¶ A copy of a letter with articles, sent from the Queen's Majesty unto the bishop of London, and by him and his officers at her grace's commandment to be put in speedy execution with effect in the whole diocese, as well in places exempt, as not exempt, whatsoever, according to the tenor and form of the same.  
Sent by the Queen's majesties commandment, in the month of March, Anno Domini. 1. 5. 5. 3.  
I.C.   

¶ By the Queen.  
Right reverend father in God, right trusty and well-beloved, we great you well. And whereas heretofore in the time of the late reign of our most dearest brother king Edward the sixth, (whose soul God pardon) divers notable crimes, excesses, and faults, with sundry kinds of heresies, simome adultery and other enormities have been committed within this our realm, and other our dominions the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder, since the beginning of our reign, without any correction or reformation at all, & the people both of the layte, & also of the clergy, and chiefly of the clergy have been given to mucheinsolencie and ungodly rule, greatly to the displeasure of almighty God, and very much to our regrette and evil contentation, and to no little slander of other Christian realms, & in manet to the subversion, and clean defacing of this our realm, and remembering our duty to almighty god to be to foresee as much as in us may be, that all virtue and godly living would be embraced, flourish, and increase. And there with also, that all vice, and ungodly behaviour should be utterly banished, and put away, or at the least ways (so nigh as might be) so bridled and kept under, that godliness and honesty might have the overhand, understanding by very credible report, and public fame to our no small heaviness and discomfort, that within your diocese, as well in not exempted as exempted places, the like disorder, and evil behaviour hath been done and used, like also to continued & increase, unless due provision be had and made to reform the same, (which earnestly in very deed we do mind and intend) to thuttermooste all the ways we can possible, trusting of God's furtherance & help in that behalf. For these causes and other most just considerations us moving, we send unto you certain articles of such special matter, as among other things be most necessary to be now put in execution by you, and your officers, extending to th'end by us desired, and the reformation aforesaid, wherein ye shallbe charged with our special commandment by these our letters, to th'intent you and your officers may the more earnestly and boldly proceed thereunto, without fear of any presumption to be noted on your part, or danger to be incurred of any such our laws, as by your doings, of that is in the said articles contenyned, might any wise grieve you, whatsoever be threatened in any such case. And therefore we straightly charge and command you & your said officers to proceed to the execution of the said articles without all tract and delay, as ye will answer to the contrary. Given under our Signet at our palace of Westminster, the fourth day of March, the first year of our reign.   

¶ Articles scent from the Queen's Majesty unto the ordinary, and by him and his officers by her grace's commandment to be put in spe●ie execution with effect in the whole Diocese, as well in places exempt as not exempt, whatsoever.  
1 FIrst that every bishop and his officers, with all other, having Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, shall with all speed and diligence, and all manner a ways to them possible put in execution all such Canons and Ecclesiastical laws, heretofore in the time of King henry the eight, used within this realm of England, and the dominions of the same, not being direct and expressly, contrary to the laws and statutes of this realm.  
2 ITem that no bishop or any his officer, or other person aforesaid hereafter in any of their Ecclesiastical writings in process, or other extraiudiciall acts do use to put in this clause or sentence, Regia auctoritate fulcitus.  
3 ITem that no Bishop or any his officers, or other person aforesaid do hereafter exact or demand in thadmission of any person, to any Ecclesiastical promotion, orders, or office, any oath touching the primacy or succession, as of late in few years passed, hath been accustomed and used.  
4 ITem that every bishop and his officers with all other persons aforesaid have a vigilant eye, & use special diligence and foresight, that no person be admitted or received to any Ecclesiastical function, benefice, or office, being a Sacramentarye, infected or defamed with any notable kind of heresy, or other great crime. And that the said Bishop do stay, and cause to be stayed as much as lieth in him, that benefices and Ecclesiastical promotions do not notably decay, or take hindrance by passing or confirming of unreasonable leases.  
5 ITem that every bishop and all other persons aforesaid do diligently travail for the repressing of heresies and notable crimes, especially in the clergy duly correcting and punishing the same.  
6 ITem that every Bishop, and all the other persons aforesaid, do likewise travail for the condemning and repressing of corrupt and naughty opinions, unlawful books, ballads, and other pernicious and hurtful devices, engendering hatred amongs the people, and discord amongs the same. And that Schoolmasters, Preachers, and teachers do exercise and use their offices and duties without teaching, preaching, or setting forth any evil corrupt doctrine. And that doing the contrary, they may be by the Bishop and his said officers punished and removed.  
7 ITem that every bishop and all the other persons aforesaid, proceeding summarely, and with all celerity, and speed, may, and shall deprive or declare deprived, and amove according to their learning and discretion all such persons from their benefices and ecclesiastical promotions, who contrary to the state of their order, and the laudable custom of the church have married & used women as their wives or otherwise notably and slanderously disordered or abused themselves sequestering also during the said process, the fruits and profits of the said benefices and Ecclesiastical promotions.  
8 ITem that the said Bishop and all other persons aforesaid do use more lenity and clemency with such as have married, whose wives be dead, then with other, whose women do yet remain in life. And likewise such priests, as with the consents of their wives, or women openly in the presence of the Bishop do profess to abstain, to be used the more favourably, in which case after penance effectually done, the Bishop according to his discretion and wisdom may upon just consideration receive, and admit them again to their former administration, so it be not in the same place, appoyncting them such a portion to live upon, to be paid out of their benefice, whereof they be deprived by discretion of the said Bishop or his officer shall think may be spared of the said benefice.  
9 ITem that every Bishop and all other persons aforesaid do foresee, that they suffer not any religious man, having solemnly professed Chastity, to continue with his woman or wife, but that all such persons after deprivation of their benefice or Ecclesiastical promotion be also divorced every one from his said woman and due punishment, otherwise taken for the offence therein.  
10 ITem that every bishop, and all other persons aforesaid do take order and direction with the parishioners of every benefice, where Priests do want to repair to the next parish for divine service, or to appoint for a convenient time, till other better provision may be made one curate to serve. Alternis vicibus in diverse parishes, & to allot to the said curate for his labour some portion of the benefice, that he so serveth.  
11 ITem that all & almaner of processions of the church be used, frequented, and continued after the old order of the church in the Latin tongue.  
12 ITem that all such holy days & fasting days be observed and kept, as was observed and kept in the latter time of King Henry th'eighteight.  
13 ITem that the laudable and honest ceremonies which were wont to be used, frequented, & observed in the church, be also hereafter frequented, used, and observed.  
14 ITem that children be christened by the Priest, and confirmed by the bishop, as heretofore hath been accustomed and used.  
15 ITem touching such persons, as were heretofore promoted to any orders after the new sort and fashion of order, considering they were not ordered in very deed, the Bishop of the diocese finding otherwise sufficiency & ability in those men, may supply that thing, which wanted in them before. And then according to his discretion admit them to minister.  
16 ITem that by the bishop of the Diocese a uniform doctrine be set forth by Homilies, or otherwise for the good instruction and teaching of all people. And that the said Bysshopppe and other persons aforesaid do compel the parishioners to come to their several churches, and there devoutly to hear divine service, as of reason they ought.  
17 ITem that they examine all Schoolmasters and teachers of children, and finding them suspect, in any wise to remove them, and place catholic men in their comes, with a special commandment to instruct their children so, as they may be able to answer the priest at the mass, & so help the priest to mass, as hath been accustomed.  
18 ITem that the said Bishop and all other the persons aforesaid have such regard respect, and consideration, of, and for the setting forth of the premises with all kind of virtue, godly living, and good example, with repressing also, and keeping under of vice and unthriftiness, as they, and everich of them may beseen to favour the restitution of true religion, and also to make an honest account and reckoning of their office and cure, to the honour of God, our good contentation, and the profit of this our realm, and dominions of the same.   

Excusum Londini in aedibus johannis Cawodi, Typographi Reginae Mariae. Anno. 1553. Mense Martio.