A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

CHAP. XIX. (Book 19)

Of the Provincial Councils held in the Twelfth Century.

WE shall only treat in this Chapter of those Councils which made Regulations of the Church-Discipline, or that determin'd any important Ecclesiastical Affairs, and we shall pass by in silence a very great Number of lesser Councils, which were held only to re-establish or confirm the Privileges of particular Churches and Monasteries; or to consecrate certain Churches; or to translate the Relicks of Saints; or to pass Judgment con∣cerning the Differences between Churches and private Persons about Temporalities; or lastly, to condemn or to acquit some Persons accused of Crimes.

The Council of Valence held in the Year 1100.

IN the Year 1100. John and Benedict the Pope's Legates, arriv'd in France, and call'd a Coun∣cil * 1.1 at Autun, which was held in the Month of September at Valence. It was compos'd of Twenty four Prelates, as well Archbishops as Bishops and Abbots, and the Deputies of the Archbishop of Lyons assisted therein. The Canons of Autun accus'd their Bishop of Simony, and the Matter was warmly debated on all sides, but the Determination of it was referr'd to the Coun∣cil of Poitiers. Hugh Abbot of Flavigny, who was turn'd out by the Monks, obtain'd Letters of Restauration in this Council of Valence.

The Council of Poitiers held in the Year 1100.

THIS Council was assembled on the Octave of St. Martin in the same Year. The Bishop * 1.2 of Autun, not having sufficiently clear'd himself of the Accusation brought against him, was depos'd and excommunicated, notwithstanding his Appeal to the Pope in this Council, and in the preceding: For the Legates had declar'd, that no regard ought to be had to that Ap∣peal, since they were invested with the whole plenitude of the Pontifical Power. This Council was compos'd of Eighty Dignitaries, as well Bishops as Abbots, and in it was pronounced a solemn Excommunication against King Philip for retaking Bertrade. The Abbot of St. Remy at Rheims was confirm'd in his Abbey; the Case of Drogo, Treasurer of the Church of Châlons, was argu'd, and it was made to appear, that he could not possess that Benefice, having another in another Dio∣cess: Lastly, a certain Church was adjudg'd to Ives Bishop of Chartres, which had been usurped from him, and Sixteen Canons were made in this Council.

The first imports, That only the Bishops or Abbots shall be empower'd to administer Clerical Tonsure to the Monks, that is to say, to engage them in the Monastick Life by vertue of that Ceremony, and that they ought only to confer it on those Persons who actually tum Monks.

The Second, That nothing shall be exacted upon account of such Tonsure, nay not so much as for the Sizzers and Napkins that are us'd in performing the Ceremony.

The Third ordains, That Clerks shall not do Homage to Lay-men, and shall not receive Church-Livings from their Hands.

The Fourth, That the Benediction of the Sacerdotal Habits, and of the Utensils belonging to the Altar, shall be reserv'd to the Bishop.

The Fifth, That the Monks shall not be allow'd to wear the Maniple, unless they exercise the Office of Sub-deacons.

The Sixth, That the Abbots shall not make use of Gantlets and Sandals, nor of the Ring, in officiating, unless they have obtain'd a Privilege from the See of Rome.

The Seventh, That Prebends shall neither be bought nor sold, and that no Household-Provi∣sions shall be exacted for the conferring of them.

The Eighth, That no Prebends, nor any other Benefices, shall be dispos'd of during the Life-time of the Incumbents.

The Ninth, That the Clerks and Monks shall not buy any Altars or Tithes of the Laicks.

The Tenth declares, That the Regular Canons may Baptize, Preach, enjoyn Penance, and Bu•…•… the Dead, with a Licence from the Bishop.

The Eleventh, That the Exercise of these Functions is forbidden to Monks.

The Twelfth ordains, That those Clerks, who carry about Relicks to get Money by them shall not be suffer'd to preach.

The Thirteenth, That the Archbishops shall not exact of the Bishops, nor the Bishops of the Ab∣bots, any Copes, Carpets, Basons, or Napkins, for their Consecration.

The Fourteenth, That Laicks shall have no share in the Offerings made at the Altar, nor in the Gratuities allow'd to the Priests, especially upon the account of Burials.

The Fifteenth, That no authorized Judges shall seize on the Revenues of the Bishops, either in their Life-time, or after their Death.

The Sixteenth, and last Canon, confirms every Thing that Pope Urban had ordain'd in the Council of Clermont; particularly concerning Tithes and Altars unjustly retain'd by Laicks, as also concerning the Celebacy of Priests, Deacons, Sub-deacons, and Canons, and the Prohibition to hold Two Prebends, or Two Dignities in Two several Churches. Moreover it is related in a certain Ancient Chronicle, that this Council ordain'd, that the Bishops should have a Right to re∣cover their Possessions.

King Philip, to cause the Excommunication which was denounced against him in the Council of Poitiers to be taken off, wrote to the Pope, that he was ready for the future, not to have to do carnally with Bertrade. Whereupon the Pope referr'd the Management of that Affair to Richard Bishop of Albano his Legate, who held at Beaugency a Council of the Bishops of the Provinces of Rheims and Sens, in which the King and Bertrade took an Oath upon the Holy Gospels, that they would no longer have carnal Copulation together, and that they would not see one another, but in the presence of such Persons as could not be suspected, till they had obtain'd a Dispensation from the Pope. However the Bishops and the Legate durst not give them Absolution, but reserv'd the Determination of the Matter to the Pope: Afterwards Richard being departed from France, the Pope granted a Commission for that purpose to Lambert Bishop of Arras, with the Archbishops and Bishops of the Provinces of Rheims, Sens and Tours, whom he impower'd to absolve the King, in case he renounced his unchast Correspondence with Bertrade, and engag'd no longer to see her, unless it were in the presence of unsuspected Persons. At last, Lambert Bishop of Arras, Diam∣bert Archbishop of Sens, Radulphus Archbishop of Tours, and many of their Suffragans, being con∣ven'd at Paris A. D. 1105. receiv'd the Oaths of the King, and of Bertrade, conformably to the Tenor of the Pope's Letter, and gave them Absolution upon those Conditions.

The Council of Anse.

IN the Year 1100. the Archbishops of Canterbury, Lyons, Tours, and Bourges, and Eight Bishops, * 1.3 assembled at Anse near Lyons, held a Council, in which they debated Matters relating to the Voyage to the Holy Land, and excommunicated all those Persons, who had taken upon them the Cross, but had not made the Journey, till they should perform their Vow.

The Council of Troyes.

RICHARD Bishop of Albano, Legate of the See of Rome, held a numerous Council at Troyes * 1.4 in Champagne A. D. 1104. in which Godfrey was chosen Bishop of Amiens, and Hubert Bishop of Senlis accused of Simony clear'd himself by Oath: This Council approv'd of, and con∣firm'd the Privileges of the Monasteries of the Church of St. Peter at Troyes, and of the Abbey of Molesme.

The Council of Beauvais held in the Year 1114.

GODFREY, who was ordain'd Bishop of Amiens in the preceding Council, being ill us'd in that * 1.5 Country, took a Resolution to quit his Bishoprick; insomuch that in the Year 1114. Conon, the Pope's Legate, having call'd a Council at Beauvais, the People of Amiens demanded another Bishop, and Godfrey's Letter was read, in which he declar'd, that he had renounced his Bishoprick. The Council, that nothing might be done with precipitation, reserv'd that Affair to be determined in the Council of Soissons. However they made a Constitution, in which it was de∣clar'd, That the Revenues, of which the Churches had a quiet Possession during a Year and a Day, should belong to them for ever; provided that this Possession should take Place only against Lay-men, and that a Possession of Thirty Years shall be requisite to transfer a Right from one Church to another.

The Council of Rheims held in the Year 1115.

CONON, held a Council the next Year at Rheims, in which he excommunicated the Em∣peror * 1.6 Henry, and oblig'd Godfrey to return to Amiens.

The Council of Toulouse held in the Year 1119.

POPE Calixtus II. being arriv'd in France, held June 6. A. D. 1119. a Council at Toulouse. * 1.7 compos'd of certain Cardinals, and of the Archbishops and Bishops of Aquitaine, in which he published Ten Canons.

The First, is against those who buy or sell Spiritual Livings.

The Second imports, That no Man shall be made a Provost, Arch-Priest, or Dean, who is not a Priest; nor an Arch-deacon, who is not a Deacon.

The Third ordains, That Hereticks, who contemn the Communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Baptism of Infants, Holy Orders, and Lawful Wedlock, shall be excommuni∣cated, and that the same Punishment shall be inflicted on their Adherents.

The Fourth, forbids Princes and Lay-men to possess Tithes, Oblations, Monasteries, or other Revenues belonging to the Churches.

The Fifth, prohibits to make Slaves of Free-men.

The Sixth ordains, That Clergy-men shall not be oblig'd to perform any manner of Service to Laicks for Church-Revenues.

The Seventh, That none shall seize on the Fourth Part of the Offerings which belong to the Bishop.

The Eighth, That neither Bishops, nor Priests, nor any other Ecclesiastical Persons, shall be permitted to leave their Benefices to their Heirs, as an Inheritance by Right of Succession.

The Ninth, That nothing shall be exacted for the consecrated Oyls, Holy Chrism, or the Burial of the Dead.

The Tenth, That the Monks, Canons, or Clerks, who quit their Profession, shall be Excom∣municated.

The Council of London held in the Year 1125.

IN the Year of our Lord 1125. John de Crema, Legate of the See of Rome, William Archbishop * 1.8 of Canterbury, Turstin Archbishop of York, Twenty Bishops, and about Forty Abbots, assem∣bled at London, made Seventeen Decrees, in which they prohibit Simony; to give or to re∣ceive any Thing for Ordinations; to receive a Spiritual Living from the Hands of Laicks; to chuse a Successor to such Livings; to confer them on Persons who are not in Orders; to deprive a Clergy-man of a Benefice without a Legal Sentence passed against him by his Bishop; to ordain One who belongs to another's Diocess; to entertain One who has been excommunicated by his Bishop. Clerks are likewise forbidden to cohabit with strange Women, and to follow Usury; Witchcraft is condemned; and Marriages are prohibited between Relations to the seventh De∣gree; but it is declar'd, that Husbands, who endeavour to get their Wives divorced, under pre∣tence of Consanguinity, are not allow'd to make proof of it by Witnesses.

The Council of London held in the Year 1127.

WILLIAM Archbishop of Canterbury held another Council at London Two Years after the * 1.9 former, in which he renew'd the most part of those Constitutions, adding some others against the Plurality of Benefices, also concerning the Restitution of Tithes, and the Plainness that ought to be observ'd by the Abbesses in their Habits and Attire.

The Council of London held in the Year 1138.

PArt of the same Constitutions were reviv'd in the Council held at London, A. D. 1138. during * 1.10 the Vacancy of the See of Canterbury, by Alberic Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, the Pope's Le∣gate in England. This Council was compos'd of Eighteen Bishops, and about Thirty Ab∣bots, and in it were published Seventeen Canons; of which the following are not comprehended in the preceding Councils: viz. The Second, which forbids the keeping of the consecrated Ele∣ments in the Eucharist above Eight Days, and ordains, that they shall be reverently carry'd to the Sick by the Priests or Deacons, and even by Lay-men, in Case of Necessity: The Fourth, which prohibits a Bishop, who is sent for by another Bishop to consecrate a Church, to exact any Thing besides his Right of Procuration: The Tenth, in which is referr'd to the Pope the giving of Ab∣solution to those who have misus'd Priests, or Persons consecrated to God: The Twelfth, being a Prohibition to build a Chappel without a Licence from the Bishop: The Thirteenth, in which Church-men are forbidden to engage in Warlike Affairs, and to bear Arms: The Fourteenth, pro∣hibiting

Monks to quit their Profession: The Fifteenth, which forbids Abbesses to be attir'd, and to have their Heads dressed after the manner of Secular Women: And the Seventeenth, which imports, That School-masters shall not be permitted to let out their Schools to others for Money. Lastly, Theobald Abbot of Bec, was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury in this Council, and divers means were treated of for the making Peace between the Kings of England and France.

The Council of Rheims held in the Year 1131.

POpe Innocent II. as it has already been declar'd, held a Council at Rheims, A. D. 1131. in * 1.11 which he Crown'd Lewes Sirnam'd the Young, King of France, and published Seventeen Canons very advantageous to the Church, but since they are recited in the Second General Council of Lateran, it were needless to produce an Extract of them in this Place.

The Council of Rheims held in the Year 1148.

THis Council conven'd by Pope Eugenius III. March 22. A. D. 1148. published Eighteen Ca∣nons, * 1.12 which are all among those of the Second General Council of Lateran. We have al∣ready given an Account of the Transactions therein, relating to the Condemnation of Gillebert de la Porré••.

The Council of Tours held in the Year 1163.

THis Council held at Tours by Pope Alexand••r III. on the 28. Day of April, was compos'd of * 1.13 Seventeen Cardinals, 127 Bishops, and of a very great Number of Abbots, and other Ecclesiastical Persons. Arnulphus, Bishop of Lifieux, made an excellent Discourse before mention'd; Alexander renew'd his Bulls of Excommunication against Octavian, and the Ten fol∣lowing Canons were publickly set forth.

The First, forbids the dividing of Prebends, and the changing of Dignities.

The Second, condemns Usury, more especially that by virtue of which the Interest of Things left in pawn by poor People, amounts to a greater Sum than the Principal.

In the Third, Clergy-men are forbidden to bestow Churches, Tithes, or Offerings on Laicks.

The Fourth, is against the Albigeois, which we have already recited in discoursing of those People.

The Fifth, prohibits the letting out of Churches to Priests for an Annuity or yearly Rent.

The Sixth, forbids the exacting of any Thing for admission into Orders; for Nominations to Benefices; for the Burial of the Dead; for the Holy Chrism; and for the consecrated Oils.

The Seventh, is a Prohibition to Bishops to grant Commissions to Deans, or to Arch-Priests, for the carrying on of Judiciary Proceedings in their room, or instead of Arch-deacons.

By the Eighth, Monks are forbidden to go out of their Cloisters in order to study, or to become Professors of the Civil Law, or to practise Physick.

The N••nth, declares the Ordinations made by Octavian, and by the other Schismaticks or Hereticks, to be void and of none Effect.

The Tenth, proposes new Methods for maintaining the Revenues and Liberty of the Churches, and ordains, That whenever the Chaplains, who reside in the Castles, perceive any Injury to be done the Church, they shall make an Address to the Lord of the Castle, to demand Restitution; and if he neglect to do it within the space of Eight Days, the Celebration of the Divine Offices shall be suspended in the Castle; except that of Baptism, Confession, and the Communion, in case of Danger of Death: Only it is permitted to say Mass privately once a Week in a neighbouring Village, to consecrate the Host: It is added, That if the Inhabitants of the Castles continue in their obstinacy Forty Days, the Chaplains shall absolutely abandon the Place. They are also or∣der'd to retire in Three Months, if they be charg'd with any manner of Servcies, and enjoyn'd to get Information when the Booty is brought in; whether any of it belong to the Churches, or be claimed by Clergy-men: All the Vicars and Chaplains are requir'd to take an Oath to observe these Injunctions.

By this Canon, the Inn-keepers and Inhabitants of Towns or Villages, are forbidden to entertain excommunicated Persons: Church-yards and Ecclesiastical Revenues are exempted from all manner of Rent-charges and Assessments: The Excommunication to be inflicted on those who misuse Clergy-men is reviv'd, with a Reservation of that Cause to the See of Rome. All manner of Converse or Correspondence is prohibited with Persons who lie under a Sentence of Excommunication: The ••eans are enjoyn'd to take care that these Ordinances be duly put in execution, and to give notice to the Bishop or Arch-deacon, of the Trespasses that shall be committed upon them. The Abbots, Monks, Priors, Abbesses and Prioresses, are likewise free'd from all manner of Rent-charges,

and Impositions. Lastly, an Anathema is denounced against Clergy-men and Laicks, who shall presume to buy or to sell any Revenues or Possessions, which they know to belong to the Church.

The Council of Cassel in Ireland.

IN the Year of our Lord 1172. Henry II. King of England, having made himself Master of * 1.14 Ireland, call'd a Council at Cassel, compos'd of the Prelates and other Clergy of Ireland, in which the following Canons were established.

The First imports, That all the Faithful in Ireland shall be oblig'd not to inter-marry with their near Relations, but to contract Lawful Marriages.

The Second, That all the Children shall be made Catechumens at the Church-door, and shall be baptized in the Church.

The Third, That all the Faithful shall pay to their respective Parish-Churches Tithes, as well of Cattel, and of the Fruits of the Earth, as of their other Revenues.

The Fourth, That all the Church-Revenues shall be exempted from all manner of Taxes and Impositions.

The Fifth, That when a certain Sum is made up, that is to say, stipulated or agreed to be paid for the Murder of a Person; the Clergy-men, who are the Heirs of the deceased Party, shall not be oblig'd to pay any part of the Fine.

The Sixth, That all the Faithful when faln Sick shall make their last Will and Testament in the presence of their Confessor; and that they, who have a Wife and Children, shall divide their mo∣vable Goods into Three Parts; One of which shall be allotted to the Wife, another to the Chil∣dren, and the Third for the Funeral Expences: That if they have no Children, they shall leave one Moiety of their Goods to their Wives; and if they have no Wife, their Children shall have a Moiety.

The Seventh, That a Mass and * 1.15 Vigils shall be said for those who die after having made Con∣fession, and that the accustomed Duties shall be paid to them.

The Eighth, That Divine Service shall be celebrated in all the Churches, according to the Rites and Customs of the Church of England.

The Council of Avranches held in the Year 1172.

THirteen Canons were published in the Council which was held at Avranches A. D. 1172. by * 1.16 the Cardinals Theoduin and Albert, for the giving of Absolution to Henry II. King of England.

The First, forbids the conferring of Benefices with the Cure of Souls on Children.

The Second, is a Prohibition to bestow on the Sons of Priests, the Churches that were possessed by their Fathers.

The Third, is likewise a Prohibition to give part of the Offerings to Laicks.

The Fourth, prohibits the appointing of Churches to be serv'd by annual Vicars.

The Fifth, obliges the Curates of large Parishes to provide a Vicar, when they have means to do it.

By the Sixth, the Ordination of Priests without a Title is prohibited.

The Seventh, forbids the letting out of Churches to farm for a Year.

The Eighth, prohibits the depriving the Priests, who perform their Functions therein, of a third Part of the Tithes belonging to them.

The Ninth, grants a Licence to those Persons, who are in possession of Tithes, to bestow them on such Clerks as they shall think fit, on condition that they shall afterwards return to the Church to which they belong of very good Right.

The Tenth, forbids a Husband to turn Monk, whilst his Wife remains in the Secular State; unless they be both too old to get any Children: The same Thing is forbidden with respect to the Wife.

The Eleventh, advises Fasting and Abstinence during the time of Advent.

The Twelfth, prohibits the placing of Clergy-men as Judges in the Civil Courts of Judi∣cature.

The Thirteenth, determines nothing as to the Estates of excommunicated Persons; the Perqui∣sites claimed for the Benedictions of Marriages and Baptism; and for the giving of Absolution to those who lye under a Sentence of Excommunication; by reason that the Bishops of Normandy re∣fus'd to admit that Decree.

The Council of London held in the Year 1175.

THE Two Henries, Kings of England, being arriv'd at London, met with Richard Archbi∣shop * 1.17 of Canterbury, and the rest of the Prelates of the Realm, who held a Council on the Sunday preceding the Festival of the Ascension, in which the Archbishop Richard published the following Nineteen Canons.

The First ordains, That they who have enter'd into Holy Orders, and keep a Concubine, whom they refuse to expel, shall be depriv'd of all manner of Ecclesiastical Office and Benefice: That the Clerks who are in Orders, below the Degree of a Sub-deacon, and are married, shall not be divorced from their Wives; but shall no longer enjoy their Spiritual Livings: That they who are Sub-deacons, or in superior Orders, and contract Marriage, shall be compell'd to part with their Wives: And lastly, That the Sons of Priests shall be uncapable to succeed their Fathers in the Churches possessed by them.

The Second, forbids Clergy-men to enter Victualling Houses, to eat or to drink there, except when they are travelling on the Road.

By the Third, Clerks, who are in Orders, are forbidden to assist at Tryals in Capital Cases.

The Fourth ordains, That the Arch-deacon shall oblige those Clergy-men who wear long Locks of Hair to cut them off, and that they shall be cloath'd modestly.

By the Fifth, Bishops are prohibited to ordain the Clergy of another Diocess, by reason of the Inconveniences that may arise from that Practice.

The Sixth, forbids the Tryal of Criminals to be manag'd in Churches, or in Church-yards.

The Seventh and Eighth, renew the Prohibitions to exact any Thing for the Administration of the Sacraments; for the burying of the Dead; or for admittance into Orders, or the Monastick State.

The Ninth, in like manner, forbids the making over of Churches to any Person under Pre∣tence of endowing them; as also the exacting of any Thing for the Presentation to a Be∣nefice.

The Tenth, prohibits Religious Persons to follow the Trade of Merchandizing, or to be Far∣mers, and likewise Lay-men to take Spiritual Livings to farm.

By the Eleventh, Clergy-men are prohibited to bear Arms.

The Twelfth imports, That the Vicars who endeavour to retain the Benefices of those who have the Title, contrary to their Promise or Engagement, shall be no longer suffer'd to exercise their Functions in the same Diocess.

The Thirteenth ordains, That Tithes shall be paid of all Things.

The Tenor of the Fourteenth is, That a Clergy-man, who is cast in his Tryal, ought to be condemn'd to defray the Charges of it; and that if he has not wherewithal to pay, he shall be punish'd according to the Bishop's Discretion.

The Fifteenth ordains, That there shall be only Ten particular Prefaces, for the Festivals which are specified in that Canon.

The Sixteenth, prohibits the administring of the consecrated Bread in the Communion steept in Wine.

The Seventeenth, forbids the Consecration of the Eucharist any otherwise than in a Gold or Silver-Chalice, and abolishes the Use of Tin-Chalices.

By virtue of the Eighteenth, clandestine Marriages are forbidden.

The Nineteenth, is a Prohibition to marry Children, who have not attain'd to a competent Age of maturity, unless it be in case of Necessity, or for the promoting of Peace.

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 * 1.18 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.

The Council of Montpellier held in the Year 1195.

M. MICHAEL, Legate of the See of Rome, passing over to Spain A. D. 1195. upon occa∣sion * 1.19 of an inrode which the Saracens had made against the Christians in the Territories of his most Catholick Majesty, who was oblig'd to retire to those of the King of France; held a Council of the Bishops of the Province of Narbonne at Montpellier, in which he reviv'd and published many Decrees of the latter Councils and Popes; amongst others, some about Peace and Truce; against Robbers and Pirates; concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and the Prohibition to lay Taxes on Churches; against Usurers; about the Habits and Manners of the Clergy; the Frugality to be observ'd by Bishops in keeping their Tables, &c. He leaves the Archbishop of Narbonne, and his Suffragan Bishops, at liberty to denounce Ecclesiastical Censures against the Infringers of these Ordinances, or to supersede them, accordingly as they shall judge most expedient, lest the Hereticks should take an occasion from a general Suspension of long continuance, to per∣vert the Faithful, and to corrupt their Principles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Coun∣cil of Va∣lence, A. D. 1100.
• * 1.2

  The Coun∣cil of Poi∣tiers in 1100.
• * 1.3

  The Coun∣cil of Anse in 1100.
• * 1.4

  The Coun∣cil of Troyes in 1104.
• * 1.5

  The Coun∣cil of Beauvais in 1114.
• * 1.6

  The Coun∣cil of Rheims in 1115.
• * 1.7

  The Coun∣cil of Tou∣louse in 1119.
• * 1.8

  The Coun∣cil of Lon∣don in 1125.
• * 1.9

  The Coun∣cil of Lon∣don in 1127.
• * 1.10

  The Coun∣cil of Lon∣don in 1138.
• * 1.11

  The Coun∣cil of Rheims in 1131.
• * 1.12

  The Coun∣cil of Rheims in 1148.
• * 1.13

  The Coun∣cil of Tours in 1163.
• * 1.14

  The Coun∣cil of Cas∣sel in Ire∣land, held A. D. 1172.
• * 1.15

  A sort of Service for the Dead.
• * 1.16

  The Coun∣cil of Av∣ranches in 1172.
• * 1.17

  The Coun∣cil of Lon∣don in 1175.
• * 1.18

  The Synod of York in 1195.
• * 1.19

  The Coun∣cil of Montpel∣lier in 1195.