Constitutions, and canons ecclesiasticall treated vpon by the archbishops, and bishops, and the rest of the cleargie of Ireland. And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their synod begun at Dublin, Anno. Dom. 1634. And in the yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne, Lord Charles by the grace of God, king of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, the tenth. And now published for the due observation of them, by his Majesties authoritie under the great seale of Ireland.

[illustration]

DIEV ET MON DROIT.

CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Eng∣land, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith &c.

To all men to whom these pre∣sents shall come, greeting.

Whereas our Bishops, Deanes of our Cathe∣drall Churches, Arch-deacons, Chapters and Colledges, and the rest of the Clergie within

our Kingdome of Ireland, were summoned and called by vertue of our Writts directed to the Arch-bishops of the foure severall Provin∣ces, and bearing date the foure and twentieth day of May, in the tenth yeare of our Raigne to appeare before the said Arch-bishops in the Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks Dublin upon the one and twentieth day of Iuly then next ensueing, then and there to treate and con∣clude upon certaine high and urgent affaires in the said Writts mentioned, who did there∣upon at the time appointed, and in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patricks aforesaid, assemble themselves and appeare in Convo∣cation for that purpose, according to the tenor of the said Writts. And whereas wee for di∣vers urgent and weighty occasions us there∣unto moving, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, did by vertue of our prerogative royall and supreame autho∣rity in causes Ecclesiasticall, give and grant by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland bearing date the one and twentieth day of Iuly in the tenth yeare of our Raigne, full power and authority unto the said Arch∣bishops,

Bishops, Deanes, Arch-deacons, Cha∣pters, Colledges & Clergie of this Kingdome then assembled in Convocation, in the said Cathedrall Church of S. Patrick, that they from time to time during the Parliament then begun at Dublin might conferre, treate, con∣sult and conclude of and upon such Articles, Canons, Orders, Ordinances, Statutes & Con∣stitutions Ecclesiasticall, as they shall thinke necessary, fit and convenient for the honour & service of Almighty GOD, and augmentation of his divine worship, the rooting out of he∣resies and errours out of the Vineyard of Christ, for procuring of the good and quiet of the Church and preservation of good govern∣ment in causes Ecclesiasticall, and to the Iuris∣diction of the Church belonging, as also to make and set downe ordinances and decrees to have such force and effect as other Canons and Constitutions of the Church have, and the same (our royall assent being thereunto first had and obtained) to set forth and pu∣blish freely and lawfully, and that aswell the Archbishops and Bishops, and all other infe∣riour persons whom it may concerne, should

yeild due obedience thereunto, as in and by our said Letters Patents more at large it doth and may appeare. Forasmuch as the said Archbishops, Bishops, Deanes, Archdeacons, Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergie of this Kingdome having met toge∣ther at the time and place before mentioned, and then and there by vertue of our said au∣thority granted unto them, have treated of, concluded and agreed upon certaine Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, to the end and purpose by VS limited and prescri∣bed unto them, and have thereupon offered & presented the same unto VS, most humbly desiring VS to give our royall assent unto their said Canons, Orders, Ordinances and Consti∣tutions, according to the forme of a certaine Statute or Act of Parliament made in that be∣halfe, and by our said Prerogative royall, and supreame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall, to ratifie by our Letters Patents under our great Seale of Ireland, and to confirme the said Ca∣nons being one hundred in number, and con∣tained in a Booke intituled, Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, treated upon by the

Archbishops and Bishops, and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland, and agreed upon with the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of great Brittaine, France, and Ireland the tenth, which Booke is remaining with Iohn Forth Clerke of the upper house of Convoca∣tion. WEE of our Princely inclination and royall care for the maintenance of the pre∣sent estate and governement of the Church of Ireland by the Lawes of this our Realme now settled & established, having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their said Canons, Orders, Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon, as is before expressed, and finding the same such, as VVee are perswaded will be very profitable, not onely to our Clergie, but to the whole Church of this our Kingdome; and to all the true members of it, (if they be well observed.) HAVE therefore for VS our heires and lawfull successors, of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion, by the

advise and consent of our right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour, Thomas Viscount VVentworth our Deputy ge∣nerall of our said Kingdome of Ireland, and President of our Councell established in the North parts of our Kingdome of England, gi∣ven & by these presents doe give our royall assent according to the forme of the said Sta∣tute or Act of Parliament aforesaid, to all and every the said Canons, Orders, Ordinances & Constitutions, & all and every thing in them contained. And furthermore, Wee doe not onely by our said Prerogative royall and su∣preame authority in causes Ecclesiasticall, ra∣tifie, confirme & establish by these our Let∣ters Patents the said Canons, Orders, Ordi∣nances & Constitutions, & all & every thing in them contayned, as is aforesaid, but doe likewise propound, publish, & streightly en∣joyne & commaund by our said authority, & by these our Letters Patents the same to bee diligently observed, executed, and equally kept by all our loving Subjects of this our Kingdome, in all points wherein they doe, or may concerne every or any of them; accor∣ding

to this our will and pleasure hereby si∣gnified and expressed. And that likewise for the better observation of them every Minister by what name or title soever hee be called, shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge, reade all the said Ca∣nons, Orders, Ordinances and Constitutions once every yeare, upon some Sundayes or Ho∣ly-dayes in the after-noone before divine ser∣vice; dividing the same in such sort, as that the one halfe may be read one day, and the other another day. The Booke of the said Canons to be provided at the charge of the Parish be∣twixt this, and the Feast of Easter next ensue∣ing. Streightly chargeing and commaunding all Archbishops, Bishops, and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction with∣in this Realme, every man in his place to see and procure (so much as in them lyeth) all and every of the same Canons, Orders, Ordi∣nances & Constitutions to be in all points du∣ly observed, not sparing to execute the penal∣ties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or willfully breake or neglect to observe the same, as they ten∣der

the honor of GOD, the peace of the Church, tranquillitie of the Kingdome, and their dueties and service unto VS their King and Soveraigne. In witnes &c.