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 Assembly of Barkhamstead in the Kingdom of Kent.

WIGHTHRED, King of Kent, held an Assembly (Anno 697.) which Birch∣wald, Bishop of Canterbury, assisted at, and Gebmond, Bishop of Rochester, with * 1.1 several of the Clergy and Laity, which made some Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws.

The 1st ordains, That the Church shall be free, and enjoy her Courts of Ju∣stice, Revenues, and Pensions, that they shall pray for the Prince, and voluntarily submit to his Orders.

The 2d, That the Fine, for infringing the Justice of the Church, shall be 50 Pence, as that of the King's Justice is.

The 3d ordains, That the Adulterers of the Laity shall be put to Penance, and they of the Clergy shall be deposed.

The 4th, That Foreigners, guilty of that crime, shall be expelled the Realm.

The 5th and 6th, That those of the Nobility, overtaken in that sin, shall be fined in 100 Pence, and the Peasant in 50.

The 7th permits an Ecclesiastical Person guilty of Adultery, if he break off that habit, to conti∣nue

in the Priesthood, provided that he have not maliciously refused to administer Baptism, or that he be not a Drunkard.

The 8th imports, That if one, with the Tonsure, that is, a Monk, do not keep his Rule, he shall retire into an hospitium with permission.

The 9th, That the Slaves affranchised before the Altar, shall enjoy their liberty, and be capable of Succession, and of the other Rights of Free Persons.

The three next Canons punish with pecuniary Mulcts those who set their Slaves to work, or to go a Journey on a Sunday.

The four following appoint Corporal Punishments or Fines against those who sacrifice to Devils.

The 17th imports, That the Bishop's and the King's word ought to be believed without any Oath.

The 18th, That Abbots shall swear, as Priests do; and that the Priests shall swear before the Altar, by saying simply, I speak the truth in Jesus Christ, and I lie not; that the Deacons shall take the same Oath.

The 19th, That other Clerks shall take four persons more with them to clear themselves by Oath, and that they shall lay one of their hands upon the Altar.

The 20th, That strangers shall not be obliged to bring other persons with them.

The 21st, That the Peasants shall present themselves with four persons more, and shall bow the head before the Altar.

The 22d declares, That the Causes of the Bishops Clients belong to the Ecclesiastical Court.

The 23d ordains, That if any body impeach a Slave, his Master may purge him with his bare Oath, provided he take the Eucharist; but if he taketh it not, he must put in Bail, or submit to the Penalty.

The 24th, That a Clergy-man shall purge his Slave with his bare Oath.

The 25th, That he that kills a Robber, is not liable to pay any Sum for that Death.

The 26th, That he that shall be catched carrying something away, shall be punished with Death, Banishment, or Fine, according to the King's will: That he that got hold on him, shall have half the Fine; but if he kills him, he shall be fined in 70 Pence.

The 27th, That he that helps the flight of a Slave, who hath robbed his Master, shall be fined in 70 Pence, and he that killeth him shall pay the worth of him.

The 28th, That the Strangers and Vagabonds which run up and down the Country, without blowing the Horn, or crying aloud, shall be used as High-way-men.

These Laws are followed with some Canons concerning the Pecuniary Compensation of the Wrongs done to the Church or the Priesthood. They were found in the same Monument; but it is not known whose they are, nor at what time they were written.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Assembly of Bark∣hamstead.