provide a Chest for Almes in every Church 97. To abolish all monuments of superstition 98. None to teach Schoole without Licence and Curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others 99. The dutie of Schoolemasters ¶ Of the authoritie of the Synod 100. The authority of this Nationall Synod established DIEV ET MON DROIT CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas our Bishops Deanes of our Cathedrall Churches Arch-deacons Chapters and Colledges and the rest of the Clergie within our Kingdome of Ireland were summoned and called by vertue of our Writts directed to the Arch-bishops of the foure severall Provinces and bearing date the foure and twentieth day of May in the tenth yeare of our Raigne to appeare before the said Arch-bishops in the Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of Iuly then next ensueing then and there to treate and conclude upon certaine high and urgent affaires in the said Writts mentioned who did thereupon at the time appointed and in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks aforesaid assemble themselves and appeare in Convocation for that purpose according to the tenor of the said Writts And whereas wee for divers urgent and weighty occasions us thereunto moving of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion did by vertue of our prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall give and grant by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of Iuly in the tenth yeare of our Raigne full power and authority unto the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Chapters Colledges Clergie of this Kingdome then assembled in Convocation in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patrick that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might conferre treate consult and conclude of and upon such Articles Canons Orders Ordinances Statutes Constitutions Ecclesiasticall as they shall thinke necessary fit and convenient for the honour service of Almighty GOD and augmentation of his divine worship the rooting out of heresies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ for procuring of the good and quiet of the Church and preservation of good government in causes Ecclesiasticall and to the Iurisdiction of the Church belonging as also to make and set downe ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other Canons and Constitutions of the Church have and the same our royall assent being thereunto first had and obtained to set forth and publish freely and lawfully and that aswell the Archbishops and Bishops and all other inferiour persons whom it may concerne should yeild due obedience thereunto as in and by our said Letters Patents more at large it doth and may appeare Forasmuch as the said Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie of this Kingdome having met together at the time and place before mentioned and then and there by vertue of our said authority granted unto them have treated of concluded and agreed upon certaine Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by VS limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered presented the same unto VS most humbly desiring VS to give our royall assent unto their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalfe and by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to ratifie by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland and to confirme the said Canons being one hundred in number and contained in a Booke intituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of great Brittaine France and Ireland the tenth which Booke is remaining with Iohn Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convocation WEE of our Princely inclination and royall care for the maintenance of the present estate and governement of the Church of Ireland by the Lawes of this our Realme now settled established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before expressed and finding the same such as VVee are perswaded will be very profitable not onely to our Clergie but to the whole Church of this our Kingdome and to all the true members of it if they be well observed HAVE therefore for VS our heires and lawfull successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion by the advise and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour Thomas Viscount VVentworth our Deputy generall of our said Kingdome of Ireland and President of our Councell established in the North parts of our Kingdome of England given by these presents doe give our royall assent according to the forme of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all and every thing in them contained And furthermore Wee doe not onely by our said Prerogative royall and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie confirme establish by these our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions all every thing in them contayned as is aforesaid but doe likewise propound publish streightly enjoyne commaund by our said authority by these our Letters Patents the same to bee diligently observed executed and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdome in all points wherein they doe or may concerne every or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever hee be called shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge reade all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions once every yeare upon some Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the after-noone before divine service dividing the same in such sort as that the one halfe may be read one day and the other another day The Booke of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of Easter next ensueing Streightly chargeing and commaunding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Realme every man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lyeth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances Constitutions to be in all points duly observed not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or willfully
day and yeare of every Christning Wedding and Buriall which shal be in the parish from the time that this Canon shal 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 Lockes and keyes whereof the one to remayne with the Minister the other two with the Church-wardens 〈◊〉 So that neyther the Minister without the Church-wardens nor the Church-wardens without the Minister shall at any time take that booke out of the said Coffer And henceforth upon every Sabbath-day immediately after Morning or Evening prayer the Minister Church-wardens shall take the said parchment Booke out of the said Coffer And the Minister in the presence of the Church-wardens shall write and Record in the said Booke the names of all persons Christned together with the names surnames of their parents also the names of all persons Marryed and Buried in that parish the weeke before by the Minister or his Curate the day and the yeare of every such Christening Marryage Buriall And that done they shall lay up the boâ—k in the Coffer as before And the Minister and Church-wardens unto every page of that booke when it shal be filled with such inscriptions shal subscribe their names And the Church-wardens shall once every yeare within one Moneth after the 25. day of March transmit unto the Bishop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor a true Copy of the names of all persons Christened Married or buried in their parish in the yeare before ended the said 25. day of March and the certayne dayes and Moneths in which every such Christening Mariage and Buriall was had to be subscribed with the hands of the said Minister and Church-wardens to the end the same may faithfully be preserved in the Registry of the said Bishop which Certificate shal be received without Fee And if the Minister or Church-wardens shal be negligent in the performance of any thing herein contayned it shal be lawfull 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 NO persons shall Marry within the degrees prohibited by the Lawes of GOD and expressed in a Table set forth by authority in England in the yeare of our Lord God 1563. And all Mariages so made and contracted shal be adjudged incestuous unlawfull consequently shal be dissolved as voyde from the beginning And the parties so maryed shal be by course of Law separated And the aforesaid Table shal be in every Church publikly set up and fixed at the charge of the Parish ⧠THE TABLE OF DEGREES PROHIBITED IN MARRIAGE A Man may not marry his  Secundus gradus in lineâ rectâ ascendente   Consanguin Avia 1 Grandmother Affinit Avi relicta 2 Grandfathers wife af Prosocrus vel socrus magna 3 Wiues Grandmother  Secundus gradus inaequalis in lineâ transversali ascendente   Cons Amita 4 Fathers Sister cons Matertera 5 Mothers Sister af Patrui relicta 6 Fathers Brothers wife af Avunculi relicta 7 Mothers Brothers wife af Amita uxoris 8 Wiues fathers Sister af Matertera uxoris 9 Wiues Mothers Sister  Primus gradus in lineâ rectâ ascendente   Cons Mater 10 Mother af Noverca 11 Stepmother af Socrus 12 Wiues Mother  Primus gradus in lineâ rectâ descendente   Cons Filia 13 Daughter af Privigna 14 Wiues Daughter af Nurus 15 Sonnes Wife  Primus gradus aequalis in lineâ transversali   Cons Soror 16 Sister af Soror uxoris 17 Wiues Sister af Fratris relicta 18 Brothers Wife  Secundus gradus in lineâ rectâ descendente   Cons Neptis ex filio 19 Sonnes Daughter cons Neptis ex filiâ 20 Daughters Daughter af Pronurus .i. relicta nepotis ex filio 21 Sonnes Sonnes wife af Pronurus .i. relicta nepotis ex filiâ 22 Daughters Sonnes wife af Privigni filia 23 Wiues Sonnes daughter af Privignae filia 24 Wiues daughters daughter  Secundus gradus inaequalis in lineâ transversali descendente   Cons Neptis ex fratre 25 Brothers Daughter cons Neptis ex sorore 26 Sisters daughter af Nepotis ex fratre relicta 27 Brothers sonnes wife af Nepotis ex sorore relicta 28 Sisters sonnes wife af Neptis uxoris ex fratre 29 Wiues brothers daughter af Neptis uxoris ex sorore 30 Wiues sisters daughter A Woman may not marry her    Secundus gradus in lineâ rectâ ascendente 1 Grandfather Cons Avus 2 Grandmothers Husband af Aviae relictus 3 Husbands Grandfather af Prôsocer vel socer magnus    Secundus gradus inaequalis in lineâ transversali ascendente 4 Fathers Brother Cons Patruus 4 Mothers Brother cons Avunculus 6 Fathers Sisters husband af Amitae relictus 7 Mother Sisters husband af Materterae relictus 8 Husbands Fathers brother af Patruus mariti 9 Husbands mothers brother af Avunculus mariti    Primus gradus in lineâ rectâ ascendente 10 Father Cons Pater 11 Stepfather af Vitricus 12 Husbands father af Socer    Primus gradus in lineâ rectâ descendente 13 Sonne Cons Filius 14 Husbands sonne af Privignus 15 Daughters husband af Gener.    Primus gradus aqualis in lineâ transverâ—â— 16 Brother Cons Frater 17 Husbands brother af Levir 18 Sisters husband af Sororis relictus    Secundus gradus in lineâ rectâ descendenâ—e 19 Sonnes sonne Cons Nepos ex filio 20 Daughters sonne cons Nepos ex filiâ 21 Sonnes daughters husband af Progener .i. relictus neptis ex filio 22 Daughters daughters husbaÌ„d af Progener .i. relictus neptis ex filiâ 23 Husbands Sonnes sonne af Privigni filius 24 Husbands daughters sonne af Privignae filius    Secundus gradus inâ—qualis in lineâ transversali descendente 25 Brothers sonne Cons Nepos ex fratre 26 Sisters sonne cons Nepos ex sorore 27 Brothers daughters husband af Neptis ex fratre relictus 28 Sisters daughters husband af Neptis ex sorore relictus 29 Husbands brothers sonne af Leviri filius i. nepos mariti ex fratre 30 Husbands Sisters sonne af Gloris filius .i. nepos mariti ex sorore 1. IT is to be noted that those persons which be in the direct line ascendent and descendent cannot marry together although they bee neuer so farre asunder in degree 2. It is also to be noted that Consanguinity and affinity letting dissoluing Matrimony is contracted as well in them and by them which be of kindred by the one side as in and by them which be of kindred by both sides 3. Item that by the Lawes Consanguinity and affinity letting and dissoluing Matrimony is contracted aswell by vnlawfull company of Man and Woman as by vnlawfull marriage LEVITIC XVIII and XX.
breake or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honor of GOD the peace of the Church tranquillitie of the Kingdome and their dueties and service unto VS their King and Soveraigne In witnes c. CONSTITVTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICALL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian Faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments Wee doe receive and approve the Booke of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirme that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publique revocation of his errour II. The Kings Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiasticall to be maintained ALL Ecclesiasticall persons having cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinitie Lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times every yeare at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and Lectures That all usurped and forraine power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the Law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions is due unto such forraine power but that the Kings power within his Realme of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreyes is the highest power under God to whom all men aswell Inhabitants as borne within the same doe by Gods Lawes owe all loyaltie and obedience and to no other forraine power potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintaine that the Kings Majestie hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiasticall that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but onely by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publique revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript forme of Divine Service contained in the Booke of Common Prayer THat forme of Liturgie or Divine Service and no other shal be used in any Church of this Realme but that which is established by the Law and comprised in the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speake any thing in the derogation or despising of the said Booke or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour III. Of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the Churches established according to that order THat forme of Ordination no other shal be used in this Church but that which is contained in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirme that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this governement are true Churches or refuse to joyne with them in Christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publiquely revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the doctrine governement rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyne with in Christian profession or shall affirme and maintaine that there are within this Realme other meetings assemblyes or congregations then such as by the Lawes of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawfull Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored untill he repent and publiquely revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALL manner of persons shall celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the Word of GOD read and taught in private and publique prayers in acknowledging their offences to GOD and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of CHRIST in visiting the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript forme of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holydayes with all decencie and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usuall times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meet for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer and in the Act for uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof And in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches all Deanes Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daylie at the times both of prayer and preaching weare with their Surplises such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappell in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may weare a night-cap or coife Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times busied then in quiet attendance to heare marke and understand that which is read preached
so impotent as he cannot goe to the Church or very dangerously sicke are desirous to be partakers of that holy Sacrament under paine of suspension for the first offence and excommunication for the second Provided that houses are here reputed for private houses wherein are no Chappels dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme And provided also under the paine before expressed that no Chaplaines doe preach or administer the Communion in any other places but in the Chappels of the said houses and that also they doe the same very seldome upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes So that both the Lords and Masters of the said houses and their families shall at other times resort to their own Parish Churches and there receive the holy Communion at the least once every yeare XXII Ministers not to hold private Conventicles FOrasmuch as all Conventicles and secret meetings of Priests and Ministers have beene ever justly accounted very hurtfull to the state of the Church wherein they live Wee doe now ordaine and constitute that no Priests or Ministers of the Word of GOD nor any other persons shall meete together in any private house or elswhere to consult upon any matter or course to be taken by them or upon their motion or direction by any other which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the doctrine of the Church of Ireland or of the booke of Common prayer or of any part of the government and discipline now established in the Church of Ireland under paine of excommunication XXIII Of ordering Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction NO Archbishop Bishop or other person whatsoever having Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall appoint constitute make and confirme any Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer time then their owne incumbency except he be of the full age of twenty sixe yeares at least and one that is learned in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall lawes is at the least a Master of Arts or Bachelour of law and is reasonably well practised in the course thereof Neither shall they let their Iurisdictions to farme or grant or confirme to any man the next second or third advowson of any Prebend or Benefice being in their gift And if they shall make or confirme any such grant or Patent of the place of Chancellour Commissary or Officiall for longer terme then during their Incumbency to any that is not qualified as is hereby required then the said person so accepting the said Patent or Grant is to be held and declared uncapable thereof to all intents whatsoever Lastly the said Archbishops and Bishops shall provide that the Clergie and people be not burthened with unjust exactions by their servants and Officers in their Visitations And that neither the Archbishops therein shall charge their Suffragans nor the Bishops their Clergie with any Noctials or Refections over and above their ordinary procurations reserving notwithstanding unto the Archbishops in their Visitations the Refections usually heretofore received in those Diocesses where the same procurations are not received by them which are yearely payde by the Clergie unto their Bishops And that no Archbishop or Bishop shall demaund from the Executors or Administrators of any of their Clergie any Heriots or mortuaries as in some places of this Kingdome heretofore hath been accustomed XXIIII Of ordering the revenues of Ecclesiasticall persons NO Archbishop Bishop Deane and Chapter or Dignitary shall in any wise diminish the auncient revenues of their Sees or Churches nor alienate their Lands in fee farme nor destroy their woods nor give power to their Tennants to make waste thereof nor by any devise demise their Mensall or demeasne Lands unlesse it be to their Curates actually dischargeing the said Cures without forty dayes absence in any one yeare to them for no longer time or terme then during their owne Incumbency Neither shall they joyne with any Dignitary Prebend or other Beneficiarie or Beneficiaries to confirme the Leases or alienations made or to be made by him or them of any Ecclesiasticall profits or obventions And the said Archbishops and Bishops shall carefully provide that all Churches Chancels and Manse-houses the repaire whereof properly belongeth to them or any of them or to any other Ecclesiasticall person or persons be from time to time preserved from ruine and decay XXV Of Archdeacons EVery Archdeacon which hath authority to visit either by common right or by prescription shall visit the precinct of his Iurisdiction once every yeare in his owne person and he shall not substitute any to bee his Officiall but such a one as hath beene brought up in the Vniversitie hath studied the Civill Law if such a one may be had being able not onely in learning but also with gravity and modesty to discharge that Office XXVI Residence of Deanes in their Churches EVery Deane Master or Warden or chiefe Governour of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church shall be resident in his said Cathedrall or Collegiate Church fourescore and ten dayes conjunctim aut divisim in every yeare at least so that they have houses or ground to build houses upon belonging to their Churches and then shall continue there in preaching of the Word of GOD and keeping good hospitality except he shall be otherwise letted with weightie and urgent causes to be approved by the Bishop of the Diocesse And when he is present he with the rest of the Canons or Prebendaryes resident shall take speciall care that the Statutes and laudable customes of their Church not being contrary to the Word of GOD or prerogative Royall the Statutes of this Realme being in force-concerning Ecclesiasticall Orders and all other constitutions now set forth and confirmed by his Majesties authority and such as shall be lawfully enjoyned by the Bishop of the Diocesse in his Visitation according to the Statutes and customes of the same Church or the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of this Realme be diligently observed And that the Petty Canons Vicars Choralls and other Ministers of their Church be urged to the study of the holy Scriptures and every one of them to have the New Testament not onely in English but also in Latine XXVII Deanes and Prebendaries to preach during their residence THe Deane Master Warden or other chiefe Governour Prebendaries and Canons in every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church shall not onely preach there in their owne persons so often as they are bound by Law Statute Ordinance or custome but shall likewise preach in other Churches of the same Diocesse where they are resident and especially in those places whence they or their Churches receive any yearely rents or profits And in case they themselves be sicke or lawfully absent they shall substitute such licenced Preachers to supply their turnes as by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall be thought meet to preach in Cathedrall Churches And if any otherwise neglect or omit to supply his course as is aforesaid the offender shal be punished by the Bishop or by him or them to whom the Iurisdiction of that Church
last day of judgement and the Tribunall seat of God Therefore that they preferre no man to any Ecclesiasticall living but him which by doctrine judgement godlinesse honesty and innocency of life is able to beare so heavy a burthen that they doe nothing therein but uprightly uncorruptly and truely But if any Patron shal be convicted to have made any Symoniacall contract either directly or indirectly let him be excommunicated ipso facto not to be absolved but after publicke penance in the Cathedrall Church and the Church so Symoniacally presented unto XXXV Prevention of Symoniacall contracts in those that are presented by them TO avoyde the detestable sinne of Symonie because buying and selling of Ecclesiasticall functions offices promotions dignities and livings is execrable before God therefore the Archbishop and all and every Bishop or Bishops or any other person or persons having authority to admit institute collate install or to confirme the election of any Archbishop Bishop or other person or persons to any spirituall or Ecclesiasticall function dignitie promotion title office Iurisdiction place or benefice with cure or without cure or to any Ecclesiasticall living whatsoever shall before every such admission institution collation installation or confirmation of election respectively minister to every person thereafter to be admitted instituted collated installed or confirmed in or to any Archbishopricke or other spirituall or Ecclesiasticall function dignity promotion title office Iurisdiction place or benefice with cure or without cure or in any Ecclesiasticall living whatsoever this Oath in manner and forme following the same to bee taken by every one whom it concerneth in his owne person and not by a Proctor I N. N. doe sweare that I have made no Symoniacall payment contract or promise directly or indirectly by my selfe or by any other to my knowledge or with my consent to any person or persons whatsoever for or concerning the procuring and obtayning of this Ecclesiasticall dignity place preferment office or living respectively and particularly naming the same whereunto he is admitted instituted collated installed or confirmed nor will at any time hereafter performe or satisfie any such kinde of payment contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent so helpe me God through IESVS CHRIST And for the better repressing of this cursed abuse We ordaine and appoint that if any Clerke or any other with his consent shall Seale any bond or bill to any person or persons with condition of resignation of his benefice whereto he is to be or hath bin 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 Incumbencie or for above three yeares or with notable diminution of the rent under the true value he shal be holden for convict of Symony and proceeded against according to the severitie of the auncient Canons in that behalfe XXXVI Small Parishes to be united and Residence enjoyned FOr remedy of the smallnesse of the maintenance of the Clergie We ordaine that when there is in one Parish a Rectory Vicarage or portion of Tythes collative The Bishop shall unite them perpetually And those unions the Deanes and Chapters shal be bound to confirme to remaine perpetually as one entire benefice And that no dispensations be graunted to hold more than one benefice of greater value than forty pounds English per annum but to such onely as shal be very well able and sufficient to discharge his duty having taken the degree of a Master of Art at least in some Vniversitie within his Majesties Dominions and being a publicke and sufficient Preacher licenced Provided that he who is qualified as aforesaid shall alwayes reside in one of his benefices and some reasonable time of every yeare in each of them And lastly that he have under him where hee doth not reside a Curate able to Catechize and instruct the people to have such maintenance as to the Ordinary shall seeme fit XXXVII Absence of beneficed men and livings appropriated to be supplied by Curates that are allowed Preachers EVery beneficed man licenced by the Lawes of this Realme upon urgent occasions of other service not to reside upō his benefice shall cause his Cure to bee supplyed by a Curate that is a sufficient and licenced Preacher if the worth of the benefice will beare it But whosoever hath two benefices shall maintaine a Preacher licenced in the benefice where hee doth not reside except he preach himselfe at both of them usually Also every beneficed man not allowed to bee a Preacher shall procure Sermons to be preached in his Cure once every Moneth at the least by Preachers lawfully licenced if his living in the judgment of the Ordinary will be able to beare it And upon every Sunday when there shall not be a Sermon preached in his Cure he or his Curate shall reade one of the Homilies prescribed by authority to the intents aforesaid And as for those Churches where all the Tythes both great small are taken by the Appropriator Wee ordaine that the Bishop of the Diocesse according to the Lawes of the Church shall allot out of the said appropriation such maintenance to a sufficiēt Curate as in equitie in his discretion shall seeme meete and competent XXXVIII None to be Curates but allowed by the Bishop NO Curate or Minister shal be permitted to serve in any place without examination tryall first to be made of his sufficiency sobriety and fitnesse every way for the ministration whereunto hee is to be deputed Having respect to greatnesse of the Cure and meetenesse of the party And being found worthy he shal be admitted by the Bishop of the Diocesse in writing under his hand and Seale And the said Curates and Ministers if they remove from one Diocesse to another shall not be by any meanes admitted to serve without testimony of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinary of the place as aforesaid whence they came in writing of their honesty ability and conformitie to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of the Church of Ireland Nor any shall serve more than two Churches or Chappels in one day and those to be in a convenient distance and unlesse the said Church or Chappell where such a Minister shall serve in two places be not able in the judgement of the Bishop or Ordinary as aforesaid to maintayne a Curate Provided that no Clergy man 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 shal be voyde to be examined and admitted by the Bishop as aforesaid XXXIX Strangers not admitted to preach without licence NEither the Minister Churchwardens or other Officers of any parochiall or Collegiate Church shall suffer any stranger to preach unto the people in their Churches except they know him to be sufficiently authorised thereto as is
shall marke aswell as the Minister whether all and every of the parishioners come so often every yeare to the holy Communion as the Lawes our Constitutions doe require whether any strangers come often coÌ„monly from other parishes to their Church shall shew their Minister of them least perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Table amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their owne parish Churches and Ministers there to receive the Communion with the rest of their owne neighbors XCVI To provide a Chest for Almes in every Church THey shall provide have within three Moneths next after the publishing of these Constitutions a strong Chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the charge of the parish having three keyes of which one shall remayne in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curat and the other two in the custody of the Church-wardens for the time being Which chest they shallset fasten in the most coÌ„venient place to the intent the parishioners may put into it the Almes for their poore neighbors And the Parson Vicar or Curat shall diligently from time to time especially when men make their TestameÌ„ts call upon exhort move their neighbors to conferre give as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring unto them that whereas heretofore they have beene diligent to bestowe much substance otherwise than God commanded upon superstitious uses now they ought at this time to be much more ready to helpe the poore needy knowing that to relieve the poore is a sacrifice which pleaseth God and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himselfe and is so accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same The which Almes and devotion of the people the keepers of the keyes shall yearely quarterly or oftner as neede requireth take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the parish or sixe of the chiefe of them to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most poore and needy neighbors XCVII To abolish all Monuments of superstition MOreover they shall with the approbation of the Ordinary of the place see that all Rood-lofts in which wooden Crosses stood all shrines and coverings of shrines and all other Monuments of fayned miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition be cleane taken away and removed XCVIII None to teach schoole without licence and Curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others IT shall not be lawfull for any to teach the Latine tongue or to instruct Children eyther in publike Schoole or private house but such as shal be allowed by the Ordinary of the place under his hand and Seale being found meete aswell for his learning and dexterity in teaching as for sober and honest conversation and also for right understanding of Gods true Religion saving to all Patrons and founders of Schooles the right of nomination And in what parish soever there is a Curat which is a Master of Arts or Bachellor of Arts or is otherwise well able to teach youth and will willingly so doe for the better increase of his living and trayning of Children in the principles of true Religion We will and ordayne that the licence to teach Grammar shal be granted to none by the Ordinary of that place but onely to the said Minister or Schoolemaster Provided alwayes that this Constitution shall not extend to any parish where there is a publike Schoole founded already In which case We thinke it not meete to allow any to teach Grammar but onely him that is allowed for the said publike Schoole XCIX The duty of Schoolemaâ—â—ers ALl Schoolemasters and Vshers shall endeavour to trayne up the Children committed to their charge in good learning civility and piety And in the Latine tongue they shall teach the Grammar set forth in England by king Henry the eight so continued ever since none other They shall also teach such other Bookes as shal be allowed and appointed by the Bishop of the Diocesse Provided that according to the priviledge granted to the Vniversity neere Dublin Logicke and Philosophy shall not be taught in Grammar schooles Provided also that none be admitted or licenced to be a Schoolemaster or Vsher within this kingdome unlesse he first by his subscription testifie his consent to the two first Canons And also that every Archbishop Bishop and other Ordinary having Ecclesiasticall IurisdictioÌ„ shall by censures of the Church respectively compell all such as are subject to their Iurisdiction which doe now teach schoole or hereafter shall presume to teach schoole not having testified their consent by subscription as aforesaid to desist from teaching of schoole C. The authority of this Nationall Synod established THis sacred Synod being the representative body of the Church of Ireland in the name of Christ and by the Kings authorit ylawfully assembled doth pronounce decree that if any within this Nation shall despise contemne the Constitutions thereof being by the said Regall power ratified confirmed or affirme that none are to be subject thereunto but such as were present and gave their voyces unto them he shall be Excommunicated and not restored untill hee shall publikely revoke his error FINIS