I cannot forbear taking notice here of an inexcusable Mistake in the _Ecclesiastical History of_ England, _by_ Nicolas Harpsfeld, _Archdeacon of_ Canterbury, a Work in great Request abroad. That Writer tells us, that _Restitutus_ Bishop of _London_ assisted at the Council of _Arles_, and signed the above-mentioned Canon, forbidding a Man incumbered with a Wife to be admitted to Orders, unless he promised, with her Consent, to refrain from all Commerce with her after his Ordination. He leaves us to infer from thence, that this Canon was received in _Britain_[N23.1]. But surely _Harpsfeld_ must never have seen either the Subscriptions, or the Acts of that Council. Had he seen the Subscriptions, he had hardly omitted Two _British_ Bishops out of Three. For, besides the Name of _Restitutus_, I find among the Subscriptions, the Names of _Adelphus de colonia Londinensium_, that is, as is commonly believed, of _Colchester_, and of _Hibernus_ of _Eboracum_, or _York_. Had he seen the Acts, he had never been guilty of such a gross Mistake as to ascribe the above-mentioned Canon to the Council of _Arles_, at which _Restitutus_ assisted, since that Council was held against the _Donatists_ of _Africa_, in the Year 314. and not the least Mention was made there of the Celibacy of the Clergy[N23.2]. The Second Council of _Arles_ was held about Twenty-six Years after, and of that Council the said Canon is the Second. Footnote N23.1: Harp. Hist. Eccles. Anglican. p. 26. Footnote N23.2: Concil. t. 1. p. 1426-1429. ----- [Sidenote: _The present Practice of the Church of_ Rome, _with respect to this Point_.]