ment with close Sleeves) a Surplice or Alb, and a Cope or Veftment, i. e. a Priest's Vestment, with a Clafp before, and hanging down from the Shoulders, without Sleeves; a Sort of Mantle made very rich by Embroidery: And also, his Paftoral-Staff in his Hand, or elfe born or holden by his Chaplains.

The Paftoral-Staff is made in the Shape of a Shepherd's Crook, to denote, that the Bishop is a Shepherd over the Flock of Christ.

Upon the Day, and at the Time appointed for the Ministration of the Holy Communion; the Priest that shall execute the Holy Miniftry, fhall put upon him the Vesture appointed for that Ministration; that is to say, a white Alb plain, with a Veftment or Cope.

An Alb, is very little different from our modern Surplices; it being a long, plain, white linen Garment, but made fit and close to the Body, like a Caffock tied round the Middle with a Girdle or Safh, and clofe-fleev'd, to prevent any Hindrance in the Confecration, or Delivery of the Elements.

And where there be many Priests or Deacons, there fo many fhall be ready to help the Priest in the Ministration, as fhall be requifite, and fhall have upon them likewise, the Veftures appointed for their Miniftry; that is to fay, Albes with Tunicles.

B

Which

Which Tunicle, is a Silk Sky-colour'd Coat, without Sleeves, made in the Shape of a Cope.

Thefe Ornaments of the Church and Minif ters, were alterable by a special Clause, at the latter End of the Act of Uniformity, 1mo Eliz.

Provided always, and be it enacted, That such Ornaments of the Church, and of the Minifters thereof, fhall be retain'd and be in ufe, as were in this Church of England, by the Authority of Parliament, in the Second of Edward VI. until other Order fhall be therein taken, by Authority of the Queen's Majefty, with the Advice of her Commiffioners appointed and authorized, under the great Seal of England, for Causes Ecclefiaftical, or of the Metropolitan of this Realm. And alfo, that if there shall happen. any Contempt or Irreverence, to be us'd in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church, by the mifufing of the Orders appointed in this Book; the Queen's Majesty may, by the like Advice of the faid Commiffioners, or Metropolitan, ordain and publish fuch further Ceremonies or Rites, as may be moft for the Advancement of God's Glory, the Edifying of his Church, and the due Reverence of Christ's Holy Myste ries and Sacraments.

Such an Order was accordingly taken by the Queen, 1564. Her Articles being fet forth in:

the

the 7th of her Reign: She, with the Advice of her Ecclefiaftical Commiffioners, particularly the then Metropolitan, Dr. Matthew Parker, publishing thefe following Directions.

Item, In the Miniftration of the Holy Communion, in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, the principal Minister shall wear a Cope, with Gofpeler and Epiftoler agreeably; and at all other Prayers, to be faid at the Communion Table, to use no Copes but Surplices.

Item, That the Dean and Prebendaries wear a Surplice, with a Silk Hood, in the Choir ¿ and when they preach, to wear their Hoods. Item, That every Minister faying any publick Prayers; or miniftring the Sacraments, or other Rites of the Church, fhall wear a comely Surplice, with Sleeves, to be provided at the Charge of the Parish.

These are authentick Limitations, to all fuch Ornaments, as were in ufe in 2 Edw. But there are no Copes worn at prefent, in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church, in the Miniftration of the Holy Communion, except in the Churches of Westminster and Durham. Notwithstanding, the 24th Canon likewise orders, that in all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, the Holy Communion fhall be administer'd, upon principal Feaft-Days, fometimes by the Bishop, if he be prefent, and fometimes by the

Dean; and at fometimes by a Canon, or Prebendary; the principal Minifter using a decent Cope, and being affifted with the Gofpeler and Epiftoler agreeably, according to the Advertisements publish'd Anno 7 Eliz.

The 17th Canon further ordains, that all Mafters, &c. and fuch as are Graduates, fhall agreeably wear with their Surplices fuch Hoods as do feverally appertain unto their De

grees.

Canon 25. Such Hoods as are agreeable to their Degrees.

Canon 34. Except he be either of one of the Universities of this Realm; and has taken fome Degree of School in either of the faid Univerfities.

Canon 41. i. e. Who shall have taken the Degree of a Master of Arts at the leaft, in one of the Univerfities of this Realm.

Canon 58. Furthermore, fuch Ministers, as are Graduates fhall wear upon their Surplices at fuch Times, fuch Hoods, as by the Orders of the Universities, are agreeable to their Degrees, which no Minifter fhall wear (being no Graduate) under Pain of Sufpenfion. If the wearing of a proper Hood was not thus required by the Canon, yet it would fhew very little Refpect to fuch Degrees, if any officiating Perfon, especially in Choirs, fhould ever be feen without them.

It

It cannot very well be expected, that little Parishes fhould be ready to furnish out Hoods, for every Degree: However the Minifter, who conftantly officiates, fhould not fail of putting one on, according to his own. And in great Cures, where Perfons of different Degrees frequently officiate, there ought to be Hoods pro

vided for all Occafions.

In abundance of old Churches, there is no Convenience of a Veftry, or Veftiary, i. e. an Apartment joining to it, where the Priest's Veftments and Holy Utenfils are kept; and where all Parish Bufinefs fhould be debated and executed: It would fave a great deal of Squabling at the Communion Table, where not a few idle warm Difputes, are but too apt to arife. It is likewife more convenient, for the Surplice and Hood, to be put on and off there, rather than in a reading Desk; but if a Veftry be wanting, 'tis lefs Trouble, as well as more decent, to put them on and off, in the Chancel and not in the Pew.

At the Beginning of Morning Prayer, the Minister shall read with a loud Voice, fome one or more of thefe Sentences of the Scriptures, that follow. And then he shall say that which is written after the faid Sentences.

There is no Time could conveniently be fixed here, when the Services fhould begin;