¶ To all and every the Ministers, Churchwardens, and Side- men, within the City, Suburbs, and Diocese of London.  
WHereas I am daily advertised by the relations of many honest and Religious persons, of a general misbehaviour in most Churches in, and about the City of London, in time of divine Service; Men and Boys sitting then covered with their hats on their heads, without all show of reverence or respect, either of that holy place or action, the one being the House of Almighty God, the other a continued vicissitude (as it were) of speech between God and his people. The due consideration whereof might easily induce any well disposed Christian, to use such outward posture and gesture of his body as becometh that sacred place, and the great Majesty of that God, to whom they come at that time professedly to perform a divine worship. I have therefore thought it my duty, instantly to recommend to you the Ministers, Churchwardens, and Sidemen, the reformation of this profane abuse, scandalous to our Religion, against an express Law in that case provided, and condemned by the contrary practice of all Christians in all ages in their like Solemnities and Assemblies; Praying and requiring you to join together your utmost and best endeavours to effect the same, for which purpose it shallbe necessary for you the Churchwardens and Sidemen, during the time of divine Service, diligently to look about the Church, and where you see any covered, if boys, or of the younger sort, these to shame openly by pulling off their hats, and chastise with such discipline, as you have been laudably accustomed to inflict upon such rude and unmannerly fellows. If of the elder or better sort (though I well hope that none of that condition out of their own judgement will hereafter offend in this kind) those to admonish gravely of their duty, representing unto them the inconveniences of this their ill example, and how directly repugnant it is to the Apostles rule of decency in the Church, thus to celebrate divine Service, and to perform a professed and religious worship of Almighty God. After which your admonition, if any shall obstinately refuse to uncover his, or their heads in Service time, you shall then present them to me or my Chancellor, to the end, that they by the severity of Censures may be amended, by whom brotherly and gentle persuasions have been contemned.  
Moreover also I am certainly informed, that the public service of Almighty God in the Churches is much omitted, and thereby come to neglect, and almost scorned, forasmuch as the Ministers read not Divine Service, the first and second service, before their sermons according to the order of our Church Liturgy, and the Cannon, in that case provided, I do therefore hereby require all the Parsons, Vicars, and Curates in my Diocese, to take care that they offend not in this kind, strictly likewise requiring you the Churchwardens and Sidemen that according to your oaths, you present to me or my Chancellor, those Ministers that shallbe faulty in this kind, and that you admit no man to preach in your several Churches, who is not licensed thereunto, and his licence to appear, to you the Ministers and Churchwardens, and that he write his name with the day of the month when he preacheth; and by whom he was licensed to preach, in a book by you provided for that purpose, which book is to remain in the chest of your Parish Churches, that so I may be able to make answer if inquiry be made of any such Preachers after their Sermons. And these instructions I do require the Ministers of the diocese of London, to publish in their several Churches, and that a copy of them be affixed to some eminent place in every of your Churches, that they may be seen and read of all men, that so no man may pretend ignorance of his duty in that; whereof both the Laws of God, and the King require a careful, and religious performance.  
GEO: LONDON.