The Council of Metz.
I Place this Council after the preceeding, because we do not precisely know the year of its * 1.1 Meeting; yet it was held under the same Prince by Rathbodus, Bishop of Treves, and Robert, Bishop of Metz. The Bishops of Verdun, and Toul, were present at it, with one Abbot, and seve∣ral Priests. Many Earls, Lords, and other Persons of worth were also at it. The following Con∣stitutions were made at it.
The First is a resolution to endeavour to establish Peace in the Church, promote Piety and Discipline, and hinder the Poor from being pillaged.
The Second provides, that Tithes shall be paid to the Priest that serves the Church, to which they were anciently due, to maintain him; to furnish the Church with Lights, and Ornaments, and to make necessary Repairs for the Buildings.
The Third requires, that every Priest shall have but one Church, unless there hath been a Chapel annexed to it, time out of Mind.
The Fourth forbids, that any Tribute shall be exacted for a Farm, or Four Slaves belonging to the Church, or for Lands given for a Burial-place; and that nothing shall be paid for a Bu∣rial.
The Fifth orders, that Priests shall have no Women with them; no, not so much as their Mother or Sister.
The Sixth enjoyns, that Priests shall shew their Bishop the Books, and Sacerdotal Habits; that they shall keep the Throne under a Key; that Clergy-men shall not bear Arms, nor wear Lay-mens Habits; nor Lay-men Priests; that none shall be admitted for God-fathers, but such as understand the Confession of Faith; and, that one God-father is sufficient.
The Seventh forbids Christians eating with Jews.
The Eighth orders, that Mass shall not be celebrated in places which are not Consecrated; and that Bishops shall Consecrate those Churches a-new, which have been consecrated by Suffragan Bishops onely.
The Ninth commands, that they shall veil, and shut up, in some Monastery, two Nuns of the Monastery of St. Peter, who had been put out of it, and unveiled for their Crimes; and that a Deacon convicted of Sacrilege shall be put in prison.
The Tenth pronounces Excommunication against some persons who had Guelt a Priest, who would oblige one of their Kinswomen to return to her Husband.
The Eleventh Excommunicates those persons, who exercised pillaging in the Province, and did not come to the Synod to acknowledge their Crime. It issues out, in particular, an Excommu∣nication against two private persons, the one guilty of a Rape committed upon a Nun, the other of Man-slaughter.
The Twelfth asserts it to be unlawful to Communicate with Excommunicate persons, or give any tokens of Communion to those, who died under the Bonds of Excommunication.
The Thirteenth orders prayers to be made for King Arnoldus, with a Fast of three days, and some Processions to obtain of God the Peace and Quiet of the State.