the Bishoprick of Winchester contra novi Concilii statuta as the same Author reporteth And this because succeeding Popes had broken Pope Vrban's promise Touching the not sending of Legates into England unless the King should require it And in the time of the next succeeding King Stephen the Pope gained Appeals to the Court of Rome For in a Synod at London Conven'd by Hen. Bishop of Winchester the Pope's Legate it was Decreed That Appeals should be made from Provincial Councils to the Pope Before which time Appellationes in usu non erant saith a Monk of that time donec Henricus Winton Episcopus malo suo dum Legatus esset crudeliter intrusit Thus did the Pope usurp Three main points of Jurisdiction upon Three several Kings after the Conquest for of King William Rufus he could win nothing viz. upon the Conquerour the sending of Legates or Commissioners to hear and determine Ecclesiastical Causes Upon Hen. 1. the Donation and Investures of Bishopricks and other Benefices and upon King Stephen the Appeals to the Court of Rome And in the time of King H. 2. the Pope claimed exemption of Clerks from the Secular Power 2. The high Court of Convocation is called the Convocation of the Clergy and is the highest Court Ecclesiastical where the whole Clergy of both Provinces are either present in Person or by their Representatives They commonly meet and sit in Parliament-time consisting of Two parts viz. the Upper-house where the Archbishops and Bishops do sit and the Lower-house where the Inferiour Clergy do sit This Court hath the Legislative power of making Ecclesiastical Laws is commonly called a National Synod Conven'd by the King 's Writ directed to the Archbishop of each Province for summoning all Bishops Deans Archdeacons Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches assigning them the time and place in the said Writ But one Proctor sent for each Cathedral and Collegiate Church and two for the Body of the inferiour Clergy of each Diocess may suffice The higher House of Convocation or the House of Lords Spiritual for the Province of Canterbury consists of 22 Bishops whereof the Archbishop is President the Lower-house or House of Commons Spiritual consisting of all the Deans Archdeacons one Proctor for every Chapter and two for the Clergy of each Diocess in all 166 persons viz. 22 Deans 24 Prebendaries 54 Archdeacons and 44 Clerks representing the Diocesan Clergy Both Houses debate and transact only such matters as his Majesty by Commission alloweth concerning Religion and the Church All the Members of both Houses of Convocation have the same priviledges for themselves and Menial Servants as the Members of Parliament have The Archbishop of York at the same time and in the like manner holds a Convocation of all his Province at York constantly corresponding debating and concluding the same matters with the Provincial Synod of Canterbury The Antiquity of this Court of Convocation is very great for according to Beda St. Augustine An. 686. assembled in Council the Britain Bishops and held a great Synod The Clergy was never assembled or called together at a Convocation by other Authority than by the King 's Writ Vid. Parl. 18 E. 3. nu 1. Inter Leges Inae An. Dom. 727. A Convocation of the Clergy called Magna servorum Dei frequentia The Jurisdiction of the Convocation is only touching matters meerly Spiritual and Ecclesiastical wherein they proceed juxta Legem Divinam Canones Sanctae Ecclesiae The Lord Coke cites some Ancient Records to prove that the Court of Convocation did not meddle with any thing concerning the Kings Temporal Laws of the Land and thence inferrs That the Statute of 25 H. 8. cap. 19. whereby it is provided That no Canons Constitution or Ordinance should be made or put in execution within this Realm by Authority of the Convocation of the Clergy which were contrariant or repugnant to the King's Prerogative Royal or the Customes Laws and Statutes of this Realm is but declaratory of the old Common Law And by the said Act the Court of Convocation as to the making of new Canons is to have the King's License as also his Royal Assent for the putting the same in execution But towards the end of that Act there is an express Proviso that such Canons as were made before that Act which be not contrariant nor repugnant to the King's Prerogative the Laws Statutes or Customes of the Realm should be still used and executed as they were before the making of that Act. And if any Cause shall depend in contention in any Ecclesiastical Court which shall or may touch the King his Heirs or Successors the party grieved shall or may appeal to the Upper-house of Convocation within fifteen days after Sentence given Remarkable are the Constitutions of Claringdon in the time of King H. 2. occasioned by the Popes claiming Exemption of Clerks from the Secular power so contended for by Thomas Becket then Archbishop of Canterbury against the King as occasioned a convening a Common Council as well of the Bishops as of the Nobility at Claringdon in the time of H. 2. wherein they revived and re-established the Ancient Laws and Customes of the Kingdom for the Government of the Clergy and ordering of Causes Ecclesiastical The principal Heads or Articles whereof were these viz. 1 That no Bishop or Clerk should depart the Realm without the King's License and that such as obtained License should give Sureties That they should not procure any dammage to the King or Realm during their absence in Foreign parts 2 That all Bishopricks and Abbies being void should remain in the Kings hands as his own Demesns until he had chosen and appointed a Prelate thereunto and that every such Prelate should do his Homage to the King before he be admitted to the place 3 That Appeals should be made in Causes Ecclesiastical in this manner viz. From the Archdeacon to the Ordinary from the Ordinary to the Metropolitan from him to the King and no farther 4 That Peter-Pence should be paid no more to the Pope but to the King 5 That if any Clerk should commit Felony he should be hanged if Treason he should be drawn and quartered 6 That it should be adjudged High Treason to bring in Bulls of Excommunication whereby the Realm should be cursed 7 That no Decree should be brought from the Pope to be executed in England upon pain of Imprisonment and Confiscation of Goods 3. Arches or alma Curia de Arcubus so called of Bow-Church in London by reason of the Steeple or Clochier thereof raised at the top with Stone-pillars in fashion like a Bow-bent Arch-wise in which Church this Court was ever wont to be held being the chief and most Ancient Court and Consistory of the Jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury which Parish of Bow together with twelve others in London whereof Bow is the chief are within the Peculiar Jurisdiction of the said Archbishop in Spiritual Causes and
and used in part by several Nations he compiled them into Volumes and called them Jus Canonicum and Ordained that they should be read and expounded in publick Schools and Universities as the Imperial Law was read and expounded and commanded that they should be observed and obeyed by all Christians on pain of Excommunication and often endeavoured to put them in execution by Coercive power and assumed to himself the power of interpreting abrogating and dispensing with those Laws in all the Realms of Christendom at his pleasure so that the Canonists ascribe to him this prerogative Papa in omnibus jure positivis in quibusdam ad jus divinum pertinentibus dispensare potest quia dicitur omnia Jura habere in Scrinio pectoris sui quantum ad interpretationem dispensationem Lib. 6. de Const cap. licet About the time of An. 25. Ed. 1. Simon a Monk of Walden began to read the Canon Law in the University of Cambridge vid. Stow and Walsingham in that year Also the Manusc libr. 6. Decretal in New-Colledge Library at Oxford hath this Inscription in the Front Anno Domini 1298. which was in the year 26 Ed. 1. 19. Novembr in Ecclesia Fratrum Praedicator Oxon. fuit facta publicatio lib. 6. Decretal whereby it appears when it was that the Canon Law was introduced into England But the Jurisdiction which the Pope by colour thereof claimed in England was a meer Usurpation to which the Kings of England from time to time made opposition even to the time of King H. 8. And therefore the Ecclesiastical Law which Ordained That when a man is created a Bishop all his Inferiour Benefices shall be void is often said in the Bishop of St. David's Case in 11 H. 4. to be the Ancient Law of England And 29 Ed. 3. 44. a. in the Case of the Prebend of Oxgate it is said That though the Constitution which ousts Pluralities began in the Court of Rome yet a Church was adjudged void in the Kings Bench for that cause or reason whereby it appears That after the said Constitution was received and allowed in England it became the Law of England Yet all the Ecclesiastical Laws of England were not derived from the Court of Rome for long before the Canon Law was authorized and published in England which was before the Norman Conquest the Ancient Kings of England viz. Edgaâ— Aethelstan Alfred Edward the Confessor and others have with the Advice of their Clergy within the Realm made divers Ordinances for the government of the Church of England and after the Conquest divers Provincial Synods have been held and many Constitutions have been made in both Realms of England and Ireland All which are part of our Ecclesiastical Laws at this day Vid. Le Charter de William le Conqueror Dat. An. Dom. 1066. irrot 2 R. 2. among the Charters in Archiv Turris Lond. pro Decano Capitulo Lincoln Willielmus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum c. Sciatis c. Quod Episcopales Leges quae non bene nec secundum Sanctorum Canonum praecepta usque ad mea tempora in Regno Angliae fuerunt Communi Concilio Episcoporum meorum caeterorum Episcoporum omnium Principum Regni mei emendandas judicavi c. See also Girald Cambrens lib. 2. cap. 34. in the time of King H. 2. a Synod of the Clergy of Ireland was held at the Castle wherein it was Ordained Quod omnia divina juxta quod Anglicana observat Ecclesia in omnibus partibus Hyberniae amodo tractentur Dignum enim justissimum est ut sicut Dominum Regem ex Anglia divinitus sortita est Hybernia sic etiam exinde vivendi formam accipiant meliorem But the distinction of Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Causes from Civil and Temporal Causes in point of Jurisdiction was not known or heard of in the Christian World for the space of 300 years after Christ For the causes of Testaments of Matrimony of Bastardy and Adultery and the rest which are called Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Causes were meerly Civil and determined by the Rules of the Civil Law and subject only to the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrate But after the Emperours had received the Christian Faith out of a zeal they had to honour the learned and godly Bishops of that time they singled out certain special Causes wherein they granted Jurisdiction unto the Bishops viz. in Causes of Tithes because they were paid to men of the Church in Causes of Matrimony because Marriages were for the most part solemnized in the Church in Causes Testamentary because Testaments were many times made in extremis when Church-men were present giving Spiritual comfort to the Testator and therefore were thought the fittest persons to take the Probats of such Testaments Howbeit these Bishops did not then proceed in these Causes according to the Canons and Decrees of the Church for the Canon Law was not then known but according to the Rules of the Imperial Law as the Civil Magistrate did proceed in other Causes so that the Primitive Jurisdiction in all these Causes was in the Supream Civil Magistate and though it be now derived from him yet it still remaineth in him as in the Fountain CHAP. XII Of Churches Chappels and Church-yards 1. Ecclesia what that word imports the several kinds thereof 2. Possessions of the Church protected by the Statute-Laws from Alienation the care of the Emperour Justinian in that point 3. To whom the Soyl and Freehold of the Church and Church-yard belong to whom the use of the Body of the Church to whom the disposal of the Pewes or Seats and charges of Repairs 4. The Common Law touching the Reparation of Churches and the disposal of the Seats therein 5. The same Law touching Isles Pictures Coats of Arms and Burials in Churches also of Assaults in Churches and Church-yard 6. The penalty of quarreling chiding brawling striking or drawing a Weapon in the Church or Church-yard 7. Where Prescription to a Seat in a Church is alledged the Common Law claims the cognizance thereof 8. The Immunities anciently of Church-Sanctuary as also of Abjuration now abrogated and taken away by Statute 9. The defacing of Tombs Sepulchres or Monuments in Churches punishable at the Common Law also of Right to Pewes and Seats in the Church 10. The Cognizance of Church-Reparations belongs to the Ecclesiastical Court 11. A Prohibition upon a surmize of a custome or usage for Contribution to repair a Church 12. Church-wardens are a Corporation for the Benefit not for the Prejudice of the Church 13. Inheritance cannot be charged with a Tax for Repairs of the Church nor may a perpetual charge be imposed upon Land for the same 14. When the use of Church-Books for Christnings first began 15. Chappel the several kinds thereof The Canonists Conceits touching the derivation of that word 16. Where two Parochial Churches are united the charge of Reparations shall be several as before 17. The Emperour Justinian's
for the visitation of the Ecclesiastical State and Persons and for-Reformation Order and Correction of the same and of all manner of Errors Heresies Schisms Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities shall for ever by Authority of this Parliament be united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm This Act by a former Clause thereof doth Repeal the Statute of 1 and 2 Ph. Ma. c. 8. whereby the Acts of 26 H. 8. c. 1. and 35 H. 8. c. 3. were repealed so that the Act of Repeal being repealed the said Acts of H. 8. were implicitely revived whereby it is declared and enacted That the King his Heirs and Successors should be taken and accepted the only Supream Head in Earth of the Church of England and should have and enjoy annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm as well the Title and style thereof as all Honours Dignities Prebeminencies Jurisdictions c. to the said dignity of Supream Head belonging c. By which Style Title and Dignity the King hath all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whatever And by which Statute the Crown was but remitted and restored to its Ancient Jurisdiction which had been formerly usurped by the Bishop of Rome And this is that Supremacy which is here meant and intended 3. The said Statute of 1 Eliz. c. 1. doth not only repeal the said Stat. of 1 and 2 P. M. c. 8. but it is also a reviver of divers Acts asserting several branches of the Kings Supremacy and re-establishing the same it doth likewise not only abolish all Forreign Authority but also annex the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to the Crown of this Realm with power to assign Commissioners for the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction And then further Enacts to this effect viz. That all Ecclesiastical persons of what degree soever and all and every Temporal Judge Justice Mayor or other Lay or Temporal Officer or Minister and every other person having Fees or wages from the Crown within this Realm or the Dominions thereof shall upon his Corporal Oath testifie and declare in his Conscience That the Kings Majesty is the only Supream Governour of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal And that no Forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction power superiority preheminence or authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm And therefore doth utterly renounce and forsake all Forreign Jurisdictions powers superiorities and authorities and doth promise that from henceforth be shall bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and lawful Successors and to his power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions priviledges preheminencies and authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors or united or annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm The practices of the Romanists in the 4th year of Queen Elizabeth and the danger thereby threatning both the Queen and State occasioned her to call a Parliament 12. Jan. An. 156 2 3 which passed an Act For assurance of the Queens Royal power over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions By which Statute was enacted The Oath of Supremacy as also what persons were obliged to take it and who should have power to administer the same And this was both the original and the cause of that Oath By the said Statute of 1 El. c. 1. appears also what the penalty is for refusing to take the said Oath as also the penalty of maintaining a Forreign Authority as likewise what other persons than the fore-mentioned shall be obliged to take the said Oath which was afterwards again further ratified and established by the Statute of 5 Eliz. c. 1. 4. The King within his own Territories and Dominions is according to Bracton Dei Vicarius tam in Spiritualibus quam Temporalibus And in the Ecclesiastical Laws of Edward the Confessor the King is styled Vicarius summi Regis Reges regunt Ecclesiam Dei in immediate subordination to God Yea the Pope himself Eleutherius An. 169. styled King Lueius Dei Vicarius in Regno suo 5. The Supremacy which heretofore the Pope did usurp in this Kingdom was in the Crown originally to which it is now legally reverted The Kings Supremacy in and over all Persons and Causes Ecclesiastical within his own Dominions is essentially inherent in him so that all such Authority as the Pope here once usurped claiming as Supream Head did originally and legally belong to the Crown and is now re-united to it by several Statutes as aforesaid On this Supremacy of the King as Supream Head Sr. Edward Coke grounds the power of granting a Commission of Review after a Definitive Sentence in the Delegates for one Reason that he gives is because after a Definitive Sentence the Pope as Supream Head by the Canon Law used to grant a Commission Ad Revidendum And such Authority as the Pope had claiming as Supream Head doth of right belong to the Crown Quia sicut Fontes communicant aquas fluminibus cumulative non privitive sic Rex subditis suis Jurisdictionem communicat in Causis Ecclesiasticis vigore Statuti in hujusmodi Casu editi cumulative non privitive By the Second Canon of the Ecclesiastical Constitutions of the Church of England it is ordained That whoever shall affirm that the Kings 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 said Cases restored to the Crown and by the Laws of this Realm therein established shall be Excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publick revocation of those his wicked Errors 7. The King being next under God Supream Governour of the Church of England may Qua talis redress as he shall see cause in all matters of Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction for the conservation of the Peace and Tranquillity of his Realms The Pope as appears by the Stat. of 25 H. 8. c. 21. claimed full power to dispense with all human Laws of all Realms in all Causes which he called Spiritual Now the King as Supream hath the same power in himself within his own Realms legally which the Pope claimed and exercised by Usurpation Eadem praesumitur mens Regis quae est Juris The Kings immediate personal ordinary inherent power which he executes or may execute Authoritate Regia suprema Ecclesiastica as King and Supream Governour of the Church of England is one of these Flowers qui faciunt Coronam Nor is the Kings immediate power restrained by such Statutes as authorize inferiour persons The Lord Chief Justice Hobart asserts That although the Stat. of 25 H. 8. 21. doth say That all Dispensations c. shall be granted in manner and
17. is to that purpose 11. In former times many Bishops had their Suffragans who were also Consecrated as other Bishops were These in the absence of the Bishops upon Embassies or in multiplicity of business did supply their places in matter of Orders but not in Jurisdiction These were chiefly for the ease of the Bishops in the multiplicity of their Affairs ordained in the Primitive times called Chorepiscopi Suffragan or Subsidiary Bishops or Bishops Suffragans and were Titular Bishops Consecrated by the Archbishop of the Province and to execute such Power and Authority and receive such profits as were limited in their Commissions by the Bishops or Diocosans whose Suffragans they were What Towns or Places to be the Sees of Bishops Suffragans and how many to a Diocess and in what Diocesses appears by an Act of Parliament made in the Reign of King H. 8. Such Suffragan Bishops are made in case the Archbishop or some other Bishop desire the same In which case the Bishop presents Two able persons for any place allowed by the said Act of Parliament whereof his Majesty doth chuse one but at present there are no Suffragan Bishops in England They were no other than the Chorepiscopi of the Primitive Times Subsidiary Bishops ordained for easing the Diocesan of some part of his burthen as aforesaid by means whereof they were enabled to perform such Offices belonging to that Sacred Function not limited to time and place by the ancient Canons by which a Bishop was restrained in some certain Acts of Jurisdiction to his proper Diocess Of these there were twenty six in the Realm of England distinguished by the Names of such Principal Towns as were appointed for their Title and Denomination The Names and Number whereof together with the Jurisdiction and preheminences proportioned to them the Reader may peruse in the Act of Parliament made An. 26 H. 8. 12. According to the Temporal Laws of this Land if a Bishop grant Letters of Institution under any other Seal than his Seal of Office and albeit it be out of his Diocess yet it is good For in Cort's Case against the Bishop of St. Davids and others where the Plaintiff offered in evidence Letters of Institution which appeared to be sealed with the Seal of the Bishop of London because the Bishop of St. Davids had not his Seal of Office there and which Letters were made also out of the Diocess It was held That they were good enough albeit they were sealed with another Seal and made out of the Diocess for that the Seal is not material it being an Act made of the Institution And the writing and sealing is but a Testimonial thereof which may be under any Seal or in any place But of that point they would advise 13. A Bishop if he celebrate Divine Service in any Church of his Diocess may require the Offerings of that day He may sequester if the King present not and 12 H. 8. 8. by Pollard he must see the Cure served if the person fail at his own Costs He may commit Administration where Executors being called refuse to prove the Will He hath power of distribution and disposing of Seats and charges of Repairs of the Churches within his Diocess He may award his Jure Patronatus where a Church is Litigious between an Usurper and the other but if he will chuse the Clerk of either at his peril he ought at his peril to receive him that hath Right by the Statute He may License Physicians Chirurgions Schoolmasters and Midwives He may Collate by Lapse He may take competent time to examine the sufficiency and fitness of a Clerk He may give convenient time to persons interested to take notice of Avoidances He is discharged against the true Patron and quit of Disturbance to whom it cannot be imputed if he receive that Clerk that is in pursuance of a Verdict after Inquest in a Jure Patronatus He may have Six Chaplains and every Archbishop may have Eight Chaplains He may unite and consolidate small Parishes and assist the Civil Magistrate in execution of some Statutes concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs And by the Statute of 1 Eliz. cap. 2. any Bishop may at his pleasure joyn and associate himself to the Justices of Oyer and Terminer or to the Justices of Assize at the open and general Sessions to be holden at any place within his Diocess in Causes of the Church And the Statute made 17 Car. 1. c. 27. for the disinabling of persons in Holy Orders to exercise Temporal Jurisdiction or Authority is Repealed by the Statute of 13 Car. 2. cap. 2. whereby they are now enabled to exercise such Temporal Jurisdiction as formerly and is commonly styled the Ordinary of that Diocess where he doth exercise his Episcopal Authority and Jurisdiction In Parliament Bishops as Barons may be present and Vote at the Trial and Arraignment of a Peer only before Sentence of death or loss of Member be pronounced that they may have no hand in blood in any kind they have by Canon Law the Priviledge and Injunction to absent themselves and by Common Law to make Proxies to vote for them 14. ORDINARY according to the acceptation of the Common Law with us is usually taken for him that hath Ordinary Jurisdiction in Causes Ecclesiastical immediate to the King He is in Common understanding the Bishop of the Diocess who is the Supervisor and for the most part Visitor of all his Churches within his Diocess and hath Ordinary Jurisdiction in all the Causes aforesaid for the doing of Justice within his Diocess in jure proprio non per deputationem and therefore it is his care to see that the Church be provided of an able Curate Habet enim Curam Curarum and may execute the Laws of the Church by Ecclesiastical Censures and to him alone are made all Presentations to Churches vacant within his Diocess Ordinarius habet locum principaliter in Episcopo aliis Superioribus qui soli sunt Vniversales in suis Jurisdictionibus sed sunt sub eo alii Ordinarii hi videlicet quibus Competit Jurisdictio Ordinaria de jure privilegio vel consuetudine Lindw cap. Exterior tit de Constitutionib 15. The Jurisdiction of the Ordinary or Bishop as to the Examination of the Clerk or as to the Admission or Institution of him into a Benefice is not Local but it follows the person of the Ordinary or Bishop wheresoever he is And therefore if a Clerk be presented to the Bishop of Norwich to a Church which is void within the Diocess of Norwich who is then in London or if it be to a Bishop of Ireland who is then in England and in London the Ordinary may examine the Clerk or give him Admission or Institution in London And so it was adjudged 16. The Ordinary is not obliged upon a Vacancy to receive the Clerk of him that comes first for as he
but by death or resignation for otherwise Dilapidations should be in the time of the Successor and he cannot maintain Hospitality 8. The wasting of the Woods belonging to a Bishoprick is in the Law understood as a Dilapidation as was formerly hinted Note By Coke Chief Justice a Bishop is only to fell Timber for Building for Fuel and for his other necessary occasions and there is no Bishoprick but the same is on the Foundation of the King the Woods of the Bishoprick are called the Dower of the Church and these are alwaies carefully to be preserved and if he fell and destroy this upon a motion thereof made to us says the Lord Coke we will grant a Prohibition And to this purpose there was a great Cause which concerned the Bishop of Duresm who had divers Cole-Mines and would have cut down his Timber-Trees for the maintenance and upholding of his Works and upon motion in Parliament concerning this for the King Order was there made that the Judges should grant a Prohibition for the King and we will here says he revive this again for there a Prohibition was so granted And so upon the like motion made unto us in the like case we will also for the King grant a Prohibition by the Statute of 35 E. 1. If a Bishop cut down Timber-Tres for any cause unless it be for necessary Reparations as if he sell the same unto a Stranger we will grant a Prohibition And to this purpose I have seen said he a good Record in 25 E. 1. where complaint was made in Parliament of the Bishop of Duresm as before for cutting of Timber-Trees for his Cole-Mines and there agreed that in such a case a Prohibition did lie and upon motion made a Prohibition was then granted and the Reason then given because that this Timber was the Dower of the Church and so it shall be also in the case of a Dean and Chapter in which cases upon this ground we will grant as he said Prohibitions and the whole Court agreed with him herein Also in Sakar's case against whom Judgment being given for Simony yet he being by assent of parties to continue in the Vicarage for a certain time this time being now past and he still continuing in possession and committing of great Waste by pulling down the Glass-windows and pulling up of Planks the Court granted a Prohibition and said That this is the Dower of the Church and we will here prohibit them if they fell and waste the Timber of the Church or if they pull down the houses And Prohibition to prevent Dilapidations and to stay the doing of any Waste was in that case awarded accordingly 9. In a Prohibition the Case was this A Vicar lops and cuts down Trees growing in the Church-yard the Churchwardens hinder him in the carriage of the same away and they being in Trial of this Suit The Churchwardens by their Counsel moved the Court for a Prohibition to the Vicar to stay him from felling any more Coke Chief Justice This is a good cause of Deprivation if he fell down Timber-Trees and Wood this is a Dilapidation and by the Resolution in Parliament a Prohibition by the Law shall be granted if a Bishop fells down Wood and Timber-Trees The whole Court agreed clearly in this to grant here a Prohibition to the Vicar to inhibit him not to make spoil of the Timber this being as it is called in Parliament the Endowment of the Church Coke we will also grant a Prohibition to restrain Bishops from felling the Wood and Timber-Trees of their Churches And so in this principal Case by the Rule of the Court a Prohibition was granted CHAP. XVI Of Patrons de jure Patronatus 1. What Patron properly signifies in the Law the Original thereof and how subject to corruption 2. In what case the Bishop may proceed de jure Patronatus and how the Process thereof is to be executed 3. How the Admittance ought to be in case the same Clerk be presented by two Patrons to the same Benefice 4. In what cases of Avoydance Notice thereof ought to be given to the Patron and what course in that case the Bishop is to take in case he knews not the true Patron 5. Several Appellations in Law importing Patron 6. How many waies a Church may become Litigious 7. Whether an Advowson may be extended 8. In what case the Patron may Present where the King took not his turn upon the first Lapse 9. A Patron may not take any benefit of the Glâ—be during a Vacancy 10. In what case the Patron shall not by bringing the Writ of Qua. Imp. against the Bishop prevent the incurring of the Lapse to the Ordinary 11. The King is Patron Paramount and Patron of all the Bishopricks in England The Charter of King John whereby Bishopricks from being Donative became Elective 1. PATRON by the Canon Law as also in the Feuds wherewith our Common Law doth herein accord doth signifie a person who hath of right in him the free Donation or Gift of a Benefice grounded originally upon the bounty and beneficence of such as Founded Erected or Endowed Churches with a considerable part of their Revenue De Jur. Patronat Decretal Such were called Patroni à patrocinando and properly considering the Primitive state of the Church but now according to the Mode of this degenerating Age as improperly as Mons à movendo for by the Merchandize of their Presentations they now seem as if they were rather the Hucksters than Patrons of the Church But from the beginning it was not so when for the encouragement of Lay-persons to works of so much Piety it was permitted them to present their Clerks where themselves or their Ancestors had expressed their Bounty in that kind whence they worthily acquir'd this Right of Jus Patronatus which the very Canon Law for that reason will not understand as a thing meerly Spiritual but rather as a Temporal annexed to what is Spiritual Quod à Supremis Pontificibus proditum est Laicos habere Jus Praesentandi Clericos Ordinariis hoc singulari favore sustinetur ut allectentur Laici invitentur inducantur ad constructionem Ecclesiarum Nec omni ex parte Jus Patronatus Spirituale censeri debet sed Temporale potius Spirituali annexum Gloss in c. piae mentis 16. q. 7. Coras ad Sacerdot mater par 1. cap. 2. Yet not Temporal in a Merchandable sense unless the Presentor and Presentee will run the hazard of perishing together for prevention whereof provision is made by that Solemn Oath enjoyn'd by the Fortieth Canon of the Ecclesiastical Constitutions whereof there was no need in former Ages less corrupt when instead of selling Presentations they purchased Foundations and instead of erecting Idol-Temples for Covetousness is Idolatry they Founded Built and Endowed Churches for the Worship of the True God Patroni in jure Pontificio dicuntur qui alicujus Ecclesiae extruendae c. Authores
in such Vacancy for the succeeding Parson shall have the Tithes happening during the Vacancy deducting the charges of collecting the same and serving the Cure during such Vacancy Also if an Incumbent be removed in a Quare Impedit the Plaintiff shall not have the main profits And an Incumbent being in by Usurpation he cannot be removed but by a Quare Impedit 4. An Incumbent Resident that keeps a Curate is obliged to read the Common Prayers in his Parish-Church once a month in his own person on pain of forfeiting Five pounds for every omission 5. In Thomson's Case where T. Libelled for Dilapidations against the Executors of his Predecessors and Henden moved for a Prohibition for that that T. is not Incumbent for his Presentation was by the King ratione Minoritatis of one C. and the King had not any such Title to Present for where the King mistakes his Title the Presentation is void and he is no Incumbent 6. Rep. 26. Green's Case And Sir Tho. Gawdy's Case where the King Presented jure Prerogat when he had another Title and the present Action was adjudged void and whether he is Incumbent or not that shall be tried But by the Court a Prohibition was denied because that he was now Incumbent And the Judges would not take notice of the ill Presentation of the King But in case of Simony the Statute makes the Church void and then the Judges may take notice of that and grant a Prohibition if the Parson sues for Tithes But if a Quare Impedit be brought and appears that the King had not cause of Presentation then a Prohibition may be granted which was also granted by all the other Justices Mich. 3 Car. C. B. Thomson 's Case Hetley's Rep. 6. In Dame Chichleys Case against the Bishop of Ely it was said by Henden That an Incumbent by the Statute of 25 Ed. 3. c. 7. cannot plead quatenus such unless he be Incumbent ante diem impetrationis Brevis unless he be Incumbent pendente lite he cannot plead c. Hutton If one be Presented Instituted and Admitted before the Writ and Inducted after and before his Pleader he may plead well 7. A Libel was against H. Vicar of S. in the High Commission-Court at York because that he was not Resident but lived at Doncaster and neglected to serve his Cure and that divers times he when the High Court visited spoke so loud that he was offensive to many and being reproved for that he gave a Scornful Answer And that there was one Wright in the Parish who had a Seat in the Church and that the Vicar would Spit in abundance into the said Seat and that when Wright and his Wife were there And that in his Sermon he made Jests and said That Christ was laid in a Manger because he had no mony to take up a Chamber but that was the knavery of the Inn-keeper he being then in contention with an Inn-keeper in the Parish And that in time of Divine Service he thrust open the door of Wright's Seat and said That he and his Wife would sit there in disturbance of Divine Service And for that a Prohibition was prayed and granted for the High Commission cannot punish Non Residency nor breaking the Seat in Divine Service And the other were things for which he shall be bound to the good behaviour and the Complaint ought to be to the Ordinary 8. Note by Tanfield that by the Statute of 13 Eliz. cap. 20. of Non-Residency That if the Parson be Absent 80 daies in a year although it be at several times viz. ten daies at one time and twenty daies at another time until eighty daies c. That is within the Statute by which it hath been Adjudged 9. The personal Residence of all Ecclesiastical persons on their Cures respectively is a duty so incumbent on them for the better discharge of their Sacred Function the prevention of Dilapidations and the maintenance of Hospitality that it is enacted That every Spiritual person promoted to any Archdeaconry Deanary or Dignity in any Church Cathedral or Collegiate or Beneficed with any Parsonage or Vicarage shall be personally Resident and abiding in at or upon such Dignity Prebend or Benefice or one of them at the least and that if any such person wilfully Absent himself from his said Benefice c. by the space of a Month at one time or two Months at several times in any one year to be accounted at several times that such person so absenting shall forfeit ten pounds for every such default It is also further provided That the Parson or Vicar shall be Resident in and upon his Parsonage or Vicarage-House if he have any and not at any other House in the Parish but if he hath no House on his Glebe or be removed without fraud for his Health or without fraud Imprisoned or be beyond Sea in his Majesties Service or without fraud abide in any University within this Realm to study or be a Chaplain qualified for Plurality by the Statute of 21 H. 8. either of these may excuse his Residence for the time Also the King may give a License to any of his own Chaplains to be Non-Resident And any Ecclesiastical person may be Non-Resident for such time as without fraud he is attending a Suit in Chancery There are also other Chaplains of other persons that are qualified for Non-Residence which for brevities sake are here omitted And where a Chaplain is qualified in respect of his Service for Plurality if his Lord die or be Attainted or be removed from his place it will not it seems suffice that he be Resident only upon one of his Livings without the King 's Special License with a Non obstante 10. The Canon made by Cardinal Otho and afterwards Confirmed and de novo Established by Othobon seems very severe as to Vicars in case of Non-Residence for in their Constitutions it is Ordained That if any Non-Resident shall receive the profits or Fruits of a Vicarage he shall restore the one Moity thereof to the Church one half of the other Moity to the Poor of that Parish and the rest to the Archdeacon of the place if he discharge his duty in making a diligent Enquiry yearly herein and shall forthwith make it known to the Bishop and whoever shall disobey the Premisses by one Month shall also be deprived of his other Benefices if he have any and be rendered incapable of ever having that Vicarage again or any other Benefice for Three years And in case the Archdeacon shall neglect what herein is enjoyned him he shall be deprived of that part allotted him as aforesaid and suspended ab ingressu Ecclesiae Constit Othobon de Residentia Vicariorum 11. The Oath of Residence on a Vicarage is as followeth viz. Ego A. B. juro Quod ero Residens in Vicaria mea nisi aliter dispensatum fuerit à Dioecesano meo What
had before are Bastards at the Common Law and Muliers by the Civil Law If a Man hath Issue by a Woman and after marry the same Woman the Issue by the Common Law is Bastard and Mulier by the Ecclesiastical Law Likewise if a man espouse a Woman bigg with Child by another Man and within three dayes after she is delivered of Child by the Common Law this is a Mulier and by the Ecclesiastical Law a Bastard If a Woman Elope and hath Issue in Adultery such Issue is a Mulier at the Common Law and a Bastard by the Ecclesiastical Law yet if the Woman continue in Adultery and hath Issue such Issue are Bastards even by the Common Law But by the Law of the Land a man may not be reputed a Bastard who is born after Espousals unless there be some special matter in the Case as aforesaid But if a man who hath a wife doth during her life take another wife and hath Issue by her such Issue are Bastards by both the Laws for the second Marriage is void 20. A Divorce causa Praecontractus doth Bastardize the Issue so also doth a Divorce causa Consaguinitatis likewise if the Divorce be Causa Affinitatis it doth Bastardize the Issue and the Law is the same in case the Divorce be causa Frigiditatis A Man hath Issue a Bastard and after marries the same Woman and hath Issue by her divers Sons and then deviseth all his Goods to his Children Q. whether the Bastard shall take by the devise But if the Mother of the Bastard make such a devise it is clear the Bastard shall take because he is known to be Child of the Mother 21. B. contracted himself to A. afterwards A. was Married to F. and cohabited with him whereupon B. sued A. in the Court of Audience and proved the contract and Sentence was there pronounced that she should Marry the said B. and cohabit with him which she did and they had Issue C. B. and the Father died It was argued by the Civilians that the Marriage betwixt B. and A. was void and that C. B. was a Bastard But it was resolved by the Justices that C. the Issue of B. was legitimate and no Bastard 22. The Case was wherein a Man was divorced causa Fridigitatis and afterwards took another Wife and had Issue it was argued by the Civilians and also by the Justices whether the Issue were Bastard or not it was adjudged that the Issue by the second Wife was not a Bastard For that by the Divorce the Marriage was dissolved à vinculo Matrimonii and each of them might Marry again But admit that the second Marriage was voidable yet it good till it be dissolved and so by consequence the Issue born during the Coverture is a lawful Issue 23. Upon an information in the Castle-chamber in Ireland against the Bishop of K. and C. B. and others that by Practice and Combination and by undue course of proceedings they endeavoured to prove the said C. B. who was ever before reputed a Bastard to be the legitimate or lawful Son and Heir of G. B. Esq to the disherison and defamation of E. B. who was the sole Daughter and Heir of the said G. B. And upon Oier of this cause the Case appear'd to be this viz. About twenty six years before the exhibiting of this Bill the said G. B. had Issue the said C. B. on the Body of one J. D. who during the life of G. B. was not reputed his Wife but his Concubine and the said C. B. for all the time aforesaid was only accounted the natural Son of G. B. but not for legitimate Afterwards viz. sixteen years after the birth of C. B. his Mother being then living G. B. took to Wife a Lady of good Estate and Reputation with the assent of her Friends by whom he had Issue the said E. B. and died After the death of the said G. B. the said C. B. his reputed Son nor his Mother who was yet living said nothing by the space of nine years but at last they practiced and combined with the said Bishop of K. being of their Kin and with many others to prove the legitimation of the said C. B. by an irregular and undue course to the intent to bastardize and disinherit the said E. B. according to which practice and combination the Bishop without any Suit commenced or moved in any of the Kings Temporal Courts or any Writ directed to him to certifie Bastardy or Legitimation in that Case and which is more without any Libel exhibited in his Ecclesiastical Court touching that matter of his own will and pleasure privately and not convocatis convocandis nine years after the death of the said G. B. took the depositions of many Witnesses to prove that the said G. B. twenty nine years before had lawfully Married and took to Wife the said J. D. Mother of the said C. B. and that the said C. B. was the legitimate and lawful Son and Heir of the said G. B. And these depositions so taken the said Bishop caused to be engross'd and reduced into the form of a solemn Act and having put his Signature and Seal to that Instrument delivered the same to C. B. who published it and under colour of that Instrument or Act declared himself to be the Son and lawful Heir of the said G. B. c. And for this practice and misdemeanour the said Bishop of K. and others were censured and thereupon these points were resolved 1. That although all Matrimonial causes have of a long time been determinable in the Ecclesiastical Courts and are now properly within the jurisdiction and cognizance of the Clergy yet ab initio non fuit sic For causes of Matrimony as well as cause Testamentary were heretofore civil Causes and appertaining to the civil Magistrate as is well known to all Civilians until the Christian Emperors and Kings as an honour to the Prelates of the Clergy did grant and allow unto them the cognizance and jurisdiction of these Cases And therefore the King of England who is and of right ever was the Fountain of all Justice and Jurisdiction in all Causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil within his own Dominions although that he allow the Prelates of the Church to exercise their several Jurisdictions in those Causes which properly appertain to their cognizance yet by the Rules of the Common Law he hath a superintendency over their proceedings with power of direction how they shall proceed and of restraint and correction if they do not proceed duly in some cases as is evident by the Writs of several natures directed to Bishops by which the King commands them to certifie Bastardy Excommunication Profession Accouplement en Loyal Matrimony De admit Clericis de Cautione admittenda c. as also by the Writs of Prohibition Consultation and Attachment upon a Prohibition 2. It was resolved that
Fees wherewith Churches have been endowed otherwise in possessions of the Church newly purchased by Ecclesiastical persons 10 That such as Abjure the Realm shall be in peace so long as they be in the Church or in the Kings High-way 11 That Religious Houses shall not by compulsion be charged with Pensions resort or Purveyors 12 That a Clerk Excommunicate may be taken by the Kings Writ out of the Parish where he dwells 13 That the examination of the Ability of a Parson presented unto a Benefice of the the Church shall belong unto a Spiritual Judge 14 That the Elections to the Dignities of the Church shall be free without fear of any Temporal power 15 That a Clerk flying into the Church for Felony shall not be compelled to abjure the Realm 16 And lastly That the Priviledge of the Church being demanded in due form by the Ordinary shall not be denied unto the Appealor as to a Clerk confessing Felony before a Temporal Judge 2. In conformity to the premisses there were other Statutes after made in the time of King Ed. 3. whereby it was Enacted 1 That the goods of Spiritual persons should not without their own consents be taken by Purveyors for the King 2 That the King shall not collate or present to any vacant Church Prebend Chappel or other Benefice in anothers Right but within Three years next after the Avoidance 3 That the Temporalties of Archbishops Bishops c. shall not be seized into the Kings hands without a just cause and according to Law 4 That no waste shall be committed on the Temporalties of Bishops during Vacancies and that the Dean and Chapter may if they please take them to Farm 5 And lastly That the Lord Chancellor or Lord Treasurer may during such vacancies demise the Temporalties of Bishopricks to the Dean and Chapter for the Kings use 3. And as there are Articuli Cleri so there are also Articuli Religionis being in all thirty nine Agreed upon at a Convocation of the Church of England Ann. 1562. Ratified by Q. Elizabeth under the Great Seal of England Confirmed and Established by an Act of Parliament with his Majesties Royal Declaration prefixed thereunto Which Act of Parliament requires a Subscription by the Clergy to the said thirty nine Articles the same also being required by the Canons made by the Clergy of England at a Convocation held in London Ann. 1603. and ratified by King James The said Subscription referrs to three Articles 1. That the Kings Majestie under God is the only Supream Governour of the Realm and of all other his Highness Dominions and Countreys c. 2. That the Book of Common Prayer and of Ordaining of Bishops Preists and Deacons containeth nothing in it contrary to the Word of God c. 3. That he alloweth of the said thirty nine Articles of Religion and acknowledgeth them to be agreeable to the Word of God By the Statute of 13. Eliz. 12. the Delinquent is disabled and deprived ipso facto but the Delinquent against the Canon of King James is to be prosecuted and proceeded against by the Censures of the Church And it is not sufficient that one subscribe to the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion with this Addition so far forth as the same are agreeable to the Word of God For it hath been resolved by Wray Cheif Justice and by all the Judges of England That such subscription is not according to the Statute of 13. Eliz. because the Subscription which the Statute requires must be absolute But this is no other then Conditional 4. The Circumspecte agatis is the Title of a Statute made in the 13 th year of Ed. 1. Ann. D. 1285. prescribing certain Cases to the Judges wherein the Kings Prohibition doth not lie As in Case the Church-yard be left unclosed or the Church it self uncovered the Ordinary may take Cognizance thereof and by that Statute no Prohibition lies in the Case Nor in case a Parson demands his Oblations or the due and accustomed Tythes of his Parishioners nor if one Parson sue another for Tythes great or small so as the fourth part of the Benefice be not demanded nor in case a Parson demand Mortuaries in places where they have been used and accustomed to be paid nor if the Prelate of a Church or a Patron demand of a Parson a Pension due to him nor in the Case of laying violent hands on a Clerk nor in Cases of Defamation where Money is not demanded nor in Case of Perjury In all which Cases the Ecclesiastical Judge hath Cognizance by the said Statute notwithstanding the Kings Prohibition So that the end of that Statute is to acquaint us with certain Cases wherein a Prohibition doth not lie And the Statute of 24 Ed. 1. shews in what Case a Consultation is to be granted And by the Statute of 50. Ed. 3. cap. 4. no Prohibition shall be allowed after a Consultation duely granted provided that the matter of the Libel be not enlarged or otherwise changed CHAP. XLIV Of several Writs at the Common Law pertinent to this Subject 1. What the Writ of Darrein Presentment imports in what case it lies and how it differs from a Quare Impedit 2. Assise de utrum what and why so called 3. Quare Impedit what for and against whom it lies 4. What a Ne admittas imports the use and end thereof 5. In what case the Writ Vi Laica removenda lies 6. What the Writ Indicavit imports and the use thereof 7. What the Writ Advocatione Decimarum signifies 8. Admittendo Clerico what and in what Case issuable 9. The Writ Beneficio primo Ecclesiastico habendo what 10. That Writ Cautione Admittenda and the effect thereof 11. The writ of Clerico infra Sacros ordines constituto non eligendo in Officium What the use or end thereof 12. The Writ Clerico capto per Statutum Mercatorum what 13. What the Writ of Clerico convicto commisso Goalae in defectu Ordinarii deliberando was 14. What the Writ of Annua Pensione was anciently 15. The Writ of Vicario deliberando occasione cujusdam Recognitionis what 16. Three Writs relating to Persons excommunicated 17. Assise of Darrein Presentment brought after a Quare Impedit in the same cause abates 18. Difference of Pleas by an Incumbent in respect of his being in by the Presentment of a stranger and in respect of his being in by the Presentment of the Plaintiff himself 19. Notwithstanding a recovery upon a Quare Impedit the Incumbent continues Incumbent de facto until Presentation by the Recoverer 20. Of what thing a Q. Imp. lies and who shall have it 21. Who may have a Quare Impedit and of what things 22. How and for whom the Writ of Right of Advowson lies 23. What the Writ de jure patronatus and how the Law proceeds thereon 24. The Writ of Spoliation what and where it lies 25. The Writ
Vrbis Cantuar. Antiq. pag. 362 363. ubi de Decano Christianitatis But the Deans here specially meant and intended are only such as with the Chapters according to the ancient and genuine use thereof are as Senatus Episcopi to assist the Bishop in his Jurisdiction Cathedral Churches being the first Monuments of Christianity in England So Dr. Hacket in Parliament 1640. The Office and Ecclesiastical Dignity of Archdeacons which you next meet with in this Abridgment is of very great Antiquity There was a sharp Contest above Five hundred years since in the time of King H. 2. between the Archdeacons and the Priors of Winchester and Ely touching the Presentation of their Bishops Elect unto the Metropolitan in order to their Consecration wherein by the Interlocutory of the said Metropolitan the Priors had the Victory Hora congrua Consecrationis instante R. Wintoniensis R. Elyensis Archidiaconi cum Officiales Episcoporum dicantur ad suum spectare contendebant Officium Electiones c. praesentare Metropolitano W. Wintoniensis S. Elyensis Priores in contrarium sentiebant quam enim in Ecclesiis Cathedralibus ubi Canonici divinis mancipantur obsequiis Decani sibi vindicant dignitatem hanc si Monachorum Conventus in Episcopali sede praemineat sibi jure possunt vendicare Priores Sed ut omnis in posterum amputetur occasio Litigandi de Interlocutoria Metropolitani sententia c. Wintoniensis Elyensis Electiâ— ad Priorum suorum praesentationem recepti ad Priorum suorum postulationem Episcopi Consecrati sunt Radulph de Diceto Imag. Hist. By the 25th Canon of the Council of Lateran under Pope Alexander it was Ordained That an Archdeacon in his Visitation should not exceed the numqer of Five or Seven Horsemen for his Retinue Chron. Gervas de Temp. H. 2. And as to the Visitation-Articles every Bishop and Archdeacon heretofore framed a Model thereof for themselves but at the Convocation in the year 1640. a Body thereof was composed for the publick use of all such as exercised Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction And by the foresaid Canon of the Council of Lateran it was further Ordained That no Archdeacon in his Visitation should presume to exact from the Clergy more than was justly due Archidiaconi autem sive Decani nullas exactiones in Presbyteros seu Clericos exercere praesumant Notwithstanding what toleration the Law allows as to Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons c. as to the number of their Retinue in their Visitations yet therein respect is ever to be had to the condition of the Churches Persons and Places Visited as may plainly appear by the express words of the Canon aforesaid viz. Sane quod de numero evectionis secundum tolerantiam dictum est in illis Locis poterit observari in quibus ampliores sunt redditus Ecclesiasticae facultates In pauperibus autem Locis tantam volumus teneri mensuram ut ex accâ—ssu majorum minores non debeant gravari ne sub tali indulgentia illi qui paucioribus Equis uti solebant hactenus plurium sibi credant potestatem indultam So that no Archdeacon or other having Right of Visitation ought by what the Law allows them in that case to exercise their power in this matter beyond what the condition of the place Visited will reasonably admit In all Visitations of Parochial Churches made by Bishops and Archdeacons the Law hath provided that the Charge thereof should be answered by the Procurations then due and payable by the Inferiour Clergy wherein Custome as to the Quantum shall prevail but the undue Demands and supernumerary Attendants of Visitors have Anciently as well as in Later times given the occasion of frequent Contests and Complaints For prevention whereof it was Ordained by the 25th Canon of the Council of Lateran under Pope Alexander circa An. 1179. in haec verba viz. Cum quidam Fratrum Coepiscoporum nostrorum ita graves in Procurationibus subditis suis existunt ut pro hujusmodi causa interdum ipsa Ecclesiastica Ornamenta subditi compellantur exponere longi temporis victum brevis hora consumat Quocirca statuimus Quod Archiepiscopi Parochias Visitantes pro diversitate Provinciarum facultatibus Ecclesiarum 40 vel 50 evectionis Numerum Episcopi 20 vel 30 Cardinales vero 20 vel 25 nequaquam excedunt Archidiaconi vero Quinque aut Septem Decani Constituti sub Episcopis Duobus Equis contenti existant Prohibemus etiam ne subditos suos talliis exactionibus Episcopi gravare praesumant Archidiaconi autem sive Decani nullas exactiones vel tallias in Presbyteros seu Clericos exercere praesumant vid. Chron. Gervas de Temp. H. 2. col 1455. can 25. whereby it is evident that these Procurations ought to be so moderated by the Bishops as that they may not become a burthen or grievance to the Clergy The lawfulness of these Episcopal and Archidiaconal Rights of Procurations are not to be called into question at this day for in all the Establishments and Ordinations of Vicarages upon the Ancient Appropriations of Churches you shall find these Procurations excepted and reserved in statu Quo As appears by these of Feversham and Middleton when by William the Conqueror they were Appropriated to the Abbey of St. Austins as also by these of Wivelsberg Stone and Brocland in Kent when they were Appropriated to the same Abbey by the Charter of King Ed. 3. and in that of the Parish of Stone aforesaid Pentecostals by name are reserved in these words Nihilominus solvet Procurationem debitam Archidiacono Cantuariensi Visitanti expensas pro Pentecostalibus faciendis vid. Chron. W. Thorne Appropria Eccles col 2089. Hist Angl. What Procurations the Archbishop of Messena who arrived in England as the Popes Legate in the year 1261. exacted and extorted from the Bishops and Abbots with great violence in the Reign of King H. 3. you may find in Matthew Paris But by the Fourth Canon of the Council at Rome under Pope Alex. 3. An. 1180. it was Ordained That Bishops and Archbishops in their Visitations should not overcharge the Church of their Bounds with unnecessary charges and expences specially the Churches that are poor No sooner had Princes in Ancient times assign'd and limited certain Matters and Causes controversal to the cognizance of Bishops and to that end dignified the Episcopal Order with an Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction but the multiplicity and emergency of such affairs requir'd for the dispatch and management thereof the assistance of such subordinate Ordinaries as being experienc'd in the Laws adapted to the nature of such Causes might prove a sufficient Expedient to prevent the avocation of Bishops by reason of such Litigious interpositions from the discharge of the more weighty Concerns of that Sacred Function Hence it is supposed that the Ecclesiastical Office of Diocesan Chancellors Commissaries and Officials originally came into use and practice the place of their Session anciently styled the Bishops
and thereon the Ordinaries Approbation the way is open for Admission if no other Legal impediment appears to the Ordinary yet the Canon requires that notwithstanding the Bishops Approbation upon the party's Examination he may not Ordain him unless he hath in esse or posse a promise or a prospect of some Ecclesiastical Living whereof to assume the Cure and whereon to receive subsistance unless the Ordinary will maintain him until he be so provided in case he hath not of his own wherewith to subsist without such provision for our Law and Practice both requires that they should be Incumbents and not Mendicants By the Fifth Canon or Constitution made by that great Convention of no less than One hundred and Eighty Bishops at Rome under Pope Alexander the Third it was Ordained That if any Bishop should Admit any man to be a Presbyter or a Deacon without the Title of a Place that may afford unto him things necessary for the maintenance of his life Let the Bishop himself sustain him until he provide a Living for him except he be able of his own patrimony to sustain himself In the Council of Carthage it was Ordained Quod nullus ordinetur Clericus nisi probatus aut examine Episcoporum aut populari testimonio cap. Nullus 24. dist And by the Council of Pope Martinus it was Decreed That all such as were Ordained Presbyters or Deacons without Examination were to be expell'd the Clergy c. si 24. Dist The Subject-matter whereon they are to be Examined differs with us from that used in the Church of Rome chiefly in these Three particulars viz. Quoad Genus quoad Patriam quoad Fidem vid. c. quando 24. Dist There are several ancient Canons which give this Jus Examinationis to Archdeacons c. adhaec c. ut nostrum De Offic. Arch. c. si quis 94. Dist yet Rebuffus tells us that at this day in France they have lost that part of their Office by a kind of desuetude or disuse thereof it now wholly belonging to the Episcopal Order in that Kingdom as in this and most other Churches of Christendom c. Si servus 54. Dist c. accepimus de aetate qualitate Vacatio Beneficii or the Avoidance of an Ecclesiastical Benefice which you meet with also in the ensuing Abridgment as it is opposed to Plenarty is the want of a lawful Incumbent during which vacancy the Law looks on the Church quasi viduata without her Spiritual husband and our Common Law on the Possessions thereof as in abeiance An Avoidance in the causes thereof as practicable with us differs much from that at the Canon Law where there are thrice as many as are in use with us Rebuffus enumerates above Thirty Causes of such Avoidances but of such relation to the Pontifical Constitutions that not above a Third part of them takes place in this Realm It is Quaestio Juris whether a Benefice be void before Sentence Judicially pronounced albeit in the Law it be said Quod ipso facto sit privatus Admitting the Crime to be committed for which the Law says he shall be deprived ipso facto yet the Question is held in the Negative unless it plainly appears that the mind of the Legislators were otherwise as if those words were added viz. Beneficium eo ipso vacare ita ut alteri Libere possit conferri c. Dudum 2. de Elect. As when one takes a second Benefice Incompatible Aquin. 2. 2. q. 62. art 3. Cajetan ib. Sotus lib. 1. de Just q. 6. art 7. Covar de Matrim p. 2. cap. 6. § 8. nu 9 13. and generally the Modern DD. But the Question is put a little further As whether the Benefice be void when it is said in the Law Sit privatus ipso facto absque alia declaratione Covarruvios Sotus and Henriquez de Excom c. 56. and many other of the later Writers are of Opinion that it is not void but that a declaratory Sentence of the Crime is requisite and that Clause absque alia declaratione is to be understood of a declaration of the penalty incurred not of the Crime committed which exposition of the words though it may seem somewhat strained is notwithstanding by the frequent use and practice thereof among the Canonists sufficiently confirmed And those Laws which say that the Benefice shall be void ipso jurc as in Extrav Ambitiosae De reb Eccl. do not seem to be taken in that strict and rigorous sense Vt sponte teneatur se Reus spoliare Less de Just Jur. lib. 2. cap. 29. de Judice Dub. 8. nu 68. If it shall hence be demanded of what force energy or operation then are such Laws whereby a man is ipso jure deprived of his Benefice by reason either of some Crime committed or another Benefice Incompatible accepted the Answer which the Canonists make to it is That by the words ipso jure privatus Beneficio the Offender doth immediately lose the very Title he had to the Benefice insomuch as that he is no longer Dominus Beneficii yet doth retain the possession thereof of which he cannot be Deprived nisi causa cognita without a fair Trial at Law Gloss in c. Licet Episcopus 28. de Praebendis in 6. DD. ibi Note This is not said by way of interpretation of these words ipso jure in any Statute Law of this Realm but by way of Exposition thereof among the Canonists Although the Clergy have ever been had in the highest repute both with Prince and People where the Gospel hath been received and have been honoured with divers Priviledges and Immunities above the Laity yet the Law hath ever held it as prejudicial to the Church That Plures honores Ecclesiastici uni personae sint tribuendi At a Council conven'd at Westminster in the Five and twentieth year of the Reign of H. 1. being above Five hundred years since Honorius 2. then Pope in this Synod it was Ordained in these words Praecipimus ne uni personae in Ecclesia Archidiaconatus aut diversi tribuantur honores To this purpose is the Third Canon of the Lateran Council under Pope Alex under Quia nonnulli diversas Ecclesiasticas Dignitates plures Ecclesias Parochiales contra Sacrorum Canonum instituta nituntur adquirere ita ut cum unum Officium vix implere sufficiant stipendia sibi vendicent plurimorum ne id de caetero fiat districtius inhibemus Et quia tantum quorundam processit ambitio ut non duas vel tres sed Sex vel plures Ecclesias perhibeantur habere nec duabus possunt debitam provisionem impendere per Fratres Coepiscopos nostros hoc emendari praecipimus Likewise Gregory the Tenth who succeeded Clement at a Council at Lyons Pluralitatem Beneficiorum Curatorum damnavit Hen. de Knyghton de Event Angl. lib. 2. In like manner it appears by the Fourteenth Canon of the Council at Rome under Pope Alexander 3. An. 1180. That
whatsoever Name or Names they may be called in their Convocation in time coming which alwaies shall be assembled by the Kings Writ unless the same Clergy may have the Kings most Royal assent and License to make promise and execute such Canons Constitutions and Ordinances Provincial or Synodical upon pain of every one of the said Clergy doing the contrary to this Act and thereof convicted to suffer Imprisonment and making Fine at the Kings will Since this year from Archbishop Cranmer to this day all Convocations are to have the Kings leave to debate on matters of Religion and their Canons besides his Royal assent an Act of Parliament for their Confirmation And as to the General Councils there are not any of them of use in England except the first Four General Councils which are established into a Law by King and Parliament The Learned Bishop Prideaux in his Synopsis of Councils gives us the definition of Synodographie and says It is such a Methodical Synopsis of Councils and other Ecclesiastical Meetings as whereby there may be a clear discovery to him that doubts how any Case may be enquired after and what may be determined concerning the same And then immediately after gives us the definition of a Council which he calls a Free Publick Ecclesiastical Meeting especially of Bishops as also of other Doctors lawfully deputed by divers Churches for the examining of Ecclesiastical Causes according to the Scriptures and those according to the power given by Common Suffrages without favour of parties to be determined in matters of Faith by Canons in cases of Practice by Presidents in matters of Discipline by Decrees and Constitutions Of these Councils he observes some to have been Judaical others Apostolical others Oecumenical some Controverted others Rejected and some National to all which he likewise adds Conferences 1 Under the Title of Judaical Councils he comprehends the more solemn Meetings about extraordinary affairs for the Confirming Removing or Reforming any thing as the matter required Such he observes to have been at Sichem under Josuah and Eleazer Josh 24. At Jerusalem the first under David Gad and Nathan being his Assistants 1 Chro. 13. At Carmelita under Ahab and Elias 1 King 18. At Jerusalem the Second under Hezekiah 2. Chro. 29. At Jerusalem the Third under Josiah and Hilkiah 2 Kin. 33. 2 Chro. 34. At Jerusalem the Fourth under Zorobabel and Ezra and the Chief of the Jews that return'd from the Captivity of Babylon And lastly that which is called the Synod of the Wise under John Hircanus Genebrand Chron. l. 2 p. 197. 2 The Apostolical Councils he observes to have been for the substituting of Matthias in the place of Judas Act. 1. For the Election of Seven Deacons Act. 6. For not pressing the Ceremonial Law Act. 15. 11. For the toleration of some Legal Ceremonies for a time to gain the Weak by such condescension Matth. 21. 18. For composing the Apostles Creed For obtruding to the Church 85 Canons under the notion of the Apostles authority concerning which there are many Controversies Lastly for the Meeting at Antioch where among Nine Canons the Eighth commanded Images of Christ to be substituted in the room of Heathenish Idols the other pious Canons being destitute of the Synods authority vid. Bin. Tom. 1. p. 19. Longum p. 147. 3 Of Oecumenical or General Councils some were Greek or Eastern others were Latin or Western The more Famous of the Oecumenical Greek Councils were the Nicene the first of Constantinople the first of Ephesus the first of Chalcedon Of Constantinople the second of Constantinople the third The Nicene the second The more Famous of the Oecumenical Latin Councils were at Ariminum the Lateran at Lions at Vienna the Florentine the Lateran the fifth and lastly at Trent 4 Of Controverted Councils if that distinction be admissable according to the Classis thereof digested by Bellarmine the Computation is at Constantinople the fourth at Sardis at Smyrna at Quinisext at Francfort at Constance and at Basil 5 Of Rejected Councils whereby are intended such as either determine Heretical Opinions or raise Schisms the Computation is at Antioch at Milain at Seleucia at Ephesus the second at Constantinople at Pisa the first and at Pisa the second 6 Of National Synods which comprehend the Provincials of every Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishop the distribution is into Italian Spanish French German Eastern African Britain 7 To these may be added Ecclesiastical Conferences which were only certain Meetings of some Divines wherein nothing could be Canonically determined and therefore needless to be here particularly inserted vid. B. Prideaux Synops of Counc vers fin The grand Censure of the Church whereby it punisheth obstinate Offenders is by way of Excommunication which though the Canonists call Traditio Diabolo or giving the Devil as it were Livery and Seizin of the Excommunicate person yet the Romanists have a Tradition that St. Bernard Excommunicated the Devil himself Sanctus Bernardus plenus virtutibus quadam die praesentibus Episcopis clero populo Excommunicavit quendam Diabolum Incubum qui quandam mulierem in Britannia per septeunium vexabat sic Liberata est ab eo Chron. Jo. Bromton de Temp. H. 1. A miraculous Excommunication and a Sovereign Remedy against Diabolical incubations The Excommunication which St. Oswald pronounced against one who would not be perswaded to be reconciled to his Adversary had nothing so good though a more strange effect for that Excommunicated him out of his Wits and had it not been for Wolstan who as miraculously cur'd him you might have found him if not in Purgatory then in Bedlam at this day Illi cujus es says Sanctus Oswaldus Te commendo carnem Sathanae tuam trado Statim ille dentibus stridere spumas jacere caput rotare incipit Qui tamen à Wolstano sanatus cum Pacem adhuc recusaret iterum tertio est arreptus simili modo quousque ex corde injuriam remitteret offensam If you have not faith enough to believe this on the Credit of Abbot Brompton who Chronicled from the year 588 in which St. Austin came into England to the death of King Richard the First which was in the year 1198. if you have not I say faith enough for the premisses you are not like to be supplied with any on this side Rome unless you have it from Henry de Knighton Canon of Leyster who wrote the Chronicle De Eventibus Angliae from King Edgars time to the death of King Richard the Second for he in his Second Book de Temp. W. 2. doth put it under his infallible pen for an undeniable Truth And indeed is much more probable than what the said Abbot reports touching St. Austins raising to life the Priest at Cumpton in Oxfordshire 150 years after his death to absolve a penitent Excommunicate that at the same time rose also out of his grave and walked out of the Church at St. Austins command That no
but not as to his Judicial Office as to Confirm Leases and the like By the Canon Law he that is the Archipresbyter is also called Dean scil Presbyterorum vel Ecclesiae Cap. ad haec De Offic. Archidiac Cano. innovamus 60. Distinct And because the Dean of a Church understand it of the Roman Church in locum Archipresbyteri subrogatus est Rotae Decis 451. in novis rursum in Decis 443. The Archipresbyter was so called because he was in some certain matters and causes set or appointed over the Priests or Presbyters and such as were of the Sacerdotal Office specially in the absence of the Bishop Cap. 1. 2. De Offic Archipresb The Dean is such a Dignity that the Canon Law styles him honorabiliorem partem Capituli Cap. post Electionem c. 7. de Concess Praebend c. cum inter ca. 18. ibi Panor gloss de Elect. And in a large sense a Dean may be said to be the chief of any that are of the same state and order Gloss in rubr de Decanis lib. 12. C. ibi Alceat and so the Canons of the Church of Constantinople tanquam Digniores were by Honorius and Theodosius called Decani L. non plures 4. de Sacros Eccles lib. 1. C. tit 5. and the more honourable inter Rotae Auditores is the Dean of the Pope's Chappel propter Ministerium quod vocatur Mithrae Lud. Gomes in proaem ad Reg. Cancell de Prothonotariis The truth is the Canon Law in express terms says that Deconatus or a Deanary est Nomen speciale Dignitatis Cap. cum illis vero § illis de Praebend in 6. that is when it refers to praeeminency in any Church Cathedral or Collegiate Gemin Cons 131. nu 5. ver expressit de Deconatu For as to Deans Rural it is otherwise Cap. licet Canon de Elect. in 6. the Dignity qua talis belonging properly to the other viz. Decano Capituli who is Caput principale ipsius yet under the notion or appellation of a Chapter the Dean thereof is not comprehended unless he be specially mentioned or nominated Rebuff in Tract nominat q. 8. nu 33. Barbos in 3 Decret c. post Electionem de Concess Praebend nu 3. 8. Chapter Capitulum so termed by the Canonists not properly but metaphoricaily quasi a Little head or a kind of Head not only to rule and govern the Diocess in the Vacation of the Bishoprick but also when the See is full to assist the Bishop as a Council by way of Advice in matters pertaining to the Diocess Vid. Panor in cap. Capitulum extra de Rescript The Chapter consisting of a Dean Canons and Prebends is Clericorum Congregatio sub uno Decano in Ecclesia Cathedrali or it signifies Congregationem Clericorum in Ecclesia Cathedrali Conventuali Regulari vel Collegiata Of these Chapters some are Ancient some New the New are those which were founded or translated by King Henry the Eighth in the places of Abbots and Covents or Priors and Covents Or those which are annexed unto new Bishopricks founded by H. 8. as were Bristol Chester and Oxford This word Capitulum or Chapter hath in addition to the Premisses other significations in Lindwoods Provincials where he speaks de Capitulis Ruralibus of Chapters Rural Lindw tit de Constit cap. quia incontinentiae gloss verb. Capitulis Ruralibus and there acquaints us with no less than six significations of this word Sometimes says he it is taken for the place in quo fiunt Communes tractatus Collegiatorum Sometimes it is taken for the place In quo fiunt Disciplinae delinquentium Cap. Reprehensibilis in fi Extr. de Appell Sometimes it is taken pro Decretali vel abia certa distinctione Sacrae Scripturae Cap. cum supr Extr. de Sepult Sometimes it is taken pro Capitulis Ruralibus as aforesaid that is when in Lecis minus insignibus viz. in Rure Constitutis known by the name of Conventus in Otho's Constitutions Cap. Sacramenta ad finem ver Conventib Sometimes it is taken for a Collection of persons adinvicem de his quae eis incumbunt in Locis ad hoc assignatis tractantium and being taken in this sense it may be understood sometimes for persons Congregated in a Metropolitan or Cathedral Church and sometimes for persons congregated in a Church Conventual Regular or Collegiate and each of these last may in a large sense be said to be a Collegiate Church according to the description thereof viz. That Ecclesia Collegiata est Collectio hominum simul viventium but to speak properly that is Capitulum which is respectis Ecclesiae Cathedralis That Conventus which is respectu Ecclesiae Regularis and that Collegium which is respectu Ecclesiae Inferioris ubi est Collectio viventium in Communi And sometimes Capitulum is taken for a Collection of many persons not living in Common sed ob tracatus Communes inter se habendos ad aliquem locum Constuentium according to which a convening together of many Rectors Vicars and other Ecclesiastical persons ob tractatus communes inter se habendos etiam dicitur Capitulum Panormitan understands it pro Collectione seu pro Collegio ipsorum Canonicorum but withal says it hath divers significations all which he comprizes in this one Verse Distinguit minuit Locat Collectio fertur Distinguit when one Subject is distinguished from another in any Tract or Treatise Minuit when it stands diminutively Capitulum quasi parvum Caput as aforesaid understand it secundum modum Locat when it is taken for the Place it self where the Canons are met or conven'd Collectio and so it is taken pro ipso Collegio as aforesaid Panorm de Rescript Extr. c. Capitum Whereof there are three inseparable signs as one Common Seal one Common Stock or Treasure and one Common Head or Rector 9. By the Canon Law the words Capitulum Conventus Coetus and Concilium are as it were Synonymous but the terms Capitulum and Conventus are frequently used Promiscuously But to speak properly according to that Law Conventus is said to be Congregatio Ecclesiae Regularis and Capitulum or a Chapter is said to be Congregatio Ecclesiae Secularis The word Chapter taken as here in a proper Canon-sense is a name Collective having a Plural signification yet in reference to different things may be accommodated as well to the Singular as the Plural 10. A Chapter Ecclesiae Cathedralis consists of persons Ecclesiastical Canons and Prebendaries whereof the Dean is chief all subordinate to the Bishop to whom they are as Assistants in matters relating to the Church for the better ordering and disposing the things thereof and for Confirmation of such Leases of the Temporalties and Offices relating to the Bishoprick as the Bishop from time to time shall happen to make It seems that at the Common Law by the Gift or Grant of Lands to a Dean and Chapter being a Corporation Aggregate the Inheritance or
Bishops Visitation mutually to certifie each other under their Hands and Seals the Names and Crimes of all such as were Presented in the said Visitation Nor shall any Chancellor or other Ecclesiastical Judge suffer any Judicial Act to be sped otherwise than in open Court or in presence of the Register or his Deputy or other person by Law allowed to speed the same nor shall have without the Bishops consent any more Seals of Office than one Nor shall any man be admitted a Chancellor or to exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under the age of 26 years and learned in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws and is at least a Master of Arts or Bachelor of Law and shall first have taken the Oath of Supremacy in the Bishops presence or in open Court and have subscribed the Articles of Religion and swear that to the utmost of his understanding he will deal uprightly and justly in his Office without respect favour or reward 4. Sutton Chancellor of the Bishop of Gloucester moved for a Prohibition to stay a Suit before the Commissioners Ecclesiastical for that Articles were there exhibited against him because he being a Divine and having a Rectory with Cure of Souls and never brought up in the Science of the Civil or Canon Laws or having any Intelligence in them took upon him the Office of the Chancellor of the Bishop of Gloucester whereas there were divers Canons and Ecclesiastical Constitutions and also directions from the late King James and from the King that now is That none should be admitted to have those Offices of Chancellorship to a Bishop unless he were instructed and learned in the Canon and Civil Laws because divers Cases triable in the said Court are of weight and the Judges there ought to have knowledge of the Laws otherwise they cannot administer Right to the Kings Subjects Upon these Articles Mr. Sutton being examined confessed that he was a Divine and had a Spiritual Living and that the Office of the Chancellorship of the Bishop is grantable for life and that such a Bishop of Gloucester had granted to him the Office for his life which the Dean and Chapter had Confirmed whereby he had a Freehold therein and ought to enjoy it during his life And that notwithstanding this Answer they intended to proceed against him wherefore he prayed to have a Prohibition but the Court denied it for if he be a person unskilful in these Laws and by Law ought not to enjoy it they may peradventure examine that for although a Lay-person by his Admission and Institution to a Benefice hath a Freehold yet he may be sued in the Spiritual Court and deprived for that Cause but if he hath wrong he may peradventure by Assize try it therefore a Prohibition was denied 5. The Consistory Court of each Archbishop and every Bishop of every Diocess within this Realm is holden before the Bishops Chancellor in the Cathedral Church or before his Commissary in places of his Diocess far remote and distant from the Bishops Consistory so as the Chancellor cannot call them to the Consistory with any conveniency or without great travel and vexation for which reason such Commissary is called Commissarius Foraneus From these Consistories the Appeal is to the Archbishop of either Province respectively 6. By this word Consistory is commonly understood that place or Ecclesiastical Court of Justice held by the Bishops Chancellor or Commissary in his Cathedral Church or other convenient place of his Diocess for the hearing and determining of matters and Causes of Ecclesiastical cognizance happening within that Diocess But when this word refers to the Province of Canterbury then the chief and most ancient Consistory is the Arch-bishops high Court of Arches as the Court of Appeal from all other Inferiour Consistories within the said Province The same word sometimes refers to a Synod or Council of Ecclesiastical persons conven'd together or to a Cession or Assembly of Prelates but most usually to the Spiritual Court for the deciding of matters of Ecclesiastical cognizance The word Consistory Consistorium is supposed to be borrowed of the Italians or rather Lombards signifying as much as Praetorium or Tribunal being a word utriusque juris and frequently used for a Council-house of Ecclesiastical persons or the place of Justice in the Court Christian 7. The Consistories of Archbishops and Bishops are supposed to begin within this Realm in the time of William the Conquerour which seems very conjecturable from that Charter of his which Sir Ed. Coke in the fourth part of his Institutes mentions to have found Enrolled 2 R. 2. nu 5. Which Charter and Record of great Antiquity asserting not only the Episcopal Consistories but also the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction it cannot be supposed but that it ought to be recited here in terminis per extensum viz. Willielmus gratia Dei Rex Anglorum Comitibus Vicecomitibus omnibus Francigenis quibus in Episcopatu Remigii terras habentibus salutem Sciatis vos omnes caeteri mei Fideles qui in Anglia manent quod Episcopales Leges quae non bene nec secundum Sanctorum Canonum Praecepta usque ad mea tempora in Regno Anglorum fuerunt Communi Concilio Concilio Archiepiscoporum meorum caeterorum Episcoporum Abbatum omnium Principum Regni mei Emendandas judicavi Propterea Mando Regia authoritate Praecipio ut nullus Episcopus vel Archidiaconus de Legibus Episcopalibus amplius in Hundretto Placita teneant nec causam quae ad Regimen animarum pertinet ad Judicium Secularium hominum adducant sed quicunque secundum Episcopales Leges de quacunque causa vel culpa interpellatus fuerit ad locum quem ad hoc Episcopus elegerit nominaverit veniat ibique de causa sua respondeat non secundum Hundrettum sed secundum Canones Episcopales Leges Rectum Deo Episcopo suo faciat Si vero aliquis per superbiam elatus ad Justitiam Episcopalem venire non voluerit vocetur semel secundo tertio quod si nec sic ad emendationem venerit Excommunicetur si opus fuerit ad hoc vindicand ' fortitudo Justitia Regis vel Vicecomitis adhibeatur Ille autem qui vocatus ad Justitiam Episcopi venire noluit pro unaquaque vocatione legem Episcopalem emendabit hoc etiam Defendo mea authoritate interdico ne ullus Vicecom aut praepositus aut minister Regis nec aliquis Laicus homo de Legibus quae ad Episcopum pertinent se intromittat nec aliquis Laicus homo alium hominem sine Justitia Episcopi ad Judicium adducat Judicium vero in nullo loco portetur nisi in Episcopali Sede aut in illo loco quem ad hoc Episcopus constituerit 8. For the Confirmation of this Charter Sir Ed. Coke in the foresaid part of his Institutes refers us to the Register of
that upon such Appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain persons particularly designed for that business so that from the highest Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury there lies an Appeal to this Court of Delegates Of this Subject of Appeals the Lord Coke says That an Appeal is a Natural defence which cannot be taken away by any Prince or power and in every Case generally when Sentence is given and Appeal made to the Superiour the Judge that did give the Sentence is obliged to obey the Appeal and proceed no further until the Superiour hath examined and determined the cause of Appeal Nevertheless where this Clause Appellatione remota is in the Commission the Judge that gave Sentence is not bound to obey the Appeal but may execute his Sentence and proceed further until the Appeal be received by the Superiour and an Inhibition be sent unto him For that Clause Appellatione remota hath Three notable effects 1 That the Jurisdiction of the Judge à quo is not by the Appeal suspended or stopped for he may proceed the same notwithstanding 2 That for proceeding to Execution or further process he is not punishable 3 That these things that are done by the said Judge after such Appeal cannot be said void for they cannot be reversed per viam Nullitatis But if the Appeal be just and lawful the Superiour Judge ought of right and equity to receive and admit the same and in that case he ought to reverse and revoke all mean Acts done after the said Appeal in prejudice of the Appellant At the Parliament held at Clarendon An. 10 H. 2. cap. 8. the Forms of Appeals in Causes Ecclesiastical are set down within the Realm and none to be made out of the Realm Ne quis appellat ad dominum Papam c. so that the first Article of the Statute of 25 H. 8. concerning the prohibiting of Appeals to Rome is declaratory of the ancient Law of the Realm And it is to be observed says the Lord Coke that the first attempt of any Appeal to the See of Rome out of England was by Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury in the Reign of William Rufus and yet it took no effect Touching the power and Jurisdiction of the Court of Delegates Vid. le Case Stevenson versus Wood. Trin. 10 Jac. B. R. Rot. 1491. in Bulstr Rep. par 2. wherein these Three points are specially argued 1 Whether the Judges Delegates may grant Letters of Administration 2 Whether in their person the King be represented 3 Whether the Court of Delegates may pronounce Sentence of Excommunication or not 14. The High Commission-Court in Causes Ecclesiastical was by Letters Patents and that by force and virtue of the Statute of 1 Eliz. cap. 1. the Title whereof is An Act restoring to the Crown the Ancient Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical c. the High Commissioners might if they were competent that is if they were Spiritual persons proceed to Sentence of Excommunication What the power of this Court was and whether they might in Causes Ecclesiastical proceed to Fine and Imprisonment is at large examined by the Lord Coke in the Fourth part of his Institutes where he reports the Judgment and Resolutions of the whole Court of Common Pleas thereon Pasch 9 Jac. Reg. upon frequent Conferences and mature deliberation set down in writing by the order and command of King James Likewise whom and in what Cases the Ecclesiastical Courts may examine one upon Oath or not there being a penal Law in the Case and whether the saying Quod nemo tenetur seipsum prodere be applicable thereunto Vid. Trin. 13 Jac. B. R. Burroughs Cox c. against the High Commissioners Bulstr par 3. 15. The Statutes of 24 H. 8. and 25 H. 8. do Ordain That upon certain Appeals the Sentence given shall be definitive as to any further Appeal notwithstanding which the King as Supream Governour may after such definitive Sentence grant a Commission of Review or Ad Revidendum c. Sir Ed. Coke gives two Reasons thereof 1 Because it is not restrained by the Statute 2 For that after a definitive Sentence the Pope as Supream Head by the Canon Law used to grant a Commision Ad Revidendum and what Authority the Pope here exercised claiming as Supream Head doth of right belong to the Crown and by the Statutes of 26 H. 8. cap. 1. and 1 Eliz. cap. 1. is annexed to the same Which accordingly was Resolved Trin. 39 Eliz. B. R. Hollingworth's Case In which Case Presidents to this purpose were cited in Michelot's Case 29 Eliz. in Goodman's Case and in Huet's Case 29 Eliz. Also vid. Stat. 8 Eliz. cap. 5. In the Case between Halliwell and Jervoice where a Parson sued before the Ordinary for Tithes and thence he appeals to the Audience where the Sentence is affirmed then the party appeals to the Delegates and there both Sentences are Repealed It was agreed That in such case a Commission Ad Revidendum the Sentences may issue forth but then such a Reviewing shall be final without further Appeal But if the Commissioners do not proceed to the Examination according to the Common Law they shall be restrained by a Prohibition 16. The Court of Peculiars is that which dealeth in certain Parishes lying in several Diocesses which Parishes are exempt from the Jurisdiction of the Bishops of those Diocesses and are peculiarly belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury Within whose Province there are fifty seven such Peculiars for there are certain peculiar Jurisdictions belonging to some certain Parishes the Inhabitants whereof are exempt sometimes from the Archdeacons and sometimes from the Bishops Jurisdiction 17. If a Suit be in the Ecclesiastical Court for a Modus Decimandi if the Desendant plead payment it shall be tryed there and no Prohibition may be granted for that the Original Suit was there well commenced So if payment be pleaded in a Suit depending in the Ecclesiastical Court for any thing whereof they have the original cognizance But if a man sue for Tithes in the Ecclesiastical Court against J. S. and makes Title to them by a Lease made to him by the Parson and J. S. there also makes Title to them by a former Lease made to him by the same Parson so that the Question there is which of the said Leases shall be preferred In this case a Prohibition shall be granted for they shall not try which of the said Leases shall be preferr'd although they have cognizance of the Original for the Leases are Temporal If a man having a Parsonage Impropriate make a Lease for years of part of the Tithes by Deed and the Deed be denied in the Ecclesiastical Court and Issue taken thereon a Prohibition shall be granted If a Parson compound with his Parishioner for his Tithes and by his Deed grant them to him for a certain Sum for one year according to Agreement and after he
Bishop of Rome had assumed or tooken upon him to be the Spiritual Prince or Monarch of all the World he attempted also to give Laws to all Nations as one real Mark or Signal of his Monarchy but they well knowing Quod ubi non est condendi authoritas ibi non est parendi necessitas did not impose their Laws at first peremptorily on all Nations without distinction but offered them timide precario And therefore he caused certain Rules in the first place to be collected for the Government of the Clergy only which he called Decreta and not Leges vel Statuta These Decrees were published in An. 1150. which was during the Reign of King Stephen And therefore what the Lord Coke observes in the Preface to the Eighth part of his Reports Quod Rogerus Bacon frater ille perquam Eruditus in Libro De impedimentis Sapientiae dicit Rex quidem Stephanus allatis Legibus Italiae in Angliam Publico Edicto prohibuit ne in aliquo detinerentur may probably be conjectured to be meant and intended of those Decrees which were then newly compiled and published Yet these Decrees being received and observed by the Clergy of the Western Churches only for the Eastern Church never received any of these Rules or Canons Kelw. Rep. 7 H. 8. fo 184 the Bishop of Rome attempted also to draw the Laity by degrees into obedience to these Ordinances and to that purpose in the first place he propounds certain Rules or Ordinances for Abstinence or days of Fasting to be observed as well by the Laity as the Clergy which were upon the first Institution thereof called by the mild and gentle name of Regationes as Marsilius Pat. lib. Defensor Pacis par 2. cap. 23. hath observed and thence it seems the Week of Abstinence a little before the Feast of Pentecost was called the Rogation-week that time of Abstinence being appointed at the beginning by that Ordinance which was called Rogatio and not Praeceptum vel Statutum Now when the Laity out of their devotion had received and obeyed these Ordinances of Abstinence then the Bishop of Rome proceeds further De una praesumptione ad aliam transivit Romanus Pontifex as Marsil Pat. there says and made many Rescripts and Orders per Nomen Decretalium which were published in the year 1230. which was in the Fourteenth year of King H. 3. or thereabout Vid. Matth. Par. Hist mag 403. and these were made to bind all the Laity and Sovereign Princes as well as their Subjects in such things as concerned their Civil and Temporal Estates As that no Lay-man should have the Donation of an Ecclesiastical Benefice That no Lay-man should marry within certain Degrees out of the degrees limited by the Levitical Law That all Infants born before Marriage should be adjudged after Marriage Legitimate and capable of Temporal Inheritance That all Clerks should be exempt from the Secular power and others of the like nature But these Decretals being published they were not entirely and absolutely received and obeyed in any part of Christendom but only in the Pope's Temporal Territory which by the Canonists is called Patria obedientiae But on the other hand many of those Canons were utterly rejected and disobeyed in France and England and other Christian Realms which are called Patriae Consuetudinariae As the Canon which prohibited the Donation of Benefices per manum Laicam was ever disobeyed in England France the Kingdom of Naples and divers other Countries and Common-wealths And the Canon to make Infants Legitimate that were born before Marriage was specially rejected in England when in the Parliament held at Merton omnes Comites Barones una voce responderunt Nolumus Leges Angliae mutari quae hucusque usitatae sunt c. And the Canon which exempts Clerks from the Secular power was never fully observed in any part of Christendom Kelw. 7 H. 8. 181. b. which is one infallible Argument That these Ordinances had not their force by any Authority that the Court of Rome had to impose Laws on all Nations without their consent but by the approbation of the people which received and used them For by the same reason whereby they might reject one Canon they might reject all the other Vid. Bodin lib. 1. de Rep. cap. 8. where he saith That the Kings of France on the erection of all Universities there have declared in their Charters that they would receive the Profession of the Civil and Canons to use them at their discretion and not to be obliged by these Laws But as to those Canons which have been received accepted and used in any Christian Realm or Common-wealth they by such acceptation and usage have obtained the force of Laws in such particular Realm or State and are become part of the Ecclesiastical Laws of that Nation And so those which have been embraced allowed and used in England are made by such allowance and usage part of the Ecclesiastical Laws of England By which the interpretation dispensation or execution of these Canons being become Laws of England doth appertain sole to the King of England and his Magistrates within his Dominions and he and his Magistrates have the sole Jurisdiction in such cases and the Bishop of Rome hath nothing to do in the interpretation dispensation or execution of those Laws in England although they were first devised in the Court of Rome No more than the Chief Magistrate of Athens or Lacedemon might claim Jurisdiction in the Ancient City of Rome for that the Laws of the XII Tables were thither carried and imported from those Cities of Greece and no more than the Master of New-Colledge in Oxford shall have Command or Jurisdiction in Kings-Colledge of Cambridge for that the private Statutes whereby Kings-Colledge is governed were for the most part borrowed and taken out of the Foundation-Book of New-Colledge in Oxford And by the same reason the Emperour may claim Jurisdiction in Maritime causes within the Dominions of the King of England for that we have now for a long time received and admitted the Imperial Law for the determination of such Causes Vid. Cawdries Case Co. par 5. and Kelw. Rep. 184. a. Now when the Bishop of Rome perceived that many of his Canons were received and used by divers Nations of Christendom he under colour thereof claimed to have Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in every Realm and State where these Canons were received and sent his Legates with several Commissions into divers Kingdoms to hear and determine Causes according to these Canons which Canons although neither the Pope nor his Ministers at the first venting and uttering thereof dared to call Laws Ne committerent crimen Laesae Majestatis in Principes as Marâ—il Pat. lib. Defensor pacis par 2. cap. 23. observes who also says That these Canons being made by the Pope Neque sunt humanae Leges neque divinae sed documenta quaedam Narrationes yet when he perceived that these Canons were received allowed
therein for the Indictment concluding contra formam Statuti It cannot be good as for an offence at the Common Law But afterwards another Exception was taken by Grimstone because the offence was alledged to be done in the Church of Shoreditch aforesaid and Shoreditch was not named before And upon view of the Indictment it appearing to be so all the Court held that the Indictment was void And for this cause the Defendant was discharged In the Ecclesiastical Laws of Ina King of the West Saxons cap. 6. Qui in Templo pugnaverit 120 Solidis noxiam Sarcito Ibid. Aliud Exemp cap. 6. Si quis in Ecclesia pugnet centum viginti Sol. emendet c. alias 60. emendet pro vita Also among the Ecclesiastical Laws of Hoel Dha King of Wales l. 10. De pugna quae in Coemiterio agitur 14 Librae sunt reddendae Likewise in l. 1. LL. Eccles Edovardi Sen. R. Angliae Guthurni R. Danorum in East-anglia Hoc primo Decreverunt ut Ecclesiae pax intra suos parietes inviolate servetur And in Cap. 2 3. LL. Eccl. Canuti Regis valde rectum est ut Ecclesiae pax intra parietes suos semper inconvulsa permaneat quicunque eam perfregerit de vita omnibus in misericordia Regis sit Et si quis pacem Ecclesiae Dei violabit ut intra parietes ejus homicidium hoc inemendabile sit c. nisi Rex ei vitam concedat 7. Where Prescription is alledg'd for Right to a Seat in a Church or for Priority in that Seat the Common Law hath took cognizance thereof as in the case of Carleton against Hutton where C. claimed the upper place in a Seat in the Church and H. disturb'd him in a violent manner and the Bishop of the Diocess sent an Inhibition to C. until the matter were determined before him And by the Court a Prohibition was awarded because it does not belong as Reported to the Spiritual Court And as well the priority in the Seat as the Seat it self may be claimed by Prescription and an Action upon the Case lies for it at Common Law Ve. Litt. 121 122. The Ordinary hath in him the right of distribution of the Seats in a Church yet so as that prescription shall take place whether it refers to the right of any particular Parishioner or to the power of the Church-wardens The Case was G. brought an Action of Trespass for the breaking of his Seat in the Church and cutting of the Timber in small pieces and carrying them away c. The Defendant pleads in Bar That they were the Church-wardens and that the Plaintiff had erected that Seat without the License of the Ordinary and it was an hindrance to the Parishioners c. and that they as Church-wardens the said Seat c. the which is the same Trespass The Plaintiff demurrs and Judgment for him For admitting that the Church-wardens may remove Seats in the Church at their pleasure yet they cannot cut the Timber of the Pew And thereupon they confessed the Trespass Ve. 6 E. 4. 7. 9 E. 4. 14. 8 E. 4. 6. 18 E. 4. 8. 21 H. 7. 21. 12 H. 7. 27. 11 H. 4. 12. Where there is a Parson Impropriate he hath the best right to the chief Seat in the Chancel as was Resolved in Sir William Hall's Case again Ellis where E. Farmor of a Rectory Impropriate Libels in the Ecclesiastical Court pro Sedile in dextra parte Cancellae and in his Additional Libel he Libels pro loco primo and principally in dextra parte Cancellae The Defendant there surmizes to have a Prohibition Quod est antiqua Parochia antiqua Cancella and that he is seized of an Ancient Messuage in that Parish and that he and all those c. have used to sit in dextra parte Cancellae praedict to hear c. And it was Resolved by the Court That of common Right the Parson Impropriate and per consequens his Farmor ought to have the chief Seat in the Chancel because he ought to repair it But by Prescription another Parishioner may have it But in this case a Consultation was awarded with a quoad c. because the Libel and the Additional that now is all one is pro primo Loco c. and the Surmize is only pro Sedile in dextra parte and not pro loco primo in it 8. The Church in construction of Law is Domus mansionalis Omnipotentis Dei and therefore it is Burglary for a man to break and enter a Church in the night of intent to steal c. And so sacred is the Church and Church-yard reputed in Law That Ecclesiastical persons whilst they are doing any Divine Service in either of them or in any other place dedicated to God may not be Arrested Yea Anciently the Church and Church-yard was a Sanctuary and the foundation of Abjuration for whoever was not capable of this Sanctuary could not have the benefit of Abjuration and therefore he that committed Sacriledge could not Abjure because he could not take the priviledge of Sanctuary This Abjuration was when one having committed Felony fled for safeguard of his life to the Sanctuary of a Church or Church-yard and there before the Coroner of that place within 40 days confessed the Felony and took an Oath for his perpetual Banishment out of the Realm into a Foreign not Infidel Countrey chusing rather Perdere patriam quam vitam But this Abjuration founded upon the priviledge of Sanctuary is wholly abrogated and taken away by an Act made 21 Jac. Reg. whereby it is Enacted That no Sanctuary or priviledge of Sanctuary should be admitted or allowed in any case And here Note That this kind of Abjuration hath no relation to that of Recusants by force of the Stat. of 35 Eliz cap. 1. because such Abjuration hath no dependency upon any Sanctuary But as to the other Abjuration in relation to Felonies Sacriledge excepted no Abjuration or Sanctuary being allowed in cases of Treason or Petit Treason the Law was so favourable for the preservation of Sanctuary in the Church or Church-yard That if a Prisoner for Felony had before his attainder or conviction escaped and taken Sanctuary and being pursued by his Keepers or others were brought back again to the Prison he might upon his Arraignment have pleaded the same and should have been restored again to the Sanctuary of the Church or Church-yard 9. The defacing of Tombs Sepulchres or Monuments erected in any Church Chancel Common Chappel or Church-yard is it seems punishable by the Common Law and for which the Erectors or Builders thereof during their lives and after their decease their Heirs shall have the Action But the Erecting thereof ought not to be to the hinderance of Divine Service And albeit the Freehold of the Church is in the Parson yet if the Lord of a Mannor or any other that hath an House
Church for that he may then be twice charged for he may be charged for that in the Parish where the Land doth lie in which case Prohibition hath been granted 27. If a Citizen of London erect a House in the Parish of A. with intent of dwelling there in time of Sickness at London and hath not any Land in the Parish and after is Assessed 20 s. for Reparation of the Church where others who have 100 acres of Land in the same Parish pay but 6 d. yet no Prohibition shall be granted on a Suit for the said 20 s. in the Ecclesiastical Court for that they have Jurisdiction of the thing and for which reason they may order it according to their Law 28. If there be a Chappel of Ease within a Parish and any persons of the Parish have used time out of mind c. alone and by themselves without others of the Parishioners to repair that Chappel of Ease and there to hear Divine Service and to Marry and all other things only they Bury at the Mother-Church yet they shall not be discharged of Reparations of the Mother-Church but ought to contribute to the same for the Chappel was Ordained only for their ease But if Inhabitants within a Chappelry prescribe to be discharged time out of mind c. of the Reparation of the Mother-Church and are sued in the Ecclesiastical Court for the same a Prohibition lies on that Surmize 29. If a man be rated for the Ornaments of the Church according to the Land which he hath in the Parish a Prohibition lies for the Rate for that ought to be according to the personal Estate Also if a man who is not any Inhabitant within the Parish but hath Land there be rated for the Ornaments of the Church according to the Land a Prohibition lies for the Inhabitants ought to be rated for that and it was said by Yelverton That it had been often so Resolved 30. If all the Parishioners are not rated for the Reparation of the Church but some are and some are not and those that are rated be sued in the Ecclesiastical Court a Prohibition will lie But if the major part of the Parishioners of a Parish where there are four Bells doth agree that there shall be a fifth Bell made and it be made accordingly and a Rate made for payment of the same it shall bind the lesser part of the Parishioners although they did not agree to it for otherwise any obstinate persons may hinder any thing intended to be done for the Ornament of the Church and therefore in this case a Prohibition was denied 31. The Ecclesiastical Court may not try the Bounds of a Parish if therefore there be a Suit there depending for that a Prohibition will lie as where the difference is between two Vicars concerning a Chappel of Ease As when the Vicar of a Parish Libels against another to avoid his Institution to the Church of D. which he supposes to be a Chappel of Ease belonging to his Vicarage if the Defendant suggest that D. is a Parish of it self and not a Chappel of Ease a Prohibition lies for they may not try the Bounds of a Parish 32. If a Vicar sue the Parson Impropriate for dammages for cutting down the Trees growing in the Church-yard a Prohibition lies for that if the Trees belong to him he may have Trespass at Common Law And in this case a Prohibition was granted 33. One being sued in the Ecclesiastical Court for money for reparation of the Church prayed a Prohibition and had it and after it was moved for a Consultation The case was this viz. The party that was sued prescrib'd that there is a Chappel within the same Village in which they have had at all times Sacramenta Sacramentalia and that he nor the Inhabitants of that Village which resort to the said Chappel have ever used to repair the said Church the first point in this case was whether the Prescription were good and the Chief Justice said that it is contrary to Common right that they who have a Chappel of Ease in a Village should be discharged of repairing the mother-Mother-Church and it may be that the Church being built with Stone it may not need any Reparation within the memory of man and yet that doth not discharge them without some special cause of discharge shewed The second point was the taking away of an Objection as they said viz. That a Prescription which is incident to Ecclesiastical things shall be tried in the Ecclesiastical Court and so that Objection removed and commonly the Church-wardens are chosen in the Ecclesiastical Court yet the Lord of a Mannor may prescribe for that and then it shall not be tried in the Ecclesiastical Court although it be a Prescription of what appertains to a Spiritual thing 34. Note that in the case of Churchwardens the Chief Justice said That for the repairing the Fabrick of the Church the charge is real charges the Land and not the person but for the Ornaments of the Church it is personal and there if a man be not an Inhabitant within the Parish he is not chargeable in respect of his Land for such Tax doth charge the Goods only And to this Chamberlain Justice agreed and none denied it but where there is a Farmor of the Land there the Farmor alone shall not be charged for it is not reason that a poor Husbandman who paies Rent for his Land and perhaps to the utmost value should build Churches but it may be unknown to the Parishioner and the Churchwardens who hath the Fee in reversion and therefore they may impose the whole Tax on the Farmor and he by way of Answer may alledge in the Ecclesiastical Court that he is but the Farmor and thereupon the Tax shall be divided between him and his Landlord according to the Rate which the Land is worth more than the Rent and on the Landlord according to the quantity of the Rent quod quaere for in Jeofferie's Case 5 Coke it is Resolved That the Farmor alone is chargeable and that a Consultation was granted but not for that reason but for that the Reversioner had pleaded an insufficient plea in the Ecclesiastical Court viz. That he was not an Inhabitant within the Parish which is not a good plea as also for the great delay which he had used having made or brought two Appeals and after a Prohibition and so had put the Parish to 60 l. charge for the recovery of 6 l. and for that reason chiefly and not on the matter in Law was the Consultation granted 33. In Frances and Ley's Case it was Resolved by the Justices That Coats of Arms placed in Windows or a Monument placed in the Church or Church-yard cannot be beaten down and defaced by the Parson Ordinary Churchwardens or any other And if they be the Heir by descent interessed in the Coat
c. may have an Action of Trespass 36. In an Action upon the Case D. shewed he was seized of a Messuage and Land in P. to the same belonging and in the Parish of P. time whereof c. and yet is a Chappel in the North part of the Chancel called the Parsons Chancel and the Plaintiff and all those c. have used to sustain and repair the said Chancel and have used for him and his Family to sit in Seats of the said Chancel and to Bury there the persons dying in the said Messuage and that none other during all the said time c. without their License have used to sit there or to be buried there and that the Defendants Praemissorum non ignari malitiose impediverunt him to enter and sit in the said Seats The Defendant said That the Earl of N. was seized of the Honour of F. and the said Chappel was parcel of the said Honour and that the Defendants being Servants of the said Earl and resident within the said Honour did divers times in the time of Divine Service sit in the Seats of the said Chancel by the command of the said Earl upon which it was Demurred Exceptions were taken to the Declaration because he prescribes to have a Liberty appertaining to his House and doth not shew it is an Ancient House And 2 That the Allegation of the disturbance was ill being general without alleding a special Disturbance and how he was disturbed Resolved That when it is supposed he is seized in Fee of a Capital Messuage and time c. it is there included that it is an ancient Messuage and so might have such a priviledge And for the second it is sufficient to alledge a general Disturbance as is usual in the Case of a Fair or Market 37. D. was Indicted upon the Statute of 5 E. 6. for striking in Paul's Church-yard he pleaded that he was by the Queens Letters Patents created Garter King of Arms and demanded Judgment because he was not so named It was the opinion of the Court that because it was a parcel of his Dignity and not of his Office only and because the Patent is Creamus coronamus nomen imponimus de Garter Rex heraldorum that therefore in all Suits brought against him he ought to be named by this name and thereupon he was discharged of the Indictment And in Penhallo's Case who was Indicted upon the same Statute for drawing of Dagger in the Church of B. against J. S. and doth not say with intent to strike him for which cause the Judgment was quashed Likewise in Child's Case who was Indicted for striking in the Church-yard and it was apud generalem Sessionem Pacis tent apud Blandford and it was not said in Comitatu praedicto for which reason the party was discharged though the County was in the Margin 38. In Pym's Case before-mentioned Corven did Libel in the Ecclesiastical Court against Pym for a Seat in a Church in Devonshire And Pym by Serjeant Hutton moved for a Prohibition upon this Reason That himself is seized of a House in the said Parish and that he and all whose Estate he hath in the House have had a Seat in an Isle of the Church And it was Resolved by the Court That if a Lord of a Mannor or other person who hath his House and Land in the Parish time out of mind and had a Seat in an Isle of the same Church so that the Isle is proper to his Family and have maintained it at their charges That if the Bishop would dispossess him he shall have a Prohibition But for a Seat in the Body of a Church if a question ariseth it is to be decided by the Ordinary because the Freehold is to the Parson and is common to all the Inhabitants And it is to be presumed That the Ordinary who hath cure of Souls will take order in such cases according to right and conveniency and with this agrees 8 H. 7. 12. And the Chief Justice Damc Wick her Case 9 H. 4. 14. which was The Lady brought a Bill in B. R. against a Parson Quare tunicam unam vocatam A Coat Armor and Pennons with her Husband Sir Hugh Wick his Arms and a Sword in a Chappel where he was buried and the Parson claimed them as Oblations And it was there held That if one were to sit in the Chancel and hath there a place his Carpet Livery and Cushion the Parson cannot claim them as Oblations for that they were hanged there is honour of the decased The same reason of a Coat-Armour c. And the Cbief Justice said The Lady might have a good Action during her life in the case aforesaid because she caused the things to be set up there and after her death the Heir shall have his Action they being in the nature of Heir-Looms which belong to the Heir And with this agrees the Laws of other Nations Bartho Cassanae fo 13. Con. 29. Actio datur si aliquis Arma in aliquo loco posita deleat aut abrasit c. And in 21 Ed. 3. 48. in the Bishop of Carlisle's Case Note That in Easter-Term it was Resolved in the Star-Chamber in the case between Hussey and Katherine Leyton That if a man have a House in any Parish and that he and all those whose Estate he hath have used to have a certain Pew in the Church that if the Ordinary will displace him he shall have a Prohibition but where there is no such prescription the Ordinary will dispose of common and vulgar Seats 39. In the County of Dorset there was a Mother-Church and also a Chappel of Ease within the same Parish they of the mother-Mother-Church did rate and tax them of the Chappel of Ease towards reparations of the mother-Mother-Church for the which upon their refusal to pay the same being sued in the Ecclesiastical Court they prayed a Prohibition and for cause alledged That they themselves have used time out of mind c. to repair the Chappel at their own proper cost without having any Contribution at all from them of the Mother-Church and that they have been exempted from all charges and reparations of the Mother-Church and yet for their refusal to pay this Tax they were libelled against in the Ecclesiastical Court and a Sentence there passed against them they therefore prayed a Prohibition By the opinion of the whole Court a Prohibition lieth not in this case in regard that this Prescription is meerly Spiritual and therefore a Prohibition denied per Curiam 40. One was presented ex Officio in the Ecclesiastical Court for the not frequenting of his Parish-Church he there pleads That this was not his Parish-Church but that he had used to frequent another Parish Church and to resort unto that And because they in the Ecclesiastical Court would not receive his plea the Court was moved for a Prohibition for that by the Law in the
Otho's Constitutions and whatever other causes of Consolidation are asserted by the DD. may be all referr'd to one or other of the foresaid Reasons Likewise there are certain Solemnities required by the Canon Law to be used and observed in the consolidation and union of Churches and Ecclesiastical Benefices the impracticability whereof in this Realm having otherwise provided in such cases can have no such malign influence in Law as to invalidate the thing for want of some Circumstantials so long as there is a retention of the Essentials according to the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom Vnio facta ab Episcopo debet intervenire Consensus Capituli sui Clem. si Vna de reb Eccl. non aliend Item requiritur Consensus Patroni Clem. in agro § ad haec de Stat. Mona Item Nullum habet effectum vivente Beneficiato Card. Zab. in dict Clem. Si una c. Item Verus valor Beneficiorum Exprimi debet c. 4. In all Consolidations regularly there ought to be Causa Necessitatis vel Vtilitatis Also the just and true value of the Benefices ought to be known as well of that which is to be united as of that to which the other is unitable in order whereunto there ought to issue a Commission of Enquiry touching the said cause and value at which all persons pretending Interest are to be or may be present upon Summons or Notice thereof timely given them to that end for no Consolidation or Union of that kind ought to be made non vocatis vocandis Rebuff Resp 195. 5. This Form touching Consolidations and union of Churches and Ecclesiastical Benefices is practiced in France which though there appears nothing therein but what seems consonant to Reason yet the Statute-Laws of this Realm have herein made other provision in this matter And that which we now commonly call Consolidation the Canon Law which is best and most properly acquainted with this matter calls Vnion Touching which there are in use and practice many things in divers Nations and Countries which were Incognita to the Interpreters of that Law and not in all things consonant to each other thereby rendring this Subject the more perplexed by reason of the several modes of practice diversified according to the various Constitutions of several Nations respectively for which reason the Interpreters of the Canon Law are the less positive in reducing the state of this matter to such a point of certainty as may be said Infallible in Law only they all agree in some certain Essentials to an Union as also for the most part in this Definition thereof viz. That Vnio est Beneficiorum seu Ecclesiarum ab Episcopo vel ab alio Superiore facta annexio To which this also may be added by way of description though not by way of definition That quando fit unio Ecclesia in proprietatem concedi solet Cap. in cura de jur Patronat and it must be Vnio Beneficiorum for there cannot be an Union unless there be plura Beneficia in the case L. 1. per totum ff de Optio Legat. Also it is Beneficiorum seu Ecclesiarum because the word Benefice is in it self a general term comprehending all Benefices great and small Regular and Secular Dignities and Offices C. 1. de reg jur in 6. c. extirpandae § qui vero de Praebend So that Bishopricks as well as other Benefices may be united and annexed But a Bishoprick which the Law calls culmen Dignitatis doth not regularly fall under the name or notion of Benefice c. pen. de Praebend and yet two Bishopricks may be united c. Decimas seq 16. q. 1. Rebuff de Vnion Benefic nu 4 5. 6. This Consolidation or Union at the Canon Law is either Perpetual or Temporal if Perpetual then it must be so expressed in the Union that in perpetuum univimus c. exposuisti de Praeb if Temporal then it is only for his life in whose favour the Vnion is made c. 1. ne Sede vacante and at his death it expires c. quoniam Abbas de Offic. Delegat But the Practice with us knows nothing of the Temporal Member of this distinction nor is the practice thereof at this day received in France Rebuff ubi supr nu 9. such Temporal Unions being only in contemplatione personae non Ecclesiae whereas the Law is Ecclesiae magis favendum est quam personae Dic. c. 1. c. requisisti de Testa Oldr. Consil 257. And where two Parochial Churches are consolidated or united that Church to which the other is united shall be the Superiour and principal the other which is united is the Inferiour and Accessory yet shall enjoy the Priviledges of that Church to which she is united c. recolentes in fin de stat Monach. Lastly The more worthy Benefice is never united to the minus digno and therefore a Parochial Church may not be united to a Chappel sed è contra Sic c. exposuisti de Praebend CHAP. XV. Of Dilapidations 1. What Dilapidation signifies how many waies it may happen the Remedies in Law in case thereof and to what Court the cognizance thereof properly belongs 2. Provision made by the Canon for prevention of Dilapidations 3. Dilapidation twofold in construction of Law An Exposition of the said Canon the Bishops power of Sequestration in case of Dilapidation 4. By whom the Body of the Church and by whom the Chancel shall be kept in repair How the charge of Repair in the case of Dilapidations shall be apportioned and what the Law in such cases where one Parish is divided into Two 5. Dilapidation of Ecclesiastical Edifices a good cause in Law of Deprivation 6. The Injunction of King Ed. 6. for prevention of Dilapidations 7. Leases made by a Parson void by Statute for Non-residence to prevent Dilapidations 8. The wasting the Woods of a Bishoprick a Dilapidation in Law such Woods being the Dower of the Church 9. A Vicar felling down Timber Trees and Wood in the Church-yard is a Dilapidation and good cause of Deprivation 1. DIlapidation is the Incumbents suffering the Chancel or other the Edifices of his Ecclesiastical Living to go to ruine or decay neglecting to repair the same It extends also to his committing or suffering to be committed any wilful Waste in or upon the Glebe-woods or other Inheritance of his Church Against which provision is made by the Provincial Constitutions whereof Sir Simon Degge takes notice in his Parsons Counsellor though in truth the Canon there provides rather as to satisfaction for than prevention of such Dilapidations Lindw c. si Rector alicujus Ecclesiae Gloss ibid. But the Canon Law is express and full in all respects relating to this implicit Sacriledge nor doth the Custome of England or the Common Law leave the Church without sufficient Remedy in this case albeit it postpones the satisfaction of dammages for Dilapidations to the payment of Debts as the Canon Law prefers it before the payment of Legacies
than the Bishop himself or other Ordinary which also must be given to the Patron personally if he live in the same County and if in another County then Publication thereof in the parish-Parish-Church and affixed on the Church-Door will serve turn if such Notice doth express in certain as it ought to do the cause of the Deprivation c. As upon Deprivation of an Incumbent for not Reading the 39 Articles of Religion the Ordinary is to give the Patron Notice thereof which Notice ought to be certain and particular Before Lapse can incurr against a Patron Notice of his Clerks being refused by the Ordinary for Insufficiency must be given to the person of the Patron if he may be found and it is not in that Case sufficient to fix an Intimation thereof on the Door of that Church to which he was Presented D. 16 El. 327. 7. b. Adjudged 5. It is said That a Lapse is not an Interest naturally as is the Patronage but a meer Trust in Law And if the Six months be incurred yet the Patrons Clerk shall be received if he be Presented before the Church be Filled by the Lapse Observe 7 Eliz Dyer 241. for it seems by that case that the Patron should Present against the Kings Lapse for he hath dammage but for half a year And Hob. Chief Justice says That a Lapse is an act and office of Trust reposed by Law in the Ordinary Metropolitan and lastly in the King the end of which Trust is to provide the Church of a Rector in default of the Patron and yet as for him and to his behoof And therefore as he cannot transfer his Trust to another so cannot he divert the thing wherewith he is entrusted to any other purpose Nor can a Lapse be granted over as a Grant of the next Lapse of such a Church neither before it fall nor after If the Lapse incurr and then the Ordinary die the King shall Present and not the Executors of the Ordinary For it is rather an Administration than an Interest and the King cannot have a Lapse but where the Ordinary might have had it before If an Infant-Patron Present not within Six months the Lapse incurrs The Law is the same as against a Feme-Covert that hath right to Present 33 E. 3. Qua. Impedit 46. 6. In the first Paragraph of this Chapter it is said That Tempus Semestre authoritate Concilii non incipit versus Patronos nisi à tempore Scientiae mortis personae that is of the last Incumbent And so Adjuged upon a Writ in the time of E. 2. and said to be per Legem Consuetudinem Regni hactenus usitatas As if the Incumbent die beyond Sea the Six months are not computed from the time of his death but from the time of the Patrons knowledge thereof and so it was Adjudged in a Quare non admisit between the Abbot of St. Mary Eborum and the Bishop of Norwich as aforesaid For the Six months are not reckoned from the death of the Last Incumbent but from the time the Patron might according to a reasonable Computation having regard to the distance of the place where he was at the time of the Incumbents death if he were within the Realm at that time have come to the knowledge thereof for he ought afterwards to take notice thereof at his peril and not before for that he was in some other County than that wherein the Church is and wherein the Incumbent died And if the Ordinary refuse a Clerk for that he is Criminous in that case the Patron shall not have Six months to Present after Notice thereof given him but of the Avoidance The Law is the same in case of Refusal by reason of Illiterature But if the Church be void by Resignation or Deprivation the Six months shall be computed from the time of Notice thereof given to the Patron and not from the time of the Avoidance Yet if the Ordinary refuse a Clerk because he is Criminous he is to give notice thereof to the Patron otherwise the Lapse doth not incurr So likewise if he be refused for Common Usury Simony Adultery or other Notorious Crime Notice thereof ought to be given to the Patron otherwise the Lapse doth not incurr A Lay Patron ought to have Notice ere the Lapse shall incurr in case his Clerk be refused for Illiterature otherwise as to a Spiritual Patron because the Law presumes he might well know of his insufficiency before he presented him And if the Bishop who took a Resignation dies the Lapse doth not incurr to his Successor without Notice to the Patron 7. In a Quare Impedit the Defendant pleaded That he demanded of J. S. the Presentee of the Plaintiff to see his Letters of Orders and he would not shew them and also demanded of him his Letters Missive or Testimonial testifying his ability and because he had not his Letters of Orders nor Letters Missive nor made any proof of them to the Bishop he desired leave of the Bishop to bring them who gave him a week and he went away and came not again and the Six months passed and the Bishop Collated by Lapse It was Adjudged in this Case That these were no Causes to stay the Admittance of the Clerk for the Clerk is not bound understand it only at Common Law to shew his Letters of Orders and Letters Missive to the Bishop but the Bishop must try him upon Examination 8. A Parson of the Church of S. of the value of Ten pound took a Second Benefice without a Dispensation and was Instituted and Inducted and continued so for twelve years The Patron presented J. S. who was Instituted and Inducted and so continued divers years and died The Queen presented the Defendant C. ratione Lapsus in the time of A. who was Instituted and Deducted B. the Patron brought a Quare Impedit against the Ordinary and C. It was held by the Justices That the Writ did well lie and that Tempus occurrit Reginae in this Case and that last Clerk should be removed And it was held by the Justices That upon a Recovery in a Quare Impedit any Incumbent that comes in pendente Lite should be removed 9. In the Case between Cumber and the Bishop of Chichester it was Resolved 1 If Title of Lapse accrues to the King and the Patron Presents yet the King may Present at any time as long as the Presentee is Parson but if he dies or Resigns before the King Presents he hath lost his Presentment 2. If the King hath Title by Lapse because a Parson hath taken a Second Benefice if the Parson dies or Resigns his First Benefice and the Patron Presents whose Presentee Resigns upon Covin and dies the King hath lost that Presentment CHAP. XXIII Of Collation Presentation and Nomination 1. What Collation is and how it differs from Presentation 2. Collation
unless he be qualified for Plurality Or if a Dean be made a Bishop yea though a Dean or Parson in England be made a Bishop in Ireland as aforesaid his Benefice becomes void as was Resolved in Evans and Askwith's Case for that the Constitution or Council which makes it void is general and not limited to any place And so it was also Resolved 3 E. 3. Fitz. Trial and so adjudged 21 Jac. C. B. in the Case between Woodley and the Bishop of Exon and Manwaring 12. The case may so happen that albeit a man having a Benefice with Cure of Souls accept another and be Instituted and Inducted into the same yet his First Benefice shall not be void by Cession though the Benefices be incompatible though there be no Dispensation in the case and although himself be not otherwise qualified for Pluralities For it hath been Resolved That if a man having one Benefice accept another and be Instituted and Inducted into the Second and then read not his Articles that yet the First Benefice voids not by Cession because the Second is as not taken Notwithstanding it cannot be denied but that where a man having a Benefice with Cure of Souls above the value of Eight pounds per Ann. doth take another with Cure and is thereto Admitted Instituted and Inducted the First Benefice without Dispensation becomes void as in the Case of the King against George Lord Archbishop of Canterbury In which Case it was held That the Church was absolutely void in facto jure by taking of a Second Benefice and that by the express words of the Statute of 21 H. 8. So that by the Acceptance of a Second Benefice the Church is void facto jure quoad the Patron and all others Sed Q. whether void as to an Usurper for in some cases a Benefice may be void as to some persons and not void as to others As in the Case of Simony whereby as well as by Cession a Church becomes void yet in that case although it be void to all men quorum interest to the King and his Incumbent and all that claim under him and to the Parishioners to the Ordinary and to the like yet according to Sir Hen. Hobart Chief Justice it is not void to an Usurper for a man without Right cannot Present unto it as to a Church void nor the Ordinary so discharge himself if he receive the Clerk of an Usurper for he is none of them quorum interest Pasch 14 Jac. Rot. 1026. Case of Winchcombe against the Bishop of Winchester and Rich. Pulleston Hob. Rep. 13. If the Next Avoidance be granted to Three persons and after the Church become void and then Two of the Three Present the Third Grantee being a Clerk in this case the Presentation is good and the Bishop may not refuse him inasmuch as all Three were Joynt-tenants thereof by the Grant and only Two of them joyn in the Presentment for that the Third person cannot Present himself but if only one of these Three Grantees Present the Third the Bishop hath power to refuse him And if an Incumbent having the Advowson do Devise the Next Avoidance it seems it is good Trin. 13 Jac. B. R. Harris vers Austen Rol. Rep. 14. In Holland's Case it was Resolved That before the Statute of 21 H. 8. c. 13. if he which had a Benefice with Cure accept another with Cure the First was void but this was no Avoidance by the Common Law but by Constitution of the Pope of which the Patron might take Notice if he would and Present without Deprivation But because the Avoidance accrued by the Ecclesiastical Law no Lapse incurred without Notice as upon a Deprivation or Resignation so that the Church was void for the benefit of the Prtron not for his disadvantage But now if the First Benefice be of the value of Eight pounds per annum the Patron at his peril ought to Present for to an Avoidance by Parliament every one is party but if not of Eight pounds it is void by the Ecclesiastical Law of which he needs not take Notice 15. In a Quare Impedit The Defendant said A. was seized of the Advowson of the Church of D. and by Deed 19 Jac. granted to J. S. the Next Avoidance and that J. S. died and made his Executor who Presented the Plantiff to the Church being void Upon Non concessit it was found That A. granted to J. S. durante vita ipsius J. S. primam proximam Advocationem and that he died before the Church became void Whether this was an absolute Grant of the Next Avoidance as is pretended was the Question And Resolved it was not but it is limited to him to Present to the Advowson if it becomes void during his life and not that otherwise it should go to his Executors and therefore it was Adjudged against the Defendant 16. The Incumbent of a Church purchased the Advowson thereof in Fee and devised that his Executor should Present after his decease and devised the Inheritance to another in Fee It was said the devise of the Next Avoidance was void because when his Will should take effect the Church was instantly void But the Court held the devise was good for the Law is so and it shall be good according to the intent of the party expressed in his will The Grant of the Next Avoidance during the Avoidance is void in Law Steephens and Clark's Case More 's Reports 17. In a Quare Impedit the Case was The Corporation of B. being seized of an Advowson granted the Next Avoidance to J. S. and afterward granted primam proximam Advocationem to the Earl of B. who granted it to the Plaintiff The Church became void J. S. Presented his Clerk who was Inducted and then the Church became void again It was Resolved that the Second Grant was void so as the Plaintiff had no Title for when he had granted primam proximam Advocationem to one he had not Authority to grant it after to another but if the First Grant had been lost so as it could not have been pleaded there perhaps the Second Grand had been good 18. In a Quare Impedit the Case was H. being Incumbent of a Church was Created a Bishop in Ireland and the Queen Presented the Defendant It was the Opinion of the Justices That this Creating of the Incumbent a Bishop in Ireland was a good cause of Avoidance and that the Queen should have it by her Prerogative But if the Queen doth not take the benefit of the First Avoidance but suffers a Stranger to Present and the Presentee dies she may not have Prerogative to Present to the Second Avoidance 19. The Next Avoidance of a Church was granted to A. and B. A. releases to B. and after the Church became void It was Adjudged in this Case That B. may Present and upon Disturbance have a Quare Impedit in his own Name
the King Confirms and afterwards he is Inducted to the Church of D. In this Case it was Adjudged That the Dispensation came too late because it came after the Institution for by the Institution the Church is full against all persons except the King and as to the Spititualties he is full Parson by the Institution 2. Resolved That admit the Church was not full by the Institution until Induction yet the Dispensation came too late for that the words of the Statute of 21 H. 8 of Pluralities are may purchase Licence to receive and keep two Benefices with Cure of Souls and the words of Dispensation in this case were recipere retinere and because by the Institution the Church was full he could not purchase Licence to receive that which he had before and he cannot retain that which he cannot receive 26. In the case of a Prohibition it was Resolved That by the Common Law before the Statute of 21 H. 8. the first Benefice was void without a Sentence Declarative so as the Patron might present without notice 2. That the Statute of 21 H. 8. of Pluralities is a general Law of which the Judges are to take notice without pleading of it 3. That the Queen might grant Dispensations as the Pope might in case where the Archbishop had not Authority by the Statute of 25 H. 8. to grant Dispensations because all the Authority of the Pope was given to the Crown by the Statute But yet the Statute as to those Dispensations which the Archbishop is to grant hath Negative words and the Bishop shall make the Instrument under his Seal CHAP. XXVII Of Deprivation 1. What Deprivation is and in what Court to be pronounced 2. The Causes in Law of Deprivation 3. In what Cases Deprivation ipso facto without any Declaratory Sentence thereof may be 4. A Cardinal 's Case of Deprivation by reason of Miscreancy 5. The Papal Deprivation by reason of Marriage 6. What the Law is in point of Notice to the Patron in case of Deprivation by reason of meer Laity or Nonage 7. The difference of operation in Law between Malum prohibitum and Malum in se and in what Cases of Deprivation Notice ought to be given to the Patron 8. Deprivation by reason of Degradation which Degradation at the Canon Law may be two ways 9. Cawdry's Case of Deprivation for Scandalous words against the Book of Common Prayer sentenced by the High Commissioners 10. Deprivation for Non-conformity to the Ecclesiastical Canons by the High Commissioners agreed to be good 11. Deprivation for not Reading the Articles of Religion according to the Statute of 13 Eliz. 12. Deprivation by the High Commissioners for Drunkenness 13. The Church is not void by the Incumbents being Deprivable without Deprivation 14. For an Incumbent to declare his Assent to the Articles of Religion so far as they agree with the Word of God is not that unfeigned Assent which the Statute requires 15. A Church becomes void presently upon not Reading the Articles and there needs not any Deprivation in that Case 16. A Case wherein a Sentence declaratorie for Restitution makes a Nullity in the Deprivation 17. An Appeal from a Sentence of Deprivation prevents the Church's being void pro tempore 18. Vpon Deprivation for meer Laity or Incapacity the Lay-Patron must have Notice ere the Lapse incurrs against him 19. An Incumbent Excommunicated and so obstinately persisting 40 daies is Deprivable 1. DEprivation is a discharge of the Incumbent of his Dignity or Ministery upon sufficient cause against him conceived and proved for by this he loseth the Name of his First Dignity and that either by a particular Sentence in the Ecclesiastical Court or by a general Sentence by some positive or Statute-Law of this Realm So that Deprivation is an Ecclesiastical Sentence Declaratory pronounced upon due proof in the Spiritual Court whereby an Incumbent being legally discharged from Officiating in his Benefice with Cure the Church pro tempore becomes void So that it is in effect the Judicial incapacitating an Ecclesiastical person of holding or enjoying his Parsonage Vicarage or other Spiritual promotion or dignity by an Act of the Ecclesiastical Law only in the Spiritual Court grounded upon sufficient proof there of some Act or Defect of the Ecclesiastical person Deprived This is one of the means whereby there comes an Avoidance of the Church if such Sentence be not upon an Appeal repealed The causes of this Deprivation by the Canon Law are many whereof some only are practicable with us in the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm and they only such as are consonant to the Statutes and Common Law of this Kingdom 2. All the Causes of Deprivation may be reduced to these Three Heads 1 Want of Capacity 2 Contempt 3 Crime But more particularly It is evident that the more usual and more practicable Causes of this Deprivation are such as these viz. a meer Laity or want of Holy Orders according to the Church of England Illiterature or inability for discharge of that Sacred Function Irreligion gross Scandal some heinous Crime as Murther Manslaughter Perjury Forgery c. Villany Bastardy Schism Heresie Miscreancy Misbelief Atheism Simony Illegal Plurality Incorrigibleness and obstinate Disobedience to the approved Canons of the Church as also to the Ordinary Non-conformity Refusal to use the Book of Common Prayer or Administer the Sacraments in the order there prescribed the use of other Rites or Ceremonies order form oâ— celebrating the same or of other open and publick Prayers the preaching or publishing any thing in derogation thereof or depraving the same having formerly been convicted for the like offence the not Reading the Articles of Religion within Two months next after Induction according to the Statute of 13 Eliz cap. 12. The not Reading publickly and solemnly the Morning and Evening Prayers appointed for the same day according to the Book of Common Prayer within Two month next after Induction on the Lord's Day the not openly and publickly declaring before the Congregation there Assembled his unfeigned assent and consent after such Reading to the use of all things therein contained or in case of a lawful Impediment then the not doing thereof within one month next after the removal of such Impediment a Conviction before the Ordinary of a wilful maintaining or affirming any Doctrine contrary to the 39 Articles of Religion a persistance therein without revocation of his Error or re-affirmance thereof after such Revocation likewise Incontinency Drunkenness and 40 daies Excommunication To all which might also be added Dilapidation for it seems anciently to have been a Dilapidator was a just cause of Deprivation whether it were by destroying the Timber-trees or committing waste on the Woods of the Church-Lands or by putting down or suffering to go to decay the Houses or Edifices belonging to the same as appears by Lyford's Case as also in the Bishop of Salisbury's Case
Conviction of Perjury in the Spiritual Court according to the Ecclesiastical Laws which although as aforesaid it be a just Cause of Deprivation must yet be signified by the Ordinary to the Patron so also must that Deprivation which is caused by an Incapacity of the party Instituted and Inducted for want of Holy Orders 3. By the Statute of 21 H. 8. if an Incumbent having a Benefice with Cure of Souls value 8 l. per ann take another with Cure immediately after Induction thereunto the former is void and void without any Declaratory Sentence of Deprivation in the Ecclesiastical Court in case the Second Benefice were taken without a Dispensation and of such Avoidance the Patron is to take notice at his peril And as Avoidance may be by Plurality of Benefices incompatible without Dispensation so also by not Subscribing unto and not reading the 39 Articles as aforesaid which by the Statute of 13 Eliz. c. 12. is a Deprivation ipso facto as if the Incumbent were naturally dead insomuch that upon such Avoidance there need not any Sentence Declaratory of his Deprivation but the very pleading and proof of his not Reading the said Articles is a sufficient Barr to his claim of Tithes without any mentioning at all his being deprived in the Ecclesiastical Court Yet Sir Simon Degge in his Parsons Counsellor putting the Question What shall be intended by the words Deprived ipso facto as whether the Church shall thereby immediately become void by the Fact done or not till Conviction or Sentence Declaratory modestly waives his own Opinion and says it is a Quaere made by Dyer what shall be intended by the words ipso facto Excommunicate for striking with a Weapon in the Church-yard albeit by the Canon Law which condemns no man before he be heard requiritur sententia Declatoria 4. Touching Deprivation by reason of Miscreancy the Cardinal who by the Bishop of Durham was Collated to a Benefice with Cure is it seems the standing President in which case it was Agreed that notwithstanding the Cardinal 's being deprived for his Miscreancy in the Court of Rome yet whether he were Miscreant or not should be tried in England by the Bishop of that Diocess where the Church was 5. Among the many Causes of Deprivation forementioned you do not find that of Marriage in the Priest which was anciently practicable as appears by what the Lord Coke reports touching an Incumbent in the time of King Ed. 6. who being Deprived in Queen Maries daies partly because he was a Married person and partly because of his Religion was restored again in the time of Queen Elizabeth In whose Case it was Adjudged That his Deprivation was good until it was voided by a Sentence of Repeal whereby he became Incumbent again by virtue of his First Presentation without any new Presentation Institution or Induction In those days it was held That the Marriage of a Priest was a sufficient cause to deprive him of his Benefice Mich. 4. Ma. Dy. 133. 6. In the Case where a meer Lay-man is Presented Instituted and Inducted he is notwithstanding his Laity such an Incumbent de facto that he is not Deprivable but by a Sentence in the Ecclesiastical Court but then the Ordinary is in that case to give Notice of such Deprivation to the Patron otherwise in case the Ordinary for that cause refused him when he was Presented by the Patron But where Non-age is the cause of Deprivation as when one under the age of 23 years is Presented Notice is to be given it having been Adjudged That no Lapse shall incurr upon any Deprivation ipso facto without Notice seeing the Statute of 13 Eliz. 12. says nothing of Presentation which remaining in force the Patron ought to have Notice 7. As in the Admission of a Clerk to a Benefice whatever is a Legal impediment will also be a sufficient cause of Deprivation so in reference to both the Law takes care to distinguish between that which is only Malum prohibitum and that which is Malum in se and therefore doth not hold the former of them such as frequenting of Taverns unlawful Gaming or the like to be a sufficient cause of a Clerks Non-admission to a Benefice or of his Deprivation being Admitted Otherwise if you can affect him with that which is Malum in se in which case Notice is to be given the Patron by the Ordinary of the Cause of his Refusal or Deprivation as also it is in case of Deprivation for not Subscribing or not Reading the 39 Articles of Religion according to the foresaid Statute of 13 Eliz. 12. which Notice ought to be certain and particular a general Notice of Incapacity not sufficing in which case an Intimation of such particular Incapacity affixed on the Church-door if the Patron be in partibus longe remotis or may not easily be affected therewith will answer the Law Vid. 18 Eliz. Dyer 346. 22 Eliz. Dyer 369. 16 Eliz. Dyer 327. Co. par 6. 29. Green 's Case 8. It is evident from the Premisses That a Deprivation from an Ecclesiastical Benefice will follow upon a Disgrading or Degradation from the Ecclesiastical Function or Calling for this Degradation is the Incapacitating of a Clerk for discharge of that holy Function for it is the punishment of such a Clerk as being delivered to his Ordinary cannot purge himself of the Offence whereof he was convicted by the Jury And it is a Privation of him from those holy Orders of Clerkship which formerly he had as Priesthood Deaconship c. And by the Canon Law this may be done Two waies either Summarily as by Word only or Solemnly as by devesting the party degraded of those Ornaments and Rites which were the Ensigns of his Order or Degree But in matters Criminal Princes anciently have had such a tender respect for the Clergy and for the credit of the whole profession thereof That if any man among them committed any thing worthy of death or open shame he was not first executed or exposed to Publick disgrace until he had been degraded by the Bishop and his Clergy and so was executed and put to shame not as a Clerk but as a Lay-Malefactor which regard towards Ecclesiasticks in respect of the dignity of the Ministry is observed by a Learned Author to be much more Ancient than any Papistical Immunity and is such a Priviledge as the Church in respect of such as once waited on the Altar hath in all Ages been honoured with 9. Robert Cawdry Clerk Rector of the Church of L. was deprived of his Rectory by the Bishop of London and his Collegues by virtue of the high Commission to them and others directed because he had pronounced and uttered slanderous and contumelious words against and in depravation of the Book of Common Prayer but the Form of the Sentence was That the said Bishop by and with the assent and
Spiritual persons may be discharged of Residence and by what means vid. St. 21 H. 8. 13. 12. In an Information upon the Statute of 21 H. 8. cap. 13. of Non-Residency it was found by Special Verdict That Dr. N. was Incumbent invested in the Rectory of S. and that he was also seized of a House in S. aforesaid scituate within twenty yards of the Rectory and that the Mansion-house of the said Rectory was in good Repair and that Dr. N. held that in his hands and occupation with his own proper Goods and did not Lett it to any other and that he inhabited in the said Messuage and not in the Parsonage The Statute of 21 H. 8. cap. 13. provides That every Parson promoted to any Parsonage shall be Personally resident and abiding in at and upon the said Benefice And in case any such Spiritual Parson keep not Residence at his Benefice as aforesaid but Absent himself wilfully by the space of a Month together or two Months to be accounted at several times in any one year and makes his residence or abiding in any other places by such time that then he shall forfeit for every such default Ten pounds the one half to the King the other half to the Informer The Question was Whether the said Dr. N. were Non-Resident and incurred the penalty of this Statute It was Argued by Houghton that he had incurred the penalty of the Statute and was Non-Resident within the intent thereof he said that to some intent all the Parish may be said the Benefice of the Parson for that he hath Benefit out of it and he is called Parson of such a Town or Parish but this is not the Benefice that the Statute intends upon which he ought to be Resident c. Also he said That there were Seven causes of making the said Statute whereof but Two are to our purpose the one is Hospitality the other Relief of the Poor and these are to be done in the Parsonage-house for this is the Free Alms of the Church And so it was Adjudged 34 Eliz. B. R. Broom and Hudson and 40 Eliz. B. R. between Butler and Goodall Coke 21. b. That he ought to be Resident upon the Parsonage-house and not elsewhere and he agreed That Imprisonment without deceit and Sickness are good Excuse For the Defendant Barker Serjeant argued That it appears by the Special Verdict that Dr. N. held the Parsonage-house in his own hands and did not Lett it whence he inferr'd That his Servants were resident upon it c. and that by the Council of Lateran all the Parish is made the Benefice of the Parson c. Also that before the said Statute every Spiritual man was obliged and compellable by the Ecclesiastical Law to be Resident yet if he were in the Kings Service or an Officer of the Chancery he should be excused as appears in the Register fo 51. b. though that he were Dean the which Office meerly requires his Personal Residence as it is there said This Case was compounded by the Lord Coke but he intended this was no Residence within the Statute for this was not his Benefice but the Tenants part of that as he said hath been Adjudged in the Exchequer 13. In Butler and Goodall's Case it was Resolved upon the Statute of 21 H. 8. That a Parson of a Church ought to stay and be commorant upon his Rectory viz. upon the Parsonage-house and not in any other House although it be within the Parish but lawful Imprisonment without Covin is a good cause of Non-Residence Also if there be no Parsonage-house for impotentia excusat Legem also Sickness without fraud if the Patient remove by advice of his Counsel in Physick bona fide for better air and recovery of his health The Statute is intended not only for serving the Cure but also for maintaining the habitation of the Parson for him and his Successors and for Hospitality Vid. Co. 6. pa. 21. Cro. par 1. 14. In the Case between Trinity Colledge and Tounstall it was Resolved That an Annuity by Prescription for a Pension issuing out of the Church lay against the Incumbent as well for the Arrearages due in the time of his Predecessor as in his own time for that the Church it self is charged with it in whose hands soever it comes 15. By Cardinal Otho's Constitution De Institutione Vicariorum it is Ordained That none shall be Admitted to a Vicarage unless he first take his Oath that he will have his personal and constant Residence thereon otherwise his Institution thereto to be null and void and the Vicarage to be conferred on another Const Othon de Instit Vicarior From which Canon the Gloss thereon doth raise this Question viz. Whether a Vicar not having possibly any Dwelling-house yet built for his habitation in the Parish and living for that reason in some neighbour-place and at another man's Table out of his Parish may according to the Oath aforesaid enjoyned by the said Canon be said to be Resident where the Question though argued in the Negative yet is Resolved in the Affirmative and that he shall be reputed as Resident if he be so nigh scituate to his Parish that the Inhabitants thereof may conveniently have access to him as oft as the Parishioners have need of his Ministry and so as on all requisitions he be ready to administer the Sacraments within the Parish for in construction of Law he is said to make his residence sufficiently there or in that place where he doth discharge his work and duty albeit he lives elsewhere L. cum quidam facit ff defun instruct Likewise the Law in requiring such Residence aims as well at Hospitality as at the discharge of the Ministry Also he that is Absent only about the affairs of the Church is reputed in Law as Present and Resident Also the Bishop may dispense with his Non-residence notwithstanding such Oath aforesaid Glo. in ver Residentiam dict Const Otho Yea he may also be sometimes Absent not only upon necessary but also upon his Family-occasions with License from the Bishop as also for his Recreation where it is for recovery of his health or prevention of Sickness Gloss ibid. 16. In an Action upon the Case for a Promise upon a Non assumpsit pleaded a Special Verdict was found upon which the Case appeared to be this The Defendant by Indenture did Demise unto the Plaintiff all his Tithe of Corn and Hay and the Agreement between them was this the Plaintiff should pay him for the Tithe fifty five shillings and this by agreement was to be paid at a day certain then following The Defendant having this Tithe passed the same in this manner to the Plaintiff and upon this Agreement and Promise being not performed the Plaintiff brought his Action It was found that the Defendant confessed the Agreement to be so but in Barr he pleaded the Statutes of 13 Eliz. cap. 20. and of 14 Eliz cap. 11.
he may Lawfully Marry some other Woman and some other Man Marry that Divorced Adulterers Wife In Mat. 19. 9. The words are That whosoever shall put away his Wife save for fornication and shall Marry another committeth Adultery and he that shall Marry her that is put away committeth Adultery Which words says that learned Author in Sect. 22. are favourable to the affirmative that it is Lawful for him in that one excepted Case to Marry again The nature of a Divorce among the Jews was the rescinding of the Conjugal Bands and by one supposition common to Jews and Romans viz. That they who were duly Divorced might Marry again So of the Jewish Divorced Wife Deut. 24. 2. 't is expresly said she may Marry another and of the Man this was his only End of putting away his Wife in that place that he might Marry another Accordingly the Form of Divorce in Misna tit Gittin Behold thou art free or at liberty for any Man and this is the Bill of Divorce between me and thee so that it is free for thee to Marry to any Man thou wilt Idem Sect. 27. yet on the other side says that learned Author it may be argued that although in the Mosaical Law Divorce was the rescinding the Conjugal Bands to which it was consequent as long as the Jewish polity lasted that they who were duly Divorced as in the one Case of Fornication might freely Marry again yet in the acceptation of our Christian Courts Divorce appears not to be any more than the solemn Judicial separation from Conjugal Society as that it seems to be rather the freeing the Husband and Wife from the Obligation to mutual conjugal duties than the utter rescinding and dissolving the Bands For if it were so then that Husband and Wife could never come together again without a new Wedlock which was never heard of in the Church that Adultery the efficient cause of Divorce though a breach of the Conjugal Vow is yet no actual dissâ—lution of the Conjugal Bands among us Christians seems probable says Doctor Hammond by these two evidences 1. Because Adultery committed by the Husband dissolves not Marriage which yet it equally should if that fault committed and not the Sentence of Divorce rescinded the Conjugal Band c. In this a difference is observable between us and the Jews for in case of Fornication the Jew expected no Sentence of the Consistory but the Man might put her away give her from himself a Bill of Divorce which was never allowed or practised among Christians 2. Because if this were so if Adultery in the Wife dissolved the bands then the Husband that after the Wifes Adultery continued to live with her Conjugally must be concluded to commit Fornication with her the validity of the bands being it and nothing else which makes Conjugal Society Lawful Accordingly hath the Opinion of the Church been anciently as in Can. Apost 48. If any Laick put away his Wife and Marry another or Marry a Woman which hath been put away by another let him be Excommunicate So likewise at the Council of Arles An. 314. Can. 10. De his qui Conjuges suas in adulterio deprehendunt iidem sunt Adolescentes Fideles prohibentur nubere placuit ut in quantum possit concilium iis detur nè viventibus uxoribus suis licet Adulteris alias accipiant Likewise in the Milevitan Council An. 402. at which St. Augustine was present it is decreed that secundum Evangelicam Apostolicam Doctrinam neque Dimissus ab uxore neq Dimissa à Marito alteri conjungantur sed ita maneant aut sibimet reconcilientur So also in the Codex Can. Eccl. African Can. 102. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That they that are Divorced from Husbands or Wives should remain unmarried And what hath thus been defined by these Canons is evidently received into the Ecclesiastical constitutions of this Church which therefore hath decreed that when Divorces are pronounced Monitio prohibitio fiat ut à partibus ab invicem segregatis caste vivatur nec ad alias Nuptias alterutra vivente convoletur Constit Eccl. An. 1597. upon these Arguments pro con Doctor Hammond in the forecited place doth conceive that the Resolution may be made by these three propositions 1. That by the force of Christs words in all the Evangelists he that Marries again after any kind of Divorce but that one for Fornication doth commit an Vnchristian sin 2. That by force of the Arguments first produced for the interpreting Mark and Luke by Mat. 19. 5. vid. Doctor Hammond of Divorces fol. 452 453. it may be probably concluded that in that one case of Divorce for Fornication the Marriage of the Innocent party shall not be Adulterous 3. That although this be granted yet the words of St. Mark and Luke especially the words of St. Paul 1 Cor. 7. 39. do give such prejudices against Marriages after Divorce indefinitely that the ancient Canons of the Church and the Constitutions of our English reformation have thought fit not to permit such liberty in any kind and therefore that this may be the better observed the decree of separation shall not be pronounced till they that demand it shall give sufficient security that they will do nothing against the Admonition and Prohibition for our Constitution adds Denique quo illud firmius observetur sententia separationis non antea pronunciabitur quam qui eam postulaverint Cautionem Fidejussoriam sufficientem interposuerint se contra monitionem prohibitionem nihil commissuros which if not observed by the Judge he is punishable and the Sentence of Divorce for such defect declared void Constit Eccl. an 1597. Innocent the first Bishop of Rome saith Qui interveniente repudio alii se Matrimonio copularunt in utraque parte Adulteros esse manifestum est c. But the said Judicious Author conceives that of this and the like Testimonies it may be observed that most of them belong not to these Divorces which are in case of Fornication but proportionably to Christ's words in St. Mark to those which according to the Jewish or Imperial Laws were allowed in other Cases than what either Christ or the Primogenial institution of Marriage had allowed of And further saith that it is evident and confessed by all Christians that of These that is the Marriages after such Divorces by the Jewish and Imperial Laws are Adulterous but not so of those other Marriages of the innocent parties after those other Divorces in that one Case of Adultery Yea and some Canons have been made with this Temperament expresly except in the case of Fornication so in the second Canon of the Council of Vannes eos qui relictis uxorihus suis sicut in Evangelio dicitur excepta causa Fornicationis sine Adulterii probatione alias duxerint statuimus c. They that have left their own Wives as it is said in the Gospel except for cause of Fornication and
Court had not any Cognizance of 23. Note upon evidence to the Jury Resolved by the Court that an Action upon the Case for words lies against an Infant of Seventeen years of age For malitia supplet aetatem And it is said at the Common Law that if a Man Libel in the Ecclesiastical Court against one for saying certain words of him which he will maintain in an Action upon the Case at Common Law a Prohibition lies 24. If a Man Libels in the Ecclesiastical Court against one for saying that he is a Witch or the Son of a Witch although no Action lies for that at the Common Law yet no Prohibition shall be granted for peradventure he may have some Spiritual prejudice thereby if he should be the Son of a Witch as that he cannot be a Priest or the like for it seems all the force of the words consists in the last words they being spoken in the disjunctive If a Parson of a Church call A. B. Drunkard upon which A. B. answers thou lyest if the Parson sue A. B. in the Ecclesiastical Court for giving him the lye a Prohibition lies for that the Cause for which he gave him the lye is not Spiritual but depending on a Temporal thing precedent But if a Man call a Minister Knave he may be sued for that in the Ecclesiastical Court and no Prohibition lies If one Man says of another that he will not hear Sermons made by those who have been made Ministers by Bishops he may be sued for that in the Ecclesiastical Court and no Prohibition shall be granted If a Man says of another that he keeps a Bawdy house and is sued for it in the Ecclesiastical Court although he might have an Action at Common Law yet the Ecclesiastical Law hath a concurrent Jurisdiction in this and the words are mixt for which reason no Prohibition lies And if one says of another that he is a Pander he may be sued in the Ecclesiastical Court for that the signification of that word is well known and sounds to a Spiritual Defamation Or if a Man says to another Thou art a Cuckoldly Knave and for that he and his Wife sue him in the Ecclesiastical Court for a Defamation no Prohibition lies for that these words amount to a Spiritual Defamation viz. that his Wife was incontinent in this Case a Prohibition was denied Husband and Wife were Divorced for Adultery à mensa thoro mutua cohabitatione and as one of the Counsel said de omnibus Matrimonialibus obsequiis but the Counsel of the other party denied that and after the Wife sued in the Ecclesiastical Court a Stranger for Defamation and Sentence there given for her and penance enjoyn'd to the party Defendant and costs of Suit assessed for the Plaintiff and afterwards the Defendant appeals and after the Husband of the Wife releases all Actions and that Suit and all appertaining thereunto and the Defendant pleaded that Release and they remitted back the Suit to the inferiour Court again and now Coventry Recorder of London prayed a Prohibition for that notwithstanding the Divorce they continued Husband and Wife and therefore the Release of the Husband should barr the Wife from having Execution of the Sentence and of the Costs 44 El. In this Court between Steevens Administrator of one Steevens and Totte the Case was That after a Divorce for Adultery of the Husband à Mensa Thoro the Woman sued in the Ecclesiastical Court for a Legacy devised to her by the Testator and the Defendant pleaded a Release thereof from the Husband and thereupon a Prohibition was granted and he shew'd that president in Court but the President did not comprehend the Divorce But Doderidge said he well remembred when that Case was argued and the parlance then was about the Divorce Wentworth it seems that no Prohibition shall be granted Hill 7. Jac. in this Court A Suit was commenced in the Ecclesiastical Court by two Church-wardens and the Defendant there pleaded the Release of one of them and thereupon a Prohibition was here granted and after a consultation was granted for that they shall try that having cognizance of the Principal and in this Case the Release is after the appeal and therefore it may not be pleaded upon the appeal for the Judges in the appeal have no power but to examine the former Sentence and not any collateral matter Coventrie I agree the Case of the Church-wardens for that the Release of one is not any Barr in Law for 38. Elâ—z it was here resolved between Methon and Winns that a gift by the Church-wardens without the Assent of the Sidemen or Vestry is void but it is otherwise here for here the Release of the Husband is sufficient to discharge the Execution of that Sentence the which is all that we demand 10. lâ— 3. such Divorce is not any Barr of Dower The Court seemed to incline that no Prohibition should be granted for that the Wife in such Case may be sued alone without the Husband by the Ecclesiastical Law and this is matter meerly Spiritual viz. Defamation and therefore we have nothing to do therewith and the Release of the Husband shall not discharge the Suit of the Wife which is only to restore her to her Credit and Reputation which was impeached by the other and the Costs of Suit is not for any Dammage but meerly for the Charge of the Suit and therefore the Suit being not discharged the Costs shall remain also and this Case is not like the fore-cited Case of Stephens for the thing for which that Suit was was originally a Legacy due to Husband and Wife and therefore there the Release of the Husband was a good discharge but here was no duty in the Husband originally Ergo c. Curia advisare vult In Palmer and Thorps Case it was resolved that Defamation in the Ecclesiastical Court ought to have three Incidents 1 That the matter be meerly Spiritual and determinable in the Ecclesiastical Court as for calling one Heretick Schismatick Advowterer Fornicator 2 It ought to concern matter meerly Spiritual only for if it concern any thing determinable at common Law the Ecclesiastical Judge shall not have Cognizance of it See for this 22. E. 4. 20 the Abbot of St. Albons Case 3 Though the thing be meerly Spiritual yet he which is defamed cannot sue there for amends or dammages but the Suit there ought to be for punishment of the offender Pro salute animae For this see Articulis cleri Circumspecte agatis and Fitz. 51 52 53. but yet the Plainshall recover Costs there and there if the Defendant to redeem his Penance agree to pay a certain sum the Party may sue for this there and no Prohibition lies in that Case In a Case of Prohibition between M. and M. in the Ecclesiastical Court the Case was a Suit was there for Defamation by the Wife of the
of Pope Julius the Third An. 1551. which had only Three Sessions by reason of Wars happening in Germany At this Second Meeting the French King protested against this Council The Third Meeting whereof was Nine years after the Second it being appointed by Pope Pius the Fourth there having been in this interval since the Second Meeting when Julius the Third was Pope two other Popes viz. Marcellus and Paulus the Fourth At this Third and last Meeting there were Nine Sessions the Last whereof began the Third of December An. 1563. The chief Points treated of at this Council were concerning the Scriptures Original Sin Justification the Sacraments in General Baptism the removing of the Council the Eucharist Repentance Extream Unction Communion of Lay-persons under one kind the Sacrifice of Masse the Sacrament of Order Matrimony Purgatory Worshipping of Reliques Invocation of Saints Worshipping of Images Indulgencies the choice of Meats Fastings and Festivals The History of this Council of Trent is extant Of National Councils there have been many more than what are before mentioned as here in Britain and in Italy Spain France Germany the Eastern and African In Italy it is said that there are to be found 115 such Synods as it were National which go under the Name of Roman Councils But such as are of the most Remark in each of these Countreys and the principal things they determined you may find a touch of and no more in the Learned Bishop Prideaux his Synopsis of Councils in the Eighth Chapter Edit 5. Oxon. 1672. CHAP. XLII Of Excommunication 1. What Excommunication is It is Twofold 2. By what Appellations the Greater and Lesser Excommunication are known and distinguished their respective derivations and significations and the nature of each 3. Ecclesiastical Censures in the general may be Threefold 4. What the Law intends by Excommunication ipso facto 5. What the Excommunicate is not debarr'd of by Law 6. Legal Requisites to the due pronunciation of the Sentence of Excommunication 7. What course the Law takes with an Excommunicate after Forty days so perisisting obstinate 8. The several Causes of Excommunication ipso facto enumerated by Lindwood 9. The Causes of Excommunication ipso facto by the Canons now in force in the Church of England 10. The several Writs at Law touching persons Excommunicate and the Causes to be contained in a Significavit whereon the Excommunication proceeded 11. What the Writs de Excommunicato Deliberando also de Excommunicato Recipiendo do signifie in Law 12. A sufficient and lawful Addition to be in the Significavit and in the Excom Capiend Vid. Sect. 10. 13. Several Statutes touching Persons Excommunicated 14. Excommunication for striking in the Church 15. Whether a Bishop hath Jurisdiction or may Cite a man out of his Diocese 16. What are the Requisites of a Certificate of Excommunication for stay of Actions and how it ought to be qualified 17. A Significavit of Excommunication for not Answering Articles not shewing what they were not good 18. By whom an Excommunication may be Certified and how 19. In what case the Significavit of an Excommunication ought to express one of the Causes mentioned in the Statute 20. Whether a General Pardon doth discharge an Excommunication for Contempt precedent to the Pardon or shall discharge the Costs of Court thereon 21. A man taken upon an Excom Cap. and discharged because the Significavit did not express the party to be Commorant within the Bishops Diocess at the time of the Excommunicat 22. Where a man is twice Excommunicated whether an Absolution for the latter shall purge the first Excommunication 23. Whether a Prohibition lies to the Ecclesiastical Court upon Costs there given not in an Action at the Suit of the party but upon an Information there exhibited 24. What Remedy in Law for a party wrong fully Excommunicated and so remaining Forty daies without suing a Prohibition 25. Whether a Person taken by a Capias de Excom Capiend be Bailable or not And whether the Bishop may take Bond of the Excommunicate to perform Submission for their Absolution 1. EXcommunication commonly termed in the Common Law in the Law-French thereof Excommengement is a Censure of the Church pronounced and inflicted by the Canon or some Ecclesiastical Judge lawfully Constituted whereby the party against whom it is so pronounced is pro tempore deprived of the lawful participation and Communion of the Sacraments And is also sometimes as to Offenders a deprivation of their Communion and sequestration of their persons from the Converse and Society of the Faithful And therefore it is distinguish'd into the Greater and Lesser Excommunication the Greater comprizing as well the latter as the former part of the abovesaid definition or description the Lesser comprizing only the former part thereof de Except c. a nobis Lindw de Cohab. Cler. gl in verb. Sacramenta Excommunicatio quasi extra Communionem For Excommunication is Extra Communionem Ecclesiae separatio vel Censura Ecclesiastica excludens aliquem à Communione Fidelium This Ecclesiastical Censure when it is Just is not by any means to be despised or opposed for Christ himself is the Author thereof Anciently among the Hebrews such persons as were Excommunicated were termed Aposynagogi as being quasi Synagoga exacti and to be shun'd or avoided of all men until they repented That of our Saviour in Matth. 18. 17. Let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican seems to referr to some such Excommunication the power whereof by way of Judicature being then in the Jewish Sanhedrim or Colledge of Elders 2. This Ecclesiastical Censure when limited or restrained only to the Lesser Excommunication the Theologists will have to be understood by the Greek word Anathema Accursed or Separated and when it extends to the Greater Excommunication then to be understood by the Syriack word Maran-atha or Our Lord cometh Anathema Maran atha Anathema Let him be Accursed quasi Devoted to the Devil and separated from Christ and his Churches Communion Maran-atha Some take this for a Syriack word Others not so well satisfied with that Judgment will have it to be a Chaldee word yet used in the Hebrew and familiarly known among the Greeks Maran-atha viz. Our Lord cometh for Maran is our Lord and atha cometh or rather three words more properly viz. Mara-na-atha Our Lord cometh Being a word used in the greatest Excommunication among the Christians intimating or implying That they summoned the person Excommunicated before the dreadful Tribunal at the last coming of the Son of God or that such as were under this Censure of the Church were given up and reserved to the Lords coming to be judged by him and mean while without Repentance and Absolution are to expect nothing but the Terrible coming of Christ to take Vengeance of them To which that Prophesie of Enoch seems to allude Behold the Lord cometh with Ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all
into the Church albeit Divine Service be not then celebrating unless it be to hear the word preached which being ended he is immediately to depart or stand at the Church-door in the time of Divine Service and hearing the same albeit he go not within the Church it self or thrust himself into the company of others when it is in his power to avoid it or lastly when he continues too long secure under such Sentence of Excommunication without repentance whereby the Law concludes him so manacled by his obstinacy as no Spiritual Physick can have any operation upon him And although regularly the Return of such a one is to be expected usque ad annum yet in this Kingdom quoad incovationem Brachii Secularis it is sufficient if Forty daies be expired after his Excommunication Ibid. c. 1. authoritate glos in verb. Contemnentes And whereas we often in the Law meet with certain Cases of Offences incurring the Sentence of Excommunication ipso facto that is as aforesaid nullo hominis ministerio interveniente Requiritur tamen even in that case Sententia Declaratoria C. cum secund Leges de Haeret. li. 6. Lindw de Foro Comp. c. 1. glos in verb. ipso facto 8. It is therefore not impertinent here to insert what principally those Offences are on the Guilty whereof the Law doth inflict this Excommunication ipso facto Lindwood tells us that there are found among the Canons and Constitutions Provincial these Cases following wherein Excommunication ipso facto is incurr'd viz. 1 A wilful and malicious impeding the execution of the Canon against Incontinency specially in Ecclesiasticks as to Concubines 2 A clandestine and surreptitious Proceeding at Law even to the Writ of Banishment against an innocent person and ignorant of the Proceedings 3 Bigamy 4 False Accusing of any Innocent Clergy-man before a Temporal Judge whereby he happens to suffer under the Secular Power 5 A laying Snares to entrap any in holy Orders whereby afterwards to charge them falsly before the Secular Powers with Crimes whereof they were not guilty 6 A violation of lawful Sequestrations made by the Bishops their Vicars general or principal Officials 7 The exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by any Clerk married or by any Lay-person in matters only and properly pertaining to the Cognizance of the Church 8 Disobedience to the Gregorian Constitution forbidding the holding of Two Benefices Incompatible cum Cura animarum without a Dispensation 9 A procuring to be Presented to a Benefice that is already full of an Incumbent by virtue of the Writs of Quare non admisit or Quare impedit or the like 10 Abettors and Advisors of any to fraudulent Conveyances or Deeds of Gift in fraudem Ecclesiae Regis Creditorum aut haeredum 11 All such as hinder any of what quality soever that are legally Testable from making their last Wills and Testaments or afterwards do unjustly obstruct the due execution of the same 12 All such as hinder the devotion of the people in making their Offerings and paying their Tithes converting them to their own use 13 All such as deny the gathering of the Tithes of any Fruit or molest and hinder the Collectors thereof 14 All Lay-persons who usurp upon such Oblations and Offerings as are due and appertain only to Ecclesiastical persons without their assent and the assent of the Bishop 15 Sacrilegious persons and all such as invade the just Rights Liberties or Revenues of the Church or otherwise unjustly possess themselves de bonis Ecclesiasticis 16 All Bayliffs and other Officers that unjustly enter upon the Goods of the Church or unduly exact from the same or commit Waste upon any the Revenues of a Church vacant 17 All Oppugners of Episcopal Authority or that resist and oppose the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and all such as disswade others from their due Obedience thereunto 18 All such as being imprisoned for their Contempt to some Ecclesiastical Sentence are thence set at liberty contrary to the Liberties and Customes of the Church of England being Excommunicate persons when they were first apprehended 19 All such as violently usurp upon the propriety of such Trees and Fruits as grow in the Church-yards rooting them up or felling them down or mowing down the Grass thereof contrary to the will and without the consent of the Rector or Vicar of any Church or Chappel or their Tenants 20 All such as should non ritè solemnize Prohibited Marriages that is such as have any Canonical Impediment 21 All such as contrary to the true Catholick sense shall assert any thing or lay down positions or make propositions sauouring of Heresie publickly in the Schools 22 All such as in their Preaching or otherwise shall violate the Canon that enjoyns a due examination and approbation of persons before they are admitted to Preach the Word of God 23 All such as touching the Sacraments assert any thing beside or contrary to the determination of the Church or call such things into doubt publickly as are defined and stated by the Church 24 All such as in the Universities do after a premonition to the contrary hold any Opinions or assert any Doctrines Propositions or Conclusions touching the Catholick Faith or good manners of an ill tendency contrary to the determination of the Church 25 All such Clerks as without Ecclesiastical Authority shall of themselves or by any Lay-power intrude themselves into the possession of any Parochial Church or other Ecclesiastical Living having Curam animarum These Cases and some others now not of use in this Realm are enumerated by Lindwood Lindw de Sententia Excom c. ult gloss in verb. Candelis accensis But there are very many other Cases in the Canon Law that fall under this Excommunication ipso facto by which in the Law is ever understood the Major Excommunicatio and was wont to be published and denounced in the Church Four solemn daies in every year when the Congregation was likeliest to be most full and that in Majorem terrorem 9. The Causes of Excommunication ipso facto according to the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical of the Church of England now in force are such as these viz. 1 Impugners of the Kings Supremacy 2 Affirmers of the Church of England as now established to be not a true and Apostolical Church 3 Impugners of the Publick Worship of God establish'd in the Church 4 Impugners of the Articles of Religion establish'd in the Church of England 5 Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England 6 Impugners of the Government of the Church by Archbishops Bishops c. 7 Impugners of the Form of making and Consecrating Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England 8 Authors of Schisms in the Church 9 Maintainers of Schismaticks Conventicles and Constitutions made in Conventicles Likewise by the said Canons the Ecclesiastical Censure of Excommunication is incurr'd by all such Ministers as Revolt from the Articles unto which they subscribed at their
being made Ministers and do not reform after a months suspension Also by all such persons as refuse the Sacraments at the hands of Unpreaching Ministers after a months obstinacy being first suspended Also by all such Ministers as without their Ordinaries License under his Hand and Seal appoint or keep any Solemn Fasts either publickly or in private Houses having been formerly suspended for the same fault and finally by all Ministers who hold any private Conventicles to Consult on any thing tending to the impeaching or depraving of the Doctrine of the Church of England or of the Book of Common Prayer or of any part of the Government and Discipline now established in the Church of England which by the Seventy third Canon is Excommunication ipso facto 10. Touching persons thus Excommunicated persisting Forty daies in their obstinacy there are Three several Writs at the Law issuing from the Secular power viz. Excommunicato Capiendo Excommunicato Deliberando Excommunicato Recipiendo The Excommunicato Capiendo is a Writ issuing out of Chancery directed to the Sheriff for the apprehending and imprisoning of him who hath obstinately stood Excommunicated Forty daies for the Contempt to the Ecclesiastical Laws of such not in the interim obtaining their Absolution being by the Ordinary certified or signified into Chancery the said Writ thence issues for the apprehending and imprisoning them without Bail or Mainprize until they Conform Which Writ as by the Statute of 5 Eliz c. 23. is to be awarded out of the high Court of Chancery so it is to issue thence only in Term time and Returnable in the Kings Bench the Term next after the Teste thereof and to contain at least Twenty daies between the Teste and the Return thereof And in case the Offender against whom such Writ shall be awarded shall not therein have a sufficient and lawful Addition according to the form of the Statute of 1 H. 5. Or if in the Significavit it be not contained That the Excommunication doth proceed upon some cause of Contempt or some Original matter of Heresie or refusing to have their Children Baptized or to receive the Holy Communion as it is now used in the Church of England or to come to divine Service now commonly used in the said Church or Error in matters of Religion or Doctrine now received and allowed in the said Church Incontinency Usury Simony Perjury in the Ecclesiastical Court or Idolatry That then all pains and Forfeitures limited against such persons Excommunicate by the said Statute of 5 Eliz. 23. by reason of such Writ of Excom Capiend wanting sufficient Addition or of such Significavit wanting all the Causes aforesaid are void in Law 11. The Excommunicato Deliberando is a Writ to the Under-Sheriff for the releasing and delivery of the Excommunicate person out of Prison upon Certificate from the Ordinary into the Chancery of his Submission Satisfaction or conformity to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction And the Excommunicato Recipiendo is a Writ whereby Excommunicated persons who by reason of their Obstinacy having been committed to Prison and thence unduly delivered before they had given sufficient Caution or Security to obey the Authority of the Church are to be sought for and committed again to Prison This Sentence of Excommunication by the 65 th Canon pronounced against any and not absolved within Three months next after is every Sixth month ensuing as well in the Parish Church as in the Cathedral of the Diocess wherein they remain by the Minister openly in time of Divine Service upon some Sunday to be denounced and declared Excommunicate and where by the 68 th Canon Ministers are enjoyned not to Refuse to Bury it is with an exception to such persons Deceased as were denounced Excommunicated Majori Excommunicatione for some grievous and notorious Crime and of whose repentance no man is able to testifie 12. A Sentence was given in the Chancellors Court at Oxford at the Suit of B. against H. and thereupon H. was Excommunicated and taken in London upon the Writ of Excom Capiendo And it came into the Kings Bench where he pleaded That there was no Addition in the Significavit according to the Statute of 5 Eliz. and thereupon prayed to be discharged And the Opinion of the Court was That by the Statute of 5 Eliz. the Penalties mentioned in the said Statute are discharged but not the Imprisonment nor the Excommunication 13. By the Statute of 9 Ed. 2. 12. the Writ de Excom Capiendo may be awarded to take a Clerk Excommunicate for Contumacy after Forty daies And by the Statute of 9 Ed. 2. 7. the Kings Letters may not be sent to an Ordinary to Absolve an Excommunicate but where the Kings Liberty is prejudiced By the Statute of 5 6 Ed. 6. cap. 4. striking or laying of violent hands upon any person in a Church or Church-yard is Excommunication And by the Statute of 2 Ed. 6. 13. it is Excommunication to disobey the Sentence of an Ecclesiastical Judge in Causes of Tithes By the Statute of 3 Jac. 4. the Sheriff may apprehend a Popish Recusant standing Excommunicate and by the Statute of 3 Jac. 5. a Popish Recusant convicted shall stand as a person Excommunicate And by the Statute of 3 Ed. 1. 15. he that is Excommunicated shall be debarred of Mainprize 14. V. against E. in the Ecclesiastical Court where the Suit was for Striking in the Church which by the Second Branch of the Statute of 5 Ed. 6. cap. 4. is Excommunication ipso facto By which he surmized him incidisse in poenam Excommunicationis And being granted if c. And Ashley shewed cause why it should not issue viz. There ought to be a Declaration in the Ecclesiastical Court of the Excommunication before any may prohibit him the Church Richardson said That the Proceedings are not contrary to the Statute but stood with the Statute And it was said by Yelverton It seems there ought to be a Declaration in the Ecclesiastical Court But the difference is where it is Officium Judicis or Ad instantiam paris they will give Costs which ought not to be Hutton and Richardson If the party will not prosecute it none will take notice of it and they proceed to give Costs then a Prohibition may be granted And if he be a Minister he ought to be suspended for an offence against the Statute And it ought to be first declared and so to Excommunication and that cannot be pleaded if it be not under Seal Dyer 275. And after all these were agreed by the Court and no Prohibition was granted 15. B. was sued in the Ecclesiastical Court in a cause of Defamation in another Diocess than that wherein he lived and being Cited was for Non-appearance Excommunicated and upon Significavit the Writ de Excommunicato Capiendo was awarded Serjeant Finch Recorder prayed a Supersedeas for two Reasons 1. Upon the Statute of 23 H. 8. because he was Sued out of the