UFFING or UFFO Monk of Werthin.
AT the same time Uffing, or rather Uffo of Friesland, Monk of Werthin, wrote the Life of S. Lud∣ger * 1.1 Bishop of Munster, which was printed at Cologn the last Century, with a Poem of the same Author; some attribute to him the Life of S. Ida referr'd by Surius to Sept. 4. Suffri∣dus says that he likewise left the Life of S. Lucius King of England, which he affirms to be extant in Manuscript.
We have the Acts only of very few Councils of Germany in the Tenth Century, altho' we have * 1.2 just grounds to suppose that many more were held. The first, of which, any Monument is remaining is a Council held at Coblentz in the year 922. by the order of Charles King of France, and Henry King of Germany. It was compos'd of Eight Prelates, viz. Herman Archbishop of Mentz, Heriger Arch-Bishop of Cologn, and six other German Bishops, and made Eight Canons, of which only the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth remain in our Possession. The first forbids Marriage between Re∣lations to the Sixth Generation. The Fifth prohibits Laymen, who have Chappels, from receiving the Tythes of them with their own hands on purpose to put them to profane uses, and ordains that the Priests shall receive and use them to the advantage of the Churches, and for the maintenance of Ho∣spitals and poor People. The Sixth brings the Monks under Subjection to the Jurisdiction and Go∣vernment of the Bishop. The Seventh condemns a Person who sells a Christian for a Slave, as guil∣ty of Murder. The Eighth forbids those who give any Goods or Revenues to a particular Church, to take away the Tythes due upon account of such Revenues, to the Church to which they belong'd before.
The Canons of a Council held at Erfurdt in the year 932. in like manner are still extant, with a * 1.3 Preface which shews that it was conven'd by the Order of King Henry the First, in the Fourteenth year of his Reign, and that it was compos'd of the Archbishop of Trier and Twelve Bishops. The First of these Canons imports, that the Festivals of the Twelve Apostles shall be solemniz'd, and that the Fast of the Vigils shall be observ'd according to the ancient Constitutions. The Second, that no Pleas shall be held in the Courts of Judicature on Sundays, Holy-days, or Fasting-days: It is al∣so added, that King Henry prohibited the Judges to Cite any Person before them in the Week pre∣ceding the Festival of Christmas, that of S. John Baptist, and during the whole time of Lent, till the Eighth day after Easter. In the Third it is forbidden to deliver a Summons or Warrant to those Persons who are going to Church, or are there already, that they may not be disturb'd in their De∣votions. The fourth imports, that if a Priest be suspected of any Crime, and accused before his Bi∣shop, he shall be thrice admonish'd to acknowledge his Fault, and shall undergo condign Pu∣nishment, if he be found Guilty, unless he prove his Innocence by clearing himself by his own Oath, or by that of his Colleagues. The Fifth forbids private Persons to impose Fasts without the Con∣sent of the Bishop or his Vicar, because many do it to carry on Superstitious Divinations, or for o∣ther sinister ends, rather than out of a Principle of Devotion.
We have already made mention of the Council of Ingelbeim held in the year 948. in treating of the Contests of Artaldus for obtaining the Archbishoprick of Rheims, in regard that it was chiefly as∣sembled upon that account.
In the year 952. the Emperor Otho the First held at Augsburgh an Assembly of the Bishops of Ger∣many, * 1.4 France and Italy; where the Archbishop of Mentz presided, and publish'd Eleven Canons, which were approv'd by the other Prelates.
The First ordains that the Priests, Deacons and Subdeacons that marry, shall be depos'd accord∣ing to Chap. 25. of the Council of Carthage. The Second is against Clergy-men, who keep Dogs and Birds for Hunting, and are addicted to that Exercise; they are to be suspended from their Fun∣ctions as long as they persist in such Practices. The Third ordains that Bishops, Priests and Dea∣cons, who spend their time in playing at Games of Chance, shall incur the Penalty of being De∣pos'd, unless they renounce such sort of Games. The Fourth is against those Clergy-men who keep suspicious Women in their Houses. The Fifth prohibits Monks from going our of their Cloisters, with∣out the permission of their Abbot. The Sixth enjoyns Bishops to take care of the Monasteries of their Respective Diocesses, and speedily to Reform the Disorders that are committed in them. The Seventh and Eighth forbid them to hinder Clergy-men and Canonesses from embracing the Mona∣stical Life. The Ninth prohibits Lay-men from turning out of the Churches those Persons to whom the the Bishops have committed Care of them. The Tenth attributes to the Bishop the right of taking Cog∣nizance of the distribution of Tythes. And the Eleventh imports, that not only the Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Subdeacons shall lead a single Life, but also that the other Clergy shall be oblig'd to live Continently when they come to years of Maturity.