Canon XXI.

2 Clergymen and laymen bringing charges against bishops or clergymen are not to be received loosely and without examination, as accusers, but their own character shall first be investigated.

3 Notes.

4 Ancient Epitome of Canon XXI.

5 A cleric or layman making charges rashly against his bishop shall not be received.

6 Compare with this canon the VIth Canon of those credited to the First Synod at Constantinople, the second ecumenical.

7 This canon is found in the Corpus Juris Canonici, Gratian’s Decretum, Pars II., Causa II., Quæst. VII., canon xlix., in Isidore’s first version.