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 Councils of Avignon in the Years 1279 and 1282.

Bertrand of St. Martin Arch-Bishop of Arles, who was afterwards Cardinal Bishop of St. Sabina, * 1.1 Held a Council at Avignon the Seventeenth of May 1279. wherein he made Constitutions for the maintaining the Immunities and Privileges of Church-Goods and Church-Men; the Liberty of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction for the putting in Execution the Excommunication against the Clergy who concern'd themselves with Merchandise and Secular Affairs, and about Last Wills and Testaments. These Canons are Compris'd under Fifteen Heads.

The same Arch-Bishop Held another Council in the same City in the Year 1282, wherein he made Eleven more Decrees.

The First is against Usurers.

The Second orders Prayers to be made for the Church.

The Third prohibits the Alienation of Church-Goods, without the consent of the Bishop.

The Fourth orders the appointing of Proctors to maintain the Causes of Ecclesiasticks, which are perplex'd before Secular-Judges.

The Fifth obliges all the Parishoners to be present at the Parish-Mass on Sundays and Holy-Days, and to Receive the Eucharist on Easter-Day and Whitsunday from their own Curates.

The Sixth prohibits the Priviledg'd and Exempt Persons from infringing the Censures of the Or∣dinaries.

The Seventh Excommunicates those who carry Ecclesiastical Affairs before Secular Courts.

The Eighth declares the Leagues, Associations, and Confraternities made contrary to the Eccle∣siastical Laws, to be Null and Void.

The Ninth imports, That Priviledg'd Persons may be Excommunicated out of the Place of their Exemption, if their Privileges do not expresly exempt them from that Excommunication.

The Tenth relates to the Forms of Last Wills and Testaments.

The Eleventh is imperfect.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Councils of Avignon in 1279 & 1282.