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The COUNCIL of VENNES.
THIS Council was soon after the Council of Tours. There were only five Bishops of the Province of Tours, who were assembled with Perpetuus their Metropolitan at Venice to * 1.1 Ordain a Bishop there. They made 16 Canons. They revived the Decrees made in the former Synods against Manslayers, c. 1. Against such Penitents as forsake their Penance, c. 3. Against such consecrated Virgins as desert their condition, c. 4. Against Clergy-men and Monks that go out of their Bishoprick, c. 5, 6. Or who go before Secular Judges, c. 9. Against Bishops, who Ordain the Clergy of other Bishops, c. 10.
There are also some other special Canons, as the 2d, which Excommunicates those, who Mar∣ry other Wives after the Divorce of the former, unless it be for Adultery. The 7th, which for∣bids the Monks to have separate Cells, unless they be very eminent for Virtue, or are sickly, and also upon condition that they remain within the Precinct of their Monastery, and under the Au∣thority of the Abbot. The 8th, which prohibits Abbots that they have not several Monasteries, or Dwellings. The 11th, which forbids Priests, Deacons, and Sub-Deacons, who are not al∣lowed to Marry, to frequent Banquetings and Meetings, where they sing Amorous Songs, and shew indecent Postures, for fear that those Eyes and Ears, which are set apart for the hearing of Holy Things, be not polluted with obscene Sights or Words. The 12th forbids all Clergymen going to the Jewish Feasts. The 13th orders that Clergymen, who are drunk, should be pu∣nished by separating them thirty Days, or some other bodily punishment. The 14th, that a Clergyman being in the City, who without a lawful Excuse absents himself from Divine Service, shall be separated from the Church-Communion seven Days. The 15th, that there shall be one way only of celebrating Divine Service, and singing in all the Province. The 16th, that such Persons shall be excluded from the Church, as pretend to prophesie, and foretel things, whether it be by Auguries, or other Superstitious Ceremonies, (called The Saints Lots,) or by any other way whatsoever. The Council dedicated these Canons to Thalassius Bishop of Anjou, and to Vi∣ctorius.