Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Act 1661

17(16) C. I. c. II. recited, as repealing 1 Eliz. c. 1. §18.

The said Act not to take away ordinary Power from Archbishops, &c. in Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

WHEREAS in an Act of Parliament made in the seaventeenth yeare of the late King Charles Entituled An Act for Repeal of a Branch of a Statute Primo Elizabethe concerning Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiasticall it is amongst other things Enacted That no Archbishop Bishop nor Vicar Generall nor any Chancellor nor Commissary of any Archbishop Bishop or Vicar Generall nor any Ordinary whatsoever nor any other Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Judge Officer or Minister of Justice nor any other person or persons whatsoever exerciseing Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Power Authority or Jurisdiction by any Grant Licence or Commission of the Kings Majestie His Heires or Successors or by any Power or Authoritie derived from the King His Heires or Successors or otherwise (shall from and after the first day of August which then should be in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred forty one) award impose or inflict any Pain Penalty Fine Amercement Imprisonment or other corporall punishment upon any [X1 of ] the Kings Subjects for any contempt misdemeanor crime offence matter or thing whatsoever belonging to Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Cognizance or Jurisdiction whereupon some doubt hath beene made that all ordinary power of Coertion and Proceedings in Causes Ecclesiasticall were taken away whereby the ordinary course of Justice in Causes Ecclesiasticall hath been obstructed Be it therefore declared and enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority thereof That neither the said Act nor any thing therein contained doth or shall take away any ordinary Power or Authority from any of the said Archbishops Bishops or any other person or persons named as aforesaid but that they and every of them exercising Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction may proceed determine sentence execute and exercise all manner of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and all Censures and Coertions apperteyning and belonging to the same before the makeing of the Act before recited in all causes and matters belonging to Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction according to the Kings Majesties Ecclesiasticall Lawes used and practised in this Realme in as ample manner and forme as they did and might lawfully have done before the makeing of the said Act.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.