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 London in the Year 1268.

OTtobon Cardinal Legate of the Holy See in England, Held a Council at London in the Year 1268, * 1.1 wherein he Publish'd Fifty four Decrees upon several Points of Church-Discipline.

The First contains an Instruction about the Sacrament of Baptism.

The Second forbids the demanding any thing for the Administration of the Sacraments, and pre∣scribes the Form of Absolution.

The Third orders, That the Churches shall be Consecrated.

The Fourth prohibits the Clergy from bearing Arms.

The Fifth is about the manner how Clerks are to be Habited.

The Sixth and Seventh prohibit them from being Advocates, or Judges in Secular Causes.

The Eighth renews the Laws against the Clerks who keep Concubines.

The Ninth orders those that are Advanc'd to Benefices with the Cure of Souls, to take Priests Or∣ders forthwith, and to be Resident.

The Tenth and Eleventh relate to the Collation of Benefices, to the Qualifications requisite in Per∣sons who are to be Presented to them, and fix Penalties on Intruders, who get themselves to be Pre∣sented to a Benefice before 'tis Vacant.

The Twelfth prohibits the dividing a Benefice into several, and the Imposition of new Pensions.

The Thirteenth denounces Excommunication against the Clergy, who shall Violate the Sanctuary of Churches.

The Fourteenth is against those who obstruct the Celebration of Matrimony.

The Fifteenth relates to Last Wills and Testaments, and obliges the Executor to renounce the Right which he has to Plead in his Jurisdiction.

The Sixteenth prohibits Patrons from retaining the Fruits of Vacant Benefices, if they have not a Right to it by some acquir'd Title, or by Ancient Custom.

The Seventeenth imports, That the Chaplains of Chappels granted without prejudicing the Rights of Parish-Churches, shall be bound to give to the Curates the Offerings which are made in those Chappels.

The Eighteenth enjoins the Benefic'd Clergy, to keep the Buildings of their Benefices in Repair; and if they do it not, it allows the Bishops to see that it be done at their Cost and Charges.

The Nineteenth prohibits the demanding the Duty of Procuration, unless they actually Visit, and renews the Canon of the Fourth General Lateran Council upon that subject.

The Twentieth prohibits the Arch-Deacons from taking Money for a scandalous and Notorious Offence, and from exchanging a Canonical Penalty, for a Pecuniary Mulct.

The Twenty first prohibits the Leasing out of Ecclesiastical Dignities, Benefices, or Offices.

The Twenty second declares, The Bishops oblig'd to Residence, both by Divine and Ecclesiastical Laws.

The Twenty third prohibits the Bishops from granting a Church of their Diocess to another Bishop, or to a Monastery, if it be not out of Charity, and to relieve a very poor Church.

The Twenty fourth imports, That the Goods of those who die Intestate, shall be converted to Pi∣ous Uses.

The Four next Canons concern the Judiciary Forms.

The Twenty ninth orders, That when Absolution shall be given from Censures, it shall be Pu∣blish'd.

The Thirtieth relates to the Collating of Benefices, and prohibits Pluralities.

The Thirty first prohibits Commendams.

The Thirty second declares the Presentations of Benefic•••• made to Persons who already have Bene∣fices which oblige them to Residence, to be Null and Void.

The Thirty third, To hinder Collusion in Resignations of Benefices, prohibits the restoring a Be∣nefice to him who has Resign'd it.

The Thirty fourth declares, All the Compacts made for the Presentations of Benefices, and the Pensions newly impos'd, to be Null.

The Thirty fifth prohibits the holding of Markets, or exercising any other Trade in Churches.

The Thirty sixth orders Processions and Solemn Prayers for the Peace of the Kingdom, and of the Holy Land.

The Thirty seventh, That these Statutes shall be Read every Year in the Provincial Councils.

The following Articles relate to the Regular Canons and Monks, about the Profession, and the time of the Noviceship; the Observation of the Decretals of the Popes about the Monks, the Prohi∣bitions against the Monks having any thing de Proprio, the Vestments, Churches, Urensils, the man∣ner of the Monks Living, their Number and Employments, the Cloystering and the Affairs of Nuns. The Monks are desir'd to Confess themselves and to Celebrate Mass often.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of London 1268.