although you were in y e Tower in his time y t was not for any doubt you made of his Supremacie for that you still agnised but for other pointes of Religion touching the ministracion of the Sacramentes wherunto you also agréed at the last promised to professe preache the same in open auditory whersoeuer you should be appointed Wherupon a right woorshipfull gentleman procured your deliueraunce foorth of the Tower and so were you at liberty neuer mencioninge any doubt in this matter but agnising the Princes Supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall Wherefore I may saulfly say that the ignoraunce and wante of knowledge whiche you pretende in your Minor Proposicion is not of simplicitie and therfore must néedes be of wilfulnes or malice or mixte of bothe The way and meane wherby to haue this ignoraunce remooued you assigne with this issue that when I prooue vnto you by any of the fower meanes y â— any Emperour or Empresse King or Queene may take vppon them any suche gouernment in Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall causes then you wil yéelde take vpon you the knowledge therof be ready to testifie y e same by booke Othe Truely I haue often and many times prooued this same that you require by the selfe same meanes in such sort vnto you that you had nothinge to say to the contrary And yet neuerthelesse you continue stil in your wilfull and malicious ignorance whiche causeth me to feare that this sentence of the holy ghost wilbe verified in you In maleuolam animam non introibit sapientia Yet I will ones againe prooue after your desire euen as it were by puttinge you in remembraunce of those thinges whiche by occasions in conference I often and many times reported vnto you wherof I knowe you are not simply ignoraunt You require a proufe hereof that an Emperour or Emperesse Kinge or Quéene may claime or take vppon them any suche gouernment meanynge as the Quéenes maiestie our Soueraigne doth now chalendge and take vppon her in Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall causes For aunsweare I say they ought to take vppon them suche gouernement therefore they maye lawfully doo it The former parte is founde trewe by the whole discourse of the holy Scriptures bothe of the Olde and newe Testament by the testimony of the Doctours in Christes Churche by the generall Counsailes and by the practise of Christes Catholique Churche thorough out all Christendome The holy Scriptures describinge the condicions and propreties required in a Kinge amongest other doth commaunde that he haue by him the booke of the Lawe and doo diligently occupy him selfe in readinge thereof to the ende he maye thereby learne to feare the Lorde his God that is to haue the feare of God planted within him selfe in his owne harte to keepe all the woordes and to accomplishe in déede all the ordinaunces or as the olde translation hath it all the ceremonies by God commaunded that is to gouerne in suche sorte That he cause by his Princely authoritie his subiectes also to become Israelites To witte menne that see knowe and vnderstande the will of God Redressinge the peruersenes of suche as swerue from Goddes ordinaunces or caeremonies Whereuppon it is that God dothe commaunde the Magistrate that he make diligent examination of the Doctrine taught by any and that he doo sharpely punish bothe the teachers of false and superstitious Religion with the folowers and also remooue quite out of the waye all maner of euill The beste and most godly Princes that euer gouerned Goddes people did perceiue and rightly vnderstande this to be Goddes will that they ought to haue an especiall regarde and care for the orderinge and settinge foorth of Goddes true Religion and therefore vsed great diligence with feruent zeale to perfourâ—â— and accoÌ„plishe the same Moses was the supreme gouernour ouer Goddes people was not the chiefe Priest or Bishop for that was Aaron whose authoritie zeale and care in appointinge and orderinge Religion amongest Goddes people prescribinge to al the people yea to Aaron and the Leuites what and after what sorte they shoulde execute their functions correctinge and chasteninge the transgressours is manifestly set foorth in his booke called the Pentateuche After the death of Moses the people as yet not entred and settled in the promised Lande the chardge of chiefe gouernment ouer Goddes people both in causes Temporall and Ecclesiasticall was committed to Iosue and not to Eleazar for to him belonged onely the ministration of the thinges belonginge to the Priestly office And to Iosue the Prince belonged the ouer sight both ouer the Priests and people to gouerne guide order appoint and direct eche estate in all thinges that apperteined to eche of their callinges Of the one yée séeme to haue no doubt at all the other is as plaine For at the appointment of Iosue the Priestes remooued the Arke of couenaunt and placed the same He did interprete vnto the people the spirituall meaninge of the twelue stones whiche they had taken by Goddes commaundement foorth of Iordan to be as Sacramentes or Signes He circuÌ„cised the children of Israell at the second time of the great and solempne Circumcision He calleth the Priestes commaundeth some of them to take vp the Lordes Arke other seuen of them to blowe seuen trompettes before the Arke appointeth to them the order of procéedinge He builded an aultar vnto the Lorde God of Israel accordinge to y e Lawe of God he sacrificed theron burnt sacrifices and burnt offringes He wrote there vpon the stones the Deuteronomy of Moses He redde all the blessinges and cursinges as they are set foorth in the booke of the Lawe And he redde all what so euer Moses had commaunded before al the coÌ„gregation of Israel c. Last of al Iosue to shewe that causes of Religion did specially belonge to his charge and care maketh a long and a vehement oration vnto the Israelites wherin he exhorteth them to cleaue vnto the Lorde with a sure faithe a constant hope and a perfect loue obeiynge and seruinge him with suche seruice as he hath appointed in his Lawe And doth zelously and with great threates disswade them from all kynde of Idolatry and false Religion Dauid whom God appointed to be the pastour that is the king ouer Israel to feede his people did vnderstaÌ„de that to this pastoral office of a kyng did belong of dutie not only a charge to prouide that the people might be gouerned with iustice and liue in ciuill honestie peace and tranquilite publique and priuate but also to haue a special regarde and care to see them sed with true doctrine and to be fostered vp in the Religion appointed by God him selfe in his Lawe And therfore immediatly after he was with some quietnes setled in his royal seate the first thing that he began to refourme and restore to the right order as a thing y e apperteined especially to his princely charge and care
was Goddes Religion Seruice whiche had been decayed and neglected longe before in the tyme of king Saul For the better perfourmaunce whereof as the supreame gouernour ouer all the estates bothe of the Laytie and of the Clergie in all maner of causes after consultation had with his chief Counsailours he calleth the Priestes and Leuites and commauÌ„deth appointeth and directeth them in al maner of things causes apperteining to their ecclesiasticall functions offices He prepareth a seemely place for the Arke in his own Citie He goeth with great soleÌ„pnitie to fetche the Arke of the lord He commaundeth Sadoc Abiathar the priestes and the chief among the Leuites to sanctifie them selues with their brethren than to cary the Arke vpon their shoulders vnto the place appointed He comptrolleth them that the Arke was not caried before on their shoulders according to the Lawe and therfore layeth to their charge the breach that was made by the death of Vsa He commaundeth also the chief of the Leuites to appointe among their brethren Musicians to playe on dyuers kyndes of instrumentes and to make melodie with ioyfulnes He sacrificeth burnt and peace offringes He blessed the people in the name of the Lorde He appointeth certeine of the Leuites to minister coÌ„tinually before the Arke of the Lord to reherse his great benefites to the honour prayse of the lord God of Israel And for that present tyme he made a Psalme of Gods prayse and appointed Asaph his brethren to prayse God therwith He ordeyned the Priestes Leuites singers and Porters and in som he appointed ordered all th officers offices required to be in the house of the Lord for the setting forth of his seruice Religion Salomon deposed Abiathar the highe Priest and placed Sadoc in his rowme And he builded the Temple placed the Arke in the place appointed for the same Hallowed or dedicated the Temple offred sacrifices blessed the people directed the Priestes Leuites and other churche officers in their functions according to the order before taken by his father Dauid And neither the Priestes nor Leuites â–ª swerued in any thing perteining to their office from that that the king commaunded them Iosephat hath no small commendation in the Scriptures for that he so studiously vsed his princely authoritie in the reformation of Religion and maters apperteining therunto He remoued at the first beginning of his reigne all maner of false Religion and what so euer might be cause of offence to the faithfull He sent forth through his kyngdome Visitours both of his Princes and also of the Priestes Leuites with the booke of the Lawe of the Lorde to the ende they should instruct teache the people refourme all maner abuses in ecclesiastical causes according to that booke After a whyle he made a progresse in his own persone throughout al his countrey and by his preachers reduced and brought againe his people from supersticion false Religion vnto the Lorde the God of their fathers He appointed in euery towne throughout his kingdome as it were Iustices of the peace suche as feared the Lord and abhorred false Religion to decide controuersies in ciuill causes and in like sort he appointed and ordeined the high Priestes with other Priestes Leuites and of the chief rulers among the Israelites to be at Hierusalem to decide and iudge coÌ„trouersies of great weight that shuld arise about matters of Religion and the Lawe He did commaunde and prescribe vnto the chief Priestes and Leuites what foâ—â—me and order they shoulde obserue in the ecclesiasticall causes and controuersies of Religion that were not so difficult and weightie And when any token of Goddes displeasure appeared either by warres orother calamitie he gaue order to his subiectes for coÌ„mon praier and enioyned to them publiquâ— faste with earnest preaching of repentaunce and sekinge after the wyll of the Lorde to obey and folowe the same Ezechias the kyng of Iuda hath this testimony of the holy Ghost that the like gouernour had not been neither should bee after hym amongest the kynges of Iuda For he cleaued vnto the Lorde and swerued not from the preceptes whiche the Lorde gaue by Moses And to expresse that the office rule and gouernement of a godly kyng consisteth and is occupied accordyng to Gods ordinaunce and precept first of all in matters of Religion and causes Ecclesiastical the holy ghost doth commende this kyng for his diligent care in refourming Religion He toke quite away saith the holy ghost al maner of Idolatry superstition and false Religion yea euen in the first yere of his reigne and the first moneth he opened the doores of Goddes house He calleth as it were to a Synode the Priestes and Leuites be maketh vnto them a long and pithy oration declaringe the horrible disorders and abuses that hath been in Religion the causes and what euils folowed to the whole Realme thervpon He declareth his full determination to restore and refourme Religion according to Gods will He commaundeth them therfore that they laiyng aside all errours ignoraunce and negligence do the partes of faithfull ministers The Priestes Leuites assembled togither did sanctifie them selues and did purge the house of the Lorde from al vncleanes of false Religion at the commaundement of the king concerning thinges of the Lorde That done they came vnto the kyng and made to hym an accompt and report what they had done The kyng assembleth the chiefe Rulers of the Citie goeth to the Temple he commaundeth the Priestes and Leuites to make oblation and sacrifice for whole Israel He appointeth the Leuites after their order in the house of the Lorde to their musicall instrumentes and of the Priestes to play on Shalmes according as Dauid had disposed the order by the counsell of the Prophetes He and the Princes commaundeth the Leuites to prayse the Lorde with that Psalme that Dauid made for the lyke purpose He appointed a very solempne keaping and ministring of the Passeouer whervnto he exhorteth all the Israelites and to tourne from their Idolatry and false Religion vnto the Lorde God of Israel He made solempne prayer for the people The kyng with comfortable wordes encouraged the Leuites that were zelous and had a ryght iudgement of the Lord to offre sacrifices of thankes geuing and to prayse the Lorde the God of their fathers and assigned the Priestes and Leuites to mynister and geue thankes accordyng to their offices in their courses and tournes And for the better continuance of Gods true Religion he caused a sufficient and liberall prouision to bee made from the people for the Priestes and Leuites that they myght wholly cheerfully and constantly serue the Lorde in their vocations These doynges of the kyng Ezechias touchynge matters of Religion and the reformation thereof sayth the holy ghost was his acceptable seruice of the Lorde dutifull both to God and his people Iosias had the like care for Religion
honesty Certaine of Rome came to Charles to accuse this Pope Charles putteth of the examinacion of the matter till an other time promisinge that he woulde within a while come to Rome himselfe whiche he did after he had finished his warres He was honorably receiued of the Pope The eight day after his cominge into Rome he commaunded all the people and the Cleargy to be called togeather into S. Peters churche appointing to here and examine the Pope touchynge that he was accused of in the open assembly When the Cleargie and the people were assembled the Kinge examineth them of the Popes life and conuersacion and the whole company beinge willed to saie their mindes answeare that the manner hath béene that the Popes shoulde be iudged of no man but of them selues Charles beinge mooued with so sore gréeuous an answeare gaue ouer further examinacion Leo the Pope saith Piatina who did earnestly desire that kinde of iudgement to geue sentence he meaneth in his owne cause wente vp into the pulpit and holdinge the Ghospels in his handes affirmed by his Othe y t he was guiltes of all those matters wherewith he was chardged Whereunto Sabellicus addeth the Popes owne testimonie of him selfe was so waighty as if it had beene geuen on him by other so muche auaileth a mans owne good reporte made of himselfe in due season for wante of good neighbours This matter if it were as the Popes flatterers write thus subtily compassed although Martinus saith flatly that he was driuen to purge him selfe of certaine crimes laide to his chardge yet not withstanding the kinge toke vpon him both to examine the matter to determine therein and as appeareth tooke their answeare no lesse insufficient than gréeuous although he winked at it bicause he looked for a greatter pleasure to be shewed him againe in consecratinge him Emperour promised longe before whiche this Pope perfourmed and solemply with great acclamations of the people crowned him Emperour of Rome For saithe Platina The Pope did this to shewe some thankefulnes againe to him who had well deserued of the Churche Ansegisus Abbas gathereth together the decrées that this Charles and his sonne Lodouicus had made in their times for the reformation of the Church causes Amongst other these The Canonicall Scriptures onely to be redde in the Churches For the office of Bisshops in diligēt preaching and that onely out of the holy Scriptures that the communion shoulde be receiued three times in the yeere The abrogatinge and taking away a great number of holy daies besides sondaies and that childrē before ripe yeeres should not be thrust into religious houses And that no man shoulde be professed a Monke except licence were first asked and obteined of the King He decreed also and straightly cōmaunded that Mōkes being Priestes should studie diligently should write rightly shoulde teache children in their Abbayes and in Bisshops houses That Priestes should eschue couetousnes glotony ale houses or tauernes seculer or prophane busines familiaritie of women vnder paine of depriuation or degradation He prouided to haue and placed fit pastours for the Bishoprikes and cures to feede the people He ordeined learned Scholemaisters for the youth and made deuout abbottes to rule those that were enclosed in Cloisters saith Nauclerus As it is saide of kinge Dauid y t he set in order the Priestes Leuites singers porters ordered all the offices officers required to be in the house of the Lorde for the settyng foorth of his seruice and Religion Euen so this noble Charles lefte no officer belonginge to Goddes Churche no not so much as the singer porter or Sexten vnapointed taught his office duety as Nauclerus telleth Besides the authoritie of this noble Prince in gouerning directing al Church matters his zeale care therfore in such sort as the knowledge of y t superstitious time would suffer is plainely shewed in an Iniunction that he gaue to al estates both of the Layty Cleargie to this effect I Charles by the grace of God Kinge and gouernour of the Kingdome of Fraūce a deuout and humble maintainour and ayder of the Churche To al estates both of the Layty and the Cleargy wishe saluatiō in Christ Considering the exceeding goodnes of God towardes vs and our people I thinke it very necessary wee rendre thankes vnto him not onely in harte and woorde but also in continuall exercise and practise of well doing to his glory to the ende that he who hath hitherto bestowed so great honour vpon this kingdome may vouchesaulfe to preserue vs and our people with his protectiō VVherfore it hath seemed good for vs to mooue you ô yee pastours of Christes Churches leaders of his flocke and the bright lightes of the worlde that yee will trauaile with vigilant care and diligent admonition to guide Goddes people thorough the pastures of eternall life c. Bringinge the stray sheepe into the foulde least the wolfe deuoure them c. Therfore they are with earnest zeale to be admonished and exhorted yea to be cōpelled to keepe them selues in a sure faith and reasonable continuaūce within and vnder the rules of the Fathers In the which woorke and trauaile know yee right wel that our industrie shall woorke with you For whiche cause also wee haue addressed our messengers vnto you who with you by our authoritie shall amende and correct those thinges that are to be amended And therefore also haue wee added such Canonicall constitutions as seemed to vs most necessarie Let no man iudge this to be praesumptiō in vs that we take vppon vs to amende that is amisse to cut of that is superfluous For wee reade in the bookes of Kinges howe the holy Kinge Iosias trauailed goynge the circuytes of his kingedome or visitinge correctinge and admonishinge his people to reduce the whole kingedome vnto the true Religion and Seruice of God I speake not this as to make my selfe equall to him in holines but for that wee ought alwaies to follow the exāples of the holy kinges and so much as we can we are bounde of necessitie to bring the people to follow vertuous life to the praise and glory of our Lorde Iesus Christ c. And anon after amongst the rules that he prescribeth vnto them this followeth First of al that all the Bisshoppes and Priestes reade diligently the Catholique Faith and preache the same to all the people For this is the first precept of God the Lorde in his Lawe Heare ô Israel c. It belongeth to your offices ô yee pastours and guydes of Goddes Churches to sende forth thorough your Diocesses Priestes to preache vnto the people and to see that they preache rightly and honestly That yee doo not suffer newe thinges not Canonycall of their owne minde forged and not after the holy Scriptures to be preached vnto the people Yea you your owne selues preache profitable honest and true thinges whiche doo leade vnto eternall life And
enstructe you others also that they doo the same Firste of all euery preacher muste preache in generall that they beleeue the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste to be an omnipotent God c. And so learnedly procéedeth thorough all the articles of our Faithe after whiche he commeth to the conuersacion of life c. And wee doo therfore more diligently enioine vnto you this thing bicause wee knowe that in the latter daies shall come false teachers as the Lorde him selfe hath forwarned and the Apostle Paule to Timothe doth witnes Therfore beloued let vs furnishe our selues in harte and minde with the knowledge of the trueth that wee may be able to withstande the aduersaries to trueth and that thorough Goddes grace Goddes woorde may encrease passe thorough and be multiplied to the profite of Goddes holy Churche the Saluation of our soules and the glory of the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe Peace to the preachers grace to the obedient hearers and glory to our Lorde Iesus Christe Amen This noble Prince was mooued to take vpon him this gouernment in Ecclesiastical matters causes not of presumption but by the woorde of God for the dischardge of his princely duety as he had learned y e same both in the examples of godly kings coÌ„meÌ„ded therfore of the holy ghost also by the instructions of the best learned teachers of his time whereof he had great stoare especially Alcuinus an Englisheman of greate learninge who was his chiefe Scholemaister and teacher whome as Martinus telleth Charles made Abbot of Towers Amongst other many notable volumes this Alcuinus writeth one entituled De Fide Sanctae in diuiduae Trinitatis whiche as moste méete for him to know he dedicateth to Charles the Emperour He beginneth his epistle dedicatory after the salutation superscription thus Seeinge that the Emperial dignitie ordeined of God seemeth to be exalted for none other thinge then to gouerne and profite the people Therfore God doth geue vnto theÌ„ that are choosen to that dignitie power and wisedome Power to suppresse the proude and to defende the humble against the euill disposed wisedome to gouerne and teache the subiectes with a godly carefulnes VVith these twoo giftes O holy Emperour Gods fauour hath honoured and exalted you incoÌ„parably aboue your auÌ„cestours of the same name and authoritie c. VVhat than what must your carefulnes most deuoutly dedicated to God bringe forth in the time of peace the warres beinge finished when as the people hasteneth to assemble togeather at the proclamation of your coÌ„maundement he meaneth that he expresseth afterwarde by this assembly or concourse the councell that was nowe in hande assembled as he saith Imperiali praecepto by the Emperours precept And waiteth attentiuely before the throne of your grace what you will commaunde to euery persone by your authoritie what I say ought you to doo but to determine with all dignitie iuste thinges whiche beinge ratified to set them foorth by coÌ„maundement and to geue holy admonitions that euery man may retourne home mery and gladde with the precept of eternall Saluation c. And least I should seeme not to helpe and further your preachinge of the Faithe I haue directed and dedicated this booke vnto you thinkinge no gifte so conuenient and woorthy to be presented vnto you seeinge that all men knowe this moste plainely that the Prince of the people ought of necessitie to knowe all thinges and to preache those thinges that please God neither belongeth it to any man to knowe better or mâ—e things than to an Emperour whose doctrine ought to profit all the subiectes c. All the faithful hath great cause to reioyce of your godlines seing that you haue the priestly power as it is mete so to bee in the preaching of the worde of God perfect knowledge in the Catholique faith and a most holy deuotion to the saluation of men This doctrine of Alcuinus whiche no doubte was the doctrine of all the catholique and learned fathers in that time coÌ„firmeth wel the doinges of Charles and other Princes in calling councelles in making decrees in geuing Iniunctions to Ecclesiastical persons and in ruling and gouerning them in all Ecclesiasticall thinges and causes If the gouernement of this most Christian Prince in Ecclesiastical matters be well considered it shall well appeare that this Charles the great whom the Popes doo extolle as an other great Constantine patron vnto them as he was in deede by enriching the Churche with great reuenues and riches was no whit greater for his martial Prince-like affaires in the politique gouernaunce than for his godly ordering disposing the Churche causes although that in some thinges he is to be borne with consideringe the blindnes and superstition of the time Although herein Lodouicus Charles his sonne were somwhat inferiour to his father Yet not withstanding he reserued these Ecclesiasticall causes to him selfe with no lesse care he ordred the same although in some things being a very milde Prince he winked and bare ouermuch with the ambition of the Popes Shortly after whan as the foresaid Leo was departed was Stephen next elected Pope and without the confirmation of the Emperour tooke the Papacy vpon him All the histories agree that he came shortly after into Fraunce to the Emperour but wherfore most of them leaue vncertaine Platina thinketh to auoyde the hurley burley in the Citie that was after the death of Leo. Sabellicus thinketh the Emperours coronation to be the cause Nauclerus saith he went in his owne persone vnto the Emperour Lodouike about or for the Churche matters whiche proueth that the Emperour had chiefe authoritie in ordering the Churche busines But our English Chronicles as some writers affirme doo plainly declare that his comming into Fraunce was to make an excuse of his vnlauful consecration against the decrees made to Charles by his predecessours Adrian and Leo fearing therefore the fequele of the matter he first sent his Legates before him to be a preparatiue to his purgation and afterwards came him self to craue his pardoÌ„ And the rather to please Themperour brought a most beautiful crown of gold for him and an other for the Empresse wherof folowed as Nauclerus saith Omnia quae petiit à pio Imperatore obtinuit he obteined whatsoeuer he asked of the godly Emperour Nowe when Stephen had dispatched all his matters he retourned home and shortly after an other Ecclesiastical cause happened for within a while the Bishop of Reatina died and there was an other chosen And when the sea of Reatina saith Nauclerus was voide the Pope would not consecrate the elect Bisshop onles he had first liceÌ„ce therto of the Emperour The circumstances of this story make the matter more plaine The erle Guido had writen vnto Pope Stephen to consecrate that Bishop whom the Clergy and the people had elect but the Pope durst not enterprice the matter till he were certified of y e Emperours pleasure therupon wryteth
again vnto Therâ—e the tenour wherof foloweth after Gratianus reporte I haue red your letters wherin you require me to consecrate the newly elect Bishop of Reatin chosen by the consent of the Clergie and people least the Churche should be long destitute of a propre pastour I am sory for the death of the other but I haue defered the confecration of this for that he brought not with him the Emperours licence vt mos est as the maner is I haue not satisfied youre minde herein least that the Emperour shuld be displeased at my doing Therfore I require you for otherwise I ought not to medle to purchase the Emperours liceÌ„ce directed vnto me by his letters vt prisca consuetudo dictat as the auncient custome doth will and then I will accomplis he your desier I pray you take not this my doing in euill parte Wherof it is manifest inough saith Nauclerus that of the Emperours at that time the Bisshops had their inuestitures although Anto. doth glosse otherwise saiynge that perhaps this electe Bisshoppe was belonging to the Court who ought not to be ordered Not only the textes of many decrees in this destinctioÌ„ doth confirme this to be true but also Gratian himselfe and the glossars do in many places affirme that this was the auncient custome and constituion in the Churche that the elections of the Bisshops of Rome and of other Bishops also should be presented to the Emperours and Princes before they might be cosecrated Immediatly after the death of Stephen Paschalis 1. was chosen Pope He being encouraged by al likelihood by his predecessours like entrance thinking to entreate the Emperour so easely as Stephen had done And boldened with a late made Canon by Stephen suffred him self to be enstalled consecrate without Themperours inuesturing leaue authoritie Neuertheles being better aduised mistrusting his presuÌ„pteous disobedieÌ„t fact wolde displease TheÌ„perour as it did in dede he sent by by his Legates to Themperour to excuse him self laieth all the fault on the people Clergy TheÌ„perour accepting this excuse for that time warneth the people and Clergy of Rome that they take good hede that they do no more offende against his maiestie but that hereafter they doo warely obserue and kepe the old orders and constitutions He calleth this attempt plain treason This Emperour called a councel at Frankforth he bestowed Spiritual promocions and instituted his brother Drogo the chiefe mynister or Bishop at Mettes In the meane whyle dieth Pope Paschalis next to whom folowed Eugenius but elected not without contention and liued but a while after whom succeded ValeÌ„tinus who liued in the papacy but fourty days Next vnto him was chosen Gregory the fourth who was of so great modestie saieth Platina that being elected Pope of the Clergy and people of Rome he would not take vpon him the office before he had his confirmation of the Emperours Embassadours whom the Emperour had sent to Rome for that purpose and to examen diligently that election And Lodouicus the Emperour did this not of pride but that he woulde not loose the priuileges and rightes of the Empire Note all these thinges well the Pope on the one part whaÌ„ he was chosen without any contention yet would he not be consecrate without the Emperours confirmation otherwise he thought it an vnmodest part The Emperour on the other side not onely sendeth his Embassadours to confirme but or euer they confirme him to examyn and diligently to discusse after what sorte he came in and whether he were elected lawfully or no. And this he did not of a pryde saye they muche lesse of any vsurpation but bicause he woulde not loose or diminishe the right herein that belonged to the Emperiall maiestie Here say they he did it of purpose bicause he would not lose his right and not his onely but the right of the Empire But least it should séeme he did tyrannously herein and oppressed the Churche or enfringed her liberties it foloweth all most worde for worde in both these writers Platina and Nauclerus For he was a milde merciful and most gentle Prince of nature and one that did alwayes mainteine the right and dignitie of the Churche Loo howe great clemency this is compted in him and the defence of the dignities and rightes of the Churche the whiche afterwardes and nowe of the Popes is compted the greatest tyranny and oppression of the Churche that can be But further to approue this deede of Lodouike the foresayde authours recite many Canons decrees constitutions that this Emperour made in Ecclesiasticall causes and thinges and especially for the reformation of the disordered behauiours of the Bishoppes and Clergie In so muche that Platina comparinge the dissolutenesse of the Churchemen in his time crieth out Woulde God O Lodouike thou were aliue in these our times for nowe the Churche wanteth thy moste holy ordinaunces and thy discipline The selfe same Lodouicus saith Platina called a councell of many Bisshoppes at Aquisgrane to Goddes honour and the profite of the Church dignitie The Prelates in the preface to this Sinode doo declare what was the care authoritie of the Godly Emperour in this Sinode They affirme that the moste Christian Emperour had called an holy and general congregation or Councell at Aquisgrane He beganne therein thoroughly to handle the mater with wisedome voide of curiositie He counsailed yea warned the holie Synode assembled what was néedefull to be doone touching certaine chiefe ministees of the Churches He warned them further to drawe out of the Holie Canons and the saiynges of the holie Fathers a fourme of institution for the simple soÌ„rte of Ministers whereby they might more easilie learne to walke in theyr duties without offence The Synode geueth God thankes that he had praeferred so holie wise and deuout a Prince to haue the chardge and ouersight of his Churche and the Churches needefull businesse or matters The Synode accordinge to the kinges aduertisement furthered also with his helpe otherwise collecteth a fourme of Institution wherein is conteined at large after what sorte the Prelates oughte to frame their liues rule or gouerne the people committed to their cures c. This done they bring to the Prince their fourme of institution whiche they had deuised This Emperour called an other Councel at Ticinum in Italy for the causes hereafter expressed The matters or causes which the honorable Emperour Lodouicus did commaunde his Bishoppes to consider of are these touching the state of his kingedome of the conuersation of the Bishoppes Priestes and other Churchmen of the doctrine and preachinge to the people of writinge out of Bookes of restoring of Churches of ordering the people and hospitalles for strangers of Monasteries both for men and wemen What so euer is out of order in these forenamed states eyther thorough the negligeÌ„ce of the guides or the slouthfulnesse of the inferiours I am saide he verie muche desirous to knowe and I coueite to amende or refourme