NO MASKED BALLS, CARDS OR DICE
BELLUNO Constitutioni, et ordini da esser osseruati nella città, et diocese di ciuidal di Belluno [Venice?, c.1580]
AN UNRECORDED comprehensive volume of instructions, positive and negative, for the parish priests of the bishopric of Belluno. Apart from the obvious ordinances concerning the sacraments, including a long section on baptism, and keeping one’s church clean and secure, there is much advice on, inter alia, keeping a parish register and baptism book, how much petty cash a priest can spend, what books he should have and his duties towards his parishioners (Sunday School, helping the children read and write, visiting the sick, etc.). Usury is utterly forbidden and usurers, pimps, gamblers and criminals who frequent the parish must be reported to the ecclesiastical authorities after two or three warnings. He should look out for witches and any trace of sorcery and do his utmost to dissuade fortune-tellers from practising their craft. There are also edicts concerning his dress and behaviour – he must not carry arms or wear rings (unless his position permits him), he must not attend masked balls or dance in public or private or frequent inns and taverns unless absolutely necessary. He must not drink to excess, engage in business or play dice and cards. With a few corrections in the text in a contemporary hand.
£1600
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