The start of the European
colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492. However, L'Anse aux Meadows in the Canadian province of Newfoundland
and Labrador is much older. Dating from 1000AD,
it is the only known site of a Norse or Viking village in Canada, and in North
America outside of Greenland. L'Anse aux Meadows remains the only widely accepted
instance of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact and is notable for its possible
connection with the attempted colony of Vinland
established by Leif Ericson around the same time period or, more broadly, with Norse
exploration of the Americas.
In the context of emerging western imperialism
and economic competition between European kingdoms seeking wealth through the establishment of trade routes
and colonies, Columbus's speculative proposal, to reach the East Indies
by sailing westward, eventually received the support of the Spanish crown,
which saw in it a promise, however remote, of gaining the upper hand over rival
powers in the contest for the lucrative spice trade
with Asia.
During his first voyage in 1492, instead of reaching Japan as he had intended,
Columbus landed in the Bahamas archipelago, at a locale he named San Salvador. Over the course
of three more voyages, Columbus visited the Greater
and Lesser Antilles, as well as the Caribbean
coast of Venezuela and Central America, claiming them for the Spanish Empire.
Though Columbus was not the first
European explorer to reach the Americas (having been preceded by the Norse
expedition led by Leif Ericson in the 11th century),
Columbus's voyages led to the first lasting European contact with the Americas,
inaugurating a period of European exploration, conquest, and colonization that
lasted for several centuries. They had, therefore, an enormous impact in the
historical development of the modern Western world. Columbus himself saw his
accomplishments primarily in the light of the spreading of the Christian religion.
Never admitting that he had reached
a continent previously unknown to Europeans, rather than the East Indies he had
set out for, Columbus called the inhabitants of the lands he visited indios
(Spanish for "Indians"). Columbus's strained relationship with the Spanish crown and its appointed
colonial administrators in America led to his arrest and dismissal as governor
of the settlements on the island of Hispaniola
in 1500, and later to protracted litigation over the benefits which Columbus
and his heirs claimed were owed to them by the crown.
Giovanni
Caboto (John Cabot) was a native of Genoa and a citizen of Venice, who obtained
letters-patent from Henry VII of England in 1496 for a voyage of discovery. In
the summer of 1497, he crossed the Atlantic and discovered the mainland of
North America—probably the Labrador coast. On this achievement was based the
claim of England to North America.
John Cabot was
sent by Henry VII in 1497 search for the Northwest Passage
to India. He cruised coastal Newfoundland and noted the excellent fishing
opportunities along the Grand Banks,
but his favorable report on commercial opportunities in the New World
elicited little response. England would content itself with the profits
from its flourishing wool trade for much of the next century. The nation's
interest in overseas exploration and colonization was also slowed by
religious and dynastic problems.
Other early explorers were Martin Frobisher
conducted three voyages to the New World in the years from 1576 to 1578.
His initial aim of finding a Northwest Passage
was changed to the pursuit of gold. His reputation went into decline for a
number of years, but rebounded during his service against Spain.John Davis did much to clear up uncertainties about the
geography of extreme northeast North America in voyages in 1585, 1586 and
1587. The Strait separating Greenland and Baffin Island bears his name.
1583 Humphrey Gilbert,
a prominent soldier and Crown favorite, led an effort to establish the
first English colony in America, a short-lived venture on Newfoundland.
In the mid-1580s, Walter Raleigh
sponsored attempts to establish a permanent colony in the area of
Virginia; the famous effort on Roanoke Island
— the famous “Lost Colony” — was part of that effort.
England's History leading up to the Pilgrim's decision to leave their homeland.
By 1500, England was arguably the
most politically advanced nation in Europe. It had been engaged in a centuries-long
struggle between the monarchy and nobility that predated the famed Magna Charta
(1215). Ever-increasing restraints were being placed on royal authority by an
influential representative assembly, the Parliament, but its true flowering
still lay in the future. Also noteworthy was the English system of justice,
which relied heavily on common law precedents rather than the king's dictates.
Despite these political advances,
England had experienced a tumultuous recent past. The Hundred Years War with
France (1337-1453) was both expensive and divisive. Natural disaster in the
form of the Black Death (1348) took a tremendous toll and helped to weaken the
feudal system, that ancient form of social organization in England.
Economic change also helped to form
the emerging nation. During the 1300s, a thriving wool industry developed.
Early merchants exported raw wool to European markets; later, mills were built
in England, which fostered a much more profitable trade in woolen cloth. This
economic growth came at a high cost to many in society, however. As the demand
for grazing lands grew, landlords evicted many resident agricultural workers.
During the late 1400s, crisis conditions persisted. A dwindling food supply was
called upon to feed a rapidly expanding population. The result was widespread
social unrest as well as sickness and starvation.
The Tudor line of monarchs provided
some the most remarkable leaders in English history, but their era was one of
great turbulence. Foreign rivalries, dynastic succession and religious
allegiances all played prominent roles.
Henry VII, the first Tudor king (ruled 1485-1509), brought a large
measure of stability to English society. He bequeathed to his son relative
political peace and a full treasury.
Henry VIII (r. 1509-47) did not squander his inheritance. Under his
leadership, England grew more prosperous through trade and became a full
partner in Renaissance learning then sweeping much of Western Europe. Henry's
major problem was one of succession. He was married to Catherine of Aragon, the
aunt of the powerful Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (simultaneously Charles I of
Spain). The queen was approaching the end of her child-bearing years and had
produced a daughter, but no male heir. Henry feared the implications of
entrusting England's future to a woman and sought an annulment of his marriage
from the Bishop of Rome. The pope refused, citing lack of grounds, but his
decision also reflected the reality that Charles carried more weight
internationally than Henry.
Anxious to wed the comely Anne Boleyn, Henry secured passage
of the Act of Supremacy (1534) by Parliament. This measure ended papal
authority in England and made the king head of the church in England. Most of
the bishops supported the annulment and remarriage. Henry's power was further
bolstered when he seized church property within his realm. The monks and nuns
were turned out and the monasteries sold to wealthy nobles. In this way, Henry
increased his treasury and formed a firm bond with grateful nobles.
During the remainder of Henry's
reign, the church in England remained largely untouched by the Reformation, except
for the obvious lack of ties with Rome. For a number of years following Henry's
death, England would be led along alternating religious paths. During the short
and unhappy reign of Edward VI (r. 1547-53), the English church veered
toward Calvinism. However, under Mary I (r. 1553-58) a concerted effort
was made to reestablish ties with Rome. Protestants were ruthlessly persecuted,
which earned the queen the epithet "Bloody Mary." Many religious
dissidents fled during these years, including a contingent that settled in
Geneva. Those refugees came under the influence of the area's stern Calvinism
and would later return to England where they became known as the Puritans.
Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) was the most successful of the Tudor
monarchs. She followed a middle course on religious matters by resisting the
extremes of both the Catholics and the Calvinists. The
Elizabethan Age saw the flowering of literature, most notably through the works
of William Shakespeare, and a corresponding development in commercial activity.
One mark of Elizabeth's canniness
was her ability to hold off the attentions of Philip II of Spain. He had
proposed marriage in order to expand his realm of influence and win back
wayward England to Catholicism. Elizabeth had no desire to lead her country
down that path and managed to delay a final answer for years. She knew that a
confrontation with Spain would occur at some point, but wanted to wait until
English defenses were strengthened.
Tensions with Spain were brought to
the boiling point by the Sea Dogs, a group of privateers who preyed on the
riches found in Spanish ships coming from the New World. Elizabeth provided
unofficial encouragement for these ventures, which were headed by the likes of Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Walter Raleigh and Humphrey Gilbert.
Philip's patience was eventually
exhausted. He realized that Elizabeth would never marry him and that the
maritime rivalry between the two nations probably was sanctioned by the queen.
Spain's response came in the form of an attempted invasion of England,
conducted by the Spanish Armada
(1588). Its utter and famous defeat left England unchallenged as the major sea
power in the world.
Why did the pilgrims leave England?
The pilgrims left England in 1609 so that they could practice the religion they
chose. An English law, the 1559 Act of Uniformity, demanded that all British
citizens attend services and follow the traditions of the Church of England. A
group of dissenters known as the Puritains had strong disagreements with some
Church practices. Under King James, the practice of executing Puritans for
disobeying the Act of Uniformity ended, but the Puritans still found themselves
hated by society.
Heading to the New World
In 1609 the pilgrims and Puritans moved to
Holland. Here they enjoyed religious freedom, but they had to learn the Dutch
language and their children began observing Dutch traditions. After some time
in Holland, they decided they wanted to move to a country that spoke English
and that would let them practice any religion they wanted. The only place they
could do this was in a brand new place. The Pilgrims decided they would travel
to the "New World." They went back to England in 1620 to set sail on
the Mayflower. 102 people, known as the Pilgrim Fathers, left England for a second time on September 16, 1620.
Among these passengers were William Brewster, John Carver, Edward Winslow, and William Bradford, early governor of Plymouth Colony.
John Alden, assistant governor; Myles Standish, a professional soldier and military advisor were also among the passengers.
The trip over the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days. They had to eat cold food, as no
fire was allowed on the wooden ship. On the way over, the people divided into
two groups: the Saints and the Strangers. The Saints and the Strangers argued
over many things on the Mayflower, but when they found the New World on
November 10, the Saints and the Strangers agreed that they should stay
together. They made an agreement called the Mayflower Compact. The two groups
joined together and became the Plymouth Pilgrims.
The Mayflower dropped anchor near present-day Provincetown on Nov. 21, 1620, and 41 male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to enact "just and equal laws for the general good of the colony."
The Pilgrims first saw land near
modern-day Cape Cod, but they did not settle there. They traveled north and
landed at modern-day Plymouth on December 26, 1620. http://teacher.scholastic.com/researchtools/researchstarters/plymouth/
An Unlikely Ally
 |
Samoset walks into the Pilgrim village.
The Pilgrims are shocked and some afraid of him, but
discovers he's no threat to them.
Samoset speaks very little English so he
introduces them to Squanto who had been to England
and could speak English well. |
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
During the first winter in the New World, the
Mayflower colonists suffered greatly from diseases like
scurvy, lack of shelter, and general conditions on board ship.
Forty-five of the 102 emigrants died the first winter and were buried on
Cole's Hill. Additional deaths during the first year meant that only 53 people were alive in November 1621 to celebrate the
First Thanksgiving. Of the 18 adult women, 13 died the first winter, while another died in May. Only four adult women were left alive for the Thanksgiving. No women died aboard the ship, though a newborn baby and three men, including the captain, did.
These persons * who died in the winter of 1620-1621 were mostly likely originally buried in unmarked graves in the Coles Hill Burial Ground, Plymouth, Massachusetts. In 1920 many of the remains of persons originally buried on that hill were collected into what is now the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb, Cole's Hill, in Plymouth. All of the persons noted here are named on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb.
Local Indians avoided contact with the Pilgrims because of past encounters with English sailors who had brought terrible diseases to the Indians and captured some of them and brought them to England as slaves.
 |
Squanto teaches the Pilgrims how to tap Maple Syrup from
the trees, how to fish and where to find the best fishing spots, hunt and where the best hunting grounds were, and plant corn.
He taught the Pilgrim's and the local Indian tribes to get along and to live peacefully together. |
The First Thanksgiving occurred one year after landing in the
New World. Pilgrim governor William Bradford
decided they
should have a feast to celebrate their new colony and to thank
the
Indians for showing them how to survive. The celebration
lasted three days and became the foundation of our modern
Thanksgiving holiday.
In early autmn of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated
their successful harvest as was English custom. During
this time, witnesses stated, "Many Indians celebrated with us,
among them was their great king, Massasoit, with some ninety men."
 |
The Pilgrim's first celebrated Harvest Festival in the New World, what we
call the First Thanksgiving. |
This pilgrims didn't call this harvest festival, Thanksgiving, although they did pray, thanking God for their harvest. This was strictly a religious celebration. The first recorded Thanksgiving was held in 1623 after a much needed rainfall occurred and many prayers said for the needed rain.
The religious day of Thanksgiving and the harvest festival evolved into a single event: a yearly Thanksgiving, proclaimed by individual governors for a Thursday in November. The custom of an annual Thanksgiving celebrated abundance and family spread across America. Some presidents proclaimed Thanksgiving, some did not. Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving celebration in 1863.
Thanksgiving is an enduring symbol which millions of immigrants have learned "Americanism". While not all Native Peoples celebrate the day, the story of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag sharing a harvest celebration remains an inspiring story to many.
For additional information on who was present at the "first Thanksgiving", see this link:
There are 2(and only2) primary sources for the events of autumn in 1621 in Plymouth:
Edward Winslow writing in Mourt's Relation and William Bradford writing in
Of Plymouth Plantation
Edward
Winslow, Mourt's Relation :
"Our harvest being gotten in,
our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce
together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed
as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which
time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst
us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for
three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which
they
brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and
others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us,
yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you
partakers of our plentie."
In modern spelling
"Our harvest being gotten in,
our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner
rejoice
together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed
as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a
week, at which
time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst
us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for
three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five
Deer, which they
brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and
others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us,
yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you
partakers of our plenty."
William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation :
For as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were
excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good
store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And
now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound
when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule,
ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c.
Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean
corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty
hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports."
In modern spelling
"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings
against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good
plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in
fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every
family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store
of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but
afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild
turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck of
meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which
made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England,
which were not feigned but true reports."
Pilgrims involved in First Thanksgiving
|
|
4 Married Women : Eleanor Billington, Mary Brewster, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White Winslow.
5 ADOLESCENT GIRLS : Mary Chilton (14),
Constance Hopkins (13 or 14), Priscilla Mullins (19), Elizabeth
Tilley (14 or15) and Dorothy, the Carver's unnamed maidservant, perhaps 18 or 19.
9 ADOLESCENT BOYS : Francis & John
Billington, John Cooke, John Crackston, Samuel Fuller (2d), Giles Hopkins,
William Latham, Joseph
Rogers, Henry Samson.
13 YOUNG CHILDREN : Bartholomew, Mary &
Remember Allerton, Love & Wrestling Brewster, Humility Cooper,
Samuel Eaton, Damaris & Oceanus Hopkins, Desire Minter, Richard More, Resolved & Peregrine White.
22 MEN : John Alden, Isaac Allerton, John
Billington, William Bradford, William Brewster, Peter Brown, Francis
Cooke, Edward Doty,
Francis Eaton, [first name unknown] Ely, Samuel Fuller, Richard Gardiner,
John Goodman, Stephen Hopkins, John
Howland, Edward Lester, George Soule, Myles Standish,
William Trevor, Richard Warren,
Edward Winslow, Gilbert Winslow.
Family Groups :
Alden: John
Allerton: Issac with children Bartholomew, Mary, Remember our servant, William Latham
Billington: John & Eleanor with sons Francis, John Jr.
Bradford: William
Brewster: William and Mary with sons Love, Wrestling; their ward Richard More
Browne/Brown: Peter
Carver: The Carver ward Desire Minter; the Carver servant John Howland; the Carver
Maidservant Dorthy.
Chilton: Mary
Cooke: Francis with son John
Crackston: John
Eaton: Francis with son Samuel
Ely: Unknown adult man
Fuller: Samuel with nephew Samuel
Gardner: Richard
Goodman: John
Hopkins: Stephen and Elizabeth with Giles, Constance,
Damaris, Oceanus; their servants Liester, Edward Doty, and Edward
Mullins: Priscilla
Rogers: Joseph
Standish: Myles
Tilley: Elizabeth
Tilley: Tilley wards Humility and Henry Samson
Trevor/Trevore: William
Warren: Richard
Winslow: Edward and Susanna and her sons, Resolved White and Peregrine White;
servant George Soule
Winslow: Gilbert
Recorded Deaths statistics of Pilgrims during the voyage
and after landing in the New World. |
|
|
Men
- John
Allerton*
- Richard
Britteridge*, December 21
- William
Butten/Button, November 6/16 on board Mayflower. Buried either at sea
or later possibly ashore. Memorial in Provincetown. (a young man)
- Robert
Carter*, after February 21
- James
Chilton*, 8/18 on board Mayflower
in Cape Cod Harbor. Most likely buried ashore. Memorial in Provincetown.
Signor of the Mayflower Compact.
- Richard
Clarke*
- John
Crackstone Sr.*
- Thomas
English* hired to master a shallop but died in the winter.
- Moses
Fletcher*
- Edward Fuller*
- John
Goodman*
- William
Holbeck*
- John
Langmore*
- 'Edmund
Margesson*
- Christopher Martin*,
January 8
- William
Mullins*' February 21
- Degory
Priest*, January 1
- John
Rigsdale*
- Thomas Rogers*
- Elias
Story*
- Edward
Thompson, December 4/14 on board Mayflower in Cape Cod Harbor. Most likely
buried ashore. Memorial in Provincetown.
- Edward
Tilley*
- 'John Tilley*
- Thomas
Tinker*
- John
Turner*
- William White*, February
21, 1621.
- Roger
Wilder*
- Thomas Williams*
Women
- Mary
(Norris) Allerton*, of Newbury, England, wife of Isaac Allerton, died
February 25, 1621, reportedly in childbirth, baby was stillborn. Remains
later interred in Pilgrim Memorial Tomb, Cole's Hill, Plymouth,
Massachusetts
- Dorothy
(May) Bradford, December 7/17 drowned while on board Mayflower in Cape Cod
Harbor. Most likely buried ashore. Memorial in Provincetown.
- Mrs. James
Chilton*
- Sarah
Eaton*
- Mrs.
Edward Fuller*
- Mary
(Prower) Martin*, January 11
- Alice
Mullins*, February 22-28
- Alice
Rigsdale*
- Agnes
(Cooper) Tilley*
- Joan
(Hurst) Tilley*
- Mrs.
Thomas Tinker*
- Elizabeth
(Barker) Winslow*, March 24. Remains later interred in Pilgrim Memorial
Tomb, Cole's Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- Rose
Standish* January 29 - grave unknown
Children
Mayflower plaque in St. James Church in Shipton, Shropshire
commemorating the More children baptism. courtesy of Phil Revell
- John
Hooke*, age 13
- Elinor
(Ellen) More, age 8 died on board Mayflower in November 1620. Remains
later interred in the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb, Cole's Hill, Plymouth,
Massachusetts.
- Jasper
More, age 7, died on board the Mayflower on December 6, 1620. Buried
ashore in the Provincetown area.
- Mary
More, age 4 died in the winter of 1620. Remains later interred in the
Pilgrim Memorial Tomb, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- Joseph
Mullins*, age 14, February 22-28
- Solomon
Prower*, age ca. 14-17, December 24
- the son of
Thomas Tinker*
- both sons
of John Turner*
Statistics of deaths by month
Winter
According to Bradford's Register,
a contemporary source
- November,
1 death
- December,
6
- January,
8, 11
- February,
17
- March, 13
Spring
- April
uncertain, between 1 and 5 (including Governor John Carver, not in above list)
- May or
June, at least 1 (Mrs. Katherine (White) Carver*, not in above list)
Four deaths occurred in months unknown before the first Thanksgiving
bringing the total deaths to 51.
The Act of Uniformity-THIS
Act--distinguished among the several Uniformity Acts by the stringency of its
penalties--was passed immediately after the foregoing, in April of the year
1559.
Where at the death of our late
sovereign lord King Edward VI there remained one uniform order of common
service and prayer, and of the administration of sacraments, rites, and
ceremonies in the Church of England, which was set forth in one book,
intituled: The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of Sacraments, and
other rites and ceremonies in the Church of England; authorized by Act of
Parliament holden in the fifth and sixth years of our said late sovereign lord
King Edward VI, intituled: An Act for the uniformity of common prayer, and
administration of the sacraments; the which was repealed and taken away by Act
of Parliament in the [Page 459] first year of the reign of our late
sovereign lady Queen Mary, to the great decay of the due honour of God, and
discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christ's religion:
Be it therefore enacted by the authority of this present Parliament, that the said
statute of repeal, and everything therein contained, only concerning the said
book, and the service, administration of sacraments, rites, and ceremonies
contained or appointed in or by the said book, shall be void and of none
effect, from and after the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next
coming; and that the said book, with the order of service, and of the
administration of sacraments, rites, and ceremonies, with the alterations and
additions therein added and appointed by this statute, shall stand and be, from
and after the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, in full force and
effect, according to the tenor and effect of this statute; anything in the
aforesaid statute of repeal to the contrary notwithstanding.
And further be it enacted by the queen's highness, with the assent of the Lords
(sic) and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by authority of the
same, that all and singular ministers in any cathedral or parish church, or
other place within this realm of England, Wales, and the marches of the same,
or other the queen's dominions, shall from and after the feast of the Nativity
of St. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Matins, Evensong,
celebration of the Lord's Supper and administration of each of the sacraments,
and all their common and open prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in
the said book, so authorized by Parliament in the said fifth and sixth years of
the reign of King Edward VI, with one alteration or addition of certain lessons
to be used on every Sunday in the year, and the form of the Litany altered and
corrected, and two sentences only added in the delivery of the sacrament to the
communicants, and none other or otherwise.
[Page 460] And that if any manner of parson, vicar, or other whatsoever
minister, that ought or should sing or say common prayer mentioned in the said
book, or minister the sacraments, from and after the feast of the nativity of
St. John Baptist next coming, refuse to use the said common prayers, or to
minister the sacraments in such cathedral or parish church, or other places as
he should use to minister the same, in such order and form as they be mentioned
and set forth in the said book, or shall wilfully or obstinately standing in
the same, use any other rite, ceremony, order, form, or manner of celebrating
of the Lord's Supper, openly or privily, or Matins, Evensong, administration of
the sacraments, or other open prayers, than is mentioned and set forth in the
said book (open prayer in and throughout this Act, is meant that prayer which
is for other to come unto, or hear, either in common churches or private
chapels or oratories, commonly called the service of the Church), or shall
preach, declare, or speak anything in the derogation or depraving of the said
book, or anything therein contained, or of any part thereof, and shall be
thereof lawfully convicted, according to the laws of this realm, by verdict of
twelve men, or by his own confession, or by the notorious evidence of the fact,
shall lose and forfeit to the queen's highness, her heirs and successors, for
his first offence, the profit of all his spiritual benefices or promotions
coming or arising in one whole year next after his conviction; and also that
the person so convicted shall for the same offence suffer imprisonment by the
space of six months, without bail or mainprize.
And if any such person once convicted of any offence concerning the premises,
shall after his first conviction eftsoons offend, and be thereof, in form
aforesaid, lawfully convicted, that then the same person shall for his second
offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole year, and also shall
therefore be deprived, ipso facto, of all his [Page 461] spiritual
promotions; and that it shall be lawful to all patrons or donors of all and
singular the same spiritual promotions, or of any of them, to present or
collate to the same, as though the person and persons so offending were dead.
And that if any such person or persons, after he shall be twice convicted in form
aforesaid, shall offend against any of the premises the third time, and shall
be thereof, in form aforesaid, lawfully convicted, that then the person so
offending and convicted the third time, shall be deprived, ipso facto, of all
his spiritual promotions, and also shall suffer imprisonment during his life.
And if the person that shall offend, and be convicted in form aforesaid,
concerning any of the premises, shall not be beneficed, nor have any spiritual
promotion, that then the same person so offending and convicted shall for the
first offence suffer imprisonment during one whole year next after his said
conviction, without bail or mainprize. And if any such person, not having any
spiritual promotion, after his first conviction shall eftsoons offend in
anything concerning the premises, and shall be, in form aforesaid, thereof
lawfully convicted, that then the same person shall for his second offence
suffer imprisonment during his life.
And it is ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any person
or persons whatsoever, after the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist
next coming, shall in any interludes, plays, songs, rhymes, or by other open
words, declare or speak anything in the derogation, depraving, or despising of
the same book, or of anything therein contained, or any part thereof, or shall,
by open fact, deed, or by open threatenings, compel or cause, or otherwise
procure or maintain, any parson, vicar, or other minister in any cathedral or
parish church, or in chapel, or in any other place, to sing or say any common
or open prayer, or to minister any sacrament otherwise, or in any other manner
and form, than is mentioned in the said book; or that by [Page 462] any
of the said means shall unlawfully interrupt or let any parson, vicar, or other
minister in any cathedral or parish church, chapel, or any other place, to sing
or say common and open prayer, or to minister the sacraments or any of them, in
such manner and form as is mentioned in the said book; that then every such
person, being thereof lawfully convicted in form abovesaid, shall forfeit to
the queen our sovereign lady, her heirs and successors, for the first offence a
hundred marks.
And if any person or persons, being once convicted of any such offence, eftsoons
offend against any of the last recited offences, and shall, in form aforesaid,
be thereof lawfully convicted, that then the same person so offending and
convicted shall, for the second offence, forfeit to the queen our sovereign
lady, her heirs and successors, four hundred marks.
And if any person, after he, in form aforesaid, shall have been twice convicted
of any offence concerning any of the last recited offences, shall offend the
third time, and be thereof, in form abovesaid, lawfully convicted, that then
every person so offending and convicted shall for his third offence forfeit to
our sovereign lady the queen all his goods and chattels, and shall suffer
imprisonment during his life.
And if any person or persons, that for his first offence concerning the
premises shall be convicted, in form aforesaid, do not pay the sum to be paid
by virtue of his conviction, in such manner and form as the same ought to be
paid, within six weeks next after his conviction; that then every person so
convicted, and so not paying the same, shall for the same first offence,
instead of the said sum, suffer imprisonment by the space of six months,
without bail or mainprize. And if any person or persons, that for his second
offence concerning the premises shall be convicted in form aforesaid, do not
pay the said sum to be paid by virtue of his conviction and this statute, in
such manner [Page 463] and form as the same ought to be paid, within six
weeks next after his said second conviction; that then every person so convicted,
and not so paying the same, shall, for the same second offence, in the stead of
the said sum, suffer imprisonment during twelve months, without bail or
mainprize.
And that from and after the said feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next
coming, all and every person and persons inhabiting within this realm, or any
other the queen's majesty's dominions, shall diligently and faithfully, having
no lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent, endeavour themselves to resort to
their parish church or chapel accustomed, or upon reasonable let thereof, to
some usual place where common prayer and such service of God shall be used in
such time of let, upon every Sunday and other days ordained and used to be kept
as holy days, and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time
of the common prayer, preachings, or other service of God there to be used and
ministered; upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church, and also
upon pain that every person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence
twelve pence, to be levied by the churchwardens of the parish where such
offence shall be done, to the use of the poor of the same parish, of the goods,
lands, and tenements of such offender, by way of distress.
And for due execution hereof, the queen's most excellent majesty, the Lords
temporal (sic), and all the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, do
in God's name earnestly require and charge all the archbishops, bishops, and
other ordinaries, that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of
their knowledges, that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout
their dioceses and charges, as they will answer before God, for such evils and
plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish His people for neglecting this
good and wholesome law.
[Page 464] And for their authority in this behalf, be it further enacted
by the authority aforesaid, that all and singular the same archbishops,
bishops, and all other their officers exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
as well in place exempt as not exempt, within their dioceses, shall have full
power and authority by this Act to reform, correct, and punish by censures of
the Church, all and singular persons which shall offend within any their
jurisdictions or dioceses, after the said feast of the Nativity of St. John
Baptist next coming, against this Act and statute; any other law, statute,
privilege, liberty, or provision heretofore made, had, or suffered to the
contrary notwithstanding.
And it is ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and every
justices of oyer and terminer, or justices of assize, shall have full power and
authority in every of their open and general sessions, to inquire, hear, and
determine all and all manner of offences that shall be committed or done
contrary to any article contained in this present Act, within the limits of the
commission to them directed, and to make process for the execution of the same,
as they may do against any person being indicted before them of trespass, or
lawfully convicted thereof.
Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all and
every archbishop and bishop shall or may, at all time and times, at his liberty
and pleasure, join and associate himself, by virtue of this Act, to the said
justices of oyer and terminer, or to the said justices of assize, at every of
the said open and general sessions to be holden in any place within his
diocese, for and to the inquiry, hearing, and determining of the offences
aforesaid.
Provided also, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the books
concerning the said services shall, at the cost and charges of the parishioners
of every parish and cathedral church, be attained and gotten before the said
feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next following; [Page 465] and
that all such parishes and cathedral churches, or other places where the said
books shall be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of St.
John Baptist, shall, within three weeks next after the said books so attained
and gotten, use the said service, and put the same in use according to this
Act.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no person or persons
shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any
the offences above mentioned, hereafter to be committed or done contrary to
this Act, unless he or they so offending be thereof indicted at the next
general sessions to be holden before any such justices of oyer and terminer or
justices of assize, next after any offence committed or done contrary to the
tenor of this Act.
Provided always, and be it ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that all and singular lords of the Parliament, for the third offence above
mentioned, shall be tried by their peers.
Provided also, and be it ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the mayor of London, and all other mayors, bailiffs, and other head officers of
all and singular cities, boroughs, and towns corporate within this realm,
Wales, and the marches of the same, to the which justices of assize do not
commonly repair, shall have full power and authority by virtue of this Act to
inquire, hear, and determine the offences abovesaid, and every of them, yearly
within fifteen days after the feasts of Easter and St. Michael the Archangel,
in like manner and form as justices of assize and oyer and terminer may do.
Provided always, and be it ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that all and singular archbishops and bishops, and every their chancellors,
commissaries, archdeacons, and other ordinaries, having any peculiar
ecclesiastical jurisdiction. shall have full power and authority by [Page
466] virtue of this Act, as well to inquire in their visitation, synods,
and elsewhere within their jurisdiction at any other time and place, to take
occasions (sic) and informations of all and every the things above mentioned,
done, committed, or perpetrated within the limits of their jurisdictions and
authority, and to punish the same by admonition, excommunication,
sequestration, or deprivation, and other censures and processes, in like form
as heretofore has been used in like cases by the queen's ecclesiastical laws.
Provided always, and be it enacted, that whatsoever person offending in the
premises shall, for the offence, first receive punishment of the ordinary,
having a testimonial thereof under the said ordinary's seal, shall not for the
same offence eftsoons be convicted before the justices: and likewise receiving,
for the said offence, first punishment by the justices, he shall not for the
same offence eftsoons receive punishment of the ordinary; anything contained in
this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided always, and be it enacted, that such ornaments of the church, and of
the ministers thereof, shall be retained and be in use, as was in the Church of
England, by authority of Parliament, in the second year of the reign of King
Edward VI, until other order shall be therein taken by the authority of the
queen's majesty, with the advice of her commissioners appointed and authorized,
under the great seal of England, for causes ecclesiastical, or of the
metropolitan of this realm.
And also, that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in
the ceremonies or rites of the Church, by the misusing of the orders appointed
in this book, the queen's majesty may, by the like advice of the said
commissioners or metropolitan, ordain and publish such further ceremonies or
rites, as may be most for the advancement of God's glory, the edifying of His
Church, and the due reverence of Christ's holy mysteries and sacraments.
[Page 467] And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
all laws, statutes, and ordinances, wherein or whereby any other service,
administration of sacraments or common prayer, is limited, established, or set
forth to be used within this realm, or any other the queen's dominions or
countries, shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect.
