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 first Council of Mascon in the Year 581.

I Say nothing here of some Councils of France, held about private Affairs, which made no Ca∣nons, whose History may be seen in Gregory of Tours, because I would not insist upon any but those, whereof some Monuments are still remaining. Those of Mascon are of this number, whereof the first was held in the Month of November in the Year 581.

The Archbishops of Lyons, of Vienna, of Se••s and Bourges, were present there, with seventeen o∣ther Bishops of France. They made nineteen Canons.

The first renews the Prohibition so often made to Clergy-men, of keeping strange Women in their Houses.

The second forbids Clergy-men and Seculars to have familiarity with Nuns, and to enter into, or dwell in the House with them, unless there be an evident necessity.

The third declares, That no Women ought to enter into the Chamber of a Bishop, but in the pre∣sence of two Priests, or two Deacons.

The fourth is against those who detain the Goods given to the Church by the last Will.

The fifth forbids Clergy-men to habit themselves like Seculars.

The sixth declares, That the Archbishops shall not say Mass without the Pallium.

The seventh, That the Judge cannot put a Clergy-man in Prison, except for a Criminal Cause.

The eighth forbids Clergy-men to cite their Brethren before Secular Judges.

The ninth ordains, That none shall fast from St. Martin's day to Christmas but three times a week, viz. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and that on these days the Canons shall be read.

The tenth, That Clergy-men shall celebrate the Festivals with their Bishop.

The eleventh ordains, That Clergy-men who are oblig'd to Celibacy, shall be depos'd if they vio∣late the Obligation.

The twelfth, That Virgins consecrated to God, who marry, shall be excommunicated, both they and their Husbands, until death: That if they part, they shall continue under Penance as long as the Bishop shall think fit.

The thirteenth ordains, That Jews shall not be Judges of Christians, nor receivers of Taxes.

The fourteenth forbids them, according to the Edict of Childebert, to appear in publick from Holy Thursday till Easter-day.

The fifteenth forbids Christians to eat with Jews.

The sixteenth declares, That all Christian Slaves who serve Jews, may redeem themselves for a price fix'd by the Canon, and that their Masters cannot refuse to set them at liberty, if they pay them the s••••.

The seventeenth, That those who cause any to give a false Testimony, and to swear falsly against others, shall be excommunicated till death, and those who commit these Crimes shall be declar'd in∣famous, * 1.1 and unworthy to be believ'd in any Testimony.

The eighteenth ordains, That those who accuse the Innocent to their Prince, shall be depos'd if they be Clergy-men, or excommunicated if they be Lay-men, until they have done Penance.

The nineteenth concerns a Nun who would give her Patrimony that she might come out of her Monastery, or at least that she might live more freely: She is declared to be excommunicated, and all those who shall make the like Donations, as well as those who accept them upon that condition.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The third Council of Lyons.