CANONS AND CONSTITVTIONS ECCLESIASTICALL Gathered and put in forme for the Governament of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND Ratified and approved by His Majesties Royall Warrand and ordained to be observed by the Clergie and all others whom they concerne PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITIE ABERDENE Imprinted by EDWARD RABAN dwelling vpon the Market-Place at the Armes of the CITIE 1636. WITH ROYALL PRIVILEDGE The just Copie of His Majesties Letters Patents for authorising the CANONS after following CHARLES R. WEE out of Our Royall Care for the Mayntenance of the present Estate and Government of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND having diligentlie and with great content considered all the Canons and Constitutions after-following and finding the same such as Wee are perswaded will bee profitable not onlie to Our Clergie but to the whole Church of that Our Kingdome if so they bee well observed Haue for Us Our Heyres and lawfull Successours of Our especiall Grace certayne Knowledge and meere Motion given and by these presents doe giue Our Royall Assent vnto all the sayds Canons Orders and Constitutions and to all and everie thing in them contayned as they are afterwards set downe And further Wee doe not onlie by Our Prerogatiue Royall and Supreme Authoritie in Causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie and confirme by these Our Letters Patents the saydes Canons Orders and Constitutions and all and everie thing in them contayned But lyke-wyse Wee command by Our Authoritie Royall and by these Our Letters Patents the same to bee diligentlie observed and executed by all Our loving Subjectes of that Our Kingdome both within the Provinces of Saint-Andrews and Glasgow in all poynts where-in they doe or may concerne everie or anie of them according to this Our Will and Pleasure heere-by expressed and declared And for the better observation of them Wee straytlie charge and cōmand all Arch-bishops Bishops and all others that exercyse anie Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within that our Realme to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and everie of the same Canons Orders and Constitutions to be in all poynts duelie observed not sparing to execute the Penalties in them severallie mentioned vpon anie that shall willinglie and wilfullie breake or neglect to obserue the same as they tender the Honour of GOD the Peace of the Church the Tranquillitie of the Kingdome and their Service and Duetie to Us their King and Soveraygne Given at Our Manor of Greenwich the 23 of May 1635. CHAPTER I. Of the CHVRCH of SCOTLAND THE Religion of CHRIST teacheth vs to honour Secular Princes as the Vicegerent of GOD vpon earth And therefore as our duetie to the King 's most excellent Majestie obliedgeth It is decreed and ordayned That all Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiasticall persons all Readers of Divinitie Lectures all Masters Principalls Primars Regents Fellowes and all who-so-ever haue Charge of Schools Colledges and Universities shall faythfullie keepe and obserue and as much as in them lyeth cause to be observed and kept of others all singular Lawes and Statutes made for the restoring to the CROWNE of this Kingdome the auncient Iurisdiction over the Estate Ecclesiasticall and abolishing all Forraygne Power repugnant to the same And farther-more shall purelie and sincerelie to the vttermost of their wit and Learning teach make open and declare in their Doctrine Exhortations Lectures Instructions Conferences at all fit tyms occasions That all vsurped forraygne power for-as-much as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the Law of GOD is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therfore no manner of obedience or subjection within His Majesties Realms and Dominions is due vnto any such forraygne power But that the King's power within His Realms of SCOTLAND ENGLAND IRELAND and all other His Dominions Countreys is the highest power vnder GOD to whom all men as well inhabitants as borne within the same doe by GOD'S Law owe most loyaltie and obedience afore aboue al powers and Potentates on earth 2. Whosoever shal herafter affirm That the King's M tie hath not the same Authoritie in Causes Ecclesiasticall that the godlie kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperours in the Primitiue Church or impeach in anie part his Royall Supremacie in Causes Ecclesiasticall let him bee excommunicated and not restored but onlie by the Arch-bishop of the Province after his Repentance and publicke Revocation of these his wicked Errours 3. Whosoever shal hereafter affirme That the Doctrine of the Church of Scotland the forme of worship contained in the booke of Cōmon Prayer administration of the Sacraments The Rites Ceremonies of the Church The government of the Church vnder His M tie by Archbishops Bishops and others which beare office in the same The forme of making and consecrating Archbishops Bishops Presbyters Deacons as they are now established vnder His M ties Authoritie doe contayne in them anie thing repugnāt to the Scriptures or are corrupt superstitious or vnlawful in the service worship of GOD let him be excōmunicated not restored but by the Bishop of the place or Archb. of the Province after his Repentance and publicke Revocation of such his wicked Errours CHAP. II. Of Presbyters and Deacons their nomination ordination function and charge FOrasmuch as the weyght of the Ministeriall Calling doeth require such a measure of sufficiencie as humane weaknesse can attayne vnto and is often discredited by the ignorance insufficiencie and scandalous conversation of manie who vndertake the same it is ordayned That no person hereafter shall be admitted to that holie Function who hath not bene bred in some Universitie or Colledge hath takē some degree there and who shall verifie the same by the Subscriptions Seals of the Universitie or Colledge where hee receaved the degrees of Learning 2. Neyther shall hee bee admitted to tryall vnlesse hee bring a Certificat eyther from the Colledge where hee was bred or if hee haue discontinued there from the Presbyters or Ministers of that part of the Countrey where he hath for the most part resided since his leaving of the Universitie That hee hath beene exercised in some honest calling or studie and that hee is a man blamelesse in his lyfe and conversation Which Certificat shall be given vnder the hands and oathes of two or three Presbyters at least 3. No person shall bee heereafter receaved into holie Orders without due examination of his literature by the Arch-bishop or Bishop of the Diocesse or by their Chaplaynes appoynted to that worke who shall examine everie severall partie as they find cause 4. The age and prudencie of him that is to bee receaved must lykewyse bee considered as That hee bee at least fiue and twentie yeares compleat who is ordayned Presbyter and when hee is ordayned Deacon one and twentie years compleat at least and bee of a modest and setled carriage so that his lightnesse or indiscrete simplicitie bring not his Calling or Giftes in contempt 5. No Bishop shall hereafter admit anie person into holie
Orders who is not of his owne Diocesse except hee bring Letters dimissorie from the Bishop of the Diocesse where hee lived and a Certificat of his honest conversation 6. Nor shall anie man bee admitted vnto holie Orders vnlesse hee haue a particular place and charge where hee may vse and exerce his Function And if anie Arch-bishop or Bishop doc otherwyse hee shall keepe and mayntayne the person so admitted in all thinges necessarie till hee bee provyded to some Ecclesiasticall Living And if hee offend in this a second tyme hee shall bee suspended from his Office 7. That the greater reverence may bee carried to that holie Calling all Ordinations shall bee made by imposition of handes and with solemne prayers openlie in the Church after the morning Service ended and before the Communion in the forme and verie wordes praescrybed in the Booke of Ordination and in presence of two or three Presbyters of the Diocesse who shall laye on handes together with the Arch-bishop or Bishop 8. All Ordinations shall bee made at foure tymes in the yeare to wit the first weekes of March Iune September and December 9. Everie Ecclesiasticall person at his admission shall take the oath of Supremacie according to the forme praescrybed in Parliament 10. No person shall hereafter bee receaved into holie Orders nor suffered to preach catechise reade Divinitie minister the Sacramentes or execute anie other Ecclesiasticall Function vnlesse hee first subscrybe to bee obedient to the Canons of the Church And if anie Bishop shall ordayne admit or licence anie person otherwyse Hee shall bee suspended from giving of Orders and Licences to preach for twelue monethes And if anie Presbyter or Deacon after hee hath subscrybed to liue obedient and conforme shall revolt hee shall bee suspended And in case hee doe not repent conforme and submit himselfe within the space of three monethes hee shall bee deposed from the Ministerie 11. To avoyde the detestable sinne of Simonie the Arch-bishop or Bishop at his instituting into or collating of anie Benefice or Ecclesiasticall Living shall minister to the intrant the Oath praescrybed in the Booke of Ordination agaynst Simonie And if the Bishop minister not the Oath Hee shall bee thought guiltie of Simonie himselfe and punished accordinglie CHAP. III. Of Residence and Preaching THE manie inconveniences which result vpon the Non-residence of Ministers require that some provision bee made there-anent It is therefore ordayned That everie Minister reside at the Church where hee serveth or nigh therevnto And if hee bee found absent without licence of his Ordinarie sixe Sundayes in the whole yeare or doe not vse and exercyse his Office being present the case of infirmitie being excepted let him bee admonished And if after two admonitions hee amend not let him bee depryved of his Benefice 2. No Stranger shall bee admitted to preach in anie Church vnlesse hee bee licenced by the Bishop of the Diocesse 3. Everie Presbyter shall eyther by himselfe or by another person lawfullie called reade or cause DIVINE SERVICE to be done according to the forme of the Book of COMMON PRAYER before all Sermons 4. Albeit the whole tyme of our lyfe bee but short to bee bestowed in the service of God yet seeing HEE tempereth that worke to our weaknesse It is ordayned That Preachers in their Sermons and Prayers eschew tediousnesse and by a succinct doing leaue in the people an appetite for farther instruction and a newe desire to devotion 5. No person of the Laicie whatsoever gifts hee hath of Learning Knowledge or Holinesse shall praesume to exercyse the Office of a Presbyter or Deacon eyther in part or whole vnlesse hee haue receaved Ordination and bee licenced by his Ordinarie vnder the payne of Excommunication 6. It is the duetie of Presbyters not onelie to stirre vp the affections of people by exhortation but lykewyse to informe their judgement by solide instruction that they may bee acquaynted with the groundes of their Profession THEREFORE It is ordayned That there bee catechizing everie Sunday in the afternoone except the Bishop dispence with it as hee findeth cause And because in the countrey people can not convenientlie meete but in the forenoone the Presbyter shall everie other yeare expound the Catechisme to his people vnder the payne of suspending him that shall bee found negligent herein 7. If anie Preacher shall in the Pulpit particularlie or of purpose impugne or confute the doctrine delivered by anie other Preacher in the same Church or in anie Church nigh adjoyning before hee hath acquaynted the Bishop of the Diocesse therewith and receaved order from Him what to doe in that case because vpon publicke dissenting and contradicting there may growe much offence and disquietnesse to the people The same beeing notified to the Bishop Hee shall not suffer the Preacher anie more to serue in that place which hee hath once abused except hee faythfullie promise to forbeare all such matter of contention in the Church vntill order bee taken therein by the Bishop who with all convenient speede shall so proceede as publicke satisfaction may bee given to the Congregation where the offence was committed Provyded that if eyther of the parties offending doe appeale hee shall not bee suffered to preach Lite pendente Neyther shall anie Preacher vse bitter invectiues agaynst his fellow-Presbyter or Preacher or goe about indirectlie to worke his disgrace with the people vnder the paine of being censured as a prophaner of the Word 8. No Presbyter or Preacher shall presume in Sermons to speake agaynst His MAIESTIES Lawes Statutes Acts or Ordinances But if hee conceaue anie scruple or doubt let him goe to his Ordinarie and receaue instruction 9. No man's name shall bee expressed in Pulpit to his reproach except the fault bee notorious which notoriorie is defined if the person bee fugitiue convict by an Assise excommunicate or contumacious after citation Nor yet shall anie man bee descrybed by anie other circumstances than publicke vyces alwayes damnable 10. It is manifest that the superstition of former ages is turned vnto great prophanenesse and that people for the most part are growne colde in doing anie good esteeming that good workes are not necessarie Therefore shall all Presbyters as their Text giveth occasion vrge the necessitie of good works to their hearers 11. When anie person is dangerouslie sicke the Presbyter having knowledge thereof shall resort vnto him or her if the disease bee not knowne or probablie suspected to bee infectious to instruct and comfort them in their disease according to the Booke of Common Prayer and farther too as hee shall thinke most needfull and convenient And when anie is passing out of this lyfe a Bell shall bee tolled that the people hearing may earnestlie pray for the dying person as a fellow-member of CHRIST'S Bodie and the Presbyter shall not then neglect to doe his last duetie 12. That everie Presbyter may bee the better enabled to performe his duetie and bee furnished throughlie with knowledge hee shall bee
5. Neyther shall anie ydle persons bee suffered to abyde eyther in the Church or Church-portch or in the Church-yarde during the tyme of DIVINE SERVICE or SERMON but shall bee caused eyther to come in or to depart 6. For the manifesting of our Unitie in FAYTH It is ordayned That one forme of the worship of GOD in the Blessed TRINITIE bee vsed in all Churches of the Kingdome And that in all Meetinges for Divine Worship before SERMON the whole PRAYERS according to the LITVRGIE bee deliberatelie and distinctlie read 7. Neyther shall anie Presbyter or Reader bee permitted to conceaue Prayers Ex tempore or vse anie other forme in the publicke LITVRGIE or SERVICE than is prescrybed vnder the payne of Deprivation from his Benefice or Cure CHAP. X. Of Schoole-Masters NO man shall teach eyther in publick Schoole or private House but such as shall bee allowed by the Arch-bishop of the Province or Bishop of the Diocesse vnder their Hand and Seale and who shall bee found meete as well for his dexteritie in teaching as for his learning and sober and honest conversation to haue care of Children and bringing vp of the Youth But especiallie it is to bee regarded That they bee of good Religion and obedient to the Orders of the CHVRCH 2. All Schoole-Masters shall teach in Scotish or Latine as Children are able to learne the CATECHISME And when anie SERMON is they shall bring their Schollers to the Church and there see they behaue themselues quyetlie and soberlie and at tymes convenient examine them what they haue learned 3. None shall bee permitted to teach in anie Colledge or Schoole eyther as PRIMAR REGENT or FELLOW except hee take first the Oath of Alleadgeance and Supremacie And having taken the Charge vpon them they shall acquaynt their Schollers and trayne them vp according to their capacitie in the Groundes contayned in the Booke entituled DEUS ET REX CHAP. XI Of Curates and Readers EVerie Bishop within his Diocesse shall take tryall of the qualitie of the Curates and Readers and permit none to reade or conceaue publicke Prayers in the Church vnlesse hee bee in holie Orders and lawfullie authorised by the Bishop CHAP. XII OF PRINTERS FOR restrayning the Libertie of PRINTING vvhich is greatlie abused in setting foorth Bookes Ballads Satyricall Lybels and other Pamphlets repugnant to the Trueth or not agreeing with Honestie and good Manners IT IS ORDAYNED That nothing heere-after bee imprinted except the same bee seene and allowed by the Visiters appoynted to that purpose CHAP. XIII Of Christninges Weddinges and Burialls to bee registrated IN everie paroch-Paroch-Church within the Kingdome a Parchment Booke shall bee provided at the Charge of the Parochin vvhere-in shall bee written the daye and yeare of everie Christning Wedding and Buriall vvhich shall bee kept and layde vp in a sure Coffer to bee provided also by the Parochin and not taken foorth by the Presbyter or anie other except when the Christninges Weddinges and Burialls are to bee recorded And to the effect those bee not neglected the Presbyter shall everie Lord's Day after Prayers or Sermon take foorth the sayde Booke and wryte there-in the names of all persons Christned with the names and Syrnames of their Parentes The names also of all persons married and buried in that Parioch in the weeke preceeding with the day and yeare of everie such Christning Wedding and Buriall And everie yeare once within one moneth after the first day of Ianuarie transmit vnto the Bishop of the Diocesse a true Copie of the names of all persons Christned married and buried the yeare before within his Parochin with the dayes and moneths of every such Christning Marriage Burial subscribed with his hand to the end the same may bee preserved in the Bishops Register VVherein if hee shall bee found negligent hee shall bee called and censured for the contempt of this necessarie Constitution CHAP. XIV Of publicke Fastes NOne in holie Orders shall without the Licence and direction of his Ordinarie appovnt or keepe anie solemne Fastes or bee present thereat of purpose vnder the payne of Suspension or other punishment which the Bishop shall thinke fit to inflict 2. Neyther shall it bee lawfull to keepe or indict anie FAST vpon SUNDAYES but onlie vpon Weeke-dayes and such as shall bee appoynted by HIS MAJESTIE CHAP. XV. Of decencie in Apparell enjoyned to persons Ecclesiasticall THE CHVRCH of CHRIST being ever desirous that Her Clergie should bee had in outward reverence and regard for the worthinesse of their Calling did thinke it fit to haue them knowne to the people by a prescribed and decent forme of Apparell vvhose judgement wee following doe ordayne That all Arch-Bishops Bishops Deanes Masters of Colledges Doctors in Divinitie Presbyters Deacons Masters of Artes and Bachelours of what Facultie soever shall vse Apparell beseeming their Degrees and abstayne from all light and new-fangled Garmentes eyther in colour or fashion no wayes beseeming the gravitie of their persons and Places CHAP. XVI Of things pertayning to the Church IN everie Church there shall bee provided at the charge of the Parochin a Bible of the largest volume with the Booke of Common Prayer and Psalmes newlie authorised The BIBLE shall bee of the Translation of King IAMES And if anie Parochin bee vnprovided thereof the same shall bee amended within two monethes at most after the publication of this Constitution 2. For ministring the Sacrament of BAPTISME a Font shall bee prepared and placed some-what neare the entire of the Church as ancientlie it vsed to bee with a Gloath of fine Linnen which shall lykewyse bee kept to that vse allanerlie 3. In lyke manner a comelie and decent Table for celebrating the holie COMMVNION shall bee placed at the vpper ende of the Chancell or Church which in tyme of Divine Service shall bee covered with a Carpet of decent Stuffe and at the tyme of Ministration with a whyte linnen cloath 4. Basons Cuppes or Chalices of some pure Mettall shall also bee provided to bee set vpon the Communion Table and reserved to that onelie vse 5. A Pulpit lyke-wyse decent and comelie must bee provided and placed in a convenient part of the Church for Preaching the Word of GOD. And if anie question aryse for placing the same it shall bee determined by the Bishop of the Diocesse 6. A Chest for Almes shall also bee provided strong and sure with a hole in the vpper part there-of having three Keyes one of which shall bee kept by the Presbyter and the other two put into the custodie of two Church-Wardens The Chest shall bee set and fastened in the most convenient place to the intent the Parochiners may put in their Almes vvhere-vnto the Presbyter shall exhort the people at all occasions but especiallie at the making of their Willes and Testamentes This Almes the Keepers of the Keyes shall eyther yearlie quarterlie or oftener as neede requyreth take out of the Chest and distribute in the presence of sixe chiefe Men of the