May 1643
[17 May, 1643.]
Benefices, etc., falling vacant before trial of Arch-Bishop not to be filled by him without consent of Parliament.; Arch Bishop to present persons appointed by Parliament to such Benefices, etc.; Persons presented by Arch-Bishop not to be instituted, etc., unless appointed by Parliament. Notice of every ecclosiastical vacancy in gift of Arch-Bishop to be given to Speaker of House of Lords within two months.
Whereas William Lawde Archbishop of Canterbury, standeth
Impeached in this present Parliament for High Treason, and for
divers other great offences and misdemeansours, and by reason of
many great and weightie businesses he cannot yet bee brought
to tryall for the said offences and misdemeanours, and he in
respect of his said Archbishoprick of Canterbury, hath power to
give and Collate fit Clerks divers Personages, Vicaridges, Prebends, and other Ecclesiasticall promotions and preferments, and
if any of them should become voyd, and he left to preferre
whom he please to the same, the same may prove very incon
venient, he bestowing upon them unfit and unworthy persons;
Be it therefore Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and
Commons in this present Parliament, that in case any of the
foresaid Personages, Vicaridges, Prebends, or other Ecclesiasticall
promotions or preferments now be, or shall hereafter and before
the tryall of the said Lord Archbishop become void, that the
said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury shall forbeare to present
or Collate any person or persons thereunto, without the leave
and Order of both Houses of Parliament: And it is further
Ordered and Ordained, that the said Lord Archbishop shall from
time to time untill his said tryall, present and Collate such fit
person or persons, to every such Parsonage, Vicaridge, Prebend
and other Ecclesiasticall preferment as aforesaid, which now are,
or hereafter before his said tryall shall become voyd, as by both
Houses of Parliament shall be nominated and appointed. And
it is further Ordered by the said Lords and Commons in Parliament, that all Archdeacons, Registers and other Officers,
Ministers, and persons whatsoever, shall forbeare to give or make
any Admission, Institution, Collation, or Induction of any person
or persons whatsoever, which by the said Archbishop shall be
presented, in or to any such Parsonage, Vicaridge, Prebend, or
other Ecclesiasticall preferment, other then such person and
persons as shall be nominated and appointed by both Houses of
Parliament as aforesaid. And it is lastly Ordered, that the said
Lord Archbishop, and the Churchwardens of every Parish and
other Officers of the Church, where any Parsonage, Vicaridge,
Prebend, or other Ecclesiasticall promotions or preferments, in
the Donaton or gift of the said Archbishop is, shall within two
moneths after the respective avoydance thereof, give notice of
such avoydance to the Lord Speaker of the House of Peers for
the time being.