To the minister, churchwardens and parishioners of [sic] in the diocesse of Oxon.

[Howson prints the two letters of Archbishop Abbot and the Directions to Preachers]

You now see what charge and strickt commaundement I have hereby received out of his maiesties princely care and most godly and religious providence for the reformation of such great abuses lately crept into the exercise of so profitable a parte of the service of God, and you see what straight accompt I am to make of my proceeding in the due execution of his maiesties princely pleasure herein.

These letters therefore and directions from his maiestie and from my lord grace, I thus recommend to be considered of, and from henceforth duely observed by you the minister, requiring you at morning prayer to publish the same unto your parishioners on the next Sunday after your receipt hereof.

And upon you the church wardens I doe impose this charge and commaund that you carefully observe whether any forme of preaching lecturing or catechising be hereafter at any time used or practised by your minister or any other in your parish otherwise then is here prescribed, and finding any to trangresse, that forthwith you make due certificate thereof unto my owne person.

And I doe entreate you the parishioners that you also out of your due respect unto his maiesties pleasure will diligently observe the like, and that forthwith, you make knowen unto me every transgressor in any of these particulers, that so such offenders being punished and reformed a more religious and peaceable forme of preaching and catechising be setled amongst you.

And that I may the better render an accompt hereof when I am called, I require of you the church-wardens that by this next Michaelmas and so afterwards at the end of every quarter you will carefully send into my registers office your presentment or certificate, what you shall observe and finde concerning this busines: carefully preserving this booke amongst other the books of your church and suffering the same to be perused by any one of your parishioners which shal desire it, to the intent that the service may the better take effect amongst you: