An account of the Isle of Jersey, the greatest of those islands that are now the only reminder of the English dominions in France with a new and accurate map of the island / by Philip Falle ...

Of the King's Supremacy.

FIrst, according to the Duty we owe to the King's most Excellent Ma∣jesty, it is ordained that the Dean and Ministers, having Cure of Souls, shall be o∣bliged to the utmost of their Power, Know∣ledge, and Learning, purely and sincerely, without any Back∣wardness or Dissimu∣lation, to teach, pub∣lish, and declare, as often as they may, and as occasion shall offer it self, that all for∣reign, strange and u∣surped Power, for as much as it has no ground in the Word of God, is wholly for good and just Causes taken away, and abo∣lished; and that there∣fore no manner of O∣bedience

or Subjecti∣on within His Maje∣sty's Kingdoms and Dominions is due un∣to any such Power: But that the King's Power within his Kingdoms of Eng∣land, Scotland, and Ireland, and other his Dominions and Countries, is the high∣est Power under God, to which all Persons, Natives and Inha∣bitants within the same, do by God's Law owe Loyalty and Obedience, before and above all other Power.

2. Whosoever shall affirm and maintain that the King's Ma∣jesty

hath not the same Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical which Godly Kings had among the Jews, and Christian Empe∣rors in the Primitive Church; or shall in any manner of way impeach or obstruct the King's Suprema∣cy in the said Causes; Moreover, whosoever shall affirm that the Church of England, as it is established under the King's Ma∣jesty, is not a true and Apostolical Church, purely teaching the Doctrine of the Pro∣phets and Apostles; or shall impugne the Government of the said Church by Arch∣bishops, Bishops, and Deans, affirming it to be Anti-christian; shall be ipso facto Ex∣communicated, and not restored but by the Dean sitting in Court, after his Re∣pentance,

and publick Recantation of his Error.

Of Divine Service.

3. It is injoyned un∣to all sorts of Per∣sons to submit to the Divine Service contained in the Book of Common - Prayers of the Church of England: And for as much as concerns the Ministers, they shall be obliged to observe with Unifor∣mity the said Liturgy, without Addition, or Alteration; And no Conventicle or Con∣gregation shall be suf∣fered to make Sect apart, or withdraw themselves from the Ecclesiastical Govern∣ment

established in the Island.

4. The Lord's Day shall be sanctified by the Exercises of pub∣lick Prayer, and hear∣ing of God's word; whereat every one shall be bound to as∣sist at a convenient hour, and to observe the Order and De∣cency in that Case requisite; being atten∣tive at the reading and preaching of the Word, kneeling on their Knees during the Prayers, and stan∣ding up at the Con∣fession of Faith, and shall also testifie their Consent and Partici∣pation in saying A∣men. And in pursu∣ance thereunto, du∣ring any part of Di∣vine Service, the Church - Wardens shall not suffer any interruption or hin∣derance to be made

by the Insolence or Talk of any per∣son either in Church or Church-yard.

5. There shall be Publick Exercise in every Parish on Wednesday and Fri∣day Mornings, by rea∣ding the Common Prayer.

6. When any ur∣gent Occasion shall re∣quire an Extraordina∣ry Fast to be celebra∣ted, the Dean with the advice of the Mi∣nisters shall give no∣tice thereof to the Governor and to the Civil Magistrate, to the end that by their Consent and Autho∣rity, it may be gene∣rally observed, for the appeasing of the wrath and indigna∣tion of God, by a true and serious Re∣pentance.

Of Baptism.

7. Baptism shall be administred in the Church with fair and common water, ac∣cording to the Insti∣tution of Jesus Christ, and without Limita∣tion of days; nor shall any delay the bring∣ing of his Child to Baptism longer than the next Sunday, or publick Assembly, if it may conveniently be done; and no one shall be admitted to be a Godfather that does not participate to the Holy Com∣munion; Women a∣lone (viz. without the Presence of a Man to be Godfather) shall not be admitted to be Godmothers.

Of the Lord's Supper.

8. The Lord's Sup∣per shall be admini∣stred in every Church four times a Year, whereof one shall be at Easter, and the o∣ther at Christmas; And every Minister in the Administration of the said Supper, shall first receive the Sacrament himself, and after distribute the Bread and Wine to each of the Commu∣nicants, using the Words of the Insti∣tution.

9. All Fathers and Masters of Families shall be exhorted and injoyned to cause their Children and Dome∣sticks to be instructed in the Knowledge of their Salvation, and to this End shall take

care to send them to the Ordinary Cate∣chizing.

Of Marriage.

10. None shall Mar∣ry contrary to the De∣grees prohibited by the Word of God; as they are expressed in the Table made by the Church of England, on pain of Nullity and Censure.

11. The Banes shall be asked three Sun∣days successively in the Parish Churches of both Parties, and the Party of the Parish where the Marriage shall not be celebra∣ted shall be obliged to bring Certificate of the Publication of his Banes in his own Pa∣rish. Nevertheless in lawful Cases there

may be Licence and Dispensation of the said Banes given by the Authority of the Dean, who shall take good Security of the Liberty of the Par∣ties.

12. There shall be no Separation à Tho∣ro & Mensâ but in Case of Adultery, Cruelty, and Danger of Life, duly proved, and this at the In∣stance of the Parties: And as for the Main∣tenance of the Wo∣man during the Sepa∣ration, she shall have recourse to the Secu∣lar Power.

Of Ministers.

13. None that is not fit to, Teach, nor able to Preach the Word of God, shall be admitted to any

Benefice within the Isle; or that has not received Imposition of Hands, and been Or∣dained after the Form used in the Church of England.

14. None, either Dean or Minister, shall hold two Benefices to∣gether, unless in time of Vacancy; And the Originaries, or Natives of the Isle, shall be preferred before o∣thers to the Ministe∣ry.

15. The Ministers every Sunday after the Publick Morning Prayers shall expound some Place of Holy Scripture, and in the Afternoon shall han∣dle some of the Points of the Christian Re∣ligion contained in the Catechism of the Book of Common-Prayers.

16. In their Pray∣ers they shall observe the Titles due to the King, acknowledging him Supreme Gover∣nor under Christ in all Causes and over all Persons, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, recommending [unto God] the Prosperity of his Royal Person, Estate, and Posterity.

17. Every one of the Ministers shall be careful to shew that Decency and Gravity of Apparel which be∣comes his Profession, and may preserve the Respect due to his Person; And they shall be very circum∣spect in the whole Course of their Lives to keep themselves from such Company, Actions, and Haunts, as may bring any blame or blemish up∣on

them; nor shall they dishonour their Calling, by Games, Taverns, Usuries, Trades or Occupati∣ons not befitting their Function; but shall study to excell others in Purity of Life, Gravity, and Vertue.

18. They shall take care that a Register be kept of Christ∣nings, Marriages, and Burials; And shall be obliged to publish on the Day that shall be appointed them, the Ordinances of the Court, which shall be sent to them signed and sealed by the Dean, they being de∣livered to them fifteen Days before the Pub∣lication.

19. The Ministers shall have notice in convenient time to assist at such Burials as shall be in their Parishes, whereat they shall observe the Form prescribed in the Book of Common - Prayers; And none shall be interred within the Church without leave of the Minister, who shall have regard to the Quality of the Persons, and withall to those that are Benefactors to the Church.

Of the Dean.

20. The Dean shall be a Minister of the Word of God, being a Master of Arts, or Graduate in the Civil-Law, at the least; ha∣ving Abilities to ex∣ercise the said Office, Of good Life and Conversation, zealous, and well affected to

Religion, and the Service of God.

21. The Dean, in Causes which shall be handled in Court, shall demand the Advice and Opinion of the Ministers who shall then be present.

22. He shall have the Cognizance of all Matters which con∣cern the Service of God, the Preaching of the Word, Admi∣nistration of the Sa∣craments, Matrimo∣nial Causes, the Ex∣amination and Cen∣sure of all Papists, Recusants, Hereticks, Idolaters, and Schis∣maticks, Persons per∣jured in Causes Ec∣clesiastical, Blasphe∣mers, such as have recourse to Wizzards,

Incestuous Persons, Adulterers, Fornica∣tors, common Drun∣kards, and publick Prophaners of the Lord's Day; as also of the Prophanation of Churches and Church-yards, Con∣tempt and Offences committed in Court, or against any Offi∣cers thereof in the Execution of the Mandats of the Court, Divorces, and Sepa∣ration à Thoro & Mensâ; with Power to censure and pu∣nish them according to the Ecclesiastical Laws, without Pre∣judice to the Power of the Civil Magi∣strate in regard of bo∣dily Punishment for the said Crimes.

23. The Dean ac∣companied by two or three Ministers shall

once in two Years Vi∣sit every Parish in person, and shall give order that there be a Sermon on the Visita∣tion-day, either by himself, or some o∣ther by him appoint∣ed; which Visitation shall be made for the ordering that all things appertaining to the Church, the Service of God, and the Administration of the Sacraments, be provided by the Church - Wardens, and that the Church, Church - Yard, and Parsonage-House, be maintained and re∣paired: And likewise shall receive informa∣tion from the said Church - Wardens, or (if they should fail in doing their Duty) from the Mi∣nister, of all Offences and Abuses which need to be reformed, whether in the Mini∣ster,

Officers of the Church, or others of the Parish; And the said Dean for the said Visitation shall each time receive 40 Sols out of the Treasury of the Church.

24. In case of Va∣cancy of any Benefice, either by Death, or otherwise, the Dean shall give present Or∣der that the Profits of the said Benefice be sequestred, and that out of the Revenue there∣of the Cure be sup∣plied; and also that the Widow or Heirs of the Deceased be satisfied in proportion to the Time of his Service, according to the Custom of the Isle, with such neces∣sary Deductions as must be made for Di∣lapidations, if there be any; and shall give convenient Time to the Widow of the De∣ceased

to provide her self of a Dwelling; and shall dispose of the Residue to the next Incumbent, to whom the Sequestrator shall be accountable.

25: In the same Case of Vacancy of a∣ny Benefice, if within six Months the Go∣vernor does not Pre∣sent some person to the Right Reverend Fa∣ther in God the Bi∣shop of Winchester, or in the Vacancy of that See, to the most Re∣verend Father in God the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be ad∣mitted and instituted to the said Benefice, then the Dean shall give notice of the Time of the Vacancy to the said Lords Bi∣shop or Archbishop, as

it shall happen, to the end they may give Order for collating to the Benefice: And when any shall be Pre∣sented to them, the Dean shall give Certi∣ficate of the behaviour and Sufficiency of the Party, to be appro∣ved by them, before he be actually admit∣ted by the Dean into Possession of the said Benefice.

26. The Dean shall have the Entry and Probate of Wills; which shall be appro∣ved under the Seal of his Office, and Regi∣stred; He shall have also the Registring of the Inventories of Goods Mobiliary be∣longing to Orphans, whereof he shall keep a faithful Register, that he may give Co∣pies of them when∣ever he shall be requi∣red. Moreover, he

shall give Letters of Administration of the Goods of Intestates, dying without Heirs of their Body, to the next of Kindred.

27. They that have the Will in their Cu∣stody, whether they be Heirs, Executors, or others, shall be o∣bliged to exhibit and bring the same to the Dean within one Month; in default whereof they shall be convened into Court by Mandate, paying double Charges for the Compulsory; and the said Dean shall have for the said Wills, Inventories, and Letters of Ad∣ministration, such Fees as are specified in the Table made for that purpose.

28. All Legacies Mobiliary made to the Church, Mini∣sters, Schools, or Poor, shall be of the Cog∣nizance of the Dean; But upon any Oppo∣sition made concern∣ing the Validity of the Will, the Civil Court shall determine it betwixt the Par∣ties.

29. It appartains to the Dean to have Cognizance of all Substraction of Tythes belonging to the Church, of what kind soever they be, which have been paid to the Ministers, and which they have enjoyed and have been possessed of forty Years; and eve∣ry Person convict∣ed of Substraction, Fraud, or Detention of the said Tythes, shall be adjudged to

make Restitution, and pay the Cost and Charges of the Par∣ty; And for the pre∣servation of all and singular the Rights, Tythes, Rents, Lands and Possessions Bene∣ficiary, there shall be a Terrice made by the Bailly and Jurats, assi∣sted by the Dean and King's Procurator.

30. The Dean shall have Power to make choice of a Deputy or Commmissary, who shall execute and sup∣ply the Place and Of∣fice of the Dean so far as his Commissi∣on shall extend, of which there shall be an Authentick Act in the Rolls of the Court.

Of the Church-Wardens.

31. Every Week next after Easter, the Minister and People of each Parish shall choose two Church-Wardens, discreet Men, of good Con∣versation and Capaci∣ty, able to read and write, if possible. But if they cannot agree in the Election, the Minister shall have Power to name one, and the Parishioners another, by the Ma∣jority of Voices; which two shall be after sworn in the next Court, and there well admonished of their Duty.

32. Their Duty shall be to see that the Churches and Church-yards be not abused by any pro∣phane Exercises or Actions, as also not to suffer any Excom∣municated Person to come into the Church, after the Sentence has been published in their Pa∣rish: And they shall be careful to Present from time to time those that neglect the publick Exercises of Divine Service, and the Use of the Holy Sacraments, and ge∣nerally all Delinquen∣cies that are of Eccle∣siastical Cognizance; Which Presentations they shall exhibit un∣der their Hands, nor shall they be constrai∣ned to Present above twice a Year.

33. They shall have care moreover to keep the Church in good Repair, and the Church-Yards well fenced; and to see that all things ap∣partaining to the Church, the Admi∣nistration of the Word and Sacraments, be provided and main∣tained from time to time; such are, a Bi∣ble of the best Tran∣slation and largest Character, the Book of Common-prayer both for the Minister and Clerk or Sexton of the Parish, a Book of Parchment to Regi∣ster the Christnings Marriages and Buri∣als, a decent Table to administer the Ho∣ly Supper, with a Carpet to cover it during Divine Ser∣vice, Fonts for Bap∣tism, Cups and Vessels serving only to that

Use, Table - cloths, Napkins, with a Cof∣fer wherein to keep the said Utensils, a Trunk or Box for Alms, a Cloth and Cushion for the Pul∣pit, and shall also provide the Bread and Wine for the Sacra∣ment. Moreover, They shall see that the Pews and Seats be well fitted for the Conveniency of the Minister and Parishioners, and that with the Advice and Council of their Mi∣nister; All this, out of the Rents and Re∣venues of the Treasu∣ry of the Church.

34. The said Church-Wardens shall be obli∣ged to keep in a Book, a good and faithful

Account of their Dis∣bursements and Re∣ceipts, and of the Use they shall make of the Moneys of the Treasury; which shall be published (in Or∣der to be let out to Farm) from time to time according to Custom, and that in the Name of the said Church-Wardens, and Procurators of the Parish; who shall em∣ploy the said Treasu∣ry in things necessary and convenient for the Church, or the pub∣lick Occasions; Go∣verning themselves by the Advice of the Mi∣nister and Chief of the Parish in all things Extraordinary which concern the said Pa∣rish; And in case of publick Business, the Assembly of the States shall prescribe to them what shall be found expedient for the common Good: And

before they quit their Charge, they shall give notice to the Pa∣rishioners that they may Audit their Ac∣counts in Easter-Week, which Ac∣counts shall be signed by the Minister and Chief of the Parish: And if any of the said Parishioners, or o∣thers, refuse to pay the Rents they owe to the said Treasury, the said Procurators and Church-Wardens, or any of them, shall prosecute them by the ordinary Ways of Ju∣stice: But in case of any Controversie a∣bout the said Ac∣counts, or of any A∣buse to be reformed, The Dean and Mini∣ster of the Parish where the said Con∣troversie or Abuse shall be, shall, toge∣ther with the Bailly and Jurats, deter∣mine

it as shall be found convenient.

35. The said Church-Wardens during Di∣vine Service on the Sunday shall search Places suspected of Gaming, idle and ri∣otous Practices; and having the Constable to assist them, shall al∣so search Taverns, and scandalous Houses.

36. They shall be careful that there be no with-holding or concealing of things appertaining to the Church; They may also seize into their Hands, or prosecute the Delivery of all Donations and Lega∣cies Mobiliary made to the Church and Poor, according to the Laws of the Country.

37. There shall be Two Collectors of the Alms for the Poor in each Parish, who shall also discharge the Place of Sidesmen, and shall be chosen as the Church-Wardens; and shall be sworn in Court to behave themselves well in their Office: And shall give an Ac∣count of their Ad∣ministration twice a Year, before the Mi∣nister and Parishio∣ners, Viz. at Easter, and at Miohaelmas.

Of the Clerks, or Sextons.

38. The Clerks or Sextons of the Pari∣shes shall be chosen by the Minister and Chief of the Parish, and shall be of the Age of XX Years at the least, of good Life

and Conversation, a∣ble to read fairly, di∣stinctly, and intelli∣gibly, and to write also, and sitted some∣what for the singing of the Psalms, if it may be.

39. Their Charge is, by ringing of the Bell, to call the People to Divine Service, and hearing of the Word of God, at a proper and convenient Hour, according to Custom; To keep the Church shut, and clean, as al∣so the Pews and Pul∣pit; To preserve the Books, and other things belonging to the Church, whereof they shall have the Custody; To provide Water for Baptism, and to make such Proclamations and Denunciations as shall be injoyned them by

the Court, or by the Minister; and shall receive their Wages and Salaries by the Contribution of the Parishioners, whether in Corn or Mony, ac∣cording to the Cu∣stom of the Country.

Of School-masters.

40. There shall be a School-master in eve∣ry Parish, chosen by the Minister, Church-Wardens, and prin∣cipal Persons thereof, and after presented to the Dean to be li∣censed thereunto; And it shall not be lawful for any to exercise this Charge, not being in this manner called unto it: The Mini∣sters shall take care to visit them, and ex∣hort them to do their Duty.

41. They shall use all laborious Dili∣gence to teach the Children to read, and write, say their Pray∣ers, answer to the Ca∣techism, they shall form them to good Manners, shall bring them to Sermon, and Common - Prayers, seeing them behave themselves there as becometh.

Of the Court.

42. The Court shall be kept once a Week, on the Monday, and shall observe the same Terms and Vacations as the Court Civil.

43. At every Ses∣sion, in the beginning thereof, the Names of the Assessors shall be enrolled, the Day, and the Month, and the Sentences peru∣sed.

44. After Judge∣ment and Sentence given in the principal Matter, the Costs of the Parties, and the Fees of the Officers of the Court, shall be awarded by the Ec∣clesiastical Censures.

45. There shall be two Advocates (or Proctors) duly sworn to the Court, to the end the People may proceed formally and juridically, without Confusion or Sur∣prize. And the Gref∣fier (or Register) be∣ing also sworn shall faithfully record the Sentence which shall be pronounced, and shall give Copy of the Acts to such as shall require it.

46. The King's Pro∣curator, and in his Absence the Advo∣cate,

may be present from time to time in the Court, and there prosecute the Cen∣sure and Punishment of all Causes of Crime and Scandal.

47. For executing or serving the Citati∣ons and Summons, the Dean shall swear the Clerks of the Parishes, and an Apparitor, who shall give a faithful Report of their Ex∣ploits, giving also Copies of the Ori∣ginal Citations and Mandats to such as shall require them, or in the Absence of them to their Dome∣sticks; And the Cau∣ses of the Appearance shall be expressed in the said Citations and Mandats.

48. If the Party will not be found, as either concealing himself, or using some other Collusion, the Citation shall be af∣fixed, in case he has no setled Habitation, on the Door of his Parish-Church, and that upon a Lord's Day.

49. If it comes to the notice of the Dean by the Report of ho∣nest Men, that any one liveth notoriously in some Scandal, he may advertise the Minister and Church-Wardens of the Pa∣rish, to the end that informing themselves thereof, they may Present such Persons as deserve to be pu∣nished or censured.

50. Upon good Proof of a Crime

committed by any Minister, the Dean, after repeated Admo∣nitions, shall proceed to the Reformation of him, by the Ad∣vice and Consent of two Ministers, even unto Suspension and Sequestration; And in case the said Minister continues refractary, the Dean, by the Con∣sent of the greater Part of the Ministers present in the Island, shall proceed even to Deprivation.

51. No Commuta∣tion shall be made for Penance but with great Circumspecti∣on, having regard to the Quality of the Persons, and Circum∣stances of the Crimes; And the Commutation shall be enrolled in the Acts of the Court, in order to be im∣ployed upon the Poor

and in Pious Uses, whereof account shall be given according to the said Register.

52. After the first Default, the Non-ap∣pearance of such as shall be cited again by Mandate shall be re∣puted Contumacy; And if being afterwards peremptorily cited they do not appear, they may be proceeded a∣gainst by Excommuni∣cation. If before the next Court-day the Party doesnot endea∣vour to obtain Abso∣lution, the Court shall proceed to the Publi∣cation of the Sen∣tence, and Minor Ex∣communication, which shall be delivered to the Minister of the Parish to be read up∣on some solemn Day, and in the hearing of the greater part of the Parishioners assem∣bled;

And the Party persisting in his Ob∣stinacy, the Court shall proceed to the Ma∣jor Excommunication, which excludes the Sinner à Sacris & Societate Fidelium. If this Censure cannot induce him to Obe∣dience and Submission within the Space of forty Days, then the Dean by his Authen∣tick Certificate shall give advice to the Bailly and Jurats of the said Contuma∣cy, and shall require them in Support of his Jurisdiction to cause him to be sei∣zed by the Civil Of∣ficers, and constituted Prisoner, under Bo∣dily Detention, till such time as he has submitted, and obli∣ged himself to obtem∣perate to the Ordi∣nance of the Church; And before he be absolved, he shall be

bound to pay the Costs and Charges of the Prosecution of the Suit.

53. In cases of In∣continency, upon Pre∣sentment of the Church - Wardens, together with Pro∣babilities, common Fame, Scandal, and Presumptions in this Case requisite, the Party shall be subject to undergo Purgation upon Oath, or other∣wise shall be held as if he were convicted.

54. In Cases of Adultery at the In∣stance of either of the Parties, the Procee∣dings shall go on ma∣turely, by good Proofs and Informations, in order to have Evi∣dence of the Fact ob∣jected; And the Sub∣ject, and Proof of the

Fact requiring it, the Court may proceed to Separation à Tho∣ro & Mensâ.

55. Upon Proof of Calumny or Defama∣tion, the Party guil∣ty shall make ac∣knowledgment of the injury according to the Exigency of the Case; provided the Suit be prosecuted before Lapse of Time, or that a Year be ex∣pired; and provided that the Matter of the Suit be of Crimes Ecclesiastical before specified.

Of Appeals.

56. Appeals in Cau∣ses Ecclesiastical shall be heard and deter∣mined by the Reve∣rend Father in God the Bishop of Win∣chester in Person; or in the Vacancy of that See, by the most Re∣verend

Father in God the Archbishop of Canterbury in Per∣son.

57. All Appeals shall be entered with∣in fifteen Days after notice of the Sen∣tence, and the Party shall be obliged to take out and exhibit the whole Process, and Acts of the Re∣gister or Rolls of the Court; which Acts shall also be delivered to him in Form and Time convenient, au∣thenticated under the Seal of the Office; And the Appellant shall be bound to prosecute his Appeal within a Year and a Day, aut Sententiae latae stare compellitur.

58. It shall not be lawful to appeal but after Sentence Defini∣tive

of the Cause, un∣less in these two Ca∣ses; either when the Interlocutory is such as puts an End to the Cause; or when the said Interlocutory be∣ing obeyed brings such irreparable Damage to the Party that he cannot be relieved by Appeal from the Sen∣tence Definitive.