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 Cognac in the Year 1260.

PEter de Roscidavella who in the Year 1259, succeeded Gerard de Malemort in the Arch-Bishoprick * 1.1 of Bourdeaux, Held a Provincial Council in the Year 1260, at Cognac, wherein the following Decrees were Publish'd.

The First prohibits the Holding of Nocturnal Assemblies, call'd Vigils, in the Churches and Church-Yards, because several Lewd things were committed in them, and sometimes Murder; which oblig'd them to send for the Bishops to Reconcile those Churches. However it permits Luminaries and other Acts of Devotion which were us'd to be observ'd.

The Second Abolishes the Balls which were us'd to be kept in Churches on Innocents-Day, and the Custom of chusing on that Day one of the Company, on whom they Conferr'd the Title of Bishop.

The Third orders, That the Revenues of Vacant Churches shall be reserv'd for the Successors.

The Fourth, That the Commendams and Collations of Vacant Benefices shall belong to the Bishop, or Arch-Bishop.

The Fifth prohibits the Curates from Marrying of Women of another Parish without the consent of their Curate.

The Sixth prohibits the admitting of Priests of another Diocess to the Celebration of the Holy Mysteries.

The Seventh prohibits Cock-fighting, which was a kind of Sport practis'd in Schools.

The Eighth is a Revival of the Orders about the Habits of Ecclesiasticks.

The Ninth prohibits the giving the Holy Chrism to Exempt Persons who will not Pay to the Bi∣shop of their Diocess what they owe him; and from Administring the Sacraments to those who are under their Jurisdiction.

The Tenth orders the Benefic'd Clergy who are absent for their Studies or for some other lawful Cause with the Leave of their Bishop, to put Vicars into their Benefices, to whom they shall allow a sufficient Pension for their Maintenance.

The Eleventh enjoyns the Patrons to allow convenient Salaries to the Curates who depend on them.

The next Canon orders, That those who have Priories shall maintain two Monks in each.

The Thirteenth prohibits the Priests from holding Cures by Lease.

The Fourteenth revives the Prohibitions against laying New Pensions on Churches.

The Fifteenth and Sixteenth prohibit the Interring any Corps out of the Parish.

The Seventeenth orders, That the Curates shall have a particular House of their own.

The Eighteenth and Nineteenth renew the Constitutions of the former Councils concerning Tithes, and enjoyn the Curates to take Possession of the Tithes, under pain of Excommunication and For∣feiture of their Benefices.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Cognac in 1260.