Constitutions AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of IERLAND And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties Licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Dom. 1634. And in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland the Tenth And published for the due Observation of them by His Majesties Authority under the Great Seal of IRELAND DVBLIN Printed by Benjamin Tooke Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and are to be sold by Samuel Dancer in Castle street 1669. THE TABLE Of the Church of Ireland 1. OF the agreement of the church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same christian Religion 2. The Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical to be maintained 3. Of the Prescript form of Divine service contained in the book of Common Prayer 4. Of the form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the churches established according to that order 5. Anthors of schismes and maintainers of conventicles censured ¶ Of Divine Service preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments 6. DVe celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes 7. The prescrip form of Divine service to be used on sundayes and holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence 8 Of the ordering of certain parts of the service 9 Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their livings to preach every sunday 10. No publick opposition between Preacâ—ers 11. Ministers to Catechize every Sunday 12. The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation 13. Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service and administer the sacraments twice a year at the least 14. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury 15. Ministers not to defer christening if the child be in danger 16. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptism nor children not communicants 17. Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Bishop once in three years 18. Of the receiving of the holy communion 19. Warning to be given before hand for the communion 20. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the communion 21. Ministers not to preach or administer the communion in private houses 22. Ministers not to hold private conventicles ¶ Of Bishops Archdeacons Deans and Prebendaries 23 OF Ordering Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 24. Of ordering the revennes of Ecclesiastical persons 25. Of Archdeacens 26. Residence of Deans in their Churches 27. Deans and Prebendaries to preach during their Residence 28. Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices ¶ Of the Ordination function and charge of Ministers 29. FOur solemn times appointed for the making of Ministers 30. The titles of such as are to be made Ministers 31. The quality of such as are to be made Ministers 32. The examination of such as are to be made Ministers 33. Caution for Institution of Ministers into Benefices 34. Patrons of Ecclesiastical Benefices 35. Prevention of Symoniacal contract in those that are presented by them 36. Small Parishes to be united and residence enjoyned 37. Absence of Beneficed men and livings appropriated to be supplyed by Curats that are allowed Preachers 38. None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop 39. Strangers not admitted to preach without Licence 40. Ministers to confer with Recusants 41. Ministers to visit the sick 42. Soberness of conversation and decency of apparel required in Ministers 43. Of Consecration of Churches 44. A Terrier of gleabe lands and other possessions belonging to Churches 45. Payment of Tythes 46. A Registry to be kept of Christnings Weddings and Burials ¶ Of Marriages and divorces 47. NOne to marry within the degrees prohibited 48. None to marry under XXI years without their Parents consent 49. Security to be taken at the granting of such Licences and under what conditions 50. Oaths to be taken for the conditions 51. An exception for those that are in Widowhood 52. Ministers not to marry any person without Bannes 53. No sentence for divorce to be given upon the sole confession of the parties 54. No sentence of divorce to be given but in open court 55. In all sentences for divorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life ¶ Of Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdiction 56. THe order of Jurisdictions to be kept 57. The restraint of double Quarrels upon the respite of Institution 58. Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Advocate 59. Inhibitions not to be granted until the Appeal be exhibited to the judge 60. Solemn denunciation of parties excommunicated 61. Notorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiastical courts by presentments 62. Schismaticks to be presented 63. Not communicants at Easter to be presented 64. Ministers may present 65. Ministers and church-wardens not to be sued for presenting 66. church wardens not bound to present oftner than twice a year 67. Church wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a year 68. Convenient time to be assigned for framing presentments 69. None to be cited into Ecclesiastical courts by Process of Quorum nomina 70. Maturity required in proceeding 71. No sentence of deprivation or deposition to be prenounced against a Minister but by the Bishop 72. No Act to be sped but in open court 73. No court to have more than one Seal 74. Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of courts 75. Peculiar and inferiour courts to exhibit the original copies of Wills into the Bishops Registry 76. The quality and Oath of Judges and Surrogates 77. Proctors not to retain causes without the lawfull assignment of the parties 78. Proctors prohibited the Oath in animam domini sui 79. Proctors not to be clamorous in court 80. The Oath de calumniâ not to be refused 81. Abuses to be reformed in Registers 82. A certain rateof fees to all Ecclesiastical Officers 83. A table of the rates of fees to be set up in courts and Registries 84. The whole fees for shewing Letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time 85. The number of Apparators restrained ¶ Of Parish Clerks Church wardeus and Schoolmasters and their several duties 86. PArish clerks to be chosen by the Minister 87. The choice of church-wardens and their accompt 88. The choice of Sidermen and their joynt office with church-wardens 89. The old church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new besworn 90. The duty of church wardent touching such persons as are out of the church in the time of Gods worship on sundayes and Holy dayes 91. Their duty touching those persons that are in the church at that time 92. To keep the church from being prophaned at all other times 93. To see churches and church yards kept in sufficient reparation 94. To furnish all churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine service Preaching and administration of the sacraments 95. To provide things sitting for every communion and to observe those that come
not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church tranquillity of the Kingdom and their duties and sorvice unto Us their King and Soveraign In witness c. Constitutions AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the church of England in the confession of the same christian faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments We do receive and approve the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole clergy in the convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God 1562. for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirm that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publick revocation of his errour II. The Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical to be maintained ALl Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinity lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other collations and lectures That all usurped and sorrain power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realms and Dominions is due unto such forreign power but that the Kings power within his Realm of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countries is the highest power under God to whom all men as well Inhabitants as born within the same do by Gods laws owe all loyalty and obedience and to no other forreign power and potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintain that the Kings-Majesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Jews and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regal supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crown and by the laws of this Realm therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but only by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publick revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript form of Divine Service contained in the book of Common Prayer THat form of Liturgy or Divine Seâ—vice and no other shall be used in any Church of this Realm but that which is established by the law and comprised in the book of Common-Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speak any thing in the derogation or despising of the said book or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour IV. Of the form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the churches established according to that order THat form of ordination and no other shall be used in this Church but that which is contained in the book of Ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirm that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this government are true Churches or refuse to joyn with them in christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves rogether in a new brotherhood accounting the christians who are conformable to the doctrine government rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyn with in christian profession or shall affirm and maintain that there are within this Realm other meetings assemblies or congregations than such as by the laws of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALl manner of persons shall celebrate and keep the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ in visiting the poor and fick using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript form of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usual times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocess or Ecclesiastical Ordinary of the place shall think meet for the largeness or straitness of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies prescribed in the book of Common prayer and in the Act for Uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or form thereof And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches all Deans Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching wear with their Surplices such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappel in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may wear a night-cap or coise Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times
or come not to the same 96. To provide a chest for Alms in every church 97. To abolish all monuments of superstition 98. None to teach school without Licence and curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others 99. The duty of school masters ¶ Of the authority of the Synod 100. The Authority of this National synod established HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Desender of the faith c. To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas our Bishops Deans of our cathedral churches Arch-deacons chapters and colledges and the rest of the clergy within our Kingdom of Ireland were summoned and called by vertue of our writs directed to the Arch-bishops of the four several Provinces and bearing date the four and twentieth day of May in the teuth year of our Reign to appear before the said Arch-bishops in the cathedral church of St. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of July then next ensuing then and there to treat and conclude upon certain high and urgent affairs in the said writs mentioned who did thereupon at the time appointed and in the said cathedral church of St. Patricks aforesaid assemble themselves and appear in convocation for that purpose according to the tenor of the said writs And whereas we for divers urgent and weighty occasions us thereunto moving of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion did by vertue of our prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical give and grant by our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of July in the teuth year of our Reign full power and authority unto the said Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons chapters colledges and clergy of this Kingdom then assembled in convocation in the said cathedral church of St. Patrick that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might confer treat consult and conclude of and upon such Articles canons Orders Ordinances Statutes and constitutions Ecclesiastical as they shall think necessary fit and convenient for the honour and service of Almighty God and augmentation of his divine worship the rooting out of heresies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ for the procuring of the good and quiet of the church and preservation of good government in causes Ecclesiastical and to the Jurisdiction of the church belonging as also to make and set down ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other canons and constitutions of the church have and the same our royal assent being thereunto first had and obtained to set forth and publish freely and lawfully and that as well the Archbishops and Bishops and all other inferiour persons whom it may concern should yield due obedience thereunto as in and by our said letters Patents more at large it doth and may appear Forasmuch as the said Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons chapters and colledges with the rest of the clergy of this Kingdom having met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted unto them have treated of concluded and agreed upon certain canons orders ordinances and constitutions to the end and purpose by Us limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered and presented the same unto Us most humbly desiring Us to give our royal assent unto their said canons orders ordinances and constitutions according to the form of a certain Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf and by our said Prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical to ratifie by our letters Patents under our Great Seal of Ireland and to confirm the said canons being one hundred in number and contained in a book Entituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland the Tenth which book is remaining with John Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convocation We of our Princely inclination and royal care for the maintenance of the present estate and government of the church of Ireland by the laws of this our Realm now setled and established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said canons orders ordinances and constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed and finding the same such as we are perswaded will be very profitable not only to our elergy but to the whole church of this our Kingdom and to all the true members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for us our Heirs and lawfull Successors of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion by the advice and consent of our right trusty and right well beloved cousin à nd Councellour Thomas Visecunt Wentworth our Deputy general of our said Kingdom of Ireland and President of our council established in the North parts of our Kingdom of England given and by these presents do give our royal assent according to the form of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions and all and every thing in them contained And furthermore we do not only by our said Prerogative royal and supream authority in causes Ecclesiastical ratifie confirm and establish by these our letters Patents the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions and all and every thing in them contained as is aforesaid but do likewise propound publish and stâ—aightly enjoyn and command by our said authority and by these our letters Patents the same to be diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdom in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signisied and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever he be called shall in the Parish Church or chappel where he hath charge read all the said canons orders ordinances and constitutions once every year upon some Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the afternoon before divine service dividing the same in such sort as that the one half may be read one day and the other another day The book of the said canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of Easter next ensuing Straightly charging and commanding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within this Realm every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the same canons orders ordinances and constitutions to be in all points duly observed
busied than in quiet attendance to hear marke and understand that which is read preached or ministred using all such reverent gestures and actions as by the book of Common Prayer are prescribed in that behalf and the commendable use of this Church received and not departing out of the Church during the time of Service and Sermon without some urgent or reasonable cause VIII Of the ordering of certain parts of the Service ALso the Minister reading the lessons Epistle and Gospel and the Ten commandements and such other parts of Divine service as do greatly tend to the edifying of the people shall so place himselt and so turn him to the people as they may best hearken thereunto and be edified by the same And every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavour that the confession of sinns and absolution and all the second service at or before the communion to the Homily or Sermon where the people all or most are Irish shall be used in English first and after in Irish if the Ordinary of the place shall so think meet IX Beneficed Pâ—eachers being resident upon their livings to preceh every Sunday EVery beneficed man allowed to be a Preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawful impediment shall in his own cure preach one Sermon every Sunday of the year And therein he shall reach no vain opinions no Heâ—esies nor Popish errors disagreeing from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland nor any thing at all whereby the people may be stirred up to the desire of novelties or contention but shall soberly and sincerely divide the Word of truth to the glory of God and to the best edification of the people X. No publick opposition between Preachers IF any Preacher shall in the Pulpit particularly or namely of purpose impugne or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church or in any other near adjoyning or otherwise make any publick opposition unto him before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocess therewith and received order from him what to do in that case because upon such publick dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquieting to the people the Church-wardens or party grieved shall forthwith signifie the same to the said Bishops and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he has once abused except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the Church until the Bishop hath taken further order therein who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein that publick satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given Provided that if either of the parties offending do appeal he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite XI Ministers to catechize every Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday before Evening Prayer shall for half an hour or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the Ten commandements the Articles of the belief and in the lords prayer and shall diligently hear and instruct and teach them the catechisme set forth in the book of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children Servants and Apprentises which have not learned the catechism to come to Church at the time appointed obediently to hear and to be ordered by the Minister until they have learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duty herein let him be sharply reproved upon the first complaint and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place If after submitting himself he shall wilsully offend therein again let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will be therein reformed then excommunicated and so remain until he will be reformed And likewise if any of the said Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses children servants or apprentices shall neglect their duties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learn as aforesaid let them be suspended if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth let them be excommunicated Neither shall the Minister admit any to be married or to be Godfathers or God mothers at the Baptism of any childe or to receive the holy communion before they can say the Articles of the belief the Lords Prayer and the commandements in such a language as they understand XII The People to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation FOr the better grounding of the People in the Principles of christian Religion We ordain that the heads of the catechism being divided into so many parts as there are Sundayes in the year shall be explained to the people in every Parish church In the handling whereof the Ministers and Curates are to use such moderation that they do not run into curious questions or unnecessary controversies but shortly declare and confirm the doctrine proposed and make application thereof to the behoof of the hearers The Ministers also in all their preachings and catechizings and private conferences when need requireth shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in God and not in creatures neither in the Habit or Scapular of any Fryer or in hallowed Beads Medals Reliques or such like trumperies They shall do their endeavour likewise to root out all ungodly superstitious and barbarous customs as using of charms sorcery enchantments witchcrast or sooth saying and generally to resorm the manners of the people committed to their charge unto a christian sober and civil conversation XIII Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a year at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a benefice that hath cure and charge of Souls although he chiefly attend to preaching and hath a Curate under him to execute other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise every other stipendary Preacher that readeth any lecture or catechizeth or preacheth in any Church or Chappel shall twice at the least every year read himself the Divine Service upon two several Sundayes publickly and at the usual times both in the forenoon and afternoon in the Church which he so possesseth or where he readeth catechizeth or preacheth as is aforesaid and shall likewise as often in every year administer the Sacraments of Baptism if there be any to be baptized and of the Lords Supper in such manner and form and with the use and observation of all such Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the book of Common prayer and the Act for Uniformity printed therewith in that behalf which if he do not accordingly perform then shall he that is possessed of a benefice as before be suspended and he that is but a Reader Preacher or catechizer be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocess until he or they shall submit themselves
communion in any private house except it be in times of necessity when any being either so impotent as he cannot go to the Church or very dangerously sick are defirous to be partakers of that Holy Sacrament under pain of suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the second Provided that houses are here reputed for private houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiastical laws of this Realm And provided also under the pain before expressed that no Chaplains do preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they do the same very seldome upon Sundays and Holy-days So that both the Lords and masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their own Parish Churches and there receive the Holy Communion at the least once every year XXII Ministers not to hold private Conventicles FOrasmuch as all Conventicles and secret meetings of Priests and Ministers have been ever justly accounted very hurtfull to the state of the church wherein they live We do now ordain and constitute that no Priests or ministers of the word of God nor any other persons shall meet together in any private house or elsewhere to consult upon any matter or course to be taken by them or upon their motion or direction by any other which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the Doctrine of the Church of Ireland or of the Book of Common prayer or of any part of the Government and Discipline now established in the Church of Ireland under pain of Excommunication XXIII Of Ordering Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction NO Archbishop Bishop or other person whatsoever having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction shall appoint constitute make and confirm any Chancellor Commissary or Official for longer time than their own incumbency except he be of the full age of twenty six years at least and one that is learned in the civil and ecclesiastical laws and is at the least a master of Arts or Batchelor of law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof Neither shall they let their Jurisdictions to farm or grant or confirm to any man the next second or third advowson of any Prebend or Benefice being in their gift And if they shall make or confirm any such Grant or Patent of the place of Chancellor Commissary or Official for longer term than during their Incumbency to any that is not qualified as is hereby required then the said person so accepting the said Patent or Grant is to be held and declared uncapable thereof to all intents whatsoever Lastly the said Archbishops and Bishops shall provide that the clergy and people be not burdened with unjust exactions by their servants and Officers in their Visitations And that neither the Archbishops therein shall charge their Suffragans nor the Bishops their clergy with any Noctials or Refections over and above their ordinary procurations reserving notwithstanding unto the Archbishops in their Visitations the Refections usually heretofore received in those Diocesses where the same procurations are not received by them which are yearly paid by the clergy unto their Bishops And that no Archbishop or Bishop shall demand from the Executors or Administrators of any of their clergy any Heriots or Mortuaries as in some place of this Kingdom heretofore hath been accustomed XXIV Of ordering the Revenues of Ecclesiastical persons NO Archbishop Bishop Dean and Chapter or Dignitary shall in any wise diminish the ancient Revenues of their Sees or Churches nor alienate their Lands in Fee-farm nor destroy their woods nor give power to their Tenants to make wast thereof nor by any devise demise their Mensal or Demeasne Lands unless it be to their Curates actually discharging the said cures without forty days absence in any one year and to them for no longer time or term than during their own Incumbency Neither shall they joyn with any Dignitary Prebend or other Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to confirm the Leases or alienations made or to be made by him or them of any Ecclesiastical profits or obventions And the said Archbishops and Bishops shall carefully provide that all Churches Chancels and Manse houses the repair whereof properly belongeth to them or any of them or to any other Ecclesiastical person or persons be from time to time preserved from ruine and decay XXV Of Archdeacons EVery Archdeacon which hath authority to visit either by common right or by prescription shall visit the precinct of his Jurisdiction once every year in his own person and he shall not substitute any to be his Official but such a one as hath been brought up in the University and hath studied the civil law if such a one may be had being able not only in learning but also with gravity and modesty to discharge that Office XXVI Residence of Deans in their Churches EVery Dean Master or Warden or chief Governor of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedral or collegiate Church fourscore and ten days conjunctim aut divisim in every year at least so that they have houses or ground to build houses upon belonging to their Churches and then shall continue there in preaching of the word of God and keeping good hospitality evcept he shall be otherwise letted with weighty and urgent causes to be approved by the Bishop of the Diocess And when he 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 Orders and all other constitutions now set forth and confirmed by His Majesties 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 chorals 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 XXVII Deans and Prebendaries to preach during their residence THe Dean Master Warden or other chief Governor 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 â—aw Statute Ordinance or custome but shall likewise preach in other churches of the same Diocess where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their churches receive any yearly rents or profits And in case they themselves be sick or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licensed preacher to supply their turns as by the bishop of the Diocess shall be thought meet to preach in cathedral churches And if any other wise 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 XXVIII Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices NO Prebendaries or canons in cathedral or collegiate Churches having one or more benefices with cure and not being Residentaries in the same cathedral 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 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 said 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 Residentaries 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 of them or to some other charge where the Law requireth their presence there to discharge their duties according to the law in that case provided And the Bishop of the Diocess shall see the same to be duly performed and put in execution XXIX Four solemn 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 Feasts to be used at the solemn ordering of Ministers and to that purpose allotted certain times in which only sacred Orders might be given or conferred We following their holy and religious example do constitute and decree that no Deacons or Ministers be ordained and made but only upon the Sundays immediately following Jejunia quatuor temporum commonly called Ember-weeks appointed in ancient time for prayer and fasting purposely for this cause at their first Institution and so continued 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 only of the Archdeacon but of the Dean and two Prebendaries at the least or if they shall happen by any lawfull cause to be let or hindered in the presence of four other grave persons being allowed for publick Preachers And lastly that no person of what quality or gifts soever be made a Deacon and a Presbyter both together upon the same day XXX The titles of such as are to be made Ministers NO person shall be admitted into Sacred Orders except he shall at that time exhibit to the Bishop of whom he desireth imposition of hands a presentation of himself to some Ecclesiastical preferment then void in that Diocess or shall bring to the said Bishop a true and undoubted certificate that either he is provided of some church within the said Diocess where he may attend the cure of souls or of some Ministers place vacant either in the cathedral church of that Diocess 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 University or except he be a Master of Arts of five years standing that liveth of his own charge in the University or except by the Bishop himself that doth ordain him Minister he be shortly after to be admitted either to some Benefice or Curateship then void not to be removed until he be otherwise provided for except by his notable evil 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 keep and maintain him with all things necessary till he do prefer him to some Ecclesiastical living And if the said Bishop shall refuse so to do he shall be suspended by his Archbishop being assisted with another Bishop from giving of Orders by the space of a year 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 own Diocess except he be a graduate of some University within the Kings Dominions or except he shall bring letters dimissory so termed from the Bishop of whose Diocess he is and desiring to be a Deacon is three and twenty years old and to be a Presbyter four and twenty years compleat and hath taken some degrees of School in some of the said Universities or at the least except he be able to yield an account of his faith in latin according to the Articles of Religion generally received in the Church of England and Ireland and to confirm the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy Scriptures And except moreover he shall then exhibit letters Testimonial or authentical certificate of his good life and conversation under the Seal of some Colledge where before he remained or of three or four grave Ministers together with the subscription and testimony of other credible persons who have known his life and behaviour by the space of three years 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 shall be of his Cathedral Church if they may conveniently be had or other sufficient Preachers of the same Diocess to the number of three at the least And if any bishop or Suffragan shall admit any toSacred Orders who is not so qualified and examined as before we have ordained 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 years Neither shall any person be received into the Ministery nor admitted to any Ecclesiastical living nor permitted to preach read Lecture catechize or minister the Sacraments except he shall first by subscription declare his consent to the first four Canons of this present Synod and every thing contained therein XXXIII Caution for institution of Ministers into benefices NO bishop shall institute any into 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 the due examination to be worthy of his ministry XXXIV Patrons of Eâ—clesiastical benefices THe Bishop shall earnestly and diligently exhort Patrons of benefices to
signified by the said Minister Vicar or Parson to the Bishop of the Diocess to be by him approved And if the Parson Vicar or Curate shall fail to make choice 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 Clerk for that place And the said Clerk shall be of twenty years of age at the least and known 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 and many Irish in the Parish such a one as shall be able to read those parts of the Service which shall be appointed to be read in Irish if it may be and the Clerks so chosen shall be resident and perform their duties in their own persons For which they shall receive their dâ—e wages without diminution at such times as have been accustomed And if any question do arise concerning the said custom or wages the Bishop of the Diocess shall set an order therein LXXXVII The choice of churchwardens and their accompt ALl Churchwardens or Questmen in every Parish shall be chosen on Monday or Tuesday in Easter week 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 choose one and the Parishioners another and without such a joynt or several choice none shall take upon them to be Churchwardens neither shall they continue any longer than one year in that Office except perhaps they may be chosen again 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 fail to joyn or elect as is aforesaid the Ordinary shall supply the defect And all Churchwardens at the end of their year or within a moneth after at the most shall before the Minister and Parishioners give up a just accompt of such mony 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 mony or other things of right belonging to the Church or Parish which remaineth in their hands that it may be delivered over by them to the next Churchwardens by Bill indented LXXXVIII The choice of Sidemen and their joynt Office with Churchwardens THe Churchwardens of every Parish and two or more discreet persons in every Parish to be chosen for Sidemen or assistants by the Minister and Parishioners if they can agree otherwise to be appointed by the Ordinary of the Diocess shall diligently see that all the parishioners duely resort to their Church upon all Sundayes and Holydayes and there to continue the whole time of Divine Service and none to walke or stand idle or talking in the Church-yard or Church-porch during that time 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 during the time of Divine Service And all such as shall be found slack or negligent in resorting to the Church having no great or urgent cause of absence they shall earnestly call upon them and after due monition if they amend not they shall present them to the Ordinary of the place The choice of which persons viz. Churchwardens or Sidemen or Assistants shall be yearly made in Easter week LXXXIX The old Churchwardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworn THe Office of all Churchwardens and Sidemen shall be reputed ever hereafter to continue untill the new Church-wardens that shall succeed them be sworn which shall be the first court after Easter or according to the direction of the Ordinary which time so appointed shall alwayes be the time in every year or one of the two times when the Churchwardens and Sidemen of every Parish shall exhibit to their several Ordinaries the presentments of such enormities as have happened in their Parishes since the last presentments And this duty they shall perform before the newly chosen Churchwardens and Side-men be sworn And shall not be suffered to pass over the said presentments to those that are newly come into Office and are by intendment ignorant of such crimes under pain of those censures which are appointed for the reformation of such dallyers and dispensers with their own consciences and oaths XC The duty of Churchwardens touching such persons as are out of the Church in the time of Gods worship on Sundayes or Holy-dayes THe Churchwardens and their assistants shall warne Inholders Taverners Victuallers and Alehouse-keepers that they sell no meat or drink and that they receive none into their Tavern or Alehouse all the time wherein there is preaching or celebration of Divine Service upon Sundayes or Holy-dayes If any do contrary upon contempt or stubborness they shall present both him and them whom he received by name in the next visitation Also they shall see that none of those light wanderers in markets and pelting-sellers which carry about and sell Pins Points and other small trifles whom they call Pedlers set out their Wares to sale And that no Beggars or idle persons abide either in the Church-yard or near the Church all that time but shall cause them either to come in or to depart XCI Their duty touching those persons that are in the church at that time THey shall also see that in every meeting of the congregation peace be well kept and that none behave themselves rudely or disorderly in the church And to that end they shall warn the people that they bring not with them to the church Dogs Hawkes with bels or children which are not so nurtured as they can be kept quiet in their seats without running up and down Neither shall they suffer any person to disturb the Service or Sermon either by untimely ringing of bels or by walking talking laughing or any other noise which may hinder the Minister or offend the people And the names of all such as offend in this kinde they shall truly and personally present in the Ordinaries visitations XCII To keep the churches from being prophaned at all other times THey shall suffer no playes feasts banquets suppers church-ales drinkings exposing any wares to sale temporal coures or leets lay-juries Musters commissions other than for cause Ecclesiastical playing at ball or any other prophane usage to be kept in the church chappel or church-yard neither the bels to be rung either in the feast of all Souls or upon any Holy-dayes or Eves abrogated by the book of common prayer neither for moneths or twelve moneths minds or remembrances of the dead nor at any time at all