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 HIS MAJESTY’S DECLARATION. 
 
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 397 
 
f Articles 
 
 l. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. 
 
 HP HERE is but one living and true God, 
 everlasting, without body, parts, or pas- 
 sions ; of infinite power, wisdom, and good- 
 ness ; the Maker and Preserver of all things, 
 both visible and invisible. And in unity of this 
 Godhead there be three Persons, of one sub- 
 stance, power, and eternity; the Father, the 
 Son, and the Holy Ghost. 
 
 II. Of the Word , or Son of God , which was made 
 very Man. 
 
 T HE Son, which is the Word of the Father, 
 begotten from everlasting of the Father, 
 the very and eternal God, of one substance 
 with the Father, took Man’s nature in the womb 
 of the blessed Virgin, of her substance : so 
 that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to 
 say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined 
 together in one Person, never to be divided, 
 whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man ; 
 who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and 
 buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a 
 sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for 
 actual sins of men. 
 
 III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell. 
 
 A S Christ died for us, and was buried, so 
 also is it to be believed, that he went 
 down into Hell. 
 
 IV. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 
 /^HRIST did truly rise again from death, and 
 took again his body, with flesh, bones, and 
 all things appertaining to the perfection of Man’s 
 nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and 
 there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at 
 the last day. 
 
 V. Of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 HP HE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father 
 and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, 
 and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and 
 eternal God. 
 
 VI. Of the Sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for 
 Salvation. 
 
 T T OLY Scripture containeth all things neces- 
 -*-1 sary to salvation : so that whatsoever is 
 not read therein, nor maybe proved thereby, is 
 not to be required of. any man, that it should 
 be believed as an Article of the Faith, or be 
 thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In 
 the name of the holy Scripture we do under- 
 stand those canonical Books of the Old and New 
 Testament, of whose authority was never any 
 doubt in the Church. 
 
 398 
 
 of Religion . 
 
 U Of the Names and Numbers of the Canonical 
 BOOKS. 
 
 The 2 Book of Chronicles, 
 
 GENESIS, 
 
 Exodus , 
 
 Leviticus, 
 
 Numbers , 
 
 Deuteronomy, 
 
 Joshua, 
 
 Judges, 
 
 Ruth, 
 
 The 1 Book of Samuel , 
 
 The 2 Book of Samuel , 
 
 The 1 Book of Kings , 
 
 The 2 Book of Kings, 
 
 The 1 Book of Chronicles , ! 
 
 And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the 
 Church doth read for example of life, and in- 
 struction of manners ; but yet doth it not apply 
 them to establish any Doctrine ; Such are these 
 following : 
 
 The 1 Book of Esdras, 
 The 2 Book of Esdras , 
 The Book of Esther , 
 
 T he Book of Job, 
 
 The Psalms, 
 
 The Proverbs, 
 
 Ecclesiastes or Preacher, 
 Cantica, or Songs of Solo - 
 I mon, 
 
 1 4 Prophets the Greater, 
 
 1 1 2 Prophets the Less. 
 
 The 3 Book of Esdras, 
 The 4 Book of Esdras, 
 The Book of Tobias, 
 
 The Book of Judith, 
 
 The rest of the Book of 
 Esther , 
 
 The Bosk of Wisdom, 
 Jesus the Son of Sirach, 
 
 Baruch the Prophet, 
 
 The Song of the three 
 Children, 
 
 The Story of Susanna, 
 
 Of Bel and the Dragon, 
 The Prayer of Manas ses , 
 The 1 Book of Maccabees, 
 The 2 Book of Maccabees. 
 
 All the Books of the New Testament, as they 
 are commonly received, we do receive and ac- 
 count them Canonical. 
 
 VII. Of the Old Testament. 
 
 HP HE Old Testament is not contrary to the 
 New ; for both in the Old and New Tes- 
 
 tament, everlasting life is offered to Mankind by 
 Christ, who is the only Mediator between God 
 and Man, being both God and Man. Where- 
 fore they are not to be heard, which feign, that 
 the old Fathers did look only for transitory pro- 
 mises. Although the Law given from God by 
 Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, do not 
 bind Christian men, nor the civil precepts thereof 
 ought of necessity to be received in any com- 
 monwealth ; yet notwithstanding, no Christian 
 man whatsoever is free from the obedience of 
 the Commandments which are called Moral. 
 
 VIII. Of the three Creeds. 
 
 T HE three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius' 
 Creed, and that which is commonly called 
 the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be re- 
 ceived and believed ; for they may be proved by 
 most certain warrants of holy Scripture. 
 
 IX. Of 
 
Articles of Religion . 
 
 IX. Of Original or Birth-Sin. 
 
 O RIGINAL Sin standeth not in the follow- 
 ing of Adam , (as the Pelagians do vainly 
 talk ;) but it is the fault and corruption of the 
 nature of every man that naturally is engendered 
 of the offspring of Adam , whereby man is very 
 far gone from original righteousness, and is of 
 his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh 
 lusteth always contrary to the spirit ; and there- 
 fore in every person born into this world, it 
 deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. And 
 this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in 
 them that are regenerated ; whereby the lust 
 of the flesh, called in Greek, fyo'v*/** <r« p *io ? , which 
 some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, 
 some the affection, some the desire of the flesh, 
 is not subject f!o the Law of God. And 
 although there is no condemnation for them 
 that believe and are baptized ; yet the Apostle 
 doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of 
 itself the nature of sin. 
 
 X. Of Free Will. 
 
 T HE condition of man, after the fall of Adam , 
 is such, that he cannot turn and prepare 
 himself, by his own natural strength and good 
 works, to faith, and calling upon God : where- 
 fore we have no power to do good works, plea- 
 sant and acceptable to God, without the grace of 
 God by Christ preventing us, that we may 
 have a good will, and working with us, when 
 we have that good will. 
 
 XI. Of the justification of Man. 
 
 W E are accounted righteous before God, 
 only for the merit of our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own 
 works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are 
 justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doc- 
 trine, and very full of comfort, as more largely 
 is expressed in the Homily of Justification. 
 
 XII. Of Good Works. 
 
 A LBEIT that Good Works, which are the 
 fruits of Faith, and follow after Justifica- 
 tion, cannot put away our sins, and endure the 
 severity of God’s judgment ; yet are they pleas- 
 ing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do 
 spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith ; 
 insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as 
 evidently known, as a tree discerned by the 
 fruit. 
 
 XIII. Of Works before justification. 
 
 TiH ORKS done before the grace of Christ, 
 * * and the Inspiration of his Spirit, are not 
 399 
 
 pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not 
 of Faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make 
 men meet to receive grace, or (as the School- 
 authors say) deserve grace of congruity : yea, 
 rather for that they are not done as God hath 
 willed and commanded them to be done, we 
 doubt not but they have the nature of sin. 
 
 XIV. Of Works of Supererogation. 
 
 V OLUNTARY Works besides, over and 
 above God’s Commandments, which they 
 call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught 
 without arrogancy and impiety : for by them 
 men do declare, that they do not only render 
 unto God as much as they are bound to do, but 
 that they do more for his sake, than of bounden 
 duty is required : whereas Christ saith plainly. 
 When ye have done all that are commanded to 
 you, say, We are unprofitable servants. 
 
 XV. Of Christ alone without sin. 
 
 C HRIST in the truth of our nature, was 
 made like unto us in all things, (sin only 
 except) from which he was clearly void, both 
 in his Flesh, and in his Spirit. He came to be 
 t'he Lamb without spot, who by sacrifice of him- 
 self once made, should take away the sins of 
 the world : and sin, (as Saint john saith) was not 
 in him. But all we the rest, (although bap- 
 tized and born again in Christ) yet offend in 
 many things ; and if we say we have no sin, we 
 deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
 
 XVI. Of Sin after Baptism. 
 
 N OT every deadly sin willingly committed 
 after Baptism, is sin against the Holy Ghost, 
 and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of re- 
 pentance is not to be denied to such as fall into 
 sin after Baptism. After we have received the 
 Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, 
 and fall into sin ; and by the grace of God we 
 may rise again, and amend our lives: and 
 therefore they are to be condemned, which say. 
 They can no more sin as long as they live 
 here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as 
 truly repent. 
 
 XVII. Of Predestination and Flection. 
 
 T> REDESTINATION to Life, is the everlast- 
 ing purpose of God, whereby (before the 
 foundations of the world were laid) he hath 
 constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, 
 to deliver from curse and damnation those whom 
 he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and 
 to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, 
 as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they 
 E e e which 
 
 613673 - 
 

 Articles of Religion. 
 
 which be endued with so excellent a benefit of 
 God, be called according to God’s purpose by 
 his Spirit working in due season : they through 
 Grace obey the calling : they be juftified freely : 
 they be made sons of God by adoption : they 
 be made like the image of his only-begotten Son 
 Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good 
 works, and at length, by God’s mercy, they 
 attain to everlasting felicity. 
 
 As the godly consideration of predestination, 
 and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, plea- 
 sant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, 
 and such as feel in themselves the working of the 
 Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the 
 flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing 
 up their mind to high and heavenly things, as 
 well because it doth greatly establish and confirm 
 their Faith of eternal Salvation, to be enjoyed 
 through Christ, as because it doth fervently kin- 
 dle their love towards God ; so, for curious 
 and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, 
 to have continually before their eyes the sen- 
 tence of God’s predestination, is a most dan- 
 gerous downfal, whereby the Devil doth thrust 
 them either into desperation, or into wretchless- 
 ness of most unclean living, no less perilous 
 than desperation. 
 
 Furthermore, we must receive God’s promises 
 in such wise, as they be generally set forth to 
 us in holy Scripture : and in our doings, that 
 will of God is to be followed, which we have 
 expressly declared unto us in the Word of God. 
 XVIII. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the 
 Name of Christ. 
 
 T HEY also are to be had accursed, that pre- 
 sume to say, that every man shall be saved 
 by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he 
 be diligent to frame his life according to that 
 Law, and the light of Nature. For holy Scrip- 
 ture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus 
 Christ, whereby men must be saved. 
 
 XIX. Of the Church. 
 
 T HE visible Church of Christ is a congre- 
 gation of faithful men, in the which the 
 pure Word of God is 'preached, and the Sacra- 
 ments be duly ministered, according to Christ’s 
 ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are 
 requisite to the same. 
 
 As the Church of Jerusalem , Alexandria , and 
 Antioch, have erred ; so also the Church of Rome 
 hath erred ; not only in their living and manner 
 of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith. 
 
 400 
 
 XX. Of the Authority of the Church. 
 
 T HE Church hath power to decree rites or 
 ceremonies, and authority in controver- 
 sies of Faith : and yet it is not lawful for the 
 Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to 
 God’s Word written, neither may it so expound 
 one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to 
 another. Wherefore, although the Church be 
 a witness and a keeper of holy writ, yet as it 
 ought not to decree any thing against the same; 
 so besides the same ought it not to enforce any 
 thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation. 
 
 XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils. 
 
 G ENERAL Councils may not be gathered 
 together without the commandment and 
 will of Princes. And when they be gathered 
 together (forasmuch as they be an assembly of 
 men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit 
 and Word of God) they may err, and sometimes 
 have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. 
 Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary 
 to Salvation, have neither strength nor authority, 
 unless it may be declared that they be taken out 
 of holy Scripture. 
 
 XXII. Of Purgatory. 
 
 T HE Romish Doctrine concerning Purga- 
 tory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adora- 
 tion, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also 
 Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly in- 
 vented, and grounded upon no warranty of 
 Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of 
 God. 
 
 XXIII. Of Ministering in the Congregation. 
 
 I T is not lawful for any man to take upon him 
 the office of publick preaching, or ministering 
 the Sacraments in the congregation, before he 
 be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. 
 And those we ought to judge lawfully called and 
 sent, which be chosen and called to this work 
 by men who have publick authority given unto 
 them in the congregation, to call and send Mi- 
 nisters into the Lord’s vineyard. , 
 
 XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a 
 tongue as the people under standeth. 
 
 I T is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of 
 God, and theCustom of the Primitive Church, 
 to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to mi- 
 nister the Sacraments in a tongue not understood 
 of the people. 
 
 XXV. Of the Sacraments. 
 
 S ACRAMENTS ordained of Christ be not 
 only badges or tokens of Christian men’s 
 profession ; 
 
Articles of Religion. 
 
 profession ; but rather, they be certain sure wit- 
 nesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God’s 
 good will towards us, by the which he doth 
 work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, 
 but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in 
 him. 
 
 There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ 
 our Lord in the Gospel ; that is to say, Baptism, 
 and the Supper of the Lord. 
 
 Those five, commonly called Sacraments, that 
 is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matri- 
 mony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be 
 counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such 
 as have grown, partly of the corrupt following 
 of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed 
 in the Scriptures ; but yet have not like nature 
 of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord’s 
 Supper, for that they have not any visible sign 
 or ceremony ordained of God. 
 
 The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ 
 to be gazed upon, or to be carried about ; but 
 that we should duly use them. And in such 
 only as worthily receive the same, they have a 
 wholesome effect or operation : but they that 
 receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves 
 damnation, as Saint Paul saith. 
 
 XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers , which 
 hinders not the effect of the Sacraments. 
 
 A LTHOUGH in the visible Church the evil 
 be ever mingled with the good, and some- 
 times the evil have chief authority in the minis- 
 tration of the Word and Sacraments ; yet foras- 
 much as they do not the same in their own 
 name, but in Christ’s, and do minister by his 
 commission and authority, we may use their 
 Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and 
 in receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the 
 effect of Christ’s ordinance taken away by their 
 wickedness, nor the grace of God’s gifts dimi- 
 nished from such, as by Faith, and rightly do re- 
 ceive the Sacraments ministered unto them? 
 which be effectual, because of Christ’s institution 
 and promise, although they be ministered by 
 evil men. 
 
 Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline 
 of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil 
 Ministers, and that they be accused by those that 
 have knowledge of their offences ; and finally, 
 being found guilty, by just judgment be deposed. 
 
 XXVII. Of Baptism. 
 
 T> APTISM is not only a sign of profession, 
 and mark of difference, whereby Christian 
 
 401 
 
 men arc discerned from others that be not chris- 
 tened ; but it is also a sign of Regeneration, or 
 New Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they 
 that receive Baptism rightly, are grafted into the 
 Church ; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and 
 of our adoption to be the sons of God by the 
 Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed ; Faith 
 is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of 
 prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Chil- 
 dren is in any wise to be retained in the Church, 
 as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. 
 
 XXVIII. Of the Lord’s Supper. 
 
 HP HE Supper of the Lord is not only a sign 
 of the love that Christians ought to have 
 among themselves one to another ; but rather is 
 a Sacrament of our Redemption by* Christ’s 
 death : insomuch that to such as rightly, wor- 
 thily, and with Faith receive the same, the 
 bread which we break is a partaking of the Body 
 of Christ, and likewise the Cup of Blessing is 
 a partaking of the Blood of Christ. , 
 
 Transubstantiation, (or the Change of the 
 Substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper 
 of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ ; 
 but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, 
 overthroweth the nature of the Sacrament, and 
 hath given occasion to many superstitions. 
 
 The Body of Christ is given, taken, and 
 eaten in the Supper, only after an heavenly and 
 spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the 
 Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Sup- 
 per, is Faith. 
 
 The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was not 
 by Christ’s ordinance reserved, carried about, 
 lifted up, or worshipped. 
 
 XXIX. Of the Wicked , which eat not the . Body 
 of Christ in the use of the Lord’s Supper. 
 
 T HE Wicked, and such as be void of a 
 lively Faith, although they do carnally and 
 visibly press with their teeth (as Saint Augustine 
 saith), the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of 
 Christ j yet in no wise are they partakers of 
 Christ $ but rather, to their condemnation, 
 do eat and drink the sign or Sacrament of so 
 great a thing. 
 
 XXX. Of both Kinds. 
 
 T HE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied 
 to the Lay-people : for both the parts 
 of the Lord’s Sacrament, by Christ’s ordi- 
 nance and commandment, ought to be minis- 
 tered to all Christian men alike. 
 
 E e e 2 
 
 XXXI. Of 
 
Articles of 
 
 XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Christ finished, upon 
 the Cross. 
 
 HPHE Offering of Christ once made, is that 
 ' L perfect redemption, propitiation, and satis- 
 faction for all the sins of the whole world, both 
 original and actual; and there is none other sa- 
 tisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore 
 the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was 
 commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ 
 for the quick and the dead, to have remission of 
 pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and 
 dangerous deceits. 
 
 XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests. 
 
 ~D ISHOPS, Priests, and Deacons are not com- 
 manded by God’s Law, either to vow the 
 estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage : 
 therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other 
 Christian men, to marry at their own discretion^ 
 as they shall judge the same to serve better to 
 godliness. 
 
 XXXIII. Of Excommunicate Persons , how they are 
 to be avoided. 
 
 HP HAT person which by open denunciation 
 of the Church is rightly cut off from the 
 unity of the Church, and excommunicated, 
 ought to be taken of the whole multitude of 
 the faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until 
 he be openly reconciled by penance, and received 
 into the Church by a judge that hath authority 
 thereunto. 
 
 XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. 
 
 I T is not necessary, that traditions and cere- 
 monies be in all places one, or utterly like ; 
 for at all times they have been diverse, and may 
 be changed, according to the diversities of coun- 
 tries, times, and men’s manners, so that nothing 
 be ordained against God’s Word. Whosoever 
 through his private judgment, willingly and 
 purposely doth openly break the traditions and 
 ceremonies of the Church, which be not repug- 
 nant to the Word of God, and be ordained and 
 approved by common authority, ought to be 
 rebuked openly (that other may fear to do the 
 like) as he that offendeth against the common 
 order of the Church, and hurteth the autho- 
 rity of the Magistrate, and woundeth the con- 
 sciences of the weak brethren. 
 
 Every . particular or national church hath 
 authority to ordain, change,' and abolish cere- 
 monies or rites of the Church, ordained only by 
 man’s authority, so that all things be done to 
 edifying. 
 
 402 
 
 Religion. 
 
 XXXV. Of the Homilies. 
 
 T HE second Book of Homilies, the several 
 titles whereof we have joined under this 
 Article', doth contain a godly and wholesome Doc- 
 trine, and necessary for these times, as doth the 
 former Book of Homilies, which were set forth 
 in the time of Edward the Sixth ; and therefore 
 we judge them to be read in Churches by the 
 Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they 
 may be understood of the people: 
 
 f Of the Names of the Homilies. 
 
 1. OF the right use of the 
 Church. 
 
 2. Against peri 'l of Idola- 
 try. 
 
 3. Of repairing and keep- 
 ing clean of Churches. 
 
 4*. Of good Works ; First 
 of Fasting. 
 
 5. Against Gluttony and 
 Drunkenness. 
 
 6. Against excess of Ap- 
 parel. 
 
 7. Of Prayer. 
 
 8. Of the place and time 
 of Prayer. 
 
 9. Thai Common Prayers 
 and Sacraments ought 
 to be ministered in a 
 known tongue ■ 
 
 10. Of the reverend estima- 
 tion of God 's Word. 
 
 XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers. 
 
 T HE Book of Consecration of Archbishops 
 and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and 
 Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward 
 the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by 
 authority of Parliament, doth contain all things 
 necessary to such Consecration and Ordering : 
 neither hath it any thing that of itself is super- 
 stitious and ungodly- And therefore whosoever 
 are consecrated or ordered according to the 
 Rites of that Book, since the second year of the 
 forenamed King Edward , unto this time, or 
 hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered accord- 
 ing to the same Rites ; we decree all such to be 
 rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and 
 ordered. 
 
 XXXVII. Of the Civil Magistrates. 
 
 T HE King’s Majesty hath the chief power in 
 this Realm of England , and other his Do- 
 minions, unto whom the chief Government of 
 all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ec- 
 clesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain ; 
 
 and 
 
 11. yjj Aims-aoing. 
 
 12. Of the Nativity of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 13. Of the Passion of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 14. Of the Resurrection 
 
 of Christ. 
 
 15. Of the worthy receiv- 
 
 ing of the Sacra- 
 ment of the Body 
 and Blood of Christ - 
 
 16. Of the Gifts of the 
 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 17. For the Rogation 
 
 Days. 
 
 18. Of the state of Ma- 
 
 trimony. 
 
 19. Of Repentance. 
 
 20 . Against Idleness. 
 
 21. Against Rebellion. 
 
Articles of Religion . 
 
 and is not, nor ought to be subject to any foreign 
 Jurisdiction. 
 
 Where we attribute to the King’s Majesty 
 the chief government, by which Titles we un- 
 derstand the minds of some slanderous folks to 
 be ofFended ; we give not to pur Princes the 
 ministering either of God’s Word, or of the Sa- 
 craments ; the which thing the Injunctions also 
 lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen, do most 
 plainly testify : But that only prerogative, which 
 we see to have been given always to all godly 
 Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself ; that 
 is, that they should rule all estates and degrees 
 committed to their charge by God, whether 
 they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal, and restrain 
 with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers. 
 
 The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in 
 this Realm of England. 
 
 The laws of the Realm may punish Christian 
 men with death, for heinous and grievous 
 offences. 
 
 It is lawful for Christian men, at the com- 
 mandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, 
 and serve in the wars. 
 
 XXXVIII. Of Christian Men’s Goods , which are 
 not common. 
 
 T HE Riches and Goods of Christians are not 
 common, as touching the right, title, and 
 possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists 
 do falsely boast. Notwithstanding every man 
 ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally 
 to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. 
 XXXIX. Of a Christian Man’s Oath. 
 
 A S we confess, that vain and rash swearing 
 is forbidden Christian men by our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and fames his Apostle ; so we 
 judge that Christian Religion doth aiot prohibit, 
 but that a man may swear when the Magistrate 
 requireth, in a cause of Faith and Charity, so it 
 be done according to the Prophet’s teaching, in 
 justice, judgment, and truth. 
 
 THE RATIFICATION. 
 
 THIS Book of Articles before rehearsed , is again approved , and allowed to be holden and exe- 
 cuted within the Realm , by the assent and consent of our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH, by the grace of 
 God , of England , France , and Ireland , £>ueen, Defender of the Faith , &c. Which Articles were deli- 
 berately read and confirmed again by the Subscription of the hands of the Archbishops and Bishops of the 
 Upper House , and by the Subscription of the whole Clergy of the Nether House in their Convocation , in the 
 Tear of our Lord 1571. 
 
 THE ARTICLES. 
 
 A TABLE OF 
 
 1. OF Faith in the Holy Trinity. 
 
 2. Of Christ the Son of God. 
 
 3. Of his going down into Hell. 
 
 4. Of his Resurrection. 
 
 5. Of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 6. Of the sufficiency of the Scripture. 
 
 7. Of the Old Testament. 
 
 8 . Of the Three Creeds. 
 
 9. Of Original or Birth-Sin. 
 
 10. Of Free Will. 
 
 1 1. Of 'Justification. 
 
 1 2. Of Good Works. 
 
 1 3. Of Works before Justification. 
 
 14. Of Works of Supererogation. 
 
 1 5. Of Christ alone without Sin. 
 
 16. Of Sin after Baptism. 
 
 17. Of Predestination and Election. 
 
 18. Of obtaining Salvation by Christ. 
 
 1 9. Of the Church. 
 
 20. Of the Authority of the Church . 
 
 403 
 
 21 .Of the Authority of General Councils. 
 
 22 .Of Purgatory. 
 
 23. Of Ministering in the Congregation. 
 
 24. Of speaking in the Congregation. 
 
 25. Of the Sacraments. 
 
 26. Of Umvorthiness of Ministers. 
 
 27. Of Baptism. 
 
 28. Of the Lord’s Supper. 
 
 29. Of the Wicked , which eat not the Body of Christ. 
 
 30. Of both Kinds. 
 
 31. Of Christ’s one Oblation. 
 
 32. Of the Marring of Priests. 
 
 3 5. Of Excommunicate Persons. 
 
 34. Of the Traditions of the Church. 
 
 35. Of the Homilies. 
 
 36. Of Consecration of Ministers. 
 
 37. Of Civil Magistrates. 
 
 38. Of Christian Men’s Goods. 
 
 39* Of a Christian Man’s Oath. 
 
 ' The Ratification. 
 
 A TABLE 
 
A TABLE OF KINDRED AND AFFINITY, 
 
 'WHEREIN WHOSOEVER ARE RELATED 
 
 Are forbidden in Scripture 
 A Man may not marry Jus 
 
 1 pRANDMOTHER, 
 
 2 ^ Grandfather’s Wife, 
 
 3 Wife’s Grandmother. 
 
 4 Fathers Sister, 
 
 5 Mother’s Sister, 
 
 6 Father’s Brother’s Wife. 
 
 7 Mother’s Brother’s Wife, 
 
 8 Wife’s Father’s Sister, 
 
 9 Wife’s Mother’s Sister. 
 
 10 Mother, 
 
 11 Step-Mother, 
 
 12 Wife’s Mother. 
 
 13 Daughter, 
 
 14 Wife’s Daughter, 
 
 15 Son’s Wife. 
 
 16 Sister, 
 
 17 Wife’s Sister, 
 
 18 Brother’s Wife. 
 
 19 Son’s Daughter, 
 
 20 Daughter’s Daughter, 
 
 21 Son’s Son’s Wife. 
 
 22 Daughter’s Son’s Wife, 
 
 23 Wife’s Son s Daughter, 
 
 24 Wife’s Daughter’s Daughter. 
 
 25 Brother’s Daughter, 
 
 26 Sister’s Daughter, 
 
 27 Brother’s Son’s Wife. 
 
 28 Sister’s Son’s Wife, 
 
 29 Wife’s Brother’s Daughter, 
 
 30 Wife’s Sister’s Daughter. 
 
 404 
 
 and our Laws to marry together. 
 
 A tFoman may not marry with her 
 
 1 pRANDFATHER, 
 
 2 Grandmother’s Husband, 
 
 3 Husband’s Grandfather. 
 
 4 Father’s Brother, 
 
 5 Mother’s Brother, 
 
 6 Father’s Sister’s Husband. 
 
 7 Mother’s Sister’s Husband, 
 
 8 Husband’s Father’s Brother, 
 
 9 Husband’s Mother’s Brother. 
 
 10 Father, 
 
 11 Step-Father, 
 
 12 Husband’s Father. 
 
 13 Son, 
 
 14 Husband’s Son, 
 
 15 Daughter’s Husband. 
 
 16 Brother, 
 
 17 Husband’s Brother, 
 
 18 Sister’s Husband. 
 
 19 Son’s Son, 
 
 20 Daughter’s Son, 
 
 21 Son’s Daughter’s Husband. 
 
 22 Daughter’s Daughter’s Hus- 
 band, 
 
 23 Husband’s Son’s Son, 
 
 24 Husband’s Daughter’s Son. 
 
 25 Brother’s Son, 
 
 26 Sister’s Son, 
 
 27 Brother’s Daughter’s Husband. 
 
 28 Sister’s Daughter’s Husband, 
 
 29 Husband’s Brother’s Son, 
 
 30 Husband’s Sister’s Son. 
 
 THE END. 
 
CONSTITUTIONS 
 
 AND 
 
 CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL, 
 
 TREATED UPON BY THE 
 
 ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS, 
 
 AND THE REST OF THE 
 
 CLERGY OF IRELAND. 
 
 And agreed upoiT by the King’s Majesty’s License in their Synod, begun and holden at 
 Dublin , Anno Domini , 1634, and in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles , 
 by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain , France and Ireland , the Tenth. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 CONSTITUTIONS and CANONS Ecclesiastical, treated upon by the Archbishops and 
 Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland: And agreed upon by the Queen’s Majefty’s 
 License in their Synod, begun and holden at Dublin , Anno Domini , 17 11, and in the 
 Tenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne , by the Grace of God, Queen of 
 Great Britain , France and Ireland. 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 PRINTED BY GEORGE GRIERSON AND JOHN ROWE POWER, 
 
 PRINTERS TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 1816 . 
 
C HARLES by the Gra.ccpf’God King of Eng 
 land, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender 
 of the Faith, fyc. To all Men to whom these Presents 
 shall come, greeting. Whereas our Bishops, Deans 
 of our Cathedral Churches, Archde&cbnt, 'Chapters 
 and Colleges, add the rest of the Clergy within our 
 Kingdom of Ireland, were summoned and called by 
 virtue of our Writs directed to the Archbishops of the 
 Four several Provinces, and bearing Date the four 
 and twentieth Day of May, in the tenth Year of our 
 Feign, to appear before the said Archbishops in the 
 Cathedral Church of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, upon the 
 one and twentieth Day of July then next ensuing, then 
 and there to treat and conclude upon certain high and 
 urgent ' Affairs in the said Writs mentioned: ; who did 
 thereupon at the time appointed, and in the said 
 Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, aforesaid, assemble 
 themselves , and appear in Convocation for that pur- 
 pose, according to the tenor of the said Writs. And 
 whereas we for divers urgent and weighty occasions , 
 us thereunto moving, of our especial Grace, certain 
 Knowledge, and mere Motion, did by virtue of our 
 Prerogative Royal, and Supreme Authority in Causes 
 Ecclesiastical, give and grant by our Letters Patent, 
 under our Great Seal of Ireland, bearing Date the 
 one and twentieth Day of July, in the tenth Year of 
 oiir Reign, full Power and Authority unto , the said , 
 Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons, Chap- 
 ters, Colleges, and Clergy of this Kingdom then 
 assembled in Convocation, in the said Cathedral 
 Church of St. Patrick, that they from time to time , 
 during, the Parliament then begun at Dublin, might 
 confer,' treat, consult, and conclude of arid Upon such 
 Articles, Canons, Orders, Ordinances, Statutes and 
 Constitutions Ecclesiastical, as they shall think neces- 
 sary, ft and convenient for the Honour and Service 
 of Almighty God, and augmentation of his Divine 
 Worship, the rooting out of' Heresies and Errors out 
 of the Vineyards : of Christ; for. the procuring of the 
 good and quiet of the Church, and preservation of 
 good Government in Causes' ECdlesiastical , i and to the 
 Jurisdiction of the Church belonging , as also to make 
 4-08 
 
 and set down Ordinances and Decrees to have such 
 Force and Effect as other Canons and Constitutions of 
 the Church have, and the same (our Royal Assent 
 being thereunto frst had and obtained) to set forth 
 and publish freely and lawfully : and that as well 
 the Archbishops and Bishops , and all other inferior 
 Persons whom it may concern , should yield due obe- 
 dience thereunto, as in and by our said Letters Patents 
 more at large it doth and may appear. Forasmuch 
 as the said Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons , 
 Chapters and Colleges, with the rest of the Clergy of 
 this Kingdom , having met together at the time and 
 place before mentioned, and then and there by virtue of 
 our said Authority granted unto them, have treated off 
 ,i concluded and agreed upon certain Canons , Orders, 
 Ordinances and Constitutions, to the end and purposes 
 by us limited and prescribed unto them ; and have 
 thereupon offered and presented the same unto us,- most 
 humbly desiring us to give our Royal Assent unto their 
 said. Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, 
 according to the Form of a certain Statute or Act 
 of Parliament made in that behalf, and by our 
 said Prerogative Royal, and Supreme Authority in 
 Causes Ecclesiastical, to ratify by our Letters Pa- 
 tents under our Great Seal of Ireland, and to con- 
 firm the said Canons, being one hundred in number, ■ 
 and contained in a Book entituled , Constitutions and 
 Canons Ecclesiastical, treated upon by the Arch- 
 bishops and Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy of 
 Ireland, and agreed upon with the King’s Majesty’s 
 License in their Synod begun at Dublin, Anno Dom. 
 16341, and in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign 
 Lord Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great 
 Britain, France and Ireland, the tenth: Which 
 
 Book is remaining with John Forth, Clerk of the 
 upper House of Convocation. We of our Princely 
 Inclination , and Royal Care, for the Maintenance 
 of the present Estate and Government of the Church 
 of Ireland, by the Laws of this our Realm now settled 
 and established, having diligently, and With great 
 contentment and, comfort, read and considered of all 
 these their said Canons, Orders, Ordinances and 
 Constitutions 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Constitutions agreed upon, as is before expressed ; 
 and fading the same such as we are persuaded will be 
 very prof table, not only to our Clergy , but to the 
 whole Church of this our Kingdom , and to all the 
 true Members of it, (if they be well observed : ) Have 
 therefore, for Us, our Heirs and lawjid Successors, of 
 our especial Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere 
 Motion, by the advice and consent of our right trusty 
 and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor, 
 Thomas Viscount Wentworth, our Deputy General 
 of our said Kingdom of Ireland, and President in 
 our Council established in the North parts of our 
 Kingdom of England, given, and by these Presents 
 do give our Royal Assent according to the Form of 
 the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid ; to 
 all and every the said Canons, Orders , Ordinances 
 and Constitutions ; and all and every thing in them 
 contained. And furthermore, we do not only by our 
 said Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in 
 Causes Ecclesiastical, ratify, confirm and establish by 
 these our Letters Patents these said Canons, Or ders , 
 Ordinances and Constitutions , and all and every thing 
 in them contained, as is aforesaid ; but do likewise 
 propound, publish and straightly enjoin and command 
 by our said Authority, and by these our Letters Pa- 
 tents, the same to be diligently observed, executed, 
 and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our 
 
 Kingdom, in all points wherein they do, dtp may con- 
 cern every or any of them / according to this our 
 Will and Pleasure hereby signified andrxprcssed. And' 
 that likewise for the better Observation of them, every 
 Minister, by what Name or Title soever he be called, 
 shall in the Parish Church or Chapel where he hath 
 charge, read all the said Canons, Orders, Ordinances 
 and Constitutions once every Year , upon some Sun- 
 days or Holy-days in the Aj'ternoon before Divine 
 Service ; dividing the same in such sort, as that the 
 one half may be read one Day, and the other another 
 Day . The Book of the said Canons to be provided, 
 at the Charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast 
 of Easter next ensuing. Straightly charging and 
 commanding all Archbishops , Bishops, and all other 
 that exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within 
 this Realm , every Man in his place to see and pro- 
 cure ( sd much as in them lieth ) dll and every of the 
 same Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions 
 to be in all points duly observed , not sparing to exe- 
 cute the Penalties in them severally mentioned upon 
 any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to 
 observe the same , as they tender the Honour of God, 
 the Peace of the Church , tranquillity of the Kingdom, 
 and their Duties and Service unto us their King and 
 Sovereign. In witness, fyc. 
 
 409 
 
 CONSTITUTIONS 
 
CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL; 
 
 Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops, and the rest of the 
 Clergy of Ireland, &c. 
 
 I. Of the Agreement of the Church of England 
 and* Ireland, in the Profession of the same 
 Christian Religion. 
 
 F OR the Manifestation of our Agreement 
 with the Church of England , in the Con- 
 fession of the same Christian Faith, and the 
 Doctrine of the Sacraments : We do receive 
 and approve the Book of Articles of Religion 
 agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops, 
 and the whole Clergy in the Convocation 
 holden at London , in the Year of our Lord 
 God, 1562, for the avoiding of Diversities of 
 Opinions, and for the establishing of Consent 
 touching true Religion. And therefore if any 
 hereafter shall affirm, that any of those Arti- 
 cles are in any part Superstitious or Erroneous, 
 or such as he may not with a good Conscience 
 subscribe unto, let him be excommunicated, 
 and not absolved before he make a publick 
 Revocation of his Error. 
 
 II. The Ki tig’s Supremacy in Causes Ecclesias- 
 tical to be maintained. 
 
 A LL Ecclesiastical Persons having Cure of 
 Souls, and all other Preachers and 
 Readers of Divinity Lectures, shall to the 
 utmost of their Wit, Knowledge and Learning, 
 purely and sincerely (without any Colour or 
 Dissimulation) teach, manifest, open and de- 
 clare, four Times every Year (at the least) in 
 their Sermons, and other Collations and Lec- 
 tures, That all usurped and foreign 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 Majesty’s Realms and 
 Dominions is due unto such Foreign Power ; 
 but that the King’s Power within his Realm 
 of Ireland , and all other his Dominions and 
 Countries is the highest Power under God, to 
 whom all Men, as well inhabitants as born 
 within the same, do by God’s Laws owe all 
 Loyalty and Obedience, and to no other fo- 
 410 
 
 reign Power and Potentate in the Earth. And 
 whosoever shall hereafter maintain, that the 
 King’s Majesty hath not the same Authority 
 in Causes Ecclesiastical, that the godly Kings 
 had among the Jews, and Christian Emperors 
 in the Primitive Church, or impeach in any 
 part his Regal Supremacy in the faid Causes 
 restored to the Crown, and by the Law's of 
 this Realm therein established, let him be ex- 
 communicated, and not restored but only by 
 the Archbishop of the Province, after his Re- 
 pentance, arid publick Revocation of his Error. 
 
 III. Of the Prescript Form of Divine Service 
 contained in the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 T HAT Form of Liturgy or Divine Service 
 and no other, shall be used in any 
 Church of this Realm, but that which is esta- 
 blished by the Law, and comprised in the 
 Book of Common Prayer and Administration 
 of Sacraments. And if any one shall preach, 
 or by other open Words declare or speak any 
 thing in the derogation or despising of the 
 said Book, or of any thing therein contained, 
 let him be excommunicated, and not restored 
 until he repent, and publickly revoke his 
 Err<>r. 
 
 IV. Of the Form of consecrating and ordering 
 Archbishops , Bishops , &c. and of the Churches 
 established according to that Order. 
 
 T HAT Form of Ordination, and no other 
 shall be used in this Church, but that 
 which is contained in the Book of ordering 
 Bishops, Priests and Deacons, allowed by Au- 
 thority, and hitherto practised in the Churches 
 of England and Ireland. And if any shall 
 affirm, that they who are consecrated or 
 ordered according to those Rites are not law- 
 fully made, nor ought to be accounted either 
 Bishops, Priests, or Deacons ; or shall deny that 
 the Churches established under this Govern- 
 ment are true Churches, or refuse to join with 
 them in Christian Profession, let him be excom- 
 municated. 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 municated, and not restored until lie repent, 
 and publickly revoke his Error. 
 
 V. Authors of Schism , and Maintainers of 
 'Conventicles censured. 
 
 TIPTHOSOEVER fha.ll separate themselves 
 * » from the Communion of Saints, as it 
 is approved by the Apoftles’ Rules in the 
 Church of Ireland ; and combine themselves 
 together in a new Brotherhood ; (account- 
 ing the Christians, who are conformable to 
 the Doctrine, Government, Rites and Cere- 
 monies of the Church of Ireland , to be pro- 
 fane and unmeet for them to join with in 
 Christian Profession,) or shall affirm and 
 maintain, that there are within this Realm 
 other Meetings, Assemblies, or Congregations, 
 than such as by the Laws of this Land are 
 held and allowed, which may rightly challenge 
 to themselves the Name of true and lawful 
 Churches, let him be excommunicated, and 
 not restored until he repent, and publickly 
 revoke his Error. 
 
 VI. Due Celebration of Sundays and Holy-days. 
 
 A LL manner of Persons shall celebrate and 
 keep the Lord’s Day, commonly called 
 Sunday , and other Holy-days, according to 
 God’s holy Will and Pleasure, and the Orders 
 of this Church ; that is, in hearing the Word 
 of God read and taught in private and pub- 
 lick Prayers, in acknowledging their Offences 
 to God, and amendment of the same, and re- 
 conciling themselves charitably to their neigh- 
 bours, where displeasure hath been, in often- 
 times receiving the Communion of the Body 
 and Blood of Christ, in visiting the Poor and 
 Sick, using all godly and sober Conversation. 
 
 VII. The Prescript Form of Divine Service to be 
 used on Sundays and Holy-days , with all De- 
 cency and due Reverence . 
 
 E VERY Sunday and Holy-day, the Parsons, 
 Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine 
 Service at convenient and usual times of the 1 
 Day, and in such place of every Church as the 
 Bishop of the Diocess or Ecclesiastical Ordinary I 
 4*1 
 
 of the place shall think meet for the largeness 
 and straightness of the same, so as the People 
 may be most edified. All Ministers likewise 
 shall use and observe the Orders, Rites, Orna- 
 ments and Ceremonies prescribed in the Book 
 of Common Prayer, and in the Act for Uni- 
 formity printed therewith, as well in reading 
 the holy Scriptures, abd saying of Prayers, as 
 in administration of the Sacraments ; with- 
 out either diminifliing in regard of preaching* 
 or in any other respect, or adding any thing 
 in the Matter or Form thereof. And in Ca- 
 thedral and Collegiate Churches, all Deans, 
 Masters, and Heads of Collegiate Churches, 
 Canons, and Prebendaries, being Graduates, 
 shall daily at the time both of Prayer and 
 Preaching, wear with their Surplices, such 
 Hoods as are agreeable to their Degrees. No 
 man also shall cover his Head in any Church 
 or Chapel in the time of Divine Service, ex- 
 cept he have some Infirmity, in which case 
 he may wear a Night-cap or Coif. Neither 
 shall any Person be otherwise at such times 
 busied, than in quiet attendance to hear, 
 mark and understand that which is read, 
 preached or miniftered ; using all such reve- 
 rent Gestures and Actions, as by the Book 
 of Common Prayer are prescribed in that 
 behalf, and the commendable use of the 
 Church received ; and not departing out of 
 this Church during the time of Service and 
 Sermon, without some urgent or reasonable 
 cause. 
 
 VIII. Of the Ordering of certain Parts of the 
 Service. 
 
 A LSO the Minister reading the Lessons, 
 Epistle and Gospel, and the Ten Com- 
 mandments, and such other parts of Divine 
 Service, as do greatly tend to the edifying of 
 the People, shall so place himself, and so turn 
 him to the People, as they may best hearken 
 thereunto, and be edified by the same. And 
 every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavour, 
 that the Confession of Sins and Absolution, 
 and all the second Service (at or before the 
 Communion, to the Homily or Sermon) 
 where the People all, or .most are Irish , shall 
 be used in English first, and after in Irish , if 
 the Ordinary of the Place shall so think meet. 
 
 IX; Benefced 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 IX. Beneficed Preachers being Resident upon 
 their Livings to Preach every Sunday. 
 
 "JP VERY Beneficed Man, allowed to be a 
 Preacher, and residing on his Benefice, 
 having no lawful Impediment, shall in his 
 Own Cure, preach one Sermon every Sunday 
 of the Year : And therein he shall teach no 
 vain Opinions, no Heresies, nor Popish Er- 
 rors, disagreeing from the Articles of Reli- 
 gion, generally received in the Churches of 
 England and Ireland ; nor any thing at all, 
 whereby the People may be stirred up to the 
 desire of Novelties or Contention ; but shall 
 soberly and sincerely divide the Word of 
 Truth, to the Glory of God, and to the best 
 Edification of the People. 
 
 X. No public k Opposition between Preachers. 
 
 I E any Preacher shall in the Pulpit, parti- 
 cularly or namely, of purpose, impugn 
 or confute any Doctrine delivered by any 
 other Preacher in the same Church, or in 
 any other near adjoining ; or otherwise make 
 any publick Opposition unto him, before he 
 hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocess 
 therewith, and received order from him. what 
 to do in that case, (because upon such pub- 
 lick dissenting and contradicting there may 
 grow much offence and disquieting to the 
 People ;) the Churchwardens, or Party 
 grieved, shall forthwith signify the same to 
 tfie said Bishop, and not suffer the said 
 Preacher any more to occupy that place which 
 he has once abused, except he faithfully pro- 
 mise to forbear all such matter of Contention 
 in the Church, until the Bishop hath taken 
 further order therein ; who shall with all 
 convenient speed so proceed therein, that 
 publick Satisfaction may be made in the Con- 
 gregation where the Offence was given. Pro- 
 vided that if either of the Parties offending, 
 do appeal, he shall not be suffered* to preach 
 Pendente lite. 
 
 XI. Ministers to catechize every Sunday. 
 
 E VERY Parson, Vicar, or Curate, upon 
 every Sunday before Evening Prayer, shall 
 for half an Hour or more, examine and in- 
 412 
 
 struct the Youth and ignorant Persons -of his; 
 Parish, in the Ten Commandments, the Artii. 
 cles of the Belief, and in the Lord’s Prayer, 
 and shall diligently hear, and instruct and 
 teach them the Catechism set forth in the 
 Book of Common Prayer. And all Fathers, 
 Mothers, Masters and Mistresses, shal^l cause 
 their Children, Servants and Apprentices, 
 which have not learned the Cathechism, to 
 come to Church at the time appointed, obe- 
 diently to hear and to be ordered by the Mi- 
 nister, until they have learned the same. And 
 if any Minister neglect his Duty herein, let 
 him be sharply reproved upon the first Com- 
 plaint, and true Notice thereof given to the 
 Bishop or Ordinary of the Place. If after 
 submitting himself, he shall wilfully offend 
 therein again, let him be suspended. If so the 
 third time, there being little hope that he will 
 be therein reformed, then excommunicated, 
 and so remain until he will be reformed. And 
 likewise if any of the said Fathers, Mothers, 
 Masters or Mistresses, Children, Servants or 
 Apprentices shall neglect their Duties, as the 
 one sort in not causing them to come, and the 
 other in refusing to learn, as aforesaid, let them 
 be suspended, (if they be not Children) and if 
 they so persist by the space of a Month, let 
 them be excommunicated. Neither shall the 
 Minister admit any to be married, or to be 
 Godfathers or Godmothers at the Baptism of 
 any Child, or to receive the holy Communion 
 before they can say the Articles of the Belief, 
 the Lord’s Prayer, and the Commandments, in 
 such a Language as they understand. 
 
 XII. The People to be informed in the Body of 
 Christian Religion , and Reformed in their Con- 
 versation. 
 
 F OR the better grounding of the People in 
 the Principles of Christian Religion, We 
 ordain that the Heads of the Catechilm being 
 divided into so many parts as there are Sun- 
 days in the Year, shall be explained to -.tfie 
 People in every Parish Church. In the hand- 
 ling whereof, the Ministers and Curates are' 
 to use such Moderation, that they do not run- 
 into curious Questions, or unnecessary Con- 
 troversies, but shortly declare and confirm the 
 Doctrine proposed, and make Application 
 thereof 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 thereof, to the behoof of the Hearers. The 1 
 Ministers also in all their Preachings and 
 Catechisings, and private Conferences, when 
 iieed requircth, shall teach the People, to place 
 their whole Trust and Confidence in God, and 
 not in Creatures, neither in the Habit or Sca- 
 pular of any Friar, or in hallowed Beads, 
 •Medals, Reliques, or such like Trumperies. 
 They shall do their Endeavour likewise to root 
 out all ungodly, superstitious and barbarous 
 Cu'stoms, as using of Charms, Sorcery, En- 
 chantments, W-itchcraft, or Soothsaying ; and 
 generally to reform the Manners of the People 
 committed to their Charge, unto a Christian, 
 sober and civil Conversation. 
 
 XIII. Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine 
 Service, and administer the Sacraments twice a 
 Tear at the least. 
 
 "C 1 VERY Minister being possessed of a 
 Benefice, that hath Cure and Charge 
 of Souls, although he cl ' y attend to 
 Preaching, and hath a Cur. . under him to 
 execute other Duties which re to be per- 
 formed for him in the Church ; and likewise 
 every other stipendiary Preacher that readeth 
 any Lecture, or Catechiseth, or preacheth in 
 any Church or Chapel, shall twice, > the least, 
 every Year read himself the Divine .Service 
 upon two several Sundays publickly, a I at the 
 usual times both in the Forenoon and After- 
 noon in the Church which he so possesseth, or 
 where he Readeth, Catechiseth, or Preacheth, 
 as is aforesaid ; and shall likewise as often in 
 every Year administer the Sacraments of Bap- 
 tism (if there be any to be Baptised) and of 
 the Lord’s Supper, in such Manner and Form, 
 and with the Use and Observation of all such 
 Rites, Ornaments and Ceremonies, as are pre- 
 scribed by the Book of Common Prayer (and 
 the Aft for Uniformity printed therewith) in 
 that behalf, which if he do not accordingly 
 perform, then shall he that is possessed of a 
 Benefice (as before) be suspended, and he that 
 is but a Reader, Preacher, or Catechiser, be 
 removed from his Place by the Bishop of the 
 Diocess, until he or they shall submit them- 
 selves to perform all the said Duties in such 
 manner and sort as beforb is prescribed, 
 
 413 
 
 XIV. Ministers not to refuse to Christen or Bury. 
 
 N O Minister shall refuse or delay to Chris- 
 ten any* Child according to the Form of 
 the Book of Common Prayer, that is brought 
 to the Church to him on Sundays , or Holy- 
 Days to be Christened ; or to bury any Corpse 
 that is brought to the Church or Church-yard 
 (convenient Warning being given to him 
 thereof before) in such manner as is prescribed 
 in the said Book of Common Prayer. And 
 if he shall refuse to Christen the one, or Bury 
 the other, (except the Party deceased were 
 denounced excommunicated major's Excommu- 
 nicatione , for some grievous and notorious 
 Crime, and no Man able to testify of his 
 Repentance) he shall be suspended by the 
 Bishop of the Diocess from his Ministry by the 
 space of Three Months. 
 
 XV. Ministers not to defer Christening , if the 
 Child be in danger . 
 
 TF any Minister, being duly (without any 
 manner of Collusion) informed of the 
 weakness and danger of Death of any Infant 
 unbaptized in his Parish, and thereupon de- 
 sired to go or come to the Place where the 
 said Infant remaineth, to baptize the same, 
 shall either wilfully refuse so to do, or of gross 
 negligence shall so defer the Time, as when he 
 might conveniently have resorted to the Place, 
 and have baptised the said Infant, it dieth 
 through such Default unbaptized, the said 
 Minister shall be suspended for three Months; 
 and before his Restitution, shall acknowledge 
 his Fault, and promise before his Ordinary, 
 that he will not wittingly incur the like again. 
 Provided, that where there is a Curate or a 
 Substitute, this Constitution shall not extend 
 to the Parson or Vicar himself, but the Cu- 
 rate or Substitute present. 
 
 XVI. Fathers not to be Godfathers in Baptifniy 
 nor Children not Communicants. 
 
 "VT O Parent {hall be urged to prefent, nor be 
 admitted to answer as Godfather for 
 his own Child ; nor any Godfather or God- 
 mother shall be suffered to make any other 
 i Anfwer 
 
Constitutions and Canon'S Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Answer or Speech, than by the Book of 
 Common Prayer is prescribed in that behalf. 
 Neither shall any Person be admitted God- 
 father or Godmother to any Child at Christen- 
 ing or Confirmation, before the said Person, 
 so undertaking, hath received the holy Com- 
 munion. 
 
 XVII. Confirmation , or laying Hands upon Chil- 
 dren i, to be performed by the Bishop once in 
 three Tears. 
 
 E VERY Minister that hath Cure and 
 Charge of Souls, for the better accom- 
 plishing of the Orders prescribed in the Book 
 of Common Prayer concerning Confirmation, 
 shall take such special 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 Catechism in 
 the said Book contained. The Bishop also in 
 his own Person every third Year (at least) in 
 the time of his Visitation, shall perform that 
 Duty of Confirmation ; or if in that Year, by 
 reason of some Infirmity he be not able per- 
 sonally to visit his Diocess, he shall not omit 
 to do it the next Year after, as he may con- 
 veniently. 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. 
 
 TN every Cathedral and Collegiate Church, 
 -®- at leaft once every Month, and in every 
 Parish Church and Chapel where Sacraments 
 are to be administered within this Realm, the 
 holy Communion shall be ministered by the 
 Parson, Vicar, or Minister, so often, and at 
 such times as every Parishoner may commu- 
 nicate at the least thrice in the Year, (whereof 
 the Feast of Easter to be one) according as 
 they are appointed by the Book of Common 
 Prayer. And that no Minister when he 
 celebrateth the Communion, shall wittingly 
 administer the same to any' but such as kneel : 
 Provided, that every Minister as often as he 
 administereth the ^Communion, shall first 
 receive the Sacrament himself. Furthermore 
 no Bread nor Wine newly brought shall be 
 4M 
 
 used, but first the Words of Institution shall 
 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. Warning to be given beforehand for the 
 Communion . 
 
 "T^ET'HEREAS every lay Person is bound to 
 * * receive the holy Communion thrice 
 every Year, and many notwithstanding do 
 not receive that Sacrament once in a Year : 
 We do require every Minister to give warn- 
 ing to his Parishioners pubiickly in the Church 
 at Morning Prayer, the Sunday before every 
 time of his administering the holy Sacrament, 
 for the better Preparation of themselves : 
 Which said warning we enjoin the said 
 Parishioners to accept and obey, under the 
 Penalty and Danger of the Law. And the 
 Minister of every Parish, and in Cathedral 
 and Collegiate Churches some Principal Minis- 
 ter of the Church shall, the Afternoon before 
 the said Administration, give warning by the 
 tolling of the Bell, or otherwise, to the in- 
 tent, that if any have any scruple of Con- 
 science, or desire the special Ministry of 
 Reconciliation, he may afford it to those 
 that need it. And to this end the People 
 are often to be exhorted to enter into a 
 fpecial Examination of the State of their own 
 Souls : And that finding themfelves either 
 extreme dull, or much troubled in Mind, 
 they do refort unto God’s Ministers, to re- 
 ceive from them as well Advice and Counfel 
 for the quickening of their dead Hearts, and 
 the fubduing of thofe Corruptions whereunto 
 they have been fubject, as the Benefit of 
 Absolution likewise, for the quieting of their 
 Confciences, by the Power of the Keys which 
 Christ hath committed to his Ministers for 
 that purpose. 
 
 XX. Notorious Offenders not to be admitted to 
 the Communion. 
 
 N O Minister shall in any wise admit to 
 the receiving of the Holy Communion 
 any of his Cure or Flock, which be openly 
 known 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 known to live in Sin notorious, without Re^ 
 pentance. Nor any who have maliciously 
 knd. openly contended with their Neighbours, 
 until they shall be reconciled. Nor any 
 Church-Wardens or Sidemen, who having 
 taken their Oaths to present to their Ordi- 
 naries all such public Offences, as they are 
 particularly charged to inquire of in their 
 several Parishes, shall notwithstanding their 
 laid Oaths, (and that their faithful discharg- 
 ing of them is the chiefest Means whereby 
 public Sins and Offences may be reformed 
 and punished) wittingly and willingly, des- 
 perately and irreligiously incur the' horrible 
 crime of Perjury, either in neglecting, or 
 refusing to present such of the said Enormities 
 and public 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 himself, to discharge their Con- 
 sciences by presenting of them, and not to 
 incur so desperately the said horrible Sin of- 
 Perjury. 
 
 XXI. Ministers not to preach or administer the 
 Communion in private Houses. 
 
 N O Minifter shall preach, or administer 
 the Holy Communion in any private 
 House, except, it be in times of Necessity, 
 when any being either so impotent as he 
 cannot go to the Church, or very dangerously 
 sick, are desirous to be partakers of that holy 
 - Sacrament, under pain of Suspension for the 
 first Offence, and Excommunication for the 
 second. Provided, that Houses are here re- 
 puted for private Houses, wherein are no 
 Chapels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesi- 
 astical Laws of this Realm. And provided 
 also under, the Pain before expressed, that 
 no Chaplains do preach or administer the 
 Communion in any other Places but in the 
 Chapels of the said Houses, and that also they 
 do the same very seldom upon Sundays and 
 Holy-days. So that both the Lords and 
 Masters of the said Houses, and their Families, 
 shall at other times resort to their own Parish 
 Churches, and there receive the holy Com- 
 munion, at the least once every Year. 
 
 4*5 
 
 XXII. Ministers not to hold private Conventicles. 
 
 TpORASMUCH as all Conventicles and secret 
 A Meetings of Priests and Ministers have been 
 ever justly accounted very hurtful to the state 
 of the Church wherein they live : We do now 
 ordain and constitute, that no Priests or 
 Ministers of the word of God, nor any other 
 Persons shall meet together in any private 
 House, or elsewhere, to consult upon any 
 Matter or Course to be taken by them, or upon 
 their Motion or Direction by any other, which 
 may any way tend to the impeaching or 
 depraving of the Doctrine of the Church of 
 Ireland , or of the Book of Common Prayer, 
 or of any Part of the Government and Disci- 
 pline now established in the Church of Ire- 
 land, under Pain of Excommunication. 
 
 XXXIII. Of ordering Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. 
 
 TVT° Archbishop, . Bishop, or other Person 
 “I \ whatsoever, having Ecclesiastical Juris- 
 diction, shall appoint, constitute, make and 
 /-Sc • T ^ ian cellor. Commissary, . or 
 
 Official, for longer time than their own 
 Incumbency, except he be of the full Age of 
 twenty-six Years at least, and one that is 
 learned in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws, and 
 is at the least a Master of Arts, or Bachelor of 
 Law, and is reasonably well practised in the 
 Course thereof. Neither shall they let their 
 Jurisdictions to farm, or grant, or confirm to 
 any Man, the next, second, or third advowson 
 of any Prebend or Benefice, being in their 
 Gift. And if they shall make or confirm any 
 such Grant or Patent of the Place of Chancellor, 
 Commissary, or Official, for longer Term 
 than during their Incumbency, to any that is 
 not qualified, as is hereby required, then the 
 said Person so accepting the said Patent or 
 Grant, is to be held and declared uncapable 
 thereof, to all intents whatsoever. Lastly, the 
 same Archbishops and Bishops shall provide, 
 that the. Clergy and People be not burdened 
 with unjust Exactions by their Servants and 
 Ofncers in their Visitations : And that neither 
 the Archbishops therein, shall charge their 
 Suffragans., nor the Bishops their Clergy, with 
 any Noctials, or Refections,, over and above 
 G S 5, their. 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 their ordinary Procurations, referving not- 
 withstanding unto the Archbishops in their 
 Visitations, the Refections usually heretofore 
 received in those Diocesses, where the same 
 Procurations are not received by them, which 
 are yearly paid by the Clergy unto their 
 Bishops. And that no Archbishop or Bishop 
 shall demand from the Executors or Adminis- 
 trators of any of their Clergy, any Heriots or 
 Mortuaries ; as in some place of this Kingdom 
 heretofore hath been -accustomed. 
 
 XXIV. Of ordering the Revenues of Ecclesiasti- 
 cal Persons. 
 
 "\TO Archbishop, Bishop, Dean and Chap- 
 ter, or Dignitary, shall in anywise dimi- 
 nish the ancient Revenues of their Sees, or 
 Churches, nor alienate their Lands in fee- 
 farm, nor destroy their Woods, nor give power 
 to their Tenants to make waste thereof, nor by 
 any Device demise their Mensal or Demefne 
 Lands, unlefs it be to their Curates, actually dis- 
 charging the said Cures, without forty Days’ 
 absence in any one Year, and to them for no 
 longer time- or term than during their own 
 Incumbency. Neither shall they join with any 
 Dignitary, Prebend, or other Beneficiary or 
 Beneficiaries to confirm the Leases or Aliena- 
 tions made, or to be made by him or them, 
 of any Ecclesiastical Profits or Obventions. 
 And the said Archbishops and Bishops shall 
 carefully provide that all Churches, Chancels, 
 and Manse-houses, the Repair wdiereof properly 
 belongeth to them, or any of them, or to any 
 other Ecclesiastical Person or Persons, be from 
 time to time preserved from Ruin and Decay. 
 
 XXV. Of Archdeacons. 
 
 E VERY Archdeacon which hath Authority 
 to visit either by common Right or by 
 Prescription, shall visit the Precinct of his 
 Jurisdiction once every Year in his own Per- 
 son, and he shall not substitute any to be his 
 Official, but such a one as hath been brought 
 up in the University, and hath studied the 
 Civil Law (if such a one may be had) being 
 able not only in Learning, but also with 
 Gf-avity and Modesty to discharge that 
 Office. 
 
 416 
 
 XXVI. Residence of Deans in their Churches. 
 
 E VERY Dean, Master, or Warden, or chief 
 Governor of any Cathedral or Collegiate 
 Church shall be resident in his said Cathedral or 
 Collegiate Church four-score and ten Days, con- 
 junction aut divisim t in every Year at least, so that 
 they have Houses, or Ground to build Houses 
 upon belonging to their Churches ; and then 
 shall continue there in Preaching of the Word 
 of God, and keeping good Hospitality, (ex- 
 cept he shall be otherwise letted with weighty 
 and urgent Causes, to be approved by the 
 Bishop of the Diocess.) And when he is 
 present, he with the rest of the Canons or 
 Prebendaries resident, shall take special care 
 that the Statutes and laudable Customs of 
 their Church (not being contrary to the Word 
 of God, or Prerogative Royal) the Statutes 
 of this Realm being in force concerning Ec- 
 clesiastical Orders, and all other Constitutions, 
 now set forth and confirmed by his Majesty s 
 authority, and such as shall be lawfully en- 
 joined by the Bishop of the Diocess in his 
 Visitation, according to the Statutes and 
 Customs of the same Church, or the Ecclesi- 
 astical Law r s of this Realm, be diligently 
 observed. And that the Petty-Canons, Vicars- 
 Chorals, and other Ministers of their Church, 
 be urged to the Study of the holy Scriptures, 
 and every one of them to have the New Testa- 
 ment not only in English, but also in Latin. 
 
 XXVII. Deans and Prebendaries to preach 
 during their Residence. 
 
 T HE Dean, Master, Warden, or other 
 Chief Governor, Prebendaries and 
 Canons in every Cathedral and Collegiate 
 Church, shall not only Preach there in their 
 own Persons, so often as they are bound by 
 Law, Statute, Ordinance or Custom, but 
 shall likewise Preach in other Churches of 
 the same Diocess where they are resident, 
 and especially in those places whence they or 
 their Churches receive any yearly Rents or 
 Profits. And in case they themselves be sick, 
 or lawfully absent, they shall substitute such 
 licensed Preacher to supply their turns as by 
 the Bishop of the Diocess shall be thought 
 meet 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 meet to preach in Cathedral Churches. And 
 if any otherwise neglect, or omit to supply 
 his course, as is aforesaid, the Offender shall 
 be punished by the Bishop, or by him or 
 them to whom the Jurisdiction of that Church 
 appertaineth, according to the quality of the 
 Offence. 
 
 XXVIII. Prebendaries to be resident upon their 
 Benefices. 
 
 N O Prebendaries or Canons in Cathedral or 
 Collegiate Churches having one or more 
 Bene£ces'\vith Cure, (and not being Residen- 
 tiaries in the same Cathedral or Collegiate 
 Churches) shall under colour of the said Pre- 
 bends, absent themselves from their Benefices 
 v ith Cure, above the space of one Month in 
 the Year, unless it be for some urgent Cause, 
 and certain time to be allowed by the Bishop 
 of the Diocess. And such of the said Canons 
 and Prebendaries, as by the Ordinances of the 
 said Cathedral or Collegiate Churches, do 
 stand bound to be resident in the same, shall 
 so among themselves sort and proportion the 
 times of the Year, concerning residence to be 
 kept in the said Churches, as that some of 
 them always shall be personally resident there. 
 And that all those who be, or shall be Resi- 
 dentiaries in any Cathedral or Collegiate 
 Church, shall after the Days of their Resi- 
 dence, appointed by their local Statutes or 
 Customs expired, presently repair to their 
 Benefices, or some of them, or to some other 
 Charge where the Law requireth their Pre- 
 sence, there to discharge their Duties according 
 to the Law in that Case provided. And the 
 Bishop of the Diocess shall see the same to be 
 duly performed and put in execution. 
 
 XXIX. Four solemn Times appointed for the 
 making of Ministers. 
 
 F ORASMUCH as the ancient Fathers of the 
 Church, led by the Examples of the 
 Apostles, appointed Prayers and Fasts to be 
 used at the solemn ordering of Ministers, and 
 to that purpose allotted certain ‘mes, in which 
 only sacred Orders might be given or con- 
 ferred : We, following their holy and religious 
 Example, do constitute and agree, that no 
 4»7 
 
 Deacons or Ministers be ordained and made, 
 but only upon the Sundays immediately fol- 
 lowing Jejunia quatuor temporum , commonly 
 called Ember- weeks, appointed in ancient time 
 for Prayer and Fasting (purposely for this 
 Cause at their first Institution), and so conti- 
 nued at this Day in the Church of Ireland. : 
 And that this be done in the Cathedral or 
 Parish Church where the Bishop resideth, 
 and in the time of Divine Service, in the 
 presence, not only of the Archdeacon, but of 
 the Dean and two Prebendaries, at the least, 
 or (if they shall happen by any lawful Cause to 
 be let or hindered) in the presence of four 
 other grave Persons being allowed for publick 
 Preachers. And lastly, that no Person of 
 what Quality or Gift soever, be made a 
 Deacon and a Presbyter both together upon 
 the same Day. 
 
 XXX. Titles of such as are to be made Ministers. 
 
 "NTO Person shall be admitted into sacred 
 ^ Orders, except he shall at that time 
 exhibit to the Bishop, of whom he desireth 
 imposition of Hands, a Presentation of himself 
 to some Ecclesiastical Preferment then void in 
 that Diocess, or shall bring to the said Bishop 
 a true and undoubted Certificate, that either 
 he is provided of some Church within the 
 said Diocess where he may attend the Cure of 
 Souls, or of some Minister’s place vacant, 
 either in the Cathedral Church of that Diocess, 
 or in some other Collegiate Church therein 
 also situate, where he may execute his Minis- 
 try, or that he is a Senior Fellow of some 
 College in the University, or except he be a 
 Master of Arts of five Years’ standing, that 
 liveth of his own Charge in the University, or 
 except by the Bishop himself that doth ordain 
 him Minister, he be shortly after to be admit- 
 ted either to some Benefice or Curateship then 
 void, not to be removed until he be other- 
 wise provided for, except by his notable evil 
 Carriage he deserve the contrary. And if any 
 Bishop shall admit any Person into the Minis- 
 try, that hath none of these Titles as is afore- 
 said, then he shall keep and maintain him with 
 all things necessary, till he do prefer him to 
 some Ecclesiastical Living. And if the said 
 Bishop shall refuse so to do, he shall be sus- 
 G g g 2 pended 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical 
 
 pended by his Archbishop, being assisted with 
 another Bishop, from giving of Orders by the 
 space of a Year. 
 
 XXXI. The Quality of such as are to be made 
 Ministers. 
 
 ■7WT O Bishop shall hereafter admit any Per- 
 son into sacred Orders, which is not of 
 his own Diocess, except he be a Graduate of 
 some University within th^King’sDominions, 
 or except he shall bring Letters dimissory (so 
 termed) from the Bishop of whose Diocess he 
 is ; and desiring to be a Deacon, is three and 
 twenty Years old, and to be a Presbyter four 
 and twenty Years complete ; and hath taken 
 some Degrees of School in some of the said 
 Universities, or at the least, except he be 
 able to yield an account of his Faith in Latin, 
 (according to the Articles of Religion gene- 
 rally received in the Church of England and 
 Ireland ,) and to confirm the same by sufficient 
 Testimonies out of the holy Scriptures. And 
 except moreover he shall then exhibit Letters 
 Testimonial, or authentical Certificate of his 
 good Life and Conversation, under the Seal of 
 some College, where before he remained, or of 
 three or four grave Ministers together, with 
 the Subscription and Testimony of other cre- 
 dible Persons, who have known his Life and 
 Behaviour, by the space of three Years next 
 before. 
 
 XXXII. The Examination of such as are to be 
 made Ministers. 
 
 T HE 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 lawful Impe- 
 diment, he shall cause the said Ministers care- 
 fully to examine every such person so to be 
 ordered. Provided, that they who shall assist 
 the Bishop in examining and laying on of 
 Hands, shall be of his Cathedral Church, if 
 they may conveniently be had, or other suffi- 
 cient Preachers of the same Diocefs, 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, 
 418 
 
 as before we have ordained, the Archbishop of 
 that Province, having notice thereof, and being 
 assisted by one Bishop, shall suspend the said 
 Bishop or Suffragan, so offending, from mak- 
 ing either Deacons or Priests, for the Space of 
 two Years. Neither shall any Person be re- 
 ceived into the Ministry, nor admitted to any 
 Ecclesiastical Living, nor permitted to Preach, 
 Read, Lecture, Catechize, or Minister the Sa- 
 craments j except he shall first by Subsription 
 declare his consent to the first four Canons of 
 this present Synod, and every thing contained 
 therein. 
 
 XXXIII. Caution for Institution of Ministers into 
 Benefices. 
 
 N O Bishop shall institute any into a Bene- 
 fice, who hath been ordained by any 
 other Bishop, except he first shew unto him 
 his Letters of Orders, and bring him a suffi- 
 cient Testimony of his former good Life and 
 Behaviour, if the Bishop shall require it ; and 
 lastly, shall appear upon the due Examination: 
 to be worthy of his Ministry. 
 
 XXXIV. Patrons of Ecclesiastical Benefices. 
 
 T HE Bishop shall earnestly and diligently 
 exhort Patrons of Benefices to consider 
 the Necessaries of the Churches, and to have 
 before their Eyes the last Day of Judgment, 
 and the Tribunal Seat of God: Therefore 
 that they prefer no Man to any Ecclesiastical 
 Living but him which by Doctrine, Judgment, 
 Godliness, Honesty and Innocency of Life, is 
 able to bear so heavy a Burthen, that they do 
 nothing therein, but uprightly, uncorruptly 
 and truly : But if any Patron shall be con- 
 victed to have made any Simonical contract, 
 either directly or indirectly, let him be ex- 
 communicated ipso facto , not to be absolved, 
 but after publick Penance, in the Cathedral 
 Church, and the Church so Siinonically pre- 
 fented unto. 
 
 XXXV. Prevention of Simonical Contracts in those 
 that are presented by them . 
 
 T O avoid the detestable Sin of Simony, 
 because buying and selling of Ecclesiasti- 
 cal 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 cal Functions, Offices, Promotions, Dignities 
 and Livings, is execrable before God, there- 
 fore the Archbishop, and all, and every Bishop 
 or Bishops, or any other Person or Persons, 
 having Authority to admit, institute, collate, 
 instal,orto confirm the Election of any Arch- 
 bishop, Bishop, or other Person or Persons to 
 any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Function, Dig- 
 nity, Promotion, Title, Office, Jurisdiction, 
 Place, or Benefice, with Cure, or without Cure, 
 or to any Ecclesiastical Living whatsoever, 
 shall before every such admission, institution, 
 collation, installation, or confirmation of 
 Election, respectively minister to every Per- 
 son thereafter to be admitted, instituted, 
 collated, installed, or confirmed in or to any 
 Archbishoprick, or other Spiritual or Eccle- 
 siastical Function, Dignity, Promotion, Title, 
 Office, Jurisdiction, Place or Benefice, with 
 Cure, or without Cure, or in any Ecclesias- 
 tical Living whatsoever, this Oath in manner 
 and form following, the same to be taken by 
 every one whom it concerneth, in his own 
 Person, and not by a Proctor. 
 
 4 I N. N. do swear, that I have made no 
 
 * Simonical Payment, Contract, or Promise, 
 
 * directly or indirectly, by myself, or by 
 4 any other, to my Knowledge or with 
 4 my Consent, to any Person or Persons 
 
 * whatsoever, for or concerning the pro- 
 4 curing and obtaining of this Ecclesias- 
 
 * tical Dignity, Place, Preferment, Office 
 
 * or Living, (respectively and particularly 
 
 * naming the same whereunto he is ad- 
 4 mitted, instituted, collated, installed, or 
 ‘ confirmed) nor will at any time hereafter 
 4 perform or satisfy any such kind of Pay- 
 4 ment. Contract, or Promise made by any 
 4 other without my Knowledge or Consent $ 
 
 4 so help me God through Jesus Christ.’ 
 
 And for the better suppressing of this cursed 
 abuse. We ordain and appoint, that if any 
 Clerk, or any other, with his Consent, shall 
 seal any Bond or Bill to any Person or Per- 
 sons, with Condition of Resignation of his 
 Benefice, whereto he is to be, or hath been 
 presented, or shall make or covenant to make 
 any Lease of the Profits of the said Benefice, 
 or any part thereof unto the Patron, or any 
 belonging to him, or any other Person to his or 
 their use, to continue during his Incumbency, 
 4*9 
 
 or for above three Years, or with notable 
 diminution of the Rent under the true Value, 
 he shall be holder for convict of Simony, and 
 proceeded against according to the severity of 
 the ancient Canons in that behalf. 
 
 XXXVI. Small Parishes to be united , and Re- 
 sidence to be enjoined. 
 
 F OR remedy of the smallest of the Mainte- 
 nance of the Clergy, We ordain, that 
 when there is in one Parish a Rectory and 
 Vicarage, or portion of Tithes collative, the 
 Bishop shall unite them perpetually : And 
 those Unions the Deans and Chapters shall 
 be bound to confirm to remain perpetually, 
 as one entire Benefice, and that no Dispensa- 
 tions be granted to hold more than one 
 Benefice of greater Value than Forty Pounds 
 English per Annum , but to such only as shall 
 be very well able and sufficient to discharge 
 his Duty, having taken the Degree of a 
 Master of Arts at least, in some University 
 within his Majesty’s Dominions, and being a 
 publick and sufficient Preacher licensed. Pro- 
 vided that he, who is qualified as aforesaid, shall 
 always reside in one of his Benefices, and some 
 reasonable time of every Year in each of them. 
 And lastly, that he have under him, where he 
 doth not reside, a Curate able to Catechize and 
 Instruct the People, to have such Maintenance 
 as to the Ordinary shall seem fit. 
 
 XXXVII. Absence of beneficed Men , and 
 Livings appropriated , to be supplied by Curates 
 that are allowed Preachers. 
 
 E VERY beneficed Man licensed by the 
 Laws of this Realm (upon urgent Occa- 
 sions of other Service) not to reside upon his 
 Benefice, shall cause his Cure to be supplied 
 by a Curate that is a sufficient and licensed 
 Preacher, if the worth of the Benefice will bear 
 it. But whosoever hath two Benefices, shall 
 maintain a Preacher licensed in the Benefice 
 where he doth not reside, except he preach 
 himself at both of them usually. Also every 
 beneficed Man, not allowed to be a Preacher,, 
 shall procure Sermons to be preached in his 
 Cure once every Month at the least, by 
 Preachers 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 Preachers lawfully licensed, if his Living, in 
 the Judgment of the Ordinary, will be able to 
 bear it. And upon every Sunday , when there 
 shall not be a Sermon preached in his Cure, 
 he or his Curate shall read one of the Homi- 
 lies prescribed by Authority, to the Intents^ 
 aforesaid. And as for those Churches where 
 all the Tithes, both great and sfnall, are taken 
 by the Appropriator, we ordain, that the 
 Bishop of the Diocess, according to the Laws 
 of the Church, shall allot out of the said Ap- 
 propriation, such Maintenance to a sufficient 
 Curate, as in Equity in his Discretion shall 
 seem meet and competent. 
 
 XXXVIII. None to be Curates but allowed by 
 the Bishop. 
 
 N O Curate or Minister shall be permitted 
 to serve in any Place, without Exami- 
 nation, and Trial first to be made of his 
 Sufficiency, Sobriety, and Fitness, every way 
 for the Ministration whereunto he is to be 
 deputed ; having respect to the greatness of 
 the Cure and meetness of the Party. And 
 being found worthy, he shall be admitted by 
 the Bishop of the Diocess in Writing under 
 his Eland and Seal. And the said Curates and 
 Ministers, if they remove from one Diocess 
 to another, shall not be by any means ad- 
 mitted to serve, without Testimony of the 
 Bishop of the DioceSs, or Ordinary of the 
 Place, as aforesaid, whence they came, in 
 Writing, of their Honesty, Ability, and Con- 
 formity to the Ecclesiastical Laws of the 
 Church of Ireland. Nor any shall serve more 
 than two Churches or Chapels in one Day, 
 and those to be in a convenient Distance ; and 
 unless the said Church or Chapel, where such 
 a Minister shall serve in two places, be not 
 able in the Judgment of the Bishop- or Ordi- 
 nary, as aforesaid, to maintain a Curate. 
 Provided that no Clergyman, holding any 
 Benefice in Title, shall by this Constitution be 
 debarred from nominating an able Curate to 
 such Benefice, so often as the said Cure shall 
 be void, to be examined and admitted by the 
 Bishop, as aforesaid. 
 
 XXXIX. Strangers not admitted to preach with- 
 out License. 
 
 N EITHER the Minister, Church-wardens, 
 or other Officers of any Parochial or 
 420 
 
 Collegiate Church, shall suffer any Stranger 
 to preach unto the People in their Churches, 
 except they know him to be sufficiently au- 
 thorized thereto, as is aforefaid. And if any 
 in his Sermon (hall publish any Doctrine, 
 either 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 sub- 
 scribed with some of their Hands that heard 
 him, so soon as riaay be, give notice of the 
 same to the Bishop of the Diocess, that he 
 may determine the Matter, and take such 
 order therein as he shall think convenient. 
 
 XL. Ministers to confer with Recusants. 
 
 E VERY Minister being a Preacher, and 
 having any Popish Recufant or Recu- 
 sants in his Parish, (and thought fit by the 
 Bishop of the Diocess) shall labour diligently 
 with them from time to time, thereby to 
 reclaim them from their Errors. And if he be 
 no Preacher, or not fuch a Preacher, then he 
 shall procure (if he can possible) some 
 that are Preachers so qualified, to take Pains 
 with them for that purpose. If he can procure 
 none, then he shall inform the Bishop of the 
 Diocess thereof, who shall not only appoint 
 some Neighbour-Preacher or Preachers adjoin- 
 ing, to take that Labour upon them; but 
 himself also (as his important Affairs will 
 permit him) shall use his best Endeavour by 
 instruction, Persuasion, and all good means 
 he can devise, to reclaim both them, and 'all 
 other within his Diocess so affected. 
 
 XLI. Ministers to visit the Sick. 
 
 W HEN any Person is dangerously sick 
 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 
 known, or probably suspected to be infectious) 
 to instruct and comfort them in their Distress> 
 according to the Order of the Communion- 
 Book, if he be no Preacher : or if he be a 
 Preacher, then as he shall think most needful 
 and convenient. And when any is passing 
 
 out 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 cut of this Life, a Bell shall be tolled, and the 
 Minister shall not then slack to do his last 
 Duty. And after the Parties’ death, (if it so 
 fall out) there shall be rung no more but one 
 short Peal, and one other before the Burial, 
 and one after the Burial. 
 
 XLII. Soberness of Conversation , and Decency 
 of Apparel required in Ministers. 
 
 ‘VT O Ecclesiastical Persons shall at any time, 
 other than for their honest Necessities, 
 so much as resort to any Taverns or Ale- 
 houses, neither shall they board or lodge 
 in any such places. Furthermore, they shall 
 not give themfelves to any bafe or fervile La- 
 bour, or to drinking or Riot, fpending their 
 time idly by Day or by Night ; nor fliall they 
 give themfelves to playing at Dice, Cards, or 
 Tables, or any other Game unbefeeming their 
 Fumflion ; but at all times convenient, they shall 
 hear or read fomewhat of the Holy Scriptures, 
 or {hall occupy themfelves with i'ome other ho- 
 nest Study or Exercise, always doing the 
 things which shall appertain to Honesty, and 
 endeavouring to profit the Church of God, 
 having always in mind that they ought to 
 excel others in purity of Life, and should be 
 Examples to the People to live well and chris- 
 tianly, under pain of Ecclesiastical Censures to 
 be inflicted with severity, according to the 
 quality of their offences. We do likewise 
 constitute and appoint, that Archbishops and 
 Bishops shall not intermit to use the accus- 
 tomed Apparel of their Degrees. Likewise 
 all Deans, Masters of Colleges, Archdeacons, 
 and Prebendaries, in Cathedral and Collegiate 
 Churches, (being Priests or Deacons) Doctors 
 in Divinity, Law and Physick, Bachelors in 
 Divinity, Masters of Arts, and Bachelors of 
 Law, having any Ecclesiastical Living, shall 
 usually wear Gowns with standing Collars, 
 and Sleeves straight at the Hands ; or wide 
 Sleeves as is used in the Universities, with 
 Hoods or Tippets of Silk or Sarcenet, and 
 square Caps in places and times convenient. 
 And that all other Ministers admitted or to be 
 admitted into that Function, shall also usually 
 wear theTike Apparel, as is aforesaid, except 
 Tippets only. We do further in like manner 
 ©rdain, that all the said Ecclesiastical Persons 
 421 
 
 abovementioned, shall usually wear in their 
 Journeys, Cloaks with Sleeves, commonly 
 called Prieft-Cloaks, without Guards, Welts, 
 long Buttons, or Cuts. And no Ecclesiastical 
 Persons shall wear any Coif, or wrought 
 Night-cap, but only plain Night-caps of black 
 Silk, Sattin or Velvet. In all which particu- 
 lars concerning the' Apparel here prescribed, 
 our meaning is not to attribute any Holiness, 
 or special Worthiness to the said Garments, 
 but for Decency, Gravity and Order. In 
 private Houses, and in their Studies, the said 
 Persons Ecclesiastical, may use any comely and 
 Scholar-like Apparel, provided that it be not 
 cut or pint, and that in public they go not in 
 their Doublet and Hose without Coats, or 
 Cassocks : And also that they wear not any 
 light coloured Stockings. 
 
 XLIII. Of Consecrating Churches. 
 
 A S often as Churches are newly built, 
 where formerly they were not, or 
 Church-yards appointed for Burial, they shall 
 be dedicated and consecrated. Provided that 
 the ancient Churches and Church-yards, shall 
 not be put to any base and unworthy use. 
 
 XLIV. A Terrier of the Glebe-lands , and other 
 Possessions belonging to Churches’. 
 
 W E ordain that the Archbishops and all 
 Bishops within their several Diocesses, 
 shall procure, as much as in them lieth, that 
 a true Note and Terrier of all the Lands, 
 Glebes, Meadows, Gardens, Orchards, Houses, 
 Stocks, Implements, Tenements, and Portions 
 of Tithes, and all Rights whatsoever, which 
 are in Possession, or of Right do belong to 
 the several Sees, or to any Dignity, Parson- 
 age, or Vicarage, or rural Prebend, within 
 any of their Diocesses, be taken by the view 
 of honest Men ^n every Parish, by the appoint- 
 ment of the said Archbishops or Bishop 0 , 
 whereof the Minister to be one, and be laid 
 up in their several Registers to the use of 
 Posterity. And the Archbishops and Bishops 
 shall in their ? Visitaticns carefully piovide that 
 this Canon be observed, and that the said 
 Terrier be renewed every ten Years. And no 
 Minister shall make a Lease of his Glebe-lands, 
 
 or 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 or of his Benefice, or the Profits or Means 
 thereof, above the T erm of three Years at the 
 uttermost, saving unto all Patentees from his 
 Majesty, such power as is, or hereafter shall 
 be granted to them in their Patents, to demife 
 their Glebe, or any part thereof. 
 
 XLV. Payment of "Tithes . 
 
 F ORASMUCH as every Man is bound to 
 pay his Tithes, no Man shall by colour 
 of Duty omitted by their Curates, detain 
 their Tithes, and so requite one wrong with 
 another, or be his own judge > but shall truly 
 pay the same as hath been accustomed to their 
 Parsons, Vicars and Curates, without any 
 Restraint or Diminution. And for such lack 
 and default as they can justly find in their 
 Parsons, Vicars and Curates, they shall seek 
 for Reformation to their Ordinaries, and 
 other Superiors, who upon complaint and due 
 Reproof thereof, shall reform the same ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 XLVI. A Registry to be kept of Christenings , 
 Weddings , and Burials. 
 
 I N every Parish Church and Chapel, within 
 this Realm, shall be provided one Parch- 
 ment Book, at the charge of the Parish, 
 wherein shall be written the Day and Year of 
 every Christening, Wedding, and Burial, 
 which shall be in the Parish, from the time 
 that this Canon shall be established. And 
 for the safe keeping of the said Book, the 
 Church- wardens, at the charge of the Parish, 
 shall provide one sure Coffer, with three 
 Locks and Keys, whereof the one to remain 
 with the Minister, and the other two with 
 the Church-wardens severally : So that neither 
 the Minister without the Church-wardens, 
 nor the Church wardens without the Minister, 
 shall at any Time take that Book out of the 
 said Coffer. And henceforth upon every 
 Sabbath-day, immediately after Morning and 
 Evening Prayer, the Minister and Church- 
 wardens, shall take the said Parchment Book 
 out of the said Coffer : And the Minister in 
 the presence of the said Church-wardens shall 
 write and record, in the said Book, the Names 
 of all Persons christened, together with the 
 Names and Surnames of their Parents j and 
 422 
 
 also the Names of all Persons married and 
 and buried in that Parish the Week before, 
 by the Minister or his Curate, and the Day 
 and the Year of every such Christening, Mar- 
 riage and Burial. And that done, they shall 
 lay up the Book in the Coffer, as before. 
 And the Minister and Church-wardens, unto 
 every Page of that Book, (when it shall be 
 filled with such Inscriptions) shall subscribe 
 their Names. And ‘the Church-wardens shall 
 once every Year, within one Month after the 
 25th Day of March , transmit unto the Bishop 
 of the Diocess, or his Chancellor, a true 
 Copy of the Names of all Persons christen- 
 ed, married, or buried in their Parish in 
 the Year before (ended the said 25th Day 
 of March ,) and the certain Days and Months, 
 in which every such Christening, Marriage 
 and Burial was had, to be subscribed with the 
 Hands-of the said Minister and Church-war- 
 dens, to the end the same may faithfully be 
 preserved in the Registry of the said Bishop : 
 Which Certificate, shall be received without 
 Fee. And if the Minister or Church-wardens 
 shall be negligent in the performance of any 
 thing herein contained, it shall be lawful for 
 the Bishop, or his Chancellor, to convent 
 them, and proceed against every of them as 
 contemners of this our Constitution. 
 
 XLVII. None to marry within the Degrees 
 prohibited. 
 
 \T O Person shall marry within the Degrees 
 prohibited by the Laws of God, and 
 expressed in a Table set forth by Authority 
 in England , in the Year of our Lord God, 
 1563. And all Marriages so made and con- 
 tracted, shall be adjudged incestuous and 
 unlawful, and consequently shall be dissolved, 
 as void from the beginning. And the Parties 
 so married, shall be by course of Law sepa- 
 rated. And the aforesaid Table shall be in 
 every Church publickly set up, and fixed at 
 the charge of the Parish. 
 
 XLVI 1 I. None to marry under twenty-one Tears, 
 without their Parents * consent. 
 
 O Children under the age of twenty, 
 one Years complete, shall contract them- 
 selves to marry without the consent of their 
 Parents, 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 Parents, or of their Guardians and Gover- 
 nors, if their Parents be deceased. 
 
 XLIX. Security to be taken at the. granting of 
 such Licenses , to. marry without publication of 
 Banns , and under what Conditions, 
 
 T HE Security mentioned shall contain 
 these Conditions : First, that at the 
 time of the granting every such License, 
 there is not any Impediment of Pre-contract, 
 Consanguinity, Affinity, or other lawful 
 cause, to hinder the said Marriage Secondly, 
 that there is not any Controversy or Suit de- 
 pending in any Court before any Ecclesiasti- 
 cal Judge, touching any Contract or Mar- 
 riage of either of the said Parties with any 
 other. Thirdly, that they have obtained 
 thereunto the express consent of their Pa- 
 rents (if they be living) or otherwise of their 
 Guardians or Governors. Lastly, that they 
 shall celebrate the said Matrimony publickly, 
 in the Parish Church or Chapel where one of 
 them dwelleth, and in no other Place \ and 
 that between the Hours of eight and twelve 
 in the Forenoon. Neither in the time of 
 Lent, nor of any publick Fast, nor of the 
 solemn Festivities of the Nativity, Resurrec- 
 tion and Ascension of our Lord, or of the 
 Descension of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 L. Oath to be taken for the Conditions. 
 
 F OR the avoiding of all Fraud and Collu- 
 sion in the obtaining of such Licenses and 
 Dispensations : We further constitute and 
 appoint, that before any License for the cele- 
 bration of Matrimony, without publication 
 of Banns, be had or granted, it shall appear to 
 the Judge by the Oaths of two sufficient 
 Witnesses, one of them to be known to the 
 aforesaid Judge himself, or to some other 
 Person of good Reputation then present, and 
 known likewise to the said Judge, that the 
 express consent of the Parents or Parent (if 
 one be dead) or Guardians or Guardian of 
 the Parties is thereunto had and obtained. 
 And furthermore, that one of the Parties 
 personally swear, that he believeth there is 
 no Let or Impediment or Pre-contract, Kin- 
 
 423 
 
 dred, or Alliance, or of any other lawful 
 cause whatsoever ; nor any Suit commenced 
 in any Ecclesiastical Court, to bar or hinder 
 the proceeding of the said Matrimony, ac- 
 cording to the Tenor of the aforesaid License. 
 
 LI. An Exception to those that are in Widowhood. 
 
 T F both the Parties which are to marry be- 
 ing in Widowhood, do seek a Faculty for 
 the forbearing of Banns, then the Clause 
 before-mentioned requiring the Parents’ con- 
 sent, may be omitted, but the Parishes where 
 they dwell both, shall be expressed in the 
 License, as also the Parish named where the 
 Marriage shall be celebrated. And if any 
 having Power to grant License shall offend in 
 the Premises, or any Part thereof, he shall for 
 every Time so offending, be suspended from 
 the Execution of his Office for the space of 
 six Months : And every such License or Dis- 
 pensation shall be held void to all Effects and 
 Purposes, as if there had never been any such 
 granted ; and the Parties marrying, by virtue 
 thereof, shall be subject to the punishments 
 which are appointed for clandestine Marriages. 
 
 Lit. Ministers not to marry any Persons without 
 Banns. 
 
 ■^TO Minister. of what place soever, nor 
 under colour of any peculiar Liberty or 
 Privilege, claimed to appertain to any Church 
 or Chapel, shall upon pain of Deprivation, if 
 he be beneficed, or Degradation if he be not 
 beneficed, celebrate Matrimony between any 
 Perfons without a Faculty or License granted, 
 except the Banns of Matrimony have been 
 first published three several Sundays or Holy- 
 days in the time of Divine Service, in the 
 Parish Churches and Chapels wherein the said 
 Parties have dwelled, by the space of three 
 Months before. Neither shall any Minister 
 upon the like pain, under any pretence what- 
 soever, join any Persons in Marriage at any 
 unreasonable times, but only between the 
 Flours of Eight and Twelve in the Forenoon : 
 Nor in any private place : but either in the 
 said Churches or Chapels where one of them 
 dwelleth, and likewise in time of Divine 
 H h h Service 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 Service, nor when Banns are thrice asked, 
 before the Parties and Governors of the Par- 
 ties to be married, being under the Age of 
 Twenty-one Years, shall either personally, or 
 by sufficient Testimony, signify to him their 
 Consents given to the said Marriage. 
 
 LIII. No Sentence for Divorce to be given upon 
 the sale Confession of the Parties. 
 
 F ORASMUCH as Matrimonial Causes have 
 been always reckoned and reputed 
 amongst the weightiest, and therefore require 
 the greater caution, when they come to be 
 handled and debated in Judgment, especially 
 in Causes wherein Matrimony, having been 
 in the Church duly solemnized, is required 
 upon any Suggestion, or pretext whatsoever, 
 to be dissolved or annulled : We do straitly 
 charge and enjoin, that in all proceedings to 
 divorce and nullities of Matrimony, good 
 Circumspection and Advice be used; and that 
 the truth may (as far as it is possible) be sifted 
 out by Deposition of Witnesses, and other 
 lawful Proofs and Evictions, and that credit 
 be not given to the sole confession of the Par- 
 ties themselves, howsoever taken upon Oath, 
 either within or without the Court. 
 
 LIV. No Sentence of Divorce to be given but in 
 open Court . 
 
 T O Sentence shall be given either for Se- 
 paration a Thoro iff Mensa , or for an- 
 nulling of pretended Matrimony, but in open 
 Court, and in the Seat of Justice. And that 
 with the Knowledge and Consent either of 
 the Archbishop within his Province, or of the 
 Bishop within his Diocefs, or Sede vacante , of 
 the Guardians of the Spiritualities, or the 
 Judge of the Prerogative, in their several 
 Jurisdictions and Courts, and concerning them 
 only, that are then dwelling under their Juris- 
 diction. 
 
 LV. In all Sentences for Divorce , Bond to be 
 taken for not marrying during each other* s Life. 
 
 TN all Sentences pronounced only for Di- 
 vorce and Separation a Thoro iff Mensa, 
 424 
 
 there shall be a Caution and Restraint inserted 
 in the" Act of the said Sentence, that the 
 Parties so separated, shall live chastely and 
 continently ; neither shall they, during each 
 other’s Life, contract Matrimony with any 
 other Person ; and for the better observing 
 of this last Clause, the said Sentence of Di- 
 vorce shall not be pronounced until the Party 
 or Parties requiring the same, have given 
 good sufficient Caution and Security into the 
 Court, that they will not any way break or 
 transgress the said Restraint or Prohibition. 
 And if any Judge aforesaid, giving Sentence 
 of Divorce or Separation, shall not fully keep 
 and observe the Premises, he shall be sus- 
 pended from the Exercise of his Office for 
 the space of a whole Year. 
 
 LVI. The Order of Jurisdiction to be kept . 
 
 T7 OR the avoiding the unjust Vexation of 
 the People, and for the better preserving 
 of Order in the Exercise of Ecclesiastical 
 Jurisdiction, we ordain and appoint, that the 
 Probate of all Wills, and granting Adminis- 
 tration of the Goods of any Defunct, shall 
 be had before the Bishop of the Diocess 
 where he dwelled, unless it do appear, that 
 the said Defunct had goods to the Value of 
 Five Pounds sterling in any other Diocess : 
 In which case, the said Probate, and granting 
 Administrations, shall be referred to the Pre- 
 rogative Court. Provided, that if any die 
 in itinere , the Goods that he hath about him 
 at that present, shall not cause his Testament, 
 or the Administration to be liable to the Pre- 
 rogative Court. And the same Order shall 
 be holden in Appeals without passing by the 
 intermediate Jurisdiction, upon pain of nullity 
 in all Acts contrary to this Canon. And if 
 any Judge of the Prerogative Court, or any 
 his Surrogate, or his Register, or Apparitor, 
 shall cite or cause to be cited. Ex Officio*, any 
 Man to the Intents aforesaid, contrary to this 
 Canon, not having Knowledge that the Pro- 
 bate of a Will, or granting Administration or 
 Devolution of the cause, do appertain to his- 
 cognizance, he shall restore to the Party so 
 cited, all his costs and charges, and the Acts 
 and Proceedings in that behalf, shall be held 
 void and frustrate : Which Expenses, if the 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 said Judge or Register, or Apparitor shall 
 refuse accordingly to pay, he shall be suspend- 
 ed from the Exercise of his Office, until he 
 yield to the performance thereof. 
 
 LVII. The Restraint of double Quarrels upon 
 Respite of Institution. 
 
 W E do ordain and appoint, that no double 
 Quarrels shall be hereafter granted out 
 of any of the Archbishops or Prerogative 
 Court, at the Suit of any Clerk presented to 
 any Benefice, except he shall first take his 
 personal Oath, that the space of two Months, 
 at the least, is expired since he first tendered 
 his Presentation to the Bishop, and that he 
 refused to grant him Institution thereupon, 
 under pain of suspension of the Granter 
 thereof, from the Execution of his Office for 
 half a Year, and nullity of the said double 
 Quarrel, so unduly procured, to all Intents 
 and Purposes. 
 
 LVIII. Inhibitions not to be granted without the 
 Subscription of an Advocate. 
 
 T HAT the Jurisdictions of Bishops may be 
 preserved, as near as may be, entire and 
 free from prejudice, and that for the behoof 
 of the Subjects of this Land, better Provision 
 be made, that henceforward they be not 
 grieved with frivolous and wrongful Suits 
 and Molestations : It is ordained and provid- 
 ed, That no Inhibition shall be granted out of 
 any Court, belonging to the Archbishop of 
 the Province, or the supreme Prerogative, at 
 the Instance of any Party, unless it be sub- 
 scribed by an Advocate practising in the said 
 Court, which the said Advocate shall do freely, 
 not taking any Fee for the same, except the 
 Party prosecuting the Suit do voluntarily 
 bestow some Gratuity upon him for his 
 Counsel and Advice in the said Case. The 
 like Course shall be taken in granting forth 
 ai* Inhibition at the Instance of any Party, by 
 the Bishop or his Chancellor against the 
 Archdeacon or any other Person exercising 
 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction ; and if in the 
 Court or Consistory of any Bishop there be 
 no Advocate at all, then shall the Subscription 
 .425 
 
 of a Proctor practising in the same Court be 
 held sufficient. 
 
 LIX. Inhibitions not to be granted , until thr 
 Appeal be exhibited to the Judges. 
 
 TT is further ordered and decreed, that 
 J- henceforward, no Inhibition be granted 
 by occasion of any Interlocutory Decree, or 
 in cause of Correction whatsoever, except 
 under the Form aforesaid. And moreover, 
 that before the going out of any such Inhi- 
 bition, the Appeal itself, or a Copy thereof, 
 avouched by Oath to be just and true, be 
 exhibited to the Judge, or his lawful Sur- 
 rogate, whereby he may be fully in- 
 formed both of the Quality of the Crime, 
 and the cause of the Grievance, before 
 the granting forth of the said Inhibition. 
 And every Appellant, or his lawful Proc- 
 or (hall before the obtaining of any such In- 
 hibition, shew and exhibit to the Judge or 
 his Surrogate, in writing, a true Copy of 
 those Acts, wherewith he complaineth him- 
 self to be aggrieved, and from which he 
 appealeth : Or (hall take a corporal Oath, that 
 he hath performed his Diligence, and true 
 Endeavour, for the obtaining of the same, and 
 could not obtain it at the Hands of the Re- 
 gister in the Country, or his Deputy, ten- 
 dering him his Fee. And if any Judge or 
 Register fhall either procure, or permit any 
 Inhibition to be sealed, so as is said, contrary 
 to the Form and Limitation above specified, 
 let him be suspended from the Execution of 
 his Office, for the space of three Months. 
 If any Proctor, or other Person whatsoever 
 by his Appointment, shall offend in any of 
 the Premises, either by making, or send- 
 ing out any Inhibition, contrary to the 
 Tenor of the said Premises, let him be 
 removed from the Exercise of his Office for 
 the space of a whole Year, without hope of 
 release, or restoring. 
 
 LX. Solemn Denunciation of Parties excommu- 
 nicated. 
 
 A LL Ordinaries (hall, in their several 
 Jurisdictions, carefully see and give 
 order, that as well those who for revolting, 
 
 and 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, 
 
 and ftill obftinately refusing to frequent Di- 
 vine Service, establifhed by publick Autho- 
 rity within this Realm of Ireland , as also 
 (especially of the better Sort and Condition) 
 who for notorious Contumacy, or notable 
 Crimes, ftand lawfully excommunicate (un- 
 less within three Months immediately after 
 the said Sentence of Excommunication pro- 
 nounced againft them, they reform them- 
 selves, and obtain the Benefit of Absolu- 
 tion) be every six Months ensuing, as well 
 in the Parifh Church, as in the Cathedral 
 Church of the Diocess in which they re- 
 main, by the Minifter openly in the time 
 of Divine Service, upon some Sunday , de- 
 clared and pronounced excommunicate, that 
 others may be thereby admonilhed, and ex- 
 cited thereby to refrain their Company and 
 Society. 
 
 LXI. Notorious Crimes and Scandals to be cer- 
 tified into Ecclesiastical Courts by Present- 
 ments. 
 
 I F any offend their Brethren, either by 
 Adultery, Whoredom, Incest, or Drun- 
 kenness, or by Swearing, Ribaldry, Usury, 
 or any other Uncleanness* and Wickedness of 
 Life ; the Church-wardens, or Quest-men 
 and Side-men, in their next Presentments to 
 their Ordinaries, fliall faithfully present all 
 and every of the said Offenders, to the Intent 
 that they, and every of them, may be pun- 
 ilhed by the severity of the Laws, according 
 to their Deserts, and such notorious Of- 
 fenders shall not be admitted to the. Holy 
 Communion till they be reformed. 
 
 LX II. Schismaticks to be presented. 
 
 I F the Church-wardens, or Quest-men, or 
 Assistants do, or shall know any Man 
 within the Parish, or elsewhere, that is an 
 hindcrer of the Word of God to be read, 
 or sincerely preached, or of the Execution of 
 these our Constitutions, or a Fautor of any 
 usurped or foreign Power by the Laws of 
 this Realm justly rejected, and taken away, 
 or a Defender of Popish or Erroneous Doc- 
 trine, they shall detect and present the same 
 to the Bishop of the Diocess, or Ordinary of 
 426 
 
 the Place, to be censured, and punished ac-- 
 cording to such Ecclesiastical Laws as are, 
 prescribed in that behalf. 
 
 LXIII. Non-Communicants at Easter to be pre- 
 sented. 
 
 T HE Minister, Church-wardens, Quest- 
 men, and Assistants of every Parish- 
 Church and Chapel, fliall yearly within 
 Forty Days after Eafter , exhibit to the 
 Bishop, or his Chancellor, the Names and 
 Surnames of all the Parishioners, as well 
 Men as Women 5 which being at the Age 
 of sixteen Years, received not the Commu- 
 nion at Easter before. 
 
 LXIV. Ministers may present. 
 
 B ECAUSE it often cometh to pass, that the 
 the Church-wardens, Side-men, Queft-men, 
 and such others of the Laity, as are to take 
 care for the suppressing of Sin and Wickedness, 
 in their several Parishes, as much as in them 
 lieth, by Admonition, Reprehension, and 
 Denunciation to their Ordinaries, do forbear 
 to discharge their Duties therein, either 
 through fear of their Superiors, or through 
 negligence (more than were fit) the Licen- 
 tiousness of these Times considered : We Or- 
 dain, That hereafter every Parson and Vicar, 
 or in the lawful Absence of any Parson or 
 Vicar, then their Curates and Substitutes may 
 join in every Presentment, with the said 
 Church-wardens, Side-men, and the rest above-' 
 mentioned, at the times hereafter limited, if 
 the said Church-wardens, Side-men, and the 
 rest above-mentioned, at the times hereafter 
 limited, if the said Church-wardens and the 
 rest will present such Enormities, as are appa- 
 rent in the Parish : or if they will not, then 
 every such Parson and Vicar, or in their 
 Absence, as is aforesaid, their Curates may 
 themselves present to the Ordinaries, at such 
 times, and when else they think it meet, all such 
 Crimes, as they have in charge otherwise as by 
 them (being the Person that should have the 
 chief care for the suppressing of Sin, and 
 Impiety in their Parishes) shall be thought to 
 require due Reformation. Provided always, 
 that if any one confess his secret and hidden 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Sin to the Minister, for the unburthcning of 
 his Conscience, and to receive Spiritual Con- 
 solation and ease of his Mind from him, We 
 do not any way bind the said Minifter, by this 
 our Constitution, but do straitly charge and 
 admonish him, that he do not, any time reveal, 
 and make known to any Person whatsoever, 
 any Crime or Offence so committed to his trust 
 and secrecy, (except they be such Crimes, as 
 by the Laws of this Realm, his own Life may 
 be called into Queftion for concealing of the 
 same), under pain of Irregularity. 
 
 LXV. Ministers and Church-wardens not to be 
 sued for presenting. 
 
 W HEREAS for the Reformation of cri- 
 minous Persons, and Disorders in 
 every Parish, the Church- wardens. Quest-men, 
 Side-men, and such other Officers, as are sworn, 
 and the Minister charged to present, as well 
 the Crimes and Disorders committed by the 
 same criminous Persons, as also the common 
 Fame which is spread abroad of them, whereby 
 they are often maligned, and sometimes trou- 
 bled by the said Delinquents, or their Friends: 
 We do admonish and exhort all Judges, both 
 Ecclesiastical and Temporal, as they regard 
 and reverence the fearful Judgment-seat of the 
 highest Judge, that they admit not in any oi 
 their Courts, any Complaint, Plea, Suit or 
 Suits, against any such Church-wardens, Quest- 
 men, Side-men, or other Church-officers, for 
 making any such Presentments, nor against 
 any Minister for any Presentment he fiiall 
 make tending to the Restraint or sharrteless 
 Impiety ; and considering that tfc Rules both 
 of Charity and Government, da presume that 
 they did nothing therein of Malice, but for 
 the discharge of their Conso ence * 
 
 LXVI. Church-wardens not bound to present 
 cftener than twice a Tear. 
 
 N O Church-wardens, Queft-men, or Side- 
 men of any Parish shall be enforced to 
 exhibit their Presentments to any, having 
 Ecclesiastical Junction, above once in every 
 Year where r hath been no oftener used, nor 
 above twic' in an Y Diocess whatsoever ; the 
 4*7 
 
 Bishop’s Visitation whereof to be one : for the 
 which Presentments of every Parish Church or 
 Chapel, the Register of any Court where they 
 are to be exhibited, shall not receive in one 
 Year above Four-pence, under Pain for every 
 Offence therein of suspension from the Execu- 
 tion of his Office, for the space of a Month, 
 toties quotics. Provided always, that as good 
 Occasion shall require it, it shall be lawful for 
 every Minister, Church-warden, and Side- 
 men. to present Offenders, as often as they 
 shall think meet. And likewise, for any godly 
 disposed Person, or for any Ecclesiastical 
 Judge, upon Knowledge, or Notice given unto 
 him or them, of any enormous Crime, within 
 his Jurisdiction, to move the Minister, Church- 
 wardens, or Side-men, as they tender the 
 Glory of God, and Reformation of Sin, to 
 present the same, if they should find sufficient 
 cause to induce them thereunto; that it may 
 be in due Time punished and reformed. 
 Provided, that for these voluntary Present- 
 ments there be no Fee required or taken of 
 them, under the pain aforesaid. 
 
 LXVII. Church-wardens not to be troubled for 
 not presenting oftener than twice a Tear. 
 
 TVTO Church-wardens, Quest-men, or Side- 
 men, shall be called or cited, but only at 
 the said Time or Times before limited, to 
 appear before any Ecclesiastical Judge who- 
 soever, for refusing at other Times to present 
 any Faults committed in their Parishes, and 
 punishable by Ecclesiastical Laws ; neither 
 shall they nor any of them, after their Pre- 
 sentments exhibited at any of those Times, be 
 any further troubled for the same, except 
 upon manifest, and evident Proof, it may 
 appear, that they did then, wittingly and 
 willingly omit to present some such publick 
 Crime or Crimes, as they knew to be com- 
 mitted, or could not be ignorant, that there 
 was then a publick Fame of them amongst 
 divers honest and well reputed Persons ; or 
 unless there be very juft cause to call them* 
 for the explanation of their former Present- 
 ments. In which case of wilful omiffion, 
 their Ordinaries shall proceed against them. 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 in such sort as in causes of wilful Perjury, in 
 a Court Ecclesiastical, is already by Law pro- 
 vided. 
 
 LXV1II. Convenient Time to be assigned for 
 framing Presentments. 
 
 F OR the avoiding of such Inconveniencies 
 as heretofore have happened, by the 
 hasty making of Bills of Presentments, upon 
 the Days of the Visitation and Synods, it 
 is ordered, That always hereafter every 
 Chancellor, Archdeacon, Commissary and 
 Official, and every other Person having Eccle- 
 siastical Jurisdiction, at the ordinary Time, 
 when the Church-wardens are sworn ; and the 
 Archbishops and Bishops, when he or they do 
 summon their Visitation, shall deliver, or 
 cause to be delivered to the Church-wardens, 
 Quest-men, and Side-men of every Parish, or 
 to some of them such Books of Articles, as 
 they, or any of them, shall require for the 
 Year following, the said Church-wardens, 
 Quest-men, and Sidemen, to ground their 
 Presentments upon, at such Times as they 
 are to exhibit them. In which Book shah be 
 contained the Form of the Oath, which mmt 
 be taken immediately before every such Pre- 
 sentment. To the Intent, that having before- - 
 hand. Time sufficient not only to peruse, and 
 consider what their said Oath shall be, but 
 the Articles also, whereupon they are to 
 ground their Presentments ; they may frame 
 them at home, both advisedly and truly, to 
 the discharge of their own Consciences after 
 they are sworn, asbecometh honest and godly 
 Men. 
 
 LXIX. None to be cited into Ecclesiastical Courts 
 by Process of Quorum nomina. 
 
 N O Bishop, Chancellor, Archdeacon, 
 Official, or other Ecclesiastical Judge, 
 shall suffer any general Process of Quorum no- 
 mina to be sent out of his Court, except the 
 Names of all such as are thereby to be cited, 
 shall be first expressly entered by the Hand of 
 the Register, or his Deputy, under the said 
 Processes ; and the said Processes and Names, 
 be first subscribed by the Judge, or hisDeputy, 
 428 
 
 and his Seal thereto affixed. And we further 
 ordain, that when any Person appeareth upon 
 any Citation whatsoever, that if the next 
 Court-day after, there be no Articles, or a 
 Libel put in against him, he shall then be 
 dismissed with his Costs. 
 
 LXX. Maturity required in proceeding . 
 
 ■^TO Man for neglect of Appearance shall 
 be excommunicated for the first A bsence, 
 but shall be cited again upon the same Process; 
 and if he cannot be found, nor afterwards 
 appear upon viis & modis , then to be decreed 
 Excommunicandum fore. Yet for preventing 
 such neglect, and that the Party querelent may 
 sustain no Detriment thereby, it is likewise 
 ordered, that in causes of Instance upon the 
 Appearance of any such Person, he shall pay the 
 charge past, before he be admitted to stand 
 Rectus in curia. And in the end of every Court, 
 the Names of those that arp decreed, shall be 
 publickly read, to the Intent that they may 
 avoid the Danger of the fearful Sentence of 
 Excommunication. Which course also, we 
 ordain, shall be holden with those that be 
 already denounced Excommunicate, before 
 the Time of the signifying of their Obstinacy ; 
 to the end they and others may be admonished 
 ef the Danger in which they stand, and to 
 the aggravation of their Obstinacy, if they 
 continue in the same. 
 
 LXXI. No Sentence of Deprivation or Deposition 
 to be ptmounced against a Minister but by the 
 Bishop. 
 
 W IEN any Minister is complained of in 
 any Ecclesiastical Court, belonging to 
 any Bishop, for aiy Crime; the Chancellor, 
 Commissary, OfficiJ, or any other, having 
 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, (to whom it shall 
 appertain) shall expedite the cause by Processes 
 and other proceedings against him ; and upon 
 Contumacy for not appearing shall first sus- 
 pend him, and afterwaii s (his Contumacy 
 continuing) excommunicate hj m> B u t if he 
 appear and submit himself to the course of 
 Law, then the matter being read >forsentence, 
 and the merits of his Offence, exaa n g by Law 
 either. 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 either Deprivation from his Living, or Deposi- 
 tion from the Ministry, no such Sentence shall 
 be pronounced by any Person whatsoever, but 
 only by the Bishop, with the Assistance of 
 his Chancellor, the Dean, (if they may con- 
 veniently be had) and some of the Preben- 
 daries, if the Court be kept near the Cathedral 
 Church, or of the Archdeacon, if he 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 Chan- 
 cellor, Commissary, Official, or any other 
 Person shall exercise any Ecclesiastical Juris- 
 diction over a Minister in causes criminal, 
 except he himself have been admitted into the 
 holy Orders of Priesthood. 
 
 LXXII. No Act to be sped but in open Court. 
 
 N O Chancellor, Commissary, Archdeacon, 
 Official, or any other Person using 
 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whosoever, shall 
 speed any judicial Act, either of contentious 
 or voluntary Jurisdiction, except he have the 
 Ordinary Register of that Court, or his lawful 
 Deputy, or if he or they will not, or cannot 
 be present, then such Persons as by Law are 
 allowed in that behalf, to write or speed the 
 same, under pain of suspension, ipso facto. 
 
 LX XIII. No Court to have more than one Seal. 
 
 N O Chancellor, Commissary, Archdeacon, 
 Official, or any other exercising Ecclesi- 
 astical Jurisdiction, shall without the Bishop’s 
 consent, have any more than one Seal for the 
 sealing of all matters incident to his Office, 
 which Seal shall always be kept either by him- 
 self, or by his lawful Substitute exercising 
 Jurisdiction for him, and remaining within 
 the Jurisdiction of the said Judge, or in the 
 City, or principal Town of the County. This 
 Seal shall contain the Title of that Jurisdiction, 
 which every of the said Judges, or their 
 Deputies do execute. 
 
 LXXIV. Convenient Places to be chosen for 
 keeping of Courts . 
 
 A LL Chancellors, Commissaries, Archdea- 
 cons, Officials, and all others exercising 
 
 ; 429 
 
 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, shall appoint such 
 meet Places for the keeping of their Courts, by 
 the Assignment or Approbation of the Bishop 
 of the Diocess, as shall be convenient for 
 Entertainment of those who are to make their 
 Appearance there, and most indifferent for 
 their Travel. And likewise they shall keep- 
 and end their Courts in such convenient Time, 
 as every man may return homewards in as 
 due season as may be. 
 
 LX XV. Peculiar and inferior Courts to exhibit 
 the Original Copies of Wills into the Bishop’s 
 Registry. 
 
 X^THEREAS Deans, Archdeacons, Preben- 
 * * daries. Parsons, Vicars, and others 
 exercising Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, claim 
 Liberty to prove the last Wills and Testaments 
 of Persons deceased within their several Juris- 
 dictions, having no known nor certain 
 Registers, nor publick Places to keep their 
 Records in ; by reason whereof, many Wills, 
 Rights and Legacies, upon the death, or 
 change of such Persons and their private 
 Notaries, miscarry, and cannot be found, to 
 the great prejudice of his Majesty’s Subjects. 
 We therefore order and enjoin, that aH 
 Possessors and Exercises of Peculiar Jurisdic- 
 tion, shall once in every Year exhibit into the 
 publick Registry of the Bishop of the Diocess, 
 or of the Dean and Chapter (under whose 
 Jurisdiction the said Peculiars are) every 
 Original Testament of every Person in that 
 Time deceased, and by them proved in their 
 several peculiar Jurisdictions \ or a true Copy 
 of every such Testament, examined, subscrib- 
 ed, and sealed by the peculiar Judge and his 
 Notary. Otherwise if any of them fail so to 
 do, the Bishop of the Diocess, or Dean and 
 Chapter, unto whom the said Jurisdictions do 
 respectively belong, shall suspend the said 
 Parties, and every of them from the Exercise 
 of all such peculiar Jurisdiction, until they 
 have performed this our Constitution. 
 
 LXXVI. The Quality and Oath of Judges and 
 Surrogates. 
 
 N O Man shall hereafter be admitted a 
 Chancellor, Commissary, Official or 
 Surrogate, to exercise any Ecclesiastical Ju- 
 risdiction > 
 
Constitutions arid Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 risdiction, except he be of the full Age of 
 of six and twenty Years at the least, and 
 one that is learned in the Civil and Ecclesi- 
 astical Laws, and is at the least a Master of 
 Arts, or Bachelor of Law, and is reasonably 
 well practised in the course thereof, as like- 
 wise well affected and zealously bent to Reli- 
 gion, touching whose Life and Manners no 
 evil example is had ; and except before he 
 enter into or execute any such Office, he 
 shall take the Oath of the King’s Supremacy, 
 in the presence of the Bishop, or in the open 
 Court : and shall declare his consent, by Sub- 
 scription to the two firft Canons of this pre- 
 sent Synod. And also shall swear that he 
 will, to the uttermost of his Understanding- 
 deal uprightly and justly in his Office, with 
 out respect of Favour or Reward : The 
 
 said Oaths and Subscription to be recorded 
 by a Register then present. And it is like- 
 wise ordered, that every Register {hall take 
 the said Oath of Supremacy, and subscribe as 
 aforesaid, before he be admitted to exercise 
 that Office. And also that all Chancellors, 
 Commissaries, Officials, Registers, and all 
 others that do now possess, or execute any 
 Places of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction or Ser- 
 vice, shall before Christmas next, in the pre- 
 sence of the Archbishop or Bishop, or in open 
 Court (under whom or where they exercise 
 their Offices) take the same Oaths. Or upon 
 Refusal so to do, shall be suspended from 
 the Execution of their Offices, until they 
 shall take the said Oaths. 
 
 LXXVII. Proctors ndt ta retain Causes without 
 the lawful Assignment of the Parties. 
 
 N ONE shall procure in any Cause what- 
 soever, unless he be thereunto consti- 
 tuted and appointed by the Party himself, 
 either before the Judge, and by Act in Court, 
 or unless in the beginning of the Suit, he be 
 by a true and sufficient Proxy thereunto war- 
 ranted and enabled. We call that Proxy 
 sufficient, which is strengthened, and con- 
 firmed by some authentical Seal, the Parties’ 
 Approbation, or at least his Ratification 
 therewithal concurring. All which Proxies 
 shall be forthwith by the said Proctors exhi- 
 bited into the Court, and be safely kept and 
 43b 
 
 preserved by the Register in the publick Re- 
 gistry of the said Court. And if any Re- 
 gister or Proctor shall offend herein, he 
 shall be secluded from the exercising pf his 
 Office, for the space of two months, without 
 hope of release or restoring. 
 
 LXXVIII. Proctors prohibited the Oath in 
 animam domini sui. 
 
 F ORASMUCH as in the Probate of Testa- 
 ments, and Suits for Administration of 
 the Goods of Persons dying Inteftate, the 
 Oath usually taken by Proctors of Court, in 
 animam constituents, is found to be inconve- 
 nient. We do therefore decree and ordain, 
 that every Executor or Suitor for Adminis- 
 tration, shall personally repair to the Judge 
 in that behalf, or to his Surrogate : and 
 in his own Person, (and not by Proctor) 
 take the Oath accustomed in these Cases. 
 But if by reason of Sickness or Age, or any 
 other juft Let or Impediment, he be not 
 able to make his personal Appearance before 
 the Judge ; it fhall be lawful for the Judge 
 (there Deing faith first made, by a credible 
 Person, of the truth of his said Hinderance 
 or Impediment) to grant a Commission to 
 some grave Ecclesiastical Person, abiding 
 near the Party aforesaid, whereby he fhall 
 give Power and Authority to the said Eccle- 
 siastical Person in his stead, to minister the 
 accustomed Oath above-mentioned, to the 
 Executor, or Suitor for such Administra- 
 tion. Requiring his said Substitute, that by 
 a faithful and trusty Messenger, he certify 
 the said Judge, truly and faithfully, what he 
 hath done therein. Lastly, we ordain and 
 appoint, that no Judge or Register, shall in 
 any wise receive for the writing, drawing, or 
 sealing of any such Commission, above the 
 Sum of six Shillings and eight Pence : 
 whereof one Moiety to be for the Judge, 
 and the other for the Register of the said 
 Court. 
 
 LXXIX. Proctors not to be clamorous in 
 Court. 
 
 F ORASMUCH as it is found by Expe- 
 rience that the loud and confused cries, 
 I and clamours of Proctors in the Ecclesias.- 
 
 tical 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 tical Courts in this Kingdom, are not only 
 troublesome and offensive to the Judge and 
 Advocates j but also give occasion to ftanders 
 by, of contempt and calumny towards the 
 Court itself. That more respect may be had 
 to the Dignity of the Judge than heretofore, 
 and that causes may more easily and commo- 
 diously be handled and dispatched : We 
 
 charge and enjoin that all Proctors in the said 
 Court do especially intend, that the Acts may 
 be faithfully entered, and set down by the 
 Register, according to the Advice and Di- 
 rection of the Advocate. That the said 
 Proctors refrain loud speech and babbling, 
 and behave themselves quietly and modestly, 
 and that when either the Judges or Advo- 
 cates, or any of them {hall happen to speak, 
 they presently be silent, upon pain of si- 
 lencing for two whole Terms, then imme- 
 diately following every such Offence of theirs. 
 And if any of them fhall the second Time 
 offend herein, and after due monition (hall 
 not reform himself, let him be for ever re- 
 moved from his practice. 
 
 LXXX. The Oath de Calumnia not to he refused . 
 
 W E ordain and appoint, that as well the 
 A&or, as his Proctor and Advocate, 
 (if they be required) shall take the Oath de 
 Calumnia , wheresoever in the Suit the same 
 shall be tendered before Sentence, upon pain 
 that the cause {hall be dimissed by the Judge, 
 with costs for the party grieved. 
 
 LXXXI. Abuses to be reformed in Registers. 
 
 TF any Register, or his Deputy, or Substitute 
 whatsoever shall receive any Certificate, 
 without the knowledge and consent of the 
 Judge of the Court, or willingly omit to 
 cause any Persons cited to appear upon any 
 Court-day to be called or unduly put off, and 
 defer the Examination of Witnesses to be 
 examined by a Day set, and assigned by the 
 Judge, or do not obey and observe the said 
 judicial and lawful monition of the said Judge, 
 or admitted to write, or cause to be written 
 such Citations and Decrees as are to put in Exe- 
 cution, and set forth before the next Court- 
 day, or shall not cause all Testaments exhibited 
 into his Office, to be registered within a con- 
 venient Time j or shall set down or enact, as 
 ! 43i 
 
 decreed by the Judge, any Thing false or 
 conceited by himself, and not so ordered and 
 decreed by the Judge ; or in the Transmission 
 of Processes to the Judge ad efuem , shall add 
 or insert any Falsehood or Untruth, or omit 
 any Thing therein, either by cunning, or by 
 gross negligence; or in causes of Instance, or 
 promoted of Office, shall receive any Reward 
 in Favour of either Party, or be of Counsel 
 directly or indirectly, with either of the 
 Parties in Suit, or in the Execution of their 
 Office, shall do ought else maliciously or frau- 
 dulently, whereby the said Ecclesiastical Juclge 
 or his Proceeding may be slandered or de- 
 famed : We will and ordain, that the said 
 Register or his Deputy, or Substitute of- 
 fending in all or any of the Premises, shall by 
 the Bishop of the Diocess be suspended from 
 the Exercise of hi? Office, for the space of 
 one, two, or three Months, or more, according 
 to the Quality of the Offence. And that 
 some other publick Notary do execute and 
 discharge all things pertaining to his. Office, 
 during the time of his said suspension. 
 
 LXXXII. A certain Rate of Fees to all Ecclesias- 
 tical Officers. 
 
 VTO Bishop, Suffragan, Chancellor, Corn- 
 'Ll miffary. Archdeacon, Official, or any 
 other exercifing Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 
 whatsoever, nor any Register of any Ecclesias- 
 tical Courts ; nor any Minister belonging to 
 any of the said Offices or Courts, shall hereafter 
 (for any cause incident to their several Offices,) 
 take or receive any other or greater Fee, than 
 such as are, or shall be allowed by lawful Au- 
 thority in this Kingdom : under pain that 
 every such Judge, Officer or Minister offending 
 therein, shall be suspended from the Exercise 
 of their several Offices, for the space of six 
 Months, for every such Offence. 
 
 LXXXIII. A Table of the Rates of Fees to be set 
 up in Courts and Registries. 
 
 W E do likewise constitute and appoint, 
 that the Registers belonging to every 
 Ecclesiastical Judge, shall place two Tables, 
 containing the several Rates and Sums of all 
 the said Fees, one, in the usual Place or Con- 
 sistory where the Court is kept ; and the 
 other in his Registry : and both of them in 
 I i i * such 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 such sort, as every Man, whom it concerneth, 
 may without Difficulty come to the view and 
 perusal thereof, and take a Copy of them. 
 And if any Register fhall fail to place the said 
 Tables according to the Tenor hereof, within 
 the space of a Month after the same hath been 
 delivered to him, by the Bishop of the Diocess; 
 he shall be suspended from the Execution of 
 his Office, until he cause the same to be accord- 
 ingly done. And the said table being once 
 set up, if he shall at any Time remove, or 
 suffer the same to be removed, holden, or any 
 way hindered from sight, (contrary to the 
 true meaning of this Constitution,) he shall 
 for every Offence be suspended from the 
 Exercise of his Office, for the space of six 
 Months. 
 
 LXXXIV. The whole Fees for shewing Letters of 
 Orders ^and other Licenses , due but once in every 
 Bishop's Time. 
 
 F OR ASMUGH as a chief and principal cause, 
 and use of Visitations, is, that the Arch- 
 bishops, Bishops, or other affigned by them 
 to visit, may get some good Knowledge of the 
 state, sufficiency, and ability of the Clergy, 
 and other Persons whom they are to visit. 
 We think it convenient that every Parson, 
 Vicar, Curate, Schoolmaster, or other Person 
 licensed whosoever, do at the Archbishop’s or 
 Bishop’s first Visitation, or at the next Visita- 
 tion after his Admiflion, shew and exhibit ' 
 unto them, his Letters of Orders, Institution 
 and Induction, and all other Dispensations, 
 Licenses or Faculty whatsoever, to be by the 
 said Archbishops or Bishops, either allowed of, 
 or (if there be just cause) disallowed and re- ; 
 jected, and being by them approved, to be (as 
 the Custom is) signed by the Register. And 
 that the whole Fees accustomed, be paid only 
 once in the whole Time of every Archbishop 
 or Bishop ; and afterwards but half of the said 
 accustomed Fees, in e^ery Visitation, during 
 the said Bishop’s continuance. 
 
 LX XXV. The Number of Apparitors restrained. 
 
 'C’ORASMUCH as we are desirous to re- 
 -*■ dress such Abuses and Grievances, as are 
 said to grow by Sumners or Apparitors, We 
 4 3 2 
 
 think it meet that the multitude of Apparitors, 
 be (as much as is poffible) abridged or restrained. 
 Wherefore, we decree and ordain, that no 
 Bishop or Archdeacon, or their Vicars or 
 Officials, or other inferior Ordinaries, shall 
 depute, or have more Apparitors, to serve in 
 their Jurisdictions respectively than one in 
 every Deanery, at the most, besides the gene- 
 ral Apparitor of the Bishop. All which Ap- 
 paritors shall by themselves faithfully execute 
 their Offices ; neither shall they, by any 
 Colour or Pretence whatsoever, cause or suffer 
 their Mandates to be executed by any Mes- 
 sengers or Substitutes ; unless it be, upon 
 some cause to be first known, and approved 
 by the Ordinary of the Place. M ireover they 
 shall not take upon them the Office of Promo- 
 ters, or Informers for the Court ; neither 
 shall they exact more or greater Fees, than arc 
 in these our Constitutions formerly pre- 
 scribed. And if either the Number of the 
 Apparitors deputed, shall exceed the aforesaid 
 Limitation, or any of the said Apparitors shall 
 offend in any of the Premises ; the Persons 
 deputing them, if they be Bishops, shall upon 
 Admonition of their Superior, discharge the 
 Persons exceeding the Number so limited ; if 
 inferior Ordinaries, they shall be suspended 
 from the Execution of their Offices, until they 
 have dismissed the Apparitors by them so 
 deputed ; and the Parties themselves so depu- 
 ted, 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 Ecclesiastical 
 Censures, as Persons contumacious. Provided, 
 that if upon Experience the Number of the 
 said Apparitors be too great, in any Diocess, 
 in the judgment of the Archbishop of the 
 Province, they shall by him be so abridged, as 
 he shall think meet and convenient. 
 
 LXXXVI. Parish Clerks to be chosen by the 
 Minister . 
 
 N O Parish Clerk, upon any Vacation shall 
 be chosen, but by the Parson, or Vicar, 
 or where there is no presentation, or collative 
 Parson, or Vicar, by the Minister of that 
 Place for the Time being : which choice shall 
 be signified by the said Minister, Vicar, or 
 Parson 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Parson to the Bishop of the Diocess, to be by 
 him approved. And if the Parson, Vicar, or 
 Curate, shall fail to make choice of such a 
 Man, and present him to the Bishop, to be by 
 him allowed, by the space of Forty Days after 
 the Vacancy ; in such case, the Bishop shall 
 have power to nominate and appoint a Clerk 
 for that Place. And the said Clerk shall be of 
 twenty Years of Age at the least, and known 
 to the said Parson, Viiar, 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 Englishman , and many Irish 
 in the Parish, such a one, as shall be able to 
 read those Parts of the Service which shall be 
 appointed to be read in Irish (if it may be :) 
 and the Clerks so chosen shall be resident ; and 
 perform their Duties in their own Persons. 
 For which they shall receive their due Wages 
 without Diminution at such Times as have 
 been accustomed. And if any Question do 
 arise concerning the said Custom or Wages, 
 the Bishop of the Diocess shall set an Order 
 therein. 
 
 LXXXVII. The Choice of Church-wardens and 
 their Accompt. 
 
 A LL Church-wardens or Quest-men in 
 every Parish, shall be chosen on Monday 
 or Tuesday in Easter -Week^ by the joint Consent 
 of the Minister and the Parishioners, (if it may 
 be :) but if they cannot agree upon such a 
 choice, then the Minister shall choose one, 
 and the Parishioners another, and without 
 such a joint, or several choice, none shall 
 take upon them to be Church-wardens, neither 
 shall they continue any longer than one Year 
 in that Office, except perhaps they may be 
 chosen again in like manner. And upon the 
 next Consistory Day, after such Election, they 
 shall take their Oath before the Bishop or his 
 Chancellor : and in case the Parish shall fail to 
 join, or elect as is aforesaid, the Ordinary 
 shall supply the defect. And all Church- 
 wardens, at the end of their Year, or within 
 a Month after, at the most, shall before the 
 Minister and Parishioners, give up a just 
 Account of such Money, as they have received, 
 and also what particularly, they have bestowed 
 433 
 
 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 remaineth in their Hands, that 
 it may be delivered over by them to the next 
 Church-wardens by Bill indented. 
 
 LXXXVIII. The Choice of Side-men , and their 
 joint Offices with Church-wardens . 
 
 T HE Church-wardens of every Parish and 
 and two or more discreet Persons, in 
 every Parish, to be chosen for Side-men, or 
 Assistants by the Minister and Parishioners, if 
 they can agree, (otherwise to be appointed by 
 the Ordinary of the Diocess, shall diligently 
 see, that all the Parishioners duly resort to 
 their Church, upon all Sundays and Holy-days, 
 and there to continue the whole Time of 
 Divine Service, and none to walk or stand idle, 
 or talking in the Church-yard or Church-porch, 
 during that Time. But especially they shall 
 see, that in every meeting of the Congregation, 
 Peace be well kept : And that all Persons 
 excommunicated, and so denounced, be kept 
 out of the Church during the Time of Divine 
 Service. And all such, as shall be found 
 slack or negligent in resorting to the Church, 
 (having no great or urgent cause of Absence) 
 they shall earnestly call upon them ; and after 
 due monition, (if they amend not) they shall 
 present them to the Ordinary of the Place. 
 The choice of which Persons, viz. Church- 
 wardens or Side-men or Assistants, shall be 
 Yearly made in Easter-week. 
 
 LXXXIX. The old Church -war dens to make 
 their Presentments , before the new he sworn . 
 
 T HE Office of all Church-wardens and 
 Sidemen, shall be reputed ever here- 
 after to continue, until the new Church- 
 wardens, that shall succeed them, be sworn ; 
 which shall be the first Court after Easter 
 or according to the Direction of the Ordi- 
 nary : which Time so appointed, shall always 
 be the Time in every Year, or one of the 
 two Times, when the Church-wardens and 
 Side-men 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 Side-rfien of every Parish, shall exhibit to j 
 their several Ordinaries, the Presentments of 
 such Enormities, as have happened in their 
 Parishes since the last Presentments. And 
 this Duty they shall perform, before the 
 newly chosen Church-wardens and Side-men 
 be sworn : And shall not be suffered to pass 
 over the said Presentments, to those that 
 are newly come into Office, and are, (by 
 intendraentj) ignorant of such Crimes, under 
 pain of those Censures, which are appointed 
 for the Reformation of such Dalliers, and 
 Dispensers with their own .Consciences, and 
 . Oaths. 
 
 XC. The Dirty of 'Church -wardens itouchmg such 
 Persons m are out of the Churchy in the Time 
 of God ’s Worship, on Sundays or Holy-days* 
 
 T HE Church- war dens and their Assistants 
 shall warn Innholders, Taverners, Vic- 
 tuallers, and Alehouse keepers, that’ they 
 Sell no Meat or Drink, and that they receive 
 none into their Tavern, or Alehouse, all the 
 Time, wherein there is preaching or celebra- 
 tion of Divine Service, upon Sundays or 
 Holy-days. If any do contrary, upon- con- 
 tempt or stubbornness, they shall present both 
 him and them, whom he received, by Name, 
 in the next Visitation. Also, they (hall see, 
 that none of those light Wanderers in Mar- 
 kets, and Pelting-sellers, which carry about, 
 and seli Pins, Points, and other small Trifles, 
 whom they call Pedlars, set out their Wares 
 to sale : And that no Beggars, or idle Per- 
 sons abide, either in the Church-yard, or 
 near the Church, all that time, but shall 
 cause them either to come in or to depart. 
 
 XGI, Their Duty touching those Persons that are 
 dn the Church at that Time, , 
 
 T HEY shall also see, that in every 
 meeting of the Congregation, Peace 
 be -well kept ; and that none behave them- 
 selves rudely or disorderly in the Church. 
 And 'to that (End, they shall warn the 
 People, that they bring not with them to 
 the Church, Dogs, Hawks with Bells, or 
 Children which are not so nurtured, as 
 they can be kept quiet in their Seats, 
 without running up and down, 'Neither 
 *34 ‘ 
 
 j shall they suffer any Person to disturb the 
 Service or Sermon, either by untimely ring- 
 ing of Bells, or by walking, (talking, laugh- 
 ing, or any other Noise, which may hinder 
 the Minister, tor offend the People. And the 
 Names of all such as offend in this kind, they 
 shall truly, and personally present in the Or- 
 dinaries’ Visitations. 
 
 XCH. To keep the Churches from being profaned 
 at all other Times. 
 
 r | ’’HEY shall suffer no Plays,, peases, Ban- 
 J- -q-uets, Suppers, ■Church-ales, Drinkings* 
 exposing any Wares to sale. Temporal (Courts 
 hr [Leels, Lay-juries, Musters, Commissions* 
 (other than for Causes Ecclesiastical,) play- 
 ing at Ball, or any .other profane Usage, to 
 be kept in the Church, Chapel, or Church- 
 yard : neither .the Bells to ,be rung, <ejth,er in 
 the [Feast of AihSouk^ or upon any Holy- 
 days or Eves, abrogated by the Book -of 
 Common Prayer,, neither, for Months or 
 Twelve -Months’ minds, or remembrances of 
 the Dead, nor at any Time at all prohibited 
 by the Bishop. 
 
 XCIII. To see Churches and Church -yards kept in 
 sufficient Reparations. 
 
 ' i VHEY shall take care .and .provide, that the 
 J- Churches be well and sufficiently repair- 
 ed, and so from Time to Time kept and main- 
 tained ; that the Windows be well glazed, 
 and that the Floors be kept paved, plain and 
 even ; .and all things there, in such an orderly 
 and, decent sort (without Dust, or any Thing 
 that may be noisome or unseemly,) as best 
 becometh the House of God. The like care 
 they shall take, that the -Church-yards be well 
 and sufficiently rapaired, fenced, and main- 
 tained, with Walls, Rails and Pales, as have 
 been in each Place accustomed, at their charge, 
 unto whom, by law the same appertaineth. 
 
 XCIV. To furnish all Churches . with things 
 necessary for the Celebration of Divine Service, 
 Preaching , and Administration of the .Sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 TP HEY shall provide in every Church, at 
 **• the common charge of the Parish, two 
 Books of Common^Prayer 5 .one for the 
 Minister, 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical . 
 
 Minister, and the other for the Clerk, with all 
 convenient Speed ; but at farthest, within six 
 Months after the publishing of these Canons. 
 And likewise the Bible of the last Translation, 
 set forth in the Time of King James , of blessed 
 Memory. And where all, or the most part of 
 the People are Irish , they shall provide also the 
 said Books in the Irish Tongue, so soon as they 
 may be had. The charge of these Irish Books, 
 being to be borne also, wholly by the Parish. 
 They shall also at the same common charge, 
 provide a fit Seat for the Minister to read 
 Service in, a comely and decent Pulpit, to be 
 set in a convenient Place for the preaching of 
 ■Cod's Word ; a 'Font of Stone set in the 
 anrient usual Place, for the Ministration of 
 Baptism ; together with a fair 'Table, to be 
 placed at the East End of the Chu-rch or 
 Chancel, and a Cup of Silver for the Celebra- 
 tion of the Holy Communion. Which Table 
 also shall stand covered in Time of jDhdne 
 Service with a Carpet of Silk, or other decent 
 Stuff, thought meet by the Ordinary of the 
 Place, (if any Question be made of it d and 
 with a fair Linen Cloth, at the Time of the 
 M.inistratipn, as bepometh tha,t Table. 
 
 JfCV. To provide Things fitting for every Commu- 
 nion, and to obferve tbofe that come , or come not 
 to. the fame. 
 
 L IKEWISE, they shall at the charge of the 
 Parish, againft the Time of every Com- 
 munion, with the Advice and Direction of the 
 Minister, provide a sufficient. Quantity of fine 
 White Bread, and of good and wholesome 
 Wine, for the number of Communicants, 
 that shall from Time to Time there receive ; 
 which Wine they shall cause to be brought, to 
 the Communion-Table, in a clean and sweet 
 standing Pot, or Stoup of Pewter, if not of 
 purer Metal. Also they shall mark, as well as 
 the Minister, whether all and every of the 
 Parishioners, come so often every Year to the 
 Holy Communion, as the Laws and our Con- 
 stitutions do require ; and whether any Stran- 
 gers come often, and commonly, from other 
 Parishes tc their Church : And shall shew 
 their Minister of them, lest perhaps they be 
 admitted to the Lord’s Table, amongst others 
 which they shall forbid j and remit such j 
 435 
 
 Home to their own Parish-Churches and 
 Ministers, there to receive' the Communion, 
 with the rest of their own Neighbours. 
 
 XCVI. To ' provide a Chest for Ainu in every 
 Church. 
 
 T HEY shall provide and have, within three 
 Months -next after the publishing of 
 these -Constitutions, a strong Chest with a 
 Hole in the upper Part thereof ; to be provi- 
 ded at the charge of the Parish, having three 
 Keys : Of which, one shall remain in the 
 Custody of the ParsoQ, Vicar, or Curate, and 
 the other two, in the Cuftody of the Church- 
 wardens for the Time being. Which Cheft 
 they shall set and faften in the moft convenient 
 Place, to the Intent the Parishioners may put 
 into it, *the Alms for them poor Neighbours. 
 And the Parsqn, Vicar, or Curate, shall dili- 
 gently from Time to Time, (and especially, 
 when Men make their Testaments,) call upon, 
 exhort, and move their Neighbours, to confer 
 and give, (as they may well spare,) to the said 
 Chest, declaring unto them, that whereas, 
 heretofore -they have been diligent, to bestow 
 much -Substance otherwise than God com- 
 manded, upon Superstitious Uses ; now 
 •they ought, at this Time, to be much more 
 ready, to help the Poor and Needy ; knowing 
 that to relieve the -Poor, is a Sacrifice which 
 pleaseth God; and that also whatsoever is 
 given for their comfort, is given to Christ 
 himself, and is so accepted of him, that he will 
 mercifully reward the same. The which 
 Alms, and Devotion of the People, the Keepers 
 of tire Keys shall Yearly, 'Quarterly, or oftener 
 as need requireth) take out of the Chest, and 
 distribute the same, in presence of most of the 
 Parish, or Six of the Chief of them ; to be 
 truly and faithfully delivered to their most 
 poor and needy Neighbours. 
 
 X CVII. To abolish all Monuments of Superstition. 
 
 M OREOVER they Ihall, (with the Appro- 
 bation of the Ordinary of the Place,) 
 see that all Rood-lofts, in which Wooden 
 Crosses stood ; all Shrines, and all Coverings 
 | of Shrines, and all other Monuments of feigned 
 Miracles, 
 
Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 Miracles, Pilgrimages, Idolatry, and Super- 
 stition, be clean taken away and removed. 
 
 XCVIII. None to teach School without License , 
 and Curates , desirous to teach , to be Licensed 
 before others. 
 
 I T shall not be lawful for any to teach the 
 Latin Tongue, or to instruct Children 
 either in publick School, or private House, but 
 such, as fhall be allowed, by the Ordinary of 
 the Place, under his Hand and Seal, being 
 found meet, as well for his Learning, and 
 Dexterity in Teaching, as for sober and honest 
 Conversation; and also for right understanding 
 of God’s true Religion, (saving to all Patrons 
 and Founders of Schools the Right of Nomi- 
 nation.) And in what Parish soever there is a 
 Curate, which is a Master of Arts, or Bache- 
 lor of Arts, or is otherwise well able to 
 teach Youth, and will willingly so do, for the 
 better Increase of his Living, and training of 
 Children in the principles of true Religion, 
 We Will, and Ordain, that the License to 
 teach Grammar, shall be granted to none by the 
 Ordinary of that Place, but only to the said 
 Minister or Schoolmaster. Provided always, 
 that this Constitution shall not extend to any 
 Parish where there is a Publick School founded 
 already. In which case we think it not meet, 
 to allow any to teach Grammar, but only him, 
 that is allowed for the said Publick School. 
 
 XCIX. The Duty of Schoolmasters . 
 
 A LL Schoolmasters, and Ushers, shall 
 endeavour to train up the Children 
 committed to their charge, in good Learn- 
 ing, Civility and Piety. And in the Latin 
 
 Tongue, they shall teach the Grammar, set 
 forth in England by King Henry the Eighth, 
 and so continued ever since, and none other. 
 They shall also teach such other Books as shall 
 be allowed, and appointed by the Bishop of 
 the Diocess. Provided, that according to 
 the Privilege granted to the University near 
 Dublin , Logic and Philosophy shall not be 
 taught in Grammar Schools. Provided also, 
 that none be admitted, or Licensed to be a 
 Schoolmaster, or Usher within this King- 
 dom, unless he first, by his Subscription, 
 testify his 'consent to the Two first Canons. 
 And also, that every Archbishop, and Bishop, 
 and other Ordinary (having Ecclesiastical 
 Jurisdiction) shall, by Censures of the Church, 
 respectively compel, all such as are subject to 
 their Jurisdiction, who do now teach School, 
 or hereafter shall presume to teach School, 
 not having testified their consent by Sub- 
 scription as aforesaid, to desist from teaching 
 of School. 
 
 C. The Authority of this National Synod 
 established. 
 
 T HIS sacred Synod, being the Represen- 
 tative Body of the Church of Ireland 
 in the Name of Christ, and by the King’s 
 Authority, lawfully assembled, doth pro- 
 nounce and decree, that if any within this 
 Nation, shall despise and contemn the Con- 
 stitutions thereof, (being by the said Regal 
 Power ratified and confirmed;) or affirm, 
 that none are to be subject thereunto, but 
 such as were present, and gave their Voices 
 unto them ; he shall be excommunicated, 
 and not restored, until he shall publickly re- 
 voke his error. 
 
CONSTITUTIONS 
 
 CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL, 
 
 TREATED UPON BY THE 
 
 ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS, 
 
 AND THE REST OF THE 
 
 CLERGY OF IRELAND.- 
 
 And agreed upon by the Queen’s Majesty’s License in their Synod, holden at Dublin, 
 Amo Domini, i 7 , ,, and in the Tenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady ANNE, 
 by the Grace of God, Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 PRINTED BY GEORGE GRIERSON AND JOHN ROWE POWER 
 
 PRINTERS TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 1816 . 
 
A NNE by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and 
 Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, %c. To all to whom 
 these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas certain CON- 
 STITUTIONS and CANONS Ecclesiastical, treated upon by 
 the Archbishops and Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy of 
 Our said Kingdom of Ireland, and agreed upon by Our License, 
 in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and 
 eleven, and in the Tenth Year of our Reign, have been 
 humbly laid before Us for Our Royal Approbation; We having 
 taken the same into Our Consideration, have thought fit to 
 approve thereof, in Manner and Form as followeth, viz. 
 
 CONSTITUTIONS 
 
CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL; 
 
 Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops, and the rest of the 
 Clergy of Ireland \ &c. 
 
 I. For preventing Extrajudicial Dismission of 
 Criminals , and stifling Proceedings against 
 them. 
 
 TF any Register Prohor of Office, or other 
 Officer, shall at any time stifle and suppress 
 any Crime, that the Offender may not be 
 brought to d® Penance, they shall be suspend- 
 ed from their respective Offices, by the Bishop 
 of the Diocess or other Ordinary : And if 
 any Vicar-General, Chancellor, Commissary, 
 Official or Surrogate, shall make any clan- 
 destine Prevention of any Publick Penance 
 by any Extrajudicial Dismission of any Offen- 
 der, he or they shall be suspended* by the 
 Bishop of the Diocess or other Ordinary, and 
 such Dismission obtained shall be null and 
 void. And for further preventing the stifling 
 or suppressing Proceedings against Criminals, 
 the Register shall keep a Book in which he 
 shall enter all Presentments of Criminals, 
 according to the Time that they come into 
 the Office ; which Book shall be laid before 
 the Bishop or Judge every Court Day, that 
 he may be apprized what Caufes of Office are 
 in the Court, and be enabled to inquire 
 what Proceedings have been made in them ; 
 and the said Book shall be produced at every 
 Visitation of the Diocess where the Present- 
 ments have been made. And if the Re- 
 gister shall neglect to enter such Present- 
 ments, or to produce the said Book, when 
 required, then he shall be suspended for the 
 space of three Months. 
 
 II. Concerning Citations , and the Manner of 
 serving them. 
 
 TTjTHEREAS all Citations issued out of 
 V v the Ecclesiastical Courts in this King- 
 dom are in Latin, which gives Occasion to 
 several Persons served with them to pretend, 
 that they have not been sufficiently informed 
 by the Apparitor or other Mandatory, that 
 serves them, of the Purpose or Intent of the 
 439 
 
 / 
 
 said respective Citations : and on that Account, 
 excuse themselves, when by their Contempt 
 they nave incurred the Sentence of Excommu- 
 nication : To prevent therefore all such 
 Pretences, whenever any Citation or Process 
 shall issue out of any Ecclesiastical Court, 
 the Register thereof, or his Deputy, shall, at 
 the bottom of such Citation or Process, enter 
 an Abstract or Docket, in English, containing 
 Name and Surname of every Person to be 
 served with a Citation, at whose Instance they 
 aie cited, and for what cause, together with 
 the lime when such Person or Persons are to 
 appear, and the Place where ; and a Copy 
 thereof shall be left with the Person so to be 
 cited or processed, if the said Person can be 
 found : Or, in case the Person so to be cited 
 cannot be personally found, and is not out of 
 the Kingdom, then the said Citation shall be 
 shewed to, and the Copy of the said Docket or 
 Abstract shall be left with the Son, Daughter, 
 Menial Servant, Husband, Wife, Master or 
 Mistress of the Person so to be cited, (such 
 Son, Daughter, or Menial Servant, being of 
 Sixteen Years of Age) at the usual Place of 
 A bode of the said Person so to be cited : Or 
 in case the Person so to be cited hath no 
 House, or be an Inmate or Lodger in any 
 House, then it shall be sufficient Service to 
 leave the said Copy with a Son, Daughter, 
 Menial Servant, Master or Mistress belonging 
 to the said House, where the Person so to be 
 cited shall be a Lodger or Inmate, such Son, 
 Daughter or Menial Servant being as afore- 
 said, above the Age of Sixteen Years. But if 
 the Person so to be cited, be a loose Vagabond, 
 without any certain Abode, then the Court 
 shall proceed in the usual form. 
 
 III. To prevent Abuses in Commutation of 
 Penances. 
 
 ■p OR preventing Abuses in Commutations 
 ■“ of Penance, suitable Penance shall be 
 decreed for every Crime, and the said Penance, 
 K k k .. ... 4 or 
 
Constitutions and C( 
 
 ©r any part of/it shall not be relaxed or com- 
 muted by any Vicar-General, Chancellor, or 
 Official of the Diocess, without consent of the 
 Bishop of the Diocess : or, in the Absence of 
 the Bishop, by the consent of two or more 
 grave Clergymen, commissioned by the said 
 Bishop for that Purpose ; which consent shall 
 be signified under the Hand and Seal of the 
 said Bishop or Clergymen. And neither the 
 said Bishop or Clergymen shall allow any 
 Commutation for the whole Penance enjoined, 
 but only for some Part thereof, which may be 
 thought inconvenient to be executed ; and 
 the Money taken on such Commutations, shall 
 be employed, by Appointment of the Bishop 
 or Clergymen deputed by him, on some pious 
 or charitable Work, to be performed in the 
 Parish where the Crime was committed. 
 
 IV. Publick Warning to be given before Excommu- 
 nication. 
 
 T HAT contumacious Persons may be the 
 more inexcusable when they persist in 
 their own Obstinacy till Excommunication : 
 For the future, with every Citation against 
 such contumacious Persons, ad videndum se 
 Excommunicari , there shall issue a Mandate, 
 directed to the Minister or Person officiating 
 in the Church where the Person so to .be 
 excommunicated is obliged to frequent Divine 
 Service : Or, to the Minister of some neigh- 
 bouring Parish in the same Diocess, where 
 there is Divine Service, requiring the said 
 Minister, next Lord's Day , or the next Lord's 
 Day following that at farthest, after the same- 
 Mandate shall come to his Hand, to read the 
 Abstract or Docket in English , of the said 
 Citation in Church, in the time of Divine 
 Service : and publickly warn the Party (if 
 present] of his or her Danger ; and if not 
 
 mons Ecclesiastical. 
 
 present, admonish the People to take notice of 
 it, and signify it to the Party, if they meet 
 him or her. And no Sentence of Excommu- 
 nication shall be read till the Judge be certified, 
 that the said Mandate has been executed a 
 Fortnight before the time of Excommunica- 
 tion, or the Judge has personally admonished 
 the contumacious Person. And every Minister 
 or Curate to whom such a Mandate is directed, 
 shall enter a Certificate under his Hand and 
 Seal on the back of the said Mandate, that it 
 hath been duly executed, and deliver the said 
 Mandate and Certificate to the Mandatory 
 that executeth the Citation on demand, under 
 pain of suspension. And then if the Judge 
 shall think it needful to proceed to Excom- 
 munication, if he be a Presbyter he shall read, 
 and if not, he shall provide some grave 
 Presbyter to read the Sentence of Excommu- 
 nication in open Court. 
 
 V. For the more effectual prevention and discovery 
 of -clandestine Marriages. 
 
 f 'GR the more effectual prevention of 
 clandestine Marriages, We constitute and 
 appoint, that every Person who is married 
 clandestinely, where neither Banns, according 
 to the Rubrick , have been published, or License 
 obtained ; or where the said Marriage is 
 solemnized by a Perfon not qualified by Law, 
 or in any other Form, than that which is 
 prescribed by the Church of Ireland , as by Law 
 established ; and all that are present at such 
 Marriages, shall be obliged to do publick 
 Penance : And that the Parties so clandestinely 
 married, shall be obliged to discover the 
 Person that married or pretended to marry 
 them, under pain of Excommunication, from 
 which they shall not be absolved before they 
 make such Discovery. 
 
 4AP