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 Paris, in the Year 1212.

RObert Corceo Cardinal and Legate of the Holy Sea, Held a Council at Paris, in the Year 1212. * 1.1 wherein he publish'd several Constitutions, relating to the Life, Manners and Conduct of Ec∣clesiasticks, which are divided into Four Parts: The First contains those which relate to the Secular Clergy; the Second, those which relate to the Regulars; the Third, those which relate to the Nuns, Abbesses and Abbots; and the Fourth, those which concern the Arch-Bishops and Bishops.

1. He orders the Secular Clergy to be Modest in their external Behaviour, to wear their Hair cut round, to abstain from frequent and dangerous Conversations in the Church or in the Choir, from useless walking in the Fields, and not to depart the Choir during Divine Service.

2. He forbids any Distributions to be made to those who are at the beginning and end of the Service, and are absent in the middle.

3. He prohibits the Clergy from keeping Hounds or Hawks, and having magnificent Equipages.

4. He prohibits them from having Women in their Houses.

5. He enjoins them to be submissive to their Superior, to Confess themselves to him, and no other, unless it be with his Consent.

6. He forbids the Clergy who have Benefices, the exercising the Function of Advocates, for Mo∣ney, or out of any base Design.

7. He prohibits Ecclesiasticks from swearing that they will Lend nothing, nor be Security for any Man, and declares such Oaths null.

8. He would not that such Preachers should be tolerated, who Preach to get Money, and to whom Pledges are given for so doing, let them have Relicks about them, or not: He would have only those to Preach, who are approv'd by their Bishop; and prohibits the Preachings of others.

9. He orders that unknown Priests should not be suffer'd to say Mass.

10. That one should not admit to the Communion, or Bury any Excommunicated, Interdicted, or unknown Person, or one of another Parish.

11. To suppress the enormous Avarice of Priests, he orders that Laicks should not be oblig'd to be∣queath any thing, by their Last Will and Testament, for the saying of Masses, and that no Contract should be made, nor any thing requir'd for Saying them, under what pretence soever. He forbids the great number of Yearly Masses, which were too great a burden to the Priests, and condemns those frivolous Masses, which some Said only for Form's sake.

12. He prohibits those who have Churches by way of Property, from Farming them out for the injuring of others. He orders that the Priests shall not hear Confessions in a Church, without the leave of the Superior, or of him who has the Cure of the Parish, unless in case of Necessity.

13. He forbids the dividing of Benefices.

14. He forbids the bestowing of Rural Deanries for a set time, or for ever, for a certain summ of Money.

15. He forbids Arch-Deacons to exact the Duty of Procuration, from the Churches which they do not visit Personally.

16. He declares, That they shou'd not suffer in the Cloysters Assemblies for Play or Debauchery, no not so much as in the Places where they were forc'd to sell Wine.

17. He admonishes the Canons of the Conventual Chapters, to choose a stranger for their Superior, if they have not one capable of that Office, among themselves.

18. He orders, That when there is an Election to be made in a Chapter, the Day of Election shall be publish'd, that so those who are absent may be there.

19. He prohibits the Plurality of those Benefices that have the Cure of Souls.

20. He orders, That no Person shall pretend that a Benefice belongs to him, by right of Succession, and prohibits the exacting any thing for the granting a Licence to Teach School.

The Second part of those Constitutions, relate to the Regular Canons and Monks.

He begins with forbidding to exact any thing for Admittance into the Order, and that the Monks ought not to hold any thing, by way of Property; excepting Priors and those who are in some Em∣ployment, who may by the permission of the Superiors, retain what shall be necessary for the discharge of their Office.

2. He fixes the Age wherein any one shall be Admitted into any Order, viz. Eighteen Years Old.

3. He orders, That the Bishops shall cause the little Wickets, which are in the Abbeys and Priories, to be shut.

4. He recommends to the Monks the Distributing to the Poor, Infirm and Sick, the Revenues which are allotted for their Refreshment, and to be Hospitable.

5. To give to the Poor their accustom'd Alms.

6. He prohibits the refusing to Admit any Person into a Religious Order, under pretence of his be∣ing of another Country.

7. He Interdicts the Usuerers and Excommunicated Persons, from Entrance into a Religious Order, and from Ecclesiastical Burial.

8. He prohibits the Admitting a Monk of another Monastery, if there be not a very strong Pre∣sumption, that he has a mind to change upon a Motive of sincere Devotion, and that he does it with the consent of his Abbot.

9. He prohibits the Monks from wearing White Gloves, gawdy Shoes, and any thing like those of the Laity, and from making use of any other colour'd Cloth, than White or Black.

10. He forbids them to have any Chambers out of their Dormitory (unless they be Officers of the House to whom it is allow'd) to quarrel in the Chapter, to make any noise in the Cloyster, to en∣tertain Women, to play at unlawful Games, to go a Hunting, and enjoins them to be silent in the Refectory.

11. He orders, That they should give to a Monk who is oblig'd to go a Journey, a Horse and necessaries for his Journey, so that he may not be forc'd to beg upon the Road.

12. He admonishes the Inferiors to obey with Humility, and the Superiors to command with Di∣scretion and Prudence.

13. He forbids Abbots to let out Provostships or Priories, to Farm.

14. He enjoins the Ordinaries of the Place, to Excommnicate those who have quitted their Religi∣ous Habit.

15. He orders, That if Excommunicated, Interdicted, or Irregular Persons present themselves to be Admitted into a Religious Order, they shall declare their Irregularity; that if the Abbot can Absolve them, he shall do it, if not, he shall refer them to the Major Superior, who has the power of doing it: That if it happen any such be Admitted by surprise, or otherwise, and afterwards it be discover'd, he shall receive Absolution from his Abbot, or the Major Superior.

16. He renews the 10th. Canon of the Third Lateron-Council, which forbids the permitting Monks alone in Towns, or Villages, or so much as in Cures.

17. He renews the Prohibition made in the same Council, That no Monk should have two Prio∣ries, or two Offices.

18. He relates a Decree of the Council of Chalcedon, which forbids the Monks making any Cabals.

19. He forbids them to be Advocates for the Causes which concern'd their Monastery, or any other Religious House, especially if they did it without the permission of their Abbot.

20. He Excommunicated the Monks who left their Monastery, to Study Physick, or Law, in pursuance of the Lateran Council.

21. He forbids the Monks to lie two in a Bed.

22. He prohibits the diminishing the numbers of the Monks of Priories.

23. He forbids the Custom of some Monks, who swore that they would Lend out no Books.

24. He orders, That those who cause any discord in Monasteries to have a Cell apart for them∣selves, shall be shut up in the Cloyster.

25. He declares, That 'tis Usury to sell Commodities dearer because of a longer Term allow'd for Payment.

26. He prohibits the Clergy and Bishops from buying of Priories.

27. He forbids the demanding a Treat, or Habits, from those who would enter into a Reli∣gious Order.

The Third Part contains the Constitutions relating to Nuns, and some about Abbesses and Abbots.

1. He orders, That they should not suffer the Clergy, or suspicious Servants to come nigh them.

2. That they lie single.

3. That they shall not go out to visit their Relations, unless with Persons of approv'd Integrity, and for a short time.

4. That they have no Dancing in their Cloysters.

5. That they shall live and be attir'd meanly and decently,

6. That they shall live in Common of the Goods of the Monastery.

7. That they shall have sage and discreet Confessors, of the Bishop's Appointment.

8. That the Abbesses who will not do their Duty, shall be Suspended, and if upon Admonition, they do not mend, they shall be Depos'd.

9. He orders what is to be observ'd, by those who are appointed to serve in the Infirmaries, or Hospitals.

10. He orders, That the Abbots who neglect their Duty, shall be punish'd, and prohibits them from performing the Functions of an Advocate, or a Judge, upon pain of being Depos'd.

11. He inflicts the same Punishment upon those who live disorderly.

12. He forbids their having a great Retinue, or Young Lackeys.

13. He orders, That that they should not bestow the Goods of the Monastery on their Relations, unless they be Poor, or so accounted.

14. He prohibites them from suffering Young Women to enter their Monasteries, and from be∣stowing Priories on their Relations: And orders them twice a Year to receive the Accounts of the Priors or Officers.

15. He forbids them to regulate any Affair of Consequence, or to raise a considerable Summ of Money, without the advice of their Elders, at least of Seven chosen for that purpose, by the Chapter.

16. He enjoins them to be tender towards their Repenting Brethren, and not to sell Offices.

17. He forbids them to menace or abuse those who make any Proposition to the Chapter about the Reformation of the House.

18. He enjoins them not to suffer the Priors, or Officers to live Irregularly.

19. He forbids them to Eat in their Chambers, unless in case of necessity.

20. He prohibits those who are Admitted into a Monastery, from going out to Study; and orders those who are gone out, to return within two Months.

21. He admonishes the Abbots, to keep Chaplains of a mature Age and good Morals.

The Last Part, contains the Constitutions relating to Arch-Bishops and Bishops.

1. He orders them to have their Coronets large enough, and wear their Hair cut round, that so it

may not be seen below their Miter; to be prudent and modest in their Conversation and Conduct.

2. Not to hear Marins a-bed, and not to concern themselves with Secular Affairs, during the time of Divine-Service.

3. To Celebrate the Office themselves upon High Festivals, and to Preach the Word of God, or cause it to be Preach'd.

4. Not to go a Hunting, nor wear fine Furs, nor Play at Dice or Cards.

5. To have Reading at their Tables the beginning and end of their Meals.

6. To have Prudent Almoners, to exercise Hospitality, to give their Audiences for the Administra∣tion of Justice, and to hear the Poor at stated Hours, to receive often the Confessions of others, and as often to Confess themselves.

7. To reside in their Cathedral Churches, especially on the High Festivals, and in the time of Lent.

8. To cause the Profession they made when Consecrated, to be Read over to them at least twice a Year.

9. Not to carry along with them in their Visits a great Train and needless Equipages.

10. To make choice of prudent Friends, Men of good Morals, and to keep their Families in due Order.

11. To have such Officers as have all the Qualifications necessary for the well discharging of their Trust, and especially, such as are Grave and Prudent, who will do Justice Gratis.

12. To tolerate nothing that shall border upon Simony in the Collation of Holy Orders or Bene∣fices, in the Dedication of Churches, in the Benediction of Virgins, &c. provided none of the ho∣nest and allow'd Customs be prejudic'd hereby.

13. Not to give Benefices with the Cure of Souls, to young or unworthy Persons; not to Excom∣municate, or pass Censures with precipitation, not to exchange the Punishment of the Excommunica∣ted for pecuniary Mulcts; not to give a Dispensation for the three Forms of Marriage for Money; not to Collate Benefices which are not vacant; and not to promote to Holy Orders such Clerks whose Ability and Vertue are not known.

14. To take nothing for the Seal, for doing Justice, for redeeming the right of Procuration, for the Burial of Excommunicated Persons, or for tolerating Clerks to converse with Women.

15. Not to suffer Justice to be done in Church-yards, or Consecrated Places.

16. Not to be at the Feasts of Fools.

17. To hold a Synod every Year, to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation, to correct the Disorders of their Diocess.

18. Not to suffer the Women to Dance in the Church-yards, or any Consecrated Places, nor to Work on Sundays.

19. To prevent the Cancelling of Last Wills and Testaments.

20. To Extirpate that Crime which is Odious to name.

21. Lastly, to Punish that Disorder with severity, according to the Rule made in the Lateran Coun∣cil on that Subject.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Paris 1212.