Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical. London, 1640 by Church of England - 1683

1683. An Oath that Incensed the Puritans [Church of England]. Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, Treated Upon by the Bishop of London, President of the Convocation for the Province of Canterbury, and the Rest of the Bishops and Clergie of the Said Province: And Agreed Upon with the Kings Majesties Licence in Their Synod Begun at London, Anno Domini 1603. And in the Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord James, By the Grace of God King of England, France & Ireland the First, and of Scotland the Thirty Seventh. And Now Published for the Due Observation of Them by His Majesties Authority, Under the Great Seal of England. London: Printed by the Assigns of John Bill, Deceas'd, 1683. [viii], 69, [11] pp. The first leaf bears woodcut royal arms on verso, last leaf is a blank. Quarto (7-1/2" x 6"). Disbound pamphlet bound into recent period-style three-quarter calf over paper-covered boards, calf title panel to center of front board. Moderate toning to text, light foxing and tiny inkspots to a few leaves, "2" in early hand to head of front endleaf. A nice copy in a handsome binding. $300. * An important document in the history of the English Reformation, this was the first collection of ecclesiastical law compiled by the Church of England that was not derived from Roman Catholic sources. It was originally enacted in 1571 and amended in 1603 and 1640. This latter issue contains the notorious Article VI, "Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies Established in the Church, Censured," which incensed the Puritans. English Short-Title Catalogue R6436.