The parson's vade mecum containing choice observations about the accounts of the year, ecclesiastical censures, of the primitive fathers and their writings, a catalogue of the arch-bishops, bishops and deans in England and Wales, their election, consecration, instalment, with the clergies tenths, and their valuation in the King's book ...

CHAP. II. Of Ecclesiastical Censures.

THE Punishments inflict∣ed by Ecclesiastical Courts proceed in this manner.

1. Excommunicatio Minor, From the Lord's Supper, and he that is thus, is disabled to be plaintiff in a Law Suit; this commonly is for Contumacy, in not appear∣ing on Summons, or not obeying Orders; this the Bishop may de∣legate to any grave Priest with the Chancellor.

2. Excommunicatio Minor, As for Heresie, Schism, Incest, &c. pro∣nounced by the Bishop himself. If he continue so Excommuni∣cate forty Days, an Excommuni∣cato Capiendo goes out against him,

and he is thereby Imprisoned.

3. Anathamatismus, Against an obstinate Heretick.

4. Interdictum, Whereby he is prohibited all Divine Offices, as Christian Burial, &c.

The Punishment of the Cler∣gy, is,

• 1. Suspensio ab Officio.
• 2. Suspensio a Beneficio.
• 3. Deprivatio a Beneficio.
• 4. Deprivatio ab Officio, which is degradation.

Having met with an old Dis∣course about Excommunication out of the Canterbury Book. I shall here set it down word for word as it was wrote in those times.

More of Excommunication, the Old Form.

THE general Sense of Execra∣tion was usually denounced four times a year; the Greater and the Lesser Curse. The Can∣terbury Book saith, Wherefore ye Shullen, understand at the beginning, that this word Curse, is thus much to say, as departing from God and Good Works: Of two manner of Cursing Holy Church telleth, the one is cleped the Lasse Curse, the other is cleped the More Curse. That we clepen the Lasse Curse is of this strength, that every man and woman that fall∣eth therein, it departeth him from all the Sacraments that been in Holy Church, that they may none of them receive till they be assoyled, &c. The More Curse is much more worse, and is of this strength; for to de∣part a man from God, and all the

Holy Church, and also from the Com∣pany of all Christen Folk ne to be sa∣ved by the Passion of Christ, ne to be holpen by the Sacraments that been done in Holy Church, &c.

After repeating the Articles of the Curse, the General Sentence was thundred out every Quarter, as the Canterbury Book saith, By the authority of our Lord God Al∣mighty, and our Lady St. Mary, and all Saints of Heaven, of Angels or Archangels, Patriarks and Pro∣phets, Evangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors and Virgins, also by the Power of all Holy Church, that our Lord Jesus gave to St Peter: We denounce all those Accursed that we have thus reckned to you, and all those that maintain 'em in her sins, or given 'em hereto either help or councel, so that they be departed from God and all Holy Church, and that they have noe of the Passion of our Lord Jesu Christ, ne of no Sacraments that been in Holy

Church, ne no part of the Prayers a∣men Christen Folk, but that they be accursed of God, and of Holy Church, from their soole of their foot unto the crowne of their head, sleeping and Waking, sitting and Standing, in all her words, and in all her Works, and but if they have grace of God for to amend 'em herein this Life, for to dwell in the Paine of Hell for ever withouten end (Fiat, Fiat,) doe to the Book, quench the Candle, ring the Bell, Amen, Amen.