rick, and for the destruction of the Herefies and Errors which have been fown therein by feveral Hereticks and Schifmaticks, and for the purging of Books from the falfe Doctrines contained in them, and for the perfect Union of this Church with the whole Church Catholick and Univerfal, and for the yielding of Obedience to the Supreme Bishop of Rome, the Univerfal Paftor of the Church, and Succeffor in the Chair of St. Peter, and Vicar of Chrift upon Earth, from whom you have for fome time departed, and for the extirpation of Simony, which has been much praEtifed in this Bishoprick, and for the regulating of the Administration of the Holy Sacraments of the Church, and the neceffary Ufe of them, and for the Reformation of the Affairs of the Church and the Clergy, and the Customs of all the Christian People of this Diocefs; We fhould begin a Diocefan Synod of this Bishoprick of the Serra? They answered, It pleafeth us. Then the most Reverend Metropolitan asked them again; Venerable Brethren, and most beloved Sons in Chrift, fince you are pleased to begin a Synod, after having offered Prayers to God, from whom all Good proceedeth, it will be convenient, that the Matters to be treated of appertaining to our Holy Faith, the Church, the Divine Offices, the Administration of the Holy Sacraments, and the Customs of the whole People, be entertained by you with Benignity and Charity, and afterwards by God's Affiftance complied with, with much Reverence; and that every one of you should

H 3

faith

faithfully procure the Reformation of such things in this Synod as you know to be amifs, and if any that are present shou'd happen to be diffatiffied with any thing that fhall be faid or done therein, let them without any fcruple declare their Opinion publickly, that fo by God's Grace it may be examined, and all things may be truly ftated as is defired; but let not Strife or Contention find any room among you to the perverting of Justice and Reafon; neither be ye afraid of fearching after and embracing the Truth.

Decree II.

THe Synod by Virtue of Holy Obedience, and upon pain of Excommunication to be incurred ipfo facto, does command all Perfons whatfoever, Ecclefiaftical and Secular, that have been called to, and are prefent at this Synod, not to depart the Town of Diamper, where the faid Synod is celebrated, without exprefs leave from the most Illustrious Metropolitan, before the Synod is ended, and they have figned the Decrees thereof with their own Hand, or till all the rest are difiifs'd: The Synod does likewise Request and Command all that have any Matter that is fitting to be offered to it for the Advancement of God's Honour, and the Good of the Christians of this Bishoprick, to acquaint the Metropolitan therewith, either by Word or Writing, or fome Third Perfon, that fo what is convenient may be determined therein.

BE

Decree IH.

E it known and declared to all present and absent, That no prejudice shall be done, or follow to any Town, Corporation, or Village, as to any Preeminence they may pretend to; by the celebration of this Synod in the Town of Diamper; as alfo that no Church, or Perfon fhall fuffer by reason of the Places they fit in, in this Synod, but thall have their Rights and Privileges, in the fame ftate and vigour that they were in before; and if any Doubts fhould happen to arife about this or any fuch Matter, let them be brought before the Illuftrious Metropolitan ; where both Parties being heard, they shall have Justice done them.

Decree IV.

THis Synod knowing that all that is Good is from God,and that every perfect Gift cometh down from the Father of Light, who giveth perfect Wisdom to those that with an humble Heart pray for it; and being withal fenfible that the beginning of true Wifdom is the fear of the Lord; we do admonish and command all Chriftians, as well Ecclefiafticks as Seculars gathered together in this Place, to confefs their Sins with a true contrition for them, and all Priefts to fay Mass, and others to receive the moft Holy Sacrament of the Altar, befeeching our Lord with humble

H 4.

and

and devout Prayers for good Success to all that fhall be Treated of in this Synod; to which intent, there fhall be two folemn Maffes faid in the Church every day during the Seffion of the Synod, 'one of the Latins to the Holy Spirit, and the other of the Syrians to our Lady the Bleffed Virgin Mary, whofe Praise and Honour is to be particularly Treated of; which Maffes fhall be faid at fuch hours as to be no hindrance to the Congregations, which henceforward shall meet every day in the Church at Seven in the Morning. They fhall likewife, Latins as well as Syrians, every day after Sun-fet Sing the folemn Litanies of the Church, with a Commemoration of our Lady for the good intention of the Syncd.

T

Decree V.

HE Synod, for the preventing of fome Inconveniences that may otherwise happen, and to leave no room for unneceflary and hurtful Debates, does command by virtue of Obedience, and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipfo facto incurred, That while the Congregations laft, no Perfon whatsoever, Ecclefiaftick or Secular, prefume to meet together in any Junctoes with any Perfons, Ecclefiafticks or SecuJars, to Treat of any Matters appertaining to the Synod, or this Church, without exprefs Licence from the most Illuftrious Metropolitan; that fo all that is defired, may be handled publickly, and in the Congregation, thofe Meetings only

excepted which are kept by the People in order to their propofing of Matters to be confulted about, according to ancient Custom, and the Order of the faid Metropolitan.

ON

ACTION II.

N the fecond Day after the finging of the Antiphony, Pfalm, Prayers, and Hymn, as they are in the Roman Pontifical, the most Reverend Metropolitan being feated in his Chair, said, Venerable and Beloved Brethren, the Priests, and you my dearest Sons in Chrift, the Procurators and Reprefentatives of the People, We having done little more Yesterday than celebrate the Divine Offices, and Preach to the People, it is fit we should begin to Day to Treat of Matters appertaining to the Synod. In the first place, of those that belong to the Integrity and Truth of our Holy Catholick Faith, and the Profeffion of the fame; which before we go about, I do again admonish you in our Lord Jefus Chrift, that all fuch things as you fhall judge to ftand in need of Reformation in this Bishoprick, or any part thereof, may be fignified to us, or to the Congregation, that fo with the Divine favour and affiftance, all things by your Diligence and Charity, may be brought into fo good Eftate as is defired, for the praise of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Decree