The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 10
CENTVRIE X.
The Councell of Ravenna.IN the yeere of our Lord, 903. a Councell was convened at Ravenna, of 74. Bishops. It seemeth to bee assembled by Iohn the tenth, whereat was present Carolus Simplex, the King of France. In this Councell the acts of Pope Formosus had allowance, and the Decrees of Stephanus the sixt were condemned and burnt.
The Councell of Rhemes.VNderUnder the raigne of Carolus Simplex, King of France, a Councell was gathered at Rhemes apparantly (for the place is not certaine) for correcting the abuse of Churchrents. Noblemen in Court, such as Hugo, and his brother Robert, Master of the Kings horses, and Vinemarus, with diverse others, vnderunder pretence of sustayning the Kinges honourable estate, and paying wages to souldiers, had converted to their owne vse, a great part of Church-rents, especially, belonging to Abbies. Fulco Archbishop of Rhemes, vttered his minde freely in the Councell. Vinemarus one of the notable oppressors in the Court, defiled the Councell with blood, and killed Fulco Bishop of Rhemes. The Fathers of the Councell returned vntounto their owne Churches with great feare: for the like of this was not heard, since the second Councell of Ephesus, called foreign, that is, a Councell of briggandrie, because in it, Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople, was slaine.
The Councell of Rome.IN the dayes of Otto the first, a great Councell was assembled at Rome, against Pope Iohn the thirteenth, or as others doe reckon, Pope Iohn the twelfth. The principall faults wherwith he was charged, besides perfidiousnes obiected against him by the Emp. were these following, to wit:
1. Peter a Cardinall Presbyter, affirmed hee saw him say masse, and communicated not himselfe.
2. Iohn Bishoppe Narrien, and Iohn a Cardinall Deacon, affirmed they saw him ordaine a Deacon in an horse-stable.
3. Benedictus with the rest of Deacons, and Presbyters, affirmed he received money for the ordination of Bishoppes.
4. Likewise they sayd, albeit they saw it not with their eyes, yet they were fully perswaded, that hee accompanied with the widow of Rainer, and with Stephana his Fathers Concubine: and that he made the sacred Pallace like vntounto a bawdy-house.
5. That he was an open hunter.
6. That he thrust out the eyes of Benedict his spirituall Father, and by so doing procured his death.
7. That he had gelded Iohn an Archdeacon, raised fire, and cloathed himselfe with armour in military manner.
8. That he did drinke to the divell, all the Clergie bare witnesse.
9. And that in playing at dice, hee craved the helpe of Iupiter, and Venus, and the rest of the gods of the Gentiles, whom the Apostle Paul calleth divels.
10. That hee sayd not Mattins, nor kept his Canonicke houres, nor signed himselfe with the signe of the Crosse.
11. That he distributed the golden crosses and chalices of the Church, to his harlots.
12. That hee had consecrated one Zacheus a wicked man, and vnlearned, to be Bishop to the Hungars: to the end,Luitprond. hist. l. 6. c. 6, & 7. that by his seditious Sermons he might concitate them against the Emperour.
Concerning the letter written to Pope Iohn, by advice of the Emperour Otto, and his proud answer sent backe againe to the Councell, together with their last good night to him, granting to him such power of binding as Iudas had, that is, to binde his owne necke to the Gallowes. Of these things I hauehave spoken in the Treatise of Succession.
The Councell of Canterbury in England.IN the yeere of our Lord, 975. a Councell was gathered in England, at Canterburie. The question debated in the Councell, was concerning the marriage of men in spirituall offices. Dunstanus at this time was Bishop of Canterburie, and he was an adversarie to the marriage of men in spirituall offices. But the question was so wel discussed by testimonies of Scripture, and the Fathers of the Primitiue Church, that Dunstanus had cause to be ashamed. For this cause hee implored the helpe of the Diuell: for he was knowne to be a Sorcerer. Satan compelled him to persist in his argument. And when they were convened againe, and in the heate of their disputation, a voyce sounded from the Image of the Crucifix (which was in the place of their convention) that Dunstanus his opinion was the best.
This lying miracle so dashed the multitude of simple and ignorant Priestes,Hist. Magd. cent. 10. cap. 9. that they thought it to bee the Oracle of God; but in their next meeting Falthodus, whom others call Ethelredus, a learned man of Scotland, so evidently by testimonies of Scriptures, and Fathers, prooved that marriage was a thing lawfull to men in spirituall offices, that the answer which came from the Crucifix, was counted the answer of the Divell, whom Dunstanus served, because Christ would speake nothing repugnant to his owne Word.
The Councell of Constantinople.VNderUnder the raigne of Nicephorus Phocas, Emperor of Constantinople, and when Polyeuchus was Patriarch, the Emperour assembled a Councell at Constantinople. The question disputed in the Councell, was this. Nicephorus having obtained the dominion of the East, tooke to wife Theophania, the relict of Romanus his predecessor. This matter so displeased the Patriarch Polyeuchus, that hee debarred the Emperour Nicephorus from holy things, pretending these two causes: First, because the Emperour had celebrated the second marriage. Secondly, because Nicephorus had beene witnesse in Baptisme, to the children of Theophania. This question being discussed in the Councell, in presence both of Prelats and Counsellers, the Emperours marriage was allowed, and the acts alledged by Polyeuchus was counted impious, & made by Capronimus, and that they had no force to hinder the marriage. The proud Patriarch when he was overthrowne by reason, armed himselfe with obstinacie and stiffe neckednesse, vntill Bardas the Emperours father came to him, and affirmed by an oath, that Nicephorus the Emperour was not witnesse in Baptisme to the children of Theophania. Thus were the Patriarches of the East, serious in observing the traditions of men, but remisse and negligent in observing the ordinances of God. And this is a sure testimony, that defection from the faith had now prevayled, both in the west and East.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Rhemes, against Arnulphus. 992. in the ninth yeere of the Emperour Otto, and in the fourth yeere of Hugo Capeto, King of France, a Councel was gathered at Rhemes, against Arnulphus Bishop of Rhemes. His hand-writing was produced, wherein hee did binde himselfe to bee obedient to Hugo Capeto, King of France; and never to come in the contrary, vnderunder paine of infamy, and perpetuall malediction. Notwithstanding, he had countenanced Duke Charles, who claimed the right of the kingdome, as nearest heire thereto, being the brother of Lotharius. To Duke Charles, Arnulphus had opened the ports of the towne of Rhemes, and made him Commander of the citie. Great disputation was in the Councell concerning Arnulphus. His friends would hauehave had this cause remitted to the iudgement of the Bishop of Rome. But many of the Bishops of France, mightily opponed to the contrary. The discourse is very prolix, but the paines of reading is well recompenced with the fruitfulnesse of the disputation. This Councell toke this end, Arnulphus confessed his fault, denuded himselfe of his Episcopall honour, and Gilbertus, who had beene instructor of Robert the Kings sonne, was placed in his roome. Likewise, Arnulphus was sent to Orlience to be imprisoned there, together with Siguinus Archbishop of Senon, because hee consented not freely to the deposition of Arnulphus, but thought that this matter was overswayed by the tyranny of Courtiers, and vsurpers of the kingdome vnlawfully.
Another Councell at Rhemes, restoring Arnulphus.VVHen the deposition of Arnulphus was reported at Rome, Iohn the thirteenth, was mooued with great wrath, and incontinent, excommunicated all those Bishops of France, who had consented to the deposition of Arnulphus. In so doing Pope Iohn kept the accustomed order of the Romane Church, to wit, to pronounce a sentence before a lawfull cognition, and tryall of the cause. Also hee sent an Abbot called Leo, furnished with the authority of the Romane chaire, to appoint a new Councell at Rhemes. Hugo King of France, was somewhat terrified with the cursing of the Bishop of Rome, and feared to oppose himselfe to so many bishops, agreeing in one minde: and therefore he suffered the councell to hold forward. The conclusion of this Councell was, that Arnulphus was restored to his former dignitie. And left that either the Emperour Otto, or Hugo Capeto, should be offended, Gilbertus was promoted to be Bishop of Ravenna.