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
Constitutions AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of IERLAND And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties Licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Dom. 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 And published for the due Observation of them by His Majesties Authority under the Great Seal of IRELAND DVBLIN Printed by Benjamin Tooke Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and are to be sold by Samuel Dancer in Castle street 1669. THE TABLE Of the Church of Ireland 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 Ecclesiastical to be maintained 3. Of the Prescript form of Divine service contained in the book of Common Prayer 4. Of the form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the churches established according to that order 5. Anthors of schismes and maintainers of conventicles censured ¶ Of Divine Service preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments 6. DVe celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes 7. The prescrip form of Divine service to be used on sundayes and holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence 8 Of the ordering of certain parts of the service 9 Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their livings to preach every sunday 10. No publick opposition between Preacâ—ers 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 read Divine Service and administer the sacraments twice a year at the least 14. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury 15. Ministers not to defer christening if the child be in danger 16. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptism nor children not communicants 17. Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Bishop once in three years 18. Of the receiving of the holy communion 19. Warning 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 Deans and Prebendaries 23 OF Ordering Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 24. Of ordering the revennes of Ecclesiastical persons 25. Of Archdeacens 26. Residence of Deans in their Churches 27. Deans and Prebendaries to preach during their Residence 28. Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices ¶ Of the Ordination function and charge of Ministers 29. FOur solemn times appointed for the making of Ministers 30. The titles of such as are to be made Ministers 31. The quality 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 Ecclesiastical Benefices 35. Prevention of Symoniacal contract 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 allowed Preachers 38. None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop 39. Strangers not admitted to preach without Licence 40. Ministers to confer with Recusants 41. Ministers to visit the sick 42. Soberness of conversation and decency of apparel 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 be kept of Christnings Weddings and Burials ¶ Of Marriages and divorces 47. NOne to marry within the degrees prohibited 48. None to marry under XXI years without their Parents consent 49. Security to be taken at the granting of such Licences and under what conditions 50. Oaths to be taken for the conditions 51. An exception for those that are in Widowhood 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 Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdiction 56. THe order of Jurisdictions 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 until the Appeal be exhibited to the judge 60. Solemn denunciation of parties excommunicated 61. Notorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiastical 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 year 67. Church wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a year 68. Convenient time to be assigned for framing presentments 69. None to be cited into Ecclesiastical courts by Process of Quorum nomina 70. Maturity required in proceeding 71. No sentence of deprivation or deposition to be prenounced 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 Seal 74. Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of courts 75. Peculiar and inferiour courts to exhibit the original copies of Wills into the Bishops Registry 76. The quality and Oath of Judges and Surrogates 77. Proctors not to retain causes without the lawfull assignment 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 certain rateof fees to all Ecclesiastical Officers 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 restrained ¶ Of Parish Clerks Church wardeus and Schoolmasters and their several duties 86. PArish clerks to be chosen by the Minister 87. The choice of church-wardens and their accompt 88. The choice of Sidermen and their joynt office with church-wardens 89. The old church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new besworn 90. The duty of church wardent 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 keep 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 sitting for every communion and to observe those that come
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