or minister shall from thenceforth voluntarily relinquish the same, nor afterward use himself in the course of his life as a layman, upon pain of excommunication. And the names of all such men, so forsaking their calling, the church-wardens of the parish where, they dwell shall present to the bishop of the diocese, or to the ordinary of the place, having episcopal jurisdiction.

SCHOOLMASTERS.

LXXVII. None to teach School without License.

No man shall teach either in public school, or private house, but such as shall be allowed by the bishop of the diocese, or ordinary of the place, under his hand and seal, being found meet

as well for his learning and dexterity in teaching, as for sober and honest conversation, and also for right understanding of God's true religion; and also except he shall first subscribe to the first and third articles aforementioned simply, and to the two first clauses of the second article.

LXXVIII. Curates desirous to teach to be licensed

before others.

In what parish-church or chapel soever 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 so do, for the better increase of his living, and training up of children in principles of true religion; we will and ordain, That a license to teach youth of the parish where he serveth be granted to none by the ordinary of that place, but only to the said curate. Provided always, that this constitution shall not extend to any parish or chapel in country towns, where there is a public school founded already; in which case we think it not meet to allow any to teach gram3 mar, but only him that is allowed for the said public school.

LXXIX. The Duty of Schoolmasters.

All schoolmasters shall teach in English or Latin, as the children are able to bear, the larger or shorter Catechism heretofore by public authority set forth. And as often as any sermon shall be upon holy and festival days within the parish where they teach, they shall bring their scholars to the church where such sermon shall be made, and there see them quietly and soberly behave themselves; and shall examine them at times convenient, after their return, what they have borne away of such sermon. Upon other days, and at other times, they shall train them up with such sentences of holy scripture, as shall be most expedient to induce them to all godliness; and they shall teach the grammar set 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 if any schoolmaster, being licensed, and having subscribed as aforesaid, shall offend in any of the premises, or either speak, write, or teach against anything whereunto he hath formerly subscribed (if upon admonition by the ordinary he do not amend and reform himself), let him be suspended from teaching school any longer.

TIHNGS APPERTAINING TO CHURCHES.

LXXX. The great Bible, and Book of Common Prayer, to be had in every Church.

The church-wardens or quest-men of every church and chapel shall, at the charge of the parish, provide the Book of Common Prayer, lately explained in some few points of his majesty's authority, according to the laws of his highness's prerogative in that behalf, and that with all convenient speed, but at the furtherest within two months after the publishing of these our Constitutions. And if any parishes be yet unfurnished of the Bible of the largest volume, or of the books of Homilies allowed by authority, the said church-wardens shall within convenient time provide the same at the like charge of the parish.

LXXXI. A Font of Stone for Baptism in every Church.

According to a former Constitution, too much neglected in many places, we appoint, that there shall be a font of stone in every church and chapel where baptism is to be ministered; the same to be set in the ancient usual places: in which only font the minister shall baptize publicly.

LXXXII 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 same tables shall from time to time be kept and repaired in sufficient and seemly manner, and covered, in time of divine service, with a carpet of silk or other decent stuff, thought meet by the ordinary of the place, if any question be made of it, and with a fair linen cloth at the time of the ministration, as becometh that table, and so stand, saving when the said holy communion is to be administered: at which time the same shall be placed in so good sort within the Church or chancel, as thereby the minister may be more conveniently heard of the communicants in his prayer and ministration, and the communicants also more conveniently, and in more number, may communicate with the said minister; and that the Ten Commandments be set up on the east end of every church and chapel, where the people may best see and read the same, and other chosen sentences written upon the walls of the said churches and chapels, in places convenient; and likewise that a convenient seat be made for the minister to

read service in. All these to be done at the charge of the parish.

LXXXIII. A Pulpit to be provided in every Church.

The church-wardens or quest-men, at the common charge of the parishioners in every church, shall provide a comely and decent pulpit to be set in a convenient place within the same, by the direction of the ordinary of the place, if any question do arise, and to be there seemly kept for the preaching of God's word.

LXXXIV. A Chest for Alms in every Church.

And

The church-wardens shall provide and have, within three months after the publishing of these Constitutions, a strong chest, with a hole in the upper part thereof, to be provided at the charge of the parish (if there be none such already provided), having three keys; of which one shall remain in the custody of the parson, vicar, or curate, and the other two in the custody of the church-wardens for the time being: which chest they shall set and fasten in the most convenient place, to the intent the parishioners may put into it their alms for their poor neighbors. the parson, vicar, or curate, shall diligently, from time to time, and especially when men make their testaments, call upon, exhort, and move their neighbors to confer and give, as they may well spare, to the said chest; declaring unto them, that whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise than God commanded, upon superstitious uses, now they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy, knowing that to relieve the poor is a sacrifice which pleaseth God; and that also whatsoever is given for their com fort is given to Christ himself, and is so accepted of him, that he will mercifully reward the same. The which alms and devotion of the people, the keepers of the keys shall yearly, quarterly, or oftener (as need requireth), take out of the chest, and distribute the same in the presence of most of the parish, or six of the chief of them, to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most poor and needy neighbors.

LXXXV. Churches to be kept in sufficient Reparations.

The Church-wardens or quest-men shall take care and provide that the churches be well and sufficiently repaired, and so from time to time kept and maintained, that the windows be well glazed, and that the floors be kept paved, plain, and even, and

all things there in such an orderly and decent sort, without dust or anything that may be either noisome or unseemly, as best becometh the house of God, and is prescribed in an homily to that effect. The like care they shall take, that the church-yards be well and sufficiently repaired, fenced, and maintained with walls, rails, or pales, as have been in each place accustomed, at their charges unto whom by law the same appertaineth : but especially they shall see that in every meeting of the congregation peace be well kept; and that all persons excommunicated, and so denounced, be kept out of the church.

LXXXVI. Churches to be surveyed, and the Decays certified to the high Commissioners.

Every dear, dean and chapter, archdeacon, and others which have authority to hold ecclesiastical visitations by composition, law, or prescription, shall survey the churches of his or their jurisdiction once in every three years in his own person, or cause the same to be done; and shall from time to time within the said three years certify the high commissioners for causes ecclesiastical, every year, of such defects in any the said churches, as he or they do find to remain unrepaired, and the names and surnames of the parties faulty therein. Upon which certificate, we desire that the said high commissioners will ex officio mero send for such parties, and compel them to obey the just and lawful decrees of such ecclesiastical ordinaries, making such certificates.

LXXXVII. A Terrier of Glebe-lands, and other Possessions belonging to Churches.

We ordain, that the archbishops, and all bishops within their several dioceses, shall procure (as much as in them lieth) that a true note and terrier of all the glebes, lands, meadows, gardens, orchards, houses, stocks, implements, tenements, and portions of tithes lying out of their parishes (which belong to any parsonage, or vicarage, or rural prebend), be taken by the view of honest men in every parish, by the appointment of the bishop (whereof the minister to be one), and be laid up in the bishop's registry, there to be for a perpetual memory thereof.

LXXXVIII. Churches not to be Profaned.

The church-wardens or quest-men, and their assistants, shall suffer no plays, feasts, banquets, suppers, church-ales, drinkings, temporal courts, or leets, lay-juries, musters, or any profane