the legates received instructions on no account to per- mit it to be brought to a decision. However, in sub- seipient congregations the dispute was renewed with warmth ; in the congregation of Oct. 13, the archbishop of (Jranada insisted upon the recognition of the institu- tion of bisho]is, and their superiority to priests, jure ili- viiio. The same view was taken in the following con- gregation by the archbisliop of Braga and the bishop of Segovia; and no less than Hfty-tbree prelates, out of one hundred and thirty-one present, voted in favor of the recognition of the divine institution and jurisdiction of bishops. According to Fra Paolo, the number amounted to tifty-nine. Tlie dispute was, however, by no means ended. On the 20th the Jesuit Lainez, at the instiga- tion of the legates, delivered a powerful speech in oppo- sition to the view taken by the Spanish bishops, deny- ing altogether that the institution and jurisdiction of bishops were of divine right. However, powerful as was his speech, he was answered ijy the bishop of Paris so effectually that the legates, to their great discompos- ure, saw the views of the Spanish prelates gain ground. The latter then declared formally that unless their de- mand were granted, and the order and jurisdiction of bishops declared in the canon to be jure Jiriiw, they would thenceforth absent themselves from all the con- gregations and sessions.
In the meantime the cardinal of Lorraine arrived at Trent with several French prelates, and was received with honor. In a congregation held Nov. 23, he read the letter of the king of France to the council, in which he strongly urged them to labor sincerely to bring about a sound reformation of abuses, and to restore its pristine glory to the Catholic Church by bringing back all Chris- tian people to one religion. After the letter was finished the cardinal delivered a speech, strongly urging the necessity of proceeding speedily with the work of refor- mation, in which he was followed by Dn Ferrier, the king's ambassador, who spoke his mind freely.
All this time so little progress had been made Avith the canons and decrees that when Nov. 2fi, the day fixed for holding the twenty-third session, arrived, it was found necessary to prorogue it. After this, in the following congregations, the subject of the divine right of bishops was again discussed, when the French bishops declared in favor of the views held by the Spaniards.
At the beginning of the year 15G3 the French am- bassadors presented their articles of reformation under thirty- two heads. Their principal demands were as follows :
6. That no person should be appointed bishop unless he were of advanced age, and of good character and ca- pacity.
7. That no curates should he nominated unless they were of good character and abilities.
9. That bishops, either personally or by deputy, should preach on every Sunday and festivals, besides Lent and Advent.
10. That all curates should do the same when they had a sufficient audience.
12. That incapable bishops, abbots, and curates should resign their benetices, or appoint coadjutors.
14. That all pluralities whatever should be abolished, without any consideration of compatibility or incompati- bility.
l(i. That steps should be taken to provide every bene- ficed clerk with a revenue sufficient to maintain two cu- rates and to exercise hospitality.
17. That the gospel should be explained to the people at mass, and that after mass the priest should pray with the people in the vulgar tongue.
15. That the ancient decretals of pope Leo and Gelasins on communion in both kinds should be re-established.
19. That the efficacy of the sacraments should also be explained to the peoi)le before their adminisiration.
20. That benefices should be conferred by bishops within six months; after which time they should devolve to the immediate superior, and so gradually to the pope.
21. That they should abolish, as contrary to the canons, all expectatives, regressions (returning to a benefice wnich has been once resigned), resignations, etc.
23. That simple priories should be reunited to the cure of souls, orinfinally intended by the foundation, which had been separated from them, and assigned to perpetual vicais with miserable pittances.
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27. That bishops should take in hand no matter of im- porlaiiee withoiu the advice of their cliaiUers; and that eaiions should be compelled to continual residence.
31. That no sentence of exconinnmicalinn should be passed until three monitions had been issued, and tlioii only for <;rievous faults. That bir-liops should l)e desired to srive benetices rather to those who drew back fioin re- ceiviiis; than t<» such as soiiL'ht for tliem.
32. 'I'hat diocesan synods should be assembled at least once a year, provincial synods every three years, and gen- eral councils every ten years.
The pope, in order to elude the difficulty in which lie was placed by the demand of the Spanish ami French bishops that the divine right of bishops should be in- serted in the seventh chapter, sent a form for the ap- proval of the council, in which it was declared that "bishops held the princijial place in the Church, but in dependence upon the pope." This, however, did not meet with approval, and, after a l<niy contest, it was agreed to state it thus, that "they held the principal place in the Church under thv popi" instead of in de- ]iendencc upon him. However, a still warmer contest arose uiwii the chapter in which it was said that the pope had authority to feed and govern the Universal Church. This the Galilean and Spanish bishops would by no means consent to, alleging that the Church is the lirst tribunal mider Christ. Accordingly, they in- sisted that the words unirerstis ecclcsiuf!, "all churches," shoidd be substituted for Unirerstini Ecclesidm. The Callicans even more strenuously denied that "the pope possessed all the authority of Jesus Christ," notwith- standing all the limitations and explanations which were added to it.