he caused some Fellows so to cut and mangle the Face of the Pope that he would never after be seen abroad but kept close till he dyed which was after Three Years This Otho resolved to Revenge on Albericus And also the War between Hugo and Albericus broke out again Platina saith That Hugo was about to Revenge the Pope but then Dyed § 42. A Synod was at Narbon to end the Contention of two Bishops about the Extent of their Diocesses and Jurisdiction § 43. CCCXI. If yet you perceive not the sad State of the Church by Men's striving for Church-Dignities a Council at Soissons Anno 940. will tell you more You heard before how the Earl of Aquitane had got his Son to be made Arch-Bishop of Rhemes The Child in coats was but Five Years old It happened that he was put out again for his Infancy or Non-Age and Artaldus a Monk chosen in his stead This Council of Bishops was to decide the Câ—â—e between the two Arch-Bishops The Objection against one was his Infancy and his Father 's ill means to bring him in The Objection against the other was Perjury He had sworn that he would never accept an Arch-Bishoprick Alas Must the Church of France be Headed by one of these an Infant or a Perjured Monk The Synod cast out the Perjured Monk and judged the Seat to the Infant as being lawfully Chosen Power made it a Lawful Call And the Bishops went to Rhemes and Consecrated him § 44. In the Year 920. the French Nobles by consent at Soissons had Revolted from King Charles because he took Haganon a Man of low of Quality into his Privy-Council and made him Great Herveus Bishop of Rhemes had partly healed this Breach But Anno 922. it broke out again and the Nobles chose Robert King and Herveus Consecrated him But this Rebellion was their Ruin Three Years after dyeth Herveus And the next Year Robert Fighting against Charles was slain at Soissons yet his Army conquered the King's Shortly after Rodolph Duke of Burgundy is called in by the Nobles and made King as if the Kingdom had been void Charles on pretence of a Treaty is led by Heribert to a Castle and thence carryed to Perone where he dyed Anno 929. leaving a Son Lewis to Fight for the Kingdom And when Charles was in Prison Hugo rejected Rodulph and called Lewis out of England to be King Anno 936. But Hugo and Heribert would be his Masters and gave him little Quiet Heribert dyeth miserably and Repenteth Hugo Domineering the King craveth Aid of Otho out of Germany against him But shortly dyeth himself by a Disease got by a Fall in Hunting a Wolf Lotharius his Son succeedeth him In his Third Year Hugo the Great Duke of Orleance dyeth and Lotharius the King Anno 986. His Son Ludovicus succeeded who dyed Childless Anno 987. And in him ended the Line of Charles the Great For Charles Duke of Loraine that was next was by the Treachery of a Bishop taken by Hugo Capet the Son of the fore-said Duke Hugo and imprisoned to Death And this Hugo got Possession of the Crown So much briefly on the By of these Matters that they after interrupt us not too much See Dion Petav. lib. 8. c. 16. § 45. Marinus 2. alias Martin 3. is made Pope Anno 943. and Reigned three Years and some Months the common Time of Popes in that Age. In his time Artaldus strove again for the Seat of Rhemes § 46. CCCXII When Bishops would needs be Princes they taught Princes to resolve to be Bishops And as Heribert did at Rhemes so did the Emperor at Constantinople put in a Patriark Trypho a Monk on condition that he should hold it but till his own Son Theophylact came to Age. When the time came Trypho would not Resigne A Council is called where Bin. ex Curopal tells you the State of that Church alsâ— as too like the Western The Council being met Tryphon makes a Speech to them and saith That his Adversaries that had a mind to cast him out gave the reason that he knew not Letters But that they might all see that this was false and that he could Write and Read he call'd for Pen and Paper and having been taught thus much before wrote his Name thus Tryphon by the Mercy of God Arch-Bishop of Constantinople New Rome and Vniversal Patriark for that was then the Title The Emperor receiving the Paper it â—eems knowing that he could not Read writeth over head Knowing my self Vnworthy I Resigne the Throne to any that will And so sent the Paper to the Council and the Bishops wise and Good Men you must suppose Dethron'd Tryphon The Seat staid void five Months till Theophylact came to Age who then was chosen § 47. Anno 946. Agapetus the Second is made Pope in a time when Wars between the Hungarians and Henry Bavaria Berengarius and Otho c. made Miserable the Countries and Ignorance and Ambition the Churches § 48. CCCXIII. A Council at Virdun in France again tryed the Cause between the fore-said Infant and the Perjured Bishops Hugo and Artald and they undid what the last had done and Deposed Hugo and gave the Seat to Artald Yet we have not done with Doing and Vndoing For Pope Agapete now took Hugo's Part and wrote to the Bishops of France and Germany that Hugo that was in Possession was to be kept there But the Papists say he mistook by Hugo's Mis-information § 49. CCCXIV Anno 948. Another Council at Mosome was called for the same Business Hugo would not come in but sent the Pope's Letters which being not Canonical but his bare Command they rejected them cast out and Excommunicated Hugo till the next General-Council § 50. CCCXV. Anno 948. A General-Council of France and Germany is called at Engelenheim for the same Cause almost all France being disquieted about two Mens striving who should be the Great Arch-Bishop The Pope's Legate Marinus proved Hugo's Letters false and Hugo was Excommunicated and Artald setled But the Presence of two Kings Ludovicus and Otho did much there-to The Bishops thence removed to Triers called another Council where they judged for King Ludovicus against Duke Hugo and Excommunicated some Bishops Ordained by Bishop Hugo that was Ordained in his Child-hood And another Council at Rome confirmed these things § 51. Now cometh the Famous Pope Iohn the Twelfth the Son of Prince Albericus the Son of the Famous Whore A Child too Saith Baronius and Binius p. 1060. Quanquam hiuc Legitima aetas aliaque omnia deessent quae inlegitimo Pontifice requiruntur tamen accedente postea consensu totius Cleri visum est hunc potius esse Tolerandum quam Ecclesiam Schismate aliquo quod alioquin exortum fuisset dividendam He wanted Natural and Moral Endowments even All Things necessary to a Legitimate Pope say they And yet the After-Consent of the Clergy made him Tolerable c. Qu. 1.
and the Pope dieth Onuphrius further openeth the Reasons and Rules of the Cardinals being shut up viz. Clem. the 4th being dead the Cardinals as is aforesaid were all so desirous to be Popes themselves that they were two years and nine months contending and could not possibly agree Philip King of France and Charles King of Sicily came themselves to Rome to intreat them but departed without success Yet they invoked the Holy Ghost every day to help them At last the Cardinal Bishop Ioh. Portuensis deridingly prayed them to uncover the houses for the Holy Ghost could not come in through so many covered roofs At last by Bonaventures intreaty they chose Theoâ—ald a Viseount and Archdeacon that was with our Prince Edward going to fight in Palestine And the â—aid Cardinal Portuens made these Verses on their choice anno 1271. Papatus munus tulit Archidiaconus Vnus Quem Patrem patrum fecit discordia fratrum § 221. Innocent the 5th cometh next the first after the shutting up of the Conclave He sought to end the Italian Wars but died before six moneths reign § 222. CCCCXLVII A Council at Salâ—zburge is published by Conisius as in Greg. the 10ths days but it seemeth liker to be after which condemned Pluralities nonresidence of Priests and their being in Taverns or Alehouses and playing at Dice and their wearing long Hair and sine Cloaths and restrained supernumerary begging Schollars and ordered that the Bishop should imprison such as prophaned holy things after they were excommunicated or suspended It seemeth that Bishops had by this time got coercive power but they used it not to bring the unworthy to the Sacrament but to keep the unworthy from it and from other profanations § 223. Next Ottobonus that was Pope Innocent the 4ths Nephew and Legate of England at the Barons Wars is chosen Pope but died before his Consecration within forty dayes but got the name of Hadrian the 5th § 224. Next cometh Pope Iohn the 22th as Platina the 19th as Binius and the 21st as most the 20th by Onuphrius 1276. He was a Physitian made Bishop inverecundi socordis ingenii saith Platina so foolish that he boasted how long he should live when presently the house fell on his head and he died by it in seven days after Suffridus saith Binius saith that he was writing an heretical perverse book when the room fell and cryed out after O what is become of my book Who will finish it which saith Binius if true sheweth the wonderful Providence of God for his Church But had this Pope been infallible had he been in a Council purposed to revoke the decree for shutting up the Cardinals in Conclave and this man finished the revocation and till the dayes of Celestine 5th that renewed it it stood revoked saith Onuphrius § 225. Next came Nicholas 3d. after six months contention and vacancy King Charles as Senator presiding and pleading for a French Pope He is commended much save that he set up all his own Kindred too much § 226. After three years reign eight months and fifteen dayes of Nicholas came Mâ—rtin 2d vulgo 4th saith Binius and Onuphrius a Frenchman In his time the Greek Emperour Paleologus not keeping his promise to the Pope joyned with Peter King of Arragon who claimed Sicily as his Wives inheritance and though the former Pope had set him on this was against him restoring King Charles to be Senator at Rome and siding with him because he was a Frenchman But the fatal Sicilian Vespers killed all the French and Peter overcame Charles and took his Son and Charles and the Pope shortly died of Fevers But before he died the Pope played the old Game excommunicating and cursing King Peter and gave his Kingdom for a prey to any one that would get it and absolved all his Subject from their Oath of Allegiance and signed Croisado's Soldiers under the sign of the Cross to fight against him § 227. Honorius the 4th cometh next his Brother being Senator at Rome He confirmed the same Anathema against Peter King of Arragon who shortly after died of a wound received in fight by the French The Pope dieth and the seat is void ten moneths 1287. after two years Reign § 228. Anno 1287. CCCCXLVIII A Council was held at Herbipolis by the Popes Legate endeavouring to have got the tenth penny of the Estates of the Clergy for the Pope and of the Laity for the Emperour by their joynt consent But Siphridus Arch-Bishop of Colen and Henry Arch-Bishop of Trevers stoutly opposing frustrated both their Conciliary designs § 229. Anno 1288 came P. Nicolas 4th a Religious Man General of the Minors when he had four years together laboured in vain to stay the blood in Italy between the Guelphes and Giâ—ellins and to reconcile the French and English and to relieve the Christians in Palestine he died And the Cardinals though for liberty they went to Perusium kept the Church headless two years and three months by contention though Princes in vain endeavoured to perswade them to agreement Are these no intercessions of the Succession In this time died Mich. Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople and the Clergy and Monks would not suffer him to be buried in holy ground because in the Council at Lyons he had consented to the Church of Rome Platina Was this a true Reconciliation of the â—reek Church § 230. Anno 1286. CCCCXLIX A Council at Râ—vâ—nna in Honorius time made some Canons for Reformation § 231. Anno 1291. CCCCL A Council at Sâ—ltsâ—urg for reconciling some Christians § 232. Anno 1292. CCCCLI The Arch-bishop of Mentz held a Council at Aschaffenburge which they say did many good things It is not known what § 233. Anno 1294. After two years and four months vacancy Caelestine the 5th a Religious man of solitary life is chosen Pope If ever there was a good Pope it is likely this was one But he was no sooner setled by common applause but the Cardinals especially Bened. Cajetaenus a subtile man perswaded him that his simplicity and unskilfulness would undo the Church and urged him to resign King Charles and the people disswade him and are only for him But the Cardinals prevailed and he resigned And going to his solicitude again the Cardinal Ben. Cajetaue that got him to resign sent him Prisoner to the Castle of Fumo where at best he died of grief Some write that Cardinal Cajetane got a way to speak through a Pipe put into the Wall as if it were some Angel to charge him to resign He was too good to be a Pope § 234. The deceiver that got him out succeeded him called Boniface the 8th by Bin. 7th 1294. This is he of whom it is said Intravit ut vulpes regnavit ut Leo exivit ut Canis He raised Wars to prosecute some Cardinals and the Gibelines While he lived wickedly he set up a Jubilee proclaiming Pardon of all sins to them that would visit
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
both to summon a Council they cunningly would not agree of the place and so forced the doing it without them § 265. CCCCLXVII To put a shew on the business Greg. calleth a Council at Aquileia whether by long delays he creepeth with a few to do nothing § 266. CCCCLXVIII And the other Pope Bened. 13. Anno 1409 also calleth his Council in Arragone of his Subjects which calleth it self a General Council and pronounce him the true Pope and no Schismatick or Heretick and Greg. to be the Usurper but exhort him to endeavour Unity § 267. CCCCLXIX The two Popes giving no better hopes some of the Cardinals of both sides slipt from them and by the Countenance of the Florentines and King Ladislaus chose Pisa for a General Council where they met and summoned both the Popes who scorned them and they deposed them both as Hereticks and Schismaticks saith Binius forbidding all Christians to obey them and they chose a third Alexander 5. and the two old ones kept up still and so there were three Popes at once § 268. An. 1409. Alex. 5. is chosen much commended but died in eighteen Months some say saith Antoninus poysoned by a Clyster But to shew himself a Pope in that little time he deposed King Ladislaus and gave his Kingdome to Lewis Duke of Anjou § 269. Balthasar Cossa is next chosen called by some Ioh. 21. by others 22. by others 23. and by Platina Ioh. 24. so little are they agreed of their succession Platina saith the Cardinals of Greg. were yet poor and he hired them with Money to Create him He got Sigismund King of Bohemia chosen Emperour and would have had the Council to be at Rome Italy continued still in blood the Popes having parcelled it into so many small Principalities to secure it against the Emperours no part of the whole World lived from Age to Age in such continual War and confusion This Pope saith Onuphrius Panvinus viz. fuit bello armis quam Religioni aptior utpote qui neque fidem norat neque Religionem rebus profanis magis quam Divino cultu accommodatus How he was accused deposed imprisoned how the other two Popes Greg. 12. and Bened. 13. were all deposed with him and Martin 5. chosen the next Chapter sheweth CHAP. XIII The Council of Constance Basil and some others § 1. CCCCLXX AN. 1414. the Council of Constance was called by the means of the Emperour Sigismund and the consent of Pope Iohn who the more trusted the Emperour because he had promoted him There were then three Popes Bened. 13. in France whom the Kingdomes of France Spain Arragon England and Scotland followed and Greg. 12. and Iohn 23. at Rome that divided the rest of the Papalines It was not certainly to represent the Trinity but to profane the Name and abuse the Kingdome of the blessed Trinity Oct. 28. P. Iohn called by them Sanctissimus Dominus Noster entereth the City Nov. 5. The Pope began the Council Nov. 16. was the first Session the Pope speaking to them and his Bull being read shewing that he would have had the Council at Rome but the miserable case of Rome by contention and confusion hindering it was agreed with the Emperour to be at Constance commanding to be there for the peace of the Church and appointing a Weekly Mass to be said for obtaining Gods blessing and pardoning a years penance for every Mass to every Mass-Priest that said it exhorting all to fasting and prayer for good success charging them to look after Errours especially those that rose from one Iohn Wickliff and also to reform the Church c. March 2. 1415. The Pope took an Oath for the peace of the Church to lay down his Popedome if the other two Popes would do the same and the Emperour kist his feet The Cardinal of Florence read these Decrees 1. That the Council was lawfully called 2. That it will not be dissolved by the departure of the Pope or other Prelates 3. That it be not dissolved till the present Schisme be healed and the Church reformed in Faith and Manners in Head and Members 4. That it be not removed but on just cause 5. That the Bishops depart not § 2. In the fourth Session they decreed that the general Council representing the militant Catholick Church hath its power immediately from Christ to which every man of what State or dignity soever though it be Papal is bound to obey in the things that belong to Faith and the extirpation of the said Schism and the general reformation of the Church in head and members 2. That the Pope withdraw not himself or the Officers and if he should or should thunder out Church censures against them or any adhering to the Council they are void 3. That no Translations Promotions or Cardinals be made to the prejudice of the Council 4. That three of each Nations be chosen to judge of departures c. But the Pope fled and sent them word that it was not for fears but for his health § 3. Sess. 5. The Emperor being among them they decreed again the Power of the Council as immediately from Christ which the Pope and all must obey and that the Pope is punishable if he disobey that he is bound to surrender in any case of great and evident profit to the Church that he unlawfully departed that if he will return and perform his promise he shall be safe Next they proceeded to condemn the Books of Iohn Wickliff and to prosecute Iohn Huss Next they applied themselves to the Emperour to reduce the Pope who told them he was in the hands of the Duke of Austria but if they pleased he would write to him or try to fetch him by force c. § 4. Sess. 6. They order the Procuration for the Popes Resignation to be demanded and Process to be made against Iohn Huss and Hierome of Prague A Letter is read from the University of Paris to the Pope to submit to the Council § 5. Sess. 7. They accused Hierome of Prague for not appearing and summoned the Pope promising him safe Conduct sed salvâ Iustitiâ c. § 6. Sess. 8 They condemned Wickliff's Bones to be dig'd up upon 45 Articles instead of 260 which they had gathered Art 1. was 1. That the substance material of Bread and Wine remain in the Sacrament of the Altar 2. The Accidents of Bread remain not without the substance 3. Christ is not identically and really in his proper bodily presence in the Sacrament 4. If a Bishop or Priest live in mortal sin he Ordaineth not Baptizeth not Consecrateth not 5. The Gospel saith not that Christ instituted the Mass. 6. God ought to obey the Devil 7. If a man be contrite aright outward confession is needless and unprofitable 8. If the Pope be a Reprobate and wicked and so a Member of the Devil he hath no power over the faithful given him by any but Caesar. 9. Since Vrban the
Against Preaching when silenced § 184. The Pope twice banished by the Romans The Emperour excommunicate and deposed fights it out The Pope dyeth § 186. A mortal sin to have two Benefices if one will maintain him § 187. The Emperour again excommunicate A merry Excommunication § 191. Rebellions § 192. Conrade and King Henry § 193. Bishop Grosthead's notable Letter to the Pope and its reception § 195 196. Obedient disobedience All Power for edification ib. The Pope calls the King of England his Slave whom he can imprison c. § 196. The Cardinals Speech to quiet the Pope A Defection foretold § 196. Grosheads death He taketh them for Hereticks that tell not great men of their sin c. The Pope Antichrist for destroying souls The Popes pardoning Letter The Pope described § 198. Miracles at Robert Grosheads death The Pope would have burnt and damned his Corps In a vision he mortally woundeth the Pope § 198 199. H. III. pawneth his Kingdom to the Pope § 200. The 13th General Council at Lyons excommnnicateth and deposeth the Emperour and absolveth his Subjects § 202. Guelphus for the Popes Gibelius for the Emperour § 203. The English Parliament demand the choice of the Lords Iustice Chancellour and Treasurer § 204. The Plot of King Henry and the Bishop of Hereford to get money by the Pope § 206. The Parliament resist it M. Paris talks too boldly of the King § 206. Buying Bishopricks Brancaleo at Rome mastereth the Pope § 208 209. Sewale Archbishop of York against the Pope doth Miracles § 212. Rome not ruled by the Pope § 214. Near three years vacancy of the Papacy § 219. Cardinal Portuensis jeast 220. The foolish Pope John sadly confuted § 224. King Peter of Arragon deposed § 226. The Popes Tenth peny denyed § 228. Two years more vacancy The Greeks enmity to Rome § 229. Pope Celestine cheated to resign and imprisoned § 233. Boniface the VIII his conflict with the King of France taken prisoner and dyeth Platina's good Counsel to all Rulers § 224. The Clergy not to be taxed by Princes § 235. The Pope setled in France by Clement V. Continueth 70 Years § 236. Above 2 years vacancy ibid. 40. Articles of the King of France against Boniface VIII Three Herisies of Petrus Joannis 1. The rational soul as such is not forma corporis humani 2. Grace habitual not infused in baptisme to Infants 3. The Spear pierced Christ before his death § 242. The Heresie of the Beguines and Beguardes for perfection § ibid. Pope Clements Decrees De fide 1. Of the form of the body the soul. 2. Infants infused Grace 3. Vsury a sin 4. To be restored The contrary to suffer as Hereticks § ibid. The falshood of some of these new Articles of Faith § 243. Magistrates excommunicated that disgrace wicked Priests § 247. Or compel them to answer to them § 248. Popes and Councils condemn each other as Hereticks § 250. The Pope claimeth the Empire by Escheate § 251. The Priest to take the name of every Parishoner that being confessed and confirmed they may communicate only by his counsel § 252. The Greek affairs § 256. A Toletane Council Decree that their Provincial Constitutions bind only ad poenam not ad culpam lest Christians Consciences be burdened § 257. After seventy years residence at Avignion forty years more there were two Popes and sometime more one at Avignion and one at Rome Discord chooseth an honest Pope but Concord an Anti-Pope Their Wars The Pope drowneth Cardinals in Sacks and makes twenty nine new ones in one day § 260. Italy still the most unpeaceable warring place of the World § 262 263. The Popes bloody way of curing Schism § 263. The Council of Pisa thinking to have but one Pope made a third § 267. Who Deposed King Ladislaus § 268. CHAP. 13. The Councils of Constance Basil c. That at Constance called by Pope John 21 alias 22 or 23 or 24 by Sigismund the Emperours means Councils above the Pope § 3. Wickliffs Articles § 6. One is that they are Traytors to Christ who give over preaching and hearing Gods word for mens Excommunications § 6 54. heynous Articles against Pope John commonly called The Devil incarnate An obstinate Heretick denying the life to come c. § 8. He ratifieth all himself and with other two Popes is deposed § 9. A decree against giving the Sacramental Cup though Christ and the Ancient Church used it § 10. Articles against John Hus as Wickliff's More as his own § 12 13. Excommunication must not make us leave off Preaching Against Hierome of Prague breaking safe Conducts § 14 15. The third Pope depos'd § 16. Decrees for frequent General Councils Popes Elections regulated A new Pope chosen § 17. The Fate of P. John and the rest § 18 19. Continued Wars at Rome against the Pope and in Italy § 23. The Council at Basil. The Bohemians case Their four Articles 1. For the full Sacâ—ament 2. For correcting publick Crimes 3. For liberty to preach Gods Word 4. Against the Clergies civil Power all eluded § 24. Bishop Augustinus de Roma's errours Phanatick Pardon of all sins confest with a contrite heart sold for money and fasting § 27. Their Catholick Verities 1. For Councils Supremacy 2. They may not be dissolved removed prorogued but consenting 3. It s Heresie to oppugn these § 28. P. Eugenins deposed as a pertinacious Heretick c. § 22. Queries hereon § 30. The immaculate Conception decreed § 31. Two Popes again § 32. Epistles of and against the Pope § 33. Four Treatises against the Bohemians four great Articles § 34 35. God only pardoneth the fault and the Pope part of Church Penances Whether silenced Preachers must cease Vnjust Sentences not regardable confessed The Council confirmed § 35 36. A Council at Briges confirmeth this § 37. The Council at Florence Two General Councils at once § 38. The Romans still fight against the Pope § 39. Constantinople lost ib. P. Pius 2. his Character and Sentences For Priests Marriage Yet for Rome's Vniversal Headship to be received as necessary to salvation § 44. P. Paul 2. a just and clement Simoniast and Tyrant Tormenteth Platina and many others Accuseth them of Heresie for praising Plato and Gentile Learning c. Against Learning § 45. P. Sixtus Wars and treachery § 46. Denying the Decrees of a General Council de fide of the immaculate conception of B. M. no Heresie § 47. P. Inoc. 8. fights to be King of Naples § 49. Pope Alexander the Sixth his ugly Character and his Son Borgia's Villanies Both drinking the poyson prepared for others The Pope dyeth of it § 50. Pius 3. § 51. P. Julius 2. Italy in blood still by him § 52. Councils against the Pope The King of France excommunicated § 53 54. The Anti-Council at Lateran against the Pisane against the French pragmat Sanction The not able Titles of the Pope § 55. Decreed that Simoniacal Election of Popes is
the Pretor stand at the Tribunal of the Bishop and to morrow the Bishop may be called to the Pretors Bar That an Earthly judge may take and punish the servants of the highest judge and consecrated men who will not say that this is most absurd Answ. This sheweth what Church-grandure and power these men expect If they have not the Civil power and be not Magistrates or Lords of all the Church is wronged This Clergy-pride is it that hath set the World on fire and will not consent that it be quenched 1. By this rule all Christians should be from under all Power of Kings and Civil Rulers For are they not all the servants of the highest Iudges Hath God no Servants but the Clergy 2. By this rule both Princes and People should be free from the Bishops judgment For are not these Bishops Men as well as Princes and are not Christian Princes and People the servanâ—â—s of the highest Iudge and therefore should not be judged by Bishops 3. But what a wicked rebellious doctrine is intimated in the distinction that Princes are Earthly Iudges and Prelates are the servants of the highest Iudge Are not Prelates Earthly Iudges as well as Princes in that they are men that judge on Earth And are not Princes Judges of Divine appointment and authority as well as Prelates Yea and their power more past all dispute 4. And what absurdity is it that every soul be subject to the higher power And that he that 's one of your Sheep in one respect may be your Ruler in another Why may not the King be the Ruler of him that is his Physician or his Tutor And why not of him that is his Priest Was not Solomon Ruler of Abiathar when he displaced him May not one man judge who is fit or unfit for Church Communion and another judge who is punishable by the sword Did Christ come to set up a Ministry instead of a Magistracy He that saith Man who made me a Judge came not to put down Judges He that saith By me Kings reign came not to put down all Kings Obj. Christ sets up a Kingdome of Priests or a Royal Priesthood Answ. But his Kingdom is not of this World or Worldly It is a spiritual Kingdome conquering sin and Satan putting down the World out of our hearts and making us hope for the everlasting Kingdom which we shall shortly enjoy The Disease of the Disciples that strove who should be greatest and sit at the right and left hand and said Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel hath prevailed after all this warning on a Worldly Clergy to the great calamity of the Church And what wonder when even then St. Paul saith All seek their own too much and none the things of Iesus Christ so naturally as Timothy did and so zealously as they ought Too many Popes haue been Peters Successours in the Character given him Mat. 16. Get thee behind me Satan Thou art an offence unto me For thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men I understood not who were the spring of our late Fifth-Monarchy mens diseases till I read Campanella de Regno Dei and some such Papists where I see that Christs reign by his Vicar the Pope over all the Princes and People of the World is the true Fifth-Monarchy Heresie For which they bring the same Prophecies as the Millenaries do for their Expectations Obj. But the Pope Prelates and Clergy called the Church are not to reign by deposing Kings but by Ruling them and being above them As Love is above the Law which yet is made for the ungodly that want Love and must be ruled by fear so Princes are for the World of unbelievers but not for the Church and Spiritual persons who live above them in the life of Love Answ. 1. This was one of the first Heresies which the Apostles wrote against Many tempted Christians then to think that Christianity freed them from service and subjection and made all equal But how plainly frequently and earnestly do Paul and Peter condemn it Is it not a shame to hear such Papists as cry up such a Heresie as this cry down and damn a Nestorian or an Eutychian or a Monothelite for an unskilful use of a word Paul saith He that teacheth otherwise against subjection is proud knowing nothing but doting 2. Love doth indeed set us above Fear and Legal threats so far as it prevaileth But it is imperfect in all and Fear still necessary 3. And this taketh not down either the Law or Magistracy to us but only maketh us less need such means It 's one thing to love and live so holily and justly as never to need or fall under the sword of Magistrates and another thing to be freed from subjection and obligation This increaseth in many the opinion that the Papal Kingdom is Antichristian in that they set up themselves above Rulers that are called Gods 3. But why must this priviledge extend to the Clergy only Have not other Christians as much holy love and spirituality as most of them And must Princes rule only Infidels Some suspect none as inclining to Popery but those that take up some of their Doctrines of Transubstantiation Purgatory Images c. But they that on pretence of the raising of the Church and defending its power do first call the Clergy only the Church and then seek to make themselves the Lords of Princes by the pretences of an Excommunicating Power and plead themselves from under them and take it for their priviledges to be free from subjection to them and their penal Laws are doubtless levened with that Popish Heresie which hath done much of all the mischiefs which the forecited History describeth § 50. CXXXI Besides some little contention at Alexandria under Proterius before he was murdered the next in Binnius is said to be at Angices Andegavensâ— which saith over again some of their old Canons against Priests living with Women and removing from place to place and such like And the Papists say that this Council was to contradict the Emperour Valentinians Law and to vindicate the rights of the Church as not being lyable to Civil Judicatures or under Kings § 51. CXXXII Anno 45. 3. A French Venetick Council was called about Ordinations which repealed some former Canons and was so strict that the first Canon kept Murderers and False Witnesses from the Sacrament till they repented instead of hanging them And the second Canon denyed the Communion to Adulterers that unlawfully put away their Wives and took others O strict Laws § 52. CXXXIII Ann. 459. A Council at Constantinople forbâ—d Simony § 53. CXXXIV Ann. 467. A Council at Rome of 48 Bishops decreed that men that had two Wives or the Husbands of Whores should not be ordained That they that could not â—ead and they that were maiâ—ed or dismembred or the Penitent should not be made Ministers c. § 54. CXXXV Ann.
so got him killed But he becometh Orthodox and saith Binnius p. 374. The great Patron and Defender of the Catholicks by the singular favour of God obtained the Empire So zealous was he that he caused the tongue of Severus the Eutychian Archbishop of Antioch to be pulled out of his head for cursing so oft the Council of Calcedon and such like things Paulus succeeded him and dyed and Euphrasius succeeded him who was buried in the ruines of the City it being cast to the ground by a terrible Earthquake and the remnant burnt with fire from Heaven in the lightning that went with the Earthquake But Euphremius Lieutenant of the East did so charitably relieve the People that in reward they chose him for their Bishop Reader Was not a Bishoprick then grown a considerable preferment when the Emperours Lieutenant of the East took it for such even to be Bishop of a City that lay on heapes § 77. CLI Things being now on the turn a Synod at Ierusalem votes up the Council of Calcedon and cry down Soverus § 78. CLII. And another at Tyre doâ—â— the like § 79. CLIII And another Council at Rome again decreeth the damnation of the three dead Bishops of Constantinople Acacius Euphemius and Macedonius What never have done with dead men Methinks stark dead might satisfie Pride and Malice Binnius saith that the Eastern Church yielded to blot out of the Dypticks the names of Acacius Euphemius and Macedonius not the Heretick and the Emperours Zeno and Anastasius The Pope maketh himself the Governour of Hell where he thought these Emperours and Bishops were But it is worse than Savage malice that will not cease towards dead men And if the Empire yielded they shewed more love of Peace than Rome did but not much wit in giving a Prelate of another Princes Dominion such power to defame and force them to defame their Emperours and Patriarchs at his pleasure § 80. The zeal of Iustin to eradicate the Arians and take all their Churches from them provoked Theodorick though a just man that gave the Orthodox liberty protection and encouragement yet an Arian and gave the Arians liberty also to resolve that he would use the Orthodox in Italy as Iustin did the Arians in the East Whereupon Iohn Bishop of Rome with some others went as his Ambassadours to Constant to mediate with Iustin for the Arians ease Anastastus in lib. Pontif. saith he obtained it Binnius out of Gregor Taron saith the contrary which is more probable However by going on such a Message for real Hereticks it appeareth with what sincerity the Popes prosecuted the dead names of the three Orthodox Constant. Bishops on pretence of zeal against Heresie When their interest urgeth them Let the World be set on fire rather than you shall speak favourably of an Eutychian But when interest changeth Rather than they in Italy shall suffer John goeth to Constantinople for favour to the Arians Suppose he did not speed What went he thither for On this provocation Theodorick on other quarrels put to death Symmachus and his Son-in-law Boetius Roman Senators and excellent men and imprisoned Iohn when he returned and in the prison he dyed And when he was dead the Arian King chose Foelix the fourth Pope Was this Election valid If yea he that is strongest though a Heretick may choose the Pope If not than their succession was then interrupted § 81. CLIV. We have next a great Council called Ilerdense of eight Bishops ander Theodorick to mend some faults of the Clergy viz. That they that Minister at the Altar abstain from mans blood Can. 1. That they that commit Adultery and take Medicines or give them to cast the Birth or that Murder the Child shall abstain from Communion seven yeaâ—â— And if they be of the Clergy must be content with the Communion and the Chore without their Office Can. 2. None shall draw an offender though a Servant out of the Church nor say other Canons out of the Bishops house that flyeth thither for any Crime The Church and Bishops Houses had the priviledge to be the harbour for murderers Thieres Traytors c. But Can. 11. alloweth the Bishop to punish them more than others with longer forbearing the Sacrament if those of the Clergy murder one another O severe Laws § 82. CLV Next we have a Council not all so great having but six Bishops under Theodorick that ordered that the Epistle should be read â—â—fore the Gospel and some things like others § 83. CLVI And four ordinary sayings were said over again by fifteen Bishops at Aules § 84. It seems the Semepelagians then much prevailed For one Lucian made a Recantation of his Errors to a Council of 17 Bishops at Lyons as urged by them One of his supposed errors was that Some are deputed to death and others predestinate to Life and another that none of the Gentiles before Christ were saved by the light of Nature And now he owneth That in the order of times some were saved by the Law of Grace others by the Law of Moses and others by the Law of Nature But none ever freed from Original Sin but by holy blood And Faustus Rheg against the Praedestinarians was owned by the foresaid Council at Arles Bin. p. 386. § 85 Theodorick made the Clergy Subject to Civil Judicatures allowing them their liberty of Religion When he dyed of whose Soul in Hell they pretend visions his successours Athalaricus for the quiet possession of his Kingdom at the Clergies Complaint of this as an injury was pleased to restore them to their Dominion and Freedom from subjection § 86. Iustinian succeeding Iustin by his choice Compileth the Laws into better order then before and to the great advantage of the Orthodox Clergy and against Heresies And yet two things trouble the Papists in them 1. That he seemeth to pretend to a Power over the Church Laws But their shift is to say that he did it but as a defence and Confirmation of the Bishops Laws 2. That he restored the Names of his Predecessors ' Zeno and Anastasius with Notes of Piety and Honour whom the Popes had presumed to damn as Eutychians or Toleraters of them But for this they say It was the doing of Tribonianus a Heathen Lawyer that did the work As if Iustinian would let him do what he disliked and not correct it § 87. When Iustinian resolved to set up the Council of Calcedon he Cursed Severus and deposed the two Patriarchs Anthimius of Constantinople and Theodosius of Alexandria for they were both Eutychians Severus had perswaded them rather to forsake all worldly interest than the Faith as he called it But here I cannot see how the Historians as Evagrius will be reconciled with themselves that say Iustin caused Severus Tongue to be pulled out and yet that he afterward perswaded Anthimius at Const. unless he did it only by writing § 88. So far was Iustinian's resolution and power from reconciling
the more for this Accusation he seemed an Hypocrite indeed but whether an Heretick I know not The Scot Heretick is accused as denying the Church Canons and the meaning of some Fathers despising the Synods Laws saying that he may still be a Bishop for so he was though he had two Sons in Adultery saith Boniface perhaps in Marriage and as he saith holding that a Man may marry his Brothers Widow and that Christ at his Descent delivered all Souls out of Hell This was a foul Error indeed if truly charged These were charged by Boniface and the Roman Synod to be forerunners of Antichrist and how like are Aldebert's Pretensions to many Roman Saints A Prayer also of Aldeberts was read in which he prayed to Angels under several strange names Bishops and Presbyters had Votes in this Council and subscribed the Hypocrites condemnation Bin. p. 218. But there is no certainty that he named more than three Angels § 23. Stephen the 2d was chosen Pope by ALL THE PEOPLE after Zachary and dyed four days after suddenly § 24. Stephen the 3d was chosen by all the People saith Anastasius Aistulphus King of the Longobards threatned Rome took their Gifts and demanded their Subjection The Pope after Gregory the 2d's Rebellion was glad to send to the Emperor to crave an Army to save Rome and Italy when he could get no help from Constant. he sent to Pepin King of France One that he had made King by Rebellion was obliged to help him and by an Army forced Aistulphus to covenant to restore Ravenna and many other Italian Cities not to the Emperor whose Agent claimed his right and was denied by Pepin but to the Pope to reward him and get the pardon of his sins Aistulphus broke his Covenants Pepin with another Army forceth him to deliver them and returneth Aistulphus dyeth Desiderius a Captain by Usurpation invadeth the Kingdom Radchis that had been King before and went into a Monastery and the Nobles of the Longobards resist the Rebel He sendeth to the Pope offering him all that he could desire more Cities to help him The Pope maketh his own bargain with him as he did with Pepin and Charles Martell before and by the help of the French setleth the Rebel Desiderius in the Kingdom Pepin maketh a Deed of Gift of all the foresaid Cities to the Church of Rome Was this Constantine's Gift He gave away another Mans the Emperor's Dominions and with Desiderius's additions now the Pope is become a Prince § 24. CCXXVIII We come now to a great General Council of 338 Bishops at Constantinople An. 754. under Constantine Copronymus against the worshiping of Images The Adversaries of it will not have it called the 7th General Council because divers Patriarchs were absent and it decreed say they against the Truth They not only condemned the worshiping of Images and Germanus Constantinus Georgius Cyprius Jo. Damascenus and other Worshipers of them as Idolaters but destroyed the Reliques of Martyrs and exacted an Oath of Men by the Cross and the holy Eucharist that they would never adore Images but execrate them as Idols nor ever pray to the holy Apostles Martyrs and blessed Virgin saith Baronius and Binnius p. 235. But the 15th and 17th definitions of this Council recited in the 2d Nicene Council shew that they were not so free from praying to the Virgin Mary and Saints as we could wish they had For they decree we must crave her intercessions and theirs but they forbad praying to their Images § 25. The Acts of this Council not pleasing the Adversaries are not delivered fully to us but it fell out that their Decrees are repeated word by word in the 2d Nicene Council and so preserved § 26. There is one Doctrinal definition of this Council owned also by their Adversaries the 2d Concil Nicen. which by the way I will take notice of about the glorified Body of Christ and consequently ours after the Resurrection that it is a Body but not Flesh Bin. p. 378. defin 7. Siquis non confessus fuerit Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum post assumptionem animatae rationalis intellectualis Carnis simul sedere cum Deo Patre atque ita quoque rursus venturum cum Paterna Majestate judicaturum vivos mortuos non amplius quidem Carnem neque incorporeum tamen ut videatur ab iis à quibus compunctus est maneat Deus extra crassitudinem carnis Anathema To which saith the Nicene Council by Epiphanius Huc usque recte sentiunt Patrum traditionibus convenientia dicunt c. Two sorts I would have take notice of this 1. The Papists who say that the Bread is turned into Christ's very Flesh when he hath no very Flesh in Heaven And therefore the meaning must be of the Sacramental Sign that it is the Representation of that real Flesh of Christ which was sacrificed on the Cross. 2. Some prejudiced Protestants that think he that saith Our Bodies and Christs in Heaven will not be Flesh and Blood formally and properly so called but spiritual glorious Bodies doth say some dangerous new assertion such gross thoughts have gross heads of the heavenly state To these I say 1. You contradict the express words of God's Spirit 1 Cor. 15. Flesh and Blood cannot enter c. That it is meant of Formal Flesh and Blood and not Metaphorical Sin is plain in the Context see Dr. Hammond on the Text. 2. Give but a true definition of Flesh and Blood and it will convince you of itself 3. You see here that you maintain an Opinion which these two even adverse General Councils anathematized § 27. By this Council we may see how little General Councils signifie with the Papists either as to Infallibility Authority or preservation of Tradition longer than they please the Pope As to their Objection that call it Pseudo-septimum that the Pope was not there I answer 1. No more was he by himself or Legate at the first of Constant. called the 2d General Council as Binnius professeth 2. Is not the Church the Church if the Pope be not there Then he may choose whether ever there shall be more General Councils as indeed he doth § 28. CCXXIX An. 756. King Pepin called a Council in France declaring that things were so far out of order that he could attempt but a partial Reformation leaving the rest till better times The first Canon was that every City have a Bishop of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signified every such Town as our Corporations and Market-Towns are And by all the old Canons and Customs except some odd ones every such Town of Christians was to have a Bishop and in Phrygia Arabia c. the Villages had Bishops saith Socrates c. And in many places the Villages had Chorepiscopos which Petavius Annot. in Epiphan Arian fully proveth were true Bishops And yet then the most of the People in most Countries were without the Church
Tarasius At last An. 797. his Mother Irene and Stauratius found means to apprehend him and murder him that is put out his Eyes of which he dyed which some celebrate as a pious Act it was done by her that set up Images But within one year Nicephorus deposed and banished her into Lesbos where she dyed and he took the Empire to himself § 95. Binnius p. 445. saith That the Emperor banished Theodore Studita for reproving his Marriage and when he added crime to crime Merito jussu Matris quam imperio exuerat zelo justitiae non regni oculis imperio vitâ orbatus est By the command of his Mother in her zeal for justice he was deservedly deprived of his Empire Eyes and Life What is not just with such Historians that maketh for their Interest And how contemptible is their Censure of good or evil Men which hath no better Measures § 96. He tells us also p. 444. that the Spanish and French Bishops at these times of their own heads without the Pope added Filioque to the Creed which hath to this day made so great a stir It seems they thought that the Pope's Authority was not necessary to it § 97. He adds that Charles the Great being dead the People grew bold and rose up again against the Pope which occasioned Rapines Flames and Murders that Ludovicus the new Emperor was fain to take his Fathers Office and come to Rome to save the Pope and suppress the Rebels § 98. The Venetian Duke killing a Patriarch Iohan. Gradensis Paulus Patriarch of Aquileia called a Synod to crave aid of Charles § 99. CCXXXV An. 806. A Council was held at Constantinople in the Cause of the foresaid Ioseph that had married the Emperor to his second wife who had been ejected by Tarasius from his Bishoprick and the Emperor calling a Council they restored him wherefore Theodorus Studita called them a Council of Hereticks and Adulterants because they restored the Causer of the Emperor's Adultery But how few Emperors have not found Councils of Bishops ready to do their Will § 100. Charles the Great making his Will divided his Empire between his three Sons giving them Laws of Communion and Succession that if one dyed without Children his Kingdom be divided between the other two but if he have such Sons as the People will choose they succeed their Father Commanding all three that they be the Defenders of the Bishop of Rome as he and his Father and Grandfather had been to their commodity § 101. CCXXXVI An. 809. Was another Council at Constantinople which was gathered to condemn honest Theodorus Studita Plato and such as had been against the restoring of Ioseph of which saith Binnius When the Bishops there Congregate had brought the most holy Plato in Chains to be judged and had passed the Sentence of Anathema on the Universal Catholick Church that was against their Error they made a most wicked Decree that the Marriage of Constantine with Theodota his Wife yet living thrust into a Monastery should be said to be lawful by dispensation They added for the Emperor's sake this wicked and shameless Sentence That the Laws of God can do nothing against Kings and that if any imitate Chrysostom and shed his Blood for Truth and Iustice he is not to be called a Martyr That Bishops have power to dispense with all the Canons Remember that Papists confess all this to be wicked We have not the Acts and Speeches of these Councils preserved § 102. CCXXXVII An. 809. A Council was held at Aquisgrana about the Procession of the Holy Ghost and the word Filioque in the Creed Of which they sent some Messengers to the Pope who approved the thing but dissuaded them from adding it to be sung in the Creed and after inscribed the Creed without Filioque in Latin and Greek in two Silver Tables to shew that it should not be changed which yet after it was by the Pope's consent The French Annals say that in this Council they treated of the state of the Church and conversation of the Clergy but determined nothing for the greatnesses of the matter § 103. CCXXXVIII An. 113. Yet under Charles the Great a Council was held by his Command at Arles where many very good Canons were made for the Reformation of the Bishops and Priests § 104. CCXXXIX The same year the same Charles had a Council at Tours which made 51 as honest Articles as if Martin himself had been amongst them even against all kind of sin and for all godly living Among others the 37th Canon tells us that the custom of not kneeling in Prayer on any Lords-day no not at the Sacrament nor on any Week-day between Easter and Whitsuntide was yet in force on other days they required humble kneeling § 105. CCXL Yet another Council did Charles call the same year at Chalons Cabillonense in which he ordered Schools for the restoring of Learning our Alcuin being his Persuader greatly esteemed by him Learning then being almost worn away and Ignorance taking place till he greatly revived it no less than 67 Canons were here made most very good ones but praying for the Souls of the Faithful departed and anointing the Sick are there enjoined § 106. Among many good Canons the 13th is against the Oath of Obedience to the Bishop and to the Church The words Translated are these It is reported of some Brethren Bishops that they force them that they are about to ordain to swear that they are worthy and will not do contrary to the Canons and will be obedient to the Bishop that ordaineth them and to the Church in which they are ordained which Oath because it is very dangerous we all ordain shall be forbidden § 107. The 15th Canon saith It is said that in some places the Archdeacons exercise a certain domination over the Parish-Presbyters and take Fees of them which is a matter of Tyranny rather than of order of Rectitude For if the Bishops must not Lord it in the Clergy but be Examples to the Flocks much less may these do it § 108. The 25th Canon complaining how the old Excommunicating and Reconciling was grown out of use they desired the Emperor's help how they should be restored § 109. Can. 33. They say That Confession to God and Man are both good but that Confession made to God purgeth sin and that which is made to the Priest teacheth how their sins may be purged § 110. The 45th Canon is against them that by going to holy places Rome or Tours think to have their sins forgiven § 111. CCXLI. Yet another Council the same year 813 was held under Charles M. at Mentz in Germany to the like purpose many godly Canons being made § 112. CCXLII. Yet another under Charles at Rhemes for Instructing and Catechising and many good things like the former § 113. CCXLIII But we have not done with Images yet An. 814. There was a Council
Bishops a wicked Attempt that served these wicked Men and did the Feat Ebbo the Archbishop of Rhemes of a base original and enow more such Prelates were not wanting The Emperor had before voluntarily lamented his putting out the eyes of his Kinsman Bernard a Rebel of which he dyed as too cruel when now no Prince scrupleth Hanging or Beheading open Rebels The Church had satisfaction by his voluntary Penance for that which few Men will think a Fault And what do these Bishops now but become their Sovereign's Iudges yea and that when he was absent and condemn him unheard for this former Fault Note the Case 1. They condemn their King to be deposed who were Subjects 2. Yea Clergy-men that had least to do with State Affairs 3. Yea and that for a Fault which perhaps was but Justice and no Fault 4. Or if it were a Fault was before judged and remitted And did godly Lewis cherish Christian Bishops so zealously for this use so basely and trayterously to depose him 5. Yea and to join in the horrid Rebellion of unnatural Sons to accomplish their designs 6. And to tempt Princes to hate Religion when in Nomine Domini the pretence of Religion shall do greater wickedness by Prelates than the Rebels Arms was able to perform Saith the Author of the Life of Ludovicus Pius This judgment some few gain-sayed more consented to it the greatest part as it useth to be in such cases consented by word for fear of offending their Leaders They judged him absent and unheard neither confessing nor convict before the Bodies of St. Medard Confessor and St. Sebastian Martyr to lay down his Arms and forced him to lay them before the Altar and cloathing him in a black garment under a strict Guard they thrust him into Prison By this testimony saith Binnius it is certainly proved that the whole business was done by force and fear and coloured with the false pigment of Religion Thus was the best of Princes after all his services for the Prelates and kindness to his Sons deposed and basely used by both against Nature and Religion His first Restauration when he had been before deposed was by the Germans How he was restored the second time I find not certainly some would give Pope Gregory the honour of it It is likeliest that the interest which his goodness had got in the People with the odiousness of his Sons and Bishops Acts did it But fully restored after all this he was And being somewhat backward to forgive Lotharius he filled France with new Wars till the Emperor for Peace did pardon all But Ebbo Archbishop of Rhemes and Agobard Bishop of Lyons were deposed as Leaders of the Treason and Ebbo banished and restored by Lotharius when his Father dyed yea and sent as a fit Man to convert the Normans by Pope Paschal's mission being made Bishop of Hildesheim in Saxony by Ludovic King of Germany see Petavius Hist. l. 8. c. 8. Shortly after An. 840. the Emperor sollicited yet to more Wars by his own Sons about dividing the Kingdoms dyed a direful Eclipse of the Sun foregoing his death the day before Ascension-day § 138. That you may see the base Hypocrisie of these Trayterous Bishops I will recite their words in the Council that condemned the best of Emperors but his Imprisonment they leave out § 139. The Bishops condemnation of the Emperor Ludovicus Pius An. 833. after a Preface of the Duty of Bishops without Favor or Fear to judge Sinners and the need of putting their Sentence in writing to avoid the censure of bad Men they say We hold it necessary to notifie to all the Sons of the Church both present and future how we Bishops set over the Empire of our Lord and most glorious Emperor Lotharius An. 833. the first year of the said Prince in October did generally meet at the Palace at Compendium Compeigne and humbly heard the said Prince And we took care according to the Ministry enjoined us to manifest to him or his Nobles the generality of all the People what is the Vigor and Power or Priestly Ministry and with what Sentence of Damnation he deserveth to be damned who will not obey the warnings of the Priests And next both to the said Prince Lotharius and to all the People we studied to denounce that they should study most devoutly to please God and should not delay to appease him in whatever they had offended him For many things were examined which by negligence hapned in this Empire which manifestly tended to the scandal of the Church and the ruine of the People or the destruction of the Kingdom which must necessarily be quickly corrected and by all means for the future prevented Among other things we mentioned and remembred all Men how by God that Kingdom by the administration of the most excellent Emperor Charles of good memory and the Valor of his Predecessors was peaceable and united and nobly enlarged and committed to the Lord Emperor Lewis by God in great peace to be governed and by God's protection remain'd so preserved as long as that Prince studied God and used his Father's example and was careful to acquiesce in the counsels of good Men And how in progress of time as is manifest to all by his improvidence or negligence it fell into so great ignominy and baseness that it became not only the grief of Friends but the derision of Enemies But because the said Prince hath negligently managed the Ministry committed to him and did both do and compel others to do many things displeasing to God and Man or permitted others to do it and provoked God in many wicked counsels and scandalized the Church and that we may omit innumerable other things at last drew all his Subjects to a common destruction and by God't just judgment suddenly his Imperial Power was taken from him But we remembring the Commands of God and our Ministry and his Benefits thought him worthy that by the leave of the said Prince Lotharius we should send a Message to him by the Authority of this Sacred Assembly to admonish him of his Guilts that he might take sure advice for his safety or salvation That he might in his extremity study with all his might that being deprived of his earthly Power according to God's Council and the Churches Authority he might not also lose his Soul To the counsels of which Messengers and their most wholsom warnings he willingly consented he took time and set a day in which he would give an answer to their wholsom Admonitions And when the day was at hand the same Holy Assembly unanimously went to the venerable Man and took care to admonish him of all that he had offended God in and scandalized the Church and troubled the People committed to him and to bring all to his remembrance And he willingly embracing their wholsom Admonition and their worthy and congruous Aggravations promised
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
other mens Preaching might not win Souls as well as his these Popes could not endure the crossing of their ambition when Kingdoms took not them for their Lords Epist. 188. Is to justifie a man that baptized his own Child in danger of death for which Anselm Bishop of Lemovic judged him to be separated from his Wife Were not these two Bishops judicious Casuists Was either of them in the right After many other Epistles striving with and for the Bulgarians as belonging to his Diocess he Epist. 195. chideth Methodius Archbishop of Pannonia for turning from his Laws and in special for celebrating Divine Service in the Sclavonian Tongue which is barbarous commanding him to do it only in Latine or Greek You see how the Pope would edifie the Barbarians if he be their pastor This is the first Papal decree that I remember against publick prayers in a known tongue But alas his neighbour Italian Bishops had not yet fully learnt the extent of his authority sending for many Bishops on pain of excommunication to wait on him and to obey him old Auspertus Archbishop of Milan was one that disobeyed him and being forbidden to officiate by him conformed not to his silencing and suspending decree but went on in his office as a Nonconformist The Pope sent two Bishops as Legates to admonish him He kept them at the dore and set light by their message for which the Pope chideth him Epist. 196. Epist. 197. He flattereth King Ludovicus to come to Rome and own him in hope that he may be Emperor and all Kingdoms subject to him Epist. 199 200 201 202 203. He consenteth to the restoring of Photius but chargeth him to give up the Bulgarians to his jurisdiction Many persons in many Epistles he exhorteth to break their Covenants with the Pagans and chideth and threatneth them that did it not Epist. 247. The inclination of Stentopulcher a Pannonian Lord to the Church of Rome brought down the Popes heart to dispense with Methodius and changed his judgment to give very fair reason why Mass and Gospel and all might be used in the Sclavonian and all tongues only to keep up the honour of the Latine tongue and his authority he commandeth that though the rest be done in the Sclavonian yet the Gospel be first read in Latine and then translated and read over again in the Sclavonian Epist. 250. 251. He approveth of Photius's restitution Epist. 256. He is fain to chide Auspert Bishop of Milan that Instead of fearing his sentence he laid in prison two Monks sent by the Pope and taken on the high way But his heart came down at last and he speaks Auspertus fair and alloweth of his ordination of Ioseph Episc. Astensis though irregular Epist. 260 and commandeth his Arch-Deacon to obey him Epist. 261. After this he excommunicateth the Archbishop of Ravenna and a great stir there was about that also Epist. 292. He had made one Optandus Bishop of Geneva But Opteramus Archbishop of Vienna took it to be an usurpation on his right and laid the Popes Bishop in a miserable prison so far was he yet from being where he would be Epist. 294. Having excommunicated Athanasius Bishop of Naples for not breaking his Covenant with the Saracens he absolveth him on condition that yet he will break it The matter was that the Italians not able to resist the Saracens those that lay next them under their power sought to save themselves by truce and tribute by which means the Saracens had leisure to come further near to Rome and so the Pope to keep them from himself compelled by excommunications the Lords and Bishops of other parts to break their league and stand up in arms to their own destruction That you may know what Bishops now ruled the Churches Epist. 295. The foresaid Bishop of Vienna giveth one reason why he rejected Optandus ordained Bishop of Geneva by the Pope viz. Because he never was either baptized made Clerk acclamed or learned To which saith the Pope This should be covered in silence because let us speak it with your charity your holiness having nothing of these was yet consecrated in the Church of Vienna was not here good succession and a holy Church Bishops unbaptized that were no Scholars and no Christians Epist. 296. One Bishop by an armed band of men carrieth away another out of the Church and the Pope interposeth Epist. 297. He again soliciteth Michael King of the Bulgarians to become his subject The poor men that had chosen Christ were so perplexed between the Priests that strove who should be their Vice-Christ and King of Kings that it seemed as hard to them to resolve the doubt as it before was to be Christians Yet Epist. 307. sheweth the Bishop of Ravenna being dead that yet the Roman usurpation was not grown so high as to take the choice of the Bishop out of the People and Presbyters hands except in long neglected vacancies as Geneva aforesaid Had not this Pope been kept under by Gods judgments suffering the Saracens so to ruine Italy as that he still needed the help of Princes he had been like to have overthrown Rome by his usurpations setting both Princes and Prelates against him But necessity made him a flatterer of the two Emperors of the West the Emperor of the East the King of France the King of Bulgaria the Princes of Pannonia and all that he needed as ambition made him still striving by Tibi dabo claves and Anathematizing to affright the world to his obedience I say not worse of him than Baronius Binnius c. who have no other way to deny the Histories of Pope Ioan than by saying that this mans baser compliance made him called Pope Joan. Baronius ad an 879 n. 55. reciteth an Epistle of this Popes so greatly complying with Photius even against the Filioquen that Binnius would haveus believe that Photius forged it And epistolam ipsam aeterna oblivione dignam nolui saith he hisce adjungi § 81. CCXC. An. 876. a Concilium Ticinense maketh Charles Emperor when the Pope that had crowned Ludovicus before calleth Charles praescitum praeelectum et praedestinatum hereto with all honourable Elogies And here cometh in a great controversie between the Papists and the Protestants viz. Whether Kings succeed by inheritance or by the election and making of the Pope The Pope thought the craft of putting in a big usurping word was as good as a Law to prove their own power to make Kings and unmake them Accordingly this Pope when he durst stay from Rome in France no longer lest he lost all being imprisoned for refusing the right Heir Charles returneth and speaketh some big words and turneth forced consent into super-Kingly commands and saith Bin. p. 1010 eligimus merito et approbavimus solemnitèr ad Romani Imperii sceptra proveximus et Augustali nomine decoravimus c. And to disable the Kingly claim of inheritance he saith Neque enim sibi honorem
126. CCCXCII Another at Benevent An. 1108. of the same decreeing That if any take a Benefice from a Lay-man's Presentation the Giver and Taker shall be Excommunicated And one at London to the same purpose made King Henry consent against investing Bishops or Abbots Another at Liege for St. Guibert's Elevation § 127. CCCXCIII But the Pope's Lateran Council of 100 Bishops is more considerable where the Pope breaketh his Oath and Covenant to the Emperor as being constrained and this by their approbation The History of the occasion before-mentioned is here again recited by Binnius out of the Chron. Cassinens at large where you may see that the Emperor sware to the Pope and the Pope was thereupon to crown the Emperor as in his proper Rights The Emperor claimed to be crowned as to the same Rights that had been granted to Charles Lewis Henry and other former Emperors This the Pope denied to do and so they went to fight where on both sides between the Romans and Germans so many thousands were slain that Tyber was coloured with their blood How the Earl of Millan that interposed his person to save the Emperor's life was slain and his flesh cut in pieces and given the Dogs by the Romans and what other bloody work was there made the said Chronicle mentioneth The Pope when he crowned the Emperor and made the Covenant with him took the Body of Christ and brake it taking part himself and giving the Emperor the other part and said so let him be divided from the Kingdom of Christ and the Lord that breaketh this Covenant which now by the consent of the Bishops in Council he brake § 128. CCCXCIV A Council at Benevent to decide a quarrel about Church-lands § 129. CCCXCV In a Cyperan Council an Archbishop complained that he was put out by the Prince Roger of Sicily and made a Monk against his will and was delivered because God will have no involuntary Service Another Archbishop accused fled § 130. CCCXCVI and CCCXCVII A Council at Beauvois not known for what One in Syria against Arnulp Archbishop of Ierusalem for his Crimes § 131. CCCXCVIII An. 1116. A Council at Colen Excommunicate the Emperor or declare the Popes Excommunicate but he forced some to receive him § 132. CCCXCIX An. 1116. In a Lateran General Council as they call'd it it unhappily fell out that the Pope who had before call'd the Emperor's claim an Heresie as Councils had before named it The Henrician Heresie could not here disclaim and revoke his Act without confessing his fault in granting that power to the Emperor and confirming it by Covenant and Oath He tells them that he is but a Man and so a Sinner and lamenting his sin begs their prayers to God for pardon and then anathematizeth all that he had written and desireth them to do the like Hereupon a crafty Bishop Bruno Signinus said Let us give thanks to God that we our selves have heard the Pope condemn that Priviledge that containeth Pravity and Heresie And if that Priviledge contain Heresie then he that made it was an Heretick This put them all to their shifts and Ioh. Cajetan angerly said Dost thou call the Pope an Heretick here and in our hearing The writing that our Lord the Pope made was Evil but not Heresie Another Bishop said Nay it ought not to be called Evil For to deliver the People of God is good by the authority of the Gospel which commandeth us animas ponere to lay down our Souls for the Brethren And that which the Pope did was to deliver the People of God O holy Bishops and Councils that take it to be no sin to lye and forswear if it do but deliver the People of God! But the Pope's patience would not hold at the charge of Heresie but after great expectations he told them that That Church had never had Heresie yea the same Church had quelled all Heresies And Ego rogavi pro te Petre secureth it As much as to say Though I confest an Heresie before I was aware now I tell you the same thing is an Henrician Heresie in others and none in me § 133. CCCC An. 1116. A Roman Synod to end a strife between the two Monasteries Cluniacens Cassinens § 134. Platina tells us how the Pope sent the Pisans to fight against the Saracens at Sea and when they were absent the Lucenses sought to take their City but the Florentines honestly came and repelled them for which the Pisans gave them two Porphyretice Columns Also that Mathildis Maud the Pope's great Defender now dying enriched the Pope with bequeathing her Principalities to Rome And that Vincentius an excellent Author saith That she was burnt with two thousand more in a great Fire that hapned at Florence And being Sainted divers places say they have her Body Bernard was the glory of this Age. Platina tells us also of a bloody War and Sedition in Rome upon the Pope's denying a Boy of ten years old to succeed his Father as Prefect of the City the Pope being forced to remove That the Emperor came with an Army again to Rome where a Bishop crowned him again the Pope being in Apulia who after returned and dyed § 135. Now cometh the 24th Schism or two Popes at once Iob. Cajetan Cardinal is chosen at Rome by the CLERGY SENATE and PEOPLE of Rome Bin. p. 1315. The Emperor sends to demand the confirmation of Pope Paschal's Covenants He denieth and as at his choice a great Citizen Cincius Frangipanis offended at the choice threw him down trod on him and imprisoned him till the People rose and forced Frangipanis to restore him safe so the Emperor now set up another Pope Gregory VIII And Cajetan called Gelasius the 2d got some Italian Princes to help him and when the Emperor was gone he came to Rome and scuffling awhile was fain to go to France and dyed after a year and five days Gregory reigning three years and some being for one and some for the other In this time King Baldwin and Tancred had a great overthrow near Ierusalem § 136. CCCCI Pope Gelasius with a Synod at Capua Excommunicateth the Emperor and Pope Gregory who it 's like requited him After at Vinna in France he called a Synod and dyed § 137. The Bishop of Vienna in France kin to the Emperor and the King of France is chosen Pope in France He prevaileth with the Emperor to give up his Investitures and so maketh a joyful Peace He overcometh Pope Gregory VIII and imprisoneth him in a Monastery In his time Baldwin was again overthrown and the Venetians took many Islands from the Greek Emperor for hindering them to relieve Ierusalem by Sea § 138. CCCCII. The first Council under Calixtus the 2d was at Rhemes whither went Turstan chosen Archbishop of York upon promise to King Henry that he would not receive the Pope's blessing But he stuck not to break his word therefore the King banished him or forbad
162. CCCCXVI Another Synod Senonensis got St. Bernard among them who debated the case of Peter and he appealed to the Pope who condemned him and yet saith that Peter denied many of the words and all the sense that was charged on him but nameth five Errors worthy his condemnation if his indeed § 163. Binnius from W. Malmesbury who was present reciteth another Council at Winchester King Stephen being taken Prisoner by some Lords and the Londoners pleading for his liberty his Brother the Pope's Legat was against him and accused him Excommunicating divers Lords that were for him § 164. CCCCXVII A Synod at Ierusalem against the Patriark of Antioch the Prince and the Pope's Legat being against him Accused of many Crimes he would not appear and was deposed and imprisoned and scaping out went to Rome for help and was there poisoned An unlearned bad Man Haymericus is put into his seat § 165. Innocent dying Caelestine the 2d was the first Man that ever was ordained or made Pope without the Peoples Election saith Binnius himself ex Onuphr by the Cardinals privately alone according to Pope Innocent's Order An. 1143. in Conrade's Reign he dyed within six months In his time the Christians lost Edessa to the Turks § 166. Pope Lucius the 2d cometh next and liveth but 11 months In which he set the Emperor Conrade on a fruitless Expedition towards Ierusalem to the death of multitudes § 167. A Gallican Council against Abailardus who is said by Plat. Pet. Cluniac to repent and dye a holy death § 168. Eugenius the 3d a Companion of Bernards is next Pope The Romans rising for their Civil Government expel him He goeth into France maketh an Archbishop against the King's will who sweareth he shall not enter the City Bernard persuadeth the King to repent and to expiate his sin by an Expedition with Conrade to Ierusalem where both lose men time and cost The Pope overcometh the Romans and maketh them promise that the Senators shall hold of him he again withdraws and dyeth § 169. 1. Note here that the Civil Government of Rome it self fell not till lately into the Pope's hands and that by the same means as he conquered Kingdoms 2. Note how far he was from ruling all the World when for so many Ages the City of Rome it self contended against him But the dependent Prelates in all Nations of Europe were his strength who perceived that Tibi dabo Claves might be abused for themselves as well as for the Pope and the Policy of Popes was in those days to do all or most by Synods and thereby to make the Prelates perceive that it was their Power Interest and Rule as well as his But now the case is quite changed with this unchangeable Church Councils now are needless because scarce to be trusted § 170. Passing by a Council at Wesel for the Ierusalem War a CCCCXVIII Council at Paris fell again upon the Scholastic Bishop of Poictiers Gilbert Porretane In his Visitation he spake some words too hard for his Hearers and his two Archdeacons getting Bernard on their side a Man more devout than Scholastically acute they accuse the Bishop of Heresie again having had success lately against Peter Abailard the Bishops were ready to receive the Charge The Articles of Accusation were these 1. That he said Divinam Essentiam non esse Deum 2. Quod Proprietates personarum non essent ipsae personae 3. Quod Theologicae personae in nulla praedicarentur Propositione 4. Quod divina natura non esset incarnata And some lesser as 1. That attenuating mans merits he said None merited but Christ. 2. Evacuating the Sacraments of the Church he said None were truly baptized but those that were to be saved And such like other things The Pope and the Prelates heard the Charge Two Masters are brought out against him who sware that they heard some of these things from his mouth many wondering that learned Men used Oaths instead of Arguments saith Otto Frising After many Charges and Urgencies he said Audacter confiteor Patrem alio esse Patrem alio Deum nec tamen esse hoc hoc that is it is one thing to be God and another to be the Father or the words are not of the same signification and yet God is not one thing and the Father another thing The hardness of these words seeming a prophane Novelty provoked the Bishop of Soissons to say What say you That the Being of God is nothing having not read or understood Austin that saith Sic aliud est Deo esse aliud subsistere â—icut aliud Deo esse aliud Patrem esse vel Dominum esse Quod enim est ad se dicitur Pater autem ad Filium Dominus ad servientem creaturam The Bishop of Soissons misusing a saying Cum quis diceret Socratem esse nihil diceret He turned the Auditory against himself and they asked Porretane to open why he so distinguished the Persons who answered Quia omnis persona est per se una which puzled or amazed them and ended that days work The next day he was accused of Novelty for saying that The three persons were tria singularia The Archbishop of Rouen aggravating it said that God should rather be called unum singulare than tria singularia At which many were offended because Hilary saith Sicut duos Deos dicere profanum est ita singularem solitarium dicere sacrilegum estâ—-Et nihil solitarium ex divinis Sacramentis ad suspicionem audientium occasionem blasphemantium proferamus But Porretane told them that by singular he meant nothing but excellent and incomparable In this manner Porretane Bishop of Poictiers was examined and modestly answered them many days till the Pope perceiving that these School-niceties being too hard for him durst not determine them nor gratifie Bernard though his Friend and the Hereticating Bishops and Clergy but craftily put it off to a General Council This is all out of Otto Frising recited by Bin. p. 1332. You may see here what work Hereticating Prelates and Councils were inclinated to make If all the Schoolmens subtile Assertions sound and unsound must thus be tryed in General Councils and all that was disliked called Heresies though it would have shamed the Prelates ignorance it would have afrighted daring Wits from their presumption and since I have seen the tendency of Cartesianism Gassendianism and other Epicurean Follies I did not care much if we had some such ignorant Prelates to afright these bold Philosophers also I have oft marvelled why General Councils that understood not the Hebrew Tongue nor the Pope's Western Councils the Greek have no more exercised themselves in Councils to judge of Scripture Copies and Translations And I have thought in what words and manner they would have prosecuted such debates sure falsifying Scripture is of as dangerous consequence as these School presumptions Some will think it is well that the Councils for above 1000 years