[Constitutiones synodales ecclesiae Constantiensis, 1481]

Concerning the same, regarding blasphemers.

Although it is sufficiently cautioned and provided for in various places by sacred canons and the traditions of the holy fathers against manifest blasphemers of the saints and the condemned and abominable crime of idolatry, namely incantations, superstitions, and the sorcery of male and female diviners original: "phitonum et phitonissarum", referring to those claiming to possess a "pythonic" or divining spirit, because we report with bitterness of mind that such vices still exist in use in many places subject to us, we therefore, desiring to oppose as much as is in our power the errors and dangers arising therefrom daily, strictly command in this present statute, which shall endure forever, that the canonical statutes published above against such persons be practiced with the utmost diligence by all subject to us. And in confessions, a skillful inquiry shall be made regarding such sin, and both men and women practicing such things shall be excluded from the communion of the sacraments and shall be sent to us or our vicar for absolution. And nevertheless, if any public blasphemers are found, or if they have meddled with such incantations or superstitions rejected by the Church, or have placed faith in them, we wish them to be warned to desist from these things within a short time to be set for them, under pain of suspension from divine services and ecclesiastical burial, from which they may not be freed or absolved except by us or our vicar or our superiors. We also wish this saving statute of ours to be solemnly published by those holding the care of souls in the chancels of churches, if and as often as it shall seem expedient, so that no one may plead ignorance of it.

Concerning the office of the dean.

Wishing to counteract the indemnities of churches and benefices which frequently suffer great losses in spiritual and temporal matters due to their long vacancy, we decree that every dean or his deputy shall, at least twice every year, namely once in every six months, in the presence of his brethren gathered in the chapter house, diligently inquire about all vacant benefices within his deanery, both with and without care of souls, which have remained vacant beyond the time established by law for their collators or patrons, and also about those same collators and patrons and their names. He shall notify us or our vicar in spiritual matters of these, together with the names of their patrons and collators, as soon as he can, provided that this does not exceed a space of two months after the inquisition.