 That the particular decree as to the secrecy of the seal of confession was locally re-enacted by English councils and synods has already been shown.Its importance, whether as enacted by the Lateran Councils or re-enacted by the English councils, seems to have been only confirmatory of something already well established in the Church or, at most, as definitely declaring the punishment for the violation of the secrecy.That the decree was allowed and accepted by the civil courts of England can only be a matter for deduction.