God there ought to be but one who is the chief, while many, without regard to those who are subject, strive to elect ; and whereas one church ought to have but one ruler, while they present, in defence of their own rights, a number of rulers ; we do by the present decree enact, that if several founders divide and give conflicting votes, that person shall be appointed over the church who is recommended by his manners and merits, and is chosen and approved of by the suffrages of the most persons. But, if this cannot be done without offence, the bishop is to regulate the church in- such way as he shall think is best suited to the honor of God, and he is to do the same, even though some question shall have arisen as to the right of patronage, and even if, within three months, it shall be ascer tained to whom it belongs. On preserving peace. " W e do also enjoin that priests, clerks, monks, lay monks, pilgrims, merchants, and serfs, when going to and fro, and engaged in agriculture, as well as the animals with which they plough, and the other things which they take into the fields, shall enjoy befitting security ; and no person in office whatever is anywhere to presume to make new exactions without the authority and consent of the kings and rulers, or to enact statutes on the moment, or in any way to impugn the old ones. And if any one shall act contrary to this, and, on being warned, shall not cease so doing, then, till such time as he shall have made due satisfaction, he is to be cut off from all Christian intercourse. That ecclesiastical benefices shall not le given to any one, before # they are vacant. " No ecclesiastical benefices, or offices, or churches, shall be ι given to any person, or be promised, before they are vacant, that • so no one may seem to long for the death of his neighbour, to whose place and benefice he thinks he shall succeed. For whereas this same thing is found prohibited even in the laws of the heathens, it is most disgraceful, and most deserving of the ι censures of the Divine judgment, if expectation of future succession should hold a place in the Church of God, a thing which even the heathens themselves have taken care to condemn. But when it happens that churches, to which presen