breake or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honor of GOD the peace of the Church tranquillitie of the Kingdome and their dueties and service unto VS their King and Soveraigne In witnes c. CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian Faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments Wee doe receive and approve the Booke of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirme that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publique revocation of his errour II. The Kings Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained ALL Ecclesiasticall persons having cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinitie Lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times every yeare at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and Lectures That all usurped and forraine power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the Law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions is due unto such forraine power but that the Kings power within his Realme of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreyes is the highest power under God to whom all men aswell Inhabitants as borne within the same doe by Gods Lawes owe all loyaltie and obedience and to no other forraine power potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintaine that the Kings Majestie hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiasticall that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but onely by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publique revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contained in the Booke of Common Prayer THat forme of Liturgie or Divine Service and no other shal be used in any Church of this Realme but that which is established by the Law and comprised in the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speake any thing in the derogation or despising of the said Booke or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour III. Of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order THat forme of Ordination no other shal be used in this Church but that which is contained in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirme that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this governement are true Churches or refuse to joyne with them in Christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publiquely revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the doctrine governement rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyne with in Christian profession or shall affirme and maintaine that there are within this Realme other meetings assemblyes or congregations then such as by the Lawes of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawfull Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALL manner of persons shall celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the Word of GOD read and taught in private and publique prayers in acknowledging their offences to GOD and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of CHRIST in visiting the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript forme of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holydayes with all decencie and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usuall times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meet for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer and in the Act for uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof And in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daylie at the times both of prayer and preaching weare with their Surplises such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappell in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may weare a night-cap or coife Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times busied then in quiet attendance to heare marke and understand that which is read preached
as are thereby to be cited shall be first expressely entred by the hand of the Register or his deputy under the said Processes and the said processes and names be first subscribed by the Iudge or his deputy and his Seale thereto affixed And We further ordayne that when any person appeareth upon citation whatsoever that if the next Court day after there be not Articles or a Libell put in against him he shall then be dismissed with his costs LXX Maturity required in proceeding NO man for neglect of apparance shal be excommunicated for the first absence but shal be cited againe upon the same Proces And if hee cannot be found nor afterwards appeare upon vijs modis then to be decreed Excommunicandum fore Yet for preventing such neglect and that the party querelant may sustayne no detriment hereby it is likewise ordered that in causes of instance upon the apparance of any such person he shall pay the charge past before he be admitted to stand Rectus in Curiâ And in the end of every Court the names of those that are decreed shal be publikely read to the intent that they may avoyde the danger of the fearefull sentence of Excommunication Which course also We ordayne shal be holden with those that be already denounced excommunicate before the time of the signifying their obstinacie to the end they and others may be admonished of the danger in which they stand and to the aggravation of their obstinacie if they continue in the same LXXI No sentence of deprivation or deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop VVHen any Minister is complayned of in any Ecclesiasticall Court belonging to any Bishop for any crime the Chancellor Commissary Officiall or any other having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction to whoÌ„ it shall appertayne shall expedite the cause by Processes other proceedings against him and upon contumacy for not appearing shall first suspend him afterward his coÌ„tumacie continuing excommunicate him But if he appeare and submit himselfe to the course of Law then the matter being ready for sentence and the merits of his offence exacting by Law eyther deprivation from his living or depositioÌ„ from the Ministery no such sentence shal be pronounced by any person whosoever but onely by the Bishop with the assistance of his Chancellor the Deane if they may conveniently be had and some of the Prebendaries if the Court be kept neare the Cathedrall Church or of the Archdeacon if hee may be had conveniently and two other at the least grave Ministers and Preachers to be called by the Bishop when the Court is kept in other places It is likewise ordered that no Chancellor Commissary Officiall or any other person shall exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction over a Minister in causes criminall except he himselfe have beene admitted into the holy Orders of Priesthood LXXII No Act to be sped but in open Court NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Officiall or any other person using Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction whosoever shall speede any judiciall Act eyther of contentious or voluntary Iurisdiction except he have the ordinary Register of that Court or his lawfull deputy or if he or they will not or cannot be present then such persons as by Law are allowed in that behalfe to write or speede the same under paine of suspension ipso facto LXXIII No Court to have more than one Seale NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Officiall or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall without the Bishops consent have any moe than one Seale for the sealing of all matters incident to his Office which Seale shall alwayes be kept eyther by himselfe or by his lawfull substitute exercising Iurisdiction for him and remayning within the Iurisdiction of the said Iudge or in the City or principall Towne of the County This Seale shall contayne the title of thaâ— Iurisdiction which every of the said Iudges or their deputies doe execute LXXIIII Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of Courts ALl Chancellors Commissaries Archdeacons Officials and all others exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall appoint such meete places for the keeping of their Courts by the assignement or approbation of the Bishop of the Diocesse as shal be convenient for entertaynement of those who are to make their appearance there and most indifferent for their travell And likewise they shall keepe and end their Courts in such convenient time as every man may returne homewards in as due season as may be LXXV Peculiar inferior Courts to exhibite the Originall copies of VVills into the Bishops Registry VVHereas Deanes Archdeacons Prebendaries Parsons Vicars others exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction clayme liberty to prove the last Wills and Testaments of persons deceased within their severall Iurisdictions having no knowne nor certaine Registers nor publike places to keepe their Records in by reason whereof many Wills rights and Legacies upon the death or change of such persons and their private Notaryes miscarry and cannot be found to the great prejudice of his Maâ—esties Subjects We therefore order and enjoyne that all possessors and exercisers of peculiar Iurisdiction shall once in every yeare exhibite into the publike Registry of the Bishop of the Diocesse or of the Deane Chapter under whose Iurisdiction the said peculiars are every originall testameÌ„t of every person in that time deceased and by them proved in their severall peculiar Iurisdictions or a true Copy of every such testament examined subscribed sealed by the peculiar Iudge and his Notary Otherwise if any of them fayle so to doe the Bishop of the Diocesse or Deane and Chapter unto whom the said Iurisdictions doe respectively belong shall suspend the said parties and everie of them from the exercise of all such peculiar Iurisdiction untill they have performed this our Constitution LXXVI The quality and Oath of Iudges Surrogates NO man shall hereafter be admitted a Chancellor Commissary Officiall or Surrogate to exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction except hee be of the full age of sixe and twentie yeares at the least and one that is learned in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes and is at the least a Master of Arts or Bachellor of Law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof as likewise well affected and zealously bent to Religion touching whose life and manners no evill example is had and except before he enter into or execute any such office hee shall take the Oath of the Kings Supremacie in the presence of the Bishop or in the open Court and shall declare his consent by subscription to the two first Canons of this present Synod And also shall sweare that hee will to the uttermost of his understanding deale uprightly and justly in his Office without respect of favour or reward The said Oathes and subscription to be recorded by a Register then present And it is likewise ordered that every Register shall take the said Oath of Supremacie and subscribe as aforesaid before he be admitted to exercise that Office And also
that all Chancellors Commissaryes Officials Registers and all others that doe now possesse or execute any places of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction or service shall before Christmas next in the presence of the Archbishop or Bishop or in open Court under whom or where they exercise their Offices take the same oathes Or upon refusall so to doe shal be suspended from the execution of their Offices untill they shall take the said Oathes LXXVII Proctors not to retayne causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties NOne shall Procure in any cause whatsoever unlesse hee be thereunto constituted and appointed by the party himselfe eyther before the Iudge and by Act in Court or unlesse in the beginning of the suite hee be by a true and sufficient Proxey therunto warranted enabled We call that Proxey sufficient which is strengthened and confirmed by some authenticall Seale the parties approbation or at least his ratification therewithall concurring All which Proxeys shall be forthwith by the said Proctors exhibited into the Court and be safely kept and preserved by the Register in the publike Registry of the said Court. And if any Register or Proctor shall offend herein hee shal be secluded from the exercising of his office for the space of two Moneths without hope of release or restoring LXXVIII Proctors prohibited the Oath in animam domini sui FOrasmuch as in the probate of Testaments suites for administration of the goods of persons dying intestate the Oath usually taken by Proctors of Court in animam constituentis is found to be inconvenient We doe therefore decree and ordayne that every Executor or suiter for administration shall personally repayre to the Iudge in that behalfe or to his Sutrogate and in his owne person and not by Proctor take the Oath accustomed in these cases But if by reason of sicknesse or age or any other just lett or impediment he be not able to make his personall appearāce before the Iudge it shal be lawfull for the Iudge 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 Ecclesiasticall person abiding neere the party aforesaid whereby hee shall give power and authority to the said Ecclesiasticall person in his steade to Minister the accustomed Oath above mentioned to the Executor or suiter for such administration Requiring his said substitute that by a faithfull and trusty messenger he certifie the said Iudge truly and faithfully what hee hath done therein Lastly Wee ordayne and appoint that no Iudge or Register shall in any wise receive for the writing drawing or sealing of any such Comission above the summe of fixe shillings and eight pence whereof one moyety to be for the Iudge and the other for the Register of the said Court LXXIX Proctors not to be clamorous in Court FOrasmuch as it is found by experience that the lowd and confused cryes and clamors of Proctors in the Ecclesiasticall Courts in this Kingdome are not onely troublesome and offensive to the Iudge and Advocates but also give occasion to the standers by of contempt and calumny toward the Court it selfe That more respect may be had to the dignitie of the Iudge than heretofore and that causes may more easily and commodiously be handled and dispatched We charge and enjoyne that all Proctors in the said Court doe especially intend that the Acts may be faithfully entred and set downe by the Register according to the advise and direction of the Advocate That the said Proctors refrayne lowd speech and brabling and behave themselves quietly and modestly and that when eyther the Iudges or Advocates or any of them shall happen to speake they presently be silent upon paine of silencing for two whole termes 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 reforme himselfe let him be for ever removed from his practice LXXX The Oath de calumnia not to be refused VVE ordayne and appoint that aswell the Actor as his Proctor and Advocate if they be required shall take the Oath De calumniâ wheresoever in the suite the same shall be tendred before sentence upon paine that the cause shal be dismissed by the Iudge with costs for the party grieved LXXXI Abuses to be reformed in Registers IF any Register or his deputy or substitute whatsoever shall receive any certificate without the knowledge and consent of the Iudge of the Court or willingly omit to cause any persons cited to appeare upon any Court day to be called or unduely put off and deferre the examination of witnesses to be examined by a day set and assigned by the Iudge or doe not obey and observe the said Iudiciall and lawfull monition of the said Iudge 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 downe or enact as decreed by the Iudge any thing false or conceyted by himselfe and not so ordered and decreed by the Iudge or in the transmission of Processes to the Iudge ad quem shall adde or insert any falshood or untruth or omit any thing therein eyther by cunning or by grosse negligence or in cases of instance or promoted of Office shall receive any reward in favour of eyther party or be of Counsell directly or indirectly with eyther of the parties in suite or in the execution of their Office shall do ought else maliciously or fraudulently whereby the said Ecclesiasticall Iudge or his proceeding may be slandered or defamed Wee will and ordayne that the said Register or his deputy or substitute offending in all or any the premises shall by the Bishop of the Diocesse be suspended from the exercise of his Office for the space of one two or three Moneths or more according to the qualitie of the offence And that some other publike Notarie doe execute and discharge all things pertayning to his Office during the time of his said suspension LXXXII A certaine rate of Fees to all Ecclesiasticall Officers NO Bishop Suffragan Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Officiall or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction whatsoever nor any Register of any Ecclesiasticall Courts nor any Minister belonging to any of the said Offices or Courts shall hereafter for any cause incident to their severall Offices take or receive any other or greater Fee than such as are or shal be allowed by lawfull authoritie in this kingdome under paine that every such Iudge Officer or Minister offending therin shal be suspended from the exercise of their severall Offices for the space of sixe Moneths for every such offence LXXXIII A table of the rates of Fees to be set up in Courts Registries WE doe likewise constitute appoint that the Registers belonging to every Ecclesiasticall Iudge
CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Cleargie of IRELAND And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at DUBLIN Anno Dom. 1634. And in the yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Britaine France and Ireland the tenth And now published for the due observation of them by his Majesties Authoritie under the Great Seale of Ireland DVBLIN Printed by the Societie of Stationers Printers to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty An. Dom. 1635 THE TABLE ⧠Of the Church of Jreland 1. OF the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion 2. The Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiaesticall to be maintayned 3. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contayned in the Booke of Common prayer 4. Of the forme of Consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order 5. Authors of schismes and maintayners of Conventicles censured ¶ Of Divine Service preaching of the VVord and administration of the Sacraments 6. DVe celebration of Sundayes and Holy-daies 7. The prescript forme of Divine service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence 8. Of the ordering of certaine parts of the Service 9. Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their livings to preach every Sunday 10. No publique opposition betweene Preachers 11. Ministers to Catechize every Sunday 12. The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation 13. Preachers and Lecturers to reade Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least 14. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury 15. Ministers not to deferre Christening if the child be in danger 16. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not-Communicants 17. Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Bishop once in three yeares 18. Of the receiving of the holy Communion 19. VVarning to be given before hand for the Communion 20. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion 21. Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses 22. Ministers not to hold private conventicles ¶ Of Bishops Archdeacons Deanes and Prebendaries 23. OF Ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction 24. Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons 25. Of Archdeacons 26. Residence of Deanes in their Churches 27. Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their Residence 28. Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices ¶ Of the Ordination function and charge of Ministers 29. I Oure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers 30. The titles of such as are to be made Ministers 31. The qualitie of such as are to be made Ministers 32. The examination of such as are to be made Ministers 33. Caution for Institution of Ministers into Benefices 34. Patrons of Ecclesiasticall Benefices 35. Prevention of Symoniacall contracts in those that are presented by them 36. Small Parishes to be united and Residence enjoyned 37. Absence of Beneficed men and livings appropriated to be supplyed by Curats that are allovved Preachers 38. None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop 39. Strangers not admitted to preach without Licence 40. Ministers to conferre with Recusants 41. Ministers to visite the sicke 42. Sobernesse of conversation and decencie of apparell required in Ministers 43. Of consecration of Churches 44. A Terrier of gleabe-lands and other possessions belonging to Churches 45. Payment of Tythes 46. A Registry to bee kept of Christnings VVeddings and Burials ¶ Of Marriages Divorces 47. NOne to marry within the degrees prohibited 48. None to marry under XXI yeares without their Parents consent 49. Security to be taken at the granting of such Licences and under what conditions 50. Oathes to be taken for the conditions 51. An exception for those that are in VVidowhood 52. Ministers not to marry any person without Bannes 53. No sentence for Divorce to be given upon the sole confession of the parties 54. No sentence of Divorce to be given but in open court 55. In all sentences for Divorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life ¶ Of Ecclesiasticall Courts and Iurisdiction 56. THe Order of Iurisdictions to be kept 57. The restraint of double Quarrels upon the respite of Institution 58. Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Advocate 59. Inhibitions not to be granted untill the Appeale be exhibited to the Iudge 60. Solemne denunciation of parties excommunicated 61. Notorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiasticall Courts by presentments 62. Schismaticks to be presented 63. Not-communicants at Easter to be presented 64. Ministers may present 65. Ministers and Church-wardens not to be sued for presenting 66. Church-wardens not bound to present oftner than twice a yeare 67. Church-wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a yeare 68. Convenient time to bee assigned for framing presentments 69. None to be cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Proces of Quorum nomina 70. Maturity required in proceeding 71. No sentence of Deprivation or Deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop 72. No Act to be sped but in open Court 73. No court to have more than one Seale 74. Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of Courts 75. Peculiar and inferior Courts to exhibit the originall Copies of VVills into the Bishops Registry 76. The qualitie and Oath of Iudges and Surrogates 77. Proctors not to retayne Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties 78. Proctors prohibited the Oath in animam domini sui 79. Proctors not to be clamorous in Court 80. The Oath de calumniâ not to be refused 81. Abuses to be reformed in Registers 82. A certaine rate of Fees to all Ecclesiasticall Offiicers 83. A table of the rates of Fees to be set up in Courts and Registries 84. The whole Fees for shewing Letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time 85. The number of Apparators restrayned ¶ Of Parish Clearks Church-wardens and Schoole-masters and their severall duties 86. PArish Clearks to be chosen by the Minister 87. The choyce of Church-wardens and their Accompt 88. The choyce of Side-men and their joynt office with Church-wardens 89. The old Church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworne 90. The duty of Church-wardens touching such persons as are out of the Church in the time of Gods worship on Sundayes and Holy-dayes 91. Their duty touching those persons that are in the Church at that time 92. To keepe the Church from being prophaned at all other times 93. To see Churches and Church-yards kept in sufficient reparation 94. To furnish all Churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine Service Preaching and administration of the Sacraments 95. To provide things fitting for every Communion and to observe those that come or come not to the same 96. To
appertaineth according to the quality of the offence XXVIII Prebendaries to be resident upon their Benefices NO Prebendaries or Canons in Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches having one or more Benefices with cure and not being residentaries in the same Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches shall under colour of the said Prebends absent themselves from their Benefices with cure above the space of one moneth in the yeare unlesse it be for some urgent cause and certaine time to be allowed by the Bishop of the Diocesse And such of the said Canons and Prebendaryes as by the Ordinances of the said Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches doe stand bound to be resident in the same shall so among themselves sort and proportion the times of the yeare concerning residence to bee kept in the said Churches as that some of them alwayes shall be personally resident there And that all those who be or shal be Residentaries in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall after the dayes of their residencie appointed by their locall Statutes or customes expired presently repaire to their Benefices or some of them or to some other charge where the Law requireth their presence there to discharge their duties according to the Law in that ease provided And the Bishop of the Diocesse shall see the same to be duely performed and put in execution XXIX Foure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers FOrasmuch as the ancient Fathers of the Church led by the examples of the Apostles appointed Prayers and Fasts to be used at the solemne ordering of Ministers and to that purpose allotted certaine times in which onely sacred Orders might be given or conferred Wee following their holy and religious example doe constitute and decree that no Deacons or Ministers be ordained and made but onely upon the Sundayes immediately following Iejunia quatuor temporum commonly called Ember-weekes appointed in ancient time for prayer and fasting purposely for this cause at their first Institution so coÌ„tinued at this day in the Church of Ireland And that this be done in the Cathedral or Parish Church where the Bishop resideth and in the time of Divine Service in the presence not onely of the Archdeacon but of the Deane two Prebendaries at the least or if they shall happen by any lawfull cause to be let or hindered in the presence of foure other grave persons being allowed for publique Preachers And lastly that no person of what qualitie or gifts soever be made a Deacon and Presbyter both together upon the same day XXX The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers NO person shal be admitted into sacred Orders except he shall at that time exhibite to the Bishop of whom he desireth imposition of hands a presentation of himselfe to some Ecclesiasticall preferment then voyde in that Diocesse or shall bring to the said Bishop a true and undoubted certificate that either he is provided of some Church within the said Diocesse where hee may attend the cure of soules or of some Ministers place vacant either in the Cathedrall Church of that Diocesse or in some other Collegiate Church therein also scituate where he may execute his Ministery or that he is a Senior Fellow of some Colledge in the Vniversitie except he be a Master of Arts of five yeares standing that liveth of his owne charge in the Vniversitie or except by the Bishop himselfe that doth ordaine him Minister he be shortly after to be admitted either to some Benefice or Curateship then voyde not to be removed untill he be otherwise provided for except by his notable evill carriage he deserve the contrary And if any Bishop shall admit any person into the Ministery that hath none of these Titles as is aforesaid then he shall keepe maintaine him with all things necessary till he doe preferre him to some Ecclesiasticall Living And if the said Bishop shall refuse so to doe he shal be suspended by his Archbishop being assisted with another Bishop from giving of Orders by the space of a yeare XXXI The quality of such as are to be made Ministers NO Bishop shall hereafter admit any person into sacred Orders which is not of his owne Diocesse except he be a graduaâ—â— of some Vniversitie within the Kings Dominions or except he shall bring letters dimissory so termed from the Bishop of whose Diocesse he is and desiring to be a Deacon is three and twentie yeares olde and to be a Presbyter foure and twentie yeares compleate and hath taken some degree of Schoole iâ— some of the said Vniversities or at the least except he be able to yeild an account of his faith in Latine according to the Articles of Religion generally received in the Church of England and Ireland and to confirme the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy Scriptures And except moreover hee shall then exhibit letters Testimoniall or Authenticall Certificate of his good life and conversation under the Seale of some Colledge where before he remained or of three or foure grave Ministers together with the subscription and testimony of other credible persons who have knowne his life and behaviour by the space of three yeares next before XXXII The examination of such as are to be made Ministers THe Bishop before he admit any person to holy Orders shall diligently examine him in the presence of those Ministers that shall assist him at the Imposition of hands And if the said Bishop have any lawfull impediment he shall cause the said Ministers carefully to examine every such person so to be ordered Provided that they who shall assist the Bishop in examining and laying on of hands shal be of his Cathedrall Church if they may conveniently be had or other sufficient Preachers of the same Diocesse to the number of three at the least And if any Bishop or Suffragan shall admit any to sacred Orders who is not so qualified and examined as before we have ordayned the Archbishop of that Province having notice thereof and being assisted by one Bishop shall suspend the said Bishop or Suffragan so offending from making either Deacons or Priests for the space of two yeares Neither shall any person be received into the Ministery nor admitted to any Ecclesiasticall Living nor permitted to preach reade Lecture catechize or Minister the Sacraments except he shall first by subscription declare his consent to the first foure Canons of this present Synod and every thing contayned therein XXXIII Caution for institution of Ministers into Benefices NO Bishop shall institute any into a Benefice who hath beene ordayned 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 appeare upon the due examination to be worthy of his Ministry XXXIIII Patrons of Ecclesiasticall Benefices THe Bishop shall earnestly and diligently exhort Patrons of benefices to consider the necessities of the Churches and to have before their eyes the
shall place two Tables contayning the severall rates and summes of all the said Fees one in the usuall 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 perusall thereof and take a Copy of them And if any Register shall fayle to place the said Tables according to the Tenor hereof within the space of a Moneth after the same hath beene delivered to him by the Bishop of the Diocesse hee shal be suspended from the execution of his Office untill he cause the same to be accordingly done And the said Table 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 coÌ„trary to the true meaning of this CoÌ„stitution he shall for every offence be suspended from the exercise of his office for the space of sixe Moneths LXXXIIII The whole Fees for shewing letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time FOrasmuch as a chiefe and principall cause and use of Visitations is that the Archbishops Bishops or other assigned by them to visit may get some good knowledge of the state sufficiency and ability of the Clergy other persons whom they are to visit We thinke it convenient that everie Parson Vicar Curate Schoolemaster or other person licenced whosoever do at the Archbishops or Bishops first visitation or at the next visitation after his admission shew and exhibit unto them his letters of Orders Institution Induction and all other his dispensations liceÌ„ces or faculty whatsoever to be by the said Archbishops or Bishops eyther allowed of or if there be just cause disallowed rejected being by them approved to be as the custome is signed by the Register And that the whole Fees accustomed be payed onely once in the whole time of every Archbishop or Bishop and afterwards but halfe of the said accustomed Fees in every visitation during the said Bishops continuance LXXXV The number of Apparitors restrayned FOrasmuch as we are desirous to redresse such abuses and greivances as are said to grow by Sumners or Apparitors Wee thinke it meete that the multitude of Apparitors be asmuch as is possible abridged or restrayned Wherefore We decree and ordayne that no Bishop or Archdeacon or their Vicars or Officials or other inferior Ordinaryes shall depute or have more Apparitors to serve in their Iurisdictions respectively than one in every Deanery at the most besides the generall Apparitor of the Bishop All which Apparitors shall by themselves faithfully execute their Offices neyther shall they by any colour or pretence whatsoever cause or suffer their mandats to be executed by any messengers or substitutes unlesse it be upon some good cause to be first knowne and approved by the Ordinary of the place Moreover they shall not take upon them the Office of Promotors or Informers for the Court neyther 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 foresaid limitation or any of the said Apparitors shall offend in any of the premises the persons deputing them if they be Bishops shall upon admoâ—ition of their Superior discharge the persons exceeding the nuÌ„ber so limited if inferior Ordinaryes they shall be suspended from the execution of their Offices untill 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 Ecclesiasticall censures as persons coÌ„tumacious Provided that if upon experience the number of the said Apparitors be too great in any Diocesse in the judgement of the Archbishop of the Province they shall by him be so abridged as he shall thinke meete and convenient LXXXVI Parish Clerkes to be chosen by the Minister NO parish-Clerke upon any vacation shal be chosen but by the ParsoÌ„ or Vicar or where there is no presentative or collative Parson or Vicar by the Minister of that place for the time being Which choyce shal be signified by the said Minister Vicar or Parson to the Bishop of the Diocesse to be by him approved And if the Parson Vicar or Curate shall fayle to make choyce of such a man and present him to the Bishop to be by him allowed by the space of forty dayes after the vacancy in such case the Bishop shall have power to nominate and appoint a Clerke for that place And the said Clerke shal be of twenty years of age at the least and knowne to the said Parson Vicar or Minister to be of honest conversation and sufficient for his reading writing and also for his competent skill in singing if it may be And where the Minister is an English man many Irish in the parish such a one as shal be able to reade those parts of the Service which shal be appointed to be read in Irish if it may be the Clerks so chosen shal be resident and performe their duties in their own persons For which they shall receive their due wages without diminution at such times as have beene accustomed And if any question doe arise concerning the said custome or wages the Bishop of the Diocesse shall set an order therein LXXXVII The choyce of Church-wardens their accompt ALl Church-wardens or Quest-men in every parish shall be chosen on Monday or Tuesday in Easter-weeke by the joynt consent of the Minister the Parishioners if it may be But if they cannot agree upon such a choyce then the Minister shall choose one the Parishioners another and without such a joynt or severall choyce none shall take upon them to be Church-wardens neyther shall they continue any longer than one yeare in that Office except perhaps they may be chosen againe in like manner And upon the next Consistory day after such election they shall take their Oath before the Bishop or his Chancellor and in case the Parish shall fayle to joyne or elect as is aforesaid the Ordinary shall supply the defect And all Church-wardens at the end of their yeare or within a Moneth after at the most shall before the Minister and Parishioners give up a just accompt of such Money as they have received and also what particularly they have bestowed in reparations and otherwise for the use of the Church And last of all going out of their Office they shall truly deliver up to the Parishioners whatsoever Money or other things of right belonging to the Church or parish which remayneth in their hands that it may be delivered over by them to the next Church-wardens by Bill indented LXXXVIII The choyce of Side-men and their joynt Office with Church-wardens THe Church-wardens of every Parish and two or more discreete persons in every parish to