CONSTITUTIONS AND Canons Ecclesiastical TREATED UPON By the BISHOP of LONDON President of the CONVOCATION FOR THE Province of CANTERBURY AND The rest of the Bishops and Clergy of the said Province AND Agreed upon with the King's Majesty's Licence in their Synod begun at London Anno Domini 1603. And in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord JAMES by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland the First and of Scotland the Thirty seventh AND Now Published for the due Observation of them by His Majesty's Authority UNDER THE Great Seal of England LONDON Printed for Samuel Mearne Stationer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty and Robert Pawlet 1678. JAMES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas our Bishops Deans of our Cathedral Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges and the other Clergy of every Diocess within the Province of Canterbury being summoned and called by Virtue of our Writ directed to the most Reverend Father in God John late Archbishop of Canterbury and bearing Date the 31. Day of January in the First Year of Our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the 37. to have appeared before him in our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London the 20. Day of March then next ensuing or elsewhere as he should have thought it most convenient to treat consent and conclude upon certain difficult and urgent Affairs mentioned in the said Writ Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedral Church of St. Paul aforesaid assemble themselves and appear in Convocation for that purpose according to Our said Writ before the Right Reverend Father in God Richard Bishop of London duly upon a second Writ of Ours dated the 9. Day of March aforesaid authorized appointed and constituted by reason of the said Archbishop of Canterbury his Death President of the said Convocation to execute those things which by Virtue of Our first Writ did appertain to him the said Archbishop to have executed if he had lived We for divers urgent and weighty Causes and Considerations Us thereunto especially moving of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion did by Virtue of our Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclsieastical give and grant by Our several Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England the one dated the 12. Day of April last past and the other the 25. Day of June then next following full free and lawful Liberty Licence Power and Authority unto the said Bishop of London President of the said Convocation and to the other Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges and the rest of the Clergy before mentioned of the said Province That they from time to time during Our first Parliament now Prorogued might confer treat debate consider consult and agree of and upon such Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should think necessary fit and convenient for the Honour and Service of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better Government thereof to be from time to time observed performed fulfilled and kept as well by the Archbishops of Canterbury the Bishops and their Successors and the rest of the whole Clergy of the said Province of Canterbury in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and Administrations as also by all and every Dean of the Arches and other Iudge of the said Archbishop's Courts Guardians of Spiritualties Chancellors Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and every other Ecclesiastical Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoever of the same Province of Canterbury in their and every of their distinct Courts and in the order and manner of their and every of their Proceedings and by all other Persons within this Realm as far as lawfully being Members of the Church it may concern them as in our said Letters Patents amongst other Clauses more at large doth appear Forasmuch as the Bishop of London President of the said Convocation and others the said Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergy having met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by Virtue of Our said Authority granted unto them 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 in the 25. Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and by Our said Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical to ratifie by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England and to confirm the same the Title and Tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Bishop of London President of the Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of the said Province and agreed upon with the King's Majesty's Licence in their Synod begun at London Anno Dom. 1603. And in the year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord JAMES by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland the First and of Scotland the Thirty seventh Of the Church of ENGLAND I. The King's Supremacy over the Church of England in Causes Ecclesiastical to be maintained AS our Duty to the King 's most Excellent Majesty requireth We first decree and ordain That the Archbishop of Canterbury from time to time all Bishops of this Province all Deans Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and all other Ecclesiastical Persons shall faithfully keep and observe and as much as in them lieth shall cause to be observed and kept of others all and singular Laws and Statutes made for restoring to the Crown of this Kingdom the Ancient Jurisdiction over the State Ecclesiastical and abolishing of all Foreign Power repugnant to the same Furthermore 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 Foreign 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 Majesty's Realms and Dominions is due unto any such Foreign Power but that the King's Power within His Realms of England Scotland and 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
God's Laws owe most Loyalty and Obedience afore and above all other Powers and Potentates in Earth II. Impugners of the King's Supremacy censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That the King's Majesty hath not the same Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Jews and Christian Emperours of the Primitive Church or impeach any part of His Regal Supremacy in the said Causes restored to the Crown and by the Laws of this Realm therein established Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his Repentance and Publick Revocation of those his wicked Errors III. The Church of England a true and Apostolical Church WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That the Church of England by Law established under the King's Majesty is not a true and an Apostolical Church teaching and maintaining the Doctrine of the Apostles Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his Repentance and Publick Revocation of this his wicked Errour IV. Impugners of the Publick Worship of God established in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter affim That the Form of God's Worship in the Church of England established by Law and contained in the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments is a corrupt superstitious or unlawful Worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Bishop of the Place or Archbishop after his Repentance and Publick Revocation of such his wicked Errors V. Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That any of the Nine and thirty Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the Year of our Lord God One thousand five hundred sixty two for avoiding diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good Conscience subscribe unto Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his Repentance and publick Revocation of such his wicked Errors VI. Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Law established are wicked Antichristian or superstitious or such as being commanded by lawful Authority men who are zealously and godly affected may not with any good Conscience approve them use them or as occasion requireth subscribe unto them Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke such his wicked Errors VII Impugners of the Government of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm that the Government of the Church of England under His Majesty by Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons and the rest that bear Office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the Word of God Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto and so continue until he repent and publickly revoke such his wicked Errors VIII Impugners of the Form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm or teach That the Form and manner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Word of God or that they who are made Bishops Priests or Deacons in that Form are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either by themselves or others to be truly either Bishops Priests or Deacons until they have some other calling to those Divine Offices Let him be Excommunicated ipso facto not to be restored until he repent and publickly revoke such his wicked Errors IX Authors of Schism in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles Rules in the Church of England and combine themselves together in a new Brother-hood accompting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Government Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyn with in Christian Profession Let them be Excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their Repentance and Publick Revocation of such their wicked Errors X. Maintainers of Schismaticks in the Church of England censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That such Ministers as refuse to subscribe to the Form and manner of God's Worship in the Church of England prescribed in the Communion Book and their Adherents may truly take unto them the Name of another Church not established by Law and dare presume to publish it That this their pretended Church hath of long time groaned under the Burthen of certain Grievances imposed upon it and upon the Members thereof before mentioned by the Church of England and the Orders and Constitutions therein by Law established Let them be Excommunicated and not restored until they repent and pulickly revoke such their wicked Errors XI Maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm or maintain That there are within this Realm other Meetings Assemblies or Congregations of the King 's born Subjects 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 but by the Archbishop after his Repentance and Publick Revocation of such his wicked Errors XII Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conventicles censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That it is lawful for any sort of Ministers and Lay-persons or of either of them to joyn together and make Rules Orders or Constitutions in Causes Ecclesiastical without the King's Authority and shall submit themselves to be ruled and governed by them Let them be Excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored until they repent and publickly revoke those their wicked and Anabaptistical Errors Of Divine Service and Administration of the SACRAMENTS XIII Due Celebration of Sundays and Holy-days ALL manner of Persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keep the Lord's Day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-days according to God's Holy Will and Pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalf 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 of the poor and Sick using all godly and sober Conversation XIV The prescript Form of Divine Service to be used on Sundays and Holy-days THE Common Prayer shall be said or sung
Sunday of every Month requiring all the said Masters Fellows and Scholars and all the rest of the Students Officers and all other the Servants there so to be ordered that every one of them shall communicate four times in the Year at the least kneeling reverently and decently upon their Knees according to the Order of the Communion Book prescribed in that behalf XXIV Copes to be worn in Cathedral Churches by those that Administer the Communion IN all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches the holy Communion shall be administred upon principal Feast-days sometimes by the Bishop if he be present and sometimes by the Dean and at some times by a Canon or Prebendary the principal Minister using a decent Cope and being assisted with the Gospeller and Epistler agreeably according to the Advertisements published Ann. 7 Elizabethae The said Communion to be Administred at such times and with such limitation as is specified in the Book of Common-Prayer Provided that on such limitation by any construction shall be allowed of but that all Deans Wardens Masters or Heads of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches Prebendaries Canons Vicars Petty Canons Singing-men and all others of the Foundation shall receive the Communion four times yearly at the least XXV Surplices and Hoods to be worn in Cathedral Churches when there is no Communion IN the time o` Divine Service and Prayers in all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches when there is no Communion it shall be sufficient to wear Surplices saving that all Deans Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduats shall daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching wear with their Surplices such Hoods as are agreeable to their Degrees XXVI 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 openly 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 Churchwardens or Side-men who having taken their Oaths to present to their Ordinaries all such Publick Offences as they are particularly charged to enquire of in their several Parishes shall notwithstanding their said Oaths and that their faithful discharging of them is the chief means whereby publick Sins and Offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incur the horrible Crime of Perjury either in neglecting or in refusing to present such of the said Enormities and Publick 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 himself to discharge their Consciences by presenting of them and not to incur so desperately the said horrible Sin of Perjury XXVII Schismaticks not to be admitted to the Communion NO Minister when he celebrateth the Communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but to such as kneel under pain of Suspension nor under the like pain to any that refuse to be present at Publick Prayers according to the Orders of the Church of England nor to any that are common and notorious Depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and of the Orders Rites and Ceremonies therein prescribed or of any thing that is contained in any of the Articles agreed upon in the Convocation One thousand five hundred sixty and two or of any thing contained in the Book of ordering Priests and Bishops or to any that have spoken against and depraved His Majesty's Sovereign Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical except every such Person shall first acknowledge to the Minister before the Church-wardens his repentance for the same and promise by word if he cannot write that he will do so no more and except if he can write he shall first do the same under his Hand-writing to be delivered to the Minister and by him sent to the Bishop of the Diocess or Ordinary of the Place Provided That every Minister so repelling any as is specified either in this or in the next precedent Constitution shall upon complaint or being required by the Ordinary signifie the cause thereof unto him and therein obey his Order and Direction XXVIII Strangers not to be admitted to the Communion THE Church-wardens or Quest-men and their Assistants 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 lest perhaps they be admitted to the Lord's 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 XXIX Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptism nor Children not Communicants NO Parent shall be urged to be 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 Child at Christening or Confirmation before the said Person so undertaking hath received the holy Communion XXX The lawful use of the Cross in Baptism explained VVE are sorry that His Majesty's most Princely care and pains taken in the Conference at Hampton Court amongst many other Points touching this one of the Cross in Baptism hath taken no better effect with many but that still the use of it in Baptism is so greatly stuck at and impugned For the further declaration therefore of the true use of this Ceremony and for the removing of all such scruple as might any ways trouble the Consciences of them who are indeed rightly Religious following the royal Steps of our most worthy King because he therein followeth the Rules of the Scriptures and the Practice of the Primitive Church we do commend to all the true Members of the Church of England these our Directions and Observations ensuing First It is to be Observed That although the Jews and Ethnicks derided both the Apostles and the rest of the Christians for preaching and believing in him who was crucified upon the Cross yet all both Apostles and Christians were so far from being discouraged from their Profession by the Ignominy of the Cross as they rather rejoyced and triumphed in it Yea the holy Ghost by the mouths of the Apostles did honour the Name of the Cross being hateful among the Jews so far that under it he comprehended not only Christ crucified but the force effects and merits of his Death and Passion with all the Comforts Fruits and Promises which we receive or expect thereby Secondly The honour and dignity of the Name of the Cross begat
be thereunto admitted unless he first consent and subscribe to the three Articles before mentioned in the presence of the Bishop of the Diocess wherein he is to Preach Read Lecture Catechise or Administer the Sacraments as aforesaid XXXVIII Revolters after Subscription censured IF any Minister after he hath once subscribed to the said three Articles shall omit to use the Form of Prayer or any of the Orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion-Book let him be suspended and if after a Month he do not reform and submit himself let him be excommunicated and then if he shall not submit himself within the space of another Month let him be deposed from the Ministery XXXIX Cautions for Institution of Ministers into Benefices NO Bishop shall institute any to a Benefice who hath been Ordained by any other Bishop except he first shew unto him his Letters of Orders and bring him a sufficient Testimony of his former good Life and Behaviour if the Bishop shall require it and lastly shall appear upon due Examination to be worthy of his Ministery XL. An Oath against Simony at Institution into Benefices TO avoid the detestable sin of Simony because buying and selling of Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Functions Offices Promotions Dignities and Livings is execrable before God therefore the Arch-Bishop and all and every Bishop or Bishops or any other Person or Persons having Authority to Admit Institute Collate Install or to Confirm the Election of any Archbishop Bishop or other Person or Persons to any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Function Dignity Promotion Title Office Jurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or to any Ecclesiastical Living whatsoever shall before every such Admission Institution Collation Installation or Confirmation of Election respectively minister to every Person hereafter to be Admitted Instituted Collated Installed or Confirmed in or to any Archbishoprick Bishoprick or other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Function Dignity Promotion Title Jurisdiction Place or Benefice with Cure or without Cure or in or to any Ecclesiastical Living whatsoever this Oath in Manner and Form following the same to be taken by every one whom it concerneth in his own Person and not by a Proctor IN. N. do swear That I have made no Simoniacal Payment Contract or Promise directly or indirectly by my self or by any other to my Knowledge or with my Consent to any Person or Persons whatsoever for or concerning the Procuring and Obtaining of this Ecclesiastical Dignity Place Preferment Office or Living respectively and particularly naming the same whereunto he is to be Admitted Instituted Collated Installed or Confirmed nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfie any such kind of Payment Contract or Promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent So help me God through Jesus Christ. XLI Licences for Plurality of Benefices limited and Residence enjoined NO Licence or Dispensation for the keeping of more Benfices with Cure than one shall be granted to any but such only as shall be thought very well worthy for his Learning and very well able and sufficient to discharge his Duty that is who shall have taken the Degrce of a Master of Arts at the least in one of the Universities of this Realm and be a publick and sufficient Preacher Licensed Provided always That he be by a good and sufficient Caution bound to make his personal Residence in each his said Benefices for some reasonable time in every year And that the said Benefices be not more than thirty miles distant asunder and lastly that he have under him in the Benefice where he doth not reside a Preacher lawfully allowed that is able sufficiently to teach and instruct the People XLII Residence of Deans in their Churches EVery Dean Master or Warden or chief Governour of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedral or Collegiate Church fourscore and ten days Conjunction or Divisim in every Year at the least and then shall continue there in Preaching the Word of God and keeping good Hospitality except he shall be otherwise let with weighty and urgent Causes to be approved by the Bishop of the Diocess or in any other lawful sort dispensed with And when he is is present He with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaries resident shall take special Care that the Statutes and laudable Customs of their Church not being contrary to the Word of God or Prerogative Royal The Statutes of this Realm being in force concerning Ecclesiastical Order and all other Constitutions now set forth and confirmed by his Majesty's Authority and such as shall be lawfully enjoyned by the Bishop of the Diocess in his Visitation according to the Statutes and Customs of the same Church or the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm be diligently observed and that the petty Canons Vicars choral 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 only in English but also in Latin XLIII Deans and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence THE Dean Master Warden or chief Governour Prebendaries and Canons in every Cathedral and Collegiate Church shall not only Preach there in their own Persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or Custom but shall likewise Preach in other Churches of the same Diocess where they are Resident and especially in those Places whence they or their Church receive any yearly Rents or Profits And in case they themselves be sick or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licensed Preachers to supply their turns as by the Bishop of the Diocess shall be thought meet to Preach in Cathedral Churches And if any otherwise neglect or omit to supply his Course as is aforesaid the Offender shall be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whom the Jurisdiction of that Church appertaineth according to the Quality of the Offence XLIV Prebendaries to be resident upon their Benefices NO Prebendaries nor Canons in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches having one or more Benefices with Cure and not being Residentiaries in the same Cathedral or Collegiate Churches shall under colour of their said Prebends absent themselves from their Benefices with Cure above the space of one Month in the Year unless it be for some urgent Cause and certain time to be allowed by the Bishop of the Diocess And such of the said Canons and Prebendaries as by the Ordinances of the Cathedral or Collegiate Churches do stand bound to be Resident in the same shall so among themselves sort and proportion the times of the Year concerning Residence to be kept in the said Churches as that some of them always shall be personally Resident there and that all those who be or shall be Residentiaries in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church shall after the days of their Residency appointed by their local Statutes or Customs expired presently repair to their Benefices or some one of them or to some other charge where the
Church and Chappel where Baptism is to be ministred the same to be set in the Ancient usual places In which only Font the Minister shall baptize publickly LXXXII A decent Communion Table in every Church VVHereas we have no doubt but that in all Churches within the Realm of England convenient and decent Tables are provided and placed for the celebration of the holy Communion we appoint that the same Tables shall from time to time be kept and repaired in sufficient and seemly manner and covered in time of Divine Service with a Carpet of Silk or other decent stuff thought meet by the Ordinary of the place if any question be made of it and with a fair Linen cloth at the time of the ministration as becometh that Table and so stand saving when the said holy Communion is to be administred At which time the same shall be placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancel as thereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his Prayer and Ministration and the Communicants also more conveniently and in more number may Communicate with the said Minister and that the Ten Commandments be set upon the East-end of every Church and Chappel where the people may best see and read the same and other chosen Sentences written upon the walls of the said Churches and Chappels in places convenient and likewise that a convenient Seat be made for the Minister to read Service in All these to be done at the charge of the Parish LXXXIII A Pulpit to be provided in every Church THE Church-wardens or Quest-men at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church shall provide a comely and decent Pulpit to bo set in a convenient place within the same by the discretion of the Ordinary of the place if any question do arise and to be there seemly kept for the Preaching of Gods word LXXXIV A Chest for Alms in every Church THE Church-wardens shall provide and have within three months 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 if there be none such already provided having three Keys of which one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other two in the custody of the Church-wardens 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 their Alms 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 confer 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 then 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 Alms and Devotion of the people the keepers of the Keys shall yearly quarterly or oftner as need requireth take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the Parish or six of the chief of them to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most poor and needy neighbours LXXXV Churches to be kept in sufficient reparations THe Churchwardens or Questmen shall take care and provide that the Churches be well and sufficiently repair'd and so from time to time kept and maintained that the Windows be well glazed and that the Floors be kept paved plain and even all things there in such an orderly and decent sort without dust or any thing that may be either noysome or unseemly as best becometh the House of God and is prescribed in an Homily to that effect The like care they shall take that the Church-yards be well and sufficiently repaired fenced and maintained with Walls Rails or Pales as have been in each place accustomed at their charges unto whom by Law the same appertaineth 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 LXXXVI Churches to be surveyed and the decays certified to the High Commissioners EVery Dean Dean and Chapter Archdeacon and others which have Authority to hold Ecclesiastical Visitations by Composition Law or Prescription shall survey the Churches of his or their Jurisdiction once in every three years in his own person or cause the same to be done and shall from time to time within the said three years certifie the High Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical every year of such defects in any the said Churches as he or they do find to remain unrepaired and the names and sirnames of the parties faulty therein Upon which Certificate we desire that the said High Commissioners will ex officio mero send for such parties and compel them to obey the just and lawful Decrees of such Ecclesiastical Ordinaries making such Certificates LXXXVII A Terrier of Glebe-lands and other Possessions belonging to Churches WE Ordain That the Archbishops and all Bishops within their several Diocesses shall procure as much as in them lieth that a true Note and Terrier of all the Glebes Lands Medows Gardens Orchards Houses Stocks Implements Tenements and portions of Tythes lying out of their Parishes which belong to any Parsonage or Vicarage or rural Prebend be taken by the view of honest men in every Parish by the appointment of the Bishop whereof the Minister to be one and be laid up in the Bishops Registry there to be for a perpetual memory thereof LXXXVIII Churches not to be Prophaned THe Church-wardens or Quest-men and their Assistants shall suffer no Plays Feasts Banquets Suppers Church-ales Drinkings temporal Courts or Lets Lay-jurys Musters or any other prophane usage to be kept in the Church Chappel or Church-yard neither the Bells to be rung superstitiously upon Holy-days or Eves abrogated by the Book of Common Prayer not at any other times without good cause to be allowed by the Minister of the place and by themselves Church-wardens or Quest-men and Side-men or Assistants LXXXIX The choice of Church-wardens and their accompt ALL Church-wardens or Quest-men in every Parish shall be chosen by the joynt consent of the Minister and the Parishioners if it may be But if they cannot agree upon such a choice then the Minister shall chuse one and the Parishioners another and without such a joynt or several choice none shall take upon them to be Church-wardens neither shall they continue any longer then one year in that Office except perhaps they be chosen again in like manner And all Church-wardens at the end of their year or within a month after
pray for Christ's holy Catholick Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian People dispersed throughout the whole World and especially for the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland And herein I require you most especially to pray for the Kings most excellent Majesty our Soveraingn Lord IAMES King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and Supream Governor in these his Realms and all other his Dominions and Countreys over all Persons in all Causes as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queen Anne the Noble Prince HENRY and the rest of the King and Queens Royal Issue Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments as well Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastors and Curates Ye shall also pray for the Kings most honourable Council and for all the Nobility and Magistrates of this Realm that all and every of these in their several Callings may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God and the edifying and well governing of his People remembring the Account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in the true Faith and Fear of God in humble Obedience to the King and Brotherly Charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those which are departed out of this Life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have Grace to direct our Lives after their good Example that this life ended we may be made Partakers with them of the glorious Resurrection in the Life everlasting always concluding with the Lord's Prayer LVI 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 the other Duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise every other stipendiary Preacher that readeth any Lecture or catechiseth or preacheth in any Church or Chappel shall twice at the least every year read himself the Divine Service upon two several Sundays publickly and at the usual times both in the Fore-noon and After-noon in the Church which he so possesseth or where he Readeth Catechiseth 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 Observation of all such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the Book of Common-Prayer 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 Catechiser be removed from his Place by the Bishop of the Diocess until he or they shall submit themselves to perform all the said Duties in such manner and sort as before is prescribed LVII The Sacraments not to be refused at the hands of unpreaching Ministers WHereas divers Persons seduced by false Teachers do refuse to have their Children baptized by a Minister that is no Preacher and to receive the Holy Communion at his hands in the same respect as though the Vertue of those Sacraments did depend upon his Ability to preach Forasmuch as the Doctrine both of Baptism and of the Lord's Supper is so sufficiently set down in the Book of Common-Prayer to be used at the Administration of the said Sacraments as nothing can be added unto it that is material or necessary We do require and charge every such Person seduced as aforesaid to reform that their Wilfulness and to submit himself to the Order of the Church in that behalf both the said Sacraments being equally effectual whether they be ministred by a Minister that is no Preacher or by one that is a Preacher And if any hereafter shall offend herein or leave their own Parish Churches in that respect and communicate or cause their Children to be baptized in other Parishes abroad and will not be moved thereby to reform that their Error and unlawful Course Let them be presented to the Ordinary of the place by the Minister Church-wardens and Side-men or Quest-men of the Parishes where they dwell and there receive such punishment by Ecclesiastical Censures as such Obstinacy doth worthily deserve that is Let them persisting in their wilfulness be suspended and then after a months further Obstinacy excommunicated And likewise if any Parson Vicar or Curate shall after the publishing hereof either receive to the Communion any such persons which are not of his own Church and Parish or shall baptize any of their Children thereby strengthening them in their said Errors Let him be suspended and not released thereof until he do faithfully Promise that he will not afterwards offend therein LVIII Ministers reading Divine Service and administring the Sacraments to wear Surplices and Graduates therewithal Hoods EVery Minister saying the publick Prayers or ministring the Sacraments or other Rites of the Church shall wear a decent and comely Surplice with Sleeves to be provided at the Charge of the Parish And if any question arise touching the Matter Decency or Comeliness thereof the same shall be decided by the Discretion of the Ordinary Furthermore such Ministers as are Graduates shall wear upon their Surplices at such times such Hoods as by the Orders of the Universities are agreable to their Degrees which no Minister shall wear being no Graduate under pain of Suspension Notwithstanding it shall be lawful for such Ministers as are not Graduates to wear upon their Surplices instead of Hoods some decent Tippet of black so it be not Silk LIX Ministers to catechize every Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and Holy-day before Evening Prayer shall for half an hour or more examine and instruct the Youth and ignorant Persons of his Parish in the Ten Commandments the Articles of the Belief and in the Lord's Prayer and shall diligently hear instruct and teach them the Catechism set forth in the Book of Common Prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their Children Servants and Apprentices which have not learned the Catechism to come to the 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 willingly 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
for two Court days without the Counsel and advice of an Advocate under pain of a years suspension from his Practice neither shall the Judge have power to release or mitigate the said penalty without express Mandate and Authority from the Arch-Bishop aforesaid CXXXI Proctors not to conclude in any cause without the knowledge of an Advocate NO Judge in any of the said Courts of the Arch-Bishop shall admit any Libel or any other matter without the advice of an Advocate admitted to practice in the same Court or without his subscription neither shall any Proctor conclude any Cause depending without the knowledge of the Advocate retained and fee'd in the cause which if any Proctor shall do or procure to be done or shall by any colour whatsoever defraude the Advocate of his Duty or Fee or shall be negligent in repairing to the Advocate and requiring his Advice what course is to be taken in the cause he shall be suspended from all practice for the space of six months without hope of being thereunto restored before the said term be fully compleat CXXXII Proctors prohibited the Oath In Animam Domini sui FOrasmuch as in the probate of Testaments and Suits for Administration of the Goods of persons dying Intestate the Oath usually taken by Proctors of Courts In animam constituentis is found to be inconvenient We do therefore decree and ordain That every Executor or Suiter for Administration shall personally repair to the Judge in that behalf or his Surrogate and in his own person and not by Proctor take the Oath accustomed in these cases But if by reason of sickness or age or any other just let or impediment he be not able to make his personal appearance before the Judge it shall be lawful for the Judge there being faith first made by a credible person of the truth of his said hinderance or impediment to grant a Commission to some grave Ecclesiastical person abiding near the party aforesaid whereby he shall give power and Authority to the said Ecclesiastical person in his stead to minister the accustomed Oath above mentioned to the Executor or Suiter for such Administration requiring his said Substitute that by a faithful and trusty Messenger he certifie the said Judge truly and faithfully what he hath done therein Lastly we ordain and appoint That no Judge or Register shall in any wise receive for the Writing Drawing or Sealing of any such Commission above the sum of six shillings and eight pence whereof one moyety to be for the Judge and the other for the Register of the said Court CXXXIII Proctors not to be clamorous in Court FOrasmuch as it is found by experience that the loud and confused cries and clamours of Proctors in the Courts of the Arch-Bishop are not only troublesom and offensive to the Judges and Advocates but also give occasion to the standers by of contempt and calumny toward the Court it self that more respect may be had to the Dignity of the Judge then heretofore and that causes may more easily and commodiously be handled and dispatched we charge and enjoyn That all Proctors in the said Courts do especially intend that the Acts be faithfully entred and set down by the Register according to the advice and direction of the Advocate that the said Proctors refrain loud speech and brabling and behave themselves quietly and modestly and that when either the Judges or Advocates or any of them shall happen to speak they presently be silent upon pain of silencing for two whole Terms then immediately following every such offence of theirs And if any of them shall the second time offend herein and after due monition shall not reform himself let him be for ever removed from his practice Registers CXXXIV Abuses to be reformed in Register IF any Register or his Deputy or Substitute whatsoever shall receive any Certificate without the knowledge and consent of the Judge of the Court or willingly omit to cause any person cited to appear upon any Court day to be called or unduly put off and defer the examination of witnesses to be examined by a day set and assigned by the Judge or do not obey and observe the judicial and lawful monition of the said Judge or omit to write or cause to be written such Citations and Decrees as are to be put in execution and set forth before the next Court day or shall not cause all Testaments exhibited into his Office to be Registred within a convenient time or shall set down or enact as decreed by the Judge any thing false or conceited by himself and not so ordered oâ— decreed by the Judge or in the transmission of Processes to the Judge Ad quem shall add or insert any falsehood or untruth or omit any thing therein either by cunning or by gross negligence or in causes of Instance or promoted of Office shall receive any reward in favour of either party or to be of counsel directly or indirectly with either of the parties in Suit or in the execution of their Office shall do ought else maliciously or fraudulently whereby the said Ecclesiastical Judge or his proceedings may be slandered or defamed We Will and Ordain that the said Register or his Deputy or Substitute offending in all or any of the premisses shall by the Bishop of the Diocess be Suspended from the exercise of his Office for the space of one two or three months or more according to the quality of his offence and that the said Bishop shall assign some other public Notary to execute and discharge all things pertaining to his Office during the time of his said Suspension CXXXV A certain rate of Fees due to all Ecclesiastical Officers NO Bishop Suffragan Chancellor Commissary Arch-Deacon Official nor any other exercising Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whatsoever nor any Register of any Ecclesiastical Courts nor any Minister belonging to any of the said Officers or Courts shall hereafter for any cause incident to their several Offices take or receive any other or greater Fees then such as were certified to the most Reverend Father in God John late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the year of our Lord God One thousand five hundred ninety and seven and were by him ratified and and approved under pain that every such Judge Officer or Minister offending herein shall be Suspended from the exercise of their several Offices for the space of six Months for every such offence Always provided that if any question shall arise concerning the certainty of the said Fees or any of them those Fees shall be held for lawful which the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the time being shall under his Hand approve except the Statutes of this Realm before made do in any particular case express some other Fees to be due Provided furthermore that no Fee or Money shall be received either by the Arch-Bishop or any Bishop or Suffragan either directly or indirectly for admitting of any into Sacred Orders nor that any other person or persons under the
said Arch-Bishop Bishop or Suffragan shall for Parchment Writing Wax Sealing or any other respect thereunto appertaining take above ten shillings under such pains as are already by Law prescribed CXXXVI A Table of the Rates and Fees to be set up in Courts and Registries VVE do likewise constitute and appoint That the Registers belonging to every such Ecclesiastical Judge shall place two Tables containing the several Rates and Sums of all the said Fees one in the usual place or Consistory where the Court is kept and the other in his Registry and both of them in such sort as every man whom it concerneth may without difficulty come to the view and perusal thereof and take a Copy of them the same Tables to be so set up before the Feast of the Nativity next ensuing And if any Register shall fail to place the said Tables according to the Tenour hereof he shall be Suspended from the execution of his Office until he cause the same to be accordingly done And the said Tables being once set up if he shall at any time remove or suffer the same to be removed hidden or any way hindered from sight contrary to the true meaning of this Constitution he shall for every such offence be Suspended from the exercise of his Office for the space of six Months CXXXVII The whole Fees for shewing Letters of Orders and other Licences due but once in every Bishops time FOrasmuch as a chief and principal cause and use of Visitation is that the Bishop Arch-Deacon or other assigned to Visit may get some good knowledge of the State Sufficiency and Ability of the Clergy and other persons whom they are to Visit We think it convenient that every Parson Vicar Curate Schoolmaster or other person Licensed whosoever do at the Bishops first Visitation or at the next Visitation after his Admission shew and exhibit unto him his Letters of Orders Institution and Induction and all other his Dispensations Licences or Faculties whatsoever to be by the said Bishop either allowed or if there be just cause disallowed and rejected and being by him approved to be as the custom is signed by the Register and that the whole Fees accustomed to be paid in the Visitations in respect of the Premisses be paid only once in the whole time of every Bishop and afterwards but half of the said accustomed Fees in every other Visitation during the said Bishops continuance Apparitors CXXXVIII The Number of Apparitors restrained FOrasmuch as we are desirous to redress such abuses and aggrievances as are said to grow by Somners or Apparitors We think it meet that the multitude of Apparitors be as much as is possible abridged or restrained Wherefore we decree and ordain That no Bishop or Archdeacon or their Vicars or Officials or other inferior Ordinaries shall depute or have more Apparitors to serve in their Jurisdictions respectively then either they or their Predecessors were accustomed to have thirty years before the publishing of these our present Constitutitions All which Apparitors shall by themselves faithfully execute their Offices neither shall they by any colour or pretence whatsoever cause or suffer their Mandates to be executed by any Messengers or Substitutes unless it be upon some good cause to be first known and approved by the Ordinary of the place Moreover they shall not take upon them the Office of Promoters or Informers for the Court neither shall they exact more or greater Fees than are in these our Constitutions formerly prescribed And if either the number of the Apparitors deputed shall exceed the fore said limitation or any of the said Apparitors shall offend in any of the Premisses the Persons deputing them if they be Bishops shall upon Admonition of their Superiour discharge the Persons exceeding the number so limited If inferiour Ordinaries they shall be suspended from the execution of their Office until they have dismissed the Apparitors by them so deputed and the Parties themselves so deputed shall for ever be removed from the Office of Apparitors and if being so removed they desist not from the exercise of their said Offices let them be punished by Ecclesiastical censures as persons contumacious Provided that if upon experience the number of the said Apparitors be too great in any Diocess in the judgment of the Archbishop of Canturbury for the time being they shall by him be so abridged as he shall think meet and convenient Authority of Synods CXXXIX A National Synod the Church Representative WHosoever shall hereafter affirm that the sacred Synod of this Nation in the Name of Christ and by the KING's Authority assembled is not the true Church of England by representation let him be Excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke that his wicked Error CXL Synods conclude as well the absent as the present WHosoever shall affirm That no manner of person either of the Clergy or Laity not being themselves particularly assembled in the said sacred Synod are to be subject to the Decrees thereof in causes Ecclesiastical made and ratified by the Kings Majesties supream Authority as not having given their voices unto them let him be Excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke that his wicked Error CXLI Depravers of the Synod censured WHosoever shall hereafter affirm That the sacred Synod assembled as aforesaid was a company of such persons as did conspire together against godly and religious professors of the Gospel and that therefore both they and their proceedings in making of Canons and Constitutions in causes Ecclesiastical by the Kings Authority as aforesaid ought to be despised and contemned the same being ratified confirmed and enjoyed by the said Regal Power Supremacy and Authority let them be Excommunicated and not restored until they repent and publickly revoke that their wicked Error WE of our Princely inclination and Royal care for the maintenance of the present Estate and Government of the Church of England by the Laws of this our Realm now settled 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 Clergy but to the whole Church of this our Kingdom and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore Us our Heirs and lawful Successors of our special Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion 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 of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and every thing in them contained as they are before written 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