Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/199

Rh CHAPTER X.

It shall not hereafter be lawful for abbots, or for any other persons soever, howsoever exempted, being within the limits of any diocese, even though they be said to be of no diocese, or to be exempted, to confer the tonsure, or minor orders, upon any one who is not a regular subject to them; nor shall the said abbots, and other exempted persons, or any colleges, or chapters soever, even those of cathedral churches, grant letters dimissory to any secular clerks, that they may be ordained by others. But the ordination of all these persons shall appertain to the bishops within the limits of whose diocese they are, all things which are contained in the decrees of this holy synod being observed; any privileges, prescriptions, or customs, even though immemorial, notwithstanding. And [the synod] ordains, that the penalty imposed on those, who, contrary to the decree of this holy synod under Paul III., obtain, during the vacancy of the episcopal see, letters dimissory from the chapter, be also extended to those who shall obtain the said letters, not from the chapter, but from any other persons soever, who, during the vacancy of the see, succeed to the jurisdiction of the bishop, in place of the chapter. And they who grant letters dimissory contrary to the form of this decree, shall be by the very fact suspended from their office and benefice during a year.

CHAPTER XI.

The Interstices, and certain other Precepts to he observed in the receiving of Minor Orders.

The minor orders shall be given to such as at least understand the Latin language, but with the appointed interstices of time, unless the bishop shall think it more expedient otherwise; that so they may be taught the more accurately how great is the responsibility of this their state of life; and may exercise themselves in each office, according to the appointment of the bishop; and this in that church to