vate houses, nor lawless and exempt churches, under the pains of the law forbidding the same. And that the Curate have their certificates, when the parties dwell in divers parishes.

VI. Item, The Banns of Matrimony ought to be openly denounced in the church by the Minister three several Sundays or Festival-days, to the end that who will and can allege any impediment, may be heard, and that stay may be made till further trial, if any exception be made there against it, upon sufficient caution.

VII. Item, Who shall maliciously object a frivolous impediment against a lawful matrimony to disturb the same, is subject to the pains of the law.

VIII. Item, Who shall presume to contract in the degrees prohibited, (though he do it ignorantly,) besides that the fruit of such copulation may be judged unlawful, is also punishable at the Ordinary's discretion.

IX. If any Minister shall conjoin any such, or shall be present at such contracts making, he ought to be suspended from his ministry for three years, and otherwise to be punished according to the laws.

X. Item, It is further ordained, That no Parson, Vicar, nor Curate, do preach, treat, or expound, of his own voluntary invention, any matter of controversy in the Scriptures, if he be under the degree of a Master of Arts, except he be licensed by his Ordinary thereunto, but only for the instruction of the people read the Homilies already set forth, and such other form of doctrine as shall be hereafter by authority published: and shall not innovate nor alter any thing in the Church, or use any old rite or ceremony, which be not set forth by public authority.

None shall come near to any of the kindred of his flesh to uncover their shame: I am the Lord.

Set forth by the most Reverend Father in God, Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of England and Metropolitan. 1563.

A COLLECTION

OF

ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,

FORMS AND ORDINANCES,

RELATIVE TO CERTAIN DUTIES AND RIGHTS

OF

THE CLERGY.