The Council of Saumur in the Year 1276.
JOhn de Montsoreau Arch-Bishop of Tours, Held a Provincial Council at Saumur the Munday after * 1.1 the Festival of St. John Baptist, wherein he Publish'd Fourteen Decrees about the Ecclesiastical and Monastical Discipline.
In the First 'tis order'd, That there shall be always kept a lighted Taper in the Churches.
In the Second 'tis prohibited to put any Chests, or prophane things in Churches.
The Third is against Plurality of Benefices with the Cure of Souls.
The Fourth and Fifth concern the Habits of Clerks and Monks.
The Sixth prohibits the Abbesses from retaining the Goods of Benefic'd Men.
In the Seventh the Monks are prohibited from having several Places in distinct Monasteries.
The Eighth prohibits the sending Young Monks into any Priories but what are Conventual.
The Ninth renews the Laws against those who take away the Revenues of Priories.
The Tenth prohibits the giving of Priories to Secular Clerks.
The Eleventh enjoins the Secular-Judges to see that Justice be done to Ecclesiasticks.
The Twelfth deprives Excommunicated Persons of the Right of bringing any Action in Law, of Pleading, or of giving any Evidence.
The Thirteenth permits the Bishop to Absolve in such Cases wherein the Council inflicts the Pe∣nalty of Suspension or Excommunication.
The Fourteenth orders the Observation of the Decrees of the former Councils.