1 - The canons of the convocation of 1529*

Summary

That the bishops might diligently carry out the things which are written below, as well as all other things which pertain to their office.

Whereas archbishops and bishops ought to be a pattern to the flock, to which their subjects inferiors ought to conform, which cannot be done, unless they set an example for everyone; [therefore], adhering to the statutes of our predecessors, we exhort in the Lord, and warn in virtue of holy obedience and under the witness of divine judgment, that all and singular the bishops on the principal feast days, at least on the feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, Easter and Pentecost, and in Holy Week, shall manifest their due presence in their cathedral churches, and there celebrate masses, and prepare the holy oil for the sick on the day of the Lord's Supper every year, unless it happens that they are called away from their churches by their superiors, or are absent at that time because of illness or for some other good reason. Moreover they shall go about their dioceses at convenient times, monasteria et hospitalia reformando, clerum et plebem corrigendo, haereses et errores extirpando et Verbum Vitae in agro Dominico seminando. In conferendis ordinibus atque beneficiis, instituendisque curatis multo diligentius quam antehac vigilando, nес inhabiles ad curam animarum etiam ad tempus substituantur praecavendo; beneficiatos, qui ex causa non admodum urgenti abfuerint, ad residendum in suis beneficiis citra оmnem redemptionem compeliendo, veniasque eadem beneficia pro pecunia locandi prorsus rescindendo; exactiones et rigores officiariorum et ministrorum suorum compescendo; ecclesiarum et capellarum privilegiatarum abusus comprimendo; contionatores idoneos per dioeceses suas subinde emitiendo; haereticos eorumque libros explorando et corrigendo; et cum opus fuerit, etiam condemnando et extinguendo. Et ut rudimenta fidei et litterarum tam in universitatibus quam in aliis gymnasiis publicis pura iaciantur, puriusque et sincerius coalescant, solicitius incumbendo, abbates et priores ad debitum numerum religiosorum reducendo observando, ipsosque religiosos in suis monasteriis degentes, ad monasticam conversationem excitando ac reducendo, absentes ad sua monasteria compeliendo; licentiam capacitatum coercendo.