The archbishop’s mandate

Willelmus, permissione divina archiepiscopus Eboracensis, [Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus,] venerabili fratri nostro Laurentio, Dei gratia Dunelmensi episcopo, suffraganeo nostro, seu eius vicario in spiritualibus generali, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Breve regium sub magno sigillo domini regis nobis transmissum nuper recepimus sub eo qui sequitur tenore verborum:

Quocirca, reverende pater, tenore praesentium peremptorie vos citamus ac priorem ecclesiae vestrae cathedralis Dunelmensis et capitulum eiusdem universosque abbates [et] priores alios etiam electivos, exemptos et non exemptos, archidiaconos, decanos, capitula, conventus et collegia, clerumque vestrarum civitatis et dioecesis per vos citari in virtute oboedientiae volumus et mandamus quod vos reverende frater dictique abbates, priores, archidiaconi et decani personaliter, conventus vero capitula et collegia huiusmodi per procuratores suos singulos, clerusque per duos procuratores sufficientes et idoneos ab ipsis conventibus, capitulis, collegiis et clero legitime deputatos, in ecclesia nostra cathedrali Beati Petri Eboracensi, primo die mensis Septembris proximo futuro [1 September 1462] cum continuatione et prorogatione dierum subsequentium et locorum, quatenus opus fiierit, coram nobis seu locumtenentibus commissa[338r]riis seu commissario in ea parte deputatis seu deputato compareatis et compareant quilibet eorundem super his quae regem et regnum, statumque et libertatem nostrarum ecclesiae, dioecesis et provinciae Eboracensium ibidem exponi contigerit una nobiscum vel cum nostris locumtenentibus commissariis aut commissario huiusmodi aliisque praelatis dictae nostrae provinciae tractaturi, vestrum ac suum consilium sanum super praemissis et ea concernentibus impensuri, his etiam quae ibidem concorditer ordinari contigerit,

[185] Tuesday 20 March 1604

Die Martis, vicesimo videlicet die mensis Martii anno Domini 1603, in domo capitulari infra ecclesiam cathedralem et metropoliticam Eboracensem, inter horas nonam et undecimam ante meridiem eiusdem diei, coram venerabilibus viris Magistro Iohanne Gibson milite, legum doctore, reverendissimi in Christo patris Domini Matthaei, providentia divina Eboracensis archiepiscopi, Angliae primatis et metropolitan^ vicario in spiritualibus generali, Gulielmo Palmer artium magistro, ecclesiae cathedralis et metropoliticae Eboracensis cancellario, et Matthaeo Dodsworth in legibus baccalaureo, in praesentia mei Egidii Fenay notarii publici.

Quibus die, horis et loco, comparuit personaliter Thomas Southworth, apparitor generalis dicti reverendissimi patris, et exhibuit literas commissionales eiusdem reverendissimi patris praefati commissis directis, cum hac clausula ‘coniunctim et divisim’, ad praesidendum in hac convocatione sive synodo provinciali. Et perlecto publice breve excellentissimi in Christo principis domini nostri Iacobi, Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae et Hiberniae regis, fidei defensoris etc., eidem reverendissimo patri pro convocatione praedicta directo, lectisque insuper dictis literis commissionalibus commissarii praedicti, ob honorem et reverentiam committentis, onus executionis literarum dictarum in se susceperunt, ac pro iurisdictione sua, necnon de procedendo in omnibus et per omnia iuxta vim, formam et effectum earundem decreverunt. Et tune, praeconizatis publice omnibus et singulis in huiusmodi convocatione sive synodo provinciali comparere et interesse debentibus, comparuerunt vel non, prout in schedula eorum nomina continenti plenius patet. Et tune dictus venerabilis vir Iohannes Gibson legum doctor, de consensu dictorum collegarum suorum, rite et legitime procedens, omnes et singulos non comparentes contumaces et in poenam contumaciarum suarum huiusmodi decrevit, procedendum fore ad ulteriora in hac convocatione, eorum absentiis non obstantibus, poenamque contumaciarum suarum huiusmodi in diem Martis, videlicet tertium diem Aprilis proximi, istis horis et loco, reservavit, eandemque convocationem usque ad et in eundem diem continuavit et prorogavit, et monuit omnes et singulos nunc comparentes et interessentes ad tune rursus comparendum, ad ulterius faciendum et recipiendum quod natura et qualitas dicti convocationis de se exigit et requirit, prout latius patet ex tenore schedulae inde lectae.

The bishop of Durham’s certificate, containing the archbishop’s mandate and the royal writ

[294v] Reverendissimo in Christo patri et domino Domino Thomae, permissione divina Eboracensi archiepiscopo, Angliae primati et apostolicae sedis legato, eius ve commissario seu commissariis uni vel pluribus quibuscunque in hac parte deputatis vel deputandis, vester praehumilis oboedientiae filius Hugo Snell, decretorum doctor, reverendi in Christo patris et domini Domini Iohannis, Dei gratia Dunelmensis episcopi in remotis agentis, vicarius in spiritualibus generalis oboedientiam et reverentiam debitas tanto patri cum honore. Literas reverendissimas dicto venerabili patri Dunelmensi episcopo seu nobis vice sua nuper directas quarto decimo die mensis Ianuarii anno Domini instanti [14 January 1487] cum ea qua decuit reverentia sub tenore qui sequitur recepimus exequendas:

Thomas, [permissione divina Eboracensis archiepiscopus, Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus,] venerabili fratri nostro Iohanni, Dei gratia Dunelmensi episcopo, suffraganeo nostro, eiusve vicario in spiritualibus generali, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Breve regium sub magno sigillo domini regis nobis transmissum nuper recepimus sub eo qui sequitur tenore verborum:

• 1. Imprimis, that the ministers in every diocese be exercised with the study and practice of the Scriptures continually in such sort as hath been accustomed in every several diocese, and that they render an account of their studies and labours to their ordinary so often as they shall be required, till farther order be taken in his grace’s metropolitical visitation.

• 2. Item, that the said ministers do use all painful diligence in catechizing the youth and others of their parish, according to her majesty’s injunctions, and other godly canons in that behalf provided, or else to be censured by their ordinaries as the quality of the offence requireth.

• 3. Item, all non-residents to be called home and constrained to residence upon their charge, so far as the law will warrant. And all those who be lawfully absent from their benefices, to maintain and keep a godly preacher there during the time of their absence, at the discretion of their ordinary, if the living be able to bear it.

• 4. Item, every preacher or expounder of the Word in any church or congregation to be present at common prayer in the said church or congregation, and to receive the communion there four times in the year at the least.

• 5. Item, if any minister be known not to observe the orders of the book of common prayer, in saying the service and administering the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies therein contained, that he be sent for presently and enjoined to reform his disorder, and to certify his said reformation; which if he do not, then ordinary proceeding to be used against him according to law.

• 6. Item, all recusants and specially those of the best sort, to be proceeded against effectually and speedily, so far as the law will yield power.

• 7. Item, those that do not communicate to be dealt withal by the ordinary in such wise and godly manner as shall seem best unto them for their reformation.

• 8. Item, no permutation of any penance to be made by any officer whatsoever without special licence from the ordinary under his hand.

[52] Friday 10 February 1559

Acta convocationis sive sacri concilii provincialis praelatorum et cleri civitatis dioecesis et provinciae Eboracensis, decimo die mensis Februarii anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo octavo, et regni dominae nostrae Elizabethae, Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae reginae, fidei defensoris etc., anno primo, et auctoritate eiusdem congregatae, habitae et gestae in domo capitulari ecclesiae cathedralis et metropoliticae Eboracensis inter horas nonam et duodecimam ante meridiem eiusdem diei, inchoatae coram venerabili viro Magistro Iohanne Rokeby legum doctore, reverendissimi in Christo patris et domini Domini Nicholai, permissione divina Eboracensis archiepiscopi, Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati vicario in spiritualibus generali, et inpraesentiamei Thomae Clark notarii publici, eiusdem reverendissimi patris registrarii.

Quibus die, horis et loco, comparuit personaliter Magister Gulielmus Rokeby in legibus baccalaureus et praesentavit et exhibuit commissionem praefati reverendissimi patris praefato Magistri Iohanni Rokeby ac Magistro Georgio Palmes legum doctoribus coniunctim et divisim. Facto quo per me praefatum Thomam Clark notarium publicum registrarium antedictum de monito dicti Iohannis Rokeby publice perlecto, idem Magister Iohannes Rokeby ob honorem dicti reverendissimi patris committentis onus executionis dictae commissionis in se assumpsit, ac pro iurisdictione sua in hac parte ac ulterius procedendum fore in hac sacra convocatione iuxta tenorem et effectum eiusdem commissionis decrevit, et tune lecto breve dominae nostrae reginae eidem reverendissimo patri propter convocationem in hac parte habendam directo, ac facta praeconizatione pro omnibus et singulis in hac sacra convocatione sive synodo generali provinciae Eboracensis interesse debentibus comparuerunt prout in schedula annotantur. Et tune pronuntiavit omnes et singulas personas ecclesiasticas in hac sacra convocatione interesse debentes contumaces et in poenam contumaciarum suarum huiusmodi decrevit ulterius procedendum fore in eadem convocatione [53] eorum contumaciis sive absentiis [non] obstantibus, et reservavit poenas contumaciarum suarum huiusmodi imponendas usque ad et in decimum sextum mensis Martii proxime futuri continuavit et prorogavit huiusmodi convocationem in eundem diem inter horas nonam et undecimam ante meridiem eiusdem [diei] hoc loco. Et monuit omnes [et] singulos iam praesentes ad tune intefressendum] ad ulterius faciendum et recipiendum [quod] negotia et natura dictae conv[ocationis] suadebunt in hac parte prout plenius patet in schedula per eum lecta.

The York Provinciale is a collection of York statutes made by or for Cardinal Wolsey sometime between 1516 and 1523, following the pattern familiar from William Lyndwood’s Canterbury Provinciale, which appeared in 1433, and the Roman canonical tradition going back to the Liber extra of 1234 and beyond. It may have been Wolsey’s intention that the Provinciale should have been adopted at a provincial council, but if so, it seems to have been overtaken by events and it was never published. However it is valuable as a repository of already existing legislation, some of which no longer survives elsewhere. In this edition, the canons are printed in their correct chronological place, as described below. The preface was composed especially for the Provinciale and is printed here.

The archbishops to whom the canons are attributed are:

William Wickwane (1279-85). The single canon attributed to him is found as an addition to the statutes of c. 1240. See below under Grenefield.

William Grenefield (1306-15). They are supposed to have been published at Ripon on 30 September 1306, perhaps (though not necessarily) at a synod supposedly held then, but in fact most of them are much earlier in date, going back to the York canons first issued about 1240 and updated over the years. Only the last two (43-4) can be said with some certainty to date from 1306.

John Thoresby (1352-73). They were published on 29 September 1367 and survive independently. 1367/4 is in fact a canon of William de la Zouch, archbishop from 1342 to 1352.

John Kempe (1426-52). They were published on 17 August 1440 and reissued by George Neville on 29 April 1466.

William Booth (1452-64). On 1 September 1462 the convocation agreed to allow the validity of all Canterbury canons which were not expressly contradicted by York ones. A memorandum to this effect is in Booth’s register, fos. 342v-342Ar. Booth’s canons do not appear to be recorded elsewhere.

George Neville (1465-76). Many of these canons were issued on 26 April 1466. Others attributed to him are of uncertain date.

Thomas Savage (1501-7). The canons were passed in the 1504 convocation and are found in his register, fos. 102v-103r.

[130r] Prooemium

Thomas, permissione divina Ebor[ac]um archiepiscopus, Angliae primas, apostolicae sedis legatus, universis et singulis abbatibus, rpioribus, ministris, rectoribus, vicariis et aliis ecclesiarum praelatis, ac quibuscunque clericis nostrae Ebor[ac]um provinciae, salutem in Domino sepiternam.

The archbishop Js mandate and the royal writ

[77 v] Iohannes Withers artiummagister, canonicus in ecclesiis cathedralibus Sancti Pauli Londoniensis et Sarum ac reverendissimi in Christo patris et domini Domini Christopheri, miseratione divina tituli Sanctae Praxedis sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae presbyteri cardinalis Eboracensis archiepiscopi, Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati in remotis agentis vicarius in spiritualibus generalis ac custos spiritualitatis archiepiscopatus Eboracensis, reverendo in Christo patri et domino Domino Thomae, Deo gratia Dunelmensi episcopo, dicti reverendissimi patris suffraganeo aut eius vicario in spiritualibus generali salutem in Domino sempiternam. Breve regium nobis directum cum ea qua decuit reverentia nuper recepimus in haec verba:

Quocirca, reverende pater, auctoritate dicti reverendissimi patris nobis in hac parte specialiter commissa, tenore praesentium peremptorie vos citamus ac priorem ecclesiae vestrae cathedralis Dunelmensis et capitulum eiusdem universosque et singulos abbates, priores, alios etiam electivos, exemptos et non exemptos, archidiaconos, decanos et capitula, conventus et collegia, totumque clerum vestrarum civitatis et dioecesis per vos citari auctoritate praedicta mandamus quod vos, reverende pater, dictique abbates et priores, archidiaconi et decani personaliter, conventus vero, capitula et collegia huiusmodi per procuratores suos singulos, clerusque cuiuslibet archidiaconatus et iurisdictionis per duos sufficientes procuratores ab ipsis conventibus, capitulis, collegiis et clero sufficienter et legitime deputatos in ecclesia metropolitica Eboracensi die Lunae,

The archbishop’s mandate for the convocation

Robertas, permissione divina Eboracensis archiepiscopus, Angliae primas et metropolitanus, auctoritate illustrissmi in Christo principis et domini nostri Domini Edwardi sexti, Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae regis, fidei defensoris et in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae et Hibernicae supremi capitis legitime fulcitus, reverendo in Christo patri confratri nostro Domino Roberto, eadem gratia Carliolensi episcopo eiusve vicario in spiritualibus generali salutem, et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Breve domini nostri regis supradicti nobis directum cum ea qua decuit reverentia nuper recepimus in haec verba:

Quocirca reverende confrater, tenore praesentium peremptorie vos citamus ac decanum ecclesiae cathedralis Carliolensis et capitulum eiusdem, universosque et singulos collegiorum magistros, praepositos et gardianos ac alios electivos, exemptos et non exemptos, qui ab antiquo vocari, citari seu moneri solebant per vos in virtute oboedientiae citari volumus et mandamus quod vos, reverende confrater, dictique decani, archidiaconi, magistri, praepositi, gardiani ac alii electivi personaliter, capitulum vero ecclesiae Carliolensis huiusmodi per procuratorem suum sufficientem, clerusque Carliolensis dioecesis per duos sufficientes procuratores legitime deputatos in ecclesia nostra metropolitica Eboracensi quinto die Novembris proximo futuro post datum praesentium [5 November 1547] inter horas octavam et nonam ante meridiem eiusdem diei, cum continuatione et prorogatione dierum tune sequentium si opus fuerit, et locorum, coram nobis aut nostris locum tenentibus, commissariis sive commissario, pluribus aut uno, in ea parte deputatis aut deputandis, compareatis et compareat quilibet eorundem,

• 1. Imprimis, that no bishop shall make any ministers, but first shall give public notice thereof, and shall make none but such as be of his own diocese or of the universities, and that they bring with them good testimony of their conversation and former life, and shall be thoroughly examined by the bishop himself and other of the learned clergy, whether they have been students of divinity and are able in the Latin tongue to show forth the Scriptures, whereupon the articles of religion agreed upon in the synod are grounded. And that this action of admitting any into the ministry be done in public place, according to the order of the book of making of ministers in that behalf provided and established. And that none be admitted into the ministry but such as do know where presently to be placed. The bishop that will not danger his soul must be careful herein: ‘Ne cito cui manus imponas’ saith Paul, for the making of unworthy ministers hath turned to the great slander of this Church of England.

• 2. Item, that the censure of excommunication be avoided so much as may be in trifling matters, for this high censure of the church is to be executed chiefly in great and criminal causes.

• 3. Item, that no commutation of penance be used, but only by the bishop, and then when he shall evidently perceive that the offender may rather be won thereby than by corporal punishment; yet let it be known openly in his parish church that he acknowledged his fault before his ordinary, submitted himself, and given such a piece of money for the relief of the poor, as a fruit of his repentance; the whole sum whereof shall be delivered to the minister and churchwardens; they to distribute the same amongst also the poor of the parish, and to certify the bishop of their doing therein.

• 4. Item, that no dispensations for not asking banns of matrimony be granted, but under sufficient and large bonds, with these conditions following:

  • i. That afterward there shall not appear any lawful let or impediment by reason of any precontract, consanguinity, affinity or any other lawful means whatsoever.

The queen’s mandate for the convocation

Quocirca tenore praesentium peremptorie vos citamus ac decanum ecclesiae cathedralis Dunelmensis et capitulum eiusdem, ac etiam archidiaconos et collegia totumque clerum vestrae dioecesis, exemptos et non exemptos, qui ab antiquo vocari, citari seu moneri solebant facere per vos citari volumus et mandamus quod vos, reverende pater, dictique decani, et archidiaconi Dunelmensis etNorthumbriae personaliter, capitulum vero ecclesiae Dunelmensis huiusmodi per procuratorem suum sufflcientem, clerusque Dunelmensis dioecesis per duos sufficientes procuratores pro clero cuiuslibet archidiaconatus archidiaconatuum praedictorum ab ipsis sufficientes et legitime respective deputatos in ecclesia cathedrali et metropolitica Eboracensi sexto die Octobris proximo futuro post datum praesentium [6 October 1553] inter horas octavam et decimam ante meridiem eiusdem diei, cum continuatione et prorogatione dierum tune sequentium si opus fuerit, et locorum, coram dicto reverendissimo in Christo patre aut eius locum tenentibus, commissariis sive commissario, pluribus aut uno, in ea parte deputatis aut deputandis, compareatis et compareat quilibet eorundem, super his quae statum, securitatem et defensionem Ecclesiae Anglicanae ac pacem, tranquillitatem, bonum publicum et defensionem regni nostri et subditorum nostrorum eiusdem, ac praesertim statum, honorem et utilitatem civitatis, dioecesis et provinciae Eboracensium concernunt et ibidem exponi contigerint, una cum dicto reverendissimo patre sive eius locum tenentibus, commissariis sive commissario huiusmodi aliisque praelatis dictarum civitatis, dioecesis et provinciae tractaturi, vestrum et suum sanum consilium super praemissis et ea concernentibus impensuri, his etiam quae ibidem ordinari contigerint consensuri seu dissensuri,

Thursday 11 June 1840

John Cecil Hall, archdeacon.

Francis Broderick Hartwell, vicar-general.

Alfred Philips, principal of King William's College, absent.

Robert Dixon, vice-principal of King William's College, absent.

John Nelson, absent.

Thomas Howard, at a funeral.

Henry Maddrell, archdeacon's registrar.

Thomas Stephen.

Edward Craine, late.

John Edward Harrison.

Alexander Gelling, absent.

Joseph Qualtrough, late.

Joseph Brown, episcopal registrar.

Bowyer Harrison

William Corrin

William Duggan

William Gill

Samuel Gelling

Bobert Brown, at a funeral.

John Lamothe Stowell

George Stickler Parsons

Archibald Holmes

John Thomas Clarke

William Carpenter, off the island.

John Cannell

Thomas Caine

John Gell

Henry Joseph Stevenson

Daniel Nelson, supernumerary and official, off the island.

Thomas Drury, curate of Andreas, off the island.

Edward Qualtrough, curate of Dalby

John Qualtrough, curate of Sulby

Thomas Rump Drake, curate of St Barnabas

William Kermode, curate of Lezayre

Maurice Fitzgerald Day, curate of St George's

William Christian, absent.

According to the Manx Sun of Friday 19 June 1840 (p. 4) the bishop delivered a charge at the convocation.