impartially proceed by ecclesiastical censures against all such of your clergy, as shall be found guilty of any notorious violation of this or any other law or canons, relating to their duty.

And for the better encouragement of deserving men, 5 as we intend to make it a rule to ourself, so we also require it of you in disposing of church preferments, to have a special regard to such persons, as by their piety, learning, diligence, and peaceableness do most promote the honour of God, and the edification of his church.

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And because, as our duty requires, we most earnestly desire and shall endeavour a general reformation in the lives and manners of all our subjects, as being that which must establish our throne, and secure to our people their religion, happiness, and peace; all which seem to be in 13 great danger at this time, by reason of that overflowing of vice, which is too notorious in this, as well as other neighbouring nations; we therefore require you, to order all the clergy to preach frequently against those particular sins and vices, which are most prevailing in this realm, 20 and that on every of those Lord's days, on which any such sermon is to be preached, they do also read to their people such statute law or laws, as are provided against that vice or sin, which is their subject on that day; as namely against blasphemy, swearing, and cursing, against 25 perjuryb, against drunkenness and against profanation of the Lord's day; all which statutes we have ordered to be printed together with these our letters, that so they may be transmitted by you to every parish within this our realm.

And whereas there is as yet no sufficient provision made by any statute law for the punishing of adultery and fornication, you shall therefore require all church

a xx1. Jac. c. XX. b V. Eliz. c. IX. XXIX. Car. II. c. VII

c. VII.

c 1v. Jac. c. V. xxi. Jac.

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wardens in your dioceses to present impartially all those that are guilty of any such crimes in their several parishes; and upon such presentments we require you to proceed without delay, and upon sufficient proof to inflict those 5 censures, which are appointed by our ecclesiastical laws against such offenders. In doing whereof according to your duty, you shall not want our effectual assistance and support.

And for the better carrying on of so good a work, we 10 do in the last place charge and require you to preach frequently yourselves; to confer often with your clergy; and to inquire by all proper means into all abuses and corruptions in your dioceses, in order to a full and speedy reformation; and all this not only as you shall answer it 15 to us, but also considering the great charge that God hath committed to you, and the account that you must give him for it at the great day. And so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Whitehall the thirteenth day of February, MDCLXXXIX. in the second 20 year of our reign.

By his majesty's command.

SHREWSBURY.

CLXVII.

Archiepisc. Cant.
THO. TENISON I.

Anno Christi
1694.

Reg. Angliæ
GUILIEL. III. 7.

Injunctions given by the king's majesty to the archbishops of this realm, to be communicated by them to the bishops, and the rest of the clergy.

To the most reverend father in God, our right trusty and right entirely beloved counsellor Thomas, lord archbishop of Canterbury, and to the most reverend father in God John, lord archbishop of York.

WILLIAM R.

OST reverend father in God, our right trusty and

MOST

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right entirely beloved counsellor; and most reverend father in God, we greet you well. We being very sensible, that nothing can more effectually conduce to the honour and glory of God, and the support of the pro- 10 testant religion, than the protecting and maintaining of the church of England, as it is by law established; which we are resolved to do to the utmost of our power; have therefore upon mature deliberation with you and other our bishops, by virtue of our royal and supreme authority, 15 thought fit, with the advice of our privy council, to ordain and publish the following injunctions.

I. That the 34th and 35th canons concerning ordinations be strictly observed.

II. That every person, to be admitted to holy orders, 20 do signify his name and the place of his abode to the

Injunctions given] Archbishop Tillotson died on the 22nd of Nov. 1694, and Dr. Tenison, then bishop of Lincoln, was nominated to the archbishopric by the king in council on the 6th of December following. Kennet, vol. iii. p. 678. Baxter's Life, p. 541.

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bishop fourteen days before he is ordained, to the end that inquiry may be made into his life and conversation. And that he appear at the furthest on Thursday in Ember week, that so such, who upon examination shall be found 5 fit, may have time to prepare themselves by fasting and prayer, before the day of ordination.

III. That every bishop shall be well satisfied, that all persons that are to be ordained, have a real title with a sufficient maintenance, according to the 33rd canon, in 10 which matter we require the bishops to use an especial

15

care.

IV. That a certificate of the age of the person to be ordained, be brought, if it can be, out of the parish register, or at least a certificate very well attested.

V. That the part of the 34th canon, which relates to the giving of certificates concerning the lives and manners of those, who are to be ordained, be strictly looked to. And that the bishops lay it on the consciences of the clergy, that they sign no certificates, unless, upon their 20 own knowledge, they judge the persons to be duly qualified.

VI. That every bishop shall transmit, between Michaelmas and Christmas, to the archbishop of the province a list of all such persons, as have been ordained by him 25 during that year, according to the constitutions in the year MDLXXXIV. in order to be put in a public register, which shall be prepared by you for that use.

VII. That the bishops shall reside in their dioceses, and shall take care to oblige their clergy to such resi30 dence, as the laws of the land and the canons do require, particularly the 41st canon.

VIII. That they, who keep curates, have none but such as are licensed by the bishop of the diocese, or in exempt jurisdictions by the ordinary of the place having 35 episcopal jurisdiction, as is required both by the act of

uniformity and the 48th canon, that so when the incum

bent does not reside, the bishop, or such ordinary may know how the cure is supplied; and that no person shall presume to serve any cure without license from the bishop, or such ordinary, upon pain of suspension.

IX. That you use your most effectual endeavours to 5 suppress the great abuses occasioned by pluralities, and restrain them as much as you can, except where the parishes lie near one another, and the livings are small: that all qualifications be carefully examined; we being determined to have no chaplains to be qualified by us, 10 but such as are admitted to attend upon us.

And that

due caution be taken before any faculty is granted. And that such persons as are legally qualified shall reside at least two months in the year in each of their livings; and provide a curate to serve where they are not in 15 person, with a due maintenance to be determined by the bishop of the diocese, unless the two parishes lie so near, that the incumbent can constantly serve both cures.

X. That the bishops shall look to the lives and manners of their clergy, that they may be in all things regular 20 and exemplary, according to the 75th canon.

XI. That the bishops do use their utmost endeavour to oblige their clergy to have public prayers in the church, not only on holy-days, and litany days, but as often as may be, and to celebrate the holy sacrament frequently. 25

XII. That the bishops shall require the clergy to use their utmost endeavours, that the Lord's day be religiously observed. That they set a good example to their people, and exhort them frequently to their duty herein.

XIII. That the bishops remind their clergy to visit 30 the sick frequently, and require them to perform that duty with great care and diligence according to the 67th

canon.

XIV. That catechizing be duly performed, according to the 59th canon.

XV. That the bishops be careful to confirm, not only

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