Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question IV
GRATIAN. But that neither a bishop nor a priest is permitted to ventilate any case on Sunday is prohibited in the Council of Tarragona, in which it was established thus, [c. 4]:
GRATIANUS. Quod uero die dominico nec episcopo, nec presbitero causam uentilare aliquam liceat in Terraconensi Concilio prohibetur in quo sic statutum est: [c. 4.]
Friedberg, col. 751/752
C. I. Ministers of the church ought not to ventilate cases on Sunday.
Let no bishop, priest, or cleric dare on Sunday to ventilate the business proposed in any case, except only that they perform the solemn rites established for God. But on other days, when the persons have assembled, they have permission to judge the things that are just, except in a criminal matter.
C. I. Ministri ecclesiae die dominico causas uentilare non debent.
Nullus episcoporum aut presbiterorum uel clericorum die dominico propositum cuiuscumque causae negocium audeat uentilare, nisi hoc tantum, ut Deo statuta solempnia peragant. Ceteris uero diebus, conuenientibus personis, illa, que iusta sunt, habent licentiam iudicandi, excepto criminali.
Friedberg, col. 753/754
C. II. Secular pleas are not to be conducted on solemn days and the days of lawful fasts.
Likewise from the council held at Erfurt in the presence of King Henry. We have decreed that secular pleas are by no means to be conducted on Sundays or other principal feasts, or also on those days on which lawful fasts are celebrated, according to canonical institution. Moreover, the holy synod has also decreed that no judicial power shall have permission by its own authority to summon Christians under ban to a plea on the aforesaid days, that is, during the seven days before the Nativity of the Lord through the octave of Epiphany, from Quinquagesima through the octave of Easter, and during the seven days before the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, so that there may more freely be the opportunity of going to church and devoting oneself to prayers.
C. II. Sollempnibus diebus et ieiuniorum legitimorum secularia placita non agantur.
Item ex Concilio apud Erphesfurt, habito presente Rege Heinrico. Placita secularia dominicis diebus, uel aliis precipuis festis, seu etiam in his diebus, in quibus legitima ieiunia celebrantur, secundum canonicam institutionem minime decreuimus fieri. Insuper etiam sancta sinodus decreuit, ut nulla iudiciaria potestas licentiam habeat sua auctoritate Christianos ad placitum bannire in supradictis diebus, id est septem diebus ante natale Domini usque in octauas epiphaniae, et a quinquagesima usque ad octauas pascae, et septem diebus ante natiuitatem sancti Iohannis Baptistae, quatinus adeundi ecclesiam orationibusque uacandi liberius habeatur facultas.
Friedberg, col. 753/754
C. III. Concerning the same.
Likewise Pope Hadrian, [in the capitularies, c. 64]. Let no bishop or person placed beneath him presume to judge cases on Sunday.
C. III. De eodem.
Item Adrianus Papa. [in capitulis, c. 64.] Nullus episcopus uel infra positus die dominico causas iudicare presumat.
Friedberg, col. 753/754