GAUTIER Archbishop of Sens.
THE beginning of this Century Gautier was Archbishop of Sens, who was ordain'd in the year 887. and liv'd to the year 923. He made Constitutions, which remain still among us. They * 1.1 are comprehended in fourteen Articles.
The first Prohibits such Abbots and Conventual Priors, who would not appear at the Synod, and were not excus'd; from being admitted into the Church for eight days.
The second prohibits the Religious from receiving any Depositum into their Convents without the permission of the Bishop.
The third orders that they should all eat together in the same Refectory, and all lye together in the same Dormitory.
The fourth imports, that all the separate Apartments of Nunneries shall be pull'd down, except such as were requisite to entertain the Bishop; or proper for the sick; or for any other Cause which the Bishop shall adjudge to be just and necessary.
The fifth, that none of the Religious shall be permitted to go abroad, or to lye out of the Mona∣stery, unless it be but seldom, and upon some lawful occasions.
The sixth, that all the suspicious and unnecessary Doors of these Monasteries shall be shut up.
The seventh prohibits the Ecclesiastical Judges from issuing forth general Excommunications, and from Excommunicating all those who shall Communicate with an Excommunicate Person, unless it be upon some great important occasion, and in such Cases as are enormous.
The eighth injoyns the Canons or Prebendaries to regulate their Offices, and to behave themselves in them with care and exactness.
The ninth enjoyns them to observe the Rules prescrib'd by the General Council.
The tenth and eleventh order, that the Communities of the Monks or Regular Canons be re-establish'd in those Priories where they were us'd to be, if they have but wherewithal to subsist.
The twelfth, that the Abbots and Conventual Priors shall have in their respective Abbeys and Prio∣ries, a sufficient number of Religious, from whom they shall not exact any Pension.
The thirteenth, that the Clerks who lead loose lives shall be shaven by the order of the Bishops, Archdeacons, or other Officers, so that no Mark or Token of their Clerical Tonsure shall be left them.
The fourteenth imports, that when any Country shall be interdicted for the Offence of the Lord or his Bailiffs, that Interdiction shall not be taken off, till such time as satisfaction be made for the Damages which the Parochial Churches shall suffer by reason thereof.
'Tis question'd whether these Constitutions belong'd to this Gautier, or to some other of a more modern date. And indeed they relate more to the Discipline of the succeeding Centuries, than to the Discipline of the Tenth.