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 Councils of Meaux, in 845. and Paris, in 846.

THe Bishops of France being very earnest to perfect the Reformation of Discipline, which they * 1.1 had begun, met in May 845, at Meaux; and in February following at Paris, where they com∣posed 80 Canons for that end. The Six first were the Decrees made at Couleine, near Mons, con∣cerning the Honour of the Church, and Peace of the State, which had the Approbation of the King, and Bishops. Those that follow, to the 13th, are the Canons made at the Synod at Thion-ville. The Four next are taken out of the Council held at Lorris in Anjou, about the Authority of the King. To these are added the Decrees of the Council of Beauvais, concerning the Revenues of the Church. The rest were made either at Meaux, or Paris. In them the Bishops declare, that their Mansion-Houses ought to be Holy, and not frequented by Secular Men, or Women. And for this reason it is, that they desire the King, that when he takes up his Lodgings in them, in his Journeys, that he would not bring any Women into them. They also earnestly beg of him, that he would not suffer his Retinue, or Guards, to Pillage the Towns they pass through, or take what they please of the people without paying for it: They exhort him to maintain the Bishops in their right of doing their Office; without Molestation, and executing the Holy Canons. They condemn the custom of certain Bishops, who very seldom, or never Visit their Diocesses. They revive the Ancient Laws concerning the Translation of Bishops, the Honour due to Metropoli∣tans, holding Provincial Councils, and Residence, &c. They forbid taking Oaths about things Sa∣cred. They demand a Restitution of the Ancient Hospitals, and the Freedom of Monasteries. They condemn them that are Simoniacally Ordain'd. They forbid the Suffragan Bishops to execute the Functions of Bishops. They command the Bishops to Consecrate the Chrism upon Holy Thurs∣day onely, and not to take any thing for the Distribution of it. They forbid Lay-men making themselves Masters of Ecclesiastical Revenues, or choosing a Steward of them without the Con∣sent of the Bishop, to whom the Disposal of them doth properly belong. They strictly prohibit a∣ny Priests to Administer Baptism in any other places than in the Churches where the Fonts stand; and that Clergy-men should be employed in any other business besides what belongs to the Church. They ordain, that the Priests, or Clergy of another Diocess shall not be received without Letters Dimissory. They forbid, that any Strangers shall be admitted into Holy Orders, till they have

continued one year in the Communion of some Church, or Monastery, or in the City, and declare themselves against all Ordinations without a Title. They require all Prebendaries to live in one House together, and to have the same Hall, and Dormitory. They order the Bishops to have spe∣cial care of the Cardinal-Titles established in the Cities, or their Suburbs. They forbid Usury to all Christians. They order, that a Bishop shall Excommunicate no Man, but for a Publick and certain Crime, and then shall not pronounce that Anathema against any Man, but with the con∣sent of his Metropolitan; and after he hath given the Admonitions commanded in the Gospel. They charge the Monks to abide in the Monasteries, and not to meddle with Secular Affairs. They petition the King not to entertain any Prebendaries in his Service, though they present themselves to him, unless the consent of their Bishop be first had, and desire, that he may be the person that Ordains them. They forbid, that a Monk should be put out of his Monastery, till his Bishop be consulted about it, or be either himself, or Deputy present. They repeat the Laws against those that invade the Revenues of the Church, as also against Ravishers, and such Nuns as live a disorderly life. They revive the Ancient Laws against the Jews. They forbid Burying the Dead in the Church, as by an Hereditary Right. They agreed, that the Bishop should sue to the King for a Commission, engaging the Judges to obey them in every thing that respected the Ministery. They exhort the Great Men not to suffer any Disorders in their Houses, and to be particularly careful that the Priests of their Chapels should live pious Lives. They testifie their earnest desires, that the King would bestow those Chapels onely upon such Priests as would exact the Tithes that be∣long to them, leaving the Parish-Churches to a Curate, with a charge to uphold the Chapels, and Celebrate Divine-Service in them. And they add, that if the King gives them to Lay-men, they ought not to receive the Tithes, but they ought to be given to the Curates, who Officiate in those Chapels. They pray him to give order, that no Pleas be held in any Court, during Lent, or Easter-week. Lastly, They desire him to confirm the Constitutions of Charles the Great, and Lewis the Godly.

These Constitutions being presented to King Charles, then at Epernay, and the Nobles opposing some of them, The King having commanded the Bishops to retire, till he consulted about them, confirmed onely Nineteen of them, which ought to be understood of the last of those Consti∣tutions, which were made in the Councils of Meaux, and Paris. For the Canons of the Councils of Couelines and Thionville, were confirmed, and published by his Authority before, and are met with at the Head of his Capitularies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Coun∣cils of Meaux and Paris.