first was of private origin, and had as its author Pierre Mathieu, the
Lyons jurist (1563-1621); it appeared in 1590 at Lyons. It is a
continuation of the _Extravagantes communes_, and includes a selection
of papal constitutions, from Sixtus IV. (1471-1484) to Sixtus V.
(1585-1590) inclusive, with the addition of a few earlier documents. It
follows the order of the decretals. This collection has been of some
service, and appears as an appendix in many editions of the _Corpus
juris_; the chief reason for its failure is that it has no official
sanction. The second attempt was official, but it came to nothing. It
was connected with the movement of reform and revision which followed
the council of Trent. Immediately after the publication of the official
edition of the _Corpus juris_, Gregory XIII. appointed a committee of
cardinals charged with the task of drawing up a _Liber septimus_. Sixtus
V. hurried on its execution, which was rapidly proceeded with, mainly
owing to Cardinal Pinelli, who submitted the draft of it to Clement
VIII. The pope had this Liber VII. printed as a basis for further
researches; but after long deliberations the volume was suppressed, and
the idea of a fresh codification was abandoned. The collection included
the decrees of the council of Trent, and a number of pontifical
constitutions, arranged in the order of the titles of the decretals.[35]
But even had it been promulgated, it is doubtful whether it would have
improved the situation. It would merely have added another collection to
the previous ones, which were already too voluminous, without resulting
in any useful abrogations.

Demand for codification.

Decision of Pius X.

Method.

4. _The Future Codification._--Neither Clement VIII. nor, at a later
date, Benedict XIV., could have dreamt of the radical reform at present
in course of execution. Instead of accumulating the texts of the laws in
successive collections, it is proposed entirely to recast the system of
editing them. This codification in a series of short articles was
suggested by the example of the French codes, the history of which
during the 19th century is well known. From all quarters the Catholic
episcopate had submitted to the Vatican council petitions in this sense.
"It is absolutely clear," said some French bishops, "and has for a long
time past been universally acknowledged and asserted, that a revision
and reform of the canon law is necessary and most urgent.