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 Wirtzburgh in the Year 1287.

JOhn Bishop of Frescati Legate of the Holy See in Germany, held in the Year 1287, an Ecclesiasti∣cal * 1.1 Assembly at Wirtzburgh, wherein he would have exacted a Contribution of the Tenth Pen∣ny of the Revenues of the Clergy; but he could not gain his End, and only publish'd Forty two De∣crees about the Church-Discipline.

The Five first concern the Morals and the Conduct of the Clergy; order them to be habited in a manner agreeable to their Quality, and prohibit them from going to Taverns, from Gaming, from being familiar with Nuns; from bearing Arms, and from having Women lodged in their Houses.

The Sixth issues out the Penalty of Excommunication against those who seise on Benefices to which they have no Right.

The Seventh prohibits the Priests from celebrating above one Mass per Diem, to put a stop to the Abuse which was introduc'd by several Priests of celebrating twice without necessity only to get double Contributions.

The Eighth orders, That the Most Holy Body of Jesus Christ shall be carry'd to the Sick, and to Women near their Travel with due Veneration by a Priest in a Surplice with a Hood, a Clerk going before with a lighted Taper and a Bell: That those who go by shall down on their Knees, and repeat three Pater-Nosters and as many Ave-Maries; which shall exempt them from ten Days of the Pennances enjoyn'd them.

The Ninth prohibits the Alienation of Church-Goods.

The Tenth is against those who have two Curacies.

The Eleventh prohibits the giving of Curacies to Persons under Five and twenty Years of Age.

The Twelfth orders the Patrons to Present the Benefices in their Gift, to Persons of requisite Qua∣lification.

The Thirteenth prohibits the Secular and Regular Clerks from Publickly Singing or Celebrating Divine Service in Interdicted Places, as well as from Ringing of Bells.

The Fourteenth prohibits the receiving of Benefices from Laicks.

The Fifteenth prohibits the making of Contracts for Burials or Benedictions.

The Sixteenth and Seventeenth order those who have Chappels or Curacies in their Gift, to put Vicars into them, whom they shall allow a competent Maintenance.

The Eighteenth and Nineteenth concern the Regularity which ought to be observ'd by the Monks and Nuns.

The Twentieth and Twenty first are against the Laicks, who Seise upon Church-Goods or Bene∣fices.

T••e Twenty second, adjusts the Rights and Duties of Church-Advocates.

The Twenty third renews the Ecclesiastical Laws against Usurers.

The Twenty fourth declares them Excommunicated who offer any Violence to Ecclesiasticks.

The Twenty fifth inflicts the same on those who offer any injury to the Nuncio's of the Pope.

The Twenty sixth Excommunicates likewise those who Seise on the Goods of Vacant Churches.

The Twenty seventh recommends to the Arch-Bishops and Bishops the Visitation of their Dio∣cesses..

The Twenty eighth prohibits the Fortifying of Churches, in order to make use of them as of Castles.

The Twenty ninth prohibits the Excommunicating of Children or Women for the Debts of their Dead Husbands or Fathers.

The Thirtieth declares Highway-Men and those who give them shelter, Excommunicated ipso facto.

The Three next are for the preservation of Church-Goods.

The Thirty fourth is against the false Apostles. The Clerks are forbidden to entertain or give them any Subsistence.

The Thirty fifth forbids the Laicks the Administring of Church-Goods, under pretence of Repair∣ing the Buildings of Churches.

The Thirty sixth Excommunicates those who hinder the bringing of Complaints before Ecclesiasti∣cal Judges.

The Thirty seventh Excommunicates the Forgers of Apostolical Letters.

The Thirty eighth orders, That the Interdiction Issu'd out by the Bishop, shall be observ'd.

The Thirty ninth prohibits the Conservators appointed by the Pope for Religious Houses and Mo∣nasteries, from meddling with those things which are not comprehended in their Commission.

The Fortieth is against those who Exact new Duties.

The Forty first orders the Execution of these Canons.

The Forty second revokes the Privileges Granted to particular Persons, which exempted them from Excommunications and Interdictions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Wirtzburgh in 1287.