362 ANNALS 0Γ BOGEB, BE HOVEBEN. A.D.11P5. and from the government of the house, protesting against the same, and appealing thereon to the Supreme Pontiff. On the two following days, namely, the fourth and fifth days of the week, there being assembled in the church of Saint Peter at York, Simon, the dean of that church, Hamo, the prsecentor, William Testard, and Geoffrey de Muschamp, the archdeacons of Nottingham and Cleveland, John the chancellor, and Eobert, the prior of Beverley, together with some of the canons of the said church, and nearly all the abbats, priors, officers, deans, and parsons of the churches of the diocese of York, the legate sat installed in an elevated place, and held a full synod ; in which he enacted that the following statutes should be observed. The Decrees of the Synod of York. " Whereas, among the other Sacraments of the Church, the host of salvation is pre-eminent in importance, therefore ought the devoutness of the priesthood to pay the more earnest attention thereto, that the same may be made with humility, be received with fear, and be dispensed with reverence ; and the minister at the altar ought to be certain that the bread and wine, and water, are placed ready for the sacrifice, nor should it be celebrated without a literate minister officiating thereat. Care is also to be taken, that the host is kept in a clean and fair pyx, and is received on each Lord's day." " As often as a communion is to be celebrated for the sick, the priest in his own person, in a clerical dress befitting a Sacrament so important, is to carry the host, a light going before him, unless the inclemency of the weather, or the difficulty of the way, or some other reason shall prevent it ; because the mys tery of the mass is frequently found to be corrupted, either by errors in the writing, or through the age of the books, so not to be able to be distinctly read. " The attention of the archdeacon is also to provide that in each church the canon of the mass is compared with all diligence, with a true and approved copy thereof. "W e do also forbid any priest through cupidity to enjoin any layman when he Comes to receive absolution, to have masses performed ; and we have thought proper to forbid that any priest shall make a bargain for the celebration of mass at a stated price, but he is to receive that alone which is offered at the mass.