Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/451



whose church I take upon me to govern by his help, and to blessed St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, so long as I shall endure in this frail and brittle life, firmly to believe and hold the holy catholic faith, after the traditions of the apostles, of general councils, and of other holy fathers, and namely, of the eight general councils: Nice the first, Constantinople the second, Ephesus the third, Chalcedon the fourth, the fifth and sixth of them in Constantinople, the seventh of Nice, the eighth of Constantinople. And also of the general councils of Lateran, Lyons, and Vienna, willing to observe the same faith inviolate even to the uttermost, and to preach and defend the same, even to the spending of my life and blood; and also, by all means possible, to prosecute and observe the rite of the sacraments canonically delivered to the catholic church. And this my profession and confession, by my commandment being written out by the notary of the arches of the holy church of Home, I have subscribed with mine own hand, and sincerely, with a pure mind and devout conscience, I offer it unto the Almighty God upon such an altar, &c. In the presence of such witness, &c. Given," &c.

It was also decided in this session, that no prelates should be translated against their wills.

The third of the same month and the same year, followed the fortieth session, wherein certain decrees were constituted and read, as touching reformations to be made through the whole church by the pope that next should be, with the council, before this synod should break up. Item, That they should so proceed to the election of the bishop of Rome, notwithstanding the absence of those cardinals who were with pope Benedict in Spain. This done, the order and manner was decreed for the election of the pope.

After these things thus decreed, in the next session, which was the forty-first, the constitution of Clement VI. was read, concerning the order and diet of the cardinals hiding in the conclave about the choosing of the pope; and upon the same, oaths were ministered imto the cardinals and other electors, binding them to observe and keep all such things as they should be bound to during the time of the election.

I. That they should enter into the conclave within ten days after the fortieth session, which was this present day, after sunset.

II. That every cardinal should have but two servitors attending upon him at the most, either of the laity or clergy, as they would themselves.

III. That they should remain together in the said conclave, without any wall betwixt them, or any other cover, save only bare curtains, if any were disposed to sleep.

IV. That the conclave should so be shut up, and the entry to the privy-chamber be kept so straightly, that none of them should come in or out, nor any have recourse unto them to talk with them privily or apertly, nor they to admit any man to come to them, except that by the consent of them all, certain should be called about matters concerning the election.

V. That no man should send to them either messenger or writings.

VI. That a competent window should be assigned unto them to receive in their victuals, but that no person might come in thereat.

VII. That no day after their first ingress into the conclave, beside bread, wine, and water, they should have any more dishes but one of one only kind, either of flesh or fish, eggs, pottage made of fish or flesh, not after the daintiest sort; besides salads, cheese, fruit, and conserves, whereof there shall be no principal mess made, but for sauce and taste.

VIII. That not one should be compelled to go into the conclave; but if they did all refuse to go in, then they should be compelled thereunto.

IX. That such as would go out, might: but if they would all go out before the pope were elect, they should be compelled to go in again, except such whom infirmity did excuse; but without the excuse of infirmity, if any went out, he should no more be admitted, except they went all out together.

X. That such as went out, by reason of infirmity, to be absent and return before the election be determined, may be admitted again into the conclave in the same state wherein they shall find the election to stand.

Further and besides, the keepers of the conclave should also be sworn to see all these premises observed and kept without fraud or guile, and that they should not straiten the cardinals and other electors above the order here taken. And