CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Cleargie of IRELAND And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at DUBLIN Anno Dom. 1634. And in the yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Britaine France and Ireland the tenth And now published for the due observation of them by his Majesties Authoritie under the Great Seale of Ireland DVBLIN Printed by the Societie of Stationers Printers to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty An. Dom. 1635 THE TABLE ⧠Of the Church of Jreland 1. OF the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion 2. The Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiaesticall to be maintayned 3. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contayned in the Booke of Common prayer 4. Of the forme of Consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order 5. Authors of schismes and maintayners of Conventicles censured ¶ Of Divine Service preaching of the VVord and administration of the Sacraments 6. DVe celebration of Sundayes and Holy-daies 7. The prescript forme of Divine service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence 8. Of the ordering of certaine parts of the Service 9. Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their livings to preach every Sunday 10. No publique opposition betweene Preachers 11. Ministers to Catechize every Sunday 12. The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation 13. Preachers and Lecturers to reade Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least 14. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury 15. Ministers not to deferre Christening if the child be in danger 16. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not-Communicants 17. Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Bishop once in three yeares 18. Of the receiving of the holy Communion 19. VVarning to be given before hand for the Communion 20. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion 21. Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses 22. Ministers not to hold private conventicles ¶ Of Bishops Archdeacons Deanes and Prebendaries 23. OF Ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction 24. Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons 25. Of Archdeacons 26. Residence of Deanes in their Churches 27. Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their Residence 28. Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices ¶ Of the Ordination function and charge of Ministers 29. I Oure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers 30. The titles of such as are to be made Ministers 31. The qualitie of such as are to be made Ministers 32. The examination of such as are to be made Ministers 33. Caution for Institution of Ministers into Benefices 34. Patrons of Ecclesiasticall Benefices 35. Prevention of Symoniacall contracts in those that are presented by them 36. Small Parishes to be united and Residence enjoyned 37. Absence of Beneficed men and livings appropriated to be supplyed by Curats that are allovved Preachers 38. None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop 39. Strangers not admitted to preach without Licence 40. Ministers to conferre with Recusants 41. Ministers to visite the sicke 42. Sobernesse of conversation and decencie of apparell required in Ministers 43. Of consecration of Churches 44. A Terrier of gleabe-lands and other possessions belonging to Churches 45. Payment of Tythes 46. A Registry to bee kept of Christnings VVeddings and Burials ¶ Of Marriages Divorces 47. NOne to marry within the degrees prohibited 48. None to marry under XXI yeares without their Parents consent 49. Security to be taken at the granting of such Licences and under what conditions 50. Oathes to be taken for the conditions 51. An exception for those that are in VVidowhood 52. Ministers not to marry any person without Bannes 53. No sentence for Divorce to be given upon the sole confession of the parties 54. No sentence of Divorce to be given but in open court 55. In all sentences for Divorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life ¶ Of Ecclesiasticall Courts and Iurisdiction 56. THe Order of Iurisdictions to be kept 57. The restraint of double Quarrels upon the respite of Institution 58. Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Advocate 59. Inhibitions not to be granted untill the Appeale be exhibited to the Iudge 60. Solemne denunciation of parties excommunicated 61. Notorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiasticall Courts by presentments 62. Schismaticks to be presented 63. Not-communicants at Easter to be presented 64. Ministers may present 65. Ministers and Church-wardens not to be sued for presenting 66. Church-wardens not bound to present oftner than twice a yeare 67. Church-wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a yeare 68. Convenient time to bee assigned for framing presentments 69. None to be cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Proces of Quorum nomina 70. Maturity required in proceeding 71. No sentence of Deprivation or Deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop 72. No Act to be sped but in open Court 73. No court to have more than one Seale 74. Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of Courts 75. Peculiar and inferior Courts to exhibit the originall Copies of VVills into the Bishops Registry 76. The qualitie and Oath of Iudges and Surrogates 77. Proctors not to retayne Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties 78. Proctors prohibited the Oath in animam domini sui 79. Proctors not to be clamorous in Court 80. The Oath de calumniâ not to be refused 81. Abuses to be reformed in Registers 82. A certaine rate of Fees to all Ecclesiasticall Offiicers 83. A table of the rates of Fees to be set up in Courts and Registries 84. The whole Fees for shewing Letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time 85. The number of Apparators restrayned ¶ Of Parish Clearks Church-wardens and Schoole-masters and their severall duties 86. PArish Clearks to be chosen by the Minister 87. The choyce of Church-wardens and their Accompt 88. The choyce of Side-men and their joynt office with Church-wardens 89. The old Church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworne 90. The duty of Church-wardens touching such persons as are out of the Church in the time of Gods worship on Sundayes and Holy-dayes 91. Their duty touching those persons that are in the Church at that time 92. To keepe the Church from being prophaned at all other times 93. To see Churches and Church-yards kept in sufficient reparation 94. To furnish all Churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine Service Preaching and administration of the Sacraments 95. To provide things fitting for every Communion and to observe those that come or come not to the same 96. To
breake or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honor of GOD the peace of the Church tranquillitie of the Kingdome and their dueties and service unto VS their King and Soveraigne In witnes c. CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian Faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments Wee doe receive and approve the Booke of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirme that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publique revocation of his errour II. The Kings Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained ALL Ecclesiasticall persons having cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinitie Lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times every yeare at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and Lectures That all usurped and forraine power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the Law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions is due unto such forraine power but that the Kings power within his Realme of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreyes is the highest power under God to whom all men aswell Inhabitants as borne within the same doe by Gods Lawes owe all loyaltie and obedience and to no other forraine power potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintaine that the Kings Majestie hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiasticall that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but onely by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publique revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contained in the Booke of Common Prayer THat forme of Liturgie or Divine Service and no other shal be used in any Church of this Realme but that which is established by the Law and comprised in the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speake any thing in the derogation or despising of the said Booke or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour III. Of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order THat forme of Ordination no other shal be used in this Church but that which is contained in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirme that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this governement are true Churches or refuse to joyne with them in Christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publiquely revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the doctrine governement rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyne with in Christian profession or shall affirme and maintaine that there are within this Realme other meetings assemblyes or congregations then such as by the Lawes of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawfull Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALL manner of persons shall celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the Word of GOD read and taught in private and publique prayers in acknowledging their offences to GOD and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of CHRIST in visiting the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript forme of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holydayes with all decencie and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usuall times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meet for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer and in the Act for uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof And in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daylie at the times both of prayer and preaching weare with their Surplises such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappell in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may weare a night-cap or coife Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times busied then in quiet attendance to heare marke and understand that which is read preached
so impotent as he cannot goe to the Church or very dangerously sicke are desirous to be partakers of that holy Sacrament under paine of suspension for the first offence and excommunication for the second Provided that houses are here reputed for private houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme And provided also under the paine before expressed that no Chaplaines doe preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they doe the same very seldome upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes So that both the Lords and Masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their own Parish Churches and there receive the holy Communion at the least once every yeare XXII Ministers not to hold private Conventicles FOrasmuch as all Conventicles and secret meetings of Priests and Ministers have beene ever justly accounted very hurtfull to the state of the Church wherein they live Wee doe now ordaine and constitute that no Priests or Ministers of the Word of GOD nor any other persons shall meete together in any private house or elswhere to consult upon any matter or course to be taken by them or upon their motion or direction by any other which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the doctrine of the Church of Ireland or of the booke of Common prayer or of any part of the government and discipline now established in the Church of Ireland under paine of excommunication XXIII Of ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction NO Archbishop Bishop or other person whatsoever having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall appoint constitute make and confirme any Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer time then their owne incumbency except he be of the full age of twenty sixe yeares at least and one that is learned in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall lawes is at the least a Master of Arts or Bachelour of law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof Neither shall they let their Iurisdictions to farme or grant or confirme to any man the next second or third advowson of any Prebend or Benefice being in their gift And if they shall make or confirme any such grant or Patent of the place of Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer terme then during their Incumbency to any that is not qualified as is hereby required then the said person so accepting the said Patent or Grant is to be held and declared uncapable thereof to all intents whatsoever Lastly the said Archbishops and Bishops shall provide that the Clergie and people be not burthened with unjust exactions by their servants and Officers in their Visitations And that neither the Archbishops therein shall charge their Suffragans nor the Bishops their Clergie with any Noctials or Refections over and above their ordinary procurations reserving notwithstanding unto the Archbishops in their Visitations the Refections usually heretofore received in those Diocesses where the same procurations are not received by them which are yearely payde by the Clergie unto their Bishops And that no Archbishop or Bishop shall demaund from the Executors or Administrators of any of their Clergie any Heriots or mortuaries as in some places of this Kingdome heretofore hath been accustomed XXIIII Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons NO Archbishop Bishop Deane and Chapter or Dignitary shall in any wise diminish the auncient revenues of their Sees or Churches nor alienate their Lands in fee farme nor destroy their woods nor give power to their Tennants to make waste thereof nor by any devise demise their Mensall or demeasne Lands unlesse it be to their Curates actually dischargeing the said Cures without forty dayes absence in any one yeare to them for no longer time or terme then during their owne Incumbency Neither shall they joyne with any Dignitary Prebend or other Beneficiarie or Beneficiaries to confirme the Leases or alienations made or to be made by him or them of any Ecclesiasticall profits or obventions And the said Archbishops and Bishops shall carefully provide that all Churches Chancels and Manse-houses the repaire whereof properly belongeth to them or any of them or to any other Ecclesiasticall person or persons be from time to time preserved from ruine and decay XXV Of Archdeacons EVery Archdeacon which hath authority to visit either by common right or by prescription shall visit the precinct of his Iurisdiction once every yeare in his owne person and he shall not substitute any to bee his Officiall but such a one as hath beene brought up in the Vniversitie hath studied the Civill Law if such a one may be had being able not onely in learning but also with gravity and modesty to discharge that Office XXVI Residence of Deanes in their Churches EVery Deane Master or Warden or chiefe Governour of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedrall or Collegiate Church fourescore and ten dayes conjunctim aut divisim in every yeare at least so that they have houses or ground to build houses upon belonging to their Churches and then shall continue there in preaching of the Word of GOD and keeping good hospitality except he shall be otherwise letted with weightie and urgent causes to be approved by the Bishop of the Diocesse And when he is present he with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaryes resident shall take speciall care that the Statutes and laudable customes of their Church not being contrary to the Word of GOD or prerogative Royall the Statutes of this Realme being in force-concerning Ecclesiasticall Orders and all other constitutions now set forth and confirmed by his Majesties authority and such as shall be lawfully enjoyned by the Bishop of the Diocesse in his Visitation according to the Statutes and customes of the same Church or the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme be diligently observed And that the Petty Canons Vicars Choralls and other Ministers of their Church be urged to the study of the holy Scriptures and every one of them to have the New Testament not onely in English but also in Latine XXVII Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their residence THe Deane Master Warden or other chiefe Governour Prebendaries and Canons in every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church shall not onely preach there in their owne persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or custome but shall likewise preach in other Churches of the same Diocesse where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their Churches receive any yearely rents or profits And in case they themselves be sicke or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licenced Preachers to supply their turnes as by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall be thought meet to preach in Cathedrall Churches And if any otherwise neglect or omit to supply his course as is aforesaid the offender shal be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whom the Iurisdiction of that Church
Bishop or his Chancellor the names surnames of all the parishioners aswell Men as Women which being at the age of sixteene yeares received not the Communion at Easter before LXIIII. Ministers may present BEcause it often commeth to passe that the Church-wardens Side-men Quest-men and such others of the Laytie as are to take care for the suppressing of sinne and wickednesse in their severall parishes asmuch as in them lyeth by admonition reprehension and denunciation to their Ordinaryes doe forbeare to discharge their duties therein eyther through feare of their Superriors or through negligence more than were fit the licenciousnesse of these 〈◊〉 considered We ordayne that hereafter every Parson and Vicar or in the lawfull absence of any Parson or Vicar theâ— their Curats substituts may joyne in every presentment with the said Church-wardens Side-men and the rest above mentioned at the times hereafter limitted if the said Church-wardens the rest will present such enormities as are apparant in the parish or if they will not then every such Parson and Vicar or in their absence as iâ— aforesaid their Curats may themselves present to their Ordinaryes at such times and when else they thinke is meete all such crimes an they have in change otherwise as by them being the person that should have the chiefe care for the suppressing of sinne and impiety in their parishes shal be thought to require due reformation Provided alwayes that if any one confesse his secret hidden sinne to the Minister for the unburthening of his Conscience and to receive spirituall consolation and ease of his minde from him We doe not any way binde the said Minister by this our Constitution but doe straightly charge and admonish him that hee doe not at any time reveale and make knowne to any person whatsoever any crime or offence so committed to his trust and secrecy except they be such crimes as by the Lawes of this Realme hâ—s owne life may be called into question for concealing of the same under paine of irregularity LXV Ministers and Church-wardens not to be sued for presenting WHereas for the reformation of criminous persons and disorders in every parish the Church-wardens Questmen Side-men and such other Officers as are sworne and the Minister charged to present aswell the crimes and disorders committed by the said criminous persons as also the common fame which is spread abroad of them whereby they are often maligned and sometimes troubled by the said delinquents or their friends We doe admonish and exhort all Iudges both Ecclesiasticall and temporall as they regard and reverence the fearefull judgement seat of the highest Iudge that they admit not in any of their Courts any complaint plea suite or suits against any such Church-warden Quest-men Side-men or other Church Officers for making any such presentments nor against any Minister for any presentment he shall make tending to the restraynt of shamelesse impiety considering that the rules both of Charity and government doe presume that they did nothing therein of malice but for the discharge of their Conscience LXVI Church-wardens not bound to present oftner than twice a yeare NO Church-wardens Quest-men or Side-men of any parish shal be inforced to exhibit their presentments to any having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction above once in every yeare where it hath beene no oftner used nor above twice in any Diocesse whatsoever the Bishops visitation whereof to be one for the which presentments of every parish Church or Chappell the Register of any Court where they are to be exhibited shall not receive in one yeare above fourepence under paine for every offence therein of suspension from the execution of his Office for the space of a Moneth toties quoties Provided alwayes that as good occasion shall require it shal be lawfull for every Minister Church-warden and Side-men to present offenders as often as they shall thinke meate And likewise for any godly disposed person or for any Ecclesiasticall Iudge upon knowledge or notice given unto him or them of any enormious crime within his Iurisdiction to move the Minister Church-wardens or Side-man as they tender the glory of God and reformation of sinne to present the same if they should finde sufficient cause to induce them thereunto that it may be in due time punished and reformed Provided that for these voluntary presentments there bene Fee required or taken of them under thâ— paine aforesaid LXVII Church-wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a yeare NO Church-wardens Quest-men or Side-men shal be called or cited but onely at the said time or times before limitted to appeare before any Ecclesiasticall Iudge whosoever for refusing at other times to present any faults committed in their parishes and punishable by Ecclesiasticall Laws Neyther shall they nor any of them after their presentments exhibited at any of those times be any furâ—her troubled for the sâ—â—ne except upon manifest and evident proofe it may appeare that they did then wittingly and willingly omitt to present some such publike crime or crimes as they knew to be committed or could not be ignorant that there was then a publike same of them amongst divers honest and well reputed persons or unlesse there be very just cause to câ—ll them for the explanation of their former presentments in which case of wilfull omission their Ordinaryes shall proceed against them in such sort as in causes of wilfull perjury in a Court Ecclesiasticall is already by Law provided LXVIII Convenient time to be assigned for framing Presentments FOr the avoyding of such inconveniences as heretofore have happened by the hasty making of bils of presentments upon the dayes of the Visitation and Synods it is ordered That alway hereafter every Chancellor Archdeacon Commissary and Officiall and every other person having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction at the ordinarie time when the Church-wardens are sworne and the Archbishops and Bishops when he or they do summon their Visitation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Church-wardens Quest-men Side-men of every parish or to some of them such Bookes of Articles as they or any of them shall require for the yeare following the said Church-wardens Quest-men and Side-men to ground their presentments upon at such times as they are to exhibite them In which Booke shal be contayned the forme of the Oath which must be taken immediatly before every such presentment To the intent that having before hand time sufficieÌ„t not only to peruse consider what their said Oath shal be but the Articles also wherupon they are to ground their presentments they may frame them at home both advisedly and truly to the discharge of their owne Consciences after they are sworne as becommeth honest and godly men LXIX None to be cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Proces of Quorum nomina NO Bishop Chancellor Archdeacon Officiall or other Ecclesiasticall Iudge shall suffer any generall Proces of Quorum nomine to be sent out of his Court except the names of all such
be chosen for Side-men or assistants by the Minister and parishioners if they can agree otherwise to be appointed by the Ordinary of the Diocesse shall diligently see that all the parishioners duely resort to their Church upon all Sundayes and Holy-dayes and there to continue the whole time of Divine Service and none to walke or stand idle or talking in the Church-yard or Church-porch during that time But especially they shall see that in every meeting of the Congregation peace be well kept and that all persons excommunicated and so denounced be kept out of the Church during the time of Divine Service And all such as shal be found slacke or negligent in resorting to the Church having no great or urgent cause of absence they shall earnestly call upon them and after due monition if they amend not they shall present them to the Ordinary of the place The choyce of which persons viz. Church-wardens or Side-men or Assistants shall be yearely made in Easter weeke LXXXIX The old Church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworne THe Office of all Church-wardens Side-men shal be reputed ever hereafter to continue untill the new Church-wardens tâ—at shall succeede them be sworne which shal be the first Court after Easter or according to the direction of the Ordinary Which time so appointed shall alwayes be the time in every yeare or one of the two times when the Church-wardens and Side-men of every parish shall exhibit to their severall Ordinaries the presentments of such enormities as have happened in their parishes finde the last presentments And this duly they shall performe before the newly chosen Church-wardens and Side-men be sworne And shall not be suffered to passe over the said presentments to those that are newly come into Office are by inteÌ„dment ignoraÌ„t of such crimes under paine of those censures which are appointed for the reformation of such dallyers and dispensers with their owne consciences and oathes XC The duty of Church-wardens touching such persons as are out of the Church in the time of Gods worship on Sundayes or Holy-dayes THe Church-wardens and their assistants shall warne Inholders Taverners Victuallers and Alehouse-keepers that they fell no meate or drinke and that they receive none into their Taverne or Alehouse all the time wherein there is preaching or celebration of Divine Service upon Sundayes or Holy-dayes If any doe contrary upon contempt or stubornenesse they shall present both him and them whom he received by name in the next Visitation Also they shall see that none of those light wanderers in Markets and pelting-sellers which carry about and sell Pins Poynts other small trifles whom they call Pedlers set out their Wares to sale And that no Beggars or idle persons abide eyther in the Churchyarde or neere the Church all that time but shall cause them eyther to come in or to depart XCI Their duty touching those persons that are in the Church at that time THey shall also see that in every meeting of the Congregation peace be well kept and that none behave themselves rudely or disorderly in the Church And to that end they shall warne the people that they bring not with them to the Church Dogs Hawkes with bels or Children which are not so nurtured as they can be kept quiet in their seats without running up downe Neyther shall they suffer any person to disturbe the Service or Sermon eyther by untimely ringing of Bels or by walking talking laughing or any other noyse which may hinder the Minister or offend the people And the names of all such as offend in this kinde they shall truly and personally present in the Ordinaryes visitations XCII To keepe the Churches from being prophaned at all other times THey shall suffer no playes feasts banquets suppers Church-ales drinkings exposing any wares to sale teÌ„porall Courts or Leets Lay-juries Masters Commissions other than for causes Ecclesiasticall playing at ball or any other prophane usage to be kept in the Church Chappell or Church-yard Neyther the Bels to be rung eyther in the feast of all Soules or upon any Holy-dayes or Eves abrogated by the Booke of Common prayer neyther for Moneths or twelve-moneths mindes or remembrances of the Dead nor at any time at all prohibited by the Bishop XCIII To see Churches and Church-yards kept in sufficient reparations THey shall take care and provide that the Churches be well sufficiently repayred and so from time to time kept and maintayned that the Windowes be well glazed and that the floores be kept paved plaine even and all things there in such an orderly and decent sort withour dust or any thing that may be noisome or unseemely as best becommeth the house of God The like care they shall take that the Churchyardes be well and sufficiently repayred fenced and maintayned with wals rayles and pales as have bin in each place accustomed at their charge unto whom by Law the same appertayneth XCIIII To furnish all Churches with things necessarie for the celebration of Divine Service preaching and administration of the Sacraments THey shall provide in every Church at the coÌ„mon charge of the parish two Books of CoÌ„mon-prayer one for the Minister the other for the Clerke with all convenient speede but at farthest within sixe Moneths after the publishing of these Canons And likewise the Bible of the last translation set forth in the time of King Iames of blessed memory And where all or the most part of the people are Irish they shall provide also the said Bookes in the Irish tongue so soone as they may be had The charge of these Irish books being to be borne also wholy by the parish They shall also at the same common charge provide a fit seat for the Minister to read Service in a comely decent Pulpit to be set in a convenient place for the preaching of Gods Word a Font of stone set in the ancient usuall place for the ministration of Baptisme together with a fayre Table to be placed at the East end of the Church or Chancell a Cup of Silver for the celebration of the Holy Communion Which Table also shall stand covered in time of Divine Service with a Carpet of silke or other decent stuffe thought meete by the Ordinary of the place if any question be made of it and with a fayre lynnen cloathat the time of the ministration as becommeth that Table XCV To provide things fitting for every Communion and to observe those that come or come not to the same LIkewise they shall at the charge of the parish against the time of every Communion with the advise and direction of the Minister provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Breade and of good and wholsome Wine for the number of Communicants that shall from time to time receive there which Wine they shall cause to be brought to the CoÌ„munion-table in a cleane and sweete standing pott or stoope of pewter if not of purer mettall Also they
provide a Chest for Almes in every Church 97. To abolish all monuments of superstition 98. None to teach Schoole without Licence and Curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others 99. The dutie of Schoolemasters ¶ Of the authoritie of the Synod 100. The authority of this Nationall Synod established DIEV ET MON DROIT CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges and the rest of the Clergie within our Kingdome of Ireland were summoned and called by vertue of our Writts directed to the Arch-bishops of the foure severall Provinces and bearing date the foure and twentieth day of May in the tenth yeare of our Raigne to appeare before the said Arch-bishops in the Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of Iuly then next ensueing then and there to treate and conclude upon certaine high and urgent affaires in the said Writts mentioned who did thereupon at the time appointed and in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks aforesaid assemble themselves and appeare in Convocation for that purpose according to the tenor of the said Writts And whereas wee for divers urgent and weighty occasions us thereunto moving of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall give and grant by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of Iuly in the tenth yeare of our Raigne full power and authority unto the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Chapters Colledges Clergie of this Kingdome then assembled in Convocation in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patrick that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might conferre treate consult and conclude of and upon such Articles Canons Orders Ordinances Statutes Constitutions Ecclesiasticall as they shall thinke necessary fit and convenient for the honour service of Almighty GOD and augmentation of his divine worship the rooting out of heresies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ for procuring of the good and quiet of the Church and preservation of good government in causes Ecclesiasticall and to the Iurisdiction of the Church belonging as also to make and set downe ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other Canons and Constitutions of the Church have and the same our royall assent being thereunto first had and obtained to set forth and publish freely and lawfully and that aswell the Archbishops and Bishops and all other inferiour persons whom it may concerne should yeild due obedience thereunto as in and by our said Letters Patents more at large it doth and may appeare Forasmuch as the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie of this Kingdome having met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted unto them have treated of concluded and agreed upon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by VS limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered presented the same unto VS most humbly desiring VS to give our royall assent unto their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalfe and by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland and to confirme the said Canons being one hundred in number and contained in a Booke intituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of great Brittaine France and Ireland the tenth which Booke is remaining with Iohn Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convocation WEE of our Princely inclination and royall care for the maintenance of the present estate and governement of the Church of Ireland by the Lawes of this our Realme now settled established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed and finding the same such as VVee are perswaded will be very profitable not onely to our Clergie but to the whole Church of this our Kingdome and to all the true members of it if they be well observed HAVE therefore for VS our heires and lawfull successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion by the advise and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour Thomas Viscount VVentworth our Deputy generall of our said Kingdome of Ireland and President of our Councell established in the North parts of our Kingdome of England given by these presents doe give our royall assent according to the forme of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all and every thing in them contained And furthermore Wee doe not onely by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie confirme establish by these our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all every thing in them contayned as is aforesaid but doe likewise propound publish streightly enjoyne commaund by our said authority by these our Letters Patents the same to bee diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdome in all points wherein they doe or may concerne every or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever hee be called shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge reade all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions once every yeare upon some Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the after-noone before divine service dividing the same in such sort as that the one halfe may be read one day and the other another day The Booke of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of Easter next ensueing Streightly chargeing and commaunding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Realme every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or willfully
or ministred using all such reverent gestures and actions as by the Booke of Common prayer are prescribed in that behalfe and the commendable use of this Church received and not departing out of the Church during the time of Service and Sermon without some urgent or reasonable cause VIII Of the ordering of certaine parts of the Service ALso the Minister reading the Lessons Epistle and Gospell and the Ten commandements and such other parts of Divine Service as doe greatly tend to the edifying of the people shall so place himselfe so turne him to the people as they may best hearken thereunto and be edified by the same And every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavor that the confession of sinnes absolution all the second service at or before the communion to the Homily or Sermon where the people all or most are Irish shal be used in English first and after in Irish if the Ordinary of the place shall so thinke meete IX Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their Livings to preach every Sunday EVery beneficed man allowed to bee a Preacher and residing on his Benefice having no lawfull impediment shall in his owne cure preach one Sermon every Sunday of the yeare And therein hee shall teach no vaine opinions no Heresies nor Popish errors disagreeing from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland nor any thing at all whereby the people may be stirred up to the desire of novelties or contention but shall soberly sincerely divide the Word of truth to the glory of GOD and to the best edification of the people X. No publique opposition betweene Preachers IF any Preacher shall in the Pulpit particularly or namely of purpose impugne or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church or in any other neare adjoyning or otherwise make any publique opposition unto him before hee hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocesse therewith received order from him what to doe in that case because upon such publique dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquieting to the people the Churchwardens or partie grieved shall forthwith signifie the same to the said Bishop and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he hath once abused except he faithfully promise to forbeare all such matter of contention in the Church untill the Bishop hath taken further order therein who shall with all convenient speed so proceede therein that publique satisfaction may be made in the Congregation where the offence was given Provided that if either of the parties offending doe appeale he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite XI Ministers to catechize every Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday before Evening Prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the Ten commandements the Articles of the beliefe in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare and instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children servants and apprentises which have not learned the Catechisme to come to Church at the time appointed obediently to heare and to be ordered by the Minister untill they have learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duty herein let him be sharpely reproved upon the first complaint and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place If after submitting himselfe hee shall wilfully offend therein againe let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will be therein reformed then excommunicated and so remaine untill he will be reformed And likewise if any of the said Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses children servants or apprentices shall neglect their duties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learne as aforesaid let them be suspended if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth let them be excommunicated Neither shall the Minister admit any to be marryed or to be God-fathers or God-mothers at the Baptisme of any childe or to receive the holy Communion before they can say the Articles of the beliefe the Lords prayer and the Commandements in such a language as they understand XII The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation FOR the better grounding of the People in the Principles of Christian Religion Wee ordaine that the heads of the Catechisme being divided into so many parts as there are Sundayes in the yeare shal be explained to the people in every Parish Church In the handling whereof the Ministers and Curates are to use such moderation that they doe not runne into curious questions or unnecessary controversies but shortly declare and confirme the doctrine proposed and make application thereof to the behoofe of the hearers The Ministers also in all their preachings and catechizings and private conferences when neede requireth shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in GOD and not in Creatures neither in the Habite or Scapular of any Fryer or in hallowed Beads Medals Reliques or such like trumperyes They shall doe their endeavour likewise to roote out all ungodly superstitious and barbarous customes as using of charmes sorcery inchantments witchcraft or soothsaying and generally to reforme the manners of the people committed to their charge unto a Christian sober and civill conversation XIII Preachers and Lecturers to reade Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a Benefice that hath cure and charge of Soules although he cheifly attend to preaching and hath a Curate under him to execute other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise every other stipendary Preacher that readeth any Lecture or catechizeth or preacheth in any Church or Chappell shall twice at the least every yeare reade himselfe the Divine Service upon two severall Sundayes publiquely and at the usuall times both in the forenoone and afternoone in the Church which he so possesseth or where he readeth catechizeth or preacheth as is aforesaid and shall likewise as often in every yeare administer the Sacraments of Baptisme if there be any to be baptized and of the Lords Supper in such manner and forme and with the use and observation of all such rites ornaments and ceremonies as are prescribed by the booke of Common prayer the Act for uniformity printed therewith in that behalfe which if he doe not accordingly performe then shall he that is possessed of a Benefice as before be suspended he that is but a Reader Preacher or Catechizer be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocesse untill he or they shall submit themselves to performe all the said duties in such manner and sort as before is prescribed XIIII
Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury NO Minister shall refuse or delay â—o christen any Childe according to the forme of the booke of Common Prayer that is brought to the Church to him on Sundayes or Holydayes to be christened or to bury any Corps that is brought to the Church or Churchyard convenient warning being given to him thereof before in such manner as is prescribed in the said booke of Common prayer And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated majori excommunicatione for some greivous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shal be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocesse from his Ministery by the space of three moneths XV. Ministers not to deferre christening if the childe be in danger IF any Minister being duely without any manner of collusion informed of the weakenes and danger of death of any Infant unbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to goe or come to the place where the said Infant remaineth to baptize the same shall either wilfully refuse so to doe or of grosse negligence shall so deferre the time as when hee might conveniently have resorted to the place and have baptized the said Infant it dyeth through such default unbaptized The said Minister shal be suspended for three moneths and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinary that he will not wittingly incurre the like againe Provided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this Constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himselfe but the Curate or Substitute present XVI Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor Children not communicants NO Parent shal be urged to present not be admitted to answere as Godfather for his owne Childe nor any Godfather or Godmother shal be suffered to make any other answere or speach then by the booke of Common Prayer is prescribed in that behalfe Neither shall any person be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any Childe at Christening or Confirmation before the said person so undertaking hath received the holy Communion XVII Confirmation or laying hands upon Children to be performed by the Bishop once in three yeares EVery Minister that hath cure and charge of Soules for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer concerning Confirmation shall take such speciall care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hand upon but such as can render an account of their faith according to the Catechisme in the said booke contained The Bishop also in his owne person every third yeare at least in the time of his Visitation shall performe that duty of Confirmation or if in that yeare by reason of some infirmity he be not able personally to visit his Diocesse he shall not omit to doe it the next yeare after as he may conveniently And whensoever the time shall by him be assigned every such Minister shall use his best endeavour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought to be confirmed XVIII Of the receiving of the holy Communion IN every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church at least once every moneth and in every Parish Church and Chappell where Sacraments are to be admitted within this Realme the holy Communion shall be ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as every Parishioner may communicate at the least thrice in the yeare whereof the feast of Easter to be one according as they are appointed by the booke of Common Prayer And that no Minister when he celebrateth the Communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but such as kneele Provided that every Minister as often as he administreth the Communion shall first receive the Sacrament himselfe Furthermore no bread nor wine newly brought shal be used but first the words of Institution shal be rehearsed when the said bread and wine be presented upon the Communion Table Likewise the Minister shall deliver both the bread and wine to every communicant severally XIX VVarning to be given before hand for the Communion WHereas every Lay person is bound to receive the holy Communion thrice every yeare and many notwithstanding doe not receive that Sacrament once in a yeare Wee doe require every Minister to give warning to his Parishioners publiquely in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before every time of his administring the holy Sacrament for the better preparation of themselves Which said warning wee enjoyne the said Parishioners to accept and obey under the penalty and danger of the Law And the Minister of every Parish and in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches some principall Minister of the Church shall the afternoone before the said administration give warning by tolling of the Bell or otherwise to the intent that if any have any scruple of conscience or desire the speciall ministery of reconciliation he may afford it to those that neede it And to this end the people are often to be exhorted to enter into a speciall examination of the state of their owne soules and that finding themselves either extreame dull or much troubled in minde they doe resort unto Gods Ministers to receive from them aswell advise and counsell for the quickning of their dead hearts and the subduing of those corruptions whereunto they have beene subject as the benefit of absolution likewise for the quieting of their consciences by the power of the Keyes which Christ hath committed to his Ministers for that purpose XX. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion NO Minister shall in any wise admit to the receiving of the holy Communion any of his cure or flocke which be openly knowne to live in sinne notorious without repentance Nor any who have maliciously and openly contended with their Neighbours untill they shal be reconciled Nor any Churchwardens or Sidemen who having taken their Oathes to present their Ordinaries all such publique offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their severall Parishes shall notwithstanding their said Oathes and that their faithfull discharging of them is the chiefest meanes whereby publique sinnes and offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of perjury either in neglecting or refusing to present such of the said enormities and publique offences as they know themselves to be committed in their said Parishes or are notoriously offensive to the Congregation there although they be urged by some of their Neighbours or by their Minister or by their Ordinary himselfe to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incurre so desperately the said horrible sinne of perjury XXI Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses NO Minister shall preach or administer the holy Communion in any private house except it be in times of necessity when any being either