A philologicall commentary, or, An illustration of the most obvious and useful words in the lavv with their distinctions and divers acceptations, as they are found as well in reports antient and modern as in records and memorials never printed : usefull for all young students of the law / by Edward Leigh ...

ECCLESIA.

ECclesia, this word in the Common Law, is* 1.1 most commonly used for a place wherein Baptism, and the Scpulture of mens bodies is celebrated, and Fitzherbert saith, by this word Ecclesia is meant only a parsonage, and therefore if a presentment be made to a Chappel, as▪ to a Church, by the name of the word Ecclesia, this doth change and metamorphize the nature of it, and maketh it presently a Church.

Ecclesiastical persons are,

• 1. Regular, so called, because they live under certain rules, and have vowed three things, true* 1.2 obedience, perpetuall chastity, and wilfull poverty, when a man is professed in any of the orders of Religion, he is said to be a man of Religion, or religious, of this sort are Abbots, Priors and the like.
• 2. Secular, which because they live not under certain rules of some of the said orders, nor are voluntaries, they are for distinction sake called se∣cular, as Bishops, Deans and Chapters, Arch-dea∣cons, Prebends, Parsons, Vicars, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fitz. Nat. Brev. 32. c.
• * 1.2

  Cook on Lit. l. 2. c. 6. sect. 133.