King by His Ecclesiastical Judges has the hearing of them and determining in their causes and His leave and licence goes along therewith By vertue of being thus deputed and commissionated by the King the Bishops have and execute an exterior Jurisdiction which is as extensive and universal over all persons in causes belonging thereunto as is the Temporal Jurisdiction in the management of the Temporal Judges and where the Kings Commission is there is His power and there is His consent And where that Commission does not abridge and limit there all proceedings made by power from it have assuredly the Kings leave and licence in conjunction with them But if still notwithstanding all that has been said it be persisted in that there is a disparity of power in the two Jurisdictions as to the extensiveness thereof subjectively so as that the Ecclesiastical Judge in his way of proceedings may not but the Temporal Judge in his way may proceed against any civil Officers as Mayors and Sheriffs c. found Delinquents in any kind I demand How does it appear to be so What Law is there that constitutes this Disparity What legal course prescribed and set down to restrain the Ecclesiastical Judge in case he will be intermedling with such persons for it is irrational to imagine there should be such a Law and yet that it should be destitute of sufficient means to uphold and maintain it self by Truly I am not so vain as to say there is no Law extant which constitutes this Disparity because I know no such but I have been seriously inquisitive and diligent in searching after this but cannot attain a knowledge of any such and would any be so kind to inform me I should thankfully own that kindness Next for any legal course prescribed and set down to restrain Ecclesiastical Judges in case they will be intermedling with such persons If there be any such it must be one or other of these three wayes 1. By Writ of Provision and Praemunire Or 2. By a Writ of Indicavit Or 3. By a Writ of Prohibition By one or other of these the Ecclesiastical Judge is restrained in his proceedings and câ—mmanded to desist from prosecuting further such matters as being before him are referred to in those Writs Now concerning the first That Provision and Praemunire has no place nor use in this matter I do for the present plainly declare and afterwards I shall have occasion more largely to prove it 2. Then for the Writ â—f Indicavit that is notoriously known to lie there where a Suit of Tythes is commenced in the Ecclesiastical Court which does amount to a fourth part or above of the whole Benefice or it lieth for the Patron where his Clerk is impleaded for the Advowson i. e. the Right of Patronage 3. There remains only the Writ of Prohibition This is said to be two-fold Prohibitio Juris Prohibitio Hominis Prohibitio Juris is such as is grounded on any Statute or Law of this Land Prohibitio Hominis is such as has no precise word or letter of the Law to sustain it but is raised up by Argument and by way of surmise and as the wit of man will suggest Now put these Prohibitions of both sorts together and I dare boldly affirm that none of either kind have been or can or ought to be granted so as to supersede the Ecclesiastical Judge from his legal proceedings against any person where the matter proceeded upon is indeed of Ecclesiastical cognizance meerly because such a person bears some office of civil power is a Mayor Sheriff Portrieve or any other in like place of authority And this is the reason why I take so much confidence in delivering this affirmation because it is the incompetency of the cause brought into tryal before the Ecclesiastical Judge and not this or that quality or condition of the parties proceeded against that alwayes makes way for moving for and granting of a Prohibition Thus much has been said for the removal of these Objections and still it is clear and evident that the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by the Bishop over all persons whatsoever within his Diocess in matters and causes truly belonging thereunto tends not at all to the impaâ—ring or invading the Kings Royal Prerogative It has been the glory of our Kings to keep the Rights and Liberties of the Church safe and entire and never to interpret a just exerting and using of their Jurisdiction to be a diminishing of their Royal dignity In some old Presidents of the Writ de Excommunicato capiendo A priviledge peculiar to the Church of England above all the Realms of Christendom that I read of sayes Dr. Cosen Apol. par 1. p. 9. The King declares thus Nolumus quod libertas Ecclesiastica per nos vel Ministros nostros quoscunque aliqualiter violetur Register in bre orig p. 69. a. And again Jura libertates Ecclesiasticas illaesa volentes in omnibus observari ibidem But I have one greater instance hereof to add here At the time of His Majesties Coronation the Oath that He is pleased then to take has this Article therein That He will grant keep and confirm to His people of England the Laws and customs to them granted by the Kings of England His lawful and religious Predecessors and namely the Laws customs and Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious King St. Edward his Predecessor according to the Laws of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdom agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the ancient customs of this Land Afterwards one Bishop present reads this Admonition to the King before the people with a loud voyce Our Lord and King we beseech You to pardon and grant and to preserve unto us and to the Churches committed to our charge all Canonical Priviledges and due Law and Justice and that You would protect and defend us as every good King ought to be aâ— Protector and Defender of the Bishops and Churches under His Government Whereto the King answereth with a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my part and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches c. By Canonical priviledges that belong to them and their Churches there must needs be implyed the Honour of their several Orders as that Bishops should be above Presbyters c. together with all their due Rights and Jurisdictions Dr. Stewards Answer to a Letter concerning the Church and the Revenues thereof Of these Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Church and Clergy this of actual exercising Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical in causes belonging thereto is as I have before shewed one and that a principal one too Now to imagine that the King will bind Himself by Oath to the confirming of such Charters and Grants which he either resolves not to keep or such as are detrimental to Him and tend to the impairing His Prerogative is neither consistent with Reason nor Loyalty
Imprimatur Guli Fitz. Gerald Rev. in Christo Patri Archiepisc Dublin totiusque Hiberniae Domino D. Cancellario a Sac. Domest Decemb. 27. 1670. EPISCOPAL JURISDICTION Asserted According to the right Constitution thereof BY His Majesties Laws both Ecclesiastical and Temporal OCCASIONED By the Stating and Vindicating of the BISHOP of WATERFORD's CASE With the Mayor and Sheriffs of Waterford By a Diligent Enquirer into the Reasons and Grounds thereof Ne quid falsum audeant Ne quid verum non audeant My Lord Coke's Rule given to all such as take upon them to write Iurisdiction of Courts cap. 9. DVBLIN Printed by Benjamin Tooke Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty And are to be Sold by Mary Crooke 〈…〉 THE BISHOP of WATERFORD'S CASE WITH THE MAYOR and SHERIFFS OF WATERFORD Stated and Vindicated c. THe late Proceedings at Waterford betwixt the Bishop and the Mayor and Sheriffs of that City making a great Noise abroad and furnishing Discourse for most Companies that met together I made it a while my business to enquire into the true state thereof the better to discover if I could what proportion the Matter it self held with the Talk made and Censures passed by Men thereon While I was thus employed I could not choose but observe That there was still retained too much of the old Malignity of spirit and how readily some persons catched at any occasion to inveigh against Bishops and traduce both their Order and Jurisdiction Moreover That they who were most loud an clamorous against the Bishop of Waterford proceedings in this Case were indeed such a least understood the true Grounds and Reasons thereof insomuch as when they have vented their Clamors with greatest eagerness they have been known for all that to ask What it was that the Bishop did Whereas they who had attained some competent knowledge therein were more moderate and reserved Hereupon I judged That this Enquiry would be feasonable because I might thereby be able to give my self satisfaction about it and peradventure be instrumental to the undeceiving the unwary and easily seduced or convincing the wilfully erring persons therein This I think will be no difficult Task to perform if Men will but once be brought to think that they may mistake or that they may be too much byassed with prejudices and thereupon resolve to act like what they would be thought to be ingenuous and rational Men. In prosecuting of this Design I propose two things as the principal Subjects of this Enquiry The one is concerning the matter of Fact The other is concerning the matter of Right in these proceedings Concerning the matter of Fact my entrance into that shall be by premising a passage or two relating to the preceding and to this present Bishop which may inform us what manner of welcome both were saluted withall at their first coming to Waterford When at His MAJESTIES Happy Restauration the late Bishop first came thither the graver and better Sort gave him a chearful Entertainment but a perverse Generation very prevalent in that City treated him at a far different rate I think no Usages could be more barbarous and rude than he experienced there Frequent Affronts were offered him Libels spread abroad of him Papers of Queries sent and tendred to him such as were full of ridiculous Non-sense yet full of Petulancy and Malice The industry and travel of that Pious Prelate to reduce to and settle that People in their Duty and Obedience to Gods Church and Gods Anointed His Assiduity in Preaching His Exemplariness of Living are sufficiently known to all The base slighting of which will I fear lie heavy one day on the Consciences of some Men. When this Prelate was one time about to discharge two solemn Offices the one of Preaching he found his Pulpit fouly defiled with Excrements so as must not be named and the other Office of Baptising the Font was defiled in the like beastly and unseemly manner These and many other unkind and ungrateful Usages contributed not a little to the shortning of his life and God forgive me if I judge uncharitably the same I think have been continued to work the like effect on his Successor and peradventure they would be more encreased if they could but accomplish the Eradication of the whole Order together with the extinction of both their persons The worthy Prelate now in the See of Waterford at his Entrance thereinto having first inspected the state of his Diocess at large and set in order the Affairs thereof His next care employed him about the Cathedral Church of Waterford where too he met with the like barbarous welcome that his Predecessor had done before for shortly after his first coming to Waterford going to Solemn Prayers at the Cathedral attended with many of his Clergy he found the way that he must walk from the Body of the Church into the Choire towards the Bishops Throne most beastly defiled with Excrements again But not discouraged herewith the Repairing Beautifying and Adorning of that Church is that which he is seriously intent upon so as that in a short time he brought the Choire thereof at no little Expence and Charge of his own to that comely and graceful Uniformity that it is now to be seen in such as may at once delight and awe the Beholders so well attemper'd together are some innocent and pleasing Ornaments with the more solemn and grave Furniture added thereto for which he received shortly after the Thanks of a scurrilous Libel The Body of that Cathedral together with some Out-Chappels adjoining thereto the Tower and Bells do by Ancient Charter-party belong to the Corporation of Waterford to keep in good and decent Repair In lieu of which the said Corporation of Waterford have the disposing of all Burying places therein and receive to their own use such Emoluments and Profits as do accrue thereby And as I have been Credibly informed from a knowing person that has inspected the Ancient Records of that City the Corporation became Enfeoffed in certain Lands bestowed for these purposes namely To maintain a Publick School-master And To uphold in good and constant Repair the Body of the Cathedral Out-Chappels Tower and Bells as is before mentioned The Bishop being Religiously zealous in prosecuting this good Work which he had begun intimates to the Mayor and rest of the Corporation of Waterford the Duty belonging to them in behalf of the Church he is very instant and pressing with them that what in Duty they were obliged to do they would with Alacrity and Chearfulness enter upon But Excitements to Acts of Devotion and such pious Works as this find but cold Entertainment in these dayes of languishing Piety and Charity And so truly they did with these Men They alledging their present Poverty and exhausted Revenue whereby they were rendred unable to undertake so chargeable a work Nay there wanted not some who gave it out openly enough That the proceeding in such a Design was if not
unnecessary yet then unseasonable And that if it must be done the Clergy who had got an ample Revenue in the City were the fittest to effect the same Notwithstanding these little Shiftings and Tergiversations used by these Men the Bishop is not discouraged yet in his Religious endeavours but persisting still in his purpose what by entreaties and perswasions his own good example and other rational motives he at last prevails with them Hereupon both to ease the Charge of the Corporation in some measure and to forward the Work Voluntary Subscriptions are gathered from many persons as well Strangers as others Citizens of Waterford for the new Casting and Hanging a Ring of Bells the Bishop himself subscribing very liberally and bountifully thereto and from his particular Friends procuring many other considerable Subscriptions which Subscriptions as I have heard came to near One hundred pounds To this was added By the Mayor and City-Council a great Tax or Rate which together with the Subscriptions might make in all Two hundred and seven pounds or thereabouts and by them Levied upon the Inhabitants of the City I dispute not how justifiable the making and Levying this Tax was nor why that which ought to have come from the Chamber and Publick Revenue of the City was to be supplied by a personal Tax upon the People whether this was done to make good their former Allegation of Poverty or whether this was done to save the City-stock I take not upon me to determine perhaps it was for both these ends and perhaps it was for one more like the Actings of a wise and politick People namely to reflect the Odium thereof from the querulous Inhabitants upon the Bishop as if by his forcible impulse and instigation they were necessitated to this extraordinary course But while these things were thus carrying on one remarkable matter intervened well worthy here to be inserted and taken notice of When the Bells in their metal were to be sent to Bristol for the New-casting of them and as I have before touched Subscriptions had been made by many persons both of that City and such as were strangers for the very purpose of New-casting and Hanging of the Bells yet such were the sordid and penurious Designs of the chief Leaders of Affairs in Waterford whether to intervert the money designed for that to some other purpose or to save their own slender proportions concerned therein the Mayor that then was that is he that was Mayor in the Year One thousand six hundred sixty and seven This person the Mayor I say dealt under-hand with one Aram in whose Ship the Bells were to be carried over to this purpose That he should reserve a certain quantity of the metal which would in value be sufficient to defray the Charges of Casting the rest and the remainder to be made use of for such a Ring of Bells as had been there afore time which was said would serve the turn well enough For this we are to know that besides the metal of five Bells that were taken out of the Tower of the Cathedral of Waterford the Bishop had added seven Bells more that had been retrieved out of the hands of some private persons who in the late times of Confusion and Demolishment had secured them in their own possession This pretty thrifty Project the said Aram acquaints the Bishop withall and shews him the then Mayors instructions under his hand and desires the Bishops advice and direction what to do therein The Bishop hereupon sends to the Mayor desires his company speaks with him urged to him the baseness and unworthiness of the thing he had given direction for brought the Mayor to a sudden a bashment and confusion and so altered quite and prevented the Design of defraying the Charge of Casting the Bells by withholding a great part of their own metal And over and above that spoiled their Plot of their being Gainers of Two hundred pound and upward viz. by the Subscriptions and Tax before mentioned which in likelihood would have passed current if this holy Cheat had not been discovered for this is to be further observed That besides the voluntary Subscriptions before spoken of the great Tax that I said was laid on the people of Waterford was pretended to be Subsidiary and as a Supplement to the Subscriptions for the Bells so as the Deficiencies of these might be made up by the help of the other And this very thing was then pretended when this unworthy Design was in agitation and ready to be put in execution This Aram is now dead nevertheless there is a competent Witness a person of good Credit yet remaining alive who saw the Paper of Instructions that was given by the Mayor and was present when it was delivered to the Bishop and heard the Bishops Expostulation with the Mayor about the same Such then was the state that the Church business was in on the City part when Michaelmas comes leading to the Year One thousand six hundred sixty and eight Michaelmas is the time for the New Elected Mayor and Sheriffs to be Sworn and take their place much was expected from this New Mayor as having professed to bear a Filial respect and obedience to the Church And truly there wanted not plenty of good promises and some plausible overtures from him but very little in the Church-concerns was done Much noise and out-cry there was about the money levied and collected That Workmen were not paid That some Materials belonging to the Work were not satisfied for That what money was collected was not distributed as was intended I know not how grounded they were but some Suspitions were conceived some whispering Rumors passed abroad that instead of this money being disposed to a Publick use it went into private Pockets And if it were so it was said That would not have been the first instance of that kind in Waterford Hereupon the Bishop in order to consult with the Mayor and Sheriffs desires them to give him a meeting that as they had undertaken the raising receiving and disposing the money levied and collected for the Church and the Bells so they might give an account what was become of it and how disposed of For know that the charge of Casting the Bells and providing Clappers Ropes and all other things requisite about them as they came from Bristol amounted but to One hundred and sixteen pound one shilling and six pence a Sum much less than what the Rate and Subscriptions made But about this time while these things were thus discussing the said Mayor told a Person of good Quality That as for giving an Account to the Bishop he would be content to do it in case he were desired thereto in a friendly manner but otherwise he would not because as he was Mayor so he was not subject to the Bishops Jurisdiction Well notwithstanding that he was thus as he termed it and it was so indeed in a friendly manner desired again thus to do yet neither
decernenda Censuerit ibidem Tab. 2. In Synod Nationali vel provinciali Regis rescripto convocato nihil tractari aut determinari potest nisi eo assentiente nec quicquam vim legis obtinet priusquam Regalis assensus adhibitus fuerit Dr. Zouch Descript Juris Eccles. p. 1. Sect. 2. See also to the same purpose Dr. Duck de authoritate Juris civilis in Anglia lib. 2. cap. 8. p. 3. Sect 27. And the Lord chief Justice Cook 4. p. Instit cap. 74. cited thereby him 2 The King himself in the Proclamation before mentioned declares that such Canons Constitutions c. agreed upon by the Arch-bishops Bishops and Clergie of Ireland to the end and purpose by him limited and prescribed unto them He has given His Royal assent according to the form of a certain statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf And by his Prerogative Royal and Supream Authority in matters Ecclesiastical he has ratified and confirmed the said Canons being one hundred in number by his Letters Patents under his great Seal of Ireland And then follows His Majesties strict injunction upon all His loving Subjects of this Kingdom to obey and execute the same which I insisted upon before 3. Besides His Majesties Prerogative Royal and Supream Authority in causes Ecclesiastical the King is likewise by Act of Parliament vested with power for this purpose and that is the Statute 25 Hen. 8. cap. 19. called the Petition and Submission of the Clergie to the King For the Bishops and Clergie in Convocation having each one severally promised in verbo sacerdotis never henceforth to presume to attempt alledge claim or put in use or enact promulge or execute any new Canons Constitutions or Ordinances without the Kings most Royal assent had and obtained thereunto upon which promise and submission it was enacted by Authority of Parliament That all Convocations in time to come should always be assembled by the Authority of the Kings Writ And that the Kings license and authority being had they might make promulge and Execute such Canons Constitutions and Ordinances Provincial and Synodal which being ratified confirmed and approved under His Majesties Great Seal they then become of legal force upon the Subject This Proviso indeed follows That no Canon nor Ordinance shall be made or put in Execution by the Authority of the Convocation of the Clergie which shall be contrariant or repugnant to the Kings Prerogative Royal or the Customs and Statutes of this Realm c. Rastals collection word Rome numb 1. * Which Statutis is but declaratoâ—y of the Common Law says my Lord Coke 4. Instit cap. 74. p. 323. So that the same is grounded both on Statâ—to and Common Law The like Statute to this particular we have enacted in Ireland Entituled An Act against the Authority of the Bishop of Rome in vicessimo Octavo Hen. 8. and referred to in the Proclamation before spoken of in the second consideration A Great Lawyer one Mr. J.M. in a speech before a Committee of the Lords at the Parliament held Anno 1641. Having occasion to speak of this Statute for his speech was against the Canons made the year before avouched plainly that that clause The Clergie shall not make Canons without the Kings leave implyeth not that by his leave alone they may make them But certainly the most knowing men in any Science or faculty have not the priviledge of never mistaking in what they say for to him that advisedly considers the matter and scope of that Statute it will appear plainly That the abridging the over-growing power of the Clergie assumed by them in making and enacting Canons and pressing their authority on others And together with this the cutting them off from any relation to the Bishop of Rome and making them dependants on the King alone for the better ordering of what should be debated and determined in their Synodical meetings were if not the only yet the principal aims of that Statute Add here further that a successive and continued practice from the time when that Statute was made to this day delivers the best and truest sense of it * Practiea est legum optima intellectrix Baldus For thus as I have set down it was practised in the times of Edward the 6th Queen Elizabeth 1562. King James Anno 1603. King Charles the first in this Kingdom of Ireland Anno 1634. And though I say nothing of the Canons themselves made in the year 1640. because all authority as to them is annulled by Act of Parliament Anno 13 Caroli Secundi yet the Commission granted to the Convocation of that year at the first opening of the Parliament and of it was according to Law and this speaks plainly of the Kings leave and license granted and alone needful herein see more fully thereof in Dr. Heylins life of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury p. 423.424.425 I conclude this matter with the decision of a great Casuist He in discoursing of Ecclesiastical Laws and the manner how they are enacted in the Church of England Jus condendi leges Ecclesiasticas saies he est paenes Episcopos Presbyteros aliasque personas à totius Regni clero rite electas in legitima Synodo rite congregatas Ita tamen ut ejus juris sine potestatis exercitium in omni Repub. Christiana ex Authoritate Supremi Magistrat us Politici pendere debeat Idque aparte Ante ut loqui solemus aparte post vir ut nec iis statuendi Canones Ecclesiasticos causâ liceat convenire nisi autipsius mandato inssu ad id negotii convocatis aut ejus saltem authoritate Venia ab eo petita obtenta munitis Nec Canones in quos illi sic consenserint tali sint aut vim aliquam habeant obligandi quoad supremi Magistratus assensus accedat Cujus approbatione publica authoritate simulac confirmati fuerint illico pro legibus habendi sunt subditos obligant Bishop Sanderson de conscient obligat Praelect 7. Sect. 30. Mr. Hooker Eccles. Polit. Book 8. in p. 219.220.221 c. Thus much has been said touching the Canons of our Church and their Authority so far forth at this present as suits with the present occasion and what they were produced in proof of In several Provincial Constitutions we find it Decreed That concerning matters belonging to Ecclesiastical cognizance proceedings may be made against any Layman or publick Officers as Sheriffs and others even to the inflicting publick Censures upon them Many of this kind will occur to the Reader that is conversant in them That Constitution Aeterna Sanctis de paenis Enacted in a Council at Lambeth under Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1260. In the time of King Henry the third And that Constitution ut invadentibus de immunitate Ecclesiae Enacted by the same Boniface likewise the Constitution contingit aliquando eodem And Accidit Novitate perversa eodem Enacted by John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury in the time
which are criminal To pass by other statutes I instance in these two only The one De Excommunicato capiendo in 5 Elizab. c. 23. where the several crimes therein mentioned subject all such as shall be detected and found guilty of any of them to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal The other is the statute for Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. 1 Elizab. cap. 2. In this statute after a charge given in this Solemn and strict manner The Queens most Excellent Majesty The Lords Temporal and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled do in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops and Bishops to endeavor their utmost for the due execution thereofâ—â— And then it follows for their power and authority in this behalf Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular the said Archbishops Bishops c. and all other their officers exercising Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as well in places exempt as not exempt within their Diocess shall have full power and authority by this Act to reform correct and punish by censures of the Church all and singular Persons which shall offend within any of their Jurisdictions or Diocesses after the said Feast of St. John the Baptist next coming against this Act or Statute any other Law Statute Priviledge liberty or provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding See a so the statute made secundo Elizab. cap. 2 here in Ireland The thing we had in hand to make good was this That all persons whatsoever within any Diocess regularly and de jure communi are subject to the Bishop of that Diocess in matters and causes of Ecclesiastical cognizance that this position is not repugnant to the statute Laws of these Kingdoms This I think has been fully evidenced and needs no further enlarging upon And to give one instance of this jurisdictive and coercive power in Bishops over all indefinitely it shall be in the matter of substracting and detaining of Tythes a cause properly and anciently cognizable before them That ample Charter granted by King William the first to the Clergie and mentioned at large by Mr. Selden in his History of Tythes cap. 8. p. 225. The conclusion of which is after this manner Quicunque decimam detinuerit per justitiam Episcopi Regis si necesse fuerit ad redditionem arguatur Startle not Reader at the eying of this that the Bishops power of Justicing has here precedency of place before the Kings conceive not that this was to set Episcopal power on high and make Regal Authority subordinate to it But this declares to whose judicial cognizance under the King the proceeding against detainers of Tythes of what quality and condition soever they be does immediatery appertain who is the Officer and Minister of Justice therein And the Kings power being after mentioned is so set down by way of judicial order and consequence not of subordination in power and Authority Thus much these very words si necesse fuerit plainly do import as if it were said should any of these detainers prove refractory and contumacious against the Bishops authority so that there were a necessity of invoking the secuâ—ar power the King would then be present therewith and by poenal coercions compel them to give obedience thereto Now for what concerns any other part of the Common Law it may be also both safely and truly in respect of the thing it self affirmed That Ecclesiastical proceedings according to the position laid down bears no contrariety therewith as is set down by Dr. and Student lib. 1 c. 6. That Episcopal jurisdiction is of force in this Kingdom even by the Laws of this Realm in certain particular instances mentioned is reported by Dr. Cosen from a certain Author writing in King Hen. 8th time Apol. part 1. p. 7. The Author is shewing that the Bishop of Rome has not nor ought to have any jurisdiction in His Majesties Kingdoms by the Laws of this Realm The medium whereby he proves this thing is this because Certificates of Bishops in certain cases are allowed by the Common Law and admitted in the Kings Courts But the Popes Certificate is not admitted vid. Lord Coke Instit 4. cap. 74. circa initium de jure Regis Ecclesiastico p. 23. 26. diversos casus thidem citatos Besides in the statute of Appeals 24 Hen. 8. cap. 12. mention is made of spiritual jurisdiction exercised in causes belonging to the same and it is there expresly said That such exercise is grounded on the Laws and customs of this Realm circa mitium dicti statuti Now certainly a statute best informs any one what is truly and what is agreeable to the Common Law The Bishops are by the Common Law the immediate Officers and Ministers of Justice to the Kings Courts in causes Ecclesiastical Lord Coke de jure Regis Ecclesiastico pag. 23. And for what belongs to any custom or ancient usage that has the force of Law among us I cannot find out any such that is impugned by what I have affirmed But thus I may safely determine That if any manner and course of things established by long use and consent of our Ancestors and still kept on foot by daily continuance and practice be a custom and may set up for a Law not-written Then certainly the thing that has been affirmed that is the exercise of Ecclesiastical jurisdiction by Bishops over all persons within their respective Diocesses and in causes belonging to it and thus far endeavoured to be pâ—oved is not at all contrariant thereto but of perfect agreement yea of the same Nature with it Are there any that after all this will make their reply and tell us of persons exempted from Episâ—â— paâ— power and the exercise thereof bound up and restrained in respect of such and for proof of this will alledge the Authoritative proceeding of King William the Conqueror who would not suffer any Bishop to Excommunicate any of his Barons or Officers for Adultery Incest or any such Heinous crime except by the Kings command first made acquainted therewith By the way it must be known that the word Baron is not to be taken in that limited and restrictive sense as to understand thereby the Higher Nobility to which Votes in Parliament do belong But generally for such who by Tenure in chief or in Capite held land of the King Selden spicelegium ad Eadmerum referente Tho. Fullero B. 3. Histor Eccles p. 4. Whatsoever now shall be collected hence to overthrow what has been before said is easily answered For King William very well understood his own Imperal power and right over the whole body Politick whereof the Clergie were a part And that by vertue thereof the Actual Exercise of both Civil and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction did flow from him And that he might where and when he saw cause restrain the Execution of either how long or in respect of what persons he pleased and this by special
in foro externo contentioso in such causes as belong thereto so in the exercise and proceedings made in the same he depends upon the King from whom he derives his a thority and right to exercise In all Appeals made to the King in His Chancery He defers to him as habenti Supremam authoritatem Ecclesiasticam being the chief and Supreme Ordinary and acquiesces in his final and ultimate decisions A little before I mentioned a Grant of King William the Conqueror wherein great scope was given to Episcopal Jurisdiction it is now proper to set down what that was and this Historical account we may take thereof By this King an entire Jurisdiction was assigned to the Bishops by themselves wherein they should have cognizance of all matters and causes relating to Religion It seems by the Ancient Saxon Law the Bishops and Sheriffs jointly kept their Courts together at certain set times of the year in the Conquerors time these two Jurisdictions thus concurring were parted asunder Fullers Church History of Britain Book 3. p. 5. from Eadmer who lived in the time of King Henry the first gives some account hereof * Spelman in Glossar v. Hundredum But I shall set down the same in the words of a late and a learned Writer proper to the occasion he was upon Conquestor porro Forum Ecclesiasticum à Laico distinxit Nam cum antea sub Anglo-Saxonibus singulis mensibus Aldermannus seu Praeses unà cum Episcopo jus dixissent in Curia Centenaria quam Hundredum dicimus mandavit Episcopis Archidiaconis ne deinceps jus dicant in Curia Centenaria sed in loco per Episcopum designando ibique judicent secundum Canones Leges Episcopales contumaces contra corum mandata Excommunicationis sententiâ Brachio Regio parere cogantur cum Praecepto Vicecomitibus Praepositis Regiis dato ne aliquem in jus vocent coram se de iis quae ad Forum Episcopalem spectant Dr. Duck de Authoritate Juris Civilis in Regno Angliae lib. 2. cap. 8. p. 2. sect 26. And in the margent of his Book alledges * Apud quemâ—â— See this Charter more amply and fully declared the same being granted and directed to Rhemigius the first Bâ—shop of Lincoln ib. Coke's Instit p. 4. cap. 54. lib. 2. cap. 6. sect 135. Char. 2. Rich. 2. m. 1. By this it appears how early the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by Bishops was on foot in the Kingdom of England and that as it derived it self from the Crown for besides this distinct constituting of an Ecclesiastical Court from the Court of the Tourn even before the separation before spoken of was made yet the Bishops had then the judicial cognizance of Ecclesiastical causes and matters peculiarly reserved to them so it is plainly colligible from the Laws of King Edgar among which this was one Celeberimus autem ex omni Satrapia conventus his quotannis Agitor cui quidem illius Dioceseos Episcopus Aldermannus intersunto quorum alter jura divina alter jura humana populum edoceto Lord Coke on the Statute of Circumspecte Agatis v. Curia Christianitatis I might yet trace Antiquity higher in this point but my reading is too slender and my opportunities too mean that I should think my self able to give a punctual and exact Account thereof Take notice only in brief what the Pen of a learned Writer has set down The British Saxon and Danish Kings did usually with their Clergy or great Council make Ecclesiastical Laws and regulate the external Discipline of the Church within their Dominions Among the Laws of King Edward the Confessor these were two of them one that makes it the office of a King to govern the Church as the Vicar of God another supposes a paramount power in the King over the Ecclesiastical Courts because they were to take cognizance of wrong done in Ecclesiastical Courts Archbishop Bramhall's Vindication of the Church of England c. p. 67. King Edward the Confessor was indeed after the time of King Edgar before mentioned but taking both together and what was done by both thence is shewed that the practice of former Kings was followed by them and that there was an Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction then and before exercised by Bishops which exercise thereof derived from and was regulated by these and other preceding Kings of England That which has been said makes very fair for our purpose and points out to us to take notice of these several observable things 1. That the Exercise of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical by Bishops in the right constitution thereof in the Kingdom of England had no deperdance on Rome 2. That much of the intermediate practice in this kind degenerated from its first and right institution and until the time of Henry the eighth was a meer usurpation and encreachment on the English Crown 3. That whereas 't is said The Bishops were to judge secundum Canones Leges Episcopales by Canons I understand the Canons of General and Provincial Councils abroad especially the first four General Councils according as was Enacted by the Emperor Justinian Authent collat 9. Novell 131. cap. de Regulis cap. Sancimus igitur And by Leges Episcopales I understand their Home-laws I mean the Ecclesiastical Laws made by the British Saxon and Danish Kings with the Council of their Bishops variety of which may be found by him that will consult Sir Henry Spelman's Councils The body of the Canon Law was not then in being my meaning is it was not so as such The several particulars that the Decrees consist and were made up of were indeed then and long before in being but they were not compiled together till near fourscore years after thisâ—s and that was done by Gratian the Monk in the year as some say for there is much difference in the computation of this time 11 49. Ridley's view c. p. 74. And by Eugenius the third allowed to be read in the Schools * Of Greg. 9. set forth Anno 1230. The Decret in sexto Anno 1297. The Clementines of Clent 5 set forth Anno 1317. And not long after were extant the Extravagan's of John the 22d and other Popes and to be alledged for Law And for the Decretals c. Clementines and Extravagants they came in successively along while after Here by the way is seen the vanity and wildness of some mens fancies that by all means will have Bishops Courts to be of Popâ—sh extraction and that both in their Erection and Constitution they receive influence and authority from the Romish Consittory Than which nothing is more untrue in its self and unhist or ical as to the right deducing the primitive Institution hereof not to speak of the Eastern Churches even in the Kingdom of England it self 4. This is also hence observable That the present course commanded and observed by the Bishops in the Exercise of this Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction suits nearly with
the ancient state thereof and is so far from damnifying the Prerogative Royal that it mainly asserts and vindicates the same It might perhaps be doubted That different Jurisdictions in one Kingdom and those exercised by persons of different professions though deriving from one Supreme Head would rather cause than prevent many inconveniencies and those inconveniencies so bad in their nature as to detract from rather than adde to the Supreme Magistrates Dignity and Prerogative as namely by introducing confusion and disorder in the management of both and in the causes and matters to be managed in them and occasioning continual jealousies and distastes betwixt the persons appointed to manage them observed by my Lord Bacon's Advancement of Learning Aphor. 96. But in truth no such ill Effects do follow hereupon for distinct Jurisdictions exercised by persons of several orders and professions in these Kingdoms and vested with authority from the Supreme Magistrates so to do though juridical proceedings therein be different from the ordinary form and prescribed coursel of the Common Law argues unplenitude not a defect of power an advancing of it not derogating from it in that Supreme Magistrate granting the same his great wisdom and prudence in a determinate stating the nature and bounds of each Jurisdiction the appropriating certain causes to be heard and determined in them respectively commanding all His Subjects to give due obedience thereunto in such causes as are limited to those Courts and which any Subject may be concerned in And as both derive from soito depend upon him in an equal poise as to the Authority belonging to each so that all the supposed inconveniencies are sufficiently provided against And the ordering all these things in this set manner is an effect of the Kings high Prerogative enabling him so to do and is both by Custom and Law among us allowed of * The King is the indifferent Arbitrator in all Jurisdictions as well Spiritual as Temporal and it is a Right of His Crown to distribute to them that is to declare their bounds Lord Hobbarts Reports Dr. Jame 's Case observe with me these following instances The Kings Majesty is plyased to confirm a peculiar Jurisdiction granted by His Royal Progenitors to the two Universities of Cambridge and Oxford The Chancellor of each University or his Commissary administer Justice according to the Civil Law and the Customs and Statutes of the University where the persons at variance together are Students or one of them at least is such insomuch as in personal Actions for Debt matters of Accounts or any Contracts made within their own Precincts and in some criminal matters likewise none of them may be called to Westminster Hall but the cognizance thereof belongs to the Chancellor of the said University or his Commissary as is before said If any Appeals be made from Sentences given in any such Trials they are first interposed to the Regents last of all to the Kings Majesty himself Cowell Interp. in verbo Privilege Dr. Duck ut supra sect 30. Will any man now say That the Exercise of this power is intrenching on the Kings Prerogative because His great Courts at Westminster are not applied to and a Jurisdiction distinct from and independent upon them is exercised Surely no because the Exercise of this power is granted by Royal Charter it proceeds from it depends upon it is done in an acknowledgment of the Kings Supreme Power and Prerogative There is a Court of great Dignity and Honour called the Court of the Constable and Earl Marshal of England Herein are determined all Contracts touching Deeds of Arms out of the Realm as Combats Blazons of Armory and the right of bearing Arms c. proper to particular Families the manner of proceeding in this Court is according to the form of the Civil Law * L. Coke Jurisdiction of Courts ca. 17. the use and authority of which is of great sway herein Appeals that are interposed from any definitive sentence in this Court are brought to the Kings Majesty Himself not to His Chancellor the municipal Law is altogether secluded from hence Justice is administred Delinquents are punished without any relation to that or the Judges thereof yet the Kings Prerogative is not infringed by the exercise of this Jurisdiction because it is derived from the King I might add here the Court of the Admiralty the peculiar Jurisdiction exercised within the Cinque Ports by the Lord Warden thereof In these Courts matters both civil and criminal are tryed according to the course prescribed by the civil Law but in the following Leafs I shall have occasion more distinctly to write something relating to these matters and respectively to these two Courts Now as it is in these different Jurisdictions they derive from the King His Subjects are bound by command from Him to obey the Authority thereof if they refuse to obey by poenal coercions proper to each they may be compelled to it yet still the Royal Prerogative is not any whit diminished nor the Rights of the Crown at all impaired hereby As it is thus I say in the distinct Jurisdictions so it is in the exercise of Episcopal Jurisdiction in the Ecclesiastical Courts And now I have uttered thus much I perceive my self beginning to walk on a narrow slippery ridge where a steep precipice is on each side The danger of falling on one hand is least I abase the Prerogative so low as to subject the King in Ecclesiastical causes and matters under the Resolves and Decisions of Classical Assemblies * Huic Disciplinae omnes orhis principes Monarchas fasers suos submittere parere necesse est Travers Disciplin Ecclesiast p. 142 143. Bishop White in his Preface to his Treatise concerning the Sabbath as the Presbyterians do or bring Him in subordination to the Bishop of Rome as the Papists do The danger on the other hand is the over-exalting of the Prerogative so that it might be thought we attribute to the King as sometimes the Papists object to us a power to exercise Sacerdotal Offices in the Church to inflict censures * And yet our Law attributes much in this particular and that very highly to the King Reges Sacro olco unctâ— spiritualis Jurisdictionâ—s sunt capaces 33 Edw. 3. Ayde de Roy. 107. Coke Cawdrie's case p. 16. c. Now to walk even and steddy betwixt these two dangerous downfalls is that which must be endeavoured and therefore whereas we own and solemnly recognize the Kings Supremacy in Ecclesiastical matters and causes it is to be understood according to the sense and meaning set down in the words of the 37th Article of the Church of England and also in the Article of the Church of Ireland concerning civil Magistrates The Kings Majesty hath the chief Government of all Estates Ecclesiastical and Civil within His Dominions see Queen Elizabeth's Injunctions set forth in the first year of Her Reign Now this Supremacy keeps the King above all
any dare to say That they pare off some rights or pluck some flowers from the Kings Imperial Crown I suppose not How comes it to pass then that the Bishops jurisdiction does Whatsoever may be alledged in defence of the other may be said and it may be something more too in justification of this And know moreover That proceedings in these Temporal distinct jurisdictions go much further upon the persons of men than those of any Ecclesiastical Court does even to the imprisoning of them and in all of them except that of the University to the inflicting of capital punishments And it deserves our further observing what the great Lawyer Sir Edward Coke sayes touching this very thing Albeit the proceedings and process in the Ecclesiastical Courts be in the Name of the Bishops c. It followeth not therefore that either the Court is not the Kings or that the Law whereby they proceed is not the Kings Law for taking one example for many every Leet and View of franck pledge holden by a subject is kept in the Lords Name and yet it is the Kings Court and all the proceedings therein are directed by the Kings Laws and many subjects in England have and hold Courts of Record and other Courts and yet all their proceedings be according to the Kings Laws and customs of the Realm De jure Regis Eccles p. 39. The Learned Bishop Sanderson has convincingly demonstrated That Citations and Decrees in the Bishops Name no way encroacheth on the Kings Authority and that they who urge the contrary have this meaning rather to do the Bishops hurt than the King service and that their affections so far as by what is visible we are able to judge are much what alike towards both His Book called Episcopacy not prejudicial to Regal power p. 3 4. Bishops proceedings in Ecclesiastical Courts under the Name Stile and Seal of the Bishop See this largely discussed and declared to be warrantable by Law by my Lord Coke's comment on the Statute of Marriage 32 Hen. 8. p. 685 686 687. But this Objection is taken up again and urged with new force from hence That in the First year of King Edward the Sixth it was by Statute Enacted That the Bishops should make their processes in the Kings Name and that their Seals should be the Kings Arms. This Statute sayes Mr. Rastall was repealed 1 Mariae 1. And that Statute not being revived by Queen Elizabeth in her Reign all proceeded well enough without danger But in the first Parliament of King James there passed an Act for continuing and reviving divers Statutes and for repealing of some others 1 Jaccb c. 29. Into the body whereof a clause was cunningly conveyed for the repealing of that Statute of the Reign of Queen Mary by which King Edward 's stood repealed Upon this account it was that a little before our late turbulent confusions in England this very thing was urged against the Bishops and their proceedings were declared to be bold usurpations and encroachments on the Prerogative Royal and violations of the Law But as it is usual where men are prepossessed against any thing they are apt to run into many mistakes about the sâ—me It happened so in this very matter Much â—â—lse was raised much stir made hereupon by the Antiâ—prelatical party as if the Bishops who had given themselves out to be the most zealous assertors were indeed become the onely dangerous impugners of the Kings Prerogative That now they were deprehended in the very design and therefore must needs fall having no plea to make for themselves and having the mischief of their own visible and illegal actings witnessing against them At this rate their Adversaries vaunted and fore-judged them and no doubt as matters went in those times the severest animadversion that could have followed hereupon would have been made if further proceedings therein had not been seasonably prevented by the wisdom of a pious and prudent Prince For the Blessed King Charles the First having beee made acquainted what advantage these forward and busie people were designing to make hereof to the overthrow of His Ecclesiastical Courts and the Bishops His Judges in them He did as Dr. Heylin reports in the life of Archbishop Laud p. 342. call together in the year 1637 the two Lords Chief Justices the Lord Chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons and propounds to them these three following particulars to be certified of 1. Whether processes may not issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops 2. Whether a Patent under the Great Seal be necessary for the keeping of Ecclesiastical Courts and enabling Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other censures of the Church 3. Whether Citations ought to be in the Kings Name and under His Seal of Arms And the like for Institutions and Inductions to Benefices and corrections of Ecclesiastical Offences And the like for Visitations whether an express Commission or Patent under the Great Seal of England were requisite To which three Proposals the said Judges unanimously on the First of July in the fore mentioned year concurred and certified under their Hands By Answering to the First thing propounded affirmatively and to the other two negatively And that the fore-mentioned Statute of Edward the Sixth is not now in force Whereupon the King issues out His Proclamation wherein having first taxed the libellous Books and Pamphlets published against the Bishops and after a recital made of these proceedings He concludes the Proclamation thus That His Majestie thought good with the advice of His Council that a publick Declaration of these the opinions of His Reverend and Learned Judges being agreeable to the judgement and resolution of former times should be made known to all His Subjects as well to vindicate the legal proceedings of His Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers from the unjust and scandalous imputation of invading or intrenching on His Royal Prerogative as to settle the minds and stop the mouths of all unquiet spirits That for the future they presume not to censure His Ecclesiastical Courts or Ministers in these their just and warranted proceedings And hereof His Majesty admonisheth all His subjects to take warning as they will Answer the contrary at their peril c. * Resolutions unanimously given by all the Judges and the Earons of the Exchequer saith my Lord Coke are for matters of Law of Highest Anthority next unto the Court of Parliament Sir Edward Coke 2 Instit p. 618. But some mens minds will not be satisfied with any thing of this nature yet are willing to embrace what is fortified with Parliamentary Authority Both therefore to gratifie them and more throughly to confirm the matter in hand we have also this Parliamentary Authority to offer unto them For although by an Act of Parliament in the Seventeenth year of King Charles the First all jurisdiction Ecclesiastical was quite abrogated and annulled I speak in respect of England for here in Ireland no such Act
nor Religion Here is no need of that Writ in the Kings behalf called Ad quod Damnum As what damage and prejudice will come to the King by confirming Episcopal Jurisdidiction and allowing the actual exercise thereof for in truth the exercise thereof kept in its right constitution and dependance for such a Jurisdiction is only here intended is so far from diminishing the Right and darkning the Jewels of the Crown that they receive a greater lustre and resplendency thereby We have spoken of the Kings Oath which He is pleased at the time of His Coronation to take for the benefit and security of His Subjects There is also the Subjects Oath which they are to take in Recognition of the Kings Sovereignty and in testimony of their fidelity to him I mean the Oath of Supremacy a consideration of which is very proper and pertinent to the matter in hand especially that one branch which the Taker there fâ—swears to and declares that To his power he will assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Preheminences and Authorities united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm In which words the Eâ—â— esiastical Jurisdiction is if not only yet speciaâ—ly aimed at Now let such persons that are pâ—aced in Offices of civil Power and Authority and conceit themselves not subject to Ecclesiasticaâ— Jurisdiction because of their being in such Offices and who yet do take this Oath at the entrance into their Offices let them I say soberly and advisedly bethink themselves how consistent an Oath taken for the observance and defence of the Ecclesiastical Jâ—râ—sdiction is with a plain disowning of such Juâ—â—ction as to themselves or impugning of it and bearing themselves disobediently to it or exempting themselves from it in matters which the Law has clearly appropriated to it or in a word to act any thing to the prejudice of the lawful proceedings thereof It is frivolous and vain to alledge that they acknowledge and will submit to this Jurisdiction in the King and yet at the same time deny their submission to the exercise of it by the Bishops This I say is a vain and frivolous Allegation because it is not a notional and speculative acknowledgment that such a Jurisdiction is united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm which only fulfills the impâ—rt of this Oath But it is an obedience in practice by submitting to the lawful exercise of it that is the soope and intendment of it Now the King exercises no judiciary power in His own person but commits it to His Judges the King hath wholly left matters of Judicature according to His Laws to His Judges * Lord Cole 4 Inâ—it p 71. And the Bishops are those Judges to whom the Ecclesiast Jurisdiction is committed and to them the execution thereof belongeth now what is done in deregation of that power and authority derivatively residing in them is done in like manner in deregation of the same power primitively that is as it is originally in and derives from the King Himself I have said thus much concerning this branch of the Oath of Supremacy not that I take upon me to judge any man but because I take it to be my duty to recommend the consideration of this thing as a matter of very weighty concernment and fit to be made with all sobriety and seriousness I sum up all delivered on this first Proposition under this Head That Bishops proceeding by Authority and deriving the actual exercise of their Jurisdiction from the King are the Kings Ecclesiastical Judges dispensing Justice in the Kings Ecclesiastical Courts according to the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws And that the same Jurisdiction reaches to and over all persons whatsoever within their respective Diocesses all which is agreeable to the Ecclesiastical Laws of these Kingdoms and not repugnant to the Temporal Laws thereof nor yet infringing in any kind the Kings Prerogative Royal and therefore the Bishop of Waterford's Jurisdiction in the Case before laid down was legally founded in respect of the persons proceeded against Prob. II. The second Proposition is this The Bishops Jurisdiction over these persons was legally founded in respect of the cause that this proceeding was made upon The cause was the rendring an accompt of Moneys given and received to pious uses and rendring of an accompt of a large Rate levied to the use of the Church as also concerning the Reparation of the Body of the Cathedrall Church at Waterford That the Bishop is the proper competent Judge to exact an accompt of all such Moneys so given and so to be disposed of will not I suppose be denied or if it be denyed the worst of it is 't is but the being put to the proof of it which is no very difficult task and for sureness sake shall by and by be made good And for the Reparation of Churches that the same belongs to Ecclesiastical though the Law be clear for it will yee be made more clear by having those Laws for it produced But before that be entred upon some notice must be taken of what has been alledged and passed roundly from the mouths of many that concern'd them selves much in his matter That by ancient contract the Mayor Sheriffs and Commonalty of Waterford stand obliged to the making good this Reparation whence the Inference it made That all contracts being of civil cognizance therefore the Bishop was no competent Judge of that branch of the cause which was brought before him the same being not cognizable in the Ecolesiastical Court This Allegation at the first hearing seemed mighty fair and plausible insomuch as some persons otherwise no Enemies to Episcopal Jurisdiction were much concerned and startled thereat And when they first heard it they concluded presently that the Bishop had taken a matter in hand which he ought not to have moved a hand towards as not appertaining to his jurisdiction and so has usurped on the Temporal Courts Nay so strangely transported were some that in their heats they did not stick to affirm that the Bishop by doing what he did had incur'd some heavy penalty which they would not abate of an Ace less than a praemunire it self And many and hard and bitter were the cenfures that several open mouths pronounced upon him But causes as well as persons are sometimes prejudged and both were so in this case As a preparative to the clearing and making good that both cause and person were thus prejudged I shall speak something concerning the matter of contract so mainly insisted upon and that which raised the cry as if the Bishop grounded his proceeding on that contract and therein encroached on the Temporal Jurisdiction Let it therefore for the present be supposed That the Bishop did ground his Ecclesiastical proceeding on that contract although indeed the cause was not so laid yet supposing it were the inference that is thence made peradventure is not good as that the doing thereof was an encroachment on the Temporal Jurisdiction Peradventure
I say it is not For I will not be positive in what I am about to write but referring my self to better judgments I freely submit to their decisions herein This I propose then That all matters of contract arising from or upon causes originally of Spiritual cognizance are not excâ—â—ded from the Ecclesiastical Tribunal I put this case not much differing from that which we have before us Titius a parishioner of Dale with leave of the Parson and rest of the parishioners builds up an Isle or Out chappel adjoyning to the Parish Church of Dale and intends to reserve the same to himself and relations for the use of a burying place and undertakes to keep this Out-chappel from time to time in sufficient good and decent repair Notwithstanding this obligation so to do the repair of the same is neglected If the question were put to me before whom and in what Court Titius may be sued and compelled to make good the reparation thereof I should not doubt to answer that Titius may be proceeded against by the Ordinary ex Officio or impleaded by any voluntary Promoter of the Office in causa reparationis Capellae c. The Church wardens may present that neglect and the person guilty of it One Article usually given to present upon is this Whether the Church or Chappel in the Body and Chancel of it be in good repair If it be not through whose defaclt comes it to pass that it is not and this Article is grounded on the 93d Canon of this Church So then as the neglect and default is punishable by the Ordinary the reformation likewise thereof in making good the repair otherwise by contract undertaken for is to be enjoyned by the Ordinary Moreover Pensions out of Churches or any Annual Portion beeoming due from any Colledge Bishoprick Cathedral Church or Deanry to be paid to any Rector Vicar or Curate of a Parish Church if they be detained the same are demandable and to be recovered in the Ecclesiastical Court according to the Statute viz. 34 35 Hen. 8. cap. 19. Now the Right of paying any such Pensions and Annual Portions is grounded on Ancient-contract obliging thereunto In Compositions Real for Tythes made either between the Parson of one and the Parson of another parish for the stating and setling each others right and to prevent litigious impleadings of each other Also compositions made between the Parson and some one or more of his parishioners touching the not paying any Tythes at all but a certain setled and determinate sum in lieu thereof This is usual in this Kingdom for Mills that grind corn to compound for a certain sum to be paid instead of the Toll-tythe Now the Ecclesiastical Judge before whom these compositions are to be alledged may hear and determine thereof Tit. 120. Cler. Prax. Sir Thomas Ridley's View c. part 3. chap. 3. Sect. 6. Coseâ— Apol. p. 1. ch 10. There is a cause of Ecclesiastical cognizance called Negotium subtractionis Dotis causa nuptiarum promissae The case is thus Titius in consideration of Matrimony to be contracted and solemnized with his Daughter Partia by Sempronius promised Ten pounds to Sempronius The Matrimeny being solemnized and Titius not paying the promised sum Sempronius impleads him before the Ecclesiastical Judge for the same Titius sues out a prohibition Notwithstanding which Sempronius obtains a consultation wherein is affirmed That the Court Ecclefiastical may proceed therein This you may find reported by Dr. Cosen Apol. p. 1. pag. 26. And the several Opinions of Common Lawyers concurring therein More instances might be given of this kind to evince That all contracts arising from matters which are in their Original of Spiritual cognizance are not excluded from the Ecclesiastical Tribunal observe what is further said Although promises and contracts of Money are generally pleadable in the Courts of the common Law yet as Bracton writes Causae de rebus promissis ob causam Matrimonii in foro Ecclesiastico terminari debent quia cujus juris jurisdictionis est principale ejusdem erit accessorium And in another place he gives a reason for the same quia semper videndum propter quid aliquid sit aut permittatur Zouch Jurisdiction of the Admiralty p. 64. I do not affirm an absolute parity between these cases and that which is before us I refer'd my self before and do now still submit what is said to the judicious decisions of others But this is yet upon the supposal that what is objected was really so as is objected the contrary to which is most clear for as touching what relates to this Vindication there is no need at all to strain any doubtful or disputable case to make it favour the matter in hand for the contract here pretended was not insisted upon so as to make a foundation of any jurisdictive proceeding in the Ecclesiastical Court thereupon 'T is true the contract gave occasion to the Bishop to call upon and admonish the Mayor and Sheriffs of Waterford to look after what belonged to their duty to be done They being thus stirred up make rates levy and collect Money from the several Inhabitants for this end of repairing the Body of the Cathedral c. They receive the voluntary contributions for the Bells The Money thus levied collected and received is little disposed of for the uses intended The Church remains unrepaired the other works are neglected now what was regularly and legally to be done in this case was regularly and legally entred upon the work of reparation it self the accounting for Money levied raised contributed and received for that purpose and other matters relating to the Church are the grounds of this proceeding as by the several Acts of Court remaining in the Registry of Waterford may more fully appear Now that these are justisiable grounds whereon legally to found an Ecclesiastical proceeding comes to be made good which I shall do by laying down and proving these three Assertions 1. The rendring an accompt of Moneys given and received for pious causes and the right disposing thereof belongs to the Bishop within his own Diocess to call for and see performed 2. Reparations of Churches with all the incidents thereunto both by Temporal and Spiritual Law appertain to Ecclesiastical cognizance 3. The penalty of Praemunire will not be incurr'd by any Ecclesiastical Judge for making such proceedings 1. The rendring an accompt of Moneys given and received for pious causes and the right disposing thereof belongs to the Bishop within his own Diocess to call for and see performed Pious causes are set down in the Law to be of many and various kinds and to enjoy many and various priviledges for the many and various kinds of them see Leg. illud Leg. Sancimus Cod. de Sacro-sanctis Ecclesiis and Lindwood in cap. it a quorundam ad Verb. pias causas de Testamentis lib. 3. Provincial Constitut Among which these especially fall under our disquisition namely Legacies or other Donations
either bestowed for the erecting of Hospitals and Alms-houses and endowing them with sufficient means and adding to such endowments for the sustentation and maintenance of aged sickly decrepid weak and helpless persons as Prisoners Orphans Widows c. Or such as are bestowed for the erecting and repairing of Churches and providing of such decent Oâ—naments and other Utensils as are requisite therein also such as are bestowed for the celebration of Divine offices at certain times and seasons appointed Now although I have delivered this Assertion universally yet it is to be understood with restriction to those kinds of pious causes that I have particularly specified The Imperial Law allows a very ample and large power to Bishops in order to the regulating and disposing of these to their intended purposes Authent collat nona Tit. de Sanctissimis Episcopis cap. 23. See also the Canons called the Apostles Canons cap. praecipimus 40 ibidem Item cap. Tua nob is cap. Johannes de Testamentis And concerning such things as belong to Alms-houses and Hospitals of any but Royal foundations our Statute Law is very express herein And as to other Hospitals which be of another foundation and patronage than the Kings the Ordinaries shall enquire of the manner of the foundation estate and governance of the same and of all other matters and things necessary in this behalf and upon that make correction and reformation after the Laws of Holy Church as to them belongeth An. 2. Hen. 5. cap. 1. stat 1. And whereas in some particular cases of this nature it is appointed by the Statute 43 Elizab. cap. 4. That by certain Commissioners authorized thereunto to under the Great Seal of England such Lands Moneys Goods and Chattels as have been given to such Godly uses as are there mentioned should be rightly ordered and all misemployings thereof be prevented and regulated yet there is a proviso in that Statute to this end That neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall be any way prejudicial or hurtful to the Jurisdiction of the Ordinany or power of the Ordinary but that he may lawfully in every case execute the same as though this Act had never been had or made Rastall And where there is a grant of Money or other moveable goods made by any person either in his life time or bequeathed by Legacy at the time of his decease for such pious causes as the erecting and repairing of Churches or buying such decent Ornaments and Furniture as belong to the same c. That the Money or other moveable goods thus granted or bequeathed be disposed for such uses and according to the intent of the Donor belongs to the Bishops care to look after and see performed Insomuch as they in whose hands such Moneys and Goods are detained may be convented before the Bishop and made to render an accompt thereof And the prosecution made herein may be either of office or at the promotion of the Church wardens of that or such other Parish to which the same is given Detentio legatorum ad usum pauperum quemlibet alium pium usum detentio bonorum ad publicos usus Ecclesiae destinatorum ad Episcopalem jurisdictionem pertinent Cosen Tab. vii A. To this purpose it is that in Articles given at Episcopal Visitations one is to enquire what Lands Possessions or other Richts are belonging or deemed and reputed to belong unto any Ecclesiastical Benefice and in whose hands they are and how they have been in their hands Which Article of Enquiry is grounded on the 44th Canon of this Church of Ireland and cognizance of these things belong to the Ecclesiastical Courts and may as I said be taken therein by the Ecclesiastical Judge either of meer office or office promoted c. and whether soever it be that such Rights become due by Legacy or any other Donation A man by his Testament bequeaths Goods to the Fabrick of a Church the Executor is to be sued for this in Court Ecclesiastical and thus it is determined at common Law see for this a consultation granted Register p. 57. a. cited at large by Dr. Cosen Apol. par 2. p. 100. But what if any issues and profits out of certain Lands and Tenements growing and belonging to any Church be detained They also may be sued for and recovered in Court Ecclesiastical If a Terr-Tenant holding Land that hath usually paid for such a Tenement a pound of wax or such like unto the Church do with-hold it the Churchwardens may sue him for it in Court Ecclesiastical Dr. Cosen par 1. p 45. And he alledges for this an ancient Author one Goodall who wrote in the time of King Henry 8th and intituled his Book Of the Liberties of the Clergy by the Laws of the Realm And observe that although a pound of wax and such like is only here mentioned yet it is not the tenuity and meaness of the thing that gives a right in this case to sue for it in the Spiritual Court But because there is a right so to do the same course of proceedings may be followed were the profits so accrewing and so to be disposed of far more valuable I will instance but in one case more which the Dr. mentions in p. 3. chap. 8. p. 102. An Ordinary proceeded ex Officii sui debito to the correction of crimes and excesses of those that were under his jurisdiction And amongst other objected Articles against a Knight for not sufficient reparations of a Church tending to the correction of his soul by reason of his detaining of that which he ought not This sayes he is allowed in the Register Tit. consultations fol. 53.6 I might but shall not need to add more for the proof of this first Assertion 2. Reparation of Churches with the incidents thereunto both by Temporal and Spiritual Law appertains to Ecclesiastical cognizance I call these the incidents thereunto The business of making Rates for such Reparations inspecting the money so rated questioning those that refuse to contribute their proportion and calling to account for money so collected These are all dependant on the other in case of any judicial proceeding that shall happen to be made thereon the reason is given in this as in all other things of like nature in that excellent law Nulli prorsus Cod. de judiciis the sum of which is this Ne continentiae causarum dividantur Now the Temporal Law is express for the proof of this in the Statute of circumspecte agatis An. 13. Edwardi Primi Among the thirteen cases there recired and appropriated to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal This is one viz. Prelates may punish for leaving Church yards unclosed or for that the Church is uncovered or not conveniently decked This Statute is also inserted in the provincial constitutions collected by Lindwood Tit. de fore competenti and so is become part of the Kings Ecclesiastical Law Several Common Law cases are cited for this by Meriton in his Guide for Church-wardens
which I mentioned before when some busie Sticklers were active and forward in fixing a Praemunire upon the Officers of the Chancery No Praemunire sayes He can be granted but at the Kings Suit and how can the King grant a Praemunire against Himself In the Court of Admiralty many more Prohibitions are brought than in the Ecclesiastical Courts There is a greater vicinity and likeness betwixt the matters tryable in that Court and those tryable at common Law and consequently greater occasion and probability of mistaking Now certainly such frequency of Prohibitions with the consequences of them would be very dilatory and tedious if the more compendious way of Praemunire were effectual and why not Praemunire lie here as well as in the Court Christian This is another Court or a Court under the large meaning of Alibi proceedings are divers therein from those of the common Law and I do not remember to have read any Praemunire brought for suing in the Admiralty excepting in two cases the one 38 Hen. 6. the other in 9 Hen. 7. Nevertheless saith Dr. Zouch although it be said that two Praemunires were brought upon such occasions yet it doth not appear that any judgment was given upon them See more to this purpose in his Jurisdiction of the Admiralty asserted But never to mince the matter Is it not here that the Shooe wrings It is the Ecclesiastical Court and that is become the great Eye-sore a thing that will not be looked upon as an offence in another Court is beheld by men through a magnifying Glass in this There are too many that cannot away at any hand with a Bishops Jurisdiction and what they do not like they easily quarrel at hence are all the prejudices that upon very little occasions are taken up and yet though good reasons be given are hardly laid down again The Spiritual Court shall be sure to have all the opprobrious and all the scurrilous imputations fastned to it Men love those sins too dearly that are punishable there and they love to hold too tenaciously those rights from others that are recoverable there Now no Delinquent loves that Judge who coâ—rects him for the sin he loves to câ—ntinue in or will force from him the rights of others which he has no mind to part withall I wish it have not been from these or any other such grâ—unds that the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction has had so many opposites and that there has been such lying at catch and waiting for advantages against it so as to terrifie with the name of Praemunire whensoever men have a mind to say there is or that there is indeed some real miscarriage therein Thus far I have enlarged in making good the second Proposition I shall collect together under one view what has been delivered thereon It was not the matter of any civil contract but a cause indisputably of Ecclesiastical cognizance that was the ground of these proceedings and therefore no Praemunire imputable on that Accompt and admitting the contract had been the ground of these proceedings yet for the reasons before shewed no Praemunire could have been incurr'd hereby and therefore the Bishop of Waterford's Jurisdiction in the case before laid down was legally founded in respect of the cause proceeded upon PROP. III. The Bishops Jurisdiction was legally managed in this cause against these persons in respect of the manner observed and followed therein It was in favour to the Mayor and Sheriffs that a civil intimation was given to them from the Bishop desiring their meeting with him This civil intimation was I will not say despised but not answered with a correspondent civility in them for they did not give the meeting to the Bishop which he desired they would And yet the end of this desired meeting was in order to a fair accompting for Moneys received by them for the Churches use and for making good the reparation of the Body of the Cathedral Church They not giving I say the Bishop this desired meeting some competent time afterwards I think a weeks space intervening Process was caused to issue forth to call them to appear before the Bishop in his Consistory on a certain day after following I cannot go forward to the sequele of this proceeding thus begun without making some little animadversion on these persons I shall forbear giving it any worse term disingenuous carriage in their Petition of Complaint Exhibited to the Lord Deputy and Council In the first Section of which they say That they the Petitioners about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon on the twentieth of July last received a Verbal Summons from the Apparator of the Diocess of Waterford to Appear at the Consistory Court of the said Diocess before the Lord Bishop of Waterford at Two of the clock the same day The disingenuity that I observe herein is most notorious for first they speak of a Verbal Summons from an Apparator than which nothing can be more ridiculous shall I say or more false 'T is both contrary to practice for any Verbal Summons to be given by an Apparator to any person and it is of no force nor validity if any such were given and it is contrary to Truth that any such was given The Bishop of Waterford better understands both what is the ordinary practice and what will hold good and is justifiable in practice than to order his Apparator to call any of his Diocess before him without a formal Process by Verbal Summons only Next it is said That this Verbal Summons was given at Ten of the clock in the Forenoon to appear at Two of the clock in the Afternoon of the same day Here is disingenuity again There being no Accord betwixt what is thus alledged and the Acts of Court that have been expedited in this proceeding I have made it my endeavour carefully to consult these and find that an Original Citation issued out of the Registry against these persons to appear on Wednesday the 22d of July betwixt the hours of Eight and Ten in the Forenoon of the same day And I find that this Citation was executed on the persons of these men by one Michael Curren the usual Mandatary of the Court according as he declared upon Oath on the 21 day of the Month of July which was Tuesday This is the first Act of proceedings in this cause and if we will credit that as it is attested by the Register a Sworn Officer and Notary Publick then the first Section of the Petition as it relates to these proceedings contains nothing of Truth in it And as little there is in the first part of the second Section for whereas the Petitioners say That on the Two and twentieth of the said Month they were Summoned to Appear at Ten of the clock at the said Court the same day The falsity of this appears plainly by what the aforesaid Mandatary upon Oath declared namely That he had Summoned them on the Tuesday which Tuesday was the One and twentieth not the
them I cannot pass by although I do but touch at them the many Errors concurring in this latter Essay As that first the time of Appealing from that which they pretended themselves aggrieved with was lapsed when this Appeal was interposed Moreover that one and the same cause by the same persons at the same time was thus brought to tryal before two distinct Judicatories which is vexatious at least in those that procure the same to be done so That the intermediate Jurisdiction was passed by contrary to the ancient liberties and customs in such cases observed and which was among other matters digested into Articles and Chapters confirmed in the Parliament held at Clarendon in the Reign of King Henry 2d Anno Domini 1164. namely That all Appeals in England must proceed regularly from the Archdeacon to the Bishop from the Bishop to the Archbishop and if the Archbishop failed to do justice the last complaint must be to the King to give order for redress that is sayes my Lord Primate Bramhall Vindication of the Church of England p. 75. by fit Delegates See to this purpose The Statute of Appeals 24 Hen. 8. cap. 12. And this contrary to the 56 Canon of this Church Whereby the pain of Nullity is inflicted on all Acts which are sped in Appeals where the Jurisdiction intermediate is passed by for although it is true That the Kings Authority ought not to be disputed or disobeyed by any Subject where it does appear to be yet that must ever be esteemed a true and regular obedience which the King himself by Law has prescribed it should be And lastly supposing the Appeal entred by them to have been antecedently good that is good in respect of time and manner observed in interposing the same yet it is not good nor valid in its consequents because the time appointed for these pretended Appellants to receive their Apostles that is dimissory Letters from the Bishop or Judge Aquo intimating his deferring and yielding to the said Appeal and assigning of time for prosecution of the same is long since passed away without doing either And besides this slipping the Terminus Hominis that is the Term limited and appointed by the Judge from whom the Appeal is Moreover the primum fatale juris for prosecuting and ending of Appeals is likewise lapsed and no impediment can be warrantably alledged in favour and on behalf of the Appellants so as to enjoy benefit of restitution into and being allowed their secundum fatale or second year for prosecuting their former Appeal No impediment I say can warrantably be alledged by these Appellants to capacitate them for this restitution for although the matter and pretended Grievance complained of against the Bishop at the hearing thereof before the most Honourable Council was referâ—d to two Honourable Members of the same and in the issue thereof from those Hononrable Referrees something like the nature of a compromise was made between both parties which might seem sufficient to stop the running on of these Fatalia Juris namely in respect of the Complainants their engaging to perform what belonged to them to do and had been required from them by the Bishop as to give account of the Money received for the Churches use and making good the Reparation of the Body of the Cathedral and other particular matters before mentioned and in respect of the Bishop his promising to withdraw his proceedings against them thereupon Although I say this seeming compromise might appear as a sufficient ground of granting admission to the secundum fatale supposing the first to be irrecoverably past Nevertheless it is not at all sufficient thereto the reason is because conditions were not performed on which this respite and seeming compromise was grounded and this non-performance of conditions was on the Appellants own part The Bishop performed more than his part in desisting hitherto from any further proceeding against them And they not performing the conditions required on their parts not then nor since nor to this very day which yet they ought to have done forthwith the benefit therefore of the other fatale is not allowable to them but being uncapable of any restitution thereunto they are really in the lapse and the said Appeal may be pronounced pro desertâ and no advantage on the Appellants part to be expected therefrom And if the Bishop should thus pronounce and resume into his cognizance the whole proceeding again as there would be both Law and Right enough to justifie his so doing so there would be a want of both these and of every thing else that might be needful to make up a safe and warrantable defence for the Complainants It is a noted and approved Maxim in poenal proceedings That Contempts of all crimes are least capable of favour or lenity Upon the whole view it sufficiently appears how little of truth or reason this exception against the manner of proceedings has to bear its self up withall Look we upon the crimes censured they were deeply scandalous and provoking Look we upon the censure inflicted 't was comparatively to the crime and a greater censure that might have been inflicted moderate and easie Look we to the manner of proceeding it was proper and without the omission of any one requisite or formality that of right ought to be used therein Look we to the Order observed It was not loose and confused but grave and regular Look we upon the whole cognizance it self This was not hasty and precipitous but prudentially guided and proceeding with good maturity and deliberation convenient intervals of time dividing seasonably every Court throughout the whole Transaction and preventing any thing of surprize that might be suspected therein I pretend not much skill to these Affairs yet being upon the design of searching as well as I was able into the whole state of this matter I have viewed and reviewed the whole series of these proceedings with the several Acts of Court Decrees and other matters incident thereunto And according to the best of what I am able to judge I cannot find in the same where to fasten any Error no not in the very niceties and punctualities of practice much less in any material point and essential matter thereof And now after all If Offenders complaints against the forms and prescriptions of Courts may pass for just Exceptions and fair Vindications of themselves we shall have many crimes but few criminals many that will be bold to offend but few that will ever acknowledge their being legally convicted for their Offences 'T is high time for persons invested with judiciary power to look about them and provide some new wayes of securing the Authority of their judicial proceedings if every bold attempt to question the legality of them may pass for a justifiable Plea of not obeying them or imprint a nullity upon them When such Offenders so justly and mildly censured shall dare openly to tell my Lord the Kings Deputy and my Lords of His Majesties Council as