The Council of Bourges in the Year 1286.
SImon de Beaulieu Arch-Bishop of Bourges, on the Seventeenth of September in the same Year held a * 1.1 Provincial Council at Bourges, wherein he renew'd the Constitutions of his Predecessors by Thirty five Decrees.
The First orders the Ecclesiastical Judges to proceed with all manner of Precaution and Prudence in the Tryals of Matrimonial Causes, and enjoyns the Curates to inform the Bishops or their Officers of the unlawful Marriages contracted in their Parishes.
The Second prohibits the Contracting Marriage before the Lawful Age, and condemns Clandestine Marriages.
The Third prohibits the Ecclesiastical Judges from taking Cognizance of Matrimonial Causes out of the Limits of their Jurisdiction.
The Fourth renews the Prohibitions made to Arch-Deacons of having Officials out of Towns.
The Fifth deprives the Curates of the Revenues of their Curacies till they be otdain'd Priests.
The Sixth prohibits the Admitting of Priests or Clerks to Confess, Preach or Administer the Sa∣craments, if they be not approv'd by the Ordinary.
The Seventh revives the Prohibition made to Ecclesiasticks of having Suspicious Women in their Houses.
The Eighth Prohibits them from keeping and maintaining their Bastards in their Houses.
The Ninth declares, That those who continue above a Year in the State of Excommunication shall lose their Benefices.
The Tenth enjoyns the Curates to keep the Names of the Excommunicate by them, and to de∣nounce them every Festival.
The Eleventh orders them to read the Constitution of Gregory X. in the Council of Lions, and that of Simon Legate of the Holy See, made at the Council of Bourges about the Ecclesiastical Juris∣diction.
The Twelfth contains and orders the Executing of the Decretal of Gregory X. call'd, Quia nonnulli de Rescriptis.
The Thirteenth orders all the Faithful to confess themselves every Year, and to receive the Eu∣charist at Easter; enjoyns the Curates to keep a List of their Communicants; and declares, That those who shall die without having discharg'd this Duty, shall be depriv'd of Ecclesiastical Burial.
The Fourteenth orders the Reading and Executing of the Canon, call'd Omnis utriusque Sexus of the Lateran Council under Innocent IV. and the Constitutions of Clement IV. and Martin. IV. which grant to the Minor Friars the Power of Preaching and Hearing Confessions.
The Fifteenth orders the Curates to take notice of those who communicate with the Excommuni∣cated, and to send in their Names to the Bishop, or his Official.
The Sixteenth prohibits the Absolution of an Excommunicated Man by his Bishop, unless it be at the Point of Death, or to be Interr'd in Holy Ground.
The Seventeenth is against the Usurers, and revives the Constitution made against them in the Council of Bourges under Simon.
The Eighteenth enjoyns the Regulars to observe their Rule strictly.
The Nineteenth prohibits the Monks from having any thing de Proprio.
The Twentieth does not allow the Prior to borrow above 60 Sols without the Consent of his Abbot.
The Twenty first orders the removing of Coffers and other profane things out of Churches.
The Twenty second prohibits the Dancing there.
The Twenty third orders, That no Monks shall be sent into Priories under Twenty Years of Age.
The Twenty fourth prohibits Women from inhabiting in the Houses of Monks.
The Twenty Fifth Excommunicates the Monks who receive Tithes from the Hands of Laicks.
The Twenty sixth prohibits the rifling or diminishing the Priories during the Vacancy.
The Twenty seventh renews the Eighth Canon of the Council of Tours in the Year 1133, about Last Wills and Testaments against those who conceal'd them.
The Twenty eighth is against the Executors of Wills who buy or detain the Goods of the Testator.