A Tithing Table, Title page – Preface
Decimarum & Oblationum Tabula. A Tything Table. OR Table of Tithes and Oblations, according to the Eccleſiaſtical Laws and Ordinances eſtabliſhed in the Church of ENGLAND, Now newly reduced into a Book. Containing As well the very letter of the Law under which theſe rights be ſeverally compriſed, together with ſuch queſtions of tything, and their reſolutions by the Lawes Canon, Civil, and approved Doctors opinions of the ſame, as be ordinarily moved, and which doe often prove to controverſies herein. As alſo A brief and ſummarie declaration of Compoſition, Tranſaction, Cuſtom, Preſcription, Priviledge, And how they prevail in Tything. Annexed hereunto Summarily, ſuch Statute Lawes of the Land concerning theſe rights, as have been herein authoriſed, and now doe remain in their force accordingly. To the eaſie and plain inſtructions of all the ſubjects Eccleſiaſtical or Lay, whether in theſe rights to demand them, or bounden to perform the ſame. Compiled by W. C. Bach. of the Civil Law.
Eccl. 25. Hallow thy Tythes unto God with gladneſs.
Prov. 3. So ſhall thy Barnes be filled with plenteouſneſs, and thy preſſes flow over with ſweet Wine.
LONDON, Printed by J. T. for Andrew Crook at the Green-dragon in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1658.
THE PREFACE.
THe Canon and Civil Lawes (Chriſtian Reader) ſince firſt King Henry of happy memory the Eighth, diſmembred their bodies, a25 He. 8. 19.and reſtored to the Diadem of the Land (over the ſtate Eccleſiaſtical) the Ancient Iuriſdiction of the Crown, they have and do lye hidden, ſuch of them as King Henry then continued, and King Edward b2. Ed, 6. 13.that ſucceeded him, Intituled in his raign the Kings, and afterwards were the late Queenes deceaſed, and as they be now tearmed, The Kings Eccleſiaſtical Lawes, (the former ſtatutes revived by Her Majeſty, c1. Elizab. 1…redge…in the firſt year of her Raign) they have theſe Lawes, and do lie hidden in manifold, dark, and dangerous corners, in practiſe onelyonly familiar in Conſistories, and their knowledge to the Countries obſcure: hence are the manifold untimely Cuſtoms and Preſcriptions that wee have: I inveigh not againſt them, neither cuſtome or preſcription, that be perfect now and in their perfect being, I would not be taken, or rather miſtaken ſo: but they be weeds in their growing and all their ingendring time, wherein (onelyonly) they give place to prevention: they be Lawes of themſelves (in their ripeneſs) inviolable.d…ledge… Glo. & D D …ledge…n c. vigilanti …ledge…le praeſcrip. If therfore ſome inſight into theſe lawes, and knowledge ſucceeding this long obſcurity, may work another effect in the time to come, none can ſay uprightly now that he is, may be, or his poſterity after him (if not benefited) damnified thereby: happily I may be charged (in tranſlating) to have damnified the lawes, I have ſhadowed (I confeſſe) their firſt and original grace, ſuch beauty have they and Elegancy too, in the latine tongue: but I write to Engliſh-man; and ſuch as not ſo much affect to hear of the beauty, as they be deſirous to underſtand the benefit of their lawes, for ſuch I have framed this Tything Table, and repleniſhed (as my ſlender skill would ſerve) the ſame, with neceſſary, diſperſed, and ſcattered lawes, not hurtful, conſidered as they be delivered, nor prejudicial to the Royal prerogative, nor repugnant to the lawes, Statutes, nor Cuſtomes of this land. Tythes (by ſale) be turned into chattels eArt. cler. 9. Ed. 2. 1., and made of ſpiritual, temporal things: in debate (of the right of patronage) in Tythes, and exceeding the fourth part of the value of the Church f9. Ed. 2. 2. 34. Ed. 1. 1. de conjunctim …ledge…eoſatis., where great wood is demanded in the name of Silva Caedua g45 Ed. 3. 3., in Tythes and Oblations, where there is any ſtate of inheritance h3. Hen 8. 7., and where they be demanded, and be neither due nor accuſtomed, i13 Ed. 1. …ledge…ire. agat.the Kings prohibition doth lie in all theſe caſes and no conſultation: otherwiſe, and without ſuch temporal mixtures, prohibition hath no place kFitz deno. turab revium Fol. 50. de conſultatione.: but the Judge Eccleſiaſtical hath power to proceed, notwithſtanding the Kings prohibition l9. Ed. 2. circumſpecte agatis. 13. Ed. 1.. Conceiving them therefore (Chriſtian Reader) as they be meant, and mentioned to be preſented unto thee, viz. As they be meerely ſpiritual Tithes and Oblations, and without any temporal mixture, thou ſhalt not miſconstrue the Author, nor deceive thy ſelf. Farewel.
The Readers (ever) in the LORD. W. C.