vel solvere se noxios arbitrentur cum apud Deum non sententia Sacerdotum sed reorum vita ponderatur Alligat solvit Episcopus vel Presbyter eos qui insontes sunt vel noxii sed pro officio suo cum peccatorum audierit varietates scit qui ligandus sit qui solvendus c That is as Peter Lombard interprets it Dominus tribuit Sâ—cerditibus potestatem Ligandi Solvendi id est ostendendi hominibus Ligatos Solvendos in and by the preaching of the Gospel to them according to Christs commission He that repenteth believeth and is baptized shall be saved here is the loosing and remitting He that repenteth not nor believeth shall be damned and the wrath of God abideth on him here is the binding and retaining by the keyes of the kingdom of heaven to wit the Gospel which shuts and opens heaven gates admits or excludes inherits or disinherits them of it and is the savor of life unto life to those who believe it but the savor of death unto death to those who believe it not as is evident by Mar 16. 16. Lu 13. 3. 5. John 3. 38. c 12. 48. Rom 2. 1 to 16. 1 Cor 6. 9 10 11. 2 Cor 2. 14 15 16. c 4. 3 4. Gal 5 19 20 21. Ephes 5. 5 6. Rev 21. 8 17. c. 22. 14 15. Acts 3. 26. c 16. 30 31. 2 Cor 10. 4 5 6. Which texts do open heaven gates to all repending and believing but shut them against all unrelenting unbelieving sinners This Origen Tertullian Hierom Chrysostome Augustine and other Fathers Bishop Jewel Dr. Reynolds Bishop Vsher and most Protestant Divines prove to be the Keyes of heaven and the proper pardoning binding loosing retaining of sins in the premised commission which though peculiar to Apostles Bishops Priests and Ministers of the Gospel in respect of their publike Ministry in preaching the word and pressing the promises and threatnings of the Gospel yet it belongs to every Christian Magistrate and private Christian too in their orb who may in their respective places apply the promises of the Gospel to the consolation and absolution of private penitent Christians their own families friends neighbors and denounce the wrath and judgement of God against impenitent persons and Malefactors as Judges usually do as there is ocasion 4ly This power of binding retaining loosing and remitting sinnes with the keys of the kingdom of heaven whereby this is done were equally given to all the Apostles as farre forth as to Peter Christs words I will give to thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven c. being in the future not present tense giving him no actual possession of the keys kingdom of heaven til after Christs ascension then but joyntly with the rest of the Apostles John 20. 21 22 23. Yea every ordinary Minister Presbyter Priest hath as large a divine power in the Keyes as the Pope himself or the greatest Patriarch Archbishop Bishop in the world and may as absolutely fully bind loose absolve retain mens sinnes as they their Commissions being all one and the same and their power herein not judicial but meerly ministerial declaratory not definitive the absolute judicial power of shutting and opening heaven pardoning remitting retaining sins and absolving condemning sinners being peculiar to God and Christ alone as Isay 22. 22. Rev. 3. 7. Mat. 9. 5 6. Luc. 7. 48 49. John 2. 13. Rom 2. 17. resolve Origen St. Ambrose Chrysostom Augustine with others before cited Beda yea Peter Lombard Richardus De Sancto Victore confesse and Bishop Jewel Dr. Rainolds Dr. Field Bishop Usher Dr. Ames and all other Protestant Divines prove at large in their Treatises of Confession Absolution Power of the Keyes and against the Popes Supremacy Whence Alphonso de Castro concludes though a great champion for the Pope Quando absolvit simplex Sacerdos tantum adsolvit de Culpa sicut Papa Therefore if these Texts give any Supream Ecclesiastical Authority over Kings and the whole Church to St. Peter or the Pope they give the very same to every Priest Curate whatsoever and so we shall have as many Popes yea Vicars generals and Viceroyes of Christ over the Church all Christian Kings Emperors and their kingdoms as there are Priests 5ly I have long admired how any Pope or Prelate from this borrowed Metaphor of the Keyes of the Kingdom of heaven given to Peter or others can pretend to such a transcendent Soveraign Ecclesiastical Temporal Jurisdiction too as some of them claim from thence Since I never read in any Text Story That Keyes were an Emblem of Supream Iurisdiction but the Sword or Scepter only which belongs not unto Apostles Popes Prelates Priests but Kings alone And experience informs us that Porters who keep the keyes and open shut the gates of Kings Popes Bishops Noblemens Pallaces Cities Colledges Castles Courts and other publike or private Baylifs Stewards Butlers Grooms who keep the keyes of their Lords Masters Barns Butteries Sellers Stables are persons of inferiour quality void of any Supream Temporal or Ecclesiastical Authority in or over their fellow Servants much lesse over their Lords Masters to shut them out or let them in at their pleasures Therefore every of these Porters Key-keepers yea every parish Clerk who keeps the keyes of the Church Cathedral or of the Popes own pallace at Rome may as justly challenge a Supream Temporal and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over their Kings Lords Popes Bishops Parish-Priests Parishioners Churches themselves as the Pope Priests and Prelates do from St. Peters keyes because they keep the keyes and open the doors to let them in and out of their Pallaces Churches Houses yea the Door-keepers and Turn-keyes of both Houses of Parliament may as well argue they are above the Houses Members themselves in power and jurisdiction upon the same Account as Popes above the Church Kings 6ly Popes and their flatterers to appropriate those Keyes to St. Peter and the Romish Hierarchy which Christ himself never knew nor gave them have made up a New Bundle of Keyes in their own forge which will never shut nor open the gates of heaven As first the Key of Power 2ly Of Iurisdiction 3ly Of Order 4ly Of Discretion 5ly The Keyes most principall 6ly The Keyes lesse principall 7ly The Keys of Knowledge Which though chief Bonaventura confesseth most of their Ordinary Masse Priests want being so ignorant that they are utterly voyd of all true saving knowledge of the sacred Scriptures Most of these Keyes they appropriate to the Pope originally and from him derivatively to Bishops But since they have not in all their New Bunch of Keyes The Key of Faith and knowledge of the word of God which only opens heavens gate and since the gate of heaven is very strait and but one and so needs not such a multiplicity of Keyes or pick-locks to open it
Clerum omnem populum asserimus esse concordem ad meliorem statum fore productum atque ideo quia juste rationabiliter vestra humilitas nostro Apostolatui humiliter postulat quatenus gratulanter peragrantes sanctam Synodum vestro consilio congregatam Patriarchio Lateranensi in Ecclesia Sancti Salvatoris constitutam a pluribus viris Catholicis Episcopis et Abbatibus insuper Iudicibus et legis Doctoribus promulgantes qualiter quiete ac pacince stare vivere valeamus praesentibus omnibus singulis regionibus hujus alâ—â— Urbis Romae ex omnibus ordinibus Cleri et populi asserentibus et confirmantibus per omnia ut haereâ— altercatione ac omni errore expulso quoniam 〈…〉 temporibus error ex hoc accrescere discernitur tam de Romano Imperio quam de Apostolica sede ac dignitate Patriciatus de investituris Episcopatuum 〈◊〉 ad exemplum beati Adriani Apostolicae sedis Antistitis cujus vitam actionem satis discretum audivimus rationabilem qui suis spiritualibus sanctionibus Domino CAROLO victoriosissimo Regi Francorum et Longobardorum regni Italiae Patriciatus dignitatem et ordinationem Apostolicae sedis et Investituras Episcoporum concessit Igitur Ego quoque Leo Servus servorum Dei Episcopus idem exemplum beati Adriani cum toto similiter Clero et universo Romano populo omnibusque ordinibus hujus almae Vrbis sicut in suis scripturis apparet constituimus et confirmamus et corroboramus et per nostram Apostolicam authoritatem concedimus atque largimur Domino OTTHONI primo Regi Teutonicorum ejusque Successoribus hujus regni Italiae in perpetuum facultatem Successorem eligendi atque summae Apostolicae sedis Pontificem ordinandi et per hoc Archiepiscopos seu Episcopos ut ipsi tantum ab eo investituram accipiant et consecrationem unde debent exceptis his quos Imperator Pontificibus et Archiepiscopis concessit Et ut nemo deinceps cujuscunque gradus vel dignitatis vel religionis eligendi Regem vel Patricium vel Pontificem summae sedis Apostolicae aut quemcunque Episcopum vel ordinandi habeat facultatem absque consensu ipsius Imperatoris sed soli Regi Romani Imp. hanc reverendam tribui facultatem quod tamen fiat absque omni pecunia et ut ipse sit Patricius et Rex Romanus Quod si a cuncto Clero et universo populo quis eligatur Episcopus nisi a supradicto Rege laudetur et investiatur non consecretur Si quis contra hanc authoritatem Apostolicam et traditionem aliquid molietur aut temerator in aliquo repertus fuerit sive contra hoc nostrum consilium agens sciat se iram Sancti Petri Principis et Filii nostri Domini Otthonis ejusque successorum et omnium praedecessorum nostrorum Censuram et sub Anathematis vinculo emersurum ac per hoc Excommunicationi universalis Ecclesiae omnisque populi Christiani eum subjacere decernimus Insuper nisi a malo resipuerit irrevocabili exilio prematur vel ultimis suppliciis feriatur Qui vero pro intuitu custos et observator extiterit benedictionis gratiam vitamque aeternam cum omnibus Sanctis sine fine mereatur habere in secula seculorum Amen In his Actis interfuere Seniores Proconsules Exarchatus quidam tenentes regionarii Scholae Graecorum Arabum Judaeorum Paganorum de Majoribus omnium platearum Insuper Cardinales Archiepiscopi omnes Presbyteri Episcopi de finitimus Civitatibus processuarii Notarii Cancellarii ex omni plebe Romani Imperii This Decree of Pope Leo is prefaced by Gratian himself with this Rubrick Electio Romani Pontificis ad Ius pertinet Imperatoris and incorporated into the body of the Canon Law authorized by sundry Popes Which being made ratified by two famous Popes Adrian and Leo in two Councils held in Rome it self with the suffrage and unanimous consent of all the Clergy Senators Officers and People of Rome in a most solemn manner and the violators thereof subjected to such severe Ecclesiastical and Civil punishments to prevent all future Schisms seditions symonaical contracts indirect practises and interpositions of prevalent infamous Whores and Strumpets in the election of Popes for the peace honour benefit of the whole Church no succeeding Popes had any power at all to null or revoke by their Pontifical usurped power upon any pretext without the concurrent authority at least of a General Council and universal consent of all the Clergy Senators and people of Rome as Marsilius Patavinus proves at large Bartholomeus Buxiensis and Dr. Thierry in their Glosse upon this Decree in Gratian demand this Question Cum haec privilegia fuerint omnibus Imperatoris successoribus data quare non utuntur eis To which they return these unsatisfactory Answers Quia Imperator eis renunciavit A grosse mistake since no Emperor since the reign of Otho ever renounced it by any Charter and Gratians conclusion Ex istis Constitutionibus pacto Ludovici Imperatoris deprehenduntur Impâ—ratores renunciasse privilegiis quae de electione Summi Pontificis Adrianus Papa Carolo Imperatori ad imitationem ejus Leo Papa Ottonis primo Regi Theutonicorum fecerat is but a meer Nonsequitur contradicted by his prâ—mises whereupon they subjoyn these ensuing answers Item quia per abusum ea peâ—diderunt without expressing any abuse the Roman Clergy people and Cardinals since having much more for feited their right to elect Popes for their manifold abuses therein recorded by sundry Historians Item quia ex causa fuâ—rint eis concessa unde cessante causa ipsa cessaverunt Nec obstat quod hic dicitur de successoribus quia hoc intelligendum est de illis successoribus qui hoc impetrare possunt A pretry equivocating evasion worthy Popes and Popish Canonists They further propound this second question on this Popes Decree Nunquid Papa posset Imperatori potestatem dare ut deponeret ipsum Which they thus affirmatively resolve Sic in Haresi therefore a Pope may be an Heretick and deposed for Heresie by the Emperor et de consensu Cardinalium immo in omnibus se potest subjicere ei Therefore the Emperor in all things is superiour to the Pope not the Pope to him since this Pope Leo by his Bull and Charter resigned regranted to this Emperor Otho not only the Right of electing and confirming Popes and the Investitures of Bishops but also what ever Lands Cities Territories Possessioâ—â— Gifts either Charles or Pipin or Justinian or Aripert had given of the Regalities of the Kingdom of Italy or the Empire to St. Peter or the Church of Rome which Bull or Charter is recorded at large in Theodoricus de Niem Crantzius the Century Writers and others being made in a General Council and subscribed by 15. Archbishops and Bishops 7. Cardinals and 15. Chief Citizens of Rome Both which conjoyned eternally subvert as well
quaecunque acceperunt ut suas utilitates negligant illorum procurent ut si opus fuerit neque mori recusent pro salute inferiorum suorum sicut Apostolus dicit Ego autem impendar superimpendar pro animabus vestris Si haec ergo ita se habent Primatum Ecclesiasticum concupiscere neque ratio est neque causa quia neque justum est neque utile as he there proves at large Denique ipsi honores in Christo in prima quidem facie videntur honores revera autem non sunt honores diveruÌ„ sed diversa ministeria St. Hierom thus back him Illud etiam dico quod Episcopi Sacerdotes se esse â—overint non Dominos honorent Clericos quasi Clericos c. Vnus Dominus unum Templum unus sit etiam Ministerium Recordemur semper quid Apostolus Petrus praecipia Sacerdotibus Pascite eu qui in vobis est gregem Domini neque dominantes in Clerum sed forma facti gregis Rex nolentibus praeest Episcopus volentibus ille terrore subjicit hic servituti donatur ille corpora custodâ—â— ad mortem hic animas servat at vitam Qui Episcopatum desiderat bonum opus desiderat Videte quod dixit bonum opus desiderat non dignitatem Ad boni operis desiderum eum provocat non ad honorem Ministri sunt Episcopi non Principes Etiam in altari Dei videant sibi Episcopi si superbi sint Draconos antepoâ—â— Fratres obsecro vos c. Quae quidem verba ad humilitatem provocant supercilium decutiunt Episcoporum qui velut in aliqua sublimi specula constituti vix dignantur vidâ—râ— mortales alloqui conservos suos Discant ab Apostolo errantes insipientes Galathas vocari Fratres Subjecti invicem in timore Christi Audiant haec Episcopi audiant Presbyteri audiant omnis ordo Doctorum subiectis suis se esse subiectos imitentur dicentem Apostolum Cum enim essem liber ex omnibus omnibus me ipsum servum feci ut omnes lucrifacerem Et in alio loco Per charitatem servite invicem Servator quoque formam servi accepit ut serviret discipulis suis pedes eorum lavit Hoc interest inter Gentium Principes et Christianorum quod illi dominantur subditis nos servimus et in eo maiores sumus si minimi omnium fuerimus Yea he concludes the Bishop of Eugubium a small despicabie City to be equal to the Bishop of Rome himself in power and Jurisdiction Nec altera Romanae urbis Ecclesia altera totius orbis existimanda est c. Si authoritas quaeritur Orbis major est urbe Ubicunque fuerit Episcopus sive Eugubii sive Constantinopoli sive Alexandriae sine Tanais ejusdem meriti ejusdem est Sacerdotii Potentia divitiarum paupertatis humilitas vel sublimiorem vel inferiorem Episcopum non facit Caeterum omnes Apostolorum successores sunt quid mihi profers unius urbis Romae consuetudinem St. Augustin determines Episcopatus nomen est Operis non Honoris c. ut intelligat se non else Episcopum qui pra esse dilexerit non prodesse Quomodo vinitori altior locus factus est ad custodiendam vineam sic Episcopis altior fit locus ut ipsi superintendant tanquam custodiant populum Et de isto loco alto periculosa redditur ratio nisi eo corde stemus hic ut humilitate sub pedibus vestris simus pro vobis oremus ut qui novit mentes vestras ipse custodiat Custodimus enim vos ex officio dispensationis sed custodiri volumus vobiscum tanquam vobis pastores sumus sed sub illo Pastore vobiscum oves sumus Tanquam vobis Doctores ex hoc loco sumus sed sub uno illo Magistro in hac Schola vobiscum condiscipuli sumus Si volumus custodiri ab illo qui humiliatus est propter nos exaltatus ad custodiendos nos Humiles simus Nemo sibi arroget aliquid In brief Primasius Uticensis Episcopus Sedulius Scotus Theodoretus Beda Rabanus Maurus Oecumenius Theophylactus Bishop of Bulgaria Anselmus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus Hayme Halberstattensis Episcopus in their Commentaries and expositions on 1 Tim. 3. 1 2. Tit. 1. Isidor Hispalensis Episcopus de Officiis Ecclesiasticis l. 2. c. 5. Concilium Aquisgranense sub Ludovico Pio c. 9. 11. 13. Gratian Causa 8. quaest 1. St. Bernard De Consideratione ad Eugenium Papam lib. 2. with infinite more unanimously resolved Episcopatus nomen est Operis non Honoris Opus inquit Apostolus non dignitatem laborem non delicias honorem Opus pet quod per humilitatem crescat non fastidio intumescat Ne igitur Dominatum et Auctoritatem solum expetat Nec desiderare Episcopatum putandus est qui suum desiderat iucrum vel honorem non plebis salutem Non enim dicitur qui Episcopatum desiderat bonum Gradum desiderat sed bonum Opus Ipse ergo sibi testis est quia Episcopatum non appetit qui non boni Operis Ministerium sed Honoris gloriam quaerit Episcopi nomen non Dominium sed Officium non Honos sed Onus Nec enim Dignitates sunt Ecclesiastica sed opus co quod unumquodque horum pro communi utilitate est constitutum sive Episcopatus sive Diaconia sive unumiquodque aliud Curam potius haereditabis et Operam quam gloriam et divitias Non est Episcopus qui praeesse dilexerit non prodesse There is therefore nothing in the Title or Office of a Bishop being only a work that can give St. Peter the Pope or any other Bishop Presbyter Elder or Minister any Supream or Ordinary inherent Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction independent on underived from the munisicence of Christian Emperors Kings especially if we consider that in the Apostolical Churches and those next succeeding them in the purest Primitive times there were by divine institution many Bishops Elders in one and the same Church not one Bishop over many That they were all of equal authority who by a common council and consent did feed instruct watch over and take care of their Churches that they were promiscuously stiled Bishops Elders Presbyters there being then no real distinction of order and degree between a Bishop a Presbyter by divine institution Hence St. Cyprian resolves Una est Ecclesia Christi per totum mundum in plura membra divisa Item Episcopatus unus Episcoporum multorum concordi numerositate diffusus Ecclesia una est connexa cohaerentium sibi invicem Sacerdotum glutino copulata Etsi Pastores multi sumus Unum tamen grogem pascimus oves universas quas Christus sanguine suo passione quaesivit collegit fovere debemus Idcirco copiosum est corpus Sacerdotum concordiae mutuae glutino atque unitatis vinculo copulatum ut si quis ex collegio
he would degrade him from the Papacy as he deposed Heraclius Patriarch of Constantinople for disswading opposing his suppressing defacing of Images and refusing to subscribe his Decree against them making Anastatius Patriarch in his stead who concurred with him against Images This Pope Gregory instead of obeying the Emperor herein Tributa Romanae Vrbis prohibuit et Italiae scribens ad Leonem Epistolam dogmaticam non oportere Imperatorem de fide facere verbum a falshood in the highest degree against all his Predecessors doctrine unlesse qualified with the ensuing words in a right sence and subject here misapplyed novitate violare antiqua dogmata Ecclesiae Catholicae And to preserve himself in his See he mutinied all the Officers and Souldiers in Rome and Italy against the Emperor so farr as to resolve to march to Constantinople to depose him and chuse another Emperor in his place upon this quarrel of Images Some write that Pope Gregory the 2d excommunicated the Emperor Leo in a Synod at Rome and that the Emperor derided his excommunication saying Idolatra est et ipse excommunicatus a Deo However all accord that he removit Romam Italiam necnon omnia tam Reipublicae quam Ecclesiastica jura in Hesperiis ab obedientia Imperatoris as Paulus Diaconus and others express it Leonem per Epistolas tanquam impie agentem redarguens Romam cum tota Italia ab illius Imperio recedere faciens wherupon the Emperor appointed several of his Officers in Italy to apprehend depose or kill him for his Treasons whom he by mutinies caused to be slain themselves John Damascen a Monk opposed the Emperor in Syria writing in defence of Images Regum est civilis administratio We obey thee O King in things that belong to civil secular affairs quantum ad nos spectat the government wherof is committed to you But in Ecclesiastical matters Pastors and Bishops have delivered Lawes and Constitutions to us We may not remove those lawfull bounds which are set unto us as if their Canons or Decrees were of absolute force to bind Kings or Emperors without their consents which they never did This Emperor proceeded to put many Priests as well as others to death in Constantinople and elswhere who presumed to erect Images and disobeyed his Imperial Edicts Hereupon Pope Gregory the 3d. who succeeded Gregory the 2. Anno 731. writ commonitory Letters to this Emperor Leo three times one after another to disswade him from his opinion and proceedings against Images and the defenders of them sending them by special Messengers who were apprehended their Letters taken from them and they imprisoned for sundry moneths then sent away with reproaches by the Emperor An Argument of this Emperors Supremacy and the Popes subjection to him Constantine the Emperor surnamed Copronimus in the 13th year of his reign Contra Imagines Concilium 38. Episcoporum congregavit in Palatio Hieriae which continued together from the 3. of February to the 16. of August After which ascendit Constantinus Imperator in ambonem tenens Constantinum Monachum qui fuit Sylei Episcopus cum orasset voce magna pronunciavit dicens Constantino universali Patriarchae multos annos creating him Patriarch of Constantinople by his Imperial power Et deinde ascendit Imperator cum Constantino scelerato Praesule reliquis Episcopis forum divulgantes orthodoxam cacodoxam writes Paulus Diaconus fidem in conspectu totius plebis anathematizantes Germanum Patriarcham Gregorium Cyprium Johannem Chrysoroan Damascenum Our Venerable Beda in his Commentarius in Ps 50. On these words Tibi soli peccavi resolves thus Rex enim si peccat soli Deo peccat quia nullus alius eum pro peccatis suis puniet Therefore not the Pope And he determines that Reges Sacerdotes merito omnes in Ecclesia perfecti vocantur cum sint membra Reges Sacerdotis summi cum seipsos bene regere cum sua corpora Domino hostiam veraciter exhibere didicerunt as well as Popes or Priests Synodus Suessionensis sub Childerico Rege Duce Pipino consisting of the Nobility as well as Clergy was summoned by Pipin the Kings Vicegerent and all the Canons were made and consented unto by the Nobility as well as Clergy as this ratification implies Si quis contra hoc Decretum quod 23. Episcopi cum aliis Sacerdotibus una cum consensu Principis Pipini Optimatum Francorum consilio constituerunt transgredi vel legem irrumpere voluerit vel despexerit judicandus sit ab ipso Principe vel Episcopis vel Comitibus componat secundum quod in lege scriptum est To pretermit the manifold humble supplications and obsecrations of Pope Zacharias elected Pope by the People to Luitprandus King of the Lombards and Thrasimundus with his Presents to them to restore the Cities and Lands they had seised in Italy to the Church of Rome which they denied or deferred to do Aistulphus King of the Lombards demanding an annual Tribute from the Citizens of Rome Per unumquodque scilicet caput singulos auri solidos annue inferri threatning to besiege the City if they refused to pay it Pope Stephen the 3d. his successor quem cunctus populus consona voce sibi elegit Pontificem not the Clergy alone when he could not pacify Aistulphus neither by his Petitions nor Gifts sent unto him by his Embassadors obnixe per eas postulavit pacis foedera He therupon sent to Constantinople to the Emperor Constantinus intreating Imperialem clementiam ut cum exercitu ad tuendas Italiae partes modis omnibus adveniret de iniquitatis filiis mansolas Romanam hanc urbem vel cunctam Italiam liberaret But receiving no ayd thence and Aistulphus proceeding in his menaces and Invasions upon the Popes Territories he thereupon writ humble Letters and sent Messengers to Pepin and Charles Kings of France to relive them from their oppressions Afterwards this Pope repaired in person to King Aistulphus to Papiae where presenting him with many rich gifts nimis eum obsecratus est atque lachrymis profusis eum petivit ut dominicas quas abstulerat redderet over propria propriis restitueret sed nullo modo apud eum haec impetrare valuit Sed imperialis missus simisi modo petiit Imperiales literas illi tribuit non obtinere potuit Herupon he petitioned Aistulphus who detained him prisoner that he would grant him leave to go into France telling him Si tua voluntas est me relaxandi mea omnino est ambulandi c. Upon which he released and permitted him to walk into France where coming to King Pipin and Charles his sonne Christianissimum Regem lachrymabiliter deprecatus est ut per pacis foedera causam beati Petri Reipublicae Romanorum disponeret having writ a Letter to them before in St. Peters and all the Saints Martyrs
and blessed Virgins names exhorting praying conjuring them to help St. Peter the Church of Rome in this emergent necessity Who thereupon treated with Aistulphus and discovering his fraudulent shifts tota se virtute professus est decertare pro causa Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae whereupon he marched with an Army into Italy besieged Papia and forced Aistulphus to surrender all the Cities Lands he had taken from the Church of Rome De quibus omnibus receptis Civitatibus Rex Pipinus donationem in scriptis a beato Petro atque a Sancta Romana Ecclesia vel omnibus in perpetuum Pontificibus Apostolicae edis misit possidendum asserens hoc quod nulla eum copia c. suadere valeret ut quod simel beato Petro obtulit auferret Thus he restored this Pope to his See and possessions who had crowned him King of France against right upon what Terms you shall hear anon from some of his Successors It is observable that there were no Excommunications Interdicts Anathemas used against Aistulphus or others by this Pope to force them to obedience which succeeding Popes introduced but only humble prayers supplications tears Petitions both to Aistulphus Pipin and Charles as the Popes Superiors not his Underlings and Vassals and that for St. Peters Patrimony Concilium apud Palatium Vernis was summoned and the Canons therein made ratified by King Pipins Edict who desired Haec inconvulsa et inviolata esse being made by his direction quia facultas modo non sufficiat ad integrum tamen aliqua ex parte vult esse correctum quod Ecclesiae Dei valdè dignoscitur esse contrarium Among other things it was decreed cap. 4. Vt bis in anno Synodus fiat Prima Synodus mense primo quod est Martii Kalend. ubicunque Dominus Rex jusserit in eius praesentia So that he must both summon and preside in it Pope Paul Stephens Successor elected to be Pope by the Roman Clergy and people quia validior fortior erat Theophylacto whom some of the people elected in ejus domo congregati residebat although he oft times sent his Nuncioes cum observatoriis et monitoriis literis Constantino Leoni Augustis pro restituendis confirmandisque in pristinum venerationis statum sacratissimis Imaginibus Domini Dei Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi sanctae ejus Genitricis atque beatorum Apostolorum omniumque sanctorum Prophetarum Martyrum Confessorum yet they would not hearken to him but prosecuted those who violated their Edicts made against their adoration After the death of Pope Paul one Toto Dux Nepesinae Civitatis gathering together a great multitude of Soldiers and Rusticks out of Tuscia and entring with them into Rome in the house of Toto elegerunt ibidem Constantinum fratrem ejusdem Totonis Laicum existentem to be Pope whom many of them accompanying in their Arms in Lateranensem Patriarcham continuo accersito Georgio Episcopo compulerunt cum ut ordinem Clericatus eidem Constantino tribueret who refusing at first to do it they at last by threats and force compelled him out of fear to ordain him a Deacon and Subdeacon at one time against the Sacred Canons and enforced all the people to take an Oath to him the next Lords day bringing him with a multitude of armed Souldiers into St. Peters Church he was there consecrated Pope by the said George and two Bishops more Et sic per anni spatium mensem unum sedem Apostolicam invasam detinuit Which Christophorus and Sergius his sonne bewailing went to this Constantine feining themselves to become Monks received an absolution of their Oath from him and then departing privily to Desiderius King of the Lombards and Theodoric Duke of Spoletum obnixe eundem Regem deprecati sunt ejus auxilium tribui ut talis novitatis error ab Ecclesia Dei amputaretur Whereupon they procuring forces from King Desiderius and entring Rome by night after very many contests apprehended Pope Constanine as an invader uncanonically ordained Then Christopherus Pannionus aggregans Sacerdotes ac Primates Cleri Optimates Militae atque universum exercitum Cives honestos omnisque populi Romani coetum a magno usque ad parvum pertractantes pariter concordaverunt omnes una mente unoque consensu in persona beatissimi Stephani 4. and consecrated him Pope After which in a Council at Rome Constantine was deprived degraded as ordained against the Canons the Orders conferred by him whiles Pope nulled and the persons ordained by him either thrust into Monasteries as Monks or re-ordained only the baptism conferred by them was reputed valid After this though Constantine excused himself that he was made Pope against his will by the People and Souldiers yet he was thrust Prisoner into a Monastery and had his eyes there put out by a party of Souldiers of which he died Afterwards by the Council and assistance of Duke Maurice and Desiderius King of Lombardy one Michael Schrivianus qui nullo Sacerdotali fungebatur honore was elected Archbishop of Ravenna by the Officers and Army with a strong hand whereupon this Pope sent into France to King Charles and by his assistance procured Michael to be ejected out of his Bishoprick and sent Prisoner to Rome and Leo an Archdeacon to be chosen in his place who was ordained and consecrated Archbishop at Rome by Pope Stephen Hereupon Desiderius seised some lands belonging to the Church of Rome and refused to restore them upon this Popes Petition who thereupon sent supplicatory Letters to King Charles and Charlemain into France for aid against him Upon which Desiderius marching into Rome with an Army entred into the Popes Palace and presence with armed Souldiers shut him up in his Palace apprehended Christopherus and Sergius who set up this Pope and notwithstanding his intercessions on their behalf put out their eyes and thrust them into the Monastery of St. Agatha and Clare Scauri where they soon after died and this Pope too through grief Pope Adrian the 1. being elected Pope after him Desiderius for fear of Charles and Charlemains entring into Italy desired Peace with him promising with an Oath to do him all that right which he denied unto Stephen whereupon the Pope demanded the restitution of the City of Faventia the Dukedom of Ferrata and other lands quas sanctae memoriae Pipinus Rex ejus filii Carolus Carolomannus excellentissimi Reges Francorum Patricii Romanorum beato Petro concedentes obtulerunt who not only refused to surrender them but seised upon more After many supplicatory Letters for restitution and treaties to that purpose spent in vain Desiderius threatned to besiege Rome it self whereupon the Pope dispatched Letters and Messengers to King Charles of France his Patron by Sea deprecavit ejus excellentiam ut sicut suis Pater sanctae memoriae Pipinus ipse succurrer at atque subveniat Sanctae Dei Ecclesiae atque afflictae
Romanorum seu Exarchatus Ravennentium provinciae atque plenarias beati Petri justicias ablatas Civitates ab eodem Desiderio Rege exigeret Whereupon Charles by his Messengers exhorted him to restore all these Cities and Territories to the Church who after many Messages and Treaties gave this peremptory answer Se minime quicquam redditurum King Charls hereupon marched with a great Army into Italy admonishing Desiderius without any battel peaceably to restore those Cities and Lands to the Church who yet refused to do it After which Desiderius flying and all his forces being dispersed the Cities and Territories craving pardon returned to their obedience to the Church of Rome and took an Oath to continue faithfull to it Charles having reduced all Places and Territories to their obedience took his journey to Rome it self beyond the Popes expectation where being magnificently entertained he made a New Grant and Donation of all the Lands formerly granted by Pepin to the Church of Rome subscribed with his own hand and the hands of all the Bishops Abbots Dukes and Secretaries then present Then returning he carried Desiderius and his wife Prisoners with him into France This Pope Adrian Anno 774. holding a Council at Rome consisting of 153 Bishops and Abbots by way of gratitude decreed the right of electing the Pope himself and all other Bishops with their Investitures and ordering the Roman See unto Charles and his Successors thus recorded by Gratian himself Distinct 63. Adrianus prefaced with this Rubrick authorized by sundry Popes Imperator ius habet eligendi Pontificem Adrianus Papa Romam venire Carolum Regem ad defendendas res Ecclesiae postulavit Carolus verò Romam veniens Papiam obsedit ibique relicto exercitu in sancta resurrection ab Adriano Papa Romae honorificè susceptus est post sanctam resurrectionem reversus Papiam cepit Desiderium Regem deinde Romam reversus Congruit ibi Synodum cum Adriano Papa in Patriachatus Lateranensis in Ecclesia Sancti Salvatoris quae Synodus celebrata est a 353. Episcopis Resigiosis Abbatibus Adrianus autem Papa cum universali Synodo tradiderunt Carolo Ius et Potestatem eligendi Pontificem et ordinandi Apostolicam sedem dignitatem quoque Patriciatus ipsi concesserunt Insuper Archiepiscopos et Episcopos per singulas Provincias ab eo investituras accipere diffinivit ut nisi a Rege laudetur et investiatur Episcopus a nemine consecretur et quicunque contra hoc Decretum ageret anathematis vinculo eum innodavit et nisi resipisceret bona ejus publicari praecepit In which Decree these things are very observable 1. That this Council even in Rome it self was called constituted by Charles the Great whiles Kings of France before he was crowned Emperor 2ly That it granted to him no new thing but an antient right belonging to the Roman Emperors to wit the right power of electing the Pope himself and ordering the See Apostolick 3ly It granted him the dignity of a Patricius or Protector of Rome 4ly That all Archbishops and Bishops in all Provinces therefore in France and in Spain as the Glosse observes as well as other places should receive their investitures from the Emperor alone 5ly That none of them shall be recommended invested or consecrated a Bishop by any person unlesse first recommended and invested a Bishop by the King 6ly That whosoever should transgresse this Decree shall not only be excommunicated but also forfeit his goods unlesse he repented What greater evidence for his absolute regal Supremacy over the Pope and all other Archbishops and Bishops in Ecclesiastical matters then this Councils Decree held in Rome it self and ratified by the Pope himself in St. Peters pretended unerring chair Cardinal Baronius being unable to untie this Gordian knot takes upon him to cut it quite asunder obstinately denying there was any such Council as this held or any such Decree made as doth his Apologist Gretzer the Jesuit who pretend it a forgery of Sigebert But Pope Leo the 3d. mentioning it in his subsequent Decree recorded next after it by Gratian and he in other Decrees there recorded by him Bartholomeus Buxiensis Dr. Thierry and all other Glossers on Gratian glossing it as unquestionable our antient Historian William of Malmesbury and Pope Gregory cited by him Eutropius Presbyter Plantina Lupoldus Theodoricus de Niem Marsilius Patavinus Radulphus de Columna Occam Johannis Semeca Antonius de Rosellis Cardinal Turre Cremata Cardinal Zabarella Cardinal Cusanus Cardinal Cameracensis Nauclerus Martinus Polonus Wernerus Chronicon Richespergense Matthew Paris Mat. Westminster Robertus Gagninus Boetius Epon Onuphrius and sundry others mentioning and asserting its reality it must needs be both unpardonable impudency and falsity for these shamelesse Lyars to gainsay it without the least shadow of truth or evidence to the contrary near one thousand years after this Synod The 2d Synod of Nice was summoned by the Decree of Constantine and Irene as the Prologue to it attests Imperantibus piissimis Christo deditissimis Dominis nostris cum matre sua Irene per pium illorum Imperatorum sancte Orbem terrarum gubernantum Decretum congregata est And in their Epistles to the Bishops divina voluntate et nostra gratia jussuque sacrati nostri Imperii congregatis in Nicena Synodo treating of the benefits received by Christs incarnation and his imperial office and duty they assert Jesus Christus primus factus summus Sacerdos hujus appellationis reddidit NOS consortes O viri Sacerdotes c. Hanc igitur ob beatitudinem quae nobis donataest nobilitatisque causa qua Deus nos adoptavit Imperatoria nostra pia Majestas ad concordiam et pacem universum Romanum Imperium erigere contendens praecipue tamen sanctarum Dei nostri Ecclesiarum statum qua possumus cura et consilio conservare intendimus After which they granted all assembled in this Synod this Liberty Damus quoque unicuique libertatem ut sine omni formidine eloquatur quae secum animo deliberavit quo veritas magis magisque elucescat et intrepiva voce audiatur Then speaking of Tharaseus Patriarch of Constantinople who oft refused to accept that office when elected to it as too heavy for his shoulders omnibus libertatem dedimus ut si quid adversus virum haberent dicerent ut purgare sese posset After they direct that the Letters of Pope Adrian should first be read in the Synod Post id etiam duas quaterniones umbelicas conclusas legetis c. ut per 〈◊〉 cognoscatis quaenam sit Catholicae Ecclesiae sententia judicium Sancta Synodus respondit Servet Deus Imperium eorum producat illorum tempora Deus augeat Dominos eos gratia Then they proceeded according to their instructions When Tharasius President of this Synod would
himself did almost despair And then induced him to use his utmost endeavours to reform them by the forecited smitings of them with the sword of the Spirit And in case of their final incorrigibility not to excommunicate interdict or anathematise them but desert them totally and by a voluntary exile to remove to some other City to exchange Rome for the World or any other part thereof which was farre better then it there to preach the Gospel and discharge his Pastoral office committed by Christ to Peter and through him to himself by seeding his sheep which he defines only to be the preaching of the Gospel to them concluding in these words Evangelizare pascere est fac opus Evangelistae et Pastoris opus implesti Upon all which considerations I hope the most zealous Pontificians will henceforth be satisfied That the Civil and Spiritual swords have not their distinction distribution nor any foundation at all on Peters single sword or the other Apostles two material swords and that the only spiritual sword belonging to Popes and the Church is not their usual Ecclesiastical Censures thunderbolts but the meer word of God incessantly preached applied in season and out of season to all sorts of sinners especially the most obdurate wherewith the City and Court of Rome are so stuffed that Popes have most reason to brandish this sword and all other swords or keyes they claim from St. Peter only there not in other Princes Bishops Diocesses and Dominions much lesse against Emperors and Kings themselves 2ly If St. Peters the Apostles Priests and Ministers commissions forecited will neither warrant support their Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction challenged pretended to much lesse will their several Titles do it Before I enter upon the Positive Titles given to them in Scripture I shall desire you to take notice 1. That neither St. Peter nor any other Apostle Minister or Presbyter is ever once stiled by Christ or any Apostle in relation to his office either a King Prince Caesar Lord or the higher Powers but only earthly Kings and temporal Magistrates Alvarus Pelagius the Popes Grand Advocate doth not only ingenuously acknowledge but renders these folid reasons for it First because Kings and Lords do frequently abuse their Regal and Lordly power to tyranny and great oppression of their Subjects which Popes and Clergymen would be likewise apt to do if dignified with these Titles 2ly Because the name of a King aliquando superbum sonat and is apt to puff men up with pride and arrogance therefore inconsistent with the humility and meeknesse of Christs Disciples Ministers 3ly To put a distinction between Civil and Ecclesiastical Governors Inter spirituales temporales Reges sicut est discretio in potestatibus sic debet esse in nominibus Principes itaque seculares nomen Regis quod commune est sibi a proprietate retinent praesertim quia ante constitutionem spititualium Regum officium Regis nomen plures habuisse leguntur Principes autem spirituales aliis nominibus nuncupantur quae non fastum sed actum pietatem insinuant Et propter hoc ait Petrus Pastoribus Ecclesiae 1 Pet. 5. 2. 3. 95 Distinct Esto Neque ut Dominautes in Clero Christus dixit Discipulis Lu. 22. Reges Gentium dominatur eorum vos autem non sic Mat. 20 Yea he draws this memorable inference from hence Et secundum hoc videretur dicendum quod licet Christus sit Rex Sacerdos tamen ejus Vicarii scilicet Apostoli eorum successors non sunt Sacerdotes et Reges imo solum convenit eis potestas Sacerdotalis vel Pontificalis ex concessione Christi Si autem aliquibus eorum convent potestas Regia hoc est ex concessione Principum terrenorum sicut ex concessione Constatini habet Romanus Prontifex Imperialem potestatem Distinct 96. Constituimus Which though Alvarus prima facie grants to be rationabiliter dictum for others yet he spends several Articles to assert That the Pope is not only a spiritual but temporal King and Lord yea King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that not only Popes but even Bishops and Priests too have a power and jurisdiction above all Kings Emperors Princes in the world even to excommunicate depose and put them from their Thrones Kingdomes Empires as you heard before at large 2ly Neither Christ nor his Apostles after his Ascension in any of their Epistles or Gospels ever gave St. Peter or the Pope any of these swelling Titles now claimed or Attributed to them by their flatterers as Christs sole Viceroy his sole Vicar General on Earth sole head of the whole Catholick Church God Vice-God Christ Christs Omnipotentiary or Plenipotentiary indued with a plenituds of all power both in heaven and earth the life of the world or any of those Titles which St. Bernard by way of irony censure only gives to Pope Eugenius as others did in good earnest Age indagemus adhuc diligentius quis sis quam geras videlicet pro tempore personum in Ecclesia Dei Quis es Sacerdos magnus Summus Pontifex Tu Princeps Apostolorum tu Primatu Abel Gubernatu Noe Patriarchatu Abraham Or â—ine Melchisedech dignitate Aaron auctoritate Moyses indicatu Samuel potestate Petrus unctione Christus Tu es cui claves traditae cui over creditae sunt Sunt quidem alii coeli janitores gregum pastores Sed tu tanto gloriosius quanto differentius utrumque prae caeteris nomen haereditasti c. If none of these ambitious Titles were ever given by Christ or other Apostles to Peter himself in this magnificent mannerâ— or to any other Apostle How comes the Pope now to appropriate them to himself in Peters right who doth not own but quite disclaim them 1 Pet. 1. 1. c. 5. 1 2 3. Wherefore pretermitting them as late Papal fancies invented by Popes and their Parasites I shall proceed to St. Peters particular Scripture Titles peculiar to himself whereon Popes and their flatterers bottom his and their own pretended transcendent Supremacy The 1. is his very Sirname Peter Mat. 16. 18. I say unto thee thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church Whence they infer That Peter is not only supreme head of Christs Church but the very stock and foundation on which it is built I answer 1. That he had this very name Peter given him either before he was called by Christ to be an Apostle or at leastwise he was named Peter by Christ upon his very first calling to be his Disciple Mat. 4 18. c. 8. 14 15. Mar. 3. 16. Lu 3. 16. Lu 6. 14. Jo 1. 41 42 If then his first sirname Peter gave him no such supream Jurisdiction Lordship over all the other Apostles and whole Catholick Church as certainly it did not Christ himself being then the supream head thereof on earth for some years after This repetition or confirmation of this his former
ut mei providentiam fieri et causam meam examinari praecipiatis Ego enim a puero eram in Monasterio dispensator omnium rerum nihil de Episcopatu cogitans neque rogans quemquam hujus gratia dignitatis Dum ergo essem in Monachorum providentia constitutus adstitit mihi repentè illius temporis Metropolitanus Episcopus cum provincialibus Episcopis me Paros ordinavit Episcopum de qua in scriptis dejectus est Athanasius ex gravissim is capitibus accusatus nec volens pro illatis sibi criminibus reddere rationem qui aliquando quidem Episcopatum repudiabat Frequenter vero citationes vocantium cum ad Synodorum judicium declinabat Is enim in Ephesina Synodo ex praecepto Alexandrini praesulis in meam Ecclesiam superingressus est ego praeter voluntatem meam ordinatus expulsus sum Et haec quidem ecta sunt habitatoribus illius civitatis dolentibus lugentibus meam expulsionem Supplico igitur et vestrae potentiae ut jubeatis meam causam sub praesentia vestrae pietatis examinari et placitum terminum dari ut et ego cum cunctis aliis consuetas orationes pro perpetua vestra potentia semper exolvam Piissimi atque victores Principes Salvianus Episcopus dictata et subscripsi et offero vestrae pietati Baeronicianus vir devotissimus Secretarius divini Consistorii legit This Cause and all the proceedings in it in two former Councils of Ephesus and Antioch were fully heard read and considered and at last referred by the Judges themselves to Maximus Bishop of Antioch to settle Salvianus in the mean time being to enjoy the Title of the Bishop of Paros and receive maintenance out of it I find in Evagrius but not in the Acts of this Council a like Petition from Eusebius Bishop of Dorileum beginning thus It behoveth your Majesties most noble and puissant Emperors to provide carefully for the quieting of all your loving Subjects and to defend from injuries all other men but especially the sacred Senate of Priesthood And herein the divine Godhead which hath granted unto you the rule and domination of the whole world is truly honored wherefore seeing the Christian faith and we our selves also have been oppressed and unjustly molested by extreme wrong by Dioscorus the most Reverend Bishop of the most Noble City of Alexandria we are now come unto your wonted Clemency to crave Iustice at your hands Then complaining of his and Flavianus Bishops of Constantinoples unjust depositions from their Bishopricks in the Council of Ephesus by the power and unjust practises of Dioscorus and accusing him of Blasphemy and Heresie he Petitions the Emperors on his bended knees that his Petition might by his Letters be referred to the Council that both their doings might therein by justly examined and indifferently heard before them and then certified to their Imperial Majesties to do them right By all which Petitions even of these Bishops themselves the Soveraign Authority of Christian Emperors and Kings in and over all Ecclesiastical causes persons and in matters of faith religion and final Right of Appeals to them from unjust Judgements given not only by Bishops but General Councils in the very case of deprivation of Bishops for Heresie and Ecclesiastical offences is so clearly set forth by words and actions that nothing can be more full and satisfactory The Emperor Leo by his Letters to all Metropolitans in the very beginning of his reign confirmed the Orthodox faith professed heretofore by his Predecessors yet notwithstanding the Heretical faction at Alexandria in the absence of Dionysius Captain of the Garrison elected Timotheus Aelius an heretick and oppugner of the Council of Chalcedon for their Bishop and barbarously slew Proterius their orthodox Bishop thrusting Timotheus into his place whereupon all the Bishops of Aegypt and Clergy of Alexandria by a supplicatory Epistle complained to this Emperor Leo the 1. of this outrage desiring Justice and redresse wherein they relate A superna gratia modo divinitus condonatus justè non cessas pro communi utilitate cogitare post Deum cunctorum venerabilis Imperator Quapropter omnis fortitudo verborum tuis vincitur actibus Nuper enim electus a Deo et purpura exornatus optimum judicasti propositum tuum magnum ostendere quem ipse omnium Creator elegit benignius initiis largitatem remunerando bonorum quando repentè in ipso principio voce vestra ex scripto procedente piissimo ad Sanctissimos Metropolitanos Episcopos inerumpibilem Ecclesiae Catholicae crepidinem roborasti et priorum omnium piiss imorumque Principum constituta pro Orthodora religione firmasti Insuper ea quae nuper a sanctae memoriae Martiano Principe nostro sancita sunt consona decernente nihil 〈◊〉 estis mercati quam pacem omnium stabilitatem reipublicae fraenantes linguas eorum qui adversus Ecclesias consurgunt et blasphemant Deum aut in cum quecunque modo delinquunt Injuria namque Dei manifesta est haereticorum alscindentium semetipsos à recta â—ide licentia Quapropter hoc optime sciens venâ—rabilis Imperator maligni prolem existere insidiantes quieti sanctarum Christi semper Ecclesiarum earumque immutilatam pacem consistere non scientes recte proviâ—â—â—â—rum tuam studuisti mox adhiberi ei per omnia resistentem QUOD EST OPUS PIISSIMORUM PRINCIPUM let Popes and Prelates observe it pro orthodoâ—a wfide pugnantium et resistentium 〈◊〉 malis extrinsecus venientibus ET ANIMABUS FIDELIUMADVERSANTIBUS Hunc igitur animum te possidente religiosum et tutorem humani generis tantumque circa Christum studium demonstrantem adimus ex nos importabilia mala passi licet peccatores Christi Pontifices Then relating their grievances the election of Timotheus the murder of Proterius the growth of heresie opposing the orthodox faith and violent thrusting them out of their Churches at large to the Emperor thus pray redresse from him as their only Supream Ecclesiastical Judge and Protector Sanciri praecipite ut expulsi sine calumnia ad suas Ecclesias in pace celebrantes pro vestra pietate solennes orationes cum quiete servari urbemque pariter et in ea sanctas Ecclesias constitutas ad Christi gloriam et salutem et perpetuitatem vestrae Christianissimae pietatis Literas dirigentes pro his quae poscimus ad magnificentissimum Dionysium Ducem necnon ad singularum provinciarum Iudices not to the Pope or any Clergy-men quatenus ea quae a vestra mansuetudine sunt sancita et servantur et effectui contradantur Hereupon this pious Emperor presently sent abroad his Letters to all the Cities Bishops and Churches under his Empire wherein he declares Votum quidem mei pietatis fuit universas orthodoxorum sanctas Ecclesias necnon et Civitates sub Romano Imperio constitutas maxima frui quiete nihilque contingere quod possit earum statum tranquillitatemque turbare c. Then
That the Power of summoning Councils even in Rome it self appertained to this King of Italy not to the Pope 3ly That the King upon the complaints exhibited to him against the Pope suspended him both from his temporalties benefices and Papal office by his Regal authority before the Council summoned till he had purged himself from the Crimes objected 4ly That though most of the Synod held it just this Pope should not answer the Articles against him till he was first restored to his Patrimony benefice and office yet they would determine nothing therein till this Kings approbation pleasure first known 5ly That the King would not take off this Popes Suspension till he answered his Articles and purged himself notwithstanding the Synods request and opinion to the contrary 6ly That thereupon they received and read the Articles against him 7ly That the Pope appeared by this Kings summons before this Council to answer the crimes against him where at his appearance he denies to answer in point of Law till his Suspension first released and his restitution which the Emperor overruled against him After which he appeared the second time upon Summons to answer the Articles and purge himself but was interrupted by the tumultuous force and assaults of his accusers made upon him and his followers who were wounded and had been slain by them had not the Kings Great Officers rescued them from their fury and guarded them back to their lodgings That after this upon new Summons the Pope was willing to answer and purge himself before the Synod but that he was informed he could not do it without danger of being slain by his tumultuous opposites 8ly That the Synod thereupon repaired to the King as the Supream Judge to direct them how to proceed in this cause by reason of these Tumults 9ly That thereupon the King referred the whole businesse to them to proceed therein as they should think best for the Peace of the Church and of all Christians in the City of Rome 10ly That they hereupon by vertue of this Kings regal authority and command not their own inherent Episcopal or Synodal Jurisdiction referred the merits of the cause being secret and difficult to Gods judgement and restored the Pope to his Ecclesiastical Rights and exercise of his Ministry within the City of Rome and perswaded an amicable Christian peace and agreement between him his adversaries the Senate and Citizens of Rome Where then is that transcendent Jurisdiction of Popes over Kings Councils all other Bishops and his absolute exemption from their Judicatures for any scandalous sins or heresies which succeeding Popes and their Parasites boast of in the premised Chapters To evade this undeniable president Ennodius and other flatterers of Popes pretend That Pope Symmachus out of meer humility and of his own accord submitted himself to this Kings and Councils Judgement But the premises evidence the contrary that most of these proceedings especially his Suspension overruling of his demurrer c. were much against his will and that he had no real desire to purge himself what ever he pretended And John Gerson Chancellor of Paris one of the learnedest profoundest Pontificians in his notable Book De Auferibilitate Papae resolves That Symmachus and other Popes did undergo the judgements of Councils nequaquam ex humili condescentione sicut nonnulli fingunt sed ex debito et obligatione Yea this Pope himself in his Apology to Anastatius the Emperor stiles him Principem rerum humanarum adding Thou O Emperor governest human and secular affairs Bishops dispence the divine Mysteries without any addition that Bishops govern all Ecclesiastical affairs which this King and the Emperor then did in Italy not Popes nor Bishops This Theodoricus King of Italy made and published divers Ecclesiastical Lawes intermixed with his Temporal concerning Clergy-men Churches Sanctuaries Pagan Sacrifices Sepulchers and burials in Rome it self Marriages Espousals Jews the observation of the Lords day c. commanding them to be generally observed by his Edictum Theodorice Regis Lex 26. 70. 71. 92. 93. 108. 110. 111. 125 126. and that as well by the Romans as Barbarians and Goths under pain of banishment if violated Quia quod pro omnium provincialium securitate provisum est universitatis debet servare devotio Cassiodorus a Noble learned Roman Senator tutor to this King Theodoricus in his Exposition in Psal 50. Tibi soli peccavi hath this passage De populo si quis erraverit Deo peccat Regi Nam quando Rex delinquit soli Deo reus est quia hominem non habet qui eius facta diâ—udicet Merito ergo Rer Deo dicit se solum peccasse quia solus erat qui eius potuisset admissa discutere Therefore not the Pope or any other Conclave of Prelates In his other works he registers the Epistle of Theodohardus to Justinian the Emperor wherein he recites In toto orbe simile nihil habet as supream for power and dignity Pope Hormisda the 1. having condemned the Eutychians in a Council at Rome by the exhortation and command of King Theodoricus by his Letters and Messengers exhorted John then Patriarch of Constantinople and Anastatius the Emperor to renounce this Heresy and believe the two natures in Christ But they taking this message in high indignation and scorn put the messengers into an old leaking Ship and Anastatius commanded them to return directly into Italy and not to touch upon the shoare of Grece enjoyning them to return this answer to the Pope Scire se Augustorum or Imperatoris proprium esse non Pontificis imperare nec Imperata Pontificis accpiere et si quid foret in quo hunc cui divina curae sunt jubere oporteat se eum esse a quo alii multo melius sua jussa expectent quam sua proponant exequenda Nos jubere volumus non Nobis juberi This Pope Hormisda after Anastatius his death in his Epistle to the Emperor Justinus adversus Nestorii Eutychetis blasphemias informs him Inter eq quae ad unitatem Ecclesiae pertinent propter quam Deus Clementiae vestrae elegit Imperiam hoc quoque venerabilis Imperator Cura fidei cui multipliciter vos studere declarastis adiecit Making the care of the Christian faith and Peace of the Church by establishing the Orthodox faith and suppressing heresies by his Imperial authority the principal cause of Gods advancing him to the Empire In pursuance whereof this Emperor Justinus by his Letters Decrees endeavoured to reconcile the differences between the Bishops Churches of Rome and Constantinople ut unitatem individuae Trinitatis ipsi quoque colant in unitate mentium Quid enim gratius reperiri potest quid justius quid illustrius quam quos idem Regnum continet idemque fidei cultus irradiat eos non diversa contendere sed collectis in eisdem sensibus instituta venerari non humana mente
Burials Penance and all manner of Divine and Ecclesiastical affairs where those who please may peruse them for their satisfaction This pious Emperor to reform all corruptions abuses in Doctrine Discipline in the Churches of France Italy Germany summoned several Councils under him being present and president in most of them Pope Leo the 3d. being distressed misit ad Carolum claves Sancti Petri Urbisque Romae vexilla alia 〈◊〉 peteâ—s ut Romanum populum Papae Sacramento fidei data subâ—iceret against their wills upon this occasion Anno 799. there was a great sedition raised at Rome against this Pope whose Opposites as he was riding in procession from his Palace of Lateran to St. Laurence Church threw him from his horse put out his eyes and cut off his tongue as they imagined leaving him naked and half dead in the Streets and afterwards thrust him into the Monastery of St. Erasmus as a prisoner whence he escaping went into France complained of this injury to Charles the Great who Anno 800. marched to Rome accompanied with this Pope where after 7. days stay calling an Assembly of the Bishops Abbots et omnem Nobilitatem Francorum et Romanorum He acquainted them that the principal cause of his comming to Rome and convening them now was De discutiendis quae objecta sunt Pontifici criminibus ejus calumniatores mortiferum ei crimen imposuerunt Rege autem hoc inquirente cum nullus esset criminis probator Pontifer assumpto Evangelii textu coram Rege et omni populo ambonem conscendit astantibusque accusatoribus invocato sanctae Trinitatis nomine jure jurando ab objectis se expurgavit c. Lo here King Charls before he was crowned Emperor sat as Supreme Judge in Rome it self examining the Crimes objected against the Pope who when witnesses failed purged himself before him and all the people by his Oath and was thereupon acquitted Immediately after by way of gratitude for his restitution to the Papacy and absolution from his objected crimes King Charls comming on Christmas day to divine Service this Pope Leo on a sudden rising from prayers Carolo nihil minus speranti as Abbas Uspergensis relates though others conceive it was by his own appointment Papa coronam imposuit et Imperatorem Romanum pronunciavit et a cuncto Romano populo acclamatum est Carolo Augusto a Deo not Papa coronato Magno et Pacifico Imperatori Romanorum vita et victoria Post quas laudes unctus ab Apostolico et antiquorum more Principum ab eo adoratur ablato Patricii nomine Imperator et Augustus appellatus est Which Mantuanus the Poet thus expresseth Imperii tandem Roma applaudente Coronam Impoâ—uâ—t Carolo tantique insignia Regni Gratia Anastatius Onuphrius Platina Stella Baronius Alvarus Pelagius Marta 〈◊〉 Schioppius Bellarmin and other Pontificians conclude from lience that the Pope is above the Emperor and may de jure dispose of Empires Kingdoms and at his pleasure translate them from one Family and Nation to another Romani Imperii 〈◊〉 Gracis per Papam ad Gallos est translata postea a Gallis ad Germanos secundum beneplacitum ejus Ita est Imperium quod antea a coelo dari creditum fuit nunc ad Papae manus devolutum Pipinum queque Caroli hujus filium illius partis Itahae regem declaravit hic Pontifex quam nec ipse nec ullus praedecessorum suorum subjicere poterant writes Balaeus and others But whosoever shall impartially consider these ensuing particulars will at first discover the falsity and absurdity of these Conclusions 1. The several Letters supplications addresses of Pope Hadrian Stephen Leo and others to Pipin Carolomannus and this King Charles to protect and desend them against Aistulphus Desiderius the Lombards Romans Exarchs and other their opposites who deposed expelled and seised upon their persons possessions from time to time who thereupon restored these Popes to yea confirmed them in their Papacy by their swords and new Charters of Donations 2ly That they submitted themselves to them as their Lords Patrons Protectors surrendred up St. Peters Keyes and the Roman Ensigns to them 3ly That the Pope Council Nobles and people of Rome granted the power of electing confirming the Pope and the Government of the See and City of Rome to this Charles and his successors 4ly That before he was crowned Emperor he sat as Judge of this Popes crimes when others refused out of fear to Judge him that after his purgation he absolved and pronounced him innocent then gave judgement of death banishment against his false accusers and persecutors beheading no lesse then 300 of them as some record 5ly That Charles by way of conquest got actual possession of Rome and Italy made himself Emperor thereof his son Pipin King of Italy and this Leo actual Pope by his own sword alone not by this Popes antecedent gift or donation who never had any precedent right in or possession of them Hence Otto Frisingensis and sundry others truly observe Qualiter Carolus assumpto Pontifice totoque populo Augustus vocatus Imperium a Gracis ad Francos transtulit Hujus virtute Regnum Francorum plurimum augmentatum est omniumque Regnorum Maximum Romanum scilicet ab Oriente ad Occidentem translatum Not by the Popes or St. Peters authority as Pontificians fancre 6ly That all this Popes Predecessors were subject to the Emperors their elections approved yea their persons judged deposed by them from time to time as the premises evidence 7ly That the people of Rome by their unanimous acclamations and assents rather elected and made Charles their Emperor then the Pope who only declared anointed crowned him Emperor ministerially as other Archbishops and Bishops crown their Kings as Cardinals Bishops crown Popes themselves not authoritatively as disposers of their Crowns Empires Kingdoms as Supream Lords thereof 8ly That this Pope together with the people of Rome and all present at Charls his Coronation cryed out That God had made and crowned him Emperor by his providences and his own victorious successes not the Pope or Romans as Carolo Augusto A DEO CORONATO c. resolves 9ly That as the High Priests and Priests anointing and crowning of David Solomon and other Kings of Judah and Jerusalem by Gods appointment under the Law gave them no Jurisdiction or superiority over their persons or Kingdoms So the Popes and Bishops annointing crowning of Emperors Kings under the Gospel warranted by no Gospel precept or president of Christ Peter or any other Apostle Bishop Priest can much lesse do it Hence Thomas Waldensis though a great Champion for the Popes and Bishops Jurisdiction and Supremacy dogmatically resolves 1. Regia potestas prima sui origine a Deo est non a Sacerdoâ—e 2. Quanquam ministerio Episcoporum Regibus imponatur Corona et insignia conferantur non est propterea dicendum Regiam illam dignitatem ortum habere a sacerdote
Epistola 154. Domino glorioso Othoni Imperatori semper Augusto Gerbertus gratia Domini Remorum Episcopus quicquid tanto Imperatori dignum c. Paremus ergo Caesar Imperialibus edictis tum in hoc tum in omnibus quaecunque divina Majestas vestra decreverit Non enim deesse possumus obsequio qui nihil inter humanas res dulcius aspicimus vestro Imperio Epist 34. he hath the like passages Epist 12. he thus complains Ipse Caesar omnium hominum excellentissimus a furciferis asino coaequatur O amicorum fidelissime recordare quod te oraverim me malle esse nulitem in Caesarianis castris quam Regem in extraneis And in his Epistola ad Wilderodonem Episcopum Argentinensem he thus asserts the Rights of the Kings and Church of France against the Popes Usurpations Tu dicis Arunlphum incendia seditiones traditiones flagitia captivitates suorumque direptiones exercentem suorum Regum interritus molientem Patriam hostibus prodentem divina humanaque contemnentem nec communione debuisse privari nec potestate Principis abjici sine Episcopi Romani jussione cum Apostolus dicat Quia Princeps non sine causa gladium portat sed ad vindictam malefactorum laudem vero bonorum Favete omnes qui Regibus vestris fidem promisistis promissamque servare vultis qui Clerum vobis commissum populum nec tradidistis nec tradere disponitis vos inquam qui tantorum scelerum facta perhorrescitis favete his qui obediunt Deo jubenti Peccantem Ecclesiae non obaudientem habendum sicut Ethnicum Publicanum qui iterum dicit vobis Vae vobis Scribae Pharisaei qui transgredimini mandatum Dei c. Et ne quis nos in invidiam adducat quasi privilegiis Romanae Ecclesiae derogantes audiat Hieronymum dicentem Si authoritas quaeritur orbis major est Urbe Quod si persona major Presbytero quaeritur ille Sacerdos magnus Leo Papa accedat Non tenetur inquit Petri privilegium ubi non ex ejus aequitate fertur judicium c. At quid judicata si judicanda exinde non informantur aut quomodo mansuras in aeternum leges trecenti decem octo Patres constituerunt si horum constituta ad unius libitum permutantur aut perimuutur Apiarius Presbyter ab Afris damnatus a Romanis communioni restitutus est Scribunt Africani Papae Coelestino contra Nycaenam Synodum factum videri Aiunt Calumniatores nostri Summum Sacerdotem Arnulphum a Summo Sacerdote Romano debuisse tantum dijudicari ait Beatus Augustinus si Caecilianum totius Africae primatem ejus accusatores quod in vita non potuerunt post mortem convincant a sacrorum proditoribus voluminum ordinatum vel ipsum proditorem fuisse post mortem sine râ—tractatione se ei Anathema dicturum Licuit ergo Episcopis Galliarum viventi Arnulpho confesso convicto ut Ethnico Publicano dixisse Anathema licuit inquam sequi Evangelistas Apostolos Prophetas sacra Concilia vivorum Apostolorum decreta ab his quatuor non discordantia semper in usu habita semper habenda c. Pressa jacet Tyrannide omnis Ecclesia Gallorum atqui non a Gallis sed ab his a quibus sperebatur salus Sed una salus hominis ô Christe tu es Ipsa Roma omnium Ecclesiarum hactenus habita mater malis benedicere bonis maledicere fertur et quibus nec ave dicendum est communicare tuamque legem zelantes damnare abutens ligandi et solvendi potestate a te accepta So little did this Archbishop soon after made Pope esteem the pretended Supremacy of the Pope or See of Rome After the death of Pope John the 17. Otto the 3. coming with an Army into Italy jubet commanded the Romans to chuse Bruno his kinsman son of Otto Duke of Suevia Pope sperans ista ratione posse pacem stabilire quae electionibus Novorum Pontificum semper solebat perturbari Hereupon Clerus populus sibi ab Imperatore metuentes Brunonem in Pontificem eligunt called Gregory the 5. à quo Otto cum benedictionem tum Coronam Imperii accepit Ottone ad Germaniam regresso Romanus populus novarum rerum cupidus Crescentium ad consularem potestatem trabunt res Romanas ejus fidei atque industriae committunt Crescentius populus aegre ferentes Gregorium Germanum natione Auctoritate Imperatoris creatum Pontificem ideo illum sede Pontificia ejiciunt Johannem 18. natione Graecum Placentinum Episcopum hominem perniciosum insatiabili mentis ardore Papatum muneribus tumultu ac seditione aliorum Pontificum more ambientem Pontificem creant qui per factionem pecuniis corruptam sedem occupavit quod illi exitium divina ultione horridum postea peperit Gregorius ad Imperatorem se conferens de injuria queritur Imperator indigne ferens hanc contumeliam cum exercitu in Italiam redit Urbem obsedit oppugnavit impigre Hereupon the Romans deserting Crescentius and Pope John veniam ab Imperatore sibi dari petunt aperiuntque Germanis portas The Pope and Crescentius thereupon fled to the strong Castle of St. Angelo where after some assaults descendunt ad Imperatorem veniam petituri in itinere intercipiuntur Johannes Novus Pontifex effossis prius oculis auribus quoque naribus abscissis as Damianus and others write Pontificatu simul et vita privabatur On this Pope John and his followers Baptista Mantuanus bestowed these verses Pernices mercantur equos venalia Romae Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coronae Ignes Thura Preces Coelum est venale Deusque Miror ego inquit Platina Historicos Johannem istum inter Pontifices numerasse cum vivente adhuc Gregorio sedem occupasset nisi forte in conscribendis Pontificum vitis ita faciendum censeant ut in perpetua Historia fit Nam Tyrannorum perversa facta optimorum Pricipum rebus gestis annumerantur ut quantum inter se boni mali dissident à legentibus agnosci possit quo malorum exemplo a vitiis deterreantur bonorum exemplo al virtutes impulsi vitam in terris beatam ducant Qua quidem beatitudine Johannes iste caruit Fur certe in Pontificatu et latro Flores Temporum and Aventinus relate that this Pope John de Capitolio praecipitatus sit indeque esse ut nulli Pontifici invisere liceat Crescentius his Patron and advancer vili jumento imponebatur vultu ad caudam verso nasoque cum auribus abscisso ut spectaculo esset omnibus per plateas circumducebatur ac truncatis membris ante Vribis moenia patibulo suspendebatur This Emperor Gregorium 5. in pristinam Pontificum sedem restituit an unanswerable evidence of his Soveraign Jurisdiction both over the Pope City and Citizens of Rome in relation to the election and confirmation of the Roman Pontiff After which Congregata Romae Synodo the
Haec autem iâ—onia in ore multorum versabatur quia Cynice remordet universos This Cynical Irony thus publickly uttered by the Cardinal in the Pulpit before the Pope himself his Cardinals Court Clergy and all the Citizens summoned to hear his Farewel Sermon preached by the Pope's appointment and in his name right was certainly an unquestionable though satyrical truth That the Pope his Cardinals Prelates Court had made that whole City as they had done Rome whiles there but one universal continued Stewes from East to West such was the fruit of their vowed chastity 5ly That Sigebertus Gemblacensis flourishing and writing in that age Matthew Paris Florentius Wigorniensis two English Monks Johannis Bromton Radulphus de Diceto Aventinus and sundry others out of them reciting this Popes Decrees against married Priests Si qui sunt Presbyteri aut Diaconi aut Subdiaconi qui in crimine fornicationis jaceant to wit by living chastly with their own Wives interdicimus eis ex parte omnipotentis Dei sancti Petri authoritate Ecclesiae introitum usque dum paeniteant emendent Si qui vero in peccato suo perseverare maluerint nullus vestrum eorum praesumat audire officium quia benedictio corum vertitur in maledictionem oratio in peccatum testante Domino per Prophetam Maledicam inquit benedictionibus vestris Qui vero huic saluberrimo praecepto obedire noluerint idololatriae peccatum incurrent Samuele instante beato Gregorio instruente quoniam peccatum arâ—olandi est non obedire quasi scelus idololatriae non acquiescere Pass this Censure on it Iste Papa in Synodo generali uxoratos Sacerdotes a divino removet officio Laicis Missas eorum audire interdixit novo exemplo et ut multis visum est inconsiderato judicio contra Sanctorum Patrum sententiam qui scripserunt quod Sacramenta quae in Ecclesia fiunt Baptisma Chrisma Corpus Christi Sanguis Spiritu sancto invisibiliter cooperante eorundem Sacramentorum effectum habeant seu per bonos seu per malos intra Dei Ecclesiam dispensentur tum quia Spiritus Sanctus mystice illa vivificat nec bonorum meritis amplificantur nec peccatis malorum attenuantur Ex qua re tam grave oritur Scandalum ut nullius haeresis tempore sancta Ecclesia graviori sit Scismate discissa his pro justitia illis contta justitiam agentibus Porro paucis continentiam observantibus aliquibus eam causa Lucri ac jactantiae simulantibus multis incontinentiam perjurio multipliciori adulterio cumulantibus ad haec hac oportunitate Laicis insurgentibus contra sacros ordines se ab omni Ecclesiastica subjectione excutientibus Laici sacra mysteria temerant de his disputant infantes baptizant sordido aurium humore pro sacro Chrismate utentes oleo in extremo vitae viaticum Dominicum usitatum Ecclesiae obsequium sepulturae a Presbyteris uxoratis accipere parvi pendunt Decimas etiam Presbyteris debitas igne cremant corpus Domini a Presbyteris uxoratis consecratum pedibus saepe conculcant sanguinem Domini voluntarie frequenter in terram effundunt To which Aventinus subjoyns Porro paucissimis Veneri bellum indicantibus quibusdam castitatem jactantiae quaestus ergo simulantibus maxima pars sub honesto castimoniae nomine stupra incestus adulteria passim et impune committunt Et tu vigilantissime Gregori quid nam faceres si te fortuna ad nostra tempora servasset et nunc demum natus esses quando amare potare stupra incestus committere vim puellis inferre virgines viciare alienas permolere uxores adeo ut caudax salax sacrificulorum in proverbium vel vulgo protritum abieret munus sacerdotale censetur 6ly That Alvarus Pelagius a Spanish Freer writing about the year of Christ 1330. in his Book De Planctu Ecclesiae thus complained of the execrable Unchastity uncleaness venery sodomy of Bishops Priests all sorts of Clergy-men and Votaries especially in Spain Apulia and Italy ever since this Hildebrandian Decree against theirs wives Sequitur Apoc. 18. Et custodia omnis spiritus immundi quia intra Ecclesiam omnia peccata inveniuntur hodie quae immunda dicuntur quia immundam faciunt animam maxime spiritus immunditiae fornicationis Quis enim Clericorum intra sanctam Ecclesiam castitatem servat rarus est Perpauci enim hodie sunt Presbyteri maxime in Hispania regno Apuliae quin sunt publici Concubinarii Episcopi Presbyteri nimis incontinenter vivunt utinam nunquam continentiam promisissent maxime Hispani Regricolae in quibus Provinciis in pauco majori numero sunt filii Laicorum quam Clericorum Et quod sceleratius est per plurimos annos de latere concubinae qualibet die surgunt non praemissa confessione vel hypocritali cum proposito redeundi procedunt ad altare ad terrificam hostiam consecrandam panem pollutum quantum in eis est Domino no cordibus labiis scelestis offerentes Contra sanctam castitatem quam Domino promiserant Sic offendunt continuo etiam publice praeter ea nefandssima quae in occultis perpetrant quod nec chartae reciperent nec posset calamus exarare de quorum immundicia saepe dispersim in hoc opere pertractavi Non est ergo mirum si mulieres suspectas tenent in domo contra Canones Nay these unchast Popish Cardinals Prelates Priests Votaries proceeded from Fornication and Adultery to secret and open Sodomy of which Alvarus thus complains Plangit Ecclesia peccata populi maxime Clericorum quasi majora peccato Sodomorum c. Adolescentibus impudice abusi sunt heu heu intra sanctam Ecclesiam multi Religiosi et Clerici in suis latibulis et conventiculis et jam in plerisque Civitatibus maxime in Italia within the Pope's own Jurisdiction publice quodammodo nefandum gymnasium constituunt et palestram in illius flagitii abominatione se exercentes et optimi quique epheborum in lupanari ponuntur ut factum fuit Hierusolomis tempore Machabeorum 2 Mach. 4. Soli verbo tali faedatur os polluitur aer c. Hoc flagitium utinam secundum leges ultore gladio puniretur cum timor Dei eos à tanto malo non revocat â—erro enim necesse est ut abscindantur vulnera quae fomentorum non senserunt Disciplinam Tales ergo infames insurgentibus legibus armatis viribus sunt ultore gladio feriendi to wit of Christian Kings Emperors Magistrates seeing Sodomitical Popes Prelates then and since either would not or could not reform them much less this lecherous Hildebrand I might at large inform you what Nicholaus de Clemangiis Archdeacon of Bayon in his Book De corrupto Ecclesiae statu c. 13. 14 15. 20 21 22 23 25 26. records of the Incontinency lechery Sodomy of Romish Cardinals Bishops Priests Monks Nuns in his
After which by Pope Innocents command S. Bernard was sent to Papia and Cremona to reconcile them by a Parly but those of Cremona would by no means receive him Lotharius having pacified Germany at the Popes Importunity Anno 1136. entred into Italy with two great Armies to restore Pope Innocent expell Anacletus out of Rome and reduce all parts of Italy adhering to him Having reduced Millain Cremona and other Cities to his obedience Henry Duke of Bavaria the Emperors General with part of his Army conducted Innocent to Rome Ibi tertio nonas Maii Conventus omnium Episcoporum Abbatumque qui adesse potuerunt est habitus ac rursus Anacletus Rogeriusque devotus Eo post triduum Henricus urbe cum Innocentio egressus Albam quae cum Anacleto sentiebat invasit ac suburbiis disiectis infestum indè in Campaniam ducere exercitum instituit Ac statim Richardum Monachum qui idem Innocentii erat Sacerdos ad Cassinas Monasterium misit qui moneret Rinaldum whom they had elected Abbot adhering to the contrary party se si Innocentio obtemperare Lotharium recipere in animum induxisset Monasterium ab omni maleficio atque injuria servaturum Qua re audita Rinaldus Monachos advocavit atque ut in fide Anacleti Rogeriique persisterent obsecravit se enim Monasterium quod ab eis acceperit in eorum retinere potestate constituisse subitoque auxilia nova ac civit quibus se Monasterium tueri posse confidit Quae ubi Richardus vidit ex loco decessit ac Civitatem quae Monasterio continens est Sacramentum dicere Innocentio jussit Diebus inde undecim interiectis Henricus Rinaldum ad se vocavit acceptoque aureo calice quadraginta libris contraque obsidibus aliquot datis Abbatiam illi nomine Imperatoris firmavit si in ejus fide mansisset vexillum Imperatoris in arce quae aedi S. Benedicti imminet statuit After many Sieges and Battles all or most of the Cities in Capua Campania and Apulia being taken by Lotharius his forces and reduced to Pope Innocent recorded at large by Sigonius he thus proceeds in the Story of Rinaldus and his Monks and Pope Innocents deportment towards them and Lotharius Jampridem ab Italiam ingrediens Senioreum Abbatam Cassinatem monuerat ut si cujus metu Romana Ecclesia defecisset se auctore in fidem ejus redire studeret quem universa Ecclesia Patrem agnosceret se Monasterii jura exemplo superiorum Imperatorum conservare paratum esse eadem etiam à Richiza ad Monachos scripta erant Senioreto inde mortuo eadem renunciari Rinaldo jussit adjiciens ut quoniam infesto Sancti Petri Conventum Melfiam edixisset ipse quoque Monachis secum prudentissimis ductis eo veniret omniaque Monasterii privilegia secum ferret Quibus Literis Rinaldus sibi obtemperandum ratus Melfiam ad lacum pensilem ubi universus Lotharii exercitus cum Innocentio Pontifice confidebat accessit Adventanti ei Innocentius nunciis obvianâ— missis mandavit ut prius quam castra iniret ipse cum Monachis suis sibi nudis pedibus satisfaceret ac pro obedientia Anacleto exhibita piaculum quod imponeretur acciperet ac jurejurando omnia sua se mandata facturum et Anacletum repudiaturum sanciret Rinaldus subica re perturbatus Lotharium appellavit se ex ejus sententia deliberaturum respondit atque ita castra ingressus Lotharii jussu tabernaculum suum propè illius tabernaculum posuit Ea res animum haud mediocriter Innocentii perculit Itaque missis Cardinalibus à Lothario postulavit ut Rinaldum cum Monachis Anacleti obedientiae renunciare et sibi dicere sacramentum juberet Monachis autem sibi per Majorum suorum instituta jurare fas esse negantibus jussit ut ab eorum qui absentes essent consuetudine abstineret Qua re motus Lotharius diem 7 Idus Julias ad causam cognoscendam constituit atque utriusque partis patronos in consilio ad illam diem adesse praecepit Ea ubi dies venit ipse cum peregrino Patriarcha Aquileiense Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus plurimis assidens ad Consilium retulit num Monachi Cassinates quod Anacletum recipissent inpaenam Anathematis incurrissent et num salvis legibus cogi ad jurandum Innocentio obsequium possent Res per multos dies magna altercatione peracta est I shall at large relate the History of this contest and Councils proceedings more clearly discovering the Arrogance Obstinacy Ingratitude uncharitableness of this proud Pope to the Emperor who with so much pains and expence had twice restored him to his See from whence he twice fled and was ejected by Anacletus and likewise the Emperors Jurisdiction to be paramount the Popes in calling presiding ruling judging in Councils even in Appeals cases between the Pope Church of Rome and other Ecclesiastical persons and Churches In nomine Domini Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi Anno ab incarnatione ejus 1138. indictione prima septimo Idus Julii Anno Imperii Domini Lotharii Caesaris septimo residente eodem invictissimo Principe ad aquas Pensiles consedente etiam Peregrino Patriarcha Aquilegiensi cum Archiepiscopis Abbatibus quampluribus Causidicus pro Romana Ecclesia directus est Gerardus Cardinalis titulo Sanctae Crucis Guido Cadinalis qui ambo posteà Romani fuêre Pontifices Aimericus Cancellarius Diaconus Cardinalis Presbyter Baldwinus Cardinalis qui post Pisanus Archiepiscopus fuit Bernardus Clarevallensis Abbas alii plurimi Romanae Vrbis Nobiles Ex parte Casinensis Ecclesiae auditores fuere Henricus Dux Imperatoris gener Conradus Dux qui post imperii Sceptra tenuit Otto Imperatoris consobrinus Fridericus Marchio Anconitanus Mala Spina Marchio Liguriae Henricus Episcopus Ratisponensis Hanno Episcopus Basiliensis Hanno Abbas Luneburgensis Galfridus Palatinus Romani Imperii Judex Facto itaque silentio Imperator dixit Non modo praesentium et temporalium verum futurarum aeternarum rerum in hoc conventu discussio erit Constat enim Sanctos Patres dum unius rei gratia Concilia saepe celebrarent plurima unius occasione definiisse Ita et hâ—c Romanae quidem et Cassinensis Ecclesiae causa cum specialiter agi videatur variae tamen agente Deo solventur quaestiones fiet que unius Ecclesiae causa salus omnium per orbem constitutarum Nos quoque vestigia Praedecessorum nostrorum sequentes dignum duximus huic interesse Concilio et eorum quae dicentur librare monumenta Defensores utriusque disceptantium partis magnificos a nostro latere dedimus viros qui violentiam omnem prohibeant Igitur in Domini nomine sedeant quibus Romanae non displicent leges taciteque rerum exitum expectent ne dum omnes confusè vel dicunt vel obstrepunt veritas obnubiletur Hac alia plura dum praefatus esset Augustus Conradus
enim quod mentitur occidit animom Sed absit ut tanta de tali viro credatur duplicitas quanta ab ipso ei imponitur Nempe Innocentius hic erat cui si pro se respondere liceret proculdubio diceret huic quia ego palam in te dedi sententiam in occulto locutus sum nihil At last to satisfie St. Bernards importunity Eugenius removed William by his Papal power and presently consecrated Henry Murdac Archbishop sending him into England with his Pall to the great offence of our King Stephen who was much grieved with the disgrace of William being his Cosen which all men judged undeserved The King thereupon denyed to admit him unlesse he would swear fealty to him in an extraordinary manner which he refusing the King detained his Temporalities and the Citizens of Yorke shut their gates against him for which resistance he interdicted the City whereupon divers seditions and tumults were raised for the space of 3. years till his submission and reconciliation to the King Upon the death of Pope Eugenius and St. Bernard Williams heavy adversaries he repairing to Rome complained to Pope Anastatius his successor of his unjust deprivation by Eugenius upon tyding of the death of Murdac the Pope sensible of his former Injuries sustained without any great suit restored him unto all his honours of which he was unjustly deprived soon after he returned with his Pall to his Archbishoprick notwithstanding a new Appeal of the Dean and Archdeacon of Yorke to hinder his installment Of which more in its due place being here inserted only to evidence the grosse Injustice Corruption Bribery of Pope Innocent Caelestine Eugenius and the Court of Rome in cases of Appeals by St. Bernards testimony and Pope Anastatius his resolution particularly in this case of William Archbishop of York relating to England I now return to my Chronological method After the death of Pope Caelestine the 2d Anno 1144. post triduum Cardinales convocati Gerardum Caccianimicum Civem Bononensem quem Honorius ex canonico regulari Cardinalem Sancti Crucis in Hierusalem coaptaverat sublegêre eoque consâ—crato Lucium secundum edidere nomen in omnia superbi Pontifex creabatur writes Balaeus Interim novum Romani tumultum excitaverunt in opposition to the Popes Supremacy etenim Senatoribus quos instituerant non contenti Patricium Celsioris magistratum fastigii adjecerunt ac vectigalia omnia tam urbana quam peregrina Pontifici erepta ei attribuerunt Pontificemque sacris decimis et largitionibus dignitatem tueri suam jusserunt Ea dignitas delata trimum est ad Jordanem Petri Leonis filium hominem in urbe vetere nobilitate ac populari gratia potentissimum Quas actiones Lucius primum blanditiis impedire contendit deinde inanes eas expertus vim adhibendam putavit Itaque postero ineunte Anno 1145. Lucius à Romanis propter hoc vehementer exagitatus supplex per Legatos Conradum Imperatorem in Italiam vocabat sed Conradus aliunde impeditus illuc venire non poterat nec ejus tunc inservire tyrannidi Lucius ergo ex alia via rem comparandam ratus expâ—ctabat donec semel essent Senatores omnes cum Patricio in Capitolio congregati ut de rebus suis consultarent tunc exercitu coâ— parato Senatores in Capitolio obsedit Papaliter factum ordinem illum qui libertatis Romanae erat fundamentum cupiens vel omninoâ— perâ—ere vel saltem expellere Quo apparatu cognito Jordanes Patricius cum majori manu occurrit populusque ad arma cucurrit commissoque praelio ipsum Pontificem cum suis à Capitolio repulit Lucius militio iâ—â—mixtus lapidibus â—axis ità est quassatus so little did the people esteem his Papacy or Sanctity ut neque amplius usque ad diem obitus sui qui proximè consecutus est in â—olio Pontificio consedisset primo nondum sinito sui Pontisicatus anno Mat. Paris Mat. Westminster and others write that this Pope Lucius sent a Pall to Henry Bishop of Winchester volens apud Wintoniam novum conâ—â—ituere Archiepiscopâ—tum et septem ei Episcopos assignaâ—e Henry going to Rome to obtain the name and office of a Legate which some write he missed but William Thorne assures us he obtained from Pope Lacius who by his special Bull confirmed the agreement made between Hâ—gh Abbot of St. Augustin and his brethren and Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury concerning an annual rent due to the Archbishop from the Monastery which was composed at Rome by this Pope who ratified the Liberties of the Monastery and Church of Canterbury Pope Lucius dying of his bruises Eugenius the 3. Patria Pisanus Cisterciensis olim sectae sub divo Bernardo Monachus ejusque discipulus Romae Sancti Anastatii Abbas consensu Cardinalium qui in aede Sancti Caesarii convenerunt Lucio in Papatu hac ratione successit cogitaverant Cardinals in praesenti tunc rerum statu non expâ—dire ut ex suo collâ—gio quisquam in Pontificem eligeretur cum ita jus Libertatis a Romanis civibus quaeratur Bernardi quoque crâ—brescentem famam multum 〈…〉 suam facere putabant atque si ejus diâ—cipulum eligâ—rint praeceptoris authoritatem auxilium consilâ—um nunquam defuturum suis desideriis sperabant Nec eos feseliit spes subdola auxit enim Bernardus quantum potuit Romani Pontifics authoritatem As soon as St. Bernard heard of this elect on being a plain-hearted man he writ this chiding Epistle to the Cardinals and Bishops for making such an unfitting choyce Epist 236. ad Omnem Curiam Romanam quando eligerunt Abbatem Sancti Anastasii in Papam Eugenium Dominis Patribus venerandis Cardinalibus Episcopis omnibus qui sunt de Curia puer Sanctit itis eorum Parcat vobis Deus quid fecistis Sepultum hominem revocastis ad homines fugitantem curas et turbas cur denuo implicuistis et immiscuistis turbis fecistis novissimum primum et ecce novissima illius periculosiora prioribus Crucifixus mundo per vos revirit mundo qui elegerat abjectus esse in domo Dei sui ipsum vos in Dominum omnium elegistis Cur consilium inopis corfudistis Cur pauperis hominis mendici compuncti corde judicium perturbastis Currebat bene Quid vobis visum est sepire vias ejus avertere semitas gressus involvere Quasi descenderet de Hierusalem et non magis ascenderet de Hiericho sic incidit in latrones et qui se tanquam violentis quibusdam Diaboli manibus carnis illecebris et gloriae seculi potenter excusserat non tamen valuit effugere manus vestras Num idcirco Pisam deseruit ut reciperet Romam Num qui in una Ecclesia non sustinuit Vicedominatum dominatum in omni Ecclesia requirebat Quid igitur rationis vel consilii habuit defuncto summo Pontifice repente irruere in hominem rusticanum latenti injicere manus
patitur violentias Pontifice obeunte quae ob hoc inferuntur quia absque Imperiali notitia Pontificis fit electio et consecratio nec canonico ritu et consuetudine ab Imperatore directi sunt Nuncii qui vetent scandala fieri Volumus ut cum instituendus est Pontifeâ— convenientibus Episcopis et universo Clero eligant praesente Senatu et populo qui ordinandus est et sic ab omnibus electus praesentibus Legatis Imperialibus consecretur nullusque sine periculo sui juramenta vel promissiones aliquas nova adinventione audeat extorquere nisi quae antiqua erigit consuetudo ne vel Ecclesia scandalizetur et Imperialis magnificentia minuatur On which Papal Decree Dr. Thierry Bartholomeus Buxiensis and the ordinary Glosse thus descant and paraphrase Quia Casus Romana Ecclesia saepe patiebatur molestiam in obitu Papae in electione successoris quia Nuncii Imperatoris defuerant ideo statuit Stephanus quod electio Papae non fieret nisi praesente populo et Senatu et Imperatore vel ejus Legatis ut scandala removeantur et eis praesentibus consecretur et nullus audeat extorquere juramenta vel promissiones nisi quae fuerint de antiqua consuetudine This Pope Stephanus the 4. durst not presume to consecrate the Bishop of Reatine when elected by the Clergy and people till his election was first approved and ratified by the Emperor Ludovicus his special Patent according to ancient custom as appears by his Letter to Earl Guide registred by Gratiam who prefixeth this Rubrick to it Imperatoris Epistola in electionis confirmatione desideratur Lectis sagacitatis vestrae 〈◊〉 quod defuncto Ecclesiae Reatinae Antistite Clerum Plebem eâ—usdem 〈◊〉 futurum Antistitem a Nobis consecrandum vestro studio directum essâ— ne ipsa Ecclesia diu sine proprio constat Pastore fatebantur nos de obitu prioris dolentes nunc ipsum â—lâ—ctum unanimitate Canonica ipsius Ecclesiae electione ut mandastis tam citissime ordinare omisimus eo quod Imperialem nobis ut mos est absolutionis minime detulerit Epistolam pro qua scilicet re ambiguum est nobis ideo voluntati vestrae in hoc parere distulimus ne Augustalis animus durissime hoc quocunque modo perciperet Sed scientes Ecclesiam Dei sine proprio diu pastore non debere consistere gloriae vestrae Mandamus quoniam aliter nos agere non debuimus ut a vestra solertia imperiali ut prisca consuetudo dictat percepta licentia et nobis quemadmodum et vos scire credimus Imperatoria directa Epistola tunc voluntati vestrae de hoc parebimus eundemque electum Domino adjuvante consecrabimus quod Charissime fili moleste nullo modo suscipias Not long after this Pope Stephen Ludovici pii pietate probitate longanimitate animadversa fingens jus Carolo Successoribus ejus a Pontifice Hadriano 1. Leone 3. viz. eligendi Romani Pontificem ordinandi Romanam sedem et concedendi investituras Episcopis c. plurimum mali secum trahere jus illud abrogabat pronunciatque jus eligendi Pontificis debere esse penes Clerum Senatum populumque Romanum Ne vero Imperator suum jus asseret vi addidit Decreto Hadriani 1. Leonis 3. interpretationem Pontificem Romanum eligere licere â—ine Imperatoris auctoritate sed non licere consecrare sine praesentia Casaris vel Caesariorum Legatorum Post haec tempora Imperatoribus invitis electionem Pontificis investituram Episcoporum Romana se es paulatim sibi usurpavit After which this Emperor by his perswasions released his right and Prerogative in electing and confirming the Pope formerly granted by Pope Adrian and Leo illam tantum praerogativam Imperatoribus servans ut electus consecratus Pontifex ad stabiliendam amicitiam Legationem mittat Regibus Francorum Ego Ludovicus Imperator Romanus Augustus Statuo et concedo per hoc pactum confirmationis nostrae tibi beato Petro Principi Apostolorum et per te Vicario tuo Domino Paschali Summo Pontifici et successoribus ejus in perpetuum sicut a predecessoribus vestris usque nunc in vestra potestate et ditione tenuistis et disposuistis Romanam Civitatem cum Ducatu suo et suburbanis atque villiculis omnibus et territoriis ejus montanis et maritimis littoribus et Portubus seu cunctis Civitatibus Castellis oppidis ac villis in Tusciae partibus Idem quando divina vocatione hujus sacratissimae sedis Pontifex de hoc seculo migraverit nullus ex regno nostro aut Francus aut Longobardus de quibussibet parte homo sub nostra potestate constitutus licentiam habeat contra Romanos aut publice aut privatim conveniendi aut electionem faciendi nullusque in Civitatibus aut in Territoriis ad Ecclesiae beati Petri Apostoli potestatem pertinentibus aliquod malum praeterea facere praesumat sed liceat Romanis cum omni veneratione et sine qualibet perturbatione honorificam suo Pontifici exhibere sepulturam et eum quem divina inspiratione ad Pontificatus ordinem elegerint sine aâ—qua ambiguitate atque contradictione more canonico consecrare et dum consecratus fuerit Legati ad nos vel ad nostros successores Reges Francorum dirigantur qui inter nos et inter illum amicitiam et charitatem et pacem consocient This Pope Stephen dying within 3. moneths after his return to Rome Paschalis the 1. was elected by all the Priests Clergie as also by the Nobles and all the People of Rome consecrated contrary to the forementioned Decrees of his predecessors without the Emperors license first obtained or his Embassadors assent to or presence thereat Whereupon post completam solenniter ordinationem suam to excuse this his innovation presumption and contempt against the Emperors Prerogative Royal munera excusatoriam Epistolam misit sibi non solum nolenti sed etiam plurimum poenitenti Pontificatus honorem impactum asseverans Missaratum alia legatione pactum quod cum praedecessoribus suis factum fuerat secum fieri firmari rogavit to wit concerning the election of Popes by the Emperors license and in the presence of him or his Ambassadors not otherwise for the transgression wherof he humbly craved the Emperors pardon upon his repentance of and enforcement thereunto against his will ea quae petierat in petravit The Emperor Ludovicus accepting this his submission and excuse monet Clerum atque populum Romanum ne in futurum Caesaream majestatem laedant ut majorum statuta servent in creando Ponifice wherein they had of late no lesse then thrice transgressed This Emperor soon after crowned Lotharius his son King of Italy and his companion in the Empire who passing near Rome Pope Paschal invited him to the City and receiving him there honourably on Easter-day apud sanctum Petrum
regni coronam Imp. Augusti nomen accepit from this Popes hands who consecrated him After his return from Rome the Emperor was informed that Theodorus Pincernus Leo per seditionem privantur oculis truncantur capite quod fideliter juvarent partes Lotharii which sedition and murther in Rome was by common fame and just suspition imputed to Pope Paschal as the contriver or commander thereof or at least conniverâ—at it Ludovicus thereupon Legatos designat ad perscrutandam facti veritatem viz. Adalindum Abbatem Humfridum Coâ—â—item Curiensem Pope Paschal being informed of the Emperors intention sent two Delegats the one a Bishop the other an Archdeacon to the Emperor ad se purgandum ab infamia excitatae seditionis perpetratae caedis Caesar autem auditis etiam Ponticis Legatis being unsatisfied with their excuses jubet suos Legatos Romam proficisci ut quid sit verum percunctentur But the businesse being so smothered at Rome that they could not find out the truth upon examination thereupon this Pope coaâ—â—a Synodo 〈◊〉 Episcoporum Iurejurando se purgat interfectores in ea seditione absolvens cae os reos agit laesae Majestatis as if they were Traytors to the Emperor and so iure occisos esse pronunciat All clear evidences of the Emperors Supremacy over this Pope The antient Right of Emperors and Kings to grant Licenses to elect Bishops upon Petitions of the Clergy and People to confirm them after they were chosen Bishops and install them in their Bishopricks is most clearly evidenced by Marculfus a Monk flourishing as some conjecturâ— about the year 660. though I conceive he lived nearer Ludevicus his reign in his Formulae solemnes publicorum privatorumque Negotionum cap. 1. De Episcepatu conteining the usual form of Christian Kings Charters in that and former ages for conferring of a Bishoprick and consecrating a Bishop when elected and approved by the King having some memorable expressions evidencing the supream care of the Church and Peoples souls to belong to Kings who are to provide able godly Bishops under them diligently to preach to the Peoples as well as govern them and to pray for Kings prosperity Ille Rex viro Apostolico illo Episcopo Quamlibet nos ad ministrandum guberrandumque rerum statum praecelsis occupationibus regis sollicitudinis causa constringat nihil tamen tam principale quam ut cum a Pastorali paululum oberrat plebs destituta praesidio pro salute animarum hujusmodi personis loci Celsioris Pontificalem prospiciat committere dignitatem in quibus maneat dupliciter sermo ut populus Magistrum actus Christi imitetur Discipulus Qui plebem non minus pietate quam severitate constringat qui sciat commissa sibi talenta assidua praedicatione sermonibus expolire et adquisitam multiplicatamque gregis sui salutem ad ovile dominicum nullis maculis sorditatum valeat praesentare Et quia cognovimus sanctae recordationis Dominum ill urbis ill antistitem evocatione divina ab hac luce migrasse de cujus successione sollicitudinem congruam una cum Pontificibus vel Proceribus nostris plenius pertractantes decrevimus illustri viro aut venerabili ill in ipsa urbe Pontificalem in Dei nomine committere dignitatem quem plerunque apud animos nostros actio probata commendat et nobilitatis ordo sublimat ac morum probitas vel mansuetudinis prudentiae honestas exornat Qua de re statutae praesentibus ordinamus ut cum adunatorum caterva Pontificum ad quos tamen nostrae serenitatis devotio scripta pervenit ipsum ut ordo postulat benedicere vestra industria studeat Et voluntates nostrae deliberationis reseratis oraculis publicare Quatenus dum Ecclesias sibi a dispensatione divina commissas strenue regere atque gubernare videtur nobis apud aeternum retributorem mercedem suffragia largiantur ille pro peccatorum nostrorum mole indesinenter immensum Dominum debeat deprecari Cap. 2. 3. contein the form of a Mandate to consecrate a Bishop elect and a Petition to the King for a License to elect a Bishop Cap. 4. Carta de Episcopatu runs in this form Dum juxta Apostoli dictum omnis potestas sublimatur a Domino et quatenus post Dominum in regia manet potestate taliter cuncta terrena debeant gubernari Unde oportet nos salubri consilio retractare ut illi in locis sanctorum instituantur Custodes qui digne ipsum officium gubernandum apparere noscuntur Igitur dum vestra Cleri vel Pagensium Civitatis ipsius adfuit petitio ut relicta urbe ill prius regert gubernare videbamini in suprascripta urbe ill Cathedram Pontificalem suscipere deberetis Et dum vos apud animos nostros actio commendat probata nobilitatis ordo sublimat ac morum probitas vel mansuetudo prudentiae honestas exornat cum consilio voluntate Pontificum Procerumque nostrorum juxta voluntatem consensum Cleri Plebeium ipsius Civitatis in supradicta urbe ill Pontificalem in Dei nomine vobis commisimus dignitatem Propterea per praesens praeceptum decernimus acjubemus ut supradicta Vrbs vel Res Ecclesiae ipsius Clerus sub vestro arbitrio gubernatione consistant et erga regimen nostrum semper fidem illibatam custodire debeatis et juxta canonicam institutionem plebem vobis commissam assiduis praedicationum sermonibus expolire non minus pietate quam severitate constringere studeatis Et curam pauperum vel necessitatem patientium cum ingenti dilectione procuretis ut adquisitam multiplicatamque gregis vestri salutem ad ovile dominicum nullis maculis sordidatum valeatis praesentare Quatenus dum Ecclesiam vobis dispensatione divina commissam strenue regere atque gubernare videamini nobis apud aeternum retributorem Mercedem suffragia largiantur et vos immensum Christum pro nostrorum mole peccatorum assidue exorare debeatis These forms extended as well to Popes and Patriarchs as other Ordinary Bishops who were not antiently elected nor consecrated but by Kings and Emperors precedent Licenses and special Charters or Letters of approbation according to these forms as the premises evidence This Emperor in the year 819. as Abâ—as Uspergensis others inform us summoned a General Council at Aquisgrane wherein secundum ardentissimam erga divinum cultuÌ„ sibi caelitus inspiratam voluntatem multa magna necessaria de emendatione sanctae Dei Ecclesiae scienter curiosè pertractare caepit admonishing advising yea assisting this Council what to do how to proceed in the reformation of abuses in sorts of Clergymen and religious Persons whose respective offices duties are at large defined by this Council in 145 Chapters which when they had finished hujus institutionis formam coram memorato glorioso Principe prolatam the whole Council approving and applauding