in their triennial visitations, but at other convenient

seasons.

XVI. That care be taken, that the archdeacons make their visitations personally; and that, as much as may be, 5 they live within the bounds of their jurisdiction, and do their duty according to the canons.

XVII. That no commutation of penance shall be made, but by the express order and directions of the bishop himself, which shall be declared in open court. And that 10 the commutation money shall be applied only to pious and charitable uses, according to the "articuli pro clero" made in the year MDLXXXIV. and the constitutions made in the year MDXCVII.

XVIII. That no license for marriage without banns 15 shall be granted by any ecclesiastical judge, without first taking the oaths of two sufficient witnesses, and also sufficient security for performance of the conditions of the license, according to the 102nd and 103rd canons.

These injunctions we do require you to transmit to the 20 bishops of your respective provinces, to be by them communicated to their clergy, and to be strictly observed, and often inquired after both by you and them. For as we esteem it the chief part of our princely care to promote true religion, as it is established in this church; 25 and in order thereunto, we have determined not to dispose of any church preferments in our gift, but to such of our clergy as we shall have reason to believe do live most exemplarily, and preach and watch most faithfully over the people committed to their charge; so we assure our30 self, that these our pious intentions will be effectually seconded by you and the rest of our bishops; and that you will, without favour or partial affection, study to suppress impiety and vice, and to reform all disorders, as far as in you lies; well knowing that nothing will so 35 much advance the great ends of religion, and so certainly

secure and establish this church, as the exemplary lives and faithful labours of those who minister in it. And so we commend ourself to your prayers, and bid you very heartily farewell. Given at our court at Kensington the fifteenth day of February, MDCXCIV. in the seventh year 5 of our reign.

The archbishop's letter to the bishops of his province.

My very good lord,

AVING well considered the following particulars,

HAVING

IO

together with such of our brethren, as were in or near London, and believing them to be means very proper for the promoting the glory of God, and the edification of his church, I do hereby recommend them to you, as I have also done to the rest of the bishops of this 15 province, desiring you and them to see them carefully observed in your respective dioceses.

In the first place, It is the king's pleasure, that you take especial care concerning the late act against profane cursing and swearing: not only, that it be publicly

The archbishop's letter] This letter was written on the 16th of July 1695, in conformity with the king's Injunctions issued in the preceding month of February (No. CLXVII.), and with a reference also to the king's letter of February 1690, (No. CLXVI.) See Kennet, vol. iii. p. 708.

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read, as the law has in that case provided, but that the clergy be directed both in their catechizing and sermons, to insist often upon those points, to the end, that by God's blessing upon their faithful endeavours, a stop may 5 be put to those execrable wickednesses, which, if they be suffered to continue, will bring down God's heavy judgments upon this church and nation.

Secondly, There are also other acts to be read publicly in churches, which yet are not read (as I understand) in 10 many places. I desire you to remedy that neglect.

Thirdly, It seems very fit, that you require your clergy in their prayer before sermon, to keep to the effect of the 55th canon: it being commonly reported, that it is the manner of some in every diocese, either to use only the 15 Lord's prayer (which the canon prescribes as the conclusion of the prayer, and not the whole prayer) or at least to leave out the king's titles, and to forbear to pray for the bishops as such.

Fourthly, I commend to your care the preaching of 20 your clergy in the afternoon, upon catechetical heads, both that the people may be the better rooted and grounded in the faith, and also kept from other assemblies.

A fifth particular recommended to you, is, That you be very careful in the giving of institutions; and particularly, 25 that you use good and diligent examination and care to foresee and prevent all simoniacal pacts or covenants with the patrons, or the presenters, for the spoil of their glebe, tithes, or mansion-houses; and in especial manner, those artificial bargains, which are made by bonds of 30 resignation.

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A sixth is, The causing of stipends of curates to be proportioned to the value of the benefice, and the greatness of the duty required of them; especially where the incumbent is a pluralist, and cannot constantly reside in person. That the service of God may not suffer by the employing of such ignorant and scandalous men as these incumbents

generally procure, who choose to have such for their curates, as will serve for the meanest salaries.

A seventh is, The preventing of dilapidations, especially where pluralists do not keep constant residence: towards which, frequent views of chancels, and parsonage and 5 vicarage-houses, by your archdeacon or archdeacons, or other officers, and reports made to you upon those views, will much conduce. And as for such, who upon any pretences whatsoever, desire a dispensation of non-residence, I entreat you not to grant it to any of them, without their 10 giving sufficient security to keep their chancels, and parsonage or vicarage-houses in good repair, if they be so already; or if not, to put them in good repair with all convenient speed, and to keep them so for the future.

The eighth is, Your causing the clergy to pursue very 15 carefully the end of the eighty-seventh canon, relating to terriers of glebe-lands and other possessions belonging to churches; for want of which, great controversies daily arise, and the rights of the church are often lost.

The ninth is, Your hindering (as much as in you lies) all 20 such from being surrogates, who are not qualified by the canon; and to see that none be instrumental in dispatching licenses of marriage, and solemnization of matrimony illegally, or in pronouncing the sentences of excommunication and absolution, without such solemnity as that 25 great and weighty affair requires.

Tenthly, When any minister removes out of your diocese into another, to any cure of souls, I desire you in a letter to the bishop into whose diocese he is going, to give a just character of him. Also when any such 30 minister comes into your diocese, not to admit him, but with the like letter from his former diocesan; or in a vacancy, from the guardian of the spiritualities.

Eleventhly, I beseech you to think of, and to use all proper methods for the time to come, for the preventing 35 of such from being admitted into holy orders, who are

not likely to pursue the sacred ends of them. Some such methods I here lay before you, desiring you to take them into your consideration.

1st, That you take all possible care that there be good 5 schoolmasters in the several public schools within your diocese, not licensing any but such as upon examination shall be found of sufficient ability, and do exhibit very satisfactory testimonials of their temper and good life; that so in the education of youth, especially such as are to designed for holy orders, there may not be an ill foundation laid.

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2ndly, That you ordain no man deacon or priest, who hath not taken some degree in school in one of the universities of this realm, unless in some extraordinary case.

3rdly, That you accept of no letters testimonial brought by persons to be ordained, unless there be a clause inserted in them by the testifiers to this effect: that they believe them to be qualified for that order, into which they desire to be admitted.

4thly, That as soon as any apply to you for holy orders, you give timely notice of this at the place where the person resides, or lately resided, that so the exceptions against him (if any such there be) may come timely to your knowledge.

25 5thly, That when any person comes to you to be or

dained, you lay it upon his conscience to observe such fasting as is prescribed upon Ember days, and to give himself in most serious manner to meditation and prayer.

After some competent time after every ordination, 30 whether intra or extra tempora, at least between Michaelmas or Christmas, I desire you to send a return under your hand, attested by the archdeacon, and such other clergymen as assisted at the ordination, containing the names and surnames of all the persons then ordained, the 35 place of their birth, their age, and college where they were educated, with the degree they have taken in the