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 Montpellier in the Year 1215.

IN the Council held at Montpellier, in the Year 1215, by Peter of Benevento Cardinal, upon the Af∣fair * 1.1 of the Earl of Montfort, they Publish'd Forty six Decrees.

The Four first relate to the manner how the Bishops and the other Clergy ought to be Habited. It is therein order'd, That the Bishops shall wear a Linnen-Vest, and a long Habit sew'd on their Shoul∣ders, and ty'd with Ribbans on their Breast. That the Canons and other Benefic'd Persons, shall not make use of any guilded Loops or Shoes, and that they shall not frequent the Court, or Taverns, nor have any familiar Converse with Women; that they wear no colour'd, or close-body'd Coats. That the Arch-Deacons and others promoted to any Dignity in Cathedral, or Collegiate Churches, shall wear a long Habit closed from the Top, whether it be of Woollen or Linnen: That the Curates shall observe the same thing: That the Benefic'd Clerks shall wear a round Coronet about their Heads, that so the Hair above and below may be parted by an equal Circle.

The Three next relate to the Manners of the Clergy. He forbids them to Lend upon Usury, or to keep Hawks.

The Eighth, prohibits the giving Prebends to Laicks.

The Two next, provide for the Execution of the former.

In the Eleventh and Twelfth, the Bishops are enjoin'd to bestow Benefices Gratis on Persons capable of Holding them, and are Prohibited from granting them to Young Persons, who are as yet in the lesser Orders.

The Two next, relate to the Abbots and Monks, and contain the Ordinances so often repeated at that time, about the Modesty which they ought to have in their Habits, their Renouncing of all Proper∣ty, the forbidding the Exacting of any thing for Admittance into a Monastery, the prohibition of being Advocates, the Alms which they ought to give to the Poor of what is remaining at their Tables.

The Five next, concern the Regular Canons. They are enjoin'd to wear great Coronets, and the Monks to wear larger; to be meanly shod, not to go out of the Monastery wherein they are to en∣ter into another; to have Surplices over their Habits, and when they Travel a close black Cassock; and to give nothing for a Prebend.

By the Twenty nineth, the Priests and Monks are Prohibited to admit of Usurers, Excommu∣nicated, and Interdicted Persons to the Communion, or to give them Burial.

In the Thirtieth and Thirty first, it is enjoined, That three Monks at least, should be put into the Priories, and if the Revenues be not sufficient to maintain them, more should be united to them, that so there might be in each a Prior and two Monks.

The next, are Laws for the Observation and Preservation of Peace.

In the Last, the Arch-Bishops and Bishops are ordered to have a Priest, and two or three Laicks in each Parish, who are oblig'd by Oath, if need be, to declare to the Bishop, the Lords and Judges of the Place, the Hereticks which they have discover'd in their Quarter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Montpellier 1215.