A Decree concerning Reformation.
IN the same holy, general and universal Council of Trent, gathered toge∣ther lawfully in the Holy Ghost, the same Legates of the Apostolick Seat, therein being present, that the business of Reformation may be promoted, hath thought fit, that these things be appointed at this present Session.
CHAP. I.
THere is nothing, that may daily instigate others more to Piety, and the Worship of God, than the Life and Examples of those who dedicate them∣selves to the holy Ministry; for when they are removed from secular Affairs into an higher place they are observed, and others look upon them as in a Glass, and take that from them that they may imitate. Wherefore, it is always so be∣coming, that the Clergy called to the Lot of the Lord, compose their Life and all their Manners, that they carry nothing in Habit, Gesture, Walking, Speech, before them, but what is Grave, Moderate, and full of Religion, that they may avoid the light miscarriages which are more especially in them, that their Acti∣ons bring veneration to all, seeing thereby how much more these are both for the Profit and Ornament in the Church of God, so are also more diligent∣ly to be observed. The holy Synod hath appointed, That these things that otherwise by the Chief Priests and Holy Councils, concerning the Life of the Clergy, Honesty, Worship and Doctrine be retained; and also Luxury, Banquets, Dances, Dice, Sports and any Crime whatsoever, and also secular Businesses carefully to be avoided; and wholesomly established, that the same for the time to come be observed by the same Penalties or greater to be inflicted at the pleasure of the Ordinary. Neither doth an Appeal suspend this Execution, which belongeth to the correction of Manners. And if by any means they shall find that they depart from them by disuse, as soon as they shall be brought into use, that they endeavour that they accurately be observed by all, all instances whatsoever notwithstanding, least they themselves suffer condign Punishment from God for the neglect of amending of those that are under their Charge.
CHAP. II.
WHosoever, hereafter, is to be admitted into the Cathedral Churches, he shall not only be fully qualified with Birth, Age and Manners, Life, and other things which are required by the holy Canons, but also ordained before, at least, for the space of Six Months; the instructions of which things may be taken, if he have no Knowledge, or but little in the Court, from the Legates of the Apostolick Seat, or from the Nuntios of the Provinces, or his Ordinary, and (he failing) from the Neighbouring Ordinaries. For knowledge may assist beyond the things of this kind, that may be able to satisfie the necessity of his undertaking an Office. And therefore before he be preferred Master, or Do∣ctor in the University, or Licensed in holy Divinity, either by Canon-Law or Publick Testimony of some Academy, he being fit, let it be made appear to others teaching; but if he shall be a Regular, he may have the like Faith of his Religion from his Superiors. Also the above said, from whom Instruction or Testimony is to be had, are obliged faithfully to relate these things: Otherwise, Page 104let them know that their Consciences are heavily burdened, and they shall have God and their Superiors their Revengers.
CHAP. III.
THE Bishops, even as the Apostolick Deligates, may devide the third part of the Fruits and Revenues whatsoever, of all Dignities, Persons and Of∣fices, appointed for distribution, at their Pleasure; Provided, that they, who obtain them, should not have fulfilled their Service on a certain day appointed, if the Service personally require them, according to the Form prescribed by the same Bishops; let them lose the distribution of that day, nor let them obtain the dominion by any means, but let it be imployed for the building the Church, as far as it shall be needful, or to some other pious place, at the pleasure of the Ordinary. A contumacy arising thereupon, let them proceed against them, according to the Institution of the holy Canons. But if the Jurisdiction, Ad∣ministration or Office, do not belong to any one of the foresaid Dignities in the Cathedral or Collegiate Churches, but remain without the City, in the cure of Souls of the Diocess, on whom he would have it incumbent, who obtaineth the Dignity; then for the time, in which he should have resided in the provided Church, and Ministred, let him be accounted as present, and present at di∣vine things in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches. Let these things be under∣stood, only to be appointed in those Churches in which there is no Custom or Statute, whereby he might come to the said third part of the Fruits and Reve∣nues, that the said Dignities not imployed may lose any thing; the Customs, even immemorable, Exemptions and Constitutions, even confirmed by Oath or any Authority, notwithstanding.
CHAP. IV.
WHosoever in a Cathedral, a Collegiate, Secular or Regular Church, im∣ployed in divine Offices, is not ordained a Sub-deacon at least, let him not have a Vote in the Convention of such Churches, although his allowance might be granted freely by others to him: But for those who obtain Dignities, Personages, Offices, Tithes, Portions, or any other Offices in the said Chur∣ches, or shall obtain for the future, on which divers burdens are annexed; namely, as that some say Mass, others the Gospel, others the Epistles, or Sing, with what Previledges, Exemptions, Prerogative, or Nobleness of Extraction so∣ever marked, Let them be obliged, lawful impediment ceasing, to take upon them the necessary Orders within a Year, otherwise to incur the Penalties, according to the constitution of the Council of Vienna, which begins, Ʋt is qui; which is renewed by this present Decree. And let the Bishops appoint them the said Orders by themselves, on days appointed, and all the other Offices, which they ought to ••rform in divine Worship, upon the same Penalties, and others worse to be in••••ed at their Pleasure. Nor let there be any Provision for the time to come, Page 105but for them who are discovered to have Age and other Abilities perfectly, o∣therwise let the Provision be made void.
CHAP. V.
DIspensations, by whatsoever Authority granted, if they shall be commit∣ted without the Romish Cure, let them be committed to their Ordinaries who shall sue for them; and those which shall be granted graciously, they may not have their effect, unless first of all it should only briefly and presently be made known by the same, as the Apostolick Legates, that the express intrea∣ties of the surreption and obreption add not to the fault.
CHAP. VI.
IN the alterations of last Wills, which ought not to be done, without a just and necessary cause, let the Bishops briefly and suddenly know, as the Deli∣gates of the Apostolick Seat, That there hath nothing been declared in suppli∣cations by concealed Truth, or suggested Falsity, before the alterations of the foresaid execution should be demanded.
CHAP. VII.
LET the Legates and Nuntios Apostolick, Patriarchs, Primates, and Me∣tropolitans, in Appeals brought before them, in what cases soever, as well in admitting Appeals, as in granting Inhibitions after Appeals, be obliged to observe this form, and tenour of holy Constitution, and especially of Innocent the Fourth, which beginneth Romana: Whatsoever Custom, even immemora∣ble, or Stile, or Privilege, to the contrary notwithstanding: Otherwise let Inhibitions and Processes, and whatsoever may arise thence, be null'd by that Law.
CHAP. VIII.
LET Bishops also, being the Delegates of the Apostolick Seat, be Exe∣cutors in cases granted by Law, of all pious Disposals, as well in the Last Will as among those that are alive. Let them have the right of visiting all Hospitals and Colleges whatsoever, and Confraternities of Lay-men, also those which they call Schools, or by any other name, but not those which are under the immediate protection of Kings; the Alms of the Piety and Charity of Mons, and all pious places howsoever distinguished; although the Cure of the foresaid places should belong to the Lay-people, and the same places be endowed with the previleges of Exemption; and all places which are appointed for the Wor∣ship of God, and the Salvation of Souls, or maintaining the Poor; let them note and execute by their Office according to the Statutes of holy Canons; any Custom, or any ancient Privilege, or Statute whatsoever notwithstanding.
CHAP. IX.
THat the Administrators, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, be bound every year to give an account to the Ordinary of the Administration, of building of every Church, also of Cathedral, Hospital, Confraternity, the Alms of the piety of Mons, and of every holy place; the Customs and Privileges what∣soever to the contrary being removed, unless at any time it be expresly cauti∣oned against in the Institution, and Ordaining of such a Church or Fabrick. But if, by Custom or Privilege, or any Constitution of the place, a reason should be given by any other appointed to that, then also the Ordinary shall be called upon with them, and the Releases made; otherwise shall not contradict the appointed Administrators.
CHAP. X.
WHen, by the unskilfulness of the Notaries, great damages and occasion of much strife shall arise, the Bishop may inquire after all Notaries and their sufficiency, although they should be appointed by Apostolical, Impe∣rial or Royal Authority, as being the Delegate of the Apostolick Seat; by Examination they being found unfit, or at any time negligent in their Office, to hinder the perpetual use, or for a time, of exercising his Office in Businesses, Contests, and Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Causes; neither shall their Appeal suspend the prohibition of the Ordinary.
CHAP. XI.
IF Covetousness should possess any one of the Clergy or Laity, in whatsoever dignity, whether Imperial or Regal, and that root of all Evil shall appear mani∣festly to such a degree, that by himself or others, by force or fear, or by a suppo∣sed person of the Clergy or Laity, he shall presume by any art or pretence what∣soever, to convert the Jurisdictions, Goods, Censures or Rites, Fee-Farms and Rents, Fruits, Benefits, Revenues whatsoever of any Church, or Secular or Re∣gular •enefices, of the piety of the people of Mons, or other pious places, which ought to be converted to the Necessity of Monasteries, and the Poor, to convert them to wrong ends and usurp them, or hinder, that they should not be posses∣sed by those to whom they do lawfully belong, let him lie under a curse so long till the Jurisdictions, Goods, Things, Rites, Fruits and Revenues, which he had pos∣sessed, and such as should by any means come to him, even by the Donation of the supposed person, be restored, and shall wholly have recompensed the Church, and his Administrator or Beneficiat, and then shall obtain an Absolution from the Bishop of Rome; the Clerk also that was the forger and abetter of this wicked Fraud, and Usurpation of this kind, let him suffer the same Pennance; and also let him be deprived of all Benefices whatsoever, and be rendred uncapable of any other Benefices whatsoever, and be suspended from the Execution of his Orders, even after full Satisfaction and Absolution at the pleasure of his Ordinary.
