Gregory XIII, 1572-1585

and proper sense intended by those asserting them, we condemn them respectively as heretical, erroneous, suspect, rash, scandalous, and as giving offense to pious ears.

Exchanges (i.e., Exchanging of Money, Promissory Notes)¹

[From the ordinance "In eam pro nostro," Jan. 28, 1571]

1081. First (then) we condemn all those exchanges which are called fictitious, (elsewhere, dry), and are so devised that the contracting parties at certain market places or at other localities pretend to solemnize exchanges; at which places those who receive money, actually hand over their letters of exchange, but they are not sent, or they are so sent that, when the time has passed they are brought back void, whence they had set out; or, even when no letters of this kind were handed over, the money is finally demanded with interest, where the contract had been solemnized; for between givers and receivers even from the beginning it had been so decided, or surely such was the intention, and there is no one who in the market-places or the above mentioned places makes payment, when such letters are received. And similar to this evil is also that, when money or deposits or by another name fictitious exchanges are handed over so that afterwards in the same place or elsewhere they are paid back with interest.

1082. But even in the exchanges which are called real, sometimes, as it is reported to me, bankers put off the prescribed term of payment, when a profit has been received according to tacit or expressed agreement or even only a promise. All these things we declare to be usurious, and strictly prohibit their being done.

GREGORY XIII 1572-1585

Profession of Faith Prescribed for the Greeks²

[From the acts concerning the union of the Greco-Russian church, 1575]

1083. I, N., in firm faith believe and profess each and every thing which is contained in the Creed of faith, which the holy Roman Church uses,

[(continued from previous page)] Tract. de gratia Christi q. 3, sec., "Momenta ex parte materiae Bullarum adversus Baium"; also Kilber, Tract. de gratia, disp. 4, c. 2 "De variis circa gratiam erroribus," art. 4, quaeres 2. Viva ad prop. 31, Alexandri VIII B. n. 13 [cf. n. 1321].