The Council of Troyes.
John the Eighth being come into France, to desire the Assistance of Charles the Emperour, called * 1.1 a Council at Troyes in 878, at which were present with the Bishop of Porto, and Three other Bishops of Italy, the Arch-bishop of Rheims, Sens, Lyons, Narbonne, Arles, Tours, Besancon, Vienna, and Eighteen other Bishops of France. In it they treated of several matters. The Bishops appro∣ved of the Excommunication of Lambert, and Adelbert; and declared, that they would look upon all those as Excommunicated, who had been so by the Pope. They pronounced an Excommuni∣cation against those, that had invaded the Goods of the Church. They confirmed the Judgment given against Formosus. They made a Canon, forbidding all Christians to Marry a Second Wife, while the First is living; and Bishops removing from one Church to another; and, in the conclu∣sion, made Seven Canons. In the First it is commanded, that Secular Noble-men should pay re∣spect to the Bishops, by not sitting down before them; and, that Lay-men should not meddle with Church Revenues. The Second enforces the same prohibition. The Third orders, that the Canons made the year before at Ravenna, should be observed. The Fourth enjoyns the Bishops to assist each other in the defence of the Revenues and Interests of their Churches. The Fifth requires, that those persons, who have been Excommunicated, or subjected to Penance by one Bishop, shall not be received by his Brethren. The Sixth asserts, that they will not re∣ceive another Man's Servant without his consent. The Seventh says, that they will not enter∣tain a private Accusation against any Man. The Pope having seen the Body of the Gothick and Spanish Laws, brought by the Arch-bishop of Narbonne, and finding no Law in it against Sacri∣lege, Wrote to them to observe the Law made by Charles the Emperour, who Fined such as were guilty of it Thirty pounds. He sent also a Letter to the Bishop of Poictiers, forbidding him to en∣croach upon the Revenues of his Church; and, enjoyning all those, that had invaded it, to make Restitution. By another Letter he confirms the Privileges of the Church of Tours, and grants a Privilege to the Monastery of Fleury. Hincmarus, Bishop of Laon, presented a Petition to this Synod, and his Affair was here determined, as we have said. In this Synod King Lewis the Stam∣merer was Crowned by the Pope. They made a Motion to put out Gozelin, Abbot of S. Denys, but 'twas not put in execution. Lastly, They determined some affairs concerning the Bishops of Avignon, Troyes, and Besancon. This Council was ended at Five Sessions, or Actions, which have we have Abridged with the Seven Canons, and the Decisions of John the Eighth, of which we spoken.