The Council of Toulouse, held, A. D. 1056.
POPE Victor II. having given Orders to Rambaldus Arch-bishop of Arles, and to Pontius * 1.1 Arch-bishop of Aix, his Vicars, to call a Council for the extirpation of Simony, and the restauration of Ecclesiastical Discipline: They met together, A. D. 1054. at Toulouse, with the Arch-bishop of Narbonne, and divers other Bishops of France, and drew up thirteen Canons.
In the First it is Decreed, That those Persons who receive Ordination for Mony, shall be degraded from their Dignity, as well as they who ordain'd them.
In the Second, That a Bishop, Abbot or Priest shall not be ordain'd till the Age of thirty Years, nor a Deacon till he has attain'd to that of Twenty five.
In the Third, That nothing shall be taken for the Dedication of Churches.
In the Fourth, That nothing shall be given to obtain Ecclesiastical Benefices.
In the Fifth, That they who turn Monks with a design to get the Government of an Abbey, shall never be promoted to that Dignity.
In the Sixth, That the Abbots shall govern their Monks according to St. Benedict's Rule, and that they shall not suffer them to enjoy any private Estate, nor to hold a Provostship or Superiority without their consent.
The Seventh enjoyns Priests and Deacons to lead a single Life.
The Eighth, That Lay-men shall not have any Spiritual Livings.
The Ninth, That the Estates and Goods of deceased Persons shall not be pillag'd, but that they shall be dispos'd of, according to their last Will and Testament.
The Tenth ordains, That the Churches shall be oblig'd to pay the accustomed Duties to the Episcopal See, and that those that do not pay any, shall allot the third part of their Tithes and the Oblations, for the use of the Bishops and Clerks.
The Eleventh, That in the Churches which belong to the Jurisdiction of Noble-men, the third part of the Tithes, and the Offerings shall be reserv'd for the Priests and Clerks, who officiate therein.
The Twelfth denounces a Sentence of Excommunication against Adulterers and incestuous Persons, as also against those who are found guilty of Perjury.
The Thirteenth orders the like Sentence to pass upon those who hold Correspondence or Converse with excommunicated Persons, unless to reprove or admonish them.