Council XVI. of Toledo.
THIS Council was kept in 693, under the same King Egica. After the reading of the Memoir, containing the proposal of what was to be treated in the Council, the Bishops * 1.1 made a long Exposition of Faith, which is followed with Twelve Canons.
The 1st, Is in the behalf of the Jewish Converts, to exempt them from the Tribute which they paid to the Exchequer.
The 2d, Is against the remainders of Idolatry.
The 3d, Appoints very severe Punishments against the Sodomites, and excludes them from the Communion until the time of Death, when they have not done Penance being in health.
The 4th, Is against them that fall into some Fit of Despair.
The 5th, Forbids Bishops to take above the Third part of the Churches Revenues, and orders them to lay it out in Repairs. It prohibits also giving the Government of many Churches to one Priest, and ordains, that small Churches shall be united to greater ones.
The 6th, Forbids an Abuse crept in among some Spanish Priests, who at the Sacrifice upon the Altar did not Offer clean and decent Loaves, nor prepare them carefully; but did only Consecrate a Crust of their own Bread cut round. The Council to stop this Abuse, Ordains, That the Bread, to be Consecrated upon the Altar, shall be whole, decent, made on purpose, that it shall not be a very great Loaf, but of a reasonable bigness, Modica oblata, the remain∣ders of which may easily be preserved, and which may not load the Stomach.
The 7th commands, That Bishops shall call their Clergy and the People together for the promulgation of the Canons of Councils within Six Months after the holding of the Coun∣cils.
The 8th, Contains several Constitutions for the safety of King's Children, and Ordains, that every Day Sacrifices shall be Offered up for the Health and Prosperity of the King, and the Royal Family, except the Day of the Passion, when Altars are uncovered, and no Body is permitted to say Mass.
The 9th, Is against Sisbert, Bishop of Toledo, who had broken his Oath to King Egica, by Conspiring against his Person and Family: They Depose and Excommunicate him for his whole Life, they declare his Goods to be confiscated to the Prince, and condemn him to perpetual Imprisonment. They Decree the same Punishment against all that are guilty of the same Crime.
The 10th, Pronounces Three times Anathema against them that attempt against the Life of Kings, and Plot against them and the State, and reduces them and their Posterity to the con∣dition of Slaves.
The 11th, Contains some Prayers for King Egica's Prosperity,
By the 12th, They put Felix, Bishop of Sevil, into the room of Sisbert newly deposed, and Faustin, Bishop of Braga, into Felix's room, and to Faustin they substitute another Bishop.
The 13th ordains, That a Council shall be held at Narbone to approve the Canons of this; because the Bishops of this Province could not come to it by reason of a Sickness. This Council is confirmed by the Prince's Edict, and Signed by Five Metropolitans, viz. those of Toledo, Sevil, Merida, Tarragona, and Braga, by Fifty Two Bishops, Three Bi∣shop's Deputies, Five Abbots, and Sixteen Counts, or Lords.