THE COMPANIONAGE.
236
Afterwcards they seek a cross road,
and
all
leave,
He
those of the
who
sent
"
says,
My
them out
hang a
glass to a tree to represent the death of St Stephen,
excepting the Companion about to
you as did the apostles of oui Saviour when
company throw one stone at the
Companions,
I
take leave of
into all lands to preach
glass,
the gospel; give
me
your blessing, I give you
mine."
1st. Many of the Companions often
Companionages entail many disorders.
offend against the oath which they have taken, to keep faith with their masters, not working
2d. They insult
according to their requirements, and often ruining them by their practices.
These
and cruelly persecute the poor journeymen of the
who
are not of their cabal.
3d.
They
employ themselves in many debauches, impurities, and drunkennesses, etc., and ruin themselves,
their wives, and their children by the excessive expenses which they incur in these Comcraft
panionages at various assemblies, because they prefer to spend the little they possess with their
Companions rather than on their families. 4th. They profane the days consecrated to God's
because some of them, like the tailors, meet together every Sunday and go to the
where they pass a great part of the day in debauchery. Therefore, because the above
tavern,
Companions believe that their practices are good and holy, and the oath not to reveal them,
service,
righteous and obligatory. Messieurs the doctors are supplicated, for the good of the consciences
of the Companions of these trades, and others who might be in a similar case, to give their
—
What crime do they commit in causing
1st.
opinion on the following, and to sign it
themselves to be received Companions in the foregoing manner ? 2d. Is the oath whicli tliey
have taken not to reveal these practices, even at confession, good and valid ? 3d. Whether
:
they are not bound in conscience to proceed and declare them to those
who could apply
a
Whether they may use the watchword
5. Whether those who are of this Coniin order to recognise themselves as Companions ?
6th. Whether the
are in surety of conscience, and what they should do ?
panionage
remedy, sucli as the judges ecclesiastic
journeymen who are not yet of
this
No. II.— KESOLUTIOXS
and secular
?
4.
Companionage may enter
it
without guQt
?
OF THE DOCTORS ON THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
—
the undersigned doctors in the sacred faculty of theology at Paris, are of opinion
1st.
That these practices combine the sins of sacrilege, impurity, and blasphemy against the
We,
That the oath which they take not to reveal these practices,
is neither
good nor valid, and is not obligatory on them on the contrary,
accuse themselves of these crimes, and of this oath at confession.
3d. In
mysteries of our religion.
even in confession,
they are bound to
case this evil continues,
2d.
;
and they are not otherwise able
to
remedy
it,
they are bound in
conscience to declare these practices to the ecclesiastical judges, and even, if need be, to the
4th. That the Companions wlio cause themselves to
secular, who will be able to remedy it.
be received in the above form
may
not,
without mortal
sin,
use the watchword in order to
recognise each other as Companions, and engage in the evil practices of this Companionage.
5th. That those who are of the Companionage are not in surety of conscience so long as
they are desirous of continuing these bad practices which they ought to renounce. 6th. That
the journeymen who are not of the
Companionage cannot enter it without mortal sin.
—
Deliberated at Paris the 14th day of
Quoquerel,
IM.
March 1655.
Grandin, Grenet, C. Gobinet,
I.
Signed, I. Charton, J\lorel, N. Cornet,
Peron, Chamillard, M. Chamillard.
J.