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 fourth Council of Orleans held in the Year 541. * 1.1

ONe and forty Archbishops or Bishops of France, were present personally, or by their Deputies at this Council held in the Year 541, which made eight and thirty Canons.

By the first it is ordain'd, That the Feast of Easter shall be celebrated every year according to the Table of Victorius, and that the day of celebrating it shall be declar'd every year on the day of E∣piphany.

By the second it is order'd, That all the Churches shall keep a Lent of forty days, and that they shall not be dispens'd with from Fasting on Saturdays, but only on Sundays, except in case of weak∣ness.

The third forbids the chief Citizens to celebrate the Feast of Easter, and other great Festivals out of the City, and the Assembly of that Church in which the Bishop presides.

The fourth forbids to offer in the Chalice any thing but Wine mix'd with Water.

By the fifth it is declar'd, That the Bishop should be regularly ordain'd in the Church over which he is to preside; but if he cannot, he shall be ordain'd in the Province in the presence of the Metro∣politan, or with his consent, by the Bishops of the Province.

The sixth ordains Clergy-men, who govern Parishes, to receive from the Bishops the Rules and Canons which are necessary for them, that neither they, nor their People may be capable of any ex∣cuse thro Ignorance of them.

By the seventh, Lords are forbidden to place Ecclesiasticks in the Chappels belonging to their Lands, unless they be chosen by the Bishop in whose Territory they are situate.

In the eighth, The manner and length of their Penance who fall into Heresie, is left to the discre∣tion of the Bishop.

The ninth declares, That the Alienations or Mortgages of Church-Lands made by a Bishop, who leaves nothing of his own Possessions to the Church when he dies, shall be revok'd: That not∣withstanding, if he set some Slaves at liberty, they shall continue free, provided they shall serve the Church.

The tenth suspends a Bishop from the Sacerdotal Function, who had ordain'd a Bigamist, or him that married a Widow: If he does not observe this Suspension, it deprives him of the Communion of other Bishops, until the time of the Synod. Lastly, it ordains, that those who shall be ordain'd against the Canons shall be degraded.

The eleventh declares, That the Possessions given out of Piety to Abbies, Monasteries, or Parishes, shall not be appropriated to Abbots, or Priests, but to the Church, and that they cannot alienate them without the consent of the Bishop in writing.

The twelfth ordains Bishops to agree amicably among themselves, or before such Arbitrators as they shall choose, as to all Differences which they may have as to Temporalties.

The thirteenth threatens with Excommunication those who shall force Clergy-men, that are in the actual Service of the Church, and whose Names are matriculated, to accept of Publick Offices, and declares Bishops, Priests and Deacons exempt from Guardianship.

The fourteenth enjoyns Heirs to pay the Legacies given to the Church, or to Priests.

The fifteenth Excommunicates those who having receiv'd Baptism, eat of Meats offer'd to I∣dols.

The sixteenth Excommunicates those who swear according to the Custom of Pagans upon the Heads of Beasts, by calling upon the Names of Pagan-Gods.

The seventeenth forbids Priests and Deacons to have a Bed and Chamber common with their Wives.

The eighteenth declares, That Possessions alienated by Clergy-men, shall be recover'd by the Bi∣shop, tho long Possession may be made use of for a Title.

The nineteenth preserves to Churches the little Farms that have been given them out of Devotion, even without writing.

The twentieth forbids to cite Clergy-men before Secular Judges▪ without the Bishop's leave, and forbids them to appear there, unless they be accompanied with a Priest, or the Arch-deacon, or have the permission of a Pastor.

The one and twentieth is for preserving to Churches the Right of Sanctuary.

The two and twentieth Excommunicates those who make use of the Civil Authority for marrying Maids against the Will of their Parents.

The three and twentieth forbids the Slaves of Churches, or of Priests, to commit Outrages and Robberies.

The four and twentieth declares, That those Slaves are not to be protected who retire into Chur∣ches for marrying aginst their Master's Will.

The five and twentieth is against those who invade the Possessions of the Church.

The six and twentieth enjoyns Arch-deacons to take care that the Clergy of Parishes in the Lands of great Lords do their duty. * 1.2

The seven and twentieth renews the thirty Canons of the Council of Ep•…•… about prohibited de∣grees.

The eight and twentieth declares, That the Bishop shall impose such Penance as he shall judge con∣venient, upon those who are guilty of Murders, tho they have got their pardon.

The nine and twentieth, That Women who shall commit Adultery with Clergy-men, shall be put under Penance.

The thirtieth, That Christian Slaves, who are in the hands of Jews, may be deliver'd from their Tyranny, when Christians shall be found who are willing to pay the Price at which they are esti∣mated.

The one and thirtieth declares, That Jews who would perswade their Slaves to become Jews by promising them Liberty, shall lose these Slaves; and that Christians who shall obtain their Liberty upon condition of becoming Jews, shall continue Slaves.

The two and thirtieth, That the Posterity of Slaves shall be obliged to the Service and Offices under which their Ancestors obtain'd their Liberty, tho it be never so long ago.

The three and thirtieth▪ That he who would have a Parish in his Land, ought to give a parcel of Ground to it, and to appoint a sufficient number of Clergy-men to say Service there.

The four and thirtieth, That he to whom the Church has given Land to be enjoy'd for his life time, cannot dispose of the Profits which he shall make of it, and that his Kindred shall have no share of them.

The five and thirtieth concerns the Disposals made by Bishops, which leaves their Successors at li∣berty to approve or reject them; and orders that the time of Prescription shall begin from the day that the Successor is in Possession.

The six and thirtieth, That the Goods given by the Bishop to a Clergy-man of another Church, shall return after his death to the Church to which it belong'd.

The seven and thirtieth ordains, That Synods of the Province shall be held every year.

The eight and thirtieth is a general Prohibition of violating these Canons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The fourth Council of Orleans held in the Year 541.
• * 1.2

  The fifth Council of Orleans.