Page 256
V.
Henceforward shall be used in promises and Contracts of Marriage, terms of the Future Tense; and the said words shall not be esteemed so binding as words of the Present, seeing words of the Present do not promise Marriage; but does it in effect; nevertheless these promises by words of the Future, shall not be dissolved without great and lawful causes.
Of all the Articles of our Discipline, there has scarce any one been so often touched by the National Synods as this, by reason of the difference which is found be∣twixt the Ancient and Modern way of Marrying; for formerly the promises of Marriage were made by words of the Present, and now they are made by words of the Future Tense, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, and the Establishment of this same Discipline. I find nothing in the first Ages of the Church that can in∣form me the manner that was used in contracts of Marriage, that is to say, whether promises of Marriage were conceived by words of the Present, or by words of the Future Tense: I only judge by things hapned in the latter Ages, that in some places these promises were made by words of the Present; which at last was forbidden.
In effect, * 1.1 in the year 262. Nicholas Gilant Bishop of Angers, made this Synodal Decree, We appoint our Priests that they do not consent, but to forbid publickly in their Churches, to contract Marriage by words of the Pre∣sent, until one be come to the Nuptial benediction. The Fifth Council of Millan under Cardinal Borrome ••••••∣scribes the same thing in the Year 1••79. * 1.2