who confer orders, nor their ministers, shall, under any pretext, receive anything for the conferring of any manner of orders, not even for the clerical tonsure, nor for letters dimissory, or testimonials, nor for the seal, nor for any other cause soever, not even should it be voluntarily offered. And notaries, in those places only where the laudable custom of not receiving anything does not prevail, shall only be able to receive the tenth part of a golden crown[1] for each letter dimissory, or testimonial; provided that there be no salary assigned them for the discharge of this office. Nor shall any emolument out of the fees of the notary accrue, either directly or indirectly, to the bishop from the conferring of the said orders. For in this case the synod ordains that they are bound to give their labour altogether gratuitously; utterly quashing and prohibiting all taxes to the contrary, and all statutes, and customs, even though immemorial, of all places soever, which may rather be called abuses and corruptions tending to simoniacal pravity; and they who shall act otherwise shall, as well the givers as the receivers, incur, by the very fact, besides the divine vengeance, the penalties inflicted by law.
CHAPTER II.
Those who have not wherewith to live are excluded from Holy Orders.
Whereas it becometh not those who are enrolled in the divine ministry, to beg, or to exercise any sordid occupation, to the disgrace of their order; and whereas it is well known that very many, in very many places, are admitted to sacred orders almost without any discrimination of choice whatever; who, by various artifices and deceits, pretend to have an ecclesiastical benefice, or even means sufficient; the holy synod ordains, that henceforth no secular clerk, though he be otherwise fit in morals, knowledge, and age, shall be promoted to holy orders, unless it be first lawfully certain, that he is in the peaceful possession of an ecclesiastical benefice adequate to his honest livelihood. And he shall not be able to resign that benefice, without mentioning that he was promoted unto the title thereof; nor shall that resignation be admitted, unless it be certain that he can live conveniently
- ↑ Auireus.
