The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 2 · History of century 7
CENTVRIE VII.
Of Popes, Bishops, Pastors, and Doctors.
AFter Sabinianus succeeded Bonifacius the third,Bonifacius the third. and continued onelyonly nine moneths in his Popedome: finding opportunitie of time, by the disliking that the Emperour Phocas had of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bonifacius insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the Emperour, and obtained at his hands, that the Church of Rome should be called the supreme head of all other Churches.
To him succeeded Bonifacius the fourth,Bonifacius the fourth. and gouerned sixe yeeres, eight moneths, and thirteene dayes: He obtained from Phocas a Temple (of olde builded to the honour of all the gods of the Gentiles,Platina in vita Bon. 4. called Pantheon): this he purged from the abominations of Heathen people, and dedicated it to the Virgine Marie, and to the Saints. Likewise, he instituted a Festiuall day, to be kept in honour of all the Saints, in which day the Bishop of Rome himselfe should read the seruice.Funct. comment. in chron. lib. 8. He esteemed much of the Monasticke like, and gaue vntounto the Monkes equall honour with the Clergie, in priuiledge of Preaching, ministring the Sacraments, binding, and loosing, &c. so were the Monks associated into the tribe of the Priests.
After him succeeded Theodatus, Theodatus.otherwise called Deus dedit, and gouerned three yeeres, and three dayes: He made an Ordinance, that no man should marry the woman, to whom, or with whom he had beene witnesse in Baptisme, because this was counted spirituall consanguinity.
This was an vndoubted note of Antichrist, to make lawes in the matter of marriage,Levit. 18. not agreeable to the law of God. Many doe write, that he cured a leprous man with a kisse: But from this time forward let vsus beware to giuegive hastie credite to miracles, which are brought in for none other cause, but onelyonly to confirme a lying doctrine: and in holy Scripture they are called foreign,2 Thes. 3.9. that is, Miracles of lyes.
Bonifacius the fift.To him succeeded Bonifacius the fift, and ruled fiue yeeres and ten moneths: He made a constitution, that no man who ranne for safetie to a religious place, should be drawne out of it by violence, how grieuous soeuer his offence had beene: A law-Antichristian indeede, and much impairing the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate.
Honorius the first.Honorius the first succeeded Bonifacius the fift, and ruled twelue yeeres, eleuen moneths, and seuenteene dayes: He was infected with the heresie of the Monothelites, and was damned in the sixt generall Councell assembled in the dayes of the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus, and hath bin touched in the Treatise of Succession.
Seuerinus the first.To him succeeded Seuerinus the first, and continued one yeere, nine moneths, and eleuen dayes: He was confirmed in his Popedome by Isacius Exarche of Italie: for at that time, the election of the Clergie, and consent of the people, was not much set by. Isacius also spoiled the treasures of the Church of Laterane, Platina in vita Seuerini.being offended with this, that the Church-treasures were so rich, and that they bestowed nothing to the support of Souldiers who were in great necessitie.
Iohn the fourth.After him followed Pope Iohn the fourth, who exceeded not the space of one yeere, one monethmonth, and nineteene dayes in his gouernment.
Theedoretus.Theodoretus the successor of Iohn the fourth, was the sonne of Theodorus Bishop of Ierusalem. If the Romane Church so much detested marriage in the persons of men in a spirituall calling, how came it to passe that they admitted Theodoretus to be Pope, who was the sonne of a married Bishop? He ruled sixe yeeres, fiue moneths, and eighteene dayes. He excommunicated Pyrrhus Patriarch of Constantinople for the heresie of the Monothelites: but after the death of the Emperour Heraclius, Pyrrhus returned from Afrike, where he had remained a space in banishment, he came to Rome, recanted his errour, and was absolued from excommunication: but like vntounto a dogge he returned againe to his vomite, and was excommunicated of new againe by Theodoretus: but Pyrrhus was slaine by the Senators of Constantinople, before he was possessed into his former dignitie, as partaker of the vile treason intended by Martina and Heracleonas her sonne,Platina in vit. Theod. against Constantine the sonne of the Emperour Heraclius.
After him succeeded Pope Martinus, Martinus.and gouerned sixe yeeres, one monethmonth, and twentie-sixe dayes: He sent Ambassadours to Paulus, Patriarch of Constantinople, exhorting him to forsake the errour of the Monothelites: but he misvsed the messengers the more confidently, because he saw the Emperour Constans altogether addicted vntounto the heresie of the Monothelites. Martinus on the other part, assembled a Councell at Rome of 150. Bishops, wherein he renewed the excommunication of Syrus B. of Alexandria, Sergius and Pyrrus, Bishops of Constantinople: likewise, he excommunicated Paulus Bishop of Constantinople, for the errour of the Monothelites. The Emperour Constans highly offended against Martinus, sent first Olympus the Exarche of Italie, either to take Pope Martinus prisoner, or els to kill him: but his attempts were frustrate, not without a miraculous worke of God, as Platina recordeth. And afterward he sent Theodorus Calliopas, who vnderunder pretence of friendship came to salute the Pope, and cast him in bonds, and sent him to Constantinople, where Constans the Emperour caused his tongue to be cut out, and his right hand cut off, and banished him to Chersonesus Ponti. The chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of foureteene moneths,Hist. Magd. Cent. 7. cap. 10. because they had no certaintie of the time of the death of Pope Martinus.
Next vntounto him,Eugenius the first. Eugenius the first was chosen Pope, and gouerned two yeeres, and nine moneths: He was the first that made an Ordinance, that Bishops should hauehave prison-houses, for correcting the enormitie and contumacie of the Clergie.
Vitalianus the first.After him succeeded Vitalianus the first, he continued foureteene yeeres, and sixe moneths in the Popedome: to the singing of Psalmes in the Church by vive voyce, he added Organs.
Adeodatus.Next after Vitalianus followed Adeodatus, and ruled foure yeeres, two moneths, and fiue dayes: of a Monke he was made Pope. In his time there were terrible apparitions in Heauen: a great Comete continuing for the space of three moneths: terrible thunders, the like whereof had not beene heard in any preceding time: great abundance of raine, fastning the Corne to the ground, so that they grew againe, and in some places of Italie came to maturitie and ripenesse: Great incursions of Turkes and Saracens, who spoyled the Isle of Sicilie. In all these calamities (sayth Platina) Adeodatus multiplied supplications for preuenting the fore-signified wrath to come. If repentance and abolishing of horrible Idolatrie, which had now taken deepe roote, had beene joyned with prayers, the Lord might hauehave beene the more easily entreated.
Donus. Platina in vit. Doni. 1.Donus, or Domnus, his successor, ruled fiue yeeres, and ten dayes: he reduced the Church of Rauenna, after long reluctation, to the obedience of the chaire of Rome. It is to be noted, that all the time they were not subiect to the Bishop of Rome, they were called by the Romanes foreign: so bent were they to vindicate all declining from their authoritie with opprobrious names of Heresies imposed to the decliners thereof.
Agatho.Agatho, successor to Donus, ruled 2. yeeres, 6. moneths, and 15. dayes: of whom Platina writeth, that he cured a leprous man with a kisse, as Pope Deus dedit had done before. In his time, Constantinus Pogonatus, Emperour, gathered the sixt generall Councell at Constantinople, wherein the heresie of the Monothelites was condemned, and Macarius, Patriarch of Antiochia, for his obstinate perseuering in that errour, was excommunicate: and Theophanius, sometime an Abbot, was placed in his roome. But this I remit vntounto its owne place. The epistle of Agatho, written to the sixt generall Councell, is full of Antichristian pride, wherein he affirmeth, that the chaire of Rome neuer erred, and that it cannot erre: that eueryevery soule, that is to be saued, must professe the Romane traditions, and all the constitutions of the Romane Church are to be receiued, as if they had beene deliuered by the diuine voyce of Peter. Hist. Magd. cent. 7. cap. 10.Likewise, he damned the marriage of men in a spirituall calling: he commendeth the Masse, impudently alledging a writing of Chrysostome concerning the Masse, whereas in all the writings of Chrysostome, this word of the Masse is not to be found.
After Agatho, Leo the second.succeeded Leo the second, who continued onelyonly ten moneths, and seuenteene dayes: He was the first author of the kissing of the Pax.
To him succeeded Benedictus the second,Benedictus the second. and ruled ten moneths, and twelue dayes onelyonly. In his dayes Constantinus Pogonatus, Emperour, ordained, that in time to come, the consent of the Emperour, and Exarche of Italie, should not be expected, but he whom the Clergie and people did elect, should forth-with be counted the Vicar of Christ. In so doing the Emperour very vnaduisedly put an hurtfull weapon into the Popes hand, whereby the estate of the Empire was encombered, and hurt afterward.
Iohannes the fift,Iohn the first. his successor, continued not aboue one yeere and nine dayes.
And Conon the first,Conon the first. the successor of Iohn the fift, ended his course after the issue of 11. moneths, and 3. dayes.
After the death of Conon, the election of the Pope was like to be decided by weapons, rather than by Suffrages and Votes: some fauoured Theodorus, others promoued Paschalis: and neither of the parties would yeeld to the other. In the end, the people thought expedient to reiect them both, and to choose some third person to the Popedome: So they elected Sergius the first,Sergius the first. and carried him vponupon their shoulders to the Church of Laterane. In his time Iustinian the second gathered a Councell at Constantinople, to perfect and finish the worke which his father had begun. Sergius refused to subscribe the Acts of the sixt generall Councell, albeit his Ambassadour, who was present at the Councell, had subscribed them.Platina de vita Serg…. Of the consecrated Hoste, he ordained one part to be put into the Chalice, to represent the bodie of Christ, which was risen from death: another part to be eaten, to represent the bodie of Christ walking vponupon the earth:Note. the third part, to be laid vponupon the Altar vntill the ende of the Masse, to represent the bodie of Christ lying in the Sepulchre. He gouerned thirteene yeeres, eight moneths and twentie-foure dayes.
Patriarches of Constantinople.
COncerning the Patriarches of Constantinople, in this Century little mention is made of them, because for the most part, they kept not the right faith, but were intangled with heresie. After Cyriacus, Thomas, and Iohannes, and Constantinus, succeeded, whose faith (as vnspotted with any blame of heresie) hath an honest testimony in Church rolles, called Sacra diptytha. Sergius, Pyrrhus, and Paulus, were miserably infected with the heresie of the Monothelites. Pyrrhu… once recanted his heresie, and was absolued from excommunication by Pope Theodorus: but he returned incontinent againe as a dog to his vomite. Pope Theodorus when he excommunicated him the second time, vsed a new and insolent fórme of doing,Hist. Magd. Cent. 7 cap. 9. the like whereof was neuer heard at any time before: for he infused some drops of the consecrated cup into inke, and writ a sentence of cursing against Pyrrus. Paulus also obtained at the hands of the Emperour Constans, edicts to be affixed in diuers places, whereby all men should be compelled to subscribe to the error of the Monothelites. After them Petrus and Theodorus, albeit they maintained not the fore-mentioned heresie with so high and proud attempts as others had done, yet they were addicted vntounto it. Gregorius successor to Theodorus, in the sixt generall Councell, had defended the error of the Monothelites, but when he was cleerly refuted by testimonies of Scripture, & by places cited out of the Fathers, he yeelded, and embraced the true faith. Callyni…us ministred vnderunder the raign of Iustinian the second, who demolished a Church neere approching to his pallace, and builded an house of presence, wherein the people might cherish the Emperour. Callynicus was compelled to consecrate the house by prayer: but in regard he was enforced against his heart to pray, he made his prayer short, in this manner, Glory be to God, who patiently comporteth with vsus, both now, and for euer, Amen. For this cause Iustinian hated Callynichus, and when he returned backe againe from his ten yeers banishment, he caused the eyes of Callynichus to be put out, and sent him to Rome, there to remaine in banishment.
Patriarchs of Alexandria.
IN Alexandria, before the Saracens (vnderunder the conduct of Mahomet) conquered the countrey of Egypt, few of note and marke were to be found in that chaire. After Eulogius, Iohannes scribo continued in office onelyonly two yeeres. After him Iohannes Eleemosynarius is highly commended for his liberalitie toward the poore. Cyrus his successor was an heretique, following the errour of the Monothelites.Paulus Diaconu…, lib. 18. rerum Rom. He payed tribute to the Saracens: but when the Emp. Heraclius was wearied of the payment of tribute, then all the countrey of Egypt was possessed by the Saracens: which incursion of the Mahumetans, albeit it cutted not off the personall succession of the Patriarches of Alexandria, yet it obscureth the cleare notice of their succession vntounto vsus, who are farre distant from them.
Patriarches of Antiochia.
IN Antiochia Anastatius Sinaita is found to hauehave beene Bishop of Antiochia, in the dayes of the Emperour Phocas: He obtained this name to be called Sinaita, because he had macerated himselfe with long fasting, and with hard exercises of an heremiticall life vponupon mount Sina, Anno 610. hee was slaine in a seditious commotion, stirred vp by the Iewes, who dwelt at Antiochia, who slew many other Christians: but they vttered great crueltie, ioyned with vile in humanitie, against Anastatius, in whose mouth they cast the verie excrements of his owne bodie,Nicephorus. lib. 18. cap. 44. & 45. as the Magdeburg Historie recordeth, citing the testimonie of Nicephorus. After him another of that same name called likewise Anastatius, succeeded, and was B. of Antiochia: He was a Syrian, a man of a subtile spirit, who circumuented the Emperour Heraclius: for at the Emperours command he subscribed the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon, onelyonly simulately, and for desire of preferment: but after he had subscribed, that two natures personally vnited were to be acknowledged in Christ, he demanded of the Emperour, what he thought of the will and operation of Christ, whether was two willes and operations in Christ, or one will, and one operation onelyonly? The Emperour troubled with the noueltie of the question, consulted with Sergius B. of Constantinople, who returned this answere to the Emperour, that one will and one operation was to be acknowledged in Christ. The Emperour Heraclius being circumvented by false and deceitfull teachers, was ashamed to forsake that opinion, which he had once condiscended vntounto. So this heresie of the Monothelites tooke deepe roote in the East, vntill the time that God, punishing the contempt of his truth, suffered the Saracenes, with their blasphemous Mahometan doctrine to be vniversally ouer-spred in the East.
To Anastatius succeeded Macarius, a most obstinate defender of the heresie of the Monothelites: for the which cause hee was excommunicated and deposed in the sixt generall Councell, and Theophanius, an Abbot in Sicilie, was made bishop of Antiochia. After him are reckoned Petrus, Thomas and Ioannes, without any further discourse, except a bare commemoration of their names.
Patriarches of Ierusalem.
THe Church of Ierusalem in this age was pitifully defaced, as lying nearest to the incursions of strong enemies, both Persians and Saracens. Zacharias Bishop of Ierusalem was carried captiue by Cosroes king of Persia, and remained a prisoner for the space of fourteene yeeres. In the ende hee was restored to his former dignitie, at that time when the Emperour Heraclius ouercame Cosr…es in warre-fare, and recouered the …rosse of Christ againe, which the Persians had spoyled, and taken out of Ierusalem. This came to passe in the yeere of our Lord 624.
To Zacharias succeeded Sophronius;Note. of a Monke, Hee was made Patriarch of Ierusalem: He lacked not his owne commendation in the sixt generall Councell, as one who kept the true Faith iuuiolable: He was present in Ierusalem when Haumer Prince of Saracenes entered into the Towne and Temple: and he was a beholder of the last desolation of the Church in the towne.
Other Pastors and Doctors.
IN this Centurie there is great scarsitie of learned men, yet that which was lacking in learning, it must bee supplied one way or other: Some were politique, others (in the opinion of ignorant people) were so deuout and holy, that miracles were wrought by their handes, and at their sepulchres: namely, lying miracles, aduancing the kingdome of the Antichrist. The most remarkeable Bishops of Rauenna in this Centurie were Theodorus, Reparatus, and Foelix, all of contrarie dispositions, and so flat opposite one to another as possible could be. Theodorus was terrible, and couetous: and when hee saw that hee was despised by the people and Clergie, being desirous of reuenge,Hist. Magd. cent. 7. cap. 10. hee betrayed the libertie of the church of Rauenna, in the dayes of the Pope Donus. Reparatus being ignorant of that which Theodorus had done, and finding the Church of Rauenna, subjected to the chaire of Rome, for verie heart griefe incontinent hee ended his life. Foelix refused to pay vntounto Constantine the summe of money which hee demanded as a testimonie of subjection. For this cause Pope Constantine desired support from the Emperour Iustinian the second, for subduing the Bishop of Rauenna. Foelix on the other part, hearing, that the Emperours armie was approching to Rauenna for the cause aforesayd, hee instigated the people to fight for the liberty of their Church: Both the armies fought with martial courage: In the end the Emperours armie preuailed, the Towne of Rauenna was taken, many were slaine, others were carried captiue to Constantinople, the eyes of Foelix were put out, the rest were banished to Bithynia. What can be found in this historie but pride on the one part, ambitiouslie seeking superioritie: and on the other part policie, sometimes yeelding, sometimes despairing, and sometimes with bellicous hardinesse presuming to pleade a spirituall cause with weapons of a corporall warre-fare.
In this Centurie many miracles are attributed to the persons whom the people counted to be deuote.
Piatina, in …ita Ivan. 5.Ioannes, Bishop of Bergomum in Lombardie, was a man of so great reuerent account, that Princes were wont, by rising our of their Thrones, to doe honour vntounto him. It happened vponupon a time, that hee reproued I…ipe…tus king of Lombardis freelie and sharpelie, in time of a banquet. Iunipertus willing to be reuenged of him, prouided, that hee should be sent home vponupon a strong, fierce, and loftie horse, which was accustomed to cast the riders,Note. and to teare and lacerate them: But when the Bishop of Bergomum was mounted vpō him, hee left his fiercenesse, and carried him peaceably and calmelie vntounto his owne house.
Ioannes …gn…, bishop of W…recht, in whose hand a piece of drie timber budded and flourished,Note. yet was he an idiot and an vnlearned man.
Remaclus Bishop of the same Towne, and borne in Burdeaux of France, left his Episcopall office, and went to the Wildernesse, where hee led an Heremiticall life, defending his insolent fact by the example of Moses, Abraham, Elias Heliseus, and Christ himselfe, who were all found to hauehave beene in the Wildernesse. But if hee had beene a man of deepe vnderstanding, hee might hauehave alledged more pertinently the example of Narcissus, bishop of Ierusalem, who in going to the Wildernesse, forsooke his Episcopall office for a time, than the example of Christ, who went vntounto the Wildernesse to enter into the holie office of Preaching, after preparation of fasting, praying, and fighting with spirituall armour against the prince of Darknesse. Notwithstanding, hee is thought both in his life time,Matthew. 4. Platin. in vitae Ioan. and also after his death to hauehave wrought miracles.
In Austume a Towne of France, called in Latine Augustodunū, Leodegarius is thought to hauehave retained his voice, & the benefite of distinct speaking after that his tongue was cut out,Note. and that manie miraculous works were wrought after his death, if credite can bee giuen to Vincentius.
The miracles of Andoenus Bishop of Rowen, who also writ a booke of the miraculous deliuerance of the soule of Dagobertus king of France, and an infinite number of other lying miracles, all confirming superstition, of purpose I leaue them as fables superaboundant in the writings of Vincentius.
Concerning Isidorus Hispalensis, occasion will be offered to speake of him in the sixt Councell of Toledo.
The vaine disputation concerning the diuersitie of the keeping of Easter day in Scotland and England, betwixt Colmannus and Wuilfridus it is as vnnecessarie to be written, as it was vnnecessary with heat and contention to hauehave beene disputed.