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Handout #175 |
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The English Prayer Book |
| Extracts from the Preface to the 1549 A.D.
Prayer Book, repeated in subsequent versions including that of 1662 A.D.
Note the emphasis on a new uniformity through the realm, and that
implicitly, Latin could be used if those present understood it.
There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised or so surely established, which (in continuance of time) hath not been corrupted: as (among other things) it may plainly appear by the common prayers in the church, commonly called divine service: the first original and ground whereof if a man would search out by the ancient fathers, he shall find that the same was not ordained, but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of godliness... here you have an order for prayer .. more commodious, both for the shortness thereof, and for the plainness of the order, and for that the rules be few and easy. Furthermore, by this order, the curators shall need none other books for their public service, but this book and the Bible: by the means whereof, the people shall not be at so great charge for books, a in time past they have been.... Though it be appointed in the afore written preface, that all things shall be read and sung in the church, in the English tongue, to the end that the congregation may be edified: yet it is not meant, but when men say Matins and Evensong privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand. Reactions to the new Prayer Book varied. In the West Country there was an almost immediate rebellion, and the rebels published demands which made clear their detestation of it: We will have the Mass in Latin as was before, and celebrated by the priest without any man or woman communicating with him.... We will not receive the new service because it is but like a Christmas game; but we will have our old service of matins, Mass, evensong and procession as it was before; and we Cornishmen, whereof certain of us understand no English, utterly refuse this new English. Text quoted in F. Rose-Troup, The Western Rebellion of 1549, London 1913, 220- 1. |
