In the second, after having observ'd, that different Customs might be in use in several Churches, the Constitutions made in the Council of Bourges were read; and the second con∣cerning the renewing of the Host every Sunday was alter'd, because 'twas judg'd sufficient that they should be renew'd Twelve times a Year. Afterward the Affair of the Abbey of Beaulieu was propos'd, which was possess'd by a secular Abbot: He was Summon'd to the Synod, and after he had consented that it should be reform'd according to the Rule, 'twas ordain'd that the Bishop of Limoges should place a regular Abbot therein, before the Festival of Christmas. This gave occasion to treat of the Monastick Regularity in the Council: The Bishop of Limo∣ges was very well satisfied with the Conduct of the Abbots and Monks of his Diocess, and only complain'd of one Abbot, who had suffer'd a certain Vicount, excommunicated by the Bishop and deceased without Absolution, to be interr'd in his Church: The Abbot vindicated himself; alledging, That it was done without his Knowledge by the Souldiers of that Vi∣count, who bury'd him themselves; but that as soon as he was inform'd of the Matter of Fact, he caus'd his Corps to be dug up, and to be laid without the consecrated Ground. The Bishop of Cahors related an Accident of the like nature, which happen'd in his Diocess. Then the Prelates of the Council proceeded to find out Means to oblige the great Lords and Noblemen to make Peace one with another, and Excommunication and Suspension from Di∣vine Service were propos'd to that end. The Monks of St. Martial had their Custom con∣firm'd of Administring Baptism on the Festivals of Easter and Whitsuntide; and the Abbots had a Privilege granted them to have a Chaplain and three Deacons assisting at their Celebra∣tion of Mass, on the solemn Festivals: The Canons against incontinent Clergy-men and Simo∣niacal Practices were reviv'd; and the time of Ordination was fix'd on the four Ember-Weeks. Upon a Remonstrance, that divers Persons excommunicated by their Bishops for notorious Crimes, went to Rome and receiv'd Absolution from the Pope; the Bishop of Puy en Velay reported, that some Years ago, the Count of Clermont being excommunicated by the Bishop, for leaving his lawful Wife to Marry another, made a Journey to the Court of Rome, where he obtain'd Absolution of the Pope, who had no notice of the Sentence of Excommunication pass'd against him: That the Bishop having made a Complaint, the Pope return'd for Answer, That he ought to blame himself for what had happen'd, by reason that he never gave him any Information that the Count was excommunicated; the Pope added, That if he had known it, he would have confirm'd the Bishop's Sentence, because he makes Profession to assist his Brethren in every thing, and not to oppose them; that he should be very sorry, to hear of any Schism or Mis-understanding between him and them; and that therefore he abrogated and made void the Pennance and Absolution, which he had granted to that excommunicated Person, by whom he was surpriz'd, and who ought to expect nothing but a Curse, till he has made Satisfaction and has been duely absolv'd by his Diocesan.
This Narrative makes it appear, That these sorts of Absolutions were often surreptitiously got of the Popes, as it may be further evinc'd from another Passage of the like nature, which happen'd at Angoulesme; where a certain excommunicated Person, who could not obtain Absolution, by reason that he was unwilling to make Satisfaction, presented to his Bishop a Letter from the Pope, in which he intreated him to admit the said Person to the Pennance which he had enjoyn'd: The Bishop, without being surpriz'd, reply'd, That he did not be∣lieve that that Order came from the Pope, and that it should not be serviceable to the Of∣fender, who should remain under the Sentence of Excommunication, till he had accepted of and done the Pennance, that should be impos'd on him by himself or by his Arch-deacon by his Order. Upon these considerations, the Bishops unanimously declar'd, That the Pope had indeed a Right to confirm, augment or diminish the Pennance enjoyn'd an Offender by his Diocesan, or even to impose it on those, whom the Bishops should nominate for that pur∣pose; but that he had no Power either to impose Pennance or to grant Absolution, in re∣spect of an excommunicated Person, without consulting the Diocesan. And that it was his Office, rather to confirm than to disannul the Sentences of the other Bishops; in regard that if the Members ought to follow their Head, the Head also ought to take care not to oppress the Members: The Acts of this Council are very large, and contain a great number of Matters of Fact, Authorities and Arguments, relating to the Affair of St. Martial, which are of no very great Moment.