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1526 [1526]

K. Edward. 6. Iniunctions geuen out by the King to all Churches, in his visitation.

MarginaliaAn. 1547.or els in some other grammer schoole of this Realme  

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Injunction 15.

.MarginaliaChurchmen to haue the Testament both in Latin and English, with the Paraphrases of Erasmus.And also that euery Priest beyng vnder the degree of a Bacheler of Diuinitie should haue of his owne, one new Testament in Englishe and Latin, with the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon the same, and should diligently read and study therupō, MarginaliaComfortable places of the Scripture to be prouided for of Churchmē, for the comfort of their flocke.and should collect and kepe in memory all such cōfortable places of the Scripture, as do set forth the mercy, benefites, and goodnes of almighty God towardes all penitent and beleuyng persons, that they might therby comfort their flocke in all daunger of death, dispayre, or trouble of conscience: and that therefore euery Byshop in their visitations should from tyme to tyme trye and examine them how they had profited in these their studies  
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Injunction 20 is designed to eliminate ignorance of the New Testament on the part of clerics.

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MarginaliaThe Gospell and Epistle to be read in the hearing of the people.And although the Masse was then still by the law retayned, yet was it enioyned, that at euery hygh Masse the sayer or singer therof should openly and distinctly read the Gospell and Epistle in Englishe, in the Pulpit or in some other conuenient place that the people mought heare the same. And in like place and maner should read euery holy day and Sonday at Mattines one chapter of the new Testament in Englishe, omittyng therfore three of their ix. latine Lessons with their Respondes: and at Euensong likewise immediatly after Magnificat, one chapter of the old Testament in stead of their wonted Respondes and Memories  

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In requiring the reading of passages from the Old and New Testaments in vernacular translation, Injunction 21 represents the starting point in a radical departure from the Latin service that survived England's 1534 schism from the Church of Rome. Readings from the Great Bible in conjunction with those from the forthcoming Book of Homilies (Injunction 32) and Book of Common Prayer (forthcoming in 1549) would comprise a wholly new church service in the English language. King, English Reformation Literature, pp. 123-38.

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MarginaliaProcessions layd downe.Furthermore, bycause of the vayne contention that often fell among the people for goyng on procession, it was ordeined that thēceforth the Priestes and Clarkes should kneele in the middest of the Church, and there distinctly sing or read the Letany in Englishe set forth by the authoritie of kyng Henry the eight: and that no person shoulde departe the Church in the tyme of readyng the Scripture or þe Letany, or during þe time of any Sermon, without iust and vrgent cause  

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Injunction 23. The 1544 Litany was the first component in the vernacular worship service contained in the Book of Common Prayer (forthcoming in 1549).

. MarginaliaThe true vsing of the holy day.Likewise that the people should spend the holy dayes in hearyng the worde of God, in priuate and publicke prayers, in knowledgyng their offenses vnto God and amendemēt of the same, in reconcilyng them selues charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath ben, in often receauyng the Communion of the body and bloud of Christ, in visityng the poore and sicke, and in all sober and godly conuersation: and not in vanitie, idlenes, or drunkennes, neither yet in any bodily labour, otherwise then in the tyme of haruest, to saue the fruites of the earth, if necessitie so required  
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Injunction 24.

: MarginaliaDiligent preparation to be had before the comming to the Communion.and that no Curate should admitte vnto the receauing of the holy Communion, any person who had maliciously and openly contended with his neighbours, vnles the same did first also openly reconcile hym self agayne, and remitte all rācor and malice what soeuer  
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Injunction 25.

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MarginaliaA godly charge geuen to euery beneficed minister to preach personally twise at least in the yeare, and what to preach.Moreouer it was ordeined that euery Deane, Archdeacon, master of Collegiate Churches or hospitalles, and prebēdaries (beyng Priest) shoulde hym selfe personnally preach twise euery yeare at the least, in some such place where he had iurisdiction and liuyng  

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Injunction 26.

: and that they & all other Curates should teach the people, that as no mā of any priuate affectiō ought maliciously to violate any ceremonie in the Church, then not abrogated by the kyngs authoritie: so likewise they ought not on the other side, to vse thē superstitiously or Idolatrously, in attributyng to them remission of sinnes, driuing away of euil spirites, & other such like dreames and fantasies of men, or els in puttyng any confidence of saluation or health in them  
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Although Injunction 27 mandates strict observance of ecclesiastical ceremonies, it anticipates the forthcoming abrogation of many elements in the traditional service by denying that ceremonies discharge any soteriological function.

. MarginaliaAll monumentes of Idolatry to be taken away out of churches, houses, and windowes.And farther, that they shoulde vtterly take away & destroy all Shrines & Monumentes of fayned miracles, pilgremages, and other Idolatrous superstition, as well in their Churches, as within their priuate houses  
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Injunction 28 gives official sanction to the iconoclastic destruction of shrines and religious images and to shrines that constitute objects of veneration, including those in stained glass windows.

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MarginaliaA Chest to bee prouided vpon publick charge to receaue the almes of the poore, and the Curates to call vpō their parishioners to geue to the same chest.Also, that they should see prouided within their Churches, a strong and fitte chest for the safe keping of the peoples beneuolence geuen towardes the relief of the poore: and that the sayd Curates should earnestly exhorte and moue their Parishioners (especially at the makyng of their Testamentes) that as they had bene thertofore willyng to bestow much of their substaunce vpon vayne superstitions and blind deuotions contrary to Gods worde: so now they would be much more readyer to geue some portion therof vnto their poore and nedy brethren, knowyng the same to be not onely commaunded in the word of God, but also promised to be rewarded. And for the better relief of the poore, it was also appoynted that all money and profites rysing vpō Fraternities, Guildes, stockes of churches, or geuen to the findyng of Idolatrous lightes, should be conuerted for that present vnto the same vse  

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Injunction 29.

. MarginaliaHomelies to be read euery sonday when there is no Sermon.Last of all, for the want of learned Curates and other good Preachers, it was enioyned that the Curates (hauyng no Sermon) should euery Sonday read vnto the people in their Churches one of the Homelies whiche should be shortly set forth for the same purpose by the kynges authoritie: and that when any Homely or Sermō should bee preached or read, then the Prime and Houres should be omitted  
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Acknowledging the existence of an inadequate supply of learned clerics, Injunction 32 enjoins unlicensed preachers to read officially authorized sermons in Certain sermons, or homilies, appoynted by the kynges maiestie, to be declared and redde. Its initial publication on 31 July 1547 coincided with that of the Royal Injunctions. The King's Printer, Richard Grafton, or his associate, Edward Whitchurch, published eleven editions of the Book of Homilies during 1547 (STC 13638.5-13641.9). Various hands contributed twelve sermons on a range of topics (e.g., exhortations on original sin, against whoredom and adultery, and against strife and contention). It is a virtual certainty that Archbishop Cranmer composed the homilies on Bible reading, salvation, faith, and works, which expound the core Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone and the concomitant position that good works lack efficacy in themselves and possess no validity if they are not grounded in faith. King, English Reformation Literature, pp. 131-34.; MacCulloch, Thomas Cranmer, pp. 372-75.

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There were also diuers other Articles in the same Iniunctions appoynted for comlynes and due order in the Churches: as for repayring of Chauncels and Priestes houses, for keping of a register boke of Weddynges, Christenynges, and Burials, for readyng of these Iniunctions euery quarter, for due paying of tithes, for forbiddyng of any other alteration of seruice in the Church, or fastyng dayes, for makyng of comely Pulpittes for the Prachers, for auoydyng of Symonie in bying and sellyng of benefices, for the charitable vsing of Priests, for praying onely vpon the Englishe and Latine Primmers set forth by kyng Henry the eight, for the teachyng of hys Grammer in the common Scholes, and last, that Chauntrie Priestes should teache young children, either to write and read, or els some other good and profitable exercises: MarginaliaRead the former tion of the booke of Actes and Monumentes Pag. 684as it doth more fully and amply appeare in the same Iniunctions at large set foorth in the. 684. page of the former booke of Actes and Monumentes of the Church heretofore imprinted  

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Foxe advises the reader to consult page 684 of the first edition of the Book of Martyrs in order to consult a more expansive paraphrase of Injunctions 13, 16-19, 22, 30-31, and 33-34.

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MarginaliaIniunctions geuē to the Bishops.Besides these generall Iniunctions for the whole estate of the Realme, there were also certeine others particularly appoynted for the Byshops onely: which beyng deliuered vnto the Commissioners, were likewise by their visitations committed vnto the sayd Byshops, with charge to be inuiolably obserued and kept vpon payne of the kynges Maiestie displeasure: the effect wherof is as in maner foloweth.

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First, that they should to the vttermost of their wytte and vnderstandyng, see and cause all, euery and singular the kynges Iniunctions thertofore geuen or after to bee geuen from tyme to tyme, in and through their Dioces, duely, faythfully and truly to be kept, obserued, and accomplished, and that they should personally preach within their Dioces euery quarter of a yeare once at the least, that is to say, once in their Cathedral Churches, and thrise in other seuerall places of their Diocesses, whereas they shoulde see it most conuenient and necessary, except they had a reasonable excuse to the contrary. Likewise, that they should not retrayne into their seruice or housholde any Chaplayne, but such as were learned, or hable to preach the worde of God, and those they should also cause to exercise the same.

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Moreouer, that they should not geue Orders to any person, but vnto such as were learned in holy Scripture: neither should denye them that were learned in þe same, beyng of honest cōuersation & liuyng. And last, that they should not at any tyme or place preach or set forth vnto the people any doctrine contrary or repugnant to the effect and intent conteined and set forth in the kynges highnes Homelies: neither yet should admit or geue licence to preach to any within their Diocesses, but to such as they should know (or at the least assuredly trust) would do the same. And if at any tyme by hearyng, or by reporte proued, they should perceaue

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