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.

The Council of Sens in the Year 1198.

MIchael Corbeil, Arch-Bishop of Sens, being come to the Town of La Charité, at the instance of the Bishop of Auxerre, whether the Bishops of Nevers and Meaux were likewise come, and having * 1.1 made enquiry what Hereticks there were in that Place, they found that Reginald Abbot of Saint Mar∣tin at Nevers, and the Dean of the Cathedral Church of that City were accus'd of Heresie, and that there were a great many Accusers and Witnesses against them. They Suspended them, and Cited them to Auxerre, where they made their Appearance. The Abbot would not make his Defence, but appeal'd to the Holy See before his Process was drawn up. The Arch-Bishop of Sens without regard∣ing this Appeal, continu'd the drawing up his Process, and cited him to the Council which was to be held at Sens. The Tryal of the Dean was likewise referr'd to that Council, that so they might have time to receive the Depositions of Witnesses on both sides.

The Council was held at Sens in the Year 1198, and the Bishops of Troyes, Auxerre and Nevers were there present. The Abbot of St. Martin appear'd before these Prelates, and endeavour'd to make his Defence; but seeing his Affair was like to have no success, he renew'd his Appeal. Tho' it was against all Form, and the Bishops were not oblig'd to take any notice of it; yet they would not pronounce any thing against him upon the account of Heresie, but condemn'd him for other Crimes whereof he stood Convicted, and for the Scandal he gave, and depos'd him for ever. They afterwards sent to the Pope the Depositions drawn against him; which imported, that he had asserted, That the Body of Jesus Christ went into the Draught, and that all Men would one day be saved.

As to the Dean, there were not Evidences strong enough to Convict and Condemn him, but since there were a great many Presumptions against him, because of his intimacy with Hereticks; they would not give him Absolution, but sent him to Rome, Innocent III. after he had heard him, and examin'd his Process, order'd that he should clear himself by the Testimony of Fourteen Witnesses, and wrote

to the Arch-Bishop of Sens, that he would admit him to clear himself, and restore to him his Be∣nefice after he had done it. The Abbot of St. Martin having likewise remov'd his Cause to Rome, the Pope referr'd him to Peter, Cardinal of St. Mary his Legate in France, and to Odo Bishop of Paris. We are inform'd of this Piece of History by the Letters of Innocent III. and by the Chronicon of Auxerre, wherein 'tis said, that those two Hereticks were of the Sect of the Poblicans.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Sens in the Year 1198.