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The Council of Ravenna in 1317. * 1.1
LAstly, This Archbishop, who always applied himself to his Duty, and Reformation of Disci∣pline, called a Council at Ravenna, Octob. 27. 1317. in which he confirmed the two former, and published new Rules in 22 Articles.
He orders in the First that Bishops should appoint Stewards to manage the Revenues of Va∣cant Churches.
The 2d. orders, That no Man shall enter into the Ministry of the Church, who has not received his Mission from the Bishop.
The 3d. That those, who have gotten Benefices, shall enter into Holy Orders within a Year, as their Benefices require.
The 4th. renews the Rules concerning the Habits and Conversation of Clergymen, and imposes Pecuniary Mulcts upon such as shall contradict them.
The 5th. forbids receiving a Canon of a Cathedral, or a Monk out of a Monastery, without the Special License of the Ordinary.
The 6th. That none shall be received into a Monastery upon the Credit of Lay-men.
The 7th. That Notice shall be given to the Metropolitan of Ravenna, what Benefices are faln to him.
The 8th. That the Number of the Canons of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches shall be regu∣lated, if not already done, and the Number reduced to a proportion of the Revenues.
The 9th. is against Beneficed Persons that do not reside.
The 10th. orders, That there be daily Distributions in Cathedral Churches, and One Table for the Canons.
The 11th. concerns the Taxes and Impositions, that Churches ought to bear.
The 12th. appoints, that the Glergy be present at Solemn Masses, and that Private Masses shall not begin in the Churches, till the solemn One is finished.
The 13th forbids Archbishops, Provosts, and inferiour Bishops, the Knowledge, Instruction, or Judgment of what concerns the Persons of Clergymen.
The 14th. forbids all Christians to lett out their Houses to the Jews.
The 15th. lays down divers Cautions to prevent Usury.
The 16th. ordains, that the Restitutions of such Goods, as the Owners are not known, shall be made by the Bishops Order, and they shall be obliged in their Wills to specifie the Cause of such Legacies.
The 17th. forbids Clergymen or Monks to Hunt.
The 18th. ordains, That Clergymen taken carrying Arms, committing any Crime, shall be put into the hands of the Bishop, without defaming Reflections on them.
The 19th. That only One Punishment shall be inflicted for One Crime.
The 20th. leaves it to the Liberty of the Bishops to dispense with the Age, and Qualifications, which such as are to be ordained, ought to have by the Canons of the former Councils, provided, that the Persons, whom they ordain, be capable.
The 21st. imposes a Punishment upon the Chapters, who do not give notice of the Death of their Bishop to the Bishops of the Province.
The 22d. gives the Ordinaries a Power to Absolve such as offend against the Rules of this Coun∣cil, but this Archbishop reserved for the future the Punishment of the Breakers of the Canons to himself, and the Power to moderate, or interpret the Laws of these Councils. And by virtue of this Power, he added two Articles to these 22 Rules. In one of them he allows the Nuns to speak through a Lattice to Persons not Suspicious; and in the second, he sets down a Table of the Dues, which Notaries and Secretaries ought to take.