CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS Ecclesiasticall Treated upon by the ARCHBISHOPS of Canterbury and York Presidents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York and the rest of the Bishops and Clergie of those Provinces And agreed upon with the KINGS Majesties License in their severall Synods begun at London and York 1640. In the yeer of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland the Sixteenth And now Published for the due observation of them by His Majesties Authority under the Great Seal of England LONDON Printed by ROBERT BARKER Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie And by the Assignes of JOHN BILL 1640. CHARLES 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 Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges and the other Clergie of every Diocesse within the severall Provinces of Canterburie and Yorke being respectively summoned and called by vertue of our severall Writs to the most Reverend Father in God Our right trustie and right welbeloved Counceller William by divine providence Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburie Primate of all England and Metropolitan And to the most Reverend Father in God Our right trustie and welbeloved Counceller Richard by divine providence Lord Arch-bishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England respectively directed bearing date the twentieth day of Februarie in the fifteenth yeer of Our reign to appear before the said Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburie in Our Cathedrall Church of S. Paul in London And before the said Lord Arch-bishop of York in the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter in York the fourteenth day of April then next ensuing or elswhere as they respectively should think it most convenientâ— to treat consent and conclude â—pon certain difficult and urgent affairs contained in the said Writs Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul and the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter aforesaid assemble themselves respectively together and appear in severall Convocations for that purpose according to the said severall Writs before the said Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburie and the said Lord Arch-bishop of York respectively And forasmuch as We are given to understand that many of Our subjects being misled against the Rites and Ceremonies now used in the Church of England have lately taken offence at the same upon an unjust supposall that they are not onely contrary to Our laws but also introductive unto Popish superstitions whereas it well appeareth unto Vs upon mature consideration that the said Rites and Ceremonies which are now so much quarrelled at were not onely approved of and used by those learned and godly Divines to whom at the time of Reformation under King Edward the sixth the compiling of the Book of Common Prayer was committed divers of which suffered Martyrdome in Queen Maries dayes but also again taken up by this whole Church under Queen Elizabeth and so duely and ordinarily practised for a great part of her Reign within the memory of divers yet living as that it could not then be imagined that there would need any Rule or Law for the observation of the same or that they could be thought to savour of Popery And albeit since those times for want of an expresse Rule therein and by subtile practises the said Rites and Ceremonies began to fall into disuse and in place thereof other forrain and unfitting usages by little and little to creep in Yet forasmuch as in Our own Royall Chappels and in many other Churches most of them have been ever constantly used and observed We cannot now but be very sensible of this matter and have cause to conceive that the authors and fomentors of these jealousies though they colour the same with a pretence of Zeal and would seem to strike onely at some supposed iniquity in the said Ceremonies Yet as We have cause to fear ayme at Our own Royall person and would fain have Our good Subjects imagine that We Our Self are perverted and do worship God in a superstitious way and that we intend to bring in some alteration of the Religion here established Now how far We are from that and how utterly We detest every thought therefore We have by many publike Declarations and otherwise upon sundry occasions given such assurance to the world as that from thence We also assure Our Self that no man of wisdom and discretion could ever be so beguiled as to give any serious entertainment to such brain-sick jealousies and for the weaker sort who are prone to be misled by crâ—fty seducers We rest no lesse confident that even of them as many as are of loyall or indeed but of charitable hearts will from henceforth utterly banish all such causlesse fears and surmises upon these Our sacred professions so often made by Vs a Christian Defender of the Faith their King and Soveraign And therefore if yet any person under whatsoever mask of zeal or counterfeit holinesse shall henceforth by speech or writing or any other way notwithstanding these Our right hearty faithfull and solemn protestations made before him whose Deputy We are against all and every intention of any Popish innovation be so ungracious and presumptuous as to vent any poisoned conceits tending to such a purpose and to cast these devilish aspersions and jealousies upon Our Royall and godly proceedings We require all Our loyall Subjects that they forthwith make the same known to some Magistrate Ecclesiasticall or Civill And We straightly charge all Ordinaries and every other person in any authority under Vs as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perill that they use no palliation connivence or delay therein but that taking particular information of all the passages they do forthwith certifie the same unto Our Court of Commission for causes Ecclesiasticall to be there examined and proceeded in with all fidelity and tendernesse of Our Royall Majestie as is due to Vs their Soveraigne Lord and Governour But forasmuch as We well perceive that the misleaders of Our well minded people do make the more advantage for the nourishing of this distemper among them from hence that the foresaid Rites and Ceremonies or some of them are now insisted upon but onely in some Diocesses and are not generally revived in all places nor constantly and uniformly practised thorowout all the Churches of Our Realm and thereupon have been lyable to be quarrelled and opposed by tâ—em who use them not We therefore out of Our Princely inclination to Vniformity and peace in matters especially that concern the holy worship of God proposing to Our self herein the pious examples of King Edward the sixth and of Queen Elizabeth who sent forth Injunctions and Orders about the divine Service and other Ecclesiasticall matters and of Our dear Father of blessed memory King James who published a book of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall and
according to the Act of Parliament in this behalf having fully advised herein with Our Metropolitan and with Our Commissioners authorised under Our great Seal for causes Ecclesiasticall have thought good to give them free leave to treat in Convocation and agree upon certain other Canons necessary for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his holy Church and the due reverence of his blessed Mysteries and Sacraments that as We â—ver have been and by Gods assistance by whom alone We reign shall ever so continue carefull and ready to cut off superstition with one hand so We may no lesse expell irrâ—verence and profanenesse with the other whereby it may please Almighty God so to blesse Vs and this Church committed to Our government that it may at once return unto the true former splendour of Vniformity Devotion and holy Order the luster whereof for some yeers by past hath been overmuch obscured through the devices of some ill affected to that Sacred Order wherein it had long stood from the very beginning of the Reformation and through inadvertencie of some in authority in the Church under Vs We therefore by vertue of Our Prerogative Royall and Supream authority in causes Ecclesiasticall by Our severall and respective Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England dated the fifteenth day of Aprill now last past and the twelfth day of May then next following for the Province of Canterbury And by Our like Letters Patents dated the seven and twentieth day of the same mâ—neth of Aprill and the twentieth day of the moneth of May aforesaid for the Province of York did give and grant full free and lawfull libertie licence power and authoritie unto the said Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and unto the said Lord Arch-bishop of York President of the said Convocation for the Province of York and to the rest of the Bishops of the said Provinces and unto all Deanes of Cathedrall Churches Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges and the whole Clergie of every severall Diocesse within the said severall Provinces and either of them that they should and might from time to time during the present Parliament and further during Our will and pleasure conferre treat debate consider consult and agree of and upon Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should think necessary fit and convenient for the honour and service of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better government thereof to be from time to time observed performed fulfilled and kept as well by the said Arch bishop of Canterbury and the said Arch-bishop of York the Bishops and their successours and the rest of the whole Clergie of the said severall Provinces of Canterbury and York in their severall Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and Administrations As by all and every Dean of the Arches and other Judges of the said severall Arch-bishops of Courts Guardians of Spiritualties Chancellours Deanes and Chapters Arch-deacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and every other Ecclesiasticall Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoever of the same respective Provinces of Canterbury and York in their and every of their distinct Courts and in the order and manner of their and every of their proceedings and by all other persons within this Realm as farre as lawfully being members of the Church it may concern them as in Our said Letters Patents amongst other Clauses more at large doth appear Now forasmuch as the said Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and the said Arch-bishop of York President of said Convocation for the Province of York and others the said Bishops Deans Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie having met together respectively at the time and places before mentioned respectively and then and there by vertue of Our said authority granted unto them treated of concluded and agreed upon certain Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose of Vs limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered and presented the same unto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to give Our Royall assent unto the same according to the form of a certain Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf in the 25th yeer of the Reign of King Henry the eighth and by Our said Prerogative Royall and Supream authority in Causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by Our Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England and to confirm the same The Title and Tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated upon by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Presidents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York and the rest of the Bishops and Clergie of those Provinces And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties Licence in their severall Synods begun at London and York 1640. In the yeer of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland and Sixteenth I. Concerning the Regall power WHereas sundry Lawes Ordinances and Constitutions have been formerly made for the acknowledgment and profession of the most lawfull and independent authority of our dread Soveraign Lord the Kings most Excellent Majestie over the State Ecclesiasticall and Civil We as our dutie in the first place bindes us and so far as to us appertaineth enjoyn them all to be carefully observed by all persons whom they concern upon the penalties in the said Laws and Constâ—tutions expressed And for the â—uller and clearer instruction and information of all Christian people within this Realm in their duties in this particular We do further ordain and decree That every Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher upon some one Sunday in every quarter of the yeer at Morning prayer shall in the place where he serves treatably and audibly read these explanations of the Regall power here inserted THE most High and Sacred order of Kings is of Divine right being the ordinance of God himself founded in the prime Laws of nature and clearly established by expresse texts both of the old and new Testaments A supream Power is given to this most excellent Order by God himself in the Scriptures which is That Kings should rule and command in their severall dominions all persons of what rank or estate soever whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill and that they should restrain and punish with the temporall sword all stubborn and wicked doers The care of Gods Church is so committed to Kings in the Scripture that they are commendâ—d when the Church keeps the right way and taxed when it runs amisse and therefore her government belongs in chief unto Kings For othâ—rwise one man would be commended for anothers care and taxed but for anothers negligence which is not Gods way The power to call and dissolve Councels both nationall and provincial is the true right of all Christian Kings within their own Realms or Territories And
of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this situation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called an Altar by us in that sense in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many placâ—â— some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communion Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuâ—â—s it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion Tables in all Chancells or Chappells be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence thereâ—ore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw neer c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw neer and approach to the holy Table there to receive the divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unlesse it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenienceâ— by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other Ordinaries respectively in theirs And lastly whereas the Church is the house of God dedicated to his holy worship and therefore ought to minde us both oâ— the greatnesse and goodnesse of his Divine Majestie certain it is that the acknowledgement thereof not onely inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly with our bodies must needs be pious in it self profitable unto us and edifying unto others We therefore think it very meet and behoovefull and heartily commend it to all good and well affected people members of this Church that they be ready to tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgement by doing reverence and obeisance both at their coming in and going out of the said Churches Chancels or Chappels according to the most ancient custome of the Primitive Church in the purest times and of this Church also for many yeers of the Reign of Quâ—en Elizabeth The reviving therefore of this ancient and laâ—dable custome we heartily commend to the serious considâ—ration of all good people not with any intention to exhibite any Religious worship to the Communion Table the East or Church or any thing therein contained in so doing or to perform the said gesture in the celebration of the holy Euchaâ—ist upon any opinion of a corporall pâ—esence of the body of Jesus Christ on the holy Table or in tâ—e mysticall elements but onely for the advancement of Gods Majestie and to give him alone that honour and glory that is due unto him and no otherwise and in the practise or omission of this Rite we desire that the rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle may be observed which is That they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it VIII Of Preaching for Conformity WHerâ—as the Preaching of Order and Decencie according to St Pauls rule doth conduce to edification it is required that all Preachers as well Beneficâ—d men as others shall positively and plainly Preach and Inâ—truct the people in their publike Sermons twice in the yeer at the least that the Rites and Ceremonies now established in the Church of England are lawfull and commendable and that they the said people and others ought to conform themselves in their practise to all the said Rites and Ceremonies and that the people and others ought willingly to submit themselves unto the authority and government of the Church as it is now established under the Kings Majestie And if any Preacher shall refuse or neglect to do according to this Canon let him be suspended by his Ordinary during the time of his refusall or wilfull forbearance to do thereafter IX One Book of Articles of inquiry to be used at all Parochiall Visitations FOr the better settling of an Uniformity in the outward government and administration of the Church and for the more preventing of just grievances which may be laid upon Church-wardens and other Sworn-men by any impertinâ—nt inconvenient or illegall enquiries in the Articles for Ecclesiasticall Visitations This Synode hath now causâ—d a Summary or Collection of Visiâ—â—tory Articles out of the Rubricks of the Service-Book and the Canons and warrantable Rules of the Church to be made and for future direction to be deposited in the Records of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and we do decree and ordain that from henceforth no Bishop or other person whatsoever having right to hold use or exercise any Parochiall Visitation shall under the pain of a Moneths suspension upon a Bishop and two Moneths upon any other Ordinary that is delinquent and this to be incurred ipso facto cause to be printed or published or otherwise to be given in charge to the Church-wardenâ— or to any other persons which shall be sworn to make Presentmâ—nts any other Articles or formes of enquiry upon oath then such onely as shal be approved and in terminis allowed unto him upon due request made by his Metropolitan under his Seal of Office Provided alwaies that after the end of three yeers next following the date of these presents the Metropolitan shal not either at the instance of those which have right to hold Parochiall Visitations oâ— upon any other occasion make any addition or diminution from that allowance to any Bishop of Visitatory Articles which he did last before in any Diocesse within his Province approve of But calling for the same shall hold and give that onely for a perpetual Rule and then eveâ—y Paâ—ish shal be bound onely to take the said Book from the Arch-deacons and other having a Peculiar or exempt Jurisdiction but once from that time in three yeers in case they do make it appear that they have the said Book remaining in their publike Châ—st for the use of the Parish And from evâ—ry Bishop they shall receive the said Articles at the Episcopall Visitation onely and in manner and form as formerly they have been accustomed to do and at no greater price then what hath bin usually paied in the said Diocesse respectively X. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergie THe sober graveâ— and exemplary Conversation of al those that are imployed in Administration of holy things being of great avail for the furtherance of pietieâ— It hath beâ—n the Religious care of the Church of England strictly to enjoyn to all every one of her Clergie a pious regular and inoffensive dâ—meanourâ— and to prohibit all loose and scandalous carriage by severe censures to be inflicted upon such delinquents as appeares by the 74. and 75. Canons Anno 1603. provided