not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church tranquillity of the Kingdom and their duties and sorvice unto Us their King and Soveraign In witness c. Constitutions AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Brittain 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 We do receive and approve the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole clergy in the convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God 1562. for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirm 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 publick revocation of his errour II. The Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical to be maintained ALl Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinity lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other collations and lectures That all usurped and sorrain 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 Realms and Dominions is due unto such forreign power but that the Kings power within his Realm of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countries is the highest power under God to whom all men as well Inhabitants as born within the same do by Gods laws owe all loyalty and obedience and to no other forreign power and potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintain that the Kings-Majesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Jews and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regal supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crown and by the laws of this Realm therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but only by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publick revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript form of Divine Service contained in the book of Common Prayer THat form of Liturgy or Divine Seâ—vice and no other shall be used in any Church of this Realm but that which is established by the law and comprised in the book of Common-Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speak any thing in the derogation or despising of the said book or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour IV. Of the form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the churches established according to that order THat form of ordination and no other shall be used in this Church but that which is contained in the book of Ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirm 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 government are true Churches or refuse to joyn with them in christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly 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 rogether in a new brotherhood accounting the christians who are conformable to the doctrine government rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyn with in christian profession or shall affirm and maintain that there are within this Realm other meetings assemblies or congregations than such as by the laws of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALl manner of persons shall celebrate and keep 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 publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ in visiting the poor and fick using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript form of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usual times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocess or Ecclesiastical Ordinary of the place shall think meet for the largeness or straitness of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies prescribed in the book 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 form thereof And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches all Deans Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching wear with their Surplices such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappel in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may wear a night-cap or coise Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times
busied than in quiet attendance to hear marke and understand that which is read preached or ministred using all such reverent gestures and actions as by the book of Common Prayer are prescribed in that behalf 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 certain parts of the Service ALso the Minister reading the lessons Epistle and Gospel and the Ten commandements and such other parts of Divine service as do greatly tend to the edifying of the people shall so place himselt and so turn him to the people as they may best hearken thereunto and be edified by the same And every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavour that the confession of sinns and absolution and all the second service at or before the communion to the Homily or Sermon where the people all or most are Irish shall be used in English first and after in Irish if the Ordinary of the place shall so think meet IX Beneficed Pâ—eachers being resident upon their livings to preceh every Sunday EVery beneficed man allowed to be a Preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawful impediment shall in his own cure preach one Sermon every Sunday of the year And therein he shall reach no vain opinions no Heâ—esies 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 and sincerely divide the Word of truth to the glory of God and to the best edification of the people X. No publick opposition between 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 near adjoyning or otherwise make any publick opposition unto him before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocess therewith and received order from him what to do in that case because upon such publick dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquieting to the people the Church-wardens or party grieved shall forthwith signifie the same to the said Bishops and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he has once abused except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the Church until the Bishop hath taken further order therein who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein that publick satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given Provided that if either of the parties offending do appeal 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 half an hour or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the Ten commandements the Articles of the belief and in the lords prayer and shall diligently hear and instruct and teach them the catechisme set forth in the book of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children Servants and Apprentises which have not learned the catechism to come to Church at the time appointed obediently to hear and to be ordered by the Minister until they have learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duty herein let him be sharply reproved upon the first complaint and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place If after submitting himself he shall wilsully offend therein again let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will be therein reformed then excommunicated and so remain until 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 learn 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 married or to be Godfathers or God mothers at the Baptism of any childe or to receive the holy communion before they can say the Articles of the belief 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 We ordain that the heads of the catechism being divided into so many parts as there are Sundayes in the year shall be explained to the people in every Parish church In the handling whereof the Ministers and Curates are to use such moderation that they do not run into curious questions or unnecessary controversies but shortly declare and confirm the doctrine proposed and make application thereof to the behoof of the hearers The Ministers also in all their preachings and catechizings and private conferences when need requireth shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in God and not in creatures neither in the Habit or Scapular of any Fryer or in hallowed Beads Medals Reliques or such like trumperies They shall do their endeavour likewise to root out all ungodly superstitious and barbarous customs as using of charms sorcery enchantments witchcrast or sooth saying and generally to resorm the manners of the people committed to their charge unto a christian sober and civil conversation XIII Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a year at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a benefice that hath cure and charge of Souls although he chiefly 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 Chappel shall twice at the least every year read himself the Divine Service upon two several Sundayes publickly and at the usual times both in the forenoon and afternoon in the Church which he so possesseth or where he readeth catechizeth or preacheth as is aforesaid and shall likewise as often in every year administer the Sacraments of Baptism if there be any to be baptized and of the Lords Supper in such manner and form and with the use and observation of all such Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the book of Common prayer and the Act for Uniformity printed therewith in that behalf which if he do not accordingly perform then shall he that is possessed of a benefice as before be suspended and he that is but a Reader Preacher or catechizer be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocess until he or they shall submit themselves
or come not to the same 96. To provide a chest for Alms in every church 97. To abolish all monuments of superstition 98. None to teach school without Licence and curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others 99. The duty of school masters ¶ Of the authority of the Synod 100. The Authority of this National synod established HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Desender of the faith c. To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas our Bishops Deans of our cathedral churches Arch-deacons chapters and colledges and the rest of the clergy within our Kingdom of Ireland were summoned and called by vertue of our writs directed to the Arch-bishops of the four several Provinces and bearing date the four and twentieth day of May in the teuth year of our Reign to appear before the said Arch-bishops in the cathedral church of St. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of July then next ensuing then and there to treat and conclude upon certain high and urgent affairs in the said writs mentioned who did thereupon at the time appointed and in the said cathedral church of St. Patricks aforesaid assemble themselves and appear in convocation for that purpose according to the tenor of the said writs And whereas we for divers urgent and weighty occasions us thereunto moving of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion did by vertue of our prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical give and grant by our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of July in the teuth year of our Reign full power and authority unto the said Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons chapters colledges and clergy of this Kingdom then assembled in convocation in the said cathedral church of St. Patrick that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might confer treat consult and conclude of and upon such Articles canons Orders Ordinances Statutes and constitutions Ecclesiastical as they shall think necessary fit and convenient for the honour and service of Almighty God and augmentation of his divine worship the rooting out of heresies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ for the procuring of the good and quiet of the church and preservation of good government in causes Ecclesiastical and to the Jurisdiction of the church belonging as also to make and set down ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other canons and constitutions of the church have and the same our royal assent being thereunto first had and obtained to set forth and publish freely and lawfully and that as well the Archbishops and Bishops and all other inferiour persons whom it may concern should yield due obedience thereunto as in and by our said letters Patents more at large it doth and may appear Forasmuch as the said Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons chapters and colledges with the rest of the clergy of this Kingdom 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 certain canons orders ordinances and constitutions to the end and purpose by Us limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered and presented the same unto Us most humbly desiring Us to give our royal assent unto their said canons orders ordinances and constitutions according to the form of a certain Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf and by our said Prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical to ratifie by our letters Patents under our Great Seal of Ireland and to confirm the said canons being one hundred in number and contained in a book Entituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland the Tenth which book is remaining with John Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convocation We of our Princely inclination and royal care for the maintenance of the present estate and government of the church of Ireland by the laws of this our Realm now setled and 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 we are perswaded will be very profitable not only to our elergy but to the whole church of this our Kingdom and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for us our Heirs and lawfull Successors of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion by the advice and consent of our right trusty and right well beloved cousin à nd Councellour Thomas Visecunt Wentworth our Deputy general of our said Kingdom of Ireland and President of our council established in the North parts of our Kingdom of England given and by these presents do give our royal assent according to the form of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions and all and every thing in them contained And furthermore we do not only by our said Prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical ratifie confirm and establish by these our letters Patents the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions and all and every thing in them contained as is aforesaid but do likewise propound publish and stâ—aightly enjoyn and command by our said authority and by these our letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdom in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signisied and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever he be called shall in the Parish Church or chappel where he hath charge read all the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions once every year upon some Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the afternoon before divine service dividing the same in such sort as that the one half may be read one day and the other another day The book of the said canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of Easter next ensuing Straightly charging and commanding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within this Realm every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the same canons orders ordinances and constitutions to be in all points duly observed
to perform all the said duties in such manner and sort as before is prescribed XIV Ministers not to refuse to Christen er bury NO Minister shall refuse or delay to christen any childe according to the form of the book of Common prayer that is brought to the Church to him on Sundayes or Holy-dayes to be christened or to bury any Corps that is brought to the Church or church-yard convenient warning being given to him thereof before in such manner as is prescribed in the said book 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 grievous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shall be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocess from his Ministery by the space of three months XV. Ministers not to defer christening if the child be in danger IF any Minister being duely without any manner of collusion informed of the weakness and danger of death of any Infant unbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to go or come to the place where the said Insant remaineth to baptize the same shall either wilfully refuse so to do or of gross negligence shall so defer the time as when he might conveniently have resorted to the place and have baptized the said Infant it dyeth through such default unbaptized The said minister shall be suspended for three months and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinary that he not wittingly incurr the like again Provided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himself but the Curate or Substitute present XVI Fathers not to be Godfathers in baptism nor Children not communicants NO Parent shall be urged to present nor be admitted to answer as Godfather for his own child nor any Godfather or Godmother shall be suffered to make any other answer or speech than by the book of Common Prayer is prescribed in that behalf 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 Beshop once in three years EVery Minister that hath cure and charge of Souls for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the book or common prayer concerning confirmation shall take such special 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 saith according to the catechism in the said book contained The Bishop also in his own person every third year at least in the time of his Visitation shall perform that duty of confirmation or if in that year by reason of some infirmity he be not able personally to visit his Diocess he shall not omit to do it the next year 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 Cathedral and Collegiate Church at least once every moneth and in every Parish Church and Chappel where Sacraments are to be administred within this Realm 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 year whereof the Feast of Easter to be one according as they are appointed by the book of common prayer And that no minister when he celebrateth the communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but such as kneel Provided that every minister as often as he administreth the communion shall first receive the Sacrament himself Furthermore no bread nor wine newly brought shall be used but first the words of Institution shall 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 Warning to be given before hand for the Communion WHereas every Lay person is bound to receive the holy communion thrice every year and many notwithstanding do not receive that Sacrament once in a year We do require every minister to give warning to his Parishioners publickly 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 we enjoyn the said Parishioners to accept and obey under the penalty and danger of the law And the minister of every Parish and in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches some principal minister of the Church shall the afternoon 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 special ministery of reconciliation he may afford it to those that need it And to this end the people are often to be exhorted to enter into a special examination of the state of their own souls and that finding themselves either extream dull or much troubled in mind they do resort unto Gods ministers to receive from them as well advise and counsel for the quickning of their dead hearts and the subduing of those corruptions whereunto they have been subject as the benefit of absolution likewise for the quieting of their consciences by the power of the Keys 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 flock which be opeâ—ly known to live in sin notorious without repentance Nor any who have maliciously and openly contended with their Neighbours until they shall be reconciled Nor any Church-wardens or Sidemen who having taken their Oaths to present to their Ordinaries all such publick offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their several Parishes shall notwithstanding their said Oaths and that their faithful discharging of them is the chiefest means whereby publick sins 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 publick offence 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 himself to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incur so desperately the said horrible sin of perjury XXI Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses NO Minister shall Preach or administer the Holy
due time punished and reformed Provided that for these voluntary presentments there be no Fee required or taken of them under the pain aforesaid LXVII Churchwardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a year NO Churchwardens Questmen or Sidemen shall be called or cited but only at the said time or times before limited to appear before any Ecclesiastical Judge whosoever for refusing at other times to present any faults committed in their parishes and punishable by Ecclesiastical laws Neither shall they nor any of them after their presentments exhibited at any of those times be any further troubled for the same except upon manifest and evident proof it may appear that they did then wittingly and willingly omit to present some such publick crime or crimes as they knew to be committed or could not be ignorant that there was then a publick fame of them amongst divers honest and well reputed persons or unless there be very just cause to call them for the explanation of their former presentments In which case of wilfull omission their Ordinaties shall proceed against them in such sort as in causes of wilfull perjury in a Court Ecclesiastical is already by law provided LXVIII Convenient time to be assigned for framing presentments FOr the avoiding of such inconveniencies as heretofore have happened by the hasty making of Bills of presentments upon the dayes of the Visitation and Synods it is ordered That alway hereafter every Chancellor Archdeacon Commissary and Official and every other person having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at the ordinary time when the Churchwardens are sworn and the Archbishops and Bishops when he or they do summon their Visitation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Church-wardens Questmen and Sidemen of every Parish or to some of them such books of Articles as they or any of them shall require for the year following the said Churchwardens Questmen and Sidemen to ground their presentments upon at such times as they are to exhibite them In which book shall be contained the form of the Oath which must be taken immediately before every such presentment To the intent that having before hand time sufficient not only to peruse and consider what their said Oath shall be but the Articles also whereupon they are to ground their presentments they may frame them at home both advisedly and truly to the discharge of their own consciences after they are sworn as becometh honest and godly men LXIX None to be cited into Ecclesiastical Courts by Process of Quorum nomina NO Bishop Chancellor Archdeacon Official or other Ecclesiastical Judge shall suffer any general Process of Quorum nomina to be sent out of his Court except the names of all such as are thereby to be cited shall be first expresly entred by the hand of the Register or his Deputy under the said Processes and the said processes and names be first subscribed by the Judge or his deputy and his seal thereto affixed And we further ordain that when any person appeareth upon citation whatsoever that if the next Court day after there be not Articles or a libell put in against him he shall then be dismissed with his costs LXX Maturity required in proceeding NO man for neglect of appearance shall be excommunicated for the first absence but shall be cited again upon the same Process And if he cannot be found nor afterwards appear upon viis medis then to be decreed Excemmunicandum fore Yet for preventing such neglect and that the party querelant may sustain no detriment hereby it is likewise ordered that in causes of instance upon the appearance of any such person he shall pay the charge past before he be admitted to stand Rectus in curiâ And in the end of every Court the names of those that are deereed shall be publickly read to the intent that they may avoid the danger of the fearfull sentence of Excommunication Which course also we ordain shall be holden with those that be already denounced excommunicate before the time of the signifying of their obstinacy to the end they and others may be admonished of the danger in which they stand and to the aggravation of their obstinacy if they continue in the same LXXI No sentence of deprivation or deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop WHen any Minister is complained of in any Ecclesiastical Court belonging to any Bishop for any crime the chancellor commissary Official or any other having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to whom it shall appertain shall expedite the cause by Processes and other proceedings against him and upon contumacy for not appearing shall first suspend him and afterward his contumacy continuing excommunicate him But if he appear and submit himself to the course of law then the matter being ready for sentence and the merits of his offence exacting by law either deprivation from his living or deposition from the Ministery no such sentence shall be pronounced by any person whosoever but only by the Bishop with the assistance of his chancellor the Dean if they may conveniently be had and some of the Prebendaries if the court be kept near the cathedral church or of the Archdeacon if he may be had conveniently and two other at the least grave Ministers and Preachers to be called by the Bishop when the court is kept in other places It is likewise ordered that no chancellor commissary Official or any other person shall exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over a Minister in causes criminal except he himself have been admitted into the holy Orders of Priesthood LXXII No act to be sped but in open court NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Official or any other person using Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whosoever shall speed any judicial Act either of contentious or voluntary Jurisdiction except he have the ordinary Register of that Court or his lawfull Deputy or if he or they will not or cannot be present then such persons as by law are allowed in that behalf to write or speed the same under pain of suspension ipso facto LXXIII No Court to have more than one Seal NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Official or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction shall without the Bishops consent have any more than one seal for the sealing of all matters incident to his Office which Seal shall alwayes be kept either by himself or by his lawfull substitute exercising Jurisdiction for him and remaining within the Jurisdiction of the said Judge or in the City or principal Town of the county This seal shall contain the title of that Jurisdiction which every of the said Judges or their Deputies do execute LXXIV Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of courts ALl chancellors commissaries Archdeacons Officials and all others exercising Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction shall appoint such meet places for the keeping of their courts by the assignement or approbation of the Bishop of the Diocess as shall be convenient for entertainment of those who are to make their
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 and sufficiently repaired and so from time to time kept and maintained that the Windowes be well glazed and that the floores be kept paved plain and even and all things there in such an orderly and decent sort without dust or any thing that may be noisome or unseemly J as best becometh the house of God The like care they shall take that the church-yards be well and sufficiently repaired fenced and maintained with walls rayles and pales as have been in each place accustomed at their charge unto whom by law the same appertaineth XCIV To furnish all churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine Service preaching and administration of the Sacraments THey shall provide in every church at the common charge of the Parish two books of common prayer one for the Minister and the other for the clerk with all convenient speed but at farthest within six moneths after the publishing of these canons And likewise the Bible of the last translation set forth in the time of King James of blessed memory And where all or the most part of the people are Irish they shall provide also the said books in the Irish tongue so soon as they may be had The charge of these Irish books being to be borne also wholly by the Parish They shall also at the same common charge provide a fit seat for the Minister to read Service in a comely and decent Pulpit to be set in a convenient place for the preaching of Gods word a Font of stone set in the ancient usual place for the ministration of baptism together with a fair Table to be placed at the East end of the church or chancel and 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 Sikl or other decent stuffe thought meet by the Ordinary of the place if any question be made of it and with a fair linnen cloath at the time of the ministration as becometh 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 bread and of good and wholsom Wine for the number of communicants that shall from time to time receive there which wine they shall cause to be brought to the communion Table in a clean and sweet standing pot or stoop of Pewter if not of purer mettal Also they shall mark as well as the Minister whether all and every of the Parishioners come so often every year to the holy communion as the laws and our constitutions do require and whether any strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Minister of them least perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Table amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their own Parish Churches and Ministers there to receive the communion with the rest of their own neighbours XCVI To provide a chest for Almes in every church THey shall provide and have within three moneths next after the publishing of these constitutions a strong chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the charge of the Parish having three keys of which one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Viear or Curate and the other two in the custody of the churchwardens for the time being Which chest they shall set and fasten in the most convenient place to the intent the Parishioners may put into it the Almes for their poor neighbours And the Parson Vicar or curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbours to conferr and give as they may well spare to the said chest declaring unto them that whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise than God commanded upon superstitious uses now they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a sacrifice which pleaseth God and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and is so accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same The which Almes and devotion of the people the keepers of the keyes shall yearly quarterly or ofther as need requireth take out of the chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the Parish or fix of the chief of them to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most poor and needy neighbours XCVII To abolish all Monuments of superstition MOreover they shall with the approbation of the Ordinary of the place see that all Rood-lofts in which wooden crosses stood all shrines and all coverings of shrines and all other Monuments of fained miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition be clean taken away and removed XCVIII None to teach School without licence and curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others IT shall not be lawfull for any to teach the Latine tongue or to instruct children either in publick Schoole or private house but such as shall be allowed by the Ordinary of the place under his hand and Seal being found meet as well for his learning and dexterity in teaching as for sober and honest conversation and also for right understanding of Gods true Religion saving to all Patrons and Founders of Schooles the right of nomination And in what Parish soever there is a Curate which is a Master of Arts or Bachellor of Arts or is otherwise well able to teach youth and will willingly so do for the better increase of his living and training of children in the principles of true Religion We will and ordain that the licence to teach Grammar shall be granted to none by the Ordinary of that place but only to the said Minister or Schoolemaster Provided alwayes that this constitution shall not extend to any Parish where there is a publick Schoole founded already In which case we think it not meet to allow any to teach Grammar but only him that is allowed for the said publick Schoole XCIX The duty of Schoolemasters ALl Schoolemasters and Ushers shall endeavour to train up the children committed to their charge in good learning civility and piety And in the latine tongue they shall teach the Grammar set forth in England by King Henry the eight and so continned ever since and none other They shall also teach such other books as shall be allowed and appointed by the Bishop of the Diocess Provided that according to the priviledge granted to the University near Duotin Logick and Philosophy shall not be taught in Grammar Schooles Provided also that none be admitted or licenced to be a Schoolemaster or Usher within this Kingdom unless he first by his subscription testifie his consent to the two first canons And also that every Archbishop and Bishop and other Ordinary having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction shall by censures of the Church respectively compel all such as are subject to their Jurisdiction which do now teach Schoole or hereafter shall presume to teach Schoole not having testified their consent by subscription as aforesaid to desist from teaching of Schoole C. The authority of this National Synod established THis sacred Synod being the representative body of the Church of Ireland in the name of Christ and by the Kings authority lawfully assembled doth pronounce and decree that if any within this Nation shall despise and contemn the constitutions thereof being by the said Regal power ratified and confirmed or affirm that none are to be subject thereunto but such as were present and gave theirm voices unto them he shall be excommunicated and not restored untill he shall publickly revoke his error FINIS