have been to his People the Captain of safety and of peace when the Divine Piety had decreed to have mercy of his People by an unheard of and invisible manner and by preaching in our ages For these things therefore and in all these things which are before recited confessing himself guilty before the Priests or Bishops or all the People with tears and protesting that in all these things he sinned he desired publick Pennance that so he might satisfie the Church by repenting which he had scandalized by sinning and as he was a scandal by neglecting many things so he professed he would be an example by undergoing due Pennance And after this Confession he delivered to the Bishops the Paper of his Guilts and Confession for future memorial and they laid it on the Altar and then he put off his military Girdle and laid it on the Altar and stripping himself of his secular Habit he took the Habit of a Penitent put on him by the hands of the Bishops that after so great and such Pennance no Man after may return to a secular Militia These things thus done it pleased them that every Bishop should write in his own Papers how the matter was done and should strengthen it by his own subscription and offer it to Prince Lotharius thus strengthened in memory of the Fact To conclude it seemed good to us all that were present to put the sum of all the Papers and of so great a business into one Breviate and to roborate it by the subscription of us all with our hands as is hereafter demonstrated The Author of the Life of Ludovicus addeth ' Pullâque indutum veste adhibitá magnâ custodiâ sub tectum quoddam retrudunt Here you see the Tryal of the godly Emperor the Articles exhibited against him in the High Court of Episcopal Justice and the use of Penance and of laying on of the Bishops hands in investing him in the Garb of perpetual Penance What wonder if the Pope ascended to such power when ordinary Bishops in the best governed and instructed Countrey then in the world obtained such power even by the name and abuse of the POWER OF THE KEYS Saith Binnius Thaganus therefore justly for this cause declaimeth against Ebbo Bishop of Rhemes the Leader as impudicum crudelissimum Episcopum And what were they that would thus follow him § 140. CCXLIX But the next Council was forced to do better for usually the Bishops followed the stronger side in Theodorus Villa they caused Ebbo to depose himself from his Bishoprick and the rest excused themselves that they did it by necessity and fear and were all forgiven Bin. p. 575. And yet will the Bishops say that this Emperor was not humble and merciful § 141. CCL After his Restauration An. 836. Ludovicus caused a Council at Aquisgrane to renew the Laws for the Reformation of the Clergy and Abbots with the Instructions and Rules for Kings themselves at large laid down And here they determined that all Bishops hereafter that were Rebels and Traytors should be deposed and Lay-men anathematized But they sufficiently minded the Power and Dignity of the Bishops to be upheld § 142. There is a Treatise in Binnius p. 583. in which the Statutes of the Synods of Aquisgrane are opened and confirmed by Scripture § 143. CCLI An. 836. Binnius tells us that in the deposing of the Emperor Agobertus Bishop of Lyons and Bernard Bishop of Vienne having been Leaders with Ebbo at the Council at Theod. Villa fled and the Emperor and all his Sons save Lotharius being here present at a Council at Lyons they being summoned appeared not and Sentence was put off because they were absent § 144. An. 839. Pepin the Emperor's Son dying he passed by his disobedient Nephew Pepin and divided that Kingdom of Aquitain only between his Sons Lotharius and Charles whereupon his Son Ludovicus was offended and with them of Aquitain raised Rebellion again and by a Convention at Cabilone and after it reconciliation was made § 145. The Emperor Ludovicus Pius dying An. 840. aged 64 his Sons fell together in Wars for his Kingdoms Lotharius the eldest that had used his Father so trayterously and unnaturally sought too great a part for himself and came to a War with Ludovic and Charles who conquered him and put him to a shameful flight An. 841. in which Fight say Historians a greater slaughter was made of the French than was ever known in the memory of man This was the man that deposed his Father for the slaughter of the Subjects by his Wars against him The next year they fought again and he was again overcome § 146. CCLII It 's easie then to conjecture which way the next Council which was at Aquisgrane would go The conquering Princes made the Bishops their Counsellors when they had made Lotharius flie out of the Countrey what they should do with his Kingdom and saith Binnius they received the answer which Nithardus li. 1. describeth in these words ' The Bishops considering the deeds of Lotharius from the beginning how he had driven his Father out of his Kingdom how he had made the Christian People perjured by his Covetousness how oft he had frustrated the Oath he made to his Fathers and his Brethren how oft since his Fathers death he had attempted to disinherit his Brethren how many Murders Adulteries Burnings and all kind of heinous deeds the Universal Church suffered by his most wicked Covetousness And that he neither had any knowledge of governing the Commonwealth nor could men find any footsteps of goodness of will in governing For which causes deservedly and by the just judgment of God Almighty they said he fled first in Battel and then from his Kingdom Therefore all the Bishops unanimously agree and consent that for his wickedness God hath cast him out and hath delivered his Kingdom to his Brothers that are better than he But the Bishops did not give them this liberty till they openly asked them whether they would govern it as their ejected Brother did or according to the will of God They answered that as far as God should enable them they would govern themselves and theirs according to God's will By God's Authority say they we warn exhort and command that you undertake it and rule it according to the will of God So far Nithard § 147. You see here that it is no wonder that the Pope took upon him to set up and take down to make and unmake Kings when the subject Bishops did it by their greatest Sovereigns And you see here God's just judgment on a rebellious Son and the shameful mutability of a temporizing Clergy And how presumptuous Bishops have abused Religion the use of the Keys and the Name of God to the confusions and calamities of the world But Lotharius after this Deposition reigned § 148. All these times Images were cast out in the Eastern Empire even all the Reign of Leo the 5th and of Michael
only those that are saved else he should have his Will frustrate and not be Omnipotent 2. That Christ dyed not for all but only for the Elect who are the world that he redeemed others he redeemeth by Baptism but not by dying for them 3. That no one shall perish that Christ dyed for 4. He addeth how truly I know not That he asserteth a threefold Deity in the Trinity of Persons They laid him in Prison and Hincmarus wrote to the Pope to know what to do with him saying That he must employ a very able Man to keep him for he wraps People even the meanly learned into admiration of him reciting Scripture and Fathers distorted whole days together Some Bishops took his part § 2. They say a Synod at Tours wrote an Admonition to one Nomenoâ—us the King's Lieutenant in Britany for Tyranny and Oppression and casting out the just Bishops and putting in Mercenaries Thieves and Robbers Bin. p. 638. and for despising the warnings of the Pope and Bishops § 3. Canisius tells us of a Concilium Regiaticinum regulating Bishops and Cap. 6. ordaining that the Arch-Presbyter examine every Master of a Family personally and take account of their Families and Lives and receive their Confessions And Cap. 7. that a Presbyter in the absence of the Bishop may reconcile a Penitent by his command Cap. 13. That in the Villages Arch-Presbyters be set over the Lower-Presbyters C. 12. That none that are denied Communion may have any Military or Civil Office and so every Bishop is Master of the Magistrates § 4. CCLVIII. The Saracens in Spain persecuting the Christians forced the Bishops to meet in Council at Corduba and decree against Martyrdom and the Memorial of Martyrs saith Binnius p. 643. Holding a Satanical Meeting forbad Martyrdom and took away the Honour of Martyrs saying That they that were not violently drawn to deny the Faith but offered themselves to danger of their own accord are not to be numbred with the Martyrs not working Miracles as the Martyrs did nor their Bodies remaining uncorrupt § 5. A Synod at Mentz An. 852. did we know not what But 853. CCLIX one at Soisons was approved by Pope Benedict and reprobated by Pope 〈◊〉 Bin. p. 648. yet both infallible And it is no wonder for it is about a hard Point and in which the Papacy is much concerned When Ebbo was deposed and banished Lotharius restored him for a while and he intruded again and ordained many Priests Hincmarus succeeding in his life-time rejecteth all those that he thus ordained A Council is called to judge whether their Ordination was valid or null The Council decreed that Whatever in Ecclesiastical Ordinations the said Ebbo had done after his damnation according to the Traditions of the Apostolick Seat as is read in the Deeds of the Popes except Sacred Baptism which is perfected in the name of the Trinity shall be all void and null and those ordained by him in whatever part of the world they shall be Fugitives or wander because they cannot flie from God's judgment let them be held deprived of all Ecclesiastical Degrees by the judgment of the Holy Ghost And yet these Men had shewed Letters from the King and divers Bishops for their reception as Presbyters but the Synod said they were counterfeit Another Case was this one Halduinus had been made Deacon by Ebbo and Consecrated Presbyter and Abbot by Lupus Bishop of Catalonia The Presbyter was ordained out of his own Jurisdiction to the Church of Rhemes This being questioned an Archdeacon shewed the King's Letters commanding the Ordination of Halduinus Lupus ordained him in obedience to the King without examining there being then no Bishop at Rhemes Whereupon the Synod decreed according to the Canons say they That they that are made Presbyters without examination by ignorance or by dissimulation of the Ordainers when they are known shall be deposed because the Catholick Church defendeth but that which is irreprehensible And it was shewed in Concil Sardic c. 9. and other Councils and Decrees That the said Bishop touched nothing of his Ordination but that he that leaped to the Priesthood without the degree of Deacon he ought to retire resilire to due degradation § 6. Here you see the Nullification even of the Ordinations of an ejected Archbishop yea and of a lawful Bishop when he makes a Presbyter of one that was by such an ejected Bishop made Deacon and when he ordaineth unworthily without due examination And if this hold what interruptions have there been in the Succession of Bishops especially in the Roman Seat § 7. Anastasius a Cardinal Presbyter of Rome betook himself to the Emperor solliciting him to depose Pope Leo the 4th and to place him in his stead The Pope hearing it calleth him home to his charge from whence he had been absent five years but he would not return nor appear wherefore CCLX the Pope called a Council at Rome which deposed him § 8. CCLXI Ignatius the Patriarch of Constantinople called a Council to depose Gregory Bishop of Syracusa They desired Pope Leo's confirmation He delaying it dyeth Gregory in the mean time prevaileth against Ignatius who is cast out and Photius put in and a grievous Schism begun § 9. CCLXII An. 855. under Lotharius Remigius Lugdun and 12 other Bishops are called a Council at Valence who made 23 Canons or Decrees with great Judgment and Piety and shewed how much more venerable a Council of a few wise Bishops are than greater Councils where the most are weak Their first work was against those that they called the Predestinatianos where Cap. 2. they determine Non ipsos malos Deum ideo perire velle quia boni esse non potuerunt sed quia boni esse noluerunt Cap. 3. Praedestinationem electorum ad vitam praedestinationem impiorum ad mortem fidenter fatemur In electione tamen salvandorum misericordiam Dei praecedere meritum bonum in damnatione autem periturorum meritum malum praecedere justum Dei judicium Praedestinatione autem Deum ea tantum statuisse quae ipse vel gratuitâ misericordiâ vel justo judicio facturus erat In malis vero ipsorum malitiam praescîsse quia ex ipsis est non praedestinâsse quia ex illo non est Poenam sane malum meritum eorum sequentem uti Deum qui omnia prospicit praescivisse praedestinasse quia justus est apud quem est ut S. Augustinus ait de omnibus omnino rebus tam fixa sententia quam certa praescientiâ Verum aliquos ad malum praedestinatos esse divina potestate videlicet ut quasi aliud esse non possent non solum non credimus sed etiam si sunt qui tantum malum credere velint cum omni detestatione sicut Arausica Synodus illis Anathema dicimus The sum is God's mercy goeth before Man's merit but his Predestination to punishment is only on the foresight of their sin which he decreeth
the Pope curseth his Legates at Constantinople with Photius and Gregory Syracusanus because they all crossed his will which must everywhere bear rule § 43. CCLXXVI In a Council at Senlis Hincmarus Rhemensis got Rhotaldus Bishop of Soissons deposed and thrust into a Monastery and another put in his place notwithstanding the Pope's opposition An. 863. § 44. CCLXXVII Hereupon the Pope in a Council at Rome condemneth this Council at Senlis and decreeth That unless Hincmarus and the other Bishops do within 30 days restore Rhotaldus they shall be forbidden their Ministery and used as they used Rhotaldus But they did not obey him but put it to the venture And whereas the King had forbidden Rhotaldus to go to Rome and the French Bishops pleaded this as a just restraint the Pope answered That no Imperial Laws must take place against Ecclesiastical And so it came to the question Whether the King or the Pope was King of France or had more power over the bodies of the Subjects Thus did the Papacy ascend § 45. CCLXXVIII A Council of Bishops and Lords together at Pistis made Orders for Repentance and restraint of Rapine and Plunder c. An. 863. § 46. CCLXXIX An. 864. In a Council at Rome the Pope deposed and excommunicated Rodoaldus Portuensis his Legate with Ioh. Hiâ—â—densis for joining with the Synod at Metz against his Orders § 47. CCLXXX In another Council at Rome An. 865. the Pope restoreth Rhotaldus For Hincmarus at last let him out of Prison and let him go to Rome but would neither go nor send thither any Legates himself as the Pope required for his own and the Synod's defence § 48. CCLXXXI An. 866. A Synod at Soissons wrote to the Pope about Hincmarus and against encouraging false Ordinations unless after privately confirmed c. § 49. CCLXXXII The Pope was so busie and troublesom with the French Bishops making himself Judge in matters that he knew not and restoring those that they deposed that An. 867. a Synod at Trâ—cas wrote to inform him of all that had passed for 33 years how Ebbo and his Synod of Bishops had slandered and deposed the Emperor Ludovicus Pius and how he did it to please Lotharius and when Ludovicus was restored how he fled and when Ludovicus was dead how Lotharius with the base temporizing Bishops restored him and after he had been condemned and resigned his place returned to the exercise of it and ordained divers and how upon the prevailing of Charles against Lotharius he was cast out again and how after Lotharius got the Pope to appoint the hearing of all again when he was condemned and how after this he was made a Bishop in Germany and Rhemes was ten years ruled by two Presbyters and how the Pope Paschal chose this Traytor to preach to the Heathens near him and how Hincmarus was chosen c. as aforesaid Such trouble did a Vsurper put the Churches to § 50. Platina saith that some say that after the death of Pope Nicolas the place was void eight years seven months and nine dayes But others say that it was void but seven dayes so uncertain is the Papal History of succession The next that we find inthroned is Haedrian 2d § 51. Michael at Constantinople having been long ruled much by Bardas who was for Photius at last giving up himself to drunkenness and other sins by the perswasion of Basilius he killed Bardas and made Basilius Caesar And after a while his vice gave Basilius the opportunity to kill the Emperor when he was drunk See Dion Petavius Hist. li. 1. chap. 12. Yet this Basilius washed his hands and made many Protestations that he had no hand in his blood This made for the Popes advantage Women and Rebels and Traytors and discordant Princes did much in raising him This Regicide Emperor as a second Phocas finds it useful to quiet his party by a change countenanced by the Bishop of Rome And so he sets himself against Photius and sets up Ignatius again and searching Photius's servants finds a book written of the Acts of the late great Council at Constantinople which was for him and against Ignatius and a defence of that Council against the Bishop of Rome in which he dealt severely with the Pope This Book the new Emperor sends to the Pope and there it is read stampt upon stab'd with a knife and openly burnt and a miracle is said to be at the burning of it some drops of rain that fell not quenching the fire but increasing it But their calling Photius a knave and burning his books and condemning the council that was for him will hardly keep the readers of his yet-preserved learned writings from suspecting that the Popes cause was not unquestionable or at least that the Pope was not taken for the universal Vice-Christ when Photius and his council did so little regard him No wonder then if the Acts of a great council when they were against the Pope are called Nesandissimi Conciliabuli prophanat a Volumina quibus sanctissimum Papam Nicolaum susurâ—â fauce latraverat Yet our new Papists would make men believe that none but a few Hereticks refused subjection to the Pope before Luther Were these Councils Hereticks § 52. Here the Emperor Basilius was put to a hard strait about his Bishops He wrote to the Pope vid. Bin. p. 825. 826. that almost all his Bishops had miscarried both those ordained by Photius and those Ordained by Ignatius they had turned with the times not knowing how the times would turn and incurred such guilt that he desired the Pope to pardon them lest he should want Bishops silencing one party would not serve turn while all had been so far guilty Tum à sanctissimo Patriarcha Ignatio consecrati secundum scripturae suae confessionem in veritate non permanserunt nec non et de his summis Sacerdot ibus atque Abbatibus qui diversimodè scripserunt quorum alii vi vel tyrannide alii verò simplicitate aut levit ate quidam verò seductione et versutiis quidam verò muneribus et honoribus diversimodè decepti sunt Imò verò dicendum est quod pene omnes sacrati tam priores quam posteriores qui sub nobis sunt malè et ut non opportebat tractati sunt Quatenus non Ecclesiae nostrae summis Sacerdotibus et Sacerdotibus qui sub omni regimine nostro sunt commune occurrat naufragium propemodum universis illis de falsis et impotabilibus gustantibus iniquitatis Rheumatibus Super his itaque postulamus compatientissimum Sacerdotium tuum ut manum porrig at humanitatis et eorum dispenset salutem c. saith Basilius ibid. § 53. Here also another difficulty arose as there ever doth in ravelled works The Pope had been against Hincmarus and his Council for deposing the Bishops ordained by Ebbo And yet to subdue the Greeks he was for the deposing of those ordained by Photius This made him seem contrary to himself
of Ravenna and then Pope Formosus's Case and the Canons that forbid a Bishop to be chosen were now forgotten or dispensed with He had won the Emperor's favour by a rare Clock that he made being a good Mathematician And the People and Clergie were taught that it was the Emperor's Will that they should choose him which to please the Emperor they did Historians say that he sold his Soul to the Devil by Covenant to be made Pope which accordingly the Devil distrained and took him away But Baron and Bin say that Cardinal Benno was the first author of this and many fouler accusations of the Popes than I have here mentioned and that he was Schismatical as taking the Emperor's part and so not to be believed And indeed I am not apt to believe any that accused men of Magicks in that ignorant age of the Roman Church whenas Erasmus saith He that did but understand Greek or Hebrew was suspected to be a Magician Otho 3d. that preferred this Pope gave him two Counties to his Church Vercellis and St. Agatha A heresie Glebar and Baron mention in his time soon extinct Stephen King of Hungary it 's said converted the Transylvanians which yet the Papists ascribe all to the Pope An hundred fifty nine Epistles of Gerbert's written before he was Bishop of Rhemes or Pope are found with Nicol. Faber saith Bin. § 88. CCCXXV In a Council at Rome an 999 Giester Archbishop of Mentz is accused for having two Parishes but struck with a Palsie could not appear and the matter referred to a German Council Bin p. 1079. § 89. Next cometh Iohn 16th as Bin. or 19th as Plat. who dyed the fifth month But though no good be said of him Plat. noteth the great happiness of Italy by the good Government of Hugo the Emperor's Lieutenant § 90. Next is Iohn 17th as Bin. or 20th as Plat. who saith Nil dignum memoriâ gessit But what was wanting in the unhappy Bishops God made up in good Princes Robert King of France and Henry the new Emperor of Germany Otho being dead being men of very great piety and justice Holiness was now passed Eminently to Princes § 91. Binnius recordeth that Leutherius Archbishop of Sens did now begin the Heresie of Berengarius It seems then neither Luther nor Zuinglius nor Berengarius nor Bertram alias Ratram began it But where will the reader find that Transubstantiation was yet named or by any consent received so that this is but to confess that yet the doctrine contrary to Transubstantiation did still obtain And the name of heresie from Baron or Bin. signifies no more against this Archbishop than the name of Magick and Diabolism against Silvester 2. from many Historians § 92. In a Council at Frankford the Emperor Henry having a great love to Bamberge would endow it and make it an Archbishoprick The Bishop of Wirâ—â—burge would not come to the Council unless it might be joyned to his Bishoprick It seem'd a hard controversy The good Emperor oft prostrate before them first having no Children dedicateth all that he hath to Christ and then desireth them to consider that It was not for the Lord but for ambition and to get more dignity that this Bishop did resist his desire his agent speaking for him Oh that Princes had sooner discerned the evil of such ambition and aspiring At last the Emperor being present carried it and chose an Archbishop who was ordained to Bamberge § 93. Next Peter Bishop of Abbane is made Pope and called Sergius 4th The Canons are here again violated Now saith Bin. was a great prodigie in a Church at Rome rose a spring of oyl of which a vessel full was sent to King Henry no doubt to call him to take the Empire § 94. CCCXXVI An. 1011. A Council at Bamberge endeavoured to end some quarrels among Bishops that strove to get more and accused one another unjustly to the Pope for which the King reproved some of them § 95. An. 1012. Two Popes were chosen and set up which is the 19th schism or double-head of the Roman Church The Emperor's party chose Benedict the 8th The City Party chose Gregory The Citizens were the stronger at present and so long their's was the true Pope The Emperor proved strongest at last and therefore Benedict became the true Pope for Hobbes his Law ruled among them that Right is nothing but Power to get and keep Gregory had no power to keep his Place Ergo he had no right to it Benedict fled to Germany and the good Emperor Henry came to Rome with an Army and made Gregory fly and set up Benedict Here Henry first instituted the Golden Globe and Cross as fit for an Emperor's hand and aspect Bin. out of Glab li. 3. c. 8. speaketh of the Jews injuring Christ's Image by a ludicrous crucifixion and that after the adoring of the cross the same day a whirlwind cast down the Houses omnesque pene Romanos occisos esse and almost all the Romans were killed that 's scarce credible and that it ceased not till the Pope had put the Jews to death Platina saith that this Emperor Henry and his Wife were so pious that they omitted nothing that might do good He overthrew the Saracens and giving his Sister in marriage to the King of Hungary converted him and his People to the Faith And Baron giveth you the copy of his large grant of Cities and Principalities to the Pope by way of confirmation of former grants § 96. They call it a Council at Legio in Spain where the King and Queen and Nobles with the Bishops and Abbots made some Laws for Church-priviledges § 97. CCCXXVII An. 1017. A Council was called at Orleance in France where by the Zeal of the religious King Robert and the Prelates the burning of Hereticks were set on foot Bin. out of Glaber thus reciteth the matter One Italian woman revived the heresie of the Manicheeâ— and two Clergie men yet called Palatii proceres et Regi familiares received and spread it abroad with confidence The opinions are thus recited by Glaber 1. That the Doctrine of the Trinity delivered in scripture is a deceit 2. That Heaven and Earth are from eternity without a maker 3. That the crimes of sensual pleasure shall have no punishment 3. That there is no reward for any Christian works save of Piety Justice The two leaders Lisoius and Heribertus and eleven more were burnt to ashes and afterwards as many more as were found guilty of the same errours Bin. p. 1083. Here consuming zeal began § 98. CCCXXVIII An. 1022. A Council at Salegunstad in Germany made many ceremonious Canons but decreed c. 16. that none go to Rome without the consent of the Bishop and c. 17. that the Popes pardons shall not profit them that have not fulfilled the time of their pennance They tell us also of a Council at Mentz and Gothard's curing a Demoniack woman § 99. Benedict dying went to
Balbus however he recalled Theodorus Studita from Prison and of Theophilus that succeeded him Petavius li. 8. c. 9. saith that Theophilus followed his Father in persecuting the Worshipers of Images but yet was a most strict requirer of Justice and reigning 12 years and three months died An. 841. the next year after the death of Ludovicus Pius He left his Son Michael a Child Emperor under the Rule of his Mother Theodora § 149. And now come up Images again by a Woman which ever since a Womans Reign almost had been cast out she ruled 14 years just as Irene did and sped as she for when her Son came to age he deposed her In this time Methodius first and Ignatius after were made Patriarchs of Constantinople And Bardas made Caesar deposed Ignatius because he would not excommunicate Theodora when she was deposed and set up the learned Photius in his place that came in as Nectarius had done from the Laity by sudden Ordination one honoured even by the Papists for his great learning but reviled for being against them § 150. CCLIII An. 842. This Woman had presently so much power on the mutable Bishops as in a Council at Constant. to turn them to be again for Images and as Theophanes saith Suddenly changing their judgment they cursed those that opposed Images and so after 120 years rejection they were restored and the Nicene 2d Council owned without any great difficulty And here all that were for Images accounted it Godliness and called them Ungodly that were against it and this Woman Theodora is stiled for it a very godly Woman though the other called it Idolatry and so while one side was cryed down as Profane and the other as Idolatrous the poor Church felt to its sorrow that Images were not taken for things indifferent Theophanes railing at Iohn the Patriarch of Constant. saith that Seeing so sudden and unexpected a change he that ruled impiously was struck with such a stupor and blindness of mind that he was ready to have killed himself and being the head of all the wickedness of an ungodly judgment that had led the Emperors by lyes and thrust them into the hell of impiety he was with ignominy cast out and good Methodius put in I recite the words to shew you what various Characters the interest of Images gave to men and what Godliness and Ungodliness Good men and Bad men are in the sense of many Historians § 151. The Pope dying Iohan. Diaconus seizeth on the place by force but Sergius is chosen against him and prevaileth I◠whose beginning Lotharius sent his Son Ludovicus with an Army to Rome Sigibert saith to be the Confirmer of the Pope and claim that right others say to be crowned To Lotharius they sware obedience but not to his Son Some great debate Anastasius tells us that a great company of Bishops had against the Pope and his Party but he tells us not what it was but that the Pope was too hard for them and glad when the French were gone § 152. It 's before said that after the Bishop's deposing him Lotharius was restored the three Brothers agreeing that Ludovicus should have Germany and part of France and Charles have France and Lotharius Narbon and Italy as Roman Emperor CCLIV The Archbishopric of Rhemes had been ten years without a Bishop upon Ebbo's removal or flight and two Presbyters successively Fulke and Hotho had been the Governors of it some will question the validity of their acts And a Council at Bellovacum makes Hincmarus Bishop § 153. Under Carolus Calvus the Church-Lands were much alienated especially Abbots Lands to Nobles and other Lay-men Whereupon CCLV. a Council at Melda Meaulx did by Ansegisus and Bernardus Levita draw up a Book of seven Parts lamenting the sins of Christians and the Sacriledge of the Laity and offered it to the King who refused it the Nobles being against it For which say the bold Expositors of God's Providences the Normans by Invasion troubled the Land § 154. Leo the 4th became Pope they durst not consecrate him without the Emperor's authority Anastas in Bin. p. 618. This Pope wrought great Miracles say they 1. He conquered a Basilisk that killed men by his looks as St. George conquered the Dragon 2. By the Cross he stopt a fire in the City But his good works contain a Volumn in Anastasius viz. the many Churches that he adorned enriched repaired the silver Vessels and Ornaments that he gave the Posts and Pillars and Altars that he beautified and the glory that he added to the Roman City and Churches c. yea when the Saracens came and spoiled St. Peter's Church in the Suburbs of Rome he caused the said Suburbs to be walled and fortified as a new City calling it Leonina from his name And he made two or three Prayers of six or seven lines long to desire God's protection of it by the intercession of St. Peter And he writeth a notable Homily in which he comprizeth much of the Canons teaching them all the Arts Gestures and Ceremonies of canting the Mass and precisely ordereth that every Priest do learn his Lesson and that if any of them be illiterate that cannot read he shall be suspended till he amend learn to read so learned was the Clergy in that Age. § 155. By the way the oft mention here of singing the Mass doth remember me to note that which is much over-looked viz. How Liturgies imposed first came up or were mostly propagated without any exception or opposition It was chiefly because they did sing them and had fitted them accordingly to their singing Notes like our Cathedral singing of our reading Psalms and Prayers And we all know that the People or Minister cannot make Psalms ex tempore but we must and do use forms in singing but the Prayers that were not sung but said were longer left free to the Speakers present skill § 156. CCLVI. An. 847. in a Council at Paris Lotharius caused the cause of Ebbo to be reviewed but after Summons he would never appear to his death § 157. CCLVII A Council at Mentz An. 847. repeated many Ecclesiastical Canons Among others Murderers still instead of death are but put upon long removal from the Communion no though they murder Priests In this Council a Woman called Thiota was judged to be whipt because she had professed to have Revelations foretelling the day of judgment that year putting the People in fear and even many Priests followed her as a Prophetess she confessed that a certain Priest persuaded her to do it for gain CHAP. X. Of the Councils about Ignatius and Photius and some others § 1. CCLVII AN. 848. A Synod at Mentz under Rabanus condemned Godescalcus a Presbyter and Monk of Rhemes as a Predestinarian Heretick Hincmarus Ep. ad P. Nicol. reciteth his Heresies to be 1. That as God hath predestinated some to life eternal so others to death eternal That he would not have all Men saved but
doth by words saying whoever adores not the Image of our Saviour shall not see his face at his second coming adding by the same reason we venerate and adore the Image of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Angels as the scripture describeth them and of all the Saints They that think otherwise let them be cursed from Christ. Can. 6. They anathematize Photius because he did excommunicate and anathematize the Pope and all that communicated with him Can. 7. No excommunicate men are allowed to make Images Can. 8. Is too good for the Devil to let the Church enjoy viz. That whereas it is reported that not only the heretical and usurpers but some Orthodox Patriarchs also for their own security have made men subscribe to be true to them the Synod judgeth that it shall be so no more save only that men when they are made Bishops be required as usual to declare the soundness of their faith He that violateth this Sanction let him be deprived of his honour The 10th Can. Condemneth them that hold That Man hath two Souls which they say Photius favoured and cursed them from Christ. The 11th Can. Tells us what men these Bishops were and what they sought It is That all that are made Bishops bearing on earth the person and form of the Celestial Hierarchy shall with all veneration be worshiped by all Princes and Subjects and we will not have them to go far from the Church to meet any commanders of the Army or any Nobles nor to light from their horses like supplicants or abjects that feared them nor to fall down or petition them If any Bishop hereafter shall neglect his due honour or break this Canon or permit it to be done he shall be seperated for a year from the Sacrament and that Prince Duke or Captain two years The 12. Can. Princes as prophane men be not spectators of that which holy persons do and therefore Councils be held without them Either I understand them not or it is in despite of truth that they say Vnde nec alias reperimus Oecumenicis Conciliis unquam interfuisse Neque enim fas est ut prophani Principes rerum quae sacris hominibus gerundae sunt gerunturve spectatores fiant Binnius noteth ex praescripto nempe Canonum turning an assertion de facto into one de jure and an universal into a particular by which licence of expounding what lye or blasphemy may not be justified And why then have so many thousand been cursed from Christ by Councils for unskilfulness in words § 59. The 14th Can. secureth the Bishops admirably in despite of the old reforming honest Canons decreeing that A Lay-man not excepting Kings or Parliaments shall have no power to dispute by any reason of Ecclesiastical Sanctions or to oppose the universal Church or any general Synod for the difficulty of these things and agitating them on both sides is the office of Patriarchs Priests and Doctors to whom only God hath given power of binding and loosing For though a Lay-man exceì in the praise of piety and wisdom yet he is a Lay-man and a Sheep and not a Pastor But a BISHOP though it be manifest that he is destitute of ALL VIRTUE of Religion yet he is a Pastor as long as he exerciseth the office of a Bishop and the sheep must not resist the Shepherd O brave doctrine for the Roman Kingdom A Heathen or Infidel or Mahometan or Arrian Bishop must not be opposed He that is no Christian may be a Bishop How much to be blamed were the General Councils that deposed Popes for Infidelity Diabolism Heresie Simony Perjury Blasphemy Sodomie Fornication Murders c. when a Pope that hath all these and no virtue of Religion is not to be judged by Lay-men or opposed Q. 1. May a Prince save his crown from such 2. May a man save his Wife from such or a woman refuse their copulation or defend her Chastity against them 3. What if such are drunk in the Pulpit are the People bound to be silently submissive 4. Why did Pope Nicholas decree that none should hear Mass from a Priest that liveth in fornication 5. Are Priests above Kings or are they lawless Yet this very Synod of Bishops in their Epistle to Pope Hadrian sayes Cui conâ—ictae Synodo qui tum imperitabant Michael et Basilius noster praesidebant And Basilius and Baanes were now among them And many Princes especially in France and Spain have made strict Laws to amend the Bishops § 60. One of the decrees of this Council was that Photius should not be called a Christian. Bin. p. 899. Col. 2. Yet the Apostle saith of the rejected account him not as an enemy but admonish him as a Brother 2 Thes. 3. § 61. In Bin. p. 899. is an epistle of Pope Stepheus to the Emperor Basilius which containeth the radical doctrine of all the Bishops rebellion and pride viz. that Princes are only appointed for the things of the Body or this life and prelates and Priests for the matters of the Soul and life eternal and therefore that the Prelates Empire is more excellent than the Princes as heaven is above earth Quandoquidem verbis quae ad usum vitae id est rerum praesentium pertinent Imperium a Deo traditum est ita nobis per Principem Apostolorum Petrum rerum divinarum procuratio est commissa Accipe quaeso in optimam partem quae subjicio Haec sunt capita curaeque Principis imperii vestri Nostri verò cura gregis tanto praestantior est quanto altior est terra quà m coelum Audi Dominum Tu es Petrus de vestro imperio verò quid dicit Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt Obtestor igitur tuam Pietatem ut Principum Apostolorum instituta sequare magna veneratione prosequare Omnium enim in orbe terrarum omnis or do et Pontificatus Ecclesiarum à principe Apostolorum Petro originem et authoritatem acceperunt O horrid falshood as before confuted § 62. Yet this Council in Breviar in Bin. p. 905. determine of the Pope that being but one Patriarch he cannot absolve one that is condemned by the other many Patriarchs § 63. Laying all together I cannot perceive by historical notice but that both Ignatius and Photius were both better Bishops than most were to be found the first being a very pious man and the other also a man of great learning and diligence But the old contention WHO SHOULD BE CHIEF or greatest made them both the great calamity of the Church I think it not in vain here to transcribe part of the summ of the life of Ignatius as written by Nicetas David Paphlago who was devoted to him though somewhat said already be repeated Ignatius being of the blood Royal was in quiet possession when denying entrance or Church Communion to Bardas Caesar for his reported Adultery he provoked that indignation in him which deposed him Bardas first perswaded the
Romane Clergy were that would have such a Pope 2. But they give no proof of any such Consent but say It is verisimile 3. And where was the Church till that Consent or at least its Holiness 4. Can such Mens Consent make a Pope of an uncapable person Will no Wickedness incapacitate § 30. Say the foresaid Authors in this Popes time Sisevandus Bishop of Compostella finding the great diversity of the Roman and Moâ—â—rabick Liturgy altered his by the Popes consent After Herveus one Seulphus was Arch-Bishop of Rhemes Heribert Earl of Aquitane considering that the Bishop of Rhemes Anointeth the King of France bargained to have his Son made next Bishop that thereby he might get the Crown In hast Seulphus is Poysoned because they could not stay till he dyed Heribert ' s Son not yet Five Years old is made Arch-Bishop O scelus in auditum say Baronius and Binius This monstrous Election say they never before seen or heard of in the Christian World nor perhaps thought of Pope John did not only not disallow but ratifyed And by this Fact the Infamous Pope gave an Example to many Princes not only in that but the following Ages Alas for Grief to procure Lads that were their Kindred to be thrust into the Chief Seats or Bishopricks to the great Mischief of the Church A Work say they indeed worthy such a Pope whom an Infamous Woman by an Infamous Work had thrust into St. Peter's Chair Qu. Were such Villaines as Infallible as others Did their Love Honesty and Chastity fail and yet Were they secured against the Failing of their Faith Or Had they a Sincere Faith that had no other Grace And Could these forgive Sins and deliver Souls out of Purgatory When he had sate Fourteen Years or Sixteen saith Baronius and Binius Marquess Wido by the Perswasion of his Wife Marozia Pope Sergius Whore for the sake of his Brother Peter whom they hated cast him out of his Seat into a Prison where shortly after he was Choked with a Pillow And so the Invader and unjust Detainer of the Apostolick-Seat had an End worthy of his Wickedness And he that by the Impudent Mother Theodora had violently seized on the Holy Seat by her as Impudent Daughter was by God's just Iudgment Ejected Imprisoned and Deprived both of it and of his Life Ex Luitpr Frodoaldo Baron § 31. CCCIX Anno 912. A Synod at Confluence decreed as against Incest That none Marry within the seventh Degree of Kindred Was that Divine Law § 32. Two or Three other Synods at Trosâ—etum are mentioned about small Matters and One at Duisburge to Excommunicate some that put out the Bishops Eyes § 33. The next Pope is Leo the Sixth and Dyed after Seven or Six Months and Fifteen Dayes § 34. Next Anno 929. succeeded Stephen the Eighth or Seventh and sate but two Years one Month and fifteen Dayes How they were so fast dispatched I omit § 35. Next comes the Son of Marozia Pope Sergius his Bastard call'd Iohn the Eleventh His Mother and Father-in-Law Wido got him in Anno 931. even when he was a Lad under Age. His Brother Albericus saith Baronius did keep this Pope in Prison to his Death But the Case was this vid. Bin. p. 1055. Wido being Dead Marozia offereth the Dominion of Rome to his own Brother Hugo on condition he would Marry her He accepteth the Condition and secretly entering the Castle of St. Angelo after he had committed Incest with her his Brother's Widow he despised the Romans When his Son-in-Law Albericus by his Mother Marozia's Command poured out Water to wash his Hands he stroke him on the Face for pouring too much To Revenge this Wrong Albericus stir'd up the Romans to a Defection and having by Assault of the Castle put to Flight bis Father-in-Law Hugo he commanded his Mother Marozia and his Bastard-Brother the Counterfeit Pope John to be kept in Prison in which the violent Invader dyed being violently cast out after for five Years and some Months he had rather filthily Defiled tban Ruled the Apostolick-Seat Saith Binius out of Luitpraudus and Baronius Calling him a Monster and yet Magnifying Rome because such were Obeyed § 36. CCCX Anno 932. A small Council at Erford in Germany under King Henry decreed 1. That Holy-Dayes be kept for an Honourable Commemoration of the Twelve Apostles and Fasting on the Evens 2. That no State-Meetings be kept on the Lord's Dayes or other Holy-Dayes nor Christians then cited to the Courts of Justice 3. Nor when he is going to Church 4. That scandalous Ministers be tryed 5. That no private Christian make or impose any Fast on himself without the Bishop or his Missionaries Consent An unreasonable Usurpation Must the Bishop needs know all the Reasons that every Man hath for Fasting and be Judge of them But sure the Bishop's Diocess had not then so many hundred Parishes and so many Counties as they have now Else by that time the Bishop and his Commissary had heard a Hundred Thousand or Fifty Thousand Persons tell him what Reasons they had to Fast besides the common Fasts at any time or on any special Occasions much of his time would be taken up § 37. Anno 935. A Council at Rhemes against Church-Robbers c. § 38. Anno 936. Leo the Seventh was made Pope after Iohn the Eleventh In that time Hugo that was got away from Albericâ—s had got an Army and Besieged Rome A Match was made for Albericus to Marry Hugo's Daughter And so Marozia's Husband and Son were agreed by the means of Odo Abbot of Cluniac § 39. Henry King of Germany the Glory saith Baronius and Binius of Christian Religion dyed at this time who after many other Nations Couverted also the King of Denmark to the Christian Faith and left his Son Otho the Heir of his Piety and Valour Yet are not other Papists ashamed to say That all these Nations were Converted by the Pope who was the great Scandal that hindred the Conversion of the World § 40. But say the same Authors Manassâ—s Bishop of Arles now troubled the Churcb Being an Ambitious Man not contented with his Seat by the means of Hugo King of Italy he also invaded the Bishopricks of Verona and of Trent and of Mantua and of Milaâ— it self O now the Church prosper'd Saying That he did it by the Example of the Prince of the Apostles who at once possessed Rome Antioch and Alexandria Ex Luitpraud And could the Pope blame him that would be Bishop at the Antipodes and have all the World But it s strange that Men should talk of Bishops Ambition as of a strange thing in the Year 937. § 41. Anno 939. Pope Stephen the Nineth was chosen by Otho of Germany without the Cardinal-Clergy who had neither Power nor Virtue enough to choose And the City was under the Power of Albericus who Tyrannized over them And because he had not the Choice
Germans French c You see here that it was far from all the world that was subject to the Pope and took his part in his usurpations Epist. 4. He commandeth a General no more to fight against the King of Dalmatia as belonging to St. Peter § 50. Yet this Pope doth teach them the truth against deceitful pennance or repentance Lib. 7. Epist. 10. viz. We say that it is a fruitless pennance when men remain in the same fault or in the like or in a worse or in one little less He therefore that will worthily repent must have recourse to the Original of his Faith and be solicitous watchfully to keep that which in his Baptism he promised viz. to renounce the Devil and his pomps and to believe in God that is thinking rightly of him to obey his Commands § 51. Epist. 11. He tells the Duke of Bohemia that it is customarily and doubtfully that he saluteth him with Apostolical Benediction Because he communicated with the excommunicate And he denieth his request of using or translating the Divine Service or Offices into the Sclavonian tongue because there were many mysteries in it Thus come up the Prohibition to the peoplee to pray understandingly Epist. 14. He absolveth the Bishop of Liege from an Oath because he took it by force And commandeth him to rise up against the imposer with all his power he being St. Peter's enemy Epist. 21. He tells the King of Denmark of an ill custom among them that whatever ill weather or calamity befell them they imputed all to the ill lives of Priests Epist. 23. He tells our King William the Conqueror that seeing he was on his side and is charged by some with all his bloodshed that now he must be very obedient to him as his Pastor and Peter's Successor And Epist. 25. He tells them that the Papal or Apostolick power is greater than the Kingly and must rule it as the Sun is greater than the Moon Lib. 8. Epist. 1. He laments the Corruption of the Church in Armenia 1. Because they mixed not Water with Wine in the Sacrament when all men know that Blood and Water came from the side of Christ. 2. Because they made not their Chrysm of Balsom but of Butter 3. Because they honoured the memory of Dioscorus O what Heresies Pag. 1254. in Bin. There is an Oath that Robert Duke of Apulia Calabria and Sicily to be true to the Pope and defend him as holding all these from him and there is the Popes grant of them to him laying claim also to his other dominions the denyal of which he patiently beareth at the present § 52. But lest you think that at least the Kingdom of Spain was fast all this while to the Church of Rome Lib. 8. Epist. 2. He writeth thus himself By the Letters of my Legate Richard Abbot of Marseilles you may know how great impiety is gone out of your Monastery of Cluny by the presumption of Robert a Monk who imitating Simon Magus feareth not to rise up against the Authority of St. Peter with all the craft of his malignity and to reduce by his suggestion into their old error an hundred thousand men who by our diligence began to return to the right way But he hopes that the Abbot thinks as he for the honour of the Roman Church He chargeth the Abbot to cast out this man that had so endangred Spain adding And by your Letters diligently acquaint the King who is deceived by his fraud that he hath greatly provoked St. Peter's wrath and indignation against him and his grievous Revenge against him and his Kingdom unless he repent because he undecently handled a Legate of the Roman Church and believed falshood rather than truth Of which that he may worthily make satisfaction to God and St. Peter as he hath disgraced our Legate so let him by due humility and condign Reverence make himself commendable and devout For we think meet to signifie to him by you that we will excommunicate him if he correct not his fault and will solicite all the faithful in the parts of Spain to his confusion And if they be not obedient to my command I will not think much to travel into Spain my self and there to endeavour dura et aspera Things hard and sharp against him as an enemy of the Christian Religion O brave Pope had not these men a notable Knack or hap that could sit and talk down Emperors and Kings and subdue and dispose of Kingdoms by sitting at home and talking big and telling them that St. Peter was angry with them And who was this King but the great Alâ—onsus to whom he writeth himself Epist. 3. to put away his evil counsellors and hearken in all things to the Popes Legate Richard § 53. Epist. 6. l. 8. He commandeth Souldiers to help Michael the Emperor of Constant against the Usurper to make himself judge and get an interest again in the Empire But in vain § 54. Epist. 7. He declareth that divers Princes having sworn and promised him help he resolved to come with an Army to recover Ravenna to the Church Epist. 8. He rejoyceth that they had newly found St. Matthew's body and bids them now take him joyfully for their patron These are the grounds of Popish superstition The body of St. Matthew that preached to the Abassines in another part of the world is found at Salerno in Italy a thousand years after he is dead O that one knew how to be sure that it was his body and how it came thither Divers such findings they glory in § 55. Epist. 10. He writeth to Orzoceus Prince of Calaris or Sardinia to require him as a note of his obedience to St. Peter and concord with the Church of Rome whose use it is to let his Arch-Bishop shave his Beard and to command all the Clergy of his dominion to shave their Beards and if they obey not to force them to it or exclude them And to be sure of success he lets him know how truly I know not that many Princes importuned him to give them leave to invade his Countrey but this righteous ruling Pope denied leave to them all till he had tryed whether he would obey him which if he would do he would not only deny them leave to invade him but also protect him Reader think here 1. Whether Princes held not their kingdoms loosely when they where to lose them if they obeyed not the Pope in so small a thing as the shaving of a Priests Beard 2. Whether it were not a hard thing for the Catholick Church then to have concord when so small a difference as the shaving or not shaving of Beards were put into their terms of Union and Peace Who were the Schismaticks then was it not the makers and imposers of such laws and terms 3. Is it not a high power that is claimmed by Popes when no Priest in all the Christian world may have
though he oft reproach him for speaking truth Many are about Tho. Becket Archbishop of Canterbury and against the Emperor and the King of England forbidding the Coronation of Henry the 3d and suspending Roger Archbishop of York for Crowning him and such like to shew how he was King of Kings § 179. CCCCXXI Of the Councils in Alexander's time recorded by Binnius the first is An. 1160. at Papia called by the Emperor which voted Victor Pope and condemned Roland called Alexander The Letters of the Emperor and the Bishops tell us that this Council consisted of immunerable Bishops and Abbots and that the Emperor after a good Speech departed and left all to their judgments And that it was there proved by the Oaths of many Witnesses that Victor was chosen by the full consent of the People and Clergy and some Cardinals and that twelve days before Roland was chosen and that Roland was present and contradicted not but bid them obey him that was chosen And that after being Chancellor he stole out of the City and the major part of the Cardinals having before the death of the last Pope entered a Confederacy to choose none but one of themselves that confederated against the Emperor they secretly chose Roland the People and Clergy a multitude subscribing all desiring Victor There or four Kings also consenting to accept him when the Council declared him the onely true Pope and Roland a perfidious Usurper Here is all the Romans Clergy and People the Emperor and many Princes and a Council of innumerable Prelates of Germany Italy c. against the major Vote of an upstart sort of Men called Cardinals that had confederated treacherously before And yet the Roman Papacy is by Succession from this Man that was no true Bishop himself CCCCXXII CCCCXXIII CCCCXXIV CCCCXXV An. 1161. Alexander got a Council at Clermont and another at Newmarket and another at Belvacum and An. 1164. another at Tours to curse the Emperour and Pope Victor The French taking his part and the English at last kept up the Schism and Contention The Reader must take this notice by the way that such Meetings as we call Parliaments the Popish Historians often call Councils that they may draw Men to think that what Parliaments did was done by Clergy Power And when Lords Commons and Bishops met in the same Assembly some called them Parliaments and some Councils And as Spelman saith pag. 529. The same Assemblies were indeed mixt and partly Civil or Royal as he calleth them because called by the King and partly Ecclesiastical But among the Romanists Councils are greatly advanced by this ascribing to them the Acts and Power of Parliaments Accordingly the Parliament at Clarendon is called a Council by Binnius CCCCXXVI by the reproachful name of Conciliabulum because they setled the Rights of the King as Ruler of the Clergy and would not let the Pope be King of England which is the Henrician or Royal Heresie to be punished by Fire or other death on Kings themselves when the Pope is big enough to do it In this Council or Parliament Thomas of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops concurred with the rest for fear But Thomas when he came home repented and imposed so strict Penance on himself that the Pope hearing of it was sain in absolve him § 180. CCCCXXVII An. 1171. Binnius saith that Ireland being given to the Pope as soon as they became Christians the Pope gave it to King Henry the 2d as soon as he had conquered it and a Council at Cassel was called for Reformation Note here 1. That the Pope hath great reason to seek the Conversion of the Kingdoms of the world if they are his when they are converted 2. That it is no wonder if five parts of six of the world be still Infidels or at least that they are unwilling to yield to Popish Christianity when Heathen and Infidel Kings must lose their Kingdoms and become Subjects to the Pope if they turn to Popish Christianity 3. That it hath long been a cunning way of Bounty with Popes to give Princes their own Kingdoms and Conquests when they cannot take them from them CCCCXXVIII An. 1179. was the Synod at Venice for reconciliation § 181. CCCCXXIX An. 1180. Alexander being at peace called a Council at Rome which they call General or the 11th General Council approved at Lateran In which are many reforming Canons and many for the Papal power The first is as aforesaid to confine the power of Pope-making to two third parts of the Cardinals only Another to degrade those ordained by the three Anti-Popes Another that no one have many Churches c. And the last against some called Cathari Patrini or Publicani as Hereticks giving those Indulgences that will fight against them and absolving all Inferiors from all Fidelity and Duty to them c. Some think that these were the Waldenses some the Albigenses But I have elsewhere shewed against Mr. Danvers that there were several sorts then in those Countries some Manichee Hereticks and some good Christians called Waldense and Albigenses but against the Pope and his Superstitions whom the Papists would jumble together to disgrace the best who were as some of their own Writers e.g. Sanders lib. 7. de vis Monar say A portion of the Henricians that is of the Emperor Henry's Heresie that held the Pope's false usurping Excommunications were to be contemned not as from Henry their Teacher that is they were Royalists and against the Pope's ruling the abused world by the Cursing way § 182. To this Council Crab and Binnius have annexed a voluminous Appendix of Decrees of which many are notable As that no Bishop may suspend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter That a Perjured Clergy-man is to be perpetually deprived and may not govern a Church That in case of ambiguity of words we must have recourse to the common understanding of them with divers others § 183. Alexander dying Lucius the 3d is the first chosen by the Cardinals according to Alexander's Lateran Council as is aforesaid And to perfect the Papacy having got the choice of the Bishop out of the hands of the Clergy and People of Rome his Flatterers next persuade him to put down the Order and Name of Senators which attempting his Party by the Cities insurrection had their eyes put out and the Pope forced to leave the City and at Luca while he provoked Princes to send Soldiers to Ierusalem and Asia he dyed § 184. CCCCXXX One Council this Pope had at Verona as they say where the Emperor Frederick met him and sollicited him to restore all the Bishops and Clergy deposed that had adhered to him and the Anti-Popes The Pope consented but said he could not do it without another Council By which it appeareth that this at Verona was no true Council § 185. Urbanus the 3d is next Pope called Turbanus as an Incendiary by Ab. Ursspergens but better
limina Apostolorum that is himself A terrible Earthquake made him for fear set up a hut of boards in an open Meadow lest the houses should fall on him He digg'd up the body of one Hermane that had twenty years been honoured as a Saint and burnt it as a Hereticks He sent a Bishop to Philipâ— King of France to intreat him to go fight in Palestine and threatened him when he could not intreat him The King imprisoned the Bishop The Pope sent to require him to release him saying openly that the Kingdome of France was divolved to the Church for the contumacy of Phillip and his violating the Law of Nations and bid him Anathematize him and absolve all Frenchmen from the Kings Oath The King let go the Bishop but forbad all his Subjects going to Rome or sending any money thither and not enduring his insolency he assembled his Nobles and declared the Popedome void by Usurpation and unjust enterance of Boniface and appealed to a Council He Coyned money with this Inscription Perdam Babilonis nomen The Pope called a General Council where he gave the Kingdom of France to Albert the Emperour Anathematizing the King The King would not play with him but sends Sciarra and Nogarete to Italy to proclaim his Appeal But Sciarra in a mean habitâ— gets together many friends that the Pope had oppressed and surprizeth him in his Fathers house breaketh open the doors carrieth him from Avignia to Rome a Prisoner where the thirtieth day he died of grief of whom saith Platina Thus died Boniface who endeavoured more to put terrour than Religion into Emperours Kings Princes Nations and People and to give Kingdomes and take them away to expel men and reduce them at his pleasure unspeakably thirsting for gold which way ever to be gotten Let all Princes Ecclesiastical and Secular saith he learn by this mans example to go before the Clergy and people not proudly and contumaciously as he did but holily and modestly as Christ and his disciples and true imitators and choose rather to be loved than feared from whence the ruine of Tyrants deservedly cometh § 235. Anno 1297. CCCCLII Bin. saith a Council Lugdunense decreed that Princes should not tax their Clergy nor the Clergy pay them without the Popes Consent § 236. Anno 1302 CCCCLIII The Popes General Council at Rome excommunicateth the King of France as aforesaid His Army follow their Captain Pope § 237. Benedict the 11th alias the 10th alias the 9th is next chosen Pope much praised who excommunicated Sciarra and absolved King Philip and died before nine Moneths § 238. Anno 305. Entreth Clemens the 5th the Bishop of Bourdeaux who called the Cardinals to France and setled the Popes Court there where it continued seventy years till the Church and great buildings at Rome were desolate and ruinous saith Platina In his time Albert the Emperour was kill'd by his Nephew Italy confounded by Wars The Pope curseth and interdicteth the Venetians the Florentines the Lucenses Requireth the new chosen Emperor of Luxemburge to come to Rome for Coronation He entereth Italy some Cities fight against him some yield At Rome demanding money they resist and it cometh to force and he is driven back After many bickerings and Cities taken he dieth as is said saith Plat. Poysoned in the Eucharist by a Monk Two fight for the Empire Lodovic Bavour and Frederec Austriae Lodovicus conquereth and maketh himself Emperour Clement burneth two as Hereticks maketh P. Caelestine the 5th a Saint writeth his Clementinus and dieth and again there was no Pope for two years three months and seventeen dayes § 239. CCCCLIV A Council at Saltzburge to get money Tenths for the Pope § 240. CCCCLV Another there Anno 1310. declaring some penalties § 241. CCCCLVI Another at Mentz to extirpate the Templats where some of them rusht in and appealed to the next Pope protesting they were killed and burnt wrongfully without being heard speak for themselves § 242. CCCCLVII But the great Council called by them the 15th General Council approved was at Vienna near France on this occasion King Philip having got the Popedome for Clem. the 5th made him promise to condemn Pope Bonif. the 8th and all his Acts When he had possession he found himself in a streight and Nicholas Cardinal Pratensis advised him to please the King with the hopes that a General Council would do it most effectually and to get the Council out of his Country and power which being done the Council frustrated the Kings expectations The King accused Pope Boniface of Simony Heresie and Perjury in forty Articles His crimes were not denyed but they justified him to be a true Pope and found him not an Heretick In this Council the Templars were condemned and put down and their Lands given to the Ierusalem Hospitalers or Knights of Rhodes which they say King Philip thought to have got some say the Templars were falsly accused of Heresies and the Masters and others burnt Others say truely The most probable is that some particular Men of them no new thing among Soldiers committed many Villainies and the rest suffered for their sakes In this Council the Heresies of Petrus Ioanâ—is a Disciple of Abbot Ioachim were condemned which were three 1. That the rational Soul as rational is not the form of humane bodies 2. That habitual grace is not infused in Baptism that is alwayes and to Infants 3. That Christs side was pierced with the Launce before he was dead In this Council the Fratricelli and Dulcinists were Condemned and also eight Heresies of the Beguines and Beguards which were these all for perfection which Quakers and some Fryars now seem to be too much for in profession as we all are in desire 1. That man in this life may get such a degree of perfection as that he may become impeccable or sinless and so to rise to no higher a degree of grace Else say they if one might still increase he might grow better than Christ. 2. That when one hath atteined that degree he ought not to fast or pray Because then sensuality is perfectly subject to the Spirit and reason so that a man may then freely grant his body what pleaseth him 3. That they that have got this degree of perfection and the Spirit of liberty are not subject to humane obedience nor bound to any precepts of the Church for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 4. That thus a man may get final beatitude in all degrees in this life as well as in that to come 5. That every intellectual nature is naturally blessed in it self and the soul needeth not the light of glory for the seeing and enjoying of God 6. That to exercise virtues is a note of imperfection 7. That to kisse a Woman is sin because nature needs it not but copulation is not because nature requireth it when one is tempted 8. That one ought not to rise and to reverence at the elevation of