WHereas I am daily aduertised by the relations of many honest and Religious persons , of a generall misbehauiour in most Churches in , and about the Citie of London , in time of diuine Seruice ; Men and Boyes sitting then couered with their hats on their heads , without all shew of reuerence or respect , either of that holy place or action , the one being the House of Almightie God , the other a continued vicissitude ( as it were ) of speech betweene God and his people . The due consideration whereof might easily induce any well disposed Christian , to vse such outward posture and gesture of his body as becommeth that sacred place , and the great Maiestie of that God , to whom they come at that time professedly to performe a diuine worship . I haue therefore thought it my dutie , instantly to recommend to you the Ministers , Church-wardens , and Side-men , the reformation of this profane abuse , scandalous to our Religion , against an expresse Law in that case prouided , and condemned by the contrary practise of all Christians in all ages in their like Solemnities and Assemblies ; Praying and requiring you to ioyne together your vtmost and best endeauors to effect the same , for which purpose it shal be necessary for you the Church-wardens and Side-men , during the time of diuine Seruice , diligently to looke about the Church , and where you see any couered , if boyes , or of the yonger sort , these to shame openly by pulling off their hats , and chastice with such discipline , as you haue bin laudably accustomed to inflict vpon such rude and vnmannerly fellowes . If of the elder or better sort ( though I well hope that none of that condition out of their owne iudgement will hereafter offend in this kind ) those to admonish grauely of their duety , representing vnto them the inconueniences of this their ill example , and how directly repugnant it is to the Apostles rule of decency in the Church , thus to celebrate diuine Seruice , and to performe a professed and religious worship of Almighty God . After which your admonition , if any shall obstinately refuse to vncouer his , or their heads in Seruice time , you shall then present them to mee or my Chancellour , to the end , that they by the seueritie of Censures may be amended , by whom brotherly and gentle perswasions haue been contemned .

Moreouer also I am certainely informed , that the publike seruice of Almighty God in the Churches is much omitted , and thereby come to neglect , and almost scorned , forasmuch as the Ministers reade not Diuine Seruice , the first and second seruice , before their sermons according to the order of our Church Liturgie , and the Cannon , in that case prouided , I doe therefore hereby require all the Parsons , Vicars , and Curates in my Diocesse , to take care that they offend not in this kind , strictly likewise requiring you the Church-wardens and Side-men that according to your oaths , you present to me or my Chancellor , those Ministers that shal be faulty in this kind , and that you admit no man to preach in your seuerall Churches , who is not licenced thereunto , and his license to appeare , to you the Ministers and Church-wardens , and that he write his name with the day of the moneth when he preacheth ; and by whom he was licenced to preach , in a booke by you prouided for that purpose , which booke is to remaine in the chest of your Parish Churches , that so I may be able to make answere if enquiry be made of any such Preachers after their Sermons . And these instructions I doe require the Ministers of the diocesse of London , to publish in their seuerall Churches , and that a copy of them be affixed to some eminent place in euery of your Churches , that they may be seene and reade of all men , that so no man may pretend ignorance of his duty in that ; whereof both the Lawes of God , and the King require a carefull , and religious performance .