THE PREFACE.

It is evident unto all men, diligently readinge holye scripture, and auncient aucthours, that from the Apostles tyme, there hathe bene these orders of Ministers in Christes church, Bisshoppes, Priestes, and Deacons, which Offices were evermore had in suche reverent estimacion, that no man by his own private aucthoritie, might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and knowen, to have such equalities, as were requisite for the same. And also by publique prayer, with imposicion of handes, approved, and admitted thereunto. And therfore to the entent these orders shoulde bee continued, and reverentlye used, and estemed in this Church of England, it is requysite, that no man (not beynge at thys presente Bisshop, Priest, nor Deacon) shall execute anye of them, excepte he be called, tryed, examined, and admitted, accordynge to the forme hereafter folowinge. And none shalbe admitted a Deacon, except he be xxi yeres of age at the least. And every man, which is to be admitted a Priest, shalbe full xxiiii yeres olde. And every man, which is to be consecrated a Bishop, shalbe fully thyrtie yeres of age. And the Bisshop knowinge, eyther by hymself, or by sufficient testimonye, any person to be a man of vertuous conversacion [=reputation], and wythoute cryme, and after examinacion and triall, fyndynge hym learned in the Latyne tongue, and sufficientlye instructed in holye Scripture, maye upon a Sondaye or Holyday, in the face of the church, admitte hym a Deacon in suche maner and fourme, as hereafter foloweth.

For the ordering of:

• Deacons

• Priests

• Archbishops and Bishops

[With Poems Added from The Temple 1633.
The poems may be assigned to a narrator, to be called The Poet, or to the Curate, congregation or private worshipper.
The poems may be read by one person, antiphonally or groups.
Each of the orders is treated separately, and, therefore, the same poem may appear in all three of the services. In a larger sense the approach to an ever higher calling is similar to that of the virtuous, faithful and dedicated Christian.
(Links within the text may be used or omitted.)]
Editors note: In the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, the letter "v" was not used. A "u" was printed instead. For example "serve" was "serue." If you find the reading challenging with the "v," think of it with the "u." Also printers used a line over a letter to show that a letter is missing, for example "they" or "them" may appear as "the" with a short horizontal line ( ¯ ) over the "e."

THE

FOURME AND MANER

OF

ORDERINGE OF DEACONS.

¶ Fyrst, when the daye appoynted by the Bisshoppe is come, there shalbe an exhortacion, declaring the duetie and office, of suche as come to be admitted Ministers, howe necessarie suche Orders are in the Churche of Christe, and also howe the people oughte to esteme them in theyr vocacion. 

[The Poet's, Deacon's and Minister's meditation before entering into the service: Church-monuments. Their response to the opportunity to serve God as the Church-music begins.]

The Poet's exhortation to Deacons and Ministers: Constancie.

REVERENDE Father in GOD, I presente unto you, these persones presente, to bee admitted Deacons.
¶ The Bisshoppe. Take hede that the persones whom ye presente unto us, be apte and mete, for theyr learninge and godlye conversacion [=behavior], to exercyse theyr ministerye duely, to the honoure of God, and edifyinge of hys Church.

The Poet or the Deacons: Pearl.

The Poet, Archdeacon or the Bishop describes the approach to the Deacons: Church-floor.

The Archedeacon shall aunswere.

I have enquyred of them, and also examined them, and thynke them so to be.

¶ And then the Bisshop shal saye unto the people.

BRETHREN, yf there bee anye of you, who knoweth anye impediment, or notable crime, in any of these persones presented to bee ordered Deacons, for the whych he oughte not to bee admitted to the same, lette hym come foorthe in the name of God, and shewe what the cryme, or impediment is.

¶ And yf any great cryme, or impediment be objected, the Bisshoppe shal surcease [=desist], from ordering that person, untyl suche tyme as the partie accused, shal trye himself clere of that cryme.

The Poet for the Deacon(s): Church lock and key.

Then the Bisshop, commending suche as shalbe found mete to be ordered to the prayers of the congregacion, wyth the Clerkes, and people present, shalt saye or synge the Letany as foloweth wyth the prayers. 

The Letanie and Suffrages.

O GOD the father of heaven : have mercye upon us myserable synners.
    O God the father of heaven : have mercie upon us miserable synners.
    O God the sonne, redemer of the world : have mercye upon us myserable synners.
    O God the Sonne, redemer of the world : have mercy upon us miserable synners.
    O God the holy Ghost, proceding from the father and the sonne : have mercye upon us myserable synners.
    O God the holy gost, proceding from the Father and the sonne: have mercye upon us miserable synners.
    O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, thre persons and one God : have mercie upon us miserable synners.
    O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, thre persons and one God : have mercie upon us miserable synners.
    Remembre not Lorde our offences, nor the offences of oure forefathers, neyther take thou vengeaunce of oure synnes spare us good Lorde, spare thy people, whom thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud, and be not angry wyth us for ever.

Spare us good Lorde.

From all evyll and mischiefe, from synne, from the craftes and assaultes of the devyll, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnacion.

Good Lorde deliver us.

From al blyndnes of hearte, from pryde, vayneglory, and hypocrisie, from envie, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitablenes.

Good lord, deliver us.

From fornicacion, and all other deadlye synne, and from all the deceyptes of the worlde, the fleshe, and the devyll.

Good lord, deliver us.

From lighteninges and tempestes, from plague, pestilence, and famine, from battayle and murther, and from sodeyne death.

Good lord, deliver us.

From all sedicion and pryvie conspiracie, from the tyrannye of the Bysshop of Rome, and al hys detestable enormities, from al false doctryne and heresy, from hardnes of hearte, and contempte of thy worde and commaundement.

Good lord, deliver us.

By the misterye of thy holy incarnacion, by thy holy nativitie and circumcision, by thy baptisme, fastynge, and temptacion.

Good lord, deliver us.

By thyne agonye and bloudie sweate, by thy crosse, and passion, by thy precious death and buriall, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the cominge of the holy Ghost.

Good lord, deliver us.

In al time of our tribulacion, in al tyme of our welth, in the houre of death, and in the daye of judgement.

Good Lorde delyver us.

We synners doe beseche thee to heare us (O Lorde God), and that it may please thee to rule and governe thy holy Church universally, in the ryghte waye.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to kepe EDWARD the sixth thy servaunt, our Kynge and governour.

We beseehe thee to heare us good lord.

That it may please thee, to rule his heart in thy fayth feare and love, that he may alwayes have affiaunce [=faith] in thee, and ever seke thy honour and glory.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to be his defendour and keper, gevyng hym the victorie over all his enemies.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lord.

That it may please thee, to illuminate al Bisshops, Pastours, and Ministers of the Churche, wyth true knowledge, and understanding of thy worde, and that both by theyr preachynge and lyving, they may sette it forth and shewe it accordingly.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to blesse these men, and send thy grace upon them, that they maye duelye execute the offyce nowe to bee commytted unto them, to the edifyinge of thy Churche, and to thy honoure, prayse, and glorye.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee to endue the Lordes of the Counsayle and al the nobilitie wyth grace, wysdome, and understanding.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lord.

That it may please thee, to blesse and kepe the Magistrates, geving them grace to execute Justice, and to maynteyne trueth.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to blesse and kepe al thy people.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to geve to al nacions, unitie, peace, and concorde.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee to geve us an heart, to love and dreade [=respect] thee, and dyligently to lyve after thy commaundementes.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it maye please thee to geve all thy people encrease of grace, to heare mekely thy woorde, and to receyve it wyth pure affection, and to brynge foorth the fruytes of the spirite.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it maye please thee, to bringe into the waye of trueth, al suche as have erred, and are deceyved.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to strengthen suche as doe stande, and to comforte and helpe the weake hearted, and to rayse them up that fall, and finallye to beate downe Sathan under our feete.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to succoure, helpe and comforte, al that be in daunger, necessitie, and tribulacion.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to preserve al that travayl by lande, or by water, al women labouringe of chylde, al sycke persons and yonge chyldren, and to shewe thy pytie upon al prysoners and captyves.

We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.

That it may please thee, to defende and provide for the fatherles chyldren and wyddowes, and all that be desolate and oppressed.

We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.

That it may please thee, to have mercie upon al men.

We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.

That it may please thee, to forgeve oure enemyes, persecutours, and slaunderers, and to turne theyr heartes.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee, to geve and preserve to our use, the kyndly fruytes of the yearth, so as in due tyme we may enjoye them.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

That it may please thee to geve us true repentaunce, to forgeve us all oure synnes, negligences, and ignoraunces, and to endue us wyth the grace of thy holye spirite, to amende oure lyves accordinge to thy holye worde.

We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

Sonne of God: we beseche thee to heare us 

Sonne of God: we beseche thee to heare us.

O Lambe of God, that takeste awaye the synnnes of the worlde.
    Graunt us thy peace.

O Lambe of God, that takest awaye the synnes of the worlde.
    Have mercie upon us.

O Christe heare us.
    O Christe, heare us.

Lorde have mercy upon us.
    Lorde have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.
    Christ have mercy upon us.

Lorde have mercy upon us.
    Lorde have mercy upon us.

The Poet, candidates and Bishop reflect on the occasion: The Church Windows.

1549: Our father which art in heaven, etc. And leade us not into temptacion.     But deliver us from evill. The Versicle. O lorde deale not with us after our sinnes. The aunswere. Neither reward us after our iniquities.

1552: ¶ Our father which art in heaven, &c. And leade us not into temptacion.     But deliver us from evill. The Versicle. O lorde deale not with us after our sinnes. The aunswere. Neither reward us after our iniquities.

Let us pray.

O GOD mercyfull father, that despyseste not the sighinge of a contryte hearte, nor the desyre of suche as be sorowfull, mercyfully assiste oure prayers that we make before thee, in all oure troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppresse us: and graciously heare us, that those evyls, which the craft and subteltie of the devyl, or man worketh agaynst us, be brought to naught, and by the providence of thy goodnes, they may be dispersed, that we thy servauntes, beyng hurte by no persecutions, may evermore geve thankes unto thee, in thy holy Church, through Jesu Christ oure Lorde.
    O Lorde aryse, help us, and delyver us, for thy names sake.

O GOD, we have heard with our eares, and oure fathers have declared unto us, the noble workes, that thou dyddeste in their dayes, and in the olde tyme before them.
   O Lorde aryse, help us, and delyver us, for thyne honour.

    Glorye be to the father, the sonne, and to the holy ghost. As. it was in the begynning, is now, and ever shal be, world without ende. Amen.
    From our enemies defende us, O Christ.

Graciously loke upon our afflictions.

    Pitifully beholde the sorowes of our heart.

Mercifully forgeve the synnes of thy people.

    Favourably with mercy heare our prayers.

O sonne of David have mercy upon us.

    Both nowe and ever vouchesafe to heare us, O Christ.

Graciously heare us, O Christe, Graciously heare us, O Lord Christe.

¶ The Versicle. O Lorde let thy mercy be shewed upon us.
The Aunswere. As we do put our trust in thee.

¶ Let us praye.

WE humbly beseche thee, O father, mercyfully to looke upon oure infirmities, and for the glory of thy names sake, tourne from us all those evylles, that we moste ryghteouslye have deserved: And graunte that in all oure troubles, we maye put oure whole trust, and confydence in thy mercye, and evermore serve thee, in holynes and purenesse of lyvinge, to thy honour and glorye, through our onely mediatour and advocate Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.
ALMYGHTIE God, which hast geven us grace at this tyme with one accorde, to make our common supplicacions unto the, and doest promise that when two, or three be gathered in thy name, thou wilt graunt their requestes, fulfyll nowe, O Lorde, the desyres and peticions of thy servauntes, as may be moste expediente for them, grauntynge us in thys worlde, knowledge of thy trueth, and in the worlde to come lyfe everlastynge. Amen.

Then shalbe sayde also thys that foloweth.

ALMYGHTIE God, whiche by thy devyne providence, haste appoynted dyverse Orders of ministers in the Churche: and dyddeste enspyre thyne holy Apostles to chose unto this Ordre of Deacons, the fyrste Martyr sainct Stephyn, wyth other: mercyfully beholde these thy servauntes, now called to the lyke office and administracion; replenishe them so wyth the trueth of thy doctryne, and innocencie of lyfe, that, both by worde and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and profyte of the congregacion, through the merites of our saviour Jesu Christ, who lyveth and reygneth wyth thee, and the holy Ghost, nowe and ever. Amen.

Then shal be songe or sayd, the Communion of the daye, savyng the Epistle shalbe read out of Timothe, [1 Timothy 2:8-16] as foloweth.

LIKEWYSE muste the ministers be honest, not double-tongued, not geven unto muche wyne, neyther gredy of fylthy lucre, but holding the mistery of the fayth, wyth a pure conscience. And let them first be proved, and then let them minister, so that no man be able to reprove them. Even so must theyr wives be honest, not evyll speakers, but sobre and faythfull in all thinges. Lette the Deacons bee the husbandes of one wyfe, and suche as rule theyr chyldren well, and theyr owne housholdes. For they that minister well, geat themselves a good degre, and a greate lybertie in the fayth, whych is in Christ Jesu.
    These thinges wryte I unto thee trusting to come shortely unto thee; but and yf I tarye longe, that then thou mayst yet have knowledge, howe thou oughteste to behave thyselfe, in the house of God, whiche is the congregacion of the lyvinge God, the pyller and grounde of trueth. And without doubt, greate is that misterie of Godlynesse. God was shewed in the fleshe, was justifyed in the spirite, was sene amonge the Angels, was preached unto the Gentyles, was beleved on in the worlde, and receyved up in glory.

Or els thys out of the sixth of the Actes [Acts 6:2-7].

THEN the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and sayde: it is not mete that we shoulde leave the worde of God, and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, looke ye oute amonge you, seven men of honest report and full of the holy goste and wysdome, to whome we maye committe thys busynesse: but we wyll geve oureselves continually to prayer, and to the administracion of the word. And that saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephin, a man ful of fayth, and ful of the holy ghoste, and Philip, and Procorus, and Nichanor, and Tymon, and Permenas, and Nicholas a convert of Antioche. These they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they layed theyr handes on them. And the worde of God increased, and the nombre of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great companie of the Priestes, were obedient unto the fayth.

The Poet recalls the lapse into Church-rents and schisms.

¶ And before the Gospel, the Bisshop sitting in a Chaire, shal cause the Othe [oath] of the Kinges supremacie, and against the usurped power and aucthoritie of the Bishop of Rome, to be ministred unto every of them that are to be Ordred.

¶ The Othe of the Kynges Supremacie.

I FROM henceforth shal utterly renounce, refuse, relinquisshe and forsake the Bysshop of Rome, and hys aucthoritie, power, and jurisdiction. And I shal never consent nor agree, that the Bysshop of Rome shall practyse, exercyse, or have any maner of aucthoritie, Jurisdiction, or Power wythin thys Realme, or anye other the Kynges dominions, but shall resyste the same at all tymes, to the uttermoste of my power. And I from hence foorth wyll accepte, repute, and take the Kynges Maiestie, to be the onelye Supreme head in earth, of the Church of Englande: And to my connynge, wytte, and uttermoste of my power, wythoute guyle, fraude, or other undue meane, I wyll observe, kepe, maynteyne and defende, the whole effectes and contentes, of al, and synguler actes and Statutes made, and to be made wythin thys realme in derogacion [=impairing], extirpacion [=extermination], and extinguishment of the Bisshop of Rome and his aucthoritie, and al other Actes and Statutes, made or to be made, in confirmacion and corroboracion of the Kynges power, of the supreme head in earth, of the Church of Englande: and this I wyll do agaynst all maner of persones, of what estate, dignitie or degree, or condicion they be, and in no wise do nor attempt, nor to my power, suffre to be done or attempted, directely or indirectly, any thing or thinges, prively or appertelye [apertly, =publicly], to the let [=prevention], hinderaunce, dammage, or derogacion thereof, or any part thereof, by any maner of meanes, or for any maner of pretence. And in case any othe bee made, or hath been made by me, to any person or persones, in mayntenaunce, defence, or favoure of the Bisshoppe of Rome, or hys aucthoritie, jurisdiction, or power, I repute the same, as vayne and adnichilate [=annulled]: so help me God, [all Saints and the holy Evangelist].* replaced by "through Jesus Christ" in 1552.

The Poet defines the enviable position of the British Church.

Then shalt the Bisshop examine every one of them that are to be ordered, in the presence of the people, after thys maner folowynge.

Do you trust that you are inwardely moved by the holy Ghoste, to take upon you thys offyce and ministracion, to serve God, for the promotinge of hys glorye, and the edyfyinge of hys people?
    Aunswere. I truste so.
   The Bisshop. Do ye thinke, that ye truely be called accordinge to the wyll of our Lord Jesus Christe, and the due ordre of thys realme to the ministery of the Church?
   Aunswere. I thinke so.
    The Bisshop. Doe ye unfeynedly beleve all the Canonicall scriptures, of the olde and newe Testament?
    Aunswere. I doe beleve.
    The Bisshoppe. Will you diligently reade the same unto the people assembled in the Churche, where you shalbe appoynted to serve?
    Aunswere. I wyll.
    The Bisshoppe. It perteyneth to the office of a Deacon in the Churche where he shalbe appoynted to assiste the Prieste in devine service, and speciallye when he ministreth the holye Communion, and to helpe him in distribucion thereof, and to reade holye scriptures and Homelies in the congregacion, and to instructe the youth in the Cathechisme, to Baptise and to preache yf he be admitted therto by the Bisshop. And further more, it is his office where provision is so made to searche for the sicke, poore, and impotente people of the parishe, and to intimate theyr estates, names, and places where thei dwel to the Curate, that by his exhortacion they maye bee relieved by the parishe or other convenient almose ["almes" in1552]: wil you do this gladly and wyllingly?
    Aunswere. I wyll so do by the helpe of God.
    The Bisshoppe. Will you applye all youre diligence to frame and fasshion youre owne lyves, and the lives of all your familie according to the doctrine of Christ, and to make bothe your selves and them as muche as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flocke of Christ?
    Aunswere. I wyll so do, the Lorde beyng my helper.
    The Bisshoppe. Will you reverently obeye your ordinary and other chiefe Ministers of the Church, and them to whom the governemente and charge is committed over you, folowyng wyth a gladde mynde and wyll theyr godly admonicions?
    Aunswere. I wyl thus endevor myself, the lord beyng my helper.

The Poet or Choir express the learning of the Deacon(s): The Elixir.

¶ Then the Bishop layinge his handes severally upon the head of every of them, shall saye.

Take thou aucthoritie to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee: in the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost. Amen.

Then shal the Bisshop delyver to every one of them the newe Testamente, sayinge.

Take thou aucthoritie to reade the Gospell in the Church of God, and to preache the same, yf thou bee thereunto ordinarely commaunded.

Then one of them appoynted by the Bisshop, shal reade the Gospel of that daye.
Then shal the Bisshop procede to the Communion, and al that be ordered, shal tarye and receyve the holy Communion the same daye wyth the Bisshop.
The Communion ended, after the laste Collecte and immediatly before the benediction, shalbe sayed this Collecte folowynge.

ALMYGHTIE God, gever of al good thinges, which of thy great goodnes hast vouchsafed to accepte and take these thy servauntes unto the office of Deacons in thy church: make them we beseche thee, O Lorde, to bee modest, humble, and constant in their ministracion, to have a ready wyl to observe al spiritual discipline, that they havinge alwayes the testimonie of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy sonne Christ, may so wel use themselves in thys inferior offyce, that they may be found worthi to be called unto the higher ministeries in thy Church: through the same thy sonne our Saviour Christ, to whom be glorye and honoure, worlde wythout ende. Amen.

¶ And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon that he must continue in that office of a Deacon, the space of a whole yeare at the least (excepte for reasonable causes, it bee otherwyse seen to his ordenarie) to thentent he may be perfecte, and wel expert in the thinges apperteyning to the Ecclesiasticall administracion, in executing whereof, yf he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the ordre of Priesthode.

THE FOURME

OF

ORDERING PRIESTES.

The Poet gives his exhortation: The Priesthood.

FROM Mileto Paule sent messengers to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the congregacion; which when they were come to him, he sayde unto them. Ye know, that from the first day that I came into Asia, after what maner I have been wyth you at al seasons, servynge the Lord wyth al humblenes of mynde, and wyth many teares and temptacions which happened unto me by the layinges awayte of the Jewes, because I would kepe backe nothinge that was profitable unto you, but to shewe you and teache you openly throughout every house: witnessing bothe to the Jewes, and also to the Grekes, the repentaunce that is towarde God, and the fayth whiche is towarde oure Lorde Jesus. And now behold, I goe bound in the spyryte unto Jerusalem, not knowing the thinges that shall come on me there; but that the holy ghost witnesseth in every citie, saying that bandes [=imprisonment] and trouble abyde me. But none of these thynges move me, nether is my lyfe deare unto myselfe, that I might fulfyll my course with joye and the ministracion of the worde whiche I have receyved of the Lord Jesu to testifye the Gospell of the grace of God. And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye al (through whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God) shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to recorde thys daye, that I am pure from the bloud of all men. For I have spared no labor, but have shewed you all the counsayle of God. Take hede therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flocke amonge whom the holy ghost hath made you overseers to rule the congregacion of God, whiche he hathe purchased wyth hys bloud. For I am sure of this, that after my departing, shal grevous wolves entre in among you, not sparing the flocke. Moreover, of your owne selves shall men aryse, speaking perverse thinges, to drawe disciples after them. Therefore awake, and remembre that by the space of three yeares I ceassed not to warne every one of you nyght and daye, wyth teares.
    And now brethren, I commende you to God and to the woorde of his grace, whiche is able to buylde further, and to gyve you an inheritaunce among al them which are sanctified. I have desyred no mans sylver, golde or vesture. Yea, you knowe youre selves, that these handes have ministred unto my necessities, and to them that were wyth me. I have shewed you all thynges, howe that so labouring ye oughte to receyve the weake, and to remembre the wordes of the Lorde Jesu, howe that he sayd; it is more blessed to geve than to receyve.

Or els thys thyrde Chapter, of the fyrst Epistle to Timothe.

THYS is a true sayinge; yf any man desyre the offyce of a Bisshoppe, he desyreth an honeste worke. A Bisshop therfore must be blamelesse, the husband of one wyfe, vigilant, sobre, discrete, a keper of hospitalitie, apte to teache, not geven to over much wyne, no fyghter, nor gredye of filthye lucre; but gentle, abhorring fyghting, abhorringe covetousnes; one that ruleth wel his owne house, one that hath children in subjection with al reverence. For yf a man cannot rule hys owne house, how shall he care for the congregacion of God? He may not be a yong scholer, leste he swell, and fall into the Judgement of the evyl speaker. He must also have a good reporte of them whiche are without; leste he fall into rebuke, and snare of the evyll speaker.
    Likewise must the Ministers be honest, not double-tongued, not geven unto muche wyne, nether gredy of filthie lucre; But holding the mistery of the fayth, with a pure conscience; and let them first be proved, and then let them minister so that no man be able to reprove them.
    Even so must their wyves be honest, not evil-speakers; but sobre and faithful in al thinges. Let the Deacons be the husbandes of one wyfe, and such as rule their chyldren wel, and theyr owne housholdes, For they that minister wel get themselves a good degre, and great libertie in the fayth which is in Christe Jesu.
    These thinges wryte I unto thee, trusting to come shortly unto thee; but and yf I tary longe, that then thou mayst have yet knowledge, howe thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God, which is the congregacion of the livinge God, the Piller and ground of trueth. And without doubt, greate is that misterie of Godlynes: God was shewed in the flesh, was Justified in the spirite, was seen among the Angelles, was Preached unto the Gentyles, was beleved on in the worlde, and receyved up in glory.

After thys shalbe read for the Gospel a pece of the laste Chapter of Mathew, [Matthew 28:18-20] as foloweth.

JESUS came and spake unto them, saying: All power is geven unto me in heaven and in earth. Goe ye therefore and teache all nacions, baptising them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy gost. Teachyng them to observe all thinges, whatsoever I have commaunded you. And be, I am with you alway, even untill the end of the worlde.

Or els this that foloweth, of the tenth Chapter of John [John 10:1-16].

VERELY, verely, I saye unto you; He that entreth not in by the dore into the sheepe folde, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thefe and a murtherer. But he that entereth in by the doore, is the shepeheard of the shepe, to hym the Porter openeth, and the Shepe heareth hys voyce, and he calleth hys owne shepe by name, and leadeth them out. And when he hath sente forth his owne shepe, he goeth before them, and the shepe folowe hym, for they knowe his voyce. A straunger wyll they not folow, but wyll flee from hym, for they knowe not the voyce of straungers. Thys Proverbe spake Jesus unto them, but they understoode not what thynges they were, whyche he spake unto them. Then sayde Jesus unto them agayne: verely, verely, I saye unto you, I am the doore of the shepe. All (even as manye as come before me) are theves and murtherers: but the shepe dyd not heare them. I am the doore, by me yf any man entre in, he shall be safe, and goe in and out, and fynde pasture. A thefe cometh not but for to steale, kyll and to destroye. I am come that they myght have lyfe, and that they myghte have it more aboundauntlye. I am the good shepeheard: a good shepehearde geveth his lyfe for the shepe. An hired servaunt, and he whiche is not the shepeheard (neyther the shepe are hys owne) seeth the wolfe comming, and leaveth the shepe and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth and scattereth the shepe. The hyred servaunt fleeth, because he is an hyred servaunte, and careth not for the shepe. I am the good shepeherd and knowe my shepe, and am knowen of myne. As my father knoweth me, even so know I also my father. And I geve my lyfe for the shepe, and other shepe I have, which are not of this folde. Them also must I bring, and they shall heare my voyce, and there shall be one folde and one shepehearde.

Anthem or the Poet reads The 23 Psalme.

Or els thys, of the xx. Chapter of John [John 20:19-23].

THE same daye at night, which was the fyrst daye of the Sabbothes, when the doores were shutte (where the Disciples were assembled together, for feare of the Jewes) came Jesus and stode in the middes [midst], and sayde unto them; peace be unto you. And when he had so sayd, he shewed unto them hys handes and his syde. Then were the disciples glad, when they sawe the Lord. Then sayd Jesus unto them agayne, peace bee unto you. As my father sent me, even so send I you also. And when he had sayd those wordes, he breathed on them and said unto them, receyve ye the holy ghost: whosoevers synnes ye remytte, they are remytted unto them: and whosoevers synnes ye retayne, they are retayned.

When the Gospel is ended, then shalbe sayd or songe [Veni creator spiritus].

    COME holy ghost eternall God procedinge from above,
    Both from the father and the sonne, the God of peace and love:
    Vysyte oure myndes, and into us, thy heavenly grace inspyre;
    That in all trueth and godlynesse, we maye have true desyre.
    Thou art the very comforter, in al woe and distresse:
    The heavenly gyfte of God moste highe, whych no tongue can expresse.
    The fountayne and the lively springe, of joye celestiall:
    The fyre so brighte, the love so clere, and Unction spirituall.
    Thou in thy gyftes arte manifolde, whereby Christes Churche doeth stande:
    In faythfull heartes wrytinge thy lawe, the fynger of Goddes hande.
    According to thy promes made, thou gevest speache of grace;
    That throughe thy helpe, the prayse of God, may sounde in every place.
    O holy ghoste, into oure wittes, sende downe thyne heavenly lyght;
    Kyndle our heartes wyth fervent love, to serve God daye and nyght.
    Strength and stablishe all oure weakenes, so feble and so frayle:
    That neyther fleshe, the worlde, nor devyl, agaynste us do prevayle.
    Put backe oure enemie farre from us, and graunte us to obtayne:
    Peace in our heartes with God and man, withoute grudge or disdayne.
    And graunt O Lorde that thou beyng, oure leader and oure guyde;
    We may eschewe the snares of synne, and from thee never slyde.
    To us such plentie of thy grace, good Lord graunt we thee praye:
    That thou mayest bee oure comforter, at the laste dreadfull daye.
    Of all stryfe and dissencion, O Lorde, dissolve the bandes:
    And make the knottes of peace and love, throughoute all Christien landes.
    Graunte us O Lorde, throughe thee to knowe the father most of myght;
    That of hys deare beloved sonne we may attayne the syght.
    And that wyth perfect fayth also, we may acknowledge thee;
    The Spirite of them both alwaye, one God in persones three.
    Laude and prayse be to the father, and to the sonne equall:
    And to the holy spyryte also, one God coeternall.
    And praye we that the onely sonne, vouchesafe hys spyryte to sende;
    To all that do professe hys name, unto the worldes ende. Amen. [(the last two lines are repeated in 1552)]

And then the Archedeacon shalt present unto the Bisshop, all them that shall receyve the order of Priesthode that daye, [every of them having upon hym a playne Albe --]*[ omitted in 1552.] The Archedeacon sayinge.

REVERENDE Father in GOD, I presente unto you, these persones presente, to bee admitted to the ordre of Priesthode, Cum interrogatione et responsione, ut in ordine Diaconatus.

And then the Bisshop shal saye to the people.

GOOD people, these bee they whome we purpose God wyllyng, to receyve this daye, unto the holye offyce of Priesthode. For after due examinacion, we fynd not the contrary but that they be lawfully called to theyr function and ministery, and that they be persones mete for the same: but yet yf there be any of you whyche knoweth any impediment, or notable cryme in any of them, for the whyche he oughte not to bee receyved into this holy ministery, nowe in the name of God declare the same.

¶ And yf any great cryme or impediment be objected, &c. Ut supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litanie cum hac Collecta.

ALMYGHTIE GOD, gever of all good thinges, which by thy holy spirit has appoynted dyverse orders of Ministers in thy church, mercifully behold these thy servantes, now called to the Office of Priesthode, and replenish them so wyth the trueth of thy doctryne, and innocencie of lyfe, that both by worde and good example, they may faythfully serve thee in thys office, to the glorye of thy name, and profyte of the congregacion, through the merites of oure saviour Jesu Christ, who lyveth and reygneth, wyth thee and the holy Ghoste, worlde wythout ende. Amen.

¶ Then the Bisshop shal minister unto every of them the othe, concerning the Kinges Supremacie, as it is set oute in the ordre of Deacons. And that done, he shall saye unto them, which are appoynted to receyve the sayde Office, as hereafter fotoweth.

YOU have hearde brethren, as well in youre private examinacion, as in the exhortacion, and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel, and of the writinges of the Apostles, of what dignitie, and of how great importaunce thys offyce is, (whereunto ye be called). And nowe we exhorte you, in the name of oure LORDE Jesus Christe, to have in remembraunce, into howe hyghe a dignitie, and to howe chargeable an offyce ye bee called, that is to saye, to be the messengers, the watchemen, the Pastours, and the stewardes of the LORDE to teache, to premonisshe [=warn], to feede, and provyde for the Lordes famylye: to seeke for Christes shepe that be dispersed abrode, and for hys children whiche bee in the myddest of thys naughtye worlde, to be saved through Christe for ever. Have alwayes therfore printed in your remembraunce, howe great a treasure is committed to your charge, for they be the shepe of Chryste, whiche he boughte with hys death, and for whom he shed his bloud. The churche and congregacion whom you must serue, is his spouse and hys body. And if it shall chaunce the same churche, or any membre therof, to take any hurt or hinderaunce, by reason of youre negligence, ye knowe the greatnesse of the faulte, and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue. Wherfore, consider with yourselves the end of your ministery, towardes the chyldren of God, towarde the spouse and body of Christ, and see that ye never cease your laboure, your care and dilygence, untill you have doen all that lieth in you, accordynge to your bounden dutie, to bryng all suche as are, or shalbe commytted to youre charge, unto that agremente in faith, and knowledge of God, and to that ripenes, and perfectnesse of age in Christe, that there be no place left emong them, either for errour in Religion, or for viciousnesse in lyfe.
    Then, forasmuche as your office is both of so greate excellencye, and of so great difficultie, ye se with howe greate care and study ye oughte to apply yourselves, as well that you maye shewe yourselves kinde to that Lorde, who hath placed you in so high a dignitie, as also to beware, that neyther you yourselves offende, neither be occasion that other offende. Howbeit, ye cannot have a mynde and a wyll thereto of yourselves, for that power and abilitie is geven of God alone. Therfore ye se how ye ought and have nede, earnestly to praye for hys holy spirit. And seyng that ye cannot by any other meanes compasse the doyng of so weightie a woorke perteining to the salvacion of man, but with doctryne and exhortacion, taken out of holy scripture and with a life agreable unto the same. Ye perceyve how studyous ye oughte to be in readyng and learnyng the holy scriptures, and in framyng the maners, both of yourselves, and of them that specially partein unto you, accordyng to the rule of the same scriptures. And for this selfesame cause, ye see how you oughte to forsake and set aside (as much as you maye) all worldly cares and studyes.
    We have a good hope, that you have well weighed and pondred these thynges with yourselves, long before thys tyme, and that you have clerely determyned, by goddes grace, to geve yourselves wholy to this vocacyon, wherunto it hath pleased God to call you, so that (as muche as lieth in you) you apply youreselves wholy to this one thing, and drawe al your cares and studies this way, and to thys ende. And that you wyll continually praye for the heavenly assistaunce of the holy goste, from God the father, by the mediacion of our only mediatour and saviour Jesus Chryste, that by dayly readyng and weighing of the scriptures, ye may waxe riper and stronger in your ministerie. And that ye may so endevour yourselfes from time to time to sanctifie the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ. And that ye maye be wholesome and godly examples and paternes, for the reste of the congregacyon to folowe. And that this present congregacion of Christ here assembled, may also understande youre myndes and wylles, in these thynges: And that this your promes, shall more move you to doe your dueties, ye shal answer plainly to these thinges, whiche we in the name of the congregacyon shal demaunde of you, touchyng the same.
    Doe you thynke in your heart, that you be truly called accordyng to the will of our Lorde Jesus Chyrste, and the ordre of this Churche of Englande, to the ministerie of Priesthode?
    Aunswere. I thinke it.
    The Bishoppe. Be you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contein sufficiently al doctrine required of necessitie for eternal salvacion, throughe faith in Jesu Christe? And are you determined with the saied scriptures, to enstructe the people committed to your charge, and to teache nothyng, as required of necessitie, to eternal salvacion, but that you shalbe perswaded may be concluded, and proved by the scripture?
    Aunswere. I am so perswaded, and have so determyned by Gods grace.
    The Bishoppe. Will you then geve your faythfull dylygence alwayes, so to mynister the doctryne and Sacramentes, and the discipline of Christ, as the lord hath commaunded, and as thys realme hath received the same, accordyng to the commaundementes of God, so that you may teache the people committed to youre cure and charge, with al diligence to kepe and observe the same?
    Aunswere. I wil so doe, by the helpe of the Lord.
    The Bishoppe. Wil you be ready with al faithful diligence, to banishe and drive away al erronious and straunge doctrines, contrarye to gods worde, and to use both publyke and private monycyons [=warnings] and exhortacyons, as well to the sicke as to the whole, within youre cures, as nede shall require and occasion be geven?
    Aunswere. I wyll, the Lorde beyng my helper.
    The Bisshoppe. Wil you be diligent in praiers, and in reading of the holy scriptures, and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the world and the fleshe?
    Aunswere. I wyll endevour myself so to doe, the Lord beyng my helper.
    The Bisshoppe. Wil you be diligent to frame and fashion youre own selves, and your families, according to the doctrine of Christe, and to make bothe youreselves and them (as muche as in you lieth) wholsome examples and spectacles to the flocke of Chryst?
    Aunswere. I wyll so apply myselfe, the lorde beyng my helper.
    The Bisshoppe. Wil you maintein and set forwardes (as much as lieth in you) quietnes, peace, and love emonges al christian people, and specially emong them that are, or sha be committed to your charge?
    Aunswere. I will so do, the Lorde being my helper.
    The Bisshoppe. Will you reverentlye obeye your Ordinarie, and other chiefe ministers, unto whom the governement and charge is commytted over you, folowing with a glad mynde and will, their godly admonicion, and submyttyng youreselves to theyr godlye judgementes?
    Aunswere. I wyll so doe, the Lorde beyng my helper.

¶ Then shal the Bisshoppe saye.

ALMIGHTIE god, who hath geven you this wyl to doe al these thynges, graunt also unto you strength and power to performe the same, that he may accomplishe his worke which he hath begon in you, until the tyme he shal come at the latter day, to judge the quicke and the dead.

¶ After this, the congregacion shalbe desired, secretly in their praiers, to make humble supplicacions to God for the foresaied thinges ; for the whiche praiers, there shalbe a certaine space kept in silence.

That doen, the Bisihoppe shall praye in this wyse.

[THE Lorde be with you.
Aunswere. And with thy spirite.]*

* omitted in 1552.

 
¶ Let us praye.

ALMIGHTIE god and heavenly father, which of thy infinite love and goodnes towardes us, hast geven to us thy onely and moste deare beloved sonne Jesus Christe, to be our redemer and aucthour of everlasting life: who after he had made perfecte our redempcion by hys death, and was ascended into heaven, sent abrode into the worlde hys Apostles, Prophetes, Evangelistes, Doctours and Pastours, by whose labour and ministere [ministry], he gathered together a greate flocke in al the partes of the worlde, to set furth the eternal praise of thy holy name. For these so greate benefites of thy eternal goodnes, and for that thou hast vouchsafed to cal these thy servauntes here present, to the same office and ministerie of the salvacion of mankynde; we render unto thee moste hartie thankes, we worship and praise thee, and we humbly beseche thee by the same thy sonne, to graunt unto al us which either here, or elswhere cal upon thy name, that we maye shewe ourselves thankefull to thee for these and all other thy benefites, and that we maye daily encrease and goe forwardes, in the knowledge and faith of thee, and thy sonne, by the holy spirite. So that as well by these thy ministers, as by them to whom thei shalbe appointed ministers, thy holy name may be alwaies glorified, and thy blessed kyngdom enlarged, throughe the same thy sonne our Lorde Jesus Christe; which liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unitie of the same holy spirite, world without ende. Amen.

¶ When this praier is done, the Bisshoppe with the priestes present, shal lay theyr handes severally upon the head of every one that receiveth orders. The receivers humbly knelyng upon their knees, and the Bisshop saying.

RECEIVE the holy goste, whose synnes thou doest forgeve, they are forgeven: and whose sinnes thou doest retaine, thei are retained: and be thou a faithful despensor of the word of god, and of his holy Sacramentes. In the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy gost. Amen.

1549: The Bisshop shall deliver to every one of them, the Bible in the one hande, and the Chalice or cuppe with the breade, in the other hande, and saying.

1552: The Bisshop shall deliver to every one of them, the Bible in his hande, saying.

TAKE thou aucthoritie to preache the word of god, and to minister the holy Sacramentes in thys congregacion, where thou shalt be so appointed.

¶ When thys is doen, the Congregacyon shall syng the Crede, and also they shal goe to the Communion which at they that receive orders shal take together, and remaine in the same place where the handes were layd upon them, untyl suche time as thei have received the Communion.

¶ The Communion beyng doen, after the last Collecte, and immediatly before the benediccion, shalbe sayed thys Collecte.

MOST mercifull father, we beseche thee so to sende upon these thy servauntes thy heavenly blessyng, that they maye be cladde about with all justice, and that thy worde spoken by theyr mouthes may have such successe, that it may never be spoken in vain. Graunt also that we may have grace to heare, and receive the same as thy moste holy worde and the meane of our salvacion, that in all our wordes and dedes we may seke thy glory, and the encrease of thy kingdom, thorow Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

¶ If the orders of Deacon and Priesthood, be geven both upon one day, then shal the Psatme for the Introyte and other thinges at the holy Communion, be used as they are appointed at the orderyng of Priestes. Saving that for the Epistle, the whole thirde Chapiter of the first to Timothe shalbe read, as it is sette out before in the order of Priestes. And immediatly after the Epistle, the Deacons shalbe ordered. And it shall suffice, the Letany to be sayed once.

THE FOURME OF CONSECRATING

OF AN

ARCHEBISSHOPPE OR BISSHOPPE.

THIS is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a Bisshoppe, he desireth an honest woorke. A Bishoppe therefore muste bee blamelesse, the husbande of one wyfe, dilygent, sober, discrete, a keper of hospitalitie, apte to teache, not geven to overmuche wyne, no fyghter, not gredy of filthy lucre, but gentle, abhorring fightynge, abhorrynge covetousnesse, one that ruleth wel his own house, one that hath children in subjeccion with al reverence. For if a man cannot rule his own house, howe shal he care for the congregacion of God? He may not be a yong scholer, lest he swel and fal into the judgemente of the evil speaker. He must also have a good report of them whiche are without, leste he fall into rebuke and snare of the evil speaker.

The Poet justifies himself: Matth 13. The Pearl.

The Gospell. John xxi. [John 21:15b-17]

JESUS saied to Symon Peter, Symon Johanna [i. e., Simon, son of John], loveste thou me more than these? He said unto him, yea, lorde, thou knowest that I love thee: he said unto him, fede my lambes. He said to him againe the seconde time: Simon Johanna, lovest thou me? He saied unto him, yea lorde, thou knowest that I love thee: he saied unto him, feede my shepe. He said unto him the thirde time; Simon Johanna, lovest thou me? Peter was sory, because he said unto hym the third time, lovest thou me, and he said unto him: lord thou knowest al thinges, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto hym, fede my shepe.

¶ Or els out of the tenth Chapiter of John, as before in thorder of Priestes.

¶ After the gospel and Credo ended, firste the elected Bisshoppe [havyng upon hym a Surples and Cope]* shall bee presented by two Bisshoppes [(beeyng also in surplesses and copes, and having theyr pastorall staves in their handes)]* unto the Archebisshoppe of that Province, or to some other Bysshoppe appoynted by his commission: The Bisshoppes that present hym saying.
* omitted in 1552.

MOST reverend father in god, we presente unto you this godly and wel learned man to be consecrated Bisshoppe.

1549: ¶ And then the Kynges mandate to the Archebisshoppe for the consecracion shalbe read. And the othe touching the knowledging of the kinges supremacie, shalbe ministred to the person elected, as it is set oute in the Order of Deacons. And then shalbe ministred also, the othe of due obedience unto the Archebisshoppe, as foloweth.   ¶ THE OTHE OF DUE OBE- dience to the Archebisshoppe. IN the name of GOD, Amen. I, N. chosen Bisshoppe of the Churche and sie of N. doe professe and promesse, al due reverence and obedience to the Archebisshoppe, and to the Metropoliticall churche of N. and to their successours: so helpe me God, and his holy gospell.

1552: ¶ Then shal the Archebisshoppe demand the Kynges mandate for the consecracion and cause it to be read. And the othe touching the knowledge of the kinges supremacie, shalbe ministred to the person elected, as it is set oute in the Order of Deacons. And then shalbe ministred also the othe of due obedience unto the Archebishoppe, as foloweth.   ¶ THE OTHE OF DUE OBEDIENCE to the Archebisshoppe. IN the name of GOD, Amen. I, N. chosen Bisshoppe of the Churche and sie of N. doe professe and promesse, al due reverence and obedience to the Archebisshoppe, and to the Metropoliticall churche of N. and to their successours: so helpe me God throughe Jesus Chryste.

¶ This othe shal not be made at the consecracion of an Archebishoppe.

¶ Then the Archebisshoppe shal move the congregacion present to praye; saying thus to them.

BRETHREN, it is written in the gospel of saincte Luke, that our savioure Christe continued the whole night in praier, or ever that he did chose and sende furth his xii. Apostles. It is written also in the Actes of the Apostles, that the disciples whiche were at Antioche did fast and pray, or ever they layed handes upon, or sent furth Paul and Barnabas. Let us therefore. folowyng the example of oure savioure Christ and his Apostles, first fal to prayer, or that we admit and send furth thys person presented unto us, to the worke wherunto we truste the holy goste hath called hym.

¶ And then shalbe saied the Letany, as afore in the order of Deacons, And after this place: That it may please the to illuminate at Bisshoppes. &c. he shal saye.

THAT it maye please thee to blesse this our brother elected, and to sende thy grace upon him, they he may duely execute the office wherunto he is called, to the edifying of thy Churche, and to the honour, prayse and glory of thy name.
    Aunswere. We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.

The Poet shall pray for the proposed Bishop/Archbishop or the choir/people will sing: The Call.

Concluding the Letanye in thende, with this prayer.

ALMIGHTIE God, gever of all good thynges, which by thy holy spirite hast appointed diverse orders of ministers in thy Church: mercifully beholde this thy servaunt, now called to the worke and ministerie of a Bisshoppe, and replenishe him so with the trueth of thy doctryne, and innocencie of life, that both by worde and dede, he may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glorye of thy name, and profite of thy congregacyon: Through the merites of our savioure Jesu Christe, who lyveth and reigneth with thee and the holy gost, worlde without ende. Amen.

Then the Archebisshoppe sittyng in a chaire, shall saye this to hym that is to be consecrated.

BROTHER, forasmuche as holy scripture and the olde Canons commaundeth, that we should not be hastie in laying on handes and admyttynge of any person to the governement of the congregacion of Christe, whiche he hath purchased with no lesse price than the effusion of hys owne bloud; afore that I admit you to this administracion wherunto ye are called, I wil examyne you in certaine articles, to thende the congregacion present, may have a trial and beare witnes how ye be minded to behave your self in the churche of god.
    Are you perswaded that you be truely called to thys ministracion according to the will of oure Lorde Jesus Christ, and the order of this realme?
    Aunswere. I am so perswaded.
    The Archebisshoppe. Are you perswaded that the holy Scriptures conteine sufficiently all doctryne, requyred of necessitie for eternall salvacyon, through the faith in Jesu Christe? And are you determyned with the same holy scriptures, to enstruct the people committed to your charge, and to teache or maintein nothyng, as required of necessitie to eternall salvacion, but that you shall bee perswaded may be concluded, and proved by the same?
    Aunswere. I am so perswaded and determined by gods grace.
    The Archebisshoppe. Wil you then faithfully exercise your selfe in the said holy scriptures, and call upon god by prayer for the true understanding of the same, so as ye may be able by them to teache and exhorte with wholesome doctrine, and to withstande and convince the gainsaiers?
    Aunswere. I wyll so doe, by the helpe of God.
    The Archebisshoppe. Be you ready with al faithful diligence, to banishe and drive away al erronious and straunge doctryne, contrary to god's worde, and both privately and openly to call upon, and encourage other to the same?
    Aunswere. I am ready, the lord beyng my helper.
    The Archebisshoppe. Wil you deny al ungodlinesse and worldly lustes, and live soberly, ryghteouslye, and godly in thys world, that you may shewe yourself in all thinges an example of good workes unto other, that the adversary maye be ashamed, havynge nothing to laye agaynst you?
    Aunswere. I wyll so doe, the lorde beyng my helper.
    The Archebisshoppe. Wil you maintain and set forward (as muche as shal lie in you) quietnesse, peace, and love, emonge al men? And suche as be unquiete, disobedyente, and criminous within your Diocesse, correcte and punishe, accordyng to suche aucthoritie, as ye have by gods worde, and as to you shalbe committed, by the ordinaunce of thys realme?
    Aunswere. I wyll so doe by the helpe of god.
    The Archebisshoppe. Wil you shewe yourself gentle, and be mercifull for Christes sake to poore and nedy people, and to all straungers destitute of helpe?
    Aunswere. I wyll so shewe myselfe by gods helpe.
    The Archebisshoppe. Almightie God oure heavenly father, who hath geven you a good wil to doe all these thinges, graunt also unto you, strengthe and power to performe the same, that he accomplishing in you, the good worke which he hath begon, ye may be found perfecte, and irreprehensible at the latter day, through Jesu Chryst our Lord. Amen.

Then shalbe song or sayd, Come holy gost, &c. as it is set out in the Order of Priestes.

That ended, the Archebisshoppe shall saye.

¶ Let us praye.

ALMIGHTIE God and moste mercyfull father, which of thy infinite goodnesse haste geven to us thy only and most dere beloved sonne Jesus Chryst, to be our redemer and aucthour of everlasting life; who after that he had made perfecte our redempcion by his deathe, and was ascended into heaven, powred downe his gyftes aboundauntly upon men, making some Apostles, some Prophetes, some Evangelistes, some Pastours and doctours, to the edifying and makyng perfecte of his congregacion: graunt we beseche the, to this thy servaunt suche grace, that he may be evermore ready to spreade abrode thy gospell, and glad tidinges of reconcilement to God, and to use the aucthoritie geven unto him, not to destroie, but to save, not to hurt, but to helpe: so that he as a wise and a faithful servaunt, geving to thy family meate in due season, may at the last daye be received into joye, through Jesu Christ our lorde, who with thee, and the holy goste liveth and reigneth one God, world without ende. Amen.

Then the Archebisshoppe and Bisshoppes present, shal lay their handes upon the head of the elect Bisshop, the Arohebisshoppe saying.

TAKE the holy gost, and remember that thou stirre up the grace of god, whiche is in thee, by imposicion of handes: for god hath not geven us the spirite of feare, but of power, and love, and of sobernesse.

The Poet shall pray or the choir sing The 23rd Psalme.

 ¶ Then the Archebisehoppe shal procede to the Communion, with whom the newe consecrated Bysshopp shal also communicate. And after the laste Collecte, immediatlye afore the benediccyon, shall bee sayed thys prayer:

MOST merciful father, we beseche thee to send down upon this thy servaunt, thy heavenly blessynge, and so endue hym with thy holy spirite, that he preaching thy worde, may not only be earneste to reprove, beseche, and rebuke with al pacience and doctryne, but also may be to such as beleve, an wholesome example in worde, in conversacion [=behavior], in love, in faith, in chastitie, and puritie, that faythfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the croune of righteousnesse, laied up by the Lord, the righteous judge, who liveth and reigneth, one god with the father and holy gost, worlde withoute ende. Amen. 

The Poet prays for all priests, bishops and archbishop: Aaron.

Editor's Note: Each of these Ordinations for George Herbert edition may take more than an hour to perform. It works as a computer page to show the relationship of some poems to the liturgical expressions and theological ideas of the Elizabethan Age. To actually use this as a service, some liturgy may have to be abbreviated or cut, depending on the purpose of the service and the number of poems used.

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