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. VII.

WHereas those things in Ecclesiastical Benefices, which have any shew of being an Hereditary possession, are not to be suffer'd according to the Canons of the holy Church, and are repugnant to the Decrees of the holy Fa∣thers: No Access or Regress to any Ecclesiastical Benefice whatsoever (although by consent) shall be granted to any one, and those which have been heretofore granted, shall neither be extended nor transferr'd. And this Decree shall be of force in all Ecclesiastical Benefices whatsoever, and in all Cathedral Churches, and among all manner of Persons, Cardinals not excepted; the same shall be also observ'd in all Coadjutories, where there is a succession joyn'd to them, that none may henceforth be allow'd of in any Ecclesiastical Benefices whatsoever. But if at any time the urgent necessities or evident advantage of the Cathedral Church or Monastery, do require a Coadjutor or Assistant to the Bishop, he shall by no means have the succession granted him, unless the business be first made known to his Holiness, and by him be fully examin'd; and it be manifest that the person who is to succeed, hath all those Qualifications in him, which of right, and by the Decrees of this Holy Synod, are required of all Bishops and Pre∣lates. Otherwise the grants thereupon made shall be adjudg'd surreptitious and void.