for not presenting oftner then twice a yeere The olde Churchwardens to make their presentments before the new be sworne Conuenient time to bee assigned for framing Presentments None to bee Cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Processe of Quorum nomina None to be cited into seueral Courts for one crime No sentence of Depriuation or Deposition to bee pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop No Acte to be sped but in open Court No Court to haue more then one Seale Conuenient places to bee chosen for the keeping of Courts Peculier and inferior Courts to exhibite the originall copies of Wills into the Bishops Registry ¶ Iudges of Ecclesiasticall Courts THe Qualitie and oath of Iudges The Qualitie of Surrogats ¶ Proctors PRoctors not to retaine Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties Proctors not to retaine Causes without the counsell of an Aduocate Proctors not to conclude in any Cause without the knowledge of an Aduocate Proctors prohibited the oath In animam Domini sui Proctors not to be clamorous in Court ¶ Registers A Buses to be reformed in Registers A certaine rate of Fees due to all Ecclesiasticall Officers A Table of the rates of Fees to be set vp in Courts and Registries The whole Fees for shewing Letters of Orders and other Licences due but once in euery Bishops time ¶ Apparitors THE number of Apparitors restrained ¶ Authoritie of Synods A Nationall Synode the Church representatiue Synods conclude aswell the absent as the present Deprauers of the Synode censured IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges the other Cleargie of euery Diocesse within the Prouince of Canterbury being summoned called by vertue of our Writ directed to the most reuerend father in God IOHN late Archbishop of Canterbury and bearing date the 31. day of Ianuary in the first yeere of our Raigne of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the 37. to haue appeared before him in our Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London the 20. day of March then next ensuing or elsewhere as he should haue thought it most conuenient to treat consent and conclude vpon certaine difficult and vrgent affaires mentioned in the said Writte Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul aforesaid assemble themselues and appeare in Conuocation for that purpose according to our said Writte before the Right reuerend Father in God Richard Bishop of London duely vpon a second Writte of Ours dated the 9. day of March aforesaid authorized appointed and constituted by reason of the saide Archbishop of Canterbury his death President of the said Conuocation to execute those things which by vertue of our first Writ did appertaine to him the said Archbishop to haue executed if he had liued Wee for diuers vrgent and weighty causes and considerations vs thereunto especially mouing of our especial grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our Prerogatiue royal and supreme Authoritie in causes Ecclesiastical giue and grant by our seuerall Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England the one dated the 12. day of April last past and the other the 25. day of Iune then next following full free and lawfull libertie licence power and Authoritie vnto the said Bishop of London President of the said Conuocation and to the other Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colleges and the rest of the Cleargie before mentioned of the said Prouince That they from time to time during our first Parliament now prorogued might conferre treate debate consider consult and agree of and vpon such Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should thinke necessary fit conuenient for the honour and seruice of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better gouernement thereof to be from time to time obserued perfourmed fulfilled and kept aswel by the Archbishops of Canterbury the Bishops their Successours and the rest of the whole Clergie of the sayd Prouince of Canterbury in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and administrations as also by all and euery Deane of the Arches and other Iudge of the sayd Archbishops Courts Gardians of Spiritualties Chancellors Deanes and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and euery other Ecclesiasticall Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoeuer of the same Prouince of Canterburie in their and euery of their distinct Courts and in the order and maner of their and euery of their proceedings and by all other persons mthin this Realme as farre as lawfully being members of the Church it may concerne them as in our sayd Letters Patents amongst other clauses more at large doth appeare Forasmuch as the sayd Bishop of London President of the sayd Conuocation and others the sayd Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie hauing met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted vnto them treated of concluded and agreed vpon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by Vs limited and prescribed vnto them and haue thereupon offred and presented the same vnto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to giue our Royal assent vnto their sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Acte of Parliament made in that behalfe in the xxv yeere of the Reigne of King Henry the eight and by our sayd Prerogatiue Royall and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents vnder our great Seale of England and to confirme the same the title and tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated vpon by the Bishop of London President of the Conuocation for the Prouince of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops and Cleargie of the said Prouince and agreed vpon with the Kings Maiesties licence in their Synode begun at London An. Dom. 1603 And in the yeere of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland the first and of Scotland the 37. ⧠Of the Church of England I. The Kings supremacie ouer the Church of England in causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained AS our duety to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie requireth wee first decree and ordaine That the Archbishop of Canterbury from time to time all Bishops of this prouince all Deanes Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and all other Ecclesiasticall persons shall faithfully keepe and obserue and as much as in them lieth shall cause to bee obserued and kept of others all and singuler Lawes and statutes made for restoring to the Crowne of this kingdome the ancient Iurisdiction ouer the state Ecclesiastical and abolishing of all forren power-repugnant to the same Furthermore al Ecclesiastical
suffered to preach pendente lite LIIII The Licences of Preachers refusing Conformitie to be voyd IF any man licenced heretofore to preach by any Archbishop Bishop or by either of the Vniuersities shall at any time from henceforth refuse to conforme himselfe to the Lawes Ordinances and Rites Ecclesiasticall established in the Church of England he shall be admonished by the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinary of the place to submit himselfe to the vse and due exercise of the same And if after such admonition he doe not conforme himselfe within the space of one moneth We determine and decree That the licence of euery such Preacher shall thereupon bee vtterly voyde and of none effect LV. The forme of a Prayer to bee vsed by Preachers before their Sermons BEfore all Sermons Lectures and Homilies the Preachers Ministers shall moue the people to ioine with them in prayer in this forme or to this effect as briefly as conueniently they may Ye shal pray for Christs holy Catholike Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world and especially for the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland And herein I require you most especially to pray for the Kings most excellent Maiestie our Soueraigne Lord IAMES King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendour of the Faith Supreme Gouernour in these his Realmes and all other his Dominions and Countries ouer all persons in all causes aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queene ANNE the Noble Prince HENRY and the rest of the King and Queenes Royall Issue Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word Sacraments aswell Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastours and Curates Ye shall also pray for the Kings most honourable Counsell and for all the Nobilitie and Magistrates of this Realme that all euery of these in their seuerall Callings may serue truely and painefully to the glory of God and the edifying and well gouerning of his people remembring the accompt that they must make Also yee shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realme that they may liue in true Faith and feare of God in humble obedience to the King and brotherly charitie one to another Finally let vs praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray vnto God that wee may haue grace to direct our liues after their good example that this life ended wee may be made partakers with them of the glorious Resurrection in the life Euerlasting alwayes concluding with the Lords prayer LVI Preachers and Lecturers to reade diuine Seruice and administer the Sacraments twise a yeere at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a Benefice that hath Cure and Charge of soules although he chiefly attend to preaching and hath a Curate vnder him to execute the other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise euery other stipendarie Preacher that readeth any Lecture or Catechizeth or Preacheth in any Church or Chappell shall twise at the least euery yeere reade himselfe the diuine Seruice vpon two seuerall Sundayes publikely and at the vsuall times both in the Forenoone and Afternoone in the Church which he so possesseth or where he Readeth Catechizeth or Preacheth as is aforesaid and shal likewise as often in euery yeere administer the Sacraments of Baptisme if there be any to be baptized of the Lords Supper in such maner forme and with the obseruation of all such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the booke of Common prayer in that behalfe which if hee doe not accordingly performe then shall he that is possessed of a Benefice as before bee suspended and he thatis but aReader Preacher or Catechizer be remoued from his place by the Bishop of the Diocesse vntil he or they shal submit themselues to performe all the said duties in such mater and â—ort as before is prescribed LVII The Sacraments not to be refused at the hands of vnpreaching Ministers WHereas diuers Persons seduced by false Teachers doe refuse to haue their children baptized by a Minister that is no Preacher and to receiue the holy Communion at his hands in the same respect as though the vertue of those Sacraments did depend vpon his ability to preach Forasmuch as the doctrine both of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper is sufficiently set downe in the booke of Common prayer to bee vsed at the administration of the said Sacraments as nothing can be added vnto it that is material and necessary We doe require and charge euery such person seduced as aforesayd to reforme that their wilfulnesse and to submit himselfe to the order of the Church in that behalfe both the said Sacraments being equally effectual whether they be ministred by a Minister that is no Preacher or by one that is a Preacher And if any hereafter shal offend herein or leaue their owne Parish Churches in that respect and Communicate or causâ— their children to be Baptized in other Parishes abroad and will not bee mooued thereby to reforme that their error and vnlawfull course let them be presented to the Ordinarie of the place by the Minister Churchwardens and Sidemen or Questmen of the Parishes where they dwel and there receiue such punishment by Ecclesiasticall censures as such obstinacie doth worthily deserue that is Let them persisting in their wilfulnesse be suspended and then after a moneths further obstinacie Excommunicated And likewise if any Parson Vicar or Curate shal after the publishing hereof either receiue to the Communion any such persons which are not of his owne Church Parish or shall Baptize any of their children thereby strengthening them in their said errours Let him bee suspended and not released thereof vntill hee doe faithfully promise that hee will not afterwards offend therein LVIII Ministers reading Diuine Seruice and Administring the Sacraments to weare Surplisses and Graduats therewithall Hoods EVery Minister saying the publike Praiers or ministring the Sacraments or other Rites of the Church shall weare a decent and comely Surplisse with sleeues to be prouided at the charge of the Parish And if any question arise touching the matter decencie or comlinesse thereof the same shal be decided by the discretion of the Ordinary Furthermore such Ministers as are Graduats shall weare vpon their Surplisses at such times such Hoods as by the orders of the Vniuersities are agreeable to their degrees which no Minister shall weare being no Graduat vnder paine of suspension Notwithstanding it shal be lawfull for such Ministers as are not Graduats to weare vpon their Surplisses in stead of Hoods some decent Tippet of black so it be not silke LIX Ministers to Catechize euery Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate vpon euery Sunday and Holy day before Euening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the Beliefe
Of the Church of England THe Kings supremacie ouer the Church of England in causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained Impugners of the Kings Supremacie censured The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured Impugners of the gouernement of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured Authors of Schisme in the Church of England censured Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured Maintainers of Conuenticles censured Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured ¶ Of Diuine Seruice and Administration of the Sacraments DVe celebration of Sundayes Holy daies The prescript forme of Diuine Seruice to be vsed on Sundayes and Holy dayes The Letanie to bee read on Wednesdayes and Fridayes Colledges to vse the prescript forme of Diuine Seruice Students in Colledges to weare Surplisses in time of Diuine Seruice Reuerence and attention to bee vsed within the Church in time of Diuine Seruice Loyterers not to bee suffered neere the Church in time of Diuine Seruice Bread and VVine to bee prouided against euery Communion The Communion to be thrice a yeere receiued VVarning to be giuen beforehand for the Communion Students in alledges to receiue the Communion foure times a yeere Copes to be worne in Cathedral Churches by those that administer the Communion Surplisses and Hoods to bee worne in Cathedrall Churches when there is no Communion Notorious offendours not to bee admitted to the Communion Schismaticks not to bee admitted to the Communion Strangers not to bee admitted to the Communion Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not Communicants The lawfull vse of the Crosse in Baptisme explaned ¶ Ministers their Ordination Function and Charge FOure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers None to bee made Deacon and Minister both in one day The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers The qualitie of such as are to be made Ministers The examination of such as are to be made Ministers Subscription required of such as are to bee made Ministers The Articles of Subscription The forme of Subscription Subscription before the Diocesan Reuolters after Subscription censured Cautions for institution of Ministers into Benefices An oath against Symonie at institution into Benefices Licences for pluralitie of Benefices limited and Residence enioyned Residence of Deanes in their Churches Deanes and Prebendaries to Preach during their Residence Prebendaries to be resident vpon their Benefices Beneficed Preachers being resident vpon their liuings to preach euery Sunday Beneficed men not Preachers to procure monethly Sermons Absence of Beneficed men to be supplied by Curates that are allowed Preachers None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop Ministers not allowed Preachers may not expound Strangers not admitted to Preach without shewing their Licence Strangers not admitted to preach in Cathedrall Churches without sufficient authoritie The names of strange Preachers to bee noted in a Booke No publike opposition betweene Preachers The Licences of Preachers refusing Conformitie to be voyd The forme of a Prayer to bee vsed by Preachers before their Sermons Preachers and Lecturers to reade diuine Seruice and administer the Sacraments twise a yeere at the least The Sacraments not to bee refused at the hands of vnpreaching Ministers Ministers reading Diuine Seruice and Administring the Sacraments to weare Surplisses and Graduats therewithall Hoods Ministers to Catechize euery Sunday Confirmation to bee perfourmed once in three yeeres Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation Ministers not to marrie any persons without Bannes or Licence Ministers of exempt Churches not to marry without Bannes or Licence Ministers solemnly to bid Holy dayes Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicats Ministers to conferre with Recusants Ministers to visite the sicke Ministers not to refuse to christen or bury Ministers not to deferre Christening if the childe be in danger Ministers to keepe a Register of Christnings Weddings and Burials Ministers not to Preach or administer the Communion in priuate houses Ministers not to appoint publike or priuate Fasts or Prophesies or to exorcize but by authority Ministers not to hold priuate Conuenticles Decencie in apparell enioyned to Ministers Sober conuersation required in Ministers Ministers at no time to forsake their Calling ¶ Schoolemasters NOne to teach Schoole without Licence Curats desirous to Teach to bee licenced before others The duetie of Schoolemasters ¶ Things appertaining to Churches THE great Bible and Booke of Common prayer to be had in euery Church A Font of stone for Baptisme in euery Church A decent Communion Table in euery Church A Pulpit to be prouided in euery Church A Chest for Almes in euery Church Churches to be kept in sufficient reparations Churches to be suruayed and the decayes certified to the high Commissioners A Terrier of Glebelands and other Possessions belonging to Churches Churches not to be prophaned ¶ Churchwardens Questmen and Sidemen THe choise of Churchwardens and their accompt The choise of Sidemen and their ioynt Office with Churchwardens ¶ Parish Clearks PArish Clearkes to bee chosen by the Minister ¶ Ecclesiasticall Courts belonging to the Archbishops Iurisdiction NOne to be Cited into diuers Courts for probate of the same Will The Rate of Bona notabilia liable to the Prerogatiue Court None to be Cited into the Arches or Audience but dwellers within the Archbishops Diocesse or Peculiars The restraint of double Quarrels Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Aduocate Inhibitions not to be graunted vntill the Appeale be exhibited to the Iudge Inhibitions not to bee granted to factious Appellants vnlesse they first subscribe None to marrie within the degrees prohibited None to marrie vnder xxj yeeres without their Parents consent By whom Licences to marrie without Bannes shal be granted and to what sort of persons Securitie to bee taken at the granting of such Licences and vnder what conditions Oathes to be taken for the Conditions An exception for those that are in Widowhood No Sentence for Diuorce to bee giuen vpon the sole confession of the parties No Sentence for Diuorce to be giuen but in open Court In all Sentences for Diuorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life The penaltie for Iudges offending in the premisses ¶ Ecclesiasticall Courts belonging to Bishops and inferior Ordinaries and the proceedings in them NOtorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiastical Courts by presentment Schismatickes to be presented Disturbers of diuine Seruice to be presented Not Communicants at Easter to be presented Ministers may present Ministers shall present Recusants Ministers and Churchwardens not to bee sued for presenting Churchwardens not bound to present oftner then twice a yeere Churchwardens not to be troubled
persons hauing cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Diuinitie lectures shall to the vttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times euery yeere at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and lectures That all vsurped and forren power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most iust causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions is due vnto any such forren power but that the Kings power within his Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreys is the highest power vnder God to whom all men aswell inhabitants as borne within the same do by Gods Lawes owe most loyalty and obedience afore and aboue all other Powers and Potentates in earth II. Impugners of the Kings supremacie censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Kings Maiesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperors in the Primitiue Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacie in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of those his wicked errours III. The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Lawe established vnder the Kings Maiestie is not a true and an Apostolical Church teaching maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of this his wicked errour IIII. Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall herafter affirme that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England established by Law and conteined in the booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments is a corrupt superstitious or vnlawfull worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Bishop of the place or Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors V. Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that any of the nine and thirtie Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargy in the Conuocation holden at LONDON in the yeere of our Lorde God one thousand fiue hundred sixty two for the auoiding of diuersities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as hee may not with a good conscience subscribe vnto let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors VI. Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Law established are wicked Antichristian or superstitious or such as beeing commanded by lawfull authoritie men who are zealously and godly affected may not with any good conscience approue them vse them or as occasion requireth subscribe vnto them let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours VII Impugners of the gouernment of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the gouernement of the Church of England vnder his Maiesty by Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errors VIII Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or teach that the fourme and maner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons conteineth any thing in it that is repugnant to the word of God or that they who are made Bishops Priestes or Deacons in that forme are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either by themselues or by others to be truly either Bishops Priests or Deacons vntil they haue some other calling to those diuine Offices let him bee excommunicated ipso facto not to bee restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours IX Authours of Schisme in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saints as it is approoued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Gouernment Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and vnmeete for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike reuocation of such their wicked errors X. Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall heerafter affirme That such Ministers as refuse to subscribe to the forme and maner of Gods worship in the Church of England prescribed in the Communion Booke and their adherents may truly take vnto them the name of another Church not established by Lawe and dare presume to publish it that this their pretended Church hath of long time groaned vnder the burden of certaine grieuances imposed vpon it and vpon the members thereof before mentioned by the Church of England and the Orders and Constitutions therein by Law established Let them be excommunicated and not restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke such their wicked errors XI Maintainers of Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or maintaine That there are within this Realme other meetings assemblies or congregations of the Kings borne Subiects then such as by the lawes of this land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselues the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored but by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors XII Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that it is lawfull for any sort of Ministers and Lay persons or either of them to ioyne together and make Rules Orders or Constitutions in causes Ecclesiasticall without the Kings authoritie and shall submit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by them let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke those their wicked and Anabaptisticall errors