Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/89

Rh was the most interesting and important result of the legislation of 1562 relating to. It commences by stating that "the Queen, like a most godly and most virtuous Princess, having chief respect and regard to the honour and glory of God, and the soul's health of her good subjects," had, in the first year of her reign, ordered a Book of Common Prayer to be used throughout her Realm of England,, and the Marches of the same, "that thereby Her Highness's most loving subjects, understanding in their own language the terrible and fearful threatenings rehearsed in the Book of God against the wicked and malefactors; the pleasant and infallible promises made to the elect and chosen flock; with a just order to rule and guide their lives according to the commandment of God might much better learn to love and fear God, to serve and obey their Prince and to know their duties towards their neighbours, which Book, being received as a most precious jewel, with an unspeakable joy of all such her subjects as did and do understand the English tongue, the which tongue is not understanded of the most and greatest Number of all her Majesty's most loving and obedient subjects inhabiting this Her Highness's Dominion and Country of —being no small part of this Realm: who therefore are utterly destitute of God's Holy Word, and do remain in the like or rather more darkness and ignorance than they were in the time of Papistry." The evil condition of in matters of religion at this period is described by Strype in his Life of Archbishop Parker, and is confirmed by this preamble.

The Bishops of Hereford, St. Davids, St. Asaph, Bangor, and Llandaff and their successors were therefore required to take order amongst themselves for the soul's health of the flocks committed to their charge within, and were commanded to see that the whole Bible should be translated into the British or tongue.

The whole Divine Service was to be used and said in the British or tongue. The parishioners were to pay