Proof of

sites.

nine and thirty, besides the ratification, to be agreeable to the word of God.

To these three articles, whosoever will subscribe, he shall, for the avoiding of all ambiguities, subscribe in this order and form of words, setting down both his Christian and surname, viz. I, N. N., do willingly and ex animo subscribe to these three articles above mentioned, and to all things that are contained in them. And if any bishop shall admit any as is aforesaid, except he first have subscribed in manner and form as aforesaid, he shall be suspended from giving of orders and licences to preach for the space of twelve months.

In order that the clerk may be prepared to these requi- make proof of these matters when called upon, it may be convenient that he have some intelligent persons whom he may trust, present when he is inducted; and (if it may be) the same persons present at such time when he shall perform the other matters required by the law to be performed in his parish church; and to the end that they may be able to testify that all things are done as they ought to be, the clergyman may desire them to read with him, or to observe as he reads, the morning and evening prayers, and also the thirty-nine articles: and he ought also to give them a copy of his certificate, under the hand and seal of the bishop, and of the declara

tions which he is to read; for otherwise, if their testimony be wanted, it will be hard for them to depose that he read a true copy thereof, and that all things were done according to law.

And it is also adviseable, that he make a writing, to be subscribed by his witnesses, after this or the like form:

We whose names are underwritten, do hereby certify and declare, that N. N., rector of M., within the diocess of D., in the county of E., was, in the presence of us, inducted into his church of M. aforesaid, by F. G., rector of H., on the day of in this present

year, by virtue of certain letters of induction made under the hand and seal of J. K., archdeacon of L., within the diocess aforesaid, for that purpose, directed to all and every, &c. And also that the aforesaid N. N., on the day

,

of in the year aforesaid, being the Lord's day, did read in his parish church openly, publicly, and solemnly, the morning and evening prayers appointed to be read by and according to the book entitled "The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the usage of the Church of England, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches, and the Form or Manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of Bishops,

Priests, and Deacons," at the time thereby appointed; and after such reading thereof, did openly and publicly, before the congregation there assembled, declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things therein contained and prescribed, in these words following: "I, N. N., do here declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the book intitled, The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the Use of the Church of England; together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches; and the Form or Manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." Also, that he did publicly and openly, on the day and in the year aforesaid, (if it is done on the same day, but if it is done on any other day, then the same must be set forth accordingly, or it may be certified separately in a separate certificate), in the parish church aforesaid, in the presence of the congregation there assembled, in the time of divine service, read a certificate under the hand and seal of the right reverend father in God R. lord bishop of C. (or as the case shall be) in these words following (inserting the very words of the certificate); and immediately after the reading thereof, at the same time and in the same place, the congregation aforesaid being then and there present, did

read the declaration or acknowledgement con-
tained in the said certificate, to wit, "I, N. N.,
do declare, that I will conform to the Liturgy of
the Church of England, as it is now by law
established." And lastly, that he did, on the
day and in the year aforesaid, read the articles
of religion, commonly called the Thirty-nine
Articles, agreed upon in convocation in the year
of our Lord one thousand five hundred and sixty-
two, in the parish church aforesaid, in the time
of common prayer there, and did declare his
unfeigned assent thereunto. And these things
we promise to testify upon our oaths, if at any
time we shall be lawfully thereunto required.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our
hands, this
in the year
of our Lord

day of

By the statute of 13 Eliz. it is provided, that Benefices above thirty none shall be admitted to any benefice with cure, pounds of or above the yearly value of thirty pounds in value. the king's books, unless he shall then be a bachelor of divinity at least, or a preacher lawfully allowed by some bishop within this realm, or by one of the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, and that all admissions to benefices, institutions, inductions, tolerations, dispensations, qualifications, and licenses whatsoever, made contrary to the premises, shall be utterly void in law. (1) And by the three and thirtieth canon () 13 El. ch. 12.

of the ecclesiastical constitutions, ratified and confirmed by King James under his letters patents, an. 1603, it is in conformity to many decrees of the ancient fathers, further ordained, that no person shall be admitted into sacred orders, except he shall at the same time exhibit to the bishop a presentation of himself to some ecclesiastical preferment then void in that diocess, or bring to the said bishop a true and undoubted certificate, that either he is provided with some church within the diocess, where he may attend the cure of souls, or of some minister's place vacant, either in the cathedral of that diocess, or in some other collegiate church therein also situate, where he may exercise his ministry, or that he is a fellow, or in right as a fellow, or to be a chaplain in some college in Oxford or Cambridge, except he be a master of arts of five years standing, that liveth of his own charge in either of the universities, or except by the bishop himself that doth ordain him minister, to be shortly after to be admitted either to some benefice or curateship then void; and in case any bishop shall admit any person into the ministry, not qualified as aforesaid, he is to keep and maintain him, till he prefers him to some ecclesiastical living, on pain of suspension for one year from giving of orders, by the archbishop assisted with another bishop (')

(*) Canon Ecclesiastical, R. 67. 4 Inst. 324. Gibs. 33. Godolp. Rep. 273. Cod. 140. 13 El. c. 12. Roberts v. Pain, 3 Mod. 44 Geo. 3. c. 43.