truly for the Reader to be more fully instructed about my Institute, by unfolding the Table of chapters, which will be appended at the end.

MANDATE

Of the Most Reverend and Most Illustrious Archbishop of Paris, etc.

JOHN FRANCIS de GONDY, by the grace of GOD and the Apostolic See, Archbishop of Paris, to the Archpriests of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Severin, greeting: Since it has been shown to us by our Promoter that many are intruding themselves by their own authority to read the Old and New Testament in the vernacular language, without our permission or that of their Pastors, from which very grave inconveniences arise to the prejudice of the salvation of souls, and great scandal to the public; For these reasons we have prohibited, and do prohibit, all Lay persons from the reading of the Holy Bible in the common language, of whatever edition it may be, without the permission of us, or of our Vicar general, the Penitentiary, or of a particular Pastor, under the penalty expressed in the law. And so that no one may be able to allege ignorance of this Decree, we command it to be signified to all Pastors or their Vicars of this Metropolis of Paris, that they promulgate this our present mandate among the solemnities of the Parochial Masses, and that they certify us of this within a month. Given at Paris, on Friday, the 2nd of September, 1650.