The perfons to whom letters dimiffory may be granted by any bishop, are either fuch who were born in the diocefe, or are promoted in it, or are refident in it. This appears from Lindwood, in his commentary upon the foregoing conftitution of archbishop Reynolds; whofe obfervation is taken from the body of the canon law. But altho' this is laid down disjunctively, fo as letters dimiffory granted in any of the three cafes will be good's yet it appears in practice, that heretofore they were judged to come more properly from the bishop in whofe diocefe he was promoted, or in which his title lay. And the reafon was, because the bifhop in whofe diocese the perfon was born, or had long dwelt, is prefumed to have the best opportunity of knowing the converfation of the perfon to be ordained. Gibf. 143.

The fitness of the perfon to be ordained (as to life, learning, title, and the like) ought to appear, before the granting of letters dimiffory. This is fuppofed (as to converfation at least) in what hath been faid before; and as to the title, it was not only inquired into by the bishop granting the letters, but frequently remained with him; of which (pecial notice was taken in the body of fuch letters. And the bifhop who grants the letters dimiffory is to make this inquiry, and not the bishop to whom fuch letters are tranfmitted; for he is to prefume that the perfons recommended to him are fit and fufficient. Gibf. 144.

Letters dimiffory may be granted at once to all orders, and directed to any catholick bishop at large. And this hath been the practice in the church of England, both before and fince the reformation; as appears by innumerable inftances, in the acts of ordination, of litera dimifforia ad omnes; and by the forms of the letters dimiffory (whether ad omnes or not) which are directed in that general ftyle. But other churches, to prevent the inconveniences of this practice (especially where fuch letters are granted without previous examination), have expressly forbid them both. Gibf. 144.

V. Of oaths and fubfcriptions previous to the ordi

nation.

1. By the 1 El. c. I. and I W. c. 8. Every perfon taking orders, before he shall receive or take any fuch orders, fball take the oaths of allegiance and fupremacy, before the ordinary or commissary.

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2. And

2. And by the 13 El. c. 12. None shall be admitted to the order of deacon, or miniftry; unless he shall firft fubfcribe to all the articles of religion agreed upon in convocation in the year 1562, which only concern the confeffion of the true christian faith and the doctrine of the facraments. f. 5.

3. And by Can. 36. No perfon fhall be received into the ministry, except he fhall firft fubfcribe to thefe articles following:

(1) That the king's majefty, under God, is the only fupreme governor of this realm, and of all other his highnefs's dominions and countries, as well in all spiritual or ecclefiaftical things or caules, as temporal; and that no foreign prince, perfon, prelate, ftate or potentate hath, or ought to have any jurifdiction, power, fuperiority, preheminence or authority, ecclefiaftical or spiritual, within his majesty's faid realms, dominions, and countries.

(2) That the book of common prayer, and of ordering of bishops, priests, and deacons, containeth in it nothing contrary to the word of God, and that it may lawfully be used, and that he himself will ufe the form in the faid book prescribed in publick prayer, and administration of the facraments, and none other.

(3) That he alloweth the book of articles of religion agreed upon by the archbishops and bishops of both provinces, and the whole clergy, in the convocation holden at London, in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred fixty and two; and that he acknowledgeth all and every the articles therein contained, being in number nine and thirty, befides the ratification, to be agreeable to the word of God.

Which fubfcription, as it feemeth by the fame and the following canon, must be before the bishop himself.

And for the avoiding of all ambiguities, fuch perfon fhall fubfcribe in this form and order of words, fetting down both his chriftian and firname, viz. "I N. N. do "willingly and ex animo fubfcribe to these three articles, "above mentioned, and to all things that are contained "in them." Can. 36.

And if any bishop fhall ordain any, except he fhall firft have fo fubfcribed; he fhall be fufpended from giving of orders for the space of twelve months. Carl 36.

VI. Form and manner of ordaining deacons.

1. The ordination (as well of deacons as of minifters) hall be performed in the time of divine fervice, in the pre

fence

fence not only of the archdeacon, but of the dean and two prebendaries at the leaft, or (if they fhall happen by any lawful caufe to be let or hindred) in the prefence of four other grave perfons, being mafters of arts at the leaft, and allowed for publick preachers. Can. 31.

And by the ftatute of the 21 H. 8. c. 13. for pluralities; it is alledged as one reafon why a bifhop may retain. fix chaplains, because he muft occupy fix chaplains at the giving of orders. J. 24.

However, in practice, a lefs number than is required either by the faid ftatute or by the aforefaid canon, is fometimes admitted; and this (as it is faid) by virtue of the rubrick in the office of ordination, which directeth that the bishops with the priests prefent fhall lay their hands upon the perfons to be ordained; implying, as is fuppofed, that if there are but two prieits prefent, it fufficeth by this rubrick, which is eftablished by the act of parliament of the 13 & 14 C. 2. But the words do not feem so much to be restrictive of the number before required, as directory what that number as by law before required in this refpect shall do.

2. And at the time of ordination, the bishop fhall fay unto the people, Brethren, if there be any of you, who knoweth any impediment, or notable crime, in any of thefe perfons prefented to be ordered deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that office; let him come forth in the name of God, and fhew what the crime or impediment is. Form of ordination.

And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the bishop fhall furceafe from ordering that perfon, until fuch time as the party accufed fhall be found clear of that crime. Id.

3. And before the gofpel, the bishop fitting in his chair, fhall caufe the faid oaths of allegiance and fupremacy to be (again) miniftred unto every of them that are to be ordered. Form of ordin. 1 W. c. 8. (i)

4. Then

(1) The 24 Geo. 3. c. 35. after reciting that, by the laws of the realm, perfons who are admitted into holy orders must take the oath of allegiance; and that there are divers fubjects of foreign countries defirous that the word of God and the facraments fhould be administered to them, according to the liturgy of the church of England, by fubjects or citizens of the faid countries, ordained according to the form of ordination in the church of England; empowers the bishop of London, or any

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other

4. Then the bifhop, laying his hands feverally upon the head of every one of them, humbly kneeling before him, fhall fay, "Take thou authority to execute the of "fice of a deacon in the church of God committed unto "thee; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and "of the Holy Ghoft. Amen."

Then thall the bishop deliver to every one of them the new teftament, faying, "Take thou authority to read the gofpel in the church of God, and to preach the fame, "if thou be thereto licensed by the bishop himself." Form of ordin.

5. Finally, it must be declared unto the deacon, that he muft continue in that office of a deacon the fpace of a whole year (except for reafonable caufes it fhall otherwife feem good unto the bishop), to the intent he may be perfect, and well expert in the things appertaining to the ecclefiaftical adminiftration; in executing whereof, if he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his diocefan to the order of priesthood. Form of ordin.

VII. Form and manner of ordaining priests.

1. Can. 32. The office of a deacon being a step or degree to the miniftry, according to the judgment of the ancient fathers and the practice of the primitive church, we do ordain and appoint, that hereafter no bfhop fhall make any perfon, of what qualities or gifts foever, a deacon and a minifter both together upon one day; but the order in that behalf prefcribed in the book of making and confecrating bifhops, priefts and deacons, be strictly obferved. Not that always every deacon fhould be kept from the miniftry for a whole year, when the bishop fhall find good cause to the contrary; but that there being now four times appointed in every year for the ordination of deacons and minifters, there may ever be fome time of

other bishop to be by him appointed, to admit to the order of deacon or prieft, for the purposes aforefaid, perfons fubjects or citizens of countries out of his majesty's dominions, without requiring them to take the faid oath of allegiance. But they are not to exercife their office within his majefty's dominions; and this exemption from taking the above oath is to be mentioned in their teftimonial. For the confecration of bishops under fimilar circumftances, fee tit. Bishops, II. 17.

trial

trial of their behaviour in the office of deacon, before they be admitted to the order of priesthood.

2. At the time of ordination, the bishop shall fay unto the people: Good people, these are they whom we purpofe, God willing, to receive this day unto the holy office of priesthood: for after due examination, we find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and miniftry, and that they be perfons meet for the fame. But yet if there be any of you, who knoweth any impediment, or notable crime in any of them, for the which he ought not to be received into this holy miniftry, let him come forth in the name of God, and hew what the crime or impediment is.

And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the bishop fhali furceafe from ordering that perfon, until fuch time as the parry accused fhall be found clear of that crime. Form of ordin.

3. Then the bishop, fitting in his chair, fhall minifter to every one of them the oaths aforefaid of allegiance and fupremacy Id. 1 IV. c. 8 (k)

4. Then the bifhop, with the priests prefent, fhall lay their hands feverally upon the head of every one that receiveth the order of priesthood; the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the bishop faying, "Re"ceive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a priest

in the church of God, now committed unto thee by "the imposition of our hands: Whofe fins thou doft for"give, they are forgiven; and whofe fins thou dost re

tain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dif"penfer of the word of God, and of his holy facra"ments: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, "and of the Holy Ghoft."

Then the bishop fhall deliver to every one of them kneeling, the Bible into his hand, faying, "Take thou "authority to preach the word of God, and to minifter "the holy facraments in the congregation, where thou "fhalt be lawfully appointed thereunto."

With the priests prefent] By Can. 35. They who affift the bishop in laying on of hands, fhall be of the cathedral church, if they may be conveniently had, or other fufficient preachers of the fame diocefe, to the number of three at the leaft.

(E) Vid. Supra, VI, 3.

VIII. Fees