His
Majesties
Letter
to
the
Right
Reverend
Father
in
GOD
,
Henry
Lord
Bishop
of
London
,
to
be
Communicated
to
the
Two
Provinces
of
Canterbury
and
York
.
WILLIAM
R.
RIght
Reverend
Father
in
God
,
We
Greet
you
well
.
Whereas
the
Advancement
of
the
Honour
and
Service
of
Almighty
God
,
and
of
the
Protestant
Religion
,
which
by
his
wonderful
Providence
hath
been
preserved
and
established
in
these
Kingdoms
,
ought
to
be
the
chief
part
of
Our
Royal
Care
:
In
Order
to
this
,
as
We
have
oftentimes
Declared
,
That
We
would
take
the
Church
of
England
by
Law
Established
,
into
Our
particular
Protection
and
Favour
;
So
We
take
this
Occasion
to
Renew
these
Assurances
,
being
Resolved
to
do
all
We
can
for
the
Support
and
Strengthning
of
it
;
Preserving
withal
the
Liberty
of
Concience
to
all
Our
other
Protestant
Subjects
,
which
by
Our
Laws
they
now
Enjoy
.
And
because
the
Welfare
,
Peace
and
Honour
of
this
Church
depends
so
much
upon
all
Persons
faithfully
doing
their
Duties
in
their
several
Places
and
Functions
,
We
therefore
First
of
all
Charge
and
Require
you
the
Bishops
of
this
Our
Church
,
to
apply
your selves
with
all
Diligence
and
Zeal
to
the
Duties
of
your
Episcopal
Function
,
according
to
the
Word
of
God
,
the
Orders
of
this
Church
,
and
the
Laws
of
this
Our
Realm
.
More
especially
as
to
Ordination
of
Ministers
,
We
Require
you
to
use
all
possible
Care
and
Strictness
,
in
Examining
and
Enquiring
into
the
Lives
and
Learning
of
such
Persons
as
desire
to
be
admitted
into
Holy
Orders
,
and
herein
constantly
to
observe
the
[
*
](B06607-e10280-b)
*
Can.
31
,
32
,
33
,
34
,
35
,
36.
Canons
relating
thereunto
,
the
Neglect
whereof
We
shall
strictly
Enquire
into
,
and
take
Care
that
it
be
Punished
according
to
Law
.
We
also
Charge
and
Require
you
to
keep
a
strict
Watch
over
all
the
Clergy
in
your
respective
Diocesses
,
to
see
that
they
be
duly
Resident
upon
their
Livings
according
to
the
Laws
in
that
Case
provided
,
and
that
there
they
be
Constant
and
Diligent
in
their
Duties
,
performing
the
Publick
Offices
of
Worship
Gravely
and
Devoutly
,
Preaching
the
Word
of
God
Plainly
and
Practically
,
without
running
into
needless
Controversies
,
and
Administring
the
Holy
Sacraments
Frequently
,
with
that
Reverence
which
is
due
to
the
Institutions
of
Christ
;
Also
Catechizing
the
Youth
,
Visiting
the
Sick
and
Distressed
,
and
doing
all
such
Things
in
their
Stations
as
may
tend
to
promote
the
Honour
of
God
and
True
Religion
,
together
with
Peace
and
Charity
among
all
their
Neighbours
;
Themselves
giving
a
good
Example
to
their
Flock
,
by
walking
before
them
in
all
Holy
Conversation
and
Godliness
.
And
the
more
effectually
to
prevent
the
Scandals
that
may
arise
by
any
Disorders
in
the
Lives
of
those
who
ought
to
be
Examples
to
others
,
you
shall
Admonish
them
Religionsly
to
observe
the
[
*
](B06607-e10310-b)
*
Can.
75.
Canon
Entitled
,
Sober
Consideration
required
in
Ministers
.
And
you
shall
Severely
and
Impartially
proceed
by
Ecclesiastical
Censures
,
against
all
such
of
your
Clergy
as
shall
be
found
guilty
of
any
Notorious
Violation
of
this
or
any
other
Law
or
Canon
relating
to
their
Duty
.
And
for
the
better
Encouragement
of
Deserving
Men
,
as
We
intend
to
make
it
a
Rule
to
Our Self
,
so
We
also
Require
it
of
you
,
in
Disposing
of
Church
Preferments
,
to
have
a
special
Regard
to
such
Persons
as
by
their
Piety
,
Learning
,
Diligence
and
Peaceableness
,
do
most
promote
the
Honour
of
God
,
and
the
Edification
of
his
Church
.
And
because
,
as
Our
Duty
requires
,
We
most
earnestly
desire
and
shall
endeavour
a
General
Reformation
of
the
Lives
and
Manners
of
all
Our
Subjects
,
as
being
that
which
must
Establish
Our
Throne
,
and
secure
to
Our
People
their
Religion
,
Happiness
and
Peace
;
all
which
seem
to
be
in
great
Danger
at
this
time
,
by
reason
of
that
overflowing
of
Vice
,
which
is
too
notorious
in
this
,
as
well
as
other
Neighbouring
Nations
.
We
therefore
require
you
to
Order
all
the
Clergy
to
Preach
frequently
against
those
particular
Sins
and
Vices
which
are
most
prevailing
in
this
Realm
;
And
that
on
every
of
those
Lords
Days
on
which
any
such
Sermon
is
to
be
Preach'd
,
they
do
also
Read
to
their
People
such
Statute
Law
or
Laws
as
are
provided
against
that
Vice
or
Sin
,
which
is
their
Subject
on
that
Day
,
as
namely
,
against
[
*
](B06607-e10360-b)
*
21
Iac.
Cap.
10.
Blasphemy
,
Swearing
and
Cursing
;
Against
[
†
](B06607-e10380-b)
†
5
Eliz.
Cap.
9.
Perjury
;
against
[
‖
](B06607-e10400-b)
‖
4
Iac.
Cap.
5.2
.
Iac.
Cap.
7.
Drunkenness
;
and
against
[
*
](B06607-e10430-b)
*
"
29
Car.
2.
Cap.
7.
Prophanation
of
the
Lords
Day
:
All
which
Statutes
We
have
Ordered
to
be
Printed
together
with
these
Our
Letters
,
that
so
they
may
be
Transmitted
by
you
to
every
Parish
within
this
Our
Realm
.
And
whereas
there
is
as
yet
no
sufficient
Provision
by
any
Statute
law
for
the
Punishing
of
Adultery
and
Fornication
,
You
shall
therefore
require
all
Church-Wardens
in
your
Diocesses
to
Present
impartially
all
those
that
are
guilty
of
any
such
Crimes
in
their
several
Parishes
;
And
upon
such
Presentments
,
We
require
you
to
proceed
without
delay
,
and
upon
sufficient
proof
to
inflict
those
Censures
which
are
appointed
by
Our
Ecclesiastical
Laws
against
such
Offenders
:
In
doing
whereof
,
according
to
your
Duty
,
you
shall
not
want
Our
effectual
Assistance
and
Support
.
And
for
the
better
Carrying
on
of
so
good
a
Work
,
We
do
in
the
last
place
,
Charge
and
Require
you
to
Preach
frequently
your selves
,
to
Confer
often
with
your
Clergy
,
and
to
Enquire
by
all
proper
means
into
all
Abuses
and
Corruptions
in
your
Diocesses
,
in
order
to
a
full
and
speedy
Reformation
.
And
all
this
,
not
only
as
you
shall
Answer
it
to
Us
,
but
also
as
considering
the
great
Charge
that
God
hath
Committed
to
you
,
and
the
Account
that
you
must
give
him
for
it
at
the
Great
Day
.
And
so
We
bid
you
heartily
Farewel
.
Given
at
Our
Court
at
Whitehall
the
13th
day
of
February
,
1689/90.
In
the
Second
year
of
Our
Reign
.
By
His
Majesties
Command
,
Shrewsbury
.