C R Dieu ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms BY THE KING. ΒΆ A Proclamation commanding the use of the BOOK OF commonprayer according to Law, notwithstanding the pretended Ordinances for the New DIRECTORY. WHEREAS by a Printed Paper, dated the third of January last past, entitled, An Ordinance of Parliament for taking away the Book of commonprayer, and for establishing and putting in execution of the Directory for the public worship of God; It is said to be ordained amongst other things, That the Book of commonprayer should not remain, or be from thenceforth used in any Church, chapel, or place of public Worship within the kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales; And that the Directory for public Worship in that Printed Paper set forth, should be from thenceforth used, pursued, and observed in all Exercises of public Worship of God in every Congregation, Church, chapel, and place of public Worship. And by another Printed Paper, dated the 23 day of August last past, entitled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the more effectual putting in execution the Directory for public Worship, &c. particular Directions are set down for the dispersing, publishing, and use of the said Directory, in all Parishes, Chappelries, and Donatives, and for the calling in and suppressing of all Books of commonprayer, under several forfeitures and penalties to be levied and imposed upon Conviction before Justices of Assize, or of Oyer and Terminer, and of the Peace, as by the said two Printed Papers may appear. And taking into Our Consideration, that the Book of commonprayer, which is endeavoured thus to be abolished, was Compiled in the times of Reformation by the most Learned and Pious Men of that Age, and defended and confirmed with the martyrdom of many; and was first established by Act of Parliament in the time of King Edward the sixth, and never repealed or laid aside, save only in that short time of Queen Mary's reign, upon the return of Popery and Superstition; and in the first year of Queen Elizabeth, it was again revived and established by Act of Parliament, and the repeal of it then declared by the whole Parliament, to have been to the great decay of the due honour of God, and discomfort to the Professors of the truth of Christ's Religion: and ever since it hath been used and observed for above fourscore years together, in the best times of Peace and Plenty that ever this kingdom enjoyed; and that it contains in it a excellent form of Worship and Service of God, grounded upon the Holy Scriptures, and is a singular means and help to Devotion in all Congregations, and that, or some other of the like form, simply necessary in those many Congregations which cannot be otherwise supplied by learned and able men; and keeps up an uniformity in the Church of England; And that the Directory, which is sought to be introduced, is a means to open the way, and give the liberty to all ignorant Factious, or evil men, to broach their own fancies and conceits, be they never so wicked or erroneous; and to mislead People into sin and Rebellion, and to utter those things, even in that which they make for their Prayer in their Congregations as in God's presence, which no Conscientious man can assent or say Amen to. And be the Minister never so Pious and Religious, yet it will break that uniformity which hitherto hath been held in God's Service, and be a means to raise Factions and Divisions in the Church. And those many Congregations in this Kingdom, where able and Religious Ministers cannot be maintained, must be left destitute of all help or means for their public Worship and Service of God. And observing likewise, that no reason is given for this alteration, but only inconvenience alleged in the general (and whether Pride and Avarice be not the ground, whether Rebellion and destruction of Monarchy be not the Intention of some, and sacrilege and the Churches Possessions the aims and hopes of others, and these new Directories, the means to prepare and draw the People in for all, We leave to him who searches and knows the hearts of men.) And taking into Our further Consideration, that this alteration is introduced by colour of Ordinances of Parliament made without and against Our Consent, and against an express Act of Parliament still in force, and the same Ordinances made as perpetual binding laws, inflicting penalties and punishments, which was never, before these times, so much as pretended to have been the use or power of Ordinances of Parliament, without an express Act of Parliament, to which We are to be Parties. Now lest Our silence should be interpreted by some, as a Connivance or indifferency in Us, in a matter so highly-concerning the Worship and Service of God, the Peace and unity of the Church and State, and the established laws of the kingdom, We have therefore thought fit to Publish this Our Proclamation; And We do hereby Require and Command all and singular Ministers in all cathedral and Parish-Churches, and other places of public Worship within Our kingdom of England or Dominion of Wales; and all other to whom it shall appertain, That the said Book of commonprayer be kept and used in all Churches, chapels, and places of public Worship, according to the said Statute made in that behalf in the said first year of the said late Queen Elizabeth; And that the said Directory be in no sort admitted, received, or used, the said pretended Ordinances, or any thing in them contained to the contrary, notwithstanding. And We do hereby let them know, that whensoever it shall please God to restore us to Peace, and the laws to their due Course, (wherein We doubt not of his assistance in his good time) We shall require a strict Account and prosecution against the breakers of the said Law, according to the force thereof; and in the meantime, in such places where We shall come, and find the Book of commonprayer suppressed and laid aside, and the Directory introduced. We shall account all those that shall be aiders, Actors, or Contrivers therein, to be Persons disaffected to the Religion and laws established; and this they must expect, besides that greater loss which they shall sustain by suffering themselves thus to be deprived of the use and comfort of the said Book. Given at Our Court at Oxford, this Thirteenth day of November, in the One and Twentieth year of Our reign. 1645. GOD SAVE THE KING. Printed at Oxford, by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the university. 1645.