breake or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honor of GOD the peace of the Church tranquillitie of the Kingdome and their dueties and service unto VS their King and Soveraigne In witnes c. CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian Faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments Wee doe receive and approve the Booke of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirme that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publique revocation of his errour II. The Kings Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained ALL Ecclesiasticall persons having cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinitie Lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times every yeare at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and Lectures That all usurped and forraine power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the Law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions is due unto such forraine power but that the Kings power within his Realme of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreyes is the highest power under God to whom all men aswell Inhabitants as borne within the same doe by Gods Lawes owe all loyaltie and obedience and to no other forraine power potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintaine that the Kings Majestie hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiasticall that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but onely by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publique revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contained in the Booke of Common Prayer THat forme of Liturgie or Divine Service and no other shal be used in any Church of this Realme but that which is established by the Law and comprised in the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speake any thing in the derogation or despising of the said Booke or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour III. Of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order THat forme of Ordination no other shal be used in this Church but that which is contained in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirme that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this governement are true Churches or refuse to joyne with them in Christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publiquely revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the doctrine governement rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyne with in Christian profession or shall affirme and maintaine that there are within this Realme other meetings assemblyes or congregations then such as by the Lawes of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawfull Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALL manner of persons shall celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the Word of GOD read and taught in private and publique prayers in acknowledging their offences to GOD and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of CHRIST in visiting the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript forme of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holydayes with all decencie and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usuall times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meet for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer and in the Act for uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof And in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daylie at the times both of prayer and preaching weare with their Surplises such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappell in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may weare a night-cap or coife Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times busied then in quiet attendance to heare marke and understand that which is read preached
appertaineth according to the quality of the offence XXVIII Prebendaries to be resident upon their Benefices NO Prebendaries or Canons in Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches having one or more Benefices with cure and not being residentaries in the same Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches shall under colour of the said Prebends absent themselves from their Benefices with cure above the space of one moneth in the yeare unlesse it be for some urgent cause and certaine time to be allowed by the Bishop of the Diocesse And such of the said Canons and Prebendaryes as by the Ordinances of the said Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches doe stand bound to be resident in the same shall so among themselves sort and proportion the times of the yeare concerning residence to bee kept in the said Churches as that some of them alwayes shall be personally resident there And that all those who be or shal be Residentaries in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall after the dayes of their residencie appointed by their locall Statutes or customes expired presently repaire to their Benefices or some of them or to some other charge where the Law requireth their presence there to discharge their duties according to the Law in that ease provided And the Bishop of the Diocesse shall see the same to be duely performed and put in execution XXIX Foure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers FOrasmuch as the ancient Fathers of the Church led by the examples of the Apostles appointed Prayers and Fasts to be used at the solemne ordering of Ministers and to that purpose allotted certaine times in which onely sacred Orders might be given or conferred Wee following their holy and religious example doe constitute and decree that no Deacons or Ministers be ordained and made but onely upon the Sundayes immediately following Iejunia quatuor temporum commonly called Ember-weekes appointed in ancient time for prayer and fasting purposely for this cause at their first Institution so coÌ„tinued at this day in the Church of Ireland And that this be done in the Cathedral or Parish Church where the Bishop resideth and in the time of Divine Service in the presence not onely of the Archdeacon but of the Deane two Prebendaries at the least or if they shall happen by any lawfull cause to be let or hindered in the presence of foure other grave persons being allowed for publique Preachers And lastly that no person of what qualitie or gifts soever be made a Deacon and Presbyter both together upon the same day XXX The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers NO person shal be admitted into sacred Orders except he shall at that time exhibite to the Bishop of whom he desireth imposition of hands a presentation of himselfe to some Ecclesiasticall preferment then voyde in that Diocesse or shall bring to the said Bishop a true and undoubted certificate that either he is provided of some Church within the said Diocesse where hee may attend the cure of soules or of some Ministers place vacant either in the Cathedrall Church of that Diocesse or in some other Collegiate Church therein also scituate where he may execute his Ministery or that he is a Senior Fellow of some Colledge in the Vniversitie except he be a Master of Arts of five yeares standing that liveth of his owne charge in the Vniversitie or except by the Bishop himselfe that doth ordaine him Minister he be shortly after to be admitted either to some Benefice or Curateship then voyde not to be removed untill he be otherwise provided for except by his notable evill carriage he deserve the contrary And if any Bishop shall admit any person into the Ministery that hath none of these Titles as is aforesaid then he shall keepe maintaine him with all things necessary till he doe preferre him to some Ecclesiasticall Living And if the said Bishop shall refuse so to doe he shal be suspended by his Archbishop being assisted with another Bishop from giving of Orders by the space of a yeare XXXI The quality of such as are to be made Ministers NO Bishop shall hereafter admit any person into sacred Orders which is not of his owne Diocesse except he be a graduaâ—â— of some Vniversitie within the Kings Dominions or except he shall bring letters dimissory so termed from the Bishop of whose Diocesse he is and desiring to be a Deacon is three and twentie yeares olde and to be a Presbyter foure and twentie yeares compleate and hath taken some degree of Schoole iâ— some of the said Vniversities or at the least except he be able to yeild an account of his faith in Latine according to the Articles of Religion generally received in the Church of England and Ireland and to confirme the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy Scriptures And except moreover hee shall then exhibit letters Testimoniall or Authenticall Certificate of his good life and conversation under the Seale of some Colledge where before he remained or of three or foure grave Ministers together with the subscription and testimony of other credible persons who have knowne his life and behaviour by the space of three yeares next before XXXII The examination of such as are to be made Ministers THe Bishop before he admit any person to holy Orders shall diligently examine him in the presence of those Ministers that shall assist him at the Imposition of hands And if the said Bishop have any lawfull impediment he shall cause the said Ministers carefully to examine every such person so to be ordered Provided that they who shall assist the Bishop in examining and laying on of hands shal be of his Cathedrall Church if they may conveniently be had or other sufficient Preachers of the same Diocesse to the number of three at the least And if any Bishop or Suffragan shall admit any to sacred Orders who is not so qualified and examined as before we have ordayned the Archbishop of that Province having notice thereof and being assisted by one Bishop shall suspend the said Bishop or Suffragan so offending from making either Deacons or Priests for the space of two yeares Neither shall any person be received into the Ministery nor admitted to any Ecclesiasticall Living nor permitted to preach reade Lecture catechize or Minister the Sacraments except he shall first by subscription declare his consent to the first foure Canons of this present Synod and every thing contayned therein XXXIII Caution for institution of Ministers into Benefices NO Bishop shall institute any into a Benefice who hath beene ordayned by any other Bishop except he first shew unto him his letters of Orders and bring him a sufficient testimony of his former good life and behaviour if the Bishop shall require it and lastly shall appeare upon the due examination to be worthy of his Ministry XXXIIII Patrons of Ecclesiasticall Benefices THe Bishop shall earnestly and diligently exhort Patrons of benefices to consider the necessities of the Churches and to have before their eyes the
CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Cleargie of IRELAND And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at DUBLIN Anno Dom. 1634. And in the yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Britaine France and Ireland the tenth And now published for the due observation of them by his Majesties Authoritie under the Great Seale of Ireland DVBLIN Printed by the Societie of Stationers Printers to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty An. Dom. 1635 THE TABLE ⧠Of the Church of Jreland 1. OF the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion 2. The Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiaesticall to be maintayned 3. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contayned in the Booke of Common prayer 4. Of the forme of Consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order 5. Authors of schismes and maintayners of Conventicles censured ¶ Of Divine Service preaching of the VVord and administration of the Sacraments 6. DVe celebration of Sundayes and Holy-daies 7. The prescript forme of Divine service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence 8. Of the ordering of certaine parts of the Service 9. Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their livings to preach every Sunday 10. No publique opposition betweene Preachers 11. Ministers to Catechize every Sunday 12. The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation 13. Preachers and Lecturers to reade Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least 14. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury 15. Ministers not to deferre Christening if the child be in danger 16. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor children not-Communicants 17. Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Bishop once in three yeares 18. Of the receiving of the holy Communion 19. VVarning to be given before hand for the Communion 20. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion 21. Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses 22. Ministers not to hold private conventicles ¶ Of Bishops Archdeacons Deanes and Prebendaries 23. OF Ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction 24. Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons 25. Of Archdeacons 26. Residence of Deanes in their Churches 27. Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their Residence 28. Prebendaries to be resident upon their benefices ¶ Of the Ordination function and charge of Ministers 29. I Oure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers 30. The titles of such as are to be made Ministers 31. The qualitie of such as are to be made Ministers 32. The examination of such as are to be made Ministers 33. Caution for Institution of Ministers into Benefices 34. Patrons of Ecclesiasticall Benefices 35. Prevention of Symoniacall contracts in those that are presented by them 36. Small Parishes to be united and Residence enjoyned 37. Absence of Beneficed men and livings appropriated to be supplyed by Curats that are allovved Preachers 38. None to be Curats but allowed by the Bishop 39. Strangers not admitted to preach without Licence 40. Ministers to conferre with Recusants 41. Ministers to visite the sicke 42. Sobernesse of conversation and decencie of apparell required in Ministers 43. Of consecration of Churches 44. A Terrier of gleabe-lands and other possessions belonging to Churches 45. Payment of Tythes 46. A Registry to bee kept of Christnings VVeddings and Burials ¶ Of Marriages Divorces 47. NOne to marry within the degrees prohibited 48. None to marry under XXI yeares without their Parents consent 49. Security to be taken at the granting of such Licences and under what conditions 50. Oathes to be taken for the conditions 51. An exception for those that are in VVidowhood 52. Ministers not to marry any person without Bannes 53. No sentence for Divorce to be given upon the sole confession of the parties 54. No sentence of Divorce to be given but in open court 55. In all sentences for Divorce bond to be taken for not marrying during each others life ¶ Of Ecclesiasticall Courts and Iurisdiction 56. THe Order of Iurisdictions to be kept 57. The restraint of double Quarrels upon the respite of Institution 58. Inhibitions not to be granted without the subscription of an Advocate 59. Inhibitions not to be granted untill the Appeale be exhibited to the Iudge 60. Solemne denunciation of parties excommunicated 61. Notorious crimes and scandals to be certified into Ecclesiasticall Courts by presentments 62. Schismaticks to be presented 63. Not-communicants at Easter to be presented 64. Ministers may present 65. Ministers and Church-wardens not to be sued for presenting 66. Church-wardens not bound to present oftner than twice a yeare 67. Church-wardens not to be troubled for not presenting oftner than twice a yeare 68. Convenient time to bee assigned for framing presentments 69. None to be cited into Ecclesiasticall Courts by Proces of Quorum nomina 70. Maturity required in proceeding 71. No sentence of Deprivation or Deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop 72. No Act to be sped but in open Court 73. No court to have more than one Seale 74. Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of Courts 75. Peculiar and inferior Courts to exhibit the originall Copies of VVills into the Bishops Registry 76. The qualitie and Oath of Iudges and Surrogates 77. Proctors not to retayne Causes without the lawfull assignement of the parties 78. Proctors prohibited the Oath in animam domini sui 79. Proctors not to be clamorous in Court 80. The Oath de calumniâ not to be refused 81. Abuses to be reformed in Registers 82. A certaine rate of Fees to all Ecclesiasticall Offiicers 83. A table of the rates of Fees to be set up in Courts and Registries 84. The whole Fees for shewing Letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time 85. The number of Apparators restrayned ¶ Of Parish Clearks Church-wardens and Schoole-masters and their severall duties 86. PArish Clearks to be chosen by the Minister 87. The choyce of Church-wardens and their Accompt 88. The choyce of Side-men and their joynt office with Church-wardens 89. The old Church-wardens to make their Presentments before the new be sworne 90. The duty of Church-wardens touching such persons as are out of the Church in the time of Gods worship on Sundayes and Holy-dayes 91. Their duty touching those persons that are in the Church at that time 92. To keepe the Church from being prophaned at all other times 93. To see Churches and Church-yards kept in sufficient reparation 94. To furnish all Churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine Service Preaching and administration of the Sacraments 95. To provide things fitting for every Communion and to observe those that come or come not to the same 96. To
provide a Chest for Almes in every Church 97. To abolish all monuments of superstition 98. None to teach Schoole without Licence and Curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others 99. The dutie of Schoolemasters ¶ Of the authoritie of the Synod 100. The authority of this Nationall Synod established DIEV ET MON DROIT CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges and the rest of the Clergie within our Kingdome of Ireland were summoned and called by vertue of our Writts directed to the Arch-bishops of the foure severall Provinces and bearing date the foure and twentieth day of May in the tenth yeare of our Raigne to appeare before the said Arch-bishops in the Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of Iuly then next ensueing then and there to treate and conclude upon certaine high and urgent affaires in the said Writts mentioned who did thereupon at the time appointed and in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks aforesaid assemble themselves and appeare in Convocation for that purpose according to the tenor of the said Writts And whereas wee for divers urgent and weighty occasions us thereunto moving of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall give and grant by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of Iuly in the tenth yeare of our Raigne full power and authority unto the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Chapters Colledges Clergie of this Kingdome then assembled in Convocation in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patrick that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might conferre treate consult and conclude of and upon such Articles Canons Orders Ordinances Statutes Constitutions Ecclesiasticall as they shall thinke necessary fit and convenient for the honour service of Almighty GOD and augmentation of his divine worship the rooting out of heresies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ for procuring of the good and quiet of the Church and preservation of good government in causes Ecclesiasticall and to the Iurisdiction of the Church belonging as also to make and set downe ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other Canons and Constitutions of the Church have and the same our royall assent being thereunto first had and obtained to set forth and publish freely and lawfully and that aswell the Archbishops and Bishops and all other inferiour persons whom it may concerne should yeild due obedience thereunto as in and by our said Letters Patents more at large it doth and may appeare Forasmuch as the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie of this Kingdome having met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted unto them have treated of concluded and agreed upon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by VS limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered presented the same unto VS most humbly desiring VS to give our royall assent unto their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalfe and by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland and to confirme the said Canons being one hundred in number and contained in a Booke intituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of great Brittaine France and Ireland the tenth which Booke is remaining with Iohn Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convocation WEE of our Princely inclination and royall care for the maintenance of the present estate and governement of the Church of Ireland by the Lawes of this our Realme now settled established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed and finding the same such as VVee are perswaded will be very profitable not onely to our Clergie but to the whole Church of this our Kingdome and to all the true members of it if they be well observed HAVE therefore for VS our heires and lawfull successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion by the advise and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour Thomas Viscount VVentworth our Deputy generall of our said Kingdome of Ireland and President of our Councell established in the North parts of our Kingdome of England given by these presents doe give our royall assent according to the forme of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all and every thing in them contained And furthermore Wee doe not onely by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie confirme establish by these our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all every thing in them contayned as is aforesaid but doe likewise propound publish streightly enjoyne commaund by our said authority by these our Letters Patents the same to bee diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdome in all points wherein they doe or may concerne every or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever hee be called shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge reade all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions once every yeare upon some Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the after-noone before divine service dividing the same in such sort as that the one halfe may be read one day and the other another day The Booke of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of Easter next ensueing Streightly chargeing and commaunding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Realme every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or willfully
or ministred using all such reverent gestures and actions as by the Booke of Common prayer are prescribed in that behalfe and the commendable use of this Church received and not departing out of the Church during the time of Service and Sermon without some urgent or reasonable cause VIII Of the ordering of certaine parts of the Service ALso the Minister reading the Lessons Epistle and Gospell and the Ten commandements and such other parts of Divine Service as doe greatly tend to the edifying of the people shall so place himselfe so turne him to the people as they may best hearken thereunto and be edified by the same And every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavor that the confession of sinnes absolution all the second service at or before the communion to the Homily or Sermon where the people all or most are Irish shal be used in English first and after in Irish if the Ordinary of the place shall so thinke meete IX Beneficed Preachers being resident upon their Livings to preach every Sunday EVery beneficed man allowed to bee a Preacher and residing on his Benefice having no lawfull impediment shall in his owne cure preach one Sermon every Sunday of the yeare And therein hee shall teach no vaine opinions no Heresies nor Popish errors disagreeing from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland nor any thing at all whereby the people may be stirred up to the desire of novelties or contention but shall soberly sincerely divide the Word of truth to the glory of GOD and to the best edification of the people X. No publique opposition betweene Preachers IF any Preacher shall in the Pulpit particularly or namely of purpose impugne or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church or in any other neare adjoyning or otherwise make any publique opposition unto him before hee hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocesse therewith received order from him what to doe in that case because upon such publique dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquieting to the people the Churchwardens or partie grieved shall forthwith signifie the same to the said Bishop and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he hath once abused except he faithfully promise to forbeare all such matter of contention in the Church untill the Bishop hath taken further order therein who shall with all convenient speed so proceede therein that publique satisfaction may be made in the Congregation where the offence was given Provided that if either of the parties offending doe appeale he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite XI Ministers to catechize every Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday before Evening Prayer shall for 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 in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare and instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children servants and apprentises which have not learned the Catechisme to come to Church at the time appointed obediently to heare and to be ordered by the Minister untill they have learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duty herein let him be sharpely reproved upon the first complaint and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place If after submitting himselfe hee shall wilfully offend therein againe let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will be therein reformed then excommunicated and so remaine untill he will be reformed And likewise if any of the said Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses children servants or apprentices shall neglect their duties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learne as aforesaid let them be suspended if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth let them be excommunicated Neither shall the Minister admit any to be marryed or to be God-fathers or God-mothers at the Baptisme of any childe or to receive the holy Communion before they can say the Articles of the beliefe the Lords prayer and the Commandements in such a language as they understand XII The people to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation FOR the better grounding of the People in the Principles of Christian Religion Wee ordaine that the heads of the Catechisme being divided into so many parts as there are Sundayes in the yeare shal be explained to the people in every Parish Church In the handling whereof the Ministers and Curates are to use such moderation that they doe not runne into curious questions or unnecessary controversies but shortly declare and confirme the doctrine proposed and make application thereof to the behoofe of the hearers The Ministers also in all their preachings and catechizings and private conferences when neede requireth shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in GOD and not in Creatures neither in the Habite or Scapular of any Fryer or in hallowed Beads Medals Reliques or such like trumperyes They shall doe their endeavour likewise to roote out all ungodly superstitious and barbarous customes as using of charmes sorcery inchantments witchcraft or soothsaying and generally to reforme the manners of the people committed to their charge unto a Christian sober and civill conversation XIII Preachers and Lecturers to reade Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a Benefice that hath cure and charge of Soules although he cheifly attend to preaching and hath a Curate under him to execute other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise every other stipendary Preacher that readeth any Lecture or catechizeth or preacheth in any Church or Chappell shall twice at the least every yeare reade himselfe the Divine Service upon two severall Sundayes publiquely and at the usuall 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 shall likewise as often in every yeare administer the Sacraments of Baptisme if there be any to be baptized and of the Lords Supper in such manner and forme and with the use and observation of all such rites ornaments and ceremonies as are prescribed by the booke of Common prayer the Act for uniformity printed therewith in that behalfe which if he doe not accordingly performe then shall he that is possessed of a Benefice as before be suspended he that is but a Reader Preacher or Catechizer be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocesse untill he or they shall submit themselves to performe all the said duties in such manner and sort as before is prescribed XIIII
so impotent as he cannot goe to the Church or very dangerously sicke are desirous to be partakers of that holy Sacrament under paine of suspension for the first offence and excommunication for the second Provided that houses are here reputed for private houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme And provided also under the paine before expressed that no Chaplaines doe preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they doe the same very seldome upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes So that both the Lords and Masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their own Parish Churches and there receive the holy Communion at the least once every yeare XXII Ministers not to hold private Conventicles FOrasmuch as all Conventicles and secret meetings of Priests and Ministers have beene ever justly accounted very hurtfull to the state of the Church wherein they live Wee doe now ordaine and constitute that no Priests or Ministers of the Word of GOD nor any other persons shall meete together in any private house or elswhere to consult upon any matter or course to be taken by them or upon their motion or direction by any other which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the doctrine of the Church of Ireland or of the booke of Common prayer or of any part of the government and discipline now established in the Church of Ireland under paine of excommunication XXIII Of ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction NO Archbishop Bishop or other person whatsoever having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall appoint constitute make and confirme any Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer time then their owne incumbency except he be of the full age of twenty sixe yeares at least and one that is learned in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall lawes is at the least a Master of Arts or Bachelour of law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof Neither shall they let their Iurisdictions to farme or grant or confirme to any man the next second or third advowson of any Prebend or Benefice being in their gift And if they shall make or confirme any such grant or Patent of the place of Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer terme then during their Incumbency to any that is not qualified as is hereby required then the said person so accepting the said Patent or Grant is to be held and declared uncapable thereof to all intents whatsoever Lastly the said Archbishops and Bishops shall provide that the Clergie and people be not burthened with unjust exactions by their servants and Officers in their Visitations And that neither the Archbishops therein shall charge their Suffragans nor the Bishops their Clergie with any Noctials or Refections over and above their ordinary procurations reserving notwithstanding unto the Archbishops in their Visitations the Refections usually heretofore received in those Diocesses where the same procurations are not received by them which are yearely payde by the Clergie unto their Bishops And that no Archbishop or Bishop shall demaund from the Executors or Administrators of any of their Clergie any Heriots or mortuaries as in some places of this Kingdome heretofore hath been accustomed XXIIII Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons NO Archbishop Bishop Deane and Chapter or Dignitary shall in any wise diminish the auncient revenues of their Sees or Churches nor alienate their Lands in fee farme nor destroy their woods nor give power to their Tennants to make waste thereof nor by any devise demise their Mensall or demeasne Lands unlesse it be to their Curates actually dischargeing the said Cures without forty dayes absence in any one yeare to them for no longer time or terme then during their owne Incumbency Neither shall they joyne with any Dignitary Prebend or other Beneficiarie or Beneficiaries to confirme the Leases or alienations made or to be made by him or them of any Ecclesiasticall profits or obventions And the said Archbishops and Bishops shall carefully provide that all Churches Chancels and Manse-houses the repaire whereof properly belongeth to them or any of them or to any other Ecclesiasticall person or persons be from time to time preserved from ruine and decay XXV Of Archdeacons EVery Archdeacon which hath authority to visit either by common right or by prescription shall visit the precinct of his Iurisdiction once every yeare in his owne person and he shall not substitute any to bee his Officiall but such a one as hath beene brought up in the Vniversitie hath studied the Civill Law if such a one may be had being able not onely in learning but also with gravity and modesty to discharge that Office XXVI Residence of Deanes in their Churches EVery Deane Master or Warden or chiefe Governour of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedrall or Collegiate Church fourescore and ten dayes conjunctim aut divisim in every yeare at least so that they have houses or ground to build houses upon belonging to their Churches and then shall continue there in preaching of the Word of GOD and keeping good hospitality except he shall be otherwise letted with weightie and urgent causes to be approved by the Bishop of the Diocesse And when he is present he with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaryes resident shall take speciall care that the Statutes and laudable customes of their Church not being contrary to the Word of GOD or prerogative Royall the Statutes of this Realme being in force-concerning Ecclesiasticall Orders and all other constitutions now set forth and confirmed by his Majesties authority and such as shall be lawfully enjoyned by the Bishop of the Diocesse in his Visitation according to the Statutes and customes of the same Church or the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme be diligently observed And that the Petty Canons Vicars Choralls and other Ministers of their Church be urged to the study of the holy Scriptures and every one of them to have the New Testament not onely in English but also in Latine XXVII Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their residence THe Deane Master Warden or other chiefe Governour Prebendaries and Canons in every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church shall not onely preach there in their owne persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or custome but shall likewise preach in other Churches of the same Diocesse where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their Churches receive any yearely rents or profits And in case they themselves be sicke or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licenced Preachers to supply their turnes as by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall be thought meet to preach in Cathedrall Churches And if any otherwise neglect or omit to supply his course as is aforesaid the offender shal be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whom the Iurisdiction of that Church
aforesaid And if any in his Sermon shall publish any Doctrine eyther strange or disagreeing from the Word of GOD or from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland they shall by their Letters subscribed with some of their hands that heard him so soone as may be give notice of the same to the Bishop of the Diocesse that hee may determine the matter and take such order therein as he shall thinke convenient XL. Ministers to conferre with Recusants EVery Minister being a Preacher and having any popish Recusant or Recusants in his Parish and thought fit by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall labour diligently with them from time to time thereby to reclayme them from their errors And if he be not a Preacher or not such a Preacher the he shall procure if he can possible some that are Preachers so qualified to take paines with them for that purpose If hee can procure none then hee shall informe the Bishop of the Diocesse thereof who shall not onely appoint some neighbour Preacher or Preachers adjoyning to take that labour upon them but himselfe also as his important affayres will permit him shall use his best indeavour by instruction perswasion and all good meanes hee can devise to reclayme both them and all other within his Diocesse so affected XLI Ministers to visit the sicke WHen any person is dangerously sicke in any parish although they have not formerly resorted to the Church the Minister or Curate having knowledge thereof shall resort unto Him or Her if the disease be not knowne or probably suspected to be infectious to instruct coÌ„fort them in their distresse according to the order of the Communion Book if he be no Preacher Or if he be a Preacher then as he shall thinke most needefull and convenient And when any is passing out of this life a Bell shal be tolled the Minister shall not then slacke to doe his last dutie And after the parties death if so it fall out there shal be rung no more but one short peale and one other before the buriall and one other after the buriall XLII Sobernesse of conversation and decency of apparell repaired in Ministers NO Ecclesiasticall persons shall at any time other than for their honest necessities so much as resort to any Taverns or Alehouses neyther shall they board or lodge in any such places Furthermore they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour or to drinking or ryot spending their time idlely by dâ—y or by night nor shall they give themselves to playing at Dice Cardes or Tables or any other game unbeseeming their function but at all times convenient they shall heare or reade somewhat of the holy Scriptures or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise alwayes doing the things which shall appertayne to honesty and endeâ—voring to profit the Church of God having alwaies in minde that they ought to excell others in purity of life and should be examples to the people to live well and Christianly under paine of Ecclesiasticall censures to be inflicted with severiâ—ie according to the qualities of their offences Wee doe likewise constitute and appoint that Archbishops and Bishops shall not iâ—tennit to use the accustomed apparell of their dâ—grees Likewise all Deanes Masters of Colledges Archdeacons and Prebendaries in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches being Priests or Deacons Doctors in Divinitie Law and Physicke Bachellors in Divinitie Masters of Artes and Bachellors of Law having any Ecclesiasticall living shall usually weare Gownes with standing-Collars and Sleeves streight at the hands or wyde sleeves as is used in the Vniversities with Hoods or Tippets of silke or sarcenet and square Caps in places and times convenient And that all other Ministers admitted or to bee admitted into that function shall also â—sually weare the like apparell as is aforesaid except Tippets onely We doe further in like manner ordayne That all the said Ecclesiasticall persons above mentioned shall usually weare in their journyes Cloakes with sleeves commonly called Priests-cloakes without gards welts long buttons or cuts And no Ecclesiasticall persons shall weare any Coyfe or wrought Night-cap but onely plaine Night-caps of blacke Silke Sattin or Velvet In all which particulars concerning the Apparell here prescribed our meaning is not to attribute any holinesse or speciall worthinesse to the said Garments but for decencie gravitie and order In private houses and in their studies the said persons Ecclesiasticall may use any comely and Schollerlike Apparell Provided that it be not cut or pinke that in publike they goe not in their Dublet and Hose without Coats or Cassocks And also that they weare not any light coloured Stockins XLIII Of consecration of Churches AS often as Churches are newly built where formerly there were not or Church yards appointed for buriall they shal be Dedicated and Consecrated Provided that the ancient Churches and Church-yards shall not be put to any base and unworthy use XLIIII A Terrier of Gleabe-lands and other possessions belonging to Churches WE ordayne that the Archbishops and all Bishops within their severall Diocesses shall procure as much as in them lyeth that a true note and Terrier of all the Lands Gleabes Meadowes Gardens Orchards Houses Stocks Implements Tenements and portions of Tythes and all rights whatsoever which are in possession or of right doe belong to their severall Sees or to any dignitie Parsonage or Vicarage or rurall Prebend within any of their Diocesses be taken by the view of honest men in every Parish by the appointment of the said Archbishops or Bishops whereof the Minister to be one and be layd up in their severall Registries to the use of posteritie And the Archbishops Bishops shall in their Visitations carefully provide that this Canon be observed that the said Terrier be renewed every ten yeares And no Minister shall make any Lease of his Gleabe lands or of his benefice or the profits or meanes therof above the terme of three yeares at the uttermost saving unto all Patentees from his Majesty such power as is or hereafter shal be granted to them in their Patents to demise their Gleabe or any part thereof XLV Payment of Tythes FOrasmuch as every man is bound to pay his Tythes no man shall by colour of dutie omitted by their Curats detayne their Tythes and so requite one wrong with another or be his owne Iudge but shall truely pay the same as hath beene accustomed to their Parsons Vicars Curats without any restraynt or diminution And for such lacke default as they can justly find in their Parsons Vicars and Curats they shall seeke for reformation to their Ordinaries and other Superiors who upon complaint doe proofe thereof shall reforme the same accordingly XLVI A Registry to be kept of Christnings VVeddings and Burials IN every Parish Church and Chappell withiâ— this Realme shal be provided one parchment Booke at the charge of the Parish wherein shal be written the
Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury NO Minister shall refuse or delay â—o christen any Childe according to the forme of the booke of Common Prayer that is brought to the Church to him on Sundayes or Holydayes to be christened or to bury any Corps that is brought to the Church or Churchyard convenient warning being given to him thereof before in such manner as is prescribed in the said booke of Common prayer And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated majori excommunicatione for some greivous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shal be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocesse from his Ministery by the space of three moneths XV. Ministers not to deferre christening if the childe be in danger IF any Minister being duely without any manner of collusion informed of the weakenes and danger of death of any Infant unbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to goe or come to the place where the said Infant remaineth to baptize the same shall either wilfully refuse so to doe or of grosse negligence shall so deferre the time as when hee might conveniently have resorted to the place and have baptized the said Infant it dyeth through such default unbaptized The said Minister shal be suspended for three moneths and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinary that he will not wittingly incurre the like againe Provided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this Constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himselfe but the Curate or Substitute present XVI Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptisme nor Children not communicants NO Parent shal be urged to present not be admitted to answere as Godfather for his owne Childe nor any Godfather or Godmother shal be suffered to make any other answere or speach then by the booke of Common Prayer is prescribed in that behalfe Neither shall any person be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any Childe at Christening or Confirmation before the said person so undertaking hath received the holy Communion XVII Confirmation or laying hands upon Children to be performed by the Bishop once in three yeares EVery Minister that hath cure and charge of Soules for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer concerning Confirmation shall take such speciall care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hand upon but such as can render an account of their faith according to the Catechisme in the said booke contained The Bishop also in his owne person every third yeare at least in the time of his Visitation shall performe that duty of Confirmation or if in that yeare by reason of some infirmity he be not able personally to visit his Diocesse he shall not omit to doe it the next yeare after as he may conveniently And whensoever the time shall by him be assigned every such Minister shall use his best endeavour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought to be confirmed XVIII Of the receiving of the holy Communion IN every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church at least once every moneth and in every Parish Church and Chappell where Sacraments are to be admitted within this Realme the holy Communion shall be ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as every Parishioner may communicate at the least thrice in the yeare whereof the feast of Easter to be one according as they are appointed by the booke of Common Prayer And that no Minister when he celebrateth the Communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but such as kneele Provided that every Minister as often as he administreth the Communion shall first receive the Sacrament himselfe Furthermore no bread nor wine newly brought shal be used but first the words of Institution shal be rehearsed when the said bread and wine be presented upon the Communion Table Likewise the Minister shall deliver both the bread and wine to every communicant severally XIX VVarning to be given before hand for the Communion WHereas every Lay person is bound to receive the holy Communion thrice every yeare and many notwithstanding doe not receive that Sacrament once in a yeare Wee doe require every Minister to give warning to his Parishioners publiquely in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before every time of his administring the holy Sacrament for the better preparation of themselves Which said warning wee enjoyne the said Parishioners to accept and obey under the penalty and danger of the Law And the Minister of every Parish and in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches some principall Minister of the Church shall the afternoone before the said administration give warning by tolling of the Bell or otherwise to the intent that if any have any scruple of conscience or desire the speciall ministery of reconciliation he may afford it to those that neede it And to this end the people are often to be exhorted to enter into a speciall examination of the state of their owne soules and that finding themselves either extreame dull or much troubled in minde they doe resort unto Gods Ministers to receive from them aswell advise and counsell for the quickning of their dead hearts and the subduing of those corruptions whereunto they have beene subject as the benefit of absolution likewise for the quieting of their consciences by the power of the Keyes which Christ hath committed to his Ministers for that purpose XX. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion NO Minister shall in any wise admit to the receiving of the holy Communion any of his cure or flocke which be openly knowne to live in sinne notorious without repentance Nor any who have maliciously and openly contended with their Neighbours untill they shal be reconciled Nor any Churchwardens or Sidemen who having taken their Oathes to present their Ordinaries all such publique offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their severall Parishes shall notwithstanding their said Oathes and that their faithfull discharging of them is the chiefest meanes whereby publique sinnes and offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of perjury either in neglecting or refusing to present such of the said enormities and publique offences as they know themselves to be committed in their said Parishes or are notoriously offensive to the Congregation there although they be urged by some of their Neighbours or by their Minister or by their Ordinary himselfe to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incurre so desperately the said horrible sinne of perjury XXI Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses NO Minister shall preach or administer the holy Communion in any private house except it be in times of necessity when any being either
as are thereby to be cited shall be first expressely entred by the hand of the Register or his deputy under the said Processes and the said processes and names be first subscribed by the Iudge or his deputy and his Seale thereto affixed And We further ordayne that when any person appeareth upon citation whatsoever that if the next Court day after there be not Articles or a Libell put in against him he shall then be dismissed with his costs LXX Maturity required in proceeding NO man for neglect of apparance shal be excommunicated for the first absence but shal be cited againe upon the same Proces And if hee cannot be found nor afterwards appeare upon vijs modis then to be decreed Excommunicandum fore Yet for preventing such neglect and that the party querelant may sustayne no detriment hereby it is likewise ordered that in causes of instance upon the apparance of any such person he shall pay the charge past before he be admitted to stand Rectus in Curiâ And in the end of every Court the names of those that are decreed shal be publikely read to the intent that they may avoyde the danger of the fearefull sentence of Excommunication Which course also We ordayne shal be holden with those that be already denounced excommunicate before the time of the signifying their obstinacie to the end they and others may be admonished of the danger in which they stand and to the aggravation of their obstinacie if they continue in the same LXXI No sentence of deprivation or deposition to be pronounced against a Minister but by the Bishop VVHen any Minister is complayned of in any Ecclesiasticall Court belonging to any Bishop for any crime the Chancellor Commissary Officiall or any other having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction to whoÌ„ it shall appertayne shall expedite the cause by Processes other proceedings against him and upon contumacy for not appearing shall first suspend him afterward his coÌ„tumacie continuing excommunicate him But if he appeare and submit himselfe to the course of Law then the matter being ready for sentence and the merits of his offence exacting by Law eyther deprivation from his living or depositioÌ„ from the Ministery no such sentence shal be pronounced by any person whosoever but onely by the Bishop with the assistance of his Chancellor the Deane if they may conveniently be had and some of the Prebendaries if the Court be kept neare the Cathedrall Church or of the Archdeacon if hee may be had conveniently and two other at the least grave Ministers and Preachers to be called by the Bishop when the Court is kept in other places It is likewise ordered that no Chancellor Commissary Officiall or any other person shall exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction over a Minister in causes criminall except he himselfe have beene admitted into the holy Orders of Priesthood LXXII No Act to be sped but in open Court NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Officiall or any other person using Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction whosoever shall speede any judiciall Act eyther of contentious or voluntary Iurisdiction except he have the ordinary Register of that Court or his lawfull deputy or if he or they will not or cannot be present then such persons as by Law are allowed in that behalfe to write or speede the same under paine of suspension ipso facto LXXIII No Court to have more than one Seale NO Chancellor Commissary Archdeacon Officiall or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall without the Bishops consent have any moe than one Seale for the sealing of all matters incident to his Office which Seale shall alwayes be kept eyther by himselfe or by his lawfull substitute exercising Iurisdiction for him and remayning within the Iurisdiction of the said Iudge or in the City or principall Towne of the County This Seale shall contayne the title of thaâ— Iurisdiction which every of the said Iudges or their deputies doe execute LXXIIII Convenient places to be chosen for keeping of Courts ALl Chancellors Commissaries Archdeacons Officials and all others exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall appoint such meete places for the keeping of their Courts by the assignement or approbation of the Bishop of the Diocesse as shal be convenient for entertaynement of those who are to make their appearance there and most indifferent for their travell And likewise they shall keepe and end their Courts in such convenient time as every man may returne homewards in as due season as may be LXXV Peculiar inferior Courts to exhibite the Originall copies of VVills into the Bishops Registry VVHereas Deanes Archdeacons Prebendaries Parsons Vicars others exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction clayme liberty to prove the last Wills and Testaments of persons deceased within their severall Iurisdictions having no knowne nor certaine Registers nor publike places to keepe their Records in by reason whereof many Wills rights and Legacies upon the death or change of such persons and their private Notaryes miscarry and cannot be found to the great prejudice of his Maâ—esties Subjects We therefore order and enjoyne that all possessors and exercisers of peculiar Iurisdiction shall once in every yeare exhibite into the publike Registry of the Bishop of the Diocesse or of the Deane Chapter under whose Iurisdiction the said peculiars are every originall testameÌ„t of every person in that time deceased and by them proved in their severall peculiar Iurisdictions or a true Copy of every such testament examined subscribed sealed by the peculiar Iudge and his Notary Otherwise if any of them fayle so to doe the Bishop of the Diocesse or Deane and Chapter unto whom the said Iurisdictions doe respectively belong shall suspend the said parties and everie of them from the exercise of all such peculiar Iurisdiction untill they have performed this our Constitution LXXVI The quality and Oath of Iudges Surrogates NO man shall hereafter be admitted a Chancellor Commissary Officiall or Surrogate to exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction except hee be of the full age of sixe and twentie yeares at the least and one that is learned in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes and is at the least a Master of Arts or Bachellor of Law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof as likewise well affected and zealously bent to Religion touching whose life and manners no evill example is had and except before he enter into or execute any such office hee shall take the Oath of the Kings Supremacie in the presence of the Bishop or in the open Court and shall declare his consent by subscription to the two first Canons of this present Synod And also shall sweare that hee will to the uttermost of his understanding deale uprightly and justly in his Office without respect of favour or reward The said Oathes and subscription to be recorded by a Register then present And it is likewise ordered that every Register shall take the said Oath of Supremacie and subscribe as aforesaid before he be admitted to exercise that Office And also
shall place two Tables contayning the severall rates and summes of all the said Fees one in the usuall place or Consistory where the Court is kept and the other in his Registry and both of them in such sort as every man whom it concerneth may without difficulty come to the view and perusall thereof and take a Copy of them And if any Register shall fayle to place the said Tables according to the Tenor hereof within the space of a Moneth after the same hath beene delivered to him by the Bishop of the Diocesse hee shal be suspended from the execution of his Office untill he cause the same to be accordingly done And the said Table being once set up if he shall at any time remove or suffer the same to be removed hidden or any way hindered from sight coÌ„trary to the true meaning of this CoÌ„stitution he shall for every offence be suspended from the exercise of his office for the space of sixe Moneths LXXXIIII The whole Fees for shewing letters of orders and other licences due but once in every Bishops time FOrasmuch as a chiefe and principall cause and use of Visitations is that the Archbishops Bishops or other assigned by them to visit may get some good knowledge of the state sufficiency and ability of the Clergy other persons whom they are to visit We thinke it convenient that everie Parson Vicar Curate Schoolemaster or other person licenced whosoever do at the Archbishops or Bishops first visitation or at the next visitation after his admission shew and exhibit unto them his letters of Orders Institution Induction and all other his dispensations liceÌ„ces or faculty whatsoever to be by the said Archbishops or Bishops eyther allowed of or if there be just cause disallowed rejected being by them approved to be as the custome is signed by the Register And that the whole Fees accustomed be payed onely once in the whole time of every Archbishop or Bishop and afterwards but halfe of the said accustomed Fees in every visitation during the said Bishops continuance LXXXV The number of Apparitors restrayned FOrasmuch as we are desirous to redresse such abuses and greivances as are said to grow by Sumners or Apparitors Wee thinke it meete that the multitude of Apparitors be asmuch as is possible abridged or restrayned Wherefore We decree and ordayne that no Bishop or Archdeacon or their Vicars or Officials or other inferior Ordinaryes shall depute or have more Apparitors to serve in their Iurisdictions respectively than one in every Deanery at the most besides the generall Apparitor of the Bishop All which Apparitors shall by themselves faithfully execute their Offices neyther shall they by any colour or pretence whatsoever cause or suffer their mandats to be executed by any messengers or substitutes unlesse it be upon some good cause to be first knowne and approved by the Ordinary of the place Moreover they shall not take upon them the Office of Promotors or Informers for the Court neyther shall they exact more or greater Fees than are in these our Constitutions formerly prescribed And if either the number of the Apparitors deputed shall exceed the foresaid limitation or any of the said Apparitors shall offend in any of the premises the persons deputing them if they be Bishops shall upon admoâ—ition of their Superior discharge the persons exceeding the nuÌ„ber so limited if inferior Ordinaryes they shall be suspended from the execution of their Offices untill they have dismissed the Apparitors by them so deputed and the parties themselves so deputed shall for ever be removed from the Office of Apparitors And if being so removed they desist not from the exercise of their said Offices let them be punished by Ecclesiasticall censures as persons coÌ„tumacious Provided that if upon experience the number of the said Apparitors be too great in any Diocesse in the judgement of the Archbishop of the Province they shall by him be so abridged as he shall thinke meete and convenient LXXXVI Parish Clerkes to be chosen by the Minister NO parish-Clerke upon any vacation shal be chosen but by the ParsoÌ„ or Vicar or where there is no presentative or collative Parson or Vicar by the Minister of that place for the time being Which choyce shal be signified by the said Minister Vicar or Parson to the Bishop of the Diocesse to be by him approved And if the Parson Vicar or Curate shall fayle to make choyce of such a man and present him to the Bishop to be by him allowed by the space of forty dayes after the vacancy in such case the Bishop shall have power to nominate and appoint a Clerke for that place And the said Clerke shal be of twenty years of age at the least and knowne to the said Parson Vicar or Minister to be of honest conversation and sufficient for his reading writing and also for his competent skill in singing if it may be And where the Minister is an English man many Irish in the parish such a one as shal be able to reade those parts of the Service which shal be appointed to be read in Irish if it may be the Clerks so chosen shal be resident and performe their duties in their own persons For which they shall receive their due wages without diminution at such times as have beene accustomed And if any question doe arise concerning the said custome or wages the Bishop of the Diocesse shall set an order therein LXXXVII The choyce of Church-wardens their accompt ALl Church-wardens or Quest-men in every parish shall be chosen on Monday or Tuesday in Easter-weeke by the joynt consent of the Minister the Parishioners if it may be But if they cannot agree upon such a choyce then the Minister shall choose one the Parishioners another and without such a joynt or severall choyce none shall take upon them to be Church-wardens neyther shall they continue any longer than one yeare in that Office except perhaps they may be chosen againe in like manner And upon the next Consistory day after such election they shall take their Oath before the Bishop or his Chancellor and in case the Parish shall fayle to joyne or elect as is aforesaid the Ordinary shall supply the defect And all Church-wardens at the end of their yeare or within a Moneth after at the most shall before the Minister and Parishioners give up a just accompt of such Money as they have received and also what particularly they have bestowed in reparations and otherwise for the use of the Church And last of all going out of their Office they shall truly deliver up to the Parishioners whatsoever Money or other things of right belonging to the Church or parish which remayneth in their hands that it may be delivered over by them to the next Church-wardens by Bill indented LXXXVIII The choyce of Side-men and their joynt Office with Church-wardens THe Church-wardens of every Parish and two or more discreete persons in every parish to