WHereas amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this Nation, none is, or can be more deare unto us then the purity of our Religion, and for that as yet many things remain in the Liturgy, Discipline, & Go­vernment of the Church, which do necessarily require a further & more perfect Reformation, then as yet hath bin attai­ned, and where it hath declared and resolved by the Lords & Com­mons assembled in Parliament, That the present Church-government by Arch-bishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, Commissaries, Deanes, Deanes & Chapters, Arch-deacons, & Ecclesiastical Offi­cers depending upon the Hierarchy, is evill & justly offensive & bur­thensome to the Kingdom, a great impediment to Reformation and growth of Religion, & very prejudiciall to the state & government o [...] this Kingdome, and that therefore they are resolved that the same shall be taken away, & that such a government shall be setled in the Church, as may be most agreeable to Gods holy Word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home, and neerer agreement with the Church of Scotland, and other re­formed Churches abroad, and for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the Church of England from all false calumnies and aspersions, it is thought fit and decessary to call an Assembly of Learned, Godly, and Iu­dicious Divines, to consult and advise of such matters and things touching the premisses as shall be proposed unto them by both or either of the Houses of the Houses of Parliament, and to give their advice and counsell therein to both or either of the said Hou­ses, when, and as often as they shall be thereunto required. Be it therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, that all and every the persons hereafter [Page 2] i [...] this present Ordinance named, That is to say, Algernon Earle of Northumberland, William Earle of Bedford, Phillip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, William Earle of Salisbury, Henry Earle of Holland, Edward Earle of Manchester, William Lord Viscount Sea and Seale, Edward Lord Viscount Conway, Phillip Lord Wharton, Edward Lord Howard of Estr. John Selden Esquire, Francis Rows Esquire, Edmund Prideaux Esquire, Sir Henry Vane Knight senior, John Glyn Esquire, Re­corder of London, John White Esquire, Boulstrode Whitlock Esquire, Humphrey Salloway Esquire, Master Serjeant Wild, Oliver S. John Esquire, his Majesties Soliciter, Sir Benjamin Ruddyard Knight, John Pym Esquire, Sir John Clotworthy Knight, John Maynard Esquire, Sir Henry Vane Knight junior, VVilliam Pierpoynt Esquire, William Wheeler Esquire, Sir Thomas Barrington Knight, Master Young Esquire, Sir John Evelin Knight, Herbert Palmer of Ashwell, Batchelor in Divinity, Oliver Boles of Sutton, Batchelor in Divinity, Henry Wilkin­son of Maddesden, Batchelor in Divinity, Thomas Valentine of Chalfont Giles, Batchelor in Divinity, Doctor William Twist of Newbury. William Reynor of Egham, Master Hanniball Gam­mon of Maugan, Master Jasper Hickes of Lawricke, Doctor Hoyle late of Dublin in Iceland William Bridges of Yarmouth. Thomas Wincop of Ellesworth Doctor in Divinity, Thomas Goodwyn of London, Batchelor in Divinity, John Ley of Bud­worth in Cheshire, Thomas Case of London, John Pyne of Bere­ferrers, Master Whidden of Mooreton, Doctor Richard Love of Ekington, Doctor William Go [...]ge of Black Fryers London, Doc­tor Ralph Brownerigg, Bishop of Exeter, Doctor Samuell Wa [...]d, Master of Sidney Colledge, John White of Dorchester, Edward Peale of Compton, Stephen Marshall of Finchingfield, Batchelor of Divinity, Obediah Sedgewicke of Cogshall, Batchelor in Divi­nity. Master Carter, Peter Clerke of Carnaby, William New of Estington, Batchelor in Divinity, Richard Capell of Pitchcombe, Theophilus Bathurst of Overton Watervile, Phillip Nye of Kim­bolton, Doctor Brocket Smith of Barkway, Doctor Cornelius Bur­ges of Watford, John Greene of Pencombe, Stanley Gower of [Page 3] Brampton Bryan, Francis Taylor of Yalding, Thomas Wilson of Otham, Anthony Tuckney of Boston, Thomas Coleman of Bliton, Charles Herle of Winwicke, Richard Herricke of Manchester, Richard Cleyton of Showell, George Gibbs of Ayleston, Doctor Calibute Downing of Hackney, Jeremiah Boroughes of Stepney, Edmond Calamy, Batchelor in Divinity, George Walker, Batch­elor in Divinity, Ioseph Carroll, of Lincolnes Inne, Lazarus Seaman of London, Doctor Iohn Harris, Warden of Winchester Colledge, George Morley of Mildenhall, Edward Reynolds of Branston, Thomas Hill of Titchmarch, Batchelor in Divinity, Doctor Robert Saunderson of Boothby Pannell, Iohn Foxcroft of Gotham, Iohn Iackson, of Marske, William Carter, of London, Thomas Thoroughgood of Massingham, Iohn Arrowsmith, of Lynne, Robert Harris, of Hanwell, Batchelor in Divinity, Robert Crosse, of Lincolne Colledge Batchelor in Divinity, Iames Arch-Bishop of Armagh, Doctor Mathias Styles of Saint George Es­cheap London, Samuell Gibson, of Burley, Ieremiah Whittacre of Stretton, Doctor Edmond Stanton, of Kingston, Doctor Daniel Feately, of Lambeth, Francis Coke of Yoxhall, Iohn Lightfoot, of Ashley, Edward Corbet of Merton Colledge Oxon. Samuel Heldersham, of Felton, Iohn Langley of Westendersley, Christopher Tisdale of Vphusborne, Thomas Young of Stowmarket, John Phillips of Wrentham, Humphrey Chambers, of Claverton, Batchelor in Divinity, Iohn Con [...]nt of Lym [...]ngton, Batchelor in Divinity, Henry Hall of Norwich, Batchelor in Divinity, Henry Hutton, Henry Scuddir of Colingborne, Thomas Baylie of Man­ningford Bruce, Benjamin Pickering of East Hoateley, Henry Nye of Clapham, Arthur Sallaway of Seavernestoake, Sydr [...]ke Sympson of London, Anthony Burgesse of Sutton Coldfield, Richard Vines of Calcott, William Greenehill of Stepney, Wil­liam Mooreton of Newcastle, Richard Buckley, Doctor Thomas Temple of Battersey, Josias Shute in Lombard street, Batchelor in Divinity, Master Nicholson, Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, Batchelor in Divinity, James Weldy of Sylatten, Doctor Chri­stopher Pashley of Hawarden, Henry [...]oze Batchelor in Divinity, William Spurstow of Ham [...] [...] [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 4] Oxon. Edward Ellis of Gillsfield, Batchelor in Divinity, Doctor John Hacket of Saint Andrewes Holborne, Samuel de la Place, John de la March, Matthew New comen of Dedham, William Ly­ford of Sherborne, in the County of Dorset; Master Carter of Dynton, in the County of Buck. William Lance of Harrowe in Middl. Thomas Hodges of Kensington, in the County of Middl. Andreas Perne of Wilby, in the County of Northampton; Doctor Thomas Westfield of Saint Bartholomewes the great, London, Bishop of Bristoll; Doctor Henry Hammon of Penshurst, in Kent; Nicholas Prophet of Marlborough, in the County of Wilts; Peter Sterry of London, John Erle of Bishopston, in the County of Wilts; Master Gibbon of Waltham, Henry Painter of Exeter, Batchelor in Divinity; Master Michellthwayte of Cheryburton, Doctor Wincopp of Saint Martins in the Fields, Master Price of Pauls Church in Covent Garden, Henry Wilkinson Batche­lor in Divinity; Doctor Richard Oldsworth, Master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; Master William Duning of Coldaston, and such other person and persons as shall be nominated and ap­pointed by both Houses of Parliament, or so many of them as shall not be letted by Sicknesse, or other necessary Impediment, shall meet and assemble, and are hereby required and injoyned upon Summons signed by the Clerkes of both Houses of Parlia­ment, left at their severall respective dwellings, to meet and assemble themselves at Westminster, in the Chappell called King Henry the Sevenths Chappell, on the first day of Iuly, in the yeere of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fortie three: And after the first Meeting, being at least of the number of fortie, shall from time to time sit and be removed from place to place, and also that the said Assembly shall be dissolved in such manner, as by both Houses of Parliament shall be directed: And the said Per­sons, or so many of them as shall be so assembled or sit, shall have power and authoritie, and are hereby likewise injoyned from time to time, during this present Parliament, or untill further Order be taken by both the said Houses, to conferre and treat amongst themselves of such Matters and Things touching and concer­ning the Liturgie, Discipline, and Government of the Church of [Page 5] England, or the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the same from all false Aspersions and Misconstructions, as shall be proposed unto them by both or either of the said Houses of Par­liament, and no other, and to deliver their Opinions and Advices of or touching the Matters aforesaid, as shall be most agreeable to the Word of God, to both or either of the said Houses, from time to time, in such manner and sort as by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament shall be required: and the same not to divulge by Printing, Writing, or otherwise, without the consent of both or either House of Parliament.

And be it further ordained by the Authoritie aforesaid, That William Twist Doctor in Divinitie shall sit in the Chaire as Pro­locutor of the said Assembly: and if he happen to dye, or be letted by Sicknesse, or other necessarie Impediment, then such other person to be appointed in his place, as shall be agreed on by both the said Houses of Parliament. And in case any difference of Opinion shall happen amongst the said persons so assembled, tou­ching any the Matters that shall be proposed to them as aforesaid, that then they shall represent the same, together with the Reasons thereof, to both or either of the said Houses respectively, to the end such further direction may be given therein, as shall be requisite in that behalfe.

And be it further ordained by the Authoritie aforesaid, That for the Charges and Expences of the said Divines, and every of them, in attending the said Service, there shall be allowed unto every of them that shall so attend, during the time of their said Attendance, and for ten dayes before and ten dayes after, the summe of foure shillings for every day, at the Charges of the Common-wealth, at such time, and in such manner, as by both Houses of Parliament shall be appointed.

And be it further Ordained, That all and every the said Di­vines so as aforesaid, required and injoyned to meet and Assem­ble, shall be freed and acquitted of and from every Offence, For­feiture, Penalty, Losse, or Damage, which shall or may arise or grow by reason of any Non-Residence, or absence of them, or any of them, from his or their, or any of their Church, Churches, [Page 8] or Cures, for or in respect of their said Attendance upon the said Service, any Law or Statute of Non-residence, or other Law or Statute, enjoyning their Attendance upon their re­spective Ministeries or Charges to the contrary thereof not­withstanding.

And if any of the Persons before named, shall happen to dye be­fore the said Assembly shall be dissolved by Order of both Houses of Parliament, then such other person or persons shall be nomina­ted and placed in the Roome and stead of such person and persons so dying, as by both the said Houses shall be thought fit and agreed upon, and every such person or persons so to be named, shal have the like power and Authority, freedome, and acquitall, to all intents and purposes, and also all such wages and allowances for the said service, during the time of his or their Attendance, as to any other of the said persons in this Ordinance is by this Ordinance limit­ed and appoynted.

Provided alwayes, That this Ordinance, or any thing therein conteyned, shall not give unto the persons aforesaid, or any of them, nor shall they in this Assembly assume to exercise any Iurisdiction, Power, or Authority Ecclesiasticall whatsoever, or any other power, then is herein particularly expressed.