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 Orleans.

THis Council was assembled by the Order of Clouis in the Year 511. and held at Orleans on the 11th day of July. The Archbishops of Bourdeaux and Bourges, of Auch, Tours and Rohan as∣sisted there with 27 Bishops, and made 31 Canons in this Assembly.

The first maintains the Right of Sanctuary which the Canons and Roman Laws have granted to Churches, and Bishop's Houses, by declaring that 'tis not lawful to take away Criminals who are fled thither for refuge, and that the Clergy-men ought not to deliver them up, unless they have agreed with their Adversary, and assurance be given to them by Oath that no hurt shall be done unto them, but if he who has taken Sanctuary retire of his own accord, and be taken, then the Ecclesiasticks shall not trouble themselves to demand him back again.

The second gives an Exception to this Law with respect to Ravishers of Women who fly to these Places for Sanctuary with Women whom they have ravished. If they have taken them away by force and against their Will, immediately the Woman shall be set at Liberty, and the Ravisher shall be made a slave, or obliged to redeem himself; but if the Woman ravished was willing, and the Rape did no Injury but to the Woman's Father, she shall be restor'd to him, but the Ravisher shall not be reduc'd to Bondage.

The third is also about the same Regulation. There 'tis said, That if a Slave has fled for San∣ctuary into the Church, he ought to be restor'd to his Master, who is to make Oath to him, that he will do him no hurt for his going away, and that when a Slave will not go forth, the Master may take him again by force, giving this assurance upon Oath; but if he break his Oath, and do any hurt to his Slave, he shall be separated from the Communion of Christians.

The fourth forbids to ordain Secular Persons without the King's Order, or leave from a Judge.

The fifth declares, That the Revenues of Lands given to Churches by the Prince, shall be im∣ploy'd for Repairs of Churches for Entertainment of the Clergy, for the maintenance of the Poor, and for the Redemption of Captives: the Bishops are admonish'd to take care of these things, and threatned with Excommunication if they do not observe them.

The sixth declares, That a Lay-man ought not to be Excommunicated who shall petition against his Bishop, unless he accuse him of some Crime.

The seventh forbids Abbots, Priests, and other Clergy-men to wait upon the Prince without the Bishops leave, and to desire any Favours of him.

The eighth enjoyns, That if a Bishop Ordains a Slave Priest or Deacon, knowing that he is a Slave, he shall pay double the price of him to his Master; that if he did not know, then those that presented him, or gave Testimonials of him, shall pay this Sum.

The ninth Declares, That the Deacon or Priest who commits a Capital Crime, ought to be De∣pos'd and Excommunicated.

The tenth Orders, as to Heretical Clergy-men, who are sincere Converts, that the Bishop may place them in such a station as he shall think fit, by giving them the Blessing of Imposition of Hands, and that their Churches shall be Consecrated with the same Ceremonies as are used to those of Catho∣licks.

The eleventh forbids not only Ecclesiastical Communions, but also feasting between Catholicks, and those who having begun Penance, forsake it to lead a worldly Life.

The twelfth gives leave to a Deacon or Priest who is under Penance, to give Baptism in a case of ne∣cessity.

The thirteenth Ordains, That if the Wife of a Priest or Deacon marry, she shall be punish'd for her fault, and parted from him whom she has married; and if they will not part, they shall be Ex∣communicated.

The fourteenth renews the ancient Canons, which declare that one Moiety of the Offerings which the Faithful make at the Altar, belongs to the Bishop, and that the other Moiety shall be distributed among the Clergy, and that the Bishop shall have the Disposal of the Revenues of Lands.

The fifteenth adds, That he shall also have the disposal of all that the Faithful offer to Parishes, in Lands, in Vineyards, in Slaves, or in other things, and that the third part of all that is offer'd at the * 1.1 Altar, shall be given to him.

The sixteenth orders the Bishop to clothe and maintain the poor, the weak, and all those who can∣not earn their Livelyhood.

The seventeenth gives the Bishop Jurisdiction over all the Churches which are built within his Ter∣ritory.

The eighteenth forbids a Man to marry his Brother's Widow.

The nineteenth subjects Abbots to the Jurisdiction of the Bishop; and orders them to come once a year to the place which he shall appoint them. He enjoyns the Abbot to fetch back the vagabond Monks who are gone out of his Monastery with all that have been able to get together.

The twentieth forbids a Monk to make use of his Handkerchief in his Monastery.

The one and twentieth declares, that a Monk who quits the Monastery and marries, can never enter into Holy Orders.

The two and twentieth forbids Monks to retire from a Monastery that they may build a Cell, with∣out the leave of the Bishop, and the consent of the Abbot.

The three and twentieth declares, That if the Bishop gives the Lands of the Church to Clergy-men or Mo••••s, to enjoy them for a time, those who do enjoy them cannot acquire any Prescription against the Church.

The four and twentieth ordains that a Fast of forty days, and not of fifty, shall be observ'd before Easter.

The five and twent••eth, That it shall not be lawful for any Citizen to celebrate the Feasts of Ea∣ster and Whitsontide in the Country.

The six and twentieth, That the People shall not go forth in the time of Divine Service, until it be finished, and they have received the Bishop's Blessing.

The seven and twentieth, That the Rogations, or Litanies, shall every where be used before As∣cension-day, and that during the space of the three days which precede this Feast, besides Fasting and Ab••tinence, neither Slaves nor Servants shall be obliged to work, that so all the People may assemble together.

The eight and twentieth, That the Clergy who shall neglect to assist at this Holy Prayer, shall be punish'd as the Bishop shall judge convenient.

The nine and twentieth renews the ancient Canons against the Familiarity of Clergy-men with strange Women.

The thirtieth is against those who meddle with Divination.

The one and thirtieth declares that the Bishop ought to be present on Sunday at Divine Service, in the Church which is nearest to the place where he is, unless he be hindred by some sickness.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Th•• Coun∣cil of Tar∣raco.