TO THE PARSON, VICAR or Curate, of and to every of them.  
BEING given to understand of certain notorious abuses within this Diocese, not reformable by ordinary courses, so that for the redress of them I shall be constrained to use means and punishments extraordinary; (Grassantibus exemplis, paenae sunt aggravandae) I have thought good to give signification of my intent in this behalf, to see, if happily, the fear of that future punishment, may not effect that, which otherwise the example must.  
1 First therefore, whereas it is informed that notwithstanding the late Proclamation of our Sovereign L. the King's Majesty, straightly commanding a religious sanctification of the Sabaoth day, the same is horribly profaned every where, by using unlawful games even in the time of divine service, and that oftentimes in the very churchyard: by reason whereof it cometh to pass that many absent themselves from service, especially in the afternoon: I must require you to admonish your parishioners, that hereafter they take heed of profaning either the Saboth, church, or churchyard; and that in repairing unto divine service as well in the afternoon as in the forenoon, they use such diligence as by the law they are bound; assuring them otherwise, to find the uttermost extremity of that punishment which the law will inflict.  
2 Whereas complaint is made that many churches & chauncells lie unrepaired: you are to admonish them to whom it may appertain, with all speed convenient to repair and amend the same or else to expect such punishment as there defects in that behalf may seem to deserve  
3 If you cannot find means that your quarter sermons may be duly preached, make your repair unto me that I may take order for the same.  
4 If already you be not sufficiently authorized, I require you, that you presume not to serve any Cure, or to preach within my Diocese, till by myself under my seal you be licenced so to do.  
5 Whereas People are very backward in sending their childreu unto the Minister to be catechized you shall do well hereafter to admit none to the holy communion that have not already received the same, except they be fit to be confirmed by the Bishop, that is, except they be able to answer to all the questions of the Catechism: And if I understand you receive any that are not so qualified, you must make reckoning to answer for the same.  
6 Whereas many marriages claudestine and otherwise unlawful are daily made. & then ignorance is alleged for excuse of the fault; you shall understand, that you ought not to marry any persons but in the church, & that between the hours of 8. & 12. in the fore noon, none within the compass of those times that are forbidden by law, none whose banes have not been lawfully asked 3. several holy days, without a dispensation for the same first had under the hand & seal of me. or M. Doctor Trevor my chancellor and none other. If you shall hereafter offend in the premises, you are to be suspended ab officio & beneficio per triennium; wherein I advise you to hope for no favour.  
7 Excommunicate persons (I understand) in almost all places of this Dioceses are permitted to come to divin service: A great and an intolerable abuse. If hereafter you with the churchwardens do not cause them to be put out of the church. I shall cause both you and them, as also the persons that so intrude themselves to be punished for the same. Hereof therefore you shall do well to give warning unto your parishioners.  
8 Whereas the Cathedral church of this Diocese, not having to the value of 10. pro annum, omnibus oneribus deductis; is now fallen into such decay, as 500 Marks will not repair the same, so that it must needs in short time fall to the ground without some extraordinary relief: I exhort you, that so often as you are called to any sick persons of ability, especially when they shall make their Wills, you fail not to put them in mind of the necessity of the said church, & to show them how acceptable a thing it shall be to Almighty God, to contribute toward the sustentation of his house, as also how honourable unto the party so contributing; in as much as there is a book already provided, wherein the names of all such are to be registered for benefactors, as shall bestow upon the same in any liberal proportion.  
9 Whereas I find by continual experience that much laud is daily imbeziled from the church, by reason that new Incumbents want direction and notize of that belongeth to them: For preventing of this inconvenience in time to come, I think good to require you that you procure under the hands of the best and most substantial of your parish (as near as you can) a testimonial of the glebe that belongeth unto your church, declaring the number of acts, the names of every parcel, and the several meres or bounds of the same, the said testimonial to be written fair in one whole sheet of paper, (that with all the rest it may be bound up into a book) and to be delivered in unto me before the feast of Easter next.  
10 Whereas many outrages are daily committed against Preachers, & Ministers of God's word, not only in reproachful and contemptuous speeches, but in laying violent hands upon them: you are to admonish your parishioners from me, that they take heed of offending in that kind of fault (which by to much lenity in those that aught to punish it, is grown intolerable) And if you know of any such, to signify the same unto me.  
11 Whereas many heinous offences are daily committed against the laws Ecclesiastical of his Majesty, which being notoriously known in all the country, yet for fear, favour, or some other respect are never presented in any of our Generals or Uisitations: Let notize be given unto your Wardens, Protors, and such other to whom it may appertain, that if hereafter they be found negligent in their presentments, they shall assuredly find that punishment which by the law Ecclesiastical is appointed unto perjured persons.  
12 Moreover that the offences above specified may not escape unpunished, to the great dishonour of God, & the increase of sin: I shall pray you to intimate unto me the names of such of your neighbourhood as are defamed for any of the said Offences, with the quality of their crimes, that I may take order for the punishment of the same as appertaineth.  
Matherne. Sept. 30. 1603. Fr. Landaven.  
FINIS.