10.35. Constitutions made at the coun|cell
of Cashill. Chap. 35.
Constitutions made at the coun|cell
of Cashill. Chap. 35.
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14 IN the
yere of Christs incarnation 1172, & in the first yéere that the most noble king of England
conquered Ireland, Christianus bishop of Lisemore, and legat of the aposto|like see, Donat archbishop of
Cashill, Laurence archbishop of Dublin, and Catholicus archbishop of
Thomond with their suffragans and fellow-bishops, abbats, archdeacons, priors, deanes, & manie
other prelats of the church of Ireland, by the commande|ment of the king did assemble themselues and kept
a synod at Cashill: and there debating manie things concerning the wealth, estate, and reformation of the
church, did prouide remedies for the same. At this councell were also for and in the behalfe of the king,
whom he had sent thither, Rafe abbat of Buldewais, Rafe archdeacon of (1) Landaffe, Nicholas the
[...]hapleine, and diuerse other good clearks. Sundrie good statutes and wholesome laws were there
deui|sed, which were after subscribed and confirmed by the king himselfe, and vnder his authoritie, which
were these that follow. First, it is decréed that all good Ecclesiasticall
constitutions [...]or Ireland. faithfull and christian people, throughout Ireland, should forbeare and shun
to marrie with their néere kinsfolke and cousins, & marrie with such as lawful|lie they should
do [...]. Secondarilie, that children shall be catechised without the church doore, and baptised in the
font appointed in the churches for the same. Thirdlie, that euerie christian bodie doo faithfullie and
trulie paie yerelie the tiths of his cattels, corne, and all other his increase and profits to the church
or parish where he is a parishioner. Fourthlie, that all the church lands and possessions, throughout all
Ire|land, shall be frée from all secular exactions and im|positions: and especiallie that no lords,
earles, nor noble men, nor their children, nor familie, shall ex|tort or take anie coine and liuerie
cosheries, nor [...]ud|dies, nor anie other like custome from thenseforth, in or vpon anie of the church lands and
territories. And likewise that they nor no other person doo henseforth exact out of the said church
lands, old, wicked, and de|testable customes of coine and liuerie, which they were woont to extort vpon
such townes and villages of the churches, as were neere and next bordering vp|on them. Fiftlie, that
when earike or composition is made among the laie people for anie murther, that no person of the
cleargie, though he be kin to a|nie of the parties, shall contribute anie thing there|vnto: but as they
be guiltlesse from the murther, so shall they be frée from paiment of monie, for anie such earike or
release for the same. Sixtlie, that all and euerie good christian being sicke & weake, shall
before the préest and his neighbors make his last will and testament; and his debts and seruants wages
being paid, all his moouables to be diuided (if he haue anie children) into thrée parts: whereof one part
to be to the children, another to his wife, and the third part to be for the performance of his will. And
if so be that he haue no children, then the goods to be diui|ded into two parts, whereof the one moitie
to his wife, and the other to the performance of his will and testament. And if he haue no wife, but
onelie children, then the goods to be likewise diuided into two parts, wherof the one to himselfe, and
the other to his children. Seuenthlie, that euerie christian be|ing dead, and dieng in the catholike
faith, shall be re|uerendlie brought to the church, and to be buried as apperteineth. Finallie, that all
the diuine seruice in the church of Ireland shall be kept, vsed, & obserued in the like order and
maner as it is in the church of England. For it is méet and right, that as by Gods prouidence and
appointment Ireland is now be|come subiect, and vnder the king of England: so the same should take from
thense the order, rule, and ma|ner how to reforme themselues, and to liue in better order. For whatsoeuer
good thing is befallen to the church & realme of Ireland, either concerning religi|on, or
peaceable gouernement, they owe the same to the king of England, and are to be thankefull vnto him for
the same: for before his comming into the land of Ireland, manie and all sorts of wicked|nesses in times
past flowed and reigned amongest them: all which now by his authoritie and goodnesse are abolished. The
primat of Armagh, by reason of his weaknesse and great age, was not present at the synod: but afterwards
he came to Dublin, and gaue his full consent to the same. This holie man (as the common saieng was) had a
white cow, and being fed onelie by hir milke, she was alwaies carried with him wheresoeuer he went and
trauelled from home.