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 Council of Tarraco.

THis Council was assembled at Tarraco on the sixth of November in the Year 516, and consisted of ten Bishops or Arch-bishops of Spain, who made thirteen Chapters or Canons, whereof here follows an Abridgment.

The first is, That Ecclesiasticks or Monks who are oblig'd to assist their Kinsfolk, shall give them what they stand in need of, and may go and see them; but they shall return after they have saluted them, and make no long stay at their Houses when they go to see them: They shall carry along with them an ancient Person of known probity, to be a witness of their Actions. Whosoever does not observe this Canon, if he be a Clergy-man, he shall be depriv'd of his Office; if he be a Monk, he shall be shut up in a Cell of the Monastery, where he shall live upon Bread and Wa∣ter.

The second is, The Ecclesiasticks who meddle with buying at a cheap rate, that they may sell things at another time when they are dearer, shall be turn'd out of the Clergy.

3. An Ecclesiastick who has lent Money, shall take Wine or Corn for his Money at the season, after what manner he pleases: But if he to whom he has lent it, has not wherewithal to pay what he owes him, then he shall be satisfied with receiving what he lent him without any En∣crease.

4. Bishops and Priests are forbidden to sit in Judgment on Sunday; they may do it on other days, yet they must not meddle in Criminal Matters.

5. A Bishop who was not ordain'd by the Metropolitan himself, but by another Bishop with his leave, ought in two Months time to go and wait upon his Metropolitan.

6. A Bishop who neglects to come to a Synod, and is not detain'd by any sickness, ought to be depriv'd of the Communion of his B••••thren until the next Council.

7. In Country Parishes a Priest and a Deacon shall stay there by turns, each in their week, and on Saturday all the Clergy of these Churches shall be ready to read Divine Service on Sunday: Every * 1.1 day Mattins and Vespers shall be there said also.

8. The Bishops shall visit every year the Country Churches, shall cause to repair those that are any ways decay'd, and take care that Divine Service be read in them.

9. If any Reader or Porter, will continue with an adulterous Woman, he shall be turn'd out from among the Clergy.

In the 10th the Clergy are forbidden to take any thing for the Protection they have given, unless some Free-will▪ Offerings be made to them in the Church.

The 11th forbids Monks to go out of their Monastery, to do the Office of Clergy-men, with∣out the leave of their Abbot: It forbids them also to undertake Secular Business, unless it be for the Good of the Monastery, and by the Command of their Abbot.

The 12th ordains, That after the death of Bishops, an Inventory shall be made of all their Goods, by the Priests and Deacons, and that if any one be found who has taken any thing, he shall be ob∣lig'd to restore it.

13. The Metropolitan, when he cites the Bishops to a Council, ought to advertise them to bring thither with them, the Priests of the City of the Country, and the Officers of the Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Coun∣cil of Ge∣runda.