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VII.

firmed, as was ordered in the decrees of baptism and confir- SESSION mation; which spiritual kindred of godfathers and godmothers, and gossips, does so hinder the celebration of matrimony, that without a dispensation from the apostolic See, or from some authorised by the pope to that purpose, the matrimony is null, and of no force, all that live therein living in fornication, and a state of damnation; and if any that are thus akin have a mind to marry together, they shall prefer a petition, as they shall be directed hereafter, but are to know that the church does very seldom or never, but for weighty causes, dispense in cases of spiritual affinity.

DECREE VIII.

DISPENSATIONS GRANTED FOR ALL MARRIAGES HITHERTO CON-
TRACTED CONTRARY TO THE ABOVE DECREES.

Whereas hitherto the prohibited degrees, and the reservation of dispensing with the same to the apostolical See, has not been understood in this diocese, the prelates thereof having dispensed in all degrees, prohibited only by a positive law, without having had authority for what they did, so that great numbers by virtue of such dispensations, have lived many years in a married estate, without any scruple concerning what was granted by their prelates; for which reason the Synod, for the greater security of the consciences of such people, has thought fit that the most reverend Metropolitan should dispense with them in all the said degrees, by virtue of the apostolic authority granted to him in these parts to that effect, and particularly by the brief of Gregory the Thirteenth of glorious memory, obtained at the instance of the Jesuits, and confirmed by our holy Father Clement the Eighth, at this time presiding in the church of God; wherefore for the quieting of the consciences of such as have been married with the formentioned dispensations, the said lord with the approbation of the fathers of the society, doth by the authority of the said brief, effectually dispense in all and every one of the said degrees of spiritual as well as carnal kindred and affinity, which are prohibited only by a positive law, and with all persons who have married within the same with such dispensations so far as of right can or ought to be done, as much as if they were here particularly named; commanding them for the further security of their consciences to be married again privately in their houses, or elsewhere, as they shall judge most convenient, by any priest they please, there being two wit

VII.

SESSION nesses present, according to the form of the holy Council of Trent and the Synod doth command that henceforward such dispensations be not granted any otherwise than in form of the briefs of the holy apostolic See in these parts to that effect, declaring all that shall be granted otherwise to be null, and of no force; and the marriages that are celebrated by virtue of them, to be void, and the parties not to be married.

DECREE IX.

APPOINTS SEASONS FOR MARRYING.

The Synod recognising for the time to come the ancient prohibition, observed in the universal church, of not marrying from the first day of Advent until the Epiphany, and from Ash Wednesday until the Sunday of the octaves of Easter inclu sive, doth command the same to be inviolably observed in this diocese, adding to those days the time from Quinquagesima Sunday forward, when by ancient custom Lent is begun in this church, but that at all other times, though of fasting, marriage may be celebrated as people shall think fit.

DECREE X.

AT WHAT AGE PARTIES MAY BE MARRIED.

Whereas in this diocese there has hitherto been no respect had in the celebration of matrimony to the age of the parties that the law appoints, therefore the Synod doth command, that no man shall be married hereafter, until he has attained the age of fourteen years at least, nor any woman before she is full twelve, declaring that herein the prelates have no power to dispense, but can only, if any that are under that age should pretend to marry, judge in their consciences whether they are ripe for matrimony, and judging them to be so, may grant them a license, and dispense with their marrying; neverthe less, for several just respects, and the greater security of people's consciences, and to remove as far as is possible for the Synod to do it, the imitations of the marriages that are so much in use among the heathens, who marry people very young, there being also great numbers in this diocese who have been married at nine or ten years old, or under, the Synod will not have the said dispensation or anticipation of time to exceed four months as to men, and six as to women; nor to be granted by any but the bishop; and if any man

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VII.

hereafter shall presume to marry without such a dispensation, SESSION before he has attained the age of fourteen, or any woman while she is under twelve, all such marriages shall be void, but may be resolved into contracts de futuro, and the priests that shall marry any such, shall be suspended from their office and benefice, for six months, and the parties shall be kept asunder until they are of a due age.

DECREE XI.

SEPARATIONS FORBIDDEN WITHOUT AN ECCLESIASTICAL ORDER.

The Synod being informed, that great numbers of married people in this diocese do, without any sentence of the church, (to which all matrimonial causes do belong) forsake their wives, and, to the great offence of God, absent themselves from them for a long time together, doth command that there be no such separations made without the order of the church, and if any shall presume to make them, that they be constrained to come together again, upon pain of excommunication, or whatsoever other penalty the bishop shall think fit to inflict; and in case they refuse to comply, they shall be declared excommunicate, until such time as they return to one another; and in case they have any just cause to separate, they shall carry it before the prelate to be judged according to law, and what is just, and shall be obliged by censures to stand to his last determination. The Synod doth furthermore declare, that the non-payment of the portion that may have been promised, is no just cause to leave their wives, which they might have been careful to have secured before they were married to them; and that whosoever shall forsake their wives on that account, shall be punished and constrained by excommunication to live with them.

DECREE XII.

ALL MARRIAGES VOID THAT ARE NOT CELEBRATED ACCORDING TO
THE FOREGOING DECREES.

The Synod being informed that the black slaves that are Christians, and even such of them as live in the mountains with Christians, do marry without a priest, by only tying a thread about the bride's neck, according to the usage of the heathens, doth declare, that all such marriages are void and null, and that all that live so, do live in uncleanness; com

SESSION manding all that have been so married, to be brought to the VII. church, there to be married by the vicar, according to the form of the holy Trent Council, and as is above ordered. The vicars must take pains to inform themselves of the marriages of all such slaves, in order to make them observe the said decrees inviolably; and the masters who have consented that their slaves or servants should be thus married, and have celebrated such marriages themselves, and shall not send them to church to be married, though they desire it, shall be severely punished at the pleasure of the prelate, and shall be told of the great wrong they do to their own consciences therein, and of the scandal they give to Christianity.

DECREE XIII.

FORBIDS POLYGAMY.

The Synod being informed that some of the Christians of the mountains have been married to several women in the face of the church, their first wife being still alive, to the great affront and injury of the holy sacrament of matrimony; doth command all vicars and curates at their first institution into their churches, immediately to make strict inquiry into this matter, and to force all such to live with their first wives; and, in case they refuse, to declare them excommunicate, until such time as they comply, and do turn away all their other wives, removing them from the place where they live, which shall be done to all, who during the life of their first wife have presumed to take others, until they shall be brought to live only with the first; and besides, they shall be punished with other punishments at the pleasure of the prelate, or of the holy office of Inquisition to which this doth belong.

DECREE XIV.

FORBIDS ALL HEATHEN PRACTICES TO INSURE SUCCESS IN
MARRIAGE.

Whereas it is a thing unworthy of a Christian to observe the superstitious ceremonies of the heathens, from whence it is imagined good success may be derived, the Synod being informed that there are some ill Christians, that, in imitation of the heathens, do go to some of them, and others to some of their own superstitious priests, to learn which are the best

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days and hours to be married on, after the manner of the infidels; and do furthermore on their wedding-day make certain circles, into which they put rice, and certain persons using several superstitious ceremonies, which are plainly heathen; and do moreover make certain figures behind their doors to make their marriage fortunate, and use several prayers with ceremonies, which they call the ring of Solomon; all which being devilish, superstitious, and heathenish ceremonies, condemned by holy mother church: wherefore the Synod doth command and exhort all faithful Christians, neither to practise any such ceremonies themselves, nor to suffer others to use them in their houses; and that all who shall presume to practise them themselves, or permit others to do it in their houses, shall be denied the sacrament for a whole year, and be rigorously punished at the pleasure of the prelate: and the same shall be done to those that go to heathens, to learn what days are fortunate.

SESSION

VIII.

DECREE XV.

PROHIBITS HEATHEN SUPERSTITIONS IN MAKING MARRIAGE

CONTRACTS.

The Synod having been informed, that when contracts de futuro are celebrated among the Christians of this diocese, or marriages are concerted, that it is performed with some heathenish and superstitious ceremonies, and that many times when the parties contracted are not of age, or have not judgment enough to give their consent, doth command, that no such contracts be made, but when the parties contracting are of sufficient age to understand what they do, and are capable of giving their consent de futuro; and, if the parents will make such matches, they shall do it by a simple writing, or by shaking hands, or by any other way that has nothing of superstition in it; neither shall they use any superstitious ceremonies, upon pain of being severely chastised at the pleasure of the prelate; commanding the priests, in virtue of holy obedience, not to be present at contracts, where any such damnable superstitions are performed, that so they may not seem to authorise them by their person and dignity.

DECREE XVI.

CONDEMNS A JUDAICAL CEREMONY ADOPTED BY SOME SYRIANS
AT THEIR MARRIAGE.

The Synod doth condemn the custom, or abuse that has ob-
VOL. II.

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