describe a wicked Pope or Benno is not the Authour of that book but some Lutheran and he alledgeth ten Authours of that time commending Hildebrand The whole History confuteth the first excuse and the other is convinced by the copies of Benno more ancient then Luther and by many Authours before Luther who do cite Benno Namely Orthwin Gratius who was not a Lutheran in Epist ad Lector prefixed to the same book saith More credit is to be given unto Benno then unto Platina or others who favour the Popes too much And though his own faction commend him it is no wonder and they testifie of more then ten times ten others writing against his impieties It is enough for the Truth that she wanted not witnesses and Tyranny had contradiction at the rising yea and of the same ten although one excuse of one crime yet he accuseth him of another Were they all Lutherans whom Onuphrius in Annotat. in Platin. ad Grego VII reports to have called this Gregory a Necromancer a simoniack blood-thirsty c. He was the first kindler of those toilsom wars Bellum Pontificium between the Emperours and Popes as followeth Before that time there was some order in the Church and Bishops were subject unto Emperours as Miltiades and Sylvester unto Popes are subject unto Emperours Constantine Gregory unto Maurice Leo unto Charls the Great Chrysostom on Rom. 13. saith The Apostle she wing that these things subjection c. are commanded unto all both Priests and Monks and not to Seculars only saith in the beginning Let every soul be subject unto superiour powers although he be an Apostle or Evangelist or Prophet or whoever he be for this subjection overthrows not piety and he saith not simply be obedient but be subject Cumin Ventura a late Popish Writer in Thesaur Politic. printed at Frankford An. 1610. pag. 386. saith The ancient Emperours received not their beginnings from the Popes And in the next page The Popes in time of the old Empire were subject unto the Emperours untill Lewis the Godly renounced his right which renounciation was revoked by the Emperour and renounced by a Synod in the daies of Pope Leo the VIII And Onuphrius in vita Gregor VII saith Although the Bishops of old Rome were reverenced as the Vicars of Christ and Successours of Peter yet their authority reached not further then the teaching and maintaining of the faith they were subject unto the Emperours and were created by them and in all things were at the beck of the Emperours and a Pope durst not judge nor discern any thing belonging unto them Bellarm. de Laicis lib. 3. cap. 8. propounds and proves that Kingdoms are given immediately by God unto wicked men as Dan. 2. and that these Infidel Kings should be obeyed unless one will set himself against the Ordinance of God in 1 Pet. 2. To this purpose he cites the testimony of Augustin de Civ Dei lib. 5. cap. 21. 15. he saith expressly All Kings and the State of Venice and such others have none above them in temporalibus otherwise they could not be called Heads of their Common-Wealths but members only But then Gregory the VII the first of all Romish Bishops swelling with pride and trusting in the strength of the Normans and The first Pope excommunicating an Emperour to the riches of Mathildis and seeing dissension amongst the Germans durst not only excommunicate Caesar but deprived him of his Kingdom also A thing not heard in former ages saith Otho Frising de gest Frideri lib. 1. cap. 1. So speaks Onuphrius loc cit and addeth For I account not the fables concerning Arcadius Anastasius and Leo Iconomachus And Gotfrid Viterb in Chron. par 17. saith We read not that any Emperour before this was excommunicated by a Pope of Rome or deprived of his Empire unless that be called excommunication when Philip the first Christian Emperour was for a short space set amongst the Penitents or that Theodosius c. Aventin in Annal. lib. 7. writeth that Everhard Bishop of Salsburg said Hildebrand under pretext of religion 170. years since had laied the first foundation of Antichrist and he first began those wicked wars which untill this time have been continued by his Successours So Gregory the VII did glory of himself that he could bind and loose in Heaven and he could give and take away Kingdoms Empires and whatsoever men possess on earth He could abide no equal far less any Superiour derogating from others their due right and honour and arrogating all unto himself After him the Emperours could have no interest in the election of the Pope saith Ventura loc cit Likewise he kept Bishops and all Prelates in aw suspending some and chopping off the hands of others at his pleasure he released Oaths of Allegiance yea whatsoever he did the Pope must be feared as one who could do no wrong In a Synod at Rome he decreed it to be simony to accept any Bishoprick Abbocy or Church-living from a Lay-man were he King or Caesar who gave it and the receiver as well as the giver should be excommunicated Platin. By this means he severed Church-men from Princes and tied them unto the Popes for ever and the former custom of the Church in all ages was then condemned and the Decree of Pope Leo the VIII was condemned yea himself might by this Decree be deposed Henceforth whatsoever ambition any Pope once practiseth his Successour will make it a rule But one thing is above all wonders saith Corn. Agrippa de vanit scient cap. 56. They think that they may go up to Heaven by this means for which Lucifer was cast down He did forbid the Benedictine Monks to eat any flesh at all and permitted unto others as weaker or more imperfect to eat flesh on some daies In the year 1076. he published some Aphorisms with the Title Dictatus Papae Dictatus Pope Greg. the VII these are extracted by Spalaten de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 9. and are the Picture of his mind The Roman Church was founded by the Lord alone the Roman Bishop is the only Universal Bishop Gregory the I. behold thy Antichrist he only can set up and depose other Bishops he may depose and excommunicate absents This was a warrant for his practise against the Emperour If any be excommunicated by the Pope none may abide in one house with that person He alone can make new Laws erect new Congregations unite or divide Benefices All the Princes of the earth ought to kiss his feet His only name should be heard in Churches No Synod should be without his commandment No book is Canonical without his authority All weighty causes in whatsoever Church should be brought unto him He may absolve Subjects from their Allegiance He may judge all men but can be judged by no man And all these because the Roman Church cannot erre and the Pope being Canonically elected is by the merits of Saint Peter undoubtedly sanctified and
leave Then concerning his curses against the King after he hath bitterly expostulated for his menacing and declared that he had sent his Letters unto the Peers and Prelates of the Kingdom and had read them openly in an assembly of the Bishops of France and Lorain at Atiniac and had shewed his Bull unto Lewis King of Germany whereby he was commanded by authority of the Pope to accurse them all who intermeddle with the Kingdom of Lorain he saith I have heard that the like letters as have been directed to our Lord Charls and to the Peers and Bishops of his Kingdom have been also sent unto my Lord Lewis the glorious King and to the Bishops and Nobility of his Kingdom ..... Then he gives him to understand that he had heard it reported by many that the two Kings had agreed to divide the Kingdom which if it be not done sedition shall kindle among the people wherefore since he saw that either the authority of the Pope must be contemned or the agreement of the Kings be violated whence might arise fear of wars he thinks it more expedient to omit so Imperious commands and surcease altogether from attempting any thing therein neither is it my duty saith he to debar any man from the Communion except one who hath willingly confessed his fault or who is convict in judgement unless I would contemn the Canon of the Apostles the practice of the Church and the authority of Augustin Gelasius Boniface c. Whereas the Pope had accused him that by silence and cessation he may seem not partner but authour of the usurpation he biddeth him remember what is written The cause which I knew not I fearched diligently and that God as is marked by Gregory to whose eys all things are open said in the cause of the Sodomite I will go down and see whereby we should learn to try and see the evil before we beleeve it and not punish till it be notoriously known Whereas he would have him abstain from the company of the King and not bid him God speed it seems very hard said he since very many good men both of Ecclesiastical and Secular sort who occasionally have come to Rhemes have openly professed that they had never heard the like practice from any of his Predecessours although in their own times they had seen seditions and wars not among Kings who were united by oath and league but also among brethren yea between father and children And therefore he acknowledgeth this his contempt to be for his other sins since in this he had dealt lovingly with his fellow-brethren of whom some had invited King Charls into the Kingdom of Lorain Moreover that the States of the Kingdom affirm plainly that Kingdoms are not conquered by curses of Priests or Bishops and that they have learned from the Holy Scripture Kingdoms appertain unto God by whom Kings do reign and he gives them to whom he willeth wherefore since the High-Priest cannot be both a King and a Bishop he should leave the care of distributing Kingdoms which as his Predecessours did not attempt against the schismatical nor heretical nor tyranous Emperours in their times so neither can they now bear it who know it to be written in the Holy Scripture We should strive even to death for liberty and inheritance neither are they ignorant if a Bishop excommunicate a Christian without reason that the power of binding may be taken from him but eternal life can be taken from no man unless his own sins do demerit neither can any man be spoiled of the name of a Christian for taking or conquering an earthly Kingdom or can he be ranked with the Divel whom Christ came to redeem with his blood from the Divel's power and therefore if the Pope would have peace let him so seek it that he move no strife for the people think not that they cannot come to the Kingdom of Heaven except they imbrace such an earthly King as the Pope recommendeth as for the Oath said he and falshood and tyranny whereof you write the Peers of the Nation say unto us that ye command not such things as concern your authority yea they have not spared from menacings against you which for the present I will not repeat and I know as they threatned with deliberation so if God suffer them without retreating they will shew it indeed and I know by experience that without regard of admonition or sword of man's tongue unless some other stay arise our King and Nobility of this Realm will not fail to do accordingly to their power and follow forth what they have begun He concludes that Bishops and himself especially should take heed of their behaviour towards the King since it is the Apostles doctrine that all souls be subject unto Superiour powers And with these Letters in the name of Hincmar were other Letters written by common advice of the Bishops of France being assembled at Rhemes and sent unto Pope Adrian who died in the fifth year of his pride and so that strife ceased Ph. Morn in Myster ex Aimoin lib. 5. and out of others Baronius in Annal. ad An. 870. § 38. saith Hincmar did forge many excuses and by shifting did escape the sentence of the Apostolick See till Pope Adrian died 11. JOHN the IX succeeds An. 872 as Onuphrius saith who reckoneth The Pope climbeth above the Emperour not the eight years between Nicolaus and Adrian but others account his succession in the year 876. He hapned on the fittest occasion of ambition among them all for after his inauguration began the contention between Charls of France and Charls of Germany for the Empire The King of France was alwaies aiming at the Kingdom of Italy and promised unto Pope John rich rewards if he attained unto the Empire he would defend the Church from all injury and wholly quit the Territory of Rome John did fear that the other would take his manure in Italy and therefore desirous the Emperour were at a distance rather than to sit in his eye he invited the King of France to come unto Rome and incontinently saluteth him Augustus and by this means saith Sigonius and after him Ph. Morn in Myster the Title Imperator Augustus became the gift of the High-Priest wholly and the years of their Empire were reckoned from their consecration by the Pope Continuator Eutropii saith more plainly Charls the Bald coming to Rome made covenant with the Romans and granted unto them the rights of the Kingdom and revenues out of three Monasteries that is out of Saint Salvator's Saint Mary in Sabinis and Saint Andrew's on Mount Soracte and the Imperial Patrimony out of many other Monasteries he gave them also the Provinces of Samnio and Calabria with all the Cities of Benevento and the Dukedom of Spoleto and two Cities of Tuscia Arisium and Clusium which did belong unto the Duke so that he who before was above the Romans in royality seems now inferiour unto them he
Miter but if you despise them ye may at last have them as ye list for the Papal curse may be compared to Domitian's thunder the crack seemed terrible but the cause and effects of it are but a toy Hildebrand setting his heart to exalt himself above all power began first to prosecute the Acts of his Predecessour concerning the collation of Benefices or as they spoke simony and he required the Emperour to cast out all such Bishops The Emperour thinking the Pope's words to be the commandments of God did obey without delay and without any other order denieth the Bishops their Revenues and thought he was doing God good service so long as he understood not the craft of Hildebrand Whom he cast off Hildebrand did promote and having divided them from the Emperour he tied them to himself by oaths and other favours Benno Cardin. At that time the Normans having conquered Pulia Calabria and Magna Graecia were in fear of the Emperour and Mathildis the richest Duchess of Italy was easily inticed Hildebrand drew them two on his side The Pope excommunicateth the Emperour and the Saxons who were not well pleased that the Empire was gone from their house and many others He being so strengthned chargeth the Emperour to appear upon the second day of the second week in Lent An. 1076. in his Councel at Lateran for his simony with certification if he appeared not that day he would excommunicate him In the mean time the young Emperour being troubled with wars against the Sarazens thought it not so necessary to attend the Synod Without any more accusation citation or conviction the Pope excommunicated the Emperour and his Counseller Herman Bishop of Bambergh and some others unheard for simony that is because the Emperour had given and they had accepted Benefices without the advice of the Pope It is said by Card. Benno that none of the Cardinals would subscribe the Sentence The Emperour was not a little offended at this new or The Pope is opposed unknown presumption of the Prelate and convened a Councel at Worms where all the Bishops of Germany except the Saxons and many out of France and Italy were assembled There the Pope was accused of ambition perjury wresting the Scriptures to serve his turn usurping the Offices of King and Priest as Decius and other Heathens had done in old time and of many infamous things done through avarice and pride They conclude Hildebrand is worthy of deposition and the Bishops of Italy in a Synod at Ticino subscribe the same sentence Catalo test verit lib. 13. Alb. Crantzius in Saxon. lib. 5. cap. 5. saith The Sheep do judge despise and forsake the Shepheard Whether formality could be had at that time or what equity was on either side the Reader may judge but clear it is the Pope was opposed and condemned by the two Synods Crantzius saith they writ a Letter unto him which they conclude thus Because thy installing was with so many enormities and the Church of God is in danger of so grievous a storm by the abuse of thy novations and we find that thy life is blotted with so manifold infamies and so grievous a scandal is approaching as we never promised obedience unto thee so from hence we renounce any obedience and because thou doest not account any of us a Bishop as thou hast publickly proclaimed none of us will account thee Apostolical any more The power that was granted unto Henry the III. of creating High-Priests made them so bold saith Crantz Roland a Priest of Parma was sent to Rome with this Letter and to summon Hildebrand in the name of this Councel to yeeld up his Seat and to summon the Cardinals to repair unto the Emperour for a new election Pope Gregory assembled the Cardinals in the Lateran First He killed the Messenger in the Church 2. He condemned the Sentence of the Councel 3. he deposed Sigefrid Bishop of Mentz with all others who had been in that Councel 4. He deprived the Emperour of his Title and released all his Subjects from their Oath of obedience On the other side the Emperour sent through all Nations far and near his Letters declaring how presumptuously and unjustly the Pope had dealt with him The Princes of Germany some being The Emperour is constrained to â—eeld perswaded by the Saxons some fearing that thunder and some rejoicing in a new occasion of usurpation do assemble at Oppenheim October the 1. and they conclude to fall from Henry unless he will submit unto the Pope and confess his errours and they prescribe the manner as followeth Such was the peevishness and inconstancy of the Germans The young Emperour seeing that his Princes were ready to forsake him promised upon Oath that if the Pope will come into Germany he would ask forgiveness and they ingage themselves to accompany him thereafter to his Coronation at Rome When the Pope was come to France intending for Ausburgh as it was appointed to meet the Emperour Venericus Bishop of Verceles made him beleeve that the Emperour was coming with an Army against him and advised him to retire for his safety unto Camisio a City of the Dutchess Mathildis Henry hearing of this vain fear and that his Nobles had forsaken him followed the Pope and abused basely he laied aside all his royalty and came with his Empress in the midst of winter unto Canusio he was staied at the Gates and standing with bare feet the space of three daies did humbly call for audience On the third day answer was brought His Holiness was not at leasure The Emperour continued intreating that he might be heard Fourteen Cardinals and the Arch-Deacon and the Primicerius with many other Clarks of Lateran unto the judgment of whose seat now all the World is obedient saith Pet. Mexia considering this intollerable arrogancy went away and refused to communicate with the Pope and the above-named Venericus thereafter writ a book De discordia regni sacerdotii against the Pope At last by intreaty of the Dutchess and of Azo Marquess of Ateste and of the Abbot of Clumak the Servant of Servant of Servants was pleased on the fourth day to accept the Emperour on these conditions First On the Pope's part he shall freely exerce all Pastoral charge thorow all the parts of the Empire 2. On the other side Henry shall do pennance as the Pope shall in join him 3. He shall appear at any time that the Pope shall appoint 4. He shall be content that the Pope be judge of his cause 5. He shall answer to all accusations to be laied against him in the Councel and shall never seek any revenge 6. Whether he be cleared or not cleared in the Councel he shall stand to the Pope's pleasure either to have the Kingdom restored or not restored 7. Before the trial of his cause he shal not use his Royal Ornaments Scepter or Crown nor usurp authority to govern nor crave any Oath of obedience from the
Subjects The Emperour accepteth all these and upon oath promised obedience and was loosed from excommunication only and so was let go in peace as saith the Authour Apolog. de unitat Eccles such as Judas feigned He took his journy to Papia intending as some write to Rome where he was ordered to do pennance The Pope triumphed not a little that he had so vexed the Emperour and sent Legates to compound with and absolve such as were excommunicated for cleaving unto the Emperour But all the Bishops Princes and people of Italy were in an uproar and deriding the Legates said They account not of Hildebrand's excommunication whom all the Bishops of Italy long time before that had excommunicated for simony blood adultry c. and that the King had done otherwise then became him and had utterly stained his glory by submitting his Majesty unto an Heretick And after more ripening of the sedition they were of one mind to cast off the father and to chuse his son though very young to be their King and to elect another Pope by whom he should be Crowned Lomb. Schafnaburgen writes so though a follower of this Pope not of them who had followed Henry but were ready to forsake him and so doth Naucler who addeth that they would have the Acts of the Apostate Pope annulled The Emperour writ unto them that he had done so of necessity and for conserving publick peace Nevertheless the Cities shut their gates against him Hildebrand mistrusting what might befall if God would give unto the Emperour a more quiet Kingdom consulted to displace him and to derive the Empire unto Rodulph a Duke of Saxony who had married the Emperour's sister and to whom the Emperour had given the Dukedoms of Suevia and Burgundy Catal. test ver upon these conditions that he should not meddle with Church assemblies that he would quit all presentations of Bishopricks and not declare his sons to be his Successours as if it were by inheritance Platin. For to effect this Letters were sent thorow Germany to perswade men that Henry was justly excommunicated and that they would consent unto the Pope in chusing Rodulph to be Emperour After these Letters he sent unto Rodulph a Crown with this inscription Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodulpho The Reader may consider the truth of both parts of that verse since Peter did neither receive a Diadem from Christ nor can we read that he gave a Crown unto any man and although Hildebrand took upon him to give it it followeth not that Peter gave it unless we may reason in this manner Hildebrand would not submit unto every Ordinance of God nor unto the King as Supream therefore Peter would not submit c. We read that he whom they call Hell's King did proffer to give the Kingdoms of the earth but no other creature before this Helbrand attempted to do the like Now the proud Prelate gave command to the Bishops of Mentz and Colein to cause the election and anointment of Rodulph and to defend him against all opposition And he writ unto the Princes of Germany saying Go on ye holy Princes of the Apostles and what I have said do ye confirm by interposing your authority ..... exerce this judgment against Henry speedily and let all the children of iniquity know that he is not put from the Kingdom by chance but by your doing Naucler vol. 2. generat 36. At this time the Emperour was at Rome and knew not what they were doing in Germany till the Bishop of Strawsburg went with all hast and told him He said he would crave the Pope's leave to return The Bishop answered that is to no purpose for I assure you the Pope hath contrived all these things against you Crantz Saxon. lib. 5. cap. 7. So he goeth away privately he gathereth an Army and marcheth to defend his right and in the mean time he sent unto Gregory putting him in mind of his League and intreating him to stay Rodulph from usurping the Empire or else to proceed against him Gregory being otherwise minded replieth A man cannot be condemned till he be heard Whereupon followed a bloody battel with uncertain victory then they both trusting unto the Pope's favour send to know unto whom he would adjudge the Empire Ere the Messengers were returned both Armies were refreshed and had fought again Then the Pope began to consider that this manner of dealing might not only turn to the great damage of Germany but of other Nations also and thinking to help Rodulph another way he sent Commissions unto the Bishop of Trevers to hold a Councel in Germany and there to determine to which of the two the Empire did appertain by just and publick consideration promising that what they did determine he by the authority of God Omnipotent and of Saint Peter and Paul would ratifie The Emperour would not let them assemble in Councel unless Rodulph do renounce the Title of Emperour The Legates considering that this was contrary to the mind of the Pope return and shew what was required Then Hildebrand accursed the Emperour again and sent his excommunicatory Letters unto all the Nations and deposed Gerebert Bishop of Ravenna for siding with the Emperour and sent another into his See At this time Henry and Rodulph had the third conflict at Elystrum where several Princes were killed on both sides and Rodulph's hand was stricken off and he being deadly wounded was carried unto Mersburg Crantzius calleth it Herbipolis there he called before him the Bishops and other friends and holding up his right hand with groans said There is the hand by which I did swear fealty unto my Lord Henry and by your perswasion I have fought so oft against him unfortunately go ye now and perform your first Oath unto your King for I go the way of my fathers So he died An. 1080. Crantz loc cit Naucler hath more lamentable words The Saxons stand up for another Emperour and again for another Henry was victorious against them both Then the Saxons make recourse unto Hildebrand and accuse the Emperour of the most hainous crimes that malice could devise for they trusted in a well-affected Judge The Emperour hearing of the calumnies seeks peace of the Pope but had no audience Wherefore in the same year he assembleth a Councel at Brixia of many Bishops saith Platin. and Crantz from A Councel against the Pope Lombardy Italy and Germany and accuseth the Pope of Necromancy Perjury and Usurpation and complained of the Church of Rome that the Clergy had preferred their Bishop before him whereas his father had without their election advanced several Popes but now this Pope contrary unto his Oath and promise had thrust-in himself without the knowledge of him who was their Magistrate and King These objections were heard again and with one voice they condemned Hildebrand as one not elected of God but one who had intruded himself by fraud and money a subverter of all order in the Church