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The Synod of York held in the Year 1195.

HUBERT Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Pope's Legate in England, held at York a Synod * 1.1 of the Clergy of that Church in the Month of June, A. D. 1195. in which, after having depos'd Robert Abbot of St. Mary, by reason of his Weakness and continual Distempers, he published certain Ordinances relating to Church-Discipline, more especially about the Cele∣bration of the Eucharist.

The First imports, That the salutary Host, being the most excellent of the Sacraments, the Priest ought to use all possible Diligence and Application, to the end that it may be consecrated with Humility, received with Fear, and distributed with Reverence: That it is requisite that the Minister of the Altar be sure that he offer Bread and Wine with the Water in the Sacrifice; and that he cannot celebrate the Mass, unless he have a Minister who is endu'd with some measure of Knowledge: That care ought to be taken to keep the Host in a neat Box, to renew it every Sunday, and to carry it to the Sick in a Clerical Habit, and with Discretion.

The Second, enjoyns the Arch-deacons to take care that the Canon of the Mass, which he calls Secretum Missae, be very correct.

The Third, forbids Priests to oblige Laicks to cause a certain Number of Masses to be said in stead of Penance, or to make Bargains for the price of Masses.

The Fourth, contains a Prohibition to require more than Three Persons to stand as Sureties for a Child at the Baptismal Font; that is to say, Two God-fathers and One God-mother, when it is a Boy; or Two God-mothers and One God-father, if it be a Girl: Deacons are likewise forbid∣den to Baptize, except in a Case of very great Extremity, or to administer the Eucharist, or Pe∣nance; but Priests are enjoyn'd to go readily whenever they are sent for to baptize Children, or to give the Holy Communion to sick Persons.

The Fifth, provides for the keeping of Churches, and their Ornaments, in good repair; and or∣dains, That the Eucharist shall be consecrated in a Silver-Chalice, in those Churches that have means to procure one.

The Sixth imports, That the Clergy-men, who have receiv'd the Crown from the Hands of the Bishop, shall have Tonsure with it; but if they neglect to observe this Ordinance, they shall be compell'd to do it by the Forfeiture of their Benefices; and they who have receiv'd neither, by the order of the Arch-deacon or Deans. He recommends to Priests the wearing of Habits suitable to their Profession.

Sy the Seventh it is enjoyn'd, That Ecclesiastical Justice shall be administer'd Gratis.

The Eighth, ordains the payment of Tithes without any diminution.

The Ninth, prohibits Monks to take Offices or Licences from their Superiors to farm, and to travel or to go our of their Monastery without a just Cause, and without a Companion: As for the Nuns, they are likewise forbidden to go out of their Convents, unless accompanied with their Abbess or Prioress.

The Tenth, forbids the letting out of Tithes to farm to Laicks, although they were associated with a Clergy-man.

The Eleventh ordains, That the Curates shall publish thrice a Year the Excommunication against Perjur'd Persons with extinguished Candles, and shall denounce them excommunicated every Sunday. This Case is reserv'd to the Archbishop, to the Bishop, or to the Grand Peni∣tenciary.

The Twelfth, renews the Prohibitions so often made, That Clergy-men should keep unchast Correspondence with Women, and regulates the manner of trying those who are accus'd of that Crime.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Synod of York in 1195.