The canons and decrees of the Council of Trent celebrated under Paul III, Julius III, and Pius IV, Bishops of Rome / faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XIII.

BEcause many Cathedral Churches are of so slender and poor Revenue, that they in no wise correspond with the Dignity of a Bishop, nor are sufficient to satisfie the Necessities and Exigences of the Churches; the Provincial Council shall summon those together that are concerned, and examine and diligently consider what Churches it would be expedient, by reason of their Poverty and Meanness, to unite to the neighbouring Churches, or augment with new In∣comes; and having drawn up certain Instruments, wherein the premises are stated, shall send them to his Holiness the Pope; whereby the Pope being in∣structed and informed, may, according to his Wisdom, and as he shall judge expedient, unite the poor Churches together, or by some additional Income augment and increase their Revenues. But in the interim, until the matters aforesaid be effectually brought to pass, the Pope may make provision for such Bishops, who stand in need of the Relief of some Revenues, by reason of the Poverty of their respective Diocesses, out of any Benefices, so that they be not Cures, nor Dignities, Canonries, or Prebends, nor Monasteries, that are Re∣gular, or which are subject to General Chapters, and certain Visitors. In Pa∣rish Churches also, whose Incomes are so exceeding small, that they are not able to defray their necessary Charges, the Bishop shall take care, if by the Union of Benefices, not Regular, it cannot be done, that either by Assignation of First-Fruits, or Tythes, or by Contributions and Collections of the Parish∣ioners, or by any other way or means he shall think more convenient so much may be gathered together as may competently and handsomly supply the Necessi∣ty of the Rector, and his parish. But in all and every Unions, whether for the aforesaid or other Causes to be made, Parish Churches shall not be united to any Monasteries, Abbeys, or Dignities, or Prebends of any Cathedral or Collegi∣ate Church, or to any simple Benefices, Hospitals, or Religious Orders of Soul∣diers, and those that are united, shall be reviewed by the Ordinaries, ac∣cording to a Decree formerly made in the said Synod, under Paul the Third, of happy Memory, which also in Unions from that time forward shall be justly observed: Notwithstanding any forms of Words whatsoever in them used, and which in these presents may not be sufficiently expressed. Moreover, all and singular the Cathedral Churches, whose Revenues exceed not the summ of One thousand Ducats, and the Parish Churches the summ of a hundred Ducats,

according to the true yearly value, shall not hereafter be burthened with any Pensions or Reservations of Fruits. Also in those Cities and places, where the Parish Churches have no certain Confines, or Bounds, nor the Rectors of them any proper people to govern, but do promiscuously and indifferently administer the Sacraments to those that desire them; the Holy Synod commands the Bishops, That for the more safe and sure Salvation of the Souls commit∣ted to their charge, having distinguished and confined the People into their certain and proper Parishes, they shall assign and appoint to each of them, their perpetual and peculiar Parish Priests, who may take cognizance of them, and from whom alone they shall receive the Sacraments; or they shall provide for them in a more advantageous manner, as the quality of the place shall re∣quire. And in those Cities and places, where there are no Parishes, they shall take care that some be erected, as fast as possibly may be: Any Privileges and Customs whatsoever, thô time out of mind, to the contrary notwithstanding.