The Relics of Rome, Part 19
Of Baptisme.
POpe Victor the fyrst commaūded,Baptisme ministred at all times and in all places, and of all persons, necessitye requiring. Hereof came it, that Midwiues Baptise infants that baptisme should be ministred to al men indifferently at Easter. Notwithstandyng if any desyred (necessitie so requiryng) to be baptised at other tymes: he ordayned, that they myght lawfully be baptised in all places and at all tymes, yea and that with any kynde of naturall water, halowed or vnhalowed eyther by a Layman or by a Laywoman. In the yeare of oure Lorde. 198. Grat, Fascic. Temp. Lib. Concil. Poli. D. Barnes.
Pope Gelasi…s ordayned, that Baptisme shoulde be openlye ministred at Easter and at Witsontyde, yea & that freely. In the yeare. &c. 494. Isidor Grat.The Baptisme of insantes.
Aboute that tyme also there was a Councell holden in Spayne, where it was enacted, that young infantes (if nede were) myght be baptised on the same day that they were borne. Isidor in Concil. Pantal.
Pope Leo the seconde decreed, that Baptisme myght be ministred eueryevery day: where as in the primatiue Church as it appeareth by auncient writers, the Sacrament of baptisme was not commōly ministred,A goodly custome. but at two tymes in the yeare, that is to say, at Easter and Witsontyde: at whiche tymes it was solemnely and with greate reuerence ministred in the presence of all the congregation. In the yeare of oure Lorde. 676. Lib. Concil. Volat. Pol. Ch…on.
Monkes maye not baptise, nor be Godfathers.Pope Gregorye the firste made a decree, that Monkes shoulde not baptise, nor be Godfathers to children at their baptisme. In the yere of our Lord▪ 590 Sabell. Pantal. D. Barns.
This decree did Pope Eugenius the thyrd renue. In the yeare of our Lord. 1147. Lib. Concil. Chron.
Nunnes maye be no Godmothers.The aforesayd Gregorye also ordained, that Nūnes by no meanes should be Godmothers to chyldren eyther at Baptisme or at Confirmation. Chron. Ioan. Stella.
Pope Calixte the seconde pronounced all suche excommunicated,Baptisme and buriall free. as toke money eyther for baptisyng or for burying. In the yeare of our Lorde. 1120. Ioan. Tilio. Volat. Pantal.
Pope Nicolas the first ordained,Baptisme ministred of a Pagane is of force. that the sacrament of baptisme should stād in effecte, althoughe it were ministred of a Pagane and Infidel. In the yeare of oure Lorde. 871. Achilles. Dist. 4. De consecratione.
The same Pope made a decree,Baptisme may not be reiterated. that baptisme shoulde not be twyce ministred to one person. Ioan. Philip. Bergom.
Pope Iginius decreed,godfathers and godmothers. One Godfather at Baptisme. that children, whiche were to be Christened▪ shoulde hauehave a Godfather and Godmother for to be witnesses that they were baptised. In the yeare. &c. 143. Lib. Concil▪ Sabell. Polidor, D. Barns.
Pope Leo the third appoynted, that when the childe is eyther christened or bishoped, he should hauehave but one Godfather, be it a man childe or a woman childe. In the yeare of our Lord. 817. De consec. Dist. 4. Capi. Non plures. Guil. Durand. Ioan. Stella▪ Phil▪ Bergom.
No father may be godfather to his owne childe.Pope Theodore the fyrste made a decree, that no father should be Godfather to hys owne sonne or doughter: nor no mother Godmother to her own sonne or doughter. In the yeare of our Lord. 936. Ioannes Laziardus.
Item, he ordayned, that if any man were Godfather to another mannes doughter,Per quā regu…am? hys sonne myght not afterward take her to wife. 30. Quest. 1. Cap. Non Oportet.
What ieoperdye is there in the matter.Pope Vrban the seconde made a decree, that a man and his wife may not be Godfather and Godmother to one childe at Baptisme. 186.30. Quest. 4. Cap. Quod autem.
A doubtful kind of baptising.Pope Alexander the thyrd ordayned, that when it is doubtefull, whether the childe be baptised or not, he shoulde be baptised on this maner: If thou be baptised, I baptise thee not agayne, but if thou be not baptised, I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Amen. In the yere of our Lord 1161. Guilihelmus. Durandus.
Ceremonies about Baptisme.Pope Leo, Pope Damasus, and Saint Ambrose brought in the exorcismes & coniurations, the benedictions & blessings, with the other solemne ceremonyes. Guil. Durand.
Pope Celestine made a decree,A mad and a folyshe decree. that neither young children, nor any other of what age soeuer they bee, shall bee christened, before ye priests thorow their coniurations, breathings, spittyngs & saltings do driue the deuill out of thē. In the yeare, &c. 428. Chron. Germ. Dist. 4. de Cons.
Pope Clement the fyrst put oyle and creame to the baptisme,Oyle cream crosses. and cōmaunded, that all yt shall be baptysed, should be annoynted therewith, & crossed in ye forehead. In the yere, &c. 92. Chron. Lib. Concil. Ioannes. Laziardus.
Pope Siluester the fyrst also ordayned, that al yt were baptised, should be annoynted with oyle & creame. In the yeare, &c. 315. Plat. Volat. Sabell.
In the Councell Braccarense, it was ordayned,Oyle and cream tre▪ that there should be no money payde for oyle and creame▪ wherwith ye infantes be annoynted in their baptisme. Lib. Concil,
In the Councell holden at Chartage, it was decreed,The womens baptisme. yt a woman althoughe neuer so well learned, maye not presume to baptise, except necessitye compelleth. Concil. Durand.
A good prouiso. and a profitable.In the councell Ilerdense, it was ordayned, that eueryevery prieste that can not hauehave a fonte of stone, maye hauehave any other conuenient vessell meete for that purpose. Prouided alwaye, that it be neuer after caryed out of the church Guili. Durandus.