A DECLARATION OF THE COMMONS IN Parliament: MADE September the 9th 1641.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of JOHN BILL. MDCXLI.   

A Declaration of the Commons in Parliament made Septemb. the 9. 1641.  
THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House having received many great complaints from the several parts of this Kingdom, of heavy grievances upon divers of His Majesties Subjects, by the excestive pressing of some matters concerning Religion, which are in their own nature indifferent, by pretext or colour of the Laws now in force, and by the unlawful enforcing other things without any colour of Law; and considering that a full Reformation cannot be made in this streight of time, did for the comfort and case of the people frame an Order in manner following:  

❧ Die Mercurii 8o Septemb. 1641.  
WHereas divers Innovations in or about the worship of God, have been lately practised in this Kingdom, by enjoining some things, and prohibiting others, without warrant of Law, to the great grievance and discontent of His Majesties Subjects; For the suppression of such Innovations, and for preservation of the public Peace, It is this day Ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Church-wardens of every Parish Church and chapel respectively, do forthwith remove the Communion Table from the East end of the Church, chapel, or chancel, into some other convenient place, and that they take away the rails, and level the Chancels, as heretofore they were, before the late Innovations.  
That all Crucifixes, scandalous Pictures of any one or more persons of the trinity, and all Images of the Virgin Mary shall be taken away and abolished, and that all Tapers, Candlesticks, and Basins, be removed from the Communion Table.  
That all corporal Bowing at the name ( JESUS) or towards the East end of the Church, chapel, or chancel, or towards the Communion Table, be henceforth forborn:  
That the Orders aforesaid be observed in all the several Cathedrall Churches of this Kingdom, and all the Collegiate Churches or chapels in the two universities, or any other part of the Kingdom, and in the Temple Church, and the chapels of the other inns of Court, by the Deans of the said Cathedrall Churches, by the vicechancellor of the said universities, and by the Heads and Governours of the several colleges and Halls aforesaid, and by the Benchers and Readers in the said inns of Court respectively.  
That the Lords Day shall be duly observed and sanctified: All Dancing, or other Sports, either before or after Divine Service be forborn and restrained; and that the preaching of Gods Word be permitted in the afternoon in the several Churches and chapels of this Kingdom, and that Ministers and Preachers be encouraged thereunto.  
That the Vice-Chancellors of the universities, Heads and Governours of colleges, all Parsons, Vicars, Church-wardens, do make Certificates of the performance of these Orders: and if the same shall not be observed in any of the places aforementioned, upon complaint thereof made to the two next Iustices of Peace, mayor, or head Officers of Cities or Towns Corporate, It is Ordered that the said Iustices, mayor, or other head Officer respectively, shall examine the truth of all such complaints, and certify by whose default the same are committed; All which Certificates are to be delivered in Parliament before the thirtieth of October next.   
ANd did upon the eighth of September in a Conference with the Lords, desire their Lordships to consent unto it, and to join with them in the publishing thereof, whereunto they never received answer, but contrary to their expectation upon this present ninth of September, being the day intended for the recess of both Houses, they received in a Conference from their Lordships an Order dated january the sixteenth, 1640. In these words:  

❧ Die Sabbati 16. Januarii. 1640.  
IT is this day ordered by the Lords spiritual and temporal in the High Court of Parliament assembled, That the Divine Service be performed as it is appointed by the Acts of Parliament of this Realm: And that all such as shall disturb that wholesome Order, shall be severely punished according to the Law: And the Parsons, Vicars, and Curates in the several Parishes, shall forbear to introduce any Rites or Ceremonies that may give offence, otherwise then those which are established by the Laws of the Land.   
ANd one other of this present ninth of September: In these words:  

Resolved upon the Question this ninth of September 1641.  
That the abovesaid Order shall be Printed and Published.   
DEsiring that the Commons would join with them in publishing thereof, which being presented to the House of Commons, it was thought unseasonable at this time to urge the severe execution of the said laws; whereupon it was Voted, that they do not consent to those Orders, or either of them.  
And they have thought fit to make this Declaration, that it may be understood that the last Order of the Lords was made with the consent onely of eleven Lords, and that nine other Lords then present did dissent from it, so that it may well be hoped when both Houses shall meet again, that the good propositions and preparations in the House of Commons, for preventing the like Grievances, and reforming the disorders and abuses in matters of Religion, may be brought to perfection; wherefore they expect that the Commons of this Realm do in the mean time quietly attend the Reformation intended, without any tumultuous disturbance of the worship of God and peace of the Kingdom.  

Resolved upon the Question,  
That this Declaration shall be forthwith Printed and published.   
FINIS.