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.

Council XII. of Toledo

THIS Council was held in 681, under King * 1.1 Ervigius. The Metropolitans of Toledo, Sevil, Braga, and Merida, were present in it, together with Thirty Bishops, Four Ab∣bots, * 1.2 Three Bishop's Deputies, and several Lords. King Ervigi••s came to it at the begin∣ning of it, and withdrew after having made a short Speech to the Council. He left them a Memoir, wherein he exhorted them to absolve the Guilty, to reform Manners, to re-establish Discipline, to renew the Laws made against the Jews, to procure the Restoration of those who had been Degraded, by vertue of a Law of his Predecessor, for not bearing Arms, or for laying them down. He directs his Speech to the Bishops and the Lords, that these Laws being made by the unanimous consent of both Spiritual and Temporal Authority, they may stand firm, and be put in execution.

The Council, having, according to the custom, made a protestation, that they did receive the Faith of the first Four Councils, and recited the Creed, approves Ervigius's Elevation to the Throne, and Wamba's Deposition, who had withdrawn himself by taking a Religious Habit, shaving his Head, and chusing King Ervigius to Reign in his stead, and causing him to be Consecrated by the Sacerdotal Unction. It is very remarkable, that the Fathers of this Council do not depose King Wamba, nor chuse Ervigius of their own accord. But after ha∣ving seen the Declaration, which that Prince had made in Writing, and Signed in the pre∣sence of the Lords, whereby he had made profession of the Religious Life, and got his Hair cut; and that whereby he desired, that Ervigius might be chosen King; and the order he had given to the Bishop of Toledo, to Consecrate Ervigius with the usual Ceremonies; and the Verbal Process of that Consecration, Signed by Wamba, they join their consent to Wam∣ba's, and approve of what he hath done, and consequently declare, that Ervigius ought to be owned for their lawful King, and in that Quality to be Obeyed, upon pain of Ana∣thema.

The 2d, Canon binds those, who receive Penance in the extremity of Sickness, and when they are not Sensible, to lead a Penitent Life, if they recover. Yet they will have the Priest to give Penance to those only that desire it; they give the instance of Children's Baptism, to shew that Penance may be given to those who are not sensible.

The 3d, ordains, That those that have been Excommunicated for some Crime against the State, shall be restored when the Prince taketh them into his favour again, or they have the Honour to Eat at his Table.

In the 4th, The Bishop of Merida having represented, that King Wamba had constrained him to Ordain a Bishop in a Country-Town; and assayed to do the same thing in other places. They recited the Canons forbidding to Ordain Bishops in Burroughs, or to put Two in the same City; by vertue whereof they declared, that the Ordination of him, whom Wamba caused to be Ordained, was irregular: But seeing it was not out of Ambition that he had been Ordained, but by the Prince's express Orders, they out of mere favour granted him the next vacant Bishoprick; and they make a general Inhibition, to Ordain Bishops in places where there were none before.

The 5th, Forbids Priests to Offer the Holy Sacrifice without Communicating, because some of those who Offered it many times in one Day, would not Communicate but at their last Mass.

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arch-Bishop of Toledo to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 to the Rights of Provin∣ces; and upon condition, that within 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after h••s Ordination he shall present himself •…•….

The 7th, declares, That whereas King Ervigius intends to moderate the Law made by his Predecessor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against them that had not taken A•…•…; it was their Opinion, that such persons had a Right to bear witness, and were not to be rejected as infamous.

By the 8th, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are forbidden to leave their Wives, except for Adultery.

The 9th, Rene•…•… several Constitutions against the Jews.

The 10th, Grants the Right of the Sanctuary to those who escape into Churches, or with∣in Thirty Yards about, provided nevertheless, that they shall be delivered back into their Hands, who shall promise with an Oath not to hurt them.

The 11th Canon does severely punish Superstitions and Idolatry.

The 12th, Renews the Law for holding a Council every Year.

The 13th, Contains Wishes and Prayers for the Prince.

These Canons are confirmed by a Declaration of King Ervigius.

Notes

• * 1.1

  [al. Ering.]
• * 1.2

  Council XII. of Toledo.