HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT  royal blazon of England, surmounted by a crown, flanked by the English lion on the left and the Scottish unicorn on the right  
Bed. ss. Ad General. Session. Pacis Domi. Regis tent. apud Ampthill, in & pro Comitatu predict. Decimo quarto Die Januarii Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei Gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensor. etc. tricessimo sexto, Annoque Dom. 1684. 
 At which time was present, the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Ailesbury, Custos Rotulorum of the County aforesaid.  

REligion being the great Instrument of Political Happiness, and Unanimity in it the most certain Promoter and Band of Peace, upon these two Reasons, therefore all prudent Governments of the World have by their Laws endeavoured to secure both the Interest and Unity of it. And whereas the Religion established by Law in this Kingdom, was intended to be, and by long Experience hath been found, an happy, as well as the only means to both those Ends: This Court hath resolved, That all such Laws as have been provided for the reducing all Dissenters to a thorough Conformity, shall be forthwith put into a speedy and vigorous Execution. We do therefore, with the Concurrence of the Right Reverend Father in God, our most Learned and Worthy Lord Bishop, desire all Ministers, and require as well all Constables and Churchwardens, truly and punctually to present, both at our Quarter Sessions and monthly Meeting, all such in their respective Parishes, as shall absent themselves from their own Parish Church upon any Sunday. And that such be presented also that come not at the beginning of Divine Service, and during the whole time of it, do not behave themselves with that Decency and Reverence as the Rubrich (which is confirmed by Law) does direct (viz.) Kneeling at all the Prayers, Standing up at the giving of Glory to the Blessed Trinity, at the repeating of the Creed, the Hymns after the first and second Lessons, together with other things contained in the said Rubrich. And that none may pretend Ignorance in their Duty, we therefore desire the Lord Bishop of this Diocese (that together with an enjoining all Ministers exactly to perform their own Duty) He please to command them by their Sermons and Catechizing to instruct their Parishioners in all those things the Laws require from them. By which Means, we hope in some time the true Worship of God will be thoroughly understood, and honestly practised by the People of this County, to God's Glory and our own Peace, Prosperity and Comfort.  
PER CURIAM.   

SEeing it is a certain Truth, that all Subjects (by the indispensable Law of Nature and Scripture) are bound to obey those Powers which God hath set over them; especially in those things which are ordained for the Preservation of the true Christian Religion; wherein the Glory of God and the Salvation of their Souls are more immediately concerned: and whereas by the prudent and pious Care of our Governors, a Godly Liturgy, and form of Gods public Worship, has been provided, and by our Laws (Ecclesiastical and Civil) established, requiring all Men, on the Lords Day (and other times by Law appointed) to repair to their respective Churches, and Communicate with the Congregation in Prayers, hearing the Word, and receiving Sacraments. A Liturgy not only for many years received in our Church, with little or no Opposition, till the late unhappy Times of Rebellion and Confusion; but also which has had the Approbation and Commendation of the most learned and pious Divines in other Protestant Churches. A Liturgy which Archbishop Cranmer and his Fellow-Prisoners in Oxford daily used, till a little before their Martyrdom; when by the Cruelty of their Persecutors it was taken from them; and then (as appears by their Letters yet extant) those pious Martyrs sadly complained that they were deprived of the benefit of that Book: The Rejection of which, and the Disobedience to the Laws enjoining it, renders our Dissenters evidently Schismatical in their Separation from the Communion of our Church, as shall (God willing) in convenient time be made further appear. Seeing then our dissenting Brethren will not conform out of Conscience of their Duty and Obedience to God and their Governors; it is not only convenient, but necessary, that our good Laws be put in execution, for the Preservation of the public Peace and Unity, and for the Good of the Dissenters themselves; for Afflictio dat intellectum, and their Sufferings by the Execution of our just Laws, may (by God's Blessings) bring them to a Sense of their Duty, and a Desire to do it. For the attaining of which good Ends, I require all the Clergy of my Diocese within the County of Bedford, to publish this Order the next Sunday after it be tendered to them, and diligently to promote the Design of it, according to those prudent and pious Directions given in the Order, and by Catechising and Preaching (that they may have no pretence for their Ignorance) instructing the People in their Duty to God and the King. And that God Almighty would be graciously pleased to give a Blessing to your Endeavours to promote those good Ends, is and shall be the Prayer of  
Your affectionate Friend, Brother and Diocesan THO. LINCOLN.    

London, Printed by T. H. and sold by Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1685